Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.heritagesermons.org/sermons/6303/hebrews-quality-good/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] Let us now sing hymn 989. Let us now sing hymn 989. [0:37] Let us now sing hymn 989. [1:07] Let us now sing hymn 989. [1:36] Let us now sing hymn 989. [2:06] Let us now sing hymn 989. Let us now sing hymn 989. Let us now sing hymn 989. Let us now sing hymn 989. [2:22] Let us now sing hymn 989. Let us now sing hymn 989. Let us now sing hymn 949. the To the wish of those who have loved him To him and to me Thank you. [3:46] Thank you. [4:16] Thank you. [4:46] Thank you. [5:16] Thank you. [5:46] For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper. [6:02] And I will not fear what man shall do unto me. The fifth and sixth verses, the thirteenth of Hebrews. [6:14] For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. [6:34] Often, people have said to me, why do you worry? There are plenty of promises in the Bible. [7:14] I remember a woman, I remember a woman one day, telling me there was no need to fear at all. [7:26] Because if we belong to Jesus, it is to you who believe. [7:56] And unbelief, and unbelief at times, and unbelief at times rages. But where do you stand, sinner? You got a hope? [8:30] You know, my friends, so many people do seem to rest on little hope. I've got a little hope. But you know, if the Lord has done anything for you, that hope is anchored in the finished work of Christ. [8:50] And it will never perish. It's a sure hope, a sound hope. It comes through that precious gift of God, his grace. [9:04] There's nothing in you that will ever satisfy your God in yourself, in your flesh. Tis all his own work. But surely, you don't say your hope is a bad hope. [9:25] Well then, friends, if you've got a hope, and you can say that hope is in Christ, in what he has done, this word speaks to you this afternoon. [9:40] It's the promise of God to his people. And what is the foundation of it? Everlasting love, found in Christ, seen complete in him, united to him in the ties of precious blood, and everlasting love. [10:04] Hence the word, For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. But oh, there is such a blessed foundation, and that foundation, friends, is his own glory, and is in our text. [10:26] For it is followed by, so that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper. It's to give him the glory. It is from time to time, to say to man and devil, my God lives. [10:43] My God will help me. Oh, I remember once, tis only as the Lord helps, I know, friends, that we stand in this place. [10:53] But I remember once, when one accused me of something, and endeavoured to make a real case out of it, I said, and it seemed to be automatically, I've got a God. [11:09] What a place to stand in. When one feels that support, the Lord God omnipotent, he who dwells in the highest heavens, who has heaven and earth at his command, who is able to do all things, all things, friends, without the help of man, the almighty God. [11:34] This God who says, I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob, are not consumed. This God then speaks to you. [11:48] Why do you fear? Because you've got a case, haven't you? The children of God, all of them will have a case. A cross of some sort. [12:01] Why? Because it must be a following in the footsteps of the master, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. [12:12] If the word of God records, shall the servant be greater than his Lord? Can we expect to be any better then? [12:23] There'll be something you'll have to carry. Tis a mercy to have this God as our God, for he has said. [12:35] This word was given to me twenty-one years ago in the words, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [12:49] And then some three years afterwards, in the time of distress, darkness, the Lord confirmed it with, for he has said. [13:02] The unchangeable word of God, this God who promises and will ever fulfill, this God who cannot deny himself, this God who is able to fulfill every promise he makes, for he has said, who is he? [13:28] The almighty God who dwells, one God in three persons, God the eternal, Father, Son, and Spirit. [13:40] Three glorious persons engaged in one great work, the salvation of the people. A people loved with an everlasting love, chosen in eternity past, out of the mass of humanity, as yet unborn, uncreated in Adam. [14:03] This people loved with an everlasting love. God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, continues to follow them in the time state. [14:19] God the Father loved them, gave them to Christ. Christ the eternal Son, died for them, redeemed them, with an everlasting salvation. [14:32] God the eternal Spirit, keeps his eye upon them, as they come into the time state, and watches over them, throughout their time here, until they're received, received into glory. [14:47] This God, who is able to do all things for his people, he has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [15:02] And there well be, may well be, someone here this afternoon, under temptation, with regard to this word. for the enemy, from time to time, sees the people of God, in strange situations, and makes accusation. [15:24] You can't belong, to the right people. You don't belong, to the people of God. You haven't, the living God, in Christ, as your God, else, your state, wouldn't be as it is now. [15:39] This, oft times, is the situation, the child of God, finds himself in. You need then, the underlining, of this word, needed to be emphasized. [15:56] The emphasis, is in the opening, of the word, for, he, has, said. He cannot, deny himself, himself. [16:08] How shall my name, be polluted? He says, I will not, give my glory, to another. He has, declared again, I will work, and who, shall let it? [16:23] Your circumstance, then, whatever it is, that lays you low, and causes, the enemy, opportunity, to attack. the Lord says, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [16:40] He'll hold you up, poor sinner. The children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt, and were found in the wilderness, Moses was the one, to lead them, until they came, to a certain place. [16:57] Then, Moses was to be taken home, Joshua was to follow on. And the Lord said, through Moses, to Joshua, as they were still to continue, through the wilderness, be strong, and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them, for the Lord, thy God, he it is, that doth go with thee, he will not leave thee, nor forsake thee. [17:26] And that word is allied, to our text, of today. It is the same word, be strong, and of a good courage. [17:39] You who pass, through darkness, you who are in the midst, of difficulties, you who have something, on you, that you can't deal with, and from time to time, feel it will crush you, can't see the end of it. [17:54] The Lord says, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Oh, how wonderful it is, my friends, that this God, come, descends, to meet, the concerns, of his dear people, though they be sinners, worms of the earth, those who, unless he kept them, would turn back, right out of the way, not just once, but for good, except they are kept, and they are kept. [18:29] this great, and mighty God, gave his poet, to say, with heaven, and earth, at his command, he waits, to answer prayer. [18:41] Here's the pathway, then, sinner. Give him no peace, call upon him, with unceasing prayer, tell him, he is your God, tell him, he can, if he will, like that poor man, with leprosy, leprosy, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean, like that poor blind man, when Jesus asked him, what he wanted him to do, he wanted him, to open his eyes, Jesus said, I will, do it for you, his name is in it, I will not leave thee, never leave thee, nor forsake thee, but we need a foundation, don't we, a truly, sound foundation, and the foundation, is Christ Jesus, in that he came, into this lower world, and I again, and again, emphasize, the personal matter, that is in it, he came to save, you sinner, you, not as a company, but you individually, the individuals, who make up a company, the individuals, who make up, is one church, oh, how few, seem to know, or how few, do know, the reality, of a risen Christ, a personal, savior, his eyes, upon his people, individually, he knows, them individually, he loves, them individually, he cares, for them individually, he waits, for them individually, against that, great and glorious day, when he shall, gather each one, and make up, one glorious, triumphant church, oh, this precious man, came into the world, to save, you, it must be, this way friends, for unless, we have, a personal religion, a personal, savior, what can we go to, when in deep stress, real trouble, at the ends, of the earth, when the enemy, is on your back, he won't let go, and he plays, upon those things, that belong, to your wicked heart, and you know, are true, because he brings them, out at times, if not in open practice, in the mind, he moves, these things, in the heart, where can you go, unless you know, a precious Christ, and so, the dear son of God, in full agreement, with the father, and the spirit, came into, this lower world, to live, to die, he came, to suffer, those dreadful things, laid upon him, by infinite justice, taken, to that, cursed tree, at Calvary, to be nailed, to the cross, by wicked hands, for the joy, that was set, before him, he endured, the cross, despising, the shame, and is now, set down, at the right hand, of the throne of God, for you, it is this, precious man's life, and death, and resurrection, that has brought forth, the validity, of the power, and the life, that is in the promise, for he hath said, [22:40] I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, what need is there of it, oh my friends, what need there is of it, can you keep your soul alive, can you keep yourself, in that narrow way, can you withstand, the assaults, of Satan, can you follow, hard, after Jesus, in your own strength, oh how sweet, again, the love of God, has manifested, in some of our hymns, he saw me, ruined in the fall, yet loved me, notwithstanding all, he saved me, from my lost estate, his loving kindness, oh how great, the eye of the Lord, is upon the righteous, his ear is open, unto their cry, this is the pathway sinner, you'll have to walk it out, there'll be a trial, again and again, what for, to keep you looking, unto Jesus, it is so easy, to say loved, with an everlasting love, but there's got to be, a manifestation of it, [24:05] I say again, and again, the people of God, have got to come, into that place, to be able to say, to man and devil, I know, that my redeemer, liveth, not, I believe he does, I know he does, and it is, from time to time, to be able to say, I know he is able, to save to the utmost, all that come unto God, by him, for I've been there, I've proved it, my friends, this God, is a God, who will have his people, united, to himself, in Christ, it'll be, a real walk, it'll be, a walk, of living experience, but isn't it, worth it, what a favour, friends, to be able, to say, to the Lord, when at the ends, of the earth, to shut yourself up, with him, and say, [25:11] Lord, thou hast said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, it is, to take up, the same language, as we had this morning, in Job, Job knew, what he would say, to his God, and he knew, that his God, would put strength in him, not cut him off, and as the Lord, brings his living family, into this place of need, he enables them, with the right, and that right, is in there, Jesus, to say, Lord, thy name is in it, thy faithfulness, cannot fail, thou hast said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, and you've got a case, this afternoon, or a case yesterday, that still remains, or one, that you carry about, with you continually, what does it matter, with such a God, as this, oh, it does matter, [26:14] I know, friends, I know what it is, to have a heart, of unbelief, I know what it is, to come to that place, whatever shall I do, whatever shall I do, ah, this morning, before I came, into the service, I said, Lord, no man cares, for my soul, it's the way, friends, but it brings you, to that place, where you roll, your burden upon the Lord, you've got nowhere else to, you can't go anywhere else, you'll be delivered, out of this place, of unbelief, it will be, to come to, to come to him, and tell him, he is faithful, the promise, it will be, to take hold in him, as that poor woman did, Lord, help me, and then to graciously, argue with him, if he doesn't reply, Lord, thou canst not leave me, nor forsake me, as that poor woman said, even the dogs, eat of the crumbs, that fall from the master's table, it's a blessed way, friends, but I also know, as I said a moment ago, what it is, to fear, to feel the trouble, will surely swallow me up, [27:29] I can't go on, and there's no one, to help me, and the Lord, has shut me out, but God says, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, and do you know, why friends, not because, you're worth it, not because, you pray about it, not because, you've got nowhere else, to go, and you have to come, to him, because he sees you, hidden in Christ, because there he sees, all the perfections, his holy soul requires, complete in Jesus, was there ever, such a God, as this God, where the Lord, brings it into, practical things, he says, for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, so that we may, boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and he gives his people, such deliverances, that they are able, to openly declare, this God, is my God, he is the living God, he's made a way, where there was no way, he's lifted me, above my fears, ah, there will be, the fulfilling, of that word, [29:03] I must speak, or the very stones, will cry out, what is it for, the glory of God, what a foundation, is here friends, if this God, is indeed, your God, you can trace, his hand, in your past life, and experience, his mercy, for this God, will bring you, right through, every changing scene, in spite of your fears, again, he gave the word, to the poet, for you, for me, for I've proved it, blind unbelief, is sure to err, and scan his work, in vain, God is his own interpreter, and he will make it plain, that word to me, is a living word, for I remember, over twenty years ago, that word, given to me, in the middle of the night, in darkness, darkness, [30:12] I'd travelled, in darkness, for some three months, in the middle of the night, the very bed shook, to my feelings, and the words, rang across the room, he will make it plain, he will to you, but again, we come back, to that, which we spoke of, this morning, the sovereignty, of God, his ways, are past, finding out, your reason, my reason, blind, empty reason, that cannot understand, the ways of God, at times, we say, why should, these things be, wouldn't Peter, have said it, when he was put, in prison, how, Herod, was committed, to take him, and put him, in prison, and have it, in his mind, to kill him, but the Lord, knew what he would do, it was to be, for his glory, for God's glory, and what a wonderful, way he brought him out, is there anything, too hard, for the Lord, though, there were those men, either side of him, and he was manacled, and though, there were the keepers, at the door, what are these things, to God, your case, too hard, for him, no matter, how hard, it seems, no matter, how great, the mountains, every valley, shall be exalted, every mountain, and hill, brought low, the crooked, made straight, and the rough, places plain, and the Lord, says, for the mouth, of the Lord, hath spoken it, with Peter, he sent his angel, broke off the manacles, opened the doors, and took him out, into freedom, why, because the Lord, had determined, that should be done, but, he also, had ordained, the way, prayer, prayer, was made, for him, wrestling, prayer, can wonders, do, bring relief, in deeper, straits, prayer, can force, a passage, through iron, bars, and brazen, gates, how prayer, was answered, there, and what, a dreadful end, [32:52] Herod, came to, how, the Lord, will take, revenge, upon his enemies, the enemies, of his people, your enemies, how dreadful, to fall, into the hands, of the living God, being, one, that's, battled, against him, better, to be the oppressed, than the oppressor, for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, so that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, it is a wonderful place, to come into friends, to be able to say, to the devil, this God, is my God, have you never been there, never felt, that help, that the devil, hath to flee, never rejoiced, in your God, the almighty God, can't he do the same, today, as he did yesterday, for with him, there is no change, this God, is the eternal God, whose thoughts, toward his people are, [34:13] I know the thoughts, I think, toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you, an expected end, your case then, too hard, you can't understand it, continuing to ask yourself, why, listening to the enemy, your sins, are the cause of it, I'll tell you something, friend, a little personal matter, again, I like to walk out, I'm, ever so thankful, the Lord, that permits me, to walk out, the things I speak about, the flesh, doesn't like it, very often, but it is wonderful, to be able, to say, again, and again, I know, I've been there, last week, last Sabbath, I wasn't able, to preach, [35:14] I wasn't well enough, but on the Saturday night, the devil told me, the reason for it was, I wasn't fit, the Lord, had cut me off, it was why, I shouldn't go to preach, and until I came here, today, my friends, there's been a lot of fear, in my heart, too, because the enemy, is a powerful foe, and he told me, before I came here, this morning, the Lord, would shut my mouth, he's a great enemy, but the Lord God, is the living God, and what he hath said, he will surely perform, and the Lord, the Lord, gave this promise, to me, and I've pleaded it, many, many times, over the years, that have passed, and proved him, to be faithful, for he hath said, [36:23] I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, so that we may, boldly say, the Lord, is my helper, ah, he's going, to bring you, poor sinner, into that place, where he brought me, a few weeks ago, and I woke, one morning, and he was, full in my heart, the Lord, was my God, and I was able, to say, the Lord, is my God, blessed, be my rock, I well remember, that welling up, in my heart, early one morning, blessed, the Lord, liveth, that's the way, it came, it's in one of the psalms, the Lord, liveth, blessed, be my rock, we'll do it for you, this God, will have his people, rejoice, in his infinite, mercy, and love, and faithfulness, he'll bring you, through poor sinner, he'll fulfill his word, he will not leave thee, nor forsake thee, and he's going, to bring you, into that place, to be able, to say, with full assurance, the Lord, is my God, to man, if need be, to devil, if need be, to bring you, to bring you, into that place, of strength, standing, in the faithfulness, of your God, so that we may, boldly say, the Lord, is my helper, and I will not, fear what man, shall do unto me, what a wonderful place, to be brought into, for the people, of God, when they come, into trial, those trials, are deep, aren't they, some of yours, have been, they're not trials, that you can take, to man, to be delivered, from, sometimes, those trials, are such, you can't take, them to your nearest, and dearest, there's only, one place, to go, to shut yourself, in with the Lord, [38:55] Lord help me, Lord help me, Lord help me, the word says, I will not, fear what man, shall do unto me, sometimes, it is man, the cause of it, there's no one, can help you, man has raised, up his hand, against you, perhaps, some of you here, know something, of this way, no deliverance, can't perhaps, go to law, about it, you can't take, your case, to the court, man's, raised up, his hand, against you, what a place, to be in, when found, also, and often, it is the way, walking, with Job, as this morning, oh, that I knew, where I might, find him, it seemed, as if man, was against you, and God, was against you, he'd shut, his face, from you, the word, must be fulfilled, [40:18] I will not, leave thee, nor forsake thee, so that, we may, boldly say, to the glory, of our God, that the precious, Christ, may be exalted, the crown, put on his, dear head, that the enemy, shall be shut out, that his voice, shall be quietened, the Lord, will work, he will make, a way, and it may, well be then, be able, to tell man, the Lord, has done it, but what a good place, to come into, it's a wonderful place, when everything, seems to be, against you, and then, in the twinkling, of an eye, peace flows, the Lord, appears, the difficulty, still there, but he's, taken the curse, out of it, he's given you, to commit your way, unto your God, and he brings, gracious, submission, and peace, he works, he'll make a way, he'll open, that door, in such a way, that you won't fear, what man, can do unto you, my God, liver, he's able, to do all things, he will, make a way, for me, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, she, he, while men live sin will abound the mercy of it all is the Lord says where sin abounds grace doth much more abound maybe someone here this afternoon knows what it is the weight of sin fresh sin that too hard for you fresh sin and how solemn it is my friends how deep it is sin in light the Lord hath shown us the way yet sin again in spite of light [43:04] I remember I look back again I remember once seeking to do something that was in my heart and though I was a member of a church and determined to go that way the sin was never brought into the open the Lord stopped it but it was in my heart in light the knowledge that these things are wrong the Lord having set them set it in the heart the right way given one to know what sin means and yet there remains the old man and tis again that word I will not have this man to reign over me what infinite mercy the Lord controls his people kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed that the last time there's no alteration here the purpose of God toward his people is everlasting love if there's one here this afternoon feeling the weight of sin the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin ah but listen to this friends and I delight in the declaration of it but before I make it [44:54] I'm going to tell you this the first year of my ministry it was in the first three months actually I made this same declaration not with the same knowledge as I make it today and a woman wrote to me and disputed because she said I gave men license and the word is this sins put away through the blood of Jesus Christ past present and future that poor woman so fearful as she wrote to me that I was giving license in saying future sins as well but oh the blessed foundation of it all the dear Redeemer hung upon Calvary's tree and in a voice of ecstasy not weakness but the strength of the living God cried out it is finished the whole work of salvation completed for men as yet aren't born as well as those that were dead and those who were living then it is finished the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin your sins in the future as well as sins in the past and sins in the present there is no license friends the love of God would never permit a child of God to deliberately and willingly rejoicing walk in the ways of sin because he believed the blood of Jesus Christ cleansed him from that sin grace prevails my friends the child of God from time to time will walk in sin in heart if not outwardly because he carries with him a body of sin and death because that great adversary of his soul is far stronger than he is because he has no strength in his old nature to do those things that are right in the sight of God but [47:27] Jesus lives and he waits to be gracious poor sinner if there be one here then that feels the bondage of sin call upon this great and mighty God pleading again this precious promise for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee come Lord bless my poor soul revive again thine own work shine in the midst of my darkness reveal unto me the power and the efficacy of the atonement come and bless me Lord it will be fulfilled for his name for his name is in it so that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper Jesus is my mediator he stands between my poor soul and the holy God he is that precious man who hath bought me with a price his own heart's blood so that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me at times man oppresses the children of God oppresses them for their following the precious [49:03] Jesus because of their religion because of their hope in God rather than in man and what a wonderful word I will not fear what man shall do unto me it is a great mercy friends to know the throne of grace to be favored at times when even at the ends of the earth to tell the Lord without thee I must perish do help me Lord he will come he does come his name is in it I will not fear what man can do unto me or may there be something this afternoon that abides the word of the Lord endureth forever and hear the words of Jesus to his disciples heaven and earth shall pass away but my word shall not pass away hear it again for he hath said [50:25] I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me the Lord add his blessing his name shall have the praise amen let us conclude with him three hundred and forty seven Lord how many are my foes many those that me oppose thou my strong protector be all my safety is indeed satan and my wicked heart often use their treacherous heart fame would would make my soul to flee but my safety is in thee three four seven to and for me they are wunder aleg [52:53] Thank you. [53:23] Thank you. [53:53] Thank you. Thank you. [54:53] Thank you. Thank you. [55:53] Thank you. Thank you. [56:25] Now may the grace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the sweet fellowship and communion of the Blessed Spirit be with us each, now and forever. Amen. [56:43] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. [56:55] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you. [57:31] Thank you.