Job

[0:00] Thank you.

[0:30] Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807.

[1:29] Hymn 456, June 807.

[1:59] Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807.

[2:11] Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807.

[2:23] Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807.

[2:35] Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807. Hymn 456, June 807.

[2:56] It is to worship the Lord. with love to practice his mercy as nice to care to love with contrition to which we have done to take the revelation lost gave to his son as We The Spirit of Christ is set on us.

[4:08] Christ above the saints. The Spirit of Christ is set on us.

[4:31] The Spirit of Christ is set on us. The Spirit of Christ is set on us.

[4:43] And the Spirit of Christ is set on us. And the Spirit of Christ is set on us.

[4:59] Amen. The Book of Job.

[5:09] The Chapters 23 and 24. The Book of Job.

[5:20] Chapters 23 and 24. Then Job answered and said, Even today is my complaint bitter.

[5:40] My stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him.

[5:51] That I might come even to his seat. I would order my cause before him.

[6:03] And fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me. And understand what he would say unto me.

[6:21] Will he plead against me with his great power? No. But he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him.

[6:36] So should I be delivered forever from my judge. Behold, I go forward.

[6:48] But he is not there. And backward. And backward. And backward. That I cannot perceive him. On the left hand.

[7:00] Where he doth work. But I cannot behold him. He hideth himself on the right hand. But I cannot see him.

[7:12] But he knoweth the way that I take. When he hath tried me. I shall come forth as gold.

[7:24] My foot hath held his steps. His way have I kept and not declined.

[7:37] Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have esteemed the words of his mouth.

[7:49] More than my necessary food. But he is in one mind. And who can turn him.

[8:01] And what his soul desireth. Even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing.

[8:13] That is appointed for me. And many such things are with him. Therefore am I troubled at his presence.

[8:24] When I consider. I am afraid of him. For God maketh my heart soft.

[8:36] And the almighty troubleth me. Because I was not cut off. Before the darkness. Neither hath he covered the darkness.

[8:50] From my face. Why seeing times. Are not hidden from the almighty. Do they that know him.

[9:03] Not see his days. Some remove the landmarks. They violently take away flocks.

[9:14] And feed thereof. They drive away the ass. Of the fatherless. They take the widow's ox.

[9:25] For a pledge. They turn the needy. Out of the way. The poor of the earth. Hide themselves.

[9:36] To gather. Behold. As wild asses. In the desert. Go they forth. To their work. Rising.

[9:49] Betimes. For a prey. The wilderness. Yieldeth food. For them. And. For their children. They reap.

[10:00] Everyone his corn. In the field. And. They gather. The vintage. Of the wicked. They cause the naked.

[10:11] To lodge. Without clothing. But they have no covering. In the cold. They are wet. With the showers.

[10:22] Of the mountains. And embrace the rock. For want. Of a shelter. They pluck. The fatherless.

[10:32] From the breast. And take a pledge. Of the poor. They cause him. To go naked. Without clothing. And they take away.

[10:45] The sheath. From the hungry. Which make their oil. Within their wells. And tread. Their winepress. And suffer.

[10:58] Thirst. Men. Grown. From out. Of the city. And. The soul. Of the wounded.

[11:10] Crieth out. Yet. God. Layeth. Not folly. To them. They are. Those. That rebel.

[11:20] Against the light. They know. Not the ways. Thereof. Nor abide. In the paths. Thereof. The murderer.

[11:34] Rising. With the light. Killeth. The poor. And needy. And in the night. Is. As a thief. The eye. The eye.

[11:45] The eye. The eye. Also. Of the adulterer. Waiteth. For the twilight. Saying. No eye. Shall see me. Disguised in his face.

[11:59] In the dark. They dig through houses. The eye. The eye. Which they have marked. For themselves. In the daytime. They know not. The light.

[12:09] For the morning. Is to them. Even. As the shadow. Of death. If one. Know them. They are.

[12:21] In the terrors. Of the shadow. Of death. He is swift. As the waters. Their portion.

[12:31] Is cursed. In the earth. He beholdeth. Not the way. Of the billiards. Drought. And heat.

[12:43] Consume. The snow waters. Sowed up the grave. Those. Which have sinned. The womb. Shall forget.

[12:53] Him. The womb. Shall feast. Swiftly. On him. He shall be. No more. Remembered. And wickedness. Shall be.

[13:04] Broken. As a tree. The evil. Entreateth. The barren. That. Beareth. Not. And doeth.

[13:16] Not good. To the widow. He draweth. Also. The mighty. With his power. He.

[13:26] Riseth up. And no man. Is sure. Of life. Though it be given. To. Though it be given. Him. To be in safety.

[13:37] Thereon. He resteth. Yet. His eyes. Are upon. Their ways. They are. Exalted. For a little while.

[13:50] But are gone. And brought low. They are taken. Out of the way. As all other. And cut off.

[14:00] As the tops. Of the ears. Of corn. If it be not. So now. Who will make me. A liar. And make.

[14:12] My speech. Nothing worth. May the Lord. Teach us. How to pray. Great. Never.

[14:30] Merciful. Lord God. We would. Desire. To come before thee. With reverence.

[14:45] And godly fear. But we sadly. Realize that. These things. Are a gift from thee.

[15:00] And cannot. Proceed from our flesh. So Lord. Wilt thou fit us. To come before thee.

[15:14] And worship thee. At this evening hour. We would seek Lord. To. Acknowledge thy goodness.

[15:28] In granting unto us. In thy word. As such portions. That we have read. Thine ancient people.

[15:39] Were brought. Into those times. Of trial and distress. In the midst. Not only. For their own profit. But also.

[15:51] For the profit. Of thine own people. That would follow. And now Lord. We look to thee.

[16:04] As we have already. Thought. That. This gathering. May prove. To be profitable. That we may.

[16:15] Know something. By blessed experience. Of the things of God. In our own lives. We have read.

[16:29] Lord of those. Who know thee not. Who rest upon. That which is false. Who have no right.

[16:39] Right idea. Or knowledge. Of sin. And who are. Eventually. Taken out. Of this life. Never.

[16:52] To know mercy. Never. To see thy face. God. But Lord. We are still upon.

[17:02] The praying ground. I know. That. That may not be. Our lot. That may we be. Favored Lord.

[17:15] Whilst upon. Praying ground. That. True. Spiritual. Prayer. May ascend. From our hearts. Seeking.

[17:27] Mercy. Seeking. Instruction. From. The God. Of all grace. That God.

[17:37] Of mercy. Who is. Able. Not only. To. Teach us. But. Redeem us. Lord.

[17:48] Our sins. Are such. That. No man. Is able. To save us. But we do.

[17:59] Believe Lord. When. Under. The influence. Of thy spirit. That thou. Art all. Powerful. And although.

[18:11] Our sins. Be great. Yet. Thy. Mercy. Is no less. O.

[18:22] That. Even this night. We might. Prove. A little. Thy mercy. We do not. Lord.

[18:32] Deserve. Even. A soft. Heart. We do not. Lord. Deserve. To be taught. By thee. For.

[18:43] For. But. We would. Thank thee. That. Salvation. Is not. A merit.

[18:56] But. Thy free. And thy sovereign grace. We do. Thank thee. Lord. For that. Understanding.

[19:08] Which we trust. And believe. That we have. Of the gospel. The way. In which. Salvation. Is of grace.

[19:19] That. Lord. We want. To fill our interest. In it. Whilst. We may. Be able. To understand it.

[19:31] Whilst. We may. Believe. In it. Yet. Lord. We need. That personal. Application. Of these things.

[19:42] To our heart. May we never. Lord. Rest. Upon the knowledge. That. We know. The truth.

[19:54] Without. Having it. Applied. With power. To our heart. We believe. Lord. That many. Know. The doctrines. Of grace. Many.

[20:05] Have been. Brought up. To understand. Them. But so few. Have been. Able to enter. By grace. Into them. It is.

[20:19] Our desire. Lord. That. Especially. As we come. To the end. Of the journey. That we may. Prove. Salvation. Is of grace. By experience.

[20:32] That these things. May. Be. Our favoured lot. God. God. And that. Although. We may deserve.

[20:42] Eternal banishment. Yet. To know something. Of the mercy of God. Toward.

[20:54] Rebellious. Sinners. So. Lord. Wilt thou. Come. Yet again. And confirm. To us.

[21:05] And teach us. Even. As thou. Didst teach. Thy servant. Job. And little. Did he realize.

[21:16] When passing. Through. Times. Of great sorrow. What was in store. For him. But Lord.

[21:27] We believe now. He is gathered. Safely. Home. With thee. And those things. Which were. But for a moment. He now.

[21:38] Realizes. That afterwards. Those. Peaceable. Fruits. Of righteousness. Are his. Now.

[21:51] Lord. We. Will acknowledge. Thy goodness. Toward us. As thou. Has blessed us. Above many. Thou.

[22:02] Has paved us. Lord. Much. In the path. Of providence. And Lord. We. Have to say. Sadly.

[22:15] That we. Can trace. Thy hand. Planer. In the pathway. Of providence. Than we. Than we can. Of grace. And yet.

[22:27] Lord. Have we not. Some evidence. Have we not. Some proof. Of the way. Which thou. Has brought us. God. As we.

[22:39] As we look. Back. Upon the pathway. Cannot. We say. That. The God. Who we would. Seek to. Worship.

[22:51] We approved. His faithfulness. We approved. His help. We approved. Him to be. The living God.

[23:03] The God. Who hears. And answers. Prayer. And now. Lord. Make thyself. A living reality. To us.

[23:15] As we come. Before thee. And do grant. Under us. Lord. That. Precious. Divine light. Even upon.

[23:27] The written word. That it may. Become. Life. And power. To our soul. We may. Be enabled. Lord. To.

[23:38] Enter. Into these things. Keep us. Lord. From our own. Wisdom. And our own. Understanding. But may we be led.

[23:51] Lord. By thy spirit. With such. Light. And power. With a gracious. Faith. And understanding. That we may.

[24:03] Depart. From the sanctuary. With a feeling. Sense. That God. Has met. With us. That our souls.

[24:15] Are refreshed. That our faith. Is strengthened. And thus. Lord. Do hear. And answer.

[24:28] Our poor petitions. We seek thy blessing. Upon each one. That is gathered. As we have.

[24:38] As we have sung. Lord. Thou knowest. How they have gathered. That motive. That has brought them. But Lord.

[24:49] We wonder. What thy motive is. Concerning them. Lord. We thank thee. That. Thy grace.

[25:00] Does not depend. Upon our motives. But thy motives. And may it be. Lord. Thy will this night.

[25:11] To bless our souls. Give us. Lord. To realize. The value of our souls. And that there is nothing.

[25:22] More important. Upon the face. Of this earth. Than the salvation. Of our souls. Lord.

[25:33] And so. Lord. May we. As little people. Be united. By thy spirit. Of grace. And may we be taught.

[25:46] By the Lord. Will thou bind us together. More and more. In the things of God. And grant unto us.

[25:57] Lord. That knowledge. From time to time. That. Thou art in our midst. We would remember those.

[26:08] Who. Would be with us. But are prevented. Thou knowest the. Various causes. But. Be with them. Lord. Where they are.

[26:18] And especially those. Who are in the pathway. Of affliction. And infirmity. Some Lord. Who. Are lawfully detained.

[26:30] Of some Lord. Who perhaps. Could be with us. But have not the desire. Yet. Thou art able Lord.

[26:40] To deal with each. And every case. We pray Lord. For all those. Near and dear to us. Our families.

[26:52] And thou knowest. Lord. The way. That they take. Keep them Lord.

[27:04] From hypocrisy. Keep them from dead formality. Keep them from that. Which is false. And Lord.

[27:16] May they be led. Into the true. And a living way. We pray. For thy one church.

[27:28] Thy people. In the pathway. Of trial. We realize Lord. The majority. Of thy people. Passing through.

[27:41] Tribulation. According to thy word. Some Lord. At this time. May be on the mount. But Lord. Be with those. In the pathway.

[27:52] Of trial. And affliction. Whatever that affliction. May be. And may they be given. That grace. To look to thee.

[28:04] May these things. Lord. Be sanctified. As indeed. They will be. In thy way. And in thine own time. And then Lord.

[28:18] We. Will come before thee. And seek thy mercy. Even upon our sinful nation. Lord.

[28:31] We know not what to say. We know not how to approach thee. Because we cannot point a finger. At any. And yet.

[28:45] We are exhorted. To pray for those. In authority over us. And we realize Lord. For the most part. They appear to know thee not.

[28:59] They trust in their own wisdom. And look to an arm of flesh. For their strength. Yet Lord. We would thank thee.

[29:11] For thy restraining mercies. That thou hast not. Permitted. Our enemies. To. Overthrow us.

[29:22] We still have thy word. Still able Lord. To. Meet around it. In the quietness of the sanctuary. Everybody. And we would be grateful for this.

[29:36] But do continue unto us. The means of grace. And an open Bible. If it could please. The turn the hearts of men. Even some in our government.

[29:49] Unto thee. Show them Lord. Their weakness. May they realize. Thy strength. Thy wisdom. Thy wisdom. And thus Lord.

[30:02] Remember Britain. That nation. Which thou hast favoured. In times past. Beyond many. And that nation.

[30:12] Which. Has now turned. Its back upon thee. And is worse. Than Sodom. And Gomorrah. And so Lord.

[30:25] We know. That thou art a God of mercy. But we know Lord. That. No one. Whoever they may be.

[30:36] Can turn thee. Whatever thy way may be. Whatever thy will may be. It must. Most surely be done. And so Lord.

[30:49] We would. Come before thee. And seek. If it could be thy will. That mercy may be shown to us. As individuals.

[31:00] In the churches. And in the nation. As we ask these things. For the part of all our sins. In the name of Jesus.

[31:11] Amen. In 514.

[31:32] June 684. Oh what matchless condescension. The eternal God displayed.

[31:44] His own glory.

[31:57] In gospel days. Hymn. Hymn. Hymn. 514. June 684.

[32:20] as we Terницיי offer. Among the christian who may be. Here he is there. The time they may be. Now our sins in c sworn case. In sure. And my father might pass this. Salem 4 Janet. and the divine God Gomez.

[32:30] In australia. What is the Essence?

[32:46] Give Him the shrily free attention To His countenance wards and ways As a glory, as a glory, Mary, will send God's name.

[33:28] Amen. In the first step of the Savior, For His majesty is safe.

[33:54] Look at it, it shines forever And will have over between Once the cross came, Once the cross came, And rejoices to them.

[34:41] The Savior, His priceless glory, Yet it shines through Jesus' presence.

[35:06] Take the death of His glory, Glory, who sent you, Take the grace, Lord, stripes and lighter And with pleasure And the purest andıyorsun Thank you.

[36:17] Thank you.

[36:47] Thank you. Thank you.

[37:47] Thank you. Thank you.

[38:19] Thank you. Thank you. We'll read the 23rd chapter in the book of Job. And we'll read the 13th of the two following verses.

[38:30] Job chapter 23, the 13th of the two following verses.

[39:10] I'm afraid of him. Job was a man of God. One who was brought into great and sore troubles.

[39:26] One who was led by the Lord down into the very depths. Who was brought and taught by the Lord that all the help of man was vain.

[39:43] And yet, how the Lord opened his eyes. How the Lord led him and taught him. But as we go through the book of Job, so we realize, as in our own lives, all we can see and all we can judge is the present and the past.

[40:09] Little did Job know what the future held for him. And yet, there were those times, I believe, when Job, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, was brought to realize that not only would an end come to all his trials, but they would end in glory.

[40:36] And when we come to consider, however long we may live, and whatever we may be called to pass through. And here we must say, the Lord has been very gracious to us.

[40:51] But whatever we may be called to pass through, what will it be? When compared to the joys of salvation, an eternity of pleasure.

[41:07] An eternity of eternal pleasures. But he is of one mind. Job had been brought to see this, that nothing can ever alter the decrees and the purposes of God.

[41:25] And this applies, not only with regard to the things of time, but let us remember this, also with salvation.

[41:40] That's a great mercy. If you and I have been led and taught by the Holy Spirit, and given a little hope in the way of salvation, however much we may be tempted by Satan, remember this, he is of one mind.

[41:59] And no man or devil can change his purpose, with regard to the salvation of your soul.

[42:11] You may be brought into great concern. You might be like poor Job, as he was brought into that place where he says, but oh that I were as in months past.

[42:25] And when he was brought into great distress. And yet, how the Lord was with him, and how the Lord eventually delivered him, and brought him, not only through his troubles in this life, but brought him at last to himself.

[42:48] But he is of one mind, and who can turn him? There's more than can be said of us, isn't it?

[43:00] That we are of one mind. And why is it that we're so unstable? Because a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

[43:16] And if we're honest, we should know that we're double-minded. We cannot say, like some, I'm speaking now of those who know something of the teaching of the Spirit, we cannot say, like some, that we are certain of our salvation.

[43:36] I believe there are times when perhaps the Lord has been gracious to us, and we've believed it. But how our mind, at times, is turned to our sin.

[43:49] How it's turned to the weakness of our flesh. And how, you see, it can't be said of us that we are of one mind. But here, you see, we're dealing with a God who is of one mind.

[44:04] And it was in his mind, in eternity, the counsel of eternity, to save his church. They would be brought into great and sore troubles.

[44:17] They would be brought into great temptations. They would have many enemies to deal with. But the purpose of all this was known to the Lord.

[44:31] And it was to prove to them, whilst in this wilderness, the power of their God, and also to teach them of their own weakness.

[44:44] And that salvation is all of grace. Now, he is of one mind. Now, when Job began to meditate upon this, he says, he was troubled.

[45:00] Therefore, am I troubled at his presence when I consider I am afraid of him. He saw something by faith of the majesty of God, the greatness of God.

[45:13] God. And I don't believe that anything will trouble a person more than this, when they see the majesty and the holiness of God, as they are brought to realize their sinnership.

[45:28] And they know what this God can do. This God who can dash whole worlds to death. And what can this God do to your soul?

[45:41] He can banish your soul from his presence eternally. And when Job thought of this, and when you and I think of it, what effect does it have?

[45:58] Does it not make us afraid? Does it make us fearful that how awful it would be if we were lost? If we are misguided?

[46:12] If in spite of what we trust and believe that we have known and experienced that something could take place and everything could be swept away when we come to the end of the journey?

[46:25] But he is of one mind. And it's a great mercy to be able to go back in our experience, however small it may be, and to have some spot or some place where we can say beyond all doubt, the Lord appeared for us.

[46:49] The Lord was leading us and guiding us with regard to our own salvation. He raised up a little hope within our heart. I know that providence and grace cannot be separated.

[47:06] And I know that we should seek to see the Lord in all our providences. But don't let us rest upon the fact that this God has been so good to us in providence that we must be gracious characters.

[47:22] Because the Lord is good to all in providence regardless of who they are. And whatever poverty or sufferings they may be passing through because yet, as yet, they are out of a deserved hell.

[47:40] But Job was able to look back upon his providences as time went on. all that which God has taken away he restored to him.

[47:53] But I don't believe for a moment that that was Job's desire. Job's chief concern was this, Oh that I knew where I might find him.

[48:07] Is it yours? Can you say that this is your genuine prayer before God that you might know him, that you might find him as your redeemer?

[48:21] Whatever you may think and you know we think a lot don't we? But whatever you may think there's nothing more important than this God being your redeemer because if he's not it matters not what comfort, what pleasure you get out of this present life.

[48:42] there's a dreadful eternity awaiting you and that could come upon you in a moment. Remember this, no one can ever change his mind but he is of one mind and who can turn him and what his soul desireth even that he doeth.

[49:04] The judgments for the enemies of God doeth. The judgments for the enemies of God what will it be? When we come to consider the mercies of God towards his church what will his judgments be to those who know him not?

[49:27] And yet none can turn him. How Satan will come and he'll try and tell us well of course perhaps we're nowhere near as bad as some and how this God will come with all sorts of ideas and try to turn our mind away from the solemnity of death the solemnity of eternity and he will come and so in such a subtle way and bring all manner of things into our mind to turn us away so that we are not of one mind but oh to have one mind to be like this God the salvation of our souls have we ever been brought there of one mind now he is of one mind for regard to salvation of the church of God he is of one mind for regard to the wicked and their eventual punishment without mercy for their sins is of one mind and who can turn him and what his soul desireth even that he doeth and therefore his might his divine purposes are fixed now because of this

[50:58] Job was able to say and he was brought into this knowledge because he said that he performeth the thing that is appointed for me now there was nothing that Job said that he performed himself you and I we may think quite often well of course we performed this and we performed the other and we do this and we do the other but let us remember this he performed now we didn't realize this until on our way here this evening that this is a very parallel word to what we had last Lord's day thou preparest now he performeth whatever is prepared prepared for you so the

[52:01] Lord will perform it whatever is prepared for me so the Lord will perform it and I think it was Anna wasn't it there be a performance of those things so that wherever the Lord gives you a word whatever the Lord may bring upon you and grant unto you perhaps light and faith to believe there will be a performance of those things now some of us have known what it is for the Lord to favour us with faith regarding certain matters and we know beyond all doubt as the Lord has favoured us with that faith to believe that those things would take place but how we had to prove this although they did take place literally as the

[53:03] Lord revealed to us yet what we had to go through before they were performed and look what Job had to go through before the promises which God gave him were fulfilled so don't think because the Lord has raised you up to a little hope and now you're brought down to the very depths everything seems to be against you as you look at yourself and your past lives as you look at your actions today perhaps and sins heavy upon you you think to yourself well now how is it possible that this God can ever have mercy upon me well the answer is this because he is of one mind and nothing can turn him your sins won't turn him your back sliding won't turn him your falling under the tempter's power will not turn him your denial of him will not turn him but how this

[54:22] God deals with his people now Job knew a little bit of himself the same as you will if you're taught by the Holy Spirit it now when he come to consider this he knew that nothing would turn the Lord from his salvation but he also knew that the Lord would deal with him for sin you see the child of God he can't sin cheaply and because he knows that the Lord is of one mind and will eventually save him and he believes it that will not be a license for him to carry on and do as he likes he'll know this that this God can do everything he's of one mind and his mind is this he's not going to allow his people to sin without some chastisement he's not going to allow his people to rule him in all things he will have the preeminence and that will be not only with regard to your salvation your worship he'll have the preeminence in your life to control your life too you see it's so easy to take the scripture out of his context and say well of course the scripture says that he in all things he'll have a preeminence well he will but he will have a preeminence in your life too and you're bringing him to those spots and places and there'll be times when you'll have to praise him and thank him for his one mind and that nothing can turn him for he performeth the thing that is appointed for me now these various appointments which the

[56:25] Lord's people pass through they are appointed for them and these appointments are varied you'll find that Job his pathway was totally different to David and David's pathway was totally different to Jacob's but in each particular case there was the God at work the Lord himself was working and he was performing those things appointed for them now perhaps we don't understand or appreciate such portions as Job and yet there's a lot of teaching in the book of Job if we're able to understand what we are by grace what the Lord has done for us we shall find a good companion in Job he was stripped of everything his wife his family his health his wealth his friends he was brought down to nothing and yet his God in spite of it all he was of one mind and that one mind was this to bring

[57:54] Job safely through and here's the wonder of it whatever you may be passing through however difficult however trying however bitter and this I do know whatever you may be passing through is no bitter no more bitter if it's anywhere near as bitter as what Job's pathway was and Job was brought through and the Lord will bring you through too however painful it may be rest assured of this if your faith is in this God it may make you at times tremble your sins your life and all sorts of things may come before you and make you tremble at the majesty of this God you'll be troubled at his presence and as you know what he can perform as you know he's of one mind so you'll be brought into trouble over these things but rest assured of this he'll bring you safely through all those times when the Lord's people have been brought into those places and they felt a bit at the ends of the earth they haven't known what to do but the

[59:17] Lord's brought them through and he brings them into those spots and places to prove to them that it is the Lord that's brought them through you see the Lord won't bring you into a place where you can get yourself out of trouble where you can deliver yourself but he's called a strong deliverer and he's the one that delivers his people now for he performeth the thing that is appointed for me and many such things are with him many not just the salvation of your soul you see we may think well of course the main thing and it is of course the main thing which he will perform is the salvation of our souls but it's not many things he's appointed but all eventually for that one purpose salvation of our souls to make us walk closely to him we've thought much today and wonder whether we'd have to speak from it how

[60:32] Enoch walked with God what is it to walk with God sometimes we sing and sometimes we pray oh for a closer walk with God a calm heavenly frame a light to shine upon the road that leads us to the land and we mean it as we pray we mean it as we sing but when we're walking we want to remember this there's always one foot on the earth you can't walk with both feet of the earth can you now as we walk then remember this we may be walking with God but there's always one foot on the earth and as that one foot is on the earth so there's carnal reasoning so the devil takes advantage of us and thus you see poor Enoch he walked with God but don't think for a moment that he had a comfortable easy life because he didn't but this we do know the Lord answered his petition he was one that feared death and how that he that was overcome by the deliverance of God

[61:59] God translated him and that's what death is to all believers because there's no fear no real fear in death because he's of one mind and he says in his word and his word is true that he has taken the sting out of death there is no sting in death for the Lord's people for he performeth the thing that is appointed for me I just want to say a word with regard to this performing the thing that is appointed for me there can be no heaven while there's sin there can be no pardon for sin apart from the merits of the

[62:59] Lord Jesus no man can ever enter glory by his own performance that he performeth the thing that is appointed for me the punishment of sin justice you see when the Lord when God in eternity planned the scheme of salvation he didn't say well of course the sins of the church of God I'm going to obliterate I'm going to forget all about them that church will come to glory just as if they'd never sinned know that penalty had to be paid it is true that they will go to glory just as if they'd never sinned but justice had to be met he was of one might he was a just

[64:03] God and therefore justice had to be meted out and the punishment of those sins had to be dealt with they couldn't be passed over and therefore he performeth now you think of this he performeth the thing that is appointed for me and many such things are with him the many many sins that you committed the many types of sins that you committed and will commit the awful sin of unbelief and yet the Lord has taken good care of all your sins many such things he performeth he performs the salvation of the church of God the Lord Jesus and many such things are with him many the whole church of God and all their sins he performed he brought about their salvation and Job was able

[65:09] I believe to see this he performeth the thing that is appointed for me now it was appointed for Job that he would reign forever with his guard and the only way that could be performed was by justice those sins had to be dealt with the penalty of those sins had to be paid for and the Lord Jesus performed on behalf of the church of God and Job and when we're able to see this when faith is given to believe it that this God in the work of salvation he performed the salvation how there are those today they believe that they can bring it about themselves by their own performance his performance was by coming upon their self by walking as a substitute in their place and stand by suffering the punishment of their sins that's how he performed their salvation he performed with the thing that is appointed for me and then you see another performance was this he took away the sting of death itself now the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law now he fulfilled the law he performed the law absolutely there's not a man upon the face of the earth from Adam until the last that's ever born that performed the fulfillment of the law upon the

[66:59] Lord himself and as he came upon this earth he performed the fulfillment of the law on behalf of the church of God and that's the most essential thing for our salvation because without that there could be no salvation now he performed with isn't there a beauty in this he performed with the thing that is appointed for me my salvation to know that it was appointed in the counsel of eternity so that we have got to look to ourselves and say we've got to do this we've got to do that there's no such thing as got to with the Lord it's done it's complete the work of grace is complete and when the child of God realizes this when grace is within his heart he doesn't there's no God about it he does that willingly that the

[68:01] Lord will have him do they shall be willing in the day of my power and when the power of God is demonstrated in the heart of a sinner there's a willingness and that soul will do anything for that God who has performed those things concerning him it's good it's wonderful it's blessed to see the Lord performing things in this present life making a way for us in the wilderness but this I do know and I trust and hope some of you do too that there is nothing more blessed than to see what God has performed with regard to the salvation of your soul the thing that is appointed is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment now he's appointed this so that in the day of judgment there be nothing to judge there be no sins to account for the Lord will judge in righteousness and he'll see the church of

[69:15] God not as what they were upon this earth but those things which he performed on their behalf for he performed the thing that is appointed for me many such things are with him therefore am I troubled at his presence now as I see this in this particular clause therefore am I troubled at his presence troubled because this God has done so much because he's performed salvation troubled about it yes you won't be able to rejoice in the way in which the world rejoices over your salvation you'll be troubled and you'll be troubled because it was for your sins that he performed this you'll be troubled because he suffered this God who has done so much for you you'll be troubled at his presence as he presents himself to you as your redeemer and you realize what you would the punishment that was due to you and how this

[70:44] God in the form of the Lord Jesus has come upon this earth and performed the very thing which troubled you which brought you into deep concern which caused you to twist and to turn upon your bed at night to cause you to pray to this God earnestly during the day and during the night perhaps for month on and month out until the Lord revealed himself to you as your redeemer and then therefore am I troubled at his presence when I consider I'm afraid of him you see this consideration is when we consider what we are and when we consider what it would be we're lost do you ever consider this does it make you afraid there are those times when you know that he's performed your salvation those times under the assurance of faith which are very rare but when you consider you're afraid of him you're afraid perhaps that your name is left out you're afraid that this

[72:13] God could not possibly you see Satan is so powerful we do not realise the power of Satan we do not realise the way in which he can come and tempt we cannot realise the way in which God has permitted him as he did in the case of Job to bring Job where he was how Satan came to the Lord and said hast thou considered thy servant Job and how you see the Lord gave Satan permission to test Job to try Job Satan wasn't able to just go to Job and do as he liked with him and Satan can't come to you and do just as he likes but Satan is permitted by God to tempt you as he was in the case of Job and therefore when you consider and Job had plenty to consider he was afraid of him he was afraid how far the Lord would permit

[73:30] Satan to go to tempt him now you see Job had a real sight of his own weakness have you has God given you such a sight of your weakness that at times you're afraid because when Satan comes with his temptations knowing your weakness knowing a little bit of what your flesh is when you consider what you've been brought into and what you have done and what you're capable of doing when you consider you're afraid of him because you're afraid of what this God may permit Satan to do and you're brought into a time of trial and distress and you're afraid you wonder how deeper you'll be brought into the mire or how the hymn writer puts it we can't quite quote it as he says but it's more or less like this that no sooner than one trouble is over he's afraid of the next so it is it's very seldom that we can go on for long without something coming into our experience if we're rightly taught and it'll be something that will show us the emptiness of this life and also the necessity of this

[75:03] God you won't be able to go on very long without God if you're a child of God you may go on for years without him but there's no evidence of grace within your heart if you do there'll be something that'll come in your experience however small or however great and it will cause you to go to this God now when you consider you may be afraid of him you may consider well now is the Lord going to be gracious to me in this I've been carrying on as if there was no God I've been forgetful of all his past mercies and now I'm afraid to go before him can you imagine some kind friend helping us in times of trouble and then we turn our back upon them we've ignored them we've cast them away we've disowned them perhaps something has taken place between us and then we're suddenly brought into need again we'd be afraid wouldn't we to go to them again and ask them for more help we'd be afraid to go to them and say we're now look here

[76:32] I'm in need of help again like I was before but not so with this God he performeth the thing that he's appointed for me and nothing will all tread and this God knows that one mind and nothing will turn him either your weaknesses under the tempter's power won't turn him but with this God there's no need to be afraid of him no need to be afraid that he won't listen to your petition no need to be afraid that he's going to cast you off forever you may be brought to feel afraid but why should we when we're able to look back as I trust some of us can and we can look back perhaps many years and see what God has performed in our lives but look what the

[77:35] Lord brought into our lives to perform those things the way in which he brought about a performance of his grace within our soul was it an easy thing was it something which our flesh enjoyed of course it wasn't was it something which brought satisfaction to our flesh of course not and then as we proved the power of almighty God did he do it in such a way that our flesh boasted in what this God had done of course not we were brought down to the very depths the same as Job was we were brought into those spots and places where we needed this God and when we were afraid and when we were troubled that this God would not come that this God would not deliver us we looked upon this God as being like ourselves and we were afraid to go to him we were afraid even to tell him of our needs and how you see we know beyond all doubt we acted in our own strength we've done things and we deserve the justice of God upon us and therefore we were afraid to go to him and tell him but like the prodigal who we so often mention what a reception he got the prodigal had nothing to be afraid of in returning to his father now therefore am I troubled at his presence when I consider

[79:16] I'm afraid of him he goes on to say but God maketh my heart soft now there's nothing better for a child of God than to have a soft heart our hearts are hard by nature as only the Lord can soften and when you come to the Lord's house sometimes you come with a hard heart a heart that is full of the world the motive that's brought us the Lord only sees and you don't see it yourself at times do you as you come to the Lord's house you don't realise you've come with such a hard heart you don't realise you've come with so much of the world upon your mind do you you see Satan those things which are appointed and the Lord in the midst of it all he gives you a soft heart perhaps a single word the line of a hymn and how your heart is soft in a moment you know what I'm talking about how you come to the Lord's house as hard and as worldly minded and then in a moment your heart becomes soft and you have that desire to worship the

[80:38] Lord in the beauty of holiness and the almighty troubleth me oh what a contrast a soft heart and be troubled by the almighty and yet Job you see he knew both sides of religion he knew what it was to be troubled he knew what it was to have a soft heart and only a soft heart can understand the things of God you'll never understand the ways of God you'll never understand what God performs and those things which are appointed for you with a hard heart how the Lord and the Lord alone will come and he'll soften your heart and he'll soften it with the knowledge of sin he'll bring down your pride he'll bring down your self esteem he'll bring you right down to the very dust now speaking after the manner of man

[81:38] Job in his early days he had much to be proud of didn't he much to be proud of but how he was stripped of it all and the Lord uses these very things he strips his people of all earthly things not actually perhaps but he does show them that there's very little value in them when we come down you know to the grave when we come to take our last breath what will the things of time be to us how the kings of the earth they may have everything they desire they may have all the influence and the power which man can give but when they come down to the end of the journey what have they got all are equal when we come to death as they all are equal we've got to leave everything everything here but to have that hope for God make it my heart soft nothing more than a hope beyond the grave will make your heart soft to have your heart soft as you think as you come to the end of the journey the Lord has given you a token that will be well it is well with them while life endures and well when called to die it was well with Joe

[83:12] God hadn't forgotten him with all Joe's friends he had that friend who loved at all times he had a brother that was born for adversity and Job was never forgotten of his God and therefore that might trouble Job it might trouble you to think that this God has been thinking watching you in all your sin in all your waywardness in all your lack of thanksgiving for his mercies it troubles you at times it does me it troubles me because I haven't got a grateful heart it troubles me at times because I can't believe the blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon me have come from the Lord it troubles me at times because I've got an unbelieving heart and yet when my heart is soft I believe

[84:12] I can see the hand of God in so many different ways now what do we know about these things ourselves but he is of one mind and who can turn him and what his soul desireth even that he doeth do you mean to tell me that the Lord would soften your heart and then when you come down to the end of the journey does he never knew you Job knew the Lord didn't he and how did he know the Lord why because the Lord knew him first we cannot know anything of the way of righteousness we cannot know anything of the ways of the Lord unless the Lord first of all has known us and chosen us in eternity and therefore he will perform that thing which is appointed for me death is appointed for all men the Lord tells us but one thing is appointed for all men and that is the resurrection none can ever depart from that the resurrection is appointed it is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment and that judgment will be the resurrection when the graves will be opened and if you're dead wherever your body may lay or whatever may have happened to it caused death that body will rise before a just and a holy God is appointed and very solemn and Job knew this therefore I'm troubled at his presence when I consider I'm afraid of him afraid of what this God can do but are you afraid of what this God has done for you are you afraid that everything this God has done has been in the flesh well then like

[86:22] Gideon how the Lord will prove to you eventually that when you come to the end of the journey like Job so you'll have your reward we know that Job had his reward by the Lord restoring to him more than he'd lost and the Lord will restore to you more than you've lost that you may have lost as it were hope you may have lost as it were the comfort of your religion you may have lost your faith but when you come to the end of the journey the Lord will restore that to you and whatever those around you may not be able to see this one thing your spirit as it leaves the body will go to where God has appointed it for he maketh my heart soft the almighty troubleth me and may the

[87:23] Lord then give us a soft heart and may we out of the air france of a soft heart praise this God and thank this God for what he has done and may we look to him for the future amen in 591 tune 9-1 as blessed is the man who in Jesus believes and on him he counts all his cares a righteousness full and completely receives that hides all his guilt sin and fear 10-591 tune 9-1

[88:51] Kinginc name he GodLu ''ities can't kami invəbb clay min ki fare ann difícil any khfield God bless you.

[89:43] God bless you.

[90:13] God bless you.

[90:43] God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you.

[90:54] God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you.

[91:06] God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you.

[91:18] God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you.

[91:30] God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you.

[91:42] God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. In the Lord The time is now Is there And soon it will come When Christ will His messenger To your One nation And carry on

[92:44] Come And then all his sorrows will end.

[93:03] Now Lord, do a favour of us with that grace, and that enduring grace, so that whatever we may be called to pass through, we shall be right when that time comes to call us from Meshach and carry us home.

[93:30] Lord, what an outlook, what a prospect. May it be ours, or may we plead for it whilst in Meshach, do part, forgive, what thy pure eyes have seen amiss.

[93:47] Be with us as we so pray. And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the sweet communion and fellowship of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us, both now and evermore.

[94:08] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[94:18] Amen. Amen.