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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7786-8.txt b/7786-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..32d3624 --- /dev/null +++ b/7786-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3938 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The One Great Reality, by Louisa Clayton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The One Great Reality + +Author: Louisa Clayton + +Posting Date: August 24, 2012 [EBook #7786] +Release Date: March, 2005 +First Posted: May 16, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ONE GREAT REALITY *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aladrondo, Tiffany Vergon, Charles +Bidwell, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + + + +THE ONE GREAT REALITY + +By + +LOUISA CLAYTON + +Author of "Heart Lessons", "Loving Messages", +"Winning and Warning", "Wilderness Lessons", etc. + + + + + + + +"I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE"-- +Isa. xiv. 22. + + + +THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED +to all my friends in Rusthall, +in loving remembrance +of our happy fellowship in the gospel +during the past thirty years, +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 still. + +3, Somerville Gardens, +Tunbridge Wells. + + + +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 volume. + +I do so in recognition of the supreme importance of the great topics that +have been chosen, and also in appreciation of the clear and attractive way +in which the truth is set forth. May the messages find attentive and +receptive readers, and be followed by deep and abiding spiritual blessing. + +EVAN H. HOPKINS. + +Woburn Chase, +Addlestone, Surrey. + + + +CONTENTS + +I GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +II GOD, 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 + +GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +Personal knowledge of God, the secret of happiness--Realising His Presence +in prayer--Illustrations from the telephone and family life--God is our +Father, Saviour, Comforter--The Living God-knowing all, and controlling +everything--Illustrations from current events. + + + ADDRESS II + +GOD, OUR FATHER + +A Chinese convert--Christ's confidence in the Father--Christ reveals the +Father--Philip's prayer, "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 God. + + + 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 answered: Where did He come from? When did He +come? Why did He come?--A working-man's experience--The story of the pearl +necklace--Christ's work of redemption--Sir James Simpson's dying +testimony--Hymn, "He came and took me by the hand." + + + 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 sin, +and revealing Christ--Searchlights--The loveliness of Christ--The Holy +Ghost like a Mother--The Comforter. + + + ADDRESS V + +THE VOICE OF GOD + +Jacob's ladder, 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 Word. + + + ADDRESS VI + +THE HANDS OF GOD + +Why St. John wrote his Gospel--The safety of the believer--God's hands in +Creation, Providence and Redemption--The "Scarred Hands"--The story of a +brave shepherd lad--The Hands of Jesus wounded for our transgressions--The +Three Crosses. + + + 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 wisdom, +conversion, 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 Bible. + + + 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 committing. + + + ADDRESS IX + +THE CHURCH OF GOD + +The Church of God: Past, Present, Future--Its Beginning and Growth--The +Church the Body of Christ, a Living Union--The Church the Bride of Christ, +a Loving Relationship--The Glory of this Union--Three Great Surprises--The +Old Man's Message; Love, 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 come. + + + ADDRESS X + +THE KINGDOM OF GOD + +"Bringing the King back"--One King, Jesus, 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 Kingdom. + + + +ADDRESS I + +GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Hebrews xi. 1-6. + + +God is the one great Reality. 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 soul. 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 +true": this means that we may personally know Him that is Reality. In the +wonder of that moment when we first know that God is real and that God is +near, then we cry out, "My God, how wonderful Thou art." To have personal +knowledge of God is the secret of assurance and happiness, and to put real +trust in Him changes our whole life, for then we can say, "I have a +wonderful God." + +To know God is Eternal life; to know Him fully, brings "life more +abundantly"; to know Him with no veil between, is glory--life. + +If you look again at the 6th verse of the 11th chapter of Hebrews you will +notice a very clear statement: it says, "He that cometh to God must +believe that He is," or to put it in other words, "the man who draws near +to God must believe that there is a God." + +Do you believe in God? Is He real to you? Here is one test. When you pray +do you realise His Presence? Is He so close to you that it is like +speaking into His ear? + +It was this text, "He that cometh to God must believe that He is," which +first awakened a worldly gentleman named Brownlow North to think about his +soul. God's Spirit showed him that he had never really believed in God and +that all his former religion was worthless, "for without faith it is +impossible to please God." As soon as he had really learnt to know God, he +devoted all his life to preaching the Gospel. He told every one that the +first thing we need is _to believe there is a God_. Many of his friends +who were rich and well educated were thus brought to a personal knowledge +of God for the first time. He that cometh to God must believe that He is +really there. Have you ever been conscious of the Presence of the living +God? You must make sure that He is near before you can really pray. + +We have an illustration of this in the telephone. You first put the +speaking tube to your mouth and then you say "Are you there?" In any case +you make sure that the person to whom you wish to speak, is listening at +the other end. Although you cannot see any one, you know he is holding the +receiver so as to hear what you say. + +When you begin to pray always pause for a moment and remember that you are +speaking to God. Do not say a word until the Holy Spirit puts you into +direct communication with God. The Psalmist was quite sure that God was +really listening to his prayer, for he says, "I love the Lord because He +hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear +unto me therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live." [Footnote: Ps. +cxvi. 1, 2.] And again, "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God +with my voice, and He gave ear unto me." [Footnote: Ps. lxxvii. 1.] It is +in this way we realise that there is a God, a personal living God. + +I asked a Christian man one day if he had prayed about some work which was +offered to him, and his reply was, "Yes: I am on the telephone." Can you +say the same? As soon as you have spoken through the telephone you put the +receiver to your ear to listen for the answer. Many people pray without +expecting to get an answer. They are like children who knock at a door and +then run away before it is opened. The prophet Micah says, "I will wait +for God, my God will answer me." [Footnote: Mic. vii. 7.] Yes, he expected +to get an answer. + +The Lord Jesus says, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when +thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret." +[Footnote: St. Matt. vi. 6.] When a child wants to tell his father +something very private he whispers it in his ear. I daresay you have +noticed that the telephone at the General Post Office is enclosed in a +box, so that no one can overhear what is said. There are many things we +say into God's ear which we could not tell to any one else. It makes Him +very real to us, if we can say in our inmost hearts, "O God, Thou art my +God, my very own Father." + +When we speak through the telephone we never say useless words, and our +Lord tells us to avoid needless repetitions when we pray, and He adds, +"for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him." Just +as an earthly father delights to hear his children's, voices, so our +heavenly Father loves to hear us speaking to Him, for He says, "Put Me in +remembrance, let us plead together." [Footnote: Isa. xliii. 26.] + +A child's intercourse with his father is quite simple and natural, he +talks freely about everything. When you speak to God, is it an effort, or +do you look up into His face with confidence and tell Him all? A child +expects his father to supply all his wants and to be equal to every +emergency, 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 +Jesus." [Footnote: Phil. iv. 13.] + +We must not be disappointed if we do not get all we want, because God's +promise is to supply what we _need_. We often wish for things which we do +not really need. + +If ever you lose sight of _God_, think of the wonderful lesson which Jesus +teaches when He says, "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts +unto your children," and you, fathers, always get the best you can for +them, "how much more" (wonderful words), "how much more shall your Father +which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him." [Footnote: St. +Matt. vii. 11.] Have you ever heard God's voice saying to you, I am your +Father; love Me, look to Me, trust Me, worship Me: "Open thy mouth wide +and I will fill it." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxi. 10.] + +A godly man who was a servant used to say, "There is not in the world a +kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual +conversation with God." He felt that God was nearer and dearer to him than +any one else. This is what makes God real to us when we feel that He is +_near and dear_. + + "Only to sit and think of God, + Oh! what a joy it is!" + +It is just the same with your children if you are a really good, loving +father, they are quite happy if they can sit close to you. Your very +presence makes a great impression on them, even if you do not say a word. +Is God's presence so real to you that it makes you control your temper and +keeps you from saying unkind things? + +A boy may be troublesome sometimes, but he never really doubts his +father's love for him. Do you ever doubt God's love? Oh, yes: you say, I +often murmur. Then this shows that in a sense you have never really known +God. People would not speak as they do about God, I mean even Christians +would not talk as they do if they really knew God. We often hear people +say, "I hope God will be good to us," or, "I think it very hard God does +not answer my prayer." This shows they have never personally known Him. +Their thoughts about God are so contrary to what they sing. For example, +how much do we really mean of that sweet hymn-- + + "Precious thought--my Father knoweth, + In His love I rest; + For whate'er my Father doeth. + Must be always best. + Well I know the heart that planneth + Nought but good for me; + Joy and sorrow interwoven, + Love in all I see." + +Do you ever doubt His wisdom and think you might have been treated better? +When we really know our Father-God, then we see His wisdom even in the +things that are against us. We know and we feel that they have all been +working together for our good, "for He knows all." + +This Book in my hand is The Word of God. It is a revelation of God, and +the glory of God Himself shines in every page. The first word in it is, In +the beginning _God_. Perhaps you ask me, "Who is God?" I will tell you. +"He is my Father." But you say, I am so sinful, I am not worthy to be +called His son. That is just what I felt, so sinful, and then He revealed +Himself to me as my Saviour. Ah! you say, but I am so far off, how can I +find my way to Him? And that was just like me till the Holy Spirit led me +to Him. When God reveals Himself to you as Father, Saviour, Comforter, +then you will know that _God_ Himself is dwelling in your heart. Perhaps +you ask, Will God really come and dwell in me for I am so unworthy? God +Himself answers that question; "Thus saith the high and lofty One that +inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy +place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive +the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." +[Footnote: Isa. lvii. 15.] Every one is standing now in view of God and +Eternity. + +A very long time ago the question was asked, "Canst thou by searching find +out God?" [Footnote: Job xi. 7.] The only way we can find Him is by our +spiritual necessities. If your soul needs life, you will find Him. If your +spirit needs reviving, you will find Him. As this text says, I come "to +revive the heart of the contrite ones." + +When your children talk about their Father, he is a real Person to them; +that is what God wants to be to us, a real personal God. He says, "I will +be to them a God." [Footnote: Heb. viii. 10.] I know a little boy who +whispered to his aunt one night when she was giving him the goodnight +kiss, "Oh, Auntie, I sometimes wonder whether there is a God. Are you +quite sure?" "Yes," said the aunt very earnestly, "I am quite sure. You +see, I have known Him so long and He is so much to me, I am quite sure." +The child was satisfied. + +If you will turn again to Psalm cxvi. you will see a wonderful unfolding +of the secret feelings of David's heart, and as we read it we cannot help +saying to ourselves, the man who wrote this experience had very close +dealings with some One about his soul. Who is this Some One? Do you know? +Perhaps you think your religion is good enough to take you to heaven when +you die, but alas! it begins and ends with the "Unknown God." How +different to David's experience when he says out of a full heart, "I love +the Lord," or as the word means, "I am full of love," and then he tells of +his confidence in God; "I believed, therefore I have spoken," as if he had +said, "God is so real to me now, I must tell others"; and he adds, "I will +walk before the Lord in the land of the living." We can walk with God in +our daily life just as Enoch did. + +A good man said a short time ago, If ever I pass any one in the street +with a careworn, anxious face, I long to say to them, "There is _God_," +"Have faith in God." St. John said, "We have known and believed the love +that God hath to us and in us--God is love." [Footnote: 1 John iv. 16.] +This is the central fact, the one great reality in life, and when once it +is grasped there is nothing to compare with it. Why is there so much +unrest, so much ungodliness, and lawlessness in our midst? We are +forgetting God. The only remedy is coming back to God. + +A poor woman who has been a Christian for many years was telling me about +her mother's sudden death the week before, and then she added, "I have +never known God as I do now. The future used to look so dark, but now that +I know Him as the Living God, I can only see _life_. I cannot tell you +what He is to me." Her face, which bore traces of her recent sorrow, shone +with a new peace and a new joy, which made me rejoice. I was sure that God +had revealed Himself to her in her time of need. Those precious words had +come true in her case, "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, +I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these +things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes; even +so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight." [Footnote: St. Luke x. +21.] + +Are you saying, "My soul thirsteth for God, for the Living God"? Then you +will have a Personal revelation of God Himself, for that is the only way +the life of God can enter into your soul and mine. Are you longing to find +God? It is not that we find Him, but that He finds us, making Himself to +us the great Reality. We may know wonderful things _about_ Him, but that +is not enough. We must really know Him in our hearts! + +The very longing which you have for this personal revelation of God comes +from the loving Father Himself, and He says, "I will give them a heart to +know Me": [Footnote: Jer. xxiv. 7.] so we need never think, ah! it is +beyond me, for He promises to _give_ us the heart to know Him. + +I had a striking instance of this some years ago. A working man who could +not read or write told me that he had been converted at our meeting. He +died in the Union Infirmary, and I heard afterwards that he had been a +blessing to many in the ward. He said to me one day, "I want to tell you +_what God is to me_." In very simple words he described how he could see +it all plainly. How in the beginning, sin came into the Garden of Eden and +then God revealed Himself to the sinner so as to bring him back to +Himself. Again and again his simple testimony was, I must tell every one +_what God is to me_. This man had learnt to know God personally through +his own need as a sinner, so it is not by earthly education that we find +God, but through the Holy Spirit's teaching, and then in the Word He +reveals Himself more fully. + +It is "through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord that grace and +peace are multiplied to us," [Footnote: 2 Pet. i. 2.] so if we have not +more and more grace and peace coming into our souls it is because we do +not really know God. + +It makes all the difference in our life when we can say, God is now my +living Father; for it means God in His infinite love has taken my life +into His, and by this personal link of love I take His life into mine. +When He assures us that He is the Living God, it means that He lives and +cares for us. All things, great and small, are under His control. We have +an illustration of this in the present war. Think of our Navy, scattered +over seven oceans, yet all under the control of the Commander-in-Chief, +Sir John Jellicoe. Not one vessel can move without his orders, no ship can +be attacked without his knowledge; the wireless apparatus is at work night +and day communicating every detail. It brings Sir John word of any +submarine sighted, or of any movement in all the seas round our country, +and it carries his orders far and near. + +When God tells us that He is the living God, we know that He cares for us +in the same way as a mother cares for her children. We had a touching +illustration of this about a year ago. + +Do you remember how we were thrilled with horror when the Archduke Francis +Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria, was shot while driving through +the city? He expired in a few minutes, leaving three children. In those +few moments he turned to his wife who was seated by his side and said +these pathetic words, "Sophie, live for our children." He did not know +that she too had been mortally wounded and would be powerless to care for +their orphan children. + +It is because our Father-God is the living God, that He can say to us +to-day just as He said to the Old Testament saints, "I am living for you, +caring for you, protecting you." "Even to your old age I am He; and even +to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made and I will bear, even I will +carry and will deliver you." [Footnote: Isa. xlvi. 4.] When He says to +you, "I am God and there is none else," [Footnote 2: Isa. xlv. 22.] does +your heart answer, Yes: "Even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art +God." [Footnote 3: Ps. xc. 2.] + + + +ADDRESS II + +GOD OUR FATHER + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Matthew vii 24-34. + + +In the chapter we have just read there is a great deal about our daily +home life, and the word "Father" is mentioned twelve times, so it shows +that God knows all about the everyday work. It is a grand thing when we +find this out. + +A poor woman in China was converted, and very soon the lady missionary who +visited her noticed that now her house was very clean and tidy, and told +her how glad she was to see it. + +The woman smiled, and said in her own simple way, "You see my Father God +and the Lord Jesus are constantly coming in and out, so I like to keep it +nice." She realised the Presence of God. + +"The eyes of the Lord are in every place." [Footnote: Prov. xv. 3.] +If we do not find God _everywhere_ we practically end by finding +Him _nowhere_. + +A busy Christian mother told me that she begins each day and lives all the +day long saying in her heart, "In Thy Presence and by Thy Power." We must +not only _say_ it, but act upon it as a _reality_, and then it will be our +daily experience to be in touch with God. + +There was one word which was very precious to Christ and which was often +on His lips, and that was "Father." You remember how He stood one day at +the grave of His friend Lazarus. All the mourners were standing round Him. +Lazarus had been dead four days. It seemed utterly impossible that he +could be restored to life again. No one expected it. + +What did Jesus do? "Jesus lifted up His eyes and said '_Father_.'" +[Footnote: St. John xi. 41.] Those eyes were still wet with tears, for a +few verses before we read "Jesus wept." Then He lifted up His eyes and +said "_Father_": that was enough. There is _everything_ in that word. It +just meant, "I have told Father all about it." He knows, He loves, He +cares, and all things are possible with Him. There is no limit to His +power and His love. + +Then the command was given to those standing near--"Take ye away the +stone." Was Christ going into the cave? No, the dead man was to _come +out_. So we have first the wondrous name "Father," and then the loud cry, +"Lazarus, come forth," and he that was dead came out of the cold grave', +out of the region of death into the land of the living. + +All through His life on earth our Lord always speaks to God as Father. One +verse especially brings out the perfect intimacy, the perfect confidence, +the perfect love between the Lord Jesus and the Father. Jesus says, "All +things are delivered unto Me of My Father, and no man knoweth the Son but +the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to +whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." [Footnote: St. Matt. xi 27.] The last +words of this verse are very precious, for they show that not only has the +Son perfect knowledge of the Father, but He reveals or makes known the +Father so that you and I may know Him as our Father. + +You remember Philip prayed, "Lord, show us the Father, that is what we +want," [Footnote: St. John xiv. 8.] and Christ answered, "He who has seen +Me has seen the Father." Yes, "He is the image of the invisible God." God +said to Moses, "Thou canst not see My Face and live for there shall no man +see me and live," [Footnote: Exod. xxxiii. 20.] and for hundreds of years +no one saw God. Then came the wondrous gift and the wondrous revelation. +God gave His only Begotten Son, and _in Him_ we see the Father. Praise the +Lord! the glorious light has come to us in our darkness. For "God, who +commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to +give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God _in the face of Jesus +Christ._" [Footnote: Cor. iv. 6.] The Apostle John says, "We beheld His +glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and +truth." + +"No man hath seen God at any time," [Footnote: St. John i. 18.] and before +Christ came the verse stopped there; but after He came, then God was fully +revealed; so the verse finishes with the words "the only begotten Son +which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." Will you look +up now, and say, "Lord, show _me_ the Father," and He will reveal Him to +you, because this is what He promises to do. Look at the last line of the +27th verse of Matthew xi. where Christ says, "He to whomsoever the Son +will reveal Him," and without a pause He adds the wonderful invitation, +"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you +rest." It is to the weary and heavy laden that He reveals the Father. He +invites them to share the fellowship He has with the Father, the peace and +joy and rest of knowing the Father. + +Why does He invite the weary ones to come to Him? because He felt in +Himself such joy in this close fellowship with God, He wanted every one to +have it too. He felt that His experience of what the Father was to Him was +so rich, He longed for them to come and share it, "I will give you rest." +It is as if He said, "I will give you the same rest I have when I am tired +and hungry and thirsty; the same comfort that I have when I am +misunderstood and reviled; the rest, the comfort, the peace I have in My +Father." + +We have the same assurance when the Holy Ghost says in St. Paul's letter +to the Corinthians, "Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and +from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord +Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort." +[Footnote: 2 Cor. i, 2, 3.] + +How can you and I know what the Lord Jesus found in His Father's love? He +has graciously made it known to us in the four Gospels. There the veil is +drawn aside and we see how all through His life He was in close fellowship +with the Father. + +We can hear the very words which the Son spoke to His Father in the hour +of deep agony: "O My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from Me; +nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt." [Footnote: St. Matt. xxvi. +39.] The last words on His lips when He was dying on the Cross were, +"Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." [Footnote: St. Luke xxiii. +46.] He said to His disciples the last night, "You will leave Me alone; +and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." 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 do. + +We too can have the sense of God's Presence in our souls at all times. A +Christian woman who was suffering from neuralgia told me that one night +when she could not sleep, a voice seemed to whisper softly to her, "Like +as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him, +for He knoweth our frame, He knows all about our poor bodies, for He made +them," [Footnote: Ps. ciii. 13, 14.] and with those words of comfort in +her mind she fell into a refreshing sleep. + +If you will turn to the 6th chapter of St. Matthew again you will see in +the 8th verse that our Heavenly Father knows about something else. "He +knows what things we have need of before we ask Him." + +The secret of what it is to have God as our Father, and the sweetness of +it, comes out in these three homely questions, What shall we eat, what +shall we drink, what shall we wear? And Christ says, [Footnote: St. Matt, +vi. 31, 32.] Take no thought, that means, do not be anxious about these +things, for your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these +things. Yes, if He knows, that is enough, and then we have only to trust +Him for all. + +Do you find your faith failing sometimes? It is one thing to trust God +when the wages are coming in regularly, and quite another thing to trust +Him when times are bad. It is just _then_ we learn to look less at our +faith and more at God's Faithfulness. + +A minister once gave a little bit of his experience about this. He said, +"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 testing. The last penny may +be gone but GOD is there. I know this to be true. + +"I have often said when preaching, 'It takes real faith in God to be able +to put your head into an empty flour barrel and sing the doxology.' My +wife had heard me say this, and one morning she called me to come into the +kitchen. I said, 'What do you want me for?' She replied, 'I want you to +come out here and sing.' I thought this queer, so I went to see what it +all meant. + +"In the middle of the kitchen was an empty flour barrel that she had just +dusted out. 'Now, my dear,' she said, 'I have often heard you say one +could put his head into an empty flour barrel and sing, "Praise God from +Whom all blessings flow," if he believed what God says. Now here is your +chance, practise what you preach.' + +"There was the empty flour barrel staring at me with open mouth, and my +purse was empty too. I looked for my faith, but could not find it; I +looked for a way of escape, but could not find one, for my wife blocked +the doorway with the dust brush covered with flour. + +"I said, 'I will put my head in and sing on one condition.' + +"'What's that?' asked my wife. + +"'On condition that you will put your head in and sing too. You know you +promised to share all my joys and sorrows.' + +"She consented, so we put our heads in and sang the doxology, and we told +our heavenly Father 'all about our need.' Yes, we had a good time, and +when we got our heads out we were a good bit powdered up, which we took as +a token that there was more flour to follow! + +"Sure enough, though no one knew of our need, the next day a barrel of +flour was sent. Where it came from or who sent it we never knew, but our +heavenly Father knew that we had 'need of these things.'" + +Does not this simple testimony teach us all a lesson? I wonder how many of +us can say from our hearts-- + + Those who trust do not worry; + Those who worry do not trust. + +Which are you doing, dear friends? Trusting or worrying? Count on God. He +never fails, and He knows just what to do. The moment a difficulty comes, +look up and say "Father," and at once the burden will roll off, He will +undertake all for you. + +I had an illustration of this one day when I was going across the Common. +It was very windy, and two little girls lost their hats; they were quite +at their wits' end, till they caught sight of their father in the +distance, and at once they called to him, "Father, father." That was +enough, in a minute he ran to help them. + +I have often found great help in looking up again and again during the day +and just saying "Father." Try it. You, fathers, often say to your +children, "If you want me just call me." That is what our heavenly Father +tells us to do. + +To know God means not only to trust Him, but also to _treat_ Him as a +Father. If you will read the 6th chapter of St. Matthew carefully when you +are at home, you will see that it gives the experience of the child of God +with the Father for one whole day. It includes all that we need during the +day:--food, clothing, forgiveness, victory over temptation, grace to do +God's will, and grace in dealing with others. + +This experience is so deep, so real, so entirely something between Father +and child, that in this chapter we find the words "_in secret_" no less +than six times. When the little child is looking up into a loving father's +face and talking to him, it never thinks of those around. "In secret" +means a sweet sense of His Presence in the soul and of close communion +with Him. "I write unto you, little children, because you have known the +Father." [Footnote: I St. John ii. 13.] + +God is our Father, because He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: this +is one of the greatest treasures of Redeeming Grace. All the teaching +about God as Father comes from the lips of Jesus, and it is in this way He +reveals the Father to us; so if we would know Him, we must drink in His +teaching and watch His life of communion with God. By His life He reveals +to us the reality of the experience into which He calls us to enter. He +also shows us the way. He not only says "Come to Me," but also Come +through Me. "I am the Way: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." +[Footnote: St. John xiv. 6.] It was by dying for us He opened the Way. +"God sent forth His Son to redeem them that were under the law, that we +might receive the adoption of sons." "And because ye are sons, God hath +sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying, Abba, +Father." [Footnote: Gal. iv. 6, 7] So we are not only received into God's +family, but we have also all the privileges of sonship. We are made "heirs +of God, joint heirs with Christ." + +Perhaps you are thinking of your unworthiness; like the Prodigal Son you +are ready to say "Father, I have sinned again and again, I am not worthy +to be called Thy son." God knows just what you are and what you have been, +and He Himself has asked the question, "How shall I put you among the +children?" It is a question which none but the Lord would ever have +thought of, and it would never have been answered if He Himself had not +answered it. It is a wonderful answer: for He says, "Thou shalt call Me, +My Father." [Footnote: Jer. iii. 19.] God Himself puts us sinners among +His children, and no one else can do it, and He keeps us; for He says, +"Thou shalt not turn away from Me." How does He do it? By creating a new +life in us, we are "born again." The old nature is not improved, but a new +heart is given. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I +put within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 26.] + +Can you say, "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into my heart," and +now I can call Him my Father? Being made the children of God by adoption +and grace, let us enjoy the privileges which are secured to us; let us act +as loving children should do. + +Does it all seem too good to be true? Trust His Word, "As many as received +Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that +believe on His Name." [Footnote: St. John i. 12] + +Some of you remember the joy which thrilled you when you first received +Him as your Saviour, but perhaps it was not until afterwards that you +realised the blessedness of your new position as sons of God. + +The Holy Spirit leads us on step by step. First, He assures us that "there +is no condemnation," then He sets us free from the bondage of sin and +death. [Footnote: Rom. viii. i, 2.] All is changed now, we feel the +confidence of a child who has free access to his father at all times. +There are three things which mark the children of God, the spiritual mind, +the spiritual walk, and the spiritual talk. "The Spirit itself beareth +witness with our spirits that we are the children of God." [Footnote: Rom. +viii. 16.] We then call out with the consciousness of sonship, "Father, +Father." + +The witness of the Spirit was given to me soon after my conversion and +thrilled me with joyful assurance. It came to me when a Christian doctor +was telling his children about the way of salvation. He drew a line on the +carpet with a stick and said, "On one side there is DEATH, on the other, +LIFE," and I said to myself, "I know which side of the line I am on." So +it was by means of this simple remark that I found out that I was really a +child of God, and my heart began from that time to cling to God as my +Father. Every day since then I have experienced the blessedness of +trusting Him and knowing Him as my Father. Is this your happy portion? If +not, why not? + + + +ADDRESS III + +THE SON OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John i. 1-18, 29-34. + + +"THIS IS THE SON OF GOD." These are the closing words of John the +Baptist's striking testimony, What a grand message! How it thrills us +through and through! On and on the glorious words ring out, "_The Son of +God is come_." Many years after, when the Apostle John was a very old man, +he wrote in one of his letters, "We know that the Son of God is come." +[Footnote: I John v. 20.] + +Now look back to the first words of our chapter. "In the beginning was the +Word." Who is the Word? It is "the Son of God." When was the beginning? +Long, long ago in Eternity that is past "the Son of God was the brightness +of His Father's glory and the express image," [Footnote: Heb. i. 3.] or +exact representation, "of His Person." In His last prayer with His +disciples our Lord speaks of "the glory which He had with the Father +before the world was." [Footnote: St. John xvii. 5.] + +The first verse of this Gospel takes us back long before this world was +created. Then we come to the creation in verse 3: "All things were made by +Him." This is exactly what is said in the first verse of the Bible of +another beginning, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the +earth." Long before this world was created we read of God's dear Son as +"the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature." All +things were created by Him and for Him, and He is before all things, the +Eternal Son of God. [Footnote: Col. i. 15-17.] + +He says, "I was set up from everlasting from the beginning, before ever +the earth was. When He appointed the foundations of the earth, then I was +by Him as one brought up with Him; I was daily His delight, rejoicing +always before Him: rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth, and My +delights were with the sons of men." [Footnote: Gen. i. 26.] + +How wonderful it is to think that in the Eternity that is past, and long +before the world was made, God had two grand purposes. One was to create +man to be the head of the whole human race. So, when the moment came that +the earthly home was ready, then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, +after Our likeness." [Footnote: Prov. viii. 23, 29, 30, 31.] + +The other grand purpose in the Eternal counsel between the Father and His +Son was to redeem man after he had fallen through sin. The Redeemer is the +Son of God Himself, so He was foreordained to this work of redemption +before the Creation of the world--"The Lamb slain from the foundation of +the world." [Footnote: Rev. xiii. 8.] Hundreds of years rolled on, and +then the glorious message from heaven was sounded forth over the plains of +Bethlehem:--"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy ... for unto +you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." [Footnote: St. +Luke ii. 10, 11.] + + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME + +_Where_ did He come from? _When_ did He come? _Why_ did He come? These are +some of the questions we must try to answer. + +First, where did He come from? He came forth from God. He was in the bosom +of the Father from all Eternity. He said to the disciples, "I came forth +from the Father and am come into the world." [Footnote: St. John xvi. 28.] + +We have read of two beginnings, now we will look at another beginning. In +the first chapter of St. Mark's Gospel, and the first verse, we read, "The +beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." 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 heaven. + +So we read of three beginnings, and these three are all of God. There is +one more which is also of God. + +It is the beginning of the life of Christ in the soul. When we read about +"the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ," we know it means the +beginning of His life on earth. Have you ever asked whether there has been +a beginning of His life _in your heart_? Is it only what you read about, +or is it a personal experience in your soul? Alas! many join in singing +the chorus, "What a wonderful Saviour," who cannot say, "He is my own dear +Saviour." They have never been able to say "My spirit hath rejoiced in God +my Saviour." + +What is this personal experience of the life of Christ in the soul? It is +what the Apostle Paul describes when he says, "I have been crucified with +Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ _liveth in me_." +[Footnote: Gal. ii. 20.] + + "Once far from God and dead in sin, + No light my heart could see: + But in God's Word the light I found, + Now Christ liveth in me." + +In writing to the Galatians he says, "My little children, you for whom I +am again undergoing, as it were, the pains of child-birth, until Christ is +fully formed within you" [Footnote: Gal. iv. 19.] (Weymouth's +translation). + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +Secondly, When did He come? "It was when the fulness of the time was +come," [Footnote: Gal. iv. 4.] that is when the time was ripe for it. +God's clock is never too fast or too slow: so at the exact moment "when +the fulness of time was come God sent forth _His Son_." Still and always +His Son, but now "made of a woman," "God, manifest in the flesh"--the +God-man. + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +What is His Name? God Himself gave the Name. "Thou shalt call His name +Jesus." [Footnote: St. Matt. i. 21.] No other name was to be given: it is +a command, "_thou shalt_ call His name Jesus, for He shall save": that is +why He is _come_. "He is come to seek and to save that which was lost." +"Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He Himself shall save His people from +their sins." He is presented to us as a living personal Saviour. The +promise is, "He, _Himself_ shall save." It means that He will abide in +each believing soul for ever. Yes, moment by moment and for ever. He +abides in us as the Deliverer from all sin. What a glorious promise! Are +you living in the reality of it? + + "Jesus! Name of wondrous love, + Human Name of God above." + +It is the God-given Name. "The Name which is above every name." Is it +precious to you? + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +Thirdly, Why did He come? The King sends ambassadors to represent him in +foreign countries, but God sent "His own dearly loved Son." "For God so +loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." [Footnote: St. John +iii. 16.] The little word "_so_" means love in its unutterable fulness, +and God is the source of it. Have you ever thanked Him for the unspeakable +gift of His dear Son? Link the two words together, _God--the world_: it +means God and you: God and me. Then link together _loved_ and _gave_. It +will take Eternity to get to the bottom of those two words. Now add that +other precious text, "He loved me: He gave Himself for me," [Footnote: +Gal. ii. 20.] and you have "the grace of God bringing salvation." + +Six times in the Epistles we find the words "He gave Himself," and in I +Peter ii. 24, it says, "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on +the tree." This is why the Son of God is come, and it is this which makes +Him so personally real to us when earthly things are fading away. + +I knew a working man who had a long, painful illness which lasted three +years. I rejoice to say that soon after it began he was converted. He was +so earnest that his one thought was to tell others what a dear Saviour he +had found, and many were led to Christ through his example and testimony. +His mother was converted through him and she is now carrying on the +Christian work which he began. What was it that changed this man? It was +the Holy Spirit revealing Christ to him as a living personal Saviour. The +day before he died he said to his sister, "I had such a lovely time with +the Master this morning in between the pain. Oh! it was like healing balm +to me and He gave me a little hymn-- + + "'Jesus loves me, He who died + Heaven's gate to open wide: + He will wash away my sin, + Let His little child come in.'" + +How wonderful that a man nearly 40 years of age should find such comfort +in a simple little hymn. But it is thus the Lord reveals Himself. + +Do you feel that you are like a lost sheep? "The Son of man is come to +seek and to save that which was lost." [Footnote: St. Luke xix. 10.] + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME! + +It is a fact, a certainty. A great reality. Nothing can take it from us. +It is a living experience in our inmost hearts. "And we know," says the +Apostle John, "that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an +understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that +is true, even in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal +life." [Footnote: I John v. 20.] + +The Son of God is come and God presents Him to us as His Perfect Son and +our Perfect Saviour. Twice during His earthly ministry there was a voice +from heaven which said, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well +pleased": "In whom I have perfect delight now and for ever." Can you +reply, "This is my Beloved Saviour and He is everything to me"? [Footnote: +St. Matt. iii. 17 and xvii. 5.] He is either everything or nothing. + +Are you like the merchant in the parable, "seeking goodly pearls, who when +he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had and +bought it"? Is your heart singing + + "I've found the pearl of greatest price, + My heart doth sing for joy; + And sing I must for Christ is mine! + Christ shall my song employ!" + +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 +colporteur, but they could not see the meaning of it, so they laid it on +one side. "But," he went on to say, "from the moment my eyes lighted upon +it, I was greatly attracted by it. So I read and kept on reading till the +meaning dawned upon me, and then," he added with a beaming face, "I found +the Pearl of Great Price." + +This reminds me of that strange story of a very valuable pearl necklace +worth £117,000 which was lost about a year ago. It was sent by post from +Paris to London when it suddenly disappeared and no one knew what had +become of it. A very large reward was offered to any one who found it. + +But now comes the wonderful part of the story. One morning, 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 St. Paul's Road, near London. +He picked it up and put it in his pocket. Presently he went into a +public-house to have a glass of beer and there he met two of his mates. He +took the match-box out of his pocket, pushed it open, and seeing it was +filled with what he thought were white beads or marbles, he said to them, +"What do you think of these, I've just picked them up?" "Oh! they're no +good," replied one of the men, "throw them away." However, Horne decided +to take them to the Police Station. The officers looked at them and said +they were worth nothing, but gave him a receipt for them. + +On their way to the factory they turned into another public-house for a +drink, and while there Horne found one of the marbles loose in his coat +pocket. "Oh!" he said, "I've got one of them left." Holding it up in his +fingers, he looked round and asked, "Will any one give me a penny for it?" +But no one would have it. + +In another public-house where they stopped, he offered the pearl for a +glass of beer, but no one accepted the offer. The pearl which was worth +many hundreds of pounds was despised by one and all. Then Horne offered it +for a packet of cigarettes, but again it was handed back with the remark, +"That's no good to me." So one of his friends suggested that he should +crush it under the heel of his boot as it was no good. + +Later on when some one asked him what he had done with it he said he had +thrown it away. + +It is a wonderful story and quite true. "Oh!" you say, "what a thousand +pities, if that man Horne had only known its value, it would have made him +a rich man in one day." + +Are you not surprised that none of these men ever thought of finding out +the real value of that pearl? But is it not stranger still that scarcely +any one ever stops to inquire who Jesus Christ really is, and the meaning +of His death on the Cross? You listened just now with astonishment to the +questions and answers about this valuable pearl, and yet the same +questions are being asked every day about another Pearl, God's Pearl of +great price, and people are treating it with the same indifference. How +the angels must look on and wonder! + +There are two questions which you have to answer now. First, What think ye +of Christ, whose Son is He? Can you say, "He is the Son of God"? Think of +the Glory of His Person: it is "the glory of the only begotten of the +Father." Think of His Divine Mission: sent by God to be the Saviour now +and the Judge by and by. Think of Him as God's great Gift to a perishing +world. Have you received Him? + +The other question which you have to answer is, "What shall I do with +Jesus?" Remember God hath given to us Eternal Life and this life is in His +Son. "He who has the Son has life, and he who has not the Son of God has +not life." [Footnote: I John v. 12.] Jesus is pleading with you, saying, +"Ye will not come," that means, you are unwilling to come to Me "that you +may have Life." [Footnote: St. John v. 40.] By and by you will have to +face another question, "What will He do with me?" + +"The Son of God is come." It is God Himself who presents Him to us: +"Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world." [Footnote: +St. John i. 29.] He is the One whom God Himself has provided and set +apart: and "now He has appeared once for all to put away sin by the +sacrifice of Himself." [Footnote: Heb. ix. 26.] There on Calvary's +Cross before the eyes of crowds of people "who came together to see that +sight," He is set forth as the spotless Son of God who was made an +offering for sin. He it is "whom God now sets forth to us as a +propitiation." [Footnote: Rom. iii. 25.] He it is, and no other, whom God +sets forth as a Mercy seat, the Blood-sprinkled Mercy Seat. God's eye +rests on Christ and His finished work, and because it is a full, perfect +and sufficient satisfaction for all our sins, "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 Jesus." Oh, +what a comfort it is to me to know that He is always there standing before +God as the Righteous One, and therefore when God looks at me in all my +unworthiness He does not see me, He only sees His dear Son. + +When that godly physician Sir James Simpson was dying, the minister who +was by his bedside asked if he had any doubts. He looked up and said, "I +have no doubts; when I stand before God I shall just _hold up Christ to +God."_ + +This is why Jesus is come, and this is why Jesus died, that the believing +soul may hold Him up to God as "the One who has been made unto us wisdom, +righteousness, sanctification and redemption," [Footnote: I Cor. i. 30.] +and it is all God's doing, from first to last. I love to say to myself,-- + + "I'm a poor sinner and nothing at all, + But Jesus Christ is my all in all." + +Our salvation depends on believing God's Word, that He has accepted our +Surety. When God raised Him from the dead, it was a proof that all the +claims of His holiness and justice had been fully met and satisfied. +The debt is paid because Jesus paid it all. He gave Himself as a +ransom--the redemption price for all. + +So now God sets Him forth in all His untold preciousness and proclaims the +glorious message, "_Deliver him_, that poor helpless sinner, from going +down into the pit. I have found a ransom." [Footnote: Job xxxiii. 24.] + +What was the price to be paid? "The Son of man is come to give His life a +ransom for many." "We are redeemed, not with silver and gold, but with the +precious blood of Christ." Who can tell how precious? "More precious far +than gold." Think what it _cost_ the Father: He gave His only Son. "Having +yet one son, His well-beloved, He said, I will send Him." + +Think what it cost the Son of God. Think of His agony in the garden, and +then the hiding of His Father's face, and last of all the pouring out His +soul unto death on the cross. Our redemption is doubly precious, not only +because of the price paid, but because of the Divine and Holy One who paid +it, the Lord of glory, even the Son of God Himself, "Which things even the +_angels_ desire to look into." [Footnote: 1 Pet. i. 12.] They long to see +into the depths of this wondrous redeeming love. + +Can you sing this chorus from your heart-- + + "Precious, precious, + Precious is my Lord to me; + Precious, precious, + Everything in Him I see." + +Think of what we have been rescued from! Christ has redeemed us from sin, +and death and hell. + +Think of the cost of this great salvation, and then ask yourself, how much +is it worth to me? We shall only be able to answer that question when we +are safe home in the glory. Then we shall be looking back on death, +looking back on the Judgment of the great White Throne, as never having +come into it: looking back on the old world which has passed away. + + "When this passing world is done, + When has sunk yon glorious sun, + When I go to Christ in glory, + Looking o'er life's finished story; + Then, Lord, shall I fully know + Not till then--how much I owe." + +Think of the last plague which God sent upon Egypt. It was not till the +midnight cry, that exceeding great and bitter cry had resounded through +the land of Egypt showing that the destroying angel had entered the houses +of the Egyptians, leaving death and desolation there; 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 doorposts. Think of +their wonder and of their thankfulness. They had believed and obeyed +before, but _now_ their hearts are filled with gratitude and praise. If +you have really cast yourself and all your sins on Christ, then you too +will join in the new song, saying, "Thou art worthy, for Thou wast slain +and hast redeemed us to God by Thy Blood." [Footnote: Rev. v. 9.] + +To _receive_ Christ now into our hearts by faith is to be born of God: +[Footnote: St. John. i. 12, 13.] spiritual life is imparted to the +believer. + +To _feed_ upon Christ day by day is to live by Him: [Footnote: St. John +vi. 57.] this is the evidence of life in the believer. + +To see Christ by and by and to be like Him, is life perfected in glory. +[Footnote: 1 John iii. 2.] + +Dear fellow sinners, let me entreat you most earnestly in the light of an +Eternity that is coming, and as you value your precious, never-dying +souls, do not trifle with God's unspeakable Gift. "How shall we escape if +we neglect so great salvation?" [Footnote: Heb. ii. 3.] No one either in +heaven or upon earth can answer that question. If the lost in hell could +speak to us they would tell us that there is _no_ escape. + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME, + +and oh! the wonder of it all, "He came to where I was." +The words of this beautiful hymn describe it-- + + "I looked and there was none to help, + 'No man' could meet my case: + A weary, world-worn heart was mine, + Without a resting place. + Then One drew near, the Christ of God, + With pitying eyes He scanned, + Jesus came to me where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "He led me first to Calvary's mount, + And, oh! what sight it gave! + The agony, the life out-poured, + It cost Him there to save. + My heart fell broken at His feet, + Who could such love withstand? + The love that came to where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "He lifted me upon a rock, + Round me His light He shed; + He poured His peace into my heart, + He healed, He held, He fed. + Ah! then I knew that holy One, + The whole could understand. + The One who came to where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "And since that day, through all the days, + His love my way has planned: + He comes to bless me where I am, + He takes me by the hand. + This glorious One is all to me, + He shall my life command, + The Christ who came to where I was, + And took me by the hand." + + + +ADDRESS IV + +THE SPIRIT OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John iv. 1-26 + + +God is a Spirit. 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 God. He told her that God is Father, that God is +Saviour, and that God is Spirit; three Persons but one God. + +The Lord opened her heart and she grasped this wondrous truth. + +Christ said to her, "God the Father is seeking you, He is longing for you +to come to Him." Then He let her feel and see that He is the Saviour. + +Was it not wonderful that she was the first to tell the good news that He +is "the Saviour of the world"? [Footnote: St. John iv. 42.] + +Christ said to her, "God is a Spirit," and she found that no one else but +God could touch her heart. + +Until the Spirit of God comes into our hearts, we cannot really know God +personally or have communion with Him. "Now we have received, not the +spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know +the things that are freely given to us of God." [Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 12.] + +Although our hearts are so sinful the Holy Spirit is longing to come in. +He found an entrance into the heart of this poor woman whose life was a +wreck with its four great failures. Every life is a failure in God's +sight, but we must never despair of any one, for "with God all things are +possible," and as long as life lasts there is hope for the sinner. + +"The Lord opened her heart," she heard and believed, and went home to tell +others what a dear Saviour she had found. It was the beginning of a +revival at Sychar, and every revival begins in the same way, God is +revealed by His Spirit and men realise the nearness of God. + +Until a man really finds out what God is, there can be no true spiritual +worship. This is the truth Jesus came to make known to us when He says, +"God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and +in truth," for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. Yes, the Father +is seeking us, yearning for us to come close to Him and to respond to His +love for us. When our Lord tells us that we must worship in spirit, He +means that it is the spirit in man which responds to the Spirit of God. Do +you offer Him your heart's devotion and praise, or is it only lip-worship? + +True spiritual worship does not depend on forms or ceremonies or on any +special place or time. I felt the point of this when a railwayman said to +me, "We can be in touch with God all the day long." + +God is a Spirit, just as "God is Light." [Footnote: 1 John i. 5.] +And there are no limitations as to where He works or His ways and time of +working. + +The Holy Spirit reveals to us far more about God than we ever imagined. +The Bible says, "Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered +into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that +love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit." +[Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10.] + +Until the Holy Spirit opens our blind eyes to see spiritual things we +cannot understand them. It is not the words of man's wisdom which can +explain them, we need to use spiritual words for spiritual truths, so we +can only speak as the Holy Spirit teaches us what to say. "The natural man +receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness +unto him," [Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 14.] he does not grasp the meaning of +them. + +It is because God is a Spirit that he meets our spiritual need when we +feel altogether helpless and hopeless in ourselves, for He says, "I will +put My Spirit within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 27.] God begins in the +very centre of our being, in our innermost hearts. God makes Himself known +to us as God, through our spiritual necessities. + +The Presence of the Holy Spirit is a personal thing in each one who +receives Him. There is only one way by which we can receive the Holy +Spirit, and that is by faith. The Holy Ghost has been given. Will you ask +yourself, Have I received Him? If not, why not? + +When God puts His Spirit into our hearts He abides with us for ever. He +never leaves us. Even when we grieve Him by our coldness of heart, He does +not leave us. + +It is God who begins the work of grace in our hearts. The Book which +reveals to us what God is, opens with the words, "In the Beginning, +_God_." [Footnote: Gen. i. 1.] God is the Beginner of all things, not only +of the creation of the world, but of the new creation in our souls. This +Book unfolds to us how God begins and finishes the great work of +redemption and salvation. + +We find another marvellous beginning which is also unfolded in this Book. +"The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." [Footnote: 1 Gen. +i. 2.] It is a remarkable word; it means the Spirit of God brooded on the +face of the waters. In Genesis we read, "The Spirit of God was brooding," +and in the Gospels we find the Spirit of God compared to a dove. The word +"brooding" is a figure of the mother dove brooding over her nest and +cherishing her young. The first time the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the +Old Testament is in this verse, and the first emblem of the Holy Spirit in +the New Testament is in the 3rd chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, where it +says that, after our Lord had been baptized, "The heavens were opened unto +Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon +Him." [Footnote: St. Matt. iii. 16.] + +First let us look at the background of the picture. We see darkness and +desolation, death and ruin. Then we see the Spirit of God, the Dove of +peace, brooding over it all, and bringing light and life, love and peace +out of the confusion. + +So the two thoughts which are here brought to our minds are Motherhood and +Peace. 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 Spirit. + +When Christ is speaking of the New Birth, He says we are "born of the +Spirit." [Footnote: St. John iii. 6.] Again, when the cry of the new-born +soul is spoken of, we are told how it comes; for Paul says, "God hath sent +forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." +[Footnote: Gal. iv. 6] Again there is the beautiful expression, "The +Spirit of Adoption." "We have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we +cry Abba, Father." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 15.] "Abba" means "dear Father." + +When God would reveal His heart of love to us He says, "As one whom his +mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." [Footnote: Isa. lxvi. 13.] +Think of a mother busy with her work, and her little one playing on the +floor. Presently there is a cry, it has fallen down, and in a moment the +mother is by its side to soothe it. But there is something sweeter still. +Even if nothing befall the child the mother is near by to help it over +every difficulty and to respond to every look and sign. Even so our God +who is to us our Mother Comforter, says, "Before they call I will answer, +and while they are yet speaking I will hear." [Footnote: Isa. lxv. 24] + +The little child always turns to its mother for comfort in every trouble. +There is one thing which we notice in every home, that is, the mother's +tender love and constant care for her little one. Night and day her child +is her one thought. So the Lord says of His people, "I the Lord do keep +it, lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." [Footnote: Isa. +xxvii. 3.] Every child of God can say-- + +"Moment by moment I'm kept in His love." + +Does the child need the mother's constant, watchful care? Yes, because +everything around is like a new world to the little one, it is all a new +experience. The mother gives herself up so entirely to the child that it +depends on her for everything. In the same way when the soul is born again +it is brought into a new relation to God, it has entered into a new +experience and the Holy Spirit becomes to it just what the mother is to +the child and much more. + +Just as the mother trains the little one to take the first steps in +walking and holds it up, so it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to +walk and to please God. The little hand is slipped into mother's hand to +be led and held up. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the +sons of God." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 14.] + +The mother keeps the child close to her, so the Holy Spirit is the +Comforter to us, by our side, for the word "Comforter" means, The one whom +we call to our side to help us. Just as the mother tells her child what to +say when it wants anything, so He helps us when we pray, "for we know not +what we should pray for as we ought." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 26.] + +"The Comforter is come." When did He come? On the day of Pentecost, for it +was _then_ that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and He has been with us +ever since. + +Let those words ring in your heart and in your life, "The Comforter is +come." [Footnote: St. John xv. 26.] There is a beautiful hymn which +illustrates the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. It +begins with the words-- + + "Spirit Divine! attend our prayers, + And make our hearts Thy home." + +Then four things are mentioned which show forth God's power in Nature. +Light, fire, dew, wind. In the Bible they are all used as symbols of the +Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of men. + +In Nature we know that human power is small compared with the power of +light, fire, wind, and water. Have we learnt to depend only on the Power +of the Holy Ghost? God's Voice is ever saying to us now, oh! that we may +listen, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." +[Footnote: Zech. iv. 6.] Just as all the marvels of the natural world are +perfectly carried out by God's wisdom and power, so He has given the Holy +Spirit to make Him perfectly known as a living Presence, a living Power +and Reality in our hearts and lives. + +In the second verse of the hymn we find the words-- + + "Come as the Light--to us reveal + Our emptiness and woe." + +We know what the light does when it shines into a room, It reveals or +shows up any dust we had not noticed before. So when the light of God +shines into our hearts it reveals what we never saw before. + +Have you ever watched the battleships on a dark night, anchored a little +way off from the coast? Suddenly the bright dazzling searchlights are sent +out from the ship. They seem to sweep over the ocean with their sparkling +light and then to wrap you round, as you stand there on the shore. The +sight fills you with wonder; you feel as if the eyes of all on board ship +can see you. + +It is the same when the Holy Spirit shines into our hearts; it is almost +overwhelming; we can only cry, "Woe is me, for I am undone." +[Footnote: Isa. vi. 5.] We stand condemned under the searching eye of God. +All our self-righteous excuses are swept away. 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 neighbours. The dazzling light of God's Presence has +searched us through and through and turned us inside out. Is this +searching necessary for every one? Yes, for it is the only way we can +learn to know the evil of our hearts. + +Sometimes the light of the Holy Spirit comes to us in a quiet moment and +shows us what we never saw before. Sometimes it comes like a flash. It +flashed out on the road when Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus. +He described it when he was being tried before King Agrippa, "At midday, O +King, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the +sun, shining round about me. And I fell to the ground and I heard a voice +saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he tells us also +that he could not see for the glory of that light." [Footnote: Acts xxvi. +13, xxii 17.] Whenever the light comes it is a revelation, a moment never +to be forgotten: Darkness conceals, light reveals. + +The Spirit of God brooded over the face of the waters, and God said, "Let +there be light and there was light." [Footnote: Gen. i. 3.] + +The Holy Spirit not only shows us what we are, but He shows Christ to us; +then we see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. "For God, who +commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to +give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus +Christ." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 6.] Yes, God's glory is radiant on the face +of Christ and the Holy Spirit reveals it. He delights to show us His +beauty and His loveliness and thus to glorify Him. He makes Him a reality +in our souls--"a living bright Reality." If you have not seen Him as +"altogether lovely" it is not because the Holy Spirit is not willing to +show Him to you, but because you turn away and will not look. + +How good it is of God to send the Holy Spirit into this world on purpose +to reveal these things to us. We should never see them but for Him. "The +natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he +know them because they are spiritually discerned." [Footnote: I Cor. ii. +14.] What is the natural man? It is what we are by nature before the +Spirit of God gives us a new life. When it says "He receiveth not the +things of the Spirit of God," it means that he has no power to receive +them. He is groping in the dark, loving the darkness rather than the +light. + +A poor woman who had led a careless worldly life, sent me this message +when she was dying, "Tell her the little prayer she taught me has been +answered. She will understand. Tell her God has shown me myself and +He has shown me Himself, so I am going to be with Him." + +The little prayer which she had learnt from my lips was this--"Lord, show +me myself; Lord, show me Thyself." How I thanked God that He used it for +the saving of her soul. + +When the Holy Spirit convinces us of sin and of our need of a Saviour, He +does not leave us there. He draws aside the veil and reveals to us the +secret love of God. When our eyes have been opened to know that God is +_Light_, then we find out that God is _Love_. How did this love of God +show itself? God sent His Son, "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 Him." [Footnote: 1 John iv. 9.] It is not only the +Love of God made known and shining out in the Gift of His Son, but we are +told that "God commendeth His love towards us." [Footnote: Rom. v. 8.] +How does God commend His love? He sets together His love for His Son and +His love for the sinner, and His love for the sinner is so great that +He gave His Son to die for us. Thus the words "God commendeth His love" +make it quite clear that "God loves the sinner with a love which gives its +best, gives everything, keeping nothing back, and gives to everybody." + + "Oh, the love that gave Jesus to die, + The love that gave Jesus to die, + Praise God it is mine this love so Divine-- + The love that gave Jesus to die." + +"God commendeth His love towards us in that, when we were yet sinners," it +makes no difference _who_ we are or _what_ we have been, the Holy Spirit +fixes our thoughts on that little word "yet." The text says, "When we were +yet sinners, still far off, still lost and undone, Christ died for us"; so +the Blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, "cleanseth us from all sin." +[Footnote: I John i. 7.] When we feel that sin is really a burden then the +Holy Spirit points us to the little word "all." Then He applies the +precious Blood to our guilty consciences, assuring us by the Word that the +Blood of Jesus Christ does cleanse from all sin so that not a single stain +is left. It is a perfect cleanser, there is nothing it cannot do. Then the +Holy Spirit shows us that God has provided a perfect covering for us in +the Robe of Christ's Righteousness. + +It is thus that the Comforter, who is the Spirit of Truth, leading into +all truth, shows us the meaning of Christ's redeeming work and enables us +to understand it and to appropriate it. When we do this it is indeed a +blessed experience. + +A young man whom I know described it as follows: "I heard the voice of God +saying to me, 'Who told thee that thou wast naked?' [Footnote: Gen. iii. +11.] 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 +Righteousness. I feel I am exactly suited to Jesus as He is exactly suited +to me, for I am just the one who needs His fulness, and He is the only one +that can supply my emptiness." + +I praised God for this clear testimony, and I have seen again and again +ever since I began to work for the Lord many years ago, that the Holy +Spirit delights to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ as "a full Saviour for +empty sinners." + +The Gospel of St. John tells us very plainly that the Holy Ghost was sent, +not only to make us see the meaning of Christ's finished work, but also to +prepare our hearts to receive it in all its fulness. + +How does the Holy Spirit prepare our hearts? First, He opens our hearts, +awakens in us a sense of our need and sinfulness, then, when He has opened +our hearts, He breathes into them a new life; He creates a longing for +God. We feel within us a burning desire to know God. We catch eagerly at +everything we hear about God, This is quite a new experience; we used to +go on year after year not troubling about it in the very least. What is +this new experience, this seeking after God? It is what the Bible calls +"Repentance." The word means "Change of mind." Again and again the Apostle +Paul urged upon both Jews and Greeks the necessity of "repentance towards +God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ." [Footnote: Acts xx. 21.] + +A few days ago I received a touching letter from a young friend telling me +how God's Spirit had led her to repentance. She wrote, "When I was a +little girl and began to seek the Lord, I was very much troubled because +I could not feel sorry enough for my sins. I wanted a real repentance to +come to the Lord with. I thought repentance meant crying over one's sins a +great deal, and I could not feel sorry enough to cry as I wanted to. I +used to keep praying, 'Give me a real repentance.' Many times I dreamed I +had this deep repentance and could cry over my sins, and I have awakened +with my face really bathed in tears, but oh, how disappointing it was to +find it only a dream and I had not got what I wanted after all. I went on +like this until I was twenty, when the Lord spoke these words with great +power to my soul, 'The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.' The +voice seemed audible and I turned to see if anybody had spoken to me. I +was able to weep enough then, but they were tears of joy and gratitude, +and I well remember saying aloud, 'O Lord, why me, why one so sinful as I +am?' I now see that repentance means 'a change of mind' and not a flood of +tears. Had I known this when a child it would have saved me years of +toiling and praying for repentance." + +Dear friends, perhaps some of you are trying to get right with God. Look +at the text which gave such peace to this seeking one. It begins with this +question, "Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and +longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to +repentance?" [Footnote: Rom. ii. 4.] + +We little know that all the time we are working and toiling we are really +despising, turning away from the riches of His goodness. The word "riches" +shows how abundant His goodness is; therefore we are "without excuse." + +God's forbearance in delaying punishment, and His longsuffering in +patiently waiting, show that His purpose in thus dealing with us is to +lead us to repentance, which is not merely grief for sin, but a thorough +inward change. + +So we now know what we did not know before, that it is "the goodness of +God that leads us to repentance." + +Yes, we find now that instead of working our way, back to God, He is there +close to us, with open arms to receive us, stretching out His loving Hand +to save us. We find that instead of trying to gain God's favour by our +prayers and good works, God's Righteousness is there for us all ready and +provided for us. We find that we are accepted in His dear Son not for any +good thing we have done, but simply by faith in Jesus. All this is shown +to us by the Holy Spirit, and without Him we could not have seen it. + +We were speaking just now about repentance. Have you ever noticed that +when our Lord began preaching the Gospel, the first word He said was +"Repent." [Footnote: St. Matt. iv. 17.] Why did He call to the crowds so +earnestly to repent? Again and again that word keeps ringing out. He +wanted to make them see that He condemned the way they were living and +their religious professions. It was a call to stop and think, as if He +said to them, "You have lost your way, you are on the wrong road, stop and +turn round." + +First He points to the right road. He proclaims that the Kingdom of God is +come. Then He says to them, But before you can enter in you must repent. +The people recognised the meaning of the call; they knew that if they +obeyed the whole course of their lives would have to be changed, because +having lost the true centre of life, they were simply _drifting_. The man +who is living without God is like a ship drifting on the wide ocean +without a pilot or chart or compass. For three years He pleaded with them +tenderly and lovingly, and at last they gave their final answer to His +message. They said, "We will not submit to the Divine government, we will +not have this Man to reign over us," [Footnote: St. Luke xix. 14.] _and so +they crucified Him_. + +When we have been led by the Holy Spirit to repentance we see sin, and we +see ourselves in a new light. As soon as we really know God we cannot help +being sorry for our sin. We begin to long for a Saviour, a Mediator, and +it is then that the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus. Repentance, or change +of mind, is the first step, and then follows conversion--a change of heart +and life. The word conversion means "turning round." Jesus says, +"Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter +into the Kingdom of Heaven." [Footnote: St. Matt. xviii. 3.] + +Think of God's two great gifts; first, the Gift of His only begotten Son, +then the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Have you received them? Perhaps you ask, +"How can I know?" If you have received the Holy Spirit there will be joy +and peace in your heart, and the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in your +daily life. + +"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye +may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost." [Footnote: Rom. +xv. 13.] + +"And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost." +[Footnote: Acts xiii. 52.] They were filled again and again, more and more +filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. + +You, too, may have a Spirit-filled life. God says to you now, and He is +saying it every day and every hour, "_Be filled with the Spirit._" +[Footnote: Eph. v. 18.] + +Remember there are different degrees in the Christian life. First, there +is Everlasting Life for all who seek it. Only ask Me, Jesus said to the +woman of Samaria, and I will give you _living_ water. Then he leads her on +a step further. "It shall be in you a well of water." It will be an +abundant life, a joyous, satisfying life. Afterwards He tells us that it +will be a life "overflowing for others." [Footnote: St. John vii. 38, 39.] +This is to be the experience of all believers now through the Holy Spirit. +Lastly, the crowning of it all is still to come and we shall drink of "the +pure river of the Water of Life." [Footnote: Rev. xxi. 1.] +That will be the fulness of life through all Eternity. + + + +ADDRESS V + +THE VOICE OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Genesis xxviii. 10-22. + + +Jacob is leaving home for the first time, to take a long journey of 450 +miles. He is quite alone and he feels very lonely when he lies down the +first night in a barren place, with a stone for his pillow. Jacob was like +some of us, he had heard about God ever since he was a child, but God was +not real to him because he had never had any personal dealings with Him. + +That night he had a wonderful dream, and it made a great difference to his +whole life. The ladder which he saw in his dream was to show him that +there was a gulf between him and God: and the gulf was caused by his sins. +It also showed the necessity for some means of communication to be +provided for him. Right down to his deep need the ladder came, right up to +God Himself the ladder reached. It was set up on earth and it reached to +heaven to make him understand that the gulf had been bridged over, so that +now, constant, free communication was possible between his soul and God. +The ladder which Jacob saw in his dream is mentioned again in St. John's +Gospel. Jesus said to Nathaniel, "Because I said unto thee I saw thee +under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than +these. And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye +shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon +the Son of man." [Footnote: St. John i. 50, 51.] + +The Lord Jesus had been revealing Himself to Nathaniel and this +conversation took place near Bethel, so that the reference to Jacob's +ladder was very forcible and the wonderful type was made clear. + +When Jesus said that heaven would be opened, He meant not only opened just +once, but _remaining open_; so that ever since Christ ascended into heaven +we have lived and are still living under an "open heaven," which means +free intercourse between God and man, because Christ Himself is the +Ladder. It also means He is the one and only means of communication +between the sinner and God. It is "through Him we have access by one +Spirit unto the Father." [Footnote: Eph. ii. 18.] All that we know of God +comes to us through Him, and all the grace we receive from God comes +through Him. So Jacob's ladder is as real to us now as it was to him then, +for it connects the seen with the unseen. It is possible for us now to +have Christ's Presence with us always and everywhere, for He says Lo, I am +with you alway. [Footnote: Matt. xxviii. 20.] + +But there was something more wonderful for Jacob to see even than the +ladder. "The LORD stood above the ladder." It was the first time in his +life he had realised the Presence of God. He had lived over forty years +without realising that God was close to him. When he awoke from his dream +he said, "Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not." He never +forgot it, just as we never forget the time and place where we are +converted. One hundred years after that night, when he was a very old man, +he mentioned it to his son. He said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared unto +me at Luz and blessed me." [Footnote: Gen. xlviii. 3.] + +But what impressed him deeply was that _there_ in that lonely place, many +miles away from any human being, he heard the Voice of God speaking to +him. It was then that a new life began in his soul, for God told him that +from that moment He would be with him _everywhere_, blessing him and +protecting him from all danger, and it was then Jacob began to trust God +as his _God_. + +So we see how God's glory and God's grace were shining down from the top +of the ladder into poor Jacob's heart. Jacob was face to face with God for +the first time, and he began to tremble with fear. If only you could +realise that God is now, at this very moment, straight in front of you, +you would fall down on your face before Him, and you would cry to Him as +Job did, "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye +seeth Thee; wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." +[Footnote: Job xlii. 5, 6.] + +It is at this moment that we realise for the first time our need of a +substitute, just as Job did, for he said, "He is not a man as I am that I +should answer Him, neither is there any daysman betwixt us that can lay +His hand upon us both." [Footnote: Job ix. 33.] How Job would have +rejoiced in the glorious revelation which Christ has brought to us. "There +is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, +Who gave Himself a ransom for all." [Footnote: 1 Tim. ii. 5, 6.] He is not +only the Mediator laying His hand upon us both, but He _gave Himself_, +that is, He gave His life as a _ransom_. The ransom price was His own +precious blood, for the life is in the blood. It is the Blood of God's own +dear Son which makes an atonement for the soul. + +The sentence passed on you and me and on every sinner is the sentence of +death, for death is the penalty for sin. We are all under the sentence of +death, but the glorious message is sent God has found a Substitute. + + "He bore on the tree the sentence for me, + And now both the Surety and sinner are free." + +You and I now have what Job longed for so earnestly. The Daysman is the +Son of God Himself, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation," that +is an atoning sacrifice, "through faith in His Blood." [Footnote: Rom. +iii. 25.] + +At first Jacob trembled with fear, but after he had heard the loving words +which God spoke to him from the top of that wonderful ladder, then he +began to realise that he was no longer alone in that lonely place. He +said, "This is the house of God, this is the gate of heaven." Earth had +faded from his sight and he was surrounded by heavenly realities. And so +it is now, the veil is very thin which separates earth from heaven, the +temporal from the Eternal. + +It was _God's Voice_ which woke him up spiritually. God revealed Himself +as the personal God to Jacob. We can recognise a friend by his voice even +if we do not see him. So it is the Voice more than anything else which +makes the presence of any one real to us. We have an illustration of this +in the pictures of the gramophone in which we see a dog listening for the +master's voice. The sheep knows the shepherd's voice; the child is quick +in recognizing its mother's voice; why do we turn a deaf ear to God's +Voice? How tenderly He pleads with us, saying, "But My people would not +hearken to My Voice." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxxi. 11.] + +God wants to be very real and very personal to each one of us, so He says, +"Unto you, O men, I call, and My Voice is to the sons of man." [Footnote: +Prov. viii. 4.] + +God has been calling us from the very beginning. Far back in the 3rd +chapter of Genesis, when Adam was hiding among the trees of the garden, it +was God's Voice which called him out with the searching question, Where +art thou? It was as if He said, "Adam, I want you." He is the seeking God +still. It was God's Voice that reminded Adam of the holy, happy friendship +now broken by sin. Before sin came into the world Adam never listened to +any other voice, and now when God is yearning to bring us to Himself, He +says, "Listen." That word Listen, or Hearken, comes again and again in the +Bible. We find it very often in Isaiah and Jeremiah. When God is pleading +with the sinner, that is the word He uses more than any other. In Psalm +lxxxi., where God tells us how grieved He is by our waywardness, He says, +"Oh that My people had listened or hearkened unto Me." And in Deuteronomy +xxviii. 45, He tells them that their troubles have been sent because they +would not hearken to the Voice of the Lord their God. + +I think God has chosen this special way of calling us by His Voice, +because it is what we can all understand--it is so simple and so homely. +When a boy is disobedient the father calls him, then he talks to him and +pleads with him. The father's voice touches the boy's heart. How wonderful +it is that God's Voice can reach us, however far off we may be. You have +sometimes been to an Open-Air Service, and you have heard the speaker's +voice a good way off, but now it has been discovered that any one's voice +can travel through the air and be heard above 300 miles away by means of a +new apparatus called the wireless telephone. + +Some time ago a gentleman living in England put a special receiver to his +ear and he actually heard a man speaking in France, more than 300 miles +away. + +A year or two ago when the _Titanic_ went down among the icebergs, you +remember how the wireless telegraph sent messages to other ships calling +for help. This was done by special letters, flashed across the ocean, such +as C.Q.D. (come quick, danger) or when the ship was sinking S.O.S. (save +our souls). + +But wonderful as this is, how much more wonderful it is to discover a way +by which any one's voice can be heard miles and miles away. Very likely as +time goes on and the wireless telephone is more used, you will be able to +speak to your father or son far away in Australia or Canada, so that they +will not only hear your voice distinctly, but they will answer back, and +you will hear their voices just as if you were sitting together again at +home. What a wonderful thing it will be to have this close link with them! + +It is the same as the link which Jacob felt when he heard God's voice +speaking; it seemed to bring God quite close to him and to make God so +real, that he started again on his journey cheered and encouraged; for we +read in the first verse of the next chapter, "Then Jacob went on his +journey," and in the margin it says he lifted up his feet, showing his +heart was lightened of its burden: when the heart is heavy, our feet drag. +But he made a fresh start: and if only God's Voice reaches your heart now, +you will go on your way rejoicing; it will be like making a fresh start. + +Again and again we read of God talking to those who were willing to hear +His Voice. For example, "The LORD talked with Moses face to face as a man +speaketh unto his friend," [Footnote: Exod. xxxiii. 9, 11.] and at Mount +Sinai "Moses spake and God answered him by a Voice." + +Not only is the link of communication perfect between God and man, but the +way in which we can use it and be put in touch with God is so simple: it +is by faith--that is all. + +We have another illustration of this when we think of the wireless +messages. The world's greatest wireless station is in a little village +called Nassau, in Germany. A short time ago a message was sent to a place +far, far away over the ocean, 6,500 miles away. How was it started? Only +by touching a key in the machine. That touch releases the lightning which +carries a message for thousands of miles over vast continents and across +the boundless sea. + +Only a touch--is it not like the touch of faith? But we must not forget +that when the message has reached its destination, when these waves of +sound talk across the world, the ear at the other end must be prepared to +hear the call. + +There is the hearing of faith, as well as the touch of faith. The hearing +means not only listening, but being willing to obey the voice. I have been +told that when a message is to be sent by wireless telephone, the other +waves of sound must be quite still before the person receiving the message +can hear it. The speaker has to wait till the vibrations settle down, +there must be perfect stillness, and then the voice is heard. How +important it is to shut out all other sounds so that our hearts may be +still enough to hear God speak. We must listen with an obedient heart. Do +you remember how one Sunday was set apart not long ago to make collections +for the blind. At midnight on Saturday, a royal message was sent forth +which encircled the whole world. It was King George's "God speed" to the +appeal for the blind. It was flashed from the wireless station on a lonely +cliff in Cornwall to another station in America, and it went over the +seven oceans of the world. It was received by forty-five ships in the +Atlantic. They were all warned it was coming and they were expecting it. +The White Star liner _Baltic_, 810 miles away, heard it, and it travelled +on to India, and it was caught up there 1,500 miles away. + +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 it. "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit +saith unto the Churches." [Footnote: Rev. ii. 7.] How the solemn call +rings out, and rings on: To-day, To-day! How it sounds in our ears with +startling urgency, and it is the Holy Ghost who says it, "To-day, if you +will hear His Voice, harden not your heart." [Footnote: Heb. iii. 7.] +When we are careless and indifferent to what God's Voice is saying to us +then we are hardening our hearts. + +Perhaps in days gone by you once listened to God's Voice. Why did you give +up listening? "Ah!" you reply, "other voices came and drowned that still +small Voice, and the voice of the Evil One poisoned my mind." + +Let me ask you one more question, Has God's Voice ever stopped calling? +No, God is still calling. Oh, that now at this very moment you may be able +to say, "The Voice of God has reached my heart." If any of you turn a deaf +ear to God's Voice, remember the time is coming when "all who are in the +graves shall hear His Voice and shall come forth"; [Footnote: St. John. v. +25.] and to you it will be a coming forth to judgment and condemnation. + +How does God speak to us now? We can hear the Voice of God speaking in His +Word. When any portion of Scripture is specially impressed on our minds it +shows that God is speaking to us. A young man who had been seeking God +very earnestly said one day, "While reading the Word, I felt certain that +God had really spoken to my soul, that He had actually said to me, Live!" +Yes, that young man was right, for that is just what God has said to us, +but it makes all the difference whether we each one receive it as if God +is really saying it to us personally. Luther felt this, for he used to +say, "When I open the Bible it talks to me." + +Why is the Bible like no other book? Because it is the revelation of God +Himself. The glory of God shines in its pages. In life and in death the +only source of comfort is a Personal God. Our great need is to have +God personally near, _near and dear_. Never rest till you can look up into +His Face with confidence and say, "Thou art near, O Lord." [Footnote: Ps. +cxix. 151.] + +He is saying to you now, "Seek ye my Face." [Footnote: Ps. xxvii. 8.] +What answer will you give? Will you say to God now, "Thy Face, Lord, will +I seek." When we seek His Face, then we see "the glory of God in the face +of Jesus Christ." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 6.] How grand it all is, and yet +how simple! + +Let me say one word of loving appeal to any who have never really sought +the Lord. How is it that you say your prayers and yet you do not expect to +get an answer direct from God? Because, like Jacob, you have never +believed there is a God. You have not got hold of the first truth which +the Bible teaches us, _God is_; "He that cometh to God must believe that +HE IS." [Footnote: Heb. xi. 6.] When you pray, He must be as real to you +as if you saw Him standing by hearing and answering you. Until our eyes +are opened to see that death and judgment, heaven and hell, are great +realities we do not really cry to God, and when we do we find out that we +have never realised there is a God. Think of what God offers to you. +Forgiveness, life and glory. Would you neglect getting these priceless +gifts if you believed they were the real offers of a real Person? "What +meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God." [Footnote: Jonah i. +6.] + + + +ADDRESS VI + +THE HANDS OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John xx. 19-31. + + +Why has this Gospel been written? The last verse of this chapter tells us. +"It has been written that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son +of God, and that believing we may have life through His Name." + +In the Old Testament when "The Name" is mentioned it meant the unveiling +of the grace and glory and power of God. 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 expression, "His Name." It means His nature and +His character. + +In the verse which we have just read, the wonderful truth shines out that +it is through His Name, through all that He is, and all He has done, that +we have _life_. So Christ Himself declares, "My sheep hear My Voice and I +know them and they follow Me, and I give unto them Eternal life, and they +shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My Hand. My +Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all, and no man is able to +pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." +[Footnote: St. John x. 27-30.] + +Christ first speaks of His own hand and then of His Father's hand, so +there are two hands which hold us fast and keep us safe, now and for ever. + +Let us look at what is said about the Hands of God in the Bible. + +Think of God's Hands in creation. The Psalmist says, "Of old hast Thou +laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy +hands." [Footnote: Psa. cii. 25.] "The sea is His and He made it: and His +hands formed the dry land." [Footnote: Ps. xcv. 5.] + +Think of His strong Hands in Providence, as Moses said, "Thy right hand, O +LORD, is become glorious in power." [Footnote: Exod. xv. 6.] + +Nehemiah speaks again and again of "the good hand of my God upon me," +[Footnote: Neh. ii. 8.] when he tells us of all God's loving help and +guidance in the difficult work he had undertaken. + +Think again of God's loving Hands in grace, healing the broken in heart +and binding up their wounds. How safe David felt when he said, "Thy right +hand upholdeth me." [Footnote: Ps. lxiii. 8.] He shows his confidence in +God when he prays, "Hold Thou me up and I shall be safe." [Footnote: Ps. +cxix. 117.] When your child wants you to hold him up he slips his little +hand in yours, doesn't he? Have you ever put your weak hand into God's +strong loving Hand so as to let Him do the holding up? + +The saints in olden times felt God's Hand in everything, over-ruling, +planning, guiding, and Jesus assures us of the perfect safety and +everlasting security of the believer, for He says, "No one, either man or +devil, can pluck them out of My hand, nor shall any man be able to pluck +them out of My Father's hand;" [Footnote: St. John x. 28, 29.] so there +are two Divine Hands holding us fast. + +Think once more of the hands of God: not only strong hands to help and to +heal, but _redeeming_ hands, mighty to save; hands that have been in the +fire to pluck us out of the burning; hands that have laid hold of the +enemy and have overcome him; hands that have unlocked the gates of a new +life that we may enter in. + +Not long ago a little girl was caressing her dear old nurse, and when she +caught sight of the deep scars in her hands she asked, "How did you get +these scars?" The nurse looked at her very tenderly and then she said, +"When you were a baby, a fire broke out one night when you were asleep in +your cot. I plunged my hands into the flames and lifted you out." The +child's eyes were full of tears as she looked at the dear scarred hands, +the hands that had been wounded to save her. + +Those scarred hands remind me of another story. One day, about thirty +years ago, some children were playing on a mountain in France, and their +merry peals of laughter attracted the notice of a shepherd lad who was +taking care of the sheep a little way off. Suddenly a wolf foaming at the +mouth came in sight. He saw it run madly down the mountain towards the +children. Without a moment's hesitation he rushed forward, seized the +wolf, and grappled with it. After a fierce struggle he managed to bind a +leather strap around its mouth, and then he killed it, but not before the +wolf, which was raving mad, had bitten him severely in the hand. This +occurred just at the time when Pasteur, the famous Paris doctor, had +discovered a remedy for hydrophobia. Without delay the shepherd lad who +had saved the lives of the children at such a cost was taken to Paris and +was cured. Hundreds of patients are sent to the Pasteur Institute at Paris +and when they ring the bell, the door is opened by an elderly man with a +scar on his hand. He was once the shepherd lad who rescued the children +from the raving wolf, and the deep scars are from its bite. Inside the +hall there is a statue representing him in the terrible struggle with the +wolf. + +Think of the wounded hands of the Son of God. Do you ask Where? How? Why? +Where were they wounded? On Calvary's Cross. How? "They pierced My hands +and My feet." [Footnote: Ps. xxii. 16.] This is the wonder of it, "He was +wounded for our transgressions." Look at the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, and +there you will see Jesus as the Suffering Substitute. Seven times in that +chapter it is distinctly mentioned that all His suffering was because He +was bearing our sins. Notice in verse 5 it says, "He was wounded for our +transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities." Then in verse 6, "The +Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." In verse 8, "For the +transgression of My people was He stricken," or the stroke was upon Him. +He stood between the stroke of Divine Justice and the sinner and received +the blow Himself. In verse 10, "Thou shalt make His soul an offering for +sin;" verse 11, "He shall bear their iniquities;" verse 12, "He bare the +sin of many." Jesus was the Suffering Substitute because He was the +Sin-bearer. See how in His death He was identified with the sinner. For +in verse 12 we read, "He was numbered with the transgressors." + +In the Gospels we are told that there were two thieves crucified with Him, +on either side one and Jesus in the midst. I once saw a coloured +illustration of the three crosses on Calvary. One cross was painted black, +the other was white, and the middle one was red. Now if we look at those +three crosses on Calvary from the Divine standpoint, it seems as if one +cross which was black at first is now white. It is the cross of the +penitent thief; all his sins have been transferred to the Sin-bearer, so +now there is not one sin on him; he has been washed "whiter than snow." +The cross of the impenitent thief is black, and remains black, for he dies +with all his sins on him and goes into the blackness of darkness for ever. +The middle cross is red: Jesus the Holy One has no sin in Him, but the sin +of the whole world is _on_ Him, because He is the atoning sacrifice for +sin. + + "O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head, + Our load was laid on Thee. + Thou stoodest in the sinner's stead, + Didst bear all ill for me. + A victim led, Thy blood was shed, + Now there's no load for me." + +In the writings of an American Evangelist we meet with this quaint +illustration, "God uses bright red to get pure white out of dead black." +It is just the same truth as we have seen shining out from the three +crosses. There we see Jesus "in the midst," the God-appointed +Sacrifice for sin, and we see the penitent thief washed whiter than snow +in the precious Blood. We see Jesus again "in the midst," three days +after. It is in the Upper Room at Jerusalem, on Easter Sunday. The +disciples who were like scattered sheep have gathered together there once +more, though still trembling with fear. "Then came Jesus and stood in the +midst and said unto them, Peace be unto you." [Footnote: St. John xx. 19.] + +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 away. He might have met +them with a reproof, but He knows all about our poor hearts, so He meets +them with a smile and the sweet greeting, "Peace be unto you." And He says +it to them _all_, even to Peter who had denied his Lord, and to the others +who had forsaken Him. Yes, He has only one greeting for them one and all, +and that is "Peace." + +Then a pause, and after the pause there came a revelation--"He showed them +His hands and His side." Why did He show them the nail prints in His hands +and the deep wound in His side? It was to reveal to them the wondrous +truth that He Himself is our Peace, and that the Peace which He gives is +the Peace which He has Himself made through the Blood of His +Cross. [Footnote: Col. i. 20.] + + "Through Christ on the Cross peace was made, + My debt by His death was all paid; + No otter foundation is laid, + For peace the gift of God's love." + +He showed them His hands and His side, because He wants them to understand +that these sacred scars tell us of His wondrous love and of the infinite +cost of Redemption. Let us lift up our hearts and say-- + + "Oh, make me understand it, + Help me to take it in, + + "What it meant to Thee the Holy One + To bear away my sin." + +We find from St. John's Gospel that Thomas, one of the twelve, was not +among them when Jesus came, so the rest of the disciples told him, "We +have seen the Lord." He replied, "Unless I see in His hands the wound made +by the nails, and put my finger into the wound, and put my hand into His +side, I will never believe it." So when a week later Jesus says to Thomas, +"Reach hither thy finger and behold (or feel) My hands, and reach hither +thy hand and thrust it into My side," [Footnote: St. John xx. 27.] it +shows how our Lord made these scars the very test of his faith, and it is +the same now. + +In St. Luke's Gospel we read that He said, "Behold My hands and My feet." +When He showed them the marks of His sufferings for them, it was as if He +said, "Here is the guarantee of your pardon and peace." We cannot have +peace until we have pardon; many seek peace instead of taking pardon +first. When He showed them His hands, and His feet, and His side, it was +as if He said, "You need cleansing from all sin; here are the marks of the +cleansing Blood. You need the touch of healing power, and here is the Hand +that will give it to you. You want companionship in your daily life. +Here are the feet that will travel with you, you never walk alone." What +wonderful tenderness and love! If ever you feel depressed or ready to +doubt God's love, remember how "He showed them His hands and His side," +that they might see those sacred scars. And we read in the next verse, +"Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." Yes, "they were +filled with joy at seeing the Master." You will remember how troubled +Thomas had been before this, but now the sight of the wounded hands took +away all his doubts and fears. It was then that his faith rose higher than +that of any of the others, for he exclaimed with adoration and worship, +"My Lord, and my God!" If ever you wander away or your heart grows cold +and careless, think of those words, "He showed them His hands and His +side," and remember He is still the same in the glory. + +When the beloved Apostle John looked through the open door into heaven, he +saw Him standing there in the midst of the throne with the nail prints in +His hands and feet, "a Lamb as it had been slain." [Footnote: Rev. v. 6.] +What a sight! + + "Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood + Shall never lose its power, + Till all the ransomed Church of God + Be saved to sin no more." + +But _why_ did He show them the wounds in His hands and side? To make it +plain that He bore all the penalty of sin. Some speak about sin as if it +were only a mistake, but God says sin is guilt, and that all are guilty, +for all have sinned. We have offended against God's holy law, and if any +one breaks the law he brings upon himself the penalty. God says, "The soul +that sinneth, it shall die;" [Footnote: Ezek. xviii. 20.] so the penalty +we deserve is death, everlasting punishment. The penalty must be paid by +some one. God's justice demands it. + +God is not willing that any should perish; He loves the sinner, though He +hates the sin. Still the penalty must be paid, so He found out a way; His +own dear Son must take the sinner's place and suffer the full penalty +instead, the death-penalty. + +Perhaps you wonder, how can the death of One atone for the sin of the +many? A lad once asked his father this question. The father made no reply +but took him into the garden. Then he dug up a spadeful of earth with a +number of worms in it, and turning to the boy he asked him, "Now which is +of most value, your life or that of one worm, or even a thousand worms?" +"Mine," said the boy. "Now" said the father, "you can see how the life and +death of the Divine Saviour is _sufficient satisfaction to God_ for the +sins of the whole world." + +Oh! the wonder of it all. We see God, the Holy God, the just God, the +righteous God--we see man, guilty, condemned, sinful. Then we see the Son +of God Who knew no sin, _made_ sin for us, [Footnote: 2 Cor. v. 21.] so +that all the requirements of God's holiness and justice are fully met. + +It was on the Cross, in that hour of darkness and agony when He cried, "My +God, My God, _why_ hast Thou forsaken Me," that He was _made_ sin for us. +Now we see the meaning of the wounded Hands, the broken Heart of God. + +"If I were God," the cynic said, "this sinning, suffering world would +break my heart." But what if God's heart _was_ broken? Do we not read in +the 69th Psalm, "Reproach hath broken my heart? [Footnote: Ps. lxix. 20.]" +The last night before He died He went to the garden of Gethsemane. Only +three of His disciples followed Him into the place where He knelt down to +pray, and even these three fell asleep. He was left alone. He says, "I +looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but +I found none." It was then the agony began which ended on the +Cross in a broken heart. + +It was then He prayed saying, "Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup +from Me, and there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening +Him." [Footnote: St. Luke xxii. 42, 43.] + +His prayer was heard and the victory was won over the adversary, for it +must be on the Cross and in no other way that the Atonement could be made. +"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for +us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." +[Footnote: Gal. iii. 13.] "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body +on the tree." [Footnote: I Pet. ii. 24.] + +It was there on the Cross that He said, "It is finished; and He bowed His +Head and died." We should not have known that He died of a broken heart if +one little circumstance had not taken place. The Holy Spirit has shown us +that this circumstance was foretold in the Scriptures and was all part of +God's purpose in our redemption. The soldiers had orders to break the legs +of those who had been crucified, so as to hasten their death, and remove +their bodies without delay; but when they came to Jesus and saw that He +was dead already, they brake not His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced +His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. "This was a proof +that He had died of a broken heart." [Footnote: John xix. 34.] + + "He died of a broken heart for you, + He died of a broken heart, + Oh! wondrous love for you, for me, + He died of a broken heart." + +When we remember that the pouring out of the blood followed on the +breaking of the body, then we see the meaning of the precious words spoken +by our Lord during the Last Supper. We read that, "He took bread, and when +He had given thanks, He brake it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My Body +which is broken for you.' [Footnote: I Cor. xi. 24.] And He took the cup +and said, 'This is My Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many.'" +[Footnote: St. Mark xiv. 24.] + +Why did He die? Why was His blood poured out? The Apostle Paul answers +that question when He says, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto +Himself." In that one sentence we have the Message of the Cross! We see +God's purpose behind it all. + +Two wonderful truths lie hidden in that glorious message. The first is, +that "Christ _died_ to put away sin," because sin is the thing and the +only thing which comes between us and God. The good news which Christ +brings to us is that God Himself has taken the first step in this work of +reconciliation. Oh! how wonderful it is that it is our sins which have +brought out all the anguish and love of God's heart. Yes, our sins grieved +Him so much He could not rest till He had devised a plan by which they +could "all be blotted out," once for all. + +Dear friends, whenever your sins are a burden, say these words over and +over in your heart, "God was in Christ reconciling me to Himself." +[Footnote: 2 Cor. v. 19.] This alone would have been wonderful, but there +is something more in the good news, and that is "God is beseeching you to +be reconciled to Him." Have you ever grasped that truth? + +I remember hearing of a great lawyer who was moved to shed tears, and when +a fellow-lawyer asked him why he was in trouble he replied, "I see now +what I never saw before. Yes, I see that God is _beseeching_ me to be +reconciled to Him. I always thought it was for me to beseech God." + +Many think as this lawyer did that the sinner must first come to God. No, +it is God Who comes to us entreating us to return to Him. He is always +sending us messages of love, and the moment we turn to Him and trust Him +He gives us a full free pardon. + +Dear fellow-sinners, "we pray you now in Christ's stead," and because of +His great love in dying for you, "Be reconciled to God." God is now +willing; are you willing? Do say "Yes." Will you say it now very solemnly +in your heart to God? + + + +ADDRESS VII + +THE WORD OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Psalm xix. + + +This Psalm is full of the glory of God. It tells us first of the Glory of +God shining in this beautiful world which He has made, and then it shows +us the glory of God shining in the Scriptures, in this Book which lies +open before us. + +The first verse bursts forth with the triumphant note, "The heavens +declare the glory of God." Everything in earth and sky shows forth His +wisdom, His power and His love. + +Then it gives us a wonderful picture of the sunrise and compares it to "a +bridegroom coming out of his chamber." You have seen the first streaks of +light in the early morning, and then you have watched the onward course of +the sun till it is high up in the sky at mid-day, full of power, +"rejoicing as a strong man to run a race." + +But Nature, with all its secrets, Nature with all its wonders and +treasures, is only part of God's revelation of Himself; the other part is +to be found in His Word. + +So the Psalmist passes from the glorious sun in the heavens to the glory +shining in the Word of God. The glory we see in God's works is only an +illustration of the glory shining in this Book. After giving the wonderful +description of the rising sun, he goes on to point out that there is not a +single spot in the whole world where the sun does not shine, and that its +light and heat can be felt by everything. Then he shows us that it is just +the same with the Word of God. It is God's message to every one, but it is +only when it finds an entrance into man's heart that it gives light. +[Footnote: Ps. cxix. 130.] + +If you draw down the blind the sun cannot shine into your room; so the +Holy Spirit must open our hearts for the light of His Word to enter in, +otherwise it will be to us the same as any other book. + + "Is it dark without you, darker still within? + Clear the darkened windows, + Open wide the door; + Let the blessed sunshine in." + +How can we know that the Bible is the Word of God? A gentleman, who was an +unbeliever, stopped one day to speak to Molly, the old woman who kept a +flower stall near the station. He noticed she was reading her Bible, so he +asked her why she read it. "Because it is the Word of God." "How do you +know?" "Because it cheers and warms my heart. I am just as sure it is +God's own Word as I am that it is the sun shining up there." This simple +testimony was the means of convincing him and he thanked her for it. + +We have heard how the sun shines over the whole world, but is it not +wonderful that every little drop of water can reflect the whole of its +light? In every sunbeam there are seven colours, and when you look up at +the rainbow you see all the seven in one drop of rain. This is only an +illustration of the wonders of God's grace. If you are a child of God the +whole of God's grace enters your heart, so you have grace to speak, grace +to pray, grace to be loving and patient, grace for everything. The whole +of God's life and light and love are for you as if there were no one else +in the world. It is the same with all the precious truths of God's Word: +they are _all_ yours. A minister who wanted to know how many promises +there are in the Bible searched all through the Book and he counted nearly +five thousand. Had you any idea that there are as many as five thousand +precious promises for the believer in God's Word? Have you claimed them? + +A Christian woman who was very ill asked her daughter to read the 8th +chapter of the Epistle to the Romans. When she had finished the mother +said, "That's mine, it's _all_ mine." How rich she was! Only think of it +and it is an _Eternal_ inheritance, for the chapter begins with "no +condemnation" and ends with "no separation." + +If you will look at verses 7 and 8 of our Psalm, you will see four things +which the Word of God does. "It converts the soul, makes wise the simple, +rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes." Let us think of these four +things. + +First: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." The law here +means the whole covenant of Jehovah. + +You remember how, when God appeared to Abraham, that Abraham fell on his +face, feeling his utter weakness and nothingness, and then God talked with +him. When a man is laid low in the dust then God can talk to him. And God +said to Abraham, "I will make my covenant between Me and thee." [Footnote: +Gen. xvii. 2.] A covenant is a promise made under solemn conditions, and +it is God's covenant of grace which converts the soul. Such a promise as +we have in Ezekiel: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit +will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your +flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh: And I will put my Spirit +within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 26.] God says "I will" five times in +those few lines, 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 +ourselves. + +This reminds me of a young woman who was troubled because, although she +was longing to be saved, yet she felt her heart was so hard. One Sunday +the minister took this verse as the text for his sermon. When he gave it +out it seemed to her as if a voice was speaking these words close to her, +right into her ear, "I will give you an heart of flesh." It came like a +message direct from God. She was so deeply touched she could not listen to +the sermon, 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 Bible. She is now a +very bright earnest Christian. + +It is through the Word that God speaks to our hearts, and when the Holy +Spirit makes it a living Word and quickens us to receive it with faith, +then we are converted. If you are not saved, take your Bible and read it +prayerfully, and you will find in it just what you want. Remember the +letter of Scripture is of no use unless we experience its power and enjoy +its sweetness. + +A young clergyman was converted through a very strange text. He was so +much depressed he thought of committing suicide, and then his eye fell on +that verse in Ecclesiastes, "A living dog is better than a dead lion." +[Footnote: Eccles. ix. 4.] The words brought fresh hope to him. He said to +himself, One thing is certain and that is, I am still a _living_ man, and +he was then led to seek Christ as the Way, the Truth and the _Life_. + +It is wonderful to think of the many different ways in which God sends His +Word home to our hearts. Spurgeon gives an instance of this. He was asked +to visit a dying man who told him about his conversion. He said, "Some +years ago I was at work in the Crystal Palace. God's Spirit was striving +with me and I felt the burden of sin. It seemed to follow me wherever I +went. Suddenly a voice said to me distinctly, 'Behold he Lamb of God which +taketh away the sin of the world.' [Footnote: St. John i. 29.] No one was +near me, and I thought the message had come straight from God. I then saw +clearly that Christ had died to save me, and ever since I have had joy and +peace in believing." + +Spurgeon listened to the dying man's testimony with deep interest, 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 there, and had used that very text, "Behold the Lamb of God +which taketh away the sin of the world." + +Let us thank God that His Word is _perfect_ in converting he soul. + +"The testimony of the Lord is _sure_, making wise the simple." It is well +known that very often a man who is no scholar, but who is taught of God, +is able to see deep truths which learned men fail to understand. Every +time you read your Bible look up and say, "Lord, open Thou mine eyes that +I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 18.] + +Do not feel discouraged because you do not understand t all. There are +many things which earthly fathers tell their children which they do not +understand till they are grown up, but still they love to get father's +letters, and the Bible is our heavenly Father's letter to us. Do you value +it? + +In the 8th verse of the 19th Psalm it says, "The statutes of the LORD are +right, rejoicing the heart." I have seen many careworn faces lit up with +joy when reading the Word. One man especially, who had a great deal of +trouble and opposition in his home life, used to give his testimony at the +Meeting. Opening his Bible in the 5th chapter of the Gospel of St. John he +would read the 24th verse, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that +heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me hath everlasting life +and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." + +Then he would tell us with a beaming face that it was his song of +assurance, for, as he said, there are three links, "He that _heareth_, +_believeth_, _hath_--and 'hath' means 'got it,' and I've got everlasting +life. Jesus says it and I know it's true." He is now in the glory, and +maybe he is telling the angels about it. + +If we had no Bible we should have no certainty that our sins are forgiven. +A little girl named Molly said to her aunt who was teaching her about +Jesus, "How can I be sure that my sins are forgiven?" "Because God says +so," [Footnote: i John i. 9.] was the reply, and then she repeated the +text, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our +sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." + +Many say, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins," and yet they still carry +about the burden of their sins. They see clearly how God can forgive sin, +but they cannot realise that it is their own sins which are forgiven. This +was the case with Luther. He tells us how, when he was distressed because +of his sins, a friend pointed out to him that he would not have real peace +unless he claimed God's forgiveness for his _own _sins. It was like a new +light flashing into his soul; he saw his mistake and looking up with a +beaming face, he said, "I see it now--it is not other people's sins, it is +_my_ sins which are all forgiven!" + +We must not estimate sin and forgiveness by our own standard. 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 words, "My thoughts are not your thoughts"; and then He +adds, "For I will abundantly pardon," [Footnote: 2 Isa. lv. 7, 8.] which +means, I will repeatedly pardon. God's thoughts of sin and His thoughts +about forgiveness are far higher than ours. Sometimes I feel quite +overwhelmed when I think of how great His forgiving love has been to me. + +Look again at our Psalm, verse 7, "The testimony of the Lord is _sure_, +making wise the simple." The word Testimony means an assurance or a +promise from God to the individual soul, and David had such confidence in +God he is quite sure He will not disappoint him or fail to keep His word. +So he says, "The testimony, or promise, of God is _sure_." It is this +certainty which makes David so happy. + +He seems to be overflowing with joy, for he says, "Thy testimonies also +are my delight and my counsellors," [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 24.] and again, +"I love Thy testimonies." "Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore doth +my soul keep them. Thy testimonies that Thou hast commanded are righteous +and very faithful." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 119, 129, 138.] + +The word "Testimony" means also what God has commanded us to believe and +also to practise. + +A native convert in China said the other day, "I began by reading the +Bible, but now I am _behaving_ it." This is what David means when he says, +"My soul hath kept Thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly." +[Footnote: Ps. cxix. 167.] + +The question was once asked at a meeting, "Can you point to any text in +the Word of God which makes you sure you are saved and safe?" "I can," +said one of the company, in a quiet firm voice. "It is John iii. 36, +He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." + +We have many bed-rock texts and that is one, as the beautiful old hymn +says-- + + "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, + Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word." + +I was summoned late one evening to see a dying man who had been brought to +Christ through my Bible Class. When I entered his room he looked up and +said with a smile, "I sent for you because I want to tell you that I am +quite safe, quite sure and quite satisfied. I am quite safe because Jesus +died for me. I am quite sure because I have His Word for it. I am quite +satisfied because I am going to be with Him in the glory." + +The Word of God was written that we _might_ believe; to believe is to +know, and to be quite certain. The word "believe" comes from an old root +meaning "to live by." "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every +word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." [Footnote: St. Matt. iv. +4.] Put your finger down on one of the many precious assurances which God +has given us in His Word, of the certainty of complete forgiveness and +acceptance, and then look up into His face with loving gratitude. + +God's pardon and acceptance are absolute and eternal; nothing can ever +alter them. God wants us to know it and to live in the joy of it. Trusting +His Word gives us safety, certainty and enjoyment. + +If any sin comes into your mind and troubles you, dear child of God, do +not carry it about with you, tell Father about it at once; confess it to +Him and remember that you are under the cleansing Blood. "The Blood of +Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin." [Footnote: 1 John i. +7.] It has not only cleansed us once for all, but it is cleansing us now +at the present moment. + +It is important to remember that the whole purpose of the Bible is to give +glory to God. It is the Everlasting Word of the Everlasting God. "The word +of our God shall stand for ever." [Footnote: Isa. xl. 8.] Make the word of +God _everything_. Receive its statements by faith as revelations of simple +certainties. Find out how happy you are. "Happy is that people that is in +such a case, yea, happy is that people whose God is Lord." [Footnote: Ps. +cxliv. 15.] + +If we are walking with God in our daily life we need a light to show us +the way. David knew well what it was to go along rough roads on dark +nights, so he says, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my +path." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 105.] + +Did you ever hear about Moody's torch? One night Moody had to return home +through a dark wood after one of his meetings, and the path was winding +and rough, so a friend offered him a torch. Moody declined taking it, +saying, "Thank you, but it is too small." + +"It will light you home," said the man. + +"But the wind may blow it out." + +"It will light you home." + +"But if it should rain?" + +"It will light you home." + +At last Moody started, taking the torch with him, and he said afterwards, +"In spite of all my fears, it gave abundant light on my path all the way +home." + +Every promise in the Word of God is like Moody's torch, and if we will +take it and use it, we shall find as he did, that it will light us all the +way to our Eternal Home. 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 us. It +contains plain directions about everything in our daily life. + +The Bible is a Revelation of God Himself. It is a direct communication +from Him to us. There are four things made known to us in the Word which +are of priceless value-- + +1. It proclaims a full, free salvation through faith in Christ. "To you is +the Message of this Salvation sent." + +2. It opens out to you the riches of grace and invites you to take them +freely--freely--freely. + +3. It opens "the door of faith" wide to the weakest sinner and even to +you. + +4. It gives a new life within, which transforms the soul and makes us new +creatures in Christ Jesus. + +Our Lord says, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they +are life." [Footnote: St. John vi, 63.] Can you say, "Thy Word hath +quickened me"? [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 50.] + +Do not be satisfied with reading a chapter here and there. Read straight +through. Why? Because the Bible has a beginning and an ending like any +other book. It begins with the story of a friendship between God and man: +we see man very happy in this friendship. Then something happens; you will +find it in the third chapter of Genesis. Some one has come in between them +and the friendship is broken. Still God is looking for His friend and +calling him, "Where are you?" The answer comes from under the shadow of +the trees. "I heard Thy voice and I was afraid and hid myself." + +Now we come to the last words at the end of the Book, and we hear the same +Voice saying, "I am coming back again very soon." It is the Voice of the +same Friend, no longer sad but glad. "The darkness has all passed +away and the true Light is shining," [Footnote: I John ii. 8.] and will +shine for ever: yes, it is sunshine all around, everlasting sunshine. + +Where is the Bible? Do you keep your Bible where you can take it up +whenever you have a few spare moments? Is it ready at hand so that you can +read it before you go to bed at night? Do the children speak of it as +"Mother's book"? Do you turn to it for strength and comfort? Is it a +_living_ book to you? + +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 backs." We +are doing the same thing if the Bible is laid aside on the shelf, or put +into the front room and allowed to remain unopened week after week. There +can be no blessing in your home and in your life while you neglect the +Word of God. It is this very word of God which will judge you at the last +day. + +Listen to Christ's solemn warning: "He that rejecteth Me and receiveth not +My words hath one that judgeth him," which means you will not be left +without a Judge. It is not a matter of small importance whether you read +the Bible or not: it is a matter of life or death. A neglected Bible shows +you are living without God; a neglected Bible shows you are living for +this world only; a neglected Bible shows that your soul is dying of +starvation; a neglected Bible means that though you may _think_ you can +get on very well without it, Jesus _says_, "The Word that I have spoken +the same will judge him in the last day." [Footnote: St. John xii. 48.] + +The Bible is God's Message to this present generation. Sometimes people +want to lay it on one side as an old book which is out of date. It is the +most up-to-date book in the world. It not only tells us of what is going +on at the present moment, but about what will happen in the future. We see +pictures in the daily papers of what people were doing yesterday and what +they looked like, but in the Bible we have portraits true to life not only +of what we are outwardly, but of the thoughts of our hearts. "The Word of +God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword: it can +discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart." [Footnote: Heb. +iv. 12.] We hear a great deal about the X-rays which show what is going on +inside the body, but this is nothing compared to the Word of God which +penetrates deep down into our inmost feelings and brings them to light. It +is better to be searched and cleansed now, than to go on in the old way +and then to stand before the great White Throne by and by, condemned to +everlasting punishment. + +Let us pray with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and +know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in +the way Everlasting. Amen." [Footnote: Ps. cxxxix, 23, 24.] + + + +ADDRESS VIII + +HAVE FAITH IN GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Romans iv. + + +There is one man set before us in this chapter as the man who had faith in +God. The one thing which marks him more than any other is his faith. The +man lived nearly 4,000 years ago, and yet he is still a vivid personality; +he lives on in our thoughts and memories as the man who trusted God. His +name is still reverenced all over the world, even among people of +different religions, as "The Friend of God." + +"The God of Glory appeared to Abraham," and from that moment Abraham's +faith fastens on what God is. The attractive power of Jehovah drew him +from his home, his relations and his country, and with every fresh +revelation of God, Abraham's faith grasped more of God and clung to Him +with a firmer hold. God's word was all he had to go by; whatever God said +was enough for him; whatever God told him to do, he did it, because, to +_trust God_ means to obey Him. He had God with him at every step. + +If ever there was a clear-sighted man, that man was Abraham, for trust in +God enlightens our understanding. He was a man with a far sight. He saw +what no other man then living saw. He saw that the day was coming when God +would send His Son to be the Saviour of the world. How do we know this? +Because Christ said, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and +was glad." [Footnote: St. John viii. 56.] He saw far on into the future, +farther than any other man then living. He saw the golden City, the holy +City, "whose builder and maker is God." [Footnote: Heb, xi. 10.] Yes, the +eye of faith not only sees God, it sees also what "God has prepared for +those who love Him." + +God was very real to that man. Abraham trusted God because he knew Him +personally. Faith is the act of the soul which looks wholly away from +_self_, whether it be righteous self or sinful self, and looks to God +only, in complete submission and confidence. + +It was because Abraham trusted Him that God stamped the man as His +friend--Abraham My friend. On and on through all these hundreds of years +he has been called "the Friend of God." In the book of Chronicles, in +Isaiah and in the Epistle of James it is mentioned again, "He was called +the Friend of God." + +What is friendship? It is two hearts trusting in each other. Abraham +trusted God, and God trusted Abraham. God put such confidence in him that +He let him know that He was going to destroy the cities of the plain. +The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" +[Footnote: Gen. xviii. 17.] + +Mutual trust is at the root of all friendship. Where there is a lack of +mutual confidence in the home life or in commercial life it spells ruin. +The great question for each one in life is, What is my relation to God? Is +it trusting God, or is it doubting God? + +"Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness." +[Footnote: Rom. iv. 3.] What is righteousness? It means to be right with +God, and the moment we trust God's Word we are made righteous, and we +become righteous. + +We read in Acts that after their first missionary tour. Paul and Barnabas +reported in detail all that God had done, and how He had opened the door +of faith unto the Gentiles. [Footnote: Acts xiv. 27.] So faith is the +gate of life by which the Gentiles were entering in. + +Here was a new fact proving that faith was the gate of the Lord into which +the righteous should enter; [Footnote: Ps. cxviii. 20.] righteous +_because_ believing. Faith is the door by which God comes into our hearts. +Faith is only the door, nothing in itself, but it is called "precious +faith" because of all the life and joy and riches of grace and glory which +it lets in. + +Abraham is not only presented to us in the Word of God as the Friend of +God, but also as a pattern for all believers, and we are told to take him +as our model, "to walk in his steps," to trust God and to find in God's +wondrous friendship all that he found. God has been teaching us ever +since, through the simplicity of the faith of this man. The most +remarkable point in his faith is this, he grasped as no one else had done +that God is God because He can quicken the dead. [Footnote: Rom. iv. 17.] +He can give life to the dead because He Himself is the Source of life. He +calls "those things which are not as though they were" because He is the +Creator of all things. This applies not only to the body but to the soul. +Your confidence in God began when your soul, which was "dead in sin," was +quickened into a new life. When we ourselves have experienced this +quickening it gives us such faith in praying for those we love, knowing +that God alone can quicken dead souls. + +Abraham was "strong in faith"; even when God promised him a son, although +it seemed impossible, "he staggered not at the promise of God through +unbelief," being "fully persuaded" that God was able to do it. To be +"strong in faith" is to feel our utter helplessness and to rely on God's +power only; to be "strong in faith" is to grasp God's promise and not to +let anything make us doubt it. + +We have an illustration of this strong faith in the case of the first +missionary who went out to China a hundred years ago. The captain of the +ship in which he sailed was an atheist, and one day he said to him with a +sneer, "You don't suppose, do you, that you are going to convert those +Chinese?" "No," said the missionary, "but I believe _God_ is going to do +it." Did God fail him? No. His faith was rewarded, and at the present time +there are a quarter of a million Chinese believers who meet in fellowship +at the Lord's Table. + +What is faith? It is the link between me and God. The link between my +emptiness and God's fulness. The link between me, the sinner and Jesus, +the Saviour. Is there this link between you and God? Is the link on? Faith +is the spiritual link, the one and only means by which a man can have +dealings with God, realise God and walk with God. It is a living link +between God and the soul, a living union. The word "faith" comes from an +old word which means to _bind_. When I say "I _believe_ God," it means +that "I am His and He is mine for ever and for ever." It is trusting in +His love, not a mere cold belief in His power. It is grasping His +promises, because they are precious promises. It is the whole heart and +mind going out and up to God. David says: "Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up +my soul; O my God, I trust in Thee," [Footnote: Ps. xxv, 1, 2, 5] This +brings perfect rest. "Thou art the God of my salvation, on Thee do I wait +all the day." Do we make it a habit to be constantly referring to God +about everything? We learn first, that _God_ is, and then our faith feeds +upon _what_ God is. His faithfulness and His lovingkindness are seen in +all His dealings with us. + +Faith has to do with unseen realities, for faith is the evidence, or proof +of things not seen; [Footnote: Heb. xi. 1.] it makes them as real as if we +could see them, and brings them near. + +So we may say faith is like the telegraph wire which connects two places +however far apart they may be. + +We had an illustration of this not long ago. Our Queen Mary was in her +sitting-room in Buckingham Palace. A hospital was to be opened in Canada +4,000 miles off, and she was asked to perform the ceremony. When the +signal was given that all was ready, the Queen pressed a little ivory +button and in two seconds the door of the hospital, which was held by an +electric wire, opened, and in fifteen seconds the signal was flashed back +that the hospital was open. So in about half a minute the signal went +there and back over a space of 8,000 miles. How wonderful! and yet greater +spiritual wonders are happening every day and many times in the day, if +only we have faith in God and let Him work in us and through us. + +I will give you another illustration how the simple touch of faith links +us with God's power. A few years ago some rocks blocked the entrance into +the river St. Lawrence, so that the ships could not go up the river to +Quebec. It was decided that the mass of solid rock must be removed. How +was it done? 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 cleared. + +Faith has done great wonders in times past, and it can still do wonders, +if only we make use of God's Almighty power. But the rule is, "According +to your faith so be it unto you." + +I will give you an illustration. When I want light in my room I touch the +electric button and the room is filled with light. The moment I press the +button I expect the light will come, and I am surprised if it fails. Why? +Touching the electric button is like the touch of faith; it brings us into +contact with the source of light. Faith brings me into contact with God +Himself, for He is the source of life and light. God has ordained that +faith shall be a power as real and as uniform in its working as light or +heat or electricity. Everything about them is a mystery which we do not +fully understand, but all the same they are real to us and we use them. +Although we do not understand them, yet we prove again and again that they +supply us with new life and energy simply by a touch. Even a child can +touch. Faith places all God's fulness at our disposal, but it is only +according to our faith that we receive it. + +I know a poor woman who went through a time of great anxiety about her +little girl who was ill. One day a Christian friend called to see her and +she told her all about her trouble. When she had finished the friend said +to her very tenderly, "You have forgotten one little word of five +letters." "What is it? Do tell me," she exclaimed, looking puzzled. Then +the friend, pointing on her five fingers, said slowly, _f-a-i-t-h_. The +dark cloud cleared away and she was able to look up into God's face again +and to trust Him. + +So when Christ says, "Have faith in God," it is a command to hold fast to +God. It means trust God about everything, great and small; nothing is too +small. Trust Him to save you, and to keep you. Trust Him in every +difficulty and in every duty. + +"Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring +heaven to your souls." + +When Christ said to Peter and the others, "Have faith in God," He said it +very earnestly and with a ring of deep conviction in His voice. He knew in +Himself what dependence on God means in the earthly life. Day by day He +showed what it is to have simple trust in God. When He said, "Have faith +in God," He said it very solemnly, because He was speaking on behalf of +His Father. + +He had come to reveal Him, so He says, "I do nothing of Myself, but as My +Father hath taught Me I speak these things." He had already said, "He that +believeth on Me hath everlasting life," and now He adds, "Have faith in +God." Yes, He claims our confidence, our full confidence, not a +half-hearted trust. + +Our Lord saw men seeking other objects of trust, so He says, "Take hold of +God, hold fast to God, have faith in God and never let it go." + +The world's great need is faith in God. God's own character demands it. +The Scriptures make Him known and reveal Him as altogether trustworthy, +such an One as invites our entire confidence. To have faith in God means +leaning on Him, letting Him bear the whole weight. There is a great +difference between believing and committing. Many say they believe, but +they are not willing to commit themselves to Him. + +A few years ago there was a man named Blondin who performed wonderful +feats at the Crystal Palace. Once he walked on a tight rope stretched +across the centre of the Palace at a height of 150 feet. Another time a +rope was stretched at a great height over a shipbuilder's yard, and he not +only walked steadily across, but he carried a man on his back. A large +crowd gazed at him in wonder and awe, and great was their relief when both +Blondin and his burden reached the ground in safety. + +Among the eager upturned faces in the crowd there was a lad about eleven +years of age. When Blondin came down he went up to the lad and said to +him, "You saw me carry that big man across, do you believe I could take +you?" "Of course you could," replied the boy; "why, he was a big man, and +I am only a little chap." "Well, then, jump up, my lad," said Blondin, and +he stooped down for the boy to climb up on his back. But although the boy +said he believed Blondin was able to carry him across, he was not willing +to trust himself, and so, just saying, "No, thank you," he was off like a +shot and ran as fast as he could till he was lost in the crowd. Though he +said he believed, when it came to the point he did not commit himself, and +that is all the difference, between believing _in_ Christ and believing +_on_ Him. + +Faith in God means really committing ourselves into His hands and rolling +our burdens on Him. + +If we withhold our confidence it shows that we do not really believe that +God is what the Bible says He is. The reason there is so much unrest and +ungodliness is because we have lost sight of God. It is not because the +Bible is out of date as some say, or that the Gospel has lost its power; +it is still as ever, "the power of God unto salvation," but we are +limiting God. + +It is just the same now as in olden times when the children of Israel +limited the Holy One of Israel, and we read how this lack of confidence +grieved God all through those forty years in the wilderness. Yea, they +spake against God, they said, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness; +can God give bread also; can He provide flesh for His people?" [Footnote: +Ps. lxxviii. 19, 20.] Unbelief asks, "_Can He?_" Faith says, "_He can._" +Dear friends, let me ask you to stop and ask yourself, Where do you put +that little word "can"? Are you constantly thinking to yourself, Can God? +or are you saying in your heart and meaning it too, "_God can_"! We limit +God's power to save, by asking, _Can_ God? 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 save." [Footnote: Jer. xiv; 9.] + +You have prayed many years perhaps for the conversion of some one near and +dear to you, but are you limiting God because you doubt His power to do +it? A poor man who gave way to drink said sadly, "I have broken the pledge +again and again"; then pointing to his pledge card he said, "But now I +have written a text on it, Isaiah xli. 13: 'For I the Lord thy God will +hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee.'" Then +looking up he said simply, "Maybe, Him and me will do it together." + +Is it victory over temptation you long for? Look up to Him and say, "I +can't, but God can." Is it grace you need for some special trial? Say, +"God is able to make all grace abound towards me, 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 us.'" [Footnote: Eph. iii. 20.] +The world's great sin is not trusting God. "Thus said the LORD, Cursed be +the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart +departeth from the Lord." [Footnote: Jer. xvii. 5.] Yet in times of +difficulty or danger how apt we are to lean on the arm of flesh. + +During the present European war I was much impressed by the words of one +of our soldiers who writes from the front: "After all that is being done +there still remains one supreme necessity without which neither arms or +munitions can be decisive, namely, the spiritual outlook of the whole +nation. When I returned home after ten months in Flanders, I was amazed at +the lack of spirituality of the people as a whole. The simple faith and +dependence upon God which characterised our country in her past struggles +seem lost to sight. 'They trusted in Thee and Thou didst deliver them' +implied no disregard for military efficiency; it was the real and vital +accompaniment to armed force. Can it be that the hellishness of battle, +the wearing down of the spirit induced by trench warfare, moments of utter +loneliness which every soldier has to bear, strike right at the soul and +enable him to realise the nearness of the spiritual world? '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 shoulders. Some of us have realised what individual +prayer at home has done for us, but we should all like to feel that the +whole nation is also testing the value of spiritual power." + +We read in God's Word that "The children of Judah prevailed, because they +relied upon the Lord God"; [Footnote: 2 Chron. xiii. 18.] and when King +Asa was defeated the prophet said to him, "Because thou hast relied on the +King of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host +of the King of Syria escaped out of thine hand." [Footnote: 2 Chron. xvi. +7.] + +To have faith in God we must put God first in everything. He must be first +when we awake in the morning. How blessed it is to be able to feel, "When +I awake I am still with Thee." A working man said to me once, "I make +myself happy in God the first thing in the morning." David says, "In the +morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up." [Footnote: +Ps. v. 3.] "When I awake I am still with Thee." [Footnote: Ps. cxxxix. +18.] + +"In my morning prayer," said a Christian man, "instead of thinking of my +own needs first, I like to think of the fulness there is in Christ for +me." Let us resolve to put "God _first_," even if we have only time for +one text of Scripture. "God _first_," even if it is only a minute or two +for prayer. A Christian said once, "I must see the face of God before I +see the face of man." The manna was gathered early every morning. Another +said, "Unless I meet with God first, I cannot meet the difficulties of the +day in a prepared spirit." If you put "God first," you will find this will +make all the difference as to how you do your work and how you deal with +others. "Little is much if God is in it." + +To have faith in God is to trust Him _only_. David says, "My soul, wait +thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him." [Footnote: Ps. lxii. +5.] Is it so with you? If so, what for, and for how much? First find out +from His Word that God is able and willing to do what you need; then trust +Him to do it. "Trust in Him at all times" it says again in that beautiful +Psalm. [Footnote: Ps. lxii. 8.] + +"I have been looking into my Bible," said a working man, "and I find a +great many men trusted God, and whatever they trusted God for, they always +got it; He never failed them, and it is the same now." + +You have all heard of Florence Nightingale and her life of devotion in +nursing the sick. She was asked to tell the secret of her earnest +Christian life, and after a pause she said, "I have kept nothing back from +God." Faith in God is unreserved confidence, telling Him all and keeping +nothing back. But before we can do this as a daily habit we must +definitely commit ourselves and all we have into God's hands. + +It says in Isaiah xliv. 5, "One shall say, I am the Lord's." I have a mark +in my Bible which I made many years ago by the side of these words. I put +the date and then I wrote these words: "He gave Himself for me and I give +myself to Him. He takes me and I take Him." Ever since then it has been my +delight to tell others how simple it all is. It is the sinner taking the +Saviour and the Saviour taking the sinner. + +Are you asking, What must I do? First believe what God says about you in +His Word. He says, that you are guilty, lost, ruined. Then He presents +Christ to us as the Saviour and calls on us to believe what He says about +Him. "He that believeth not God hath made him a liar because he hath not +believed the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record that +God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son." [Footnote: +I John v. 10, 11.] + +"Have faith in God." Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of +God, and "faith is the gift of God." And the wonder of it all is that God +says to the weak ones like poor Jacob, "I have chosen thee and not cast +thee away," and He never will, for "_God keeps all His failures_," not +like man who throws his failures on one side as worthless. + + Oh! to trust Him then more fully, + Just to simply trust. + +Then instead of "limiting the Holy One of Israel" we shall be singing at +the top of our voices, "The LORD hath done great things for us whereof we +are glad." [Footnote: Ps. cxxvi. 3.] So then let us "trust in the Lord for +ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is Everlasting Strength." [Footnote: Isa. +xxvi. 4.] + + + +ADDRESS IX + +THE CHURCH OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Ephesians v. 22-33. + + +"Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it." [Footnote: Eph. v. +25.] Two precious truths shine out in these words. He _loved_, He _gave_. +He not only gave Himself for the Church when He died on the Cross, but He +is still sanctifying and cleansing it, and by and by when He comes again +"He will present it unto Himself a glorious Church." [Footnote: Eph. v. +27.] + +So we have the history of the Church in the past, in the present, and in +the future. We look back to the past and we see Christ giving Himself, +that is, laying down His life on the Cross; but we must also look far, far +back into the past Eternity to find out another precious truth. (Perhaps +you have never thought about it.) It is, that the Church was in God's +thoughts from the very beginning! The Son of God was in the bosom of the +Father "in the beginning"; and it was then--before the world was created, +that God chose us in Him and gave us to Him. [Footnote: Eph. i. 4.] +Now we see why "Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it." + +What is the Church? The word "Church" means "called out," so the Church +embraces all who have been "called out" during the present age to form the +"Body of Christ." In the Old Testament we find that the Jews were God's +chosen people, [Footnote: Exod. vi. 7.] so they had all the privileges, +but in later times, the Jews rejected the Gospel of the grace of God, and +then God graciously visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people to +be called by His Name. [Footnote: Acts xv. 14.] + +When did this special "_calling out_" begin? Nearly 1900 years ago on the +Day of Pentecost, and it has been going on ever since, and when the number +of "the called-out ones" has been completed, then "The Lord Himself shall +descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and +with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we +which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the +clouds to meet the Lord in the air." [Footnote: I Thess. iv. 16, 17.] + +Each of those three words, "_chosen_," "_called out_," and "_caught up_," +leads us on to something more. We were chosen in Him to be holy; +[Footnote: Eph. i. 4.] we are called out to be the Body of Christ now, and +by and by we shall be caught up to meet the Bridegroom and to be with Him +for ever. If you are a child of God, you can say with holy wonder, "God +has done all this for me." + +The Church was formed out of a little company of 120 men and women who +were gathered together praying in the Upper Room at Jerusalem. [Footnote: +Acts i. 14, 15.] Suddenly they heard a wonderful sound and saw a heavenly +vision, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost; and before the day +was over that little company increased to the number of 3,000 souls. How +many does it number now? No one knows, but it is a "multitude which no man +can number." [Footnote: Rev. vii. 9.] Some are already in glory, some are +still on earth, but it matters not where they are, they belong to the +"whole family" of God "in heaven and in earth." [Footnote: Eph. iii. 15.] + +On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, 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 Spirit, "For, as the body is one and hath +many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one +body, so also is Christ." [Footnote: I Cor. xii. 12, 27.] "Now ye are the +Body of Christ and members in particular," that is, individually, for +every saved soul is a member. + +The Church is a living body united to Jesus Christ, for He is the living +Head of the Body. He needs His Church just as much as His Church needs +Him. It is the Holy Spirit who unites us to the risen and glorified Christ +Who is the Head, and then He unites us to one another in Him. It is a +_living_ union, because we pass through death into the resurrection life +of Christ, for by "One Spirit we are all baptized into One Body, and we +have all been made to drink into that One Spirit." [Footnote: I Cor. xii. +13.] The Holy Ghost sustains the life of the Church. In Him we live and +move and have our being. As the bird lives in the air, as the flower lives +in the sunshine, so we live in the Spirit, and when we drink in His +fulness there is growth and fruitfulness. + +Have we ever felt this need of drinking into that One Spirit? Everything +connected with the true Church of Christ must be spiritual, it is this +which is being lost sight of in the present day, and it is the reason why +there is so little power and so few conversions. + +Have you ever tried to understand why the Church is called "the Body of +Christ"? Think first about your own body. It is the only part of your real +self that can be seen. I cannot see your heart or your thoughts, but +I know what your thoughts are by your words, and what you feel by the look +of joy or sorrow in your face, and by the way you go about. + +It is by your body that your real personality is made known to others; +what you really are would never be seen unless your body made it known. In +the same way the Church is the Body in order to make Christ known in the +world. He is hidden from our view, He is unseen, but He manifests Himself +and shines out through us, and He sends us to carry His messages and to do +His Will. + +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 body." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 10, 11.] + +This is what the Church is here on earth for, to make the unseen Christ +known. Just as every drop of water reflects the light, so every member of +the Church, however weak and small, can reflect His love. + +Is His compassion for sinners beaming in your eye? Is His purity seen in +your daily life? Do you judge things from His standpoint? + +I remember when some one was telling me why she loved a Christian worker +whom we both knew, she added, "I love her for what I see of Christ in +her." + +Think of Christ exalted in Heaven far above all things, and remember He is +there not for Himself, but for _you_. "He is Head over all things to His +Body, the Church." [Footnote: Eph. i. 22, 23.] + +It is wonderful to think of this union with Christ, that we are His Body +and He is the Head; but there is another wonder quite as great, it is that +He is the Bridegroom and the Church is the Bride. When we speak of the +Church as the Body of Christ, it is a living union, _life_ is the one +thought brought out; when we speak of Christ as the Bridegroom it is +_love_ which is the chief point. It brings out the affection, tenderness +and nearness of the Bridegroom. "So ought men to love their wives as their +own bodies, He that loveth His wife loveth Himself." [Footnote: Eph. v. +28-30.] + +We have nothing so wonderful in the Old Testament. Think of the depths out +of which we have come, and the heights to which we are raised. "He raiseth +up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill +to set them among princes and to make them inherit the throne of glory." +[Footnote: 1 Sam. ii. 8.] Think of the sinner lifted out of all his +bondage and ruin to be the Bride of the Lamb! There is nothing higher that +God can give than this. This will be our glorious position by and by when +the Bridegroom comes to take us to our Heavenly Home, for His parting +words were, "I will come again and receive you unto Myself." [Footnote: +St. John xiv. 3.] + +There will be three great surprises on the day that He comes again. These +surprises have been kept secret, but on that day the glorious secrets will +all be made known. + +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 new, +glorified bodies. What a joyful meeting it will be. + +The next surprise will be that we who are still living on earth when +Christ comes will be changed, we shall not die, we shall escape from the +hand of death. "It is appointed unto men once to die," but "Christ was +once offered to bear the sin of many," [Footnote: Heb. ix. 27, 28.] and +when He comes the saints who are living will be changed "in a moment, in +the twinkling of an eye." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xv. 52.] 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 made. Three great changes will take place--our +_bodies_ will be changed, no more sin, or pain, or weariness; our _minds_ +will be changed. "We shall _know_" then what we cannot know now, we shall +see all as God sees it, we shall know the love of Christ and we shall love +Him as He deserves to be loved, and best of all "we shall be like Him for +we shall see Him as He is." + +The third surprise will be that our _circumstances_ will also be changed; +we shall be no longer on the earth, for as soon as the great change takes +place we shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. He will then look +into our life work, and He will say to His faithful ones who have been +true-hearted and loyal: "Well done, good and faithful servant." [Footnote: +St. Matt. xxv. 21.] Then the heavens will resound with the Hallelujah +chorus, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to Him, for the +marriage of the Lamb is come and His wife hath made herself ready." +[Footnote: Rev. xix. 7.] + +But the glory will be only then beginning, it will be "_glory upon +glory_." Remember there are two stages in Christ's Coming; He will come +_for_ His saints, and then He will come down to earth _with_ His saints. +As it is written: "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His +saints." [Footnote: Jude 14.] "When Christ, who is our Life, shall appear, +then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." [Footnote: Col. iii. 4.] +We shall come _with_ Him when He comes to reign on the earth. + +But there is something still grander than the glorious position of having +a place with Him on His throne. We look on and on into the Eternity that +is coming (and it is a wonderful outlook) and what do we find? It is that +we are wanted for the ages to come to show forth, and to be living +personal illustrations "of the riches of God's grace." It is not only that +we shall be saved and glorified, but that God will use us personally to +show forth all His love. The grace of God is the love which flowed down to +us in our great need, when we were dead in sins, slaves to sin and Satan +and deserving nothing but God's wrath. + +It is we ourselves who are wanted for the ages to come for "the praise of +His glory." The expression "_the riches_ of God's grace" [Footnote: Eph. +i. 7.] meets our personal need, but there is something else that will +shine forth, it is called "_the glory_ of God's grace." [Footnote: Eph. i. +6.] All that God prepares for us is worthy of His greatness and power. The +inheritance which He has in store and the beautiful Home above will be +worthy of God Himself, all that is in it and around it surpassing +everything that we can imagine in its glory and beauty will be worthy of +God Himself. 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 +saints." [Footnote: Eph. i. 18.] + +The words of this old hymn describe what it will be like-- + + "I go on my way rejoicing, + Though weary the wilderness road-- + I go on my way rejoicing + In hope of the glory of God. + + "Then no more in the earthen vessel + The treasure of God shall be, + But in full and unclouded beauty, + O Lord, wilt Thou shine through me. + + "All, all in Thy new creation + The glory of God shall see; + And the lamp for that light eternal + The Bride of the Lamb shall be. + + "A golden lamp in the heavens, + That all may see and adore + The Lamb who was slain and who liveth, + Who liveth for evermore. + + "So I go on my way rejoicing + That the heavens and earth shall see + His grace, and His glory and beauty, + In the depth of His love to me." + +Our mission throughout eternity is to make known the love and wisdom of +God that He may not only be all, but in all. He is in us now, but we want +Him to be in all, 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 ... all and in all." +[Footnote: I Cor. xv. 28.] + +We are passing through wars and convulsions and revolutions hitherto +unknown, but a glorious future is awaiting us, and one thing is certain, +that nothing can "separate us from the love of God which is in Christ +Jesus our Lord." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 39.] That is our security. + +It is also certain that it is not in the power of the devil to destroy the +Church of God, for we are wanted in the ages to come. It is the Church +which is to be the glory of Christ to all Eternity. + +We are also wanted _now_ in a very special way. Men's hearts are failing +them for fear, they need strong, calm, prayerful helpers in this time of +perplexity. Who can speak a word of cheer and encouragement? Who can point +them to the Rock of Ages which cannot be moved? Who can inspire them with +faith and hope? Only the one who has himself made God his Refuge. It is in +times of trouble that the worldly man turns for help and sympathy to the +believer. It is through us that God would work out His purpose of grace +and love to the world. + +A young man who had met with a bitter disappointment went to an aged +Christian and poured out his trouble. After hearing his sad story, his +friend said in a calm, tender voice, "God knows all about it, there is no +such thing as chance in the world." "What is there then?" asked the young +man eagerly. "There is _love_, Eternal _love_," was the answer. + +The reason why the believer is kept in perfect peace is because he looks +beyond all the tumult of battle, the bitter strife and terrible bloodshed +to the time when God will gather together all things in Christ, for He is +to be Head over all. + +LOVE, ETERNAL LOVE. + +Never for a moment shall that love cease to bless us and shield us. +Whatever may happen to our bodies nothing can touch the eternal life +within. + +Do you feel anxious to know whether you will have a share in the glory? I +will tell you how you may know. You remember Christian had a roll given +him by Evangelist which he was to give in at the Celestial Gate. 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 +air. Take your Bible and you will find there four precious words which God +has written for you to rest upon, and which will never fail you. + +1. REDEEMED. [Footnote: Pet. i. 18, 19] "Bought with a price," and the +price was the life-blood of God's dear Son, so we belong to the Church of +Christ which He has "purchased with His own blood." [Footnote: Acts xx. +28] + +2. SEALED. [Footnote: Eph. i. 13] The Seal is God's mark upon us showing +to men and angels and devils that we are His "purchased possession"; that +we belong to Him, spirit, soul and body absolutely, and for ever, for +God's solid foundation stands unmoved, bearing this inscription, "The Lord +knoweth them that are His." [Footnote: 2 Tim. ii. 19] + +A Christian doctor who had been in the Crimean War and in China, was very +particular when going on a journey to have all his luggage "_labelled and +ready_." In his last illness he turned to a friend and said with a smile, +"_I am labelled and ready_"! and then he gave this beautiful testimony: +"There is only one thing that makes me quite ready and quite sure of +Heaven, it is that my sins are forgiven by trusting in the Blood of Jesus. +Nothing that we can do can save us, it is what He did. He alone can give +us peace with God." + +3. KEPT. [Footnote: 1 Pet. i. 5] A young Christian told a friend that he +was afraid as to whether he would be able to live the life. The friend +looked at him, and said, with a ringing voice of assurance, "He is able to +keep you from falling." [Footnote: Jude 24] He then saw that he was no +longer in his own keeping, but in _God's_ keeping, and that the keeping +would be up to the last moment, and be so complete that he would be handed +over without the smallest defect to stand in "the presence of His glory +with exceeding joy." + +4. GLORIFIED. [Footnote: Rom. viii. 30] This is the last and grandest of +the four precious words which God has given to strengthen our hearts, and +it is the crown of all. What shall we say? No words can express what it +will be, it will surpass our highest expectations. But we know that it +will be fulness of life, fulness of joy, fulness of love, and all our +deepest longings satisfied, all our highest hopes fulfilled, and it will +be for ever and for ever! + +Let us hold fast God's sure word of promise, "The Lord will give grace and +glory." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxiv. 11] 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 think, according to the power that worketh in us, UNTO HIM +IS THE GLORY IN THE CHURCH, THROUGHOUT ALL AGES, TO ALL ETERNITY, WORLD +WITHOUT END. AMEN. [Footnote: Eph. iii. 20, 21] + + + +ADDRESS X + +THE KINGDOM OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. Matthew xxi. 1-17, and +Revelation xi. 15-18. + + +Now, therefore, why speak ye not a word of bringing the King back? +[Footnote: 2 Sam. xix. 10] This question was asked a long time ago. You +remember how David was driven from his throne. His son Absalom rebelled +against him and he had to leave the country; but Absalom is now dead, the +rebellion is at an end, and still David is an exile. At last some of the +people talk it over together and inquire of one another, "Why say ye not a +word, or why are ye silent about bringing back the King?" So they sent +word to the King and Judah went to meet him. + +I was reminded of this Old Testament story when a correspondent wrote in +the spring of this year as follows: "I have spent two days in what is left +of Belgium, and I find that the dream of the Belgians is to see the King +ride back into Brussels. Men and women, old and young, talk and plan and +have visions of the time when the King comes Home." + +It is touching to think how these people, in spite of all their +misfortunes, 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 restored. + +It makes me think of another King, our Lord Jesus, who entered the City of +Jerusalem amidst the cheers and acclamations of a large crowd, and how the +words came true: "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold thy King cometh +unto thee." [Footnote: St. Matt. xxi. 5] And now they cry, "Hosanna"--He +is come, He is come! and the children's voices ring out with praise. But +this proclaiming Him as King aroused the enmity of some of the rulers and +they stirred up the people against Him. Here was the opportunity, the +golden opportunity, for accepting or rejecting the Son of God. They had +listened to His teaching, they brought their sick to Him for healing, they +appreciated the benefits of His ministry, but they refused to submit to +His authority, so they were determined to silence His Voice. Sin shows +itself in the rebellion of the _will_ against God, and so they lost the +opportunity, and instead of accepting Him, they crucified their King. + +The words are still true: "Behold, thy King cometh," He comes to set up +the Kingdom of God in our hearts, so the opportunity is given to you now +to accept Him as your King. + +We listen to the good news about peace and forgiveness, but are we willing +to make Jesus King in our hearts? Here is the great test, it is here that +the opposition of man's _will_ begins to show itself, because if He is to +be our Lord and Master He claims all we are and all we have. He must be +Lord of _all_ or He is not Lord at all; nothing less will do. There is no +real union with Him by faith until we say in our hearts, "My Lord, and my +God." [Footnote: St. John xx. 28.] It is impossible to accept Christ as our +Saviour without also yielding to Him as King, and proclaiming Him as King. + +A young friend of mine has these three simple words, "Make Jesus King," in +a frame hanging on the wall of her room. She told me they were the means +of leading her to decide for Christ. + +Nothing but the power of the Holy Spirit can enable us to yield to Him as +our Lord and Master. "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the +Holy Ghost." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xii. 3.] This is the central fact--"JESUS IS +LORD." "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He +might be Lord both of the dead and living." [Footnote: Rom. xiv. 9] + +It is the Holy Spirit who first reveals Christ to your heart and enables +you to say, "Thou art my Lord," [Footnote: Ps. xvi. 2] and then He gives +you grace to love and obey Him as your Master. So, whether you look +backward to the moment when your sins were all blotted out, "_He is +Lord_"; or whether you look at your present life with all its +shortcomings, "_He is Lord_"; or whether you look forward to the end, +waiting for His Coming, _He is Lord_. "Can you say truly-- + + "He cleansed my heart from all its sin, + What a wonderful Saviour! + And now He reigns and rules within, + What a wonderful Saviour!" + +We have seen our Lord proclaimed King at Jerusalem and accepting the +title. Although rejected and crucified, His every word and action was +kingly up to the last moment of His earthly life. He spoke openly of His +Kingdom to Pilate, for when Pilate asked Him, "Art Thou a King then?" +[Footnote: St. John xviii. 37] He answered, "I am." The purple robe, the +crown of thorns, the sceptre, though offered in mockery, were all kingly, +for the superscription over the Cross, THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE +JEWS, [Footnote: St. Matt. xxvii. 37] was true. The Cross was the way to +the Throne. "I beheld, and lo in the midst of the Throne stood a +Lamb, as it had been slain." [Footnote: Rev. v. 6] + +In that dark, dark hour of Christ's agony on the Cross, there was only one +man who recognised Christ as King, and that was the dying thief. It was a +very real cry that broke from his lips in his utter need--"Lord, remember +me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom." [Footnote: St. Luke xxiii. 42] It +was wonderful faith. Can you think of any other as wonderful? He +recognised Christ as King--not a dying King leaving His throne--but a +victorious King about to enter His Kingdom. The penitent thief saw even +more than this, he saw that it was a Kingdom of souls rescued from sin's +bondage and slavery; not a Kingdom of the great ones of earth, but for +outcasts such as he was, so he cried, "Take me as I am and give me a place +in the Kingdom." + +But the answer to the cry was as wonderful as the cry itself--"To-day +shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." When the King said "With Me," He +meant, "I am passing from darkness into Everlasting Light. Come with Me. I +have broken the chains of sin, I am setting the prisoners free. Come with +Me." From that moment the penitent thief was identified with Christ in His +death and in His Risen Life. Is this true of you? + +When earth rejected the King, not only was Heaven opened to receive Him, +but a triumphant reception awaited Him. Heaven resounded with the joyful +chorus of the angelic hosts--"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye +lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in"! +[Footnote: Ps. xxiv. 7.] + +So for nineteen hundred years the heavens have received Him, but once +again the everlasting doors will open, and the Son of Man will come in +"the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." [Footnote: St. Matt. +xxiv. 30.] + +What has been going on during all these years? Kingdoms and world powers +have risen up one after another, but all have failed to give what the +world really needs, "A King to reign in righteousness." [Footnote: Isa. +xxxii. 1.] God is still saying, "Why do the heathen rage and the people +imagine a vain thing?" [Footnote: Ps. ii. 1.] But in spite of man's +rebellion and forgetfulness of God, God's purpose will stand firm, "Yet +have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion." [Footnote: Ps. ii. 6.] +God's purpose is to have all power placed in the hands of One Man, and +that is Christ. What will be the final winding up of Earth's suffering and +struggles? The veil will be drawn aside and + + "The Glory of the LORD will be revealed." [Footnote: Isa. xl. 5.] + +It is the glory of the Personal Presence of the Son of God. When? Where? +How? will the glory be seen. + +Look back into the Garden of Eden. God gave man control over all, but he +listened to another voice and then he lost control. The question was +raised, "Who was to rule, Satan or God?" + +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 world. "An enemy hath done this." [Footnote: St. +Matt. xiii. 28.] It is the devil who blinds the eyes, hardens the hearts, +and deadens the conscience of mankind. But we must not lose heart or think +that Satan is getting the upper hand. The Word of God enables us not only +to trace some of his plots and schemes, but it shows us _why_ God has been +so long silent and _when_ God intends to break that silence. [Footnote: +See Ps. 1] The victory is sure, but whose victory? The Victory of the Son +of God. + +But first the Jews must return to their own land, and then "the kings of +the earth and of the whole world" will be gathered to the battle of the +great Day of God Almighty. All these nations will fight against the Jews +at Jerusalem in the place called Armageddon. It is really a desperate +attempt of the devil who is sending forth these nations to make war with +the Lamb. Jerusalem will be taken, and when the enemy is rejoicing over +the victory and the destruction of the Jews seems certain, then suddenly +they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and +great glory, [Footnote: St. Matt. xxiv. 30] "the armies" which are "in +Heaven" following Him. [Footnote: Rev. xix. 14] + +Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, and His feet +shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, [Footnote: Zech. xiv. 3, +4] and "every eye shall see Him." [Footnote: Rev. i. 7] The armies of the +enemy will be destroyed and God's people will be delivered. In this +marvellous way the Lamb shall overcome, for "He is Lord of lords and King +of kings and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful." +[Footnote: Rev. xvii. 14] + +It will not only be the deliverance of the Jews from their enemies, but +the wonder of that great day will be that at last their eyes will be +opened to see Him as the Messiah, so they will be converted and restored. +The Lord says, "I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and of +supplication and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced." +[Footnote: Zech. xii. 10.] + +What an overwhelming sight! The same Jesus whom they despised and rejected +is come down from heaven to deliver them, but they only think of Him as +the One whom they have pierced. The glory which meets their eye at that +moment is the glory of the love and compassion of the Crucified One. The +result of looking is mourning. They get such a view of their sin against +His love that they are filled with godly sorrow. When the eye of faith is +turned to Jesus then the tears flow. Oh, how perfectly will all Satan's +evil influence in man's heart be destroyed in the presence of Jesus. + +"In that Day we have seen what has taken place at the beginning of that +day, 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 uncleanness." +[Footnote: Zech. xiii. 1.] With the opening of that fountain there is +grace given to _use_ it, for God says, "I will pour upon them the spirit +of grace." Many see the fountain now who never use it! + +Precious fountain, of all things most precious to poor sinners such as you +and me. No one but God's dear Son, and nothing but His atoning death on +Calvary, could open that fountain. The fountain is still flowing--has it +cleansed you? + +Then the Kingdom of God is set up on earth. Who can tell the good news so +well as these restored and converted ones? + +The question is sometimes asked, Has the Gospel lost its power? Is +Christianity a failure? No. The Gospel will yet be preached throughout the +whole world. Who will be the preachers? Converted Jews, [Footnote: Isa. +lxi. 6] "a mighty angel, [Footnote: Rev. xiv. 6] and glorified saints, for +they shall be priests of God." [Footnote: Rev. xx. 6] + +What will be the result of their preaching? There will be a world-wide +revival. "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the +waters cover the sea." [Footnote: Hab. ii. 14] + +When Christ comes to us now, it is to rule in the hearts of His people, +but _then_ He will reign over a believing world without opposition, for +Satan will be bound and Christ will take the Kingdom which is His by +redemption, and His glory will be seen on Mount Zion. "Out of Zion, the +perfection of beauty, God hath shined." [Footnote: Ps. 1. 2] + +And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven +saying: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord +and of His Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever." [Footnote: Rev. +xi. 15] + +After reigning on earth for a thousand years there will be the Judgment of +"the Great White Throne," [Footnote: Rev. xx. 11-15] when all those who +had no part in the first resurrection will be raised, and all whose names +are not "written in the Book of Life" will be "cast into the lake of +fire." + +"This is the second death." + +Has your name been entered in the Book of Life? + +One more glorious Vision of the Kingdom is unfolded +before us, and the glory grows brighter and brighter, +for it is "THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM." + +"I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first +earth were passed away and there was no more sea.... And He that sat upon +the throne said, Behold I make all things new...." [Footnote: Rev. xxi. 1, +5] "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the +Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him; and they shall see +His face and His name shall be in their foreheads. + +"And there shall be no night there: and they need no candle, neither light +of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for +ever and ever." [Footnote: Rev. xxii. 3-5] How wonderful that God should +promise us an abundant entrance into His Everlasting Kingdom. [Footnote: 2 +Pet. i. 11] What does an abundant entrance mean? It means that we shall +not, as it were, just creep into heaven by a side door, but that we shall +have a grand welcome from the glorified ones there and from the Lord +Himself, all the doors, as it were, being thrown wide open to receive us. +Are we preparing for it? A mother who was dying called her little daughter +who was ten years old to her bedside and said tenderly, "I want you to +learn this little prayer, 'O God, prepare me for all Thou art preparing +for me.'" And the prayer was answered, for that little girl was Frances +Ridley Havergal, who lived a consecrated life, and passed away singing +about the Lord whom she loved. + +I must give you some words spoken by that holy man Samuel Rutherford who +was persecuted and put into prison for Christ's sake. "I wonder many +times," he said, "that ever a child of God should have a sad heart +considering what the Lord is preparing for him. When we get Home above and +enter into possession of our Brother's fair Kingdom, it will be like one +step from prison to glory." These words came true, for soon after this he +received notice to appear before his judges in court, but before the day +of the trial came he died. So it was literally one step for him from +prison to glory. His own account of it is given in the following lines---- + + "They've summoned me before them, + Thither I may not come; + My King says, Come up hither, + My Lord says, Welcome Home." + +What will it all be like? No words of ours can describe it, but God +Himself tells us what He will be to us and what He will do for us in the +Eternal Kingdom. + +"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of +God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His +people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." [Footnote: +Rev. xxi. 3-4] + +"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no +more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more +pain, for the former things are passed away." + +The Crown of it all is that "God Himself shall be with them and be their +God." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xv. 28] All creatures will say, "God is everything +to me," for GOD will be "All in All."' + +We have traced out some of the wonderful truths which God has revealed to +us about Himself. "This is Life Eternal that they might know Thee, the +only True God and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." [Footnote: St. John +xvii. 3] + +Apart from God, all is death and ruin for ever; to _know_ God, to _trust_ +God, to _love_ God is Eternal Life. + +The great question is, What is God to me? Can you say--"O GOD, THOU ART MY +GOD"? + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The One Great Reality, by Louisa Clayton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ONE GREAT REALITY *** + +***** This file should be named 7786-8.txt or 7786-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/7/8/7786/ + +Produced by Charles Aladrondo, Tiffany Vergon, Charles +Bidwell, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/7786-8.zip b/7786-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f747417 --- /dev/null +++ b/7786-8.zip diff --git a/7786.txt b/7786.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e04d3e --- /dev/null +++ b/7786.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3938 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The One Great Reality, by Louisa Clayton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The One Great Reality + +Author: Louisa Clayton + +Posting Date: August 24, 2012 [EBook #7786] +Release Date: March, 2005 +First Posted: May 16, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ONE GREAT REALITY *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aladrondo, Tiffany Vergon, Charles +Bidwell, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + + + +THE ONE GREAT REALITY + +By + +LOUISA CLAYTON + +Author of "Heart Lessons", "Loving Messages", +"Winning and Warning", "Wilderness Lessons", etc. + + + + + + + +"I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE"-- +Isa. xiv. 22. + + + +THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED +to all my friends in Rusthall, +in loving remembrance +of our happy fellowship in the gospel +during the past thirty years, +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 still. + +3, Somerville Gardens, +Tunbridge Wells. + + + +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 volume. + +I do so in recognition of the supreme importance of the great topics that +have been chosen, and also in appreciation of the clear and attractive way +in which the truth is set forth. May the messages find attentive and +receptive readers, and be followed by deep and abiding spiritual blessing. + +EVAN H. HOPKINS. + +Woburn Chase, +Addlestone, Surrey. + + + +CONTENTS + +I GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +II GOD, 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 + +GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +Personal knowledge of God, the secret of happiness--Realising His Presence +in prayer--Illustrations from the telephone and family life--God is our +Father, Saviour, Comforter--The Living God-knowing all, and controlling +everything--Illustrations from current events. + + + ADDRESS II + +GOD, OUR FATHER + +A Chinese convert--Christ's confidence in the Father--Christ reveals the +Father--Philip's prayer, "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 God. + + + 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 answered: Where did He come from? When did He +come? Why did He come?--A working-man's experience--The story of the pearl +necklace--Christ's work of redemption--Sir James Simpson's dying +testimony--Hymn, "He came and took me by the hand." + + + 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 sin, +and revealing Christ--Searchlights--The loveliness of Christ--The Holy +Ghost like a Mother--The Comforter. + + + ADDRESS V + +THE VOICE OF GOD + +Jacob's ladder, 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 Word. + + + ADDRESS VI + +THE HANDS OF GOD + +Why St. John wrote his Gospel--The safety of the believer--God's hands in +Creation, Providence and Redemption--The "Scarred Hands"--The story of a +brave shepherd lad--The Hands of Jesus wounded for our transgressions--The +Three Crosses. + + + 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 wisdom, +conversion, 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 Bible. + + + 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 committing. + + + ADDRESS IX + +THE CHURCH OF GOD + +The Church of God: Past, Present, Future--Its Beginning and Growth--The +Church the Body of Christ, a Living Union--The Church the Bride of Christ, +a Loving Relationship--The Glory of this Union--Three Great Surprises--The +Old Man's Message; Love, 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 come. + + + ADDRESS X + +THE KINGDOM OF GOD + +"Bringing the King back"--One King, Jesus, 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 Kingdom. + + + +ADDRESS I + +GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Hebrews xi. 1-6. + + +God is the one great Reality. 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 soul. 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 +true": this means that we may personally know Him that is Reality. In the +wonder of that moment when we first know that God is real and that God is +near, then we cry out, "My God, how wonderful Thou art." To have personal +knowledge of God is the secret of assurance and happiness, and to put real +trust in Him changes our whole life, for then we can say, "I have a +wonderful God." + +To know God is Eternal life; to know Him fully, brings "life more +abundantly"; to know Him with no veil between, is glory--life. + +If you look again at the 6th verse of the 11th chapter of Hebrews you will +notice a very clear statement: it says, "He that cometh to God must +believe that He is," or to put it in other words, "the man who draws near +to God must believe that there is a God." + +Do you believe in God? Is He real to you? Here is one test. When you pray +do you realise His Presence? Is He so close to you that it is like +speaking into His ear? + +It was this text, "He that cometh to God must believe that He is," which +first awakened a worldly gentleman named Brownlow North to think about his +soul. God's Spirit showed him that he had never really believed in God and +that all his former religion was worthless, "for without faith it is +impossible to please God." As soon as he had really learnt to know God, he +devoted all his life to preaching the Gospel. He told every one that the +first thing we need is _to believe there is a God_. Many of his friends +who were rich and well educated were thus brought to a personal knowledge +of God for the first time. He that cometh to God must believe that He is +really there. Have you ever been conscious of the Presence of the living +God? You must make sure that He is near before you can really pray. + +We have an illustration of this in the telephone. You first put the +speaking tube to your mouth and then you say "Are you there?" In any case +you make sure that the person to whom you wish to speak, is listening at +the other end. Although you cannot see any one, you know he is holding the +receiver so as to hear what you say. + +When you begin to pray always pause for a moment and remember that you are +speaking to God. Do not say a word until the Holy Spirit puts you into +direct communication with God. The Psalmist was quite sure that God was +really listening to his prayer, for he says, "I love the Lord because He +hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear +unto me therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live." [Footnote: Ps. +cxvi. 1, 2.] And again, "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God +with my voice, and He gave ear unto me." [Footnote: Ps. lxxvii. 1.] It is +in this way we realise that there is a God, a personal living God. + +I asked a Christian man one day if he had prayed about some work which was +offered to him, and his reply was, "Yes: I am on the telephone." Can you +say the same? As soon as you have spoken through the telephone you put the +receiver to your ear to listen for the answer. Many people pray without +expecting to get an answer. They are like children who knock at a door and +then run away before it is opened. The prophet Micah says, "I will wait +for God, my God will answer me." [Footnote: Mic. vii. 7.] Yes, he expected +to get an answer. + +The Lord Jesus says, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when +thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret." +[Footnote: St. Matt. vi. 6.] When a child wants to tell his father +something very private he whispers it in his ear. I daresay you have +noticed that the telephone at the General Post Office is enclosed in a +box, so that no one can overhear what is said. There are many things we +say into God's ear which we could not tell to any one else. It makes Him +very real to us, if we can say in our inmost hearts, "O God, Thou art my +God, my very own Father." + +When we speak through the telephone we never say useless words, and our +Lord tells us to avoid needless repetitions when we pray, and He adds, +"for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him." Just +as an earthly father delights to hear his children's, voices, so our +heavenly Father loves to hear us speaking to Him, for He says, "Put Me in +remembrance, let us plead together." [Footnote: Isa. xliii. 26.] + +A child's intercourse with his father is quite simple and natural, he +talks freely about everything. When you speak to God, is it an effort, or +do you look up into His face with confidence and tell Him all? A child +expects his father to supply all his wants and to be equal to every +emergency, 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 +Jesus." [Footnote: Phil. iv. 13.] + +We must not be disappointed if we do not get all we want, because God's +promise is to supply what we _need_. We often wish for things which we do +not really need. + +If ever you lose sight of _God_, think of the wonderful lesson which Jesus +teaches when He says, "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts +unto your children," and you, fathers, always get the best you can for +them, "how much more" (wonderful words), "how much more shall your Father +which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him." [Footnote: St. +Matt. vii. 11.] Have you ever heard God's voice saying to you, I am your +Father; love Me, look to Me, trust Me, worship Me: "Open thy mouth wide +and I will fill it." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxi. 10.] + +A godly man who was a servant used to say, "There is not in the world a +kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual +conversation with God." He felt that God was nearer and dearer to him than +any one else. This is what makes God real to us when we feel that He is +_near and dear_. + + "Only to sit and think of God, + Oh! what a joy it is!" + +It is just the same with your children if you are a really good, loving +father, they are quite happy if they can sit close to you. Your very +presence makes a great impression on them, even if you do not say a word. +Is God's presence so real to you that it makes you control your temper and +keeps you from saying unkind things? + +A boy may be troublesome sometimes, but he never really doubts his +father's love for him. Do you ever doubt God's love? Oh, yes: you say, I +often murmur. Then this shows that in a sense you have never really known +God. People would not speak as they do about God, I mean even Christians +would not talk as they do if they really knew God. We often hear people +say, "I hope God will be good to us," or, "I think it very hard God does +not answer my prayer." This shows they have never personally known Him. +Their thoughts about God are so contrary to what they sing. For example, +how much do we really mean of that sweet hymn-- + + "Precious thought--my Father knoweth, + In His love I rest; + For whate'er my Father doeth. + Must be always best. + Well I know the heart that planneth + Nought but good for me; + Joy and sorrow interwoven, + Love in all I see." + +Do you ever doubt His wisdom and think you might have been treated better? +When we really know our Father-God, then we see His wisdom even in the +things that are against us. We know and we feel that they have all been +working together for our good, "for He knows all." + +This Book in my hand is The Word of God. It is a revelation of God, and +the glory of God Himself shines in every page. The first word in it is, In +the beginning _God_. Perhaps you ask me, "Who is God?" I will tell you. +"He is my Father." But you say, I am so sinful, I am not worthy to be +called His son. That is just what I felt, so sinful, and then He revealed +Himself to me as my Saviour. Ah! you say, but I am so far off, how can I +find my way to Him? And that was just like me till the Holy Spirit led me +to Him. When God reveals Himself to you as Father, Saviour, Comforter, +then you will know that _God_ Himself is dwelling in your heart. Perhaps +you ask, Will God really come and dwell in me for I am so unworthy? God +Himself answers that question; "Thus saith the high and lofty One that +inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy +place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive +the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." +[Footnote: Isa. lvii. 15.] Every one is standing now in view of God and +Eternity. + +A very long time ago the question was asked, "Canst thou by searching find +out God?" [Footnote: Job xi. 7.] The only way we can find Him is by our +spiritual necessities. If your soul needs life, you will find Him. If your +spirit needs reviving, you will find Him. As this text says, I come "to +revive the heart of the contrite ones." + +When your children talk about their Father, he is a real Person to them; +that is what God wants to be to us, a real personal God. He says, "I will +be to them a God." [Footnote: Heb. viii. 10.] I know a little boy who +whispered to his aunt one night when she was giving him the goodnight +kiss, "Oh, Auntie, I sometimes wonder whether there is a God. Are you +quite sure?" "Yes," said the aunt very earnestly, "I am quite sure. You +see, I have known Him so long and He is so much to me, I am quite sure." +The child was satisfied. + +If you will turn again to Psalm cxvi. you will see a wonderful unfolding +of the secret feelings of David's heart, and as we read it we cannot help +saying to ourselves, the man who wrote this experience had very close +dealings with some One about his soul. Who is this Some One? Do you know? +Perhaps you think your religion is good enough to take you to heaven when +you die, but alas! it begins and ends with the "Unknown God." How +different to David's experience when he says out of a full heart, "I love +the Lord," or as the word means, "I am full of love," and then he tells of +his confidence in God; "I believed, therefore I have spoken," as if he had +said, "God is so real to me now, I must tell others"; and he adds, "I will +walk before the Lord in the land of the living." We can walk with God in +our daily life just as Enoch did. + +A good man said a short time ago, If ever I pass any one in the street +with a careworn, anxious face, I long to say to them, "There is _God_," +"Have faith in God." St. John said, "We have known and believed the love +that God hath to us and in us--God is love." [Footnote: 1 John iv. 16.] +This is the central fact, the one great reality in life, and when once it +is grasped there is nothing to compare with it. Why is there so much +unrest, so much ungodliness, and lawlessness in our midst? We are +forgetting God. The only remedy is coming back to God. + +A poor woman who has been a Christian for many years was telling me about +her mother's sudden death the week before, and then she added, "I have +never known God as I do now. The future used to look so dark, but now that +I know Him as the Living God, I can only see _life_. I cannot tell you +what He is to me." Her face, which bore traces of her recent sorrow, shone +with a new peace and a new joy, which made me rejoice. I was sure that God +had revealed Himself to her in her time of need. Those precious words had +come true in her case, "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, +I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these +things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes; even +so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight." [Footnote: St. Luke x. +21.] + +Are you saying, "My soul thirsteth for God, for the Living God"? Then you +will have a Personal revelation of God Himself, for that is the only way +the life of God can enter into your soul and mine. Are you longing to find +God? It is not that we find Him, but that He finds us, making Himself to +us the great Reality. We may know wonderful things _about_ Him, but that +is not enough. We must really know Him in our hearts! + +The very longing which you have for this personal revelation of God comes +from the loving Father Himself, and He says, "I will give them a heart to +know Me": [Footnote: Jer. xxiv. 7.] so we need never think, ah! it is +beyond me, for He promises to _give_ us the heart to know Him. + +I had a striking instance of this some years ago. A working man who could +not read or write told me that he had been converted at our meeting. He +died in the Union Infirmary, and I heard afterwards that he had been a +blessing to many in the ward. He said to me one day, "I want to tell you +_what God is to me_." In very simple words he described how he could see +it all plainly. How in the beginning, sin came into the Garden of Eden and +then God revealed Himself to the sinner so as to bring him back to +Himself. Again and again his simple testimony was, I must tell every one +_what God is to me_. This man had learnt to know God personally through +his own need as a sinner, so it is not by earthly education that we find +God, but through the Holy Spirit's teaching, and then in the Word He +reveals Himself more fully. + +It is "through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord that grace and +peace are multiplied to us," [Footnote: 2 Pet. i. 2.] so if we have not +more and more grace and peace coming into our souls it is because we do +not really know God. + +It makes all the difference in our life when we can say, God is now my +living Father; for it means God in His infinite love has taken my life +into His, and by this personal link of love I take His life into mine. +When He assures us that He is the Living God, it means that He lives and +cares for us. All things, great and small, are under His control. We have +an illustration of this in the present war. Think of our Navy, scattered +over seven oceans, yet all under the control of the Commander-in-Chief, +Sir John Jellicoe. Not one vessel can move without his orders, no ship can +be attacked without his knowledge; the wireless apparatus is at work night +and day communicating every detail. It brings Sir John word of any +submarine sighted, or of any movement in all the seas round our country, +and it carries his orders far and near. + +When God tells us that He is the living God, we know that He cares for us +in the same way as a mother cares for her children. We had a touching +illustration of this about a year ago. + +Do you remember how we were thrilled with horror when the Archduke Francis +Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria, was shot while driving through +the city? He expired in a few minutes, leaving three children. In those +few moments he turned to his wife who was seated by his side and said +these pathetic words, "Sophie, live for our children." He did not know +that she too had been mortally wounded and would be powerless to care for +their orphan children. + +It is because our Father-God is the living God, that He can say to us +to-day just as He said to the Old Testament saints, "I am living for you, +caring for you, protecting you." "Even to your old age I am He; and even +to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made and I will bear, even I will +carry and will deliver you." [Footnote: Isa. xlvi. 4.] When He says to +you, "I am God and there is none else," [Footnote 2: Isa. xlv. 22.] does +your heart answer, Yes: "Even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art +God." [Footnote 3: Ps. xc. 2.] + + + +ADDRESS II + +GOD OUR FATHER + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Matthew vii 24-34. + + +In the chapter we have just read there is a great deal about our daily +home life, and the word "Father" is mentioned twelve times, so it shows +that God knows all about the everyday work. It is a grand thing when we +find this out. + +A poor woman in China was converted, and very soon the lady missionary who +visited her noticed that now her house was very clean and tidy, and told +her how glad she was to see it. + +The woman smiled, and said in her own simple way, "You see my Father God +and the Lord Jesus are constantly coming in and out, so I like to keep it +nice." She realised the Presence of God. + +"The eyes of the Lord are in every place." [Footnote: Prov. xv. 3.] +If we do not find God _everywhere_ we practically end by finding +Him _nowhere_. + +A busy Christian mother told me that she begins each day and lives all the +day long saying in her heart, "In Thy Presence and by Thy Power." We must +not only _say_ it, but act upon it as a _reality_, and then it will be our +daily experience to be in touch with God. + +There was one word which was very precious to Christ and which was often +on His lips, and that was "Father." You remember how He stood one day at +the grave of His friend Lazarus. All the mourners were standing round Him. +Lazarus had been dead four days. It seemed utterly impossible that he +could be restored to life again. No one expected it. + +What did Jesus do? "Jesus lifted up His eyes and said '_Father_.'" +[Footnote: St. John xi. 41.] Those eyes were still wet with tears, for a +few verses before we read "Jesus wept." Then He lifted up His eyes and +said "_Father_": that was enough. There is _everything_ in that word. It +just meant, "I have told Father all about it." He knows, He loves, He +cares, and all things are possible with Him. There is no limit to His +power and His love. + +Then the command was given to those standing near--"Take ye away the +stone." Was Christ going into the cave? No, the dead man was to _come +out_. So we have first the wondrous name "Father," and then the loud cry, +"Lazarus, come forth," and he that was dead came out of the cold grave', +out of the region of death into the land of the living. + +All through His life on earth our Lord always speaks to God as Father. One +verse especially brings out the perfect intimacy, the perfect confidence, +the perfect love between the Lord Jesus and the Father. Jesus says, "All +things are delivered unto Me of My Father, and no man knoweth the Son but +the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to +whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." [Footnote: St. Matt. xi 27.] The last +words of this verse are very precious, for they show that not only has the +Son perfect knowledge of the Father, but He reveals or makes known the +Father so that you and I may know Him as our Father. + +You remember Philip prayed, "Lord, show us the Father, that is what we +want," [Footnote: St. John xiv. 8.] and Christ answered, "He who has seen +Me has seen the Father." Yes, "He is the image of the invisible God." God +said to Moses, "Thou canst not see My Face and live for there shall no man +see me and live," [Footnote: Exod. xxxiii. 20.] and for hundreds of years +no one saw God. Then came the wondrous gift and the wondrous revelation. +God gave His only Begotten Son, and _in Him_ we see the Father. Praise the +Lord! the glorious light has come to us in our darkness. For "God, who +commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to +give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God _in the face of Jesus +Christ._" [Footnote: Cor. iv. 6.] The Apostle John says, "We beheld His +glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and +truth." + +"No man hath seen God at any time," [Footnote: St. John i. 18.] and before +Christ came the verse stopped there; but after He came, then God was fully +revealed; so the verse finishes with the words "the only begotten Son +which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." Will you look +up now, and say, "Lord, show _me_ the Father," and He will reveal Him to +you, because this is what He promises to do. Look at the last line of the +27th verse of Matthew xi. where Christ says, "He to whomsoever the Son +will reveal Him," and without a pause He adds the wonderful invitation, +"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you +rest." It is to the weary and heavy laden that He reveals the Father. He +invites them to share the fellowship He has with the Father, the peace and +joy and rest of knowing the Father. + +Why does He invite the weary ones to come to Him? because He felt in +Himself such joy in this close fellowship with God, He wanted every one to +have it too. He felt that His experience of what the Father was to Him was +so rich, He longed for them to come and share it, "I will give you rest." +It is as if He said, "I will give you the same rest I have when I am tired +and hungry and thirsty; the same comfort that I have when I am +misunderstood and reviled; the rest, the comfort, the peace I have in My +Father." + +We have the same assurance when the Holy Ghost says in St. Paul's letter +to the Corinthians, "Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and +from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord +Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort." +[Footnote: 2 Cor. i, 2, 3.] + +How can you and I know what the Lord Jesus found in His Father's love? He +has graciously made it known to us in the four Gospels. There the veil is +drawn aside and we see how all through His life He was in close fellowship +with the Father. + +We can hear the very words which the Son spoke to His Father in the hour +of deep agony: "O My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from Me; +nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt." [Footnote: St. Matt. xxvi. +39.] The last words on His lips when He was dying on the Cross were, +"Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." [Footnote: St. Luke xxiii. +46.] He said to His disciples the last night, "You will leave Me alone; +and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." 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 do. + +We too can have the sense of God's Presence in our souls at all times. A +Christian woman who was suffering from neuralgia told me that one night +when she could not sleep, a voice seemed to whisper softly to her, "Like +as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him, +for He knoweth our frame, He knows all about our poor bodies, for He made +them," [Footnote: Ps. ciii. 13, 14.] and with those words of comfort in +her mind she fell into a refreshing sleep. + +If you will turn to the 6th chapter of St. Matthew again you will see in +the 8th verse that our Heavenly Father knows about something else. "He +knows what things we have need of before we ask Him." + +The secret of what it is to have God as our Father, and the sweetness of +it, comes out in these three homely questions, What shall we eat, what +shall we drink, what shall we wear? And Christ says, [Footnote: St. Matt, +vi. 31, 32.] Take no thought, that means, do not be anxious about these +things, for your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these +things. Yes, if He knows, that is enough, and then we have only to trust +Him for all. + +Do you find your faith failing sometimes? It is one thing to trust God +when the wages are coming in regularly, and quite another thing to trust +Him when times are bad. It is just _then_ we learn to look less at our +faith and more at God's Faithfulness. + +A minister once gave a little bit of his experience about this. He said, +"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 testing. The last penny may +be gone but GOD is there. I know this to be true. + +"I have often said when preaching, 'It takes real faith in God to be able +to put your head into an empty flour barrel and sing the doxology.' My +wife had heard me say this, and one morning she called me to come into the +kitchen. I said, 'What do you want me for?' She replied, 'I want you to +come out here and sing.' I thought this queer, so I went to see what it +all meant. + +"In the middle of the kitchen was an empty flour barrel that she had just +dusted out. 'Now, my dear,' she said, 'I have often heard you say one +could put his head into an empty flour barrel and sing, "Praise God from +Whom all blessings flow," if he believed what God says. Now here is your +chance, practise what you preach.' + +"There was the empty flour barrel staring at me with open mouth, and my +purse was empty too. I looked for my faith, but could not find it; I +looked for a way of escape, but could not find one, for my wife blocked +the doorway with the dust brush covered with flour. + +"I said, 'I will put my head in and sing on one condition.' + +"'What's that?' asked my wife. + +"'On condition that you will put your head in and sing too. You know you +promised to share all my joys and sorrows.' + +"She consented, so we put our heads in and sang the doxology, and we told +our heavenly Father 'all about our need.' Yes, we had a good time, and +when we got our heads out we were a good bit powdered up, which we took as +a token that there was more flour to follow! + +"Sure enough, though no one knew of our need, the next day a barrel of +flour was sent. Where it came from or who sent it we never knew, but our +heavenly Father knew that we had 'need of these things.'" + +Does not this simple testimony teach us all a lesson? I wonder how many of +us can say from our hearts-- + + Those who trust do not worry; + Those who worry do not trust. + +Which are you doing, dear friends? Trusting or worrying? Count on God. He +never fails, and He knows just what to do. The moment a difficulty comes, +look up and say "Father," and at once the burden will roll off, He will +undertake all for you. + +I had an illustration of this one day when I was going across the Common. +It was very windy, and two little girls lost their hats; they were quite +at their wits' end, till they caught sight of their father in the +distance, and at once they called to him, "Father, father." That was +enough, in a minute he ran to help them. + +I have often found great help in looking up again and again during the day +and just saying "Father." Try it. You, fathers, often say to your +children, "If you want me just call me." That is what our heavenly Father +tells us to do. + +To know God means not only to trust Him, but also to _treat_ Him as a +Father. If you will read the 6th chapter of St. Matthew carefully when you +are at home, you will see that it gives the experience of the child of God +with the Father for one whole day. It includes all that we need during the +day:--food, clothing, forgiveness, victory over temptation, grace to do +God's will, and grace in dealing with others. + +This experience is so deep, so real, so entirely something between Father +and child, that in this chapter we find the words "_in secret_" no less +than six times. When the little child is looking up into a loving father's +face and talking to him, it never thinks of those around. "In secret" +means a sweet sense of His Presence in the soul and of close communion +with Him. "I write unto you, little children, because you have known the +Father." [Footnote: I St. John ii. 13.] + +God is our Father, because He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: this +is one of the greatest treasures of Redeeming Grace. All the teaching +about God as Father comes from the lips of Jesus, and it is in this way He +reveals the Father to us; so if we would know Him, we must drink in His +teaching and watch His life of communion with God. By His life He reveals +to us the reality of the experience into which He calls us to enter. He +also shows us the way. He not only says "Come to Me," but also Come +through Me. "I am the Way: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." +[Footnote: St. John xiv. 6.] It was by dying for us He opened the Way. +"God sent forth His Son to redeem them that were under the law, that we +might receive the adoption of sons." "And because ye are sons, God hath +sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying, Abba, +Father." [Footnote: Gal. iv. 6, 7] So we are not only received into God's +family, but we have also all the privileges of sonship. We are made "heirs +of God, joint heirs with Christ." + +Perhaps you are thinking of your unworthiness; like the Prodigal Son you +are ready to say "Father, I have sinned again and again, I am not worthy +to be called Thy son." God knows just what you are and what you have been, +and He Himself has asked the question, "How shall I put you among the +children?" It is a question which none but the Lord would ever have +thought of, and it would never have been answered if He Himself had not +answered it. It is a wonderful answer: for He says, "Thou shalt call Me, +My Father." [Footnote: Jer. iii. 19.] God Himself puts us sinners among +His children, and no one else can do it, and He keeps us; for He says, +"Thou shalt not turn away from Me." How does He do it? By creating a new +life in us, we are "born again." The old nature is not improved, but a new +heart is given. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I +put within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 26.] + +Can you say, "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into my heart," and +now I can call Him my Father? Being made the children of God by adoption +and grace, let us enjoy the privileges which are secured to us; let us act +as loving children should do. + +Does it all seem too good to be true? Trust His Word, "As many as received +Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that +believe on His Name." [Footnote: St. John i. 12] + +Some of you remember the joy which thrilled you when you first received +Him as your Saviour, but perhaps it was not until afterwards that you +realised the blessedness of your new position as sons of God. + +The Holy Spirit leads us on step by step. First, He assures us that "there +is no condemnation," then He sets us free from the bondage of sin and +death. [Footnote: Rom. viii. i, 2.] All is changed now, we feel the +confidence of a child who has free access to his father at all times. +There are three things which mark the children of God, the spiritual mind, +the spiritual walk, and the spiritual talk. "The Spirit itself beareth +witness with our spirits that we are the children of God." [Footnote: Rom. +viii. 16.] We then call out with the consciousness of sonship, "Father, +Father." + +The witness of the Spirit was given to me soon after my conversion and +thrilled me with joyful assurance. It came to me when a Christian doctor +was telling his children about the way of salvation. He drew a line on the +carpet with a stick and said, "On one side there is DEATH, on the other, +LIFE," and I said to myself, "I know which side of the line I am on." So +it was by means of this simple remark that I found out that I was really a +child of God, and my heart began from that time to cling to God as my +Father. Every day since then I have experienced the blessedness of +trusting Him and knowing Him as my Father. Is this your happy portion? If +not, why not? + + + +ADDRESS III + +THE SON OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John i. 1-18, 29-34. + + +"THIS IS THE SON OF GOD." These are the closing words of John the +Baptist's striking testimony, What a grand message! How it thrills us +through and through! On and on the glorious words ring out, "_The Son of +God is come_." Many years after, when the Apostle John was a very old man, +he wrote in one of his letters, "We know that the Son of God is come." +[Footnote: I John v. 20.] + +Now look back to the first words of our chapter. "In the beginning was the +Word." Who is the Word? It is "the Son of God." When was the beginning? +Long, long ago in Eternity that is past "the Son of God was the brightness +of His Father's glory and the express image," [Footnote: Heb. i. 3.] or +exact representation, "of His Person." In His last prayer with His +disciples our Lord speaks of "the glory which He had with the Father +before the world was." [Footnote: St. John xvii. 5.] + +The first verse of this Gospel takes us back long before this world was +created. Then we come to the creation in verse 3: "All things were made by +Him." This is exactly what is said in the first verse of the Bible of +another beginning, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the +earth." Long before this world was created we read of God's dear Son as +"the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature." All +things were created by Him and for Him, and He is before all things, the +Eternal Son of God. [Footnote: Col. i. 15-17.] + +He says, "I was set up from everlasting from the beginning, before ever +the earth was. When He appointed the foundations of the earth, then I was +by Him as one brought up with Him; I was daily His delight, rejoicing +always before Him: rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth, and My +delights were with the sons of men." [Footnote: Gen. i. 26.] + +How wonderful it is to think that in the Eternity that is past, and long +before the world was made, God had two grand purposes. One was to create +man to be the head of the whole human race. So, when the moment came that +the earthly home was ready, then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, +after Our likeness." [Footnote: Prov. viii. 23, 29, 30, 31.] + +The other grand purpose in the Eternal counsel between the Father and His +Son was to redeem man after he had fallen through sin. The Redeemer is the +Son of God Himself, so He was foreordained to this work of redemption +before the Creation of the world--"The Lamb slain from the foundation of +the world." [Footnote: Rev. xiii. 8.] Hundreds of years rolled on, and +then the glorious message from heaven was sounded forth over the plains of +Bethlehem:--"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy ... for unto +you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." [Footnote: St. +Luke ii. 10, 11.] + + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME + +_Where_ did He come from? _When_ did He come? _Why_ did He come? These are +some of the questions we must try to answer. + +First, where did He come from? He came forth from God. He was in the bosom +of the Father from all Eternity. He said to the disciples, "I came forth +from the Father and am come into the world." [Footnote: St. John xvi. 28.] + +We have read of two beginnings, now we will look at another beginning. In +the first chapter of St. Mark's Gospel, and the first verse, we read, "The +beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." 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 heaven. + +So we read of three beginnings, and these three are all of God. There is +one more which is also of God. + +It is the beginning of the life of Christ in the soul. When we read about +"the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ," we know it means the +beginning of His life on earth. Have you ever asked whether there has been +a beginning of His life _in your heart_? Is it only what you read about, +or is it a personal experience in your soul? Alas! many join in singing +the chorus, "What a wonderful Saviour," who cannot say, "He is my own dear +Saviour." They have never been able to say "My spirit hath rejoiced in God +my Saviour." + +What is this personal experience of the life of Christ in the soul? It is +what the Apostle Paul describes when he says, "I have been crucified with +Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ _liveth in me_." +[Footnote: Gal. ii. 20.] + + "Once far from God and dead in sin, + No light my heart could see: + But in God's Word the light I found, + Now Christ liveth in me." + +In writing to the Galatians he says, "My little children, you for whom I +am again undergoing, as it were, the pains of child-birth, until Christ is +fully formed within you" [Footnote: Gal. iv. 19.] (Weymouth's +translation). + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +Secondly, When did He come? "It was when the fulness of the time was +come," [Footnote: Gal. iv. 4.] that is when the time was ripe for it. +God's clock is never too fast or too slow: so at the exact moment "when +the fulness of time was come God sent forth _His Son_." Still and always +His Son, but now "made of a woman," "God, manifest in the flesh"--the +God-man. + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +What is His Name? God Himself gave the Name. "Thou shalt call His name +Jesus." [Footnote: St. Matt. i. 21.] No other name was to be given: it is +a command, "_thou shalt_ call His name Jesus, for He shall save": that is +why He is _come_. "He is come to seek and to save that which was lost." +"Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He Himself shall save His people from +their sins." He is presented to us as a living personal Saviour. The +promise is, "He, _Himself_ shall save." It means that He will abide in +each believing soul for ever. Yes, moment by moment and for ever. He +abides in us as the Deliverer from all sin. What a glorious promise! Are +you living in the reality of it? + + "Jesus! Name of wondrous love, + Human Name of God above." + +It is the God-given Name. "The Name which is above every name." Is it +precious to you? + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +Thirdly, Why did He come? The King sends ambassadors to represent him in +foreign countries, but God sent "His own dearly loved Son." "For God so +loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." [Footnote: St. John +iii. 16.] The little word "_so_" means love in its unutterable fulness, +and God is the source of it. Have you ever thanked Him for the unspeakable +gift of His dear Son? Link the two words together, _God--the world_: it +means God and you: God and me. Then link together _loved_ and _gave_. It +will take Eternity to get to the bottom of those two words. Now add that +other precious text, "He loved me: He gave Himself for me," [Footnote: +Gal. ii. 20.] and you have "the grace of God bringing salvation." + +Six times in the Epistles we find the words "He gave Himself," and in I +Peter ii. 24, it says, "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on +the tree." This is why the Son of God is come, and it is this which makes +Him so personally real to us when earthly things are fading away. + +I knew a working man who had a long, painful illness which lasted three +years. I rejoice to say that soon after it began he was converted. He was +so earnest that his one thought was to tell others what a dear Saviour he +had found, and many were led to Christ through his example and testimony. +His mother was converted through him and she is now carrying on the +Christian work which he began. What was it that changed this man? It was +the Holy Spirit revealing Christ to him as a living personal Saviour. The +day before he died he said to his sister, "I had such a lovely time with +the Master this morning in between the pain. Oh! it was like healing balm +to me and He gave me a little hymn-- + + "'Jesus loves me, He who died + Heaven's gate to open wide: + He will wash away my sin, + Let His little child come in.'" + +How wonderful that a man nearly 40 years of age should find such comfort +in a simple little hymn. But it is thus the Lord reveals Himself. + +Do you feel that you are like a lost sheep? "The Son of man is come to +seek and to save that which was lost." [Footnote: St. Luke xix. 10.] + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME! + +It is a fact, a certainty. A great reality. Nothing can take it from us. +It is a living experience in our inmost hearts. "And we know," says the +Apostle John, "that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an +understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that +is true, even in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal +life." [Footnote: I John v. 20.] + +The Son of God is come and God presents Him to us as His Perfect Son and +our Perfect Saviour. Twice during His earthly ministry there was a voice +from heaven which said, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well +pleased": "In whom I have perfect delight now and for ever." Can you +reply, "This is my Beloved Saviour and He is everything to me"? [Footnote: +St. Matt. iii. 17 and xvii. 5.] He is either everything or nothing. + +Are you like the merchant in the parable, "seeking goodly pearls, who when +he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had and +bought it"? Is your heart singing + + "I've found the pearl of greatest price, + My heart doth sing for joy; + And sing I must for Christ is mine! + Christ shall my song employ!" + +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 +colporteur, but they could not see the meaning of it, so they laid it on +one side. "But," he went on to say, "from the moment my eyes lighted upon +it, I was greatly attracted by it. So I read and kept on reading till the +meaning dawned upon me, and then," he added with a beaming face, "I found +the Pearl of Great Price." + +This reminds me of that strange story of a very valuable pearl necklace +worth L117,000 which was lost about a year ago. It was sent by post from +Paris to London when it suddenly disappeared and no one knew what had +become of it. A very large reward was offered to any one who found it. + +But now comes the wonderful part of the story. One morning, 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 St. Paul's Road, near London. +He picked it up and put it in his pocket. Presently he went into a +public-house to have a glass of beer and there he met two of his mates. He +took the match-box out of his pocket, pushed it open, and seeing it was +filled with what he thought were white beads or marbles, he said to them, +"What do you think of these, I've just picked them up?" "Oh! they're no +good," replied one of the men, "throw them away." However, Horne decided +to take them to the Police Station. The officers looked at them and said +they were worth nothing, but gave him a receipt for them. + +On their way to the factory they turned into another public-house for a +drink, and while there Horne found one of the marbles loose in his coat +pocket. "Oh!" he said, "I've got one of them left." Holding it up in his +fingers, he looked round and asked, "Will any one give me a penny for it?" +But no one would have it. + +In another public-house where they stopped, he offered the pearl for a +glass of beer, but no one accepted the offer. The pearl which was worth +many hundreds of pounds was despised by one and all. Then Horne offered it +for a packet of cigarettes, but again it was handed back with the remark, +"That's no good to me." So one of his friends suggested that he should +crush it under the heel of his boot as it was no good. + +Later on when some one asked him what he had done with it he said he had +thrown it away. + +It is a wonderful story and quite true. "Oh!" you say, "what a thousand +pities, if that man Horne had only known its value, it would have made him +a rich man in one day." + +Are you not surprised that none of these men ever thought of finding out +the real value of that pearl? But is it not stranger still that scarcely +any one ever stops to inquire who Jesus Christ really is, and the meaning +of His death on the Cross? You listened just now with astonishment to the +questions and answers about this valuable pearl, and yet the same +questions are being asked every day about another Pearl, God's Pearl of +great price, and people are treating it with the same indifference. How +the angels must look on and wonder! + +There are two questions which you have to answer now. First, What think ye +of Christ, whose Son is He? Can you say, "He is the Son of God"? Think of +the Glory of His Person: it is "the glory of the only begotten of the +Father." Think of His Divine Mission: sent by God to be the Saviour now +and the Judge by and by. Think of Him as God's great Gift to a perishing +world. Have you received Him? + +The other question which you have to answer is, "What shall I do with +Jesus?" Remember God hath given to us Eternal Life and this life is in His +Son. "He who has the Son has life, and he who has not the Son of God has +not life." [Footnote: I John v. 12.] Jesus is pleading with you, saying, +"Ye will not come," that means, you are unwilling to come to Me "that you +may have Life." [Footnote: St. John v. 40.] By and by you will have to +face another question, "What will He do with me?" + +"The Son of God is come." It is God Himself who presents Him to us: +"Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world." [Footnote: +St. John i. 29.] He is the One whom God Himself has provided and set +apart: and "now He has appeared once for all to put away sin by the +sacrifice of Himself." [Footnote: Heb. ix. 26.] There on Calvary's +Cross before the eyes of crowds of people "who came together to see that +sight," He is set forth as the spotless Son of God who was made an +offering for sin. He it is "whom God now sets forth to us as a +propitiation." [Footnote: Rom. iii. 25.] He it is, and no other, whom God +sets forth as a Mercy seat, the Blood-sprinkled Mercy Seat. God's eye +rests on Christ and His finished work, and because it is a full, perfect +and sufficient satisfaction for all our sins, "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 Jesus." Oh, +what a comfort it is to me to know that He is always there standing before +God as the Righteous One, and therefore when God looks at me in all my +unworthiness He does not see me, He only sees His dear Son. + +When that godly physician Sir James Simpson was dying, the minister who +was by his bedside asked if he had any doubts. He looked up and said, "I +have no doubts; when I stand before God I shall just _hold up Christ to +God."_ + +This is why Jesus is come, and this is why Jesus died, that the believing +soul may hold Him up to God as "the One who has been made unto us wisdom, +righteousness, sanctification and redemption," [Footnote: I Cor. i. 30.] +and it is all God's doing, from first to last. I love to say to myself,-- + + "I'm a poor sinner and nothing at all, + But Jesus Christ is my all in all." + +Our salvation depends on believing God's Word, that He has accepted our +Surety. When God raised Him from the dead, it was a proof that all the +claims of His holiness and justice had been fully met and satisfied. +The debt is paid because Jesus paid it all. He gave Himself as a +ransom--the redemption price for all. + +So now God sets Him forth in all His untold preciousness and proclaims the +glorious message, "_Deliver him_, that poor helpless sinner, from going +down into the pit. I have found a ransom." [Footnote: Job xxxiii. 24.] + +What was the price to be paid? "The Son of man is come to give His life a +ransom for many." "We are redeemed, not with silver and gold, but with the +precious blood of Christ." Who can tell how precious? "More precious far +than gold." Think what it _cost_ the Father: He gave His only Son. "Having +yet one son, His well-beloved, He said, I will send Him." + +Think what it cost the Son of God. Think of His agony in the garden, and +then the hiding of His Father's face, and last of all the pouring out His +soul unto death on the cross. Our redemption is doubly precious, not only +because of the price paid, but because of the Divine and Holy One who paid +it, the Lord of glory, even the Son of God Himself, "Which things even the +_angels_ desire to look into." [Footnote: 1 Pet. i. 12.] They long to see +into the depths of this wondrous redeeming love. + +Can you sing this chorus from your heart-- + + "Precious, precious, + Precious is my Lord to me; + Precious, precious, + Everything in Him I see." + +Think of what we have been rescued from! Christ has redeemed us from sin, +and death and hell. + +Think of the cost of this great salvation, and then ask yourself, how much +is it worth to me? We shall only be able to answer that question when we +are safe home in the glory. Then we shall be looking back on death, +looking back on the Judgment of the great White Throne, as never having +come into it: looking back on the old world which has passed away. + + "When this passing world is done, + When has sunk yon glorious sun, + When I go to Christ in glory, + Looking o'er life's finished story; + Then, Lord, shall I fully know + Not till then--how much I owe." + +Think of the last plague which God sent upon Egypt. It was not till the +midnight cry, that exceeding great and bitter cry had resounded through +the land of Egypt showing that the destroying angel had entered the houses +of the Egyptians, leaving death and desolation there; 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 doorposts. Think of +their wonder and of their thankfulness. They had believed and obeyed +before, but _now_ their hearts are filled with gratitude and praise. If +you have really cast yourself and all your sins on Christ, then you too +will join in the new song, saying, "Thou art worthy, for Thou wast slain +and hast redeemed us to God by Thy Blood." [Footnote: Rev. v. 9.] + +To _receive_ Christ now into our hearts by faith is to be born of God: +[Footnote: St. John. i. 12, 13.] spiritual life is imparted to the +believer. + +To _feed_ upon Christ day by day is to live by Him: [Footnote: St. John +vi. 57.] this is the evidence of life in the believer. + +To see Christ by and by and to be like Him, is life perfected in glory. +[Footnote: 1 John iii. 2.] + +Dear fellow sinners, let me entreat you most earnestly in the light of an +Eternity that is coming, and as you value your precious, never-dying +souls, do not trifle with God's unspeakable Gift. "How shall we escape if +we neglect so great salvation?" [Footnote: Heb. ii. 3.] No one either in +heaven or upon earth can answer that question. If the lost in hell could +speak to us they would tell us that there is _no_ escape. + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME, + +and oh! the wonder of it all, "He came to where I was." +The words of this beautiful hymn describe it-- + + "I looked and there was none to help, + 'No man' could meet my case: + A weary, world-worn heart was mine, + Without a resting place. + Then One drew near, the Christ of God, + With pitying eyes He scanned, + Jesus came to me where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "He led me first to Calvary's mount, + And, oh! what sight it gave! + The agony, the life out-poured, + It cost Him there to save. + My heart fell broken at His feet, + Who could such love withstand? + The love that came to where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "He lifted me upon a rock, + Round me His light He shed; + He poured His peace into my heart, + He healed, He held, He fed. + Ah! then I knew that holy One, + The whole could understand. + The One who came to where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "And since that day, through all the days, + His love my way has planned: + He comes to bless me where I am, + He takes me by the hand. + This glorious One is all to me, + He shall my life command, + The Christ who came to where I was, + And took me by the hand." + + + +ADDRESS IV + +THE SPIRIT OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John iv. 1-26 + + +God is a Spirit. 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 God. He told her that God is Father, that God is +Saviour, and that God is Spirit; three Persons but one God. + +The Lord opened her heart and she grasped this wondrous truth. + +Christ said to her, "God the Father is seeking you, He is longing for you +to come to Him." Then He let her feel and see that He is the Saviour. + +Was it not wonderful that she was the first to tell the good news that He +is "the Saviour of the world"? [Footnote: St. John iv. 42.] + +Christ said to her, "God is a Spirit," and she found that no one else but +God could touch her heart. + +Until the Spirit of God comes into our hearts, we cannot really know God +personally or have communion with Him. "Now we have received, not the +spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know +the things that are freely given to us of God." [Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 12.] + +Although our hearts are so sinful the Holy Spirit is longing to come in. +He found an entrance into the heart of this poor woman whose life was a +wreck with its four great failures. Every life is a failure in God's +sight, but we must never despair of any one, for "with God all things are +possible," and as long as life lasts there is hope for the sinner. + +"The Lord opened her heart," she heard and believed, and went home to tell +others what a dear Saviour she had found. It was the beginning of a +revival at Sychar, and every revival begins in the same way, God is +revealed by His Spirit and men realise the nearness of God. + +Until a man really finds out what God is, there can be no true spiritual +worship. This is the truth Jesus came to make known to us when He says, +"God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and +in truth," for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. Yes, the Father +is seeking us, yearning for us to come close to Him and to respond to His +love for us. When our Lord tells us that we must worship in spirit, He +means that it is the spirit in man which responds to the Spirit of God. Do +you offer Him your heart's devotion and praise, or is it only lip-worship? + +True spiritual worship does not depend on forms or ceremonies or on any +special place or time. I felt the point of this when a railwayman said to +me, "We can be in touch with God all the day long." + +God is a Spirit, just as "God is Light." [Footnote: 1 John i. 5.] +And there are no limitations as to where He works or His ways and time of +working. + +The Holy Spirit reveals to us far more about God than we ever imagined. +The Bible says, "Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered +into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that +love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit." +[Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10.] + +Until the Holy Spirit opens our blind eyes to see spiritual things we +cannot understand them. It is not the words of man's wisdom which can +explain them, we need to use spiritual words for spiritual truths, so we +can only speak as the Holy Spirit teaches us what to say. "The natural man +receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness +unto him," [Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 14.] he does not grasp the meaning of +them. + +It is because God is a Spirit that he meets our spiritual need when we +feel altogether helpless and hopeless in ourselves, for He says, "I will +put My Spirit within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 27.] God begins in the +very centre of our being, in our innermost hearts. God makes Himself known +to us as God, through our spiritual necessities. + +The Presence of the Holy Spirit is a personal thing in each one who +receives Him. There is only one way by which we can receive the Holy +Spirit, and that is by faith. The Holy Ghost has been given. Will you ask +yourself, Have I received Him? If not, why not? + +When God puts His Spirit into our hearts He abides with us for ever. He +never leaves us. Even when we grieve Him by our coldness of heart, He does +not leave us. + +It is God who begins the work of grace in our hearts. The Book which +reveals to us what God is, opens with the words, "In the Beginning, +_God_." [Footnote: Gen. i. 1.] God is the Beginner of all things, not only +of the creation of the world, but of the new creation in our souls. This +Book unfolds to us how God begins and finishes the great work of +redemption and salvation. + +We find another marvellous beginning which is also unfolded in this Book. +"The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." [Footnote: 1 Gen. +i. 2.] It is a remarkable word; it means the Spirit of God brooded on the +face of the waters. In Genesis we read, "The Spirit of God was brooding," +and in the Gospels we find the Spirit of God compared to a dove. The word +"brooding" is a figure of the mother dove brooding over her nest and +cherishing her young. The first time the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the +Old Testament is in this verse, and the first emblem of the Holy Spirit in +the New Testament is in the 3rd chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, where it +says that, after our Lord had been baptized, "The heavens were opened unto +Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon +Him." [Footnote: St. Matt. iii. 16.] + +First let us look at the background of the picture. We see darkness and +desolation, death and ruin. Then we see the Spirit of God, the Dove of +peace, brooding over it all, and bringing light and life, love and peace +out of the confusion. + +So the two thoughts which are here brought to our minds are Motherhood and +Peace. 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 Spirit. + +When Christ is speaking of the New Birth, He says we are "born of the +Spirit." [Footnote: St. John iii. 6.] Again, when the cry of the new-born +soul is spoken of, we are told how it comes; for Paul says, "God hath sent +forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." +[Footnote: Gal. iv. 6] Again there is the beautiful expression, "The +Spirit of Adoption." "We have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we +cry Abba, Father." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 15.] "Abba" means "dear Father." + +When God would reveal His heart of love to us He says, "As one whom his +mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." [Footnote: Isa. lxvi. 13.] +Think of a mother busy with her work, and her little one playing on the +floor. Presently there is a cry, it has fallen down, and in a moment the +mother is by its side to soothe it. But there is something sweeter still. +Even if nothing befall the child the mother is near by to help it over +every difficulty and to respond to every look and sign. Even so our God +who is to us our Mother Comforter, says, "Before they call I will answer, +and while they are yet speaking I will hear." [Footnote: Isa. lxv. 24] + +The little child always turns to its mother for comfort in every trouble. +There is one thing which we notice in every home, that is, the mother's +tender love and constant care for her little one. Night and day her child +is her one thought. So the Lord says of His people, "I the Lord do keep +it, lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." [Footnote: Isa. +xxvii. 3.] Every child of God can say-- + +"Moment by moment I'm kept in His love." + +Does the child need the mother's constant, watchful care? Yes, because +everything around is like a new world to the little one, it is all a new +experience. The mother gives herself up so entirely to the child that it +depends on her for everything. In the same way when the soul is born again +it is brought into a new relation to God, it has entered into a new +experience and the Holy Spirit becomes to it just what the mother is to +the child and much more. + +Just as the mother trains the little one to take the first steps in +walking and holds it up, so it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to +walk and to please God. The little hand is slipped into mother's hand to +be led and held up. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the +sons of God." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 14.] + +The mother keeps the child close to her, so the Holy Spirit is the +Comforter to us, by our side, for the word "Comforter" means, The one whom +we call to our side to help us. Just as the mother tells her child what to +say when it wants anything, so He helps us when we pray, "for we know not +what we should pray for as we ought." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 26.] + +"The Comforter is come." When did He come? On the day of Pentecost, for it +was _then_ that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and He has been with us +ever since. + +Let those words ring in your heart and in your life, "The Comforter is +come." [Footnote: St. John xv. 26.] There is a beautiful hymn which +illustrates the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. It +begins with the words-- + + "Spirit Divine! attend our prayers, + And make our hearts Thy home." + +Then four things are mentioned which show forth God's power in Nature. +Light, fire, dew, wind. In the Bible they are all used as symbols of the +Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of men. + +In Nature we know that human power is small compared with the power of +light, fire, wind, and water. Have we learnt to depend only on the Power +of the Holy Ghost? God's Voice is ever saying to us now, oh! that we may +listen, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." +[Footnote: Zech. iv. 6.] Just as all the marvels of the natural world are +perfectly carried out by God's wisdom and power, so He has given the Holy +Spirit to make Him perfectly known as a living Presence, a living Power +and Reality in our hearts and lives. + +In the second verse of the hymn we find the words-- + + "Come as the Light--to us reveal + Our emptiness and woe." + +We know what the light does when it shines into a room, It reveals or +shows up any dust we had not noticed before. So when the light of God +shines into our hearts it reveals what we never saw before. + +Have you ever watched the battleships on a dark night, anchored a little +way off from the coast? Suddenly the bright dazzling searchlights are sent +out from the ship. They seem to sweep over the ocean with their sparkling +light and then to wrap you round, as you stand there on the shore. The +sight fills you with wonder; you feel as if the eyes of all on board ship +can see you. + +It is the same when the Holy Spirit shines into our hearts; it is almost +overwhelming; we can only cry, "Woe is me, for I am undone." +[Footnote: Isa. vi. 5.] We stand condemned under the searching eye of God. +All our self-righteous excuses are swept away. 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 neighbours. The dazzling light of God's Presence has +searched us through and through and turned us inside out. Is this +searching necessary for every one? Yes, for it is the only way we can +learn to know the evil of our hearts. + +Sometimes the light of the Holy Spirit comes to us in a quiet moment and +shows us what we never saw before. Sometimes it comes like a flash. It +flashed out on the road when Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus. +He described it when he was being tried before King Agrippa, "At midday, O +King, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the +sun, shining round about me. And I fell to the ground and I heard a voice +saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he tells us also +that he could not see for the glory of that light." [Footnote: Acts xxvi. +13, xxii 17.] Whenever the light comes it is a revelation, a moment never +to be forgotten: Darkness conceals, light reveals. + +The Spirit of God brooded over the face of the waters, and God said, "Let +there be light and there was light." [Footnote: Gen. i. 3.] + +The Holy Spirit not only shows us what we are, but He shows Christ to us; +then we see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. "For God, who +commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to +give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus +Christ." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 6.] Yes, God's glory is radiant on the face +of Christ and the Holy Spirit reveals it. He delights to show us His +beauty and His loveliness and thus to glorify Him. He makes Him a reality +in our souls--"a living bright Reality." If you have not seen Him as +"altogether lovely" it is not because the Holy Spirit is not willing to +show Him to you, but because you turn away and will not look. + +How good it is of God to send the Holy Spirit into this world on purpose +to reveal these things to us. We should never see them but for Him. "The +natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he +know them because they are spiritually discerned." [Footnote: I Cor. ii. +14.] What is the natural man? It is what we are by nature before the +Spirit of God gives us a new life. When it says "He receiveth not the +things of the Spirit of God," it means that he has no power to receive +them. He is groping in the dark, loving the darkness rather than the +light. + +A poor woman who had led a careless worldly life, sent me this message +when she was dying, "Tell her the little prayer she taught me has been +answered. She will understand. Tell her God has shown me myself and +He has shown me Himself, so I am going to be with Him." + +The little prayer which she had learnt from my lips was this--"Lord, show +me myself; Lord, show me Thyself." How I thanked God that He used it for +the saving of her soul. + +When the Holy Spirit convinces us of sin and of our need of a Saviour, He +does not leave us there. He draws aside the veil and reveals to us the +secret love of God. When our eyes have been opened to know that God is +_Light_, then we find out that God is _Love_. How did this love of God +show itself? God sent His Son, "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 Him." [Footnote: 1 John iv. 9.] It is not only the +Love of God made known and shining out in the Gift of His Son, but we are +told that "God commendeth His love towards us." [Footnote: Rom. v. 8.] +How does God commend His love? He sets together His love for His Son and +His love for the sinner, and His love for the sinner is so great that +He gave His Son to die for us. Thus the words "God commendeth His love" +make it quite clear that "God loves the sinner with a love which gives its +best, gives everything, keeping nothing back, and gives to everybody." + + "Oh, the love that gave Jesus to die, + The love that gave Jesus to die, + Praise God it is mine this love so Divine-- + The love that gave Jesus to die." + +"God commendeth His love towards us in that, when we were yet sinners," it +makes no difference _who_ we are or _what_ we have been, the Holy Spirit +fixes our thoughts on that little word "yet." The text says, "When we were +yet sinners, still far off, still lost and undone, Christ died for us"; so +the Blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, "cleanseth us from all sin." +[Footnote: I John i. 7.] When we feel that sin is really a burden then the +Holy Spirit points us to the little word "all." Then He applies the +precious Blood to our guilty consciences, assuring us by the Word that the +Blood of Jesus Christ does cleanse from all sin so that not a single stain +is left. It is a perfect cleanser, there is nothing it cannot do. Then the +Holy Spirit shows us that God has provided a perfect covering for us in +the Robe of Christ's Righteousness. + +It is thus that the Comforter, who is the Spirit of Truth, leading into +all truth, shows us the meaning of Christ's redeeming work and enables us +to understand it and to appropriate it. When we do this it is indeed a +blessed experience. + +A young man whom I know described it as follows: "I heard the voice of God +saying to me, 'Who told thee that thou wast naked?' [Footnote: Gen. iii. +11.] 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 +Righteousness. I feel I am exactly suited to Jesus as He is exactly suited +to me, for I am just the one who needs His fulness, and He is the only one +that can supply my emptiness." + +I praised God for this clear testimony, and I have seen again and again +ever since I began to work for the Lord many years ago, that the Holy +Spirit delights to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ as "a full Saviour for +empty sinners." + +The Gospel of St. John tells us very plainly that the Holy Ghost was sent, +not only to make us see the meaning of Christ's finished work, but also to +prepare our hearts to receive it in all its fulness. + +How does the Holy Spirit prepare our hearts? First, He opens our hearts, +awakens in us a sense of our need and sinfulness, then, when He has opened +our hearts, He breathes into them a new life; He creates a longing for +God. We feel within us a burning desire to know God. We catch eagerly at +everything we hear about God, This is quite a new experience; we used to +go on year after year not troubling about it in the very least. What is +this new experience, this seeking after God? It is what the Bible calls +"Repentance." The word means "Change of mind." Again and again the Apostle +Paul urged upon both Jews and Greeks the necessity of "repentance towards +God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ." [Footnote: Acts xx. 21.] + +A few days ago I received a touching letter from a young friend telling me +how God's Spirit had led her to repentance. She wrote, "When I was a +little girl and began to seek the Lord, I was very much troubled because +I could not feel sorry enough for my sins. I wanted a real repentance to +come to the Lord with. I thought repentance meant crying over one's sins a +great deal, and I could not feel sorry enough to cry as I wanted to. I +used to keep praying, 'Give me a real repentance.' Many times I dreamed I +had this deep repentance and could cry over my sins, and I have awakened +with my face really bathed in tears, but oh, how disappointing it was to +find it only a dream and I had not got what I wanted after all. I went on +like this until I was twenty, when the Lord spoke these words with great +power to my soul, 'The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.' The +voice seemed audible and I turned to see if anybody had spoken to me. I +was able to weep enough then, but they were tears of joy and gratitude, +and I well remember saying aloud, 'O Lord, why me, why one so sinful as I +am?' I now see that repentance means 'a change of mind' and not a flood of +tears. Had I known this when a child it would have saved me years of +toiling and praying for repentance." + +Dear friends, perhaps some of you are trying to get right with God. Look +at the text which gave such peace to this seeking one. It begins with this +question, "Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and +longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to +repentance?" [Footnote: Rom. ii. 4.] + +We little know that all the time we are working and toiling we are really +despising, turning away from the riches of His goodness. The word "riches" +shows how abundant His goodness is; therefore we are "without excuse." + +God's forbearance in delaying punishment, and His longsuffering in +patiently waiting, show that His purpose in thus dealing with us is to +lead us to repentance, which is not merely grief for sin, but a thorough +inward change. + +So we now know what we did not know before, that it is "the goodness of +God that leads us to repentance." + +Yes, we find now that instead of working our way, back to God, He is there +close to us, with open arms to receive us, stretching out His loving Hand +to save us. We find that instead of trying to gain God's favour by our +prayers and good works, God's Righteousness is there for us all ready and +provided for us. We find that we are accepted in His dear Son not for any +good thing we have done, but simply by faith in Jesus. All this is shown +to us by the Holy Spirit, and without Him we could not have seen it. + +We were speaking just now about repentance. Have you ever noticed that +when our Lord began preaching the Gospel, the first word He said was +"Repent." [Footnote: St. Matt. iv. 17.] Why did He call to the crowds so +earnestly to repent? Again and again that word keeps ringing out. He +wanted to make them see that He condemned the way they were living and +their religious professions. It was a call to stop and think, as if He +said to them, "You have lost your way, you are on the wrong road, stop and +turn round." + +First He points to the right road. He proclaims that the Kingdom of God is +come. Then He says to them, But before you can enter in you must repent. +The people recognised the meaning of the call; they knew that if they +obeyed the whole course of their lives would have to be changed, because +having lost the true centre of life, they were simply _drifting_. The man +who is living without God is like a ship drifting on the wide ocean +without a pilot or chart or compass. For three years He pleaded with them +tenderly and lovingly, and at last they gave their final answer to His +message. They said, "We will not submit to the Divine government, we will +not have this Man to reign over us," [Footnote: St. Luke xix. 14.] _and so +they crucified Him_. + +When we have been led by the Holy Spirit to repentance we see sin, and we +see ourselves in a new light. As soon as we really know God we cannot help +being sorry for our sin. We begin to long for a Saviour, a Mediator, and +it is then that the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus. Repentance, or change +of mind, is the first step, and then follows conversion--a change of heart +and life. The word conversion means "turning round." Jesus says, +"Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter +into the Kingdom of Heaven." [Footnote: St. Matt. xviii. 3.] + +Think of God's two great gifts; first, the Gift of His only begotten Son, +then the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Have you received them? Perhaps you ask, +"How can I know?" If you have received the Holy Spirit there will be joy +and peace in your heart, and the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in your +daily life. + +"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye +may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost." [Footnote: Rom. +xv. 13.] + +"And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost." +[Footnote: Acts xiii. 52.] They were filled again and again, more and more +filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. + +You, too, may have a Spirit-filled life. God says to you now, and He is +saying it every day and every hour, "_Be filled with the Spirit._" +[Footnote: Eph. v. 18.] + +Remember there are different degrees in the Christian life. First, there +is Everlasting Life for all who seek it. Only ask Me, Jesus said to the +woman of Samaria, and I will give you _living_ water. Then he leads her on +a step further. "It shall be in you a well of water." It will be an +abundant life, a joyous, satisfying life. Afterwards He tells us that it +will be a life "overflowing for others." [Footnote: St. John vii. 38, 39.] +This is to be the experience of all believers now through the Holy Spirit. +Lastly, the crowning of it all is still to come and we shall drink of "the +pure river of the Water of Life." [Footnote: Rev. xxi. 1.] +That will be the fulness of life through all Eternity. + + + +ADDRESS V + +THE VOICE OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Genesis xxviii. 10-22. + + +Jacob is leaving home for the first time, to take a long journey of 450 +miles. He is quite alone and he feels very lonely when he lies down the +first night in a barren place, with a stone for his pillow. Jacob was like +some of us, he had heard about God ever since he was a child, but God was +not real to him because he had never had any personal dealings with Him. + +That night he had a wonderful dream, and it made a great difference to his +whole life. The ladder which he saw in his dream was to show him that +there was a gulf between him and God: and the gulf was caused by his sins. +It also showed the necessity for some means of communication to be +provided for him. Right down to his deep need the ladder came, right up to +God Himself the ladder reached. It was set up on earth and it reached to +heaven to make him understand that the gulf had been bridged over, so that +now, constant, free communication was possible between his soul and God. +The ladder which Jacob saw in his dream is mentioned again in St. John's +Gospel. Jesus said to Nathaniel, "Because I said unto thee I saw thee +under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than +these. And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye +shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon +the Son of man." [Footnote: St. John i. 50, 51.] + +The Lord Jesus had been revealing Himself to Nathaniel and this +conversation took place near Bethel, so that the reference to Jacob's +ladder was very forcible and the wonderful type was made clear. + +When Jesus said that heaven would be opened, He meant not only opened just +once, but _remaining open_; so that ever since Christ ascended into heaven +we have lived and are still living under an "open heaven," which means +free intercourse between God and man, because Christ Himself is the +Ladder. It also means He is the one and only means of communication +between the sinner and God. It is "through Him we have access by one +Spirit unto the Father." [Footnote: Eph. ii. 18.] All that we know of God +comes to us through Him, and all the grace we receive from God comes +through Him. So Jacob's ladder is as real to us now as it was to him then, +for it connects the seen with the unseen. It is possible for us now to +have Christ's Presence with us always and everywhere, for He says Lo, I am +with you alway. [Footnote: Matt. xxviii. 20.] + +But there was something more wonderful for Jacob to see even than the +ladder. "The LORD stood above the ladder." It was the first time in his +life he had realised the Presence of God. He had lived over forty years +without realising that God was close to him. When he awoke from his dream +he said, "Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not." He never +forgot it, just as we never forget the time and place where we are +converted. One hundred years after that night, when he was a very old man, +he mentioned it to his son. He said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared unto +me at Luz and blessed me." [Footnote: Gen. xlviii. 3.] + +But what impressed him deeply was that _there_ in that lonely place, many +miles away from any human being, he heard the Voice of God speaking to +him. It was then that a new life began in his soul, for God told him that +from that moment He would be with him _everywhere_, blessing him and +protecting him from all danger, and it was then Jacob began to trust God +as his _God_. + +So we see how God's glory and God's grace were shining down from the top +of the ladder into poor Jacob's heart. Jacob was face to face with God for +the first time, and he began to tremble with fear. If only you could +realise that God is now, at this very moment, straight in front of you, +you would fall down on your face before Him, and you would cry to Him as +Job did, "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye +seeth Thee; wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." +[Footnote: Job xlii. 5, 6.] + +It is at this moment that we realise for the first time our need of a +substitute, just as Job did, for he said, "He is not a man as I am that I +should answer Him, neither is there any daysman betwixt us that can lay +His hand upon us both." [Footnote: Job ix. 33.] How Job would have +rejoiced in the glorious revelation which Christ has brought to us. "There +is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, +Who gave Himself a ransom for all." [Footnote: 1 Tim. ii. 5, 6.] He is not +only the Mediator laying His hand upon us both, but He _gave Himself_, +that is, He gave His life as a _ransom_. The ransom price was His own +precious blood, for the life is in the blood. It is the Blood of God's own +dear Son which makes an atonement for the soul. + +The sentence passed on you and me and on every sinner is the sentence of +death, for death is the penalty for sin. We are all under the sentence of +death, but the glorious message is sent God has found a Substitute. + + "He bore on the tree the sentence for me, + And now both the Surety and sinner are free." + +You and I now have what Job longed for so earnestly. The Daysman is the +Son of God Himself, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation," that +is an atoning sacrifice, "through faith in His Blood." [Footnote: Rom. +iii. 25.] + +At first Jacob trembled with fear, but after he had heard the loving words +which God spoke to him from the top of that wonderful ladder, then he +began to realise that he was no longer alone in that lonely place. He +said, "This is the house of God, this is the gate of heaven." Earth had +faded from his sight and he was surrounded by heavenly realities. And so +it is now, the veil is very thin which separates earth from heaven, the +temporal from the Eternal. + +It was _God's Voice_ which woke him up spiritually. God revealed Himself +as the personal God to Jacob. We can recognise a friend by his voice even +if we do not see him. So it is the Voice more than anything else which +makes the presence of any one real to us. We have an illustration of this +in the pictures of the gramophone in which we see a dog listening for the +master's voice. The sheep knows the shepherd's voice; the child is quick +in recognizing its mother's voice; why do we turn a deaf ear to God's +Voice? How tenderly He pleads with us, saying, "But My people would not +hearken to My Voice." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxxi. 11.] + +God wants to be very real and very personal to each one of us, so He says, +"Unto you, O men, I call, and My Voice is to the sons of man." [Footnote: +Prov. viii. 4.] + +God has been calling us from the very beginning. Far back in the 3rd +chapter of Genesis, when Adam was hiding among the trees of the garden, it +was God's Voice which called him out with the searching question, Where +art thou? It was as if He said, "Adam, I want you." He is the seeking God +still. It was God's Voice that reminded Adam of the holy, happy friendship +now broken by sin. Before sin came into the world Adam never listened to +any other voice, and now when God is yearning to bring us to Himself, He +says, "Listen." That word Listen, or Hearken, comes again and again in the +Bible. We find it very often in Isaiah and Jeremiah. When God is pleading +with the sinner, that is the word He uses more than any other. In Psalm +lxxxi., where God tells us how grieved He is by our waywardness, He says, +"Oh that My people had listened or hearkened unto Me." And in Deuteronomy +xxviii. 45, He tells them that their troubles have been sent because they +would not hearken to the Voice of the Lord their God. + +I think God has chosen this special way of calling us by His Voice, +because it is what we can all understand--it is so simple and so homely. +When a boy is disobedient the father calls him, then he talks to him and +pleads with him. The father's voice touches the boy's heart. How wonderful +it is that God's Voice can reach us, however far off we may be. You have +sometimes been to an Open-Air Service, and you have heard the speaker's +voice a good way off, but now it has been discovered that any one's voice +can travel through the air and be heard above 300 miles away by means of a +new apparatus called the wireless telephone. + +Some time ago a gentleman living in England put a special receiver to his +ear and he actually heard a man speaking in France, more than 300 miles +away. + +A year or two ago when the _Titanic_ went down among the icebergs, you +remember how the wireless telegraph sent messages to other ships calling +for help. This was done by special letters, flashed across the ocean, such +as C.Q.D. (come quick, danger) or when the ship was sinking S.O.S. (save +our souls). + +But wonderful as this is, how much more wonderful it is to discover a way +by which any one's voice can be heard miles and miles away. Very likely as +time goes on and the wireless telephone is more used, you will be able to +speak to your father or son far away in Australia or Canada, so that they +will not only hear your voice distinctly, but they will answer back, and +you will hear their voices just as if you were sitting together again at +home. What a wonderful thing it will be to have this close link with them! + +It is the same as the link which Jacob felt when he heard God's voice +speaking; it seemed to bring God quite close to him and to make God so +real, that he started again on his journey cheered and encouraged; for we +read in the first verse of the next chapter, "Then Jacob went on his +journey," and in the margin it says he lifted up his feet, showing his +heart was lightened of its burden: when the heart is heavy, our feet drag. +But he made a fresh start: and if only God's Voice reaches your heart now, +you will go on your way rejoicing; it will be like making a fresh start. + +Again and again we read of God talking to those who were willing to hear +His Voice. For example, "The LORD talked with Moses face to face as a man +speaketh unto his friend," [Footnote: Exod. xxxiii. 9, 11.] and at Mount +Sinai "Moses spake and God answered him by a Voice." + +Not only is the link of communication perfect between God and man, but the +way in which we can use it and be put in touch with God is so simple: it +is by faith--that is all. + +We have another illustration of this when we think of the wireless +messages. The world's greatest wireless station is in a little village +called Nassau, in Germany. A short time ago a message was sent to a place +far, far away over the ocean, 6,500 miles away. How was it started? Only +by touching a key in the machine. That touch releases the lightning which +carries a message for thousands of miles over vast continents and across +the boundless sea. + +Only a touch--is it not like the touch of faith? But we must not forget +that when the message has reached its destination, when these waves of +sound talk across the world, the ear at the other end must be prepared to +hear the call. + +There is the hearing of faith, as well as the touch of faith. The hearing +means not only listening, but being willing to obey the voice. I have been +told that when a message is to be sent by wireless telephone, the other +waves of sound must be quite still before the person receiving the message +can hear it. The speaker has to wait till the vibrations settle down, +there must be perfect stillness, and then the voice is heard. How +important it is to shut out all other sounds so that our hearts may be +still enough to hear God speak. We must listen with an obedient heart. Do +you remember how one Sunday was set apart not long ago to make collections +for the blind. At midnight on Saturday, a royal message was sent forth +which encircled the whole world. It was King George's "God speed" to the +appeal for the blind. It was flashed from the wireless station on a lonely +cliff in Cornwall to another station in America, and it went over the +seven oceans of the world. It was received by forty-five ships in the +Atlantic. They were all warned it was coming and they were expecting it. +The White Star liner _Baltic_, 810 miles away, heard it, and it travelled +on to India, and it was caught up there 1,500 miles away. + +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 it. "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit +saith unto the Churches." [Footnote: Rev. ii. 7.] How the solemn call +rings out, and rings on: To-day, To-day! How it sounds in our ears with +startling urgency, and it is the Holy Ghost who says it, "To-day, if you +will hear His Voice, harden not your heart." [Footnote: Heb. iii. 7.] +When we are careless and indifferent to what God's Voice is saying to us +then we are hardening our hearts. + +Perhaps in days gone by you once listened to God's Voice. Why did you give +up listening? "Ah!" you reply, "other voices came and drowned that still +small Voice, and the voice of the Evil One poisoned my mind." + +Let me ask you one more question, Has God's Voice ever stopped calling? +No, God is still calling. Oh, that now at this very moment you may be able +to say, "The Voice of God has reached my heart." If any of you turn a deaf +ear to God's Voice, remember the time is coming when "all who are in the +graves shall hear His Voice and shall come forth"; [Footnote: St. John. v. +25.] and to you it will be a coming forth to judgment and condemnation. + +How does God speak to us now? We can hear the Voice of God speaking in His +Word. When any portion of Scripture is specially impressed on our minds it +shows that God is speaking to us. A young man who had been seeking God +very earnestly said one day, "While reading the Word, I felt certain that +God had really spoken to my soul, that He had actually said to me, Live!" +Yes, that young man was right, for that is just what God has said to us, +but it makes all the difference whether we each one receive it as if God +is really saying it to us personally. Luther felt this, for he used to +say, "When I open the Bible it talks to me." + +Why is the Bible like no other book? Because it is the revelation of God +Himself. The glory of God shines in its pages. In life and in death the +only source of comfort is a Personal God. Our great need is to have +God personally near, _near and dear_. Never rest till you can look up into +His Face with confidence and say, "Thou art near, O Lord." [Footnote: Ps. +cxix. 151.] + +He is saying to you now, "Seek ye my Face." [Footnote: Ps. xxvii. 8.] +What answer will you give? Will you say to God now, "Thy Face, Lord, will +I seek." When we seek His Face, then we see "the glory of God in the face +of Jesus Christ." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 6.] How grand it all is, and yet +how simple! + +Let me say one word of loving appeal to any who have never really sought +the Lord. How is it that you say your prayers and yet you do not expect to +get an answer direct from God? Because, like Jacob, you have never +believed there is a God. You have not got hold of the first truth which +the Bible teaches us, _God is_; "He that cometh to God must believe that +HE IS." [Footnote: Heb. xi. 6.] When you pray, He must be as real to you +as if you saw Him standing by hearing and answering you. Until our eyes +are opened to see that death and judgment, heaven and hell, are great +realities we do not really cry to God, and when we do we find out that we +have never realised there is a God. Think of what God offers to you. +Forgiveness, life and glory. Would you neglect getting these priceless +gifts if you believed they were the real offers of a real Person? "What +meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God." [Footnote: Jonah i. +6.] + + + +ADDRESS VI + +THE HANDS OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John xx. 19-31. + + +Why has this Gospel been written? The last verse of this chapter tells us. +"It has been written that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son +of God, and that believing we may have life through His Name." + +In the Old Testament when "The Name" is mentioned it meant the unveiling +of the grace and glory and power of God. 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 expression, "His Name." It means His nature and +His character. + +In the verse which we have just read, the wonderful truth shines out that +it is through His Name, through all that He is, and all He has done, that +we have _life_. So Christ Himself declares, "My sheep hear My Voice and I +know them and they follow Me, and I give unto them Eternal life, and they +shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My Hand. My +Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all, and no man is able to +pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." +[Footnote: St. John x. 27-30.] + +Christ first speaks of His own hand and then of His Father's hand, so +there are two hands which hold us fast and keep us safe, now and for ever. + +Let us look at what is said about the Hands of God in the Bible. + +Think of God's Hands in creation. The Psalmist says, "Of old hast Thou +laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy +hands." [Footnote: Psa. cii. 25.] "The sea is His and He made it: and His +hands formed the dry land." [Footnote: Ps. xcv. 5.] + +Think of His strong Hands in Providence, as Moses said, "Thy right hand, O +LORD, is become glorious in power." [Footnote: Exod. xv. 6.] + +Nehemiah speaks again and again of "the good hand of my God upon me," +[Footnote: Neh. ii. 8.] when he tells us of all God's loving help and +guidance in the difficult work he had undertaken. + +Think again of God's loving Hands in grace, healing the broken in heart +and binding up their wounds. How safe David felt when he said, "Thy right +hand upholdeth me." [Footnote: Ps. lxiii. 8.] He shows his confidence in +God when he prays, "Hold Thou me up and I shall be safe." [Footnote: Ps. +cxix. 117.] When your child wants you to hold him up he slips his little +hand in yours, doesn't he? Have you ever put your weak hand into God's +strong loving Hand so as to let Him do the holding up? + +The saints in olden times felt God's Hand in everything, over-ruling, +planning, guiding, and Jesus assures us of the perfect safety and +everlasting security of the believer, for He says, "No one, either man or +devil, can pluck them out of My hand, nor shall any man be able to pluck +them out of My Father's hand;" [Footnote: St. John x. 28, 29.] so there +are two Divine Hands holding us fast. + +Think once more of the hands of God: not only strong hands to help and to +heal, but _redeeming_ hands, mighty to save; hands that have been in the +fire to pluck us out of the burning; hands that have laid hold of the +enemy and have overcome him; hands that have unlocked the gates of a new +life that we may enter in. + +Not long ago a little girl was caressing her dear old nurse, and when she +caught sight of the deep scars in her hands she asked, "How did you get +these scars?" The nurse looked at her very tenderly and then she said, +"When you were a baby, a fire broke out one night when you were asleep in +your cot. I plunged my hands into the flames and lifted you out." The +child's eyes were full of tears as she looked at the dear scarred hands, +the hands that had been wounded to save her. + +Those scarred hands remind me of another story. One day, about thirty +years ago, some children were playing on a mountain in France, and their +merry peals of laughter attracted the notice of a shepherd lad who was +taking care of the sheep a little way off. Suddenly a wolf foaming at the +mouth came in sight. He saw it run madly down the mountain towards the +children. Without a moment's hesitation he rushed forward, seized the +wolf, and grappled with it. After a fierce struggle he managed to bind a +leather strap around its mouth, and then he killed it, but not before the +wolf, which was raving mad, had bitten him severely in the hand. This +occurred just at the time when Pasteur, the famous Paris doctor, had +discovered a remedy for hydrophobia. Without delay the shepherd lad who +had saved the lives of the children at such a cost was taken to Paris and +was cured. Hundreds of patients are sent to the Pasteur Institute at Paris +and when they ring the bell, the door is opened by an elderly man with a +scar on his hand. He was once the shepherd lad who rescued the children +from the raving wolf, and the deep scars are from its bite. Inside the +hall there is a statue representing him in the terrible struggle with the +wolf. + +Think of the wounded hands of the Son of God. Do you ask Where? How? Why? +Where were they wounded? On Calvary's Cross. How? "They pierced My hands +and My feet." [Footnote: Ps. xxii. 16.] This is the wonder of it, "He was +wounded for our transgressions." Look at the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, and +there you will see Jesus as the Suffering Substitute. Seven times in that +chapter it is distinctly mentioned that all His suffering was because He +was bearing our sins. Notice in verse 5 it says, "He was wounded for our +transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities." Then in verse 6, "The +Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." In verse 8, "For the +transgression of My people was He stricken," or the stroke was upon Him. +He stood between the stroke of Divine Justice and the sinner and received +the blow Himself. In verse 10, "Thou shalt make His soul an offering for +sin;" verse 11, "He shall bear their iniquities;" verse 12, "He bare the +sin of many." Jesus was the Suffering Substitute because He was the +Sin-bearer. See how in His death He was identified with the sinner. For +in verse 12 we read, "He was numbered with the transgressors." + +In the Gospels we are told that there were two thieves crucified with Him, +on either side one and Jesus in the midst. I once saw a coloured +illustration of the three crosses on Calvary. One cross was painted black, +the other was white, and the middle one was red. Now if we look at those +three crosses on Calvary from the Divine standpoint, it seems as if one +cross which was black at first is now white. It is the cross of the +penitent thief; all his sins have been transferred to the Sin-bearer, so +now there is not one sin on him; he has been washed "whiter than snow." +The cross of the impenitent thief is black, and remains black, for he dies +with all his sins on him and goes into the blackness of darkness for ever. +The middle cross is red: Jesus the Holy One has no sin in Him, but the sin +of the whole world is _on_ Him, because He is the atoning sacrifice for +sin. + + "O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head, + Our load was laid on Thee. + Thou stoodest in the sinner's stead, + Didst bear all ill for me. + A victim led, Thy blood was shed, + Now there's no load for me." + +In the writings of an American Evangelist we meet with this quaint +illustration, "God uses bright red to get pure white out of dead black." +It is just the same truth as we have seen shining out from the three +crosses. There we see Jesus "in the midst," the God-appointed +Sacrifice for sin, and we see the penitent thief washed whiter than snow +in the precious Blood. We see Jesus again "in the midst," three days +after. It is in the Upper Room at Jerusalem, on Easter Sunday. The +disciples who were like scattered sheep have gathered together there once +more, though still trembling with fear. "Then came Jesus and stood in the +midst and said unto them, Peace be unto you." [Footnote: St. John xx. 19.] + +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 away. He might have met +them with a reproof, but He knows all about our poor hearts, so He meets +them with a smile and the sweet greeting, "Peace be unto you." And He says +it to them _all_, even to Peter who had denied his Lord, and to the others +who had forsaken Him. Yes, He has only one greeting for them one and all, +and that is "Peace." + +Then a pause, and after the pause there came a revelation--"He showed them +His hands and His side." Why did He show them the nail prints in His hands +and the deep wound in His side? It was to reveal to them the wondrous +truth that He Himself is our Peace, and that the Peace which He gives is +the Peace which He has Himself made through the Blood of His +Cross. [Footnote: Col. i. 20.] + + "Through Christ on the Cross peace was made, + My debt by His death was all paid; + No otter foundation is laid, + For peace the gift of God's love." + +He showed them His hands and His side, because He wants them to understand +that these sacred scars tell us of His wondrous love and of the infinite +cost of Redemption. Let us lift up our hearts and say-- + + "Oh, make me understand it, + Help me to take it in, + + "What it meant to Thee the Holy One + To bear away my sin." + +We find from St. John's Gospel that Thomas, one of the twelve, was not +among them when Jesus came, so the rest of the disciples told him, "We +have seen the Lord." He replied, "Unless I see in His hands the wound made +by the nails, and put my finger into the wound, and put my hand into His +side, I will never believe it." So when a week later Jesus says to Thomas, +"Reach hither thy finger and behold (or feel) My hands, and reach hither +thy hand and thrust it into My side," [Footnote: St. John xx. 27.] it +shows how our Lord made these scars the very test of his faith, and it is +the same now. + +In St. Luke's Gospel we read that He said, "Behold My hands and My feet." +When He showed them the marks of His sufferings for them, it was as if He +said, "Here is the guarantee of your pardon and peace." We cannot have +peace until we have pardon; many seek peace instead of taking pardon +first. When He showed them His hands, and His feet, and His side, it was +as if He said, "You need cleansing from all sin; here are the marks of the +cleansing Blood. You need the touch of healing power, and here is the Hand +that will give it to you. You want companionship in your daily life. +Here are the feet that will travel with you, you never walk alone." What +wonderful tenderness and love! If ever you feel depressed or ready to +doubt God's love, remember how "He showed them His hands and His side," +that they might see those sacred scars. And we read in the next verse, +"Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." Yes, "they were +filled with joy at seeing the Master." You will remember how troubled +Thomas had been before this, but now the sight of the wounded hands took +away all his doubts and fears. It was then that his faith rose higher than +that of any of the others, for he exclaimed with adoration and worship, +"My Lord, and my God!" If ever you wander away or your heart grows cold +and careless, think of those words, "He showed them His hands and His +side," and remember He is still the same in the glory. + +When the beloved Apostle John looked through the open door into heaven, he +saw Him standing there in the midst of the throne with the nail prints in +His hands and feet, "a Lamb as it had been slain." [Footnote: Rev. v. 6.] +What a sight! + + "Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood + Shall never lose its power, + Till all the ransomed Church of God + Be saved to sin no more." + +But _why_ did He show them the wounds in His hands and side? To make it +plain that He bore all the penalty of sin. Some speak about sin as if it +were only a mistake, but God says sin is guilt, and that all are guilty, +for all have sinned. We have offended against God's holy law, and if any +one breaks the law he brings upon himself the penalty. God says, "The soul +that sinneth, it shall die;" [Footnote: Ezek. xviii. 20.] so the penalty +we deserve is death, everlasting punishment. The penalty must be paid by +some one. God's justice demands it. + +God is not willing that any should perish; He loves the sinner, though He +hates the sin. Still the penalty must be paid, so He found out a way; His +own dear Son must take the sinner's place and suffer the full penalty +instead, the death-penalty. + +Perhaps you wonder, how can the death of One atone for the sin of the +many? A lad once asked his father this question. The father made no reply +but took him into the garden. Then he dug up a spadeful of earth with a +number of worms in it, and turning to the boy he asked him, "Now which is +of most value, your life or that of one worm, or even a thousand worms?" +"Mine," said the boy. "Now" said the father, "you can see how the life and +death of the Divine Saviour is _sufficient satisfaction to God_ for the +sins of the whole world." + +Oh! the wonder of it all. We see God, the Holy God, the just God, the +righteous God--we see man, guilty, condemned, sinful. Then we see the Son +of God Who knew no sin, _made_ sin for us, [Footnote: 2 Cor. v. 21.] so +that all the requirements of God's holiness and justice are fully met. + +It was on the Cross, in that hour of darkness and agony when He cried, "My +God, My God, _why_ hast Thou forsaken Me," that He was _made_ sin for us. +Now we see the meaning of the wounded Hands, the broken Heart of God. + +"If I were God," the cynic said, "this sinning, suffering world would +break my heart." But what if God's heart _was_ broken? Do we not read in +the 69th Psalm, "Reproach hath broken my heart? [Footnote: Ps. lxix. 20.]" +The last night before He died He went to the garden of Gethsemane. Only +three of His disciples followed Him into the place where He knelt down to +pray, and even these three fell asleep. He was left alone. He says, "I +looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but +I found none." It was then the agony began which ended on the +Cross in a broken heart. + +It was then He prayed saying, "Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup +from Me, and there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening +Him." [Footnote: St. Luke xxii. 42, 43.] + +His prayer was heard and the victory was won over the adversary, for it +must be on the Cross and in no other way that the Atonement could be made. +"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for +us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." +[Footnote: Gal. iii. 13.] "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body +on the tree." [Footnote: I Pet. ii. 24.] + +It was there on the Cross that He said, "It is finished; and He bowed His +Head and died." We should not have known that He died of a broken heart if +one little circumstance had not taken place. The Holy Spirit has shown us +that this circumstance was foretold in the Scriptures and was all part of +God's purpose in our redemption. The soldiers had orders to break the legs +of those who had been crucified, so as to hasten their death, and remove +their bodies without delay; but when they came to Jesus and saw that He +was dead already, they brake not His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced +His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. "This was a proof +that He had died of a broken heart." [Footnote: John xix. 34.] + + "He died of a broken heart for you, + He died of a broken heart, + Oh! wondrous love for you, for me, + He died of a broken heart." + +When we remember that the pouring out of the blood followed on the +breaking of the body, then we see the meaning of the precious words spoken +by our Lord during the Last Supper. We read that, "He took bread, and when +He had given thanks, He brake it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My Body +which is broken for you.' [Footnote: I Cor. xi. 24.] And He took the cup +and said, 'This is My Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many.'" +[Footnote: St. Mark xiv. 24.] + +Why did He die? Why was His blood poured out? The Apostle Paul answers +that question when He says, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto +Himself." In that one sentence we have the Message of the Cross! We see +God's purpose behind it all. + +Two wonderful truths lie hidden in that glorious message. The first is, +that "Christ _died_ to put away sin," because sin is the thing and the +only thing which comes between us and God. The good news which Christ +brings to us is that God Himself has taken the first step in this work of +reconciliation. Oh! how wonderful it is that it is our sins which have +brought out all the anguish and love of God's heart. Yes, our sins grieved +Him so much He could not rest till He had devised a plan by which they +could "all be blotted out," once for all. + +Dear friends, whenever your sins are a burden, say these words over and +over in your heart, "God was in Christ reconciling me to Himself." +[Footnote: 2 Cor. v. 19.] This alone would have been wonderful, but there +is something more in the good news, and that is "God is beseeching you to +be reconciled to Him." Have you ever grasped that truth? + +I remember hearing of a great lawyer who was moved to shed tears, and when +a fellow-lawyer asked him why he was in trouble he replied, "I see now +what I never saw before. Yes, I see that God is _beseeching_ me to be +reconciled to Him. I always thought it was for me to beseech God." + +Many think as this lawyer did that the sinner must first come to God. No, +it is God Who comes to us entreating us to return to Him. He is always +sending us messages of love, and the moment we turn to Him and trust Him +He gives us a full free pardon. + +Dear fellow-sinners, "we pray you now in Christ's stead," and because of +His great love in dying for you, "Be reconciled to God." God is now +willing; are you willing? Do say "Yes." Will you say it now very solemnly +in your heart to God? + + + +ADDRESS VII + +THE WORD OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Psalm xix. + + +This Psalm is full of the glory of God. It tells us first of the Glory of +God shining in this beautiful world which He has made, and then it shows +us the glory of God shining in the Scriptures, in this Book which lies +open before us. + +The first verse bursts forth with the triumphant note, "The heavens +declare the glory of God." Everything in earth and sky shows forth His +wisdom, His power and His love. + +Then it gives us a wonderful picture of the sunrise and compares it to "a +bridegroom coming out of his chamber." You have seen the first streaks of +light in the early morning, and then you have watched the onward course of +the sun till it is high up in the sky at mid-day, full of power, +"rejoicing as a strong man to run a race." + +But Nature, with all its secrets, Nature with all its wonders and +treasures, is only part of God's revelation of Himself; the other part is +to be found in His Word. + +So the Psalmist passes from the glorious sun in the heavens to the glory +shining in the Word of God. The glory we see in God's works is only an +illustration of the glory shining in this Book. After giving the wonderful +description of the rising sun, he goes on to point out that there is not a +single spot in the whole world where the sun does not shine, and that its +light and heat can be felt by everything. Then he shows us that it is just +the same with the Word of God. It is God's message to every one, but it is +only when it finds an entrance into man's heart that it gives light. +[Footnote: Ps. cxix. 130.] + +If you draw down the blind the sun cannot shine into your room; so the +Holy Spirit must open our hearts for the light of His Word to enter in, +otherwise it will be to us the same as any other book. + + "Is it dark without you, darker still within? + Clear the darkened windows, + Open wide the door; + Let the blessed sunshine in." + +How can we know that the Bible is the Word of God? A gentleman, who was an +unbeliever, stopped one day to speak to Molly, the old woman who kept a +flower stall near the station. He noticed she was reading her Bible, so he +asked her why she read it. "Because it is the Word of God." "How do you +know?" "Because it cheers and warms my heart. I am just as sure it is +God's own Word as I am that it is the sun shining up there." This simple +testimony was the means of convincing him and he thanked her for it. + +We have heard how the sun shines over the whole world, but is it not +wonderful that every little drop of water can reflect the whole of its +light? In every sunbeam there are seven colours, and when you look up at +the rainbow you see all the seven in one drop of rain. This is only an +illustration of the wonders of God's grace. If you are a child of God the +whole of God's grace enters your heart, so you have grace to speak, grace +to pray, grace to be loving and patient, grace for everything. The whole +of God's life and light and love are for you as if there were no one else +in the world. It is the same with all the precious truths of God's Word: +they are _all_ yours. A minister who wanted to know how many promises +there are in the Bible searched all through the Book and he counted nearly +five thousand. Had you any idea that there are as many as five thousand +precious promises for the believer in God's Word? Have you claimed them? + +A Christian woman who was very ill asked her daughter to read the 8th +chapter of the Epistle to the Romans. When she had finished the mother +said, "That's mine, it's _all_ mine." How rich she was! Only think of it +and it is an _Eternal_ inheritance, for the chapter begins with "no +condemnation" and ends with "no separation." + +If you will look at verses 7 and 8 of our Psalm, you will see four things +which the Word of God does. "It converts the soul, makes wise the simple, +rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes." Let us think of these four +things. + +First: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." The law here +means the whole covenant of Jehovah. + +You remember how, when God appeared to Abraham, that Abraham fell on his +face, feeling his utter weakness and nothingness, and then God talked with +him. When a man is laid low in the dust then God can talk to him. And God +said to Abraham, "I will make my covenant between Me and thee." [Footnote: +Gen. xvii. 2.] A covenant is a promise made under solemn conditions, and +it is God's covenant of grace which converts the soul. Such a promise as +we have in Ezekiel: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit +will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your +flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh: And I will put my Spirit +within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 26.] God says "I will" five times in +those few lines, 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 +ourselves. + +This reminds me of a young woman who was troubled because, although she +was longing to be saved, yet she felt her heart was so hard. One Sunday +the minister took this verse as the text for his sermon. When he gave it +out it seemed to her as if a voice was speaking these words close to her, +right into her ear, "I will give you an heart of flesh." It came like a +message direct from God. She was so deeply touched she could not listen to +the sermon, 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 Bible. She is now a +very bright earnest Christian. + +It is through the Word that God speaks to our hearts, and when the Holy +Spirit makes it a living Word and quickens us to receive it with faith, +then we are converted. If you are not saved, take your Bible and read it +prayerfully, and you will find in it just what you want. Remember the +letter of Scripture is of no use unless we experience its power and enjoy +its sweetness. + +A young clergyman was converted through a very strange text. He was so +much depressed he thought of committing suicide, and then his eye fell on +that verse in Ecclesiastes, "A living dog is better than a dead lion." +[Footnote: Eccles. ix. 4.] The words brought fresh hope to him. He said to +himself, One thing is certain and that is, I am still a _living_ man, and +he was then led to seek Christ as the Way, the Truth and the _Life_. + +It is wonderful to think of the many different ways in which God sends His +Word home to our hearts. Spurgeon gives an instance of this. He was asked +to visit a dying man who told him about his conversion. He said, "Some +years ago I was at work in the Crystal Palace. God's Spirit was striving +with me and I felt the burden of sin. It seemed to follow me wherever I +went. Suddenly a voice said to me distinctly, 'Behold he Lamb of God which +taketh away the sin of the world.' [Footnote: St. John i. 29.] No one was +near me, and I thought the message had come straight from God. I then saw +clearly that Christ had died to save me, and ever since I have had joy and +peace in believing." + +Spurgeon listened to the dying man's testimony with deep interest, 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 there, and had used that very text, "Behold the Lamb of God +which taketh away the sin of the world." + +Let us thank God that His Word is _perfect_ in converting he soul. + +"The testimony of the Lord is _sure_, making wise the simple." It is well +known that very often a man who is no scholar, but who is taught of God, +is able to see deep truths which learned men fail to understand. Every +time you read your Bible look up and say, "Lord, open Thou mine eyes that +I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 18.] + +Do not feel discouraged because you do not understand t all. There are +many things which earthly fathers tell their children which they do not +understand till they are grown up, but still they love to get father's +letters, and the Bible is our heavenly Father's letter to us. Do you value +it? + +In the 8th verse of the 19th Psalm it says, "The statutes of the LORD are +right, rejoicing the heart." I have seen many careworn faces lit up with +joy when reading the Word. One man especially, who had a great deal of +trouble and opposition in his home life, used to give his testimony at the +Meeting. Opening his Bible in the 5th chapter of the Gospel of St. John he +would read the 24th verse, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that +heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me hath everlasting life +and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." + +Then he would tell us with a beaming face that it was his song of +assurance, for, as he said, there are three links, "He that _heareth_, +_believeth_, _hath_--and 'hath' means 'got it,' and I've got everlasting +life. Jesus says it and I know it's true." He is now in the glory, and +maybe he is telling the angels about it. + +If we had no Bible we should have no certainty that our sins are forgiven. +A little girl named Molly said to her aunt who was teaching her about +Jesus, "How can I be sure that my sins are forgiven?" "Because God says +so," [Footnote: i John i. 9.] was the reply, and then she repeated the +text, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our +sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." + +Many say, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins," and yet they still carry +about the burden of their sins. They see clearly how God can forgive sin, +but they cannot realise that it is their own sins which are forgiven. This +was the case with Luther. He tells us how, when he was distressed because +of his sins, a friend pointed out to him that he would not have real peace +unless he claimed God's forgiveness for his _own _sins. It was like a new +light flashing into his soul; he saw his mistake and looking up with a +beaming face, he said, "I see it now--it is not other people's sins, it is +_my_ sins which are all forgiven!" + +We must not estimate sin and forgiveness by our own standard. 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 words, "My thoughts are not your thoughts"; and then He +adds, "For I will abundantly pardon," [Footnote: 2 Isa. lv. 7, 8.] which +means, I will repeatedly pardon. God's thoughts of sin and His thoughts +about forgiveness are far higher than ours. Sometimes I feel quite +overwhelmed when I think of how great His forgiving love has been to me. + +Look again at our Psalm, verse 7, "The testimony of the Lord is _sure_, +making wise the simple." The word Testimony means an assurance or a +promise from God to the individual soul, and David had such confidence in +God he is quite sure He will not disappoint him or fail to keep His word. +So he says, "The testimony, or promise, of God is _sure_." It is this +certainty which makes David so happy. + +He seems to be overflowing with joy, for he says, "Thy testimonies also +are my delight and my counsellors," [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 24.] and again, +"I love Thy testimonies." "Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore doth +my soul keep them. Thy testimonies that Thou hast commanded are righteous +and very faithful." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 119, 129, 138.] + +The word "Testimony" means also what God has commanded us to believe and +also to practise. + +A native convert in China said the other day, "I began by reading the +Bible, but now I am _behaving_ it." This is what David means when he says, +"My soul hath kept Thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly." +[Footnote: Ps. cxix. 167.] + +The question was once asked at a meeting, "Can you point to any text in +the Word of God which makes you sure you are saved and safe?" "I can," +said one of the company, in a quiet firm voice. "It is John iii. 36, +He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." + +We have many bed-rock texts and that is one, as the beautiful old hymn +says-- + + "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, + Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word." + +I was summoned late one evening to see a dying man who had been brought to +Christ through my Bible Class. When I entered his room he looked up and +said with a smile, "I sent for you because I want to tell you that I am +quite safe, quite sure and quite satisfied. I am quite safe because Jesus +died for me. I am quite sure because I have His Word for it. I am quite +satisfied because I am going to be with Him in the glory." + +The Word of God was written that we _might_ believe; to believe is to +know, and to be quite certain. The word "believe" comes from an old root +meaning "to live by." "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every +word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." [Footnote: St. Matt. iv. +4.] Put your finger down on one of the many precious assurances which God +has given us in His Word, of the certainty of complete forgiveness and +acceptance, and then look up into His face with loving gratitude. + +God's pardon and acceptance are absolute and eternal; nothing can ever +alter them. God wants us to know it and to live in the joy of it. Trusting +His Word gives us safety, certainty and enjoyment. + +If any sin comes into your mind and troubles you, dear child of God, do +not carry it about with you, tell Father about it at once; confess it to +Him and remember that you are under the cleansing Blood. "The Blood of +Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin." [Footnote: 1 John i. +7.] It has not only cleansed us once for all, but it is cleansing us now +at the present moment. + +It is important to remember that the whole purpose of the Bible is to give +glory to God. It is the Everlasting Word of the Everlasting God. "The word +of our God shall stand for ever." [Footnote: Isa. xl. 8.] Make the word of +God _everything_. Receive its statements by faith as revelations of simple +certainties. Find out how happy you are. "Happy is that people that is in +such a case, yea, happy is that people whose God is Lord." [Footnote: Ps. +cxliv. 15.] + +If we are walking with God in our daily life we need a light to show us +the way. David knew well what it was to go along rough roads on dark +nights, so he says, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my +path." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 105.] + +Did you ever hear about Moody's torch? One night Moody had to return home +through a dark wood after one of his meetings, and the path was winding +and rough, so a friend offered him a torch. Moody declined taking it, +saying, "Thank you, but it is too small." + +"It will light you home," said the man. + +"But the wind may blow it out." + +"It will light you home." + +"But if it should rain?" + +"It will light you home." + +At last Moody started, taking the torch with him, and he said afterwards, +"In spite of all my fears, it gave abundant light on my path all the way +home." + +Every promise in the Word of God is like Moody's torch, and if we will +take it and use it, we shall find as he did, that it will light us all the +way to our Eternal Home. 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 us. It +contains plain directions about everything in our daily life. + +The Bible is a Revelation of God Himself. It is a direct communication +from Him to us. There are four things made known to us in the Word which +are of priceless value-- + +1. It proclaims a full, free salvation through faith in Christ. "To you is +the Message of this Salvation sent." + +2. It opens out to you the riches of grace and invites you to take them +freely--freely--freely. + +3. It opens "the door of faith" wide to the weakest sinner and even to +you. + +4. It gives a new life within, which transforms the soul and makes us new +creatures in Christ Jesus. + +Our Lord says, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they +are life." [Footnote: St. John vi, 63.] Can you say, "Thy Word hath +quickened me"? [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 50.] + +Do not be satisfied with reading a chapter here and there. Read straight +through. Why? Because the Bible has a beginning and an ending like any +other book. It begins with the story of a friendship between God and man: +we see man very happy in this friendship. Then something happens; you will +find it in the third chapter of Genesis. Some one has come in between them +and the friendship is broken. Still God is looking for His friend and +calling him, "Where are you?" The answer comes from under the shadow of +the trees. "I heard Thy voice and I was afraid and hid myself." + +Now we come to the last words at the end of the Book, and we hear the same +Voice saying, "I am coming back again very soon." It is the Voice of the +same Friend, no longer sad but glad. "The darkness has all passed +away and the true Light is shining," [Footnote: I John ii. 8.] and will +shine for ever: yes, it is sunshine all around, everlasting sunshine. + +Where is the Bible? Do you keep your Bible where you can take it up +whenever you have a few spare moments? Is it ready at hand so that you can +read it before you go to bed at night? Do the children speak of it as +"Mother's book"? Do you turn to it for strength and comfort? Is it a +_living_ book to you? + +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 backs." We +are doing the same thing if the Bible is laid aside on the shelf, or put +into the front room and allowed to remain unopened week after week. There +can be no blessing in your home and in your life while you neglect the +Word of God. It is this very word of God which will judge you at the last +day. + +Listen to Christ's solemn warning: "He that rejecteth Me and receiveth not +My words hath one that judgeth him," which means you will not be left +without a Judge. It is not a matter of small importance whether you read +the Bible or not: it is a matter of life or death. A neglected Bible shows +you are living without God; a neglected Bible shows you are living for +this world only; a neglected Bible shows that your soul is dying of +starvation; a neglected Bible means that though you may _think_ you can +get on very well without it, Jesus _says_, "The Word that I have spoken +the same will judge him in the last day." [Footnote: St. John xii. 48.] + +The Bible is God's Message to this present generation. Sometimes people +want to lay it on one side as an old book which is out of date. It is the +most up-to-date book in the world. It not only tells us of what is going +on at the present moment, but about what will happen in the future. We see +pictures in the daily papers of what people were doing yesterday and what +they looked like, but in the Bible we have portraits true to life not only +of what we are outwardly, but of the thoughts of our hearts. "The Word of +God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword: it can +discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart." [Footnote: Heb. +iv. 12.] We hear a great deal about the X-rays which show what is going on +inside the body, but this is nothing compared to the Word of God which +penetrates deep down into our inmost feelings and brings them to light. It +is better to be searched and cleansed now, than to go on in the old way +and then to stand before the great White Throne by and by, condemned to +everlasting punishment. + +Let us pray with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and +know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in +the way Everlasting. Amen." [Footnote: Ps. cxxxix, 23, 24.] + + + +ADDRESS VIII + +HAVE FAITH IN GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Romans iv. + + +There is one man set before us in this chapter as the man who had faith in +God. The one thing which marks him more than any other is his faith. The +man lived nearly 4,000 years ago, and yet he is still a vivid personality; +he lives on in our thoughts and memories as the man who trusted God. His +name is still reverenced all over the world, even among people of +different religions, as "The Friend of God." + +"The God of Glory appeared to Abraham," and from that moment Abraham's +faith fastens on what God is. The attractive power of Jehovah drew him +from his home, his relations and his country, and with every fresh +revelation of God, Abraham's faith grasped more of God and clung to Him +with a firmer hold. God's word was all he had to go by; whatever God said +was enough for him; whatever God told him to do, he did it, because, to +_trust God_ means to obey Him. He had God with him at every step. + +If ever there was a clear-sighted man, that man was Abraham, for trust in +God enlightens our understanding. He was a man with a far sight. He saw +what no other man then living saw. He saw that the day was coming when God +would send His Son to be the Saviour of the world. How do we know this? +Because Christ said, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and +was glad." [Footnote: St. John viii. 56.] He saw far on into the future, +farther than any other man then living. He saw the golden City, the holy +City, "whose builder and maker is God." [Footnote: Heb, xi. 10.] Yes, the +eye of faith not only sees God, it sees also what "God has prepared for +those who love Him." + +God was very real to that man. Abraham trusted God because he knew Him +personally. Faith is the act of the soul which looks wholly away from +_self_, whether it be righteous self or sinful self, and looks to God +only, in complete submission and confidence. + +It was because Abraham trusted Him that God stamped the man as His +friend--Abraham My friend. On and on through all these hundreds of years +he has been called "the Friend of God." In the book of Chronicles, in +Isaiah and in the Epistle of James it is mentioned again, "He was called +the Friend of God." + +What is friendship? It is two hearts trusting in each other. Abraham +trusted God, and God trusted Abraham. God put such confidence in him that +He let him know that He was going to destroy the cities of the plain. +The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" +[Footnote: Gen. xviii. 17.] + +Mutual trust is at the root of all friendship. Where there is a lack of +mutual confidence in the home life or in commercial life it spells ruin. +The great question for each one in life is, What is my relation to God? Is +it trusting God, or is it doubting God? + +"Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness." +[Footnote: Rom. iv. 3.] What is righteousness? It means to be right with +God, and the moment we trust God's Word we are made righteous, and we +become righteous. + +We read in Acts that after their first missionary tour. Paul and Barnabas +reported in detail all that God had done, and how He had opened the door +of faith unto the Gentiles. [Footnote: Acts xiv. 27.] So faith is the +gate of life by which the Gentiles were entering in. + +Here was a new fact proving that faith was the gate of the Lord into which +the righteous should enter; [Footnote: Ps. cxviii. 20.] righteous +_because_ believing. Faith is the door by which God comes into our hearts. +Faith is only the door, nothing in itself, but it is called "precious +faith" because of all the life and joy and riches of grace and glory which +it lets in. + +Abraham is not only presented to us in the Word of God as the Friend of +God, but also as a pattern for all believers, and we are told to take him +as our model, "to walk in his steps," to trust God and to find in God's +wondrous friendship all that he found. God has been teaching us ever +since, through the simplicity of the faith of this man. The most +remarkable point in his faith is this, he grasped as no one else had done +that God is God because He can quicken the dead. [Footnote: Rom. iv. 17.] +He can give life to the dead because He Himself is the Source of life. He +calls "those things which are not as though they were" because He is the +Creator of all things. This applies not only to the body but to the soul. +Your confidence in God began when your soul, which was "dead in sin," was +quickened into a new life. When we ourselves have experienced this +quickening it gives us such faith in praying for those we love, knowing +that God alone can quicken dead souls. + +Abraham was "strong in faith"; even when God promised him a son, although +it seemed impossible, "he staggered not at the promise of God through +unbelief," being "fully persuaded" that God was able to do it. To be +"strong in faith" is to feel our utter helplessness and to rely on God's +power only; to be "strong in faith" is to grasp God's promise and not to +let anything make us doubt it. + +We have an illustration of this strong faith in the case of the first +missionary who went out to China a hundred years ago. The captain of the +ship in which he sailed was an atheist, and one day he said to him with a +sneer, "You don't suppose, do you, that you are going to convert those +Chinese?" "No," said the missionary, "but I believe _God_ is going to do +it." Did God fail him? No. His faith was rewarded, and at the present time +there are a quarter of a million Chinese believers who meet in fellowship +at the Lord's Table. + +What is faith? It is the link between me and God. The link between my +emptiness and God's fulness. The link between me, the sinner and Jesus, +the Saviour. Is there this link between you and God? Is the link on? Faith +is the spiritual link, the one and only means by which a man can have +dealings with God, realise God and walk with God. It is a living link +between God and the soul, a living union. The word "faith" comes from an +old word which means to _bind_. When I say "I _believe_ God," it means +that "I am His and He is mine for ever and for ever." It is trusting in +His love, not a mere cold belief in His power. It is grasping His +promises, because they are precious promises. It is the whole heart and +mind going out and up to God. David says: "Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up +my soul; O my God, I trust in Thee," [Footnote: Ps. xxv, 1, 2, 5] This +brings perfect rest. "Thou art the God of my salvation, on Thee do I wait +all the day." Do we make it a habit to be constantly referring to God +about everything? We learn first, that _God_ is, and then our faith feeds +upon _what_ God is. His faithfulness and His lovingkindness are seen in +all His dealings with us. + +Faith has to do with unseen realities, for faith is the evidence, or proof +of things not seen; [Footnote: Heb. xi. 1.] it makes them as real as if we +could see them, and brings them near. + +So we may say faith is like the telegraph wire which connects two places +however far apart they may be. + +We had an illustration of this not long ago. Our Queen Mary was in her +sitting-room in Buckingham Palace. A hospital was to be opened in Canada +4,000 miles off, and she was asked to perform the ceremony. When the +signal was given that all was ready, the Queen pressed a little ivory +button and in two seconds the door of the hospital, which was held by an +electric wire, opened, and in fifteen seconds the signal was flashed back +that the hospital was open. So in about half a minute the signal went +there and back over a space of 8,000 miles. How wonderful! and yet greater +spiritual wonders are happening every day and many times in the day, if +only we have faith in God and let Him work in us and through us. + +I will give you another illustration how the simple touch of faith links +us with God's power. A few years ago some rocks blocked the entrance into +the river St. Lawrence, so that the ships could not go up the river to +Quebec. It was decided that the mass of solid rock must be removed. How +was it done? 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 cleared. + +Faith has done great wonders in times past, and it can still do wonders, +if only we make use of God's Almighty power. But the rule is, "According +to your faith so be it unto you." + +I will give you an illustration. When I want light in my room I touch the +electric button and the room is filled with light. The moment I press the +button I expect the light will come, and I am surprised if it fails. Why? +Touching the electric button is like the touch of faith; it brings us into +contact with the source of light. Faith brings me into contact with God +Himself, for He is the source of life and light. God has ordained that +faith shall be a power as real and as uniform in its working as light or +heat or electricity. Everything about them is a mystery which we do not +fully understand, but all the same they are real to us and we use them. +Although we do not understand them, yet we prove again and again that they +supply us with new life and energy simply by a touch. Even a child can +touch. Faith places all God's fulness at our disposal, but it is only +according to our faith that we receive it. + +I know a poor woman who went through a time of great anxiety about her +little girl who was ill. One day a Christian friend called to see her and +she told her all about her trouble. When she had finished the friend said +to her very tenderly, "You have forgotten one little word of five +letters." "What is it? Do tell me," she exclaimed, looking puzzled. Then +the friend, pointing on her five fingers, said slowly, _f-a-i-t-h_. The +dark cloud cleared away and she was able to look up into God's face again +and to trust Him. + +So when Christ says, "Have faith in God," it is a command to hold fast to +God. It means trust God about everything, great and small; nothing is too +small. Trust Him to save you, and to keep you. Trust Him in every +difficulty and in every duty. + +"Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring +heaven to your souls." + +When Christ said to Peter and the others, "Have faith in God," He said it +very earnestly and with a ring of deep conviction in His voice. He knew in +Himself what dependence on God means in the earthly life. Day by day He +showed what it is to have simple trust in God. When He said, "Have faith +in God," He said it very solemnly, because He was speaking on behalf of +His Father. + +He had come to reveal Him, so He says, "I do nothing of Myself, but as My +Father hath taught Me I speak these things." He had already said, "He that +believeth on Me hath everlasting life," and now He adds, "Have faith in +God." Yes, He claims our confidence, our full confidence, not a +half-hearted trust. + +Our Lord saw men seeking other objects of trust, so He says, "Take hold of +God, hold fast to God, have faith in God and never let it go." + +The world's great need is faith in God. God's own character demands it. +The Scriptures make Him known and reveal Him as altogether trustworthy, +such an One as invites our entire confidence. To have faith in God means +leaning on Him, letting Him bear the whole weight. There is a great +difference between believing and committing. Many say they believe, but +they are not willing to commit themselves to Him. + +A few years ago there was a man named Blondin who performed wonderful +feats at the Crystal Palace. Once he walked on a tight rope stretched +across the centre of the Palace at a height of 150 feet. Another time a +rope was stretched at a great height over a shipbuilder's yard, and he not +only walked steadily across, but he carried a man on his back. A large +crowd gazed at him in wonder and awe, and great was their relief when both +Blondin and his burden reached the ground in safety. + +Among the eager upturned faces in the crowd there was a lad about eleven +years of age. When Blondin came down he went up to the lad and said to +him, "You saw me carry that big man across, do you believe I could take +you?" "Of course you could," replied the boy; "why, he was a big man, and +I am only a little chap." "Well, then, jump up, my lad," said Blondin, and +he stooped down for the boy to climb up on his back. But although the boy +said he believed Blondin was able to carry him across, he was not willing +to trust himself, and so, just saying, "No, thank you," he was off like a +shot and ran as fast as he could till he was lost in the crowd. Though he +said he believed, when it came to the point he did not commit himself, and +that is all the difference, between believing _in_ Christ and believing +_on_ Him. + +Faith in God means really committing ourselves into His hands and rolling +our burdens on Him. + +If we withhold our confidence it shows that we do not really believe that +God is what the Bible says He is. The reason there is so much unrest and +ungodliness is because we have lost sight of God. It is not because the +Bible is out of date as some say, or that the Gospel has lost its power; +it is still as ever, "the power of God unto salvation," but we are +limiting God. + +It is just the same now as in olden times when the children of Israel +limited the Holy One of Israel, and we read how this lack of confidence +grieved God all through those forty years in the wilderness. Yea, they +spake against God, they said, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness; +can God give bread also; can He provide flesh for His people?" [Footnote: +Ps. lxxviii. 19, 20.] Unbelief asks, "_Can He?_" Faith says, "_He can._" +Dear friends, let me ask you to stop and ask yourself, Where do you put +that little word "can"? Are you constantly thinking to yourself, Can God? +or are you saying in your heart and meaning it too, "_God can_"! We limit +God's power to save, by asking, _Can_ God? 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 save." [Footnote: Jer. xiv; 9.] + +You have prayed many years perhaps for the conversion of some one near and +dear to you, but are you limiting God because you doubt His power to do +it? A poor man who gave way to drink said sadly, "I have broken the pledge +again and again"; then pointing to his pledge card he said, "But now I +have written a text on it, Isaiah xli. 13: 'For I the Lord thy God will +hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee.'" Then +looking up he said simply, "Maybe, Him and me will do it together." + +Is it victory over temptation you long for? Look up to Him and say, "I +can't, but God can." Is it grace you need for some special trial? Say, +"God is able to make all grace abound towards me, 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 us.'" [Footnote: Eph. iii. 20.] +The world's great sin is not trusting God. "Thus said the LORD, Cursed be +the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart +departeth from the Lord." [Footnote: Jer. xvii. 5.] Yet in times of +difficulty or danger how apt we are to lean on the arm of flesh. + +During the present European war I was much impressed by the words of one +of our soldiers who writes from the front: "After all that is being done +there still remains one supreme necessity without which neither arms or +munitions can be decisive, namely, the spiritual outlook of the whole +nation. When I returned home after ten months in Flanders, I was amazed at +the lack of spirituality of the people as a whole. The simple faith and +dependence upon God which characterised our country in her past struggles +seem lost to sight. 'They trusted in Thee and Thou didst deliver them' +implied no disregard for military efficiency; it was the real and vital +accompaniment to armed force. Can it be that the hellishness of battle, +the wearing down of the spirit induced by trench warfare, moments of utter +loneliness which every soldier has to bear, strike right at the soul and +enable him to realise the nearness of the spiritual world? '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 shoulders. Some of us have realised what individual +prayer at home has done for us, but we should all like to feel that the +whole nation is also testing the value of spiritual power." + +We read in God's Word that "The children of Judah prevailed, because they +relied upon the Lord God"; [Footnote: 2 Chron. xiii. 18.] and when King +Asa was defeated the prophet said to him, "Because thou hast relied on the +King of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host +of the King of Syria escaped out of thine hand." [Footnote: 2 Chron. xvi. +7.] + +To have faith in God we must put God first in everything. He must be first +when we awake in the morning. How blessed it is to be able to feel, "When +I awake I am still with Thee." A working man said to me once, "I make +myself happy in God the first thing in the morning." David says, "In the +morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up." [Footnote: +Ps. v. 3.] "When I awake I am still with Thee." [Footnote: Ps. cxxxix. +18.] + +"In my morning prayer," said a Christian man, "instead of thinking of my +own needs first, I like to think of the fulness there is in Christ for +me." Let us resolve to put "God _first_," even if we have only time for +one text of Scripture. "God _first_," even if it is only a minute or two +for prayer. A Christian said once, "I must see the face of God before I +see the face of man." The manna was gathered early every morning. Another +said, "Unless I meet with God first, I cannot meet the difficulties of the +day in a prepared spirit." If you put "God first," you will find this will +make all the difference as to how you do your work and how you deal with +others. "Little is much if God is in it." + +To have faith in God is to trust Him _only_. David says, "My soul, wait +thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him." [Footnote: Ps. lxii. +5.] Is it so with you? If so, what for, and for how much? First find out +from His Word that God is able and willing to do what you need; then trust +Him to do it. "Trust in Him at all times" it says again in that beautiful +Psalm. [Footnote: Ps. lxii. 8.] + +"I have been looking into my Bible," said a working man, "and I find a +great many men trusted God, and whatever they trusted God for, they always +got it; He never failed them, and it is the same now." + +You have all heard of Florence Nightingale and her life of devotion in +nursing the sick. She was asked to tell the secret of her earnest +Christian life, and after a pause she said, "I have kept nothing back from +God." Faith in God is unreserved confidence, telling Him all and keeping +nothing back. But before we can do this as a daily habit we must +definitely commit ourselves and all we have into God's hands. + +It says in Isaiah xliv. 5, "One shall say, I am the Lord's." I have a mark +in my Bible which I made many years ago by the side of these words. I put +the date and then I wrote these words: "He gave Himself for me and I give +myself to Him. He takes me and I take Him." Ever since then it has been my +delight to tell others how simple it all is. It is the sinner taking the +Saviour and the Saviour taking the sinner. + +Are you asking, What must I do? First believe what God says about you in +His Word. He says, that you are guilty, lost, ruined. Then He presents +Christ to us as the Saviour and calls on us to believe what He says about +Him. "He that believeth not God hath made him a liar because he hath not +believed the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record that +God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son." [Footnote: +I John v. 10, 11.] + +"Have faith in God." Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of +God, and "faith is the gift of God." And the wonder of it all is that God +says to the weak ones like poor Jacob, "I have chosen thee and not cast +thee away," and He never will, for "_God keeps all His failures_," not +like man who throws his failures on one side as worthless. + + Oh! to trust Him then more fully, + Just to simply trust. + +Then instead of "limiting the Holy One of Israel" we shall be singing at +the top of our voices, "The LORD hath done great things for us whereof we +are glad." [Footnote: Ps. cxxvi. 3.] So then let us "trust in the Lord for +ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is Everlasting Strength." [Footnote: Isa. +xxvi. 4.] + + + +ADDRESS IX + +THE CHURCH OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Ephesians v. 22-33. + + +"Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it." [Footnote: Eph. v. +25.] Two precious truths shine out in these words. He _loved_, He _gave_. +He not only gave Himself for the Church when He died on the Cross, but He +is still sanctifying and cleansing it, and by and by when He comes again +"He will present it unto Himself a glorious Church." [Footnote: Eph. v. +27.] + +So we have the history of the Church in the past, in the present, and in +the future. We look back to the past and we see Christ giving Himself, +that is, laying down His life on the Cross; but we must also look far, far +back into the past Eternity to find out another precious truth. (Perhaps +you have never thought about it.) It is, that the Church was in God's +thoughts from the very beginning! The Son of God was in the bosom of the +Father "in the beginning"; and it was then--before the world was created, +that God chose us in Him and gave us to Him. [Footnote: Eph. i. 4.] +Now we see why "Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it." + +What is the Church? The word "Church" means "called out," so the Church +embraces all who have been "called out" during the present age to form the +"Body of Christ." In the Old Testament we find that the Jews were God's +chosen people, [Footnote: Exod. vi. 7.] so they had all the privileges, +but in later times, the Jews rejected the Gospel of the grace of God, and +then God graciously visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people to +be called by His Name. [Footnote: Acts xv. 14.] + +When did this special "_calling out_" begin? Nearly 1900 years ago on the +Day of Pentecost, and it has been going on ever since, and when the number +of "the called-out ones" has been completed, then "The Lord Himself shall +descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and +with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we +which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the +clouds to meet the Lord in the air." [Footnote: I Thess. iv. 16, 17.] + +Each of those three words, "_chosen_," "_called out_," and "_caught up_," +leads us on to something more. We were chosen in Him to be holy; +[Footnote: Eph. i. 4.] we are called out to be the Body of Christ now, and +by and by we shall be caught up to meet the Bridegroom and to be with Him +for ever. If you are a child of God, you can say with holy wonder, "God +has done all this for me." + +The Church was formed out of a little company of 120 men and women who +were gathered together praying in the Upper Room at Jerusalem. [Footnote: +Acts i. 14, 15.] Suddenly they heard a wonderful sound and saw a heavenly +vision, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost; and before the day +was over that little company increased to the number of 3,000 souls. How +many does it number now? No one knows, but it is a "multitude which no man +can number." [Footnote: Rev. vii. 9.] Some are already in glory, some are +still on earth, but it matters not where they are, they belong to the +"whole family" of God "in heaven and in earth." [Footnote: Eph. iii. 15.] + +On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, 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 Spirit, "For, as the body is one and hath +many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one +body, so also is Christ." [Footnote: I Cor. xii. 12, 27.] "Now ye are the +Body of Christ and members in particular," that is, individually, for +every saved soul is a member. + +The Church is a living body united to Jesus Christ, for He is the living +Head of the Body. He needs His Church just as much as His Church needs +Him. It is the Holy Spirit who unites us to the risen and glorified Christ +Who is the Head, and then He unites us to one another in Him. It is a +_living_ union, because we pass through death into the resurrection life +of Christ, for by "One Spirit we are all baptized into One Body, and we +have all been made to drink into that One Spirit." [Footnote: I Cor. xii. +13.] The Holy Ghost sustains the life of the Church. In Him we live and +move and have our being. As the bird lives in the air, as the flower lives +in the sunshine, so we live in the Spirit, and when we drink in His +fulness there is growth and fruitfulness. + +Have we ever felt this need of drinking into that One Spirit? Everything +connected with the true Church of Christ must be spiritual, it is this +which is being lost sight of in the present day, and it is the reason why +there is so little power and so few conversions. + +Have you ever tried to understand why the Church is called "the Body of +Christ"? Think first about your own body. It is the only part of your real +self that can be seen. I cannot see your heart or your thoughts, but +I know what your thoughts are by your words, and what you feel by the look +of joy or sorrow in your face, and by the way you go about. + +It is by your body that your real personality is made known to others; +what you really are would never be seen unless your body made it known. In +the same way the Church is the Body in order to make Christ known in the +world. He is hidden from our view, He is unseen, but He manifests Himself +and shines out through us, and He sends us to carry His messages and to do +His Will. + +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 body." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 10, 11.] + +This is what the Church is here on earth for, to make the unseen Christ +known. Just as every drop of water reflects the light, so every member of +the Church, however weak and small, can reflect His love. + +Is His compassion for sinners beaming in your eye? Is His purity seen in +your daily life? Do you judge things from His standpoint? + +I remember when some one was telling me why she loved a Christian worker +whom we both knew, she added, "I love her for what I see of Christ in +her." + +Think of Christ exalted in Heaven far above all things, and remember He is +there not for Himself, but for _you_. "He is Head over all things to His +Body, the Church." [Footnote: Eph. i. 22, 23.] + +It is wonderful to think of this union with Christ, that we are His Body +and He is the Head; but there is another wonder quite as great, it is that +He is the Bridegroom and the Church is the Bride. When we speak of the +Church as the Body of Christ, it is a living union, _life_ is the one +thought brought out; when we speak of Christ as the Bridegroom it is +_love_ which is the chief point. It brings out the affection, tenderness +and nearness of the Bridegroom. "So ought men to love their wives as their +own bodies, He that loveth His wife loveth Himself." [Footnote: Eph. v. +28-30.] + +We have nothing so wonderful in the Old Testament. Think of the depths out +of which we have come, and the heights to which we are raised. "He raiseth +up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill +to set them among princes and to make them inherit the throne of glory." +[Footnote: 1 Sam. ii. 8.] Think of the sinner lifted out of all his +bondage and ruin to be the Bride of the Lamb! There is nothing higher that +God can give than this. This will be our glorious position by and by when +the Bridegroom comes to take us to our Heavenly Home, for His parting +words were, "I will come again and receive you unto Myself." [Footnote: +St. John xiv. 3.] + +There will be three great surprises on the day that He comes again. These +surprises have been kept secret, but on that day the glorious secrets will +all be made known. + +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 new, +glorified bodies. What a joyful meeting it will be. + +The next surprise will be that we who are still living on earth when +Christ comes will be changed, we shall not die, we shall escape from the +hand of death. "It is appointed unto men once to die," but "Christ was +once offered to bear the sin of many," [Footnote: Heb. ix. 27, 28.] and +when He comes the saints who are living will be changed "in a moment, in +the twinkling of an eye." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xv. 52.] 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 made. Three great changes will take place--our +_bodies_ will be changed, no more sin, or pain, or weariness; our _minds_ +will be changed. "We shall _know_" then what we cannot know now, we shall +see all as God sees it, we shall know the love of Christ and we shall love +Him as He deserves to be loved, and best of all "we shall be like Him for +we shall see Him as He is." + +The third surprise will be that our _circumstances_ will also be changed; +we shall be no longer on the earth, for as soon as the great change takes +place we shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. He will then look +into our life work, and He will say to His faithful ones who have been +true-hearted and loyal: "Well done, good and faithful servant." [Footnote: +St. Matt. xxv. 21.] Then the heavens will resound with the Hallelujah +chorus, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to Him, for the +marriage of the Lamb is come and His wife hath made herself ready." +[Footnote: Rev. xix. 7.] + +But the glory will be only then beginning, it will be "_glory upon +glory_." Remember there are two stages in Christ's Coming; He will come +_for_ His saints, and then He will come down to earth _with_ His saints. +As it is written: "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His +saints." [Footnote: Jude 14.] "When Christ, who is our Life, shall appear, +then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." [Footnote: Col. iii. 4.] +We shall come _with_ Him when He comes to reign on the earth. + +But there is something still grander than the glorious position of having +a place with Him on His throne. We look on and on into the Eternity that +is coming (and it is a wonderful outlook) and what do we find? It is that +we are wanted for the ages to come to show forth, and to be living +personal illustrations "of the riches of God's grace." It is not only that +we shall be saved and glorified, but that God will use us personally to +show forth all His love. The grace of God is the love which flowed down to +us in our great need, when we were dead in sins, slaves to sin and Satan +and deserving nothing but God's wrath. + +It is we ourselves who are wanted for the ages to come for "the praise of +His glory." The expression "_the riches_ of God's grace" [Footnote: Eph. +i. 7.] meets our personal need, but there is something else that will +shine forth, it is called "_the glory_ of God's grace." [Footnote: Eph. i. +6.] All that God prepares for us is worthy of His greatness and power. The +inheritance which He has in store and the beautiful Home above will be +worthy of God Himself, all that is in it and around it surpassing +everything that we can imagine in its glory and beauty will be worthy of +God Himself. 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 +saints." [Footnote: Eph. i. 18.] + +The words of this old hymn describe what it will be like-- + + "I go on my way rejoicing, + Though weary the wilderness road-- + I go on my way rejoicing + In hope of the glory of God. + + "Then no more in the earthen vessel + The treasure of God shall be, + But in full and unclouded beauty, + O Lord, wilt Thou shine through me. + + "All, all in Thy new creation + The glory of God shall see; + And the lamp for that light eternal + The Bride of the Lamb shall be. + + "A golden lamp in the heavens, + That all may see and adore + The Lamb who was slain and who liveth, + Who liveth for evermore. + + "So I go on my way rejoicing + That the heavens and earth shall see + His grace, and His glory and beauty, + In the depth of His love to me." + +Our mission throughout eternity is to make known the love and wisdom of +God that He may not only be all, but in all. He is in us now, but we want +Him to be in all, 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 ... all and in all." +[Footnote: I Cor. xv. 28.] + +We are passing through wars and convulsions and revolutions hitherto +unknown, but a glorious future is awaiting us, and one thing is certain, +that nothing can "separate us from the love of God which is in Christ +Jesus our Lord." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 39.] That is our security. + +It is also certain that it is not in the power of the devil to destroy the +Church of God, for we are wanted in the ages to come. It is the Church +which is to be the glory of Christ to all Eternity. + +We are also wanted _now_ in a very special way. Men's hearts are failing +them for fear, they need strong, calm, prayerful helpers in this time of +perplexity. Who can speak a word of cheer and encouragement? Who can point +them to the Rock of Ages which cannot be moved? Who can inspire them with +faith and hope? Only the one who has himself made God his Refuge. It is in +times of trouble that the worldly man turns for help and sympathy to the +believer. It is through us that God would work out His purpose of grace +and love to the world. + +A young man who had met with a bitter disappointment went to an aged +Christian and poured out his trouble. After hearing his sad story, his +friend said in a calm, tender voice, "God knows all about it, there is no +such thing as chance in the world." "What is there then?" asked the young +man eagerly. "There is _love_, Eternal _love_," was the answer. + +The reason why the believer is kept in perfect peace is because he looks +beyond all the tumult of battle, the bitter strife and terrible bloodshed +to the time when God will gather together all things in Christ, for He is +to be Head over all. + +LOVE, ETERNAL LOVE. + +Never for a moment shall that love cease to bless us and shield us. +Whatever may happen to our bodies nothing can touch the eternal life +within. + +Do you feel anxious to know whether you will have a share in the glory? I +will tell you how you may know. You remember Christian had a roll given +him by Evangelist which he was to give in at the Celestial Gate. 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 +air. Take your Bible and you will find there four precious words which God +has written for you to rest upon, and which will never fail you. + +1. REDEEMED. [Footnote: Pet. i. 18, 19] "Bought with a price," and the +price was the life-blood of God's dear Son, so we belong to the Church of +Christ which He has "purchased with His own blood." [Footnote: Acts xx. +28] + +2. SEALED. [Footnote: Eph. i. 13] The Seal is God's mark upon us showing +to men and angels and devils that we are His "purchased possession"; that +we belong to Him, spirit, soul and body absolutely, and for ever, for +God's solid foundation stands unmoved, bearing this inscription, "The Lord +knoweth them that are His." [Footnote: 2 Tim. ii. 19] + +A Christian doctor who had been in the Crimean War and in China, was very +particular when going on a journey to have all his luggage "_labelled and +ready_." In his last illness he turned to a friend and said with a smile, +"_I am labelled and ready_"! and then he gave this beautiful testimony: +"There is only one thing that makes me quite ready and quite sure of +Heaven, it is that my sins are forgiven by trusting in the Blood of Jesus. +Nothing that we can do can save us, it is what He did. He alone can give +us peace with God." + +3. KEPT. [Footnote: 1 Pet. i. 5] A young Christian told a friend that he +was afraid as to whether he would be able to live the life. The friend +looked at him, and said, with a ringing voice of assurance, "He is able to +keep you from falling." [Footnote: Jude 24] He then saw that he was no +longer in his own keeping, but in _God's_ keeping, and that the keeping +would be up to the last moment, and be so complete that he would be handed +over without the smallest defect to stand in "the presence of His glory +with exceeding joy." + +4. GLORIFIED. [Footnote: Rom. viii. 30] This is the last and grandest of +the four precious words which God has given to strengthen our hearts, and +it is the crown of all. What shall we say? No words can express what it +will be, it will surpass our highest expectations. But we know that it +will be fulness of life, fulness of joy, fulness of love, and all our +deepest longings satisfied, all our highest hopes fulfilled, and it will +be for ever and for ever! + +Let us hold fast God's sure word of promise, "The Lord will give grace and +glory." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxiv. 11] 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 think, according to the power that worketh in us, UNTO HIM +IS THE GLORY IN THE CHURCH, THROUGHOUT ALL AGES, TO ALL ETERNITY, WORLD +WITHOUT END. AMEN. [Footnote: Eph. iii. 20, 21] + + + +ADDRESS X + +THE KINGDOM OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. Matthew xxi. 1-17, and +Revelation xi. 15-18. + + +Now, therefore, why speak ye not a word of bringing the King back? +[Footnote: 2 Sam. xix. 10] This question was asked a long time ago. You +remember how David was driven from his throne. His son Absalom rebelled +against him and he had to leave the country; but Absalom is now dead, the +rebellion is at an end, and still David is an exile. At last some of the +people talk it over together and inquire of one another, "Why say ye not a +word, or why are ye silent about bringing back the King?" So they sent +word to the King and Judah went to meet him. + +I was reminded of this Old Testament story when a correspondent wrote in +the spring of this year as follows: "I have spent two days in what is left +of Belgium, and I find that the dream of the Belgians is to see the King +ride back into Brussels. Men and women, old and young, talk and plan and +have visions of the time when the King comes Home." + +It is touching to think how these people, in spite of all their +misfortunes, 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 restored. + +It makes me think of another King, our Lord Jesus, who entered the City of +Jerusalem amidst the cheers and acclamations of a large crowd, and how the +words came true: "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold thy King cometh +unto thee." [Footnote: St. Matt. xxi. 5] And now they cry, "Hosanna"--He +is come, He is come! and the children's voices ring out with praise. But +this proclaiming Him as King aroused the enmity of some of the rulers and +they stirred up the people against Him. Here was the opportunity, the +golden opportunity, for accepting or rejecting the Son of God. They had +listened to His teaching, they brought their sick to Him for healing, they +appreciated the benefits of His ministry, but they refused to submit to +His authority, so they were determined to silence His Voice. Sin shows +itself in the rebellion of the _will_ against God, and so they lost the +opportunity, and instead of accepting Him, they crucified their King. + +The words are still true: "Behold, thy King cometh," He comes to set up +the Kingdom of God in our hearts, so the opportunity is given to you now +to accept Him as your King. + +We listen to the good news about peace and forgiveness, but are we willing +to make Jesus King in our hearts? Here is the great test, it is here that +the opposition of man's _will_ begins to show itself, because if He is to +be our Lord and Master He claims all we are and all we have. He must be +Lord of _all_ or He is not Lord at all; nothing less will do. There is no +real union with Him by faith until we say in our hearts, "My Lord, and my +God." [Footnote: St. John xx. 28.] It is impossible to accept Christ as our +Saviour without also yielding to Him as King, and proclaiming Him as King. + +A young friend of mine has these three simple words, "Make Jesus King," in +a frame hanging on the wall of her room. She told me they were the means +of leading her to decide for Christ. + +Nothing but the power of the Holy Spirit can enable us to yield to Him as +our Lord and Master. "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the +Holy Ghost." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xii. 3.] This is the central fact--"JESUS IS +LORD." "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He +might be Lord both of the dead and living." [Footnote: Rom. xiv. 9] + +It is the Holy Spirit who first reveals Christ to your heart and enables +you to say, "Thou art my Lord," [Footnote: Ps. xvi. 2] and then He gives +you grace to love and obey Him as your Master. So, whether you look +backward to the moment when your sins were all blotted out, "_He is +Lord_"; or whether you look at your present life with all its +shortcomings, "_He is Lord_"; or whether you look forward to the end, +waiting for His Coming, _He is Lord_. "Can you say truly-- + + "He cleansed my heart from all its sin, + What a wonderful Saviour! + And now He reigns and rules within, + What a wonderful Saviour!" + +We have seen our Lord proclaimed King at Jerusalem and accepting the +title. Although rejected and crucified, His every word and action was +kingly up to the last moment of His earthly life. He spoke openly of His +Kingdom to Pilate, for when Pilate asked Him, "Art Thou a King then?" +[Footnote: St. John xviii. 37] He answered, "I am." The purple robe, the +crown of thorns, the sceptre, though offered in mockery, were all kingly, +for the superscription over the Cross, THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE +JEWS, [Footnote: St. Matt. xxvii. 37] was true. The Cross was the way to +the Throne. "I beheld, and lo in the midst of the Throne stood a +Lamb, as it had been slain." [Footnote: Rev. v. 6] + +In that dark, dark hour of Christ's agony on the Cross, there was only one +man who recognised Christ as King, and that was the dying thief. It was a +very real cry that broke from his lips in his utter need--"Lord, remember +me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom." [Footnote: St. Luke xxiii. 42] It +was wonderful faith. Can you think of any other as wonderful? He +recognised Christ as King--not a dying King leaving His throne--but a +victorious King about to enter His Kingdom. The penitent thief saw even +more than this, he saw that it was a Kingdom of souls rescued from sin's +bondage and slavery; not a Kingdom of the great ones of earth, but for +outcasts such as he was, so he cried, "Take me as I am and give me a place +in the Kingdom." + +But the answer to the cry was as wonderful as the cry itself--"To-day +shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." When the King said "With Me," He +meant, "I am passing from darkness into Everlasting Light. Come with Me. I +have broken the chains of sin, I am setting the prisoners free. Come with +Me." From that moment the penitent thief was identified with Christ in His +death and in His Risen Life. Is this true of you? + +When earth rejected the King, not only was Heaven opened to receive Him, +but a triumphant reception awaited Him. Heaven resounded with the joyful +chorus of the angelic hosts--"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye +lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in"! +[Footnote: Ps. xxiv. 7.] + +So for nineteen hundred years the heavens have received Him, but once +again the everlasting doors will open, and the Son of Man will come in +"the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." [Footnote: St. Matt. +xxiv. 30.] + +What has been going on during all these years? Kingdoms and world powers +have risen up one after another, but all have failed to give what the +world really needs, "A King to reign in righteousness." [Footnote: Isa. +xxxii. 1.] God is still saying, "Why do the heathen rage and the people +imagine a vain thing?" [Footnote: Ps. ii. 1.] But in spite of man's +rebellion and forgetfulness of God, God's purpose will stand firm, "Yet +have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion." [Footnote: Ps. ii. 6.] +God's purpose is to have all power placed in the hands of One Man, and +that is Christ. What will be the final winding up of Earth's suffering and +struggles? The veil will be drawn aside and + + "The Glory of the LORD will be revealed." [Footnote: Isa. xl. 5.] + +It is the glory of the Personal Presence of the Son of God. When? Where? +How? will the glory be seen. + +Look back into the Garden of Eden. God gave man control over all, but he +listened to another voice and then he lost control. The question was +raised, "Who was to rule, Satan or God?" + +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 world. "An enemy hath done this." [Footnote: St. +Matt. xiii. 28.] It is the devil who blinds the eyes, hardens the hearts, +and deadens the conscience of mankind. But we must not lose heart or think +that Satan is getting the upper hand. The Word of God enables us not only +to trace some of his plots and schemes, but it shows us _why_ God has been +so long silent and _when_ God intends to break that silence. [Footnote: +See Ps. 1] The victory is sure, but whose victory? The Victory of the Son +of God. + +But first the Jews must return to their own land, and then "the kings of +the earth and of the whole world" will be gathered to the battle of the +great Day of God Almighty. All these nations will fight against the Jews +at Jerusalem in the place called Armageddon. It is really a desperate +attempt of the devil who is sending forth these nations to make war with +the Lamb. Jerusalem will be taken, and when the enemy is rejoicing over +the victory and the destruction of the Jews seems certain, then suddenly +they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and +great glory, [Footnote: St. Matt. xxiv. 30] "the armies" which are "in +Heaven" following Him. [Footnote: Rev. xix. 14] + +Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, and His feet +shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, [Footnote: Zech. xiv. 3, +4] and "every eye shall see Him." [Footnote: Rev. i. 7] The armies of the +enemy will be destroyed and God's people will be delivered. In this +marvellous way the Lamb shall overcome, for "He is Lord of lords and King +of kings and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful." +[Footnote: Rev. xvii. 14] + +It will not only be the deliverance of the Jews from their enemies, but +the wonder of that great day will be that at last their eyes will be +opened to see Him as the Messiah, so they will be converted and restored. +The Lord says, "I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and of +supplication and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced." +[Footnote: Zech. xii. 10.] + +What an overwhelming sight! The same Jesus whom they despised and rejected +is come down from heaven to deliver them, but they only think of Him as +the One whom they have pierced. The glory which meets their eye at that +moment is the glory of the love and compassion of the Crucified One. The +result of looking is mourning. They get such a view of their sin against +His love that they are filled with godly sorrow. When the eye of faith is +turned to Jesus then the tears flow. Oh, how perfectly will all Satan's +evil influence in man's heart be destroyed in the presence of Jesus. + +"In that Day we have seen what has taken place at the beginning of that +day, 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 uncleanness." +[Footnote: Zech. xiii. 1.] With the opening of that fountain there is +grace given to _use_ it, for God says, "I will pour upon them the spirit +of grace." Many see the fountain now who never use it! + +Precious fountain, of all things most precious to poor sinners such as you +and me. No one but God's dear Son, and nothing but His atoning death on +Calvary, could open that fountain. The fountain is still flowing--has it +cleansed you? + +Then the Kingdom of God is set up on earth. Who can tell the good news so +well as these restored and converted ones? + +The question is sometimes asked, Has the Gospel lost its power? Is +Christianity a failure? No. The Gospel will yet be preached throughout the +whole world. Who will be the preachers? Converted Jews, [Footnote: Isa. +lxi. 6] "a mighty angel, [Footnote: Rev. xiv. 6] and glorified saints, for +they shall be priests of God." [Footnote: Rev. xx. 6] + +What will be the result of their preaching? There will be a world-wide +revival. "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the +waters cover the sea." [Footnote: Hab. ii. 14] + +When Christ comes to us now, it is to rule in the hearts of His people, +but _then_ He will reign over a believing world without opposition, for +Satan will be bound and Christ will take the Kingdom which is His by +redemption, and His glory will be seen on Mount Zion. "Out of Zion, the +perfection of beauty, God hath shined." [Footnote: Ps. 1. 2] + +And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven +saying: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord +and of His Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever." [Footnote: Rev. +xi. 15] + +After reigning on earth for a thousand years there will be the Judgment of +"the Great White Throne," [Footnote: Rev. xx. 11-15] when all those who +had no part in the first resurrection will be raised, and all whose names +are not "written in the Book of Life" will be "cast into the lake of +fire." + +"This is the second death." + +Has your name been entered in the Book of Life? + +One more glorious Vision of the Kingdom is unfolded +before us, and the glory grows brighter and brighter, +for it is "THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM." + +"I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first +earth were passed away and there was no more sea.... And He that sat upon +the throne said, Behold I make all things new...." [Footnote: Rev. xxi. 1, +5] "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the +Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him; and they shall see +His face and His name shall be in their foreheads. + +"And there shall be no night there: and they need no candle, neither light +of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for +ever and ever." [Footnote: Rev. xxii. 3-5] How wonderful that God should +promise us an abundant entrance into His Everlasting Kingdom. [Footnote: 2 +Pet. i. 11] What does an abundant entrance mean? It means that we shall +not, as it were, just creep into heaven by a side door, but that we shall +have a grand welcome from the glorified ones there and from the Lord +Himself, all the doors, as it were, being thrown wide open to receive us. +Are we preparing for it? A mother who was dying called her little daughter +who was ten years old to her bedside and said tenderly, "I want you to +learn this little prayer, 'O God, prepare me for all Thou art preparing +for me.'" And the prayer was answered, for that little girl was Frances +Ridley Havergal, who lived a consecrated life, and passed away singing +about the Lord whom she loved. + +I must give you some words spoken by that holy man Samuel Rutherford who +was persecuted and put into prison for Christ's sake. "I wonder many +times," he said, "that ever a child of God should have a sad heart +considering what the Lord is preparing for him. When we get Home above and +enter into possession of our Brother's fair Kingdom, it will be like one +step from prison to glory." These words came true, for soon after this he +received notice to appear before his judges in court, but before the day +of the trial came he died. So it was literally one step for him from +prison to glory. His own account of it is given in the following lines---- + + "They've summoned me before them, + Thither I may not come; + My King says, Come up hither, + My Lord says, Welcome Home." + +What will it all be like? No words of ours can describe it, but God +Himself tells us what He will be to us and what He will do for us in the +Eternal Kingdom. + +"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of +God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His +people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." [Footnote: +Rev. xxi. 3-4] + +"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no +more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more +pain, for the former things are passed away." + +The Crown of it all is that "God Himself shall be with them and be their +God." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xv. 28] All creatures will say, "God is everything +to me," for GOD will be "All in All."' + +We have traced out some of the wonderful truths which God has revealed to +us about Himself. "This is Life Eternal that they might know Thee, the +only True God and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." [Footnote: St. John +xvii. 3] + +Apart from God, all is death and ruin for ever; to _know_ God, to _trust_ +God, to _love_ God is Eternal Life. + +The great question is, What is God to me? Can you say--"O GOD, THOU ART MY +GOD"? + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The One Great Reality, by Louisa Clayton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ONE GREAT REALITY *** + +***** This file should be named 7786.txt or 7786.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/7/8/7786/ + +Produced by Charles Aladrondo, Tiffany Vergon, Charles +Bidwell, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The One Great Reality + +Author: Louisa Clayton + +Release Date: March, 2005 [EBook #7786] +[This file was first posted on May 16, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE ONE GREAT REALITY *** + + + + +Charles Aladrondo, Tiffany Vergon, Charles Bidwell, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +THE ONE GREAT REALITY + +By + +LOUISA CLAYTON + +Author of "Heart Lessons", "Loving Messages", +"Winning and Warning", "Wilderness Lessons", etc. + + + + + + + +"I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE"-- +Isa. xiv. 22. + + + +THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED +to all my friends in Rusthall, +in loving remembrance +of our happy fellowship in the gospel +during the past thirty years, +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 still. + +3, Somerville Gardens, +Tunbridge Wells. + + + +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 volume. + +I do so in recognition of the supreme importance of the great topics that +have been chosen, and also in appreciation of the clear and attractive way +in which the truth is set forth. May the messages find attentive and +receptive readers, and be followed by deep and abiding spiritual blessing. + +EVAN H. HOPKINS. + +Woburn Chase, +Addlestone, Surrey. + + + +CONTENTS + +I GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +II GOD, 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 + +GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +Personal knowledge of God, the secret of happiness--Realising His Presence +in prayer--Illustrations from the telephone and family life--God is our +Father, Saviour, Comforter--The Living God-knowing all, and controlling +everything--Illustrations from current events. + + + ADDRESS II + +GOD, OUR FATHER + +A Chinese convert--Christ's confidence in the Father--Christ reveals the +Father--Philip's prayer, "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 God. + + + 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 answered: Where did He come from? When did He +come? Why did He come?--A working-man's experience--The story of the pearl +necklace--Christ's work of redemption--Sir James Simpson's dying +testimony--Hymn, "He came and took me by the hand." + + + 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 sin, +and revealing Christ--Searchlights--The loveliness of Christ--The Holy +Ghost like a Mother--The Comforter. + + + ADDRESS V + +THE VOICE OF GOD + +Jacob's ladder, 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 Word. + + + ADDRESS VI + +THE HANDS OF GOD + +Why St. John wrote his Gospel--The safety of the believer--God's hands in +Creation, Providence and Redemption--The "Scarred Hands"--The story of a +brave shepherd lad--The Hands of Jesus wounded for our transgressions-- +The Three Crosses. + + + 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 wisdom, +conversion, 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 Bible. + + + 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 committing. + + + ADDRESS IX + +THE CHURCH OF GOD + +The Church of God: Past, Present, Future--Its Beginning and Growth--The +Church the Body of Christ, a Living Union--The Church the Bride of Christ, +a Loving Relationship--The Glory of this Union--Three Great Surprises--The +Old Man's Message; Love, 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 come. + + + ADDRESS X + +THE KINGDOM OF GOD + +"Bringing the King back"--One King, Jesus, 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 Kingdom. + + + +ADDRESS I + +GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Hebrews xi. 1-6. + + +God is the one great Reality. 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 soul. 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 +true": this means that we may personally know Him that is Reality. In the +wonder of that moment when we first know that God is real and that God is +near, then we cry out, "My God, how wonderful Thou art." To have personal +knowledge of God is the secret of assurance and happiness, and to put real +trust in Him changes our whole life, for then we can say, "I have a +wonderful God." + +To know God is Eternal life; to know Him fully, brings "life more +abundantly"; to know Him with no veil between, is glory--life. + +If you look again at the 6th verse of the 11th chapter of Hebrews you will +notice a very clear statement: it says, "He that cometh to God must +believe that He is," or to put it in other words, "the man who draws near +to God must believe that there is a God." + +Do you believe in God? Is He real to you? Here is one test. When you pray +do you realise His Presence? Is He so close to you that it is like +speaking into His ear? + +It was this text, "He that cometh to God must believe that He is," which +first awakened a worldly gentleman named Brownlow North to think about his +soul. God's Spirit showed him that he had never really believed in God and +that all his former religion was worthless, "for without faith it is +impossible to please God." As soon as he had really learnt to know God, he +devoted all his life to preaching the Gospel. He told every one that the +first thing we need is _to believe there is a God_. Many of his friends +who were rich and well educated were thus brought to a personal knowledge +of God for the first time. He that cometh to God must believe that He is +really there. Have you ever been conscious of the Presence of the living +God? You must make sure that He is near before you can really pray. + +We have an illustration of this in the telephone. You first put the +speaking tube to your mouth and then you say "Are you there?" In any case +you make sure that the person to whom you wish to speak, is listening at +the other end. Although you cannot see any one, you know he is holding the +receiver so as to hear what you say. + +When you begin to pray always pause for a moment and remember that you are +speaking to God. Do not say a word until the Holy Spirit puts you into +direct communication with God. The Psalmist was quite sure that God was +really listening to his prayer, for he says, "I love the Lord because He +hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear +unto me therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live." [Footnote: Ps. +cxvi. 1, 2.] And again, "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God +with my voice, and He gave ear unto me." [Footnote: Ps. lxxvii. 1.] It is +in this way we realise that there is a God, a personal living God. + +I asked a Christian man one day if he had prayed about some work which was +offered to him, and his reply was, "Yes: I am on the telephone." Can you +say the same? As soon as you have spoken through the telephone you put the +receiver to your ear to listen for the answer. Many people pray without +expecting to get an answer. They are like children who knock at a door and +then run away before it is opened. The prophet Micah says, "I will wait +for God, my God will answer me." [Footnote: Mic. vii. 7.] Yes, he expected +to get an answer. + +The Lord Jesus says, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when +thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret." +[Footnote: St. Matt. vi. 6.] When a child wants to tell his father +something very private he whispers it in his ear. I daresay you have +noticed that the telephone at the General Post Office is enclosed in a +box, so that no one can overhear what is said. There are many things we +say into God's ear which we could not tell to any one else. It makes Him +very real to us, if we can say in our inmost hearts, "O God, Thou art my +God, my very own Father." + +When we speak through the telephone we never say useless words, and our +Lord tells us to avoid needless repetitions when we pray, and He adds, +"for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him." Just +as an earthly father delights to hear his children's, voices, so our +heavenly Father loves to hear us speaking to Him, for He says, "Put Me in +remembrance, let us plead together." [Footnote: Isa. xliii. 26.] + +A child's intercourse with his father is quite simple and natural, he +talks freely about everything. When you speak to God, is it an effort, or +do you look up into His face with confidence and tell Him all? A child +expects his father to supply all his wants and to be equal to every +emergency, 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 +Jesus." [Footnote: Phil. iv. 13.] + +We must not be disappointed if we do not get all we want, because God's +promise is to supply what we _need_. We often wish for things which we do +not really need. + +If ever you lose sight of _God_, think of the wonderful lesson which Jesus +teaches when He says, "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts +unto your children," and you, fathers, always get the best you can for +them, "how much more" (wonderful words), "how much more shall your Father +which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him." [Footnote: St. +Matt. vii. 11.] Have you ever heard God's voice saying to you, I am your +Father; love Me, look to Me, trust Me, worship Me: "Open thy mouth wide +and I will fill it." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxi. 10.] + +A godly man who was a servant used to say, "There is not in the world a +kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual +conversation with God." He felt that God was nearer and dearer to him than +any one else. This is what makes God real to us when we feel that He is +_near and dear_. + + "Only to sit and think of God, + Oh! what a joy it is!" + +It is just the same with your children if you are a really good, loving +father, they are quite happy if they can sit close to you. Your very +presence makes a great impression on them, even if you do not say a word. +Is God's presence so real to you that it makes you control your temper and +keeps you from saying unkind things? + +A boy may be troublesome sometimes, but he never really doubts his +father's love for him. Do you ever doubt God's love? Oh, yes: you say, I +often murmur. Then this shows that in a sense you have never really known +God. People would not speak as they do about God, I mean even Christians +would not talk as they do if they really knew God. We often hear people +say, "I hope God will be good to us," or, "I think it very hard God does +not answer my prayer." This shows they have never personally known Him. +Their thoughts about God are so contrary to what they sing. For example, +how much do we really mean of that sweet hymn-- + + "Precious thought--my Father knoweth, + In His love I rest; + For whate'er my Father doeth. + Must be always best. + Well I know the heart that planneth + Nought but good for me; + Joy and sorrow interwoven, + Love in all I see." + +Do you ever doubt His wisdom and think you might have been treated better? +When we really know our Father-God, then we see His wisdom even in the +things that are against us. We know and we feel that they have all been +working together for our good, "for He knows all." + +This Book in my hand is The Word of God. It is a revelation of God, and +the glory of God Himself shines in every page. The first word in it is, In +the beginning _God_. Perhaps you ask me, "Who is God?" I will tell you. +"He is my Father." But you say, I am so sinful, I am not worthy to be +called His son. That is just what I felt, so sinful, and then He revealed +Himself to me as my Saviour. Ah! you say, but I am so far off, how can I +find my way to Him? And that was just like me till the Holy Spirit led me +to Him. When God reveals Himself to you as Father, Saviour, Comforter, +then you will know that _God_ Himself is dwelling in your heart. Perhaps +you ask, Will God really come and dwell in me for I am so unworthy? God +Himself answers that question; "Thus saith the high and lofty One that +inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy +place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive +the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." +[Footnote: Isa. lvii. 15.] Every one is standing now in view of God and +Eternity. + +A very long time ago the question was asked, "Canst thou by searching find +out God?" [Footnote: Job xi. 7.] The only way we can find Him is by our +spiritual necessities. If your soul needs life, you will find Him. If your +spirit needs reviving, you will find Him. As this text says, I come "to +revive the heart of the contrite ones." + +When your children talk about their Father, he is a real Person to them; +that is what God wants to be to us, a real personal God. He says, "I will +be to them a God." [Footnote: Heb. viii. 10.] I know a little boy who +whispered to his aunt one night when she was giving him the goodnight +kiss, "Oh, Auntie, I sometimes wonder whether there is a God. Are you +quite sure?" "Yes," said the aunt very earnestly, "I am quite sure. You +see, I have known Him so long and He is so much to me, I am quite sure." +The child was satisfied. + +If you will turn again to Psalm cxvi. you will see a wonderful unfolding +of the secret feelings of David's heart, and as we read it we cannot help +saying to ourselves, the man who wrote this experience had very close +dealings with some One about his soul. Who is this Some One? Do you know? +Perhaps you think your religion is good enough to take you to heaven when +you die, but alas! it begins and ends with the "Unknown God." How +different to David's experience when he says out of a full heart, "I love +the Lord," or as the word means, "I am full of love," and then he tells of +his confidence in God; "I believed, therefore I have spoken," as if he had +said, "God is so real to me now, I must tell others"; and he adds, "I will +walk before the Lord in the land of the living." We can walk with God in +our daily life just as Enoch did. + +A good man said a short time ago, If ever I pass any one in the street +with a careworn, anxious face, I long to say to them, "There is _God_," +"Have faith in God." St. John said, "We have known and believed the love +that God hath to us and in us--God is love." [Footnote: 1 John iv. 16.] +This is the central fact, the one great reality in life, and when once it +is grasped there is nothing to compare with it. Why is there so much +unrest, so much ungodliness, and lawlessness in our midst? We are +forgetting God. The only remedy is coming back to God. + +A poor woman who has been a Christian for many years was telling me about +her mother's sudden death the week before, and then she added, "I have +never known God as I do now. The future used to look so dark, but now that +I know Him as the Living God, I can only see _life_. I cannot tell you +what He is to me." Her face, which bore traces of her recent sorrow, shone +with a new peace and a new joy, which made me rejoice. I was sure that God +had revealed Himself to her in her time of need. Those precious words had +come true in her case, "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, +I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these +things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes; even +so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight." [Footnote: St. Luke x. +21.] + +Are you saying, "My soul thirsteth for God, for the Living God"? Then you +will have a Personal revelation of God Himself, for that is the only way +the life of God can enter into your soul and mine. Are you longing to find +God? It is not that we find Him, but that He finds us, making Himself to +us the great Reality. We may know wonderful things _about_ Him, but that +is not enough. We must really know Him in our hearts! + +The very longing which you have for this personal revelation of God comes +from the loving Father Himself, and He says, "I will give them a heart to +know Me": [Footnote: Jer. xxiv. 7.] so we need never think, ah! it is +beyond me, for He promises to _give_ us the heart to know Him. + +I had a striking instance of this some years ago. A working man who could +not read or write told me that he had been converted at our meeting. He +died in the Union Infirmary, and I heard afterwards that he had been a +blessing to many in the ward. He said to me one day, "I want to tell you +_what God is to me_." In very simple words he described how he could see +it all plainly. How in the beginning, sin came into the Garden of Eden and +then God revealed Himself to the sinner so as to bring him back to +Himself. Again and again his simple testimony was, I must tell every one +_what God is to me_. This man had learnt to know God personally through +his own need as a sinner, so it is not by earthly education that we find +God, but through the Holy Spirit's teaching, and then in the Word He +reveals Himself more fully. + +It is "through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord that grace and +peace are multiplied to us," [Footnote: 2 Pet. i. 2.] so if we have not +more and more grace and peace coming into our souls it is because we do +not really know God. + +It makes all the difference in our life when we can say, God is now my +living Father; for it means God in His infinite love has taken my life +into His, and by this personal link of love I take His life into mine. +When He assures us that He is the Living God, it means that He lives and +cares for us. All things, great and small, are under His control. We have +an illustration of this in the present war. Think of our Navy, scattered +over seven oceans, yet all under the control of the Commander-in-Chief, +Sir John Jellicoe. Not one vessel can move without his orders, no ship can +be attacked without his knowledge; the wireless apparatus is at work night +and day communicating every detail. It brings Sir John word of any +submarine sighted, or of any movement in all the seas round our country, +and it carries his orders far and near. + +When God tells us that He is the living God, we know that He cares for us +in the same way as a mother cares for her children. We had a touching +illustration of this about a year ago. + +Do you remember how we were thrilled with horror when the Archduke Francis +Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria, was shot while driving through +the city? He expired in a few minutes, leaving three children. In those +few moments he turned to his wife who was seated by his side and said +these pathetic words, "Sophie, live for our children." He did not know +that she too had been mortally wounded and would be powerless to care for +their orphan children. + +It is because our Father-God is the living God, that He can say to us to- +day just as He said to the Old Testament saints, "I am living for you, +caring for you, protecting you." "Even to your old age I am He; and even +to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made and I will bear, even I will +carry and will deliver you." [Footnote: Isa. xlvi. 4.] When He says to +you, "I am God and there is none else," [Footnote 2: Isa. xlv. 22.] does +your heart answer, Yes: "Even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art +God." [Footnote 3: Ps. xc. 2.] + + + +ADDRESS II + +GOD OUR FATHER + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Matthew vii 24-34. + + +In the chapter we have just read there is a great deal about our daily +home life, and the word "Father" is mentioned twelve times, so it shows +that God knows all about the everyday work. It is a grand thing when we +find this out. + +A poor woman in China was converted, and very soon the lady missionary who +visited her noticed that now her house was very clean and tidy, and told +her how glad she was to see it. + +The woman smiled, and said in her own simple way, "You see my Father God +and the Lord Jesus are constantly coming in and out, so I like to keep it +nice." She realised the Presence of God. + +"The eyes of the Lord are in every place." [Footnote: Prov. xv. 3.] +If we do not find God _everywhere_ we practically end by finding +Him _nowhere_. + +A busy Christian mother told me that she begins each day and lives all the +day long saying in her heart, "In Thy Presence and by Thy Power." We must +not only _say_ it, but act upon it as a _reality_, and then it will be our +daily experience to be in touch with God. + +There was one word which was very precious to Christ and which was often +on His lips, and that was "Father." You remember how He stood one day at +the grave of His friend Lazarus. All the mourners were standing round Him. +Lazarus had been dead four days. It seemed utterly impossible that he +could be restored to life again. No one expected it. + +What did Jesus do? "Jesus lifted up His eyes and said '_Father_.'" +[Footnote: St. John xi. 41.] Those eyes were still wet with tears, for a +few verses before we read "Jesus wept." Then He lifted up His eyes and +said "_Father_": that was enough. There is _everything_ in that word. It +just meant, "I have told Father all about it." He knows, He loves, He +cares, and all things are possible with Him. There is no limit to His +power and His love. + +Then the command was given to those standing near--"Take ye away the +stone." Was Christ going into the cave? No, the dead man was to _come +out_. So we have first the wondrous name "Father," and then the loud cry, +"Lazarus, come forth," and he that was dead came out of the cold grave', +out of the region of death into the land of the living. + +All through His life on earth our Lord always speaks to God as Father. One +verse especially brings out the perfect intimacy, the perfect confidence, +the perfect love between the Lord Jesus and the Father. Jesus says, "All +things are delivered unto Me of My Father, and no man knoweth the Son but +the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to +whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." [Footnote: St. Matt. xi 27.] The last +words of this verse are very precious, for they show that not only has the +Son perfect knowledge of the Father, but He reveals or makes known the +Father so that you and I may know Him as our Father. + +You remember Philip prayed, "Lord, show us the Father, that is what we +want," [Footnote: St. John xiv. 8.] and Christ answered, "He who has seen +Me has seen the Father." Yes, "He is the image of the invisible God." God +said to Moses, "Thou canst not see My Face and live for there shall no man +see me and live," [Footnote: Exod. xxxiii. 20.] and for hundreds of years +no one saw God. Then came the wondrous gift and the wondrous revelation. +God gave His only Begotten Son, and _in Him_ we see the Father. Praise the +Lord! the glorious light has come to us in our darkness. For "God, who +commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to +give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God _in the face of Jesus +Christ._" [Footnote: Cor. iv. 6.] The Apostle John says, "We beheld His +glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and +truth." + +"No man hath seen God at any time," [Footnote: St. John i. 18.] and before +Christ came the verse stopped there; but after He came, then God was fully +revealed; so the verse finishes with the words "the only begotten Son +which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." Will you look +up now, and say, "Lord, show _me_ the Father," and He will reveal Him to +you, because this is what He promises to do. Look at the last line of the +27th verse of Matthew xi. where Christ says, "He to whomsoever the Son +will reveal Him," and without a pause He adds the wonderful invitation, +"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you +rest." It is to the weary and heavy laden that He reveals the Father. He +invites them to share the fellowship He has with the Father, the peace and +joy and rest of knowing the Father. + +Why does He invite the weary ones to come to Him? because He felt in +Himself such joy in this close fellowship with God, He wanted every one to +have it too. He felt that His experience of what the Father was to Him was +so rich, He longed for them to come and share it, "I will give you rest." +It is as if He said, "I will give you the same rest I have when I am tired +and hungry and thirsty; the same comfort that I have when I am +misunderstood and reviled; the rest, the comfort, the peace I have in My +Father." + +We have the same assurance when the Holy Ghost says in St. Paul's letter +to the Corinthians, "Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and +from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord +Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort." +[Footnote: 2 Cor. i, 2, 3.] + +How can you and I know what the Lord Jesus found in His Father's love? He +has graciously made it known to us in the four Gospels. There the veil is +drawn aside and we see how all through His life He was in close fellowship +with the Father. + +We can hear the very words which the Son spoke to His Father in the hour +of deep agony: "O My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from Me; +nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt." [Footnote: St. Matt. xxvi. +39.] The last words on His lips when He was dying on the Cross were, +"Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." [Footnote: St. Luke xxiii. +46.] He said to His disciples the last night, "You will leave Me alone; +and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." 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 do. + +We too can have the sense of God's Presence in our souls at all times. A +Christian woman who was suffering from neuralgia told me that one night +when she could not sleep, a voice seemed to whisper softly to her, "Like +as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him, +for He knoweth our frame, He knows all about our poor bodies, for He made +them," [Footnote: Ps. ciii. 13, 14.] and with those words of comfort in +her mind she fell into a refreshing sleep. + +If you will turn to the 6th chapter of St. Matthew again you will see in +the 8th verse that our Heavenly Father knows about something else. "He +knows what things we have need of before we ask Him." + +The secret of what it is to have God as our Father, and the sweetness of +it, comes out in these three homely questions, What shall we eat, what +shall we drink, what shall we wear? And Christ says, [Footnote: St. Matt, +vi. 31, 32.] Take no thought, that means, do not be anxious about these +things, for your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these +things. Yes, if He knows, that is enough, and then we have only to trust +Him for all. + +Do you find your faith failing sometimes? It is one thing to trust God +when the wages are coming in regularly, and quite another thing to trust +Him when times are bad. It is just _then_ we learn to look less at our +faith and more at God's Faithfulness. + +A minister once gave a little bit of his experience about this. He said, +"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 testing. The last penny may +be gone but GOD is there. I know this to be true. + +"I have often said when preaching, 'It takes real faith in God to be able +to put your head into an empty flour barrel and sing the doxology.' My +wife had heard me say this, and one morning she called me to come into the +kitchen. I said, 'What do you want me for?' She replied, 'I want you to +come out here and sing.' I thought this queer, so I went to see what it +all meant. + +"In the middle of the kitchen was an empty flour barrel that she had just +dusted out. 'Now, my dear,' she said, 'I have often heard you say one +could put his head into an empty flour barrel and sing, "Praise God from +Whom all blessings flow," if he believed what God says. Now here is your +chance, practise what you preach.' + +"There was the empty flour barrel staring at me with open mouth, and my +purse was empty too. I looked for my faith, but could not find it; I +looked for a way of escape, but could not find one, for my wife blocked +the doorway with the dust brush covered with flour. + +"I said, 'I will put my head in and sing on one condition.' + +"'What's that?' asked my wife. + +"'On condition that you will put your head in and sing too. You know you +promised to share all my joys and sorrows.' + +"She consented, so we put our heads in and sang the doxology, and we told +our heavenly Father 'all about our need.' Yes, we had a good time, and +when we got our heads out we were a good bit powdered up, which we took as +a token that there was more flour to follow! + +"Sure enough, though no one knew of our need, the next day a barrel of +flour was sent. Where it came from or who sent it we never knew, but our +heavenly Father knew that we had 'need of these things.'" + +Does not this simple testimony teach us all a lesson? I wonder how many of +us can say from our hearts-- + + Those who trust do not worry; + Those who worry do not trust. + +Which are you doing, dear friends? Trusting or worrying? Count on God. He +never fails, and He knows just what to do. The moment a difficulty comes, +look up and say "Father," and at once the burden will roll off, He will +undertake all for you. + +I had an illustration of this one day when I was going across the Common. +It was very windy, and two little girls lost their hats; they were quite +at their wits' end, till they caught sight of their father in the +distance, and at once they called to him, "Father, father." That was +enough, in a minute he ran to help them. + +I have often found great help in looking up again and again during the day +and just saying "Father." Try it. You, fathers, often say to your +children, "If you want me just call me." That is what our heavenly Father +tells us to do. + +To know God means not only to trust Him, but also to _treat_ Him as a +Father. If you will read the 6th chapter of St. Matthew carefully when you +are at home, you will see that it gives the experience of the child of God +with the Father for one whole day. It includes all that we need during the +day:--food, clothing, forgiveness, victory over temptation, grace to do +God's will, and grace in dealing with others. + +This experience is so deep, so real, so entirely something between Father +and child, that in this chapter we find the words "_in secret_" no less +than six times. When the little child is looking up into a loving father's +face and talking to him, it never thinks of those around. "In secret" +means a sweet sense of His Presence in the soul and of close communion +with Him. "I write unto you, little children, because you have known the +Father." [Footnote: I St. John ii. 13.] + +God is our Father, because He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: this +is one of the greatest treasures of Redeeming Grace. All the teaching +about God as Father comes from the lips of Jesus, and it is in this way He +reveals the Father to us; so if we would know Him, we must drink in His +teaching and watch His life of communion with God. By His life He reveals +to us the reality of the experience into which He calls us to enter. He +also shows us the way. He not only says "Come to Me," but also Come +through Me. "I am the Way: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." +[Footnote: St. John xiv. 6.] It was by dying for us He opened the Way. +"God sent forth His Son to redeem them that were under the law, that we +might receive the adoption of sons." "And because ye are sons, God hath +sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying, Abba, +Father." [Footnote: Gal. iv. 6, 7] So we are not only received into God's +family, but we have also all the privileges of sonship. We are made "heirs +of God, joint heirs with Christ." + +Perhaps you are thinking of your unworthiness; like the Prodigal Son you +are ready to say "Father, I have sinned again and again, I am not worthy +to be called Thy son." God knows just what you are and what you have been, +and He Himself has asked the question, "How shall I put you among the +children?" It is a question which none but the Lord would ever have +thought of, and it would never have been answered if He Himself had not +answered it. It is a wonderful answer: for He says, "Thou shalt call Me, +My Father." [Footnote: Jer. iii. 19.] God Himself puts us sinners among +His children, and no one else can do it, and He keeps us; for He says, +"Thou shalt not turn away from Me." How does He do it? By creating a new +life in us, we are "born again." The old nature is not improved, but a new +heart is given. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I +put within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 26.] + +Can you say, "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into my heart," and +now I can call Him my Father? Being made the children of God by adoption +and grace, let us enjoy the privileges which are secured to us; let us act +as loving children should do. + +Does it all seem too good to be true? Trust His Word, "As many as received +Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that +believe on His Name." [Footnote: St. John i. 12] + +Some of you remember the joy which thrilled you when you first received +Him as your Saviour, but perhaps it was not until afterwards that you +realised the blessedness of your new position as sons of God. + +The Holy Spirit leads us on step by step. First, He assures us that "there +is no condemnation," then He sets us free from the bondage of sin and +death. [Footnote: Rom. viii. i, 2.] All is changed now, we feel the +confidence of a child who has free access to his father at all times. +There are three things which mark the children of God, the spiritual mind, +the spiritual walk, and the spiritual talk. "The Spirit itself beareth +witness with our spirits that we are the children of God." [Footnote: Rom. +viii. 16.] We then call out with the consciousness of sonship, "Father, +Father." + +The witness of the Spirit was given to me soon after my conversion and +thrilled me with joyful assurance. It came to me when a Christian doctor +was telling his children about the way of salvation. He drew a line on the +carpet with a stick and said, "On one side there is DEATH, on the other, +LIFE," and I said to myself, "I know which side of the line I am on." So +it was by means of this simple remark that I found out that I was really a +child of God, and my heart began from that time to cling to God as my +Father. Every day since then I have experienced the blessedness of +trusting Him and knowing Him as my Father. Is this your happy portion? If +not, why not? + + + +ADDRESS III + +THE SON OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John i. 1-18, 29-34. + + +"THIS IS THE SON OF GOD." These are the closing words of John the +Baptist's striking testimony, What a grand message! How it thrills us +through and through! On and on the glorious words ring out, "_The Son of +God is come_." Many years after, when the Apostle John was a very old man, +he wrote in one of his letters, "We know that the Son of God is come." +[Footnote: I John v. 20.] + +Now look back to the first words of our chapter. "In the beginning was the +Word." Who is the Word? It is "the Son of God." When was the beginning? +Long, long ago in Eternity that is past "the Son of God was the brightness +of His Father's glory and the express image," [Footnote: Heb. i. 3.] or +exact representation, "of His Person." In His last prayer with His +disciples our Lord speaks of "the glory which He had with the Father +before the world was." [Footnote: St. John xvii. 5.] + +The first verse of this Gospel takes us back long before this world was +created. Then we come to the creation in verse 3: "All things were made by +Him." This is exactly what is said in the first verse of the Bible of +another beginning, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the +earth." Long before this world was created we read of God's dear Son as +"the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature." All +things were created by Him and for Him, and He is before all things, the +Eternal Son of God. [Footnote: Col. i. 15-17.] + +He says, "I was set up from everlasting from the beginning, before ever +the earth was. When He appointed the foundations of the earth, then I was +by Him as one brought up with Him; I was daily His delight, rejoicing +always before Him: rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth, and My +delights were with the sons of men." [Footnote: Gen. i. 26.] + +How wonderful it is to think that in the Eternity that is past, and long +before the world was made, God had two grand purposes. One was to create +man to be the head of the whole human race. So, when the moment came that +the earthly home was ready, then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, +after Our likeness." [Footnote: Prov. viii. 23, 29, 30, 31.] + +The other grand purpose in the Eternal counsel between the Father and His +Son was to redeem man after he had fallen through sin. The Redeemer is the +Son of God Himself, so He was foreordained to this work of redemption +before the Creation of the world--"The Lamb slain from the foundation of +the world." [Footnote: Rev. xiii. 8.] Hundreds of years rolled on, and +then the glorious message from heaven was sounded forth over the plains of +Bethlehem:--"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy ... for unto +you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." [Footnote: St. +Luke ii. 10, 11.] + + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME + +_Where_ did He come from? _When_ did He come? _Why_ did He come? These are +some of the questions we must try to answer. + +First, where did He come from? He came forth from God. He was in the bosom +of the Father from all Eternity. He said to the disciples, "I came forth +from the Father and am come into the world." [Footnote: St. John xvi. 28.] + +We have read of two beginnings, now we will look at another beginning. In +the first chapter of St. Mark's Gospel, and the first verse, we read, "The +beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." 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 heaven. + +So we read of three beginnings, and these three are all of God. There is +one more which is also of God. + +It is the beginning of the life of Christ in the soul. When we read about +"the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ," we know it means the +beginning of His life on earth. Have you ever asked whether there has been +a beginning of His life _in your heart_? Is it only what you read about, +or is it a personal experience in your soul? Alas! many join in singing +the chorus, "What a wonderful Saviour," who cannot say, "He is my own dear +Saviour." They have never been able to say "My spirit hath rejoiced in God +my Saviour." + +What is this personal experience of the life of Christ in the soul? It is +what the Apostle Paul describes when he says, "I have been crucified with +Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ _liveth in me_." +[Footnote: Gal. ii. 20.] + + "Once far from God and dead in sin, + No light my heart could see: + But in God's Word the light I found, + Now Christ liveth in me." + +In writing to the Galatians he says, "My little children, you for whom I +am again undergoing, as it were, the pains of child-birth, until Christ is +fully formed within you" [Footnote: Gal. iv. 19.] (Weymouth's +translation). + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +Secondly, When did He come? "It was when the fulness of the time was +come," [Footnote: Gal. iv. 4.] that is when the time was ripe for it. +God's clock is never too fast or too slow: so at the exact moment "when +the fulness of time was come God sent forth _His Son_." Still and always +His Son, but now "made of a woman," "God, manifest in the flesh"--the God- +man. + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +What is His Name? God Himself gave the Name. "Thou shalt call His name +Jesus." [Footnote: St. Matt. i. 21.] No other name was to be given: it is +a command, "_thou shalt_ call His name Jesus, for He shall save": that is +why He is _come_. "He is come to seek and to save that which was lost." +"Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He Himself shall save His people from +their sins." He is presented to us as a living personal Saviour. The +promise is, "He, _Himself_ shall save." It means that He will abide in +each believing soul for ever. Yes, moment by moment and for ever. He +abides in us as the Deliverer from all sin. What a glorious promise! Are +you living in the reality of it? + + "Jesus! Name of wondrous love, + Human Name of God above." + +It is the God-given Name. "The Name which is above every name." Is it +precious to you? + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +Thirdly, Why did He come? The King sends ambassadors to represent him in +foreign countries, but God sent "His own dearly loved Son." "For God so +loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." [Footnote: St. John +iii. 16.] The little word "_so_" means love in its unutterable fulness, +and God is the source of it. Have you ever thanked Him for the unspeakable +gift of His dear Son? Link the two words together, _God--the world_: it +means God and you: God and me. Then link together _loved_ and _gave_. It +will take Eternity to get to the bottom of those two words. Now add that +other precious text, "He loved me: He gave Himself for me," [Footnote: +Gal. ii. 20.] and you have "the grace of God bringing salvation." + +Six times in the Epistles we find the words "He gave Himself," and in I +Peter ii. 24, it says, "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on +the tree." This is why the Son of God is come, and it is this which makes +Him so personally real to us when earthly things are fading away. + +I knew a working man who had a long, painful illness which lasted three +years. I rejoice to say that soon after it began he was converted. He was +so earnest that his one thought was to tell others what a dear Saviour he +had found, and many were led to Christ through his example and testimony. +His mother was converted through him and she is now carrying on the +Christian work which he began. What was it that changed this man? It was +the Holy Spirit revealing Christ to him as a living personal Saviour. The +day before he died he said to his sister, "I had such a lovely time with +the Master this morning in between the pain. Oh! it was like healing balm +to me and He gave me a little hymn-- + + "'Jesus loves me, He who died + Heaven's gate to open wide: + He will wash away my sin, + Let His little child come in.'" + +How wonderful that a man nearly 40 years of age should find such comfort +in a simple little hymn. But it is thus the Lord reveals Himself. + +Do you feel that you are like a lost sheep? "The Son of man is come to +seek and to save that which was lost." [Footnote: St. Luke xix. 10.] + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME! + +It is a fact, a certainty. A great reality. Nothing can take it from us. +It is a living experience in our inmost hearts. "And we know," says the +Apostle John, "that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an +understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that +is true, even in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal +life." [Footnote: I John v. 20.] + +The Son of God is come and God presents Him to us as His Perfect Son and +our Perfect Saviour. Twice during His earthly ministry there was a voice +from heaven which said, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well +pleased": "In whom I have perfect delight now and for ever." Can you +reply, "This is my Beloved Saviour and He is everything to me"? [Footnote: +St. Matt. iii. 17 and xvii. 5.] He is either everything or nothing. + +Are you like the merchant in the parable, "seeking goodly pearls, who when +he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had and +bought it"? Is your heart singing + + "I've found the pearl of greatest price, + My heart doth sing for joy; + And sing I must for Christ is mine! + Christ shall my song employ!" + +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 +colporteur, but they could not see the meaning of it, so they laid it on +one side. "But," he went on to say, "from the moment my eyes lighted upon +it, I was greatly attracted by it. So I read and kept on reading till the +meaning dawned upon me, and then," he added with a beaming face, "I found +the Pearl of Great Price." + +This reminds me of that strange story of a very valuable pearl necklace +worth L117,000 which was lost about a year ago. It was sent by post from +Paris to London when it suddenly disappeared and no one knew what had +become of it. A very large reward was offered to any one who found it. + +But now comes the wonderful part of the story. One morning, 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 St. Paul's Road, near London. +He picked it up and put it in his pocket. Presently he went into a public- +house to have a glass of beer and there he met two of his mates. He took +the match-box out of his pocket, pushed it open, and seeing it was filled +with what he thought were white beads or marbles, he said to them, "What +do you think of these, I've just picked them up?" "Oh! they're no good," +replied one of the men, "throw them away." However, Horne decided to take +them to the Police Station. The officers looked at them and said they were +worth nothing, but gave him a receipt for them. + +On their way to the factory they turned into another public-house for a +drink, and while there Horne found one of the marbles loose in his coat +pocket. "Oh!" he said, "I've got one of them left." Holding it up in his +fingers, he looked round and asked, "Will any one give me a penny for it?" +But no one would have it. + +In another public-house where they stopped, he offered the pearl for a +glass of beer, but no one accepted the offer. The pearl which was worth +many hundreds of pounds was despised by one and all. Then Horne offered it +for a packet of cigarettes, but again it was handed back with the remark, +"That's no good to me." So one of his friends suggested that he should +crush it under the heel of his boot as it was no good. + +Later on when some one asked him what he had done with it he said he had +thrown it away. + +It is a wonderful story and quite true. "Oh!" you say, "what a thousand +pities, if that man Horne had only known its value, it would have made him +a rich man in one day." + +Are you not surprised that none of these men ever thought of finding out +the real value of that pearl? But is it not stranger still that scarcely +any one ever stops to inquire who Jesus Christ really is, and the meaning +of His death on the Cross? You listened just now with astonishment to the +questions and answers about this valuable pearl, and yet the same +questions are being asked every day about another Pearl, God's Pearl of +great price, and people are treating it with the same indifference. How +the angels must look on and wonder! + +There are two questions which you have to answer now. First, What think ye +of Christ, whose Son is He? Can you say, "He is the Son of God"? Think of +the Glory of His Person: it is "the glory of the only begotten of the +Father." Think of His Divine Mission: sent by God to be the Saviour now +and the Judge by and by. Think of Him as God's great Gift to a perishing +world. Have you received Him? + +The other question which you have to answer is, "What shall I do with +Jesus?" Remember God hath given to us Eternal Life and this life is in His +Son. "He who has the Son has life, and he who has not the Son of God has +not life." [Footnote: I John v. 12.] Jesus is pleading with you, saying, +"Ye will not come," that means, you are unwilling to come to Me "that you +may have Life." [Footnote: St. John v. 40.] By and by you will have to +face another question, "What will He do with me?" + +"The Son of God is come." It is God Himself who presents Him to us: +"Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world." [Footnote: +St. John i. 29.] He is the One whom God Himself has provided and set +apart: and "now He has appeared once for all to put away sin by the +sacrifice of Himself." [Footnote: Heb. ix. 26.] There on Calvary's +Cross before the eyes of crowds of people "who came together to see that +sight," He is set forth as the spotless Son of God who was made an +offering for sin. He it is "whom God now sets forth to us as a +propitiation." [Footnote: Rom. iii. 25.] He it is, and no other, whom God +sets forth as a Mercy seat, the Blood-sprinkled Mercy Seat. God's eye +rests on Christ and His finished work, and because it is a full, perfect +and sufficient satisfaction for all our sins, "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 Jesus." Oh, +what a comfort it is to me to know that He is always there standing before +God as the Righteous One, and therefore when God looks at me in all my +unworthiness He does not see me, He only sees His dear Son. + +When that godly physician Sir James Simpson was dying, the minister who +was by his bedside asked if he had any doubts. He looked up and said, "I +have no doubts; when I stand before God I shall just _hold up Christ to +God."_ + +This is why Jesus is come, and this is why Jesus died, that the believing +soul may hold Him up to God as "the One who has been made unto us wisdom, +righteousness, sanctification and redemption," [Footnote: I Cor. i. 30.] +and it is all God's doing, from first to last. I love to say to myself,-- + + "I'm a poor sinner and nothing at all, + But Jesus Christ is my all in all." + +Our salvation depends on believing God's Word, that He has accepted our +Surety. When God raised Him from the dead, it was a proof that all the +claims of His holiness and justice had been fully met and satisfied. +The debt is paid because Jesus paid it all. He gave Himself as a ransom-- +the redemption price for all. + +So now God sets Him forth in all His untold preciousness and proclaims the +glorious message, "_Deliver him_, that poor helpless sinner, from going +down into the pit. I have found a ransom." [Footnote: Job xxxiii. 24.] + +What was the price to be paid? "The Son of man is come to give His life a +ransom for many." "We are redeemed, not with silver and gold, but with the +precious blood of Christ." Who can tell how precious? "More precious far +than gold." Think what it _cost_ the Father: He gave His only Son. "Having +yet one son, His well-beloved, He said, I will send Him." + +Think what it cost the Son of God. Think of His agony in the garden, and +then the hiding of His Father's face, and last of all the pouring out His +soul unto death on the cross. Our redemption is doubly precious, not only +because of the price paid, but because of the Divine and Holy One who paid +it, the Lord of glory, even the Son of God Himself, "Which things even the +_angels_ desire to look into." [Footnote: 1 Pet. i. 12.] They long to see +into the depths of this wondrous redeeming love. + +Can you sing this chorus from your heart-- + + "Precious, precious, + Precious is my Lord to me; + Precious, precious, + Everything in Him I see." + +Think of what we have been rescued from! Christ has redeemed us from sin, +and death and hell. + +Think of the cost of this great salvation, and then ask yourself, how much +is it worth to me? We shall only be able to answer that question when we +are safe home in the glory. Then we shall be looking back on death, +looking back on the Judgment of the great White Throne, as never having +come into it: looking back on the old world which has passed away. + + "When this passing world is done, + When has sunk yon glorious sun, + When I go to Christ in glory, + Looking o'er life's finished story; + Then, Lord, shall I fully know + Not till then--how much I owe." + +Think of the last plague which God sent upon Egypt. It was not till the +midnight cry, that exceeding great and bitter cry had resounded through +the land of Egypt showing that the destroying angel had entered the houses +of the Egyptians, leaving death and desolation there; 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 doorposts. Think of +their wonder and of their thankfulness. They had believed and obeyed +before, but _now_ their hearts are filled with gratitude and praise. If +you have really cast yourself and all your sins on Christ, then you too +will join in the new song, saying, "Thou art worthy, for Thou wast slain +and hast redeemed us to God by Thy Blood." [Footnote: Rev. v. 9.] + +To _receive_ Christ now into our hearts by faith is to be born of God: +[Footnote: St. John. i. 12, 13.] spiritual life is imparted to the +believer. + +To _feed_ upon Christ day by day is to live by Him: [Footnote: St. John +vi. 57.] this is the evidence of life in the believer. + +To see Christ by and by and to be like Him, is life perfected in glory. +[Footnote: 1 John iii. 2.] + +Dear fellow sinners, let me entreat you most earnestly in the light of an +Eternity that is coming, and as you value your precious, never-dying +souls, do not trifle with God's unspeakable Gift. "How shall we escape if +we neglect so great salvation?" [Footnote: Heb. ii. 3.] No one either in +heaven or upon earth can answer that question. If the lost in hell could +speak to us they would tell us that there is _no_ escape. + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME, + +and oh! the wonder of it all, "He came to where I was." +The words of this beautiful hymn describe it-- + + "I looked and there was none to help, + 'No man' could meet my case: + A weary, world-worn heart was mine, + Without a resting place. + Then One drew near, the Christ of God, + With pitying eyes He scanned, + Jesus came to me where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "He led me first to Calvary's mount, + And, oh! what sight it gave! + The agony, the life out-poured, + It cost Him there to save. + My heart fell broken at His feet, + Who could such love withstand? + The love that came to where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "He lifted me upon a rock, + Round me His light He shed; + He poured His peace into my heart, + He healed, He held, He fed. + Ah! then I knew that holy One, + The whole could understand. + The One who came to where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "And since that day, through all the days, + His love my way has planned: + He comes to bless me where I am, + He takes me by the hand. + This glorious One is all to me, + He shall my life command, + The Christ who came to where I was, + And took me by the hand." + + + +ADDRESS IV + +THE SPIRIT OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John iv. 1-26 + + +God is a Spirit. 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 God. He told her that God is Father, that God is +Saviour, and that God is Spirit; three Persons but one God. + +The Lord opened her heart and she grasped this wondrous truth. + +Christ said to her, "God the Father is seeking you, He is longing for you +to come to Him." Then He let her feel and see that He is the Saviour. + +Was it not wonderful that she was the first to tell the good news that He +is "the Saviour of the world"? [Footnote: St. John iv. 42.] + +Christ said to her, "God is a Spirit," and she found that no one else but +God could touch her heart. + +Until the Spirit of God comes into our hearts, we cannot really know God +personally or have communion with Him. "Now we have received, not the +spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know +the things that are freely given to us of God." [Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 12.] + +Although our hearts are so sinful the Holy Spirit is longing to come in. +He found an entrance into the heart of this poor woman whose life was a +wreck with its four great failures. Every life is a failure in God's +sight, but we must never despair of any one, for "with God all things are +possible," and as long as life lasts there is hope for the sinner. + +"The Lord opened her heart," she heard and believed, and went home to tell +others what a dear Saviour she had found. It was the beginning of a +revival at Sychar, and every revival begins in the same way, God is +revealed by His Spirit and men realise the nearness of God. + +Until a man really finds out what God is, there can be no true spiritual +worship. This is the truth Jesus came to make known to us when He says, +"God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and +in truth," for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. Yes, the Father +is seeking us, yearning for us to come close to Him and to respond to His +love for us. When our Lord tells us that we must worship in spirit, He +means that it is the spirit in man which responds to the Spirit of God. Do +you offer Him your heart's devotion and praise, or is it only lip-worship? + +True spiritual worship does not depend on forms or ceremonies or on any +special place or time. I felt the point of this when a railwayman said to +me, "We can be in touch with God all the day long." + +God is a Spirit, just as "God is Light." [Footnote: 1 John i. 5.] +And there are no limitations as to where He works or His ways and time of +working. + +The Holy Spirit reveals to us far more about God than we ever imagined. +The Bible says, "Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered +into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that +love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit." +[Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10.] + +Until the Holy Spirit opens our blind eyes to see spiritual things we +cannot understand them. It is not the words of man's wisdom which can +explain them, we need to use spiritual words for spiritual truths, so we +can only speak as the Holy Spirit teaches us what to say. "The natural man +receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness +unto him," [Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 14.] he does not grasp the meaning of +them. + +It is because God is a Spirit that he meets our spiritual need when we +feel altogether helpless and hopeless in ourselves, for He says, "I will +put My Spirit within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 27.] God begins in the +very centre of our being, in our innermost hearts. God makes Himself known +to us as God, through our spiritual necessities. + +The Presence of the Holy Spirit is a personal thing in each one who +receives Him. There is only one way by which we can receive the Holy +Spirit, and that is by faith. The Holy Ghost has been given. Will you ask +yourself, Have I received Him? If not, why not? + +When God puts His Spirit into our hearts He abides with us for ever. He +never leaves us. Even when we grieve Him by our coldness of heart, He does +not leave us. + +It is God who begins the work of grace in our hearts. The Book which +reveals to us what God is, opens with the words, "In the Beginning, +_God_." [Footnote: Gen. i. 1.] God is the Beginner of all things, not only +of the creation of the world, but of the new creation in our souls. This +Book unfolds to us how God begins and finishes the great work of +redemption and salvation. + +We find another marvellous beginning which is also unfolded in this Book. +"The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." [Footnote: 1 Gen. +i. 2.] It is a remarkable word; it means the Spirit of God brooded on the +face of the waters. In Genesis we read, "The Spirit of God was brooding," +and in the Gospels we find the Spirit of God compared to a dove. The word +"brooding" is a figure of the mother dove brooding over her nest and +cherishing her young. The first time the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the +Old Testament is in this verse, and the first emblem of the Holy Spirit in +the New Testament is in the 3rd chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, where it +says that, after our Lord had been baptized, "The heavens were opened unto +Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon +Him." [Footnote: St. Matt. iii. 16.] + +First let us look at the background of the picture. We see darkness and +desolation, death and ruin. Then we see the Spirit of God, the Dove of +peace, brooding over it all, and bringing light and life, love and peace +out of the confusion. + +So the two thoughts which are here brought to our minds are Motherhood and +Peace. 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 Spirit. + +When Christ is speaking of the New Birth, He says we are "born of the +Spirit." [Footnote: St. John iii. 6.] Again, when the cry of the new-born +soul is spoken of, we are told how it comes; for Paul says, "God hath sent +forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." +[Footnote: Gal. iv. 6] Again there is the beautiful expression, "The +Spirit of Adoption." "We have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we +cry Abba, Father." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 15.] "Abba" means "dear Father." + +When God would reveal His heart of love to us He says, "As one whom his +mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." [Footnote: Isa. lxvi. 13.] +Think of a mother busy with her work, and her little one playing on the +floor. Presently there is a cry, it has fallen down, and in a moment the +mother is by its side to soothe it. But there is something sweeter still. +Even if nothing befall the child the mother is near by to help it over +every difficulty and to respond to every look and sign. Even so our God +who is to us our Mother Comforter, says, "Before they call I will answer, +and while they are yet speaking I will hear." [Footnote: Isa. lxv. 24] + +The little child always turns to its mother for comfort in every trouble. +There is one thing which we notice in every home, that is, the mother's +tender love and constant care for her little one. Night and day her child +is her one thought. So the Lord says of His people, "I the Lord do keep +it, lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." [Footnote: Isa. +xxvii. 3.] Every child of God can say-- + +"Moment by moment I'm kept in His love." + +Does the child need the mother's constant, watchful care? Yes, because +everything around is like a new world to the little one, it is all a new +experience. The mother gives herself up so entirely to the child that it +depends on her for everything. In the same way when the soul is born again +it is brought into a new relation to God, it has entered into a new +experience and the Holy Spirit becomes to it just what the mother is to +the child and much more. + +Just as the mother trains the little one to take the first steps in +walking and holds it up, so it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to +walk and to please God. The little hand is slipped into mother's hand to +be led and held up. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the +sons of God." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 14.] + +The mother keeps the child close to her, so the Holy Spirit is the +Comforter to us, by our side, for the word "Comforter" means, The one whom +we call to our side to help us. Just as the mother tells her child what to +say when it wants anything, so He helps us when we pray, "for we know not +what we should pray for as we ought." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 26.] + +"The Comforter is come." When did He come? On the day of Pentecost, for it +was _then_ that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and He has been with us +ever since. + +Let those words ring in your heart and in your life, "The Comforter is +come." [Footnote: St. John xv. 26.] There is a beautiful hymn which +illustrates the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. It +begins with the words-- + + "Spirit Divine! attend our prayers, + And make our hearts Thy home." + +Then four things are mentioned which show forth God's power in Nature. +Light, fire, dew, wind. In the Bible they are all used as symbols of the +Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of men. + +In Nature we know that human power is small compared with the power of +light, fire, wind, and water. Have we learnt to depend only on the Power +of the Holy Ghost? God's Voice is ever saying to us now, oh! that we may +listen, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." +[Footnote: Zech. iv. 6.] Just as all the marvels of the natural world are +perfectly carried out by God's wisdom and power, so He has given the Holy +Spirit to make Him perfectly known as a living Presence, a living Power +and Reality in our hearts and lives. + +In the second verse of the hymn we find the words-- + + "Come as the Light--to us reveal + Our emptiness and woe." + +We know what the light does when it shines into a room, It reveals or +shows up any dust we had not noticed before. So when the light of God +shines into our hearts it reveals what we never saw before. + +Have you ever watched the battleships on a dark night, anchored a little +way off from the coast? Suddenly the bright dazzling searchlights are sent +out from the ship. They seem to sweep over the ocean with their sparkling +light and then to wrap you round, as you stand there on the shore. The +sight fills you with wonder; you feel as if the eyes of all on board ship +can see you. + +It is the same when the Holy Spirit shines into our hearts; it is almost +overwhelming; we can only cry, "Woe is me, for I am undone." +[Footnote: Isa. vi. 5.] We stand condemned under the searching eye of God. +All our self-righteous excuses are swept away. 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 neighbours. The dazzling light of God's Presence has +searched us through and through and turned us inside out. Is this +searching necessary for every one? Yes, for it is the only way we can +learn to know the evil of our hearts. + +Sometimes the light of the Holy Spirit comes to us in a quiet moment and +shows us what we never saw before. Sometimes it comes like a flash. It +flashed out on the road when Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus. +He described it when he was being tried before King Agrippa, "At midday, O +King, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the +sun, shining round about me. And I fell to the ground and I heard a voice +saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he tells us also +that he could not see for the glory of that light." [Footnote: Acts xxvi. +13, xxii 17.] Whenever the light comes it is a revelation, a moment never +to be forgotten: Darkness conceals, light reveals. + +The Spirit of God brooded over the face of the waters, and God said, "Let +there be light and there was light." [Footnote: Gen. i. 3.] + +The Holy Spirit not only shows us what we are, but He shows Christ to us; +then we see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. "For God, who +commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to +give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus +Christ." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 6.] Yes, God's glory is radiant on the face +of Christ and the Holy Spirit reveals it. He delights to show us His +beauty and His loveliness and thus to glorify Him. He makes Him a reality +in our souls--"a living bright Reality." If you have not seen Him as +"altogether lovely" it is not because the Holy Spirit is not willing to +show Him to you, but because you turn away and will not look. + +How good it is of God to send the Holy Spirit into this world on purpose +to reveal these things to us. We should never see them but for Him. "The +natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he +know them because they are spiritually discerned." [Footnote: I Cor. ii. +14.] What is the natural man? It is what we are by nature before the +Spirit of God gives us a new life. When it says "He receiveth not the +things of the Spirit of God," it means that he has no power to receive +them. He is groping in the dark, loving the darkness rather than the +light. + +A poor woman who had led a careless worldly life, sent me this message +when she was dying, "Tell her the little prayer she taught me has been +answered. She will understand. Tell her God has shown me myself and +He has shown me Himself, so I am going to be with Him." + +The little prayer which she had learnt from my lips was this--"Lord, show +me myself; Lord, show me Thyself." How I thanked God that He used it for +the saving of her soul. + +When the Holy Spirit convinces us of sin and of our need of a Saviour, He +does not leave us there. He draws aside the veil and reveals to us the +secret love of God. When our eyes have been opened to know that God is +_Light_, then we find out that God is _Love_. How did this love of God +show itself? God sent His Son, "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 Him." [Footnote: 1 John iv. 9.] It is not only the +Love of God made known and shining out in the Gift of His Son, but we are +told that "God commendeth His love towards us." [Footnote: Rom. v. 8.] +How does God commend His love? He sets together His love for His Son and +His love for the sinner, and His love for the sinner is so great that +He gave His Son to die for us. Thus the words "God commendeth His love" +make it quite clear that "God loves the sinner with a love which gives its +best, gives everything, keeping nothing back, and gives to everybody." + + "Oh, the love that gave Jesus to die, + The love that gave Jesus to die, + Praise God it is mine this love so Divine-- + The love that gave Jesus to die." + +"God commendeth His love towards us in that, when we were yet sinners," it +makes no difference _who_ we are or _what_ we have been, the Holy Spirit +fixes our thoughts on that little word "yet." The text says, "When we were +yet sinners, still far off, still lost and undone, Christ died for us"; so +the Blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, "cleanseth us from all sin." +[Footnote: I John i. 7.] When we feel that sin is really a burden then the +Holy Spirit points us to the little word "all." Then He applies the +precious Blood to our guilty consciences, assuring us by the Word that the +Blood of Jesus Christ does cleanse from all sin so that not a single stain +is left. It is a perfect cleanser, there is nothing it cannot do. Then the +Holy Spirit shows us that God has provided a perfect covering for us in +the Robe of Christ's Righteousness. + +It is thus that the Comforter, who is the Spirit of Truth, leading into +all truth, shows us the meaning of Christ's redeeming work and enables us +to understand it and to appropriate it. When we do this it is indeed a +blessed experience. + +A young man whom I know described it as follows: "I heard the voice of God +saying to me, 'Who told thee that thou wast naked?' [Footnote: Gen. iii. +11.] 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 +Righteousness. I feel I am exactly suited to Jesus as He is exactly suited +to me, for I am just the one who needs His fulness, and He is the only one +that can supply my emptiness." + +I praised God for this clear testimony, and I have seen again and again +ever since I began to work for the Lord many years ago, that the Holy +Spirit delights to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ as "a full Saviour for +empty sinners." + +The Gospel of St. John tells us very plainly that the Holy Ghost was sent, +not only to make us see the meaning of Christ's finished work, but also to +prepare our hearts to receive it in all its fulness. + +How does the Holy Spirit prepare our hearts? First, He opens our hearts, +awakens in us a sense of our need and sinfulness, then, when He has opened +our hearts, He breathes into them a new life; He creates a longing for +God. We feel within us a burning desire to know God. We catch eagerly at +everything we hear about God, This is quite a new experience; we used to +go on year after year not troubling about it in the very least. What is +this new experience, this seeking after God? It is what the Bible calls +"Repentance." The word means "Change of mind." Again and again the Apostle +Paul urged upon both Jews and Greeks the necessity of "repentance towards +God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ." [Footnote: Acts xx. 21.] + +A few days ago I received a touching letter from a young friend telling me +how God's Spirit had led her to repentance. She wrote, "When I was a +little girl and began to seek the Lord, I was very much troubled because +I could not feel sorry enough for my sins. I wanted a real repentance to +come to the Lord with. I thought repentance meant crying over one's sins a +great deal, and I could not feel sorry enough to cry as I wanted to. I +used to keep praying, 'Give me a real repentance.' Many times I dreamed I +had this deep repentance and could cry over my sins, and I have awakened +with my face really bathed in tears, but oh, how disappointing it was to +find it only a dream and I had not got what I wanted after all. I went on +like this until I was twenty, when the Lord spoke these words with great +power to my soul, 'The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.' The +voice seemed audible and I turned to see if anybody had spoken to me. I +was able to weep enough then, but they were tears of joy and gratitude, +and I well remember saying aloud, 'O Lord, why me, why one so sinful as I +am?' I now see that repentance means 'a change of mind' and not a flood of +tears. Had I known this when a child it would have saved me years of +toiling and praying for repentance." + +Dear friends, perhaps some of you are trying to get right with God. Look +at the text which gave such peace to this seeking one. It begins with this +question, "Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and +longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to +repentance?" [Footnote: Rom. ii. 4.] + +We little know that all the time we are working and toiling we are really +despising, turning away from the riches of His goodness. The word "riches" +shows how abundant His goodness is; therefore we are "without excuse." + +God's forbearance in delaying punishment, and His longsuffering in +patiently waiting, show that His purpose in thus dealing with us is to +lead us to repentance, which is not merely grief for sin, but a thorough +inward change. + +So we now know what we did not know before, that it is "the goodness of +God that leads us to repentance." + +Yes, we find now that instead of working our way, back to God, He is there +close to us, with open arms to receive us, stretching out His loving Hand +to save us. We find that instead of trying to gain God's favour by our +prayers and good works, God's Righteousness is there for us all ready and +provided for us. We find that we are accepted in His dear Son not for any +good thing we have done, but simply by faith in Jesus. All this is shown +to us by the Holy Spirit, and without Him we could not have seen it. + +We were speaking just now about repentance. Have you ever noticed that +when our Lord began preaching the Gospel, the first word He said was +"Repent." [Footnote: St. Matt. iv. 17.] Why did He call to the crowds so +earnestly to repent? Again and again that word keeps ringing out. He +wanted to make them see that He condemned the way they were living and +their religious professions. It was a call to stop and think, as if He +said to them, "You have lost your way, you are on the wrong road, stop and +turn round." + +First He points to the right road. He proclaims that the Kingdom of God is +come. Then He says to them, But before you can enter in you must repent. +The people recognised the meaning of the call; they knew that if they +obeyed the whole course of their lives would have to be changed, because +having lost the true centre of life, they were simply _drifting_. The man +who is living without God is like a ship drifting on the wide ocean +without a pilot or chart or compass. For three years He pleaded with them +tenderly and lovingly, and at last they gave their final answer to His +message. They said, "We will not submit to the Divine government, we will +not have this Man to reign over us," [Footnote: St. Luke xix. 14.] _and so +they crucified Him_. + +When we have been led by the Holy Spirit to repentance we see sin, and we +see ourselves in a new light. As soon as we really know God we cannot help +being sorry for our sin. We begin to long for a Saviour, a Mediator, and +it is then that the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus. Repentance, or change +of mind, is the first step, and then follows conversion--a change of heart +and life. The word conversion means "turning round." Jesus says, +"Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter +into the Kingdom of Heaven." [Footnote: St. Matt. xviii. 3.] + +Think of God's two great gifts; first, the Gift of His only begotten Son, +then the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Have you received them? Perhaps you ask, +"How can I know?" If you have received the Holy Spirit there will be joy +and peace in your heart, and the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in your +daily life. + +"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye +may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost." [Footnote: Rom. +xv. 13.] + +"And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost." +[Footnote: Acts xiii. 52.] They were filled again and again, more and more +filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. + +You, too, may have a Spirit-filled life. God says to you now, and He is +saying it every day and every hour, "_Be filled with the Spirit._" +[Footnote: Eph. v. 18.] + +Remember there are different degrees in the Christian life. First, there +is Everlasting Life for all who seek it. Only ask Me, Jesus said to the +woman of Samaria, and I will give you _living_ water. Then he leads her on +a step further. "It shall be in you a well of water." It will be an +abundant life, a joyous, satisfying life. Afterwards He tells us that it +will be a life "overflowing for others." [Footnote: St. John vii. 38, 39.] +This is to be the experience of all believers now through the Holy Spirit. +Lastly, the crowning of it all is still to come and we shall drink of "the +pure river of the Water of Life." [Footnote: Rev. xxi. 1.] +That will be the fulness of life through all Eternity. + + + +ADDRESS V + +THE VOICE OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Genesis xxviii. 10-22. + + +Jacob is leaving home for the first time, to take a long journey of 450 +miles. He is quite alone and he feels very lonely when he lies down the +first night in a barren place, with a stone for his pillow. Jacob was like +some of us, he had heard about God ever since he was a child, but God was +not real to him because he had never had any personal dealings with Him. + +That night he had a wonderful dream, and it made a great difference to his +whole life. The ladder which he saw in his dream was to show him that +there was a gulf between him and God: and the gulf was caused by his sins. +It also showed the necessity for some means of communication to be +provided for him. Right down to his deep need the ladder came, right up to +God Himself the ladder reached. It was set up on earth and it reached to +heaven to make him understand that the gulf had been bridged over, so that +now, constant, free communication was possible between his soul and God. +The ladder which Jacob saw in his dream is mentioned again in St. John's +Gospel. Jesus said to Nathaniel, "Because I said unto thee I saw thee +under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than +these. And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye +shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon +the Son of man." [Footnote: St. John i. 50, 51.] + +The Lord Jesus had been revealing Himself to Nathaniel and this +conversation took place near Bethel, so that the reference to Jacob's +ladder was very forcible and the wonderful type was made clear. + +When Jesus said that heaven would be opened, He meant not only opened just +once, but _remaining open_; so that ever since Christ ascended into heaven +we have lived and are still living under an "open heaven," which means +free intercourse between God and man, because Christ Himself is the +Ladder. It also means He is the one and only means of communication +between the sinner and God. It is "through Him we have access by one +Spirit unto the Father." [Footnote: Eph. ii. 18.] All that we know of God +comes to us through Him, and all the grace we receive from God comes +through Him. So Jacob's ladder is as real to us now as it was to him then, +for it connects the seen with the unseen. It is possible for us now to +have Christ's Presence with us always and everywhere, for He says Lo, I am +with you alway. [Footnote: Matt. xxviii. 20.] + +But there was something more wonderful for Jacob to see even than the +ladder. "The LORD stood above the ladder." It was the first time in his +life he had realised the Presence of God. He had lived over forty years +without realising that God was close to him. When he awoke from his dream +he said, "Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not." He never +forgot it, just as we never forget the time and place where we are +converted. One hundred years after that night, when he was a very old man, +he mentioned it to his son. He said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared unto +me at Luz and blessed me." [Footnote: Gen. xlviii. 3.] + +But what impressed him deeply was that _there_ in that lonely place, many +miles away from any human being, he heard the Voice of God speaking to +him. It was then that a new life began in his soul, for God told him that +from that moment He would be with him _everywhere_, blessing him and +protecting him from all danger, and it was then Jacob began to trust God +as his _God_. + +So we see how God's glory and God's grace were shining down from the top +of the ladder into poor Jacob's heart. Jacob was face to face with God for +the first time, and he began to tremble with fear. If only you could +realise that God is now, at this very moment, straight in front of you, +you would fall down on your face before Him, and you would cry to Him as +Job did, "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye +seeth Thee; wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." +[Footnote: Job xlii. 5, 6.] + +It is at this moment that we realise for the first time our need of a +substitute, just as Job did, for he said, "He is not a man as I am that I +should answer Him, neither is there any daysman betwixt us that can lay +His hand upon us both." [Footnote: Job ix. 33.] How Job would have +rejoiced in the glorious revelation which Christ has brought to us. "There +is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, +Who gave Himself a ransom for all." [Footnote: 1 Tim. ii. 5, 6.] He is not +only the Mediator laying His hand upon us both, but He _gave Himself_, +that is, He gave His life as a _ransom_. The ransom price was His own +precious blood, for the life is in the blood. It is the Blood of God's own +dear Son which makes an atonement for the soul. + +The sentence passed on you and me and on every sinner is the sentence of +death, for death is the penalty for sin. We are all under the sentence of +death, but the glorious message is sent God has found a Substitute. + + "He bore on the tree the sentence for me, + And now both the Surety and sinner are free." + +You and I now have what Job longed for so earnestly. The Daysman is the +Son of God Himself, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation," that +is an atoning sacrifice, "through faith in His Blood." [Footnote: Rom. +iii. 25.] + +At first Jacob trembled with fear, but after he had heard the loving words +which God spoke to him from the top of that wonderful ladder, then he +began to realise that he was no longer alone in that lonely place. He +said, "This is the house of God, this is the gate of heaven." Earth had +faded from his sight and he was surrounded by heavenly realities. And so +it is now, the veil is very thin which separates earth from heaven, the +temporal from the Eternal. + +It was _God's Voice_ which woke him up spiritually. God revealed Himself +as the personal God to Jacob. We can recognise a friend by his voice even +if we do not see him. So it is the Voice more than anything else which +makes the presence of any one real to us. We have an illustration of this +in the pictures of the gramophone in which we see a dog listening for the +master's voice. The sheep knows the shepherd's voice; the child is quick +in recognizing its mother's voice; why do we turn a deaf ear to God's +Voice? How tenderly He pleads with us, saying, "But My people would not +hearken to My Voice." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxxi. 11.] + +God wants to be very real and very personal to each one of us, so He says, +"Unto you, O men, I call, and My Voice is to the sons of man." [Footnote: +Prov. viii. 4.] + +God has been calling us from the very beginning. Far back in the 3rd +chapter of Genesis, when Adam was hiding among the trees of the garden, it +was God's Voice which called him out with the searching question, Where +art thou? It was as if He said, "Adam, I want you." He is the seeking God +still. It was God's Voice that reminded Adam of the holy, happy friendship +now broken by sin. Before sin came into the world Adam never listened to +any other voice, and now when God is yearning to bring us to Himself, He +says, "Listen." That word Listen, or Hearken, comes again and again in the +Bible. We find it very often in Isaiah and Jeremiah. When God is pleading +with the sinner, that is the word He uses more than any other. In Psalm +lxxxi., where God tells us how grieved He is by our waywardness, He says, +"Oh that My people had listened or hearkened unto Me." And in Deuteronomy +xxviii. 45, He tells them that their troubles have been sent because they +would not hearken to the Voice of the Lord their God. + +I think God has chosen this special way of calling us by His Voice, +because it is what we can all understand--it is so simple and so homely. +When a boy is disobedient the father calls him, then he talks to him and +pleads with him. The father's voice touches the boy's heart. How wonderful +it is that God's Voice can reach us, however far off we may be. You have +sometimes been to an Open-Air Service, and you have heard the speaker's +voice a good way off, but now it has been discovered that any one's voice +can travel through the air and be heard above 300 miles away by means of a +new apparatus called the wireless telephone. + +Some time ago a gentleman living in England put a special receiver to his +ear and he actually heard a man speaking in France, more than 300 miles +away. + +A year or two ago when the _Titanic_ went down among the icebergs, you +remember how the wireless telegraph sent messages to other ships calling +for help. This was done by special letters, flashed across the ocean, such +as C.Q.D. (come quick, danger) or when the ship was sinking S.O.S. (save +our souls). + +But wonderful as this is, how much more wonderful it is to discover a way +by which any one's voice can be heard miles and miles away. Very likely as +time goes on and the wireless telephone is more used, you will be able to +speak to your father or son far away in Australia or Canada, so that they +will not only hear your voice distinctly, but they will answer back, and +you will hear their voices just as if you were sitting together again at +home. What a wonderful thing it will be to have this close link with them! + +It is the same as the link which Jacob felt when he heard God's voice +speaking; it seemed to bring God quite close to him and to make God so +real, that he started again on his journey cheered and encouraged; for we +read in the first verse of the next chapter, "Then Jacob went on his +journey," and in the margin it says he lifted up his feet, showing his +heart was lightened of its burden: when the heart is heavy, our feet drag. +But he made a fresh start: and if only God's Voice reaches your heart now, +you will go on your way rejoicing; it will be like making a fresh start. + +Again and again we read of God talking to those who were willing to hear +His Voice. For example, "The LORD talked with Moses face to face as a man +speaketh unto his friend," [Footnote: Exod. xxxiii. 9, 11.] and at Mount +Sinai "Moses spake and God answered him by a Voice." + +Not only is the link of communication perfect between God and man, but the +way in which we can use it and be put in touch with God is so simple: it +is by faith--that is all. + +We have another illustration of this when we think of the wireless +messages. The world's greatest wireless station is in a little village +called Nassau, in Germany. A short time ago a message was sent to a place +far, far away over the ocean, 6,500 miles away. How was it started? Only +by touching a key in the machine. That touch releases the lightning which +carries a message for thousands of miles over vast continents and across +the boundless sea. + +Only a touch--is it not like the touch of faith? But we must not forget +that when the message has reached its destination, when these waves of +sound talk across the world, the ear at the other end must be prepared to +hear the call. + +There is the hearing of faith, as well as the touch of faith. The hearing +means not only listening, but being willing to obey the voice. I have been +told that when a message is to be sent by wireless telephone, the other +waves of sound must be quite still before the person receiving the message +can hear it. The speaker has to wait till the vibrations settle down, +there must be perfect stillness, and then the voice is heard. How +important it is to shut out all other sounds so that our hearts may be +still enough to hear God speak. We must listen with an obedient heart. Do +you remember how one Sunday was set apart not long ago to make collections +for the blind. At midnight on Saturday, a royal message was sent forth +which encircled the whole world. It was King George's "God speed" to the +appeal for the blind. It was flashed from the wireless station on a lonely +cliff in Cornwall to another station in America, and it went over the +seven oceans of the world. It was received by forty-five ships in the +Atlantic. They were all warned it was coming and they were expecting it. +The White Star liner _Baltic_, 810 miles away, heard it, and it travelled +on to India, and it was caught up there 1,500 miles away. + +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 it. "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit +saith unto the Churches." [Footnote: Rev. ii. 7.] How the solemn call +rings out, and rings on: To-day, To-day! How it sounds in our ears with +startling urgency, and it is the Holy Ghost who says it, "To-day, if you +will hear His Voice, harden not your heart." [Footnote: Heb. iii. 7.] +When we are careless and indifferent to what God's Voice is saying to us +then we are hardening our hearts. + +Perhaps in days gone by you once listened to God's Voice. Why did you give +up listening? "Ah!" you reply, "other voices came and drowned that still +small Voice, and the voice of the Evil One poisoned my mind." + +Let me ask you one more question, Has God's Voice ever stopped calling? +No, God is still calling. Oh, that now at this very moment you may be able +to say, "The Voice of God has reached my heart." If any of you turn a deaf +ear to God's Voice, remember the time is coming when "all who are in the +graves shall hear His Voice and shall come forth"; [Footnote: St. John. v. +25.] and to you it will be a coming forth to judgment and condemnation. + +How does God speak to us now? We can hear the Voice of God speaking in His +Word. When any portion of Scripture is specially impressed on our minds it +shows that God is speaking to us. A young man who had been seeking God +very earnestly said one day, "While reading the Word, I felt certain that +God had really spoken to my soul, that He had actually said to me, Live!" +Yes, that young man was right, for that is just what God has said to us, +but it makes all the difference whether we each one receive it as if God +is really saying it to us personally. Luther felt this, for he used to +say, "When I open the Bible it talks to me." + +Why is the Bible like no other book? Because it is the revelation of God +Himself. The glory of God shines in its pages. In life and in death the +only source of comfort is a Personal God. Our great need is to have +God personally near, _near and dear_. Never rest till you can look up into +His Face with confidence and say, "Thou art near, O Lord." [Footnote: Ps. +cxix. 151.] + +He is saying to you now, "Seek ye my Face." [Footnote: Ps. xxvii. 8.] +What answer will you give? Will you say to God now, "Thy Face, Lord, will +I seek." When we seek His Face, then we see "the glory of God in the face +of Jesus Christ." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 6.] How grand it all is, and yet +how simple! + +Let me say one word of loving appeal to any who have never really sought +the Lord. How is it that you say your prayers and yet you do not expect to +get an answer direct from God? Because, like Jacob, you have never +believed there is a God. You have not got hold of the first truth which +the Bible teaches us, _God is_; "He that cometh to God must believe that +HE IS." [Footnote: Heb. xi. 6.] When you pray, He must be as real to you +as if you saw Him standing by hearing and answering you. Until our eyes +are opened to see that death and judgment, heaven and hell, are great +realities we do not really cry to God, and when we do we find out that we +have never realised there is a God. Think of what God offers to you. +Forgiveness, life and glory. Would you neglect getting these priceless +gifts if you believed they were the real offers of a real Person? "What +meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God." [Footnote: Jonah i. +6.] + + + +ADDRESS VI + +THE HANDS OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John xx. 19-31. + + +Why has this Gospel been written? The last verse of this chapter tells us. +"It has been written that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son +of God, and that believing we may have life through His Name." + +In the Old Testament when "The Name" is mentioned it meant the unveiling +of the grace and glory and power of God. 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 expression, "His Name." It means His nature and +His character. + +In the verse which we have just read, the wonderful truth shines out that +it is through His Name, through all that He is, and all He has done, that +we have _life_. So Christ Himself declares, "My sheep hear My Voice and I +know them and they follow Me, and I give unto them Eternal life, and they +shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My Hand. My +Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all, and no man is able to +pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." +[Footnote: St. John x. 27-30.] + +Christ first speaks of His own hand and then of His Father's hand, so +there are two hands which hold us fast and keep us safe, now and for ever. + +Let us look at what is said about the Hands of God in the Bible. + +Think of God's Hands in creation. The Psalmist says, "Of old hast Thou +laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy +hands." [Footnote: Psa. cii. 25.] "The sea is His and He made it: and His +hands formed the dry land." [Footnote: Ps. xcv. 5.] + +Think of His strong Hands in Providence, as Moses said, "Thy right hand, O +LORD, is become glorious in power." [Footnote: Exod. xv. 6.] + +Nehemiah speaks again and again of "the good hand of my God upon me," +[Footnote: Neh. ii. 8.] when he tells us of all God's loving help and +guidance in the difficult work he had undertaken. + +Think again of God's loving Hands in grace, healing the broken in heart +and binding up their wounds. How safe David felt when he said, "Thy right +hand upholdeth me." [Footnote: Ps. lxiii. 8.] He shows his confidence in +God when he prays, "Hold Thou me up and I shall be safe." [Footnote: Ps. +cxix. 117.] When your child wants you to hold him up he slips his little +hand in yours, doesn't he? Have you ever put your weak hand into God's +strong loving Hand so as to let Him do the holding up? + +The saints in olden times felt God's Hand in everything, over-ruling, +planning, guiding, and Jesus assures us of the perfect safety and +everlasting security of the believer, for He says, "No one, either man or +devil, can pluck them out of My hand, nor shall any man be able to pluck +them out of My Father's hand;" [Footnote: St. John x. 28, 29.] so there +are two Divine Hands holding us fast. + +Think once more of the hands of God: not only strong hands to help and to +heal, but _redeeming_ hands, mighty to save; hands that have been in the +fire to pluck us out of the burning; hands that have laid hold of the +enemy and have overcome him; hands that have unlocked the gates of a new +life that we may enter in. + +Not long ago a little girl was caressing her dear old nurse, and when she +caught sight of the deep scars in her hands she asked, "How did you get +these scars?" The nurse looked at her very tenderly and then she said, +"When you were a baby, a fire broke out one night when you were asleep in +your cot. I plunged my hands into the flames and lifted you out." The +child's eyes were full of tears as she looked at the dear scarred hands, +the hands that had been wounded to save her. + +Those scarred hands remind me of another story. One day, about thirty +years ago, some children were playing on a mountain in France, and their +merry peals of laughter attracted the notice of a shepherd lad who was +taking care of the sheep a little way off. Suddenly a wolf foaming at the +mouth came in sight. He saw it run madly down the mountain towards the +children. Without a moment's hesitation he rushed forward, seized the +wolf, and grappled with it. After a fierce struggle he managed to bind a +leather strap around its mouth, and then he killed it, but not before the +wolf, which was raving mad, had bitten him severely in the hand. This +occurred just at the time when Pasteur, the famous Paris doctor, had +discovered a remedy for hydrophobia. Without delay the shepherd lad who +had saved the lives of the children at such a cost was taken to Paris and +was cured. Hundreds of patients are sent to the Pasteur Institute at Paris +and when they ring the bell, the door is opened by an elderly man with a +scar on his hand. He was once the shepherd lad who rescued the children +from the raving wolf, and the deep scars are from its bite. Inside the +hall there is a statue representing him in the terrible struggle with the +wolf. + +Think of the wounded hands of the Son of God. Do you ask Where? How? Why? +Where were they wounded? On Calvary's Cross. How? "They pierced My hands +and My feet." [Footnote: Ps. xxii. 16.] This is the wonder of it, "He was +wounded for our transgressions." Look at the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, and +there you will see Jesus as the Suffering Substitute. Seven times in that +chapter it is distinctly mentioned that all His suffering was because He +was bearing our sins. Notice in verse 5 it says, "He was wounded for our +transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities." Then in verse 6, "The +Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." In verse 8, "For the +transgression of My people was He stricken," or the stroke was upon Him. +He stood between the stroke of Divine Justice and the sinner and received +the blow Himself. In verse 10, "Thou shalt make His soul an offering for +sin;" verse 11, "He shall bear their iniquities;" verse 12, "He bare the +sin of many." Jesus was the Suffering Substitute because He was the Sin- +bearer. See how in His death He was identified with the sinner. For in +verse 12 we read, "He was numbered with the transgressors." + +In the Gospels we are told that there were two thieves crucified with Him, +on either side one and Jesus in the midst. I once saw a coloured +illustration of the three crosses on Calvary. One cross was painted black, +the other was white, and the middle one was red. Now if we look at those +three crosses on Calvary from the Divine standpoint, it seems as if one +cross which was black at first is now white. It is the cross of the +penitent thief; all his sins have been transferred to the Sin-bearer, so +now there is not one sin on him; he has been washed "whiter than snow." +The cross of the impenitent thief is black, and remains black, for he dies +with all his sins on him and goes into the blackness of darkness for ever. +The middle cross is red: Jesus the Holy One has no sin in Him, but the sin +of the whole world is _on_ Him, because He is the atoning sacrifice for +sin. + + "O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head, + Our load was laid on Thee. + Thou stoodest in the sinner's stead, + Didst bear all ill for me. + A victim led, Thy blood was shed, + Now there's no load for me." + +In the writings of an American Evangelist we meet with this quaint +illustration, "God uses bright red to get pure white out of dead black." +It is just the same truth as we have seen shining out from the three +crosses. There we see Jesus "in the midst," the God-appointed +Sacrifice for sin, and we see the penitent thief washed whiter than snow +in the precious Blood. We see Jesus again "in the midst," three days +after. It is in the Upper Room at Jerusalem, on Easter Sunday. The +disciples who were like scattered sheep have gathered together there once +more, though still trembling with fear. "Then came Jesus and stood in the +midst and said unto them, Peace be unto you." [Footnote: St. John xx. 19.] + +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 away. He might have met +them with a reproof, but He knows all about our poor hearts, so He meets +them with a smile and the sweet greeting, "Peace be unto you." And He says +it to them _all_, even to Peter who had denied his Lord, and to the others +who had forsaken Him. Yes, He has only one greeting for them one and all, +and that is "Peace." + +Then a pause, and after the pause there came a revelation--"He showed them +His hands and His side." Why did He show them the nail prints in His hands +and the deep wound in His side? It was to reveal to them the wondrous +truth that He Himself is our Peace, and that the Peace which He gives is +the Peace which He has Himself made through the Blood of His +Cross. [Footnote: Col. i. 20.] + + "Through Christ on the Cross peace was made, + My debt by His death was all paid; + No otter foundation is laid, + For peace the gift of God's love." + +He showed them His hands and His side, because He wants them to understand +that these sacred scars tell us of His wondrous love and of the infinite +cost of Redemption. Let us lift up our hearts and say-- + + "Oh, make me understand it, + Help me to take it in, + + "What it meant to Thee the Holy One + To bear away my sin." + +We find from St. John's Gospel that Thomas, one of the twelve, was not +among them when Jesus came, so the rest of the disciples told him, "We +have seen the Lord." He replied, "Unless I see in His hands the wound made +by the nails, and put my finger into the wound, and put my hand into His +side, I will never believe it." So when a week later Jesus says to Thomas, +"Reach hither thy finger and behold (or feel) My hands, and reach hither +thy hand and thrust it into My side," [Footnote: St. John xx. 27.] it +shows how our Lord made these scars the very test of his faith, and it is +the same now. + +In St. Luke's Gospel we read that He said, "Behold My hands and My feet." +When He showed them the marks of His sufferings for them, it was as if He +said, "Here is the guarantee of your pardon and peace." We cannot have +peace until we have pardon; many seek peace instead of taking pardon +first. When He showed them His hands, and His feet, and His side, it was +as if He said, "You need cleansing from all sin; here are the marks of the +cleansing Blood. You need the touch of healing power, and here is the Hand +that will give it to you. You want companionship in your daily life. +Here are the feet that will travel with you, you never walk alone." What +wonderful tenderness and love! If ever you feel depressed or ready to +doubt God's love, remember how "He showed them His hands and His side," +that they might see those sacred scars. And we read in the next verse, +"Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." Yes, "they were +filled with joy at seeing the Master." You will remember how troubled +Thomas had been before this, but now the sight of the wounded hands took +away all his doubts and fears. It was then that his faith rose higher than +that of any of the others, for he exclaimed with adoration and worship, +"My Lord, and my God!" If ever you wander away or your heart grows cold +and careless, think of those words, "He showed them His hands and His +side," and remember He is still the same in the glory. + +When the beloved Apostle John looked through the open door into heaven, he +saw Him standing there in the midst of the throne with the nail prints in +His hands and feet, "a Lamb as it had been slain." [Footnote: Rev. v. 6.] +What a sight! + + "Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood + Shall never lose its power, + Till all the ransomed Church of God + Be saved to sin no more." + +But _why_ did He show them the wounds in His hands and side? To make it +plain that He bore all the penalty of sin. Some speak about sin as if it +were only a mistake, but God says sin is guilt, and that all are guilty, +for all have sinned. We have offended against God's holy law, and if any +one breaks the law he brings upon himself the penalty. God says, "The soul +that sinneth, it shall die;" [Footnote: Ezek. xviii. 20.] so the penalty +we deserve is death, everlasting punishment. The penalty must be paid by +some one. God's justice demands it. + +God is not willing that any should perish; He loves the sinner, though He +hates the sin. Still the penalty must be paid, so He found out a way; His +own dear Son must take the sinner's place and suffer the full penalty +instead, the death-penalty. + +Perhaps you wonder, how can the death of One atone for the sin of the +many? A lad once asked his father this question. The father made no reply +but took him into the garden. Then he dug up a spadeful of earth with a +number of worms in it, and turning to the boy he asked him, "Now which is +of most value, your life or that of one worm, or even a thousand worms?" +"Mine," said the boy. "Now" said the father, "you can see how the life and +death of the Divine Saviour is _sufficient satisfaction to God_ for the +sins of the whole world." + +Oh! the wonder of it all. We see God, the Holy God, the just God, the +righteous God--we see man, guilty, condemned, sinful. Then we see the Son +of God Who knew no sin, _made_ sin for us, [Footnote: 2 Cor. v. 21.] so +that all the requirements of God's holiness and justice are fully met. + +It was on the Cross, in that hour of darkness and agony when He cried, "My +God, My God, _why_ hast Thou forsaken Me," that He was _made_ sin for us. +Now we see the meaning of the wounded Hands, the broken Heart of God. + +"If I were God," the cynic said, "this sinning, suffering world would +break my heart." But what if God's heart _was_ broken? Do we not read in +the 69th Psalm, "Reproach hath broken my heart? [Footnote: Ps. lxix. 20.]" +The last night before He died He went to the garden of Gethsemane. Only +three of His disciples followed Him into the place where He knelt down to +pray, and even these three fell asleep. He was left alone. He says, "I +looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but +I found none." It was then the agony began which ended on the +Cross in a broken heart. + +It was then He prayed saying, "Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup +from Me, and there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening +Him." [Footnote: St. Luke xxii. 42, 43.] + +His prayer was heard and the victory was won over the adversary, for it +must be on the Cross and in no other way that the Atonement could be made. +"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for +us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." +[Footnote: Gal. iii. 13.] "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body +on the tree." [Footnote: I Pet. ii. 24.] + +It was there on the Cross that He said, "It is finished; and He bowed His +Head and died." We should not have known that He died of a broken heart if +one little circumstance had not taken place. The Holy Spirit has shown us +that this circumstance was foretold in the Scriptures and was all part of +God's purpose in our redemption. The soldiers had orders to break the legs +of those who had been crucified, so as to hasten their death, and remove +their bodies without delay; but when they came to Jesus and saw that He +was dead already, they brake not His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced +His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. "This was a proof +that He had died of a broken heart." [Footnote: John xix. 34.] + + "He died of a broken heart for you, + He died of a broken heart, + Oh! wondrous love for you, for me, + He died of a broken heart." + +When we remember that the pouring out of the blood followed on the +breaking of the body, then we see the meaning of the precious words spoken +by our Lord during the Last Supper. We read that, "He took bread, and when +He had given thanks, He brake it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My Body +which is broken for you.' [Footnote: I Cor. xi. 24.] And He took the cup +and said, 'This is My Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many.'" +[Footnote: St. Mark xiv. 24.] + +Why did He die? Why was His blood poured out? The Apostle Paul answers +that question when He says, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto +Himself." In that one sentence we have the Message of the Cross! We see +God's purpose behind it all. + +Two wonderful truths lie hidden in that glorious message. The first is, +that "Christ _died_ to put away sin," because sin is the thing and the +only thing which comes between us and God. The good news which Christ +brings to us is that God Himself has taken the first step in this work of +reconciliation. Oh! how wonderful it is that it is our sins which have +brought out all the anguish and love of God's heart. Yes, our sins grieved +Him so much He could not rest till He had devised a plan by which they +could "all be blotted out," once for all. + +Dear friends, whenever your sins are a burden, say these words over and +over in your heart, "God was in Christ reconciling me to Himself." +[Footnote: 2 Cor. v. 19.] This alone would have been wonderful, but there +is something more in the good news, and that is "God is beseeching you to +be reconciled to Him." Have you ever grasped that truth? + +I remember hearing of a great lawyer who was moved to shed tears, and when +a fellow-lawyer asked him why he was in trouble he replied, "I see now +what I never saw before. Yes, I see that God is _beseeching_ me to be +reconciled to Him. I always thought it was for me to beseech God." + +Many think as this lawyer did that the sinner must first come to God. No, +it is God Who comes to us entreating us to return to Him. He is always +sending us messages of love, and the moment we turn to Him and trust Him +He gives us a full free pardon. + +Dear fellow-sinners, "we pray you now in Christ's stead," and because of +His great love in dying for you, "Be reconciled to God." God is now +willing; are you willing? Do say "Yes." Will you say it now very solemnly +in your heart to God? + + + +ADDRESS VII + +THE WORD OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Psalm xix. + + +This Psalm is full of the glory of God. It tells us first of the Glory of +God shining in this beautiful world which He has made, and then it shows +us the glory of God shining in the Scriptures, in this Book which lies +open before us. + +The first verse bursts forth with the triumphant note, "The heavens +declare the glory of God." Everything in earth and sky shows forth His +wisdom, His power and His love. + +Then it gives us a wonderful picture of the sunrise and compares it to "a +bridegroom coming out of his chamber." You have seen the first streaks of +light in the early morning, and then you have watched the onward course of +the sun till it is high up in the sky at mid-day, full of power, +"rejoicing as a strong man to run a race." + +But Nature, with all its secrets, Nature with all its wonders and +treasures, is only part of God's revelation of Himself; the other part is +to be found in His Word. + +So the Psalmist passes from the glorious sun in the heavens to the glory +shining in the Word of God. The glory we see in God's works is only an +illustration of the glory shining in this Book. After giving the wonderful +description of the rising sun, he goes on to point out that there is not a +single spot in the whole world where the sun does not shine, and that its +light and heat can be felt by everything. Then he shows us that it is just +the same with the Word of God. It is God's message to every one, but it is +only when it finds an entrance into man's heart that it gives light. +[Footnote: Ps. cxix. 130.] + +If you draw down the blind the sun cannot shine into your room; so the +Holy Spirit must open our hearts for the light of His Word to enter in, +otherwise it will be to us the same as any other book. + + "Is it dark without you, darker still within? + Clear the darkened windows, + Open wide the door; + Let the blessed sunshine in." + +How can we know that the Bible is the Word of God? A gentleman, who was an +unbeliever, stopped one day to speak to Molly, the old woman who kept a +flower stall near the station. He noticed she was reading her Bible, so he +asked her why she read it. "Because it is the Word of God." "How do you +know?" "Because it cheers and warms my heart. I am just as sure it is +God's own Word as I am that it is the sun shining up there." This simple +testimony was the means of convincing him and he thanked her for it. + +We have heard how the sun shines over the whole world, but is it not +wonderful that every little drop of water can reflect the whole of its +light? In every sunbeam there are seven colours, and when you look up at +the rainbow you see all the seven in one drop of rain. This is only an +illustration of the wonders of God's grace. If you are a child of God the +whole of God's grace enters your heart, so you have grace to speak, grace +to pray, grace to be loving and patient, grace for everything. The whole +of God's life and light and love are for you as if there were no one else +in the world. It is the same with all the precious truths of God's Word: +they are _all_ yours. A minister who wanted to know how many promises +there are in the Bible searched all through the Book and he counted nearly +five thousand. Had you any idea that there are as many as five thousand +precious promises for the believer in God's Word? Have you claimed them? + +A Christian woman who was very ill asked her daughter to read the 8th +chapter of the Epistle to the Romans. When she had finished the mother +said, "That's mine, it's _all_ mine." How rich she was! Only think of it +and it is an _Eternal_ inheritance, for the chapter begins with "no +condemnation" and ends with "no separation." + +If you will look at verses 7 and 8 of our Psalm, you will see four things +which the Word of God does. "It converts the soul, makes wise the simple, +rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes." Let us think of these four +things. + +First: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." The law here +means the whole covenant of Jehovah. + +You remember how, when God appeared to Abraham, that Abraham fell on his +face, feeling his utter weakness and nothingness, and then God talked with +him. When a man is laid low in the dust then God can talk to him. And God +said to Abraham, "I will make my covenant between Me and thee." [Footnote: +Gen. xvii. 2.] A covenant is a promise made under solemn conditions, and +it is God's covenant of grace which converts the soul. Such a promise as +we have in Ezekiel: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit +will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your +flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh: And I will put my Spirit +within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 26.] God says "I will" five times in +those few lines, 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 +ourselves. + +This reminds me of a young woman who was troubled because, although she +was longing to be saved, yet she felt her heart was so hard. One Sunday +the minister took this verse as the text for his sermon. When he gave it +out it seemed to her as if a voice was speaking these words close to her, +right into her ear, "I will give you an heart of flesh." It came like a +message direct from God. She was so deeply touched she could not listen to +the sermon, 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 Bible. She is now a +very bright earnest Christian. + +It is through the Word that God speaks to our hearts, and when the Holy +Spirit makes it a living Word and quickens us to receive it with faith, +then we are converted. If you are not saved, take your Bible and read it +prayerfully, and you will find in it just what you want. Remember the +letter of Scripture is of no use unless we experience its power and enjoy +its sweetness. + +A young clergyman was converted through a very strange text. He was so +much depressed he thought of committing suicide, and then his eye fell on +that verse in Ecclesiastes, "A living dog is better than a dead lion." +[Footnote: Eccles. ix. 4.] The words brought fresh hope to him. He said to +himself, One thing is certain and that is, I am still a _living_ man, and +he was then led to seek Christ as the Way, the Truth and the _Life_. + +It is wonderful to think of the many different ways in which God sends His +Word home to our hearts. Spurgeon gives an instance of this. He was asked +to visit a dying man who told him about his conversion. He said, "Some +years ago I was at work in the Crystal Palace. God's Spirit was striving +with me and I felt the burden of sin. It seemed to follow me wherever I +went. Suddenly a voice said to me distinctly, 'Behold he Lamb of God which +taketh away the sin of the world.' [Footnote: St. John i. 29.] No one was +near me, and I thought the message had come straight from God. I then saw +clearly that Christ had died to save me, and ever since I have had joy and +peace in believing." + +Spurgeon listened to the dying man's testimony with deep interest, 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 there, and had used that very text, "Behold the Lamb of God +which taketh away the sin of the world." + +Let us thank God that His Word is _perfect_ in converting he soul. + +"The testimony of the Lord is _sure_, making wise the simple." It is well +known that very often a man who is no scholar, but who is taught of God, +is able to see deep truths which learned men fail to understand. Every +time you read your Bible look up and say, "Lord, open Thou mine eyes that +I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 18.] + +Do not feel discouraged because you do not understand t all. There are +many things which earthly fathers tell their children which they do not +understand till they are grown up, but still they love to get father's +letters, and the Bible is our heavenly Father's letter to us. Do you value +it? + +In the 8th verse of the 19th Psalm it says, "The statutes of the LORD are +right, rejoicing the heart." I have seen many careworn faces lit up with +joy when reading the Word. One man especially, who had a great deal of +trouble and opposition in his home life, used to give his testimony at the +Meeting. Opening his Bible in the 5th chapter of the Gospel of St. John he +would read the 24th verse, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that +heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me hath everlasting life +and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." + +Then he would tell us with a beaming face that it was his song of +assurance, for, as he said, there are three links, "He that _heareth_, +_believeth_, _hath_--and 'hath' means 'got it,' and I've got everlasting +life. Jesus says it and I know it's true." He is now in the glory, and +maybe he is telling the angels about it. + +If we had no Bible we should have no certainty that our sins are forgiven. +A little girl named Molly said to her aunt who was teaching her about +Jesus, "How can I be sure that my sins are forgiven?" "Because God says +so," [Footnote: i John i. 9.] was the reply, and then she repeated the +text, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our +sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." + +Many say, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins," and yet they still carry +about the burden of their sins. They see clearly how God can forgive sin, +but they cannot realise that it is their own sins which are forgiven. This +was the case with Luther. He tells us how, when he was distressed because +of his sins, a friend pointed out to him that he would not have real peace +unless he claimed God's forgiveness for his _own _sins. It was like a new +light flashing into his soul; he saw his mistake and looking up with a +beaming face, he said, "I see it now--it is not other people's sins, it is +_my_ sins which are all forgiven!" + +We must not estimate sin and forgiveness by our own standard. 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 words, "My thoughts are not your thoughts"; and then He +adds, "For I will abundantly pardon," [Footnote: 2 Isa. lv. 7, 8.] which +means, I will repeatedly pardon. God's thoughts of sin and His thoughts +about forgiveness are far higher than ours. Sometimes I feel quite +overwhelmed when I think of how great His forgiving love has been to me. + +Look again at our Psalm, verse 7, "The testimony of the Lord is _sure_, +making wise the simple." The word Testimony means an assurance or a +promise from God to the individual soul, and David had such confidence in +God he is quite sure He will not disappoint him or fail to keep His word. +So he says, "The testimony, or promise, of God is _sure_." It is this +certainty which makes David so happy. + +He seems to be overflowing with joy, for he says, "Thy testimonies also +are my delight and my counsellors," [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 24.] and again, +"I love Thy testimonies." "Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore doth +my soul keep them. Thy testimonies that Thou hast commanded are righteous +and very faithful." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 119, 129, 138.] + +The word "Testimony" means also what God has commanded us to believe and +also to practise. + +A native convert in China said the other day, "I began by reading the +Bible, but now I am _behaving_ it." This is what David means when he says, +"My soul hath kept Thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly." +[Footnote: Ps. cxix. 167.] + +The question was once asked at a meeting, "Can you point to any text in +the Word of God which makes you sure you are saved and safe?" "I can," +said one of the company, in a quiet firm voice. "It is John iii. 36, +He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." + +We have many bed-rock texts and that is one, as the beautiful old hymn +says-- + + "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, + Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word." + +I was summoned late one evening to see a dying man who had been brought to +Christ through my Bible Class. When I entered his room he looked up and +said with a smile, "I sent for you because I want to tell you that I am +quite safe, quite sure and quite satisfied. I am quite safe because Jesus +died for me. I am quite sure because I have His Word for it. I am quite +satisfied because I am going to be with Him in the glory." + +The Word of God was written that we _might_ believe; to believe is to +know, and to be quite certain. The word "believe" comes from an old root +meaning "to live by." "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every +word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." [Footnote: St. Matt. iv. +4.] Put your finger down on one of the many precious assurances which God +has given us in His Word, of the certainty of complete forgiveness and +acceptance, and then look up into His face with loving gratitude. + +God's pardon and acceptance are absolute and eternal; nothing can ever +alter them. God wants us to know it and to live in the joy of it. Trusting +His Word gives us safety, certainty and enjoyment. + +If any sin comes into your mind and troubles you, dear child of God, do +not carry it about with you, tell Father about it at once; confess it to +Him and remember that you are under the cleansing Blood. "The Blood of +Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin." [Footnote: 1 John i. +7.] It has not only cleansed us once for all, but it is cleansing us now +at the present moment. + +It is important to remember that the whole purpose of the Bible is to give +glory to God. It is the Everlasting Word of the Everlasting God. "The word +of our God shall stand for ever." [Footnote: Isa. xl. 8.] Make the word of +God _everything_. Receive its statements by faith as revelations of simple +certainties. Find out how happy you are. "Happy is that people that is in +such a case, yea, happy is that people whose God is Lord." [Footnote: Ps. +cxliv. 15.] + +If we are walking with God in our daily life we need a light to show us +the way. David knew well what it was to go along rough roads on dark +nights, so he says, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my +path." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 105.] + +Did you ever hear about Moody's torch? One night Moody had to return home +through a dark wood after one of his meetings, and the path was winding +and rough, so a friend offered him a torch. Moody declined taking it, +saying, "Thank you, but it is too small." + +"It will light you home," said the man. + +"But the wind may blow it out." + +"It will light you home." + +"But if it should rain?" + +"It will light you home." + +At last Moody started, taking the torch with him, and he said afterwards, +"In spite of all my fears, it gave abundant light on my path all the way +home." + +Every promise in the Word of God is like Moody's torch, and if we will +take it and use it, we shall find as he did, that it will light us all the +way to our Eternal Home. 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 us. It +contains plain directions about everything in our daily life. + +The Bible is a Revelation of God Himself. It is a direct communication +from Him to us. There are four things made known to us in the Word which +are of priceless value-- + +1. It proclaims a full, free salvation through faith in Christ. "To you is +the Message of this Salvation sent." + +2. It opens out to you the riches of grace and invites you to take them +freely--freely--freely. + +3. It opens "the door of faith" wide to the weakest sinner and even to +you. + +4. It gives a new life within, which transforms the soul and makes us new +creatures in Christ Jesus. + +Our Lord says, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they +are life." [Footnote: St. John vi, 63.] Can you say, "Thy Word hath +quickened me"? [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 50.] + +Do not be satisfied with reading a chapter here and there. Read straight +through. Why? Because the Bible has a beginning and an ending like any +other book. It begins with the story of a friendship between God and man: +we see man very happy in this friendship. Then something happens; you will +find it in the third chapter of Genesis. Some one has come in between them +and the friendship is broken. Still God is looking for His friend and +calling him, "Where are you?" The answer comes from under the shadow of +the trees. "I heard Thy voice and I was afraid and hid myself." + +Now we come to the last words at the end of the Book, and we hear the same +Voice saying, "I am coming back again very soon." It is the Voice of the +same Friend, no longer sad but glad. "The darkness has all passed +away and the true Light is shining," [Footnote: I John ii. 8.] and will +shine for ever: yes, it is sunshine all around, everlasting sunshine. + +Where is the Bible? Do you keep your Bible where you can take it up +whenever you have a few spare moments? Is it ready at hand so that you can +read it before you go to bed at night? Do the children speak of it as +"Mother's book"? Do you turn to it for strength and comfort? Is it a +_living_ book to you? + +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 backs." We +are doing the same thing if the Bible is laid aside on the shelf, or put +into the front room and allowed to remain unopened week after week. There +can be no blessing in your home and in your life while you neglect the +Word of God. It is this very word of God which will judge you at the last +day. + +Listen to Christ's solemn warning: "He that rejecteth Me and receiveth not +My words hath one that judgeth him," which means you will not be left +without a Judge. It is not a matter of small importance whether you read +the Bible or not: it is a matter of life or death. A neglected Bible shows +you are living without God; a neglected Bible shows you are living for +this world only; a neglected Bible shows that your soul is dying of +starvation; a neglected Bible means that though you may _think_ you can +get on very well without it, Jesus _says_, "The Word that I have spoken +the same will judge him in the last day." [Footnote: St. John xii. 48.] + +The Bible is God's Message to this present generation. Sometimes people +want to lay it on one side as an old book which is out of date. It is the +most up-to-date book in the world. It not only tells us of what is going +on at the present moment, but about what will happen in the future. We see +pictures in the daily papers of what people were doing yesterday and what +they looked like, but in the Bible we have portraits true to life not only +of what we are outwardly, but of the thoughts of our hearts. "The Word of +God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword: it can +discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart." [Footnote: Heb. +iv. 12.] We hear a great deal about the X-rays which show what is going on +inside the body, but this is nothing compared to the Word of God which +penetrates deep down into our inmost feelings and brings them to light. It +is better to be searched and cleansed now, than to go on in the old way +and then to stand before the great White Throne by and by, condemned to +everlasting punishment. + +Let us pray with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and +know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in +the way Everlasting. Amen." [Footnote: Ps. cxxxix, 23, 24.] + + + +ADDRESS VIII + +HAVE FAITH IN GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Romans iv. + + +There is one man set before us in this chapter as the man who had faith in +God. The one thing which marks him more than any other is his faith. The +man lived nearly 4,000 years ago, and yet he is still a vivid personality; +he lives on in our thoughts and memories as the man who trusted God. His +name is still reverenced all over the world, even among people of +different religions, as "The Friend of God." + +"The God of Glory appeared to Abraham," and from that moment Abraham's +faith fastens on what God is. The attractive power of Jehovah drew him +from his home, his relations and his country, and with every fresh +revelation of God, Abraham's faith grasped more of God and clung to Him +with a firmer hold. God's word was all he had to go by; whatever God said +was enough for him; whatever God told him to do, he did it, because, to +_trust God_ means to obey Him. He had God with him at every step. + +If ever there was a clear-sighted man, that man was Abraham, for trust in +God enlightens our understanding. He was a man with a far sight. He saw +what no other man then living saw. He saw that the day was coming when God +would send His Son to be the Saviour of the world. How do we know this? +Because Christ said, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and +was glad." [Footnote: St. John viii. 56.] He saw far on into the future, +farther than any other man then living. He saw the golden City, the holy +City, "whose builder and maker is God." [Footnote: Heb, xi. 10.] Yes, the +eye of faith not only sees God, it sees also what "God has prepared for +those who love Him." + +God was very real to that man. Abraham trusted God because he knew Him +personally. Faith is the act of the soul which looks wholly away from +_self_, whether it be righteous self or sinful self, and looks to God +only, in complete submission and confidence. + +It was because Abraham trusted Him that God stamped the man as His +friend--Abraham My friend. On and on through all these hundreds of years +he has been called "the Friend of God." In the book of Chronicles, in +Isaiah and in the Epistle of James it is mentioned again, "He was called +the Friend of God." + +What is friendship? It is two hearts trusting in each other. Abraham +trusted God, and God trusted Abraham. God put such confidence in him that +He let him know that He was going to destroy the cities of the plain. +The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" +[Footnote: Gen. xviii. 17.] + +Mutual trust is at the root of all friendship. Where there is a lack of +mutual confidence in the home life or in commercial life it spells ruin. +The great question for each one in life is, What is my relation to God? Is +it trusting God, or is it doubting God? + +"Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness." +[Footnote: Rom. iv. 3.] What is righteousness? It means to be right with +God, and the moment we trust God's Word we are made righteous, and we +become righteous. + +We read in Acts that after their first missionary tour. Paul and Barnabas +reported in detail all that God had done, and how He had opened the door +of faith unto the Gentiles. [Footnote: Acts xiv. 27.] So faith is the +gate of life by which the Gentiles were entering in. + +Here was a new fact proving that faith was the gate of the Lord into which +the righteous should enter; [Footnote: Ps. cxviii. 20.] righteous +_because_ believing. Faith is the door by which God comes into our hearts. +Faith is only the door, nothing in itself, but it is called "precious +faith" because of all the life and joy and riches of grace and glory which +it lets in. + +Abraham is not only presented to us in the Word of God as the Friend of +God, but also as a pattern for all believers, and we are told to take him +as our model, "to walk in his steps," to trust God and to find in God's +wondrous friendship all that he found. God has been teaching us ever +since, through the simplicity of the faith of this man. The most +remarkable point in his faith is this, he grasped as no one else had done +that God is God because He can quicken the dead. [Footnote: Rom. iv. 17.] +He can give life to the dead because He Himself is the Source of life. He +calls "those things which are not as though they were" because He is the +Creator of all things. This applies not only to the body but to the soul. +Your confidence in God began when your soul, which was "dead in sin," was +quickened into a new life. When we ourselves have experienced this +quickening it gives us such faith in praying for those we love, knowing +that God alone can quicken dead souls. + +Abraham was "strong in faith"; even when God promised him a son, although +it seemed impossible, "he staggered not at the promise of God through +unbelief," being "fully persuaded" that God was able to do it. To be +"strong in faith" is to feel our utter helplessness and to rely on God's +power only; to be "strong in faith" is to grasp God's promise and not to +let anything make us doubt it. + +We have an illustration of this strong faith in the case of the first +missionary who went out to China a hundred years ago. The captain of the +ship in which he sailed was an atheist, and one day he said to him with a +sneer, "You don't suppose, do you, that you are going to convert those +Chinese?" "No," said the missionary, "but I believe _God_ is going to do +it." Did God fail him? No. His faith was rewarded, and at the present time +there are a quarter of a million Chinese believers who meet in fellowship +at the Lord's Table. + +What is faith? It is the link between me and God. The link between my +emptiness and God's fulness. The link between me, the sinner and Jesus, +the Saviour. Is there this link between you and God? Is the link on? Faith +is the spiritual link, the one and only means by which a man can have +dealings with God, realise God and walk with God. It is a living link +between God and the soul, a living union. The word "faith" comes from an +old word which means to _bind_. When I say "I _believe_ God," it means +that "I am His and He is mine for ever and for ever." It is trusting in +His love, not a mere cold belief in His power. It is grasping His +promises, because they are precious promises. It is the whole heart and +mind going out and up to God. David says: "Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up +my soul; O my God, I trust in Thee," [Footnote: Ps. xxv, 1, 2, 5] This +brings perfect rest. "Thou art the God of my salvation, on Thee do I wait +all the day." Do we make it a habit to be constantly referring to God +about everything? We learn first, that _God_ is, and then our faith feeds +upon _what_ God is. His faithfulness and His lovingkindness are seen in +all His dealings with us. + +Faith has to do with unseen realities, for faith is the evidence, or proof +of things not seen; [Footnote: Heb. xi. 1.] it makes them as real as if we +could see them, and brings them near. + +So we may say faith is like the telegraph wire which connects two places +however far apart they may be. + +We had an illustration of this not long ago. Our Queen Mary was in her +sitting-room in Buckingham Palace. A hospital was to be opened in Canada +4,000 miles off, and she was asked to perform the ceremony. When the +signal was given that all was ready, the Queen pressed a little ivory +button and in two seconds the door of the hospital, which was held by an +electric wire, opened, and in fifteen seconds the signal was flashed back +that the hospital was open. So in about half a minute the signal went +there and back over a space of 8,000 miles. How wonderful! and yet greater +spiritual wonders are happening every day and many times in the day, if +only we have faith in God and let Him work in us and through us. + +I will give you another illustration how the simple touch of faith links +us with God's power. A few years ago some rocks blocked the entrance into +the river St. Lawrence, so that the ships could not go up the river to +Quebec. It was decided that the mass of solid rock must be removed. How +was it done? 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 cleared. + +Faith has done great wonders in times past, and it can still do wonders, +if only we make use of God's Almighty power. But the rule is, "According +to your faith so be it unto you." + +I will give you an illustration. When I want light in my room I touch the +electric button and the room is filled with light. The moment I press the +button I expect the light will come, and I am surprised if it fails. Why? +Touching the electric button is like the touch of faith; it brings us into +contact with the source of light. Faith brings me into contact with God +Himself, for He is the source of life and light. God has ordained that +faith shall be a power as real and as uniform in its working as light or +heat or electricity. Everything about them is a mystery which we do not +fully understand, but all the same they are real to us and we use them. +Although we do not understand them, yet we prove again and again that they +supply us with new life and energy simply by a touch. Even a child can +touch. Faith places all God's fulness at our disposal, but it is only +according to our faith that we receive it. + +I know a poor woman who went through a time of great anxiety about her +little girl who was ill. One day a Christian friend called to see her and +she told her all about her trouble. When she had finished the friend said +to her very tenderly, "You have forgotten one little word of five +letters." "What is it? Do tell me," she exclaimed, looking puzzled. Then +the friend, pointing on her five fingers, said slowly, _f-a-i-t-h_. The +dark cloud cleared away and she was able to look up into God's face again +and to trust Him. + +So when Christ says, "Have faith in God," it is a command to hold fast to +God. It means trust God about everything, great and small; nothing is too +small. Trust Him to save you, and to keep you. Trust Him in every +difficulty and in every duty. + +"Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring +heaven to your souls." + +When Christ said to Peter and the others, "Have faith in God," He said it +very earnestly and with a ring of deep conviction in His voice. He knew in +Himself what dependence on God means in the earthly life. Day by day He +showed what it is to have simple trust in God. When He said, "Have faith +in God," He said it very solemnly, because He was speaking on behalf of +His Father. + +He had come to reveal Him, so He says, "I do nothing of Myself, but as My +Father hath taught Me I speak these things." He had already said, "He that +believeth on Me hath everlasting life," and now He adds, "Have faith in +God." Yes, He claims our confidence, our full confidence, not a half- +hearted trust. + +Our Lord saw men seeking other objects of trust, so He says, "Take hold of +God, hold fast to God, have faith in God and never let it go." + +The world's great need is faith in God. God's own character demands it. +The Scriptures make Him known and reveal Him as altogether trustworthy, +such an One as invites our entire confidence. To have faith in God means +leaning on Him, letting Him bear the whole weight. There is a great +difference between believing and committing. Many say they believe, but +they are not willing to commit themselves to Him. + +A few years ago there was a man named Blondin who performed wonderful +feats at the Crystal Palace. Once he walked on a tight rope stretched +across the centre of the Palace at a height of 150 feet. Another time a +rope was stretched at a great height over a shipbuilder's yard, and he not +only walked steadily across, but he carried a man on his back. A large +crowd gazed at him in wonder and awe, and great was their relief when both +Blondin and his burden reached the ground in safety. + +Among the eager upturned faces in the crowd there was a lad about eleven +years of age. When Blondin came down he went up to the lad and said to +him, "You saw me carry that big man across, do you believe I could take +you?" "Of course you could," replied the boy; "why, he was a big man, and +I am only a little chap." "Well, then, jump up, my lad," said Blondin, and +he stooped down for the boy to climb up on his back. But although the boy +said he believed Blondin was able to carry him across, he was not willing +to trust himself, and so, just saying, "No, thank you," he was off like a +shot and ran as fast as he could till he was lost in the crowd. Though he +said he believed, when it came to the point he did not commit himself, and +that is all the difference, between believing _in_ Christ and believing +_on_ Him. + +Faith in God means really committing ourselves into His hands and rolling +our burdens on Him. + +If we withhold our confidence it shows that we do not really believe that +God is what the Bible says He is. The reason there is so much unrest and +ungodliness is because we have lost sight of God. It is not because the +Bible is out of date as some say, or that the Gospel has lost its power; +it is still as ever, "the power of God unto salvation," but we are +limiting God. + +It is just the same now as in olden times when the children of Israel +limited the Holy One of Israel, and we read how this lack of confidence +grieved God all through those forty years in the wilderness. Yea, they +spake against God, they said, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness; +can God give bread also; can He provide flesh for His people?" [Footnote: +Ps. lxxviii. 19, 20.] Unbelief asks, "_Can He?_" Faith says, "_He can._" +Dear friends, let me ask you to stop and ask yourself, Where do you put +that little word "can"? Are you constantly thinking to yourself, Can God? +or are you saying in your heart and meaning it too, "_God can_"! We limit +God's power to save, by asking, _Can_ God? 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 save." [Footnote: Jer. xiv; 9.] + +You have prayed many years perhaps for the conversion of some one near and +dear to you, but are you limiting God because you doubt His power to do +it? A poor man who gave way to drink said sadly, "I have broken the pledge +again and again"; then pointing to his pledge card he said, "But now I +have written a text on it, Isaiah xli. 13: 'For I the Lord thy God will +hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee.'" Then +looking up he said simply, "Maybe, Him and me will do it together." + +Is it victory over temptation you long for? Look up to Him and say, "I +can't, but God can." Is it grace you need for some special trial? Say, +"God is able to make all grace abound towards me, 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 us.'" [Footnote: Eph. iii. 20.] +The world's great sin is not trusting God. "Thus said the LORD, Cursed be +the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart +departeth from the Lord." [Footnote: Jer. xvii. 5.] Yet in times of +difficulty or danger how apt we are to lean on the arm of flesh. + +During the present European war I was much impressed by the words of one +of our soldiers who writes from the front: "After all that is being done +there still remains one supreme necessity without which neither arms or +munitions can be decisive, namely, the spiritual outlook of the whole +nation. When I returned home after ten months in Flanders, I was amazed at +the lack of spirituality of the people as a whole. The simple faith and +dependence upon God which characterised our country in her past struggles +seem lost to sight. 'They trusted in Thee and Thou didst deliver them' +implied no disregard for military efficiency; it was the real and vital +accompaniment to armed force. Can it be that the hellishness of battle, +the wearing down of the spirit induced by trench warfare, moments of utter +loneliness which every soldier has to bear, strike right at the soul and +enable him to realise the nearness of the spiritual world? '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 shoulders. Some of us have realised what individual +prayer at home has done for us, but we should all like to feel that the +whole nation is also testing the value of spiritual power." + +We read in God's Word that "The children of Judah prevailed, because they +relied upon the Lord God"; [Footnote: 2 Chron. xiii. 18.] and when King +Asa was defeated the prophet said to him, "Because thou hast relied on the +King of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host +of the King of Syria escaped out of thine hand." [Footnote: 2 Chron. xvi. +7.] + +To have faith in God we must put God first in everything. He must be first +when we awake in the morning. How blessed it is to be able to feel, "When +I awake I am still with Thee." A working man said to me once, "I make +myself happy in God the first thing in the morning." David says, "In the +morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up." [Footnote: +Ps. v. 3.] "When I awake I am still with Thee." [Footnote: Ps. cxxxix. +18.] + +"In my morning prayer," said a Christian man, "instead of thinking of my +own needs first, I like to think of the fulness there is in Christ for +me." Let us resolve to put "God _first_," even if we have only time for +one text of Scripture. "God _first_," even if it is only a minute or two +for prayer. A Christian said once, "I must see the face of God before I +see the face of man." The manna was gathered early every morning. Another +said, "Unless I meet with God first, I cannot meet the difficulties of the +day in a prepared spirit." If you put "God first," you will find this will +make all the difference as to how you do your work and how you deal with +others. "Little is much if God is in it." + +To have faith in God is to trust Him _only_. David says, "My soul, wait +thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him." [Footnote: Ps. lxii. +5.] Is it so with you? If so, what for, and for how much? First find out +from His Word that God is able and willing to do what you need; then trust +Him to do it. "Trust in Him at all times" it says again in that beautiful +Psalm. [Footnote: Ps. lxii. 8.] + +"I have been looking into my Bible," said a working man, "and I find a +great many men trusted God, and whatever they trusted God for, they always +got it; He never failed them, and it is the same now." + +You have all heard of Florence Nightingale and her life of devotion in +nursing the sick. She was asked to tell the secret of her earnest +Christian life, and after a pause she said, "I have kept nothing back from +God." Faith in God is unreserved confidence, telling Him all and keeping +nothing back. But before we can do this as a daily habit we must +definitely commit ourselves and all we have into God's hands. + +It says in Isaiah xliv. 5, "One shall say, I am the Lord's." I have a mark +in my Bible which I made many years ago by the side of these words. I put +the date and then I wrote these words: "He gave Himself for me and I give +myself to Him. He takes me and I take Him." Ever since then it has been my +delight to tell others how simple it all is. It is the sinner taking the +Saviour and the Saviour taking the sinner. + +Are you asking, What must I do? First believe what God says about you in +His Word. He says, that you are guilty, lost, ruined. Then He presents +Christ to us as the Saviour and calls on us to believe what He says about +Him. "He that believeth not God hath made him a liar because he hath not +believed the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record that +God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son." [Footnote: +I John v. 10, 11.] + +"Have faith in God." Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of +God, and "faith is the gift of God." And the wonder of it all is that God +says to the weak ones like poor Jacob, "I have chosen thee and not cast +thee away," and He never will, for "_God keeps all His failures_," not +like man who throws his failures on one side as worthless. + + Oh! to trust Him then more fully, + Just to simply trust. + +Then instead of "limiting the Holy One of Israel" we shall be singing at +the top of our voices, "The LORD hath done great things for us whereof we +are glad." [Footnote: Ps. cxxvi. 3.] So then let us "trust in the Lord for +ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is Everlasting Strength." [Footnote: Isa. +xxvi. 4.] + + + +ADDRESS IX + +THE CHURCH OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Ephesians v. 22-33. + + +"Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it." [Footnote: Eph. v. +25.] Two precious truths shine out in these words. He _loved_, He _gave_. +He not only gave Himself for the Church when He died on the Cross, but He +is still sanctifying and cleansing it, and by and by when He comes again +"He will present it unto Himself a glorious Church." [Footnote: Eph. v. +27.] + +So we have the history of the Church in the past, in the present, and in +the future. We look back to the past and we see Christ giving Himself, +that is, laying down His life on the Cross; but we must also look far, far +back into the past Eternity to find out another precious truth. (Perhaps +you have never thought about it.) It is, that the Church was in God's +thoughts from the very beginning! The Son of God was in the bosom of the +Father "in the beginning"; and it was then--before the world was created, +that God chose us in Him and gave us to Him. [Footnote: Eph. i. 4.] +Now we see why "Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it." + +What is the Church? The word "Church" means "called out," so the Church +embraces all who have been "called out" during the present age to form the +"Body of Christ." In the Old Testament we find that the Jews were God's +chosen people, [Footnote: Exod. vi. 7.] so they had all the privileges, +but in later times, the Jews rejected the Gospel of the grace of God, and +then God graciously visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people to +be called by His Name. [Footnote: Acts xv. 14.] + +When did this special "_calling out_" begin? Nearly 1900 years ago on the +Day of Pentecost, and it has been going on ever since, and when the number +of "the called-out ones" has been completed, then "The Lord Himself shall +descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and +with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we +which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the +clouds to meet the Lord in the air." [Footnote: I Thess. iv. 16, 17.] + +Each of those three words, "_chosen_," "_called out_," and "_caught up_," +leads us on to something more. We were chosen in Him to be holy; +[Footnote: Eph. i. 4.] we are called out to be the Body of Christ now, and +by and by we shall be caught up to meet the Bridegroom and to be with Him +for ever. If you are a child of God, you can say with holy wonder, "God +has done all this for me." + +The Church was formed out of a little company of 120 men and women who +were gathered together praying in the Upper Room at Jerusalem. [Footnote: +Acts i. 14, 15.] Suddenly they heard a wonderful sound and saw a heavenly +vision, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost; and before the day +was over that little company increased to the number of 3,000 souls. How +many does it number now? No one knows, but it is a "multitude which no man +can number." [Footnote: Rev. vii. 9.] Some are already in glory, some are +still on earth, but it matters not where they are, they belong to the +"whole family" of God "in heaven and in earth." [Footnote: Eph. iii. 15.] + +On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, 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 Spirit, "For, as the body is one and hath +many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one +body, so also is Christ." [Footnote: I Cor. xii. 12, 27.] "Now ye are the +Body of Christ and members in particular," that is, individually, for +every saved soul is a member. + +The Church is a living body united to Jesus Christ, for He is the living +Head of the Body. He needs His Church just as much as His Church needs +Him. It is the Holy Spirit who unites us to the risen and glorified Christ +Who is the Head, and then He unites us to one another in Him. It is a +_living_ union, because we pass through death into the resurrection life +of Christ, for by "One Spirit we are all baptized into One Body, and we +have all been made to drink into that One Spirit." [Footnote: I Cor. xii. +13.] The Holy Ghost sustains the life of the Church. In Him we live and +move and have our being. As the bird lives in the air, as the flower lives +in the sunshine, so we live in the Spirit, and when we drink in His +fulness there is growth and fruitfulness. + +Have we ever felt this need of drinking into that One Spirit? Everything +connected with the true Church of Christ must be spiritual, it is this +which is being lost sight of in the present day, and it is the reason why +there is so little power and so few conversions. + +Have you ever tried to understand why the Church is called "the Body of +Christ"? Think first about your own body. It is the only part of your real +self that can be seen. I cannot see your heart or your thoughts, but +I know what your thoughts are by your words, and what you feel by the look +of joy or sorrow in your face, and by the way you go about. + +It is by your body that your real personality is made known to others; +what you really are would never be seen unless your body made it known. In +the same way the Church is the Body in order to make Christ known in the +world. He is hidden from our view, He is unseen, but He manifests Himself +and shines out through us, and He sends us to carry His messages and to do +His Will. + +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 body." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 10, 11.] + +This is what the Church is here on earth for, to make the unseen Christ +known. Just as every drop of water reflects the light, so every member of +the Church, however weak and small, can reflect His love. + +Is His compassion for sinners beaming in your eye? Is His purity seen in +your daily life? Do you judge things from His standpoint? + +I remember when some one was telling me why she loved a Christian worker +whom we both knew, she added, "I love her for what I see of Christ in +her." + +Think of Christ exalted in Heaven far above all things, and remember He is +there not for Himself, but for _you_. "He is Head over all things to His +Body, the Church." [Footnote: Eph. i. 22, 23.] + +It is wonderful to think of this union with Christ, that we are His Body +and He is the Head; but there is another wonder quite as great, it is that +He is the Bridegroom and the Church is the Bride. When we speak of the +Church as the Body of Christ, it is a living union, _life_ is the one +thought brought out; when we speak of Christ as the Bridegroom it is +_love_ which is the chief point. It brings out the affection, tenderness +and nearness of the Bridegroom. "So ought men to love their wives as their +own bodies, He that loveth His wife loveth Himself." [Footnote: Eph. v. +28-30.] + +We have nothing so wonderful in the Old Testament. Think of the depths out +of which we have come, and the heights to which we are raised. "He raiseth +up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill +to set them among princes and to make them inherit the throne of glory." +[Footnote: 1 Sam. ii. 8.] Think of the sinner lifted out of all his +bondage and ruin to be the Bride of the Lamb! There is nothing higher that +God can give than this. This will be our glorious position by and by when +the Bridegroom comes to take us to our Heavenly Home, for His parting +words were, "I will come again and receive you unto Myself." [Footnote: +St. John xiv. 3.] + +There will be three great surprises on the day that He comes again. These +surprises have been kept secret, but on that day the glorious secrets will +all be made known. + +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 new, +glorified bodies. What a joyful meeting it will be. + +The next surprise will be that we who are still living on earth when +Christ comes will be changed, we shall not die, we shall escape from the +hand of death. "It is appointed unto men once to die," but "Christ was +once offered to bear the sin of many," [Footnote: Heb. ix. 27, 28.] and +when He comes the saints who are living will be changed "in a moment, in +the twinkling of an eye." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xv. 52.] 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 made. Three great changes will take place--our +_bodies_ will be changed, no more sin, or pain, or weariness; our _minds_ +will be changed. "We shall _know_" then what we cannot know now, we shall +see all as God sees it, we shall know the love of Christ and we shall love +Him as He deserves to be loved, and best of all "we shall be like Him for +we shall see Him as He is." + +The third surprise will be that our _circumstances_ will also be changed; +we shall be no longer on the earth, for as soon as the great change takes +place we shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. He will then look +into our life work, and He will say to His faithful ones who have been +true-hearted and loyal: "Well done, good and faithful servant." [Footnote: +St. Matt. xxv. 21.] Then the heavens will resound with the Hallelujah +chorus, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to Him, for the +marriage of the Lamb is come and His wife hath made herself ready." +[Footnote: Rev. xix. 7.] + +But the glory will be only then beginning, it will be "_glory upon +glory_." Remember there are two stages in Christ's Coming; He will come +_for_ His saints, and then He will come down to earth _with_ His saints. +As it is written: "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His +saints." [Footnote: Jude 14.] "When Christ, who is our Life, shall appear, +then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." [Footnote: Col. iii. 4.] +We shall come _with_ Him when He comes to reign on the earth. + +But there is something still grander than the glorious position of having +a place with Him on His throne. We look on and on into the Eternity that +is coming (and it is a wonderful outlook) and what do we find? It is that +we are wanted for the ages to come to show forth, and to be living +personal illustrations "of the riches of God's grace." It is not only that +we shall be saved and glorified, but that God will use us personally to +show forth all His love. The grace of God is the love which flowed down to +us in our great need, when we were dead in sins, slaves to sin and Satan +and deserving nothing but God's wrath. + +It is we ourselves who are wanted for the ages to come for "the praise of +His glory." The expression "_the riches_ of God's grace" [Footnote: Eph. +i. 7.] meets our personal need, but there is something else that will +shine forth, it is called "_the glory_ of God's grace." [Footnote: Eph. i. +6.] All that God prepares for us is worthy of His greatness and power. The +inheritance which He has in store and the beautiful Home above will be +worthy of God Himself, all that is in it and around it surpassing +everything that we can imagine in its glory and beauty will be worthy of +God Himself. 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 +saints." [Footnote: Eph. i. 18.] + +The words of this old hymn describe what it will be like-- + + "I go on my way rejoicing, + Though weary the wilderness road-- + I go on my way rejoicing + In hope of the glory of God. + + "Then no more in the earthen vessel + The treasure of God shall be, + But in full and unclouded beauty, + O Lord, wilt Thou shine through me. + + "All, all in Thy new creation + The glory of God shall see; + And the lamp for that light eternal + The Bride of the Lamb shall be. + + "A golden lamp in the heavens, + That all may see and adore + The Lamb who was slain and who liveth, + Who liveth for evermore. + + "So I go on my way rejoicing + That the heavens and earth shall see + His grace, and His glory and beauty, + In the depth of His love to me." + +Our mission throughout eternity is to make known the love and wisdom of +God that He may not only be all, but in all. He is in us now, but we want +Him to be in all, 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 ... all and in all." +[Footnote: I Cor. xv. 28.] + +We are passing through wars and convulsions and revolutions hitherto +unknown, but a glorious future is awaiting us, and one thing is certain, +that nothing can "separate us from the love of God which is in Christ +Jesus our Lord." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 39.] That is our security. + +It is also certain that it is not in the power of the devil to destroy the +Church of God, for we are wanted in the ages to come. It is the Church +which is to be the glory of Christ to all Eternity. + +We are also wanted _now_ in a very special way. Men's hearts are failing +them for fear, they need strong, calm, prayerful helpers in this time of +perplexity. Who can speak a word of cheer and encouragement? Who can point +them to the Rock of Ages which cannot be moved? Who can inspire them with +faith and hope? Only the one who has himself made God his Refuge. It is in +times of trouble that the worldly man turns for help and sympathy to the +believer. It is through us that God would work out His purpose of grace +and love to the world. + +A young man who had met with a bitter disappointment went to an aged +Christian and poured out his trouble. After hearing his sad story, his +friend said in a calm, tender voice, "God knows all about it, there is no +such thing as chance in the world." "What is there then?" asked the young +man eagerly. "There is _love_, Eternal _love_," was the answer. + +The reason why the believer is kept in perfect peace is because he looks +beyond all the tumult of battle, the bitter strife and terrible bloodshed +to the time when God will gather together all things in Christ, for He is +to be Head over all. + +LOVE, ETERNAL LOVE. + +Never for a moment shall that love cease to bless us and shield us. +Whatever may happen to our bodies nothing can touch the eternal life +within. + +Do you feel anxious to know whether you will have a share in the glory? I +will tell you how you may know. You remember Christian had a roll given +him by Evangelist which he was to give in at the Celestial Gate. 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 +air. Take your Bible and you will find there four precious words which God +has written for you to rest upon, and which will never fail you. + +1. REDEEMED. [Footnote: Pet. i. 18, 19] "Bought with a price," and the +price was the life-blood of God's dear Son, so we belong to the Church of +Christ which He has "purchased with His own blood." [Footnote: Acts xx. +28] + +2. SEALED. [Footnote: Eph. i. 13] The Seal is God's mark upon us showing +to men and angels and devils that we are His "purchased possession"; that +we belong to Him, spirit, soul and body absolutely, and for ever, for +God's solid foundation stands unmoved, bearing this inscription, "The Lord +knoweth them that are His." [Footnote: 2 Tim. ii. 19] + +A Christian doctor who had been in the Crimean War and in China, was very +particular when going on a journey to have all his luggage "_labelled and +ready_." In his last illness he turned to a friend and said with a smile, +"_I am labelled and ready_"! and then he gave this beautiful testimony: +"There is only one thing that makes me quite ready and quite sure of +Heaven, it is that my sins are forgiven by trusting in the Blood of Jesus. +Nothing that we can do can save us, it is what He did. He alone can give +us peace with God." + +3. KEPT. [Footnote: 1 Pet. i. 5] A young Christian told a friend that he +was afraid as to whether he would be able to live the life. The friend +looked at him, and said, with a ringing voice of assurance, "He is able to +keep you from falling." [Footnote: Jude 24] He then saw that he was no +longer in his own keeping, but in _God's_ keeping, and that the keeping +would be up to the last moment, and be so complete that he would be handed +over without the smallest defect to stand in "the presence of His glory +with exceeding joy." + +4. GLORIFIED. [Footnote: Rom. viii. 30] This is the last and grandest of +the four precious words which God has given to strengthen our hearts, and +it is the crown of all. What shall we say? No words can express what it +will be, it will surpass our highest expectations. But we know that it +will be fulness of life, fulness of joy, fulness of love, and all our +deepest longings satisfied, all our highest hopes fulfilled, and it will +be for ever and for ever! + +Let us hold fast God's sure word of promise, "The Lord will give grace and +glory." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxiv. 11] 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 think, according to the power that worketh in us, UNTO HIM +IS THE GLORY IN THE CHURCH, THROUGHOUT ALL AGES, TO ALL ETERNITY, WORLD +WITHOUT END. AMEN. [Footnote: Eph. iii. 20, 21] + + + +ADDRESS X + +THE KINGDOM OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. Matthew xxi. 1-17, and +Revelation xi. 15-18. + + +Now, therefore, why speak ye not a word of bringing the King back? +[Footnote: 2 Sam. xix. 10] This question was asked a long time ago. You +remember how David was driven from his throne. His son Absalom rebelled +against him and he had to leave the country; but Absalom is now dead, the +rebellion is at an end, and still David is an exile. At last some of the +people talk it over together and inquire of one another, "Why say ye not a +word, or why are ye silent about bringing back the King?" So they sent +word to the King and Judah went to meet him. + +I was reminded of this Old Testament story when a correspondent wrote in +the spring of this year as follows: "I have spent two days in what is left +of Belgium, and I find that the dream of the Belgians is to see the King +ride back into Brussels. Men and women, old and young, talk and plan and +have visions of the time when the King comes Home." + +It is touching to think how these people, in spite of all their +misfortunes, 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 restored. + +It makes me think of another King, our Lord Jesus, who entered the City of +Jerusalem amidst the cheers and acclamations of a large crowd, and how the +words came true: "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold thy King cometh +unto thee." [Footnote: St. Matt. xxi. 5] And now they cry, "Hosanna"--He +is come, He is come! and the children's voices ring out with praise. But +this proclaiming Him as King aroused the enmity of some of the rulers and +they stirred up the people against Him. Here was the opportunity, the +golden opportunity, for accepting or rejecting the Son of God. They had +listened to His teaching, they brought their sick to Him for healing, they +appreciated the benefits of His ministry, but they refused to submit to +His authority, so they were determined to silence His Voice. Sin shows +itself in the rebellion of the _will_ against God, and so they lost the +opportunity, and instead of accepting Him, they crucified their King. + +The words are still true: "Behold, thy King cometh," He comes to set up +the Kingdom of God in our hearts, so the opportunity is given to you now +to accept Him as your King. + +We listen to the good news about peace and forgiveness, but are we willing +to make Jesus King in our hearts? Here is the great test, it is here that +the opposition of man's _will_ begins to show itself, because if He is to +be our Lord and Master He claims all we are and all we have. He must be +Lord of _all_ or He is not Lord at all; nothing less will do. There is no +real union with Him by faith until we say in our hearts, "My Lord, and my +God." [Footnote: St. John xx. 28.] It is impossible to accept Christ as our +Saviour without also yielding to Him as King, and proclaiming Him as King. + +A young friend of mine has these three simple words, "Make Jesus King," in +a frame hanging on the wall of her room. She told me they were the means +of leading her to decide for Christ. + +Nothing but the power of the Holy Spirit can enable us to yield to Him as +our Lord and Master. "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the +Holy Ghost." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xii. 3.] This is the central fact--"JESUS IS +LORD." "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He +might be Lord both of the dead and living." [Footnote: Rom. xiv. 9] + +It is the Holy Spirit who first reveals Christ to your heart and enables +you to say, "Thou art my Lord," [Footnote: Ps. xvi. 2] and then He gives +you grace to love and obey Him as your Master. So, whether you look +backward to the moment when your sins were all blotted out, "_He is +Lord_"; or whether you look at your present life with all its +shortcomings, "_He is Lord_"; or whether you look forward to the end, +waiting for His Coming, _He is Lord_. "Can you say truly-- + + "He cleansed my heart from all its sin, + What a wonderful Saviour! + And now He reigns and rules within, + What a wonderful Saviour!" + +We have seen our Lord proclaimed King at Jerusalem and accepting the +title. Although rejected and crucified, His every word and action was +kingly up to the last moment of His earthly life. He spoke openly of His +Kingdom to Pilate, for when Pilate asked Him, "Art Thou a King then?" +[Footnote: St. John xviii. 37] He answered, "I am." The purple robe, the +crown of thorns, the sceptre, though offered in mockery, were all kingly, +for the superscription over the Cross, THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE +JEWS, [Footnote: St. Matt. xxvii. 37] was true. The Cross was the way to +the Throne. "I beheld, and lo in the midst of the Throne stood a +Lamb, as it had been slain." [Footnote: Rev. v. 6] + +In that dark, dark hour of Christ's agony on the Cross, there was only one +man who recognised Christ as King, and that was the dying thief. It was a +very real cry that broke from his lips in his utter need--"Lord, remember +me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom." [Footnote: St. Luke xxiii. 42] It +was wonderful faith. Can you think of any other as wonderful? He +recognised Christ as King--not a dying King leaving His throne--but a +victorious King about to enter His Kingdom. The penitent thief saw even +more than this, he saw that it was a Kingdom of souls rescued from sin's +bondage and slavery; not a Kingdom of the great ones of earth, but for +outcasts such as he was, so he cried, "Take me as I am and give me a place +in the Kingdom." + +But the answer to the cry was as wonderful as the cry itself--"To-day +shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." When the King said "With Me," He +meant, "I am passing from darkness into Everlasting Light. Come with Me. I +have broken the chains of sin, I am setting the prisoners free. Come with +Me." From that moment the penitent thief was identified with Christ in His +death and in His Risen Life. Is this true of you? + +When earth rejected the King, not only was Heaven opened to receive Him, +but a triumphant reception awaited Him. Heaven resounded with the joyful +chorus of the angelic hosts--"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye +lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in"! +[Footnote: Ps. xxiv. 7.] + +So for nineteen hundred years the heavens have received Him, but once +again the everlasting doors will open, and the Son of Man will come in +"the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." [Footnote: St. Matt. +xxiv. 30.] + +What has been going on during all these years? Kingdoms and world powers +have risen up one after another, but all have failed to give what the +world really needs, "A King to reign in righteousness." [Footnote: Isa. +xxxii. 1.] God is still saying, "Why do the heathen rage and the people +imagine a vain thing?" [Footnote: Ps. ii. 1.] But in spite of man's +rebellion and forgetfulness of God, God's purpose will stand firm, "Yet +have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion." [Footnote: Ps. ii. 6.] +God's purpose is to have all power placed in the hands of One Man, and +that is Christ. What will be the final winding up of Earth's suffering and +struggles? The veil will be drawn aside and + + "The Glory of the LORD will be revealed." [Footnote: Isa. xl. 5.] + +It is the glory of the Personal Presence of the Son of God. When? Where? +How? will the glory be seen. + +Look back into the Garden of Eden. God gave man control over all, but he +listened to another voice and then he lost control. The question was +raised, "Who was to rule, Satan or God?" + +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 world. "An enemy hath done this." [Footnote: St. +Matt. xiii. 28.] It is the devil who blinds the eyes, hardens the hearts, +and deadens the conscience of mankind. But we must not lose heart or think +that Satan is getting the upper hand. The Word of God enables us not only +to trace some of his plots and schemes, but it shows us _why_ God has been +so long silent and _when_ God intends to break that silence. [Footnote: +See Ps. 1] The victory is sure, but whose victory? The Victory of the Son +of God. + +But first the Jews must return to their own land, and then "the kings of +the earth and of the whole world" will be gathered to the battle of the +great Day of God Almighty. All these nations will fight against the Jews +at Jerusalem in the place called Armageddon. It is really a desperate +attempt of the devil who is sending forth these nations to make war with +the Lamb. Jerusalem will be taken, and when the enemy is rejoicing over +the victory and the destruction of the Jews seems certain, then suddenly +they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and +great glory, [Footnote: St. Matt. xxiv. 30] "the armies" which are "in +Heaven" following Him. [Footnote: Rev. xix. 14] + +Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, and His feet +shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, [Footnote: Zech. xiv. 3, +4] and "every eye shall see Him." [Footnote: Rev. i. 7] The armies of the +enemy will be destroyed and God's people will be delivered. In this +marvellous way the Lamb shall overcome, for "He is Lord of lords and King +of kings and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful." +[Footnote: Rev. xvii. 14] + +It will not only be the deliverance of the Jews from their enemies, but +the wonder of that great day will be that at last their eyes will be +opened to see Him as the Messiah, so they will be converted and restored. +The Lord says, "I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and of +supplication and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced." +[Footnote: Zech. xii. 10.] + +What an overwhelming sight! The same Jesus whom they despised and rejected +is come down from heaven to deliver them, but they only think of Him as +the One whom they have pierced. The glory which meets their eye at that +moment is the glory of the love and compassion of the Crucified One. The +result of looking is mourning. They get such a view of their sin against +His love that they are filled with godly sorrow. When the eye of faith is +turned to Jesus then the tears flow. Oh, how perfectly will all Satan's +evil influence in man's heart be destroyed in the presence of Jesus. + +"In that Day we have seen what has taken place at the beginning of that +day, 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 uncleanness." +[Footnote: Zech. xiii. 1.] With the opening of that fountain there is +grace given to _use_ it, for God says, "I will pour upon them the spirit +of grace." Many see the fountain now who never use it! + +Precious fountain, of all things most precious to poor sinners such as you +and me. No one but God's dear Son, and nothing but His atoning death on +Calvary, could open that fountain. The fountain is still flowing--has it +cleansed you? + +Then the Kingdom of God is set up on earth. Who can tell the good news so +well as these restored and converted ones? + +The question is sometimes asked, Has the Gospel lost its power? Is +Christianity a failure? No. The Gospel will yet be preached throughout the +whole world. Who will be the preachers? Converted Jews, [Footnote: Isa. +lxi. 6] "a mighty angel, [Footnote: Rev. xiv. 6] and glorified saints, for +they shall be priests of God." [Footnote: Rev. xx. 6] + +What will be the result of their preaching? There will be a world-wide +revival. "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the +waters cover the sea." [Footnote: Hab. ii. 14] + +When Christ comes to us now, it is to rule in the hearts of His people, +but _then_ He will reign over a believing world without opposition, for +Satan will be bound and Christ will take the Kingdom which is His by +redemption, and His glory will be seen on Mount Zion. "Out of Zion, the +perfection of beauty, God hath shined." [Footnote: Ps. 1. 2] + +And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven +saying: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord +and of His Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever." [Footnote: Rev. +xi. 15] + +After reigning on earth for a thousand years there will be the Judgment of +"the Great White Throne," [Footnote: Rev. xx. 11-15] when all those who +had no part in the first resurrection will be raised, and all whose names +are not "written in the Book of Life" will be "cast into the lake of +fire." + +"This is the second death." + +Has your name been entered in the Book of Life? + +One more glorious Vision of the Kingdom is unfolded +before us, and the glory grows brighter and brighter, +for it is "THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM." + +"I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first +earth were passed away and there was no more sea.... And He that sat upon +the throne said, Behold I make all things new...." [Footnote: Rev. xxi. 1, +5] "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the +Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him; and they shall see +His face and His name shall be in their foreheads. + +"And there shall be no night there: and they need no candle, neither light +of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for +ever and ever." [Footnote: Rev. xxii. 3-5] How wonderful that God should +promise us an abundant entrance into His Everlasting Kingdom. [Footnote: 2 +Pet. i. 11] What does an abundant entrance mean? It means that we shall +not, as it were, just creep into heaven by a side door, but that we shall +have a grand welcome from the glorified ones there and from the Lord +Himself, all the doors, as it were, being thrown wide open to receive us. +Are we preparing for it? A mother who was dying called her little daughter +who was ten years old to her bedside and said tenderly, "I want you to +learn this little prayer, 'O God, prepare me for all Thou art preparing +for me.'" And the prayer was answered, for that little girl was Frances +Ridley Havergal, who lived a consecrated life, and passed away singing +about the Lord whom she loved. + +I must give you some words spoken by that holy man Samuel Rutherford who +was persecuted and put into prison for Christ's sake. "I wonder many +times," he said, "that ever a child of God should have a sad heart +considering what the Lord is preparing for him. When we get Home above and +enter into possession of our Brother's fair Kingdom, it will be like one +step from prison to glory." These words came true, for soon after this he +received notice to appear before his judges in court, but before the day +of the trial came he died. So it was literally one step for him from +prison to glory. His own account of it is given in the following lines---- + + "They've summoned me before them, + Thither I may not come; + My King says, Come up hither, + My Lord says, Welcome Home." + +What will it all be like? No words of ours can describe it, but God +Himself tells us what He will be to us and what He will do for us in the +Eternal Kingdom. + +"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of +God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His +people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." [Footnote: +Rev. xxi. 3-4] + +"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no +more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more +pain, for the former things are passed away." + +The Crown of it all is that "God Himself shall be with them and be their +God." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xv. 28] All creatures will say, "God is everything +to me," for GOD will be "All in All."' + +We have traced out some of the wonderful truths which God has revealed to +us about Himself. "This is Life Eternal that they might know Thee, the +only True God and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." [Footnote: St. John +xvii. 3] + +Apart from God, all is death and ruin for ever; to _know_ God, to _trust_ +God, to _love_ God is Eternal Life. + +The great question is, What is God to me? Can you say--"O GOD, THOU ART MY +GOD"? + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE ONE GREAT REALITY *** + +This file should be named 71grl10.txt or 71grl10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 71grl11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 71grl10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The One Great Reality + +Author: Louisa Clayton + +Release Date: March, 2005 [EBook #7786] +[This file was first posted on May 16, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO Latin-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE ONE GREAT REALITY *** + + + + +Charles Aladrondo, Tiffany Vergon, Charles Bidwell, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +THE ONE GREAT REALITY + +By + +LOUISA CLAYTON + +Author of "Heart Lessons", "Loving Messages", +"Winning and Warning", "Wilderness Lessons", etc. + + + + + + + +"I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE"-- +Isa. xiv. 22. + + + +THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED +to all my friends in Rusthall, +in loving remembrance +of our happy fellowship in the gospel +during the past thirty years, +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 still. + +3, Somerville Gardens, +Tunbridge Wells. + + + +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 volume. + +I do so in recognition of the supreme importance of the great topics that +have been chosen, and also in appreciation of the clear and attractive way +in which the truth is set forth. May the messages find attentive and +receptive readers, and be followed by deep and abiding spiritual blessing. + +EVAN H. HOPKINS. + +Woburn Chase, +Addlestone, Surrey. + + + +CONTENTS + +I GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +II GOD, 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 + +GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +Personal knowledge of God, the secret of happiness--Realising His Presence +in prayer--Illustrations from the telephone and family life--God is our +Father, Saviour, Comforter--The Living God-knowing all, and controlling +everything--Illustrations from current events. + + + ADDRESS II + +GOD, OUR FATHER + +A Chinese convert--Christ's confidence in the Father--Christ reveals the +Father--Philip's prayer, "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 God. + + + 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 answered: Where did He come from? When did He +come? Why did He come?--A working-man's experience--The story of the pearl +necklace--Christ's work of redemption--Sir James Simpson's dying +testimony--Hymn, "He came and took me by the hand." + + + 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 sin, +and revealing Christ--Searchlights--The loveliness of Christ--The Holy +Ghost like a Mother--The Comforter. + + + ADDRESS V + +THE VOICE OF GOD + +Jacob's ladder, 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 Word. + + + ADDRESS VI + +THE HANDS OF GOD + +Why St. John wrote his Gospel--The safety of the believer--God's hands in +Creation, Providence and Redemption--The "Scarred Hands"--The story of a +brave shepherd lad--The Hands of Jesus wounded for our transgressions-- +The Three Crosses. + + + 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 wisdom, +conversion, 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 Bible. + + + 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 committing. + + + ADDRESS IX + +THE CHURCH OF GOD + +The Church of God: Past, Present, Future--Its Beginning and Growth--The +Church the Body of Christ, a Living Union--The Church the Bride of Christ, +a Loving Relationship--The Glory of this Union--Three Great Surprises--The +Old Man's Message; Love, 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 come. + + + ADDRESS X + +THE KINGDOM OF GOD + +"Bringing the King back"--One King, Jesus, 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 Kingdom. + + + +ADDRESS I + +GOD, THE GREAT REALITY + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Hebrews xi. 1-6. + + +God is the one great Reality. 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 soul. 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 +true": this means that we may personally know Him that is Reality. In the +wonder of that moment when we first know that God is real and that God is +near, then we cry out, "My God, how wonderful Thou art." To have personal +knowledge of God is the secret of assurance and happiness, and to put real +trust in Him changes our whole life, for then we can say, "I have a +wonderful God." + +To know God is Eternal life; to know Him fully, brings "life more +abundantly"; to know Him with no veil between, is glory--life. + +If you look again at the 6th verse of the 11th chapter of Hebrews you will +notice a very clear statement: it says, "He that cometh to God must +believe that He is," or to put it in other words, "the man who draws near +to God must believe that there is a God." + +Do you believe in God? Is He real to you? Here is one test. When you pray +do you realise His Presence? Is He so close to you that it is like +speaking into His ear? + +It was this text, "He that cometh to God must believe that He is," which +first awakened a worldly gentleman named Brownlow North to think about his +soul. God's Spirit showed him that he had never really believed in God and +that all his former religion was worthless, "for without faith it is +impossible to please God." As soon as he had really learnt to know God, he +devoted all his life to preaching the Gospel. He told every one that the +first thing we need is _to believe there is a God_. Many of his friends +who were rich and well educated were thus brought to a personal knowledge +of God for the first time. He that cometh to God must believe that He is +really there. Have you ever been conscious of the Presence of the living +God? You must make sure that He is near before you can really pray. + +We have an illustration of this in the telephone. You first put the +speaking tube to your mouth and then you say "Are you there?" In any case +you make sure that the person to whom you wish to speak, is listening at +the other end. Although you cannot see any one, you know he is holding the +receiver so as to hear what you say. + +When you begin to pray always pause for a moment and remember that you are +speaking to God. Do not say a word until the Holy Spirit puts you into +direct communication with God. The Psalmist was quite sure that God was +really listening to his prayer, for he says, "I love the Lord because He +hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear +unto me therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live." [Footnote: Ps. +cxvi. 1, 2.] And again, "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God +with my voice, and He gave ear unto me." [Footnote: Ps. lxxvii. 1.] It is +in this way we realise that there is a God, a personal living God. + +I asked a Christian man one day if he had prayed about some work which was +offered to him, and his reply was, "Yes: I am on the telephone." Can you +say the same? As soon as you have spoken through the telephone you put the +receiver to your ear to listen for the answer. Many people pray without +expecting to get an answer. They are like children who knock at a door and +then run away before it is opened. The prophet Micah says, "I will wait +for God, my God will answer me." [Footnote: Mic. vii. 7.] Yes, he expected +to get an answer. + +The Lord Jesus says, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when +thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret." +[Footnote: St. Matt. vi. 6.] When a child wants to tell his father +something very private he whispers it in his ear. I daresay you have +noticed that the telephone at the General Post Office is enclosed in a +box, so that no one can overhear what is said. There are many things we +say into God's ear which we could not tell to any one else. It makes Him +very real to us, if we can say in our inmost hearts, "O God, Thou art my +God, my very own Father." + +When we speak through the telephone we never say useless words, and our +Lord tells us to avoid needless repetitions when we pray, and He adds, +"for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him." Just +as an earthly father delights to hear his children's, voices, so our +heavenly Father loves to hear us speaking to Him, for He says, "Put Me in +remembrance, let us plead together." [Footnote: Isa. xliii. 26.] + +A child's intercourse with his father is quite simple and natural, he +talks freely about everything. When you speak to God, is it an effort, or +do you look up into His face with confidence and tell Him all? A child +expects his father to supply all his wants and to be equal to every +emergency, 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 +Jesus." [Footnote: Phil. iv. 13.] + +We must not be disappointed if we do not get all we want, because God's +promise is to supply what we _need_. We often wish for things which we do +not really need. + +If ever you lose sight of _God_, think of the wonderful lesson which Jesus +teaches when He says, "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts +unto your children," and you, fathers, always get the best you can for +them, "how much more" (wonderful words), "how much more shall your Father +which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him." [Footnote: St. +Matt. vii. 11.] Have you ever heard God's voice saying to you, I am your +Father; love Me, look to Me, trust Me, worship Me: "Open thy mouth wide +and I will fill it." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxi. 10.] + +A godly man who was a servant used to say, "There is not in the world a +kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual +conversation with God." He felt that God was nearer and dearer to him than +any one else. This is what makes God real to us when we feel that He is +_near and dear_. + + "Only to sit and think of God, + Oh! what a joy it is!" + +It is just the same with your children if you are a really good, loving +father, they are quite happy if they can sit close to you. Your very +presence makes a great impression on them, even if you do not say a word. +Is God's presence so real to you that it makes you control your temper and +keeps you from saying unkind things? + +A boy may be troublesome sometimes, but he never really doubts his +father's love for him. Do you ever doubt God's love? Oh, yes: you say, I +often murmur. Then this shows that in a sense you have never really known +God. People would not speak as they do about God, I mean even Christians +would not talk as they do if they really knew God. We often hear people +say, "I hope God will be good to us," or, "I think it very hard God does +not answer my prayer." This shows they have never personally known Him. +Their thoughts about God are so contrary to what they sing. For example, +how much do we really mean of that sweet hymn-- + + "Precious thought--my Father knoweth, + In His love I rest; + For whate'er my Father doeth. + Must be always best. + Well I know the heart that planneth + Nought but good for me; + Joy and sorrow interwoven, + Love in all I see." + +Do you ever doubt His wisdom and think you might have been treated better? +When we really know our Father-God, then we see His wisdom even in the +things that are against us. We know and we feel that they have all been +working together for our good, "for He knows all." + +This Book in my hand is The Word of God. It is a revelation of God, and +the glory of God Himself shines in every page. The first word in it is, In +the beginning _God_. Perhaps you ask me, "Who is God?" I will tell you. +"He is my Father." But you say, I am so sinful, I am not worthy to be +called His son. That is just what I felt, so sinful, and then He revealed +Himself to me as my Saviour. Ah! you say, but I am so far off, how can I +find my way to Him? And that was just like me till the Holy Spirit led me +to Him. When God reveals Himself to you as Father, Saviour, Comforter, +then you will know that _God_ Himself is dwelling in your heart. Perhaps +you ask, Will God really come and dwell in me for I am so unworthy? God +Himself answers that question; "Thus saith the high and lofty One that +inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy +place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive +the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." +[Footnote: Isa. lvii. 15.] Every one is standing now in view of God and +Eternity. + +A very long time ago the question was asked, "Canst thou by searching find +out God?" [Footnote: Job xi. 7.] The only way we can find Him is by our +spiritual necessities. If your soul needs life, you will find Him. If your +spirit needs reviving, you will find Him. As this text says, I come "to +revive the heart of the contrite ones." + +When your children talk about their Father, he is a real Person to them; +that is what God wants to be to us, a real personal God. He says, "I will +be to them a God." [Footnote: Heb. viii. 10.] I know a little boy who +whispered to his aunt one night when she was giving him the goodnight +kiss, "Oh, Auntie, I sometimes wonder whether there is a God. Are you +quite sure?" "Yes," said the aunt very earnestly, "I am quite sure. You +see, I have known Him so long and He is so much to me, I am quite sure." +The child was satisfied. + +If you will turn again to Psalm cxvi. you will see a wonderful unfolding +of the secret feelings of David's heart, and as we read it we cannot help +saying to ourselves, the man who wrote this experience had very close +dealings with some One about his soul. Who is this Some One? Do you know? +Perhaps you think your religion is good enough to take you to heaven when +you die, but alas! it begins and ends with the "Unknown God." How +different to David's experience when he says out of a full heart, "I love +the Lord," or as the word means, "I am full of love," and then he tells of +his confidence in God; "I believed, therefore I have spoken," as if he had +said, "God is so real to me now, I must tell others"; and he adds, "I will +walk before the Lord in the land of the living." We can walk with God in +our daily life just as Enoch did. + +A good man said a short time ago, If ever I pass any one in the street +with a careworn, anxious face, I long to say to them, "There is _God_," +"Have faith in God." St. John said, "We have known and believed the love +that God hath to us and in us--God is love." [Footnote: 1 John iv. 16.] +This is the central fact, the one great reality in life, and when once it +is grasped there is nothing to compare with it. Why is there so much +unrest, so much ungodliness, and lawlessness in our midst? We are +forgetting God. The only remedy is coming back to God. + +A poor woman who has been a Christian for many years was telling me about +her mother's sudden death the week before, and then she added, "I have +never known God as I do now. The future used to look so dark, but now that +I know Him as the Living God, I can only see _life_. I cannot tell you +what He is to me." Her face, which bore traces of her recent sorrow, shone +with a new peace and a new joy, which made me rejoice. I was sure that God +had revealed Himself to her in her time of need. Those precious words had +come true in her case, "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, +I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these +things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes; even +so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight." [Footnote: St. Luke x. +21.] + +Are you saying, "My soul thirsteth for God, for the Living God"? Then you +will have a Personal revelation of God Himself, for that is the only way +the life of God can enter into your soul and mine. Are you longing to find +God? It is not that we find Him, but that He finds us, making Himself to +us the great Reality. We may know wonderful things _about_ Him, but that +is not enough. We must really know Him in our hearts! + +The very longing which you have for this personal revelation of God comes +from the loving Father Himself, and He says, "I will give them a heart to +know Me": [Footnote: Jer. xxiv. 7.] so we need never think, ah! it is +beyond me, for He promises to _give_ us the heart to know Him. + +I had a striking instance of this some years ago. A working man who could +not read or write told me that he had been converted at our meeting. He +died in the Union Infirmary, and I heard afterwards that he had been a +blessing to many in the ward. He said to me one day, "I want to tell you +_what God is to me_." In very simple words he described how he could see +it all plainly. How in the beginning, sin came into the Garden of Eden and +then God revealed Himself to the sinner so as to bring him back to +Himself. Again and again his simple testimony was, I must tell every one +_what God is to me_. This man had learnt to know God personally through +his own need as a sinner, so it is not by earthly education that we find +God, but through the Holy Spirit's teaching, and then in the Word He +reveals Himself more fully. + +It is "through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord that grace and +peace are multiplied to us," [Footnote: 2 Pet. i. 2.] so if we have not +more and more grace and peace coming into our souls it is because we do +not really know God. + +It makes all the difference in our life when we can say, God is now my +living Father; for it means God in His infinite love has taken my life +into His, and by this personal link of love I take His life into mine. +When He assures us that He is the Living God, it means that He lives and +cares for us. All things, great and small, are under His control. We have +an illustration of this in the present war. Think of our Navy, scattered +over seven oceans, yet all under the control of the Commander-in-Chief, +Sir John Jellicoe. Not one vessel can move without his orders, no ship can +be attacked without his knowledge; the wireless apparatus is at work night +and day communicating every detail. It brings Sir John word of any +submarine sighted, or of any movement in all the seas round our country, +and it carries his orders far and near. + +When God tells us that He is the living God, we know that He cares for us +in the same way as a mother cares for her children. We had a touching +illustration of this about a year ago. + +Do you remember how we were thrilled with horror when the Archduke Francis +Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria, was shot while driving through +the city? He expired in a few minutes, leaving three children. In those +few moments he turned to his wife who was seated by his side and said +these pathetic words, "Sophie, live for our children." He did not know +that she too had been mortally wounded and would be powerless to care for +their orphan children. + +It is because our Father-God is the living God, that He can say to us to- +day just as He said to the Old Testament saints, "I am living for you, +caring for you, protecting you." "Even to your old age I am He; and even +to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made and I will bear, even I will +carry and will deliver you." [Footnote: Isa. xlvi. 4.] When He says to +you, "I am God and there is none else," [Footnote 2: Isa. xlv. 22.] does +your heart answer, Yes: "Even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art +God." [Footnote 3: Ps. xc. 2.] + + + +ADDRESS II + +GOD OUR FATHER + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Matthew vii 24-34. + + +In the chapter we have just read there is a great deal about our daily +home life, and the word "Father" is mentioned twelve times, so it shows +that God knows all about the everyday work. It is a grand thing when we +find this out. + +A poor woman in China was converted, and very soon the lady missionary who +visited her noticed that now her house was very clean and tidy, and told +her how glad she was to see it. + +The woman smiled, and said in her own simple way, "You see my Father God +and the Lord Jesus are constantly coming in and out, so I like to keep it +nice." She realised the Presence of God. + +"The eyes of the Lord are in every place." [Footnote: Prov. xv. 3.] +If we do not find God _everywhere_ we practically end by finding +Him _nowhere_. + +A busy Christian mother told me that she begins each day and lives all the +day long saying in her heart, "In Thy Presence and by Thy Power." We must +not only _say_ it, but act upon it as a _reality_, and then it will be our +daily experience to be in touch with God. + +There was one word which was very precious to Christ and which was often +on His lips, and that was "Father." You remember how He stood one day at +the grave of His friend Lazarus. All the mourners were standing round Him. +Lazarus had been dead four days. It seemed utterly impossible that he +could be restored to life again. No one expected it. + +What did Jesus do? "Jesus lifted up His eyes and said '_Father_.'" +[Footnote: St. John xi. 41.] Those eyes were still wet with tears, for a +few verses before we read "Jesus wept." Then He lifted up His eyes and +said "_Father_": that was enough. There is _everything_ in that word. It +just meant, "I have told Father all about it." He knows, He loves, He +cares, and all things are possible with Him. There is no limit to His +power and His love. + +Then the command was given to those standing near--"Take ye away the +stone." Was Christ going into the cave? No, the dead man was to _come +out_. So we have first the wondrous name "Father," and then the loud cry, +"Lazarus, come forth," and he that was dead came out of the cold grave', +out of the region of death into the land of the living. + +All through His life on earth our Lord always speaks to God as Father. One +verse especially brings out the perfect intimacy, the perfect confidence, +the perfect love between the Lord Jesus and the Father. Jesus says, "All +things are delivered unto Me of My Father, and no man knoweth the Son but +the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to +whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." [Footnote: St. Matt. xi 27.] The last +words of this verse are very precious, for they show that not only has the +Son perfect knowledge of the Father, but He reveals or makes known the +Father so that you and I may know Him as our Father. + +You remember Philip prayed, "Lord, show us the Father, that is what we +want," [Footnote: St. John xiv. 8.] and Christ answered, "He who has seen +Me has seen the Father." Yes, "He is the image of the invisible God." God +said to Moses, "Thou canst not see My Face and live for there shall no man +see me and live," [Footnote: Exod. xxxiii. 20.] and for hundreds of years +no one saw God. Then came the wondrous gift and the wondrous revelation. +God gave His only Begotten Son, and _in Him_ we see the Father. Praise the +Lord! the glorious light has come to us in our darkness. For "God, who +commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to +give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God _in the face of Jesus +Christ._" [Footnote: Cor. iv. 6.] The Apostle John says, "We beheld His +glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and +truth." + +"No man hath seen God at any time," [Footnote: St. John i. 18.] and before +Christ came the verse stopped there; but after He came, then God was fully +revealed; so the verse finishes with the words "the only begotten Son +which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." Will you look +up now, and say, "Lord, show _me_ the Father," and He will reveal Him to +you, because this is what He promises to do. Look at the last line of the +27th verse of Matthew xi. where Christ says, "He to whomsoever the Son +will reveal Him," and without a pause He adds the wonderful invitation, +"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you +rest." It is to the weary and heavy laden that He reveals the Father. He +invites them to share the fellowship He has with the Father, the peace and +joy and rest of knowing the Father. + +Why does He invite the weary ones to come to Him? because He felt in +Himself such joy in this close fellowship with God, He wanted every one to +have it too. He felt that His experience of what the Father was to Him was +so rich, He longed for them to come and share it, "I will give you rest." +It is as if He said, "I will give you the same rest I have when I am tired +and hungry and thirsty; the same comfort that I have when I am +misunderstood and reviled; the rest, the comfort, the peace I have in My +Father." + +We have the same assurance when the Holy Ghost says in St. Paul's letter +to the Corinthians, "Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and +from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord +Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort." +[Footnote: 2 Cor. i, 2, 3.] + +How can you and I know what the Lord Jesus found in His Father's love? He +has graciously made it known to us in the four Gospels. There the veil is +drawn aside and we see how all through His life He was in close fellowship +with the Father. + +We can hear the very words which the Son spoke to His Father in the hour +of deep agony: "O My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from Me; +nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt." [Footnote: St. Matt. xxvi. +39.] The last words on His lips when He was dying on the Cross were, +"Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." [Footnote: St. Luke xxiii. +46.] He said to His disciples the last night, "You will leave Me alone; +and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." 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 do. + +We too can have the sense of God's Presence in our souls at all times. A +Christian woman who was suffering from neuralgia told me that one night +when she could not sleep, a voice seemed to whisper softly to her, "Like +as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him, +for He knoweth our frame, He knows all about our poor bodies, for He made +them," [Footnote: Ps. ciii. 13, 14.] and with those words of comfort in +her mind she fell into a refreshing sleep. + +If you will turn to the 6th chapter of St. Matthew again you will see in +the 8th verse that our Heavenly Father knows about something else. "He +knows what things we have need of before we ask Him." + +The secret of what it is to have God as our Father, and the sweetness of +it, comes out in these three homely questions, What shall we eat, what +shall we drink, what shall we wear? And Christ says, [Footnote: St. Matt, +vi. 31, 32.] Take no thought, that means, do not be anxious about these +things, for your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these +things. Yes, if He knows, that is enough, and then we have only to trust +Him for all. + +Do you find your faith failing sometimes? It is one thing to trust God +when the wages are coming in regularly, and quite another thing to trust +Him when times are bad. It is just _then_ we learn to look less at our +faith and more at God's Faithfulness. + +A minister once gave a little bit of his experience about this. He said, +"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 testing. The last penny may +be gone but GOD is there. I know this to be true. + +"I have often said when preaching, 'It takes real faith in God to be able +to put your head into an empty flour barrel and sing the doxology.' My +wife had heard me say this, and one morning she called me to come into the +kitchen. I said, 'What do you want me for?' She replied, 'I want you to +come out here and sing.' I thought this queer, so I went to see what it +all meant. + +"In the middle of the kitchen was an empty flour barrel that she had just +dusted out. 'Now, my dear,' she said, 'I have often heard you say one +could put his head into an empty flour barrel and sing, "Praise God from +Whom all blessings flow," if he believed what God says. Now here is your +chance, practise what you preach.' + +"There was the empty flour barrel staring at me with open mouth, and my +purse was empty too. I looked for my faith, but could not find it; I +looked for a way of escape, but could not find one, for my wife blocked +the doorway with the dust brush covered with flour. + +"I said, 'I will put my head in and sing on one condition.' + +"'What's that?' asked my wife. + +"'On condition that you will put your head in and sing too. You know you +promised to share all my joys and sorrows.' + +"She consented, so we put our heads in and sang the doxology, and we told +our heavenly Father 'all about our need.' Yes, we had a good time, and +when we got our heads out we were a good bit powdered up, which we took as +a token that there was more flour to follow! + +"Sure enough, though no one knew of our need, the next day a barrel of +flour was sent. Where it came from or who sent it we never knew, but our +heavenly Father knew that we had 'need of these things.'" + +Does not this simple testimony teach us all a lesson? I wonder how many of +us can say from our hearts-- + + Those who trust do not worry; + Those who worry do not trust. + +Which are you doing, dear friends? Trusting or worrying? Count on God. He +never fails, and He knows just what to do. The moment a difficulty comes, +look up and say "Father," and at once the burden will roll off, He will +undertake all for you. + +I had an illustration of this one day when I was going across the Common. +It was very windy, and two little girls lost their hats; they were quite +at their wits' end, till they caught sight of their father in the +distance, and at once they called to him, "Father, father." That was +enough, in a minute he ran to help them. + +I have often found great help in looking up again and again during the day +and just saying "Father." Try it. You, fathers, often say to your +children, "If you want me just call me." That is what our heavenly Father +tells us to do. + +To know God means not only to trust Him, but also to _treat_ Him as a +Father. If you will read the 6th chapter of St. Matthew carefully when you +are at home, you will see that it gives the experience of the child of God +with the Father for one whole day. It includes all that we need during the +day:--food, clothing, forgiveness, victory over temptation, grace to do +God's will, and grace in dealing with others. + +This experience is so deep, so real, so entirely something between Father +and child, that in this chapter we find the words "_in secret_" no less +than six times. When the little child is looking up into a loving father's +face and talking to him, it never thinks of those around. "In secret" +means a sweet sense of His Presence in the soul and of close communion +with Him. "I write unto you, little children, because you have known the +Father." [Footnote: I St. John ii. 13.] + +God is our Father, because He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: this +is one of the greatest treasures of Redeeming Grace. All the teaching +about God as Father comes from the lips of Jesus, and it is in this way He +reveals the Father to us; so if we would know Him, we must drink in His +teaching and watch His life of communion with God. By His life He reveals +to us the reality of the experience into which He calls us to enter. He +also shows us the way. He not only says "Come to Me," but also Come +through Me. "I am the Way: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." +[Footnote: St. John xiv. 6.] It was by dying for us He opened the Way. +"God sent forth His Son to redeem them that were under the law, that we +might receive the adoption of sons." "And because ye are sons, God hath +sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying, Abba, +Father." [Footnote: Gal. iv. 6, 7] So we are not only received into God's +family, but we have also all the privileges of sonship. We are made "heirs +of God, joint heirs with Christ." + +Perhaps you are thinking of your unworthiness; like the Prodigal Son you +are ready to say "Father, I have sinned again and again, I am not worthy +to be called Thy son." God knows just what you are and what you have been, +and He Himself has asked the question, "How shall I put you among the +children?" It is a question which none but the Lord would ever have +thought of, and it would never have been answered if He Himself had not +answered it. It is a wonderful answer: for He says, "Thou shalt call Me, +My Father." [Footnote: Jer. iii. 19.] God Himself puts us sinners among +His children, and no one else can do it, and He keeps us; for He says, +"Thou shalt not turn away from Me." How does He do it? By creating a new +life in us, we are "born again." The old nature is not improved, but a new +heart is given. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I +put within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 26.] + +Can you say, "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into my heart," and +now I can call Him my Father? Being made the children of God by adoption +and grace, let us enjoy the privileges which are secured to us; let us act +as loving children should do. + +Does it all seem too good to be true? Trust His Word, "As many as received +Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that +believe on His Name." [Footnote: St. John i. 12] + +Some of you remember the joy which thrilled you when you first received +Him as your Saviour, but perhaps it was not until afterwards that you +realised the blessedness of your new position as sons of God. + +The Holy Spirit leads us on step by step. First, He assures us that "there +is no condemnation," then He sets us free from the bondage of sin and +death. [Footnote: Rom. viii. i, 2.] All is changed now, we feel the +confidence of a child who has free access to his father at all times. +There are three things which mark the children of God, the spiritual mind, +the spiritual walk, and the spiritual talk. "The Spirit itself beareth +witness with our spirits that we are the children of God." [Footnote: Rom. +viii. 16.] We then call out with the consciousness of sonship, "Father, +Father." + +The witness of the Spirit was given to me soon after my conversion and +thrilled me with joyful assurance. It came to me when a Christian doctor +was telling his children about the way of salvation. He drew a line on the +carpet with a stick and said, "On one side there is DEATH, on the other, +LIFE," and I said to myself, "I know which side of the line I am on." So +it was by means of this simple remark that I found out that I was really a +child of God, and my heart began from that time to cling to God as my +Father. Every day since then I have experienced the blessedness of +trusting Him and knowing Him as my Father. Is this your happy portion? If +not, why not? + + + +ADDRESS III + +THE SON OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John i. 1-18, 29-34. + + +"THIS IS THE SON OF GOD." These are the closing words of John the +Baptist's striking testimony, What a grand message! How it thrills us +through and through! On and on the glorious words ring out, "_The Son of +God is come_." Many years after, when the Apostle John was a very old man, +he wrote in one of his letters, "We know that the Son of God is come." +[Footnote: I John v. 20.] + +Now look back to the first words of our chapter. "In the beginning was the +Word." Who is the Word? It is "the Son of God." When was the beginning? +Long, long ago in Eternity that is past "the Son of God was the brightness +of His Father's glory and the express image," [Footnote: Heb. i. 3.] or +exact representation, "of His Person." In His last prayer with His +disciples our Lord speaks of "the glory which He had with the Father +before the world was." [Footnote: St. John xvii. 5.] + +The first verse of this Gospel takes us back long before this world was +created. Then we come to the creation in verse 3: "All things were made by +Him." This is exactly what is said in the first verse of the Bible of +another beginning, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the +earth." Long before this world was created we read of God's dear Son as +"the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature." All +things were created by Him and for Him, and He is before all things, the +Eternal Son of God. [Footnote: Col. i. 15-17.] + +He says, "I was set up from everlasting from the beginning, before ever +the earth was. When He appointed the foundations of the earth, then I was +by Him as one brought up with Him; I was daily His delight, rejoicing +always before Him: rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth, and My +delights were with the sons of men." [Footnote: Gen. i. 26.] + +How wonderful it is to think that in the Eternity that is past, and long +before the world was made, God had two grand purposes. One was to create +man to be the head of the whole human race. So, when the moment came that +the earthly home was ready, then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, +after Our likeness." [Footnote: Prov. viii. 23, 29, 30, 31.] + +The other grand purpose in the Eternal counsel between the Father and His +Son was to redeem man after he had fallen through sin. The Redeemer is the +Son of God Himself, so He was foreordained to this work of redemption +before the Creation of the world--"The Lamb slain from the foundation of +the world." [Footnote: Rev. xiii. 8.] Hundreds of years rolled on, and +then the glorious message from heaven was sounded forth over the plains of +Bethlehem:--"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy ... for unto +you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." [Footnote: St. +Luke ii. 10, 11.] + + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME + +_Where_ did He come from? _When_ did He come? _Why_ did He come? These are +some of the questions we must try to answer. + +First, where did He come from? He came forth from God. He was in the bosom +of the Father from all Eternity. He said to the disciples, "I came forth +from the Father and am come into the world." [Footnote: St. John xvi. 28.] + +We have read of two beginnings, now we will look at another beginning. In +the first chapter of St. Mark's Gospel, and the first verse, we read, "The +beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." 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 heaven. + +So we read of three beginnings, and these three are all of God. There is +one more which is also of God. + +It is the beginning of the life of Christ in the soul. When we read about +"the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ," we know it means the +beginning of His life on earth. Have you ever asked whether there has been +a beginning of His life _in your heart_? Is it only what you read about, +or is it a personal experience in your soul? Alas! many join in singing +the chorus, "What a wonderful Saviour," who cannot say, "He is my own dear +Saviour." They have never been able to say "My spirit hath rejoiced in God +my Saviour." + +What is this personal experience of the life of Christ in the soul? It is +what the Apostle Paul describes when he says, "I have been crucified with +Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ _liveth in me_." +[Footnote: Gal. ii. 20.] + + "Once far from God and dead in sin, + No light my heart could see: + But in God's Word the light I found, + Now Christ liveth in me." + +In writing to the Galatians he says, "My little children, you for whom I +am again undergoing, as it were, the pains of child-birth, until Christ is +fully formed within you" [Footnote: Gal. iv. 19.] (Weymouth's +translation). + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +Secondly, When did He come? "It was when the fulness of the time was +come," [Footnote: Gal. iv. 4.] that is when the time was ripe for it. +God's clock is never too fast or too slow: so at the exact moment "when +the fulness of time was come God sent forth _His Son_." Still and always +His Son, but now "made of a woman," "God, manifest in the flesh"--the God- +man. + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +What is His Name? God Himself gave the Name. "Thou shalt call His name +Jesus." [Footnote: St. Matt. i. 21.] No other name was to be given: it is +a command, "_thou shalt_ call His name Jesus, for He shall save": that is +why He is _come_. "He is come to seek and to save that which was lost." +"Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He Himself shall save His people from +their sins." He is presented to us as a living personal Saviour. The +promise is, "He, _Himself_ shall save." It means that He will abide in +each believing soul for ever. Yes, moment by moment and for ever. He +abides in us as the Deliverer from all sin. What a glorious promise! Are +you living in the reality of it? + + "Jesus! Name of wondrous love, + Human Name of God above." + +It is the God-given Name. "The Name which is above every name." Is it +precious to you? + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME. + +Thirdly, Why did He come? The King sends ambassadors to represent him in +foreign countries, but God sent "His own dearly loved Son." "For God so +loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." [Footnote: St. John +iii. 16.] The little word "_so_" means love in its unutterable fulness, +and God is the source of it. Have you ever thanked Him for the unspeakable +gift of His dear Son? Link the two words together, _God--the world_: it +means God and you: God and me. Then link together _loved_ and _gave_. It +will take Eternity to get to the bottom of those two words. Now add that +other precious text, "He loved me: He gave Himself for me," [Footnote: +Gal. ii. 20.] and you have "the grace of God bringing salvation." + +Six times in the Epistles we find the words "He gave Himself," and in I +Peter ii. 24, it says, "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on +the tree." This is why the Son of God is come, and it is this which makes +Him so personally real to us when earthly things are fading away. + +I knew a working man who had a long, painful illness which lasted three +years. I rejoice to say that soon after it began he was converted. He was +so earnest that his one thought was to tell others what a dear Saviour he +had found, and many were led to Christ through his example and testimony. +His mother was converted through him and she is now carrying on the +Christian work which he began. What was it that changed this man? It was +the Holy Spirit revealing Christ to him as a living personal Saviour. The +day before he died he said to his sister, "I had such a lovely time with +the Master this morning in between the pain. Oh! it was like healing balm +to me and He gave me a little hymn-- + + "'Jesus loves me, He who died + Heaven's gate to open wide: + He will wash away my sin, + Let His little child come in.'" + +How wonderful that a man nearly 40 years of age should find such comfort +in a simple little hymn. But it is thus the Lord reveals Himself. + +Do you feel that you are like a lost sheep? "The Son of man is come to +seek and to save that which was lost." [Footnote: St. Luke xix. 10.] + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME! + +It is a fact, a certainty. A great reality. Nothing can take it from us. +It is a living experience in our inmost hearts. "And we know," says the +Apostle John, "that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an +understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that +is true, even in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal +life." [Footnote: I John v. 20.] + +The Son of God is come and God presents Him to us as His Perfect Son and +our Perfect Saviour. Twice during His earthly ministry there was a voice +from heaven which said, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well +pleased": "In whom I have perfect delight now and for ever." Can you +reply, "This is my Beloved Saviour and He is everything to me"? [Footnote: +St. Matt. iii. 17 and xvii. 5.] He is either everything or nothing. + +Are you like the merchant in the parable, "seeking goodly pearls, who when +he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had and +bought it"? Is your heart singing + + "I've found the pearl of greatest price, + My heart doth sing for joy; + And sing I must for Christ is mine! + Christ shall my song employ!" + +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 +colporteur, but they could not see the meaning of it, so they laid it on +one side. "But," he went on to say, "from the moment my eyes lighted upon +it, I was greatly attracted by it. So I read and kept on reading till the +meaning dawned upon me, and then," he added with a beaming face, "I found +the Pearl of Great Price." + +This reminds me of that strange story of a very valuable pearl necklace +worth £117,000 which was lost about a year ago. It was sent by post from +Paris to London when it suddenly disappeared and no one knew what had +become of it. A very large reward was offered to any one who found it. + +But now comes the wonderful part of the story. One morning, 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 St. Paul's Road, near London. +He picked it up and put it in his pocket. Presently he went into a public- +house to have a glass of beer and there he met two of his mates. He took +the match-box out of his pocket, pushed it open, and seeing it was filled +with what he thought were white beads or marbles, he said to them, "What +do you think of these, I've just picked them up?" "Oh! they're no good," +replied one of the men, "throw them away." However, Horne decided to take +them to the Police Station. The officers looked at them and said they were +worth nothing, but gave him a receipt for them. + +On their way to the factory they turned into another public-house for a +drink, and while there Horne found one of the marbles loose in his coat +pocket. "Oh!" he said, "I've got one of them left." Holding it up in his +fingers, he looked round and asked, "Will any one give me a penny for it?" +But no one would have it. + +In another public-house where they stopped, he offered the pearl for a +glass of beer, but no one accepted the offer. The pearl which was worth +many hundreds of pounds was despised by one and all. Then Horne offered it +for a packet of cigarettes, but again it was handed back with the remark, +"That's no good to me." So one of his friends suggested that he should +crush it under the heel of his boot as it was no good. + +Later on when some one asked him what he had done with it he said he had +thrown it away. + +It is a wonderful story and quite true. "Oh!" you say, "what a thousand +pities, if that man Horne had only known its value, it would have made him +a rich man in one day." + +Are you not surprised that none of these men ever thought of finding out +the real value of that pearl? But is it not stranger still that scarcely +any one ever stops to inquire who Jesus Christ really is, and the meaning +of His death on the Cross? You listened just now with astonishment to the +questions and answers about this valuable pearl, and yet the same +questions are being asked every day about another Pearl, God's Pearl of +great price, and people are treating it with the same indifference. How +the angels must look on and wonder! + +There are two questions which you have to answer now. First, What think ye +of Christ, whose Son is He? Can you say, "He is the Son of God"? Think of +the Glory of His Person: it is "the glory of the only begotten of the +Father." Think of His Divine Mission: sent by God to be the Saviour now +and the Judge by and by. Think of Him as God's great Gift to a perishing +world. Have you received Him? + +The other question which you have to answer is, "What shall I do with +Jesus?" Remember God hath given to us Eternal Life and this life is in His +Son. "He who has the Son has life, and he who has not the Son of God has +not life." [Footnote: I John v. 12.] Jesus is pleading with you, saying, +"Ye will not come," that means, you are unwilling to come to Me "that you +may have Life." [Footnote: St. John v. 40.] By and by you will have to +face another question, "What will He do with me?" + +"The Son of God is come." It is God Himself who presents Him to us: +"Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world." [Footnote: +St. John i. 29.] He is the One whom God Himself has provided and set +apart: and "now He has appeared once for all to put away sin by the +sacrifice of Himself." [Footnote: Heb. ix. 26.] There on Calvary's +Cross before the eyes of crowds of people "who came together to see that +sight," He is set forth as the spotless Son of God who was made an +offering for sin. He it is "whom God now sets forth to us as a +propitiation." [Footnote: Rom. iii. 25.] He it is, and no other, whom God +sets forth as a Mercy seat, the Blood-sprinkled Mercy Seat. God's eye +rests on Christ and His finished work, and because it is a full, perfect +and sufficient satisfaction for all our sins, "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 Jesus." Oh, +what a comfort it is to me to know that He is always there standing before +God as the Righteous One, and therefore when God looks at me in all my +unworthiness He does not see me, He only sees His dear Son. + +When that godly physician Sir James Simpson was dying, the minister who +was by his bedside asked if he had any doubts. He looked up and said, "I +have no doubts; when I stand before God I shall just _hold up Christ to +God."_ + +This is why Jesus is come, and this is why Jesus died, that the believing +soul may hold Him up to God as "the One who has been made unto us wisdom, +righteousness, sanctification and redemption," [Footnote: I Cor. i. 30.] +and it is all God's doing, from first to last. I love to say to myself,-- + + "I'm a poor sinner and nothing at all, + But Jesus Christ is my all in all." + +Our salvation depends on believing God's Word, that He has accepted our +Surety. When God raised Him from the dead, it was a proof that all the +claims of His holiness and justice had been fully met and satisfied. +The debt is paid because Jesus paid it all. He gave Himself as a ransom-- +the redemption price for all. + +So now God sets Him forth in all His untold preciousness and proclaims the +glorious message, "_Deliver him_, that poor helpless sinner, from going +down into the pit. I have found a ransom." [Footnote: Job xxxiii. 24.] + +What was the price to be paid? "The Son of man is come to give His life a +ransom for many." "We are redeemed, not with silver and gold, but with the +precious blood of Christ." Who can tell how precious? "More precious far +than gold." Think what it _cost_ the Father: He gave His only Son. "Having +yet one son, His well-beloved, He said, I will send Him." + +Think what it cost the Son of God. Think of His agony in the garden, and +then the hiding of His Father's face, and last of all the pouring out His +soul unto death on the cross. Our redemption is doubly precious, not only +because of the price paid, but because of the Divine and Holy One who paid +it, the Lord of glory, even the Son of God Himself, "Which things even the +_angels_ desire to look into." [Footnote: 1 Pet. i. 12.] They long to see +into the depths of this wondrous redeeming love. + +Can you sing this chorus from your heart-- + + "Precious, precious, + Precious is my Lord to me; + Precious, precious, + Everything in Him I see." + +Think of what we have been rescued from! Christ has redeemed us from sin, +and death and hell. + +Think of the cost of this great salvation, and then ask yourself, how much +is it worth to me? We shall only be able to answer that question when we +are safe home in the glory. Then we shall be looking back on death, +looking back on the Judgment of the great White Throne, as never having +come into it: looking back on the old world which has passed away. + + "When this passing world is done, + When has sunk yon glorious sun, + When I go to Christ in glory, + Looking o'er life's finished story; + Then, Lord, shall I fully know + Not till then--how much I owe." + +Think of the last plague which God sent upon Egypt. It was not till the +midnight cry, that exceeding great and bitter cry had resounded through +the land of Egypt showing that the destroying angel had entered the houses +of the Egyptians, leaving death and desolation there; 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 doorposts. Think of +their wonder and of their thankfulness. They had believed and obeyed +before, but _now_ their hearts are filled with gratitude and praise. If +you have really cast yourself and all your sins on Christ, then you too +will join in the new song, saying, "Thou art worthy, for Thou wast slain +and hast redeemed us to God by Thy Blood." [Footnote: Rev. v. 9.] + +To _receive_ Christ now into our hearts by faith is to be born of God: +[Footnote: St. John. i. 12, 13.] spiritual life is imparted to the +believer. + +To _feed_ upon Christ day by day is to live by Him: [Footnote: St. John +vi. 57.] this is the evidence of life in the believer. + +To see Christ by and by and to be like Him, is life perfected in glory. +[Footnote: 1 John iii. 2.] + +Dear fellow sinners, let me entreat you most earnestly in the light of an +Eternity that is coming, and as you value your precious, never-dying +souls, do not trifle with God's unspeakable Gift. "How shall we escape if +we neglect so great salvation?" [Footnote: Heb. ii. 3.] No one either in +heaven or upon earth can answer that question. If the lost in hell could +speak to us they would tell us that there is _no_ escape. + +THE SON OF GOD IS COME, + +and oh! the wonder of it all, "He came to where I was." +The words of this beautiful hymn describe it-- + + "I looked and there was none to help, + 'No man' could meet my case: + A weary, world-worn heart was mine, + Without a resting place. + Then One drew near, the Christ of God, + With pitying eyes He scanned, + Jesus came to me where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "He led me first to Calvary's mount, + And, oh! what sight it gave! + The agony, the life out-poured, + It cost Him there to save. + My heart fell broken at His feet, + Who could such love withstand? + The love that came to where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "He lifted me upon a rock, + Round me His light He shed; + He poured His peace into my heart, + He healed, He held, He fed. + Ah! then I knew that holy One, + The whole could understand. + The One who came to where I was, + And took me by the hand. + + "And since that day, through all the days, + His love my way has planned: + He comes to bless me where I am, + He takes me by the hand. + This glorious One is all to me, + He shall my life command, + The Christ who came to where I was, + And took me by the hand." + + + +ADDRESS IV + +THE SPIRIT OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John iv. 1-26 + + +God is a Spirit. 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 God. He told her that God is Father, that God is +Saviour, and that God is Spirit; three Persons but one God. + +The Lord opened her heart and she grasped this wondrous truth. + +Christ said to her, "God the Father is seeking you, He is longing for you +to come to Him." Then He let her feel and see that He is the Saviour. + +Was it not wonderful that she was the first to tell the good news that He +is "the Saviour of the world"? [Footnote: St. John iv. 42.] + +Christ said to her, "God is a Spirit," and she found that no one else but +God could touch her heart. + +Until the Spirit of God comes into our hearts, we cannot really know God +personally or have communion with Him. "Now we have received, not the +spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know +the things that are freely given to us of God." [Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 12.] + +Although our hearts are so sinful the Holy Spirit is longing to come in. +He found an entrance into the heart of this poor woman whose life was a +wreck with its four great failures. Every life is a failure in God's +sight, but we must never despair of any one, for "with God all things are +possible," and as long as life lasts there is hope for the sinner. + +"The Lord opened her heart," she heard and believed, and went home to tell +others what a dear Saviour she had found. It was the beginning of a +revival at Sychar, and every revival begins in the same way, God is +revealed by His Spirit and men realise the nearness of God. + +Until a man really finds out what God is, there can be no true spiritual +worship. This is the truth Jesus came to make known to us when He says, +"God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and +in truth," for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. Yes, the Father +is seeking us, yearning for us to come close to Him and to respond to His +love for us. When our Lord tells us that we must worship in spirit, He +means that it is the spirit in man which responds to the Spirit of God. Do +you offer Him your heart's devotion and praise, or is it only lip-worship? + +True spiritual worship does not depend on forms or ceremonies or on any +special place or time. I felt the point of this when a railwayman said to +me, "We can be in touch with God all the day long." + +God is a Spirit, just as "God is Light." [Footnote: 1 John i. 5.] +And there are no limitations as to where He works or His ways and time of +working. + +The Holy Spirit reveals to us far more about God than we ever imagined. +The Bible says, "Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered +into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that +love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit." +[Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10.] + +Until the Holy Spirit opens our blind eyes to see spiritual things we +cannot understand them. It is not the words of man's wisdom which can +explain them, we need to use spiritual words for spiritual truths, so we +can only speak as the Holy Spirit teaches us what to say. "The natural man +receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness +unto him," [Footnote: 1 Cor. ii. 14.] he does not grasp the meaning of +them. + +It is because God is a Spirit that he meets our spiritual need when we +feel altogether helpless and hopeless in ourselves, for He says, "I will +put My Spirit within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 27.] God begins in the +very centre of our being, in our innermost hearts. God makes Himself known +to us as God, through our spiritual necessities. + +The Presence of the Holy Spirit is a personal thing in each one who +receives Him. There is only one way by which we can receive the Holy +Spirit, and that is by faith. The Holy Ghost has been given. Will you ask +yourself, Have I received Him? If not, why not? + +When God puts His Spirit into our hearts He abides with us for ever. He +never leaves us. Even when we grieve Him by our coldness of heart, He does +not leave us. + +It is God who begins the work of grace in our hearts. The Book which +reveals to us what God is, opens with the words, "In the Beginning, +_God_." [Footnote: Gen. i. 1.] God is the Beginner of all things, not only +of the creation of the world, but of the new creation in our souls. This +Book unfolds to us how God begins and finishes the great work of +redemption and salvation. + +We find another marvellous beginning which is also unfolded in this Book. +"The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." [Footnote: 1 Gen. +i. 2.] It is a remarkable word; it means the Spirit of God brooded on the +face of the waters. In Genesis we read, "The Spirit of God was brooding," +and in the Gospels we find the Spirit of God compared to a dove. The word +"brooding" is a figure of the mother dove brooding over her nest and +cherishing her young. The first time the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the +Old Testament is in this verse, and the first emblem of the Holy Spirit in +the New Testament is in the 3rd chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, where it +says that, after our Lord had been baptized, "The heavens were opened unto +Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon +Him." [Footnote: St. Matt. iii. 16.] + +First let us look at the background of the picture. We see darkness and +desolation, death and ruin. Then we see the Spirit of God, the Dove of +peace, brooding over it all, and bringing light and life, love and peace +out of the confusion. + +So the two thoughts which are here brought to our minds are Motherhood and +Peace. 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 Spirit. + +When Christ is speaking of the New Birth, He says we are "born of the +Spirit." [Footnote: St. John iii. 6.] Again, when the cry of the new-born +soul is spoken of, we are told how it comes; for Paul says, "God hath sent +forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." +[Footnote: Gal. iv. 6] Again there is the beautiful expression, "The +Spirit of Adoption." "We have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we +cry Abba, Father." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 15.] "Abba" means "dear Father." + +When God would reveal His heart of love to us He says, "As one whom his +mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." [Footnote: Isa. lxvi. 13.] +Think of a mother busy with her work, and her little one playing on the +floor. Presently there is a cry, it has fallen down, and in a moment the +mother is by its side to soothe it. But there is something sweeter still. +Even if nothing befall the child the mother is near by to help it over +every difficulty and to respond to every look and sign. Even so our God +who is to us our Mother Comforter, says, "Before they call I will answer, +and while they are yet speaking I will hear." [Footnote: Isa. lxv. 24] + +The little child always turns to its mother for comfort in every trouble. +There is one thing which we notice in every home, that is, the mother's +tender love and constant care for her little one. Night and day her child +is her one thought. So the Lord says of His people, "I the Lord do keep +it, lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." [Footnote: Isa. +xxvii. 3.] Every child of God can say-- + +"Moment by moment I'm kept in His love." + +Does the child need the mother's constant, watchful care? Yes, because +everything around is like a new world to the little one, it is all a new +experience. The mother gives herself up so entirely to the child that it +depends on her for everything. In the same way when the soul is born again +it is brought into a new relation to God, it has entered into a new +experience and the Holy Spirit becomes to it just what the mother is to +the child and much more. + +Just as the mother trains the little one to take the first steps in +walking and holds it up, so it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to +walk and to please God. The little hand is slipped into mother's hand to +be led and held up. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the +sons of God." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 14.] + +The mother keeps the child close to her, so the Holy Spirit is the +Comforter to us, by our side, for the word "Comforter" means, The one whom +we call to our side to help us. Just as the mother tells her child what to +say when it wants anything, so He helps us when we pray, "for we know not +what we should pray for as we ought." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 26.] + +"The Comforter is come." When did He come? On the day of Pentecost, for it +was _then_ that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and He has been with us +ever since. + +Let those words ring in your heart and in your life, "The Comforter is +come." [Footnote: St. John xv. 26.] There is a beautiful hymn which +illustrates the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. It +begins with the words-- + + "Spirit Divine! attend our prayers, + And make our hearts Thy home." + +Then four things are mentioned which show forth God's power in Nature. +Light, fire, dew, wind. In the Bible they are all used as symbols of the +Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of men. + +In Nature we know that human power is small compared with the power of +light, fire, wind, and water. Have we learnt to depend only on the Power +of the Holy Ghost? God's Voice is ever saying to us now, oh! that we may +listen, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." +[Footnote: Zech. iv. 6.] Just as all the marvels of the natural world are +perfectly carried out by God's wisdom and power, so He has given the Holy +Spirit to make Him perfectly known as a living Presence, a living Power +and Reality in our hearts and lives. + +In the second verse of the hymn we find the words-- + + "Come as the Light--to us reveal + Our emptiness and woe." + +We know what the light does when it shines into a room, It reveals or +shows up any dust we had not noticed before. So when the light of God +shines into our hearts it reveals what we never saw before. + +Have you ever watched the battleships on a dark night, anchored a little +way off from the coast? Suddenly the bright dazzling searchlights are sent +out from the ship. They seem to sweep over the ocean with their sparkling +light and then to wrap you round, as you stand there on the shore. The +sight fills you with wonder; you feel as if the eyes of all on board ship +can see you. + +It is the same when the Holy Spirit shines into our hearts; it is almost +overwhelming; we can only cry, "Woe is me, for I am undone." +[Footnote: Isa. vi. 5.] We stand condemned under the searching eye of God. +All our self-righteous excuses are swept away. 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 neighbours. The dazzling light of God's Presence has +searched us through and through and turned us inside out. Is this +searching necessary for every one? Yes, for it is the only way we can +learn to know the evil of our hearts. + +Sometimes the light of the Holy Spirit comes to us in a quiet moment and +shows us what we never saw before. Sometimes it comes like a flash. It +flashed out on the road when Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus. +He described it when he was being tried before King Agrippa, "At midday, O +King, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the +sun, shining round about me. And I fell to the ground and I heard a voice +saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he tells us also +that he could not see for the glory of that light." [Footnote: Acts xxvi. +13, xxii 17.] Whenever the light comes it is a revelation, a moment never +to be forgotten: Darkness conceals, light reveals. + +The Spirit of God brooded over the face of the waters, and God said, "Let +there be light and there was light." [Footnote: Gen. i. 3.] + +The Holy Spirit not only shows us what we are, but He shows Christ to us; +then we see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. "For God, who +commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to +give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus +Christ." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 6.] Yes, God's glory is radiant on the face +of Christ and the Holy Spirit reveals it. He delights to show us His +beauty and His loveliness and thus to glorify Him. He makes Him a reality +in our souls--"a living bright Reality." If you have not seen Him as +"altogether lovely" it is not because the Holy Spirit is not willing to +show Him to you, but because you turn away and will not look. + +How good it is of God to send the Holy Spirit into this world on purpose +to reveal these things to us. We should never see them but for Him. "The +natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he +know them because they are spiritually discerned." [Footnote: I Cor. ii. +14.] What is the natural man? It is what we are by nature before the +Spirit of God gives us a new life. When it says "He receiveth not the +things of the Spirit of God," it means that he has no power to receive +them. He is groping in the dark, loving the darkness rather than the +light. + +A poor woman who had led a careless worldly life, sent me this message +when she was dying, "Tell her the little prayer she taught me has been +answered. She will understand. Tell her God has shown me myself and +He has shown me Himself, so I am going to be with Him." + +The little prayer which she had learnt from my lips was this--"Lord, show +me myself; Lord, show me Thyself." How I thanked God that He used it for +the saving of her soul. + +When the Holy Spirit convinces us of sin and of our need of a Saviour, He +does not leave us there. He draws aside the veil and reveals to us the +secret love of God. When our eyes have been opened to know that God is +_Light_, then we find out that God is _Love_. How did this love of God +show itself? God sent His Son, "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 Him." [Footnote: 1 John iv. 9.] It is not only the +Love of God made known and shining out in the Gift of His Son, but we are +told that "God commendeth His love towards us." [Footnote: Rom. v. 8.] +How does God commend His love? He sets together His love for His Son and +His love for the sinner, and His love for the sinner is so great that +He gave His Son to die for us. Thus the words "God commendeth His love" +make it quite clear that "God loves the sinner with a love which gives its +best, gives everything, keeping nothing back, and gives to everybody." + + "Oh, the love that gave Jesus to die, + The love that gave Jesus to die, + Praise God it is mine this love so Divine-- + The love that gave Jesus to die." + +"God commendeth His love towards us in that, when we were yet sinners," it +makes no difference _who_ we are or _what_ we have been, the Holy Spirit +fixes our thoughts on that little word "yet." The text says, "When we were +yet sinners, still far off, still lost and undone, Christ died for us"; so +the Blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, "cleanseth us from all sin." +[Footnote: I John i. 7.] When we feel that sin is really a burden then the +Holy Spirit points us to the little word "all." Then He applies the +precious Blood to our guilty consciences, assuring us by the Word that the +Blood of Jesus Christ does cleanse from all sin so that not a single stain +is left. It is a perfect cleanser, there is nothing it cannot do. Then the +Holy Spirit shows us that God has provided a perfect covering for us in +the Robe of Christ's Righteousness. + +It is thus that the Comforter, who is the Spirit of Truth, leading into +all truth, shows us the meaning of Christ's redeeming work and enables us +to understand it and to appropriate it. When we do this it is indeed a +blessed experience. + +A young man whom I know described it as follows: "I heard the voice of God +saying to me, 'Who told thee that thou wast naked?' [Footnote: Gen. iii. +11.] 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 +Righteousness. I feel I am exactly suited to Jesus as He is exactly suited +to me, for I am just the one who needs His fulness, and He is the only one +that can supply my emptiness." + +I praised God for this clear testimony, and I have seen again and again +ever since I began to work for the Lord many years ago, that the Holy +Spirit delights to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ as "a full Saviour for +empty sinners." + +The Gospel of St. John tells us very plainly that the Holy Ghost was sent, +not only to make us see the meaning of Christ's finished work, but also to +prepare our hearts to receive it in all its fulness. + +How does the Holy Spirit prepare our hearts? First, He opens our hearts, +awakens in us a sense of our need and sinfulness, then, when He has opened +our hearts, He breathes into them a new life; He creates a longing for +God. We feel within us a burning desire to know God. We catch eagerly at +everything we hear about God, This is quite a new experience; we used to +go on year after year not troubling about it in the very least. What is +this new experience, this seeking after God? It is what the Bible calls +"Repentance." The word means "Change of mind." Again and again the Apostle +Paul urged upon both Jews and Greeks the necessity of "repentance towards +God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ." [Footnote: Acts xx. 21.] + +A few days ago I received a touching letter from a young friend telling me +how God's Spirit had led her to repentance. She wrote, "When I was a +little girl and began to seek the Lord, I was very much troubled because +I could not feel sorry enough for my sins. I wanted a real repentance to +come to the Lord with. I thought repentance meant crying over one's sins a +great deal, and I could not feel sorry enough to cry as I wanted to. I +used to keep praying, 'Give me a real repentance.' Many times I dreamed I +had this deep repentance and could cry over my sins, and I have awakened +with my face really bathed in tears, but oh, how disappointing it was to +find it only a dream and I had not got what I wanted after all. I went on +like this until I was twenty, when the Lord spoke these words with great +power to my soul, 'The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.' The +voice seemed audible and I turned to see if anybody had spoken to me. I +was able to weep enough then, but they were tears of joy and gratitude, +and I well remember saying aloud, 'O Lord, why me, why one so sinful as I +am?' I now see that repentance means 'a change of mind' and not a flood of +tears. Had I known this when a child it would have saved me years of +toiling and praying for repentance." + +Dear friends, perhaps some of you are trying to get right with God. Look +at the text which gave such peace to this seeking one. It begins with this +question, "Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and +longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to +repentance?" [Footnote: Rom. ii. 4.] + +We little know that all the time we are working and toiling we are really +despising, turning away from the riches of His goodness. The word "riches" +shows how abundant His goodness is; therefore we are "without excuse." + +God's forbearance in delaying punishment, and His longsuffering in +patiently waiting, show that His purpose in thus dealing with us is to +lead us to repentance, which is not merely grief for sin, but a thorough +inward change. + +So we now know what we did not know before, that it is "the goodness of +God that leads us to repentance." + +Yes, we find now that instead of working our way, back to God, He is there +close to us, with open arms to receive us, stretching out His loving Hand +to save us. We find that instead of trying to gain God's favour by our +prayers and good works, God's Righteousness is there for us all ready and +provided for us. We find that we are accepted in His dear Son not for any +good thing we have done, but simply by faith in Jesus. All this is shown +to us by the Holy Spirit, and without Him we could not have seen it. + +We were speaking just now about repentance. Have you ever noticed that +when our Lord began preaching the Gospel, the first word He said was +"Repent." [Footnote: St. Matt. iv. 17.] Why did He call to the crowds so +earnestly to repent? Again and again that word keeps ringing out. He +wanted to make them see that He condemned the way they were living and +their religious professions. It was a call to stop and think, as if He +said to them, "You have lost your way, you are on the wrong road, stop and +turn round." + +First He points to the right road. He proclaims that the Kingdom of God is +come. Then He says to them, But before you can enter in you must repent. +The people recognised the meaning of the call; they knew that if they +obeyed the whole course of their lives would have to be changed, because +having lost the true centre of life, they were simply _drifting_. The man +who is living without God is like a ship drifting on the wide ocean +without a pilot or chart or compass. For three years He pleaded with them +tenderly and lovingly, and at last they gave their final answer to His +message. They said, "We will not submit to the Divine government, we will +not have this Man to reign over us," [Footnote: St. Luke xix. 14.] _and so +they crucified Him_. + +When we have been led by the Holy Spirit to repentance we see sin, and we +see ourselves in a new light. As soon as we really know God we cannot help +being sorry for our sin. We begin to long for a Saviour, a Mediator, and +it is then that the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus. Repentance, or change +of mind, is the first step, and then follows conversion--a change of heart +and life. The word conversion means "turning round." Jesus says, +"Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter +into the Kingdom of Heaven." [Footnote: St. Matt. xviii. 3.] + +Think of God's two great gifts; first, the Gift of His only begotten Son, +then the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Have you received them? Perhaps you ask, +"How can I know?" If you have received the Holy Spirit there will be joy +and peace in your heart, and the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in your +daily life. + +"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye +may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost." [Footnote: Rom. +xv. 13.] + +"And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost." +[Footnote: Acts xiii. 52.] They were filled again and again, more and more +filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. + +You, too, may have a Spirit-filled life. God says to you now, and He is +saying it every day and every hour, "_Be filled with the Spirit._" +[Footnote: Eph. v. 18.] + +Remember there are different degrees in the Christian life. First, there +is Everlasting Life for all who seek it. Only ask Me, Jesus said to the +woman of Samaria, and I will give you _living_ water. Then he leads her on +a step further. "It shall be in you a well of water." It will be an +abundant life, a joyous, satisfying life. Afterwards He tells us that it +will be a life "overflowing for others." [Footnote: St. John vii. 38, 39.] +This is to be the experience of all believers now through the Holy Spirit. +Lastly, the crowning of it all is still to come and we shall drink of "the +pure river of the Water of Life." [Footnote: Rev. xxi. 1.] +That will be the fulness of life through all Eternity. + + + +ADDRESS V + +THE VOICE OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Genesis xxviii. 10-22. + + +Jacob is leaving home for the first time, to take a long journey of 450 +miles. He is quite alone and he feels very lonely when he lies down the +first night in a barren place, with a stone for his pillow. Jacob was like +some of us, he had heard about God ever since he was a child, but God was +not real to him because he had never had any personal dealings with Him. + +That night he had a wonderful dream, and it made a great difference to his +whole life. The ladder which he saw in his dream was to show him that +there was a gulf between him and God: and the gulf was caused by his sins. +It also showed the necessity for some means of communication to be +provided for him. Right down to his deep need the ladder came, right up to +God Himself the ladder reached. It was set up on earth and it reached to +heaven to make him understand that the gulf had been bridged over, so that +now, constant, free communication was possible between his soul and God. +The ladder which Jacob saw in his dream is mentioned again in St. John's +Gospel. Jesus said to Nathaniel, "Because I said unto thee I saw thee +under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than +these. And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye +shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon +the Son of man." [Footnote: St. John i. 50, 51.] + +The Lord Jesus had been revealing Himself to Nathaniel and this +conversation took place near Bethel, so that the reference to Jacob's +ladder was very forcible and the wonderful type was made clear. + +When Jesus said that heaven would be opened, He meant not only opened just +once, but _remaining open_; so that ever since Christ ascended into heaven +we have lived and are still living under an "open heaven," which means +free intercourse between God and man, because Christ Himself is the +Ladder. It also means He is the one and only means of communication +between the sinner and God. It is "through Him we have access by one +Spirit unto the Father." [Footnote: Eph. ii. 18.] All that we know of God +comes to us through Him, and all the grace we receive from God comes +through Him. So Jacob's ladder is as real to us now as it was to him then, +for it connects the seen with the unseen. It is possible for us now to +have Christ's Presence with us always and everywhere, for He says Lo, I am +with you alway. [Footnote: Matt. xxviii. 20.] + +But there was something more wonderful for Jacob to see even than the +ladder. "The LORD stood above the ladder." It was the first time in his +life he had realised the Presence of God. He had lived over forty years +without realising that God was close to him. When he awoke from his dream +he said, "Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not." He never +forgot it, just as we never forget the time and place where we are +converted. One hundred years after that night, when he was a very old man, +he mentioned it to his son. He said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared unto +me at Luz and blessed me." [Footnote: Gen. xlviii. 3.] + +But what impressed him deeply was that _there_ in that lonely place, many +miles away from any human being, he heard the Voice of God speaking to +him. It was then that a new life began in his soul, for God told him that +from that moment He would be with him _everywhere_, blessing him and +protecting him from all danger, and it was then Jacob began to trust God +as his _God_. + +So we see how God's glory and God's grace were shining down from the top +of the ladder into poor Jacob's heart. Jacob was face to face with God for +the first time, and he began to tremble with fear. If only you could +realise that God is now, at this very moment, straight in front of you, +you would fall down on your face before Him, and you would cry to Him as +Job did, "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye +seeth Thee; wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." +[Footnote: Job xlii. 5, 6.] + +It is at this moment that we realise for the first time our need of a +substitute, just as Job did, for he said, "He is not a man as I am that I +should answer Him, neither is there any daysman betwixt us that can lay +His hand upon us both." [Footnote: Job ix. 33.] How Job would have +rejoiced in the glorious revelation which Christ has brought to us. "There +is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, +Who gave Himself a ransom for all." [Footnote: 1 Tim. ii. 5, 6.] He is not +only the Mediator laying His hand upon us both, but He _gave Himself_, +that is, He gave His life as a _ransom_. The ransom price was His own +precious blood, for the life is in the blood. It is the Blood of God's own +dear Son which makes an atonement for the soul. + +The sentence passed on you and me and on every sinner is the sentence of +death, for death is the penalty for sin. We are all under the sentence of +death, but the glorious message is sent God has found a Substitute. + + "He bore on the tree the sentence for me, + And now both the Surety and sinner are free." + +You and I now have what Job longed for so earnestly. The Daysman is the +Son of God Himself, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation," that +is an atoning sacrifice, "through faith in His Blood." [Footnote: Rom. +iii. 25.] + +At first Jacob trembled with fear, but after he had heard the loving words +which God spoke to him from the top of that wonderful ladder, then he +began to realise that he was no longer alone in that lonely place. He +said, "This is the house of God, this is the gate of heaven." Earth had +faded from his sight and he was surrounded by heavenly realities. And so +it is now, the veil is very thin which separates earth from heaven, the +temporal from the Eternal. + +It was _God's Voice_ which woke him up spiritually. God revealed Himself +as the personal God to Jacob. We can recognise a friend by his voice even +if we do not see him. So it is the Voice more than anything else which +makes the presence of any one real to us. We have an illustration of this +in the pictures of the gramophone in which we see a dog listening for the +master's voice. The sheep knows the shepherd's voice; the child is quick +in recognizing its mother's voice; why do we turn a deaf ear to God's +Voice? How tenderly He pleads with us, saying, "But My people would not +hearken to My Voice." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxxi. 11.] + +God wants to be very real and very personal to each one of us, so He says, +"Unto you, O men, I call, and My Voice is to the sons of man." [Footnote: +Prov. viii. 4.] + +God has been calling us from the very beginning. Far back in the 3rd +chapter of Genesis, when Adam was hiding among the trees of the garden, it +was God's Voice which called him out with the searching question, Where +art thou? It was as if He said, "Adam, I want you." He is the seeking God +still. It was God's Voice that reminded Adam of the holy, happy friendship +now broken by sin. Before sin came into the world Adam never listened to +any other voice, and now when God is yearning to bring us to Himself, He +says, "Listen." That word Listen, or Hearken, comes again and again in the +Bible. We find it very often in Isaiah and Jeremiah. When God is pleading +with the sinner, that is the word He uses more than any other. In Psalm +lxxxi., where God tells us how grieved He is by our waywardness, He says, +"Oh that My people had listened or hearkened unto Me." And in Deuteronomy +xxviii. 45, He tells them that their troubles have been sent because they +would not hearken to the Voice of the Lord their God. + +I think God has chosen this special way of calling us by His Voice, +because it is what we can all understand--it is so simple and so homely. +When a boy is disobedient the father calls him, then he talks to him and +pleads with him. The father's voice touches the boy's heart. How wonderful +it is that God's Voice can reach us, however far off we may be. You have +sometimes been to an Open-Air Service, and you have heard the speaker's +voice a good way off, but now it has been discovered that any one's voice +can travel through the air and be heard above 300 miles away by means of a +new apparatus called the wireless telephone. + +Some time ago a gentleman living in England put a special receiver to his +ear and he actually heard a man speaking in France, more than 300 miles +away. + +A year or two ago when the _Titanic_ went down among the icebergs, you +remember how the wireless telegraph sent messages to other ships calling +for help. This was done by special letters, flashed across the ocean, such +as C.Q.D. (come quick, danger) or when the ship was sinking S.O.S. (save +our souls). + +But wonderful as this is, how much more wonderful it is to discover a way +by which any one's voice can be heard miles and miles away. Very likely as +time goes on and the wireless telephone is more used, you will be able to +speak to your father or son far away in Australia or Canada, so that they +will not only hear your voice distinctly, but they will answer back, and +you will hear their voices just as if you were sitting together again at +home. What a wonderful thing it will be to have this close link with them! + +It is the same as the link which Jacob felt when he heard God's voice +speaking; it seemed to bring God quite close to him and to make God so +real, that he started again on his journey cheered and encouraged; for we +read in the first verse of the next chapter, "Then Jacob went on his +journey," and in the margin it says he lifted up his feet, showing his +heart was lightened of its burden: when the heart is heavy, our feet drag. +But he made a fresh start: and if only God's Voice reaches your heart now, +you will go on your way rejoicing; it will be like making a fresh start. + +Again and again we read of God talking to those who were willing to hear +His Voice. For example, "The LORD talked with Moses face to face as a man +speaketh unto his friend," [Footnote: Exod. xxxiii. 9, 11.] and at Mount +Sinai "Moses spake and God answered him by a Voice." + +Not only is the link of communication perfect between God and man, but the +way in which we can use it and be put in touch with God is so simple: it +is by faith--that is all. + +We have another illustration of this when we think of the wireless +messages. The world's greatest wireless station is in a little village +called Nassau, in Germany. A short time ago a message was sent to a place +far, far away over the ocean, 6,500 miles away. How was it started? Only +by touching a key in the machine. That touch releases the lightning which +carries a message for thousands of miles over vast continents and across +the boundless sea. + +Only a touch--is it not like the touch of faith? But we must not forget +that when the message has reached its destination, when these waves of +sound talk across the world, the ear at the other end must be prepared to +hear the call. + +There is the hearing of faith, as well as the touch of faith. The hearing +means not only listening, but being willing to obey the voice. I have been +told that when a message is to be sent by wireless telephone, the other +waves of sound must be quite still before the person receiving the message +can hear it. The speaker has to wait till the vibrations settle down, +there must be perfect stillness, and then the voice is heard. How +important it is to shut out all other sounds so that our hearts may be +still enough to hear God speak. We must listen with an obedient heart. Do +you remember how one Sunday was set apart not long ago to make collections +for the blind. At midnight on Saturday, a royal message was sent forth +which encircled the whole world. It was King George's "God speed" to the +appeal for the blind. It was flashed from the wireless station on a lonely +cliff in Cornwall to another station in America, and it went over the +seven oceans of the world. It was received by forty-five ships in the +Atlantic. They were all warned it was coming and they were expecting it. +The White Star liner _Baltic_, 810 miles away, heard it, and it travelled +on to India, and it was caught up there 1,500 miles away. + +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 it. "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit +saith unto the Churches." [Footnote: Rev. ii. 7.] How the solemn call +rings out, and rings on: To-day, To-day! How it sounds in our ears with +startling urgency, and it is the Holy Ghost who says it, "To-day, if you +will hear His Voice, harden not your heart." [Footnote: Heb. iii. 7.] +When we are careless and indifferent to what God's Voice is saying to us +then we are hardening our hearts. + +Perhaps in days gone by you once listened to God's Voice. Why did you give +up listening? "Ah!" you reply, "other voices came and drowned that still +small Voice, and the voice of the Evil One poisoned my mind." + +Let me ask you one more question, Has God's Voice ever stopped calling? +No, God is still calling. Oh, that now at this very moment you may be able +to say, "The Voice of God has reached my heart." If any of you turn a deaf +ear to God's Voice, remember the time is coming when "all who are in the +graves shall hear His Voice and shall come forth"; [Footnote: St. John. v. +25.] and to you it will be a coming forth to judgment and condemnation. + +How does God speak to us now? We can hear the Voice of God speaking in His +Word. When any portion of Scripture is specially impressed on our minds it +shows that God is speaking to us. A young man who had been seeking God +very earnestly said one day, "While reading the Word, I felt certain that +God had really spoken to my soul, that He had actually said to me, Live!" +Yes, that young man was right, for that is just what God has said to us, +but it makes all the difference whether we each one receive it as if God +is really saying it to us personally. Luther felt this, for he used to +say, "When I open the Bible it talks to me." + +Why is the Bible like no other book? Because it is the revelation of God +Himself. The glory of God shines in its pages. In life and in death the +only source of comfort is a Personal God. Our great need is to have +God personally near, _near and dear_. Never rest till you can look up into +His Face with confidence and say, "Thou art near, O Lord." [Footnote: Ps. +cxix. 151.] + +He is saying to you now, "Seek ye my Face." [Footnote: Ps. xxvii. 8.] +What answer will you give? Will you say to God now, "Thy Face, Lord, will +I seek." When we seek His Face, then we see "the glory of God in the face +of Jesus Christ." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 6.] How grand it all is, and yet +how simple! + +Let me say one word of loving appeal to any who have never really sought +the Lord. How is it that you say your prayers and yet you do not expect to +get an answer direct from God? Because, like Jacob, you have never +believed there is a God. You have not got hold of the first truth which +the Bible teaches us, _God is_; "He that cometh to God must believe that +HE IS." [Footnote: Heb. xi. 6.] When you pray, He must be as real to you +as if you saw Him standing by hearing and answering you. Until our eyes +are opened to see that death and judgment, heaven and hell, are great +realities we do not really cry to God, and when we do we find out that we +have never realised there is a God. Think of what God offers to you. +Forgiveness, life and glory. Would you neglect getting these priceless +gifts if you believed they were the real offers of a real Person? "What +meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God." [Footnote: Jonah i. +6.] + + + +ADDRESS VI + +THE HANDS OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. John xx. 19-31. + + +Why has this Gospel been written? The last verse of this chapter tells us. +"It has been written that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son +of God, and that believing we may have life through His Name." + +In the Old Testament when "The Name" is mentioned it meant the unveiling +of the grace and glory and power of God. 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 expression, "His Name." It means His nature and +His character. + +In the verse which we have just read, the wonderful truth shines out that +it is through His Name, through all that He is, and all He has done, that +we have _life_. So Christ Himself declares, "My sheep hear My Voice and I +know them and they follow Me, and I give unto them Eternal life, and they +shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My Hand. My +Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all, and no man is able to +pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." +[Footnote: St. John x. 27-30.] + +Christ first speaks of His own hand and then of His Father's hand, so +there are two hands which hold us fast and keep us safe, now and for ever. + +Let us look at what is said about the Hands of God in the Bible. + +Think of God's Hands in creation. The Psalmist says, "Of old hast Thou +laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy +hands." [Footnote: Psa. cii. 25.] "The sea is His and He made it: and His +hands formed the dry land." [Footnote: Ps. xcv. 5.] + +Think of His strong Hands in Providence, as Moses said, "Thy right hand, O +LORD, is become glorious in power." [Footnote: Exod. xv. 6.] + +Nehemiah speaks again and again of "the good hand of my God upon me," +[Footnote: Neh. ii. 8.] when he tells us of all God's loving help and +guidance in the difficult work he had undertaken. + +Think again of God's loving Hands in grace, healing the broken in heart +and binding up their wounds. How safe David felt when he said, "Thy right +hand upholdeth me." [Footnote: Ps. lxiii. 8.] He shows his confidence in +God when he prays, "Hold Thou me up and I shall be safe." [Footnote: Ps. +cxix. 117.] When your child wants you to hold him up he slips his little +hand in yours, doesn't he? Have you ever put your weak hand into God's +strong loving Hand so as to let Him do the holding up? + +The saints in olden times felt God's Hand in everything, over-ruling, +planning, guiding, and Jesus assures us of the perfect safety and +everlasting security of the believer, for He says, "No one, either man or +devil, can pluck them out of My hand, nor shall any man be able to pluck +them out of My Father's hand;" [Footnote: St. John x. 28, 29.] so there +are two Divine Hands holding us fast. + +Think once more of the hands of God: not only strong hands to help and to +heal, but _redeeming_ hands, mighty to save; hands that have been in the +fire to pluck us out of the burning; hands that have laid hold of the +enemy and have overcome him; hands that have unlocked the gates of a new +life that we may enter in. + +Not long ago a little girl was caressing her dear old nurse, and when she +caught sight of the deep scars in her hands she asked, "How did you get +these scars?" The nurse looked at her very tenderly and then she said, +"When you were a baby, a fire broke out one night when you were asleep in +your cot. I plunged my hands into the flames and lifted you out." The +child's eyes were full of tears as she looked at the dear scarred hands, +the hands that had been wounded to save her. + +Those scarred hands remind me of another story. One day, about thirty +years ago, some children were playing on a mountain in France, and their +merry peals of laughter attracted the notice of a shepherd lad who was +taking care of the sheep a little way off. Suddenly a wolf foaming at the +mouth came in sight. He saw it run madly down the mountain towards the +children. Without a moment's hesitation he rushed forward, seized the +wolf, and grappled with it. After a fierce struggle he managed to bind a +leather strap around its mouth, and then he killed it, but not before the +wolf, which was raving mad, had bitten him severely in the hand. This +occurred just at the time when Pasteur, the famous Paris doctor, had +discovered a remedy for hydrophobia. Without delay the shepherd lad who +had saved the lives of the children at such a cost was taken to Paris and +was cured. Hundreds of patients are sent to the Pasteur Institute at Paris +and when they ring the bell, the door is opened by an elderly man with a +scar on his hand. He was once the shepherd lad who rescued the children +from the raving wolf, and the deep scars are from its bite. Inside the +hall there is a statue representing him in the terrible struggle with the +wolf. + +Think of the wounded hands of the Son of God. Do you ask Where? How? Why? +Where were they wounded? On Calvary's Cross. How? "They pierced My hands +and My feet." [Footnote: Ps. xxii. 16.] This is the wonder of it, "He was +wounded for our transgressions." Look at the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, and +there you will see Jesus as the Suffering Substitute. Seven times in that +chapter it is distinctly mentioned that all His suffering was because He +was bearing our sins. Notice in verse 5 it says, "He was wounded for our +transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities." Then in verse 6, "The +Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." In verse 8, "For the +transgression of My people was He stricken," or the stroke was upon Him. +He stood between the stroke of Divine Justice and the sinner and received +the blow Himself. In verse 10, "Thou shalt make His soul an offering for +sin;" verse 11, "He shall bear their iniquities;" verse 12, "He bare the +sin of many." Jesus was the Suffering Substitute because He was the Sin- +bearer. See how in His death He was identified with the sinner. For in +verse 12 we read, "He was numbered with the transgressors." + +In the Gospels we are told that there were two thieves crucified with Him, +on either side one and Jesus in the midst. I once saw a coloured +illustration of the three crosses on Calvary. One cross was painted black, +the other was white, and the middle one was red. Now if we look at those +three crosses on Calvary from the Divine standpoint, it seems as if one +cross which was black at first is now white. It is the cross of the +penitent thief; all his sins have been transferred to the Sin-bearer, so +now there is not one sin on him; he has been washed "whiter than snow." +The cross of the impenitent thief is black, and remains black, for he dies +with all his sins on him and goes into the blackness of darkness for ever. +The middle cross is red: Jesus the Holy One has no sin in Him, but the sin +of the whole world is _on_ Him, because He is the atoning sacrifice for +sin. + + "O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head, + Our load was laid on Thee. + Thou stoodest in the sinner's stead, + Didst bear all ill for me. + A victim led, Thy blood was shed, + Now there's no load for me." + +In the writings of an American Evangelist we meet with this quaint +illustration, "God uses bright red to get pure white out of dead black." +It is just the same truth as we have seen shining out from the three +crosses. There we see Jesus "in the midst," the God-appointed +Sacrifice for sin, and we see the penitent thief washed whiter than snow +in the precious Blood. We see Jesus again "in the midst," three days +after. It is in the Upper Room at Jerusalem, on Easter Sunday. The +disciples who were like scattered sheep have gathered together there once +more, though still trembling with fear. "Then came Jesus and stood in the +midst and said unto them, Peace be unto you." [Footnote: St. John xx. 19.] + +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 away. He might have met +them with a reproof, but He knows all about our poor hearts, so He meets +them with a smile and the sweet greeting, "Peace be unto you." And He says +it to them _all_, even to Peter who had denied his Lord, and to the others +who had forsaken Him. Yes, He has only one greeting for them one and all, +and that is "Peace." + +Then a pause, and after the pause there came a revelation--"He showed them +His hands and His side." Why did He show them the nail prints in His hands +and the deep wound in His side? It was to reveal to them the wondrous +truth that He Himself is our Peace, and that the Peace which He gives is +the Peace which He has Himself made through the Blood of His +Cross. [Footnote: Col. i. 20.] + + "Through Christ on the Cross peace was made, + My debt by His death was all paid; + No otter foundation is laid, + For peace the gift of God's love." + +He showed them His hands and His side, because He wants them to understand +that these sacred scars tell us of His wondrous love and of the infinite +cost of Redemption. Let us lift up our hearts and say-- + + "Oh, make me understand it, + Help me to take it in, + + "What it meant to Thee the Holy One + To bear away my sin." + +We find from St. John's Gospel that Thomas, one of the twelve, was not +among them when Jesus came, so the rest of the disciples told him, "We +have seen the Lord." He replied, "Unless I see in His hands the wound made +by the nails, and put my finger into the wound, and put my hand into His +side, I will never believe it." So when a week later Jesus says to Thomas, +"Reach hither thy finger and behold (or feel) My hands, and reach hither +thy hand and thrust it into My side," [Footnote: St. John xx. 27.] it +shows how our Lord made these scars the very test of his faith, and it is +the same now. + +In St. Luke's Gospel we read that He said, "Behold My hands and My feet." +When He showed them the marks of His sufferings for them, it was as if He +said, "Here is the guarantee of your pardon and peace." We cannot have +peace until we have pardon; many seek peace instead of taking pardon +first. When He showed them His hands, and His feet, and His side, it was +as if He said, "You need cleansing from all sin; here are the marks of the +cleansing Blood. You need the touch of healing power, and here is the Hand +that will give it to you. You want companionship in your daily life. +Here are the feet that will travel with you, you never walk alone." What +wonderful tenderness and love! If ever you feel depressed or ready to +doubt God's love, remember how "He showed them His hands and His side," +that they might see those sacred scars. And we read in the next verse, +"Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." Yes, "they were +filled with joy at seeing the Master." You will remember how troubled +Thomas had been before this, but now the sight of the wounded hands took +away all his doubts and fears. It was then that his faith rose higher than +that of any of the others, for he exclaimed with adoration and worship, +"My Lord, and my God!" If ever you wander away or your heart grows cold +and careless, think of those words, "He showed them His hands and His +side," and remember He is still the same in the glory. + +When the beloved Apostle John looked through the open door into heaven, he +saw Him standing there in the midst of the throne with the nail prints in +His hands and feet, "a Lamb as it had been slain." [Footnote: Rev. v. 6.] +What a sight! + + "Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood + Shall never lose its power, + Till all the ransomed Church of God + Be saved to sin no more." + +But _why_ did He show them the wounds in His hands and side? To make it +plain that He bore all the penalty of sin. Some speak about sin as if it +were only a mistake, but God says sin is guilt, and that all are guilty, +for all have sinned. We have offended against God's holy law, and if any +one breaks the law he brings upon himself the penalty. God says, "The soul +that sinneth, it shall die;" [Footnote: Ezek. xviii. 20.] so the penalty +we deserve is death, everlasting punishment. The penalty must be paid by +some one. God's justice demands it. + +God is not willing that any should perish; He loves the sinner, though He +hates the sin. Still the penalty must be paid, so He found out a way; His +own dear Son must take the sinner's place and suffer the full penalty +instead, the death-penalty. + +Perhaps you wonder, how can the death of One atone for the sin of the +many? A lad once asked his father this question. The father made no reply +but took him into the garden. Then he dug up a spadeful of earth with a +number of worms in it, and turning to the boy he asked him, "Now which is +of most value, your life or that of one worm, or even a thousand worms?" +"Mine," said the boy. "Now" said the father, "you can see how the life and +death of the Divine Saviour is _sufficient satisfaction to God_ for the +sins of the whole world." + +Oh! the wonder of it all. We see God, the Holy God, the just God, the +righteous God--we see man, guilty, condemned, sinful. Then we see the Son +of God Who knew no sin, _made_ sin for us, [Footnote: 2 Cor. v. 21.] so +that all the requirements of God's holiness and justice are fully met. + +It was on the Cross, in that hour of darkness and agony when He cried, "My +God, My God, _why_ hast Thou forsaken Me," that He was _made_ sin for us. +Now we see the meaning of the wounded Hands, the broken Heart of God. + +"If I were God," the cynic said, "this sinning, suffering world would +break my heart." But what if God's heart _was_ broken? Do we not read in +the 69th Psalm, "Reproach hath broken my heart? [Footnote: Ps. lxix. 20.]" +The last night before He died He went to the garden of Gethsemane. Only +three of His disciples followed Him into the place where He knelt down to +pray, and even these three fell asleep. He was left alone. He says, "I +looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but +I found none." It was then the agony began which ended on the +Cross in a broken heart. + +It was then He prayed saying, "Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup +from Me, and there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening +Him." [Footnote: St. Luke xxii. 42, 43.] + +His prayer was heard and the victory was won over the adversary, for it +must be on the Cross and in no other way that the Atonement could be made. +"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for +us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." +[Footnote: Gal. iii. 13.] "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body +on the tree." [Footnote: I Pet. ii. 24.] + +It was there on the Cross that He said, "It is finished; and He bowed His +Head and died." We should not have known that He died of a broken heart if +one little circumstance had not taken place. The Holy Spirit has shown us +that this circumstance was foretold in the Scriptures and was all part of +God's purpose in our redemption. The soldiers had orders to break the legs +of those who had been crucified, so as to hasten their death, and remove +their bodies without delay; but when they came to Jesus and saw that He +was dead already, they brake not His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced +His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. "This was a proof +that He had died of a broken heart." [Footnote: John xix. 34.] + + "He died of a broken heart for you, + He died of a broken heart, + Oh! wondrous love for you, for me, + He died of a broken heart." + +When we remember that the pouring out of the blood followed on the +breaking of the body, then we see the meaning of the precious words spoken +by our Lord during the Last Supper. We read that, "He took bread, and when +He had given thanks, He brake it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My Body +which is broken for you.' [Footnote: I Cor. xi. 24.] And He took the cup +and said, 'This is My Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many.'" +[Footnote: St. Mark xiv. 24.] + +Why did He die? Why was His blood poured out? The Apostle Paul answers +that question when He says, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto +Himself." In that one sentence we have the Message of the Cross! We see +God's purpose behind it all. + +Two wonderful truths lie hidden in that glorious message. The first is, +that "Christ _died_ to put away sin," because sin is the thing and the +only thing which comes between us and God. The good news which Christ +brings to us is that God Himself has taken the first step in this work of +reconciliation. Oh! how wonderful it is that it is our sins which have +brought out all the anguish and love of God's heart. Yes, our sins grieved +Him so much He could not rest till He had devised a plan by which they +could "all be blotted out," once for all. + +Dear friends, whenever your sins are a burden, say these words over and +over in your heart, "God was in Christ reconciling me to Himself." +[Footnote: 2 Cor. v. 19.] This alone would have been wonderful, but there +is something more in the good news, and that is "God is beseeching you to +be reconciled to Him." Have you ever grasped that truth? + +I remember hearing of a great lawyer who was moved to shed tears, and when +a fellow-lawyer asked him why he was in trouble he replied, "I see now +what I never saw before. Yes, I see that God is _beseeching_ me to be +reconciled to Him. I always thought it was for me to beseech God." + +Many think as this lawyer did that the sinner must first come to God. No, +it is God Who comes to us entreating us to return to Him. He is always +sending us messages of love, and the moment we turn to Him and trust Him +He gives us a full free pardon. + +Dear fellow-sinners, "we pray you now in Christ's stead," and because of +His great love in dying for you, "Be reconciled to God." God is now +willing; are you willing? Do say "Yes." Will you say it now very solemnly +in your heart to God? + + + +ADDRESS VII + +THE WORD OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Psalm xix. + + +This Psalm is full of the glory of God. It tells us first of the Glory of +God shining in this beautiful world which He has made, and then it shows +us the glory of God shining in the Scriptures, in this Book which lies +open before us. + +The first verse bursts forth with the triumphant note, "The heavens +declare the glory of God." Everything in earth and sky shows forth His +wisdom, His power and His love. + +Then it gives us a wonderful picture of the sunrise and compares it to "a +bridegroom coming out of his chamber." You have seen the first streaks of +light in the early morning, and then you have watched the onward course of +the sun till it is high up in the sky at mid-day, full of power, +"rejoicing as a strong man to run a race." + +But Nature, with all its secrets, Nature with all its wonders and +treasures, is only part of God's revelation of Himself; the other part is +to be found in His Word. + +So the Psalmist passes from the glorious sun in the heavens to the glory +shining in the Word of God. The glory we see in God's works is only an +illustration of the glory shining in this Book. After giving the wonderful +description of the rising sun, he goes on to point out that there is not a +single spot in the whole world where the sun does not shine, and that its +light and heat can be felt by everything. Then he shows us that it is just +the same with the Word of God. It is God's message to every one, but it is +only when it finds an entrance into man's heart that it gives light. +[Footnote: Ps. cxix. 130.] + +If you draw down the blind the sun cannot shine into your room; so the +Holy Spirit must open our hearts for the light of His Word to enter in, +otherwise it will be to us the same as any other book. + + "Is it dark without you, darker still within? + Clear the darkened windows, + Open wide the door; + Let the blessed sunshine in." + +How can we know that the Bible is the Word of God? A gentleman, who was an +unbeliever, stopped one day to speak to Molly, the old woman who kept a +flower stall near the station. He noticed she was reading her Bible, so he +asked her why she read it. "Because it is the Word of God." "How do you +know?" "Because it cheers and warms my heart. I am just as sure it is +God's own Word as I am that it is the sun shining up there." This simple +testimony was the means of convincing him and he thanked her for it. + +We have heard how the sun shines over the whole world, but is it not +wonderful that every little drop of water can reflect the whole of its +light? In every sunbeam there are seven colours, and when you look up at +the rainbow you see all the seven in one drop of rain. This is only an +illustration of the wonders of God's grace. If you are a child of God the +whole of God's grace enters your heart, so you have grace to speak, grace +to pray, grace to be loving and patient, grace for everything. The whole +of God's life and light and love are for you as if there were no one else +in the world. It is the same with all the precious truths of God's Word: +they are _all_ yours. A minister who wanted to know how many promises +there are in the Bible searched all through the Book and he counted nearly +five thousand. Had you any idea that there are as many as five thousand +precious promises for the believer in God's Word? Have you claimed them? + +A Christian woman who was very ill asked her daughter to read the 8th +chapter of the Epistle to the Romans. When she had finished the mother +said, "That's mine, it's _all_ mine." How rich she was! Only think of it +and it is an _Eternal_ inheritance, for the chapter begins with "no +condemnation" and ends with "no separation." + +If you will look at verses 7 and 8 of our Psalm, you will see four things +which the Word of God does. "It converts the soul, makes wise the simple, +rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes." Let us think of these four +things. + +First: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." The law here +means the whole covenant of Jehovah. + +You remember how, when God appeared to Abraham, that Abraham fell on his +face, feeling his utter weakness and nothingness, and then God talked with +him. When a man is laid low in the dust then God can talk to him. And God +said to Abraham, "I will make my covenant between Me and thee." [Footnote: +Gen. xvii. 2.] A covenant is a promise made under solemn conditions, and +it is God's covenant of grace which converts the soul. Such a promise as +we have in Ezekiel: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit +will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your +flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh: And I will put my Spirit +within you." [Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 26.] God says "I will" five times in +those few lines, 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 +ourselves. + +This reminds me of a young woman who was troubled because, although she +was longing to be saved, yet she felt her heart was so hard. One Sunday +the minister took this verse as the text for his sermon. When he gave it +out it seemed to her as if a voice was speaking these words close to her, +right into her ear, "I will give you an heart of flesh." It came like a +message direct from God. She was so deeply touched she could not listen to +the sermon, 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 Bible. She is now a +very bright earnest Christian. + +It is through the Word that God speaks to our hearts, and when the Holy +Spirit makes it a living Word and quickens us to receive it with faith, +then we are converted. If you are not saved, take your Bible and read it +prayerfully, and you will find in it just what you want. Remember the +letter of Scripture is of no use unless we experience its power and enjoy +its sweetness. + +A young clergyman was converted through a very strange text. He was so +much depressed he thought of committing suicide, and then his eye fell on +that verse in Ecclesiastes, "A living dog is better than a dead lion." +[Footnote: Eccles. ix. 4.] The words brought fresh hope to him. He said to +himself, One thing is certain and that is, I am still a _living_ man, and +he was then led to seek Christ as the Way, the Truth and the _Life_. + +It is wonderful to think of the many different ways in which God sends His +Word home to our hearts. Spurgeon gives an instance of this. He was asked +to visit a dying man who told him about his conversion. He said, "Some +years ago I was at work in the Crystal Palace. God's Spirit was striving +with me and I felt the burden of sin. It seemed to follow me wherever I +went. Suddenly a voice said to me distinctly, 'Behold he Lamb of God which +taketh away the sin of the world.' [Footnote: St. John i. 29.] No one was +near me, and I thought the message had come straight from God. I then saw +clearly that Christ had died to save me, and ever since I have had joy and +peace in believing." + +Spurgeon listened to the dying man's testimony with deep interest, 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 there, and had used that very text, "Behold the Lamb of God +which taketh away the sin of the world." + +Let us thank God that His Word is _perfect_ in converting he soul. + +"The testimony of the Lord is _sure_, making wise the simple." It is well +known that very often a man who is no scholar, but who is taught of God, +is able to see deep truths which learned men fail to understand. Every +time you read your Bible look up and say, "Lord, open Thou mine eyes that +I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 18.] + +Do not feel discouraged because you do not understand t all. There are +many things which earthly fathers tell their children which they do not +understand till they are grown up, but still they love to get father's +letters, and the Bible is our heavenly Father's letter to us. Do you value +it? + +In the 8th verse of the 19th Psalm it says, "The statutes of the LORD are +right, rejoicing the heart." I have seen many careworn faces lit up with +joy when reading the Word. One man especially, who had a great deal of +trouble and opposition in his home life, used to give his testimony at the +Meeting. Opening his Bible in the 5th chapter of the Gospel of St. John he +would read the 24th verse, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that +heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me hath everlasting life +and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." + +Then he would tell us with a beaming face that it was his song of +assurance, for, as he said, there are three links, "He that _heareth_, +_believeth_, _hath_--and 'hath' means 'got it,' and I've got everlasting +life. Jesus says it and I know it's true." He is now in the glory, and +maybe he is telling the angels about it. + +If we had no Bible we should have no certainty that our sins are forgiven. +A little girl named Molly said to her aunt who was teaching her about +Jesus, "How can I be sure that my sins are forgiven?" "Because God says +so," [Footnote: i John i. 9.] was the reply, and then she repeated the +text, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our +sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." + +Many say, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins," and yet they still carry +about the burden of their sins. They see clearly how God can forgive sin, +but they cannot realise that it is their own sins which are forgiven. This +was the case with Luther. He tells us how, when he was distressed because +of his sins, a friend pointed out to him that he would not have real peace +unless he claimed God's forgiveness for his _own _sins. It was like a new +light flashing into his soul; he saw his mistake and looking up with a +beaming face, he said, "I see it now--it is not other people's sins, it is +_my_ sins which are all forgiven!" + +We must not estimate sin and forgiveness by our own standard. 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 words, "My thoughts are not your thoughts"; and then He +adds, "For I will abundantly pardon," [Footnote: 2 Isa. lv. 7, 8.] which +means, I will repeatedly pardon. God's thoughts of sin and His thoughts +about forgiveness are far higher than ours. Sometimes I feel quite +overwhelmed when I think of how great His forgiving love has been to me. + +Look again at our Psalm, verse 7, "The testimony of the Lord is _sure_, +making wise the simple." The word Testimony means an assurance or a +promise from God to the individual soul, and David had such confidence in +God he is quite sure He will not disappoint him or fail to keep His word. +So he says, "The testimony, or promise, of God is _sure_." It is this +certainty which makes David so happy. + +He seems to be overflowing with joy, for he says, "Thy testimonies also +are my delight and my counsellors," [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 24.] and again, +"I love Thy testimonies." "Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore doth +my soul keep them. Thy testimonies that Thou hast commanded are righteous +and very faithful." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 119, 129, 138.] + +The word "Testimony" means also what God has commanded us to believe and +also to practise. + +A native convert in China said the other day, "I began by reading the +Bible, but now I am _behaving_ it." This is what David means when he says, +"My soul hath kept Thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly." +[Footnote: Ps. cxix. 167.] + +The question was once asked at a meeting, "Can you point to any text in +the Word of God which makes you sure you are saved and safe?" "I can," +said one of the company, in a quiet firm voice. "It is John iii. 36, +He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." + +We have many bed-rock texts and that is one, as the beautiful old hymn +says-- + + "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, + Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word." + +I was summoned late one evening to see a dying man who had been brought to +Christ through my Bible Class. When I entered his room he looked up and +said with a smile, "I sent for you because I want to tell you that I am +quite safe, quite sure and quite satisfied. I am quite safe because Jesus +died for me. I am quite sure because I have His Word for it. I am quite +satisfied because I am going to be with Him in the glory." + +The Word of God was written that we _might_ believe; to believe is to +know, and to be quite certain. The word "believe" comes from an old root +meaning "to live by." "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every +word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." [Footnote: St. Matt. iv. +4.] Put your finger down on one of the many precious assurances which God +has given us in His Word, of the certainty of complete forgiveness and +acceptance, and then look up into His face with loving gratitude. + +God's pardon and acceptance are absolute and eternal; nothing can ever +alter them. God wants us to know it and to live in the joy of it. Trusting +His Word gives us safety, certainty and enjoyment. + +If any sin comes into your mind and troubles you, dear child of God, do +not carry it about with you, tell Father about it at once; confess it to +Him and remember that you are under the cleansing Blood. "The Blood of +Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin." [Footnote: 1 John i. +7.] It has not only cleansed us once for all, but it is cleansing us now +at the present moment. + +It is important to remember that the whole purpose of the Bible is to give +glory to God. It is the Everlasting Word of the Everlasting God. "The word +of our God shall stand for ever." [Footnote: Isa. xl. 8.] Make the word of +God _everything_. Receive its statements by faith as revelations of simple +certainties. Find out how happy you are. "Happy is that people that is in +such a case, yea, happy is that people whose God is Lord." [Footnote: Ps. +cxliv. 15.] + +If we are walking with God in our daily life we need a light to show us +the way. David knew well what it was to go along rough roads on dark +nights, so he says, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my +path." [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 105.] + +Did you ever hear about Moody's torch? One night Moody had to return home +through a dark wood after one of his meetings, and the path was winding +and rough, so a friend offered him a torch. Moody declined taking it, +saying, "Thank you, but it is too small." + +"It will light you home," said the man. + +"But the wind may blow it out." + +"It will light you home." + +"But if it should rain?" + +"It will light you home." + +At last Moody started, taking the torch with him, and he said afterwards, +"In spite of all my fears, it gave abundant light on my path all the way +home." + +Every promise in the Word of God is like Moody's torch, and if we will +take it and use it, we shall find as he did, that it will light us all the +way to our Eternal Home. 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 us. It +contains plain directions about everything in our daily life. + +The Bible is a Revelation of God Himself. It is a direct communication +from Him to us. There are four things made known to us in the Word which +are of priceless value-- + +1. It proclaims a full, free salvation through faith in Christ. "To you is +the Message of this Salvation sent." + +2. It opens out to you the riches of grace and invites you to take them +freely--freely--freely. + +3. It opens "the door of faith" wide to the weakest sinner and even to +you. + +4. It gives a new life within, which transforms the soul and makes us new +creatures in Christ Jesus. + +Our Lord says, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they +are life." [Footnote: St. John vi, 63.] Can you say, "Thy Word hath +quickened me"? [Footnote: Ps. cxix. 50.] + +Do not be satisfied with reading a chapter here and there. Read straight +through. Why? Because the Bible has a beginning and an ending like any +other book. It begins with the story of a friendship between God and man: +we see man very happy in this friendship. Then something happens; you will +find it in the third chapter of Genesis. Some one has come in between them +and the friendship is broken. Still God is looking for His friend and +calling him, "Where are you?" The answer comes from under the shadow of +the trees. "I heard Thy voice and I was afraid and hid myself." + +Now we come to the last words at the end of the Book, and we hear the same +Voice saying, "I am coming back again very soon." It is the Voice of the +same Friend, no longer sad but glad. "The darkness has all passed +away and the true Light is shining," [Footnote: I John ii. 8.] and will +shine for ever: yes, it is sunshine all around, everlasting sunshine. + +Where is the Bible? Do you keep your Bible where you can take it up +whenever you have a few spare moments? Is it ready at hand so that you can +read it before you go to bed at night? Do the children speak of it as +"Mother's book"? Do you turn to it for strength and comfort? Is it a +_living_ book to you? + +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 backs." We +are doing the same thing if the Bible is laid aside on the shelf, or put +into the front room and allowed to remain unopened week after week. There +can be no blessing in your home and in your life while you neglect the +Word of God. It is this very word of God which will judge you at the last +day. + +Listen to Christ's solemn warning: "He that rejecteth Me and receiveth not +My words hath one that judgeth him," which means you will not be left +without a Judge. It is not a matter of small importance whether you read +the Bible or not: it is a matter of life or death. A neglected Bible shows +you are living without God; a neglected Bible shows you are living for +this world only; a neglected Bible shows that your soul is dying of +starvation; a neglected Bible means that though you may _think_ you can +get on very well without it, Jesus _says_, "The Word that I have spoken +the same will judge him in the last day." [Footnote: St. John xii. 48.] + +The Bible is God's Message to this present generation. Sometimes people +want to lay it on one side as an old book which is out of date. It is the +most up-to-date book in the world. It not only tells us of what is going +on at the present moment, but about what will happen in the future. We see +pictures in the daily papers of what people were doing yesterday and what +they looked like, but in the Bible we have portraits true to life not only +of what we are outwardly, but of the thoughts of our hearts. "The Word of +God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword: it can +discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart." [Footnote: Heb. +iv. 12.] We hear a great deal about the X-rays which show what is going on +inside the body, but this is nothing compared to the Word of God which +penetrates deep down into our inmost feelings and brings them to light. It +is better to be searched and cleansed now, than to go on in the old way +and then to stand before the great White Throne by and by, condemned to +everlasting punishment. + +Let us pray with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and +know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in +the way Everlasting. Amen." [Footnote: Ps. cxxxix, 23, 24.] + + + +ADDRESS VIII + +HAVE FAITH IN GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Romans iv. + + +There is one man set before us in this chapter as the man who had faith in +God. The one thing which marks him more than any other is his faith. The +man lived nearly 4,000 years ago, and yet he is still a vivid personality; +he lives on in our thoughts and memories as the man who trusted God. His +name is still reverenced all over the world, even among people of +different religions, as "The Friend of God." + +"The God of Glory appeared to Abraham," and from that moment Abraham's +faith fastens on what God is. The attractive power of Jehovah drew him +from his home, his relations and his country, and with every fresh +revelation of God, Abraham's faith grasped more of God and clung to Him +with a firmer hold. God's word was all he had to go by; whatever God said +was enough for him; whatever God told him to do, he did it, because, to +_trust God_ means to obey Him. He had God with him at every step. + +If ever there was a clear-sighted man, that man was Abraham, for trust in +God enlightens our understanding. He was a man with a far sight. He saw +what no other man then living saw. He saw that the day was coming when God +would send His Son to be the Saviour of the world. How do we know this? +Because Christ said, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and +was glad." [Footnote: St. John viii. 56.] He saw far on into the future, +farther than any other man then living. He saw the golden City, the holy +City, "whose builder and maker is God." [Footnote: Heb, xi. 10.] Yes, the +eye of faith not only sees God, it sees also what "God has prepared for +those who love Him." + +God was very real to that man. Abraham trusted God because he knew Him +personally. Faith is the act of the soul which looks wholly away from +_self_, whether it be righteous self or sinful self, and looks to God +only, in complete submission and confidence. + +It was because Abraham trusted Him that God stamped the man as His +friend--Abraham My friend. On and on through all these hundreds of years +he has been called "the Friend of God." In the book of Chronicles, in +Isaiah and in the Epistle of James it is mentioned again, "He was called +the Friend of God." + +What is friendship? It is two hearts trusting in each other. Abraham +trusted God, and God trusted Abraham. God put such confidence in him that +He let him know that He was going to destroy the cities of the plain. +The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" +[Footnote: Gen. xviii. 17.] + +Mutual trust is at the root of all friendship. Where there is a lack of +mutual confidence in the home life or in commercial life it spells ruin. +The great question for each one in life is, What is my relation to God? Is +it trusting God, or is it doubting God? + +"Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness." +[Footnote: Rom. iv. 3.] What is righteousness? It means to be right with +God, and the moment we trust God's Word we are made righteous, and we +become righteous. + +We read in Acts that after their first missionary tour. Paul and Barnabas +reported in detail all that God had done, and how He had opened the door +of faith unto the Gentiles. [Footnote: Acts xiv. 27.] So faith is the +gate of life by which the Gentiles were entering in. + +Here was a new fact proving that faith was the gate of the Lord into which +the righteous should enter; [Footnote: Ps. cxviii. 20.] righteous +_because_ believing. Faith is the door by which God comes into our hearts. +Faith is only the door, nothing in itself, but it is called "precious +faith" because of all the life and joy and riches of grace and glory which +it lets in. + +Abraham is not only presented to us in the Word of God as the Friend of +God, but also as a pattern for all believers, and we are told to take him +as our model, "to walk in his steps," to trust God and to find in God's +wondrous friendship all that he found. God has been teaching us ever +since, through the simplicity of the faith of this man. The most +remarkable point in his faith is this, he grasped as no one else had done +that God is God because He can quicken the dead. [Footnote: Rom. iv. 17.] +He can give life to the dead because He Himself is the Source of life. He +calls "those things which are not as though they were" because He is the +Creator of all things. This applies not only to the body but to the soul. +Your confidence in God began when your soul, which was "dead in sin," was +quickened into a new life. When we ourselves have experienced this +quickening it gives us such faith in praying for those we love, knowing +that God alone can quicken dead souls. + +Abraham was "strong in faith"; even when God promised him a son, although +it seemed impossible, "he staggered not at the promise of God through +unbelief," being "fully persuaded" that God was able to do it. To be +"strong in faith" is to feel our utter helplessness and to rely on God's +power only; to be "strong in faith" is to grasp God's promise and not to +let anything make us doubt it. + +We have an illustration of this strong faith in the case of the first +missionary who went out to China a hundred years ago. The captain of the +ship in which he sailed was an atheist, and one day he said to him with a +sneer, "You don't suppose, do you, that you are going to convert those +Chinese?" "No," said the missionary, "but I believe _God_ is going to do +it." Did God fail him? No. His faith was rewarded, and at the present time +there are a quarter of a million Chinese believers who meet in fellowship +at the Lord's Table. + +What is faith? It is the link between me and God. The link between my +emptiness and God's fulness. The link between me, the sinner and Jesus, +the Saviour. Is there this link between you and God? Is the link on? Faith +is the spiritual link, the one and only means by which a man can have +dealings with God, realise God and walk with God. It is a living link +between God and the soul, a living union. The word "faith" comes from an +old word which means to _bind_. When I say "I _believe_ God," it means +that "I am His and He is mine for ever and for ever." It is trusting in +His love, not a mere cold belief in His power. It is grasping His +promises, because they are precious promises. It is the whole heart and +mind going out and up to God. David says: "Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up +my soul; O my God, I trust in Thee," [Footnote: Ps. xxv, 1, 2, 5] This +brings perfect rest. "Thou art the God of my salvation, on Thee do I wait +all the day." Do we make it a habit to be constantly referring to God +about everything? We learn first, that _God_ is, and then our faith feeds +upon _what_ God is. His faithfulness and His lovingkindness are seen in +all His dealings with us. + +Faith has to do with unseen realities, for faith is the evidence, or proof +of things not seen; [Footnote: Heb. xi. 1.] it makes them as real as if we +could see them, and brings them near. + +So we may say faith is like the telegraph wire which connects two places +however far apart they may be. + +We had an illustration of this not long ago. Our Queen Mary was in her +sitting-room in Buckingham Palace. A hospital was to be opened in Canada +4,000 miles off, and she was asked to perform the ceremony. When the +signal was given that all was ready, the Queen pressed a little ivory +button and in two seconds the door of the hospital, which was held by an +electric wire, opened, and in fifteen seconds the signal was flashed back +that the hospital was open. So in about half a minute the signal went +there and back over a space of 8,000 miles. How wonderful! and yet greater +spiritual wonders are happening every day and many times in the day, if +only we have faith in God and let Him work in us and through us. + +I will give you another illustration how the simple touch of faith links +us with God's power. A few years ago some rocks blocked the entrance into +the river St. Lawrence, so that the ships could not go up the river to +Quebec. It was decided that the mass of solid rock must be removed. How +was it done? 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 cleared. + +Faith has done great wonders in times past, and it can still do wonders, +if only we make use of God's Almighty power. But the rule is, "According +to your faith so be it unto you." + +I will give you an illustration. When I want light in my room I touch the +electric button and the room is filled with light. The moment I press the +button I expect the light will come, and I am surprised if it fails. Why? +Touching the electric button is like the touch of faith; it brings us into +contact with the source of light. Faith brings me into contact with God +Himself, for He is the source of life and light. God has ordained that +faith shall be a power as real and as uniform in its working as light or +heat or electricity. Everything about them is a mystery which we do not +fully understand, but all the same they are real to us and we use them. +Although we do not understand them, yet we prove again and again that they +supply us with new life and energy simply by a touch. Even a child can +touch. Faith places all God's fulness at our disposal, but it is only +according to our faith that we receive it. + +I know a poor woman who went through a time of great anxiety about her +little girl who was ill. One day a Christian friend called to see her and +she told her all about her trouble. When she had finished the friend said +to her very tenderly, "You have forgotten one little word of five +letters." "What is it? Do tell me," she exclaimed, looking puzzled. Then +the friend, pointing on her five fingers, said slowly, _f-a-i-t-h_. The +dark cloud cleared away and she was able to look up into God's face again +and to trust Him. + +So when Christ says, "Have faith in God," it is a command to hold fast to +God. It means trust God about everything, great and small; nothing is too +small. Trust Him to save you, and to keep you. Trust Him in every +difficulty and in every duty. + +"Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring +heaven to your souls." + +When Christ said to Peter and the others, "Have faith in God," He said it +very earnestly and with a ring of deep conviction in His voice. He knew in +Himself what dependence on God means in the earthly life. Day by day He +showed what it is to have simple trust in God. When He said, "Have faith +in God," He said it very solemnly, because He was speaking on behalf of +His Father. + +He had come to reveal Him, so He says, "I do nothing of Myself, but as My +Father hath taught Me I speak these things." He had already said, "He that +believeth on Me hath everlasting life," and now He adds, "Have faith in +God." Yes, He claims our confidence, our full confidence, not a half- +hearted trust. + +Our Lord saw men seeking other objects of trust, so He says, "Take hold of +God, hold fast to God, have faith in God and never let it go." + +The world's great need is faith in God. God's own character demands it. +The Scriptures make Him known and reveal Him as altogether trustworthy, +such an One as invites our entire confidence. To have faith in God means +leaning on Him, letting Him bear the whole weight. There is a great +difference between believing and committing. Many say they believe, but +they are not willing to commit themselves to Him. + +A few years ago there was a man named Blondin who performed wonderful +feats at the Crystal Palace. Once he walked on a tight rope stretched +across the centre of the Palace at a height of 150 feet. Another time a +rope was stretched at a great height over a shipbuilder's yard, and he not +only walked steadily across, but he carried a man on his back. A large +crowd gazed at him in wonder and awe, and great was their relief when both +Blondin and his burden reached the ground in safety. + +Among the eager upturned faces in the crowd there was a lad about eleven +years of age. When Blondin came down he went up to the lad and said to +him, "You saw me carry that big man across, do you believe I could take +you?" "Of course you could," replied the boy; "why, he was a big man, and +I am only a little chap." "Well, then, jump up, my lad," said Blondin, and +he stooped down for the boy to climb up on his back. But although the boy +said he believed Blondin was able to carry him across, he was not willing +to trust himself, and so, just saying, "No, thank you," he was off like a +shot and ran as fast as he could till he was lost in the crowd. Though he +said he believed, when it came to the point he did not commit himself, and +that is all the difference, between believing _in_ Christ and believing +_on_ Him. + +Faith in God means really committing ourselves into His hands and rolling +our burdens on Him. + +If we withhold our confidence it shows that we do not really believe that +God is what the Bible says He is. The reason there is so much unrest and +ungodliness is because we have lost sight of God. It is not because the +Bible is out of date as some say, or that the Gospel has lost its power; +it is still as ever, "the power of God unto salvation," but we are +limiting God. + +It is just the same now as in olden times when the children of Israel +limited the Holy One of Israel, and we read how this lack of confidence +grieved God all through those forty years in the wilderness. Yea, they +spake against God, they said, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness; +can God give bread also; can He provide flesh for His people?" [Footnote: +Ps. lxxviii. 19, 20.] Unbelief asks, "_Can He?_" Faith says, "_He can._" +Dear friends, let me ask you to stop and ask yourself, Where do you put +that little word "can"? Are you constantly thinking to yourself, Can God? +or are you saying in your heart and meaning it too, "_God can_"! We limit +God's power to save, by asking, _Can_ God? 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 save." [Footnote: Jer. xiv; 9.] + +You have prayed many years perhaps for the conversion of some one near and +dear to you, but are you limiting God because you doubt His power to do +it? A poor man who gave way to drink said sadly, "I have broken the pledge +again and again"; then pointing to his pledge card he said, "But now I +have written a text on it, Isaiah xli. 13: 'For I the Lord thy God will +hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee.'" Then +looking up he said simply, "Maybe, Him and me will do it together." + +Is it victory over temptation you long for? Look up to Him and say, "I +can't, but God can." Is it grace you need for some special trial? Say, +"God is able to make all grace abound towards me, 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 us.'" [Footnote: Eph. iii. 20.] +The world's great sin is not trusting God. "Thus said the LORD, Cursed be +the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart +departeth from the Lord." [Footnote: Jer. xvii. 5.] Yet in times of +difficulty or danger how apt we are to lean on the arm of flesh. + +During the present European war I was much impressed by the words of one +of our soldiers who writes from the front: "After all that is being done +there still remains one supreme necessity without which neither arms or +munitions can be decisive, namely, the spiritual outlook of the whole +nation. When I returned home after ten months in Flanders, I was amazed at +the lack of spirituality of the people as a whole. The simple faith and +dependence upon God which characterised our country in her past struggles +seem lost to sight. 'They trusted in Thee and Thou didst deliver them' +implied no disregard for military efficiency; it was the real and vital +accompaniment to armed force. Can it be that the hellishness of battle, +the wearing down of the spirit induced by trench warfare, moments of utter +loneliness which every soldier has to bear, strike right at the soul and +enable him to realise the nearness of the spiritual world? '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 shoulders. Some of us have realised what individual +prayer at home has done for us, but we should all like to feel that the +whole nation is also testing the value of spiritual power." + +We read in God's Word that "The children of Judah prevailed, because they +relied upon the Lord God"; [Footnote: 2 Chron. xiii. 18.] and when King +Asa was defeated the prophet said to him, "Because thou hast relied on the +King of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host +of the King of Syria escaped out of thine hand." [Footnote: 2 Chron. xvi. +7.] + +To have faith in God we must put God first in everything. He must be first +when we awake in the morning. How blessed it is to be able to feel, "When +I awake I am still with Thee." A working man said to me once, "I make +myself happy in God the first thing in the morning." David says, "In the +morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up." [Footnote: +Ps. v. 3.] "When I awake I am still with Thee." [Footnote: Ps. cxxxix. +18.] + +"In my morning prayer," said a Christian man, "instead of thinking of my +own needs first, I like to think of the fulness there is in Christ for +me." Let us resolve to put "God _first_," even if we have only time for +one text of Scripture. "God _first_," even if it is only a minute or two +for prayer. A Christian said once, "I must see the face of God before I +see the face of man." The manna was gathered early every morning. Another +said, "Unless I meet with God first, I cannot meet the difficulties of the +day in a prepared spirit." If you put "God first," you will find this will +make all the difference as to how you do your work and how you deal with +others. "Little is much if God is in it." + +To have faith in God is to trust Him _only_. David says, "My soul, wait +thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him." [Footnote: Ps. lxii. +5.] Is it so with you? If so, what for, and for how much? First find out +from His Word that God is able and willing to do what you need; then trust +Him to do it. "Trust in Him at all times" it says again in that beautiful +Psalm. [Footnote: Ps. lxii. 8.] + +"I have been looking into my Bible," said a working man, "and I find a +great many men trusted God, and whatever they trusted God for, they always +got it; He never failed them, and it is the same now." + +You have all heard of Florence Nightingale and her life of devotion in +nursing the sick. She was asked to tell the secret of her earnest +Christian life, and after a pause she said, "I have kept nothing back from +God." Faith in God is unreserved confidence, telling Him all and keeping +nothing back. But before we can do this as a daily habit we must +definitely commit ourselves and all we have into God's hands. + +It says in Isaiah xliv. 5, "One shall say, I am the Lord's." I have a mark +in my Bible which I made many years ago by the side of these words. I put +the date and then I wrote these words: "He gave Himself for me and I give +myself to Him. He takes me and I take Him." Ever since then it has been my +delight to tell others how simple it all is. It is the sinner taking the +Saviour and the Saviour taking the sinner. + +Are you asking, What must I do? First believe what God says about you in +His Word. He says, that you are guilty, lost, ruined. Then He presents +Christ to us as the Saviour and calls on us to believe what He says about +Him. "He that believeth not God hath made him a liar because he hath not +believed the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record that +God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son." [Footnote: +I John v. 10, 11.] + +"Have faith in God." Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of +God, and "faith is the gift of God." And the wonder of it all is that God +says to the weak ones like poor Jacob, "I have chosen thee and not cast +thee away," and He never will, for "_God keeps all His failures_," not +like man who throws his failures on one side as worthless. + + Oh! to trust Him then more fully, + Just to simply trust. + +Then instead of "limiting the Holy One of Israel" we shall be singing at +the top of our voices, "The LORD hath done great things for us whereof we +are glad." [Footnote: Ps. cxxvi. 3.] So then let us "trust in the Lord for +ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is Everlasting Strength." [Footnote: Isa. +xxvi. 4.] + + + +ADDRESS IX + +THE CHURCH OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Ephesians v. 22-33. + + +"Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it." [Footnote: Eph. v. +25.] Two precious truths shine out in these words. He _loved_, He _gave_. +He not only gave Himself for the Church when He died on the Cross, but He +is still sanctifying and cleansing it, and by and by when He comes again +"He will present it unto Himself a glorious Church." [Footnote: Eph. v. +27.] + +So we have the history of the Church in the past, in the present, and in +the future. We look back to the past and we see Christ giving Himself, +that is, laying down His life on the Cross; but we must also look far, far +back into the past Eternity to find out another precious truth. (Perhaps +you have never thought about it.) It is, that the Church was in God's +thoughts from the very beginning! The Son of God was in the bosom of the +Father "in the beginning"; and it was then--before the world was created, +that God chose us in Him and gave us to Him. [Footnote: Eph. i. 4.] +Now we see why "Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it." + +What is the Church? The word "Church" means "called out," so the Church +embraces all who have been "called out" during the present age to form the +"Body of Christ." In the Old Testament we find that the Jews were God's +chosen people, [Footnote: Exod. vi. 7.] so they had all the privileges, +but in later times, the Jews rejected the Gospel of the grace of God, and +then God graciously visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people to +be called by His Name. [Footnote: Acts xv. 14.] + +When did this special "_calling out_" begin? Nearly 1900 years ago on the +Day of Pentecost, and it has been going on ever since, and when the number +of "the called-out ones" has been completed, then "The Lord Himself shall +descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and +with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we +which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the +clouds to meet the Lord in the air." [Footnote: I Thess. iv. 16, 17.] + +Each of those three words, "_chosen_," "_called out_," and "_caught up_," +leads us on to something more. We were chosen in Him to be holy; +[Footnote: Eph. i. 4.] we are called out to be the Body of Christ now, and +by and by we shall be caught up to meet the Bridegroom and to be with Him +for ever. If you are a child of God, you can say with holy wonder, "God +has done all this for me." + +The Church was formed out of a little company of 120 men and women who +were gathered together praying in the Upper Room at Jerusalem. [Footnote: +Acts i. 14, 15.] Suddenly they heard a wonderful sound and saw a heavenly +vision, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost; and before the day +was over that little company increased to the number of 3,000 souls. How +many does it number now? No one knows, but it is a "multitude which no man +can number." [Footnote: Rev. vii. 9.] Some are already in glory, some are +still on earth, but it matters not where they are, they belong to the +"whole family" of God "in heaven and in earth." [Footnote: Eph. iii. 15.] + +On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, 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 Spirit, "For, as the body is one and hath +many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one +body, so also is Christ." [Footnote: I Cor. xii. 12, 27.] "Now ye are the +Body of Christ and members in particular," that is, individually, for +every saved soul is a member. + +The Church is a living body united to Jesus Christ, for He is the living +Head of the Body. He needs His Church just as much as His Church needs +Him. It is the Holy Spirit who unites us to the risen and glorified Christ +Who is the Head, and then He unites us to one another in Him. It is a +_living_ union, because we pass through death into the resurrection life +of Christ, for by "One Spirit we are all baptized into One Body, and we +have all been made to drink into that One Spirit." [Footnote: I Cor. xii. +13.] The Holy Ghost sustains the life of the Church. In Him we live and +move and have our being. As the bird lives in the air, as the flower lives +in the sunshine, so we live in the Spirit, and when we drink in His +fulness there is growth and fruitfulness. + +Have we ever felt this need of drinking into that One Spirit? Everything +connected with the true Church of Christ must be spiritual, it is this +which is being lost sight of in the present day, and it is the reason why +there is so little power and so few conversions. + +Have you ever tried to understand why the Church is called "the Body of +Christ"? Think first about your own body. It is the only part of your real +self that can be seen. I cannot see your heart or your thoughts, but +I know what your thoughts are by your words, and what you feel by the look +of joy or sorrow in your face, and by the way you go about. + +It is by your body that your real personality is made known to others; +what you really are would never be seen unless your body made it known. In +the same way the Church is the Body in order to make Christ known in the +world. He is hidden from our view, He is unseen, but He manifests Himself +and shines out through us, and He sends us to carry His messages and to do +His Will. + +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 body." [Footnote: 2 Cor. iv. 10, 11.] + +This is what the Church is here on earth for, to make the unseen Christ +known. Just as every drop of water reflects the light, so every member of +the Church, however weak and small, can reflect His love. + +Is His compassion for sinners beaming in your eye? Is His purity seen in +your daily life? Do you judge things from His standpoint? + +I remember when some one was telling me why she loved a Christian worker +whom we both knew, she added, "I love her for what I see of Christ in +her." + +Think of Christ exalted in Heaven far above all things, and remember He is +there not for Himself, but for _you_. "He is Head over all things to His +Body, the Church." [Footnote: Eph. i. 22, 23.] + +It is wonderful to think of this union with Christ, that we are His Body +and He is the Head; but there is another wonder quite as great, it is that +He is the Bridegroom and the Church is the Bride. When we speak of the +Church as the Body of Christ, it is a living union, _life_ is the one +thought brought out; when we speak of Christ as the Bridegroom it is +_love_ which is the chief point. It brings out the affection, tenderness +and nearness of the Bridegroom. "So ought men to love their wives as their +own bodies, He that loveth His wife loveth Himself." [Footnote: Eph. v. +28-30.] + +We have nothing so wonderful in the Old Testament. Think of the depths out +of which we have come, and the heights to which we are raised. "He raiseth +up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill +to set them among princes and to make them inherit the throne of glory." +[Footnote: 1 Sam. ii. 8.] Think of the sinner lifted out of all his +bondage and ruin to be the Bride of the Lamb! There is nothing higher that +God can give than this. This will be our glorious position by and by when +the Bridegroom comes to take us to our Heavenly Home, for His parting +words were, "I will come again and receive you unto Myself." [Footnote: +St. John xiv. 3.] + +There will be three great surprises on the day that He comes again. These +surprises have been kept secret, but on that day the glorious secrets will +all be made known. + +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 new, +glorified bodies. What a joyful meeting it will be. + +The next surprise will be that we who are still living on earth when +Christ comes will be changed, we shall not die, we shall escape from the +hand of death. "It is appointed unto men once to die," but "Christ was +once offered to bear the sin of many," [Footnote: Heb. ix. 27, 28.] and +when He comes the saints who are living will be changed "in a moment, in +the twinkling of an eye." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xv. 52.] 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 made. Three great changes will take place--our +_bodies_ will be changed, no more sin, or pain, or weariness; our _minds_ +will be changed. "We shall _know_" then what we cannot know now, we shall +see all as God sees it, we shall know the love of Christ and we shall love +Him as He deserves to be loved, and best of all "we shall be like Him for +we shall see Him as He is." + +The third surprise will be that our _circumstances_ will also be changed; +we shall be no longer on the earth, for as soon as the great change takes +place we shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. He will then look +into our life work, and He will say to His faithful ones who have been +true-hearted and loyal: "Well done, good and faithful servant." [Footnote: +St. Matt. xxv. 21.] Then the heavens will resound with the Hallelujah +chorus, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to Him, for the +marriage of the Lamb is come and His wife hath made herself ready." +[Footnote: Rev. xix. 7.] + +But the glory will be only then beginning, it will be "_glory upon +glory_." Remember there are two stages in Christ's Coming; He will come +_for_ His saints, and then He will come down to earth _with_ His saints. +As it is written: "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His +saints." [Footnote: Jude 14.] "When Christ, who is our Life, shall appear, +then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." [Footnote: Col. iii. 4.] +We shall come _with_ Him when He comes to reign on the earth. + +But there is something still grander than the glorious position of having +a place with Him on His throne. We look on and on into the Eternity that +is coming (and it is a wonderful outlook) and what do we find? It is that +we are wanted for the ages to come to show forth, and to be living +personal illustrations "of the riches of God's grace." It is not only that +we shall be saved and glorified, but that God will use us personally to +show forth all His love. The grace of God is the love which flowed down to +us in our great need, when we were dead in sins, slaves to sin and Satan +and deserving nothing but God's wrath. + +It is we ourselves who are wanted for the ages to come for "the praise of +His glory." The expression "_the riches_ of God's grace" [Footnote: Eph. +i. 7.] meets our personal need, but there is something else that will +shine forth, it is called "_the glory_ of God's grace." [Footnote: Eph. i. +6.] All that God prepares for us is worthy of His greatness and power. The +inheritance which He has in store and the beautiful Home above will be +worthy of God Himself, all that is in it and around it surpassing +everything that we can imagine in its glory and beauty will be worthy of +God Himself. 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 +saints." [Footnote: Eph. i. 18.] + +The words of this old hymn describe what it will be like-- + + "I go on my way rejoicing, + Though weary the wilderness road-- + I go on my way rejoicing + In hope of the glory of God. + + "Then no more in the earthen vessel + The treasure of God shall be, + But in full and unclouded beauty, + O Lord, wilt Thou shine through me. + + "All, all in Thy new creation + The glory of God shall see; + And the lamp for that light eternal + The Bride of the Lamb shall be. + + "A golden lamp in the heavens, + That all may see and adore + The Lamb who was slain and who liveth, + Who liveth for evermore. + + "So I go on my way rejoicing + That the heavens and earth shall see + His grace, and His glory and beauty, + In the depth of His love to me." + +Our mission throughout eternity is to make known the love and wisdom of +God that He may not only be all, but in all. He is in us now, but we want +Him to be in all, 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 ... all and in all." +[Footnote: I Cor. xv. 28.] + +We are passing through wars and convulsions and revolutions hitherto +unknown, but a glorious future is awaiting us, and one thing is certain, +that nothing can "separate us from the love of God which is in Christ +Jesus our Lord." [Footnote: Rom. viii. 39.] That is our security. + +It is also certain that it is not in the power of the devil to destroy the +Church of God, for we are wanted in the ages to come. It is the Church +which is to be the glory of Christ to all Eternity. + +We are also wanted _now_ in a very special way. Men's hearts are failing +them for fear, they need strong, calm, prayerful helpers in this time of +perplexity. Who can speak a word of cheer and encouragement? Who can point +them to the Rock of Ages which cannot be moved? Who can inspire them with +faith and hope? Only the one who has himself made God his Refuge. It is in +times of trouble that the worldly man turns for help and sympathy to the +believer. It is through us that God would work out His purpose of grace +and love to the world. + +A young man who had met with a bitter disappointment went to an aged +Christian and poured out his trouble. After hearing his sad story, his +friend said in a calm, tender voice, "God knows all about it, there is no +such thing as chance in the world." "What is there then?" asked the young +man eagerly. "There is _love_, Eternal _love_," was the answer. + +The reason why the believer is kept in perfect peace is because he looks +beyond all the tumult of battle, the bitter strife and terrible bloodshed +to the time when God will gather together all things in Christ, for He is +to be Head over all. + +LOVE, ETERNAL LOVE. + +Never for a moment shall that love cease to bless us and shield us. +Whatever may happen to our bodies nothing can touch the eternal life +within. + +Do you feel anxious to know whether you will have a share in the glory? I +will tell you how you may know. You remember Christian had a roll given +him by Evangelist which he was to give in at the Celestial Gate. 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 +air. Take your Bible and you will find there four precious words which God +has written for you to rest upon, and which will never fail you. + +1. REDEEMED. [Footnote: Pet. i. 18, 19] "Bought with a price," and the +price was the life-blood of God's dear Son, so we belong to the Church of +Christ which He has "purchased with His own blood." [Footnote: Acts xx. +28] + +2. SEALED. [Footnote: Eph. i. 13] The Seal is God's mark upon us showing +to men and angels and devils that we are His "purchased possession"; that +we belong to Him, spirit, soul and body absolutely, and for ever, for +God's solid foundation stands unmoved, bearing this inscription, "The Lord +knoweth them that are His." [Footnote: 2 Tim. ii. 19] + +A Christian doctor who had been in the Crimean War and in China, was very +particular when going on a journey to have all his luggage "_labelled and +ready_." In his last illness he turned to a friend and said with a smile, +"_I am labelled and ready_"! and then he gave this beautiful testimony: +"There is only one thing that makes me quite ready and quite sure of +Heaven, it is that my sins are forgiven by trusting in the Blood of Jesus. +Nothing that we can do can save us, it is what He did. He alone can give +us peace with God." + +3. KEPT. [Footnote: 1 Pet. i. 5] A young Christian told a friend that he +was afraid as to whether he would be able to live the life. The friend +looked at him, and said, with a ringing voice of assurance, "He is able to +keep you from falling." [Footnote: Jude 24] He then saw that he was no +longer in his own keeping, but in _God's_ keeping, and that the keeping +would be up to the last moment, and be so complete that he would be handed +over without the smallest defect to stand in "the presence of His glory +with exceeding joy." + +4. GLORIFIED. [Footnote: Rom. viii. 30] This is the last and grandest of +the four precious words which God has given to strengthen our hearts, and +it is the crown of all. What shall we say? No words can express what it +will be, it will surpass our highest expectations. But we know that it +will be fulness of life, fulness of joy, fulness of love, and all our +deepest longings satisfied, all our highest hopes fulfilled, and it will +be for ever and for ever! + +Let us hold fast God's sure word of promise, "The Lord will give grace and +glory." [Footnote: Ps. lxxxiv. 11] 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 think, according to the power that worketh in us, UNTO HIM +IS THE GLORY IN THE CHURCH, THROUGHOUT ALL AGES, TO ALL ETERNITY, WORLD +WITHOUT END. AMEN. [Footnote: Eph. iii. 20, 21] + + + +ADDRESS X + +THE KINGDOM OF GOD + +PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--St. Matthew xxi. 1-17, and +Revelation xi. 15-18. + + +Now, therefore, why speak ye not a word of bringing the King back? +[Footnote: 2 Sam. xix. 10] This question was asked a long time ago. You +remember how David was driven from his throne. His son Absalom rebelled +against him and he had to leave the country; but Absalom is now dead, the +rebellion is at an end, and still David is an exile. At last some of the +people talk it over together and inquire of one another, "Why say ye not a +word, or why are ye silent about bringing back the King?" So they sent +word to the King and Judah went to meet him. + +I was reminded of this Old Testament story when a correspondent wrote in +the spring of this year as follows: "I have spent two days in what is left +of Belgium, and I find that the dream of the Belgians is to see the King +ride back into Brussels. Men and women, old and young, talk and plan and +have visions of the time when the King comes Home." + +It is touching to think how these people, in spite of all their +misfortunes, 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 restored. + +It makes me think of another King, our Lord Jesus, who entered the City of +Jerusalem amidst the cheers and acclamations of a large crowd, and how the +words came true: "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold thy King cometh +unto thee." [Footnote: St. Matt. xxi. 5] And now they cry, "Hosanna"--He +is come, He is come! and the children's voices ring out with praise. But +this proclaiming Him as King aroused the enmity of some of the rulers and +they stirred up the people against Him. Here was the opportunity, the +golden opportunity, for accepting or rejecting the Son of God. They had +listened to His teaching, they brought their sick to Him for healing, they +appreciated the benefits of His ministry, but they refused to submit to +His authority, so they were determined to silence His Voice. Sin shows +itself in the rebellion of the _will_ against God, and so they lost the +opportunity, and instead of accepting Him, they crucified their King. + +The words are still true: "Behold, thy King cometh," He comes to set up +the Kingdom of God in our hearts, so the opportunity is given to you now +to accept Him as your King. + +We listen to the good news about peace and forgiveness, but are we willing +to make Jesus King in our hearts? Here is the great test, it is here that +the opposition of man's _will_ begins to show itself, because if He is to +be our Lord and Master He claims all we are and all we have. He must be +Lord of _all_ or He is not Lord at all; nothing less will do. There is no +real union with Him by faith until we say in our hearts, "My Lord, and my +God." [Footnote: St. John xx. 28.] It is impossible to accept Christ as our +Saviour without also yielding to Him as King, and proclaiming Him as King. + +A young friend of mine has these three simple words, "Make Jesus King," in +a frame hanging on the wall of her room. She told me they were the means +of leading her to decide for Christ. + +Nothing but the power of the Holy Spirit can enable us to yield to Him as +our Lord and Master. "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the +Holy Ghost." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xii. 3.] This is the central fact--"JESUS IS +LORD." "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He +might be Lord both of the dead and living." [Footnote: Rom. xiv. 9] + +It is the Holy Spirit who first reveals Christ to your heart and enables +you to say, "Thou art my Lord," [Footnote: Ps. xvi. 2] and then He gives +you grace to love and obey Him as your Master. So, whether you look +backward to the moment when your sins were all blotted out, "_He is +Lord_"; or whether you look at your present life with all its +shortcomings, "_He is Lord_"; or whether you look forward to the end, +waiting for His Coming, _He is Lord_. "Can you say truly-- + + "He cleansed my heart from all its sin, + What a wonderful Saviour! + And now He reigns and rules within, + What a wonderful Saviour!" + +We have seen our Lord proclaimed King at Jerusalem and accepting the +title. Although rejected and crucified, His every word and action was +kingly up to the last moment of His earthly life. He spoke openly of His +Kingdom to Pilate, for when Pilate asked Him, "Art Thou a King then?" +[Footnote: St. John xviii. 37] He answered, "I am." The purple robe, the +crown of thorns, the sceptre, though offered in mockery, were all kingly, +for the superscription over the Cross, THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE +JEWS, [Footnote: St. Matt. xxvii. 37] was true. The Cross was the way to +the Throne. "I beheld, and lo in the midst of the Throne stood a +Lamb, as it had been slain." [Footnote: Rev. v. 6] + +In that dark, dark hour of Christ's agony on the Cross, there was only one +man who recognised Christ as King, and that was the dying thief. It was a +very real cry that broke from his lips in his utter need--"Lord, remember +me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom." [Footnote: St. Luke xxiii. 42] It +was wonderful faith. Can you think of any other as wonderful? He +recognised Christ as King--not a dying King leaving His throne--but a +victorious King about to enter His Kingdom. The penitent thief saw even +more than this, he saw that it was a Kingdom of souls rescued from sin's +bondage and slavery; not a Kingdom of the great ones of earth, but for +outcasts such as he was, so he cried, "Take me as I am and give me a place +in the Kingdom." + +But the answer to the cry was as wonderful as the cry itself--"To-day +shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." When the King said "With Me," He +meant, "I am passing from darkness into Everlasting Light. Come with Me. I +have broken the chains of sin, I am setting the prisoners free. Come with +Me." From that moment the penitent thief was identified with Christ in His +death and in His Risen Life. Is this true of you? + +When earth rejected the King, not only was Heaven opened to receive Him, +but a triumphant reception awaited Him. Heaven resounded with the joyful +chorus of the angelic hosts--"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye +lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in"! +[Footnote: Ps. xxiv. 7.] + +So for nineteen hundred years the heavens have received Him, but once +again the everlasting doors will open, and the Son of Man will come in +"the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." [Footnote: St. Matt. +xxiv. 30.] + +What has been going on during all these years? Kingdoms and world powers +have risen up one after another, but all have failed to give what the +world really needs, "A King to reign in righteousness." [Footnote: Isa. +xxxii. 1.] God is still saying, "Why do the heathen rage and the people +imagine a vain thing?" [Footnote: Ps. ii. 1.] But in spite of man's +rebellion and forgetfulness of God, God's purpose will stand firm, "Yet +have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion." [Footnote: Ps. ii. 6.] +God's purpose is to have all power placed in the hands of One Man, and +that is Christ. What will be the final winding up of Earth's suffering and +struggles? The veil will be drawn aside and + + "The Glory of the LORD will be revealed." [Footnote: Isa. xl. 5.] + +It is the glory of the Personal Presence of the Son of God. When? Where? +How? will the glory be seen. + +Look back into the Garden of Eden. God gave man control over all, but he +listened to another voice and then he lost control. The question was +raised, "Who was to rule, Satan or God?" + +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 world. "An enemy hath done this." [Footnote: St. +Matt. xiii. 28.] It is the devil who blinds the eyes, hardens the hearts, +and deadens the conscience of mankind. But we must not lose heart or think +that Satan is getting the upper hand. The Word of God enables us not only +to trace some of his plots and schemes, but it shows us _why_ God has been +so long silent and _when_ God intends to break that silence. [Footnote: +See Ps. 1] The victory is sure, but whose victory? The Victory of the Son +of God. + +But first the Jews must return to their own land, and then "the kings of +the earth and of the whole world" will be gathered to the battle of the +great Day of God Almighty. All these nations will fight against the Jews +at Jerusalem in the place called Armageddon. It is really a desperate +attempt of the devil who is sending forth these nations to make war with +the Lamb. Jerusalem will be taken, and when the enemy is rejoicing over +the victory and the destruction of the Jews seems certain, then suddenly +they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and +great glory, [Footnote: St. Matt. xxiv. 30] "the armies" which are "in +Heaven" following Him. [Footnote: Rev. xix. 14] + +Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, and His feet +shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, [Footnote: Zech. xiv. 3, +4] and "every eye shall see Him." [Footnote: Rev. i. 7] The armies of the +enemy will be destroyed and God's people will be delivered. In this +marvellous way the Lamb shall overcome, for "He is Lord of lords and King +of kings and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful." +[Footnote: Rev. xvii. 14] + +It will not only be the deliverance of the Jews from their enemies, but +the wonder of that great day will be that at last their eyes will be +opened to see Him as the Messiah, so they will be converted and restored. +The Lord says, "I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and of +supplication and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced." +[Footnote: Zech. xii. 10.] + +What an overwhelming sight! The same Jesus whom they despised and rejected +is come down from heaven to deliver them, but they only think of Him as +the One whom they have pierced. The glory which meets their eye at that +moment is the glory of the love and compassion of the Crucified One. The +result of looking is mourning. They get such a view of their sin against +His love that they are filled with godly sorrow. When the eye of faith is +turned to Jesus then the tears flow. Oh, how perfectly will all Satan's +evil influence in man's heart be destroyed in the presence of Jesus. + +"In that Day we have seen what has taken place at the beginning of that +day, 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 uncleanness." +[Footnote: Zech. xiii. 1.] With the opening of that fountain there is +grace given to _use_ it, for God says, "I will pour upon them the spirit +of grace." Many see the fountain now who never use it! + +Precious fountain, of all things most precious to poor sinners such as you +and me. No one but God's dear Son, and nothing but His atoning death on +Calvary, could open that fountain. The fountain is still flowing--has it +cleansed you? + +Then the Kingdom of God is set up on earth. Who can tell the good news so +well as these restored and converted ones? + +The question is sometimes asked, Has the Gospel lost its power? Is +Christianity a failure? No. The Gospel will yet be preached throughout the +whole world. Who will be the preachers? Converted Jews, [Footnote: Isa. +lxi. 6] "a mighty angel, [Footnote: Rev. xiv. 6] and glorified saints, for +they shall be priests of God." [Footnote: Rev. xx. 6] + +What will be the result of their preaching? There will be a world-wide +revival. "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the +waters cover the sea." [Footnote: Hab. ii. 14] + +When Christ comes to us now, it is to rule in the hearts of His people, +but _then_ He will reign over a believing world without opposition, for +Satan will be bound and Christ will take the Kingdom which is His by +redemption, and His glory will be seen on Mount Zion. "Out of Zion, the +perfection of beauty, God hath shined." [Footnote: Ps. 1. 2] + +And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven +saying: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord +and of His Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever." [Footnote: Rev. +xi. 15] + +After reigning on earth for a thousand years there will be the Judgment of +"the Great White Throne," [Footnote: Rev. xx. 11-15] when all those who +had no part in the first resurrection will be raised, and all whose names +are not "written in the Book of Life" will be "cast into the lake of +fire." + +"This is the second death." + +Has your name been entered in the Book of Life? + +One more glorious Vision of the Kingdom is unfolded +before us, and the glory grows brighter and brighter, +for it is "THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM." + +"I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first +earth were passed away and there was no more sea.... And He that sat upon +the throne said, Behold I make all things new...." [Footnote: Rev. xxi. 1, +5] "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the +Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him; and they shall see +His face and His name shall be in their foreheads. + +"And there shall be no night there: and they need no candle, neither light +of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for +ever and ever." [Footnote: Rev. xxii. 3-5] How wonderful that God should +promise us an abundant entrance into His Everlasting Kingdom. [Footnote: 2 +Pet. i. 11] What does an abundant entrance mean? It means that we shall +not, as it were, just creep into heaven by a side door, but that we shall +have a grand welcome from the glorified ones there and from the Lord +Himself, all the doors, as it were, being thrown wide open to receive us. +Are we preparing for it? A mother who was dying called her little daughter +who was ten years old to her bedside and said tenderly, "I want you to +learn this little prayer, 'O God, prepare me for all Thou art preparing +for me.'" And the prayer was answered, for that little girl was Frances +Ridley Havergal, who lived a consecrated life, and passed away singing +about the Lord whom she loved. + +I must give you some words spoken by that holy man Samuel Rutherford who +was persecuted and put into prison for Christ's sake. "I wonder many +times," he said, "that ever a child of God should have a sad heart +considering what the Lord is preparing for him. When we get Home above and +enter into possession of our Brother's fair Kingdom, it will be like one +step from prison to glory." These words came true, for soon after this he +received notice to appear before his judges in court, but before the day +of the trial came he died. So it was literally one step for him from +prison to glory. His own account of it is given in the following lines---- + + "They've summoned me before them, + Thither I may not come; + My King says, Come up hither, + My Lord says, Welcome Home." + +What will it all be like? No words of ours can describe it, but God +Himself tells us what He will be to us and what He will do for us in the +Eternal Kingdom. + +"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of +God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His +people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." [Footnote: +Rev. xxi. 3-4] + +"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no +more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more +pain, for the former things are passed away." + +The Crown of it all is that "God Himself shall be with them and be their +God." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xv. 28] All creatures will say, "God is everything +to me," for GOD will be "All in All."' + +We have traced out some of the wonderful truths which God has revealed to +us about Himself. "This is Life Eternal that they might know Thee, the +only True God and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." [Footnote: St. John +xvii. 3] + +Apart from God, all is death and ruin for ever; to _know_ God, to _trust_ +God, to _love_ God is Eternal Life. + +The great question is, What is God to me? Can you say--"O GOD, THOU ART MY +GOD"? + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE ONE GREAT REALITY *** + +This file should be named 81grl10.txt or 81grl10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 81grl11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 81grl10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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