you The notices for the coming week
are God willing as follows. Pastor will preach here next
Lord's Day at 10.30 and two o'clock. Also on Thursday evening at seven
o'clock, There will be a prayer meeting here on Tuesday evening
at seven o'clock. The collections taken during
October amounted to £2,178.20. Donations to the book fund were
£45. We sincerely thank you for your continued support of this
cause of truth. Let us commence our services today by singing together
hymn number 357. The tune is Boylston number 12. Welcome sweet day of rest that
saw the Lord arise Welcome to this reviving breast and these
rejoicing eyes. Hymn 357. Welcome sweet day of
rest. and saw the Lord arise. Welcome to this reign by ingrate,
and it's rejoicing eyes. The King himself comes near,
And meets his strange today. Here we may sit and see him here,
and love and praise and praise. One day amidst the pain, where
my Redeemer has been, is sweeter than ten thousand
days of pleasure and shame. I will in song would stay. in such a frame as this, and sit and sing
a self-awaken everlasting bliss. Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in the Gospel according to Luke and chapter
7. Luke's Gospel, chapter 7, and
we'll read down to verse 35. Now when he had ended all his
sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum,
and a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick
and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he
sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he
would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus,
they besought him instantly, saying, that he was worthy for
whom he should do this. For he loved our nation, loveth
our nation, and hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went
with them. And when he was now not far from
the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him,
Lord, trouble not thyself, for I am not worthy that thou shouldst
enter unto my roof. Wherefore, neither thought I
myself worthy to come unto thee, but saying a word, and my servant
shall be healed. For I also am man set under authority,
having under me soldiers. And I say unto one, go, and he
goeth. And to another, come, and he
cometh. And to my servant, do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus
heard these things, he marveled at him and turned unto him about
and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you,
I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that
were sent returning to the house found the servant whole that
had been sick. And it came to pass the day after
that he went into a city called Nain, and many of his disciples
went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the
gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the
only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and much people
of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He
had compassion on her and said unto her, weep not. And he came
and touched the beer, that is the coffin, and they that bear
him stood still. And he said, young man, I say
unto thee, arise. And he that was dead sat up and
began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
And there came a fear on all, and they glorified God, saying
that a great prophet is risen up among us, and that God hath
visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth
throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about. And
the disciples of John showed him all these things. And John
Calling unto him, two of his disciples sent them to Jesus,
saying, Art thou he that should come, or look we for another? When the men were come unto him,
they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art
thou he that should come, or look we for another? and in that
same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues and evil
spirits, and many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering
said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye
have seen and heard, how that the blind see, the lame walk,
the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, The dead are raised
to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he whosoever shall
not be offended in me. And when the messengers of John
were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John.
What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with
the wind? But what went ye out For to see
a man clothed in soft raiment, Behold, they which are gorgeously
apparelled, And live delicately, are in king's courts. But what
when ye out for to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, a much more
than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,
Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare
thy way before thee. For I say unto you, among those
that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than
John the Baptist. But he that is least in the kingdom
of God is greater than he. And all the people that heard
him and the publicans justified God, being baptized with the
baptism of John, but the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel
of God against themselves, being not baptized of Him. And the
Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? And to what are they like? They
are like unto children, sitting in the marketplace, and calling
one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have
not danced. We have mourned to you, and ye
have not wept. For John the Baptist came neither
eating bread or drinking wine, and ye say he hath a devil. The Son of Man is come, eating
and drinking, and ye say, behold, a gluttonous man and a wine-bibber,
a friend of publicans and sinners. but wisdom is justified of all
her children. May the Lord bless that reading
of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit of real
prayer. Almighty God, Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost, we bow before thy great majesty, we come to call
upon thy great and thy holy name. Thy word declares unto us, great
is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is
unsearchable. For who by searching can find
out God? So we come to thee, Lord, as
poor sinners. Each one of us are the fallen
sons or daughters of Adam. born in sin and shapen in iniquity. And that we come, most gracious
God, and we seek that reconciliation unto thee in the glorious person
of thine only begotten Son, our Lord and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. For this, O Lord, is our only
hope, our only hope of eternal life, our only hope of deliverance
from the curse of the law, our only hope of deliverance from
the power and dominion of sin and from the things of this world.
Oh, that this day the Lord Jesus Christ may be exalted as a prince
and as a saviour for to give faith and repentance and remission
of sins. And may the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ and the love of God our Father and the sacred
fellowship of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us, O Lord,
we do beseech thee for thy great namesake. We pray for the power
of the Holy Ghost. We think, O Lord, upon those
words that we meditated on on Thursday, to him that is of power. Oh, we pray that thou would exert
thy divine power in our assembly today, that sinners may be converted
unto thee, that the strongholds of Satan may be pulled down,
that the kingdom of our Lord Jesus may be set up in the hearts
of sinners, that thou wilt guide and direct us into thy truth.
It may be with us here today as it was with the dear apostle
when he could witness that Thessalonica, for our gospel came unto you,
not in word only, but in power, in the Holy Ghost, and with much
assurance. O most blessed Spirit of truth,
we pray for thy heavenly power and for thy divine unction to
be known and felt in our hearts even this day. Convince us of
our sin and lead to Jesus' blood and to our wandering eyes reveal
the secret love of God. We pray that thou would remember
us as a church and as a congregation. Remember our brethren the deacons
and grant them thy divine support and blessing and help. Remember
our brother this morning as he helping the friends at Tunbridge
Wells and grant him all needed grace and help. But remember
O Lord, each one of our brethren and sisters in church fellowship,
Lord, increase our faith, increase our love, help us to love each
other, serve each other, and bear each other's burdens, thereby
fulfilling the law of Christ. Lord Jesus, thou didst say in
thy word, by this shall they know that ye are my disciples,
because ye have love one to another. Oh, do increase that spirit of
love to thee, to our eternal father, to his only begotten
son, to the blessed spirit of truth, that we may truly love
thee. Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, and thy neighbor
as thyself. and that love, O Lord, to each
one of our brethren and the whole of our congregation. We gather
them all together. 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.
Remember the prodigals that have wandered away. Stretch out thy
almighty arm. Cause them to return. May the
appointed time roll on apace. not to propose but call by grace
to turn their feet to Zion's hill. Gracious God, do incline
thine ear. We humbly beseech thee, pour
upon us the spirit of real travail. For as soon as Zion travail,
she brought forth her children. May it be said, O Lord, of our
little cause of truth, that this and that man was born in her.
and the highest himself shall establish her. O Lord, we do
pray that thou wouldst bless the little ones, the children.
We love to see them and hear them in the sanctuary. We pray
that thou wouldst put thy holy fear in their hearts, in their
young and in their tender years. We pray that thou wouldst bless
each one of the dear children. Remember the young friends as
they stand on the threshold of life's journey, graciously guide
them, direct them in all matters, but above all, bring them each
to living, vital, saving faith in Jesus Christ, that they may
become true followers of thee and of those who through faith
and patience inherit the promises, that there may be a seed that
shall be raised up here that shall follow on to know the law.
Hearken, O Lord, we do beseech thee for thy great namesake. Remember this village, remember
the surrounding villages and hamlets, and graciously send
out thy light and thy truth, and gather precious souls into
the sanctuary, and build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Remember
parents, Lord, and give them wisdom and grace to bring up
their children, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, in
accordance with thy holy word. May thy word be a lamp unto our
feet and a light unto our path. We do humbly beseech of thee,
for thy great name's sake. And O Lord, we do pray that thou
wouldst graciously hear prayer for all in the midst of the journey
of life, and those their needs, their concerns, their burdens,
As the psalmist himself said, thou knowest my down-sitting
and mine up-rising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Lord, we
pray that thou wouldst lead, guide and direct. Deliver us
from the allurements of this vain world that has to death
ten thousands hurled. Deliver us, most gracious Lord,
from the temptations of Satan, the old serpent, the devil. Thy
word declares that sometimes he comes as a roaring lion to
devour, and sometimes he comes as an angel of light to deceive.
We pray to be delivered from his power and from his influence. We do humbly beseech thee. We
think of that sacred promise. When the enemy comes in like
a flood, the spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against
him. Gracious God, but we do pray
for all of us in the evening time of life's journey, and we
pray that thou wouldst graciously be with us, and guide and direct
us even unto death, and graciously take us through the Jordan of
death into eternal life, which thou alone canst do. Lord Jesus,
we thank thee for those beautiful words of thine. I am the way,
the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me. We pray, most gracious Lord,
for any and any trouble or trial or perplexity or sorrow or sadness
or bereavement that thou wouldst undertake for them and that thou
wouldst graciously put the arms of thine everlasting love around
them. and grant them thy divine support, O Lord, we do beseech
thee. We pray, most gracious God, that
thou wouldst remember all thy servants as they labour in word
and doctrine upon the walls of Zion today, wherever thy people
gather, up and down our nation, O that thou wouldst return, that
thou wouldst bear thine holy arm in the gospel, that thou
wouldst gather in precious souls, we do humbly beseech them that
there may be a day of real prosperity and that thy people may grow
in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. We pray for that gracious determination
to know nothing among men save Jesus Christ and him crucified. Most gracious Lord, that we We
do pray that thou would remember those in authority over us, the
members of our government, that thou would give wisdom and guidance
and direction in all matters. We are exhorted by thee to pray
for all in authority over us. We pray for our royal household,
our king, and each member of the royal household that thou
would richly bless them. We pray that the light and glory
of the gospel may shine among the nations of the earth. Where
there is darkness, give light. Where there is bondage, give
liberty. Oh, most gracious Lord, we pray for those that labor
in other countries. We especially think of those
that go out from us. We think of Ian Sadler as he
labors in the gospel in India and Pakistan and Burma and Africa. Lord, gird him with all sufficient
grace. supply all his many returning
needs, grant good success to his labours. Remember the Savannah
Education Trust and that great work that they are doing in Ghana. Oh, do be gracious, Lord, and
do bless that work that may redound to the honour, the glory and
the praise of thy great name. Remember the Mombasa mission
in Kenya. Oh, that thou wouldst bless them
there. help thy servants and grant mighty signs and wonders
to follow the preaching of the word. We thank thee, O Lord,
that thou art God over all and blessed for evermore, that thou
art able to do abundantly more than we can even ask or think.
O most gracious Lord, we bow in humble thanksgiving, praise
and adoration unto thee for the wonderful glory of thy name.
Especially we thank thee for the incarnation of the Son of
God, even our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank thee for his holy life,
for the holy law he has fulfilled, the everlasting righteousness
that he has brought in for his people. We thank thee for the
sacred and profound glories of Calvary, where sin was put away,
where divine justice was satisfied, where God and sinners are reconciled. We thank Thee that though He
died for our sins, He rose again for our justification, and He
has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.
We thank Thee, most gracious Lord, that He's now ascended
on high, and He sitteth at Thy right hand. Oh, we bless Thee
for the glory of His name. In Him we know the love of our
eternal Father, and through Him we receive the wonderful gift
of the Holy Ghost. Come, Lord, we pray thee and
bless us today. We thank thee for every mercy
of thy kind providence. Thy mercies to us are new every
morning and great is thy faithfulness. Come and touch one's lips with
a live coal from off the heavenly altar. Come and grant the spirit
of power and of understanding. We ask all with the forgiveness
of all our many sins For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn
number 132. The tune is Lloyd 172. A friend there is, your voice
is joying, ye saints to praise his name, whose truth and kindness
are divine, whose love's a constant flame, hymn 132. Give thanks to Christ, His name. His truth and kindness all divine,
Earth's love's self-conscious way. ♪ When most we need ♪ ♪ Is help
in need ♪ ♪ This friend is always near ♪ ♪ With heaven above ♪
♪ And which cannot be made to know
to pray ♪ His love knoweth, all men shall
know. No change comes to his cause. In you should be The same recordings
from the eternal song. Then crowds appear to hail his
face And cats are all distraught He hides above Perceive His grace, to make it
eternal. ♪ And if a dearest humble soul
♪ ♪ Bid for this old friend well ♪ ♪ He never changed ♪ ♪ Away
I'll go ♪ ♪ In stealthy pittance still ♪ ♪ As sorrows ebb and
flow ♪ The scale he weighs, and measures out the pace. The boldest
foe is one who pays. Greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help, I would direct your attention to the seventh
chapter in the Gospel according to Luke, and we will read verses
9 and 10 for our text. The Gospel according to Luke,
chapter 7, verses 9 and 10. When Jesus heard these things,
he marveled at him and turned him about and said unto the people
that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great
faith. No, not in Israel. And they that were sent returning
to the house found the servant whole that had been sick. We have some very wonderful things here that our Lord Jesus
did. Showing forth his kindness, his
love, his compassion. I often think of those words
of Joseph Hart in that beautiful hymn on Gethsemane. Speaking
of our Lord Jesus Christ, he says, full of love to man's lost
race. That is what brought Christ on
earth, love, to man's lost race. You think of those lovely words
in John 3, verse 16, God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten
son. That's who our Lord Jesus Christ
is. He's God's only begotten son. He is declared to be the son
of God with power. He's the son of the eternal God. There are many today that would
profess Christianity and of what we would call a liberal persuasion,
and they deny some of these fundamental doctrines of our most holy faith.
They deny the divinity of Christ. They deny that he is literally
the son of God. And that is a fundamental heresy. There are others, of course,
that deny that he was a real man. It's a profound mystery. How can the infinite, the divine,
become human? But that is the profound mystery
that we see in Jesus Christ. The angel Gabriel, he said unto
Mary, that which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son
of God. The Son of God. He wasn't born
by natural generation. Again, people that are of a liberal
persuasion in the Christian churches, they reject. such a profound
mystery as the incarnation of the Son of God. They would say
it's utter nonsense, but of course it's revealed in God's Holy Word
unto us, that He is indeed the Eternal Son of the Eternal Father. Now, here in these wonderful
Gospel narratives, of the work of Jesus Christ when he was here
upon earth. How it displays his love, his
kindness, his compassion. Now what makes this such a wonderful
miracle is that firstly, this was the Roman centurion that
approached him. and sent his servants on to him. Of course, he was a Gentile.
He was a Gentile. It appears that his faith bore
fruit. You might say, what do you mean?
Well, just listen. The Romans were an occupying
power. They had colonized the land of
Israel. And they sent their soldiers
and their legions and their centurions to subdue the people. But this
man was a child of God. And as the apostle emphasizes
in his epistles, Jew and Greek, bond and free, the gospel is
preached unto all. The Old Testament was confined
principally to the land of Israel and the people of the Jews. But
with the ushering in of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the divine command
unto the Lord's servants going into all the world, preaching
the gospel unto every creature, teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have shown unto you. And so there are none
barred. This is what he was saying. The
Jews would bar everyone else but the Jews. And their whole
mindset was it's only the Jews are the chosen people, only they
can ever receive the Messiah, can ever receive the blessing.
But the Lord Jesus, in what he did, not only in what he said,
but in what he did, showed that. Not to be the case. And it's
beautifully displayed here with this Roman centurion. The Lord
had obviously been working in this man's heart. And he had a love. The Jews here, they said, and
when they came to Jesus, they saw him instantly saying that
he is worthy for whom he should do this, for he loveth our nation
and has built us a synagogue. You see, they were the fruits
of his faith. And we know he had faith because
the Lord Jesus says so. But before he actually approached
the Lord Jesus through his servants, he manifested that love and faith
that he had. You know, these are searching
things. Is your faith manifested in what
you do? The epistle of James, He says
very clearly, I will show thee my faith by my works. May it be so with each one of
us. The late Mr. Broome of Southampton,
he used to say that when he stayed in different people's houses,
he always used to check the family Bible and he always used to look
at the Epistle of James. And he said, if it was well thumbed,
and well used, he said, I knew that that house were practical
Christians. They lived their religion. Do
you? Do I? It's one thing to profess
that we love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and in truth, but
does our life, our walk, our conduct, our conversation, does
it tell everybody else around us that we're Christians? because
of what we do, because of our acts of kindness and compassion,
that you think of the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they
may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Is it so with us, in the way that we live, in the acts of
kindness that we do, in the compassion? The thing that marks out a Christian
believer is the way they live. It's the spirit that they're
of. The epistle to Titus is an exceedingly practical epistle. And it says in Titus chapter
2 and verse 11, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared to all men, teaching us, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this
present world, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who
gave himself for us. Now listen to what he says here,
that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto
himself a peculiar people. And this is the peculiar thing.
zealous of good works. Now can that be said of you and
me? Zealous of good works. These things speak and exhort
and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise they. You know, the whole bent of our
minds, my beloved friends, should be to give freely, ye have received,
freely give. That is the life of a Christian
believer. That is one of the aspects of
what makes them a peculiar people. It's the way they live. Or that it may be said of us,
I mean as a church, as a congregation, that we're zealous of good works,
that we live to the honor to the glory and praise of our great
God. I think that word, I quote it
quite often to you because it means so much to me, how we should
live. The Apostle Paul in Romans chapter
12 and those first two verses, I beseech you therefore brethren,
by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice. What does he mean? This living
body, a living sacrifice, consecrated unto the Lord. And by saying
that, he means everything you have, everything the Lord has
given you, everything the Lord has prospered you in, that you
consecrate it unto the Lord. That's a beautiful hymn, isn't
it? While our days on earth are lengthened,
may we give them, Lord, to thee. Now our example is Christ. That's what he did. And we profess
to follow him. Do we do the same things? Do
we live the same way? You know the Apostle John in
his first epistle, and in the second chapter of that first
epistle, and he says there in verse five, but whoso keepeth
his word in him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby
know we that we're in him. He that saith he abideth in him
or himself also so to walk even as he walked. Even as Christ
walked. That's our pattern. That's who
we profess to follow. Do we do the things that Christ
You think of the word of the dear apostle, let that mind be
in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. The mind of Christ, the
spirit of Christ. The apostle, he says in one place,
but we have the mind of Christ. In another place, we have the
spirit of Christ. Do we? Do we? Are we motivated by love? in
that very well-known chapter of 1 Corinthians chapter 13 where
it speaks of charity. It's setting before us the way
that we should live. It says there that what motivates
us is the most important thing. He said I can give my body to
be burned but if I have not charity it's vain. It's to do Now the word charity
means love in action. That's the meaning of it. Over
the years that word has slightly changed its meaning. When we
think of charity now, which is right of course, it's acts of
kindness, of love, of compassion to others. That's right. But the actual meaning in Holy
Scripture, often it's been said by many godly people that they
wish that that had been translated love, if I have not love. Actually
friends, I believe we've got the exact right word. Charity. Love in action. That's what it
means, love in action. What motivates us? What guides
us? Is it Christ? That's the vital
thing. Are we following Christ? Are
we imitating Christ? Are we seeking to do what Christ
did? And is the whole bent of our mind a spirit of love and
a spirit of kindness? You know, it's very clear here
with this centurion that it was so. Now, the Jews that he sent
to the Lord Jesus Christ, they said, and when they came to Jesus
they besought him instantly saying that he was worthy for whom he
should do this for he loveth our nation and he hath built
us a synagogue you see the kindness and love but go on and look at what the
centurion himself said he didn't feel worthy neither will you
neither will i The Lord's people, they have humility, faith that
worketh by love and humility. Grace of God will never make
you proud. It will never lift you up in
pride. It will humble you. It will cast you down. When the
grace of God is revealed in Christ unto your soul, it will truly
humble you. I often think of the words of
the hymn writer, and this is the language of the true child
of God, why me? Oh blessed God, why me? Why such
a wretch as me, that must forever lie in hell, were not salvation
free? That's the language of a living
soul, unworthy, why me? you find this same spirit another
gentile woman that that came to the lord jesus the syrophoenician
woman and her daughter was grievously sick and she came to the lord
and we read she worshiped him saying lord help me how wonderful
the holy spirit comes in holy scripture in showing us what
true worship is it's a It's a coming in complete dependence upon God,
upon His grace in Jesus Christ. It's hoping alone in Him. And
she worshipped Him saying, Lord, help me. Lord, help me. You see, and this man, we read
here in verse three, and when he heard Jesus when he heard of Jesus it's a
precious thing he heard of this wonderful man that went about
doing good he went about doing good and
we read in Romans chapter 10 concerning faith And it says
in verse 10 of chapter 10, for with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever
believeth on him, to believe is to exercise faith. That's
what believing is. It's the exercise of faith in
the glorious person of Jesus, the Son of God. Whosoever believeth
on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between
Jew and Greek. For the same Lord over all is
rich unto all them that call upon him. For whosoever shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Oh, that it may
be a word of encouragement unto those, especially you dear young
friends. It may be with you as it was
with what the dear apostle speaks of in the act, you're feeling
after God. You're feeling after God. You
pray to him. You have needs. You have inward needs. Perhaps
nobody else knows about those inward needs, those inward desires
of your soul. But may this be a word of encouragement
to help you to keep seeking. For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved. We read, whatsoever ye
shall ask in my name, That's the name of Christ. Whatsoever
you shall ask in my name, not in your name, not for your worthiness, but for Jesus Christ's sake,
for Jesus Christ's sake, whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him
in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in
him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without
a preacher? And how shall they preach except
they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful
are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring
glad tidings of good things. For they have not all obeyed
the gospel for Isaiah said Lord who hath believed our report
so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God
faith cometh by hearing the centurion and when he heard of Jesus we
read this quite often you know the gospel is a very simple thing
Sometimes I think we complicate it. When he heard of Jesus. Have you heard of Jesus? You
see the great thing, Christ himself says in his teachings, the whole
need not a physician, but them that are sick. And are you sick? I'm speaking now, of course it
can be a bodily sickness, I'm speaking now of a spiritual sickness,
a spiritual need, a longing. And when he heard
of Jesus. This is the great physician of
body and of soul. And as we read in the word of
God, he is able to do abundantly more than we can even ask or
think. So there is nothing too small
and there is nothing too great. You dear children, there may
be things that really trouble you. Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Pray about it. It doesn't matter how small it
is. It doesn't matter how insignificant
it is. But take it to the Lord in prayer. Pray about it. Tell Him about it. You see, And
I would remind you the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. And
they are purposely prominently put in the word of God. Suffer
little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for
of such is the kingdom of heaven. You come, and you keep coming,
and you keep looking, and you keep watching, and you keep waiting. You see, these things are written
for our instruction in the way of truth and of righteousness. Now, let us look for a moment
then at the centurion. Then Jesus went with them, verse
6, and when he was now not far from the house, the centurion
sent friends to him, saying unto him, Trouble not thyself, for
I am not worthy. See the feelings of this man,
for I am not worthy. He was a man in great authority.
He had hundreds of soldiers under him. I am not worthy. You see, that is grace. That
is what grace does. It makes us feel our unworthiness.
For I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof. But then, wherefore, neither thought I
myself worthy to come unto thee. He didn't come in his own person,
because he didn't feel worthy. He sent servants to go and speak
to the Lord Jesus. Wherefore, neither thought I
myself worthy to come unto thee. Now listen to his faith. His
faith in Jesus Christ. But say in a word, and my servant
shall be healed. But say in a word. And you know
the wonderful thing is, as it says in our text, when Jesus
heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about,
and said unto the people that followed him, say unto you I
have not found so great faith no not in Israel so great faith
for he hadn't seen the Lord Jesus he'd heard about me the Lord
Jesus hadn't seen him and the Lord Jesus hadn't seen the sick
servant but he spoke the word and the
centurion believed that that is all he needed to do and of
course he was right he he had a view by faith there's no doubt
of it speak the word for i am a man set under authority having
under me soldiers and i say unto one go and he goeth and to another
come and he cometh and to my servant do this and he doeth
it when jesus heard these things He marveled at him. What great faith. What a wonderful
instance. A gentile man. Great faith that
shone out. Again, just referring back to
the woman that came to him saying, Lord help me. Look at her faith. He rebuffed her, I think, on
three occasions. But she came back each time.
It's not worthy. to give the meat unto the dogs,
yea Lord, but the dogs eat of the crumbs from beneath the master's
table. See the faith? She couldn't be
put off. She believed. And oh, you see,
again, great faith. I've often spoken to you about
the Lady Lucy Smith, she was of the Countess of Huntington's
connection, a very godly woman, the Countess of Huntington, and
she had many godly women about her. And this lady, Lucy Smith,
and she was renowned among Christian circles for being a woman of
great faith. And somebody being introduced
to her on one occasion, and he said to her, oh, you're that
woman of great faith? Oh, no, she said. I have a little
faith. a great God what a beautiful
way of putting it I have a little faith in a great God and this
centurion he had a little faith in a great God you know surely
that's the principal meaning of that word the little that
a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked
you see a little faith you know Faith is something that is absolutely
vital. Faith in exercising the heart,
living faith in God, in Christ. Faith feeds on Christ. Faith
looks to Christ. Faith believes. It believes. That is what faith is. Those
two terms, believing and faith, are synonymous. Faith is believing. Believing is faith. That's what
it is. But what does the Word of God
declare unto us? Without faith, it is impossible
to please God. For he that cometh unto God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently Seek Him. You see, this centurion, he had
faith. He believed. He believed God. You see, and it came to pass,
sorry, and when Jesus heard these things, he marveled at Him and
turned Him about and said unto the people that followed Him,
I say unto you, I have not found so great faith. No, not in Israel. But the wonderful thing is this,
my beloved friends. Faith gets answers. It does. Just look at the next
verse. And they that were sent returning
to the house found the servant whole that had been sick. Immediately he was healed. Immediately he was healed. What wonderful grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ. You know, in the next narrative
that follows, the young man that had died, his mother was a widow,
it came to pass the day after that he went into a city called
Nain, and many of his disciples went with him, and much people
know when he came, Nain, the gate of the city behold there
was a dead man carried out the only son of his mother and she
was a widow and much people of the city was with her and when
the lord saw her he had compassion on her jesus has a loving heart
he has a kind heart One of the hymns we read or sing, don't
we? Jesus full of all compassion.
He is. He is. And it says here, later
on in the chapter we didn't read it, but you know, we did read
that part down where it says, verse 34, the son of man is come
eating and drinking, they say behold a gluttonous man and a
winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. Publicans were despised. They really were. And sinners.
The friend of publicans and sinners. And he still is. He still is. It's sinners can say, and none
but they, how precious is the Saviour. It's like I've already
quoted that word of our Lord Jesus Christ, the whole need
not physician, but them that are sick. How many sick souls
do we have here today that have a need? You need your sins forgiven. You need your sins forgiven.
You feel to be separated from God. You feel that you're unworthy. Just like this centurion, you
feel unworthy. But look at this kindness of
Jesus. And look at the power of Jesus. Think of those words that Christ
spoke to his disciples when he was about to ascend into glory.
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. And here
we have a dead man, a young man, dead in his coffin. And he came and touched the beer
that is the coffin, and they that bear him stood still, And
he said, you see, speak the word. You think about the centurion,
speak the word. And he will be healed. He believed,
he knew. He had faith. And this young man, you see this
wonderful power, and he said, young man, I say unto thee, arise. And he that was dead sat up.
and began to speak and he delivered him to his mother. Surely it echoes those words,
is anything too hard for the Lord? There's that lovely word spoken
by Jesus Christ, the cause that is too hard for thee, bring it
unto me, bring it unto me. This man spoke the word, this
holy God man, he spoke the word and the dead lived. And there came fear on all and
they glorified God saying that a great prophet is risen up among
us and that God has visited his people. You see this wonderful
act of speaking and this young man lived. And it flowed from
the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. You may be, you may feel
like the centurion, so unworthy, and it almost shuts your mouth,
you feel so unworthy, you feel you can't ask the Lord for anything,
you're so unworthy. But you ask him. You ask him. You just remember those words
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ask and you shall receive. Seek
and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened
unto you. For whosoever asketh shall receive. And he that knocketh it shall
be opened. Or that these things that may
be an encouragement to you to seek and to look and to watch
and to wait. And this same Jesus, we read
that in the Acts of the Apostles, this same Jesus, he reigns in heaven. You children,
you've often heard us speak of the throne of grace. What is
the throne of grace? It's where sinners can come and
plead with Jesus Christ. He sits on the throne of grace. He's our great high priest. He's
able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him.
You just think of those wonderful words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that may there be a word in season to you now, come unto me. It's
Christ speaking to poor sinners. 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. Oh, that you may be enabled
to cast all your care upon him. The apostle, he gives us a word
of direction, doesn't he, in the epistle to the Hebrews. Let
us lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset
us. and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Now, how are we to run that race? Well, he tells us. The word of
God informs us. Let us run with patience the
race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus. You cannot run this
race in any other way. Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross despising the shame thereof and is now
set down at the right hand of the majesty on high you know
we have here also john the baptist and in verse 19 it's a beautiful
thing to be recorded in holy scripture and John calling unto
him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus saying art thou
he that should come or look we for another now john was the
forerunner of christ john the baptist he stood in front of
his disciples of christ and he pointed to christ he said behold
the lamb of god that taketh away the sin of the world He had some
very clear views of who this was. It was John the Baptist
that was appointed by God to baptize the Lord Jesus Christ
in the River Jordan. And John tells us in the gospel
according to John that it was revealed unto him by God that
whom he would baptize in the river Jordan, and the
Spirit of God would descend from heaven upon him like a dove.
And it was revealed to him that this was the true Messiah. And
then we have it recorded in Holy Scripture, how that John the
Baptist very reluctantly, and the Lord Jesus encouraged him,
he said, thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. And John was persuaded. and he
baptised the Lord Jesus, went down into the River Jordan and
baptised him there in the River Jordan. You see, and it's recorded,
John witnesses, and I saw the Spirit of God descending like
a dove from heaven and alighting upon him. And he heard the voice
of the Eternal Father speaking from heaven, this is my beloved
Son in whom I well pleased whom I'm well pleased you see and
this is the same John in prison no doubt tried no doubt tried
and when verse 20 when the men were come unto him they said
John Baptist has sent us unto thee saying art thou he that
should come or look we for another And in that same hour, he cured
many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits. And unto many that were blind,
he gave sight. Then Jesus answering, said unto
them, go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and
heard, how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor
the gospel is preached and blessed is he whosoever shall not be
offended in me. What a message they had to take
to John Baptist in prison, wasn't it? This is indeed the Messiah. The poor have the gospel preached
unto them. Blessed are the poor in spirit
for they shall be saved. For they shall be saved. You
see, And it goes on. It says in that last verse we
read together, verse 35, but wisdom is justified of all her
children. Wisdom is justified of all her
children. Like the Pharisees and the Sadducees,
they cast all manner of aspersions on the Lord Jesus Christ and
on his disciples. And they condemned them. They
said that if this man were truly a prophet and a righteous man,
he would never mix Republicans and sinners. But you see, they're
the very ones he came to save. The whole need not a physician,
but them that are sick. Them that are sick. That's who
he came to save. But wisdom is justified of all
her children. All her children are justified.
Some of the vilest sinners. Some of the most wretched sinners.
You've only got to read through Holy Scripture. Look at Manasseh. Manasseh, he slew the prophets
of the Lord. He made the streets of Jerusalem
run with blood. The Lord caused the enemy to
come in upon him and took him among the thorns, we read. And
he cried unto his God. And the Lord heard him, and the
Lord delivered him, and the Lord restored him to his throne in
spite of all his sin and evil. See, again, another illustration
in the Gospels. Look at Mary Magdalene, out of
whom the Lord cast seven devils. She was a notoriously wicked
woman, but the Lord had mercy upon her. And indeed, that woman that came
and washed his feet with her tears and dried them with the
hairs of her head, and Simon the Pharisee, he said in his
heart, if this man were truly a prophet, he would know that
this is a most wicked, notorious woman. But what did the Lord
say to Simon? About two debtors one 500 pence
the other 50 pence And the Lord he forgave them both and he said
to Simon who Who would love him most? He said the one that was
forgiven us and the Lord Jesus points to that woman Some say
it was actually Mary Magdalene that Washed his feet with her
tears and dried them with the hairs of her head That's not
absolutely clear, but it's a beautiful illustration of one brought to
repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. The whole message this
morning is summed up, we worship the same Jesus, the same love,
the same compassion, the same kindness. He welcomes sinners
to come. He does. He welcomes sinners
to come. When Jesus heard these things,
he marveled at him and he turned him about and said unto the people
that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great
faith, no, not in Israel, and they that were sent returning
to the house found the servant whole that had been sinned. May the Lord add his blessing. Let us now sing together hymn
number 136 to the tune Evangelist 138. dear refuge of my weary soul,
on thee when sorrows rise, on thee when waves of trouble roll,
my fainting hope relies. Hymn 136. ♪ When in a storm of my life ♪ O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the
bombs bursting in air, ♪ With us ♪ ♪ To thee I tell ♪
♪ In Christ be free ♪ ♪ For thou art mine ♪ ♪ And still ♪ I look
and pray, lostly dreaming, of every pain I fear. How tall, when curbed, the Delft
river, I passed it lowly by, The strains of comfort seem to
fail, and all my hopes decay. Yet gracious God, where shall
I flee? Thou art my only trust, and still my soul of eternity, as it was in the
beginning. Hast thou not heard me seek thy
face? And shall I seek in vain? And can thee hear ♪ Of suffering praise ♪ ♪ Heaven
I complain ♪ ♪ Nurse still dear ♪ ♪ A sharpening blaze ♪ ♪ That ends
the ♪ ♪ Boner's flame ♪ ♪ O may I aid ♪ ♪ The
kind that shows ♪ to breathe thy sorrows there. Thy mercy seat is open still,
♪ He left my soul retreated ♪ ♪ Pity humble her ♪ ♪ Attend thy will
♪ ♪ And pray for me ♪ 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.