Seven pillars

… Could you read a verse in the book of Proverbs, chapter 9, just one verse. Book of Proverbs, chapter 9, verse 1. Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars. Gospel by Luke, Luke's Gospel. Chapter 2. I would like to say at this point, I would like just to continue on the same line as our brother has brought before us, the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. I would like to point out to you seven pillars, and they are all around the person of Christ. First one, His Incarnation, we have had them before us this week, His Incarnation. Second one, His Baptism. Third one, His Temptation. Fourth one, His Transfiguration. The fifth one, His Death. We touched on this yesterday and today, and we are going to touch on it tonight, the death of Christ and His precious blood that was shed, His death. His Resurrection and His Ascension, those are the seven pillars. What has encouraged me to take this line up tonight was a remark that was made by Brother Thurston when he told us about the attack they are making on the blood of Christ. Fancy a preacher coming up to a platform and meeting this in front of him, don't mention the blood. You see those seven pillars, the enemy has had a go at them. First of all, the Incarnation has had a go at that. They have tried to do away with the virgin birth. They have had a go at His death, at His person first. Who is He? Question who He is. We know who He is, Brother Thurston told us who He is. He was God manifest in the flesh, wasn't He? Another seven pillars that the Apostle Paul gives us in Timothy, doesn't he? Great is the mystery of God, the mystery says. God has been manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in this world, and received up the glory. They have had a go at His person. They have had a go at His death. I read an article just before I came away, Spiritualism. Don't believe in the atoning death of Christ. You see how busy the enemy is. They are trying to take away those pillars, but they can't take them out of His book. Because God has placed them there and they are in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have had a go at His resurrection, haven't they? You see how busy the enemy is. And those pillars are trying to be undermined. But thank God they are here, aren't they? They can't take them out of this book. They can't take them away from the person of Christ. And that's the reason why I'm here tonight. For the young and for the old too, that we might be aware of the attack of the enemy in those last closing days. That's the reason why we are delighted to speak about the Lord Jesus. And all those pillars speak about Him. His incarnation. You know there were four things He became and never was before. His incarnation, He became flesh. The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us. We beheld His glory. The glory is of the only begotten with the Father, full of grace and truth. 2 Corinthians 9. Brother Frank read it last night. The one who became poor. The one who was rich. For your sake He became poor. But through His poverty we might be made rich. He became poor. Became flesh. Became poor. 2 Corinthians again it says. He became sin. Sin. He was made sin. But you know immediately the Spirit pens those words. Immediately there follows the one who knew no sin. You see how guardedly the Spirit guards the person of Christ. The one who knew no sin. Peter says He did no sin. John says in Him was no sin. And lastly. He became dead. You remember that lovely scripture. When John was on the isle of Patmos. For the testimony's sake. He heard the voice saying, John fear not. Who was speaking? It was the Lord wasn't it. I am he that liberty says. And became dead. But behold I am alive forevermore. His incarnation. I want to draw your attention to Luke's gospel. It speaks about the babe you know. The babe. The babe. I like Luke's gospel in connection with this. Because it speaks about his. His childhood. His boyhood. And his manhood. Could I draw your attention to those three thoughts. In connection with his incarnation. Chapter 2. Very briefly. Verse 12. Middle of the verse. You shall find the babe. Wrapped in swaddling clothes. Verse 16. The babe lying in the manger. The babe you see. Verse 13. In connection with Simeon. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. He took him. Verse 28. He took the babe in his arms. And he blessed God. The babe you see. The babe. Then in verse 40. It says and the child grew. He grew you see. He grew up before Jehovah. As a tender child. As a root over a dry ground. He grew you see. He grew. He grew in wisdom. He grew and was strong in the spirit. And filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was upon him. Now there's a verse I just want to read. Don't look it up. I'll read it to you. I have it marked on my bible. I've had it marked for a while. It says in Isaiah. The spirit of the Lord. Shall rest upon him. The spirit of wisdom. And understanding. Counsel and might. The spirit of knowledge. And of the fear of the Lord. See the child grew. So Simeon you see. Child grew. And it says and the grace of God. Was upon him. And this is the first time we have. Grace mentioned in the new testament. He must have the preeminence. And the grace of God. Was upon him. He brought it down didn't he. The law was given unto Moses. But grace and truth. Came by the Lord Jesus Christ. And in the same chapter. We have the first words of the Lord Jesus. Recorded to us. In Luke's gospel. Verse 49. You remember when he was a. His parents went away. And they missed him. And he says. When they sought him. Verse 49. And he said unto them. How is it that you sought me. Wist ye not. That I must be about my. Father's business. And they understood not the sayings. Which he speak unto them. And he went down with them. And came to Nazareth. And was subject unto him. But his mother kept all these things. In her heart. Of the. The obedience of the Lord Jesus. And his dependence. And his. His love and affection. For his father. Wist ye not that I must be about my. Father's business. So we have him in his childhood. And we have him in his boyhood. And we have him in his manhood. Now. We get his manhood in my next point. Before his incarnation. We go to. His baptism. Here we have his manhood. Verse 21 of chapter 3. Now when all the people were baptized. It came to pass that Jesus. Also being baptized. And praying. I want you to notice this. He was praying. He was the dependent man you see. He was praying. The heavens. Was opened. And the Holy Ghost descended upon him. In a bodily shape. Like a dove upon him. And a voice came from heaven which says. Thou art my beloved son. In whom. I am well pleased. There we have the whole Godhead. Father. The Son. And the Holy Spirit. Isn't that wonderful? Here we have his. The beloved one. You'll notice. In connection with him praying at his baptism. I was chatting with our brother. When he took this gospel up last night. And he spoke about the Lord Jesus. The attractiveness of Christ. You know it's a lovely gospel. It's the gospel by Luke. And you'll notice. That it's characterized by. Three words. And they're all linked around the Lord Jesus. And the three words is these. Prayer. He was a dependent man. I think in Luke. He prayed about 12 or 14 times. In fact. Prayers mentioned 30 times in Luke's gospel. You see. He was a dependent man. The obedient man. Prayer. Power. We're going to touch on this. Power. Yes. Prayer. I think. Power is mentioned about 18 times. And you'll notice. That praise is mentioned about 7 times. The dependent man. Is this not a lesson to us? To pray? I'm sure it is. When we move to chapter 4. We touch. Another pillar. His temptation. Now I'm not going to read it all. I just want to draw your attention to the fact. That he was led. It says in verse 1. And Jesus being filled with the Holy Ghost. Returned from Jordan. And was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. For 40 days he was tested. Well we know the testing was the flesh. The world. And Satan. And it says at the end of verse. 13 it says. And when the devil. Had ended all the temptations. He departed from him for a season. And Jesus returned to. Returned in the Spirit. In the power of the Spirit into Galilee. The Lord Jesus. Could say something. That nobody else could say. And I would like to write it over. The temptation. He says in John's gospel. The prince of this world cometh. And find nothing. In me. We can't see that. But the Lord Jesus can. The devil said. I'm not going to say. I'm not going to say. The devil found nothing in him. You see a triumph over this. In power. Wonderful it is. How the Spirit guards the person. Of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now power. It says here. Verse 14. And Jesus returned. In the power of the Spirit into Galilee. You'll notice in verse 14. Verse 32. And they were astonished at his doctrine. For his word was with power. Power you see. Prayer. And power. And notice in verse 36. Another touch in power. What a word is this they said. For with authority. And power. He commanded the unclean spirits. And they came out. There we have. The perfect manhood. Of the Lord Jesus. A man of prayer. A man of power. Power. A man of praise. You remember he said to them. I praise thee father he says. I praise thee father. Lord of heaven and earth. Because thou hast hid those things. From the wise and the prudent. Prayer. Power. And praise. Now we go to the transfiguration. Chapter 9. Here we have the other pillar. I'm not going to read it all. It's chapter 9. Verse 29. I want you to notice. There are four speakers here. The first one is the Lord Jesus. And he's speaking to the father. They went up into the mountain to pray. And as he prayed. Who was he praying to? He was praying to the father. The fashion of his countenance was altered. And his raiment was white and glistening. Now the next speaker was. Moses. And Elias. Verse 30. And behold there talked with him. Two men which were Moses. And Elias. Now what were they talking about? Well it tells you what they were talking about. Who appeared in glory. And speak of his. Decease. They speak of his death. See how important the death of Christ is. They speak of his death. Which he should accomplish. At Jerusalem. Now the next speaker was. Peter wasn't it? It says. But Peter 32. But Peter and they that were with him. Were heavy with sleep. And when they awake. They saw his glory. And the two men stood with him. And it came to pass. As they departed from him. Peter said. Here's Peter saying. Peter said unto Jesus. Master it is good for us. To be here. He was the third speaker. They speak of his decease. And they saw. His glory. Saw his glory. You know it's recorded. In the word of God. How Peter slept three times. He slept here. Inside of glory. It was only when he was awake. He saw his glory. He fell asleep. Between two soldiers. In the axe you remember. And God came in. In a wonderful way. The angel of the Lord came and touched him. The light shone in the prison. And the shackles fell from him. And he walked out the prison you remember. They were having a prayer meeting for him. And when he knocked at the door. When they saw him there. I was thinking when reading this. Meditating upon this. I thought to myself about. Paul's exhortation to the saints at. At Ephesus. Awake out of sleep. You know sometimes you need to awake out of sleep. And here when he awoke. They saw his glory. And the last speaker was. The father from heaven wasn't it. Lovely touch isn't it. And there came a voice verse 35. Out of the crowd saying. This is my beloved son. Hear him hear him. Oh we can't do without these pillars can we. These are seven wonderful pillars. These are seven wonderful pillars. And to read them they refresh our hearts. And they attract our hearts out to the Lord Jesus. Just to hear the father's voice say. Hear him. Hear him. He is the beloved one. Hear him. Now when we come to his death. I just want to go to John's gospel. We'll come back to Luke. I want to go to the 19th chapter. Of John. 19th chapter of John. And we'll read from verse 32. Then came the soldiers. Break the legs of the first. And of the other which was. Crucified with him. And when they came to Jesus. And when they came to Jesus. And saw that he was. Dead. Already. They break not his legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear. Pierced his side. And forthwith there came out. Blood. And water. This was our Bible reading this afternoon wasn't it. The precious blood of Christ. The blood of Christ. The blood. Is for the judicial cleansing. Once and for all. Never again to be repeated. The blood of Christ. Water is for moral cleansing. Washing of the water. By the word. And how the enemy is getting in. In connection with the blood of Christ. I also heard in America. That one of the churches there. Taking out the blood of the hymn book. All the hymns that refer to the blood. Are taking it out. But there's one thing they can't take it out of this one. They can't take it out of this book. But you see how the enemy is trying to. Take away those pillars. But you know the foundation of God stand assured. But the enemy is busy undermining these things. And it's good you know to be. Acquainted with the scriptures. We need to be saturated with them these days. Because when the Lord was in the temptation. I didn't read it. But you know I quote it from the book of Deuteronomy. It is written. And it's good when the attackers. Comes along and we're able to. Give them a chapter and verse. And quote the word of God. For the word of God is quick and powerful you see. But all that Bible reading this afternoon. On the blood. You know redemption is a wonderful thing. I was talking to a brother in interval. We're talking about heaven you know. And he said. And in Revelation 5 it says. He's redeemed us. To God. By his blood. From every kindred. And people. And termination. And if you go to heaven. You can't go without being redeemed by the blood. It's a title to glory. You see how important it is. Oh I think that's a lovely verse in Revelation. Redeemed us to God by his blood. From every kindred. People. Termination. And yet the enemy is busy trying to undermine those pillars. Let's hold on to them. The death. The resurrection. Of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now we turn to the resurrection. I'll get back to Luke's gospel again. Luke 24. One of my suggestions. Verse 6. He is not here. He is not here. But he's risen. He's risen. I am he that liveth. And became dead. But behold I'm alive forevermore. You know in Hebrews. We have the no mores. There's no more. Sacrifice for sins. No more offering for sins. And in this afternoon we were reminded. We have the much mores. How much more. Shall the blood of Christ. Who through the eternal spirit. Offered himself without spot to God. Purge your consciences from dead works. That we might worship. The living God. Thank God we have the evermores. Listen to the words of the Lord Jesus again. I am he that liveth. I am he that liveth. And became dead. But behold I'm alive forevermore. He's alive forevermore. What a grand thing it is. We started with this this afternoon. Our look into heaven. We see Jesus. Who was made a little lamb. And the angels for the suffering of death. He's now crowned with glory. And with honor. He is not here but he's risen. There's another 40 days. We've spoken of the 40 days he was tested. But you know when the Lord Jesus. Rose from amongst the dead. He tabernacled amongst his own. For 40 days. 40 days. He showed them his hands. And his side. Then where the disciples were. The disciples glad when they saw the Lord. And you know we're glad. That we're linked up with this glorious person. On resurrection ground. The world never saw him. After they crucified him. But he appeared to his own. Appeared to Mary. What a wonderful message she got. Her affections was right. Wasn't there? Her affections was right. Her affections went out to the Lord Jesus. We were touched with this the other night. The attractiveness of Christ. As her brother's been telling us. We know the Son of God has come. Of course we know it. And he wants us to enjoy it too. And he says to Mary. Go tell my brother. My brother. Calls us my brother. My sheep. My friends. My brother. I say to my father. And your father. To my God. And your God. And you know on the 40th day. On the 40th day. He was taken up. Into heaven. Wonderful wasn't it? We'll touch this at the end of chapter 24. Chapter 24. This is our 7th pillar isn't it? The ascension. Verse 50. And he led them out as far as Bethany. And he lifted up his hands. And he blessed them. And it came to pass while he blessed them. He was parted from them. And he was carried up. He was carried up into heaven. He was received up in glory. Oh how often we've quoted. That verse this week. But it's worth quoting isn't it? The 7 pillars that Paul gave to young Timothy. Great is the mystery. Of godliness. God has been manifested in the flesh. Justified in the spirit. Seen of angels. Preached unto the Gentiles. Breathed on in this world. Received in glory. Received in glory. He was taken up. Into heaven. This is where the Spirit of God took us this afternoon. Didn't it? And I'm going to take you there now. I'm going to quote a verse. I'm going to read a verse. In Hebrews 9 again. Because we've got to get into heaven. He's gone into heaven. What is he doing in heaven? Well, we'll read about it in chapter 9 of Hebrews. Chapter 9. Verse 14 first. I think this is a lovely verse. I quote it again. How much more shall the blood of Christ. Who through the eternal spirit. Covered himself without spot to God. Far as your conscience from dead works. To worship. The living God. We are parsed. Worshippers. Now, verse 24. For Christ. Is not entered into the holy places made with hands. Which are the figures of the true. But into heaven itself. Now to appear. Before the face of God. For us. Oh, I enjoyed that thought. I think our brother Andrew touched it lovely too. When he spoke about Moses. Being up the mountain for 40 days. But here we are. We are privileged. He appears. Before the face of God. For us. He's a great high priest. Touch with the feelings of our infirmities. He knows our feeble friend. He knows what so this trials means. But he has felt the same. You know, I quoted that verse. To a beloved sister. Old sister. This afternoon while we visited. Our Lord knows about it. As our head cry. As our great high priest. Touch with the feelings of our infirmities. He knows our feeble friends. He knows what so this trials means. For he has felt the same. Our great high priest. Oh, the priestly grace of Christ. Keeps us going on. You see. Now to appear. In the presence of God. For us. In the face of God. In the face of God. I think this gives me great encouragement. And joy to think he's there. A word was raised about the advocacy this afternoon. The work of Christ as the advocate. Well, you know, the blood of Christ comes in there too, doesn't it? If anyone sinned, it doesn't give us license to sin. But if we do sin. If we confess our sins. The blood of Christ. God's Son cleansed us from all sin. It says we have an advocate with the Father. Jesus Christ. The righteous. And you know. The old brethren used to say. Short accounts is best. And I say this to young believers because. The devil comes along and says. If you've got it, I'll fly. And he says. Oh, give it up. But God doesn't want you to give it up. He's made provision for it. If we sin. If we get out of touch. Short accounts is best. Get in touch with God. Get in touch with Christ. He's our advocate. Not only our high priest. But our advocate with the Father. Jesus Christ the righteous. And if we confess our sins. He is faithful and just. To forgive us our sins. And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And of course the moment we confess. Well we get our communion back again. Don't we? Mind you. Relationship can never be broken. Once you belong to the Lord Jesus. Once you're a child of God. You're a child of God eternally. You're not safe today and lost tomorrow. Oh no. It's an eternal salvation. It's an eternal redemption. But if we sin. God has made provision for us. Christ is our advocate. With the Father. Jesus Christ the righteous. I can well hear the words of. Old Peter Harkis again. When he used to preach the gospel. He used to say. He's an all over home saviour. So he is. So he is. And then we finish that. We look for his appearing. What a prospect we have. What a prospect we have. Another brother we visited today. Who's ill. He spoke to us. And he cheered us. Instead of us cheering him. He cheered us. And he spoke about the blessed hope. The blessed hope. You see every one of us has that blessed hope. Looking for that blessed hope. The rapture. And the glorious appearing. Of our Lord and saviour. Jesus Christ. What a blessed hope this is. All bright. And blessed hope. When shall he be. When shall we see his face. We long to be with him. And like him. But what it will be for him. To have his bride by his side. The Lamb's wife. The one become. In administration. When the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth. As the waters cover the sea. When everything that hath breath. And it will give them a little view. Into the world to come. His official glories. In that day. The world to come. Well that was the word that was laid upon our heart. After our brother. Linked us up with this tonight. And what was said in the afternoon. About those seven pillars. And thank God. Of all men are trying to knock them down. They stand. And they stand eternally. Because they're circled round. By Jesus Christ. …