Old Paths

[0:00] Go to Jeremiah 6 if you've got your Bibles. I speak as a dying man to dying men.! I preach of eternal truths this morning, eternal realities.

[0:14] ! There are different pathways we can choose in life. And Jeremiah gave warning of choosing wisely the path we take. In Jeremiah 6 verse 16 through 17, the prophet Jeremiah says this, Jeremiah 6 verse 16, But they said, we will not walk therein.

[0:49] Also I set watchmen over you saying, hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, we will not hearken. The people refused to hear the prophet's message.

[1:01] Jeremiah's warning. They refused God's direction and preferred their own way. They refused the warning of danger and just blindly went on their own full heartedly way.

[1:13] It was a warning unheeded. How true that is today, isn't it? When you try to share the gospel, some would just go, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Block their ears. They don't want to hear the warning.

[1:24] They don't want to hear the message. But that should not stop us from declaring it. Jeremiah says, hearken to the sound of the trumpet. Now I won't get my dad to do the, what's it called?

[1:36] The shofar. There's a warning sound. There's an alarm going off. We didn't need the alarm this morning because we had an extra hour to just lie in. But there's a warning going off.

[1:46] There's an alarm sounding. Danger, danger, danger. Will we heed the warning? In Israel's time here, they refused God's prophet's message. They refused God's word.

[1:58] They went towards judgment. And they rejected God's ways. And God's warning through Jeremiah told of the certain judgment and destruction about to come.

[2:09] And it happened. Jerusalem was levelled. Its gates were torn down. Homes were destroyed. Many women became widowed. Children were taken from parents. People were taken prisoners as slaves.

[2:22] If only, if only they had listened to the message. If only they had listened to the word of God through Jeremiah some 20 years earlier. The people were at a fork in the road.

[2:34] And I put to you, likewise, we come to a fork in the road. Now, anyone who goes driving with me will know how I often get misled. I'm a double-minded man, unstable in all my driving.

[2:47] You know, when it comes to the crossroads and you're not sure which way is which, usually I take the wrong way. I usually don't listen to my wife who's saying to go this way, I go that way.

[2:58] And then she says, I told you so. You know, we like that, aren't we? It's human nature that we go the wrong way. When God says go this way, we go that way. And Jeremiah, God urged them through Jeremiah to restore what had been forsaken.

[3:14] He rebuked them for falling so far that, as in verse 15, it says they've forgotten to blush anymore. How easy that is for us, isn't it? When you're barraged by so many fleshly, worldly messages that you forget to blush anymore.

[3:29] It's not embarrassing anymore. You know, imagine if your children are in the room and seeing some of the modern movies, the modern smut and the filthy jokes and the coarse humour and the messages, the underlying messages that are constantly barraging us.

[3:46] We see we've forgotten how to blush. Sin has overtaken. Sin has overtaken Israel here that they'd lost that sense of guilt, of right and of wrong, of shame before a holy God.

[3:59] And they had lost the conviction of sin. He told them that their preachers were telling them lies, that their leadership was ungodly, that God's judgment loomed. These were strong words from Jeremiah.

[4:10] But the people needed them. They got right off track. Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the way, and see and ask for the old paths. Where is the good way?

[4:21] And walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Stand ye. We're called to stand. To stand. Having done all, to stand. Stand as men.

[4:33] Stand as soldiers. Stand for what is right. Stand for what is true. Stand for the book. Stand for the blood. Stand for the blessed hope. Stand for sound doctrine, for holiness and truth.

[4:43] It's time to stand. Stand and see. We're called to see. Open your eyes. And see. See the blessings of God's great grace upon you.

[4:55] The fellowship of God's beloved people. The mercy of God over your life. The joy of your salvation. Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways. And see.

[5:06] And ask. Ask. We're called to ask. Ask for the will of God. Ask for God's way. Ask for the courage of your conviction. Ask for God's direction.

[5:16] Ask for God's empowerment. Ask for the old paths. The old paths. The old paths are the paths of God and of truth. When we're on the right track, we will be able to discern truth from error.

[5:32] Right from wrong. God's spirit from the flesh. Thus saith the Lord. Stand ye in the ways. And see. And ask for the old paths.

[5:42] Where is the good way? And walk. Walk therein. And you shall find rest for your souls. We're called to walk. Walk in the spirit. Walk in the light. Walk by Christ's strength.

[5:55] Walk in the good way. Walk wisely before a world that is hell bound. Walk closely in fellowship with one another. Walk closely with your Lord.

[6:06] Walk the way of, dare I say, the way of the cross. We're called to walk. And you shall find rest for your souls.

[6:18] We're called to find rest. There's a rest for your soul. Brother, sister, there's a rest for your soul. Whatever is going on for you. He says, come unto me. And you shall find rest.

[6:30] You shall find rest. Rest from the burden of sin. Rest from the storms that buffet. Rest from all the hurts of life. We can find a refuge. We can find a sanctuary in our God.

[6:43] We can find healing and care and comfort and grace and God's soul peace. Rest for your souls. Ask for the old paths.

[6:54] Jeremiah called the people here to the old paths. Now, some would consider what is old as obsolete. As being past its use-by date. You know, you've got to check your fridge every so often, don't you?

[7:06] As it got there, is it past the use-by date? You know, people are saying even of such things as if when you say something, oh, that is so 2015.

[7:16] You know, it's like something that's just a few years old. That's so 2015. Oh, that's so 1990s. It's as if what was brand new just a few years ago is so old now.

[7:29] You know, you've just got to get the latest model car, whatever it is. It's like it's just a, oh, that's dated now. It's an old car now. Old paths. Paths of truth.

[7:41] Paths of God's values and righteousness. The ways that we earnestly long for are biblical ways, orden they be. And our Lord calls us to restore such, to return, to return to the old paths.

[7:55] The old paths of trusting God. The old paths of walking in God. The old paths of faithfulness. Of godly fellowship. Of holy living. Of zeal for God. Of going God's direction.

[8:07] The old paths of old-fashioned revival. Of old-fashioned truth. And we have in our hands here truth. And it cannot go out of date.

[8:18] It cannot go out of date. You know, I've had a good look at my Bible here. And I've, you know, checked it from cover to cover, as it were. I've had a close look.

[8:29] And there is no expiry date. You know, there's no use by date. It's just not there. This is eternal. Amen. It's an eternal book. There's no expiry date on your Bible.

[8:41] Contrast that with new fad things. Some would rather have some new thing. Something novel. Something entertaining. Some new way. Some novelties. A religion of convenience.

[8:52] Of comfort. Something carefree. A worship and a doctrine that is false. People jump on bandwagons. You know, I've been in Christianity long enough to know fads come and fads go.

[9:03] There's bandwagons. People jump on and then they jump on the next one that comes along. And largely it's doctrine that is flaky. And they're actually in rebellion to God.

[9:15] Beware of latter-day teachings. Especially a church called the Latter-day Church. Beware of latter-day things. Because the Bible says in the last days, there's going to be falling away.

[9:28] There'll be some new directions and there'll be wrong directions. In Jeremiah's time, the priesthood was polluted. The people were misled by man's errors and confusion. Jeremiah told the people, you've come to a fork in the road.

[9:41] Make your choice. They've come to the crossroads. And he urged them, return to God with your heart. And surely you will find peace for your souls. So what happened?

[9:52] History tells us the people and their leaders would have none of it. They didn't want to trust him. They were not repentant. And they had it long in their own destruction.

[10:06] They rejected the old truths for the devil's lies. And it's the same today, isn't it? People of God, it's the same today. We are inclined to have an appetite for new fad things.

[10:18] And likewise, in David's time, we tell of David, as he got misled to choose the new fad way of 1 Chronicles 13 from verse 7.

[10:30] David, King David, a man of God, he was led astray by the Philistine spirit, as it were. He thought, oh, the Philistines have got these fancy carts to cart their gods on, these idols.

[10:42] And we can have an ark. We can put the ark of God's presence on a flash new cart. That's what David thought. And he had all the bells and whistles. This was the greatest cart you could ever imagine.

[10:56] But the trouble was, God had not ordained it. It was not of God. David took the ark off the shoulders of the priests. This is 1 Chronicles 13. And yet God had ordained that the ark of the covenant be carried upon the shoulders of the priests, moving one step at a time in the direction of God, as they entrusted God's presence and power to those who would trust and obey, those who are dedicated and the reverent of the holy.

[11:24] We must be likewise a God-dependent people, a God-obedient people, to go God's way, to choose God's direction and God's methodology. But they wanted to try some new thing.

[11:36] And David put it to the vote, you know, all in favour, and everybody's hand went up. It says in 1 Chronicles 13, verse 4, as David put it, to the vote of the people. You know, the vote of the people isn't always right.

[11:48] 1 Chronicles 13, verse 4, it says, And all the congregation said they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. What might be right in all the eyes of the people might be wrong in the eyes of God.

[12:01] And it was in this case. It was popular. Everybody thought this is a great idea. They were having a wow of a time. There was a whole lot of noise and emotion and commotion going on.

[12:13] In 1 Chronicles 13, verse 8, and it says, And David and all Israel played before God with all their might. They had a mighty orchestra. They had the latest band.

[12:24] They had all the singing, the harps, the psalteries, the timbrels, the cymbals and the trumpets. But it was wrong. It wasn't of God. It wasn't God's way. And David got carried away in this moment.

[12:36] And yet God brought it to an abrupt halt. God interrupted David's rejoicing. David's party with a funeral. When Uzzah took hold of the ark to steady it, God slew him.

[12:48] They were going man's way. And God judged their sin. It was then that David realised he had forsaken the old paths.

[13:00] He'd forsaken the very word of God, God's instruction and direction. He'd gone contrary. He disobeyed the old word of God. And he feared. God brought him to a place where he did fear God and he did obey God.

[13:16] In 1 Chronicles 15, 2, the story changed where David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites. For them hath God chosen to carry the ark of God and to minister unto him forever.

[13:29] David realised, hey, we forgot the instructions. We forgot God's direction. We forgot God's commands and he wanted to get in order and back on track. It says in 1 Chronicles 15, 13, because you did it not at the first, you know, you didn't do the right thing the first.

[13:46] The Lord our God made a breach upon us. He brought this judgment upon us for that we sought him not after the due order. We need to seek after God. Seek after God and to do that which is orderly and righteous and in accord with his will.

[14:02] We stand at the fork in the road. There's a choice to make. We face a stark choice. It's a decision point. Which way do we take? The way of the flesh or the way of the spirit?

[14:14] God's way or our own way? We're spiritually sick and declining as a nation. We're morally bankrupt. The problem isn't just the financial debt. There's a moral bankruptcy in our land, isn't there?

[14:27] Where decency and ethics are missing. Common courtesy and sense of right and wrong. Honour, faithfulness. The values of yesterday are being trashed, trampled, forsaken.

[14:41] The truth and honour has been lost. The truth and honour has been lost. And our testimony has been damaged. Even in the church of God, there's much to be desired.

[14:52] Our testimony has been damaged. Right and wrong has been blurred. Parents once disciplined their children in love. And as parents, we disciplined ourselves.

[15:04] It seems that's gone out the window now. There's a new way of thinking now. It's like the government's taken over. It's like the government can do a better job of raising children than parents can now.

[15:15] It seems like many morals are being broken down as we're handing over our children to the state. And parents have lost authority in the home. There's an erosion of respect, a breakdown of order.

[15:26] How we need to return to the old paths. Amen? Some would steer away from the old paths now. Many churches have taken a detour. They've taken a new track.

[15:38] Some would choose a different path. The pathway of compromise. The pathway of conformity. Many have gone in another direction that they would veer off track. Now during World War II, during the Battle of the Bulge, I'm told there was a group of German soldiers who dressed themselves in the uniforms of the Allies.

[15:57] They pretended to be Allied soldiers. And these German soldiers, they jumped into American military vehicles and they went through the countryside changing the road signs.

[16:11] When the American troops came to the various crossroads and they looked at the signposts, they were often furled and led in the wrong direction. This deception by the Germans almost gave them the victory in this very decisive battle from the Second World War.

[16:25] Just like those German soldiers changing the road signs, there's a lot of confusion in our day. Road signs are getting changed and people are heading the wrong way. How we need to search for the old paths, to find God's ways, to get back to the old paths.

[16:42] The old way. It's not the popular way, but it's the good way. It's the best way. It's the right way because it's God's way. What are the old paths I put to you? The old truths that we need to restore, what are they?

[16:54] What are these truths that we need to hold fast? The old truths, the old paths. I put to you we need some of the old time power. The old time power.

[17:05] It can come by the old time way, as it always has done. By old time praying. Number one. Old time praying. And I was encouraged if someone wanted to pray this morning before the service.

[17:17] Old time praying is what we need. We've got an old time prayer meeting in this church. We need to have some old time praying. Elijah was a man of like passions, as we are. Yet he was a God-connected man.

[17:29] James 5.16 tells of Elijah. In the context, it says, pray for one another. It says, the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. It says that Elijah, he was a man of like passions, as we are.

[17:43] And he prayed earnestly that it might not rain. And it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. Elijah, a man of like passions, as we are. A man just like you, just like me.

[17:55] A man, a frail man. A human man. A man of like passions. And it says he prayed. He prayed. That made the difference.

[18:06] That makes a difference when you pray. Sister, when you pray, it makes a difference. Brother, when you pray, it makes a difference. If it's the earnest prayer of a righteous one, it avails much.

[18:16] The old time church sought the will of God by prayer. They prayed for everything. And they had prayer meetings where the building shook with the power of prayer, with the power of God.

[18:28] In Acts 4, it says, and when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. And they spake the word of God with boldness.

[18:38] When they prayed, the place was shaken. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. It goes on. They had great power.

[18:49] There was great grace. When the people got to praying, God moved. When the people got to praying, they were of one heart. When the people got to praying, they were of one soul. When the people got to praying, they all spake the word of God with boldness.

[19:04] The early church was a praying church. It's one of the old paths. Brother, sister, prayer. Don't neglect to pray. And I'm preaching to myself here. Don't neglect to pray.

[19:15] Preacher, don't neglect to pray. Congregation, don't neglect to pray. We need some old time praying. They began in prayer in Acts 1. As they went to the upper room, in one accord, they prayed.

[19:27] They continued in prayer in Acts 2, 42. They continued steadfastly in prayer. And they prayed no matter what. They prayed in time of persecution. They prayed when someone had a need.

[19:38] In Acts 12, it says, Peter, therefore, was kept in prison. But prayer, prayer, prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

[19:48] There's a time to pray. And we should pray. It's an old path. It's a neglected path. It's a forsaken path. The pathway of prayer. Let us not neglect it.

[19:59] The Lord calls us to return to prayer. In Luke 18, 1, our Lord says that men ought always to pray. Always to pray and not to faint. When we pray, we begin to talk with God.

[20:11] We receive his direction, his empowerment, his enablement. We can know answers to prayer. We can know God's moving, his hand. By prayer, have we forsaken this old path, the path of prayer?

[20:28] Let's be honest here. It's here that in prayer, we declare we're a God-dependent church. We depend on prayer. We depend on him. We must have his unction.

[20:39] We rest upon his heaven-sent power. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. And that's still true today.

[20:50] There's no expiry date. I had a look. The effectual, fervent prayer. Amen. It's still true, isn't it? Isn't it still true? The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

[21:02] And it's still true today as it ever was true. The old time praying. The old paths take us to the place of prayer, to the throne of God in faith.

[21:13] I know someone was telling me they've got a closet where they pray. Amen. Let's have that place of prayer. Whether it's in our home, whether it's with others, let's pray and keep on praying.

[21:24] There's a throne room you can come to and it's got 24 by 7 by 365 access. Wow. That you have a very throne room. You can enter in. Enter in, brother.

[21:34] Enter in, sister. To be praying. To be praying. We need some old time fasting and praying. We need to be praying. Praying as a church. Praying as a family. Praying in our closet. Moses cried out to God and God spared Israel from judgment.

[21:49] Joshua's prayer made the sun stand still. Hannah's prayer was answered with a baby boy. Solomon got wisdom as he prayed. Fire came down from heaven when Elijah prayed and devoured the sacrifice, sodden with water on Mount Carmel.

[22:04] Elijah had the great power of God on his life and Elisha prayed for a double portion. Wow. And God gave it him.

[22:16] Let us not neglect to pray. Sister, brother, to not neglect. To go to prayer. Go to God. To be praying. Praying for the souls of lost family and friends.

[22:28] Praying over conviction of sin. That God will work in your heart and make you more like Christ. That you'll be conformed to the image of God. Praying over your needs. For God's help and direction.

[22:39] For your hurts. For God's healing and sustaining power. Praying for one another. Not just for yourself. Old time praying. How we need some. Some of the old time power.

[22:51] The power of prayer. What about old time preaching? We could do some old time preaching. To get back to the preaching of the living word of God. Preaching and teaching the word of God.

[23:01] Old time gospel preaching. That sees people getting saved. And we all have a part to play. To share the good news. The gospel. The good news. The old time church.

[23:13] Were a people caring for lost souls. It wasn't just some little holy club. They were an advancing army. Reaching out. Taking the message. And God had to unsettle them to make it happen at times there.

[23:27] Didn't he? To bring about that. When we get too complacent. To get out. Of the walls. And this is the power that we need. In our day.

[23:38] For I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God. Unto salvation. To everyone that believeth. To the Jew first. And also to the Greek. I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

[23:50] It is the power of God. The old time gospel is what we need. Isn't it? There's a lot of substitutes out there. There's a lot of works based salvation. There's a lot of flaky gospels out there.

[24:02] But the real gospel. Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again from the dead. He's our living saviour. If we'll trust him. Let's be a people witnessing with tears.

[24:14] Let's be a people who care about the gospel. There's many false substitutes. There's dangerous sidetracks out there. There's shallow gospels. There's flaky false gospels. There's social gospels.

[24:26] There's some who come to church and hear a preacher and never hear the gospel in a lifetime. Is there a concern and a burden for the lost? This is the old path. The gospel preaching.

[24:37] Old time preaching. Is there a travailing of our souls that we've got something too important to not impart it? To not share it? To not declare it? Have we gotten off the path?

[24:49] Some have not even known it. They don't know old time gospel preaching. Some doubt salvation. They've got this woefully shaky, flaky kind of salvation. Very much dependent upon the man.

[25:01] It's the opposite of God's salvation. If you've got a salvation that's so flaky and shaky that you're worried they're going to lose it, then it's not God's salvation.

[25:11] The only salvation that God gives is secure. It's certain. It's eternal. It's guaranteed by the blood of Christ. The blood of Jesus saves you.

[25:23] And my Bible says we are kept not by man's power, but by the power of God. The very power of God. In 1 Peter 1.3 it says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

[25:43] To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away. I reserved in heaven for you. Your name's written down. Up there.

[25:56] Don't worry about writing it in the visitor's book or on the church member roll. Make sure their name's written up there. Amen. Reserved. Reserved. You know, when the cafe puts reserved on your table, it's your table.

[26:11] It says there's a place reserved for you. If you trusted Christ, it's reserved. It's guaranteed. Because Jesus has paid your place, reserved in heaven for you. Who are kept by the power of God?

[26:24] Through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. How are we kept? Not by our own clutching, trying, straining effort, hoping, praying.

[26:36] By his power. Kept by the power of God. Are you kept by the power of God? You can know that today. You can know for sure. I'm saved. S-A-V-E-D.

[26:48] Saved. I have eternal, eternal life. Here and now. When people teach an insecure salvation that is based on what men do, they have rested on their works.

[27:00] That's thin ice. And actually, they're not saved. It's a works-based salvation. We need old-time Bible preaching, the preaching of salvation. We need old-time soul winning that we hold to and follow and believe in the Bible, the Bible message, such that we want to declare it, to declare it, to teach it, to meditate on it, to memorize it, to hide it in our heart.

[27:24] This society, we leave it so entertainment-driven, so minded to the flesh that we are likewise geared somewhat that way. It can influence me or you that we're geared to what satisfies people.

[27:39] It can be a sidetrack. Some churches scarcely have Bible preaching like they used to. They just want to have programs that feed people's social needs or tickles their fancies.

[27:55] They miss the point through that. And preaching is so old-fashioned, some would say. But we must uphold old-fashioned doctrine. In 2 Timothy 3, it says, The Holy Scriptures.

[28:36] God is able to guide and lead. It's given for instruction. It's given for reproof. It's given for instruction.

[28:49] It's given by inspiration of God. Some churches scarcely have a Bible. People scarcely open the Bible. The preachers scarcely quote the Bible. They've turned away from the King James Bible.

[29:01] And now they have a Bible that's been tampered with, a Bible with holes in it. In Proverbs 30 verse 6, it says, Don't tamper with the Word of God.

[29:13] We need some old-time preaching of the old-time book, the never-changing Word of God. We have a Bible we can believe in from cover to cover. Revelation 22 tells of how if any man shall add unto these words, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.

[29:30] Now let's not mess with the Word of God. Hold it fast. Hold fast. Hold fast the faithful word. Yet it's being abandoned today. And people want some new-time way.

[29:42] They've decided that man's methods, that the new is better. They're leaving the Bible. They're leaving the old-time salvation. They're leaving the old-time songs of the faith that were founded on doctrine.

[29:53] They're leaving old-fashioned worship where there's a praising of the Lord. They're leaving behind the preaching. But we must have the Bible. We must have sound Bible teaching, strong Bible preaching, preaching that says hell is hot and heaven is real.

[30:06] And we want to know a saviour who can take us to heaven. A preaching against sin. A joy still in seeing people transformed by the grace of God. People getting right with God.

[30:17] Christians living for Christ. Rejecting worldliness. Upholding separation. Where Christ is being exalted by the faithful preaching of the old-time message. The old, old story is still as ever new.

[30:31] Nowadays it seems like entertainment-geared services are causing this big detour from the worship of God. Enough of ear tickling. We must have the word.

[30:41] We must have the word. Give us the word. Preaching of truth, of holiness. May God raise up preachers and teachers who cannot be afraid to preach.

[30:52] Thus saith the Lord. This is truth. We need preaching of God's word without apology and with passion. The uncompromising word of God.

[31:03] Unadulterated. Forfully proclaimed in our modern-day Nineveh. And men and women can declare on the streets in witness, in personal testimony of the conviction of God's saving grace.

[31:16] Of his word. Of truth. Of the salvation message. We all can be deliverers of that gospel message. We don't need another Bible. We need to read the one we've got.

[31:28] There's never been anything wrong with the one we have. We uphold the reliability of God's sure word. The infallibility of it. The authority of it. The inspiration of it. Because we have in our hands the very word of God.

[31:41] Very words. Plural. We have a Bible with purity and with accuracy. And we uphold it before a condemned nation. A condemned world.

[31:52] We have the scripture. It's given by inspiration of God. It's a supernatural book. It convicts. It converts. It corrects. It conquers. It comforts. It's how we need some of the old time power.

[32:05] The old time power. The old time power of prayer. The old time power of preaching. And thirdly, the old time praising. Our praise and worship is holiness unto the Lord.

[32:16] We need some old time praise. Some old time praising and rejoicing and gladness and joy. In the goodness of our God. In the joy of our salvation.

[32:27] Honouring unto his name the old time praising of God. Where our hearts can be set ablaze. Our heart can be set a jumping. And a jumping for joy. That we can know a praising of his glory.

[32:40] Of the great goodness and majesty of our God. Our old time praising. It's not bound by circumstance. By our own flesh or condition. Just some references to the Psalms.

[32:54] Get a hold of the song book of God. You've got 150 in your Bible. The Psalms of God. Psalm 42. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me?

[33:05] Hope thou in God. For I shall yet praise him. I shall yet praise him. Who is the health of my countenance and my God. We have reason for rejoicing.

[33:15] I shall yet praise him. I'm going to praise him no matter what. Because he is my God. The great gladness of our soul. When he set us free from sin. It puts a gladness in our heart.

[33:27] He loosens our tongue. His praises to shout and sing. Psalm 47.6 it says. Sing praises unto God. Sing praises. Sing praises unto our King. Sing praises.

[33:39] May this be our heartfelt prayer. An old time praising. Psalm 51. Verse 16. The psalm of David's repentance. For thou desirest not sacrifice.

[33:49] Else would I give it. Thou delightest not in burnt offering. He delights in our praises. Praising God will do your soul good. In Psalm 67.3 it says. Let the people praise thee.

[34:00] Oh God. Let all the people praise thee. Psalm 71 says. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise. And with thy honour all the day.

[34:11] Praise him. Praise him. Praise him. The God who is your refuge and strength. Praise him. He is your strength and song. Praise him. He has become your salvation. Praise him. In the morning.

[34:22] Praise him. In the noontime. Praise him. In the evening. Praise him. All the day long. Praise him. In the congregation. Praise him. In the prison at midnight. Praise him in the trials. Praise him in the storm.

[34:33] Praise him in the daytime. Praise him in your car. Praise him in your home. Psalm 98.4 it says. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all the earth. Make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise.

[34:45] Make it your determination. Old fashioned praising of God. Make it your determination. Oh my soul praise him. I don't care what I feel like.

[34:56] My soul praise him. Praise him. Praise him no matter what. Psalm 86.12 it says. I will praise thee. Oh Lord my God with all my heart. And I will glorify thy name forevermore.

[35:08] Psalm 100 verse 4 says. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving. And enter his courts with praise. And be thankful unto him. And bless his name. Psalm 107.8 it says.

[35:19] Oh the man would praise the Lord for his goodness. And for his wonderful works to the children of men. Can you praise him for his goodness? Can you praise him for his wonderful works unto you?

[35:31] Our praise is not dictated by our feelings. Praise him even when you don't feel like it. Amen. Praise him anyway. Psalm 118.28 it says.

[35:41] Thou art my God and I will exalt thee. Thou art my God. I will praise thee. Psalm 118 it says. Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will go into them and I will praise the Lord.

[35:54] Psalm 145 it says. I will extol thee oh God my King. I will bless thy name forever and ever. Every day will I bless thee. And I will praise thy name forever and ever. We're just getting some practice for the meantime.

[36:07] Amen. Oh we'll praise thee forever and ever. It says. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. And his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another.

[36:18] And shall declare thy mighty acts. The early church knew some old time praising. Amen. Luke 24.53. The Lord had ascended and it says. And they were continually in the temple.

[36:30] Praising and blessing God. Amen. They were continually praising and blessing God. Acts 2.46. And they continued in the daily with one accord in the temple.

[36:44] They broke bread from house to house. They did eat their meat with singleness. Gladness and singleness of heart. Praising God. And having faith with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily.

[36:55] Such as should be saved. Praising God. How are the old paths? Now I've got a bit of a track in my backyard.

[37:06] And I drove the jeep up there. And you can still see it. But it's starting to. The grass is starting to grow. On that old path. In my backyard. And eventually the grass will just cover it.

[37:18] The grass will just cover those tracks. And they'll be gone. Unless I drive that track again. How are the old paths for you? How's the pathway of prayer? How's the pathway of preaching?

[37:31] The pathway of praising? Will we take the road to conformity? Or will we stand for the right? How are the old paths? Are they getting overgrown? Maybe we haven't trodden them for a while.

[37:42] Will we return to the old paths? Will we seek after God? To get right. To get it right. To seek after God in prayer. To seek his face.

[37:53] To show we mean business with God. To refresh that which is lacking. To restore that which you've lost. The good old paths of the soul. We can find rest and peace there.

[38:04] Now these old paths are not crowded with the many. They're not new and popular with the crowds. But the ones who walk on these old paths are people who are God's children.

[38:15] And you want to be associated with them, don't you? You want to be associated with them. Few in number. Yet you want to be associated with them. And here is where we find true rest. The peace of God.

[38:27] A passion for souls. A love for the brethren. A compassion for the lost. A holy people. Seeking after God. Despite all of our lack and inadequacy and our faults.

[38:38] Yet we're aspiring to be such a people. Now there's some old promises here. But they're still relevant. There's no expiry date. These old promises are still yay and amen.

[38:50] They're still here and now. For you. For me. For today. They're still relevant. And having therefore these promises dearly beloved.

[39:02] Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Perfecting holiness in the fear of God. God's plan of salvation is still the same. It's still the same gospel message.

[39:12] It's not some new revised version. Certainly not one that we can trust in. We must have the Bible message. The old Bible standards. And we've got to get back to the basics.

[39:25] Put the emphasis where God places it. For the care of our soul. And for those we want to tell. To seek first the kingdom of God. His righteousness.

[39:36] It's not man's ideas and religion and newfound ways that should guide us. But God's unchanging word. His sure word. His faithful word. So let's cry out for the old paths.

[39:50] Stand in the way and see. See what's happening. Ask for the old paths. Where is the good way? And walk therein. And you shall find rest for your souls.

[40:02] Cry out for the old paths. To cry out for that place of prayer. Ask God to help you to pray. To pray earnestly. To pray with zeal.

[40:15] To pray in faith. To call on your Father. To pray. To come where the old time preaching is. And be one who wants to declare it too.

[40:25] As gospel messengers. You have a part to play. To impart that word. Far and wide. To take the gospel to people's doorsteps. To others that you know.

[40:37] Old time preaching. And old time praising. Don't let the circumstances of life drag you down. You have a God in heaven. Who cares for you. And he's given his all for you.

[40:47] And this is but a moment. A twinkling of an eye. We'll see his face. We'll be gone. Let's practice here and now. For heaven to come. To praise our God and King.

[40:59] Do you know him? Do you know Jesus as your saviour? Please I urge you today. You know. As I've talked and touched on. There's many who have religion.

[41:10] They have a salvation. That is of their own conjuring up. Their own doing. Their own making. Their own trusting. It's not going to help you. Don't trust in yourself.

[41:21] Trust in Jesus. Trust in him. Believe on Jesus. As Lord. As saviour. As the one died. In your place. For your sin. The one who paid the penalty. You must trust Jesus.

[41:33] There's no other way. There's no other way. No other way. How can I impress you? You know. Some would hear a preacher. And then think. As these guys said.

[41:45] We will not hearken. Oh yeah. Blah. Blah. Whatever. People have done that. Walked out of a gospel meeting. And been struck dead.

[41:58] Car accident. Whatever. Don't put it off. Get right with God. Get right with God now. Do it now. Trust him now. Today is the day of salvation. Behold. Now is the day of salvation.

[42:08] Today is the accepted time. I urge you. To get right with God. Let's pray. Heavenly Father. We thank you. Your word is truth. It's alive.

[42:19] It's sure. It's powerful. And there's no use by date. Lord. We know. It's something we should have. And do. And uphold. And declare. And rest upon.

[42:32] And found our lives upon its truths. And Lord. The soul saving truth. That you are the only saviour. As we've heard today. Lord. Let us be such a people. Help us Lord. To pray.

[42:43] To seek your face. To seek out your word. To impart it to others. To be a praising people. No matter what goes on. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.