Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.heritagesermons.org/sermons/13471/evidences-of-grace-quality-average/. 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] O Lord, see, will I stand forever and build up my guide from to all the generations, and the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord, thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. [0:24] We trust that the Lord will be pleased to help us to try and make a few remarks from these words. We felt a young designer, one or two portions in this psalm laid upon one's mind, find it very difficult then to know which one to venture apart. [0:51] However, we have, looking unto the Lord alone, we hope, that he will guide us into all truth and lead us into those things that shall be for our health and comfort and for the establishment of those truths we hope is toward us. [1:17] Well, David, in this particular psalm, evidently had a view of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as he should set upon the throne and be over the spiritual Israel. [1:47] And he also speaks in the third verse of that covenant that God had made with his chosen, and that it is made unto them as being unalterable and being for their comfort and their hope in times of much fear as to their standing. [2:23] Well, here in this verse, thy seed shall be established, will I establish forever. [2:35] So these, this seed here, I believe, are the people of God, those who belong unto Christ, and that his people will be established forever. [2:59] Well, to be established, that signifies, I believe, that they are unmovable. [3:11] That is to say, that not all the enemies of truth, not all that Satan may devise, not all that they may take place in our pilgrimage here below, can any ways remove God's people, but they are established forever. [3:40] they are, by God the Father, placed, or were by God the Father placed, in the eternal everlasting covenant. [3:58] And so then, they are his chosen. You know, I know, the carnal reason, and the pride of the heart of wicked men, can never, never receive, the doctrine of God's choice, that he chose a people, in the Son, in his dear Son, before all eternity, and that that was his divine choice and he being preeminent over all things having a just right to divide the just right of the same blunt to make one vessel to honour and another to dishonour and you and I each one of us here this morning stand either one or the other as his dividing line is drawn by the great and mighty God of heaven in his word and drawn throughout the world among the inhabitants thereof oh what a dividing line this is that there is a people on the earth whom God chose in the Son in his covenant gave them unto the dear Son of God that he should be in possession of them forever so that his seed is established forever established by world command established by the sacred three in that covenant so established as I've already said that they cannot be moved man has endeavoured to do it throughout all generations from Adam's day till now and so that is why I believe that we are called old fashioned in these things bear with me here on that point but I've heard this said recently in my own in company with others that our religion is an old fashioned religion and I spoke at that time and I said it definitely is [6:49] I'm glad I have an old fashioned religion it began in the covenant it began in the garden of Eden it began a more especially made known I believe when Cain rose up and slew his brother there you had the separating line there you had the old fashioned religion which dear Abel had when he offered up a sacrifice acceptable under the father so my friends don't be discouraged if some should taunt you that you are among the old fashioned people that have a religion a religion as such indeed it should be an encouragement and often we find that all the devices of Satan in whatever way he may trust them will be for and on for and on your behalf so then this covenant was established and his people chosen in that covenant and also made known unto them in time [8:22] I know we shall often be in a pathway that we shall fear that we are not among the chosen we shall have many fears on this account many questionings and many exercises well and that not many have these exercises submerging to have them because many have a religion as we see properly evident where there is no exercise a quiet scent is fine they are on the way to heaven but if I know anything of the path and I believe some of you if not all know it here are that there will be a daily exercise a daily trial a daily questioning why some others even when we have had some sweet visit of his love some lifting up by the wine not long before we begin to question well you know the flesh is flesh the spirit is spirit and everything of the flesh is in opposition to the spirit and if we have given to us a true religion [9:53] I am sure that there will be a daily opposition from within and sometimes from without there will indeed so that we shall find that as a pathway to heaven is a pathway of much tribulation much so many fears and many days of darkness and those times will cause us to be cast down and have many fears and then we shall say well can this be the way well God says this is the way walk in this way which is true with many obstacles in the one like the dear poet says while through dark some paths we go we may know no reason that is the flesh though our own understanding may know no reason but we shall hereafter know each in his due season there is hereafter with those things here on earth you know the year after is when he comes with his divine light and shines into our poor dark hearts once more there is the yearafter then we shall hereafter know each in his due season there is a certain season to lift you out of that darkness a certain season to give you to hope and trust that you have an interest in those vital realities why sometimes we've known some of us and felt certain that it would be well with us just for a few moments but as I said many times and I told our friends upon the past [12:06] Sabbath may be sure that if the Lord gives us a sweet time in the forfeit and in the few there will be it will be very soon that we shall come tumbling down again into the depths oh what a mercy is to know this path that there is the lifting off and how we have it recorded in God's word the Lord killeth and he maketh a line he blanketh down and he lifteth up he does indeed and so it is that you and I prove this to be true do we not then he should encourage us to still press on though the way seems rough and rugged though it seems to be so difficult at times and yet having our eyes set upon the mark the mark for the prize of our eye calling which is in [13:20] Christ Jesus our Lord looking beyond these trying paths looking beyond all the adversaries looking upon beyond all the days of darkness and sorrows that we pass through to that inheritance which you've been singing this morning that rest that rest that remain why my friends if our faith if we are favoured with that faith to look beyond these things surely it's worth enduring a few sorrows here a few troubles here and a few perplexities and the infirmities of the flesh to look upon those things that are everlasting that are established forever thy seed will be established forever so that they are established on earth that none can anywise overthrow the work of grace in the soul though there are many many things that in devil thus do well they are established also in the truth it's a wonderful thing to be established in the truth not to not in a bigoted way not with a pharisaic pride that we're better than others oh no [15:09] I'm sure though we are granted us I'm sure that they know us not for when we are rightly taught and in a right spirit we are far from that condition for we are brought into those places that bring us into that experience of humility then they are as families then in the truth and that truth will be a separating truth it will separate us from the world and the things of it oh yes now to be separated it doesn't mean that we can have contact with those things and be also joined to them trying to explain myself to be separated it is separated isn't it so there's a space between that's what [16:17] I mean so that if we are separated from the world we're either separated or we're not therefore there must be a separation and so that if we are established in the truth it will keep us from going into those things which God hath in his world forbidden his people to enter into like it was with the children of Israel they were not to mingle with other nations they were not to mingle with any other people I know we're living in a day when many do not like to hear this truth I feel I've had many who have opposed it when I've spoken it because we know you know by this lament there are there those who do resent it when it is spoken because they cannot let go that little thing this that and the other that they are holding in this wicked world and it touches those idols that they possess and I have though I don't want to talk too much about myself here but I have had much opposition just recently because I endeavour to cut asunder the works of the flesh and those things that [17:52] I know to be distasteful and hateful to God but I say here and now it's a mercy when we can feel after we've spoken these things in the sight of God that we've been faithful that we may not be guilty of the blood of any when we come to our journey's end that we may not ever cease to warm the wicked or the wise to warm those who may be indulging in things that we observe that we know are not according to God's word so that we may not in any wise whitewash may I say these things over and make them appear and also to permit one minutest degree of an idol to be found either in our households or out of it therefore I say there's a separation they are established in the truth they are established in that that they they desire to live in this in this world free from all those things that would contaminate their existence here before God thy seed will are established forever they are established in the truth and then they are established in their own souls by the knowledge given to them that the [19:39] Holy Spirit witnessed within that these things are true it's a wonderful blessing to have the witness within as we have the witness within how we shall speak these things and receive them also in love we shall indeed and also it will cause us to have many searchings of heart as to those things that we indulge in from day to day oh if I know anything of the past I'm sure at the close of the day we have much I say we have much that we need to come before the throne of grace and plead with anguish of heart that he will forgive our sins I can't find one day here on earth that I can say [20:44] I'll be without sin oh you'll find my friends our very being our very flesh is is so simple and that we need continually to confess and to repent and we need a continual washing in that precious fountain that is open for sin and unclean lands where they well then they are established in that knowledge that they are sinners sinners are vile and they base and deserve everlasting and eternal ruin sin but they are established also that there is a way whereby they may come and repent of their sin and repenting of sin is not so easy as we may think or as some may thing [22:00] I believe that one of the hardest parts of our religion is to repent but God brings us there he brings us to repentance he does indeed in various ways sometimes it will be with a stroke of the rod sometimes it will be by the drawings of his love as though he's sweet when he draws us by the cause of his love to repentance when we are unable to come as a penitent sinner before him and then him to behold those tears of contrition and sorrow tears intermingled with joy tears intermingled with sorrow in that way sorry for our sins sorry for those things that we have committed and join our hearts in the knowledge that he is our redeemer our savior and our deliverer and that knowledge too that we have in [23:16] God's word that if any man sins we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous come under him sinner in all thy darkness and thy filthiness how often it may seem to weigh you down you say my sins are so heavy that I know not how to bear them well that's the time when you should come if I may say that rightly not that we not that we in any wise put any free will with it but it is just that time when you want you should venture to the throne of grace it may be that time when God has appointed to apply the fountain and you'll know it when it's applied I'm sure that none can know that the application of that fountain will have some movement in the soul because they will rejoice they say this is my beloved this is he for whom [24:36] I have been waiting for a long time I don't know whether it was here going in different places I can't remember but I did mention somewhere recently how I felt a need another visit so long a time going without a visit of his love well I speak these things for the comfort of any that might have been waiting a long time for a visit well you wait on you see he came oh how Sunday before last how he came in all his love and mercy that is a time you know we can say at eye the pinions of a dove I'll try where I'm at rest you see he doesn't always leave us comfort less he said I will come to you and he does so that if you have been in a pathway of much darkness and many fears and may be there now don't be overcast down may I say if I may rightly put it but still look up and still cry and he'll come he will indeed and he'll cause your heart to rejoice and then all your past experience for the time being at least will seem to be but a dream it will indeed when he comes again oh those sweet visits oh we wish do we not that we might experience more of them but he has in his own mind and purpose [26:26] I believe cause us from time to time to walk that path that we may be more assured and more certain that he has thoughts of peace and not of evil toward us to give us an expected end you see it establishes us that by these things we are established in those things he has done for us and so his way toward us are not as we think or that we may have mapped out as it were we are often I feel left to map out a path for God to work by but he doesn't work that way he comes dead opposite to what our thoughts are and he does things for us that we did not expect or how true blissfully true is the word he'll lead him into paths we have not known [27:35] I'll make darkness that darkness that you're in I'll make darkness light before you crooked things trade right places play these things will I do and not forsake it so that if any of you are in any of those paths there's a promise there which God has given and his promises are to his people why his promises are established in the covenant they are indeed established for and on behalf of his people and they will do do to live by and to die by when his promises are made applicable to the soul thy seed will I establish forever and build up thy throne to all generations his throne so his throne is built up to all generations all that throne the throne of glory the throne of grace which is built up and that to all generations that means to say that throne is built up white unto the end of time that is to say all through all generations and is established in heaven forever that throne the throne of grace the throne of God whereon our Lord and Savior now sits in throne above there to be our advocate our intercessor and there to present his people before the [29:37] Father clothed in his spotless righteousness that the Father may behold the whole church complete in Christ and also that this this throne being built to all generations will be also seen in heaven by his people in due time is a great favor when we have any humble hope that those that have gone before us have ended in that eternal joy we're not always sure of it my own case just now we're passing through this path a brother of mine just passed away well and there's a case there which we cannot say we're positive but we can always but we have a hope you see there's not always left behind any evidence that is to say with any speaking of these things but there is the walk and when we see a definite change in one's walk in the latter days even in those things it gives us some hope that God hath dealt with them and hath shown them those things which they have been the subjects of and we cannot but leave it in that particular place for all my friends we dare not touch [31:30] God's unalterable work which he hath accomplished for it to be known in that day when he make it up his jewels it will indeed when he divines the sheep and the goats and the child and the weaved these are very solemn things I know but we dare not go beyond that particular thought in some cases but there is that that we hope and trust for that it may be well even in this case thy seed will ask to be forever and build up thy throne to all generations and then the word sealer is here which means pause consider so there is sometimes [32:33] I believe you'll find in the Psalms there are sometimes these times when we are to pause and consider these things and to rehearse them in our thoughts and to search if we have any interest or any knowledge of the path that is laid down here before us well this throne of God is I believe known by his people even when they come into his earthly courts they come before his throne and there they behold him as the king of grace the king of glory they are coming to a king says one large petitions we do bring for his love and grace is such none can ask ever ask too much now oh he'll never [33:45] I say spurn one away for their asking he'll never be tired for he neither stubborn nor sleeper he'll never never spurn one away however feeble you may be yea may I say the less feeble the better for you dare come in your own strength oh it's a mercy if we can come and and at his dear sacred feet and and bowed before his throne in prayer that precious prayer which comes from the heart under him oh that dear woman that came behind him and washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head she hadn't got much pride in her heart had she she hadn't got anything to gloat over no oh she came there and you know that way act how it was a voice coming forth from her heart under [35:01] Christ and how he said to Simon see this woman Simon didn't know her but I don't see he got a religion but he didn't know her didn't know Christ really only in the open poor mother I may speak reverently he knew him by beholding him but he didn't know Christ there was many saw our dear saviour on earth some believed he was the Christ yes they didn't know him they saw him I know Judas believed he was the Christ but he didn't know him to know Christ is to be in him to know Christ is to be a part of him may I say revelantly by one of his bones flesh of his flesh how close that comes oh what a mercy it is to know him and to know him as that dear woman did when she came and how you see at the moment he says woman thy sins be forgiven me be of good courage sinner it isn't great swelling words in prayer it's not the many words you may speak in prayer it's not coming and informing [36:28] God of things here and things there oh it's asking all that I say here my dear friends when you come in prayer try and ask and ask and ask and he isn't one that will heal your asking oh oh God he knows how we pray he knows all that we need before we ask but since he has sinned in his word I will be inquired of to do these things for the house of Israel and so he will be inquired of that he knows what we need he knows what we want and already have ordered it when he will give it oh yes we speak sometimes I fear in prayer as though God does not know those things which we need it is that he sent his eyes before again before he will be inquired of and when we come and ask him to forgive us our sins he knows full well that we are sinners and that we need atonement for sin or how these things sometimes bring us very close in prayer [37:48] I brought sometimes to silence somebody might say to silence yes sometimes I be before my God as silent like that dear woman those tears cried out to him when she came behind him but you see how Simon said well this woman is a sinner you find it the same right even the dear disciples you see at that time did not understand that dear woman at the well how he came to sinners of the virus and there you see those where he said behold me not the physician but they that are sick though I believe as we sometimes explain it it means that those who are whole in their own righteousness and yet it also has a bearing from those that God has already made whole by the part of our sin for that time being you see dear disciples didn't need that to be made no one of them again there but it was the dear woman at the well and you see how it was with them they said why he's talking with a sinner and they wondered that he talked with a woman for how we want to be really careful don't we how we speak and act with regards to others here on earth for we might even touch one of [39:28] God's elect we might indeed as he said here on her let them grow together till the harvest harvest I wonder it'll be with you and I in the harvest I see will I establish forever and build up thy throne to all generations and the heavens shall praise thy wonders the heavens shall praise thy wonders well that will be I believe a day when the heavens will praise his wonders well it'll be a wonder if you and I are in heaven in Denham's selection of hymns you know there's a hymn upon that I'll tell you why I know it I remember when I lived at Croydon and we visited as an old gentleman there on one occasion and he got down [40:29] Denham's hymn book he had only time I'd ever seen it and he read one hymn in there and I never forgotten it and he speaks of the many wonders there is and one particular part was a wonder that ever he should be in heaven himself and I've never forgotten that and I thought well it'll be a wonder if I am there and so it is there will be these wonders in heaven that will praise him throughout the numerous ages return eternity and the heavens shall praise our wonders so that there are those wonders that he hath done isn't it a wonderful thing if ever he hath touched your heart and mine well we should never have sought him in that way if we'd been left in our folly in our young days well we should have been there still seeking after those things which gratify the flesh which would not and could not be received in heaven itself well the heavens then shall praise thy wonders over all thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints his faithfulness [42:06] I'm only just dwelling upon these grief these this briefly this morning I know but his faithfulness you see he's faithful he's faithful in all that he has promised he's faithful in all that he hath established in you and in me he's faithful unto his people in that he came here on earth to obtain for them an everlasting and eternal salvation and he was faithful unto his father in that he fulfilled all that the father gave him to do well thy seed will I step this forever and build up thy throne to all generations sealer and the heavens shall praise thy wonders O Lord thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints well may the [43:16] Lord be pleased to add his blessing to his few remarks Amen