Fear thou not; for I am with thee (Quality: Good)

[0:00] In complete dependence upon the Lord, I will seek your prayerful attention to the prophecy of Isaiah, the 41st chapter and the 10th verse.

[0:14] The prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 41 and verse 10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee. Yea, I will help thee. Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

[0:44] Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee. Yea, I will help thee. Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

[1:07] I do hope and trust that we might have the witness today, by the Holy Spirit, of the suitability of this word to one and another in this house of God.

[1:31] The word itself was not really with me till the latter part of yesterday. And through the night season it bubbled up and we must bring this word before you.

[1:48] It is a suitable word. It is a word of which I pray the Lord will not allow us to steal, but according to the mercy and goodness of the Lord, that he might indeed lay it upon our hearts and in our pathways.

[2:09] The fear not in the word of God are not surplus. The children of God know this. Because there's many fears. And I believe this word is particularly suitable to the present and to the future pathway of the Church of Christ and the individual believers in Jesus.

[2:33] Because while you and I travel in this wilderness there will be many things that will bring us to fear. And we might first say this, where does fear come from?

[2:48] The fall. That's where it comes from. There wasn't any fear, you know, when God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the garden.

[3:00] But fear entered when sin entered. I looked at it just before we came into the Lord's house. In the third of Genesis we find that the Lord God walked in the cool of the day in the garden.

[3:18] And he said, Adam, where art thou? And we read that Adam's reply to this was, Behold, I heard thy voice and I was afraid.

[3:32] Something we don't perhaps realise or understand fully. What it must have been to be in a sinless condition. As Adam and Eve were created. And God was their creator.

[3:44] But I believe some of us have to confess with true sorrow we know something of what it is to fear because of sin.

[3:55] And you know, one of the greatest enemies to the Church of Christ is that unbelief that lies in our heart.

[4:06] And amongst the people of God, of course, it is known only. Because it's not a trouble to the unbeliever. Unbelief is something that only God's children know.

[4:20] And it matters not how wondrously the Lord has appeared for them in their pathway. Blessed them with his help, his support, his strength, his grace.

[4:34] As they come into the times when things are tried and the pathway is hard and difficult. The natural man, that old heart of unbelief that beats in our breasts.

[4:48] The natural man turns to fear. Turns to fear. And indeed if Satan is active against the work of divine grace and in an alliance with our old nature.

[5:04] Oh, how he distresses the people of God by this dreadful fear. And indeed it calls Satan the ability of God.

[5:16] Will call into question the things that the Lord has done. And will call into question whether you are in the way right or not.

[5:30] Now this is a word spoken by the Lord. It's a thus saith the Lord. And it's spoken into the pathway and into the hearts of the people of God.

[5:42] No matter what their condition or experience at the moment is. Or that it might be. Because I feel there is the present blessing here.

[5:53] The blessing of this word is suitable for the present. And is also suitable for the future pathway.

[6:05] And I did wonder in my mind whether there was in the Lord's house today such that have before them a pathway in which they are to walk.

[6:18] A pathway they know that they shall have to be obedient to. A pathway which Satan on the one hand tugs at them to turn away from and have nothing to do with.

[6:35] But indeed a pathway which by the constraining grace and love and mercy of God they know that it is set before them to walk. And I tell you this also.

[6:50] That in such a pathway as this they may be brought to wonder whether they shall be able to walk uprightly in it. That they shall not bring shame or reproach upon the cause of Christ in the earth.

[7:04] And they will look too. And my friends the more you look inside your heart the more you'll fear. The more you'll look at the waves and the billows.

[7:16] The more you'll sink. But the Lord help you. Whoever you are. And whatever pathway the Lord has designed, appointed and exercised you about.

[7:29] That you may know this. And my friends what I seek to pray for here is that the Lord will speak this into your heart. I can say to you, fear thou not.

[7:41] But my friends there's no power in my words. None whatsoever. They come from sin polluted lips. But if the Lord should say, it may be in your exercise, in your heart, in the silent watches of the night.

[8:00] It might be as you go about, your daily calling or business or in the home. Whatever that may be. Wherever you are found. If the Lord should but whisper.

[8:12] And you know it is but a still small voice. And if he should say to you, fear thou not. Now we apply it when he speaks. And as we read in the word of God, where the word of a king is, there's power.

[8:27] Because my friends, when the Lord speaks to his sweet power. Gracious power. And that soul is brought to believe it. Fear thou not.

[8:37] And I would say this too, if the Lord has such an exercised person here. And indeed, how often Satan hinders the people of God in all their exercises.

[8:54] But my friends, as one embarks upon a new pathway. As one enters on a new exercise. As we indeed are brought from time to time to go to and to walk into places we have not walked in before.

[9:11] Or seasons of affliction. And some in seasons of bereavement. And sorrow. And loss. And trial. But my friends, this is the blessing. Oh may the Lord write it in the heart.

[9:24] Write it upon your heart. In such a gracious way. So that you can look at it and know and feel and hear the voice of the Lord in it.

[9:35] Fear thou not. Fear thou not. You know, I don't know how you start your Sundays. I can't tell how you start your Sundays. But I know how I start mine.

[9:47] And my friends, if the Lord's not in it. Then I must stop. If the Lord's not with us. I can't go. Moses, the man of God, in the 33rd of Exodus said, in answer to the promise, the Lord said to Moses, having threatened to withdraw his presence because of the sins of Israel.

[10:09] The Lord spoke to Moses, that most gracious word, my presence shall go with thee. And I will give thee rest. But it was an honest heart that was in Moses.

[10:22] A heart of grace. And he said this, and have you come here sometimes? If thy presence go not with me. Carry us not up hence. Fear thou not.

[10:34] For I am with thee. And you know, I believe if you got a tender conscience. And grace has given you a tender conscience. You wouldn't embark on anything.

[10:47] And you wouldn't put a step in the pathway. Until you was assured. That your God was with you in it. Because my friends. When the Lord is in a matter.

[11:00] He will make it known he's in the matter. And he'll make it known first. By his presence. His promised presence. But then you can be well assured of this.

[11:12] And that's not stealing. You can be well assured of this. That when the Lord's presence is there. His blessing's there. The two go together. The Lord is not in something.

[11:22] And not to bless. And the Lord doesn't bless if he's not in something. Fear thou not. For I am with thee. Or you may be. Full of trepidation.

[11:34] Full of fear. As to whether it is this. The will of the Lord in the matter. And I believe my friends. The people of God know these places. Where there is a seeking to know.

[11:46] The will of the Lord may be revealed. That it is the way to walk. I looked at another word. This morning too.

[11:59] In the book of Genesis. In that 46th chapter. Where the. Or rather the 45th to start with.

[12:09] Where Joseph. In Egypt makes himself. Known to his brethren. And at the end of that. 45th chapter. He sends. To collect his.

[12:21] Father. And all those. That are. Of his father. To come down into Egypt. And. We read that.

[12:32] He said this. Now. Thou art commanded. This do ye. Take you wagons out of the land of Egypt. For your little ones. For your wives. And bring your father. And come. Come. And so the children of Israel.

[12:44] Did so. And Joseph gave them. Gave them wagons. And they came to Jacob. And they said unto him. Jacob. Joseph is still. Is yet alive.

[12:55] And he is governor. Over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted. For he believed them not. And he told him all the words of Joseph. And which he had said unto them.

[13:06] And when he saw the wagons. When he saw the wagons. Which Joseph had sent to carry. In the spirit of Jacob. Their father revived. Have you been there?

[13:18] Been in that place. When the Lord has. Directed you. Appointed you. Led you into a thing. And you've had to say. Your heart's fainted.

[13:30] Because you could hardly believe. The truth of it. But my friends. When the Lord shows you the wagons. What are the wagons? Spiritually considered. Precious promises.

[13:42] Precious promises of the wagons. But then I come to this. The 46th chapter. And Israel took his journey. With all that he had. And came to Beersheba.

[13:54] And offered sacrifices. Unto the God of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel. In the visions of the night. And said Jacob. Jacob. And he said.

[14:05] Here am I. And he said. I am God. The God of thy father. Fear not. Fear not. You know.

[14:16] That wouldn't be wrong. To say. Would it? There's Joseph in Egypt. Let's go. But. But. Jacob was an exercised person. And he was a person.

[14:27] That had known sorrow. And. Trial. And. And grief. In the pathway. But my friends. When the. When Joseph sent the wagons.

[14:38] The Lord was in it. And the Lord said. To Joseph. To Jacob. Fear not. To go down. Fear not. To go down into Egypt.

[14:49] For I will there. Make of thee. A great nation. I will go down with thee. Into Egypt. And I will. Also. Surely. Bring thee up again.

[15:00] And Joseph. Shall put his hand. Upon thine eyes. For us. Oh I would say this again. And I don't know why. I keep on. But. There is this.

[15:11] Necessity. In the pathway. Of every one of us. If we fear God. First of all. That we might be lifted. Above and out of our fears. That our eyes may be.

[15:23] On Jesus Christ. But also this. That in whatever circumstance. Or situation. Or place. Or exercise. The Lord has brought you into.

[15:37] That you may know this. I am is with thee. That glorious word. That covers everything. When Moses said to the Lord.

[15:48] In the backside of the desert. Who shall I say sent me. And God said. I am what I am. The glorious.

[15:59] Gracious. All sufficient. God of all grace. And the father of all mercies. Is in this word. Fear thou not. For I am with thee.

[16:10] Now. Jacob then was to. Go to Egypt. And he had the Lord's. Approbation. And he had the Lord's. Blessing. And he had the Lord's.

[16:21] Presence. And my friends. That's the exercise. That should be in your heart. And mine. As we gather in the Lord's house. That the Lord is here. And not only in his house.

[16:34] But also in our pathways. And in all the things. Which the Lord has purpose. To bring us in. Well what does one hymn writer say.

[16:46] Fear not. I am with thee. O be not dismayed. I, I. And thy God. And will still give thee aid.

[16:58] I'll strengthen thee. Help thee. And cause thee to stand. Upheld by my righteous. Omnipotent hand. Fear thou not.

[17:10] For I am with thee. But then this. It may be. That you have now to walk. A pathway. Which. Is. Completely.

[17:21] On your own. And I would. Be tender here. I'm not speaking. Only of personal things. But. You know. The Lord's people. Know what it is to walk.

[17:33] A pathway alone. They are shut up. In a pathway. And they can't get out. And it may be too. That you have found. In this pathway.

[17:44] That. Very few understand it. Very few know. What it is you are walking in. And are under. And so. They can't be of any help.

[17:55] They can't be of any strength. They can't be of any comfort. And you may find too. That. In this pathway. There's a leaving behind.

[18:07] Of everything else. That would be a strength. Or a prop. Or a support. For you in it. But you know. When the. When the Lord's in a matter.

[18:20] You won't. You'll know this blessing. And my friends. You'll walk in a measure. As Christ did. Christ's pathway. Was. Not only a most.

[18:32] Painful pathway. A most. Lonely pathway. But it was also. An example. To his people. The. Lord Jesus Christ. As he came down.

[18:43] To. The. Gethsemane's garden. And from. Gethsemane. To. The judgment hall. And then to. Calvary. He walked.

[18:54] The pathway alone. And God hath chosen. You know. And appointed. For his people. That they shall. Know what it is. To walk the hardest. Path. Alone.

[19:05] Now. This word. Is a comfort. Then to those. That are in this place. When. You're. Devoid. Of support. And strength. Of other people.

[19:17] Or interest. Or concern. You might come. With that hymn. In our book. Homes. A word. Which. I would feel. That is not out of place.

[19:28] In this. Discourse. At the moment. And you might come here. And this my friend. Is the blessing. Weak in myself.

[19:39] In him. I'm strong. His spirit's voice. I hear. The way I walk. Cannot be wrong. If Jesus. Be but there.

[19:50] Now. That's the essential. It really doesn't matter. What friends or foes. Will say. Or speak. Or oppose. But what does matter.

[20:00] Is the Lord. In the matter. What does matter. Is the presence. Of the Lord. And you may. As I've said. Walk this path. Alone. But you're walking. In dependence.

[20:10] Upon your God. And you're proving this. That. Though. There are. That we. Human beings. Are changeable. And finite.

[20:22] And finicky. And yet. My friends. What you are proving this. Well. What will you prove. God's faithfulness. Because. He doesn't change.

[20:35] The apostle. In the Hebrew. Said. Be content. With such things. As you have. For. He has said. I will never leave thee.

[20:46] Nor forsake thee. But then it comes. Like this. To me. Fear thou not. For I am with thee. Is there someone here. That's turning back. Is there someone here.

[20:57] That's. Finds. The pathway. Too hard. The road. Too rough. The opposition. Too great. Did. Find that.

[21:08] Well. Indeed. Jacob. Himself. Said. All these things. Are against me. And I've come to the time. Where they're going to turn back. Who is the one here.

[21:19] Like Jonah. Jonah. Was a servant of God. Commissioned of God. Of things. But uncomfortable things. And he was. Sent to Nineveh. But Jonah.

[21:30] You know. Had a nature. All so. Much alike. Are we not a Tarshish. It wouldn't be. So hard work. It wouldn't be.

[21:40] So embarrassing. It wouldn't be. A possibility. Of being set at naught. By evil men. Yeah. He'll go to Tarshish. But the Lord.

[21:51] Raised him up. To go to Nineveh. And into Nineveh. He must come. And at Nineveh. He must speak. And God said to him. When he delivered him. From the whale's belly.

[22:03] And you know. He learnt more. In that place. That I would feel. That he ever learnt. Before. He was brought. Of all helps. He was.

[22:14] Found. At the bottom. Of the mountains. He said. And the weeds. Have. Gone around. My head. But he learnt. What did he learn. He learned. Two things.

[22:24] He learnt. What it was. To be under. Gracious faith. Yet will I look again. Towards thy holy temple. And he was brought. To this. Salvation. Is of the Lord.

[22:35] You my friends. If God's put you. A pathway. That he's put in front of you. And exercised. Your soul. You must go. You must go.

[22:47] If God's put a pathway. And exercise. In your soul. And you're thinking. Of going to Tarshish. And you know. When the Lord's people. Start. Looking to the word.

[22:57] Of God. To see why they shouldn't go. They're only looking. For excuses. But Jonah. Must go. And so must you. Whoever you are. But you'll go.

[23:07] With this. And you'll go. With this. Glorious. Promise. Fear thou not. For I am. With thee. Remember.

[23:18] When. You might have said. This here before. But when the Lord. Exercised me. To join the church. At Hanover. We went. And told. One of the deacons. Of the exercise.

[23:30] Oh. Satan. Said at work. At me. Five o'clock. In the morning. The following morning. Showed me. What confusion. I'd come to. Showed me.

[23:41] That I. That I'll say. That set me at nought. And turn me away. And turn me down. And all that sort of thing. And I listened to Satan. But the Lord spoke.

[23:55] And the Lord spoke. And took it all away. Took all the opposition away. And all the fears. All the unbelief. Some of you know this path. Others. May well be walking in it.

[24:06] But the Lord said. No man. Having put his hand to the plough. And looking back. Is fit for the kingdom. Fear thou not.

[24:16] For I am with thee. So you may be in a path. Which. The Lord has brought you in. Previously. Directed you into. Led you into. You can look back.

[24:28] To the words. And comforts. Of the word. In his heart. As he. As you waited on him. And now. You may be. At this place. And juncture. And experience. Where you.

[24:39] You fear. That it's coming to naught. And you might as well. Turn back. The disciples. You know. At the close. Of the chapters. In John's gospel. At the day of resurrection.

[24:51] What did they do? They went fishing. And Jesus had took them out. Of fishing. They can leave that profession. To someone else. That's not their profession. Anymore. They are to.

[25:02] Preach the gospel. Of Jesus Christ. Ah. But there was. That in the heart. Of Peter. And they all agreed. We go fishing. And. What do we find? They caught nothing.

[25:13] My friends. Where you are. If you're where God. Would have you be. His blessing is there. If you're where God. Would not have you be. There's no blessing.

[25:25] The pathway. Of disobedience. The Lord. Will never smile on. The pathway. Of disobedience. The Lord. Will chasten you. And frown.

[25:35] Upon that pathway. And so they caught nothing. Fear thou not. For I am with thee. And though.

[25:47] All hell should. Attempt. To overthrow your hope. Or to bring you to naught. Because I feel my friends this. If I know anything.

[25:59] Of the leadings. And gracious exercises. Of any. Of the people of God. It is this. That having been led.

[26:09] Directed. Into a pathway. Which you know. Is right. And you know. The Lord's led you. And here you are now. Fighting against the revealed. Will and purposes of God.

[26:21] And speaking of going back. And walking no more. In this path. My friends. What will. What will comfort you. And what will enable you.

[26:32] To continue in the path. Is this. I am with thee. And your approval. I have already said. That though you are unfaithful. Though you are insufficient.

[26:43] God is all sufficient. Fear thou not. For I am with thee. And I looked at one more scripture. You will pardon me. Wandering through the word of God.

[26:54] But I looked at that. Occasion. Again. In the life of Jacob. Much earlier than. Previously. We. Read. And.

[27:06] Jacob left his father's home. Under somewhat of a cloud. Wasn't it. What you might call. Stole the blessing. A usurper. That the Lord was even in those things.

[27:19] He's not the author of sin. Neither of confusion. But it was overruled. For the purposes of the church of Christ. But he came.

[27:31] As we. Mentioned I think in prayer. At the prayer meeting. He came to the place. Which was afterward. Called. Bethel. And there he laid.

[27:42] His head down to rest. That night. Under the stars. And there he had that heavenly vision. Of. A ladder. That was set up on earth.

[27:55] And the top of it reached to heaven. The angels of God. Ascending and descending on it. And the Lord spoke. That Jacob was a type of a.

[28:06] Child of God you know. One that you wouldn't. Perhaps. Would have. Been brought to see. In your own pathway. One that. Had two natures.

[28:18] An old man of sin. And a new man of grace. Ah. But the Lord met him on that pathway. On that place. At Bethel. And he spoke some precious words to him.

[28:30] Words which he shall. Be able to rest upon. And words that you shall rest upon. In your pathway. And these are the words.

[28:41] And behold. I am with thee. I feel that's a wonderful promise. Behold. I am with thee. And will keep thee in all places.

[28:52] Whither thou goest. And will bring thee again into this land. For I will not leave thee. Until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

[29:06] Which brings me to this thought. When the Lord brings his people to places. Where he will have them be. And I'm not speaking only of the Lord's servants here.

[29:18] But all his family. Every one of them should be. Will be under the gracious leadings of God in the matter. As they travel through this wilderness.

[29:30] Let me say this to the encouragement of those who know this path. First of all the promise of the Lord's presence. And that the Lord will bring thee again into this land.

[29:45] But then this. The Lord will not forsake his people. Neither will he forsake his promises. You've got some lodged in your heart somewhere.

[29:57] You've got something the Lord put there. In the beginnings of your ways. You've got something the Lord has exercised you about. Since he brought you into this pathway.

[30:10] Words. Promises. Exercises. Persuasions. That came from the Lord. And you've had many a time in private. To lay it before the Lord. To remind the Lord what he said.

[30:24] And there you've laid your hope. And there you rest. Upon the unchangeableness of God. The faithfulness of God. In his presence.

[30:35] And also in his promises. But we have here something which is very sweet. For I will not leave thee. Until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

[30:51] Those things which you are exercised about. Whoever you are today. Those exercises. Those promises. Those promises. Those things which shall be accomplished in your path.

[31:05] Impossibilities the devil says. But God will work. And who shall let him. Behold. I am with thee. And will keep thee.

[31:18] In all places. Whither thou goest. And will bring thee again into this land. For I will not leave thee. Until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

[31:31] Things to be accomplished. Pathways to be realised. Blessings to be known. Fear thou not.

[31:42] For I am with thee. The presence of the Lord. But then you might be brought into some. And I would feel this. To be equally a part of the pathway.

[31:57] You will be brought into perhaps. Deep waters to travel through. Deep waters to be travelled through. They are.

[32:08] In the pathway of the people of God. The Lord Jesus said in me. You shall have peace in the world. You shall have tribulation. Spiritual tribulation.

[32:20] Oppositions to the path. Friends and foes unite against the pathway. Satan stirs up trouble. Fear thou not.

[32:33] For I am with thee. There is no change with the Lord. My friends. When the children. When those three Hebrew children. Were brought to bow.

[32:46] Before the idolatrous idol. They couldn't do so. Because of the fear of God. They were given an opportunity. To do so again.

[32:58] And they failed to do so. Their trust. Their faith. Their hope was in their God. Now for this. That wicked king threw them.

[33:09] Into a burning. Fiery furnace. And he bound them first. I think we may notice.

[33:20] I feel we ought to notice. When we read the word of God. Such things. Those things which. May at first sight be. Well. Insignificant. Of no importance.

[33:32] That evil king bound them. And threw them into the fire. Fire. And then he had to say. Did we not cast three men. Into the fire. I see.

[33:45] Four men walking. And the full. Form of the fourth. Was like unto the son of God. Do you know anything about. Jesus Christ. In the fire. Do you know anything about.

[33:57] The presence of Christ. In your deep troubles. In the deep anxieties. In the oppositions. In the things which now. Have come into your path.

[34:08] You look not for. But you know. There's blessings here. To be realized. By the people of God. Oh we don't choose. Furnaces. We don't choose fires.

[34:20] We don't ask for trouble. When we pray. Do we. But my friends. This is the blessing. I am with thee. In the fire. But there's some other blessing.

[34:31] That went with it. When the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is with his people. There's liberty. They walked at last. These three. Hebrew children. No bonds.

[34:42] They now were set at liberty. They were delivered. From the evilness. Of that wicked. Foolish king. And they walked with Christ. That's what they did.

[34:52] In the fire. Do you know something of this. Fear thou not. For I am with thee. The Lord Jesus Christ. In the fire. The Lord Jesus Christ.

[35:04] In your trouble. The Lord Jesus Christ. With you. In the distress. Affliction. Sorrow. In the opposition. As you walk alone.

[35:16] With these things. And in these pathways. That you have this. Best of all blessings. My friends. There isn't a better blessing. There's not a blessing.

[35:27] Not a better blessing. This side of glory. That the people of God. Should know the presence of Christ. With them. In the trial. In the trouble. In the wilderness journey.

[35:40] No wonder. My friends. The Lord. I was going to say. Is self-explanatory. In his promises. Isn't he? When the Lord promises. To be with his people. There isn't room for fear.

[35:52] There isn't a place. For fear. Fear. And where he is. There isn't any fear. You know. There's a lot of people. That have. That look towards. The day of their.

[36:04] Dissolution. And. By. All nature's standards. Which is full. And of course. Are full of fear. How shall I stand. The trying day.

[36:16] What will happen. When I come down. To the hour. An article of death. And what fear. Rises in the heart. But my friends. Hasn't it been proved. Hasn't it been proved.

[36:28] When the Lord's people. Come down. To their last days. And their last hours. That. Though the. Tabernacle. Is being taken down.

[36:39] Strength and health. Is being reduced. And afflictions. Gain the whole. Doesn't it prove. That the inner man. Has been strengthened. And hasn't it been proved.

[36:50] That even in that. Sad hour. And article of death. That the Lord. Is with his people. Fear thou not. For. I am with thee. And.

[37:01] Where the Lord's. In a matter. In the beginning. The Lord. Will be in the matter. In the midst of it all. And he'll bring his people. Safely through.

[37:12] And to their eternal. Home above. Love. Oh I feel. This is a word then. For. Such that. Are. Found. In a venture in place.

[37:24] Or. Would venture. That. Find. Much. Hindrance. And much. Opposition. Perhaps. By. Various. Forms.

[37:34] And ways. But. Wonder. Whether to walk. And wonder. Whether it is right. They should walk. In these pathways. And I don't limit. The pathway.

[37:45] To spiritual. Neither do I limit. The pathway. To. Those things. Which concern. The church. But whatever exercise. God's people.

[37:55] Are brought into. And. The leadings. Of the Lord. In their. Exercises. To reveal. To them. The pathway. All the fears. That prevail. But no.

[38:07] Fear thou not. For I am. With thee. But then. My friends. To fear. Is a dishonour. Isn't it? It's a dishonour.

[38:19] To your God. He that has helped me. Hitherto. Will help me. All my journey through. And give me.

[38:29] Daily calls. To raise. New Ebeneezers. To his praise. Go back to the Ebeneezers. You've raised. In your life. Go back to the times. Of blessing.

[38:39] And I would feel this. That you've vowed. With the Lord. That you'll go. Whithersoever. That he'll lead you. But you see.

[38:51] That hymn. I just quoted. Starts like this. Be still. My heart. These anxious cares. To thee. Are burdens.

[39:02] Thorns. And snares. They cast. His honour. On thy Lord. And contradict. His gracious word. Brought safely. By his hand.

[39:13] Thus far. Why dost thou. Now. Give place. To fear. And my friends. That's where you are. Isn't it? Having. You've got to. You can look back.

[39:24] On your Ebeneezers. You can look back. On the leadings. Of the Lord. And you can look. Back. On the times. When you. Had to say. With shame. And confusion. Of face.

[39:35] The Lord. Was right. He is in the matter. But you know. When the Lord. Withdraws. His felt presence. Want to be careful here. Because I don't want to.

[39:46] Discourage anybody. But when the Lord. Withdraws. His. Felt presence. Then. Darkness. Descends. And doubts.

[39:56] Appear. But my friends. He doesn't take away. All. He doesn't take away. His. Presence. From his people.

[40:07] But he does sometimes. Remove his. Felt presence. But what's it for. Well first of all. To. Try the faith. And strengthen the faith.

[40:20] Fear thou not. For I am. With thee. And though you may not. Feel. His presence. There was.

[40:31] There is there. Here room. For the exercise. Of. Living faith. Exercise. Of faith. In what he has. Already said.

[40:42] In what he has. Already done. And to continue. Fear thou not. For I am. With thee.

[40:54] Be not dismayed. For I am. Thy God. I will. Strengthen thee. Yea. I will. Help thee. Yea.

[41:05] I will. Uphold thee. With the right hand. Of my righteousness. Before these words. Dropped us. From my spirit. Last night. Let me just.

[41:17] Give you. Just. A brief view. Of the pathway. Of God's servants. On the one side. They are waiting on him.

[41:28] Because they know. He can't fail. And because he won't fail. On the other side. My friends. You deserve. That he will fail.

[41:39] Because. Satan will show you. Your sins. All your misgivings. Will show you. All your slips. And falls. And you say to the Lord. If you took away.

[41:50] Your presence. You will be just. But the Lord. Doesn't answer prayer. That way. It's despite sin. It's despite. Unbelief.

[42:01] It's despite. That evil heart. Of wickedness. That beats within us. These promises. Are given. These promises. Don't rest. On the merit. Of man.

[42:12] My friends. They don't rest. On your goodness. And on your righteousness. It doesn't rest. On anything. But this. The faithfulness. Of God.

[42:23] I learned. Years ago. This truth. If God. If thou. O Lord. Should mark iniquity. O Lord. Who shall stand. And I fell. Before that word.

[42:33] Not so many miles. From his chapel. I learned. Then my friends. If God. Was strict. To mark iniquity. You and I. Will never stand. But I say.

[42:43] This morning. That despite. All our slips. And all our falls. And all our wickednesses. And all our sins. The Lord. Is faithful. To his people.

[42:55] Because he's in covenant. Engagement. To them. Fear thou not. For I am. With thee. Be not dismayed. For I am.

[43:06] Thy God. Oh. My friends. I can tell you. Honestly. That I've. Sometimes. Drew near. To the services. Of his house. And I know.

[43:17] Full well. That he'll help me. But I know. Full well. My unbelief. Also. And I know this. That if the Lord. Withdrew his presence. I couldn't say.

[43:27] A word against him. Be not dismayed. For I am. Thy God. I will strengthen thee. Yea. I will help thee. Yea.

[43:37] I will uphold thee. With the right hand. Of my righteousness. Amen.