commence our service this evening
by singing hymn number 812. The tune is Dublin, number 129. Whenever I make some sudden stop,
for many such I make, and cannot see the cloud cleared up, nor
know which path to take. Weak in myself, in him I'm strong,
His Spirit's voice I hear, the way I walk cannot be wrong, if
Jesus be but there. Hymn number 812, tune Dublin,
number 129. you O come, O come, all ye faithful
joyful and triumphant O come, O come, all ye faithful joyful
and triumphant And yet, O see, the world without,
No man is worthy. ? That you, my Lord, my Son ? ?
May always be in my heart ? ? Till death do you part ? ? May you
rest in peace ? ? There is no God ? ? The new and safe ? ? And the
land of the free ? ? Through Jesus' name ? ? To the
righteous save us ? ? For the righteous name of his ? ? And he became
? ? There is a beach ? ? I love it
? ? Always there ? ? Oh, Florida ? ? Christ the Savior ? ? Christ
the Savior of our lives ? ? The good, the good, the good Lord
? O'er the land of the free and
the home of the brave? O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the
bombs bursting in air, In my thoughts too, my eyes are
blest, The Lord and the King so blest. Deep in my soul, within my soul,
is to every toiling, every toiling, ? Have your people ? ? In Jesus'
name amen ? ? In Jesus' name amen ? O'er the land of the free and
the home of the brave? O'er the land of the free and
the home of the brave? Let us read together for our
instruction from the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, chapter
2. The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians,
chapter 2. And you, hath he quickened, who
were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past ye walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the
children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation
in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires
of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children
of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace
are ye saved. and hath raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that
in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of
his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember that ye, being
in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision,
by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands, that
at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ
Jesus, ye who who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the
blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath
made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us, having abolished in his flesh the enmity even
the law of commandments contained in ordinances for to make in
himself of twain one new man, so making peace, and that he
might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having
slain the enmity thereby, and came and preached peace to you
which were afar off, and to them that were nigh, for through him
we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore
ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens
with the saints and the household of God, and are built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief cornerstone, in whom all the building fitly
framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord, in
whom ye also are builded together for the inhabitation of God through
the Spirit. The Lord bless the reading of
his holy words. and help us to pray. Merciful and gracious God, we
are brought together at this evening time to worship Thee. Give us a true spirit of worship,
for Thou art great, and Thy greatness, O Lord, who can fathom? And yet, Lord, Thou art worthy
of our praises, and we would desire to praise thee for all
that thou hast done, even for poor needy sinners. In the first
thee sending of thine own dearly begotten Son, only begotten Son,
that he might come, take flesh, dwell amongst us, to redeem us,
from our lost condition. But now, O Lord, we also would
praise Thee because He has risen from the dead, ascended up on
high, has laid captivity captive, and has received gifts for men,
even for the rebellious also. And, Lord, it may be said rebellious
thou hast been, and art rebellious still, but since in love I took
thee in, my promise I'll fulfil. We would praise thee for the
precious promise, that which was spoken right back in the
beginning, and where we may find that our whole confidence may
rest, as David's did. For though he could not boast
or say anything with regard to how he had sustained the path
that he should, not only as one recalled from the sheep-goat,
by sovereign grace and at knowing the Lord in mercy, but one who
raised him to the position and placing him over the nation as
their king. And therefore responsibility
was much laid upon his shoulders. And yet he came to know that
his house was not as it should be. And who, Lord, can say that
we have been able to walk a spotless life? Ah, far from it. Rather, we have to mourn daily
over our sin, repent daily, and to cry unto thee daily for thy
mercy. But David said, O consolation
was here, that though my house be not so with God, yet he hath
made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure. And therefore, Lord, we are encouraged,
encouraged to yet venture Knowing that, though thine anger may
be poured out upon us when we err and sin, but thy love is
so great, and thy wrath so slow to rise, so ready to abate. Therefore, Lord, may we realize
the wonderful the goodness of our God, in not dealing with
us according to our sin, nor rewarding us according to our
iniquity. But in that great mercy shows
pity, and understanding, and sympathy, and kindness. O Lord, may we then feel that
whatever their state and condition there is hope at the mercy seat. We pray that they will grant
thy blessing as we are gathered together under the word, that
the word that is read may bring its teaching, may bring it and
give us an understanding of it, We need thy gracious spirit,
that we may have a right understanding of those things, that all of
that may be sealed home upon earth's heart, and that we might
know the sweetness and blessedness of the Word, the Word that is
able to make us wise unto salvation. And then, O Lord, we pray that
we might be built up upon our most holy faith and that we may
grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. Lord, we would with the psalmist
beseech thee that thou wouldst not leave our souls destitute
Though we may need to be emptied out of self and brought low,
yet to be raised up in the consolations of that covenant and that work
that Christ has done. But Lord, we know we need to
be humbled. Pray we, Lord, hearken to the
word, the exhortation. Humble yourselves, therefore. under the mighty hand of God,
that we may be exhorted in due time, knowing that they are just
care for us, and so to cast upon them all our cares and burdens
and concerns. May we come, childlike, may we
be helped to confess to thee all and everything. Lord, to
leave nothing unsaid from our hearts. Indeed, we may not voice it publicly,
but that our case is between thee and ourselves. Lord, we do pray that where we
may be, to make public confession and to own that we have sinned
against our brethren, give us courage to do so, humility to
do so. May it be done because we love
the brethren and will not offend them. But Lord, may our great
concern be lest we should offend thee. Lord, it is a solemn yet
consideration, as David expressed it, against thee. Thee only have
I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight. But as a father
there does pity thine own dear children, and thou art able through
that atoning work to wash sends away and to reconcile us through
the Mediator, the Mediator Christ Jesus. Now we would pray that
thou would grant thy blessing upon this people as they gather
here with their pastor now having gone away for rest and change
much needed, we believe, all that he has passed through in
the past year and the more recent months. Oh Lord, the strains
that were upon him and now the great loss that he feels. Yet
Lord, we believe that hast upheld him and helped him and so Lord
may he prove that there will grant this time to be of much
benefit though there may be many things which will tinge with
sadness because what he had done in the past with his dear one
and now no longer to have her. The Lord is there to sanctify
the very thoughts of his heart and enable him to be of a thankful
mind for the many mercies that he knew through those years when
they were together. And now Lord we pray that there
were a grant that as he may land not so many hours now and be
brought safely to ground and then O Lord we pray that he may
have safe returns at the appointed time to be brought again to minister
here in the pulpit amongst his people. We do, Lord, believe
that they seek to hold up his hands much in prayer. May they continue to be continually
helped to do so. Lord, we pray that they may also
receive a blessing as he may be the instrument. Lord, we have
to prove Though called thy servants, we are only instruments in thy
hand. And Lord, we therefore would
solemnly consider that lest we should seek to go at our own
charges rather than to be directed, than to be shown what is to be
said by thyself. Lord, thou knowest that sometimes
thy servants wonder why they may say such a thing as they
express it, only to find that that is the thing that they are
disuse. Lord, we do pray then that thou
wilt help us to fall unreservedly into thy gracious hands as we
continue in the work, and thy dear servant the pastor here,
that he may prove that thou dost grant those evidences that his
labour is not in vain in the Lord, but that there may be signs
following the preaching of the word. We would also pray, Lord,
for those that are detained at this time And we would desire
to commend the aged widow of the late pastor who ministered
here over a number of years, and she now in her great age. Lord, we pray that though she
may be old and grey-headed, prove as David did that his prayer
was When I am such, forsake me not, nor forsake her not, but
rather establish her in the blessedness of the truth, and enable her
to have a sweet expectation of that which is laid up for her,
as we trust it is with us that fear thy name. We believe if
we fear thy name it must be. But oh, when we find the evils
of our heart raging, we wonder, how shall we be found among them? But Lord, nonetheless, thou art
able to subdue, prepare, and make a glorious entrance when
the time comes. And now, Lord, we will not multiply
words before thee. We will pray for Zion at large.
Oh, how we desire a reviving in this our day. We've seen the
falling away. We are often saddened by the
fact that doors are closed. Churches have been, and congregations,
and they are no more. Lord, we are saddened as we find
that this is the bleak prospect that we shall only see. Those doors are shut unless thou
dost pour out thy Spirit and dost constrain and cause those
to come and enter in, who may be first convinced of sin, of
righteousness, of judgment to come, and then to plead with
thee, obtaining mercy. Mercy because of all that they
had done before they did it ignorantly, but now in the knowledge of the
light that has shone out of nature's darkness so they have considered
the power of the life which is everlasting. And so have mercy
upon us as a nation in these solemn days when iniquity runs
down our streets and equity cannot enter Though men are ever seeking
to have, as they call it, equality, yet, Lord, there is only one
thing wherein it can be said, man is equal, and that is, we
have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. But, Lord,
when there does work thy work, then have led us cause a people
to rejoice in the fact that they have been quickened and given
the life that was once forfeited, and therefore, Lord, they can
rejoice that thou hast imparted to them that life and hope upon
which we may rest resting upon Him who is the very
life itself. Now pardon then our every sin. We ask these things for Christ's
sake. Amen. We continue our service by singing
hymn number 622. The tune is Lasus, number 875. Poor fearful saint, be not dismayed,
nor dread the dangers of the night. Thy God will ever be thy
aid, and put the hosts of hell to flight. nor sin, nor Satan,
can or come the arm that vindicates thy cause. God, thy own God,
will lead thee home, in spite of all that may oppose. Hymn
number 622, tune laces number 875. ? Oh, say can you see by the dawn's
early light O say can you see, by the dawn's
early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's Thy good will over all the earth,
O God, to Thee be glory evermore. O Savior, Lamb of God, Give unto
me repose I would, ? Through time and forth we'll
be with you ? ? In spite of all that may occur to you. ? ? The last day in the world shall
be light ? ? And the hearts of all shall be healed ? ? By the
Lord shall come again ? ? Holy Ghost ? ? Heavenly host
? ? The God of Israel ? ? In every storm and in every strife ? I am my own, shall be myself. I know shall call my father's
name, And my right hand speak his command. It's a simple thing, simple as
that. All that is love, above and beyond,
Gives love and safeguard, that it always As the Lord may be pleased to
help me, I will direct your attention to the epistle of Paul to the
Ephesians, chapter 2, and we will read verses 4, 5, and 6. But God, who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace
ye are saved, and hath raised us up together and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians
chapter 2 and read in verses 4, 5 and 6. But God, who is rich
in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when
we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace
ye are saved, and hath raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The Gentile churches to whom
the Apostle Paul was sent to establish, to begin those churches
and establish them. And therefore, as he sought to
encourage them and to teach them the things of God, leading them
into the truth, all truth, as it may be applied to them and
a consolation for them. Doubtless they felt that having
been as dead in the trespasses and sins, the whole heathen world,
the Gentile world, and yet God had made choice of some to bring
them out from nature's darkness into the glorious light of the
truth and to know that they may be saved through the grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who was declared to them, who
came into this world, first being a God, a very God, yet condescending
to take our nature, to be found in flesh as a man, that he may
make his soul an offering for sin, or so that he may bear our
sins in his own body upon the tree, when he was taken by wicked
hands and crucified. Yet it was to this end that salvation
may come unto the world. Not every person in the world
but that word implies and indicates that it would go beyond the bounds
of natural Israel, that the word which had been much rejected
by the Israel that had come forth by natural means from Abraham
and Isaac and Jacob down through the ages, the people that God
said that he loved them because he would love them, and there
were those amongst them that he did indeed love because they
obeyed his voice according to faith, according to that which
they hoped for, that which they looked for, And they looked for
the day when the one offering which could only satisfy holy
justice would be given and would be offered. And so the father
gave his only begotten son that he may be offered up an offering
acceptable unto God, a God in all his holy nature. God accept
the one though made to be sin for us, and bore our sin, that
is, he would bear the punishment for that sin, and the punishment
for sin was death, and so he would die, but not because he
deserved the punishment himself, only as he stood surety for his
people, but that he would bear the punishment and evidence that
he was holy, the holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
and therefore could offer himself as the great high priest. So
he gave himself, he laid down his life, he had power and authority
to lay it down and he had power to take it again. And oh, hear
then the apostle being taught, although he was a Pharisee of
the Pharisees, though he was a Jew indeed of the stock of
Israel and yet the Lord called him, chose him, equipped him
to be a minister of the Gentiles and here we find that Paul under
the divine influence and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
himself was to write comfortable words unto these Gentiles. And doubtless, as you sung the
hymn, I thought that they must have entered something into these
words, as they may have suffered persecutions and suffered also
the fears the many fears, lest they should be deceived, lest
they should have received a gospel that, was it the true gospel? These things they may sometimes
perplex our very minds, but natural reason, our natural mind cannot
receive the things of God, It is only as we are given faith
to believe that we may receive these things. But in every sore
and deep distress, the Lord speaks, I am thy God, shall be thy way,
thy God shall all thy woes redress and drive thy guilty fears away. But God, who is rich in mercy,
The very first thing then that we would just make mention of
is this, that there is mercy. Mercy for the worst of sinners,
brought to know their own vileness and wretchedness, but also to
know the quickening work and power of God upon their souls. And it is the work of God. A God who is rich in mercy for
his great love wherewith he loved us. And how forcible are the
words which say we love him because he first loved us. And he loved us Gentiles, as
well as the Jews, who were to be written in the Lamb's Book
of Life. They would all be there. So with
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, there may be those amongst this Ephesian
church, or amongst the Corinthian church, or the Church of Rome,
or all the Church of Colossi or Philippi, these may lift their
heads also in the consolation that their names written there,
before time began, then they would have an eternal hope. And hope must be eternal Because
where does hope fix itself? A hope is not the hope of the
flesh which really cannot fix on anything. It may have its
dreams, it may say, well I hope that this will happen and I hope
we will be this and I hope we will be that. There's no guarantee
that those things will be realised. But the hope of the believer
may be strong, because it fixes upon that which is eternal, and
therefore its hope is eternal. And we shall prove that at last
we shall be amongst those of whom he has spoken. And these
shall be mine, saith the Lord, in the day that I make up my
jewels. But God who is rich in mercy for his
great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in
sins. It's a remarkable thing isn't
it? To think that those days when we moved the shoulder as it were,
went recklessly on, wanted to spend out the substance like
the prodigal, and to go in those ways which were pleasing to the
flesh, the world inviting us unto those things, encouraging
us in the things which would glorify man. There are even things that perhaps
the world or the religious world would encourage us in saying
they will glorify God. But can our works which are of
the flesh glorify God? A man may want a good religion
as far as he is concerned. And yet it is religion not to
please God. We have those solemn characters
that our Lord speaks of, who in the day of judgment will come
and say, Lord, Lord, we've done many wonderful works in thy name. And yet the response will be,
I never knew you. Depart from me, ye curses. I never knew you. I do not find
you here as those that were purchased by the precious blood. I do not
find that you are here as those that have required a righteousness
which they could not produce themselves, but are looked, looked
to me for a righteousness that they may have through mercy and
through my sovereign goodness which must be poured forth upon
each and every one that were chosen, chosen in Christ, chosen
in Christ. That is the means of us being
children And if children, then heirs, heirs of the promise,
heirs of the kingdom. So even when we were dead in
sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. There is something
very precious in these verses because it sets before us what
quickening is. It is the work of God. God the Father, God the Son,
God the Holy Spirit. You may say, I thought that the
Spirit was the one that quickened us. There is that work of regeneration
We know when the Spirit brings life to our soul, that new life,
that holy life, that spiritual life, and he imparts it as the
one that is sent to that purpose. Indeed proceeds from the Father
and the Son that he might glorify them both in all that they are
revealing the glories of the Father who so willingly sent
his only begotten Son and to this end when he had sent his
Son to bear the punishment as we have spoken and there died
on the cross, willingly, willingly, and was
laid in the tomb. And then God rose him, raised
him again. And it was in this that Christ
identifying himself with his own people the Church of God,
that they should be raised up together. Thy dead men shall
live, together with my dead body shall they arise. We find that
our Lord speaketh in those words as he did, as it is recorded
by John, words which were the very essence of a truth because
he that spake them was truth and nothing else and he could
only convey the truth that even the best of men, even the most
gracious of men could not fully be able to declare with a sincerity
that our Lord and Saviour did. So we find that he says, For
the Father loved the Son, and showeth him all things that himself
doeth. And he will show him greater
works than these, that ye may marvel. We see how Christ in
his humiliation did wait upon his father that he might receive
from him the commandment so that he may then accomplish the work. It was not a work that he would
do of himself as it were. though he knew exactly what he
should do, and what he would do, and what he desired to do,
and what he loved to do. He loved to do his father's good
pleasure. But what the father desired,
so did the son. They were but one in their desire,
and one in their purpose and intention. But now we continue
with the word here. And he will show him greater
works than these that ye may marvel, for as the Father raiseth
up the dead. And many of the Jews believed
in the resurrection of the dead, but they could not grasp or comprehend
of what our Lord spake here. For as the Father raises up the
dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he
will. We find that therefore in our
text these words, even when we were dead in sins hath quickened
us together with Christ. With Christ. And that is our
union. It is with Christ. The quickening
work that was ordained by the Father would be that Christ in
his resurrection would also bring life and power to raise up the
who were dead in trespasses and in sins. And it is the life of
Christ which must be formed in us as the hope of glory. Not that our Lord and Saviour gives the divine life of what
He possesses Rather, the Holy Spirit is to bring the life which
we may have in Christ to work in us, that work of regeneration. And when we are regenerated,
we are born again. Born again. Not with corruptible
seed, but of incorruptible seed. Now we are new creatures in Christ
and so we are quickened together with Christ so that Christ formed
in our hearts will be the hope of glory. But we find that the
apostle Peter in writing his second epistle says this, grace
and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of
God and of Jesus our Lord according as his divine power has given
unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through
the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue
whereby are given unto us the exceeding great and precious
promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust. Christ came and took our nature,
that through that we may be partakers of the divine nature, of his,
the life that he gives and that we have as the spirit may graciously
and wonderfully work life in our souls, that he may be a witness,
a witness with our spirit that we are among the sons of God. Well then, we find that here
is the consolation for the Church of God, that they are quickened
together, quickened together. And if we are not quickened together,
then what part can we have with Christ? I put the question. It's a question which we need
to be able to answer. We may perhaps see a man raised
from the dead, but if he is then left just with nobody there to
assist or help, will he be able to then continue for long? Will he not find that he shall
soon then again deteriorate into an unhappy state and condition? But when we are quickened together
with Christ we experience his love and we find begotten In
our own hearts is a love to him. We love him because he first
loved us. Again that is a sweet and blessed
evidence. And we are brought to know the
wonders of this pale which is now wrought in us. And it is
the spirit that quickeneth And we are brought to know that the
flesh profits us nothing, because the flesh is alone. When we come
to die, man comes to die, he's in that alone state. They may
have all the relatives around him, or around her, whichever
it may be, but there they have to fight. the monster death alone. The child of God doesn't though,
the child of God doesn't, because we are quickened together with
Christ. And Christ who died and rose
again, so as it was revealed by Stephen. When stoned he looked up and
there he beheld his Lord and Master awaiting him, standing
to receive him. And he had Christ, he had Christ
in whom he could know and he would know that it was well an
entrance will be made for Him into the glory of the One who
had already for Him entered. And so quickened us together
with Christ. The Father's purpose is that
as He hath exalted His Son, so all those that are His to be
born again and quickened by the life of the Spirit which is worked
in them. And that will then work the work
of preparation. It's not something that we ourselves
could do. You cannot prepare yourself for
death, but the Holy Spirit will prepare your soul. And at that
moment, You will find that all is taken care of by the one who
cares for you. But he cares for us. He cares for us. What gracious
care is bestowed upon the believer right down to his dying moment
and seen as it were across the river. the river of death. And where shall we find a safe
place? Well, I often quote the verse,
I love it, in that dread moment, for death is an enemy. It is
to be dreaded and must be by the flesh. But the gracious spirit
that has made us to be. Creatures possessing faith and
therefore a holy confidence. Then we can go with every word
of the hymn writer in that dread moment, O to hide beneath his
sheltering blood, till Jordan's icy waves divide and land my
soul God, quicken us together with Christ, by grace you're
saved. The Apostle seems to put this
in, it's in a parenthesis, by grace you're saved. This is the
only ground, the only ground, whereby we can have that confidence,
by grace you're saved. Not of yourselves, Faith that is given in salvation
is the gift of God and he gives it to whom he will and he gives it therefore unto
one who may perhaps feel the most unworthy of it. Do you feel worthy of faith? You say are not worthy of the
least of his favours. But I believe this, if ever my
poor soul be saved, tis Christ must be the way. Dear, dear friends,
you lean. You lean upon him who has gone
before, His track I see, and I'll pursue
the narrow way till Him I view. But there is something also for
us to consider. Who is this that cometh up out
of the wilderness, leaning upon her Beloved? We move along leaning
upon Christ, And that brings me therefore
to this, and hath raised us up together,
hath raised us up together, Christ and this poor needy soul,
this one whom he will declare this is my brother, my sister,
the church, the whole of the church, my spouse, this is she,
this is the one in whom there is no spot or wrinkle, the one
who will hear the delightful words, thou art all fair, my
love, there is no spot in thee, unless the shadow of a spot.
Should I my soul be found? It's gone from me as to how it
goes. Speaking of the righteous robe
which Christ wore, the Holy Spirit, He adorns us with it. He casts
it all around. Therefore, withstanding his righteousness,
not our own, he hath raised us up together. And because our
Lord and Saviour is the Righteous One, the grave cannot hold him,
death lost its sting, He fulfilled all righteousness, he kept the
law and magnified it and made it honourable. What could hold
him? Nothing. Neither sin, nor Satan,
nor death, nor hell could hold him. He must rise again unto
his Father. He'd already pleaded it as On
our account he would make it known that thou wilt now glorify
thy son with the glory which thou hast before time began. The father owned it and said
I both glorified it and will glorify it again. Well then here
we find He has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly
places. The Apostle does not weary with
using this word together. And as everyone is gathered,
called out of nature's darkness and brought to be as one of those
stones fitted together, lively stones to make a spiritual house. And as the Apostle in coming
to the close of this chapter, he says, now therefore you are
no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the
saints and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief cornerstone in whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye also are
built together for the inhabitation of God through the Spirit. Wonderful thing, isn't it? That
through the Spirit we may know the glorious presence, the divine
presence of our God. Christ will dwell where his people
are. He dwells in the midst. and this is the consolation that
we have. We may be only two or three,
but where two or three are gathered together, there am I in the midst. In the midst to give blessing,
that they may be blessed with the spirit of unity, to know
How good and how pleasant it is for brethren. They may only
be two, physically, but the brethren may dwell together in unity. How good, how pleasant it is. And it is like the oil that is
poured upon the head and runs down upon the beard to the very
skirts of the garment. and what was poured forth, the
glorious grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that indeed has descended right
down to us. And in all our felt unclean condition,
like the woman pressing through the crowd, she believed that
she could but touch the hem of his garment. She will be my perfectly
whole. And so this is the grounds of
our togetherness. We may be together as one, possessing that which He gives. We cannot express it any different
to how the scripture does. When the prophet, under the divine
inspiration of God, of the Spirit, cried out, the Lord, our righteousness. He shall be called the Lord,
our righteousness. And then we read, and another
place of the same prophecy, she shall be called the Lord Our
Righteousness. And so they sit together. Yes, they sit together in heavenly
places. Now heavenly places, spiritually,
is wherever the Master is. it's He that heads the feast. And so when we gather together
we may have a sense that Christ is in the midst and if He's in
the midst then we sit with Him together to receive those blessings
that He is pleased to bestow. When the Word It may perhaps
be literally a single word, a sentence, a paragraph, perhaps the whole
sermon, when it's made a blessing to you and you know that you
are sitting with Him. Where or what place is hell? Well we sit with Him, you know,
when we sit at His footstool. That is how we gather, at His
footstool. Where we can plead our case and
pour out our hearts before Him. And we view Him as our intercessor. The one that pleads for us. There
the poor penitent and the one that is praying and the one who
hears the prayers and presents them. There they are seen together,
together. They're sitting as it were together
like in the court, the barrister so to speak, whatever
we may like to call him, they sit with the one who needs to
be represented. They sit together. And if the barrister and the
one that is there seeking to clear himself so to speak, of
the charges that may be made. The barrister and this one needs
to be of the same mind. They are Christ and his poor
needy people. They know they have a need. He
knows they have a need. He can supply that need. We have
no power of ourselves to to vindicate ourselves but we do not need
vindication on our account because he's vindicated us and all our
sins were laid upon him they were all put to his account and
now he has satisfied the judge of all the earth, that these,
these, this one, that one, that they are mine. I have died
for them. That's our acceptance. And so,
in the heavenly court, we shall sit together sit together. We sit together though at the
royal feast, the marriage supper of the land. There we will sit
together, now in the estate or a place as the bride. The bride who is now to be seen
forever, the day of the spells as it were, which we have known
here below, when, yes, we've known a little of his love, when
he's visited us, when he's come and given us a little hope. But ah, there we shall see his
face, and never, never sin, There from the rivers of His grace
drink endless pleasures in, and sit together. Even when we were dead in sins,
as He quickened us together with Christ by gracious saving us,
raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus and these heavenly places is where there is light
where there is all the favours that can ever be comprehended
and we shall only know but a part of it when we get there like
the The Queen of Sheba said concerning Solomon, she had heard great
things, but only the half had been told her. And can we know
half whilst here? We know the fullness above. May the Lord bless the earth
and add his blessing. Amen. We conclude our service this
evening by singing hymn number 370. The tune is Meriton, number
366. Great God, attend while Zion
sings the joy that from thy presence springs, to spend one day with
thee on earth exceeds a thousand days of mirth. God is our sun,
he makes our day, God is our shield, he guards our way from
all the assaults of hell and sin, from foes without and foes
within. O come all ye faithful joyful
and triumphant O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave The day of the Lord, when sweet
the sound of heav'nly song O come, let us adore Him O come,
let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O'er the land of the free and
the home of the brave? ? Hail, all ye citizens of heaven
above ? ? Hail, all ye citizens of heaven above ? ? Every human being ? ? The heart
of my choice ? ? I'm not worthy ? ? This selfishness ?
? For your presence in heaven above
? ? And in earth, and in heaven above ? Follow with thy blessing, gracious
God. Take us each in peace and safety
on our way. Watch over us through the days
before us, through the week, the remainder of the week that
is with us, and when we come to thy day to be gathered in
thy fear, to be gathered in thy name, to be gathered for the
praises of our God. Do so, Lord, grant thy mercies
to continue, and that we may be given that help and grace
to live as unto thee and not as unto ourselves. Pardon our
every sin, we ask it for Christ's sake. And now may the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ The love of God the Father, fellowship
and communion of the Holy Spirit abide with us evermore. Amen.