1 Chronicles

[0:00] I can but venture this evening in directing your minds to the first book of Chronicles, 16th chapter, reading verses 28 and 29.

[0:14] First book of Chronicles, chapter 16, reading verses 28 and 29. Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.

[0:39] Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name. Bring an offering and come before him.

[0:54] Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Amen. Lord, help us first of all to come to the 28th verse.

[1:14] The Lord knows that it has been my own heartfelt desire, even this day, that we may be favoured together this evening to truly come a little into this sacred experience.

[1:37] For what great need we have to come before God and to render unto him the glory that is due to his name.

[1:58] I feel this especially, and the Lord knows why I feel it. I realise that if we are to be favoured to really come into the experience of these things tonight, that we shall need humbling grace.

[2:18] We shall need the sacred spirit of truth to come into our hearts.

[2:28] that we may be really favoured to come into this blessed posture. And I felt that these lines particularly were mine.

[2:46] And I hope that they will be ours together this evening. Father, thy quickening spirit send.

[2:58] From heaven in Jesus' name. To make our waiting minds attend. And put our souls in frame.

[3:12] And this is what we need. If we are to be favoured to glorify God. Give unto the Lord ye kindreds of the people.

[3:28] I believe that the meaning of the word kindred really is this. Those that are blood relations. In other words, those that belong to one family.

[3:45] One family. And there is a hymn which says this. And how true it is.

[3:56] There is a family on earth. Whose father fills the throne. And this is so true concerning this family.

[4:11] And this family. And this family are those that are bought with a promise. They are the whole election of grace really.

[4:25] And this kindred. And this kindred. In its greatest extent. Are those who.

[4:35] From Adam's day. To this. And to the end of this dispensation. Till the whole election of grace.

[4:48] Are engathered into the fold. Tis to these. I believe. That this word refers.

[5:01] But may the Lord help us together this evening. To you dear friends here at Huffington. Because. I believe in this place.

[5:14] There are still those. Who through mercy. Have been brought into this family. Those that have been. Born again.

[5:27] Quickened into life. Brought into a concern. And through these things. And through the Spirit's teaching.

[5:39] Those. That have not only been brought to Jesus. But have been favored. To hear his voice. That have been favored.

[5:50] With that witness within. I realize too. That there may well be those. Who are exceedingly tried.

[6:01] As to their relationship. To the people of God. But if this is a real concern to you. Am I quickened.

[6:12] By his Spirit. Live a life of faith and prayer. Desiring to trust. Alone upon Jesus. Merit.

[6:24] Desiring to cast upon him. All your care. Daily panting. In his likeness to appear. Well that very exercise.

[6:34] Reveals. That you are among those. That have passed from death. Unto life. And another word. Says this. I know it's often been misused.

[6:48] Nevertheless. It's true. Could we come in with this. Have we come in with this. We know. That we have passed.

[6:59] From death unto life. Because we love the brethren. Have we ever really felt a love to the brethren. Dear friends.

[7:11] As you gather here. At Huffington. And in Huffington Chapel. Do you know what it is. To feel a love to the brethren here. Why do you love them.

[7:27] Because. I believe. You have seen. The reflection. Of Christ's image in them. You've been favoured. To feel this.

[7:37] And see it. And because. There is that. Within your own heart. That is drawn to them.

[7:47] Not because of what they are. By nature. But because. Of the grace of God. That through grace.

[7:58] Has been manifested in them. And in their lives. Give. Unto the Lord.

[8:09] Ye kindreds of the people. Ye kindreds of the people. Give. Unto the Lord. Glory.

[8:22] And strength. Now I have been. Exercised to. Know. What this really means.

[8:34] And first of all. I would just venture. To turn to. The acts of the apostles. Because there we have. The apostle Paul's. Paul's.

[8:45] Sacred. Description. Of God. And. As he saw. That inscription. To the unknown God. In Athens.

[8:57] And as his spirit. Was stirred. Within him. And as he had been. Brought to know. This God. For himself. And this had. First.

[9:07] Commenced to. Take place. As it concerned. Him in this life. Upon the Damascus road. But he says.

[9:19] Whom therefore. Ye ignorantly. Worship. Him. Declare I unto you. God. That made the world. And all things therein.

[9:31] Seeing that he is. Lord of heaven and earth. And dwelleth not in temples. Made with hands. Neither is worshipped with men's hands.

[9:41] As though he needed anything. I hope presently to show why I have read this. And I feel I must continue with it.

[9:52] As though he needed anything. Seeing. He giveth to all life. And breath. And all things. And hath made of one blood.

[10:06] All nations of men. For to dwell. On all the face of the earth. And hath determined. The times before appointed. And the bounds of their habitation.

[10:19] That they should seek the Lord. If happily they might feel after him. And find him. Though he be not far from every one of us.

[10:32] For in him we live. And move. And have our being. For as much then as we are. The offspring of God.

[10:45] We ought not to think that the Godhead. Is like unto gold. Or silver. Or stone. Graven. By art. And man's device.

[10:57] There you have. A sacred description. Of this great God. And the apostle speaks.

[11:08] Concerning him. As though he needed anything. He is almighty. He is all powerful. He is wisdom itself.

[11:23] But what then can this word mean. And I have desired the Holy Spirit. To reveal it to me. And I. Can but venture with.

[11:33] What I hope. Has been shown me. In this. Give unto the Lord. Glory and strength. We cannot add to his glory.

[11:44] In that sense. That we have been reading about it. We cannot add to his strength. Because he is all powerful.

[11:55] And we receive our strength from him. We receive if we are favoured with. That glory. And especially.

[12:07] That glory that is in Christ Jesus. Which is made known. To poor sinners. As he is revealed. To those that are born from above.

[12:19] As their saviour. Their redeemer. Their all and in all. Well what can this mean. Give unto the Lord.

[12:31] Glory and strength. And I venture with this. Hoping that it may indeed prove. To be from the Lord.

[12:41] God. The Lord in his dealings. With his dear people. He blesses them.

[12:52] He blesses them. In their lives. He blesses them. With providential blessings. He blesses them.

[13:04] With spiritual blessings. And if we are held to rightly view. Providential blessings. And spiritual blessings.

[13:15] Then I believe we shall be favoured. To see in it. A measure at least. Of the glory of God. In his power.

[13:27] And love. And majesty. And mercy. And to think that. He should condescend. To stoop to men.

[13:37] Of low estate. To think that he should. Bless his people at all. But he does bless them. Give unto the Lord.

[13:48] Glory. And strength. Now I believe. And this is what we so need. We need.

[13:59] The Holy Spirit. To so work in our hearts. That we may give. Unto the Lord. That. Which he has given us. We may give unto the Lord.

[14:12] That which he has given us. You might say. Well what do you mean? But if we think for a moment.

[14:23] Of. How. God's glory. Is reflected. In his mercy. And goodness. Toward his creatures. In all that he provides.

[14:35] For them. And in that which he does. For them. And in that which. As he reveals it. And what a mercy. To have this revealed.

[14:46] That. Whatever we have. We have received. From God. Whatever we possess. In this life. We have received. From God. All things.

[14:59] Come from him. And how. I believe. That the Lord. Reflects. His glory. And his majesty.

[15:10] And his power. In. These things. And. And then. As it concerns. Spiritual things. How.

[15:21] God's glory. Is reflected. In and through. Jesus Christ. In and through. Jesus Christ. Would we say.

[15:32] His brightest glory. Here it shines. In Jesus face. Sing and tell. The pleasing story. Oh ye sinners.

[15:43] Saved by grace. Now when these things. Are revealed. And I would seek. First of all. To. Speak of. Providential things.

[15:55] And. How. The Lord. Does give to his people. That which he has appointed. For them. And how. He does.

[16:06] Give to them. Strength. But what I have felt. Especially in this. Give unto the Lord. Glory. And strength. How we need grace.

[16:19] In. Our daily lives. In our providential path. That we may. As it were. Come with. All that he has given to us. And to.

[16:31] Be favoured. To come. Just as we are with it. And really. To say this. Oh take my all. This worthless heart.

[16:42] And make it. Holy thine. And then to the strength. Which he gives to his people. And how we need grace.

[16:54] To come before him. With this. And that we might be enabled. To use. Our strength. That we might come. And ask the Lord.

[17:06] To help us. To use. Even our strength. As we need the Lord's help. In our providential path. In our daily callings.

[17:18] In our home life. And in and amongst our families. What help we need. That we might come. And ask the Lord. To control. These blessings.

[17:30] That he has given to us. That we may use it all. To his own honour and glory. We do need help to do this.

[17:43] What a mercy it is. To be favoured with this spirit. This desire. And in our lives. And in those things. That we have to attend to.

[17:54] That we might do all. This is what I would seek to bring before you. That whatsoever ye do. In word or deed. Do all. To the glory of God.

[18:07] And to have such a spirit as this. And I believe that the nearer we are brought to. This great God. The more.

[18:18] And the more we are favoured with. That sweet revelation of Jesus Christ. To our souls. By and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

[18:28] The more humbled we are. In the dust. The more we shall desire to. Live to his honour and glory. And we are stillers.

[18:42] We have our responsibilities in our lives. And in that which God has given to us. Give unto the Lord glory.

[18:54] And strength. And I have thought a little like this too. And how the Apostle Paul.

[19:07] In speaking. In God's word. He speaks about the thorn in the flesh. The messenger of Satan. That he was given.

[19:19] There was given unto me a thorn in the flesh. The messenger of Satan to buffet me. But the Lord used these things.

[19:30] And brought him to this. And how favoured he was. As the Lord. As he says. And he said unto me. My grace.

[19:43] Is sufficient for thee. For my strength. Is made perfect. In weakness. Made perfect in weakness.

[19:53] And I do believe. That when. God's grace is made sufficient. And as. We are made to feel our weakness.

[20:07] And Christ's strength. It is made perfect. In our weakness. And as we are favoured to know and feel this. How I believe then.

[20:18] As we are helped in things. And brought through things. And as we are favoured to acknowledge. That it has been through the grace of God. That we have been enabled to do.

[20:30] Things in our lives. And to conduct ourselves. A right. In the sight of God. How I believe that. Then we shall come. In the exercise of this word.

[20:41] Give unto the Lord. Glory and strength. Are sometimes. Sometimes when I have felt to be. At my weakest. And yet I believe that.

[20:55] Christ's strength has been made perfect in you. And I have been brought to feel and to know. That the Lord has strengthened me. He has strengthened me with strength in my soul.

[21:08] And he has helped me. He has favoured me. He has been with me. Then I believe. I have known a little of this experience. Give.

[21:19] Unto the Lord. Glory and strength. But also with regard to spiritual things. Give unto the Lord.

[21:32] Glory and strength. God blesses. Amen. And as the Lord blesses his people. With those spiritual blessings. And favours them.

[21:43] And grants them. Those glimpses of Christ. That sense of his presence. And blessing in their souls. That realisation of his being with them.

[21:58] In his house. And as these things are made manifest. And as the sense of them is granted.

[22:09] And the realisation is found. And I believe too in this. This word is brought to pass. Give unto the Lord. Glory and strength.

[22:20] In other words. To come before him. And how we shall. As we are humbled in the dust. At his feet. We shall then come.

[22:32] And I believe this will be our language. All the glory. All the glory. Lord is nigh. Give unto the Lord.

[22:44] Glory and strength. And how his people. And his servants. As they are helped. And strengthened. In the worship.

[22:55] Of God's house. And as they are helped. To put first things first. And how they desire. And how they are favoured.

[23:05] To see. The deep need to return. To give unto the Lord. Glory and strength. And then.

[23:19] The next verse says. Give unto the Lord. The glory due. Unto his name. Give unto the Lord. The glory due.

[23:31] Unto his name. And we have in the word of God. A number of words.

[23:42] Which speak especially. Concerning. The name of Jesus. There is a word. Which says this.

[23:53] Unto him. Shall the gathering. Of the people be. And in all places. Where I record my name. I will come unto thee.

[24:05] And I will bless thee. And there is this word. This word too. Thou shall call his name. Jesus. For he shall save his people.

[24:20] From their sins. There is none other name. Given under heaven. Among men. Whereby we can be saved. And then.

[24:31] There is this thought too. There is this recorded. And the Lord spoke this. To his ancient people. And he says. Not for your sakes.

[24:41] Do I these things. Not for your sakes. Have I blessed you. Not for your sakes. Have these things been brought to pass. Oh how the Lord teaches his people.

[24:55] This lesson. Well over and over again. It's not for their sakes. And they know well. That this is so.

[25:08] But the Lord says. That he blesses his people. For his own great namesake. For his own great namesake.

[25:19] And this is why. He does bless his people. This is why he blesses. The kindreds of the people. Tis. For his own namesake.

[25:32] And so. He says. Give. Unto the Lord. The glory due. Unto. His name. Unto his name.

[25:46] And how we do need help. To do this. How we do need. To come before him. To bring an offering.

[25:57] To come before him. And to worship the Lord. In the beauty of holiness. How shall we. How can we come.

[26:07] To rightly give unto the Lord. The glory due. Unto his name. It says. Bring an offering. Come before him. Worship the Lord.

[26:18] Worship the Lord. In the beauty of holiness. Yes. I believe we have. A key. To this. In the.

[26:30] 51st Psalm. I believe that this is. The way. Into these things. And. To be brought.

[26:40] To rightly give. To desire. To give. To give. To give. The glory. That is due. To his name. For sin. And I believe it is. To poor sinners.

[26:52] Who have been made. To cry for mercy. Who have been brought. To plead. For forgiveness. Who have been brought.

[27:02] To know. And to feel. That they have need. Of cleansing. That they have need. To be cleansed. From their sins. how the psalmist David knew this experience and how I believe the very things that he speaks and pleads with the Lord for are an evidence that he received the answers.

[27:30] I believe as David uttered these things before his God let me mention this, he says, purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

[27:47] I believe as David pleaded these things before God and so felt to need them in his heart, I believe he was given them. I believe he was granted these very things that he pleaded before God.

[28:05] And he says, among other things, create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

[28:22] I believe the Lord favoured him here with restoring mercy and grace. I believe the Lord did create in him a clean heart and did renew a right spirit within him and did restore unto him the joy of his salvation and did uphold him with his free spirit.

[28:43] You might say, well, why do you believe this? Because of what follows? He says, then will I teach transgressors thy ways and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

[29:00] He says, then O Lord, open thou my lips and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. And then the Lord granted to him not only, I believe, the desire but the answer to those desires in what was needed and what we need if we are to be brought into the experience of the text.

[29:28] He says, the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God, thou wilt not despise and this is what is needed and this is something that the Lord alone can work within our hearts by and through the power of the Holy Ghost yet I believe when we truly long for this and when we are brought to plead for this for these things I believe that the Lord grants these things I am persuaded of this that when we are really brought humbly before God even to plead that we might be given a broken and a contrite spirit and as our hearts are softened before God in these things I believe that the Lord grants these answers he grants these things he favours his people with this and then I believe they will come to this give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name bring an offering what shall we bring what shall we bring if we truly come before God

[30:55] I believe we shall bring among other things a broken and a contrite spirit and we shall bring this too I believe we shall say feelingly then not unto us not unto us but unto thy name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake and then I believe we shall come like this bring and offering we shall come we shall come just as we are we shall feelingly come just as we are without one plea and I believe we shall come pleading the blood that does for sin at all ah what a favour this is what a mercy to have a contrite heart a heart softened a heart drawn nigh by the blood of Christ and this is an offering that the Lord will accept this is the this is an offering that the Lord will accept and we shall come just as we are come just as thou art with thy woe fall down at the feet of the Lamb he will not he cannot say no but surely will take out the stain give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name bring an offering and come before him and is it not as the Lord softens our hard hearts and favours us with a broken and a contrite spirit favours us to see how great has been his mercy toward us his long suffering mercy his goodness and that he's been far far better to us than we deserve and how he has born long with us and yet this is an offering that the Lord will receive and then I believe we shall come before him we shall come before him then and it is as the Lord blesses his people and as they are favoured with those glimpses of his face those tokens for good those evidences of his mercy toward them and as he favours them as the hymn writer says give us blessed Jesus give us a sweet glimpse of thy sweet face and that when the Lord favours his people with a glimpse of his sweet face and causes them to realise that it's not for their sakes causes them to realise that it is for his great namesake that he has ever looked upon them that he's ever blessed them that he's ever drawn nigh that he's ever revealed himself to them then I believe we shall come before him and then I believe we shall know something what it is to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness in the beauty of holiness that holiness that has been wrought within the soul through sanctifying grace and as the heart is humble may contrite and as we are made indeed to feel to be but a little child

[34:56] a little child and I believe indeed that David was brought here on a number of occasions in his life and one occasion especially he came he did come into the experience of this word when he said this who am I oh Lord God and what is my house that thou has brought me hitherto who am I oh Lord God and what is my house that thou has brought me hitherto that we've been brought thus far isn't that a sacred experience and I believe that David did worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and he was prostrate in the dust he was nothing in his own eyes and I believe it could rightly be said that on that occasion

[35:59] Christ was all and in all to him and I believe that David could see Christ in everything then not only in that that had transpired throughout his life but in that which was to come he says thou hast spoken unto thy servant concerning things a great while to come give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name well now we do need help to give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name for all that he has done for us for all that he has done for us for all that he has done for us over the years in our lives providentially for all that he has been pleased to do for us spiritually and what great things they are if we have been brought out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of

[37:06] God's dear son oh what a favour this is if we have been brought nigh by the blood of Christ give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name and I do feel that I must venture in concluding tonight because really this has been upon my spirit there is that within me that would be silent in this and yet I feel I must be may the Lord help me to speak it to his own honour and glory give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name and I've been thinking I've thought of a particular Wednesday soon after I had ventured out into the work of the ministry ministry and I had among other things among other letters

[38:12] I had received a letter from you here and well do I remember the feelings of my heart that day and how I trembled as to the future I had no I I hadn't suitable means of transport at the time and the thought of even journeying on such a journey as coming down to Huffington or to other places caused me considerable exercise and I remember how and I received your letter asking me to come here and three dates were given and yet because of my fears I only accepted one only accepted one and that was the first date and that was the would be the first

[39:12] Sunday in March in 1966 and when I posted that letter I felt well that would be the end of it you see I received another letter asking me if I could come for the other two dates days and as no one else asked me for those dates I had to venture but when I think of this and when I think of the past ten years that I've been coming here I would desire even to come into this evening feelingly give unto the Lord glory and strength for all that he's done for me even in this and when I think of all the journeys the times now that I've journeyed here and the health and the blessing that God has granted in these things in providential things and how during those years

[40:19] I have been given by the Lord three cards oh if there's anyone here tonight has deep need to give unto the Lord glory and strength and for strength received over the years and help given in all that is meant and when I think too of many things and when I came last evening and as I sat in the vestry and was received once more I believe in love and how I thought then what a favour this was that even after ten years to still be received in love to still be welcomed to you I do and would desire even tonight to say this not unto us oh Lord not unto us but unto thy name give glory for thy truth and for thy mercies sake things which the

[41:36] Lord has done things which the Lord has brought to pass and there are many things and none of us know how much longer we have upon this earth we do well to rightly consider and I hope I'm not a stranger to our second hymn I believe I know what it is sometimes to feelingly say Lord may I this language speak before a dying hour may I be prepared that I feel friends that if I went home without seeking to acknowledge the Lord's goodness and mercy to me and to you and in these things that have taken place and there have been things that the Lord has done done well I have desire to give unto the

[42:36] Lord the glory deal unto his name in all that he's done in all that's been performed then I would not say too much but as it concerns you here as a people and in the years and some of you have known many years here and has not the Lord done great things for you whereof at times you've been favored to be glad the Lord has done great things for them the psalmist said and it's true true concerning you as a people the Lord has done great things for you at times whereof you've been glad and so may the

[43:41] Lord help you may help me to even this evening in these things give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name his name this is where I desire to come to and then just one word in conclusion give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name bring an offering and come before him worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness well to those of you that are present here tonight in those things that the Lord has accomplished in you and for you those things that the Lord has done for your souls the Lord help you in this to give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name and bring an offering and come before him and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness what does the psalmist say he says come and hear all ye that fear

[45:01] God and I will declare what he hath done for my soul and we do need grace to give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name and not to be silent when the Lord has spoken amen of him and and he and