John the 7th chapter and I want us to consider the question that is found in verse 11. John chapter 7 and verse 11.

Then the Jews saw him at the feast. Now this was the Feast of Tabernacles. Everyone expected the Lord Jesus to be there. It was required in the Law of Moses that all the males of Israel come at this time to the house of God to worship God these seven days set apart to worship God and remember him.

And so the Lord Jesus was duty bound to be there as a man, as a Jew. And so he was expected at the Feast of Tabernacles. And the Jews sought him at the feast. And they said, where is he? Where is he?

Now, it's obvious that many sought him for many different reasons. In chapter 6 we find that they came and would have taken him by force and made him a king. Some sought him and wanted to make a king out of him. Some sought him because they hated him and wanted to kill him. Some sought him because they wanted to hear his doctrine. Some because they wanted to see his miracles. Many sought him because they were curious about him. They were just They were just curious. Everybody was abuzz with the name of Jesus of Nazareth. So much had been done by him, so much said by him, and so everybody was seeking him.

And there were a few in the crowd who sought him because they needed him. They sought him because they wanted him. I want us this evening to look at this question from several aspects, and I want to present it to you, I trust, by God's Spirit in a manner that it will be profitable for our meditation and for our hearts and souls as we attempt to seek our God in this world.

I hope you come here tonight seeking Christ. Come seeking him because you need him. Seeking him, desiring to hear his word, desiring to see his glory, desiring to worship him, desiring to obtain the mercy that only he can give.

I know this, whenever men and women have experienced the grace of God. Whenever men and women have come to experience God's grace, knowing their sin, and knowing something of God's grace and glory, they never cease to seek Him. This is what Elijah did when he picked up the mantle. After Elijah was taken up into glory and Elijah picked up his mantle, he went over and put it in the waters and said, where is the God of Elijah? Where is he?

In Job's time of great trial and heartache and trouble, in the midst of his groaning and heaviness of heart, he cried, O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even before his sake. And we've come together this evening in the name of Christ. I hope we come seeking him, seeking to find him.

I know this, there are appointed places where the Lord Jesus may be found by those who seek him with all their hearts. In other words, what I'm saying is this, if you really want to find him, if you really want to find him, there are places where you can find him, where he will be found of you if you seek him with all your heart.

Now let me first show you that this is a question that comes from many quarters. Lots of people throughout history have asked this question, where is he? Specifically, our text talks about these Jews, the majority of whom desired to take this man who they considered to be nothing but an imposter, and they wanted him crucified, they wanted him dead, they wanted him out of their midst, they wanted his name and memory forgotten.

But there have been many like the Jews throughout the days of Christianity who have asked the question, where is he? During the days of our Lord's earthly pilgrimage through this world, during his sojourn here, during the time of his humiliation as a man in this world, there were many who sought to know where he is because they hated him and desired to destroy him. And the same is true today.

You'll remember that King Herod said to the wise men, he said, God, now when you find him, when you find this This baby, this one whom you've come to worship, the King of the Jews, when you find him, come back this way and tell me where he is, and this is what he said, so I can go worship him. In a pretense of desiring to worship him, Herod desired to know where he is that he might kill him.

And there are multitudes just like Herod today as there have been throughout history. There have always been those like Herod who, in the pretense of worshiping him, in the pretense of calling on his name, in the pretense of being his servants, in the pretense of the name of Christianity, in the pretense of being those who truly desire the glory of God.

There are multitudes just like Herod who would destroy the Son of God if they could. You read in your history books the persecutions that were conducted by the Papists during the times of of terrible persecution throughout Europe and various parts of this world, the papacy sent out an edict in the name of Jesus Christ, an edict in the name of God, an edict in the name of God's glory and God's truth and God's kingdom to burn folks at stake. And that's, while that is a A terrible, terrible fact of history. Don't ever imagine that papacy has changed. It hasn't. The only thing that has changed is the face. Nothing else. And if it were possible, the Pope of Rome and Roman doctrine would yet eradicate from the face of this earth men like this one standing here talking to you and you folks sitting there.

But the papacy is not alone in this. There are many, many people We have raised up various forms of heresy in the world, the object of which is to destroy the worship of God, to destroy the name of Jesus Christ revealed in the gospel. Those who would pretend to worship God and yet promote free will, works, religion, the free willers, the work mongers of our society, of the religious age in which we live, are nothing on this earth but men and women who are determined to eradicate the name and worship of God as is revealed in the scripture.

People today think, well, we've got to somehow find a way to get along with everybody, and we've got a huge ecumenical umbrella, and even men who claim to believe the gospel of God's grace. Now, let's not be so judicious. Let's not be so hard-nosed about this thing. Let's get along. You can't walk together except you be agreed. Now, I'm telling you, if you are at heart one with those who worship the God of the freewheeler and the worksmonger, then go join up with them. Go join up with them in a hurry.

But I'm telling you, those who oppose the gospel of God's grace are not opposing the man who preaches it. They're opposing the God who reveals it. And that's the thing that must be declared in our generation. Someone called today and was talking to me about, you know, said, would you receive a freewheeler in your congregation? I said, I don't have that problem. I speak plainly and clearly so that there is a clear line of distinction between light and darkness. And to build an assembly where there's a mingling of light and darkness is to build confusion. We declare plainly and clearly.

That which is opposed to the gospel is not merely a difference of doctrinal opinion, it is a declaration of opposition to God himself and to Jesus Christ, while attempting to wear his name and wear his honor. And the swanders of false brethren, the Apostle Paul experienced much of it wherever he went, in Corinth, in Galatia, In Colossae, there was Thoth's brethren who came along. And because they despised Paul's doctrine, because they despised Paul's gospel, because they despised Paul's God, they came attacking Paul and accusing him of all kinds of evil.

Throughout history, there have been men and women just like these, who in the name of God, in a pretense of seeking God's honor, has sought to destroy the Lord Jesus Christ. And so they hunt him up. Where is he? Where is he? Infidels, who sneeringly deny our Lord's very existence, talk and deride his people, saying, where is he? Look in 2 Peter chapter 3. 2 Peter chapter 3. We'll look at it if you text here.

2 Peter 3, verse 3. You witness to folks and warn them of judgment, warn them of things to come, warn them of everlasting fire and damnation. And folks say, well, as it has been, so it is now. These fellas are scoffers, scoffers walking after their own lust and saying, verse four, where's the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Well, you speak of Christ coming? You speak of judgment? You speak of eternity? Where's the promise of his coming? Surely you don't believe those fairy tales. Surely you don't believe those things.

This is a question that sometimes is raised by trembling, fearful believers. Yes, God's saints are sometimes trembling. fearful, men and women. We oughtn't to be, but we are. Sometimes God's people are so overcome with trials and trouble, with heartaches and grief, that they question his presence, his power, his promises, his providence, and even his prevalence in their immediate circumstances. That's just that. While we talk We talk a good day, Larry. We talk about God's sovereignty and God's providence and God's power, but man, when the rubber hits the road, we tremble in fear. And in doing so, we question our God. Where is he? God, where are you now? Well, in this deep, dark valley, where are you?

You say, well, I don't believe a child of God would do that. Job was a perfect man, wasn't he? Was he a perfect man? One who was mature and upright? One who feared God and skewed evil? God said he was. This is what Job said. Behold, I go forward, but he's not there. And backward, but I can't perceive him. On the left hand, where he doth work, but I can't behold him. He hideth himself on the right hand, and I can't see him.

David, man after God's own heart. David, that man who walked with God in his day, as he may have ever walked with God. He said, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my Lord? We ought never to doubt our God and Savior. He's worthy of implicit trust. But we are very often like the disciples in their little boat. on the storm-tossed sea. And in our souls, while we may not say it with our lips, and oughtn't to say it with our lips any more than with our hearts, but in the depths of our souls we cry, Master, don't you care that we perish? Don't you care that we perish?

Penitent sinners humbly seek the Lord Jesus Christ, asking where is he? That they may come to him, confess their sin to him, and obtain mercy from him. If God speaks to your heart and makes you to know your sin and guilt before Christ, come seeking him, you'll find him.

The psalmist said, When thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I Isaiah writes, With my soul have I desired thee in the night, yea, with my spirit within me I will seek thee early, for when thy judgments are in the earth, the righteousness of the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

More than that, all who trust Christ seek him with all their hearts.

Turn to 2 Corinthians 5 for a moment. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. we often ask how to describe believers, how to identify them. Here's one thing by which you can identify them. Believers, legitimate folks, men and women who are born of God, believers are people who live in the pursuit of Jesus Christ. That's exactly right. Men live in the pursuit of a lot of things. Believers are many women who live in the pursuit of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Look here in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 9. Wherefore we labor, we labor, Paul speaks for himself and for all God's saints, we labor that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him. We don't take anything for granted. We don't live upon yesterday's goodness and yesterday's grace. We labor that whether present or absent from this body, we'll be accepted of Him.

Look in Philippians chapter 3. Philippians the third chapter. In this silly, presumptuous, carnal, fleshly religious society in which we live, and not just in America, literally all over the world, Men and women have got this thing called Christianity sewed up. They've got everything fixed up, and it's just one, two, three, this is all right, I'm ready to go, and it's all settled, and they've never given it another thought. It's not according to Scripture that men and women behave in such a manner.

Look in Philippians chapter 3. The apostle Paul speaks in verse 7. Now remember, This is a man who's been preaching the gospel for years. This is a man who's been an apostle of Christ for years. This is a man who's in prison and about to suffer death for the name of Christ. This is what he says. What things were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but done, that I may win Christ."

What? Don't you have it? Yeah, nope. I have it and he's mine, but I won't There is that, that I have desired it, and that is finally that I may have him in all his fullness, in all his glory, in the presence of his very glory, that I may have him.

Look at it. That I may be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know him. I want to know Him. I want to know the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His will, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."

You see what he's talking about? He's saying, I want to stay with this thing, I want to pursue Jesus Christ until at last I stand before Him in the perfection of His righteousness and His glory. Not as though I had already attained. I hadn't arrived yet. Either we're already perfect, but I follow after, I pursue, I hunt it down, I chase after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do, forgetting yesterday, forgetting those things which are behind. and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press, I press, I press to a demarch for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, forgetting the past.

I dare say, the greatest hindrance many women have in religion, the greatest hindrance many women have inside professed Christianity, the greatest hindrance men and women have within the church to keeping them from Christ, the greatest hindrance is this, they keep looking back. Their hopes on yesterday Their hope is what they experienced yesterday. Their hope is what they experienced as a little boy, a little girl, or in their youth, or in their early childhood, early adulthood. Their hope is this morning. Their hope is this afternoon, or tomorrow.

I forget what's behind and face for tomorrow. I keep my eyes fixed on Him because I'm determined to have it. Are you? In the pursuit of Christ? Those who love the Lord Jesus earnestly seek him. Will you turn one more time to the Song of Solomon? Song of Solomon chapter 3. It's been years since we studied this book. Perhaps before that I'll come back to it and we'll have another study through the Song of Solomon. Such a blessed, blessed book for it is a portrayal of the constant work of Christ preserving his bride, his church, you and I, whose hearts by nature constantly stray from him.

In the Song of Solomon, chapter 3, verse 3, the watchman that grew about the sweeter family to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? You see that? Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? Have you seen him? Tell me where he is. Tell me where he is. When he hides his face from us, we seek him, but when he comes near to us, we often neglect him.

In chapter 5, verse 2, I sleep, but my heart waketh. It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh sane open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled. For my head is filled with the dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. I put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I've washed my feet just like a father. My beloved put his hand in by the hold of the door, and my bowels were moved to him. I rose up to open to him, and my beloved and my hands dropped with the myrrh in my fingers, with the sweet-smelling myrrh upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone. And then my soul failed I sought him, but I couldn't find him. I called him, but he gave me no answer.

The watchman that went about the city, the preachers, God's servants, they found me, they smoked me. That is, they corrected and reproved me with the Word. They wounded me, the keepers of the walls. God's servants upon the walls of Zion took away my veil from me, exposed my guilt. The problem's not him, but you! I charge you, O you daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him, I'm sick of you, because I've got to help you.

When our beloved has withdrawn himself from us, and hides his face from us because of our sinful neglect of him, or our disobedience to him, Once we're made to bitterly lament our sin and his absence, we crave his return. Our hearts pine for communion with him. We ache. We ache for his manifest presence.

A man and woman who love one another dearly whatever reason, must be separated for a long time. Any woman whose lives are welded together is one. When they're separated for long periods of time, their hearts ache for one another. And I'm telling you that whenever the believer has his heart's sweet communion with the manifest presence of Christ taken from him for any time. His heart.

I was preparing this message, looking over my notes today and getting ready to preach to you. And the Lord gave me a hint. Y'all seen it Sunday morning. I won't be here, but you can pick up a bullet on your way out, take it home and you can prepare to try to worship God suddenly. Maybe this will kind of give you some direction.

Great Savior, Advocate with God, my only trust is in your blood. The virtue of your death impart, speak peace to this poor sinner's heart. Christ Jesus, sin-atoning Lamb, bearer of all my guilt and blame, Declare once more my sins forgiven and guide me safely on to heaven. Speak by your spirit through your word. Speak to my heart today, dear Lord. Return, O Prince of Peace, return, great Comforter of all who mourn. Return, O my beloved, return and make your gracious presence known. my straying heart by grace arrest, so shall my soul this day be blessed. So be him whom my soul loveth.

If you're able to get hold of him, if you're able in your closet to lay hold of him, will you tell him I'm sick of love, long for his cry for his return? The soul with thirst for Christ, longing to behold his glory, anxiously looking for his second coming, Christ, where is he? When we hear our Savior say, surely I come quickly, A.D., and our hearts respond, even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. When by his grace I look on his face, that will be glory.

All right, secondly, not only is this a question that comes from many quarters, let me give you an excerpt from the word of God. If we turn to the pages of Holy Scripture, we find that there are certain places where our Lord makes known himself to those who seek him. There are certain places where he has promised to meet with his people. Now I want you to look in the scriptures and listen. We won't look at all the various texts, let me quote them to you or read them to you. But in John chapter 1 verse 18, we'll begin there. John chapter 1 verse 18. This is where he is. The Lord Jesus Christ is right now where he has always been, in the bosom of the Father. Where is he? Well, he's one with the Father. He's in the bosom of the Father. No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father. Now remember, remember, the only begotten Son standing right here on this earth when this was written. The only begotten Son was standing right there whenever this was spoken, but the Son of God, while he stood there in human place, was still in the bosom of the Father. That's because he never ceased to be the omnipresent God.

Now, please understand this, when the Lord Jesus became a man, when He took upon Himself our nature, He did not in any way limit Himself, He did not in any way cease to be God or lay aside His divinity. He shrouded His glory, He shrouded the glory of His person in human flesh for a time, but He never made it aside. He never ceased to be God. He never stepped off the throne of universal dominion, but in eternal dignity He is one with the Father in His bosom.

Now, this is what it means. is one who dwells infinitely and everlastingly in eternal deity as one with the Father. And He who is our Savior is one who dwells infinitely from everlasting to all eternity in the immutable favor of His Father. Where is He? He's in the bosom of the Father. If you'd get to Him, you'd get to the Father. If you can get to His heart, you get to the Father's heart. If you can find favor with Him, you find favor with God. Where is He? He's in the center of heaven's globes.

I would encourage you to go home and read Revelation 4 and 5 again. Just take your Bible down and read them one more time. Let me give you a picture now of what you're going to see. You open up Revelation chapter 4, and John says, I saw a door open in heaven. And the Lord said, come up to them, and I saw a throne. That's the first thing you see when you get a picture of what's going on in heaven's glory. That's the first thing you see when you see the revelation of God in Christ. That's the first thing you see when you understand anything about who God is. A throne! A throne over everything. A throne ruling everybody. A throne set in heaven. And around the throne was a covenant. The rainbow, representing God's covenant, so as to say that everything that proceeds from that throne is done in accordance with that covenant made between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit before the world was for our eternal good.

And before that circle, rainbow, that bowl around the throne, are the four living creatures, I know there's some debate about that, and I won't argue with you, but I've got my opinion, and I think it's a pretty good opinion. Those four living creatures represent gospel preachers. Those men who are setting God's kingdom and his church to lead his people to the Lamb, and lead them in the worship of the Lamb. And the next circle around that wall is four and twenty seats, with four and twenty arrows Those elders, with their crowns, casting them before the thrones, saying, Thou art worthy to receive praise and honor and glory. These four and twenty elders represent the whole Church of God's elect, all of God's saints from all ages, gathered now into heaven's glory.

Right in the middle of it all is a lamb, rising up out of the midst of the throne. It takes the book of God's decree. And as he does, the whole host of heaven sings, as in one great chorus, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation, and hast made us priests and kings unto God. and all the creatures join, and everything that's in heaven, and in the earth, and under the earth, everything in the sea, and everything in the sky, angels, and beasts, and demons, all cry out, where is he? And give praise unto our God, who is revealed in the land. Where is he? For he is on the throne of universal dominion. The Lord Jesus Christ.

Oh, I wish I could, I wish by God's grace somehow, I get this half as well settled here as it is here. The Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Savior, sits in sovereign serenity upon the throne of total, total, total dominion over everything. That means onward nothing in the universe, nothing in heaven, nothing in earth, and nothing in hell wiggles without his decree. Nothing. That means that he governs everything absolutely. He sits on the throne. He died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living. Where is he? He's at the right hand of the majesty on high. in the place of representation and advocacy as our great High Priest.

The High Priest wore on his breastplate the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, and he wore a nameplate on his upper decedent holiness to the Lord. And our Lord Jesus Christ, in perfect represents the whole host of Israel, yonder upon the throne of glory, making intercession for the Israel of God, and I know their name. Their name's written on his breastplate. I see my name just as clearly, just as clearly as the noonday sun. Here it is. S-I-N-N-E-R. It wears my name, representing me. before God Almighty, making intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Saints in God's eyes, sinners in their own. Saints by God's decree and saints by God's choice, saints by God's work, but sinners by everything about themselves by nature. Who is he that condemns these who are themselves sinners, but saints in God's sight? Why, nobody can. It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh, constantly maketh, unceasingly maketh intercession for us.

The Lord Jesus Christ is on the throne of grace, dispensing mercy to helpless, guilty, needy sinners. Oh, I wish I could proclaim this to men in such a way they'd hear it. And they will, you will, if God will help you. The Son of God is right within the reach of every sinner who needs him. You need him, buddy? He's just that near. He's just that near. You can't mean that. Oh, I mean that. I mean that more clearly than I can possibly preach it. Jesus Christ is a God accessible to all who seek him.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore, because we have this high priest, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Thirdly, let me give you an answer of experienced faith. I'll tell you where I found it. I've been around a while now, and I don't mean to suggest by any means that I'm an example of believers, but I've experienced things. The faith God's given me is not Something happened yesterday. I've got a letter while I was gone last week. I haven't answered it yet. I've been waiting to kind of cool off a little. I was then converted for just a little while and 40, 40 stupid questions. Just stupid questions. And you'll probably get this statement. You'll know exactly who I'm talking to. I hope so. Just utterly stupid questions.

But as Joe Carroll said one time, he said, Preachers and Christians are like a big old red wasp. Oh, they're like a big red wasp. They're all just as big as they ever get when they're first born. And that's exactly right. That's what I've heard it be. I don't pretend to be very big. I do mean for you to understand, I've experienced the grace of God and I've been walking in this way of grace and faith for I sold 20, 28 years or more, and I know something about what I'm talking about.

I'll tell you where I found him, Bob. I found the Lord Jesus Christ at the mercy seat, in the closet of my own heart, when I've cried to him in secret prayer. He came to me. This is his promise we saw Sunday morning. It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer." I'll tell you exactly what that means, Rats. That means when there's such a burden on your heart, such a genuine spiritual burden on your heart, that you call on God in true prayer, God's already sending the answer. Because prayer's not something you work up. Prayer's not something you conjure up. Try it somehow. Just try. Listen to your voice echo up into the chambers of your heart. Just listen. Oh, but if God lets you pray. If God plants in your soul a burden, if God plants in your soul a need, then you can pray according to God's will, and before you speak the word, God sends the answer. While they're in the execution, I will hear.

I'll tell you where else to find it. find him in his word. Now, children of God, listen to me a minute. Listen to me. I know we're living in a society, we're living in a day when preachers want so much to be preached, and preachers are scared to death of folks worshiping God by themselves, and scared to death of folks getting in contact with God by themselves, and somehow we want everything to come through us. God forgive me if that's ever even implied.

Larry, when your heart is heavy, and your life is turned upside down, and your soul is wrung out, I want to tear your burden with you, but I can't find Christ for you. I can't do it. I can't do it. But I'll tell you what, whenever my heart is heavy, and wrung out within me and my soul is empty and my life's turned upside down, I have yet to look for him in his word and not find him. I have yet to search for him in the pages of scripture and not find him. You understand what I'm saying? You find him in his being, in his study, in his library, right here he is. Read his word and look for him. Look for him. When your heart's heavy.

Now, please don't listen to what I'm saying. My heart's open to you. This study's open to you. I want you to use me. I want you to let me carry your burdens. I want you to let me help you carry your loads. But when all's said and done, what you need is not Don Pertner. That's not what you need. What you need is to get in this book and lay hold of the Son of God. If you can get hold of him, you'll walk alright. You'll get through this thing alright. I found him in the assembly of the saints. Every time I've gathered with his saints, looking for him. That's the absolute truth. That's the absolute truth. I've gone to church many a time. and kind of had to pop my eyes open like I was holding them up with toothpicks to stay awake, and came in empty and went away empty. Came in hungry and went away hungry. But I wasn't looking for Him. I didn't come seeking Him. I can, I believe, I can say this honestly, I don't think I can remember a time where I ever came to the house of God seeking Christ for what I didn't find.

Will you bear me witness? that you ever come here desiring to worship him? I mean, not go through the motions, not say the words, desiring to meet with him, and not find him here. He promised, wherever two or three are gathered together in my name. And that doesn't mean wherever two or three folks got together and said, we're going to build us a church. No. Quite literally, this is what he's saying, wherever two or three have been gathered in my name have been gathered. I tell folks all the time, they call me one of them. So let's start a church and just wait and see if God does anything. Just see if God does anything. If God gathers a group of people, it'll work. It'll work. But if God doesn't gather them, nothing going to be done for God's glory or the good of his kingdom. Nothing.

But wherever two or three have been gathered together, oh God, gather us. I can't tell you how I pray before we come together every Tuesday, before we come together Sunday morning, Sunday night. Lord, gather tonight, gather today, such as you would have to hear this message and worship you. And wherever two or three are gathered in his name, he says, there am I in the midst of them. We come together at the Lord's table and he meets us and feeds us with the bread and with the wine. That bread and that wine is an insignificant morsel. an insignificant crumb unless he feeds us with himself. And then, Ron, it's a feast of that thing, of wine upon these well-refined, when he comes and feeds us with himself, the bread of life, and feeds us with himself, his blood being drink indeed for our souls.

I find him in the field of service, wherever he sends me. wherever he sends me. He sends us out, saying to you and I, his church and kingdom, building you therefore into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded you, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And, Lord, I'm with you always. I'm fixing to go to California long, fast trip, leave early in the morning, fly up there, start to preach, along about 9.30, 10 o'clock, you'll be nearly bedtime, because I've got to get up real early in the morning. But if God's in it, if God's in it, He'll direct the flight, He'll grant His servants the word of grace, He'll gather those who may not hear the word, and He will bring forth the fruit that He's determined to bring forth. He's with us whenever we seek to serve Him, generation after generation, day after day, hour after hour. He says, My grace is sufficient for thee. I am with you always, He says, in sympathy, to guide us, strengthen us, protect us, and to make our way prosperous and successful according to the will of God.

And I found Him in every fiery furnace of trials, in every den of persecution, in every storm of difficulty, in every river of woe to which I've been exposed in all these years. I've been a lot of places. I've seen a lot of things. I've known a few troubles along the way. But I have never been any place, in any circumstance, when I needed Him, but what I found Him, a God at hand. His name is Jehovah Shema. The Lord is there. Rejoice in the Lord, all they, if they and I say rejoice, let your moderation be known for all men, the Lord's at hand. He's at hand.

I was reading something by Thomas Watson yesterday. I forgot what it was now, but I remember distinctly the one statement he made. He said, tall, strong cedars only grow in deep, deep valleys. Lady called me today and was chatting with me about some difficulties her daughter's going through. as we pray for him, things I can't share with you, but good friend. And my response to her is this. It's best for us. It's best for us that we not live always on the mountaintop because you can't grow well there. It's best for us that we not always live in peace and prosperity. Your soul can't prosper there. It's best for us that we spend some time in the rivers of woe, in the lion's den of persecution, in the fiery furnace of affliction, in the deep valley of soul trouble. It's best for us. That's what causes us to seek him, Ron. What causes us to seek him? You raise your children, sons and daughters. You kind of miss it, but what you aim at is that they get out of the house and they never have to look to you for anything ever That's the option. Oh, I miss it. I do. I miss it. My daughter hadn't had to look to me for anything in a long, long time. I hope she never has to again. Much as I hate it, I hope she never has to again.

But listen to me. Listen carefully. Our Father raises his children so that the more we mature and grow in grace, the more we have to look to him for everything. And whatever it takes to keep us looking to him, that's best for us. We're so sinful, so carnal, so corrupt, so unbelieving, so unheavenly, so utterly worldly, that except when we need him, we won't seek him. That's just true. That's just true. So he sees to it that we need him. He sees to it.

Christ is always near us, always with us, and always in us. Now let me quickly show you that this question also is a matter of personal examination. I raise the question, where is he? And I ask you to settle this question. Is he in you? Is he in me? That's the issue. That's the issue.

Christ in you is the hope and Not Christ on your lips. Not Christ with your name under his on the membership roll at the church. Not Christ with your profession. Christ in you. In you.

A little girl asked her daddy one time, she said, Daddy, how big is Jesus? He said, well, honey, I don't know. Why do you ask? She said, well, if he's in me, wouldn't he stick out? And he said, I suspect he will. And if he's in you, you'll stick at it.

Is Christ alone? I mean Christ alone at the foundation of all your hope. What really, what really is your hope? I mean really. Don't answer me. Answer your own soul. What really, what is it really that gives me hope? Is Jesus Christ at the root of your joys? What really satisfies your soul? What really makes you happy? What really pleases you? What is it? Be honest with yourself. God helped you to be honest with yourself.

Is Jesus Christ the king on the throne of your heart? Who rules you? What rules you? Is his presence in you manifest in your spirit, your attitude, your words, your action? What kind of person are you?

I thought this was such a good illustration of what I'm trying to preach. There was a missionary in China years and years ago. I don't remember his name. And a Chinaman came to him shortly after he got into China. And this Chinaman said to him, he said, Sir, I would like for you to tell me how to become a Christian. And this struck the missionary as a little odd. He asked the Chinaman, he said, Have you ever heard anyone preach the gospel of Christ? And the Chinaman said, No, but I saw it.

A neighbor of mine was a man who was an utter rogue, a drunk, a swearer, a blasphemer. And one day He got what we all call religion. He called it Christianity. He's grown now, but that man was never the same. And I want what he had.

Is Christ in you? In you. Is Christ before you as the goal of your life, the hope of your soul, the end of your journey, the prize of heaven, toward whom you're pressing. What do you really want? I mean really. What do you really want? Really. That'll answer the question.

But he's in jail. I can't. I can't. As only you can, Spirit of God, answer this question for every heart here. Is Jesus Christ in me? And give us a heart to seek him.