Planted in the house of the Lord. (Quality: good)

[0:00] In the book of Psalms, Psalm 92 and the 13th verse, the 92nd Psalm, verse 13.

[0:26] Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

[0:42] Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

[0:56] When we read this Psalm, we are conscious that we are brought so to view to companies of people.

[1:07] We find the righteous and we find the wicked. We find the blessing of God resting upon the righteous.

[1:20] And we discover the wrath of God resting upon the wicked. Truly the workers of iniquity do flourish.

[1:34] It seems as though they can do what they like, how they like, and when they like. And yet where does it all end?

[1:46] It is that they shall be destroyed forever. The righteous are brought into the house of the Lord.

[2:02] And consequent upon their position in the house of the Lord, they flourish in the courts of our God. And we don't read of anything relating to them, wherein there shall be any destruction experienced by them.

[2:23] Rather, they shall bring forth in the Lord. Rather, they shall bring forth hurt in all days. They shall be let them flourishing to show that the Lord is upright.

[2:35] Upright in all his dealings, both with the wicked and with the righteous. Now we must remember that when we read the words of our text, there is set before us first the house of the Lord.

[2:55] We are not dealing here with a beauty. We are not simply dealing, as it were, with certain communities of people who gather together in the courts of the Lord.

[3:08] We are dealing with that which is entirely the property and the ownership of the Lord. It is the house of the Lord.

[3:21] There is his family. There is the place where he is pleased so to reveal and to make many versed his divine love and grace toward all them that are so found in his house.

[3:41] Oh yes, it's no good us thinking that simply because we attend a place of worship or that we may be found within four walls, which may be termed the house of the Lord, that we have that position in the house of the Lord.

[3:57] We may have the external and be entirely divine of the internal. And if we are not found in the internal, in that wherein the Lord himself has so placed us and put us and brought us into that relationship with his one family that constitutes the house of the Lord, we shall never know what it is to flourish in the courts of our God.

[4:32] Yes, the courts are the outer courts. It is here that the gathering of the people is found. And that wherein they do so make their profession, they do it in the realization of the possession of that love and that grace that they have received of him in that wonderful work which he has not only accomplished by himself relative to the erection of the house, but in that wherein he hath made you to have a part and an interest in all that he has done by placing you in his house.

[5:20] So let us look at this blessed thing that is so set before us in the words of our text, that they that be planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God.

[5:39] I see in the commencement of the psalm that there is the description that it is a psalm for the Sabbath day.

[5:52] Well, it is a blessed thing when a man who knows his interest in the Lord can look around and so see his preservation from that which is all around him in regard unto the condition of the world at large.

[6:15] That he has been taken out of the world and that he has been brought into close proximity unto the Lord.

[6:25] That he no longer finds his delight in that wherein the iniquities of the world do so consist. Remember, you and I by nature have no ground for boasting.

[6:40] We are by nature not a wick behind the most wicked character that can be evidenced upon the face of this earth. All the seeds that were in his heart are likewise in our heart.

[6:55] And it is only by the mercy of God that they are indeed kept in subjection under the divine dominion of his power and grace.

[7:08] No, we have nothing to boast of. But if our boasting is to be, then it shall be in the Lord. The one who has taken us up from thence.

[7:22] The one who has settled us in the house of the Lord. Ah, here we find our companionship. Here we find that which is so congenial unto our souls' desires.

[7:36] Here it is that we know what it is in that which he commanded unto his disciples to love one another. So look at the plantation, as it were.

[7:52] Those that be planted in the house of the Lord. And keep in mind, please, all the way through, that that which is relative to the house of the Lord covers all the redeemed family of God.

[8:10] And that which is relative to their obtaining any inheritance in that wherein the Lord of the house doth so preside and so possess and doth so communicate of his goodness that this is all owing to himself.

[8:38] No. That which is relative unto the one that is brought into the house of the Lord. It is an amazing act of divine grace.

[8:49] Listen to what the psalmist says as he constantly sits. He says, For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work, I will pray unto them in the works of thy hands.

[9:06] Here then is the house of the Lord. The plantation of the Lord. You remember no doubt how that in the Song of Solomon there is a reference unto this same blessed truth.

[9:22] And in that chapter which we are reading Isaiah there is likewise set before us those who are the planting of the Lord. The house of the Lord.

[9:39] Here are a people who are gathered by him. Gathered by him in accordance with his divine will concerning them.

[9:52] Yes, it is not left to any contingency of man. It wholly depends upon the sovereignty of the divine will and purpose of God concerning them.

[10:07] you say, well, we know these things. But do you rejoice in them? Does your heart bound, as it were, and leap the joy as you realize that if you have any interest in the house of the Lord, that wherein he is indeed Lord unto you, that it is only in that wherein in the eternal purpose of God you have ever been given any interest in it?

[10:38] There is a looking back. There is the beholding of the state from which God in his infinite mercy has extricated thee.

[10:49] For thou wast amongst the wicked at one time. But he came and he gathered you. He gathered you in that wherein in his divine love and grace he determined that you should indeed have this position in his presence.

[11:10] What a wonder. Oh no, I cannot take unto myself all the credits to any credit the night position.

[11:22] Whether it be as a minister of the gospel or in whatever position I may be found in connection with the Afrikats of God. It is only in that wherein he in his infinite mercy and grace has so been pleased to come and to pluck that one as a brand from the burning and to place him in that position which the eternal will and purpose of God so ordained from eternity that he should occupy.

[11:57] Oh, do you not love to see a sovereign God in all the actings of his divine grace towards you? That it does not arise out of you and the very fact that there is now those springs within your heart of love and of faith it all comes from him it's his work.

[12:19] Oh, amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me the wonder of it and even as you realize that you may be one of those gathered ones brought out placed in this position in which God in his infinite delight and pleasure concerning you has so designated to be your own that thus in the gathering he has collected you together with a number which no man can number they who shall indeed populate the whole courts of heaven has thou an interest in that wherein they gather round the throne of God and sing his worthiness oh everyone that is within the house of the Lord can only speak and laud the wonders of him they see all loveliness and all excellencies in him and why do they see these things in him because of that wherein they behold the very contrast in themselves and that which has become hateful and the uprisings of sin now within them have they been collected by suffering grace then my dear hearer these are the struggles these are the conflicts that so rise within your soul coming forth not only from your corrupt nature but from all the machinations of the evil one that he may distress you and make you fearful and doubtful as to whether you really have this standing in the house of the

[14:17] Lord but think of that word collected my friend if he collects who is going to take you out of his hand who is going to rob him of that which he claims has his own where is the power that shall ever be able to overcome the infinite oh has he not demonstrated it that wherein when he came to this earth he so gathered together unto himself a little company and so instructed them in the things of God until he came to that point where he declared that the prince of this world is judged yes and he who collects it let us remember that in the house of the Lord there is that wherein there is one that hath been judged one whose head has been bruised yea and now he can but nibble as it were at the heel you are distressed then you are cast down at times you say

[15:38] Lord make it plain to me make it real to me don't let me be taken up with simply as it were some imaginations things or some theories about these things Lord I've known the scriptures so long I'm afraid that these things have got into my very mind until they become a very part of myself but Lord what do I know about them what do I know the greatness of the working of thy spirit through them within my own heart yes there is the working my dear hearing you know if you weren't in the house of the Lord you wouldn't be exercised like that there wouldn't be any need for it it's only because you are where you are by the sovereignty of his grace that you are indeed so tormented it well blessed be his name if I'm in the house of the Lord if I'm secured and collected by him then it is that

[16:41] I may find in him that fullness whereby there is the sense of companionship of one to whom I can go and talk and tell all about these things why cannot the daughter or the son go to the father or the mother and so declare unto them that which may be distressing them they may come with tears they may come and they may say that wherein they have been so sorely tried that their feet have well nigh slipped yes yes is is there an unresponsive year unto that wherein the child may so pour out its heart unto the parent may he hear of that which is to be disarmed concerning goodness among men upon earth is only that which is derived from the very character of the one from whom we have to deal yes here is a father he is the head of the house and he loves that his children should come and so tell him all their troubles and all their difficulties

[18:00] I was going to say what poor things we are that we don't go to him more often what a ready reception there is in that heart of love so to receive thy compassion the pourings out of your heart before him for in the house of the Lord there is a provision a rich provision a provision of grace that shall become a banquet unto your soul for you shall feed upon him who is the giver of every good and every but to give he supplies all the need out of that fullness and glory in Christ Jesus but not only gathered and collected but they are established they are fixed in the house of the

[19:09] Lord as the Lord put his hand to the work as he so gathered and collected me then might he hear do you think anything regarding that work is going to be left out so that it is not perfect and infallible no just the very reverse when he takes thee and gathers thee and collects thee then he affixed thee firmly in that which is relative unto the place which he hath purposed you shall indeed fill amongst his family blessed be God there is the establishment within the soul of that truth you have known what it is to be shaken to have trembled at times my dear hearer what have you found haven't you found in your own soul that wherein there is a sure foundation for your feet haven't you realized in your experience that wherein there is a rock upon which you can rust your whole weight with confidence and trust yes he who has fixed you firmly in the house is he who has imparted unto you of his spirit that wherein the truth and the knowledge and the understanding of himself shall be laid in your own soul experience and then let us remember too that he is the owner of all that are in his house if we are in the house of the

[21:12] Lord we're not our own we belong to him everything that relates unto us in his ownership is the object of his divine care and consideration he is ever mindful of his own he watches over them continually what a blessed thing if he has given me to know the effect of that work within my soul whereby I have been brought out former condition and brought to know the exceeding riches of his grace in that wherein he has gathered me unto himself that I may know the things that he giveth unto them that love him yes so we find this in our text don't we those that be planted in the house of the

[22:16] Lord they're not self planted they don't put themselves into the house of the Lord some people imagine they can they think by reason of a profession they think that by doing good and so forth that they can indeed place themselves in the house of the Lord but remember that word plumped that is the act of another isn't it you can't go and say now I'm going to be in the house of the Lord as though you had a right to be there every plant that my father have not planted is going to be rooted up no it is that wherein you are made to know that it is the Lord's work and the Lord's work alone that hath planted you in his house it is a right planting a right planting because it is operated in all wisdom the wisdom of

[23:33] God the wisdom which was personified in the person of Jesus Christ the wisdom that is communicated by the Holy Spirit as he takes the things of Jesus and reveals them unto us for all his children are going to be taught of the Lord they are rightly planted in here wisdom you be there understanding you remember that word in Romans 8 counsel is mine and sound wisdom I have understanding I have strength herein is the wisdom so combined with the counsel and the strength and so forth whereby he so brings thee note again he knows the nature of the plant he knew it right in the very beginning and he in his infinite goodness has prepared the soil for the reception of that plant he knows your nature he knows what you are in and of your souls so he takes you and he plants you in those depths of infinite mercy and of grace a suitable soil unto the character of the plant so he brings you so he establishes you those that be planted in the house of the

[25:41] Lord regularly planted there is an effect the plants are full of life how do we know they are full of life life is a very wonderful thing life in itself cannot be explained yet life there is the natural man cannot explain that which is relative to the very fact of life life and you as you are found in the house of the Lord may indeed have to confess unto the mysteriousness of that life that is within you but they are full of life and the evidence of it is in the growth they grow they don't stay where they are they stay in the position in which the

[26:45] Lord has brought them but they grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ yes the growth that is a going down in faith to the hidden and the secret streams of the divine love there is a raising up within the plant of that wherein the nourishment is so administered and it makes itself manifest in the growth and in that wherein the growth does consist you are made to know that wherein your entire dependence is entirely upon him for any bringing forth a fruit there is no fruit bearing apart from that abiding in him and so faith and what does faith do it goes deep down it reaches out after these glorious truths reaches to know them and to taste and to realize their blessed efficacy there is a rising up within the soul and as they grow in grace it is in the knowledge of their

[28:20] Lord and Savior Jesus Christ how do I know that a growing grace shall only be found in that wherein I am made conformable unto his son Jesus Christ Christ but again even as they are full of life and growth so they are supplied and watered continually by the effectual work of the Holy Spirit in taking of the word of eternal life and communicating it unto your soul and you in consequence drinking to these things why what does he say if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink this he spake of the

[29:24] Holy Ghost and here is the spring of that wherein the life doth so consist supplied and watered by the eternal Spirit in that wherein he brings home to your heart not only the word but the effect and the grace that is within that word unto you and these are they which are made manifest as his it's those those those that be planted in the house of the Lord how are they made manifest because they shall witness unto him they shall bear their testimony unto him yes yes they shall speak of the glories of him who is the head of the house they shall tell the wonders that they have seen in him and they shall likewise declare that wherein they have been made partakers of his divine love and grace and goodness these plants witness they witness to the reality of the things which have been communicated unto my friend don't suppress don't try to keep down that wherein the desire may arise within your heart so to witness and to testify unto him grieve not the spirit of

[31:12] God by which ye are sealed unto the day of redemption yes there is our witnessing those that be planted in the house of the Lord and let us remember too that these plants of the Lord are of necessity his delight and his pleasure he looks upon them oh with supreme delight even as he declared his going down into the garden in the sorrow solemn it is the beloved that comes and you delight in him and he delight in you and what do you find in the house of the Lord to let face of also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart the desires to serve him to love him more than you have ever done before to trust him implicitly and you know it is in all this where in the house of the

[32:24] Lord doth so consist that there is a unity and the peace of the family here is unity here is peace you're only finding it in the house of the Lord how strange it is that you can come up against people that you've never spoken to you and to your knowledge they have never spoken to you and yet at once there is a felt going up within your heart towards them you embrace them you love them why why is not something that nature gives in it it is that which cometh from the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace there is a recognition of that work of

[33:25] God within that one of which you yourself have been a partaker and contested by unto you are one in the Lord those that be planted in the house of the Lord let us very briefly look at the plants for a moment they abide they abide where they're put by him and they abide in his love he himself said to the disciples relative to their abiding in him and his abiding in them he said continue in my love they abide they continue they continue in his word if ye continue in my word he said then ye are my disciples indeed you have your feet ordered by my word the way yes it is in that where in the light of this glorious gospel does shine upon it this is the way and you continue in it what promising characters in one's own experience one has seen and how we have thought that they would be real pillars in the house of the

[35:04] Lord time has gone along and they proved that they were not the planting of the Lord that they have not continued they went out from us because they were not others no union that oh if ye are of the planting of the Lord ye continue in his word and you know your dependence upon his visits unto you for these are the times of refreshing and reviving in your heart oh it's no good as it were saying oh I'm going to hear the word of the Lord I'm going to hear it read or you're going to sit a toe in your own chair and read a chapter out of the Bible what good does that do you in and of itself unless the

[36:08] Lord visits you through the word and then there is all the difference what a lifting up there is what an exulting in him oh you are then willing as it were to be taken clean away out of this life you would indeed be where he dwelleth in the house of the Lord yes because you've got an affinity to it haven't you and then again not only are you dependent upon his visits but he fertilizes your soul he giveth grace and there are times when you feel sorely in need of more grace what is the result he knows the need he knows what is good that which is relative to the plant of his own right hand and he causes his grace to abound towards you he giveth more grace and grace upon grace and thus there is the establishment in the house of the Lord establishment in the will of

[37:34] God establishment in the knowledge of the truth establishment in the realization of the hidden streams of provision that God so supplies your soul with yes you can look back and you can see what the Lord has done for you and what is the result you long to show it you long that that which is relative to his love and his goodness may indeed be made manifest in yourself and that it may be made apparent unto those with whom you come in contact in other words these are they that are going to flourish to prosper in the courts of the Lord if we're in the house of the Lord then we shall indeed flourish even in the simple cause that leads we shall flourish in this court of our

[38:50] Lord and listen you will be an evergreen being a partaker of the glory of that wherein his covenant and all its blessings are indeed given unto you you are like a green fir tree yea let's go back to that first psalm he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters his leaf a profession that shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper and if I know anything of your heart as a child of God you say amen to that because through the grace of God you still remain planted in the house of the

[39:53] Lord and the evidence of it is made known in the liveliness the animating realization that all these blessings are yours and you have to show it and you have to manifest it and you can't keep it back and you flourish oh yes in the courts of the Lord oh there is a rich provision that he hath made for his people and when they come into his courts and they receive of that provision then they are fat and they are flourishing or as you find it in the margin they are fat and they are green made to one of us through God's mercy be ever green things that early may not wither and that whatsoever we do may prosper because we flourish in abounding in the work of the

[41:11] Lord not only what he's done for us but that we're in your willing heart and spirit would likewise abound in a work for him the work of faith and the labor of love oh may God bless these few remarks make them realities to us and enable us to walk them out and to sing the joy of that Jerusalem my happy home name ever dear to me yes plant it in the house of the Lord amen again to taste him love him sim all from to fossils him