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[0:00] depending upon the Lord for help I'll direct your direction attention this evening to the second epistle to Timothy the third chapter and the fourteenth verse the second epistle to Timothy the third chapter verse fourteen but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them in seeking the Lord for a word to speak from this evening in the last week this word was laid upon me just one word continue continue and when I heard brethren speak to the young this afternoon with regard to pausing waiting for direction and also with regards to the one faith and one faith only

[2:00] I begun to wonder if there was anything left for me to speak of but nevertheless we feel that we must venture and pray that that same Holy Spirit that was spoken of this afternoon might be our light and might be our guide all this wonderful word continue meaning no change no variation what was Paul saying unto his son Timothy in the face he was telling him of those evils that he had endured and he was giving him and us the warning of things that shall follow as life goes on for he he declares the great need to be prepared to suffer persecution for the name of

[3:23] Jesus but he said but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived and how we find that is true and as I speak for myself how alarmed and how disappointed I have felt and often so cast down because these things come so near home the devil loves to take advantage of such things and point them out to us and would say if your religion was real God would not allow these things to happen if your religion was real you would not be associated with such men as this religion and surely if you had as much religion as they had you would be going along with them and we know that is true but God in his mercy has kept us on a very short rope he has given to us such limitations he's brought us so often in utter dependence upon the

[4:59] Lord how many times through the past year have you said and how many times do you predict you'll say it in the coming year if the Lord spared you Lord help me friends you have got to continue they got to continue in this warfare there is no discharge there is no turning back in this warfare everything is supplied and every need is met by him who calls you to be his soldier who calls you to follow him and my friends if he sends you and says go go you'll have to go and if he says stand still stand still you'll have to stand still but you have to continue my friend oh what a wonderful example of

[6:15] Paul whilst to Timothy and to us all but my friends we must not make too much of Paul but oh let us for our encouragement behold the God of Paul oh did that wondrous saviour who upheld him and maintained him to the bitter end the Lord Jesus Christ has told us clearly he said in the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world you may be cast down and maybe feeling I didn't realise it would be like this I hope for this and I hope for that

[7:16] God told me this and I interpreted thus but he has interpreted it another way my friend God is his own interpreter and he will make it plain the mistake my friends is not the Lord's but it is ours that my friend remember this continue he is a faithful God he is a God that will never alter he will never change oh the word continue and no deviation no going back no alteration but oh in the word of God alone we cannot look at this word just out of context for what he says to Timothy is this continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in

[8:53] Christ Jesus therefore my friend there's a great need to continue in the scriptures now some will say what scriptures do you continue in or have no doubt in your mind what scriptures did the Lord begin with you in my friend if the scriptures were good enough for the holy spirit to make a beginning with you surely they are the right scriptures they are the scriptures that will lead you into all truth my friend continue in the holy word of God we are favored we are still able to possess what we term the authorized version how many versions has

[9:56] Satan brought in with the purpose that he might dilute the truth and that's what evil men do as he is speaking of previously seducers that's what they are seducers they dilute the word of God the devil knows that if he can dilute it once he'll dilute it again and again until he dilutes it down to such a state that the original is out of existence that is oh what seducers will do but I say what will such a dilution of truth do for us and where will it lead us my friend we have the word of God which is an unctuous light to all that's right and a bad to all that's wrong and it is as if you are seeking to follow a dilution of the truth that you might accommodate your worldly practices and worldly pursuits oh I say then indeed it is no longer the truth it's no longer the truth it is a lie my childhood pastor the late mr water croft used to say oh that part of the truth is a lie the men would say oh but that is the truth but my friend it's only part of the truth it's diluted down oh that it might produce a lie and that is the intent of it oh I say continue then in the word of

[12:01] God that standeth and liveth and abideth forever oh continue in the word of God my friend continue oh he will with his people all and he will never change and he will never alter is he continuing the things which thou hast learned now I want to come to this word which what have you learned over the many years I believe this with my whole heart that those true Christians those who are born again they will ever be learning not as we read this evening ever learning yet never able to come to the truth my bread men are ever learning and study the word of God in some way or another not by the Holy

[13:17] Spirit but by an intellectual power in other words they are learning in the head what Paul is speaking of here is what you learn in the heart what you learned in the heart continue that learning in your heart the great warning and teaching to us age oh let us not become top heavy and think that what we learn in the head is paramount to what the Holy Spirit teaches in the heart but my friend continue in what he teaches you in the heart and as I began this evening when I spoke how many times will you say Lord help me an independent brain of the

[14:19] Holy Spirit may assimilate much scripture but my friend that soul who had been quickened by the Holy Spirit and the power is in his heart my friend he'll be brought here again and again Lord help me continue oh in that knowledge and understanding that without Jesus you can do nothing continue in that truth that each one of us was born in sin and shaped in iniquity and that by nature salvation is beyond the grasp of the individual oh I say oh those things that thou has learned oh oh does you cry do you cry out tonight

[15:21] Lord what I know not and teach thou me what you have learned my friend continue it drove you to the throne of grace and bless his name for it continue my friend that is the only way to come a good and gracious God and that is to the throne of grace how do we what we have learned about the throne of grace my friend is this as God has declared I will meet thee there and there will I commune with thee from above the mercy seat oh I say continue in that posture humble at his feet submissive to his will look into him to meet your every need even as

[16:33] Paul said to the Philippians my God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus friend to continue here all my need oh I believe that to be truly so oh Jesus is an all sufficient saviour that is the wonder of it all sufficient as he writes to the Colossians also and he says ye are complete in him I say it is have you so learnt the Lord Jesus Christ that there is such a fullness in that glorious head the Lord

[17:36] Jesus Christ is able to meet all your need friend there's nothing lacking in him there is that in him everything to supply our every need oh how we have to learn and continue in the pathway of humility because we continually come across a giant in the way and do you know who that giant is it's your own very shadow oh that mighty monster of pride within and he puts on all kinds of cloaks and coverings to make himself look good unacceptable but my friend God will never accept anything of any one of us that is of ourselves he wouldn't even accept of

[18:45] Abraham and why should we think he would accept of us Abraham said to almighty God oh that Ishmael might live before they all continue oh in hearkening unto the word of God and humbling yourself under his almighty hand I shall not forget I suppose it must be 25 years or so now that a scandal broke out of something that I have later said and believed in the ministry and such was the situation that people's voices were believed and I found poor bits being closed upon me and I felt this was so hard and I grieved over it dreadfully but you know it wasn't a right and a real grieving and so troubled was I that one night I felt

[20:03] I just could not go to bed until the matter was put right before the Lord and the Lord broke in with these words to my poor soul and he made himself of no reputation friends I felt a beast before the Lord I got so ashamed of myself all I was grieved about was my reputation and my grieving was nothing to do with the Lord Jesus Christ oh I say continue in learning he must increase but I must decrease we forever have to come to this my friend the Lord Jesus Christ he will teach us this continually if we are humble followers of his he says the disciple is not above his master or the servant than his

[21:19] Lord if he is our master if he is teaching us what we need to be taught and he was despised rejected of man and spat upon and said at naught will it not follow that we will be so also for his dear name's sake can it really be that we should go on in life and we shall be immune from this despising and rejecting ah my friend continue in the way your lord and master walked it is good enough for thee dear child of god it is here that he alone can impart help and strength to thy poor soul to continue to continue ah my friend we need to continue in the word of god i don't despise good books in fact i find good books sometimes beneficial to me but friends let us first of all remember continue in the word of god you could do without all the other books but you cannot do without the word of god it is by his word my friend god has promised to bless comfort and help his people you say but i've read the word of god again and again and you come like the hymn writer who says if in my word i look such darkness fills my mind i only read a sealed book and no relief can find it is true isn't it ah that we are called sometimes to weep because the book is sealed up but my friend what a mercy if it is to this end to hearken to the instruction of

[23:55] James who said if any man lack wisdom let him ask of god who giveth liberally and upbraid is not friend there's only one recourse for you and me and that is to the feet of Jesus oh to ask of him lord teach me lord remember i'm but a little child lord i do but needly and thou can shine with light into my heart friend continue in this one source of light and teaching his word my friend there is a foundation in the word of god a foundation that will never be moved a foundation that will never be changed much to the sorrow and disappointment of some of mankind and why is there sorrow to them because my friend in the great day of judgment all mankind will stand and fall by the word of god oh yes indeed for the word of god will not change he said i am the lord i change not therefore his sons of jacob are not consumed friend the unchangeable foundation of the word of god it will not change therefore as it is it will be a disappointment to the reprobates and to those who are the followers of satan and his agents because my friend it will be by this word that will be consigned to the everlasting torments and burnings of hell but my friend to the godly to those that are in christ jesus those who seem so overwhelmed and so tried and know not what to do or where to go next yet my friend oh

[26:34] I continue in those things that thou hast learned oh my friend the holy spirit that which he teaches us it never bears confusion no it doesn't confusion arises from us confusion arises in our hearts and minds when we want to change and alter things just a little to accommodate ourselves or to accommodate those we love but my friend the lord jesus christ will never bow to our whims and fancies and oh dear peter he learnt that lesson well beautiful epistles are those of peter and when in his last days with his lord and master on earth and he said lord and what shall this man do he said what is that today follow thou may peter if you would but listen i'm telling you something i'm talking to you and the things that are needful for you to know and to understand peter don't interrupt and divert the matter to someone else he said what is that today follow thou me my read continue in following the lord jesus christ it will save us you know from unnecessary criticism of the brethren and it will save us from a contentious spirit when we content we bring contention for contention sake my friend there'll be enough contention for us to deal with it without trying to generate more for the word of god says contend earnestly for the face which was once delivered unto the saints oh continue all more contentions and heresies will come and we shall not be sufficient in and of ourselves to manage those things but my friend if we are found with those that continue to follow the lord jesus christ then indeed there is strength there is help there is power there is provender there is rest there is comfort for his dear followers his dear shape oh i've often been thankful that in the teaching of the lord jesus christ he has styled his people as being cheap mankind deem it to be an insult to their mentality but do you do you when you come down to bedrock bottom when you feel so empty so forlorn so disappointed so let down you say where will the scene end oh continue with him who calls you by his

[30:34] grace continue with him following him who has appointed all things after the counsel of jesus will my friend what a wonderful thing to continue in isaiah 64 i believe it is is it with with the continuance in these things there's continuance in these things in other words he doesn't alter he doesn't change they go on and on forever that is our great mercy my friend did the lord call you by his grace and why will he change order that which is spoken oh continue my friends i do believe this that sometimes the lord respects the same word unto his people that he has spoken to them in years past there's a continuance of those things oh yes i shall now forget the lord in a particular way speaking unto me oh yes stand still and see the salvation of the lord today the lord shall fight for you and he shall hold your peace and in many years later i was again in great trouble great trouble and i thought how can i continue lord i can't continue i must have a word from thee and i thought about the word very much but i didn't find any benefit from it and driving down from manchester one snowy evening the lord broke in with those identical words my friend i believe i sang my way from manchester to london and that was a blessed ride to me yes the lord shall fight for you and ye shall hold you be continuous my friend in the same promise what what a mercy it is to have one that you can trust in one that will never fail you and one that will never alter he will never say to you poor sinner i didn't mean that we better have a new agreement we better change things round and you have to take something a little grade lower not so my friends in our

[33:53] God not in the Lord Jesus Christ those wonderful words in the 13th chapter of Hebrew Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever oh my friends Jesus Christ the same those angels that spake unto the disciples when Jesus ascended up into heaven he said ye men of Galilee why gaze ye up into heaven that same Jesus the same Jesus he will continue he will continue his work and when he comes again he will continue in his work and carry his people home to glory he will continue till his work is finished he will continue my friends until they bring forth the headstone crying grace grace unto it so this wonderful counsel that

[35:10] Paul gives to Timothy and he counts in this one word but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of just notice that word thou continue thou it's not for you to subcontract your responsibilities to another no continue thou it's not indeed for you to be able to delegate to others what is your responsibility no but continue thou in those things that thou hast learned my friend hast thou learned this that Jesus still says and has said come unto me all ye that labor all that wonderful word see how vast it is see how wide it spread see how long it endures see how far it continues come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden he doesn't put us into some machine like a computer and sort us all out into various grades and he puts in little cubicles no come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden sinner he puts us into one category as poor and needy sinners and do you know what you'll find a union with those people if you are amongst them you will indeed and you'll find you want a continuance with those people you'll find that continuance like Ruth the

[37:19] Moabitist had who we read she was steadfastly minded steadfastly minded she had a mother in law and she was a godly woman she feared the lord and so her heart was captivated through the purposes of god to follow the same god as hers and give up give up all that she had before when the lot was cast into the luck but the whole disposing thereof is of the lord ah that he may call you and is calling you to be steadfastly minded that you might continue in the ways he's drawn you by his irresistible grace ah that grace that brings you to the saviour's feet that grace that brings you a poor burdened heavy laden soul to cast your burden upon the lord hearken to his words friend it continues and continues forever is he come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest friend you know generally speaking if there's anything going free it needs a lot of advertising and everybody is in out to get it free and they delight you when they get something free or half price but nobody seems to want much of this commodity do they they do not want to know the lord jesus christ and what has made thee to differ

[39:21] I ask you what has made thee to differ ah my friend come unto me all ye that labour and I will give you rest my friend has he ever spoke about anything being paid and are you got into that hole where you think oh surely I've got to give something do something something's got to be reimbursed by now I am such a debtor what can I give him oh the psalmist verse what shall I render unto the lord always I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the lord what a wonderful continuance all in the freeness of his grace he never asked a mic from thee poor sinner he knows that we are all bankrupt friends sin has brought us on one level always we view it rightly before the lord it's brought us on one level lifting our eyes to one place all to the freeness of his grace as he run far down all from the cross of calvary my friends there he suffered bled and died for poor sinners what a price what a price he paid and our hymn writer puts it like this of the freeness that continues and that same man in heaven now reigns who suffered in our place and stayed oh he did my friends there's a continuance of that he's never altered it he's never changed it and friends when that work continues and is completed oh I say what a fullness of the glory there that will be found a continuance of these things continues and it must flow from time to eternity eternity will never end and the those who are found in Jesus

[42:02] Christ they'll be given a life that will know no end beyond our comprehension but Jesus has said this I give unto my sheep eternal life and they shall never perish they shall never perish oh continue in the things that thou hast learned sinner thou shalt never perish perish Satan Satan may say what he likes everything may militate against him but my friend Jesus said they shall never perish why because none can pluck them out of my hand friend whose hand art thou in this day this night wonderful truth if we can answer it ah the truth is you're in his hand still and continue there because he won't let you go my friends and you can never release yourself from the hand and in your heart of hearts you do not want to be removed from his hand do you do you cry out tonight choose thou the way and still lead on continue

[43:33] Lord for me in everything continue for me in myself in my family in my employment in the church of God continue for me that I may have a right influence that oh I might let my light shine before all men oh but men may not have to ask me who I am or what I am but oh continue oh Timothy you you know where you are right enough and the world will know where you are and my friend they know this that you will have to continue now I must draw this to a close I did intend to speak more of Paul's continuance but in that fourth chapter we read it's a sad chapter isn't it it is a very sad chapter you'd have thought well

[44:43]  Paul the great apostle of the Gentiles he he I suppose who we may like to judge he excelled all others yet my friend when he come down to his end he got nobody around him but my friend he continued because he had the Lord Jesus Christ and he had the answer for a good conscience and he could say I fought a good fight and I have finished my course and henceforth is laid up for me a crown of glory Amen