Depending upon the Lord (Quality: good, start missing)

[0:00] They are solemnly mistaken, and their eyes are holden that we cannot know the truth. Now I say that with sincerity and honesty.

[0:13] As the Lord said, without me, ye can do nothing. I tremble at the thoughts of those that think that they have a right to do anything.

[0:25] It is the work alone of the Spirit. And oh, if your religion is only fleshly, then woe unto you, and woe unto me.

[0:37] Because that is of the flesh is flesh, and that is of the Spirit is Spirit. May the Spirit of the Lord then be upon one this afternoon.

[0:48] We mourn over our shortcomings and failings, but realize our dependence is upon God and God alone.

[1:00] To begin that work of grace, to carry it on, to maintain that faith. And through mercy, that we might press toward the mark or the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

[1:14] So it blesses the man that heareth me, says the Lord. Seth the Lord, Seth the Lord the preacher of righteousness.

[1:27] And oh, unless you and I know something of what it is to have a broken heart and contrite spirit. A real hunger and thirst after the righteousness of Christ.

[1:41] Then we shall come to a solemn end. Even those of us that may trust we have been led by the Spirit to stand up in his name.

[1:52] We tremble, dear friends, at the thoughts of being found wanting at last. Even Paul were fearful that he might be found wanting at last.

[2:05] And so we have to look to the Lord. We cannot look to Paul. We bless God for him and for the teaching of the Spirit. And for the precious Word of God that we have before us.

[2:20] But oh, how we need the Lord and his mercy then. To unstop our deaf ears. And to pour in the blessed truths. That we might be maintained and upheld by the Spirit.

[2:35] To commit our way unto the Lord. Trust also in him. Now he alone can give you faith. You see, we are naked.

[2:46] We are empty and have nothing. And yet by the grace of God. As he quickens your soul and mine. Shall you be looking to him.

[2:59] To truly confirm your soul. And abundantly bless you. With that hearing ear and receptive heart. As he said.

[3:11] And to quote this morning that I said. My sheep hear my voice. Oh, we have much cause for thanksgiving. If we have heard the voice of the Good Shepherd.

[3:21] It might have been. In the various paths that we have been led to walk in. It might have been in some heavy trial. Some affliction.

[3:33] Some sorrowful bereavement. Or something that has made us to ponder. The path of our feet. And to consider our ways. And our ways especially would have been contrary to the will of God.

[3:48] We have been brought to consider. Him. And to seek that we might be led by the Spirit. To follow in the footsteps of the flock of God.

[4:01] Oh, we cannot listen to what man says. It's what the Spirit of the Lord says. And he says. However, everyone that thirsteth. Come ye to the waters. He that hath no money.

[4:13] Come ye by wine and milk. Without money and without price. For wherefore spend ye money for that that is of naught. You see it is. The Lord alone.

[4:24] Can awaken your soul. No matter how much you and I try and train up a child in the way that he should go. Unless the Lord sanctifies that training.

[4:38] Then. And causes that soul to be born again by the water and the Spirit. There will be no life or light in them. So bright it is to train up a child in that right way.

[4:51] But only the Lord himself can bless that means of training. That it might be profitable in due sign. And it might be after the parents are gone.

[5:04] That this work of grace is begun. Because sometimes the death of one is the life of another. And all we are brought to. To tremble at the thought.

[5:15] At the majesty of God. And to look to him. That we might truly know the truth. It's a saving knowledge. It's not a head knowledge.

[5:27] It's not a head knowledge of the truth. It's a spiritual knowledge. It's an awakening. It's an application of word. As applied by the blessed Spirit.

[5:39] As he teaches you and me. To number our days. That we might apply our hearts unto wisdom. We're talking of this heavenly wisdom. That we might understand.

[5:51] The will of God. That we might find grace in his sight. That he might uphold us by his Spirit. That he might teach us to do his will. And you feel the voice behind you saying. This is the way.

[6:02] Walking in it. When you turn to the right or to the left. It is vital then. In this dark day. That the Lord in his mercy. Will enlighten us.

[6:14] We seem to see so little. Don't we. Of this true religious work. In the hearts of hearers. You won't wear it on your sleeve. You won't have it on the tip of your tongue. It will be your walk.

[6:26] And your conduct. Which will be. The example to others. Why know there's the battle that goes on. If you and I have been born of God.

[6:38] There'll be that warfare. And all the old man of grace. You feel sometimes. Is getting the ascendancy. But our mercy is. That where sin hath abounded. Grace hath abounded.

[6:49] Grace hath much more abound. Than this grace. This blessed gift of grace. This unmerited mercy. And favour. And love of God. To our poor souls.

[7:00] Will exercise us much. And cause us to pray much. Though not multiplying words. But with the Lord. Help me. Oh Lord. I am oppressed.

[7:11] Undertake for me. When my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock. You see. We want a sure foundation. What of that man.

[7:23] That built his house. On a sandy foundation. Ah. When the winds blew. And the rains came. It fell. And great was the fall of it.

[7:35] But what of the wise men. The wise man. Not having the own eyes. Or ever emphasised. There's no wisdom in man. It's grace. Grace difference. In the heart.

[7:47] That's the heavenly wisdom. That we need. To understand. So. Teach us. This is the prayer. Of a poor seeker.

[7:58] Empty. Poverty stricken. Hungering. Thirsting. After something. Not necessarily. What he wants. What he wants. Nevertheless. There's some secret work.

[8:09] In his or her heart. That is waiting. Looking. Watching. For the Lord. To teach him. To number his days. That he might apply. His heart.

[8:19] Unto wisdom. To observe. And to take notice. Of the things. That fall out. In his or her life. As seeing.

[8:29] And acknowledging. The hand of God. In it. Or committing. Thy way. Or how we need. Much grace. To do this. Instead of making. Our own plans. And our own schemes.

[8:41] But waiting. Upon the Lord. For that instruction. All this. And make your poor heart. And mind wise. As he teaches you. And me. His fear.

[8:52] That reverential. Sacred. Solemn awe. As you venture. To address him. Realising. He is a sovereign God. And all our times.

[9:04] Are in his hand. And all events. At his command. Oh Lord. You say. Teach me. To number my days. Then. Teach me. To number them. Teach me.

[9:14] To be conscious. Of my daily need. Of thee. To suppress. Sin. Within me. And to keep me. From evil. Deliver me.

[9:24] From temptation. And. A favour me. To know. What it is. To cast. All my care. All my burden. Upon thee.

[9:36] To keep alive. Myself. For none. Can keep alive. His soul. Oh. This is solemn. Isn't it? None. Can keep alive. His soul. And they.

[9:47] That know. No changes. There's another danger. They. That know. No changes. Fear. Not God. Oh. You see.

[9:57] There'll be. The temptations. Tribulatory path. And so. We look to the Lord. Don't we. That we might. Hear. His voice. Hear me.

[10:08] Watching daily. My gates. Waiting at thy posts. At thy doors. Looking for instruction. And you know. Nothing is too great.

[10:20] Or too small. For the Lord. To deal with. For you and me. We become so independent. Don't we? Want to manage our own affairs. But the Lord knows. How to bring you and me.

[10:30] To hold. To consider. Our ways. To consider. His ways. And to seek. That we might be. Seeking that.

[10:41] Closure of what we got. That calm and heavenly frame. That light that shines upon the road. That leads us to the land. And receive these tokens. Of his love. So these things.

[10:55] Will be. Might I. Say. Worth waiting for. The blessing of the Lord. That maketh you rich. These are the durable riches. These are the solid joys.

[11:06] That the poor seeker. Will be seeking after. Seeking and hoping to find. A refuge. For his weary soul. Seeking for the Lord. To shine into his or her heart.

[11:20] For unto you. That feareth my name. Shall the son of righteousness. Arise. With healing in his wings. All this healing touch.

[11:31] We spoke recently. About that woman. Had that issue of blood. Sought all manner of ways. Of healing. Restoring. And we do.

[11:43] Naturally ourselves. Seek the. Wisdom of the. Earthly physician. That are provided. But the Lord must bless the means. And bless him with instruction. To. To deal with your case.

[11:53] And mine. But she. She'd spent all. Rather grew the worse. And so. But she'd heard of the fame of Jesus.

[12:06] And why she heard of the fame of Jesus. Because the blessed spirit. Had instructed her. And. So she came. And there were crowds surrounding him.

[12:18] And the many crowds. May surrounding him. To die. Because. Of the loaves and the fishes. For providential blessings. Things. But she came.

[12:28] Because she needed healing. Because. I don't doubt. She acknowledged. That sin. Was the cause of her woe. And so will. You and I be brought there. Sin. The cause of all our woe.

[12:40] but through mercy she pressed through the crowds touched the hem of his gun if faith has you see faith given to her not her own faith, not presumptuous faith not imagination of the mind casting down imaginations and bringing every thought into the obedience of Christ as he drew her by the cords of a man and by the bounds of his love he knew it was an appointed time for her to be restored and he says go in peace oh what a mercy and this is what you and I as sinners will be looking for through the glorious truth of the gospel, go in peace high faith has saved me because he'd given her faith and he knows where his faith is given to you and to me if so be with possessive living faith that lives and labours under load though damp and never dies blessed Jesus what a mercy when we can feel his presence and his blessing what a mercy if this is the desire of your soul and mine to touch the hem of his garment to receive that healing virtue and to receive that exceeding great and precious promise grace as you find favour of the Lord this is a privilege isn't it to find favour of your God because he has sought you out in this waste hell in wilderness he's found you he's drawn you to himself and you know he has found you and you've found him because he's drawn you to himself oh everything must be down to his honour and glory without me you can do nothing you all will have to prove more and more how painful this is so many want to be up and doing the free willers of religion to die up and doing think that they have some right an ability to instruct others oh no it's empty and you'll know what it is to be a guilty weak and helpless worm and thy kind are my fall be thou my strength and righteousness my Jesus and my awe awe to walk out this religion friends

[14:58] I may preach it I want to walk it out but oh I have to prove what a failure I am off now but this is I believe desires in myself righteous desires and righteous desires to preach the word of God to dying sinners only the Lord makes me willing oh I had a card from a friend a servant in England and he said it's a miracle every time I believe I stand up and speak in his name and so it is oh we don't want to speak lightly of miracles but for poor sinners ignorant foolish worthless worms of the earth to stand up in his name oh we we mourn over our own failings and shortcomings but this is this is grace friends and that miraculous healing touch that you were able to receive those those visits those deliverances that that peace that you found with God as he says my peace

[16:03] I leave with you not as the world giveth give I to you let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me oh we need that faith that we might touch the hand of his gun that we might receive a touch a real token of his love to our poor souls to go on our way rejoicing because you know to find him to receive a touch you'll find favour you'll find favour of the Lord unworthy dwelling you say glorious guest favour astonishing divine astonishing isn't it divine the divine favour of the Lord to pour in your soul some blessed crumb from the master's table you'll never forget it you'll lose the sweetness maybe in the power of it but you'll remind of it from time to time and what a blessed religion this is a little a little that's real something known and felt in your soul and mine that the religious professor knows nothing of you see these things are hidden from the wise the natural wise and prudent revealed unto babes revealed unto babes friends

[17:30] Christ said it remember that all this earthly wisdom about religion but it's revealed unto babes or you come crying for mercy pleading for him at the uttermost ends of the earth in your feeling tempted to give up and call no more upon his name this is the pathway of those that will be justified by faith in the merits of Christ looking for the Lord oh do speak Lord do help me still to bore my ear to the doorpost that I might yet hear something for profit don't leave me to be allured or drawn aside by the subtlety of Satan who may tempt you to say well you've only got to believe and be saved yes true but it's faith is the gift of God and this presumptuous faith dear friends will not stand you and me in good stead at all it's living faith that the

[18:37] Lord is the author of and will bless the fulfilling of those righteous desires in our hearts as we cast our cares and burdens upon him we seek instruction to see that says I will instruct the and teach in the way that thou would have that thou would go be not as the horse of the mule that have no understanding in his mouth but be held in with bit and bridle you see it's looking to the Lord for that living faith that will trust in the Lord at all times you people pour out your heart before him in our real prayer is squeezed out of their hearts amidst of the sorrows of the way it's squeezed out Lord help me it's a personal drawing out of your soul to the Lord as you watching waiting at the post of his doors you so long then for the

[19:40] Lord to break through shine into your heart to give you that light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus looking unto Jesus and this is something that you and I long for a closer walk a nearness to him a warming of your cold heart a setting of your soul and mine on fire that you might feel the blessing the true blessing of the Lord that encourages you and me to still watch and wait for his appearing it's towering here in the city of Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high and that power he gives to the faint of them that have no might he increases strength see the helplessness the poverty the emptiness the helplessness of a poor sinful worm of the earth nothing in my hand I bring simply to thy cross

[20:48] I bring and so he's preaching the cross be ready this afternoon it's foolishness to them that perish but unto us that are saved that's with a hope you say it is the blessed truths of the gospel that is encouraging to you and me but we must be led to Calvary we would not speak without leading you to Calvary to behold that scene of matchless grace Jesus in the sinner's place heaven's brightest glory sunk in shame the rebels might adore his name you'll know rebellious hearts times and rebellious though as being and aren't rebellious still but since in love I took thee in my promise I'll fulfill and you may say what promise Lord well watching watching and hearing daily and on the Lord's day in particular watching for the

[22:00] Lord to give you a word of instruction a word of promise and it may be years before he fulfills that promise but it be locked up in your soul and from time to time you'll plead for the Lord to fulfill that promise promises that he own amen in Christ because you see you'll be as a convinced sinner you'll be waiting for the knowledge of salvation and how will you and I escape if we neglect it and if you're rightly exercised you won't be left to neglect it because it'll come again the burden of your sin you need the pardoning voice of the Lord Jesus you need him to say to you go in peace thy faith as saviour as he did that woman we read about at the ordinance you see she was drawn to Christ she was willing to anoint him with that very expensive alabaster ointment all that dear friends is what you need the anointing of the

[23:12] Lord to anoint us to exercise us that he might teach us and instruct us in the way that he would have us to go though we realise our poverty and our need yet all the fitness he requires is to feel you're in need of him this he gives you is the spirit's rising being you see we don't want to be left to blaspheme the Holy Spirit of God them because there's no forgiveness for that no forgiveness for that but there is forgiveness with him that he might be for you and so we must not presume what the Lord has revealed to us if it's only in the flesh it must be the spirit and there's a difference and you'll know the difference when the spirit of the Lord anoints you and me with that blessing with that word in season be of apples of gold in pictures of silver as the

[24:17] Lord in his mercy breaks the bread of life and your soul is nourished and fed with that living bread and draws water from the wells of salvation and gives you a sip that refreshes revives you strengthens you with all might and inner man to run with patience the race set before you looking where while looking unto Jesus who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despised and ashamed and is now set there in the right hand of God the Father there to intercede what a wonderful interceder we have the Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten son of God full of grace and full of truth and he distributes the necessity of his saints and what is a saint a sanctified sinner that has had the precious promise given to him that will have that imputed robe of righteousness to cover all his or her sins and if sin be pardoned

[25:31] I am secure death and no sting beside the law gave sin its damning power but Christ my ransom died oh to be unable to feel it to endorse it by reason of the spirit inscribing it upon the fleshly tables of our heart that's what we need a blessed religion that is the work of the Holy Ghost from first to last and it'll be but a little but it'll be real be things known things felt as you cast the burden of your soul upon the Lord and he sustains you and he holds up your goings in his powers your footsteps slip not hold to feel more of this and this will be a prayerful desire for you and me as you're seeking to hear instruction hear it me the voice of the good shepherd who's given his life for his sheep and he says if you love me keep my commandments and my commandments are not grievous and as you wonder what the commandments are well you'll say

[26:47] Lord what does thou command me it's taking it to the Lord in secret looking for him to reward you openly Lord what are thy commandments I need thee to teach me what I am to do teach me to do thy will and lead me in that plain power because of my enemies you can't convert you can't convert the world however much you might have an affection for them naturally you can't convert any man no man can truly say that Jesus is the Lord unless he take the veil away and breathe the living word this is what we're contending for breathing the living word breathing upon your dry bones that they might live and plead it with him Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom and wait and receive the answer today shalt thou be with me in paradise he said that the one dying the other one was cast into hell

[27:57] Christ you see was in between and oh how he separates a poor sinner doesn't he from the world he brings him into his banqueting house and his banner over him is love love is the golden chain that binds those happy souls above and he's an heir of heaven that finds his bosom glow with love this is not a notional emotional religion this is feeling your bosom glow with love to Christ such peace flowed into my soul I believe when I came through the waters of baptism and went home that night oh what peace I felt and peace at the top of the pool too and knew still that I was a vile sinner vile sinner but our mercy is the vile sinner out of hell that lives to feel his need is welcome to the throne of grace the saviour's blood to clean it's the blood of

[29:00] Christ that cleanseth from all sin it's nothing that you and I can do or say it's the Lord working in you you see I know he says work out your salvation with fear and trembling it is God that worketh in you oh don't undermine the spirit's world you'll empty whom he fills you'll have nothing to bring but you'll be ever ready to praise him from whom all these blessings flow no creature power but all redounds to the work of the blessed son of God and the holy spirit that comes and reveals these things to your soul and your blessed praise God for sending his dear son for satisfying the just demands of that broken law and to find whoso findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the law it will bring forth out of yourself those blessed praises unto him that deserves endless praise and your spend a never ending eternity in praising and blessing his dear name for what he has done for your unworthy soul looking then to this blessed saviour and to see that you might grow in grace and in the knowledge of him now growing in grace won't mean you'll feel holier you won't be brought there where you say come not nigh me

[30:38] I am holy than thou no no but you'll come I believe with that desire to grow in grace in other words as John said he must increase I must decrease you see him of God exhorted to be repentance to Israel and remission for sins he's the prince of peace and he says my peace I leave with you not as the world give it give I to you let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid oh you won't be afraid of this Jesus but you'll want to cling to his precious truth one day overcome through the because of the shedding of his precious blood on Calvary's tree lift up your eyes unto the hills from whence cometh his help let us go forth then unto him without the camp for here we have no continuing city we seek one to come new heaven new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness and he bid sinners come unto me all to have this heavenly wisdom and that

[31:53] Jesus as we read this afternoon might be made unto you wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption you see setting apart you spiritually you're set apart don't you you're fearful to boast but you see you'll come there seeking the Lord would keep alive that exercise within you desiring to know and do his will desiring to know that he's working and not you he will work and not let it he won't hinder it once in him in him forever thus the eternal covenant gives isn't it the eternal covenant everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure there's no change with him and once in him in him forever thus the eternal covenant stands it stands forever and you'll abide in him and he in you union with the land from condemnation free the saints from everlasting were and shall forever be but Lord

[33:10] I feel so dark so cold so hard but Lord do come and bring again to my remembrance anything that thou mightest have revealed to me by way of instruction and help me to keep thy commandments help me to walk worthily of thee the vocation wherewith I have been called looking unto thee do make me willing in the day of thy power but oh do grant me this beginning of wisdom this heavenly teaching to wise and understanding heart to understand what the will of God is confirming concerning my steps that I might obtain favour of thee well you might prove dear friends that finding grace in his sight is finding favour and you have to pray Lord give me to know and understand thy will give me more grace and by giving you more grace your more humbly lie I lie I believe it will humble you and me and he says humble yourself before mighty

[34:23] God that you might be exalted in due time not exalting here below exalted in due time casting all your care upon him as I said as I said before this morning nothing too small nothing too hard for the Lord in working in you and me making you and me willing in the day of his power to see to serve him with reverence and godly thought fear and to know this love of Christ which is rich and free fixed on his own eternally who knows the way you take who tries your faith permits the enemy to come in like a flood but still lifts up a standard against him and what a mercy that the Lord does lift up a standard and the standard is found in his word or to be truly amongst these that have this work of grace begun you see the Lord has a people chosen for himself and not one sheep will he leave behind and they may be the vile sinner out of hell but they're brought to live to feel his need and it's the work of the spirit and so the blessed father sent the son and the son was willing to come and now he has conquered sin death and hell for everyone in this covenant he's ascended on high he's led captivity captive received gifts of men yea for the rebellious also that the

[36:00] Lord God might dwell among them and he dwells with him as of a humble and contrite spirit and tremble at his word and you'll tremble at his judgments you'll find a word might search you out and even this last verse might search you out he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul all they that hate me love death but my grace mercy is that the foundation of God stand ashore having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his we said it this morning I don't want to repeat but I have to speak that as it comes into mind foundation of God you see you'll be you'll be building up not like we spoke about that man the foolish man built upon the sand no foundation he'd no work of grace begun he was building upon his own merits but what did the wise man why he dug deep he had a sure foundation and that foundation come wind come rain come tempest you know come cyclone whatever you see it standeth firm another foundation can no man lay than is laid in Christ

[37:22] Jesus you see he's the sure foundation stone and he'll bring forth the top stone crying grace grace unto it what a mercy if we're building upon Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand blessed be his holy name for whoso findeth me findeth life may encourage you me ever to be seeking to hear him to be watching daily and my gates to be waiting at the post of my doors you see it's a watching waiting period of time for a believer that has begun has this work begun in their hearts they'll be looking and watching for his appearing looking for divine guidance and help looking for the Lord to show them a token for good show me what I have to do every hour my strength when you strengthen the weak hands of faith confirming the feeble needs oh you see we should feel to be very feeble and we are very feeble but our desire our desire is to look to

[38:37] Jesus kind and strong mercy joy with power and bless him for that humble hope that you and I might have this wise and understanding heart to observe these things that even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord you see yea he said I've loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee he draws you by the cords of man by the cords by the bands of a man by the cords of his love what a saviour able to save you able to meet with you able to check you in your mad career able to cause you and me to hear his voice and my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and none can pluck them out of my hand and none can pluck them out of my father's hand for I and my father are one it's unto him unto him that loved us and washed us from our sin unto him shall all the praise and the glory by may he ever bring you me and keep you there waiting upon the

[39:54] Lord watching daily at my gates waiting at the post of my doors that you might find grace yet in his sight and those that have already hope they have obtained favour of the Lord they're looking for the Lord to give them a fleece wet and a fleece drying Lord confirm my soul with signs following that I might go on my way rejoicing trusting in the Lord and that my soul wait though only upon God for my expectation is from him and him alone may the Lord bless our hearing remarks this day may he pardon our sin for Christ's sake amen savings of you having a lasting soul being and an and all way and the one was gonna somewhereなる hastily anunci