[0:00] Very well and welcome to our service this morning. As we join together in the worship of God, we pray that he would bless to us our time under the sound of his word.
[0:21] We're going to begin by singing some verses from Psalm 19. Psalm 19 at the beginning of the psalm.
[0:34] The heavens God's glory do declare, the skies his handworks preach. They utter speech today, and night to night does knowledge teach.
[0:46] There is no speech nor tongue to which their voice does not extend. Their line is gone through all the earth, their words to the world's end.
[0:57] In them he set the sun a tent, who bridegroom like forth goes. From his chamber as a strong man doth to run his race rejoice.
[1:08] From heaven's end is his going forth, circling to the end again. And there is nothing from his heat that hidden doth remain.
[1:22] These verses, Psalm 19, verses 1 to 6. The heavens God's glory do declare, the skies his handworks preach. The heavens God's glory do declare, the skies his handworks preach.
[1:51] The heavens God's glory do declare, the skies his handworks preach.
[2:09] The heavens God's glory do declare, the skies his handworks preach.
[2:29] The heavens God's glory do declare, the skies his handworks preach.
[2:39] Their words to the Lord's end. In them he set the sun a chance.
[2:58] Where bright and bright forth was. From Scephus, a strong man, a terrible man.
[3:17] Till run his race rejoins. From heaven's end is it.
[3:32] Going forth. Circling to the end again.
[3:43] And there is nothing wrong with thee.
[3:55] That it endeth remain. Let us join together in prayer.
[4:08] Let us pray. O Lord our God, as we come before you this morning, hour of worship, we give thanks that we can call upon your name, expecting that our voice would be heard and that our prayers would receive an answer.
[4:31] Father, we would ask, O Lord, that even today, with many needs that are represented before you here in this place, some that may be common to all, some that are shared, and some that are unique to individuals, that you are the God who is able to meet these needs, whatever they may be, and to exceed our asking, and to apply to them the temporal blessings that we crave, but far more importantly, the spiritual aspect represented within them.
[5:21] We ask, O Lord, that you would encourage us this day to understand how truly privileged we are to expect that the God of all gods, the one who is the heavenly potentate, who sits upon the throne of the universe, that he has an ear to our petitions.
[5:47] Even when we think of whatever it is that may be our lot, by way of predicament, in a temporal sense, we may represent our needs in a political sphere, and seek our councillors or our members of parliament to address our need or to bring that need into the highest court.
[6:20] And there are processes and protocols that need to be observed, and sometimes our petitions are overlooked or denied.
[6:34] But we can believe with all our heart that the God who is our God has granted to us a way of access in the person of Jesus Christ.
[6:49] And we give thanks for the avenue open to us, that any one of us can yield our lives to, so as to follow and to seek redress, even from the hand of our God.
[7:11] O help us even today as we worship, that our worship would be blessed to us, and every individual here that they may know, that they have the ear of God, and that the eye of God is upon them.
[7:27] We remember to you those who cannot be with us, and we bring them before you, seeking that their needs be met also.
[7:41] Some of our number are housebound, hospitalized, confined to homes for the elderly. Some in the care of nurses and doctors in terminal illness, and we pray for them, whether it is at home or in the hospice, or wherever it is of this caste.
[8:03] We understand something of what the word of God says to us, that we are all on the same journey, and that sooner or later our race will be run, and our sojourn will be at an end.
[8:23] But it is something quite different to be given information concerning the near proximity of death to us.
[8:34] and many of us extend our years, and even our days into years, and are in some form of denial with regard to the reality of what life instructs us.
[8:53] We pray that you would remind us of the need that there is to make our calling and election sure, whatever that means, that you would instruct and inform us, that it requires of us that we commit ourselves to the Christ of the Gospel, and yield ourselves to the instruction that he gives to us concerning the well-being of our soul.
[9:22] Pour out your Spirit upon us as a congregation, as a denomination, as a nation, and nations throughout the world.
[9:33] I give thanks for the Gospel that has made inroads into the lives of many, and that it still touches healingly, savingly, many throughout the world.
[9:46] No matter how our generation see it, and how little knowledge we have of the Spirit of the Most High God being poured out, we give thanks that you are at work, and that there are those who are introduced into the Kingdom of God in numbers that are past our reckoning, and our daily.
[10:14] It is our crave, and our petition, that the Day of Power would once again be experienced in our own midst, not because we deserve it or are worthy of receiving it, but because you are a God of mercy and a God of grace.
[10:30] We pray for all the activities of the Church here on earth that bears your name, and may all it seeks to do in your name be to your glory.
[10:43] Forbid us from following any path that would deny that glory to you. For we are required to ascribe to it daily in our activities and in our worship and in our witness.
[10:59] We ask, Lord, that you would bless those you have sent out with the Gospel, those who seek daily to proclaim Christ through their own word of mouth, through the testimony of their lips and their lives.
[11:16] we pray for those who throw the trees to enter into the pulpits and theatres of a land where their calling is to speak of Christ and to speak of the saving, the grace that is his alone to bestow upon the needy of this world.
[11:40] we pray that you would encourage them to see souls for their hire and to see their labours prosper and that to the glory of your great name.
[11:53] We ask that you would remember today all who have sickness to deal with may healing come to them. Those who are under the care of nurses and doctors may wisdom be imparted to them.
[12:09] Remember the grieving and the sorrowful amongst us, those who have to encounter the realities of what death means, not just for those who have been removed from the scene of time but for those who are given a sense of their own mortality as they look upon places that are no longer filled by these ones that they loved so much.
[12:35] so sanctify these impressions that you yourself make upon our hearts that we may not resist them or deny them but take them as tokens of your interest in us and a reminder to us of the opportunity that we have to prepare ourselves to meet with God and that is an encounter that none of us can escape.
[13:05] Continue to bless us under the word and grant mercy for sin in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Boys and girls, before we go out, just a word to you.
[13:19] We're going to be talking today about the way the gospel of Jesus Christ became to be blessed at the beginning of the New Testament era.
[13:36] Following the death and resurrection of Christ he promised that he would pour out his spirit and that's what happened and the disciples, the apostles, those who knew Christ were enabled and empowered and persuaded of the need that they had to speak of Christ to others.
[14:03] And I think that is something that is true to every person who ever came to know Christ. When they meet him for the first time as someone who is their saviour and their Lord, the one thing they want to do more than anything else is to tell others about Jesus.
[14:25] And this was what was true about the apostles. They preached and they spoke and they witnessed to Christ. And because of what they said many people were persuaded of their own need of Christ.
[14:43] They were blessed. They were converted. They were many of them healed physically. And that was something that was common to that early church.
[14:57] That the apostles were given power to carry out miracles of healing and many of the people that they spoke to they were recovered from many illnesses.
[15:12] And you would think this is wonderful. This is just great. and everybody would be happy. All these good things are being done.
[15:26] People are better physically. People are better spiritually. They're hearing good news and you would think that everybody would be happy.
[15:39] But what happened to many of those people who shared the gospel and told them about Jesus. Well we're told that many of them were put to prison.
[15:53] Many of them were even killed because there were those who did not want to hear about Jesus and they did not want anyone to hear about Jesus.
[16:07] So they made it their business to stop those who spoke about Jesus from speaking about him. And they put them in prison and they put them in chains and they did everything they could to stop them.
[16:25] And the wonderful thing is at that time is that sometimes when they were put to prison the Lord sent angels to release them from prison.
[16:39] And sometimes the chains were broken sometimes they were taken out of the prison without the doors being opened and they were allowed to go back out and speak of Jesus to others.
[16:53] It's truly wonderful times but the thing that we need to remember is that there was always this hostility to Jesus. There was always this hostility to the gospel and it's the same to this day that people for whatever reason and you really have to ask themselves and try and understand what is in their heart why do you despise Christ so much why do you hate Christ so much are are working against the gospel the apostles were put in prison the angels released them they were brought once again to speak before the spiritual leaders of the day and somebody who was very wise said to them one of their own people said if this is from
[18:21] God it is foolish for you to go against it if it is from man it will go away it won't last now you ask yourself the question what I'm talking about here happened 2000 years ago and if it was from man do you think what the disciples and the apostles were doing would still be talked about today do you think it would still be something that you have been told or taught in the Sunday school today no it's not possible many of the things that were current in those days many of the things that were topical many of the things that perhaps they were talking about in the markets nobody remembers them but we still remember Jesus we still talk about Jesus we still tell others about
[19:23] Jesus and we remind them of the fact that Jesus alone saves and everybody should know him for themselves as that person one of the ministers he lived he was born in 1600 a man by the name of Samuel Rutherford and it's amazing the way Jesus works in the lives of people when people prevent a person from speaking about Jesus and they make sure that everything in their power is done so that they can't preach and they can't witness and they can't talk to others about it and that's what happened to Samuel Rutherford and the reason I mention it because yesterday somebody met me and gave me I have a book in my study there a collection of letters written by Samuel Rutherford but this person gave me a collection of
[20:28] CDs which are the book spoken word on CD but it reminded me of the way Rutherford was he was forbidden to preach in his own pulpit he was a minister in a congregation and the king of the day didn't like the gospel that he preached and he didn't want them to preach the gospel so he was taken from the place that he lived in and sent of all places to Aberdeen that might not sound very terrible to us but in those days there was many hundreds of miles from where his congregation was to where he was sent to Aberdeen and you would think that would be the end of his ministry but there he began to write lectors to friends to
[21:36] Christians that he knew to people who were concerned about different things and many of the letters that he wrote or collected and talked about to this day you would think that because he was in prison because he couldn't speak from his pulpit anymore that his ministry was at an end and yet God in his wisdom allowed him to carry out something that he wouldn't otherwise have done and that's the way things are God will have us hear his word no matter who it is that would want us not to listen to it and I hope that you'll understand that when your privilege is to hear God's word that you'll appreciate it as something that God has given to you and that you will remember it as something that you have from God and we're going to sing as you go out to
[22:38] Sunday school Psalm 142 Psalm 142 we're saying the whole psalm I with my voice cried to the Lord with it made my request poured out to him my place to him my trouble I expressed when in me was overwhelmed my spirit then well thou knew my way where I did walk a snare for me they privileged lay I looked on my right hand and viewed but none to know me where all refuge failed me no man did for my soul take care I cried to thee I said thou art my refuge Lord alone and in the land of those that live thou art my portion because I am brought very low attendant to my cry me from my save who stronger are than I from prison bring my soul that
[23:39] I thy name may glorify the just shall compass me when thou with me dealt bounties these precious Psalm 142 I with my voice cry to the Lord with it make my request I with my voice cry to the Lord with it made my request for death to him I claim to him thy trouble I express when in me was overwhelmed my strength and whether you my way when
[24:49] I did walk walk a step for me live heavenly good life I looked on my right hand view but none could know be where all refuge be let me no man good for my soul take care I cry to thee I said thou art my refuge all alone and in the land of those that live thou art heart my portion because
[26:18] I am brought very low attendant to my cry me from my passion heart me from my heart should you deserve who stronger are than I from prison bring my soul that thy name may glorify the just shall come pass me when thou with me with me till thou just ring god's will me you going to hear god's word from the prophet isaiah i'm going to read chapter sixty five and
[27:54] And down to verse 7. Isaiah chapter 64. O that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence.
[28:13] As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causes the water to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries.
[28:24] That the nations may tremble at thy presence. When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.
[28:38] For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath seen the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth.
[28:54] For him. Thou meetest him that rejoices, and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways. Behold thou art wroth, for we have sinned.
[29:07] In those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.
[29:20] And we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stoodeth up himself to take hold of thee.
[29:34] For thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O Lord, thou art our Father. We are the clay, and thou our porter, and we all are the work of thy hand.
[29:52] Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever. Behold, see, we beseech thee. We are all thy people.
[30:03] Thy holy cities are a wilderness. Zion is a wilderness. Jerusalem a desolation. Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire.
[30:16] And all our pleasant things are late waste. Wilt thou not, wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Lord? Wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?
[30:28] I am sought of them that ask not for me. I am found of them that sought me not. I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
[30:41] I have spread out my hands all the day. And to reber his people, which walk us in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts.
[30:52] A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face, that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick, which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things in their vessels.
[31:14] Which they stand by thyself. Come not near to me, for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
[31:27] Behold, it is written before me, I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense, into their bosom. Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers, together, saith the Lord, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills.
[31:47] Therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom. And so on. The Lord, that his blessing to his reading of his word, and to his name be the praise.
[32:03] We'll sing now from Psalm 103. Psalm 103, verse 8. Psalm 103, verse 9.
[32:39] So far as east is distant from the west, so far hath he from us removed in his love all of iniquity. Down to verse 15. Psalm 103, verse 8.
[32:51] The Lord of God is merciful, and he is gracious. The Lord of God is merciful, and he is gracious.
[33:11] Long-Suffering and so to run in mercy plentious.
[33:25] He will not chide continually, nor keep his anger still.
[33:41] With the sea dear not as we sin, nor did we quite a rill.
[33:56] For us of heaven in his sight, here's our marches bar.
[34:11] So great to those that you have in fear. His tender mercy desire.
[34:27] As far as east is distant from the west, so far hath he.
[34:41] From mercy, O Lord of God. From mercy, O Lord of God. In his love, all our iniquity.
[34:56] Such pity as the Father hath. And to his children dear.
[35:13] Like pity shows the Lord who such us.
[35:24] Worship him in fear. For he remembers we are dead.
[35:38] And he is not. He knows. He knows. Frail man his days are like the grass.
[35:53] As blood in fear he grows. And he knows.
[36:06] I'd like us to turn to Isaiah chapter 65. And we'll read at the beginning of the chapter. Isaiah 65, verse 1.
[36:20] I am sought of them that ask not for me. I am found of them that sought me not. I said, behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
[36:34] I have spread out my hands all the day. And to a rebellious people which walketh in a way that was not good after their own thoughts.
[36:47] A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face. That sacrifices in gardens and burn saints upon altars of break and so on.
[37:00] I wonder if you would consider yourself to be privileged.
[37:14] Would you consider yourself to be privileged today? There are many ways in which you could answer that question.
[37:26] For example, you may consider yourself privileged because at one point you were experiencing illness. And your illness was so severe that at one point you feared that you would not recover from it.
[37:48] And in that respect, the fact that you have been restored to a measure of good health. And that you are once again able to enjoy many of the things that were at one point in danger of being taken from you.
[38:10] You sense yourself to be numbered amongst the privileged. Tell yourself, is a person in joy. There are many ways in which we can think of it.
[38:23] We've only started a journey towards a general election. And if you have been listening to it without having already been exhausted by it, those who were formerly members of parliament, having been given the opportunity to speak, would have told whoever wanted to listen to them of how they felt themselves privileged to have served the people in that capacity.
[38:59] Whether you believed them or not, that's what they said. It was their privilege to serve others. But it's a word that they used. They considered this a privilege.
[39:11] We speak of the privileged classes. Those who are born into a class. That means that they have no worries as far as material possessions are concerned.
[39:29] They have the vast majority of the wealth of the land at their disposal. Or they have the trappings offered. So they are considered the privileged classes.
[39:41] So there are various ways in which you can think of how people use the word privilege. And how important it is for them to appreciate their privileges as individuals.
[40:03] But try this for size. Do you consider yourself privileged today to be sitting under the gospel? Do you think it's a privilege?
[40:18] Is it something that you would, if you were given a list to compile of the things that you consider to be a privilege, would being able to listen to the gospel or to hear the gospel preached feature on that list, would it be something that you would consider worthy of declaring?
[40:48] Well, I would hope that you would, that you recognize that the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ is something worthy of mention.
[41:03] And the ability that is given to you to enjoy that, that it is a privilege that is given to you.
[41:13] I was reading George Swinock, who was a Puritan preacher. And he wasn't, I don't suppose he used the word privilege, but he used the word mercy.
[41:31] Or in particular, he used the word God's mercies. And he was identifying the privileges that belong to God's people.
[41:44] And the duty that belongs to the people of God. And he made this picture as if you were to see somebody spread them out before you.
[41:56] And that you were going to list them. The things that God, in his mercy, provided to you.
[42:08] And some of the things he mentioned, perhaps you wouldn't think of them. But he spoke of them as if things that God had made known to them.
[42:21] The image of God, he said. The image of God. Making, through God's word, the image of God.
[42:35] Note what it means, what it's like, how it is to be considered. The privilege of knowing the preciousness of the blood of Jesus Christ.
[42:49] Knowing what the death of Christ means. Knowing what the gospel is all about. Knowing the reality of eternal life.
[43:05] And I'm sure he went on to say more than that. But this is how he, it was as if, you know, when I grew up, we used to see the Muslim who would come round the door selling his wares.
[43:23] And he would carry a big suitcase. And when we were children. And when we were children, it really made us marvel. The size of the suitcase that he carried around. And we'd open it out.
[43:33] And then he would take all the wares that were in the suitcase out. And place them on the floor in front of you. With the encouragement to buy these things.
[43:45] But this is the picture that is conveyed to you. When you reflect upon what God's word brings to your attention.
[43:56] About the things. The gifts. The precious commodities. That accompany the gospel. When they are presented to your eye.
[44:09] Especially the eye of faith. The person who appreciates that. Then you truly wonder at how kind and how good God is.
[44:20] But what's that got to do with the text that we're looking at today? What does it say to you about the privilege or the privilege of sitting under the gospel?
[44:35] Well, I want you to think of it. Have that word before your mind as we look at this text. And think of it in this way.
[44:46] If the gospel that is preached to you. Is the good news of salvation. Through Christ Jesus.
[44:59] And that that good news is to all. It is preached to you. Without you being excluded in any way.
[45:11] Then that good news is something that ought to be listened to and heard and embraced if at all possible.
[45:22] And the fact that it's presented to you is a privilege. And unlike all the other news that you might hear in the coming days.
[45:33] And that you've been listening to in the past. The news of the election. The news of the war in Palestine. The news of the war in Ukraine.
[45:44] All the other evils that are in the world. All of these news items are newsworthy. But none of them have the same input to you.
[45:57] Because what matters to you most of all. Is the good news of salvation. To a sinner. Who is on the way to a lost eternity.
[46:10] And the fact that you've been privileged to hear. That there is that good news. Is surely something that is worth considering. And here in this passage.
[46:22] I want us to think of four things. Very briefly. Four things that are brought to our attention. First of all. We see that God's grace is declared.
[46:36] God's grace is declared. Secondly. God's grace. Once it is declared. Is determined. Thirdly.
[46:48] God's grace is displayed. And fourthly. God's grace. Is declined. And I want just to frame my thoughts.
[47:01] Around these four headings. Four thoughts. Which I can argue. Comes from. The passage that we have here. Now in the context.
[47:15] What we find is. Chapter 65. Chapter 65. Follows on. From. The situation that's displayed. In the previous chapter.
[47:26] But essentially. What we find is. That. The covenant nation. Of Israel. Have been praying. To God.
[47:37] God. And. Their prayer to God. Is for God. To. To work. In their midst. But their prayer.
[47:49] Is formulated. On an understanding. Of. God. Not. Doing. What they believe. God. Should do. They have.
[48:01] Expectations. Of God. Based on. Their own. Understanding. Of God. What God. Has. Been doing. Or not doing. That they would have. Expected.
[48:12] Him. Not to do. Or to do. And in many respects. I know that. There are. Differences. Of opinion. As to. The exact.
[48:24] Nature. Of the. The prayer. That's been. Offered. Whether it is. An accusation. On their part. Or an. Acknowledgement. On their part.
[48:36] An accusation. For example. Of God. Ignoring. The needs. Of his. Covenant. People. Now. That accusation.
[48:48] Is levied. Against God. Without. The. Acknowledgement. That if. What they say. About God. Is. Accurate. They have.
[49:00] Totally. Ignored. The reason. Why. What they say. About God. Is true. They are. Accusing. God. Of. Ignoring. Them. Or.
[49:10] Not. Listening. To them. Or. Failing. To. Bless. Them. Or. Bring. The good. Things. That they. Expect. God. To bring. To his. People.
[49:23] But. They're. Excluded. From. Their. Thinking. The reason. Why. That. Might. Be. So. Some. Of.
[49:33] The things. That are. Said. By them. In. Chapter. 63. We. Read. There. In. Verse. 15. A request.
[49:43] Which. You. Would. Say. Is. Perfectly. In. Order. Look. Down. From. Heaven. And. Behold. From. The. Habitation. Of. Thy. Holiness. And. Of. Thy. Glory. Where.
[49:55] Is. Thy. Seal. And. Thy. Strength. The. Sounding. Of. Thy. Bowls. And. Of. Thy. Mercies. Toward. Me. Are. They. Restrained. Doubtless. Thou art. Our. Father. Though.
[50:05] Abraham. Be. Ignorant. Of. Us. And. Israel. Acknowledges. Not. O. Lord. Arthur. Art. Our. Father. A. Redeemer. Thy. Name. Is. From. Everlasting. O. Lord.
[50:15] Why. Has. Thou. Made. Us. To. Er. From. Thy. Ways. And. Harden. Our. Heart. From. Thy. Fear. Return. For. Thy. Servants.
[50:25] Sake. The. Tribes. Of. Thy. Inheriters. And. So. On. Now. If there is anything. That God. Does. Not. Do. He. Doesn't. Make.
[50:36] His. People. Sin. He. Doesn't. Make. His. People. Go. Away. From. His. Commandments. He. Doesn't. Make. His. People. Do. What. They. Should. Not. Do. And.
[50:47] Yet. In. A. Sense. That. Is. Contained. Within. Their. Complaint. Which. Seems. Quite. In.
[50:58] Order. All. That. Thou. Would. Rest. Rend. The. Heavens. That. Thou. Would. Come. Down. That. The. Mountains. Might. Flow. Down. At. Thy. Presence. As. When. The. Melting. Fire.
[51:08] Burneth. The. Fire. Causes. The. To. Boil. To. Make. Thy. Name. Known. To. Thy. Advish. That. That. The. Nations. May. Thou. Presence. And. So. On. Now.
[51:19] Perhaps. It. Is. Too. Strong. To. Say. That. They. Are. Accusing. Him. But. What. They. Are. Doing. Is. Failing. To. Understand. If.
[51:29] These. Things. Are. As. They. Say. They. Are. They. Have. Not. Considered. Why. They. Are. The. Way. They. Are. And. The. Response.
[51:40] That. God. Gives. To. Them. Is. Not. The. Response. That. You. Would. Expect. Him. To. Give. Rather. Than. Condemn. Them. And.
[51:51] Rather. Than. Say. Well. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. Not. Worthy. Of. Any. Kind. Of. Response. From. Me. The. Response. That. He.
[52:01] Gives. To. Them. Is. A. Response. That. Is. Gracious. And. And. Patient. And. Kind. It's. A. Response. Of. Grace. And.
[52:12] We. We. Have. To. Appreciate. That. That. Is. How. God. Speaks. To. Them. He. Tells. Them. That. This. Is.
[52:22] What. Is. True. For. Them. Because. This. Is. How. They. Are. Towards. God. God. God.
[52:32] Has. Not. Changed. God. Has. Not. Departed. From. His. Promises. He. Remains. Steadfast. And. He. Remains. Constant.
[52:45] Now. How. Do. We. Know. That. This. Is. How. We. Are. To. Interpret that. And. There. Are. Various. Interpretations. Given. To. Us. Of. This. Passage. Well. The. Most. Certain. Way. We. Can.
[52:55] Understand. Of. What. God. Is. Saying. To. Them. Is. Brought. To. Our. Attention. By. The. Apostle. Paul. And. The. Apostle. Paul.
[53:05] In. His. Letter. To. The. Romans. He. Actually. Interprets. For. Us. The. Words. That. Open. This. Chapter. And. He. Says.
[53:16] In. Romans. 10. Verse. 20. But. He. Says. Is. Is. Very. Bold. And. Said. I. Was. Found. Of. Them. That. Sawed. Me. Not. I.
[53:27] Was. Made. Manifest. Unto. Them. That. Asked. Not. After. Me. But. To. Israel. He. Said. All. Day. Long. Have. I. Stretched. Forth. My. Hands. Into.
[53:38] A. Disobedient. And. Gainsane. People. Now. What. Paul. Is. Doing. There. Is. Simply. Stating. The. Fact. That.
[53:49] Those. That. God. Is. Referring. To. There. Or. The. Prophet. Is. Referring. To. Are. Those. That. Have. Been. Beneficiaries.
[54:01] Of. The. Grace. Of. God. Through. The. Word. Of. God. People. Who. You. Would. Not. Have. Expected. To.
[54:11] Hear. The. Gospel. And. For. The. Gospel. To. Be. Blessed. To. Them. Are. The. Beneficiaries. Of. God's. Grace. Whereas. Those. Who.
[54:22] Were. The. Expected. Beneficiaries. Namely. God's. People. God's. Chosen. People. God's. Elect. People. Israel. God.
[54:33] Is. Saying. To. Them. He. Is. Describing. Them. As. A. Rebellious. People. Which. Walked. In. A. Way. That. Was. Not. Good. After. Their. Own. Thoughts. Now.
[54:44] Remember. This. Is. God. Through. The. Apostle. The. Holy. Spirit. Of. God. Interpreting. The. Word. Here. And.
[54:54] He. Is. Describing. To. Us. Two. Things. That. Have. Happened. The. Gentile. Nations. That. Knew. Not. God. God. In. His. Mercy. Has. Revealed. Himself.
[55:05] To. Them. And. Those. To. Whom. He. Had. Revealed. Himself. Previously. He. Identifies. Them. As. Having.
[55:15] Pursued. A. Path. Of. Rebellion. And. In. A. Sense. That. An. Answer. To. Their. Prayer. They. Are. Asking. God. Why? Why? Are. You. Not. Doing. This. Why? Are. Not. Behaving. In. This.
[55:25] Way. Towards. Us. And. The. Answer. Is. Given. That. God. In. His. Wisdom. God. In. His. Mercy.
[55:36] Has. Revealed. Himself. To. Those. That. Were. Previously. Oblivious. To. Who. He. Was. So. What. Paul. Is. Doing.
[55:47] Despite. The. Contrary. Feeling. It. Is. God. Who. Is. Actively. Engaged. In. Bringing. Them. To. Himself. Other. Than. The. Other. Way. Round.
[55:59] And. That. Is. What. Makes. The. Children. Of. God. The. Children. Of. Privilege. The. Fact. That. It. Is. The.
[56:09] Word. Of. God. Coming. And. Drawing. Us. To. Himself. Through. The. Gospel. It. Is. Not. Because. Anything. That.
[56:19] We. Are. Merits. The. Affection. Or. The. Attention. Or. The. Grace. Of. God. But. The. Fact. That. It. Is. God. In. His. Grace. Wherever.
[56:30] He. Works. And. Whenever. He. Works. He. Takes. Sinners. To. Himself. Who. Are. Not. Worthy. Of. Being. Recipients. Of. That. Mercy.
[56:41] So. In. That. Sense. We. Are. Privileged. Today. We. Are. Not. Sitting. Here. Under. God's.
[56:51] Word. Because. We. Are. Worthy. Recipients. Of. The. Word. Of. His. Grace. But. Because. God. In. His. Mercy. Has. Seen.
[57:02] Fit. To. Allow. Us. In. 2024. To. Still. Hear. God's. Word. And. To. Hear. It. In.
[57:13] A. Way. In. Which. We. Are. Encouraged. To. Believe. What. God. Has. Done. And. Is. Doing. And. To. Believe. It. For. Ourselves. As. Sinners. In. Need. Of.
[57:23] Salvation. His. Grace. Is. Declared. Even. In. Granting. To. You. The. Privilege. I. Don't. Know. Why.
[57:33] You. Sit. Under. The. Gospel. I. Don't. Know. Why. I. Know. Some. Of. You. Are. Converted. I. Know. Some. Of. You. Have. Believed. In. Jesus. Christ. I. Know.
[57:44] Some. Of. You. Have. Experienced. His. Love. In. Your. Heart. And. I. Believe. That. Is. Why. You. Wouldn't. Want. To. Be. Anywhere. Else. But.
[57:55] I. And. Why. You. Persist. In. Coming.
[58:06] To. Hear. The. Gospel. Without. At. The. Same. Time. Appreciating. What. That. Gospel. Is. Without. Availing. Yourself. Of. What. That.
[58:16] Gospel. Holds. Out. To. You. That. The. Gospel. If. It. Is. Anything. It. Holds. Out. Salvation. To. Sinners. Who. Are. In. Need. Of. A. Savior. And. You. Understand.
[58:28] By. That. That. You. Are. One. Such. And. Once. Again. You. Are. Privileged. To. Be. Reminded. Of. That.
[58:40] One. Thing. We. Notice. Here. Is. Not. Only. Is. God's. Grace. Declared. It. Is. Determined. Now. What. Do. I. Mean. By. That. God.
[58:51] Through. His. Word. Continuously. Or. Continually. I'm. Not. Sure. Sometimes. These. Two. Words. Mean. The. Same. Thing. Sometimes. They.
[59:02] Mean. Something. Slightly. Different. But. I. Mean. It. In. This. Respect. That. God's. Word. Comes. To. You. Without. Interruption.
[59:14] The. Gospel. Comes. To. You. The. Good. News. Comes. To. You. By. Way. Of. This. Pulpit. And. By. Way. Of. Your. Involvement. With. Those. Who. Have. Believed.
[59:24] In. Jesus. Christ. You. Are. Reminded. Of. God's. Intention. To. Save. Sinners. To. Make. The. Saving. Of.
[59:35] Your. Soul. Something. That. Is. Incredibly. Important. And. I. I. Don't. Know. Where.
[59:45] You. Are. I. Do. Know. I. Have. Heard. In. My. Time. People. Say. The. Reason. I. Don't. Believe. Is. Well.
[59:57] I. Want. To. Believe. But. God. Doesn't. Want. Me. To. Believe. That. Sounds. Strange. Does. It. Not. I. Want. To. Believe. But.
[60:07] Clearly. Because. I'm. Not. Able. To. Then. The. Fault. Is. Not. Mine. But. God's. If. What. I. Want. Is.
[60:19] The. Truth. And. It. Is. I. Believe. Myself. To. Be. A. Somebody. Who. Desires. Salvation. I. Believe. Myself. To. Be. Somebody. Who. Desires. The. Lord. Jesus. Christ. To. Be. A. Savior.
[60:30] To. Me. And. The. Fact. That. I. I. Not. Believed. When. I. Want. To. Then. Surely. The. Fault.
[60:40] Is. Somewhere. Else. Now. Is. That. The. Way. You. Think. I. Know. People. Think. Like. That. I. Know. People. As.
[60:50] If. It. Was. God's. Fault. For. Their. Refusal. To. Believe. But. If. You. Delve. Deeper. Into. Their. Logic. Very.
[61:01] Often. Their. Desire. To. Believe. Is. Accompanied. By. Several. Insistences.
[61:13] I. Would. Believe. If. I. Would. Believe. Only. If. I. Will. Believe. There. Are. Terms. To. Your. Belief.
[61:23] There. Are. Terms. To. Your. Faith. There. Are. Insistances. That. God. Must. Be. Something. To. You. Before. You. Are. Something. To. God. Well.
[61:35] Let. Me. Just. Ask. You. A. Question. Does. God. Commend. The. Saviour. To. You. Does.
[61:45] God. Commend. The. Saviour. To. You. Well. That's. A. Daft. Question. You. Know. That. He. Does. God. Want. You. To. Believe. Well.
[61:56] He. Tells. You. Plainly. Believe. On. The. Lord. Jesus. Christ. And. You. Shall. Be. Saved. Is that. A. Command. It's a. Request. Is it.
[62:06] Just. Something. That. You. Can. Do. If you. Wish. Or not. Wish. He. He. He. He. Invites. He.
[62:17] Entreats. He. Encourages. He. Insists. In fact. That. You. Believe. To. The. Saving. Of. Your. Soul. Many. Of.
[62:27] Us. Receive. An. Invitation. To. Go. To. Weddings. Occasionally. And. If. The. Person. Sends. Us. The. Invitation. We. Are. Expected. To. Respond.
[62:38] And. Will. Say. Very. Unless. They. Put. A. A. A. In. In. In. Invitation. Will. Say. I. Very. Glad. To. Respond. And. Say. I. Will. Be. Attending.
[62:49] The. Wedding. Theremony. Or. The. Wedding. Festivities. And. Whatever. Way. It. Comes. Now. After. Having. Responded. It. Would. Be. Very.
[63:00] Strange. If. That. Person. Said. Oh. Well. I. Sent. You. The. Invitation. But. I. Didn't. Really. Mean. It. I. Didn't. Expect. You. To. Say. That. You. Would. Come. Forgive. Me. I. I.
[63:10] Canceling. It. The. Invitation. Was. All. He. Meant. Just. To. Just. To. Cover. My. Own. Blushes. Do. You. Think. God.
[63:20] Would. Do. That. I. Don't. Think. Any. One. Of. Us. Would. Invite.
[63:32] Somebody. Else. But. But. We. Would. Never. Not. Invite. Them. Having. Initially. Extended. The. Invitation. So. Why. Would. We. Think. That. God. Would.
[63:42] Do. That. Why. Would. We. Expect. God. To. Encourage. Every. Recipient. Of. His. Grace. In. The. Gospel. To. Come.
[63:53] Unto. Me. All. Ye. That. Labor. And. Heavy. Laden. And. I. Will. Give. You. Rest. Why. Would. You. Say. That. God. Doesn't. Really. Mean. These. Words.
[64:05] Surely. A. Nonsense. And. His. Determination. Is. Found. In. The. In. The. Insistence. That. He. Includes.
[64:17] Within. The. Gospel. I. Have. Spread. Out. My. Hands. All. The. Day. Unto. A. Rebellious. People. Which. Walketh. In. A. Way. That. Was. Not.
[64:27] Good. After. The. Thought. A. People. That. Provoked. With. Me. To. Anger. Continue. To. My. Face. And. So. On. God's.
[64:42] Grace. Is. Displayed. In. His. Determination. Because. It. Is. Sent. To. All.
[64:53] Who. Are. Undeserving. Not. One. One. One. Recipient. Of. The. Gospel. Invitation. Of. The. Gospel. Proclamation.
[65:04] Is. Worthy. Of. Receiving. It. You. You. You. Are. Not. Worthy. To. Be. Encouraged. To. Believe.
[65:14] In. The. Lord. Jesus. Christ. You. Are. Not. Receiving. It. Because. Of. Your. Worthiness. You. Are. Not. Receiving. It. Because. Of. Somebody. Else. This. Relationship.
[65:26] With. God. That. Makes. You. A. Worthy. Recipient. Every. Sinner. That. Is. Converted. Is. A. Trophy.
[65:37] Of. Grace. And. Every. Sinner. That. Begins. With. This. Thought. Well. I'm. Not. Really. As. Bad. And. So. And. So. And. I'm. Not. Really. As.
[65:47] As. Far. From. God. As. Others. Have. Gone. I've. Always. Stayed. Within. A. Certain. Distance. Of. God. You.
[65:57] Know. I've. Always. Done. The. Decent. Thing. I've. Always. Tried. To. Pray. I've. Always. Given. Thanks. When. I've. Eaten. My. Food. I've. Prayed. In the.
[66:07] Morning. I've. Prayed. At night. I've. Read. My. Bible. When. I've. Had. Time. All. All. All. Of. These. Things. Are. Commendations. You. Mentally. Present. Before.
[66:18] God. And. You. Say. To. Them. I. Am. Worthy. Of. The. Recipient. Of. The. Grace. That. Is. Yours. And. The. Fact. Of. The. Matter. Is. Nothing. You. Do. Nothing. That. I. Do.
[66:28] Will. Make. Me. A. Worthy. Recipient. Of. His. Grace. His. Grace. Is. Freely. Given. It's. Not. Something. You. Pay. For. It's. Not. Something. That. You. Command. A.
[66:40] A. A. Response. To. The. Day. Will. Come. When. God. Will. Explain. To. You. What.
[66:50] Is. Grace. Is. All. About. You. Know. Many. Christians. Began. Their. Life. As.
[67:00] Christians. Thinking. That. There. Were. Many. Things. To. Commend. Them. To. God. But. The. More. God. Has. Had. To.
[67:10] Do. With. Them. Instead. Of. Getting. Better. In. Their. Own. Eyes. Instead. Of. Having. All. These. Commendations.
[67:22] That. You know. You. Can. Think. Of. It. That. Blank. Wall. There. You. Would. You. Would. Think. That. They. Would. Be. Able. To. Put. All. Kinds. Of. Certificates. Up. On. The. Wall. There. And.
[67:32] The. Wall. Was. Emplacened. With. All. These. Certificates. That. That. They. Would. Proudly. Display. And. Say. These. Are. The. Things. That. God. Would. Honor. And.
[67:44] When. They. Start. Out. Maybe. Their. Wall. Is. Full. Of. These. Certificates. But. The. Further. They. Get. On. The. Wall. Becomes. Bearer. And. The. Wall. Becomes. Blanker.
[67:56] Because. The. Things. That. They. Considered. Commendations. Were. None. Offered. They. Were. Not. Anything. Of. The. Sort. And. The. Heart. That. They. Thought. Was. Ready.
[68:06] For. God. Is. As. Black. As. The. Ace. Of. Spades. Because. They. Discovered. Through. God's. Revelation. Of. Himself. That. They. Are. What. They. Are. And. Only. Grace. Will.
[68:17] Save. Them. And. Nothing. Else. We. All. Fear. That. Sin. Has. Put. Us. Out. With. The. Reach. Of.
[68:27] God's. Grace. But. Not. So. It. Is. Because. Of. God's. Grace. That. He. Will. Reach. Us. Whatever. Just. You. Read. Through. This. People. Here.
[68:37] That. Are. Listed. Are. Rebellious. People. Following. Their. Own. Ways. Their. Own. Thoughts. People. That. Sacrificed. In. The. Gardens. You.
[68:48] Know. They. Were. Idolaters. Whatever. Form. Your. Idolatry. Takes. In. A. Modern. Context. It. Is. Every. Bit. As. Idolatrous. As. The. Practices. That.
[68:59] Existed. In. Isaiah. Day. You. Bow. The. Knee. To. The. Idols. Of. The. Moment. And. You. Offer. Yourselves. To.
[69:09] Them. Holy. Without. Without. Holding. Anything. Back. You. Give. Yourselves. To. These. Idols. They.
[69:21] Remain. Among. The. Graves. And. Lodge. In. The. Monuments. Eating. Swine's. Flesh. And. Broth. Of. Abominable. Things. And. All. The. Time. They.
[69:31] Think. That. They. They. Respectable. Presentable. Ideal. Candidates. For. Salvation. Imagine. Ideal.
[69:43] Candidates. For. Salvation. Well. It's. Good. For. You. And. Good. For. Me.
[69:54] That. This. God. Is. A. God. Of. Grace. And. His. Grace. Is. Determined. To. Bring. The. Sinner. To. A. Sense. Of. Sin. And.
[70:05] The. Sinner. With. A. Sense. Of. Sin. To. Go. With. Their. Sin. To. The. One. Who. Was. Able. To. Deal. With. Their. Sin. And. You. Are. Privileged.
[70:15] Today. To. Hear. That. Unlike. So. Many. Who. Sit. Under. The. Gospel. So. Called. And. They. Are. Lulled. Into. A. False. Sense.
[70:25] Of. Security. And. They. Are. Told. Be. Good. Be. Kind. Be. Loving. And. You. Be. Like. Christ. And. You. Be. Invited.
[70:36] By. Christ. Into. His. Kingdom. What. Nonsense. If. The. Christ. That. You. Believe. In. Is. Not. The. Christ. Who. Cleanses.
[70:46] You. From. Your. Sin. That. Is. Not. The. Christ. Of. The. Gospel. Covered. By. The. Blood. Of. Jesus. Christ.
[70:56] Your. Son. Mist. Be. And. Yet. Still. God. Demonstrated. Forbearance.
[71:11] Charity. I. Read. Psalm 103. Again. Read. Psalm 103. Our. God. Is. Merciful. He.
[71:21] Is. A. God. Who. Pities. He. Is. Long. Suffering. With. Us. He. Dealt. Not. As. We. Sinned. And.
[71:35] You. Say. To yourself. Oh. That's. My. God. That's. The. God. I. Believe. In. A. God. Who. Is. Long. Suffering. And. Kind. And. Patient. But.
[71:47] Where. Do you. Draw. The line. Where. Does. The. Understanding. Of. God's. Mercy. And. God's. Patience.
[71:58] And. God's. Kindness. And. God's. Grace. Take. Take. You. Beyond. Into. The. Point. Into. The. Point. Of. Presumption. Where.
[72:11] You. Say. I. Can. Live. On. As. I. Am. Under. The. Gospel. Refusing. The. Gospel. Denying. The. Gospel. Because.
[72:22] That's. What. You're. Doing. Your. Privilege. Is. A. Privilege. You. Expect. To. Remain. Yours. Forever.
[72:34] For. As. Long. As. You're. Willing. To. Aware. Yourself. Forward. Yes. God.
[72:44] Has. Provided. An. Opportunity. For. Our. Salvation. God. Has. Provided. His. Own. People. An. Opportunity. To. Return. To.
[72:55] Experience. Genuine. Repentance. And. Sorrow. For. Their. Sin. But. We. Must. Beware. Of. Those. Who. Presume. Upon. That. I.
[73:07] Took. A. Note. A. Long. Time. A. Go. Of. The. Words. Of. The. H. Spurgeon.Scream.
[73:20] temporarily. All. One. Of. All. And. They. Still. Made. Me. Feel uneasy. to go to hell from under the sound of the gospel is no mere hell the core and marrow of damnation is reserved for men who hear the truth and feel it too but yet reject it and are lost the core and marrow of damnation is reserved for men who hear the truth and feel it too and yet reject it and are lost a day of privilege how long are you going to despise God's grace always determined he's someone who has again and again and again spoken to you in the depths of your being and told you of your need for saving and directed you to the saviour one word behold now is the time now is the day of salvation your privileges are many your privileges are many but who knows when
[74:56] God will withdraw his grace from you in that sense it's not that he's not able to save to the to the eleventh hour but you're you're running a race you're running a race you're running a race you're you're you're while you're putting yourself in a dangerous dangerous place when you presume on that grace reflect on your privileges think about them and what you are doing with them think of the gospel as long as you have it you have the possibility to close with Christ but don't think that that possibility will always be presented to you who knows when your mind will be taken up with something else who knows when your heart will become harder still who knows when your providence will take you out of the circle of privilege and then what
[76:10] Christless you can be assured of what will happen to you you can be assured of it because the gospel warns you about that may God in his mercy bless his word to us let us pray Lord our God we give thanks for the privilege of preaching your word for presenting Christ to needy sinners we bless you for the opportunity to hear your word and we pray for help to believe it to the saving of our souls forgive us in Jesus name Amen our closing psalm is psalm 107 we are going to sing from verse 10 verse 10 to 15 such as shut up in darkness deep and in death's shade of wide whom strongly hath affliction bound and irons fast have tied because against the words of God they wrought rebelliously and they the council did condemn of him that is most high their heart he did bring down with grief they fell no help could have in trouble when they cried to God he them from straits did save he out of darkness did them bring and from death shade them take these bands wherewith they had been bound to send of quite a break oh that men to the Lord would give praise for his goodness and for his works of wonder done to the sons of men these verses 8 to 15 and 10 to 15 rather of Psalm 107 such as shut up in darkness deep and in death's shade abide such as shut up in darkness deep and in death's shade abide him strongly hath the flesh shone burn and I don't stop some time because against the words of God they rog revendiously and did the curse get condemned of him that is small shy their heart he took finger with grief they found no help who have in trouble them they cry to
[79:52] God give them from sin to sin he he heard he heard all darkness to them bring and from death shape them take these bands wherewith they had been band as sons and quite he break oh that men to the Lord would give praise for his goodness then and for his words the wonder done unto the sons of men may the grace be and peace in the
[81:21] Father the Son of the Holy Spirit rest and abide with you all and always amen