Ecclesiastes

[0:00] The first verse in chapter 3 of the book of Ecclesiastes.

[0:15] The book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 and verse 1. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

[0:35] Six days. It took the mighty good of heaven. Six days. To form the earth on heaven and to create man in his own likeness.

[0:52] It was a perfect work because every day, one day succeeded the other.

[1:05] And my friends, that what was accomplished then is still remains. We have day and night.

[1:16] And we have winter and summer. We have the spring and we have the sowing and the harvest.

[1:28] Nothing's been altered. But amidst it all, since man fell, it's been a checkered world.

[1:38] And we have proof of that even in the solemn times in which we live. Though, as a land, we have been spared much that others are passing through.

[1:59] It's a checkered world. And as the apostle said, wrote, Our God is a consuming part.

[2:13] And yet, throughout the word of God, from the time sin entered, and our first parents fell, and even on to now, and will be to the end, there is a work, a season and a time, and a purpose concerning all.

[2:41] I remember an oldish man telling me that he was on the hills and Cotswold hills.

[3:00] There were three of them, three men, in the olden things. And a purple storm came, a thunderstorm, to sought refuge under an edge.

[3:22] And he stood in the open field. When he looked under the edge, they were gone into eternity.

[3:36] That never took place, without the knowledge of God. It was a time. Yet it had no other effect on him beyond that it was said.

[3:56] It never brought him to ponder the feet and the steps he was in. Never showed him to be a sinner.

[4:11] So you see, some purposes, there is judgment of God in him and no mercy. You see, he's sovereign in all his ways and in all his acts.

[4:31] So, there is not anything taking place on the old earth unknown to him. If it's for the destruction of nations, it happens.

[4:46] If it's for the salvation of a country, we have experienced as a country twice in a man before, generation before, God's particular care over us as a country.

[5:03] And I would set it before you young people in a special way in two instances in our life and life of those old enough to remember. He raised up men of wisdom, men that he gave wisdom to and to guide us not only did he himself appear and while occasion when our enemy was near our shores, he called a thick fog salving that they could not move any nearer to our shores.

[5:47] We would remember these things. Whatever God appoints in your life and mine and if thou had one that he appointed and got a deep cause for it that you might know his heavenly blessings he will not have a child of God be done.

[6:10] Oh no. He did thou serve hold never to forget how the Lord brought them out of Egypt and led them through the Red Sea and eventually through the wilderness into the promised land.

[6:34] They were to ever remind their children of these things. You won't have this works for God. And I would say with all reverence he will not have you forgetting if you're one of this how he knows how to bring by his almighty power each one that bears his name to remember him.

[7:06] And then they will prove that his works are great and that his salvation which is greatest of all that is watched is given unto fallen men and women and children.

[7:23] He spoke a little of one we traced along from Genesis forward of where God appeared for his children and where he destroyed their enemies.

[7:41] We little thought David no doubt ever thought that he would pen such life language suitable to all God's children in the Psalms or Moses either or Asaph there were several that could write these precious truths to the glory and honor of God and the lay and love of the sinner that it was said from the time that he was delivered Israel be in the hand in the hand of God until he was taken into eternity he had a great deal called to do which he did under the mighty act and power of the living God and so it runs through the whole of the scriptures something mighty was done and when was that accomplished when they looked up to him we little perceive what grace he gives to his children when he favors them you see it was the simplest means that caused the walls of

[9:15] Jericho to fold down and yet they did and when Josaphat's eyes went up to the Lord oh my friends with their enemies all around them God delivered them and Anthor his servants he bid the son to stand still in the moon what can attack God do there will be no infidelities although infidelity will often assail God's people because they have a very bitter enemy in Satan and he will often persuade a child of God that is not one or she is not well and will often accept them to take a step and that they might prove what a liar he is and what a tempter he is that he preserves them

[10:34] God does how he does my friends it's not that which we see stretched out on wood or stone that awful mercury awful mercury they cannot help if they pray it from one year to another but we have a living God a powerful God and the greatest mount of this power lies in this in bringing any and I say any upon this earth to perish name we don't know how many very foolish of us to ever try to number them I believe

[11:36] David was sorry and it was near the end of his days and he numbered all his army and then God came gave him three charges he chose that my friends where they died likely the dreadful disease he lost a great number of them doubt ever number God's people God numbers them there will not be one less and there will not be one more and as we've been singing he molds in a mysterious way his wonders to perform there's no power on earth than give a child a man woman or child grace he can and it is in this way when he caused healing through his savils to sin against him hezekiah did you know with all that God did for him he sent the prophet what is this in thine house in the end to admit he shalt all in his house and to the enemies though there were not enemies now he says they are not in your time but in your sad time all will be carried into

[13:47] Babylon all the treasures all that house of the temple you see God's people they are only what they are in God's sight by his matchless grace and faith in exercise and when they wander from him he visits them where they feel it most and yet he will never cast off one that he chastens it was carried into Babylon time rolled on every day brought something new it do now don't it if you had the mind and had the power and the memory to take every day and 1960 you would find there were many many changeable events even in the day and

[15:00] I could tell you those who God opens the secrets of his eternal mind to us their governor God there have been days that they have been obliged by the Lord's goodness and favor to call the day of the Lord in his gifts in his laden in his supporting you and there have been seasons when he has given you a sweet knowledge that he has remembered you with the favor that he bears to his students his own people without blessing enough we can't sound his name too we cannot lie the sinner too low that that precious

[16:09] Christ may be exalted now let's look one and four for a lot that run through these things being on my mind this last day or two oh it was a big day a day of pride to Nebuchadnezzar you know he thought of that great city that he built or had been built under his dream he looked upon its glories and we have by those that have left the history of it was fine city not only had he power there but all around and what did he cause though he was a man that knew not

[17:14] God it caused that which God hates most and that was pride that was pride we all carry a little of it ever since our first parents were and they loved upon all except the world that they wanted some godly captives the children of God Daniel and the three Hebrew children Daniel afterwards but the three Hebrew children to bow down to a golden image look how God took care of them you see we sometimes in our ministrations leave these things out they say preach

[18:19] Christ preach peace ah Christ is in all these my bring if you have sinned against the saviour you'll be punished for it but you'll not lose salvation he's a jealous God he's Jesus Christ and my friends there was the fiery furnace and you young people known all that I know I used to read it and I said it is good there was something greater than if you could never ever possess pain you say what was that they had the power of God's grace it wonderfully preserved them and my friends that time came and it was a season and it was a time for a great purpose he has a purpose for you and me

[19:39] I hope he had a purpose over 19 years ago to bring me here I couldn't see it when I came has he a purpose for you if he has they're ripe and fast and they'll unfold every hour but you say what was the purpose to prepare a fire for each of you and I will bring the third part through the fire and I will be to them a God and I shall be to the people there's a fire we use sir at night in

[20:43] Nodach calls that fire God it would never took place those men had honoured their God and God was to honour them by revealing to that king who knew nothing of God that he was God not only of those three men but God over all the earth I was reading it this afternoon God over all the earth not a little bit here and a little bit there I believe wherever a child of God lives there's a special care over them by their God and you have special blessings and you have his hand take you in a special way and have led you into special blessings

[21:48] I do there are precious places there no evil shall come near thy dwelling wonderful famous when a covenant God makes known his life to his dear people they played for many yes the king sees them there he held them never took their lives never took their lives at that time they never went to ashes now they were present and for a great purpose under the heaven there is an heavenly one that they come down to the earth he said

[23:04] I see four four men and one is like unto the son of God one of the women he had a night true view of it he saw them come out of that fire untouched by the flood that's God's care over his people sometimes brought his children show affliction and the affliction has been passed and they've been preserved I heard the kiss of a dear godly woman and she was very fond of her beauty and

[24:10] God brought her through the terrible disease we are so little of today small pox and her face was spitted all over when she looked in the looking glass she saw what an awful picture she was but she said this God showed me a far worse picture when I looked within that glass she shouted me my sins and my soul as a villain and I cried for mercy God gave her mercy in his own time

[25:20] God you see your times are in his hands his purposes will come when he sends them they will come from heaven so that my friends it will remain for eternity that before that affliction had left he said one word to us it is the greatest of all blessings but he used that affliction to be the spot and the season and the time and all he said was daughter never said anymore with all that outside and inside revealed to us like us he come over the world and said to us so daughter he shut down on this he knows all the things to me first he took away all the flames and the fire and he broke her bones and he took one out of that affliction as one of his own daughters that's the love of

[27:05] Christ which you're coming to you see the Old Testament and the New are beautifully blended God were grand to it all Daniel in the din of land he never died there only his inn and with all the forsaking of God God never left them that fair to marry him because they were in his covenant of love now before I go forward look at Sone was there any prayer greater than this when he asked for wisdom to guide the people

[28:08] God gave him wisdom and he gave him riches and it gave him honor very great wisdom many riches he married when a daughter he had a great work to do appointed by God to build a temple take that prayer that he used when the temple was had with all its glory and the Lord's name to be placed there he would say could ever such a gracious wise blessed man Paul there only one who keeps the feet of his saints we have to be hard on any that

[29:22] Paul very little sometimes not if we have known what Job did each that where there's nothing perfect in at any rest after the temple being built and the glory of its seed and his wisdom remarkable given more set forth than when those two women that one was dead of their children and the other living the one whose child was dead was claiming the living one they both claimed the living one and you look at the wisdom you see that wisdom that

[30:22] God had given Solomon he took and be that they should be flying to death the life one should be kept in two it was wisdom she brought out the real mother she cried out for her child now God gives that wisdom it's very great about to fear to have wisdom not only the things pertaining to this life but especially for those things pertaining to eternity now let us go to the close of son he worshipped other gods it never took him out of the book of life that he worshipped other gods he listened to those that were not gods you know and opal was a bull he says not in your day he was angry not in your day

[31:58] Solomon but in your son day your kingdom will be ready to you you might say why are you bringing these solemnly before to show you you possess grace when he gives it to you we ask for fresh supplies don't we and it makes one thunder in their old age oh I said look keep us now infirmities increase the power of sin increases in that within and then we need the Lord to keep it brings us to this place what a wonderful gift is the favor and the grace of the

[33:14] Lord Jesus Christ first of all he was given that will not go over again he was given of the father and he had suffering he had suffering of mine before he had suffering of body they called him Beel the prince of devil my friend the savior of sinners the king of kings and the lord of lords Jesus Christ he had brought into that condition by the obedience to his father and the deep purpose and necessity and season from his birth to his death to remove the vile of the temple that law which convicted every one that broke it there was no mercy in it look at the laugh look at the exhortation of his deus hands he died he died he could have took the breath of all that were his enemies in a moment being died why the grand cause was this that his people should live and never know what the cause of death is yet there's not any more tried about the fair to death and day or nor for far but he died he conquered it no hand to dividend him now the angels rowed away astounded them they suffered to him he had done a great mighty work and the gospel and the power of the dear redeemer had gone forth by his whole breath into the hearts of many sinners and it would do us good to just look through his works raising the widow's son only thunder light healing the leper bringing the giving sight to the blind the babble to remember

[37:07] Mary Magdalene and Martha Mary and Lazarus in the abundance of his love that is shedding her heart and that's the greatest blessing he gives you now he ascended up on high he has led captivity captive he has received gifts for men even to the rebellious also glannable favor gas they knew what he was writing in that hymn it is recorded in his book and he was about to go on a preaching journey and he thought he'd have a very comfortable time and he went down and walked down the garden and slipped and broke his leg and instead of going where he thought he had to lay on that bed of affliction and he said

[38:36] I was very fretful some say it was the convincing of this evening he knew what he was talking about we know it it's no use you saying you are not fretful sometimes or that there never arises in your nature that which is opposed to the nature and work of crime sure to be there and it grieves you because you wouldn't have it there and my friend there is this concern when you repent and call sorrow vastly for him his forgiveness with him that he may be figured he has thought many times what that wonderful blessing the sealing of his love to a sinner in my latter days

[39:45] I hope I can say the most blessed visit I had was when he called me a sinner you don't know what we go through when we're in our own quiet places give all that night and you're you're a Judas I had been called a Judas in the open street that was years ago and I would it come that night you're a Judas oh it was a thrush it was a thrush my friend it took the hour of me many to the old of me life and I prayed to the Lord to decide it and it kind so sweet like that was the season

[40:52] God tempts temptation don't think there's a season you know whether of temptation or his love none of it but I shall not forget it sinner I have loved thee not to take me to heaven though I may have many fears do they not to take you to heaven if he ever give you a touch of his love for him oh you see how did that come there though Jesus there is one particular portion in the names of a precious Christ when we approach his name privately or publicly and that is this as the mediator he's your mediator he's your days man he stands between yourself and his father and the blessing comes down it really means what we said this morning the touch of his atoning blood that sets the captive prince seals redemption to the soul now let us look little higher

[42:34] Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever whatever years you and I might see and forever is the same Jesus that wept at the grave of Lazarus the same Jesus man that who came into the Pharisee's house and stood behind him weeping washed his feet with tears and and dried them to be prepared for him wonderful loss he'd shed in her eyes the same

[43:43] Jesus that the Mary took that box of items very precious and united him to be Jesus the same Jesus that said to Martha I am the resurrection and the life believe is thou thee I believe she said thou art the son of God you see there's a great deal and as you read through this chapter there was a time you were born and I always believe there's something very special in the days of honorary generacy of a minister when they're born you know

[44:55] I'm old when I was a baby I was laid ready to be placed in the coffin that was the next thing they were going to do with this man but there was a very light movement when I was born there was no one near my mother and she gave me to the Lord living or dying she gave me to the Lord after that I was able and you see in my days of honorary generacy my life was spared although

[45:58] I was not strong for years now many thought of my friends I should go out of this life into eternity when I was 21 years of age there was something special not revealed to me until some years after which I carried 22 years before God opened a way for the ministry before I formed in the womb I sanctified to be a prophet unto the nations what has happened there was a time and there was a purpose and it was under heaven if you had said to those old pilgrims when

[47:06] I was 40 years of age that I should live to my age they said I can't believe it ah my friends there's a special special care over God's terms so we have to be careful about it every weapon that formed against them shall fail every tongue that rises against them in judgment who will condemn it to serve them they will have condemnation to against them ah my friend they notice come to the family yes every son and every daughter who thou toucheth them toucheth the apple of mine eye that's his love bound round them covenant love special protection special deliverance and special blessings happy is that so that that the

[48:34] God of Jacob for their help now blessed souls and that blessing is manifested this way you can take child of God wherever you are wherever you live you take it on your lips and exposed it in your heart you can't there has been to are you