Dear friends, I'll just say that
our pastor is unable to be with us this evening, being unwell. And we do thank our dear friend,
Mr. Mark Seymour, for coming to be
with us this evening at such short notice. May we see the
Lord's hand even in these things, and may we not be empty sent
away. The first two hymns were chosen
by our pastor, I'll read, the first hymn is number 21. The
tune is Ebens 275. I'll read the first three verses
and we'll commence singing from verse number four. The wandering
world inquires to know why I should love my Jesus so. What are his
charms, say they, above the objects of immortal love? Yes, my beloved
to my sight shows a sweet mixture, red and white, all human beauties,
all divine in my beloved meet and shine. White is his soul
from blemish free, red with the blood he shed for me. The fairest of 10,000 fairs,
a sun amongst 10,000 stars. From verse four in number 21. The finest gold excels, where
wisdom in perfection dwells, and glory Those temples burnt with sand
before. ? Compassion in his heart of found
? ? And by the sickness of his wound
? ? His sacred sight has found ? O'er the land of the free and
the home of the brave? His hands of ferritin behold,
And diamonds set in rings of gold. Those heavenly bands And on the
tree An elk had drawn a net for me. There once he bowed his heavenly
knees, Prayed to sins and happiness, There on the third of Hibbitz
Kanaan, Is next, like the Abendured Star. His sights are majesty and might. The eagle tempered with the dove. I watched her trickling, so mature,
Fiddle still, of his own. He's helped the good and the
bad. Let thoughts and cheers this
day do say. Turn and turn, page by page,
Stand up and learn, with knowledge free. O'er the land of glory and the
home of the brave? It were fit of the nation's nature
How her heart could not contend May the Lord help us this evening,
friends, to read from his most holy word, the first book, the
first epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, chapter nine. The first epistle of Paul to
the church in Corinth, the Corinthians, chapter nine. Am I not an apostle? Am I not
free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ
our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others,
yet doubtless I am to you. For the seal of mine apostleship
are ye in the Lord. Mine answer to them that do examine
me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we
not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles,
and as the brethren of the Lord and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas? Have not we power to forbear
working? Who goeth for warfare any time
at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and
eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth
not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man,
or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the
law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that
treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he, it altogether for
our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt this
is written, that he that plougheth should plough in hope, and he
that fresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual
things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this
power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless, we have not used
this power, but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel
of Christ. Do ye not know that they which
minister about holy things live of the things of the temple,
and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar. Even so hath the Lord ordained
that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these
things, neither have I written these things, that it should
be so done unto me. For it were better for me to
die than that any man should make my glory in void. For though
I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is
laid upon me. Yea, woe is unto me if I preach
not the gospel. For if I do this thing willingly,
I have a reward. But if against my will, a dispensation
of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily
that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ
without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all
men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain them
all. And unto the Jews I became as
a Jew, that I might gain the Jews. To them that are under
the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under
the law. To them that are without law,
as without law, being not without law to God, but under the law
to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak,
that I might gain the weak. I have made all things to all
men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for
the gospel sake that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run
in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may
obtain. and every man that striveth for
the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain
a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so
run, not as uncertainly, so fight I, not as one that beateth the
air, but I keep under my body and bring it into subjection. lest that by any means, when
I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast away. May the Lord bless a portion
of his holy word. May he help us in prayer. Most holy, almighty Lord God
of Israel, before whom we come as poor, lost, fallen sinners. Lord, there are none upright
in this chapel, least of all the man in the pulpit. But we
know this, Lord, that even as Paul refers much in this chapter
that we have read to preaching the gospel, that we are so thankful
that there is a gospel, And we're so thankful that we are found
in thy courts this evening to hear the sound of the gospel. Lord, may it be the sound of
the gospel trumpet. Hark how the gospel trumpet sounds. Yes. And it may sound a note
of blessing, a note of favour to souls that are gathered together
here this evening. Lord, we do pray for it. That,
Lord, this may have been according to thy holy will that this poor
man is found in the pulpit this evening. And Lord, thou knowest
that we have had but little notice. But Lord, the power and the work
of the ministry is through almighty God. And we do thank thee, Lord,
that Paul says this, as he writes to the Philippians, I can do
all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. And so, Lord,
we do pray for that strengthening grace this evening, as we feel
we stand as a poor substitute to the dear pastor here, who
would be amongst his people and who, Lord, we know loves to come
and speak to his people as helped of the Lord. And we pray for
him, Lord, that he may shortly be better and, Lord, able to
come again amongst them the coming Lord's day. Lord, we have to
bow under thy sovereign will in these things, but we do plead
for him that he will be feeling better this evening and strengthened
as he arises again tomorrow and be with him, Lord. We also pray,
Lord, that they will bless his ministry amongst the dear friends
here. Lord, what a mercy that they
have been provided with a Lord, a gracious pastor who is able
to rightly divide the word of God. And Lord, we do pray that
there may be those further signs following the preaching here,
that souls will be fed, that Lord, there will be that following
up and following on from the living ministry that they are
blessed to receive week by week and Lord's day by Lord's day. Lord, we pray for him then, and
we pray that indeed the gospel will get success in Lambethurst
Chapel, and that Lord, it will all be to redound to the power
and the glory of almighty God. Oh Lord, do work in the midst,
we do plead. And Lord, we do pray that thou
will be with those that cannot be out in the midweek service. And we know, Lord, that with
families and with other work and other commitments Perhaps
those that are not well, they're those things that come in, Lord,
where they cannot be out. But Lord, should any be listening
in, we do pray for thy blessing upon them. And if not able to
do that, still remember them, Lord, and bless them indeed.
Do grant much prayer, Lord, in the pew, that there may be power
in the pulpit in this chapel. And Lord, we do pray that thou
would help the dear deacons and remember them in the burdens
that they carry. Lord, do go before them, favour
them and help them. And we beg and plead that thou
will be mindful of each church member, that they might desire
to walk uprightly according to the calling that they have been
called to follow thee with and in. Lord, oh Lord, to be right
in these things. And then Lord, it is our prayer
that thou would exercise hearts regarding following me in that
profession of faith. O Lord, do appear. And we do
pray, Lord, for one aged member who is not with us, Lord, and
we pray for Ina. Do remember her, we plead, and
be mindful of her. And Lord, it is our prayer that
thou wilt bless her indeed in her last days. Lord, then, remember
the dear friends here And Lord, we do pray thou will continually
go before them. And oh Lord, we do pray that
thou will be with them in their spiritual exercises. Lord, may
they have those spiritual exercises. Lord, we feel, Lord, that there
is that pathway to be walked out. And Lord, we would lean
upon thee, and yet we still lean upon an arm of flesh. And we
still work these things out for ourselves, but oh Lord, to look
to Thee alone in those things that are upon us in our life
and in our souls. But oh Lord, we do pray that,
oh, that we might realize we are so caught up in this world
of sin. Oh, thou hideous monster sin.
And Lord, to realize what a grief has thou brought in. The whole
creation groans through thee, pregnant cause of misery. And
Lord, we believe if we know anything of it, it causes misery in our
own life. And we have to say it all, it's
our sins which is why we suffer. Sometimes in the pathways that
we have to walk out. But what a mercy for thy dear
people that they have one to go to as they suffer on account
of sin. that if they suffer in this life,
because they will not suffer in the next life. Oh, what a
blessing and favor it is, Lord, to be Lord amongst those who
suffer that chastening. These chastenings therefore prize
the privilege of a saint. Oh, the worldling would wonder
what we mean. One Lord from outside, or even
perhaps those who have not got Work of grace going on there.
Think, what does it mean to have a privilege to be chastened?
Because to be chastened is like a parent chastening the child.
It's to be told off. It is to be punished. But Lord,
what punishment we are due. And if we're right, and if we
have a true faith and religion, Lord, and all we feel personally,
we can seldom get there. But the hymn writer says, and
if my soul were sent to hell, Thy righteous law approves it
well. Oh Lord, that's where we deserve
to go. But we do pray, Lord, that thou
would help us each to confess our sin. And Lord, to find that
thou art willing to forgive us for our sins. And Lord, oh, we
do pray that we might have a forgiving spirit to others. Lord, how wonderful
is the Lord's prayer when we must forgive those that trespass
against us. And Lord, well, we know not,
but thou knowest, perhaps there are those that can't easily forgive,
those that have done something wrong against them. But Lord,
we must forgive, because unless we forgive, thou wilt not forgive
us. Oh, how solemn it is. But oh,
that we might know the joyful sound of forgiveness, of ringing
in our hearts and to believe this, truly that, oh, that dear
man of whom we have been singing, and those afflictions that he
had in his on the cross and before the cross and as he sweat those
great drops of blood and as he was in Gethsemane and then at
the judgment hall and then on the tree. Oh Lord, oh to have
our hearts softened by these things. This man, this beloved
one to his dear people. Oh, may it be our desire that
we could go home tonight and say, my beloved is mine. And
I am his. Yes. So Lord, do draw us in love. We do pray that we might truly
worship thee tonight. And then we would desire to pray
for the friends of different generations and the children
that come here, Lord, remember them in their holidays now. Those
taught at home, Lord, but do remember them each. Be with those
that go away for their holidays, Lord, and watch over them. Be
with any, Lord, that might have those troubles and burdens before
them. Be with those parents, Lord,
that need so much that help daily, Lord. Strengthen them, be with
them, hear and answer prayers. Be with those in the middle age
and the middle part of life, Lord, the hidden burden of the
day. Remember our friends of the beyond retiring age and all
their concerns and cares, and some of them very busy still,
Lord, with these things, that their eyes might be continually
upon thee for daily, nay, hourly help. And oh, Lord, do favour
each one in the pathway of life. Oh, do help them then, and perhaps
any that are in trouble tonight. Oh, Lord, do come and provide
a way. that they might prove that thou
art their God, that thou will find a way for them. They cannot
see one, but Lord, that thou will find a way. Yes, when the
Lord's people have need, his goodness will find out a way. Yes, Lord, then we pray for each
one, wherever they are and whatever they're in. And Lord, may there
be a touch here and there for souls tonight, a portion for
seven, and also for eight. Do come, dear Jesus, we do plead. And so, Lord, now, as we come
to thy word, do open it up to us each, both, Lord, in reflecting
upon the word in the pew and preaching it in the pulpit. Lord,
we pray that thou wilt graciously help us. Lord, then, we pray
that thou wilt remember us in the nation. And Lord, in the
nations of the world, do yet, Lord, bring to an end this conflict
in the Ukraine, if it be thy holy will. Oh, how solemn it
is, wars and rumours of wars, these last days. Lord, be with
us in these things. And there are other powers in
the world with potential, Lord, and man looks on in much fear,
but oh, to keep our eyes on Jesus' feet. And then in our own land,
what a state we're in, Lord, in government. And, oh, what
a time, Lord, when, oh, we know not how to pray, but we do pray,
Lord, that the right leader, in terms of what thou wilt and
give us, will be in power by me, King's reign, and Prince's
decree justice. Lord, we have to leave these
things in thy hand, but, oh, may there yet be better days
in this nation that we can come away from some of these modern
trends. Oh, how solemn it is, and many
of these laws on the statute book that ought never to be there,
including the Sunday trading. Lord, how solemn it is. There
has been a decline over many years. Oh, Lord, turn us again,
and we shall be turned. Well, forgive our poor pleadings,
Lord, and help us each now. We plead all these things for
Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. You are serviced by a singing
hymn number 22. The tune is Brimmington 309. When mourners stand and hear
me tell what beauties in my Saviour dwell, where he is gone they
fain would know that they may seek and love him too. O may
my spirit daily rise on wings of faith above the skies till
death shall make my last remove to dwell forever with my love. Hymn number 22. ? God keep your peace now ? ? For
there is peace in heaven ? ? God keep your peace now ? Where he is gone, they never
know. The way I see, they know me too. My lips will call, ready to speak
His Word. My lips will call, ready to speak His Word. ? And Jesus, precious is Your name
? ["Ode to Joy"] He lives on earth as mercy reigns,
And he is sure there's no more. He has a graceful promise now. Thou art nature, art my soul,
I live. I have a virgin in this heart. The death of which shall make
us part. It takes my soul, and I will
rest, ? And change the air ? ? It's cold,
it's dark ? ? And children suffer ? ? In the rain ? O say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the
bombs bursting in air, Pendant on the Lord for all needed
help. I would direct your prayer for
the attention to the chapter we read, the first epistle of
Paul to the Corinthians, chapter nine, and the last clause in
verse 24. The first of Corinthians, chapter
nine, the last clause in verse 24, so run. that ye may obtain. The first reads, Know ye not
that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the
prize? So run that ye may obtain. Paul writes to the church in
Corinth, Friends, it was a mixed church. There were many issues
in the church. There was much seeking of idolatry. There were many sins amongst
the people. There were many that sought to
have the pleasures of this world in one hand and their religion
in the other. And Paul in the first epistle
to the Corinthians wrote this letter to them concerning many
of those things that they were living in that were wrong and
bringing them as it were into church order. And in this particular
chapter you will perhaps have noticed in the reading that there
were many questions at the beginning where Paul really vindicates
his apostical character and his right to the maintenance from
the churches. And then he talks of the fervence
of the gospel, which of course he desired to preach. Now in Corinth, they would have
the games Rather like the Olympic games of course that started
in Olympus. They would have these games once
every three years and It was considered by those in the church
that if you like those that desire to walk closely to the Lord in
the church at Corinth That they would have nothing to do with
these because these races were times of when people would get
together with many festivals and festivities and idolization
and all these things. Man worship. Well, friends, we
see that in much sport today, but Paul uses this as an example
for those in the spiritual journey or in the spiritual race. And
Paul often uses those natural things to turn to spiritual things
and the pathway for the children of God. And so he says, know
ye not they which run in a race, run all, all of them run, but
there's just a prize for the winner. There's just a prize
for the first one over the line. Friends, we're thankful that
in spiritual things, it's not like that. That the prize, which
is that gift of eternal salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ
is to all of those that he has been given by his father, chosen
before the foundation of the earth. What a beautiful doctrine. It's a doctrine of election,
friends. And you know, it takes me back
to my school days when I had a lot to do in the sixth form
with two Christian believers in terms of nominality. And friends,
I believe I can say myself, perhaps nominality in those days. So
I stand no different to them, but they were free will believers. In a sense, they believed in
free will. We can do this. We can run. So run. We can run after the Lord. We
can go after the things of God. Friends, this is a command that
Paul mentions to the church, but it's a command that only
those where the work of the Lord Jesus Christ constrains them
to run. And we need to be so clear in
this as we come to this text, so run, we can't run. But each of his that he has chosen,
that he has loved with an everlasting love, they will be drawn. So run in this race so that they
may obtain the prize. And as I said, it's not just
the one that wins a race. in spiritual things, it's all
of those that are in the race, that are set in that race, running
towards the gift of salvation of the Lord. You see, where every
human being upon the earth is in the race for life, we have
these things called the race for life. We're all in the race
for life. We could say that the race is
that that is set before each one of us to live our life as
a race. And what is the race that the
world in wants? They want to earn more money,
they want to have more material goods, they want to do well,
they want to be liked of man and all these things. And then
what? What's the prize in the end?
How solemn friends, but the Lord's people. Friends, the Lord's dear
people don't think they're ever running. No, they think they're
almost going backwards in their religion. And the more the Lord
works in the soul, the more that he or she feels that they're
going backwards. Oh, and we feel, therefore, this
church needed it. And friends, dear friends, and
perhaps as a weak believer here tonight, you need this encouragement
to go on. So run. So run. Run on in faith. Run on in belief
as enabled by the Lord. Pray on that you will be given
strength to run on towards the prize, which is the gift of salvation. But we must be clear. It's so
beautiful in the Song of Solomon, you know, friends, that word
in the Song of Solomon has been upon my mind today. Well, we
know now why these things are. Draw me. Beautiful word draw
me we will run after they Draw me it's only those that are drawn
by a Savior's love and what the mercy is friends that work a
Conviction and I do know friends that it can be different in different
ways believers that not all are convicted first of all. Sometimes
it's the things of providence, the Lord starts to work in with
prayer over that and then he leads us into conviction of sin.
Sometimes he shows us himself and a little of his salvation
and then he shows us our sins afterwards. There's no set way
but I know this, each one that will get the prize will know
what it is to be a sinner before the Lord. They know what it is
to feel wretched, lost, undone. They know what it is to be vile.
And therefore, friends, but they will have been drawn to know
that the work of conviction. Oh, what a beautiful doctrine
is conviction of sin. Friends, we love it in our churches. If the truth is known, I hope
we do. I hope we love it personally.
We need it. That conviction work. Lord, I
am undone. Or as I had to confess once,
and I think I might've mentioned it before, but, you know, for
me, thou art the man. Sin hangs heavy upon us. But you know, friends, we may
think in the work of conviction, and perhaps there's a soul under
that tonight, or you've come into it again, because I believe
we talk often, you know, of the work of conviction as if it's
it's happened and then we have a hope raised up and maybe even
raised up to a full belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and then
but friends again we come back we need to be reconvicted can
I say and convicted time and time again of our sins. Here
on my heart the burden lies and past offences pain my eyes. Friends that if it pains your
eyes, those past offenses, those things you've got up to in your
youth, or even that you've got up to recently, friends, I mean
this rightly, but look at us, look how we live our lives. Far off from God, if we're honest,
but how beautiful that conviction work, we're running then, we're
already running. We don't think we are, but we're
running in his ways. We're not running in the ways
of the world anymore. He's turning us, turning us. Draw me. Now the question for
you and I tonight, friends, is this, have we been drawn? Because those that have been
drawn will be running after the Lord. They will desire him. I know it ebbs and flows. I know
we cannot give ourselves any of those graces, but we will
desire. to run, so run, so run, like
the runner in the race. And friends, you know, these
runners in these races that were held, as I say, every three years
for 10 months before the race, there would have to be that preparation. They would do training daily. They would work hard to be ready
for the race that they run in. Where are you in these things?
The preparation of the heart in man is of the Lord. It's his
work again. But again, to pray, Lord, prepare
me. Oh, you think 10 months preparation
to run in that race? You know, friends, we need preparing
to walk on, to run on in the way that the Lord will have us
to go. Draw me. Have we been drawn? You know that solemn account
of those two men that ran to David. Friends, we must be solemn. We can't come away from these
things. It often exercises my heart and it has a little of
late. We felt very tried about our ministry of late, friends.
And well, I'll be honest with you. If it had not been that
I'd had a message to encourage me this day in the ministry,
I don't know I could have come tonight. I felt last night my
work was done. And I am sure your dear pastor
often comes to that, but I was so tried and the enemy does try
us. And I had to plead to the Lord,
dear friends, that before I could go again, that I needed an encouragement
from him. Because friends, the enemy is
against us. And we find this in the ministry
and you'll find this in the faith. Woe is me if all men speak well
of us. And friends, it's hard sometimes
to bear the criticisms. And I want to speak rightly.
But Lord, I had to plead with the Lord that he would Give me
some encouragement today. And if I had it, that I was a
true sent servant, that I hadn't run, that I hadn't done an ahim
ahas, which we're going to come to, and not a cushai that had
the tidings. Friends, we do not wish to speak
much of ourselves, but just to say this, you know, early this
morning, the Lord constrained one to send me a message. Go
on. And I say to you poor soul, run
on. Perhaps you've hit a brick wall
in the way and you can't run on in the pathway of faith. Plead
to the Lord that he would help you to do the next step. Sometimes
it's, oh friends, you might read this and think, run? So run? I can't even take baby steps
in the faith. Ah, but friends, the power of
almighty God will help you. to run on. Well, David, you see,
the message came to David and that Absalom was, well, his son
Absalom had died and Cushite was told by Joab to go and tell
the king. And he ran, we read. But the other man said, let me
run. Friends, we don't want to be
like this in the faith. I know that we always I often
hear these two men talked of in terms of the ministry, and
that's how the exercise was with me. But with you, it's in the
faith, friends. We need to have the tidings from
the Lord. Not our own tidings, not our
own religion, not running in the way that we would go. How
solemn it is, because I'll tell you honestly, friends, there
is that when we get used to hearing the texts and the words, And
we know the language of our denomination. There is that, that we can run
with those things, and we haven't actually received them for ourselves. How solemn it is, how cutting
it is, friends, to realize that that is a crude religion that's
got to be taken away from us, even although it's the Word of
God. Because we've taken it, we've
stolen it for ourselves. How solemn, friends. And I cannot
but preach that which the Lord gives me. We find, you know,
dear old Mr Bradford, the first pastor I sat under, as you'll
know, he said, if you've had five blessings, one for each
of the fingers on one hand, he said, you're blessed. And you
know, friends, but we can, we can accrue these other things.
And I'm not putting anybody down. I would build you up if I could.
Friends, but I can't do that, only the Lord, but I'm praying,
I'm pleading this, that each of us would be certain that the
Lord has made us to run, and we haven't run ourselves. Oh,
we must be clear, AMA has said, he came with a message, he ran,
he outran the man that had been sent with the message. And friends,
perhaps you know some of those, Christians that are out running
you, you see them, they're blessed, they're favoured, you think.
You look on and see all the wonderment and they're out running you.
But are they? Are they? Oh, friends, to make our call
in an election, sure, personally. And so the watchman cried and
he ran and he outran, overran Kushai. Now it's a very interesting
thought, friends, but Kushai, as I understand it, was an Ethiopian.
You will know the Ethiopians can run very fast. He was outrun. God's will that he should be
outrun. He goes to the king and he says, all is well, says the
man who's not got the message, all is well. And that is what
the enemy wants us to feel in religion, all is well. To rest,
to settle down on all is well. Friends, we can't settle down,
you know, on these things. The Lord, if we're His, will
not let us settle down. So what does He do? He draws
us by His love. He makes us run in His ways,
in His commandments. Yes, oh, may we be, may we be
a cushai with the true message, the true tidings, the tidings
that the Lord has given us. Friends, and that's each of us,
you know, when we come to stand before him, it's such a solemn
thing, but you know, in the day of his power, we will run, we
will run. Yes, draw me, we will run after
thee. It's a beautiful word in the
Psalms, and it says, I will run the way of thy commandments,
when, and it goes on to say this, when thou shalt enlarge my heart,
When my heart is full of love to Thee, I will run. Oh, those
of you, perhaps where the Lord has worked in you, there's been
that conviction, there's been that real drawing power, and
you've had to run. Then will I tell to sinners round,
what a dear Saviour I found. Then, because there's that drawing
power. You know, I read an obituary
of James Hickman, Deacon at Carshorten Chapel And the dear man had such a deep
dark Time in his soul because he went to chapel friends and
every time the minister cut him down every time the word condemned
him and He was only a young man 18, I think but the work was
good. He didn't realize it he was in
the way and Because he had to be at chapel, yet he hated being
at chapel because the word condemned him. Everything condemned him.
Condemned as a sinner unclean, he stood. Yet he must be there. He must be there! Is that so
with you, poor soul? Sometimes you come in, you feel
condemned. All these things speak against
you, your sins and the wretchedness of your vile heart, your worldliness,
your lack of faith, your lack of belief in him, and you're
far off from God, and there it is, you come in and you have
to sit on your pew, in the pew, and you have to be ready to receive
the word, and you think, I'm so unready, Lord. And you know,
sometimes on those occasions, you go out the chapel, you're
running, because the Lord has blessed you. He blessed him there,
and in those very places where you feel it's impossible. Oh,
what a loving saviour we have, don't we? Those of us that are
in the way, but you see, and we hope we are, but you see,
friends, this dear man, I was coming on to it, he felt this. The last straw was when a man
spoke of hell and he spoke of that condemnation. He said this,
after death, the judgment, you know, we often hear that word,
but it went home to him. I'm going to be judged and I'm
not ready for it. He was running in the way, but
he didn't realise it. A few weeks later, heavily burned
as he entered the courts of God. Oh, by grace are ye saved through
faith. He said, I felt some warmth.
You know what that is? You feel a little warmth in the
service. And then he said, we ended up the hymn, rock of ages
left for me. Let me hide myself in thee. Oh, he said the warmth was there
and it led me to pray. He said, and I prayed over a fairly sleepless night. The next
day went to work and at lunchtime, oh friends, at lunchtime, he
said, I sat down and prayed before the Lord and the Lord appeared.
He said, I saw him. I saw him by faith on the cross. Oh friends, all he said, And
then he said it was like this, I must run, I must run and tell
the deacon, I must catch the bus after work, run and tell
the deacon. Yes, I must run in the way. Friends,
isn't it wonderful when we want to run after the Lord? There
is that enthusiasm in our heart. There is that zest for the things
of God. That is that desire that we enter
not into temptation. That is that desire to walk uprightly. Now coming back to that 10 months
preparation, During that 10-month preparation, these athletes,
even back in these days, they would work hard on their fitness,
they would work hard every single day to get as light as possible,
that they did not carry extra weight in running. Now, my friends,
there's a beautiful word, really, and you know it well, and I'm
sure some of you, it's already come to your mind, but that lovely
word, In Hebrews, wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so
great a cloud of witnesses, those that have gone before, those
that have already obtained the blessings in eternity. Let us
weigh, this is it, let us lay aside every weight and the sin
which does so easily beset us. And let us run with patience
the race that is set before us. Friends, it's the weights and
the sins And if you feel you're going slowly in the pathway,
friends, and I believe, as I said earlier, if you're a true believer,
you will think that. Oh, that's the way he brings
us. We feel it's one step forward and two back sometimes in the
faith, but I tell you, friends, you're running. You're running
and you don't realize it. Why? Because he's drawing you.
He's drawing you. Friends, you know, I don't speak
rightly, but the Lord's people, you know, they're like those
puppets on a string. They can't go off it. He's holding
them. He's drawing them with that love. Oh, something of the love that
was expressed in that beautiful first hymn that we sang. Solemn hymn, yet his love and
all the beloved you see is altogether lovely to those that are drawn
They see his beauty, they desire him because of the beauty that
he manifests. Well, seeing, let us lay aside
every weight. We don't want weights. Now the
weights are, I see there, the idols. The weights are the things
of this world that are clogging us up. Let us pray friends to
run this race without these weights, without all this clagness around
us. Now, friends, you might say,
well, I don't draw all that clag of worldliness. I don't have
all that clag of desire for the things of this life. Friends,
we're flesh, and flesh desires the things of this life. And
I do not feel, yes, we have different degrees of this, but we all have
that that we hanker after. We all have those idols, friends,
they've got to be gone, and the Lord will strip us off them gradually. Oh, how wonderful it is when
we hear of those souls that get near to their end and all they're
looking towards is eternity. Yes, the blessed work and drawing
power of God, but in the meantime, to lay aside every weight. Unbelief
is a weight. Friends, it clanks us down that
we don't believe in the Lord and we don't believe in his saving
power and his majesty and might. Unbelief is sure to err and scan
his work in vain. God is his own interpreter. He
will make it plain. And you see, and the sin which
does so easily beset us. And it's then that we run with
patience. Friends that's a 10 months preparation
before running one might say. Now it isn't 10 months but it's
the work of the Spirit in the conviction of sin and then the
reconviction of sin when we start to wander again into Bypass Meadow
to bring us back so that we're walking, running in the ways
towards the Lord and not towards the things of this world. You
and I in our heart with our wretchedness are rather like That woman of old. Don't know her name. Lot's wife.
She looked back. Oh, she came out. She came out. She was running in the way. Was
she? She came out. You've come out
from some of those things perhaps you've been involved in in the
past, but you look back at it. It's solemn, isn't it? Searching.
Word of God, you know, friends. It finds me out as I preach it.
Does it find you out? The discriminating word of God. Oh, put me amongst thy people,
Lord, that I might run in the way to follow thee and not to
follow and look back at the things of this life. Draw me, we will
run after thee. Yes, friends, I wonder. Wonderful case of running in
the Bible And it was that great sinner Mary Magdalene What a
sinner she was Seven devils cast out of her But the first day
of the week and it's yet dark Not easy to run in the dark.
Well, you know, there's much in that and the Lord's people
often They'll know what it is to be in the dark, but the Lord
will make them to run in the dark But how beautiful it was
that she came to that she runneth. When she saw the stone taken
away from the sepulchre, then she runneth. And she came to
Simon Peter. And they, and the disciple Jesus
loved John, we read they ran together. And they came to the
sepulchre. They came to see that Jesus,
they came to see a risen Christ. Friends, do we have an interest
in running to see a risen Christ? So run that ye may obtain. Run to seek Him. Seek ye first
the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness, and all these
other things will be added unto you. And I'm sure you've got
your other things tonight, friends, but to seek Him, so run. You know, friends, that man,
Deacon, many years ago at Jaiwa Chapel, Tenterton, In the 1880s, he died. I forget his name now. He was a farmer, but it doesn't
matter his name. But he had to go and hear Mr. Vinal, but he was just a man,
a farmer of the world. He didn't know God, he didn't
know religion, and he didn't have anything to do with church
or chapel, which was unusual in those days, because most people
went to a place of worship. He hated these things. One Sunday
afternoon, tending to his cattle. The Lord spoke two words into
his heart, go worship, go worship. And he had to go. And friends,
you know, he tried different churches, but in the end settled
at Mr. Vinal's church there at Gyre Chapel, tended to them. And the Lord worked in him and
the Lord showed him what a sinner he was, but go worship. That's
when he ran, friends. He didn't know anything of it,
but the Lord caused him to run. When did he start with you? When
did you run in the way? Oh, can you come? You know, there's
a hymn, it's coming in my mind. I run to meet my Lord, my soul
is all on fire. Oh, that warmth within, that
glow of love. Yes, and here's an air of heaven
that finds his bosom glow with love towards the Lord. Have you
known it, friends? You know, that's real, that's
the gospel when the Lord has revealed a little of his love
to us and it glows, we're overflowing with love. And when he opens
the windows of heaven and pours out a blessing such as there's
not room enough to receive it and we'll then go, I'll go for
all his paths of peace, help me to run in those paths, Lord. Yes, what a favorite it is that,
that the Lord draws in his people. He draws the chosen race by his
sweet, resistless grace. And, you know, we may feel we
can't run. We can't run. You know, I believe
we will feel it. I thought of that godly man,
Mephibosheth. He couldn't run, could he? The
nurse had dropped him when he was five, six years old, and
there he is. He's lame on both feet. My friends, that dear man. We read David, of course, but
David's heart was moved. Are there none of the House of
Jonathan that I can do this for? And of course, Mephibosheth was.
And so he gave him, and he ate, we read this, and he ate every
day at the king's table. And friends, so to obtain, to
obtain is for us to eat every day at the king's table in glory. That's if we're unable to run
the race, if we're helped through every part of the race. And friends,
it's not like these relay races where you hand on a baton, No,
we've got to run this race alone. And we've got to run that race
of death alone. And we've got to cross that river
running and shouting the triumphs of our King alone. Or we've got
to come to Him where He says, depart from me, I never knew
thee. That river, we must cross it, friends. But His will run to meet their
Lord. They will, you know. Oh, I know
that on a deathbed we can't literally run. This is metaphoric language,
but you'll understand it, friends. They that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings
as eagles. This, they shall run and not
be weary. Poor weary sinner tonight, and
maybe there's one. Weary of earth myself, and weary
of sin myself and earth. Dear Jesus, set me free. Yes,
had I the pinions of a dove, I'd fly away and be at rest. Yes, oh, friends, but they shall
run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Oh, friends, if there's one that
feels you're really struggling with your faith, with your belief
in these things, and the enemy calls, he doesn't want us to
run. He is the creator of obstacles. So although this race that they
would run was often without obstacles, it was a straight race in the
stadium there. We're in the stadium of life,
but the obstacles are in the way. And the enemy's putting
them in the way. And friends, your lack of faith
is putting them in the way. Obstacle after obstacle to overcome. Wow, friends, it's a beautiful
word. And Solomon says this, he says
about getting wisdom, which is the principle thing, but I've
taught thee in the way of wisdom, I've led thee in the right paths.
When thou goest, thy step shall not be straightened, that is
limited. And when thou runnest, this is
so beautiful, friends. When thou runnest, In the way
of wisdom, towards the Lord Jesus Christ, as helped by him, when
thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Oh friends, we think
we're gonna stumble, particularly if we're running towards one
that was, as it were, like the dear Mary that we spoke of in
the dark, when it was yet dark. Yes, a risen saviour. Well, this
obtaining, You see there was one prize, but what a prize there
is. The prize is mentioned a little
later. Everyone that striveth for the
mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible
crown, which of course was given to the winners in these races.
That which is corruptible, they would have some garland of flowers
or whatever put round their neck. But you see, we are incorruptible,
something that will live forever. That's incorruptible, that place
in heaven. Oh, that's what we desire to
obtain. To obtain, so run. A command,
a command here that Paul writes to the church, so run. Those
that are saved, that will know what it is to desire to run.
Friends, religion is desires, isn't it? to be drawn to run
in the race that leadeth unto life. What a mercy that there's
not just one. What a mercy, friends, that the
work is the Lord's from beginning to end. Whether it be the work
as it was for Paul, with thou quickest against the pricks,
and that work that was suddenly done, On the other hand, in the
name of the dying faith, you know, how beautiful was the salvation
of that dear man. Yes, friends. Well, oh, there's
that for us to take home and ponder. Know ye not that they
which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize?
So run, so run. That lovely word, so, it's really
important in this word. It's what they call a conjunction,
which means it conjoins with the earlier part of the text. But how beautiful it is so run. And poor sinner tonight, take
it home and plead it before the Lord. Help me Lord to so run
because I don't feel I can take another step in the journey of
faith. It's too hard for me. The way
is too hard. The way is all hedged up and
I know not how to proceed. So run, that ye may obtain."
Oh, and that day of obtaining. Friends, we can't begin to think
of the glories that are in heaven. Yes, the favors that eternally,
to drink that eternal bliss in. You know, we've had a touch here
below, to consider that for eternity. Yes, In my father's house are
many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go
and prepare a place for you, that place in eternity where
your soul and mine will dwell. May he help us to run on, that
we may get the prize. The Lord add his blessing. Amen. We conclude our service by singing
hymn number 511. The tune is Billing 849. In all my troubles and distress
the Lord my soul does own. Jehovah does my griefs redress
and make his mercy known. Tis he in trouble bears me up
and leads me safely through. My Jesus does maintain my cup
and daily strength renew. Hymn number 511. My troubles and distress, Null
or harsh, my sorrows alone, Gave her overdose, my priest redress,
and make it well, see now. He helps me on Him too, relying
He is my ? Strength and power ? ? Pity that is me ? ? When
I cry ? ? That manifest is power ? In every storm, in every sin,
my Jesus makes a way. This light shall make the darkness
flee, and turn the shade to day. Tis He in trouble, lift me up,
and lead me safely through. My Jesus died, Maintain my cup
and take me straight through you. Dear Lord, we do thank thee for
thy word. And we do pray that thou will
take us each home in peace and safety, and help us to ponder
these things, to remember the dear pastor, Lord of these people,
and bless him, we do pray, and bring him amongst them on the
coming Lord's day, we do plead. And Lord, do remember each one
in their concerns and cares, and help them to go on. Jesus
Christ, your Father, Son, Bid you, undismayed, go on. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you
all. Amen.