Commence our service this evening
by singing hymn number 908. The tune is Eden, number 327. Saved is the sinner that believes,
the sacred gospel annals show, to him repentance Jesus gives,
and sins complete remission too. Sin-burdened soul, with tempest
tossed, Thy bark shall every storm outride, Grace, once received,
can ne'er be lost, Nor hell from Christ thy soul divide. I give thanks in the name of
Jesus. ? And still in the ocean, the ocean
? ? Deep river of tears and pain and tears and pain ? ? Of peace in nations near ? ?
Spirit of Spirit, Lord, I take thee
? ? Can save me ? ? If it's only right ? ? In hurt and woe ? ? And sin or
faith ? and take it up in Jesus Christ. In God, with love, in love shall
sin be healed, the sins of sin will be healed. When it is good and right and
fair, He comes with me in sacrifice. Jesus, I love Thee, love and
pray, that He be with me forever more to come. It has been so long since I last
embraced my conscience from the ground. ? In heaven's holy day ? ? The
sun and the stars ? ? In heaven's holy day ? ? The sun and the
stars ? Praise the city and her beautiful house, the wealth,
the pride, and so many more. With the Lord's help this evening,
we'll read together from the holy word of God in the book
of Exodus, and read a part of chapter four, and then all of
chapter five, a few verses also in chapter six. So in the book of Exodus, chapter
four, and then reading chapter five and a few verses in chapter
six. We'll commence at verse 27 of
Exodus chapter 4. And read through to the end of
verse 13 in chapter 6. So verse 27 in Exodus chapter
4. And the Lord said to Aaron, go
into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went and met him in the
mount of God and kissed him. And Moses told Aaron all the
words of the Lord, who had sent him, and all the signs which
he had commanded him. And Moses and Aaron went and
gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And
Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses,
and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people
believed And when they heard that the Lord had visited the
children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction,
then they bowed their heads and worshipped. And afterward Moses
and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel,
Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the
Lord, that I should obey his voice? She let Israel go. I know not the Lord, neither
will I let Israel go. And they said, The God of the
Hebrews hath met with us. Let us go, we pray thee, three
days' journey into the desert and sacrifice unto the Lord our
God lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with sword. And the king of Egypt said unto
them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let thy people from
their works get you unto your burdens? And Pharaoh said, Behold,
the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from
their burdens. And Pharaoh commanded the same
day the task-matters of the people Their officers saying, You shall
no more give the people straw to make brick as heretofore. Let them go and gather straw
for themselves. And the tail of the bricks which
they did make heretofore, you shall lay upon them. You shall
not diminish all thereof, for they be idle. Therefore they
cry saying, Let us go. and sacrifice to our God. Let there be more work be laid
upon the men that they may labour therein, and let them not regard
vain words. The taskmasters of the people
went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people,
saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. Go ye, get
you straw where you can find it. Yet not all of your work
shall be diminished. So the people were scattered
abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead
of straw. And the taskmasters hated them,
saying, for failure your works, your daily tasks, was when there
was straw. And the offices of the children
of Israel, which the Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them,
were beaten, and demanded, wherefore have you not fulfilled your tasks
in making brick both yesterday and today, as heretofore? Then the officers of the children
of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest
thou thus with thy servants? There is no straw given unto
thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick. And behold, thy
servants are beaten, but the fault is in thy known people.
But he said, you are idle, you are idle. Therefore you say,
let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord. Go therefore now and
work, for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver
the towel of the bricks. And the officers of the children
of Israel did see that they were in an evil case. And after it
was said, you should not diminish aught from your bricks of your
daily task. And they met Moses and Aaron
who stood in the way as they came forth from Pharaoh. And
they said unto them, the Lord look upon you and judge. because
ye have made our savour to be aboard, in the eyes of Pharaoh,
and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand
to slay us. And Moses returned unto the Lord,
and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? Why is it that thou hast sent
me? For since I came to Pharaoh to
speak in thy name, "'He hath done evil to this people. "'Neither
hast thou delivered thy people at all.' "'Then the Lord said
unto Moses, "'Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh,
"'for with a strong hand shall he let them go, "'and with a
strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.' "'And God spake
unto Moses and said unto him, I am the Lord. And I appeared
unto Abraham and to Isaac and unto Jacob by the name of God
Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them. And
I have also established my covenant with them to give them the land
of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were
strangers. And I have also heard the groanings
of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians kept in bondage,
and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore, say unto the children
of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under
the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their
bondage, and I will redeem you out with a stretched out arm,
and with great judgments. And I will take you to me for
a people, and I will be to you a God, and you shall know that
I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the
burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto
the land concerning the witch, I did swear to give it to Abraham,
to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it unto you for an heritage. I am the Lord. And Moses spake
so unto the children of Israel, but they hearkened not unto Moses
for anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage. And the Lord spake
unto Moses, saying, Go in, speak unto Pharaoh, king of Egypt,
that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. And Moses spake before the Lord,
saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened
unto me. How then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised
lips? And the Lord spake unto Moses
and Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel and
unto Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel
out of the land of Egypt. We'll leave the reading of the
word of the Lord there. May his own blessing rest upon those
verses that we have read together and help us now to draw near
at the throne of grace. Our most gracious and most merciful
Lord God Almighty, Thou art the great I am that I am. Jehovah
indeed and thou didst speak of concerning thyself to thy servants
of old. And he whom we would humbly bow
into the presence of at this time is I to be thankful for
the mercies that spare us through a day thus far into this evening
hour when we gather for worship and the little lives that thou
hast lengthened out the brittle thread of. that we may continue
to be amongst those that are looking unto thee. Lord, may
thy love draw us here this evening to worship thy footstool, Lord
Jesus, that we may bow before thee, whose almighty power is
still the same, even as we go on to read of it so much outwardly
poured out in thy judgments upon thine enemies, upon thy blessing
for thy people. And so, dear Lord, as these truths
come before us, and draw our hearts to thee, to cast all of
our cares upon thee, that ye would deal with us graciously
as sinners, that we be not cut off in our unbelief, but be granted
that humble heart that believeth in thee, that comes into the
blessing of a believing faith that thou hast given us. We may
flee to thee for refuge and find that hiding place, that place
of safety from the wrath to come, from thy own consuming fire that
thou art, outside of the Lord Jesus Christ, when they bow in
humility before thee, and pray, Lord Jesus, that they would as
intercede in heaven above. Pray with an all-prevailing prayer
with our son on the throne of thy mercy to plead a great high
priest over the house of God forever. May it be even so that
we are blessed to come in and through thee, Lord Jesus, this
evening, to worship thee, the only true and living God, whose
mercies are renewed in the morning and continue to us throughout
the day. And may there be this again this evening as we continue.
Be the all-sufficient blessing for us, the mercy of the Lord
that endureth forever. Lord, we may be blessed in our
souls and our desires to meditate upon Thee, Lord Jesus, to worship
Thee, as those truths record Thy great power, Thy, O Lord,
great will and purpose, by them coming in the earth in that due
time and way. Lord, to silence all thine enemies
Proclaim Thine all-mighty power and that wonder of conquering
grace in the hearts of poor and needy sinners. How much we need
it, O Lord, we do beseech of Thee, to overcome all that we
are as sinners and all of our unbelief and our own misjudgment
of Thy way and of Thy word. That we may watch and wait upon
Thee, O Lord, for Thine appearing to guide us continually, we pray
Thee. O Lord, may Thy Spirit be poured
upon us in the meditation in Thy word this evening. We do
come and meet each case and each need as we gather. It is thy
house, the house of prayer for all people. And may each feel
it to be so as they gather here from time to time, that they
are pleased to be in the midst. Lord Jesus, to reveal thy presence
is found here, in the gathering together around the word of God,
and each may likewise gather remotely, wheresoever they might
be found. Lord, that thou wouldst be in the midst of our hearts'
desires, our affections we do beseech of thee. enabling us
of thy grace to seek first thy kingdom and thy righteousness,
those eternal things which are unseen and yet vital to us, for
the things of time are perishing hastily, and the day of time
hastens away, and eternity draws near. Lord, we do pray for that
help in time, things that we may know them rightly before
thee, and pray thy hand may sanctify and use them, for me to seek,
O Lord, greater things in spiritual matters, O Lord, it is vital
to us that our souls be not lost at last, but saved with an everlasting
salvation. That our sin is all washed away
and forgiven through thy precious blood, Lord Jesus. That we are
given another heart and another spirit to confess our sins, acknowledge
our own wandering spirit that goeth astray. Acknowledge the
wonder of great love that calls for sinners wandering to return.
Grant us that spirit of grace in repentance, to be filled with
godly sorrow, that turned-about heart, that new heart looking
unto thee, that desire to seek thee above all things we pray
thee, and that grace to wait upon thee and watch for thine
appearing. These needful things thou wilt grant to us in the
daily way will be mercifully provided. Gracious thou art in
thy faithfulness to renew mercies, to bring all that we need, May
we be grateful for the many privileges and benefits of providence. May
we never desire to glorify Thee for these good gifts that Thou
hast given to us, but go on to seek much more the gifts of Thy
grace and of Thy heavenly love for our souls. May we be made
ready for Thine appearing, Lord Jesus, in the earth, for Thou
shalt surely come in power and great glory. May we be made ready
to stand before Thy face in that time Thou hast appointed for
us each You've moved from time into eternity. Lord, to stand
before thy judgment throne. Precious Lord, leave us not then
without the root of the matter within us, that new heart and
new spirit given us, that vital knowledge that we are born of
thee and that our treasure is above. Lord, we come this evening
in that way, leading those renewed tokens of thy love, that sweet
sense of thy presence revealed. Let us declare in the word that
thou art in the midst of the gathering of the people. May
we feel it to be so. May we not leave it. By how,
sir, that sweet witness is even so. Gracious Lord, are even here. May God see us all and knowest
all about us. Read us of all our thoughts and
of all our mind and spirit. There is nothing that is hidden
from thee. Give us that right grace of humility to be humble
before thee, trembling at thy word. Coming up this year that
there has within us of all the corruption of our hearts, the
sin of our spirit, the iniquity, O Lord, that rises up and the
readiness to go astray. The abounding of thy grace we
do beseech of thee, the fulfilling of the word of God that where
grace, sin abounded, grace is much more abound. Lord, able
to come above all that we are as sinners and make known the
power of that grace that thou hast imparted in the heart. And
to each we feel it not to be so, revealed it is so. Give a
heart to desire it, we pray thee, a heart renewed of thee, we pray,
softened and humbled. A heart that fears thee and trembles
at thy word. Let us declare that it is to
such that they won't look. Even he is a pawn of a contrite
spirit, and it trembleth at my word. And then as to such as
gather in that way this evening, may we be tenderhearted before
thee, not hardhearted in our presumptions or unbelief, or
our own spirit, we pray Thee. O Lord, that Thou wouldst humble
us and soften us, we pray Thee, and bring us to be those that
come leaning upon Thee, the beloved Lord Jesus, we do pray Thee.
We bless, then, this provision of Thy house here to satisfy
the poor with bread, we do pray Thee. Bless the Gospel as I serve
it in the past and minister it in the word. As He proclaims
the Gospel here, we make this witness in the Gospel ministry
that was maintained is not here, over in there in that time away
and give refreshing. And they say, for it shall care
wheresoever he has found, O Lord, to bring back in that due time,
we pray Thee. Blessing upon those servants
that continue in his absence and the help needful for the
deacons and all their many burdens here, we pray Thee. The blessing
of the church and of the congregation. And to those of the gathering
church, those that shall and must be saved, we pray Thee.
Blessing of each in the congregation to follow and to know Thee. To
be blessed with that. Sweet assurance of their hearts
and souls being loved of thee with an everlasting love, we
pray thee. Those quick and others yet roundabouts who gather in
to worship thee here, to turn to thee the only true and living
God, we pray thee. May thy house here and the comings
and goings of thy people be a great witness to the surrounding peoples
of this town, we pray thee. Lord, in the house, O most gracious
Lord, It is Thyself, Lord Jesus, that we come to see and to hear
and to walk in the light of. May that light from Thy Word
shine in our hearts and be in our lives, we pray Thee, as a
witness of truth and righteousness, a witness of humility and of
grace and of love. It may be said that we are being
with Thee, Lord Jesus. It is that which Thou hast given
us, O most gracious Lord, that we display in the path of our
lives, And if they're poor, the feeling is of those who have
that knowledge of the soul. And if you're not to bear those
streaks outwardly, yet make it manifest, it is even so. I say
unto each soul this evening, I am thy salvation. And as each
longing, seeking soul, we do pray, let us visit them early
with thy own great salvation. Come and bless the children and
the families that gather here, we pray. Our young friends that
with us this evening, be with them each and help them. and
guide and direct them in their paths that thou hast set them
in. O Lord, bless them in all their pathways to follow and
to know thee. O Lord, do shine forth then with the light of
truth in this land of ours and turn yet the people to thee.
Grant us great changes in the midst of our governments and
those that rule over us. Do remember the King of England
and do give him yet restoring and healing mercies, a heart
that is opened of thee. A heart, O Lord, in the Prime
Minister to seek for his They help to be given a wisdom in
the things of state and of his own pathway, we pray thee, that
he be not left in that darkness concerning thee, the only true
God, we pray thee. Never leave us not to sink further
into the ways of evil that bring more and more sins upon us that
are a continual reproach to us. May there be a deliverance from
those many sins, a great reproach that it shadows on the nation.
Awaken into the people, O Lord, to reject the day of evil. in
the way of unrighteousness that is so openly promoted and is
all the love that is in the natural spirit, the carnal mind that,
O Lord thy words, solemnly declares an enemy of God. Precious God,
deliver us from all that is evil, thus we pray thee. And make thou
not that same almighty God of heaven and of earth whom we have
read of. As I deliver in grace still for thy trembling people. a miracle of bringing out a great
nation from another nation in that time that they did. And
so just bring sinners to repentance, just change hearts and renew
wills and turn the feet to Zion's hill. We do work mightily in
our midst and we do pray that it won't be a building again
of Zion's walls. Just strengthen those things that remain. We
see our little hills of Zion in this land of ours. Let us
likewise meet this evening and help my servants who minister
and my people that gather. There'll be but few that gather,
O Lord, yet be in the midst where each are found, we pray Thee.
Each one detained, remember each where they are. And they are
away, give them restful change in those times away. And each
in sickness, give restoring and healing, we pray Thee. But Lord,
in each pathway, give thy sanctifying blessing. That this path of providence
may be made profitable in the spirit, we pray Thee. Those things
that thou suppos'd to be a speaking voice, we do beseech of Thee.
We bring each of us near unto Thee, most gracious Lord, that
we be not left in hard hearts of unbelief, we pray Thee. And
so do You send out Thy light and truth, we do beseech of Thee,
to wheresoever Thy people are. It is those little hills of Zion
that are connected with us in other lands, in Holland, in Australia,
in Canada, in America, we pray Thee. They are connected to us
in such places, and be with them each, we pray Thee, Thy servants
amongst them. Lord, Thy people in all the earth,
without set them, A few that we know of, many that we do not.
Yet we hear of a great hunger and a thirst for thy word and
for thy truth, and know that we may yet know that hunger in
this our land again. But do satisfy them early with
thy blessings, we pray thee. For many in those lands are in
great poverty and great need, and yet a great longing for what
is spiritual. Lord, then leave not the things that we are blessed
with in providence to be a great hindrance to us spiritually,
that they will be humbled We look above and more to Thee in
heaven, we pray Thee. And turn us, O Lord, from turning
the gifts of God into the gods of our hearts, we pray Thee.
Give us grace to worship Thee, the only true and living God,
we pray Thee. Lord, O Lord, do shine forth this evening as we
gather around Thy word. Do give a word to be spoken,
a word to be heard, we pray Thee. Do glorify Thy name as we sing
Thy worthy praises. Be pleased to bow down thine
ear and hear us in our cries and our sighs. Let us see each
heart's longing desire. O Lord, thou wilt show a token
for good. Reveal thyself within the midst,
we pray thee, and let those come with thy forgiving love and mercy.
Wash us and cleanse us in thy precious blood, Lord Jesus. Graciously
clothe us in thy righteousness and grant that knowledge that
we are found complete in thee. When we ask all in thy name and
for thy sake, we ask Lord Jesus, amen. We continue our service by singing
hymn number 1107. The tune is Roscommon number
401. when some sweet promise warms
our heart and cheers us under every care. It is the Spirit's
gracious part to take that word and fix it there. T'was He that
turned our hearts away from love of sin and hateful strife. His all-creating beams display
the dawn of everlasting life. In number 1107, Tune Roscommon
number 401. ? With hope in his heart and love
? ? That he may hear the song of every dove ? ? Peace with
the spirit, precious love ? ? To give you a full and complete
celebration ? ? God speed thee and take care of us every day
? ? And God's kingdom come shall be ? ? Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
? ? And the home of the brave ? ?
And the home of the brave ? ? Since the earth has raised us from
the dead ? ? Help me, O God, to die a poor, poor sinner ?
? And for me to die, let me die ? ? A short, poor sinner ? ? The great shining ? ? Scene of heaven above ? ? We sing the praises of Mary ?
? The praises of Mary ? ? The praises of Mary ? ? The praises
of Mary ? O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave? that we may reach the other sea.
? His holy name sacrifice ? ? And
hymns of praise ? ? Alleluia ? As the Lord shall be pleased
to help me this evening, I seek to direct your prayerful thoughts
to a text you'll find in the book of Exodus chapter six. And
then some words at the opening of verse one. Some words in the
opening of verse one in Exodus chapter six. I'll read the whole of the verse.
Then the Lord said unto Moses, now shalt thou see what I will
do to Pharaoh. With a strong hand shall he let
them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his
land. Those words that the Lord spake
to Moses, now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh. But not just as it were what
the Lord would do to Pharaoh, but what the Lord does savingly
for his dear people. We each have a fair unbelief,
a heart then that is full of enmity to God. A heart of nature
that we have read of in that case of Pharaoh who knew not
who the Lord was. That had a great power but knew
not the God who had given it him. And awful is that natural
heart of ours that will take in every benefit and not think
upon who is the giver that we should glorify. And so is our
nature in its ignorance to the Lord. May there be in this worthy
seating some word of hope, of comfort, instruction for us,
because it is the Lord himself referring and declaring what
he had said before in the deliverances for his people, and that now
he had not lost sight of that. As Moses then was speaking in
that latter part of chapter 5 that we read, Neither hast thou delivered
thy people at all. But since I came to Pharaoh to
speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people, neither
hast thou delivered thy people at all. And does it not set before
us how often we find in the way of the Lord in faith that we're
the soul venturing by faith to lay the care, the case before
the Lord and humbly believing that he is in it to guide us
and direct us how soon we find the adversary rises up to come
against what then we hope in, and how we need indeed the Holy
Ghost to come with that sweet promise of comfort, that sweet
sealing of the Spirit to reassure us. With all that's helped us,
the sealing of the Spirit to speak a little bit of the context
of this verse is a well-known account of course, and then something
of the conflict that is in it, and the cause then of that conflict
really, and then of the conquest which God's grace ever brings
about in delivering his people, not just in a natural way as
we view it here in its context, but in a great spiritual way,
in and through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For it's each then
in their souls, and each of us in that pathway of providence
that we need the Lord's deliverances, that only he can bring about.
And are we not defined in these scriptures that refer to these
historical truths that they are in the hand of the Lord still
to bring about as we may view them in a lesser way? We are
not to lead a nation as we read of Moses here or a great company
of people, but in what sort of place the Lord puts us, we need
that same sweet relationship of faith that he had with his
covenant God. And that our hearts be strong
in that faith he has given us. And given that believing view
that he alone is able, though as Moses would view it here,
then in its context he seems to be otherwise. Really in the
context of course it was in the Lord's purposes then that here
was found then the Israelites having fled there in the days
of Joseph from the famine that was around in Canaan in Jacob's
day. And now in his time as A time
arises, generations later, those 430 years must come to pass that
the Lord had proclaimed even to Abraham beforehand. That affliction
would come. And so he would bring them out
again. And thereby raising up Moses'
end to be this one in the Lord's purposes to do so. Which then
the Lord would use to bring about his will and show his way and
perform his word. In those matters we will find
throughout scripture in the word of God that we have that it is
the Lord showing his way by his word and by his will he reveals
it then as coming to pass. And as the word of God tells
us the will of the Lord then it's not as we thought but as
he has purposed and he will bring to pass for his thoughts are
far above ours. And concerning us then in this
context of sinners ascending then we must not disconnect ourselves
saying well our day is so different. We have not such things to pass
through. We are poor needy sinners before
a holy heart searching God and except we know the same God to
be our God and Saviour then we do not know that gift of eternal
life that his word is speaking of and that A word declaring
the way of faith in Christ Jesus, that is according to God's will.
And yet by God's grace, he uses his word to be a quickening word
for us, to touch our hearts and bring them to feel their lost
condition. What a wonderful word then, God's grace is in conversion.
You see, these things are needful for us to have these softened
hearts in the things of God's word. that the Lord would bring
about in his way. And that was really where Moses
was losing sight of that here. He had heard the word of the
Lord calling him in the burning bush and what the Lord would
do. But it was the Lord who would
bring it about in his way. And Moses felt so unfit to be
a part of that way of the Lord. And that is where we will stumble
so much if we might speak for others in the things of God.
We have a view of the divine certainty of God and the word
of God. But when it comes to the way of God concerning us
personally, we don't have a heart like Moses and he felt his insignificance,
his insufficiency, his inability. As these times come when these
things were opposed, he felt so unable to continue in them.
He took them personally as marks against him. But the Lord had
a greater purpose in it all. show that that which he had spoken
was his why, and so his will was being done. So we must not
lose the connection in between our own lives and situations
with the things that God's word speaks of. Whereas God then touched
the heart of Moses, yes, we might say, well, it's a great voice
that spake outwardly. Never limit the Almighty to how
he may speak. The great mercy is that he speaks
inwardly. It is to move the heart. He may
boast of great outward revelations and have nothing to charge our
hearts in them. Oh, how solemn then to be blessed
with so many outward blessings that we may acclaim as either
the Lord's gifts to us and not desire to know it. It is the
way of faith that is taking us to heaven. It is not just giving
us, say, an answer to prayer in providence, but much more
in grace. It teaches us that we are in
great spiritual poverty and need of its renewings. And dear Moses
needed such a word as this this evening then. Now shalt thou
say what I will do. You see, the Lord was not at
the end of what he was doing. Moses thought it was so. Because
in this context, of course, Moses had been given not only a promise
but the tokens that he was to show before Feth and the people. And there we read in those latter
verses of chapter 4 how Moses told Aaron whom he of course
was to meet and go with as he had complained so much and he
was able to go alone that the Lord had said when my brother
Aaron is coming to meet that he will be glad to see that he
will go with thee. And therefore they would have these signs and
we were there as we met with the people. They could speak
these words and speak of these signs, show them. There was the
rod to be cast down on the ground and the serpent that would come
from it and that taking up the serpent over the toilet would
become a rod again. The thrusting the hand into the bosom and bringing
out leprosy. If needful then bringing out
of the water and pouring out on the earth it become blood.
And how the people then they believed what these miracles
stood for. And in the strength of this convincing
power then, Moses was able to go in under God's command before
Pharaoh. He was not told of course at
this point to use these signs, but to declare in the name of
the Lord the message of God. And so he had done so and how
he had met with that great opposition and not only that, Wickedness
of Pharaoh rose up against the people in it to harden then their
tasks, to make the situation worse. And even then, as Moses
and Aaron were found of the elders, as they had gone to speak to
Pharaoh also, they were in this evil favor, this place, and that
they were, who once had a little favor with the people and they
were rejected by them, were in enmity, as it were, on all sides.
And to those who just took this in that personal way that how
he had said in the beginning when he was insufficient for
it, then how could these things be done? It is to remind us in
this context then and for our hearts receiving then that wherever
the Lord calls us by his grace in the path of faith, he does
not call us because he expects some ability in us to do what
then is well is. Oh no, he does not expect that.
He will give the grace to do so, bless his name. He doesn't
rely upon us in the creature. He has the more grace to give,
that is sufficient grace for the needs that will arise. And
Moses was to be answered in this way then, as we have this word,
this seed, in thou shalt thou see what I will do. You have
gone in the fear of the Lord with the tokens I have given
you, and you've done all those things, and perhaps you thought
then that they would bring about great deliverances, and losing
sight then of who had sent him and who would fulfill the work.
It was God's word and therefore it was God's work. I love you
not to remember that in our ministry that we come with God's word
and it is God's work to fulfill it. How easy it is for the minister
to become disappointed when this or that does not take place as
he may think. For any of you with a word of hope in your hearts,
may we not misjudge the Lord before his time. Give us that
grace the more to pray that his work would follow his word, it
shall do. He who has spoken cannot fail
to fulfil it. And whatsoever that word is,
it shall come to pass. And that is to remind us, of
course, especially that we have that in a way of condemnation
as well as consolation. God's word will come in righteous
judgement except we are given grace to repent and turn from
sin. And so where he gives a hope
in his mercy and a heart to turn, He in his due time will bring
the sweet comfort of that word and the blessing in it. He does
not expect us to bring that to pass. So here we then review
what we have in our natural spirit then is that to look low and
not high in the things of God, to see that though this yet be
not so, it does not mean there is a never here. You see God
sets his truths in his word, speak to us also that we should
not be discouraged then because as our next point speaks of conflict
the devil loves to enter into these things to magnify them
and to cause us to stumble and to be just like Moses and we
might say we're far worse than Moses but we have not this great
meekness of spirit that Moses has gone on to be spoken of as
he had a great forbearing spirit of course with this multitude
of the people when they were in the wilderness and thereby
how, in seeing heaven and the air of spirit, there is no greater
rebellion often to misread the Lord's dealings with us. The
Lord does not turn aside, even in the conflict then, of the
context of what is in the pathway of what he will do, and thou
shalt see it. And it is our mercy that we are
to have eyes and to behold what the Lord is doing. So much of
what the Lord is doing is out of our sight then. It is glimpsed
by the eye of faith, and precious that view is. Especially when
we find the sweet comfort in it to the hope of our soul. The dear Redeemer in heaven intercedes
for us. He knew great conflict in the
earth in coming here to fulfill salvation's work. He knew that
it was opposed in every aspect by the wicked one. and therefore
came to overcome for his people, to show that this same God ruled
and reigned in heaven and in earth, to secure salvation's
blessing, and which really much of the conflict then which the
souls of God's dear people are to find is because of this cause
then of the Lord working in this way. He does so because of his
honour and glory that stay. He will be glorified in all that
he is, and all that he does. Because in that cause of God
is his covenant love that we read a little of here then as
reminding Aaron and Moses here then that this word had been
spoken then before to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That was how
the Lord began in speaking to Moses at the burning bush, calling
him by his name. Telling him there was a covenant
made and he would fulfill it. Therefore we can be sure the
devil will rise up against all that seek to be a part and end
of the covenant love of God. The blessing that God has purposed
in eternity and shall, because it is the cause of God, bring
about because he will be glorified, he is the Almighty. Blessed be
God, not only the Almighty, but also the Jehovah, the personal
God of his own dear people. They would enter into that covenant
then and would declare it later through the prophets, that they
shall be my people, I will be their God, saith the Lord. And
that the blessing of God would not come through their keeping
of the law, the word of God and in their own righteousness, but
that they should be given of that blessing freely. The Holy
Ghost would be their teacher. And the great matter of their
souls as condemned sinners would be blessed with forgiveness,
and their sins and iniquities I remember no more. Oh, that
wonder of wonders that ever God should pass by the remembrance
of the sin of his people because he remembers the sacrifice. The
same thing which we witness of course here in seeing what the
Lord would do. He would see the blood. They
were passing over them to destroy those first born in Egypt, all that were there were enemies. Saving them by the witness of
the blood, or the faith in their hearts to follow God's word,
that God would do what He had spoken if they humbly followed
it, seeing it was the will of God to do so. And I may at heart
be given that humble faith in pleading through the blood that
as these were to be delivered, What a well and a working hand
of God that would do these things that the Lord was speaking of. They were much further to come
yet before this would take place. Nevertheless, it was a part then
of the cause of the path for the people here, which said,
of course, in its context, and for us as seeding maybe not,
then fail to say in the help of God that there is a cause
in the path that we are in. and how God has a purpose in
it. He has a purpose in all things to glorify his name. May we seek
that purpose to be of his grace toward us, his tender mercy,
his love, that he be not glorified then, as it were, condemning
us as sinners, but in making known that wondrous calling by
grace. For therein is the Lord glorified. It's the cause and
therefore the devil hates that work. He knows there is a cause
that God is about. The purpose of why. And therefore
he escalates the conflict. He stirs up the heart of unbelief. He stirs up all that would oppose
God and the way of God. And of course there were so many
here that came against the word that God was speaking through
his faithful servant Moses and Aaron. And it took much as it
were then to get the people on their side who were going through
sore affliction here. It's hard for us really to imagine
what it was like for them in a hard situation already and
becoming harder when it was being spoken of, well this is God's
way, this is a way of deliverance. Again reminding us it is not
according as we would think it would be. And how poor our hearts
are advising up there and reasoning with God in that matter. Even
where we In my mention of it then, neither hast thou delivered
thy people at all, neither is there an answer to my prayer,
neither is there a help for me here. You see, the Lord knows
the help that we need to humble us, to bring us to his feet,
to show that he is to be glorified in the way that he helps us. That in the cause of God which
is to his glory then, show there is this great conquest that he
is to win and to bring about. He is a conquering saviour. More
than able then to overcome whosoever he will, he is the almighty one.
He sees exactly these particular steps and even as this evening.
So in a way then the Lord is leading our hearts and drawing
our spirits. He knows what we are in our nature. It tries the word of faith he
has given us. The cause is that he is glorified
in that word. The word that he has given, that
Moses certainly I will be with thee. Spake with great assurance
that great matter that in this pathway that he would not venture
alone. As we view that promise then,
an exceeding great and precious promise as Peter writes of it,
you may say well surely what a sufficiency is in it. And so
it is. But oh for a heart then to walk
in it. God does not give the promise then for us to set to
one's side and have a view of that we might go our own way. It is a needful word, a soul-sustaining
word. It's a word then to save our
hearts from sinking and turning back, from going its own way. But a word that He would have
us to bring often then in the way of prayer And we have it
later recorded in the 119th Psalm. Verse 49 is it. Remember the
word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
Oh, be a word of hope this evening in our hearts that we long the
Lord to think upon again for us. He's been a great help to
us in the past. And yet, perhaps in the present,
we do not feel the savour of it we would. We cannot always
walk in the savour of it. reading that the Lord would make
it light and truth again to us, power and blessing? No, shalt thou see what I will
do to Pharaoh. You see, even to the devil who
stood at the enmity of our own nature against even what God
then has given us to hope in. He hates those graces of faith,
hope and love. It's all that God is and all
that God does. And it's that adversary that
comes in this conflicting way always to stir up the worst within
us. And yet the wonder then of God's
conquering grace is that it is a divine favour then to unfetter
unworthy sinners. It is to the glory then of the
cause of God, to show what God alone can do, to show what he
is, a God that fulfils his word, A God that one of our hymns speaks
of is a performing God, a faithful God, that having spoken and knowing
all that is needful, will bring it to pass. And He knows how
to do that in our hearts and the poor and needy sinners. For
you and I this evening in our hearts, we need direction, we
need help, we need comfort, we need humility to watch and wait
upon the Lord. And what abundant need we may
feel to come with, And yet may we view here a wonderful fullness
then in all that God is and can and will do. What I will do,
not what you will do Moses. Yes, he will be a follower. He
must be one of the disciples of the Lord Jesus and following
the word of his God. Keeping close to his master to
walk in that truth that he is given to hear of. To be like
the Amiri, sit at the Lord's feet and hear his word. Or to
be constantly in that desire then to hear the Lord speak in
his word, to give that grace to walk in it. To show that we're
here to profit because we live by it. We do not just listen
to it then in a sermon or in a passage that we read and then
forget it. You see the devil is that Adverse
conflicts against all that we do in the way of faith. He seeks to rob us of these truths,
to deny them, to bring about things that oppose them, as if
what we then have listened to and have hoped in can never come
to pass. What a mercy the Lord spake this
way to Moses. No, shalt thou say. What a mercy then we can hear
as God gives the hearing of faith. But he also assures us what we
hear then by seeing the thing that he is to do. Not only then
to have a ear to hear what is spoken and is speaking, and what
a mercy that is. It is a word before us then that
God has spoken in its context, but for us this evening then
that is still speaking still. And the Lord knows whatsoever
may be a fear in our lives, a great opposition, an antichrist, and
even of course as it is in our own nature. It is only the hand
of the Lord that can overcome the hand of any other. And of
course in the reality of that way that the Lord conquered here,
or got this conquest done. For with a strong hand shall
he drive, let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive
them out of his land. A few chapters on then, how the
people wanted them to be gone, they urged them to be gone. So
many of them were the things that God showed them in the ways
of judgement. Even Pharaoh, the Smiths as it were, Aaron and
Moses from his presence, they shall see my face no more. And
Moses said, well that is true, you will not see each other anymore. Because Moses knew that he would
only see them dead in the flood of the Red Sea that they followed
the Israelites into. You see here that it was the
hand of the Lord that was strong here, upon the hand of such a
great king. Or to show that what an almighty
hand this is then that the Lord commands his power with. Or the
hands over all that would oppose him. And as we later read of
it, it was a stretched out arm. There was so much then in the
hand and power of God to bring about. When it concerns the deliverance
of the souls of his dear people, we read of it then by him being
the arm of the Lord. Oh, the great power of our God
that has all things in his hand, his fingers, connected to bring
them out. As I said, I must declare that
the fingers and the handiwork, the fingers of the Lord, set
the heavens in their order. But concerning these matters
of the deliverance of his people, Oh, do not we read that of the
hand and the arm of the Lord? You see, what a doing this is
that shall be seen. Oh, the sinner then, so poor
and needy as they are, will yet have a view by precious faith.
That is an almighty God. And there shall be this worded
now. Oh, the Lord knows. That shall
trouble us this evening continuing our path, when will it be? We
hope it will be so. Pray that the Lord would appear.
While the Lord in all these things declares his great sovereignty,
it was baffling of course Moses here with that sovereignty. And
I imagine he was baffled as he went on and spoke his words and
each time he was given a word to be spoken he would tell Moses
or forewarn him that the then the Pharaoh would be hardened
against what he was speaking. There was an enmity there, realised,
and there would be opposition raised up against it. And though
the mighty power of God would be shown in so many ways, there's
ten plagues of course, nine of them in that following the death
of the firstborn, God's name would be glorified. Because in
the Conquest then that God was getting, it was a victory over
the gods of Egypt. To show that he was not only
a god that was greater than Pharaoh and the people, but even the
gods that they looked to and gloried in. Because of course,
as we know in the sense of truth, they were no gods at all. They
were but the wicked one himself, deceiving them to worship such
and yet worship the devil. To show that as in all the cause,
son of God, it is to conquer in the hearts of his dear people
the things of sin, the devil himself. To show the conquering
power of his purpose and of his love. To show that he is the
dear Lord Jesus Christ, and the son of God, the glory of God,
who will be glorified in saving the souls of sinners. You see,
that place then for the Lord to show the things that he would
do is the revealing of what he has done in sending us to your
son then, coming out of this people that must be brought forth
into the promised place of the land of Canaan. So through those
40 years of wandering and the many intervening trials, but
yet God's word not failing, God's love undiminished, his love revealed
much in chastening correcting the unbelieving heart, bringing
about the coming of the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, upon the
earth in due time, to fulfil all righteousness for sinners,
becoming a man, living that perfect life before being subject to
death, living the life of the man of sorrow that amoks conflict
in the place of each of his people, that they should have one to
look to and find comfort in, himself then as bore a greater
conflict than ever we do and find a sweet comfort in his love
that so lovingly went about his father's will. Did not lose sight
then of the word that commanded him and the way that was God
to fulfil it and the will of God in doing so. What a glorious
example we have in our Lord Jesus then to seek to follow the footsteps
of And we need that view of his conquest, even in being subject
to death for us, meeting with the divine wrath that we deserve
and would be banished for by everybody, and be lost to all
eternity. But he lovingly has taken upon
himself, and thereby bore the punishment then of sin of sins,
even unto death, what a conflict she knew in his soul, what agonies,
what trouble, what depths he sank into, but all because he
did not lose sight of the great cause in him, the glory of God,
the glory and the good of his people. In that glory then, the
Lord's purpose was to save his people in everlasting salvation,
to show that the love he had set upon them in eternity had
not injured, the devil had not taken away, that was still the
same, and so great was that love that he must send his dear son
to later in his life, to do everything in that cause, and bear all the
conflict, and show that he was a conquering savior, and show,
as the Holy Ghost will ever do so, that they shan't see, nor
let them see what I will do. Yes, in that we might say there's
a theory of what he has done, in salvation's work being a finished
work, Blessed be God then, we just believe in the glorious
crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the wondrous great love
in it, the awfulness of the dear, holy, spotless Son of God suffering
upon Calvary's tree and laying down his life for sinners and
crying, it's finished, it's done. But in bearing the punishment,
he has met the price. There is no condemnation for
any one of his dear people anymore, because what he has suffered,
and the witness of his death in his blood, that he should
be laid in that tomb those three days and three nights, to be
risen from it again with all the mighty power, and to show
his conquering power and his grace to these two enlivened
dead sinners, and give them hope into the covenant loving God. Born at such a great cost then
in sending his dear son to be this heavenly conqueror, to bring
about the conquest then for poor sinners. Neither was it this
conquest being shown to Moses here then as he had to stand
before Pharaoh, stand in impossibility as it would seem as he fell to
the bay. The Lord knows what impossibility we have in our
path this evening. We cannot see the mountains flowing
down as we would have them. of God's hand coming to deliver
us. We have a view of it in those verses that we read of in chapter
3 of this book then that refers how the Lord spake that He would
bring this delivering then for His people at that time. You see in this conquest then
the Lord made known there was a great conflict for them, therefore
there was a cry. And the Lord declares so sweetly
then how He had seen all that path that they were in. There
is another reminder in the word of God that the Lord not only
views with his eyes, he also listens. That he not only listens,
but he also hears, he sees. We read in the Psalms that the
eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open
to their cry. And so we find it here then,
as he speaks to Moses at the burning bush, telling him who
he is and who he is in connection with Moses himself, the God of
his fathers. Covenant God. And therein I have
surely seen the affliction of my people, which are in Egypt,
and I have heard their crying by reason of their taskmasters.
Oh, may there be mercy this evening on earth. The Lord is hearing
our cry because He has seen what we are in. He has given us the
cry, the cry under our felt need, and He truly knows our sorrows.
I know their sorrows, What a compassionate look and ear this is. Will he
not give us the eye then to look for his gracious appearing? And
I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
Oh, the wonder that God should come down. That desire of the
prophet Isaiah, oh, that they would surrender, heavens, that
they would just come down. But we have this also, and not
unto bring them up out of that land. and to a good land and
a larger land flowing with milk and honey. And you see, if the
Lord in his mercy is going to come down to us, he is to come
down to bring us up. He's not coming down to leave
us here, to be lost in our sins, lost in the path of conflicts,
to show that he is a conquering saviour. It will be a view by
faith of what he is doing, what he shall do. and bring up the
soul by gracious hope in his mercy, to see that he has that
way to lead us on in, that way to guide us continually, that
way that we will find to be a way of complete dependence and helplessness
on our behalf, in which he then he shows his full ability, his
all ability, himself then to be in control. This conquest
then in his word is bringing about is to bring up poor sinners,
whether in the cries of the psalmist, who fell to sink low in the miry
clay, to be out of mind, out of sight, left in silence in
the pits, yet it was the Lord who would bring him up and set
his feet upon a rock, give him hope in the Lord Jesus, in the
God of his salvation, because he has a purpose in bringing
up them to fulfil the The purpose then of his coming down, that
the covenant blessing and the cause of his glory would be brought
about. This gift of a natural inheritance
will be theirs. And yet for so many, as we read
of it in Hebrews 11, who were given his promise and did not
live to see its fulfillment, they are spoken of then as seeking
a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God,
that they had a view above what was naturally spoken of. Now
to many, there was just a drawing by what was promised naturally.
And of course, we know in this generation of the people, as
they went into the wilderness place, and then they were shown
those glimpses of Canaan in that due time, those 12 spies sent
by Moses, 10 came back with unbelief in their hearts. And only two
had that faithful report. What a remnant then was found
of faith amongst them. And because of that they were
turned about through one of those forty years. And that younger
generation were then taken in, in God's purpose and why. To
mark then against the natural heart and it is full of this
unbelief, this questioning spirit. The Lord would not be leaving
Moses' case to continue, as he speaks here then, neither hast
thou delivered thy people at all. I hope that all wish to
show what he would do. Now, shall they see what I? That is the important truth this
evening for us. It is the great I am that does
these things. He that speaks the word is the
one that will surely fulfill it. To do to Pharaoh, to do all
that we need and against ourselves as sinners, do all that he is
to do so in the blessings of grace, being a conquering grace
for our souls, to see in our glorified and risen Saviour,
as well in heaven, in that body like unto our own, the God-man
Christ Jesus, that which trumbles on over the devil's theories,
that there is no God at all, when there is a God-man in heaven
that prays for his people, that rules and reigns and that they
shall come again in power and great glory, that is giving His
Spirit to reveal Himself and to cause what He is doing for
them to be made known, to be seen by them, that He's a wonder-working
Saviour still. And He's doing so to bring us
up then out of our cells and into Himself and into heaven
at last, to sanctify the present life that we are in, to show
that it cannot be forever. We need something of a foundation
in our hearts to dwell in. He who calls us then and constrains
us will indeed bring us at last into that everlasting presence
of himself. He has this great conquering
grace, this conquest to bring about. For the present then it
is over a rising unbelief that comes again and again. The devil
will rise up to fight against God and the cause of God, the
people of God, the word of God. And unless in these latter days
then the devil let loose, as it were, there's so much more
of that deceiving spirit than being found. But what a mercy
the Lord has not lost sight of the cause that he has concerning
his people, the word that is in that of his covenant love.
Though they come into great conflict, the conquest that is in that
cause will yet be fulfilled. But he has that to show us then,
Oh, that all would then strengthen us in these tokens that he gives
us. You see how Moses then was to show those tokens to Pharaoh
as he was to speak to him. And even of course, there was
a hardness of heart there to use magicians and all manner
of evil spirits to likewise cause serpents to come out of rods,
but Aaron's rolled them all up. Even there then it was a hard
heart not to believe that there was something greater here than
what they had. It seems in this then that the Lord used these
tokens to convince the people to start with, but there was
more than a need then for those covenant tokens to be used then
just amongst the people, but they were to be displayed in
all the places that Moses was to go into. And especially God
would use them as he brought about these many plagues. They were not Moses' power, they
were God's power. They were God's doings. And whatsoever
God has in his purpose is for us this evening, it is his doings.
Oh, what grace we need then to watch and to wait for him to
appear, and to glorify him as he does appear, and encourages
us with such a word as this this evening, that it may speak sharply
against ourselves as sinners in unbelief, because to be on
the wrong side of this word is to be under that power, his hand
that will overcome us, destroy us forever. but to be found in
it under the blessing of the Lord, is to show that divine
certainty of his grace to us then, though with such a trembling
spirit that Moses had, to see that God then is ever about the
things that he will do. He has not run out of the things
that he will do. He is the almighty, the eternal
one, the all-glorious one. And he has that great purpose
in that, to bring each one of the souls of his dear people
into his presence at last, great matter that the devil hates and
seeks to destroy, that he might yet overcome one soul that is
destined to heaven. But I would have the mercy of
the Lord to see that that cannot be so, and yet in our hearts
personally we often fear that is so, because we cannot see
how it can be for us, for me as a lost sinner, for you as
a lost sinner, but oh may the Lord show those glimpses of his
grace and this divine certainty of such a gracious God in his
love, that he cannot fail then to fulfil the word, because having
spoken it, then he will perform it and thereby be glorified in
it. May the Lord bless his word to
us each this evening and forgive all that I speak amiss from it.
Amen. to our service this evening by
singing hymn number 721. The tune is Old Hundredth, number
382. To him that loved us, ere we
lay concealed within the passive clay, to him that loved us though
we fell and saved us from the pains of hell, To Him that found
us dead in sin and planted holy life within. To Him that taught
our feet the way from endless night to endless day. In number 721, June Old 100th,
number 382. In Bethlehem shall we pray, ? Come to Bethlehem as we were
born ? ? To Bethlehem as we were born ? And take us from the gates of
Hell. To the promised land we'll sing
? Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen,
amen, amen, amen. ? The moon is bright in this day
? ? The wind blows over like Christmas breeze ? and sanctified it by His grace,
to Him that taught us how to love. ? He who breaks with the little
boy ? ? He who breaks with the younger boy ? ? And made it to the living world ? ? Serenest, sacred, dangerous
place ? The Lord in thy mercy, do forgive and
pardon. We pray, O let us see a mess in our worship this evening.
We do ask thy blessing to rest upon thine own word. Do speak
mightily from it. Lord, you cause it to rest in
our hearts, give us faith to walk in it, we pray thee, to
pray on that those reveal us the things that they won't do
and aren't doing in our hearts and in our souls. So dear Lord,
watch over us as we separate, keep us safe in journeys that
we make this evening upon the roads and the longer or shorter,
bless us all to disconnect from the service at home and be with
us throughout the night. Grant a good night's rest, we
pray in due time. And so guide us each, we pray
by thy counsel, and afterward receive us into thy glory. May
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion
of the Holy Ghost abide with us forever. Amen.