[0:00] Good evening and warm welcome to our service. I believe you have information sheets available so I don't need to go through any notices. All these are God willing.
[0:14] ! We just pray the Lord's blessing upon our time together as we worship God. So we'll begin our time of worship by singing together in Psalm 119 at verse 65. Psalm 119, we'll begin in verse 65 and we'll sing that section or part, the ninth part, down to verse 72.
[0:43] At verse 65 it says,
[2:13] We'll remain seated. We'll sing these words to God's praise. Well hast thou with thy servant dealt.
[2:28] Well hast thou with thy servant dealt. Well hast thou with thy servant dealt.
[2:46] Good judgment be a knowledge thee, for I thy word believe.
[3:03] And I have chained. Once I say, but now I keep thy word.
[3:20] Old goods of art. And good love you. Teach me thy statutes, Lord.
[3:37] The man that I've touched upon. The man that I've touched upon. The man that I've touched upon. I give'st me for shall I.
[3:54] Yet like all my defense all set. With my full heart will I.
[4:11] Then heart too worthy. He's unwell. How such a beast may be.
[4:28] But in thy holy law I shake me life concedurally.
[4:43] It hath been very good for me that I afflicted all.
[5:01] That I might well instructed thee and learn thy holy laws.
[5:18] The word that cometh from thy mouth is better unto me.
[5:35] Than he is thuis en tan greetsam of gold and silver be.
[5:54] Now let us now join together in prayer. Let us stand as we pray. Our loving heavenly father as we draw near to you this evening.
[6:09] We ask that you would be with us. We ask that you would guide us. We ask that you would keep our minds from being distracted. As we open up your word and we turn to it. We pray that we would find our delight in it.
[6:23] We pray that we would find good instruction in it for our lives. We pray that you would open our eyes to trust in it. To understand it.
[6:35] Maybe in a way that we have never seen it or heard it before. But that you would speak right into the depths of our minds understanding. And as the psalmist there delighted in your law.
[6:50] We acknowledge that we don't naturally find our delight in you. That we naturally are inclined to chase after the things of this world.
[7:04] The devil tempts us. The world tempts us. The flesh tempts us. And we are often led astray. We acknowledge.
[7:14] We often fall to these temptations. And we perceive and understand in time. If not initially. If not initially. That the things of this world are temperate.
[7:27] Changing. Uncertain. And we find no lasting satisfaction in it. And we find ourselves. Like the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote.
[7:37] We are the ones that are chasing the wind. We are the ones that are full of vain things and empty things. And so we pray as we gather together.
[7:49] That your spirit would guide us. To a rightful understanding. Of what man's chief end is.
[8:02] That we would glorify God. And find our enjoyment in him. And so we pray. Still us with your presence and your peace.
[8:14] A peace that passes all understanding. And a peace that is not like anything that this world can offer. And we pray that you would.
[8:26] Still us from all our worldly worries and anxieties. Whatever they may be. As we gather here. As numerous peoples. From different homes. Different situations.
[8:37] Different workplaces. Families. We pray. For those who. Are burdened with particular needs. And we ask that you would. Draw near to them.
[8:47] And be their comfort. We ask that you would. Give them that peace. We ask that you would. Be the prince of peace. As you have told us.
[8:59] You are also. The wonderful counselor. And an everlasting father. And a mighty God. Lord. And so let us. Place all our confidence.
[9:12] In you. Our Lord. And our Savior. And that as we. Draw near to you. As we open up. Your word.
[9:24] As we. Perceive it. By the power of your spirit. That not only would we. Understand you. And you. Or in a greater sense. Than before.
[9:36] But that we would also. Understand who we are. In your presence. And truly acknowledge. That we are undeserving. Of all. Your mercy.
[9:46] And grace. That has been. Shown to us. That we are deserving. As sinners. Of your wrath. And punishment. But Lord.
[10:02] We pray that. You would open our eyes. To see the great forgiveness. The great love. That has been shown to us.
[10:13] Through your son. Jesus Christ. Who has loved us. For the great love. And willingly. Came from glory.
[10:25] Descended into this world. To be. Disrespectfully. Treated by man. Knowing that. He would be.
[10:36] Put to death. Knowing. That he would suffer. The ridicule of man. The mocking of man.
[10:47] To be spat upon by man. And that he humbled himself. As we cannot. Fully.
[10:58] Grasp. Not understand. To these things. In order to pay the price. Of our sin. Sins of ours.
[11:11] That he took upon. And bore himself. To satisfy. To satisfy. To satisfy. The divine justice. Of God. The payment. Has been made.
[11:22] Through his sacrifice. Through his. Williness. Through his. Submission. For us. God.
[11:32] So that our garments. Would be washed. Clean. So that they would not be stained. With the scarlet. Anymore. So that we.
[11:44] Would not be separated. From the presence. Of God. Anymore. But that through that. Blood. That cleanses. All unrighteousness. And purifies.
[11:55] All sinfulness. Those who accept. Jesus Christ. As their savior. Are washed clean. As the snow.
[12:08] And the wool. As pure. And undefiled. As so. Can enter into. The presence of God.
[12:19] For an eternity of rest. And their own joy. Lord. We pray. For this gospel message. To go out with power.
[12:31] Whatever it is preached. On your day. Across our nation. Across the world. We pray. Your spirit. To do almighty.
[12:42] Work with your weak. Vessels. Your weak servants. As they faithfully. Preach. And teach your word. And open it up.
[12:53] To those that are sat there. To hear it. Lord. Give us ears. To hear. That we might hear it. And understand. And. The love of God.
[13:05] And the sinfulness. Of ourselves. And not only. As we see it. In light of our own perspective. But give us a perspective.
[13:16] For those that are around us. Those who we live with. Those of our family members. Who do not receive you. Or know you. As their saviour. Lord. We pray.
[13:29] That we would have a. Prayerful concern. For those that we know. Those that we love. That they too. Might receive.
[13:41] Jesus Christ. As their saviour. And count everything. Else as rubbish. For knowing him. Lord.
[13:53] We pray. This day. A day of remembrance. We pray. For those. Who have minds. Maybe. Directed towards.
[14:06] Who we know. Have been lost at war. We pray. That you would. Comfort those. Who feel the pain.
[14:16] Still of that loss. Comfort those. Who feel the pains. Of. Not having. Seen lives. Fulfilled.
[14:27] The way they thought. The years taken. Away from them. In your providence.
[14:39] Lord. We acknowledge. We bow humbly. Not knowing. How you work. All things. But knowing. That you do so. In a rightful manner.
[14:50] In a good manner. We remember. Those. Who have paid. The ultimate price. When giving up. Their lives. To protect. Our nation. We pray.
[15:01] For those. That. In. In. Gros. In war. At this moment. We pray. For peace. We pray.
[15:13] For an opening. An understanding. As to why. They are fighting. Why they are. Killing each other. Why they seek. To silence one another.
[15:24] And destroy one another. We pray. That you would give. Understanding. Of. Why we do. These things. And why their hearts. Are inclined. To these things. And we pray.
[15:37] That you would. Lead them. To the greater. One. Who paid the price. Of the giving. Of his life. In order. To secure.
[15:48] A freedom. For his people. The Lord. Jesus Christ. Direct them. To him. To him. Oh Lord. Even in your.
[15:58] Mysterious ways. Even if you're. When you arrest. The soul. And mind. Of someone. Who does not even. Know your word.
[16:10] We pray. That your spirit. Would work. In mighty. And wonderful. Ways. We would hear. Of them being. Illuminated. By the spirit.
[16:22] And provided for. In your providence. To lead them. To an open Bible. To lead them. To a word.
[16:32] In season. To direct them. To call. Upon. Jesus. As their savior. And Lord.
[16:45] We pray. For peace. We pray. For our nation. To be guided. By you. In all circumstances.
[16:56] We pray. For your hand. To be upon our government. And we pray. As we are told to. To pray. For those. Who lead us. And we pray.
[17:06] For leadership. In our church. Our denominations. We pray. For other denominations. And we pray. For their leadership. Too. That we may. Be faithful.
[17:17] To your word. We pray. For shepherds. For the sheep. We pray. That you would raise up. Under shepherds. Pastors.
[17:28] Ministers. That would be faithful. To preach in your work. And to faithful. Feed your flock. And we pray. For this congregation. We pray.
[17:39] That you would. Lead them. And guide them. In your wisdom. And good counsel. To the man. You have set aside. For them. And we pray.
[17:50] That it would all be. In your good time. That we pray. That you would bless them. As a beacon. Here. In this community. In this area.
[18:01] A beacon. Of the gospel message. A beacon. Of hope. A beacon. Of peace. And a beacon. That will not. Die of it. We pray.
[18:12] That you would. Encourage them. And strengthen them. Each member. And each person. That attends here. We pray. That they would find. The feeding. Of their souls. A nourishment.
[18:25] Of their. Frailies. And a strengthening. Of their weaknesses. Weakly. As they gather together. Under your word. That they would glorify.
[18:36] And enjoy you. Together. We ask that you would. Guide us. As we turn to your word. Protect us. We ask. In Jesus name.
[18:48] Amen. We continue in our praise. By singing. In Psalm 93. Psalm 93.
[19:00] From the beginning. Of that psalm. Psalm 93. The Lord doth reign.
[19:18] And clothed is he. With majesty most bright. His works do show him clothed to be. And gird about with night. The world is also established.
[19:29] That it cannot depart. Thy throne is fixed of all and thou. From everlasting art. The floods. O Lord have lifted up. They lifted up their voice.
[19:40] The floods have lifted up their waves. And made a mighty noise. But yet the Lord. That is on high. Is more of night by far. Than noise of many.
[19:51] Water is. Or great sea billows are. Thy testimonies. Everyone. In faithfulness excel. And holiness forever Lord. Thy house be coming well.
[20:04] We sing these words. To God's praise. And remain seated. The Lord doth reign. And clothed is he. With majesty most bright. His words to show him clothed to be.
[20:26] His words to show him clothed to be.
[20:40] Of quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality quality His face, your own and love from everlasting art.
[21:26] The floods, O Lord, have lifted up, they lifted up their voice.
[21:44] The floods, O Lord, have lifted up their wings, and made a mighty noise.
[22:03] But yet the Lord that is on high is born of might by fire.
[22:22] The noise of many waters, O'er grace even flows out.
[22:41] Thy testimony save thee all, in faithfulness excel.
[22:59] And holiness forever, O Lord, thy house be calm as well.
[23:18] We'll now turn to a reading from Scripture, and we'll find out in the Gospel of Luke. Gospel of Luke, chapter 6, and I'll read it verse 17.
[23:38] The Gospel of Luke, chapter 6, and we're going to read it verse 17 to the end of the chapter. So let's hear the word of God.
[23:54] And he came down with them, that's Jesus, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to heal them, and to be healed of their diseases.
[24:13] And they that were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him, for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
[24:29] And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said, Blessed be ye, Pua, for your earth is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now, for ye shall be filled.
[24:43] Blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake.
[24:58] Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
[25:12] But woe unto you that are rich, for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full, for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep.
[25:24] Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you. For so did their fathers to the false prophets. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.
[25:42] Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despise you. And unto him that smiteth thee on one cheek, offer also the other.
[25:54] And him that taketh away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again.
[26:07] And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye?
[26:18] For sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye?
[26:30] For sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners to receive as much again.
[26:46] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again. And your reward shall be great, and ye shall be children of the highest.
[26:56] For he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged.
[27:09] Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given unto you. Good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom.
[27:26] For with the same measure that ye meet with all, it shall be measured to you again. And ye speak a parable unto them.
[27:37] Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master, but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
[27:50] And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceiveth not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye.
[28:05] When thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye, thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
[28:21] For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit, neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree is known by its fruit.
[28:34] For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil.
[28:53] For the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you whom he is like, He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock.
[29:17] And when the flood arose, and the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it, for it was sounded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation, built a house upon the earth, against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell.
[29:40] And the ruin of that house was great. Amen. May the reading of God's word be a blessing to all who have heard it read. Before we come back to that passage, we'll praise God once more in Psalm 19, beginning at verse 7.
[30:03] Psalm 19, we'll begin at verse 7, and we'll sing down to the end of verse 11. Again, another psalm that speaks about God's law, and how it is, to him, more than gold, and sweeter than honey.
[30:24] God's law is perfect and converts, the soul in sin that lies, God's testimony is most sure, and makes the simple wise. The statutes of the Lord are right, and do rejoice the heart.
[30:37] The Lord's command is pure, and doth light to the eyes of heart. unspotted is the fear of God, and doth endure forever. The judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
[30:52] Yea, more than gold, yea, much fine gold, to be desired are, and honey, honey, from the comb, that droppeth sweeter fat. Moreover, they, thy servant warn, if he his life should bring, a great reward provided us for them that keep the same.
[31:13] We remain seated, and we sing these verses to God's praise, God's law is perfect and converts, the soul in sin that lies. God's law is perfect and converts, the soul in sin that lies.
[31:36] God's testimony is most sure, and makes the simple wise.
[31:52] The statutes of the Lord are right, and do rejoice the heart.
[32:09] The Lord's command dispute and dust by the Lord are right, and do rejoice the heart.
[32:22] The Lord are right, and do rejoice the heart. Unsported is the fear of God, and doth endure forever.
[32:40] The judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
[32:56] May more than gold, yea, much fine gold, to be desired are.
[33:15] Than honey, honey, from the gold that draweth the sweet and path.
[33:31] More over they, like servant ward, how he his life should claim.
[33:47] Agnes we were provided, for them that keep the same.
[34:04] We'll turn back to that passage, to read together, the Gospel of Luke. We're going to look at the last few verses of that chapter.
[34:19] Verse 46 onwards, And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my say, and doeth them, I will show you whom he is like.
[34:36] I suppose today, on our day of remembrance, it's before us minds that the uncertainty of the year should have set before us.
[34:54] We don't know how many will get, and the fragility of life is really set right before our faces.
[35:06] And if there was anything that you would have wanted, and anything that you could have said, to any of those that were going to war, you would have wanted them to know the word of God, and the sure foundation that it provided for them in their lives.
[35:19] Even in the uncertainty of what the future lay ahead for them. And as our parents, and as we teach our young ones how they should grow up, and as we guide them and instruct them, the world will tell them, and the world will say, that success is brought by careers, building big houses, getting nice cars, satisfying yourself with all these things that the world will provide for you.
[35:49] But we soon learn that these things aren't lasting, these things aren't satisfying. And I think many people, even who do not know the word of God, know that there's more to life than these things in which the world offers.
[36:10] And this passage here, it teaches us about, well, two different men. One that built upon a rock, and one that built upon a ground that did not have foundation.
[36:27] Each man is like something, that's what he says in verse 48. The first man, he's like something. The second man, he's also like something in verse 49.
[36:42] And what are they like? What is Jesus comparing them to? What is Jesus' point here? When he's bringing out this parable, this short story that I'm sure we're all familiar with.
[36:55] We've probably maybe heard it from our youth. We have an image in our minds of a house falling when a storm or a flood comes upon it, and one remaining.
[37:08] But what does it mean? What is Jesus saying when he speaks this to the people here? And the context of it highlights why he says it.
[37:25] We look at this passage and where we began was in verse 17. And it said that Jesus came down with them and stood in the plain, and then he taught the disciples.
[37:36] He instructed them and all the crowd that were with them. He's teaching them, instructing them, how they should live, how they should behave, how they should act with one another.
[37:54] And he concludes with this section here. This is Jesus' parting words. This is Jesus' conclusion to all of these things.
[38:11] And he's saying, well some of you profess to live that life. But you don't. You call me Lord, Lord and you do not do the things which I say.
[38:25] He's teaching them and instructing them and he's saying to them, are you listening? Are you hearing these things that I'm saying to you? How are you living your lives?
[38:37] It's not enough just to listen to what I'm saying. You are to go out and to live lives that are practicing lives that are in accordance with the profession that you make.
[38:53] The two things should be tied together. You should go together. He's saying to them, listen to what I'm saying.
[39:07] Hear what I am saying. And through the Holy Spirit He is speaking to us every time we meet here and open up the Word of God.
[39:21] And as he, Jesus, concluded by saying to them, you must live your lives practicing how you profess.
[39:35] Live your lives according to how I have taught, according to what the word of God says. For each of us, it's a challenge to do the same.
[39:49] To actually hear what has been said to us, not just tonight, but when we have gathered in the past to be learning from that word of God, that incompatible word of God.
[40:04] A word of God that is like no other word of God. A word of God that gives us a sure rock to stand upon. Are we living lives according to the word of God?
[40:17] And what Jesus is saying to them, and he is saying to us, is he is asking for a response. To all that they have been taught. To all that they have understood.
[40:29] To all that they know. How are you walking? How are you talking with one another? How are you hearing the things that have been spoken to you?
[40:48] It's not just about professing. It's about living the life out that bears fruit. Play. This image here concludes this sermon on the play.
[41:01] This image also appears elsewhere. And elsewhere it concludes the sermon on the night. And commentators may argue if it's the same sermon or if it's a different sermon on two different occasions.
[41:19] But either way, this is how he concludes it. He's asking are you here? Are you listening? Are you living out what you've been told?
[41:32] And so we have two different men here. We have two different figures that have foundational differences. Foundational differences that are in their heart really.
[41:45] The one who does listen and does act upon and does do and the one who does not do. What do you hear?
[41:57] And that's two simple points for us this evening. The one who does and the one who does not. And we have that account of the one who does there in verse 48.
[42:10] He is like the man who built on his house, digged deep and laid a foundation on a rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beep vehemently upon that house and could not shake it.
[42:26] For it was founded upon a rock. And when the flood arose, the one who does not work. Now when we look at these two men, I think the first thing we should acknowledge is that they both hear the same words.
[42:38] They both hear the same message. But this first man, when he hears it, he begins to dig deep.
[42:51] He is really a man of obedience. He responds to the word of God in a right manner, doing what it asks of.
[43:03] Now digging deep is a difficult thing. If you've ever had to dig a significant hole, it's not an easy task. It requires labour.
[43:16] And so does the man who listens to the word of God. To labour over it. To search through it. To understand what Jesus teaches.
[43:35] To understand what the word of God teaches. When you're building a house, you have to find a firm foundation.
[43:47] You have to find something that's worthy to build your home upon. And so in response to all that we hear from Jesus, it should set our minds to search the scripture.
[44:04] And to find that solid rock on which we can build our homes and our lives upon. But it's a labour of it.
[44:16] To search the scripture. To be in it. To meditate on it. To think about it. To trust in what we are taught.
[44:34] To trust what the word of God tells us. To be obedient to it. Because there's no other rock like it.
[44:49] You can imagine this wise man digging deep. Searching for this rock.
[45:00] And you can imagine the picture of the fool coming along. And laughing at him as he's doing so.
[45:12] And asking, what are you doing? You're wasting your time. You don't need to do that. There's plenty in this world that will say that.
[45:23] To the one that searches through the scripture. Who is obedient to the scripture. Who trusts in Jesus Christ as his rock.
[45:35] There's no shortage of men that will laugh at you. Asking you why you're bothering. Why you're wasting your time. But the wise man would reply.
[45:47] Have you not read the word of God? Did you not hear the words what Jesus has been speaking to me? To us. We've heard the same word. Why are you not responding in the same way?
[45:58] Why are you not responding in the same way?
[46:28] Play a little stranger that was sitting in front of me. And he began to tell. I was asking him where he was going. We were both in the airport bus. He was going back to Spain. Back to his villa.
[46:40] And then he told me everything about he had there. And Spain. I can't remember exactly where it was. But he was telling me all that he had achieved. All that he had done.
[46:51] He was an older man. Retired. and he he was telling me about all the art that he had collected and he was telling me I've got such a problem now with all the art I've collected I can't store it in my house anymore and he was saying that he had to build a shed not a shed but he was going to have to build this outhouse but he lived on this big hill and he was saying that rain can be torrential at certain times of the year so when he went to Price putting up a new building to house all this artwork that he had compiled and gathered over his lifetime he was surprised by how much it would cost and he was in two minds whether he would or not because when the rains would come the ground would often move and they'd be washed away so it needed an expensive foundations and he was then he told me he asked me what I did and I told him that I was an electrician and he went oh I'll be loads of work for you out in Spain or France and he said come out, come out
[47:59] I'll have loads of work for you and you're going to make your life and you'll buy this and I said yes but I'm trained to be a minister now and he just looked at me he looked at me like I was a fool he was so disappointed that I had given up on the life that he thought would give me everything and that I was wasting my time studying to become a minister and this man had all that he had gathered up but he was still wise enough to know that he needed a good foundation in his life but yet he didn't know the true security of a foundation on the rock of Jesus Christ and to my shame it was only afterwards leaving that this came to me but that's the way the world works they're gathering and gathering and gathering all the things of this world only for it to be washed away he wouldn't listen to me
[49:15] I don't think supposing I said anything to him he had no time for the word of God to hear it but the wise man takes heed of the gospel message and the warnings that are set out in it and there's a challenge in it there's a labour in it it asks of a labour of those who do there's hard things asked of those in this teaching to love your enemies to give and do not expect things back in return it's a hard it's a hard thing that he asks of us it's a labourist thing it's a costly thing it's not a life of ease but the man has a heart to obey the word of God how many times have you heard this gospel being preached how many times have you sat here and you know the truth of the gospel you know that if you do not believe in Jesus Christ you know that there is a judgment coming you know that there will be one of two ways in which that ends what is your response to it have you responded to it it's not a response to me it's a response to Christ are you building your lives upon this world this world is this world an incompatible rock an incompatible foundation for you is this world your foundations which are largely unseen on our building is your private life shaped by this world in private reading prayer meditation upon where no one else sees it's a challenge to us all that is a foundation that will stand the tests of life the trials of life the storms of life both men heard the same word both men responded in a totally different manner both men with different hearts both though faced the same flood both houses were tested neither were specially protected but the one that trusted in the word of God the one that responded to the word of God the one that did what the word of God asked him to do remained standing in the trials of his life it had a strength that could not shake it and there'll be many trials that come upon us in our lives many tribulations many fears many doubts and maybe you've seen this lived out in real life maybe you've seen someone who you know who's prayer found a quiet time with the Lord regularly daily and built their life upon the rock of their salvation
[53:08] Jesus Christ the word of God instructed them and guided them in everything that they did and you saw them tested you saw them go through trials but you saw them barely shaken because of the rock in which they stood it wasn't anything of what they had achieved themselves it wasn't anything of their own pride it was all trusting obeying relying on the word of God the rock that was their strength their refuge in a time of trouble the one who dug deep in scripture and found a solid place to stand what have you done with the gospel will you be shaken when the trials of life come upon you are you doing what the word asks us to do are you practicing what you profess he is the one who does but briefly we have another who does not listen who does not do what he hears it's as if what he hears as we say it so often goes in one ear and out there there's no effect upon the person that's the fool that's the one who hears who does not do that is like the one who builds a house without a foundation could even be the one that calls
[54:52] Lord Lord and professes to know the Lord but does not do the things which he commands them to do he is a man that you see is told of us that does not dig just like the man that I met he didn't want to have these costly foundations he didn't want that cost in his life that difficult thing in his life he wanted to draw his own plans we can hear so much of the word but we're not to pick and choose at it either we're to hear it all in its entirety we're to hear it all as a God of love and a God that saves we're to hear it too as a God that cannot bear sin and will judge sin and will condemn sin a God that will separate those who have received
[56:11] Jesus and those who have not to an eternity in heaven or hell and when you look at this man he builds without a foundation but he builds a house on this earth and when you go to the Greek that build is a completed action it's done when you go to the man who is digging and laying the foundation that build there is a continual thing building it's as if the man who hears and does not do it's as if he's built his house he's happy with all that he's achieved he's got everything he could want it's done it's completed and you've got the one that's struggling along the one that's actually dug the foundations not having completed in the way that the other has the one that's struggling along maybe the one that's thinking what am I doing wrong here when I'm looking at the world and I've seen all that they've achieved on the surface and yet I'm struggling along here myself so I don't know what the psalmist says so on but when he comes to the sanctuary when he comes to the word of God then he's corrected he understands that these things in this world are temporal and so this house and all the achievements that this surah has built and completed and enjoys and rests upon and probably boasts about when the storm comes it doesn't stand it doesn't stand all of this world can offer us supposing we gave the whole world what it does profit us if we lose our soul supposing we have the greatest grandest house the best job that we could ever want cars animals farms whatever we desired what does it mean at the end of the day what does it mean when your house is failing when has a time been set in your life do you find your confidence in these things do you find your security in these things we don't but the word of
[59:05] God provides a sure and stable foundation for us in these trials tests that is absolutely incompatible to anything else in this life the fool's house when it fell was a great ruin there was nothing left but the man that built on the word of God his house remained it could not be shaken we don't know how many years we have whatever age we're at here we don't know what God's providence set before us but what the
[60:12] Lord says to us is are you hearing these things have you heard the gospel message have you responded to it have you found Jesus to be a sure and solid rock to stand upon do you know that this world cannot offer you any security or stability what are you doing with the word of God what are you doing with all that you have heard preached over many years what are you doing in the quietness of your own heart in quietness of your own home are we opening our Bibles are we searching it are we laboring through it to find treasure in it that's incompatible to anything that this world can offer incompatible to all the goals that this world can offer beyond the sweetness of the sweetest tastes of this world are we living our lives meditating on it in the privacy of our hearts are we living our lives prayerfully in the privacy of our own foundations where are you building your life how are you living your life is your profession in line with your practice and maybe there's some here who have started building and have started laying the foundations and maybe it's foundations that no one has seen maybe it's all in the privacy of your heart that you're reading and praying and taking heed of this word of
[62:31] God to shape how you live well keep building keep going but there'll be a time where you break the surface a time where you let others see a time where you profess that my life is now built upon the rock of the Lord Jesus Christ he is my savior he is like nothing else that this world can offer and on him and on him alone will I stand for him will I stand sure in all the trials of this world and the trials the storm of God's eternal judgment if we're standing on Christ we will stand that storm we will stand that judgment we will be unshaken by it because we're not standing on anything that we've built ourselves we are standing on the rock of the word of
[63:51] God and the rock of our salvation the Lord Jesus Christ how will you fear when the storms and floods come I pray these thoughts will be a blessing to us tonight we'll conclude by singing and I'll finish with prayer we'll sing firstly in Psalm 125 Psalm 125 from the beginning of that Psalm the Psalm that speaks about those who trust in the Lord and the security and stability that they have they in the Lord that fill me trust shall be like
[64:52] Zion have which at no time can be removed but stand if ever still as round about Jerusalem the mountains stand always the Lord spoke that compass so from henceforth and foray for all men's brought upon the lot of just men shall not lie lest righteous men set full their hands into iniquity do thou to all those that be good thy goodness lord in part and do thy good to those that are upright within their heart but as for such as turn aside after their crooked way God shall lead forth with wicked men on Israel peace shall stay so we remain seated for the singing they in the Lord that firmly trust shall be like Zion!
[65:39] then the Lord that firmly trust shall be like Zion on hill which at no time be removed but a button Just ever still As round above Telling the land The mountain's sound Only The Lord is full Thou come the soul
[66:44] From this poor land For it For ill men Thrawn upon the Lord All just men Shall know the light That righteous man Set for heaven Unto iniquity To the true All those that be good Thy goodness Of those who do
[68:08] For such a starkness light After death took it away For shall he fall Or dwell with his hands For hell he shall stay We'll stand to conclude in prayer.
[68:47] Our Lord and our God, we pray as we hear your word that it would be good instruction to our hearts that we would learn from it and be guided by it. Guided to that sure rock and firm rock of which we can build firmly and surely for our lives and for all eternity.
[69:05] Lord, be with us and guide us in the privacy of our lives that we would heed your word and that learn from it. Be with us as we part and be a blessing be upon us, we ask.
[69:19] In Jesus' name. Amen.