Commence our service this afternoon
by singing hymn number 991, the tune is in sepulchre, number
406. Emptied of earth I fain would
be, the world, myself, and all but thee, only reserved for Christ
that died, surrendered to the crucified. larger communion let
me prove with thee blessed object of my love but oh for this no
power have i my strength is at thy feet to lie hymn number 991
june at saint sepulchre number 406 O come, Thou King of Kings, O
come, Thou Son of Man, O give peace, O Lord, Christ,
my Lord, So help the people, mercy, love. We praise thee from the highest
heaven's high, God of Salem, the pride of Nye. To make the world a better place
And have more conversation there. O say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave? Return, Lord, to their bequieting,
And to thy silver compasses. It's a true song through the
windows, for the blue and green in our hearts. I will meet thee in thy place
above, O world, thou principal stronghold. God our God in the heav'nly ring,
with the angels all exult high above. At the cool winter night, I spent
the night with you. I had no hand in the choosing
of that hymn, but it's wonderful when the Lord goes before and
uses the hymns as well to, if I can put it that way, set the
scene for our meditations. May the Lord help us to sing
these things from the heart. Let us read in the gospel as
recorded by Mark, chapter 10. from verse 13 to 34 and then
also a part of John chapter 21. We begin with Mark chapter 10
and beginning at verse 13. And they brought young children
to him, that is to Jesus, that he should touch them. And his
disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus
saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the
little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for
of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever
shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he
shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms,
put his hands upon them, and blessed them. And when he was
gone forth into the way, there came one running and kneeled
to him and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit
eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why
callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that
is, God. Thou knowest the commandments
Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear
false witness, defraud not, honour thy father and mother. And he
answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from
my youth. Then Jesus, beholding him, loved
him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest, go thy way, sell
whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven. And come, take up the cross,
and follow me.' And he was sad at that saying, and went away
grieved, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about,
and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have
riches enter into the kingdom of God. The disciples were astonished
at his words. But Jesus answereth again and
saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust
in riches to enter into the kingdom of God? It is easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter
into the kingdom of God. They were astonished out of measure,
saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus
looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not
with God, for with God all things are possible. Then Peter began
to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee,
Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, there is no man
that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother,
or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake in the Gospels, but
he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and
brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with
persecutions and in the world to come eternal life, but many
that are first shall be last. And they were in the way going
up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went before them, and they were amazed,
and as they followed they were afraid. And he took again the
twelve and began to tell them what things should happen unto
him, saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of
Man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and unto the scribes. And they shall condemn him to
death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles. And they shall
mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and
shall kill him. And the third day he shall rise
again. Turn on to John chapter 21 and
we begin to read at verse 15. John chapter 21 at verse 15. So when they had dined, Jesus
said to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, Lovest thou me more
than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord,
thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second
time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea,
Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed
my sheep. He saith unto him the third time,
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because
he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto
him, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.
Peter saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkest
whither thou wouldest. But when thou shalt be old, thou
shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee,
and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying
by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this,
he saith unto him, Follow me, Then Peter, turning about, seeth
the disciple, whom Jesus loved, following, which also leaned
on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that
betrayeth thee? Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus,
Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If
I will that he tarry till I come, What is that to thee? Follow
thou me. Then went this saying abroad
among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. Yet
Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die, but if I will that he
tarry till I come. What is that to thee? This is
the disciple which testifieth of these things. and wrote these
things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there
are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they
should be written down every one, I suppose that even the
world itself could not contain the books that should be written.
Amen. May God bless these parts of
his own holy word to us and help us all to pray. Heavenly Father, once again in
thy mercy we come before thee. Another year passed, as has been
remarked, since we were personally here. Oh Lord, how swiftly the
days go by and we have those reminders recently that though
the old must die, yet the young may do so. Oh Lord. Do we really redeem the time
that we are given? Do we serve Thee as faithfully
as we should? Do we maintain that light and
witness in the earth that we ought to do? Oh Lord, we feel
we've come so very far short in all these things and yet for
all of us our days are fast hastening away. Oh Lord, do cause each
one to pause and to consider, Lord, what are the things that
really occupy us here below? We have many different occupations,
many may still be at school or in other studies or whatever
they may be doing, but Lord, where are our thoughts really
drawn? Are we drawn away from the things of this life? Are
we drawn unto the Lord, we pray that thou make true disciples,
even of each one, if that might be thy holy will. Lord, thou
canst do these things, and we do pray, Lord, that we might
see and feel in our own hearts that witness of being a true
follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, do make us thy disciples,
Lord. read how one was mocked for being
thy disciple. They said to him, thou art his
disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. Lord, we pray that thou would
lead us to Christ. We know the law has its place,
but we might see that mercy, that redemption in the Lord Jesus
Christ. The law only shows us how far
short we have come. We have not kept thy commandments.
Lord, one that we've read of said he had kept those commandments,
but there was still that which was lacking in him. Lord, whatever
our lives have been or are today, whatever our circumstances, we
are all lacking. None of us have kept thy law
perfectly. Lord, we are all sinners. We have all come short. Pray,
Lord, that there may be that teaching of the Holy Spirit in
each heart to understand what that really means, the solemnity
of having offended a holy, a pure, a just God. Lord, we must stand
before thee one day, each of us, young, old, however we may
have died, as it were, Lord, we shall have that in common
to stand before thy great judgment seat. We pray that we might be
prepared God do work thy work in each heart, deliver us from
the things of this life, fix our attention, our love upon
thyself, upon those treasures that shall never fade, never
be taken away, those things that will endure forever. Lord we
need thee to so instruct us, we do pray that we might know
it and feel it and Lord, that we might burn brighter in this
dark world. Lord, we're commanded, thy word
commands us to be as light in the world, to be as the salt
of the earth, to bring a tastefulness to our surroundings. Lord, do you help us and Lord,
when we do come short, we pray that thou would show us, don't
let us go on in ignorance, don't let us continue to sin because
we haven't understood thy word. Lord it is in love that thou
dost chasten and correct thy people, but oh do correct us
if we are wrong in spirit or wrong in word, wrong in deed,
whatever it might be. Lord do bring us back, do draw
us more closely to thyself, we do pray. Lord do Bless thy word,
that which has been spoken in thy name here this morning. We
pray that that may bring forth fruit also in thy way and thy
time, that it might be made to thy glory and to thy honor. That
which has been spoken in thy name up and down our land and
throughout the earth. And we think of the dear pastor
here as probably his labours haven't yet commenced, but Lord,
do be with him this day. Lord, do grant those to whom
he speaks a real sense of thy presence and thy blessing to
rest upon thy word. Lord, fill him with thy spirit
as he speaks to others and do bring him back in peace and safety,
we pray. We understand later in the week,
Lord, do go before him and bring that about, we pray. Lord, we
do ask thou that bless his labours here as he is so frequently to
be found preaching here. Lord, do direct his thoughts,
give the word. Lord, may he be a faithful messenger,
a faithful ambassador for Christ to this people and as he goes
about to other places too. Lord, we I would pray for all
whom thou hast sent, Lord, the great majority of them, we shall
never know throughout the earth, but Lord, where thou hast sent
one and another to preach the word, do own it and bless it,
Lord, do that which no man can do and apply it with power in
the hearts of those that hear. Lord, may all be done to thy
glory and thy honour. Lord, we do. Pray for our nation
Truly we have greatly forsaken me and turned our back on me
Lord we do pray that they will raise up those to rule over us
who shall have the fear of God in their heart they shall not
be afraid to Make the difference between what is right and what
is wrong in thy sight Lord how we Prove, as it was even in ancient
days, that at this time everyone does that which is right in his
own eyes. There is no sense of absolute
truth or absolute right and wrong. It's all relative to how we feel.
Lord, do disabuse this nation of that view, we pray. Bring
us back unto thyself. Lift up those into authority
and naturally speaking into powerful positions who will be righteous
leaders over us. Do remember our King and his
family, Lord, that we might see thy work appear in their hearts. Have mercy upon them, we pray. There are so many, no doubt,
willingly exchange with them their fame and their wealth and
their privileges but oh lord if they have not Christ they
are of all men most miserable we pray lord that they'll give
to many that desire for thyself that we might come as a nation
humbly confessing our sin and our unrighteousness or that we
might seek thy a forgiveness and give that spirit of repentance. Lord, we often wonder what it
must have been to be in Nineveh when there was that great repentance
from the king down to, as it were, the meanest in the land.
Lord, thou didst cause them at that time to repent. Lord, that
we might likewise be brought to repent of what we have done
that is wrong in thy sight. Lord, have mercy upon us, we
pray. Do ask, Lord, that thou would
remember thy people throughout the earth, those who are persecuted
for thy namesake, those whose lives outwardly are far harder
than ours, whose circumstances much less privileged than we
have. Lord, do remember those in prison,
those isolated from other believers, those who may have no place of
worship in which to meet or may not be able lawfully to gather
together. Lord, we do pray that thou would
help and strengthen them to lift them up, Lord, still to be a
faithful witness unto thee. Lord, we do pray as thy word
commands us for their captors, for those who carry out the persecution. Lord, we think of that Philippian
jailer. Lord, what a, no doubt, a hardened
character he must have been. But Lord, the time came when
thou didst call him by thy grace. Thou didst deliver him out of
darkness into the light. And Lord, we do pray for those
that persecute thy people this day, that there may be amongst
them those whose heart thou wilt change. where thou wilt begin
that work, and draw them to thyself. Lord, we know it is the natural
heart of man to prefer darkness, because our deeds are evil. Lord,
that thou wouldest bring to the light those that shall fear thy
name. Lord, do work mightily, we pray. We pray for peace, Lord, where
there is Warfare where there is violence and aggression and
destruction of property and so many that are brought into sudden
bereavement Many taken so suddenly into eternity Lord We pray that
they will turn the hearts of those that Foment these things
and bring peace and quietness in the nations. We pray Lord
do cause these things to speak to our heart. Lord, as we think
of these things today especially, that we might hold all things
in a very light grip, as it were. This may not be our treasure,
Lord, it could be taken from us or us from those things so
quickly, Lord, that we may not trust in them. Oh Lord, thou
hast said how hardly that trust enriches, enter into the kingdom
of God. Lord, we do need thee to show
us that right priority, that treasure which is in heaven that
cannot be taken away, that cannot diminish in any sense. Lord, give us that precious faith
in thee. Give us joy and peace in believing
in thee. Lord, do lead us on ever closer
to thyself, we pray. Lord, do remember each one here
in their own particular circumstances and the particular path that
each one is walking in at this time. Lord, we know not, but
thou knowest all things. We do pray that they'll make
some part of the service a help and a blessing to each one. Remember
the children young people, and Lord, do help them, keep them
safe, protect them, prepare them, Lord, for their later lives,
whatever that might be, that they might live a useful and
productive life. Oh, Lord, do cause them to know
thee. Lord, may they bear that yoke
that harnesses them closely to thyself, even in their youth.
Lord, what a great blessing it is to truly know God, from an
early age. Lord, do have mercy and be with
them, we pray in that way. Do guide and direct in all the
different choices that have to be made. May there be a real
commitment of these things to thee in prayer. Lord, what wilt
thou have me to do to keep us from making all our own plans
and arrangements without prayer, without considering what is the
will of God in this matter. Lord, when we do know thy will,
we need grace and faith to put that into practice. Lord, forgive
us for those times when we have known thy will and still have
not done it. Lord, thou knowest the stubbornness
and the pride of our heart. Lord, bring us back to thyself,
we pray. Lord, do lift up those that are
cast down. I thought of that word recently.
Thou shalt say to him that is cast down, there is lifting up. O Lord, do lift up those who
are cast down. Lift up the fallen, the faint,
and the weak, we pray, and strengthen them to continue. Lord, we pray
that thou wilt go after any that have forsaken thy ways and bring
them back, like that shepherd going after the sheep. or that
there may not be a forsaking of thy ways. Lord, we do pray
where that is needful that thou would do that work. Lord, we
have not that power. We should lack the grace anyway
to do it in a right spirit. But Lord, thou art able to do
it. Work in the heart like that young
man of old who began to be in want, began to see that The things
of this life could never truly satisfy him. And he was brought
home again. Lord, may that be the case of
many that we might know individually and pray for, or many that maybe
we don't know personally. But Lord, thou knowest where
each one is at this time, how far away from thee they may have
roamed. And yet, Lord, may it be a time
to gather in again, if it be thy will. Lord, do build up thy
church. Thou hast said, I will build
my church. Lord, we pray that thou will
do that visibly, that we might see the gathering in of souls.
Lord, do give us a right spirit towards those that come. They
may not come as exactly matching, as it were, what we are at this
time, but Lord, if thou hast begun that work, do give patience
and and much prayer that their knowledge of thee may be deepened,
that they might grow in grace. Lord, do so work mightily, we
pray. Lord, we ask that thou would
then look down upon us in thy mercy. Lord, do forgive our many
sins. Oh, how great must be the sum
of all of our sins. Oh, Lord, may it please thee
to pardon, to forgive, to cleanse us from all sin, from all iniquity,
through the precious blood of Christ. Lord, it is our only
hope, our only plea. We cannot bring anything else
before thee, but that thy blood was shed for me. Lord, make it
our prayer, and Lord, do confirm it, we pray. We ask it all in
the name and for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Continue our service by singing
hymn number 978. The tune is Submission, number
421. How blessed are they who truly
see their emptiness and poverty, whose souls are humbled in the
dust, and who in Jesus only trust. Glad they renounce their former
pride, and holy in his name confide. Only in him they make their boast,
who came to seek and save the lost. Hymn number 978, tune submission,
Number 421. Oh, say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave O give her grace, that through
the ages her soul may rest. ? That they may come and go at
last ? ? And all the earth is saved from us ? ? All the earth
is saved from us ? ? Gave proof through the night
that our flag was still there ? ? O say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave ? ? And it is open unto thee, Christ
the Lord. ? ever after. Lift each voice up and lift each
child. ? To thee, O Thee ? ? Embrace and
protect ? ? Sturdy, gentle Lord ? ? That stone presents ? ? With
holy grace ? And help me, Lord, to keep thy good, the joys of
life. These are the souls in Christ
we have blest With all the riches of His trest Where He shall reign
? His children love him still ? ? And love the King of kings above
? May the Lord help us each speaking
and hearing to consider the words we find in the Gospels recorded
by John chapter 21 and particularly the latter part of verse 22. John chapter 21 and the latter
part of verse 22. What is that to thee? Follow
thou me. Jesus said unto him, that is
to Simon Peter, if I will that he, that is John, tarry till
I come the second time. If I will that he remains on
the earth for however long that period is, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. His words seem to come with some
power into my thoughts yesterday. morning really, considering the
pathway of a disciple. A disciple is one who follows
their Lord and their Master, but there are so many distractions,
aren't there? So many hindrances, so many things
that compete, as it were, for our time, for our energy, for
our thoughts and Really it came to me so perfectly, what is that
to thee? What does that really mean to
you? Compared, because there is a
big contrast I think being made here, isn't there? What is that
to you, Peter? You're being distracted by what
might happen to somebody else. The important thing is follow
thou me. don't look away. It's very clear, isn't it, in
this account, Peter was facing the Lord Jesus. Obviously they
were having a conversation and they were facing one another.
Jesus was speaking about the pathway that Peter would have
to follow. Whether Peter fully understood
this or not, I don't personally feel it's very clear. But we
are told, so it must have been made clear at some stage in the
future at least he was speaking about the death that Peter would
die not perhaps what Peter wanted to hear perhaps not something
that was comfortable as it were to him but there's a wonderful
thing here isn't there by what death he should glorify God He
clearly, what is recorded for us, Peter was going to be compelled
to do something that he didn't want to do. Someone was going
to force him into doing it. That's very clear from verse
18. But I think whether Peter understood
it or not, we can be sure from this that when the time came,
Peter bore it with such grace that it glorified God. The scripture
isn't clear other secular histories indicate that Peter may have
been executed by crucifixion Possibly by the Emperor Nero,
but these things aren't clear, but what is that to us? It doesn't
matter does it if we needed to know that the Lord would have
revealed it the point is Peter's death glorified God The very
clearly here was not really in the right spirit. But when the
time came, God would give him that right spirit. But here,
he turns away. Verse 20, Peter turning about. He's now got his back to the
Lord Jesus. He's not, as it were, going to
follow the Lord. He's not interested in what the
Lord has just set before him. He wants to know, what about
John? What about John? Maybe what was in his heart was
not just curiosity, as it were, but because he didn't like the
path that the Lord was setting before him, he didn't like the
Lord showing him by what death he should die. Well, maybe I'll
swap with John. Maybe John's pathway is going
to be easier. Maybe if I can't swap with John,
at least I can go with John. and then nobody needs to run
this path that's set before me. But he's got his back to the
Lord. You can't follow the Lord with your back to him, can you?
We know walking backwards is almost sure to result in a fall,
isn't it? We must look at the Lord. We must see the direction that
he is setting before us. I associate that Account with
those words we find in Hebrews chapter 12 Let us This is personal
isn't it let us lay aside every weight There seems to be a distinction
there between weights hindrances things that slow us down and
sinful things So we need to be on our guard. There are things
that in themselves are are right, and we shall look at some of
those in a moment, but they can slow us down, they can stop us
from following the Lord fully. And so this admonition, this
exhortation is here, let us lay aside every weight and the sin
which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience
The race that is set before us, not somebody else's race. Oh,
Peter stands as a witness, doesn't he, to the folly of trying to
run somebody else's race. I say for the benefit especially
of the younger ones, a picture here, the race track that is,
you're all familiar with. Think of the one that used to
be marked out on the grass the playing fields at the school
I went to, and were allocated a lane in which to run. It's
a proper professional race, there'd be eight lanes. Some prefer the
inside track as it were, the tighter bends, some prefer to
be a bit further out where the curves are more gentle. But you see each one is allocated
a lane to run in. It's no good an athlete saying,
If they're nominated for lane 8 on the outside, well, I prefer
the inside. Can I swap with that person?
No. You run the race that is set before you. Any attempt to
switch lanes, you'd be disqualified. You see, we are not the one that
chooses the path, are we? The race that is set before us.
We haven't chosen that way. There may well be things in that
particular way in that race that we don't want to face obstacles,
hindrances we don't want that line but run it run it with patience
because God has set it before you and this you see is so important
looking unto Jesus Peter wasn't looking unto Jesus was he physically
literally he wasn't looking at Jesus and so in a spiritual sense,
he turned his back as well upon the law. He was saying, I don't want that
way, I don't want that race. Oh, looking unto Jesus, we must
fix our eyes upon him, the author, the beginner and the finisher
of our faith. And even if there are, and there
will be, obstacles, hindrances. We have this very precious thing,
don't we? The Lord's own example, who for
the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne
of God. For consider him, oh when we
moaning when we're complaining about the difficulties of our
race, when we don't like the path that God has allocated to
us, consider him. Consider him. That endured such
contradiction of sinners against himself. Though absolutely holy,
perfect, yet sinners, sinners contradicted him. How dare they? But more particularly, how dare
you? And how dare I contradict him
when he says, this is the way. Walk ye in this way. This is
what I've appointed. No, Lord, there's some mistake.
I don't want to go that way. But about so-and-so, can't I
go with them? They seem to have such an easy
path compared to all my troubles. What is that to thee? Oh, follow
thou me. See if we are looking unto him,
he's gone before us. He's there, can I say just for
the sake of that illustration, he's there at the finishing line.
Looking to him, expecting to get there, having that desire
to draw closer to him. Consider him lest ye be wearied
and faint in your minds. Oh, what a wonderful example
there is in the Lord Jesus Christ, isn't there? And when he says,
follow thou me, he means we will have to do some of the things
that he did, experience some of the things that he did. The
contradiction of sinners against ourselves, the being forsaken. Oh, I know the record is there
of Peter's boasting he said they were all men forsaken yet will
not I but don't forget this likewise so said they all just the way
my Bible is set out on just immediately opposite that in the next column
on the page it says they all forsook him and fled again the
detail is there about Peter forsaking him but they all did they all
did Or when those maybe contradict us or those forsake us. We're only in a measure, and
it's a very small measure really, compared to the suffering of
Christ. But we're only entering in to his pathway as it were. We're following in his footsteps. You know, Peter speaks about
when you do well and suffer for it. You take it patiently. This is acceptable to God. Well,
Christ was the perfect example of that, wasn't he? Doing well,
perfectly, doing exactly the will of his Father, but suffering
for it. Suffering so cruelly, so unjustly,
and taking it so patiently. Had to think of that a lot recently. When he was reviled, that is
verbally abused, he reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not. You think of the power that Christ
had at that time to have completely done away with all of those who
opposed him, was contrary to him. It could easily have swept
it aside. But instead of that he bore it
patiently. He didn't respond in kind. What
an example for us. What is that to thee? What is
all this contradiction? What is all this lack of love maybe it is toward
us, this misinterpretation? of what we've said or done. What
is it to you? The important thing is follow
thou me. Don't stop to get even. There's
no Christian spirit, is there? No, it is our natural heart.
We've had to prove that, but it's not right. What is that
to thee? Follow thou me. Now, both of
those hymns, in fact, that we've sung, suited to this, especially
that first one. Well we all sang it,
we all sing it from the heart. That desire to be detached, separated,
it's got that difficult word in it hasn't it, sequestered,
it's a Really means separated or set apart We Hearts desire
this afternoon to All these things that the hustle and the bustle
as it were of life to to be detached from that Not just on the Lord's
Day, but certainly in our spirit in our heart throughout the week
I know we have our occupations. We have the things that we have
to do and that the scripture is very clear that if we're of
a working age we should use the talents and the ability God has
given us to the best effect, that's quite right, but we can
still be a bit detached from it. Where's our treasure? What is that to thee? All that
pursuit of this world's goods, as the world says, fame and fortune,
what is that to thee? follow thou me. We had the example,
didn't we? We read it, this rich young man
that came to Jesus. He's often, as it were, despised,
but we did read, and especially read it from Mark, because Mark
is the one who notes that Jesus loved him. It does seem to me
that here was a genuine seeker after God. It's interesting,
isn't it, that Jesus speaks of those commandments
that are all, we might say, the practical part of the Ten Commandments,
and he doesn't mention at all the first four commandments that
are really about God. Why is that? I hope I'm not reading
too much into it, but it seems to me the very fact this man
came and addressed Jesus as good master. And Jesus says, why did
you do that? Why are you calling me good?
No one is good except God. Now I think that that shows that
this man knew that much. I don't think Jesus was rebuking
him here. I think in a sense he was commending
him. You've called me good because you understand that I am God. I think he was genuinely seeking.
There was something that was wrong with him. Though he said,
and for all that the scripture tells us, he was probably right. All these have I observed from
my youth. But there was one thing lacking.
And I believe it is in love that the Lord brings this to his attention. One thing is still wrong. There
was much, in a sense, to commend this man. But he still seems
to have had this great thirst, as it were, for riches, doesn't
he? And Jesus says, go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and
give to the poor. And then, then thou shalt have
treasure in heaven, and come, take up the cross, and follow
me. Take up the burden of being a
true Christian witness in this life. It's not going to be easy. We speak of a cross, don't we,
because of the obvious connection with the Lord, but we speak of
the cross as being things that are difficult, things that are
contrary to us. And Jesus says to this man, you've
got to take that up. You can't follow me without having
that burden, without having that path of a certain amount, as
it were, of suffering and difficulty, because that is the Christian
path. That is the race that is going to be set before you, or
is now set before you. But you've got to follow me.
You've got to follow me. Did the Lord have great earthly
riches? No. He seems to have been from
a very poor, very humble A background, doesn't he? Oh, we've got to
follow him. Now, he was sad. Oh, this poor
man seems in this matter to have had a very wrong spirit, doesn't
he? He was grieved by this saying. He didn't want to be detached
from all of his riches, from all of the things of this life.
They were still too important to him. He had great possessions. When we read of that parable,
I haven't thought to mention this, but that parable of the
great feast, and you look at those who were called, but those
who refused to come, they all really had great riches, didn't
they? One had a piece of land, needed to go and look at it,
take it, means to gloat over it really. One had bought I can't
remember, forgive me, however many yoke of oxen. Got too busy,
I'm too occupied. Don't have time for the gospel
feast. One had married a wife. Oh, how
close these things come. You see, there's nothing wrong
in that. The scripture commends these things. I know it isn't
for all, but there's nothing wrong with being married at all. But you see, he made it an excuse.
I'm not coming to the feast because my wife is the treasure, as it
were, of my heart. Oh, what is that to thee? Follow
thou me. And Jesus then went on, didn't
he, to explain even more clearly to the disciples how hard is
it for them that trust in riches. There's nothing, again, nothing
wrong with riches in themselves, but are they a distraction? What
are they to thee? If they're God's blessing and
they're to be used in serving God as best we can, well, that's
all well and good, but if they're a hindrance, if they're occupying
all of your thoughts, all of your heart's desire, that's when
it's wrong. What is that to thee? Follow
thou me instead. Oh, this impossibility then. The disciples were struggling
with this, weren't they? Who can be saved? Because they
knew in their own hearts, again, as far as the scripture is concerned,
with maybe one or two exceptions, but they also came from humble
stock, didn't they? You see, they say, who can be
saved? This is the natural inclination
of the human heart is to want these things and want more of
them and more of them. So who can be saved? It's impossible. Well, Jesus says, yes, it is
impossible with men. Oh, but praise God, it's not
impossible to him. You see, there are those to whom
he shows that all the things of this world, they're nothing
to you. Not really. We should be thankful. Don't misunderstand me. We're
not to abuse the blessings that God gives us. But they're not
really to be anything to us. You've got to follow me. And
Jesus says that it is possible with God. Because he changes
that heart. He gives a new desire, a new
will. It's interesting then that Peter
says It's not clear really exactly what spirit Peter says this in. But Peter then says, we have
left all and have followed thee. And then Jesus says this, there's nobody who has left house
brethren, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, all lands, for
my sake and the gospel. But he shall receive a hundred
times more. These are very precious verses
to me, because as we go out to preach among the churches, there
is a very real sense in which we have to leave our house, obviously,
physically, go away and not leave the house. And our spiritual
brothers and sisters, for some it may be their natural brothers
and sisters, not the case for me sadly, but some do have to
leave them, but certainly our spiritual brothers and sisters.
We leave our father and our mother, even our wife and our children.
There's a wonderful blessing because God gives a hundred times
more. The number of houses into which
we are welcomed, the number of brothers and sisters in Christ
whom we never knew, who the Lord brings us to know and they become
in a sense, a spiritual sense, a part of the family. Mothers.
I've been so thankful often times for the grace that is shown by
some of the, as it were, the mothers in Israel and how their
spirit and their prayers are so helpful and beneficial, and
children, spiritual children, and lands. But you see there
are eight things, if you look at that carefully, verse 29 has
eight things that have to be left behind, because what is
that to thee? But there are eight things that
are given, but they're not the same. Six of them are the same,
Two of them, the things that are left behind are never restored,
as it were. One is the wife, because a man
can only have one wife, one at a time, obviously. And father,
because Jesus said, call no man father. One is your father, which
is in heaven. I don't like that expression,
forgive me, I don't want to be nitpicky, but I believe you can
see here, it is in the scripture. when people talk about spiritual
fathers. We're not to have a spiritual
father. We know what's meant, but you
see, Jesus said, don't call anyone your father. If you've got one
father in heaven, that's it. You leave your physical, natural
father, but he's not replaced here, is he? But two things are
given, which you didn't leave behind. Persecutions. Oh, you see, take up the cross
and follow me. Jesus never sets out that being
a Christian, following the Lord is an easy thing. Never. Some
try to present it, the so-called prosperity gospel, but it's not
found in the scripture. It's not really the gospel at
all. Jesus says it's going to be hard work following. There
are many, many blessings, It is hard work, so there will be
persecutions. But think of this, in the world
to come, eternal life. Well, what are all these things
then here below to thee? Follow thou me. What a prospect. What an inheritance
to the true Christian disciple. This comes very close, doesn't
it? Because you see, as I've said, I will say it again, but
you see there are so many things that are not sinful in themselves,
but they're a hindrance to us. They stifle our spiritual life. They slow us down in following
the Lord. They've got to be set aside.
What is that today? What are you holding on to? What
weights and burdens are you carrying that you don't need to, that
you shouldn't be? As I look within my own path,
what conditions, as it were, are you putting upon the Lord
that he's got to fulfil something for you first? What is that to
thee? I set a number of conditions upon God before I would agree
to be baptised. As it were, I knew that that's
what I should be. and the Lord had to show me,
that's not the right spirit, is it? What is that to thee?
I was demanding a particular blessing in a particular way.
I said, I won't be baptised. I didn't tell anyone, but that
was what was in my heart. I won't be baptised until God,
as it were, does his part. No. We have to learn, what is
that to thee? It wasn't a bad desire. There
was nothing wrong in that sense. But the spirit was wrong. We
don't dictate to God. Well, at least we shouldn't.
We try, but we shouldn't. And the Lord won't, as it were,
submit to our dictation. What is that to thee? Follow
thou me? Well, it's sad to say the same
thing happened with regard to the ministry. But you see, what
is that to thee? Those verses are so precious
because One of the obstacles in my heart was I won't leave
my house. Especially I won't leave my wife
and my children. But we have to be brought to
this. What is that to thee? Nothing
wrong with them. Very favoured and blessed with
my wife and my children. But you see, what is that to
thee? Follow thou me? Now I don't know
what it is in your lives, if the Lord has truly sent this
word then it is for a purpose, isn't it? What is it that you
need to let go of? What conditions do you need to
let go of? What hindrances and obstacles
are you, in that sense like I was, deliberately putting in the way?
What is it today? The important thing here is follow
thou may. Maybe we're putting too many
outward things, as it were, too many traditions and things in
the way. If it's something that's based
on the scripture, well that's fair enough, but there are many
things that are not based on the scripture that become a tradition
and they can become so important that we say, well, unless someone
does that, they can't be following the law. Well what is that today? Now Matthew or Levi as he is
variously known in the scripture, it appears that he was given
a very much better spirit doesn't it? We read And after these things, Jesus
went forth and saw a publican, that is a tax collector, named
Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom. And he said unto him,
follow me. And he left all, rose up and
followed him. The publicans or the tax collectors
could be very rich, often they were, often based upon deceit
in telling the people that they had to pay more tax than they
really did and as we would say pocketing the difference. There
were honourable exceptions, it would seem Levi and certainly
Zacchaeus, but generally it was a prosperous occupation. Levi
probably had a good career ahead of him, nothing wrong with that,
probably had significant wealth ahead of him nothing wrong with
that but the time came when the Lord said follow me and now it
would have been wrong for Levi to say well no those things are
more important but he didn't you see Levi was given a very
wonderful spirit here immediately the Lord said follow thou me
or follow me he left all rose up and followed him And the next
thing, I've never considered this before, but just reading
this verse again in the vestry, the next verse says, Levi made
him a great feast in his own house, and there was a great
company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. Levi
was not ashamed to follow the Lord. It doesn't appear from
the record of the scripture that there was any real connection
between Levi and the Lord until this time. So probably the other
publicans in the region, they knew of him. And now there was
this great change. Now that he was going to follow
the Lord, he wasn't ashamed of it. He called them all to this
feast. Perhaps he wanted to share with
them what the Lord had done with him, for him rather, we don't
know. But he certainly wasn't ashamed
of it. You see, if that's the obstacle
for you, I can't follow the Lord because what would other people
say? What would everyone else say about him? They might criticise
me, they might mock me, they might tease me, they might say
all manner of things against me. Well, consider the Lords. Consider those contradictions
of sinners against himself. What is that to thee? What is
it to you? Is it a hindrance? Is it a barrier? Follow thou
me? I don't think there's anything
that we can rightly raise up and say well this is a legitimate
hindrance. I think this Question I know
it's directly about Peter's interest in John's pathway, but I think
it is of such a wide application Really it means anything at all
That is in your way That is preventing you from following the law. What is it to you? Why are you?
prizing that Above everything else. Why are you saying that
is more important than obedience? to the law because it is the
Lord who is saying this. You know in John chapter 10 where
Jesus really likens himself to a shepherd and he says there,
the sheep follow him for they know his voice. Is there one
or many here, I don't know, to whom the Lord is speaking? And you know that he's speaking.
Pretend or even convince yourself. Otherwise, you know that the
Lord is speaking But you're saying no, I'm not going to follow him
it's going to cost me too much I don't mean financially but
in whatever way it's going to cost me too much and Jesus is
saying what is that today? What is that today you see if
we make an idol of these things God can very soon take them away
and then we're left with nothing and we're still in a disobedient
state. Oh, the grace to let go of these
things, whatever they are, I don't know what they are, but to let
go, to say, well, no, compared to Christ, they're nothing to
me. As I say, they may be good things, they may be things we
should be thankful to God for, but compared to following Him,
I know His voice, I know He's speaking to me, So that is what
I must do. I don't know, forgive me if you
did read in the Cheering Words, I think back
in one of the summer editions, June or July, I think, but I
was asked to submit an account of something that happened to
my wife and I on holiday once in the Hebrides, out to Hebrides.
walking along and there was a row of cottages and behind each cottage
was a very long narrow strip field, probably no wider than
the chapel but very long from the back of the cottages down
to the cliff by the sea. And in every one of these strips
there was some sheep. And as we were walking down on
a track that went parallel to these fields, the shepherd came by, the one
who owned clearly one lot of sheep. And although it wasn't
strictly speaking his voice, he was playing a whistle, but
the same point is there, he was playing a tune on this whistle. And we observed this very, very
clearly and very powerfully. The sheep in one strip all got
up and they all followed him, he was walking parallel as well,
they followed him down, then when he got to the end he cut
across and then he fed them. And the sheep in all of the other
strips totally ignored him. There wasn't a single sheep that
got to its feet and followed him because they didn't know
that voice. They didn't know that tune, if you like, on the
whistle. But what was very striking to me as well, the whole thing
was very striking, Every one of the sheep in that particular
field followed him. Some of them were very reluctant
and watched one. I watched one for a long time. It was sitting there, you know,
how they chew the cud. You could see it was doing that.
It seemed to be quite a fat sheep. It seemed to be, it was very
complacent if you like. I don't really need the shepherd
at this time, I'm quite happy where I am. But although it ignored
the shepherd's voice for a long time, it did in the end get to
its feet and follow him. It came so powerfully, all that
the Father giveth me shall come to me. You see, not one of those
sheep could be left behind, but not one of the other sheep in
the other fields followed him at all. They didn't know his
voice. Oh, what is it to thee? Do you
know the voice of the Lord? Is he speaking to you at this
time? And you're saying, well, no,
I can't let go of whatever that particular thing is, that matter.
And then he says, what is that to thee? It's become an idol. You've become too attached to
it. You've got it in the wrong priority. This is preeminent. Follow thou me. Let go of all
the things that surround it, as it were. Stick to this vital
bit. Follow thou me. Now, when the
sheep follow the shepherd, it's not, again, it's not all green
pastures, is it? Psalm 23. probably know it off
by heart, but do you know the experiences in your heart? Yes,
there are times when he maketh me to lie down in green pastures,
when he gives me the still waters, when he restores me, all these
are good things, but also he leadeth through the valley of
the shadow of death. I have to walk in dark paths,
I have to walk a difficult Path at times because he has said
follow thou me Shouldn't expect anything different should we?
Are you saying well now? I'll only follow him if it's
always green pastures I'm not going to follow if there's darkness
there are shadows. I'll be frightened But David
knew better didn't he David says though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. Why not? Because, you see, it's the same
truth as when they're following in the green pastures, isn't
it? Thou art with me. That's the important thing. In
that sense, I don't want to be misunderstood, but it doesn't
matter whether it's green pastures or whether it's the valley of
the shadow of death. Thou art with me. I'm following thee. This is the way God is leading
me. So it doesn't matter. The essential thing is, thou
art with me. Oh, he speaks of the rod and
the staff, doesn't he? The rod, as I understand it,
was more like a short, thick club. It was a weapon to defend
the sheep from the lion or the bear or the wolf or whatever.
So there's protection. But the staff, oh, the staff
is used for the correction of the sheep. It's not something
to beat them with, but it's to guide them. to lift them up,
the shepherd's crook, to lift them up when they've fallen down,
or it's to gently poke them, as it were, into one direction.
Well, if we're following him, he will lead us in this way,
won't he? He'll show us, he'll direct us. And then you see, because the
sheep is following the shepherd, but then, I love that last verse
of Psalm 23, there's something else that is following the sheep. And that is goodness and mercy. They shall follow me. I can look
back upon them, I won't necessarily see them ahead of me. The valley
of the shadow of death might be quite dark and it might be
unclear, but because I'm following the Lord, I know I'm safe, He
will protect me, He'll keep me safe and then as I look back
I'll see that goodness and mercy were following as well. And they
were following through the valley of the shadow of death as well.
We might say it's obvious they were following when it was green
pastures but they were following me all the days of my life. Not just the green and pleasant
days but all of the days of my life. If I was following the
Lord Goodness and mercy was following me. It's wonderful to think of
it, isn't it? So what are all these things
to you and to me? Psalm 73 is one of those passages
that really ever since, I suppose, I can't pinpoint my call by grace,
but ever since the things of God were important to him in
Psalm 73 has also been very precious. You see Asaph, he's very clearly
what we might say a good man, he's very clearly a believer
in God, isn't he? But he didn't always have the
right spirit. And there was a time, I don't know how long this time
lasted in Asaph's life, but there clearly was a time when the things
of this world were too important to him. He was envious of the
foolish when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. It's not just
the financial prosperity, but their life seemed to be so easy.
Now the world does have its troubles, but of course the unbelieving
world doesn't have any spiritual trouble. And so Asaph could say,
well, compared to my hard lot, their life is so very easy. You
see, he turned away, just like Peter, turned away from the Lord.
He thought, what about the wicked? Their life is so easy, so much
to be desired, as it were, compared to my hard struggle in following
the Lord. Yes, he says these are the ungodly
they do prosper in the world. There's no denying that they
increase in riches But all the day long. I'm I have been plagued
and chastened every morning. I'm I'm suffering in a way that
they're not Within the Lord really I know it didn't say in those
many words, but didn't the Lord really say to Asaph? What is
that today? I think you can very clearly
see the Lord, as it were, speaking to Asaph. As he comes into the
sanctuary of God, then he makes him see two things, really, that
he couldn't see because he was so focused on what they had and
he wanted what they had. And the Lord said, no, that's
not for you, Asaph. But there are two things here
that are, you see, or two things that you had to be made aware
of, rather. The first is, then understood
I their ends. Not their life. Their life was
comparatively easy, materially prosperous and so on. But what
about their ends? Oh, they, the ones who were in
slippery places and they are the ones who were cast down at
the beginning of that psalm. Esau felt he was almost there,
but do look at it carefully. He hadn't quite gone. As for
me, my feet were almost gone. My step said, well nigh, almost
slipped. But then concerning the wicked,
thou did set them in slippery places. Thou castest them down
into destruction. Utterly consumed with terrors. I think that's such a description
of hell, isn't it? Utterly consumed with terrors,
and there's no let up. There's no end to it. And then you see he realizes,
well I've been so foolish. Those things meant a lot to me,
but now I can see I was so foolish. I was as ignorant as a beast.
But then you see, the Lord shows him these wonderful things that
he has, that the wicked doesn't. I am continually with thee. Ah
yes, through the green pastures, through the valley of the shadow
of death, I'm continually, that means without let up. Always
with thee. Thou hast holden me by my right
hand, thou shalt guide me with thy counsel. and afterward receive
me to glory. And then it's this, isn't it?
Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth
that I desire beside thee. Oh, how many here? Is that really
true? I don't say that to find fault
or anything, but to prompt that earnest concern and searching
of our own hearts. Can each of us really say that
there's nothing compared to Christ that I really desire, that I
really want? As I've said, we have our lawful
occupations and our schooling and our education, all of those
things, but compared to Christ? Can you really come in with Asaph
and say there's none upon earth or there's nothing upon earth?
that I desire beside thee, that is equal to thee. That the Lord is everything,
the Lord is all, all in all in Christ. Oh, is that our experience,
is that our feeling? Is that our desire? Or perhaps
you see, like Asaph at this moment, we might be led astray a bit,
our mind, Desires might be wandering a bit and the Lord has come and
he said what is that today? Don't don't go after those things
because compared to Christ. They're absolutely nothing. They're
all perishing They'll be removed from us or or we shall be removed
from them I've thought a lot recently about that word, we
brought nothing into this world. Well, nobody disputes that, do
they? We see a natural birth and we
can see the baby brings nothing with it. But it's equally certain
we can take nothing out with us. Oh, there are so many that are
living a life as if they're gonna take it all with them. But how
is it with you and me? What is that today? What are
all those things? You're not gonna take them with
you. They'll all be left behind. I remember an account a friend
gave to me once of a very rich person that lived in their village
and when he died, someone said to my friend, he said, well,
what did he leave behind? Meaning, what was the value of
his estate? And my friend said, everything.
And how true that is, isn't it? Doesn't matter whether it was
ten pounds or a million pounds, he left it behind, whom there
is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. Well may God grant
to us each this spirit to hold these things with a loose grip.
What is that to thee? The important thing, follow thou
me. I conclude our service by singing
hymn number 940. The tune is Solomon, number 930. Compared with Christ, in all
beside no comeliness I see, the one thing needful, dearest Lord,
is to be one with Thee. For there consists not with Thy
love, O teach me to resign, I am rich to all the intents of bliss,
if thou, O God, art mine. Hymn number 940, tune Solomon,
number 930. O come all ye faithful joyful
and triumphant O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave The steps I've taken so many
a day to hear the song of day. Christ on high, the Son of the
Father, the Holy One, ? I shall be consoled ? ? I come
home to this world ? ? For the life's work I cannot fail ? ?
And the world's peace I cannot fail ? Alleluia, alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, ? To your temple we lift our hymns
? ? Our tears we give return ? ? Water our strife ? ? And teach me to be kind ? ? And
teach me, O angels, of His praise to sing ? Precious God, we do pray that
thou wilt wean us from all of those things that are a hindrance
to us. Lord, do cause us to follow thee. May thou speak to us again, Lord,
and may we know thy voice and be obedient to it. Follow thee,
whithersoever thou dost lead. Lord, do make us better disciples,
rid us of those things that hide our light, diminish the salt,
as it were. Lord, we have so much to confess
before Thee, but to be with us each and help us in the race
that Thou hast set before us, we pray. Now may the love of
God the Father, the grace of Christ the Son, the fellowship
and communion of the Holy Spirit be with us each. Amen.