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[0:00] Thank you.

[0:30] Thank you.

[1:00] Thank you. Come ye before him and rejoice. Know that the Lord is God indeed. Without our aid he did his make.

[1:12] We are his flock, he doth us feed. And for his sheep he doth us take. O enter then his gates with praise, approach with joyous courts unto.

[1:27] Praise Lord and bless his name always. For it is seemingly so to do. But why? The Lord of God is good.

[1:39] His mercy is forever sure. His truth at all times firmly stood. And shall from age to age endure.

[1:50] These verses to God's days. O people that longeth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with beautiful voice, In seraphim are this grace for them.

[2:22] I'll leave me for him and rejoice. Know that the Lord is God indeed.

[2:40] With our children he did his make. We are his flock, he doth us feed.

[3:00] Our Lord is sheep, he doth us take. O enter then his gates with praise, Our Lord should join his courts unto.

[3:27] Praise Lord and bless his name always. Praise Lord and bless his name always.

[3:38] For it is he we so to do. For why the Lord our God is good.

[3:57] His mercy is forever sure. His mercy is forever sure. His truth at all times firmly stood.

[4:15] And shall promise to each end you. Let's start with God.

[4:27] Let's start with God. Most holy and most gracious God.

[4:40] Lord, who calls us to worship. Who calls all people that on earth do dwell.

[4:55] To come to bow down. To praise his holy name.

[5:08] And we pray that as we came this evening and even this morning and even this Lord's day. day that we were aware of the joy of going to the house of God.

[5:23] And that in our very hearts there was this great fanfare which these great words speak of so powerfully.

[5:39] Amen. Amen. Praise Lord and bless his name always. A great fanfare of rejoicing and praise to our God.

[5:54] God. We come confessing those sins. We come seeking forgiveness and the sprinkling of blood.

[6:09] The blood that speaks better things than the blood of evil that speaks mercy. The Bible reminds us that it is of God's mercies that we have not consumed.

[6:29] But we are undeserving of the least of thy mercies. And so it is and so it will be. But we come through another.

[6:41] Through the Savior. In the Savior's name. Pleading your Savior's merits.

[6:52] With our right of access to God. With our right of access to paradise. And that right won for us.

[7:11] That's the great hymn writer of all spoke so powerfully. Thine be the glory. Risen, conquering Son.

[7:24] Endless is the victory thou for death hast won. And we pray to stand in that victory. To stand in that place.

[7:37] A place of assurance. A place of being right before God.

[7:51] In Christ Jesus, O Lord. Justified. Made righteous. Sanctified. And being sanctified.

[8:04] Coming, crying to God. For forgiveness for our sins. For how often we fall short.

[8:15] For how often we stumble and fall. Confessing our lack of prayer. Our lack of reading the Bible.

[8:26] Our lack of fellowship. Our lack of love. O Lord God. All these things. The name of God. All these things.

[8:38] And much much more than we truly realize. And that sin which so easily besets us. The great sin of unbelief.

[8:49] when we lose sight of God, when we cannot see God, and when we cannot see with the eye of faith the splendour of the majesty and the glory and the love and the patience and the long-suffering of God.

[9:12] Forgive us for all these things we pray. Bless this congregation we cannot the congregation to you every home and family.

[9:24] The children that we saw this morning, bless them Lord, bless the Sunday school and all that is done may it be done in Christ's name.

[9:35] And may Christ be raised up and may Christ have the honour and the glory and speak to the little children would that they would come in the evening to hear the gospel.

[9:50] Bless the parents to that end. And Lord, bless every home and family, even those homes that are closed to the gospel, that used to be open once upon a time, may it be made.

[10:04] And those old homes that remain thoroughly closed. O Lord, come, we pray, in a day of power. Power of communities, need.

[10:18] The power of revival. Power from on high. We pray for it. We pray for it. In the midst of the years, make known the man of God of old said, in wrath remember mercy as he prayed for revival.

[10:42] And we pray for it. In our own hearts, to be revived and quickened in our souls. Bless every providence in the congregation, in people's experiences, mental and physical.

[10:58] We pray for those who are terminally ill. We pray for those who may be nursing them, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, the very many bonds of love that are that are affected by the ravages of sin in this world, in this broken, fallen world.

[11:26] But praise be to God that Christ will return. It will not always be like this. For those who love Christ, there is a better place.

[11:39] There is prospect. There is hope. So bless us, we pray. Bless the minister, what drove him in his preaching and shavos and his duties there.

[11:54] We pray that they had a great communion. Likewise in Biberbara. Bless your servant there. and bless him here, and bless him here, in his ministry here, and watch over him, in his home and family.

[12:12] We pray for the elders and the deacons and all who serve Christ in the congregation in whatever way that they serve. Lord bless us here.

[12:28] Once again, we pray. We pray for our island, our islands, all in authority over us, locally and nationally, for the world in which we live.

[12:41] and grant to us a vision of the Lord of heaven and earth, our Saviour, who is now seated, crowned with glory and honour at the right hand of the majesty on high, holy and over-only.

[13:03] For to him be the glory. All we ask, we ask in his name the forgiveness of all our sins.

[13:14] Amen. We'll sing again in Psalm 19, verses 1 to 7.

[13:28] Psalm 19, verses 1 to 7. The heavens, God's glory to declare, the skies, his hand works, preach.

[13:44] Day utter speech today, and night to night doth knowledge teach. There is no speech, nor tongue, to which their voice doth not extend.

[13:56] Their line is gone through all the earth, their words to the world's end. In them he set the sun a tent, who, bridegroom-like, forth goes from his chamber, as a song man doth to run his race, rejoice.

[14:14] from heaven's end, as is going forth, circling to the end again, and there is nothing from his heat that hidden doth remain.

[14:27] God's law is perfect, and converts the soul in sin that lies. God's testimony is most shewed, and makes us simple, wise.

[14:41] These acts to God's grace. The heavens God's glory do deep with the skies and the world's beach.

[15:00] Day utter speech, today and night, tonight doth provisce teach.

[15:14] There is no speech nor tongue to which their voice doth not extend.

[15:30] Their life is gone through all the air, their words to the world's end.

[15:46] And then he said, the sun not can, who might do the life forth goes from chamber and stars thrown and up to run his grace rejoice.

[16:18] From heaven's end is going forth circling to to the end again.

[16:33] And there is nothing from his heat that hid death doth remain.

[16:50] God's law is perfect and conquest the soul instant that lies.

[17:05] God's testimony only is most true that makes the step wise.

[17:23] Let's read the word of God as we read in the Old Testament. Genesis chapter 2 and verse forward. Genesis 2 and verse forward.

[17:39] These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens and every plant of the field before it was in the earth and every herb of the field before it grew for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth and there was not a man to till the ground but there went up a mist from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground and the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul and the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden and there he put the man whom he had formed and out of the ground made the

[18:41] Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil and a river and from thence it was parted and became four heads the name of the first is Pison that is it which compasses the whole land of Havilah where there is gold and the gold of that man is good there is Bidellium and the oryx stone and the name of the second river is Gihon the same is it that compasses the whole land of Ethiopia and the name of the third river is Hidikah that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria and the fourth river is

[19:43] Euphrates and the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it and the Lord God commanded the man say of every tree of the garden thou mayst freely eat but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die and the Lord God said it is not good that the man should be alone I will make and help meat for them and out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every fowl of the air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them and and whatsoever Adam called every little creature that was the name thereof and Adam gave names to all cattle and to the fowl of the air and to every beast of the field but for

[20:49] Adam there was not an help meet for him and the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh and said thereof and the rib which the Lord God had taken from man made he a woman and brought her unto the man and Adam said this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh and they were both naked the man and his wife and were not ashamed amen may the Lord bless the good of his own holy word let's sing now in

[21:52] Psalm 8 Psalm 8 and verses 1 to 5 how excellent in all the earth Lord our Lord is thy name who hast thy glory far advanced above the sky free from infants and from sickling's mouth thou didst strength ordain for thy foe's cause that so thou mightst be avenging for restrain when I look up unto the heavens which thine own fingers framed unto the moon and to the stars which were by thee ordained then say I what is man that he remembered is by thee or what the son of man that thou so kind to him should be for thou a little lower hast him than the angels made with glory and with dignity thou crowned hast his head of thy hands works thou mason lord all under feet did slave all sheep and oxen yea and beasts that in the field do stray fowls of the air fish of the sea all that pass through the sea how excellent in all the earth lord our lord is thy name verses one to five to god's praise how excellent in all the earth lord our lord is thy name

[23:48] Kollege know Advanced from salvation Thou didst Spread your name For thy post-cross Thou stole the prize The avenging for its name When I look up Untrue the path

[24:49] Which I no longer gave Unto the moon Unto the stars Which when I be Or gained Then say I want What is man that he Remembered his life Or what the sun Long man that thine So kind to his Is good to be For thou

[25:51] A rich Lord Has In Thine Angels Made With Glory And With Reестно Seeking the Lord's blessing Let's turn back to the portion of Scripture that we read Genesis Chapter 2 So we'll look again at verse 9 And out of the ground may the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the side and good for food.

[26:49] The tree of life also in the midst of the garden. And the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We'll look at three things in particular here in this portion of God's word.

[27:08] First of all, just a word of introduction. Secondly, we will look at the garden of God. And then thirdly, the tree of life.

[27:25] This particular narrative begins in chapter 2 and verse 4. The first section of narrative in the Bible is Genesis 1, 1 to 2, 3.

[27:43] And as you know, chapter endings in the Bible are not always where we see actual chapter endings. In verse 4, 5 and 6, he is calling us back to the creation and to the creator.

[28:04] He's calling for our attention. And in many senses, those passages in verses 4 and 5 and 6 are calling us to worship.

[28:19] Calling us to worship. Calling us back to realise who we worship. In the beginning, God. God. God.

[28:29] The word used for God here is Elohim. Which means the creator. The powerful God. The God who speaks.

[28:41] And the God who has spoken. And the whole narrative of Genesis 1. Down through that chapter is of God. God speaking.

[28:52] Of God. Of God. Of God. Dividing. Of God calling. Of God making. God creating. God blessing.

[29:03] God resting. God. Who is doing things. And in doing things, he's communicating to us.

[29:15] He wants our attention. He wants to communicate with us. He wants us to hear. He wants us to listen.

[29:26] And to hear. And these are not the same. Many people hear, but they don't listen. But he's calling us to hear. He's calling us to listen.

[29:38] Let us make man. The God who is the triune God. Father. Son.

[29:50] And Holy Spirit. The creator who has created this creation. And he's created it for us. For man. The heavens.

[30:03] Declare the glory of God. We sang in Psalm 19. What we see around us. Also speaks. And it's a powerful psalm.

[30:15] Powerful psalm. Because it's. The whole creation is speaking. People ask about. What are those who have never heard the gospel. Well the Bible tells us.

[30:26] The whole creation is speaking. And Psalm 19. Reinforces that message. There is no speech. Nor tongue.

[30:37] To which their voice does not extend. Their line is gone through all the earth. There is not a single corner on the earth. Where God's voice is not heard.

[30:51] Not a single corner. No dark spots. Or corners that you go into. To get away from this voice. To get away from this light.

[31:01] There's no such thing. His voice. His speech. Which extends into every single area. And God in this chapter too.

[31:19] Is calling us back. And reminding us. Reminding us of who he is. And why he came. To reveal himself in such a way.

[31:31] The generations of the heavens. And of the earth. When they were created. In the day that the Lord. God made. The earth. And the heavens.

[31:45] And now he's calling us. To himself once again. Because he uses a different name for himself. He calls himself.

[31:57] The Lord. God. The Lord God. And you know yourselves. I'm sure you've heard it often. When you see that word.

[32:09] Lord. In the Bible. It's usually capitalized. Because it is. Jehovah. It calls.

[32:21] Us. To give attention. To this name. Jehovah. The Jehovah Elohim. The Lord.

[32:32] God. And it is the Lord God. The God of covenant. The God of covenant. Not only the supreme Elohim.

[32:46] Not only the sovereign creator. But the personal God. Who wants us. To enter into a relationship with him.

[32:57] Into a covenant with him. And in the beginning of this narrative. He's declaring who he is. And he's saying. I want you to enter into a relationship with me.

[33:09] A covenant. And I'm going to create a garden. I'm going to create a covenant environment. In which that relationship.

[33:20] In which that relationship. Can be fully realized. And that takes us on to the second point. To the garden of God. God.

[33:34] Who. Said. In chapter 1. Verse 26. Let us make man. In our image. Let us make man.

[33:46] In our image. He made everything. By command. And he made us.

[33:57] By command. command. But there is attached to us. A special counsel. To us. He has given.

[34:07] As Calvin put it. He has given this tribute. To the excellency of man. That he would in a manner. Enter into consultation.

[34:20] Concerning his creation. This is the highest honor. With which God. Has dignified us. His calling to man.

[34:31] In his image. In his likeness. Man. As the crowning glory. Of his. Creation. And not only that. But he condescends.

[34:42] To breathe his own breath. His own life. Into us. Into the dust of the earth. And we are made alive. By the breath. Of God.

[34:54] A living being. An immortal being. With an immortal soul. And that may not be.

[35:04] A very popular. Message. In the day. In which we live. That you have. An immortal soul. An undying soul.

[35:14] Which has to go back to God. Who gave it in the first place. Because God. Is calling. All mankind. To account. Almost as if God is saying.

[35:28] Speaking with all reverence. What have you done. With the great blessing. I gave you. With the excellent place. I gave you. What have you done.

[35:39] With the breath. That I breathed into you. Your soul. Have you looked after your soul. Have you looked after it. In such a way. That you glorify me.

[35:51] Or have you sold your soul. To the devil. And to the world. And to the flesh. That's a question.

[36:02] For every one of us. In here. To whom does your soul. Really belong. There's a wonderful passage.

[36:15] In the New Testament. Corresponding to this. Particular passage. And that is.

[36:27] The passage in. John chapter 20. Where we read. These verses. John 20. 21. And 22.

[36:38] Then said Jesus. To them again. Peace be unto you. As my father hath sent me. Even so I sent you.

[36:50] And when he had said this. He breathed on them. And when he had said this. He breathed on them.

[37:02] And said to them. Receive ye. The Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God. The Spirit of God. The Spirit of God. The Spirit of God. He was instrumental. In the first creation.

[37:16] Instrumental in the new creation. And the God who breathed life. Into the dust of the earth. Isn't it remarkable?

[37:29] The Lord. The psalmist. The psalmist. The psalmist. The psalmist. The psalmist. The psalmist. When he says. For he remembers. We are dust. And he.

[37:40] A frame. Well knows. Frail man. Dust. Dust. And to dust.

[37:51] We shall return. Because of sin. And the curse. That was pronounced. Let us never forget. The humble origins. Of man.

[38:05] When part of our natural inclination. Is to exalt ourselves. Above God. Above everything. So that we rule. In our own little kingdom.

[38:17] Of one. Making a God. Of our own making. To suit our needs. And to suit our own circumstances. May God destroy.

[38:29] That idol. And may God. Open our eyes. To see. That we are dust. Foreign. From.

[38:40] The dust. Man. Mankind. You probably have heard before.

[38:50] Genesis 5. 2. When God made. Man. Man. Genesis 5. 2.

[39:00] Male and female. Created in them. And blessed them. And called their name. Adam. In the day. When they were created. I don't know. If you've noticed that before. But.

[39:10] The term of course. Adam. Means. Man. Of mankind. Kind. And it tells us something.

[39:21] About the covenant relationship. Which we'll come to. Shortly. The covenant. Relationship. So we were created.

[39:32] To possess. The very breath. Of God. As our source of life. And it points. To the blessing. Of that original relationship. In which man.

[39:43] Stood with God. And mankind. In. The garden of God. In a state of innocence. God made.

[39:56] You know yourselves. Many of you. I'm sure. Have weaved. Or are weaving. Maybe you're making. Other crafts. Handmade crafts.

[40:07] And you know that. Things that are handmade. Are of more value. Handmade. In the Hebrides. For example. But every.

[40:18] Single person. In the world. Is God made. God made. Made. In the image. Of God. And it should certainly. Colour.

[40:29] Our. View of man. And of our neighbours. And of others. Who we meet. We are God made. Unique.

[40:40] And special. Into whom. He has breathed. His life. Into whom. He has breathed. His law. And that law. That he has breathed.

[40:50] Into us. The foundation. Of a covenant. Relationship. Man. As God's. Willing.

[41:01] Partner. And image. Bearer. And he then. Put us into this covenant. Environment. Which we have in verses 10.

[41:12] To 14. The perfection. Of that. Original. Environment. In the garden. Of Eden. A perfect. Covenant. Environment. Rivers.

[41:23] And precious. Metals. Water. Gold. The beauty. Of creation. Extraordinarily. Rich. In resources.

[41:34] A place. That was teeming. With life. Full of life. Full of trees. This was a God.

[41:44] Fearing place. This was a temple. This was a sanctuary. This was a tabernacle. For worship. And he tells us.

[41:56] Quite remarkably. In verse 9. And out of the ground. May the Lord God. To grow every tree. That is pleasant to the sight.

[42:07] And good for food. And then he names. Only two trees. The tree of life. And the tree of knowledge. Of good. And evil. Only two.

[42:18] Are given. These names. The tree of life. And the tree of knowledge. Of good and evil. And there is associated. With those two trees.

[42:30] A promise. A promise of death. Or a promise of life. As you know. The tree of knowledge. The eating.

[42:41] Of its fruit. Is forbidden. Forbidden. There is a command. Not to partake. And the promise. Or the threat. Is death. Its original design.

[42:54] Was moral. Not natural. Not natural. In the sense that. It was for food. Its design. Was moral. It could.

[43:05] In a sense. Be called. The tree of death. Death. For God said. In the day. That you eat thereof. You shall surely. Die. The tree of knowledge.

[43:17] Of good and evil. But there was another tree. A tree of life. In this garden. Of God. In this. Beautiful place.

[43:29] Teeming with life. Here was a. Tree of life. Its design. Was natural. It was. For eating.

[43:40] Laven with fruit. But its. Eating. Had consequences. For man. It had consequences. For human nature.

[43:53] And it's quite interesting. When you see. In chapter 3. And at verse 22. You get a picture. Of the consequences. Of that. Chapter 3.

[44:05] And verse 22. And the Lord God said. Behold. The man is become. As one of us. To know good and evil. And now. Lest he put forth his hand. And take also.

[44:15] Of the tree of life. And eat. And live forever. Therefore. The Lord God. Sent him forth. From the garden of Eden. To till the ground. From whence he was taken.

[44:26] So he drove. Out. The man. He drove. Out. The man. The man. It's design.

[44:40] Was. Natural. But it passes. Into a symbol. Of grace. A symbol. Of grace. A symbol.

[44:51] Of life. But man. Lest. Lest. He partake of it. Is.

[45:01] Is. Divided out. Exiled. Out of the garden. And thus. We touched on. In the morning. The way. To the tree of life. Guarded. Guarded. By the. Angelic. Beings.

[45:11] The cherubim. And the flaming sword. The flaming sword. This tree. Of life. Was in the midst. Of the garden. And was.

[45:23] The most. Prominent. Position. So that man. Could have. Free access. Free access. And there was a promise.

[45:33] A touch to it. Life. On condition. Of obedience. To the command. Of every tree.

[45:45] In the garden. You may eat. But of the tree. Of knowledge. Of good and evil. You may not eat. From the day. You eat. You shall surely. Die.

[45:55] There was no command. That he should not. Eat of the tree. Of life. And in fact. The opposite. Of the encouragement.

[46:06] To partake. So there was a covenant. God. There was a covenant. Environment. And there is.

[46:17] In this garden of God. A covenant relationship. Some say. Of course. That the word covenant. Doesn't appear.

[46:29] In this particular narrative. And of course. That's true. It doesn't appear. But it does appear. Elsewhere. In the scriptures. In Hosea.

[46:41] Chapter 6. We read. This. Verse. Hosea. 6. And verse. We read.

[46:55] At. Verse 7. But. Let's. Read. At verse 6. For I desire mercy. And not sacrifice. And the knowledge of God. More than burnt offerings.

[47:06] But they. Like men. Have. Transgressed. The covenant. There. Have they dealt. Treacherously.

[47:18] Against me. There. They. Like men. Have. Transgressed.

[47:30] The covenant. There. There. Have they dealt. Preacherously. Against me. And he's talking. About. Adam. And the covenant.

[47:40] And. God. And. God. Enters. Into. A covenant. This. Relationship. A covenant. Of.

[47:51] Works. A covenant. Of. Obedience. In which. There was. A threat. A promise.

[48:01] Which carried. A threat. And a promise. Which carried. Carried. Life. On condition. Of obedience. If. Adam. Is faithful. If.

[48:11] He's obedient. There is. The prospect. Of. Eternal. Security. In that state. In which. He was created. If. He is.

[48:22] Disobedient. He shall. Surely. Die. Someone. Has said. Adam. Is us. And we. Are.

[48:32] Adam. What. Does that. Mean. It. Means. This. That. Adam. Was. Set. Up. As. A. Covenant.

[48:43] Head. A. Representative. Of. The. People. That. Would. Flow. From. Him. Following. The. Command. That. God. Gave. Be. Fruitful.

[48:54] And. Multiply. And. The. Command. That. God. Gave. Was. A. Command. To. Adam. And. To. His. posterity. And.

[49:06] The. Covenant. That. He. Made. With. Him. Was. With. Him. And. With. His. Fosterity. And. As. Surely. As. He. Made. A. Covenant. With. Adam. He.

[49:17] Made. It. With. You. That. Is. The. Reality. Of. What. We. Facing.

[49:29] As. Human. Beings. Under. The. Fall. The. Fall. The. Disobedience. Of. Our.

[49:39] Covenant. Head. And. The. Consequences. Of. Disobedience. Of. Our. Covenant. Head. Wonderfully. Presented to us in the Bible.

[49:50] 1 Corinthians 15. 22. For as in Adam. All die. Romans 5.

[50:01] 12. 12. Whereas. As by one. Man. Sin. Entered into the world. And. Death. By sin. And so. Death. Passed upon all men.

[50:12] For that. All. Have. Sinned. Sin. So there. Was. This. Remarkable place.

[50:23] In which. God. Placed man. And that remarkable relationship. In which God. Had. Fellowship. And communion. With man. In this remarkable environment.

[50:35] But there was one thing. That was not good. It is not good. For man. To be alone. So he created. Eve. Eve. Eve.

[50:48] He made. A wife. For Adam. So that the command. Could be fulfilled. To be fruitful.

[50:59] And to multiply. And that he would have a help meet. And that there would be fellowship with God. And that their children.

[51:10] Would have fellowship with God. God. And that. As. Mankind grew on the earth. That the whole of the earth. Would be a garden of God.

[51:22] That's what God wanted. That was God's original purpose. That the whole earth. Would be a garden of God. In which there would be life. And love.

[51:35] And light. One commentator. Cornelius Van Til. Speaks in this way.

[51:47] The revelation of God. Was deposited in the whole universe. But it was in the mind of man alone. That this was to come to self. Conscious reinterpretation.

[52:00] Man was to be God's prophet on earth. He was to be his priest and his king. How is man? How was Adam? A prophet.

[52:12] A priest and a king. Well he was a prophet. Because he was to embody. And teach God's law. Not only to Eve. But to the children.

[52:25] And as a priest. He was to serve. And mediate God's glory. And as a king. He was to rule on his behalf.

[52:37] As he was ruling here. Naming the animals. Naming the animals. And isn't it amazing. When you see. What God says about that.

[52:47] He says this. That every name. That God. That Adam named them. That was the name. With which they were named. You see. A place.

[52:58] The place. That Adam was given. By God. And his role. As the head of this covenant. As God's. Prophet.

[53:09] And priest. And king. This was truly. Paradise. This was truly. A place of privilege. And yes.

[53:20] A responsibility. A sanctuary. A temple. To worship. God. God. God. God. God. God. God. God.

[53:31] And yet. Into this. Beautiful place. Came the dark shadow of death.

[53:43] The dark shadow of death. Eclipses. The glorious promise of eternal life. God.

[53:54] God. What about the tree of life. Thirdly. What about. The tree of life. Even the tree of life. Overshadowed.

[54:07] Overshadowed. By. Death. Of course. The tree of life. Didn't lose. Its virtue. As a result of sin. But that sacred.

[54:17] Treasure. As one writer put it. That sacred. Treasure. Must now be guarded. By the angelic. Governance. Keeping man.

[54:28] Away. From that. Path. To life. Because. That tree of life. Is now. Inaccessible. And we spoke about that.

[54:38] In the morning. This veil. This veil. Of a broken covenant. This veil. Of the offense. Against the holiness.

[54:49] And the justice. And the character. Of God. His very attributes. His very being. Everything. That God. Gave man. And what a place.

[54:59] He gave him. And what a privilege. He gave him. It's all. Thrown back at him. Thrown in his face. That is what that is where. And there is the.

[55:12] Veil of sin. And the guilt. Of sin. And who would bear. The penalty. There is the dark shadow.

[55:22] Of the tree of death. The dark. Stench of death. And of judgment. And into that wonderful environment.

[55:33] Comes sin and misery. And that darkness. Hangs over. History. Redemptive history. Because paradise.

[55:44] Paradise has been lost. Paradise lost. I don't know if you've ever read. Paradise lost. By Milton. Written in 1667.

[55:57] Considered to be one of the greatest. Works of literature. Ever. Written. And what does it tell. It tells. About the war. For heaven.

[56:09] And man's expulsion. From Eden. It's well worth a read. And there are some remarkable. Remarkable verses in it.

[56:21] As each party speaks. And mankind. Has reaped. What he has sowed.

[56:33] And the consequence of sin. Are immediate. And devastating. Where there was no guilt. And no shame. We now see shame.

[56:44] Shame. The relationship. Even the relationship. Between Adam and Eve. Even that marriage bond.

[56:55] There is anger. And there is blame. And the ground is cut. And the whole order of nature. Is subverted. And mankind. And mankind falls.

[57:05] Into this state of. Sin of misery. Into a state of total. Total depravity. And remember. That total. Is in terms of.

[57:16] Extent. And not degree. Man is. Not. In every respect.

[57:27] As evil. As he could be. But that in every respect. In every respect. In every respect. In every respect. In every respect. To the faculties. Of his being. Man is ruled.

[57:38] By sin. So that everything. Everything. Is tainted. By sin. And he's expelled. From the garden. And the word's.

[57:49] A strong word. It's a strong word. So he drove. Out the man. Driven. From the very presence. Of God.

[58:00] Driven. From the very life. Of God. Barred. From access. And where is the covenant. Where is the covenant.

[58:12] Where is God. And this is a remarkable thing. About the gospel. That you see. As you read into chapter 3. You see. And you hear.

[58:23] Our voice. Do you know that. If you were to do a study. In the Bible. About the voices. Of God. Appearing. You would probably. Lose count. Here he comes.

[58:34] And he speaks. He speaks. After all. That was done. He comes. And he speaks. To Adam. And he says. To Adam. Where. Are you?

[58:46] What a question. It wasn't. About a physical. Location. God knew. Exactly. Where he was. Where are you?

[58:58] Adam. In terms of. That covenant. Bond. That bond. Of love. In which we are. Entered into. Where are you? Adam. You're lost.

[59:09] You're lost. You're full of sin. And misery. You're cursed. You're under. My wrath. And my curse. And my penalty. And Adam.

[59:30] Somebody else. Somebody else. Somebody else. Must come. Because in the garden. God. Had once and for all. Proven.

[59:41] That man. Cannot earn. Life. By obedience. To his law. Futile.

[59:52] Futile. Trying to earn. Life. Through obedience. Through. Do this. And to live. Which were.

[60:03] The terms. Of that original covenant. And it's still the same. That there may be. Someone in here. Who still thinks.

[60:14] They have to do something. To become a Christian. It's the biggest lie.

[60:25] Or certainly. One of the biggest lies. That the devil. Puts into our heads. I think I've said before.

[60:37] About the quotation. From. Gresham Mishin. The great. American writer. What is faith.

[60:47] That book. That. Our own. Late. Reverend. Warwick. MacLeod. Used to. Recommend to us. What is faith. And.

[60:58] Mishin. Said. The essence. Of faith. Is to receive. Not. To do. But.

[61:09] It is always. Followed. By a life. In which. Great things. And. If man.

[61:20] Is ever. To enjoy. Life. It must. Be all. Of. Grace. It must. Be all. Of. Grace. And. It must. Be.

[61:31] Through. Another. Covenant. A covenant. Of. Grace. An. Eternal. Covenant. Who.

[61:42] Was. The head. Of. Representative. Of. This. Covenant. Who. Could. It. Be. Not. Man. Not. Ordinary. Man. Who. Came. By. Ordinary.

[61:52] Generation. In. Genesis. 3. 15. We. Have. That. Great.

[62:03] Saying. God. Speaking. And. I. Will. Put. End. Between. The. And. The. Woman. And. Between. Thy. Seed. And. Her. Seed. It. Shall. Bruise. Thy. Head. And. Thou.

[62:14] Shalt. Bruise. His. Heel. The. Mother. Promise. Of. The. Seed. Of. The. Woman.

[62:24] To. Come. He. Is. The. One. Who. Is. Going. To. Crush. The. Head. Of. The. Serpent. That.

[62:35] Verse. Speaks. So. Powerfully. Speaks. So. Powerfully. The. Voice. Of. Christ.

[62:45] In. The. Old. Testament. Declaim. That. He. Was. The. Seed. Of. The. Woman. Declaring. How. Completely. He. Was. Going.

[62:55] To. Crush. The. Head. Of. The. Serpent. Since. He. Was. Now. Going. To. Undo. What. Adam. Did. The. First. Adam. That. Covenant.

[63:05] Representative. And. He. Was. Going. To. Do. What. Adam. Failed. To. Do. To. Give. Obedience. To. The. Law. Of. God. And.

[63:16] He. Was. Going. To. Make. Good. For. Himself. And. His. People. A. Return. To. The. Garden. Of. Bliss. As. One. Commentator.

[63:26] Put it. A. Return. To. Paradise. A. Return. And. The. Words. That. Christ. Spoke.

[63:36] On. Calvary. To. The. Thief. On. The. Cross. This. Was. The. Realization. And. The. Enactment. Of. These. Very. Words. That.

[63:46] Were. Declared. In. Genesis. 3. 15. When. He. Said. To. The. Thief. Today. You. Will. Be. With. Me. In. Paradise. You.

[63:58] Will. Be. With. Me. In. Paradise. And. Here. We. Have. Again. As. We. Spoke. About. In. The. Morning. Christ. Declaring.

[64:10] That. The. Way. To. Paradise. Is. Through. Death. And. Suffering. Isn't. It. Remarkable. That. Christ's.

[64:22] Most. Acute. Suffering. Not. The. Pinacle. Of. His. Suffering. But. An. Acute. Suffering. Began. To. Bear. On. Him. As.

[64:33] He. Entered. A. Garden. A. Garden. It. Takes. You. Back. To. The. To. Eden. To. The.

[64:43] Garden. Where. It. All. Was. Undone. Get. Seventy. Get. Seventy. And.

[64:55] How. Wonderful. Is. God. Designing. That. In. John. Nineteen. Forty. One. We are. Told. In. The. Place. That. Was. Crucified. There. Was. A.

[65:05] Garden. A. Garden. Here. Too. Yes. A. Garden. And. In. The. Garden. A. New. Sepulchre. Forever. Wherein. Was. Never. Man. Yet.

[65:16] Laid. And. If. You. Follow. Through. In. John. As. We. Were. Hearing. At. Our. Convenience. Last. Week. The. Risen. Christ. Ministering.

[65:32] To. Her. Soul. And. He. Is. The. Garden. The. Supreme. Garden. That. Needs. To. Minister. To. Our. Souls. To. Deal. With. The.

[65:42] Soil. Of. Sin. In. Our. Hearts. To. Make. It. A. Garden. Of. God. And. A. Garden.

[65:52] For. God. Because. Through. Him. Through. This. Christ. There. Is. Though. For. The. People. Of.

[66:02] God. As. We. Have. It. In. Revelation. Chapter. Two. And. Verse. Seven. We. Have. These. Great.

[66:13] Words. He. That. Hath. Aneared. Let. Him. Hear. What. The. Spirit. Say. To. The. Church. Is. To. Him. That. Overcometh.

[66:23] Will. I. Give. To. Eat. Of. The. Tree. Of. Life. Which. Is. To. Him. That. Overcometh.

[66:35] Will. I. Give. To. Eat. Of. The. Tree. Of. Life. And. The. Only. Way. To. Overcome. Is. To. Believe. In. Christ. To.

[66:45] Believe. In. Christ. Revelation. 22. One. To. Three. You. Read. These. Remarkable. Words.

[66:56] Which. I'm. Sure. You. Know. Now. Of. By. Heart. And. He. Showed. Me. A. Pure. River. Of. Life. Pure. River. Of. Water. Of. Life. Clear. As. Crystal. Proceeding.

[67:06] Out. Of. The. Throne. Of. God. And. Of. The. Lamb. In. The. Midst. Of. The. Street. Of. It. And. On. Either. Side. Of. The. River. Was. The. Tree. Of. Life. Which. Bared.

[67:16] Twelve. Manner. Of. Fruits. And. Yielded. Of. This.

[67:30] Last. Adam. Through. This. One. Who. Declared. That. He. Was. Going. To. Crush. The. Head. Of. The. Serpent.

[67:43] Undo. What. Adam. Did. And. Do. What. I. Failed. To. Do. And. Deal. With. Death. And. Sin. There.

[67:55] Was. Now. A. Right. To. The. Of. Life. That. Which. Was. Lost. In. Now. Restored. Paradise.

[68:07] Restored. The. God. Who. Is. The. Beginning. In. The. Beginning. God. Is. Also. The.

[68:18] End. Or. The. Ending. He. Proves. Himself. To. Be. So. I. Love. The. Revelation. When.

[68:28] It. Speaks. And. Six. Four. Times. Of. God. Says. I. Am. Alpha. And. I. Am. Omega. The. Beginning. And. The.

[68:38] End. And. The. Very. Tree. That. He. Bore. The. Cross. That. He. Bore. The.

[68:49] Cross. That. He. Suffered. And. He. Himself. Christ.

[69:00] Christ. Himself. As it says in Colossians 3. 4. On Christ. Who. Is. Our. Life. He. Himself. In a sense.

[69:11] Is. The. Free. Our. Life. Communion. Restored. A. Taste. Of. Paradise. Paul.

[69:22] When he was. Transported. Into. The. To. The. Third. Heaven. Speaks. Of. This. Second. Corinthians. 12. 4. He. Got. A. Taste.

[69:32] Of. Paradise. Paradise. And. The. People. Of. God. Who. Believe.

[69:43] In. Him. And. Who. Come. To. Trust. In. Him. That. Paradise. Is. Restored. That. Communion. That. Fellowship. Is. Restored. And.

[69:55] They. Are. Now. Back. In. The. Rightful. Places. As. Covenant. Partners. And. Image. Bearers. Of. God. Thinking. God's. Thoughts.

[70:05] After. Him. And. There. Is. For. Them. The. Prospect. The. Prospect. Even.

[70:17] Though. This. Broken. Fallen. World. Continues. All. Around. Us. And. Even. Though. It. Continues. For. Many. Many. More. Generations.

[70:27] Until. Christ. Returns. And. While. The. Devil. Will. Continue. Even. More. Fiercely. Given. That. His. Head. Has.

[70:38] Been. Crushed. Bruised. His. Power. And. Dominion. Removed. Chained. As. He. Is. Christ. And.

[70:49] Almost. More. Fierce. Than. Ever. God. We. Praise. That. He. Will. Never. Prevail. Forever.

[71:01] Because. Christ. Is. Going. To. Come. Again. And. Christ. Will. His. In. A. New. Heaven. And. A. New. Earth. A. New.

[71:12] Heaven. And. A. New. Earth. A. New. Garden. Of. God. A. New. Paradise. It. May. Be. Similar. And. Kind. To. The. Old. Paradise.

[71:23] But. It. Will. Be. Immensely. Higher. And. Better. Its. Occupants. Shall. Be. The. Last. Adam. And.

[71:35] His. People. His. Seed. The. Last. Adam. The. Lord. From. Heaven. The. Life. Giving. Spirit. And.

[71:46] In. This. Perfect. Covenant. Relationship. And. In. This. Perfect. Covenant. Environment. And. In. This. Perfect. Paradise. No.

[71:58] Sin. No. More. Tears. No. More. Pain. Or. Hunger. Or. Thirst. No. Interruption. No. Decay. No.

[72:09] Death. What. Can. The. World. Offer. You. What. On.

[72:19] Earth. Can. The. World. Offer. You. In. Comparison. To. Such. A. Prospect. Nothing. The.

[72:30] Pleasures. Of. Sin. Last. For. A. Season. You. Know. That. They. Come. They. Go. But.

[72:45] The. Pleasures. That. Belong. To. People. Of. God. Are. Pleasures. That. Are. Forever. Forever.

[72:57] Far. Far. Better. Far. Far. More. Fulfilling. Far. Far. More. Satisfying. What. On. Earth. Can.

[73:08] The. World. This. Doomed. And. Fleeting. World. What. On. Earth. Can. It. Off. Of. You. In. Comparison. To. Christ. Nothing.

[73:20] Will. You. Not. Come. Will. You. Not. Believe. Will. You. Not. Join. The. People. Of. God. As. They. March. On. As.

[73:32] They. March. On. On. This. Way. Following. Him. Who. Is. The. The. Truth. And. The. Life.

[73:44] Amen. May the. Lord. Bless. These. Thoughts. On. This. Word. Let's. Sing. Now. And. Come. In. Psalm.

[73:55] 36. Verse 5. Psalm 36. Verse 5. Thy mercy, Lord, is in the heavens.

[74:13] Thy truth hath reached the clouds. Thy justice is like mountains grave. Thy judgments deep as floods. Lord, thou preserest man and beast.

[74:25] How precious is thy grace. Therefore in shadow of thy wings. Men's sons their thrust shall place. They with the fatness of thy house.

[74:37] Shall be well satisfied. From rivers of thy pleasures. There will drink to them provide. Because of life the fountain pure.

[74:49] Remains alone with thee. And in that purest life of thy. We clearly light shall see. These verses.

[75:00] Verses 5 to 9 to God's praise. Thy mercy, Lord, is in heaven.

[75:12] Thy fruit hath reached the clouds. Thy justice is like mountains great.

[75:29] Thy judgment deep as floods. Lord, thou preserest man and beast. Lord, thou preserest man and beast.

[75:46] How precious is thy grace. Therefore in shadow of thy wings.

[76:03] Then sun's land of us shall place. They with the madness of thy house.

[76:20] The world's life shall be well satisfied. From rivers of thy pleasures.

[76:36] Thy will bring to them provide. For the universe. The world's life shall be well satisfied. Because of life the fountain pure.

[76:55] The world's life shall be well satisfied. And in the purest light of life.

[77:11] We clearly light shall see. Little earth shall be well Hafsah and spirit. The moon's life shall be well satisfied.

[77:25] The moon's life shall behalf another. Aren't屋 No. These detecting based off the earth can affect. The moon's life shall be deux. Light shall be close within the dead.

[77:35] The moon's life shall place. All he has mayihi. But outrage may earth shall lay upon his mind. He may call his voice all success.

[77:46]  The moon's death and let's pray.