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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/john-fitzpatrick/the-old-paths/
Jeremiah, please. Jeremiah chapter 6 and verse number 16. I have to say that the weather here is a little cooler than it's been in Phoenix. And when I take a walk outside, it feels like the air conditioner is on outside working very effectively.
So it's very nice to do it. It's a little bit cooler. Jeremiah chapter 6, please. And verse 16. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths. Wherein is the good way, and walk therein.
And ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk therein. Proverbs chapter 22, please. Proverbs 22 on verse 8. 28, my apologies. Proverbs 22, 28. Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.
Chapter 23 on verse 10. Remove not the old landmarks and enter not into the fields of the fatherless. Hebrews chapter 8 on verse 5, please. The last part of verse 5 of Hebrews chapter 8. See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shown thee in the mount.
Now I'll probably read a few other verses, but we know that the Lord will bless the public reading of the word of God. I don't know when the first time was. You can recollect in your mind when you would have maybe read that verse in Proverbs chapter 6.
Verse 16, regarding the old paths. I remember the first time that it really struck my mind or my heart or my soul would be reading a little words and season article. Back in my early 20s and remembering reading that verse and the word of God and the correlation you might say of the truth that were being developed.
But notice as you would look at this, you would find that the old path is going to be the good way. So I'd like to just kind of work down with it with a few applications or so. And I'd like to remind ourselves that the will of God in any of our lives will never contradict the teaching of the word of God.
And we want to find out as we weave in the word of God that the blessing of the Lord makes rich and it adds no sorrow there too. And so the path of God, the plan of God and the pattern of God cannot be changed, cannot be improved in any way, shape or form.
In some areas it seems there's a heartbeat that we need change. But let me say that the only change we need, if any change is that I become obedient to the truth of God and follow what the word of God says.
That the pattern that's found in the word of God cannot be improved on in any way, shape or form. And we need the spirit of God to work and to guide in every aspect that we might grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And that we might see God work in the salvation of souls. God's desire and design can't be improved on in any way, shape or form. It's not in man's heart to direct the steps we're well aware of as we weave in the word of God.
And so he says that there's a pattern for it. And it says not to remove the ancient landmarks. I had an interview in the year, I guess it was, for the Nexus card with the boarder. And no offense to the Canadians here, but he wasn't too friendly with me.
And he wasn't too kind with me. And he says, why would an old fellow like you be invited so much to teach at some of these churches that you're attending and you're speaking at? He says, don't you have any younger ones that can teach these things?
I says, well, sir, here's the way it is. The old traditions, younger ones don't know, but us old ones know. And he says, well, that sounds quite reasonable. I can understand. Well, I hope you understand, but just want to give a little challenge.
Dear younger one, I hope you appreciate the truths that are found in the word of God. Because as we weave in the good book, it says to buy the truth and to sell it not. And so it says here, remove not the ancient landmarks.
Did you ever take a candle? I carry it in a pack when I go up north for survival. And I made a sad mistake one time. I left it in the pack in the summer in Arizona. And the whole pack became waterproof as the wax melted.
But a candle, when it's soft, can be molded and moldable. And God wants us to be moldable to the truths of God. And so the Bible gives us a pattern. It gives us a path. And we should not try to outthink God, but attempt in the fear of God to obey what the word of God says.
For our blessing for the generations coming on. And so, let's just look at this a little bit here. He says, Thus saith the Lord. So it's a word from God. It's direction from God. It's clear. It's plain.
It says, Stand ye in the ways. So it's going to take stillness. It's going to take meditation. It's going to take pondering. Is this or is this not the right path or the wrong path? And I'd like to encourage you, beloved younger ones here, God bless you, to seek God's wisdom day by day.
And I speak to myself. I hope you realize that. That the path that we take will be a path of appeasing to God. Integrity, morals, honesty, and all the ramifications. And so, he's standing there. If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men and of bread he hath not.
I want to suggest that he's waiting on God. He's pondering the path of his feet. The little answer that's given me a lot of help through the years in Habakkuk, I'll take it out of context, is the answer will come.
Wait for it. And so, until we know the path and until we know the pattern, and the choice that might need to be made, just wait. Because God will make the path clear. God will make it evident in many different ways.
He'll open the door. He'll close the door. He can give us a word from himself when we're not just thinking of it in any way, shape, or form. And we realize, here is the answer for the path that I was looking for.
And so, it says to stand in the ways and to see. Look, observe, ask. If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men and of bread he hath not. And ask for the old paths. Ask for the path that's proven.
Ask for the path that's well-worn, could I say. But more than that, ask for the path that's pleasing to God. Is this path going to be pleasing to God? It's never the mind of God to disturb a happy, healthy assembly with some new thing that's not found in the word of God.
And so, he's told to ask. He's told to inquire. And notice as I weave in this little verse here, it says it's the good way. It's clear and it's plain and it's written very clearly what the good way is.
And he says to walk therein. When you come into the book of James, you find the little verse. James chapter 1. We might just turn to it for a second. And verse 25. And while you're turning to it, let me just ask you a question, beloved.
Are you a happy Christian? Are you really enjoying God's so great salvation? Because as I weave in James chapter 25, chapter 1 and verse 25, I find there's a little formula, if you want to put it that way.
How you and I could be happy Christians. How you and I can enjoy a path that's pleasing to God. Now, he says, whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
And so, I find first of all, there's a knowing. And then I find second of all, there's a doing. And it's possible to know what God wants. And it's possible to have a hesitancy. A reserve is so, I wonder how it's going to work.
I wonder if it is going to work. Look in Genesis chapter 24 for just a moment, please. And verse 27. Because sometimes I want to suggest we know God's path, we know what he wants, we know his mind, and perhaps there's a hesitancy factor as to whether or not we want to obey it.
So, Genesis 24 verse 5 for a start. And the servant said unto him, Peradventure, the woman will not be willing to follow me into this land. Must thy needs bring thy son again to the land? For whence thou comest?
And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not thy son hither. Verse 39. And I said unto my master, Peradventure, the woman will not follow me. And he said unto thee, The Lord before whom I walk, I will send his angel with thee and prosper thy way, and thou shalt take a wife of my son, of my kindred, of my father's house.
I want to suggest that there's a hesitancy on the part of the servant. He's already had the call, he's already had the direction, and yet he's wondering, he's trying to outthink God, what if this doesn't work?
And could it ever be possible we try to outthink God? Well, what if this doesn't work? God's way always works. And well, what if in the gospel meetings this doesn't work? Or what if in the conference this doesn't work?
And what's our option or alternative going to be? There is no other option. There is no other alternative. God's way always works. God's word always works, if I can label it that way, or phrase it that way.
And so, here he's got a task to find the bride, find the work, a divinely appointed task. And he's not asked to look for somebody of intellect, he's not asked to look for somebody of education or something or so, but he's given direction of the path to take, but I don't know if it's going to work.
And so, it doesn't work should we use plan B. There is no other plan other than the path that's found in the word of God. And so, we weave here, and he says, ask for the old path, remove not the ancient landmarks, the principles and the precepts that are found in the word of God.
My background is different than many of you beloved ones. I didn't have the Christian home, didn't grow up in a Sunday school, and so I had to learn things the hard way, and I still got a lot to learn, you might say.
And so, I wrestled with subjects, and wrestled with them, and wrestled with them. Do we really have the right to tell somebody not in the assembly they can't break bread? Is there really a difference between the church which is his body and the local assembly?
And I'm thoroughly convinced that the path that's found in the word of God is the best path, and there's not an optional path, and there's not a path of a different accessory, and God has given us divine instruction to see that you make all things according to the pattern of the land.
But I put a little challenge, especially to the young ones here, dig into the assembly principles, and buy the truth and sell it not. And you'll want to stick with the assembly, because coming and gathering unto the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is illumination from the God of heaven.
This is where God is, and this is where he wants me to be. And so, the servant's perplexity never was supposed to enter in. There was the path, there was the pattern that was given, and Jeremiah chapter 10 says it's not in man's heart to direct his steps.
So, as I mentioned, we ought not try to outthink God, but the servant is required to be faithful to God, and the fruit will come from God's hands. When I come to 1 Corinthians, it says, let all things be done decently and in order.
And there's an enemy that silently or publicly, if you want to label it that way, wants to change the boundaries, wants to change the landmarks. In business, at times, the bookkeeper changes the books.
At times, the accountant changes the books at tax time. And at times, I found in the north country, I can't say anything about the U .S. farmers, the boundaries have been changed, and the measures with the grain have been changed, and the crop insurance has been changed, and all kinds of fraud has come in to seek what man wants rather than what's pleasing to God.
The path you take will affect reward. The path you take will affect your family, your generations, and will affect the local assembly. And there's a seducing spirit that can come along and make one think that the path is right, that it's contrary to the word of God, and be very effective as an enemy against the truths of God.
The old path is a path of purity. It's a path of protection. It's a path where the purpose is God honoring. It gives peace. The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and it adds no sorrow there too. And it's a path that will give you peace and the local assembly peace.
I come to Jeremiah 10, it says, If ye love me, keep my commandments. The principles, the precepts found in the word of God. Could I just suggest that the scriptural way is the only way, the only path, and the only pattern.
He says ask. There's asking, there's waiting, there's seeking, there's pondering in light of the word of God, and then there's the obeying as in James chapter 1 and verse 25. Possible to know the path, possible to know the pattern, and possible to hesitate.
And possible to say, just like in Genesis, this is not going to work, we need some other method. The word of God is as up to date today as it's ever been. He says to ask, this is the good way. A verse that's given me a lot of help through the years is in Matthew chapter 11, verse 28.
Come unto me, all ye that labor heavy laden, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. And what God calls us to do individually, it can be a responsibility, but the yoke is light.
And it'll fit you just like a glove. Not everybody's called to be an evangelist, but everybody's called to do evangelism, if you want to label it that way. And the yoke that God calls you to, the path that God calls you to, it'll fit you just like a glove.
And so he says it's the good way. And then of course, there was the old path, and the old landmarks, the ancient land works. Rest comes from God, and it comes from peace from God. And my peace I give unto you now as the world giveth.
Remember the Christians in Berea? It says they searched the scriptures to see whether these things were true. I had the privilege to go up to a little Arctic village a number of years now. And two years ago, they invited us to go to their conference meetings.
We were there for three days off and on, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which was very nice. And we were allowed to stay other than for the financial reports. They had a man that was amongst them from Whitehorse who came that was a professional mediator for them.
Did you know that a mediator never takes sides? He just sits down and listens to the issues. And so there were various issues that came up at the conference of these First Nations or Indians in the village of Old Crow.
Weren't believers. And I found it astounding. I wish that every elder could have been there. And they would have said that everybody was welcome to come up to the microphone and express their views. And then the mediator would say, now you know what the bylaws are, and you know what our elders have written, and we will look it up.
And as we look it up, that is what we will do, and that is what we will practice. And then somebody else would bring up another issue. And they would say, we will go look and see what our ancient elders have set up for us, and that's what we think.
They said, we all live in the village, we all work here together, and we want to leave this conference, this time together in perfect harmony, and the only way it will be done is to follow what the elders have put down decree for the laws on this village.
Well, you know, the word of God doesn't divide, it unites. And doctrine does not divide, doctrine unites. And if everyone is following the doctrinal principles that are found in the word of God, we'll be on the same page, and there will be unity, and there will be harmony.
And so he reminds us here to ask, stand, wait, see, look. It's the good way. And to walk therein, and you'll find rest for your soul. And the sad little wording at the end of the verse is, we will not walk therein.
I've read this verse I don't know how many times. They knew the way, but we won't walk it. They knew what the word was, they knew what the path was, they knew what the landmark was, develop it how you want, but I don't want it.
In 1 Chronicles, they said we need a new start. And we need a king, we need to be like the other nations. When I find the book of 1 Corinthians, there's more local church teaching than any other epistle.
And there's a prevalent phrase there, as in every place are all the churches. It comes a number of times. Together comes 12 times, gospel comes 13, and Lord, of course, 60 times approximately, if my arithmetic's correct.
Some of you with the computer knowledge can push the buttons and tell me if it's wrong at the end of the meeting or so, but he wants the place of Lord, and that's the place of obedience. And Pilate had a question, what is truth?
We live in a day-to-day of relativism. You believe what you want, I'll believe what I want. That's not assembly teaching. That's not Old Pass. That'll only bring division, it'll only bring dishonor.
I had an elder tell me one place, he says, that's just your opinion. I said, it's not my opinion at all, it's what the Word of God says. Look at it, it's black and white. And we're living in a day-to-day, we want politically correct, but don't worry about being biblically correct.
And if the assemblies are going to flourish through the years, they're going to stand for the teachings that are found in the Word of God, with a heart for the things of God. Remember 1 Corinthians chapter 15, be ye steadfast, unmovable, sometimes abounding, though it doesn't say that at all.
Be ye steadfast, unmoving, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord, the path will invite honesty, integrity, morals. It will actually help the assembly and the believers to make God look great in the eyes of the world.
1 Timothy chapter 3 mentions that we might know how to behave ourselves in the house of God. Remember in the garden, things were out of order? And remember Eve was out of place, and Adam was out of place?
Well, when it comes to the local assembly, God is restoring the order that was out of order in the garden. And that's where headship goes back to, all the way to in the garden. And this head covering, the woman is to be silent.
She wasn't silent in the garden, part of the old path. And the man was to be public, and he wasn't public in the garden. And the head covering would show the subjection to God and to man. And what was out of place in the garden is put in place in the local assembly.
And the role of the sexes that was out of order in the garden has been put in order in the local assembly. Not inferior, not superior, in any way, shape, or form. And part of the old path is the patterns that are found in the word of God, that God has ordained that we might walk therein.
Isaiah chapter 30 says this is the way. Walk therein. Proverbs, enter not into the path of the wicked. We live in a day today when there's little beauty of blush. We live in a day today of instant knowledge, if you want to label it that way, in many ways.
And we also live in a day today of instant open doors or gates to that which is not honoring God and that which is ungodly. That God might give us wisdom to know the paths of life, not only in the assembly, but in our individual lives that will be pleasing to God.
To walk in the right way. Sometimes people say, well, I can do what I want. You come to Nehemiah, yet did not I. It doesn't say yet could not I, because of the fear of God. Because of the fear of God, the path couldn't be taken.
Because of the fear of God, the choice couldn't be made. And remember the children of Israel, they had the cloud by day and the fire by night. And we have the Holy Spirit and the word of God to guide us and direct us in the path that would bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 1 is, blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in that does he meditate day and night. So let me just ask a little question.
I guess when you do gospel work often, you kind of ask questions at times. How much of the old past do you appreciate? How much of the old past do you want? Do you have a desire to continue and to practice?
And you say, well, what is the old past? It's the teaching of the word of God. It's the principles and the precepts that are found in the word of God. It can develop into the way to gather. It can develop into the way to do business.
It can develop into the way as we walk and trod in every aspect of the Christian pathway. Some of us have been in business and some of us have done contracting perhaps, and they always had a slogan to call before you dig.
I've had a few occasions where I didn't call before I dug, and I almost had some very serious consequences. One time we just nicked a 440 feeder line, and thankfully it didn't blow. And so I'm not going to say this morning call before you dig, but I'm going to say pray before you walk and seek counsel from God before you walk, and it'll preserve the path, and it'll bring honor and glory to the one who loved us and gave himself for us.
And so we have wonderfully the Holy Scriptures to guide us. Not in man's heart to direct his steps. You don't even need a college education to understand the word of God. It's written very clearly and very plainly.
And I think each one of us have to know, acknowledge the path that God desires as quite clear, quite plain, that God might help us to be able to follow that path. In the Edmonton Assembly one time they gave me a key, and they said, the key has been cut off, another key off, another key, and you're going to have to jiggle the key to get in the building.
Well I was very thankful it wasn't winter because I would have been jiggling it a lot more, and I would have been jiggling it because it was cold. But anyway, we were able to get in the building only by jiggling the key.
When it comes to the truths of God, we don't jiggle the key. We don't try to fit it to the times. We don't try to fit it to the audience. We want to be faithful to God. Error does not become truth because it's widely accepted.
Truth does not become error because it stands alone. Might God help us, as those gathered outside the camp, unto the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to ask for the old path, to wait, to ponder, to pray, and to walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.
Where the saints dwell together in unity, we know it well in Psalm 133, there the Lord commands the blessing. If we want the blessing of the Lord, which makes rich, and adds no sorrow thereto, it would seem that the old path would be a path that would be pleasing to God, and he'd be pleased to bless in the gathering of his people.