SERMON – SPIRITUAL FEARS (extract Henry Law)

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.

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