to the coming week are God willing
as follows. Pastor will preach here next
Lord's Day at 10.30 and two o'clock. Also on Thursday evening at seven
o'clock. There'll be a prayer meeting
here on Tuesday evening at seven o'clock. Let us commence our
services today by singing together hymn number 407. The tune is
Walton. 430. Dear Lord, my panting soul in
flame, to spread abroad thy matchless fame, and with a solemn pleasure
tell the grace which saves from death and hell. Hymn 407, Tune
Warton, 430. ? Hello my love ? ? This bread of gold my bachelors
made ? ? And with a solemn fair command ? and the grace which saves from
death and hell. It's not for you, but for me
at last. It matters not where I am at last. And earth, my soul, with wonder
new, For sin's terror is pardoned still. A nation lost, we depose it.
Lost children gone, at last it will live. The next shall die, while Jesus
lives, His troubled mind eternal lives. Let change prepare to crown his
brow, with mighty roar to turn his bow, And let their songs record His
name, His goodness, and His love. Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in the First Epistle of Peter, Chapter 2. The First Epistle of Peter, Chapter
2. Wherefore, laying aside all malice
and all guile and hypocrisies, and envious, and all evil speakings,
as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may
grow thereby. If so be, ye have tasted that
the Lord is gracious, to whom coming as unto a living stone,
disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious. He also has lively stones are
built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also
it is contained in the scripture, Behold I lay in Zion a chief
cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him
shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe
he is precious, but unto them which be disobedient the stone
which the builder disallowed, the same is made the head of
the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to
them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto
also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should
show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness
into his marvellous light, which in time past were not a people,
but are now the people of God, which had not obtained mercy,
but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you,
as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war
against the soul, having your conversation honest among the
Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, that
they may, by your good works which they shall behold, glorify
God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance
of man for the Lord's sake, that whether it be to the king as
supreme, or unto governors as unto them that are sent by him
for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that
do well. For so is the will of God, that
with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men, as free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness,
but as the servants of God, honour all men, love the brotherhood,
fear God, honour the King. Servants, be subject to your
masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also
to the froward, for this is thankworthy. if a man for conscience toward
God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it if, when
ye be buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently? But if,
when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this
is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye caught,
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example
that ye should follow his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously,
who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live under righteousness,
by whose stripes you were healed. For you were a sheep going astray,
but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls. May the Lord bless the reading
of his own precious words. grant unto us a spirit of real
prayer. Almighty, most merciful and eternal
God of heaven, we do pray for grace to bow before thy great
majesty, to call upon thy great and holy name. We do pray for
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for the love of God our Father,
and for the sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit, that we may
feel today as we gather round thy word a spirit of love, of
union, of communion, and that the love of Christ may be shed
abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. We do pray for the inward
power, the divine teaching, of the Holy Spirit. Lord, nothing
can be accomplished without His power, without His divine energy
entering into our hearts, taking the Word and sealing it there.
Lord, we pray that it may be so today, that the Word may be
made a living Word by the Spirit of the living God, and that it
may quicken souls and make them cry, give me Christ or else I
die. O most gracious Lord, may that
be the case. May we truly worship Thee, convince
us of our sin, and lead to Jesus' blood, and to our wandering eyes
reveal the secret love of God. O do hear us, Lord, we humbly
pray Thee, We pray, most blessed spirit of truth, that thou wouldst
take of the things of Jesus and reveal them unto us, that thou
wouldst graciously open the deaf ears and open the blind eyes
and open the hearts of those whose hearts are yet closed to
divine truth. We pray that they may be opened.
We think, Lord, when the dear apostle was in that place where
prayer was wont to be made, and we read on that occasion of Lydia,
whose heart the Lord opened. Lord, may it be so among us here
that we may see that sovereign work of the Holy Ghost, his energy
and power put forth in our hearts, in our lives, in our circumstances,
there might be that continual realisation of our sinfulness
and that convincing of sin and then leading unto Jesus Christ,
the only Saviour of sinners. Lord, we pray that thou wouldst
graciously bless our brethren, the deacons, and give them this
grace, wisdom and help in all their responsibilities. Be with
our brother and sister and their dear ones as they're away seeking
rest and change. We pray that they may truly find
rest and change, not only physical rest and change but they might
know that spiritual rest in the precious things of Jesus Christ,
the rest of faith. We pray for each one of our brethren
and sisters in church fellowship that they may be blessed of this
that we may grow in grace, that we may desire the sincere milk
of the word and grow thereby, and as we are exhorted in thy
word, but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ. Gracious God, do hear us, we
pray, and have mercy upon us, we beseech thee. We pray, O Lord,
that thou, in thy great mercy, would remember us as a church
and as a congregation. We earnestly petition thee that
thou wouldst hear prayer for the prodigals that have wandered
from the ways of God, from the ways of righteousness and truth. Put forth thy gracious hand,
thy heavenly power, thy divine unction, we do humbly beseech
thee for thy great namesake. and graciously cause them to
return, cause them to be in want, to fill the need of their souls,
and then that desire and that longing to be in the house of
God, to be in that place where prayer is wont to be made. None,
O Lord, are beyond thy power, thy influence. Oh, we humbly
beseech thee to hear prayer, Hear our entreaties, we do humbly
pray thee. Any among us, O Lord, that are
yet dead in trespasses and in sins, Lord, quicken them. Bring
them to realise their need and to look to thee and to cleave
to thee for salvation. Remember, O Lord, we pray thee,
the little ones and the children. Have mercy upon them, O Lord,
we do beseech of thee. thy holy fear in their hearts
in their young and tender years. We read of one in holy scripture
who from his childhood days knew the holy scriptures that are
able to make thee wise unto salvation. Lord we pray that there may be
many of our dear children and young people that shall be made
wise unto salvation. and to realise that they've got
to die, that there is a day of judgement and the great need
of being prepared. And now, my God, prepare my soul
for that great day and wash me in thy precious blood, take all
my sins away. Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst
graciously remember the young friends Bring them to living
faith in Jesus Christ, and make them true followers of thee,
and of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Remember them with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people,
and visit them with thy great salvation. O Lord, we do beseech
of thee. We pray for any that halt between
two opinions, that thou wouldst bring them to follow thee. and to serve thee, and to choose
that good and that right way, we do humbly beseech thee. Help
us to forsake our sins. Deliver us from wandering hither
and thither. Deliver us from the temptations
of Satan. Sometimes as a roaring lion he
comes to devour. Sometimes as an angel of light
to deceive. Deliver us from his power, Lord.
Dear for us from temptation, for thine is the kingdom, the
power, and the glory. Lord, we pray that the light
and glory and power of gospel truth may shine into this village.
Strongholds of Satan be pulled down, the kingdom of the Lord
Jesus set up in the hearts of sinners. Lord, do hear us, we
humbly beseech thee for thy great namesake, and have mercy upon
us, and send real prosperity. Gather from this village and
the surrounding villages and hamlets, even as thou hast promised
in thy word, O bring thy sons from far, thy daughters from
the ends of the earth. And there may be those, O Lord,
that are much further afield, and yet they are to be brought
and to be gathered into the sanctuary. Let us see thy work and thy power
and thy glory as thou usest to be in the sanctuary. Bless the
parents and give wisdom and grace and help to bring up their children
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Help them in the
family worship. Read the word of God and prayer
to be made in the family. Lord, bless the families. We
do humbly beseech thee. O Lord, any and any trouble or
trial or perplexity or sorrow or sadness or bereavement undertake
for each one. We do humbly beseech them. Those
in darkness bring into light, those in bondage bring into liberty,
those far off make them nigh. Let thy work appear unto thy
servants and thy glory unto their children, O Lord, we do beseech
them. Lord, we do pray for those that
listen online, and that thy rich blessing may rest upon the ministry
of the Word, and the reading of it, and the singing of thy
sacred praises. Remember those of us in the evening
time of life journey. Soon we must pass through tracks
unknown and see thee on thy judgment throne. Rock of ages, cleft for
me, let me hide myself in thee. Lord, we do pray that thou, in
thy great mercy, would remember all thy servants as they labour
in word and doctrine today upon the walls of Zion, that they
may dip their foot in oil, that they may be made acceptable unto
thee, brethren, that the word preached may be in power in the
Holy Ghost and with much assurance. We pray thee, the great Lord
of the harvest, that thou would send true labourers into the
harvest, and build thou the walls of Jerusalem, grant the settlement
of pastors, we do humbly pray thee, we thank thee, O Lord,
where it has been so, and pray that thy rich blessing may rest
upon their labours. Arise, arise, O God of grace,
into thy rest ascend, thou in the ark of thy strength, and
let thy priests be clothed with salvation. and thy saints shall
shout aloud for joy. Oh abundantly bless the provision
of thy house and satisfy her poor with bread. Oh Lord we do
beseech of thee for thy great name's sake. Remember all the
little causes of truth up and down our land. Revive and renew,
blow with the wind of the Spirit. May the power that brings salvation
be exerted in the works Lord, we do pray that thou would
remember our nation. We live in deeply solemn days
when we see the power of Antichrist so prevalent and wickedness and
unrighteousness on every hand. Thy word cast away. O most gracious
Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst arise in this dark day, give
wisdom to our political leaders and guidance and direction in
all matters. for by thee kings reign and princes
decree justice. Remember our king and grant thy
rich blessing upon him and the princess of Wales in their affliction. May it please thee to be Jehovah
Rophi. I am the Lord that healeth thee.
O gracious God, do hear us, we pray thee. Have mercy upon the
royal household. And Lord, we pray that thou would
remember in those nations of the earth where thy people are
persecuted and hated and imprisoned even unto death for the name
and witness of Jesus Christ. Lord, send them help from the
sanctuary and strengthen them out of Zion. We do humbly pray
thee. Lord, we do pray that thou would
grant thy gospel good success throughout the nations of the
earth We do pray for those that labour in word and doctrine.
We think of Ian Sadler and that great work that he does in so
many different places and the orphanage that he runs. Supply
all his many needs and help him in the exposition of thy word
and the distribution of holy scripture throughout the nations
of the earth. Remember the Savannah Education
Trust and that great work that they're doing in Ghana. Grant
thy rich blessings. that it may redound to the glory
and honour and praise of thy great name. Remember the Mombasa
mission and thy servant there. Grant thee fresh anointing of
thy spirit and grant signs to follow the preaching of the word. We thank thee, O Lord, for the
throne of grace, where Jesus sits, our great high priest who
is passed into the heavens. We thank thee for the glory of
his name, the fullness of His grace and His love and His power.
We thank Thee that He is God over all and blessed forevermore
and is able to do abundantly more than we can even ask or
think. We thank Thee for that profound mystery of God manifest
in the flesh. We thank Thee for the holy life
He lived as a man here upon earth, fulfilling and honouring, magnifying
Thy holy righteous law and bringing in everlasting righteousness
for thy people. We thank thee, most gracious
Lord, for Calvary, where the Lamb was slain, where sin was
put away, where divine justice was satisfied, where God and
sinners are reconciled. We thank thee for the precious
blood of the Lamb that cleanses from all sin, Thank Thee that
He died for our sins and rose again for our justification and
has bodily ascended into heaven and sitteth at Thy right hand.
O Lord, do hear us, we pray. We thank Thee for every mercy
of Thy kind providence and all Thy goodness that has passed
before us in the way. 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 205. The tune is Region Square 684. Jesus, is our great salvation, worthy
of our best esteem. He has saved his favourite nation. Join to sing aloud of him. He
has saved us. Christ alone could us redeem. Hymn 205. Tune region square
684. ? Jesus, Lord and Savior ? ? Spirit
of creation ? ? World beyond all creation ? ? Faith fills every nation ? ?
Joined together by faith ? ? We have saved the world ? ? We have
saved the world ? ? Christ, the Lord, our God and
King ? ? Heav'nly host with cheer and glory ? ? Heav'nly host with
cheer and glory ? ? Heaven's light ? ? Jesus, Lord, is risen
today ? ? Raised in womb and in heaven ? He has called us, he has called
us, we shall rejoin in your service. O come, O come, Emmanuel, O come,
O come, Emmanuel, ? Good and fair ? ? Fair and gracely
? ? Fair and gracely ? ? Every right with right ? This the way in which to God. ? We hold thee high ? ? Glory,
glory, glory, glory ? ? Glory, glory, glory, glory ? Greatly feeling the need, the
Lord's gracious help, I would direct your attention to the
First Epistle of Peter, Chapter 2, reading verses 9 and 10 for
our text. The First Epistle of Peter, Chapter
2, verses 9 and 10. But ye are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peculiar people, that
ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out
of darkness into his marvellous light, which in time past were
not a people, but are now the people of God, which had not
obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. But ye are a chosen generation. What a great mercy. There is
a chosen people and according to Holy Scripture it is a chosen
people from every nation every kindred, every tongue, every
tribe, and every people. Chosen by the Eternal Father. Chosen in Christ. He says here, a chosen generation. We read here in the first chapter
of this first epistle of Peter that the apostle is writing to
the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia,
Asia and Bithynia. Most of those places are in what
is present day Turkey. And then he says this, elect.
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification
of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling
of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Elect. Some people say that God's
ways are not equal and it's not fair. that some should be chosen and
others should be left. If it wasn't for the doctrine
of election there would none be saved, not
one. But God, to show forth the fullness
of his mercy, his love and his grace has chosen a people from
the ruins of the Adam Fort And it's a number that no man can
number. And it's a number that stretches
from the Adam right the way through to the end of time. They are chosen. And they are
chosen in Christ. They're chosen in Christ. My
mind was much drawn to John chapter 17 yesterday in thinking of this
chosen generation and the prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ. These
words speak Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said father
the hour has come glorify thy son that thy son also may glorify
thee as thou has given him power over all flesh that he should
give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. What a statement of divine truth,
isn't it? He should give eternal life to
as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that
they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
thou hast sent. that in verse 9 he says, I pray
for them, what for them that are chosen, chosen by the Father,
chosen in Christ, I pray for them, I pray not for the world
but for them which thou hast given You see, he goes on, he says
in verse 15, I pray not that thou should take them out of
the world, but thou should keep them from the evil. They are
not of the world, and this is a mark of this chosen people.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify
them through thy truth. You see, in verse 19, for their
sakes I sanctify myself that they also may be sanctified through
the truth. You see, my beloved friends,
it is Christ in you, the hope of glory, the Apostle says, doesn't
he? He says in verse 21 here, that they all may be one, as
thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may
be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent
me, and the glory which thou gavest me I have given them,
they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me,
that they may be made perfect in one, that the world may know
that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved
me. And now the eternal destination
for each one of these souls, Father, I will, that they also
whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may
behold my glory, which thou hast given me, for thou lovest me
before the foundation of the world. But ye are a chosen generation. In the first chapter, in verse
18, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received
by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who
verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,
and was manifest in these last times for you, who by him, that's
Christ, who believe in God, You think of those lovely words of
our Lord Jesus Christ when he speaks, doesn't it? Let not your heart be troubled,
you believe in God, believe also in me, who by him do believe
in God, that raised him from the dead and gave him glory,
that your faith and hope might be in God. but ye are a chosen generation
chosen generation it says in one place doesn't it and it shall
be accounted unto him for a generation and also here in our text it
speaks of a nation and and the whole election of
grace i think we spoke just recently on romans and uh the Apostle,
when he writes to the Romans, he makes it very, very clear
that not all Israel is saved. You go back to the Old Testament,
not all Israel is saved. It's a mistake to think that
all Israel is saved. He said, but there is a remnant
according to the election of grace, even in Israel. Even in Israel. And then he goes
on and he lays a great emphasis that the New Testament Church,
the New Testament Church is that chosen generation. Our Israelites indeed, they're
the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. Same as the
Saints in the Old Testament, they saw Christ in the types
and shadows of the ceremonial law. We have a much clearer light. We see Christ, Christ has been,
Christ has lived, Christ has fulfilled the law, Christ has
offered that holy sacrifice and redeemed his people and brought
life and immortality to life through the gospel. So we have
a much clearer light. You know, my beloved friends,
because we have a much clearer light, the Apostle, he very clearly
sets it before us in the Epistle to the Hebrews, that because
we have that much clearer light, he says in Hebrews 2, therefore
we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have
heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word
spoken by angels was steadfast and every transgression, this
is of course the law, and every transgression and disobedience
received a just recompense of reward, how shall we escape if
we neglect so great salvation? which at the first began to be
spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him. God also bearing witness then
witnessed both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles
and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his will. You see we ought
to give the more earnest heed unto the things which we have
heard. It goes on in chapter four Let
us therefore fear, lest a promise be left to us of entering into
his rest. Any of you should seem to come
short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached
as well as unto them, that is, the children of Israel in the
wilderness. For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto
them. But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed
with faith in them that heard it. See, for we which have believed
do enter into rest. Then he goes on, here he says
in verse 11, let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest
any man fall after the same example of unbelief. And then he goes
on in the 16th verse, let us therefore come boldly unto the
throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help
in time of need. Why? Because we have a great
High Priest, who is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of
God. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace. Why? Because there is a glorious
Saviour that sits there, there's an almighty Redeemer that sits
there, that is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto
God by Him. But ye are a chosen generation,
A royal priest, he speaks here in the first part of this chapter. And he speaks of Christ, the
Lord Jesus Christ. He says in verse four, to whom
coming as unto a living stone. Christ, the living stone. Christ,
the eternal rock of ages. Upon this rock I build my church
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. chosen generation, to come in
as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of
God and precious. Ye also as lively that his living
stones are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to
offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. And this is the royal priesthood,
a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. And you know, in
the Revelation, the book of the Revelation, he speaks there in the first chapter. John, to
the seven churches which are at Asia, verse four, grace beyond
you and peace from him which is and which was and which is
to come and from the seven spirits which are before his throne and
from Jesus Christ you see we have the father the son and the
holy ghost there and from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness
and the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings
of the earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins
in his own blood and at might as kings and priests unto God
and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Kings and priests unto
God. He rules and reigns in the hearts
of his children. He reigns as king. and he makes
his children kings and priests unto God. We read it again in the book
of the revelation of the kings and priests unto God, in and
through our Lord Jesus Christ. In Revelation chapter 5 and verses
9 and 10. And they sung a new song This
is the saints in heaven saying thou art worthy to take the book
and to open the seals thereof for thou was slain, this is Christ
and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred
and tongue and people and nation and has made us unto our God
kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth. You see he has made us kings
and priests and it says here what we've already drawn your
attention to in in our chapter two here in verse five ye also
as lively living stones are built up a spiritual house and holy
priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
by Jesus Christ but ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood
a royal priesthood. You see, my beloved friends,
how the Lord has exalted and lifted poor, wretched, helpless,
hell-deserving sinners, lost and undone. He's lifted
them out of that and He makes them kings and priests unto God. What the Gospel does for a poor
sinner a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. A holy nation. It's like I was saying just now
about the election of grace. Here they're likened to a holy
nation. Doesn't mean confined just to one nation, but the Lord
has called a people out of all the nations of the earth, and
he's made them kings and priests unto God. and he terms them a
holy nation. They're holy because they're
washed in the blood of Christ. They're clothed in the righteousness
of Christ. They have left the ways of sin
and unrighteousness. They've been called And this
is what makes them a peculiar people. They're peculiar because
the Holy Spirit has entered their heart. The Holy Spirit has quickened
their soul into life. The Holy Spirit has brought them
to know Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of sinners. The Holy
Spirit has brought them to lay aside every weight and the sin
that has so easily beset us, and to run with patience the
race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus. But ye are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, and a holy nation, a peculiar people. You know, the apostle, when he
writes to Titus, And in the epistle of Titus,
again he calls the Lord's people a peculiar people. It means that
there are people that have been called by divine grace. It says
in Titus chapter 2 verse 11, for the grace of God that bringeth
salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously
and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem
us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people,
zealous of good works, These things speak and exhort and rebuke
with all authority, that no man despise they. But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people,
that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called
you. This is another thing that makes
them a peculiar people. They've been called, just like
God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees. And we read
in the Hebrews he went out not knowing whether he went. He was
called. God spoke to him and called him
out of Ur of the Chaldees. He called the children of Israel
out of Egypt. And in Deuteronomy there's a
constant reminder to us. Thou shalt remember that thou
wast a bondman in the house of Egypt. until the Lord delivered
them from that bondage. They were called. He sent Moses
to call them out from the land of Egypt. You see, he met Jacob
at Bethel. That, as far as I can see from
Holy Scripture, that is the beginning of the work of grace in the heart
of Jacob. And we're told in Deuteronomy
found him when he was at Bethel. He was in a wilderness. He had
a stone for his pillar. And it says in Deuteronomy, he
found him. He found him. The Lord found
him. And that is true of every single
child of God. You and I are dead in trespasses
and in sins. We are. And it's not until the
Holy Spirit enters the heart and a divine call reaches the
heart that we're then awakened to our lost condition, we're
awakened to our need of salvation, our need of being prepared. But ye are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood and holy nation, a peculiar people that you should
show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of nature's
darkness into his marvellous light. What a marvellous light. God,
who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined into
our hearts with the light of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. He does. He shines into the heart. What a light that is that shines
when Christ is first revealed to the soul. When precious faith
is given and a poor sinner believes Light flows into the heart. You
know, faith isn't some intellectual thing. No. It's a divine work
of the Holy Ghost. It is. Faith is given. Faith
is given. We read in Ephesians that faith
is the gift of God. Faith is the gift of God. It
is wrought in the heart by the Holy Ghost. We read in the Epistle
to the Romans and the Apostle he goes forth what we might say
the steps of faith. It says in Romans chapter 10
and from verse 9 that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart
notice this is not with the head it's with the heart which is
our innermost being for with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
for the scripture saith whosoever believeth on him shall not be
ashamed For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek,
for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon
him. For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call
on him in whom they have not believed? How shall they believe
in him in whom they've not heard? And how shall they hear without
a preacher? And how shall they preach except
they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful
are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring
glad tidings of good things. You see, what a divine order
there is set out there in the Word of God. that as the apostle
says when he writes to the Corinthians it's through the foolishness
of preaching that we shall be saved. Now just to have a look
for a moment at 1 Corinthians chapter 6 and we read there in the from
the ninth verse 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 9. Know ye not
that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Be
not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves, of mankind, nor thieves,
nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. And such were some of you. But
ye are washed but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. You see, called,
and such were some of you. And you look at the second verse
of our text, which in time past were not a people, but are now
the people of God. who had not obtained mercy, but
now have obtained mercy. You know, friends, we're given
here a spiritual people have a spiritual appetite. Those that are quickened by the
Holy Ghost, they are made alive. And just with every living thing,
there is an appetite. so that there is a need of food
and of water. But here he speaks in verse two,
as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may
grow thereby. If so be, you have tasted that
the Lord is gracious. That desire to feed on the word
the sincere milk of the Word. In the chapter 1 and the latter
part of that chapter, he speaks here, verse 22, seeing you have
purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit
unto the unfailing love of the brethren, is another evidence
of being a true child of God is that you love the Lord. I love the Lord because he has
heard my voice, the voice of my supplication. See, like I've
just said to you, faith is not an intellectual thing. It's a
living thing. It's a living grace of the living
spirit of the living God. And when a sinner is quickened,
he gives grace, grace to believe, grace to follow, grace to confess
and acknowledge our sin, grace to look alone to Jesus Christ
as our only Saviour, seeing then ye have purified your souls in
obeying the truth of the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren. See that ye love one another
with a pure heart, fervently. John in his first epistle, we
know that we have passed from death unto life because we love
brethren. I love to meet among them now,
before thy gracious feet to bow, though vilest of them all, I
love to meet among them now. Then he tells us why we have
that spiritual apical and those spiritual desires. In verse 23,
being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by
the Word of God. The seed of the Word has been
sown in the heart by the Word of God which liveth and abideth
forever. My dear beloved friends, young
or old, has the seed of the Word been sown in your hearts? We're
all acquainted with the parable of the sower. When the sower
went forth to sow, and some fell among thorns, was choked. Some fell by the wayside and
it didn't have any depth of earth so it didn't grow. But he says
some fell into good ground and brought forth good fruit. Oh my beloved friends, are we,
am I, a fruit-bearing branch in the fold of Christ. Are we growing in grace and in
the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ being born
again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word
of God which liveth and abideth forever and it will live and
abide forever in the hearts of the Lord's people. It will keep growing. It will. The Holy Ghost, we're told in
John's Gospel, He will dwell with you forever. Once the Spirit
of God has entered your heart, He will never leave. He will
never leave. That is what is meant by that
beautiful word, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. That is all our strength
and stability and hope is in that divine work of the Spirit
in the heart. He lives in the heart. He convicts
and convinces of sin. He reveals the things of Jesus
to these peculiar people. There are peculiar people. not
only peculiar because of their call, their divine call. You know friends, the only evidence
that I can find in Holy Scripture of being a child of God is that
you've been called. You've been called out of nature's
darkness into the glorious light of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. who hath called you out of darkness
into his marvellous light, which in time past were not a people,
but are now the people of God, which had not obtained mercy,
but now have obtained mercy. That wonderful mercy that flows
in and through the glorious person, power, and grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ. That's the heavenly conduit of
divine mercy. The Father chose a people and
gave them to Christ. Christ came and lived here on
this earth for 33 years. The Son of God lived here upon
earth as a man. When he was made of a woman,
made under the law, that he might redeem them that are under the
law. That's what Christ has done. My mind, it just goes to that
beautiful hymn. Hymn number 11. Thy mercy, my
God, is the theme of my tongue, of my song, the joy of my heart,
the boast of my tongue. Thy free grace alone from the
first to the last has won my affections and bound my soul. Thy mercy in Jesus exempts me
from hell, its glories I'll sing and its wonders I'll tell. T'was
Jesus, my friend, when he hung on the tree, who opened a channel
of mercy for me. He opened a channel of mercy. I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me. Now, following our text, we have
some exhortations, very timely exhortations. Dearly beloved,
speaking to this chosen people, this people that have been called,
this people that have been brought to living faith in Jesus Christ,
dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain
from fleshly lusts. which war against us all, having
your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they
speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works,
which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves, these are
these gracious exhortations, submit yourselves to every ordinance
of man, for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king, as
supreme, or unto governors, unto them that are sent by him, for
the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that
do well. For so is the will of God, that
with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men. Oh, that the Lord will enable
us. It says in Galatians, isn't it, to do good unto all men,
especially unto the household of faith. This is the will of God for His
people, for His chosen people, as free, that is free from the
curse, free from the law, free from condemnation. There is therefore
no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. And if the
Son shall make you free, then shall you be free indeed. as
free, not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness,
but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honour the King. You know, we're taught in Holy
Scripture to be subject to the higher powers. Oh, that the Lord
would enable us graciously so to do. My grandfather, Mr. Jabez Field of Black Boys, he
had the nature of a field which tends to be a little bit rebellious,
if you want to put it that way. Very single-minded, very independently
minded. And the Lord had exercised him
and burdened him about the ministry of the word. He was a member
of the Dicker. And the time came but when he
received a letter to ask him to go and preach. And he felt
so much that he should go and preach. And I think it was either
a member at the Dicker or a deacon at the Dicker said to him, well,
you do really need to bring that before the church. And he immediately
said, the Lord sends a man to preach, not man. And he refused
to go to the church. and in prayer about it. And this verse was breathed into
his heart by the Holy Ghost. Submit yourselves to every ordinance
of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme
and governors etc. And he felt to fall under that
word and he took it to the to the pastor and the deacons and
then it went before the church. You see, we're not called to
be anarchists and just to do what we want to do. We're called
to be loving and kind and submitting ourselves one to another in the
fear of the Lord and to love each other. To love each other. He goes on here and he speaks
concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. He says in verse 19, For this
is thankworthy of a man for conscience toward God, endure grief, suffering
wrongfully. What glory is it if when you
be buffeted for your faults you shall take it patiently, but
if when you do well and suffer for it, you take it patiently,
this, is acceptable with God for even here unto where you
called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example
that you should follow his steps who did no sin neither was guile
found in his mouth who when he was reviled reviled not again
when he suffered he threatened not Sometimes that's the first
thing we do if someone rides up against us we threaten them
he threatened not But committed himself to him that judges righteously
Now this wonderful glory of the person of Christ Who his own
self? Bear our sins in his own body
on the truth that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness,
by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were. You think of what
you were. We just looked at Corinthians
and such were some of you. And the Israelites, that constant
word to them, thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman. And
in Isaiah, thou shalt remember the whole of the pit from whence
ye were digged. Remember what you were. It's
a humbling thing to see what you were and where you were. You think of that wretched infant
in the prophecy of Ezekiel and in its own blood, cast out in
the open field. It's what we were. But there
in Ezekiel, we see what the Lord did for that wretched infant
cast into the open field. It's a picture of us, my beloved
friends, of where we were and the condition that the Lord found
us in. We read in Ezekiel 16, in verse
3, Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem, Thy birth and thy
nativity is of the land of Canaan. Thy father was an Amorite and
thy mother a Hittite. You've got nothing to be proud
of, he say. As for thy nativity and the day thou was born, thy
navel was not cut, neither was thou washed in water to supple
thee. Thou was not salted at all nor
swaddled at all. None eye pitted thee to do any
of these unto thee. to have compassion upon thee,
but thou wast cast out in the open field to the loathing of
thy person in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed
by thee, this is the divine call of grace, and when I passed by
thee and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto
thee, when thou wast in thy blood, that means in thy sin, live. Yea, I said unto thee, when thou
wast in thy bud, live. I have caused thee to multiply
as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen
great, and thou art become excellent to excellent ornaments. You see,
this is the one. Now when I passed by thee and
looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love. I
spread my skirt over thee. Think of the everlasting righteousness
of Christ. and covered thy nakedness. Yea,
I swear unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith
the Lord God, and thou becamest mine. Then I washed thee with
water, that's the Holy Ghost. Yea, I throughly washed away
thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee
with broider work, and shod thee with badger skins. I girded thee
about with fine linen. I covered thee with silk. I decked
thee in ornaments, you see. I put a jewel in thy forehead,
and earrings on thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine
head. Thus was thou decked with gold,
and silver, and thy raiment. You think of the glorious work
of Christ, and the righteousness of Christ, and the blood of Christ
that cleanses for all sin. In verse 14, and thy renown went
forth among the heathen for thy beauty. for it was perfect through
my comeliness. None of our own. It was perfect
through my comeliness which I have put upon thee, saith the Lord
God. Ye are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, and a holy nation, a peculiar people that
ye should show forth the praises of him that called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light, which in time past were
not a people, but are now the people of God, which have not
obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. May the Lord
have His blessing. Let us now sing together hymn
number 505, to the tune Orlington 203. Glory to God the Father's name,
who from our sinful race chose out his favourites to proclaim
the honours of his grace. Hymn 505, tune Orlington 203. Oh. ? With the Lord's sacred voice
? ? Close your eyes this day ? ? And sleep in heavenly peace
? ? And crowned his name ? ? With
truth and praise ? ? The honors of his day ? Glory to God, the Son, we praise,
Who down in humble praise And to redeem us from the dead. May peace and life reign. Glory to God the Spirit here,
Comforter, mighty Father. As the rose and the cherry, We
pray thee, we pray thee, ? That souls that have been left
behind ? ? Can rest at the eye of the Lord. ? ? Glory to God the great above
? ? Eternals reign above ? Good-bye, the pathless hope is
gone. Good-bye, the pathless hope is
gone. Now may the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship
of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us each. Amen.