Okay. an an Okay. I commence our service this afternoon
by singing hymn number 538, the tune is Affection, number 277. By nature, none of Adam's race
can boast of goodness in God's sight. Sin plunged them all in
sad disgrace. Now nothing merely human's right. In him they stand complete and
just. His righteousness he gives to
them. Of this they sing, of this they
boast. Nor law, nor Satan can condemn. In number 538. ? Grant us a good night in the
sky ? ? Sing a joyful song this day ? ? God of Israel, Israel's God ? ? Holy,
holy, Lord God of Israel ? ? And on Christmas Eve ? ? Christ
the Lord ? ? Reignited ? ? All to Israel ? ? Alleluia ? ? And the home of the brave ? ?
Rich in the skies above, and the home of the brave ? Eternals
in its righteousness be, in its truth and God gives thanks in all His favours. Our Lord also gives thanks when
no one cares. and free in one. Saints of this
kingdom give their praise. The ever-victorious U.S.A. The ever-victorious U.S.A. By Christ and Holy Spirit divine,
from death to life. His Spirit makes His praise to
shine, When His people give praise to Him. Let us this afternoon, dear friends,
read from a part of the 119th Psalm. Psalm number 119. And
we'll read the first 40 verses. Psalm number 190. Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his
testimony, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity. They walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep
thy precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed
to keep thy statutes. Then shall I not be ashamed when
I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness
of heart when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes O forsake
me not utterly! Wherewithal shall a young man
cleanse his way, By taking heed thereto according to thy word? With my whole heart have I sought
thee, O let me not wander from thy commandments, thy word have
I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach
me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared
all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of
thy testimonies as much as in all riches. I will meditate in
thy precepts and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight
myself in thy statutes. I will not forget thy words. deal bountifully with thy servant,
that I may live and keep thy word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may
behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am a stranger in the
earth, hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh for
the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud that
are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt,
for I have kept thy testimonies. Princes also did sit and speak
against me, but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. Thy testimonies also are my delight,
and my counsellors. My soul cleaveth unto the dust,
quicken thou me according to thy word. I have declared my
ways, and thou heardest me. Teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way
of thy precepts. So shall I talk of thy wondrous
works. My soul melteth for heaviness. Strengthen thou me according
unto thy word. Remove from me the way of lying,
and grant me thy law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth. Thy judgments have I laid before
me. I have stuck unto thy testimonies. O Lord, put me not to shame. I will run the way of thy commandments. when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Teach me, O Lord, the way of
thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I
shall keep thy law. Yea, I shall observe it with
my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of
thy commandments, therein do I delight. Incline mine heart
unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding
vanity, and quicken thou me in thy ways. Establish thy word
unto thy servant who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I
fear, for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy
precepts. Quicken me. in thy righteousness. We will leave the reading of
God's holy word there, dear friends. May the Lord bless it to us each. May the Lord help us now to pray. O Lord, Through the multitude of Thy
tender mercies we have been spared. Thou hast maintained us in our
lot. Thou hast kept alive our souls. Thou hath brought us to this
present moment of time so that we can join with one
of old and say, hitherto hath the Lord helped
us. We would acknowledge, Lord, thy
help. We would acknowledge thy great
goodness. and Thy divine mercy and pray
that Thou will continue favorably with us and enable us to continue
in that narrow way, to continue in word and doctrine and in faith and practice. to continue waiting upon thee
in the services of thine house and in the ministry of thy word. May thy name, Lord, be glorified
and magnified in the midst of Zion. And oh, may we be favoured
with those tokens of Thy special love, those manifestations of Thy divine
favour to us, that we are in that narrow way which leadeth
to life everlasting, that our names are written in
the Lamb's Book of Life, that we are amongst thine elect,
living family, that we are sons and daughters of the Lord God
Almighty, that we have been quickened by thy
Holy Spirit, called by thy free and sovereign grace, and have back good hope through
grace, that thou hath gone to prepare a place for us, that
thou wilt come again and receive us unto thyself, that where thou
art, there may we be also. We are travelling through the
wilderness, And what a wearisome wilderness, Lord, it is to thy
dear people. But oh, we do thank thee. There,
Elder, lead thy people forth by that right way. We do not go at our own charges. that go according to that divine
command, which thou didst give to Moses of old, as the leader
of thy people, to conduct them through the wilderness according
to the will of God. Lord, it's the same to die. Oh, do grant us grace and strength
equal to the dime. The Lord, it is not an easy way. It's not an easy path. And we need much grace and strength
according to thine ancient promise. That as our days, so shall our
strength be. Help us, Lord, to hold on our
way. Help us to persevere. Help us to look alone to the
Lord Jesus. And I'll do grant that pillar
of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night. to lead us
in that right way. O Lord, be with us as we journey
on. We need Thee, and needs are great,
but Thou art almighty, the King of kings and Lord of lords. And Lord, all things are known
to Thee. Thou, Lord, hath all power in
heaven and on earth. And we do pray that thou will
conduct us safely through the wilderness and bring us at last
to thy heavenly kingdom. Help us, Lord, in our day and
generation to testify of thy great goodness and thy divine
mercy to unworthy sinners as we are. We're not worthy, Lord,
of the least of thy mercies, as one of old prayed. And yet, Lord, we hope and trust
and believe that our worthiness is in the Lamb of God. And so, Lord, help us to look
to Thee, to trust in Thee, to believe in Thee, to hope in Thee,
and to follow Thee, who is the supreme example set before the
Church of God in every age that we might follow his steps. Now, Lord, we acknowledge thy
goodness to us in bringing us together on this another Lord's
Day. The engagement made. Now, Lord, we come to fulfil
it in the fear of the Lord. Pray for that further ministerial
grace and God-given ability that we may be enabled so to do. But I, dear people, Lord, are
gathered together. They come seeking a word, seeking
for divine instruction, seeking for divine help, Divine comfort,
divine consolation. O Lord, do we pray thee, favour
thy dearly exercised people, who wait upon thee before they
come to the house of God, that thou wilt be favourable to them,
and bring a word and seal it to their hearts by thy Holy Spirit. And, Lord, we know not the cases
and the conditions and the needs and the exercises of those before
us in the sanctuary, that we pray to be led by thy Holy Spirit
in the ministry of thy word, and that we might walk in their
hearts, that thy word may be, Lord, a light to their feet and
a lamp in their path. Thy word might be a word of comfort
and divine confirmation that they may realize and know that
they are in that way, Lord, which leads to eternal life, that cloud
of witnesses who have gone before. Oh, Lord, may we be amongst those
in our generation. For thy word, Lord, spans not
only a few generations, but a thousand. And so we do pray, Lord, for
thy cause and interest here, that thou wouldest remember them
still with the favour that thou barest unto thy people. that Thou wouldst visit them
with Thy salvation, and that the ministry of their dear pastor,
Lord, may be effectual to that good end in accomplishing Thy
will in the hearts, Lord, of those who worship Thee here from
Sabbath to Sabbath and week by week, yea, and wherever Lord,
he may go to preach, and we think of him today, the friends at
South Chard, and pray that they will be with him there, and the
friends that gather there. May it prove to be a good day
in Zion, one of the days of the coming of the Son of Man. Lord,
be with us here, Lord. Oh, we need thee. The well is
deep, Lord. The well of truth is deep. Oh, we need spiritual understanding,
spiritual leading, spiritual guidance, that sacred spiritual
influence. And oh, do grant, Lord, that
thou wouldest lead us to the fountain of living waters, to
the Lord Jesus Christ. the friend of sinners, the saviour
of sinners, the redeemer of sinners. O Lord, do then grant thy divine
presence to be known and felt and sweetly enjoyed by us all
in the sanctuary today from the youngest of the dear children. to the oldest one here present. May it be the house of God and
the gate of heaven. And may dear Lord, all that is
attended to in this sanctuary of God, be owned and blessed
by the God of all grace, the God of all mercy, and the God
of all truth. To this end we pray that Thou
wilt be with them still and lead them forth, Lord, and follow
them with goodness and mercy. We do pray that Thou wilt Remember
thy people in their respective responsibilities in the Church
of God and in our daily lives and pray that each of us may
be given wisdom and God-given ability and God-given understanding
to do all that is required and do grant, O Lord, that good success. The Lord is not unmindful of
our labour of love, which we desire to fulfil in thy tender
fear, O Lord. And do remember all in their
particular trials and difficulties, sorrows and bereavements and
sadness, cup, Lord, thy dear people have to drink. But we thank thee that there
is that something secret to sweeten the bitter cup. And so, Lord,
do grant to us each that needful grace and strength to be granted
day by day. Remember us, Lord, still in the
church of God. We think of and pray for the
gospel standard denomination to which we are united and affiliated
in the bonds of love and union and loyalty and pray that they
will remember the churches O Lord, those in this land and those
in America and Canada and Australia, O Lord, do we pray thee, remember
every little hill of Zion and grant that it may indeed be to
those who need the house of God, the sanctuary of God, where the
Lord is and reigns as King and where all the true Zionites are,
blessed inhabitants of Zion. O Lord, do then bless the provision
of thy house and satisfy thy poor with bread. May there be,
Lord, that due prosperity spiritually and numerical increase also,
if it is thy will. For almost the whole city gathered
the next Lord's Day to hear the Word of God. Be with us, Lord, in the nation.
Do conduct all the affairs and matters of state. O do we pray thee, teach those
in authority over us there that requirement that all those who
bear rule should do it in the fear of the Lord. He that ruleth
over men must be just, ruling in the fear of the Lord, O that
our rulers, Lord, might be brought to rule the affairs of state
in the fear of the Lord. And do accept of our gratitude
for the rain that thou hast sent, and do send further showers,
Lord, upon the earth, for the good of the fruits of the earth
and the ingathering of the same, so that there may be a true Thanksgiving,
the Feast of Tabernacles, as it was in the Old Testament when
they gathered for a week to acknowledge the Lord's goodness. in the completed
harvest and the ingathering of the fruits of the earth. And
now, dear Lord, do help us to further wait upon thee in the
singing of thy worthy praises and in the preaching of the word. Do, Lord, give to me and help
me, I pray thee, in this great and solemn and yet blessed were. And thou, Lord, do hear us in
heaven, thy dwelling place. And when thou hearest, Lord,
do mercifully forgive and make up in giving where I fail to
ask. For thou, Lord, art able to do
exceeding abundantly above all that I can ask or even think. Such, Lord, is thy greatness. We thank thee for it and would
ascribe greatness unto the Lord our God. We ask all for Jesus'
sake. Amen. Continue our service by singing
hymn number 1097. The tune is Promise, number 832. a refuge for sinners the gospel
makes known. It is found in the merits of
Jesus alone. The weary, the tempted, and burdened
by sin were never exempted from entering therein. Here is refuge
for sinners, whose guilt shall appear as black as the confines
of endless despair, who stripped of all merit whereon to rely,
are taught by the Spirit to Jesus to fly, hymn number 1097. ? Of Jesus' birth ? ? Now to me
the Savior ? ? And the Lord my Savior ? O come, let us adore Him, O come,
let us adore Him, In Jesus, love, and hope, eternity
stay. Heavenly Father, Spirit, renew
this day. ? Make that great new season ?
? Full of celebration ? ? Let us all worship and adore him
? He shall tell, this the foundation
of sin. O come, O come, Emmanuel, O come,
Emmanuel, ? He's planted for sinners ? ?
Who still shall have faith ? ? As my hands take the place ? ? Of
infants destined for me ? ? This praise, O Lord, forever
? ? Ever to remember ? ? God's love for us will be eternal ?
? Gave proof to the star-gazers
? ? That star-spangled banner yet wave ? ? O'er the land of
the free ? ? And the home of the brave ? ? Destination shall be thee. ? ? There's a place for thee,
oh, for thee. ? ? There is a land of righteousness.
? May the help of God, dear friends. May the Lord help me to continue
in the first psalm. Psalm number one. And I'll read the second and
the third verses by way of text. But his delight is in the law
of the Lord. And in his law doth he meditate
day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted
by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither. And whatsoever he doeth shall What a great difference there
is between the righteous and the unrighteous, between the
wicked and the Lord's dear people. Who can measure that difference? It is so great. And what a divine
mercy it is. If God has eternal thoughts of
love and mercy toward us, so that at the appointed time, he
called us by his grace. quickened us by his spirit, and
made us to know and feel the vanity of sinful, earthly things
that cannot help, that cannot deliver, and cannot save. And so, dear friends, it's all
due to the sovereign will and good pleasure of our God that
we were chosen by his elect in love and mercy and have been
brought to be made manifest in time because our delights and
those things that are pleasing to us cannot be found in this
sin-curse world, but can be found in the kingdom of God's grace. Well, we have to say, don't we,
with the Apostle, who made thee to differ? And what hast thou
that thou hath not received? So, friends, that mighty efficacious
work has to be wrought in the heart by the Spirit. The separation
is in heart. There can never be a separation
outwardly unless there's a separation in heart. And God deals with
the heart. And then there is that separation
from a world that lieth in wickedness. And so, dear friends, God has
a people. God has a witness. What a wonderful
thing that is, isn't it? God, the creator of the world
and the creator, the new creation in the hearts of his dear people.
You see, he has a witness to the truth that he is God and
there is none else through his dear people. And they delight
to ascribe the honor and the glory unto his great and holy
name. It's a sacred delight. It's a holy pleasure. But this
blessed man, his delight is in the law of the Lord. What's the foundation stone,
friends? Mine elect, God the Father said. mine elect, my servant, in whom
my soul delighted, God the Father, delighted, delights in his beloved
Son. And all that sacred work that
he accomplished in accordance with the mind and will of God
the Father, O my servant, what did Isaiah say? Behold my servant,
whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. God the Father delights in his
beloved Son, and the dear Redeemer delights in his dear people. Hepsibah. It will suffice. We hear little, don't we, of
Hepsibah. But friends, what a wonderful
favour it was. The Lord says, Thou shalt no
more be termed forsaken, neither shall thy land any more be termed
desolate, but thou shalt be called Hepzibah. And that means my delight,
the Lord's delight. Hepzibah. And thy land Beulah. What does that mean? Married. Married. For the Lord delighteth
in thee, and thy land shall be married. Well, friends, the Lord
delights then in his dear people. and that sacred marriage between
Christ and His Church. Christ, the bridegroom, His dear
people, His bride. So, a delight. What a wonderful consideration,
isn't it? Or you might say, this is too
high for me. I can't attain to it. I'm only
a poor sinner, friends. Receive the testimony of God. It's a greater testimony than
yours. God's thoughts are higher than
your thoughts. God's ways are higher than your
ways. And God's truth is higher than
you. You may think of yourself in
that way as a poor needy sinner. But friends, the testimony of
heaven is a greater testimony than yours. Indeed it is. And the Lord has said, but thou
shalt be called Hepzibah. I delight in thee, and thy land
shall be married. Yes, a marriage supper. So you see, dear friends, how
blessed are these things. Well, that being the case, then
the Lord's people delight in the law of the Lord. And they
delight to do that which is pleasing to the Lord. And this is following
the grand example, the Lord Jesus, who did always those things that
pleased my Father. So friends, this delight is in
the law of the Lord. The apostles said, and I'm sure
that you can say the same, I delight to do thy will. I delight to do that which is
right in thy sight. The apostle Paul said, I delight
to do it. And he did. And so did the Lord's
people. But he found that there was another
working of the flesh. Nevertheless, That delight in
serving the Lord was not undermined, and not removed, and not destroyed. With the mind, I myself serve
the law of God. That's what Paul said. It's the
same friend with all the Lord's dear people today. And with the
flesh, the law of sin. But with delight, he served the
Lord. Well, you see, dear friends,
this is the reason why. The Lord delights in his people,
and they delight in serving him. The sacred union, the sacred
marriage, the sacred wonder. And friends, these blessed Old
Testament truths, they're all fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ. And the apostle, the dear prophet
goes on to say, as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy
sons marry thee. And as the bridegroom rejoiceth
over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. Rejoice in over thee. Well, dear
friends, this then, the child of God delights. His delight
is in the law of the Lord. Now, of course, we read concerning
the law, the law of God, the precepts, the statutes. We read
of those this afternoon in those verses in the 119th Psalm. But, you see, this goes deeper
than just the letter of the truth. The Lord writes, his law in our
hearts. And friends, this is what Jeremiah
speaks of, and also the Apostle Paul in writing to the Hebrews. But this shall be the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith
the Lord. I will put my law in their inward
parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God,
and they shall be my people. So it's written in the heart. It's not just the letter of the
truth. It's written in the heart. And
this is why there is this gracious delight then, in the law of the
Lord. It's not just the letter of the
truth. One could read that and then
forget all about it. But this is written within the
heart. It's not forgotten. And there's
a delight in keeping it. And then the apostles, the prophet
also says this. You see, to do them. The Lord
will do them good, for I put my fear in their hearts, that
they shall not depart from me. I always like to confirm what I
set forth from the testimony of truth, because friends, it's
only the truth that will prevail, it's only the truth that will
help you and bless you, and it's only the truth that will save
you with that everlasting salvation. So, delighting in the law of
the Lord. And in delighting it, you see,
it's kept. It's kept. Well, the Lord Jesus
kept it in perfection, and he kept it for his dear people.
He kept it for his dear people. And therefore the Lord's dear
people, yet have loved of Christ, desire to honor him by keeping
it as they are given grace and strength so to do, and to walk
in the fear of the Lord and according to the leading of the Holy Spirit
of God. Well, in his law doth he meditate. day and night. Meditation. To meditate, there
has to be an application. You apply your mind, you apply
your heart to that which is before you. And in his law, God's law,
that he meditates. It's not just reading now, it's
application. It's applying your heart with
diligence and fervency in that which is set before you. Meditation. The Apostle Paul said to Timothy,
meditate upon these things which I've spoken to thee concerning
being fulfilled. You'll have to fulfill them when
I'm gone. Meditate upon them, give thyself
wholly to them, that thy appearing may be made known unto many. And so, dear friends, meditate. To wait upon the Lord in His
law. This law, really, You can say,
yes, it's the laws and precepts, but it's the law of love. It's
the yoke of love. It's the being drawn by the cords
of love that you desire to walk in the precepts of the gospel,
constrained by the love of Christ to meditate. I wonder, friends,
how much time you spend in waiting upon the Lord, meditating. It's very important regarding
the ministry, very important. I don't think I could attempt
to enter a pulpit unless I had waited upon God in meditation
in His Word, beforehand. I wouldn't presume upon the mercy
of God. I wouldn't presume upon the help
of God. Now, yes, the Lord needs to be our helper indeed and our
sufficiency, but it's ours to wait upon God and not to be careless
and indifferent and say, well, the Lord will help me and leave
it there. My late father said that bordered
on presumption. That's what he said. To go continually
without waiting upon the Lord in secret and just go forth in
the ministry and say, well, the Lord will help me. He said it
borders on presumption. And it does. It's hours to meditate
and to wait upon God. Friend, this is the day and night
business. Day and night, business friends, day and night. Oh, friends,
in the night season sometimes, have you never, ever known the
presence and blessing of God waiting upon the Lord in the
night season? Have you ever had to get up in
the night and read the word of God? Have you ever had to get
up in the night, friends, and bow your knee in prayer? Have
you? Have you ever spent one night,
friends, in prayer before God? Have you ever spent one night
in your life, friends, waiting upon God and His Word? One night in your long life? What a test, friends, isn't it?
Day and night, it says. Oh, friends, the dear Redeemer,
what a wonderful example He set. All night long in Prayer to God
his Father. And some of us friends have reached
mature years and gone beyond the allotted span of life. Have
we never spent any night seasons in prayer and waiting upon God? I remember in the exercise of
the ministry in the latter part of it, in my poor heart it got
so great, so intense, And I felt it was a waste of time to go
to bed and sleep. I'd rather be up preaching the
gospel, because it was so intense, the exercise of soul. Oh, friends,
to know those seasons again. Oh, like the apostles, I have
to confess, I hope I have a willing spirit that my flesh is weak.
My flesh is weak. But there's still that delight,
I hope, and that meditation in the things of God. God is glorified. God is honored, friends. He is
indeed. If you desire to see this fulfilled
in the life of one of the Lord's dear people, Who better, who
better than Joshua? Oh, that was fulfilled so beautifully
in his case after Moses had died. And you see the Lord speaking. He said this, this book of the
law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night. Thou mayest observe to do according
to all that is written therein, for then thou shalt make thy
way prosperous. And then they shall have good
success. Friends, that was so wonderfully
fulfilled in the life of Joshua after the death of Moses, when
he took the Lord's people over Jordan into the Promised Land. He had a double portion. He had the Spirit of God. He had the Word of God. He had
all that was required to fulfill that work that God gave him to
do. And friends, he fulfilled this
that I've just read. And the Lord prospered him and
gave him good success. No one was able to stand against
him. Oh, he knew victory. He knew
the Lord's great goodness. And friends, the Lord used him
in a remarkable way in Canaan's land. So you see, this is it. But thou shalt meditate therein,
day and night, and then you will be prospered, and then you will
have good success. And friends, it's the same today.
If you want to prosper and have good success, you need to wait
upon the Lord and His word continually. This is the secret, friends,
of all success. Indeed it is. And have we not
proved it in our little measure? You can labour and labour for
the bread that perisheth and things of time and sense. But
friends, those that wait upon the Lord will be prospered and
will be given good success. That's the word of God. Thy way
prospers. This is what you want, friends, isn't it? Of course,
this is spiritual. But it also includes that which
is providential, because they're joined by God. And so, friends,
what a mercy it is. And this dear man Joshua, you
see, this is what he was unable to do, because he had a tremendous
responsibility to take the place of Moses who was dead. He couldn't
look to Moses now. He couldn't look to Moses for
help and for advice. No, Moses was dead, and he was
the one in the position of responsibility, and he had to fulfill it. And
friends, all the people of Israel were there, and he had to fulfill
that exercise. He needed God, he needed his
word. They needed the Lord to prosper
him and give him good success, and the Lord did. You can read
the book of Joshua. Well, dear friends, You see,
have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage,
be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God
is with thee, whithersoever thou goest. Oh, the Lord is with those
that wait upon him. Yes, he abides with them. The Lord thy God is with thee.
Could you say, friends, this afternoon, in your pathway, that
the Lord is with you? Could you really testify of this
and say, yes, I believe the Lord is with me? I have the proof
and evidence of it. Friends, what a favor if you
can say it. If it's absolutely true in your
life and case, the presence of Almighty God to be with you. Well, if He is, you're walking
in truth. Because this law, you see, this
book of the law, Well, it was the Old Testament, wasn't it?
It was the Old Testament. And friends, to die in a gospel
sense, this book of the law, is the whole counsel of God.
The whole counsel. I've not shunned the apostles,
to declare unto you the whole counsel of God. Now this man, This godly woman,
this godly man, he should be like a tree planted by the rivers
of waters. He should be like a tree, likened
to a tree, but a tree planted by the rivers of water. Rivers. A river flows. Flowing water. Water is vital for life. Natural life and spiritual
life. It's absolutely vital. You can't
live, dear friends, naturally very long without water. No, no, no. To give you a little understanding, naturally speaking,
of the value of water, my grandfather told me when he was abroad in
the First World War and in the desert, and almost dying of thirst. And he said to me, he said, you
know, I would have given everything that I possessed for one glass
of cold water. He felt to be dying of thirst. That's the value of water. to give all that he possesses
for one glass of water. Friends, we little realise the
true value of water. Now, spiritually, we cannot live
spiritually without water. And the Lord Jesus speaks concerning
water in a very blessed way. In the Church of God, the City
of God, there's a river. There's a river, a flowing river. And the streams we're on make
that the City of our God. Beautiful, isn't it? Water. And so the Church of God has
living water. He should be like a tree. And a tree, friends, needs water. It's planted. Well, these spiritual
characters are planted in the house of our God. Again, the
testimony of truth will suffice us. And what tree is spoken of? The righteous shall flourish
like the palm tree. I tried to speak Tuesday night
at Maidstone at Ealing. Twelve wells of water. Three
score and ten palm trees. What a provision, wasn't it?
In the wilderness. Twelve wells of water and seventy
palm trees. Well, here we have the righteous
shall flourish like the palm tree. Very nutritious. You've got those lovely dates. food, nourishment. And friends, you see, the righteous
shall flourish like the palm tree. He shall grow like a cedar
in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the
house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. Why? Because of living water. That's why, friends, live in
water. Without it, death ensues. I'm sure your gardens have laid
various trees or shrubs or plants that have been in a very deathish
state through lack of water. Friends, We need living water
for our souls to be kept alive. And that living water flows from
Jesus Christ. Out of his belly shall flow living
waters. This is what the Lord declared
at the Feast of Tabernacles, the last day, the last day of
the great feast, when Jesus cried concerning this matter. Well,
dear friends, This soul then, he should be like a tree, planted
by the rivers of water. There is the source of supply,
and then there is a bringing forth of fruit. Bringing forth of fruit. There's
no fruit, dear friends, if there's no water. There's no real good fruit. You
can open a fruit where there's drought. And friends, it's not
the sign. There's something wrong. Because
it's a lack of water. Well, you see the Church of God
and those streams flowing from that river. They flow from it. And all the streams we're in
are found. mercy and grace and peace and
meekness and all that your soul needs, dear friends, is flowed
from these streams, the gentle streams, gentle streams. There's a vast difference, dear
friends, between a river and the ocean, isn't there? The ocean. A vast difference, a great difference. a profound difference because
when the end of time comes, there will be no more sea. But when
the end of time comes and this dispensation is all burnt up
with fire, there will be living water. Where? In heaven. Living water in heaven
I say reverently before you, there's never been a drought
in heaven and never will be. There's 12 wells of water, friends,
living fountains of water. And God shall wipe away all tears
from your eyes. Oh, friends, living fountains
of water. There to supply the needs of
the redeemed eternally. Now there's a taste of it here
on earth in the Church of God in a militant state. Through
this sacred... It's the same river, it's the
same river. It's crystal clear. It flows. It's the same river that Ezekiel
saw. It's the same river that John
the Divine saw. As recorded in the revelation
of John the Divine. The same blessed river. And friends, you say, that in
the fullness of it, the river to swim in, Ezekiel speaks of. Well, he should be like a tree,
planted by the rivers of water. Do you feel your need, friends? Ah, a blessed supply, a wonderful
provision in the church of the living God. And these streams
make glad the city of God. It's God's city. It's his place,
it's his church, it's his people. And he supplies them with living
bread and living water. That bringeth forth his fruit
in his season. Well, you see those that be planted
in the house of the Lord shall flourish. in the courts of our
God, they shall still bring forth fruit. In old age they shall
be fat and flourishing. What are these fruits? What is
this fruit? Well, I would bring before you,
in this particular, the fruits of the Spirit of God, which were
all found in Christ. These must be, this must be the
fruit, friends. All flowing from Christ and made
known by the Spirit in the lives of God's dear people. His love,
His peace, His mercy, His truth, His meekness, temperance, all
these precious fruits that the Apostle Paul speaks of in writing
to the Galatian church. Well, this is fruit, it's precious
fruit, it's the fruit of the Spirit. And friends, the Lord's
dear people under the influence of the Spirit and the indwelling
of the Spirit are favoured with these fruits. All this fruit,
because it's all fruit to the glory of God, as it flows from
Jesus Christ in his season. Well, of course, there are the
seasons on Earth, and there is a season when there is the manifestation
of the fruit, and when it is made evident. But of course,
there is the winter, there is the wind, there is the rain,
and then there comes the fruitful season, when the fruit is taken
and partaken of. and sweetly enjoyed. Friends,
we need a spiritual season in our souls when the precious fruits
of God's Holy Spirit are so made manifest in our hearts as we
have, as Paul says, the Spirit of Christ. And if any man have
not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Oh, friends,
the Spirit of Christ. Sometimes it has been spoken
of concerning some of the Lord's dear people, and it's been said
they possessed the Spirit of Christ. Oh, what precious fruits
were made manifest in their lives. Well, what about the Christian
Worthy's as recorded in Hebrews 11. Friends, oh what fruit in
their season, oh what they endured for the Lord's sake, what grace
was made manifest in their lives. Indeed it was. His leaf also
shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Well, They shall prosper that
love thee. That's what the good psalmist
said. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love
thee. Well, This divine love we spoken
of regarding this river, it sets forth the love of Christ. It's continually flowing. And the love of Christ is continual. Having loved his own which were
in the world, he loved them to the end. The love of Christ is
rich and free, the hymn writer said, and it is. Once in him,
dear friends, in him forever, thus the eternal Covenant stands. So, what should he do if he shall
prosper? Well, the greatest prosperity
is seen in Jesus Christ. Oh, friends, it pleased the Lord
to bruise him. Thou hath put him to grief, made
his soul an offering for sin. But he shall see his seed, he
shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper
in his hand. The sufferings of Christ, dear
friends. It pleased the Lord to bruise
him. They have put him to grief. And yet, those sufferings, so
intense, angels have no perfect sense, is for the prosperity
of his dear people. That sacred, beautiful chapter
in Isaiah. You see, and he shall see his
seed. He shall prolong his days and
the pleasure of the Lord, God's pleasure, shall prosper in his
hand. Every vessel of mercy shall be
made manifest. because Christ shall see the
travel of his soul and shall be satisfied. Friends, this prosperity
shall prosper in his hand. This is the prosperity of the
whole Church of God, down to the end of time. It can only
prosper in Christ's hand. He's the mediator of the new
covenant. He is the man, Christ Jesus. And in that sacred, holy humanity,
there he was put to grief. He was bruised. Oh, smite the
shepherd. The rod of God's divine justice
was laid on Christ. And by his stripes, We are healed. This is the prosperity of the
whole Church of God, friends, and will be to the end of time. Whatsoever Christ doeth shall
prosper. There's never been prosperity
like it. No, because of this, there is
prosperity in the Church of God. Through Christ, sufferings and
death, as wrought by the Spirit in the hearts of his people. This is it, friends, sacred prosperity. And so all that Christ endured,
there was a sacred, divine, holy purpose, all decreed by God for
the benefit of his dear people, whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. and those who desire to honor
Christ the crucified and yield obedience to him by walking in
the law of his love, you see, shall prosper. There's a prosperity. There is indeed, friends. To
all labor there's profit. And down through the ages of
time there have been There is prosperity. The Word of God will
not return to him void. It will accomplish that which
is pleasing unto him. An accomplishment pleasing. Now
the rain must come down from heaven, friends, and water the
earth and soften the hearts of God's dear people so that they
are receptive to the good seed of his Word. And that good seed
will bring forth fruit and accomplish that which is pleasing in the
sight of God. His word will not return to him
void. It'll accomplish in your heart
and in mine, friends, what is according to the will of God.
Because Christ hath suffered, bled and died for the Lord's
dear people. Oh, the sacred deep, friends,
Oh, the well of divine divinity and truth and the sovereignty
of God is deep. Indeed it is, that deep that
coucheth beneath, but it's revealed and it's made known. How? By
the Spirit of God. Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Well, this was certainly fulfilled
in the case of Joseph, in the case of Joseph and Jacob and
Joshua friends but it was all fulfilled perfectly in and by
Jesus Christ Emmanuel God with us so what a blessed gospel we
have friends in the Psalms don't we Sweet and blessed are the
deep things of God. And friends, we delight in them.
We delight in them. We rejoice in them. And it's
the means of bringing us and conducting us safely through
the wilderness. And it's the only way to the
celestial city. the new Jerusalem which is above,
where those living fountains of water to supply all the redeemed
in glory throughout the countless ages of eternity. May the Lord add his blessing.
Amen. to our service by singing hymn
number 996, the Juniors' Oswestry 387. While the dear saints of God
below travel this vale of sin and woe, there is a river through
the road makes glad the city of our God. This river is his
heavenly love proceeding from the throne above and all its
streams which here are found with comfort, joy, and peace
abound. Hymn number 996. And there is a river in the way. They fed the city. ? The path home ? ? This river
is free ? ? And beyond ? ? Saving from the
flood ? O God, I do beseech thee, hear our prayer, we come to you, Gives her power. Yes, she's a great gift of Jesus. ? With a humble shape and tail
? ? He'll come to the place of grain ? I'll never give it to
you. As they go round Jesus' throne,
All our years of misery have run, ? I sing a story like you said
? ? It began at your lovely house
? He can for ever bless his name. Now every sinner has seen him. He called out Oh Lord, Do we humbly beseech of thee,
own and bless all that hath been attended to in thine earthly
courts thus far today. Come up with us again, dear Lord,
this evening in another cause of truth. May thy word, Lord,
be magnified in Zion and in our hearts. Dismiss us with thy favour. Grant journey and mercies in
peace and safety. May thy grace, Lord Jesus, the
Father's love, the communion of thy Holy Spirit be with us
all now and forevermore. Amen.