week are God willing as follows. Mr. Paul Tyler will preach here next Lord's Day at 10.30 and 2 o'clock. Pastor will preach here on Thursday evening at 7 o'clock. There will be a prayer meeting here on Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock. Let us commence our services today by singing together hymn 126 The tune is Gerontius 150.

I'll speak the honours of my King, his form divinely fair. None of the sons of mortal race may with the Lord compare. Hymn 126, tune Gerontius 150. O speak the honours of my name. Peace on divine demand. That all the sons of mortal race May with the Lord forget.

It is thy spirit that manifesteth, that for thy people spread. Thy God with us in day, by night, has crowned thy sacred head. God of my soul, Victorious race, ride with majestic sway. Thy terrors shall strike through thy foes, And make the world a better place. God of grace shall prove. A gate was set for me in thy path, to rule my saints with love.

Justice and truth, at end they stay, or proceed by choice. Let us read together from the Holy Word of God. in the prophecy of Isaiah and chapter 13. Isaiah chapter 13. The burden of Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amos did see, lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them shake the hand that they may go into the gates of the nobles. I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.

The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together. The Lord of hosts mustereth the hosts of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation to destroy the whole land. Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand.

It shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt, and they shall be afraid. Pangs and sorrow shall take hold of them. They shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth. They shall be amazed one at another. Their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel, both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate, and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light. The sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause the light to shine. and I will punish the world with their evil, and the wicked with their iniquity, and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore, I will shake the heavens and the earth, shall remove out of her place in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in a day of his fierce anger.

And it shall be as the chaste roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up, they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee everyone into his own land. Everyone that is found shall be thrust through, and everyone that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword, Their children also shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes, their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. Behold, I will stir up the meads against them, which shall not regard silver, and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces, and that they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb, their eyes shall not spare children, and Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees, excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation, neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there, neither shall the shepherds make their fold there, but wild beasts of the desert shall lie there and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures and owls shall dwell there and satyrs shall dance there and the wild beast of the island shall cry in their desolate houses and dragons in their pleasant places and her time is near to come and her days shall not be prolonged.

May the Lord bless the reading of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit of real prayer. Almighty, most merciful and eternal God, we do desire to bow before thy holy majesty. We read in several places in thy holy word, Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which is an art, an art to come, the Lord Jehovah. O most gracious Lord, we would humble ourselves before Thee.

Thou art pure and holy and righteous altogether, but we are unholy. We are unrighteous. We are unclean. We are born in sin. We are shaped in iniquity. Therefore, we would humble ourselves before thee. And Lord, we realize that we cannot come in our own name, for all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. We are all as an unclean thing, but we do thank thee that we can come in the name of Jesus Christ, thine only begotten son, who was made of a woman made under the law, that he might redeem them that are under the law. We come to thee pleading his merits, pleading what he has done, pleading his righteousness, pleading his precious blood that cleanses from all sin, that reconciles unto God.

Gracious God, may we know that reconciling grace that is in Christ Jesus even this day. There were many, Lord, when he was here upon earth that pressed toward him to touch the hem of his garment, and that they might draw virtue from him. We pray that we may be enabled to draw near and touch the hem of Jesus' garment today by faith, and that we may draw from that sacred fullness that is in him, for he is full of grace and truth. We do thank thee that our Lord Jesus Christ is full of grace and truth, always full of grace and truth and undiminished supply just as you read of the prophet of old the barrel of meal shall not waste and the cruise of oil shall not fail until the lord's then rain upon the earth lord we we do pray for the forgiveness then of all our sins and of all our wanderings and of all our backslidings we have to confess as the the Apostle did of old, that which I would I do not, and that which I would not I do. I find a law within my members that when I would do good, then evil is present with me.

Lord, we come and seek that this day thou wouldst grant us relief in that battle. Thou hast exhorted us in thy word to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold eternal life we pray for grace to lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset us and that we might run with patience the race that is set before us looking on to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith so Lord we come in his precious name we we do thank thee for our Lord Jesus Christ what we do thank thee for that wonderful provision of our heavenly father god so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should be saved we pray that we might know that salvation today and we pray to be led of the spirit of god for as many as are led by the spirit of god they are the sons of god We pray that we may be led and taught by the blessed Holy Spirit of truth.

We pray that the word of truth today may be with divine power, that it may be sealed into our hearts. Just as the dear apostle could say, our gospel came unto you not in word only, but in power, in the Holy Ghost and with much assurance. We pray that it may be so today. that may be that sacred assurance of truth in our hearts. Lord, we do pray that thou would remember us as a church, as a congregation and work mightily, powerfully and effectually among us.

Bring our sons from far and our daughters from the ends of the earth and grant that we might know that divine drawing, leading, thy favour, even as we gather round the Word. None come except the Father draw. We pray that we may know those sacred drawings of our Heavenly Father, drawing us unto His Son, Jesus Christ. That thou hast said in thy Word, I will draw thee with the cords of a man, with the bands of love, and we pray that we may have that faith that worketh by love, Love to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, remember our brethren, the deacons, and graciously bless them. Give wisdom and guidance and direction in all matters. Remember any in affliction and trouble and trial. We do pray thee that thou wouldst be Jehovah Rophi. I am the Lord that healeth thee. May we know thy healing mercies in body and in soul.

We pray that thou wouldst remember the little ones and the children. We thank thee for them and pray that thou wouldst bless them, and that thou wouldst graciously grant that the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, may be given to the dear children. We pray for our young friends, that thou wouldst bless each one of them, that thou wouldst guide and direct them in all matters. that thou would bring them 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. We pray most gracious Lord that thou would graciously remember the prodigals that have wandered away and stretch out thy almighty arm and cause them to be in want and to return, just as the prodigal of old, I will go to my father's house. Lord, do so bless us, Lord. We think of Naomi when they went down into the land of Moab. But Lord, thou didst graciously bring her back with her daughter-in-law, Ruth. And gracious God, thou art able to do the same in the day in which we live.

Lord we we pray that I was remember all in the midst of the journey of life graciously undertake for each one who knows the burdens of concerns we would remember parents that they may be given wisdom to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and that we may be good examples unto our children we do humbly beseech the We pray, most gracious God, that thou in thy precious mercy would deliver us from temptation, the temptations of this world, and that thou would deliver us from the temptations of Satan, sometimes coming as an angel of light to deceive us, and sometimes coming as a roaring lion to devour us, We pray to be delivered from his power and from his influence.

We pray that we may lay hold of that hope that is set before us in the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We pray that where there are those that are in darkness, they may be given light. Those that are in bondage may be given liberty. Those that are far off, may they be made nigh.

Oh, do hear us, Lord, we humbly pray thee, and graciously bless us. And Lord, we pray for those of us that are now in the evening time of life's journey. Remember us with the favour that they'll bear us unto thy people. Visit us with thy great salvation. Lord, we pray to be prepared for that great day. when heart and flesh shall fail, when we shall soar through tracks unknown and see thee on thy judgment throne. Lord, we pray to be graciously prepared for that great day. Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst remember this village and the surrounding villages and hamlets and send out the glory and light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that many precious souls may yet be gathered in, that there may be a rebuilding, a renewing, and a reviving.

Lord, do hear us, we humbly beseech thee. Lord Jesus, thou didst say, men are always to pray and not to fain, and we pray for that grace to pray and not to fain. And Lord, we do pray for all thy servants as they labour in word and doctrine upon the walls of Zion today, that thou would grant that fresh anointing of thy Holy Spirit, and that there may be signs to follow the preaching of the word, and that thou would return unto Jerusalem with mercies, and may bear thine holy arm in the gospel, and that these strongholds of Satan may be pulled down and the kingdom of our Lord Jesus set up in the hearts of sinners. Lord, there is nothing too hard for Thee. Indeed, Thou art able to do abundantly more than we can even ask or think.

We pray Thee, the great Lord of the harvest, to yet send labourers into the harvest, that we may see a rebuilding and a renewing. We pray for those that at this time serving three months with a view to the pastorate, that thou wouldst graciously grant thy divine guidance and direction in these matters and grant the settlement of pastors among the churches. Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst graciously remember those that go forth from among us, that minister the truth of the gospel, many different places upon the earth. We think of Thy servant, Ian Sadler, and that great work that he does in so many countries.

And in the orphanage he runs, we pray that Thou wouldst graciously supply his every need and grant encouragement to continue in this work and labor of love. In the distribution of Thy holy word, and the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember thy servants in the Mombasa Mission in Kenya and grant, Lord, that they may see an abundant harvest in due season. Remember the Savannah Education Trust in Ghana. We pray that thou wouldst be with them and supply their needs. that it may be to the building up of thy church in that place, we do humbly beseech of thee. Lord, remember our nation.

We have sadly fallen, and the spirit of Antichrist is so prevalent in the day in which we live, and the powers of the evil one are so clearly seen in the day in which we live. We pray for our leaders, that they may be given wisdom and guidance and direction. We're exhorted in thy word to pray for all in authority over us, and we would seek so to do, and that thou would guide and direct those that lead us. And Lord, we pray that thou in thy great mercy would hear prayer for our King, and for the royal household that those rich blessings of thy grace may be seen there.

O do hear us, Lord, we humbly beseech thee. We thank thee. We thank thee for our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank thee for the incarnation of the Son of God. We thank thee for the bringing in of everlasting righteousness in his holy life. The law has been fulfilled and honoured and magnified. everlasting righteousness has been brought in in that precious life of Jesus Christ. We thank thee for that holy sacrifice of the cross of Calvary, the precious blood of Jesus that was shed and that sin has been put away and divine justice has been satisfied and God and sinners are reconciled. We thank thee that he died for our sins and rose again for our justification, has now bodily ascended into heaven, and we have a great high priest who is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God.

O gracious God, fill our hearts with gratitude. We thank Thee for every mercy of Thy kind providence, and for all Thy goodness that has passed before us in the world. We thank Thee for the throne of grace, where we can unburden our hearts to Thee. Come now, Lord, and touch one's lips with a live coal from off the heavenly altar. Come and open the word of truth. Make up a giving where we do so fail in asking, as we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Let us now sing together hymn number 756. The tune is Tudor 252. Exceeding precious is my Lord, his love divinely free, and his dear name does health afford to sickly souls like me. Hymn 756, tune Tudor, 252. Sing in praise to God still, our God, praise to Him, our God.

♪ And His Spirit was filled with hope ♪ ♪ To save its own son again ♪ ♪ He came to the fields ♪ ♪ And praises to the Lord ♪ ♪ In praise of His holy name ♪ O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, ♪ And in excelling host for you ♪ ♪ Yes, praise the Savior. ♪ ♪ Amen. ♪ O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, ♪ Hush me, my soul, and be kind ♪ ♪ When I'm grinding in the fields ♪ ♪ And my lips make so hollow strides ♪ Greatly feeling to need the Lord's gracious help, I'll direct your attention to the chapter that we read, the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 13 and we will read verse 12 for our text. Isaiah chapter 13 verse 12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold Even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir In this verse It is the glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ I will make a man more precious than Figo.

Before we come specifically to the text we need to just look at the context and the solemn judgments that were prophesied against the Babylonian kingdom and how that the Lord would destroy that kingdom it's very helpful to look at things in context Babylon was in what is present-day Iraq and one of the great ambitions of Saddam Hussein was to rebuild the Babylonian Kingdom and that is what he was so ambitious to do But you will notice in the latter part of this chapter, it says in Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees, Excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

It shall never be inhabited. So what Saddam Hussein was trying to do, he would never accomplish. Because God has said in his word, it shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. You see the solemn judgments of God against the Babylonian kingdom. And in these two chapters, 13 and 14, it speaks of the destruction of the Babylonian kingdom.

God had decreed it. We must never forget, my beloved friends, that God is God over all, blessed forevermore. We read in Revelation chapter 19, hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigning. The word omnipotent means universal and complete power. And God has universal and complete power. He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. He's the eternal God. He ever has been, he ever will be. He's the creator God.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void. And we read that God spoke and the earth was created. I think it's in the first chapter of Genesis, 11 times we read, and God said, and God said, and when God spoke, something was done. He's the eternal God, he's the almighty God, he sustains the very universe. The Apostle in the Acts of the Apostles when he was speaking on Mars Hill in Athens and he said in him we live and move and have our being in this great God We read in the word of God, it is he that has made us and not we ourselves.

He's the glorious creator of the heavens and of the earth. It says in verse 11, the previous verse of our text, and I will punish the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity. And I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease. and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

This is God. God that rules all things, God that knows all things, God that sees all things, God that understands all things. We read in Proverbs chapter 8, rather in Psalm 145, His understanding is infinite. The word infinite means without measure, without parameters. He's an infinite being. He's the only true God, the Almighty. Or that we could have clearer views of just who this great God is. That made the heavens and the earth.

And you know, apart from the destruction of Babylon There is the salvation of the Lord's people In the beginning of Chapter 14 it says that for the Lord will have mercy on Jacob Of course is the children of Israel and will yet choose Israel And set them in their own land and the strangers shall be joined with them.

You see the Lord's blessing upon his people But then it goes on in verse 4 that thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon and say how hath the oppressor ceased the golden city ceased when the Medes and the Persians overran the great city of Babylon it was reckoned that the walls were so great it was impregnable but the armies of the Medes and Persians, the river, a great river ran around the back of the city of Babylon.

So therefore an army couldn't take the city, whichever way they came at it. And it was a very powerful kingdom and considered to be an impregnable city, which was the seat of the kings of Babylon. But you know, when the Lord's time had come that Babylon should cease, as it was under Nebuchadnezzar and the kings that followed, he gave the generals of the Medes and Persians the wisdom, the understanding that they rerouted the river and so they entered into the back of the city. where it was not defended because it was believed an army could never get over the river. And that is how the Medes and Persians in one night overran the kingdom, the great city of Babylon.

You see, because it was the Lord's time. The Lord had prophesied here in the prophecy of Isaiah, hundreds of years before, how the King Cyrus would be on the throne in Babylon. Of course, Cyrus being the great king of the Medes and the Persians, he was the one that facilitated the return of the children of Israel from Babylonian captivity to the land of Israel.

You see, when the Lord's people have need, his goodness will find out a way. He will make the crooked things straight. He'll make the rough places plain. nothing can stand in God's way nothing not the mightiest kings of the earth can stand in the way of the great God the almighty God and you know we should remember that some people worry because of wars etc well of course we all worry you think of the terrible war in Ukraine at this time and the tens of thousands that have been launched from time into eternity and many wonder whatever's going to happen but never forget God is in control God sits upon the throne and as we find in so many places in holy scripture we find buried underneath all these great solemn judgments that the Lord would bring upon the kingdom of Babylon we find a message concerning how satan came about in the 14th chapter verse 9 how from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming it stirreth up the dead for thee even all the chief ones of the earth it has raised up their thrones all the kings of the nations all they that speak and say unto thee Art thou also become weak as we are?

Art thou become like unto us? In a sense, it's speaking of the Babylonian kings, but it's far deeper than that. It goes on to say, though pomp is brought down to the grave and the noise of thy vials, the worm is spread under thee and the worms cover thee.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer? Lucifer was an archangel. he was to become satan oh lucifer son of the morning that's the meaning of the word lucifer son of the morning how art thou cut down to the ground which did weaken the nations for thou has said in thine heart this is giving us a little insight into that war that was in heaven when satan was cast out of heaven for thou has said in thine heart This is the devil. He sought to usurp authority over God. He sought to sit in the throne of God.

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven. I'll exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north. I will send above the heights of the clouds or be like the most high.

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell. the sides of the pit they that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee and consider saying this is the man that made the earth to tremble and it did shake the kingdoms you see whereas in what you might say the first point of the prophecy concerns the king of babylon there's no doubt there's a meaning there but then couched beneath it is the fall of satan from heaven and you know this is amplified in the book of the revelation and in chapter 12 where it speaks there of the fall of satan and it speaks there of how the fall of satan came about and we read in the epistle of the first epistle of john concerning that the lord jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.

Just look at Revelation 12, and there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of 12 stars. That's the Old Testament church, 12 stars representing the 12 tribes of the children of Israel. And the one thing that the Old Testament church was looking for was the coming of Jesus Christ, the coming of the Messiah. and she being with child that's travailing for child travailing for the bringing forth of christ travailing in birth and pain to be delivered and there appeared another wonder in heaven and behold a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven this is satan and it cast them the earth and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child as soon as it was delivered that's the coming of christ we know how herod sought to slay the little babe jesus because he saw one that would rule and she brought forth a man child that's jesus christ was to rule all nations with a rod of iron and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne and the woman now this is the New Testament church and the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand three hundred and three score days now we have a little insight as it were and there was war in heaven Michael that is the archangel Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon fought and his angels and prevailed not.

What a mercy.

He prevailed not. Neither was there place found anymore in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceived the whole world. He was cast out into the earth. and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice, and this shows us how he was cast out of heaven. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ.

For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night, and they overcame him. This is the children of God. They overcame Satan. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto death. And then we are given a little light here. Therefore rejoice ye heavens and ye that dwell in them.

Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. See the dragon was cast down to the earth and then it speaks of the Lord preserving the woman which is the church of God on the earth. You see these things are written my beloved friends for our instruction concerning the truth of God and in the scriptures we have these two great powers. We have the power of God which is called the kingdom of light and we have the power of Satan which is called the kingdom of darkness.

But here we have revealed we so often find in the prophecies that you'll find some quite obscure prophecies that you can't really work out exactly who it's referring to Then in the middle of it, you have a verse like we have here. And it's the glorious person of Jesus Christ that shines out of the page of Holy Scripture.

I will make a man more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. More precious than fine gold. Obviously, Gold is a very precious, very valuable commodity and it's comparing gold here with the Lord Jesus Christ more precious than fine gold. There was obviously a golden wedge of offer and apparently a very pure gold so it made that golden wedge exceedingly precious. exceedingly valuable. But what we have here, even the gold, we have a man more precious than vinyl. What makes the man Christ Jesus so precious?

The Jews believed that this was a messianic prophecy. And it certainly is. I will make a man more precious than fine gold. We read in the epistle of Peter, unto you that believe therefore he is precious. That is the Lord Jesus Christ. Unto you that believe therefore he is precious. That's something that we need to ask, is Christ precious to you? Is he precious to you? Is he very desirable to you? Do you long to lay hold of Jesus Christ? Do you long to know the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you long to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Jesus said in John chapter 10, my sheep, they know my voice and they follow me, and a stranger will they not follow. Do you know the voice of Jesus? We read in Solomon's song, my beloved spake and said unto me, you see, my beloved spake. Do you know the voice of Jesus?

It's a mercy if you do. It's a very precious voice to hear. He speaks to his own children. David, he knew the value of that voice in the book of Psalms, and he said, be not silent unto me, O God, lest if thou be silent unto me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Be not silent unto me, O God.

Do you know the preciousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter, he speaks of the preciousness of the blood of Christ in the first chapter of his first epistle. And he says in verse 18, for as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, for you.

You see, unto you that believe therefore, that's found in the second chapter of the first epistle of Peter. and it says in verse 6 in the second chapter, wherefore also it is contained in scripture, behold I lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be condemned. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious. But unto them which be disobedient, the stone which a builder has disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, a stone of stumbling, a rock of offence even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient whereunto they were also appointed.

You see, what the peculiar characteristic of a child of God is that Christ is precious. I know I've often told you but it made a great impression on me. I remember hearing Mr Wood, the late Mr Wood preaching and he was quoting this text unto you that believe therefore he is precious and he quoted this scripture what God hath joined together let not man put asunder you say what does he mean when he was speaking of believing and precious what God has joined together and he put it this way and I thought it was very beautiful he said some of the Lord's people their faith isn't that strong and if you were to say are you a believer they would say well I hope so but he said if he was to say to that person is Christ precious they would say yes he said they may not be able to affirmatively say that Christ was there that they are real believers When you put the question the other way, is Christ precious? He said, so he put it this way, if you're a believer, Christ will be precious. If Christ is precious, you're a believer.

They're joined together. Is Christ precious? It's a very vital question. John Newton in one of his hymns, he speaks of the preciousness of Christ. what think ye of Christ is a test and this is true of all vital real religion what think ye of Christ is a test in the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospels the Lord Jesus he sometimes quite vividly sets before us the truth of God and the value of the human soul and in Matthew chapter 16 he speaks there to the I believe it was a rich man and he gives a comparison if a man should gain the whole world and lose his own soul it would be utterly contempt we're living for eternity when we depart this life we launch into eternity and some will speak of what is called the doctrine of annihilation and they will say that there's nothing after death that when we die that's it it's the finish but you know the scriptures are very very clear we are going to one of two places heaven or hell.

And it's the true believers in Jesus Christ that go to heaven. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. It's a unique way, the way of truth. But if we're out of Christ, we must be lost. The Lord Jesus is exceedingly clear in his teachings. It says in the verse 24 of Matthew 16, then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me let him deny himself. Look at that, we have to deny ourselves. let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here that shall not taste of death till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

You see, my beloved friends, what shall a man give? What is a man profited? we set our hearts and things on we have an ambitions in our career and perhaps we want to get our own business perhaps we want to do this and that's all we think about just the things of this life but what the Lord Jesus so graphically sets before us there's something far more important than the things of this life of course we need to work and there's nothing wrong with ambition but don't forget that you have an immortal soul don't forget as the word of God says it as it is appointed unto man once to die so after death the judgment once to die and after death the judgment the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ and you know the Lord Jesus again it's in Matthew In chapter 25 so clearly set before us the day of judgment Matthew 25 verse 31 when the son of man shall come in the glory of in his glory and all the holy angels with him then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and Before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as the shepherd divided his sheep from the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left hand.

What's the difference between the goats and the sheep? Well we know you can look, you've only got to look at a goat and a sheep and they're very distinctly different. And in this illustration that the Lord gives us, see the goats are those that are going to eternal damnation. The sheep are those that were born again of the Spirit and brought to living faith in Jesus Christ and became followers of him.

Then shall the King, that's Jesus Christ, say unto them on his right hand, come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Come ye blessed of my Father. know what a blessed sacred word that is to hear the eternal god say to a poor sinner come be blessed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared to you from the foundation of the world and then it says then shall he say also unto them on the left hand that of course is the goats depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Great clarity in holy scripture concerning eternity. And surely just as he says to the sheep on his right hand, come you blessed of my father, that there is no more blessed a word that he can speak to a poor sinner. but surely there is not a more terrible and awful word that a poor sinner can hear depart from me he cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels depart from me and then in the conclusion of the chapter it says and these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into eternal life.

And when we are brought to realize this by the inward power and teaching of the Holy Ghost, when we're brought to realize that we're a sinner, and when we're brought to realize that Jesus is the only savior of sinners, you think of the words of Jesus, I come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repent. sinners can say and none but they how precious is the savior see the preciousness of christ when you realize your lost condition when you realize that you're a sinner when you realize that eternity is before you when you realize that that there is a day of judgment and that we must all appear at the judgment seat of jesus christ and then then the Holy Spirit reveals to you Jesus Christ and makes him so precious to you.

I will make a man more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir, more precious. You know, this morning, just before I came out, I was thinking and looking at that a beautiful word in Solomon's Song, chapter 5, where the spouse gives a most beautiful description of our Lord Jesus Christ. And I was thinking of it relative to the text, a man more precious.

And she says, my beloved is white. Remember, this is Hebrew poetry. My beloved is white. So poetry uses metaphors. Illustrations, my beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among 10,000. That's what makes him so precious. He's white, he's holy. We read of Jesus Christ, he did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. He speaks of the righteousness of Christ, my beloved is white. It's like the hymn writer says, my hope is built on nothing left. than Jesus' blood and righteousness. We just read in Peter, the precious blood of Christ. Why is it precious? Because it cleanses from all sin. Because it reconciles unto God. Because it brings peace into the conscience. Because it raises up a hope in the finished work of Jesus Christ. My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold. Gold represents divinity.

Jesus Christ is not just a man. He's not just a good man. He's not just a righteous man. He's the God-man. He's the eternal Son of God that was manifest in the flesh. That's what makes him so precious. That's what makes him so precious. That's what makes his his precious blood so precious because it was pure and holy it's that precious blood of Christ that shut the gates of hell against the believer and opened the gates of heaven that's why it's so precious because he's the son of God because the value of that holy sacrifice that was offered on the cross of Calvary when he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and the chastisement of our peace was upon him.

His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters washed with milk and fitly set. The eyes of Jesus. The eyes of love. Eyes of compassion. Divine love, divine compassion. when Peter denied his Lord and Master with oaths and with curses we read that the Lord Jesus in the judgment hall turned and looked when he denied him before men you know friends that look of Christ to Peter wasn't a look of anger it wasn't a look of judgment it was a look of compassion his eyes are as dove's eyes, they're pure, they're holy. Eyes of compassion.

And we read that concerning Peter that he went out and wet bitterly. That look, that look of love. His cheeks as beds of spices as sweet flowers, his lips like lilies dropping sweet smelling myrrh. You see, looking into the face of Jesus Christ, His cheeks are as beds of spices, as sweet flowers. His eyes like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. Myrrh in this metaphorical sense, in this poetry, means love.

It's everlasting love. It's eternal love. He's loved us from before the foundation of the world. In Jeremiah chapter 31, We read, yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. Oh, the love of Christ to sinners. It is. They're loved with an everlasting love. It's an eternal love. It's an unchanging love. It's an almighty love.

And this is what makes it so precious. This is what makes Christ so precious. A man shall be more precious than God. His hands are his gold rings, again gold representing divinity in this metaphorical sense in this poetry. Gold rings, just think of a ring. It has no beginning, it has no ending.

And that is why it so beautifully represents the love of Christ. The love of Christ is an eternal love. It's an almighty love. It's a love that has no beginning and no ending. love thee with an everlasting love and then that wonderful evidence it gives there therefore with loving kindness have i drawn thee do you feel drawn to christ it says in hosea i will draw them with the cords of a man with the bands of love the man is the man christ jesus the eternal son of god that was manifest in the flesh i will draw them None come except the Father draw.

You know, involved in the salvation of the Lord's people. It is the eternal love of the Father, the eternal love of the Son, and the eternal love of the Holy Ghost. These three are one. One blesses the very center of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is in the trinity of persons. It is in that eternal love of God the Father. God so loved the world. He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall be saved. It's eternal love, it's almighty love, it's precious love.

It says here in Solomon's Song, his legs, this is speaking of Christ, his legs are as pillars of marble. Marble represents strength and stability. And then it says, set upon sockets of fine gold divinity you see this is the this is why he's so precious and this he's the rock of ages you probably know that augustus top lady he wrote the hymn rock of ages when he was riding up through the cheddar gorge on his horse and there there was a great thunderstorm and so he went and hit into a cleft under the rocks and he shouted from the thunderstorm and it was while he was shouting beneath in the cleft of that rock that the lines of those hymns formed in his mind.

Rock of ages cleft for me. He saw Christ in that cleft. Rock of ages cleft for me. Let me hide myself in thee. Let the water and the blood from thy riven side which flowed, be of sin a double cure, cleanse me from its guilt and power. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold. And then in the last verse, it says, yea, he is altogether lovely.

It's almost as if the spouse, when she's speaking of her beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ, She comes to a point where she's not able to express the fullness and the worth of Jesus Christ. None of us can. We know him part, and he is precious to us, but we know him part. But when we reach heaven, we shall know him as he is.

I will make a man more precious than fine gold even a man and the golden wedge of offer all the preciousness you know there is a preciousness in that holy life of jesus christ because in that holy life of jesus christ the law is fulfilled and everlasting righteousness is brought in for the lord's people And it's absolutely unique, there's none other like it. And it will clothe the Church of God in that glorious, when by faith they come to Jesus Christ, they receive that perfect obedience of Christ, the righteousness of Christ. So precious is the righteousness of Christ.

I shall never forget an occasion when Christ was made so precious to me when I was in a great trial. I was about my daily work and the Lord drew near and so blessed my soul. But it was a verse of a hymn that really expressed the feelings of my heart at that time. I'm blessed, I'm blessed, forever blessed.

My rags are gone and I am dressed in garments white as snow. clothed in the everlasting righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. His perfect obedience. The Apostle says, you are complete in Him. We're made righteous in Him. How precious is that righteousness? And how precious are the sufferings of Christ? The cross of Christ? reality that he was wounded for our transgressions when when you have a view by faith of the cross of christ and you see that jesus suffered and bled and died for your sins that will make him exceedingly precious unto you that blood that he shed no other blood like that blood you might say why because it was holy it was pure and it's the blood of the son of god It says the church of God which hath purchased with his own blood. Then how precious it is the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

On the third day he rose again. He rose again for our justification. He left our sins in the grave. And he arose. And to be justified is to be declared to be without sin. Why? Because Jesus left our sins in the grave. When he rose from the dead, he died for our sins, he rose again for our justification.

This is what makes him so precious. He's made a new and living way. You see, he led the disciples out as far as Antipathene, he lifted up his hands and blessed them, and he was received, that is, Jesus was received bodily into heaven. He's made a new and living way into the holy place. Such an high priest have we who is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the son of God. I will make a man more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

May the Lord add his blessing. Let us now sing together hymn number 174. The tune is Caries, 314. Jesus is precious, says the word. What comfort does this truth afford? And those who in his name believe, with joy this precious truth receive. Hymn 174, tune Caries, 314. O come, O come, all ye faithful joyful and triumphant O come, O come, all ye faithful joyful and triumphant Alleluia, it's the same feeling, With joy, it's a precious truth we see.

To God be praise, O precious power, And life, and hope, each powerful star. O precious lamb that I have given, O precious lamb at the price of my life, ♪ Of health, of health, of soundly pain ♪ ♪ Nor earth's deceit, but heaven's deep pain ♪ With all its hope and all its strength Can peace, earth and heaven Dispatch the sin which perpetures love, Of the weak and so perilous in love. ♪ His precious name beside justice ♪ ♪ And evermore sleep heavenly rest ♪ In every promise He each abstains, In every victory He gains, Every countenance of His head, It's precious to His people still. O say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's And where an angel can be found, there then, It's precious honour to have you.

In holy morning light be found, And with thy precious blessing round Joy the heavens o'er Bethlehem adore, The precious bridegroom 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. Thank you. So this is with... to resist within.