All Things

… Now we turn please to Romans chapter 11 and we'll read from verse 33. Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord or who had been his counselor or who has first given to him and it shall be recompensed unto him again. For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever. Amen. For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever. Amen. Now the epistle to the Ephesians chapter 1 and we'll read from verse 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. That we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ in whom he also trusted after that you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation in whom also after that you believed you are sealed with that holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory. Now chapter 3 and verse 8 unto me who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given that i should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of christ and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world had been hidden god who created all things by jesus christ to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of god according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in christ jesus our lord. Now lastly in revelation chapter 21 and verse 1 and i saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first death were passed away and there was no more sea and i john saw the holy city new jerusalem coming down from god out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and i heard a great voice out of heaven saying behold the tabernacle of god is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and god himself shall be with them and be their god and god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things that passed away and he that sat upon the throne said behold i make all things new and he said unto me right for these words are true and faithful. Now for those of you who haven't been here the two previous evenings we've been considering a term that's often found in the new testament two simple words all things and on wednesday evening we considered the term in relation to the holy spirit and on thursday evening we saw it in relation to the lord jesus himself and tonight we're attempting from the scriptures that we've read together to speak about the term in relation to god himself now i think you will acknowledge that the scriptures that we've read together are profound and yet most encouraging and i do not presume to attempt to expound them in every detail that's too large a task but just to draw from these passages something to strengthen our faith i know that and you know too that in the new testament there is a mass of instruction regarding our individual pathway of responsibility and our collective pathway of responsibility tremendous amount of material to help us in those two fields and of course when we consider them we have to bow our heads in shame and say well we've all failed both individually and collectively and without shirking the responsibilities that belie that belong to our responsible pathway individually and collectively good to be occupied for a little while with the wonder of what god is doing and of course when he sets himself to accomplish things it would be blasphemy to suggest that he'll never be able to accomplish what is his will we know that because of who he is every detail of his plan and will will be accomplished in spite of any failure on the part of man even in relation to israel and we think of the appalling failure as we read in the historical books of that nation we know that in the end god's purpose in relation to them will be fulfilled in every detail and so it is with the assembly i just want to make three references to other scriptures very very briefly because the fact is there are so many references connected with god and they're all so attractive very very difficult to decide which scriptures to use but i just want briefly to refer to three and the first is an encouragement to those who are engaged in any form of evangelical work and you remember the disciples said to the lord jesus after a certain incident who then can be saved and the lord said with god all things are possible and in the realm of reaching the unconverted that's a good thing to keep in mind because when we look at people and we reason naturally we say oh so and so is a fine upright young man he would make a nice christian the truth is that the most depraved person would make a fine christian if they come if he comes to the lord jesus so with god all things are possible and do not give up in your tract distribution or in any form of evangelical work keeping that in mind that it's god it's god who works all things according to the counsel of his own will i'm using that statement because it's in another context but it's true it's really god who works in the hearts of the unconverted affecting their conscience and bringing them to a place of contrition and repentance the other one is most encouraging and it's found in romans chapter 8 where you remember among other things paul says the god who gave his son shall he not with him freely give us all things now note it's with him and the all things that we get are wonderful things and not one of them would in any way dishonor the lord jesus it would be blasphemy to think that god would give us anything that would bring any disrespect or dishonor upon his own beloved son so we can say and we ought to have said this at the beginning that each mention of all things has to be considered in its context it doesn't always mean the same thing but we believe there in romans chapter 8 it's the whole scope of divine blessing that we get in association with christ with him all things what a tremendous scope that is lastly and this is a very solemn one and you remember in hebrews chapter 4 it speaks about the god who knows everything and all things are open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do now that's a very very sobering scripture we cannot possibly exclude our movements from the eye of god we cannot shut ourselves out from his piercing eye he knows everything about us even our thoughts are far off he knows every detail of our lives oh what a sobering scripture that is all things are open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do good for us if in transparency of motive and deed and word we can walk before him in a way that is pleasing to him now we consider briefly the scriptures that we've read together this passage at the end of romans 11 is a remarkable one a doxology to our god a bursting out from the heart of the apostle praise and worship to god he's been taking account of the movements of god with jew and gentile and he has shown how god has had mercy on them all not a question here of the church a question here of the position of testimony in this world for either jew or gentile and how when failure came in the jew was set aside and the gentile was brought in and when the gentile was set aside or rather when the fullness of the gentiles came in then the jew is said the jew is brought in again into the place of testimony that term the fullness of the gentiles i think we said this on thursday evening refers to the completion of the church and the end of that particular feature and so when paul takes into account the complexity of god's workings his wisdom his knowledge how untraceable his ways he breaks out into this marvelous statement at the end of chapter 11 for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever i hope you don't think that this is a simplification of the epistle to the romans but i present it to you for your consideration just search it out and i think you'll find that what i'm going to say is true two little prepositions can give us the character of the epistle to the romans and they're found here of him and to him now just look through the epistle to the romans it's always good when you're searching for something specifically in the bible it makes it far more interesting now you go through and notice how often things are mentioned of god that is they originated in him they proceeded from him and of course man is the object of them great wonderful unfolding of god's salvation and what tremendous blessing is involved in it but then that's not the end when we come to the end of the epistle it doesn't end up with saying oh we're all going to heaven and we're all going to be like christ and it's going to be very wonderful that's true and that is wonderful but it doesn't end that way the last few verses of the epistle to the romans says to him to him be glory and i believe in those two prepositions we have the thrust of the holy epistle what proceeds out of god and of course comes to us through christ and then what returns to him in praise and worship and also bond men to god yielding our bodies to god that is the response of those who in any measure appropriate what has come out from god and so i believe if you look into this very carefully in the epistle to the romans you will see its import but now let's consider it for a few minutes wonderful statement again i say paul is talking about god's dealings with jews and gentiles and if we tried to unravel the complexity of the matter we would get lost because we are unable to take into account the moral complexities that exist failure here failure there humility here humility there and a host of other things all bound up in god's dealings with the jews and the gentiles but paul says you can safely leave this in the hands of god let me read them again oh depth of riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of god how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out there paul is taking account of the inscrutable dealings of god that man is unable to apprehend well maybe apprehend a little certainly not able to comprehend but paul is referring to the greatness of god who is able to take account of all the different things that are necessary in those two great companies jews and gentiles because you know that chapters 9 10 and 11 of romans are dealing with this very important matter that if there were jews who were converted to christ and to god it was quite right and understandable for them to turn around to paul and say oh it's all right paul you're telling us about this heavenly blessing you're telling us about this great company the church the body of christ but what about all those promises that were made to abraham and all through the old testament and to the prophets what about them are they all to be forgotten are they all going to fall to the ground and paul says oh no and so in these three chapters he unfolds how eventually all israel will be saved god's purpose in relation not so much the church exactly but to the gentiles will be fulfilled all will be according to his mind and will no wonder the paul paul breaks out in this great doxology we get all mixed up if we bring the church into this because the jews were never in the church i mean as jews the nation of israel they weren't grafted into the church neither were the gentiles grafted into the jewish nation it's a question of the testimony here upon earth given to jews and gentiles at different times if we keep that in mind we won't get mixed up now just again these three prepositions of him isn't it marvelous to think that it's the great eternal living god who is working things they're proceeding from him his plan and his plan cannot fail an impossibility and i feel that's tremendously encouraging when i look at my work i have to say well things could have been done much better we all know this in our work whatever we do for the lord we're all conscious it could have been much better but when we think of god it's impossible to think that anything can be better that he does it's perfect must be so all that comes of him originating from him must be perfect in every detail so there is the plan the origin if you like of all the workings of god then it says through him and i understand this means the agency and we find that very very often the term is used in relation to christ and we know of course that the ultimate blessing of all people no matter who they are is because god works through christ but here it stands related to god himself not only does he make the plan but he's the worker to fulfill it and my when we think of the mighty power of god irresistible omnipotent tremendous power which he puts forth for the fulfillment of his plan who's going to thwart it satan impossible man impossible god will fulfill his plan in every detail and then it says of him through him and to him praise god that the end result will be eternal worship and praise to god as we mentioned in prayer it's a great triumph that here upon earth in the midst of so much that is contrary to the mind of god and conscious too of so much failure in ourselves in simplicity and i trust in sincerity we can praise god not only when we gather together but in our homes in our lives lifting our voices in deep thankfulness to the god who has blessed us in such a wonderful way but both from the jewish nation and from the gentiles many many untold numbers that will be converted to god in the time of tribulation and the church every conceivable circle will provide its quota of praise and worship to the god who worked to fulfill his own plan and dear brethren we are part of that everyone here tonight who belongs to the lord jesus is part of that great plan and so we have to ask ourselves are we sufficiently thankful is there sufficient praise and worship coming from our hearts as there ought to be day by day and two when we come together while of course when we gather to the name of the lord to remember him there is an ideal situation for praise and worship to god but i believe every occasion prayer meeting ministry meeting bible reading any time we come together is an opportune moment to raise our voices and praise and worship to god wonderful wonderful opportunity of him through him and to him to him says the apostle are all things to him be glory forever well i think the all things here would take into account what we're saying god's dealings with his ancient people israel his dealings with the gentiles who were brought into the church and also the gentiles in the future who will be blessed when the great deliverer comes and that will be a wonderful moment when he sets up his kingdom now we move on to ephesians chapter one on thursday evening we were talking about everything that was headed up in christ which we believe will be expressed in what we call the millennial kingdom the world to come when everything that failed in the hands of men will be expressed publicly in this world for the glory of god and two to express the pre-eminence of christ but then paul says we're not exactly waiting for that to take place before we have blessing and so he goes on to say in whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated or marked out according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will we have an inheritance now we've obtained it now he says in whom also we have obtained an inheritance and that is our position heirs of god and joint heirs with jesus christ and this has been accomplished by the one who works all things after the counsel of his own will now if we just think for a moment how god set aside his earthly people because they were his inheritance in a past day he blessed them took them out from egypt and said that they would be his people his inheritance oh how they failed until god said not my people but then god wasn't frustrated because he works all things after the counsel of his own will and he secured his eternal purpose as it says here in setting up the assembly in christ christ and glory his body here upon earth his eternal purpose marvelous thing but he says those who form that company have obtained an inheritance in christ that is that when the inheritance the earthly kingdom of christ comes into being then you'll have part in it but before it comes into being you have the earnest of it now in the possession of the holy spirit my that's wonderful the god who works all things after the counsel of his own will has decreed that we should receive the holy spirit who is the earnest or the pledge of better greater deeper things to come there's a very sordid story in the old testament the story of judah and tamar and yet that sordid story is perhaps the best passage that you can turn to to understand what is meant by the earnest the pledge and you remember that judah gave to the woman whom he thought was a harlot was a harlot his pledge that when the time came she would receive something from him i think it was a goat and some money and what he gave to her was the guarantee that she would receive this it's a sordid story but it perfectly illustrates what the earnest means the pledge that better things are to come praise god there's nothing sordid about this form of truth it's marvelous that each of us has received the holy spirit which enables us in some measure to understand the principles that will obtain in the world to come and we enjoy them the earnest of the inheritance the pledge of it there are two other features of this of course you remember eshkol's grapes that were brought back from the land that was a pledge of what existed in the land that once they possessed it then they could enjoy the fruits of the land also the gold and silver things that rebecca obtained from eliezer they were a pledge of the greater things that were in the hands of isaac given to him by his father they were pledges of the great things that would belong to her once she was married to isaac so wonderful that we have the holy spirit now that gives us some anticipation and some enjoyment of the inheritance that is to come god works all things after the council of his own will and that great object was that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in christ that is there were jews who trusted in christ then ye there were gentiles who trusted in christ but in this context there were those who trusted in christ before the kingdom was set up because then there will be a whole host of jews who accept the lord jesus christ as their messiah and will worship him as such but we have preempted that in this our day in that we have believed in christ and we are getting the gain of the inheritance before ever it arrives isn't that wonderful and says paul this is the god who works all things after the council of his own will that we should be to the praise of his glory so here again you have both sides first of all the blessings that we receive and then the praise to the praise of his glory what does it say who first trusted in christ well i'm not competent to enter into all the details of this passage it's a profound one but it's most encouraging if we just take account of that one phrase that means so much in connection with what we're saying tonight he works all things after the council of his own will by that's wonderful he's not going to be thwarted he's not going to be turned aside because of the failure of man or the opposition of man or the power of satan he works all things after the council of his own will we can safely leave these things in the hands of god he knows what he's doing he's wiser than we are and oh how thankful we are that things will work out for this great point in view that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in christ just one word here about receiving the holy spirit in whom you also trusted after that you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation in whom also after that you believed you were sealed with that holy spirit of promise sometimes a great deal of discussion about this passage when do we receive the spirit when was it that we believed was it at the time of the gospel or was it afterwards and i may be simple but i feel there's a very very simple answer to it if we just take things as they come and read the account in the acts of the apostles when the ephesian believers received the holy spirit and when did they do that we read about it if i remember rightly in acts chapter 19 and you remember paul went to ephesus and he found there were 12 disciples there and they had been baptized to john the baptist or rather they had been baptized under john baptist baptism that's perhaps the more accurate way to place it and says paul did you receive the spirit always never heard that the spirit had come and so paul spoke to them about christ told them about the lord jesus his death his resurrection and ascension and they believed and what happened they received the holy spirit now it seems to me that that's the clear historical explanation of this passage that they received the holy spirit the ephesian believers when they received what paul preached to them now it says paul it's the earnest of our inheritance unto the redemption of the purchase possession unto the praise of his glory and we believe the purchase possession is when the lord takes possession of what he has secured as his death you remember it says that he tasted death for everything and the time will come when he'll take possession of it and that of course involves our bodies too being changed but principally the whole universe will come under the sway of this glorious man he is the earnest of that and surely that should encourage us and raise our spirits in anticipation of that day when we shall have part in that inheritance according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will marvelous statement and we can be absolutely sure even suppose everything goes to pieces upon earth suppose the enemy appears to take full control and everything belonging to the lord is shattered to pieces suppose that were to happen we can rest absolutely on this statement he works all things after the counsel of his own will and everything that he has purposed and especially in relation to the inheritance will come to pass now chapter three unto me who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given that i should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of christ and so on the statement i want is at the end of verse nine who created all things by jesus christ to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of god according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in christ jesus our lord i think this is one of the finest passages that we can read to let us know why this world was created god has always a reason for what he does and the creation of the universe wasn't by chance it was part of the eternal purpose i often quote this in chris connection that when old shakespeare said all the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players he was stating something that was profoundly true although i'm sure he didn't understand the full implications of what he said but this is what god is telling us in this passage that he created all things by christ jesus that there might be demonstrated on the platform of the world his eternal purpose and that of course preeminently involves the incarnation of the sun his marvelous pathway of perfection his death and resurrection and ascension to glory and the formation of the church principally because it's his eternal purpose which was purposed in christ jesus and you know that the purpose in relation to israel is connected with earth from the foundation of the world but when we read about the church the eternal purpose in connection with that it's before the foundation of the world his eternal purpose marvelous thing to consider that the creation of the universe was not by chance it was not something that evolved as man says it did it was deliberate power on the part of god that he might have a platform where he could display his eternal purpose and thank god he has displayed it well what a marvelous thing that is and we're not talking about ourselves as being players far from it we're an integral part in the purpose of god and any part that we play now is for his pleasure and his glory and says the apostle that the all varied wisdom of god might be seen in the working out of the church here upon earth and when we say that we almost bow our heads in shame and think of all the havoc that's been created in the church the divisions the enmity the hostility the blasphemy the things that have taken place in the professing body upon earth is far from expressing the all varied wisdom of god yet dear brethren this is the eternal purpose of god and although we can't see it i believe it does work out that there is that in the bosom of the saints in the heart of the saints that demonstrates the greatness and glory of god's wisdom and his eternal purpose let us read those words again to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which from the beginning of the world had been hidden god who created all things by jesus christ to the intent that now and to the principalities and power places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of god according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in christ jesus our lord may be one of the distinctive ways in which the wisdom of god was seen was the complete setting aside of distinctions between jew and gentile something that could never have happened by human regulation or by human administration but did take place through the work of christ on the cross the enmity was set aside and jew and gentile were brought together in one body in christ and that certainly was wisdom of the highest possible caliber and then in the working out of that there is the all varied wisdom of god let me say just one word of a practical nature in first corinthians chapter 12 you remember that various gifts are mentioned and it says to one the gift of wisdom so that in any company of christians gathered to the name of the lord bowing to the headship of christ and free to receive the actions of the holy spirit amongst them we can expect wisdom to prevail wise decisions wise counsel what for to promote the interests of christ and of god to promote the interests of all concerned wisdom what a wonderful thing it is here mr mcbroom used to exhort us continually with all you're getting get wisdom wisdom is the principal thing and so we believe that wonderful thing to have in any company of christians someone who can impart wisdom in connection with any problems that exist no matter what they might be to the end that god may be glorified through his beloved son and so praise god here is god's eternal purpose christ and the church the great truth of the mystery administered here upon earth so that all might see and principally principalities and powers in heavenly places while there might be a demonstration publicly to people upon earth the main thing is to see it working out to the intelligences above oh how wonderful that is we might be very very much concerned about our walk before men and well we might be in our public witness but to consider that there are heavenly intelligences looking on as to how we comport ourselves in relation to these great truths is a very very humbling and challenging matter indeed our behavior in every way our dignified comportment that is pleasing to the lord in a demonstration of divine wisdom in a practical way oh how wonderful that angels heavenly intelligences are looking on to this well may the lord help us in relation to these things now just for a few moments in chapter 21 of revelation what a wonderful vision john saw a new heaven and a new earth completely new something that had never been seen before everything that belonged to the old order completely removed every evidence of all that had come in through adam through the fall and through all the failure down through the centuries even in connection with israel and also in connection with the church every vestige of it gone forever not a single thing remaining that would remind people of the fall and its consequences the heavenly city the time of administration was over but there in all its perennial freshness is the bride christ's body that which is precious to his heart oh what a marvel that that company will be for his pleasure and glory throughout eternal ages and dear brethren we'll be there we'll be part of it how thankful we are that we can see this that they're coming down from heaven place that it belonged to coming down in all its glory and all its beauty and you remember in ephesians it says he'll present it to himself a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing and it will maintain that freshness and that blameless character that sinless character throughout all eternity and will bring joy and gladness to his heart and so we hear from the voice of god himself i make all things new we are so constituted that day by day we see evil all around us and unfortunately we know only too well its workings in us and how difficult it is to anticipate a scene like this where neither sin or sorrow nor anything evil can enter no distracting thought no evil intrusion everything new oh how wonderful behold i make all things new oh how wonderful to anticipate that day when we shall be there there's another passage that anticipates that day you remember in first corinthians 15 when the lord jesus hands back the kingdom to god without any deterioration attached to it no enemy from the outside outside attacked it or destroyed it or affected it and no dissension from the inside affected it the lord hands it back to god as he received it or perhaps even better than he received it because he reigned until every enemy was put down under his feet but he hands back the kingdom to god and then it says that god shall be all in all and i believe this is the scene that we are contemplating and that's the great thing we might get occupied and rightly so nothing wrong with it at all the fact that there were no more tears and no more pain and no more sorrow i remember a bible reading at fin docty once and they were talking about this great day and someone said well you know you shouldn't be looking forward to that scene simply because you've got arthritic pains and remember brother joe mears who knew a great deal about arthritic pains well he says that might be true but you'll be very glad when you're there and you won't have the pains and i think we would say i'll say amen to that but that's not exactly the point the great thing is that god will be all in all now god is always all he cannot be anything less than all but the fact that he is all in all is a marvelous consideration that in every created intelligence god is supreme in their affections and their understandings and also they are responding to him in a way that is worthy of himself dear brethren that's wonderful we are all conscious of our weakness here in our response oh would that our responses were warmer and fuller and deeper and more sincere but they will be in that day i don't know of any scripture that tells us about the power of the spirit operating in that day and perhaps mr darby's hymn is the nearest to it by the spirit all pervading hosts unnumbered round the lamb and we believe yes even as creatures we will always need the power and service of the holy spirit even that eternal day but the great thing is all things new never to deteriorate never to grow old never in any way to be affected by any adverse power oh how long for that day it will come and so we live in patience well may the lord help us now i commend to you this study of that term all things you'll find many many more in the new testament and they're very very interesting there are many many more in connection with ourselves and they're very very interesting too so search them out and you'll have a mine of wealth may the lord bless us for his namesake …

… Now we turn please to John chapter 14 and verse 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Now 1 Corinthians chapter 2, and we'll read from verse 9. But as it is written, I hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. For his Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Now turn please to John's first epistle, chapter 2. John chapter 2 and verse 20. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because you know not the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar? But he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ. He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. Verse 22, verse 26. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you. But as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. There were two words in the scriptures that we read. All things. And that's what we want to speak about as we are privileged in the three evenings. Tonight we want to speak about all things connected with the Holy Spirit. Tomorrow night, if the Lord will, with the Lord Jesus. And on Saturday night, if the Lord will, God the Father. God the Father. Now I'm sure when you read your Bible, you come across this expression again and again and again. All things. And we have to be extremely careful when we consider it, because each reference must be considered in its context. It never means the same thing. And so we hope to show the value of this expression as it's connected with divine persons. Unfortunately, we had hoped to speak about it in relation to ourselves, but there isn't time. However, if we get some impression of this wonderful statement and what it means, then I think we'll get some benefit for our souls. Let me say that in scripture we have the things of the Spirit, we have the things of the Son, we have the things of God the Father. And this expression is again and again mentioned, as we've already said to you. Outside of that, what do we have? The things of the world, things of the flesh, things that are obnoxious to God. And so we can say quite plainly that if we are occupied with the all things that we find so often in the Bible, and especially the New Testament, we'll be occupied with things that are pure and holy, eternal and abiding, things of great spiritual profit. Someone has used the expression technical. All things is a technical expression, I must confess, I don't entirely understand what was meant by that expression. But however, we shall consider it in connection with the Holy Spirit. In John 14 and verse 26, marvellous verse, even the consideration of this verse raises Christianity to its great height and dignity. We have the Father, we have the Son, we have the Holy Spirit, all mentioned. And surely this is the most distinctive feature of the day in which we live, that we who are believers in our Lord Jesus Christ are privileged to be connected with the fullest revelation of the deity since time began, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and each of them in their distinctive place in the working out of the divine economy. Marvellous dignity, marvellous privilege that we have today in being connected with this. I know that there is much that disturbs our spirits, our own weakness and failure, decreasing power of the Christian testimony, the inroads of evil all around us. I know that this disturbs our spirit, but oh, if we can only get our eyes to see the dignity of this marvellous position that we've been called into through grace, to be occupied with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And within this short statement, the Lord Jesus mentions them all, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Father, my name. Oh, how wonderful it is. And never, never let us forget this. However downcast we might be, however upset we might get, never let us forget this, that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have committed themselves to divine purpose and that will succeed no matter the evil that arises against it. Impossible that their purpose could be thwarted, impossible that what they have set their mind and heart to can be overthrown by Satan's power. Now that's encouraging for us day by day to take account of that. But here particularly, the Lord Jesus is drawing attention to the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who would come and who would come in his name, representing him, representing the Father. And here particularly, it says he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you. Now, however much we apply this to ourselves, I think it's important to remember that particularly this was connected with the Twelve. The Lord was instructing them in view of his absence from the scene that they would be privileged, honoured, responsible to maintain a testimony in this world. And so a tremendous responsibility rested upon them to take account of what the Lord had taught them. And they were not dependent upon their own memory or their own ingenuity or anything that belonged to them naturally. They were to be dependent solely on the Holy Spirit. And we know how this was carried out by them when they began their ministry after the day of Pentecost and that the writings of some of them are maintained for us today, embodying the teaching of the Lord Jesus and how valuable that is for a day when there are no absolutes. Thank God we have one. And that is the Word of God that we can rest upon with the utmost confidence and seek grace to maintain it in our lives and in our practice. And so it's important to see this, the great and dignified place that the apostles had as setting out the truth that the Lord had taught them, as is seen so beautifully in Acts chapter 2, that those who believed were baptised and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship in the breaking of bread and prayers. And I haven't the slightest doubt that the apostles' teaching was what they had imbibed from the Lord in the power of the Spirit and were able to press it forward in the Spirit's power for the benefit of the new converts. I think it would be helpful just to point out one or two distinctive features of the teaching of the Lord that was brought to their remembrance. And of course John, one of the disciples, he was helped by the Spirit to write his wonderful gospel concerning the person of the Son of God and distinctive features belonging to the Christian realm. And by far the most important is what we find in chapter 4 when he refers to the worship of God the Father. Now you remember the Lord Jesus said to the woman, not in this mountain, that's Samaria, nor in Jerusalem are people to worship God. They are to worship him in spirit and in truth. Now here was a distinct revelation, a break away from the material form of worship that marked Israel. Now you know how material that worship was. First of all they had a material building, the tabernacle of the temple. They had material sacrifices, they had distinctive garments for the priest, there was incense, there was music, especially in the temple, and various other things that marked it out as a materialistic form of worship. We must never forget that God desired of his people that their hearts would be operative in that form of worship. Because you remember he said, this people draweth nigh to me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. That although it was materialistic in its expression, yet the heart was to be in the matter, that is a knowledge of God, an appreciation of who he was, and the reverence that was necessary to approach him. So we find in the Lord's words that here is a break away from all that's materialistic, and the people are to worship him in spirit and in truth. Their affections brought into play, I don't think it's the Holy Spirit that's mentioned there, but the spirit of the believer, as worked upon by the Holy Spirit, and truth, the distinctive truth of Christianity, the revelation of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. And these are the features that are to govern the new system of approach to God the Father. A radical break away, something entirely new. And the apostles were responsible to maintain that kind of teaching in the power of the Holy Spirit. Oh dear brethren, when we consider the history of Christendom, and think of how those distinctive features have been lost, and there has been a mixture of Judaism and paganism introduced into the Christian circle, which has destroyed the true spirit of worship, and brought people back to a materialistic form. Oh how sad that it should be so. But there the Lord Jesus taught clearly that something great had taken place, consequent upon his coming into this world, and to upon his death and resurrection and ascension to glory, a true form of worship that would satisfy the heart of God the Father. Aren't we privileged people to have this form of knowledge in our hearts, extended to us in the Spirit's power, that it can be operative today, to come together without any material aid, to come together dependent upon the Spirit's power in our hearts and lives, and directing us in our worship to the Son and to the Father. Marvelous privilege. And so the Lord Jesus indicated this in chapter four. In chapter seven, he indicated that there would be the gift of the Holy Spirit, consequent upon his glorification. Now in the past, in the Old Testament times, different people received the Spirit for some particular form of service. Saul, David, others too, we find that they received the Spirit for some service that God had in mind for them. But the Lord Jesus indicated in John chapter seven, that every believer in him would receive the Holy Spirit, every believer without exception. And there was a very, very wonderful form of teaching that had never been known before. And thank God that this was carried on by the apostles, this was taught by them, Paul particularly, Peter too. And so we find that we are in the gain of this today, the Spirit's teaching maintained through the apostles and conveyed to us. In John chapter 10, we find something that was unbelievable as far as the Jew was concerned, that the Lord Jesus was indicating that there would be one flock, one flock consisting of Jew and Gentile. The Lord Jesus speaks about those who are led out from the Jewish fold, and other sheep I have, which are not of this flock, and they shall be brought together, one flock, one shepherd. Here was another form of teaching that had never been known before, that while there was provision made for the stranger in Old Testament teaching, there was never any indication that the Gentile would be brought in on equal footing to the Jew. There's your light. But here the Lord is indicating a new position, a new standing for all, Jew and Gentile forming one flock under one shepherd. One last reference. You remember in chapter 8, when the woman in adultery was taken, the leaders, they wanted her stoned according to the principles of the law, which of course was quite right, that's what the law said. But the Lord indicated there was such a thing as grace, and not a great, not grace that made room for licentiousness, far from it. Grace that brought in blessing and helped the person to avoid evil. And so that dear woman, she was forgiven by him and instructed to sin no more. Here was another breakaway, not the rigid interpretation of the law, which condemned but never helped. Here was grace operative in the person of Christ, and this too was to operate in the Christian company. I believe these are just a few of the things that were brought to the attention, the remembrance of the apostles that characterized their ministry. And you just need to read the Acts of the Apostles and see how this was maintained by them. What a fight there was between grace and law in those early days. Chapter 15, unless a man gets circumcised, he cannot be saved. And we're very, very thankful that the power that the Spirit gave to the apostles in that day put an end to that kind of idea and many other features. And so here I believe we are witnessing the power that the Lord indicated for his own in view of his absence from the earth, but things that he had taught were to be maintained in spiritual power and blessing. Is it too presumptuous of us to say that what the Lord taught his disciples in some measure is still operative amongst us? I think we could say humbly that it is there. It may be feeble. There may be a very feeble expression of it, but I believe in substance it's there, and how thankful we are that it is so, that the Spirit's power and presence is maintaining for us the teaching of the Lord, and thank God we can enjoy it. So here we find, teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance. Now I don't know a great deal about church history, but recently reading some of the awful things that invaded the Christian testimony after the death of the apostles, simply appalling, absolutely appalling, the ideas that crept into the Christian teaching. Why? I believe because the lives weren't pure and the Holy Spirit wasn't free to impart the truths, those wonderful truths that were the very essence of Christianity, and so we find philosophy and man's mind intruding into the things of God, and oh the havoc, oh the breakdown and failure it always is when man's mind intrudes into the things of God, and I believe this is why the Lord said that the Holy Spirit would bring all things to their remembrance. Just test this when you go home tonight, what were the scriptures that were read in the meeting, what were the things that were mentioned in the meeting, not only this meeting but any meeting, and we have to say oh how fickle our minds are, oh how easy we forget, and if we were left to ourselves the sad thing is we would likely forget everything, but because the Holy Spirit is here he keeps these things in our memory, and so the apostles were not in any way whatsoever to be dependent upon their natural minds, they were totally shut up to the power and service of the Holy Spirit, and how thankful we are for the writing of Matthew and John, and later on others who belong to the apostolic band. Peter too in his letters, oh how thankful we are that these things have been maintained for us, and again I say in a world that is throwing overboard all absolutes, thank God we have one that remains, the Holy Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit has seen to it that they've been indicted by men who knew what they were talking about, they were guided and helped by the Holy Spirit to give us these wonderful truths, and how thankful we are for them. So let us remember that when the Lord was speaking to his own here, we believe in the upper room, he is instructing them as to the things that were necessary to teach to those who would believe for the maintenance of the Christian testimony, and let us listen to them, listen to the apostles teaching, listen to what the Scripture said, and never deviate from it, for Scripture is much wiser than man, and so we're very very thankful that the Spirit's power has maintained these things for us in these last days. Now we turn over to First Corinthians chapter two. Verse nine, I hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, is a complete setting aside of the natural man's power of perception. Divine things belong to God himself, and are only understandable as they are revealed to those who have the Holy Spirit. I want to turn you to a verse in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 29, I think it is. Deuteronomy chapter 29. It's better that we turn to it and can read it together. Deuteronomy 29 and verse 29. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Now clearly that belongs to Israel, but the principle, the application of it can easily be taken on by us. That then that there is the secret things that belong to God himself, and are only understandable on the basis of revelation, and how thankful we are that we do have a revelation from God. Those who read Mr Darvey will remember that very valuable article, have we a revelation from God? If you haven't read it before, read it, it's well worth reading. Have we a revelation from God? And we can say, praise God we have, we have it in our hands, God's revealed mind. And this is what Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians chapter 2. The Macedonians, the Greeks, they were very famous for their philosophies and their ingenuity of their minds. But says Paul, the revelations that come from God are not discernible by the human mind. They cannot be understood by the human mind. Something else is necessary, and that is the gift of the Holy Spirit. So human perception is of no value whatsoever in the things of God, it must be through the Spirit's power. So Paul says, God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. I find a great deal of difficulty in trying to explain what this means, searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. I've often enjoyed connecting it with the first few verses in the book of Genesis, where we find the statement that the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the deep. Now, we can think of the Spirit and his place in creation and what he did in creation. And he's hovering, and I understand it's a word that's expressive of deep emotion, and he's contemplating his part in creation and the formation of this universe in which we live. And perhaps with only the view that a divine person could have, thinking of all the great events that would take place on earth once it was formed, culminating, of course, in the cross of Christ. And I wondered if there is some connection here, the Spirit searching all things, yea, the deep things of God, that he's taking account of Christians, believers in Christ, and what they need at any juncture in their lives, any particular revelation that they require to help them in their spiritual formation. Searching out, if you like, what is best for them. Now, if you don't agree with that interpretation, I'd be glad to receive any help that you can give. But that's the way it appeals to me, that in the sphere of revelation, the Spirit knows what is best to give to each. Now, it's perfectly obvious that there are some brethren who are deeply blessed in the sphere of revelation, and we can think of many, many great outstanding men in the history of the Christian testimony who were blessed above their companions with a deep, deep knowledge of the truth of God. And we believe that J. N. Darby was one who was extremely well taught in the things of God, and I don't think people really understand how much even Christendom is indebted to the teaching of that dear man of God, that he often said himself in his writings that if brethren went to pieces, the truths that God brought out through brethren would still be in circulation, and we know that to be true. And that man was deeply taught in the things of God. God gave to him special revelations of truth that others didn't seem to get. And of course, the time was appropriate that the testimony should move forward, and it did, under the power of the revelation of the Spirit that was given to that servant, that man of God, and many others too. And that's perfectly obvious, even in any company of Christians, some are deeper taught than others. But then that doesn't mean that all should not be taught in one way or another. And this is where I believe the searching of the Spirit comes in, that the Spirit reveals to each what is necessary for their particular form of service in the Christian company. The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the depths of God. Now here I believe all things would cover the whole scope of revealed truth that is proper to Christianity. And the Spirit can take whatever portion is necessary for you and for me in our particular state and condition and be a blessing to us. Certainly not by human intuition, certainly not by our own minds, but the Holy Spirit revealing these things to us, searching in the divine wisdom that belongs to him, the deep things of God. I have thought of a contrast, dear brethren. Didn't the Lord speak to one of the churches and speak about the depths of Satan? Oh, what terrible depths are there, what depravity, what evil, what opposition to God, what awful things are contained in that expression, the depths of Satan. Oh, let's forget that and think of the depths of God. Didn't Paul speak of speak something of the depths when he said it, that wonderful doxology at the end of Romans 11? Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments and traceable his ways. There I believe Paul is indicating something of the inscrutable nature of God's mind and purpose in his ways here upon earth. Marvelous depths, Paul says, but here it's revelation. Not now so much to the chosen 12, but to you and to me. Here is the power for understanding the things of God, the deep things of God, and they are deep. They require the spirit's help that we might understand them because Paul says that, doesn't he? He says, let me get the scripture. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him, even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God. That is, we can know, we can know the things that belong to God. It's a very interesting study and I recommend it to you just to go through the Bible and find the people who say, I know, or we know, and that those statements are indicative of the depth of knowledge that is imparted to those who desire to know. That's the great thing. If we have a desire to know, then we'll learn. And so this wonderful revelation is available for every Christian because they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Isn't that a marvelous thing? You can have an extremely acute mind and make great progress in the things that belong to this world. An acute mind. And there are many, of course, many, many extremely able people in the world in their own spheres, able to talk, able to speak about great and wonderful things pertaining to this world. It doesn't mean that they need to be morally upright people. If they have acute minds and apply those minds to the subjects in hand, they can learn. Not so with the Christian. The Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the characteristic name of the Spirit. And so it's incumbent upon the Christian to lead a clean life in order to be able to take in those revelations. And I believe that's why sometimes there is so much ignorance amongst the people of God that they are bound up with the things of this world and things that are dishonoring to the Lord. Consequently, they cannot learn. The Holy Spirit is only too pleased, if I can say that reverently, to impart divine things to those who want to learn. And so we know, we know by divine revelation in the Spirit's power. I have to say this at this time, because I believe it's important that when Paul was writing, there was no such thing as a Bible as we have today. There certainly would be the Old Testament, but there was no New Testament. It wasn't written at that time. And when the Christians gathered together, then someone would stand up by divine revelation and impart in prophecy what was necessary for the company. Now that's gone and gone forever for the revelation in our hands now, full, complete revelation. And so if anyone prophesies today, it's within the scope of what has already been revealed. And if anyone stands up and says, I have a new revelation and it's not found in the Word of God, then we can discount that because we believe the Word of God is complete and all that is prophesied or can be prophesied must be within the scope of what has already been revealed. So Paul here now is talking about the revelation that comes directly from the Spirit, the knowledge which we receive consequent upon our desire to know and to clean lives that help us to take in the knowledge. And then it says, the communicating things by spiritual means. Marvellous thing, dear Christian friends, that in the Spirit's power, we can communicate to others what we have spiritually received, and we communicate that in the same means by which we receive divine revelation, by which we receive knowledge. And so here, it's not so much the apostles, it's you, me, because Paul is writing to a company of people who have been steeped in evil of every conceivable kind. But in chapter six, Paul says, you've been washed, you've been justified, you've been sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. And because of that, those people were now able to take in divine revelation. So that brings you in, that brings me in, and it's available for us all, this wonderful revelation of the deep things of God. Now for a few moments in John's first epistle, chapter two. Verse 20, ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because you know not the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? And he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. What a tremendous statement that is. He know all things. That's a tremendous statement. I believe the apostle is saying that because they have the anointing, the word unction simply means anointing, because they have the anointing, potentially they know all things. All things in all their scope and all their depth and all their breadth and height and length, they are all available for the believer in the power of the Holy Spirit. But John goes on to say that there were two specific areas where there was opposition. Those who were liars, those who were not of the truth. The first company says, or he says, who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ. That is a denial of the Lord's Messiahship in relation to Israel. Then there were those who said that they denied the Father and the Son. These are the distinctive features of the Christian era. So the truth tests lies. That's perfectly obvious. No lie is of the truth. Satan is the father of lies. And oh, how well he has succeeded in implanting lies in the Christian testimony. And shortly it will be full blown when we see the Antichrist in all his activities, the false prophet, and all the evil that will be spread abroad in that awful day that is soon to dawn, when people will believe a lie, the time for believing the truth is gone for them. Oh, how thankful we should be that we've been brought into the realm where truth is. We may deplore, and we do deplore the fact that we are becoming smaller and smaller and smaller be very sad about that because there are other areas where the Christian testimony connected with brethren is growing, where it's strong, where there is health, spiritual health. Yet in this country, we seem to be continually declining and decreasing. There is one thing in spite of the weakness that we must be profoundly thankful for, and that is there is no lie circulating in our meetings in relation to fundamental truths. That's something to be very, very thankful about. In spite of our weakness, we have been enabled of the Lord to hold on to what is fundamental to the Christian faith. And that can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. Oh, that we may be encouraged to contend for the truth in the last days. Fundamentals, yes, absolutely essential, but all forms of truth, that there might be maintained in some measure, something for the Lord in these last days. And so we're very, very thankful what the apostle says, you know, all things potentially that it is, the knowledge is there, the knowledge and the power and service of the Holy Spirit. Now, lastly, verse 27, the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you, but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, you shall abide in him. Teach you all things, just as the apostles were taught, so let us say the simple people of the present day are taught too. The same things, no difference. Marvelous thing that the great things of God that were taught to the disciples can be maintained by humble people like ourselves in these last days. I think that's a wonderful thing, and I'm sure it's extremely pleasing to heaven that after 2,000 years and the many, many attacks against the truth, in some measure, these things that were taught by the Lord to the disciples are being maintained at the present moment. I'm sure that's very, very valuable in the sight of heaven. We might not be able to refute those who speak other things to us. We might not be able to understand all the evil things that are going on in the world in the various forms of religion, but we can put our foot down very definitely on the things that are revealed, things that we've been taught in Holy Scripture and say, yes, that's what the Bible says. I believe it. I'm going to hold on to it, no matter what is against it. Now, says the apostle, you don't need that any man teach you. Now, this in no way militates against what we find in other passages where the Bible says, teachers, Ephesians 4, for instance, we do need teaching. We do need brothers of ability and knowledge and the truth to teach us. That's not what the apostle means here. You're completely shut up, he says, to the help of the Holy Spirit, not to man, natural man. He can't teach you anything. The Holy Spirit can teach you all things. And I suggest to you, dear brethren, that in all the references we have had this evening, all things, it means particularly what refers to the Christian company today, the Christian revelation, particularly we'll find when we speak about the Lord, they're all, all things are mentioned in relation to him in different contexts. But here in particular, I believe the whole scope of Christian teaching pertaining to the present day is available for us in the power and service of the Holy Spirit. He is here. You remember what the Lord said? He'll abide with you forever. The power is there. The potential is there. The question is, are we desirous of gaining the full benefit of all that he can teach us, all that he can bring to us? May we be encouraged for his name's sake. …

… Now we turn please to the Gospel by Mark chapter 7 and we'll read from the middle of verse 37. He hath done all things well, he maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak. He hath done all things well, he maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak. Now in Luke's Gospel chapter 24. Gospel by Luke chapter 24 and we'll read from verse 44. And he said unto them these are the words which I spoke unto you while I was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning me. Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures and said unto them thus it is written and thus it behove Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem and ye are witnesses of these things. Now 1st Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 6. But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him or for him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him or for him. Now Philippians chapter 3 and verse 20. For our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Now lastly in Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to the good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him in whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ. Now last night you will remember those of you who were here that we were considering references to the Holy Spirit and the term all things connected with him. Tonight we want to speak about the Lord Jesus and all things connected with him and here of course we have a tremendous amount of scriptures to draw from and the difficulty is to choose the ones that are suitable for a meeting of this kind indeed they're all suitable but it's very very difficult to choose the ones when the realm where all is in the superlative. So we've chosen a few and they're very very important ones because they bring before us glories of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are two that I would like to mention just as introductory to what we have to say. The first is John 1 and Colossians 1 all things were created by him. Now this distinctively presents him in a glory that far transcends anything that belongs to the creature. Before anything existed he was there and everything that exists he brought it into being. This is what John 1 tells us and this is a distinctive glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now it's impossible within the short time that we have even to begin to talk about the complexity of creation and how he and his infinite wisdom and power and measurement got everything into being in perfection according to God's mind and will but by him were all things created. I think you will agree with me that here is a distinctive glory that belongs to him and we sometimes forget it. I know that when we gather together to remember the Lord Jesus we are mainly occupied with his person with his death with the glory of his triumph and rising out from amongst the dead and ascending to the father's right hand and quite rightly so and yet here is a distinctive glory that belongs to him and belongs to no other the creator. Marvelous glory he created all things. Another statement that we have in Colossians 1 is in all things he must have the preeminence and we trust that the scriptures that we have read this evening will bring this before us in a distinctive way. In all things he must have the preeminence. Now I think we said last night that each reference must be viewed in its context. Now obviously when it says in all things he must have the preeminence it's in relation to features of glory that attach to him that cannot attach to any other. Mere mortal man is marked by incompleteness in whatever he does. Indeed the Lord Jesus has to speak to a church and say I have not found thy works complete before my God but in relation to the Lord Jesus everything was complete and perfect and so in that sense he must have the preeminence. Also and this of course is obvious because of who he is there isn't anyone like Christ he is God he is God the son he is there are so many glories attaching to him and so in this sense it's right that he has the first place in everything. Indeed the title firstborn indicates this first in rank in everything. Great and glorious person that he is. Well with these few remarks it might help us as we consider the scriptures we have read together. He hath done all things well. This is what they said of him those who viewed what he did and of course it must cover all that he said and all that he did all that could be observed by people. He had done all things well. Now there's not one of us here tonight would arrogantly presume that we have done all things well. We would have to confess that we have failed in many many things that's to our shame but we have to confess it because it's true. But in connection with our Lord Jesus it can be said of him that everything he did was perfect. He hath done all things well. He healed this person who was deaf and who was dumb. He made the person hear so that communication was open to God speaking to him and his mouth open to respond to God in praise and worship and praise God that's what he's done for millions. He had done all things well. There was a time when our ears were closed to divine communications. There was a time when our mouths were used for blasphemy or evil language or other things obnoxious to God but when Christ came into our lives everything was changed. Our ears were open. We wanted to hear more and more about divine things and hearing them and believing them and appropriating them our response to God was secure. Marvelous thing to have our ears opened and our mouths open and so the Lord Jesus he did all things well. We could say he did all things well for God. Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will and how well he did it. All through his pathway there could be written across it what he said himself I do always the things that please the father. That was particularly pleasing to heaven. One glorious man here upon earth and all that he said and all that he did and all that he thought and every motive of his heart and mind was pleasing to his father. Isn't that the indication of a wonderful person? We cannot say that. We cannot say that one day we always do what pleases God. We're so fickle so unreliable but he wasn't that kind of person. He was a different kind of person and all that he did was pleasing to his God and father. Oh how often we mention it in praise and worship that at the banks of the Jordan the heavens were open to him and the father's voice was heard declaring his delight in him and just prior to his death a few days before he died again glorified on the mount of transfiguration this is my beloved son hear him. These are great marks great points in the life of the son of God and what a life it was. He had done all things well not a flaw not anything at all that could be taken account of in the realm of failure or weakness. Glorious person he did everything well for God and when we come into the realm of all the things that he did for man in his compassion and in his kindness and in his love what a tremendous story it is. The poor beggar the adulterous woman the blind the lame all sorts of persons even the dead experienced his hand of power and blessing and we believe that every act of power emanated from his heart of love and compassion. It wasn't only power that was an expression there was feeling behind it and that's a marvelous thing. He has done all things well. Oh dear brethren what a wonderful thing it is to contemplate the pathway of our Lord Jesus Christ. It has been said and I believe rightly said that the more we read the epistles inevitably they will lead us back to consider the gospels. Oh how wonderful that is that there is the very foundation of all that we have in the realm of doctrine the person of Christ as portrayed for us in these four accounts we have a perfect life. He has done all things well. Well might we sing together Jesus have done all things well. In the next scripture in Luke 24 we find that the Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. It would be incredible to think for one moment that soldiers and the Roman governor and the leaders of Israel all conspired together to fulfill the various prophecies in the Psalms and in the prophets concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. But it did happen and it did happen because it was prophesied of the Lord and those prophecies were fulfilled and for all those prophecies to be fulfilled in one person is nothing short of a miracle and that's why we believe apart from believing that the Bible is an inspired revelation come from God it carries its own internal evidence that it is the inspired word of God and here is one way in which we can test that. If we think of the Lord Jesus as portrayed in Isaiah 53 he was numbered with the transgressors. Is it conceivable that the Roman soldiers and the leaders of Israel conspired together to put two thieves beside him to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 53? Surely not. They were led by God to do that that the divine prophecy might be fulfilled. It was on their part an act of humiliation. The one who professed to be the king of the Jews is crucified with a thief on either side. This is what they sought to do to pour indignities upon this glorious man but in so doing they fulfilled scripture and when they agreed to pay Judas 30 pieces of silver when Judas offered to betray him to them little did they think that they were fulfilling a prophecy of Zechariah and so we could go on all through the scriptures the prophets we find prophecies concerning the son of God. We find in Isaiah chapter 9 that a virgin shall be with child. Marvelous thing or is that chapter 6? Chapter 9 is the one that refers to himself as the mighty God so we have a prophecy referring to the immaculate conception of Christ and then we have a glorious indication of his deity the mighty God we find this in in Isaiah 9 and so all through those prophecies we find references to the Lord Jesus Christ and this is what the Lord is talking about the ascended Christ the risen Christ talking to his disciples and telling them that all things are now accomplished and the old things were of course his death or rather first his suffering and the indignities that were showered upon him and then his death and then his resurrection all fulfilled in him and because they were fulfilled then the glorious message of forgiveness could go out to all beginning at Jerusalem. All things all things that were written in the prophets not just a few things all things a meticulous fulfillment of all concerning our Lord Jesus Christ and this has resulted in the conversion of many many Jews when they've been able to read the new testament closely connected with their Hebrew scriptures and seeing that what was prophesied was fulfilled in Christ has led them to a living belief in our Lord Jesus and of course we view this as an indication of his greatness and glory that what was prophesied of him was fulfilled to the very letter and so the Lord Jesus says now that that has been fulfilled the news of forgiveness can go out there were prophecies about different persons for instance it was prophesied long before he was born that there would be a king of Judah called Josiah the time came when he was born and a particular thing was prophesied about him and he did that but he did a lot of other things too and these things weren't honoring to God there was a prophecy concerning a gentile king and he was mentioned by name Cyrus and it happened and he did what was prophesied of him but it couldn't be possibly be said that all that was connected with him Cyrus or with Josiah was pleasing to God but all things every detail that was prophesied concerning the Lord Jesus was fulfilled in him to perfection glorified God and brought blessing to untold millions this is the infinite greatness of the son of God all the promises of God all the all the prophecies concerning him fulfilled in one glorious person and how glad we are that the disciples acting upon that knowledge that he imparted to them opening up their understanding to understand the scriptures could go forth empowered to preach the gospel and bring blessing into the lives of many and when you read in the acts of the apostles the preaching of Peter and Paul you'll find how often they refer to the psalms to old testament scriptures to shall I say enforce what they're saying they are referring to this man whom the old testament spoke and now it's all fulfilled all fulfilled in every detail for God's glory and for the blessing of man isn't he a wonderful person isn't he a glorious person that so much of the old testament could be written concerning him and we can't possibly within the concept of a within the space of an hour to refer to this glorious man for instance think of all the shadows and types and figures that we have concerning him they're all centered in him and a dear woman she wrote a book called christ in all the scriptures and she drew from the beginning and genesis right through the old testament and also the new of course christ in all the scriptures everything is centered in him all things if we like to use that expression are centered in him and fulfilled in him now we come to first corinthians chapter eight first corinthians chapter eight paul says in this world there are lords many but he says as far as we're concerned there is only one lord we find this expression in ephesians 4 one lord one faith one baptism one lord search this out if you like but you'll find it to be true that in the new testament no one is referred to as lord by the divine writers or the preachers except the lord jesus christ the only time that this title is used apart from the lord is in connection with masters and it's the same word curious in the greek and it refers to lordship or authority and so servants are exhorted to obey their masters but apart from that no one else is recognized as lord to the disciples to the writers of the new testament there was only one lord and that lord was jesus christ we know of course why that is so because when he rose from the dead and ascended to god's right hand peter says god hath made him lord and christ the question might be raised wasn't he lord before he was ascended to god's right hand i would say yes of course he was but he was never in the place of supremacy and authority as he was when he was ascended to the right hand of god no question at all about his authority and supremacy when we see him at the right hand of god glorified man glorified in the presence of god having ascended out and having risen out from amongst the dead and ascended to god's right hand that is why he supremely is the one lord now for us as christians there is only one lord we do not recognize lord bishops or even anyone lording it over the assembly there is only one lord and that lord is jesus christ he has supreme authority over every individual christian it surprises me sometimes how people christians can refuse to bow to plain scripture in the belief that well if we do that we'll be connected with the brethren now that seems to me a stupid kind of way to view truth because we're connected with the lord he is our lord we belong to him every individual christian belongs to him and every individual christian is obligated to acknowledge christ as lord and his written word has supreme power over each of us if of course we are hesitant to accept the consequences of obeying the lord that's another thing but to deliberately refuse to bow to the plain statements of scripture for instance in baptism and the breaking of bread and giving one's life to the lord these things are obligatory on every christian plainly stated in the word of god the things that christians ought to do and if there is hesitancy or any reason for bypassing these things then it's a failure in understanding our obligation to christ as lord but it says paul one lord i think it says by whom are all things one lord jesus christ by whom are all things and we by him now i noted three things down i've written them down in case i forget them but i want to refer to to show how these things operate through the one lord in ephesians it says plainly that we have access to the father through christ in the power of the one spirit here is one way in which we see the greatness of our lord jesus christ that by him or through him worship can be given to the father access to the father and so it's very very wonderful to consider this his infinite greatness and glory that there cannot be any true access or approach to the father except by him by him are all things and the term all things is very embracive here and of course has to do with the sphere of christian practice and christian service and so here i believe by him are all things it's by him that we approach to the father and offer to him our worship and our praise and then in in the epistle to the romans and this is worth noting in the epistle to the romans again and again and again we find the statement through our lord jesus christ now here we find that the divine blessings and the great salvation because romans is a treatise of the great salvation we find that it operates through our lord jesus christ and it couldn't be any other way it's god and man but in the middle our lord jesus christ and every blessing that we can enjoy in this realm is through him because of his infinite greatness and glory let me quote one scripture the last verse of romans chapter 8 that nothing nothing can separate us from the love of god which is in christ jesus our lord it's not the preposition preposition through there but the same idea is conveyed that he's there in connection with the love of god and if we're going to enjoy that love it's in christ and we can say humbly through him salvation eternal life through him by him all things are by him and we have the impression of the lord jesus standing and his great administrator of all the blessings of god reminds us of joseph how he was raised to the pinnacle of greatness in the land of egypt and if anything was to be done go to joseph said pharaoh he's the man he'll look after things everything operates by him he's the man who will dispense the bounty that is necessary and so it is today in the great realm of blessing that through mercy we are connected with our lord jesus christ he is the one by whom all things are accomplished then one other scripture in first corinthians 12 you remember it speaks about god it speaks about the spirit and it speaks about the lord and it says there are many many forms of service but one lord one lord who is operating in them here again in the variety of service in the christian realm the lord jesus is the one who gives the direction it's often been stated that these three things are connected with the lordship of christ authority and direction and administration and so we find this in connection with the lord jesus in every person no matter who it is brother or sister in any form of service that they perform then it's the lord who helps them and who provides the strength and the direction that is necessary my that's a very humbling matter because if i'm going to serve the lord i certainly cannot depend upon my will even a paul he wanted to go to a certain place and the spirit says no it was the spirit of jesus notice that in the new translation it was the spirit of jesus that directed him not to go and the next place he wanted to go no you don't go there either the spirit of jesus why the spirit of jesus because the spirit of that man whoever lived here for the will of god and that spirit same spirit of that glorious humble man was the spirit that directed paul and that's the spirit that can direct you and me as we seek to do something for the lord and believe me it has to be a continual exercise and the moment we let our defenses down that moment is when satan comes in and occupies our mind with what we want ourselves what we like ourselves our own prejudices our own choices and that's of no use in the service of god we have to be subject dependent and obedient and so here we find this great principle in connection with any form of service whatever it might be the lord by whom are all things now lastly and ephesians no sorry philippians 3 philippians 3 first very very encouraging portion philippians 3 for our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the savior the lord jesus christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself the first act of divine power when the lord jesus comes will be when he touches the bodies of the dead saints and the bodies of the living saints now immediately our minds begin to work how is it possible that millions of people who have died their bodies have molded in the grave they've crumbled away to dust in some cases they don't exist they've been blown to pieces how is it possible that all those bodies will be raised and changed now we cannot possibly answer that by a reasoning mind and the conclusion we come to through a reasoning mind is it's impossible it's in this realm that we transfer our reasoning mind to the greatness and glory of the son of god and that's the only answer when we understand how great he is and you remember what we said at the beginning that he brought into being this world in all its complexity governed by fixed laws and all the complexity of this universe in which we live he by his power brought that into being and i believe and we have to say this reverently that what he does with the bodies of the saints who are dead including old testament saints and the bodies of those who are living those who belong to the church all changed is a light thing with him it's not something that's going to tax his powers to the very limit it's something that he's well able to do in the divine power that belongs to him and says the apostle in case anything like this should be in the mind of the saints he'll subdue all things by his power this is the way that he's going to do it as far as our bodies are concerned the living the the saints who have died their bodies will be raised and changed and those who are alive on earth their bodies will be changed and they'll be given bodies of glory like unto the body of glory that christ has what kind of body is that i don't know nobody knows but we do know that we're going to have a body like that and that's a marvelous thing by divine power and that power is the power that's going to subdue all things unto himself you remember what psalm 110 says often quoted in the new testament sit thou on my right hand until i make thy foes the footstool of thy feet he must reign until his enemies are subdued he will subdue all things according to the power that he has at the present moment in the day of grace blessing is offered to all and sundry not compelled to bow given the opportunity to bow and unfortunately there are so few who take advantage of it but in that day oh that will be different they will be compelled to bow compelled to obey and all the opposing forces that we read of from revelation chapter 6 up to chapter 19 formidable foes great and powerful foes against christ and against the remnant of israel and against the saved amongst the gentiles they'll all have to bow the knee every one of them they'll all be subdued by divine power the power that he has to subdue all things unto himself is this possible any indication of this in the life of the lord jesus of course there is these great and glorious miracles that he accomplished an evidence of the power that he has the power to raise the dead the power over the elements power in every way in which he lived and and and worked for god every possible evidence of power that was resident in him and that power will be operated to subdue all things all things most comprehensive statement here of course in the context we're thinking of all things taking into account every opposing element not the all things of devoted people but the all things of opposing people subdue all things unto himself this is what we're waiting for the last act of the savior he will come as savior coming to save our bodies change our bodies the last act in salvation of our lord jesus christ now lastly for a few moments in ephesians chapter one having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to the good pleasure which he had purposed himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him now here is a very embracive statement indeed and of course refers to what we term what is termed in hebrews the world to come the mystery of god's will now i know this company understands this term mystery it's not something mysterious rather something that has been revealed that could never have been ascertained by human reason and because of that has been revealed by god to those who have the gift of the spirit and are able to discern that it is of god this is what the mystery means if you like in simplicity persons who are initiated into the mystery of god's will and that mystery is summed up in very few words that in this coming day the world to come everything everything is going to be headed up in christ for god's delight and pleasure why should that be for the simple reason that the first man and his posterity have shamed god failed god in every feature of responsibility and god is going to demonstrate to the whole universe that in everything where man has failed his glorious son will succeed if we think for a moment of the earthly reign of christ one thousand years a dynasty of power and glory and blessing the roman power the roman empire if it could be called an empire in its later stages fragmented with very little power either politically or any other way very very little influence lasted a long time but no power and certainly no amount of blessing but a thousand years years and in revelation chapter 20 if i remember correctly six times we find the expression one thousand years which gives us to believe that this is no figurative number but a number that indicates the length of time of the world to come the reign of christ one thousand glorious years when this universe will see blessing such as it has never seen since the fall marvelous thing and in every way in which man has failed christ will rule for the glory of god if we think of kingship and you remember that when israel desired a king it was to oust god out of that position because god sitting between the cherubim was sitting on his throne and ruling in the midst of israel and when they desired a mere man a mortal man to reign over them as god said to samuel don't you worry samuel they haven't rejected you they've rejected me and they got a and you know what a failure he was there was a respite when we find david a man after god's own heart but he had his failures too and then we find that solomon for a brief moment had his blaze of glory and then succumb to idolatry the direct result the direct cause i should say of the division in israel and then we come to the divided nation and we find the kings of the northern kingdom not one good king amongst the kings of israel we come to judah praise god there were some good kings in amongst the kings of judah but the time came when they came to an end too the nation carried into babylon and no more kings until the king came and they rejected him but in the world to come a king shall reign in righteousness another prophecy 32nd chapter of isaiah verse 1 i think it is king shall reign in righteousness then we find in zechariah that a king and priest shall sit upon his throne so kingship and priesthood will be filled out in perfection in christ marvelous thing and all the ways in which man has failed authority given to noah to govern that failing and isaiah 9 tells us the government shall be upon his shoulder and that government shall increase like it's peace marvelous thing that every way in which man has failed christ will succeed and fill everything out for god's pleasure and glory what a wonderful person all things it says head up let me read it correctly that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even him and in him to gather together in one it gives me the impression that in this one glorious person all these things will be fulfilled for god's delight and pleasure in revelation chapter 5 verse 12 we have varied things mentioned about christ and a scripture of praise and while in one sense they are a reversal of all the things that he experienced under the hand of man at the cross on the other hand i believe these are the things that will mark him in his reign those great features looking after riches power honor glory praise all these things will be operative in him and by him when he reigns in the world to come which guarantees that it will be a reign of the greatest possible blessing i just want to notice this expression as i close the fullness of times there are a few expressions in the bible which are similar to this and we have to distinguish what they mean the fullness of the times here indicates clearly the world to come the reign of christ for a thousand years a similar expression but totally different is in galatians 4 the fullness of the time and this refers to the incarnation of the son of god as he came into this world at that precise moment arranged by god he came the fullness of the time and then we read in i think it's romans 11 it speaks about the fullness of the gentiles and that refers to the completion of the church because the church is predominantly gentile at the beginning it was predominantly jew but now it's predominantly gentile and when the fullness of the gentiles comes in that is when the gentile time is finished and every believer is brought into the church when that ends then israel will be brought into the line of promise once more and the other expression the times of the gentiles which began with nebuchadnezzar and will end in revelation 19 when the lord jesus comes and destroys every opposing element gentiles included and brings in his reign of righteousness now it's important to distinguish these things because at a casual reading we might think they all they all refer to the same thing well then the time's gone and a lot more could be said because there's so many scriptures that refer to all things connected with our lord jesus christ but i trust that enough has been said to whet your appetite to search these scriptures out and see what a marvelous person he is that this term is connected with him in so many ways and of course you just need to read colossians chapter one and a few verses there and you have a cluster of all things and they bring glories of christ before you well may the lord encourage us for his namesake …