Prayer Meeting 25/7/2023
All Things For Good - Part 1
It’s so good to be back meeting so soon after Sunday, but also to meet and pray, and once again study and learn from the puritans and God’s Word. Tonight, and over the next few meetings, I’m going to share from a book many of you have read. Which is not often the case, if ever.
The book is ‘All Things For Good’ by Thomas Watson - one of my favourite puritan paperbacks, published by the Banner. These little books are gold. This was the first one I read after our reformation.
Let me give a tiny bit of background of Watson. Thomas Watson was born 1620, died 1689. Born we think in Yorkshire and studied at Emmanuel college Cambridge - my favourite college, because of guys like Watson studied here, Thomas Brooks, as did one of my favourite puritans, if not my favourite, Jeremiah Burroughs.
Watson, like most of the puritans, was a smart guy. He had a deep understanding of the English language, a huge vocabulary (makes these wee books great, as they’re abridged). He was also was no slouch with Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. Which I’m about to embark on (please pray for my time and discipline brothers and sisters to do so).
Watson’s knowledge didn’t stop at languages. He had a great grasp of history, medicine, botany, physics, and practical hands-on trades. Watson used all of those skills in his sermons.
Like most puritans he was removed from his position as a pastor in the 1662 ‘great ejection’. You can read his final address to his congregation in another puritan paperback called ‘ Sermons Of The Great Ejection’. Watson, in that final address, shared from Isaiah 3:10-11
Isaiah 3:10-11
10“Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him.”
In this sermon you see threads of the same theme from ‘All Things For Good’ running through it. In the great ejection sermon, Watson shares firstly the good for those that are His, and then the bad for the wicked that are not His.
Page 147 - the promises of His people:
It will be well with the righteous at death with regard to their souls too. Oh, it will be a blessed time! Methinks it is with a saint at the time of death just as it was with Saint Paul in his voyage to Rome. We read that the ship did break up, but though there were so many broken pieces, yet he got safe to shore; so though the ship of the believer's body break by death, yet it is safe with the passenger; his soul gets safe to the heavenly harbour. Let me tell you, the day of a believer's death is the birthday of his blessedness; it is his ascension-day to heaven. The day of his death is his marriage-day with Jesus Christ.
Page 150 - The promises for those that are wicked:
It is ill with the wicked, not only in this life, but at the hour of his death. Death puts an end to all his comforts. No more indulging and pampering the flesh! No more cups of wine! No more music! The fruits that thy soul lusteth after are departed from thee' (Rev. 18:14). All the things that are dainty and good are departed from thee; the voice of the harper, the musician, and the trumpeter, shall be heard no more in thee. As it is spoken of the destruction of Rome, so you may say of the wicked man-no more joy and gladness, no more mirth and music. All a sinner's sweet spices, his scarlet robes, his sparkling diamonds, they all depart from him at death.
His very closing words of his sermon are this (Page 158):
I will conclude with that saying of Augustine: ‘When a man has been virtuous, his labour is gone, but the pleasure remains; when a man has been wicked, the pleasure is gone, but the sting remains.’
Watson in his later years preached and pastored alongside another puritan who you will know: Stephen Charnock. What a force that must have been.
Well, before we embark on this short but wonderful little book, that as I’ve said, I know some of you have read. If not many of you. Let me read our puritan prayer, and this is in fact a Thomas Watson prayer. I may have read this one before - Tonight’s prayer is from our prayer book ‘Into His Presence’. It’s on page 14 and the prayer is called ‘You Are Our God’.
O God, you are our God: our strong tower, our fountain of living water, our Father, a Father of mercies, an everlasting Father in heaven. O God, you are our God, by your grace planted in us, and by the pledge of your Spirit. May he stamp the imprint of holiness in our hearts; embroidering and bespangling our souls, making them glorious within. May he, by his magnetic virtue, draw our hearts to you: our paradise of delight and our chief treasure! May our hearts be so chained to you that nothing else can enchant us or draw us from you. Though our flesh be on earth, may our hearts be in heaven. When you say to our souls, "You are mine," all I have is at your service; may our souls answer: "Lord, we are yours; my head shall be yours to study you; my tongue shall be yours to praise you." O God, you are our God, and so, though we may feel the stroke of evil, we do not feel the sting, for nothing can ultimately hurt us. If we lose our name-it is written in the book of life. If we lose our liberty-our conscience is free. If we lose our belongings- we possess the pearl of great price. If we meets with storms- we know where to put in for harbour. When there is a storm outside, you can make music within. Our souls are safe, as in a garrison, hid in the promises, hid in the wounds of Christ; hid in your eternal decree. O God, you are our God, and all that is in you is ours. You say to us: "All that I have shall be yours; my wisdom shall be yours to teach you; my power shall be yours to support you; my mercy shall be yours to save you." We may lose everything else, but we cannot lose you: you are ours from everlasting in election and to everlasting in glory.
- Thomas Watson
Okay, let me read the verse his book and work is taken from - not that it would be hard to work out based on the heading, or title of the book.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.
I love how Watson starts the book, which you could read literally in one night. Okay, maybe two nights. For me it’s about a four day read, or a week - as I only ever read with a pencil in my hand taking notes.
He quotes Ambrose the 4th century bishop. He is also known as ‘Ambrose of Milan’. A real scholar and very important figure of the faith. These guys are worth reading about, and men like Augustine of Hippo etc.
Anyway, Watson quotes Ambrose on Romans 8:
If the whole scripture be a feast for the soul as Ambrose said, then Romans 8 may be a dish at that feast.
And I will add, if that indeed Romans 8 is a dish at the feast, then maybe Romans 8:28 is one of the ingredients that makes up the deserts that finishes off a feast with such satisfaction.
There are 9 chapters in Watsons work, however I will only be covering three chapters, and even then, though it’s not a long book, it is jam-packed with wisdom, and the deep things of God. So I won’t even get to unpack that in its totality, or near it.
Chapter 1, which we will cover tonight is entitled ‘The Best Things Work For Good To The Godly’. Then next time we meet, we will look at chapter 2 ‘The Worst Things Work For Good For The Godly’. Then we will conclude with chapter 3 ‘Why All Things Work For Good To The Godly’.
Okay, in chapter 1 Watson shares eight best things that work for the good of the Godly. All concerning and attributing to God. I’m not sure we will get through the eight. The first three make up most my time.
Watson starts with a wonderful statement in this chapter. It’s a statement that almost instantly fills us with comfort and trust.
1.1 God’s power works for good. It is a glorious power, and it is engaged in working for the elect.
God’s power of course works in all things for His good. His power is over all. However, for a believer, whom He has set apart, His power works for our good, and for us, on our behalf. Now, I don’t mean in some charismatic, chaotic way of course. Not that I need to bring that comparison to this congregation.
What keeps us safe from evil, what keeps us from going totally into the world and allowing Satan to devour us? God’s power. How can we endure such pain and affliction? Watson writes: ‘he is upheld by the arms of the almighty’.
I’m amazed and astounded at what I see a brother, or sister enduring and facing, and not being destroyed by. Things that would have in the past totally devastated them, and turned them into pathetic wreaks.
Yet they are now so much more able, not just to withstand it, but do so with courage and resilience, and often grace, and such strength - and in all that being Christlike.
I spoke to a guy yesterday who I remembered from A.A. We got speaking and I asked him how he was etc. and if he still went. He then said ‘yes but I’m not in a group, I left because someone said something to me’. And I could tell how angry he was at someone saying one thing to him.
18 years without alcohol, yet he can’t deal with someone saying something to him. Yet I see believers every day facing such hate, rejection, abuse, hurt etc. and yet they carry it so well.
Why? What’s the difference? Well let me tell you, it’s not something they have - because they were once like that guy. It is only due to the power of God that works in the life of His elect people. It’s not them that are strong, it’s that God is powerfully working in them and for them.
Secondly, which is really part of his first attribute, Watson moves onto:
1.2 God’s wisdom that works in our lives.
What gives us the ability to do the right thing, the Godly thing, the Christlike thing, when things come up in our lives, when enemies come, when trials come, when fear enters our realm? When we are faced with dilemmas. Think of the times when you simply go from one disaster to the other.
My life before Christ was one perpetual disaster movie. Either I was in a pickle, just out of one, or heading towards one. What’s changed? Why can we as believers have such a drama-less lives? Well in terms of our doing, we can’t stop other people’s drama, but we can be Christlike in it. Why? Because we have, as Watson says:
We have the wisdom of God working for our good.
He adds:
As he is the almighty God, so also is he the counsellor (Isa 9:6).
Isaiah 9:6
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called wonderful, counsellor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace.
When I see people going from disaster to disaster, always searching; never finding - like we all were. It’s because they don’t have God lighting their path. We only know what to do, because its Him that lights our way, and makes our path straight.
We, in our own strength and knowledge, can’t make things quite right. This is why I’ve posted on discernment in the last two days. That wisdom does not come from us. It comes from the Word, and God’s Spirit helps us see that Word clearly.
It does not come from our own minds, or thoughts, or feelings - it comes out through the pages of God’s word. Our counsel comes not from the world, or from man, or from flesh, but direct from God.
This is why:
Psalm 1:1-3
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Do you know what truly removes blessing from people, and keeps them in the dark, and cause such Spiritual famine in their lives? It’s that they walk by the guidance of their flesh; by ungodly counsel. That they associate and dine with sinners. It’s what causes poor choices and even poorer coping skills.
Yet His wisdom leads us to lie down in green pastures. To have a peace that goes beyond our understanding. That’s God’s wisdom. It produces in us, a peace beyond our understanding. It’s not us working it out. Its Him in us, working for us. And that works out perfect.
So, first we had God’s power, then we had God’s wisdom. Now Watson writes about:
1.3 God’s goodness working for us.
Watson puts it simply when he says: ‘God’s goodness is to make us good’. Meaning it is God’s love and heart to do good to us, that causes our hearts to melt, when we know and He reveals how wretched we are.
He does reveal our wretchedness. Yet it is in that same conundrum, devastation and despair that His goodness breaks through and He shows us His mercy.
His goodness is what will help us just be good, because none of us are. But His goodness working for us, makes us good, then in turn, as we live out our life with that goodness, we then do good. That good is grace and mercy and forgiveness, that we carry. Which in effect is the work of sanctification, that stops us sinning, because we want to please Him.
Everyone who has ever lived has received God’s goodness. We are all created in His likeness and image – ‘Common grace’, or as Watson calls it in the book ‘common blessings’. He adds: ‘the sweet dew falls upon the thistle as well as the rose’.
However for His elect, for His chosen people Watson calls it the ‘crowning blessings’ which only the Godly partake of. This crown is a crown of unwavering love, kindness, and in the end a crown of glory. As we are chosen to reign with Him in a new Heaven and Earth.
Okay, that’s really three points but only still on the first of 8. Do not fear. I’m not going to break down the other points. It’s already confusing what point we are on.
Let me simply conclude with a quick run-through of the other points, that Watson says about ‘the best things working for our good’.
- The promises of God work for good for the Godly.
God is our refuge. He is our comforter, Watson quotes Psalm 37:39b:
Psalm 37:39b
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
Watson then says this:
God will be the strength of our hearts. He will join forces with us. He will either make our hand lighter, or our faith stronger.
God’s promise is to ‘never leave us or forsake us’ (Heb 13:5). He will either strengthen our faith to cope, or he will weaken the situation for us to prosper in all seasons. What a promise.
- The mercies of God work for our good.
Watson says a fair bit on this, I just don’t have the time to go into it.
Watson writes:
The mercies of God makes our heart fruitful… …the mercies of God makes our heart thankful
- The graces of God work for our good.
Watson writes here:
Grace to the soul, as light to the eye, as health to the body…. How incompatibly useful are his graces.
Nothing in life, or in this world, or anything any human can give us, can compare to God’s grace.
- The angels work for our good.
Watson (again, needs to be read by yourself):
A Christian has an invisible guard of angels about him.
He adds:
The highest angels take care of the lowest saints.
God does have holy angels, who will never be judged, because they are heavenly angels who have never sinned, who watch over us, and protect us. They are heavenly beings, messengers, heavenly hosts.
Read John MacArthur’s big white book, it’s very helpful about angels.
Okay time is all but gone…
- Communion with saints.
There are few things that work for good than, as Watson calls it: ‘conversing with saints’. Oh I could spend weeks on this subject. What strength comes from the close intimate communion with one another. Believers will always, if they are planted in the house, stir up one another to be faithful to God and His Word, and good works.
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.
How much more do we need each other when the world is going to pot, and we are being pressed on every side? We need deep fellowship. It so works for our good. Hence why the devil loves isolation, he loves to take people out. Because then he can work his ways in them. Often using them for further attack on the body.
- Christ’s intersession works for our good.
We were in John chapter 17 for months. The High Priestly Prayer. Go back and look at those sermons. Watson writes a wonderful thing on this, it’s just one line but it’s beautiful:
Christ’s prayers takes away the sins of our prayers.
Reminded me of what we spoke of in John 17 - Christ takes our feeble prayers and sorts them out into a holy fashion, then presents them to the Father. Oh how good is that.
And lastly, and I think fittingly as we close, and for what these meetings mean:
- The prayers of the saints work for our good.
This is why we must pray for one another, it works good for us, who are His. I love what Watson says in part of this last point:
The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but prayer fetched the angel.
Oh how we need to keep each other and lift others in prayer. Let us become a people who become more devoted to praying for each other. That we too can be fetched and thronged by holy angels, who will guard us and protect us, and keep our countenance bright.
That in all seasons we bear fruit, because we know all things work for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
Amen.
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