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[0:00] Lord may help me and I shall attention to the book of Psalms and Psalm 68 and verses 18 and 19.

[0:16] Psalm 68 and verses 18 and 19. Psalm 68 and verses 18 and 19.

[0:51] Selah. We are not left to speculate to whom these words not only refer but are most surely fulfilled.

[1:09] And that is in the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul writing in his epistle to the Ephesians.

[1:21] That portion of the word that I read this morning at the prayer meeting bears witness and testimony unto. And it is important for us always to realise that wherever there is a reference in the New Testament scriptures.

[1:43] Whether in the ministry of our Lord or of his apostles. To those things that were written and found in the ministry of both patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament.

[1:58] That what we find there within the New Testament scriptures. Is both the full and glorious realisation.

[2:09] That which that was made known. Even through the ministry of those men of old. As they spake. As they were moved.

[2:20] Of the Lord. The Holy Spirit. So I will spend in time this morning. As they were speculating. With regard to whom these words refer.

[2:34] But as I said. The assurance that he has given us. That they are found and fulfilled. A rock in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[2:46] In all that he is. And all that he has done. And from whence surely. There is that. Of which. From. That from whence surely flows.

[2:58] All. That is to the praise. Of the glory of our God. And to the true welfare. Indeed. As we are reminded here.

[3:10] Of the salvation. Of all. That the. All that the Lord has loved. Chosen. And redeemed. And does thus.

[3:21] In his appointed time. Called. By his grace. For what. Is found. And opened up to us. The blessed truths here.

[3:32] Found. And centering. And fulfilled. And flowing. Through our Lord. And saviour. Jesus Christ. And I emphasize. Is that.

[3:42] Which is to the glory of God. And of the salvation. Of an elect people. Even those. The Lord of love.

[3:53] With an everlasting love. All the wonders. Of redeeming grace. And mercy. And that. Particularly. When we are reminded.

[4:05] To whom. These blessings. Are made known. Indeed. Described. In the very words. Of our text. Here this morning. As a.

[4:16] Rebellious people. And see. What it particularly. Pointed out. Yea. To the. For the. Rebellious. Also.

[4:27] Something. Very. Wonderful. Is open. To us here. And is that. Not. What is. Gloriously. Set forth. In the precious.

[4:37] Truth. Of the gospel. That are. The blessings. Of pardoning. Love. And mercy. And not. Friends. For the righteous. That is.

[4:48] Supposedly. Righteous. As. In themselves. But it is. For sinners. For sinners. The Lord. Will. And does. Call. By his grace.

[5:00] Did not. Our Lord. Jesus. Himself. Testify. Unto the same. When he said.

[5:11] I am not. Come. To call. The righteous. But sinners. To repentance. Before. Just pursuing. These. The things.

[5:22] Set. Before us. In our text. Further. I would draw. Our attention. For particularly. To this. Indeed. What is found. In the.

[5:33] In the. Nineteenth. Verse. When it says. Blessed. Be the Lord. Who daily. Loadeth us. With benefits. Even. Even the God.

[5:44] Of our salvation. Yes. In all. That is. Before us. Concerning. The exaltation. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ.

[5:55] And all. That is. Bound up. And flows. From. From. And through. The same. To his. Believing. People. To the praise. Of the glory. Of his name.

[6:07] Oh. Have we. Not. Cause. May we. Realize it. Not only. In our gathering. Here. This morning. But in all. And in every.

[6:17] Aspect. Of our worship. And service. Of the Lord's. Great. And holy name. Oh. The conscious sense. Of how.

[6:28] Indebted. We are. Unto him. How. Dependent. Upon him. And what. Cause. We have. Daily. As is. Described. Here.

[6:38] To bless. The Lord. For all. The benefits. We receive. Even the God. Of our salvation. This particularly.

[6:49] It was. Was. With me. As we came. Came together. Here. This morning. Express. It was. In our. Opening hymn.

[7:00] And also. Referred to. The prayers. Of the brethren. Earlier. And I trust. We are conscious. Of the same. As we continue. In the worship.

[7:11] Of our God. Here. Today. And that is. And that. What. What. What cause. Do we have. To lift up. Our hearts.

[7:22] In thankfulness. Unto the Lord. Just look back. Over the days. Of the past week. Each of us. In whatever. May be involved.

[7:33] May be involved in. In our daily lives. And circumstances. The situation. With which. We have. Been. Faced. In what.

[7:44] In. Obviously. In varied ways. Are. Have not. Each one of us. Cannot. I trust. We can. Ever. Can say.

[7:55] As we gather. Here. This morning. That. Not only. The Lord. Has been. Our help. But. All. What. Cause. Do we have.

[8:05] To bless. And to praise. His name. For his kindness. For his care. For his provision. For us. And that. In the daily.

[8:16] Benefits. We receive. Of his hand. And how proud. We are. To take. These things. The comforts. Of home. The benefits.

[8:28] Of family. Life. Of our. Evolument. Of relationships. One. With another. And indeed. All the provisions. That we. Were made. For us.

[8:39] Regarding. To our daily. And continuing. Needs. Oh. How proud. We are. To take. These things. For granted. And we. And little.

[8:51] And little. Adonage. As we all. The goodness. Of the Lord. To us. Regarding. To. The fact. Which is bestowed. Upon us.

[9:02] And likewise. Surely. How utterly. Dependent. We are. Upon him. For. Both. What we have received. What we do receive.

[9:13] And regard. Also still. For that. Which is to come. Yes. May we know. Then. The Lord's. Enabling. What it is.

[9:23] To humble. On ourselves. Under his. Mighty hand. The conscious. Sense. Of his. Greatness. True. But also. Of his. Goodness. And of our.

[9:35] Unworthiness. At the least. As Jacob said. Of all the mercy. And all the truth. That thou hast. Shown. Unto thy servant.

[9:46] All to the Lord. Alone. Then be all praise. And thanksgiving. And that. And that it may truly. Proceed. From us.

[9:56] Both personally. And collectively. As we gather. For the worship. Of the Lord's. Great. And holy name. But also.

[10:08] Not only. For the benefits. Daily. Bestowed. Upon us. But all. As the psalmist. Emphasizes. Here. The God.

[10:19] Of our salvation. Our friends. For that. What cause. Do we have. To be thankful. For his. Providential. Mercies. But oh.

[10:29] How much. More so. For those. Blessings. Of his grace. The wonders. Of pardoning love. Of redeeming. Mercy. Is upholding.

[10:41] Keeping. Delivering. And of that. Glorious. Provision. He hath made. Has set. Before us. The precious. Truth. Of his word. Not only.

[10:52] Of what he hath done. But what he is. And what he hath appointed. And provided. Ah. May we know. More and more. What it is.

[11:03] Believingly. In the receiving. Of the same. To be taken. Up with them. And to walk. In the light. In the light. Of the same.

[11:14] And with that. And. And. And. And. And. Look. In the light. Of the same. But in. The. And in daily. Encouragement. To be found.

[11:25] Still. For the Lord's. Enabling grace. Indeed. Pressing. Toward that map. Of the prize. Of the high. Calling of God.

[11:36] In Christ Jesus. But. Blessed. Be the. Lord. Who daily. Loadeth us. With benefits. Even the God. Of our salvation.

[11:47] Well. Does the psalmist. And. He at Selah. That is. Not only. Paul's. And. Consider. But oh. To lift up.

[11:58] Our hearts. In thankfulness. Thus. To our God. And that. Particularly. For what is. Brought. Before us. Here. In this.

[12:08] Eighteenth. Verse. Thou. Thou. Thou. Hast. Ascended. On high. Thou. Has led. Captivity. Captive. Thou. Received.

[12:18] gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them as I mentioned in my opening remarks here we have that which is found and fulfilled the person of our Lord Jesus Christ gloriously set before us thou hast ascended on high but I would particularly let us also never to lose sight of as Paul reminds us as he wrote there to the brethren there in the church at Ephesus yes he says he hath ascended that it is written he hath ascended on high he hath received gifts if led captivity captive hath received gifts for men but as Paul points out there particularly he that ascended is he also that descended first into the lower parts of the earth he that descended is he that hath ascended up far above all heavens and how vitally important is that as it concerns all that pertains to the glory of God in the salvation of all that he has loved and chosen are that he that is as ascended and what a glorious reality it is our Lord

[14:03] Jesus Christ is there not only but at the right hand of the majesty in the heavens he is that glorious king upon his throne that great high priest over the house of God that great prophet unto the church and as we behold in there not with the natural eyes the eye of a living faith that faith that receives the testimony that God has given of his beloved son set before us in his holy word oh what cause do we have then both for praise and thanksgiving but ever the source encouragement and consolation to the living family of God as we journey on through this wilderness world that was one and the one of the important aspects as that fourth in Paul's epistle to the Hebrews as he wrote there to his brethren after the flesh ah that and to them in all the difficulties and discouragement and distress to which they were being subjected ah and the whole one of the purposes of

[15:32] Paul in what he wrote to them there under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit was to not only open up to them but there evidently set before them the very reality of this that that that that that that one whom they have been brought to profess and to believe and to trust in and that even though faced as they were and passing through such a fight of afflictions yet as not only for them but surely for the living family of God still oh as Paul blessedly sats forth there that the Lord Jesus Christ has indeed truly high and lifted up ascended into the heavens as a great high priest over the house of God for authority and power both in heaven and in earth as we are reminded here have overcome all his and his people's enemies and that he must reign and he will reign and he hath made his enemies his foot sore that all that he was appointed all that was promised and his promise not one but not shall never friends fall to the ground but shall most surely be fulfilled to the praise of his great and holy name but he that ascended is he also that first descended into the lower parts of the earth and how vitally essential is this it concerns the glory of God the redemption and salvation of all that he hath loved and chosen may friends this always be kept in view by us

[17:41] Paul's concern as he wrote there in his epistle to the Corinthians was to know nothing amongst them save Jesus Christ and him crucified and Jesus Christ suffered bled and died rose again ascended into heaven and there at the right hand of God being there in the presence of God for us but I was just wanting to bring out then he that ascended is also he that descended first into the lower parts of the earth in that sense the exaltation of our Lord Jesus Christ can be friends of no encouragement or consolation to us as ruined sinners unless he first descended into this lower parts of the earth and to what was that descent of the

[18:51] Lord Jesus into the lower parts of the earth fall oh friends the wonder and the glory of this yes in one sense it is well described as that great mystery of godliness that God was manifest in the flesh is very descending into the lower parts of the earth that is as the eternal son of God as our Lord Jesus Christ is was that he might that he might partake of our whole human condition sin accepted and to what end and purpose to save his people from their sins here friends we see the wisdom of God and the power of God manifest there is a reference there in verse 17 of this psalm we read the chariots of God are 20,000 even thousands of angels the Lord is among them as in

[20:09] Sinai in the holy place there is a reference there to the descent of God there upon Mount Sinai in the giving of that holy law there through Moses unto the children of Israel and our friends let us not forget that that holy righteous and just law of God is that is that which is binding upon each and all of us all there is known escaping for others are the demands of that holy righteous and just law of God and the psalm demands of that holy law of God upon each of us are perfect obedience to all that it required and this most solemnly not only cannot we do but never have and never will meet those demands of ourselves therefore it leaves us under its curse and condemnation and our that holy law of God still demands it demands of us as sinners pay that that thou owe'st and all things it is a demand

[21:45] I say that leaves us utterly and wholly not only helpless but condemned and hopeless under that that solemn demands of us and also that and it is with regard to this that this glory of God is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ that he that is exalted that is also he that descended first into the lower parts of the earth and all the wonder of this yes friends this is only and wholly through the grace of God indeed that great love wherewith the Lord has loved us that holy Lord demands of us full and perfect obedience to all it will accept nothing less than full and perfect obedience to all its requirements and full satisfaction for all that the sins and transgressions as it were against its demands and requirements and it is the very descent of the

[23:14] Lord Jesus Christ into the lower parts of the earth wherein God himself the very God against whom we have sinned and behold here the wisdom of God behold here yet the power of God and the love of God that it is God himself that has thus appointed and provided in the person of Jesus Christ his descent into this lower parts of the earth that very the substitute as one that is in the place of another can and does meet all that that holy law and divine justice of God could be demanded and required you know the law could never provide a substitute of the sinners but friends the gospel reveals what God himself in his wisdom his love and his power of the appointed and provided and that in the person of his beloved son remember when

[24:37] God tried Abraham and directed him to take his son Isaac his only son the son whom thou lovest and offer him for one of mountains the Lord would show him on that when they were going up to that they had left the servants and as Isaac following his father bearing the wood and the fire he says to his father here is the wood and the fire and the knife but where is the lamb for a burnt offering my son God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering oh how Abraham saw that wondrous provision there in the mount yes in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen God will provide and what a provision of God made all the wonders of divine grace and mercy in that provision the descent of him who is now exalted at the right hand of the majesty in the heavens in his descent into this foreign world as he came taking not upon him the nature of angels but taking upon him the seed of Abraham made in all things like unto his brethren sin excepted ah see there in that wondrous provision yes that that that which that holy

[26:22] Lord of God demanded of all that his father hath given him our Lord Jesus Christ fully met and satisfied there in the reality of his life his sufferings and his death there in Gethsemane and Calvary and what assurance he's given us in the Lord that all that the Lord demanded of each sinner the Lord to believe and trust alone in Jesus Christ has been fully met that their sins are forever put away that everlasting righteousness has been brought in and the imputation of it through the grace of God unto them what assurance he's given us in that he rose again the third day that he hath ascended into heaven thou hast ascended on high thou hast laid a captivity captive and surely friends here in what is opened up to us that in all but the

[27:38] Lord Jesus Christ is and what he hath done for us is there not that from that from whence as we behold these things the teaching of the Holy Spirit in the exercise of a living faith from whence there is surely not only encouragement for us in the midst of all that we may find and meet in our daily lives of difficulties temptations our fears and deeds the distress that so often we find in the very difficulties with which we're confronted is there not from this as we have brought friends to look as the apostle says not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen the things which are seen are temporal the things which are not seen are eternal and here we have those things which are not seen not seen that is with a natural eye but though not seen yet nonetheless real assure for here are eternal realities here is where it is manifest the glory of the grace of our God in the wondrous provision he has made for his people there in all that

[29:12] Jesus is and all that he hath done are how often and indeed in one sense in one sense as only we might say natural to us all how we are involved and concerned with the things which are seen I say it is natural to us the daily events and circumstances of our lives and our little friends we consider believe as we ought that though these things are real to us and of which we have daily in that sense that not to be confronted with and to deal with are they are about passing things the temple a few days a few months a few more years at most we shall be finished with them all a few more days or months or years in this world with its sorrows temptations difficulties and needs and we shall be finished friends with the same all the very realities of eternity how little we consider it as we ought but while passing through this fallen world all for that grace wherein we're brought to lift up our eyes unto the heavens not only from whence cometh our help but unto him who then lives and reigns and holds all nature in his hand that gracious hand on which we live who not only is loved and does love to redeem his people but in all the glorious provision he hath made afford us referring again to those worlds of

[31:18] Paul while we look not at the things which are seen but the things which are not seen these eternal realities are that he hath ascended on high he hath laid captivity captive what does that essentially bring before us he hath laid captivity captive that all that held his people in that bondage and captivity to sin and satan he hath himself overcome yes all his and his people's enemies for that is where we are found by nature in the bondage captivity in bondage to sin and satan and fast held in that bondage and a bondage from which there can be no deliverance either from what we could do and what others could do for us but see the great the great captain as he described of our salvation the lord jesus christ oh see what he accomplished yes we see sat before us in the word there in the life and sufferings of our lord jesus christ oh he descended into the lower parts of the earth oh to what friends was he subject not just from the hands of men wicked men who had taken and crucified and slain and endured such contradiction of sinners against himself but as the lord god made to meet upon him the iniquities of all his people it was made sin for them though he himself knew no sin that he might be made the righteousness of god in him oh who can even begin in any way to comprehend what he endured and says no tongue can tell to save our souls from death and hell oh he hath laid captivity captive but oh what assurance he's given us the resurrection and ascension of our lord jesus christ that he hath put away sin the sins of his people that offering and sacrifice of himself that he hath overcome sin satan death hell and the grave that which held his people captive that which still so often troubles and distresses them the lord himself has overcome are those things which often times they fear and fear the consequences that regard to them to themselves yet friends the testimony and the word of god the glorious truth of the god the glorious truth of the gospel is this that those things which so often for the weakness of our flesh and the infirmities with which we'll be set so often occasion those fears that seem to predominate that that that that that that that that that that is the word of god blessedly says sin should not have dominion over you that is the full and final dominion over you for you be it not under the war but under grace know the things which are often the child of god for the weakness and infirmities of the flesh we have we are beset with our friends that those things would never finally be realised even though the fear of respect to them is real so often as i said with the child of god for the infirmities of the flesh because our lord has overcome and we are more than conquerors through him but love them can that almighty arm that has wrought salvation for them can that almighty arm be friends that that sense that almighty arm fail not only to uphold but to keep and to bring finally all that the father hath given him and into that eternal habitation they've appointed and provided for them no the testimony of the word is he shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many for he shall bear their iniquities he hath land captivity captive thou hath received gifts of for men and as

[37:02] Paul testifies there in his epistle to the Ephesians not only hath he received gifts but he indeed imparts gifts unto men and we have particular set before us there in his epistle to the Ephesians what amongst those gifts indeed consist and that with regard to the welfare of his church here upon earth both in the gift of apostles and prophets evangelists pastors and teachers for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the people of God oh friends how little is it considered of his very resurrection and ascension gifts of our Lord Jesus Christ and that embodied in that we might describe as that great and glorious gift the gift of the

[38:10] Holy Spirit the Comforter for does not all find the gifts of a risen and exalted Lord and Saviour gifts unto his church and people regard to their welfare both collectively and personally and through that which is appointed holy not only come to us but are dependent upon that very gift of the person and ministry of the Lord the Holy Spirit as I have said on many occasions oh how much there is bound up what our Lord spoke regard to the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit and that very name that he bears that relationship to his church and people as the

[39:10] Holy Spirit the Comforter and see that surely evident in all the out working the very ministry of the Holy Spirit he who sought that it work and ministry is has received the things of the Lord Jesus Christ to show them unto us and is not that evident the very ministry of the Holy Spirit here even in what is found in these verses before us it is which the Holy Spirit bears witness and all may we know the gracious reality still of that witness of the Holy Spirit with our spirit that he the Lord Jesus Christ he that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood he hath ascended on high he hath land captivity captive yes all that thus not only opposed but him his church and people all his and their enemies he hath overcome and not one of those of his father hath given him shall ever friends ultimately to come to all that his and his enemies may indeed attempt to inflict upon them for he hath led captivity captive expressive of not only overcome but a full and final victory that he hath wrought as one that comes forth not only conquering but to conquer and that to the praise of the glory of his great and holy name he hath received gifts for men blessedly expresses this the constancy of the love and care of the

[41:14] Lord over and towards his own he speaks as the psalmist goes on to say as we mentioned earlier blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with benefits even the God of our salvation and yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell amongst them how can it be asked will God in very deed dwell with men upon earth that the Lord God might dwell amongst them Christ is exalted he that descended first the lower parts of the earth accomplished all that the word of God blessed he sets forth that he did descended on high that the Lord God might dwell amongst them and he dwells amongst his people by and through that gracious person and ministry the

[42:19] Holy Spirit he dwells in their hearts by faith he is present with his people as our friends as we meet and gather for the worship of his name and the testimony of his word to us is still I will never leave thee nor forsake thee therefore may not we boldly say at all may we be enabled to say in the confidence of a God given faith with thankfulness in our hearts unto him that we may boldly say I will not fear what can man do unto me but I'll leave the remarks there this morning may the Lord add his blessings amen p.m.

[43:26] p.m. 931 Paschal Lamb by God appointed loaves of sin on thee were laid by almighty love anointed thou hast full atonement laid all thy people are forgiven through the virtue of thy blood opened is the gate of heaven peace is made twixt man and God 931 ask all one by God appointed loaves of sin on thee were laid by the land be by them he of our km дорогh have been saved 79nd vì ist

[44:33] The Great of Heaven Peace is great Trees man and God Jesus, heaven Thouden glory There forever To abide All the heavenly hosts Adore thee Seated of thy Father For thy people Thou art pleading There ever Your servants prepare Ever for them In just healing Till in glory They appear Riches, honour, strength and blessing

[45:34]  Thou art worthy to receive Thou this praise is without ceasing Me to taste for saints to give All the bright angelic spirits Reveal the sweetest nobless lace Help to seek the Savior's merit And to chant the Savior's praise And to chant the Savior's praise Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen