The notices for the coming week
are God willing as follows. Pastor will preach here next
Lord's Day at 10.30 and 2 o'clock. There'll be no service here on
Thursday this week as pastor will preach here on Friday morning
at 10 o'clock. There'll be a prayer meeting
here on Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock. Collections taken during March
amounted to £2,287. Donations to the book fund amounted
to £75. We sincerely thank you for your
continued support of this cause of truth. Let's commence our
services today by singing together hymn number 127. The tune is
Gopsal. 542. Rejoice, the Lord is King. Your
God and King adore. Mortals give thanks and sing,
and triumph evermore. Lift up the heart, Lift up the
voice. Rejoice, O loud ye saints, rejoice. Hymn 127, tune Gopsal, 542. Rejoice,
the Lord is come. ♪ Your God and King adore ♪ ♪ Mortals
give thanks and sing ♪ ♪ And triumph evermore ♪ Lift up the heart, lift up the
voice, Rejoice! the bounteous day, Rejoice! Rejoice! ♪ When he had plans of change ♪
♪ He took his feet upon ♪ ♪ And under the public eye of Christ
♪ Rejoice around His face rejoice
His kingdom cannot fail Him ♪ Heaven ♪ ♪ The keys of heaven
fell ♪ ♪ After what Jesus did ♪ ♪ And from that rock ♪ ♪ Came
down the cross ♪ ♪ Rejoice the Lamb, He says, rejoice
♪ ♪ The only child shall play, the only child shall play ♪ ♪ And every root of truth ♪ ♪ Let
us with gladness join ♪ ♪ In common comfort adore ♪ Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! ♪ With Christ in glorious love
profound ♪ ♪ Jesus, the judge of God ♪ ♪ And take His servant
Jesus as His own ♪ ♪ There is hell of hope ♪ ♪ Jesus
shall meet the angels twice ♪ ♪ And from both the just shall it go
♪ Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in the Gospel according to John and chapter
12. John's Gospel, chapter 12. We'll
commence our reading at verse 12. On the next day, much people
that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was
coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth
to meet him, and cried, Hosanna, blessed is the King of Israel
that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had
found a young ass, sat thereon, as it is written, Fear not, daughter
of Sion, behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's cock. These
things understood not his disciples at the first, but when Jesus
was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written
of him, and that they had done these things unto him. The people,
therefore, that was with him, when he called Lazarus out of
his grave and raised him from the dead, bear record. For this
cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had
done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said
among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? Behold,
the world is gone after him. And there were certain Greeks
among them that came up to worship at the feast. The same came therefore
to Philip which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him,
saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew,
and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. And Jesus answered them,
saying, The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth
alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth
his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this
world shall keep it unto eternal life. If any man serve me, let
him follow me. And where I am, there shall also
my servant be. If any man serve me, him will
my father honour. Now is my soul troubled, and
what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour,
but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy
name. Then came there a voice from
heaven, saying, I have both glorified it and will glorify it again. The people therefore that stood
by and heard it said that it thundered. Others said an angel
spake to him. Jesus answered and said, this
voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the
judgment of this world. Now shall the prince of this
world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from
the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying
what death he should die. The people answered him, we have
heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever. And how sayest
thou the son of man must be lifted up Who is this Son of Man? Then Jesus said unto them, Yet
a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light,
lest darkness come upon you. For he that walketh in darkness
knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe
in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These
things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they
believed not on him. That the saying of Isaias the
prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed
our report? And to whom hath the arm of the
Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe,
because Isaiah said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and
hardened their heart, that they should not see with their eyes,
nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should
heal them. These things said Isaiah when
he saw his glory, and spake of him. Nevertheless, among the
chief rulers, also many believed on him. But because of the Pharisees,
they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise
of God. Jesus cried and said, He that
believeth on me believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him
that sent me. I am come a light into the world
that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
And if any man hear my words and believe not, I judge him
not. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me and receiveth
not my words, hath one that judgeth him the word that I have spoken. The same shall judge him in the
last day. For I have not spoken of myself,
but the Father which sent me. He gave me a commandment, what
I should say and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment
is life everlasting, Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the
Father said unto me, so I speak. May the Lord bless that portion
of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit of real
prayer. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,
which is an art, an art to come. We desire to bow before thy glorious
majesty, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that one true God. We
desire to worship thee in spirit and in truth, and that we pray
for the divine power and the heavenly unction of the Holy
Ghost. Lord, teach us how to pray and
for what to pray. For we know not what to pray
for as we ought, or we pray, most blessed Spirit, that thou
would pour upon us the spirit of grace and of supplications
with thanksgiving. We pray to be led by the Spirit
of God, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are
the sons of God. But we pray that the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God our Father and the
sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit. I rest and abide upon
us. Thy word declares unto us that
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God. Lord, we do pray to be led and guided and directed by thee
today. May thy power be known in the
pulpit and in the pew And as the word goes forth on the internet,
that same divine power may attend it, and that there may be something
done in the name of the holy child Jesus. We pray, most gracious
Lord, that thou wouldst forgive all our many sins and wanderings
and backslidings. We solemnly are aware that we
have a heart which is deceitful above all things, and that desperately
who can tell, and that we pray to be delivered from that sinful
heart, that corrupt nature. We find a law within our members
that when I would do good, then evil is present with me. We also,
Lord, have a tempting enemy, even Satan, sometimes coming
as a roaring lion to devour, sometimes coming as an angel
of light to deceive. Yet thou hast promised in thy
words when the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the
Lord will lift up a standard against him. We pray, most gracious
Lord, that thou, in thy great mercy, would remember us as a
church and as a congregation, our brethren the deacons, give
them wisdom and grace and help, and of guidance and direction,
not only among us here as a church and congregation, but with those
many other responsibilities that they have among the churches.
Lord, we pray that we may be enabled, each one of us, to bear
one another's burdens, thereby fulfilling the law of Christ.
We pray, dear Lord, that thou wouldst bless little babes and
the children as they're brought into the sanctuary. Oh, to put
the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, into
their hearts, each one of the dear children, that they may
have those lasting impressions given by thy Spirit upon their
hearts and minds. We often feel encouraged to pray
for them, Lord, for thou hast said, Suffer little children
to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom
of heaven. We pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou wouldst bless the dear young friends, and knowest all
their concerns. We pray that they may be led
and taught and guided and directed by thee, that thy word may enter
into their heart, in the power of the Holy Ghost, their souls
may be quickened, they may be brought to living faith in Jesus
Christ, and become true followers of thee, and of those who through
faith and patience inherit the promises, that they may come
and tell to sinners round what a dear Saviour they have found,
and point to thy redeeming blood and say, behold the way to God. So bless our dear young friends.
Be with them in all the paths of providence. Grant them thy
divine direction in that right way. Show them thy ways, O Lord,
and teach them thy paths. Make a way where there seems
no way. Guide and direct them, Lord,
in their education to gainful employment. and regarding a partner
in life journey. Lord, we lovingly commend them
to thee and to the word of thy grace, which is able to build
them up and to grant them an inheritance among them that are
sanctified. We think of that precious promise,
instead of thy father shall be thy children, whom thou mayest
make princes in all the earth. O Lord, we pray that thou wouldst
remember parents, Give them wisdom, give them grace to bring up their
children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Grant that the family
altar may be raised. The reading of the word and prayer
may be made in the family. For all things are sanctified
by the word of God and prayer. Lord, we pray that thou in thy
precious mercy would remember each one in the midst of the
journey of life. Thou knowest all their needs,
all their concerns, all their burdens. Those in darkness, bring
them into light. Those in bondage, bring them
into liberty. Those that are far off, make
them nigh. Graciously remember the prodigals
that have wandered from the way of God, from the ways of truth
and of righteousness. Cause them to return. Only thou
canst do that, O Lord. and we pray that thou wouldst
do it. Our heart aches for them as we watch for them, as we wait
for them. Let thy work appear unto thy
servants and thy glory unto their children. May it be among us
here, O Lord, as it was with the dear apostle at Thessalonica.
For our gospel came unto you not in word only, but in power,
in the Holy Ghost, and with much assurance, Send out the glory
and light and power of the gospel into this village and the surrounding
villages and hamlets. Fulfill the sweet promises of
thy word. I will bring thy sons from far
and thy daughters from the ends of the earth. And they shall
come from the north and from the south and from the east and
from the west. Gracious God. Let thy work appear
unto thy servants and thy glory unto their children. We do humbly
beseech of thee and send real spiritual prosperity. Arise,
arise, O God of grace. Into thy rest descend, thou in
the ark of thy strength, and let thy priests be clothed with
salvation, and thy saints shall shout aloud for joy. Oh abundantly
bless the provision of thy house and satisfy her poor with bread. Oh Lord, we do beseech of thee. Lord, we pray that thou would
remember those of us in the evening time of life journey. Grant that
readiness, that preparation for the time of our departure. Gracious
God, we do pray that even as thou Hath exhorted in thy word,
be ye also ready. For at such a time as ye think
not, the Son of Man cometh. O Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst remember dear
Ina at home in her old age, and visit her there, and grant that
her little home may be made a Bethel. This is none other than the house
of God and the very gate of heaven. Grant her thy divine support
day by day. Remember all thy servants as
they labour in word and doctrine upon the walls of Zion. Set them
free, set them at liberty. Send out thy light and thy truth. O Lord, we do beseech thee. We
pray that thou, the great Lord of the harvest, will send true
labourers into the harvest. that we may see a building of
the walls of Jerusalem and the strengthening of her bulwarks.
Hearken, O Lord, we do humbly pray thee. We do pray for our
nation that thou wouldst turn back the tides of iniquity. Truly,
the spirit and power of Antichrist is so prevalent in the day in
which we live. O do graciously make bare thine
holy arm in the gospel. We pray for our king and the
royal household, that thy blessing may rest upon them. We pray for
our leaders, that understanding, wisdom, guidance and direction
may be given them. We pray that thou wouldst preserve
our civil and our religious liberties. We pray for those that labour
in word and doctrine, among the nations of the earth. Particularly,
Lord, we would think of Ian Sadler as he labours in so many different
places. We pray that thou would be with
him in the distribution and exposition of thy word. We pray, most gracious
Lord, that thou would supply all his many returning needs.
Remember the Mombasa mission, grant thy blessing there, Remember
the Savannah Education Trust and that great work that they're
doing in Ghana. Lord, may thy blessing be there.
Thy favour be known. Precious souls gathered unto
Christ. O Lord, we do thank thee for
all thy tender mercies. We thank thee for our house of
prayer. Thank thee for that spirit of
love, union, and communion among us. We thank thee, most gracious
Lord, for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for the incarnation of
the Son of God, for the holy life he lived as a man under
the law, the fulfilling of that holy law in his glorious person,
the bringing in of everlasting righteousness for thy people. We thank thee, for Calvary, where
the lamb was slain, where sin was put away, where divine justice
is satisfied, where God and sinners are reconciled, where peace is
made between God and man. Oh, we thank thee, most gracious
Lord. There's a fullness resides in
Jesus our head. He died for our sins and rose
again for our justification. He's entered into glory, bodily
ascended there, Sitting at thy right hand, we have a great high
priest. Oh, that may be a sweet sense
of it in our hearts as we gather round thy word today. And as
we gather round the table of the Lord, may thy presence be
known and found. Come and touch one's lips with
a live call from of the heavenly altar. Come and open thy word
and open our hearts to receive it. Lord, Forgive all our many,
many sins for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn
number 539. The tune is Millennium 551. Christians, rejoice and sing
your Maker's lovely praise. He is your God and King, ancient
of endless days. He lives, he reigns, and sits
above, the King of kings and God of love. Hymn 539, tune Millennium
551. Rejoice and sing your angels'
lovely praise. Here is your Lord and King. ♪ In heav'nly praise ♪ ♪ Heaven's
praise to God ♪ ♪ The King of Kings ♪ ♪ And Lord of Lords ♪ O grace that did contain, Emancest
he bequeathed, Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! He saves you by His grace, Her
matchless grace indeed, ♪ For sin and Satan's greed ♪ ♪
His plans be true ♪ ♪ And God's grace Lord ♪ ♪ To make you weak
♪ ♪ The glory shines ♪ ♪ As I fell
to the ground ♪ ♪ When you missed me sometimes ♪ ♪ Where are you
somehow now ♪ ♪ In Christ above the skies ♪ ♪ We'll wait to hear
you ♪ ♪ We'll wait to hear you ♪ greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help, I direct your attention to the 12th chapter
in the gospel according to John, and we'll read verses 14 and
15 for our text. John's gospel, chapter 12, verses
14 and 15, and Jesus, when he had found a young ass
sat thereon, as it is written, fear not, daughter of Sion, behold
thy king cometh, sitting on an ass's coat. This is a direct
quotation from the prophecy of Zechariah. In the prophecy of
Zechariah, chapter nine and verse nine, a prophecy concerning this very
event that happened. Hence it says in our text, as
it is written, fear not, daughter of Sion, behold thy king cometh,
sitting on an ass's cot. So what we see, every minute
detail, some very tiny detail, in the
prophecies of the Old Testament, they were all fulfilled in the
glorious person of Jesus, the Son of God. Those words on the
cross, they're recorded in the Old Testament, the very words
of Christ on the cross, my God, my God, why hast thou Forsaken
me and then the fulfilling here of this event Seemingly a very
small event But we we notice how the people laid palm trees
They took branches of palm trees verse 13 and went forth to meet
him and cried Hosanna Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh
in the name of the Lord. And all these things were done,
we read in Holy Scripture. I think it's here in the Gospel
of John, all these things were done that the Scripture might
be fulfilled. God's Word, in all its minute
details, is and will be performed and fulfilled. God will do that. And this here is the manifestation
of Christ. There were many here that said,
Hosanna, blessed is the King of Israel, that only a few days
later were crying, crucify him, crucify him. It's a song of thought, isn't
it? The very same people There was no doubt there were
some godly people among them. But the scriptures were to be
fulfilled. He was despised and rejected
of men. A man of sorrows and acquainted
with grief. The glorious eternal God of heaven,
manifest in the flesh. What a profound mystery. Thy
King cometh. That's what was prophesied in
Zechariah, thy king cometh. And then this little minute detail
in his life, riding upon an ass, a donkey. You children, an ass
is a donkey. And that's what he rode on. They
took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet him and cried,
Hosanna, blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the
name of the Lord And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat
thereon, as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Zion, behold
thy king cometh, sitting on an ass's calf. We notice here when
these things were happening in verse 16, these things understood
not his disciples at the first, but when Jesus was glorified,
then remembered they, that these things were written of him and
that these things, they had done these things unto him. They didn't
realise it at the time. We read in the end of Luke how
that then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the
scriptures. That's after he entered into
glory, when the Holy Spirit was poured upon them. when the word
of God became a living word in their hearts. When they looked
back and they saw the things that happened and they realized
that they were doing the will of God. They didn't realize it
at the time. They didn't understand it at
the time. And so it is in many things to do with our pathway.
We don't always understand the things that we're walking through
or why we're walking through them. but there is a divine purpose. All things work together for
good to them that love God, to them that are the called according
to his purposes. Don't be surprised if there are
things in your life that seem mysterious and you cannot understand
them. The Lord makes no mistakes. Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold thy king cometh sitting
on an ass's cot. There was much ado at this time
because the Lord Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. It's recorded
in the previous chapter. And in the beginning of this
chapter, it's spoken much of. And it says in verse 10 here,
the chief priest consulted that they might put Lazarus also to
death. because that by reason of him
many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus. You see how
they were continually seeking the life of Jesus Christ, but
the hour was coming. The hour was coming. Christ says
it here, that for this cause came into the world. This was the purpose why I came. This today, broadly in the Christian
calendar, is known as Palm Sunday. Next Sunday is known as Easter
Sunday. And it's a time to remember,
a time to consider how this glorious person, the King of Kings and
the Lord of Lords, You know, at King's they ride on a great
big charger, huge great stallion, a majestic horse. He humbled
himself. He rode on an ass, an ass's cock. He humbled himself, the Lord
of life and glory. He made himself of no reputation. He took upon him the form of
a servant who was made in the likeness of sinful man. and being
found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, even as a man. He humbled himself as the eternal
God to assume human nature and to live here upon earth as a
man. What a matchless act of condescension of the eternal
Son of the Father to be manifest in the flesh. He didn't come
though in great splendor, did he, when he first came? He was
born of Mary. They were in poor circumstances.
True, according to Scripture, they were of the seed of David.
But they were in very poor, straitened circumstances. You see, my beloved
friends, he humbled himself. And when it says that in Philippians
2, we must ever remember the precept that the apostles impressing
on us there, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus, who humbled himself, who made himself of no reputation. Fear not, daughter of Zion, behold
thy King coming, sitting on an assiskel. I thought of that,
that word, that beautiful word in in Luke chapter 19 verse 10. And it says there concerning
the Son of Man. For the Son of Man is come to
seek and to save that which was lost. The Son of Man is come. That term, the Son of Man, refers
to his human nature. We must never divide the human
and divine. That union that was made between
that the human and divine in the womb of the Virgin Mary is
an indissoluble union and never be broken. It will never be broken. It's an eternal union made between
God and man in the glorious person of Jesus, the Son of God. There
is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus,
who gave his life of ransom for all to be testified in Due time,
fear not. Daughter of Zion. The daughter
of Zion is the church of the living God. The daughter of Zion. Zion is
the church of God here upon earth. We know in the literal sense
of the word in the Old Testament, it referred to that part of the
city of Jerusalem which was called Mount Zion. But when we read of it in Holy
Scripture, it refers to the whole of the Church of God, the spiritual
Jerusalem, the spiritual seed of Abraham. When we read of the
hills of Zion, it's where there is a gathering together of the
Lord's people. They gather together in love
and union and communion. They sit under the ministry of
the Word. It's a little hill of Zion. What
a mercy to have a little hill of Zion to come to. What a mercy
if we feel like the hymn writer says when he speaks of Zion. Zion, a thrice happy place, adorned
with wondrous grace. Here my best friends, my kindred
dwell, Here God, my savior reigns. Zion, the church of the living
God. It doesn't refer to a building. There's nothing holy in a building.
We rightly have places of worship, but there's nothing holy in a
building. One of the reasons why our places
of worship are called chapels is because in the New Testament,
a church always refers to a body of people. It doesn't refer to
a building. It refers to a body of people,
a spiritual people, the people that have been born again of
the Holy Ghost and brought to saving faith in Jesus Christ
and become a follower of him. Fear not. There's a gracious
fear not that is spoken to the daughters of Zion here. Fear
not. Daughter of Zion, behold thy
king cometh, sitting on an ass's cot. What a wonderful thing that
must have been. And yet, it was only a few days
before he was crucified. Notice at the beginning of our
chapter, that in Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany
where Lazarus which was, which had been dead, whom he raised
from the dead. You see, six days before the
Passover, before the crucifixion. To this end was I born. For this cause came I into the
world. to suffer, to bleed and to die
for the sins of my people. You think of that holy life that
Jesus lived when he was here upon earth under the law. The law was made for man. The
Son of God became a man and when he became a man, he came under
the law of God. He that gave the law was made
under the law. Just like Paul says in Galatians
chapter 4 verse 4, made of a woman, made under the law, that he might
redeem them that are under the law. In that divine act of grace,
the Son of God, Jesus Christ fulfilled the law, honored the
law. He said himself, didn't he, I
come not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. That's exactly
what Christ has done. He's fulfilled that holy law
that you cannot do, You might say, I keep trying, but I can't,
and you never will. It's right that you should keep
trying, but you'll never be able to fulfil it. Why? Because you're
born in sin. Sin is any transgression of the
law of God. You're born in sin, you're shaped
in iniquity. Sin is when we transgress God's
holy law. He did no sin. Neither was guile
found in his mouth. Now, he knowing that his people
Because of their fallen nature, because they're born in sin,
he knew that they could not fulfill that holy righteous law. So he
came to do it for them. It says in Isaiah 42, he will
magnify the law and make it honorable. That is what Christ has done.
He's magnified the law for you, on our behalf. or that the Lord
may turn your eyes away from Mount Sinai. Turn your eyes away
from legal bondage. Turn your eyes away from what
you cannot do and turn your eyes to Jesus to see what he has done,
to see what he has accomplished. He has fulfilled the law. As
the apostle says in the Romans, Christ is the end of the law
for righteousness. That's what he's done. I often quote to you, Daniel,
to the bringing in of everlasting righteousness. That's a wonderful
prophecy. The fulfilling of the law by
Christ, the bringing in of everlasting righteousness. It's everlasting
righteousness because he's the son of God. It's of eternal,
infinite value because he's the son of God. All the dignity and worth power
and grace of both the life and sufferings and death of Christ
lie in this. He is the Son of God. He is without
sin. He's pure. He's holy. And this
is what Zechariah was prophesying. Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold,
thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. Thy King cometh. Thy King cometh to fulfill the
law. Thy King cometh to satisfy all
the demands of divine justice. The Lord declared, cursed is
every man that doeth not all things that is written in the
book of the law to do them. Christ was made a curse for his
people. Cursed is he that hangeth on
a tree. That's what it says in Leviticus. It is what is called a typical
Precept or commandment it typified it points to Christ It points
to Christ Christ It says here. We've read it together and I
if I'd be lifted up would draw all men unto me When he he was
lifted up on the cross of Calvary he was nailed to that cross of
wood in agony and pain See It says here in verse 23, the hour
has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the
ground and die, it abideth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth
much fruit. He that loveth his life shall
lose it. He that hateth his life in this
world shall keep it unto eternal life. If any man serve me, let
him follow me. And where I am, there shall also
my servant be. If any man serve me, him will
my father honour. You see, to follow Christ. To follow Christ. That's what
a believer does. They follow Christ. You look
at what Christ had to pass through, and in some measure, a little
tiny measure. Some of the Lord's people, they
pass through in great times of temptation and trial, they have
a little fellowship with Christ in his sufferings. Why did he
suffer? Because on him were laid all
our sins. He took our sins and he nailed
them to his cross. That's what Jesus did. He took
our sins and nailed them to his cross and i it says in verse
31 32 it says now is the judgment of this world this is referring
to the crucifixion of christ now is the judgment of this world
now shall the prince of this world be cast out and i if i
be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me this he
said signifying what death he should die You see, and they
didn't understand. Nor would you, nor would I. The
people answered him, we have heard out of the law that Christ
abideth forever. How sayest thou? The Son of Man
must be lifted up. Who is this Son of Man? It's
the Lord. It's the Lord Jesus. It's the
eternal Son of the Father. For David prays in Psalm 80,
let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, the son of
man, that thou mightest strong for thyself. This is the Lord
Christ. He went to Calvary. He was taken
by the hands of wicked men and crucified. And as we noticed,
it was the determinate counsel of God. It was the purpose of
God that the This is the way that the Lord's people were to
be delivered from sin and Satan's power. By this crucified Savior,
by the shedding of his precious blood, the blood of Jesus Christ,
God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin. Fear not, daughter of
Zion. Behold, thy King cometh. He comes to redeem. He comes
to deliver. He comes to save His people from
their sins. He comes to be their sin-bearer. He comes to suffer, to bleed,
and to die. Death. Death had no claim on
Jesus Christ. None whatsoever. The wages of
sin is death. He did no sin. So then why did
this holy, pure, righteous man have to suffer, bleed and die
for the sins of His people. Our Eternal Father laid upon
Him the iniquity of us all. That is why He was crucified. As we read in Isaiah, He was
wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace
was upon Him and with His stripes we Healed all my dear beloved
friends. Jesus said I am the way the truth
and the light He voluntarily gave his life It's recorded in
Holy Scripture How that he gave up the ghost? Father into thy
hands I commend my spirit and he gave up his holy human soul
and in so doing he entered into death itself It was a voluntary
act of the Son of God to do that. And his body lay in the grave
for three days and three nights. And then on the third day he
rose again for our justification. The evidence that sin has been
put away is that he rose from the dead. The evidence that the
penalty has been paid is because he rose from the dead. If one
sin of the daughter of zion had been left he would never have
risen from the grave but it was a perfect and a complete atonement
that he made for sin hence the words the blood of jesus christ
god's son cleanses us from all sin this is what the sinner receives
by faith by faith in jesus christ everlasting
life i give unto my sheep eternal life eternal life What a wonderful,
precious truth it is. And having risen from the dead,
we read in Luke, he led them out as far as unto Bethany, that
is his disciples. And they beheld as he ascended
bodily into heaven on a cloud. As the apostle says in Hebrews,
he hath made a new and living way, Christa. He's the king of
glory. He's the king of death. He swallowed
up death in victory. He's the king of salvation. He's
the mighty king that brings deliverance unto his people. Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, thy king cometh, sitting
on an ass's cock, and he will come again, just as it is revealed
in Holy Scripture. unto them that look for him shall
he come a second time without sin unto salvation a second time
and it's unto them that look for him the Lord's people those
that have been brought to believe in him and trust in him and follow
him looking watching and waiting for his appearing and again this
is a word in season for those of you that are watching and
waiting fear not Daughter of Zion. You may look around in
the world and you see the wickedness and the evil and the unrighteousness,
the powers of Antichrist. It ever was so. It ever will
be so. But Jesus sits as King. You say,
how can it be when all these things are happening? He's coming again to judge the
world in righteousness. when all his people have been
gathered into that covenant, gathered unto Christ, brought
to believe when that last vessel of mercy has been quickened into
life and brought to saving faith in Jesus Christ, then the archangels
trump shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, and
we that are alive and remain shall meet the Lord in the air.
So shall we be ever with the Lord. Fear not, daughter of Zion,
Behold thy King cometh. He's coming again. He comes in
power and in great glory. He comes to judge the world in
righteousness. What a solemn day that will be
to the wicked. What a blessed day it will be
to the daughter of Zion, to the child of God. A wonderful day. A day when their hearts will
rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory when Christ
comes. A time when they shall hear that
word, come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from before the foundation of the world. Fear not, daughter
of Zion, behold thy King cometh. He's coming again. He's coming
to gather his people unto himself. The very first act of Jesus Christ
when he comes to judge the world, he will send his angels to the
four corners of the earth and he will gather his elect unto
himself. His chosen people that he redeemed
and delivered. That's the very first act of
Christ. We read in Enoch it is said that
I beheld the Lord coming with ten thousands of his saints and
all his holy angels. Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, thy King coming. Now, I want to look at it in
a slightly different way, in personal spiritual experience. In the experience of the Lord's
people. A word here in season, fear not, daughter of Zion, behold
thy king cometh. Maybe those of you here that
are seeking the Lord, maybe you've been seeking the Lord for some
time. Or as the apostle puts it in the Acts of the Apostles,
feeling after him. How many of you here are feeling
after him? You desire to know him. You say, thy king cometh. This is in a personal way to
the individual believer. Thy king cometh. My mind was
very much drawn to Habakkuk. And we read in Habakkuk In the
second chapter, I believe it is, in those first four verses, I
will stand upon my watch and set me upon the tower and will
watch to see what he will say unto me and what I shall answer
when I am reproved. You see, I will stand upon my
watch Prayer. Standing upon, watch and pray. We're exhorted, aren't we, in
the word of the Lord to watch and pray. For ye know not what
hour thy Lord cometh. And are there those of you here
that are watching and praying? There's a word here of encouragement
to you to continue to watch and pray. And the Lord answered me
and said, write the vision. and make it plain upon tables,
that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for
an appointed time. This vision that is being spoken
of here, maybe the Lord has encouraged you, encouraged you to keep seeking,
encouraged you to keep watching, encouraged you to keep waiting. You see, but if the vision tarry,
you see, it may be you wonder why you're having to wait. It says, though it tarry, wait
for it. But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings
as eagles. They shall run and not be weary.
They shall walk and not faint. But they that wait upon the Lord,
waiting upon the Lord in prayer, Seeking him. Think of those lovely
words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ask and you shall receive. Seek and ye shall find. Knock
and it shall be opened unto you. Keep asking. Keep looking. Keep watching. Waiting for the Lord's appearing. For he that shall come will come
for the vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end
it shall speak and not lie though it tarry wait for it because
it will surely come there's nothing no ifs and buts about this it
will surely come and and it it will not tarry behold his soul
which is lifted up is not upright in him But the just shall live
by faith. Faith is the substance of things
hoped for yet not seen. Things hoped for yet not seen.
You keep seeking the Lord. And may this be a word in season
to you. Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold,
thy King cometh. Thy King cometh. At the end,
but at the end it shall speak. and not lie, though it tarry,
wait for it, because it will surely come. It will not tarry. In the 40th of Isaiah, we read
there of the waiting upon the Lord in the latter part of that
chapter of the 40th of Isaiah, and speaks so encouragingly And
hast thou not known? Just consider our text. Fear
not, daughter of Zion, behold thy king cometh. Hast thou not
known? Hast thou not heard? That the
everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not, neither is weary, there is no searching of his
understanding. You see, if you look at verse
27 here in Isaiah 40, it says, why sayest thou, O Jacob, And
speakest thou Israel, my way is hid from the Lord, and my
judgment is passed over from my God. The Lord, in other words,
what Jacob and Israel were saying, the Lord can't see. Is that what
you think? Well, the Lord can't see. He
can't see the troubles of my heart, the troubles in my life.
He can't see. Hast thou not known? Hast thou
not heard that the everlasting God The Lord, the Creator of
the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary, there
is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint.
Perhaps that's where you are, you're ready to faint. You're
ready to give up. One hymn writer says, doesn't
he, does Satan tempt thee to give up, no more in Jesus' name
to trust. He giveth power to the faint.
And to them that have no might, he increases strength. Even the
youths, normally you expect a youth to be young, strong, vigorous. Even the youth shall faint and
be weary. And the young men shall utterly
fall. But, what a wonderful but that
is, isn't it? But they that wait upon the Lord,
You see, this is the way. They that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength. The Lord will give you strength
sufficient for the day. He will renew your strength.
Job, he says, I know what he would say unto me. He would put
strength in me. Strength to pray, strength to
plead, strength to wrestle, just like Jacob. The Lord, he gave
him strength, he wrestled. Wrestling prayer can wonders
do, bring relief in deepest straits. Prayer can force a passage through
iron bars and brazen gates. But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings
as eagles. I often, those wings are the
wings of faith. And the hymn writer says, Tony,
give me the wings of faith to rise within the violent sea. Mount up with wings as eagles
that shall rise up. In faith, where does faith look? To Christ. Casting all your care
upon him for he careth for you. It's like Esther when she came
into the king and the decree was that if a person was to come
into the presence of the king when they were not called, If
the king didn't hold out the golden scepter, then they must
be slain. And Esther, the king, and called
her, but the times are desperate. Who knows that thou hast come
to the kingdom for such a time as this, it says. She said she would go if I perish. I perish, but I must go. But
you see the king, He was overcome with her beauty. And the King
is overcome with the beauty of the daughter of Zion. He is. Thou hast overcome me with one
of thine eyes. What is that? It's faith. Faith. Faith in Jesus Christ. The eye
of faith. A single eye looking to one place
and one place only. Jesus is the way to God. Jesus
is the way to bliss. In this way the saints have trod
down from Adam's day to this, but they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings
as eagles. They shall walk, they shall run
and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. You might feel your And you might feel, like we've
just read here in Isaiah, that, what shall I, you know, the Lord
cannot see my judgment is passed over from my God, he can't see
where I am, and the things I'm passing through, and just consider
the answer, hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard that the
everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not? His eye is upon his people all
the time. All the time. He never takes
his eye off his people. There's that lovely word in Malachi,
he sits as a refiner to purify the sons of Levi. The illustration
is a refiner with his fining pot in front of him and the furnace
burning and the gold in the furnace. And he keeps his eye on it until
it reaches that perfect point. His eyes continue on it. He doesn't
take His eye off it. And the Lord doesn't take His
eye off His people. He knows, He sees, He understands
where you are. There's nothing, fear not, daughter
of Zion. He that shall come will come. He will not tarry. There is a
set time to favour Zion, and that set time will come. Keep
looking, keep watching, keep waiting, keep looking unto Jesus,
keep casting all your care upon Him. Think of those lovely words
of grace that are spoken by the Lord Jesus to such characters,
burdened with their sin, burdened with their helplessness, burdened
with their insufficiency. Burdened with a sense of hopelessness. Burdened in the fact that they
cannot fulfil God's holy law. They cannot do what the law commands
and demands. And it burdens them, they labour.
And what does Jesus say to such labouring souls? Come unto me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest
for your souls, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. We read in Isaiah chapter 55,
how everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he
that hath no money, that is, he that is bankrupt, helpless,
come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk and money without
price, without money and without price. Wherefore do you spend money
for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which
satisfy not? Hearken diligently unto me, and
eat ye that which is good. But what is that which is good?
It's Christ, the bread of life, the water of life, the wine of
the kingdom. Eat ye that which is good. Incline
your ear and come unto me. hear and your soul shall live,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure
mercies of David. These things, my beloved friends,
are written for our encouragement, to encourage us to continue to
seek, to continue to look, to continue to watch, and to continue
to wait. For the time will come when,
as we have in our text, fear not, daughter of Zion, behold,
thy King cometh. May the Lord add his blessing. Let us now sing together hymn
number 126. The tune is Warwick, 258. I'll
speak the honours of my crew. His form divinely fair, none
of the sons of mortal race may with the Lord compare. Hymn 126, tune Warwick 258. Christ, Lord, have mercy. Thou from thy sons of mortal
age, Saint Peter, Lord of heaven, He gives high speeches and heavy
praises, the whole world lifts its head. Thine o'er bitter shit, in Thine
eye, that's how I think of Thee. of thy soul victorious with fight,
with majestic sway. Thy parish shall shine through
thy growth, and make the world her age. Thy throne above forever stands,
Thy throne of praise shall ever stand. A peaceful scepter in thy hands,
to prove thy faith by love. Justice and truth are gently
still, but mercy is like a curse. Now, May the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship of the
Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us each. Amen.