[0:00] Thank you all and a very warm welcome to our service. I want to thank you all very much indeed for coming and it's a great blessing and encouragement to see so many visitors here tonight so we welcome you warmly and we pray that you would know God's blessing and encouragement as we gather together to worship. In particular, I want to welcome our preacher for this evening, Reverend Colin Smith. And we're so grateful to him for being with us this evening. And we look forward very much to hearing God's word together.
[0:28] Again, as I mentioned last night, the session was open yesterday evening and we'll be meeting again after the service tonight. And so if there's anybody who would like to speak with the elders to profess faith in the Lord and to sit at the table for the first time, then we would be delighted to meet with you.
[0:45] Thank you.
[1:15] Well, it's a great pleasure to hand over to Caldwell Smith and we pray that God would bless us as we gather to worship together. Thank you. Thank you for your welcome. It's lovely to be with you this evening as we gather to prepare our hearts as we think of all that the Lord has done for us and as we remember him this coming weekend that you would know the Lord's blessing and peace with you.
[1:43] Thank you.
[2:13] Thank you. Thank you.
[2:45] Thank you.
[3:43] Thank you. Thank you.
[4:17] Thank you.
[4:47] Thank you.
[5:17] Thank you. Thank you.
[6:17] Thank you. Let's come to God in prayer.
[6:40] Let's unite our hearts. Let's sing praise to you.
[7:11] To you as we come seeking to prepare our hearts in worship and adoration of who you are and all that you have done for us.
[7:22] We thank you now as we sing these words we are reminded of the chaos of this world. We are reminded as we have such a vivid picture in these words of a world in turmoil.
[7:36] An earth that is shaken, the seas that rage, the rivers that are streams that do glad the city of God in the midst of it all.
[7:47] And we thank you that there is both that sense of trouble and chaos but there is also the peace that God is able to give.
[7:57] And we thank you that as we sing these words that we may even play them now. That we would know God as our refuge and our strength.
[8:09] As the one who is on our side. The one who is here to meet with us. The one who is for us. And when God is for us who can be against us.
[8:20] And we thank you that as we gather in your name this evening. That we do so conscious of our weakness. Conscious of our sin.
[8:31] Conscious of how far short we fall. Of your glory on a daily basis. And in that Lord may we have our eyes. Fixed on Jesus.
[8:43] May we look to him. And may we find there the one who is a precious saviour of his people. The one who is the cornerstone. The foundation of the church which is his people.
[8:58] And we thank you that as we look to him. And as we feel unworthy. And as we see how wicked our hearts are. And yet we see more and more of his gracious love.
[9:12] For God came. Not for the just. But the unjust. The sinners. And we thank you that he came. And called sinners to himself. And that even this evening.
[9:24] That that is the call. That we hear. We hear it through your word. As we read it. As we meditate upon it. We hear it as we sing praise to you.
[9:35] And we maybe even hear it. In the quietness of our own conscience. For we know Lord. That we so often hear. That voice calling.
[9:46] And yet we are a people. Who put that voice away. Who do not listen. Instead of obedience. We are disobedient. But yet Lord. You still call us.
[9:57] As your children. As those who can come. And call you our father. Who art in heaven. And so may you bless us. In this time.
[10:08] May you still us Lord. As we come this evening. We may come. As a working week concludes. We may come with. So much busyness in our lives.
[10:19] And all that's going on around us. We may come with tiredness. We may come weary. In so many ways. But may we come. And find with you.
[10:30] Those streams of living water. The water. The water that refreshes. And enlivens our souls. That reminds us within. That we have. One who.
[10:41] Is able to give us. Blessing upon blessing. And may that be the case. For all who gather. Over this weekend here. That this evening. As we seek to.
[10:53] Look to your word. To prepare our hearts. And as the services. Continue. God willing. Over this weekend. That there will be a real sense. Of your presence. And your peace.
[11:03] In the midst. Of all who gather. We remember. The preaching of the word. And remember. Reverend Colin McLeod. As he comes. To preach.
[11:13] Over this weekend. May you give him. Safe travel. This evening. May you bless him. In his preparation. And his preaching. Over the weekend. That he would know.
[11:24] Your peace. With him. And that you would be able to. To both challenge. Through your word. To convict. Through your word. But also Lord.
[11:34] To comfort. Through your word. For we thank you. That when we feel trouble. In our souls. And in our hearts. When we feel. Like the waves.
[11:45] Are tossing us. To and fro. We have no peace. We thank you. For the one. Who spoke. Even to the seas. In the midst of a storm. Peace.
[11:55] Be still. And there was a great calm. And so we ask for that calm. Even anew this evening. That calm. In us. And around us.
[12:06] And that we would know that peace. That passes. All understanding. We pray for all your people here. Those who have. Already professed your name. We thank you.
[12:17] That we know your faithfulness. That we may be many. Over many years. Have known. The great faithfulness. Of the Lord. And that when say. Hither to the Lord.
[12:28] Has helped. And we thank you. That another remembrance. Of you. Is a time. Of remembrance. Not just. Of who we are. But how precious.
[12:38] A saviour we have. Of the one who came. To give. His life. As a ransom. For many. As we look to the cross. And as we see. The price.
[12:49] Of our sin. As we see. The great price. That was paid. And as we remember. Even in the elements. The bread. And the wine. The body.
[13:00] That was given. And the blood. That was shed. May we not become. Complacent. In these things. May we not do it. As creatures. Of habit.
[13:11] But may we do it. Reverently. And with that. Fear of the Lord. As the beginning. Of all knowledge. And may we. Just come. With that sense.
[13:22] Of renewed. Blessing. And renewed. Remembrance. So that we would. See and know. And taste. Of the goodness. Of God. Once more.
[13:33] And remember. Those may be here. This evening. Who for whatever reason. Have not professed. Maybe they're here. This evening. With that hunger. And thirst.
[13:44] In their hearts. We pray. Lord. That you would give. That you would give. That you would give. That quench. Of thirst. That you would give. That satisfaction. To the hunger.
[13:55] That they feel. By coming to you. And trusting. All things. To you. Maybe others. Who have. No. Thought of.
[14:05] Coming to the Lord's table. And yet. Sit under the word. Maybe over many years. We pray Lord. That you would speak. And minister. To them as well. And together.
[14:16] That we would know. Real blessing. In our midst. We do thank you Lord. That we belong. To your people. That your people. Are not just those gathered here.
[14:28] But. That you have your people. To all ends. Of the earth. That you are one. Who is building. His church. That you are one. Who has laid. That foundation.
[14:39] That cornerstone. That was rejected. By many. And yet. The cornerstone. That is. The foundation. Of all people. All your people.
[14:50] Far and wide. And we thank you. That your kingdom. Comes with power. That there is no power. In this world. That can overcome. That there is nothing greater. In this world.
[15:02] Than the kingdom of God. And so we pray Lord. That your kingdom. Come. And your will be done on earth. Even as it is in heaven. So remember us Lord.
[15:12] We pray. Remember. Our communities. Our islands. At this time. That your spirit. Would be with us. That you would. Be pleased. Oh Lord. To revive us. To bless us.
[15:22] To come. In a day of your power. And that for our nation. As well. A nation in disarray. In so many ways. A nation. Who we pray for. From the leaders.
[15:34] Down through all our communities. Our cities. Our towns. Our villages. Throughout all ends. Of our land. Lord. We pray. For you to send your light. For us. And your truth.
[15:45] To be powerful. In the midst of our land. We pray that for the nations. Of the world. And we see. The turmoil of it. We pray. As we hear talks. Of peace.
[15:56] In the Middle East. We pray that it may be so. And that it will be lasting peace. That we would see nations. That have torn each other apart. That we would see healing.
[16:07] And blessing. In the midst of all that's happened. So remember us Lord. As we look to you. We have nothing. Of ourselves. That we can boast of.
[16:17] We have nothing we can bring. But we thank you. That we have a cross. To which we can cling. And to remember. That we are with you. And that when we are with you.
[16:29] That you will never. Let us go. And so Lord. Hear our prayers. Pardon us. In all our sin. As we confess. Anew this evening. And may you go before us now.
[16:41] As we continue to sing your praise. And open up your word. That we would have ears to hear. And to understand. The wonder. Of your grace and love.
[16:52] Your steadfast love. And the mercies that we know. Day by day. Through our saviour Jesus Christ. In whose name we pray. For his glory. Amen.
[17:05] We will again sing. To God's praise. We are going to sing in Psalm 14. Psalm 14.
[17:16] We will sing the whole of this psalm. There are many. In our world today.
[17:27] Who say. There is no God. And yet the word of God says. That they are fools. And we pray that this evening. We would not be foolish.
[17:38] But that we would see and know. The goodness of God. That there is not a God. The fool doth in his heart conclude. They are corrupt. Their works are vile. Not one of them.
[17:49] And the good. Upon men's sons. The Lord from heaven. Did cast his eyes abroad. To see if any understood. And did seek after God. They all together filthy are.
[18:00] They all aside are gone. And there is none that doeth good. Ye sure there is not one. But yet there is the Lord's people as well. As we read at the end of the psalm.
[18:11] Let Israel's help from Zion come. When back the Lord shall bring his captives. Jacob shall rejoice. And Israel shall sing. We sing the whole of this psalm.
[18:23] To God's praise. That there is not a wonderful.
[18:36] The goodness of God. God's praise.
[18:47] I am caught up to my surrender for all things of good.
[19:04] Upon the sun the Lord from heaven, the past is eyes abroad.
[19:22] To see if when he understood the new team after all, They all together fill the earth, they all are tied upon.
[20:01] And there is none that doeth good, yet sure there is not one.
[20:20] These workers often in which he could not go along.
[20:39] That they might be for me, those men and men, don't do not fall.
[20:59] Ne'er fear they much, for God is with the heart of the just.
[21:19] You sing the council of the heavenly cause, for Jesus Christ.
[21:39] Let his death's hand cross die on ground, when but the Lord shall ring.
[21:58] His death's day fall down, rejoice, and his Christ shall sing.
[22:16] Amen. Chapter 28, reading at verse 14.
[23:16] Verse 15.
[23:46] Verse 15.
[24:16] Verse 15. Verse 15. Verse 15.
[24:52] Verse 15. Verse 15.
[25:04] Verse 15. Verse 15. Verse 15. Verse 15. Verse 15. Verse 15.
[25:16] Verse 15. Verse 15. Verse 15. Verse 15. Verse 15. Verse 15.
[25:28] Verse 15. With a threshing instrument, neither is a cartwheel turned about upon the cumin. But the finches are beaten with a staff, and the cumin with a rod.
[25:40] Bread corn is bruised, because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen. This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
[26:01] Then we'll turn to the New Testament. I'm just going to read a few verses in Matthew chapter 7 at verse 24. Matthew chapter 7 at verse 24 to 27.
[26:17] Therefore whoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I shall liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not.
[26:34] For it was founded upon a rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.
[26:46] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house. And it fell, and great was the fall of it.
[26:59] Amen. And may God bless these readings from his word. Well, before we come back to look at our reading in Isaiah, we're going to sing again in Psalm 118.
[27:09] Psalm 118. We're going to sing from verse 22 down to the end of the psalm. Psalm 118 at verse 22.
[27:23] The stone is made, had cornerstone, which builders did despise. This is the doing of the Lord, and wondrous in our eyes. We'll sing from verse 22 down to the end of the psalm.
[27:36] Would you go on, please? The stone is made, had cornerstone, which builders did despise.
[27:56] This is the day of the Lord, and wondrous in our eyes.
[28:14] This is the day of the Lord, and wondrous in our eyes.
[28:44] And holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy The Lord's purses to place it now.
[29:25] For this the Lord who unto us hath made thy true eyes.
[29:42] Thine King, the holy altar, with the warmest of his eyes.
[30:00] The Lord, my God, I thee exhort. My God, I will be praised.
[30:18] Good times, good Lord, Lord, he is good. His mercy has always.
[30:40] We can turn back to our reading in Isaiah chapter 28. We're going to read again just verse 16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.
[31:07] He that believeth shall not make haste. As you approach communion weekend, and as we come, maybe in particular on a Friday, it's customary that we have that time of examination.
[31:26] And examination means that we are looking at something. And we examine ourselves. That's what we're commanded to do, to examine ourselves before we come and take the Lord's Supper.
[31:43] But it shouldn't be the only time that we examine ourselves. And we're always doing that sense of examining ourselves in different ways.
[31:54] Every day, we maybe look at ourselves and examine ourselves in different ways. We look at ourselves maybe in the mirror. We look at our appearance.
[32:06] We look at our lives. We look at all that's going on around us. And we can examine ourselves to our own standards. And think to ourselves, I'm not what I should be.
[32:19] I'm falling short. Or some maybe feel, I'm good. I'm a good person. We look at ourselves in those ways. But we also examine ourselves according to others.
[32:32] As we look around ourselves, we compare ourselves to people who are around us, whether we're thinking of it in a Christian sense or in a worldly sense. People are always comparing to others.
[32:45] And there's always a danger in these things. We are to examine ourselves. It's not about comparing ourselves to others, or thinking, I'm better than that person, or I'm not as good as that person.
[32:58] As we think of examining ourselves, in particular as we think of examining ourselves, approaching the Word of God, and approaching a communion weekend, and our life with the Lord, we should do so in light of His Word, and what that says to us.
[33:14] Because the danger is we start looking away from God. And when we do that, we find then we fall into a pit.
[33:25] We fall away from where we should be. And that's exactly the situation that we find here in Isaiah chapter 28. God's people have known His Word.
[33:39] God has spoken to them down through generations. God has guided them. God has helped them. God has shown them the way again and again to remember Him, to remain faithful to Him.
[33:53] And yet what we find again and again as you go through the Scriptures, and even as we apply it to our own lives, they start looking away from God and comparing themselves to others.
[34:05] And that's when things start to go wrong. We need to examine ourselves to a standard, but not a standard of our own making, but the standard that God has set before us.
[34:23] You see, it's not by our righteousness that we come. It's not by our standards that we come. It's not by what we have done that we are worthy of salvation.
[34:37] It's about what He has done for us. We are to come through the righteousness of Christ that we receive by faith. Now as you're approaching a communion weekend, or as you're just living in this world on a day-to-day basis, is that what you're examining yourself with?
[35:00] Is that the standard that you are looking to? Do you remember that as you believe in the Lord Jesus that you are righteous through faith in Him?
[35:14] It can work in two different ways that are negative. It can work in the sense of saying, I'm not good enough.
[35:24] But that's the examination conclusion that we come to. I'm not good enough. Therefore, I cannot go forward. I cannot come to the Lord's table.
[35:37] And there's a danger in that when we look to ourselves, because faith is about looking to another, about looking to Jesus. But the same can be true on the other side as well, where we can become self-righteous.
[35:51] And how we allow it over time, the focus to be on ourselves and to say, I am good enough. I've done good. I've done so much in my life.
[36:03] And we can say, I am worthy of coming. There's a danger both ways. We're not just talking about examining ourselves for those who have never been to the Lord's table before.
[36:13] We are talking about examining ourselves, even if we've been to the Lord's table over many years, to make sure that we're not looking to our own standards, because we so easily forget every sin in thought, word and deed we have before us that can keep us from coming, because we're not good enough, or that we forget that we need to repent of and say, but I'm good enough.
[36:47] We are to come looking to Jesus. Robert Murray McShane once said this, for every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.
[37:01] He is altogether lovely, such infinite majesty, and yet such meekness and grace, and all for sinners, even the chief.
[37:12] Is that what you're doing as you examine yourself? When you look at yourself, what do you give? Ten looks to Christ. And see, there is the standard.
[37:24] There is what I need. And if I have Christ, I have all I need to come. So we come this evening, looking at God's word here, in Isaiah, in preparation.
[37:36] And it's a passage that reminds us of what we have in Jesus Christ. As it describes here, this foundation, this stone, this cornerstone.
[37:49] It's all about Christ. And it's a passage that reminds us how easy it is to reject him. It's a passage that reminds us how precious he is.
[38:01] And it's a passage that reminds us that we are lost without him. We're going to think about it under three headings this evening, that we might come to remember with thankful hearts what the Lord has done for us.
[38:18] And the three things that we want to see about this cornerstone is that this cornerstone was rejected. But this cornerstone was grounded.
[38:31] And that this cornerstone is what faith and our faith and the church, God's people, is built upon. So the first thing we think about this cornerstone is that it's rejected.
[38:47] And that this chapter as a whole, chapter 28, it's a chapter that shows us the judgment of God on his people who turn away from him.
[38:59] The people of God here are turning away from him. And there, that's what we have in verse 14. Wherefore, hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
[39:15] So this wherefore is important. This word is important there in verse 14 because it's tying it in with everything that's come before there. And what's come before it is a people turning away from God.
[39:31] And it started at the top. It started with the rulers, you scornful men that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. And you see very often that's where it begins as we see God's people drifting away.
[39:47] It's both a religious sense and a political sense when we start to turn away from God the rot sets in and it spreads through the people.
[40:00] And God here, he is judging this nation. And why is he judging them? Well he is judging because at a time of crisis for their nation, what have they done?
[40:14] they've always been told to remember God. They've always been told that God has made covenant with them, he has made promises with them and yet what they are doing again and again is turning away.
[40:32] And here we find that they are turning away and looking for help from other nations. You see that in verse 15. They have forgotten their covenant with God and he says here because you have said we have made a covenant with death and with hell are we at agreement.
[40:53] Imagine they've got God's promise before them and yet here they say no, we're going to make a covenant with another nation, with another people and what God is saying you're making a covenant with death.
[41:11] You are going away from me. and that is always the danger that we have. And they've made this decision themselves, they've relied on their own wisdom, their own judgement, their own examination of the situation and said God cannot help.
[41:32] What we need instead is the help of nations around us. What we need to do is rely on ourselves. instead of listening to God it's about us, our wisdom.
[41:49] And that's always a dangerous place to be. When we reject God and think I'll do it my way. We cannot live like that because as God warns us again and again to live in this way is to make a covenant with death.
[42:09] Rejecting God means that in our lives. And what they hope is that this whole situation by trusting in a nation around them and forgetting God that this will just pass them by when the overflowing scourge shall pass through it shall not come unto us it says in verse 15.
[42:31] This is them hope. They reject God but they still hope all this will pass by. Well how are you going to live your life as you face a judgment ahead of you?
[42:44] How are we going to live our lives by turning away from God yet knowing that this overwhelming scourge will come upon us when we will have to appear before God?
[42:57] How are we going to stand? Are we going to tell them that well I did things by my own standards whether it was thinking I'm not good enough or thinking I am good enough and I don't need God?
[43:11] Rejecting God brings only one outcome a covenant with death being lost for all eternity and that's what we're reminded of when we're reading in Matthew chapter 7 here in verse 14 it says wherefore hear the word of the Lord and what do we read in verse Matthew chapter 7 verse 26 everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand and the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house and it fell and great was the fall of it the foolishness of rejecting God of rejecting the corner stone that is Christ a covenant with death the consequences or the wages as Paul says in
[44:18] Rome the wages of sin is death and we may wish the consequences would just pass us by but they won't but the amazing thing is that even amidst of rejection God reminds of his covenant of a covenant made in blood through his own son Jesus Christ Isaiah writes later on in chapter 53 that wonderful passage that's reminding us of all that Jesus Christ did at the cross he says in verse 3 he was despised and rejected by men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and as one of whom men hide their faces he was despised and we esteemed him not he was rejected
[45:19] John chapter 1 the gospel of John chapter 1 verse 10 says the same and yet the context there is of the word that became flesh and dwelt among us but yet it says he was in the world and the world was made through him yet the world did not know him he came to his own and his own people did not receive him the cornerstone rejected the psalmist reminds us in psalm 118 as we sang the cornerstone has been rejected and yet God still speaks and go back to Robert Murray McShane's quote about looking ten times to Jesus he goes on to say let your soul be filled with a heart ravishing sense of the sweetness and excellency of Christ and all that is in him let the
[46:22] Holy Spirit fill every chamber of your heart and so there will be no room for folly or the world or Satan or the flesh listen to these words let your soul be filled with a heart ravishing sense and sweetness of the excellency of Christ think of that that's the punchline there for us the excellency of Christ when we think of him we think we are not worthy because there is the brilliant contrast to our sin the excellency of Christ the one who was sinless the corner stone that has been rejected yet is the perfect saviour and we think we're not worthy but the same thing is true of the excellency of
[47:23] Christ is that there is the remedy for our sin there is the cure for our sin our salvation is in him and may our soul be filled with that heart ravishing sense of the sweetness and excellency of Christ not to turn us away as we examine ourselves but that we would see the beauty of Christ the stone that was rejected the one that was despised and rejected by men a man of sorrows!
[47:57] not acquainted with grief and yet he came for us dare we reject him who holds the key to salvation and to life so rejected this corner stone do not reject but let us see secondly that this is a stone that was grounded what happened to the rejected stone well psalm 118 goes on to tell us the stone that the builders rejected has become the corner stone and this is the Lord's doing it is marvelous in our eyes and this is what we read of here in verse 16 therefore thus saith the Lord God behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone a pride stone a precious corner stone a sure foundation this is the stone that is grounded that is secure
[49:02] Isaiah may have been writing 700 years before Christ came but yet you see him so clearly here as you do in Isaiah 53 and so much of Isaiah it's showing us the excellency of Christ and what we see is the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone and this is what you see as you go on even into the New Testament!
[49:32] Jesus himself uses these words before the scribes and the Pharisees as they're condemning him. He says to them the stone the builders reject has become the cornerstone. He uses these very words. Matthew 21 verse 42.
[49:50] And both Paul and Peter speak of this stone as well in 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 6 it says, For it stands in Scripture, Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.
[50:11] But you notice something about the way Peter puts it. It's not just speaking about a physical stone. He is showing us here that this stone laid inside on a cornerstone chosen and precious is whoever believes in him, in Christ, will not be put to shame.
[50:37] So this cornerstone, this foundation stone, this pride stone, it is Jesus Christ. And so as Jesus is talking about this stone the builders rejected, he's talking about himself as Paul and Peter are talking about this stone they're doing so to encourage a people, to keep them looking to Jesus.
[51:01] And so in verse 16 there it's just who this cornerstone is. And the people would know very well what Isaiah would be talking about here because in those days the cornerstone was always a substantial stone.
[51:20] And it was a stone upon which everything else was built. And so there would be no mistaking what God is saying to them here. Thus saith the Lord God when he says these words, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone.
[51:37] They are looking to something substantial. And as he describes it here, it just opens up to the people just what this stone means.
[51:49] It's a foundation stone. In other words, he's saying unless this stone is in place, everything else will come crashing down.
[51:59] Just like the foolish man who built upon the sand when the storm came, its fall was great. And so this foundation stone needs to be the cornerstone upon which our faith is built.
[52:14] You see too it's a tested stone. It is a tried stone, he says there. This stone, it wouldn't just have been picked without being put to the test.
[52:28] It would be tested to make sure that it was up to the task. That it could withstand the weight and the pressure that was going to be put upon it. And any of us who were to think, but I can do this by my own self, by my own righteousness, we are going to crumble.
[52:48] Could you pay the price for your sin? Could you go to the cross? No. And that's why Jesus Christ came. He came as this tried stone, this tested stone.
[53:03] The one who bore the burden of our sin. He was crushed for our iniquities. The weight was upon him.
[53:14] But yet it didn't fail. He bore our sin on the tree. This tried stone. Only he could do it for us.
[53:29] So it's a tested stone. What about ourselves? Are we up to the test? What are we going to say before God? Can we offer anything of ourselves?
[53:44] We cannot. A little boy once came home from school. And he had his report card. And as he gave his report card to his father, his father opened it up and looked.
[53:57] And all he saw was poor grades. All the way down the report card. Poor grade after poor grade. And the father turned to the boy and said, What do you have to say for yourself?
[54:12] Look at these grades. They're poor. And the boy turned and said, Well dad, you can be proud of me. You know I haven't cheated. And how can we attain righteousness with God?
[54:29] Can we come and say, Well I'm going to cheat my way. I'm going to compare myself to others and say, But I'm better than that person. Or I'm going to cheat God and say, I'm not good enough.
[54:43] That's cheating him as well. Because it's not of ourselves. It's about coming and saying, Lord, I come with all my failures.
[54:55] I have all my poor grades to put before you. And you know, I haven't cheated. Because there's nothing I can do. I am broken before you.
[55:06] But I need your help. That is what I come for. This is a tested stone.
[55:19] And we can rest on it. We can rest on Christ. And you can see too, A tested stone. It's also a precious cornerstone.
[55:31] A precious cornerstone. The nature of this stone, In terms of the building, Meant it would be expensive. You didn't want something cheap.
[55:44] You didn't want an offcast. You didn't want something second rate. You wanted the best to be sure That whatever else is built upon, This is going to stand. And so it is with Christ.
[55:58] He is a precious stone. A precious saviour. Can you imagine What we would give for our sin?
[56:11] When you look through the Old Testament, You find that when the people of God Started to drift away from God, It was seen in the sacrifices that they offered.
[56:24] They would bring the sick And the lame animals. They would keep the best for themselves. And they thought, This is good enough for God. But when God reminds them Of the price that is being paid, They see, It's not about giving something poor, Or sick, Or lame.
[56:47] It's about the best. Because that is what has been given for us. God did not spare His own Son, But gave Him How precious a saviour we have.
[57:04] And that is who we are to look to. In John chapter 1 again, As we look to Him In faith, Those who do not reject, But in verse 12 it says, But to all who did receive Him, Who believed in His name, He gave the right to become Children of God.
[57:34] He sees His people as precious. And He gave this precious stone For our salvation. May we see Him As precious.
[57:48] Even as we think of coming To the Lord's Supper And remembering the Lord's death. May it become more And more precious.
[58:01] But He did it For me. The stone Is a sure foundation. It is a tested stone.
[58:13] It is a precious Cornerstone. That is what we have In Jesus Christ. So the stone was rejected.
[58:24] But the stone that was rejected Has become the cornerstone. And what we see thirdly Is that this stone Is built upon.
[58:37] The foundation Is laid. But we are The stones That are precious to Him. The stones that are being Built together As part of His church.
[58:51] And His church Is growing. Verse 14 And verse 22 And 23 here. They give us A very clear indication Of what we are to do With the word of God.
[59:07] Wherefore It says in verse 14 Hear The word of the Lord. And then in verse 22 and 23 Or verse 23 In particular Give ear And hear My voice Hearken And hear My speech.
[59:24] We are to listen To the word Of God. And as we hear The word of God We realise The madness It is To reject This cornerstone.
[59:39] The madness That it is To turn away And make a covenant With death And with hell. To find agreement With these things That are going to Overwhelm us And overpower us.
[59:52] But instead To hear And see This precious stone This cornerstone And to listen To God And to repent Of our sin And to come To him In faith.
[60:07] You see Christ is not Just a stone On which you can Build everything In life. One who has Given his life He is The living stone The cornerstone He died For our sins But he rose Again Triumphant Over sin And death And therefore As it says The church Is being built His kingdom Is coming With power How big Is the kingdom Of God When you read In the parables So often In the new testament When Jesus Is speaking to them In parables He is often Talking about The kingdom Of God And so often It's insignificant And small It's like The mustard seed The smallest Of all the seeds And that's so often Maybe where we can Stay and see The kingdom of God And just think It's just small And insignificant But what we have
[61:09] To remember Is that this stone That has been Rejected This stone That as you look To the cross Where people thought He is finished He is gone He is dealt with We have conquered Him We have put Him To death No It was Jesus Himself who said It is finished He has done it all He has conquered Everything And His kingdom Is coming With power He rose From the dead They saw Him They met with Him They saw Him Ascend To heaven And we have All of these promises That He is going To prepare A place For His people And in all Of these things It is all about This foundation This cornerstone It is being built Upon And God's kingdom Is still coming It is growing And there is power Behind it That is the word
[62:10] Of God The power Of God But how do we See it Let us see The greatness Of the kingdom Of God The greatness Of God And the greatness Of the saviour Who He has given And to keep praying That thy kingdom Come To have a vision To see many Coming And being saved You think of the city Of New York Today If you have ever been Or if you have ever seen Images of it It is a vast city Sprawling Over not that big An area really But with 8 million People living In that city But when you go back To when the city Was first founded And when they first Started to build The city of New York We are going way back To when the people First started Looking at What they could do The city builders Started making Their plans And New York
[63:10] The streets Are named after Numbers So many of them 4th Avenue 5th Avenue There's all of these Numbers And it's there Because that's the way They planned it They named the streets They numbered the streets And they said Well we'll probably Get to about 6 or 7 streets But just to allow For some growth We'll maybe allow For up to about 19 or 20 And as they were Building this city And as they started To grow this city They decided It needed a wall A barrier And so what is called Wall Street now Was the outskirt Of the city It was where the wall Was built And it's very much Now the heart Of New York And when you think Of how it has Gone beyond Beyond that wall And out to such A huge area With over At least 200 streets
[64:11] Now scattered Across the area Of New York It shows how Short sighted They were Because all they Could see What was near No vision To go beyond And our vision Of this kingdom Is so often Dim Our vision Of God Is so often Dim And that was The problem Here in Isaiah's Day The people had Lost their vision Of God And they decided In their wisdom They could do Better But let us Remember That God Is a vision For his church A vision For his people He is the author The giver Of life And that living In him Means we are Part of this Kingdom We come To him We trust In him Who is the Cornerstone And we have To examine Ourselves In light Of his word
[65:12] He is building His church The gates Of hell Will not Prevail Against it Are we Part Of this Kingdom Are we Trusting In this Cornerstone You notice Just very briefly In conclusion Verse 20 This interesting Little snippet In verse 20 For the bed Is shorter Than that a man Can stretch himself On it And the covering Narrower Than that he can Wrap himself In it It's talking There about being A sense of being Uncomfortable And when we think Of that And we look At ourselves If you're very tall I'm looking at Thomas here If you're very tall You're stretching Out in bed So often maybe The cover Won't cover you Completely Or your legs Are sticking out Of the end Of the bed It's not Comfortable And what he's Talking about here Is you're Uncomfortable
[66:12] When you're Not with God It's like being In a bed Where you're Stretching yourself And you're Not covered And so maybe You're feeling Uncomfortable Tonight Maybe you're Uncomfortable Because you Know there's There's There's Sin in your Heart And that Goes for us All But that's Why the Cornerstone Came That's why The stone Is precious Because in Him We have We have a Saviour One who's Able to Forgive us Our sins And if we're Feeling uncomfortable It's to put our Trust In Him To hear The word Of God For as We read in Matthew As well Everyone who Hears these Words of Mine And does Them Will be like A wise man Who built his House on the Rock And the rain Fell and the Floods came And the winds
[67:13] Blew and beat On that House But it did Not fall Because it Had been Founded On the Rock And this Rock Is this Sure Foundation This Precious Cornerstone This Pride Stone That is Jesus Christ So as we Examine Ourselves To prepare To come To the Lord's Table May we Do so Not of Our own Standards But seeing The righteousness That is ours Through faith In Jesus Christ A Precious Cornerstone Let us Remember Him Let us Pray Lord our Gracious God We do Thank you For your Word And we Pray That you Will help Us to Hear We ask Lord that you Would bless It to us Even as we Prepare our Hearts Day by day That we
[68:13] Would not Examine Ourselves In the Light Of ourselves Or others Around us That we Would examine Ourselves By your Word By your Truth And by The righteousness Of Christ Which is Our Through faith We thank you For that Precious Cornerstone Rejected By many But what has Become the Cornerstone Of our Faith And the Salvation Of your People And may we Pray Lord Your kingdom Come Even here In our List As we Ask all In his Precious Name Amen We're going To conclude By singing To God's Praise In Psalm 96 We're going To sing From verse 10 Down to The end Of the Psalm Psalm 96 At verse 10 Among the Heathens Say God Reigns The world Shall Steadfastly Be fixed
[69:13] From moving He shall Judge The people Righteously We'll sing From verse 10 Down to The end Of the Psalm To God's Peace Among The Heathens Say God Reigns The World Shall Stead Fastly See He He Is To Earth In His Child Is Righteously Let Heavens Be not before the Lord.
[70:16] Come, let me ever rejoice. Let's be the Lord that is living.
[70:34] Cry out and make a noise Let fields rejoice and death sing The fingers of the air And woods of every creature's sin Without next time with birth Before the Lord because He comes
[71:38] To judge the earth comes deep In God's love with righteousness The people faithfully We'll close with a benediction Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit Rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore Amen Thank you Thank you
[72:49] Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you.
[74:10] Thank you.
[74:40] Thank you.