The gift of the Holy Spirit (Quality: Good - Incomplete)

[0:00] Depending upon the help of the Lord, dear friends, I invite your prayerful attention, your prayerful attention to the Acts of the Apostles and chapter 2. I found in the last five or six days my mind has been very much on the gift of the Holy Spirit and to the Church and this amazing record that we have read.

[0:28] And for a text, the words particularly I would announce would be those found in the 36th and the 37th and the 38th verses.

[0:45] 36th verse, Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

[1:28] This chapter follows, of course, that obedience of the Apostles. How often we find blessing follows obedience in things divine.

[1:45] The disciples here, you'll remember, had heard of the Lord Jesus, that he would pray the Father and that he would send another Comforter.

[1:58] And we read that particularly in the 14th chapter of John. And this further in the Acts of the Apostles in the first chapter, we find that they received the instruction to remain in Jerusalem.

[2:20] And they remained in obedience in Jerusalem. You see how they were together. Now, we have in the 13th verse of the first chapter, a list of the names of those who returned to the upper room following the ascension of the dear Lord Jesus Christ.

[2:43] And then we read these words in the 14th verse. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

[2:59] They continued. How did they continue? In prayer. Oh, dear friends. They were looking for the promise.

[3:13] Simeon, in looking for the Lord Jesus, we read, do we not, in the second chapter of Luke, how he was waiting. You see, and the disciples were waiting.

[3:26] But they were not sitting down idly waiting. They were waiting with prayerful expectation, dear friends. These all continue with one accord in prayer and supplication.

[3:43] I believe, friends, we've never lived in a day when we need this to be applied in our day more. We live in wicked days.

[3:53] And we live in days where we need to continue with one accord in prayer and supplication at the mercy seat. I will be inquired of our house of Israel for you to do these things, the Lord says.

[4:08] And these disciples continued in prayer. And that prayer was answered. The promise was given. I won't dwell on that first chapter anymore, but just to remind us of that, that they were looking prayerfully in obedience.

[4:27] They've been obedient to the command of the Master in returning to Jerusalem and continuing in prayer, one with another, and to the Lord for their need and for the promise.

[4:41] And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. That's as a church should be, dear friends.

[4:53] In one accord in one place. At every opportunity. And in one accord in worshipping God, in seeking his holy name, in seeking that blessing and communion with him.

[5:05] And with one another. And I feel when there's that right worship of him, there will be that communion one with another. When they spake of one to another.

[5:20] Not one about another. One to another. The book of remembrance was made. The Lord heard. And a book of remembrance was made. You see, it's good.

[5:31] It's a means of grace for us to tell to sinners round what a dear Saviour we have found. And to witness to the mercy which he has shown to us.

[5:43] Do you know, friends, I might not be agreed with on this particular point sometimes by some. But I feel that it is very right to be on our guard about being presumptuous.

[5:57] I'd be the first to agree with that. But my dear friends, if we dwell too long on that, we become unbalanced. And Satan then uses it as a tool to rob God of his glory.

[6:09] In this way. That one and another find they've prayed to the Lord and they've had an answer to prayer. And their diffidence has taught another believer what the Lord has done for their soul.

[6:21] For the simple reason that they fear presumption. Now that's where presumption has become an enemy and not a friend. If I might put it that way. You see, Satan does so use the word presumption to prevent the lips of those witnessing for God.

[6:43] Regarding the things he is for their souls. Well, the Holy Ghost was given and he appeared as cloven tongues upon their head.

[6:56] As tongues. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. You see, I believe the cloven tongues represented the tongue of the Spirit which would be the spreading of the Gospel in this miraculous way to the four corners of the earth we could say.

[7:20] All those places listed from the Parthians and the Medes right down to the Prostlites, Cretes, Arabians and so on. That long list which we read. They were all at Jerusalem.

[7:30] They were all devout Jews. They were Jews who knew their scripture. They knew the Old Testament. They knew the word of God. They knew God's goodness to Abraham.

[7:41] They knew the word of God. They knew the word of God. And so them being gathered together from the dispersion coming up to Jerusalem at this appointed time which was the time of the weeks, the feast of weeks it's referred to, where they waved the loaf which the people brought as an offering to God, as a thanksgiving to God.

[8:07] And it was 50 days after the Passover. Now I want to just remind you about this and remind myself about it as well. That the Passover was established and that represented the exact time that the dear Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God, was offered up on Calvary's cross.

[8:27] 50 days following was the, we call it Whitsun, but it was the Feast of Weeks which the Old Testament people followed in the old dispensation in the ceremonial law.

[8:46] And it's exactly the time when the Holy Spirit was given. And so you see, the Holy Spirit is given to feed the living church down through the ages until now.

[8:59] It's God's way in the gospel day. You see, the Lord Jesus had fulfilled the law of righteousness for everyone that believeth, not for the unbeliever.

[9:11] You see, the law of righteousness was fulfilled in Christ Jesus in perfection. In every jot and tittle the law was kept, not dispensed with.

[9:23] There's an error abroad today which says, oh well, that was Old Testament and that law is dispensed with. It was not dispensed with. God, in his beloved son, fulfilled the law in absolute and utter perfection.

[9:38] And he gave it the maximum honour because it was kept by the Prince of Glory, the Son of God, who came to this earth to fulfil and to keep that law and honour the law.

[9:50] The law is fulfilled for every believer. But you know, dear friends, a solemn warning here for unbelievers, there's still the wrath of Sinai to face. It's only those in Christ Jesus, those who are true believers, that will shelter in his wounded side and see all danger overpass, stand every storm and live at last, as the hymn writer says.

[10:15] So, on this morning, there's the fulfilment at the exact appointed time, according to those prophetical ceremonies, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost is given.

[10:28] And immediately, there's an effect. The Spirit gave them utterance. Utterance. And the gospel was preached with power. Three thousand souls are brought to a knowledge of their sin and need and to a knowledge of a way of salvation through the dear Redeemer.

[10:46] This same Jesus whom they have crucified, you see. And so, we see the wonderful order and perfection of the timing of God.

[10:58] Nothing is left to chance or any haphazard event in the program of God. I like to think of it as God, that heavenly architect.

[11:11] And we've got architect presence, I must be careful. But sometimes, earthly architects make a mistake. But the heavenly architect, he gets his drawing right first time.

[11:22] And it's a perfect work. But he's not only the architect. He's the builder, my friends. And he builds his church. And he said, Jesus said, I've gone to prepare a place for you.

[11:35] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there, ye may be also. Blessed promise, isn't it?

[11:49] I think sometimes, you know, what a wonderful tradesman he is. As an employer, I used to look at the man's toolkit. And if I saw he got good tools, I'd have a very good hope that he'd be a good craftsman.

[12:02] But if he got rubbishy tools, you couldn't expect good work. But my dear friends, they have me craftsmen as ministers. You see, sinners, he calls to speak in his name.

[12:19] Why sinners? Why sinners? Called to speak in the name of the Lord, a glorious gospel. Well, I'm not pointing a finger in that sense, but the disciples were clearly sinners, saved by grace.

[12:33] And so are ministers today, clearly sinners. Mercy was saved by grace. Same grace, dear friends. Well, what a merciful God we have. Well, it's like this.

[12:44] Angels who'd never sinned. Angels who'd never fallen. Who couldn't speak of the gospel. You see, they would know about the joy of salvation and pardon of sin if they'd never sinned, would they?

[13:06] So how could they speak of it? But a poor sinner, who's felt wretched and wounded and lost in the fall. And his own sin, and a realization of his total inability, the more I strove against sin's power, the more I sinned and stumbled, but the more.

[13:27] And it didn't stop there. Till late I heard my Saviour say, come hither soul, I am the way. That's the way of salvation, dear friends. In this name of Jesus, this precious name, this all-powerful name, Peter, is immediately affected with great power.

[13:46] Great power. You think back, I'm not again pointing a finger at dear Peter. I have a great sympathy for Peter. He's a very good friend of mine, if I could put it that way.

[13:57] Peter, he was fearful. He denied his Lord. He sinned terribly. And what sorrow. How his eyes filled with tears, when the Lord turned and looked on him.

[14:10] Where's his cowardice now? Where's his fear now? It's all gone. He's standing up in front of the whole lot. This motley crowd, as I've heard it put, who had cried out just a few days, 50 days previously, regarding our dear Lord Jesus, away with him, crucify him.

[14:30] The same bunch of people, we could say. The Jews moved, moved the chief priests, moved the cry, crucify him.

[14:41] Remember that. And yet now, his fear is taken away. He stands up and he tells them straight. He preaches the gospel to them. And he tells them that they, by wicked hands, have crucified this same Jesus.

[14:59] Pardon me. Well, dear friends, the work of the Holy Spirit is powerful. And now, look how Peter is equipped to speak.

[15:10] And we've read that chapter through. And you think it's the most remarkable sermon that Peter preaches here. And he reminds them of those various things.

[15:22] But I mustn't be tempted to dwell too much on those things for the moment. But I want to come now and just, as it were, drop in at the 21st verse.

[15:34] And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. What a blessed promise, my dear friends.

[15:47] The description in the previous verses was, as it were, looking through the day of the gospel, gospel day, until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[15:58] And he says, The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and notable day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

[16:11] Ye men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs.

[16:24] You see, they knew the truth of this. They witnessed it. They witnessed the miracles. They witnessed and heard of it if they had all individually witnessed each and every occasion.

[16:35] They would have heard about the raising of Jairus' daughter, the healing of the sick, the feeding of the 5,000, the command, Lazarus, come forth. They'd heard all these things.

[16:47] They knew that this Jesus of Nazareth was something above an ordinary man. Some looked on him, we read elsewhere, as a prophet, and so on.

[16:58] And so they knew about Jesus of Nazareth. And so he brings this home to them in this forceful way. Ye men of Israel, hear these words.

[17:12] Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know.

[17:26] He's saying, you can't argue with me on that. You know, as I stand before you on this great day, you've witnessed all these things. There is no argument left in your mouth to deny it.

[17:41] God has worked in power through Jesus of Nazareth. And now he says, he turns, as it were, and he says, Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.

[17:59] He told them the truth, the whole truth. But what great truth is couched in this verse?

[18:12] What depth is couched in this verse, dear friends? Jesus, him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.

[18:24] Let us consider those words a minute. Do we understand them? Jesus being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.

[18:39] God determined. It was determined by counsel. What counsel? Counsel of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in eternity past before this world was created.

[18:54] When the plan of salvation was drawn up. When the covenant of grace was settled. When the dear Lord Jesus contracted with the Father and the Spirit to come and take upon himself human flesh, like unto our own sin accepted, and live a perfect life, and then die for sins not his own.

[19:20] When the Holy Spirit's undertaking was that he would convict of sin, and give repentance and faith, and would sanctify by his whole work in preparation, the faith pointing to the remedy for poor sinners, lost souls, to Jesus Christ crucified.

[19:46] And when the Father, who so loved the world, said he would give his only begotten Son. You know, there's a word which I, for years I can't say I'd ever noticed it in quite the way, it's come to me of late, a few years ago when I was considering it, we find it in Proverbs chapter 8, in the 30th verse.

[20:09] And we find there that Jesus, in his name of wisdom, being referred to here as Wisdom, the Son of God, he speaks thus, Then I was by him, as one brought up with him, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.

[20:32] It's the Son, speaking of his time in the presence, in eternity past, with the Father. That delight, daily his delight, you see.

[20:45] And, it's interesting to read the verses around it, but I mustn't be drawn away into that. But you see, it's a blessed truth, that there was that counsel, in eternity past, you see, foreknowledge.

[21:00] Some of you remember Mr. Herbert Dawson, and you remember, that he used to say this, and it's come home to me, a lot in recent years, the Lord, is omniscient.

[21:15] The Lord is all seeing, that means, he knows, everything that's going to happen, Satan is not. And that's why Satan, endeavours over and over, and over again, to undermine the work of God, in all his attacks on the church, on individual souls, on the Lord Jesus Christ, when he was on this earth.

[21:36] He endeavoured, and yet God, knowing the end from the beginning, overturns Satan, overturns, overturns, you see, and yet you'd think he'd get fed up with it, Satan I mean.

[21:47] But he doesn't. He's so arrogant. He carries on, in all the hindrance, he can bring upon the living church, and upon your living soul. He's a hinderer, of the spirit, altogether, but my dear friends, he may, at times, you may feel, that he wins, a battle.

[22:08] You know sometimes, he's won a battle. When we fall into sin, you know he's won a battle. But my dear friends, he'll not win the war, if you're one of the chosen vessels of mercy, he won't win the war.

[22:20] No. Be brought into many trials, and temptations. But he will undertake for you. You look at Job, oh poor Job, all the problems he had.

[22:36] But the hand of God, was over Job, in this much. He's in thy hand, but spare his life. And that's the living soul, represented dear friends.

[22:48] The living soul, as God's hands, spare his life. Satan's allowed to bring us, into all manner of trials, tribulations, difficulties. I believe even afflictions, Satan has his hands in at times.

[23:01] But, God allows it, but he overturns it. And what do I mean by that? Well I believe this, dear friends, and I humbly believe I've proved it.

[23:12] And I think some of you here, could agree too. And that is this, that sometimes, we're brought into deep, and sore trial, in some way or another.

[23:23] And you will have your sweetest hours, in your spirit, at that time. When there passes through the waters, I will be with thee. Not I might be, I will be.

[23:36] I've proved it, I humbly say. All glory to his name. He's a God-nighed hand. I might have mentioned this before, but you know, when I was in the hospital, that night, had those three heart attacks, there was a very kind lady, who would insist, on trying to get the priest, to see me.

[24:01] And my wife said, no he doesn't want a priest. Had I been conscious, and awake enough, or in knowledge of it, I could have said this, I have a high priest. And I have a high priest, who's at hand.

[24:13] I don't have to send for him. There is an ear, which never shuts. You see, God is a God-nighed hand, when you're in deep waters, when I'm in deep waters.

[24:24] He's not gone and left you, to a far country, where you've got to send a telegram, or him to come home on a ship, or something from a distance. He's a God-nighed hand. He hears the cry, of every child of God, from the oldest, to the youngest.

[24:41] He doesn't always answer, our cries with a yes, immediately, does he? I never thought of mentioning this tonight, but, it seems to have come, there is, that, sometimes, wait my child, your prayer, might be a, perfectly legitimate prayer, a godly prayer, it might be of, a godly origin, and desire, but are, you, and am I, spiritually mature enough, to, have that answer, as yes, at this point in time?

[25:12] I illustrate it this way, a, a, a child, a plane in the garden, says to his father, daddy, can I have some matches, I've got some petrol here, and dad says, no, certainly not, because it would be most dangerous, for that child, but, give another 15 years, and there's a mower, and some, something to burn, at the end of the garden, at the end of it, then the same, person, now, more mature, is allowed, to have matches, and petrol, knowing, the dangers involved, and mature enough, to handle it, dear friends, that is a very poor illustration, of, what I believe, the Lord, deal, the way, the Lord deals, with his people, sometimes they ask, for something, that's quite right, and it's, it's quite, according to scripture, and yet, they're not yet ready, to have the answer, yes, it might be, injurious, to them, it might lift up, their pride, my pride, if we have the answer, yes, wake my child,

[26:27] I, cannot believe, that, when the Holy Spirit, has convicted, a person of sin, and they have began, to truly cry, to the Lord, from that point, on in time, I don't believe, there is such a thing, as actually, unanswered prayer, what there is, is prayer, that is not answered, yes, when we want it, according to our desire, because our time's already, always ready, it might be no, we might be asking, for something amiss, or it may be, wake my child, as I've said, and I believe, that we see that, in the dealings, of God, with his people, and so you see, him being delivered, by the, determinate counsel, and foreknowledge, of God, the omniscience, of God, knew, what, what would occur, and it seems to me, as if, Satan, moved, the chief priest, to cry out, crucify him, crucify him, crucify him, and I believe,

[27:35] Satan thought, for one or two, hours even, that he may have, had the ascendancy, over the son of man, until, the heavens, darkened, the earthquake, and the veil, of the temple, was rent, from the top, to the bottom, from the top, to the bottom, not from the bottom, to the top, it was the work of God, that rent that veil, and then he knew, he was a defeated vow, you see, when the Lord, rose again, on that glorious, Easter morning, he knew his days, were numbered, and he knew his, he was destined, for that bottomless pit, and friends, years ago, we used to hear, Satan's working, working overtime, well, Satan's working, all the time, now, he never has a day off, does he, everywhere we look, we see, Satan's work, but, him being delivered, by the, determinate counsel, and foreknowledge, of God, it was with, that knowledge, which God, would use, to the salvation, of his church, in turning, the, the whole thing, to the good, of his church, by the crucifixion, of our Lord, because it was determined, it was signed, and it was sealed, in eternity past, it was a contract form, we could say, and it was of God, but, they had their part in it, and Satan, had his part, in moving them, to have their part in it, ye have taken him, by wicked hands, have crucified, and slain, and you see, they were, they were cut down, by it, that it was the truth, and it went home, but now,

[29:18] Peter says, whom God hath raised up, having loosed, the pains of death, because it was not possible, that he should be, holden of it, death could not, hold the, the prince of glory, he burst the power, of death, and of hell, my dear friends, and he says this, to his church, because I live, ye shall live also, promise, and it's his promise, it's the word of God, it's not even the word, of a prophet, or an apostle, because I live, ye shall live also, he lives, the great redeemer lives, he sits at the right hand, of the father, this evening in heaven, the work of redemption, is done, the work of intercession, continues, he's there, as the high priest, of his people, and he is touched, with the feeling, of our infirmities, friends, I'm so thankful, for that, he remembers, that we're dust,

[30:19] I remember going, to Cranbrook, one evening, and a dear fellow, minister came, as a visiting minister, and he spoke, about that, from that text, he remembers, that we're dust, oh I did feel, a lot better afterwards, you know, he made us, from the dust, he knows, that we're dust, he knows, our weaknesses, God breathed, into Adam, and Adam became, a living soul, friends, what a mercy, to be, a living soul, the Holy Spirit, breathes, you see, the Holy Spirit, was given, the Holy Spirit, showed his power, immediately, and in gathering, those three thousand, on this occasion, when Peter, speaks, now, we see here, the power, of the conviction, of the Holy Spirit, here, you see, because, he has pointed out, these facts here, whom God, has raised up, having loosed, the pains of death, because it was not, possible, that, he should be, holden of it, what a mercy, now, coming down, just a bit further, down the chapter, we find here then, in the, 36 verse, therefore, let all the house of Israel, know assuredly, that is, without doubt, that God, hath made, that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord, and Christ, and so,

[31:57] Peter lifts up, as it were, the Lord, Jesus Christ, and he tells them, that God has made him, Lord, and Christ, the Christ, whom they've been, awaiting, and had missed his coming, who they had cried, crucify, now, when they heard, this, they were pricked, in their heart, my dear friends, the Holy Spirit, has many works, in dealing with his people, with the people of God, but you know, one is, to prick their hearts, to prick their hearts, convict, them of their sin, they're brought to realize, their, sin, and their unworthiness, I believe, they're brought to realize, that they must, each stand, before a holy, holy, holy God, we shall all stand, before the judgment seat, of Christ, and the Holy Spirit, applies that word, and, and, when the soul, realizes, it's lost, and ruined condition, it's like being pricked, in a heart, these people, the three thousand of them, quite clearly, were, pricked in their hearts, their consciences, were made alive, they've been dead, before, seared, with sin, as with a hot iron, their eyes, have been held, in Satan's blindness, you know,

[33:26] I, I love that, illustration, but, you know, when Saul of Tarsus, was on, the Damascus road, and that, bright light, shone, from, the heavens, it was, the Lord Jesus Christ, himself, and it was above, the brightness, of the noonday sun, and, there was, later, from his eyes, scales, fell, when Ananias, came and put his hand, upon him, my dear friends, there was more, fell from, his eyes, than the scales, of his natural eyes, the, the eyes, of his spiritual light, were, were, uh, descaled, the scales, of his unbelieving heart, uh, were, were removed, and suddenly, he had, the spirit, shining, upon the, the word, which he learned, as a, as a youth, at the, feet of Gamaliel, suddenly, what was, droid doctrine, to him, became a living word, and friends, that's what we need today, we, we can get bound up, and dry doctrine, but without the power, of the Holy Spirit, nothing happens, but when we pray, uh, to the Holy Spirit, to enlighten, and enliveness, then, we have a hope, that he will be, merciful unto us, for if ye, being evil, know how to give, good gifts, unto your children, how much more, shall your heavenly Father, give, the Holy Spirit, who to?

[35:03] those that ask him, or will be inquired, of our heads of Israel, prayer, we come back to prayer, you know, slight diversion, a minute friends, I do feel, that we've seen, that, the blessing of the Lord, the approbation of the Lord, on the united prayer meetings, between our churches, may it long go on, may it gather strength, there's much yet, much land yet, to be possessed, let us not be complacent, in any way, and don't, don't misunderstand me, but, we've got room, to be encouraged, you know, I believe, and to press on, and to pray on, God is faithful, the promise, you know, he's a faithful God, his promises, are yea and amen, and never were forfeited yet, yes, they were pricked in their heart, and they said, to Peter, and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do, you can almost hear, the despair in those last few words, what shall we do, they couldn't see a way out, could they, they could see no remedy, they realized, what they done, they crucified the Messiah, the promised Messiah, and they were Jews, of all people, how guilty they felt, and pricked in their heart, what shall we do, blessed be God,

[36:27] Peter's got the answer, Peter directs them, Peter says unto them, repent, you see, there wasn't a better person, who could have preached this sermon, was there, you think of it from that way, you see, poor Peter, he's fallen, he knows what it is to repent, from the bottom of his heart, his eyes full of tears, yet the Lord has met with him, on the seashore, feed my sheep, feed my sheep, feed my lambs, yes, he's reinstated him, he's pardoned him, he's forgiven him, oh what mercy, there is, to a repentant soul, is there any here, who feel their sin, acutely tonight, you feel, repentance, and godly sorrow for it, thank the Lord for it, and pray for pardon, through the lamb's redeeming blood, because, it's in the name, of Jesus Christ, he says, then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and there's another promise, used to hear, sometimes years ago, these words, if I can quote them correctly, not, for keeping, but, in keeping, the commands of God, there is great gain, great, great joy, great peace, that meant,

[38:14] I believe, and you see, those that were obedient, and you know, obedience, follows blessing, I well remember, speaking about Abraham, and his obedience, you see, Abraham, we remember particularly, for his faith, Abraham, if you think of the word Abraham, the name Abraham, you think of the word, faith, what great faith, he had, he didn't hesitate, when the command came, the son whom God said, that he loved, Isaac, he was, commanded of the same God, to take, and to offer, as a sacrifice, think of the trial, of that faith, his faith, was, given, by God, his faith, was given, sufficient, to withstand, the trial of it, that he was obedient, and proceeded, and you know all about that,

[39:15] I'm sure you all do, how he took Isaac, and just before he was to, to bring the knife down, the voice came, and there was a ram, caught in a thicket, God will provide himself, a lamb, my son, that very day, that particular, was answered in, in the practical, practical, provision of that, ram, but as you, as, as Abraham, looked down the ages, I believe he saw, that God, would provide himself, a lamb, his beloved son, and when, he, and I speak reverently, and when the dear son of God, came, to Calvary, there was no voice, to stay, the sword of justice then, no, he bore, it all, he bore, the outpouring, of the wrath of God, against sinners, on himself, in the room, and place, of poor sinners, what amazing grace, what mercy, what love, we should never witness, greater love, or hear of it, love, so amazing, so divine, demands, my life, my soul, my all, what a merciful God, we have my dear friends,

[40:53] I was thinking, a little bit, if I can just, look it up, one of my very favourite hymns, well I've got so many, that's a trouble, but, a debtor to mercy, mercy, alarm, of covenant, mercy, foreknowledge, predetermined, foreknowledge of God, of covenant, mercy, I sing, that covenant, which was formed, in eternity past, in the council, of eternity past, between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, of covenant, mercy, I sing, nor fear it with, thy righteousness on, you see, not my righteousness, thy righteousness, like that robe, that spotless robe, without a seam, that garment, woven, woven, everlasting love, isn't it, nor fear with, thy righteousness, righteousness on, my person, and offering to bring, the terrors of law, and of God, with me, can have nothing to do, my Saviour's, obedience, and blood, hide all my, transgressions, from view, the work, which his goodness, begun, the arm of, his strength, will complete, his promise, is yeah, and amen, and never was, forfeited yet, things future, nor things, that are now, not all things, below, or above, can make him, his purpose, forego, nor sever, my soul, from his love,

[42:34] I want to hesitate, on that, can make him, his purpose, forego, the text, comes to my mind, as I read that, and he steadfastly, set his face, to go to Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus, knew exactly, all that he would need, to suffer at Jerusalem, to redeem his church, unto himself, and yet, he steadfastly, set his face, to go to Jerusalem, why, for the joy, that was set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and he sat down, at the right hand, of the father in heaven, he's there tonight friends, he's there, with an open ear, for your prayer, and mine, oh, what a kind, and gracious God, we have, my name, from the palms, of his hands, eternity, will not erase, impressed, on his heart, it remains, in marks, of indelible grace, unmovable, cannot take out, something, that's indelible, in marks, of indelible grace, yes,

[43:45] I to the end, shall endeavor, I window to that, we are, at times, of saints, is all you'll never, endure to the end, always such an old, liar, you know friends, he is, he's a liar, liar, liar, the only time, he quotes scripture, it's to, to the opposite, calls, for his own, lying ends, yes, I to the end, shall endure, as sure, as the earnest, is given, as sure, as, we're kept, with that, enduring grace, which we need to pray for, and we do pray for, I trust, day by day, that we might have, grace, and faith, to endure, to the end, but more happy, but not more secure, the glorified spirits, in heaven, friends, if we're amongst, the election of grace, Noah, finished the ark, and he went into the ark, and the Lord, shut him in, he couldn't fall out, of the ark, the Lord had shut him in, and all the torrent froze, and he, and his little, his little, ark, of an eight living souls, were to be saved, and that rose, above the torrents, that drowned, in the rest of the world, safe, in the ark, friends, if we're in the covenant of grace, if we're amongst those, whom the Father, has elected, according to his electing love, and the sanctifying work, of the Holy Spirit, will bring each one, at length, to their desired haven, for they're given that desire, now friends, do you have a love, in your heart, to the Lord Jesus Christ, you find him, altogether lovely, is it, is it something, that you find, is the subject, that is I mean, something that you find, that you want to dwell on, that I know, and love him more, his beauty, his trace, his majesty adore, live near his heart, upon his bosom lean, yeah, what about the next bit, obey his voice, and all his will esteem, yes, oh but, do you have a love, and do it well friends, if you have a love, to the Lord Jesus Christ, you wasn't born with it, you didn't inherit that,

[46:14] I often say this, from your first father, Adam, if you have a love, for Christ, it's that love, which is given by the spirit, it's that love, to the last Adam, it's that grace given, and that love, is just merely, a slight reflection, of his love to us, if you got the sun shining, in the midday, and little boys, when I was young, used to like to get a mirror, and reflect the sun, into the bushes, or into a dark corner, there's a little tiny round reflection, from that mirror, and that's all you can do, but look at the power of the sun, friends, that's all we can do, reflect a little of his love, we love him, because he first loved us, amazing grace isn't it, amazing truth, truth, the time's gone, but, when they heard, this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter, and unto the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do, then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall, receive the gift, of the Holy Spirit, blessed promise, isn't it, or, dear friends,

[47:49] I can't begin to scratch, this subject, of the Holy Spirit, gifts, to us, tonight, but I've covered, one or two points, for you to consider, the one work, the preeminent work, of the Holy Spirit, now, in the day of grace, is to direct, the soul, to Christ, it is, not to speak, of things, of himself, but to speak, of those things, which are shown him, by the Father, and direct, by the gifts, of the Spirit, conviction, of sin, faith, and repentance, those two, twins, faith, to repent, repentance, in faith, they marry together, like twins, gift, of the Holy Spirit, faith, in exercise, directs, to Christ, the Redeemer, as the only hope, for the pardon, of our sins, but we don't need, any other hope, for it's quite sufficient, the blood, of Christ, cleanses, from all sin, not one sin, will remain, uncleansed, no, we need, no other Savior, if we have,

[49:22] Christ Jesus, is he, is he your Savior, dear friends, is it your desire, that he will be, are you a seeker, seek on, pray on, if you have a hope, that you are, pray for grace, to continue to the end, for faith, increased, day by day, press on, toward the mark, of the prize, of the high calling, of God, with.