The keeping power of Christ (Quality: Very good)

[0:00] As the Lord may be pleased to help me, I will direct you prayerfully to the second epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians, chapter 2 and verse 13.

[0:13] But we are bound to give thanks always to God, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

[0:36] What a blessed word, dear friends, having read all that we have read in the rest of the chapter and also speaks of it in the first chapter concerning that they all might be damned who believe not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness.

[1:01] What a reflection of the plus state of this country in that, dear friends, they all might be damned. And you and I in an unregenerate state might be damned who believe not the truth but blessed be the Lord.

[1:20] He's called you. You dare not deny it, friends, here on the relay. You dare not deny it. He has called you.

[1:31] I ask why you and I here tonight or connected to this through the medium of the phone system. You know we should have a hope here.

[1:44] And you give the glory to Him. Because He hath from the beginning chosen you. You've not chosen me but I've chosen you and ordained you.

[1:58] Does it ring a bell in your soul and mine? I've chosen you for the purposes of God's saving you from death, destruction and despair.

[2:11] Oh, then we would be giving thanks. Come here with a thankful heart. Of His mercies new every morning.

[2:22] Of His mercies to you being brought up in a family that fears God. But it didn't have any effect upon you until that appointed time came.

[2:36] And those appointments of God through life's journey. And though you may have made the field conscious of your sins.

[2:46] And if you have got this measure of grace, it won't leave you to boast. But you'll bless and praise God that you're not like others.

[2:58] Like the unregenerate which are pretty obvious to you and me in our walk and our conduct. And all those dear friends that exalt sport in this land as their idol.

[3:11] And there go you and I. And we know we can be tempted and drawn aside and allured by these things. But it'll be thus far, no further.

[3:23] And you're brought there and pray for that grace that you might stand fast and hold the traditions. Which you have been taught. Now you don't deny that you have not been taught.

[3:39] You've been taught as a child, most of you. And you may have rebelled against it. Until the time of the Lord came.

[3:51] And exorcised your soul. To see to be given a thankful heart. You may have fallen on your knees. You may have bowed your head in prayer.

[4:04] And that heart of yours has been desirous that the Lord would give you a calm and thankful heart. As dear and still. From every murmur free.

[4:15] The blessings of thy grace impart. And make me lift to thee. And we get carried away sometimes, don't we? When we get involved with the world.

[4:27] And we want to be away from them sometimes. And to meditate upon this thankful heart that God has given you. Your every need supplied.

[4:37] The tribulatory path that he's called you to walk in. And may still be walking in. And you wonder where the scene's going to end. But still you're steadfast.

[4:49] In your beliefs. Of the word of God. That it might become more and more a lamp to your feet. And a light to your path. And he exhorts this. Because you're tempted sometimes.

[5:02] In the dark valley of the shadow of death. Upon your conscience. And you're cast down. And you say, why art thou cast down? Says the psalmist.

[5:14] Oh my soul. Hope thou in God. Because faith is instilled. Lively exercising your soul. Hope thou in God. I shall yet praise him.

[5:25] This is a believer's. A foundation. It's on Christ. And what he has taught you. Taught you to number your days. To apply your heart unto wisdom.

[5:36] And you bless him for that knowledge of the truth. And you want to have more. And know more of it. And walk by it. To walk in the truth. As a lamp to your feet.

[5:47] And so we are bound to give thanks. And we sometimes feel a thankful heart. And sometimes we're melted down. When the Lord appears to us and for us. And shows us a token.

[5:59] And we hold fast to that. And we want more. And we want to be filled with the saving knowledge of the dear Son of God. We want to walk worthy of him. And the vocation.

[6:11] Wherewith we have been called. Now you can't deny. That you've been called by a vocation. The Lord has taught you. To remember the Sabbath. He has taught you.

[6:24] To. Love the Bible. Because it's been a lamp to your feet. And a specific. Texts have been. An exercise to you.

[6:35] And. He's directed your hearts. Into the love of God. And you bless him for that. And you want to see. Feel. Your bosom and mind. To grow with love.

[6:47] To grow with knowledge. And understanding of the truth. That you might win Christ. And be found in him. As he unites you. To walk in his fear. And he touches your heart.

[6:58] And he melts you down. And. Why was I made. To hear his voice. Why. Because he has chosen you. Before the worlds were made.

[7:08] That you might live. To show forth his praise. And you do find times. When his spirit is supported. You bless him for his help. For his hope given you.

[7:19] And for his love. Shed abroad in your heart. By the Holy Ghost. And so. You see. For. To give thanks to God.

[7:30] All way. But to be thankful for present. And still ask for more. Of the blessings of the Lord. That maketh rich. And addeth no sorrow. With it.

[7:41] Because you realize. God is formed in your heart. The hope of glory. Through the merits of Jesus. And so you bless the Lord. And praise him.

[7:52] That. He has. Turned you round. Changed your heart. Renewed your will. And returned your feet. To Zion. So you can sing that verse. I believe. Most of you.

[8:03] Or if not all of you. At times. We cannot always feel. To be upon the spirit. In the Lord's day. Or in the week. Can we? But we know what. We denied. To search the scriptures.

[8:15] We denied. We did. Desire to. See the Lord's hand. In. Overcoming. The devil. In our lives. Because truly.

[8:26] Satan. Is a. A great. Trial. To the Lord's people. And we need him. To deliver us from it.

[8:37] And so you see. The wicked will be revealed to you. But through mercy. The Lord shall consume. With the spirit of his mouth. And shall destroy. With the brightness.

[8:48] Of his coming. And that is true. If you receive a text. If you receive. A promise. From God. You know. He will destroy.

[8:59] The brightness. Of his coming. You know. Satan. Cannot. Bring you and me. Down. Dear friends. He might do his utmost.

[9:09] The Lord permitted him. Sometimes. To come in your. Life. Like. A flaming fire. But bless the Lord. He is able.

[9:21] To quench the devil. And he drives out. The buyers. And the sellers. In your heart. And you're peaceful. And this is when you realize. The Lord coming.

[9:32] Determined to save you. When you were Satan's blind slave. Sporn with death. And he brings you here. Where. You are. Giving thanks. You look on.

[9:44] It may be in providence. And also. As you follow on. It'll be in grace too. This is the Lord's. He's set before your open door.

[9:55] And no man can shut it. And this is how we walk through life. Our dependence upon the Lord. Because. He has taught you to trust him. For his faithfulness.

[10:07] And it's all because. You are. Amongst those. Who he has chosen. You to salvation. Chosen you to be saved.

[10:20] Bought you with a price. Laid down his life for you. And has ascended on high. And led the captivity of your sins. Away from you. It doesn't mean you won't have the captivity come.

[10:34] And the enemy coming like a flood. Again. But he will lift up a standard against him. You and I will have to partake of the.

[10:44] Of the onslaughts of Satan here below. But. You never. You never quench dear friends. That. Exercise of loving yourself for the Lord.

[10:56] You say I love the Lord. Because he has heard my voice. And my supplication. And you'll go again. Because you won't be in that. Peaceful state of mind.

[11:07] Though you have known. And touched upon this salvation. Through the sanctification of spirit. And the belief of the true. But still he comes. And look at what the atheists are doing.

[11:20] In the day and age that we live. Trying to undermine. The scriptures. But there will always be dear friends. A time. When the Lord. Breaks down dear friends.

[11:31] The enemy of the truth. Drives him out. And brings you a measure of peace. For a little season. And this is when you give thanks. And you go again and give thanks.

[11:43] Thankful for mercy. As new every morning. Because of his faithfulness. Though we know not what. What's going to occur with us. Day by day in our lives.

[11:53] We determine. In our own mind. But we realize our weaknesses and failings. To keep him at bay. Because of our sins.

[12:04] And so again. We resort to the throne of grace. And pray Lord. Do send my spirit. Do sanctify. My losses and my crosses.

[12:14] By that increase of faith. To believe in the truth. And to know the truth. And being able to repeat the promises.

[12:27] That he has given you and me. To enable you to continue. And is it that help that we continually need? Help thou me Lord to believe.

[12:38] To trust thee. According to thy word. And so it is he. Having loved you. And has given us everlasting consolation. And good hope. Through grace.

[12:50] And so you have these consolations. In your pathway. And you have to ask the Lord. To favour me. To know more. Of this joyful sound.

[13:01] Of this chosen. That I'm a chosen vessel. You've not chosen me though. This is where the free willers are wrong.

[13:12] They think they have a right to choose God. To choose Jesus. They say they've found him. I sometimes doubt dear friends. The reality of their so called found him.

[13:26] When you're in a dark place. You'll find him in this waste town in wilderness. As the one thing needful. Like Mary sets the example.

[13:37] She has chosen. Because the Lord. She is Jehovah's choice. He has given her a new heart. She's hungry and thirsting for the word of God.

[13:50] And you'll come. Sometimes. More needful. Perhaps on one occasion or another. When the Lord. Has been so. Merciful to you.

[14:02] And you feel the life of the spirit in yourself. You love the Lord. Because. He has guaranteed you deliverance. No.

[14:12] Because no deliverance. See. Yet still this man. Thy peace shall be. Where else can we obtain peace. But through the merits of Jesus. And so.

[14:24] He's called you by this gospel. Called you by the gospel. So. Because. He has chosen you. To salvation.

[14:36] And you'll bless the Lord. And you'll. You'll be favoured to feel. That the Lord has eternally loved you. Bought you with a price. And.

[14:47] You press. Through the crowds. Of doubts and fears and unbelief. Because there's a measure of faith. And exercise. He's the author of your faith. And you'll never lose it.

[14:57] It may get. Be clouded. But you'll never lose it. Because he comes again. And shows you. That he has chosen you.

[15:07] And whom he has chosen. He won't discard. They may backslide. And they may be brought again. To repent. And sorry for their sins. And their mourn over their sins.

[15:19] But it'll be after him. And they. And you'll feel him. To be your refuge. And your strength. A very present help in trouble. And you have to say.

[15:29] Lord give me strength. To stand fast. To stand fast. To be still. And know that he is God. And his beloved son.

[15:42] Has redeemed you. From the curse of the broken law. And so he calls you. By the gospel. The gospel bears your drooping spirits up.

[15:54] A faithful and unchanging God. Lays the foundation of your hopes. In oaths. In promises of blood. Oh what a mercy to feel. The presence of your saviour. In this insane world.

[16:07] Oh you're a chosen vessel. He has laid down his life for you. And doesn't it ever touch your heart. The truths of the gospel. Directs your hearts.

[16:19] Into the love of God. And the patient waiting for Christ. This is the love of Christ. Shed abroad in your heart. And you have evidences of it.

[16:30] Sweet the moments. Rich in blessing. Which before the cross. I view. It isn't the cross. It's what signifies the cross. He who hung upon the cross.

[16:41] He who humbled himself. Before God. He that humbled himself. Under the cross. And the terrible sufferings of the cross.

[16:53] Laid down his life for his friends. And you are my friends. If you do whatsoever I command you. Do you wait upon him for his commandments?

[17:05] Do you love the Lord sufficient to keep these commandments? Do you say I love the Lord because he has heard my voice? You felt contact.

[17:16] You felt union. You felt union. You felt communion with him. From off the mercy seat. He's drawn near. His voice is heard. And oh how precious is the voice of the Saviour.

[17:29] Come. Unto me all ye that labour and heavy laden. I will give thee rest. Take my yoke upon me. And learn of me. For. I will give thee rest.

[17:41] What a mercy. He will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Once in him and in forever. Thus the eternal covenant stands. Therefore stand fast.

[17:52] Oh what a mercy to believe. And you'll do everything you can to defend the truth and the gospel. Because it speaks of Christ.

[18:04] His love. His mercy. And his favour to unworthy sinners. So you see. His strength. He sends. Strong delusion here.

[18:15] He said. That they should believe a lie. But God is just. God is faithful at promise. And so. He says.

[18:28] Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness. Deceivableness of unrighteousness. In them that perish. Because they receive not the love of the truth.

[18:40] That they might be saved. And for this cause. God sends them a strong delusion. That they should believe a lie. Very solemn. But what a mercy of your hope.

[18:52] Is in the merits of Jesus. Built upon nothing less than Jesus. Blood and righteousness. Dare not trust the sweetest frame. How many dear friends in the religious world.

[19:05] They trust in their paraphernalia of worship. They defy him. They want all the glory of themselves.

[19:16] And they never do anything sinful. Not much. When we know all that's been exposed. Of the sins. And the dreadful treatment. Of children and young people.

[19:28] Growing up. Oh what a devilish system. Is that religion dear friends. But what a mercy. If you have a little of that righteousness.

[19:40] Which is better than the many riches of the wicked. Never mind the riches. Never mind all their glory in their buildings. And all their paraphernalia that they wear. It's humbling yourself.

[19:52] If almighty God. To think why me. That. He should condescend. To give me a good hope. That I'm chosen to be.

[20:03] A chosen vessel. And live that life of faith by prayer. And bless the Lord. Oh my soul. Let all within me join. And aid my tongue. To bless his name. Whose favours are divine.

[20:15] And there's just a difference between Satan's so-called favours. Not favours are they. Deceivableness. Treat all as deceivers that lead not to Christ.

[20:32] Or may we be more favoured in our desires. Lord fulfil righteous desires.

[20:42] Drive out the buyers and the sellers. With their deceivableness. But grant Lord that I'm not left to be deceived. But through the merits of Jesus.

[20:54] Though I've shown me. Though I've shown me the way of salvation. And I pray to thee Lord. To make it plain. That my footsteps are ordered by the Lord.

[21:06] That I might delight to do thy will. Not ashamed to own me as my Lord and my Saviour. Because he's shown me. Tokens of his love.

[21:17] Called by the gospel. And that gospel. To bear your drooping spirits up. Faithful and unchanging God. Lay the foundation of your hopes in oaths.

[21:29] Promises of blood. You'll have an oath. You'll have a promise. You'll have blood. The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. And he's chosen you.

[21:42] To bear witness to you've been with Jesus. Oh to feel it more. Chosen you. Before the worlds were made. That you should be born of the water and the spirit.

[21:54] And made wise unto salvation. And put not your trust in an arm of flesh. But in a living Saviour. Who was able to do far more exceedingly abundantly for.

[22:04] You and me. Above all that we can ask or think. And do we not have brought to our remembrance at times. Those sweet moments. When Jesus passes by.

[22:17] And draws out you and me to follow him. This love for the truth. Chosen you. And he won't discard you.

[22:27] No. No. It is. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Certainly discard those that are deceived. Because.

[22:39] They have been. Left to believe a lie. Believe a lie. And the lying. Signs and wonders of. Satan. Oh.

[22:50] Satan. Is so active in the day and age that we live in. And what a mercy. You see. He. He exhorts himself. And he has his agents in the world.

[23:02] Under the cloak of religion. And all want a mercy to know him. The power of his resurrection. The fellowship of his suffering. And be made conformable.

[23:13] Unto his death. Crucified to the world. And the world unto him. This is your Jesus. It's not a glorious shining path. To you and me in the flesh.

[23:25] But in the spirit. You've had your trials sanctified. Of the spirit. And the truth has been burnt in. And you believe the truth.

[23:37] And that word. A lamp to your feet. A light to your path. Encourages you still. To press on. And be steadfast. Unmovable. Always abounding in the work of the Lord.

[23:50] Which you have been taught. Whether by word. Or her epistle. And so you can sometimes. Go again. To that portion of God's word.

[24:01] That has been so. Directing to your pathway. Ordering your. Footsteps. By his word. And that's in the reality. As he takes his word.

[24:12] And seals it upon yourself. And oh what a mercy. He'd taken heed to it. You'd still know you're a sinner. You'd still know you have a carnal mind.

[24:23] And enmity to him. But oh this spirit. When he the spirit of truth is come. He would guide you into all truth. And you should know it. And you reflect.

[24:35] You come and read it again. It may not be with the same power. But you reflect a little in your memory. When the Lord did so. Took his word and sealed it. This is the way walking in it.

[24:47] When you turn to the right. Or to the left. Because I have chosen thee. He says I have chosen thee. In the furnace of affliction. He's burned up dear friends. All the dross.

[24:59] It's not what you thought you've got. And possessed. But he's burnt it all up. But he's. But he's planted in your soul. A token for good.

[25:10] A token of his special love. And tells you. That you are born of God. And you have a little of this treasure. In your earthen vessel.

[25:20] The excellence of the power. May be of God and not of us. Blessed Jesus. Always to hold fast to him. And his truth. And Lord do come again.

[25:31] Confirm my soul. With some. Some blessed assurance. And good hope through grace. That I am thine. That thou hast bought me.

[25:42] That thou hast laid down thy life for me. And have a revelation of Christ on the cross. It is Jesus my friend. That hung on the cross. That hung on the cross.

[25:53] That's opened the channel of mercy for me. Oh blessed gospel. It's the good news. It's the blessed news. That you and I can never receive. We may study the news dear friends.

[26:07] On print. And read the print dear friends. But what will it profit you of me? Unless the Lord is in it.

[26:19] And takes his word. And sometimes it comes unexpectedly. And you perhaps know where that word came from. But you can soon find it.

[26:29] Don't you? As you search the scriptures. And see. That what the Lord has revealed to you. Is truth. And that truth.

[26:41] As I said. Will be burnt in. And you should know it. And it will make you free. You need freedom. Don't you? From the condemnation. The broken law. Though art the man.

[26:53] David was told. And all how he repented of his sins. And so you and I will repent of yours. And they'll still be brought to you. Remembrance.

[27:04] If I know a little of it. You mourn. Unexpectedly. You're brought into some memory. Of some. Sin. Oh thou hideous monster sin.

[27:17] What a curse has thou brought in. All creation groans. Through the pregnant cause of misery. And you have. A miserable sinner. And you got no. And you don't seem to get any.

[27:28] Comfort or hope. But then. When he the spirit of truth is come. As he will. I believe. And he'll show you.

[27:39] The folly of your ways. But he said. I'm blotted out as a thick cloud. All your sins. And your transgressions. And he says. Come. Follow me.

[27:49] For I have chosen thee. Chosen thee. In the furnace of affliction. I have laid down my life for thee. I have. I have. Delivered you and me from the curse of the broken.

[28:02] Because he's borne the curse from you. What a saviour. What a saviour. I cannot preach him. Better I would that I could. But all this gospel.

[28:15] This good and welcome news of salvation. I have eternally loved thee. Therefore with loving kindness. Have I drawn thee by the cords of man. By the bands of my love.

[28:26] And he says. Look unto me all the ends of the earth. And be ye saved. For beside me there is no saviour. What a confirming. Worse than these last four verses dear friends.

[28:41] To. In opposition to what the devil. Is doing what he goes. What he wants to do. But the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth.

[28:52] And shall destroy with the brightness. Of his coming. We look at it. Maybe with our own view. You know when we see the ungodliness in the world.

[29:04] How long we wonder before God comes to judge the world in righteousness. He is coming. But what a mercy if he comes. Just reveal himself to you.

[29:15] It will be well with you while life endure. And well when called to die. If you love this gospel. All for more of it. And if any man sin.

[29:28] We have an advocate with the father. Jesus Christ the righteous. He has called you. By the gospel. To the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[29:39] And though we need to. Hold fast. And hold the traditions which he had been taught. Whether by word. My doctrine shall drop us the rain.

[29:49] My speech shall distill us the dew. What a mercy. Jesus speaks and speaks to thee. Say poor sinner. Lovest thou me. Thou knowest Lord. But I would love thee.

[30:02] I would love thee more than I feel to do at the present. But to whom else can we go? He alone has the words of eternal life to give. And he calls you.

[30:12] My sheep hear my voice. And I know them and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life. Oh eternal. Eternal life.

[30:24] That the Lord has appointed for you and me to receive. May he make your title clear dear friends. To those glorious mansions in the sky.

[30:39] He will come. Time you are set to heal up your woes and seas and most fit his love to discover. Tarry ye here. Oh you won't want to run away from the truth will you?

[30:52] The truth of his word. You have it in your home. You have it in the house of God. May the Lord in his mercy bring your soul out of prison. Because he will if you're his at the appointed time.

[31:06] Rolls on the page not to propose but call by God. Change your heart. Renew your will. Return your feet to Zion's hill. Blessed inhabitant of Zion.

[31:17] Washed in the dear Redeemer's blood. And you'll have fellowship. I believe you'll have fellowship. And you may feel well I've never had the fellowship that I want.

[31:28] You will. If you follow him you'll follow him. You're following on to know the Lord without a veil between. Time is set to heal up your woes.

[31:39] A season most fit his love to disclose. What a saviour. What a mercy to be looking unto Jesus. You won't exalt yourself.

[31:51] But you will be seeking Jesus and to worship him in the beauty of holiness. And to receive those tokens of his everlasting love. Oh make me to know and read my title clear Lord.

[32:05] To those mansions in the sky. But we are bound to give thanks. For his gospel. To God for you brethren beloved of the Lord.

[32:15] Because God hath from the beginning chosen you. To salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. Oh may the gospel be the good news of salvation for your soul and mine.

[32:32] May he yet come and apply it with power. And you hope that it will make a good end. And an abundant entrance into heaven at last.

[32:44] May he pardon all the mist. Get to himself any honour and glory. Acceptable this evening. As we ask it for Christ's sake. Amen. Amen. Let us conclude with hymn number 60.

[33:02] The tune is the old 140th 8th of number 552. All the elected train.

[33:15] Were chosen in their head. To all eternal God. Where before the worlds were made. Chosen to know the Prince of Peace. And taste the riches of his grace.

[33:27] Chosen to faith and hope. To purity and love. To all the life of God. To all the things above. Chosen to prove salvation sure.

[33:38] Chosen to reign. Forever more. Chosen to Ž Chosen to fear.

[33:58] Chosen to fear. Chosen tohood to fear. Chosen to dream. For forevermore. Chosen totalky of испolence or fighting. Chosen to dream. Chosen to fear. Chosen to fear.

[34:09] Chosen to fear. Chosen to fear. Were chosen in their hand Through all eternal blood Mayful the walls remain Chosen to know the great of peace And taste the riches of Israel Lenten your faith and hope To purity and power

[35:13] To all the life of God To all the things above Chosen to preserve salvation Sure Chosen to reign forever Now we can't rest Appears in this eternal joy It's a love of all who say

[36:18] And makes the soul rejoice It's endless glory Shine the cry It makes the sweetness All delight Now Lord To us Reveal The love of And may we The shining powers of peace The shining powers of peace

[37:25] Running the way to joys above And never see He may May the grace of the Lord The Lord Jesus Christ The love of God the Father The fellowship of the Holy Spirit Rest and abide with us each Amen Amen Amen