In this sermon, the preacher tells a story about a little boy riding on the back of an elephant named Jumbo. The boy tells Jumbo that he is greater than the elephant because he has both human life and animal life of a higher degree. The preacher then shifts the topic to discuss what a happy man looks like and announces that he will speak on the joy of the Christian life in the morning and favorite Psalms in the evening. The sermon emphasizes the importance of faith in God and the transformative power of believing in Jesus Christ.

Well, I'll probably teach a new one tomorrow night, God willing. Thank you. Now, John's Gospel, Chapter One, please. What were we talking about this morning? Who can remember? What was the first point? God with us. And the second? God for us. And tonight? God in us. Very good. Right, so then, John, Chapter One, we're reading from verse nine through verse fourteen. John's Gospel, the first chapter, verse nine. Then it was a true light which lighted every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the world became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Now, the first epistle of John. John's first letter, Chapter One, and verse number two. The first epistle of John, the first chapter, verse two. For the light was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal light, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us. That which we have seen, and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ. One last scripture, the second letter to Corinthians. The Corinthian letter, the second, and Chapter Four. That's really sweet music, I do like to hear the rustling among the leaves. That's really wonderful. Second Corinthians, four, verse number six. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, for the ecstasy of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, now that is the earthen vessel, yet not distressed, that's the treasure within. We are perplexed, that is the vessel, but not in despair, that's the treasure within. Persecuted, that is the vessel, but not forsaken, that's the treasure within. Cast down, that is the vessel, but not destroyed, that is the treasure within. Now may I read it as it is? For we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken. Cast down, but not destroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus. That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. Now the Lord add his blessings to that short reading from his word to our hearts tonight. We were thinking this morning of that expression, God with us, reminding us of his presence. God for us, reminding us of his peace. That tonight the theme is God in us, reminding us of his power. I want to talk tonight a little bit on the ideal life. Not wife, I've already got her, and that would be a subject alone. A life, the ideal life. Sitting on the top of a mountain one day was a little piece of fungus. The fungus said to the mountain, I'm greater than you are. Now it's perfectly correct. The mountain had no life, the fungus had vegetable life. Going along a dusty lane and looking over into the meadow, there is a majestic oak. Sitting on the top of the oak is a little ladybug. Bird? Bug. Ladybird in Washington. Ladybug. And the little ladybug saying to the oak, I'm greater than you are. You know, little ladybug, it's perfectly correct. The oak may say, look at my powerful trunk, look at my beautiful branches and lovely shady leaves, but it's perfectly true. Whereas the oak has only vegetable life, the little ladybug has all... You go to the zoo. You can go. I'm terrified to go in case they kick me. But you can go. And you know, going round to see on Jumbo's back, a little boy sitting up there in a special seat for a little boy going round on Jumbo's back having a little ride. All of a sudden Jumbo says, the little boy says to Jumbo, Jumbo, I'm greater than you are. Jumbo says, greater than I am? Don't you see my big powerful body, my four powerful legs? I've got a trunk at one end, a tail at the other. You see I'm greater than I am? What do you mean? But the boy's perfectly correct, you know. Whereas Jumbo's only got animal life, the little boy has human life and animal life of a... Young teenager, works for the professor, has been to the gospel meeting on the Sunday night. He hears a clear annunciation of the gospel. He believes the testimony given concerning Jesus Christ and receives him by faith into his heart. Next morning goes into the lab and the professor's very busy in some research. But the boy must openly confess he has a newfound joy in Christ. So he goes up to the professor and says somewhat timidly, p-p-p-p-p-p-professor. Yes, my boy, p-p-p-professor, I'm greater than you are. The professor stops what he's doing, takes his finsnips off and poops them down. Greater than I am? Don't you realize who I am? Yes, I know who you are, sir, but still I'm greater than you are. Explain yourself, my boy. Well, it's at last night I went along to the gospel service. And I heard the clear testimony concerning Jesus Christ. How did he die for me and rose again from the dead for me? I believe that statement. Now, it still clogs my lowly figure. Now, professor, I've not only got human life, but I've got both human life and... Whereas, professor, you've only got human life. The boy is perfectly correct. I looked around this very fine congregation and a lot of intelligent people. And I'm wondering, I know fine we've all got human life. We've all got physical life. And because we would not be here, we had not that special life. But I wonder, are we the possessors of spiritual life? This ideal life? This life which is life from above? Is it possible for one believer to go to another and say... They would never say this because it would prove to be untrue. I am greater than you are. See, whatever do you mean? John 10.10, the Lord Jesus says, I am come that she might have life. And that she might have it never abundantly. All believers have life. All believers are not in the good of the abundant life. The moment I receive the Lord Jesus, that moment I receive life which is life indeed. Life which is life from above. Holy soul life, divine life. I become a partaker of the divine nature. I become a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus. The moment I love the Holy Spirit and crown Jesus Christ as Lord, I know the abundant life. Is this ideal life I want to talk about a little further this evening, Al? You know, when we were born into the world, we weren't all there when we were born. You think, what? If God will talk for yourself, I am and I am talking for you too. Because it's perfectly true. We weren't all there when we were born into the world. See, man's made up of spirit and soul and body. Spirit, I am God conscious. Soul, I am self. And when God said to Adam and Eve, the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And when Adam and Eve partook of that forbidden fruit, immediately they died. Oh, you say, that's not true. They lived a little over 900 years. They had sons and daughters. No, beloved, they did not die physically. They died spiritually. And that spirit, father, man, it knew God. It thought it dead toward God. And that's why we must be born again. That's why we must be born. Not physically born. But we must be born from above. The Lord said to Nicodemus, a ruler, he said to him, Nicodemus said, that which is born must be a spirit of life. Be born again. In the moment I receive the Lord Jesus, that moment I receive life. 1 John 5 verse 12 says, He that hath the Son hath life. He that hath not the Son of God hath not life. You see, life begins when Jesus comes in. The most tragic verse in the Bible is John 1 verse 11. He came unto his all, his all received him not. The most triumphant verse is the very next one. I know it's very poor English to use too many conjunctions, but this is what I'm going to use. But, as many as received him, to them gave he part. To become the sons of God even to them believe on his name. Which were born not of blood. You don't evolve into becoming a Christian. You don't grow up into becoming a Christian, oh no. Which were born, born into the family of God. And the Bible says, which is born not of blood. So you see, this is not hereditary. Because mom and dad of Krishna does not deny not of the will of the flesh. No act of my own. No will of my own. My good name, my good character, my benevolence. My friend, these will never bring about the miracle of the new birth. It's not by the will of the flesh. Nearly by the will of man. No act that any man can consider upon me whether it's a christening or confirmation, baptizing by immersion, laying on of hands. No my friend, these will never bring about the miracle. Now may I repeat the verse as it is. Which were born not of blood. There you have Eve. Nor of the will of the flesh, there you have Saga. Nor of the will of man, there you have Rebecca. But of God, and there you got Mary. Four mothers in that one verse. May I help you right here tonight dear child of God? Let us go back to that moment when you bowed as a poor pimp and sinner before the Lord Jesus. I acknowledge him as your Lord and Savior and from your very heart you say Lord Jesus I thank thee for dying for me. For bearing the penalty against my sin. For rising from the dead for me. And here and now I receive thee coming to my heart Lord Jesus. Beloved there is no salvation apart from receiving Jesus Christ into the heart. Believing all about the Lord Jesus. Believing historical facts concerning Christ will never bring about the miracle of the new birth. A young university grad came to me some time ago in Calgary, Alberta. He said Mr. Boswell what is the difference between believing in my mind and believing in my heart? Looking at him I said Gordon do you believe in the virgin birth? He said I never doubted the virgin birth. I said do you believe in the virtuous life of Jesus Christ? The Holy Similitude of God? He said I never doubted the Similitude of Christ. I said do you believe in the vicarious death of Christ? How would he die upon that cross if he died for you? Yes I do. He said Good Friday tells me Christ died. Looking at him I said do you believe in the resurrection? He smiled as he said of course I do. He said I can't put a date at the top of my notepaper, look at a date on the calendar or a date in the newspaper without believing these historical facts that Christ came into the world and he died and he arose again in the third direction. Looking at him I said do you believe in the ascension? That this living Christ is now ascended back into glory a living man? And being a good Anglican he said of course I do. Ascension Sunday tells me Christ went back into heaven. I said Gordon you believe all this with your mind. You give a mental ascent to historical facts concerning Jesus Christ and yet you leave him standing at your heart door. You leave him standing at your heart door. I said now won't you have belief with your mind? Will you not say thank you Lord Jesus That young man clasped my hand in his hand twice the size of mine and he said I'll do it now and together we bow and that young man received Christ that moment he believed with his heart that moment he began to live. A young couple going round together are very much attached to one another and she believes he loves her. She believes he cares. She believes he's well able to look after her and to support her. Now she believes all that with her mind concerning him. Then that great moment comes when he pops the question to her. Asks for her hand in marriage. You've all passed through that I know. And so there it is and if you haven't well I can't do too much about it. But there's the whole thing you see now and he asks for her hand in marriage and she believes in him and she's got enough confidence to say yes I will be happy to marry you. She believes all about him. She believes in him but still she does not belong to him nor he to her. Until that day they stand before the officiating pastor and that pastor says to this man will thou have this woman to thy lawful wedded wife? And he says I will. And somebody says is wilt it ever since? I will. And with that I will he committed himself to that woman. Then the question is will thou have this man to thy lawful? No. To thy lawful a wedded husband and he says I will. I will. And now please with the I will of committal they commit themselves one in each other but receive what John 1 12 says. To as many as receive him. To them gave he power to become the son of God even to them that believe on his name. To receive him and light from above. That's my first point for you tonight and I want to ask you before I leave it. Presenting to you receive this new life and forever. Firstly his life is a light from above and I came down isn't that lovely? I came down from the Father. I'm calm that he might have life. He came right down. He may get there but he certainly will not despair. You see that's quite. You must have a. This love is not in the church. Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hear my voice and open the door I will come in. And the moment you say come into my heart Lord Jesus that moment my friend you receive life. This life is a life from above. This heavenly life. This spiritual life that will fit you. And I. Did you get that? This life. This life is a life from above. This spiritual life. This life is Christ in you. Christ in you. This life can never be lost. No wonder it my friend. But the reality of the crypt of Saul tonight and bow your down in worship isn't he worthy? Now secondly. Not only is he alive from above. Which I trust we have all received. But his life has to be perfect. It's a sinless life from sin. In 1 John 3 in him no sin. He did no sin. He do no sin. There was no sin in Christ. You remember the wonderful picture back in Exodus chapter 12 it speaks about the little lamb. The lamb had to be without blemish. It's head, it's legs and it's inwards in sin. He knew no sin. No impure thought ever Well what about his legs? Practical Peter answered that by saying and he did no sin. Well what about his inwards? John the beloved who leaned upon his breast and knew him so intimately said and so his head his legs and his inwards absolutely all pure. His father said this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased but in whom I find all my delight. You would say that's alright for the test. His father and his friend. But what about his foes? What about his enemies? Well listen carefully. His father said three times over. Here the king said I find nothing worthy of death in this man. Judas you betrayed and cried I have sinned and then I betrayed thee. And please notice a definite article there. It does not say I have sinned I betrayed innocent. It's the innocent blood. The only blood that is innocent. The only blood that is pure. The innocent blood. I have sinned. He freaked out. I have betrayed the innocent blood. Remember the fiends from hell they cried we know who thou art O holy one of God. So tonight the one who stands before your heart is the one whom all heavens, his father his friends, his foes heaven earth and hell they point to him and declare a sinless a perfect man the only one without sin. There was none other good enough to pay the price of sin he only could allot the gift of heaven. Do you know him? Is he a reality in your life? Don't they? His life was a life yielded to the will of God the father. I cannot do mine own will but the will of him said me not my will but thy will be done. Firstly his life was empowered, energized by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit energized him so he spoke and so he acted and so he moved this led him full surrender to the will of God to the word of God and to the work of God I am going back over these a little slower. I was asked to put the break on tonight. I'll go a little slower now. His life is a life from above his life is a sinless life his life is a life utterly yielded to the will of God the father. His life is a life empowered by the Holy Spirit that leads in full surrender to the will of God to the word of God and to the work of God I came not to do mine own will but the will of him and to finish the work which he gave me to do my dear night. Fifth point His life was a life of concentrated activity. I know no life so full of activity than the life of our adorable Lord Jesus Christ. Yet that life was never devoured from fellowship with and devotion to the father that's the secret. Many a night he spent a loathe of God all night. His locks would wait for the dew of the night. He had an even time to eat an even time to eat. His life was a life absolutely filled with activity but I repeat this and will seek to emphasize it he was never devoured from fellowship to get him to be separated and relaxed in his own will in his own power no he was always in living touch with the father he was utterly devoted to the father. Sixth point His life was a life of unwavering faith in God they tried again to deviate to the right hand or to the left hand. Even Peter said remember pick it thyself Lord pick it thyself they shall not be to thee. Thomas said no considerably don't go there or stone my friend Christ had a purpose in coming into the world. He was undeterred in the carrying of that purpose he would not allow them my friend His life was a life of He said his faithful. His life was a life a life crowned on the globe for him it was a life of one for all. It's a life which is life from above. It's a life my friend is absolutely sinless. You possess the very life of the son of God. It's a life yielded to the will of God the father It's a life empowered and energized by the Lord. I love this with all my heart. But my friend this must never be devoured from in the midst of all. I believe in God's peace Matthew 11 Christ said come unto me labor and weary and heavy laden and hallelujah just made me glad and making it so when you find the Lord's work you're working in the energy of the flesh and the quicker you realize that the better is to be no longer I but Christ working through me He is our life. He is our strength. He is our patience. He is our love He does absolutely everything isn't He. This is our ideal life He is life Some people come up to me and say Mr. Bob will you please pray the Lord will give me patience. When my wife prays for patience the Lord usually sends me hope tribulation and work of patience Not college band is all that really. But if you please I've only got the brainy idea that God's going to bundle up a bundle of patience He puts us in the circumstance where patience is required and right there Lord take over the situation take over and it's amazing how you trust in all He takes over and you find Him in the serenity and you're at calm and you're at peace. Some people say Lord ask the Lord to send me love and I pray oh Lord please send me love. Lord I'm longing for love Lord I'm so lonely. Lord I'm so unforgiving. Lord I'm so harsh please send me love. I've only got the brainy idea that God's going to bundle up a bundle of love It is love it's love for 35 and remember that very person always rubs you up the wrong way you don't have these people of course in Park of the Palms. Oh no it's such a wonderful continual atmosphere here but listen who are those people up north way up there you know they always rub you up the wrong way you see. You meet them on the street and before you just probably pass into some shop and let them by and pass by until you get there you know. You don't do that of course but that's what happens now Lord take over the situation Lord I love them for me it's amazing how you're fond of them you see he's love. He's love for I'm going to deal with that during these mornings a lack of contemplative activity Oh beloved during these particular days maybe during these past days and weeks and months God by His Spirit has been speaking to you He's been asking you to do some particular thing and you've been fighting it you've been arguing with the Lord may I suggest something to you tonight that in facing God move forward with that faith centred in Jesus Christ I was ministering in Gloucester in England some years ago at a Easter convention then a speaker was Mr. John Williams and the chief constable of Northampton a very fine Bible expositor and I was much younger than I am now and this meeting was being held in a congregational church a very large building which was higher for the particular convention and 75% of that congregation I simply did not know but in the middle of my message I looked up at the gathering and said young man, young woman move forward with an unwavering faith in God and God is calling you to Africa to India, to South America probably saying to you some particular thing and wants you to obey in His words faith in God sitting up there in the gathering was a young man, I didn't know him but a great man I'd been raising for a long time as he studied his New Testament he saw the truth of a New Testament church, it was very real very precious to him, he saw the truth of the priesthood of all believers it was very precious to him you know he had a class of 40 young men he led most of these young men to the Lord and a voice said to him, now if you'll lead what about that Bible class probably a modernist will take over that class and he succumbs to that every time he could never think of a modernist taking over his class, so he stayed there but now the battle raged and he saw from God's word the importance of being submissive to the will of God, he heard the Spirit saying to him, young man move forward with an unwavering faith in God next morning he presented himself to his pastor a very godly man he told him what was on his heart the pastor put his arm around him and said John, if I were to do what I ought to be doing I ought to be coming with you but this is my bread and butter and I must stay where I am John went into his class he told his class exactly what he was about to do he said I don't want any of you to move because I'm moving I want you, and I'm going to give you a verse of Scripture if you move because I'm moving next day he presented himself within 18 months his whole Bible class were with him in that particular class, they'd honour God he will honour he'll never disappoint you he'll never let you down is God talking to you in some particular way during these past weeks and months this is the closing conference the closing week I want to try and gather together I don't know what my brethren have been ministering on I don't know, but I trust in the Lord that morning by morning night by night there'll be an interweaving of the ministry of God's word that shall exalt him and bring glory to God the last point our life crowned with victory our life crowned with victory the Bible says if we suffer with him we shall reign with him if we suffer with him we shall be glorified together all the wonder of that and Paul said the sufferings of your greater joy is a joy unspeakable and full of glory that floods and fills our hearts this life of our Lord this can be yours my brethren O precious come and abiding rule in my heart break every fetter thy faith let me see then I shall ever in 125 125 tomorrow evening God willing I want to speak on what does a Sam number one what does a happy man look like I am changing the theme I am going to speak in the Psalms in the morning and I am going to do that in the evening and speak on the joy, love life joy, love life tracing through the Philippian letter in the morning, we've only four mornings so we're going to do that speak on the joy, love life and speak on favorite songs, see if it fits you will you? you tell others about it we may have heard a sweet voice saying rise up wouldn't that be just wonderful we sometimes hear the choir ringing from our hearts even so come Lord Jesus, even so come today even so come Lord Jesus catch up thy bride away oh how my heart is yearning longing for thy returning even so come Lord Jesus even so come for the moment is going to be for those of us who know him as a living reality he and I are that bride in 125 and notice the words as we sing dear Corinthians in my mortal body that your life and my life I'm saying have then that's a signal for you to go don't move keep an attitude of prayer until you hear the piano if anyone would like to talk Father forgive us for knowing so much theoretically help us O God to practice what we know and to live just as we pray and grant O God that we shall be the easier to live with and the easier to work with and the easier to worship with just because we've been here tonight bless thy world to this end to the salvation of precious souls to the establishing and the building up of thy beloved people that Christ may become increasingly precious we ask this in his alone worthy and ever fragrant name now may the grace of the Lord Jesus the love of God our Father the sweet abiding fellowship of the Holy Spirit be the enjoyed portion of each one