Fear not little flock.(Quality: Good)

[0:00] once more to Luke 12 verse 32 fear not little flock for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom we went through a little of the fears of some of the children of God a little about the difference between the real flock of Christ and the flock of the devil it might sound rather abrupt language but there's no such thing there's only the two flocks in the things of religion whatever their label the flock of God and the flock of

[1:11] Satan I do not put it in a fatalistic way I know it is very blunt but if it's blunt is it true there are some who may say well the knots are bad but with God there's no half measures either in or out there are some who might say well after all they've got a little religion or some sort of religion but what sort don't let us make any excuses when it comes to the things of a mortal soul now among the little flock there will be every well I'm going to say those every one with certain marks and those will be marks of grace marks of the Lord's love marks of conversion marks of the new birth and all those could sum up into one mark the mark of the home they belong the mark of the shepherd and the flock will bear that mark and that is a very small flock especially as time draws to its end there are some and I don't know what to say who would try to prophesy from scripture that there's going to be a turning a great reviving well I don't know

[3:21] I cannot say either one way or other but I have many fears lest it should not be so if it is right God be praised and if ever I live to see it I think I should rejoice but the thing concerning us more immediately is this where we stand today now these marks there's one who writes in a hymn marks of grace I cannot show all polluted is my breast marks of grace I cannot show now I always like to look at some of these things because

[4:23] I verity believe that those hymns in their blessed book were inspired by that blessed Holy Spirit of Truth now is it a lie should that hymn be in the book marks of grace I cannot show all polluted is my breast that's the point you're going to take that out well what are some of the marks of grace you see this one says that the marks of grace I cannot show the point is this they cannot always appear to find them they cannot always appear to find the evidence is clear you know a child of God is a very peculiar thing one of these little flock ones they are never satisfied with their religion it's a strange thing to say until I explain it never satisfied with their religion when I say this

[5:39] I mean to say they never are really satisfied with the state of their soul I don't mean to say that they are so dissatisfied with their religion that they would change it for another I hope that I shall always be kept and I need keeping do you not we might say to change their religion or perhaps a word should be denomination for another because only the two whatever label change now to come more to this to be kept because there can be many temptations in changing going over going over to the so and so and going over to them and going over them now what are you looking at you see what is the attraction we can read in the beginning of this chapter how this chapter begins there were the when the

[6:58] Lord was there you see there was innumerable multitude of people we might say what a wonderful thing what a wonderful sight but like there the same as we had this morning there's a warning what is the doctrine what are the motives what is the state of those people and you see how the Lord sets it forth beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy and nothing I don't believe is more an abomination in the eyes of God than hypocrisy and it's a great mercy that though that chapter begins in that way there's this text in the same chapter the little flock you see when the

[7:59] Lord was on the earth and there were often multitudes you find he very often withdrew and he took his disciples with him coming apart and there's lessons in that you find in one part when he's sent away the multitudes we may not see much in that but what a solemn thing to be sent away to die by the spirit sent away multitudes whether they be multitudes in the world of religion or the world profane but to be sent away with the multitude dismissed as to have nothing in common but what a mercy to be among that little flock who often may be full of fears and say well now let us depart let us go come see with me because there's something that binds us together love

[9:15] God's love the Lord's love to them in all its fullness in all its unchangeableness and at times their love to him those who have many fears that their hearts are fickle those who have many fears if we should put it like this are drawn aside now you come with me dismiss the multitudes and come with me you see it's the same saviour come into my house and there's a very lesson in this locality the multitudes are dismissed is it true you know I look I go up the lane I look there's two men sitting in here some bathing they see us go by the top of the lane and yet what a solemn thing dismissed and have no concern and to realize that there's no that there's a gathering together and there's a separation in the things of

[10:39] God and the things of his kingdom see and to think that we want no part with them see to be separated now these things apply to die as when Christ on the earth now he sent the multitudes away but as he gathered us in come ye apart and rest a while and that's a wonderful mercy in the things concerning us in this life for this little flock to come apart and rest a while from the cares and the anxieties I must admit that we live in a very different day to the days of old there is not the concern for the things of providence in general but are we the better for it does this do these parables in this chapter leave us untouched can we cut these out because we live in a day of so called prosperity when it's set forth as those days when there was far more depending in the grandparent's days on the thing on the providence of God can we dismiss some of these things that are set forth the life is more than the meat and the body and raiment we might say we need never these days consider the raven as ravens they neither sow nor reap we need never consider these but you know

[12:24] God knows that's the point I wonder really and truly whether these things for a soul speaking in general are more healthy times or not and I think not well you might say those things are providential well God uses both uses both now to bring these things into line you see these in the in a little thought we said marks of grace and so on you say we're getting to the marks of grace all polluted my breast well poor soul who told you so who told you so I think and again forgive me I'm thinking about the Catholics you see they lay down things they lay down this they lay down that to bring guilt yes it's a law it's dressed up as the law of God and a lot of it is right

[13:36] I admit but there is an ulterior motive to bring to man confession and to put man in the place almost of God and to put the power of man this is the point now that has got an ulterior motive and I said there's that which is outside or that which is lost that which is of the devil and that which is of God now the point is this where do these things turn one where is the law written who gives the law say Moses the law the law of God is spiritual the law is written in the heart the law is a very wonderful thing and it is in the conscience and we're getting into such a state in the day in which we live you know when the children yes young children who don't seem to realize even the common law of man that it means anything and you see we're getting to but this little flop let's look at those

[15:15] God's law is written in their heart now this is a mark of grace a mark and if you want to check up with scripture I often like to check up and I want you to check up as I preach and anytime tell me if I'm wrong you see Saul of Tarsus found this law and it killed him and he was alive without it once you see he knew about law he knew about the law outward he knew how the outside should be kept he knew as touching the law he could see it and he preached it and he walked by it he was blameless and he boasted of it but when the law spiritual came you see the difference now and he was one of his flock when that law came it killed him then he saw what sin was then he saw it was a thought the motive the desire that even in a moral way if it could be kept outside the outside could be kept clean it was within no wonder he died and that was a schoolmaster and what a wonderful thing to have this and there's few that really know it as this law found you out the many evening in denomination who may profess to be saved but have they ever been lost have they ever been killed

[17:18] I wonder if they have been made alive he killeth he maketh alive now that is scripture and we're on those lines it's a mark of grace now to sum this up mustn't be too long on this to condense it it makes very simple things but because they're simple it doesn't mean to say they're not essential they're essential you might just say are they essential to their salvation in one way they're essential to their salvation like this it's the marks of grace one often feels they cannot show as I say they're not satisfied with their religion but they wouldn't change it for another when one is not satisfied with their religion get me right what they mean is this they're not satisfied with themselves in their religion that's what it means you wouldn't change your religion with any would you you wouldn't if

[18:44] Christ is in it would you change anything I tell you one or two things you might like to change you'd like to change your heart wouldn't you wouldn't you like to change it you might like to change a lot you might like to change a cross but see whether I'm right in this if you're in this little flock you would never change your religion any more than you would change your God now you say are there other gods now we know there are gods and let's be very careful because sometimes you know a child of God they seem to think that they never worship these other gods fear not I some of them many fear about the gods

[19:46] I worship you say surely you don't worship other gods well I'll be careful are they gods or are they idols that's the point really and truly when we look at the essential part of these things it's those things which come between the soul and God you see the soul and Christ another hymn writer and can we sing it with a real sincere desire oh for a closer walk with God that doesn't leave any room for idols and that goes on the dearest idol I've known whatever idol be help me to tear it from thy throne and worship only thee now a child of

[20:51] God doesn't sing that lightly you can sing it many times but have you ever sung it once sincerely once you might say I don't ask but you sing it many times sincerely I don't think we do I always say don't mark me one of those well poor soul I think I can or be careful I hope I can truly say I sung it sincerely once once and when I say sincerely that is singing knowing God looks on that God knows whether the words of the hymn or the words of your lips in whatever way or the words of your prayer are according to the heart the dearest idol

[21:56] I have known whatever the idol be help me to tear it from my throne and worship only thee and I have had some idols and I would not go so far to say that I am cleansed from them all but one has a humble hope that they change some of this change your heart change your love of the world change your love of self change your love even of the nearest and dearest oh it comes close what are these are they marks of grace I hope so and there's other things that this little flock has the marks of the shepherd the marks of Christ on the flock humility humility in love that's easy to say isn't it can you acquire it can you manufacture it can you develop it can you nourish it see well if so you see you can control these things naturally think we want to be aware of a natural religion and we want to separate between that which is the spirit and that which is the flesh new you can find a person that is born through

[23:42] God's will and with those natural almost gifts of humility that look almost like a work of grace and they're not well you say you're doing some sorting out we want to know where we stand I sometimes look on those in the world and I think they've got a far better disposition than me but it's not a mark of grace no it's a natural disposition let's get things right a natural disposition very solemn to have something that is natural and yet is not of the little flock so we've got to be careful of this and you know in the denomination using names again these things can go a long way a long way oh they say he looks so humble he may be no more humble than the proudest one you could find but appears on the outside natural now there's one solemn thing

[25:01] God sees it so there's much to separate out in these things you might say well I don't know when we're when you're through with us whether we should have much religion left no poor soul but you'll have a right religion and myself and you might have many fears in this so you say well what is real humility well let's be honest very honest there's very little about I don't cast stones I look at myself very little humility about well would you change your heart oh this little flock has many fears I think well is there any real humility in my heart you know real humility needs the grace of

[26:02] God bestowed upon one you can say we believe in the doctrines that we do believe in that we are either under grace or not now once they say that to me and I I been stirred up you know there been a few sparks flying and this one he said to me you know we are under grace or not and I thought well I can't be now if we take a statement like that fatalistically and God doesn't change and we're either under grace or not and if we're not that can never be changed but what was left out was this we're not always under the influence of grace we can be the subjects of

[27:08] God's grace but not under the influence check it up with scripture oh no not the man says Peter under the influence of grace what can you say how can he be under the influence of it but under grace get these things right and the Lord looked upon Peter under grace and when the Lord looked then in that look was the influence of grace remember Peter I told you you would do this you turned against me you denied you ever knew me but have I changed little flock oh how it brings this poor soul to repentance when one again realizes how the

[28:16] Lord can bring the influence of grace now humility as I was on a little bit about humility there was a little humility you say well was that humility or was it shame shame shame can sometimes put us in the right place but also there's other things that work with humility worship humility and love now then you say how does all this come about how is all this worked in the pathway that the Lord leads his children in in the pathway you see under the influence of grace and yet you see you can have that which even against

[29:22] God's will you're capable of rebelling oh yes a subject of grace but not under the influence you see but when the Lord looks this is the secret oh I think that many of the little flocks religion that is wrought in the heart and their faith and their belief is maintained by a look from the Lord Jesus Christ a look and you know when the Lord looks he looks right into the heart and everything is laid open and there you are but oh what a mercy when it's a look of love what a mercy when it's that look or that word or that drawing that says come here part come apart we've got something to speak about we've got something that the others know nothing of whatever their religion or denomination little flock come apart we've got something to discuss you ever been drawn near to the

[30:44] Lord like this something to discuss I tell him how my sins arise I tell him how unfaithful I have been I tell him how weak I am I tell him I have many fears for the day and fears for the future I think if I could discuss with the Lord Jesus Christ if I was brought in that nearness I'm trying to set to you I tell him many things and mostly it would be my failings you might say wouldn't you tell him ever tell him that you love him I said it several times I can't get any nearer at the moment I think I tell him I'd love to love him I'd love to love him and can I find in my poor heart there a little hope that if

[31:44] I'd love to love him I do love him just a little just a little you say well you're a poor one if you can't love him more than that you see how incapable of loving the Lord is a human heart even of his children unless they're under the influence of his grace not the subjects the subjects but the influence I'd love to love him now I say that because I hope I've known seasons in the past when I could say I really love him really love him now this goes to prove that among this little flock there are many fears that it's you can't manufacture it any more than you can manufacture anything that is spiritual you can't manufacture it and you cannot retain the spirit you prove this in times past

[33:01] I give you simple illustration you have been five perhaps one day to come into God's house you might have had a blow you might have had a special season of temptation you may have had many things that made you fear and you come into God's house like in that condition you don't you don't think you're among the flock even you don't think you're fit you don't think really and truly if even those that sat in the seat knew what concerned you and was within they would really have you sit next to them yes but you've come in and doing the service the Lord drew near and it changed your heart he took away the heart of rebellion the heart of stone whatever complaint it was and he gave a new heart and there was that renewing within and you were amazed and you were humbled and you worshipped him and you loved him come on tell me the truth you loved him for a little while is it true and for a little season you would have been nowhere else nowhere else you wouldn't have changed places with anybody is it true wonderful spot appeared to depart how soon did the lord seem to hide his face and then commit all the creeping things to war against your soul the devil going with his temptations your failings you get to a place perhaps even on the sabbath on the way home when you think it's like a monday morning yes well you'll find it in the bible i sought him but i found him not seest thou whom my soul loveth the watchman that go back the city see they i asked them if they seen him whom my soul loveth were there some who seen him they may not better tell you on any particular day just where he is but they seen him they've heard him they've known him and they i hope they can preach him it doesn't mean to say he's always with them when they're in the pulpit but they seen him seen him whom my soul loveth now only the flock would say that oh yes i mean sincerely only the flock would you think i wonder what the pope would say if i was permitted to be so great as to go and speak with him and say have you seen him whom my soul loveth he very likely say do you mean mary do you think no have you seen my savior have you seen him and would he know him would he know him well what if they asked would you know him do you think of that wonderful place well that is the language of the little flock and that is the language of the savior that's a language of love but fear not little flock for it is your father's good pleasure good pleasure to give you the kingdom we as someone say we shall never be able to realize what this kingdom is in all its glory we should never be able to realize on this earth no tongue can tell what's prepared no heart can conceive or eyes seen the things that are prepared for those who love him it can't be described you say we've got

[37:58] God's word that describes it it's true but that is I think even in the revelation where it's described is nothing and I would not take anything from God's word the weakness in us to understand but it's put there as clear as a God can to poor human beings and it's wonderful but heaven the kingdom in all its glory we should have to be there and be prepared to know what it is what a place well you see and it's good pleasure and I'll soon leave this is good pleasure you know a poor soul can't always realize this I'll tell you what you say how can it be his good pleasure and what am I going to say why not why not the soul will say look at my sins he came to save that which was lost why did he give his life why was all the agony in the garden of

[39:27] Gethsemane why was it for little sins you will argue you will have fears you will argue before God my sins my crimes my iniquities all testify against me no they don't they do in one sense but what has he said it is finished not one left think of this I said you see there's no half measure with the things of God and there's no half measure in forgiveness a poor little flock fear not little flock you say my sin and it is good pleasure it is your father's good pleasure I tell you what when it is made known to a soul especially for the first time that theirs is the kingdom of heaven you say that's going a long way but it is made known in the soul by the

[40:41] Holy Spirit it's too good to be through too good to be through that's what it amaze to and you can't understand it but it is his good pleasure to give to you the kingdom that's heaven and also his kingdom over you upon earth now you see he's a shepherd and he's got sheep and his kingdom and his name is written over their heads over their lives and everything that concerns them and you'll find as you go through life many things that are pointing this out you see the world then we're not so much perhaps in the day in which we live because most let us go our own way but sometimes as some they say he's got something over his head yes I think the men sitting in there sun blazing

[41:45] I don't be presumptuous but with us here they think there's something written over their head something they don't like his kingdom and his kingdom is not of this world amen amen