By way of introduction to our subject tonight,
I would like to read this 8th chapter
of Romans and verse 32.
They are the words of the beloved Apostle
Paul as he wrote them and gave in
that wonderful chapter, in the 32nd verse, this
precious fact.
He that spared not his own son, but
delivered him up for his own, how shall
he not with him also freely give us
all things?
Tonight we wish to speak upon the privileges
of the father's children.
And when we look at the verse before
us, we must recognize that the works of
privileges that as members in his family, as
his children, those privileges express to us the
father's great heart of concern for his beloved
children in every need.
It is because of his love that he
cares for his children.
His love for them prompts him to be
considerate of their condition in every need.
The verse that we have read gives the
indication that the greatest gift of his love
was his own beloved son.
But with that gift of his beloved son,
all other gifts that may be lesser in
value or importance, nevertheless all other gifts come
through him.
Note the words carefully.
He that spared not his own son, but
delivered him up for his own, how shall
he not with him, with that son, through
that son, also freely give us all things?
The beloved son is the greatest gift, but
with that beloved son has come many lesser
gifts for you and for me to enjoy
as his children.
Tonight we would speak on the subject of
the privileges that belong to the children of
God.
We have touched upon a few facets of
truth relating to the father and his family.
Many other subjects of kindred might could be
touched upon for our blessing.
But here is one that I believe we
shall all value tonight, the privileges that the
father has given to his children.
You know it's a wonderful thing to have
the privileges of the father and to be
so privileged to be in his family.
I remember when my children were small, they
took for granted that everything their parents possessed
belongs to them.
I recall on one occasion as we came
with a new car out of the sales
room and out of the service stage, out
of the service garage, the children had watched
the transaction take place very quietly, without a
word, without any interference, and they had all
immediately got out of the old car and
then into the new car.
But the moment that they reached the street
in the new car, the moment those front
wheels came into the street, they both said
unitedly, Daddy, is this ours?
Well I think sometimes they still say that.
But one can recognize they enjoyed the privileges
that went along with being possessed by such
parents.
And oh my beloved child of God, if
only you and I would realize, our blessed
father, who did not spare his only son,
but truly gave him up for us all,
how shall he not then, also with him,
give us all things?
And one is going to realize there are
many privileges that belong to the children of
God which the father desires them to enjoy.
We haven't time to talk of many of
them tonight, but I do wish to speak
briefly, first of all, upon the privilege of
our father's care.
The care of our father over his children,
and in two particular ways.
Now if you have your bible, I wish
you to follow with me in Matthew chapter
10, the words of the Lord Jesus, for
who could tell us better than the son
himself, some of the privileges of our father's
care over us.
In chapter 10 of the gospel of Matthew,
let me read briefly to bring before our
hearts and minds the subject, verses 28 through
verse 31.
The Lord Jesus saying, as you read in
verse 28 through 31, fear not them which
kill the body, but are not able to
kill the soul, but rather fear him which
is able to destroy both soul and body
in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a fathering,
and one of them shall not fall on
the ground without your father, but the very
hands of your head are all numbered.
Therefore fear ye not therefore, ye are of
more value than many sparrows.
Now I want you to follow carefully with
me the context preceding as well as following
the portion we have read, for in the
context we find the Lord Jesus telling of
our father's care for his children in view
of persecution, in relation to their sufferings, and
in relation to even the dangers of death
that we may face.
Now may I point out from verse 16,
as we go down the section, begin with
verse 16 and see with me these words,
the Savior says, behold I send you forth
as sheep in the midst of wolves.
Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless
as dogs.
Now let me point out to you as
the context clearly indicates, as his children we
are to serve the Father.
We are to serve him in this present
world.
As we serve him in this world, we
shall find that it is an antagonistic world.
He gives the description that he is sending
us out into this world in the midst
of wolves, and we are as sheep, and
we're to be wise as serpents and harmless
as dogs.
And yet though he sends us into an
antagonistic world, to thus remember our responsibility to
serve him, we thank God that he will
prove his care over us.
But then if you will, we shall not
take the time, but if you were to
read from verse 17 through verse 23, you
would find that the service of his children
provokes opposition from the world.
As you have it in verse 17, let
me just read verse 17 and 18 briefly.
Beware of men, they will deliver you up
to the council, they will scourge you in
their synagogues, ye shall be brought before governors
and kings for my sake, for a testimony
against them and the Gentiles.
And as you read down the context, the
Father makes it clear through the lips of
his Son that we face an antagonistic world,
and that antagonistic world will be opposed to
his children.
Do you remember the Lord Jesus said that
if he wants, so should we be in
this world?
And we face a world that is opposed
to us.
But look with me at verse 24 and
25.
The Savior goes on to say, the disciple
is not above his master, nor the servant
above his Lord.
It is enough for the disciple that he
be of his master, and the servant as
his Lord.
If they have called the master of the
house Beelzebub, thus how much more shall they
call them of his household.
And here we have the Lord Jesus clearly
referring to the fact, we shall have the
same experience in this world as did our
master.
And yet, though this is so, we have
nothing to fear, because of the care of
our Father over us, in such an antipaganistic
scene.
If there is one thing that we should
fear, let me point it out to you.
Go with me to verse 32 and verse
33.
May I point out what the Lord Jesus
says in verse 32?
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before man, him
will I confess also before my Father, which
is in heaven.
But whosoever shall deny me before man, him
will I also deny before my Father, which
is in heaven.
Now, if there is one thing we should
fear, it would be, and should be, being
unfaithful to our Father as we represent him
here.
The unfaithfulness of our heart.
To fear this, in this responsibility, that we
would fail to represent our Father while we
are in this scene.
Look at verse 28, please.
Note the Lord saying those words of admonition.
Fear not them which kill the body, but
are not able to kill the soul, but
rather fear him which is able to destroy
both soul and body.
So that it matters not if there may
be persecution, if there may be danger, if
there will be the very fear of death,
he tells us not to fear.
Fear not them which can kill the body,
but are not able to kill the soul.
Rather fear him who is able to kill
both body and soul, and cast into hell.
And here is the danger we should recognize,
that you and I may fail to represent
the Father in this present scene.
You remember the Lord Jesus said in John
20, as the Father has sent me, so
send I you.
And from the theme of our study of
this week, let me emphasize the importance of
realizing the responsibility of representing our Father for
his glory, for his honor, while in this
present scene.
Note with me verses 26 and 27, please.
For the Lord gives us encouragement.
He seeks to encourage and admonish us to
represent him well.
Fear them not therefore, for there is nothing
covenant that shall not be revealed, and did
that shall not be known.
What I tell you in darkness, that speaking
in light, and what ye hear in the
ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
O beloved, you and I have the joy
and privilege of understanding the Father's heart, the
Father's mind.
And our blessed Lord Jesus came to reveal
it, has fully displayed it, has fully uncovered
the Father's heart and mind.
And you and I know the Father, we
have come to the Father, we have seen
the Father in the person of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
And what we have seen, and what we
have heard, and what we know of our
Father, it is our privilege to preach on
the housetops.
And then you can recognize there's no reason
to cover up the message.
There's no reason to quiet the truth.
You know, beloved, I wish we had more
conviction of the truth today.
And fill up for the truth that God
has revealed.
And our Lord Jesus bids us not to
fear anyone.
And those men who kill the body, they
cannot kill the soul.
Many years ago, and it must be perhaps
40, near 40 years ago, I recall a
visiting brother that came to our assembly of
Christians, and gave us a little bit of
ministry as he stayed a few days.
He was an old brother from Scotland.
He had a son in the ministry here
in this country down near Pittsburgh, if I
recall.
And he himself, as a retired brother, was
seeking to preach the gospel anywhere he could.
He went to the mining regions, the coal
mining regions of Pennsylvania.
And he preached the gospel in homes, in
schoolhouses, in churches wherever he had the privilege.
But it was in a place of bitter
opposition.
And though many of the women of the
area rejoiced in his ministry and his messages,
the men of that place were definitely opposed.
They threatened him.
And then one day a man came, and
with a gun in his hand, he said,
if you don't get out of here, I
will kill you.
And he looked at the man fearlessly, and
he said, I'll give you the opportunity, your
privilege to kill me on one condition.
The man said, what's that?
He said, be certain that you shoot straight,
and you'll shoot me right into heaven.
Well, needless to say, the fellow couldn't understand
a man like that.
And neither could he feel like shooting anyone
into heaven.
The man could kill his body, and bless
your heart, he'd send his soul right to
heaven.
His body may go down, but his soul
would go up.
Oh my beloved, what a joy to realize
it is our privilege, and not only privilege,
our responsibility to represent the Father, and to
preach the truth.
Paul said to Timothy, preach the words, the
instant, in season, and out of season.
In the days of the early covenant, and
in the days when in the old country,
the state and the church were thus in
power, and godly Christians who had found Christ
were being crushed, in those days there were
men that rose up by the Spirit, and
fearlessly preached.
There was such a man in a certain
area of England, who faithfully preached the gospel,
out in the open air and everywhere that
he could.
The bishop of the area was very much
opposed, and strongly commanded him not to do
it.
But the fellow wouldn't stop.
And he saw, the bishop saw, that no
amount of persuasion, no amount of threatening, would
stop the man from preaching.
So he called into his home one time,
and he said, now listen my friend, he
said, I don't want to make trouble for
you, but if you'll only cut down your
preaching, and not do it so frequently, I
won't bother you.
So the brother said, all right, I'll promise
I'll only preach on two occasions.
Fine, the bishop said, when will they be?
And the man answered, in season and out
of season.
But the mother, do you know as well
as I do, in those days of persecution,
they looked to their father above, whether they
gave their lives, or whether he protected them,
they would be faithful.
But just note the protection of the father.
For the father's protection, and his care is
over us perpetually.
Look at me at verse 29, 30, and
31.
Are not two sparrows so for a fathering?
And one of them shall not fall on
the ground without your father?
But the very hairs of your head are
all numbered.
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more
value than many sparrows.
Remember, will you notice something?
The protection of the father's care over those
who are his, and the minuteness of that
care and protection that he offers his children.
The dangers may be great, they will be.
We may be amidst enemies, we may be
in persecution, we may be in service at
home and abroad, on land or sea, and
even in the air, and we may be
in many dangers.
Yes, and here's the lesson.
No matter what the dangers are, we should
have the conviction and the inward consciousness, our
father will protect us.
And we should enjoy the assurance of our
father's faithful, protective care.
His care is so perfect, and so minute.
He says, the very hairs of your head
are numbered.
The mightiness, minuteness of his care, that the
very hairs of one's head are completely numbered
by him, with infinite knowledge and perfection.
And the sparrow that falls, worthless as it
may be, the father says, I know it,
I see it, I care for the sparrow's
fall.
And he looks at his child, and he
says to his children, you are of more
value than many sparrows.
I wonder how many sparrows you would need
to meet the value of a saint.
If you want my humble opinion, take an
awful lot of sparrows.
My beloved, what a joy to realize the
loving, faithful, perpetual care of a father, who
in all dangers will care for his own.
Well, perhaps some of you have had some
experiences.
I haven't had too many that way.
I do remember one, though.
I was in Upper Michigan one time, ministering
at a camp, walked around the camp every
day, early in the morning, about two and
a half miles, and one day came along,
up the hill, little hill, through the woods,
and just as I came along, singing and
whistling, I suddenly spied a big she-bear
standing up on her paws and looking down
at me, with two little cubs with her,
and I knew I could be in for
trouble.
And you know, I thought of that verse,
that I can't say to the feet, I
have no need of these.
I realized the truth of the one body,
this meaning.
And my inclination was to turn and run.
I thought, well, if I run, she can
run a lot faster than I can.
And if I try to climb a tree,
she can do that better than I can.
And I just left it with the Lord,
and went on as though I didn't care
if there was a hundred bears there.
And I did, though.
But then went as nonchalant as I could,
looking to the Lord, just to keep me
going on.
And though she looked at me, stood up
three times and looked at me carefully, wondering
whether I was coming toward her or toward
the cubs.
And I didn't want anything to do with
it.
And I kept going on.
But the same thing happened to another man,
very similarly, and the bear attacked him.
But beloved, whatever the danger, oh beloved, thank
God, we're under our Father's perpetual care.
Praise His precious name.
Isn't that wonderful?
My Heavenly Father watches over me.
Go with me to Luke chapter 12, though.
I want you to see another privilege, not
only of His care over us in danger,
but His care over us in something very
practical.
And that is your food and clothing.
Luke chapter 12, please.
Luke chapter 12.
The twelfth chapter of the Gospel of Luke.
Let me begin reading at verse 22.
Let's look down the chapter together.
In verse 22 of Luke 12, Jesus said
to His disciples, Therefore I say unto you,
take no thought for your life, what ye
shall eat, neither for the body what ye
shall put on.
My beloved, if there's any avenue or problem
that we face so frequently and are anxious
over, it's the problem of food and clothing.
Our daily food, the needs of life.
What shall we eat?
Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
And beloved, there is no question of doubt.
These can be practical needs.
And lastly, needs of life that come along
every day.
For the Savior says in the next verse,
verse 23, the life is more than meat,
and the body more than raiment.
Life is greater, life itself is greater than
the food we eat, and greater than the
clothing that we wear.
But the Lord Jesus says that the problem
of food and of raiment itself should never
be of more concern than our life.
Look with me at verse 15, please.
Back in the chapter, Jesus said unto them,
Take heed, beware of covetousness, for a man's
life consisteth not in the abundance of the
things which he possesseth.
What a man possesseth, no matter how much
amount of food he may have, or not.
No matter how many clothes he may have,
or she may have.
That's not what life consists of.
A man's life does not consist of what
he possesseth.
And thank God for the spiritual vision, and
the spiritual direction that the Spirit of God
gives to us to realize the true value
of life.
It is not materialism.
Can I pause for just a moment or
two, and meditate upon one of the greatest
spiritual tragedies that comes since World War II
upon our country, and upon the great body
of Christendom, and even the people of God.
And that is the rise of materialism.
The materialistic spirit, and the materialistic desires of
even the people of God.
Material things have pushed out of that which
is more important.
Spiritual things of life, the realities of life.
One's life does not consist in the abundance
of the things which they possess.
But one of the saddest commentaries of life
today is to see men and women, and
oftentimes believers, giving themselves to the obtaining of
those material things of this thing.
Oh beloved, it's contrary to the purpose of
the Father's heart, and to the words of
the Lord Jesus.
We should we not then be anxious though,
over these things?
No, says the Lord Jesus.
For very frankly what the Lord Jesus is
saying in his admonition of verse 22, he
says, therefore I say unto you, take no
thought for your life regarding what ye shall
eat, neither for the body what ye shall
put on.
In the Confraternity edition of the New Testament,
which is the Catholic translation, most excellent one,
the translation declares that the Saviour says, I
say unto you, do not be anxious.
But you see, suppose there's no food in
the house.
The Saviour says, do not be anxious.
Do you believe it?
I remember reading the story of Hudson Taylor.
One day he came home to his home
in China where he labored for the Lord,
and his wife very sorrowfully and very furiously
pronounced to him, Hudson, we have no flour
left in the flour barrel.
What are we going to do?
He looked at him and he said, darling
I'll tell you what I'll do.
If you do it with me, I'll put
my head in the empty flour barrel, and
with you, and we'll sing the doxology.
Not easy is it?
But the Saviour says, be not anxious.
Why not?
Well he gives you an illustration in the
24th verse.
He gives you an illustration.
Now look, this is an illustration of the
Father's care.
Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor
reap, which neither hath storehouse nor barn.
And God feedeth them.
How much more are ye better than the
fowl?
Consider those black ravens.
Your father feedeth them.
He feeds them.
Are you not much better than the fowls
of the air?
Why should you be anxious?
You know I'm glad I belong to the
Father.
There's been many a time, I didn't know
where the next meal or maybe the next
week's groceries were coming from.
But I'm glad I knew my Father, my
Father's care.
And then I say to you, it's the
best social security you'll ever have.
Did you say amen?
Your heavenly Father's care.
Consider, he takes care of all the fowls.
And are ye much more better than the
fowls?
Oh beloved, food?
Poverty programs?
I wish the human race knew the Father's
care there'd be no poverty program.
And what men and women need today is
to become acquainted with the Father through Jesus
Christ the Son.
It's not the physical need that is the
outstanding need and will never be met by
any program of man.
But it's the deep need of the soul
coming in redemption to the Father through Jesus
Christ.
For I'm glad I'm saved.
The joy of realizing I'm under my Father,
even for my food.
Let me tell you something precious to me.
In the early years we were in South
Carolina, my wife had a major operation.
And while recuperating and convalescing at home, she
needed some fresh eggs.
And if any of you here, and I
think perhaps many if not most of you
lived in the Depression, when those days were
really rugged, and so there wasn't much to
go around.
But for two straight weeks, I don't know
where the chicken came from, but I found
every morning a nest in the corner of
my backyard where a chicken laid a fresh
egg every day.
So my wife could have a fresh egg
every day.
Now that sounds awful small, but I want
to tell you that was awful big.
And we took it as a token of
our Father's care.
Thank God.
You know I love my Father.
And I praise him for his loving care.
But then note, not only food, but his
care for our clothing.
Look at verse 27 and verse 28.
He says, consider the lilies, how they grow.
They toil not, they spin not.
Yet I say unto you, that Solomon in
all his glory was not arrayed like one
of these.
If they God so clothed the grass, which
is today in the field, and tomorrow is
cast into the oven, how much more will
he clothe you, O ye of little faith.
I don't know how many suits Solomon had,
and I don't even know how glorious they
may have been.
We've had some indication from the song of
Solomon in our study in the morning, that
one of the glory of Solomon's array, it
was nothing in comparison to that lovely lily
that was a divine handiwork of my Father's
skill.
And to realize the lilies that made no
toil, neither spun, to weave their own, came
as the result of the divine care of
my Father God.
And if he could not bring out the
beauty of the lily, and so clothe it
with his beauty, can he not take care
of you and of me, O ye of
little faith.
O beloved, sometimes our faith becomes an attribute,
when we see the good hand of our
Father manifesting his care.
We'll go down to chapter for a moment.
Let's read in verse 29 and verse 30.
And see not ye what ye shall eat,
or what ye shall drink, neither be ye
of doubtful mind, for all these things do
the nations of the world seek after.
Now I want to tell you frankly, beloved,
the nations of the world are seeking these
things.
They are putting these things first.
But that is not what a child of
God should do.
The Father's children should not seek these things
first.
Note what the Savior adds.
Your Father knoweth that ye have need of
these things, before even you could tell him
what you need.
He knows.
Your Father knoweth that ye have need of
these things.
Praise the Lord.
And what a joy to recognize the Father's
care in these material things.
Food, clothing, we can trust him for.
Beloved, may I say, you'll never have any
greater joy and satisfaction in your life than
when you're able to prove the Father's care.
But may I point out to you on
what principle you can do it.
But go further with me to verse thirty
-one and thirty-two.
We must not forget.
Our responsibility is not to live in careful
suspense about these things.
That's the world's anxiety.
That's what the world's seeking after.
And you and I are told, love not
the world, neither the things that are in
the world.
For all these things the nations seek after.
But our confidence can be in this.
My Father knows just what I need.
But this should be the true objective in
life.
Verse thirty-two and thirty-three.
Thirty-one and thirty-two.
But rather keep ye the kingdom of God,
and all these things shall be added unto
you.
Fear not, little flower, for it is the
Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Now, beloved, may I point out a principle
we must not fail to realize.
And it is the principle that if a
believer, if a child of God, is going
to enjoy the Father's care in food and
in raiment, that child of God should be
about his and her Father's business.
Putting first the kingdom of God, these things
will be added unto you.
We came into South Carolina, I think, in
nineteen thirty-four.
And unknown to me, the reputation you get
when you start out is amazing.
And particularly the questions that go over the
minds of many.
And I did not know it for some
weeks that I had the reputation of not
working, and yet I was getting taken care
of.
And I was away one day, for the
whole day, and I came back that evening,
and my wife was greatly disturbed.
She said, John, she said, a lady came
to the door this morning and said, when
I came to the door, are you the
people that live by faith?
My wife said, what do you mean?
Well, I understand your husband doesn't work, and
yet you get along.
And she was so curious, she forced her
way into the little apartment, which was no
bigger than two rooms.
And she looked at the furniture we had,
wasn't too much.
Is this yours?
Is that yours?
And then she spied something, and it was
a brand new radio, and it was an
elegant one.
I hadn't bought it.
I'd done a real kindness for a good
friend who was in deep trouble, in an
accident, and to such an extent of appreciation
that when he got home and was well
enough, he sent me this as a gift.
For my wife had been saying, we ought
to have a radio.
I said, well, you better pray for us.
And sure enough, here comes one of the
best.
And I was standing there, and she said
to my wife, is that hate talk?
Well, by that time, my wife was feeling
rather insulted.
I said, I wish I'd have been home.
I said, I wouldn't have called her a
lady.
But I would have told her, I'm working.
I'm working.
I was busy from early morning till late
at night, seeking to do the work of
the Lord.
And may I say, when you're faithful in
that, don't worry about your food and your
raiment.
He'll take care of you.
Put the kingdom of God first.
These things shall be handed unto you.
And not only that, he says, fear not,
little fox, it's your father's good purpose.
It is your father's good pleasure to give
you the kingdom.
And you know what?
I'm doing what a lot of people are
doing, or say they're doing.
I'm working for the kingdom.
But I'm not working to get into the
kingdom.
I hope you get the distinction.
I've been born again, I'm already in the
kingdom.
But thank God I can work for the
kingdom.
And when the kingdom is set up, fear
not, little fox, you're going to enjoy the
kingdom.
May I ask you, my dear beloved friend,
which kingdom are you living for?
Which kingdom?
This one?
Or the kingdom of glory to come?
I say it humbly but gratefully, with thanksgiving
to the grace of God, to recognize the
value of living for his glory.
And knowing the faithfulness of a father's care
for both food, as well as raiment, as
well as dangers and persecution.
But one more thought before we close.
Go with me to the Gospel of John,
please.
The Gospel of John.
We have noticed in the Gospel of John,
the great joy of having come to the
Father.
Go with me to chapter 14.
The great joy of having come to the
Father, the great joy that we know the
Father, the great joy that we've seen the
Father.
But read with me verses 12 through 14.
And the Savior declares, verily, verily, I say
unto you, he that believeth on me, the
works that I do shall he do also.
And greater works than these shall he do,
because I go unto my Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do, that the Father may
be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask anything in my name,
I will do it.
Now here's another privilege.
We not only have the privilege of the
Father's protection in all dangers, we not only
have the privilege of the Father's provision and
care for us in food and raiment, but
we have the privilege of coming to the
Father and asking of the Father.
As the Lord Jesus declares, we can also
ask the Father.
Notice what he says.
Look in verse 13 first.
Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that
will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask anything in my name,
that I will do it.
And one of the greatest privileges which we
fail to fulfill is the privilege of coming
to the Father in prayerful intercession to ask
of him.
And that we might receive.
May I put it this way?
Know what the Lord Jesus says.
Note those words.
Note them carefully, as you have it.
In, in, in verse 14.
If ye shall ask anything in my name,
I will do it.
It is asking and receiving, and that for
the Father's glory.
Note the purpose of it in verse 12.
Look at verse 12, please, the first part
of it.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that
believeth on me, the works that I do
shall he do also.
The works that I do shall he do
also, and greater works than these shall he
do.
Now, beloved, let's be very careful.
The purpose is that the Father wants his
children to do work for his glory.
And the Lord Jesus said, greater works than
I do.
How could that be possible?
Look at the end of the verse, and
you have the explanation.
Because I go unto my Father.
And there in heaven above, the Father has
the Son upon his right hand, through whom
our prayers ascend, and are presented to his
loving heart.
And because of the presence of that one
above, you and I can ask the Father
through him, for the glory of the Son.
For it's the Son that says whatsoever, now
note these words carefully, whatsoever you shall ask
in my name.
And that involves the authority of the Son.
Whatever we ask, knowing the authority of the
Son, is with the request, says the blessed
Son of God, that will I do that
the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask anything in my name,
I will do it.
Now, beloved, there's no question of doubt.
We can do greater things through prayer than
we realize.
And that's that what we approve.
The Father is able, the Father is willing.
We come to him, and through the Lord
Jesus, we plead on his authority.
Now, what we must be careful to do
is to be sure we have the authority
of the Lord Jesus.
I remember when I was a young Christian,
only in my teens, had a Sunday school
class, started with two boys and built them
up to about eighteen boys.
And they had the most enthusiastic, overzealous teacher
that anyone could have.
And I recall teaching from this chapter, I
was only about sixteen or seventeen, but I
recall teaching from this chapter, and I told
the boys, Jesus says if ye shall ask
anything in my name, I'll do it.
I said, boy, you can ask him anything,
he'll do it, in my enthusiasm.
And then suddenly one of those kids said,
looked at me, and he said, listen, if
I ask him for an automobile, will he
give it to me?
Then I began to think something wrong with
my theology somewhere.
I hadn't gone along too far.
But as life continued, and as we went
on with the Lord, we found that we
had to pray for an automobile.
For the Lord's work.
And by his authority, we could pray to
have needed for him.
But don't think you can pray for yourself,
to get anything your fleshly desires might wish.
No.
The authority in my name.
That will I do.
Don't we need that, brother Bob?
Oh, how much we need it.
Beloved, may I say, and I say this
humbly, but I say it gratefully.
I am grateful that for nine unto thirty
-eight years, I've proved the Father has cared
for me and my family without ever asking
a penny from any man.
I don't say it in boasting.
If I say it in boasting, I'm boasting
about my Father.
And I don't mind boasting over him.
Beloved, this is the privilege of the Father's
children.
Oh, they're recruiting more.
Look in John 16 in closing.
Let me just point out another, some other
words.
In the twenty-third verse of chapter 16
of John, and verse twenty-four.
Notice what the Lord says.
In that day ye shall ask me nothing.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye
shall ask the Father in my name, he
will give it to you.
Here the two of ye ask nothing in
my name.
Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy
may be full.
And I want to say, I do not
say it bitterly.
I do not say it unkindly.
But there are so many today that are
asking, asking, asking.
In fact, I have more literature, and so
do you come into the house asking, asking,
asking.
I wish they knew the Father.
Because I tell you frankly, I had to
put all of them in the weight basket.
I couldn't meet their needs.
Why they looked for me, it's hard to
tell sometimes.
But says the Lord Jesus, ask my Father,
he will give it to you.
Beloved, oh I thank God for the testimony
of some such as George Moore, and such
as dear sister Abigail, and others who through
by a light of prayer, the Father was
able to give as they asked for his
glory.
What a privilege.
Praise the Lord, I'm so glad I've such
a father.
And he's yours too.
Oh beloved, may God by his Spirit make
the Father more real, and make we who
are his children more thankful for his namesake.
Shall we pray?
Father we do thank thee for thyself.
We grieve thy name and take it to
our lips to honor thee.
We take it in love as we speak
it before thee.
We thank thee for the Son so great,
so glorious, who brought us to thyself.
And we thank thee the relationship will never
fail.
It will endure forever, for we are thy
children forevermore.
Father thou art the same for every brother,
for every sister in Christ, for every one
of us.
We have the same Father, blessed be thy
name.
And who are we humbly pray, that through
the ministry of thy word this week, to
this very time, we may say, oh help
me to know my Father, and prove my
Father in heaven more and more.
For he is able to do a cleaning
abundantly above all we could ask of thee,
according to the power that would have been
us.
So Father tonight, we have but one prayer
as we close.
Draw every one of us closer to thine
heart, and let us not be anxious for
anything.
But casting all our care upon thee, trust
thee for all, till we see thee face
to face in the glory above, and will
have no need anymore of the things we
need below.
Until then Father, keep us going on trusting
thee more, in the name of the Lord
Jesus, and for his glory.
We commend ourselves as we separate, and may
the grace of our Lord Jesus, and the
love of our Father God, the fellowship of
the Holy