Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.heritagesermons.org/sermons/8778/matthew/.

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] Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

[0:12] For everyone asketh, receiveth, and he that seeketh, findeth. And to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

[0:23] And we spent much time this morning on considering what it was to ask. And the things to ask for.

[0:41] And the asking that may be, asking according to the Lord's will and purpose to grant many secrets concerning the word ask.

[0:56] What a mercy to be given the desire. Many don't know that secret. They go through life never asking the Lord for anything.

[1:10] They don't need anything. They are self-sufficient. Now a child of God is never that. He's never self-sufficient.

[1:25] There's always something going on in that heart of a newborn soul that they need from the Lord Jesus Christ. It's like almost an appetite or a thirst.

[1:40] And only the Lord is able to feed that soul or quench that thirst.

[1:52] There's always something. It's in the heart. There's going out. Perhaps we're not the same word for the Lord to grant it.

[2:05] We spoke, may have done, about having a case to bring before the Lord and that's a great mercy. To have a case.

[2:17] Job had a case, didn't he? Now I can't see where Job prayed for that. And all these things came upon him.

[2:29] He never prayed for them. But you see, as we said earlier, it meant just touching on Job this morning. You see, that was the battleground between God and Satan and that was a secret.

[2:46] Now to some in these days in which we live, you see, it's like this. We might say it's rather like that woman, the case where the child was granted, you see, and it fell on a day.

[3:00] And it fell on a day. You know, you think, it fell on a day, a certain day, a certain place, a certain time, and it falls. The day comes to pass and the dispensation falls.

[3:18] And it falls on one. There then. I wonder however Job must have felt. Whatever is happening.

[3:32] Whatever is the reason for this. Whatever is going on. And it's quite true that in many ways he did not sin against God, but it did bring him to a place where he cursed the day he was born.

[3:51] Oh, that must have been some very bitter blows to bring him to that place. Cursed the very day he was born. Wish he'd never been born.

[4:02] I wonder whether any of you have ever been brought to that place. And we either speak through theory or experience.

[4:16] So standing here tonight, I'll tell you what it is when you come to that place. at least how it was with me. The trouble was this.

[4:31] The Lord had shown me I was a sinner. Doesn't say much, does it? But the thing was, you see, it was the Lord God that said it.

[4:49] And that voice came in into my heart and gave me such a feeling of death and destruction as I don't think I could have stood it for long.

[5:07] Because there was nothing to live for. There's only one thing that seems certain. And that was death, hell and destruction.

[5:23] Oh, you say, I don't know perhaps whether I walked in it quite like that. It may not have been perhaps in the same degree. But it brought one to that place. You think, well, there's nothing really to live for.

[5:38] Ask the world then what there is to live for. So, you see, it's a great mercy when some of these things come when you haven't prayed for them.

[5:56] Now, a soul might pray that the Lord would begin a work of grace. and that's a good prayer. And if one really prays that from the sincerity of their heart, the work of the Holy Ghost, that will be answered.

[6:21] But I would tell you this, if you ever pray for that, you young ones, that the Lord will begin a work of grace in your heart and you will continue it until the day of Jesus Christ, let me, I must tell you this, if that's sincere and true, the Lord has begun.

[6:41] Oh, that might help one who might want a token as to whether their religion when they're young really stands in the power of God.

[6:53] How did it begin? You see, we don't start ourselves off. We don't start ourselves off spiritually speaking any more than we can start ourselves off with a natural birth.

[7:16] An unborn child got any hand in its birth? No. And neither is a spiritual child.

[7:30] It's got no hand in its birth. It's all in the hand of God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. When that soul is born again, there's a great change.

[7:43] It's not a stillbirth, it's not stillborn. And I begin to cry for mercy. And I believe it might fit in with this text.

[7:55] The first thing they would do is ask. And that is wrought out of their heart by the power of the Holy Spirit.

[8:06] They ask. Now, the first thing I think that I asked for was mercy, compassion, and the Lord might appear and bring me here to this terrible place in which in my soul to my prospects seem to be only death.

[8:34] I asked. And you see, you asked for deliverance. That you might be delivered from this awful conviction that lies on the heart.

[8:50] You ask. And that is wrought out by the Spirit. And the Lord answers. Now, you see, a soul going under the easy.

[9:02] Some of you have, and I hope I'm not speaking to the seats. They can't wait to get to God's house. It may be the minister are going to my case, you might say.

[9:18] It may be that you'll hear your name called out. Have you ever heard your name called out from the pulpit? Will your pastor hear? Not your natural name, but the preaching will be such that it's got your name on it.

[9:37] And it's as clear as can be. Like we said, the Lord's servant and your pastor should know the secrets of your heart by the work of the spirit.

[9:50] And it's got your name. Now, without mentioning the name, you'll sit in that seat and you will say, that's me. How many times have been at this pulpit?

[10:06] Over the years, with various servants beside the pastor, have some been able to sit in that seat and say, no, that's me. You couldn't describe it better.

[10:17] That's my case. That's my name. That's me. What a wonderful mercy that the Holy Spirit knows the secrets of the hearts.

[10:34] And is able to come and take the word of God and give a poor man a text to bring. Because there's a case that it will fit us.

[10:48] There they go back in some of mine. One asked to be delivered. And what did the dying thief do? He asked to be saved.

[11:02] He asked to be forgiven. Didn't he? Lord, remember me. What a wonderful prayer. When thou comest into thy kingdom, ever ask this.

[11:17] Remember you in your case. Poor soul, they say, I've never walked this pathway before. No.

[11:29] Perhaps you haven't. But the Lord knows it. And we need to realise that the Lord knows where to lead us.

[11:40] He wasn't leading Job astray. What a mystery. What a thing to come upon a God fearing man who is stupid evil.

[11:53] Nothing wrong in the sight of God and all those things and still he didn't sin against his God. What a way to treat him. But you see the dealings of Satan.

[12:08] Now another thing I would tell you if anyone's in anything like this I'd tell you where the Lord will touch you. Really you know I should say this it's solemn to have a religion in which the Lord never touches you.

[12:29] Now I want to be faithful because I've got to soon answer to God. Does the Lord ever touch you? That's a great favour and I will tell you where he will touch you in the last place you want him to.

[12:54] That's where he'll touch you. You would rather him touch you anywhere else than where he touches you in your case. That'll be the tenderest spot.

[13:08] That'll be the apple of your eye. You didn't ask for it. But there is an asking. What was your first asking before these things came to you?

[13:24] Oh for a closer walk with God. Calm and heavenly frame. light to shine upon the road that leads me to the lamb. You didn't expect these things to be in the road.

[13:38] You thought it was going to be such a delightful road where there were no stones and such a delightful passage like as they went across the lake where they didn't want to have a ripple.

[13:51] people would like it. Yes but it's not the Lord's will. No. A light to shine upon the road that leads me to the lamb. A light as they considered thy servant Job.

[14:08] Shine a light on his road and see while he was yet speaking came another one and brought these news and it's almost as you might say a boring repetition of the things that came upon him.

[14:25] A light to shine upon the road. Where's it leading him? It led him to realise after God's dealings that he heard of him by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye see you see they brought him to dust and ashes brought him right down in front of this great God and afterwards the Lord made it all up didn't he?

[15:02] They see that light shines upon every road this is what we can't see we can't see the end and we can't always see the purpose and how often do we forget that God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform he plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm doesn't he but it's a mysterious way and you don't ask for a mysterious way do you?

[15:45] I'll tell you another secret when I had a hope that the Lord had begun with my wretched heart and brought me under a sense of the knowledge of his truth and power and into his kingdom it seemed so wonderful to me as seeing what I'd been what I'd done and what I was by nature it seemed so wonderful and I prayed to the Lord I asked I'm not going to tell you yet what I asked him for but it wasn't long before I wish I'd never asked and now I'll tell you what I asked for I asked that if

[16:48] I was really caught by grace if I really had the right exercises the right desires the right life of God in my heart that he would put me in school and I prayed that he would put me in the hardest school and when he did oh if I'd never prayed it if only I thought what I'd asked for oh the painful experience the things that come and pierce your very heart God's dealing he moves in a mysterious way he moves in a mysterious way in giving you the things to ask for but this is a point where does it lead you now I believe in that school in those classes in that school

[18:05] I believe I learned a few things you can read of the suffering of Christ in the Bible but I believe it led me a little to see how they treated him and also how you treated him how you treated him you ever ask for that you're not going to learn that easy oh no but what a school what an education what learning have you ever prayed that the Lord would bring you into school you know the late John Tyler who's now with his saviour he was preaching one evening and he came right up there to me and I sat in the back seat and he said

[19:17] Ernest you know when I see you he said you're in school you're in school he's softened my heart now when I think about it because it was so real and so true you're in school yes what a school what have you learnt you've learnt it may be that the way is hard and rugged and the path there's many things in it that you wouldn't have but this is what you're going to learn it leads to the lamb like my own son said to me when he was in that place he said dad why do we have to be hurt he can answer him and I said Graham who do you profess to follow who do you profess to follow and are you going to follow him without getting hurt and are you going to get near him who was wounded bruised and went through

[20:38] Gethsemane and the crane of thorns and don't forget the scourging and don't forget the mockery and don't forget the humiliation and the shame and don't forget the spitting and don't forget the nails and don't forget the crane of thorns what a list of his sufferings and how sometimes we can think of them as almost if they don't touch us but let the Lord touch you let him touch that which is nearest to you and then you wonder why what a mercy if it leads you closer to him now in some of those things those bitter things you know you will find some of the sweetest things in your life oh you say however can I find anything sweet in this

[21:47] I've walked that pathway I couldn't describe it if I hadn't I've walked that pathway you say whatever is the Lord doing however can I find anything sweet in this it is nothing but bitter nothing sweet in it you made a great mistake presently if you've asked and it shall be given you and if you seek the Lord and what it might be I don't know whether you want to know more of his sufferings you know what you've asked for yes you see he will answer it it shall be given you now that will be one of the most sweetest times in your life a sweet what's the sweetness

[22:48] I tell you sweet the moments rich in blessing which before the cross I spend moments if the Lord grant you by the work of the spirit to be favoured to have a few moments by faith at the foot of the cross that will make amends for everything everything see when the spirit leads one to the cross that makes everything straight and what a place to come to now then you might think well I would like to come to the cross you might think I can come to the cross when I like you've never made a greater mistake you can read you can meditate you can try to pray you can try to move your heart you can try to bring all those things into your soul by your meditation and you'll never do a thing you'll never do a thing because you see these blessings come through the

[24:16] Lord dealing with his children in a pathway of affliction or sorrow or a cross and are sanctified that's a secret you can't sanctify yourself so the very thing one feels is against them is all to bring them closer to the Lord Jesus Christ closer to him oh that I might know him have I prayed it oh that I might grow as I said this morning I ask the Lord that I might grow don't be surprised if he show you poor soul things that you would gladly escape with their old nature but you see it answered a prayer and it shall be given you seek and you shall find what is there to seek think in the day in which we live what is there to seek

[25:25] I've got a nature that loves the things of the world I've got a nature that loves material things many things by nature I love but when you come to weigh things up at times you say yes the young ones say yeah but you're getting old you're getting old and the thing is this this wretched heart can still go after those things but you see the Lord comes and he shows one this things up and there's something else to find something else to find there's blessings to find there's a saviour to find there's his words to find there's a pathway to find that follows to the land many things to find seek and you shall find the greatest thing I think is to find your saviour that's the greatest thing not perhaps you might think the greatest there might be some poor soul here who says yes

[26:28] I want to find something I've prayed for for years I want to find my sins forgiven that's what I want I want to find this ask shall be given you seek and ye shall find your sins forgiven you think of this you might say now how can I ever find that will it be by reading the word of God if it's his will will it be by reading his word where he says to one I seen be forgiven me if it's his will and what if it's not either of these it will be when he comes by his spirit and he covers you completely with his righteousness with a glistening robe without a seam or a fort and it covers every sin up that you've committed up to the moment it comes and it covers up for the sins to come it covers up for time it covers up for eternity that's his righteousness then you know they're forgiven right and if this soul

[28:00] I'm coming to this soul I'll tell you what you'll see you can't recognise yourself there's not one stain there's not a shadow of a stain and it's such a mystery there's not one sin not one oh and the peace the peace of forgiveness we hear them say and we say now may the peace of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and so on you say it just like that but there's peace why the Lord covers you with this Satan could never get near you never get near you that's a peace of his cross that's a peace of his forgiveness that's a peace of his precious blood that's a peace of his sacrifice now there was one in the gospel

[29:09] I want to bring forth tonight he dwelt among the tombs what a place to dwell among what about us but you see the Lord knew where he was and there was a meeting and the Lord cast out his devils and the Lord asked him his name and if the Lord asked you your name what would you say a little sinner he said legion legion and perhaps you've known what that is many devils he won't see them under his suit but they're right in there many devils and he suffered a long time and no one could do anything with him no one could tame him my mother could never tame me nor anybody else could never tame me because they're untameable humanly speaking so I know that

[30:19] I know that poor man and as regards devils and I wonder now whether there's not a few left you think of it so these are the characters the Lord come there this is what I'm going to get to I'll pick her up in a minute when he casted his devils they went into those swine you know oh what a day that was what a day what a change now I tell you poor soul I'll pick you up now in this case you don't want him to go away you don't want the Lord to take that robe of righteousness away you don't want him to go away because you want to be with him you've never known the peace you've never known experience and he wanted to be with him well you know the

[31:30] Lord wouldn't let him go with him would he why not you think what a time to go if the Lord takes his robe of righteousness away and if it whatever day of the week tomorrow morning I shall have my first sin it may be thought it may be a slip up of something or other when the devil comes I can't stand him and you think now if he takes this away and you say don't go Lord but if you go I'm lost he wanted to be with him didn't he he wanted the Lord to stay but he said no why not go into the return to the own house and tell the friends tell your friends and you know sometimes you can find a few friends to tell if they've known in measure the same experience you'll have a few friends it's a great mystery to me you know that he had any friends didn't it oh the

[32:46] Lord defined you friends what a mercy the poor one who went right out into the the one who left all his father's house and went right into a foreign country oh what miracles there were there you know you would have thought that they would have said now here's one that left his father's house and come out into the world let's have a good time let's have a good time together there is one who was once in was religious and look we've got a catcher we've got him away from his father's house and now then let's see how we can get on together no there's a miracle there really they didn't seem to want him they didn't feed him they didn't give him any pleasure and all that he spent didn't get him anywhere brought him down to that place where he even envied the swine's food didn't he yes and when he came to himself oh here comes the free willers and when he came to himself is that up to him what

[34:12] I know it it needs to explain him carefully I believe that was a lord bringing him to his senses made him look back and see the provision in his father's house.

[34:28] And he began to come back. And a long way from the text, so I just must continue. And at least he must have thought, now however shall I be received.

[34:46] And sometimes, you know, you've got to come back every week. Not just the first time, every week. How shall I be received?

[34:58] When I go to pray, how shall I be received? When I ask. Because every day you may feel you have to come back like a prodigal. Ask and it shall be given you.

[35:09] Seek and you shall find. He came back. I can't see where he asked, thinking of that parable. But the Lord had made the provision.

[35:27] And you see his father, that saviour, shall we say, looking afar off. And when he sees him coming, he beats him and falls on his neck.

[35:42] Gissing him. Oh, and he says this. Put a ring on his hand. Ring of sonship. Ring of forgiveness.

[35:53] Of complete acceptance. And oh, the rejoicing. Oh, the rejoicing. Over one sinner that repenteth. Ever been there, poor soul?

[36:04] In your experience, when before the Lord, you might have felt with some hope raised up in your heart through asking and begging, and it comes to you that there's joy in heaven.

[36:16] Not over a million, over one sinner that repented. More than 99 just. One sinner that repented. Joy in heaven.

[36:28] And what will you say? Me, Lord? Me? Impossible. Oh, no. There's joy in heaven over one sinner.

[36:40] And if that sinner's you, you'll think, what a wonderful thing. And I'll tell you this, and then I must leave it. You know, there was, they made merry.

[36:55] That's not the merry of the world, Lynn. That's a merry of rejoicing in the Lord's work. And you see, in heaven, I want to speak reverently, there's joy in heaven.

[37:07] And all the singing and praising of the angels over one in the sin-bitten world. Are you one of them? Think of this.

[37:19] The mercy and joy that's in heaven over your poor deliverance through your precious Saviour. What a place. And how can I finish it?

[37:34] one day you will join and join in. Well, may the Lord add his blessing. For his name's sake, Amen.

[37:46] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[37:56] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[38:06] We'll close with hymn number 209 to tune 228. Grace, like a fountain, ever flows, fresh suckers to renew.

[38:31] The Lord my wants and weakness knows, my sins and sorrows too. Hymn number 209 to tune 228. Phroc нашей than over the one day was within the and that they hold a single song ofbereets and it is why you

[39:38] Thank you.

[40:08] Thank you.

[40:38] Dear Lord, we need thee to cover the services in thy house with that robe of forgiveness.

[40:53] May the grace, the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the sweet fellowship and communion of the Holy Ghost be with you each, now and evermore. Amen.

[41:13] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[41:24]  Amen. Amen. Amen.