[0:00] Let us worship God. We shall join together in the singing of his praise from Psalm 119.
[0:13] Psalm 119, verse 97. O how love I thy law it is my study all the day. Makes me wiser than my foes, for it doth with me stay.
[0:31] Than all my teachers now I have more understanding far, because my meditation thy testimonies are. In understanding I excel those that are ancients, for I endeavoured to keep all thy commandments.
[0:49] My feet from each ill way I stayed, that I may keep thy word. I from thy judgments have not swerved, for thou hast taught me, Lord.
[1:01] How sweet unto my taste, O Lord, are all thy words of truth. Yea, I do find them sweeter far than honey to my mouth. I, through thy precepts that are pure, do understanding get.
[1:18] I, therefore, every way that's false, with all my heart do hate. We shall sing these verses. Psalm 119, verse 97.
[1:29] O how love I thy law it is my study all the day. O how love I thy law it is my study all the day.
[1:53] It makes me wiser than my words of truth. It makes me wiser than my words of truth. My love I thy law it is my study all the day.
[2:08] The Lord, my teacher, shall I come. The Lord, my teacher, shall I come. For I am the shining part.
[2:25] Because my gratitude, shall I come. Because my gratitude, shall I just give all the love.
[2:40] size. In understanding the action Was not your vision For I am a man to keep A life from my demand My feet on which you pray I stay Like I am a kid in my heart I throng the judgment
[3:43] Shall I know the word Of the love of me, dear Lord How sweet unto my lips your heart That on my heart's all good Yea, I do thy strength And far not know He's there my young I do thy precious heart And you, dear heart Shall I be in the rain
[4:48] I live in the rain I live in the rain I live in the rain I receive Can you sing Let us join together in prayer. Let us pray.
[5:14] Most gracious God, enable us to come before you in this act of worship and offer unto you our prayers of thanksgiving.
[5:30] Thankful that we are able to offer such words, that we are able to come looking to your own word to fill out mouth, so that what we say and what we do conform to your revealed will for us.
[5:50] So that our words of praise may be offered in the light of your own revelation.
[6:01] Who you are and what you are and what you are doing and what you have done. Indeed, what you are yet to do. Not only in our own life, but in the life of those who are in the world.
[6:14] Those who profess to know you and those who have no knowledge of you. You are at the centre of the universe. Our universe and all that is there to be surveyed.
[6:28] From time to time we have great discoveries. Presented to us as truth. The origin of the species. What makes us what we are.
[6:41] The origin of the universe. The origin of the universe. How it came about. Through some cataclysmic event. In the distant past. That cannot be measured.
[6:54] And these things it is said. To have. Been revealed. To the intellect of man through their. Own research.
[7:04] And through their own probings. And delving into. The world that. They form a part of. We are treated.
[7:17] As ignorant. And no better than. Those who are unlearned. Because we trust to your word. And your word.
[7:29] Tells us. Where we came from. And where this world. Came from. And that when we look to your word. It tells us that.
[7:41] God created the world. In the space of six days. And all very good. That you created man. As the crown of your creation.
[7:53] To display your glory. Because. You were to be seen in him. We give thanks. For the way in which your word. God.
[8:04] Describes to us. How he was. The pinnacle of creation. And how he fell from that pinnacle. And for. The fall.
[8:15] Took him into the dust. The dust. And we give thanks. That you had chosen. Not to leave him in the dust. But that you united that dust. To the second person.
[8:29] Of glory. That he became man. And he so was. And continues to be God and man. Two distinct natures. One person forever.
[8:40] You have exalted man yet again. But this time. Those who are united to. That man.
[8:51] The second Adam. The last Adam. He will not be severed from him. Or from the glory that he has. He has. Secured for them.
[9:02] We see the unfolding of providence. Remarkably laid out for us. In the scriptures of the Old Testament. By way of prophecy. Each and every step of that.
[9:15] Disclosure is fulfilled. In the person of your son. Other than that. Which will be the ultimate disclosure. When he comes in glory. Accompanied by.
[9:27] The myriad hosts of angels. When all eyes will see him. And when every knee shall bow. And acknowledge him. As the Lord of glory. That is what awaits your people.
[9:40] Enable us if we are numbered amongst them. To praise you and magnify you. For any knowledge that we have of you. We pray that you would bless this day to us. This is your day.
[9:52] A day that you have. Asked us to. Set apart for your worship. And we pray that you would forgive us.
[10:03] Every time that we neglect our day. That we. In some way neglect. The opportunities that we have. To spend time in your presence.
[10:15] And to meditate. And to. Consider your word. In order that our soul. Would be satisfied. We pray your blessing upon our congregation.
[10:28] Upon the homes and families that belong to it. Be they young or old. We pray for every individual soul. We pray for the children of the congregation.
[10:39] We pray for them as they prepare to return to their schooling. We pray that you would bless to them. As they are under your hand as we are.
[10:50] At this time of global pandemic. We ask that you would in mercy. Speak to them. Concerning the needs of their soul. As you would speak to their parents and grandparents.
[11:03] And even those who have no children of their own. They have an interest in the things of this congregation. Especially as it applies to those who share this space with them.
[11:17] We pray that you would bless. Every experience that we have. It may be sanctified to us. That we may learn more of you. As the God of mercy and the God of grace.
[11:29] We pray that you would magnify Christ to us. That we may long to be near him and to be with him. For those who are his have that self-same desire.
[11:44] However fleeting it may be. However weak it may think it. It is still an implanted desire in the heart of those who are yours.
[11:55] So we pray that you would bless every individual in which this longing lies. That you have created in them. We pray your blessing upon homes and families.
[12:09] Especially those amongst us who may have cares concerning their own physical well-being. Some are ill. Some have illnesses of long-lasting duration.
[12:27] Some have less serious ailments to contend with. We pray whoever they may be. Whatever effect it may have upon them. That they may learn to look unto Jesus.
[12:40] The author and finisher of our faith. Remember any who may be in hospital. Those who care for them in that place. Those who are in the care homes.
[12:51] The elderly and frail. We pray for those who also care for them there. Remember the caring professions throughout the community. Nurses and doctors and all who have that responsibility of care.
[13:06] Bless the government of the day. Be it in Westminster or Holyrood. We pray that you would remember all who have that role to play.
[13:22] May you raise up those who fear you. To speak the truth. So that those who listen to them would know that what they have to say is to be heard and to be believed.
[13:42] We remember before you at this time the royal family. We know that they are grieving especially the Queen from whom you have taken her consort. We pray that you would bless her grief to her.
[13:55] That she may draw near to you. As her God and as her Saviour. Bless their family as they mourn. May they know the true reality of mourning. That they may mourn as those who understand it.
[14:09] No matter how long lived we are in this world. The time will come. When we will be removed from the scene of time. The dust will return to the dust. And the soul to God who gave it.
[14:20] And all must answer. Whoever they may be. Be they kings or queens. Or be they peasants and vagrants. Whoever they may be. All will answer to the God.
[14:32] To whom answer must be given. So we pray Lord that you would bring your peace to reign in the hearts of many. That your grace would be magnified.
[14:43] That your love would be made known. That Christ would be drawing men and women to himself. Hear us and pardon us. Cleanse from sin. In Jesus name we would ask it.
[14:55] Forgiveness of sin in him. Amen. We are going to hear God's word. So we have it in the Gospel of Matthew. Chapter 6. And we are going to read from verse 19 through to the end of the chapter.
[15:10] Matthew chapter 6 from verse 19. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth. Where moth and rust doth corrupt.
[15:22] And where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt. And where thieves do not break through nor steal.
[15:34] For where your treasure is there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye. If therefore thine eye be single. Thy whole body shall be full of light.
[15:47] But if thine eye be evil. Thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness. How great is that darkness.
[15:58] No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other. Or else he will hold to the one and despise the other.
[16:09] He cannot serve God and the mammon. Therefore I say unto you. Take no thought for your life. What you shall eat or what you shall drink. Nor yet for your body what you shall put on.
[16:23] Is not a life more than meat. And the body than raiment. Behold the fowls of the air. For they sow not neither do they reap.
[16:36] Nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought.
[16:47] Can add one cubit unto his stature. And why take ye thought for raiment. Consider the lilies of the field. How they grow.
[16:59] They toil not. Neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you. That even Solomon in all his glory was not. Arrayed like one of these.
[17:11] Wherefore if God so clothed the grass of the field. Which today is. And tomorrow is cast into the oven. Shall he not much more clothe you.
[17:23] O ye of little faith. Therefore take no thought saying. What shall we eat. Or what shall we drink. Or wherewithal shall we be clothed.
[17:34] For after all these things. Do the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father. Knoweth that ye have a need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God.
[17:47] And his righteousness. And all these things. Shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought. For the morrow. For the morrow.
[17:58] Shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day. Is the evil thereof. Amen. And may the Lord add his blessing.
[18:09] To this reading of his word. And to his name be the praise. For a short time we can. Reflect on these words we have in verse 33.
[18:21] But seek ye first. The kingdom of God and his righteousness. And all these things shall be added. And to you.
[18:36] As you know these words form part of. One of the earliest of the Saviour's discourses. Also one of the longest.
[18:48] Its subject matter appears diverse. But when it is considered against the backleth. Of Pharisaic. Pharisaic religiosity.
[19:01] It is clearly understood. This morning we. We were looking at the danger of formalism. And.
[19:12] This was something that. Confronted the Lord. When it came to. The religious life of the Pharisees. And Sadducees. And the religious readers of the day.
[19:25] They gave. They prayed. They fasted. Before men. Their personal riches. Were regarded. As divine favour.
[19:37] And yet. Jesus taught. That it was. Spiritual wealth. That counted. He encourages them. With practical exhortations. That.
[19:47] Are to make. Time. As something. That is. To be used wisely. Something.
[19:59] Something that. They can. Avail themselves. Of. As the opportunities. Afforded them. As a preparation. For the eternity.
[20:11] That awaits. Now the words of our text. Can in many. Respects. Be considered. To be a summary. Of all.
[20:22] That has gone before. But there are two things. I would want us to. Think about. At this point. And that is. The instruction.
[20:32] That Jesus. Gives. To us. And the promises. That belong. To those. Who. Fulfill. These instructions.
[20:44] First of all. Then. The instruction. We. First of all. Have to. Come to terms.
[20:56] With the meaning. Of the expression. Kingdom of God. There are four. Common ways. Of understanding. The expression. First of all.
[21:08] It is used. With regard to. God's. Sovereign. Reign. God is. King of kings. And Lord of lords. None.
[21:19] Have. Ever. Displaced him. From his throne. As creator. Although. Many. Have. Deared. To attempt that.
[21:31] Secondly. We have. In the realm. Of salvation. I.e. The gospel. That is. The complete. Salvation. Spiritual.
[21:42] And material. And material. Blessing. That are the result. Of God's. Being king. In our hearts. Thirdly. Something similar.
[21:54] But slightly different. Is the church. The community. Of believers. Who share. The foregoing. Experience. And then. There's.
[22:05] The kingdom of God. As it applies. To the redeemed universe. Supernatural. In character. In character. Begun in heaven. And. Redounds.
[22:16] To the glory. Of God. In heaven. Now. I believe that. The text refers. To the last. Three. Particularly. The kingdom. Of Emmanuel.
[22:28] Set up. In a willing. People's heart. But surely. If it is already there. Established. In the life. Of a believer. Why.
[22:39] Are we instructed. To seek it. Seek. First. The kingdom. Of God. What the word. What well the word. Used.
[22:49] Implies. Being totally. Absorbed. By the search. As far as. Divines. Are concerned. That the word.
[23:01] Implies. The constant. Searching. After. Or seeking. After. This kingdom. And why is that.
[23:12] And how are they. Going to establish. The kingdom. And the answer is. By seeking. To be better subjects.
[23:24] To its king. It is in the gospel. That. That. That. We find. The.
[23:35] The picture. That conforms. To. The nature. Of this kingdom. The true governor.
[23:45] Of the world. The true ruler. Of the world. There is a rule. And an authority. Established. By him. And those.
[23:55] Who would seek. To do. The will of God. Discover. How different. It is. To. The legal. Administration. For example. That was represented.
[24:07] By Moses. That was. Very often. Reduced. To being a mere. Carnal service. Which.
[24:19] Lent itself. As we saw. In the morning. To eye service. What is implied. Here. Is a more. Spiritual service. That is why.
[24:30] It is. Linked in. With. His righteousness. Because. This is what. Describes. The character. Of the inhabitants. Of this kingdom.
[24:41] They have a righteousness. Not just. A fleshly. Righteousness. Or a legal. Righteousness. Which Christ. Was.
[24:52] Critical of. For times. But a more. Perfect righteousness. Of course. Christ spoke. Of.
[25:03] Of this righteousness. Critically. Not because. He did not. Expect. Such a righteousness. To exist. But because. It could not. Exist alone.
[25:14] Those who. Who. Who. Who. Believed themselves. To. Demonstrate. A life. That was.
[25:25] Pleasing to God. On the basis. Of their. Own. Works of righteousness. Were. Very. Much. Mistaken. Paul.
[25:37] The apostle. Speaks of. Of the. Misunderstanding. That. Governed.
[25:48] The. Thinking. Of many. Romans. 10. In verse. 3. He speaks. Of a people. There. They were. Ignorant. Of the. Righteousness.
[25:58] Of God. And they were. Going about. To establish. Their own. Righteousness. And what was. True of them. He says. Is. They have not. Submitted.
[26:08] Themselves. To the. Righteousness. Of God. That is. The problem. With those. Who. Who. Are. Content. With. A mere.
[26:20] Outward. Serving. Of God. Without. Yielding. The heart. And the will. To the. The spirit.
[26:30] Of God. How do. Divines. Speak. Of this. Righteousness. There are. Two elements. Or components. Which we could. Say. Belongs.
[26:42] To justifying. Faith. Or the. Righteousness. Of faith. The faith. That justifies. There is.
[26:54] Sanctification. A practical. Sanctification. They are. Distinct. Elements. But as you cannot. Have one. Without the other. You cannot.
[27:05] Have justification. Without. Sanctification. In Romans. One. Again. Paul says. Therein. Is the righteousness. Of faith. Revealed. From faith. To faith.
[27:16] As it is written. The just. Shall live. By faith. It speaks. Of the righteousness. Of faith. Whereby. The believer. Is made.
[27:26] The righteousness. Of God. In Christ. Sanctification. Speaks. Of the renewing. Of the will. By the spirit. Of God. There is.
[27:38] A renewal. In the man. Inner man. According. To the image. Of God. And they are. Made. Able. More. And more.
[27:48] To live. And to righteousness. And to die. To sin. Or to die. To sin. And to live. And to righteousness.
[28:02] Whereby God. Not only. Speaks. Of a righteousness. Which is of Christ. And that is imputed.
[28:13] But also. The effects. Of that imputed righteousness. Again. The apostle Paul. In the second epistle. To the Corinthians. But we all.
[28:25] He says. With open face. Beholding us. In a glass. The glory of the Lord. Are changed. Into the same image. From glory. To glory. As by the spirit.
[28:36] Of. The Lord. God. Which is why. It can be called. Practical. Or life. Righteousness. As the apostle John.
[28:48] Writes. In his epistle. If you know. That he is righteous. You know. That everyone. That doeth righteousness. Is born of him. You cannot.
[28:59] Be born again. By the spirit of God. As he argues. All must be. In his gospel. Without. Knowing. That.
[29:11] Those. Who are born of him. Are those. Who are able. To do righteousness. To. To. Fulfill the works.
[29:22] That are pleasing. To God. In seeking that righteousness. We discover. The perfections. Of his righteousness. As compared to the.
[29:35] Imperfections. Of our own. King. We see. An interest. In the death of Christ. Deepen. And develop. As the desire.
[29:46] For purity. Of heart. And life. Seek. First. He says. The kingdom. Of God. It is. Above. And before all. Priority.
[29:58] Diligence. Passion. And interest. In the kingdom. Passion. Interest. In its extension. And in the glory. Of the king. You cannot. Live.
[30:08] Without that. Without that interest. Being there. And without that interest. Being encouraged. Surely. That must be. Obvious. To any one of us.
[30:18] If we know the Lord. Then we know this to be true. The second thing that we have. Is promises. These promises.
[30:31] That belong. To. These. Those who. Who are instructed. Or taught. By the Lord.
[30:43] All these things. Shall be added. He says. What's the all? What all do you need? If you are an heir of the kingdom. Christ speaking to.
[30:53] The church. He says. Fear not. Little flock. For it is. Your father's. Good pleasure. To give you. The kingdom.
[31:04] That's a promise. Clearly. It is a. Reference. To. The. Proceeding. Verses. Of this.
[31:17] Portion. Of the scripture. Take no thought. For your life. What you shall eat. Or what you shall drink. Nor yet. Your body. What you shall put on. Is not the life.
[31:27] More than meat. And the body. More than raiment. Behold. The fowls of the air. For they sow not. And so on. Wherefore.
[31:39] If God. So clothed. The grass. Of the field. Which today is. And tomorrow is cast into the oven. Shall he. Not much more. Clothe you. O ye. Of little faith.
[31:50] What is seen as necessary. To live. Food. Drink. Clothing. And which should not be. Our main concern. Cannot. But follow the life.
[32:02] You lead. If it is first. How sure can you be of this? Christ's argument. In the next chapter.
[32:13] Surely. Reminds us. Of that. If you then being evil. Know. How. To give good gifts. Unto your children. How much more. Shall your father.
[32:24] Which is in heaven. Give good things. To them that ask. Therefore. All things. Whatsoever you would. That men should do. To you. Do ye. Even so.
[32:34] To them. For this is. The law. And the prophets. God. Will abundantly. Provide. And bless. His own children. His own people.
[32:46] Similarly. Paul. In his. When he speaks. Of the. Finished work. Of Christ. Speaking of the death. Of Christ. On the cross. Speaking of what Christ. Has secured. For his people.
[32:58] He that spared. Not his son. But delivered him up. For us all. How shall he not. With him also. Freely give us. All things. He will withhold.
[33:10] No good thing. From his children. These promises. Are a lesson. To us. To analyze. Our lives. In the light. Of what is said. It is not a license.
[33:21] In order. Not to work. But an instruction. To prioritize. In that work. So that it does not. Come between ourselves.
[33:32] And God. Godliness. Is its own reward. Said the Puritans. If you care for your soul. You cannot neglect. Your body. It is the temple.
[33:44] Of God's spirit. The Christian. Can say many things. About God. That the common man. Cannot say. Simply because. Of their personal. Experience.
[33:55] Of God. It is. It is. Of the Lord's. Mercy. Said the prophet. Jeremiah. That we are not consumed. Because his.
[34:05] Messies. Fail not. They are new. Each morning. Every day. They are confronted. With the provision. That God has made. For us.
[34:15] For us. For us. And every one of us. Who know that. God. For ourselves. Are reminded. Of his goodness. And his grace.
[34:26] In so many different ways. And surprising ways. At that. When we. Have our needs. Met. Even before. They are asked for. Sometimes we think. That.
[34:37] Only. Only the great things. Or the. Desperately. Needy things. Can be asked of God. But there is. Not one. Single thing. That can.
[34:49] Make up a life. Here in this world. That we cannot. Come to God with. And that. Most often. He supplies it. Even without. Our asking. May God.
[35:01] Encourage us. To remember. The words. Of the Lord. Here. Seek first. The kingdom of God. And his righteousness. And all these things. Shall be added to you. Have the right.
[35:12] Priority. See to the needs. Of your soul. First. See to the relationship. That you should have. With Christ. That it is. As it should be. See that your religion.
[35:24] And your Christianity. Is focused. And balanced. And God honoring. And all these things. That you fear. That you won't have.
[35:37] Will become. Yours. In God's time. May bless to us. These few thoughts. Let us pray. Most merciful God. Help us. To. Realize.
[35:47] That you have made provision. For us. For this world. And for the world. That comes. We are often tempted. To take matters. Into our own hands.
[35:58] And to. Do that which is not. Proper. In order to secure. What is. Really. Of this world.
[36:09] And which we must. Be separated from. The last. Help us to. Do what this. Your servant. Teaches us.
[36:20] That we should. Do. That we should. Live our life. To the glory. Of God. Live our life. With the understanding. That.
[36:30] That. We should. Look unto. The one. Who is. Who is. Speaking here.
[36:41] So that. Our. Righteousness. Would be revealed. As the righteousness. Of the just. Who live by faith.
[36:52] In Christ. So bless us in him. We pray. Continue to watch over us. Remembering all we. Bring before you. And any. And all that we do not.
[37:04] Cleanse from sin. And now may grace. Mercy and peace. From God. Father. Son and Holy Spirit. Be with you all. Now and always. Amen.