Feb 12
26
SERMON – SPIRITUAL FEARS (extract Henry Law)
If there is a picture, in which all enchanting beauty shines,
it is that which represents the state of the children of God
by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3:26. Every joy should glow
in their cup. They are called to a song swelling with
melody, which cannot be more sweet. They are invited to
a garden, in which each fragrant flower ever blooms. They
are enjoined to sit down beneath the shadow of a tree, on
whose extended branches most luscious fruit forever
hangs. A volume is presented to their hands, written inside
and outside in glowing terms of bliss—in which every
page is calm and bright, and where perusal never wearies.
Thus blessed is the heritage of faith.
To show the truth of this statement is an easy and
delightful task. It requires no stretch of mind—no strain of
argument—no effort of intellect—no expansion of reason’s
wings—no deductions of logic—no inventions of wit. To
gain this light, we have only to sit still, and hear what God
the Lord has said. Let the record be now pondered with
earnest cry—’Open our eyes, good Lord, that we may
behold wondrous things out of Your law; open our ears
that we may hear Your heavenly voice, walking in the
garden of Your word; open our mouths wide, and then
descend and fill.’
The faithful word instantly gives the following witness–
God’s children share His EVERLASTING LOVE. Oh!
that the love of God were shed abroad more abundantly in
our hearts by the Holy Spirit, which is given unto us.—
Rom. 5:5. Its origin and duration should be pondered. It
began before the birth of time. It will be fresh, when time
shall be no more. “I have loved You with an everlasting
love.”—Jer. 31:3. “I am persuaded that neither death nor
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Rom 8:38-39.
“God is love.” It is the very essence of His being. If it
could expire where would God exist?
God’s children are enriched with the gift of gifts—the
largest and the best, which heaven could grant. God gives
His co-eternal and co-equal Son, Christ Jesus the Lord. If
worlds upon worlds with all their treasures, beauties,
glories, had been piled into one pyramid, it would have
been as the small dust of the balance, when weighed
against this portion. Each one can truly say, “I am my
Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine.”—Song 6:3. Christ—
all that Christ is—all that Christ has—is granted as an
inalienable possession.
What tender RELATIONSHIPS result! He is the
everlasting Father—we are begotten by the word of His
truth. “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she
should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes,
they may forget, yet will I not forget You.”—Isa. 49:15.
But Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.—
Prov. 18:24. His life belongs to His people, that they may
live forever. His death is theirs, that the second death may
touch them not. His blood is theirs, to wash them whiter
than the whitest snow. His wounds are theirs, their hidingplace
from wrath. His stripes are theirs, their healing
balm. His righteousness is theirs, their fit robe for the
courts of heaven. His prayers are theirs, that every blessing
may be obtained. His advocacy is theirs, to silence the
accuser’s voice. His whole work is theirs, that they may be
forever saved. His glory is theirs, that they may be like
Him, as He is. Is not this all-surpassing happiness?
God’s children rank the HOLY SPIRIT high among their
treasures. The word is true, “I will not leave you
comfortless.”—”I will ask the Father, and He shall give
you another Comforter, that He may abide with you
forever.”— John 14:16. Hence the bold appeal—”What!
Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit who is in you!”—1 Cor. 6:19. Is he not supremely
happy, who at all times and in all places bears within his
heart this heavenly inhabitant—this in-dwelling God! His
presence gives light, and peace, and joy. He opens the eye
to see the glories of the Gospel-hope. He molds the will to
receive the blessed Jesus in His every office of saving
grace. He shows redemption’s consummated scheme, and
gives the appropriating hand of faith. He whispers
guidance in each doubt, perplexity, distress. He causes the
Bible-page to shine in heavenly light. He applies the
precious promises with enlivening power. He stamps the
sacramental privileges with seals of assurance. He leads
into all truth, and dissipates the mists of error. Are they not
happy who are thus enriched?
God’s children are exempt from sin’s penal woe. In
common with all mothers’ sons, their iniquities are—
many—grievous—vile—often done against the Spirit’s
warning—the voice of conscience, and clear knowledge of
duty’s call. These rise as mountains upon mountains, and
they accuse as with thunder’s roar. The children meet not
offences with excuse. They humbly own their magnitude
of guilt. But they present an all-absolving plea. “Christ has
died,” when urged by faith, releases from all wrath. The
blood, which streamed on Calvary, obliterates the
crimson-dye, and makes each stain invisible even to the
omniscient eye. “As far as the east is from the west,” the
dying Savior bears the load away. The voice is heard in all
its sweet assurance, “You will cast all their sins into the
depths of the sea.”—Micah 7:19. The heart may grasp the
record, “There is therefore now no condemnation.”—
Rom. 8:1. And again, “in Whom we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the
riches of His grace.”—Eph. 1:7. The God, who is their
God, pardons iniquity, and transgression, and sin.—Exod.
34:7.
They are ADOPTED into the family of God. This honor
belongs to all Christ’s members. Such was the purpose
before the world began. “Having predestinated us unto the
adoption of children, by Jesus Christ unto Himself,
according to the good pleasure of His will.”—Eph. 1:5.
The heaven-directed pen writes, “For you did not receive a
spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you
received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba,
Father.’ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs
of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his
sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”—
Rom. 8:15, 17.
How sweet the tenderness, which encourages, “Beloved,
now are we the sons of God.”—1 John 3:2. This sonship
involves the brotherhood of Jesus. The relationship is
gladly avowed. Hear the assurance, “I ascend to My Father
and your Father—to My God and your God.”—John
20:17. We are predestinated to be conformed to His image,
that “He might be the first-born among many brethren.”—
Rom. 8:29.
Soar high on wings of PRAISE. Begin on earth the song of
the redeemed. Intermingle now with the harpers harping
with their harps. What motives urge you to this melody!
What topics of thanksgiving throng around you! Verily,
they cannot be exhausted. The bliss of adoration is ever
new. The name of Jesus is an ever-budding theme. In it
there is melody without end. Without pause praise His
salvation. Bless God incessantly that you claim Him as
your own—that your feet stand on praising and on praying
ground—and that every moment wafts your bark nearer to
the shore of ceaseless hallelujahs. In this blissful exercise
fears wither. Resolve that these songs shall continually be
in your mouth, and happiness will fill your heart.