,,the ,,one ,,great ,,reality ,by ,,louisa ,,clayton ,author of ,heart ,lessons1 ,loving ,messages1 ,winning and ,warning1 ,wilderness ,lessons1 etc4 ,i ,,am ,,god1 ,,and ,,there ,,is ,,none ,,else-- ,isa4 xiv4 #bb4 ,,this ,,book ,,is ,,dedicated to all my friends in ,rusthall1 in loving remembrance of our happy fellowship in the gospel during the past thirty years1 with the earnest prayer that the messages may be stored up in their hearts and bring forth fruit in their lives when the voice which delivered them is still4 #c1 ,somerville ,gardens1 ,tunbridge ,wells4 ,,foreword ,in response to the request of an old and esteemed friend ,i gladly add a ,foreword to the collection of ,addresses embodied in this volume4 ,i do so in recognition of the supreme importance of the great topics that have been chosen1 and also in appreciation of the clear and attractive way in which the truth is set forth4 ,may the messages find attentive and receptive readers1 and be followed by deep and abiding spiritual blessing4 ,,evan ,h4 ,,hopkins4 ,woburn ,chase1 ,addlestone1 ,surrey4 ,,contents ,i ,,god1 ,,the ,,great ,,reality ,,ii ,,god1 ,,our ,,father ,,iii ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god ,,iv ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,god ,v ,,the ,,voice ,,of ,,god ,,vi ,,the ,,hands ,,of ,,god ,,vii ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,god ,,viii ,,have ,,faith ,,in ,,god ,,ix ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,god ,x ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,god ,,index ,,of ,,contents ,,address ,i ,,god1 ,,the ,,great ,,reality ,personal knowledge of ,god1 the secret of happiness--,realising ,his ,presence in prayer--,illustrations from the telephone and family life--,god is our ,father1 ,saviour1 ,comforter--,the ,living ,god-knowing all1 and controlling everything--,illustrations from current events4 ,,address ,,ii ,,god1 ,,our ,,father ,a ,chinese convert--,christ's confidence in the ,father--,christ reveals the ,father--,philip's prayer1 ,show us the ,father--,what ,god is to us as ,father--,how the minister sang the ,doxology in an empty flour barrel--,the glorious calling of the children of ,god4 ,,address ,,iii ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god ,christ is the ,son of ,god from ,eternity--,he is sent to be the ,saviour of the world--,three questions answered3 ,where did ,he come from8 ,when did ,he come8 ,why did ,he come8--,a working-man's experience--,the story of the pearl necklace--,christ's work of redemption--,sir ,james ,simpson's dying testimony--,hymn1 ,he came and took me by the hand4 ,,address ,,iv ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,god ,god is a ,spirit--,true spiritual worship--,the ,spirit of ,god in ,creation and ,salvation--,the ,new ,birth--,the work of the ,holy ,spirit convincing of sin1 and revealing ,christ--,searchlights--,the loveliness of ,christ--,the ,holy ,ghost like a ,mother--,the ,comforter4 ,,address ,v ,,the ,,voice ,,of ,,god ,jacob's ladder1 a type of ,christ--,jacob brought face to face with ,god--,what it is to hear the ,voice of ,god--,god's first call to man in the ,garden of ,eden--,a perfect link of communication between ,god and man--,the ,voice of ,god speaking in ,his ,word4 ,,address ,,vi ,,the ,,hands ,,of ,,god ,why ,st4 ,john wrote his ,gospel--,the safety of the believer--,god's hands in ,creation1 ,providence and ,redemption--,the ,scarred ,hands--,the story of a brave shepherd lad--,the ,hands of ,jesus wounded for our transgressions--,the ,three ,crosses4 ,,address ,,vii ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,god ,the ,glory of ,god seen in ,nature--,the ,glory of ,god revealed in the ,bible--,the dying woman and her rich inheritance--,god's ,word brings wisdom1 conversion1 joy and light to the heart of man--,spurgeon's text in the ,crystal ,palace--,a ,chinese convert behaving the ,bible--,the ,torch that will light you home--,a neglected ,bible4 ,,address ,,viii ,,have ,,faith ,,in ,,god ,abraham the ,friend of ,god--,the greatness of his faith--,faith the gate into ,life--,faith the link between the sinner and the ,saviour--,a missionary's faith rewarded--,illustrations from the telegraph and electricity--,the wonders wrought by the touch of faith--,great faith brings ,heaven into our souls--,the difference between believing and committing4 ,,address ,,ix ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,god ,the ,church of ,god3 ,past1 ,present1 ,future--,its ,beginning and ,growth--,the ,church the ,body of ,christ1 a ,living ,union--,the ,church the ,bride of ,christ1 a ,loving ,relationship--,the ,glory of this ,union--,three ,great ,surprises--,the ,old ,man's ,message2 ,love1 ,eternal ,love--,the ,four ,precious ,words--,labelled and ,ready--,the ,glorious ,future of the ,church of ,god--,the ,church will show forth ,god's ,grace and ,glory in the ,ages to come4 ,,address ,x ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,god ,bringing the ,king back--,one ,king1 ,jesus1 ,his entrance into ,jerusalem--,the ,jews rejecting their ,king--,his ,kingdom in our hearts--,make ,jesus ,king--,the ,cross the ,way to the ,throne--,the dying thief received into the ,kingdom--,the ,king's ,victory over the ,powers of ,darkness--,the ,coming ,king--,the ,glory of the ,lord revealed--,christ's ,reign on ,earth--,rutherford's testimony--,miss ,havergal's ,prayer--,the ,eternal ,kingdom4 ,,address ,i ,,god1 ,,the ,,great ,,reality ,,portion ,,of ,,scripture--,hebrews xi4 #a-f4 ,god is the one great ,reality4 ,will you close your eyes for a moment and say those words over again very slowly so as to let them burn into your inmost heart and soul4 ,the ,word of ,god tells us that ,the ,son of ,god is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know ,him that is true3 this means that we may personally know ,him that is ,reality4 ,in the wonder of that moment when we first know that ,god is real and that ,god is near1 then we cry out1 ,my ,god1 how wonderful ,thou art4 ,to have personal knowledge of ,god is the secret of assurance and happiness1 and to put real trust in ,him changes our whole life1 for then we can say1 ,i have a wonderful ,god4 ,to know ,god is ,eternal life2 to know ,him fully1 brings life more abundantly2 to know ,him with no veil between1 is glory--life4 ,if you look again at the #fth verse of the #aath chapter of ,hebrews you will notice a very clear statement3 it says1 ,he that cometh to ,god must believe that ,he is1 or to put it in other words1 the man who draws near to ,god must believe that there is a ,god4 ,do you believe in ,god8 ,is ,he real to you8 ,here is one test4 ,when you pray do you realise ,his ,presence8 ,is ,he so close to you that it is like speaking into ,his ear8 ,it was this text1 ,he that cometh to ,god must believe that ,he is1 which first awakened a worldly gentleman named ,brownlow ,north to think about his soul4 ,god's ,spirit showed him that he had never really believed in ,god and that all his former religion was worthless1 for without faith it is impossible to please ,god4 ,as soon as he had really learnt to know ,god1 he devoted all his life to preaching the ,gospel4 ,he told every one that the first thing we need is to believe there is a ,god4 ,many of his friends who were rich and well educated were thus brought to a personal knowledge of ,god for the first time4 ,he that cometh to ,god must believe that ,he is really there4 ,have you ever been conscious of the ,presence of the living ,god8 ,you must make sure that ,he is near before you can really pray4 ,we have an illustration of this in the telephone4 ,you first put the speaking tube to your mouth and then you say ,are you there8 ,in any case you make sure that the person to whom you wish to speak1 is listening at the other end4 ,although you cannot see any one1 you know he is holding the receiver so as to hear what you say4 ,when you begin to pray always pause for a moment and remember that you are speaking to ,god4 ,do not say a word until the ,holy ,spirit puts you into direct communication with ,god4 ,the ,psalmist was quite sure that ,god was really listening to his prayer1 for he says1 ,i love the ,lord because ,he hath heard my voice and my supplications4 ,because ,he hath inclined ,his ear unto me therefore will ,i call upon ,him as long as ,i live4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxvi4 #a1 #b4 ,and again1 ,i cried unto ,god with my voice1 even unto ,god with my voice1 and ,he gave ear unto me4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 lxxvii4 #a4 ,it is in this way we realise that there is a ,god1 a personal living ,god4 ,i asked a ,christian man one day if he had prayed about some work which was offered to him1 and his reply was1 ,yes3 ,i am on the telephone4 ,can you say the same8 ,as soon as you have spoken through the telephone you put the receiver to your ear to listen for the answer4 ,many people pray without expecting to get an answer4 ,they are like children who knock at a door and then run away before it is opened4 ,the prophet ,micah says1 ,i will wait for ,god1 my ,god will answer me4 ,footnote3 ,mic4 vii4 #g4 ,yes1 he expected to get an answer4 ,the ,lord ,jesus says1 ,when thou prayest1 enter into thy closet1 and when thou hast shut the door1 pray to thy ,father which is in secret4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 vi4 #f4 ,when a child wants to tell his father something very private he whispers it in his ear4 ,i daresay you have noticed that the telephone at the ,general ,post ,office is enclosed in a box1 so that no one can overhear what is said4 ,there are many things we say into ,god's ear which we could not tell to any one else4 ,it makes ,him very real to us1 if we can say in our inmost hearts1 ,o ,god1 ,thou art my ,god1 my very own ,father4 ,when we speak through the telephone we never say useless words1 and our ,lord tells us to avoid needless repetitions when we pray1 and ,he adds1 for your ,father knows what things you need before ever you ask ,him4 ,just as an earthly father delights to hear his children's1 voices1 so our heavenly ,father loves to hear us speaking to ,him1 for ,he says1 ,put ,me in remembrance1 let us plead together4 ,footnote3 ,isa4 xliii4 #bf4 ,a child's intercourse with his father is quite simple and natural1 he talks freely about everything4 ,when you speak to ,god1 is it an effort1 or do you look up into ,his face with confidence and tell ,him all8 ,a child expects his father to supply all his wants and to be equal to every emergency1 but we seem to have lost sight of the ,father in heaven who is pledged to supply all our need according to ,his riches in glory by ,christ ,jesus4 ,footnote3 ,phil4 iv4 #ac4 ,we must not be disappointed if we do not get all we want1 because ,god's promise is to supply what we need4 ,we often wish for things which we do not really need4 ,if ever you lose sight of ,god1 think of the wonderful lesson which ,jesus teaches when ,he says1 ,if ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children1 and you1 fathers1 always get the best you can for them1 how much more 7wonderful words71 how much more shall your ,father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask ,him4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 vii4 #aa4 ,have you ever heard ,god's voice saying to you1 ,i am your ,father2 love ,me1 look to ,me1 trust ,me1 worship ,me3 ,open thy mouth wide and ,i will fill it4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 lxxxi4 #aj4 ,a godly man who was a servant used to say1 ,there is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with ,god4 ,he felt that ,god was nearer and dearer to him than any one else4 ,this is what makes ,god real to us when we feel that ,he is near and dear4 ,only to sit and think of ,god1 ,oh6 what a joy it is6 ,it is just the same with your children if you are a really good1 loving father1 they are quite happy if they can sit close to you4 ,your very presence makes a great impression on them1 even if you do not say a word4 ,is ,god's presence so real to you that it makes you control your temper and keeps you from saying unkind things8 ,a boy may be troublesome sometimes1 but he never really doubts his father's love for him4 ,do you ever doubt ,god's love8 ,oh1 yes3 you say1 ,i often murmur4 ,then this shows that in a sense you have never really known ,god4 ,people would not speak as they do about ,god1 ,i mean even ,christians would not talk as they do if they really knew ,god4 ,we often hear people say1 ,i hope ,god will be good to us1 or1 ,i think it very hard ,god does not answer my prayer4 ,this shows they have never personally known ,him4 ,their thoughts about ,god are so contrary to what they sing4 ,for example1 how much do we really mean of that sweet hymn-- ,precious thought--my ,father knoweth1 ,in ,his love ,i rest2 ,for whate'er my ,father doeth4 ,must be always best4 ,well ,i know the heart that planneth ,nought but good for me2 ,joy and sorrow interwoven1 ,love in all ,i see4 ,do you ever doubt ,his wisdom and think you might have been treated better8 ,when we really know our ,father-,god1 then we see ,his wisdom even in the things that are against us4 ,we know and we feel that they have all been working together for our good1 for ,he knows all4 ,this ,book in my hand is ,the ,word of ,god4 ,it is a revelation of ,god1 and the glory of ,god ,himself shines in every page4 ,the first word in it is1 ,in the beginning ,god4 ,perhaps you ask me1 ,who is ,god8 ,i will tell you4 ,he is my ,father4 ,but you say1 ,i am so sinful1 ,i am not worthy to be called ,his son4 ,that is just what ,i felt1 so sinful1 and then ,he revealed ,himself to me as my ,saviour4 ,ah6 you say1 but ,i am so far off1 how can ,i find my way to ,him8 ,and that was just like me till the ,holy ,spirit led me to ,him4 ,when ,god reveals ,himself to you as ,father1 ,saviour1 ,comforter1 then you will know that ,god ,himself is dwelling in your heart4 ,perhaps you ask1 ,will ,god really come and dwell in me for ,i am so unworthy8 ,god ,himself answers that question2 ,thus saith the high and lofty ,one that inhabiteth eternity1 whose name is ,holy2 ,i dwell in the high and holy place1 with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit1 to revive the spirit of the humble1 and to revive the heart of the contrite ones4 ,footnote3 ,isa4 lvii4 #ae4 ,every one is standing now in view of ,god and ,eternity4 ,a very long time ago the question was asked1 ,canst thou by searching find out ,god8 ,footnote3 ,job xi4 #g4 ,the only way we can find ,him is by our spiritual necessities4 ,if your soul needs life1 you will find ,him4 ,if your spirit needs reviving1 you will find ,him4 ,as this text says1 ,i come to revive the heart of the contrite ones4 ,when your children talk about their ,father1 he is a real ,person to them2 that is what ,god wants to be to us1 a real personal ,god4 ,he says1 ,i will be to them a ,god4 ,footnote3 ,heb4 viii4 #aj4 ,i know a little boy who whispered to his aunt one night when she was giving him the goodnight kiss1 ,oh1 ,auntie1 ,i sometimes wonder whether there is a ,god4 ,are you quite sure8 ,yes1 said the aunt very earnestly1 ,i am quite sure4 ,you see1 ,i have known ,him so long and ,he is so much to me1 ,i am quite sure4 ,the child was satisfied4 ,if you will turn again to ,psalm cxvi4 you will see a wonderful unfolding of the secret feelings of ,david's heart1 and as we read it we cannot help saying to ourselves1 the man who wrote this experience had very close dealings with some ,one about his soul4 ,who is this ,some ,one8 ,do you know8 ,perhaps you think your religion is good enough to take you to heaven when you die1 but alas6 it begins and ends with the ,unknown ,god4 ,how different to ,david's experience when he says out of a full heart1 ,i love the ,lord1 or as the word means1 ,i am full of love1 and then he tells of his confidence in ,god2 ,i believed1 therefore ,i have spoken1 as if he had said1 ,god is so real to me now1 ,i must tell others2 and he adds1 ,i will walk before the ,lord in the land of the living4 ,we can walk with ,god in our daily life just as ,enoch did4 ,a good man said a short time ago1 ,if ever ,i pass any one in the street with a careworn1 anxious face1 ,i long to say to them1 ,there is ,god1 ,have faith in ,god4 ,st4 ,john said1 ,we have known and believed the love that ,god hath to us and in us--,god is love4 ,footnote3 #a ,john iv4 #af4 ,this is the central fact1 the one great reality in life1 and when once it is grasped there is nothing to compare with it4 ,why is there so much unrest1 so much ungodliness1 and lawlessness in our midst8 ,we are forgetting ,god4 ,the only remedy is coming back to ,god4 ,a poor woman who has been a ,christian for many years was telling me about her mother's sudden death the week before1 and then she added1 ,i have never known ,god as ,i do now4 ,the future used to look so dark1 but now that ,i know ,him as the ,living ,god1 ,i can only see life4 ,i cannot tell you what ,he is to me4 ,her face1 which bore traces of her recent sorrow1 shone with a new peace and a new joy1 which made me rejoice4 ,i was sure that ,god had revealed ,himself to her in her time of need4 ,those precious words had come true in her case1 ,in that hour ,jesus rejoiced in spirit and said1 ,i thank ,thee1 ,o ,father1 ,lord of heaven and earth1 that ,thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes2 even so1 ,father1 for so it seemed good in ,thy sight4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,luke x4 #ba4 ,are you saying1 ,my soul thirsteth for ,god1 for the ,living ,god8 ,then you will have a ,personal revelation of ,god ,himself1 for that is the only way the life of ,god can enter into your soul and mine4 ,are you longing to find ,god8 ,it is not that we find ,him1 but that ,he finds us1 making ,himself to us the great ,reality4 ,we may know wonderful things about ,him1 but that is not enough4 ,we must really know ,him in our hearts6 ,the very longing which you have for this personal revelation of ,god comes from the loving ,father ,himself1 and ,he says1 ,i will give them a heart to know ,me3 ,footnote3 ,jer4 xxiv4 #g4 so we need never think1 ah6 it is beyond me1 for ,he promises to give us the heart to know ,him4 ,i had a striking instance of this some years ago4 ,a working man who could not read or write told me that he had been converted at our meeting4 ,he died in the ,union ,infirmary1 and ,i heard afterwards that he had been a blessing to many in the ward4 ,he said to me one day1 ,i want to tell you what ,god is to me4 ,in very simple words he described how he could see it all plainly4 ,how in the beginning1 sin came into the ,garden of ,eden and then ,god revealed ,himself to the sinner so as to bring him back to ,himself4 ,again and again his simple testimony was1 ,i must tell every one what ,god is to me4 ,this man had learnt to know ,god personally through his own need as a sinner1 so it is not by earthly education that we find ,god1 but through the ,holy ,spirit's teaching1 and then in the ,word ,he reveals ,himself more fully4 ,it is through the knowledge of ,god and of ,jesus our ,lord that grace and peace are multiplied to us1 ,footnote3 #b ,pet4 i4 #b4 so if we have not more and more grace and peace coming into our souls it is because we do not really know ,god4 ,it makes all the difference in our life when we can say1 ,god is now my living ,father2 for it means ,god in ,his infinite love has taken my life into ,his1 and by this personal link of love ,i take ,his life into mine4 ,when ,he assures us that ,he is the ,living ,god1 it means that ,he lives and cares for us4 ,all things1 great and small1 are under ,his control4 ,we have an illustration of this in the present war4 ,think of our ,navy1 scattered over seven oceans1 yet all under the control of the ,commander-in-,chief1 ,sir ,john ,jellicoe4 ,not one vessel can move without his orders1 no ship can be attacked without his knowledge2 the wireless apparatus is at work night and day communicating every detail4 ,it brings ,sir ,john word of any submarine sighted1 or of any movement in all the seas round our country1 and it carries his orders far and near4 ,when ,god tells us that ,he is the living ,god1 we know that ,he cares for us in the same way as a mother cares for her children4 ,we had a touching illustration of this about a year ago4 ,do you remember how we were thrilled with horror when the ,archduke ,francis ,ferdinand1 heir to the throne of ,austria1 was shot while driving through the city8 ,he expired in a few minutes1 leaving three children4 ,in those few moments he turned to his wife who was seated by his side and said these pathetic words1 ,sophie1 live for our children4 ,he did not know that she too had been mortally wounded and would be powerless to care for their orphan children4 ,it is because our ,father-,god is the living ,god1 that ,he can say to us to-day just as ,he said to the ,old ,testament saints1 ,i am living for you1 caring for you1 protecting you4 ,even to your old age ,i am ,he2 and even to hoar hairs will ,i carry you3 ,i have made and ,i will bear1 even ,i will carry and will deliver you4 ,footnote3 ,isa4 xlvi4 #d4 ,when ,he says to you1 ,i am ,god and there is none else1 ,footnote #b3 ,isa4 xlv4 #bb4 does your heart answer1 ,yes3 ,even from everlasting to everlasting ,thou art ,god4 ,footnote #c3 ,ps4 xc4 #b4 ,,address ,,ii ,,god ,,our ,,father ,,portion ,,of ,,scripture--,matthew vii #bd-cd4 ,in the chapter we have just read there is a great deal about our daily home life1 and the word ,father is mentioned twelve times1 so it shows that ,god knows all about the everyday work4 ,it is a grand thing when we find this out4 ,a poor woman in ,china was converted1 and very soon the lady missionary who visited her noticed that now her house was very clean and tidy1 and told her how glad she was to see it4 ,the woman smiled1 and said in her own simple way1 ,you see my ,father ,god and the ,lord ,jesus are constantly coming in and out1 so ,i like to keep it nice4 ,she realised the ,presence of ,god4 ,the eyes of the ,lord are in every place4 ,footnote3 ,prov4 xv4 #c4 ,if we do not find ,god everywhere we practically end by finding ,him nowhere4 ,a busy ,christian mother told me that she begins each day and lives all the day long saying in her heart1 ,in ,thy ,presence and by ,thy ,power4 ,we must not only say it1 but act upon it as a reality1 and then it will be our daily experience to be in touch with ,god4 ,there was one word which was very precious to ,christ and which was often on ,his lips1 and that was ,father4 ,you remember how ,he stood one day at the grave of ,his friend ,lazarus4 ,all the mourners were standing round ,him4 ,lazarus had been dead four days4 ,it seemed utterly impossible that he could be restored to life again4 ,no one expected it4 ,what did ,jesus do8 ,jesus lifted up ,his eyes and said ',father4' ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xi4 #da4 ,those eyes were still wet with tears1 for a few verses before we read ,jesus wept4 ,then ,he lifted up ,his eyes and said ,father3 that was enough4 ,there is everything in that word4 ,it just meant1 ,i have told ,father all about it4 ,he knows1 ,he loves1 ,he cares1 and all things are possible with ,him4 ,there is no limit to ,his power and ,his love4 ,then the command was given to those standing near--,take ye away the stone4 ,was ,christ going into the cave8 ,no1 the dead man was to come out4 ,so we have first the wondrous name ,father1 and then the loud cry1 ,lazarus1 come forth1 and he that was dead came out of the cold grave'1 out of the region of death into the land of the living4 ,all through ,his life on earth our ,lord always speaks to ,god as ,father4 ,one verse especially brings out the perfect intimacy1 the perfect confidence1 the perfect love between the ,lord ,jesus and the ,father4 ,jesus says1 ,all things are delivered unto ,me of ,my ,father1 and no man knoweth the ,son but the ,father2 neither knoweth any man the ,father save the ,son and he to whomsoever the ,son will reveal ,him4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 xi #bg4 ,the last words of this verse are very precious1 for they show that not only has the ,son perfect knowledge of the ,father1 but ,he reveals or makes known the ,father so that you and ,i may know ,him as our ,father4 ,you remember ,philip prayed1 ,lord1 show us the ,father1 that is what we want1 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xiv4 #h4 and ,christ answered1 ,he who has seen ,me has seen the ,father4 ,yes1 ,he is the image of the invisible ,god4 ,god said to ,moses1 ,thou canst not see ,my ,face and live for there shall no man see me and live1 ,footnote3 ,exod4 xxxiii4 #bj4 and for hundreds of years no one saw ,god4 ,then came the wondrous gift and the wondrous revelation4 ,god gave ,his only ,begotten ,son1 and in ,him we see the ,father4 ,praise the ,lord6 the glorious light has come to us in our darkness4 ,for ,god1 who commanded the light to shine out of darkness1 hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,footnote3 ,cor4 iv4 #f4 ,the ,apostle ,john says1 ,we beheld ,his glory1 the glory as of the only begotten of the ,father1 full of grace and truth4 ,no man hath seen ,god at any time1 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john i4 #ah4 and before ,christ came the verse stopped there2 but after ,he came1 then ,god was fully revealed2 so the verse finishes with the words the only begotten ,son which is in the bosom of the ,father1 ,he hath declared ,him4 ,will you look up now1 and say1 ,lord1 show me the ,father1 and ,he will reveal ,him to you1 because this is what ,he promises to do4 ,look at the last line of the #bgth verse of ,matthew xi4 where ,christ says1 ,he to whomsoever the ,son will reveal ,him1 and without a pause ,he adds the wonderful invitation1 ,come unto ,me1 all ye that labour and are heavy laden1 and ,i will give you rest4 ,it is to the weary and heavy laden that ,he reveals the ,father4 ,he invites them to share the fellowship ,he has with the ,father1 the peace and joy and rest of knowing the ,father4 ,why does ,he invite the weary ones to come to ,him8 because ,he felt in ,himself such joy in this close fellowship with ,god1 ,he wanted every one to have it too4 ,he felt that ,his experience of what the ,father was to ,him was so rich1 ,he longed for them to come and share it1 ,i will give you rest4 ,it is as if ,he said1 ,i will give you the same rest ,i have when ,i am tired and hungry and thirsty2 the same comfort that ,i have when ,i am misunderstood and reviled2 the rest1 the comfort1 the peace ,i have in ,my ,father4 ,we have the same assurance when the ,holy ,ghost says in ,st4 ,paul's letter to the ,corinthians1 ,grace be to you and peace from ,god our ,father and from the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,blessed be ,god1 even the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,father of mercies and the ,god of all comfort4 ,footnote3 #b ,cor4 i1 #b1 #c4 ,how can you and ,i know what the ,lord ,jesus found in ,his ,father's love8 ,he has graciously made it known to us in the four ,gospels4 ,there the veil is drawn aside and we see how all through ,his life ,he was in close fellowship with the ,father4 ,we can hear the very words which the ,son spoke to ,his ,father in the hour of deep agony3 ,o ,my ,father1 if it be possible let this cup pass from ,me2 nevertheless not as ,i will1 but as ,thou wilt4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 xxvi4 #ci4 ,the last words on ,his lips when ,he was dying on the ,cross were1 ,father1 into ,thy hands ,i commend ,my spirit4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,luke xxiii4 #df4 ,he said to ,his disciples the last night1 ,you will leave ,me alone2 and yet ,i am not alone1 because the ,father is with ,me4 ,all through ,his life ,he spoke of ,his oneness with the ,father and the joy of doing and finishing the work which ,he gave ,him to do4 ,we too can have the sense of ,god's ,presence in our souls at all times4 ,a ,christian woman who was suffering from neuralgia told me that one night when she could not sleep1 a voice seemed to whisper softly to her1 ,like as a father pitieth his children1 so the ,lord pitieth them that fear ,him1 for ,he knoweth our frame1 ,he knows all about our poor bodies1 for ,he made them1 ,footnote3 ,ps4 ciii4 #ac1 #ad4 and with those words of comfort in her mind she fell into a refreshing sleep4 ,if you will turn to the #fth chapter of ,st4 ,matthew again you will see in the #hth verse that our ,heavenly ,father knows about something else4 ,he knows what things we have need of before we ask ,him4 ,the secret of what it is to have ,god as our ,father1 and the sweetness of it1 comes out in these three homely questions1 ,what shall we eat1 what shall we drink1 what shall we wear8 ,and ,christ says1 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt1 vi4 #ca1 #cb4 ,take no thought1 that means1 do not be anxious about these things1 for your ,heavenly ,father knoweth that you have need of all these things4 ,yes1 if ,he knows1 that is enough1 and then we have only to trust ,him for all4 ,do you find your faith failing sometimes8 ,it is one thing to trust ,god when the wages are coming in regularly1 and quite another thing to trust ,him when times are bad4 ,it is just then we learn to look less at our faith and more at ,god's ,faithfulness4 ,a minister once gave a little bit of his experience about this4 ,he said1 ,it is only as we really take ,god's promises and plant our feet upon them that we shall find faith abiding in times of testing4 ,the last penny may be gone but ,,god is there4 ,i know this to be true4 ,i have often said when preaching1 ',it takes real faith in ,god to be able to put your head into an empty flour barrel and sing the doxology4' ,my wife had heard me say this1 and one morning she called me to come into the kitchen4 ,i said1 ',what do you want me for8' ,she replied1 ',i want you to come out here and sing4' ,i thought this queer1 so ,i went to see what it all meant4 ,in the middle of the kitchen was an empty flour barrel that she had just dusted out4 ',now1 my dear1' she said1 ',i have often heard you say one could put his head into an empty flour barrel and sing1 ,praise ,god from ,whom all blessings flow1 if he believed what ,god says4 ,now here is your chance1 practise what you preach4' ,there was the empty flour barrel staring at me with open mouth1 and my purse was empty too4 ,i looked for my faith1 but could not find it2 ,i looked for a way of escape1 but could not find one1 for my wife blocked the doorway with the dust brush covered with flour4 ,i said1 ',i will put my head in and sing on one condition4' ',what's that8' asked my wife4 ',on condition that you will put your head in and sing too4 ,you know you promised to share all my joys and sorrows4' ,she consented1 so we put our heads in and sang the doxology1 and we told our heavenly ,father 'all about our need4' ,yes1 we had a good time1 and when we got our heads out we were a good bit powdered up1 which we took as a token that there was more flour to follow6 ,sure enough1 though no one knew of our need1 the next day a barrel of flour was sent4 ,where it came from or who sent it we never knew1 but our heavenly ,father knew that we had 'need of these things4' ,does not this simple testimony teach us all a lesson8 ,i wonder how many of us can say from our hearts-- ,those who trust do not worry2 ,those who worry do not trust4 ,which are you doing1 dear friends8 ,trusting or worrying8 ,count on ,god4 ,he never fails1 and ,he knows just what to do4 ,the moment a difficulty comes1 look up and say ,father1 and at once the burden will roll off1 ,he will undertake all for you4 ,i had an illustration of this one day when ,i was going across the ,common4 ,it was very windy1 and two little girls lost their hats2 they were quite at their wits' end1 till they caught sight of their father in the distance1 and at once they called to him1 ,father1 father4 ,that was enough1 in a minute he ran to help them4 ,i have often found great help in looking up again and again during the day and just saying ,father4 ,try it4 ,you1 fathers1 often say to your children1 ,if you want me just call me4 ,that is what our heavenly ,father tells us to do4 ,to know ,god means not only to trust ,him1 but also to treat ,him as a ,father4 ,if you will read the #fth chapter of ,st4 ,matthew carefully when you are at home1 you will see that it gives the experience of the child of ,god with the ,father for one whole day4 ,it includes all that we need during the day3--food1 clothing1 forgiveness1 victory over temptation1 grace to do ,god's will1 and grace in dealing with others4 ,this experience is so deep1 so real1 so entirely something between ,father and child1 that in this chapter we find the words in secret no less than six times4 ,when the little child is looking up into a loving father's face and talking to him1 it never thinks of those around4 ,in secret means a sweet sense of ,his ,presence in the soul and of close communion with ,him4 ,i write unto you1 little children1 because you have known the ,father4 ,footnote3 ,i ,st4 ,john ii4 #ac4 ,god is our ,father1 because ,he is the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 this is one of the greatest treasures of ,redeeming ,grace4 ,all the teaching about ,god as ,father comes from the lips of ,jesus1 and it is in this way ,he reveals the ,father to us2 so if we would know ,him1 we must drink in ,his teaching and watch ,his life of communion with ,god4 ,by ,his life ,he reveals to us the reality of the experience into which ,he calls us to enter4 ,he also shows us the way4 ,he not only says ,come to ,me1 but also ,come through ,me4 ,i am the ,way3 no man cometh unto the ,father but by ,me4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xiv4 #f4 ,it was by dying for us ,he opened the ,way4 ,god sent forth ,his ,son to redeem them that were under the law1 that we might receive the adoption of sons4 ,and because ye are sons1 ,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of ,his ,son into your hearts crying1 ,abba1 ,father4 ,footnote3 ,gal4 iv4 #f1 #g ,so we are not only received into ,god's family1 but we have also all the privileges of sonship4 ,we are made heirs of ,god1 joint heirs with ,christ4 ,perhaps you are thinking of your unworthiness2 like the ,prodigal ,son you are ready to say ,father1 ,i have sinned again and again1 ,i am not worthy to be called ,thy son4 ,god knows just what you are and what you have been1 and ,he ,himself has asked the question1 ,how shall ,i put you among the children8 ,it is a question which none but the ,lord would ever have thought of1 and it would never have been answered if ,he ,himself had not answered it4 ,it is a wonderful answer3 for ,he says1 ,thou shalt call ,me1 ,my ,father4 ,footnote3 ,jer4 iii4 #ai4 ,god ,himself puts us sinners among ,his children1 and no one else can do it1 and ,he keeps us2 for ,he says1 ,thou shalt not turn away from ,me4 ,how does ,he do it8 ,by creating a new life in us1 we are born again4 ,the old nature is not improved1 but a new heart is given4 ,a new heart also will ,i give you1 and a new ,spirit will ,i put within you4 ,footnote3 ,ezek4 xxxvi4 #bf4 ,can you say1 ,god has sent forth the ,spirit of ,his ,son into my heart1 and now ,i can call ,him my ,father8 ,being made the children of ,god by adoption and grace1 let us enjoy the privileges which are secured to us2 let us act as loving children should do4 ,does it all seem too good to be true8 ,trust ,his ,word1 ,as many as received ,him1 to them gave ,he power to become the sons of ,god1 even to them that believe on ,his ,name4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john i4 #ab ,some of you remember the joy which thrilled you when you first received ,him as your ,saviour1 but perhaps it was not until afterwards that you realised the blessedness of your new position as sons of ,god4 ,the ,holy ,spirit leads us on step by step4 ,first1 ,he assures us that there is no condemnation1 then ,he sets us free from the bondage of sin and death4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 viii4 i1 #b4 ,all is changed now1 we feel the confidence of a child who has free access to his father at all times4 ,there are three things which mark the children of ,god1 the spiritual mind1 the spiritual walk1 and the spiritual talk4 ,the ,spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of ,god4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 viii4 #af4 ,we then call out with the consciousness of sonship1 ,father1 ,father4 ,the witness of the ,spirit was given to me soon after my conversion and thrilled me with joyful assurance4 ,it came to me when a ,christian doctor was telling his children about the way of salvation4 ,he drew a line on the carpet with a stick and said1 ,on one side there is ,,death1 on the other1 ,,life1 and ,i said to myself1 ,i know which side of the line ,i am on4 ,so it was by means of this simple remark that ,i found out that ,i was really a child of ,god1 and my heart began from that time to cling to ,god as my ,father4 ,every day since then ,i have experienced the blessedness of trusting ,him and knowing ,him as my ,father4 ,is this your happy portion8 ,if not1 why not8 ,,address ,,iii ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god ,,portion ,,of ,,scripture--,st4 ,john i4 #a-ah1 #bi-cd4 ,,this ,,is ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god4 ,these are the closing words of ,john the ,baptist's striking testimony1 ,what a grand message6 ,how it thrills us through and through6 ,on and on the glorious words ring out1 ,the ,son of ,god is come4 ,many years after1 when the ,apostle ,john was a very old man1 he wrote in one of his letters1 ,we know that the ,son of ,god is come4 ,footnote3 ,i ,john v4 #bj4 ,now look back to the first words of our chapter4 ,in the beginning was the ,word4 ,who is the ,word8 ,it is the ,son of ,god4 ,when was the beginning8 ,long1 long ago in ,eternity that is past the ,son of ,god was the brightness of ,his ,father's glory and the express image1 ,footnote3 ,heb4 i4 #c4 or exact representation1 of ,his ,person4 ,in ,his last prayer with ,his disciples our ,lord speaks of the glory which ,he had with the ,father before the world was4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xvii4 #e4 ,the first verse of this ,gospel takes us back long before this world was created4 ,then we come to the creation in verse #c3 ,all things were made by ,him4 ,this is exactly what is said in the first verse of the ,bible of another beginning1 ,in the beginning ,god created the heavens and the earth4 ,long before this world was created we read of ,god's dear ,son as the image of the invisible ,god1 the first-born of every creature4 ,all things were created by ,him and for ,him1 and ,he is before all things1 the ,eternal ,son of ,god4 ,footnote3 ,col4 i4 #ae-ag4 ,he says1 ,i was set up from everlasting from the beginning1 before ever the earth was4 ,when ,he appointed the foundations of the earth1 then ,i was by ,him as one brought up with ,him2 ,i was daily ,his delight1 rejoicing always before ,him3 rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth1 and ,my delights were with the sons of men4 ,footnote3 ,gen4 i4 #bf4 ,how wonderful it is to think that in the ,eternity that is past1 and long before the world was made1 ,god had two grand purposes4 ,one was to create man to be the head of the whole human race4 ,so1 when the moment came that the earthly home was ready1 then ,god said1 ,let ,us make man in ,our image1 after ,our likeness4 ,footnote3 ,prov4 viii4 #bc1 #bi1 #cj1 #ca4 ,the other grand purpose in the ,eternal counsel between the ,father and ,his ,son was to redeem man after he had fallen through sin4 ,the ,redeemer is the ,son of ,god ,himself1 so ,he was foreordained to this work of redemption before the ,creation of the world--,the ,lamb slain from the foundation of the world4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xiii4 #h4 ,hundreds of years rolled on1 and then the glorious message from heaven was sounded forth over the plains of ,bethlehem3--,behold1 ,i bring you good tidings of great joy 444 for unto you is born this day a ,saviour1 which is ,christ the ,lord4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,luke ii4 #aj1 #aa4 ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god ,,is ,,come ,where did ,he come from8 ,when did ,he come8 ,why did ,he come8 ,these are some of the questions we must try to answer4 ,first1 where did ,he come from8 ,he came forth from ,god4 ,he was in the bosom of the ,father from all ,eternity4 ,he said to the disciples1 ,i came forth from the ,father and am come into the world4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xvi4 #bh4 ,we have read of two beginnings1 now we will look at another beginning4 ,in the first chapter of ,st4 ,mark's ,gospel1 and the first verse1 we read1 ,the beginning of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god4 ,here we have the beginning of all that grand and glorious work of ,salvation which is still being carried on by our ,lord at the ,father's right hand in heaven4 ,so we read of three beginnings1 and these three are all of ,god4 ,there is one more which is also of ,god4 ,it is the beginning of the life of ,christ in the soul4 ,when we read about the beginning of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 we know it means the beginning of ,his life on earth4 ,have you ever asked whether there has been a beginning of ,his life in your heart8 ,is it only what you read about1 or is it a personal experience in your soul8 ,alas6 many join in singing the chorus1 ,what a wonderful ,saviour1 who cannot say1 ,he is my own dear ,saviour4 ,they have never been able to say ,my spirit hath rejoiced in ,god my ,saviour4 ,what is this personal experience of the life of ,christ in the soul8 ,it is what the ,apostle ,paul describes when he says1 ,i have been crucified with ,christ1 nevertheless ,i live1 yet not ,i1 but ,christ liveth in me4 ,footnote3 ,gal4 ii4 #bj4 ,once far from ,god and dead in sin1 ,no light my heart could see3 ,but in ,god's ,word the light ,i found1 ,now ,christ liveth in me4 ,in writing to the ,galatians he says1 ,my little children1 you for whom ,i am again undergoing1 as it were1 the pains of child-birth1 until ,christ is fully formed within you ,footnote3 ,gal4 iv4 #ai4 7,weymouth's translation74 ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god ,,is ,,come4 ,secondly1 ,when did ,he come8 ,it was when the fulness of the time was come1 ,footnote3 ,gal4 iv4 #d4 that is when the time was ripe for it4 ,god's clock is never too fast or too slow3 so at the exact moment when the fulness of time was come ,god sent forth ,his ,son4 ,still and always ,his ,son1 but now made of a woman1 ,god1 manifest in the flesh--the ,god-man4 ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god ,,is ,,come4 ,what is ,his ,name8 ,god ,himself gave the ,name4 ,thou shalt call ,his name ,jesus4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 i4 #ba4 ,no other name was to be given3 it is a command1 thou shalt call ,his name ,jesus1 for ,he shall save3 that is why ,he is come4 ,he is come to seek and to save that which was lost4 ,thou shalt call ,his name ,jesus1 for ,he ,himself shall save ,his people from their sins4 ,he is presented to us as a living personal ,saviour4 ,the promise is1 ,he1 ,himself shall save4 ,it means that ,he will abide in each believing soul for ever4 ,yes1 moment by moment and for ever4 ,he abides in us as the ,deliverer from all sin4 ,what a glorious promise6 ,are you living in the reality of it8 ,jesus6 ,name of wondrous love1 ,human ,name of ,god above4 ,it is the ,god-given ,name4 ,the ,name which is above every name4 ,is it precious to you8 ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god ,,is ,,come4 ,thirdly1 ,why did ,he come8 ,the ,king sends ambassadors to represent him in foreign countries1 but ,god sent ,his own dearly loved ,son4 ,for ,god so loved the world that ,he gave ,his only begotten ,son4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john iii4 #af4 ,the little word so means love in its unutterable fulness1 and ,god is the source of it4 ,have you ever thanked ,him for the unspeakable gift of ,his dear ,son8 ,link the two words together1 ,god--the world3 it means ,god and you3 ,god and me4 ,then link together loved and gave4 ,it will take ,eternity to get to the bottom of those two words4 ,now add that other precious text1 ,he loved me3 ,he gave ,himself for me1 ,footnote3 ,gal4 ii4 #bj4 and you have the grace of ,god bringing salvation4 ,six times in the ,epistles we find the words ,he gave ,himself1 and in ,i ,peter ii4 #bd1 it says1 ,who ,his own self bare our sins in ,his own body on the tree4 ,this is why the ,son of ,god is come1 and it is this which makes ,him so personally real to us when earthly things are fading away4 ,i knew a working man who had a long1 painful illness which lasted three years4 ,i rejoice to say that soon after it began he was converted4 ,he was so earnest that his one thought was to tell others what a dear ,saviour he had found1 and many were led to ,christ through his example and testimony4 ,his mother was converted through him and she is now carrying on the ,christian work which he began4 ,what was it that changed this man8 ,it was the ,holy ,spirit revealing ,christ to him as a living personal ,saviour4 ,the day before he died he said to his sister1 ,i had such a lovely time with the ,master this morning in between the pain4 ,oh6 it was like healing balm to me and ,he gave me a little hymn-- ',jesus loves me1 ,he who died ,heaven's gate to open wide3 ,he will wash away my sin1 ,let ,his little child come in4' ,how wonderful that a man nearly #dj years of age should find such comfort in a simple little hymn4 ,but it is thus the ,lord reveals ,himself4 ,do you feel that you are like a lost sheep8 ,the ,son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,luke xix4 #aj4 ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god ,,is ,,come6 ,it is a fact1 a certainty4 ,a great reality4 ,nothing can take it from us4 ,it is a living experience in our inmost hearts4 ,and we know1 says the ,apostle ,john1 that the ,son of ,god is come1 and hath given us an understanding1 that we may know ,him that is true2 and we are in ,him that is true1 even in ,his ,son1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is the true ,god1 and eternal life4 ,footnote3 ,i ,john v4 #bj4 ,the ,son of ,god is come and ,god presents ,him to us as ,his ,perfect ,son and our ,perfect ,saviour4 ,twice during ,his earthly ministry there was a voice from heaven which said1 ,this is ,my beloved ,son in whom ,i am well pleased3 ,in whom ,i have perfect delight now and for ever4 ,can you reply1 ,this is my ,beloved ,saviour and ,he is everything to me8 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 iii4 #ag and xvii4 #e4 ,he is either everything or nothing4 ,are you like the merchant in the parable1 seeking goodly pearls1 who when he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had and bought it8 ,is your heart singing ,i've found the pearl of greatest price1 ,my heart doth sing for joy2 ,and sing ,i must for ,christ is mine6 ,christ shall my song employ6 ,a ,chinese convert told one of the missionaries that he happened to take up a ,testament which had been sold to the people of the house by a colporteur1 but they could not see the meaning of it1 so they laid it on one side4 ,but1 he went on to say1 from the moment my eyes lighted upon it1 ,i was greatly attracted by it4 ,so ,i read and kept on reading till the meaning dawned upon me1 and then1 he added with a beaming face1 ,i found the ,pearl of ,great ,price4 ,this reminds me of that strange story of a very valuable pearl necklace worth #aag1jjj which was lost about a year ago4 ,it was sent by post from ,paris to ,london when it suddenly disappeared and no one knew what had become of it4 ,a very large reward was offered to any one who found it4 ,but now comes the wonderful part of the story4 ,one morning1 a man of the name of ,horne was on his way to the factory where he was employed when he saw a large match-box lying in the gutter in ,st4 ,paul's ,road1 near ,london4 ,he picked it up and put it in his pocket4 ,presently he went into a public-house to have a glass of beer and there he met two of his mates4 ,he took the match-box out of his pocket1 pushed it open1 and seeing it was filled with what he thought were white beads or marbles1 he said to them1 ,what do you think of these1 ,i've just picked them up8 ,oh6 they're no good1 replied one of the men1 throw them away4 ,however1 ,horne decided to take them to the ,police ,station4 ,the officers looked at them and said they were worth nothing1 but gave him a receipt for them4 ,on their way to the factory they turned into another public-house for a drink1 and while there ,horne found one of the marbles loose in his coat pocket4 ,oh6 he said1 ,i've got one of them left4 ,holding it up in his fingers1 he looked round and asked1 ,will any one give me a penny for it8 ,but no one would have it4 ,in another public-house where they stopped1 he offered the pearl for a glass of beer1 but no one accepted the offer4 ,the pearl which was worth many hundreds of pounds was despised by one and all4 ,then ,horne offered it for a packet of cigarettes1 but again it was handed back with the remark1 ,that's no good to me4 ,so one of his friends suggested that he should crush it under the heel of his boot as it was no good4 ,later on when some one asked him what he had done with it he said he had thrown it away4 ,it is a wonderful story and quite true4 ,oh6 you say1 what a thousand pities1 if that man ,horne had only known its value1 it would have made him a rich man in one day4 ,are you not surprised that none of these men ever thought of finding out the real value of that pearl8 ,but is it not stranger still that scarcely any one ever stops to inquire who ,jesus ,christ really is1 and the meaning of ,his death on the ,cross8 ,you listened just now with astonishment to the questions and answers about this valuable pearl1 and yet the same questions are being asked every day about another ,pearl1 ,god's ,pearl of great price1 and people are treating it with the same indifference4 ,how the angels must look on and wonder6 ,there are two questions which you have to answer now4 ,first1 ,what think ye of ,christ1 whose ,son is ,he8 ,can you say1 ,he is the ,son of ,god8 ,think of the ,glory of ,his ,person3 it is the glory of the only begotten of the ,father4 ,think of ,his ,divine ,mission3 sent by ,god to be the ,saviour now and the ,judge by and by4 ,think of ,him as ,god's great ,gift to a perishing world4 ,have you received ,him8 ,the other question which you have to answer is1 ,what shall ,i do with ,jesus8 ,remember ,god hath given to us ,eternal ,life and this life is in ,his ,son4 ,he who has the ,son has life1 and he who has not the ,son of ,god has not life4 ,footnote3 ,i ,john v4 #ab4 ,jesus is pleading with you1 saying1 ,ye will not come1 that means1 you are unwilling to come to ,me that you may have ,life4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john v4 #dj4 ,by and by you will have to face another question1 ,what will ,he do with me8 ,the ,son of ,god is come4 ,it is ,god ,himself who presents ,him to us3 ,behold the ,lamb of ,god who taketh away the sin of the world4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john i4 #bi4 ,he is the ,one whom ,god ,himself has provided and set apart3 and now ,he has appeared once for all to put away sin by the sacrifice of ,himself4 ,footnote3 ,heb4 ix4 #bf4 ,there on ,calvary's ,cross before the eyes of crowds of people who came together to see that sight1 ,he is set forth as the spotless ,son of ,god who was made an offering for sin4 ,he it is whom ,god now sets forth to us as a propitiation4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 iii4 #be4 ,he it is1 and no other1 whom ,god sets forth as a ,mercy seat1 the ,blood-sprinkled ,mercy ,seat4 ,god's eye rests on ,christ and ,his finished work1 and because it is a full1 perfect and sufficient satisfaction for all our sins1 ,god sets ,him forth in order to demonstrate ,his righteousness that ,he may be shown to be righteous ,himself and the giver of righteousness to those who believe in ,jesus4 ,oh1 what a comfort it is to me to know that ,he is always there standing before ,god as the ,righteous ,one1 and therefore when ,god looks at me in all my unworthiness ,he does not see me1 ,he only sees ,his dear ,son4 ,when that godly physician ,sir ,james ,simpson was dying1 the minister who was by his bedside asked if he had any doubts4 ,he looked up and said1 ,i have no doubts2 when ,i stand before ,god ,i shall just hold up ,christ to ,god4 ,this is why ,jesus is come1 and this is why ,jesus died1 that the believing soul may hold ,him up to ,god as the ,one who has been made unto us wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification and redemption1 ,footnote3 ,i ,cor4 i4 #cj4 and it is all ,god's doing1 from first to last4 ,i love to say to myself1-- ,i'm a poor sinner and nothing at all1 ,but ,jesus ,christ is my all in all4 ,our salvation depends on believing ,god's ,word1 that ,he has accepted our ,surety4 ,when ,god raised ,him from the dead1 it was a proof that all the claims of ,his holiness and justice had been fully met and satisfied4 ,the debt is paid because ,jesus paid it all4 ,he gave ,himself as a ransom--the redemption price for all4 ,so now ,god sets ,him forth in all ,his untold preciousness and proclaims the glorious message1 ,deliver him1 that poor helpless sinner1 from going down into the pit4 ,i have found a ransom4 ,footnote3 ,job xxxiii4 #bd4 ,what was the price to be paid8 ,the ,son of man is come to give ,his life a ransom for many4 ,we are redeemed1 not with silver and gold1 but with the precious blood of ,christ4 ,who can tell how precious8 ,more precious far than gold4 ,think what it cost the ,father3 ,he gave ,his only ,son4 ,having yet one son1 ,his well-beloved1 ,he said1 ,i will send ,him4 ,think what it cost the ,son of ,god4 ,think of ,his agony in the garden1 and then the hiding of ,his ,father's face1 and last of all the pouring out ,his soul unto death on the cross4 ,our redemption is doubly precious1 not only because of the price paid1 but because of the ,divine and ,holy ,one who paid it1 the ,lord of glory1 even the ,son of ,god ,himself1 ,which things even the angels desire to look into4 ,footnote3 #a ,pet4 i4 #ab4 ,they long to see into the depths of this wondrous redeeming love4 ,can you sing this chorus from your heart-- ,precious1 precious1 ,precious is my ,lord to me2 ,precious1 precious1 ,everything in ,him ,i see4 ,think of what we have been rescued from6 ,christ has redeemed us from sin1 and death and hell4 ,think of the cost of this great salvation1 and then ask yourself1 how much is it worth to me8 ,we shall only be able to answer that question when we are safe home in the glory4 ,then we shall be looking back on death1 looking back on the ,judgment of the great ,white ,throne1 as never having come into it3 looking back on the old world which has passed away4 ,when this passing world is done1 ,when has sunk yon glorious sun1 ,when ,i go to ,christ in glory1 ,looking o'er life's finished story2 ,then1 ,lord1 shall ,i fully know ,not till then--how much ,i owe4 ,think of the last plague which ,god sent upon ,egypt4 ,it was not till the midnight cry1 that exceeding great and bitter cry had resounded through the land of ,egypt showing that the destroying angel had entered the houses of the ,egyptians1 leaving death and desolation there2 it was not till the judgment had actually come that the ,israelites realised the delivering power of the blood which they had sprinkled on their doorposts4 ,think of their wonder and of their thankfulness4 ,they had believed and obeyed before1 but now their hearts are filled with gratitude and praise4 ,if you have really cast yourself and all your sins on ,christ1 then you too will join in the new song1 saying1 ,thou art worthy1 for ,thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to ,god by ,thy ,blood4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 v4 #i4 ,to receive ,christ now into our hearts by faith is to be born of ,god3 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john4 i4 #ab1 #ac4 spiritual life is imparted to the believer4 ,to feed upon ,christ day by day is to live by ,him3 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john vi4 #eg4 this is the evidence of life in the believer4 ,to see ,christ by and by and to be like ,him1 is life perfected in glory4 ,footnote3 #a ,john iii4 #b4 ,dear fellow sinners1 let me entreat you most earnestly in the light of an ,eternity that is coming1 and as you value your precious1 never-dying souls1 do not trifle with ,god's unspeakable ,gift4 ,how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation8 ,footnote3 ,heb4 ii4 #c4 ,no one either in heaven or upon earth can answer that question4 ,if the lost in hell could speak to us they would tell us that there is no escape4 ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god ,,is ,,come1 and oh6 the wonder of it all1 ,he came to where ,i was4 ,the words of this beautiful hymn describe it-- ,i looked and there was none to help1 ',no man' could meet my case3 ,a weary1 world-worn heart was mine1 ,without a resting place4 ,then ,one drew near1 the ,christ of ,god1 ,with pitying eyes ,he scanned1 ,jesus came to me where ,i was1 ,and took me by the hand4 ,he led me first to ,calvary's mount1 ,and1 oh6 what sight it gave6 ,the agony1 the life out-poured1 ,it cost ,him there to save4 ,my heart fell broken at ,his feet1 ,who could such love withstand8 ,the love that came to where ,i was1 ,and took me by the hand4 ,he lifted me upon a rock1 ,round me ,his light ,he shed2 ,he poured ,his peace into my heart1 ,he healed1 ,he held1 ,he fed4 ,ah6 then ,i knew that holy ,one1 ,the whole could understand4 ,the ,one who came to where ,i was1 ,and took me by the hand4 ,and since that day1 through all the days1 ,his love my way has planned3 ,he comes to bless me where ,i am1 ,he takes me by the hand4 ,this glorious ,one is all to me1 ,he shall my life command1 ,the ,christ who came to where ,i was1 ,and took me by the hand4 ,,address ,,iv ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,god ,,portion ,,of ,,scripture--,st4 ,john iv4 #a-bf ,god is a ,spirit4 ,look at this poor woman standing at the well and let us try and realise what a wonderful revelation it was which ,christ made known to her soul about ,god4 ,he told her that ,god is ,father1 that ,god is ,saviour1 and that ,god is ,spirit2 three ,persons but one ,god4 ,the ,lord opened her heart and she grasped this wondrous truth4 ,christ said to her1 ,god the ,father is seeking you1 ,he is longing for you to come to ,him4 ,then ,he let her feel and see that ,he is the ,saviour4 ,was it not wonderful that she was the first to tell the good news that ,he is the ,saviour of the world8 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john iv4 #db4 ,christ said to her1 ,god is a ,spirit1 and she found that no one else but ,god could touch her heart4 ,until the ,spirit of ,god comes into our hearts1 we cannot really know ,god personally or have communion with ,him4 ,now we have received1 not the spirit of the world1 but the ,spirit which is of ,god2 that we might know the things that are freely given to us of ,god4 ,footnote3 #a ,cor4 ii4 #ab4 ,although our hearts are so sinful the ,holy ,spirit is longing to come in4 ,he found an entrance into the heart of this poor woman whose life was a wreck with its four great failures4 ,every life is a failure in ,god's sight1 but we must never despair of any one1 for with ,god all things are possible1 and as long as life lasts there is hope for the sinner4 ,the ,lord opened her heart1 she heard and believed1 and went home to tell others what a dear ,saviour she had found4 ,it was the beginning of a revival at ,sychar1 and every revival begins in the same way1 ,god is revealed by ,his ,spirit and men realise the nearness of ,god4 ,until a man really finds out what ,god is1 there can be no true spiritual worship4 ,this is the truth ,jesus came to make known to us when ,he says1 ,god is a ,spirit1 and they that worship ,him must worship ,him in spirit and in truth1 for the ,father seeketh such to worship ,him4 ,yes1 the ,father is seeking us1 yearning for us to come close to ,him and to respond to ,his love for us4 ,when our ,lord tells us that we must worship in spirit1 ,he means that it is the spirit in man which responds to the ,spirit of ,god4 ,do you offer ,him your heart's devotion and praise1 or is it only lip-worship8 ,true spiritual worship does not depend on forms or ceremonies or on any special place or time4 ,i felt the point of this when a railwayman said to me1 ,we can be in touch with ,god all the day long4 ,god is a ,spirit1 just as ,god is ,light4 ,footnote3 #a ,john i4 #e4 ,and there are no limitations as to where ,he works or ,his ways and time of working4 ,the ,holy ,spirit reveals to us far more about ,god than we ever imagined4 ,the ,bible says1 ,eye hath not seen nor ear heard1 neither have entered into the heart of man1 the things which ,god hath prepared for them that love ,him4 ,but ,god hath revealed them unto us by ,his ,spirit4 ,footnote3 #a ,cor4 ii4 #i1 #aj4 ,until the ,holy ,spirit opens our blind eyes to see spiritual things we cannot understand them4 ,it is not the words of man's wisdom which can explain them1 we need to use spiritual words for spiritual truths1 so we can only speak as the ,holy ,spirit teaches us what to say4 ,the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god1 for they are foolishness unto him1 ,footnote3 #a ,cor4 ii4 #ad4 he does not grasp the meaning of them4 ,it is because ,god is a ,spirit that he meets our spiritual need when we feel altogether helpless and hopeless in ourselves1 for ,he says1 ,i will put ,my ,spirit within you4 ,footnote3 ,ezek4 xxxvi4 #bg4 ,god begins in the very centre of our being1 in our innermost hearts4 ,god makes ,himself known to us as ,god1 through our spiritual necessities4 ,the ,presence of the ,holy ,spirit is a personal thing in each one who receives ,him4 ,there is only one way by which we can receive the ,holy ,spirit1 and that is by faith4 ,the ,holy ,ghost has been given4 ,will you ask yourself1 ,have ,i received ,him8 ,if not1 why not8 ,when ,god puts ,his ,spirit into our hearts ,he abides with us for ever4 ,he never leaves us4 ,even when we grieve ,him by our coldness of heart1 ,he does not leave us4 ,it is ,god who begins the work of grace in our hearts4 ,the ,book which reveals to us what ,god is1 opens with the words1 ,in the ,beginning1 ,god4 ,footnote3 ,gen4 i4 #a4 ,god is the ,beginner of all things1 not only of the creation of the world1 but of the new creation in our souls4 ,this ,book unfolds to us how ,god begins and finishes the great work of redemption and salvation4 ,we find another marvellous beginning which is also unfolded in this ,book4 ,the ,spirit of ,god moved upon the face of the waters4 ,footnote3 #a ,gen4 i4 #b4 ,it is a remarkable word2 it means the ,spirit of ,god brooded on the face of the waters4 ,in ,genesis we read1 ,the ,spirit of ,god was brooding1 and in the ,gospels we find the ,spirit of ,god compared to a dove4 ,the word brooding is a figure of the mother dove brooding over her nest and cherishing her young4 ,the first time the ,holy ,spirit is mentioned in the ,old ,testament is in this verse1 and the first emblem of the ,holy ,spirit in the ,new ,testament is in the #crd chapter of ,st4 ,matthew's ,gospel1 where it says that1 after our ,lord had been baptized1 ,the heavens were opened unto ,him1 and ,he saw the ,spirit of ,god descending like a dove and lighting upon ,him4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 iii4 #af4 ,first let us look at the background of the picture4 ,we see darkness and desolation1 death and ruin4 ,then we see the ,spirit of ,god1 the ,dove of peace1 brooding over it all1 and bringing light and life1 love and peace out of the confusion4 ,so the two thoughts which are here brought to our minds are ,motherhood and ,peace4 ,if you look carefully into the ,word of ,god you will see how the thought of ,motherhood is brought before us in many ways in connection with the ,person and ,work of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,when ,christ is speaking of the ,new ,birth1 ,he says we are born of the ,spirit4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john iii4 #f4 ,again1 when the cry of the new-born soul is spoken of1 we are told how it comes2 for ,paul says1 ,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of ,his ,son into your hearts1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father4 ,footnote3 ,gal4 iv4 #f ,again there is the beautiful expression1 ,the ,spirit of ,adoption4 ,we have received the ,spirit of adoption whereby we cry ,abba1 ,father4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 viii4 #ae4 ,abba means dear ,father4 ,when ,god would reveal ,his heart of love to us ,he says1 ,as one whom his mother comforteth1 so will ,i comfort you4 ,footnote3 ,isa4 lxvi4 #ac4 ,think of a mother busy with her work1 and her little one playing on the floor4 ,presently there is a cry1 it has fallen down1 and in a moment the mother is by its side to soothe it4 ,but there is something sweeter still4 ,even if nothing befall the child the mother is near by to help it over every difficulty and to respond to every look and sign4 ,even so our ,god who is to us our ,mother ,comforter1 says1 ,before they call ,i will answer1 and while they are yet speaking ,i will hear4 ,footnote3 ,isa4 lxv4 #bd ,the little child always turns to its mother for comfort in every trouble4 ,there is one thing which we notice in every home1 that is1 the mother's tender love and constant care for her little one4 ,night and day her child is her one thought4 ,so the ,lord says of ,his people1 ,i the ,lord do keep it1 lest any hurt it1 ,i will keep it night and day4 ,footnote3 ,isa4 xxvii4 #c4 ,every child of ,god can say-- ,moment by moment ,i'm kept in ,his love4 ,does the child need the mother's constant1 watchful care8 ,yes1 because everything around is like a new world to the little one1 it is all a new experience4 ,the mother gives herself up so entirely to the child that it depends on her for everything4 ,in the same way when the soul is born again it is brought into a new relation to ,god1 it has entered into a new experience and the ,holy ,spirit becomes to it just what the mother is to the child and much more4 ,just as the mother trains the little one to take the first steps in walking and holds it up1 so it is the ,holy ,spirit who teaches us how to walk and to please ,god4 ,the little hand is slipped into mother's hand to be led and held up4 ,as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god they are the sons of ,god4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 viii4 #ad4 ,the mother keeps the child close to her1 so the ,holy ,spirit is the ,comforter to us1 by our side1 for the word ,comforter means1 ,the one whom we call to our side to help us4 ,just as the mother tells her child what to say when it wants anything1 so ,he helps us when we pray1 for we know not what we should pray for as we ought4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 viii4 #bf4 ,the ,comforter is come4 ,when did ,he come8 ,on the day of ,pentecost1 for it was then that the ,holy ,spirit was poured out1 and ,he has been with us ever since4 ,let those words ring in your heart and in your life1 ,the ,comforter is come4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xv4 #bf4 ,there is a beautiful hymn which illustrates the presence and work of the ,holy ,spirit in our hearts4 ,it begins with the words-- ,spirit ,divine6 attend our prayers1 ,and make our hearts ,thy home4 ,then four things are mentioned which show forth ,god's power in ,nature4 ,light1 fire1 dew1 wind4 ,in the ,bible they are all used as symbols of the ,presence and ,power of the ,holy ,spirit working in the hearts of men4 ,in ,nature we know that human power is small compared with the power of light1 fire1 wind1 and water4 ,have we learnt to depend only on the ,power of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,god's ,voice is ever saying to us now1 oh6 that we may listen1 ,not by might1 nor by power1 but by ,my ,spirit1 saith the ,lord4 ,footnote3 ,zech4 iv4 #f4 ,just as all the marvels of the natural world are perfectly carried out by ,god's wisdom and power1 so ,he has given the ,holy ,spirit to make ,him perfectly known as a living ,presence1 a living ,power and ,reality in our hearts and lives4 ,in the second verse of the hymn we find the words-- ,come as the ,light--to us reveal ,our emptiness and woe4 ,we know what the light does when it shines into a room1 ,it reveals or shows up any dust we had not noticed before4 ,so when the light of ,god shines into our hearts it reveals what we never saw before4 ,have you ever watched the battleships on a dark night1 anchored a little way off from the coast8 ,suddenly the bright dazzling searchlights are sent out from the ship4 ,they seem to sweep over the ocean with their sparkling light and then to wrap you round1 as you stand there on the shore4 ,the sight fills you with wonder2 you feel as if the eyes of all on board ship can see you4 ,it is the same when the ,holy ,spirit shines into our hearts2 it is almost overwhelming2 we can only cry1 ,woe is me1 for ,i am undone4 ,footnote3 ,isa4 vi4 #e4 ,we stand condemned under the searching eye of ,god4 ,all our self-righteous excuses are swept away4 ,we can no longer take refuge in the fact that we are as good as others and a great deal better than some of our neighbours4 ,the dazzling light of ,god's ,presence has searched us through and through and turned us inside out4 ,is this searching necessary for every one8 ,yes1 for it is the only way we can learn to know the evil of our hearts4 ,sometimes the light of the ,holy ,spirit comes to us in a quiet moment and shows us what we never saw before4 ,sometimes it comes like a flash4 ,it flashed out on the road when ,saul of ,tarsus was on his way to ,damascus4 ,he described it when he was being tried before ,king ,agrippa1 ,at midday1 ,o ,king1 ,i saw in the way a light from heaven1 above the brightness of the sun1 shining round about me4 ,and ,i fell to the ground and ,i heard a voice saying unto me1 ,saul1 ,saul1 why persecutest thou me8 ,and he tells us also that he could not see for the glory of that light4 ,footnote3 ,acts xxvi4 #ac1 xxii #ag4 ,whenever the light comes it is a revelation1 a moment never to be forgotten3 ,darkness conceals1 light reveals4 ,the ,spirit of ,god brooded over the face of the waters1 and ,god said1 ,let there be light and there was light4 ,footnote3 ,gen4 i4 #c4 ,the ,holy ,spirit not only shows us what we are1 but ,he shows ,christ to us2 then we see the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,for ,god1 who commanded the light to shine out of darkness1 hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,footnote3 #b ,cor4 iv4 #f4 ,yes1 ,god's glory is radiant on the face of ,christ and the ,holy ,spirit reveals it4 ,he delights to show us ,his beauty and ,his loveliness and thus to glorify ,him4 ,he makes ,him a reality in our souls--a living bright ,reality4 ,if you have not seen ,him as altogether lovely it is not because the ,holy ,spirit is not willing to show ,him to you1 but because you turn away and will not look4 ,how good it is of ,god to send the ,holy ,spirit into this world on purpose to reveal these things to us4 ,we should never see them but for ,him4 ,the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god1 neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned4 ,footnote3 ,i ,cor4 ii4 #ad4 ,what is the natural man8 ,it is what we are by nature before the ,spirit of ,god gives us a new life4 ,when it says ,he receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god1 it means that he has no power to receive them4 ,he is groping in the dark1 loving the darkness rather than the light4 ,a poor woman who had led a careless worldly life1 sent me this message when she was dying1 ,tell her the little prayer she taught me has been answered4 ,she will understand4 ,tell her ,god has shown me myself and ,he has shown me ,himself1 so ,i am going to be with ,him4 ,the little prayer which she had learnt from my lips was this--,lord1 show me myself2 ,lord1 show me ,thyself4 ,how ,i thanked ,god that ,he used it for the saving of her soul4 ,when the ,holy ,spirit convinces us of sin and of our need of a ,saviour1 ,he does not leave us there4 ,he draws aside the veil and reveals to us the secret love of ,god4 ,when our eyes have been opened to know that ,god is ,light1 then we find out that ,god is ,love4 ,how did this love of ,god show itself8 ,god sent ,his ,son1 ,in this was manifested the love of ,god towards us because that ,god sent ,his only begotten ,son into the world that we might live through ,him4 ,footnote3 #a ,john iv4 #i4 ,it is not only the ,love of ,god made known and shining out in the ,gift of ,his ,son1 but we are told that ,god commendeth ,his love towards us4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 v4 #h4 ,how does ,god commend ,his love8 ,he sets together ,his love for ,his ,son and ,his love for the sinner1 and ,his love for the sinner is so great that ,he gave ,his ,son to die for us4 ,thus the words ,god commendeth ,his love make it quite clear that ,god loves the sinner with a love which gives its best1 gives everything1 keeping nothing back1 and gives to everybody4 ,oh1 the love that gave ,jesus to die1 ,the love that gave ,jesus to die1 ,praise ,god it is mine this love so ,divine-- ,the love that gave ,jesus to die4 ,god commendeth ,his love towards us in that1 when we were yet sinners1 it makes no difference who we are or what we have been1 the ,holy ,spirit fixes our thoughts on that little word yet4 ,the text says1 ,when we were yet sinners1 still far off1 still lost and undone1 ,christ died for us2 so the ,blood of ,jesus ,christ1 ,god's ,son1 cleanseth us from all sin4 ,footnote3 ,i ,john i4 #g4 ,when we feel that sin is really a burden then the ,holy ,spirit points us to the little word all4 ,then ,he applies the precious ,blood to our guilty consciences1 assuring us by the ,word that the ,blood of ,jesus ,christ does cleanse from all sin so that not a single stain is left4 ,it is a perfect cleanser1 there is nothing it cannot do4 ,then the ,holy ,spirit shows us that ,god has provided a perfect covering for us in the ,robe of ,christ's ,righteousness4 ,it is thus that the ,comforter1 who is the ,spirit of ,truth1 leading into all truth1 shows us the meaning of ,christ's redeeming work and enables us to understand it and to appropriate it4 ,when we do this it is indeed a blessed experience4 ,a young man whom ,i know described it as follows3 ,i heard the voice of ,god saying to me1 ',who told thee that thou wast naked8' ,footnote3 ,gen4 iii4 #aa4 ,i am sure that it was the work of the ,holy ,spirit showing me my utter helplessness and leading me to seek the covering of ,christ's ,righteousness4 ,i feel ,i am exactly suited to ,jesus as ,he is exactly suited to me1 for ,i am just the one who needs ,his fulness1 and ,he is the only one that can supply my emptiness4 ,i praised ,god for this clear testimony1 and ,i have seen again and again ever since ,i began to work for the ,lord many years ago1 that the ,holy ,spirit delights to reveal the ,lord ,jesus ,christ as a full ,saviour for empty sinners4 ,the ,gospel of ,st4 ,john tells us very plainly that the ,holy ,ghost was sent1 not only to make us see the meaning of ,christ's finished work1 but also to prepare our hearts to receive it in all its fulness4 ,how does the ,holy ,spirit prepare our hearts8 ,first1 ,he opens our hearts1 awakens in us a sense of our need and sinfulness1 then1 when ,he has opened our hearts1 ,he breathes into them a new life2 ,he creates a longing for ,god4 ,we feel within us a burning desire to know ,god4 ,we catch eagerly at everything we hear about ,god1 ,this is quite a new experience2 we used to go on year after year not troubling about it in the very least4 ,what is this new experience1 this seeking after ,god8 ,it is what the ,bible calls ,repentance4 ,the word means ,change of mind4 ,again and again the ,apostle ,paul urged upon both ,jews and ,greeks the necessity of repentance towards ,god and faith towards our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,footnote3 ,acts xx4 #ba4 ,a few days ago ,i received a touching letter from a young friend telling me how ,god's ,spirit had led her to repentance4 ,she wrote1 ,when ,i was a little girl and began to seek the ,lord1 ,i was very much troubled because ,i could not feel sorry enough for my sins4 ,i wanted a real repentance to come to the ,lord with4 ,i thought repentance meant crying over one's sins a great deal1 and ,i could not feel sorry enough to cry as ,i wanted to4 ,i used to keep praying1 ',give me a real repentance4' ,many times ,i dreamed ,i had this deep repentance and could cry over my sins1 and ,i have awakened with my face really bathed in tears1 but oh1 how disappointing it was to find it only a dream and ,i had not got what ,i wanted after all4 ,i went on like this until ,i was twenty1 when the ,lord spoke these words with great power to my soul1 ',the goodness of ,god leadeth thee to repentance4' ,the voice seemed audible and ,i turned to see if anybody had spoken to me4 ,i was able to weep enough then1 but they were tears of joy and gratitude1 and ,i well remember saying aloud1 ',o ,lord1 why me1 why one so sinful as ,i am8' ,i now see that repentance means 'a change of mind' and not a flood of tears4 ,had ,i known this when a child it would have saved me years of toiling and praying for repentance4 ,dear friends1 perhaps some of you are trying to get right with ,god4 ,look at the text which gave such peace to this seeking one4 ,it begins with this question1 ,despisest thou the riches of ,his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering1 not knowing that the goodness of ,god leadeth thee to repentance8 ,footnote3 ,rom4 ii4 #d4 ,we little know that all the time we are working and toiling we are really despising1 turning away from the riches of ,his goodness4 ,the word riches shows how abundant ,his goodness is2 therefore we are without excuse4 ,god's forbearance in delaying punishment1 and ,his longsuffering in patiently waiting1 show that ,his purpose in thus dealing with us is to lead us to repentance1 which is not merely grief for sin1 but a thorough inward change4 ,so we now know what we did not know before1 that it is the goodness of ,god that leads us to repentance4 ,yes1 we find now that instead of working our way1 back to ,god1 ,he is there close to us1 with open arms to receive us1 stretching out ,his loving ,hand to save us4 ,we find that instead of trying to gain ,god's favour by our prayers and good works1 ,god's ,righteousness is there for us all ready and provided for us4 ,we find that we are accepted in ,his dear ,son not for any good thing we have done1 but simply by faith in ,jesus4 ,all this is shown to us by the ,holy ,spirit1 and without ,him we could not have seen it4 ,we were speaking just now about repentance4 ,have you ever noticed that when our ,lord began preaching the ,gospel1 the first word ,he said was ,repent4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 iv4 #ag4 ,why did ,he call to the crowds so earnestly to repent8 ,again and again that word keeps ringing out4 ,he wanted to make them see that ,he condemned the way they were living and their religious professions4 ,it was a call to stop and think1 as if ,he said to them1 ,you have lost your way1 you are on the wrong road1 stop and turn round4 ,first ,he points to the right road4 ,he proclaims that the ,kingdom of ,god is come4 ,then ,he says to them1 ,but before you can enter in you must repent4 ,the people recognised the meaning of the call2 they knew that if they obeyed the whole course of their lives would have to be changed1 because having lost the true centre of life1 they were simply drifting4 ,the man who is living without ,god is like a ship drifting on the wide ocean without a pilot or chart or compass4 ,for three years ,he pleaded with them tenderly and lovingly1 and at last they gave their final answer to ,his message4 ,they said1 ,we will not submit to the ,divine government1 we will not have this ,man to reign over us1 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,luke xix4 #ad4 and so they crucified ,him4 ,when we have been led by the ,holy ,spirit to repentance we see sin1 and we see ourselves in a new light4 ,as soon as we really know ,god we cannot help being sorry for our sin4 ,we begin to long for a ,saviour1 a ,mediator1 and it is then that the ,holy ,spirit points us to ,jesus4 ,repentance1 or change of mind1 is the first step1 and then follows conversion--a change of heart and life4 ,the word conversion means turning round4 ,jesus says1 ,except ye be converted and become as little children1 ye shall not enter into the ,kingdom of ,heaven4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 xviii4 #c4 ,think of ,god's two great gifts2 first1 the ,gift of ,his only begotten ,son1 then the ,gift of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,have you received them8 ,perhaps you ask1 ,how can ,i know8 ,if you have received the ,holy ,spirit there will be joy and peace in your heart1 and the fruits of the ,spirit will be seen in your daily life4 ,now the ,god of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing1 that ye may abound in hope through the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 xv4 #ac4 ,and the disciples were filled with joy and with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,footnote3 ,acts xiii4 #eb4 ,they were filled again and again1 more and more filled with joy and with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,you1 too1 may have a ,spirit-filled life4 ,god says to you now1 and ,he is saying it every day and every hour1 ,be filled with the ,spirit4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 v4 #ah4 ,remember there are different degrees in the ,christian life4 ,first1 there is ,everlasting ,life for all who seek it4 ,only ask ,me1 ,jesus said to the woman of ,samaria1 and ,i will give you living water4 ,then he leads her on a step further4 ,it shall be in you a well of water4 ,it will be an abundant life1 a joyous1 satisfying life4 ,afterwards ,he tells us that it will be a life overflowing for others4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john vii4 #ch1 #ci4 ,this is to be the experience of all believers now through the ,holy ,spirit4 ,lastly1 the crowning of it all is still to come and we shall drink of the pure river of the ,water of ,life4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xxi4 #a4 ,that will be the fulness of life through all ,eternity4 ,,address ,v ,,the ,,voice ,,of ,,god ,,portion ,,of ,,scripture--,genesis xxviii4 #aj-bb4 ,jacob is leaving home for the first time1 to take a long journey of #dej miles4 ,he is quite alone and he feels very lonely when he lies down the first night in a barren place1 with a stone for his pillow4 ,jacob was like some of us1 he had heard about ,god ever since he was a child1 but ,god was not real to him because he had never had any personal dealings with ,him4 ,that night he had a wonderful dream1 and it made a great difference to his whole life4 ,the ladder which he saw in his dream was to show him that there was a gulf between him and ,god3 and the gulf was caused by his sins4 ,it also showed the necessity for some means of communication to be provided for him4 ,right down to his deep need the ladder came1 right up to ,god ,himself the ladder reached4 ,it was set up on earth and it reached to heaven to make him understand that the gulf had been bridged over1 so that now1 constant1 free communication was possible between his soul and ,god4 ,the ladder which ,jacob saw in his dream is mentioned again in ,st4 ,john's ,gospel4 ,jesus said to ,nathaniel1 ,because ,i said unto thee ,i saw thee under the fig tree1 believest thou8 ,thou shalt see greater things than these4 ,and ,he saith unto him1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,hereafter ye shall see heaven open and the angels of ,god ascending and descending upon the ,son of man4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john i4 #ej1 #ea4 ,the ,lord ,jesus had been revealing ,himself to ,nathaniel and this conversation took place near ,bethel1 so that the reference to ,jacob's ladder was very forcible and the wonderful type was made clear4 ,when ,jesus said that heaven would be opened1 ,he meant not only opened just once1 but remaining open2 so that ever since ,christ ascended into heaven we have lived and are still living under an open heaven1 which means free intercourse between ,god and man1 because ,christ ,himself is the ,ladder4 ,it also means ,he is the one and only means of communication between the sinner and ,god4 ,it is through ,him we have access by one ,spirit unto the ,father4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 ii4 #ah4 ,all that we know of ,god comes to us through ,him1 and all the grace we receive from ,god comes through ,him4 ,so ,jacob's ladder is as real to us now as it was to him then1 for it connects the seen with the unseen4 ,it is possible for us now to have ,christ's ,presence with us always and everywhere1 for ,he says ,lo1 ,i am with you alway4 ,footnote3 ,matt4 xxviii4 #bj4 ,but there was something more wonderful for ,jacob to see even than the ladder4 ,the ,,lord stood above the ladder4 ,it was the first time in his life he had realised the ,presence of ,god4 ,he had lived over forty years without realising that ,god was close to him4 ,when he awoke from his dream he said1 ,surely the ,lord is in this place and ,i knew it not4 ,he never forgot it1 just as we never forget the time and place where we are converted4 ,one hundred years after that night1 when he was a very old man1 he mentioned it to his son4 ,he said to ,joseph1 ,god ,almighty appeared unto me at ,luz and blessed me4 ,footnote3 ,gen4 xlviii4 #c4 ,but what impressed him deeply was that there in that lonely place1 many miles away from any human being1 he heard the ,voice of ,god speaking to him4 ,it was then that a new life began in his soul1 for ,god told him that from that moment ,he would be with him everywhere1 blessing him and protecting him from all danger1 and it was then ,jacob began to trust ,god as his ,god4 ,so we see how ,god's glory and ,god's grace were shining down from the top of the ladder into poor ,jacob's heart4 ,jacob was face to face with ,god for the first time1 and he began to tremble with fear4 ,if only you could realise that ,god is now1 at this very moment1 straight in front of you1 you would fall down on your face before ,him1 and you would cry to ,him as ,job did1 ,i have heard of ,thee by the hearing of the ear1 but now mine eye seeth ,thee2 wherefore ,i abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes4 ,footnote3 ,job xlii4 #e1 #f4 ,it is at this moment that we realise for the first time our need of a substitute1 just as ,job did1 for he said1 ,he is not a man as ,i am that ,i should answer ,him1 neither is there any daysman betwixt us that can lay ,his hand upon us both4 ,footnote3 ,job ix4 #cc4 ,how ,job would have rejoiced in the glorious revelation which ,christ has brought to us4 ,there is one ,god1 and one ,mediator between ,god and men1 the ,man ,christ ,jesus1 ,who gave ,himself a ransom for all4 ,footnote3 #a ,tim4 ii4 #e1 #f4 ,he is not only the ,mediator laying ,his hand upon us both1 but ,he gave ,himself1 that is1 ,he gave ,his life as a ransom4 ,the ransom price was ,his own precious blood1 for the life is in the blood4 ,it is the ,blood of ,god's own dear ,son which makes an atonement for the soul4 ,the sentence passed on you and me and on every sinner is the sentence of death1 for death is the penalty for sin4 ,we are all under the sentence of death1 but the glorious message is sent ,god has found a ,substitute4 ,he bore on the tree the sentence for me1 ,and now both the ,surety and sinner are free4 ,you and ,i now have what ,job longed for so earnestly4 ,the ,daysman is the ,son of ,god ,himself1 ,whom ,god hath set forth to be a propitiation1 that is an atoning sacrifice1 through faith in ,his ,blood4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 iii4 #be4 ,at first ,jacob trembled with fear1 but after he had heard the loving words which ,god spoke to him from the top of that wonderful ladder1 then he began to realise that he was no longer alone in that lonely place4 ,he said1 ,this is the house of ,god1 this is the gate of heaven4 ,earth had faded from his sight and he was surrounded by heavenly realities4 ,and so it is now1 the veil is very thin which separates earth from heaven1 the temporal from the ,eternal4 ,it was ,god's ,voice which woke him up spiritually4 ,god revealed ,himself as the personal ,god to ,jacob4 ,we can recognise a friend by his voice even if we do not see him4 ,so it is the ,voice more than anything else which makes the presence of any one real to us4 ,we have an illustration of this in the pictures of the gramophone in which we see a dog listening for the master's voice4 ,the sheep knows the shepherd's voice2 the child is quick in recognizing its mother's voice2 why do we turn a deaf ear to ,god's ,voice8 ,how tenderly ,he pleads with us1 saying1 ,but ,my people would not hearken to ,my ,voice4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 lxxxxi4 #aa4 ,god wants to be very real and very personal to each one of us1 so ,he says1 ,unto you1 ,o men1 ,i call1 and ,my ,voice is to the sons of man4 ,footnote3 ,prov4 viii4 #d4 ,god has been calling us from the very beginning4 ,far back in the #crd chapter of ,genesis1 when ,adam was hiding among the trees of the garden1 it was ,god's ,voice which called him out with the searching question1 ,where art thou8 ,it was as if ,he said1 ,adam1 ,i want you4 ,he is the seeking ,god still4 ,it was ,god's ,voice that reminded ,adam of the holy1 happy friendship now broken by sin4 ,before sin came into the world ,adam never listened to any other voice1 and now when ,god is yearning to bring us to ,himself1 ,he says1 ,listen4 ,that word ,listen1 or ,hearken1 comes again and again in the ,bible4 ,we find it very often in ,isaiah and ,jeremiah4 ,when ,god is pleading with the sinner1 that is the word ,he uses more than any other4 ,in ,psalm lxxxi41 where ,god tells us how grieved ,he is by our waywardness1 ,he says1 ,oh that ,my people had listened or hearkened unto ,me4 ,and in ,deuteronomy xxviii4 #de1 ,he tells them that their troubles have been sent because they would not hearken to the ,voice of the ,lord their ,god4 ,i think ,god has chosen this special way of calling us by ,his ,voice1 because it is what we can all understand--it is so simple and so homely4 ,when a boy is disobedient the father calls him1 then he talks to him and pleads with him4 ,the father's voice touches the boy's heart4 ,how wonderful it is that ,god's ,voice can reach us1 however far off we may be4 ,you have sometimes been to an ,open-,air ,service1 and you have heard the speaker's voice a good way off1 but now it has been discovered that any one's voice can travel through the air and be heard above #cjj miles away by means of a new apparatus called the wireless telephone4 ,some time ago a gentleman living in ,england put a special receiver to his ear and he actually heard a man speaking in ,france1 more than #cjj miles away4 ,a year or two ago when the ,titanic went down among the icebergs1 you remember how the wireless telegraph sent messages to other ships calling for help4 ,this was done by special letters1 flashed across the ocean1 such as ,c4,q4,d4 7come quick1 danger7 or when the ship was sinking ,s4,o4,s4 7save our souls74 ,but wonderful as this is1 how much more wonderful it is to discover a way by which any one's voice can be heard miles and miles away4 ,very likely as time goes on and the wireless telephone is more used1 you will be able to speak to your father or son far away in ,australia or ,canada1 so that they will not only hear your voice distinctly1 but they will answer back1 and you will hear their voices just as if you were sitting together again at home4 ,what a wonderful thing it will be to have this close link with them6 ,it is the same as the link which ,jacob felt when he heard ,god's voice speaking2 it seemed to bring ,god quite close to him and to make ,god so real1 that he started again on his journey cheered and encouraged2 for we read in the first verse of the next chapter1 ,then ,jacob went on his journey1 and in the margin it says he lifted up his feet1 showing his heart was lightened of its burden3 when the heart is heavy1 our feet drag4 ,but he made a fresh start3 and if only ,god's ,voice reaches your heart now1 you will go on your way rejoicing2 it will be like making a fresh start4 ,again and again we read of ,god talking to those who were willing to hear ,his ,voice4 ,for example1 ,the ,,lord talked with ,moses face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend1 ,footnote3 ,exod4 xxxiii4 #i1 #aa4 and at ,mount ,sinai ,moses spake and ,god answered him by a ,voice4 ,not only is the link of communication perfect between ,god and man1 but the way in which we can use it and be put in touch with ,god is so simple3 it is by faith--that is all4 ,we have another illustration of this when we think of the wireless messages4 ,the world's greatest wireless station is in a little village called ,nassau1 in ,germany4 ,a short time ago a message was sent to a place far1 far away over the ocean1 #f1ejj miles away4 ,how was it started8 ,only by touching a key in the machine4 ,that touch releases the lightning which carries a message for thousands of miles over vast continents and across the boundless sea4 ,only a touch--is it not like the touch of faith8 ,but we must not forget that when the message has reached its destination1 when these waves of sound talk across the world1 the ear at the other end must be prepared to hear the call4 ,there is the hearing of faith1 as well as the touch of faith4 ,the hearing means not only listening1 but being willing to obey the voice4 ,i have been told that when a message is to be sent by wireless telephone1 the other waves of sound must be quite still before the person receiving the message can hear it4 ,the speaker has to wait till the vibrations settle down1 there must be perfect stillness1 and then the voice is heard4 ,how important it is to shut out all other sounds so that our hearts may be still enough to hear ,god speak4 ,we must listen with an obedient heart4 ,do you remember how one ,sunday was set apart not long ago to make collections for the blind4 ,at midnight on ,saturday1 a royal message was sent forth which encircled the whole world4 ,it was ,king ,george's ,god speed to the appeal for the blind4 ,it was flashed from the wireless station on a lonely cliff in ,cornwall to another station in ,america1 and it went over the seven oceans of the world4 ,it was received by forty-five ships in the ,atlantic4 ,they were all warned it was coming and they were expecting it4 ,the ,white ,star liner ,baltic1 #haj miles away1 heard it1 and it travelled on to ,india1 and it was caught up there #a1ejj miles away4 ,this reminds me of another royal message from the ,king of kings which is also encircling the world and telling the good news wherever man is willing to hear it4 ,he that hath an ear let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the ,churches4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 ii4 #g4 ,how the solemn call rings out1 and rings on3 ,to-day1 ,to-day6 ,how it sounds in our ears with startling urgency1 and it is the ,holy ,ghost who says it1 ,to-day1 if you will hear ,his ,voice1 harden not your heart4 ,footnote3 ,heb4 iii4 #g4 ,when we are careless and indifferent to what ,god's ,voice is saying to us then we are hardening our hearts4 ,perhaps in days gone by you once listened to ,god's ,voice4 ,why did you give up listening8 ,ah6 you reply1 other voices came and drowned that still small ,voice1 and the voice of the ,evil ,one poisoned my mind4 ,let me ask you one more question1 ,has ,god's ,voice ever stopped calling8 ,no1 ,god is still calling4 ,oh1 that now at this very moment you may be able to say1 ,the ,voice of ,god has reached my heart4 ,if any of you turn a deaf ear to ,god's ,voice1 remember the time is coming when all who are in the graves shall hear ,his ,voice and shall come forth2 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john4 v4 #be4 and to you it will be a coming forth to judgment and condemnation4 ,how does ,god speak to us now8 ,we can hear the ,voice of ,god speaking in ,his ,word4 ,when any portion of ,scripture is specially impressed on our minds it shows that ,god is speaking to us4 ,a young man who had been seeking ,god very earnestly said one day1 ,while reading the ,word1 ,i felt certain that ,god had really spoken to my soul1 that ,he had actually said to me1 ,live6 ,yes1 that young man was right1 for that is just what ,god has said to us1 but it makes all the difference whether we each one receive it as if ,god is really saying it to us personally4 ,luther felt this1 for he used to say1 ,when ,i open the ,bible it talks to me4 ,why is the ,bible like no other book8 ,because it is the revelation of ,god ,himself4 ,the glory of ,god shines in its pages4 ,in life and in death the only source of comfort is a ,personal ,god4 ,our great need is to have ,god personally near1 near and dear4 ,never rest till you can look up into ,his ,face with confidence and say1 ,thou art near1 ,o ,lord4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxix4 #aea4 ,he is saying to you now1 ,seek ye my ,face4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 xxvii4 #h4 ,what answer will you give8 ,will you say to ,god now1 ,thy ,face1 ,lord1 will ,i seek4 ,when we seek ,his ,face1 then we see the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,footnote3 #b ,cor4 iv4 #f4 ,how grand it all is1 and yet how simple6 ,let me say one word of loving appeal to any who have never really sought the ,lord4 ,how is it that you say your prayers and yet you do not expect to get an answer direct from ,god8 ,because1 like ,jacob1 you have never believed there is a ,god4 ,you have not got hold of the first truth which the ,bible teaches us1 ,god is2 ,he that cometh to ,god must believe that ,,he ,,is4 ,footnote3 ,heb4 xi4 #f4 ,when you pray1 ,he must be as real to you as if you saw ,him standing by hearing and answering you4 ,until our eyes are opened to see that death and judgment1 heaven and hell1 are great realities we do not really cry to ,god1 and when we do we find out that we have never realised there is a ,god4 ,think of what ,god offers to you4 ,forgiveness1 life and glory4 ,would you neglect getting these priceless gifts if you believed they were the real offers of a real ,person8 ,what meanest thou1 ,o sleeper8 ,arise1 call upon thy ,god4 ,footnote3 ,jonah i4 #f4 ,,address ,,vi ,,the ,,hands ,,of ,,god ,,portion ,,of ,,scripture--,st4 ,john xx4 #ai-ca4 ,why has this ,gospel been written8 ,the last verse of this chapter tells us4 ,it has been written that we may believe that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 and that believing we may have life through ,his ,name4 ,in the ,old ,testament when ,the ,name is mentioned it meant the unveiling of the grace and glory and power of ,god4 ,so we read men called upon ,the ,name--and in the ,new ,testament when the ,divine glory of ,christ is described we find the same expression1 ,his ,name4 ,it means ,his nature and ,his character4 ,in the verse which we have just read1 the wonderful truth shines out that it is through ,his ,name1 through all that ,he is1 and all ,he has done1 that we have life4 ,so ,christ ,himself declares1 ,my sheep hear ,my ,voice and ,i know them and they follow ,me1 and ,i give unto them ,eternal life1 and they shall never perish1 neither shall any man pluck them out of ,my ,hand4 ,my ,father1 which gave them ,me1 is greater than all1 and no man is able to pluck them out of ,my ,father's hand4 ,i and ,my ,father are one4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john x4 #bg-cj4 ,christ first speaks of ,his own hand and then of ,his ,father's hand1 so there are two hands which hold us fast and keep us safe1 now and for ever4 ,let us look at what is said about the ,hands of ,god in the ,bible4 ,think of ,god's ,hands in creation4 ,the ,psalmist says1 ,of old hast ,thou laid the foundation of the earth3 and the heavens are the work of ,thy hands4 ,footnote3 ,psa4 cii4 #be4 ,the sea is ,his and ,he made it3 and ,his hands formed the dry land4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 xcv4 #e4 ,think of ,his strong ,hands in ,providence1 as ,moses said1 ,thy right hand1 ,o ,,lord1 is become glorious in power4 ,footnote3 ,exod4 xv4 #f4 ,nehemiah speaks again and again of the good hand of my ,god upon me1 ,footnote3 ,neh4 ii4 #h4 when he tells us of all ,god's loving help and guidance in the difficult work he had undertaken4 ,think again of ,god's loving ,hands in grace1 healing the broken in heart and binding up their wounds4 ,how safe ,david felt when he said1 ,thy right hand upholdeth me4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 lxiii4 #h4 ,he shows his confidence in ,god when he prays1 ,hold ,thou me up and ,i shall be safe4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxix4 #aag4 ,when your child wants you to hold him up he slips his little hand in yours1 doesn't he8 ,have you ever put your weak hand into ,god's strong loving ,hand so as to let ,him do the holding up8 ,the saints in olden times felt ,god's ,hand in everything1 over-ruling1 planning1 guiding1 and ,jesus assures us of the perfect safety and everlasting security of the believer1 for ,he says1 ,no one1 either man or devil1 can pluck them out of ,my hand1 nor shall any man be able to pluck them out of ,my ,father's hand2 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john x4 #bh1 #bi4 so there are two ,divine ,hands holding us fast4 ,think once more of the hands of ,god3 not only strong hands to help and to heal1 but redeeming hands1 mighty to save2 hands that have been in the fire to pluck us out of the burning2 hands that have laid hold of the enemy and have overcome him2 hands that have unlocked the gates of a new life that we may enter in4 ,not long ago a little girl was caressing her dear old nurse1 and when she caught sight of the deep scars in her hands she asked1 ,how did you get these scars8 ,the nurse looked at her very tenderly and then she said1 ,when you were a baby1 a fire broke out one night when you were asleep in your cot4 ,i plunged my hands into the flames and lifted you out4 ,the child's eyes were full of tears as she looked at the dear scarred hands1 the hands that had been wounded to save her4 ,those scarred hands remind me of another story4 ,one day1 about thirty years ago1 some children were playing on a mountain in ,france1 and their merry peals of laughter attracted the notice of a shepherd lad who was taking care of the sheep a little way off4 ,suddenly a wolf foaming at the mouth came in sight4 ,he saw it run madly down the mountain towards the children4 ,without a moment's hesitation he rushed forward1 seized the wolf1 and grappled with it4 ,after a fierce struggle he managed to bind a leather strap around its mouth1 and then he killed it1 but not before the wolf1 which was raving mad1 had bitten him severely in the hand4 ,this occurred just at the time when ,pasteur1 the famous ,paris doctor1 had discovered a remedy for hydrophobia4 ,without delay the shepherd lad who had saved the lives of the children at such a cost was taken to ,paris and was cured4 ,hundreds of patients are sent to the ,pasteur ,institute at ,paris and when they ring the bell1 the door is opened by an elderly man with a scar on his hand4 ,he was once the shepherd lad who rescued the children from the raving wolf1 and the deep scars are from its bite4 ,inside the hall there is a statue representing him in the terrible struggle with the wolf4 ,think of the wounded hands of the ,son of ,god4 ,do you ask ,where8 ,how8 ,why8 ,where were they wounded8 ,on ,calvary's ,cross4 ,how8 ,they pierced ,my hands and ,my feet4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 xxii4 #af4 ,this is the wonder of it1 ,he was wounded for our transgressions4 ,look at the #ecrd chapter of ,isaiah1 and there you will see ,jesus as the ,suffering ,substitute4 ,seven times in that chapter it is distinctly mentioned that all ,his suffering was because ,he was bearing our sins4 ,notice in verse #e it says1 ,he was wounded for our transgressions1 ,he was bruised for our iniquities4 ,then in verse #f1 ,the ,lord hath laid on ,him the iniquity of us all4 ,in verse #h1 ,for the transgression of ,my people was ,he stricken1 or the stroke was upon ,him4 ,he stood between the stroke of ,divine ,justice and the sinner and received the blow ,himself4 ,in verse #aj1 ,thou shalt make ,his soul an offering for sin2 verse #aa1 ,he shall bear their iniquities2 verse #ab1 ,he bare the sin of many4 ,jesus was the ,suffering ,substitute because ,he was the ,sin-bearer4 ,see how in ,his death ,he was identified with the sinner4 ,for in verse #ab we read1 ,he was numbered with the transgressors4 ,in the ,gospels we are told that there were two thieves crucified with ,him1 on either side one and ,jesus in the midst4 ,i once saw a coloured illustration of the three crosses on ,calvary4 ,one cross was painted black1 the other was white1 and the middle one was red4 ,now if we look at those three crosses on ,calvary from the ,divine standpoint1 it seems as if one cross which was black at first is now white4 ,it is the cross of the penitent thief2 all his sins have been transferred to the ,sin-bearer1 so now there is not one sin on him2 he has been washed whiter than snow4 ,the cross of the impenitent thief is black1 and remains black1 for he dies with all his sins on him and goes into the blackness of darkness for ever4 ,the middle cross is red3 ,jesus the ,holy ,one has no sin in ,him1 but the sin of the whole world is on ,him1 because ,he is the atoning sacrifice for sin4 ,o ,christ1 what burdens bowed ,thy head1 ,our load was laid on ,thee4 ,thou stoodest in the sinner's stead1 ,didst bear all ill for me4 ,a victim led1 ,thy blood was shed1 ,now there's no load for me4 ,in the writings of an ,american ,evangelist we meet with this quaint illustration1 ,god uses bright red to get pure white out of dead black4 ,it is just the same truth as we have seen shining out from the three crosses4 ,there we see ,jesus in the midst1 the ,god-appointed ,sacrifice for sin1 and we see the penitent thief washed whiter than snow in the precious ,blood4 ,we see ,jesus again in the midst1 three days after4 ,it is in the ,upper ,room at ,jerusalem1 on ,easter ,sunday4 ,the disciples who were like scattered sheep have gathered together there once more1 though still trembling with fear4 ,then came ,jesus and stood in the midst and said unto them1 ,peace be unto you4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xx4 #ai4 ,it was the first time ,he had spoken to them since the night when ,he was betrayed when they had forsaken ,him and had run away4 ,he might have met them with a reproof1 but ,he knows all about our poor hearts1 so ,he meets them with a smile and the sweet greeting1 ,peace be unto you4 ,and ,he says it to them all1 even to ,peter who had denied his ,lord1 and to the others who had forsaken ,him4 ,yes1 ,he has only one greeting for them one and all1 and that is ,peace4 ,then a pause1 and after the pause there came a revelation--,he showed them ,his hands and ,his side4 ,why did ,he show them the nail prints in ,his hands and the deep wound in ,his side8 ,it was to reveal to them the wondrous truth that ,he ,himself is our ,peace1 and that the ,peace which ,he gives is the ,peace which ,he has ,himself made through the ,blood of ,his ,cross4 ,footnote3 ,col4 i4 #bj4 ,through ,christ on the ,cross peace was made1 ,my debt by ,his death was all paid2 ,no otter foundation is laid1 ,for peace the gift of ,god's love4 ,he showed them ,his hands and ,his side1 because ,he wants them to understand that these sacred scars tell us of ,his wondrous love and of the infinite cost of ,redemption4 ,let us lift up our hearts and say-- ,oh1 make me understand it1 ,help me to take it in1 ,what it meant to ,thee the ,holy ,one ,to bear away my sin4 ,we find from ,st4 ,john's ,gospel that ,thomas1 one of the twelve1 was not among them when ,jesus came1 so the rest of the disciples told him1 ,we have seen the ,lord4 ,he replied1 ,unless ,i see in ,his hands the wound made by the nails1 and put my finger into the wound1 and put my hand into ,his side1 ,i will never believe it4 ,so when a week later ,jesus says to ,thomas1 ,reach hither thy finger and behold 7or feel7 ,my hands1 and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into ,my side1 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xx4 #bg4 it shows how our ,lord made these scars the very test of his faith1 and it is the same now4 ,in ,st4 ,luke's ,gospel we read that ,he said1 ,behold ,my hands and ,my feet4 ,when ,he showed them the marks of ,his sufferings for them1 it was as if ,he said1 ,here is the guarantee of your pardon and peace4 ,we cannot have peace until we have pardon2 many seek peace instead of taking pardon first4 ,when ,he showed them ,his hands1 and ,his feet1 and ,his side1 it was as if ,he said1 ,you need cleansing from all sin2 here are the marks of the cleansing ,blood4 ,you need the touch of healing power1 and here is the ,hand that will give it to you4 ,you want companionship in your daily life4 ,here are the feet that will travel with you1 you never walk alone4 ,what wonderful tenderness and love6 ,if ever you feel depressed or ready to doubt ,god's love1 remember how ,he showed them ,his hands and ,his side1 that they might see those sacred scars4 ,and we read in the next verse1 ,then were the disciples glad when they saw the ,lord4 ,yes1 they were filled with joy at seeing the ,master4 ,you will remember how troubled ,thomas had been before this1 but now the sight of the wounded hands took away all his doubts and fears4 ,it was then that his faith rose higher than that of any of the others1 for he exclaimed with adoration and worship1 ,my ,lord1 and my ,god6 ,if ever you wander away or your heart grows cold and careless1 think of those words1 ,he showed them ,his hands and ,his side1 and remember ,he is still the same in the glory4 ,when the beloved ,apostle ,john looked through the open door into heaven1 he saw ,him standing there in the midst of the throne with the nail prints in ,his hands and feet1 a ,lamb as it had been slain4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 v4 #f4 ,what a sight6 ,dear dying ,lamb1 ,thy precious blood ,shall never lose its power1 ,till all the ransomed ,church of ,god ,be saved to sin no more4 ,but why did ,he show them the wounds in ,his hands and side8 ,to make it plain that ,he bore all the penalty of sin4 ,some speak about sin as if it were only a mistake1 but ,god says sin is guilt1 and that all are guilty1 for all have sinned4 ,we have offended against ,god's holy law1 and if any one breaks the law he brings upon himself the penalty4 ,god says1 ,the soul that sinneth1 it shall die2 ,footnote3 ,ezek4 xviii4 #bj4 so the penalty we deserve is death1 everlasting punishment4 ,the penalty must be paid by some one4 ,god's justice demands it4 ,god is not willing that any should perish2 ,he loves the sinner1 though ,he hates the sin4 ,still the penalty must be paid1 so ,he found out a way2 ,his own dear ,son must take the sinner's place and suffer the full penalty instead1 the death-penalty4 ,perhaps you wonder1 how can the death of ,one atone for the sin of the many8 ,a lad once asked his father this question4 ,the father made no reply but took him into the garden4 ,then he dug up a spadeful of earth with a number of worms in it1 and turning to the boy he asked him1 ,now which is of most value1 your life or that of one worm1 or even a thousand worms8 ,mine1 said the boy4 ,now said the father1 you can see how the life and death of the ,divine ,saviour is sufficient satisfaction to ,god for the sins of the whole world4 ,oh6 the wonder of it all4 ,we see ,god1 the ,holy ,god1 the just ,god1 the righteous ,god--we see man1 guilty1 condemned1 sinful4 ,then we see the ,son of ,god ,who knew no sin1 made sin for us1 ,footnote3 #b ,cor4 v4 #ba4 so that all the requirements of ,god's holiness and justice are fully met4 ,it was on the ,cross1 in that hour of darkness and agony when ,he cried1 ,my ,god1 ,my ,god1 why hast ,thou forsaken ,me1 that ,he was made sin for us4 ,now we see the meaning of the wounded ,hands1 the broken ,heart of ,god4 ,if ,i were ,god1 the cynic said1 this sinning1 suffering world would break my heart4 ,but what if ,god's heart was broken8 ,do we not read in the #fith ,psalm1 ,reproach hath broken my heart8 ,footnote3 ,ps4 lxix4 #bj4 ,the last night before ,he died ,he went to the garden of ,gethsemane4 ,only three of ,his disciples followed ,him into the place where ,he knelt down to pray1 and even these three fell asleep4 ,he was left alone4 ,he says1 ,i looked for some to take pity1 but there was none1 and for comforters1 but ,i found none4 ,it was then the agony began which ended on the ,cross in a broken heart4 ,it was then ,he prayed saying1 ,father1 if ,thou be willing1 remove this cup from ,me1 and there appeared an angel unto ,him from heaven1 strengthening ,him4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,luke xxii4 #db1 #dc4 ,his prayer was heard and the victory was won over the adversary1 for it must be on the ,cross and in no other way that the ,atonement could be made4 ,christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law1 being made a curse for us1 for it is written1 ,cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree4 ,footnote3 ,gal4 iii4 #ac4 ,who ,his own self bare our sins in ,his own body on the tree4 ,footnote3 ,i ,pet4 ii4 #bd4 ,it was there on the ,cross that ,he said1 ,it is finished2 and ,he bowed ,his ,head and died4 ,we should not have known that ,he died of a broken heart if one little circumstance had not taken place4 ,the ,holy ,spirit has shown us that this circumstance was foretold in the ,scriptures and was all part of ,god's purpose in our redemption4 ,the soldiers had orders to break the legs of those who had been crucified1 so as to hasten their death1 and remove their bodies without delay2 but when they came to ,jesus and saw that ,he was dead already1 they brake not ,his legs2 but one of the soldiers pierced ,his side1 and forthwith came there out blood and water4 ,this was a proof that ,he had died of a broken heart4 ,footnote3 ,john xix4 #cd4 ,he died of a broken heart for you1 ,he died of a broken heart1 ,oh6 wondrous love for you1 for me1 ,he died of a broken heart4 ,when we remember that the pouring out of the blood followed on the breaking of the body1 then we see the meaning of the precious words spoken by our ,lord during the ,last ,supper4 ,we read that1 ,he took bread1 and when ,he had given thanks1 ,he brake it and said1 ',take1 eat2 this is ,my ,body which is broken for you4' ,footnote3 ,i ,cor4 xi4 #bd4 ,and ,he took the cup and said1 ',this is ,my ,blood of the ,new ,testament which is shed for many4' ,footnote3 ,st4 ,mark xiv4 #bd4 ,why did ,he die8 ,why was ,his blood poured out8 ,the ,apostle ,paul answers that question when ,he says1 ,god was in ,christ reconciling the world unto ,himself4 ,in that one sentence we have the ,message of the ,cross6 ,we see ,god's purpose behind it all4 ,two wonderful truths lie hidden in that glorious message4 ,the first is1 that ,christ died to put away sin1 because sin is the thing and the only thing which comes between us and ,god4 ,the good news which ,christ brings to us is that ,god ,himself has taken the first step in this work of reconciliation4 ,oh6 how wonderful it is that it is our sins which have brought out all the anguish and love of ,god's heart4 ,yes1 our sins grieved ,him so much ,he could not rest till ,he had devised a plan by which they could all be blotted out1 once for all4 ,dear friends1 whenever your sins are a burden1 say these words over and over in your heart1 ,god was in ,christ reconciling me to ,himself4 ,footnote3 #b ,cor4 v4 #ai4 ,this alone would have been wonderful1 but there is something more in the good news1 and that is ,god is beseeching you to be reconciled to ,him4 ,have you ever grasped that truth8 ,i remember hearing of a great lawyer who was moved to shed tears1 and when a fellow-lawyer asked him why he was in trouble he replied1 ,i see now what ,i never saw before4 ,yes1 ,i see that ,god is beseeching me to be reconciled to ,him4 ,i always thought it was for me to beseech ,god4 ,many think as this lawyer did that the sinner must first come to ,god4 ,no1 it is ,god ,who comes to us entreating us to return to ,him4 ,he is always sending us messages of love1 and the moment we turn to ,him and trust ,him ,he gives us a full free pardon4 ,dear fellow-sinners1 we pray you now in ,christ's stead1 and because of ,his great love in dying for you1 ,be reconciled to ,god4 ,god is now willing2 are you willing8 ,do say ,yes4 ,will you say it now very solemnly in your heart to ,god8 ,,address ,,vii ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,god ,,portion ,,of ,,scripture--,psalm xix4 ,this ,psalm is full of the glory of ,god4 ,it tells us first of the ,glory of ,god shining in this beautiful world which ,he has made1 and then it shows us the glory of ,god shining in the ,scriptures1 in this ,book which lies open before us4 ,the first verse bursts forth with the triumphant note1 ,the heavens declare the glory of ,god4 ,everything in earth and sky shows forth ,his wisdom1 ,his power and ,his love4 ,then it gives us a wonderful picture of the sunrise and compares it to a bridegroom coming out of his chamber4 ,you have seen the first streaks of light in the early morning1 and then you have watched the onward course of the sun till it is high up in the sky at mid-day1 full of power1 rejoicing as a strong man to run a race4 ,but ,nature1 with all its secrets1 ,nature with all its wonders and treasures1 is only part of ,god's revelation of ,himself2 the other part is to be found in ,his ,word4 ,so the ,psalmist passes from the glorious sun in the heavens to the glory shining in the ,word of ,god4 ,the glory we see in ,god's works is only an illustration of the glory shining in this ,book4 ,after giving the wonderful description of the rising sun1 he goes on to point out that there is not a single spot in the whole world where the sun does not shine1 and that its light and heat can be felt by everything4 ,then he shows us that it is just the same with the ,word of ,god4 ,it is ,god's message to every one1 but it is only when it finds an entrance into man's heart that it gives light4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxix4 #acj4 ,if you draw down the blind the sun cannot shine into your room2 so the ,holy ,spirit must open our hearts for the light of ,his ,word to enter in1 otherwise it will be to us the same as any other book4 ,is it dark without you1 darker still within8 ,clear the darkened windows1 ,open wide the door2 ,let the blessed sunshine in4 ,how can we know that the ,bible is the ,word of ,god8 ,a gentleman1 who was an unbeliever1 stopped one day to speak to ,molly1 the old woman who kept a flower stall near the station4 ,he noticed she was reading her ,bible1 so he asked her why she read it4 ,because it is the ,word of ,god4 ,how do you know8 ,because it cheers and warms my heart4 ,i am just as sure it is ,god's own ,word as ,i am that it is the sun shining up there4 ,this simple testimony was the means of convincing him and he thanked her for it4 ,we have heard how the sun shines over the whole world1 but is it not wonderful that every little drop of water can reflect the whole of its light8 ,in every sunbeam there are seven colours1 and when you look up at the rainbow you see all the seven in one drop of rain4 ,this is only an illustration of the wonders of ,god's grace4 ,if you are a child of ,god the whole of ,god's grace enters your heart1 so you have grace to speak1 grace to pray1 grace to be loving and patient1 grace for everything4 ,the whole of ,god's life and light and love are for you as if there were no one else in the world4 ,it is the same with all the precious truths of ,god's ,word3 they are all yours4 ,a minister who wanted to know how many promises there are in the ,bible searched all through the ,book and he counted nearly five thousand4 ,had you any idea that there are as many as five thousand precious promises for the believer in ,god's ,word8 ,have you claimed them8 ,a ,christian woman who was very ill asked her daughter to read the #hth chapter of the ,epistle to the ,romans4 ,when she had finished the mother said1 ,that's mine1 it's all mine4 ,how rich she was6 ,only think of it and it is an ,eternal inheritance1 for the chapter begins with no condemnation and ends with no separation4 ,if you will look at verses #g and #h of our ,psalm1 you will see four things which the ,word of ,god does4 ,it converts the soul1 makes wise the simple1 rejoices the heart1 enlightens the eyes4 ,let us think of these four things4 ,first3 ,the law of the ,lord is perfect1 converting the soul4 ,the law here means the whole covenant of ,jehovah4 ,you remember how1 when ,god appeared to ,abraham1 that ,abraham fell on his face1 feeling his utter weakness and nothingness1 and then ,god talked with him4 ,when a man is laid low in the dust then ,god can talk to him4 ,and ,god said to ,abraham1 ,i will make my covenant between ,me and thee4 ,footnote3 ,gen4 xvii4 #b4 ,a covenant is a promise made under solemn conditions1 and it is ,god's covenant of grace which converts the soul4 ,such a promise as we have in ,ezekiel3 ,a new heart also will ,i give you1 and a new spirit will ,i put within you1 and ,i will take away the stony heart out of your flesh1 and ,i will give you an heart of flesh3 ,and ,i will put my ,spirit within you4 ,footnote3 ,ezek4 xxxvi4 #bf4 ,god says ,i will five times in those few lines1 because ,he wants us to understand that in giving this promise ,he undertakes to do in us and for us what we can never do for ourselves4 ,this reminds me of a young woman who was troubled because1 although she was longing to be saved1 yet she felt her heart was so hard4 ,one ,sunday the minister took this verse as the text for his sermon4 ,when he gave it out it seemed to her as if a voice was speaking these words close to her1 right into her ear1 ,i will give you an heart of flesh4 ,it came like a message direct from ,god4 ,she was so deeply touched she could not listen to the sermon1 and after it was over she went into the fields to find a quiet place that she might look at the words again in her ,bible4 ,she is now a very bright earnest ,christian4 ,it is through the ,word that ,god speaks to our hearts1 and when the ,holy ,spirit makes it a living ,word and quickens us to receive it with faith1 then we are converted4 ,if you are not saved1 take your ,bible and read it prayerfully1 and you will find in it just what you want4 ,remember the letter of ,scripture is of no use unless we experience its power and enjoy its sweetness4 ,a young clergyman was converted through a very strange text4 ,he was so much depressed he thought of committing suicide1 and then his eye fell on that verse in ,ecclesiastes1 ,a living dog is better than a dead lion4 ,footnote3 ,eccles4 ix4 #d4 ,the words brought fresh hope to him4 ,he said to himself1 ,one thing is certain and that is1 ,i am still a living man1 and he was then led to seek ,christ as the ,way1 the ,truth and the ,life4 ,it is wonderful to think of the many different ways in which ,god sends ,his ,word home to our hearts4 ,spurgeon gives an instance of this4 ,he was asked to visit a dying man who told him about his conversion4 ,he said1 ,some years ago ,i was at work in the ,crystal ,palace4 ,god's ,spirit was striving with me and ,i felt the burden of sin4 ,it seemed to follow me wherever ,i went4 ,suddenly a voice said to me distinctly1 ',behold he ,lamb of ,god which taketh away the sin of the world4' ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john i4 #bi4 ,no one was near me1 and ,i thought the message had come straight from ,god4 ,i then saw clearly that ,christ had died to save me1 and ever since ,i have had joy and peace in believing4 ,spurgeon listened to the dying man's testimony with deep interest1 and he remembered that on that very day he had gone to the ,crystal ,palace to test his voice in the transept before speaking at a ,people's service which was to be held there1 and had used that very text1 ,behold the ,lamb of ,god which taketh away the sin of the world4 ,let us thank ,god that ,his ,word is perfect in converting he soul4 ,the testimony of the ,lord is sure1 making wise the simple4 ,it is well known that very often a man who is no scholar1 but who is taught of ,god1 is able to see deep truths which learned men fail to understand4 ,every time you read your ,bible look up and say1 ,lord1 open ,thou mine eyes that ,i may behold wondrous things out of ,thy law4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxix4 #ah4 ,do not feel discouraged because you do not understand t all4 ,there are many things which earthly fathers tell their children which they do not understand till they are grown up1 but still they love to get father's letters1 and the ,bible is our heavenly ,father's letter to us4 ,do you value it8 ,in the #hth verse of the #aith ,psalm it says1 ,the statutes of the ,,lord are right1 rejoicing the heart4 ,i have seen many careworn faces lit up with joy when reading the ,word4 ,one man especially1 who had a great deal of trouble and opposition in his home life1 used to give his testimony at the ,meeting4 ,opening his ,bible in the #eth chapter of the ,gospel of ,st4 ,john he would read the #bdth verse1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,he that heareth ,my word and believeth on ,him that sent ,me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed from death unto life4 ,then he would tell us with a beaming face that it was his song of assurance1 for1 as he said1 there are three links1 ,he that heareth1 believeth1 hath--and 'hath' means 'got it1' and ,i've got everlasting life4 ,jesus says it and ,i know it's true4 ,he is now in the glory1 and maybe he is telling the angels about it4 ,if we had no ,bible we should have no certainty that our sins are forgiven4 ,a little girl named ,molly said to her aunt who was teaching her about ,jesus1 ,how can ,i be sure that my sins are forgiven8 ,because ,god says so1 ,footnote3 i ,john i4 #i4 was the reply1 and then she repeated the text1 ,if we confess our sins1 ,god is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness4 ,many say1 ,i believe in the forgiveness of sins1 and yet they still carry about the burden of their sins4 ,they see clearly how ,god can forgive sin1 but they cannot realise that it is their own sins which are forgiven4 ,this was the case with ,luther4 ,he tells us how1 when he was distressed because of his sins1 a friend pointed out to him that he would not have real peace unless he claimed ,god's forgiveness for his own sins4 ,it was like a new light flashing into his soul2 he saw his mistake and looking up with a beaming face1 he said1 ,i see it now--it is not other people's sins1 it is my sins which are all forgiven6 ,we must not estimate sin and forgiveness by our own standard4 ,when we have given way to sin again and again we feel ashamed to ask ,god's forgiveness so often but the wonder of it all is that ,god meets this very feeling of shame with the words1 ,my thoughts are not your thoughts2 and then ,he adds1 ,for ,i will abundantly pardon1 ,footnote3 #b ,isa4 lv4 #g1 #h4 which means1 ,i will repeatedly pardon4 ,god's thoughts of sin and ,his thoughts about forgiveness are far higher than ours4 ,sometimes ,i feel quite overwhelmed when ,i think of how great ,his forgiving love has been to me4 ,look again at our ,psalm1 verse #g1 ,the testimony of the ,lord is sure1 making wise the simple4 ,the word ,testimony means an assurance or a promise from ,god to the individual soul1 and ,david had such confidence in ,god he is quite sure ,he will not disappoint him or fail to keep ,his word4 ,so he says1 ,the testimony1 or promise1 of ,god is sure4 ,it is this certainty which makes ,david so happy4 ,he seems to be overflowing with joy1 for he says1 ,thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors1 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxix4 #bd4 and again1 ,i love ,thy testimonies4 ,thy testimonies are wonderful1 therefore doth my soul keep them4 ,thy testimonies that ,thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxix4 #aai1 #abi1 #ach4 ,the word ,testimony means also what ,god has commanded us to believe and also to practise4 ,a native convert in ,china said the other day1 ,i began by reading the ,bible1 but now ,i am behaving it4 ,this is what ,david means when he says1 ,my soul hath kept ,thy testimonies1 and ,i love them exceedingly4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxix4 #afg4 ,the question was once asked at a meeting1 ,can you point to any text in the ,word of ,god which makes you sure you are saved and safe8 ,i can1 said one of the company1 in a quiet firm voice4 ,it is ,john iii4 #cf1 ,he that believeth on the ,son hath everlasting life4 ,we have many bed-rock texts and that is one1 as the beautiful old hymn says-- ,how firm a foundation1 ye saints of the ,lord1 ,is laid for your faith in ,his excellent ,word4 ,i was summoned late one evening to see a dying man who had been brought to ,christ through my ,bible ,class4 ,when ,i entered his room he looked up and said with a smile1 ,i sent for you because ,i want to tell you that ,i am quite safe1 quite sure and quite satisfied4 ,i am quite safe because ,jesus died for me4 ,i am quite sure because ,i have ,his ,word for it4 ,i am quite satisfied because ,i am going to be with ,him in the glory4 ,the ,word of ,god was written that we might believe2 to believe is to know1 and to be quite certain4 ,the word believe comes from an old root meaning to live by4 ,man shall not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,god4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 iv4 #d4 ,put your finger down on one of the many precious assurances which ,god has given us in ,his ,word1 of the certainty of complete forgiveness and acceptance1 and then look up into ,his face with loving gratitude4 ,god's pardon and acceptance are absolute and eternal2 nothing can ever alter them4 ,god wants us to know it and to live in the joy of it4 ,trusting ,his ,word gives us safety1 certainty and enjoyment4 ,if any sin comes into your mind and troubles you1 dear child of ,god1 do not carry it about with you1 tell ,father about it at once2 confess it to ,him and remember that you are under the cleansing ,blood4 ,the ,blood of ,jesus ,christ1 ,god's ,son1 cleanseth us from all sin4 ,footnote3 #a ,john i4 #g4 ,it has not only cleansed us once for all1 but it is cleansing us now at the present moment4 ,it is important to remember that the whole purpose of the ,bible is to give glory to ,god4 ,it is the ,everlasting ,word of the ,everlasting ,god4 ,the word of our ,god shall stand for ever4 ,footnote3 ,isa4 xl4 #h4 ,make the word of ,god everything4 ,receive its statements by faith as revelations of simple certainties4 ,find out how happy you are4 ,happy is that people that is in such a case1 yea1 happy is that people whose ,god is ,lord4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxliv4 #ae4 ,if we are walking with ,god in our daily life we need a light to show us the way4 ,david knew well what it was to go along rough roads on dark nights1 so he says1 ,thy ,word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxix4 #aje4 ,did you ever hear about ,moody's torch8 ,one night ,moody had to return home through a dark wood after one of his meetings1 and the path was winding and rough1 so a friend offered him a torch4 ,moody declined taking it1 saying1 ,thank you1 but it is too small4 ,it will light you home1 said the man4 ,but the wind may blow it out4 ,it will light you home4 ,but if it should rain8 ,it will light you home4 ,at last ,moody started1 taking the torch with him1 and he said afterwards1 ,in spite of all my fears1 it gave abundant light on my path all the way home4 ,every promise in the ,word of ,god is like ,moody's torch1 and if we will take it and use it1 we shall find as he did1 that it will light us all the way to our ,eternal ,home4 ,the ,bible is the ,book of light placed by our ,master in the hand of faith that we may see clearly how to walk and to please ,god and how to deal wisely and kindly with those around us4 ,it contains plain directions about everything in our daily life4 ,the ,bible is a ,revelation of ,god ,himself4 ,it is a direct communication from ,him to us4 ,there are four things made known to us in the ,word which are of priceless value-- #a4 ,it proclaims a full1 free salvation through faith in ,christ4 ,to you is the ,message of this ,salvation sent4 #b4 ,it opens out to you the riches of grace and invites you to take them freely--freely--freely4 #c4 ,it opens the door of faith wide to the weakest sinner and even to you4 #d4 ,it gives a new life within1 which transforms the soul and makes us new creatures in ,christ ,jesus4 ,our ,lord says1 ,the words that ,i speak unto you1 they are spirit and they are life4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john vi1 #fc4 ,can you say1 ,thy ,word hath quickened me8 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxix4 #ej4 ,do not be satisfied with reading a chapter here and there4 ,read straight through4 ,why8 ,because the ,bible has a beginning and an ending like any other book4 ,it begins with the story of a friendship between ,god and man3 we see man very happy in this friendship4 ,then something happens2 you will find it in the third chapter of ,genesis4 ,some one has come in between them and the friendship is broken4 ,still ,god is looking for ,his friend and calling him1 ,where are you8 ,the answer comes from under the shadow of the trees4 ,i heard ,thy voice and ,i was afraid and hid myself4 ,now we come to the last words at the end of the ,book1 and we hear the same ,voice saying1 ,i am coming back again very soon4 ,it is the ,voice of the same ,friend1 no longer sad but glad4 ,the darkness has all passed away and the true ,light is shining1 ,footnote3 ,i ,john ii4 #h4 and will shine for ever3 yes1 it is sunshine all around1 everlasting sunshine4 ,where is the ,bible8 ,do you keep your ,bible where you can take it up whenever you have a few spare moments8 ,is it ready at hand so that you can read it before you go to bed at night8 ,do the children speak of it as ,mother's book8 ,do you turn to it for strength and comfort8 ,is it a living book to you8 ,one of the most solemn things which ,god says to ,his rebellious people in olden times is that they were casting ,his ,words behind their backs4 ,we are doing the same thing if the ,bible is laid aside on the shelf1 or put into the front room and allowed to remain unopened week after week4 ,there can be no blessing in your home and in your life while you neglect the ,word of ,god4 ,it is this very word of ,god which will judge you at the last day4 ,listen to ,christ's solemn warning3 ,he that rejecteth ,me and receiveth not ,my words hath one that judgeth him1 which means you will not be left without a ,judge4 ,it is not a matter of small importance whether you read the ,bible or not3 it is a matter of life or death4 ,a neglected ,bible shows you are living without ,god2 a neglected ,bible shows you are living for this world only2 a neglected ,bible shows that your soul is dying of starvation2 a neglected ,bible means that though you may think you can get on very well without it1 ,jesus says1 ,the ,word that ,i have spoken the same will judge him in the last day4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xii4 #dh4 ,the ,bible is ,god's ,message to this present generation4 ,sometimes people want to lay it on one side as an old book which is out of date4 ,it is the most up-to-date book in the world4 ,it not only tells us of what is going on at the present moment1 but about what will happen in the future4 ,we see pictures in the daily papers of what people were doing yesterday and what they looked like1 but in the ,bible we have portraits true to life not only of what we are outwardly1 but of the thoughts of our hearts4 ,the ,word of ,god is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword3 it can discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart4 ,footnote3 ,heb4 iv4 #ab4 ,we hear a great deal about the ,x-rays which show what is going on inside the body1 but this is nothing compared to the ,word of ,god which penetrates deep down into our inmost feelings and brings them to light4 ,it is better to be searched and cleansed now1 than to go on in the old way and then to stand before the great ,white ,throne by and by1 condemned to everlasting punishment4 ,let us pray with ,david1 ,search me1 ,o ,god1 and know my heart1 try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me1 and lead me in the way ,everlasting4 ,amen4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxxxix1 #bc1 #bd4 ,,address ,,viii ,,have ,,faith ,,in ,,god ,,portion ,,of ,,scripture--,romans iv4 ,there is one man set before us in this chapter as the man who had faith in ,god4 ,the one thing which marks him more than any other is his faith4 ,the man lived nearly #d1jjj years ago1 and yet he is still a vivid personality2 he lives on in our thoughts and memories as the man who trusted ,god4 ,his name is still reverenced all over the world1 even among people of different religions1 as ,the ,friend of ,god4 ,the ,god of ,glory appeared to ,abraham1 and from that moment ,abraham's faith fastens on what ,god is4 ,the attractive power of ,jehovah drew him from his home1 his relations and his country1 and with every fresh revelation of ,god1 ,abraham's faith grasped more of ,god and clung to ,him with a firmer hold4 ,god's word was all he had to go by2 whatever ,god said was enough for him2 whatever ,god told him to do1 he did it1 because1 to trust ,god means to obey ,him4 ,he had ,god with him at every step4 ,if ever there was a clear-sighted man1 that man was ,abraham1 for trust in ,god enlightens our understanding4 ,he was a man with a far sight4 ,he saw what no other man then living saw4 ,he saw that the day was coming when ,god would send ,his ,son to be the ,saviour of the world4 ,how do we know this8 ,because ,christ said1 ,abraham rejoiced to see ,my day1 and he saw it and was glad4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john viii4 #ef4 ,he saw far on into the future1 farther than any other man then living4 ,he saw the golden ,city1 the holy ,city1 whose builder and maker is ,god4 ,footnote3 ,heb1 xi4 #aj4 ,yes1 the eye of faith not only sees ,god1 it sees also what ,god has prepared for those who love ,him4 ,god was very real to that man4 ,abraham trusted ,god because he knew ,him personally4 ,faith is the act of the soul which looks wholly away from self1 whether it be righteous self or sinful self1 and looks to ,god only1 in complete submission and confidence4 ,it was because ,abraham trusted ,him that ,god stamped the man as ,his friend--,abraham ,my friend4 ,on and on through all these hundreds of years he has been called the ,friend of ,god4 ,in the book of ,chronicles1 in ,isaiah and in the ,epistle of ,james it is mentioned again1 ,he was called the ,friend of ,god4 ,what is friendship8 ,it is two hearts trusting in each other4 ,abraham trusted ,god1 and ,god trusted ,abraham4 ,god put such confidence in him that ,he let him know that ,he was going to destroy the cities of the plain4 ,the ,,lord said1 ,shall ,i hide from ,abraham that thing which ,i do8 ,footnote3 ,gen4 xviii4 #ag4 ,mutual trust is at the root of all friendship4 ,where there is a lack of mutual confidence in the home life or in commercial life it spells ruin4 ,the great question for each one in life is1 ,what is my relation to ,god8 ,is it trusting ,god1 or is it doubting ,god8 ,abraham believed ,god and it was counted unto him for righteousness4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 iv4 #c4 ,what is righteousness8 ,it means to be right with ,god1 and the moment we trust ,god's ,word we are made righteous1 and we become righteous4 ,we read in ,acts that after their first missionary tour4 ,paul and ,barnabas reported in detail all that ,god had done1 and how ,he had opened the door of faith unto the ,gentiles4 ,footnote3 ,acts xiv4 #bg4 ,so faith is the gate of life by which the ,gentiles were entering in4 ,here was a new fact proving that faith was the gate of the ,lord into which the righteous should enter2 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxviii4 #bj4 righteous because believing4 ,faith is the door by which ,god comes into our hearts4 ,faith is only the door1 nothing in itself1 but it is called precious faith because of all the life and joy and riches of grace and glory which it lets in4 ,abraham is not only presented to us in the ,word of ,god as the ,friend of ,god1 but also as a pattern for all believers1 and we are told to take him as our model1 to walk in his steps1 to trust ,god and to find in ,god's wondrous friendship all that he found4 ,god has been teaching us ever since1 through the simplicity of the faith of this man4 ,the most remarkable point in his faith is this1 he grasped as no one else had done that ,god is ,god because ,he can quicken the dead4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 iv4 #ag4 ,he can give life to the dead because ,he ,himself is the ,source of life4 ,he calls those things which are not as though they were because ,he is the ,creator of all things4 ,this applies not only to the body but to the soul4 ,your confidence in ,god began when your soul1 which was dead in sin1 was quickened into a new life4 ,when we ourselves have experienced this quickening it gives us such faith in praying for those we love1 knowing that ,god alone can quicken dead souls4 ,abraham was strong in faith2 even when ,god promised him a son1 although it seemed impossible1 he staggered not at the promise of ,god through unbelief1 being fully persuaded that ,god was able to do it4 ,to be strong in faith is to feel our utter helplessness and to rely on ,god's power only2 to be strong in faith is to grasp ,god's promise and not to let anything make us doubt it4 ,we have an illustration of this strong faith in the case of the first missionary who went out to ,china a hundred years ago4 ,the captain of the ship in which he sailed was an atheist1 and one day he said to him with a sneer1 ,you don't suppose1 do you1 that you are going to convert those ,chinese8 ,no1 said the missionary1 but ,i believe ,god is going to do it4 ,did ,god fail him8 ,no4 ,his faith was rewarded1 and at the present time there are a quarter of a million ,chinese believers who meet in fellowship at the ,lord's ,table4 ,what is faith8 ,it is the link between me and ,god4 ,the link between my emptiness and ,god's fulness4 ,the link between me1 the sinner and ,jesus1 the ,saviour4 ,is there this link between you and ,god8 ,is the link on8 ,faith is the spiritual link1 the one and only means by which a man can have dealings with ,god1 realise ,god and walk with ,god4 ,it is a living link between ,god and the soul1 a living union4 ,the word faith comes from an old word which means to bind4 ,when ,i say ,i believe ,god1 it means that ,i am ,his and ,he is mine for ever and for ever4 ,it is trusting in ,his love1 not a mere cold belief in ,his power4 ,it is grasping ,his promises1 because they are precious promises4 ,it is the whole heart and mind going out and up to ,god4 ,david says3 ,unto ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 do ,i lift up my soul2 ,o my ,god1 ,i trust in ,thee1 ,footnote3 ,ps4 xxv1 #a1 #b1 #e ,this brings perfect rest4 ,thou art the ,god of my salvation1 on ,thee do ,i wait all the day4 ,do we make it a habit to be constantly referring to ,god about everything8 ,we learn first1 that ,god is1 and then our faith feeds upon what ,god is4 ,his faithfulness and ,his lovingkindness are seen in all ,his dealings with us4 ,faith has to do with unseen realities1 for faith is the evidence1 or proof of things not seen2 ,footnote3 ,heb4 xi4 #a4 it makes them as real as if we could see them1 and brings them near4 ,so we may say faith is like the telegraph wire which connects two places however far apart they may be4 ,we had an illustration of this not long ago4 ,our ,queen ,mary was in her sitting-room in ,buckingham ,palace4 ,a hospital was to be opened in ,canada #d1jjj miles off1 and she was asked to perform the ceremony4 ,when the signal was given that all was ready1 the ,queen pressed a little ivory button and in two seconds the door of the hospital1 which was held by an electric wire1 opened1 and in fifteen seconds the signal was flashed back that the hospital was open4 ,so in about half a minute the signal went there and back over a space of #h1jjj miles4 ,how wonderful6 and yet greater spiritual wonders are happening every day and many times in the day1 if only we have faith in ,god and let ,him work in us and through us4 ,i will give you another illustration how the simple touch of faith links us with ,god's power4 ,a few years ago some rocks blocked the entrance into the river ,st4 ,lawrence1 so that the ships could not go up the river to ,quebec4 ,it was decided that the mass of solid rock must be removed4 ,how was it done8 ,in the presence of a large crowd a little child stepped forward and touched an electric button and the whole mass of rock was blown up by dynamite and the passage cleared4 ,faith has done great wonders in times past1 and it can still do wonders1 if only we make use of ,god's ,almighty power4 ,but the rule is1 ,according to your faith so be it unto you4 ,i will give you an illustration4 ,when ,i want light in my room ,i touch the electric button and the room is filled with light4 ,the moment ,i press the button ,i expect the light will come1 and ,i am surprised if it fails4 ,why8 ,touching the electric button is like the touch of faith2 it brings us into contact with the source of light4 ,faith brings me into contact with ,god ,himself1 for ,he is the source of life and light4 ,god has ordained that faith shall be a power as real and as uniform in its working as light or heat or electricity4 ,everything about them is a mystery which we do not fully understand1 but all the same they are real to us and we use them4 ,although we do not understand them1 yet we prove again and again that they supply us with new life and energy simply by a touch4 ,even a child can touch4 ,faith places all ,god's fulness at our disposal1 but it is only according to our faith that we receive it4 ,i know a poor woman who went through a time of great anxiety about her little girl who was ill4 ,one day a ,christian friend called to see her and she told her all about her trouble4 ,when she had finished the friend said to her very tenderly1 ,you have forgotten one little word of five letters4 ,what is it8 ,do tell me1 she exclaimed1 looking puzzled4 ,then the friend1 pointing on her five fingers1 said slowly1 f-a-i-t-h4 ,the dark cloud cleared away and she was able to look up into ,god's face again and to trust ,him4 ,so when ,christ says1 ,have faith in ,god1 it is a command to hold fast to ,god4 ,it means trust ,god about everything1 great and small2 nothing is too small4 ,trust ,him to save you1 and to keep you4 ,trust ,him in every difficulty and in every duty4 ,little faith will bring your souls to heaven1 but great faith will bring heaven to your souls4 ,when ,christ said to ,peter and the others1 ,have faith in ,god1 ,he said it very earnestly and with a ring of deep conviction in ,his voice4 ,he knew in ,himself what dependence on ,god means in the earthly life4 ,day by day ,he showed what it is to have simple trust in ,god4 ,when ,he said1 ,have faith in ,god1 ,he said it very solemnly1 because ,he was speaking on behalf of ,his ,father4 ,he had come to reveal ,him1 so ,he says1 ,i do nothing of ,myself1 but as ,my ,father hath taught ,me ,i speak these things4 ,he had already said1 ,he that believeth on ,me hath everlasting life1 and now ,he adds1 ,have faith in ,god4 ,yes1 ,he claims our confidence1 our full confidence1 not a half-hearted trust4 ,our ,lord saw men seeking other objects of trust1 so ,he says1 ,take hold of ,god1 hold fast to ,god1 have faith in ,god and never let it go4 ,the world's great need is faith in ,god4 ,god's own character demands it4 ,the ,scriptures make ,him known and reveal ,him as altogether trustworthy1 such an ,one as invites our entire confidence4 ,to have faith in ,god means leaning on ,him1 letting ,him bear the whole weight4 ,there is a great difference between believing and committing4 ,many say they believe1 but they are not willing to commit themselves to ,him4 ,a few years ago there was a man named ,blondin who performed wonderful feats at the ,crystal ,palace4 ,once he walked on a tight rope stretched across the centre of the ,palace at a height of #aej feet4 ,another time a rope was stretched at a great height over a shipbuilder's yard1 and he not only walked steadily across1 but he carried a man on his back4 ,a large crowd gazed at him in wonder and awe1 and great was their relief when both ,blondin and his burden reached the ground in safety4 ,among the eager upturned faces in the crowd there was a lad about eleven years of age4 ,when ,blondin came down he went up to the lad and said to him1 ,you saw me carry that big man across1 do you believe ,i could take you8 ,of course you could1 replied the boy2 why1 he was a big man1 and ,i am only a little chap4 ,well1 then1 jump up1 my lad1 said ,blondin1 and he stooped down for the boy to climb up on his back4 ,but although the boy said he believed ,blondin was able to carry him across1 he was not willing to trust himself1 and so1 just saying1 ,no1 thank you1 he was off like a shot and ran as fast as he could till he was lost in the crowd4 ,though he said he believed1 when it came to the point he did not commit himself1 and that is all the difference1 between believing in ,christ and believing on ,him4 ,faith in ,god means really committing ourselves into ,his hands and rolling our burdens on ,him4 ,if we withhold our confidence it shows that we do not really believe that ,god is what the ,bible says ,he is4 ,the reason there is so much unrest and ungodliness is because we have lost sight of ,god4 ,it is not because the ,bible is out of date as some say1 or that the ,gospel has lost its power2 it is still as ever1 the power of ,god unto salvation1 but we are limiting ,god4 ,it is just the same now as in olden times when the children of ,israel limited the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 and we read how this lack of confidence grieved ,god all through those forty years in the wilderness4 ,yea1 they spake against ,god1 they said1 ,can ,god furnish a table in the wilderness2 can ,god give bread also2 can ,he provide flesh for ,his people8 ,footnote3 ,ps4 lxxviii4 #ai1 #bj4 ,unbelief asks1 ,can ,he8 ,faith says1 ,he can4 ,dear friends1 let me ask you to stop and ask yourself1 ,where do you put that little word can8 ,are you constantly thinking to yourself1 ,can ,god8 or are you saying in your heart and meaning it too1 ,god can6 ,we limit ,god's power to save1 by asking1 ,can ,god8 ,the hindrance is the same as in olden times when ,jeremiah felt that because of the unbelief of the people the ,lord was as a mighty man that cannot save4 ,footnote3 ,jer4 xiv2 #i4 ,you have prayed many years perhaps for the conversion of some one near and dear to you1 but are you limiting ,god because you doubt ,his power to do it8 ,a poor man who gave way to drink said sadly1 ,i have broken the pledge again and again2 then pointing to his pledge card he said1 ,but now ,i have written a text on it1 ,isaiah xli4 #ac3 ',for ,i the ,lord thy ,god will hold thy right hand1 saying unto thee1 ,fear not1 ,i will help thee4' ,then looking up he said simply1 ,maybe1 ,him and me will do it together4 ,is it victory over temptation you long for8 ,look up to ,him and say1 ,i can't1 but ,god can4 ,is it grace you need for some special trial8 ,say1 ,god is able to make all grace abound towards me1 for ,he tells us in ,his ,word that ,he is able to do 'exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think according to the power that is working in us4' ,footnote3 ,eph4 iii4 #bj4 ,the world's great sin is not trusting ,god4 ,thus said the ,,lord1 ,cursed be the man that trusteth in man1 and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the ,lord4 ,footnote3 ,jer4 xvii4 #e4 ,yet in times of difficulty or danger how apt we are to lean on the arm of flesh4 ,during the present ,european war ,i was much impressed by the words of one of our soldiers who writes from the front3 ,after all that is being done there still remains one supreme necessity without which neither arms or munitions can be decisive1 namely1 the spiritual outlook of the whole nation4 ,when ,i returned home after ten months in ,flanders1 ,i was amazed at the lack of spirituality of the people as a whole4 ,the simple faith and dependence upon ,god which characterised our country in her past struggles seem lost to sight4 ',they trusted in ,thee and ,thou didst deliver them' implied no disregard for military efficiency2 it was the real and vital accompaniment to armed force4 ,can it be that the hellishness of battle1 the wearing down of the spirit induced by trench warfare1 moments of utter loneliness which every soldier has to bear1 strike right at the soul and enable him to realise the nearness of the spiritual world8 ',prayer is the foundation of all grace' were the words of a dying soldier who had deliberately returned to the area of poisonous gas and had brought back the machine gun on his shoulders4 ,some of us have realised what individual prayer at home has done for us1 but we should all like to feel that the whole nation is also testing the value of spiritual power4 ,we read in ,god's ,word that ,the children of ,judah prevailed1 because they relied upon the ,lord ,god2 ,footnote3 #b ,chron4 xiii4 #ah4 and when ,king ,asa was defeated the prophet said to him1 ,because thou hast relied on the ,king of ,syria1 and not relied on the ,lord thy ,god1 therefore is the host of the ,king of ,syria escaped out of thine hand4 ,footnote3 #b ,chron4 xvi4 #g4 ,to have faith in ,god we must put ,god first in everything4 ,he must be first when we awake in the morning4 ,how blessed it is to be able to feel1 ,when ,i awake ,i am still with ,thee4 ,a working man said to me once1 ,i make myself happy in ,god the first thing in the morning4 ,david says1 ,in the morning will ,i direct my prayer unto ,thee and will look up4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 v4 #c4 ,when ,i awake ,i am still with ,thee4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxxxix4 #ah4 ,in my morning prayer1 said a ,christian man1 instead of thinking of my own needs first1 ,i like to think of the fulness there is in ,christ for me4 ,let us resolve to put ,god first1 even if we have only time for one text of ,scripture4 ,god first1 even if it is only a minute or two for prayer4 ,a ,christian said once1 ,i must see the face of ,god before ,i see the face of man4 ,the manna was gathered early every morning4 ,another said1 ,unless ,i meet with ,god first1 ,i cannot meet the difficulties of the day in a prepared spirit4 ,if you put ,god first1 you will find this will make all the difference as to how you do your work and how you deal with others4 ,little is much if ,god is in it4 ,to have faith in ,god is to trust ,him only4 ,david says1 ,my soul1 wait thou only upon ,god1 for my expectation is from ,him4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 lxii4 #e4 ,is it so with you8 ,if so1 what for1 and for how much8 ,first find out from ,his ,word that ,god is able and willing to do what you need2 then trust ,him to do it4 ,trust in ,him at all times it says again in that beautiful ,psalm4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 lxii4 #h4 ,i have been looking into my ,bible1 said a working man1 and ,i find a great many men trusted ,god1 and whatever they trusted ,god for1 they always got it2 ,he never failed them1 and it is the same now4 ,you have all heard of ,florence ,nightingale and her life of devotion in nursing the sick4 ,she was asked to tell the secret of her earnest ,christian life1 and after a pause she said1 ,i have kept nothing back from ,god4 ,faith in ,god is unreserved confidence1 telling ,him all and keeping nothing back4 ,but before we can do this as a daily habit we must definitely commit ourselves and all we have into ,god's hands4 ,it says in ,isaiah xliv4 #e1 ,one shall say1 ,i am the ,lord's4 ,i have a mark in my ,bible which ,i made many years ago by the side of these words4 ,i put the date and then ,i wrote these words3 ,he gave ,himself for me and ,i give myself to ,him4 ,he takes me and ,i take ,him4 ,ever since then it has been my delight to tell others how simple it all is4 ,it is the sinner taking the ,saviour and the ,saviour taking the sinner4 ,are you asking1 ,what must ,i do8 ,first believe what ,god says about you in ,his ,word4 ,he says1 that you are guilty1 lost1 ruined4 ,then ,he presents ,christ to us as the ,saviour and calls on us to believe what ,he says about ,him4 ,he that believeth not ,god hath made him a liar because he hath not believed the record that ,god gave of ,his ,son4 ,and this is the record that ,god hath given to us eternal life and this life is in ,his ,son4 ,footnote3 ,i ,john v4 #aj1 #aa4 ,have faith in ,god4 ,faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the ,word of ,god1 and faith is the gift of ,god4 ,and the wonder of it all is that ,god says to the weak ones like poor ,jacob1 ,i have chosen thee and not cast thee away1 and ,he never will1 for ,god keeps all ,his failures1 not like man who throws his failures on one side as worthless4 ,oh6 to trust ,him then more fully1 ,just to simply trust4 ,then instead of limiting the ,holy ,one of ,israel we shall be singing at the top of our voices1 ,the ,,lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 cxxvi4 #c4 ,so then let us trust in the ,lord for ever1 for in the ,lord ,jehovah is ,everlasting ,strength4 ,footnote3 ,isa4 xxvi4 #d4 ,,address ,,ix ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,god ,,portion ,,of ,,scripture--,ephesians v4 #bb-cc4 ,christ also loved the ,church and gave ,himself for it4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 v4 #be4 ,two precious truths shine out in these words4 ,he loved1 ,he gave4 ,he not only gave ,himself for the ,church when ,he died on the ,cross1 but ,he is still sanctifying and cleansing it1 and by and by when ,he comes again ,he will present it unto ,himself a glorious ,church4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 v4 #bg4 ,so we have the history of the ,church in the past1 in the present1 and in the future4 ,we look back to the past and we see ,christ giving ,himself1 that is1 laying down ,his life on the ,cross2 but we must also look far1 far back into the past ,eternity to find out another precious truth4 7,perhaps you have never thought about it47 ,it is1 that the ,church was in ,god's thoughts from the very beginning6 ,the ,son of ,god was in the bosom of the ,father in the beginning2 and it was then--before the world was created1 that ,god chose us in ,him and gave us to ,him4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 i4 #d4 ,now we see why ,christ loved the ,church and gave ,himself for it4 ,what is the ,church8 ,the word ,church means called out1 so the ,church embraces all who have been called out during the present age to form the ,body of ,christ4 ,in the ,old ,testament we find that the ,jews were ,god's chosen people1 ,footnote3 ,exod4 vi4 #g4 so they had all the privileges1 but in later times1 the ,jews rejected the ,gospel of the grace of ,god1 and then ,god graciously visited the ,gentiles to take out of them a people to be called by ,his ,name4 ,footnote3 ,acts xv4 #ad4 ,when did this special calling out begin8 ,nearly #aijj years ago on the ,day of ,pentecost1 and it has been going on ever since1 and when the number of the called-out ones has been completed1 then ,the ,lord ,himself shall descend from ,heaven with a shout1 with the voice of the archangel1 and with the trump of ,god3 and the dead in ,christ shall rise first4 ,then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the ,lord in the air4 ,footnote3 ,i ,thess4 iv4 #af1 #ag4 ,each of those three words1 chosen1 called out1 and caught up1 leads us on to something more4 ,we were chosen in ,him to be holy2 ,footnote3 ,eph4 i4 #d4 we are called out to be the ,body of ,christ now1 and by and by we shall be caught up to meet the ,bridegroom and to be with ,him for ever4 ,if you are a child of ,god1 you can say with holy wonder1 ,god has done all this for me4 ,the ,church was formed out of a little company of #abj men and women who were gathered together praying in the ,upper ,room at ,jerusalem4 ,footnote3 ,acts i4 #ad1 #ae4 ,suddenly they heard a wonderful sound and saw a heavenly vision1 and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost2 and before the day was over that little company increased to the number of #c1jjj souls4 ,how many does it number now8 ,no one knows1 but it is a multitude which no man can number4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 vii4 #i4 ,some are already in glory1 some are still on earth1 but it matters not where they are1 they belong to the whole family of ,god in heaven and in earth4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 iii4 #ae4 ,on the ,day of ,pentecost1 when the ,holy ,spirit was poured out1 ,his special work was to create a new thing--it was then that the ,church of ,god was formed into one ,body by the ,holy ,spirit1 ,for1 as the body is one and hath many members1 and all the members of that one body1 being many1 are one body1 so also is ,christ4 ,footnote3 ,i ,cor4 xii4 #ab1 #bg4 ,now ye are the ,body of ,christ and members in particular1 that is1 individually1 for every saved soul is a member4 ,the ,church is a living body united to ,jesus ,christ1 for ,he is the living ,head of the ,body4 ,he needs ,his ,church just as much as ,his ,church needs ,him4 ,it is the ,holy ,spirit who unites us to the risen and glorified ,christ ,who is the ,head1 and then ,he unites us to one another in ,him4 ,it is a living union1 because we pass through death into the resurrection life of ,christ1 for by ,one ,spirit we are all baptized into ,one ,body1 and we have all been made to drink into that ,one ,spirit4 ,footnote3 ,i ,cor4 xii4 #ac4 ,the ,holy ,ghost sustains the life of the ,church4 ,in ,him we live and move and have our being4 ,as the bird lives in the air1 as the flower lives in the sunshine1 so we live in the ,spirit1 and when we drink in ,his fulness there is growth and fruitfulness4 ,have we ever felt this need of drinking into that ,one ,spirit8 ,everything connected with the true ,church of ,christ must be spiritual1 it is this which is being lost sight of in the present day1 and it is the reason why there is so little power and so few conversions4 ,have you ever tried to understand why the ,church is called the ,body of ,christ8 ,think first about your own body4 ,it is the only part of your real self that can be seen4 ,i cannot see your heart or your thoughts1 but ,i know what your thoughts are by your words1 and what you feel by the look of joy or sorrow in your face1 and by the way you go about4 ,it is by your body that your real personality is made known to others2 what you really are would never be seen unless your body made it known4 ,in the same way the ,church is the ,body in order to make ,christ known in the world4 ,he is hidden from our view1 ,he is unseen1 but ,he manifests ,himself and shines out through us1 and ,he sends us to carry ,his messages and to do ,his ,will4 ,this was the earnest desire of the ,apostle ,paul when he said that he was willing that the old self should be taken away so that the life also of ,jesus might be made manifest in our body4 ,footnote3 #b ,cor4 iv4 #aj1 #aa4 ,this is what the ,church is here on earth for1 to make the unseen ,christ known4 ,just as every drop of water reflects the light1 so every member of the ,church1 however weak and small1 can reflect ,his love4 ,is ,his compassion for sinners beaming in your eye8 ,is ,his purity seen in your daily life8 ,do you judge things from ,his standpoint8 ,i remember when some one was telling me why she loved a ,christian worker whom we both knew1 she added1 ,i love her for what ,i see of ,christ in her4 ,think of ,christ exalted in ,heaven far above all things1 and remember ,he is there not for ,himself1 but for you4 ,he is ,head over all things to ,his ,body1 the ,church4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 i4 #bb1 #bc4 ,it is wonderful to think of this union with ,christ1 that we are ,his ,body and ,he is the ,head2 but there is another wonder quite as great1 it is that ,he is the ,bridegroom and the ,church is the ,bride4 ,when we speak of the ,church as the ,body of ,christ1 it is a living union1 life is the one thought brought out2 when we speak of ,christ as the ,bridegroom it is love which is the chief point4 ,it brings out the affection1 tenderness and nearness of the ,bridegroom4 ,so ought men to love their wives as their own bodies1 ,he that loveth ,his wife loveth ,himself4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 v4 #bh-cj4 ,we have nothing so wonderful in the ,old ,testament4 ,think of the depths out of which we have come1 and the heights to which we are raised4 ,he raiseth up the poor out of the dust1 and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill to set them among princes and to make them inherit the throne of glory4 ,footnote3 #a ,sam4 ii4 #h4 ,think of the sinner lifted out of all his bondage and ruin to be the ,bride of the ,lamb6 ,there is nothing higher that ,god can give than this4 ,this will be our glorious position by and by when the ,bridegroom comes to take us to our ,heavenly ,home1 for ,his parting words were1 ,i will come again and receive you unto ,myself4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xiv4 #c4 ,there will be three great surprises on the day that ,he comes again4 ,these surprises have been kept secret1 but on that day the glorious secrets will all be made known4 ,the first surprise will be when we shall see all the saints who have died in ,christ called back from the unseen world and clothed with their new1 glorified bodies4 ,what a joyful meeting it will be4 ,the next surprise will be that we who are still living on earth when ,christ comes will be changed1 we shall not die1 we shall escape from the hand of death4 ,it is appointed unto men once to die1 but ,christ was once offered to bear the sin of many1 ,footnote3 ,heb4 ix4 #bg1 #bh4 and when ,he comes the saints who are living will be changed in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye4 ,footnote3 #a ,cor4 xv4 #eb4 ,you know how long it takes for you to shut your eye and open it--it will not take longer than that for the change to be made4 ,three great changes will take place--our bodies will be changed1 no more sin1 or pain1 or weariness2 our minds will be changed4 ,we shall know then what we cannot know now1 we shall see all as ,god sees it1 we shall know the love of ,christ and we shall love ,him as ,he deserves to be loved1 and best of all we shall be like ,him for we shall see ,him as ,he is4 ,the third surprise will be that our circumstances will also be changed2 we shall be no longer on the earth1 for as soon as the great change takes place we shall be caught up to meet the ,lord in the air4 ,he will then look into our life work1 and ,he will say to ,his faithful ones who have been true-hearted and loyal3 ,well done1 good and faithful servant4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 xxv4 #ba4 ,then the heavens will resound with the ,hallelujah chorus1 ,let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to ,him1 for the marriage of the ,lamb is come and ,his wife hath made herself ready4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xix4 #g4 ,but the glory will be only then beginning1 it will be glory upon glory4 ,remember there are two stages in ,christ's ,coming2 ,he will come for ,his saints1 and then ,he will come down to earth with ,his saints4 ,as it is written3 ,behold1 the ,lord cometh with ten thousands of ,his saints4 ,footnote3 ,jude #ad4 ,when ,christ1 who is our ,life1 shall appear1 then shall ye also appear with ,him in glory4 ,footnote3 ,col4 iii4 #d4 ,we shall come with ,him when ,he comes to reign on the earth4 ,but there is something still grander than the glorious position of having a place with ,him on ,his throne4 ,we look on and on into the ,eternity that is coming 7and it is a wonderful outlook7 and what do we find8 ,it is that we are wanted for the ages to come to show forth1 and to be living personal illustrations of the riches of ,god's grace4 ,it is not only that we shall be saved and glorified1 but that ,god will use us personally to show forth all ,his love4 ,the grace of ,god is the love which flowed down to us in our great need1 when we were dead in sins1 slaves to sin and ,satan and deserving nothing but ,god's wrath4 ,it is we ourselves who are wanted for the ages to come for the praise of ,his glory4 ,the expression the riches of ,god's grace ,footnote3 ,eph4 i4 #g4 meets our personal need1 but there is something else that will shine forth1 it is called the glory of ,god's grace4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 i4 #f4 ,all that ,god prepares for us is worthy of ,his greatness and power4 ,the inheritance which ,he has in store and the beautiful ,home above will be worthy of ,god ,himself1 all that is in it and around it surpassing everything that we can imagine in its glory and beauty will be worthy of ,god ,himself4 ,it is only as our eyes are spiritually enlightened that we can get a glimpse of the riches of the glory of ,his inheritance in the saints4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 i4 #ah4 ,the words of this old hymn describe what it will be like-- ,i go on my way rejoicing1 ,though weary the wilderness road-- ,i go on my way rejoicing ,in hope of the glory of ,god4 ,then no more in the earthen vessel ,the treasure of ,god shall be1 ,but in full and unclouded beauty1 ,o ,lord1 wilt ,thou shine through me4 ,all1 all in ,thy new creation ,the glory of ,god shall see2 ,and the lamp for that light eternal ,the ,bride of the ,lamb shall be4 ,a golden lamp in the heavens1 ,that all may see and adore ,the ,lamb who was slain and who liveth1 ,who liveth for evermore4 ,so ,i go on my way rejoicing ,that the heavens and earth shall see ,his grace1 and ,his glory and beauty1 ,in the depth of ,his love to me4 ,our mission throughout eternity is to make known the love and wisdom of ,god that ,he may not only be all1 but in all4 ,he is in us now1 but we want ,him to be in all1 and it will be through us that ,god will let the whole universe be so filled with the glorious knowledge of ,his love and wisdom that these words will at last be fulfilled--,god 444 all and in all4 ,footnote3 ,i ,cor4 xv4 #bh4 ,we are passing through wars and convulsions and revolutions hitherto unknown1 but a glorious future is awaiting us1 and one thing is certain1 that nothing can separate us from the love of ,god which is in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 viii4 #ci4 ,that is our security4 ,it is also certain that it is not in the power of the devil to destroy the ,church of ,god1 for we are wanted in the ages to come4 ,it is the ,church which is to be the glory of ,christ to all ,eternity4 ,we are also wanted now in a very special way4 ,men's hearts are failing them for fear1 they need strong1 calm1 prayerful helpers in this time of perplexity4 ,who can speak a word of cheer and encouragement8 ,who can point them to the ,rock of ,ages which cannot be moved8 ,who can inspire them with faith and hope8 ,only the one who has himself made ,god his ,refuge4 ,it is in times of trouble that the worldly man turns for help and sympathy to the believer4 ,it is through us that ,god would work out ,his purpose of grace and love to the world4 ,a young man who had met with a bitter disappointment went to an aged ,christian and poured out his trouble4 ,after hearing his sad story1 his friend said in a calm1 tender voice1 ,god knows all about it1 there is no such thing as chance in the world4 ,what is there then8 asked the young man eagerly4 ,there is love1 ,eternal love1 was the answer4 ,the reason why the believer is kept in perfect peace is because he looks beyond all the tumult of battle1 the bitter strife and terrible bloodshed to the time when ,god will gather together all things in ,christ1 for ,he is to be ,head over all4 ,,love1 ,,eternal ,,love4 ,never for a moment shall that love cease to bless us and shield us4 ,whatever may happen to our bodies nothing can touch the eternal life within4 ,do you feel anxious to know whether you will have a share in the glory8 ,i will tell you how you may know4 ,you remember ,christian had a roll given him by ,evangelist which he was to give in at the ,celestial ,gate4 ,when you first come to ,jesus as a poor sinner the ,holy ,spirit gives you four precious words written as it were in a roll for you to hide in your heart until the moment when ,jesus comes and you are caught up to meet ,him in the air4 ,take your ,bible and you will find there four precious words which ,god has written for you to rest upon1 and which will never fail you4 #a4 ,,redeemed4 ,footnote3 ,pet4 i4 #ah1 #ai ,bought with a price1 and the price was the life-blood of ,god's dear ,son1 so we belong to the ,church of ,christ which ,he has purchased with ,his own blood4 ,footnote3 ,acts xx4 #bh #b4 ,,sealed4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 i4 #ac ,the ,seal is ,god's mark upon us showing to men and angels and devils that we are ,his purchased possession2 that we belong to ,him1 spirit1 soul and body absolutely1 and for ever1 for ,god's solid foundation stands unmoved1 bearing this inscription1 ,the ,lord knoweth them that are ,his4 ,footnote3 #b ,tim4 ii4 #ai ,a ,christian doctor who had been in the ,crimean ,war and in ,china1 was very particular when going on a journey to have all his luggage labelled and ready4 ,in his last illness he turned to a friend and said with a smile1 ,i am labelled and ready6 and then he gave this beautiful testimony3 ,there is only one thing that makes me quite ready and quite sure of ,heaven1 it is that my sins are forgiven by trusting in the ,blood of ,jesus4 ,nothing that we can do can save us1 it is what ,he did4 ,he alone can give us peace with ,god4 #c4 ,,kept4 ,footnote3 #a ,pet4 i4 #e ,a young ,christian told a friend that he was afraid as to whether he would be able to live the life4 ,the friend looked at him1 and said1 with a ringing voice of assurance1 ,he is able to keep you from falling4 ,footnote3 ,jude #bd ,he then saw that he was no longer in his own keeping1 but in ,god's keeping1 and that the keeping would be up to the last moment1 and be so complete that he would be handed over without the smallest defect to stand in the presence of ,his glory with exceeding joy4 #d4 ,,glorified4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 viii4 #cj ,this is the last and grandest of the four precious words which ,god has given to strengthen our hearts1 and it is the crown of all4 ,what shall we say8 ,no words can express what it will be1 it will surpass our highest expectations4 ,but we know that it will be fulness of life1 fulness of joy1 fulness of love1 and all our deepest longings satisfied1 all our highest hopes fulfilled1 and it will be for ever and for ever6 ,let us hold fast ,god's sure word of promise1 ,the ,lord will give grace and glory4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 lxxxiv4 #aa ,let us lift up our hearts in praise and thanksgiving to ,him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think1 according to the power that worketh in us1 ,,unto ,,him ,,is ,,the ,,glory ,,in ,,the ,,church1 ,,throughout ,,all ,,ages1 ,,to ,,all ,,eternity1 ,,world ,,without ,,end4 ,,amen4 ,footnote3 ,eph4 iii4 #bj1 #ba ,,address ,x ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,god ,,portion ,,of ,,scripture--,st4 ,matthew xxi4 #a-ag1 and ,revelation xi4 #ae-ah4 ,now1 therefore1 why speak ye not a word of bringing the ,king back8 ,footnote3 #b ,sam4 xix4 #aj ,this question was asked a long time ago4 ,you remember how ,david was driven from his throne4 ,his son ,absalom rebelled against him and he had to leave the country2 but ,absalom is now dead1 the rebellion is at an end1 and still ,david is an exile4 ,at last some of the people talk it over together and inquire of one another1 ,why say ye not a word1 or why are ye silent about bringing back the ,king8 ,so they sent word to the ,king and ,judah went to meet him4 ,i was reminded of this ,old ,testament story when a correspondent wrote in the spring of this year as follows3 ,i have spent two days in what is left of ,belgium1 and ,i find that the dream of the ,belgians is to see the ,king ride back into ,brussels4 ,men and women1 old and young1 talk and plan and have visions of the time when the ,king comes ,home4 ,it is touching to think how these people1 in spite of all their misfortunes1 still love their brave ,king and cling to the hope of having him once more among them in his rightful place on the throne and then their ruined towns and homes will be restored4 ,it makes me think of another ,king1 our ,lord ,jesus1 who entered the ,city of ,jerusalem amidst the cheers and acclamations of a large crowd1 and how the words came true3 ,tell ye the daughter of ,sion1 ,behold thy ,king cometh unto thee4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 xxi4 #e ,and now they cry1 ,hosanna--,he is come1 ,he is come6 and the children's voices ring out with praise4 ,but this proclaiming ,him as ,king aroused the enmity of some of the rulers and they stirred up the people against ,him4 ,here was the opportunity1 the golden opportunity1 for accepting or rejecting the ,son of ,god4 ,they had listened to ,his teaching1 they brought their sick to ,him for healing1 they appreciated the benefits of ,his ministry1 but they refused to submit to ,his authority1 so they were determined to silence ,his ,voice4 ,sin shows itself in the rebellion of the will against ,god1 and so they lost the opportunity1 and instead of accepting ,him1 they crucified their ,king4 ,the words are still true3 ,behold1 thy ,king cometh1 ,he comes to set up the ,kingdom of ,god in our hearts1 so the opportunity is given to you now to accept ,him as your ,king4 ,we listen to the good news about peace and forgiveness1 but are we willing to make ,jesus ,king in our hearts8 ,here is the great test1 it is here that the opposition of man's will begins to show itself1 because if ,he is to be our ,lord and ,master ,he claims all we are and all we have4 ,he must be ,lord of all or ,he is not ,lord at all2 nothing less will do4 ,there is no real union with ,him by faith until we say in our hearts1 ,my ,lord1 and my ,god4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xx4 #bh4 ,it is impossible to accept ,christ as our ,saviour without also yielding to ,him as ,king1 and proclaiming ,him as ,king4 ,a young friend of mine has these three simple words1 ,make ,jesus ,king1 in a frame hanging on the wall of her room4 ,she told me they were the means of leading her to decide for ,christ4 ,nothing but the power of the ,holy ,spirit can enable us to yield to ,him as our ,lord and ,master4 ,no man can say that ,jesus is the ,lord but by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,footnote3 #a ,cor4 xii4 #c4 ,this is the central fact--,,jesus ,,is ,,lord4 ,for to this end ,christ both died1 and rose1 and revived1 that ,he might be ,lord both of the dead and living4 ,footnote3 ,rom4 xiv4 #i ,it is the ,holy ,spirit who first reveals ,christ to your heart and enables you to say1 ,thou art my ,lord1 ,footnote3 ,ps4 xvi4 #b and then ,he gives you grace to love and obey ,him as your ,master4 ,so1 whether you look backward to the moment when your sins were all blotted out1 ,he is ,lord2 or whether you look at your present life with all its shortcomings1 ,he is ,lord2 or whether you look forward to the end1 waiting for ,his ,coming1 ,he is ,lord4 ,can you say truly-- ,he cleansed my heart from all its sin1 ,what a wonderful ,saviour6 ,and now ,he reigns and rules within1 ,what a wonderful ,saviour6 ,we have seen our ,lord proclaimed ,king at ,jerusalem and accepting the title4 ,although rejected and crucified1 ,his every word and action was kingly up to the last moment of ,his earthly life4 ,he spoke openly of ,his ,kingdom to ,pilate1 for when ,pilate asked ,him1 ,art ,thou a ,king then8 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xviii4 #cg ,he answered1 ,i am4 ,the purple robe1 the crown of thorns1 the sceptre1 though offered in mockery1 were all kingly1 for the superscription over the ,cross1 ,,this ,,is ,,jesus1 ,,the ,,king ,,of ,,the ,,jews1 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 xxvii4 #cg was true4 ,the ,cross was the way to the ,throne4 ,i beheld1 and lo in the midst of the ,throne stood a ,lamb1 as it had been slain4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 v4 #f ,in that dark1 dark hour of ,christ's agony on the ,cross1 there was only one man who recognised ,christ as ,king1 and that was the dying thief4 ,it was a very real cry that broke from his lips in his utter need--,lord1 remember me when ,thou comest into ,thy ,kingdom4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,luke xxiii4 #db ,it was wonderful faith4 ,can you think of any other as wonderful8 ,he recognised ,christ as ,king--not a dying ,king leaving ,his throne--but a victorious ,king about to enter ,his ,kingdom4 ,the penitent thief saw even more than this1 he saw that it was a ,kingdom of souls rescued from sin's bondage and slavery2 not a ,kingdom of the great ones of earth1 but for outcasts such as he was1 so he cried1 ,take me as ,i am and give me a place in the ,kingdom4 ,but the answer to the cry was as wonderful as the cry itself--,to-day shalt thou be with ,me in ,paradise4 ,when the ,king said ,with ,me1 ,he meant1 ,i am passing from darkness into ,everlasting ,light4 ,come with ,me4 ,i have broken the chains of sin1 ,i am setting the prisoners free4 ,come with ,me4 ,from that moment the penitent thief was identified with ,christ in ,his death and in ,his ,risen ,life4 ,is this true of you8 ,when earth rejected the ,king1 not only was ,heaven opened to receive ,him1 but a triumphant reception awaited ,him4 ,heaven resounded with the joyful chorus of the angelic hosts--,lift up your heads1 ,o ye gates1 and be ye lift up1 ye everlasting doors1 and the ,king of ,glory shall come in6 ,footnote3 ,ps4 xxiv4 #g4 ,so for nineteen hundred years the heavens have received ,him1 but once again the everlasting doors will open1 and the ,son of ,man will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 xxiv4 #cj4 ,what has been going on during all these years8 ,kingdoms and world powers have risen up one after another1 but all have failed to give what the world really needs1 ,a ,king to reign in righteousness4 ,footnote3 ,isa4 xxxii4 #a4 ,god is still saying1 ,why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing8 ,footnote3 ,ps4 ii4 #a4 ,but in spite of man's rebellion and forgetfulness of ,god1 ,god's purpose will stand firm1 ,yet have ,i set ,my ,king upon ,my holy hill of ,zion4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 ii4 #f4 ,god's purpose is to have all power placed in the hands of ,one ,man1 and that is ,christ4 ,what will be the final winding up of ,earth's suffering and struggles8 ,the veil will be drawn aside and ,the ,glory of the ,,lord will be revealed4 ,footnote3 ,isa4 xl4 #e4 ,it is the glory of the ,personal ,presence of the ,son of ,god4 ,when8 ,where8 ,how8 will the glory be seen4 ,look back into the ,garden of ,eden4 ,god gave man control over all1 but he listened to another voice and then he lost control4 ,the question was raised1 ,who was to rule1 ,satan or ,god8 ,by and by another veil will be drawn aside and we shall see how the unseen powers of darkness have been at work behind all the wars and sin and rebellion of this poor world4 ,an enemy hath done this4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 xiii4 #bh4 ,it is the devil who blinds the eyes1 hardens the hearts1 and deadens the conscience of mankind4 ,but we must not lose heart or think that ,satan is getting the upper hand4 ,the ,word of ,god enables us not only to trace some of his plots and schemes1 but it shows us why ,god has been so long silent and when ,god intends to break that silence4 ,footnote3 ,see ,ps4 #a ,the victory is sure1 but whose victory8 ,the ,victory of the ,son of ,god4 ,but first the ,jews must return to their own land1 and then the kings of the earth and of the whole world will be gathered to the battle of the great ,day of ,god ,almighty4 ,all these nations will fight against the ,jews at ,jerusalem in the place called ,armageddon4 ,it is really a desperate attempt of the devil who is sending forth these nations to make war with the ,lamb4 ,jerusalem will be taken1 and when the enemy is rejoicing over the victory and the destruction of the ,jews seems certain1 then suddenly they see the ,son of ,man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory1 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,matt4 xxiv4 #cj the armies which are in ,heaven following ,him4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xix4 #ad ,then shall the ,lord go forth and fight against those nations1 and ,his feet shall stand in that day upon the ,mount of ,olives1 ,footnote3 ,zech4 xiv4 #c1 #d and every eye shall see ,him4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 i4 #g ,the armies of the enemy will be destroyed and ,god's people will be delivered4 ,in this marvellous way the ,lamb shall overcome1 for ,he is ,lord of lords and ,king of kings and they that are with ,him are called1 and chosen1 and faithful4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xvii4 #ad ,it will not only be the deliverance of the ,jews from their enemies1 but the wonder of that great day will be that at last their eyes will be opened to see ,him as the ,messiah1 so they will be converted and restored4 ,the ,lord says1 ,i will pour upon them the spirit of grace and of supplication and they shall look upon ,me whom they have pierced4 ,footnote3 ,zech4 xii4 #aj4 ,what an overwhelming sight6 ,the same ,jesus whom they despised and rejected is come down from heaven to deliver them1 but they only think of ,him as the ,one whom they have pierced4 ,the glory which meets their eye at that moment is the glory of the love and compassion of the ,crucified ,one4 ,the result of looking is mourning4 ,they get such a view of their sin against ,his love that they are filled with godly sorrow4 ,when the eye of faith is turned to ,jesus then the tears flow4 ,oh1 how perfectly will all ,satan's evil influence in man's heart be destroyed in the presence of ,jesus4 ,in that ,day we have seen what has taken place at the beginning of that day1 and now before it closes a fountain will be opened to the house of ,david and to the inhabitants of ,jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness4 ,footnote3 ,zech4 xiii4 #a4 ,with the opening of that fountain there is grace given to use it1 for ,god says1 ,i will pour upon them the spirit of grace4 ,many see the fountain now who never use it6 ,precious fountain1 of all things most precious to poor sinners such as you and me4 ,no one but ,god's dear ,son1 and nothing but ,his atoning death on ,calvary1 could open that fountain4 ,the fountain is still flowing--has it cleansed you8 ,then the ,kingdom of ,god is set up on earth4 ,who can tell the good news so well as these restored and converted ones8 ,the question is sometimes asked1 ,has the ,gospel lost its power8 ,is ,christianity a failure8 ,no4 ,the ,gospel will yet be preached throughout the whole world4 ,who will be the preachers8 ,converted ,jews1 ,footnote3 ,isa4 lxi4 #f a mighty angel1 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xiv4 #f and glorified saints1 for they shall be priests of ,god4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xx4 #f ,what will be the result of their preaching8 ,there will be a world-wide revival4 ,the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the ,lord as the waters cover the sea4 ,footnote3 ,hab4 ii4 #ad ,when ,christ comes to us now1 it is to rule in the hearts of ,his people1 but then ,he will reign over a believing world without opposition1 for ,satan will be bound and ,christ will take the ,kingdom which is ,his by redemption1 and ,his glory will be seen on ,mount ,zion4 ,out of ,zion1 the perfection of beauty1 ,god hath shined4 ,footnote3 ,ps4 #a4 #b ,and the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying3 ,the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our ,lord and of ,his ,christ and ,he shall reign for ever and ever4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xi4 #ae ,after reigning on earth for a thousand years there will be the ,judgment of the ,great ,white ,throne1 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xx4 #aa-ae when all those who had no part in the first resurrection will be raised1 and all whose names are not written in the ,book of ,life will be cast into the lake of fire4 ,this is the second death4 ,has your name been entered in the ,book of ,life8 ,one more glorious ,vision of the ,kingdom is unfolded before us1 and the glory grows brighter and brighter1 for it is ,,the ,,everlasting ,,kingdom4 ,i saw a new heaven and a new earth3 for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea4444 ,and ,he that sat upon the throne said1 ,behold ,i make all things new4444 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xxi4 #a1 #e ,and there shall be no more curse3 but the throne of ,god and of the ,lamb shall be in it2 and ,his servants shall serve ,him2 and they shall see ,his face and ,his name shall be in their foreheads4 ,and there shall be no night there3 and they need no candle1 neither light of the sun1 for the ,lord ,god giveth them light3 and they shall reign for ever and ever4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xxii4 #c-e ,how wonderful that ,god should promise us an abundant entrance into ,his ,everlasting ,kingdom4 ,footnote3 #b ,pet4 i4 #aa ,what does an abundant entrance mean8 ,it means that we shall not1 as it were1 just creep into heaven by a side door1 but that we shall have a grand welcome from the glorified ones there and from the ,lord ,himself1 all the doors1 as it were1 being thrown wide open to receive us4 ,are we preparing for it8 ,a mother who was dying called her little daughter who was ten years old to her bedside and said tenderly1 ,i want you to learn this little prayer1 ',o ,god1 prepare me for all ,thou art preparing for me4' ,and the prayer was answered1 for that little girl was ,frances ,ridley ,havergal1 who lived a consecrated life1 and passed away singing about the ,lord whom she loved4 ,i must give you some words spoken by that holy man ,samuel ,rutherford who was persecuted and put into prison for ,christ's sake4 ,i wonder many times1 he said1 that ever a child of ,god should have a sad heart considering what the ,lord is preparing for him4 ,when we get ,home above and enter into possession of our ,brother's fair ,kingdom1 it will be like one step from prison to glory4 ,these words came true1 for soon after this he received notice to appear before his judges in court1 but before the day of the trial came he died4 ,so it was literally one step for him from prison to glory4 ,his own account of it is given in the following lines---- ,they've summoned me before them1 ,thither ,i may not come2 ,my ,king says1 ,come up hither1 ,my ,lord says1 ,welcome ,home4 ,what will it all be like8 ,no words of ours can describe it1 but ,god ,himself tells us what ,he will be to us and what ,he will do for us in the ,eternal ,kingdom4 ,and ,i heard a great voice out of heaven saying1 ,behold1 the tabernacle of ,god is with men1 and ,he will dwell with them1 and they shall be ,his people1 and ,god ,himself shall be with them1 and be their ,god4 ,footnote3 ,rev4 xxi4 #c-d ,and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes2 and there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow1 nor crying1 neither shall there be any more pain1 for the former things are passed away4 ,the ,crown of it all is that ,god ,himself shall be with them and be their ,god4 ,footnote3 #a ,cor4 xv4 #bh ,all creatures will say1 ,god is everything to me1 for ,,god will be ,all in ,all4' ,we have traced out some of the wonderful truths which ,god has revealed to us about ,himself4 ,this is ,life ,eternal that they might know ,thee1 the only ,true ,god and ,jesus ,christ1 whom ,thou hast sent4 ,footnote3 ,st4 ,john xvii4 #c ,apart from ,god1 all is death and ruin for ever2 to know ,god1 to trust ,god1 to love ,god is ,eternal ,life4 ,the great question is1 ,what is ,god to me8 ,can you say--,o ,,god1 ,,thou ,,art ,,my ,,god8