Philippians (Quality: Average)

[0:00] As the Lord should be pleased to help me, I shall continue with the morning subject, the epistle to the Philippians, chapter 1, and the sixth verse.

[0:19] Be in confidence of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

[0:36] Chapter 1, the epistle to the Philippians, and the sixth verse.

[0:49] I would like to feel that many of you have the mercy to have this good work begun in you.

[1:07] How great a mercy it is, no tongue can tell or mind can see. But, if this good work is begun in you, you will not be able to take it for granted that it is.

[1:26] You will need to be assured from God that the good work is indeed begun, and you will be exercised unto godliness, that the good work being begun shall be carried on, and that the evidence of it may be seen in your lips and lives.

[1:57] Let our lives and acts express the holy gospel we profess. The word of God says, the root downward, and the fruit upward.

[2:13] And so, if this good work is begun in you, then others will discern it, see the evidence of it, and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

[2:31] I showed you in the morning sermon just a little about this good work after the beginning of it, some evidences whereby you might be assured that it is begun.

[2:50] And I want to show you some further evidences, as grace is given, that you may be able to weigh matters up between your conscience and God as to whether this good work is indeed begun in you.

[3:13] And remember, it is a matter of unspeakable importance to have this good work begun in our breath.

[3:26] A work of God. What an amazing consideration it is. All to think that God, who in the beginning created the heavens and the earth, should work in a sinner's breath, and do this good work which the text refers to, and fit that sinner o'er the sky, and make such an one to be me, for the inheritance of the saints in life.

[4:02] And it might be well, in approaching the subject again, to say just a word or two, about the great difference there is between that work which God wrought as the creator, when in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and this good work which he creates in a sinner's breath.

[4:29] And now, if I can make it plain, if right words can be found to put it together, it was almighty God who is the maker of the heavens and the earth.

[4:49] But when you think of him who is the creator of the good work within a sinner's breath, where it is begun, you must think of almighty God not as the creator alone, but you must seek grace grace to think on almighty God like this.

[5:16] Almighty God side human breath, the Lord of life experienced death. How it was done, we can't discuss, but this we hope was done for us.

[5:32] God and there this good work could be begun in any sinner's breath. God had to do that which he alone could do and it is beyond words to describe the doing of it.

[5:54] God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

[6:10] And now that is the work which God the Father was pleased to do. And while it was an easy matter for almighty God to create the heavens and the earth, God the Father opened out the love of his heart in an infinite fullness when he sent down into this thin-cursed earth his dear, his only begotten son, the eternal son of God in his divine nature.

[6:50] And he sent him down into the world to save sinners. And every sinner on whose behalf he came will have this good work begun within and it will be carried on and completed.

[7:10] And that sinner will be found at length around the throne of God in glory a sinner saved by grace.

[7:22] Remember that. it is said of Jesus Christ he shall fear the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied.

[7:34] Let us go on to consider this good work. A new way matters up before God with whom you have to do. As to whether you have got some evidence well grounded that he has begun a good work in you.

[7:53] And you will remember I said a little that when this good work was begun in a sinner's breath there was a beginning in that sinner's life to reality.

[8:05] What I mean is that things in that sinner's life become real. Time becomes real. and eternity too.

[8:19] Sin becomes real. And it is to be gained not by its extent but by its intent. The motive governs it as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.

[8:37] Life becomes real. And you realize when this good work is begun only this frail and fleeting breath preserves me from the jaws of death.

[8:50] Soon as it fails at once I am gone and plunged into a world unknown. And you begin to journey on through life like Moses the man of God described.

[9:04] So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. wisdom. Yes, life becomes real, death becomes real.

[9:17] And you know not any day that dawns but what that day is your dying day. And it will be well if you can live your life in the light of that truth.

[9:28] It is not a gloomy theme, although you may think it is. It is a safe life to live. Teach me to live that I may dread the grave as little as my bed.

[9:41] Yes, when this good work is begun it makes things to be real. and it makes religion to be real. You were made aware there is religion that is just outside show.

[9:59] It is no more than veneer. It will not do either to live by or die by. It is just religiosity. But you want religion that God is the author of.

[10:17] As fire ascending seeks the sun. So when this good work is begun there is a going up from that sinner's breath to him who is the author of that good work that he will carry it on as he alone can do.

[10:37] And now you will be taught this truth. Myself I cannot save, myself I cannot keep, but strength in thee I then would have whose eyelids never see.

[10:52] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it. I said accompanying this good work there would be repentance unto life.

[11:10] Not only so that word in Zechariah is fulfilled, I will pour upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication.

[11:24] Where this good work is begun it is said behold he prayeth. Do you? And then there will be this word entered into which shall know every man the plague of his own heart.

[11:42] Because with this good work begun as it is carried on it brings an increasing conviction of sin into a sinner's conscience.

[11:54] So that as he journeys on through life although as you look on the life that sinner lives it is consistent upright what it should be but that sinner feels more and more as he appears before God unclean unclean behold I am vile.

[12:16] And that is the route going downward yes and very desirable that the soul be without such knowledge is not good they that behold need not a physician but they that are sick and then where this good work is begun it brings with it living faith and makes the sinner possessing it a believer.

[12:47] He is not always filled with joy and peace in believing but from the time he is born again he is a believer and he is asking the white of Zion with his faith this award and he has this feeling in a right mind one thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple yes and now let us go on from that viewpoint he which has begun a good work in you will perform it and now there will be arising from this good work what we call a good hope through grace hope is a sweet blessed principle that lives and moves in a sinner's breath there is something in hope good hope through grace that is inspiring in its nature what I mean is this all through the wilderness below good hope expects more good to know and thus is kept alive the soul go back if you can to when hope dawned in your breath hope in

[14:19] God what have you been doing from that day to this you have been hoping in God as grace has been afforded to do it but sometimes it has been to hope against hope and your hope has been brought very low at times and you have felt zeal extinguished to a spark light is very low all my evidence is dark and good works I have none to show but the good works has been evident even then because you have been made to feel though I am cast out of thy sight I will look again towards thy holy temple who can tell but what God will be gracious to me and there is hope doing its proper work within hoping in God and remember what we used to sing every saint is saved by hoping in the great redeemer's blood round his footstool view them stooping humbly to adore their

[15:32] God and that is the evidence of the good work being begun and then there is that outstanding evidence of love maybe it could be said that the chief evidence of this good work being begun is love we that love it is born of God we know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren but it is not enough to quote the scriptures it is what is known and felt within and it cannot be known and felt as you are by nature as you were born you cannot love the truth although you listen to it and some of you it may be do listen to it and you just hate it I'm not making any reflections on any of you I'm just telling you what

[16:34] I know is the truth of the matter I aim to have a good conscience before God in how I try to preach as I am in the latter days of my ministry coming to the end of it and it is the truth of the matter that as you are born when we should see him there is no beauty in him that we should desire him it is a terrifying thought to those of us who preach especially about that you can listen long to the truth and not love it but when this good work is begun with this what then ye did receive the love of the truth have you received it do you listen to the truth that is proclaimed in your hearing all the year round if to be you can see there on and grow and go on to seek to know the

[17:35] Lord and practice what you know great evidence love to the truth and him whose truth it is wonderful mercy to love the truth blessed are your ears for they hear blessed is the people that know the joyful sound they shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance and that love to the truth brings with it love to the house of prayer and you go with will and peace we love the place O God wherein thine honour dwells the joy of thine abode all earthly joy excels I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness much might be said along that line of thought concerning love and godly john says much about it beloved let us love one another for love is of

[18:52] God and he that loveth knoweth God and love is the evidence of being born again remember that love of the truth and that means you love those who do love it and your concern is wisdom numbered I would be now and in eternity all that will be what you will aim at let me amongst thy saints be found and as you hope this good work is indeed begun in you you will have your eyes open to see some evidence of it being begun in those round about you and when you discern those signs which assure you the good work is begun in this one and that one you will be like

[19:54] Barnabas who when he came to Antioch and saw the grace of God he was glad one more thought about this good work there will always be accompanied in it godly fear the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and when this good work is begun in a sinner's breath it creates in his conscience a solemn awareness thou God seest me and he wants to live his life in the light of that truth always people could do it more than they do what an alteration there would be in the church of Christ professing and amongst us all as a people thou God seest me and he did that which was right in the sight of the

[20:54] Lord and now this good work where it is begun will have godly fear that an omblious life to what is right and the part of what is wrong and it can be summed up like this after these evidences of the good work being begun unto you therefore which believe he is precious and now there is a word if you have this good work wrought in you that you will have to weigh up before god and seek divine aid that you may come inside it be ye conformed to the image of his son and that means that in this good work being begun and carried on there must be do listen dear friends I say there must be in our lips and life a reflection of the image of Christ if any man have not the spirit of

[21:56] Christ he is none of his and you know the goldsmith when he has the gold in the crucible has to keep it there and the crucible heated until he can look on the molten metal and see his own countenance reflected therein as in a mirror and when he can do that then he knows the metal is ready for him to do what in his mind to do in you and I if this good work is begun in us must be brought to that line of things in our soul's experience as the image in the glass answers the beholder's face thus unto my heart appear print thy own resemblance there and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus it was reflected in their lips and in their life life and that is the evidence he which has begun a good work in you will perform it yes but let us look at the subject from yet another viewpoint being confident of this very thing that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it the margin is finish it but this word perform is very suggestive to tell me said the

[23:29] Lord will perfect that which concern it me and he has a petition I will cry unto God most high unto God which perform it all things for me mark that word in unto God which perform it all things for me the psalmist realized his inability to do good and that he could not on his own initiative in his own strength do anything at all in carrying on the good work which God had begun God alone could carry it on and complete it and now that is a very salutary lesson to lay to heart and without me ye can do nothing I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and now this good work when it is begun then

[24:38] God will be carrying it on in accordance with his own will his purposes for that sinner in whom the good work is begun and it will be carried on in accordance with the word of his Christ all that God does in dealing with his people is in accordance with what is laid out in the word of his Christ such is the pattern and so the good work is carried on and there will be one word you will learn the meaning of among many more that this word will stand out we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God and it will be as you enter into that much tribulation whatever the nature of it that will make manifested good work in you and that

[25:47] God is carrying it on trials make the promise sweet trials give new life to prayer trials bring us to Christ's feet and lay us low and keep us there and from the time this good work is begun in you being God's work brought in you you will find opposition from earth and hell without and from what you are by nature within and so the life of the righteous is ever a conflict a struggle and you remember the apostle Paul encouraged Timothy fight the good fight of faith lay hold upon eternal life there will be opposition sometimes you will be in heaviness through manifold temptations oh

[26:54] Satan will cease to undermine or to obscure every evidence you may possess that this good work is indeed begun he may call into question what you humbly hope God has been pleased to do all to rob you and spoil you and to bring you into a cast down state sometimes the world will oppose you everyone that will live godly shall suffer persecution you might think on that word you will need it in the more or less immediate future in the world at large especially those of you that have to go out into it to earn the bread which perishes everyone that will live godly shall suffer persecution and that is marvel not if the world hates you but know this it hated me before it hated you if he were of the world the world would love his own and you remember it says in the book of the revelation that the man is not going to be allowed later on the time is very near it is almost upon us not going to be allowed to buy yourself unless he has got the mark of the beast and that means if you and

[28:33] I have the great mercy to have this good work begun within that we shall have to evidence separation from the world more than ever before it will then be seen know that the Lord has set apart him that is godly for himself and you will need divine aid to endure whatever test and strain may be put on you especially if your name is on the church hall you will know then he which has begun the good work in you he alone can carry it on and help you to endure to the end of it he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved you must expect it dear friend it will come much tribulation there may be adverse circumstances in all that you see happening round about you in

[29:34] England as a nation the vagaries of the weather the inclemency of it the floods and all these things are but the judgments of God abroad in all the earth and when they are those who have the good work begun within are expected to show becoming behavior not as a man in the street who reviles the weather and God whose weather it is strictly speaking whatever time of day it is you could say in fact you ought to say good morning good afternoon good evening because it is to do with God that the weather is like it is it is not by chance but that has it many weather reports tell us how it comes to be it is like it is but the truth of the matter is the lot is cast into the lap and the whole disposing thereof is of the

[30:37] Lord and where this good work is begun in a sinner's breath he will humble himself under the mighty hand of God and however bad the weather is he knows being the sinner that he is it could be a great deal worse if he had the weather according to what he deserves remember that therefore every day it will be a good day and whatever the night is like it will be a good night if you and I have the good work begun within because we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose remember that you and I have got to learn this line of things when all created streams are dried thy fullness is the same with this I would be satisfied our glory in thy name and the apostle

[31:39] Paul said to these dear godly Philippians rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice yes should poverty or loss of all created goods conspire to make our weighty cross our helper still is God yes being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it it will be in the midst of much tribulation it may be many full temptation it may be adversity will befall you you must expect setback and you will get opposition from earth and hell without and what you are by nature within and it may be to evidence the good work God will lay affliction upon you he does not afflict willingly and grieve the children of men but it is to evidence this good work think of dear

[32:47] Job he knoweth the way that I take when he has tried me I shall come forth as gold and that gold really means I shall have evidence upon evidence that the good work is begun and is being carried on hope but what did Job say when he came forth of gold behold I am biased and what did Job do when he came forth of gold the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends when he reflected the image of Jesus Christ who on Calvary's cross says, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

[33:45] Much might be said under that heading, He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it. And now it will be carried on in accordance with what is laid down in the word of God.

[34:00] There and there alone is the pattern. And as a rule, you will learn and gain evidence that it is being carried on in the means of grace.

[34:16] Sometimes, when you sing the Psalms of Zion, you will find that the hymn writer felt just like you do. The things that he asked for, you asked for.

[34:27] What he felt, strange as the feelings are, you feel too. And that will be a help to you. As in water, faith, and with unto faith, so does the heart of man to never.

[34:41] Sometimes when you look into the word of God, you will see your own soul's experience outlined in detail as some other one taught of God that traveled along that road long before you.

[34:58] And you will find you are followers of them, who through faith and patience have inherited the promises. And oh, you will say, and sweetest is to say it, I rejoice in thy word as one that findeth great spoil.

[35:14] Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my fast. But most of all, I was going to say, and I have said it, most of all, you will find that you get evidence about this good work being in you and being carried on as you hear the gospel, priest, and hear it in the power of it.

[35:40] And you can say, the watchmen that go about the city, they found me. The gospel bears my spirit up.

[35:52] And as you feel it, bearing your spirit up, you have sweet confidence. The good work is begun within, and is being carried on.

[36:03] And so, along life's way, you get way marks, set up. I heap you have raised, totems for good that you treasure up, sweet answers to prayer.

[36:18] And when trouble like a gloomy cloud has gathered thick and thundered loud, you can tell of deliverances, you can declare, the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him.

[36:36] And so you are assured, he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it. And says the dear Apostle Paul to these godly Philippians, until the day of Jesus Christ.

[36:53] Now there are three days that are days of Jesus Christ. One day is when the Son of Righteousness arises with healing in his wings, and chases every if and but and how, every doubt, every questioning, from your heart, your conscience, and in heaven's own light enables you to feel it is well between your soul and God.

[37:28] When you see Jesus and can say, O my Jesus, thou art mine with all thy grace and power, I am now and shall be thine when time shall be no more.

[37:42] Oh, that is a day of Jesus Christ, dear friends. It comes to these people in the text. Be which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

[37:59] You say, I wish that day would dawn in my life. You must be like the psalmist. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

[38:12] I watch for the morning, said the dear psalmist. And God help you to do it too. And you shall find that word a blessed reality.

[38:26] Unto you that hear my name shall the son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings. The vision is for an appointed time, though it tarry wait for it.

[38:37] In the end it shall speak and not lie. It will surely come. It will not tarry. But that day of Jesus Christ may not come to some with the good work begun within until the day of death.

[38:52] But it will come then. None will ever miss it. The text tells us the truth. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun the good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

[39:10] And if not till then when you come there, poor sinner, you will get the top stone put on. The good work begun and carried on will at length be completed and you shall find the bottom to be good in Jordan's swelling and you shall realize that God having given you grace to live has now granted unto you grace to die.

[39:41] Yes. The day of Jesus Christ. But then there is a day of Jesus Christ which has not yet dawned but it will inevitably dawned trained to say when time shall be no more.

[39:59] You remember the Savior said in John's Gospel about he that doeth the will of my Father I will raise him up at the last day and now that day is the day of Jesus Christ when the dead in Christ shall rise first when all the redeemed dust all over this world and that means hundreds of millions of sinners saved by grace whose redeemed spirits are in heaven before the throne of God all the redeemed dust of those same sinners will be raised at the last day and the redeemed spirit will retenant the redeemed body yes the dead in Christ shall rise first and that will be the day of Jesus Christ and all that vast host making up the elect of God every sinner in whom the good work has been begun carried on and completed will be there and the saviour will appear before his father and say behold I and the children whom thou hast given me or will you be there shall I let that be our chief concern as we live out our life to be numbered with them living and dying and to know this good work is indeed begun to watch on to prayer that he who has begun it will carry it on and complete it this prayer and this ambition mine living and dying to be dying amen with non out one one

[42:33] Thank you.

[43:03] Thank you.

[43:33] Thank you. Thank you.

[44:33] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[45:35] May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in the love of God the Father, the communion of the Holy Spirit be upon us and all who love the truth everywhere. Amen and amen.

[46:01] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you.