I commence our worship this evening
by singing hymn number 778. The tune is Houghton, number
808. So straight be the way, with
dangers beset, and we on the way are no farther yet. Our good
guide and saviour has helped us thus far, and it is by his
favour we are what we are. A favour so great we highly should
prize, Not murmur, nor fret, nor small things despise. But
what call we small things? Sins all cancel some. Tis greater
than all things, except those to come. In number 778, June
Houghton, number 808. Take thee away, where angels
beset, and be on the way a look of the year. A good guide, a saviour, and
turn back the star, and destroy Israel in our own dear hour. The way has to be made by vision
bright. No path and no path, no small
things this light. Apocholies fortes, scents of
cancer strong, this my God I'll obey, I check that it's still there. I've left them in there, from
what we have been. ? Have watered his land to our
sons' sake ? ? And our home, O God, may you be pleased with
us ? This that holds me in time, longs
passion for them. ? And their cross with bones ?
? And their body seen ? ? With water and with oil ? ? To Jesus'
hand ? He has abandoned us from beginning
to end, and my soul hath grown up for His and His blood. Though pestilence o'er the plains
surround us we fear, Though prospects of bliss and fortunes appear,
It's grateful, it's pleasant to sing and love the Lord. If I'm hopeful, pleasant to pray. Let us read together from the
book of the Revelation, reading chapter 3. Revelation chapter
3. The third chapter of Revelation. and unto the angel of the church
in Sardis write, these things, saith he, that have the seven
spirits of God and the seven stars. I know thy works, that
thou hast the name that thou livest and art dead. Be watchful and strengthen the
things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not
found my works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou
hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore
thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and
thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast
a few names, even in Sardis, which have not defiled their
garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are
worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white
raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book
of life. But I will confess his name before my Father and before
his angels. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. And to the angel of the church
in Philadelphia write, These things saith he that is holy,
he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth
and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, I know thy
works. Behold, I have set before thee
an open door, and no man can shut it. For thou hast a little
strength, and has kept my word, and has not denied my name. Behold,
I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are
Jews and are not, but do lie. Behold, I will make them to come
and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved
thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also
will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come
upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold,
I come quickly. Hold thou fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make
a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more
out. And I will write upon him the
name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which
is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God.
And I will write upon him my name, my new name. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. And unto the angel
of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith the
Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation
of God. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot,
I would thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because
thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and am need of nothing,
And knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked? I counsel thee to buy of me gold
tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment,
that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness
do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with thyself, that thou
mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous,
therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and
knock. If any man hear my voice and
open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him and
he with me. To him that overcometh will I
grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am
sat down with my father in his throne. He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. May the Lord bless his holy word
unto us and help us to approach unto him in prayer. Oh, thou holy, holy, holy Lord
God Almighty. Oh, we plead, Lord, as we have
entered into thy house this evening, thou wouldst help us to truly
come and to worship thee. Lord, may we not be left to bring
any strange fire before thee. May we not be left to bring anything
of self into thy house this evening. But help us, Lord, to lay aside
every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us. Oh,
help us, Lord, to come looking alone unto Jesus. May our great
concern be to see Jesus. May our great desire be that
Jesus Christ might be first, that he might be last, that he
might be all in all. Lord, we would desire to thank
thee this evening for thy victory of which we have read. Oh, that
he has overcome and has sat down are on the right hand of the
majesty on high forever. Lord, we plead this evening,
oh, that his victory might be our victory, and that through
him, by faith, we may truly be enabled to say thanks be unto
God, which giveth us a victory through the Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. Lord, we would come once more
to plead that finished work. Oh, may we have, Lord, nothing
else to plead, but, oh, the precious shed blood the perfect righteousness
of our once crucified, but now risen again, ascended and glorified
Saviour, whoever liveth to make intercession for us, and is able
to save unto the uttermost all them that come unto thee by him.
Lord, for the glories of that glorious person, our Saviour,
the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Oh, we plead, Lord, that praise
might wake for thee in Zion, Lord, for the wonders of thy
love, O that thou hast loved us with that love, that thou
hast sent thine only begotten Son and spared him not, but O
that it should be written that it pleased thee to bruise him,
O for the salvation of thy people. Lord, bring us once more this
evening, O to that place where we would truly say with one,
on such love my soul still ponder love so great. so rich, so free,
say whilst lost in holy wonder, why, O Lord, such love to me.
Oh, we plead, Lord, that we might know that love once more this
evening, shed abroad in our soul by the Holy Ghost. Lord, that
we might find that resting place in Christ, that access unto Thee,
oh, through Him, that we might know that union and communion
with Thee, oh, through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Lord, we
plead that Thou wouldst visit us once more with Thy salvation.
That Thou wouldst bid us, Lord, look out of self unto Thee. Oh,
that Thou wouldst help us, Lord, to leave all and to follow Thee.
That Thou wouldst draw us away, Lord, from the things of the
world. Remind us once more this evening there is but one thing
needful. Strengthen us, Lord, as we may be flogging in the
middle of the week. Oh, Lord, that Thou wouldst be strengthened
in faith by enabling us, Lord, to look unto Thee. and to find
in thee the seed now all, all we ever need, all we could ever
desire. Lord, we plead that thou wouldst
grant help in every part of worship. Oh, Lord of ourselves, we cleave
to the dust, but oh, that would strengthen us, Lord, within the
inner man, that thou would strengthen our desires this evening. Oh,
that we might have come, Lord, desiring to be fed, hungry and
thirsting after righteousness. Lord, we plead that thou wouldst
Oh, help us to truly worship Thee in spirit and in truth this
evening. That Thou wouldst, O Lord, not just leave us to the outward
form of worship, but, oh, that Thou wouldst clothe all the world
with Thy power. That Thou wouldst help us, Lord, to sing Thy praise
with understanding hearts. That Thou wouldst, O Lord, be
teaching us how rightly to approach unto Thee. Oh, how to rightly
cast ourselves alone upon Thee in prayer. And thus, Lord, in
every part of worship, Thou wouldst keep us from self, which so quickly
creeps in. Thou wilt keep us from pride,
Lord. Oh, that thou wouldst empty us, Lord, of all things, that
we might be filled with Christ. Lord, give help in the pulpit,
in the desk, and in the pew. Give the hearing ear, the heart
prepared to receive thy word. Oh, give, Lord, that heart that
would desire this evening to be not only hearers of the word,
but doers also. Help us, Lord, to reduce to practice
what we hear. Oh, bless, Lord, the word with
thy power, that none may be sent empty away. But may, Lord, thy
word have that abiding place in the hearts of thy people.
Oh, may it be, Lord, a word they cannot forget, a word that follows
them around, thy word, oh, the voice of God. Lord, we plead
that thou wouldst give help in the desk and the giving out of
the hymns. Lord, truly, may we be of one heart and one voice
before thee this evening. Unite us together. Oh, that the
word of Christ might dwell in us richly. Lord, there might
be that right admonition of one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs. Lord, we plead thou wouldst give
help in the preaching of the word. Help us to rightly divide
the word of truth. Keep us, Lord, for ourselves
from the enticing words of men's wisdom. Oh, we plead, Lord, thou
wouldst help us to come as helpless, to depend alone upon thy grace.
Pour in, Lord, that there might be that pouring out. Oh, that
we might not be left, Lord, Lead any of thy little ones astray,
to speak any error, but help us, Lord, to speak well of Christ,
and help us, Lord, to, oh, set him forth as the only way. Lord,
we plead that thou wouldst bless thy dear servant the past year,
his labours, Lord, during the week. We plead that thy blessing
might rest upon them, that that, Lord, word so might not return
unto thee void. Lord, we plead that thou wouldst
strengthen him, yet in the ministry here, and may he have those souls
for his hire, and signs following the preaching of the word. Lord,
help him in his study, help him in the pulpit, help him as he
goes in and out, Lord, amongst the people. All that thou wouldst,
O Lord, give unto thy pastors, the shepherd's heart, O Lord,
that thou wouldst ever keep us, while our eyes fixed alone upon
the great shepherd of the sheep. Help us, O Lord, to be followers
of thee, Lord, we may be unable to say unto the people of the
apostle, oh, that they should follow us as far and insofar
as we are found followers of Christ. Lord, we plead thou would
uphold the deacons. Remember the deacon away for
rest and change. Lord, we plead thou would strengthen
him in all his many burdens. Lord, that thou would bless a
little church here, unite them together, Lord. O, we plead that
they may truly know that love that flows from heart to heart,
thy presence, Lord, when they gather together. Keep, Lord,
the devil far from them. O, we know, Lord, how quickly
the adversary seeks to get in, and, Lord, left to ourselves,
how quickly we'll aid and abet him. But, O, we plead, Lord,
this evening, that thou wouldst be that wall of fire round about
the little church here, the glory in the midst, and, Lord, that
thou wouldst yet be adding to thy church The ministry here,
Lord, might be made a blessing to the people that gather. Lord,
that we might yet see, in Zion, the wonders of thy grace. Oh,
that thine arm is not shortened, that it cannot save, nigh thine
ear weary, that it cannot hear, but, Lord, that thou wilt be
glorified in the midst of the great congregation. Oh, that
praise, Lord, should be unto thee. Lord, we'd ask that thou
wouldst bless thy one true church, thy people wherever they gather
this evening, thy servants wherever they labour in the gospel. Strengthen
us, Lord, in the midst of the weak. Oh, we plead, Lord, that
thou wouldst be with us day by day. Help us, Lord, to live to
thine honour and thy glory. Oh, may we live, Lord, here as
strangers and pilgrims. May there be that plain declaration
in our life that this world is not our home, that we seek a
city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Oh,
prepare us, Lord, for our end. Oh, as we've been solemnly reminded,
thou shalt come as a thief, when we know it not, Lord, when we
expect it not. Oh, we plead that we might be ready. Oh, prepare
us, gracious God, to stand before thy face. The Spirit must the
work perform, for it is all of grace. But, Lord, truly, if we
are rightly prepared this evening, oh, to stand before thee in thy
house in worship, then, Lord, we will be rightly prepared to
die. Oh, that we might, oh Lord, have that higher view of worship,
that we might have that realisation that, Lord, when the church rightly
gathers together here, it is a little foretaste of heaven.
Oh, that we might know, Lord, this evening the sweetness of
it, the power of it, and that we might find that longing in
our heart for that place where congregations ne'er break up
and sabbaths have no end. Lord, help us to return thee
thanks for thy mercies during the week thus far. Lord for thy
word that was set before the friends here on my day, and Lord
for thy word that we have in our own language, and Lord for
any desire found within our souls after that word, not a desire
of nature, but oh that thou wouldst oh Lord strengthen that desire.
Lord this evening, oh for that love unto the brethren and love
unto Jesus Christ, Lord wherever There is the faintest shadow
of it within our souls. Oh, put there by grace. Lord,
we plead that we might be enabled to truly give thee thanks. Oh,
strengthen, Lord, that grace within us this evening. Oh, that
our cup might be filled, that it might run over. We might be
grown in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. Lord, forgive us all our sins. Our hard-heartedness,
Lord, our forgetfulness of Thee. Our unbelief, Lord, our doubts
and fears. The worldliness, the carnality, the ease. Oh, we plead,
Lord, that Thou wouldst visit us once more with Thy salvation
this evening. Wash us truly from all our iniquities.
Oh, strengthen us, Lord, in Christ. Bring us back to Him. And may
we find in Him, oh, that fullness which filleth all. Receive us
graciously. Love us freely. Take all our
sins away, we'd ask it for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Continue our service by singing
hymn number 833. The tune is St. George, number
59. Thy mercy, Lord, we praise. Of judgment, too, we sing. For
all the riches of thy grace, our grateful tribute bring. Mercy
may justly claim a sinner's thankful voice, and judgment, joining
in the theme, we tremble and rejoice. In number 833, Tune
St. George, number 59, ? Behold He reigneth ? ? The God
of many races ? ? O Lord, Thou makest me of Thy
grace ? ? Thy grace, God, in giving ? ? Mercy makes us keep the faith ? The shepherd sang for miles,
And watched him, joining in the feeding, ? But he did not pass ? ? Like
a prince on a moon ? ? He did not pass me by for good ? ? And on my mind ? ? Give them, Lord, their daily
bread ? ? I've made my promise with thee ? ? And all that is
mine now is thine alone ? In whom this vow we make To love
someone or you ? The waters, the waters, the waters
? ? Have always been the same ? ? I have been the living water
? The little lightest star, bright
and emerald, is still shining above the world so. In order to help me this evening
and grant you prayer for attention, I direct you to a text you'll
find in the portion of God's word read, Revelation chapter
three and read in the 11th verse. Revelation chapter three and
read in the 11th verse. Behold, I come quickly. Hold
that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crap. Revelation three. And the 11th
verse, behold, I come quickly. Hold thou fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown. These letters to the seven churches
are a reminder of the gracious care the Savior takes over his
church. Oh, we must never think that
the church is just left that the great shepherd of the sheep
leaves his church to work out his own salvation, that he leaves
it uncared for, unconcerned about it, but no. He dwells in the
midst of the candlesticks, he stands in the midst of the candlesticks,
as John saw him in the first chapter of this book. And these seven letters are evidence
to the fact that he stands there to witness what is going on in
the church. He sees the troubles of the church.
He sees the joys of the church. He sees the strength of the church.
He sees the weaknesses of the church. And he does not only
see those things to mock them. He does not only see those things
to mark them and then to leave them. But oh friends, he sees
them that he might deal with them. And here in these letters,
we read his gracious dealings with the church. Oh, when the
church was found hurting, he speaks to the church so they
might repent. Oh, he points out to them their errors. Oh, friends,
he points out to them their strengths. He commends them for their strengths
and he exhorts them each. And the letter that we have before
us this evening, the letter that was written to the Church of
Philadelphia, one of only two churches of that seven that the
Lord did not have something against. And yet our text this evening
is in exhortation. Behold, I come quickly. Hold
that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Oh, friends,
it's a reminder that even when all appears to be well in the
church, when all appears to be going well, we need the word
of exhortation. How quickly we settle down, how
quickly in those times when everything appears to be calm and all appears
to be going well, times perhaps of fruitfulness in the church,
Oh friends, left to ourselves, we settle down there. Now we
need the word of exhortation. It is then so often we need to
be on our guard. It is then so often we need to
be reminded of the one thing needful to hold fast, that which
thou hast that no man take thy crown. It is often at those times
when all appears to be going well, the devil is in, sowing
his seeds of division. Now the little foxes are spoiling
the tender grapes upon the vines. Oh friends, we need the word
of exhortation and what a mercy it is that Jesus pleased the
times to send his servants with the word of exhortation, not
the word of condemnation, but the word of exhortation. Our
friends in these letters, you know, even though the Lord may
point out the solemn failings of the church, he doesn't condemn
them. He doesn't cut them off. No,
friends, he tells them to repent. He tells them to return. He says,
In grace, behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man
hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him and will
sit with him and he with me. Oh, this is the heart of the
shepherd, the great shepherd of the sheep. This is the heart
of the pastor of pastors. Friends, this is the heart of
the head of the church as he looks upon his church. Oh, friends,
he desires, he wants, he will have the best for his church.
and therefore he gives the word of exhortation. Behold, I come
quickly. Hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown. Well, friends, in coming to our
text this evening, we want to notice three things. Firstly,
what it is to hold fast. This is the instruction, hold
fast. This is the verb of our text. This is what we are exhorted
to this evening, to hold fast. And then secondly, to notice
what we are to hold fast. Hold fast that which thou hast. And then thirdly, to notice the
reason why we are to hold fast. Behold, I come quickly. And there's
a crown. How that no man take thy crown.
So friends, firstly, what is it to hold fast? To hold something
fast, in its simplest terms, is to hold on to it, to not let
it go. to not let it be taken away from you, to not forget
about it, not that it should be laid to one side and left
forgotten, but to keep it there, keep it close by you, to hold
in your hand, to be ever close to it, to be ever near it, to
be ever reminded of it. Friends, we are to hold fast
to those things that we have in that sense, the truth, we're
not to let it slip. The Apostle exhorted Timothy
to hold fast to that truth that he'd been taught and been assured
of. Now, friends, we're not to let the truth slip. We're not
to allow it to be forgotten. All the things of grace, the
person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the doctrine of Christ, all the
blessings which are in him, the promises in him, yea and amen,
they're not to be forgotten. They're not to be left dusty
on the shelf, as it were. They're not to be put in the
cupboard. No, they are to be Always on hand. We'd have our
hand on it as it were. Hold on to it. But then, friends, the word here
means something stronger than that. Oh, this word speaks of
strength. Oh, this is a strong holding. This is not holding
something with a loose hand. We sometimes speak of holding
things loosely. Oh, friends, there may be it
on hand. It may be something that we use every day. But we
hold it loosely. It doesn't have a hold on us.
It doesn't grip us. Friends, we do not hold it strongly
in that sense. Therefore, it does not have a
hold on us. There's a relationship between how firmly we hold something
to how firm a hold it has on us. We want to come to that in
a moment. But this is a strong grip. Friends, this is the difference
between walking up the stairs and having the balusters on the
side. And perhaps you just run your hand loosely up the banisters,
or you're holding it fast, it's close to you, it's by you. You're
acknowledging it's there, you've got your hand upon it. But, ah,
friends, then when you begin to slip, when you begin to fall,
ah, then your hand grips it. Ah, friends, then you hold on
to it, you depend upon it. If you let that banister go,
you'd fall. Oh, friends, that's the holding
fast that is spoken of in our text. It's not just to have it
near us, it's not just to have our hand upon it, but it's to
have a grip upon it. It's to be hanging upon it, it's
to be depending upon it, it's to be leaning all our weight
upon it. It's to be drawing all our strength from it. That's
the holding fast that is spoken of in our text. I believe it
goes a step further yet. You'll find in the Greek this
word, it speaks of Dominion, it speaks of power. It speaks
of reigning. Oh, this is the word that might
be used of a ruler that has a tight rein on his kingdom. He's holding
it fast. Friends, I think there's something
here for us this evening, and this is where I really want to
come to this evening, to hold fast. We said there was a relationship
between how closely we hold on to something, how tightly we
hold on to something, and how much of a grip it has on us.
If we love somebody, our love to them is in proportion to the
influence they have on us, to the place they have in our heart.
That's what is being spoken of here, hold fast. Those things that we are to hold
fast to, they are, as it were, to rule in us. They are to have
the upper hand. They are to completely mould
us, to completely shape us. They are to reign in us. Friends,
we are to be influenced by them, under the influence of them. Hold that fast which thou hast.
If I can take a negative illustration of this that we find in the Word
of God, we read the love of money is the root of all evil. Friends,
what is it to love money? It's to have your hold on your
money. You count it up, you count every penny, you're looking for
the next penny to come in, and it has a hold on you. It's got
your heart, it's reigning in your heart. Everything in your
life is geared towards more money. Oh, to how you can become rich.
Oh, it affects your job choices. You'll take the job that has
the highest pay. It affects what you spend your money on. You'll
often go for the cheapest option that you might have the greatest
amount of money left at the end of the day. Friends, that's what
the love of money has. It reigns over you. As you hold
on to that money, that money influences and exerts an effect
upon you. It reigns in your life. Everything
comes down to money. Oh, how much money can I make?
How much money can I have? How can I save money? How can
I get money more quickly? Well, friends, that is a negative
example of the positive we are exhorted to hear. Hold fast.
Hold that fast. Friends, we are to hold on to
it. and it's to influence us, it's to reign over us, it's to
affect every part of our life, it's to determine the choices
we make, it's to determine the way that we go each day. That's
what it is to hold fast. Oh, hold that fast which thou
hast, that no man take thy crown. Oh, that is what we are being
exhorted to in our Texas evening. This is not simply looking at
the things we are to hold fast, it's not simply remembering It's
not simply having them by us. Oh, friends, what a difference.
All the promises that are found in the Word of God. Friends,
we may know them, we may have learnt them, perhaps as children.
The texts that we learnt as children, some of the promises. Take an
example. Let your conversation be without
covetousness and be content with such things as you have, for
He has said, I'll never leave thee nor forsake thee. You know
it. You know it off by heart. It's there in the word of God.
You may often turn to the 13th chapter of the epistle to the
Hebrews and read it there. But our friends, is it raining
in your heart? Is it affecting how you live?
Our friends, does it take away the fear when you may be found
having to face those who may be persecuting you because of
the truth? He's with me. He's with me. I need not fear.
He has said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Is it
raining in you? Is it influencing you as you're
found? Perhaps a valley of the shadow
of death? Some deep trouble? He's with me. Therefore we find that there
is that calm, that peace, that comfort that it administers unto
us. Or does it influence us when
we're on our own? When no man may see us? Nobody
may know about us? When the devil says, out of the
path of sin. Oh, choose the easier way. Oh,
friends, that you have an effect upon us. He's with me. Oh, he's
nightly, he has said, I'm with thee, I will never leave thee
nor forsake thee. Oh, that in his eyes I might
not be left to sin. Oh, you see, friends, do you
see the point that I'm trying to get to here? Hold that fast
which thou hast. If we're rightly holding fast,
that which the Lord has given us. If we're rightly holding
fast the promises, rightly holding fast the exhortations, rightly
holding fast the word of God. Oh, friends, if we're rightly
holding fast to Christ, to his precious name, which anointment
poured forth. If we're rightly holding fast to the ordinances,
to his day, to the preaching of the gospel. Oh, friends, it
will affect our life. It will reign in our life. Everything
will be geared towards it. Oh, no part will be left untouched
by it. And that's what the Philadelphians
were being exhorted to. Hold that fast which thou hast. Oh, that we might know the love
of Christ reigning in us. We might know the word of God
dwelling in us. Oh, that we might know that exercise
of faith within us. Now, friends, that it might affect
every part of our lives. Now that nothing may be left
untouched by it. Hold that fast. which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown." Friends, it's a searching question,
isn't it? At least it is with me. What do I hold fast? Is my religion just that surface
religion? Is it just a religion which we
can put on when we come to the Lord's house on His day and during
the week or when we're at home? That religion lies very lightly
upon us. It doesn't affect how we live.
When the Lord's people can't see us, when our neighbours can't
see us, Oh, and within our house, friends, it hasn't touched our
lives there. Oh, there's not much holding fast. Friends, has our life been changed
by those things that have been given us? Hold fast that which
thou hast. Oh, that which thou hast been given. Friends, can you look back at
your life and see the change that grace has made? Oh, has
grace got hold of you? And in that sense, have you got
hold of grace? For instance, to get hold of grace, to be found
there simply to thy cross I cling. Nowhere else to go but hanging,
a helpless soul hanging on Christ, gripping on to Him. Because we're
certain of this, if we should lose hold of Him, if we could
be shaken off Him, we'd be lost. That's the emphasis of our text
this evening, Hold Fast. that which thou hast. You know,
if you're found hanging, friends, if you're found gripping on to
something, all your strength, every sinew of your body is there,
centred in that grip. Well, friends, that's what the
Philadelphian church was being exhorted to. Oh, you know, true
religion, it affects us in every part. It's wholehearted. Friends, it's the whole body.
It's all of us, all of us, not part. Oh, what a measure of true religion. Ah, friends, what a measure.
Oh, how we may have to blushingly say this evening, weighed in
the balance and found wanting, but friends, ah, text is a word
of exhortation. The Lord knew the Philadelphian
church needed this exhortation. Though he had no word of condemnation
against them, he had nothing to say against them. But our
friends, he knoweth what's in us. He remembereth that we're
dust and ashes. He knows us even that you've got an old nature.
He knows that I've got an old nature. And he knows, ah, that
old nature. Ah, friends, the strength of
it at times, that which would draw us away, that which would
cause us to lose our hold. Oh, the power of the devil. Cause
he may whisper. Ah, you need not hold on to that
so strongly. As God said, do you really need to worry about
that? Now, friends, the Lord knows. Oh, if we were always
perfect, if we're always holding on to these things as we should,
we wouldn't need the word of exaltation. Therefore, friends,
oh, if you feel this evening to be weighed in the balance
and found wanting, this is an evidence of the Lord's grace
towards souls just in the case as you are. Oh, he was pleased
to send his message to the Philadelphian church. Our friend, it's his
grace this evening if he should send the word to you. Oh, poor
soul, hold fast. Hold fast. Where is your grip? What has got dominion over you
this evening? What has taken you in your life? What has drawn
you away from me? Ah, hold fast that which thou
hast, that no man take thy crown. Well, friends, that's the exhortation
of our text this evening, to hold fast. Our friends, The things
that we are to hold fast, they might have the top place, they
might be reigning in us, they might be influencing every part
of our life, every part of our person. Behold I come quickly,
hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Well
friends, that brings us secondly to ask the question, what are
we to hold fast? What is to have this hold in
our life? What is it that is to reign in
us, to be the uppermost in our life? Well, friends, we may say,
firstly, there are things that we are not to hold fast. Sin. Oh, indeed, if we're under
grace, the apostle tells us sin shall not have dominion over
you. Oh, friends of sin, are you holding fast to sin this
evening? Oh, how easy it is to do so, the devil says, a little
sin. Ah, the devil has little and
big sins, you know, but the word of God, Our friends, the holiness
of God, sin is sin, the least sin, the soul that sinneth it
shall die. But our friends, how quickly
the devil gets in and he says, our little sin, don't worry about
it. Our friends, before you know where you are, that little sin,
if you hold fast to it, it begins to reign in you. How many they
may begin with just bending the truth a little, not telling the
whole truth. Friends before they know where they are they're telling
lies, outright blatant lies. Oh how quickly friends the little
thought of self becomes full-blown pride and except we hear the
word of exhortation, except we're reminded that sin of pride just
should not be holding us fast and we should not be holding
fast to us then we prove pride cometh before a fall. Friends,
how many have proved that the look, the lustful look, after
a woman, on the part of the man, friends, we may say it's just
a look. Come to the Sermon on the Mount.
Friends, whoso looketh, all guilt. But when we allow that sin, when
we take hold of that sin, when we do not resist it, when we're
not found fighting against it, how quickly the look, friends,
it becomes a form. And some, oh, they've fallen. Oh, friends, these things are
solemn. Are we holding fast to sin this evening? Are we allowing
sin, little sins, as we call them, as the devil has told us
to look at them, as old nature views them? Oh, friends, we're
not to hold them fast. The word of the devil. Oh, you
know, friends, the Lord's people left to themselves, they hold
fast. what the devil has said, rather than what God has said.
We find that there in the very Garden of Eden. Our friends,
God had spoken. When the devil spoke, what God
had spoken was not held fast to. Eve could let that go. She
holds on to what the devil says, as God said. Our friends, are
you holding fast this evening to what the devil has said, rather
than what God has said? I remember my grandfather quoting
Mr. Windridge as saying that Mr. Moxon once met him outside
Gann Street Chapel and said to him, friend Windridge, he said,
why do you maximise everything the devil says and minimise everything
Christ says? Now, friends, that's what we
do. Oh, and that maximising what the devil says. Now, friends,
that listening to the temptations of the devil, that listening
to what he says, rather than all the word of God says, we're
holding fast his word. It's not to be held fast. Our unbelief, our doubts and
fears, they're not to be held fast to. But our friends, how
often we do hold fast to them. We cleave to them. Some people seem to almost pride
in their unbelief, in their doubts and fears. They'll tell you all
about their doubts and fears. None tried as much as them. Our
friends, they're nothing to be proud of, are they? As the hymn
writer solemnly puts it, they cast dishonor on thy Lord and
contradict his gracious words. Ah, friends, they're not to be
held fast to. No, they're to be swept out. Ah, friends, they're
to be thrown away. We're to flee from them. Not
to cherish them, not to hold fast to them, and definitely
not to get them out and polish them and put them pride of place.
Ah, friends, but left to ourselves, how quickly we do just that.
Ah, we'll tell everyone about our doubts and fears, tell everyone
about our solemn unbelief. Ah, friends, it's not to be held
fast to. the blessings of God. Speaking
for a moment particularly of those things in Providence, our
friends, you know, they're to be kept in their right place.
Have you had to prove the Lord has blessed you? Perhaps he's
given you something that you needed in Providence? Perhaps
a car or provided you with a house? Or your husband, your wife, your
children? Our friends, left to ourselves, we're poor creatures,
we hold fast to those things. Our friends, they get the upper
hand in our life. We become totally taken up with them. They begin
to rule us. Our friends, we're not to be taken up with the blessing.
To be taken up with the One that's blessed us. To be taken up with
the One that's given those things to us. Our friends, we're to
hold fast to Him. We're to hold fast, to bless
the hand that guided, to bless the hand that's provided for
us. But oh, friends, the blessing must be kept in its right place.
Oh, you know, we're poor fickle creatures. At times, ah, the
blessing. Ah, friends, it gets the upper
hand. We hold fast to that rather than the one that's blessed us.
One of the dear hymn writers, a hymn not in our book, he says
that he settled by the stream but forgot the fountain. Ah,
friends, there's so much in that, you know. Are you holding fast
this evening to the blessing that you've received rather than
to the fountain of blessings, the father of lights? in whom
is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Now, you know, friends,
those blessings the Lord gives us in this life, they may be
very sweet, wonderful provisions, they are remarkable answers to
prayer, but, ah, friends, they're only for this time state, you
know. They're passing away. They're not to have a hold upon
us. We're not to hold fast to those things. Or we could continue,
friends, the traditions of men, Our friends, even the rich heritage
which we may have, perhaps within the churches and the history
of our churches, but our friends, though we're not to despise those
things, but they're not to rule over us. Our friends, they're
not the be-all and the end-all. We're not to hold fast to them
as I've set them forth in this, in opening the meaning of hold
fast this evening. Our friends, it's right that
we may keep those things close to us. It's right that we might
remember them, but when they begin to govern us, Now, friends,
when we become stifled by the past in the church, we're in
a solemn place. We're not to hold fast to those
things. They're not to rule in us, not to reign over us. Well, friends, that's a negative.
Let's come to the positive. What are we to hold fast to?
Well, I believe our text gives us two classes of things that
we are to hold fast to. The first is this, hold fast
that which thou hast. That means the things that you've
got that are your own. Ah, friends, what is your own
this evening? Well, perhaps you'll be surprised when I tell you.
Ah, friends, your life is not your own. Your health is not
your own. Your house, your car, your job.
Ah, friends, your family, your husband and wife, not your own
in that sense. Ah, friends, we came into this world naked, we'll
go out of this world naked. Everything we have here, ah,
friends, it is given us. as we pass through this veil
of tears, as we pass through this world, those things are
given to us, but friends, they're only on loan. No, they are not
ours, and the day is coming when we'll have to give them up. They'll
be taken away from us. Oh, you see, friends, that is
really the dividing line in our texts this evening. The apostle
Paul tells us to not look on the things which are seen, for
they are temporal. They're passing away. but to
look on the things which are unseen, for they are eternal.
And they are the things that we are to hold fast, the things
that we have, the things that have been given us. Oh, what
Jesus speaks to Martha concerning Mary, Mary hath chosen that good
part which shall not be taken from her. Oh friends, it couldn't
be taken from her. And if you have this evening
a precious Jesus, oh friends, if he's yours, they're not death,
I will be able to separate you from him. Ah, friends, if you know something
about precious blood and that righteousness of Jesus Christ
this evening, ah, death, when you have to give up your husband,
your wife, when you have to give up your children, when you have
to give up your home and all your possessions, your place
in the church of Christ on this earth, ah, friends, all those
things to be given up in death, Death will never take from you
the precious blood and the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Oh, friends, the promises which
centre yea and amen in Jesus Christ. Ah, death won't take
those promises from you. I will never leave thee nor forsake
thee. Oh, friends, we'll prove the
fullness of that promise in death. I go to repair a place for you.
Ah, friends, we'll prove the fullness of that promise in death.
They're the things that we are to hold fast. The things that
God has given us in his grace, the blessings that he bestows
upon his people, the thorniess of the Godhead bodily, which
dwells in Jesus Christ for us. Our friends, that which the apostle
speaks of and all things are yours for you are Christ and
Christ is God. They are the things that we are
to hold fast. Our friends are things that have been given us
by God in grace, the gifts of God, Oh, which are without repentance. Ah, friends, those blessings
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That brings me to the
question, ah, friends, have you got something this evening? Have you got something? Oh, you
know, the church at Laodicea, they said,
I'm rich and increased with goods and I've needed nothing. And
know it's not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind
and naked. Ah, friends this evening, oh,
look past your job, look past your possessions, look past your
family. Ah, friends, have you got something? Oh, have you got something which
death could not take from you? Have you got the one thing needful?
Oh, friends, old nature, you know, it lays hold on All of
those things, it won't let them go. It can't see past them. It
gets taken up with them. But the exhortation is, ah, they're
nothing. If that's all you've got this
evening, oh, then solemnly, ah, you know not that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, and blind, and naked. But ah, friends, blessed
be God. Oh, he stands to give to those
that ask of him. Friends, he gives freely, not
on the ground of merit, not for price. No, it's for everyone
that thirsts. Come ye to the waters, come by
without money, without price. Friends, he has the fulness,
the fulness of blessings, heaven to give, which he gives to poor
empty souls who are bought to know they've got nothing. Bought to know that they are
wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. He gives
them something to hold on to. Oh, that dear dying thief upon
the cross, what had he got? Oh, friends, he got nothing,
had he? Lifted high up above all his possessions. Oh, friends,
stripped bare. Oh, death stayed him in the face.
Oh, but blessed be God, through the mercy of God in Jesus Christ,
he received something that death couldn't take from him. Today,
that will be with me in paradise. Oh, friends, that's the thing
to be found seeking after the sea. that which death cannot
take from you, and that which is given by grace, by the grace
of God in Jesus Christ. But that brings me secondly to
the second test that's in our texts this evening. Our friends,
those things that are to be held fast, they're intimately connected
to this, that no man take thy crown. Our friends, they're the
things that our crown depends upon. The things that our crown
depends upon. And we want to just open this
in two ways. What does your crown depend upon
this evening? The first way is this. Our friends, ultimately
our crown, the crown of glory, the crown which the Lord has
laid up for his people, it doesn't depend upon anything they can
do. It's not for works. Our friends, salvation is all
a grace. It's the grace of God from beginning to end. That crown
is given to those who do not deserve it. It is given to those
who are as far from that crown as they can ever be by nature.
Blasphemer, injurious, persecutor. No less surprising than if the
crown of England should be placed upon the head of some poor murderer
in the local prison this evening. If such a thing was to happen,
it would fill men with uproar. No less surprising, this crown
is given to sinners. Ah, friends, why? How can it
be given to sinners, the vilest of sinners? Because it is not
given upon the ground of merit. It's not given upon the ground
of good works. It's all a grace. By grace, you're saved. Through
faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of
works, lest the evangelist boast. Ah, friends, this crown rests
alone upon the precious blood, the righteousness, upon the person
and the name of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Ah, friends,
upon that alone. That's what we're to hold fast.
That's what the crown of the Lord's people depend upon this
evening. Ah, friends, if you've got a hope of a crown, what does
it rest upon this evening? Oh, does it not rest upon the
precious person and work of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
Upon His name, thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall
save His people from their sins. Upon His righteousness, that
I spot this robe, upon the love, the mercy of God, upon that everlasting
covenant, ordained in all things and sure. That's where David's
crown rested in it, though my house be not so with God, though
he be the king of Israel, but utterly unworthy of a heavenly
crown. Though my house be not so with
God, Lord, worthy only of being cast out of breath, yet is he
made with me an everlasting covenant, ordained in all things and sure.
Our friends, that was what David was holding fast to. His crown
depended upon it. Oh, have you got the hope of
a crown this evening? What does it depend upon? The
things that it depends upon, friends, you're to hold fast.
Oh, the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the grace
of God, the eternal covenant. Our friends, all of those things,
they're to be held fast to. But then secondly, we may consider
the crown depending in this way. And I believe that is the way
really that the Lord is speaking here to the church, that no man
take thy crown. Ah, friends, the crown can't
be lost, can it? The crown cannot be taken away.
We believe in the perseverance of the saints. Jesus says, none
shall pluck them from the strength of my hands. Ah, friends, if
this crown has once been given to you, you can't lose it. No
man can take it. Oh, friends, it didn't matter
what the Roman soldiers may have done to the dying thief upon
the cross. Nothing could take away that glorious promise. Today
that will be with me in paradise. And you know, friends, if the
Lord has told you he's laid up for you a crown. If you've ever
been able to say with the Apostle Paul, henceforth there is laid
up for me a crown of righteousness. If you've ever been able to say,
I know in whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that
day, then that crown can never be taken from you. Friends, you
cannot lose that crown. Nothing, nothing can sever you
from Christ. Nothing can keep you from that
crown, from that throne. Friends, not your sins, not your
backsliding, not your unbelief, not the devil, not all the world.
And so, friends, we cannot read this text this evening as though
the Lord is saying, ah, that if you fail to hold fast, some
man might come and take your crown. Ah, you may lose your
glory, you may lose your place in heaven. No, friends, no. What is he speaking of then?
Ah, friends, I believe he's speaking of this, the assurance of the
crown, the hope of the crown, the prospect of the crown. Friends, have you ever had the
prospect of a crown? Have you ever had a sweet sense
of assurance? Ah, there is, henceforth laid
up for me a crown of righteousness. Have you lost it? Have you lost that sweet assurance?
Have you lost that sweet hope? Ah, can you look back to those
days when you had a hope, a glorious hope of heaven through Christ,
but now? Ah, that hope seems so distant. You wonder. Ah, you
fear lest at last you should make shipwreck, lest at last
you should prove to be a castaway. Ah, friends, how has the crown
fallen? How has the crown slipped? How has your hope perished from
the Lord? Ah, friends, I'll tell you. You haven't held fast to
the all-important things. Ah, friends, what's happened?
You've begun to hold fast to the word of the devil. He's begun
to tempt you. He's begun to say, ah, you know,
those that have got a crown in heaven, they're not like you.
Those that have got a crown in heaven, They're not as a sinner
like you are. Oh, they're righteous. Therefore,
you've got no hope of that crown. Friends, perhaps he's tempted
you to sin and you've gone in the ways of sin. And now that
sin is between you and that crown. The sins of the day between you
and that crown. Friends, you've failed to hold
fast to the ways of righteousness. You've gone in the ways of sin.
It's come between you and the crown. Oh, sin. Hangs heavy now
upon your soul. Unbelief. Oh, friends, is that
what's come between you and the crown? You doubt some fears. You've given room to them. They're
multiplied. Oh, they've become so great you
cannot see over them. You cannot see past them. It's
as though the view of the crown has been obliterated from your
sight. The things of this world. Oh, dear Martha, she lost sight,
didn't she, of the one thing needful. What made her lose sight
of the one thing needful? Oh, friends, I'm certain that
it wasn't the lack of love to the Lord Jesus Christ in her
soul. She loved the Lord, that's why she wanted to get him a good
meal. But she was careful and troubled about many things, but
one thing is needful. Ah, friends, how often you see,
ah, the things of this world begin to govern our heart. Our
children, ah, friends, the cares and the concerns of their working
life. The trouble in the office and in the workplace. Our friends,
they get the upper hand, they begin to govern us. The word
of God lays unread. The throne of grace lays unvisited.
Our friends, we lose sight of the crown. Our hope is perished
from the Lord. Oh, we wonder whether we'll ever get through.
The prospect of that crown now seems distant. Our friends, that's
what it is, to lose our crown, as is in our text here, that
no man take thy crown. Now, our friends, the Philadelphian
church, you see, they're in a place where they had a glorious prospect
of the crown. Oh, nothing but commendation
from the Lord. But you see, the word of God
tells us pride cometh before a fall. Our friends, how often
when we're just in that place where we've got some comfort,
we settle back. We think all is well before we
know where we are. Our friends, we've lost our hold.
We've let it go. We've settled down. We've slumbered and slept.
Our friends, we've lost our scroll, we've lost sight of the title,
to our mansion in the skies, we've lost sight of Jesus. We're
looking at the wind and the waves, looking at the things of this
world. Our friends, this was the danger you see for the Philadelphian
church. Oh, is it the danger for you
this evening, dear soul? No, it's the danger when we've
got our eyes on that crown, when the hope is there. Unless we
should seem to come short of it, as the word of God speaks.
Ah, friends, how quickly we seem to come short of it and we lose
sight of that crown. It's as though the crown is taken
from us. What is the remedy? Hold fast.
Oh, hold fast to those things that thou hast. Hold fast to
those things that your crown depends upon the secret, that
no man take thy crown. Ah, friends, it's only as we're
found clinging alone to Jesus, only as we're found clinging
alone to His righteousness, only as we're found clinging along
to His precious blood. You see, friends, as soon as
we cling to anything else, as soon as we cling to anything
else, we'll have no hope. Our crown will be gone. Now,
therefore, it's to hold fast to those things that our crown
depends upon. And so, friends, you may bring
these two tests this evening to everything in your life. Is
it yours? Will death not separate you from it? Is it something
God has given you by grace which cannot be taken away from you?
Hold fast to it. Does your crown depend upon it?
Ah, friends, is it what your hope is resting upon this evening
for that crown? Hold fast to it. If it's not, if your crown
doesn't depend upon it, ah, friends, if you're going to lose it in
death, keep it in its right place. Ah, that it might not be upper
hand, that it might not be ruling in you this evening, that it
might not be reigning in you, but that it might be in its right
place. Behold, I come quickly, hold fast that which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown." Now, friends, the Philadelphian
church in the eighth verse had four things. Four examples that
I would just lay before you of those things that we are to hold
fast. Firstly, this, I know thy works.
Now, friends, they had some works, they were to hold them fast.
What were those works? Not the works of their own strength.
Now, friends, these are the fruits of the Spirit, aren't they? That's
the only thing the Lord looks upon. will ever seem pleasing
in us, the effects of grace, the works of righteousness, the
fruit of the Spirit. Now friends, if you've got any
fruit of the Spirit in your life this evening, love to the brethren,
temperance and meekness, joy and peace, faith, we're to hold
that fruit fast. This is the ground, isn't it,
that the Apostle John speaks of as being the ground of assurance
in the life of the Lord's people. Oh, he says, if our heart condemn
us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things. Ah, friends,
there is the heart, you see, lost sight of the crown. But
preceding that, he says this, my little children, let us not
love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And
hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our
hearts before him. Ah, friends, you see, this is
the comfort of the crown. When Ah, it is by their fruit she
shall know them. When in your life you have to say, ah, this
is not how it was. Oh, we know we pass from death
unto life because we love the brethren. Ah, friends, have you
got any fruit this evening that you can say it's not there by
nature? Ah, it wasn't you before grace came, but it's the fruit
of grace in your soul, those words. Ah, friends, Evidence
of the spirits indwelling you to hold it fast. They're precious
evidences for your crown, of your crown. A new heart, new
affections, a new will, new desires. Ah, friends, a new mind. A mind
that minds the things of God. I know thy works. Thou'st a little
strength. Ah, friends, what is this little
strength? I do not believe it was their own strength. Oh no,
of ourselves utterly weak. Ah, but my grace is sufficient
for thee, my strength is made perfect in thy weakness. Ah,
friends, how often that feels to us to be little strength.
The Lord speaks to us, oh, so graciously, but it's sufficient.
My grace is sufficient for thee, my strength is made perfect in
thy weakness. Ah, friends, are you holding
on to Christ this evening as your strength? You're holding
on to him, his grace, Is that where your only hope is this
evening? Is that what's governing you this evening? You look at
the mountain, yes, but though it be a great mountain, His grace
will be sufficient. His strength will be made perfect
in my weakness. That's the only way that Worm
Jacob doesn't give up before the mountain. That's the means
by which the Worm Jacob will thresh the mountain small. To
cleave alone to that grace. That's what the Apostle had to
be bought to cling alone to the strength that was in Christ,
to cling alone to the grace that was in Jesus, has kept my word. Oh, as we find
it in the previous word, the word of my patience. Oh, friends,
what a glorious title for the word of God, the word of my patience. Oh, you know, the word of God
from beginning to end is patience, isn't it? Patience with poor
sins. Oh, friends, how often they sin.
but in faithfulness, in love and mercy. The Lord stood by
his people. He did not cut them off. Friends, the word which gives
us so much encouragement, concern in the end, perseverance. What does the perseverance of
the saints rest upon? The patience of God. He waits
to be gracious. He abides faithfully. He cannot
deny himself. No, friends, the word of God
from beginning to end is testimony to the faithfulness of God. If
he's given you a crown, our friends, that crown could never be lost.
God is faithful. Faithful is he who calleth you,
who also will do it. Do what? Sanctify you wholly. That your whole body, soul, spirit
may be presented blameless. To be presented blameless, faultless,
perfect with exceeding joy before his presence. Our friends, hold
fast to his word. The word of promise, the word
upon which he has called you to hope, Ah, friends, that's
where we must lay this evening, upon the Word of God. Oh, you
know, reading Last Lord's Day afternoon, the words that Samuel
Rutherford sent to George Gillespie upon his deathbed, and George
Gillespie, I think, was only in his early thirties dying of
tuberculosis, but Samuel Rutherford writes to him and he says this.
He says, die well. He says, don't die resting upon
sanctification. Die resting upon justification.
Ah, friends, what a lesson that is. Oh, this evening you lost
sight of your crown because you're looking at your sanctification.
All you can see is sin, in me, that is in my flesh dwelleth
no good thing, no hope of a crown. Ah, friends, we mustn't look
within us for our hope of that crown. Let's look without us
to Christ, to His justifying righteousness. That's the only
way to die well. And then, friends, he said this,
remember, Your experience is not canonical. What did he mean? Friends, your experience is not
the word of God. Friends, in a dying hour, there's
only one thing to rest upon, that's the word of God, which
cannot fail. Not upon your experience, but upon the word of God, the
word which he has spoken. Yea and amen in Jesus Christ.
Heaven and earth shall pass away. Friends, your experiences in
that sense will die with you. But my word, it abides forever.
Ah, friends, we'll prove every word of His word is true, the
faithful and true witness, the yeah and amen. Ah, friends, if
you've got the word this evening, hold it fast, hold it fast, don't
let it go. Rest there, it will hold you
up in a dying hour. Ah, and has not denied my name. Ah, friends, I have the name
of Jesus, the name of Jesus. Have you got the name of Jesus
this evening? Can you truly come in with a hymn like how sweet
the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear? Soothes his sorrows, heals
his wound, and drives away his fear. Oh, is Christ precious,
hold him fast. And our friends, hold fast especially
that name of Jesus. Thou shalt call his name Jesus,
for he shall save his people from their sins. Oh, is that
your only hope this evening? Jesus, ah, the saviour of sins,
hold him fast. Oh, that's what we read in the
Song of Solomon, don't we? When the beloved, when the spouse
found the beloved, she held him, she would not let him go. Our
friend, he was her saviour, her saviour, her hope of glory, her
door into glory, her access to heaven. Our friend is Jesus,
your hope of glory this evening. Is he the door? Ah, friends,
it's either way. You have to say with a hymn like
to Jesus, my all to heaven is God and him whom I fix my hopes
upon. His track I see and I'll pursue the narrow way to him
I view. Ah, friends, hold it fast. But
then, friends, finally, very briefly and closely, all the
reasons given. Ah, why should we be holding
these things up? Behold, I come quickly. Ah, friends, none of
us know how quickly. We know not what a moment for
an hour may bring forth. Ah, friends, he comes as a thief
in the night. When he speaks solemnly, does he woe? Ah, woe
unto those who, when the master cometh, ah, they're found being
disobedient. They're not found walking in
his ways. They're not found holding fast to those things that he's
given us. No, friends, not found, ah, trading with that talent
that he's given us, but instead we buried it in the ground. Ah,
that unjust steward, he didn't occupy, did he? He didn't hold
fast. Ah, Behold, I come quickly. Ah,
friends, we know not what a moment they bring forth. Hold fast.
Oh, to make our corner election sure this season. Ah, friends,
to be ready, to be ready. Oh, what a beautiful thing it
is to see those that are ready, ready to die. Ah, friends, they're
holding it fast. You see it as some of the Lord's
people are brought down to glory. Everything, everything in their
life, everything in their thoughts. Ah, friends, their affections
are all set upon things above. It's holding them fast, and they're
holding it fast. Our friends, they're ready. They're
ready. Ah, will you be found waiting
when he comes? There's only one way, to be holding fast. Ah,
friends, if Solomon, if in the day of death, we've got nothing
to hold fast. Solomon, if in the day of death, will be found
wretched, miserable, poor, and blind, and naked. Ah, take from
him even that which he has. Ah, that's what the master said
when he returned. I'll take from him even that
which he has, nothing, nothing. Behold I come quickly, be also
ready. Now our friends, the only way
to be ready is to be holding fast. Be holding fast to these
things, to be found resting alone upon our justification rather
than our sanctification. To be found resting upon the
word of God alone, upon the name of Jesus. Now our friends, then
we'll be ready. Then there'll truly be that echo
in our soul. Behold I come hold I come quickly. You know, I remember dear Mr
Bradstock visiting about a week before he died in hospital and
when I arrived he was telling the doctor of one of his experiences
during the war when they were coming down the channel with
the hole in the boat and the water was coming on and he was
a signal and at every port they signalled, can we come in and
they kept getting the answer back, no room, no room. You know,
I said to him when the doctor had gone, I said, you're waiting
for the signal to come into harbour aren't you? And he said yes.
Ah, friends, there he was. What was his cry? Even so, come
Lord Jesus, he was ready. He was ready. Ah, friends, what
had made him ready? Hold him fast. Ah, resting alone,
a weak and worthless world. On thy kind arms I fall, be thou
my strength, my righteousness, my Jesus, my Lord. Ah, friends,
clinging to him. Oh, the soul that's holding fast
to Jesus. In Jordan's ways, Ah, friends,
there we landed safe above. Behold, I come quickly. Oh, friends,
we would not speak lightly, but it could be tonight. Behold,
I come quickly. Hold fast that which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown. And then, friends, oh, that no
man take thy crown. As we've said, the crown cannot
be taken from us. But friends, what comfort. Ah,
what comfort we lose while the master tarries. What comfort
we lose while the master waits. While we are found looking for
his coming, if we allow the world to reign in us, if we allow sin
to have dominion over us, if we listen to the devil rather
than to the word of God, if we give way to our doubts and fears,
we drag along the days here along. There's no comfort, no peace,
no joy, no prospect. Friends, is that your condition
this evening? Your crown has slipped as it
were. You can't see it. Your title to the mansion in
the skies seems but a distant word. Friends, the word of exhortation,
hold fast. Hold fast, while the master tarries. Friends, while you have to wait
is a period. You've got a joy, the joy set before you. Friends,
that which will sweeten every trouble here, that prospect beyond
every difficulty, every temptation here at the crown. Ah, henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
my righteous judge, shall give me in that day, not to me only,
but to all them that love his appearing. Ah, friends, to those
that are looking to him, to those that are ready, to those that
are saying, even so, come Lord Jesus, to those who can truly
say, with the apostle, for me to die is Christ. For me to live is Christ. Ah,
to die is gain. Ah, friends, Hold fast that which
thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Lord, we need the word
of exhortation this evening. What are we holding fast? Have
we got something to hold fast? Have we got a hope of a crown? Hold it fast. Behold, I come
quickly. Hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown. Amen. Conclude our service this evening
by singing hymn number 1071. The tune is Rycroft Hall, number
493. Happy soul that free from harms
rests within his shepherd's arms, who his quiet shall molest, who
shall violate his rest? Does Jesus, does his spirit bear
far removes each anxious care. He who found the wandering sheep
loves and still delights to keep. Hymn number 1071, tune Wycroft
Hall number 493. There is hope, there is hope
for us There is hope, there is hope for us There is hope, there
is hope for us Through His courtship, through His compassion, Lord,
may you be saved. O'er the ramparts we watched
were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the
bombs bursting in air, Not until he lies to me. O'er the high lights of the earth,
Sparkles in the angels' hair, Alleluia, Mister Eli, Child of
God, explore the night. Give us air, O Israel. For it can rejoice in you. ? All the places of it we love. ? ? Shepherds keep thy wand'ring
sheep, ? We'll be back, and we can hear Take a leap for ev'ry
care Yeah, baby thy birds above. Let me hear thy gentle voice,
Lord, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the
bombs bursting in air, Lord, forgive all that's been
amiss in the worship of thy house this evening. Oh, Lord, open
our ears, open our hearts to hear the word of exhortation.
Lord, if we have to confess how far short we come. Oh, that was
here, Lord, the prayer of our closing hymn. Shepherds, seek
thy sheep. Oh, now thy shoulders gently
lay, and home rejoicing bring us. Lord, help us to cleave unto
thee. Help us to hold fast. to that
upon which our crown depends, and to find there, oh, sweet
rest in place in the arms of Jesus this evening. Lord, make
us ready. Oh, may we be found watchful,
Lord. May we be found ready when thou shalt appear. Oh, may that
be our expectation this evening, a kingdom and a crown. Part us,
Lord, with thy blessing, grant journey and mercies homeward.
Rest and sleep this night to strengthen us for tomorrow. Grace,
Lord, to know and do thy will. Forgive us our every sin, we'd
ask it for Jesus Christ's sake. Now may the grace of the Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the fellowship
and the communion of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us
each, both now and for evermore. Amen.