Christ restoring withered hands (Quality: Very Good)

[0:00] As the Lord may be pleased to help me, I will direct you prayerfully to the Gospel according to Luke chapter 6 and reading verse 10.

[0:11] And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so. And his hand was restored, whole as the other.

[0:30] This man would appear to have had a leprous hand. And what a disease that was, all by reason of sin.

[0:46] And yet look how these Jews, you know, scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the Sabbath.

[0:56] There's so little respect or regard to the Sabbath, which according to our worship since Christ has risen on the Lord's day.

[1:11] So we have this day of rest. The Sabbath is a time of rest. As God set the pattern to rest from his labours in the creation of the earth and the seas and the skies.

[1:30] And oh how many deny it and still talk about millions of years. Even, dear friends, those supposedly worship him.

[1:43] But our mercy is to be able to feel that we have that living faith and believe in all the Scriptures as the counsel of God.

[1:57] And oh what a mercy to be lifted out of the carnal mind and interpretation of the Scriptures. And realize God is his own interpreter.

[2:09] And he will and does make it plain to his chosen people. And we will bless God that here we see this indication of how this man with the withered hand was commanded to rise up.

[2:31] He said, Our religion is couched up in that, isn't it?

[3:06] Couched up, dear friends, in some of these short and real statements of God. And we're told that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for reproof, for rebuke, instruction in righteousness.

[3:23] What a mercy to be brought of our own righteousness and that pride of the flesh. And be brought to feel that we need the Lord.

[3:36] And so these scribes, they were doing everything they might do to accuse the Lord Jesus. All the trials that he had, the difficulties that we do but enter into a little of in the Word of God.

[3:56] But ought to be favored to have a little of this good man than the treasure. And it is a treasure, dear friends, in the earthen vessel to receive the Word of God.

[4:10] And so Jesus puts the question, I will ask you one thing. Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good or to do evil?

[4:23] To save life or to destroy it? And so looking around upon them, he said unto the man. He points unto the man, the individual, at that appointed time, to call by grace.

[4:42] To call him. To instruct him. Stretch forth thine hand. And he did so. And you and I in our circumstances, whatever they might be.

[4:56] Afflictions, trials, difficulties. Whether in the mind, the body. We need the Lord to cause us to reach forth on our arm.

[5:08] To plead with me from the mercy seat. And he did so. And in doing so, his hand was restored, whole as the other.

[5:21] And what anger rose up, dear friends, in these Pharisees. These self-righteous hypocrites, dear friends.

[5:32] Of which I no doubt we are surrounded by many in our land today. But you see, the Lord reigns.

[5:44] And what a mercy to have faith. And he'll be the author of your faith and believe it. Nothing happens by chance. That all things work together for good to them that love God.

[5:56] Maybe you never knew anything about the love of God until your circumstances were straightened out, you might say. Your health, your strength.

[6:08] Your wisdom and guidance. And grace to be submissive to the will of God in your lives and mine. The steps. Our years.

[6:20] As a tale that is told. To acknowledge day by day. Day by day. Anniversary by anniversary. This is the Lord's doing.

[6:32] As we pass from one year to another in our lives. To see this is the Lord's doing. Marvelous in our eyes. And what a mercy to have a measure of a testimony of this.

[6:47] To raise your Ebenezer to God's praise. In how he has helped you hitherto. And your hope will help your journey through.

[6:58] And give you daily cause to raise new Ebenezer to his praise. We bless God then for that faith and exercise. To being able to stretch forth their hand.

[7:11] In obedience to the voice of the Good Shepherd. My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life. And none can pluck them out of my hand.

[7:23] Dependence. Upon this God that you've proven. Has been better to you and me than all our fears. The appointed time for healing.

[7:34] The appointed time for a way to be made for you. Where there seemed to be no way. And I am the Lord I change not. Therefore his sons of Jacob are not consumed.

[7:46] So we realize here the wonders of this. Of this occasion. When Jesus himself. Spoke. And. And he knew the thoughts you see of these.

[8:00] He knew the thoughts dear friends. And said to the man with the hand. Rise up and stand forth in the midst. And he arose. I would to God we could feel more ourselves.

[8:12] In our situations. That the Lord would appear. We have that faith to believe. He does appear. And will appear. Has appeared. And we yet appear again.

[8:24] To you and me. In our pathway. And to know. Though feeble we may feel to be. These disciples of Christ. Even in this darn age.

[8:37] You look to him. And bring your hard things to him. And he said. I will hear them. And we do need that faith. Don't we. In lively exercise. To believe in him.

[8:48] And trust in him. And hope in his mercy. See. And so. Looking around. He knew the thoughts. Of these Pharisees. And scribes.

[8:58] He knew that they were ready. To find fault with him. Ready. To destroy him. Or find some excuse. To crucify him. And so it was. Through his. Short life.

[9:09] Upon the earth. But blessed be the Lord. He's left it on record. And he's given you. A mere hunger. And a thirst. And.

[9:20] He says. Blessed are ye. That weep now. For ye shall laugh. Joy and peace. In believing. When the Lord dries up. The tears.

[9:31] Some off your faces. And you will have tears. And you will have sorrow. And you will have grief. But there's a balancing. Of the clouds. You know.

[9:41] The Lord. In his mercy. You know. He will come again. And he did so. Stretch forth thy hand.

[9:53] Let's heal us. And let's. Emmanuel. Here we are. Waiting to feel thy touch. As we hope to sing. Later on in the day. And our mercy is to know him.

[10:04] Isn't it? And. To see also. Miraculous healings. In time. Miraculous. Miraculous. Healings. And this is a mercy.

[10:17] Tokens for good. And you hold fast. To those. And you may. Seem to get. A little forgetful. Of those. Times. Until you come across it. In the scriptures. Or. The Lord drops the word.

[10:29] In again. Heals you. Comforts you. Supports and sustains. Your burden. With your sins. You have these. So called. Accidents.

[10:40] Maybe. But no accident. Really. In our lives. These. The appointed. Tokens. These. The appointed. Things. That before you. And me. In our lives.

[10:50] Out of men. Decaying. Is one. And. And. Several of us. Feel this. At times. Their mercy is. He said.

[11:01] I will not leave you. Comfortless. I will come to you. And. And he says. Tarry ye here. You see. Not always healing. When we want to be healed. We have to wait upon him.

[11:13] To renew our strength. We have to wait upon him. For that. That he might. Grant us that favor. Of visiting us.

[11:25] With the pardon of our sins. With the healing. With the restoring mercy. To our bodies. And to our minds. And be brought.

[11:36] To the feet of Christ. And realize. He is the one thing. Needful. And he doesn't forget. What he has promised. To. Restow upon his people.

[11:48] He will. He will. Restore. Them whole. And see. They that are whole. Need not the physician. They that are sick. So we have to be proven.

[12:01] With sicknesses. He heals. He heals. All our sicknesses. He makes us young again. This is your God. Your Savior.

[12:13] The loving kindness. Of the Lord. That he bestows upon. Your unworthy soul. And mine. And still. We are found. In God's house. And though we may be.

[12:24] Of a more. Merming. Complaining spirit. It. And may we be angry too. With the gospel. This poor sinner. Preaches. But you know.

[12:34] We need to be submissive. To the will of God. In our lives. And realize. That all things. Work together. For good. To them. That love God.

[12:46] But let's wait a minute. Do we love God? Are you full of complaints? Are you murmuring. Against God's will. In your walk.

[12:56] In your pathway. Well. The Lord. Will wear you down. You know. Because he's going to have you. And be obedient. To his voice. And he says.

[13:08] My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me. And why are you afraid. To come? Why are you afraid. To tell thy case?

[13:20] He will not. Dear friends. Turn you back. As you come. With a broken heart. You come with weeping then. As he says here. Because he said.

[13:31] You're. You. You weep now. Or she shall laugh. And even this. Look. The blessing are ye. When. When men shall hate you.

[13:44] And when they shall separate you. From their company. And shall reproach you. And cast out your. Name as evil. For the son of man's sake. You know. We shall.

[13:56] Realise. Won't we. That we are hated. And what is that to thee? He said. Follow their me. Jesus Christ. Was hated. Remember that.

[14:07] And we have to realise that. You should be hated. For. For. For. For. For. For. For all men's sake. Cast out your name as evil.

[14:19] For what a mercy. If you being evil. Give good. Give some to your children. How much more. Shall your spirit. Holy spirit. Be brought to you and me. Because.

[14:30] Though you are tried. Though he heals you. And he did so. And that's a remarkable thing to this man. Because. With.

[14:43] Paul. See. There's a long time. With. A long time. With these. Some of these afflictions. And we know that.

[14:53] The outer man must decay. But the inward man renewed day by the. Faith. Is a substance of things hopeful. The evidence. Those things that are not seen. Things that are seen the temple.

[15:05] Things that are not seen. Are eternal. And so. Sin. Is the cause of all your woe and mine. What a hideous monster it is. And so we realise.

[15:17] To create pregnant cause of misery. Are our afflictions. And those. Some things. As I say. Old age and infirmity.

[15:29] That we have to bear with. We have to pray to the Lord in mercy. Hold up my goings. In thy paths. And my footsteps.

[15:39] If not. And rather I might healing. Have a healing. Time and moment. When the Lord himself. Draws near. And comforts me. And supports me.

[15:49] My presence. My presence. Precious word isn't it. Your infirmities. My presence shall go with thee. And I will give thee.

[16:00] You see. None of us are perfect. Even in young years. But our desires are. To honour him. And so.

[16:10] Stretch forth on it. An instruction. Another instruction. Might be. Search the scriptures. For in them ye think. Ye have eternal life.

[16:21] And these are they. That testify of me. What an attraction. Is the word of God. When you and I. Are sinking fathoms. When we wonder.

[16:32] Where the scene is going to end. That the Lord himself. Like this one. Is an example to us. Is anything too hard for the Lord.

[16:43] With you and me. And in spite of all the enemies. Of the truth around. There's so much religion in here today. That is of the flesh. And there's so much.

[16:55] Dear friends. That man thinks. He can interpret the scripture. And he does it. Often times. To suit his own name. But you see. Is the Lord in it?

[17:06] Is the Lord in your religion? In your faith? In your hope? In your love? You see. This is. The love of the truth. As it is in Jesus.

[17:18] You venture by faith. To call upon me. In the day of trouble. And I will deliver thee. And thou shall glorify me. We must give him the praise.

[17:29] And the glory. The government is upon his shoulders. The Lord. You know. Is under control.

[17:41] The Lord's under control. Everything's under his control. We look around. And the world. You may be tempted to say.

[17:51] Well. The Lord's under control. Why? Why. Does this. An event. Take place. Because. God is the judge. Of the whole earth.

[18:02] His judgments. And when his judgments. Are in the earth. His people. Will. Learn righteousness. And this was a judgment. Upon this man. For his sin.

[18:12] And your sin. And mine. There will be the judgment. Judgment day. When I.

[18:24] When thou. The righteous judge. Shall come. Shall I among my people. Stand. The welfare of your souls. At stake. And mine. And all that will be kept.

[18:36] From murmuring. Because. Do remember this. He knew the thoughts. Of these. Pharisees. And these. He knows our thoughts. We cannot read.

[18:48] One another's. Thoughts. But God. Can. Jesus. Can. And the Son. Of God. The Spirit. Of the Lord. Will reveal this.

[18:58] To you. And me. At times. And we need. Grace. To be still. And know that he is God. To wait upon thee. They that wait upon the Lord.

[19:09] Shall renew their strength. They shall mount up. With wings as eagles. They shall run. And not be weary. They shall walk. And not faint. Oh. And we have to realize. In our afflictions.

[19:20] That many are the right. The afflictions. Of the righteous. That the Lord. Delivereth him. Out of them all. Oh. To be a chosen. Disciple.

[19:30] Of Christ. Even in this day and age. There are true disciples. Those that. Walk in the fear of God. They acknowledge his holiness. His majesty.

[19:41] His sovereignty. He has a right. To do according to his will. Amongst the armies of heaven. And in the inhabitants of the earth. And none can stay his hand. Or say. What doest thou Lord?

[19:52] What doest thou? Sovereignty of God. Must ever remain. And oh. What a mercy. As we hear this. Problem.

[20:04] With England. Coming out of Europe. You see. They. They've undermined. The sovereignty. Sovereignty. They think.

[20:14] Should be in Brussels. Another sovereignty. Of God. All according to his purpose. To come out. From among them. And be separate.

[20:25] And touch not the unclean. And like you and me. As individuals. Be separate. And touch not the unclean thing.

[20:36] And I will receive you. And so this poor man. You know. He was received of God. Received of God. In all his affliction.

[20:46] And. His hand was restored. And wouldn't you and me. Like to have that. Confirmation. Of a restoration.

[20:56] Of our soul. That he has restored us. That he has bought us. With his price. That he has loved us. With an everlasting love. And therefore. Loving kindness.

[21:07] Has drawn us. You'll run with patience. We need patience. And after you've done the will of God. You receive the promise. Receive the promise.

[21:20] You'll run with patience. Patiently waiting. Because you know the Lord. Who is a source. And giver of good. To your soul. Is able to make you wise.

[21:32] Is able to make you. Worthy of him. He heals you. Of this. Dreadful malady. That can befall you. And it may seemingly. Be only a thing.

[21:43] A small. So called. Affliction. But oh. Doesn't it take a lot. Of your feelings. And a lot of your trials. But through mercy.

[21:55] You. You pray to the Lord. Oh do heal me. Do strengthen me. Do confirm my soul. With a sign. And an evidence. That I'm born of God.

[22:06] Speak the word only. Take it. And apply it. With power to myself. That I might know. The love of Christ. Shed abroad in my heart. He heals us.

[22:18] And restores us. To that. Joy. Of salvation. And that can be. Deliverance. In providence. In your.

[22:29] In your. Poor and needy. Seek water. Is none. The tongue. Fire. I. The Lord. Will hear them. You cannot. Be silent.

[22:39] In trouble. If you're. A believer. You cannot. Be. Silent. And you have to say. Lord. Be not silent. Under me. Lest if I bear.

[22:50] Like unto them. That go down. The pit. Because my sins. Deserve it. But in wrath. Remember me. In mercy. Never mind. Dear friends. Those.

[23:00] With their evil thoughts. See you. I'll boil you. No. It's looking. To the Lord. And. If Jesus. Speaks. It will be. Rise up.

[23:12] Come unto me. All ye. The labour. And heavy laden. And I will give thee. Rest. Oh what a mercy. To have a Sabbath. Like that.

[23:23] To rest. In what he has. Revealed to you. Through his. Precious word. The entrance. Of his word. Giveth light. And life. And understanding. To the poor.

[23:34] Simple. Sinner. That has. Been enforced. Of the sinner's friend. And. He gives you a touch. What a mercy.

[23:46] If he draws you. By the courts of man. By the bands of his life. And you come boldly. In the influence of the spirit. You say like this. In importunity.

[23:57] I will not let thee go. Unless thou bless me. And he blessed him there. Oh this is the blessing. Of the Lord. That can make you and me.

[24:07] Rich. To all intents of bliss. And this will draw out. Love to your soul. Love the Lord. Because. He has heard your voice.

[24:19] Confirm your soul. With a sign following. And you've gone. On your way rejoicing. Stretch forth thy hand. Sheep. Hear his voice.

[24:29] And follow him. And he gives unto them. Eternal life. He shows them. He indelibly. Inscribes. Upon the fleshly tables. Of their heart. A precious promise.

[24:40] A precious promise. A precious promise. That says. Yea and Amen. In Christ. And he brings forth. Good fruit. All to bring forth.

[24:53] Good fruit. What the Lord has applied. To your soul. Simple words may be. He says. From me is your fruit found. My healing power.

[25:06] Is able to. Save unto the uttermost. All those that come to God. By me. All the object of faith. Jesus. The friend of sinners.

[25:17] Draw it near. A friend. Your voice is joy. With heaven and earth. His command. He waits to answer prayer.

[25:27] Yes. It's waiting. It's towering his leisure then. In the city of Jerusalem. Until you be endued with power. He does give power.

[25:40] I hope we can say we've known him. And so do some of you. You've known the power of Christ. He's rested upon you. You've gone on your way rejoicing. Believing. You've had a special time.

[25:50] And it's brought you again. To come. And seek that healing. That strengthening. Of your poor frail body and mind.

[26:02] The Lord knows. The way you take. Yes he will try you. But. There will be this soul restoration. Soul that with sincere desire.

[26:14] Seeks after Jesus. Love. That soul the Holy Ghost inspires. With breathings from above. The inspiration. The spirit. Soul that with sincere desire.

[26:28] Seeks after Jesus. That soul the Holy Ghost inspires. With breathings. He breathes into your dry bones. He breathes life. He comforts you.

[26:39] And he will not take away. What he's comforted you with. Because. He is God. And not man. Although he was a man of sorrows. In his body.

[26:51] In his humanity. But he has conquered sin. And death. And hell. For everyone in the covenant. A time he has set. To heal up your woes. A season most fit.

[27:02] His love to disclose. And he says. Tarry ye here. Oh what instruction. Does the word of God. Give to you and me. As we search the scriptures.

[27:13] And you rest upon a promise. You rest upon a word. Lord that will do me good. Do apply it. And he does it. He applies his word.

[27:26] With power to your soul. And what times of love it is. A set time to favour you. And you bless the Lord.

[27:37] Because he opens your blind eyes. He unstops your deaf ears. To see that he is God. And not man. And he makes you wise. He's the only beloved son of God.

[27:49] He said. This is my beloved son. Hear him. Because. It is. His good pleasure. To send him into the world.

[28:01] And he'll work in your soul. Of mine. Both the will and do. Of his good pleasure. It's not of him that willeth. Oh him that runneth. But God alone. That showeth mercy. And he will be merciful.

[28:12] To you and me. And so out of the abundance. Of your heart. With your mouth speak. To the honour and glory of God.

[28:24] Look unto me. He says. And be ye safe. And beside me. There is no saviour. And so this. This poor man. Cried.

[28:34] And the Lord heard him. And delivered him out of all his troubles. And so it will be with you and me. We do need patience. We do need to tarry his leisure then.

[28:46] Wait the important hour. Wait till the bridegroom of our souls. Reveal his love with power. And so. Stretch forth thine hand. Oh what a mercy.

[28:59] If you stretch forth your hand. In obedience. You go in the strength of the Lord. You make mention of his righteousness. His only. He brings you out into a wealthy place.

[29:10] And you bless the Lord. Why? He comforts you. And he assures you. Your interest in the merits of Jesus. What a refuge for sinners.

[29:20] The gospel makes known. It is found in the merits of Jesus alone. Blessed Jesus. Oh for that closer walk with God. That calm and reframe.

[29:32] That light that shines upon the road. That leads us to the Lamb. But I see the time has gone friends. I must leave it for the time. May he bless our few remarks.

[29:45] Accept to all we trust in heaven. To get the glory unto his name. And may he favour us to know more of the truth as it is in Jesus.

[29:57] Amen. Amen. Let us conclude with hymn 957.

[30:09] The tune is Whitburn 435. Why sinks my weakness sponding mind? Why heaves my heart? The anxious sigh.

[30:20] Can sovereign goodness be unkind? Am I not safe since God is nigh? He holds all nature in his hand. That gracious hand on which I live.

[30:31] Does life and time and death command? And has immortal joys to give. 957.

[30:52] 957 I take my dream This holy pride I give my love The earth can sigh That sovereign goodness They have died Am I not safe Since God is nigh He held a picture

[31:55] In His hand And gracious hand On which I live Does life and time And death come high And has immortal Joys to give Tis He supports His great prayer On Him I learn My host recites

[33:00] The wondrous glories Of His name And bright they spread And bright they shine In finite wisdom Boundless power Unchanging faith For bless and love He'll let me trust What I adore No from my refuge

[34:07] To Jerusalem To Jerusalem My God in love But might in vain Then I know My heart My heart Can pray A praise and help In times of me Still kind To hear And strong To say Forgive my

[35:08] Forgive my Doubts O gracious Lord And Jesus Jesus O Absorb All of my Worship Speak to my Heart The healing Word That Thou Lord May the grace Of the Lord Jesus Christ The love of God The Father The fellowship Of the Holy Spirit Rest and abide

[36:08] With us each Amen