The Pastor’s Joy and Confidence

The Pastor's Joy and Confidence

A SERMON DELIVERED ON LORD'S-DAY MORNING, JULY 13, 1890,

BY C. H. SPURGEON,

AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer
of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the
Gospel from the first day until now being confident of this very thing
that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the
day of Jesus Christ: even as it is meet for me to think this of you
all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds and
in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, you all are partakers of
my grace." Philippians 1:3-7.

THE Epistle to the Philippians is the epistle ofjoy. Bengel sums it up
in two Latin words, which, being interpreted, signify, "I rejoice,
rejoice you." Here we come to that sweet fruit of the Spirit which we
call "Joy." The statement Paul makes about the Philippian Church shows
to what a high estate a Church can come. Beloved, we of the Tabernacle
never wish to be like the Church in Galatia which was bewitched by
false teachers who led away the people from the vital doctrine of
justification by faith. Paul had to be very sharp with them and to lay
down the grand fundamentals of Free Grace so as to bring them back to
the one sure Rock on which they ought to have built. Into that
condition, by the Grace of God, we have never fallen.

At the same time I am afraid we have never reached as far as the
Philippians went and this morning it is my intense desire that while I
show you what they attained, every member of this Church may resolve,
in the Holy Spirit, that he will labor to bring us to that happy
condition. May God the Holy Spirit fire us with a devout ambition not
to be a whit behind the best of the Apostolic Churches! The
possibilities of a great Church like this are immeasurable. We may not
sit down and dream of what we can do. We must feel our heart pulsing
with a strong desire that whatever God can do with us and by us may be
carried out to the fullest. If in anything there has been a falling
short, may each member be determined that the responsibility shall not
lie at his door!

I invite you to think, first, that the Apostle speaks of the Church of
Philippi as of a people whom he always remembered with joy. Secondly,
as of a people whom he regarded with confidence, for he says of them,
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good
work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." And
thirdly, we perceive that he viewed them as a people concerning whom he
gave all the glory to God alone. This fact is very conspicuous
throughout the whole passage.

I. First, in the Church at Philippi we see A PEOPLE WHOM THE APOSTLE
REMEMBERED WITH JOY. This is seen in his declaration that all his
memory of them was happy–"I thank my God upon every remembrance of
you." A better rendering is, "I thank my God upon all my remembrance of
you." Taking the long run of his acquaintance with them–remembering
them from the time when he preached by the riverside and Lydia was
converted–even until the moment of his writing to them as a prisoner
in Rome–he knew nothing of them but that which gave him joy. He
thought how they had, of their own free, will ministered again and
again to his necessities when no other Church was mindful of him.

He says, "Now you Philippians know, also, that in the beginning of the
Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no Church communicated with me
as concerning giving and receiving, but you only." Their grateful
benevolence caused him to thank God. He had no dash of bitter in the
cup of his happy memory of them. As long as he remembered their
prayers, their courage, their faith, their labor, their unity, their
constancy, their zeal, their thoughtfulness and their liberality, he
felt unmingled gratitude to the Author of all these excellent things. I
trust there are many ministers who, with perhaps some slight reserve,
can say of their people, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of
you."

If any man can say this, I claim to be that man! All have not been
faithful to God in the long years of my ministry, but, taking you as a
whole, you have been true to the core. This was a great wonder at
Philippi, for wanderings from

sound doctrine, or noticeable departures from the way of rectitude, or
acts of unkindness to their spiritual leader would have destroyed this
happy memory of Paul. A consistent life may be marred in any one
Christian–and when there are many united in fellowship–what a risk
there is to the whole Church from the power for mischief which lies in
any one person! One cantankerous, over-bearing, changeable mind, or one
hypocritical professor may blot the record of a Church of God. Truly,
"one sinner destroys much good."

It had not been so at Philippi. Again, all the Apostle's remembrance of
them was tender. I am sure it was so because he does not say, "I thank
God," but, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you." When his
faith was lively and his joy in God was overflowing–when in his
closest approaches to the Throne, in his most hallowed familiarities
with his great Lord, he could say–"I thank my God upon every
remembrance of you." There existed between Paul and the Philippians a
loving tenderness. They had been most kind to him personally and most
hearty in their cooperation with him in his labor of love so that when
he was thanking his own God for His choicest mercies, his mind brought
before him these dear people.

Brethren, in the relation of pastor and people I notice in many places
an absence of anything like tender affection. And when that is gone the
very joy of the Gospel is gone from the preacher and, to a very large
extent, from the people. They invite him to take office. They pay him a
wage more or less scanty and then they send him about his business
because they are tired of him. Can they expect a blessing upon such a
hireling ministry from which every element of holy relationship is
absent? But in the case in which the pastor is the spiritual father of
his Church and a true shepherd of souls, how different is the
relationship! When they were sad, he has cheered them. When they were
in difficulties, he has guided them. When their hands hung down, he has
strengthened them. And because of all this, there exists a near
fellowship and a tender love, as of children to a father, or of brother
to brother–so that he rejoices in them and they rejoice in him. May it
be so among us forevermore! If it is not so among us, where is it so?

Again, all Paul's memory of Philippi excited gratitude in his mind. He
could not have said of the Galatians, "I thank my God upon every
remembrance of you." Oh, no! He said, "O foolish Galatians, who has
bewitched you?" There were persons of whom he said, "I thank God that I
baptized none of you." He was pleased that Believers should be
baptized, but he was glad that he had not baptized certain persons who
would have made capital out of it and boasted that they were baptized
by the hands of Paul! All good people are not equally good. There are
some in the world whom we hope to meet in Heaven with whom fellowship
is difficult. If they were on the other side of the Atlantic we might
love them better than when we see much of them. I know several
Christian people with whom I would sooner sit in Heaven throughout all
eternity than sit ten minutes with them on a sofa here
below–distance–in their case, might add enchantment to the view.

It was not so with the Philippians–Paul thought of them with devout
gratitude to his God that there were such people and that he had come
into personal contact with them. He knew the ins and outs of them and
yet he could thank his God whenever he thought of them. Dear Friends,
may it be so with us, that men of God may thank God for the existence
and the work of this Church! It is well with a man when he so rejoices
in the excellence of others that he thanks God about it and prays about
it. It is well with men when there is a something in their lives for
which holy men can devoutly thank God. I have seen a good deal of
testimony-giving and of public laudation of prominent men–but the
happiest condition of things would have arrived if in our heart of
hearts we delighted in the holiness of other Christian men and made a
point of praising God on that account. To see another to be more
gracious than oneself and then to praise God for it–is this common? We
pray for those that err–do we praise those who stand firm? It is a
beautiful spirit to cultivate. May the Holy Spirit increase it in us
all!

Again, all his prayers for them were joyful. He says, "Always in every
prayer of mine for you all making request with joy." For some we have
had to pray with tears and sighs and for others with trembling. But the
Lord so heard Paul in the past with regard to these Philippians that
every time he began to pray he felt liberty in prayer–a joy in bearing
their names before the Lord–and a sweet assurance that he was not
praying in vain. His was not the cry of anguish but the request of
delight! When we pray for those who are our joy and for that which will
be their joy, we may well mingle joy with earnestness. For these
beloved ones Paul approached the Mercy Seat with boldness and
confidence–he felt sure of being heard on their account.

In very truth, I can say the same of you all in this place. Never can I
pray with greater peace of soul than when I plead for you. I believe,
on the other hand, thousands of godly people find a joy in making
request for me. So I am constantly told and I have no doubt upon the
matter. Now, why was all this joy in the Apostle's mind with regard to
the saints in Philippi? This is the point I desire to press upon you.
Paul rejoiced because all along they had been in hearty fellowship with
him in the best things. Observe–"For your fellowship in the Gospel
from the first day until now." There are Churches wherein the minister
is nominally the leading officer, but he cannot lead for the Church
does not follow. See that young officer, sword in hand, leap the
rampart. He looks back, but alas, his troop is yards behind him!

He cries, "Come on! Come on!" But there is no answer. He might as well
call to stones. This is poor work. But see another–wherever he
advances his soldiers are at his side–they are as eager as he is, the
victory is as much for them as for him and they feel it is so. Well may
there be an outcry against "the one-man ministry" when the one man is
not backed up by all who are in Church fellowship! But, Brothers and
Sisters, it need not be so–indeed, it is not so among us! True and
hearty have been the efforts of many in this Church. Paul seemed to
stand alone when he was with the Galatians, but the Philippians were at
his side and all around him, bearing him on from victory to victory by
their unanimous fellowship.

For this he thanks God and well he might! They were in fellowship with
him concerning his one sole object–"For your fellowship in the
Gospel." If you look at the Revised Version it is, "for your fellowship
in furtherance of the Gospel." The Apostle longed to spread the Gospel!
And so did they. He was earnest to carry it to the regions beyond–so
were they. If he preached, they would be there to encourage him. If he
held special meetings, they were ready to help. If money was required,
every man was ready according to his means, without pressing. Each one
felt as earnest about the work as did his minister. They were
enthusiastic for the furtherance of the Gospel–they were heartily with
him where he most valued their sympathy.

This fellowship began early–"from the first day" of their conversion.
I think we can predict what converts will be from what they are at
first. Some begin warmly and gradually cool down–and we seldom know
them to develop much heat or zeal if they begin in lukewarmness. When
we join a Church, it is well that from the first day we enquire of the
Lord, "What would You have me do?" The kind of recruits which we desire
in Christ's army are those who are in fellowship with us for the
furtherance of the Gospel from the very first! I like to see the
convert at the Prayer Meeting, the cottage meeting, the Bible-class, or
the Ragged-school, or the Sunday school, or the Tract Society doing
what he can to help others! He that begins early begins hopefully.
Concerning some older Christians, we could not speak of their
fellowship in the Gospel from the first day, for they were slow in
coming forward–but I hope they will do all the more now to make up for
it.

I have heard of an advertisement of a burial club which began thus,
"Seeing that many persons find it extremely difficult to bury
themselves." That is not my experience, for I would have to say,
"Seeing that many Church members find it exceedingly easy to bury
themselves"–we receive them into our number with pleasure but we hear
no more of them. We have the distinguished privilege of enrolling their
names in our book and that is all. We give them our right hand of
fellowship, but they do not give us their right hand of labor. Where
are they? Where? Echo answers, Where? The Philippians had fellowship in
furthering the Gospel from the first day! Then mark that they were men
of good wind, who could keep up the running. They were as patient and
persevering as they were zealous at the first. "From the first day
until now." Until now.

Some run well for a time but that time is short. Oh, for the men who
will live as long as they live and not die while they are alive! How
many who should have been our helpers are lost to us! They have grown
indifferent or they have become advanced in years and fancy that they
can now do nothing because they cannot do all they once did. We can
always do something for Jesus if we are willing! As we are not too old
to receive Grace, let us not think ourselves too old to use it–for it
is given to be used. The aged are capable of the noblest work which can
be performed. Encouragement of the sad and feeble almost necessitates
an experience which only age can bring. There is as truly a service in
the Church for the most venerable as for the most active. Let no man
cut himself off from the privilege of serving the Lord Jesus "from the
first day until now."

And what they did appears to have been so general as to be practically
unanimous. He speaks of them all as in full fellowship with him in his
lifework. When shall we get Churches alive all through? When false
doctrine taints a Church it

usually sours the whole of it, for "a little leaven leavens the whole
lump." But if they are good Churches, I am sorry to say the perfume of
consecration does not sweeten every part. In most Churches there are a
few who, to a large extent, do everything and give everything–then
another portion assist occasionally–so far as they are urged on by the
consecrated ones. And after these you find a large number who are
practically the baggage of the Church–the lumber which has to be
carried by the efficient members. Alas, that we have so many in
ambulances when every hand is needed in the fight! A Church is in a
poor condition when it is largely so–but it is in fine health when all
are hearty in the service of the Lord, as at Philippi.

It was practical fellowship. Some of them preached, all of them prayed.
Some of them contributed money and all gave love. Nobody shirked his
work–which was not looked upon as a labor–but as a privilege. You
will not wonder that Paul rejoiced, for it gives joy to every earnest
man to see others earnest! The great cause is as much yours as it is
mine. A Church which feels that holy service is not for a few, but for
all the members, is a credit to Divine Grace. It is a lovely piece of
Divine mosaic work in which jewels of costly price are set about with
solid gold and the whole exhibits a design of matchless beauty.
Fellowship with the Holy Spirit and fellowship with great saints is a
rare jewel–may we each one possess it! I will not stay longer on this
point, for I shall have to return to it when considering our next head.

II. Paul saw in the Philippians A PEOPLE WHOM HE REGARDED WITH THE
UTMOST CONFIDENCE– "Being confident of this very thing, that He which
has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ." What was Paul's confidence, then? His confidence was that the
work in their hearts was a Divine work. The Lord Himself had begun a
good work in them! This is a vital matter. Everything turns upon the
question, "Is this conversion a Divine work or not?"

The man is altered for the better. The woman is certainly improved. A
work has been done–but is it God's work? Or is it the work of the
flesh? Ah, dear Friends, a moral change may sometimes look so much like
a spiritual change that onlookers cannot detect the difference! The
child of Nature, finely dressed, is not the living child of Divine
Grace–and how are we to tell the one from the other? "By their fruits
you shall know them." The Apostle had found the Philippians true in
their partnership in the Lord's work. They suffered for their Lord
patiently. They defended the faith bravely. They spread it zealously
and their lives confirmed it! And so Paul said to himself, "This is the
finger of God! The Lord Himself has begun this work." How happy we are
when we can have this confidence of every member of the Church– that
from the beginning of their religion God has been at work in their
hearts!

I pray you, do not be satisfied, any of you, with the most promising
religiousness if it is not God's work! If you have undergone a change,
take care that it is such a change as only the Creator could have
worked in you–a resurrection from the dead, an opening of blind eyes,
a turning from darkness to light! If you have not undergone a renewal
which betokens heavenly handiwork, be uneasy. Be restless until God
Himself, who made you, makes you new in Christ Jesus! My heart silently
entreats the Lord to begin this good work in you at once–and may there
be signs following which shall give us the joy of knowing that, indeed,
and of a truth, the Lord has done it!

Paul could see, in the next place, that it was a growing work, for the
Lord was still performing it. The work of God is always a growing work.
If things do not grow they lack one of the chief marks of life. You put
into the ground something which looks like a living plant and after it
has been there six months you find it just the same, without a single
bud or shoot. What do you say of it? Why, you conclude that it is an
artificial production devoid of life. If we do not grow better, surely
it is because we have no goodness worked in us! If we do not grow in
Divine Grace it must be because we have no Divine Grace! Paul saw God
carrying on the work in the heart of the Philippians so that they went
from strength to strength and about this he was confident.

He was also confident that God would perfect it. He says, "He will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Shall we be absolutely
perfect until then? I think not. Perfection in a modified sense is
possible through Divine Grace–but not absolute perfection. Old Master
Trapp very well says a Christian may be perfect, but not perfectly
perfect. Perfection in the Scriptural use of it is not at all what
those make of it who boast of perfection in the flesh! A child is
perfect when it is newly born–there is every toe on the tiny foot and
its eyes, ears, nose and other organs are all there–but if you tell me
that a child is a perfect man, I smile at you. So the Christian may be
perfect as to all his parts, "perfect and entire, lacking nothing," and
yet he may not be perfect as to development by a very long way.

One says, "We shall be perfect at death, shall we not?" It is not so
written here, but, "He will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
We may be perfect in death, doubtless, as to the moral and spiritual
Nature–but a man has a body as well as a soul–and it needs both parts
to make the perfect man. While the worms are devouring the body the man
is not yet perfect. He will be perfect as to his whole manhood when the
Lord shall come and the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be
raised incorruptible! Paul delights to make the Christian leap over
that little rivulet called death and swallow up the thought of
dissolution in the far grander fact of the coming of the Lord!

The Second Advent ought to be much more on our minds than the hour of
our death! The Lord will perform the work which He has begun until He
perfects it in the day when the Lord Jesus Christ shall receive His
Church unto Himself. Then shall be the general judgment and oh, what a
blessing to be found perfect in that day of decision! He shall separate
the righteous from the wicked as the shepherd divides his sheep from
the goats. When that great day is ended, then shall the righteous shine
forth as the sun! Our Lord Jesus will be covered with the Infinite
splendor of God in that day and then shall we be like He–His Glory
will be reflected upon all Believers. You have no idea of what a
perfect man will be like. "You see not that body that shall be." God
will give us such a body as it pleases Him and to each one a body of
his own.

If you had never seen wheat growing, you would never imagine that the
shriveled grain of corn would produce the blade, the ear and the full
corn in the ear. Take an example still more striking–many very tiny
seeds produce flowers which excel in beauty of form and color–could
you have ever guessed that the insignificant seeds could have come to
this? Even so, the body is sown in weakness but it is raised in power!
It is sown in corruption but it is raised in incorruption! The star of
today will be the sun of tomorrow. All glory lies in the bud of our
struggling humanity when once Divine Grace has quickened it. O Brothers
and Sisters, He that has begun a good work in us will not only give us
perseverance until death, but what is even more, He will give us
perfection in the day of Christ! It is altogether a more comprehensive
thought than the great Truth of God of Final Perseverance–it includes
that blessed Truth of God within its sweep, but it also secures eternal
glory both to soul and body!

Was Paul justified in being so confident, not only that these people
were converted, but that they would be eternally saved? Leave out of
the question his writing as an Inspired man–how did he gain his
confidence? His confidence partly arose out of his love–"Even as it is
meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart."
His love to them was not the mere glow of Nature, but the flame of
Divine Grace! He saw so much of Christ in them that he could not help
admiring and loving them. And he felt sure that they were of the sort
that never draw back unto perdition, but believe to the salvation of
their souls. He perceived that the Grace which was in him was in them,
also–and therefore, as he hoped to be kept to the end–he felt that
they would, also, be so kept. As he felt sure that the work of Grace in
them was of God, and of God alone, so he was confident that they would
never fail. A good foundation is a grand security that the house will
be substantial. Those we love in the Lord, because of what the Lord has
done for them, we feel sure about as to their future.

Furthermore, their long-continued character confirmed the Apostle in
his confidence, for he adds, "Inasmuch as both in my bonds and in the
defense and confirmation of the Gospel, you all are partakers of my
grace." When he was bound they were not ashamed of his chains. When he
was in prison the jailer washed his stripes and refreshed him at his
table and this proved an omen of loving liberality throughout life.
When Paul was taken away to Rome, the Philippians took care that he
should not be left penniless–they sent out of their poverty to his
assistance. He felt confidence in a people who could do this. Shame
turns many of the weaker sort aside, but the faithful despise it. Those
who love holiness when others despise and ridicule it are the people to
stand fast. Besides, they were partners with Paul in the defense of the
Gospel.

If any Galatian teachers came their way, they gave them the cold
shoulder for they would not give up the grand old Gospel to please the
wise men of the period. In this way, my Brothers and Sisters, have you
also stood by your own minister in those protests against error which
have cost him so dear. Your faithfulness gives me great confidence
concerning you. The people who can bear the attacks made upon you and
the baits held out to you can be relied upon under God. You are not
ashamed of my bonds, for you are heartily with me in the defense of the
Gospel in this day of falsehood. They were also with the Apostle as to
the confirmation of the Gospel. Their lives proved the truth of the
Word

of Grace. When Paul was preaching, if he wanted to show that the Gospel
is the power of God, he pointed to what had been accomplished in
Philippi–and none could deny the argument.

A living argument is invincible. Reasoning is very well, but fact is
overwhelming. Oh, that every Christian would so live as to prove the
power of the Gospel! He adds another reason why he was so sure of them,
namely, that they were partakers of his grace. The same Grace which had
saved him saved them. They ascribed their salvation to Sovereign Grace
even as he did. The life in them as babes in Grace was the same life
which dwelt in him as a father in Israel. Their Gospel and his Gospel
were identical–and their spirit and his spirit were cast in the same
mold. His Grace was such that he could not be seduced into hoping for
salvation by works and nor could they. He believed in Divine
Sovereignty, in electing love, in effectual Atonement–and so did they.
They were with him in all things–not in a forced union, but in hearty
love to the same Truths of God. Besides, he loved the souls of men and
was always laboring to lead men to Jesus and they did the same. He
delighted best to preach where Christ had never been made known and not
to build upon another man's foundation. And in this they supported him.
They were with him in every loving endeavor to spread the Gospel.

Now, it is a grand thing when a minister has great confidence in his
people based upon the fact that he sees the Grace of God in them
bringing forth fruit unto the Glory of God. Foolish fondness is to be
avoided, but a confidence which is justified by evidence is a great
solace to the heart. What strength holy living in his people gives to
the preacher of the Word of God! A man comes before you and says,
"There is, somewhere about here, an invisible lake containing the
purest, coolest and most refreshing water that you ever drank. You
never saw water so pure and delicious." We ask the gentleman to let us
see this lake. No, he cannot show the lake, but he will allow us to
examine the streams which flow out of it. That is a fair test and we
agree to abide by it.

Here is one of the outflows. We fill a glass from it and hold it up to
the light. Why, here are little whales and elephants swimming in it and
no end of tiny sea monsters disporting themselves–that lake is hardly
the place to drink from unless one would have meat as well as drink at
every draught! Our informant assures us that there must be a mistake
somewhere. So we hope. This stream has evidently gone wrong–he will
take us to another outflow. Again we dip our cup, and lo, it is filled
with water of a strange color as if the filth of some great city had
run into it. We loathe to drink. Again we are told that there is some
failure here, also, and we are begged to try again. After three or four
such experiments, we feel quite unable to believe in this crystal lake.
Such streams as these have not come out of an expanse of purity–we
will keep to our old-fashioned waterworks till we have more reliable
information.

See the parallel? If Paul had begun praising the Gospel and the people
had said, "Show it to us by its effects," he might have said, "Let us
pay a visit to Lydia, the seller of purple." They go to her store and
look at her wares. Somehow her purple does not seem to be dyed after
the ancient Tyrian fashion. The color is not true or fast. If she tries
to pass off a base imitation as the original article we reckon the
woman an old cheat and by no means a good evidence of the power of the
Gospel! If she uses a trademark which does not belong to her, we
conclude that her religion is worthless! Let us call upon the jailer,
who is another instance of the work of Grace in Philippi.

When we come to the jail the porter tells us that the jailer is beating
the prisoners! And on enquiry we find that the prison is a little Hell
and those in it are wretched in the extreme under his tyrannical hand.
"He is worse," says the porter, "since Paul came here. He talks a great
deal about religion, but we do not see much of it unless it lies in
being harsh, suspicious, cruel and selfish." If these things happened,
Paul would feel sorry that he brought us to Philippi and he would be
unable to preach the Word with boldness. I will not make any
application, dear Friends–you can do that for yourselves.

III. My third point is this, that although Paul speaks concerning the
excellence of the Philippians, he views them as A PEOPLE FOR WHOM HE
GAVE ALL GLORY TO THE GRACE OF GOD. He did not praise them, but the
Lord who had saved them. Observe how he began, "I thank my God." In
what was done he sees reason for gratitude to God. Brothers and
Sisters, if we win a single soul, let us humbly thank God for it. If,
after years of labor, any one of you should bring but two or three
children to Jesus, you will have reason to thank God for all eternity!
A friend said to me on Wednesday, when the sun was shining, "We ought
to be grateful for this fine weather." I replied, "I go farther than
that–I am grateful for it."

We should not only acknowledge what we ought to do, but we should do
it. If God gives you any success in His service, do not say, "I ought
to be thankful," but be thankful from the bottom of your heart up to
the brim of it. I remember a Brother who used to pray, "The Lord has
done great things for us, whereof we desire to be glad." The Bible does
not say so–the Bible says, "whereof we are glad." Another cries, "The
love of Christ ought to constrain us." The Bible does not talk in that
fashion. It says, "The love of Christ constrains us." What we ought to
do we should do. A Christian's life should be the Decalogue written
large and somewhat more.

But Paul also, after he had thanked God, kept on praying for what was
still needed. "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making
request." See, dear Brethren–at Philippi he has not only begun with
God, but he goes on with God. He has much more to do but he does not
attempt to do it without his Lord. Oh, that all workers were of this
mind! We deal with God too little. A person exclaimed, "Let us get up a
revival." The revivals which men can get up had better be left
alone–we need to get revivals down. If we get a revival up it must
come from beneath–but if we get a revival down, it comes from above.
Lord, revive us! We pray for it and when it comes we will praise You
for it. Brothers and Sisters, we must mix up our constant service with
more prayer and praise if we desire it to be largely effectual. If the
work is worth anything, it is God's work in us and by us–He begins it,
carries it on and completes it!

What, then, can we do, if we do not draw near to Him? Our labor must
have a constantly distinct reference to God. Sunday school teachers,
your work requires you to begin with God–do not dare to go to the
class even once without fervent prayer in the Spirit. When you have
given the lesson, go straightway and ask God's blessing on it. Do not
omit this even once! Paul's way is to thank God and to pray to God–and
it must be yours if you would have Paul's joy. As to his confidence
about the future of his converts, it was all in God. It was not
confidence in them apart from the work of God in them. He says God
began it and God will carry it on. He does not depend on the strength
of their principles, nor the force of their resolutions, nor the
excellence of their habits–he relies upon God, who will perform what
He has begun.

Did not Paul begin it? No, no! For if he had begun it he would have to
carry it on and that could not be. Did not they begin it themselves?
Certainly not! Does the sinner take the first step? How can he? He is
dead in sin! If he does take the first step apart from the Spirit of
God, he can take all the rest without God. It is with the sinner as
with the Romish Saint Denis. You have heard the old fable that when he
had his head cut off he picked it up and walked a thousand miles with
it in his hand! A scoffer said that the thousand miles' walk was not at
all remarkable–it was only the first step that had any difficulty in
it.

Just so, when a soul goes to Heaven, if it takes the first step in its
own strength, it can walk all the way–and then it will have all the
glory. Brothers and Sisters, we may truly sing–

"No sinner can be Beforehand with You."

God commences the good work, however faint and feeble the beginning may
appear. The tiny brook at the riverhead of repentance is of God as much
as the broad river of heavenly character. This is a solemn Truth of
God. How deeply it should humble us! We cannot even begin–we cannot
dig the foundation–how can we bring forth the top stone? All is of
Grace from first to last. While the Apostle is so practical, as I have
shown him to be, yet see how sound in doctrine he is! He never quits
the grand doctrine of free, Sovereign, effectual Grace–"He which has
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ."

Beloved Friends, I close when I say the Apostle derives his confidence
from a great principle. The great principle is that what God begins He
will perfect. For if He did not do so, where was the wisdom of
beginning? It is a word of derision when those who pass by a
half-finished building say, "This man began to build and was not able
to finish." We never praise a man for wisdom who makes an attempt which
he does not carry through. Could angels rejoice in a work which God
began and then left to fall through? It might also suggest a lack of
power. If a man is wise in his beginnings, he may break down because,
through unforeseen difficulty, he has not sufficient means to complete
his design. You often see the carcass of a house and it is never a
happy sight–it suggests lack of means.

But can there be any lack of power with God? Nothing is impossible with
Him. But there might also be lack of perseverance. Some men are always
great at beginnings but they have no stay in them–they change their
minds. Does the Eternal God suffer change? Is it not said that He is
"without variableness or shadow of turning"? Granted an Immutable God
we may be sure that Divine Grace will complete what Divine Grace
begins. Nor can God forsake the

work of His own hands from lack of long-suffering. A man might begin to
bless another and that other might be so ungrateful that the benefactor
grows impatient and gives up on him. Will God fail in Divine Grace?
Assuredly not. "His mercy endures forever." The top and bottom of it is
that our confidence in one another must only be confidence in God– and
our confidence for ourselves must rest in God or it will be sheer
delusion.

But, Beloved, albeit that where God has begun a good work He will carry
it on, this does not put prayer aside, for Paul prays for these very
people. Neither does this lessen the necessity of a holy life, for Paul
is only confident about saints who were hearty "in the defense and
confirmation of the Gospel" and partakers of Divine Grace. He felt
confident of the ultimate perfection of those only who had a Divine
work within them and proved it by their fellowship in the furtherance
of the Gospel. How can we profess that Grace is in our hearts by Divine
implanting if we live in secret sin? How can we hope to persevere if we
have not begun? If we do not join in the prayers and efforts of the
Church of God, how can we hope to partake in the reward at the coming
of the Lord?

The question as to whether God has begun saving work in us must be
answered by our faith and our life–and if it is satisfactorily proved
that He has begun it, we can depend upon Him to finish it! If, on the
contrary, we have reason to fear that He has not begun it at all, we
should not deceive ourselves, but take up our true position. We may
still cry to Him as sinners and look to Jesus as the Author of faith.
This will be wise and this will be successful, for Jesus says He will
cast out none that come to Him. "This Man receives sinners."

I hope every unconverted person here this morning who sees that
salvation is God's work, will say to himself, "I will even look out of
myself to Him who is able to begin the work in me. If He begins,
carries on and completes salvation, then my lack of strength need not
make me despair, for He is able, though I am not. He will work all my
works in me and I shall praise His name."

Oh, that the Spirit of God would lead my hearers to think of these
things! Come and trust in Jesus Christ, the only Savior, and the good
work will then have begun in you–a work which neither the world, the
flesh, nor the devil can destroy! And then in the day of judgment you
shall stand perfect in Christ Jesus before the Truth of God.

PORTION OF SCRIPTURE READ BEFORE SERMON– Philippians 1. HYMNS FROM
"OUR OWN HYMN BOOK"–427, 742, 739.