Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.heritagesermons.org/sermons/26216/how-can-i-go-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] I'll give you this by singing hymn 959, and the tune is Lloyd 172. 959. For mercies countless as the sands, which daily I receive from Jesus my Redeemer's hands, my soul, what canst thou give? [0:21] Alas, from such a heart as mine, what can I bring him forth? My best is stained and died with sin. Why all is nothing worth. 959. [0:32] 959. 959. 959. 959. 959. [0:42] 969. O mercy is calm, bless us the sands Which daily I receive from Jesus my Redeemer's hands My soul, what canst thou give? [1:34] Alas, from such a heart as mine What can I bring in faith? [1:54] My best to stand and die with sin My all is nothing worth The best returns for one like me So wretched and so pure Is from his gifts to draw a plea And ask him still for more [2:57] I cannot stand without my own Love, what shall I do Love, what shall I do Love, what shall I do Love, what shall I do Love, what shall I do The first book of Samuel Part of chapter 16 Part of chapter 17 1st book Samuel chapter 16 [4:02] Reading as far as verse 5 And the Lord said unto Samuel How long wilt thou mourn for Saul Seeing I have rejected him From reigning over Israel Fill thine horn with oil and gold I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite For I have provided me a king Among his sons And Samuel said how can I go If Saul hear it he will kill me And the Lord said take an heifer with thee And say I am come to sacrifice to the Lord [5:03] And call Jesse to the sacrifice And I will show thee what thou shalt do And thou shalt anoint unto me Him whom I name unto thee And Samuel did that which the Lord spake And came to Bethlehem The elders of the town Trempled at his coming And said comest thou peaceably And he said peaceably I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord Sanctify yourselves and come with me Through the sacrifice And he sanctified Jesse and his sons And called them to the sacrifice We turn now to chapter 17 [6:04] Chapter 17 commence at verse 17 Verse 17 And Jesse said unto David his son Take now for thy brethren An efer of this parched corn And these ten loaves And run to the camp to thy brethren And carry these ten Jesus Unto the captain of their thousand And look how thy brethren fare And take their pledge Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel Were in the valley of Elah Fighting with the Philistines And David rose up early in the morning And left the sheep with the keeper And took and went As Jesse had commanded him [7:06] And he came to the trench As the host was going forth to the fight And shouted for the battle For Israel and the Philistines Had put the battle in array Army against army And David left his carriage In the hand of the keeper Of the carriage And ran into the army And came and saluted his brethren And as he taught with them Behold there came up the champion The Philistine of Gath Goliath by name And of the armies of the Philistines And spake concerning To the same words And David heard them And all the men of Israel [8:08] When they saw the man Fled from him And were sore afraid And the men of Israel said Have ye seen this man That is come up Surely to defy Israel Is he come up And it shall be That the man who killeth him The king will enrich him With great riches And will give him his daughter And make his father's house Free in Israel And David spake to the men That stood by him Saying What shall be done To the man that killeth This Philistine And taketh away The reproach from Israel For who is this Uncircumcised Philistine That he should defy The armies of the living God And the people answered him After this manner [9:08] Saying So shall it be done To the man that killeth him And Eliab His eldest brother Heard when he spake Unto the men And Eliab's anger Was kindled against David And he said Why camest thou down hither And with whom hast thou left Those few sheep In the wilderness I know thy pride And the naughtiness Of thine heart For thou art come down That thou mightest See the battle And David said What have I now done Is there not Is there not A cause And he turned from him Toward another And spake after The same manner And the people Answered him again After the former manner And when the words Were heard Which David spake [10:09] They rehearsed them Before Saul And he sent For him And David said To Saul Let no man's heart Fail Because of him Thy servant Will go And fight With this Philistine And Saul Said to David Thou art not Able To go Against this Philistine To fight With him For thou art But a youth And be And he A man of war From his youth And David Said unto Saul Thy servant Kept his father's Sheep And there came A lion And a bear And took a lamb Out of the flock And I went After him And smote him And delivered it Out of his mouth That when he Arose against me I caught him [11:10] By his beard And smote him And slew him Thy servant Slew both The lion And the bear And this Uncircumcised Philistine Shall be As one Of them Seeing He hath Defined The armies Of the living God David Said Moreover The Lord That delivered Me Out of the Paw Of the lion And out of The paw Of the bear He will Deliver me Out of the Hand Of this Philistine And Saul Said unto David Go And the Lord be With thee And David Armed And Saul Armed David With his Armour And he put An helmet Of brass Upon his Head Also he Armed him With a coat Of mail And David Girded his Sword upon [12:11] His armour And assayed To go For he Had not Proved it And David Said unto Saul I cannot Go with These For I Have not Proved Them And David Put them Off him And he Took his Staff in His hand And chose Him five Smooth Stones Out of The brook And put Them in A shepherd's Bag Which he Had Even In a Script And his Sling Was in His Hand And he Drew Near To the Philistine And the Philistine Came on And drew Near Unto David And the Man that Bared The shield Went Before him And when The Philistine Looked About And saw David He Disdained Him For he Was but A youth And ruddy And of A fair Countenance [13:11] And the Philistine Said unto David Am I A dog That thou Comest To me With Staves And the Philistine Cursed David By his Gods And the Philistine Said to David Come to Me And I Will Give Thy Flesh Unto The Fowls Of The Air And to The Beasts Of The Field Then Said David To The Philistine Thou Comest To Me With A sword And with A spear And with A shield But I Come to Thee In the Name of The Lord of Hosts The God Of The Armies Of Israel Whom Thou Hast Defied This Day Will The Lord Deliver Thee Into Mine Hand And I Will Smite Thee And take Thine Head From Thee And I Will Give The Carcasses Of The Host Of The Philistines This Day [14:12] Unto The Fowls Of The Air And to The Wild Beasts Of The Earth That All The Earth May Know That There Is A God In Israel And All This Assembly Shall Know That The Lord Saveth Not With Sword And Spear For The Battle Is The Lord's And He Will Give You Into Our Hands And It Came To Pass When The Philistine Arose And Came And Drew Nigh To Meet David That David Hasted And Ran Toward The Army To Meet The Philistine And David Put His Hand In His Bag And Took Thence A Stone And Slung It And Smote The Philistine His forehead And The Stone Sunk Into His forehead And He Fell Upon [15:12] His Face To The Earth So David Prevailed Over The Philistine With A Sling And With A Stone And Smote The Philistine And Slew Him But There Was No Sword In The Hand Of David Therefore David Ran And Stood Upon The Philistine And Took His Sword And Drew It Out Of The Sheath Thereof And Slew Him And Cut Off His Head Therewith And When The Philistine Saw Their Champion Was Dead They Fled The Lord Bless To Us The Reading Of His Word And Help Us Now In Prayer All Mojie Lord God Of Heaven [16:12] And Of Earth In Whom We Live And Move And Have A Being It Is Of The Lord's Mercies That We Are Not Consumed New Every Morning Are Thy Compassion Great Is Thy Faithfulness Thou Has Brought Us Once More To An Anniversary Occasion In This Cause Of Truth Earnestly Do We Seek For The Felt Presence Of The Lord In The Midst For The Power Of The Holy Spirit Upon The Word Of God That Our Hearts Might Be Prepared To Receive The Ear To Hear Oh We Pray That Thy Word May Be Not In Word Only [17:12] But In Power In The Holy Ghost And With Much Assurance We We We Pray For The Demonstration Then Of Thy Power And The Felt Presence Of Our God And Grace Much Needed To Worship Thee In Spirit And In Truth And Thou O Holy Spirit Be Our Remembrancer That We May Look Back And Remember All The Way That Thou Has Led Us Lord The Miracle Is The Wonder Is That Amazing Grace That Thou Has Laid Hold Upon Us That Called By Thy Divine Grace That We Walk No Longer Alone But We Look Back And Trace Not What We Have Done But What Thou Has Done Ebenezer [18:14] Hitherto Hath The Lord Helped Us And So O Gracious God We Humbly Acknowledge Thy Great Mercy To Us And Would As We Sung In The Opening Hymn Ascribe All Praise And Glory Unto Thee For Mercies Countless As The Sand Which Daily We Receive Humbly And Truthfully Acknowledging We Are Not Worthy Of The Least Of All Thy Mercies But Thou Knowest Lord How That Precious Word Mercy Is So Dear To Our Soul How It Fills As It Were Our Prayers And Our Desires Because We Trace The Streams Of Those Spiritual Blessings Of The Mercies Of Our God Flowing Through The Precious Blood Of The Dear [19:14] Lord And Saviour Jesus Christ And Lord We Feel Though We Are Older We Feel In One Sense Greater Sinners Than Ever Because Thy Spirit Is Teaching Us And Showing Us Where Our Sin Is That Which We've Never Seen Before But Lord We Bless The That Thou Does Not Leave Us There Because This Very Renewed Sight Of Our Sinfulness Leads Us Afresh To Calvary Leads Us To The Dear Redeemer To The Precious Blood That The Fountain Open For Sin And For Uncleanness So Our Gracious God Accept The Tribute Of Our Hearts The Desire Of Our Soul To Render Praise For [20:14] Mercies That Hitherto Help Afforded Strength Given Thy Care Over Us Divine Protection In Our Going Out And Coming In The Comfort Of Our Homes And Food To Eat Raiment To Wear O Lord All Speak Of The Goodness Of Our God But Lord We Pray Most Of All And This Is Our Earnest Desire For The Flowing For Afresh Of Those Spiritual Blessings In Heavenly Places In Christ Jesus That Thou Will Come Even To Us As That Dear Samaritan When To The Poor Man Led Left Wounded Bruised Stripped Robbed Dying Perishing Helpless And Yet Lord Thou Didst Not Pass Him By Thou Didst Take Care Of It [21:15] We Know That There Is The Literal Teaching Of That Word And May We Take Heed To It May Grace Be Given To Thy Children To Walk Out The Truth In Its Practical Part And Minister As Far As Thou Art Enable Us To Do It To One And Another But Lord We Also Feel In It And We Do Not Feel It Wrong To Say It We See Jesus We We See Our Self There In That Ditch We See Our Lost State Our Ruined Condition We See Those That Would Pass Us By But Thou Did Not Pass Us By Thou Did Say Come Unto Me All Ye That Labor And Are Heavy Laden And I Will Give You Rest Take My Yoke Upon You And Learn Of Me For I Am Me And Lowly In Heart And Ye Shall Find Rest Unto Your Souls And Not Only Didst Thou Say Come But [22:15] Thou Didst Give Us The Power To Come For Without That We Could Never Come And Thou Didst Draw Us Lord Oh The Drawing Power Of Heaven Oh Wondrous Power And It Needs Heavenly Holy Spirit Power To Draw Such Sinners As We Are To The Dear Saviour Of Sinners As Thou Dear Jesus Did Say And I If I Be Lifted Up From The Earth Will Draw All Men Unto Me That This He Said Signifying For What Death He Should Die And So Lord It Is This That The Cross Not The Little Wooden Structure But He That Suffered On That Cross Is So Dear So Precious The One Thing Needful To Us To Him We Flee To Him We Come And The Father's Gift Made Known By The Holy Spirit Of God And [23:15] We See Oh Gracious God Almighty Jehovah God The Father Son And God The Holy Ghost All Concerned In The Salvation Of Wretched Sinners Lord Such As We Are And Oh We Bless The And It Wonderful Bye And The Watch Oh, where should we sheep wander if they lose sight of the shepherd? [23:59] Oh, Lord, do keep us high as eyes fixed on thee and our feet close to following the good shepherd of the sheep. [24:10] Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, Lord. Take and seal it. [24:21] Seal it from thy courts above. Oh, do come, dear Jesus. We look back this poor, unworthy sinner over the many years in this pulpit. [24:33] And, Lord, we believe we've known a little of thy blessing, of thy presence, of thy love, of thy grace. And, Lord, we want it again. We want more, yet more, yet more. [24:45] And yet, Lord, thou knowest thou art the sovereign God. Thou art too wise to be mistaken, too good to be unkind. But, Lord, thou knowest, oh, we do pray for the times when the harp is taken down from the willows, when with joy we draw water out of the wells of salvation, when Christ is precious, when we lay hold upon the dear Redeemer. [25:10] And, Lord, are made willing, as it were, to go to heaven, be willing to part with all, be willing because we can't part with Jesus. And we believe, oh, wondrous, wondrous thought. [25:23] He will not part with us. We deserve it, Lord. Oh, when we think of the sins of our ministry, the sins of our profession. Oh, Lord, what do we deserve? [25:35] Thy wrath, that, oh, thy mercy is so great. Lord, we want to live more closely with thee. We want to walk more closely in communion. [25:46] We want to be more like our Jesus. Oh, do grant it, we earnestly pray. Do come, oh, Lord. Thus, Lord, thy waiting servants bless and crown thy gospel with success. [26:00] May the glory of the Lord, Lord, dare we pray it, and we will, and yet subject to thy will, the desire of our heart for thy glory, that thy glory may fill the place, fill our hearts, that we may see no man save Jesus only. [26:19] Oh, grant it, Lord, we're not worthy of it. Oh, we're only fit for the chasing of our God. And, Lord, if that is needful, then, Lord, help us to receive it submissively, and to prove even in that that it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby. [26:43] Bless the dear people, Lord. And they'll notice there are many this day, as we've been told, are unable to gather. So we pray for them who we trust their hearts and thoughts and prayers are toward this place, and we pray for them, but those that are gathered, let them not come in vain, Lord. [27:04] They will come in vain if it's left to me, but if thou art pleased to come to this poor sinner, then it will be well. [27:15] Do it, Lord, do it. Do it for thy great name's sake, we pray. Leave not my soul destitute. [27:27] Lord, do bless this dear people, and we can say that truly from our heart. Now, Lord, thou knowest that bond in the gospel, that fellowship in the gospel, from the first day until now. [27:44] Oh, Lord, and we do pray that thou wilt crown it all this day with thy felt presence and the power of thy Spirit through thy precious word. [27:58] We would say, Jesus, Jesus only. Do bless our beloved friend, and we mean it, Lord, beloved, thy dear servant, the beloved pastor, in his many, many labours, heavy burdens, anxieties, at times hard things. [28:29] Do strengthen his hands in the work. Do enrich him in his soul. Do favour him with all needed grace. [28:42] Do shed abroad thy love in his heart, that his soul may be as a watered garden. And, Lord, may the world be preached. [28:54] May his soul be given sweet liberty. And yet, even there, should there be a time of bondage, struggle, and there is with us at times, and yet we've proved, and we can't believe it, and yet it's true, that that very time has been the blessing to the hearers, to some poor burdened soul. [29:20] So, Lord, may he have continually the consolation of the word confirmed, and we pray with signs following. [29:33] Bless the dear brethren, the deacons, help them in their office, each member of the church, to grant that grace, to be, stand firm in the old paths, to hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering, and to prove, Lord, thy grace, all needful, all sufficient. [29:57] Remember those now gathered, any that are not well or in pain, we pray that thou will heal and strengthen and give patience to bear pain. [30:10] We pray, dear Lord, that thou will remember any that may be cast down, depressed, tempted, ready to give up. Hear the praises of any that are rejoicing in the Lord, and we trust there are those. [30:24] So, Lord, thou knowest where each stand before thee in their spiritual experience. we do pray thy blessing on our dear age friend who, on the past days, reached such a marked anniversary time in her life of the hundred years of the goodness of her God, and we commit with the dear friends, and we feel it a privilege to do it, this dear friend to the God of all grace, that she may prove even at that great age. [31:00] Even to your old age, I am he, the all-sufficient God, and crown the last days and years of the pilgrim journey with the visit of her Lord, we humbly and earnestly pray. [31:17] Bless our dear friends we see from Wales, we pray for them, and thank thee for the felt union and bond of love to them, and pray thy blessing upon them, them where they worship, and all others gathered here at this time. [31:34] Lord, we lay the whole matter before thee, we bring our need to thee, we pray for a blessing indeed. [31:45] So, Lord, hear our poor petitions, do great things not, Lord, thou knowest it's not because a poor sinner is here this day in this pulpit, it's thy name, it's thy glory, it's thy people, it's thy word, it's thy gospel, it's thy blessing, it's all thine that we seek for, and we would be nothing, we are but a poor earthen vessel, and a very poor one too, but Lord, they'll just pour into earthen vessels, they'll just pour through, and oh, may there be a pouring out, even this day, we earnestly pray. [32:32] Now, may the words of my mouth, meditation of our heart, be acceptable in thy sight, oh, Lord, our strength, our redeemer, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen. [32:47] Shall we continue by singing hymn 339, June Darwell's 537, 339, O my distrustful heart, how small thy faith appears, but greater Lord thou art than all my doubts and fears, did Jesus once upon me shine, then Jesus is for ever thine, mine, unchangeable his will, whatever be my frame, his loving heart is still eternally the same, my soul through many changes goes, his love, no variation, knows, 339. [33:46] and e Jupiter, the stars of the 2021 Let us live. [34:40] Therefore His name is單身 ficarab sends, hTer Cycloneió eNegasáriaProfessor by 226 charioteotecail ط &G 7 God bless you. [35:28] Thank you. [35:58] and brand thy spirit will on no no my . [36:20] . [36:45] Come, thy house, thy house, I shall be saved. Amen. In dependence upon thee, Lord, for all needed help, I venture this afternoon to draw your prayerful attention to the first book of Samuel, chapter 16, verse 2, first clause. [37:27] First book, Samuel, chapter 16, verse 2, and the first clause. And Samuel said, How can I go? [37:47] As the Lord helped me, I attempted to speak from these words recently. In doing so, the services today rested much upon my spirit. [38:02] A circumstance arose which rather led me to think perhaps it was not for me to bring it. I sought this afternoon for about an hour to meditate on another word, and my heart was cold, my mind shut up. [38:20] I turned back to this word, and I hope that the Lord is in the matter, and it would be for his honour and for his glory. [38:32] First, we will notice the gift to Israel of Samuel. May we say the product of tears and cries before God of dear Hannah, praying for a son, and saying that if God heard her prayer and blessed her, despite all that she was passing through, that he, she would give him to the Lord. [39:06] And so it was. Samuel was asked of the Lord, and he was made a great blessing to Israel. [39:18] And we read of his faithful ministry and labour among the people, as when they asked for a king, Mark, Samuel means asked for a king. [39:35] The people asked for a king, and despite all that God had done for them, their deliverance from Egypt, their journey through the wilderness, their conquering the land of Canyon, and God's goodness and provision, and, oh no, they wanted to be like other nations, and have a king over them. [40:04] And Samuel would deeply grieve because of this. But there was his testimony, and I just refer to it, because as he spoke about it, he said this, that he asked them, he said, here I am, witness against me before the Lord, before his anointed, whose ox have I taken, or whose ass have I taken, or whom have I defrauded, whom have I oppressed, by whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith, and I will restore it. [40:40] You're a wonderful testimony, not boasting by the grace of God. And my friend, why name it? Our hearts need to be searched. [40:52] Are we living up to the standard set before us in the word of God? Saul was anointed to be king. [41:05] To my mind, one of the most solemn characters in the word of God, because there seems such a good beginning, there seems humility, there seems the willingness to be instructed, he speaks of the name of God, and so forth. [41:23] But, oh, beloved friend, what sad and solemn events followed. I'm not going to spend much longer on this, except to say, that Samuel put him to the test, and told him to go to Gilgal, call it not, and there to wait seven days, when Samuel himself would come, and offer the sacrifice. [41:48] The seventh day dawned. Samuel had not as yet come, but the sun had not set. And Saul immediately took hands, matters into his own hand, and offered the sacrifice, and then Saul came, and then Saul warned him, that because of his disobedience, that the kingdom would be taken away from him. [42:14] And later on, as we read this, how that the Lord told Saul to go up against the Amalekites, and destroy them utterly. [42:28] It was God's judgment for the sin that the Amalekites had committed, when the Israelites were in the wilderness, coming up behind them, and cruelly coming into battle. [42:42] And now, he said, nothing is to be spared, nothing is to be kept by the people. The battle is over. Samuel goes, and he says, what's this? [42:54] I hear the bleating of sheep. I hear the lowing of the cattle. And oh, because of Saul's discipline, I've not gone into the details, you well know it, that he is warned of Samuel, because he has disobeyed the voice of God, hath the Lord, said Samuel, as great delight, in burnt offerings and sacrifices, and in obeying the voice of the Lord. [43:22] Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. And though Saul said, I had sinned, there was no repentance, no turning to God. [43:38] And now Samuel had said that that kingdom would be taken away from him. Then the Lord comes to Samuel, and says, Samuel, you're to go to the house of Jesse, and find there, as I should direct you, as one of his sons to be king, in the place of Saul. [44:00] And Samuel, as he hears this, says, and we can well understand it, how can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me. [44:12] Remember this, it was Samuel that said that. A great man of God, and yet here, he is filled with fear. [44:23] And this may be a comfort to the fearing ones, and perhaps we're all like that. But even if Samuel said that, how can I go, that this will be an encouragement to us, as we journey on, and come to those situations, where we say, how can I go? [44:47] How can I go forward? Oh, how we shrink from the path. How we would turn aside. [44:59] How we would find a way round. But God does not permit us to find any other way round. It's through much tribulation that we shall enter into the kingdom. [45:17] I will take for an example, and it's for this reason that I read about David and Goliath, a history so well known to us. [45:28] In fact, I remember as a little boy of only about four years old, sitting on a dear aunt of mine, a lap, and she would tell me of the Bible, and one of them, Joseph, another one was Daniel. [45:42] Even as a little boy of four years old, how wonderful to have somebody talking to children about the word of God. [45:53] David had been anointed to be king. [46:05] Then his father bids him go to the host to take food, and he goes forth, and as he hears, sees the situation, hears the words that are uttered, and how his brethren misunderstand him, as he is there, Eliab, his eldest brother. [46:27] And I've sometimes thought this, David fought a battle before he touched Goliath. He conquered his own spirit. He could have well replied in a wrong way to Eliab, but he meekly said, what have I now done? [46:46] Is there not a cause? You know, it's not only Goliaths, it's our own spirit to be a real Goliath. [46:58] And we need to pray, Almighty God, do in thy mercy help us to gain the victory. I need not tarry long on this. [47:10] How can I go? Yes, he is made willing to go. He has faith in his God. It's not David. It's David and his God, or God and his David. [47:23] And Saul said, how can you go, as it were? But David said, he would go in the name of the Lord. My friend, when God gives us a path to walk, and we see that it's in the name of God, may faith be given to us, however difficult and hard it may be. [47:42] May grace be given to us to take courage and know that our God will never fail us in that matter. We may be tempted to try and find some way of easing the situation. [48:01] By that I mean this. Saul provided David with armour. But David put it on and he essayed to go and he could not go in that armour. [48:17] In other words, stripped of all natural possible help and means of battle against this great giant. [48:28] How often God works in these ways and mustn't or perhaps I'll come back to another one in a moment. It just comes to my mind but carry on here we won't get confused or try not. [48:41] And those five smooth petals and his sling but it's not that. It is God who would think that a shepherd boy with just a sling and a stone and this mighty man coming against him that David by the grace of God would gain the victory that you observe how that David speaks the whole way through. [49:09] Not me says David it's God the Lord will deliver thee into mine hand and I will smite thee. It's God that will do it. And all this assembly shall know not that David has been so brave that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands. [49:33] And we in life's journey in the path and the pilgrim have to do battle with the enemy of souls with our own fallen nature with evil and from error and my friend may we ever prove that where is that the battle is the Lord's we may look to God for that help and strength to take the whole armour of God to stand and to withstand and well we know how David prevailed over the Philistine and victory was given but as I was naming that very suddenly came into my mind another character Gideon how can I go God said I'll raise thee up thou will deliver Israel from the Midianites was it not and he said but I'm the least of all surely I will be with thee and right through his experience and we must not carry long on it though it seems to come rather sweetly to my mind that step by step as the man shrunk in himself and felt [50:34] I can't go I can't do it then God would give him a sign then he'd come and then that sign would be tested again my friend God puts all things to the test and we shrink and then we help then we say I can go and then another test you see there he came and there was that test that God that Gideon asked God with the fleece and how God confirmed it and then what did God do strip the army down to 300 men how can I go but then God gives another encouragement you to go down go mark that word go go down into the camp and I look at this word sometimes if you're afraid take fear of thy servant now we've got to be very careful there we must not lean on the arm of flesh on anybody but there are times when God raises up someone to walk with us of like spirit we may say and that we strengthen and encourage to go forward how often now I may be personal here [51:44] I may I'm only speaking the truth my dear your dear pastor and I we exchange a few words every Saturday evening as far as we can now that often strengthen my hands now I mustn't lean on your pastor I don't do that but it's the word through him and I believe it's both ways I say that reverently humbly not boasting of anything strengthening now he goes down now how is it that he goes outside that tent why that tent why that moment why has that one man had a dream why has he woke up why is he telling the Bible why does he give the interpretation God is in control and so much so that this man so full of fear he said surely you know the Lord will be with us and he will go forth into battle assured of the presence and help of his God I no need to turn to the word accurately but that is the sum and substance well my friend how can [52:50] I go this comes often I believe in the pilgrim journey of the child of God because it's no easy way to glory and my friend we are taught increasingly our weakness that is we should not boast in our ability if we have it or our talent or anything else but have to go trembling perhaps inwardly and yet in faith leaning upon our beloved strengthened to go forth into the path unknown to us you've not passed this way heretofore but God is with us now we would take one or two instances just practical instances in our life how for example there are times in the younger people particularly with their exams and their interviews how can I go and when we go before a specialist we have some matter with the body and it may be given us a great concern [54:09] I could take just an example if I may on the second visit that I proposed am I to go into America with my dear wife my heart trouble flared up and I had to see a specialist and he sat there and I explained to him how I was faced what should I do we've got the tickets booked and everything and he said I can't give you the red light to stop or the green light to go but I prayed just like I can truly say Nehemiah before the king and it was shown to me you cannot go there was a purpose in it dear Mr Hyde went in my place I believe it was desired to go and if he hadn't gone then he would never have done it my friend we see God makes no mistake and my friend there you see I said how can I go but then it led me into a further it wasn't a how can I go to America how can I go through that operation and yet I felt in measure God was with me and God so blessed me [55:11] I've told you before that very night as I was waiting for the operation oh he drew near in the early hours of the morning everything was quiet his left hand is under my head his right hand doth embrace me I said Lord that can't be me it is oh the sacred meditation oh the blessings of it it was near heaven for a few moments I needed it it didn't mean to say the way was easy oh I need I know the one time there was a panic around my bed I think things were pretty serious but I leave it part of my personal intrusion in this matter how can I go and now again I want to take another aspect of this world how can I go and here is some path some duty some call of God it could be that someone is exercised about baptism how can I go [56:16] I'm such a sinner I'm sure I'm sure oh how can I go to stand before those godly people my dear trembling one that I may be talking to I do not know I say to you that people will be praying for you they won't be seeking to pull you to pieces you will desire them to trace out the work of grace in your heart and they'll do it very tenderly very lovingly very encouragingly very prayerfully how can I go yes beloved friend the lord will be with thee to my own experience pardon again another word intrusion again but my joy wasn't so much in my baptism it was in my testimony before the church it gave me the greatest joy of all and what was bottled up for so long poured out my friend the purpose of telling is this it's not so much a close examination that is in it to a point but it's this it is Christian union and love that's the purpose you say well how can it come if a poor thing comes trembling and broken broken words and crying about groans in Christ and tears and mercy how can there be love and union the very thing because as that testimony has heard one say [57:47] I know what that one means not that every testimony is the same far from that but something would be warm the heart unite the spirit there's two people they're blended as one come in thou blessed the Lord wherefore standest thou without remember that beloved friend how can I go we could speak also of the solemn work of the ministry it's not the first time well shall I put it this way when the work of exercise begins one immediately says how can I go that will be with us right to the last sermon we preach I say that clearly you say man you've been preaching here for years and you have to say that now I say it more than ever how can I go utterly dependent upon God I will not lengthen my word on the ministry one almost constrained just to make a thought though I hadn't intended this you take that little word go it was spoken to Moses it was spoken to Joshua it was spoken to Isaiah [59:05] Jeremiah Amos it's a word go and when God says to a man go and you say how can I go then my friend and the devil says you can't go unbelief says I'm not fit to go God says go God will be thy sufficiency I remember in my exercise at the ministry who is sufficient for these things then it came our sufficiency is of God that's the secret how can I go another aspect in practical religion something very difficult now how can I go and say sorry to somebody you will understand friend I know nothing of this cause whatsoever nothing been said by your pastor give me any hint at all so I'm free in speaking even if I knew I would have to speak that would be right but there are times when the minister knows nothing my friend today even in the world it seems as though that people have forgotten the word sorry but how much more a child of God we've said something wrong we've been in a wrong spirit we've done something wrong and we're hard [60:40] I'm not going to give in I'm not going to bend myself years and years ago I knew a man that worked for the then was the age of pilgrims in a very high position in the bank of England and he speaking to me he said you know he said the other day I had to do something one of the hardest things in my life so of course I was very interested to what that was he said I had to say sorry to a young man I did love that man that man was a great man and so is a great man that can go and say sorry yes may God give us that grace to acknowledge our thoughts one to the other and speak one to the other how can I go I've done wrong how can I go and ask somebody to forgive me I've already hinted on that but [61:42] I've got measuring merging into another aspect perhaps I put it this way not that I've got anyone in my mind at all somebody say has done me wrong and they come to me and say will you forgive me how can I go that man's hurt me wounded me unjust unkind forgive no wait father forgive them they know not what they do be kind one to another tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you how can I go my dear friends may the spirit of forgiveness be ours even if they reject it you've done you've acted in the spirit of [62:44] Christ but this forgiveness I have said it before I don't know whether I said it here I can't tell you about that at all but it's got to be real you see Saul said I have sinned confession but it was dead there was no repentance no sorrow for it whatsoever but my friend I say may grace be given to us to truly forgive I remember reading years ago two boys at school they were different families they were great friends ever such great friends sadly there came a dreadful quarrel mother was putting her boy to bed and he said wait till tomorrow I'll get my own back mother said no boy you can't go to sleep like that you must forgive oh said yes forgive but wait till tomorrow [63:49] I'll get my own back shall I be condemned if I say that this is prevalent and can be prevalent in our churches I will not forgive don't misunderstand me forgiveness does not mean condoning fault and error I try to be a good gardener but I fail I'm tired there's that weed get hold of it yes I think it's alright oh I've snapped it all to get the trowel I have to dig it out and I'm too tired let it be what happens it grows all the stronger doesn't it all the stronger how can I go how can I go I want to be careful but it does come suddenly to my mind because I rather it may be a bit of a person or one of our dear friends than waiting before him how do you go how did you go is it not a matter of prayer [64:57] Lord give me a beloved husband or wife as the case may be how can I go and remember it's until death do us part may grace begin to us to remember that cherish deeply the love one to the other especially when both fear and love the Lord Jesus Christ the devil will do all he can to stir up shall I say our personal feelings and so forth my friend may grace be given to not to go to sleep until there's been reconciliation and prayer when one cannot see eye to eye to pray Lord show us what to do to walk together in love my married life no married life is perfect on this earth but I was favoured with a lovely wife [66:02] I say that is God's gift to me so we had a wonderful married life together it wasn't perfect oh dear me no but it was wonderful and my friend this is to be cherished and then I think of husbands and wives I was speaking recently in the preemitting of Manoah and his wife look how those two work together and look at the wife was the stronger one there and Manoah he was afraid everything was going wrong how I should die no if God has shown us such things as these surely it would be well something to that effect may God bless you and those of us that are married or have been married we look back and we pray God keep us close to each other I hope I've not spoken wrong I hope my dear friend will not be offended that I've named it this afternoon another aspect of this word my soul and God done something wrong [67:18] I don't know how you feel at night one looks back and say I shouldn't have said that I've been too light and foolish I've been unkind I know you say have you dealt with that yes but I'm looking at now my soul and God now it's against my God I feel very tried because I don't want you to think I'm bringing too much of myself because I'm bringing something in that's against me now a lesson I shall never forget a very painful one I was preaching in bed for chance on a weeknight a dear young friend came up because I do in that same area the next week I'm so sorry she said I shan't be able to come and hear you because I'm on duty foolishly a minister of the gospel said then I shan't come as soon as I said what have you done you ever say anything like that and you feel like that well I'm a poor thing you know [68:30] I know what repentance is there I'm to do business with my God how can I go to the throne of grace now having said that how can I go not so much going to do the service it's how can I go to God but my friend there is the throne of grace there is room for the poor sinner broken hearted filled with sorrow and grief and pain over what he done said or whatever it may be that the Lord is ready to receive and ready to forgive I felt the Lord would be just if I was not able through illness or anything to fulfill that engagement but I believe the Lord forgave me and enable me to go I name it my friend because in the Bible these dear saints mentioned where they went wrong and it encourages us not that we want to go wrong but we find that we're they're not the only ones and we're not the only ones but it tells us that God is ready look at [69:44] Jonah how can I go I'm not going to go I'm going to Tarshish there's the boat ready yes even if I pay the fare and I go to sleep I didn't worry about anything I'm going my way and my friend be careful you say you'd never do it if we say that we're prone to fall Lord keep me we know where it led to Jonah but did God bar the way to the throne of grace did he say Jonah as you look again toward the holy temple Lord as you pray to Jehovah that he shut out your prayer that he had nothing to do with you you perish in that big fish no Jonah was a strange character so am I in many ways and I expect you feel that yourself how can I go the way is still open the door of mercy still stands open [70:44] God still receives sinners God is ready to forgive how can I go all the way may come to you in many other aspects I do not know I could name others as the Lord gives them to me because in life journey there may be difficulties there may be a decision to make maybe two paths literally or it may be a decision to make yes or no it may be to go that way or that way how can I go where shall I go how can I tell you say well you pray for it that is right how do you pray before a heart searching God have you already chosen your path and asked God to bless it don't do that [71:46] I'm not saying you shouldn't ask God to bless it but don't go and choose the path that wait upon God in prayer you may say but I prayed and prayed and prayed I get no light on it at all I never shall forget in my exercise about the ministry I read and never found it since in a very old gospel standard if we make a matter a matter of real prayer with submission to the will of God that though the Lord may not give clear direction as such he will not suffer that one to err I believe it we walk by faith and not by sight I know not whether this ramble has left you this afternoon my dear friends there's one thing about it well I tried to get away from it I said I'm not going to take it to [72:46] Chippernham my conscience now is clear my spirit is eased as far as that goes not though I boast of my preaching I don't mean that but I feel clear before my God how can I go how can I go into a Bethesda home that it may be before me at the moment through God's maintaining my strength it's not so my name is on the list but I think of those who are faced with this how can I go it's hard to give up your home isn't it and yet there you cannot look after yourself and there is a wonderful provision made you say but it's not perfect is your home perfect there are those who love the Lord Jesus and who can tell God is sending you to that home as to what you should desire to be and that is an influence for good in that home a witness may [73:58] God give God direction and guidance I come now to the latter last point really as it comes to my mind is a path unless the Lord comes before we die but we anticipate we shall come to the last step now if we say how can I go go you must go you will no medical science great as it is as God has given it in these days can save life beyond God's eternal purpose that means the throne of judgment that means I must stand there before a holy heart searching God although let's take a step back first death itself to come to the actual hours of death and have the sweet confidence within us the blessed assurance that it is well [75:13] I know said Paul whom I have believed and persuaded is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day oh wonderful I've been privileged to be at the deathbed of some of the dear saints of God the deacon my pastor my father my dear mother though she had a lifelong fear of death and the most painful death I've ever known but she was wonderfully helped through you see the point is this we want dying grace now God won't give it he'll give you prepared grace he'll give you dying grace when you come to it God won't find us there yea though I walk I know it means not only death itself but it does include death though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff they comfort me how shall [76:16] I stand and I must stand oh clothed in the robe of righteousness washed in the precious blood to hear that wonderful voice come ye blessed of my father enter into the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world how unutterably solemn to die with all our sin leave everything behind but never can leave our sin behind our sin can only be washed in the blood of Christ may we know it and have been able to say in peace let me resign my breath and thy salvation see my sins deserve eternal death but Jesus died for me that's the secret the Lord in his mercy pardon anything that I've said wrong this afternoon but bless his own word for his name and glory amen if the [77:31] Lord will there will be tea provided in the Emory Lane Congregational Church schoolroom after this service and all friends are warmly well could be turned left out of the chapel and between the flats and at the end of the lane collections are being taken today for the chapel funds shall we conclude this service by singing to God's praise in 605 tune cliver number 20 the just by faith shall live nor fear the powers of hell all blessings that a God can give in Christ most richly dwell by faith in Christ as God as prophet priest and king the just shall live and live to prove that death has lost its sting 6 0 5 God Amen. [79:01] Amen. Amen. [80:01] Amen. Amen. [81:01] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. [81:19] Amen. We thank thee, dear Lord, for the confirming en care of his love as the Son. Along withκαst, O子, his name you. [81:31] Dear Lord, for the confirming in the hymns chosen by the dear pastor for this service that have been a comfort and encouragement to this poor man. [81:47] Dear Lord, bless us as we go to the tea table and be with us. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.