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[0:00] The Lord should be pleased with the name of me.

[0:10] I would again direct you to the book of Proverbs, chapter 30, and verses 8 and 9.

[0:20] The book of Proverbs, chapter 30, verses 8 and 9.

[0:35] Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord?

[0:59] For lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my God in thine. This afternoon we try to speak a little from remove far from me vanity and lies.

[1:20] And bringing before you, dear friends, the exercise of a child of God who desires to have a real religion and desires to be separated from the love of time things and the pleasures of this world.

[1:41] And we tried a little to speak from feed me with food convenient for me. And we would this evening continue with a few thoughts upon that.

[2:00] Feed me with food convenient for me. And we observe that this convenient means that which is profitable and that which is in accordance with the will of God.

[2:17] We spoke concerning those that are in exercise, concerning a word of direction, a word of encouragement, a word of teaching from the Lord himself.

[2:39] And that this is thought not only in the secret of the throne of heavenly grace, in his word, but also in the house of God.

[2:52] Now, dear friends, may I begin this evening by saying, Do we know what these exercises are before God? Is it our desire to be fed?

[3:09] We know what it is to feed old nature, don't we? And the Lord's people know that, and that's vanity. The pleasures of the world.

[3:26] You know, friends, I believe in our old nature. We go from one bit of excitement to the other. Amen. But when the Spirit of God is at work in the heart, dear friends, it is this desire to be fed from God's hand.

[3:57] And there will be that hungry and thirsty before God that he'll come and speak. Men shall not live by dread of art, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, shall men live.

[4:19] And of course, I will want this. I will earnestly desire this. Not all the time. But there will be those times and seasons that there will be this earnest desire that God will speak.

[4:37] Now, dear friends, these times, I believe, will be in trial and in affliction. Because God has promised to feed his people with a bread of adversity and the water of a fish.

[4:53] Let us just consider for a moment.

[5:08] A poor soul that has been there to go back into the world. May not be outwardly. But in their sight.

[5:20] In their sight. In their feelings. You see, you may seem to be very upright.

[5:31] And everything is well with you. People don't see you hard, do they? But outwardly, you may be the same as ever you'll be.

[5:48] But inwardly, what is there? A deadness. And a coldness. Worldly mindedness. And every evil that you will think of.

[6:01] In your heart. In your heart. Feeling. Now, dear son, he'll let you go on like that.

[6:16] You see, the prodigal son is an example of that. He'll let you go on. In that coldness of day. He'll let you go on.

[6:27] Until the time comes when he'll sicken you up. You go on in ease and comfort.

[6:39] Everything is well. And you know there's nothing like ease and comfort to bring us into deadness and calmness. You've got the bank balance about right, you know.

[6:53] Health and strength. Everything's all right in the business. Everything all right in the family. No trouble in the church. All your ministers engaged. And the devil has a place.

[7:11] He'll love you to sleep. In that security. You don't believe in that. So what prayer now becomes merely a duty.

[7:26] A round of words. Reading of the word. Anything will do. No exercise in there. You come to the house of God and go through the service.

[7:37] And you're in a state of deadness and calmness. But. Blessed be God. He'll put his hand to the work again.

[7:48] As he did with the prodigal son. When he came to himself. You'll come to yourself like this. You'll say I can't go on like this. I can't go on in this dead style.

[8:03] This is not the way of thy dear exercise. And you bring you to feel dear friends. That you've gone out. You've gone out. You've gone out. You've gone out.

[8:13] You've gone out. You've gone out into my cold air. Now this is feeding you. With the bread of adversity.

[8:30] But now what does the wise man say here? Feed me with food convenient for me. Now you'll be made willing before God.

[8:42] And your petition will be something like this. Lord bring me back. And whatever it costs me. Deal with me.

[8:54] That's how you'll go. And this is asking for food convenient for you. That which will do you good. That which will be profitable.

[9:07] And that which will be for the honour and glory of his name. Now dear friends. How many of you here tonight. Know this part of my. Lord whatever it costs me.

[9:23] Bring me back. Deal with me. Some of you youngsters.

[9:36] I want to be home. But you know at home I had a. A father that. Saw everything in black and white. And if I stepped out of line. And if I stepped out of line.

[9:51] I very soon knew about it. And often times we had a couple of days of silence. So that there was no doubt in my mind.

[10:04] That I had done so many more. But that's how he used to deal with me. I wouldn't criticize him for it at all.

[10:15] But that's how he dealt with me. But in all those times of silence. I used to think to myself.

[10:26] Oh that he would say something. Oh that he would deal with me. And friends that's how you'll come. Even if it's in correction dear friend.

[10:40] You'll want correction. Say why. Because you want to know. And to feel. That you're one of his. That you're his child. Feed me with food.

[10:56] Convenient fullness. Lord if it's correction. If it's my rod. Lay it on. In love and in mercy. But do deal with me.

[11:09] Don't leave me to be a cast away. Don't leave me to be an alien. But deal with me as a child. Feed me. With food convenience.

[11:21] Do you know what it looks like? This is the blessed. Request here. Feed me with food convenience.

[11:36] That which will be to my profit. And in these exercises too dear friends. You're saying.

[11:47] The dear child of God. Is brought to please. Lord may I follow thee. Close. Not afar. Is that your desire.

[12:00] Child of God. To follow close. I can tell you.

[12:11] I can tell you that. That the dear Lord will lead you. In your magic. Into the path that he went.

[12:21] In your magic. That you may know. That you may know. That you are walking in the steps of your master.

[12:33] And I believe. I can tell you. I can tell you. That you may know. You may know. And I believe. The dear child of God will pray for this. And seek this. Lord feed me with that food.

[12:45] Which is convenient for me. That food. Which is the food. Of thy dear people. Lord make me.

[12:56] One of my own. Feed me. As thou does feed thy people. Do you know what you're praying for.

[13:06] For us now. No you don't. But God knows what you're praying for. And he'll bring you to clean the earth.

[13:19] And he'll bring with you in it. And he'll bring you to clean the earth. You'll know what it is dear friends. To desire to walk closely with him.

[13:33] Feed me with that food. Which is convenient for me. Now that may be a part of the dark place. Do you know what it is to have to stand alone.

[13:51] Do you know what it is to have all men for sake, feel free? To stand alone. Do you know what it is to be alone in your feelings?

[14:06] To be dying. To be desolate. To feel to be out of the sea. To feel to have no hope.

[14:19] That your God has forsaken you. This is what it is to walk in this path. Feed me with food.

[14:30] Convenient form. Why is it? So that you can taste a little. Of the part of your master. This is following. The Lord Jesus.

[14:48] Many years ago now. This poor sinner was. Led into this path. I turned over my Bible.

[15:03] I was lying in bed. I was lying in bed. Affliction. And I felt to have come to the end of everything. And I thought, well.

[15:16] All I can do is. Turn to the river Lake. And see what the end of the wicked is. So that I can anticipate what will happen to me.

[15:29] And I read. Tried to read from Revelation.

[15:41] There was no hope there. There's no hope for a poor sinner. That feels himself undone. In the death of the wicked.

[15:53] There's only hope for a poor sinner. That feels himself undone. In the precious life. There was no satisfaction. There was no comfort there. But oh the blackness.

[16:06] Oh the darkness that was felt. We felt sure we must fall down into the bed. We felt to be so. Forsaken and blind.

[16:19] But you know dear friend. As we then. Now beside our bed. We tried to cry. And we couldn't utter a word.

[16:33] And had to utter a word. Do you know what it is to come before God. And you can't utter a word. But oh as we knelt there.

[16:48] These words came right down from heaven into our soul. My God. My God. Why hast thou forsaken me? Friends this way.

[17:04] Food to my soul. A dear Redeemer. Had passed this way. A dear Redeemer had been in that path.

[17:17] Why? But you're in. And you dear friends. Are vain to walk in that path. A few steps in it. Why the darkness of God.

[17:30] Sweet liberty. And holy joy. Was put in its place. Feed me.

[17:41] With food convenient for me. Your feast upon Christ. Dear friends. In these paths. In these paths of darkness. When he brings you back. You see.

[17:53] This is the bread of adversity. The water of affliction. But oh what a feeling. And it's a close walking. Dear friends.

[18:03] With your Lord and Son. You entered a little. Into the sufferings. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then.

[18:19] Feed me with food convenient. For me. Have you had that desire dear friends.

[18:34] To feel. To feel. Right. And properly. The weight of your spirit. Does it trouble you? Is it a burden to you?

[18:46] That you do not feel your burden now? You feel that you wink at him. Do you know what I mean? Fain me with food convenient for me.

[19:07] And this is what you pray for. Lord. Make me unborn. Like the wise. Don't lay me. Don't lay me. Don't lay me. Don't lay me. Don't lay me.

[19:20] Don't lay me. Don't lay me. To sweep it under the carpet. You see the devil will encourage you to do that. Why are you not as bad as these other people?

[19:32] You go to chapel. You live an upright life. You're moral. What do you have to worry about? If you were like the people down the road.

[19:42] You'd have something to worry about. Ah. You know what's in your heart. Don't you? You know what's in your heart. And you know perfectly well.

[19:56] You've got Peter. You've got David. You've got Manasseh. You've got Saul of Tarsus in your heart. All the blood of them put together. But oh to feel it.

[20:11] Oh to mourn over it. Oh to be brought to confession on account of it. Oh to be brought to repentance on account of it. Oh to receive pardon and forgiveness for every sin.

[20:24] Is that your petition dear man? You might say.

[20:36] Some of you might say to him right well. Yes I. Paul said he was the very chief of sin. I can't say that right. You will be able to.

[20:48] If God is dealing with you. There will come a time for us now. And God will so deal with you. That you'll argue with Paul.

[21:00] You'll say no Paul. It's me. Lord give me to free. My sin. Give me to mourn.

[21:12] Give me repentance. And let me walk closely with you. And to feel. The cleansing efficacy.

[21:25] That fountain open for sin and all that means. Put me in. With I don't care. That will make me now. This is praying dear friends.

[21:35] For food. Convenient. Oh yeah.

[21:49] Because. It is a feeling of love. And a lighting in. The body and shed light. Of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[22:01] And every vessel of mercy will be brought in. Dear friends. Just pray for my. The dying fear. What a short work that was upon the air.

[22:14] But the work of divine and heavenly grace. Was complete in that dear man's mind. When he was taken away. Remember me.

[22:25] When thou comest into my kingdom. And isn't this in your heart. Is it in mine. Feed me. With food convenient for me.

[22:36] That would do me good. That be to the place of my name. Feed me with food convenient for me.

[22:52] And then dear friends. I believe there's. There's desire in the heart. That you might walk humbly. Humbly.

[23:09] Do you feel the workings of pride. In your heart. Oh I don't know it. You would be something wouldn't you.

[23:26] You'd have such an experience wouldn't you. That you. Would be ten feet high. I believe it was Mr. Newton. Wasn't it. That talked about a ten foot high.

[23:38] Experience. That's enough you know. But the Lord is gracious. Yes. He'll only give you dear friends.

[23:51] What you need. Why's that? Because it's good for you. It's convenient for you. And dear friends.

[24:02] When the Lord makes you honest. You won't compare your experience with somebody else. And say I want their experience. Because that's all you want. You don't want their trial.

[24:14] You don't want their afflictions. You don't want their burdens. Because you want their experience. And that will issue in pride. I once said to a dear minister.

[24:27] I wish I'd got an experience like John Warburton. And he said do you? He said do you want his trouble? I don't want your service. I don't want your service.

[24:40] The Lord knows how to keep his people humble. And don't go away comparing your experience with another. Seek Christ.

[24:52] That he will give you food convenient for you. You might think you need this out of the oven. You ask God to give you that which is convenient for you.

[25:06] You see friends. It's in his. Holy mind and will.

[25:17] To keep his people waiting. You see. You see some. Do not receive the pardon of sin. Until it's very light.

[25:29] And they will receive it. They will now. Have their interest conferred. In the redeemer's plan. Yes they will before they go hence.

[25:40] You see no more. But dear friends. Look at it. If I can just give a personal example. I believe I knew what it was.

[25:53] To have the pardon of sin. Many many years ago now. To receive my interest in the redeemer's plan.

[26:07] And a safe conduct into heaven. As a very young boy. But you see there's a balancing. A balancing of the clouds.

[26:22] A just weight and a balance of the laws. But oh since then dear friend. Oh the places I've been permitted to go into. And my plea is to die.

[26:36] And if spared it'll be to die. It was yesterday. Lord am I one of my children. Lord is it well.

[26:47] You see you can't rest on that. And you poor soul may be laboring under this. You've been 38 years.

[26:59] Seeking the Lord for pardon and forgiveness. Now you're delayed. Why's that? To hide pride from you. And that's food convenient for you.

[27:09] You need that forgiveness. You want it. You desire it. You earnestly plead for it. But the Lord will hold it. And that'll be food convenient for you. Why?

[27:21] It keeps you. It keeps you alive. That the throne of Christ. God. Ah dear friends.

[27:33] When you feel. Persuaded. That the Lord has pardoned your sin. And then you have to wade in sin. And through sin. And have the evils of your wicked heart opened up to you.

[27:47] You know it begins to destroy everything you've ever had. you won't destroy it finally if it's a God but you can't rest on experience however gracious however merciful the Lord has been to you you'll want it renewed with life and power and this is what he'll do you'll keep tenderly waiting upon it the devil will be permitted to come in and say was that real is that real you may have had something in your young days and you feel quite sure because you could never have given it to yourself you feel it must have been for God well there will be five dear friends if it wasn't God then the devil will come in here say to you ah but you were young you were impressionable in those days you absorbed it you'll have to say this to the devil well then if it was give it to me again and by grace you say you're unable to resist the devil and he'll be gone you know he can't give it to you if God was the author of that that this is some of the food which is convenient for you and that you're plead for

[29:33] Lord don't let me be deceived don't let me be deceived in any of it and that's why the devil is permitted to come to try and tease the dear people God to bring them to the feet of Christ and plead that he'll give them food convenient for them well time is going let's must pass on now but you see we've passed over this give me neither poverty nor riches lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord or lest I be poor and steal and take the name of God in vain for now lest I be full and deny thee now dear friend I believe a child of God is made honest honest and God reveals to them shows them and teaches them what pride is what independence is do you know a little of this when you seek for a rich blessing perhaps our dear friend here tonight may know what I mean when you seek perhaps in the pulpit that the Lord would make one in the assembly that the word may go forth with divine power your friends at the desk too there's an exercise there

[31:27] Lord may the hymns that are chosen to die may be in accordance with thy will and purposes and may they be used to the good of souls and the glory of his name and then you'll hear that the word of God has been blessed the word has been made sweet and fair you'll hear this that hymn was good to me today just what I'm doing now where's the pride oh do you feel it well enough what a good man alone do you feel it but you have to pray against it don't you Lord don't let me be lifted up with air lifted up with pride lest I be full and deny thee what happens next time well there's not the exercise now is there your word was blessed last time you don't need the Lord quite so much this week you don't need the exercise at the desk now do you my hymn was blessed last week dear friend that's our nature and I believe the Lord will reveal that to us so that we have to pray against it

[32:59] Lord don't let me be independent of thy love and mercy don't let me be independent of thy teaching and thy blessed spirit lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord I don't need him anymore I can manage this very well myself what a solemn place to be in and it comes right to home when everything's going well with you you don't need the Lord do you where's prayer where's the urgency where's the bowing down that is free Lord I am oppressed undertake for oh our independent proud spirit this is denying thee who is the Lord do I touch a chord with some of you here tonight

[34:09] I know it's rough and ready friends but that's how I've been dealt with and that's how I've been taught and that's how I'm as blessed or lest I be poor and still oh friends you'll be made honest again in this your religion and my religion consist if it is of the Holy Ghost entirely and alone with what God has given us neither more nor blessed be his holy name or less now it'll make you honest dear friends if God is dealing with you that you may not take the word of God and steal it and apply it to your case without good authority and that is the sealing power of the Holy Ghost you may hear a word on Lord's Day and it may suit your case absolutely you go home you say that was a good word did me good where is it on Wednesday dear friend if the word of God is applied to your side

[35:40] I can tell you what it'll do it'll send you how and you'll fall down before God and you'll be the worst the greatest sinner and you'll confess your sin before that's where the blessing of God will live on your knees in humble confession and it'll be with thanksgiving and it'll be with holy joy that's where the blessing of God will bring you and then dear friends it'll go into the furnace it'll be twice and you'll bring it out again and it'll bring it forth as God and what's more dear friends it'll be your currency with heaven you'll do some training remember the word upon which thou hast caused thy servant to hide yes you'll have to bring it to him

[36:59] Lord thou did sigh thou did sigh thou did sigh lest I be poor and still that it make you honest you won't take anything to yourself which God has not sealed home with the right man yes you'll hear the word with a certain amount of sweetness but is it yours has it been sealed home these things dear friend you'll want the fleece wet and the fleece dry that's when God has blessed you but oh you can't take it can you take the promise I used to have a lady in her office she was of a different persuasion but she said the promises are in God's word to take all you've got to do is take them and believe them can the child of God do that well that's stealing they look at the promises of God they see the blessedness of the promises of God but oh what do they want

[38:12]  Lord feed them feed them make them hope to me may they be mine may they be applied with divine powers I need Lord I can't take them don't give them to me give them to me lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my God in vain that is this the Lord gave me that did he when the Holy Ghost seals a pole dear friend you're no day to death and it won't be long before the adversary comes to life and tries to take it away the word of the Lord is tried I shall come forth as God amen amen