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[0:00] I will direct your attention to the Psalm 27 and at verse 4. Psalm 27 verse 4.

[0:15] One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

[0:37] Psalm 27 verse 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

[0:59] His desire, which was found in David's heart, was put there surely by the Lord himself.

[1:14] Because by nature no man has a desire like this. By nature men have a craving after the things of this life, after time things.

[1:30] And their desire is this, how can I possess more of the world? How can I enjoy more of the world?

[1:41] And they're seeking after those things that are perishing, those things that one day will be no more forever.

[1:53] But our David realised his great need. David knew this, that if ever his poor soul be saved, tis Christ must be the way.

[2:07] One thing have I desired, is that your desire? Can you say with David, here is a companion, a companion that I can walk with.

[2:19] One desire which is spiritual. That desire which is after those things that are found in the fountainhead.

[2:35] In Christ. What a mercy if you and I are found looking away from the world.

[2:46] Looking away from these things that surround us. Looking above these inferior things. To have a desire to have a desire to be raised above the inferior things of time.

[3:01] And to be drawn by the sweet exercise of faith in one's heart into those pure realms where Christ is.

[3:13] We know of course that the Lord Jesus Christ had not come into this world in David's time.

[3:27] For in the time of the old testament saints. But they looked forward, didn't they? They had the promise. They looked forward to that time when the Lord Jesus would come.

[3:42] Why the Lord Jesus said in his day, Abraham had seen, he saw my day. He saw it. And that far off period of time when Abraham lived.

[3:56] He saw my day. And he rejoiced and was glad in it. And so did David. Now sweetly David speaks, doesn't he, of his Lord.

[4:15] Ah, the Lord, the Lord is my light. Mine. Oh, what a great claim for a man to make. The Lord is mine. My light.

[4:25] My salvation. My shepherd. My all. I say, what a claim. What a great claim for one to make.

[4:40] My beloved is mine and I am his. Said the church in the Song of Solomon. My beloved is mine and I am his. Ah, would you say, that's rising a bit high, isn't it?

[4:55] I do not feel I can rise as high as that. But is there a desire, friend, in your heart? Is there a desire to be able to say this? My beloved is mine and I am his.

[5:08] A desire to say, the Lord is my shepherd because I have no one else. And dear Asaph said, whom have I in heaven but thee? And there's none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

[5:21] None. None. In nature. Because he knew, as David knew, and the people of God know this, that what they need is not to be found in nature's barren wilderness.

[5:41] Because grace has made an aching void which the world can never fill. isn't that the secret that grace has made an aching void which the world cannot fill and you know it and the Holy Spirit has taught you this that there is an emptiness there is a barrenness in this world and what do we read of those the saints of God in the 107th Psalm hungry and thirsty their soul fainted in them they wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way wandered about in the wilderness in this world which is a wilderness to the living soul they wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way hungry and thirsty their soul fainted in them then what my friends then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble and he brought them out and delivered them from their distresses there were different experiences there in that 107th Psalm they were the people of God the Psalm speaks of them because if you read the second verse it says this doesn't it let the redeemed of the Lord say so whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy the redeemed the Lord's people his own and he begins with them he empties them out doesn't he empties them out of the world and all that is in it because they say this there is nothing here nothing to satisfy the longing soul what if they could possess the whole world what would it profit a man what will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul

[7:54] David and the living soul knows this that there is something beyond this life something beyond this lower region and that soul knows too that he has a partner of this human body which one day will be separated from this body this clay tabernacle oh I say what a mercy what a great mercy if you and I can walk with David and say one thing have I desired of the Lord and one desire of the Lord a desire a gracious desire a living desire longing desire of the Lord to know him whom to know his life eternal to know him not just to have a a head knowledge but to have that witness within the Holy Spirit to give to a poor soul that living experimental knowledge of the Lord and Saviour

[9:31] Jesus Christ to know him we read do we not of Peter and John in the early days of the church the people marveled didn't they they marveled at the words that they spoke at the ministry nothing particularly outstanding about it but you know the spirit was there the Lord was with them the people marveled why because they could see this that those a man had been with Jesus been with Jesus and if you and I have been with him my friends it will show will it not in our countenance it will show in our life in our walk and in our conduct in our conversation in our very life the fruit of the spirit

[10:37] I believe I mentioned last sabbath evening the fruit of the spirit love joy peace long suffering gentleness meekness goodness temperance faith against which there is no Lord oh you say oh to have more oh to have more of Christ oh that I might bring forth more of that fruit if I bring anything forth at all the fruit of the spirit and the Lord you know the Lord Jesus looked for this he has a measure doesn't he a gauge by which his people are measured and it is this by their fruits you shall know that here's a fruit he's a fruit of the spirit the gracious desire like David had one thing have I desired this one desire it all meets in the fountain head in the

[11:44] Lord himself one thing have I desired of the Lord I say this is the work of the spirit and it is that which follows surely the spirit's work in the new birth I want an experience the new birth old things passed away all things become new when one is sanctified by the spirit the Lord Jesus prayed for this in the as we have it recorded in the 17th chapter of John's gospel sanctify them through thy truth thy word is true to be sanctified what does it mean to be sanctified separation separation separation separation grand distinguishing mark of vital godliness to be separated from the world

[12:59] I know we live we have to we live here we're here below and we come into contact with the world but this is not our home is it the world is not our rest here we have no continuing city I do hope we look away from the world and the things of it I do hope we look up to that one who gives of his fullness and gives to his dear people those precious gifts those good and perfect gifts which flow down from himself every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down from the father of lights with whom is no variable nothing neither shadow of turning one thing have I desired of the

[14:01] Lord that will I seek after said David that will I seek after if there is that seeking in your heart seeking after the Lord after God after godliness after those gracious things it is because the Lord has sought you out because the Lord has begun his work of grace within your heart because as I said this is not the language of the world it is not the language of those who seek after the things of the world only but it is the language of the living soul one thing if I desired of the Lord that will I seek after there is a seeking after these things when thou said said the psalmist when thou said seek in my face my heart said unto thee thy face will

[15:11] I seek a seeking you know the Lord Jesus gave a sweet promise and it is this ask and you shall receive seek and you shall find knock and it shall be open unto you and the living soul will be a seeker all through his life he will seek every day of his life will he not he will seek his Lord why because in his heart there dwells that sin sin the old nature the old man and we carry that sinful heart about with us some seem to think this that when we have sought the

[16:20] Lord and we found him that is it it's a blessed thing you know if the Lord seeks you out and calls you by divine grace to his footstall I think of Zacchaeus you know Zacchaeus who climbed up into that tree to see the Lord who was passing that way the Lord knew all about him the Lord knew Zacchaeus the Lord knew where he was and the Lord knew he was hiding in that sycamore tree to get a view and as the Lord passed he called to him Zacchaeus make haste and come down for today I must abide at thy house salvation come to that man and that is how the

[17:25] Lord works doesn't it the Lord seeks the poor sinner out and brings that sinner to his footstall putting into the heart of that sinner a desire that one desire that David had oh what a desire one thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after to be found a seeker I love them that love me we read and those that seek me early shall find me seek the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near that I may dwell in the house of the Lord that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life be found dwelling there in the house of God

[18:27] David loved the house of God you know how amiable are thy tabernacles O Lord of hosts how amiable are thy tabernacles and you know he said that when he was banished banished away into the wilderness oh David had his enemies David had much opposition David knew what it was didn't he to be pursued and how he longed he gives expression doesn't he of his love to the house of God I've loved the habitation of thy house the place where thine honour dwell there do love the house of God wonderful thing my friends the house of God the little place to which you may come to worship

[19:27] God I often think you know of those saints and in days past those you know that were taught by the Holy Spirit led by the Spirit and loved the truth and many of them you know they worship together read and pray together in their cottages didn't they they would make one day in one cottage and in another cottage for reading and prayer and the exposition of God's word and they were very poor you know many of them very very poor farm labourers woodmen and so on but oh the sacrifice they made to obtain a piece of land and build a little sanctuary build a house in which to worship it wasn't the material things my friends we may admire the cathedral or the grand churches perhaps we visit sometimes when we have time and admire the architecture the carvings and the stone and admire the beauty of it the house of God my friends is where

[21:01] God himself is where the Lord meets with his people I have loved the habitation of thy house the place where thine honour dwelleth where thine honour dwelleth that's it the place where God's truth is preached the place where his dear people gather together for worship where they are found in prayer together united together in prayer and in worship and in reading the word of God and pondering over the word of God and how favoured the Lord's people are to have a ministry to have a ministry the sons of God to preach the word to be interested in season and out of season feed the flock of

[22:06] God which is among you taking the oversight thereof by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind he will bless the provision of his house and satisfy the poor with bread oh what a provision the house of God is I know the Lord can meet with his people in other places and he has done and will do and perhaps you can take me to a place where the Lord has met with you and spoken into your heart and it's not been the chapel there's been another place and I can take you to a place where the Lord bless me abundantly when you know it's when the Lord opens the windows of heaven and pours out a blessing upon your poor soul that there's not room enough to receive it and you marvel don't you you marvel at the wonders of redeeming love redeeming grace and your own worthlessness one thing have I desired of the Lord that will

[23:39] I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord dwell in the house of God dwell where he is that's it to seek his face to pray to him and to worship him because God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him it's no light matter is it worshipping God it's a solemn business really it's solemn business worshipping God there's a gathering together a gathering together of poor sinners and they are all sinners all sinners who all sinned and come short of the glory of God

[24:44] David was a sinner and he knew it and there he was brought to the place of repentance and confession of how he had to open his heart to his God and cry for mercy have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions wash me thoroughly from my sin and cleanse me and wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than snow create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit

[25:46] I say it's a solemn thing to draw near to the living God it's a very blessed thing my friends if you draw near to him and you have to say with David look upon the face of thine anointed Lord as if David would say do not look upon David David's a sinner but look upon the face of thine anointed that David might be seen and accepted in him in the beloved that is in the beloved in Christ that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life all the days of my life ah is there that in your heart in my heart too you think of those you know who worshipped with us in former days and have gone away some gone back into the world some having no desire for the things of

[27:10] God whatsoever solemn thing isn't it having no hope and without God in the world but there was one wasn't there that the Lord Jesus speaks of who went off went into a far country and spent that which his father had given to him in riotous living and the day came you know when he had nothing left nothing at all only his rags his filth uncleanness so hungry so miserable so poor I will arise said he I will arise and go to my father I will say I'm no more worthy to be called thy son make me as one of thy higher servants that was faith wouldn't it working in his heart faith yes and surely where faith is unbelief will be there also unbelief saying how can you go how can you go what will you say look where you've been what you've done

[28:32] I will arise and go I will say I'm no more worthy to be called thy son make me as one of thy higher servants and that faith in his heart you know led him didn't it oh it led him along surely he'd be pondering over his past his past life and how he had spent that which his father had given to him pondering over how he would be received but you know the Lord Jesus speaks of that prodigal and if you read that account you can see the blessedness and the sweetness of the gospel there that's the gospel isn't it that's the gospel when he came his father was looking out for him and ran out to meet him and fell upon his neck and kissed him and received him and he was taken into the banquet which was prepared a banquet a feast a feast for a poor sinner a feast for one who'd gone off far far away you know in the song of

[29:55] Solomon we read where the church said this of her beloved he brought me into his banqueting house and his banner over me was love he brought me and the lord brings his people he brings them each individually one here one there one from another place they shall all know me he said from the least to the greatest all be brought all be brought along that same way all taught by that same spirit all taught those same truths here in this sacred volume what a book what a volume what truth my friends ah sweet and precious truth of me one thing have I desired of the lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life to dwell there yes and to be found there with the dear the people of god in the house of god forsaking not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is when the doors are open you'll be there you will if you are hungry you will if you want a word from the lord you will my friends if you support the ministry and your pastor pray for him pray for him because he needs your prayers brethren pray for us pray for us ah i believe this you know if you pray for the ministry pray for the minister and the ministry you'll be blessed in your own soul and i know this that when a preacher is among praying brethren he feels that support which the lord gives because prayer has preceded the service the worship the wonderful thing you know i remember in my early days going back over 30 years now i went to a chapel for the very first time over in camp and i was very fearful and i approached the door i thought well i don't know whatever am i going to do and the door opened and the gentleman that opened the door was a minister i'd never seen him before and he asked me he said are you mr bradstock and i said yes he said you come among praying people here you come among praying brethren here and the cloud you know which seemed to envelop me envelop me was lifted was gone just those few words did it and the lord you know was merciful and gracious to one in the ministry all the days of my life our david's heart was there david loved the house of god david loved the worship of god he loved the truth didn't he all the days of my life life here your life here you know not you know not the length the length of your days you know not how long you will be dwelling in this wilderness way my son has been to six funerals this year and four of those people died suddenly and they were all under seventy two of them were aged thirty one another one forty forty two and another one forty five very solemn isn't it not here forever this is not your rest here you have no continuing city and your life the word of god tells us it's like the vapour which appears and we've all seen the vapour and how quickly it vanishes away ah you say give me a place oh lord in thy blessed abode among the children of my god the dear saints of god give me a place there oh to be found with them this prayer in this ambition mine living and dying to be thine all the days of my life

[35:41] I know the world think it's strange don't they but you you would not exchange with the world would you the world may think you're strange yes Moses when he was come to years refused to be called the son of pharaoh daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of god than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and he joined himself to do those poor afflicted people god's people there's a secret my friends and the secret is this they are the excellent of the earth the excellent of the earth the salt of the earth the lord's people praying people worshipping people god honouring people christ exalting people one thing have I desired of the lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the lord the beauty that is in christ oh what beauty there is the beauty of holiness the beauty of his grace the beauty of his love the love of god as it flows forth through his beloved son greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end god commendeth his love toward us in that world where yet sinners christ died for us oh the love of christ to his people everlasting love isn't it everlasting because he goes right back right back before the world was formed the lord god did choose to himself a people and they were given into the hand of his beloved son who undertook to redeem them to bring them to bring them forth to save them truly amazing isn't it the wonders of redeeming love redeeming grace the wonders that are in christ that flow forth to his people ah to those who know themselves something of themselves and they know this and they marvel why me why me lord why was

[38:54] I made to hear thy voice and enter well this room when thousands make a wretched choice and rather starve them come why me and remember I spoke of ruth last sabbath evening ah and she was she marveled didn't she the grace of Boaz why have I found grace in thine eyes she said I'm not like thine handmaidens I'm not like thine handmaid I'm a stranger I'm a foreigner ah no more stranger no more a foreigner but a fellow citizen with a fellow citizen with a saints that I may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty the beauty that is altogether lovely the altogether lovely one the chiefest among ten thousand his mouth is most sweet said the spouse he's altogether lovely his mouth why did she say that his mouth is most sweet because of the words that he did speak to her conveying to her his thoughts

[40:24] I know the thoughts that I think toward you said he thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end my thoughts not your thoughts my ways are not your ways said he my thoughts are higher than your thoughts my ways are higher than your ways isn't it a mercy you dwell in this waste howling wilderness and you have your thoughts and do you pray Lord give me right thoughts give me right thoughts take away wrong thoughts take away evil thoughts take away those sinful things Lord take away iniquity all iniquity receive me graciously take away the love of sinning Lord Alpha and Omega and to inquire in his temple to inquire in his temple place for prayer a place for prayer what would you do without the throne of grace what would you do if you could not draw near unto the footstool of mercy you think about it you think of the world they can live can't they or they appear to live like that having no hope and without God in the world and that's true concerning them having no hope and without God in the world no throne of grace no God they can go to but you have a throne of grace and it's a great privilege isn't it a great privilege you know

[42:25] I thought yes well most prayer most of your prayer is silent isn't it most of your prayer is silent it's without words it goes forth from your heart in silence to God remember Hannah the dear dear Hannah you know she she was in great sorrow wasn't she in bitterness of sorrow and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore and she we read that her lips moved and she spake in her heart and the lips moved but her voice was not heard and she prayed didn't she she was in the house of

[43:29]  God and she prayed and wept sore bitterness of soul and prayed to the Lord and wept sore and she prayed like this didn't she asking the Lord to remember her remember me oh you know it's a wonderful thing isn't it that you and I can draw near unto the throne of grace and pray with them remember me Lord remember the dying thief how he prayed remember me and David he prayed and he said remember not the sins of my youth remember me in thy mercy and Hannah prayed and she prayed and we read later on in verse 19 and the Lord remembered her the Lord remembered her next week he he could he he he he he