by singing together hymn number
193 to the tune Albaino 847. I am, says Christ, your glorious
head. May we attention give the resurrection
of the dead, the life of all that live. Hymn 193, tune Albaino
847. I am, says Christ, your glorious
King, May we attention give The resurrection of the dead The
life of all that live By faith in me Thou saw'st me,
To see to my plight, Death before. Happy now in my name may be,
shall be to God your Lord. The spine of sleeping in his
grave Shed my voice away and where my bones begin to save,
my work of hell goes safe. Fulfill thy promise, gracious
Lord, on us assembled here. Fulfill thy spirit with the Word,
Then falls the dead to me. Praise her for peril, Faith and
I, In her said, Love thy name. O sin and Satan, may ye strive
to quench the sacred fire. Calling power and mercy, thus
bring help from death to set us free. And all the sins of life and
hell have paid not me in thee. To Thee we look, to Thee we bow,
to Thee for help we call. Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in the Acts of the Apostles and Chapter 4. The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter
4. And as they spake unto the people,
the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees
came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people and
preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid
hands on them and put them in hold until the next day, for
it was eventide, albeit many of them which heard the word
believed. And the number of the men was
about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow
that their rulers and elders and scribes and Annas the high
priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as
were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together
at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in
the midst, they asked, by what power, or by what name, have
ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy
Ghost, said unto them, you rulers of the people, and elders of
Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done unto the
impotent man, by what means he is made whole, be it known unto
you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised
from the dead, even by him, Doth this man stand here before you
whole? This is the stone which was set
at nought of you builders, which has become the head of the corner.
Neither is there salvation in any other. There is none other name under
heaven a given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they
saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they
were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. And they took
knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding
the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing
against him. But when they had commanded them
to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves.
saying what shall we do to these men for what for that indeed
is a notable miracle which have been done by them is manifest
to all them that dwell in jerusalem and we cannot deny it but that
it spread no further among the people let us straightly threaten
them that they speak henceforth to no man in this name And they
called them and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach
in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and
said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to
hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot
but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when
they had further threatened them, they let them go. finding nothing
how they might punish them because of the people. For all men glorified
God for that which was done. For the man was above 40 years
old on whom this miracle of healing was showed. And being let go,
they went to their own company and reported all that the chief
priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that,
lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord,
thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth and the sea
and all that in them is, who by the mouth of thy servant David
hast said, why do the heathen rage and the people imagine vain
things? The kings of the earth stood
up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and
against his Christ, for of a truth against thy holy child Jesus,
whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with
the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before
to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatening
and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak
thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal, and that
signs and wonders may be done by the name of the Holy Child
Jesus. And when they had prayed, the
place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they
were all filled with the Holy Ghost, And they spake the word
of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that
believed were of one heart and of one soul. Neither said any
of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own,
but they had all things common. And with great power gave the
apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great
grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them
that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses
sold them, and brought the price of the things that were sold,
and laid them down at the apostles' feet. And distribution was made
unto every man according as he had need. And Joseph, who by
the apostles was named Barnabas, which is being interpreted the
son of consolation, a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the
apostles' feet. May the Lord bless the reading
of his own precious word, and grant to us a spirit of real
prayer. Gracious, almighty, and eternal We pray
for grace to bow before thee. We pray for the Holy Spirit to
give us real prayer, the grace of supplication with thanksgiving,
as we seek to come and bow before thy great majesty. Set our heart
and our mind, our souls, and all our faculties on things above
and not on things of the earth, for Lord, how soon we get distracted,
and does not one say what various hindrances we meet when coming
to the mercy seat? Oh, most gracious Lord, this
is so true. And the dear apostle, as he went
forth to preach the everlasting gospel, he had to say, but Satan
hindered us. We pray that we may be enabled
to press on and to press forward, and that thou would deliver us
from temptation Deliver us from the power and dominion of sin.
Deliver us from an evil heart of unbelief. Give us clear views
by faith of the glories of Christ, the King of Zion, the great King
and head of the church, the bridegroom of our souls, the altogether
lovely one, the chiefest among 10,000. Help us to worship him. We do humbly beseech thee. Guide
us, O Lord, we do pray Thee unto Him. We read, Most Blessed Spirit
of Thee, that Thou wilt take of the things of Jesus and reveal
them unto us. We pray that tonight, as we gather
round Thy Word, that Thou wilt indeed take of the things of
Jesus and reveal them unto us. Oh, we do pray for Thy divine
guidance and blessing. We do pray for the opening of
thy word. We do pray for the spirit of
faith to lay hold of that hope that is set before us in the
gospel, to be found looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured
the cross, despising the shame thereof, and is now set down
at the right hand of the majesty on high, Oh, do hear us, Lord,
and grant that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love
of God the Father and the sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit
may rest and abide upon us. For none come except the Father
draw. May we know those divine drawings
of our Heavenly Father. May we know the wonderful presence
of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we touch the hem of His garment
and draw from that fullness that is in him. We do humbly beseech
of thee. The fullness resides in Jesus
our head, and ever abides to answer our need. Gracious God,
we do pray for that fullness of grace that is in Christ Jesus,
for he is full of grace and truth, and in him dwelleth all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily. Gracious God, all who believe
in you, that of the glories of Christ, of his wonderful power
and willingness to save, we do pray that thou wouldst bless
us as a church and as a congregation, and work mightily, powerfully,
and effectually among us, and do grant that one may dip his
foot in oil, and be made acceptable unto the brethren, and the word
preached may be in power, in the Holy Ghost and with much
assurance we do humbly beseech them, we pray. Remember our brethren the deacons,
graciously give wisdom, guidance and help in all matters, we do
humbly beseech them. Especially Lord in these coming
two weeks, be with them in the conducting of the services and
be with thy servants as they come in and out among us. and
grant that they may dip their foot in oil and be made acceptable
unto the brethren, and that they will speak to our hearts, that
they will edify our souls, and that the Lord Jesus Christ may
be exalted and set forth in all his suitability as the Saviour
of sinners. Oh, do hear us, Lord, we humbly
beseech thee, and have mercy upon us for thy great namesake. We do pray that thou, in thy
precious mercy, would graciously remember each one of our brethren
and sisters in church fellowship, that thou would grant us that
sacred unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, that we may
love each other, serve each other, bear each other's burdens, thereby
fulfilling the law of Christ. Oh, do hear us, Lord. humbly
beseech thee, and have mercy upon us, we pray thee. And we
pray, most gracious Lord, that thou, in thy precious mercy,
would remember the whole of our congregation. Remember them with
the favour that thou bearest unto thy people, and visit them
with thy great salvation. Those that seek rest and change
at this time, be with them, and bless them, and undertake for
them. O Lord, we do beseech thee. We pray that thou and thy precious
mercy will be with us in our long journeys in these coming
weeks and graciously watch over and keep and preserve and bring
us home in peace and in safety. And may the God of mist for watch
between us, we do humbly beseech of thee. We pray, O Lord, for
the outpouring of thy spirit. We've read together in thy word
of the wonderful effect of the outpouring of Thy Spirit. We pray that we may feel it tonight,
that there may be that liberty and light and power in the Word. And we come to Thee, O Lord,
the dear Apostle of old, that I may know Him in the power of
His resurrection, in the fellowship of His suffering, be made conformable
unto his death. So bless us, Lord, we do humbly
beseech thee. We seek, O Lord, thy richest
blessing upon the little ones and the children that come among
us, that thou wouldst bless them indeed. In their young and tending
years, put thy holy fear in their hearts. Our young friends, graciously
bless them with light and understanding in thy word. with faith in Jesus
Christ, that they may become true followers of thee and of
those who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises.
We pray for the prodigals that have wandered away, that thou
wouldst graciously bring them back, as thou alone art able. Lord, we lovingly commend them
to thee and to the word of thy grace. Oh, that thou wouldst
bless them indeed, that thou wouldst cause them to be in one
that thou wouldst cause them to return, sovereign grace or
sinner bounty, all that we may see its power, evidenced among
us in the returning prodigals, that there may be in that spirit
of thanksgiving unto thee and true worship of thee, to see
these prodigals return, to see thy wonderful grace made manifest. Lord, let us see thy work, let
us see thy power, let us see thy glory. as thou us'st to be
in the sanctuary. But we do pray that most gracious
Lord that thou wouldst remember all in the midst of the journey
of life. Remember them with the favour that thou bearest unto
thy people. Visit them with thy great salvation. Remember parents and give them
wisdom and grace to bring up their children in the nurture
and in the admonition of the Lord. Oh, do hear us, Lord, grant
that there may be a generation that shall yet be raised up to
call Thee the Redeemer blessed, and that we may see the fulfilling
of that wonderful promise, instead of Thy fathers shall be Thy children,
whom Thou mayest make princes in all the earth. And, O Lord,
we do pray that Thou would remember all in the midst of the journey
of life, Deliver us from the temptations of the wicked one.
Deliver us from the power and dominion of sin. Whether the
enemy comes, O Lord, as a roaring lion to devour, or whether he
comes as an angel of light to deceive, we pray to be delivered
from his power. As promised in thy word, that
when the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord
will lift up a standard against him? And are there not those
clear evidences in thy holy word of the wonderful power of our
Lord Jesus Christ to cast out devils and to deal with sin? Gracious God, do hear us, we
pray thee, in heaven thy holy dwelling place, to make us more
spiritually minded. Remember those of us that are
now in the evening time of life's journey, and come and graciously
bless us and prepare us for that great change that must come.
Prepare me, gracious God, to stand before thy face. Thy spirit
must the work perform, for it is all of grace. We do pray,
most gracious God, that thou would remember this, and that
the wonderful glory and power and light of gospel truth may
shine into this village, and the word distributed may be richly
blessed of thee, that it may be down to the great glory and
honour of thy holy and eternal name. O Lord God, we do pray
that thou in thy precious mercy would hear us. We read in thy
word, for I am returned unto Jerusalem with mercies, we pray
that it may be so here. We read in years gone by, especially
in that long pastor of William Borman, how that thy wonderful
power was put forth and thy wonderful grace was made manifest. Lord,
we pray that thou would remember us now. And again, that that
wonderful power of thy gospel, the light and power of it may
be put forth in this dark day. and that the strongholds of Satan
may be pulled down, and the kingdom of our Lord Jesus set up in the
hearts of sinners. Oh, let thy work appear unto
thy servants and thy glory unto their children, O Lord, we do
humbly beseech of thee for thy great namesake. Get to thyself
honour, glory and praise in the gospel, of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, fulfil those wonderful promises in thy word, I will
bring thy sons from far, and thy daughters from the ends of
the earth, and they shall come from the north, and from the
south, and from the east, and from the north, and from the
west. Lord, let us see Zion's offspring
come. We think of those wonderful promises,
the whole chapters in Isaiah. where thou hast promised to bless
Isaiah, where thou hast promised to send real prosperity. Lord,
we do pray that the Lord Jesus Christ may be exalted as a Prince
and as a Saviour, for to give faith and repentance and remission
of sins. We do humbly beseech of that. We do pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou wouldst fill our hearts with gratitude with thanksgiving
for who our Lord Jesus is, the King of glory, the King of righteousness,
the King of peace. Oh, we would bow in humble adoration
before thy great majesty, thankful for the eternal word that was
made flesh and dwelt among us. May we behold his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth. And O Lord, we thank Thee for
that holy life that He lived as a man under the law, made
of a woman, or bringing in everlasting righteousness through that perfect
obedience of the holy God-man to the holy law of God, Jehovah
Sidkenu, the Lord, our righteousness. We thank Thee for Calvary, where
the Lamb was slain, where sin was put away, where divine justice
was satisfied, where God and sinners are reconciled. Oh, we
thank Thee for that precious blood of the Lamb that cleanses
from all sin. Hear us, Lord. We humbly beseech
Thee. He loved not his life unto death.
He poured out his soul unto death. We bow in humble worship. On
the third day, he rose again for our justification. What wonderful
glories dwell in our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank thee that he's
bodily ascended into heaven and that we indeed have a great high
priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. Oh Lord, we would seek to worship
thee, to follow thee, to serve thee, we think of those wonderful
words, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. O Lord, we do pray that thou
wouldst hear us in heaven, thy holy dwelling place, and when
thou hearest, O Lord, forgive, and that thou wouldst 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 491 and the tune is Westbourne 662. Pleased we read in sacred
story Have our Lord resumed his breath? Where's, O grave, thy conquering
glory? Where's thy sting, thou phantom
death? Soon thy jaws restrain from chewing,
Must disgorge their ransom prey. Man first gave thee power to
ruin, Man, too, takes that power away. Hymn 491. tune westbourne 662. O come, O come, all ye faithful
joyful and triumphant O come, O come, all ye faithful joyful
and triumphant O come, O come, all ye faithful joyful and triumphant
? Send thy voice with strength
unyielding ? ? That each heart with heart shall pray ? ? Reckoning
be upon you evermore ? ? Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia ? Be not violent, but have mercy.
Learn to fear the Lord at all times. Always act with humility. May we be just as you may. May I be true to you evermore. Greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help, I would direct your attention to the chapter
that we read, the fourth chapter in the Acts of the Apostles.
And we'll read verse 33 for our text. Acts of the Apostles, chapter
four, verse 33. And with great power gave the
apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. and great
grace was upon them all. When I was first reading through
this early this morning, just those two things that seemed
to stand out to me, great power, great grace, and that seemed
to so stand out, great power, great grace, even of course the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and we read of him in John 1
that he is full of grace and truth and then we have those
lovely words in James where James says about that fullness, that
fullness, he giveth more grace And it's all from that wonderful
fullness, that inexhaustible fullness of grace that is in
our Lord Jesus Christ. It will never be exhausted. It
is always full. It's always full. What a wonderful line of thought,
isn't it? That fullness. The hymn writer
takes it out, doesn't he? A fullness resides. in Jesus
our head, and ever abides to answer our need, it resides in
Jesus. That wonderful power to say,
the apostle, he could witness, couldn't he? When he was in Thessalonica,
for our gospel came unto you, not in word only, but in power,
in the Holy Ghost. in power in the Holy Ghost. Isn't that what we need? When
the word is preached that there might be that power of the Holy
Ghost. Nothing can be done without the
power of the Holy Ghost. None of us would ever be saved
if it wasn't for the power of the Holy Ghost. If it wasn't
for the fact that the Holy Ghost dwells in the heart of the believer. It's a wonderful fullness not
only in Jesus Christ, but in the Godhead. That fullness of
love, of the love of the Eternal Father. God so loved the world,
he gave his only begotten Son. What a fullness there is there,
isn't there? That fullness of love, that it's spoken of in
Scripture as abundant love. There's an abundance of love
from the Father. to his church, to his spouse,
to the bride of his beloved son, as an abundance of grace, as
a fullness of grace, and with great power gave the
apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great
grace was upon them all. You know this power spoken of,
and it's manifest, especially in the Acts of the Apostles,
that when the apostles went to preach, and the wonderful grace
that was manifested, and the power that was manifested. And
it says in, when we begin here, in this chapter that we read
together, And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the
captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, being
grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus
the resurrection of the dead. This is what grieved them. The
Jews denied the resurrection of the dead. The Jews gave great
money to the Roman soldiers to deny that the disciples came. or they said the disciples came
and stole away his body. And they gave them money to say
that. The Sadducees, of course, the sect among the Jews, they
didn't believe in the resurrection of the dead. And so they wondered
and they denied these things. And then if we look down in verse
7 and when they had set them in the midst they asked by what
power or by what name have you done this? In the previous chapter
we have the man at the gate called Beautiful and the Lord Peter
fastened his eyes upon him with John said look on us and he gave
heed and was expecting to receive something of them then Peter
said silver and gold have I none But such as I have, I give I
thee, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right
hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received
strength. And he, leaping up, stood and
walked, and entering with them into the temple, walking and
leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking,
and praising God, and they knew that it was he which sat for
arms at the beautiful gate. It was a man of over 40 years
of age, which was a good age in those days. They were filled
with wonder and amazement at that which had happened to him.
You see, my beloved friends, it was in the name of the Holy
Child Jesus that this was done. And the gospel is the same today.
The power of it is in the name of the Holy Child Jesus. The
power of it is in the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
that cleanses us from all sin. It is the wonderful power of
divine grace that there is in our Lord Jesus Christ. And so it says here in verse
eight, Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them,
Ye rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we this day be
examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what
means he is made whole, see how they preach the gospel to them,
be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel,
that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified,
whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand
here before you all. And then quotation here from
the book of Psalms, this is a stone which was set at nought of you
builders, which has become the head of the corner. Neither,
see the wonderful witness they give, neither is there salvation
in any other for there is none other name under heaven given
among men whereby we must be saved. No other name, no other
power, no other grace but in this glorious person of Jesus
the Son of God. Now they were astonished Verse
13, now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived
that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. You see, if you look back in
church history, you just think William Gadsby, he was a man,
hardly any schooling. Hardly any schooling. John Warburton,
another one. John Kershaw, another one. And
yet the Lord raised them up to be mighty ministers of the gospel,
to be wonderful evangelists as they went forth and preached
there's life alone in Jesus Christ, the King eternal and the immortal.
You see, and they took knowledge of them, that they, Peter and
John, had been with Jesus. And they could say nothing against
it. There was a man standing with them. But they commanded them not to speak in this name. And they answered very firmly,
didn't they? Verse 18, and they called them
and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name
of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and
said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to
hearken unto you more than unto God judging for you cannot but
speak the things which we have seen and heard and when they further threaten
them they let them go finding nothing how they might punish
them and with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus You know, Paul, he speaks quite extensively on
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, because it was
such a wonderful thing, how he was resurrected from the dead.
And in the 1 Corinthians chapter 15, a very long chapter, that
the apostle argues the point. There were those false teachers
that had come into the church at Corinth that were saying that
There was no resurrection of the dead. And the Apostle commences his
chapter. I declare unto you the gospel
which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein
ye stand, by which also ye are saved. If ye keep in memory what
I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain, For I
delivered unto you, first of all, that which I also receive,
how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture,
and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according
to the Scriptures. See, it's according to the Scriptures. What saith the Scripture? that
he was seen of Cephas and then of the twelve, after that he
was seen of above five hundred brethren, that is after his resurrection,
at once. And the greater part of those
five hundred brethren were still with him. After that he was seen of James
and of all the apostles. And then the humility of the
dear apostle and last of all, he was seen of me also, as of
one born out of due time. And it says in verse 12, now
if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some
among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? And if there be
no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen? And
if Christ be not risen, our preaching is vain, and your faith is also
vain. we have found false witnesses
of God because you have testified of God that he raised up Christ
whom he raised not up if so be that the dead rise not if the
dead rise not then is not Christ raised if Christ be not raised
your faith is vain you are yet in your sins then they also which are fallen
asleep in Christ are perished this is the foundation doctrine
of our most holy faith, that Jesus rose again for our justification. In verse 20, but now is Christ
risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that
slept. Christ himself said that if I live, ye shall live
also. Speaking to believers, speaking
to his disciples, if I live, ye shall live also. Why? Because it's because of my resurrection
that you'll be resurrected from the dead. For as in Adam will
die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Every man
in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, afterward they are
Christ that is coming, then come at the end. when he shall have
delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall
have put down all rule and all authority and power, for he must
reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet, the last enemy
that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under
his feet. You see, my beloved friends,
these things are written our instruction in the doctrine of
truth and this is one of the most fundamental doctrines of
truth. You speak in verse 37 of Corinthians
15 he says then that which thou sowest he's speaking of sowing
the seed thou sowest not that body that shall be but bare grain
it may chance of wheat or of some other grain But God giveth
it a body, as he hath pleased him, and to every seed his own
body. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind
of flesh of man, another flesh of beast, another of fishes,
another of birds. There are celestial bodies, there
are bodies terrestrial. The glory of the celestial is
one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. It's the glory of
the sun, and so he goes on. And he says in verse 42, so also
is the resurrection of the dead. He likens a believer being buried
in the grave. So is the resurrection of the
dead. It is sown in corruption. 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. So it is written, the first man
Adam was made a living soul and the last Adam was made a quickening
spirit. That's Christ, a quickening spirit. And all the church is quickened
in him. I am the way, the truth and the
life. John chapter three, he that hath
the son hath life. He that hath not the son of God
hath not life, and life is hid in Christ, in God. See, he carries on here in the
Corinthians concerning the resurrection. You see, the first man, that
is Adam, is of the earth earthy. The second man is the Lord from
heaven. As is the earthly, such are they also are earthly, and
as is the heavenly, such are they that are heavenly. As we
are born the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image
of the heavenly. That's of Christ. Now this I say, brethren, that
flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither corruption
inherit incorruption. You see, 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. This
is the great day of the resurrection at the last trump for the trumpet
shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we
shall be changed. This is the hope. This is the
hope of the believer. The grave to the believer is
but a downy bed that's lined with love and blood for this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must 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? A sting of death is sin. The
strength of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, which gives
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the eternal
hope of the true believer in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This hope of eternal life, and
with great power, gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus. and great grace was upon them
all. My mind it just goes to that
lovely word in the 13th chapter of the prophet Hosea and how
beautifully the Spirit of God sets before us this same wonderful
grace that is in our Lord Jesus Christ. And so we read in Hosea
chapter 13 and verse 14 I will ransom them from the power
of the grave. I will redeem them from death.
O death, I will be thy plagues. O grave, I will be thy destruction. Repentance shall be hid from
mine eyes, that is, I will not turn back. I will enter into
death itself, I will destroy death and hid that had the power
of death and I will swallow up death in victory. Wonderful prophecies
these are set before us in the Word of God. We read equally
in the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the resurrection of the dead. When the Lord himself shall raise
his people from the dead in Isaiah chapter 25 and we read there
in verses 6 through to 8 Isaiah 25, verses six through to eight.
And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people
a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the leaves, of fat
things full of marrow, of wines on the leaves well refined. And
he, this is Christ, and he will destroy in this mountain the
face of the covering cast over all people and the veil that
is spread over all nations. he will swallow up death in victory. And the Lord God shall wipe away
tears from off all faces, and the rebuke of his people shall
he take away from off all the earth, for the Lord hath spoken
it. He will destroy, he will swallow
up death in victory. That's exactly what we've read
together in the Corinthians chapter 15 and with great power gave
the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. You know the
significance, this is an important thing friends, the significance
of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. What is
so significant? Well of course number one he
He has destroyed death, as it says in the word of God, when
he rose from the dead, he entered into death and there was a purpose
that he might destroy death. For three days and nights he
lay in the grave. On the third day, he rose again. And the apostle clearly in Romans
chapter five, he clearly emphatically sets before us, he rose again
for our justification. What does justification mean?
To be declared to be without sin. How can that be? A poor, wretched, filthy sinner,
burdened and troubled by sin on every side, and yet declared
to be without sin. Now the wonderful thing of the
resurrection is, is that the Lord Jesus Christ died for the
sins of his people. When his Holy Father laid upon
him the iniquity of us all, and that iniquity literally laid
on Christ, he himself did no sin, but he was made sin for
us. He was made sin for us. The Father
laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. That is why He died. That is why He suffered. That is why He poured out His
soul unto death. Because upon Him. And it says
there in Isaiah 53, He was wounded for our transgressions. He was
bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace
was upon Him. And with His stripes we are healed.
That's our Lord Jesus Christ. but he paid a perfect atonement
for those sins of his people. It's a holy atonement, and that
was required by God. The atonement for sin, that is
what is so set forth in the sacrifices of the Old Testament. They had
to be without blemish. Christ was without blemish. Those
sacrifices represented that. So he entered into death itself
to redeem his people from death and from the power of sin and
Satan. And that price, that redemption
price that he paid was the sacrifice of his own life, of his own sacred,
holy human nature, a sin atoning sacrifice offered upon the altar
of his divinity. He paid. The utmost price. But he rose from the dead. And
what does that mean? What is the significance? The
sin of the church had been atoned for. That's the significance. That's why he says, rose again
for our justification. Their sins are gone. With numerous
scriptures, their sins and their iniquities, will I remember no
more? As far as the east is from the
west so far, have I removed thy sins from thee, O Israel? They're
gone. I have cast thy sins into the
depths of the sea. They're gone. Therefore justified. Their sins and their iniquities
will I remember no more. Justified, declared to be without
sin. An atonement was made. The redemption
price was paid. That was the holy life. sufferings
and death of Jesus Christ. And the resurrection from the
dead is the beginning of his exaltation. And with great power gave the
apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The resurrection
of the Lord Jesus. Wonderful truth, precious truth. Is there that longing in your
heart as it was with dear Apostle in Philippians chapter 3, that
I might know him in the power of the resurrection. The power
of the resurrection. In our opening hymn tonight it
speaks there of the wonderful power of the resurrection and
how in that hymn there was a longing desire to feel that power of
that resurrection and to know it among us as I am says Christ
your glorious head may we attention give the resurrection of the
dead the life of all that live in him is life in him is life
eternal life I give unto my sheep eternal life by faith in me the
soul receives new life though dead before And he that in my
name believeth shall live to die no more. The sinner sleeping in his grave
shall at my voice awake. And when I once begin to say
my work, I'll ne'er forsake the resurrection of the dead. A most fundamental doctrine of
our most holy faith. It really is. And with great
power, gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus and great grace was upon them all. We read, do we not, there's a
fullness of grace in Christ. There is. A fullness of grace
in Christ. An inexhaustible supply of grace. Grace, the word grace, it literally
means the free, unmerited favor of the eternal God. First time
we read of grace, it's in Noah. And we read this, and Noah found
grace in the eyes of the Lord. What grace? The grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Noah had faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ. He did. And that wonderful grace
to save, that wonderful grace to redeem. Oh, my beloved friend,
this wonderful grace. John Newton puts it so beautifully,
doesn't he? Amazing grace. How sweet the
sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now
I'm found, was blind, but now I see. Great grace. It's great. because it's the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ. It is an inexhaustible supply
of grace for the church of God, it is. And it may be that again
you have to come and ask for grace, Lord give me grace, Lord
give me wisdom, Lord give me guidance. My beloved friends,
there's an inexhaustible supply of grace in our Lord Jesus Christ. It's a fullness there. It ever
abides to answer our needs. That wonderful fullness that
is in Christ. The free unmerited favour. It is for poor, lost, ruined,
wretched sinners where they've got nothing to pay. Nothing to
pay. And it's for the poor backsliding
soul who has nothing to pay. who has to hang their head in
shame because of their foolishness. But they're welcome. They're
welcome to Jesus Christ. They're welcome to plead the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And there is such a fullness
in that grace. There is indeed, friends, a fullness
in that grace, in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and great
grace was upon them all. You know, friends, don't we have
to say, those that have received grace, it's great grace, isn't
it? We're great sinners. And the
grace of Jesus Christ is great grace. It matches our sins. I often think of that word in
the book of Psalms, deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy
water spouts. The noise of thy water spouts
is Zion, the hills of Zion, the church of God, the living water
that will flow there. But it's deep, calling unto deep.
What does it mean? Well, the way I see it is like
this. It's the deep of a poor, lost, ruined, wretched, helpless,
unholy, hell-deserving sinner. What a deep he's in, under the
curse of the holy law of God, with no hope in the world. It's that deep. But opposing that deep is the
fullness in Christ. Fullness of grace in Christ.
Grace to save, grace to redeem, grace to deliver. Deliver him from going down into
the pit. I have found a ransom. The ransom
is the precious blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. paid the ransom
price, he poured out his soul unto death, he was numbered among
the transgressors, and he bared the sin of many. Great grace,
that wonderful grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, in that he took
our room place instead, and he suffered and bled and died for
our sins, and rose again for our justification. That those
that are in Christ shall never be condemned. There is now therefore
no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Oh, the
greatness of that grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do you know
this grace? Have you tasted this grace? Do
you know this love, this wonderful love of the Father in and through
his best beloved Son? You tasted this grace, this great
grace, It's great grace. It is. And with great power gave
the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace
was upon them all. Great grace. All that we may
taste and handle and feel a little of this great You think of the
wonderful grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who we've spoken of in
his suffering, his death, in his resurrection, in his ascension
into glory. The great grace that is there. Our precious Redeemer. He ascended
up on high. He led his disciples out as far
as unto Bethany, lifted up his hands and blessed them, and he
was received up into heaven. They saw him bodily enter into
heaven on a cloud. They did. Heaven is open through
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He's opened the gates of heaven.
He's made a new and living way into the holy place. What great
grace. And not only that friends, we
have an advocate with the Father and it's our great High Priest.
It is. great high priest and advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, great grace. It's always there, 24 hours a
day, every minute, every second, every day, Jesus is there. He
waits to be gracious, he does, and he will be gracious to poor
coming sinners. He will not turn away. You look
into the Gospels and how the Lord Jesus Christ so wonderfully
helped the poor and the needy, and the helpless and the hopeless.
He did. He helped them. And he's still the same. He's Jesus Christ, the same yesterday,
and today, and forever. The Apostle says in the Corinthians,
he says, ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though
he were rich, yet for our sakes, he became poor. Oh, the wonderful
grace, the condescending grace, the infinite love of that grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, how he came down to this sin cast
earth and he lived as a man upon the earth. He was made of wool,
made under the law, that he might redeem them that are under the
law. This is the grace of our Lord Jesus. He sends his Spirit. The Holy Ghost proceeded forth
from the Father and the Son, and he comes into this world,
and he comes to every one of those chosen vessels of mercy, foundation of God standeth sure
having this seal upon it the Lord knoweth them that are his
he does and he sends his spirit at the appointed time the appointed
time rolls on a pace not to propose but call by grace to turn the
feet to Zion's hill it does the wonderful grace of God the grace
of the spirit entering the heart of a poor wretched sinner And
then when I was brought into gospel liberty, I was amazed
to think of the holy, pure, divine spirit of God entering into my
wicked, sinful, corrupt heart, quickening my soul into life,
convicting and convincing me of my sin, and then leading me
to Jesus Christ. That wonderful grace of the Holy
Ghost, it is. And with great power, gave the
apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace
was upon them all and that you know the fullness of this grace
will not be known until we enter into eternal glory and then we
shall then have the capacity to think eternally on this wonderful
grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus May the Lord add his blessing. As we part today, we sing this
lovely little hymn. And may we sing it with the heart.
with the understanding also. Hymn 501 to Mariah, 495. For a season called to part,
let us now ourselves commend to the gracious iron heart of
our ever-present friend. Hymn 501 to Mariah, 495. Oh, say, does that star-spangled
? Hail, all hail ? ? Hail, all
hail ? ? Hail, all hail ? ? Hail, all hail ? O come, O come, Emmanuel, O come,
O come, Emmanuel, O come, O come, Emmanuel, ? Temple shepherd, mother sheep
? ? Bed thy mercy, heart thy care ? All our sorrows in safety keep. All our sorrows in safety keep. In life, good life, we may be
strong, Strength to bear in battle's end. He was here, he lived at all,
yet to me he did disappear. Then turn with me in peace and
praise. Heavenly power, like no other
force, that the patient shall be free. All the souls shall praise the
Lord, Fill up the world with Jesus' blood. Now may the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship
of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us each both now and
for evermore. Amen.