In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that as Christians, we should not live defeated lives because there is complete victory in Christ Jesus. The preacher shares personal experiences and testimonies of how Jesus has brought joy and healing into their lives. They encourage the congregation to yield themselves to God and seek spiritual transformation through a relationship with Jesus. The sermon concludes with an invitation for those who are concerned about spiritual matters to stay and engage in further discussion and reflection.

What beautiful lines to be able to sing. All that thrills my soul is Jesus. He is more than life to me. Thank you very much, Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins. All of you can truthfully say, It is well with my soul. Say it? Yes. Now, that's pretty weak. If your soul is resting upon the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you know Him as a reality, and that's still being purchased by that blood, then you can truthfully say, It is well, it is well with my soul. I trust that really is the language of each one here tonight, that it really is well with your soul. Should you not be able to say a glorious amen to that now, maybe during the service you'll come to recognize your need of the Lord Jesus, and own Him as your very own Lord and Savior, know the joy that it is really well with your soul. We're going to sing together, 605, just in case you've forgotten. Shall we? Now, tonight we're not going to preach, we're just going to have a little heart-to-heart talk. We want you to open your Bibles to the 20th chapter of the gospel by John. John, chapter 20. Now, I trust our hearts will be strangely warm tonight, as again we listen to the Spirit of God through the Holy Scripture, speaking to you and speaking to me. As the Lord Jesus was being hounded to his place of death, Golgotha, all that mocked the crowd were shouting away with Him, away with Him, let Him be crucified, we will not have this man to reign over us. Among that crowd were a company of godly women, who found vain for their anguish in lamentation and in weeping. They were loved to obey this feat with their tears of love and devotion and sympathy. Among them was Mary Magdalene, out of whom had been cast seven demons. She had been forgiven much, and she loved them much. There was Peter's mother-in-law, so Peter must have been married after all, for he had a mother-in-law. She was there. Remember, out of her had been cast that terrible fever. The Lord came into that home and told him of her. He touched her, and the fever immediately left her, and she rose up, and she ministered unto him. The widow's name was there. Her son had been given back to her from the dead. Remember how the Lord Jesus met that funeral procession? He saw the weeping with his mother. His great heart of compassion went out toward her, and he disturbed that funeral procession. He touched the beard of the cause and said, He was dead, sat up, and he began to speak. And I love this with all my heart. He delivered him to his mother. He gave him back to the very soul from whence he had come. How understanding, how sympathetic, how compassionate is our lovely Lord Jesus Christ! Martha and Mary were there. They had had occasional visits from the Lord Jesus. How he loved to resort to Bethany after the busy day, milling crops, milling all around him. There was a home where he was welcomed, a family where he was loved, and he loved them. And oh, how he loved to go there. They had occasional visits from the Lord Jesus. Mary, his own mother, was there. She had had the great privilege of the great miracle of that conception taking place within her, the great joy of bringing forth Christ into the world. She was blessed, highly favored among women. She was there. Now, let us come back for a moment and just see how we fit into this picture, and how we tonight should draw near, and in faith, and in spirit. Just allow our hearts to overflow in gratitude, and in love, and in truth and giving. Out of Mary Magdalene were cast seven demons. When I was born again as a boy almost fourteen years of age back yonder in Scotland, I don't know how many demons were cast out of me. The family said the lion in the house had become a lamb. Why? And a wonderful transformation took place, because Christ came into the lion. There is a terrible fever caused by sin in your life, and in my life. But we know here in touch of our beloved Lord that fear of sin is gone, and gone forever. My sin not in part, but the whole has been nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! O my soul, we too have been dead in trespasses and in sin, but now we've been quickened into life as a knight of the living to praise our lovely Lord Jesus. I trust all in this very fine congregation tonight have come to that place. When you've come from a condition of spiritual death into stillness of spiritual life, and you're alive unto God through Jesus Christ, our wonderful Lord, O heart, we do not withdraw near and praise Him, and adore Him, and worship Him. Mary Mouth had occasional visits from our lovely Lord, but withal she said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. The same yesterday, and the day, and forever, though I must go all the way into the consummation of the age. O beloved, I found a friend, O such a friend! He loved me ere I knew him. He drew me with a cause of love, and thus he bound me to him. Round my heart were closely twined those ties which not can sever, for I am his, and he is mine, and to knoweth something, it's forever and forever. Every friend will fill and leave you. The one day soothe, the next day grieve you, but this friend will never deceive you, O how he loves. O the constant companionship of our lovely Lord Jesus, through living in the awareness that is with us every moment of every day. Do you know that, George and I? O fills my soul with Jesus! Do I know this moment by moment, day by day, filling my soul, flooding my whole life? Blessed is the nation. May we have the great honor of bearing the Lord Jesus, bringing home into this world that where we are concerned as believers on the Lord Jesus, Christ has been born in us. He's come into our spirit life by his Spirit. He's taken up his abode in our lives, and oh, it's a great desire that he might be formed in you, and formed in me. And Paul said in Galatians 4, 19, that great paschal prayer, his whole heart moving up, I travail in birth again, and though Christ be formed in you, Christ in you, the earth of glory. O pray that we may not cause the night to draw near, and in the spirit of death, his feet without tears, and prostrate our whole being before him, and cry with all sincerity, and really mean it, O precious Lord Jesus, how lovely thou art. Come and abide in, rule in my heart, break every fetter, thy faith let me see. Then thou shalt ever be precious to me. Is Christ a reality in your life right now? But all that before you. Come now to this great classic, the twentieth chapter of the Gospel of John, and just notice the very first verse. The first day of the week comes Mary Magdalene early. When it is yet dark on the sepulchre, and see the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Now here you think of this lone, timid woman. Sometimes the women are referred to as the weaker vessel, but I wonder very often, is that really true? Is that really true? Also when it comes to courage and bravery, the outshine we men too. And here we find a case right here. Mary has been forgiven much, and she loved him much. And 1 John 14 says, Perfect love casteth all fear, there is no fear in love. Here she's rising early in the morning, while it is yet dark, to go the place of burial. Her love and devotion urging her on. Love knows no fears. Love goes through all barriers. We find it right here. When she arrives, what she finds, she finds this hole that has been rolled away. Aren't you glad about that, eh? Doesn't that do something to you, when you live in the light of age? Oh, I'm sure it does. Now look at verse 2. Then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter and to the other disciples. I like the way John writes about those other disciples, whom Jesus loved. You could put your own name in there too, eh? He loved you, you know. Oh, he loves you, and he understands you. I'm so glad about that, aren't you? Now see this. It says unto them, They have taken away the Lord, notice the expression, the Lord, unto the sepulchre, and we know not where to lead him. So they therefore went forth, and the other disciples, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together, and the other disciples did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. John, the younger man, outrun Peter. See all the boar labouring, coming along, the old fisherman. A young John runs along there, gets through the sepulchre. And he stood him down and looking in, just a casual look, just a casual look, saw the linen clothes lying, yet went he not in. There he cometh, Simon Peter, following him, just as impetuous as ever. Peter's always impetuous. We know that. We've got one. And went in the sepulchre, and see the linen clothes lying, and a net was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, wrapped together in a plaid by itself. Even dead he must have the pre-eminence. Even dead he must have the pre-eminence. Here we find now, the linen band is lying, as if the body is still lying there. But now we find the net, not a bond, lying by itself, a plaid by itself. Listen to McCartney, when we called him to see on the way down, he has written a tract on this. Why the net, then, a plaid by itself, and he brings it out of the woman's covering. The bandage was there, never to be removed again, but the Lord, in his own glorious way, his own glorious way, and the one pre-eminent on day, he takes time to fold that net and place it by itself, and it's going to be used again. When? When the women cover their head when they come in church capacity. The wonder of it all. Now, isn't that just precious? The angel saw, the angel saw, and looked down, there's the whole thing right there. Isn't that just precious? Doesn't that do something to your heart, with my heart? Nine more thoughts of sicknesses. The Lord in all things must have the pre-eminence, or he'll never use those bandages again. And Christ in pre-eminent in life, Christ pre-eminent in death. I loved it with all my heart. But John takes time to record that. The others didn't even mention it, but John noticed it, and with great interest he noticed it, and he recorded it. Is there a message for your heart and my heart here tonight? I'm sure there really is. Let's further, shall we? Then went in also the other disciples, which came through the sepulchre, and he saw and believed, for as yet he knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away unto their own home, but Mary too. I won't underline these three words. I encircle the little but. But Mary too. The disciples went away to their own home as if unconcerned, but not Mary. Mary loved them much. A whole being's moving out toward the Lord. She's come to meet the Lord, and she's not going to go away without meeting her Lord. What happened? They find their whole heart's allegiance, complete devotion. A whole being's moving out toward him. And while the apostles left it whole and unmoved, and they turned to earth earth, for they wore Mary's garb, but Mary too. She shows here her whole heart's allegiance, her complete devotion, her heart's warm love for the Lord Jesus, but Mary too. Don't we remember an Old Testament character in Ruth? She went all the way with her own eyes, to oppose her deliverer. Alpha goes back to Moor, the land of her nativity, back to God, back to her own people. But Ruth says, and treat me not so easy, or they turn from following after me. Whither goest I will go, whither dwellest I will dwell. Thy people shall be my people, thy God shall be my God. Whither dies I will die, and there will I be buried. What a wonderful baptismal text. Whither dies I will die, and there will I be buried. And she goes all the way with the own eyes, to oppose her deliverer. What do we find? She's introduced a man whose name is Boah. Boah means a strong man. He's also a mighty man of wealth, a mighty man of wealth. And because of young Ruth's utter devotion, and love, and affection for the own eyes, she's gloriously rewarding. She comes in contact with Boah. She comes in all her impotence and powerlessness. She finds in Boah her abundance of strength. She comes in all her penury and poverty. She finds in Boah her abundance of wealth. And Mary Magdalene stood, and because of her utter allegiance, she too has a wonderful reward. What happens here? But Mary stood without the sepulchre weeping. And as she wept, she stood down and looked in the sepulchre, and seeing two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain, and her heart shoved, what? Hallelujah! The body had lain. Thank God the body's no longer there. Aren't you glad about that tonight? Aren't you glad the cross is empty, and the tomb is vacated, and the crown is filled? I'll never forget standing in this grave. I can't sing. You can make a noise, but I certainly can't sing. If it gives you to sing, there's plenty of volume, but very little melody. So there's the whole thing. I want to get, but standing in that grave, I'll never, Lord, never forget this in all my life. My son, I serve a risen Savior. He's in the world today. You ask me how I know He lives. He lives within my heart. As we came out from the tomb, it was pouring rain. People standing outside wanted to get in. And I couldn't contain myself. Again we started. There on the grave you lay Jesus my Savior, waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord. And up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph, all is heard. And just that psychological moment, up in Golgotha, another great crowd of people stood there, and they joined right in. They cried, Hallelujah! Christ arose! And all through the valley. I was showing my pictures on this in Brisbane, in Australia, a few months ago. Man from the congregation said, James, I remember that well, but I didn't realize it was you who started it. We all joined in that very day. Hallelujah! Christ arose. Does your heart say amen to that, eh? How they don't present a key, nor a curse, nor a catechism, nor a church membership. We don't answer to John anything. We're asked to receive a living Lord. And He by His birth comes into your life. He'll transform your life. You'll become a new creation. In Christ Jesus, then you'll think He lives. You know He lives. He lives within my heart. Your heart, too? Amen? Amen. Right over there, where the boy is haggling. I like that. Oh, I really do. A little fun, shall we? Verse 13. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She says, Unto them, because they have taken away another chain she hath. My Lord. Verse 2, The Lord. Verse number 13, My Lord. And I know not where they've laid him. By the way, there were two in that sepulchre. One at the bottom, one at the head. I wonder who they could be. Who were they? Did he know that two appear with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration? One was Moses, and the other, Elijah. Could this not be? Could these not be the same two? Moses and Elijah? Do you remember the two in Acts chapter 1, verse 11, who came back saying, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? The same Jesus, which hath taken up from you the heavens, your soul shall be like mine. Who are they? Could they not be Moses and Elijah? Could it be only the two witnesses in the coming days? Are they not Moses and Elijah? If you're not quite sure, may I suggest you'll read a little of Baxter to wake my heart. If you haven't got that book, do get it. You can tell me if you really get it, I'll get it too. I genuinely scourge them. I am never tired of giving away that book from the best devotions you'll ever get. I've got 500 choice words this morning. Not some fragmental thing, but 500 words of choice Bible teaching. Now, he agrees with me. Moses and Elijah. I will not be like the chaotic preacher who says, I will not be dogmatic, but I'm absolutely certain. Now, will you forget about that and think about it later now? Come back with me when I study, will you? And just as it says here, I'm going to turn the cells back and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus. Now, don't blame Mary. In this Bible, in chapter 21, didn't know it was Christ standing on the sea shore. They didn't know. But love recognizes them, you know. Two said unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? And he adds something, Whom seekest thou? The two, remember, earlier said, Woman, why weepest thou? And left them. But now the Lord said, Whom seekest thou? And all the time he knew she was speaking to him. But her whole heart, moving out toward him, all the joy and encouragement that must have been brought to the heart of our lovely Lord that day. Where are the apostles? Where are they? This lone woman, there she is. Ah, what a reward she gets. First to hear his voice on resurrection ground. First to see him on resurrection ground. And something more. Just think what happened to her. Jesus told him to be in the garden of faith unto himself. Ain't thou bold in hence to tell me where thou hast laid him? And I will take him away. Whatever she's going to do with a dead Christ, I simply don't know. But dead or alive, she wanted Christ. Now let me ask you lovingly, is this your heart's devotion? Do you love him like this? Do you know him like this? Is your whole being moving out toward him in wholeheartedly, complete surrender, devotion to him? Can you look up tonight and say, I've no one in heaven but thee, there's no one on earth I desire beside thee. Lord, thou art enough, the mind and heart fulfilled. Fix my eyes to the holy law of me, that with thy beauty occupied, I elsewhere nominate thee. And oh, the glorious reward here! Jesus says unto her, Mary, and you've got a way of saying that, you know. Oh, he alone gets this. And as he said it, her whole being got swirled within her. Mary! She turned herself and said, but don't I, my own dear master, and she doesn't want to class him, the Lord said, touch me not. I am not to descend to my father, but go to my brethren. She is the first person commissioned by the Lord. And he commissioned her. He said, go and tell my brethren. Oh, I know some people tell me, Mary Magdalene was not very intelligent, had been more intelligent, she wouldn't have been there. And a father has some person who's got a cool head and a warm heart and a cold heart and a warm head, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you rather have someone who is in heart love with the Lord Jesus, who has white heart in love and devotion and surrender, in selfless sacrificial service in his name, and someone to be so correct in orthodoxy, correct regarding church truth, regarding church principles, regarding doctrine, and be as cold as ice, pray in the grace of the Bible needed today, is not more ministry, is not more manpower, not more money, not more new message, not more modern music, not more modern version, but for the individual believer to fall in love afresh with Jesus Christ. And pray that if that happens here, journey's days are coming together and it's going to be really worthwhile. Dear my friend, you hear such a lot of Bible teaching, beautiful exposition of God's word. My humble desire and prayer are long before coming here, that each of us is going to have a fresh vision of Jesus Christ and fall in love afresh with him. The impact is going to have such a terrific impact, it shall be felt to the uttermost part of the earth. Do you love him? Do you love him? Does he mean everything to you? Go and tell my brethren about heaven, and say unto them, I say unto them, my father and your, the first time you ever come across his expression, knowing now a resurrection power is my father and your father, my God and your God. Young Ruth said, thy people shall be my people, thy God shall be my God, and she goes to tell the disciples, just sing the Lord, and they told her all these things. And with such a transformation in Mary's life, they couldn't deny it. Friends, you can't come in contact with Jesus Christ be it a slave man or woman, boy or girl again, you just cannot. Our lives are transformed by the risen Christ. I want to teach the name Mary. The capital A-M-A-R-Y just spells Mary, doesn't it? Write over, her name was Mar. Her name, her life was Mar because of sin. Her life was Mar because of sin. A, her life was altered because of contact with Jesus Christ. First we're going to teach them, oh that was something like this, and let them sing it, but don't worry. It's a new life, oh how he changed me. It's a new life, he rearranged me. It's a new life, richer and fuller. It's a wonderful, wonderful life. It goes on from there. When Christ comes, he really changes you. He completely transforms you. You become a new creation in Christ Jesus. Your life is altered. Then R, her life is remade, or if you like, regenerated. Remade, a new creation altogether. And lastly, her life is yielded. Her life is yielded. Mary, her life is marred. Her life is altered. Her life is remade. Her life is yielded. Maybe for a chance or not, there's some life here just like that. Your life is marred because of sin, but Christ is here tonight, nearer to you than your neighbor, looking right down deep into your heart right now. Put up the empty hand of things and just touch him, will you? Lord, I do believe you died for me. I believe you shed your precious blood for me. And Lord, I own you as my Lord and Savior. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and your life will be remade. You'll become a new creation in Christ Jesus. All things will be passed away. You'll become a new creature altogether, and your life will be yielded. You can't hold back. Oh, no! You'll recognize his Lord. You belong to him. And from your very heart, you'll look up and say with all sincerity, Reign over me, Lord Jesus. Reign over all within. Make me a loyal subject to thee. Take everything, all that may be. O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to thee. For thou in thine atonement didst give thyself to me. I own no other master. My heart shall be thy throne. My life I give head fully to Christ. Amen. Will you sit down? Will you sit down right now? Just sit down. The Lord is with you. The Lord who became dead, who is alive forevermore, neither to you nor to your neighbor, he just wants to say, Lord, I believe you, and I receive you. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Will you? And those of us who do profess his name, may I ask you, loving lady, have you seen the Lord? Does he mean everything to you right now? If not, he's saying to you now, love it on me more than, love it on me more than, and will you turn away from your heart, with all your heart and say, I'm really weak. Love so amazing, so divine, shall have my heart, my life, my all. Your life once marred by sin will be altered by your contact with Jesus Christ. Your life will be remade, regenerated, and your life will be healed. Lord, I yield myself to thee. I've heard thy call, come give me thy all. Lord, I gladly yield to thee. That's only part of my message. I intended finishing the chapter tonight, but we must close right there. I see my time's almost gone. Three hundred and fifty. There's no button holding, nor a new pressing, not as you stand up, or raise your hand, or come to front, but if you're concerned about spiritual matters, then please don't go away. For if it helps you, we possibly can, maybe a friend will help you, and help you come and talk to us. If you tonight are a professing Christian, and you're living a defeated life, now that is a contradiction in terms. There's no need for any Christian living a defeated life. There's complete victory for you tonight in Christ Jesus, our wonderful Lord. Many here confess this part of that, as it entered in by simple faith, the teaching of Romans 6. This can be your job. We'll hear the count. Three hundred and fifteen. I see the faith of Jesus. What? Something trembling? I see the faith of Jesus. He smiles His love on me. He fills my heart with my prayer. A gentle heart if He was real. And since I've seen His beauty, all else I count but loss. The world, its pain and pleasure, is now to me but loss. His light dispelled my darkness. His smile was all to see. I've seen the faith of Jesus. I have, but is He real? Do you know Him like this? The third verse from our heart. I've heard the voice of Jesus. He told me of His love and called me His own treasure. His heart, it came like song across the land of Israel. That's exactly what it is all about. So sing redemption story, the story of His love. Are you going with us? Did the Lord burst His clouds tonight and descend there and He made you? Are you going with us? Oh, please make sure of it before you leave tonight. And sing with all your heart, it is well, it is well, with my soul. The last verse, God bless you. Thank you. I know He's coming someday to take control of us. We'll sing redemption story, the story of His love. We'll feel His hand, we'll know His tears. We thank Thee for the wonderful provision art made for all mankind. This is God. In the person and work of our lovely Lord Jesus, now by the divine operation of the Holy Spirit in His immediate congregation, through Thy holy words, pray Thy word tonight they become alive as many believe Thy word, receive Thy word by simple faith that on the Lord Jesus, the very own Lord and Savior, they shall know the joy they're alive to praise Him. Praise to God's assembled company, from the youngest to the eldest, where not one may leave tonight but having seen our lovely Lord, having heard His voice, and felt His glorious touch, and responded with a glad assurance, Lord Jesus, Thou art mine, and I am Thine, forever and forever. True Christ is wonderful.