1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,800 Evening services, We're going to read from God's Word. 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:06,480 Want to read tonight from the Book of Job. 3 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,760 I must confess I find the Book of Job a fascinating book. 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:23,000 I can't remember the name of the preacher, but there was 1 5 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:28,760 preacher and bygone days and he spent 13 years preaching from 6 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,720 the book of Job. That's a long time, 13 years. 7 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:40,280 Wished I could remember his name, but anyway, 13 years, I'm 8 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:42,600 sure somebody will be able to find that information out. 9 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:47,440 We're going to read from the book of Job, Job chapter 33, and 10 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:53,880 we're going to read from verse 14 to the end, Job 33, verse 14. 11 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,640 Let's hear God's word. We're reading, of course, from 12 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:03,040 the Authorised Version, Job, chapter 33, verse 14. 13 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,440 Job's easy to find. If you get the book of Psalms, 14 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:12,280 you'll find the book of Job, Job 33, verse 14. 15 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,200 For God speaketh once, yeah, twice. 16 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:24,360 Yet man perceiveth it not in a dream, in a vision of the night, 17 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:29,000 where deep sleep falleth upon men, and slumbrings upon the 18 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,360 bed. Then he openeth the ears of man, 19 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:37,000 and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from 20 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,360 his purpose and hide pride from man. 21 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:45,680 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from 22 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:49,880 perishing by the sword. He is chastened also with pain 23 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:54,640 upon his bed and the multitude of his bones with strong pain, 24 00:01:55,360 --> 00:02:01,080 so that his life of horrid bread, and his soul dainty meat, 25 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,760 his flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen, and his bones 26 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:10,960 that were not seen stick out. Yeah, his soul draw near unto 27 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,480 the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 28 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:20,400 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among 29 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:26,240 1000 to show unto man his uprightness, then he is gracious 30 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:30,080 unto him and safe. Deliver him from going down to 31 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,600 the pit. I have found a ransom. 32 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,800 His flesh shall be fresher than the child's. 33 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,600 He shall return to the days of his youth. 34 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:46,040 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him, and 35 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:51,240 he shall see his face with joy, for he will render unto man his 36 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:56,560 righteousness. He looketh upon man, and if any 37 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:03,840 say, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it 38 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,480 profiteth me not, he will deliver his soul from going into 39 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:12,000 the pit, and his life shall see the light. 40 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:20,200 Lo, all these things work with God, often times with man, to 41 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:25,960 bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the 42 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:31,360 light of the living. Mark Well, O Job, hearken unto 43 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,200 me, hold thy peace, and I will speak. 44 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:39,440 If thou hast anything to say, answer me, speak, for I desire 45 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,000 to justify thee. If not, hearken unto me, hold 46 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,040 thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom. 47 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:48,960 Amen. We know the Lord and stamp with 48 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,440 His own approval and blessing, His reading of His own precious 49 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:58,840 and infallible word. Now my text tonight is found in 50 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:04,920 Job chapter 33, verse 24. It reads as follows. 51 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:10,240 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from 52 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:15,160 going down to the pit. I have found a ransom. 53 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:21,000 They have entitled this message the Remarkable Ransom. 54 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,800 Now these words were part of a speech that was addressed toward 55 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:31,920 Job by a young friend and counsellor by the name of Elihu. 56 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:38,720 Now Job, remember, was one of the truly great men of the East, 57 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:44,000 a godly man, one who was upright, one that feared God. 58 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,880 He was holy, an Old Testament believer. 59 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:52,800 This is what we read of Job in Job One and One there was a man 60 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,520 in the land of Olives whose name was Job, and that man was 61 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:01,840 perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and he shewed 62 00:05:01,840 --> 00:05:08,200 evil. 4 things we Learn about Job's character And yet this 63 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:12,840 godly man's life was turned upside down. 64 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:20,720 He suffered a horrible, intense period of great trials and 65 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:25,000 troubles. Job Chapter 1 and 2 records that 66 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:31,920 in one day 10 children were killed by a terrible wind from 67 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:36,520 the east, like a great tornado. On the same day all his animals 68 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:39,400 were stolen, and then another calamity struck. 69 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:43,960 All his servants bar one were brutally murdered by the 70 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,320 Chaldeans. And to make matters worse, Job's 71 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:49,560 wife. Whenever he would have spoken to 72 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:54,400 her out of fear, I believe probably desperation, she 73 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,200 counselled Job and this is what she said. 74 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:02,120 Curse God and die. And on top of all that, if that 75 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:07,120 wasn't enough, his body broke out into terrible sore boils. 76 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:13,520 Reading Job chapter 2 and verse 7, these words, so went Satan 77 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:17,080 forth from the presence of the Lord, and smoked Job with sore 78 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:20,720 boils from the sole of his foot unto the crown. 79 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:23,480 Verse 8. And he took him a potsherd to 80 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:29,160 scrape himself with all, and he sat down among the ashes. 81 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:36,120 According then to Job 2, verse 11, right through to chapter 31, 82 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:42,000 verse 40, we have a record of three of Job's best friends who 83 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,600 came to mourn with him and to comfort him. 84 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:51,200 Their names were Elifaz, the Timonite, Bildad. 85 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:57,800 The shoe height wasn't very big. And so for the Nathamite, for 86 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:03,080 seven days, for seven nights, these three friends, along with 87 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:07,640 Job sat in silence. Not one word was uttered. 88 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:12,720 They saw that the grief of Job was very great and sore. 89 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,800 You see, physically and mentally this man was broken. 90 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:20,280 He probably wished that he'd never been born. 91 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:28,280 Societally, one of the great men of the East, a powerful man, A A 92 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:34,880 a, a prominent man. He was reduced to being one who 93 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:40,560 very few cared about materially. He had lost all his great 94 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:45,560 possessions paternally. His family was devastated. 95 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:51,480 You see, in one day his life had been turned upside down. 96 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:58,160 When Job's friends eventually got round to speaking, these 97 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,560 three councillors, we'll call them three miserable 98 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,920 councillors, for that's what they were, one after the other. 99 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,560 You see, they blame Job, they argued. 100 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:08,840 Wait a minute, Job, you must have sinned. 101 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,120 Job, you've sinned secretly, You've sinned. 102 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:17,720 Seriously, Job, all of this calamity that has come, God is 103 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:22,280 punishing you. Why else would all this calamity 104 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,680 come upon you? Now what they were saying was 105 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:31,000 not true, and it was certainly not true in Job's experience. 106 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:36,880 And could I say this, when individuals, when families fall 107 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,880 into terrible calamities, let's be slow to judgement. 108 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,080 Let's be prayerful. We really don't know all the 109 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:48,160 facts and circumstances in our lives. 110 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,640 Unfortunately and sadly, we're too quick to rush to judgement 111 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:59,200 about certain things. Then in chapter 32, another man 112 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:03,320 entered the discussion. His name was Elijah. 113 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,040 He was the youngest of the four councillors. 114 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,560 He spoke the truth in Job's presence. 115 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:15,440 God is sovereign. That he's a God of all grace, 116 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:21,080 That he is not merciless to any of his children. 117 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:29,160 Yet sadly, he too accused Job of playing the part of a hypocrite. 118 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:33,200 He scolded him. He said you sound like a man 119 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,160 that's full of self justification. 120 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:42,520 Yet he maintained that he would not pass judgement but pointed 121 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:44,960 out the way that God deals with his children. 122 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,880 And that's what Job 33 is all about. 123 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:53,280 From 14 onwards, it's about the way that God deals with his 124 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:57,800 children. And in verse 24 of Job 33, he 125 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:03,120 made a powerful statement, a remarkable statement about 126 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:09,160 deliverance for a man in the depths of despair and in 127 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:13,760 sickness. And from going down to the pit. 128 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,760 Listen to these words. This is a remarkable statement. 129 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:24,120 Then he is gracious unto him and self deliver him from going down 130 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,800 to the pit. I have found a ransom. 131 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:30,640 There's the remarkable ransom. I have found a ransom. 132 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,920 The word ransom, as I told you this morning is used 16 times in 133 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:36,720 the Bible. The word ransom unfortunately is 134 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:42,960 used today about paying a a sum of money to kidnappers to have a 135 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,800 loved one released. But but the the thought and the 136 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:50,040 sentiment is behind it. When it's used in the Bible 137 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:55,000 sense, it's richer and more fuller and clearer in meaning. 138 00:10:55,400 --> 00:11:00,080 It's connected to redemption. It's it's connected to release. 139 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:05,440 It's connected to rejoicing. As I looked at this text last 140 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,960 Sunday night before I went to bed, there was three things come 141 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:13,600 to mind. One, the danger that was faced. 142 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:20,880 Look at the text and it says from going down to the pit, you 143 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:25,760 see the words there going down suggest a path, a pathway 144 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:30,040 suggest what we could really say a course of life. 145 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:38,080 And if you notice, it's not a pathway towards paradise, but 146 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:43,040 going down to the pit. So it's not a pathway of 147 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,920 deliverance and delight, we would have to say. 148 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:49,920 It's a pathway, of course, that's leads to death and 149 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,800 destruction. You see the reference to going 150 00:11:52,800 --> 00:12:16,720 down to the pit. Speaks Speaks of of a a 151 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,520 direction direction of of travel travel and and it's it's not not 152 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,280 just just going going down down into into a a state state of of 153 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,240 sin sin and and guilt guilt and and shame shame, but but going 154 00:12:23,888 --> 00:12:26,400 going down down to to the the pit pit. the pit is mentioned 155 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,760 three times look at verse 18 he keepeth back his soul from the 156 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,880 pit and then you come down to verse 30 to bring back his soul 157 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:38,240 from the pit and it's mentioned again in verse 24 from going 158 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:42,320 down to the pit 3 * 3 in the Bible is the number of complete 159 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:46,480 witness And what is this pit? Well, we'll see in a moment. 160 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:51,560 It's the pit of hell. You think of our world tonight. 161 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:57,440 Think of our United Kingdom, the major cities, London, Belfast, 162 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:01,040 Liverpool, Manchester. Think of our major towns. 163 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,040 Think of our villages. 10s of thousands or running into 164 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,520 millions, and they're in the journey of life and God has been 165 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,480 good and God has given them breath and health and strength 166 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,040 and provided all that they've needed materially. 167 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,040 And yet they're going away from God. 168 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:20,240 They're going on in their sin, they're going on in the way of 169 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:24,120 the devil that they're going on full of pride and full of 170 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,440 rebellion. They've forgotten the Lord. 171 00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:29,000 They've forsaken him and his word. 172 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,920 And where's the direction of travel taking them? 173 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:37,280 Not just down to the grave, not just down to the door of death, 174 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:44,000 but they're going down into this awful place that the Bible calls 175 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:48,360 hell. You see, this is serious. 176 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:56,600 This is solemn. We'll ask the question, what is 177 00:13:56,600 --> 00:14:01,080 this pit? I believe that it's the pit of 178 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:07,600 hell, a place full of terror and torment, a place of outer 179 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:13,880 darkness, a place of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, a 180 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:19,040 place of immense danger, because the individual who goes down to 181 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,520 this pit is going into a place of doom and destruction. 182 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:27,520 I want to emphasise this because we live in a day when many 183 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:32,960 preachers want to take the horror out of hell, want to make 184 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:37,320 it a happy place. There's those and I have books 185 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:41,600 in my study who've argued that the fire of hell is not real, 186 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:46,840 it's not literal, it's not eternal. 187 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:52,600 Even had one preacher, a man called Mr Fudge, who maintained 188 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,800 that what he was saying in the book was contrary to the Bible. 189 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,960 At least he was being honest. He argued that eternal death 190 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:04,120 doesn't mean eternal suffering and hell for all eternity. 191 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:08,760 There's many preachers who deny Hell's existence. 192 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,520 There's many preachers who want to make hell like heaven. 193 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:17,040 But when we come to the book, and one of the little choruses 194 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,480 that I picked tonight was I have a precious book. 195 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,440 It's the word of God. And we've got to come back to 196 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:24,120 the word of God. We've got to ask the question, 197 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:28,600 what saith the Scriptures? We'll remember over there in 198 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:35,040 Luke chapter 16 the Lord Jesus told a parable about the rich 199 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:38,440 man and Lazarus. Lazarus was the beggar, it says 200 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:41,360 in Luke 16, verse 22. And it came to pass that the 201 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,160 beggar died and was carried by the angels in the Abraham's 202 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,480 bosom. The rich man also died and was 203 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:48,360 buried. Listen to verse 23. 204 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:54,760 And in hell, he lifts up his eyes, being in torments, seeing 205 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:58,840 Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. 206 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:05,920 Can you think of this rich man? He also died, says unburied. 207 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,880 You think of the pomp and ceremony, the big funeral, nice 208 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,440 things said about him. Maybe somebody's asking how much 209 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:16,120 money did he leave? Who's going to get his fancy 210 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,640 clothes? Who's going to buy the mansion? 211 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:21,400 Is it going up for sale? Could I get the gates? 212 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:25,640 Maybe somebody was thinking. And yet we read and inhale. 213 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:33,080 He lift up his eyes, being in torments, the rich man entered 214 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:39,240 the place of terror and torments, a place of personal, 215 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:47,320 permanent and powerful torments. And those that live in our 216 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:51,520 cities and towns and villages in the journey of life may be like 217 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,560 the rich man. They could be top of the class 218 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:58,960 educationally. They could be top of the social 219 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:04,359 ladder, big house mansion with gates, parties and friends, rich 220 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,680 and powerful. And yet for all their 221 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:10,480 possessions, for all the parties, for all their human 222 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:14,200 attainment, for all their merriment, they're not rich 223 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:17,560 toward God. And that's why this rich man was 224 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,240 in hell, wasn't because he was rich. 225 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:30,160 It was he was not rich toward God, and this rich man went down 226 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:35,600 to the pit and inhale, lifted up his eyes, being in torment. 227 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,920 Could I stress tonight that that day is closer for many than they 228 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,640 think? Did David not say there is but a 229 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:49,160 step between me and death? Do you realise that you're just 230 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,400 a breath away from God's eternity? 231 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:58,240 Any of us, A heartbeat between you and the pit of hell. 232 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:00,480 Why? No, many don't believe it. 233 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:05,160 What is this pit? Where is it located? 234 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,360 Well, if you turn again in your Bible, let's turn this time to 235 00:18:09,360 --> 00:18:15,840 the book of Numbers. And in Numbers chapter 16, we 236 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:21,080 read in verse 31 these words. And it came to pass as he made 237 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:25,480 an end of speaking all these words, that the ground cleave 238 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:29,800 asunder that was under them, and the earth opened their mouth and 239 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:34,080 swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that 240 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:38,400 appertained unto Kora, and all their goods, they and all that 241 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,560 appertained to them. Now notice these words underline 242 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:43,280 them because we're linking them up. 243 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,920 We're comparing Scripture with Scripture went down alive into 244 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:51,720 the pit, and the earth closed upon them, and they perished 245 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:58,640 from among the congregation. Here's Kora's rebellion. 246 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,520 Kora was a rebel. He had many friends with him. 247 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:06,360 Kora and his friends stood against Moses. 248 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,760 They accused Moses of behaving badly in the ways of God. 249 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,360 They issued a challenge to Moses authority. 250 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:19,080 And what do we read? We read they went down alive 251 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:26,000 into the pit, and many in life's journey, that's their danger 252 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:30,160 that they face. And the Lord Jesus said three 253 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:35,760 times, John 822 to 24, If you die in your sins where I am, 254 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:42,040 there you cannot come again in the Gospel of Matthew, in 255 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:47,080 Matthew chapter 25, when we read in verse 41 these words, they 256 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:52,280 and shall he say unto them in the left hand, depart from me, 257 00:19:53,160 --> 00:20:00,920 ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his 258 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:06,800 angels. Why did God create such a place 259 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:11,720 called Hell for the Devil? And his angels that sinned with 260 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,640 him. And there's no return, and 261 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:19,440 there's no exits and there's no escape. 262 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,960 And there's none that can pass from hell into heaven. 263 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,520 There's no reprieve. There's no release. 264 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:31,440 The day you enter is the day you face your eternal doom. 265 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:36,680 You, you face the fearful destruction of your soul and 266 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:42,800 body. Now this is a place for all 267 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:47,800 unsaved unbelieving individuals. The Bible says the wicked shall 268 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,600 be turned into hell and all nations that forget God. 269 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,440 You see you would maybe say to me tonight, but and I would 270 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:58,040 understand this hell surely is a place for murderers and you're 271 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:01,640 100% right. No murderer hath eternal life. 272 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:10,080 Do you know tomorrow at 9:30, 1st of September marks the 50th 273 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:14,720 anniversary of the murder of five Orange brethren in County 274 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:18,000 Armagh? A very dark period in Ulster's 275 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:23,080 troubles. John Johnson 80, James McKee 73, 276 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:28,360 Ronnie McKee 40, Nevin McConnell 48, William Heron 68. 277 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,440 Six other men were injured in the Tully Vallen Orange Hall. 278 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:39,760 And the Bible says that the soul that sinneth it shall die. 279 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:45,120 And it's not just the murderers and the rapists and the drunkers 280 00:21:45,120 --> 00:21:51,280 and the thief and the harlots, but it's the unbelieving, it's 281 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:54,360 the fearful. Remember John 3 and 16? 282 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:59,000 Because that message is there. For God so loved the world that 283 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:03,320 he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him 284 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:07,240 should not perish, but have everlasting life. 285 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:13,920 But he that believeth not on the Son have not life, and the wrath 286 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:17,160 of God abideth on Him. We live in a day when sin is 287 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,080 ignored. We live in a day when sin is 288 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:23,880 misunderstood and yet has forgotten that sin pays wages. 289 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,520 The wages of sin is death, eternal death. 290 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:32,440 The gift of God is eternal life. You know, people live every day, 291 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:40,520 they take every step, they take every breath, they enjoy 292 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:45,080 everything that God gives them. And yet every day they live, 293 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:49,200 they're getting closer and closer out of Christ to this 294 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:51,720 place called the Pit. I could link it up with 295 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:55,560 Revelation 20, the bottomless pit where the devil will be 296 00:22:55,560 --> 00:23:00,960 bound for 1000 years. The danger that was faced going 297 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:04,080 down into the pit very quickly. And secondly, notice the 298 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,320 discovery that was found. If you go back to the text, it 299 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:13,040 tells us something truly amazing there in the book of Job in Job 300 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:20,680 33 and verse 24. Then he is gracious unto him and 301 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,960 said, deliver him from going down into the pit. 302 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,920 I have found a ransom. Then he is gracious. 303 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:34,560 That refers to God Almighty. And whenever it says, then he is 304 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:38,720 gracious unto him. Him as a reference to the man 305 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:44,520 who faces this danger. And what does God say in grace? 306 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:50,680 Deliver him. Now why does God give such a 307 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:53,920 gracious word? And here's the answer. 308 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:58,960 I have found a ransom and the word ransom here is the Hebrew 309 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:02,720 word cofer, which means atonement. 310 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:07,120 You see this word ransom speaks of redemption. 311 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:11,920 It speaks of a release, it speaks of a rescue. 312 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,280 There's tremendous salvation here. 313 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:18,640 It says in the text then he is gracious. 314 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:22,760 They in a school town, which means at that time and and out 315 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:27,600 of grace what is spoken is a word of deliverance and safe 316 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:30,720 deliver him. Do you feel the sense of that 317 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,280 that word deliver him is spoken and free grace. 318 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:39,000 Is it any wonder Paul could say where sin abounds, grace does 319 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,320 much more abound. We were singing there 320 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:43,400 deliberately. Amazing Grace. 321 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:45,880 How sweet the sound that saved the Wretch like me. 322 00:24:46,120 --> 00:24:49,760 I once was lost, but now I'm found was blind, but now I see 323 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,640 Amazing Grace. The little chorus. 324 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:56,320 There's a way back to God from the dark path of sin, and 325 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:58,480 Calvary's cross is where you begin. 326 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,600 When you come as a Sinner to Jesus. 327 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:04,160 You see there's no Sinner conceive himself. 328 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:09,720 There's no Sinner can set himself free from the terrors 329 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:13,920 and torments of this pit. The Sinner is without strength 330 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:17,080 and power. The Sinner needs one to come and 331 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:19,960 deliver him. The Sinner needs one to speak 332 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:23,600 the word of deliverance, and that's the context. 333 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:27,320 Look at verse 23. If there be a messenger with 334 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:33,080 him, a messenger with him, and who is the messenger of the New 335 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:35,040 Covenant? Well, it's Christ. 336 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:40,400 He's the mediator of the New covenant, not just a messenger. 337 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:44,080 And he is a merciful high priest. 338 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:50,360 He is sinlessly perfect, and on the ground of ascendous life and 339 00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:53,760 atoning death. He has power to set the captive 340 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:56,280 free. You see, there's a wonderful 341 00:25:56,280 --> 00:26:00,800 deliverance here for the Sinner. Imagine God Almighty in heaven 342 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,680 saying, deliver him. Why? 343 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:08,960 For I have found a ransom. And he speaks that word in 344 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,640 grace. A search was made in heaven and 345 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:15,400 in earth, and the ransom was found. 346 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,520 And who is the ransom? It's none other than the Lord 347 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:20,560 Jesus. Listen to what He Himself said 348 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:24,440 in Matthew chapter 20 and verse 28. 349 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:27,880 Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to 350 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:32,280 minister and to give his life a ransom. 351 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:40,720 For many, the ransom speaks of paying a price to release a soul 352 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,880 from bondage. And here's the Lord Jesus. 353 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:47,400 And he came into the world and he lived and died for sinners, 354 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,360 and he died as the sinners substitute. 355 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,240 He, he, he provided a ransom price. 356 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,280 His shed blood is the means of our deliverance. 357 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:58,240 It's not found in the Roman Catholic Church. 358 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:02,240 It's not found in neither Pope nor priest or confessional. 359 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:04,280 I'll tell you better than that. It's not even found in the 360 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:06,320 Protestant Church. Not the Protestant Church that 361 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,880 saves. It's Christ. 362 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:13,360 Not as pastors and elders, but Christ alone is not found in 363 00:27:13,360 --> 00:27:15,560 good living. It's not found in a moral 364 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:17,320 lifetime. It's not found in religious 365 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:20,040 rites and ceremonies. For by grace. 366 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,720 So you see it through faith and not all of yourselves. 367 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:25,800 The gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. 368 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:30,040 And here's a text that says, then he is gracious unto him. 369 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:32,240 Do you, do you feel the weight of that? 370 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:37,000 And he saith in grace, deliver him on what ground? 371 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:40,080 He hasn't earned it. He hasn't worked for it. 372 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:42,080 Wait a minute. He doesn't deserve it. 373 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:44,400 He's a murderer, he's a rapist, he's a thief. 374 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:47,360 He's a law breaker. He he's an unbeliever. 375 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,240 It's in the basis of free grace. What is grace? 376 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:56,040 It's undeserved, unmerited favour to lawbreakers and 377 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,280 criminals and sinners. Do you know there's a story told 378 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:03,560 about Doctor Tory? Doctor Tory? 379 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:08,360 Whenever he was in New York, he he met this old Shoemaker. 380 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:12,800 Shoemaker was a drunkard, used to beat his wife, drank whiskey, 381 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:18,120 gave his wife no money, spent all that he earned in the public 382 00:28:18,120 --> 00:28:20,880 house. He had no time for the gospel. 383 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:25,800 He cursed and swore like a tripper, and he cursed Tory and 384 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:30,440 his God to his face. Well, Tory prayed for him. 385 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:35,440 Tory went to befriend him, to minister to him, to tell him he 386 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:40,920 needed to repent and get saved. And there was a day came when 387 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:45,560 that man repented, and that man received Christ. 388 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:50,440 And here was the word Ho everyone that thirsteth, come ye 389 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:54,880 to the waters, he have no money. Come ye by and eat ye come by 390 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:59,360 wine and milk, without money and without price. 391 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,320 Tory pointed him to the words. Jesus paid it all. 392 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:08,120 All to him I owe. Sin had left the Crimson stain. 393 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:10,200 He washed it white. As so. 394 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:14,840 Can you say that tonight? Can you sing and say by way of 395 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:17,880 testimony, I am redeemed? Oh, praise the Lord. 396 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:22,800 You see the Gospel, The gospel is a gospel message about a 397 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:26,880 ransom price. It's a good news from God about 398 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:28,960 God's remedy for human sinfulness. 399 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:32,000 And God's remedy centres in the personal work of Christ. 400 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:35,280 And here's the greatest discovery in the world, that God 401 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:39,400 himself found a way to be just and the justifier of the 402 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:42,400 ungodly. And God's way was in the ransom 403 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:46,800 price, the birth, the life, the death, the resurrection of a 404 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:49,480 substitute, and then grace. He proclaims it. 405 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:52,520 He speaks a word of deliverance. Deliver him. 406 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:55,320 Atonement has been made. Divine justice has been 407 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:57,880 satisfied. God's wrath has been appeased 408 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:01,400 and propitiated. His law has been fulfilled. 409 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:06,960 The resurrection's proof that God accepted the ransom price of 410 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:10,000 Christ. Not only the danger that was 411 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,440 faced and the discovery that was found, but we'll close with 412 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:15,560 this, the deliverance that was focused. 413 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:18,400 Look at these words again in the text. 414 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:24,720 Then He is gracious unto him and sayeth, deliver Him. 415 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:28,040 They pause there, underline the word Him. 416 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:35,520 It's an individual. It's not them, it's Him. 417 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:40,880 You see it. It's a personal deliverance, and 418 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:44,840 God deals with every Sinner on an individual basis. 419 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:50,400 The Bible says then everyone shall give an account of himself 420 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:53,520 unto God. You're not accountable for your 421 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:56,720 wife. You're not accountable for your 422 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,200 brother, your sister. You're not accountable for any 423 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:01,680 member of your family or every other individual. 424 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:08,360 They're accountable for their own sin and their own guilt and 425 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:12,560 their own bondage. So here, here's a personal 426 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:14,440 message. Deliver him. 427 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:18,040 But it's not only a personal deliverance. 428 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:19,920 Notice it's a powerful deliverance. 429 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:22,960 Deliver him from going down to the pet. 430 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:30,000 It's it's it's in that sense where deliver him now because 431 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:32,240 he's in immediate and imminent danger. 432 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:38,120 Speak the word now. Can you hear that the Lord Jesus 433 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:42,840 deliver him now? He's speaking to you personally, 434 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,160 but he's speaking powerfully. Doesn't the Bible say, behold, 435 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:49,760 now is accepted, now is the day of salvation today, if you will 436 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:52,920 hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the provocation. 437 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:56,440 Boast not thyself of tomorrow. For no man knoweth what a day we 438 00:31:56,440 --> 00:32:00,040 bring forth in the context we read the words for God speaketh 439 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:04,000 once, yeah, twice. Yet man perceiveth had done. 440 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:06,440 How many times has God spoke to you in the Gospel? 441 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:09,200 You know you're a Sinner. You know you need to be saved. 442 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:10,520 You know you have a precious soul. 443 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:13,720 You know about the reality of heaven and the awfulness of 444 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:15,920 hell. That's in the book. 445 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:19,440 You, you accept that teaching. But what have you done about it? 446 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:24,160 Here's the call of the gospel. It's a powerful call. 447 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:27,120 Deliver him from going down to the pit. 448 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:31,680 Now, could I tell you something else? 449 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:38,400 It's a particular deliverance. Look with me at the text in the 450 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:44,120 context the pit is mentioned. 3 * 1824 thirty. 451 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:49,120 But look with me at verse 27. He looketh upon man, And if any 452 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:53,400 say I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it 453 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:57,120 profited me not, he shall deliver his soul from going down 454 00:32:57,400 --> 00:33:00,280 into the pit. You see, here's the call of the 455 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:03,400 gospel. The gospel calls for a 456 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:06,640 confession of sin. You coming to the Lord and 457 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:10,440 saying, Lord, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight. 458 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:14,680 That's the first step to deliver your soul. 459 00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:18,480 Go to God and say, I've sinned against heaven, and in your 460 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:29,600 sight, Lord, save me, I perish. Notice it says in verse 28, And 461 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:37,120 his life shall see the light. With confession there's true 462 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:41,320 conversion and in true conversion there's change. 463 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:49,560 Remember Zacchaeus, he was told up the tree, Come down, make 464 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:52,600 haste for today I must abide in thy eyes. 465 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:58,000 The lame man was told some thy sins be forgiven thee. 466 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:03,840 Here's the call of the gospel. It's not only personal and 467 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:09,159 powerful, but it's particular. You're called to confess. 468 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:11,520 You're called to repent. You're called to have faith. 469 00:34:11,679 --> 00:34:15,520 You're called to see that you've got the light of God flooding 470 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:19,679 into your soul. Could I finish tonight with 471 00:34:19,679 --> 00:34:23,159 this? You know that one day you'll die 472 00:34:24,199 --> 00:34:32,320 as I will, and on that day you need to be aware of the 473 00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:35,400 destruction that's in front of you, the danger that you face 474 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:39,920 going down into the pit and you need to make this discovery. 475 00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:44,040 The greatest discovery is that you've found a ransom. 476 00:34:44,159 --> 00:34:47,480 Not the discovery of £1,000,000, no, not the discovery of a 477 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:52,600 goldmine, not not the discovery of immense wealth that you never 478 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:58,040 had to work again in your life. Greater discovery, the greatest 479 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:01,120 in the world. God says I've found a ransom, 480 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:06,320 make the discovery of a deliverer because the deliverer 481 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:12,240 in grace is saying deliver him. You not only need a relationship 482 00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:18,680 with the Lord, but you can rejoice in a day of salvation, 483 00:35:19,240 --> 00:35:21,080 the deliverance that was focused. 484 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:26,280 Is that true of you tonight? Have you that particular 485 00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:29,840 deliverance? And you know how powerful it's 486 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:32,760 come to you and changed you. You're converted tonight. 487 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:36,400 You've called on the Lord. Whosoever shall call upon the 488 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:40,360 name of the Lord shall be saved, and you've particularised it 489 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:45,080 because it's particular to you. You're in a right relationship 490 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:46,960 to the Lord. Your soul has been restored. 491 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:50,320 You're rejoicing tonight in all the blessings and benefits of 492 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:54,480 God in the gospel. May that be true of you tonight. 493 00:35:54,600 --> 00:36:00,760 If not, remember this danger. You need to make this discovery 494 00:36:02,040 --> 00:36:04,080 so that you can enjoy this deliverance. 495 00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:08,680 The Lord bless you tonight. Thank you for coming, thank you 496 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:12,280 for listening, and I pray the Lord will use His Word for His 497 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:12,800 glory.