Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever (Quality: Very good)

[0:00] As I may be held for a little while this afternoon, we'll turn again to the 13th chapter of Hebrews, verse 8, the 13th chapter of Hebrews, verse 8, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever.

[0:37] As you know, we made a few poor remarks this morning in respect to this dear man, the Son of God, and a little of his life and of his love and of his compassion, it changes not.

[1:03] The Lord is ever the same unto all of his dear people. This afternoon, as I may be held, I'll try and look at it from this viewpoint, that is, respecting the Holy Spirit.

[1:24] We said this morning that these three are one. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, one in three, three in one.

[1:39] Well, the work of the Holy Spirit continues. It has been in the past. It will continue. It's yesterday, today, and forever.

[1:52] The work of the Holy Spirit changes not. And dear friends, I'm sure of this, that there's no way to heaven but by the reading and teaching of the Holy Ghost.

[2:10] What can we know of Jesus? What can we know of the Gospel unless the Holy Spirit teaches us, reveals it, to be the interpreter of the depth of those things that are deep in the Gospel?

[2:29] Well, the Holy Spirit has never changed. It will continue today and tomorrow, at all times, down to the end, the Holy Ghost.

[2:45] Jesus said to those disciples of old, the Father will send the Holy Ghost. The Father will send the Holy Spirit.

[2:57] Now, that is the work of the Father, that he should send the Holy Spirit unto each that he, the Lord, that the Father had chosen from all eternity.

[3:13] Dear friends, every poor sinner now in heaven glorified, says it, has been dealt with by the third person in the Trinity.

[3:26] And I sincerely hope that each of us have been brought to be and have a knowledge of the Holy Spirit.

[3:39] Our bodies have been as a temple of the Holy Ghost. And that has not changed.

[3:50] The Holy Spirit taught to those of old, right back a commencement of the world. And it has continued from generation to generation, right down to our generation.

[4:06] And it will follow to the end of time. The Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the same teaching, yesterday, today, and will be forevermore.

[4:19] The teaching of the Spirit. It's wonderful how the Lord teaches his dear children. By the same Spirit and the same Gospel.

[4:31] Oh, there are some who bring forth a Gospel that is not of Christ. Not a Gospel that will take it to heaven.

[4:42] And the Lord has warned us of that in the Epistle of John. He says, try the spirits to see whether they are of God.

[4:54] And there's a word before that, beloved. I've often looked at it. When the Apostle said, beloved, he's speaking to those who should know the difference between error and the truth.

[5:11] Beloved, he says. He's warning of them. Not to receive those who bring not the true Gospel.

[5:25] Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, will show the way. That is, to Christ. For we read in the Gospel, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

[5:39] And then again, Jesus said himself that he is the door of the sheep to the sheepfold. Who can reveal that to us?

[5:53] Can we gather that in and of ourselves? Only by the letter of it? Or how we want the power of it? The unction of the Holy One.

[6:05] He is the door. Who reveals the door to us? Who takes us and leads us to the door? That is, to Christ. Why, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost.

[6:18] This is not man's work. It's the work of God. And therefore, the Holy Spirit has been, and still is, at work. And his work is the same.

[6:32] Convincing of sin. Quickening into spiritual life. Given the fear of God. The faith implanted. Raising eventually an hope within one's breast.

[6:46] This work is of the Holy Spirit. And not of man. You take those dear patriarchs of old.

[6:57] Even Abraham. And Jacob. And those dear men of old.

[7:08] There's all taught by the same spirit. So with those women. And the same thing. Who we read of in the Old Testament. As well as in the New.

[7:19] There's all taught by the same spirit. It is mentioned in some ways that Christ has a school. And the teacher.

[7:31] Shall I say. Even the master. We might use that word. The Holy Spirit. To teach. And he teaches each one. Each child. Each lamb in the fold.

[7:42] Each sheep. Every one of them. He teaches by his Holy Spirit. And we might mention. Even respected in the ministry. If we are properly.

[7:54] That is. If we are sent by the Lord. If we are in the teaching first. To what we shall speak. And the truth to declare.

[8:07] Look at those dear men of old. Some of them. Well. Some of them we can remember. And others. As previous to our life.

[8:17] Or how they preached the gospel. There's all taught by the same spirit. There's the same gospel they preached. You see dear friends. A living soul can't live on.

[8:30] That which is a car law. A living soul can't feed on. Free will. It must be free grace.

[8:42] So the Lord teaches. It is by his Holy Spirit. Those whom he has sent. To preach. To preach the gospel. Jesus Christ. That he hears the same yesterday.

[8:54] Today. And forever. And all our hope. And our standing. Is in him. And not in ourselves. Not in the creature. Or how necessary it is.

[9:06] For the Holy Spirit. Then. To anoint. Those whom the Lord has raised up. To preach the gospel. And to teach them. Or how some of us feel our lack in this.

[9:20] But our eyes are up unto the Lord. That he might teach us. And reveal to us the way. The way. That leads. Unto Christ.

[9:31] And unto. Eternal glory. So it's the work then. Of the Holy Spirit. And that Holy Spirit. Is the same.

[9:42] As I said. In the past. And today. And will be forever. In the days of our forefathers. In the commencement of the world.

[9:52] It was the same teaching. And those in later years. They proclaimed the gospel. The doctrines. And that which was given to them.

[10:04] To proclaim. It was all under the same tone. It was all the same truth. It all came from the same. From the same teacher.

[10:17] Which is. The third person. In the Trinity. So the Holy Spirit. And there we see that. In these gospels.

[10:28] And the sermon. Shall I say. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hasn't there been dear friends. When you've read.

[10:39] Some of the discourses. Of Christ. In the gospel of Matthew. And in the gospel of John. There's a dovetailing.

[10:51] Can I say. With our hearts. Why? Because. Because. The teaching of the spirit. In their heart. Corresponds. With the teaching. In the word. And that brings comfort.

[11:03] At times. To know. That we. In some measure. Understand. What the. Discourses. Or the sermons. Now Jesus.

[11:13] Spake. Unto those disciples. Of old. And he said. On one occasion. Ye now have sorrow. And they had sorrow.

[11:24] In their heart. But he said. I will see you again. And your heart shall rejoice. And they knew this experience. They believed what they heard.

[11:36] Jesus Christ. By the Holy Spirit. Is the same. Yesterday. Today. And will be. Forever. Right. Down to the end of time.

[11:48] All the time. There are those. Being born. Into this world. Who are in the. Covenant of the divine grace. Call. Will be called. And that's a holy calling.

[12:00] And it's the work of the Holy Spirit. Right down to the end of time. What is the apostles. They. In this very. The. Epistle.

[12:11] Of his. In Hebrews. Wherefore. Holy brethren. Partakers. Of the heavenly calling. So it's the Holy Spirit's work. To call.

[12:22] A poor sinner. We have that again. And again. In the Holy Scriptures. One. One. One. One. One. Another. Has been brought to a concern.

[12:33] Well. It's the work of the Spirit. It's out of the love of Christ. And his death. But. It's the work. Which I would desire.

[12:43] To dwell upon a little. The work of the Holy Spirit. Not only to the quickness. But to the teaching. And leading. And as you know.

[12:54] Here the Lord's people. Are led. The steps of a good man. Or ordered. By the Lord. Can't always see it. Cannot always believe it.

[13:05] Says his ear unbelief. But. The word of God. Tells us so. Oh. To be said. To be one of these unbelievers. Well. The Holy Spirit.

[13:17] Leads his people along. A little here. And a little there. Line upon line. And priesthood upon priesthood. And there's our teaching. And it will deepen.

[13:30] And by the Holy Spirit. There is. Working thus. There will be a cry. In the heart. Of these people. That we may be taught. How to pray. And what to pray for.

[13:41] Aright. And the Holy Spirit. Shows it. And reveals it. To us at times. Isn't there. One way.

[13:51] Dear friends. To the Father. You can direct us. You can reveal. That way. The Holy Spirit. Not in us.

[14:01] You may have a good man. In the pulpit. Well educated. And so on. But. He's blind. Unless the Holy Spirit. Has opened the eyes.

[14:12] To show him. There's but one. And one only. Holy Spirit. Reveal them. Take of the things of Jesus.

[14:23] And reveal them. Unto us. The way. This quickening operation. It's a wonderful thing. It's a miracle.

[14:35] We often read. Of the miracles. That the Lord. Performed. When he was here. On earth. Now this is one of the. Miracles. Still being performed. In our day. And now we would desire.

[14:47] To see it more manifest. And more. Called. By that heavenly calling. In our. In these solemn days. We have it left on record.

[15:00] In a number of cases. How the Spirit. Entered into this one. And that one. And caused the concern. Let me put it to you.

[15:11] Dear friends. And I put it to myself. How. Have we received. An heavenly calling. Are we taught. By the Holy Spirit.

[15:24] You know those. In the scriptures. As I've. Briefly mentioned. Take. Ruth. There was. She was a chosen. Vessel of mercy. Down in Moab. Dead in sin.

[15:36] And shapen. In iniquity. But the Holy Spirit. Had it. Came into her heart. And there was a great change. Can you go back. To the time.

[15:46] When. The Lord. Move. Your feet. As it were. Out of the broadway. Into the narrow. Can you go back. To those times. When the heart.

[15:56] Was changed. When you brought. To. Begin to love. And inquire. The way. To Zion. And those old. Paths of sin.

[16:07] And those things. That you. Once enjoyed. And now laid aside. And you're seeking. Better things. Than this poor. Persian world. Can give. Some of you.

[16:19] May have an idol. In your heart. And it may be. To the things. That are sinful. And perhaps. The work of grace. I trust it is. Working in you.

[16:31] And you'll find it. A difficulty. You'll find great. Difficulty. In your own heart. To lay aside.

[16:41] Those things. That you once enjoyed. I will remember. The time. I've been in it. Dear friends. I will remember. A time.

[16:52] When I was taken up. With a certain thing. When in my tears. And I felt. I could not be that. There are things. That pleased.

[17:02] My God. Or mine. But the Lord. Showed to me. It was a idol. And the Holy Spirit. Removed that idol. From me. And brought me.

[17:13] To feel. How destitute. I was. Yet I knew. It was the right part. Because it was. The teaching. Of the spirit. Well.

[17:24] This Holy Spirit. Then. Is the same. You'll go back. Through. The lives. Of many. Of the Lord's. Dear ones. And you'll find this.

[17:35] They're all taught. This. That they're sinners. That's the work. Of the spirit. What do we know. About this. One thing.

[17:46] To say. That we're sinners. Many today. No doubt. Would repeat. The word. Miserable sinners. Yes. But friends. Are we. We are miserable sinners.

[17:57] But do we know it. Is it the teaching. Of the spirit. Or is it just the language. What we read. From time to time. And know we're sinners.

[18:09] Because the word says. We've all sinned. And come short. Of the glory of God. But have we. Endorted deeply. By the Holy Spirit. And not by man.

[18:19] Well. If we feel. Our sins. What else. Mourn over them. Mourn over them.

[18:32] If your sins. Are such a burden. Is the work. Of the spirit. The spirit. Is unfolding. To you. And to me. What is in the heart.

[18:43] What is in their hearts. By nature. Is no small mercy. To have this. Revealed to us. That we have to say.

[18:54] Painfully. And from experience. Are deceitful. Above all things. And desperately. Wicked. And that's the leading. And teaching. Of the Holy Spirit.

[19:06] With some of the. Lords. Dear people. I've come across them. They fear. They are out of the question. Because. There's. Have I been.

[19:17] Deeply taught. Taught. Or taught. In mouth. By the spirit. That I am a sinner. Or is it only. In the latter. Of that. Well. I've had to say. To some.

[19:29] Has it done anything. For you. Oh yes. What. Why. This caused me. To come. To the place. And beg for mercy. That's the place. Dear friends.

[19:39] That's the teaching. Of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit. Reveals to us. What we are. And causes us. To bow to thee. And come earnestly. To the Lord.

[19:51] Seeking. Pardon. Forgiveness. Of our sins. One. As you know. You've often heard it repeated. Ready. The poor public.

[20:02] And he says. God. He says. Be merciful. To me. A sinner. Well. He is taught. By the spirit. It's the work.

[20:12] Of the Holy Spirit. Then. To take. Of the things. Of Jesus. Comes to me. Of that dear man. Simeon of old. Oh. He. That was. By the spirit.

[20:23] We read. He was led. By the spirit. Up to the temple. And who was there. Wanted the text. That same babe. Jesus Christ. Yesterday.

[20:34] Today. And forever. And as you know. That dear man. Took that dear babe. Jesus. In his arms.

[20:49] Satisfied. Have you ever taken Christ. In the arms. Of your faith. If so dear friends. I'm sure. Your prayer.

[20:59] Be similar. To Simeon of old. Having Christ. We've got everything. What did he say.

[21:10] Respecting. That babe. Willing to depart. Yes. Now.

[21:22] Lettest thy servant. Depart in peace. For mine eyes. Have seen. Thy salvation. Now that's a. Reveal. In this case. He actually. Saw Christ.

[21:32] The babe. But to us today. It's by the Holy Spirit. It's a revealed truth. It's a revealed. By the Holy Spirit.

[21:43] And that's where faith. Comes in. Faith. Can take of these things. And believe. Faith can look. And faith can do. Everything dear friends.

[21:55] Is supplied. In the. Will of God. And out of his love. To poor sinners. To show them the way to heaven. And cause them at times. To enjoy a few of these things.

[22:06] Recorded. In the gospel. So. It's work. Of the Holy Spirit. And he continues. From day by day.

[22:16] Yesterday. Today. And will be forever. Yes. And it's the work. Of the Holy Spirit. To prepare us.

[22:27] For that prepared place. We cannot in and of ourselves. I believe. I headed upon it. This morning. It's the work. Of the Spirit. Can you do without it?

[22:38] I. I. Not so very long ago. I was visiting a person.

[22:50] Brought up under the truth. But I'm afraid. Departed from it. And she. I sat by her bedside.

[23:02] And I tried to read a little. Tried to pray. And. I said. You believe. In the Lord Jesus.

[23:13] Do you not? And she made this remark. Never heard a remark. Like it before. She said. I believe in God. And I believe. In the Holy Spirit.

[23:24] But I don't believe. In the Lord Jesus. What a solemn place to be. Well. If she believed in. The Father. If she believed in.

[23:35] The Holy Spirit. Was her Redeemer. Was the one. Who saved her soul. It's the work. Of the. Holy Spirit.

[23:46] The efforts. It is. Jesus Christ. Sends. Or the Father. Sends. The Holy Spirit. Unto every. Quickened soul.

[23:57] Every. Redeemed soul. And shows them. The way. To heaven. Jesus Christ.

[24:09] The same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. The last. Sinner. Born. Into this world. Who is in the covenant. Of divine grace.

[24:21] Will be taught. By this same one. The Holy Ghost. And there is no way. To heaven. Without it. Without this teaching.

[24:32] It's a prepared place. For a prepared people. You say. What is it to be prepared. To know our unworthiness. To know our sin.

[24:43] To know. That we are not worthy. Of his notice. To confess our sins. And to seek for mercy. And obtain salvation. And obtain salvation.

[24:53] Through Christ. And the washing. In his precious blood. In other words. To be made weary. Of things here below. And willing to depart.

[25:05] And be with Christ. That's the work of the Holy Spirit. To prepare. Are you holding this world. The things of it. My friends. Grosperly.

[25:15] In the hand. Or can you hold the things. Of this life. In a loose end. Knowing well. That you've got to leave it all. Jesus Christ.

[25:29] The same. Yesterday. Today. Forever. Now. We mentioned this morning. His love was the same. His mercy was the same.

[25:42] His love. His name will endure. It will. The covenant will endure. And all who is in the covenant of grace.

[25:53] Some of the Lord's people. Are often. Are very severely tempted. At times. Whether they're in the covenant at all. And then they may have a glimmer.

[26:04] Glimmer of hope. And then perhaps the devil comes along. And takes it right away. You wonder. While sometimes.

[26:16] A poor sinner is left to. Wonder if there is a covenant at all. Made in heaven. Between. Between Father, Son. And his church. By the Spirit.

[26:33] What about. Have you ever been tried. Respecting your name. Being in heaven. It's recorded. That their names are written in heaven.

[26:45] In the Lamb's book of life. As the Spirit revealed it. If he has.

[26:55] Your name is there. It's there. Can you take of these things. My friends. And by grace. Believe. Believe what the word says.

[27:09] And believe that you're in those. Precious promises. Why Jesus Christ. The same yesterday and day forever. Yea. Is in his faithfulness.

[27:21] He's given a promise. He's given to it. He knows. Those promises he gave to those dear people of old. And to you and I. Perhaps 40, 50 years ago.

[27:33] And even longer. Though often they seem to be covered up. I said only just recently. Somewhere or another. Of our faith.

[27:45] You know. It gets very low at times. Our faith. Think of a ship. It's got an anchor. And he drops his anger.

[27:58] He drops it. And he's. No he's safe. Well angered. Where's our faith? Is it angered in Christ? If so dear friends.

[28:09] It's a safe place. And if so. Where's our hope? Why? In Christ. Yes. And it's the same yesterday. Today. Or forever.

[28:19] But sometimes our faith seems to somewhat waver. If so naturally. When a boat is anchored as it were. Here or there.

[28:30] And there's a rope or chain. In the rough weather. It wavers. Do you feel your. Faith sometimes. The way. Might. Us. But dear friends.

[28:42] It's still anchored. It's still there. Our faith is in Christ. It's there. The devil can't move it. He may tempt us.

[28:53] He may try us. But. In Christ. Nothing can move it. All in the covenant of divine grace. Are in Christ. Every one of them.

[29:07] I like that word. You've heard me say it before. In. Revelation. In. Romans 8. Now therefore.

[29:17] There is no condemnation. Unto them that are in Christ. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus Christ. In the sight. His mercy.

[29:29] Endure. Whatever. His promises. I believe.

[29:41] I can say. I don't say it mostly. I say it. With all humility. And love. I believe. I've had a few promises. From God.

[29:52] And I'll tell you. When I had them. When I was in deep waters. It's when we're in those deep waters. And deep trials. When the Lord speaks. And gives the word.

[30:03] Gives us a promise. In those deep waters. When the Lord speaks.

[30:14] It was so with those. Disciples. As they was on the sea. And the storm arose. And there they were troubled. Fearful. Terribly fearful.

[30:28] Cast there. That when Jesus spake. It is the Lord. That's what Peter said. What it are. It is the Lord.

[30:39] Or rather. Even Samuel. Or the great. The high priest. It is the Lord. Let him do what seemeth him good. Well Jesus spake to those disciples.

[30:51] In the midst of the sea. As it roared in various directions. And the storm arose. And they feared they'd be lost. But he gave a sweet word.

[31:04] It is I. Be not afraid. As the work of the Holy Spirit. Dear friends. And those promises will stand. I will never leave thee.

[31:17] What have we read in this afternoon. Soon. I will never leave thee. Nor forsake thee. That so that we may boldly say.

[31:27] That is by the Spirit's leading and teaching. The Lord is my helper. And I will not fear. What man can do unto me. So when the Lord gives the word.

[31:38] And the Holy Spirit seals it. It takes that fear of man. Out of us. The same.

[31:50] The same yesterday. Today. And forever. I couldn't help noticing. When we read that psalm.

[32:01] This afternoon. In that 90th. Well it says here. A thousand years.

[32:14] In thy sight. Are but as yesterday. When it is past. And as a watch in the night. We must not then.

[32:26] Always look at our text. As being in a way. That we naturally look upon it. As yesterday. Today. And forever. As a thousand years.

[32:39] Is as one day. In the eyes of Christ. And on the other hand. I think we are quite correct. In speaking. As we have had done.

[32:50] That in yesterday. That is all that has passed. The beginning of the world. Until yesterday. And today. And will be forever.

[33:00] Forever. Forever. Forever. Isn't it dear friends. A comfort to you. To realize. That. This God.

[33:11] Changes not. Especially as we realize. Oh. We change. We spoke a little of his love. What about our love. Does it change.

[33:22] Change. Are we always the same. Frame of mind. No. It changes. Sometimes we are hot.

[33:34] And sometimes we are cold. Sometimes our heart is bubbling up. Can I say. In real desires. For heavenly blessings.

[33:45] Well another time. We may be. Somewhat in the world. Worldly mind. Taking up things of the world. We are not the same.

[33:56] But Jesus is the same to us. Though we are not the same to him. Tis a point I long to know. Oft it causes anxious thought. Do I love the Lord or no.

[34:09] Am I. Yes. Or am I not. And we change. Well. Can it we say. As we come to the end.

[34:19] Of our poor discourse. Discourse this afternoon. Jesus Christ. The same yesterday. The day. And forever. Yes.

[34:31] Same it is. Perfection. Same it is love. Same with its same desires. And he is the same one. This Jesus. On the right hand of the Father.

[34:42] From the day he rose from the dead. Or rather. A little later. When here. Those disciples saw him. Ascending into heaven.

[34:55] There to take that wonderful place. And there he is. That same God. That same Jesus. Yesterday. Today. And will be forever.

[35:08] The mediator. The. The. Also. The redeemer. Of his people. I'll go a little further. Respecting this. He's on the right hand of the Father.

[35:23] And will be for eternity. But he's there. To hear the prayers. And the supplications. With he always.

[35:33] Have that seat in heaven. On the right hand of his Father. To hear the prayers. There'll be none left. Here below. He'll gather. He'll gather all his dear ones.

[35:45] His saints. His children. His sheep. His lambs. Into him. Into the fold. Eternal fold. Heaven itself. There'll be no prayer then.

[35:57] There'll be none here to pray. That work. Will be finished. Then he will have the enjoyment.

[36:08] Of his whole family. I've looked at it sometimes. Perhaps in high trust and the right. There's it. Respecting our families.

[36:20] We as a family. Met together not long ago. Lord. And there's one blessing. One blessing. One blessing.

[36:36] I thought at times. And I begged the Lord many times. That he would not let one. Be that blessing. Not one of my dear ones.

[36:49] You to try the same. Deathless. Not one of them. Should be left out of the government. Not one. Should be lost. I believe I can say.

[37:03] I've wrestled with the Lord. Night by night. Often. In this matter. That every one of them. Should be remembered.

[37:13] By him. Now. And throughout. Eternity. So I thought. A loved one. A dear one.

[37:25] Should be missing. In heaven. And lie. In the pit of destruction. For eternity. Oh may the Lord be pleased.

[37:37] To bless our dear children. And give us. That sweet token. That they are all. Loved them.

[37:50] Called by him. All will be felt. Clothed in those robes of righteousness. And be in Christ.

[38:02] Forever. Forever. As we pay another little service. I'll leave this. With you. Don't forget. Jesus Christ.

[38:13] Is the same. He's the same. Though we are often in the dark. Though we are cast in. He's the same. Though we feel to be despair.

[38:24] Dismay. Cost. Out it may feel. But he's the same. He changes not. Not even forever. Amen.