John (Quality: Average, Incomplete)

[0:00] Transcribed by ESO, translated by — Amen.

[1:00] Amen. Amen.

[2:00] Amen. If the Lord shall help me, friends, this evening I would ask you to turn with me to the 21st chapter of the Gospel according to John, verse 12.

[2:40] That is the Gospel of John, chapter 21, and verse 12. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.

[2:52] And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou, knowing that it was the Lord? And Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.

[3:05] And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou, knowing that it was the Lord? Friends, I do believe that the 21st chapter of John is really and truly a blessed chapter concerning the Apostle Simon Peter, who was now about to be commissioned by his God.

[3:27] We spoke this morning, my friends, of that dear man who denied his Lord and Master three times. And the Lord turned and looked on Peter, and he went out and he wept very bitterly.

[3:42] Friends, although Peter was a lovable character, although Peter was called by God by the Sea of Galilee, Nevertheless, friends, through the deceits of Satan, and remembered that Satan had said unto Peter, Satan, Simon, son of Jonas, Satan hath desired to have thee, to sift thee as wheat, but I have prayed for thee.

[4:09] Oh, friends, what a favour this night, if God has prayed for you and I, if you and I are in that intercessory prayer, which the Lord made in the 17th chapter of John.

[4:22] You know, friends, that prayer was made for all believers to the end of time. Christ prayeth for his apostles and all believers for the end of time.

[4:34] What a favour this night, friends, amidst all the trials and afflictions of this life, if you and I are included in the Lord's Prayer.

[4:45] And you know, brethren, it is the Lord's Prayer, is the 17th of John. You know, I believe that is the children of God's Prayer, our Father which art in heaven. But the 17th of John is the Lord's Prayer unto his heavenly Father, for all those that were given into the hands of Christ before this world began.

[5:06] Friends, isn't it a wonderful prayer? These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee, as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

[5:31] That's it, friends. That's the election of grace. That's the number which no man can number. Ah, friends, the number which were given into the hands of Jesus Christ is a number which no man can number, from every kindred, tribe, and town, that will one day sing on Mount Zion, to him who hath loved us, and washed us in his own blood, the honour and glory and majesty, for ever and ever and ever.

[6:03] And, friends, then we come to the 21st chapter of the Gospel of John. You know, friends, the Lord Jesus Christ, he said unto his dear beloved disciples, After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

[6:20] And here, my friends, he is wonderfully appearing unto the brethren by the Sea of Galilee. You know, there were many miraculous things done by the Sea of Galilee.

[6:31] Peter was called by the Sea of Galilee. So was his brother Andrew. Philip was called by the Sea of Galilee. Nathanael was called by the Sea of Galilee.

[6:42] And you know, my friends, we must be called. You know, the Lord Jesus Christ has said, many are called, many, few are called, many are called, but few are chosen.

[6:55] Now, friends, what does it really mean? It means this, simply. There are many friends who make an open profession of religion. There are many, my friends, who follow the Lord for the loaves and the fishes.

[7:07] But friends, those who follow the Lord because they love the Lord Jesus, they love the person of Jesus, they love the work of Jesus, they love the finished work of the land.

[7:20] These are the ones, friends, who were chosen. These are the ones that will stand with him on Mount Zion at the end of this earthly dispensation. These are the ones that shall walk with him in one because they are worthy.

[7:35] They are not worthy in and of themselves. Friends, if you ask each one of them, they're as black as the confines of endless despair. They have many temptations.

[7:45] They have many sins. And friends, many times they are tempted, even beyond degree. Friends, the devil roars in their ears many, many times, and he tries to make them disbelieve that Jesus Christ is their Saviour.

[8:00] But, oh, friends, there is one thing this night that will settle that for you and I, wherein once the love of Christ we feel, the marks of that celestial seal shall never be erased.

[8:14] Brethren, if you have felt the love of Jesus in your heart, whether you have been sitting under the siren of the gospel, whether you have been on the roads of our land, whether you have been in the home, and the Lord has suddenly come and broke you down at the feet of Jesus, that is the love of Christ, friends.

[8:33] You know, Job said this, The Lord maketh my heart soft. Friends, we cannot make our hearts soft. It's an impossibility.

[8:44] But, oh, when God, friends, designs to make our hearts soft. Oh, friends, even this day, I have felt a softening, even after this morning's service.

[8:56] Friends, I'd only been in the home ten minutes, and the phone rang to say that our dear brother Harold was drawing near to his journey's end. Oh, friends, as I went into that hospital ward, my heart was broken.

[9:10] There was a precious Jew ready to enter into eternal bliss. And, friends, I was then able to read five verses of the 14th of Job.

[9:21] I go to prepare a place for you. Friends, I could hardly read the verses. God had appeared, you see. God had come into that room and broke my heart at the feet of Jesus.

[9:35] And, friends, I was unable to say as I left it, farewell, my brother. I do not believe, friends, we will meet even in this life again. But, friends, I hope to meet him when I come to my final end.

[9:50] Friends, I believe I have had many wonderful conversations with him, even by the way. Friends, I believe my heart is burned as I have visited that dear man.

[10:02] And, friends, now the Lord has taken his earthly tabernacle down. Yes, he is drawing near to that blessed time when he shall enter in to see that glorious man who has loved him with an everlasting love.

[10:18] He is going to see Jesus who was crucified on younger sin a person tree. You know, friends, that 770% was the means of bringing him to the feet of Jesus many, many years ago.

[10:36] To know my Jesus crucified by far excels all things beside. Does it to you and I this now? All earthly good I count that lots and triumph in my Saviour's cross.

[10:52] And Jesus said unto them, Come and dine, for all things are now ready. Oh, that we might dine this night off the fat of the land.

[11:03] Oh, that the Lord might kill the tattered fat as we have gathered in this sanctuary this night. Friends, is it not your desire this night that you might know Jesus and the power of his resurrection?

[11:17] That you might feel safe in his arms, whether it is for life or whether it is for death? You know, friends, with the children of God, it's well with them while life endures.

[11:30] And it's well when they are called to die. My friends, the Jordan of death, it is not, my friends, something mysterious to the children of God. My friends, the Jordan of death is a blessed place for those who have been redeemed by Jesus.

[11:47] Our Jesus took the sting out of death when he went into that mother earth. When he came forth on the resurrection morning, he burst the gates of death.

[11:58] And friends, Jesus Christ has toot the sting out of death when we lay a believer in their final resting place. The grave is adorned in bed and softened with his blood.

[12:11] And my friends, they are only asleep in Jesus. They are awaiting the resurrection of the death. And friends, it's a blessed time. It's the marriage supper of the life.

[12:23] Now, my friends, you this night, I hope you are not courting the Lord Jesus. I hope you are married to him. You know, my friends, when a man and a woman begin to go out together, and friends, they call it the courtship.

[12:40] But friends, sooner or later, they are married. And friends, the husband, he gives, it gives unto his beloved wife a ring.

[12:50] And that ring denotes, friends, the love that he has for his beloved wife. You know, friends, I hope that we are married to the Lord Jesus Christ.

[13:01] I hope this night that some of you are not courting the Lord Jesus. Oh, friends, what does he say to those this night who are seeking for the Lord?

[13:12] I am married unto you. I have betrothed thee unto thee forever. What does the Lord do, friends, with the children of God? He puts on the ring of his eternal love, a ring that denotes his unchangeable love, is put on the finger God's kindness to prove.

[13:33] This love knew no beginning, it knew no end, and Zion shall reign in it, in praise of her friend. Friends, are you married to the Lord Jesus Christ?

[13:44] Is it your desire this night to be married to the Lamb? You know, my friends, the bride of Christ, she is a precious, precious wife unto Jesus.

[13:55] Now, friends, what makes her? The bride of Jesus. Why, friends, sinners, sinners this night, who have been brought to realize that unless Almighty God has mercy upon them through his well-beloved Son, those are the ones, my friends, and does thy heart for Jesus find?

[14:19] Does your heart this night find for Christ? Can you say this night, I thirst, but not as one-sided? You know, my friends, when we were born into this world, we came forth speaking lies, and we thirsted for the things of time and sense.

[14:35] We were content with the pleasures of this world. We were content to have our fill in this life. But, friends, there was a time come in your life when Jesus Christ has passed by and taken you out.

[14:49] And you know, friends, God takes one of a city and two of a family. Oh, friends, it's wonderful how the Lord deals with his children. I will take you one of a city, two of a family, and bring you unto God.

[15:03] And, friends, it's because he has loved them with an everlasting love. Now, friends, the 21st of John, after these things, Jesus appeared unto these dear disciples.

[15:18] Who did he appear unto in verse 2? Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

[15:33] Now, friends, look at Peter in verse 3. This is bold Peter, friends, very impulsive was Peter by nature. You know, friends, he was the most impulsive disciple the Lord had.

[15:45] What did Peter say to them? He said, I go fishing. That's like you and I, friends, we do things in our own strength to our cause. We seldom see the snare before we feel the smog.

[16:00] And Peter said, I go fishing. And friends, he went forth and the disciples went with him. And that night they caught nothing. They toiled all night upon the sea of Galilee and remember, brethren, they were professional fishermen.

[16:17] Oh, friends, they were not novices in the sea. That was their train. They were professional fishermen. But they went forth that night and caught nothing. Have you ever been in that position where you have toiled all night and you have caught nothing?

[16:33] And, friends, you have thought, well, I wonder why the Lord has not answered my petitions. You have not been casting your neck on the right side of the boat.

[16:44] And you know, friends, the Lord was watching this going on. He was on the seashore and he saw these disciples on the sea of Galilee toiling all night and they caught nothing.

[16:56] But you know, friends, there's a lesson to be learned in these things. Peter was obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ because, friends, he said unto them, Have ye any meat?

[17:08] And they said, No, in verse 5. Now, friends, what did the Lord say unto them fishermen? He's saying it to you this night, friends. He's saying it to you this night, friends.

[17:19] You're singing. Cast the net on the right side of the boat and thou shalt find. Now, where are you casting your net tonight? Where are you looking for salvation?

[17:33] Are you looking to the church? Are you looking to the members of the church? Are you looking to the pastor? Are you looking to the deacons? There's no sustenance, friends, in looking to those sources.

[17:46] There's no strength, my friends, going down to eat yet for hell. Now, when you and I lean on an arm of flesh, normally the Lord removes that prop sooner or later.

[18:00] Every prop from first to last the Lord will remove. Now, friends, when I mean he's going to remove it, I don't mean to say that the person you have been leaning on is necessarily going to be taken out of this world.

[18:14] The Lord brings a circumstance into your life and that prop is mysteriously removed.

[18:27] You will still have conversation with him, but, friends, the Lord removes the prop because there is a tendency with you and I to lean upon man rather than lean upon God.

[18:40] For example, you and I this night might be in a great trial and we might say within our breath, I wonder what Mr. Solso would say about this certain affliction.

[18:53] I wonder what Mr. Solso would do in this certain trial that I am in. Now, what does the Lord say, friends? Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee.

[19:07] Now, friends, what about the burdens that you have this night? It might be the burden of believers' baptism and I hope it is. You know, friends, I hope the Lord has laid baptism upon your heart that you have no rest until you come forth.

[19:23] You know, friends, it is the way the Master trial. It is Jesus Christ who walked down to the Jordan. Now, the ordinance of believers' baptism is not something that I have invented or any other minister have invented.

[19:38] Jesus Christ, friends, gave the institution of believers' baptism to his dear disciples. And, friends, he says plainly to you and I this night, if ye love me, not them, not the church, if ye love me, keep my commandments.

[19:59] And, friends, that is the way the Master trial. Now, the Lord Jesus Christ, when he came down to be baptized, baptized, friends, it signified the death and the resurrection of the Son of God.

[20:14] We are buried with him in baptism. And, friends, to be baptized and follow the Master, it's a blessed pathway, it's a glorious pathway, it's the way Jesus would have us walk.

[20:30] And, friends, the Lord Jesus, all these disciples, friends, who were by the Sea of Galilee, have been baptized, baptized by the Spirit, baptized by immersion, and now, my friends, who are waiting by the Sea of Galilee.

[20:47] The Lord Jesus appeared three times after his resurrection. And, friends, he's now appearing unto his disciples again after these things.

[20:57] Now, what things are we speaking about? The things of Calvary, after Jesus had suffered, after he had been, oh, what a favor this night, what a mercy that we don't stay at the cross.

[21:11] Oh, friends, I am thankful this night that we worship a risen and exalted and glorified redeemed. My friends, what hope would there be for those who are coming to their journey's end if we stayed at the cross?

[21:27] Blessed cross, but, friends, we don't stay at the cross. Friends, he is not here, but he is risen. We worship this night, a risen and exalted Savior.

[21:42] Behold, a scene of matchless grace. Friends, he's risen, and this is the one that we worship this night, the one that has gone before us, the one that nailed our sins to the accursed tree.

[21:55] Friends, we are not immune from sin. Friends, we do not believe in progressive sanctification. Friends, you know that. You that have been traveling in this way over many years, there is no such thing as progressive sanctification.

[22:12] We sadly feel the fall, don't we? Friends, we have corrupt natures. We have weak natures. Perhaps today he'll deign to bless us.

[22:23] Perhaps tomorrow he'll make us feel the power of sin. Why does the Lord lead us into these pathways? Why, friends, are we brought onto the mountaintop? And, Lord, we say with Peter, it is good for us to be healed.

[22:37] And then the Lord leads us into the wilderness. And, friends, the devil roars in our ears, and we wonder how we will be at our final end. You wonder this night how it will be with you when you come to the place where our dear brother is this evening.

[22:53] Friends, I will say this, that you that have followed the Lord Jesus, you that have received those tokens by the way, he will be there when you come to the Jordan.

[23:06] You know, friends, even this afternoon, although the dear man was unconscious, he was so calm and peaceful. And, friends, the matron said he wasn't suffering anything.

[23:18] You know, really, he was sleeping, waiting for the Lord to take him. And, friends, even this afternoon, it would have been a mercy if the Lord had taken him to glory.

[23:31] But, friends, our time is always ready. And what we may feel might not be the purpose of God. But, friends, I do feel this this night. It's a wonderful confirmation to me of each dear soul that has been born again by the Spirit.

[23:47] They endure to the end. And, Fred, God honors that thing. And when they come to their final end, you know, he sends the angels to take them into heaven.

[23:58] You know, friends, our dear brother doesn't want to get better. He only said to some friends last night, I have been praying to the Lord Jesus to take me to himself. Friends, he has repented.

[24:11] He has been given forgiveness. He's been to the cross of Calvary. He's seen a precious Jesus. And, friends, if you had to ask him this night, if he was conscious, he would say, no glory to me, my dear friend, put the glory on Jesus' head.

[24:27] It's like one of our sisters' friends who died. What did she say? I don't want you to see anything about me at the funeral. Tell them I was a great sinner, but I had an even greater saviour.

[24:39] that puts the crown on the saviour's head. That's why, dear William God, we could pen that in immortal honours rest on Jesus' head. My God, my portion and my living bread, in him I live upon him.

[24:53] Cast my care, he says, from death, destruction and despair. Friends, he is the only hope this night for this troubled world of ours. He's my only hope, friends, for life and for death.

[25:06] I believe he is the only hope for you for this life and for death. My friends, look at Simon Peter. He had denied the Lord with oaths and curses.

[25:18] He said, I never knew the man. And friends, the Lord now is about to commission the dear man. What was he going to do with Simon Peter? It was going to make him an instrument, friends, in the church of God.

[25:31] But it was after they had dined, have you noticed, that the Lord turned to Simon Peter. The Lord fed them first, my friends. The Lord blesses his people before he puts them in the trials.

[25:44] The Lord does not put a child of God in the trials before he prepares it. Thy shoes shall be iron and brass, and as thy days thy strength shall be.

[25:56] After they are dying, the Lord turned to who? Simon Peter, the one that had denied him. And friends, he called him by his right name. Simon, son of Jonas.

[26:08] Have you ever noticed what the Lord calls his equal? Son of man. That's our title this night, isn't it? Son of man. I have set thee as a watchman to the house of Israel.

[26:20] Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? What a question, friends. What a question did the Lord put to this servant of God.

[26:31] You know, friends, it cut right across his family. And it does, does the gospel. The Lord said unto Simon, lovest thou me more than these?

[26:43] That meant, my friends, did the Lord, did Peter love his dear Lord more than his family, more than his business, more than his natural food, more than his children?

[26:57] Friends, if I do not love the children of God, more than all these things, and that's what the Lord said to Simon. And you know, friends, Peter said, Lord, thou knowst that I love thee.

[27:09] And friends, on the third occasion, he was getting to the end with Peter. And then, friends, the Lord said unto him, well, feed the sheep, Peter. And friends, how did Peter feed the sheep on the day of Pentecost?

[27:24] It was Peter, friends, who was raised up for the day of Pentecost. And there he stood up and gave that Christ-exalting sermon. You know, friends, Jesus said this on the cross, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

[27:39] What a prayer, isn't it? Father, forgive them, those that have nailed the Son of God to the accursed tree. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

[27:51] Then we come to the day of Pentecost. And what did Peter say? He said, you have taken him by wicked hands, and you have nailed him to the tree. Now, friends, that caused a reaction in the hearts of his ears.

[28:06] They were pierced, they were pricked, and they said, men and brethren, what must we do to be saved? And what did Peter say unto them? He said, repent and be converted and baptized.

[28:20] That's what the Lord Jesus Christ has said unto you, my brethren. He has said, repent and be converted. And, friends, the Lord said unto Simon, I have prayed for thee, and when thou art converted, strengthen the brethren.

[28:37] How could Peter strengthen the brethren when he had denied him three times? My grace is sufficient for thee, Peter. It was Peter's God, friends, that went before him.

[28:47] It's my God this night that has gone before me. My friends, it's the Lord who goes before us in our life. You know, everything's been horrid this day. The very hair of our head are all numbered.

[29:01] Have you ever considered it, the providence of God? Have you tried to separate providence from grace? Friend, you can't. It's an impossibility to separate providence from grace.

[29:16] He's only speaking tonight, friends, as we drove up to the house of God. You cannot separate providence and grace. Friends, his decree who formed the earth, fix my first and second birth.

[29:35] Parents, native, tie and play, all appointed were by him. Friends, all your life, the very heirs of my head this night are all numbered.

[29:49] My father in heaven knows exactly what we stand in need of this night. My friends, he knows. And you know what he has said to his children? He said, he'd go up before you.

[30:01] He'd go up before you. Now, if the Lord is going before us, friends, what can harm us if God is on our side? If we have the whole Godhead behind us?

[30:12] The father, my friends, he chose us in a past eternity. The son went to Calvary redeemed us. The Holy Spirit at the appointed time quickened us by his almighty grace.

[30:25] Friends, he might have said something like this, thou art the man, come ye after me and I will make you fishers of men. Arise, the master call for thee.

[30:36] And friends, we have had to follow the Lord through thick and thin. We are not following, my friends, the body of men. We are not following the tradition of men. We are following the meek and lowly Jesus.

[30:49] And Jesus has said, take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Friends, that's why Jesus Christ is precious to those who have followed him.

[31:03] That's why the Lord creates the appetite within our breast this night. O everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. Are you thirsting this night after the lamb?

[31:15] Are you thirsting this night after Jesus? Do you want to know whether Jesus died for you? Friend, pray to the Lord, he will answer, the time of love will come when we shall clearly see, not only that he shed his wealth, but he shall say for me, and the Lord is going to say, come and dine, for all things are now ready.

[31:37] And that's exactly what the Lord did by the sea of Galilee. He prepared the fish, he prepared the bread, and while they were on the sea of life, the Lord was standing by on the sea shore, and he said, cast the net on the right side of the boat.

[31:56] You know, Peter said this, he said, Master, we have toiled all night that's obedience, friends.

[32:09] Peter was obedient to his Lord. He said, Lord, at thy word I will let down the net. And have you noticed the net wasn't broken? There was only one net, friends.

[32:20] There was only one net and it was not broken. Peter dragged to land 153 fishes, and for all that the net was not broken.

[32:32] And Jesus, friends, said unto those dear disciples, come and dine. Oh, friends, there's no greater blessing this side of the grave than to feast on the Lord Jesus Christ.

[32:45] Do you know what it is to feast on the Lord? It's when he breaks your heart, friends, when you feel broken down at his feet, when you are unable to say, Lord, make me submissive as we go, gladly leaving all below, only thou our leader is now.

[33:07] You know, Peter was looking round, friends, at the church. Peter was looking round at John, the beloved disciple of the Lord, who lay on the Lord Jesus' bosom, and he said, Lord, what will this man do?

[33:22] Have you ever noticed the Lord never argues with his people? The Lord didn't go into any specific details, friends. He said, Peter, what is that to thee?

[33:33] Follow thou me. And, friends, the Lord showed Peter what death he should die. He said, when thou wast young, thou wentest whither thou wouldst, but when thou shalt be old, another shall guide him, signifying what death he should die.

[33:51] And after he had said this, he spoke two words unto Peter, follow me. And, friends, Peter had those words all through his life.

[34:02] Let be taken to that occasion in the Acts of the Apostles when Peter was in the prison house. Why was Peter in the prison house? For preaching the Lord Jesus Christ.

[34:13] Why was he cast in the prison house? Because, friends, he was faithful to his God. And we read this, friends, here came angels from heaven and they unleashed Simon Peter.

[34:27] What did he say unto Peter? Bind on thy sandals, cast thy garments about thee and follow me. And he did so, friends. And he went to the house of a young dancer whose name was Rhoda.

[34:41] And he knocked at the door, you know. And she came to the door and she said, it is his spirit. But Peter continued knocking. And friends, she went into the bread.

[34:53] Oh friends, the Lord loved peace. He wouldn't let him go. You know friends, all our sins, all our temptations of the devil will never prevent the Lord from taking us home to glory.

[35:08] Not all the power of hell will ever destroy a child of God. Do you know that? Not all your sins this night, which my friends, at times comes like mountains before you.

[35:22] You know sometimes the Lord says thou shalt remember all the way the Lord thy God has led thee. And the Lord brings to our past all our sins that we have committed friends.

[35:34] And friends are like mountains before him. Oh there's only one thing that can bring that mountain down you know. And what is it? The blood of Jesus says I've no hope this night apart from the blood of the Lamb.

[35:54] The blood of Christ how sweet it sounds to cleanse and heal the sinner's wounds the streams thereof are rich and free and say my soul why not for thee.

[36:07] And the Lord Jesus said come and die for all things are now ready. And have you noticed that none of the disciples questioned the Lord. They knew it was the Lord.

[36:18] Where the word of the King is there is power friends. There's no substitute for the power of God in our lives.

[36:29] Friends what's going to bring a blessed revival to the churches? It's going to be the power of almighty God. We are being shown daily that we cannot convert one sinner to Christ that we cannot do it friends.

[36:44] And friends we try and do it in our own strength. But friends the Lord shows us line upon line precept upon precept I will work and who shall let it?

[36:58] Which really means I will work and who shall stop it? Because my friends when the Lord puts forth his power in the hearts of those that are gathering the Lord works mightily in them.

[37:10] You know my friends the wind blows where it listens and how can hear the sound thereof so is everyone that is born of the spirit. Yes my friends born of the spirit.

[37:22] Born of the spirit. That's a wonderful thought isn't it? To be born of the spirit of God. Now you know the only person who was born with the new birth was John the Baptist.

[37:34] He was. My friends he was born in the spirit was John. Because we read the babe left in his mother's womb he came forth in the spirit like the Lord Jesus himself.

[37:48] But John the Baptist was a sinner friends. Oh friends he was a sinner was John the Baptist because we read of John being in the prison house. John had been at the Jordan and seen the Lamb of God.

[38:00] Doesn't make sure we change in our feelings. He said behold the love of God which taketh away the sin of the world. The next moment is in the prison house. What did he say? Art thou see or do we look for another?

[38:12] Now we read this of the Lord Jesus. He healed many people of their infirmities in that hour. Then he sent two of his disciples. Go and tell John again the things that I do.

[38:26] What are the things that Jesus does? The blind received their sight. The deaf of their ears and stuff and the purr of the gospel preached unto them and blessed.

[38:39] You know the word blessed means happy. And blessed and happy is he that he's not offended in me. Oh if you're not offended in the Lord Jesus Christ you're a precious Jew.

[38:50] My friends we read in the word of God of many of the disciples that walked no more with it. They were offended at the words of Jesus. But friends listen to what he said to John.

[39:02] Go again and tell John the things that I do not the things that you do John the things that I do my thoughts are not your thoughts.

[39:14] And you know friends what did the Lord say after that about John what went he out into the wilderness to see that's what he spoke a reed shaken by the wind but what went out into the wilderness to see a man clothed in purple rain no this is he my friends who was spoken of in the prophets behold I send my messenger to prepare the way that's what the Lord did with John there was a man sent from God whose name was John blessed man is sent by God oh friends that's what we need we need more men sent by God we need the Lord to take men the back side of his desert and reveal a precious Jesus unto them and send them forth with good tidings to the people oh the beautiful are the feet of those who bring good tidings to the people you know friends there has to be both sides of you know

[40:15] Isaiah said this those who are against the Lord Jesus know comfort ye comfort ye my people tell them that their warfare is accomplished that they have received of the Lord's hand double for all their transgressions what was the last word that Jesus cried before he bowed his head upon the cross it is finished there is your hope sinner this night in the finished work of the lamb it is finished and he gave up his head and gave up it the ghost though once he bowed his feeble head loaded with sins and agonies now on the throne of his command his legs like marble pillars stand and he says to those who seek him with all their sin with all the things that the enemy might be pointing to come unto me come unto me all ye that are weary and are heavy laid who does the

[41:26] Lord take to glory well it tells me in the word of God that publicans and hollers enter into the kingdom of God before the south righteous come and dine come and dine what the Lord says to sinners come unto me oh my friends our men have put the barriers up you know Jesus says come unto sin that's the letter there isn't it just as I am without one plea that thy blood was shed for me oh love of God I come unto me come unto me this night for a sinner lay thy head upon my blood and I will give thee rest friends this is for sinners the gospel is good tidings for sinners who realize this time that they cannot find salvation through any forms of godliness that they might have invented themselves they cannot find happiness in the things of the world they cannot find happiness in the things my friends apart from

[42:33] Jesus you know for this is a precious Jesus revealed in your heart this people they are going to stand at the end of time they are being chosen friends they have been chosen in eternity past now friends who are the characters this night who are going to dine off Jesus' table they are those who have been redeemed by the precious blood of the lamb have you ever thought of that character Manasseh would you have ever saved Manasseh had you been God let's look at Manasseh before we close this night Manasseh was a wicked king he made the streets of Jerusalem run with blood he sacrificed his children unto actual idols he caused his children to pass through the fire and in his old age the Lord humbled Manasseh humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that he might exalt you in due course

[43:39] Manasseh found mercy friends in his old age you oft I sing the dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day you sing this night and there have I though vile as he washed all my sins away Manasseh found mercy friends the dying thief found mercy in the last hour of his life he was one that dined off the fat of the lamb he was one that Jesus had died for Jesus was weak friends his very manhood he was weak he was coming to the end of his life there on the cross of Calvary there was a poor thief he said Lord remember me when thou comest into the hiking what did Jesus say to the dying thief this day this day this day thou shalt be with me in paradise friends it was the manhood that went in the tomb

[44:47] God was in heaven oh it's a wonderful thought this day thou shalt be with me in paradise and he took him into heaven friends that day that day shall come to pass him that day it's a certain day you see when the fountain shall be opened for sin and for unpleasant are you not thankful the Lord brought you and sought you are you not thankful this night the Lord saw you wandering in the ways of the world he saw you trying to experience happiness from all the things of this world that's where the Lord found me he found me wandering far from God the Lord finds his sheep then my sheep hear my voice they know me and they follow me how can you get away from those words this night follow me they know me and they follow me the sheep of

[45:50] Christ friends they follow the lamb that's a paradox isn't it the lambs follow the sheep don't they naturally but the sheep of Christ follow the lamb of God oh they follow the lamb of God they ask the Lord for direction and instruction they won't move until the Lord speaks and then they go when the Lord gives them direction they move friends my sheep hear my voice now you might say this night that you are waiting for a word well it's here friends follow the lamb of God they ask the Lord for direction and instruction they won't move until the Lord speaks and then they go when the Lord gives them direction they move friends said said what is that to me follow that that's how the

[47:15] Lord begins his work in his children's heart you know my friends you can't tell me in the word of God where David was shaken over hell David was a shepherd boy David wasn't shaken over hell in the early beginnings of his career the apostle Paul was he was shaken over hell friends in a moment but David was on the hills of Bethlehem friends telling him to his father sheep he had his trials later on did David when do you think David was convicted of sin you ever thought about it in the 51st Psalm after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and David wasn't an obvious in the things of God then David had been chosen for eternity the Lord had sent Samuel to the house of Jesse and said arise and anoint him for this is he and David went forth with a sling my friend in the strength of the Lord it was after the

[48:16] Lord had given him rest from all his enemies and David was sat on the house up with his feet up and he spied a beautiful woman and friends it's one of the greatest sins isn't that you and I possess her craft and spleen shall make them feel and make them like a drunkard reel you know what it is my friends to be tempted like that her nature is serpentine indeed