Unworthy recipients of God's grace (Quality: Good)

[0:00] As the Lord may be pleased to help me, this morning I will direct your minds to Psalm number 5, the fifth Psalm, verse 7, but as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy, and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

[0:50] I have been very much in the dark of late, and though there has been a deep exercise in my heart to know the Lord's will, and what one should try and speak from on this occasion.

[1:21] And your thoughts may be now a very unsuitable word for such a time and the season of the year in remembering the Lord Jesus and his suffering.

[1:43] I've tried to turn away, but no, this word has continually come. But as for me, now reading those portions this morning of the Lord Jesus Christ and his suffering, and also of the language of the hymns that you have sung.

[2:13] A little of the pathway of the Son of God, the Savior of Zion, the Redeemer of Zion, and meditating or the little upon that language of his.

[2:39] And also the path he trod, and the work he undertook. The more we know of it, experimentally, entering into it, under the light of truth, under the power of the Spirit of the Spirit of God, will bring us somewhat in the same experience I believe as the psalmist when he said with the words of our text, that as for me.

[3:12] I believe the dear men, the psalmist, and we have similar words, I believe, in the psalm by Moses.

[3:26] We have a similar word in the book of Job. Job uttered it. But as for me, I believe these dear men stood amazed at times when they realized the greatness of God, the holiness of God, that he could not look upon sin with any, any theory of allowance.

[3:55] And also being brought, as I trust we have, at least in some measure, to know what we are as sinners in the sight of God.

[4:11] Hasn't there been times when you and I have stood amazed to think that this great God, this holy God, this blessed God, should condescend to look down from his dwelling place, from heaven, from glory, upon a poor, sinful one, as we feel to be at times?

[4:40] It'll bring us here, burnt as for me. Why did the Lord take any notice of me? Why should he have remembered me?

[4:54] Why should I have been chosen of God? And the more we realize, friends, and see the world in its wickedness, and the thousands and thousands, who, shall I say, are destroying their own soul in sin, where we have been spared by the grace of God from many outward sins, many things that have crushed, shall I say, and destroyed the souls of thousands.

[5:31] But as for me, ask for me, why should we be found here this morning? Why should there be a desire in our heart to be among the despised of the world?

[5:48] Why should there be a desire in our hearts for the oath of God, for the word of God? How is it there's been a concern in our hearts to know the Lord?

[6:05] Why are we being brought to have a concern, respect in our soul, and the matters of eternity? But, but, as for me, and the more we realize the greatness of God, the mercy of God, and the more we realize the truth of God, the more we realize the truth of God, the more we realize the truth, while thousands make a wretched choice, and rather starve to come, but as for me, why should there I be thought of, back in eternity, before the world was created, before the world was created?

[7:17] But as for me, Yes, friends, if we know anything, and feel these things that I've mentioned, under the power of the Spirit, and our own failings, if we know that we are sinners, not only by the word of it, but by the power and the teaching of the Holy Spirit, our names were written in the covenant, our names were in the Lamb's book of life, from all eternity, think of us for a moment, God the Father, and is he elected not?

[8:07] Why should he elect? Why should he elect any? For we've all sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

[8:18] Why should he have had his thought toward us, taken any notice of us, born in sin, and shaped in iniquity, Oh, sometimes these things come home to one, with some degree of power.

[8:36] Why? Why? Why were we chosen? Why should we be loved? God knew that we'd be born in sin, and shaped in iniquity, nothing in self, nothing in us, complete failures, full of sin, nature in us, that is at enmity to God at all times, as for me, me, should be remembered.

[9:09] Think of it, God remembered all his dear ones, before, what a mystery, before born into this world. the seed was before him.

[9:22] Every individual child of his was thought and remembered by him. But as for me, yes, the more we know of ourselves, dear friends, and our ruined condition, our iniquities and transgressions, the more we shall stand amazed at the goodness of God in remembering us.

[9:51] But as for me, me, the poor and weak and sinful world, born into the world, as I said, in the same way as the wicked, in that same path, in that same experience, in that same spirit, not of grace, but of sin, blasphemy.

[10:20] Why should he love me? Why should he remember me? Why should I be in the covenant of grace? Oh, friends, sometimes we stand amazed, do we not, at the very thought of it.

[10:36] As for me, and especially as we look upon our fellow creatures, and this can be so even in the family, and in the family circle, one taken, what do we read?

[10:53] One of a city, and two, one of a family, and two of a city, and to be brought unto Zion.

[11:05] That's for me. Why was I chosen? Why should I have been left amongst the world and the worldlings, seeking those pleasures of the world, something that seeks the carnal mind, something that is of the flesh, as for me?

[11:28] Why was I brought out of the Broadway, into the narrow, as for me? Oh, friends, can we describe it?

[11:39] Can we ever get to the depth of these four words? But as for me, what can we say? Well, God has had his purpose. God will reveal his purposes, and he will bring them to pass.

[11:57] No wonder the apostle Paul said, we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, and are called according to his purpose.

[12:13] There's an heavenly calling here, therefore made manifest as being the children of God. Bless for me. No need for us to look upon others.

[12:29] It's a personal thing. Salvation is a personal thing. Salvation that flows through Jesus Christ will visit each soul.

[12:42] everyone, as I've mentioned, loved of God from all eternity, but as for me, and why, dear friends, all these things come up in one's mind so often, why have we been preserved?

[13:02] Why have we been preserved from those many outward sins? I know you and I have those inward sins, and oh, how they trouble us. but we have been preserved.

[13:16] Cannot we say, when young in years, and from those days to this, been preserved from those many outward sins that many have dropped into and experienced.

[13:31] lost. But as for me, why has the Lord protected me? Why has he spared me when I deserve eternal wrath?

[13:44] As for me, well, is the will of God if we have been spared and blessed of him.

[13:54] and it has pleased the Lord, has it not, to bring us to his feet?

[14:10] Bowing there, what for? Well, the psalm is in the following chapter of the psalm, we read, here it is before my eyes, have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak, O Lord, heal me, for my bones are fast, and my soul is also sore fast, but thou, O Lord, how long has for me to be brought to have some knowledge of God and his holiness and to know our sins and have to come to his feet, confessing, confessing.

[14:54] As for me, can you remember the time, dear friends, when you had to turn aside, may have been in some secret place, may have been in a place where even your own dear parents could not see you nor hear your cry.

[15:12] Bless me, why did the Lord turn my feet out of the broadway into the narrow? Why did he bring me to know a little of him, to know a little of where the mercy should flow, forgiveness of sins, as you had no thought or realization that it needed the blood of Jesus to cleanse you from your sins, but as for me, to bow and to cry mightily unto God for mercy.

[15:53] Why? Oh, the more we see the world, the worldling, after the pleasure of this world and perishing, the more we are amazed at the goodness of God that we are being spared from these many, many sins.

[16:14] But as for me, me, why should he remember me? Why should he love me? Why should he keep his eye upon me? Why should he bring me out of the broad, into the narrow?

[16:28] Why is he a favor toward me? Why the poor soul says, I'm no better, no better than the world, no better whatever.

[16:39] We are not true, not in and of ourselves. Blasphemy. And can you go back to the time when you, as I've mentioned, had to call upon the Lord, had to, compared to, couldn't do anything else.

[16:57] Why? Because your sin and the burden of sin laid heavily upon you, you were compelled to call over your mouth.

[17:10] Remember me, Lord, remember me. And it may have been even with the psalmist again, remember not the sins of my youth. But as for me, thou should, the Lord should be pleased to bring me to some knowledge of him, and see in him salvation for my soul.

[17:35] Bless for me. And think a moment here, oh, this wonderful new birth, new birth.

[17:46] You know, the worldlings know nothing of it. wasn't so very long ago when I attended a funeral, not in one of our causes.

[17:58] But oh, the word came, the blind lead the blind, and they both fall into the pit. Oh, I have soren to be numbered among those blind people.

[18:12] no knowledge, no sight, no sight of their standing, no sight of eternity. Blind, completely blind to these things.

[18:29] The blind lead the blind, and they both fall into hell, solemn thought. But as for me, well, have we not passed through that gate of regeneration?

[18:45] And why? Why should you, why should I, more than the world? Ask for me. I mentioned that David quoted this word as we had before us, Moses, Job, I'll tell you another one, who came into the very experience of it.

[19:08] We have read of him this morning, have we not? The dying thief. Oh, he could have said, but as for me, a poor sinner like me, coming to the cross to be crucified, a robber, a blasphemer, as for me, why the poor men on the opposite side of the Lord Jesus couldn't come into the rest, but the poor thief could, why?

[19:39] Why? Because he got something in his heart, and what was that something spiritual like? Out of that spiritual life, there was spiritual discernment, and he knew what he deserved, a thou his sin.

[19:54] But as for me, in the last moments of my life, bordering upon eternity, bordering upon eternal wrath, bless for me, the Lord should look upon me, this king near hand, for he called him a king, when thou comest into thy kingdom.

[20:18] As for me, says the poor dying thief, why should he remember me and not the other? Why should I be saved, and why should that poor man on the other hand be lost?

[20:34] Oh, we see, dear friends, the electing love of God, the electing love of God. Yes, one received, the other taken, one saved, and the other lost.

[20:48] One chosen from all eternity, the other, shall I say, no, cannot say overlooked, because it was the purpose of God, but as for me, thus we are quickened into life, yet again, for me.

[21:11] Why should the Lord by his holy spread implant life into our soul? Spiritual, spiritual life, the wonder of wonders, grace, yes, nothing but grace, nothing but grace, nothing of us, dear friends, nothing but grace, no good deeds are found here in the sight of God, no, nothing that we have done, nothing that we have deserved, complete lost, sinners, yet, that's for me, he gave that quickening operation, he gave me the spirit, he imparted life within my soul, oh, when we realize this, it will bring us to the words of our text, for me,

[22:12] Lord, why have I become the temple of the Holy Ghost, why should be thy pleasure, to implant it in my poor soul, life, a life that seeks after spiritual blessings, after Christ himself, for me, and then again, dear friends, so wonderful it is, that this life is kept alive, in our souls, the poet said, once he loves, he never leaves, but loves thee, to the end, oh, true it is, pass from me, life to continue spiritual, your thoughts may be, and at times you may be surely tempted and tried by that evil one, and you are tempted to breathe because of your misgivings, your sins, your failings, your backslidings, that the

[23:27] Lord will remove that, remove it, that spiritual life within the soul, but no, no, bless for me, he implanted it, he's kept, he's kept it alive, it will be to the end of time, but as for me, for me, oh, my friends, what a wonderful God we have, what a blessed saviour, for me, and that spiritual life within their earthly tabernacles will be kept alive, but not by us, here again is the mystery of godliness, the blessings of God, as he lives, so shall wait, now that life will need nourishment, blessed for me, do you know anything, my friends, of the bread of heaven, we read of it,

[24:34] I believe, in the sixth chapter of the gospel of John, the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, I am the bread of life, as for me, they should condescend to give me a few crumbs from time to time, to keep this spiritual life, in my soul, alive, we need natural bread, do we not, we need our natural life to be spared, kept alive, strengthened, given, so spiritually, as for me, a poor worm like me, to be given to taste by living faith, that broken body, that bruised body, of the Lord Jesus Christ, yes, and wonderful thing, dear friends, to have an hunger for it, and a greater blessing to receive it, but it's given to poor sinners, such as you and I, and then again, just another thought here, the nourishment, to keep that inner man alive in the soul, how is it done?

[26:01] Oh, it needs nourishment, therefore Jesus opened that wonderful river, and from that river flows the springs, it touches the heart, the soul of his people, to have nourished them, strengthened them, strengthened their faith, and helped them, to believe, that they will endure unto the end, and be saved, but as for me, a poor weak sinner, coming to the mercy seat, ask for me that he should hear my prayer, it is you to hear my supplication, hear again with other psalmists, I believe in Psalm 116, he says, I love the Lord, because he hath heard my prayer, and my supplication, what's our prayers, dear friends, day by day, is there a prayer, does the prayer of the publican come out of your heart, or say this, if it's come out of your heart, on one occasion, implanted by grace, by the

[27:34] Spirit, that prayer will be answered, and the Lord will remember it, not only in life, in death, but through eternity, oh, no small mercy, to be enabled, to open our lips, and call upon God, but as for me, one so poor, so vile, so ignorant, so sinful, so polluted, throughout, yet, he would hear my prayer, me, oh, this little word, me, me, me, does it make an echo in your heart, this morning, me, me, me, me, yeah, Jabeh, he called upon the God of Israel, why did he, because the Lord had a favor toward him, he called upon the

[28:37] God of Israel, what did he ask for, a blessing, what kind of one, providential, doubt, it's good and most blessed to have a God that will hear prayer respecting providential things, that dear Jabeh, sought for something far beyond it, what was that, forgiveness of sin, for he said, he called upon the God of Israel, oh, that thou wouldst bless thee indeed, think of it, the poor ask for me, ask for us, that we should come, as Jabeh of old, knock at the door of mercy, and ask for a blessing, a blessing indeed, that's one of the greatest blessings, I believe, friends, that a poor sinner can ever receive or not, a blessing indeed, what's it mean?

[29:43] it means forgiveness of sin, applied with power by the Spirit, and the cleansing in the most precious fountain of his blood, as may, so Jabeh received, because we read, and the Lord granted him his request, wrestling prayer can wonders do, bring reliefs in deepest straits, prayer, prayer can force a passage through, iron bars, brazen gates, rest, and the rest, and the rest.

[30:28] Dear friends, I believe we know, at least I trust, a little of this breath. Here again, it takes me to the prophecy of Ezekiel, of those dry bones, dry bones, what did it need?

[30:46] What did those bones need? A breath, and we read that they breathe upon those dry bones, and there was life.

[30:58] Oh, how we feel to these, at least I do, that breath of prayer, real breath of prayer, breathe into our one soul, and prayer indicted by the Lord, the Lord will surely hear, that ask for me.

[31:21] Be allowed to come, to open one's lips, to speak unto the Almighty God, be one, always the same yesterday, today, and forever.

[31:40] For me, I can't get away from here this morning, don't know why, but for me, yes, and there's not only the prayer offered, dear friends, but the prayer that is answered, which I've hinted upon respecting David.

[31:59] Haven't you had a few answers of prayer? You may be thinking, yes, in Providence, what about in Grace? it's good to have answers of prayer in Providence, that proves the Lord has heard your prayer, but what about prayer in grace?

[32:22] have you had a fall before him as the poor woman of old? The only word you could breathe out, the only prayer, what was it?

[32:39] Lord, help me, ask for me, that I have been of the privilege of falling before him, a poor bankrupt soul, nothing, nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling, for before him, Lord, help me.

[33:02] For you come in, the word, again of the psalmist, nearby, what did the psalmist say? For the poor, for the oppression of the poor, for the sign of the needy, he says, now I arise, and set him in safety, from them that puffed at him, think of it, ask for me, a poor sinner, so poor, so destitute, indeed, yet he should think of me.

[33:35] And as we look back, as I have done even of late, and I have had to say to the Lord, this Lord, my old life has been a failure, failure, failure.

[33:49] Is it possible for thee to remember me for eternity? Ask for me. A poor soul, poor, bankrupt, so ruined, in sin, filthy within, is it possible for thee to look upon me?

[34:11] But dear friends, we've been reading a little this morning of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Did that dear man remember you?

[34:26] Did he remember me? When he journeyed along in his pilgrimage, coming to the spot, the very place of crucifixion, did he remember us?

[34:45] have we been remembered in that precious blood, atoning blood, cleansing blood? Ask for me, ask for me, that that fountain should be open for me, for me, to be to be washed, be to be cleansed, in that precious atoning blood of his, that cost in his life and sufferings.

[35:11] as the poet said, what he endured no tongue can tell, to save our soul from death and from hell.

[35:22] me. Well, I've rambled on this morning, that we are a monstrous people, we have much to be thankful for, that is, remembered of God, chosen of God, loved of God, taught by the Spirit, brought to fear his name, passed through the gate of regeneration, brought to his feet in prayer, and known a little of the answer of prayer.

[36:01] You'll come here, my friends, you won't say I've repeated this word too often, if you feel, if we feel, air conditioned by nature, and the greatness, and holiness, and blessedness, of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[36:20] Well, I'm going to leave it for this morning, read the text, and leave it with you, but as for me, I will come into thy house, in the multitude of thy mercy, and in thy fear, will I worship toward thy holy temple.

[36:45] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[37:03] Amen. A understand. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[37:13] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.