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[0:00] May the Lord help us to commence this evening service by singing hymn 152, Tune 6-9.

[0:13] I am, says Christ, the way. Now if we credit him, all other paths must lead astray, how fair soe'er they seem.

[0:30] Hymn 152, Tune 6-9.

[0:41] Hymn 152, Tune 6-9. Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[1:11] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[1:23] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[1:35] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[1:47] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[1:59] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[2:10] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[2:22] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[2:34] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[2:46] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[2:58] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[3:28] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9.

[3:58] Hymn 153, Tune 6-9. Hymn 153, Tune 7-9. Hymn 153, Tune 7-9. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed, is not grievous, but for you it is same.

[4:13] Beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers. Beware of the concision. We are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.

[4:35] Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more.

[4:48] Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin and Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law a Pharisee.

[5:09] Concerning zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law blameless.

[5:22] But what things were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but done, that I may win Christ, and be found in him.

[5:59] Not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

[6:34] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.

[6:51] But I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

[7:03] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

[7:26] I press toward thee, Mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

[7:38] Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect be thus minded. And if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

[7:57] Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule.

[8:08] Let us mind the same thing. Brethren be, follow us together of me. And mark them which walk, so as ye have us for an example.

[8:24] For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

[8:53] For our conversation is in heaven. For whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working, whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

[9:26] Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved, and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

[9:43] I beseech the Odias, and I beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

[9:55] And I entreat thee also, true young fellow, help those women which laboured with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

[10:20] Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men.

[10:35] The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer, and supplication with thanksgiving.

[10:50] Let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus.

[11:12] Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

[11:52] those things, those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me do.

[12:03] And the God of peace, shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last, your care of me has flourished again, wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

[12:30] Not that I speak in respect of one, for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, there is to be content.

[12:43] I know both how to be a base, and I know how to abound. Everywhere, and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full, and to be hungry.

[13:03] both to abound, and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.

[13:19] Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate, with my affliction. Now ye Philippians, know also, that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me, as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

[13:50] For even in Thessalonica, ye sent once and again, unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit, that may abound to your account.

[14:08] For even in Thessalonica, I am full, having received of Epaphroditus, the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.

[14:37] But, my God, shall supply, all your need, according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.

[14:54] Now unto God and our Father, be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Salute every saint in Christ Jesus.

[15:08] The brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you. All the saints salute you. Chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.

[15:22] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Dear Lord, help us to draw near to Thee.

[15:46] Teach us how to pray. Grant us a spirit of prayer. Grant us nearness and access at Thee mercy sea.

[16:03] We are gathered a few in Thy name this night in Thy earthly court. Dear Lord, we desire Thy presence, Thy blessing, for rest upon Thy holy word.

[16:21] We seek the unction and power and anointing of Thy Spirit. Upon the foolishness of preaching, that I would use it to the strengthening of Thy dear people, to the grounding in the truth, to the establishment in their most holy faith, to the producing of fruit in their lives.

[16:59] To Thy work may be carried on here a little, there a little, line upon line and precept upon precept.

[17:15] O grant in our hearts and lives that growth in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.

[17:27] Keep us, dear Lord, we pray Thee, from our fallen and ruined natures. Thy who seeest them all together. Thy dear church is solemnly composed of crooked sticks.

[17:45] And Lord, they know the solemn, ruined, fallen nature of each one of Thy dear church.

[17:56] And we believe Satan knows it well. And we believe Satan knows it well. And dear Lord, we pray, to be kept by Thy mighty power.

[18:08] Kept from the solemn, fiery darts of the wicked one. Lord, we walk in this world not unaware of His presence.

[18:20] That solemn, ever-present foe, ever about us, firing those fiery darts into our hearts. And Lord, they knowest the nature that is within, the conflict which Thy dear servant the apostle spoke of.

[18:40] When I would do good, evil is present with me. And how to perform that which is right I find not. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?

[18:55] And dear Lord, as we journey onward, we are conscious, sometimes more deeply than others, of this body of death.

[19:07] And dear Lord, we look back over the way to those solemn precipices that have been in the past, why, and to Thy preserving mercy, Thy keeping hand, Thy gracious care, that we have been kept, by the power of God.

[19:32] And dear Lord, as we journey onward, O we would prove the savour and sweetness of the truths we have read.

[19:44] My God, shall supply all your need, out of His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus. And we pray, dear Lord, for the rich supply of those need, that we may be brought to know our need constantly of Thy keeping mercy.

[20:11] For Thou just make us to feel our weakness. that, Lord, we would know Thy preserving grace, Thy divine strength.

[20:25] And, Lord, that peace which we have read on, the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, O grant it to us.

[20:38] Lord, keep us from a fallen nature in all its carnality, that loves this world, the things of this world, and draw near you, and grant us grace.

[20:57] following the footsteps of Thy dear servant, not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect. He pressed toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

[21:19] And dear Lord, we pray for more grace, that we may be enabled to endure unto the end, to stand, and having done all to stand.

[21:42] O grant us grace, faith, strength, patience. Lord, we pray for it, that we may be enabled to keep our eyes on Jesus' face, and there are hopes to stay.

[22:06] Look down, we beseech Thee dear Lord, and come and teach us. Grant that we may, Lord, be well taught of Thee, that we may hear Thy voice, and be led in that way everlasting.

[22:35] Grant us grace to wait upon Thee, at Thee mercy seat. We read in Thy holy word, They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength.

[22:54] And Lord, we would wait, constantly at Thy mercy seat. And as we look back, Lord, we can see, that Thou dost lead Thy people into those paths where they need them much.

[23:15] And where they wait, they wait, that Thy mercy seat, before Thy strength, to renew their strength.

[23:29] To lift it up, out of those low valleys, of unbelief and temptation. And to mount up, with the wings of eagles.

[23:41] to run and not be faint. Lord, we would wait upon Thee. And oh, we would know the strength of living faith, to be enabled to roll our burdens upon Thee.

[24:03] And Lord, to know the sweet reality, of those everlasting arms underneath.

[24:14] Thy grace, Thy strength with us. Lord, Thou art the strength of Thy dear church, in her every hour of need.

[24:29] And we would know the strength of faith. Lord, we believe there have been times in the life's pathway when we have known that precious faith in exercise and its strength in the way.

[24:48] And we would know it again and again. Look down upon this church. This people who gather here, we pray for them.

[25:01] Their way is not unknown to Thee. The path is ordered.

[25:12] The steps of a good man, says Thy word, are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Lord, look down in the pathway.

[25:29] Thou knowest the contents of that cup put into the hands of each one of Thy dear people. It is known unto Thee, measured out to each one.

[25:45] Thee, Lord, there is a purpose in it all. One said, My Father's hand prepares the cup, and what he wills is best.

[26:00] Thee, Lord, we seek for grace. To take up that cup that Thou hast put in our hand.

[26:12] For Thou didst say the cup that my Father giveth me. Shall I not drink it? Lord, Thou dost call Thy dear church to follow Thyself.

[26:27] And O we pray, that we may be enabled to follow Thee in paths of obedience.

[26:39] And to enter into the sweetness of what Thy dear servant knew, by precious experience. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.

[26:55] Most gladly, therefore, I glory in my infirmity, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

[27:08] Dear Lord, we seek that we may know what it is to walk out. Blessedness of Thy promise to Thy dear servant, my grace is sufficient for Thee.

[27:25] For our dear friends here, our dear brother of the death, grant him that all the sufficient grace in his office in the church here.

[27:38] And O grant him, Lord, encouragement. We seek the sacred movement of Thy Spirit. I will work.

[27:51] Thou hast said, and who shall let it? And we pray for it here. For fulfilment of Thy word of promise, I will work. Work here, Lord, we beseech Thee, in this favoured spot, watered by Thy Spirit over the generations, carrying hallowed memories of the dead in Christ.

[28:18] Those, Lord, who are gone before, the memory of whom is blessed. We pray for the rising generation here, and the little ones that are brought into the sanctuary of God.

[28:34] Prayer may be heard. And the blessing of Thy Spirit may be unto our children's children. We pray, Lord, for the prodigals that have gone out from the me.

[28:49] Every prodigal we bear before thee this night. O grant, Lord, that prayer may be heard and answered for prodigals, and the wonders of redeeming love and sovereign grace may be sweetly manifested in the churches in days to come.

[29:11] Lord, the power of Thy Spirit may be manifestly seen in prodigals returning to the churches.

[29:24] The wrestling prayer, Lord, may be heard and answered in Thy ordered time and way. Our dear friends may be given grace to bring up the little ones in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

[29:41] For thou hast said bring up a child in the way it shall go. And when it is old, it will not depart. O we pray for the manifestation of Thy Spirit in Thy promise in the churches.

[30:00] Come on, thy dear servant in the midst once again this night. Bless him in this time of rest. Make it an oasis to him spiritually.

[30:16] The time to come apart and rest a while. To be strengthened in the inner man with all might.

[30:32] To go forth in his pastoring with a fresh anointing. And grant him, Lord, the work of Thy Spirit in that place where thou hast placed him over many years as the under-shepherd.

[30:56] Dear Lord, we see that his last days may be his best days. And that he may see signs following his labours there.

[31:13] A building up an establishment upon that rock, Christ Jesus. A good foundation. That in days to come when his labours are over.

[31:32] They may bide in that place. Precious fruit. Manifestly. That pillars may be established in the church.

[31:44] And that there may be a strengthening of those things that remain that are ready to perish. Lord, look down. Upon Zion.

[31:55] Thy ways are past finding out. Thou seest to a lowest state. The great falling away which we have witnessed in our lifetime. Dear Lord, we pray.

[32:08] That thou would come once again in mercy to Zion. And a grant. Sweet times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord.

[32:25] Upon all thy sent servants, those who labour here. Upon the churches, Lord, send under-shepherds to the flocks. We pray thee. And O come and work in these solemn and dark times.

[32:40] And grant. There may yet be a turning again. But plain upon this nation is vast wickedness. Thy hand is heavy upon us.

[32:54] We see it, Lord, manifestly in the great plague of the cattle. The solemn godlessness of our leaders. The great withholding of thy spirit in the preaching of thy holy word.

[33:10] The floods of evil and iniquity that are sweeping over this land. Dear Lord, we pray. That thou would yet appear.

[33:21] O come. Pour out thy spirit upon all flesh. Send out thy light and thy truth. Turn us to thy holy law.

[33:34] Thy holy day. Thy holy word. And to thyself, Lord Jesus Christ. And come and have mercy upon us as a nation.

[33:47] Look down upon us, we pray thee, our Queen. Our old household. Our Prime Minister, his Cabinet. Our Parliament.

[33:59] Preserve to us as a land our national independence. Our Protestant reformed heritage and constitution. Our religious liberties. Our freedom of speech. Our freedom of speech.

[34:10] Our freedom of speech. But O come over all. And pour out thy spirit in the nation as in former days.

[34:24] And grant a mighty revival. Dear Lord, once again. We pray thou would fulfill thy holy word. That blessed day.

[34:37] When the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. O come by thy spirit. And pour out thy spirit.

[34:50] And upon thy own land. The promised land. Lord, we pray for thy people there. The peace of Jerusalem. That thou would yet move.

[35:02] Fulfill thy word. When it shall turn to the Lord. The veil shall be taken from their eyes. Lord, thou seest. The solemn nature of the conflict in that land.

[35:14] But O we pray for that day. When they shall be grafting again. Now we will come apart this night. We come to thy holy word.

[35:26] Lord, draw near and lead us into its truth. Its savour. Its unction. Its power and sweetness. Grant us thy help.

[35:37] Thy strength. Thy grace. And wisdom. Touch our lips. With a live coal from thy heavenly altar. And fill our earth and vessel.

[35:48] And grant dear Lord. The anointing of thy spirit. And bless. Thy people with a hearing ear.

[36:01] A heart. To receive thy truth in the love of it. And lead us into the truth. As the truth is in Jesus.

[36:14] We ask it. With the pardon of every sin. For Christ's sake.

[36:25] Amen. Amen. Hymn 135. June 227. How sweet the name of Jesus sounds. In a believer's ear. It soothes his sorrows. Heals his wounds. And drives away his fear.

[36:36] It soothes his sorrows. Heals his wounds. And drives away his fear. Amen. Hymn 135. Hymn 135. June 227. How sweet the name of Jesus sounds.

[36:47] In a believer's ear. It soothes his sorrows. Heals his wounds. And drives away his fear. his fear him 135 June 227 in a waters reign He shoost our reward fills his Chansey and Roaststate

[37:49] It is here. It is made solid and spirit by God's catalogs.

[38:09] All Re confinement Oh Oh

[39:11] Oh Oh Oh Seeking the Lord's help I direct your attention this evening to the epistle of Paul to the Philippians chapter 1 and reading verse 21 The first epistle of Paul to the Philippians verse 21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain We desire to look at these this verse here the opening words to me speak a little about this word in relation to the

[40:21] Apostle Paul and how he speaks of himself in the light of the work of God in his heart speak a little of what he means about the words to live what he is speaking about speaking about there speak a somewhat of what he speaks of this in this verse for to me to live is Christ and finally to say a little about the words is gain to die is gain to die is gain that the first to come to this opening word to me the Apostle is not reticent to speak of the work of God in his own heart he did it on many occasions before Agrippa and Ephesda he spoke out of the depths of his heart with liberty and freedom of how the

[41:45] Lord had come to him and the whole emphasis of his words to Agrippa and Ephesda was what the Lord had done to him and in him and the mighty power of God that had come to him and he speaks here to the Philippians of himself there was a blessed bond between him and them he had peculiarly been sent to them he had been peculiarly directed to them there was a peculiar bond between him and the church at Philippi the Lord had divinely directed his dear servant to Philippi and he had been the instrument the human instrument in the hands of God for their salvation the Lord had used him nothing is more clear than that in the scriptures when we trace how the Lord came to him on the road to Damascus we see how the Lord led him to them peculiarly he was led to Philippi and as in his prison in Rome he looked back over the days that were past the first days and the sweet fellowship which we spoke of last week the Lord had brought him peculiarly to Philippi with a purpose and there had been fruit very very precious fruit at Philippi very marked clear fruit at Philippi he had been at the time in Asia Minor and we read in the 16th of Acts that he had a sade to go into

[44:11] Bithynia for the spirit for Badi and he had had a remarkable vision come over to Macedonia and help us and we read very blessedly of his response to that vision and the effect it had on the dear man of God the dear man of God and how he went immediately and after he had seen the vision immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia assuredly gathering the Lord had called us to preach for to preach the gospel unto them and he describes the journey loosing from Trias we came with a straight course to Samothracia that's an island the next day to Neapolis that's a port landing at the port of Neapolis from thence to Philippi which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia and a colony a Roman colony and the Lord had divinely directed his dear servant to that place now he never forgot that but you see to me who am less who am less he says in his letter to the church at Philippi than the least is this grace given that I should preach

[45:36] Christ the gospel among the Gentiles and so it was to him given to him to go to Philippi to me who am less who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given and oh what a precious joy was given to him at Philippi by the wall of prayer there was Lydia and oh the blessed nature of that work in Lydia's heart so different to his own and yet the gospel went to her just as it had come to him the same spirit the same power the same blessed fruit the same obedience oh the grace that was given to him to preach this gospel at Philippi and the precious fruit he saw and the precious fruit he saw and she attended to the things that were spoken

[46:52] Lydia we read whose heart the Lord opened blessed work of God's spirit a diversity of operation says the scripture but the same spirit this work of the apostle used used as an instrument in God's hand that the excellency of the power may be of God he says we have this in earth and vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God not of us and he was used as an instrument in the Lord's hands divinely directed but then we know what happened to Philippi the soothsayer his commanding of the evil spirit to go out of her the solemn attack which came upon him then beaten and thrown into prison and then

[47:58] Philippi an earthquake hit the city this Roman colony beautifully built strongly built as the Romans built their city and devastation all around the Lord's dear servant and we see the solemn nature in that sixteenth chapter of the divine work of God that this was not to be the only one called by grace and you see at midnight at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them oh what a remarkable scene and then came the earthquake to me oh we see how the Lord divinely worked in Philippi and we see the mighty nature of the

[49:01] Lord's work here was the governor of the prison who had previously beaten the apostle put him in the inner prison now coming forth to me oh we see him coming the work of God we don't know how perhaps he saw in the apostle as he was beaten cast into the prison the grace of God we know not why he went to the apostle in that hour when death was all about him we do not know but divinely we know that the apostle had been sent to Philippi in these extraordinary circumstances there were children of God to be blessed and the apostle was to be the instrument in the

[50:05] Lord's hands and so we hear the jailer coming to the apostle with that remarkable word what must I do to be saved do to be saved or as the apostle lay in his prison at Rome and dictated this letter to Epaphroditus to be sent back how he looked back to Philippi to Lydia and to the jailer so to me to live is Christ what a beautiful word this is here he was a servant of God used directed sent in obedience to the commands of God and brought into this blessed obedience and to see the divine fruit of his labour at

[51:16] Philippi and in Rome as he lay in prison oh how remarkable this letter is he rejoiced rejoice he said and again I say rejoice content satisfied having a sight that the gospel through his imprisonment and his bonds that it had turned out the furtherance of the gospel as he could see that in whatsoever path the Lord put him and now he was in chains waiting a sentence either for life or death at Rome and he looks back to Philippi and this precious work of God there and to its fruition and he looks back and its building up there were many more than Lydia and the jailer now at Philippi and oh how we can see in his words in his letter to the church at Ephesus unto me who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Christ Jesus to the intent that now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord we see him to me

[53:05] Christ had come to him on that road to Damascus in a moment he had revealed Christ in his heart as the hope of glory and now as he looked to Philippi from his imprisonment in Rome he could leave them safely securely in the hand of his God he could see that work of God in the heart of the jailer now a leading member of the church of Philippi he could see it in the heart of Lydia and he could see it and knew it to be in the heart of so many and flowing from the work of God in their hearts through his labours there flowed to him in the prison at Rome through the hands of Epaphroditus this blessed gift this which they had sent to him this love practically demonstrated in their affection for him in the blessed nature of the gift of God which had come to them through his labours in his ministry and through his sufferings and sorrows which he had clearly manifested in all he had borne for them in Philippi and they could see it and he could see it and he didn't desire a gift for the sake of a gift it was the fruit of the spirit in love that he could see the outflowing and he speaks speaks as he left

[54:46] Philippi after the earthquake and after that jailer who had beaten him now by the grace of God washed his dear wounds he went forth to Thessalonica on his way to Corinth to Athens but you know even at Thessalonica only a few miles down the road they'd send to him oh the love that followed him the precious bond in the gospel that was manifested in his dear heart and the sweet fruit of the spirit which he found in his own soul he had known the power of Christ to him in his own heart on the road to Damascus he had known the love of Christ to him on the road to Damascus he had known the grace of God which had brought him to his knees and taught him how to pray brought him to that blood sprinkled mercy seat to that beautiful place where the Lord said to Ananias so blessedly behold he prayeth to me the Lord Jesus had come to him not that we loved him says the apostle but that he loved us not that we came to him but that he came to us and he speaks of it so blessedly

[56:21] God commended his life to us and he speaks of it and he commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us he came here into this earth says the apostle for me and you know it's very beautiful in God's word when his dear people are brought brought into the sweet into the sweet experience of the Lord coming to them and peculiarly coming to them when they need him most my mind went with these words resting upon it to me the dear apostle speaking of the blessings that flowed to him the love of Lydia and the jailer and the dear people of Philippi the love of the church of God that flowed out to him the gift that came to him it came because

[57:32] Christ had come to him and changed his whole life and brought him into this blessed life where he counted the things which he counted gain he counted dung and drops for the knowledge of Christ Jesus is Lord in humble obedience taking his yoke upon him counting all things but loss for the knowledge of Christ Jesus is Lord he had gone forth to suffer the loss of all things and to preach Christ and he had lived to see the sweetness and blessedness of the reality of this in the hearts of these dear people at Philippi and he had known on that road to Damascus how the Lord had come to him the power of his coming the nature of that effectual call that came to him my mind went to that beautiful word in the song of Solomon my beloved is mine mine and I am his the

[58:50] Sunday before I was baptized in 19 February 1958 we had preaching at our church at St Hampton the late Mr. Griffith Vaughan from Bradford living at that time at Bournemouth and I shall never forget that Sunday I was due to be baptized the next Sunday night and I drove the Lord's servant to the church that night and on the way to the service he opened his heart to me and described to me all the exercises he had in the First World War in the trenches fighting in the British Army regarding the ministry seriously injured left lame badly injured in his leg left lame for the rest of his life suffered severely from war wounds the dear man of God opened up his heart to me and spoke of the exercises of the ministry and I did the same to him

[60:00] I was carrying the exercise of the ministry at the time and I opened up to him and told him the exercise I was passing through I'd been carrying it then for four years but I was to carry it for another eleven years but I told that dear man of God and I was due to be baptized the following Sunday night and he had a free Sunday and he was hoping to come to the service but you know that night that I was baptized he was taken seriously ill with a stroke and at five o'clock that Sunday night he entered glory suddenly with these words on his lips my beloved is mine and I am his and oh what a sight I had the Sunday after I was baptized it was to attend his funeral and see his dear body laid in the grave and to hear in that cemetery chapel those remarkable words echoing in my heart my father my father the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof

[61:10] I felt secretly solemnly searchingly that his mantle fell upon me all the sweetness that rested with me at my baptizing as I look back to that solemn moment when he entered for me that very night and he entered it with these words to me to him was given a glorious union with his Redeemer in his dying hour his Redeemer whom he preached all his days in much suffering now called to meet him face to face and be with him but unto me oh let us search our heart the scriptures are very precious regarding those things which the Lord gives to his dear church and our mind goes to the words of the apostle Peter that which was from the beginning from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life life was manifested and we have seen it and bear witness and show unto you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us and the apostle goes on and the apostle goes on if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin the word that is operative there is this us

[63:06] John is speaking as the apostle Paul is speaking here to the church at Philippi us we me he is speaking of his own soul his own heart his own experience his own knowledge of Christ what has been given to him what has been brought out in his heart what has come to him how he can speak in that language that we hear in the song of Solomon my beloved is mine and I am his the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin beautifully does John speak of himself and the members of the body of Christ us and here the apostle writes to the church at Philippi to me there we would go on to live

[64:21] I cannot believe that he is thinking solely here of a carnal life I believe that the man of God has deep in his heart that carnality is something in the carnal life and the things of this world which he has cast aside what was his life as a prisoner in the palace guarded by the the praetorian guard of the emperor but nothing regarding this world what was he concerned with to live was the things of the spirit they were the things of Christ as he wrote this letter from his prison in all its sparse and philistine nature to live to him was the joy of the gospel in his heart the love to the brethren the presence of Christ in his soul oh to me to live and this was what he had in his mind life to him was the sacred experience that the men on the road to Emmaus knew when their heart burned within them and when the the Lord opened to them the scriptures and when he heard their prayer abide with us went in and broke bread and gave them a precious sight of himself in all his risen glory to me to live and they rose you see the apostle in his prison in his chains writes these remarkable words rejoice and again I say rejoice this is not the carnality and the carnal joy of a godless world something so vastly different this to him as he looked back to Philippi was the same joy which we read of among the angels of God in heaven over one sinner that repented joy in the presence of the angels of God he looked back to Philippi to the glorious work of his God how remarkable that he should come in that earthquake to call out the very man who had just beaten the apostle and bring him as a vessel of mercy to the knees of the apostle the apostle never forgot that night and that darkness and how they had sung praises to God in the prison he and Silas beaten suffering pain but not sorrow for they knew the work of God but little could they see that he would perform a work like he did on the road to Damascus and bring out a man who hated the gospel hated the truth the Roman jailer and bring him down to the footstool of mercy to beg for mercy and to ask that pertinent question one would think naturally however did he know what to ask but you know there is something much more than his fear of the earthquake the Lord had used the earthquake as a solemn instrument in his salvation to bring him face to face with eternity the dear man of God was asking in divinely given wisdom what must I do to be saved and you know the apostle saw the blessedness of that and I tell you this here he lived in the joy of a sinner repenting and as he looked to Philippi from his prison he could see the remarkable wonders of redeeming love the blessed nature of the work of his master and my mind goes

[68:23] for a moment to the cross at Calvary there are certain remarkable things about the cross the two thieves nailed crucified with Jesus both we read cast it in his face thou that savest others and it actually says cast it in his teeth cast it in Christ's teeth thou that savest others save thyself that was the language of the two thieves together but you know in that dark hour from the sixth to the ninth hour one of those thieves came to ask he came to fulfill the words of Christ's promise ask and ye shall receive only the Holy Spirit of truth could ever have opened his eyes to know his last condition and bring him to ask and bring him to ask but you know he received mercy remember me today they shall be with me in paradise oh the magnitude of that mercy oh the extent of that everlasting loving kindness that brought him safely to glory in a dying hour and similarly Samson after all the solemn evil he was lying sins in against light and knowledge in a dying hour came to receive mercy remember me this once only his name is recorded in the eleventh of Hebrews amongst those

[70:11] Hebrew worthies and further the words of Christ upon the cross when he said father forgive them they know not what they do as he prayed for those who had nailed him there the centurion and the Roman soldiers then we read in the scriptures they shall look upon him whom they pierced and they shall mourn oh when we think of the Lord's prayer father forgive them not general words but an actual request for his atoning blood then we have reason to hope and believe that the very ones who nailed him to the cross received pardoning mercy and we see the blessed nature of this living of the apostle for me to live oh how his ministry and the fruits of his labours was his life it was indeed oh this was his whole life there was nothing else to his life from the road to Damascus to the end of the journey in his martyrdom in Rome his whole life was concerned with the salvation of sinners and the fruit of his ministry for to me to live is Christ it is the evidence of his work in my heart and in the heart of others what he desired this is what he is speaking of here

[72:08] Christ formed in his heart the hope of glory oh how he knew him as one he says born out of due season he walked with Christ he communed with him and he suffered with him in his letter to the church of Corinth he gives the most graphic account of all he suffered and endured in his labours as a servant of God all the suffering sorrows of body and soul soul and mind that he entered into and he speaks in his letters of the nature of that work of God in his heart and how in all his suffering sorrows his one desire was as expressed in this letter to the church at Philippi that I might know him and the power of his resurrection having fellowship with him in his suffering being made conformable unto his death he was indeed as clay in the hands of the heavenly potter and he knew his

[73:45] Redeemer by sweet communion with him in the journey sweet fellowship with him in his suffering precious joy in his heart in his presence as the Lord was with him from time to time as we read of his journey to Rome finally when he went in his last voyage to Rome we see him speaking there there stood beside me this night an angel of God whose I am to serve it was Christ his Redeemer oh how he communed with him constantly he knew his strength in his weakness most gladly therefore will I glory he says in mine infirmity that the power of Christ might rest upon me when I am weak then am I strong oh oh here we see him glorying in his weakness and his suffering and sorrow realizing the blessed nature of Christ in his heart the hope of glory and mine goes to the Lord dealing with his dear servant Abraham and the promise he gave to him

[75:07] I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward oh how Abraham walked with God communed with him knew him on Mount Moriah as he raised the knife over Isaac knew the sweet presence of his God with him and the Lord speaks of this Abraham saw my day and was glad there was precious union together we read of the Lord's dear servant Moses and his union with Christ esteeming the reproach of Christ we read greater riches than the treasures in heaven we see these dear men of God walking with Christ and finally we see Moses communing with him on the Mount of the transfiguration Elijah knowing him as he did in the cave and so on for to me to live is Christ it is to know him in all his power in all his love in his precious blood that takes away sin and it is to know him as the apostle speaks in his last letter to

[76:38] Timothy in heaven above to meet him face to face to be with him where he is this is the last part of this word of the apostle for me to live is Christ to know him here to see and enter into the blessedness of the fruits of my neighbors as his own servant to enter into the joy of the communion of saints to have children spiritually and then the apostle says this to die his gain I'd rather depart he says to be with Christ which is far better oh how he views the gain and you know not necessarily what we would instantly think that it was to be released from all his suffering sorrows here released from his prison in the palace at Rome released from what he speaks of in the Corinthians the care of all the churches not necessarily there something far different to be with Christ which is far better this

[77:59] I believe was his desire I'd rather depart to be with Christ this was his desire and he speaks in his letter that letter to the to his son in the faith Timothy as he comes to the end of the journey he speaks so blessedly I'm now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day not to me only but to all them that love his appearing and yet here in this letter as he penned these words to die his gain what I shall choose he said I want not

[79:01] I'm in a straight for text 2 having a desire to depart to be with Christ which is far better nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you and having this confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith we believe here that he did he was released from his prison and almost certainly did go back to Philippi again he was imprisoned in several places Caesarea he was imprisoned on his final journey to Rome and he was finally imprisoned in Rome where he died in that last letter to Timothy but here he was brought face to face for the never ending eternity he did not know whether his sentence was for life or for death he was waiting the sentence in this prison at Rome it would have all the appearance that what he says here did have come to pass

[80:08] I know I shall abide and continue with you all that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Christ Jesus for me by my coming to you again and everything would seem to appear that he did eventually come to them again but he was walking walking with eternity before him and oh how under the weight of that solemn eternity that lay upon him he utters these words to me to live is Christ it was all his life his ministry was nothing else that was his joy in rejoicing the members of the body of Christ converted under his ministry blessed under his labours here was his joy as dear J.C. Philpott said on one occasion that there were two things in life only two that were ever worth having one was to be blessed in our own soul and the other was to be made a blessing to others the Lord's servants are sent into the ministry as the apostle was they carry the burden of the word of the Lord they cannot go unsent for how shall they preach that is with profit like the apostle did except they be sent he knew that but you know one of the things the Lord shows his servants as they carry the burden of the exercise of the Lord before they go is this there is no work in this world more blessed than the ministry

[82:03] I remember as a student when I was about twenty-one and the Lord laid the ministry on my heart fifteen years before I went forth to preach he showed me suddenly one night the sweet blessed nature the glorious nature of preaching the gospel and I believe that here the apostle rejoiced in that glorious word me to live preaching the gospel is Christ it is to see Christ formed in the heart the hope of glory oh how he had many sorrows and God's dear servants have had many sorrows the psalmist David had many sorrows of those who went back and walked no more with them choked with the cares and the riches of this world it wasn't all their labours that came to fruition who is as blind as my servant it is the word of scripture but there are precious fruits to the labours of God's dear servants which we read in scripture they go forth weeping bearing precious seed they shall doubt that it is come again rejoicing bearing their sheaves with them they know not which shall prosper this or that or whether both a night shall be good they cast their bread upon all water it is in God's dear hand but they are sprues

[83:41] I saw in my late father's dying week of his life one of the most remarkable things letters came in as he was dying in hospital of cancer that related to the first sermons he ever preached 53 years before in 1932 he was dying in 1986 these were from people who had been blessed under the first sermons and they kept it a secret never revealed it until his dying week when they thought he would be taken and would never know and they wrote and I remember him reading these letters and he turned to me and he said this John they are not pennies they are sovereigns and the Lord has known how long to keep them for this hour for me to live his Christ oh the joy of the dear apostle in that precious path to Philippi which meant to live in the dear apostle of the dear apostle of the dear apostle of the dear apostle of the dear apostle of the dear apostle of the precious the precious the precious the precious the past the philippi which meant wounds suffering sorrows and imprisonment but oh the counterbalancing of the glorious joy of seeing Lydia and the jailer saved redeemed and to come forth and to baptize and to baptize

[85:12] Lydia and her household and the jailer and him and see the mighty work of God's spirit well does this explain why as he wrote from Rome he penned this beautiful word for to me all the love that flowed to me all the love that flowed to him to me to live is Christ to preach him to know him to commune with him to speak well of him and to die his gain to go home to be with him which is far better Amen Amen Hymn 567 Tune 157 Tune 157

[86:13] Jesus the Lord my Saviour is my Shepherd and my God my love my strength my joy my bliss and I his grace record Hymn 567 Tune 157 Hymn 567 Tune 157 Jesus, the Lord, my Savior is my shepherd, my God.

[87:12] My life will It gives us well And then it wells for thee Tis Christ I am The blessed man With the righteous

[88:13] French and great For mercy and truth And righteousness And peace The strange The beach In Jesus Christ The building of Christ In Jesus Christ I stand I stand I stand I stand I stand I stand I stand

[89:14] I stand I stand I stand I stand I stand I stand I stand I stand is is oh and now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ the love of God the communion of the Holy Spirit abide with you each

[91:13]  Amen Amen