A peculiar people called out of darkness (Quality: Very good)

[0:00] As the Lord should be pleased to help me, I shall call your attention to a subject you will find in the first epistle of Peter, chapter 2, and a part of the ninth verse.

[0:25] A peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

[0:44] Chapter 2, a part of the ninth verse, first epistle of Peter.

[0:55] You all know who are the people referred to in the text. Do you? All know.

[1:08] The people referred to in the text are the people of God. Down through the ages made manifest in their lips and lives.

[1:27] As they journey on through life, showing whose they are and whom they serve. There is one word in the text which is of supreme importance.

[1:43] And I would like you to ponder it in your heart and do it prayerfully. And the apostle Peter, in addressing the people of God, and he means not only the people in the age in which he was living, but in ages to come and this age in which you and I are living.

[2:05] And he says, ye should, mark that word, ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

[2:24] Are you doing it?

[2:54] The greatest mercy that you and I can know in journey through life is to have some indubitable evidence that you and I belong to these peculiar people in the text.

[3:10] The word peculiar comes from a word peculiar. And it is to do with a man's possessions.

[3:22] So that when it speaks of Abraham being rich in his flocks and such like, it is said that was his peculiar, his possession.

[3:36] And now, these people in the text are the possession of God. And he takes a specific interest in them as they journey on through life.

[3:51] So that he orders all things in their lives ultimately to work for their good and his glory. And he has said concerning them, I will set mine eyes upon them to do them good.

[4:10] The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him and them that hope in his mercy.

[4:21] And at all times as he looks on them, he only designs their good. However hard to be understood sometimes his dealings may be, yet he works according to the word of God.

[4:39] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

[4:52] And now, I want as the Lord to help me to say just a little to you from this subject that might be helpful. And I would like to feel it might be seasonable.

[5:07] And I should like to have grace given to emphasize this aspect of the subject that ye should show forth the praises of him.

[5:20] Do remember that.

[5:48] It is enjoined upon you by the word of God. And you are not to balk at this word when it says ye should.

[6:01] It really means you ought to do it. It becomes you to do it. And more still, God looks for it.

[6:12] Otherwise, it will be said, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down.

[6:24] Fruit or fire? Yes, why cumbereth it the ground? And now then, dear friends, let us look at this subject.

[6:36] A peculiar people. And first of all, I will say just a little about the people as being peculiar. And maybe what I shall say in this sermon, you have heard it all before.

[6:52] And if you should have heard it all before, and as yet have brought forth no fruits regarding what you have heard, Oh, that is a matter between you and God, with whom you have to do.

[7:12] Can these truths by repetition lose their magnitude or weight? When all is said and done, those who preach the gospel must often be repeating the things of God, truth as to its doctrine, experience, and practice.

[7:36] And if Satan should suggest to you, oh, but you have heard all that before. Yes. And if you have heard all that before and done nothing in regard to it, how will you feel at the end when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ?

[7:58] He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him, the word that I have spoken, it should judge him at the last day.

[8:20] And now do listen. Ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

[8:34] And this thought comes to my mind. There I come to open up the subject. Some of you, not many, I hope, but there might be, shall I say, five or six among you, who might say, I am not amongst the people you refer to as yet.

[9:00] I have no evidence of being called out of darkness into his marvellous light. Have you any concern to be numbered with the people?

[9:14] Or is it that you still have your mind made up to live as you were born? And be after the flesh, the things of the flesh.

[9:24] And now think how solemn is the picture that you are here before God, among the people of God, and yet it can be said to you, living as you were born, there was no part or lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right with God.

[9:46] And now I just appeal to you, harden not your hearts, as in the day of provocation, and still keep your mind made up, that you will not have this man to reign over you, and that you do not want to belong to these people in the text.

[10:11] But do think of what God is to these people in the text, and what he has prepared for them, in the word of his grace, and that he is their God, and guide.

[10:34] Or that you might think on it to purpose and profit. And now these people in the text are peculiar in this sense. The world is being run on their behalf.

[10:50] You and I look round the world, and what we see of it is very sad to see. And it is just full of chaos and confusion. The world lieth in wickedness as never before.

[11:05] It is a thousand times more wicked than it was in the days of Noah, when God said at that time, the wickedness of man is very great upon the earth.

[11:20] But you and I look round the world like that, and it seems at times as if hell is let loose, and the devil is working overtime to do all the mischief he can.

[11:37] But, above it all, the Lord reigneth. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to behold every one of these peculiar people, wherever they may be, to earth's remotest bounds.

[12:01] And he has in his eye and in his heart all the details to do with their lives which they are living, to order it over rule all things therein for their good and his glory.

[12:22] The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way, the word of God tells us, so that you may still look round the world as it is and then look up and remember the Lord in Zion reigns.

[12:50] And does his people keep to see the universe sustains and well secures his sheep. And these people in the text are shut up in a peculiar covenant.

[13:10] It is called the covenant of grace. And it was made before time was born or the world was built. And it is declared to be an everlasting covenant.

[13:24] covenant. And all these peculiar people in the text are in that covenant. And it is ordered well for them as they journey on through life that these two things shall ultimately be fulfilled for each one in it.

[13:50] The Lord will give grace and glory. And that is all guaranteed in this covenant of grace.

[14:03] Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. The great thing is are you and I in it? I once heard a very godly man praying in public in my early days and he made an astounding petition and young as I was I knew it was something that God could not do and yet I believe God accepted the man's petition and he said oh Lord if I am not in the covenant of grace do put me in it.

[14:37] The thing was impossible but the man was in it to pray like he did with deep concern to know his interest therein.

[14:50] Yes. Peculiar people shut up in a peculiar covenant. You know dear friends you and I do not half believe about the covenant of grace as we should do because if you and I could believe it deeper down and exercise more faith we should know much more of the peace of God which passeth all understanding possessing our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

[15:28] The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will show them his covenant and he will show them that they are in it.

[15:40] and he will make that known by his dealings as he makes his goodness to pass before them in the way as he pronounces his blessing upon them.

[15:57] Much might be said under that heading peculiar people and now these peculiar people are loved with a peculiar love.

[16:10] because they were loved with an everlasting love before they had a being before they were born.

[16:23] I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee said God to dear Jeremiah higher and that love is so wonderful as you journey on through life you are so glad it is everlasting love.

[16:48] One godly woman before a church said that she was sure about the everlasting covenant and the everlasting love of God love of God because if God had not loved her before she was born she knew he never would have loved her afterwards in the life that she had lived till he began to deal with her and make her to differ from the world.

[17:15] And there is that viewpoint of it. Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it. Oh it is peculiar love and you read concerning Jesus and his dear disciples and it refers to all his disciples in all ages having loved his own he loved them unto the end.

[17:45] Not as the world the saviour loves he is no fickle friend who once he loves he never leaves and loves them to the end.

[17:59] Yes peculiar love. Then it should be said that these peculiar people the margin reading is purchase people and that is they are bought with a peculiar price.

[18:18] And now it tells us in the preceding chapter for as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you.

[18:58] Peculiar price. Only God could pay that price and he paid it as God incarnate.

[19:12] God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

[19:25] Peculiar price indeed. But then I must hasten on and now all these peculiar people mark the wording all are governed by a peculiar principle.

[19:44] Each one finds it working within and it governs their lives from the time it is communicated when they are born again.

[19:56] And it is godly fear as an unctuous light to what is right a bar to what is wrong. And this godly fear you may wonder if you have much of it working in you yet there may be that which is as a grain of mustard seed that prompts your life and actuates your motives in what you do.

[20:26] It means that as you live your life you desire it to be governed by that holy principle godly fear and you do not actuate your life by motives of policy.

[20:44] The commercial world as the world runs it is actuated by policy. If a thing is going to pay then it is policy to go forward but if it does not look like being a paying business then do not proceed.

[21:07] But it is not like that with the principle of godly fear as it lives and moves in a poor sinner's breast where it is and they did that which was right in the sight of the lord and sometimes it is done at great cost and the man may be on the losing side as regards the things of this life but one thing he has not lost in doing it a good conscience and he desires to have that before god with whom he has to do oh cry we to heaven with one loud accord that to us be given the fear of the lord beautiful blessed holy principle and to have it means that the future is guaranteed for you it shall be well with them that fear god whatever may be happening in the world abroad in every state secure kept as jehovah's eye it is well with them while life endure and well when called to die oh that you and i might feel this peculiar principle more lively to actuate our lips and lives and to help us to live in the light of that scripture let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight oh lord my strength and my redeemer a peculiar people people and now the next viewpoint of the subject is that these peculiar people are bound together by a peculiar bond and that peculiar bond overrides all denominational labels whatever and this is the hallmark of it grace be with all them that love our lord jesus christ in sincerity and when you meet such people you find in your heart a response to what they can tell out of the dealings of god with their souls it produces the unity of the spirit and you come together as a brother and sister whatever the case may be and you come together for time and eternity too remember that he that loveth is born of god we know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren and love is the golden chain that binds the favored souls above and he is a hair of heaven who finds his bosom glow with love some of you have had that glow the hymn writer has a good word there you have felt it you have not said much about it to other folks but you have felt it before god you have seen these peculiar people in the text to be the people of god and you have felt within with them numbered may i be now and in eternity yes a peculiar people bound

[25:08] together by a peculiar bond then there is this thought and this might help some of you and now all these peculiar people have a peculiar trouble I might have put it in the plural and said troubles but the trouble that is outstanding is soul trouble and the puritans have this saying soul trouble is the soul of trouble the essence of it I sometimes think of a heading that is put over one of our Psalms and it is so very suggestive of what this trouble is and it is in accordance with what Solomon says which shall know every man the plague of his own heart and it says in the heading of

[26:14] Psalm 102 a prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed and pour without his complaint before the Lord and you find as you read the first half of the Psalm down what his affliction was it was not that which put him in a hospital ward and made him to go down to the operating theater it was that he was a sinner as he turned his eyes within as I have said which shall know every man the plague of his own heart and because in journeying on through life so often he was made to feel I would do good but evil is present with me and it is such a handicap to what I would be and do in living the life of the righteous and now that is only a peculiar trouble known by the peculiar people not the man in the street not the world at large if he tells you his troubles they are all to do with time and time things but these peculiar people have peculiar troubles because they know they are bound for eternity and they want matters right between their soul and

[27:51] God and they cannot always feel that they are and that is a trouble beyond words to describe yes troubled at times because they feel I would but cannot pray it is not enough to put words together for they may be cold and formal but you want reality out of the abundance of the heart for the mouth to speak troubled too because they want to feel thankful to God for his goodness and mercy which they can see has followed them all the days of their life but all they can say sometimes is oh for a glance of heavenly day to take this stubborn stone away and that is a peculiar trouble of these peculiar people people and it makes them sigh and cry and long to feel as they want to feel gratitude welling up to

[28:59] God and sometimes this word is helpful oh make this heart rejoice or ache. Or they do want to have a broken heart, a contrite spirit.

[29:17] Decide this doubt for me, and if it be not broken, break, and heal it if it be. Yes, it is a peculiar trouble to these peculiar people that sometimes they look into the word of God, and they see matters set forth there to do with the people of God, and they cannot feel as yet that they can enter in as they desire.

[29:45] And that is true for all of us who belong to these peculiar people, for I often feel that word which was said to Joshua, as you look into the word of God, it can be said to you and to me there remaineth very much more land yet to be possessed.

[30:07] How little do you and I know of God and godliness, though we have lived long and lived in the midst of the people of God, and had to do with the things of God.

[30:21] But how little can we tell of what it is to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And that is a peculiar trouble of these peculiar people.

[30:36] Yes. Much might be said along that line of thought. Peculiar people. But I might say that they have peculiar fears.

[30:50] And you know there are people supposed to be religious, only supposed to be, they are religious, but they scoff at the thoughts of having fears, ifs, buts, and hows, and questioning their religion as to whether it is of God or no.

[31:14] Or they think that having once begun as they term it to have accepted Christ as their Saviour, they take it for granted that it will always be well as long as they live.

[31:30] And they do not want it to be confirmed again and again in their souls like these peculiar people do. Oh, they must have their souls confirmed again and again and yet again.

[31:45] And God has so ordained that the life of the righteous should be lived like that that you and I, if we are righteous, should be exercised unto godliness therein.

[32:01] Think of what you sing. Daily to feel thyself undone will make thee haste to kiss the sun and on thy knees for pardon sue and praise and bless and love him too.

[32:18] And these so-called religious folk who have no fears whatever, I would like them to explain how there are sixty odd fear-nots in the word of God inspired by the Spirit of God and and needs be for each one.

[32:36] And even the great Apostle Paul said without were fightings and within were fears where there is that fire which proceeds from that divine spark there will sometimes be quite a deal of smoke promoting fears and glad you will be to get a fear not and remember Christ has blessings to impart grace to save thee from thy fears oh the love that fills his heart sinner wipe away thy tears and you know some of you dear people some of you young people following on to know the Lord although you may feel as yet you cannot say much there is one fear not that maybe you have looked at with longing eyes and desired that God would grant you such and one but now thus saith the Lord that created thee

[33:51] O Jacob and thee that form thee O Israel fear not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine O how sweet to get a fear not like that and when all is said and done what are you carolers singing about and the angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people all the peculiar people shall have that fear not and shall know those good tidings of great joy what a divine harmonious sound the gospel trumpet gives no music can with it compare and the soul that knows it lives yes a peculiar people yes they have peculiar fears sometimes they go on for a long while with a fear that while they hear of other people taught of God and that deep down it may be in their soul's experience that they will never know a like experience in their souls but then the word of God is so worded to encourage you even then what does it say then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord what does it say again for the vision is yet for an appointed time and though it tarry wait for it for in the end it shall speak and not lie it will surely come it will not tarry what else does it say blessed are all they that wait for him wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart wait I say on the

[36:26] Lord and you will find your fears alive in this time his way he will drop a fear not and you shall be comforted by the God of all comfort the Lord bless you a peculiar people then I ought to say continuing with this viewpoint of the subject that these peculiar people are the subjects of peculiar joys you know sometimes our people have been criticized and folks have said that we are just a lot of kill joys by how we live but that is an altogether wrong viewpoint of it these peculiar people from the time they're made manifest and born again have a standard set up in their consciences and in their hearts as to what joy really is joy worth the name and they judge it according to this standard happy art thou

[38:00] O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord happy is he that hath the God of Israel for his help whose hope is in the Lord is God yes this is the standard eternal source of joy is divine to thee my soul aspires oh could I say the Lord is mine it is all my soul desires peculiar joy yes and you might have that joy and your circumstances might be as unhappy as they could be viewed by man this scripture comes to my mind and that midnight

[39:01] Paul and Silas sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them and there those two dear men were men of God with their feet fast in the stops and their backs sore with stripes unjustly laid on but they were peculiar people and they had that peculiar joy and I have told you dear people not once or twice and I will tell you again that if you were taught of God you will often find that when your circumstances are at their worst as you view them to be then your religion will come out at its best and then you will be able to realise then then to have recourse to God and pour a prayer in time of need and feel the balm of Jesus blood this is to find a friend indeed yes peculiar joys you get this joy in the means of grace you get it sometimes in the worship of

[40:19] God you get it sometimes when you appear before God when you can say it is good for me to draw near unto God it is peculiar joy you cannot well describe it in words because it is an experience and you cannot define experience in words not adequate words it is that something which must be known and felt Nehemiah has a striking word and he says the joy of the Lord is your strength and you know dear friends you dear young friends too regarding this standard of joy some of you do believe happiness thou lovely name where's thy seat oh tell me where honour learning wealth and fame all cry out it is not here you have got your homes to live in you live in homes of your own many of you you have the children

[41:43] God has given you and you have that earthly happiness which is lawful and you enjoy that but you are learning deep down none but Jesus none but Jesus can do helpless sinners good and that is a good lesson to learn a man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven and now to sum up that viewpoint of the subject you go back over your life as you have lived it each of you who has a hope that you were born again and you will find all the joy that you have ever had worth the name has been to do with your soul and when God has given you a little help a totem for good and you could go on your way with a feeling who can tell but what

[42:45] God will be gracious unto me or more than that to feel my Lord and my God yes a peculiar people and all these people wherever they are have the same peculiar experience are the subjects of the same peculiar exercise and their great concern in a right mind a right spirit is to have matters right between their soul and God and now coming to the Amen what does it say he that hath ears to hear let him hear that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous life you should do this you should do it in your home life as you dwell there you should be feeling like

[44:06] Joshua as for me and my house we will serve the Lord and that should be the influence under your home roof you you should show forth the praises of him there and have God in the first place and in the last place too and seek his blessing to be upon you in all that you are and what you do and where you go and what you say you should show forth the praises of him when you go out into the world you should show forth the praises of him and let it be seen choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and as grace is given to let your yea be yea yea yea be nay lest you fall into condemnation and they took knowledge of them that they had been with

[45:19] Jesus and in doing that those peculiar people were showing forth the praises of him not only so this should be done also in times of trouble then ye should show forth the praises of him and how do you do that whatever the trouble is whether it is to do with you or yours you desire to accept it from God I do like that word to the Corinthians church be reconciled to God and that is humble yourself therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time whatever the trouble is remember it comes to you from

[46:21] God who is too wise to earth too good to be unkind and if you can be helped to do what his word enjoins how good it will be call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shall glorify me show forth the praises of him and declare it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes my soul shall make her boast in the Lord the humble shall hear thereof and be glad and I can tell you and I am speaking out of the abundance of the heart and from what I know of divine things only just a little do I know but I know that there is a wonderful sweetness when you are given submission to the will of

[47:22] God when you can of a truth feel thou art our potter we are the clive and say with the psalmist I know oh Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou hast in faithfulness afflicted me ye should show forth the praises of him when trouble like a gloomy cloud gathers thick and thunders loud and remember this it will help you to begin to show forth the praises of him wherefore should a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins if God condescends to deal with you as one of the peculiar people in that dealing he says to you as many as

[48:24] I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you there is just one other place to do it and it ought to be done and that is in the church of Christ if you have not yet done it it is time to seek the Lord in regard to doing it and that you with a hope you belong to the peculiar people and that you are one with them as you journey on through life and that here a little there a little line upon line precept upon precept you do get help from God and in your measure you can say with Manoah's wife if the

[49:25] Lord were pleased to kill us would he have shown us all these things these are the things that accompany salvation why should the wonders God has wrought be lost in silence and forgot ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you give the church of Christ the joy to know what you humbly hope he has done for you and in listening to it they will say come in thou blessed of the Lord wherefore standest thou without a peculiar people that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light amen the heaven to h states can hu have you