Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The most glorious of all
the prayers of the Lord Jesus, which are recorded for us in
the Bible, is found in John chapter 17, which begins with this, Father,
the hour has come. Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son
also may glorify Thee, as Thou hast given Him power over all
flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast
given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the
only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified
Thee on the earth. I have finished the work which
Thou gavest me to do." Here in the Garden of Gethsemane, as
he prayed, he poured out his soul unto death and sweared,
as it were, great drops of blood in the behalf of his people.
In the trading of that winepress, he committed himself once again
to his father, who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered
up prayers and supplications, was strong crying and tears unto
him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in
that he feared. Though he were a son, yet learned
he obedience by the things which he suffered, and being made perfect,
he became the author of eternal salvation unto all that obey
him. Though he was poured out like
molten wax, he thought upon those in whose behalf he suffered gladly,
praying, Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given
me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which
Thou hast given me, for Thou lovest me before the foundation
of the world. O righteous Father, the world
hath not known Thee, but I have known Thee. And these have known
that thou hast sent me, and I have declared unto them thy name,
and will declare it, that the love wherewith thou hast loved
me may be in them, and I in them. The absolute trust in God of
a man has never been more perfectly illustrated than in that commitment
of the Lord Jesus unto him who was all his trust. Nor has it
been shown any more clearly that he is the shield of him whose
trust has stayed upon the Father than when he poured out his life's
blood in the behalf of sinners and yet arose triumphant over
sin and death for those he came to save. For he received from
God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice
to him from the excellent glory. This is my beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased. And this voice came from heaven,
we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. O Israel,
trust thou in the Lord. In order to demonstrate His love
for a particular people, the Lord raised up the house of Israel
as a type and foreshadowing of that entire elect nation which
He loved from the beginning. That mystery which was hid from
the foundation of the world is now revealed, as the Lord has
declared His purpose to call out His sheep from every kindred,
tribe, and tongue upon the earth. even the mystery which hath been
hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his
saints, to whom God would make known what is the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory. That true Israel of God is now
revealed as those whom the Lord has called and calls to trust
in him. These are those for whom he ever
stood as their shield and buckler. For he is not a Jew which is
one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward
in the flesh. But he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision
is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter,
whose praise is not of men, but of God. O house of Aaron, trust
in the Lord. Aaron and his descendants were
appointed by the Lord to be the priest for the natural nation
of Israel. Yet that one who has come as the great high priest
over the house of God did not come after this order. These
earthly priests could not continue their priesthood by reason of
death, but Christ has come with an endless life and stands at
the right hand of the throne of the majesty on high, ever
living to make intercession for those that come unto God by him. Ye that fear the Lord, trust
in the Lord. He is their help and their shield. Well has the psalmist said, the
fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This is the work of
the Spirit of God in the sons of men, to cause them to tremble
before him. There are few who stand in awe
before the presence of the Lord, with a desire to magnify his
awful name, as Job who said, Though he slay me, yet will I
trust in him. The trust of the people of God
in him does not rest on a natural desire to be preserved, rather
the fact that he is their shield causes them to fall at his feet
in worship, powerless to do anything else. He is worthy to be praised. O people, saved by the Lord,
the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency. Is Christ your shield? For a
free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email
to forthepoor at windstream.net.