The Must of the Day Time Working — Ian Paisley

Pick up the authorized version of the Holy Scriptures that you'll find in front of you in the pew and turn with me to the ninth chapter, the ninth chapter of John's Gospel. John's Gospel, chapter nine.

Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind

We're going to read the first eleven verses of this chapter. And we read together John chapter nine. And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day. The night cometh when no man can work.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, Go wash in the pool of Siloam, which is by interpretation sin.

He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. The neighbors therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he. The others said, He is like him.

But he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go wash in the pool of Siloam.

And I went and washed, and I received my sight. Ending our reading at verse 11, and God will stamp his approval on the reading of his very own infallible word. Turn with me this morning to the ninth chapter of the gospel of John, and at the verse 4.

And you will find another of the musts of our Lord Jesus. I must work the works of him that sent me. While it is day, the night cometh when no man can work. The gospel of John should be read carefully and with great diligence.

John's Gospel and Its Seven-Day Pattern

Because it is different from the three other gospels. The gospel of Matthew, the gospel of Mark, and the gospel of Luke. John's gospel is not a synopsis of the life and ministry of Christ as they are.

But John's gospel highlights certain great days and certain great happenings in the life of our Lord. In fact, the gospel commences with reference to seven days. Read it carefully, and you will find seven days in the starting chapters of John's gospel.

Those seven days are parallel to the seven days of creation. If you had eyes to see, and a mind alerted by the Spirit of God. John's gospel is a gospel of great secrets. But you need to study it well to have those secrets uncovered to your heart.

What is more, in this gospel, chapters 8 and 9 are not separated. They are part of the same day. And if you read it carefully, Christ came into the temple very early. But He started to talk in the temple.

And He had some things to say concerning judgment in that talk. And some things to say of who He was. In that chapter 8, He declares He is Jehovah. Before Abraham was, I am. What a claim. And they were so angry, the bigoted Jews that were there, that they took up stones to stone Him.

But Christ withdrew and left the temple. He did not run out of the temple. He walked out of the temple. For Christ never ran away at any time from His enemies. And when He came outside the temple, there was a man there begging for money.

And the disciples turned to Christ and said, who sinned, this man or his parents? They were boldly rebuked by Christ who said, neither this man nor his parents sinned. To cause the curse of blindness to rest upon Him.

But He said, this is done that the works of God should be manifest in and through this man. One would have thought, with enemies there, with stones in their hands, Christ would have been so busy to hasten to a place of safety.

That He would not have had time to consider that poor blind man. But not so. The Lord was not interested in His own safety. He was interested in the safety of that man's soul. Christ's whole mission proved that He was overcome with love for poor lost.

So He takes time. And then He did a remarkable thing. Look at verse 6. He spat on the ground. Perhaps you should look at how many times the Lord spat during His ministry. A most interesting study. But He spat, this time on the ground.

And He made clay. And He took the clay that He had made and He put it on the man's eye. And He said to the man, you go wash in the pool of Siloam. And you'll come back and see it. The pool of Siloam, I understand, is about half a mile from where the temple was.

So that man was called upon to go in the darkness. How he got there, we don't know. But he made it. And he went down into the pool. And when he came out, he saw that his sight was completely stolen. Now he didn't run away either.

He didn't say, I'll go home now. He went back to where Jesus was. Because when you get your eyes opened as a sinner, you don't run away to the old past. You want to get back to the company of the one who gave you your sight.

And he came back. And a great argument arose. And a great controversy arose about him. I rather like those words. Some said, this is he. Verse 9. Others said, he is like him. But the man himself said, I am he.

Wake it up. And the man who sat for years. I've never seen from the day of my birth. I am he. And when they asked him, who did it? I love this. A man that is called Jesus. What does Jesus mean? The name means he shall save his people from their sin.

The man, the lonely man that could do for me what needed to be done. He did it. A man named Jesus anointed my eyes and said, go to the pool of Siloam and wash. And I went and washed and received sight.

The Setting of Christ's Work Amid Opposition

So the first thing I want you to notice about this statement of Christ I must work. The works of him that sent me is the setting of this work. Everything was set up by the Lord exactly as the Lord planned it should be done.

Back to the temple. Man with stones in their hands, swearing that they would kill him. An uproar. And how wonderful are those words. Look at verse 59 of chapter 8. It says, Christ going through the midst of them and so passed by.

And then chapter 9, and as Jesus, no torment, no fear, no incident. Christ, as he passes from the scene intended for his death and murder. It's time to stop with a blind eye. I must. This is the way the work is done.

I've got to work in the time that God has settled for me to work. Would you look at the end of verse 4? The night cometh when no man can work. There's a time to work. You're upon this life's scene to work for the one that saved you and gave you your sight.

The night's coming. When the call comes for you to leave this world, there'll be no more praying. No more church meetings. No more gospel opportunities. No more gospel presentations. Your work as a believer will be finished.

We should take time to look at Christ amidst all the turmoil and threats around him. He had time to do the work that his father sent him to do. Let's learn the lesson. We have work to do and let us do it for the Lord's sake.

Christ's Work According to the Father's Schedule

Now let's have a look not only at the setting of this work, and we have seen the setting of the temple and the circumstances, but let's look at the scheduling of this work. The Lord Jesus was working to a special plan of his father.

He was not going to make any change whatsoever in his father's blueprint. The father's will was the uttermost determination of Christ's heart and soul to do the will of God. And to do the will of God is what you are bound to do if you want to walk in the pathway of God's blessing.

You can't do your own will. You've got to do the will of God. At the age of twelve, the Lord Jesus stood in that same temple, and he said to Mary and to Joseph, Wist ye not that I must be about my father's business?

Now, at thirty, he stands in the same temple and his message is the same. I must work the works of him that sent me. Isn't it sad that many Christians today, as they add time to their lifespan, have lost the zeal to do.

They've departed from the schedule. They've lost the vision. But Jesus Christ's whole being was to do the job appointed to him by his father. The zeal of the Lord's house devoured him. His master passion was to be able to fulfill his father's wishes.

He started his ministry with the approval of God speaking from heaven, This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. And all through his ministry, his father was pleased with his son. Christ was like an arrow speeding with no shadow of turning to the chosen target that his father had set before him.

His unity of purpose was unchangeable and invincible. He concluded it without a hair's breadth of any diversion. And although the stones were in the hands of his murderers, he didn't run. He didn't say to the disciples, come on, don't talk about this man's eyes being closed.

Don't get into philosophical arguments and theological disputes about who's responsible. No, we have time to stop. Time to talk. Time to anoint the man. Time to send him to the place of cleansing. We need to remember that our lives are scheduled.

There's a task for you to do, child of God, and for me to do. I can't do your task, and you can't do my task. But thank God I can pray that you will do your task. And thank God you can pray for me that I will do my task.

But the schedule is there. And many of God's people are keeping to God's schedule today. They fill their diaries with engagements that have nothing to do with the schedule of God. They live as if they were their own masters, but we're not.

We have one master, and that master is Christ. But look again at this chapter, and remember that there was something stipulated here. The Lord Jesus Christ said, I must work the works of Him that sent me.

I'm not in control. I am a servant. And hovering over me is this thought, the night cometh, but no man can work. The Lord Jesus did not say, I can, if I like, work the works of God. He did not say, I may work the works of God, if I will.

He didn't say, I want to work the works of God, therefore I will do them. No. He said, I must. That's a very strong expression. Christ could not help Himself. He must. Bringing over that crowd, some of them with the stones in their hands, to kill Him.

He says, I must. Looking at the disciples, I'm sure Christ was that they had dared to pass judgment on the parents that they never knew of this boy. And on the man himself and said, is responsible for this man's sin.

This man or his parents. The reply is, I must. Who has ordered me to do this job. Christ was enslaved by His own vow and His own pledges. Words that bound Him were the cords of His own deity. It was because of His great eternal love that He exclaimed with every footstep He took to the cross.

I must work. I must work. I must work. Towards the end of that journey, while His disciples lingered in the road. They were amazed that He was away out in front of them. Away out in front of them. Why?

Because I must work the works of Him to do this task. We need to realize. Not only the setting of these works. And the scheduling of them. But the stipulation of them. God has ordered us to do this. Mr. Spurgeon in one of his sermons said this.

Spurgeon's Picture of Christ's Compelling Love

Christ could not help Himself. If I may use such words concerning one who is no less divine than He was human. He was under restraint. He was bound. He was compelled. The cords which bound Him however were the cords of His deity.

The cords of love bound Him who is love. I must work. It was because He loved the sons of men so well that He could not sit still and see them perish. He could not come down from heaven and stand here robed.

In His mortal flesh and be passive, impassive, and careless, and loitering, a spectator. No, His heart beat high with desire. He thrust it. Thirsted to be doing good. And His greatest and grandest act, His sacrifice of Himself was a baptism with which He had to be baptized.

And He was straightened until it was accomplished. His great soul within Him felt as if it could not be easy. It was like the troubled sea that could not rest. His whole soul was like a volcano when it begins to swell with the lava and wants vent.

He must let His soul run out in hot consecration and devotion to the cause that He came to do. To save His people from their sins. I must work. If Christ had chosen your attitude to this challenge of working, we would have never been saved.

But Christ never lessened His feet. Never let His love burn low. Never allowed His seal in any way to be diminished. Having loved His own, He loved them unto the end. It is that love reflected in my life and in your life that will make you the soul winner.

And make you the Christian that you ought to be. But this work of Christ is not only settled and scheduled and stipulated, it is specified. I must work the work of Him while it is day. While it is day.

The night cometh for no man. The great night of eternity. When the opportunity for the work we can do for Christ on earth is to suck us off from any work for Him. For this time now is when we must do this work.

Seeing Souls and Following Christ's Example

Oh that God would shed His light upon us, precious word, this morning. So that we would be able to see these wondrous things written for example. In the life I have showed you an example that ye should follow in my steps.

Oh that God would shed light upon our world. So that we would not see men as trees walking. But we would see them as souls for whom Christ died. Oh that God would shed light upon us. That we might discern the lostness of the human soul.

But we might also see the opportunity that that soul can be saved and plucked as a bran from the burning. Oh that God might enlighten our path and we might walk worthy of our calling. Finally, this work is one day it is going to be tested.

Service Tested at the Judgment Seat of Christ

One day you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and so will I. Not to answer for sin because all your sin has been answered in the atoning blood of Christ. But to answer for service. There is a difference in the reward of a court and the penalty of a court for someone who has done wrong.

And the reward of a court for someone who has done well. We will not be judged at the great white throne judgment for we will not stand there. Our sins have already been judged and put away in the Savior's blood.

But we will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ. And that is when our service will come under the searchlight of God. Do you know what this book says? There is man and woman, sea of man and woman.

And they are going to have their whole life's service burned with fire. Enter heaven with the smell of ashes upon them. Just you think of that. What a statement. Their whole life, wood, hay, stubble. Burned with fire.

Entering heaven with the smell of fire upon you. Is that the sort of homecoming to glory you want? You say to me but I have no ability. Shame on you. The Holy Spirit is in your heart. He is God. He has all the ability you require.

And depending on the spirit be not drunk with wine for it is excess. But we filled with, I was reading an old hymn book. Because it is in hymn books sometimes the soul is uncovered. And you see something of the depth of feeling in man and woman's hearts as they desire to follow Christ.

Christ's Love and the Believer's Faithful Service

Behold the amazing sight. The Savior lifted high. Behold the Son of God's delight to expire in agony. For whom, for whom my heart were all these sorrows born. Why did he feel that piercing smart and meet the various scorn.

For love of us he bled. And all in torture died. It was love that bowed his fainting head and oped his gushing side. I see and I adore in sympathy of love. I see the strong attractive power to lift my soul above.

Drawn by such chords as these. That all the earth combined with cheerful ardor to confess the energy divine. In thee our hearts nor share thy grief alone. But from thy cross pursue their flight. To thy triumphant God has given provision.

For every one of us to be in the line to hear at the last day. Those words well done. Thy good, thy good and faithful. Is it going to be ashes? It's going to be the well done. May God help us to hear Christ's voice saying must.

I must work the works of him that sent me. And may that baptism of Christ reach to your heart and set it on fire. That you may say I must work the works of God. Light of this day. The night is coming.

May God arouse us from our lethargy. May God arouse us from our prayerlessness. May God arouse us from seeing things as the world sees them. And give us the vision of God. Then we shall be strong in the Lord.

And that the power of his might. Will not pass a person by because we are in a hurry. We'll be like Christ. Even though my life's in danger. I'll have time to bring light to the man that's blind. That's the message that we need to get.

And get it well in this service. Let's bow our heads. Father in heaven. We pray that we may not be idlers in the vineyard. That we may be dedicated as Christ. To work the works of him that sent us. Light of this day.

Closing Prayer for Diligent Service

Lord Jesus. We ask thee to take our heartfelt thanks. That thou didst say I must work the works. Of him that sent me. If you had not worked those works. We would have been in hell now. We would have been burning in everlasting wrath.

And well deserved everlasting wrath. But there was one who was willing. To work while it is day. For the night was coming. When no man can work. Oh God. May. The love of Christ. For perishing souls. Be imparted in some little way.

To our soul. So that we may do. The work of God. With all the strength. Of thy divine empowerment. And the people of God said. Amen.