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[0:00] Now for a short while we can turn to this portion of God's word that we have read.! Luke chapter 12 and verse 32.

[0:10] Fear not little flock for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. I want to follow the verse as it's put down.

[0:28] Four things. Fear not. And then a little bit about little flock and then about the father and the great promise that he gives then it is the father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

[0:48] Fear not. Now I know the last time I was here that that came up in what I was preaching on.

[0:59] So I will try and keep away with most of the things that I had down that night. But at the beginning of our new year here we need God.

[1:13] We need to trust in God for whatever lies ahead. And sometimes with our small faith as Christians we don't seem to trust God in the things of providence.

[1:31] God for the first time. The generation before us. The generation before us. And the reason possibly for that is I'm probably the oldest person here. And I cannot remember a day when I didn't have something to eat.

[1:48] The provision. The provision. The provision. And at that time it used to be fish. And I still love eating fish. And I was brought up on fish and porridge.

[1:58] Good things. So. But sometimes when people probably in March and April when there was very little things would get quite tight.

[2:12] And people would be praying that they would get something. And wonderful answer to prayer at that time. It is not so easy for us as some other people are able to do.

[2:27] Some other sects to say the Lord will provide. Or we'll go home with our soul. Because there is no other place to go.

[2:42] But he has provided for us. And we should be thankful for that over the years. He has provided all our bodily needs. But it doesn't stop there.

[2:56] He provides also the needs of our soul. And he has provided a saviour in Christ Jesus. And his great promise is that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.

[3:14] He is wanting us here. He is putting two things before the people. First of all the ravens. And that God's care for us is above what he does for the ravens.

[3:31] But the ravens they don't sow. They don't reap. They don't have barns. But notice what he said. God provides for them.

[3:43] Even these ravens. And also the flowers that grow. And Solomon in all his glory, he is saying, was not arrayed like one of these.

[3:57] And yet he does all that himself. God is the creator of all things. And he provides for the birds.

[4:09] And we mustn't forget that he provides for his own spiritual children above and beyond what he does for birds.

[4:21] God is in control. God is all powerful. And we cannot put any barriers. Whatever barriers we put up, we cannot put any barriers up before the power of God.

[4:39] And thankfully, he doesn't send us out as Christians to defend ourselves. He helps us.

[4:53] And that's a short prayer that we had before we came in. He keeps us. He keeps us on the way.

[5:04] Into him that is able to keep us from falling. And to present us spotless before his glory with exceeding joy.

[5:16] He keeps his people. And if we weren't being kept by God, we needn't have any hope.

[5:28] Because the power that is against us are so large. Now, he said to the disciples when he was going away, Let not your heart be troubled or be afraid.

[5:46] You believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you.

[5:58] He has gone to prepare a place. Now, the next thing. A little flock. And I suppose in every generation that it has been a little flock.

[6:15] It was like that in the days of Christ himself. He came into his own. And his own received him not. But as many as received him, he gave them power to be the children of God.

[6:34] Even those that believe in his name. He wept. He wept over Jerusalem. And said, How often I would have gathered you as a hen gathers her chicks.

[6:50] But you would not. It wasn't that they could not. But they would not. They would not. There is a broad road and a narrow road.

[7:07] Broad road that leads to destruction. And a narrow way that leads to eternal life. And Christ himself said, Few.

[7:19] Few. That be would find it. I remember being in a house at Communion. So. Number of years ago. And the house was full.

[7:32] And there was a very large amount of young converts at that time. And somebody asked this question. When Christ comes again the second time.

[7:48] Is he going to have more on his side than on Satan's side? And there was silence for a wee while. And an old elder from Arnon answered the question.

[8:03] And I thought he answered it very well. It was an elder in this congregation. Who has passed into glory. He said, When Christ comes again the second time.

[8:16] Christ will have his sheep on his right. And although he is putting people on the other side. Satan will have nothing. Satan will be banished.

[8:27] And his demons. And those that he blinded down here upon the earth. Will be banished away from his side. So the answer was that he would have nothing at the end.

[8:41] Now. What kind of a people. Are the sheep of Christ. Well he himself said.

[8:54] That they hear his voice. And they follow him. Now. There are people. And this must happen.

[9:06] There are people that are born again. And although. That might frighten. People who are wanting to come out. On the side of Christ.

[9:17] It is the work of the spirit. In my condition. I remember well. How that happened. But it's different in other people.

[9:30] But there is one thing. That you must have. And that is. A consciousness. Of your sin. Before a holy God. And then.

[9:42] You have a prayer. A short prayer. Have mercy upon me. You come. To the saviour. And that word.

[9:53] Saviour. Would have no sense whatsoever. Unless there was something. To be saved from. All of a sudden. You are aware.

[10:05] Of your sin. And your unworthiness. Before God. And you have nothing. To come with. Except.

[10:17] What Christ. Has done. On your behalf. You come. Under the shelter. Of the blood. And you are pleading.

[10:27] What. What you are really pleading. Is the merits. Of Christ. On your behalf. And he gives. These people. Who are.

[10:40] The sheep. Of Christ. He gives them. Eternal life. And none of them. Will perish. None of them.

[10:50] Will be thrown. Into hell. And none of them. Is able. No power. Is able. To pluck them. Out. Of the hands.

[11:01] Of God. It is a people. Who have. Cried to God. Who saw. Their plight. He saw. That they were.

[11:12] Standing. On a slippery. Slope. On the edge. Of. Passing. Into. The depths. Of hell.

[11:26] Cried. For mercy. Now. When they come under. This shepherd.

[11:37] As I have said. He deals with them. The natural shepherd. The crafter. And some of you.

[11:48] Will understand. What I am going to say. You shear them. And you dip them. And you dredge them. And everything.

[11:59] You do. With these sheep. They put their. Four feet. In the ground. And you see. They say. I say. Well. You are not going to do this. To me. Yet. The crafter.

[12:10] Is doing. That. To them. For their good. And sometimes. God. Deals. With his people.

[12:22] Likewise. And they. Themselves. Are saying. Why are you doing this. To me. I was better. The way I was. But no. And he has.

[12:34] A. A great care. Now. You remember. As I remember. When I came out. First of all. It's hard.

[12:47] To describe. I think. I was. Going. According. To my feelings. At the. At the start. But. As I went on.

[12:58] God. Removes. These things. So that. You will. Trust. More. And more. In him. And.

[13:11] He has. A great. Care. For his people. Even. The lambs. When they start. He carries.

[13:22] Them. In his. Bosom. And he. Gently. Lids. Those. That. Are young. Now.

[13:33] Seeing. Where. At lambs. Lambs. When they are. Born. And they are. Laid there.

[13:43] On the ground. There are. Two things. That these lambs. Need. And the two things.

[13:53] That they know. They know. What they need. And they know. Where to find it. And.

[14:04] That is the way. It is. With everyone. If we would only see it. That we would see your need. When God.

[14:14] When God opens your eyes. You see your need. Of salvation. And you know. Where to find it. And the only place.

[14:26] To find it. Is in Christ. Christ. And it's interesting. That these. Lambs. That are born.

[14:38] And look. If this is an English word. I don't know. Wobbly. Trying to get on their feet. They know. What they need. And they have to get it.

[14:49] Within a certain amount of time. Because. There's vitamins. In that. First milk. That they eat. That keep them. Away from diseases.

[15:04] And. They know. Exactly. Where that milk is. Oh. That we would. Be the same. Christ himself said.

[15:17] There is one thing. Needful. One thing. And Mary. Mary has chosen. That good part. That will not.

[15:29] Be taken. Away. From her. Now. I don't know. If there is anybody. Here. That is as yet. On the outside of Christ.

[15:41] And maybe. Some people. Will hear this. Afterwards. But Christ. Is standing. At your door.

[15:52] Of your heart. And he is knocking. And he is wanting. To come in. And to eat with you.

[16:03] And you. With him. You. All of us. All of us. Have sinned. And come short.

[16:14] Of the glory. Of God. But he came. Not to call. The righteous. People. Who thought. That they would get into heaven.

[16:24] By how good they are. We can only get into heaven. By how good Christ is. And what he has done.

[16:35] On our behalf. To be under the protection. Of the blood. For when I see the blood. I will pass over.

[16:47] Now the next word. The father. The sheep. Can come. To God. And call him.

[17:00] Our father. Which art. In heaven. Hallowed. Be. My name. And as I tried to emphasis. Earlier on. The sheep.

[17:11] Of Christ. Are precious. To God. Is precious. As the father. Pityeth his own children. So also.

[17:25] Will the heavenly father. Pity. Those. That fear him. Not always.

[17:37] In this relationship. To God. And as most of you. Will know. The one that is over.

[17:48] The word of God. Here. Was not always. And. Could not always. Call. God. Father. In the far country.

[18:05] Children of wrath. Like others. Ach. Ye. Aslaiveth. And roke. God. That is rich. In mercy.

[18:17] He came. Lifted us out. Of the situation. That we are in. And adopted us.

[18:30] Into the family. Of God. God. And many commentators. Say that. This is the highest. Of all graces.

[18:43] That a human being. Could be. Adopted. Into. The family. Of God. And these people.

[18:54] Have many privileges. They can turn. To God. In prayer. They pray.

[19:06] To God. And God. Speaks. To them. Through his word. Sometimes. Through a service. Romans.

[19:18] It. Says. Those. That. Are. Led. By the spirit. They are.

[19:30] The children. Of God. I don't. Think. That. Has. Got. Anything. To. Do. With. The daily. Things.

[19:41] That. You have. Between. God. But. Where. The spirit. Has. Led. You. To. To. The saviour. And.

[19:53] Also. When they come. To God. They come. With a boldness. Not. Not as.

[20:04] A boldness. You would come. To the things. Of this world. It's. It's. In humility. They come. To God. And.

[20:15] They cry. To him. They come. So that. They would find. Very. And. Grace. To help.

[20:27] In time. Of need. And. That's. What. God. Does. To his people. Now. Lastly. It.

[20:38] Is. The father. Good. Pleasure. To give you. The kingdom. kingdom. He is. He is. Not.

[20:48] Going. To give you. This kingdom. Grudgingly. He is. It is. Of his. Good. Pleasure. Good.

[20:58] Pleasure. Pleasure. And. He. He. Regards. Them. As. His. Own. Children. Adopted.

[21:09] Into. The. Family. Of. God. And. They. Will. Come. A. Day. When. They. Will. Be. Presented. Spotless. Before.

[21:20] His. Glory. And. Take. You. As. I. Have. Said. Earlier. When.

[21:30] Christ. Was. Going. Away. To. The. House. Of. Many. Mansions. Where. We. Will. Abide. Forever. And.

[21:43] The. Sheep. Of. Christ. They. Are. Of. God. And.

[21:54] They. Are. Joined. Heirs. With. Christ. Isn't. That. Amazing. Now. This.

[22:06] Is. Coming. From. A. God. That. Cannot. Lie. That. We. Are. Heirs. Of. God. And.

[22:17] Joined. Heirs. With. Christ. You. Can. Be. A. For. Something.

[22:27] In. This. World. Maybe. Somebody. Has. Promised. When. I. Die. You. Will. Get. This. Whatever. It. May. Be. You. But.

[22:37] Two. Things. Can. Happen. There. First. Of. All. The. You. Could. Die. Yourself. Before. You. Got. It. And.

[22:49] Another. Thing. That. Could. Happen. Is. That. Whoever. Had. Promised. You. This. Which. Changes.

[22:59] Will. But. He. Is. Our. The. One. That. Has. Promised. This. Is. A. God. That. Doesn't.

[23:10] Change. Unchangeable. In. His. Goodness. And. In. His. Truth. So. Christ. Came.

[23:22] For. You. Died. For. You. Rose. For. You. Died. For. Your. Sins. Rose. For. Your. Justification. And. He. Is. Coming. Again.

[23:33] And. He. Will. Take. You. Home. I. Know. That. The. Souls. Of. Believers. At. Their. Death. Made. Perfect. In. Holiness. And. Does. Immediately. Pass.

[23:43] Into. Glory. But. Also. At. His. Second. Coming. The. Dead. In. Christ.

[23:54] Will. Rise. They. Will. Rise. And. The. Soul. Will. Be. Reunited. To. The. Body. And. The. Body.

[24:05] Will. Reve. Everything. That. Was. Poisonous. Within. It. In. The. Tomb. He.

[24:16] Died. For. You. And. This. Is. The. Legacy. That. He. Has. Left. His. Judge. That. He.

[24:27] Will. Give. You. The. Kingdom. Give. You. The. Kingdom. And. That. Is. How. We. Can. Be. Sure. Of. This.

[24:37] Inheritance. He. Has. Left. Us. This. Promise. Now. How. Are. We. Going. To. Be. Fit. To.

[24:48] Be. Put. On. The. Right. Hand. Of. Christ. When. He. Comes. Because. We.

[24:58] Are. Not. Worthy. But. We. Are. Going. There. Pleading. The. Merits. Of. Christ.

[25:09] Not. Only. Did. He. Die. He. Rose. And. He. Has. Gone. Up. Into. Heaven. And. Sitting. At. The. Right. Hand. Of. God. He.

[25:20] Went. In. There. With. The. Evocacy. Of. The. Blood. You. Are. Under. The. Protection. Of. The. Blood. Of. Christ. And.

[25:31] More. Than. That. You. Are. Clothed. With. The. Best. Robe. Second.

[25:41] Coming. There. Will. Be. A. Second. First. First. Thing. That. Will. Happen. At. The. Second. Coming. Is. The. Resurrection. Of. The. Dead. His.

[25:51] People. Will. Rise. First. And. Then. There. There. There. Be. The. Separation. That. I. Am. Talking. About. Now. Our.

[26:02] Treasure. is. In. Heaven. And. We. When. We. Believe. When. We. Believe.

[26:12] Put. Our. Trust. Not. In. Ourselves. But. Nothing. Ourselves. To. Boast. About. Before. God. Except. What. Christ.

[26:23] Has. Done. And. When. We. Believe. We. Are. Clothed. With. The. Righteousness. Of. Christ.

[26:33] It. Is. On. All. And. For. All. Who. Believe. And.

[26:45] On. This. Day. At. The. Second. Coming. Of. Christ. That. Righteousness. Would. Be. Precious. To. Us.

[26:56] Maybe. Today. We. Do. Not. Think. A. Lot. That. We. Are. Clothed. With. The. Righteousness. Of. Christ. But. At.

[27:06] A. Second. Coming. We. We. Will. Be. Clothed. The. Old. People. Up. In. Braga. They.

[27:17] Used. To. To. Speak. About. Things. And. They. Would. Be. Join. Joining. Them. Together. This. Best. Robe. That. Is. On. The. Christian.

[27:31] And. It. It. It. Was. A. Symbol. That. I. Remember. Them. Talking. About. This. It. Was. Symbolic. What. What. What. I'm. Going. To. Say. But. You.

[27:42] Have. An. Idea. Of. What. It. Means. When. Somebody. Would. Lose. A lamb. A lamb.

[27:53] Had. Died. And. There. Was. A neighbor. And. He. Had. Maybe. Twins. Or. Something. And. He. Would. Get. One. Of. These. Lambs. And.

[28:03] This. Thing. Is. Still. Going. On. Up. Where. I. I. Have. Seen. It. Doing. It. Often. Taking. The skin. Of. The dead. Lamb. And.

[28:17] Tying. It. With. Thin. Twine. And. Then. Putting. It. Over. To. The sheep. And.

[28:28] The sheep. Would. Take. To. The lamb. As. Their own. Because. It. Was. Clothed.

[28:39] With. The skin. Of. The dead. Lamb. And. They. Were. Joining. That. Together. With. The. Righteousness.

[28:50] And. The best. Robe. That. Is. On. The Christian. It. Is. Because. Of. The dead. Lamb. The lamb. Of. God. That.

[29:00] Gave. Himself. That. Died. For. Her. In. Her. Stead. It. Is. Symbolic. But. I. Can. See. Where. They. Were. Coming. From. And.

[29:10] I. Hope. You. Understand. But. For. Others. At. His. Second. Coming. They.

[29:22] Will. Be. Banished. Away. Workers. He will say, come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom that has been prepared for you since the creation of the world.

[29:37] But to the others he will say, away! You cursed, I never knew you. So it is important then for us to be sure the believers have a great future.

[29:58] The best is yet to come. Paul himself said, I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us.

[30:18] Yes. Sickness will come, pain will come, trouble will come, but that will not keep us out of the kingdom.

[30:34] A place, it is hard for us to try and describe what it is like. And I think the word of God makes it clear that we see through a glass darkly.

[30:52] But it is a place that will be unbroken by any change. And it will be unmarred by any sin.

[31:05] There will be no presence of sin or Satan there. And it will be un-darkened by any sorrow. There will be no sorrow.

[31:16] Sorrow and sighing will flee away. All these things on this side. But on the other side, there will be none of these things according to the word of God.

[31:33] And if you are still outside, I plead with you.

[31:44] I plead with you. Me and you are great sinners. But Christ is a great Savior.

[31:56] I'm going to end with this. It was asked of a man who discovered, I think his name was Alexander Fleming, who discovered chloroform.

[32:13] He discovered other things, but he was well known for discovering chloroform. And they had a retirement party or two for him. And there were many people present.

[32:27] And somebody asked him this question. What was the greatest discovery you made? Listen to what he said.

[32:39] He said, My greatest discovery was twofold. First of all, I discovered that I was a sinner before a holy God.

[32:52] And I discovered then that Christ was a great Savior. And that we, all of us, would discover that for ourselves.

[33:07] Amen. And may the Lord bless to us these few thoughts on his holy word. Let us sing the final singing tonight.

[33:28] Psalm 23. Scottish Psalter. Psalm 23. And we'll sing the whole psalm. The Lord's my shepherd.

[33:41] I'll not want. He makes me down to lie. In pastish green he liteth me. The quiet waters by. My soul he doth restore again. And me to walk doth make within the paths of righteousness.

[33:54] Even for his own name's sake. Yea, though I walk in death's dark veil, yet will I fear none ill. For thou art with me on thy rod, and staff me comfort still.

[34:08] My table thou hast furnished in presence of my foes. My head thou dust with oil anoint, and my cup overflows. Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me, and in God's house forevermore my dwelling place shall be.

[34:26] We'll sing the whole psalm in closing. The Lord's my shepherd. I'll not want.

[34:41] He makes me turn to lie. In pastish green He leadeth me The quiet waters by.

[35:07] My soul he doth restore again.

[35:18] And me to walk doth make Within the paths of righteousness In for his own name's sake.

[35:47] Yea, though I walk in death's dark veil, Yet will I fear none ill, For thou art with me on thy rod, And staff me comfort still.

[36:25] My table thou hast furnished In presence of my foes, My head thou hast with oil anoint, And my cup overflows.

[37:06] Goodness and mercy all my life Shall surely follow me, And in God's house forevermore, My dwelling place shall be.

[37:46] Let us draw near to God in prayer. Let us draw near to God in prayer. O gracious and eternal God, We pray that thou would bless thy word to us, Bless the singing of thy praises to us, And we pray as we part one from another, And we pray that thou would not part with us, That thou would bind us together With cords of love that cannot be broken.

[38:18]  Bind us together in Christ. For Christ's sake. Amen. Amen.