The Lord Abiding With Us To Help And Strengthen

[Posted by permission. Bethel Strict Baptist Chapel.]

Sermon preached at Bethel Chapel, Luton, by Mr. B. A. Ramsbottom, on Lord’s day evening, 5th August, 2018

“But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them”—Luke 24;29

Surely this is one of the most beautiful chapters in the New Testament. “The Lord is risen indeed”; “Vain the stone, the watch, the seal”; and these precious appearances to these godly women and to these two on the road to Emmaus.

Now beloved friends, on a number of occasions I have spoken to you from this chapter, and often I have tried to go through it and open it up. Often over the years it has been on Easter Sunday. But the way this word rests with me this evening, not so much on the truth of the resurrection, not even the glorious Person of the risen Saviour, and not these to whom He appeared, but ourselves, that this prayer might be our prayer, your prayer, my prayer, that the Lord Jesus in love and in mercy might abide with us.

These two on the road to Emmaus, when they reached Emmaus, when He was revealed to them, they realised who it was, they realised His preciousness, they realised they could not do without Him and they wanted Him to stay. They wanted Him to abide with them. They wanted Him never to leave them nor forsake them. I am sure these are the feelings of all those of you here this evening who are concerned about yourself and your souls and a never-ending eternity, that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ might abide with you.

We have our lives to live. Not every day is the Lord’s day. Monday comes with its fresh duties and responsibilities. With some, there are difficulties, with others, problems. There is that great, that vital concern about our beginnings being right, but we have a life to live. We have a pilgrimage to walk out. We have a fight to fight. We have the race that we have to run. All of us can say this: we are just not capable of these things; we cannot manage them. They are vital things, personal things, necessary things, and our only hope is if our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ abides with us.

“They constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them.” Now of course, literally with us at this moment it is toward evening. With us the day is far spent. Soon once more it will be over. In the Lord’s divine appointment, when the evening comes, week by week, then six o’clock, it is toward evening, the day is far spent, and we are found gathered in the house of God. I wonder how many this evening have come with that desire, or if you feel it even now, that the Lord Jesus will be here, that He will abide with us, and as Monday morning comes, that He will not leave us nor forsake us in all our concerns, but that He will abide with us still.

So this is a prayer, and in the spirit of it, it is a vital prayer. May each of us be taught feelingly to pray it. It is toward evening, the day is far spent. O Lord Jesus, in Thy mercy come and abide with us this Lord’s day evening, and then in all that follows.

Now as we think of this B the Lord’s day evening, our gathering for public worship B there is a very important question, and I am sure it does pass through the minds of some of you at times. It is a thing you seldom hear spoken of: What is the reason why we come to the house of God? Now it is an important question. What is the real reason why we come to the house of God? Of course, there are many things. Perhaps children say, Because they are brought. Perhaps others say, Because we always have done. Others may say, Because our parents used to come. Others might say, Because it is the right thing to do. Some might even say, Because the Lord has commanded it. But why do we meet on the Lord’s day?

One thing that the Scripture makes abundantly clear is this: we meet for the solemn and sacred worship of God. These two on the road to Emmaus knew something of worship before they got to this house where they were coming, but when they got there, didn’t they have a spirit of worship, especially when the Lord Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread! This is why we pray, “Lord Jesus, abide with us, that we mighty truly worship Thee, that we might truly glorify Thy name.”

What it is to worship Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, is not an easy thing to describe. Some people think it is just outward show B beautiful buildings, fine music, things like that. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” As the psalmist puts it: “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

I would just pause here and say this: count those seasons on the Lord’s day precious when you feel just a little true worship in your soul. It may only be for a moment. We think of the first time we read of worship in the Word of God, and it was not in a church or a chapel or a synagogue or a tabernacle. It was out beside a well, and Abraham’s servant “bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.” He saw the Lord’s mercy, and he saw the Lord was with him. He saw what the Lord had done for him, and he “bowed down his head, and worshipped.” This is what we want when it is “toward evening, and the day is far spent.”

The world cannot understand us. It is going after its pleasures, but we are found met in the house of God, and may we be blessed with that spirit of worship. It is hard to define. It is like that precious perfume we read of under the Levitical law (Exodus 30. 34-38). It was made after the art of a skilful apothecary. There were all kinds of things joined together in it, and if anybody tried to imitate it, it was a punishable offence. But what is there in it? Gratitude, praise, humility, love, faith, a tender heart B we might go on with a long list B and all these things sweetly united together. May we pray for it. Lord Jesus, abide with us. It is only if the Lord Jesus does abide with us, and especially when the Holy Spirit fulfils His kind office, and takes of the things of Jesus and shows them to us.

Let me tell you something. If you had a glimpse tonight of the love of Christ, you would bow your head and worship. If your heart was touched just singing one of the hymns, you would bow your head and worship. I feel persuaded at the end of the service this morning (hymn 876 on the brasen serpent) there were quite a few worshippers in Bethel Chapel, and outside before you went home. If tonight you had a glimpse by faith of the Lord Jesus dying on the cross, you would worship Him. And thinking of the Lord’s supper, may the Lord’s table be a place where we truly are favoured to worship the Lord. O but to pray for it!

“Abide with us.” Of course, there are other things B things like thanksgiving, things like hearing the Word, listening to the Word, hoping the preaching of the Word might be made profitable to us. But there is one thing which I feel is extremely important, and that is, the Lord’s people gather together, the Lord’s day morning, the Lord’s day evening, but they have their concerns. Of course, there is the great concern, being born again, being made right, but those that the Lord has really blessed, favoured, you young ones and you older ones, you have a life to live. You have this pilgrimage to walk out. With some of you, it is daily before the world. Some have special problems. Some have things to concern you with your health, others with those you love, some concerning where you work, some concerning your relationships with other people, some concerning your plans for the future. Now this is where it comes in: “Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.”

There is the prayer, and in one sense, it specially belongs to the house of God and our solemn assemblies, and it is this, and it is a good prayer: “Send us help from the sanctuary, and strengthen us out of Zion.” It comes to this important point. As we are found in the house of God, as we meet for worship, perhaps there are things you are thinking of on the Monday morning B some of you younger ones at school (though it is now the holidays), some of you with your plans, some of you with your fears, some of you with your secret troubles. We do want the services on the Lord’s day to be a help. Now that is profitable. It is not always going to be a glorious revelation. It is not always going to be a wonderful deliverance. It is not always going to be a manifestation of Christ. But there is a word, and it is put rather quaintly. It says, “They shall be holpen with a little help” (Daniel 11. 34). Count those seasons precious on the Lord’s day under the preaching of the gospel when you are “holpen with a little help,” because it is that help we need, and it is that preparation for what lies before you.

So, “Send us help from the sanctuary, and strengthen us out of Zion.” Because often God’s people are weakened by the greatness of the way. You remember Bunyan’s Pilgrim and his friends on their pilgrimage. So often they were weary. They hardly knew how to go on. The Lord uses these solemn assemblies, the preaching of the gospel, the Word of His grace, to give strength to those who are weary. Well there is a promise: “To them that have no might” B perhaps some of you can come in there B “He increaseth strength.”

There is so much in the Word of God upon this subject. “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” All these things are things that all God’s people need, and they need them all the time, and one purpose in the preaching of the everlasting gospel is that the Lord’s people might be helped on their way, and that the Lord’s people might receive that strength.

“The gospel bears my spirit up;

A faithful and unchanging God, 

Lays the foundation of my hope.”

What a wonderful thing if you go home on the Lord’s day evening far differently from how you came!

“Abide with us.” O that prayer for His gracious presence, and for His help B and it is divine help; and for His strength B and it is almighty strength. He has promised it, and one reason for the solemn assemblies of His people in the house of God, is that receiving help, receiving strength, that they might be able to continue.

“Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” Now there is another thing, and that is prayer B both prayer going up before the Lord, and also thanking the Lord for answering prayer. But as we go along, we do need the Lord. We cannot manage without Him. Well, there is prayer for forgiveness. You have fallen from what you would have been during the week. You feel sad concerning some of your mistakes. O the place of prayer! “Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Living souls do not just sit there carelessly during the service. There are many prayers going up to heaven, but often in the house of God through the preaching of the gospel some of those prayers are answered. Can some of you testify to that this evening? You have come to the house of God with a burden, with a care, with a concern, and something spoken from the pulpit, and often from the reading of the Word, or perhaps in a hymn, there is something that completely answers your prayer.

“Show us what we have to do; 

Every hour our strength renew.”

“Abide with us” to help, to strengthen, to answer the poor prayers of Thy people.

“Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” There is another thing as God’s people journey on in their pilgrimage. They meet with so many difficulties. Israel in the wilderness is always spoken of as a type of God’s people journeying towards the heavenly Canaan. There are those times when you come to a stand, or those times when you know not what to do. We have that word: “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good.” We realise we have not the wisdom to handle our matters wisely. O but those times in the house of God when you find the Lord handling your matters for you, or blessing you with wisdom to know how to act and how to handle your concerns aright!

You think of Jehoshaphat. He was a godly man, but he was always making mistakes, always blundering, but whenever he came to a time of trouble, he looked to the Lord, and the Lord never failed to hear him and answer him. We think of that special occasion: “We have no might … neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee.” Didn’t the Lord bless him with a gracious answer!

This is what we want. We do not want just to come to chapel. It is not “just another service.” We do not want to go away as we came. But we have our concerns, our burdens. Some of you have things in the coming week, and then the end of the holidays when you go back to school and college. But it is this: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” B He who answered all the prayers and sorrows and concerns of the two on the road to Emmaus, and He who was constrained by them, constrained by this prayer: “Abide with us: for it is toward evening.”

So sometimes you need the Lord to show you what to do, but we do need to beware of dictating to God. We need to beware of setting down conditions for Him. We need to beware of asking Him to reveal His will, and then thinking if we do not like it, we can do our own. We need to be stripped of our own wisdom, our own will, our own way. “Abide with us” in all these things, Lord Jesus, to lead us, to guide us aright. The Lord has said, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” We want the Lord to do this for us: “Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.”

Now often we need the exhortations of the Lord. There are many of these exhortations in Scripture. “Suffer the word of exhortation,” especially concerning the way the Lord’s people should walk. “Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.” Do not let there be any contradiction. We need the Lord to abide with us in these things, and sometimes we need the Lord to abide with us to correct us, to reprove us. I think the Lord’s tried, exercised people, if they were really asked, would say some of their most valuable times have been when the Lord has corrected them, when the Lord has shown them that they are wrong, even proving:

“Disappointment, His appointment, 

Change one letter, then I see

That the thwarting of my purpose 

Is God’s better plan for me.”

There are so many things in the pilgrim pathway B snares by the way, Satan seeking to tempt, your own heart of unbelief, indwelling sin as you seek to press toward the mark. O but what a blessing the house of God and the gospel ministry, as you travel on, as you have this fight that must be fought, as you have this race which you must run, as you seek to persevere and you find you are making mistakes, and often you know not what to do, and to realise your weakness and your helplessness, but then to find that the Lord knows, and He understands, and He cares. You may not have spoken a word of these things, but you have cast your care upon Him as He has bidden you, and then you sweetly prove that He is caring for you.

“Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them.” Well, many of these things, some people would say they are only little things, but really our lives are made up of little things as well as great things. Really it is our time of need all the time. The Lord has promised “grace to help in time of need.” You remember when those godly ministers discussed what to them was a special time of need, old John Newton quietly said, “Every time with me is a special time of need.” O that wonderful promise that covers so many of these things: “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

“Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” Well, if much of the preaching this evening has been small things, and perhaps a lot of it has been providence, and perhaps it might be what some people used to call “pathway preaching,” we cannot leave this subject or this glorious chapter without concluding thoughts on this glorious Person, the Lord Jesus, so recently crucified, now risen from the dead. His heart was still full of love to His poor, unworthy people. “Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.” How He revealed Himself to them, and how He blessed them, and how their heart burned within them by the way! And the blessed point for you and me, beloved friends: this same Jesus, the One who died on the cross, the One who rose triumphant, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

“But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them.”

———

The Lord Himself be with you all, 

To teach you His own will;

And guide you safe from every thrall, 

To Zion’s heavenly hill.

Be with you to unfold His grace, 

And prove His truth divine; 

Unveil the glories of His face,

And make His counsels shine.

Whatever be your state or case, 

The Lord Himself be near;

Support, protect, defend, embrace, 

And make your passage clear.

Thus may you prove His promise true, 

And glorify His name;

And every day your songs renew, 

While life and breath remain.

The Lord be with you to the end, 

And land you safe above;

A long eternity to spend,

In singing, “God is love.”

W. Gadsby