A friend loveth at all times (i) (Quality: very good)

[0:00] As the Lord should be pleased to help me, I shall call your attention to a subject you will find in the book of Proverbs, chapter 17, and the 17th verse.

[0:18] A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Chapter 17, the book of Proverbs, and the 17th verse.

[0:42] You will not need the preacher to tell you who the friend is that this word before us refers to.

[0:57] A friend such an one as loveth at all times must be he, and he alone, who is verily God, verily man.

[1:14] You have been singing, whom though we cannot comprehend, knowing thou art the sinner's friend, we love thee and adore.

[1:29] And if you really do know what it is to do that, love thee and adore, then you are shut up in that beautiful scripture, we love him because he first loved us.

[1:51] I want as the Lord to help me to look at this subject from two or three viewpoints.

[2:04] And although it is found in the book of Proverbs, it is much more than a proverb as it is recorded in the sacred pages.

[2:17] The word of God says, whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort in the scriptures might have hope.

[2:30] And if you were helped of God to ponder in your heart this great truth setting forth Jesus Christ as the sinner's friend, a friend that loveth at all times, whatever those times may be passing over you, God is love, is the meaning.

[2:54] And it is to be known and felt, whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

[3:06] And whatever time is passing over you, though it may be a time hard to be understood, and you might think according to what you are by nature, it is a hard time, yet in the ultimate issue, you will find Jesus Christ is that friend who loveth even in such a time.

[3:29] and it is to bring you nearer to him to realize his friendship. Trials make the promise sweet.

[3:42] Trials give new life to prayer. Trials bring us to Christ's feet and lay us low and keep us there. Now, I look first of all as grace is given at the first half of the subject before us.

[4:01] A friend loveth at all times. Here is Jesus Christ set before us as the sinner's friend.

[4:18] And every man whom God ordains to preach as grace is given desires to remember one scripture as he goes up the pulpit steps as to what his business is in preaching the gospel.

[4:35] He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. As the apostle Paul declared, I determine to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified.

[4:52] And the word of God is, I if I be lifted up, lifted up in the gospel proclamation, I if I be lifted up will draw all men unto me.

[5:07] I hope quite a few of you dear people, young and old shall I say, do know somewhat of what that drawing, sweet, blessed, wondrous drawing, is when you feel tis Christ the bright and morning star draws my affections from afar.

[5:33] Let us as grace is given consider Jesus Christ as the friend who loveth at all times. and to do that, as I hinted at the outset, he must be divine in his friendship and how he makes it known.

[5:59] An earthly friend fails. He may have it in his heart to show himself friendly, but he is not always in the place where he can do so and even if he should be, he does not have the capacity to do so according as the friendship is needed to be shown.

[6:29] And now a fullness resides in Jesus our head and ever abides to answer our need.

[6:41] And it is a wonderful consideration, the words are so familiar that I often fear the reality of the truth set forth therein is not entered into as it should be.

[6:55] Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. God came down into this world.

[7:10] The world which he had made to be his workshop and he came down into it verily God, the eternal son of God in his divine nature.

[7:26] He came down to do that work which had to be done that the love of God might be exhibited known and felt by that vast host ordained to life eternal.

[7:48] Oh, it is a great truth. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. and it was because he was a friend who loveth that he came on such a wondrous mission.

[8:06] God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoso ever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

[8:18] And so this friend, blessed be his name, is a friend who is divine. And his friendship, therefore, is unfailing.

[8:35] I am the Lord, I change not. Therefore, ye sons of Jacob, are not consumed. A friend loveth at all times.

[8:50] But then, if you and I are to know what this wondrous friendship is that exists between the sinner's friend and poor sinners like you and me, then there is something that God must do, which he alone can do.

[9:09] That God and man might be brought together on friendly terms. to all when the Adam fall took place.

[9:21] As I often remind you, the Lord God drove out the man and woman from Eden's garden into the world as it is under a curse.

[9:35] Oh, that was a going out into what our text describes as adversity. In Eden's garden, it was wondrous prosperity, happiness beyond words to describe, in such a fullness as Adam and Eve could enjoy, coming from their creator's hands as perfect creatures with a capacity to enjoy all the happiness God had prepared for them to enter into.

[10:09] true. But when sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned, then they lost that wondrous happiness and had to go out, turn their backs on Eden's garden, and go out into the world and find it to be a wilderness and to realize adversity, and that there was now a breach betwixt God and man, that no man born could ever make up, except he of whom the text tells us, he who became verily man.

[11:04] When that amazing event took place at Bethlehem long ago, when Jesus Christ was born a babe by birth mysterious, and then veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, hail the incarnate deity.

[11:22] And now that brings us to this viewpoint. This friend in our text is not only a friend who is divine, blessed be God, he is human.

[11:34] God in our nature. He had a sinless humanity.

[11:47] A body hast thou prepared me, and that holy thing that should be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. God in God.

[11:58] If you look around the world today, you will see humanity degraded. Humanity at its lowest level since creation's dawn.

[12:16] All creation is groaning through the dire effects of the Adam fall, then you see humanity often on a level with the beast and sometimes lower still.

[12:33] Because it is simple humanity that you look on. You may well see how sad our state by nature is.

[12:46] Our sins, how deep their stains. And Satan holds and binds us fast within his slavish chains. But look at the friend in the text.

[13:01] He comes down into this world as verily God to be made manifest as verily man. And without controversy greatest the mystery of godliness God was made manifest in the flesh.

[13:19] I want to remind you about the word in there. I like to think on it. It might be a help to you to do so. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.

[13:34] God was made manifest in the flesh. And now where is it that it is without controversy? You will find it is without controversy controversy in the church of Christ alone.

[13:48] And outside it it is with controversy. So that the man in the street dost thou believe on the son of God depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thee or thy ways.

[14:07] Ask the man in the street what think ye of Christ we will not have this man to reign over us when there is controversy made manifest.

[14:18] But in the church of Christ where a congregated poor sinners born again ask each one what think ye of Christ and without controversy without any argument any mental reservation any questioning we believe and assure thou art the Christ the son of the living God Lord to whom can we go thou hast the words of eternal life yes God manifest in the flesh and so this friend is human blessed be his name and therefore he can act on our behalf before God remember that since my savior stands between in garments dyed in blood tis he instead of me is seen when

[15:23] I approach to God there is one God one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus and what do you sing do believe it and that human heart he still retains though thrown in highest bliss and feels each tempted members pains for our afflictions his he is a brother born for adversity whatever its nature a friend loveth at all times verily God verily man God in our nature and it is good when you can feel I love the incarnate mystery and there is all my trust much can be said about this friend and it ought to be said and

[16:30] I think one of the most wonderful things ever recorded is the last word that was ever penned inspired of God of this holy bible book divine and there are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written amen and now that is the final word in the holy bible book divine so much can be said about this friend in the text but when all is said and done if you find him to be in your soul's experience the sinner's friend oh that will be a wonderful mercy this man receiveth sinners a friend of publicans and sinners said those who did not love him or his truth but those who do oh how glad they are to think of him as such a friend a friend loveth at all times he is first of all a rich friend rich because he is verily

[18:07] God for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich rich as verily God made manifest as poor as verily man that you might be made rich for time and eternity too rich the earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof rich in all that is to be seen in creation his own handiwork therein rich in his providence for he is at no loss to help his people whatever times pass over them whatever their need may be my

[19:07] God shall supply all your need out of his riches in glory by Christ Jesus but when you think of him as rich as the God of all grace think of him not only as a rich friend a gracious friend you see our friends are not always gracious because there is what they are by nature and that sometimes may super abound and then they will be ungracious in their attitude although they will repent of it and lament it later on but this friend of whom I am trying to tell you a little as the God of all grace he is Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever and it says a friend loveth at all times his heart remains overflowing with love whatever you may think of his attitude toward you in his dealings with you you will misjudge him and his dealings if you should say all these things are against me because even in such a time when his dealings are hard to be understood he is a friend that loveth still and in the working out of his love you will live to see out of the eater shall come forth meat out of the strong shall come forth sweetness and do so is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the

[21:05] Lord oh he is a gracious friend is Jesus Christ and poor sinners in their felt need of more grace and ready is he as the God of all grace to bestow it let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need and now all earthly friends and remember earthly friendship is to be prized and we know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren but all earthly friendship is limited in its capacity for one to show himself friendly you must always remember that but this friend before us is an almighty friend and he said ere he returned to heaven said it to his disciples and says it to you everyone following on to know the

[22:21] Lord all power in heaven and in earth is given unto me as thou hast given him power over all flesh to give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him almighty friend and not only almighty as you read in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth I think one hymn writer has got a wonderful setting forth of this viewpoint Christ as an almighty friend almighty God side human breath the Lord of life experienced death how it was done we can't discuss but this we hope was done for us everything hinges on that for us does that concern you does that give you solemn searchings of heart does that sometimes fill your breast with many fears as to whether it was for such a one as you feel to be such a sinner as you know that you are or you may have many searchings of heart about it whether it was for us thou doest well to have it in thy heart to be numbered with the us referred to yes and who can tell but what

[24:04] God will be gracious to you and do remember did Jesus die and not for me am I forbade to seek my God is there not pardon full and free proclaimed through Jesus precious blood blessed be God there is in that cometh unto me I will in no wise I will never no never no never cast out almighty friend then whatever time is passing over you poor sinner this sabbath morn be it to do with you or yours here is a friend who delights to show himself friendly and his word is come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden I will give you rest and it means not so much rest in your circumstances it may be for they remain to be sorted out and crooked things to be made straight rough places plain but there is a sweet wondrous indescribable rest known and felt within the peace of God which passeth all understanding possessing our hearts and minds so that you can enter into that word be still and know that I am

[25:41] God too wise to earth too good to be unkind a friend a friend loveth at all times and he is an almighty friend and I might add that he is an all wise friend and now sometimes our friends may not be wise in what they say or do and we do see I do from the pastor's viewpoint see sometimes my friends do things which I think are unwise as before God I mean I'm not fitting any caps on I'm just following out this line of thought running in my mind and earthly friends may be unwise but this friend in the text is said to be and he is God only wise if any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and afraid it not and it shall be given him a friend loveth at all times and sometimes you have a time pass over you when you say oh

[27:04] Lord we know not what to do in this matter or that do lead us as thou alone canst do show me now thy way if I have found grace in thy sight show me now thy way and help me to go therein oh there is that word also in the Proverbs he that handleth a matter wisely shall find good what is it to do so the other half of the text tells you and do so trusteth in the Lord happy is he happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord is God always is this friend you may look on sometimes at his doings and dealings and the flesh will dislike the way that he ordains for you to go along but if you are a sinner taught of

[28:15] God he will be saying to you this is the way walk ye in it and it will be a wonderful mercy if you are helped to go therein because as you go along it you will find he is that friend who loveth at all times not only so this friend is a faithful friend he is said to be the ever faithful God and you can look through the word of his grace and consider his works wherever it is possible for you to do so and examine them in every jot and tittle and you will find for his mercy shall endure ever faithful ever sure and you think on it from your viewpoint you have found this friend in the text to be a faithful friend and you sometimes have been faithless the saviour could say to you and to me what he said to his disciples be not faithless but believe him oh he is a faithful friend and what he has said in the word of his grace he will not fail to bring it to pass in every jot and tittle concerning you or yours as the case may be a friend loveth at all times and

[30:05] I think like this the thought came to me pondering the subject what a patient friend Jesus Christ is in all his dealings with his dear people there is an infinite tenderness in his dealings he is wonderfully forbearing long suffering a patient friend and you know earthly friends are not always patient because they may grow impatient and not be able to wait a while to make plain what they want to show you or truth they wish to make plain to you because you may be dull of understanding and it says of those who teach act to teach and the next word is patient which means that you must wait and continue to teach until the lesson is learned and now this friend in the text he is a patient friend he tarries off till men are faint and he comes at evening late he hears and will relieve complaint it is ours to pray and wait and it is well for you to remember that as you wait on

[31:54] God concerning the matters to do with everyday life that as you wait on God the Lord is waiting to deal graciously with you and it shall be said in that day Lord this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us this is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation and leading up to it it says therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you and that is a time he has set to heal up thy woes the season most fit is love to disclose until he is ready to accomplish his will be patient and steady wait on him still and there is a wonderful word of the apostle

[33:05] Peter inspired of God to record it account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation you have found him to be a long suffering friend in his dealings with you and you know preacher and people alike you and I have sorely tried him at times not always have you and I been well behaved God would and yet he still loveth even at such a time when the children are wayward and they must need to be corrected and chastened according to the word of God your love as a father or mother remains a reality and so it is in the dealings of God with his people a friend loveth at all times and it might be a correcting time and blessed is the man whom thou chastest

[34:17] O Lord and teachest him out of thy law that thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity yes a friend loveth at all times there is one more adjective to use about this friend in the text I just wonder how many of you can use it and now to those who are taught of God especially as you go on in life's journey down into its evening time Jesus Christ as the sinner's friend becomes a dear friend and it is a wonderful feeling to get within when you can say everything that's dear to him to me is also dear you find when you go to people's dying beds people thought of God I mean that all they want to talk about is this friend in the text and to realize his friendship and to tell out what they have known of it and to say this is my beloved and this is my friend all ye daughters of

[35:37] Jerusalem a friend loveth at all times and so this is the person then in the text and remember that he is verily God a friend who is divine he is verily man a friend who is human a savior of quick understanding and he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or even think and in Isaiah there is another scripture which will help you to think how it is his name should be called wonderful and a man should be as an hiding place from the wind and a covet from the tempest as rivers of water in a dry place as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land a friend the great thing is to be able to say my friend do you think you can do it is it your concern that you might be helped to do so and out of the abundance of the heart for the mouth to speak and to say oh for grace our hearts to soften teach us

[37:06] Lord at length to love we alas forget too often what a friend we have above but when home our souls are brought we will love thee as we ought a friend loveth at all times and now look at the second viewpoint of the subject coming along toward the amen and it says a friend loveth and now mark that is put in the present tense it must needs be a friend loveth at all times does not mean he has loved some and he may love others but he loveth at all times you might think there have been times in my life when I did hope his love was shed abroad in my heart and

[38:07] I could feel that he didn't love me but alas I do not feel like that nowadays I cannot see those same signs my evidence is seen out of sight I know not what I am where I am in things divine but this friend still loves you even at such a time as you are passing through and and he said to his disciples and you know therefore have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice yes much might be said along that line of thought a friend loveth and now you cannot love to order people talk about falling in love which is an expression quite familiar and love is always spontaneous and it is born in us and it comes as a wondrous glow but you cannot produce it you cannot create it you cannot obtain it from any earthly source but it must be wrought in you by a power from outside you if it is to be love worth the name remember that and that means a friend loveth at all times and now this love which the sinner's friend exhibits to his dear people is sovereign in its nature

[39:55] I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious I will have mercy for whom I will have mercy and Moses said to the children of Israel it is a very simple word it is very sublime the Lord set his love on you because he would love you and no preacher though he be ordained of God to preach can tell you any more than that only amplify it he would love you and that love is sovereign in its nature and if it has reached you who maketh thee to differ from another and what is thou that thou dost not receive you must acknowledge it is the

[40:56] Lord salvation is of the Lord not only so a friend loveth at all times and remember he loved you before time before time was born before the world was built therefore this love we ought to say it is timeless we would say it is everlasting love they who wants his kindness prove find it everlasting love and then this love of the sinner's friend is infinite love you can only love as a creature with a love that is finite but the love of Jesus Christ our Lord is infinite love the love of he who is verily

[42:01] God verily man remember that because whatever times pass over you whatever your needs may be they will be finite needs and therefore God who is infinite can meet those needs whatever they may be is there anything too hard for the Lord a friend loveth at all times and this love well with a loveth you and I hope the preacher too is unmerited love there was nothing in you nothing in me that could cause the saviour to set his love upon us no and this love being eternal in its nature was set on us as I said before time was born when the covenant was set up ordered in all things and sure another thought is this a friend loveth at all times and now this love is boundless limitless love and love and love all that we can ask or even think such is the love of

[43:38] Christ in the manifestation of it boundless hundreds of millions does he love with everlasting love and that love is still the river of God which is full of water the friend loveth at all times and it will be unfailing love the love of earthly friends must needs fail at the graveside and we sorrow because we shall see their faces no more and we have lost the exhibition of their love but the dear saviour said I am he that liveth and was dead behold I am alive forever more and because

[44:39] I live ye shall live also and had the time allowed I would have shown you in this love of the sinner's friend that it is an instructing love and they shall be all taught of God and great shall be the peace of thy children and those whom the sinner's friend sets his love upon each one every one the word of the Lord says and they shall all know me from the least of them which takes in the young people children babes to the greatest of them and those down to our house they shall all know me and then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord and if we are helped to do it follow on to know the

[45:42] Lord we shall know more and more as we journey on that he is indeed a friend that loveth at all times I must leave the subject there and the Lord help you to weigh these things up and ponder them in your hearts Amen them How to use moisturizer sp authoritarian With 여러,ional, synthesis into ortho offenses The price of stainless steel Be월ofusva Here is one kneeeremiah note Though theseムー hato