Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.heritagesermons.org/sermons/64581/the-precious-words-of-christ-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] The Lord may graciously help us for attention once more to the gospel according to Luke chapter 24 reading verse 8. [0:16] And they remembered his word. The gospel according to Luke chapter 24 and in verse 8. [0:28] And they remembered his words. Observe these words this morning somewhat in their setting as they relate to those dear gracious women. [0:46] And such they were that came early in the morning to the sepulcher. He said what a wonderful morning that was. [0:57] The dawning of that most wonderful day that has ever been known upon this earth since creation's day. That appointed time when Christ should rise again from the dead. [1:13] From which should stem every gospel blessing which should flow into the hearts of poor sinners through resurrection power. [1:27] For if Christ be not risen from the dead. Then your faith is in vain. We observed of these dear women and of that which the word of God speaks concerning them. [1:44] That they were those who sought according to their means and ability to minister unto the Lord Jesus. [1:56] The Lord had done great things for them. Out of Mary Magdalene he had cast those seven devils. He had dealt and met with the case of Joanna. [2:09] And Mary his own dear mother. There were those who sought to do what they could for their Lord. [2:20] And my hearer those who are the recipients of Christ's love. Of Christ's blessing in the soul. [2:32] It will draw out from your heart to do what you can even for him. This may indeed be displayed in that which you do for others. [2:46] For taught our Lord when here upon earth. In as much as ye have done it to the least of one of these my brethren. Ye have done it unto me. [2:57] We observe the love in the heart of these dear women. How that they were found at that sacred seed at Calvary. [3:14] At that time when the Lord Jesus was delivered into the hands of sinful men and crucified. We also observe how that they were present at his burial. [3:33] The women also which came with him from Galilee followed after. And beheld the sepulchre and how his body was laid. [3:45] And yet though they had heard precious truth that the Lord had spoken unto them. Yet we find them coming on this resurrection morn to the sepulchre. [4:02] Bringing these spices which they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And still my hearers they go expected to see him there. [4:16] The word that had been spoken. Those things that had been foretold. Even by the Lord himself. Yet we find they do not believe. [4:29] They are found here then in a path of unbelief. And how the angels spake unto them. Why see ye the living among the dead? [4:44] He is not here but is risen. And he bids them remember how he spake unto you. When he was yet in Galilee. [4:58] Saying the son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men. And be crucified. And the third day rise again. [5:11] And they remembered his words. Returning from the sepulchre. They told these things unto the eleven and to others. [5:24] They remembered his words. And in conclusion this morning we looked at some of those words. Which they remembered. If not in the detail of them. [5:37] As the Lord Jesus spake them. Certainly in the spirit of them. My friend. Have you caused even this evening to look back. [5:49] To remember some of his words. There again if not in the detail of them. In the spirit of them. I quoted those well known words from the eleventh of Matthew. [6:03] Come unto me all ye that labor. And are heavy laden. And I will give you rest. And how those dear women. Knew what that was. [6:15] To come unto the Lord. Even as he bid them come. How their cases were met with. How his love was made known unto them. [6:29] Which moved them to walk. And to act. In the way in which they did. And hear a realization. Of the Lord's favor. [6:43] The Lord's blessing. In your soul. Does it not move you. To act in obedience. To that. Which he has spoken. [6:55] These dear women. Love to be with him. They love to follow their Lord. Do you love to follow your Lord? Do you love to mark his footsteps? [7:09] And in them plant your own? Your hope to follow duly. Is in his strength alone. These dear women. [7:23] Love to be where Jesus was. They love to be found at his dear feet. They knew what that was. [7:34] At different times. Even as they ministered unto him. To hear precious words. From his mouth. Friend. They knew what it was. [7:45] Literally. To be at his feet. At Calvary. And oh what precious words. They heard from his mouth. Even there. [7:56] They heard with their ears. Of those. Sayings. From the cross. So great was their love. [8:08] Toward him. That they followed. Even as his sacred body. Was taken down. From that cross. And wrapped. In linen. [8:19] And laid. In that sepulcher. Where before. Never had man laid. You know. [8:30] These dear women. Are amongst those. Of whom the word speaks. In the revelation. That. These are they. Who followed the land. [8:42] Whithersoever. He went. Brought out of tribulation. Here they knew something. Of tribulation. In the setting of our hands. [8:53] They were brought out. They were true. Followers of the land. Will that be said of you. Will that be said of you. [9:06] When time shall be no. Followers of the land. Whithersoever. Be going. It was. [9:18] The words of Jesus. That fed their soul. It was. The word of Jesus. That. Encouraged them. [9:28] Gave them hope. It was. These. Precious truths. That was. Their support. In times of trial. [9:39] And yet. We find them. Unmindful. Friend. Can we cast a stone. Upon them. Has not God's word. [9:50] Been sweet. And precious. To our soul. For they're not. Been favoured. Seasons with us. In life's journey. And yet. We come into paths. [10:01] Into places. Where we are. So unmindful. You may be ready to say. Well. Of some. An important. Seenest things. Surely. They could not. [10:12] Be unmindful. Of that. Which the Lord. Has spoken. Friends. Is that an exception. To you. Remember. [10:24] One dear man. Years ago. Who had a path. Revealed unto him. Very vividly. In a dream. [10:39] And. As time. Passed on. So that dream. Began to be unfolding. Even to the very. Detail of things. That were shown. [10:49] In that dream. The path. Itself. Was such. That drove. The dear man. With. Many an errand. To the throne. Of grace. But his eyes. [11:00] Were blinded. To that dream. And he couldn't. See the fulfillment. Of it. And yet. Another. Speaking to him. Saying unto him. In a brotherly. [11:10] Spirit. And with much love. Now surely. This. Is the unfolding. Of that dream. And those. Two dear brethren. Wept. And rejoiced together. See. [11:20] Eyes were holden. The path. Came to pass. The detail. In the dream. All came to pass. [11:31] But the eyes. Were holden. For a time. And it could not be seen. Then. What with these. Dear women. And we observe. How the. [11:41] Angel. Said unto him. Remember. How he spake. Unto you. When he was yet. In Galilee. How that should be. That the angel. Should know. [11:52] The word. That the Lord. Spoke to. Individuals. I leave. I said this morning. We are not prepared. To argue. Upon such. We must. And would. Receive it. [12:03] As it is. Recorded in the word. Of God. And friend. This would be. For our real good. If we could live. Closer. [12:13] To the word. Of God. And receive. The word. Of God. And the precious. Truths. Of their written. We lose. Much. When we begin. To reason. Begin. [12:23] To work out. I know. My hearers. It is. The spirit. Of the day. In which we are living. That. For all. That is done. There must be. [12:34] A reason. There must be. An explanation. For so far. That. May carry along. A little. With the things. Of this time. State. And the things. [12:44] Of this world. But friend. You will never. Reason the things. Of God. Faith. Is that. Which is required. Faith. [12:55] Is God's own. Gift. Unto his own. Or that we might. Know that. Precious faith. More in exercise. I believe. [13:08] God said. Paul. That it shall be. Even. As it was told. Me. Though outwardly. Evidences. Seem to point. [13:20] The other way. They were encountering. A great storm. The little ship. Was being broken up. Paul could say. [13:30] In the face of war. I believe. God. That it shall be. Even. Even as it was told. Me. Are you in such a path. [13:41] Where. Using the figure. The weakness. Can trail. Everything. Seems to be opposite. To. What you would deem. [13:52] Would be the right way. Faith. Mighty faith. The promise. Views. It looks. To Christ. [14:02] Alone. It laughs. At impossibilities. And cries. It shall be done. I believe. God. That it shall be. [14:14] Even. As. It was told. Me. Now. Here is how. We stand. In need. Of. The Holy Spirit. [14:25] As. Our. Remembrance. To. Bring. To mind. Those. Words. That the Lord. Has spoken. Unto us. I thought. [14:37] This afternoon. In reflecting. Upon this path. And that. Which led me. To read. Before you. That 43rd. Chapter. Of Isaiah's. Prophecy. Of those. [14:48] Precious. Promises. That are contained. In that part. Of God's work. As indeed. From the 40th. Chapter. Onwards. Of that. [14:59] Precious. Prophecy. Of Isaiah. How many. Sweet. And blessed. Promises. Are contained. There. By which. God. [15:09] Comforts. His church. His one church. Friend. You know. Something. Of those. Precious. Promises. Being. Being. Spoken. And applied. [15:20] Even. Even. To your song. You may know. What that is. To come. Where dear. Job. Did. In the depth. Of his trouble. [15:31] And how. He cried out. In the depth. Of that trouble. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. That I were. As in months. Past. As in the days. [15:42] When God. Preserved me. When his candle. Shined upon. My head. And when. By his light. I walked. Through darkness. [15:53] As I was. In the days. Of my youth. When the secret. Of God. Was upon. My tabernacle. Oh. My hearer. Do you look back. [16:04] Now. Even to the days. Of your spiritual. You. To the season. Of blessing. When you knew. What that was. [16:14] To walk. In the light. Of his countenance. But now. Like these. Dear women. You know. Something. Of being. In a trying. Path. You see. [16:26] Not your signs. You do not. Remember his words. We would not. Put any limit. [16:36] To the way. Or means. That the Lord. May be pleased. To you. To bring you. To a remembrance. Of those words. Here he used. The angel. He may. [16:49] Bring. Even in a direct way. A remembrance. To you. Of those words. He may use. One of his servants. To speak. [16:59] A word. That shall. Lead your mind. Back. To a former. Sweet. And blessed season. To your soul. It may be. In the reading. Of his own word. [17:11] It may be. In the reading. Of some other. Book. Good book. It may be. A gracious experience. Of another saint. And it recalls. It recalls. To your mind. [17:22] A word. That God has spoken. Remember this. Hearer. That word. Which the Lord. Has given you. That precious promise. [17:33] That he has. Applied. With power. To your soul. Shall never be removed. You may not always. Walk. In the sweet. [17:44] Enjoyment. Of the blessedness. Of it. But the word. Itself. Will lay. Now look at some. [17:54] Of the precious promises. That he says there. Fear not. For I have redeemed thee. I have called thee. By thy name. [18:05] Thou art mine. Friend. He'll never go back on that. He'll not proclaim. His love. [18:16] To a soul. Today. And cast. That soul away. Tomorrow. Did not give you. Such marked. [18:27] Displays. Of his love. And favor. Toward. Your soul. And then. Reject. That soul. At last. Now. [18:39] I have redeemed thee. Friend. There is. But one. Price. Of redemption. And that is. The price. Precious. [18:50] Blood of Christ. I love that expression. As Peter uses it. The precious. [19:01] Blood of Christ. A friend. A soul. Could never be redeemed. With that. Precious. Blood of Christ. And then be lost. [19:13] And then be lost at last. You may call much into question. You may at times. You may at times come. [19:24] Where the dear poet was. Who said. And I believe that to be. From time to time. The language. Of the Lord's dear people. Tis a point. I long to know. [19:35] After it causes anxious. To all. Do I love the Lord or not? Am I his? Or am I not? [19:47] I know some have expressed. A question. That. A child of God. Can never get into that. Well my hearer. What does your soul react to that? [19:58] Do you know what this is? To grieve over. Felt hardness. [20:10] Felt barrenness. When you call everything into question. See friend. You're not remembering his word. But oh when this word is brought to your remembrance. [20:25] I have redeemed thee. Then my hearer. You'll be able to stand. And speak yet again. To that great. Enemy of the soul. [20:37] He's been a liar from the beginning. He it is who would tempt you. To give up. He it is who would tempt you. [20:49] To despair. Be not surprised at it my hearer. For remember how he tempted. Even our Lord and master himself. [21:01] He throws that word. At our Jesus. If they'll be the son of God. He would call into question. [21:14] His eternal sunshine. The precious truth. That in. That he suffered. [21:26] Being tempted. He is able to succor them. That are tempted. From where do you look. In the hour of temptation. Does it drive you. [21:38] Lead you. Bring you. To the throne. Of God's heavenly grace. For the Lord. For the Lord. For the Lord. For the Lord. [21:49] For the Lord. For the Lord. For the Lord. For the Lord. For the Lord. For the Lord. Friend. Do you know what that is? To plead. His own promise. With him. Lord. Thou hast said. I have redeemed thee. [22:09] Consider. With these dear handmaids. What they knew. Of the price. Of redemption. They remembered his words. [22:22] Remember that word. Which he spake. With his dying breath. It. [22:35] Is. Finished. Friend. That word. Will never be sealed whole. [22:46] With power to your soul. In vain. As the Lord. Spoken it to you. Caused your ear. [22:57] To hear it. Opened your deaf ear. To hear it. It. Is. Finished. The word. Of redemption. Complete. [23:08] As the Lord. Of life. And glory. Thou. His head. Died. And that life. [23:19] Which man. Could not take away. How willing. Was Jesus. To give. They remembered. His word. [23:29] What was his word? I lay down. My life. For the sheep. This was his word. My hearer. [23:43] To remember this word. To have this word. Brought to your remembrance. Will be a strength. And a support. What do you. Though cast down. To know that Jesus. [24:00] Suffered. In your pain. I lay down. My life. For the sheep. We are around. What is he? These dear handmaids. [24:12] Stood. By the cross. Of Jesus. Jesus. They witnessed the price of redemption as those soldiers pierced his side and forthwith where there flowed blood and water. Blood to atone, water to cleanse. [24:48] The friends say that the blessed fountain opened for all sin and uncleanness. [25:00] They remembered his words. Friend, do you know your sin put away? [25:14] Your transgressions removed that which Isaiah brings before us throughout that prophecy concerning the removing of the transgressions of his people. [25:31] I, even I, am he that blocketh out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sin. [25:45] They remembered his words. It has been a blessed season to some of you. Now in my search to find my sin. [25:57] My sin can never be found. You may have a remembrance of it, my dear. I believe the people of God will throughout their pilgrim's journey. [26:09] Pilgrim his journey. You'll remember them, but you'll not find them. They'll be put away. They're cast behind his back. [26:23] They're drowned in the sea of his love. They'll be remembered against you no more. They'll remember his words. I have redeemed thee. [26:37] Further, I have called thee by thy name. I have called thee by thy name. [26:48] This, my dear, is a mark of the Lord's sheep. For he knows his sheep by name. A sweet figure, and will not tarry at length upon it this evening, to consider the figure of the shepherd with the sheep. [27:12] His loving care, his watchful care, his supplying every need. But he knows them by their name. [27:23] And I have called thee. Has that thee been applied with power to your soul? I have called thee by thy name. [27:44] Ponder over in your mind, search the scriptures and see those places. Where we have reference to the names of the family of Zion. [28:00] I have called thee by thy name. He knows their name. Their name is graven on the palms of his hand. [28:11] Furthermore, their name is in the Lamb's Book of Life. The name is graven on the palms of the earth. The name is graven on the palms of the earth. He says, I have called thee by thy name. [28:23] And they remembered his words. They remembered his words. Thou art mine. All my hearer, what a word is this. [28:36] Thou art mine. My name is graven. Thou art mine. In the right sense of it, it matters not where you are, what you are. [28:49] What the circumstance, what the path, thou art mine. And this is over all. But his own dear sheep whom he declares are his. [29:04] Thou art mine. You are mine. You are his in time. His for eternity. [29:16] Look at their place of safety. Said the Lord Jesus when here upon earth, none shall pluck them out of mine. [29:31] Given into his tongue by his Father. And remember that I and my Father are one. [29:49] Look my hearer, what man would seek to do. For the power of man, the power of the best of man is limited. [30:01] Here is the precious promise. Thou art mine. And they remembered his word. [30:14] They shall be mine in that day when I make up my joy. You got that precious promise. Friend, is that not a strength to support too? [30:28] In the intervening days, the days of darkness. The days of darkness shall be many. The time of trial. The time of temptation. [30:39] Friend, this word is over all. Thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee. [30:52] Remember this word. The precious promise is recorded in the word of God. Even for Zion. [31:03] For his one church. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee. Friend, don't expect the way to be without water. [31:16] Don't expect the way to be without troubles. Without difficulties. Don't expect the way round the waters. Don't expect the way round the waters. [31:27] Don't expect to live over the waters. But when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee. [31:38] You look again and again at evidences of this truth in the word of God. And you see the depth that some of those dear saints had to pass through. [31:50] You admire and you covet at times the precious promise that the Lord fulfilled for them. Do you covet their path? [32:03] But friend, look back in your own path. When were you so greatly and signally blessed? [32:16] Was it not when you knew what that was to do business in deep waters? Was it not then that the Lord kept your soul alive in famine? [32:32] It wasn't in the time of plenty. It wasn't my hero when the way was all easy and comfortable and smooth. It's when you had to do business in deep waters. [32:44] When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee. Our friend, we know what this is at times. When we have to do business in deep waters, to be unmindful of the promise. [32:57] We don't remember his word. We forget his word. We forget the promise. And here we are looking to men, seeking to lean on an arm of flesh, looking for our deliverance from this which we would deem to be an expected source, an expected supply. [33:23] No friend, it's thy whole dependence on me fits. Nor entertain a thought, thy worthless schemes, with mine to mix, but venture to be not. [33:38] When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee. And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. [33:53] Our friend, when we speak of the waters, we think of still waters. Nevertheless, there are the deep. But now it's the flowing river, when everything seems against you. [34:04] It may be like the natural river. You fear that you will be carried away in the current of things. But he said, when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee. [34:18] And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. You see, the same truth is written over it again. Thou art mine. [34:29] Thou art mine. When thou passest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned. [34:40] Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Or remember his word. Once in him, in him forever, Thou's eternal covenant run. [34:57] And he does. He is faithful to his word. He is faithful to his promise. [35:08] I know there are those in the little company tonight who can bear witness to this. But God is faithful. Ah, you'll have to bear witness to this too. [35:21] It may be with shame that you will do so. You will say, I am unfaithful. And we are unfaithful. But God is faithful. [35:33] Not dealt with us after our sins. He has not rewarded us according to our iniquity. And though, friends, we pass through trying darks and pires. [35:49] Yet he is pleased to fulfill again his own word. I will see you again. I will see you again. [36:00] I will see you again. Ah, you may know what that is to mourn over the felt loss, as one says of the golden hour. [36:11] Once I beheld his lovely face. As full of truth, as full of grace. Ten thousand, thousand suns were dim in lustre when compared with him. [36:28] Did you know something of his voice? Speaking to your soul. The word he spake was sweet to me. T'was, sinner, I have loved thee. [36:41] But now, those golden hours are gone. You know something of the midnight. Something of the darkness. [36:52] But, friend, this word is still over them. Thou art mine. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee. [37:05] Therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life, since thou wast precious in my sight. [37:16] Friend, that's something that reason will never happen. How such a poor, vile, wretched sinner, as you are brought to fear yourself to be, can be precious in the sight of a dear Redeemer. [37:34] There is one word that will give you the answer, friend. Grace. That's the answer. What do you know then of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? [37:52] Of his love to your soul? Since there was precious in my sight. [38:03] Have you forgotten that word? Have you forgotten that word? The Lord may bring you into some deed, lead you, permit you to be brought into some part. [38:18] That you shall be brought to remember this word. Since thou wast precious in my sight. Friend, you ever stand amazed at the grace of God to your soul? [38:41] That he saw fit to pluck you as a brand from the burning. [38:54] To deliver you from your just desires. I quote those lines this morning, I believe we did. Preserved in Jesus when our feet made haste to hell. [39:09] I pray with what haste some of us do. Some of us do grunt. Ah, you may look on outward appearances, but God sees the heart. [39:22] And that soul in whom the work of grace is begun. He is brought to know something of the plague of his own heart and the sinfulness of his own heart. I believe each one will know in some measure the experience of that prodigal of all. [39:40] When he said, I am not worthy. I am not worthy. Friend, you see those in the word of God who were brought into that place. [39:56] To hell the Lord blessed them. That's Anteorin, he said to the Lord, he said, I am not worthy. That thou shalt come under my room. [40:07] But speak the word only and my servant shall be healed. What says the Lord? I have not found so great faith. No, not in Israel. [40:19] A soul brought to feel his unworthiness. Friend, have you been brought to feel that? I don't say brought to merely repeated, to utter it with the lip. [40:32] I say you have been brought to feel it. Now you find one in the word of God who was brought truly to feel his unworthiness. And then the Lord cast that one away. [40:45] Now. Because the soul that he has brought to feel his unworthiness. This is the Lord's work begun in him. And that work begun is carried on. [40:58] Nor hell can it deface. It can't. I hear that is an impossibility for the Lord to begin a work of grace in the soul. [41:12] And that work never to be completed. Grace will complete what grace begins. To save from sorrow and from sin. [41:27] The work of mercy undertakes. Eternal wisdom ne'er foresees. And they remembered his word. [41:38] For time has gone my hearer. We've got a subject here. That leads to many a subject. To remember the words. The Lord has spoken. [41:49] It may bring you even to this prayer. In your heart. As was found in the heart of the sweet psalmist of old. Remember. The word unto thy servant. [42:01] The word upon which thou hast caused me to hope. Well my dear if you've had a word. Upon which the Lord has caused you to hope. Does that word lie for God? [42:15] Does that word become clouded over? Does that word get called into question? Oh I say we need him to come yet again. [42:27] And to cause us to remember that word. The Lord be pleased to do so. In the hearts of one and another. That are even with us here this evening. [42:39] Amen.