Sufficiency of Christ (Quality: Good)

[0:00] We shall look this evening to Isaiah and the ninth chapter on these opening two verses. Isaiah chapter 9 verses 1 and 2.

[0:13] Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea beyond Jordan in Galilee of the nations.

[0:35] The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

[0:50] Isaiah prophesied for a great many years, possibly for as long as 60 years, this man was a faithful prophet of the Lord God.

[1:09] He began, as we saw in Isaiah chapter 6, he began his prophetic ministry in the year that King Uzziah died, which was B.C. 758.

[1:27] And then he was a prophet through the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, right to the end of Hezekiah, perhaps even into the beginnings of the reign of Manasseh.

[1:44] And since the reign of Hezekiah came to an end in B.C. 698, you see, somewhat of the 60 years that this man's ministry spanned.

[1:59] And in that period of his prophetic ministry, he saw the ruin of Israel, the northern kingdom. Remember the division that occurred after the death of Solomon, when there was a division, there was a rebellion against Rehoboam.

[2:19] And Jeroboam set up the northern kingdom of the ten tribes. And that continued, and it knew something of prosperity in certain days.

[2:30] But in the period of Isaiah, there was increasing declension. There was confusion in the nation.

[2:41] There was wickedness. Idolatry became more and more manifest, more and more displeasing to God. There was the breakdown virtually of law and order, and yet a smug complacency on the part of many that it would be all right for them.

[3:01] And we find that with the rise of Assyria to be the great power in the world of that day, so the days of the northern kingdom were numbered.

[3:14] And they were brought finally to Anand as a nation in B.C. 722. Now, Isaiah's ministry was not in the north, but he was aware of all these events, and he could learn from these things.

[3:32] God's displeasure at sin, and there was sin also in the southern kingdom. There was sin in Judah. There was very like conditions in many respects in the southern kingdom to that which was in the northern kingdom.

[3:48] And Isaiah sought to speak of the things that would happen in the north, and then after they had happened, to point the lessons to be learned from the downfall of Israel, that he might warn his nation, that he might warn Judah, that the same would come to pass upon them.

[4:09] And we know that in the days that followed, there was the gradual breakdown in the south as well, until under Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, when Assyrian power was brought to an end, and Babylonian power rose in its place, there came the demise somewhat of Judah, and the exile for 70 years of the cream of the people, those of skill and ability taken off into Babylonian captivity.

[4:47] Now, these were the circumstances. This was the situation. These were mighty events. These were events in the political sphere that had a reason, because of the spiritual state.

[5:03] And we should always remember that, that there is oftentimes in the political situation in a land, that which is caused by the spiritual condition of the land.

[5:13] And I believe that we are seeing in our political state, the consequences of abandoning the values, that have been the strength of this land, the heritage of this land, in days past.

[5:28] And we are not surprised, that there are the confusions, and the setting aside of the ways of righteousness and truth, because there is such open neglect and disparagement.

[5:40] And even the most awful and shocking mockery of true religion in our land, and in high places, and those even of the royal house, and those of the government, of whatever party you care to name, show a nil example in these things to the people of this country.

[6:01] And we are not surprised, that we are in this confusion and darkness, that we are in. Isaiah was in a day of great darkness, great political confusion, through the turning away from God, and the despite that was being done, to the way of God revealed.

[6:23] Now in Judah, it had got very bad and would worsen. And in the eighth chapter, you find that it ends, with these very solemn verses, verse 21 and 22, where Isaiah is prophesying concerning what shall come to pass for Judah, in not many days, that they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry, and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

[7:01] The circumstances that will be brought upon them, for many will not bring them to repentance, but rather to a greater defiance. And they will look upward defiantly, and they will shake, as it were, their fist in the face of their God.

[7:15] They will curse their king and their God, and they shall look unto the earth, and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish, and they shall be driven to darkness.

[7:27] Now Isaiah 9-1 follows hard on to that, and nevertheless, proves the connection. Here is this awful situation, nevertheless, Isaiah prophesies, the dimness shall not be such, as was in her vexation, when at the first he likely afflicted the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

[7:59] These verses are connected. Indeed, the first verse of chapter 9 ought to be taken with the 22nd verse of chapter 8.

[8:10] It should be the 23rd verse, in other words, of the 8th chapter. The Hebrew Bible has it as the last verse of the 8th chapter. And the 9th chapter should start with the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.

[8:26] The thing is, the situation of Judah that is spoken of, and yet there is this, nevertheless, it won't be as bad for Judah as it was for Israel.

[8:41] Israel was brought to exile, its monarchy, its monarchy was brought to an end, its people were scattered, there were many taken into Assyrian captivity, there were but few left, and what actually happened after 722 was that the Assyrians encouraged all sorts of other nations to come in and occupy the land, and to marry with the few that remained of Israel.

[9:12] Israel, and the North Samaria became a sort of mongrel nation. It became the Samaritan nation, and the Jews had no dealings with this Samaritan nation.

[9:23] The identity of Israel was lost, the purity of Israel from the days of the entrance into Canaan was lost now. But it will not be as bad as that, Isaiah prophesied, as though it will be a bad day, yet in the purposes of God there will be a restraint placed.

[9:44] Nevertheless, the dimness, the dimness in the day when judgments fall upon Judah will not be such as was in her vexation, in Israel's vexation.

[9:55] And we see that there were two parts of the vexation of Israel. We find that there was the first coming of the Assyrians that was comparatively light, and then there was the severe coming.

[10:11] In 730, they came first of all, and they were bought off by large sums of money, and they somewhat retreated. But then they came again eight years later, and brought the severe vexation upon the north that brought it to an end.

[10:30] We are told this in the history. We are told it in the second book of the kings concerning these two comings of the Assyrians in 2 Kings chapter 15 at the 19th verse.

[10:44] We are told there that Pul, the king of Assyria, came against the land, and Menachem gave Paul a thousand talents of silver that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

[11:00] And we are told in the next verse, so the king of Assyria turned back and stayed not there in the land. But then these eight years later, he came again, did the Assyrian.

[11:12] And in the same chapter, the 29th verse, in the days of Pekah, king of Israel, came Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel, Beth, Maacah, and Genua, and Kadesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the lands of Naphtali, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

[11:37] So there came, first of all, the entrance of the Assyrians into the northern part, into the lands of Naphtali, and Zebulun, that bordered Syria, and were in the direction of the Assyrian conqueror.

[11:53] And there was this first coming, which was reasonable, but the second was far more severe, and there was great darkness, and there was the demise, as we have said, of the northern kingdom.

[12:05] And it was in these lands, Galilee, Naphtali, and Zebulun, the territories there, a Gentile territory, where the Gentile people mingled with the Israelites, in that area, that was called even then, the Galilee of the Nations, and was still known by that title, in the day of the Lord.

[12:28] It was in that place, that first the might of Assyria, became manifest. And Isaiah says, that there will be this difference, that because of his mercies to Judah, they will not know such a darkness, as came upon the north.

[12:44] They will not know the affliction, and vexation to be as grievous, as it came upon the north, that brought it to an end, and caused it to be removed, from the very books of history.

[12:57] And history corroborates, as history demonstrates, the accuracy of this prophecy, because although Judah was brought low, and although there was the Babylonian captivity, it was a reasonable captivity.

[13:10] They did not know the privation and hardship, that those of the north had known. And indeed, after the 70 years, as you remember, they were permitted to return. All that desired to go back, were free to go back.

[13:23] And they were even provided, with the very materials, to build again, the temple, in Jerusalem. There was the furtherance of this, there was the implementation of this.

[13:36] But then Isaiah, who was the great gospel prophet, looks beyond mercies to Judah, that will cause Judah to know, favor that Israel never knew, that will cause there to be, the lengthening out of days to Judah, and that Judah will not go, out of the history books.

[13:55] Isaiah turns from these circumstances, to that which is even yet more future, as he prophesies, the day of Messiah, the day of the Lord, when unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, the day of Christ, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called, Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

[14:25] Isaiah was given, that great burden of the gospel, it breaks in the midst, of the great judgmental, declaration of what God, would do for the sin, of a people, yet there is this intimation, of mercy.

[14:38] Here is the mitigation then, there will not be, to Judah, quite, the extremity, that was the experience, of the north. And then even beyond that, there is a day coming, such a day of gospel mercy, such a day of the manifestation, of grace, both to Israelite, and to those of the house of Judah, both to those who are Hebrews, and those who are of the nations, those who are of the Gentiles, those who are far off, as the 54th of Isaiah, speaks of the place, in God's purposes, even for the Gentiles.

[15:19] There is that day, of the Messiah, to come, that will be that, great day, and that special day, and that favored day, that day, of light, that will chase away, the darkness.

[15:32] And the people, that walked in darkness, have seen a great light, and they that dwell, in the land, of the shadow of death, upon them, half the light, shined.

[15:43] And we had occasion, this morning, to mention, that in reference, to the Lord's Galilean ministry, Matthew 4, 12, when Jesus heard, that John, was cast into prison, he departed, into Galilee, and leaving Nazareth, he came, and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the seacoast, in the borders of Zebulun, and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken, by Isaiah, the prophet, saying, the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people, which sat in darkness, saw great light, and to them, which sat in the region, and shadow of death, light is sprung up.

[16:32] God's saving purpose, would not be frustrated, through the sinfulness, of any people, be it a heathen people, or be it even, the sins of Judah, God's own people, and God will bring, his purposes, and therefore, Judah will be preserved, and out of Judah, shall be given, the lawgiver, the scepter, shall not depart, from Judah, was the ancient prophecy, fulfilled, in the birth, of the Messiah, that one born, of David's, house and lineage, that one born, in Bethlehem, who was raised, in Nazareth, who began his ministry, who preached, in Galilee of the Gentiles, and there was, that demonstration, that the words, of Isaiah, were now come to pass, light was shining, in these very areas, that had known, the darkness, in that awful, day of Assyrian, oppression, now unto them, the light, is come, salvation, is of the Jews, the Lord, as we said, last week, the Lord, loveth the gates, of Zion, more than all, the tents of Israel,

[17:38] God's purposes, were through, Zion, through Jerusalem, it's not that, we need to go, to Jerusalem, to render, true worship, but out of Zion, has come forth, the deliverer, the blessing, flows from, from Jerusalem, outside the walls, of Jerusalem, did he die, the just for the unjust, to bring us, unto God, and we, worship, what we know, not the mongrel, Samaritan, worship as it was, when the woman, at the well said, tell us, where should we worship, on this mountain, or at Jerusalem, the Lord said, that salvation, is of the Jews, we know what we worship, we know our God, we know the truth, but the time is coming, he says, when neither, at this mountain, nor at Jerusalem, shall you worship God, but the true, worshipers, worshipers, shall worship God, in spirit, and in truth, the day of the gospel, the day of blessing, the day of Christ, well there is something, of the history, I want to leave, the history, having got here, sometimes preachers, do those things, which may not, seem very warrantable,

[18:46] I came, in preparation, to the evening, I prepared, for the evening, before I ever thought of, what to preach from, in the morning, prepared this, seemed to, to come to me, in the preparation, of the reading, I prepared the reading, seeking from the Lord, the word, that he might give me, these first two, verses struck me, how there was, this great darkness, in the land, but there was, the intimation, of light, that would shine, that would shine, through the darkness, and would, would chase, the darkness away, that's the truth, of the gospel, and I thought, well I would speak, this night, if God gave me, the ability, and the strength, to do it, on the sufficiency, of Christ, and how that Christ, is the one, who is the light, of man, and in the dark day, in which we find ourselves, with all the confusions, in the nation, and in the international scene, and all those things, that impinge, upon our own circumstance, and causes at times, to wonder, and to fear, that we might see, that there is a sufficiency, in Christ, and that the one, who was prophesied, is the same one, that came, that one, who came not only, to preach the gospel, but came himself, to be the gospel, the word made flesh, that we might be, saved, that we might be delivered, that we might be raised, to a good hope, through grace, and that we might know, the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, within us, the kingdom of grace, and be brought ultimately, to enter into, the kingdom of glory, of view, to faith this night, of the sufficiency, of Christ, will lift us up, and some of us,

[20:27] I believe, need that lifting up, God grant it then, to us, we leave this, the purists would say, this is unwarrantable, to bring in something, in this fashion, and then to depart, from it, in order to speak, of the sufficiency, of Christ, but I'm telling you, how I came to this, I came to it thus, I came to it, through these verses, and having come to it, now God, give me, strength, and ability, to open it up, there is, a sufficiency, in the gospel, there is a sufficiency, in Christ, for every dark day, for these dark days, for this day, of such great, wickedness, and confusion, in our land, let me, try to, bring it before you, to assert the truth of it, in the first place, I think of that verse, in Colossians, chapter 2, and the 9th, verse, for in him, that is in Christ, for in him, dwelleth, all the fullness, of the Godhead, bodily, and that, is the verse, that seems to me, to set forth, the sufficiency, of Christ, the sufficiency, of the gospel, we don't need, another gospel, there is no other gospel, we have, in the gospel, of the Lord Jesus Christ, all that we need, in every day, in every dark day, there have been, times of fixation, there have been, times of oppression, there have been, times of the church, brought very low, but the gospel, is sufficient,

[22:02] Christ is sufficient, for in him, dwelleth, all the fullness, of the Godhead, bodily, now God, is our sufficiency, we would not, surely take issue, with that, we believe, that there is enough, in the God, who has made us, the God, who rules, over all things, the God, who is spirit, the God, who is brought, into being, all that is, by his own, sovereign, will and design, the God, who sustains, all his creation, we would readily agree, would we not, that there is, a sufficiency, in our God, to supply, all our needs, to supply, the needs, of all, his people, to supply, all the needs, of all his people, through all, their existence, while they are, in this time state, and before they are, taken, to the heavenly state, we believe, that there must be, in God, according, to the revelation, that we have, of this God, and which the spirit, declares to be, a true revelation, bearing witness, with our spirits, in this matter, that this is the truth, our God, is the God, of sufficiency, he is the almighty God, literally, in the Hebrew, the all sufficient God, well, if God, is our sufficiency, then, we believe, that, in Christ, there dwells, all the fullness, of the Godhead bodily, he is the eternal son, he is God, thought it not robbery, to be equal with God, he is God, and therefore, in him also, there dwells, all the fullness, and if there is, all the fullness, of deity in Christ,

[23:42] Christ is able, to keep his people, he is a sufficient Christ, he is an ample Christ, we can never, find him wanting, we can never, come to him, and find that, he cannot help us, he is an all sufficient, savior, he is able, to save, to the uttermost, all them, that come unto God, by him, you remember, the occasion, when David, in deep affliction, at Ziklak, found that, Ziklak, had been burned, and they, the people, had been taken captive, his own wives, Zahnom, and Abigail, had been taken captive, by the Amalekites, the people, spoke of stoning him, because they were so angry, and they were so, dispirited, and what do we read, of David, brought into that, very low circumstance, in danger as it was, fleeing from Saul's face, a fugitive, and then brought into, these circumstances, the people ready, to stone him, we are told, 1 Samuel 30, verse 6,

[24:45] David encouraged himself, in the Lord is God, and he found that, when everything else, failed him, God didn't fail him, God was his sufficiency, and we will find in Christ, in whom dwelleth, all the fullness, of the Godhead bodily, that it's the very same, he fails us not, he is our sufficiency, and I love the words, of Rylan's hymn, when he speaks, of the sufficiency, of Christ, in these terms, O Lord, I would delight in thee, and on thy care, depend, to thee in every trouble, flee my best, my only friend, when all created streams, are dried, thy fullness, is the same, may I with this, be satisfied, and glory, in thy name, no good in creatures, can be found, but may be found, in thee, I must have all things, and abound, while God, is God, to me, do you believe, in the sufficiency, of God this night, do you believe then, in the sufficiency, of the Lord Jesus Christ, tonight, in whom dwelleth, all the fullness, of the Godhead bodily, that's what makes the light, to shine in the darkness, that's what, chases, away, those fears, from us, when we have a view, of a sufficient Christ, able to save, unto the uttermost, now, let me attempt, to demonstrate it, to you, the sufficiency, of God, the sufficiency, in Christ, over the sweep, of history, especially, of redemptive history, scripture, faithfully, records, the many afflictions, of God's people, affliction, after affliction, many other afflictions, of the righteous, there is no question, of that, we would not take, issue, with that, man seems born, to trouble, as the sparks, fly upward, faith, is tried, and trials come, we said a little of it, last week, and when we get over, one hump of trial, we find that another one, rises up, before us, and so it will be, while we're in, the world, and before we're taken, to be with Christ, which is far, better, the scripture, faithfully records, the many afflictions, of God's nations, we've seen a little, historically, of how, nations were affected, this is, the portion, of,

[27:14] God's people, in the nation, God's people, are affected, by the things, that affect the nations, whether individually, or whether, in families, in churches, we are affected, too, and there are, those afflictions, that come, upon churches, but in every, affliction that comes, and this is the thing, that I would stress, and you see this, traced all through, the word of God, there is never, afflictions, without a, sufficiency in God, without a, sufficiency in, Christ being manifested, you see it, in so many places, you see Isaiah, on the 28th chapter, and I, had several, noted down, to mention, I'm, I've only time, to mention one, because I want, to press on, and make better, progress, through the things, that God has given me, to say to you, but we'll look, at this one, you see trial, in Isaiah chapter 28, verses 14 to 16, it was a day then, of oppositions, and gainsaying, and infidelity, and idolatry, and Isaiah, says, wherefore hear, the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people, which is in Jerusalem, because ye have said, we have made a covenant, with death, and with hell, a weird agreement, when the overflowing, scourge shall pass through, it shall not come to us, it shall never, come here, it will never, trouble us, all these things, that are troubling, other nations, we are the Lord's people, it's bound to pass us by, but they were a wicked, gainsaying, people that were, in the form of their religion, rather than, in the power of it, and yet, in all of this, and Isaiah, showing how the, the hand of God, will be upon, them, and they will be, chastened for their sins, yet, therefore, thus saith the Lord God, behold,

[29:09] I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation, and there is that, great intimation, of the permanence, Judah will be preserved, because out of Judah, there must, come that stone, that God will, will set, as the foundation, stone for his church, Christ, the living stone, upon which, the living stones, are built, and you find this, in Isaiah, repeatedly, in Jeremiah, in Ezekiel, in the great, historical prophets, of the period, prior to the captivity, and into the captivity, you find all these, intimations, of great, trials, and political, agitations, and yet, in the midst of them, intimations, of what God, will do, and the preservation, that is bound, to be, enacted, until these things, are set in place, there is all of this, there is this, indifference, there is this, ungodly defiance, there is this, pride, there is this, lack of, of humbling themselves, under the mighty, hand of God, they refuse, to see the signs, they refuse to look, at what's happening, in the north, and if they see it, they think it would, never ever happen to us, and yet, there is, apart from the intimation, of God's displeasure, and what God, will bring to pass, there is the assurance, that nonetheless, his purposes, will stand, and there will be, that foundation, stone laid, and, as I say, every time, we would see it, repeatedly, the same pattern, trials, and afflictions, some, deservedly, and others, that come, unexpectedly, somewhat, and yet, out of them all, there is the sufficiency, of the gospel, and the sufficiency, of God, and the guarantee, that his people, will be preserved, because his purpose, is with them, and he has a love, towards them, the Lord loveth, the gates of Zion, and you, find, this in, in so many ways, you find it in the garden, the garden of Eden, is that not, the beginning of it, here is, dire circumstances, here is the root, of all the afflictions, that will later come, the consequence, of Adam and Eve's, sinning in the garden, and yet, there is that word, that assures, them, which is to faith, it's not to sight, that the seed of the woman, it shall bruise, thy head, the serpent is addressed, that the seed of the woman, it shall bruise, thy head, and the seed of the woman,

[31:53] Christ, that should come, has, bruised, the serpent's head, Christ manifested, to destroy the works, of the devil, and you see it, in the very sacrifices, the sacrifices, of, of the old dispensation, they speak, of man's, condition, he's a sinner, he is one, that deserves, in consequences, of his, sinning, to receive, the punishment, that God, has, said, will be the, consequence, of transgressing, God's law, sin is, the transgression, of the law of God, sin is any, want of conformity, or transgression, of the law of God, and the soul, that sinneth, it shall die, how, then, did, men live, in Israel, because, in the sacrifices, they, saw, they looked, to the way, that God, would forgive sin, by the coming, sacrifice, by the one, that God, would send, by the Messiah, by God's law, at least, the godly, the remnant, in Israel, discerned this, by faith, they, saw these things, they, looked dimly, beyond the sacrifice, beyond the, shedding of animal, blood, to the, shedding of the blood, of God's, dear son, they trusted in God, they were justified, by faith, in what God, would do, and thus, they were delivered, in the midst of all, their, sin, and in all, the, fear, that might have been theirs, of what God, might bring upon them, because of their sin, there was deliverance, because of the gospel, the gospel, was there, in the sacrifices, the gospel, was there, in the provision made,

[33:41] Israel, in the wilderness, of the manna, and the manna, sustained Israel, and the water, flowed from the rock, and sustained them, and the manna, speaks of Christ, and the water, that flowed from the rock, the rock is Christ, that followed them, and the water flowed, there was provision, for their physical needs, just as there is provision, for the spiritual needs, of the people of God, there is dire circumstances, there is hunger, they would be perishing, they would be those, that, like the unbelieving generation, ultimately, perished in the wilderness, they would have perished, even, earlier, than those, that perished, by natural causes, in the wilderness, over the space, of 40 years, had there not been, the provision of manna, had there not been, the provision, of water, supernaturally, pouring forth, from the rock, God providing, gospel provisions, gospel provisions, provisions, that connect, to Christ, and yet, their need met, in that day, because of the, gospel of the grace of God, can you see the pattern of it, can you see it proceeding, the serpents came, and they bit, those that had been gainsaying,

[34:53] Israelites, again in the wilderness, and yet, provision is made, there is a pole, extended from the earth, a brazen serpent, put upon the pole, and everyone, that looks to the serpent, is cured, healed, of the venom, and even, as Moses lifted up, the serpent, in the wilderness, so, must the son of man, be lifted up, that whosoever believeth, in him, should not perish, all of these things, through all of, redemptive history, is the, is the proving, of the sufficiency, of Christ, and the natural provision, and material provision, were because of the purposes, of God, towards his people, in Christ, a sufficiency, in Christ, it's gone on, through all, the period, of the old testament, it's in the new, testament, also, all the promises, of God, in him, are yea, and are men, says Paul, all that God, has promised, are confirmed, in Christ, all that God, was to his people, in the days, of the old testament, he is the same, to his people, in Christ, in whom dwelleth, all the fullness, of the Godhead, bodily, the promises, are yea, and amen, they are affirmed, in Christ, they are confirmed, in Christ,

[36:12] God's, sufficiency, is the sufficiency, of his people, as the father, has promised, the sufficiency, to Christ, in the covenant, as the father, has promised, covenant, promises, to his dear son, as he undertakes, the covenant stipulations, so, there is, that, made over to us, through Christ, Christ, is our sufficiency, I notice this, this came out, very forcibly, in consideration, of the, eighth and ninth, verses of the second, psalm, that great, messianic psalm, that, declares, the covenant, and declares, that in, respect of, Christ, fulfilling the stipulations, of the covenant, the father, will make good, all these great, promises, psalm two, verse eight, ask of me, and I shall give, the heathen, for thine inheritance, and the uttermost, parts of the earth, for thy possession, thou shalt, break them, with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them, in pieces, like a potter's, vessel, there is the intimation, of the success, of Christ's mission, and how every enemy, will be put, under him, and he, shall reign, and then you read, in Revelation 2, 26, in the letters, to the churches, and you're told there,

[37:34] I think it's in the letter, to the church, at Thyatira, you're told there, concerning those, that are overcomers, he that overcometh, Revelation 2, 26, he that overcometh, and keepeth, my works, unto the end, to him, will I give, power over the nations, and he shall, rule them, with a rod of iron, as the vessels, of the potter, shall, they be broken, to shivers, even as I received, of my father, and that which, Christ has received, from the father, in the covenant, Christ, makes over to us, because of the covenant, and I am proclaiming, to you, conscious of, inability, so to do, and inadequacy, of words, I am proclaiming, to you, the sufficiency, of Christ, in the covenant, of grace, to supply, our every need, and to uphold, as in every day, of evil, whatsoever it be, so that there will be, as the light, shining in the dark, place, to those, who are the people, of God, come what may, the people, that walked, in darkness, have seen a great, light, and may it be, that we, know something, of the shining, of that light, this is the assertion, of it, there is that, utter, and complete, and full, sufficiency, in Christ, for every, one of his, and at all times, and in every season, and never so much, as in the day, of disorder, and in the day, of confusion, now the second thing, what, is there in Christ, that can support us, in such times, as these, what is there in Christ, we are asserting, that there is a sufficiency, what, constitutes, that sufficiency, as far as it affects us, in what respect, do we find him sufficient, and I, think that there are, these areas, in which we have, conscious need, men, have conscious need, of material, requirements, that we must have, we need our food, we need our drink, we need our raiment, we need our shelter, men need liberty, or men desire liberty, men want life, men want, a measure of peace, and rest, and quiet, men want, to know something, of a happiness, in the living, of their lives, now all of these things, are in Christ, they are not found, anywhere outside of Christ, but they are found, in Christ, and just think, of these things, all the things, that we need materially, will Christ, not provide them, will they not, come to us, through him, he that spared, not his own son, but deliver him up, for us all, will he not also, with him freely, give us all things, do you think, that if we are the elect, of God, given to Christ, that our bread, and our water, will not be safe, and secure,

[40:35] God will provide, for us, as our days, so shall our strength, be, I have been young, and now I am old, says David, yet I have not seen, the righteous forsaken, nor his seed, begging bread, God will supply, we rejoice, in that, and then, think of, think of the liberty, well we have liberty, we have liberty, in Christ, that the son, should make you free, ye shall be free, indeed, what liberty we have, we are not in bondage, to any man, we have a dignity, we have a freedom, even if they put us, in the prison cell, we would still, have that spiritual freedom, we would have that liberty, still of soul, you can't get that, outside of Christ, and that is such a precious thing, what sustained those, in eastern, European concentration camps, what kept those, in the, in the, camps, and workplaces, of the gulags, in Soviet Russia, of our, brothers and sisters, in that great nation, in the days, of the persecution,

[41:39] I trust that they've come out of that, and never will go back into it, but it's only, but recently, they've known any mitigation, any deliverance, but they knew, that freedom in Christ, they knew that, they were, standing in the liberty, wherewith Christ, had made them free, they were not, enslaved, they were those, of their captors, that were the slaves, of sin, and dupes of the devil, but they, were the freedmen, of Christ, God, is our sufficiency, Christ sets, free, we have a liberty, in Christ, that none can take, from us, stand fast, my friends, in that liberty, wherewith Christ, has made us free, we don't want, to be entangled, with any york of bondage, we don't want, the ceremonies, to be brought back, we don't want, the worldly views, to come in here, that will, rob us, of our great, spiritual liberty, that's ours, in Christ, and then, what of life, men want life, the American, declaration, of independence, it has, that men, are entitled, to these, inalienable, rights, of life, liberty, and the pursuit, of happiness, we want life, we want, that life, to be, a reasonable, life, and in Christ, there is, life, we are brought, to know Christ, in this life, we are preserved, and when this life, comes to an end, as end it must, we go to be, with Christ, for me to die, is gain, is that not life, life, not just a physical, existence, for the allotted span, but, life which is eternal, and life which is abundant, that life is in Christ, we have a sufficiency, in Christ, that meets all our, aspirations, concerning, life, and liberty, and the pursuit, of happiness, what blessedness, is there light, to the blessedness, of those, that are the people, of God, that man, of perfect, blessedness, that walketh, not astray, our blessedness, is in the, ways of the,

[43:50] Lord, and there, we find, our great, delight, in the law, of the Lord, in the things, of our God, are we here, because we, we don't, enjoy the things, that we do, there are many, not here, because they, could not, conceive, that we would, ever, enjoy the things, that are happiness, to the Lord's people, but those of us, who are here, who are here tonight, I trust, we're here, because we find, our happiness, in the things, that unite us, we find, our contentment, in Christ, we find, our peace, in Christ, my peace, I give unto you, he says, not as the world, giveth, give I unto you, let not your heart, be troubled, neither, let it be afraid, all, that we might be, those that, know the fullness, that's ours in Christ, life, liberty, that blessedness, material provision, spiritual, mercies, in abundance, bestowed upon us, the treasures, that are ours in Christ, the sufficiency, of the Redeemer, all, that we might, see these things, what, are these excellencies, in Christ, these are the benefits, to us, what are in him, what are the things, in him, that bring these benefits, to us, well, there is that, knowledge, he who has that, knowledge of all things, he who is possessed, of that perfect wisdom, the wisdom of God, for in him dwelleth, all the fullness, of the Godhead, bodily, he communicates, that knowledge, to us, whom to know, is life eternal, in whom are hid, all the treasures, of wisdom, and knowledge, these are communicated, to us, what people we are, we are given, this knowledge, the very wisdom, the hidden wisdom, the wisdom, of God, which is Christ, for Christ, is the wisdom, and the power of God, we are given, a communication, of that wisdom, the fear of the Lord, is the beginning, of wisdom, the wisdom, of God, is given to us, knowledge, is given to us,

[45:57] I have more knowledge, than the ancients, says the psalmist, in the 119th psalm, I have more learning, than my counselors, if we have Christ, we have this knowledge, we may never have, had a formal education, that came to very much, we may never have, passed the exams, that others have passed, but if we have Christ, we have that saving knowledge, that raises us above, many another, that has all the qualifications, that man can supply, but has no knowledge, of the living God, and no saving knowledge, of his dear son, Jesus Christ, of you that knowledge, he gives that knowledge, that knowledge, is in himself, he communicates it to us, in whom are hid, all the treasures, of wisdom and knowledge, he is our sufficiency, who teaches us things, we have knowledge here, we have a mine, of knowledge here, we have knowledge, in this book, and the exposition, of this book, and the ministry, of the word, from this chapel, through all the past, generations, gives this people, the great privilege, of knowledge, above the knowledge, that many another has, we have that knowledge, of God, as he is declared, in scripture, we have that knowledge, of the ways of God, we have that knowledge, of the salvation, of God, we are given, that knowledge, of the order, that God would, have us follow, if we would know, his blessing upon us, what knowledge, as I said,

[47:26] I think this morning, was it in prayer, we desire not, to be puffed up, with that knowledge, because it's a high knowledge, such knowledge, is high, it's too high for us, unless, we are at the same time, given that, humility, that we might, handle this knowledge, we have this, access to God, we deal with God, we are not worshipping, the unknown God, we are not framing God, in our concepts, thinking that, this is what God, must be, we have this knowledge, communicated to us, in Christ, and through the spirit, of God, and the, the most, ignorant, believing man, or woman, in terms of the world's, definition, of knowledge, but possessed, of Christ, in all his sufficiency, has that knowledge, that angels, look with wonder, that ever this, should have been, communicated, to the sinful, sons of men, all that is, make much of it, but making much of it,

[48:29] God grant us, to be able, to be humble, at the same time, we've got it, not because, we deserved it, we found it, not even because, we sought after it, it's God, that has bestowed it, gratuitously upon us, through his dear son, but all the knowledge, and the love, there's the love, how are we provided, for materially, and how are we given, the liberty, how are we given, the happiness, and the peace, in believing, because of that love, God loving, the gates of Zion, more than all the tents, of Israel, loving, loving his people, loving those, that are the people, of his choice, the people, that he would have, because he loved them, and for no other, reason, are they his, than that he set, his love upon them, Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated, before the, sons were born, before they ever, came from the womb, the determination, of God was, towards Jacob, and not towards Esau, and who are we, to say that,

[49:35] God was unjust, in this, they were both, born in sin, they were both, born, estranged, from the very womb, that God, might have dealt, with both of them, in, in absolute justice, and consigned them, both ultimately, to hell, would have been, the only, possible thing, by the human standpoint, but there was, mercy shown, to Jacob, the great wonder, as I've said, is not, that God, hated Esau, but that ever, that he loved Jacob, that ever, God should love me, that God, should ever love you, that's a great wonder, and this, is the great, ground, and fountain, head, of all these, provisions, and the covenant, the sufficiency, of God for us, the sufficiency, of Christ to us, the light, shining in every, dark place, that we might, be found to be, in its love, thy love, is better, than wine, thy name, is an anointment, poured forth, therefore, do the virgins, love thee, greater loveth no man, than this, that a man, laid down his light, for his friends,

[50:46] Christ loved the church, and gave himself, for it, forgiving love, sympathizing love, persevering love, and never be parted, it's in us, David, loved Jonathan, above the love, of women, he said, but oh, what love, is the love, of the friend, that sticketh, closer than a brother, who guarantees, that he will be, a sufficient savior, to every one, of his, of his church, it is that, communication, of this wisdom, this knowledge, knowledge of who he is, knowledge of his love, knowledge of his promises, too many, to delineate, but these promises, of God, every one, yea, and amen, in Christ, come, claim, these things, that are promised, these things, are for us, faithful is he, that hath promised, who will also do it, are we wandering, are we wandering, in some confusion, he says, I am the way, follow him, go near to him, and you will ever be, in the right way, if you're not near, to Christ, in the path, you seek to take, you are, wandering, indeed, to be near, to be, to him, is to be, in the right path, to have his face, lifted up upon you, is to be in the, narrow way, that leadeth unto life, if you don't see, his face lifted up, upon you, you're in the broad way, you've turned aside, into the by path, meadow, and God be pleased, to bring you, swiftly out of it, because it's a false way, it's an easy way, many are upon it, but it's no way, for you to be in, but his way, is the right way, it's a narrow way, he is the way, are you wandering, then there are those promises, that he will, keep your feet, are you in the darkness, he is the light,

[52:34] I am the light, of the world, he that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life, he will give you, that light in your darkness, are you needing, justification, because you feel, your sin, and your guilt, to be heavy upon you, he is the righteousness, of his people, he will not forsake, those that he has loved, they are his, he has borne them, to the cross, he pleads for them, in the presence of the father, he justifies us, he is our righteousness, Jehovah, our righteousness, Jehovah Sidkenia, do we seek a sanctification, and all we long, that we might be more Christ like, Christ is our sanctification, who of God, is made unto us, wisdom and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, we have all things in Christ, are you seeking comfort, oh then, he has provided comfort, he has sent the comforter, he has sent the spirit, and what is the spirit's, great office, why it is, he shall glorify me, he shall not speak of himself, he will receive of mine, and will show it unto you, and in that showing of Christ, who has we found our comfort, you want to be comforted, you want to be assured of love, and that you know, where you're going, and you know the promise, that will uphold you, as you go upon that way,

[54:00] Lord, that you might be brought, by the spirit of God, to that view of Christ, the sufficiency of Christ, Christ is the first and the last, author and finisher, alpha and omega, able to save to the uttermost, you say, I cannot come, but he promises, he promises to come to you, come to seek and to save, that which is lost, you say, well I cannot follow, but even though you cannot follow him, he will undertake for you, why he puts the lost sheep, that he searches for in the wilderness, until he finds it, he puts it upon his shoulder, and brings it home with rejoicing, he will uphold us, he carries the lambs, and he carries the lambs in his arms, you say, well I, don't know whether he will have me, him that cometh unto me, he says, I will in no wise, cast out, what a fool, what a glorious, what a blessed redeemer he is, what a salvation, what a savior, let me just imply it in closing, what's the application, if all these things be in Christ, how we need Christ, we're in darkness indeed, we will know a vexation, greater than the vexation, that was ever upon,

[55:25] Naphtali and Zebulun, in that bad day, of the Assyrian oppression, if we're out of Christ, if we die out of Christ, or the oppression that faces us, we need Christ, how can any live without him, how is it that men and women, hearing this gospel, can rest and go to sleep at night, until they know an interest in this savior, there are those that hear, the word of the truth of the gospel, and yet they, they are indifferent to it, and the very sufficiency of Christ, is necessary, that we might not, ourselves be indifferent to it, he will have his people, my sheep hear my voice, and they follow me, if you follow the Lord Jesus Christ, that is a display, that you are one of his sheep, Christ gave his life, the good shepherd for the sheep, and then, the second thing that I say, the way of application, is no Christian ever need complain, why should we raise, one murmuring cry, whatever comes our way, if we've got such a savior as this, and when you get complaining, murmuring Christians, and I've been one, and you've been one, times past, we've quined, and we've sniveled, and we've bemoaned our estate, and we've lamented our lot, and we've come near, but God has restrained us,

[56:52] I trust from it, of looking heavenwards, and cursing the king, and cursing our God, as those in Judah, what have we got, to complain about, we have a full Christ, why even to be afflicted, is to know that he is near to us, to make all our bed, and our affliction, to be brought, into the narrowest of circumstances, is to prove the, the power of Christ, to keep us in such a situation, it's not for us to complain, wherefore doth a living man complain, we've no grounds to complain, we're well treated, we've, we receive so much, more than we ever deserve, more than we could ever imagine, may there be the, closing of our lips, to all but praise, we're well done by, by our God, we have the best of savions, and then in application, if, if this is so, cannot we glorify God, in such, situations, as he may bring us into, in such a time as this, is it not such a day, in which he should be confessed, are these dark days, they are dark days, is this a confused, declining time, for the churches, it is such a day, but we are not to despise it,

[58:12] God has brought us to it, what is it for us to be, and how is it, that we are to live, in such a day as this, to his glory, it's not a difficult thing, to live in a day, where a thousand attend, the house of God, when on every side, there is the voice of praise, or we would love to have been, in these places, where, in every house, in the village, one would hear, at the evening hour, these psalms being sung, and know that worship, was being conducted, we might love these things, but we are not in such a day, we are not in such a place, how more honoring to God, then, that there be the psalm, raised from our lips, and that we might be known, as the Lord's people, God will be the more glorified, by us in this day, if we live unto him, than even in that day, and in these favorable circumstances, and let us be those, that will bear a true witness, to the Savior, that we found, and if there is such a fullness, in Christ, for us, all that we might desire, that others enter into, an experience of him, that will unlock our lips, in order that we might speak, the glories of our God, and King, the triumphs of his grace, and if we have such a sufficient Savior, that loved us, and has communicated knowledge to us, and made over the promises, all yea and our men in him, then is it not for us, to live befittingly, to live, as those who live soberly, and righteously, and godly in this world, living unto him, if we are not living, so are we not militating, against the very source, of our sufficiency, if we are not living godly lives, we are not fulfilling, even those things, that we account to be, the aspirations, of our hearts, we want liberty, you want of that spiritual liberty, when you live, in the ways of sin continually, when you live conformed, to this world, you want know that, spiritual liberty, the preciousness of Christ, coming and, and speaking to you, and holding communion with you, you will feel, that you are bound, and he is, at a distance, you won't know that life, in all its abundance, in all the fullness, of communion, when there is that, cloud come between you, and the Lord, because of the folly, of your repeated sinning, and the way, that you have let slip, the glorious wisdom, that was communicated, to you, when we are those, that go, as the multitude, around us, we lose, the peace, we lose the rest, we lose the, the happiness, that's found in him, we try the, empty cisterns, of a godless world, and only when we found, that they mock us, and that they cannot, supply our need, do we return again, to Christ, and to the living waters, that flow from him, or that we might not be, guilty of such folly, that we might not be, those whose life, is continually, astraying, and are returning, but that we might be, kept in that, constant, forward, path, that we might, look to him, day in and day out, that we might, hold such close, communion, and keep such, close accounts, that not a day,

[61:41] Thank you.