Christ's presence and gifts today and forever (Quality: Very good)

[0:00] In the divine help of God, I would draw your attention to the epistle of Paul to the Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 8. Paul's epistle to the Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 8. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever.

[0:52] We began this morning to ask the question, who was this promise for? Who will be the subject of this great mercy that is described so simply of Jesus Christ? It is only those who know what it is to be the subjects of change. Those dear souls who know the change that grace makes, from nature's darkness to that glorious light of the gospel, that deadness which by birth and by practice we all are the subject of. And that wondrous work which only grace can do, which the Holy Ghost will do in every one of his dear people, quickening them into a divine life, putting them into a pathway which will lead them to glory.

[2:06] And then they shall be the subjects of changes. He that is without change fears not God. But they will have changes. Sometimes the billows will be increased. The winds shall blow. The rains of tribulation shall fall. Sometimes it's darkness. Sometimes it's light. Sometimes the comfort of the Lord's presence is with them. The strength of his everlasting arms are upholding them. And sometimes their pathway is they walk alone.

[2:49] And this blessed promise will be their comfort then. His love in times past forbids me to think. He'll leave me at last in trouble to sink.

[3:10] Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review confirms his good pleasure to help me quite through. This is the foundation of the comfort of the Lord's dear people.

[3:26] This is the certainty that grace-taught sinners will go to heaven. This is where real salvation and its blessings and favours are to be found in the person of Jesus Christ.

[3:41] We closed this morning service in this. In speaking of Jesus Christ the same yesterday.

[3:53] By speaking a little about the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in his presence. He said that grace-taught sinners will go to heaven. And what a comfort that is. When all around my soul goes away.

[4:06] He then is all my strength and stay was quoted. And my friends that's a wonderful mercy. A mercy I believe which is.

[4:19] Which has to be walked out to be understood. That though friends fail and foes unite. He's the same yesterday.

[4:30] We spoke of the yesterdays. The Lord Jesus Christ from all eternity. If we may describe it as a yesterday. And we spoke of the yesterdays experiences of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth.

[4:45] When he came born of a woman born under the law. When he walked through this veil of tears as we would describe it. In 33 years.

[4:57] The yesterday of Jesus Christ. We spoke about the yesterdays of the spiritual experiences of the Lord's people. Those great times.

[5:11] Those sacred times. Those tender times. When the Lord was dear, near and gracious to their souls.

[5:24] And to repeat it. My friends it isn't always like that. And we spoke about the changes. The ups and downs of the spiritual experiences of the Lord's people.

[5:39] The hiders of his face. The chasteness. The chastening hand of God. But supporting the people of God. Consciously and unconsciously.

[5:50] Is this word. Jesus Christ the same. Yesterday. Oh you that can look back on the. What you hope is the Lord's work in your soul.

[6:02] And though at this time you might feel that he hides his face. My friends be strengthened by this. Be encouraged by it.

[6:14] That there's no alteration or change in him. We sang that hymn. We sang that hymn. We sung the words didn't we.

[6:30] Here I raise my Ebenezer. Hither by thy help I come. And I hope by thy good pleasure. Safely.

[6:42] To arrive at home. Jesus sought me. When a stranger wandering from the fold of God. He to save my soul from danger.

[6:53] Interposed his precious blood. Oh have you got some hitherto's. Have you got some Ebenezer spots.

[7:03] In your pathway. What does it teach you. Well thou precious seasons you will say. The prophet of old.

[7:15] We read. In that time of. Deliverance to Israel. Between Mizpah and Shem. There was a stone set up.

[7:26] Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. And what does the hitherto rest upon. An unchangeable and faithful. Glorious God. Jesus Christ.

[7:37] The same yesterday. Now the Lord help us to continue then. We said it was the most familiar text.

[7:49] We hope and trust. That there's many ways. In which we might look at such a word. Which is familiar. It is often preached about him only.

[8:01] And rightly so. Because Christ must be preached. But why is he the same yesterday. And today and forever. Why is it because he cannot change.

[8:12] And he will not change. And nothing can change. His mind and will. It is a wonderful mercy my friends. When you have grace.

[8:22] I have grace. Given to us. To inquire at the Lord. What it is. What it is. Is his will for us. And you will find it's on all trouble.

[8:35] And you will find it's on the side of. The church of Christ. Christ. Now it goes on to say. Jesus Christ. The same yesterday. And today.

[8:48] And today. What is the today. That is. To be spoken of this glorious person. What can you say of one.

[9:02] Who is an eternal God. They are expressions you know. Yesterday and today. And forever. They are expressions.

[9:13] Which we might say are. Really descriptive of time. Yesterday and today is. And you can't describe.

[9:25] Today. As being. Something which is descriptive of Christ. You know. Because he is an eternal God. He is not. He doesn't.

[9:36] Have changes like we have. Time brings changes to those. Who fear God. You know. Alterations. Circumstances.

[9:48] Afflictions. Weariness. Age. Lack of strength. And so on. They are all. As it were. Indications of time. And a drawing near.

[10:00] To the end of the journey. Now. My friends. Jesus Christ. Today. The same. Today. And. Oh. He is the same today.

[10:10] As he ever was. Isn't it. It should be. Surely. The Lord. Help you to. As it were. Embrace such a word. As this. Wherever you are.

[10:22] In your spiritual experience. My friends. Whatever sorrows. Lie upon you. Whatever fears. You may have. Whatever doubts. You may have.

[10:32] Of this glorious person. Oh. That you might. Hear. By gracious faith. Believe. The sameness. Of Jesus Christ. Today. I often.

[10:44] Have said. And will say again. This day. This glorious day. Of grace. This Lord's day.

[10:55] How. Did you and I. Approach this day. What was our exercises. What did we seek the Lord's.

[11:07] Appearance for. How was it that we could. Lay before. The Lord. Not only the faithfulness. Of past times. But that his.

[11:18] Mercy will continue. With us. Today. Untrodden steps. Today. The dawning. Of the Lord's day. And my friends.

[11:29] It brings. In one sense. A joy. And rejoicing. That we can. Leave the world. Deceitful shore. For a while. And meet.

[11:39] In the sanctuaries. Of God. And under the gracious. Gospel. Of Jesus Christ. But you see. My friends. The Lord. Make today. A blessing.

[11:50] To your soul. And what will the blessing. Be to the people. Of God. Of this day. My friends. This. That Jesus Christ.

[12:01] Is the same. That's the blessing. But you are. And I am. In this day. Of experience. Today. Yesterday.

[12:12] Is past. And gone. Into eternity. And tomorrow. And all. The future. Steps. Have not yet come. And we.

[12:23] You and I. Are in that place. Today. In this. Period of time. In this. Season of experience. Whatever this.

[12:33] Day. May bring. Whatever today. May be. Be to you. It might be a time. Of trial. It might be a time. Of affliction. It might be a time. Of doubts. And fears. It may be a time.

[12:45] Of forsaking. Whatever this. Today. May means. To you. My friends. And to me. Let this. Be the blessing. That you can. Lay hold of.

[12:57] That. The. Jesus Christ. Is to say. You know. One of the. ways. In which. The Lord's people.

[13:07] Often speak. Relative. To their. Spiritual experiences. You find. Some of these. Dear saints. Of God.

[13:17] In their latter days. And if they were. Prompted. Of the Holy Ghost. You know. And I mean. That. When the Holy Ghost. Christ. Graciously.

[13:28] Opens their heart. And their understanding. And gives them. That. Grace. To speak. They'll speak. About the yesterdays. They'll speak.

[13:39] About the seasons. Of mercy. The trials. And the troubles. And the way. Which the Lord. Delivered them. They'll. They'll. Converse. As.

[13:50] They may be given. Light and liberty. In referring. To times. Past. Past. And it may be. That you. And I. Shall be found.

[14:01] Amongst such. Gracious people. That would give. Jesus Christ. The honour. And the glory. For past. Mercies. And favours. Jesus Christ.

[14:11] The same. Yesterday. Now. And the. And today. And it may be. That you might fall. Into that place. Where Job. Was brought to.

[14:23] He could speak. Of yesterdays. When. The sunshine. Of God's love. Was. Upon him. And when things.

[14:33] Were comfortable. In his soul. Job was a man. That feared God. And astute evil. It was the day. Before the troubles. The yesterdays.

[14:44] Were the times. Before the troubles. And the trials. Came on. When. Satan. With all. The spleen. Of hell. Rose up.

[14:54] Against Job. And where he brought him. Into. Almost. Destitution. And brought him. Into great times. Of distress. And great.

[15:06] Complainings. Of spirit. Against the day. Which he was walking out. God. You see. My friends. This is where. The yesterdays. Of the Lord's.

[15:17] Appearance. For his people. Are to be remembered. And so. These dear. Saints of God. Will remember it. As they will be. Prompted of the spirit. That they may come.

[15:27] To this. Today. Old. That it was. As it were. In times past. Is that what you say? You know. There's a spiritual.

[15:38] Language. That describes. The days. Of blessing. And favors. In the. In the pathway. In the soul. Of the Lord's people. Those. First loves.

[15:50] As it's called. And you know. When the Lord. Blesses his people. They see no. Few. No. They see no. Further. Than the time. And they're not. Brought to be concerned.

[16:01] With the. Days to come. They. Bask. As it were. In the sunshine. Of his love. I remember. When I was. When we were.

[16:12] Baptized. In 1978. We had a note. From the pastor. And he put this. In his note. But. There is a pathway.

[16:24] To walk. My friends. That's the today. The pathway. That you and I. Are walking. It's the. It's the. Today.

[16:35] Is that pathway. Past. Blessings. And favors. Are not. Past. And over. They're not. Lost. Sight of. They're sometimes.

[16:47] Resurrected. Gracious times. Are those times. When the yesterday. Blessings. Are resurrected. And you wonder. At the mercy.

[16:57] And the goodness. But you see. You now. You've come into. The today. Time. My friends. The time. Of trial. The time. Of affliction.

[17:08] The time. Of when. The. When that. Gracious. Faith. That you. Believed. You were. In possession. Of. Is being. Tried. This is.

[17:19] The pilgrimage. Journey. This is. The heat. And burden. Of the day. These are. The times. When. My friends. There's one thing. That shall. Comfort. God's people. And that is.

[17:30] An unalterable. Unchangeable. Faithful. Merciful. Jesus. Christ. It may be. And we must. If we're. Repeating.

[17:40] Ourselves. The Lord. Knows. And the Lord. Forgive. If it's wrong. But in those. Yesterdays. Of time. You may be. Able to look. Back. On the forgiveness.

[17:51] Of sins. You may. Look. Back. Upon. Some. Nearness. Of the person. Of Jesus. Christ. In your pathway. You may.

[18:01] Look. Back. On those. Times. Of trial. And times. Of relief. Times. Of deliverances. That's. What happens. In the pathways. Of the Lord's people.

[18:12] In the yesterday. Times. But you may. Come now. Into the. Into this. Today. And solemnly. Feel. The hidings.

[18:22] Of his face. The mud. Ward. Cottage. Shakes. Now. And you can't. Always. Look. To see it. Fall. And trials.

[18:33] And troubles. Battles. Warfares. Opposition. Oppression. Many such things. Come. Into this. Part. Of the experience.

[18:43] Of the spiritual. Life. Of God's people. And they have. Something to look. Back on. If only. The Lord. Will. Open up. To them. Those past.

[18:54] Times. And past. Mercies. Let me. Just remind you. Again. As we know. By experience. And the Lord's people. Will know.

[19:04] By experience. Some of the past. Times. When he was. Pleased to come. And bless you. With a promise. What was the promise. For.

[19:15] The future days. One such promise. Comes to my mind. And it may be. A word in season. To someone. But go back.

[19:25] In the book of Genesis. To Jacob. Go back. To Bethel. Where he laid. Under the stars. And he saw. That remarkable. Vision. That allowed us.

[19:36] Set up on earth. And the Lord. Spoke. From heaven. Into his soul. And I will be with thee. And I will be with thee.

[19:47] Oh remember. The Lord Jesus Christ. Own words. As he ascended. Back to glory. And lo. I am with you. All the way. Even unto the end.

[19:57] Of the world. Remember. What he said. In John's gospel. As he was. Preaching his last sermon. To them. Before his suffering. You now therefore have sorrow.

[20:10] But I will see you again. And your heart shall rejoice. In your joy. No man taketh from you. This is the today's. Experiences.

[20:21] As you look back. On the yesterday's. When the sun shone on your path. When you joyed. And rejoiced. In the person. And presence. And glory of Jesus Christ.

[20:32] Today. You know. And it's a day of trial. And it's a day of. Perplexity. Sometimes it's a day.

[20:44] When you question. Your own standing. Sometimes it's a day. When you wonder. Where the scene will end. You hope.

[20:54] And looking back. There was a yesterday. Experience of Jesus Christ. And his mercies. And his favours. If you knew. Forgiveness and pardon. As I mentioned before. Those.

[21:07] Sins that accrue. Added to. That you and I. Have committed. Since then. And it may be. That you look back. On those sweet seasons.

[21:18] And you thought. You would never sin anymore. It may be. That you. As it were. Joyed. And rejoiced. In the knowledge. Of. The freeness.

[21:28] And the peace. And the pardon. That is in the blood. Of Jesus Christ. And now you wonder. Whether you'll ever get the glory. At last. Now. My friends.

[21:41] If the Lord should speak. These words to your soul. It will cheer your today. Jesus Christ. The same.

[21:52] Yesterday. And today. When you. In those days. That were past. Visited. And I mean that very carefully.

[22:03] And very. Reverently. When you visited by faith. The cross of Jesus Christ. When you went to Calvary. To where the lamb was slain. When you traced out his.

[22:17] Ignominious death. When you traced out. The fulfilment of. Countless promises and prophecies. When you saw in his death. The mercy.

[22:28] That he was for sinners. When you felt an interest. In the blood of Jesus. My friends. What do you. Now cry for. More frequent.

[22:40] Let thy visits be. And let them. Longer last. It's. The warfare. My friends. Is the trial of faith. Though now. For a season.

[22:50] If needs be. Ye are in heaven. Is through. Manifold temptation. And is it not so. These are the today. Experiences. Of the Lord's people.

[23:02] The Lord hasn't changed. Not for a second. Not for a minute. Moment. Has the Lord changed. But it's the battle.

[23:13] It's the warfare. It's the trial of faith. It's the difficulties. It's the battle. It's the battle. It's the battle. It's the battle. Go back a little further. Than Jacob. I was going to say.

[23:24] In that promise of Jacob. He said. And I will be with thee. Jacob didn't know. What he was walking in. All was hidden from his eyes.

[23:34] The future steps. Were all hidden from his eyes. What trials he might come in. What privations he might come in. What fears and doubts.

[23:46] That he might come into. The day will come. When they tell him. That Esau's coming. Not alone. But 400 men. What fears that would bring.

[23:58] But what comfort was the Lord's word to him. So he could pray. So he could. As it were. Spread the word of his promise.

[24:09] Before his gracious God. There was said. The yesterday promises. Which were your comfort then. Use them.

[24:19] My friends. And I say it very carefully. Use them. Tell the Lord of them. Tell him of his faithfulness then. Tell him of his promise then.

[24:32] Tell him of those hopes. That were raised up. Those fears which were dispelled. But today. It's darkness. And it's distress.

[24:42] And it's trouble. It's questioning this. And questioning that. It's though. You know. That the Lord's work. Could be altered. Is.

[24:53] There is a word. Is it in the epistle somewhere. That his. Blessings are without repentance. My friends. Who once he loves.

[25:04] He never leaves. But loves them to the end. Now. My friends. If you have. Past promises. If you have. Past experiences. If you have.

[25:15] Those seasons. In your past. Spiritual life. Which you can. Feebly. But. Faithfully. Claim. Before the Lord.

[25:26] It was of him. My friends. You can tell him. In these today troubles. I don't know about you. I don't know everything about you.

[25:39] My friends. But I know this. Of myself. I get to some places. Some deep places. Of distress. Sometimes. And I have to do a little. Reconciliation.

[25:52] What's that you say? I have. As the Holy Spirit. May help me. Go back. The days. Of experience. Go back. To the leadings. Of the Spirit.

[26:02] Go back. To the movement. That. We. Trust. By the Holy Spirit. Brought us. Along the path. Thus far. A little.

[26:15] Reconciliation. To the trials. A little. Remembrances. These. Times. Times. Times. When you can. Raise your ebenezer. And say. Hitherto.

[26:25] The Lord. Helped us. If the beginning. Is right. My friends. Today. Will be right. And forever. Will be right. And if you've got. Those things.

[26:35] Which. The Holy Spirit. Will rehearse. Again. In your. Spiritual. Exercise. My friends. You will bring them. Before the Lord.

[26:46] In these. Todays. But this is the blessing. Of today. Jesus Christ. The same. We spoke about.

[26:57] Forgiveness. Of sin. A view. Of Calvary. Going to Calvary. To where the land. Was slain. By precious faith. Beholding him.

[27:08] In your room. Place. Instead. A sense. Of an interest. In his. Sufferings. My friends. You looked at your sin. And you saw. That was the cause.

[27:19] Of his suffering. And you mourned. Over it. But there was a blessing. In that morning. Because blood. Was shed. And blood. Put away sin.

[27:29] And the blood. Of Jesus Christ. His son. Cleanse us. From all sin. And the children. Of God. Experience. That blessing. And they are justified.

[27:40] They're not justified. In what they've done. They're not justified. In anything. That they have done. But they're justified. In the finished work. Of Jesus Christ. Today.

[27:51] You've lost sight. Of the mercies. You've lost sight. Of the favours. You've lost sight. Of the comforts. I said this morning. That David said. In his son. And I say it.

[28:02] Continually. Because I need. The experience. Of it. My own self. Restore unto me. The joy. Of thy salvation. The joy. Of thy salvation. Was the yesterday.

[28:12] Experiences. Of David. And it's the yesterday's. Experiences. That you feel. To need now. That would. Somewhat. Put you. Into that.

[28:23] Sense of comfort. And of mercy. In the person. Of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. Is saying. Yesterday. And today. So.

[28:35] Sinner. Saved by grace. Whoever you are. Whatever he's done. For you. Yesterday. Will stand you. In good stead. Today. Oh.

[28:45] You'll say. What about the sins. And iniquities. Of today. What about the forgetfulness. My friends. You sing the hymn. We're going to sing. As we close.

[28:56] My friends. It's. A hymn of mercy. And. If you've known. Mercy. Yesterday. You'll know. Mercy. Today. Jesus Christ.

[29:08] The same. Yesterday. And today. This period. Of experience. This time. Of walking out. What.

[29:18] Is decreed. And appointed. For you. This is the time. Of faith. The trying. Of faith. To you. And to me. It may be. My friends.

[29:29] In those glorious. Days. Of yesterday. You felt. That whatever. The pathway. That you've come into. The faith. Would stand sure. You felt.

[29:42] Whatever trial. Or trouble. Came against you. That you would stand. Because his faith. And his grace. Was all sufficient. I'm sure of this.

[29:52] And we have scriptural authority. To say so. That the apostle. Peter. When. And I looked at. I was going to read those words. In Luke 22. Jesus Christ.

[30:05] Said to Peter. In Luke 22. Simon. Satan. Hath desired. To have you. To sift you. As wheat. But I have prayed.

[30:16] For thee. That thy faith. Fail not. And the faith. Of apostle. Peter. Went into the fire. Now.

[30:29] His own words. Was. Though. All men. Forsake thee. Yet. Will not I. That was yesterday. That was the fervency.

[30:39] Of his faith. And I believe. The poor man. Felt it was so. I believe. He could say. That's the honest. True. Desire.

[30:49] Of my soul. The whole. Lot of them. Can fail. Jesus Christ. But I will never. Do you see. It didn't take a lot. Of work. Did it. Satan.

[31:00] Didn't have to raise up. An army. Against Peter. He didn't have to come. And use persecution. And oppression. My friends. He sent. Damsels.

[31:12] And they just. Asked a question. Concerning Peter. And his. And his. Knowledge of Jesus Christ.

[31:23] That he was. One of them. That was. With Jesus. And in a moment. Of time. He fell. I read it through. This afternoon. Luke 22.

[31:36] Or I read. The part. I wanted to read. How. Three times. He denied. The Lord. And Saviour. Jesus Christ. He could have said.

[31:47] With a good. Hymn writer. That he was. Ashamed of Jesus. Ashamed. That he might be. The subject. Of the same. The same. The same.

[31:57] Oppression. The same. Means of death. And so he was. In due course. Oh. To hide his. Knowledge. And you know.

[32:08] There's a language. Which the Lord's people. Use. It's a. Pure language. It's grace. Is the language. The world. Doesn't understand it. But you see.

[32:19] He changed his language. He cursed. And he swore. That was Peter. The apostle. Who said. Thou art the Christ. The son of the living God.

[32:32] But my friends. He had to learn. And he learned it. Very solemnly. But he learned it. The cock crew. And it brought.

[32:43] As a flood. To his memory. What Jesus Christ. Has said. And I'm sure. It brought. What he said. Into his mind.

[32:56] And Peter. Went out. And wept. Bitterly. Jesus Christ. The same. Yesterday. And today. And what was the today.

[33:10] My friends. The day was this. Simon. Son of Jonas. Lovest thou me. More than these. Thou knowest.

[33:21] All things. Thou knowest. That I love thee. Jesus Christ. Hadn't changed. Peter had fell. And been restored.

[33:31] Restoring grace. Grace. Was the subject. Was the blessing. Was the favour. That the apostle Peter. Enjoyed. My friends.

[33:43] That today. This time of trial. This great affliction. This great spiritual affliction. Upon the soul. You know.

[33:54] In those sacred. Yesterdays. Of the beginnings. Of grace. In the soul. And the revealings. Of Christ. To his people. And those holy words. Of comfort.

[34:05] And assurance. And you know. Peter was there. When the Lord Jesus Christ. Said. And I will see you again. And your heart. Shall rejoice. And your joy. No man taketh from you.

[34:17] And in that day. You shall ask me nothing. He was there. He was the subject. Of that promise. But he still fell. But he knew. What it was.

[34:27] To rejoice. In restoring grace. Whom. Having not seen. Ye love. He wrote. He also wrote this.

[34:38] Concerning. And this is how we. What he learned. Out of these. Experiences. Which were grieving. Distressing. Troubling. And humbling.

[34:49] Also. He learned this. That you were not. I will read it. And then we shall get it. Back with. For as much as ye know.

[35:05] That you were not redeemed. With corruptible things. As silver and gold. From your vain conversation. Received by tradition. From your fathers. But with the precious blood.

[35:15] Of Christ. As of a lamb. Without blemish. And without spot. Jesus Christ. The same yesterday. And today. Now.

[35:26] It came to my thought then. This. It may be. That you walk now. In a path. You sought. Or you feel.

[35:36] You've never walked before. It may be. That you're in that path. Many days. Or months. It may be years. With some of you.

[35:47] That you've travelled through. This veil of tears. And. Down you've gone into trouble. The Lord's appeared. Mercifully delivered you. Brought you up out of it.

[35:59] Out of an horrible pit. Out of a miry clay. Set your feet upon a rock. And put a song in your mouth. Even to. Even praise unto our God. God. But it may be.

[36:12] That my friends. That you're in a path. You've never been before. We come to these places. And these spots. I've often felt my friends it's though the Lord's people are consciously taught of the spirit as they travel on and show their experiences little or much compare with the people of God but it pleases God by his spirit to bring them into a place where they haven't got any comfort nor any hope nor any help in past times nor in the experiences of the Lord's people my friends what are they going to do the epistle to the Hebrew says this wherefore seeing we all so encompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which hath so easily beset us and it has run with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God my friends that's the remedy that's the only remedy that's the path where the Lord's people shall be brought in this today a path you've never walked didn't think you ever would thought your faith would stand and now you lay your case before the Lord a path you've never walked before

[38:10] I read yes I read the other day of the temptations of Jesus Christ could you ever believe that the Son of God should be the subjects of temptation and why was it so well you read again in the same epistle you go back to the second chapter of this epistle and you will find these words for in that he himself has suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted now my friends these new paths these unwalked out paths these inexperienced paths Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today I thought a moment ago of the apostles words in his second epistle to the Corinthians when he speaks about his thorn in the flesh lest I should be exhorted above measure there was given unto me a thorn in the flesh and what was it for to buffet him it was what we might call ballast to his pathway it laid him low and it kept him low but he resorted to the throne of grace with it thrice did I pray thrice he got the answer no but he said unto me my grace is sufficient my friends that's what this blessed and glorious head of grace will bring when he comes to his people's aid and help you know don't come empty handed the same yesterday and today all sufficient grace what pathway this new pathway this unexplainable something that we never thought we'd walk into my friends is not a strange path to Christ because such a path is ordered decreed from heaven that you and I shall walk through it but what will we prove in it you know that's the purpose my friends of the fire the fire shall not hurt thee

[40:44] I only desire design thy trust to consume and thy gold to refine and that's what he'll do in this new pathway today he'll give you grace Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today wonderful mercy my friends when you can have a face view of this glorious person in all his mercy his mercy cannot change his love to his dear people cannot change his union to his people cannot change what he's done to them cannot alter the blood that he shed was shed for many have you ever wondered at the prophecy of Zachariah wonderful prophecy you know some hundreds of years were to pass over this vain world of sin and woe till that prophecy should come to pass what prophecy in that day now my friends you and I understand the language of yesterday and today in that day there shall be a fountain open for the house of David the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness that's what's experiencing that today and it flows from the wounds of Jesus you know that was a blessed and sacred and solemn occasion when the wounds of Jesus were opened and the fountain flowed the fountain of his blood since by faith

[42:38] I saw the stream thy flowing wounds supply redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die can it alter can that precious blood lose its power well the poet said it couldn't an experience will confirm it my friends just as much in the yesterdays of your spiritual experience when you pleaded to know the preciousness and the experience and the peace speaking virtue of that blood my friends so it is today fresh in roads of sin you say it doesn't alter the validity of that blood nor the ability of that blood either today as you go on in your walk and pathway as you travel on into this trial that trouble this affliction that affliction this separating work this pathway which you seem to walk alone my friends changes it comes about it must come about all things will change but my friends all things but Christ the same yesterday did he speak to you yesterday did he commune with your soul in your yesterday's experience my friends how precious was his word how precious was his voice how suitable was it to the trial or the trouble or the difficulty or the loss or the cross you were in when the lord spoke and he still speaks jesus speaks and speaks to thee say poor sinner love us they'll be the same yesterday and today unalterably the same and there's something else you know the children of god and only the children of god as i said as i commenced this morning my friends this is no word for the worldly this is no word for the professor this is the word to the tried and the troubled people of god who see changes come about who feel inward changes and fear them lest they should rob them of that inheritance of the saints of light the same yesterday and today my friends we have to prove this don't we might be a simple statement to make my friends but this is where the lord's people found they prove me prove me now here with will i not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there may not be room enough to receive it have you ever thought you have you ever been tempted that you're in a place where the mercy of god can't reach has he showed you that your present sinful state has sinned or has it been shown you that your present sinful state is above and beyond the mercy and goodness of god my friends we tried to on last wednesday we mentioned the word mercy and we tried as it were to be able to see what was contained in that word mercy and we found we were such a disadvantage it was a subject too great and it was a subject too deep but my friends his mercy hasn't changed it's one thing to sing about it it's another thing to prove it and you will find my friends in your todays Jesus

[46:50] Christ the same yesterday and today that it is verily true and alterably true sacredly mercifully wonderfully true that there's no alteration in this blessed and glorious person who is indeed the saviour of the lost Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever forever I know it's been said time and time again it's said always in such a word as this it doesn't say tomorrow it says forever but be it said again my friends that's your comfort if you believe it if you're a believer forever do you know where forever is however long your life may be when I was quite young

[47:54] I remember a dear old lady and I thought she was ever so old and she was only 70 and she said to me it's been mercy all the way now I'm beyond that number but this word doesn't speak about tomorrow because if it said tomorrow it brings a restriction it would bring a restriction Satan will say ah maybe tomorrow but what after that but he don't say that my friends it says forever it says forever Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever and what he is yesterday what he is today he'll be forever if he's blessed you with his grace yesterday if he's maintained that grace in your soul today that grace will give place to glory if you have by precious faith some slight understanding by revelation of the person of

[49:09] Jesus Christ what must it be my friends when you see him face to face I have a dear and happy home and much my home I love but is there now prepared for me a better home above and that's the place where you'll see him forever child of grace you lose sight of him now it's darkness it's grieving to your soul you do not joy and rejoice you know they said to the Jews in Babylon sing us one of the songs of Zion and they said how can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land well you may know what that means spiritually but you see contrary to what the world will say contrary to what Satan will try to make you to believe those are forever and you will find there as you found here my friends but in a greater real and most sacred season that he's the same the same well we must leave it

[50:24] I never thought you could keep preaching from the same text I never thought there's something new in this same glorious truth of Jesus Christ but there is you know and the Holy Spirit will lead you into it and you'll sacredly enjoy the truth of this promise as the Holy Spirit may be pleased to bring it to your notice lay it upon your spirit when everything else changes the world will change or grow worse friendships fail and foes unite it'll all happen that's what happens you lose your loved ones my friends you lay them in the grave all changes everything changes time will bring an end to everything but not to Jesus Christ that's the comfort that's the strength you see and I must close my friends but let me go back to the last chapter but one of Deuteronomy let me just remind you of the Jews of old the Israelites of old travelled their 40 years and they were in now coming up to the moment when they shall be brought into the fulfilment of the covenant they shall enter into

[51:54] Canaan what lay before them Jordan Jordan overflowed his banks in harvest time how impossible was it the eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms and so they proved it Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever Amen the notices for this evening are as follows God willing there will be a prayer meeting on Wednesday evening and our pastor will be with us next Lord's day let us conclude by singing hymn eleven living лаг the mystery

[53:25] By distinctly by the We would seek your attention to the epistle of Paul to the Hebrews, chapter 13 and verse 8.