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[0:00] With the help of God, I would direct your mind this morning to the book of Job, chapter 23.

[0:17] The 23rd chapter of Job, verse 10.

[0:30] But he knoweth the way that I take. When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

[0:42] But he knoweth the way that I take. When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

[0:59] Lord, here it takes speaks of an almighty God full of wisdom, understanding.

[1:17] In the prophecy of Isaiah, there is no searching to his understanding. And little do we realize the knowledge that almighty God has.

[1:39] And the power he has to direct the steps of his people and others.

[1:54] All in his hands, under his control. Mind if his circumstance is subject to his eye.

[2:06] If we only knew, dear friends, in a deeper sense and measure in our hearts of the greatness of God and the holiness of God, I believe there would be often a deep trembling within our hearts if we only knew the greatness of God.

[2:37] We can understand in some measure that Job was unable to pen these words.

[2:50] But he knoweth the way that I take. How true is what we have read of Job, an upright man, by the fear of God.

[3:08] A truthful man, by the grace of God. A wealthy man, by the blessings of God.

[3:19] A wealthiest man in the land of God. A wealthiest man in the land of hers we have read. But he was a child of God.

[3:32] He was one whom the Lord had blessed. With a wonderful knowledge. It is of God.

[3:46] And of his mercy. And of his love. And the time came as we have read that God gave Satan that enemy of all that fear God and others.

[4:08] That goeth about like a roaring lion in the day of Job. In our day also. And he gave Satan permission.

[4:26] I was going to say to overthrow. I think I should be right and say to overthrow. I think I should be right and saying over through everything that Job had.

[4:40] Apart from the grace of God in his heart. And he gave Satan the solemn word that he was not to touch his soul.

[4:54] Could he? Could he? No. No. So Job was sorely afflicted.

[5:06] If we had continued to read in the book of Job, We should have found something like this. That he was afflicted. That he was afflicted from the crown of his head to the sword of his foot.

[5:21] Just was the condition of Job in those days. And Satan set about.

[5:34] And no doubt it was the very desire of that evil spirit to overthrow a child of God. But he found he couldn't.

[5:45] Has there been times, dear friends, in your experiences? It seemed that the devil set at you.

[5:56] And he would overthrow everything. But God, I was upon you. So, Job made this remark to God.

[6:14] There has set an age about it. An age. That age, I believe, dear friends, was the love of God around it.

[6:30] Satan couldn't touch that, his soul. And the devil could see this age. The age of God's love around.

[6:47] I said at times, I believe it to be true. That age of love around the old church of God.

[6:59] And every individual child of God. And if there would have been a gap in that age, The devil would be threat.

[7:10] But no. No, there's no gap, dear friends, In the love of Christ to his dear people. They're surrounded.

[7:24] Can't always be that. Can't always see it. Often fear it may be otherwise. But that love of Christ is around every individual.

[7:40] soul whom he redeemed on Calvary's cross. So we come perhaps a little closer, as I may be held to her text.

[7:59] But he knoweth the why. He knoweth. Can I put it before you in this night.

[8:30] In a few words we read in Psalm, I believe, 37, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

[8:41] Can I hear some soul say, You cut me off. The steps of a good man. I'm a sinner.

[8:53] Yes, so am I. So am I. No goodness in us, whatever. But, The things of righteousness is in Christ.

[9:15] But he has been pleased. By the Holy Spirit to implant. When one is born again of the Spirit.

[9:27] That seed of righteousness. And that's where the poor sinner comes in. To see the soul of his people.

[9:39] These are the people that are ruled by Almighty God in his mercy.

[9:53] And will know something of the truth of our text. But he knoweth the why. He knoweth all our circumstances.

[10:25] He knoweth our hearts. He knoweth the cry of our hearts. He knoweth the downcastings. He knoweth the troubles of the wise.

[10:40] He knoweth our afflictions. He knoweth the soreness that is felt within their heart. Because of sin. Of unbelief.

[10:51] And those things that are evil. But he knoweth. He knoweth. Oh, if this could be sealed home, dear friends.

[11:03] Within our hearts. I believe there would be. A comfort. But he knoweth. This almighty God that I've mentioned.

[11:14] Full of wisdom. Full of understanding. Full of sympathy. can succor those who are under the sore temptations of Satan.

[11:26] But he knoweth. He knoweth. The why. In our various afflictions.

[11:44] In body and in soul. Jesus walked this path. I must make it clear here.

[11:54] He walked this path. In sorrow. In casting down. But he never had the afflictions that we have.

[12:11] Our afflictions in our bodies. Our known and experienced. Because we have a carnal nature that is sin.

[12:23] His was holy. Pure. Undefiled. No sin in him.

[12:34] No sin in his body. But this dear man came to. As the heavenly physician. To heal. Those.

[12:46] That were wounded. By sin. By their afflictions. That's the secret of it dear friends. That's the blessing of it. Yes.

[12:57] He came. Came to heal. But he knoweth the why. Have I a poor soul here this morning?

[13:10] And the trials of the way. And the sword afflictions. The downcastings.

[13:20] The temptations of the evil spirit. You say. Can this word be true? He knoweth my way.

[13:34] Would he have caused me to walk in this path? Would he have caused me to walk in such darkness of soul? Would he have caused me to be so depressed and cast out?

[13:55] He knoweth the why. He knoweth. Why does he cause his dear people to walk such a path?

[14:08] As I have mentioned. You may jump to this conclusion. Say. Well. I knoweth the question. I knoweth the covenant.

[14:22] I cannot be a child of God. But. Dear friends. That's not so. That's not so. Just the opposite.

[14:36] Is this. To draw us nearer and closer to him. And to have more knowledge. Of his love.

[14:47] And his mercy. His power. To us. That's the reason. And remember this.

[14:57] Oh how often we forget. The pathway. Of the Lord Jesus. He was. The son of God.

[15:09] Really the son of God. And as you know. Those disciples heard. The voice of his father. From heaven. This is my beloved son.

[15:19] In whom I am well pleased. Where did that dear son of God. Of the father. Have to enter into. Where did he go to.

[15:31] Did he have a smooth path. No. No. We speak with all reverence. The way. The why.

[15:43] Of Jesus. Was. In every step of it. According to the will of the father.

[15:57] And you will remember. There was a time. When Jesus cried out. The bitterness of his soul. If it be possible.

[16:08] And let this cup. Pass from me. Have you been there dear friends. At times. Cup. Seenly full of poison. Everything against you.

[16:23] So it was with Christ. Have we been able to say. In the afflictions. As the words of Christ.

[16:35] Nevertheless. Not of I will. But dyingly dark. Remembering this.

[16:49] How Jesus. In his agony. Cried out. Cried out. To his father. In agony of soul.

[17:02] I am quite aware. Friends. We never have. Never will. Nor. Nor a man. Has ever entered. Into the depth of Christ. Oh don't think.

[17:12] For one moment. That I am. Speaking. Testifying. In any way. That.

[17:23] We enter. Into the depth. Of Christ. No. No. No. No. But. There is a falling on.

[17:36] In some small measure. To know the pathway. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what he passed through. In his agony.

[17:49] He prayed. More earnest. And perhaps some of us. Know a little of that experience. I feel I can say this.

[18:03] Before you. This morning. Not many months ago. I was in agony of body. And still.

[18:16] At times. But. Lent. These words. Came again. And again. What he endured.

[18:29] No tongue could tell. But he knoweth. So in these deep. Paths of sorrow.

[18:42] Affliction. Darkness. But. He knoweth. He knoweth. And I can assure you of this.

[18:54] That we are in those. Spaces. And able to pray. Plead with him for help. He.

[19:06] Is able. He knoweth the why. He knoweth the path. He knoweth the sorrow. He knoweth the agony. He knoweth.

[19:19] He knoweth. And he will come to thy aid. Yes I feel I can testify. Before you this morning. And in my little experience.

[19:33] Not that I wish to. Enlarge upon my own. Experiences. But in those. Days. And in those.

[19:44] Pathways. And experiences. Of agony. May. Oh the Lord.

[19:56] Prove to me. The evil of my strength. It reminded me. Of.

[20:07] The father. Sending. An angel. From heaven. To strengthen his dear son. Was in the God.

[20:18] Of testimony. But he. Knoweth. The why. So dear friends. Can we say.

[20:29] Our lives. We who fear God. Is completely. In the hands of God. And he will walk. In a way.

[20:40] He thinks best. And profitable. To her soul. And honorable. Unto him. But he knoweth. The why. I have mentioned.

[20:55] Respecting this dear man. Job. How he was so. Greatly afflicted. By the grace of God.

[21:07] What did he say. The Lord gave. The Lord hath taken away. Blessed be.

[21:18] The name of the Lord. So when we can. Trace dear friends. His hand. In the way. That we.

[21:28] Are brought along. In our pilgrimage. Isn't there. That comfort. And we desire. That grace. To be able. To say.

[21:39] With you. The Lord gave. The Lord hath taken away. Blessed be. The name of the Lord.

[21:50] It reminds me. Of the words. Of the prophet of old. When he said. I will bear. The indignation. Of the Lord. Because.

[22:02] I have sinned. Against him. Well. He knows the pathway. And this pathway. Not only in the things of grace.

[22:15] But in the things of providence. Providential blessings. And merceness. Are mingled with spiritual blessings. Dovetail together.

[22:27] Though the Lord. The Lord. The Lord often uses. One. With the other. God is a God of providence. As well as a God of grace.

[22:38] Why shouldn't he? Then. Mingle these two things together. For our God. Going back to Job. For a moment.

[22:48] Providential things. A man. With much. Providential blessings.

[23:04] A man of much grace. Now the Lord. Mingle those things. In providence. With those. That spiritual blessings. In his soul.

[23:16] And so it is today. The Lord hasn't changed. It's the same. Yesterday. Today. And he will be forever. In his work. In the hearts.

[23:28] Of every true believer. In Christ. Can I hear a poor soul say. Am I one of these true believers?

[23:42] Am I one of them? You may often fear to be out.

[23:53] As I said. The secret. It's better to feel. You are out of the secret. Than to feel. You are in it.

[24:05] Building. On a forced foundation. Because that will sink. But if you are enabled. To believe.

[24:21] That Jesus came. Into the world. To save sinners. And you will remember. One of old. Well taught. And blessed of God.

[24:32] He claimed to be. The cheapest. And probably. You have many times. You said. I'm a cheapest. Of sinners. But he knoweth the why.

[24:46] He knoweth the why. So he leads. His dear ones along. In various paths. Days of darkness.

[25:02] Sometimes. Temptations. The path so rugged. Nothing seems to be plain.

[25:15] Nor straight forward. Is this the way. Yes. God moves the mysterious way. His wonders to perform. He prances.

[25:26] Put steps in the sea. And rides upon the storm. Ye fearful saints. For his scurried stake. Declare thee so much dread.

[25:37] Are big with mercy. And shall break. With blessings. With blessings. On thy debt. But he knoweth the why.

[25:49] Dear friends. Consider it for a moment. He knoweth the way. From the beginning to the end.

[26:00] We don't. We enter into these afflictions. And trials. And we say. What's going to be end of it.

[26:12] When the Lord brings us. And takes us. One step in the affliction. Or trial. He knows the end of it. He knows.

[26:24] That how it will end. And it will end. In this. Poor child of God. Sanctified grace. Sanctified mercy.

[26:36] And at times. You may be able to say. It has been good. That I have been afflicted. He knoweth the way.

[26:49] Yes. Can you remember the time. When the Lord. Brought you out of that.

[27:00] Pathway of sin. He knoweth the why. Oh the Lord knows. That blessed way.

[27:10] He's made that blessed way. For his dear chosen. Out of the broad way. Into the narrow. He knoweth the why. Brought you out of the broad way.

[27:24] Out of those paths. Of sin and wickedness. Into the narrow path. Into the paths of righteousness.

[27:37] In our earth. And the psalmist. That word he. Spake.

[27:48] But Jesus. He is my God. I trust in him. I trust in him. My times.

[27:59] My times. Are in his hands. He knoweth. The why. Dear friends.

[28:10] As I mentioned. At the commencement. The footsteps. Of his chosen people. Are all under his control. I know there is such a thing as a backsliding.

[28:25] Sturried. Manifested in us. Will you bring us back? You take Peter for a moment. Disciple of the Lord.

[28:39] The Lord Jesus was traveling. As you know. To that place of Calvary. He was before judges. Going to be condemned to death.

[28:51] What about poor Peter? What about poor Peter?

[29:03] Denied. He denied the one that he had heard. He denied the one. That he. Possessed.

[29:13] Professed a lot. He did nothing. He had a test in time afterwards. But he denied. The Lord Jesus.

[29:24] Don't know it. Oh my friends. There is such a thing as a backsliding. In a soul. Of the Lord's dear people. Will you bring me back? That's my meaning.

[29:36] And also in these afflictions. And these trials. Are the very times. When he. Means he uses to bring us back. Even as they.

[29:49] Prodigal of old. I have sinned. Against heaven. Before thee. And am no more worthy. To be called thysine. But you will remember.

[30:01] The father. His dear father. Received him. And so will Christ. Dear friends. So will your father. Your God.

[30:13] He will receive you. Peter. I mentioned a few seconds ago. About Peter. And how he denied.

[30:26] The one he loved. Now that was tried. We have it in our text. When he had tried me.

[30:36] Peter. Peter. Love us. Love us. Love me. That was the words.

[30:51] Of the Lord Jesus. And of Peter. You see in this. Kindness. Of the Lord. Though Peter.

[31:02] Denied him. Don't know him. We shall probably. Cut someone off. Cut him off. No. Not so with the Lord.

[31:12] He will not cut you off. Dear friends. But that faith was tried. Peter. Peter. Love us. Love us. Love us. Love us. Love us. He spake that word.

[31:27] Three times. Did he not? And the last. Peter said. Lord. Thou knowest. That I love thee. What about it? Though the Lord may seem.

[31:39] To have cut you off. Of late. In various ways. But cannot you come with Peter. Lord. Thou knowest. I love thee. But he knoweth the way.

[31:54] That I take. A few thoughts here. When he hath tried me. So there is experience.

[32:07] Dear friends. In every child of God. In some measure or other. When he hath tried me. Personal matter.

[32:20] And the Lord deals with us personally. He deals with us. Separately. Individually. He hath tried me.

[32:33] Well. Faith is to be tried. And I think some of us know a little of this pathway. In the things of providence.

[32:44] And in the things of rise. As the Lord gave you. A promise. Many many years ago.

[32:54] Hasn't been fulfilled. Your faith. Is tried. And you would answer me.

[33:05] Yes. It is tried. If it's been tried. Dear friends. You've got a little. And you may feel. And you've got none. None. Faith is sure to be tried.

[33:19] So it was with Job. He knew it. He knew he would not pass. As it was around this trial. Or through this trial.

[33:31] Without faith. He says. When he hath tried. When. When. So the Lord tries.

[33:45] Our faith. Promise given. It may have been many many years ago.

[33:56] Some of you can look back to those days. And remember. Where you are.

[34:09] And what. Frame of mind you was in. When the Lord may have spoken to you. And told you he loved you. With an everlasting love.

[34:23] Told you he had. Remembered you. Favored you. Fear not. For I am with thee. Be not dismayed. For I am thy God.

[34:33] I will help thee. I will strengthen thee. I will uphold thee. With the right hand. Of my righteousness. Faith today. Dear friends. Being tried.

[34:45] Did the Lord speak that word? Did I just read it? Did it just come to my mind? Faith is sure to be tried.

[34:56] Sure to be tried. So is this pathway to be tried. Faith is sure to be tried.

[35:09] Friends. That's no bad mark. If your faith is being tried. Because the Lord has tried you.

[35:21] Did he not with Abraham of old? Did not God give unto Abraham of old a promise? Respecting his son Isaac.

[35:33] He did. And then the time came. When God spake to Abraham his servant. Take thy son. Thy only son.

[35:47] Offering him up. On the Mount Moriah. His faith is tried. Did Abraham.

[36:02] Turn in some other direction. He listened to the voice of his master. But his faith is tried. We read in that portion in Genesis.

[36:17] That God tempted him. It's not a temptation as we receive. But he tried. And wasn't Abraham obedient unto his God.

[36:32] No doubt in the back of his mind as it were. And in his heart was his promise. Lord. Just give me a promise. Respecting my son Isaac. His faith was being tried.

[36:50] Tried. Some of you may have heard a word from the Lord. Respecting. Dear and dear ones to you.

[37:04] Children. Because he hasn't fulfilled it yet. Yet. If he has given you a promise my friends. That will be tried.

[37:15] And it will come to pass. I speak. I fear I can this morning. With every authority. And say. To the honor and glory of God.

[37:28] That promise will be fulfilled. In his time. But he knoweth the why. And he knoweth the time. When it will be fulfilled. Well.

[37:41] Our faith is sure to be tried. That faith will still remain in their heart.

[37:54] In some measure. I've heard it said. Well I've got no faith. There's some that fear God. I've got no faith. That's how they feel.

[38:06] That is not true. There's some little faith left in their heart. At the bottom of their heart. And the Lord will try it.

[38:17] But it's there. It's there. It's the gift of God. And nothing can move it.

[38:28] Not even the devil. Cannot move. It's faith in their heart. God has implanted. And I might look at it in this viewpoint.

[38:40] You know that faith grows. And sometimes when it grows. When we. We seem to have the least. The least.

[38:50] I wonder if we've got any at all. That is there. What God gives in his perfect gifts.

[39:01] Cannot be removed from the soul. That gift will. That gift will. That gift will. That gift will. That gift will. That gift will. That gift will. That gift will. That gift will. Remain in the soul. Such as. Spiritual life.

[39:15] And that spiritual life. Will ever be. Ever remain. In the soul. It will be there. When the poor sinner. Is called. The death door.

[39:31] It remains in the soul. It will return. To the giver. Heaven. In heaven. But he knoweth the way.

[39:44] That I take. When. When he has died. Am I one here this morning. I don't know why I should come. With his text. I don't know. Have I got one here.

[40:00] And your faith is being sorely. Sorely tried. Well it was so with Job. And we do not hesitate to say that.

[40:12] Dear man's soul is in heaven. In glory. So will yours be. If God is trying your faith. He's got you in his hand.

[40:22] In his love. He's answering really the prayers. That you prayed. What is it? Prepare me gracious God. To stand before thy face.

[40:33] Thy spirit must the work of form. For it is all of grace. Through much tribulation. Ye must enter the kingdom.

[40:46] I believe I've quoted in prayer. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. The Lord delivereth them out of the war. But faith must be.

[41:00] Will be tried. Again oh you and I have prayed. That we might grow in grace. And in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[41:11] There's the answer. Faith. Laid low. Faith being tried.

[41:22] That's the way the Lord answers that prayer. That we might grow in grace. It's this really. It's to bring us lower and lower in self experience. And it will exalt the birth of Jesus.

[41:37] And as though he gathers honor and glory. To his holy name. Well her text. That he knoweth the way that I take.

[41:49] When he hath tried me. Her text concludes. I shall come forth as God. So there must be some furnace.

[42:04] Furnace work. Mustn't there? God has a furnace you know. For his dear people. Could I be right and say.

[42:15] He has a furnace in hell. For the wicked. Yet they will have to endure. Throughout a never ending eternity. Under the wrath of God.

[42:28] But his people. They know a little of this here on earth. In their bodies. In this life. As an entering into.

[42:40] A furnace. What will that move? Things that the Lord has given. In the way of grace. Promises. No. It will seal those promises.

[42:52] Promises and blessings. Deeper within the soul. A furnace.

[43:07] God's furnace. My friends. That he's got. And uses for the benefit. Of his dear chosen people. Whom Christ redeemed. On Calvary's cross.

[43:19] Is for this purpose. To move the rust. And let the gold shine.

[43:31] And what is gold. Is it were mentioned in our text. The grace of God. Now to come into the.

[43:42] Fullness. If I might so speak. Of the. Experience. Of the latter part of our text. I shall come forth as gold. What Job said.

[43:55] Come forth as gold. Is this. Is to be in paradise. Is to be in heaven. It is. When there's only.

[44:10] Gold left. In other words. When there's only grace left in the soul. What is it? Heaven. A poor soul.

[44:21] Can't. Can't. Continue. In a body of sin and death. I shall come forth. Job says. Yes. I shall come forth.

[44:32] By the blessing and grace of God. To the place where. There's nothing but gold. Grace. Mercy. Love. In Christ.

[44:45] In heaven. In heaven. I will leave it with you. I rambled around this morning. I'm sorry. But I feel what has. Come to my mind.

[44:55] I've had to speak. Hoping. That the Lord might use it. For someone's good. He understand. But he know it. When you are in some sore trial.

[45:08] Temptation of victory. Remember this. He know it. He knows. Though I. And this by his blessing.

[45:21] Can cause a comfort to rise within your heart. Comfort and joy to thou. Though you may be in the path of darkness.

[45:32] Glitch. He knows. In other words. He is with you. On hold thy right hand. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[45:47] Amen. Amen. Amen.

[46:07]  Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.