Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/callanish/sermons/81688/fear-into-faith/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] My friends, good morning. It's a pleasure to be with you this morning to worship the Lord together on this first day of a new week. And as we prepare our hearts to sing praise to God, we remember these words in this altar, our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. [0:18] Let us worship him together, singing to his praise from Psalm 111, Psalm 111, and we'll sing from the beginning of the Psalm to verse 4. Praise ye the Lord. With my whole heart I will God's praise declare where the assemblies of the just and congregations are. [0:37] The whole works of the Lord our God are great above all measure, so that they are of everyone that doth therein take pleasure. We'll sing to verse 4 to the praise of God. [0:47] Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. With my whole heart I will God's praise declare. [1:08] Where the earth is in the heart of the just and congregations are. [1:25] The whole works of the Lord our God. The whole works of the Lord our God. [1:35] How great above all measure. So that they are of everyone that doth therein take pleasure. [2:00] His work of the Lord our God. His work was on the marvelous of glory and pure. [2:19] His work was on the marvelous of glory and pure. [2:49] May to be brought upon. The Lord is gracious and he is full of compassion. [3:13] Let us join our hearts in prayer together. Let's pray. Praise ye the Lord. [3:25] For it is good praise to the Lord to sing. What a glorious reminder we are given Lord in the Psalter. The song book of the church to sing praise to you. We acknowledge you to be the one true God. [3:37] We bow in your presence Lord and in our hearts we know you to be awesome in power. Glorious in might. Perfect in holiness. Amazing in grace. [3:48] And so we thank you Lord for this Sunday morning the opportunity to join together in this way. To open your word before us. To sing praise and to sing praise. And to consider Lord the wonder of the gospel. [4:01] The good news of Jesus Christ your son. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. So that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. [4:13] May that wonderful message of life in Christ thrill our hearts in you this morning. May we have that experience Lord of our hearts burning within us. [4:24] As we consider the gospel of grace. The good news of Jesus. That in him our sins are forgiven. That our self-sufficiency is removed. [4:34] That our self-worth and self-righteousness is exposed. And that our sins Lord are taken from us. And we are made as righteous as he. We thank you for that glorious wonderful sweet exchange. [4:48] Where Christ takes our sin from us. And gives us the robes of righteousness. Secured through his life and death. What a wonderful message. What a glorious loving saviour. [5:00] And we pray Lord God. As we worship here together this Sunday morning. That you would draw near to us. Bless us and go before us. Forgive our sin we pray. And everything we ask is in Jesus name. [5:12] Amen. Boys and girls good morning. [5:24] It's good to see you all today. I want to tell you about something I did a couple of days ago. In fact it was a few evenings ago. I was out the back of the house with a dog. And it was a beautiful night. [5:35] It was crystal clear. One of these nights where you could just hear the sea. It was so clear. So calm. So quiet. And so dark. And then I looked up. And it was just astounding. [5:47] When did you last astounding? Outside at night. Pitch dark. And look up. And it's not a cloud in the sky. And you just see the stars. It's quite breathtaking sometimes. [5:58] When we just stop. And look at what God has made around us. And I was just watching the stars. And I thought this is incredible. And so I. I was just. Then I said. [6:08] I'm going to look for the north star. And the moon. It was a really low moon that night. And it looked like it was just above Tolstair. If you were in Tolstair. You could have almost reached up to touch the moon. [6:19] That's what it looked like. And then I was tracking. Looking for the north star. And I spotted the north star. The bright. And as I was looking at it. This light just tracked right across. Right. Tiny wee light. [6:30] Like that. I was watching. Oh look at that. And I realised. That's a satellite. Now I wonder how far up it is. Who's put it up there? B. T. E. So E. Vodafone. [6:41] Who knows. Sky TV. But there's a satellite. And so I noticed it. And then it just disappeared. Went back into the house. And it got me thinking. So I googled. I've gotten to google us. We do these days. How many satellites. [6:52] Are going around the world right now? 10,000. I had no idea. 10,000 satellites. That's probably an estimate. That are circling the globe. [7:03] Right now. Giving us. Our power. Our internet. Our mobile phone signals. All sorts. Computers. Running. Satellites. But that's quite something. [7:13] But there's far more amazing things up there than satellites. And it's the stars. Go back to the stars. Go into google. How many stars are up there? Now this is quite remarkable. [7:24] The number of stars. Estimated. Scientists can only estimate. They reckon. There's 200 billion trillion stars. In the universe. Now. [7:36] If you were to write 200 billion. You write 200. Then there'd be another 25 zeros. That's a lot. 200 billion trillion. [7:47] They think. And that's because. They reckon. There are something like. 2 trillion galaxies. And in every. Every galaxy. There's 100 billion stars. [7:59] Estimated. The best scientists. The best technology. The most powerful telescope. We've got. One of them is a million miles away from earth. The James Webb telescope. [8:10] Scanning the universe. Scanning the skies. The best estimates. Scientists come up with. Is 200 billion stars. We think. So that's what we think. I want to see it. [8:21] You just now. Something boys. And go to what we know. And what we know. About the stars up there. We find. In the bible. Psalm 147 says. He determines. The number of the stars. [8:34] And gives them. Each a name. Wow. Now that is our God. Scientists. Are amazing. They're gifted. They're. The technology. [8:45] And the minds. That are available. Around the world. It's incredible. But we are. Tiny. We specks. Compared to the Lord. Our God. He has called out. The stars. [8:56] And placed them. And given each of them. A name. He covers the heavens. With clouds. He prepares rain. For the earth. He makes grass. To grow. Upon the mountains. [9:08] And then. When we stop. And think about. How amazing that is. There's another psalm. And I'm going to turn to it now. It's in Psalm 8. And this is. Really wonderful. For as amazing. As God is. [9:19] With the glory. And power. And majesty. Of the world. Around us. We read this. In Psalm 8. When I consider the heavens. That's what I did the other night. Just looking up. I consider the heavens. [9:30] The work of your fingers. The moon. And the stars. Which you have made. Then the question. Who are we. That you are mindful of us. [9:42] Who are we. That you care for us. Isn't it amazing. Boys and girls. That 200 billion. Trillion stars. Made by our God. Who has called everything. [9:54] Into being your creator. And sustainer. And holder. And ruler. Of the universe. Hasn't just named. The stars. He knows us. Who are we. [10:05] That you are mindful of us. Who are we. That you care for us. Does he care. For God so loved. The world. That he gave. His. [10:17] Own. Son. Jesus. The cross. The message of the gospel. Is the confirmation. Of the care of God. For us this morning. That's why we're here. To explore and. [10:28] Seek. Further understanding. Of this wonderful message. And our glorious saviour. Who came into the world. To seek and to save us. 200 billion. Trillion stars. Wow. [10:38] That's. That's something. The son of God. That is really something else. What a glorious saviour. We are gathered here. To worship. And I hope boys and girls. [10:50] As you go to Sunday school today. You enjoy. The lessons that you're going to have. The class that you're part of. And as you explore the Bible. Give thanks to God. For his wonderful son. [11:00] And what he has done. For us. Now we're going to sing again. To God's praise. In a moment. From Psalm 34. Psalm 34. We're going to sing from verse 14. [11:12] Psalm 34. We'll sing from verse 14. And we'll sing to verse 19. Depart from ill. Do good. Seek peace. [11:23] Pursue it earnestly. God's eyes are on the just. His ears are open to their cry. The face of God is set against those that do wickedly. That he might quite out from the earth. [11:34] Cut off their memory. Psalm 34. We'll sing from verse 14 to verse 19. To God's praise. Stop. [11:45] And from you to you seek peace And through eternity God's eyes alone And through eternity I will wonder their honey. [12:22] The fish of God is dead again. [12:33] Those that do wickedly. That he may while I roam these years. [12:53] The joy of their memory. The righteous guy unto the Lord. [13:13] He unto them gives the air. And they out of their troubled soul. [13:33] By heaven delivered our. The Lord is thy firm night to them. [13:52] Happy a broken spirit. To them he should be doth afford. [14:14] That our pain heart contrite. The struggles that afflicted us. [14:34] In number many be. But yet I blest out of them all. [14:54] The Lord has sent him free. We'll read God's word this morning from the Gospel of John in chapter 4. [15:12] The Gospel of John reading in chapter 4. We'll read from verse 43 to the end of the chapter. We find our Lord making his way from Jerusalem back to the north to Galilee. [15:33] He has travelled through Samaria. Where we have that famous interaction with the woman at the well. And then going into the city there. Many of the Samaritans believed on him. [15:45] For the saying of the woman which testified. There's been a response to Jesus in the town there in Samaria. And now we follow the Lord on from verse 43. [15:55] As he continues travelling back to Galilee. Now after two days he departed thence and went into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. [16:08] Then when he was come into Galilee. The Galileans received him. Having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast. For they also went unto the feast. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee. [16:22] Where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee. [16:32] He went to him and besought him that he would come down and heal his son. For he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him. Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe. [16:47] The nobleman saith unto him. Sir come down ere my child die. Jesus saith to him. Go thy way thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken to him. [17:02] And went his way. And as he was now going down. His servants met him and told him saying. Thy son liveth. Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. [17:15] And they said unto him. Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour. In which Jesus said unto him. [17:26] Thy son liveth. And himself believed. And his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did. When he was come out of Judea. [17:37] Into Galilee. Amen. May the Lord bless his word to our hearts. We'll bow in prayer again together. Let us pray. Lord when we open our Bibles. [17:52] Our prayer is that of the psalmist. Show me thy ways O Lord. Thy paths O teach thou me. And we are conscious of what the word says to us. [18:05] In bearing testimony to itself. To its source. To its scope. To its author. For the word of God. Is breathed out by God. [18:15] It is inspired. It is your truth. And so we can say also with the psalmist. Your word is a lamp to our feet. A guide to our paths. And so Lord this morning. We would seek to deepen. [18:28] And extend our trust in you. We would Lord trust in you with all our heart. Meaning not in our own understanding. But with Bibles open. We would say Lord show us your ways. [18:40] Teach us your paths. Knowing that in all our ways. You will direct our paths. Lord we thank you for your goodness to us this Sunday morning. That we gather around you the open word of life. [18:52] And here we read of the word himself. Who became flesh and dwelt among us. And as we follow him through the Gospels. We see compassion and tenderness. We see loving kindness and grace. [19:04] We see forgiveness and power. We see the awesome reality of the incarnate son of God. Who became flesh and dwelt among us. [19:15] Who took on our flesh in order to take on the guilt of our sin. And he has bore that sin away. And so Lord the New Testament church has declared ever since. [19:26] Thanks be to God. Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And we pray today for that focus. That single mindedness. [19:37] To know more of Jesus. To understand more of his person and work. To understand more of who he is and what he has done. And to take into our hearts and lives. [19:48] Our thinking and decision making. Lord to take into our day by day walk. Everything about the Lord Jesus Christ. To have him as a forethought. Not an afterthought. [19:59] And often Lord that's where we go wrong. We think too late of Jesus. We make decisions that are dishonouring. That are full of uncertainty. [20:11] And that lack commitment and tenacity and courage. Lord forgive us for these times when we get things wrong. Forgive us Lord for the weakness and the sin that so often beset us. [20:22] Forgive us Lord for taking turns that do not glorify the gospel. And we pray Lord as we confess and acknowledge our weakness and sin. That you would be with us and draw near to us. [20:33] And fill us with your grace and mercy. That the spirit would move within our hearts. Testifying to the things of Christ. Here this morning hour of worship. That we might go into the week ahead. [20:44] Steady. Committed. Confident. Not in ourselves. But in his finished work upon the cross. Confident that he gave himself for us. [20:54] Knowing that he did so because he loves us. We thank you for the wonderful gospel of grace. The good news of Jesus. The love of God. [21:06] Immeasurable. Infinite. Eternal love. We thank you Lord that in the gospel we come to understand that God is love. [21:17] And in that love we see you giving your son who came in love. And gave himself for us. We thank you Lord that the testimony of every Christian here resonates with the testimony of Paul. [21:30] Two thousand years ago. The life I now live. I live by faith in the son of God who loved me. And gave himself for me. Lord we pray that your cause on our island today would be blessed. [21:42] That there would be a deepening of commitment. And a clarity in thinking and living. That we would Lord as your people go into the week ahead. And have a walk that is worthy of the calling with which we have been called. [21:55] That we would have Lord a walk that reflects the glory of Christ. And with each one of us. In our homes. In our workplace. In neighbourhoods and communities. It would be that city on a hill. [22:06] The light of which cannot be hid. That we would in our own way Lord. According to the opportunities given to us. Show forth the praises of him. Who has called us from darkness into his marvellous light. [22:18] Encourage your people Lord. Here and across our island and in our nation this morning. Through the preaching of your word. And the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We pray Lord. That the cause of Christ would extend this morning. [22:31] That sinners under conviction. They would come to the throne of grace. Seeking forgiveness and cleansing and newness of life. And that they may their Lord receive that life. [22:43] From Jesus. Who is the way, the truth and the life. The one who gives life. The one who banishes the death and curse and guilt of sin. Through taking us to himself. [22:56] And making us right. By making us new. May there be rejoicing. Among the angels in heaven this day. Over sinners who have been brought to repentance. [23:07] Through the preaching of the word. We pray Lord for your congregation here in Kalanish. We pray for Thomas and the moderator. The elders and deacons. Sunday school teachers. Everyone who is involved. [23:17] In the rotas. In making tea and coffee available in the hall. For everyone Lord who commits it. In some way to the work of the witness of the congregation. Bless them Lord we pray. [23:28] May the congregation be encouraged. Lead them Lord. In the paths of righteousness. Bless and guide them at this time of vacancy and change. Which is often a time of challenge. [23:38] And at times it can be uncertain. It can be disorientating. May their orientation be to the cross at all times. Lord bless them and keep them we pray. [23:49] Remember us as a presbytery at this time. With the number of vacancies that we are facing. We pray Lord that you would raise up men. Who would know in their hearts. That this is where you would have them be. [24:01] And we pray Lord that you would bring them to us. We don't pray in a selfish manner. We don't pray Lord that you would take from one. To create another vacancy. We simply pray Lord. That you would raise up men. [24:12] And give them a heart for the gospel here on our island. And bring them among us. That they would in ministry and in proclamation. Show the work of Christ above all. That men and women and boys and girls would be brought to him. [24:25] To know him for themselves. We pray for the Sunday school today. We thank you Lord that there are so many children here this morning. Bless them as they go to their classes. Bless the teachers. Who give up their time. [24:37] And who pour their energies into preparing classes. To teach the children about the good news of Jesus. Lord it is such a crucial and vital aspect of the ministry of every congregation. [24:49] And so we pray for all the Sunday schools that are meeting across our island this morning. That you would bless the children and bless the teachers. We pray Lord for the YFs that are forming. The big YF. [24:59] As it runs as well. And we pray. That as these attempts are made to engage teenagers with the gospel. That Lord that attempt would be to your glory. And you would bless that work. And that you would plant the seed of the gospel in these young hearts. [25:13] And bring them to know Jesus Christ for themselves. We pray Lord that you remember us as a nation. We pray for our royal family. Our government and officials over us. We pray for the legislative process in our land. [25:26] We pray for the parliament in Westminster and Edinburgh. Lord at times it seems our lawmakers are on a headlong course. That leads the nation further and further from our Christian heritage. [25:40] Which has for many become an embarrassment. A thing to be mocked. A thing to be avoided. And we pray Lord for a change in that culture and atmosphere. We pray for a softening of hard hearts. [25:52] We pray that the gospel of grace would break through and break down barriers of indifference and apathy and atheism. And that Lord where so often we see a pride in humanism. [26:05] A pride in secularism. We pray Lord that that would change. And we know that that change can only be effected by the Holy Spirit. And so we pray for him today. [26:16] To effect that change. To effect that breaking down of the indifference. That has gripped our nation Lord. The sin of apathy. The sin of unbelief. The sin of rejecting Jesus as Lord and Saviour. [26:29] Lord remember us as a nation in these times we pray. So as we Lord open your word here this morning. We ask for that stillness. That place of learning. [26:41] That place where we would receive from you. What you would have us know about your son in your word. And so we pray our loving Heavenly Father. For your blessing today. [26:52] That you would undertake for this community. Congregation. And denomination. Lord we commend it into your care. And ask for your blessing. And the forgiveness of our sin. [27:02] In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Well we'll sing again to the praise of God from Psalm 56. Psalm 56. [27:14] And we'll sing from verse 3. To verse 12. Psalm 56. Singing from verse 3. And before turning back to John's Gospel. And that passage you read together. [27:25] Psalm 56. We'll sing from verse 3. When I am afraid I'll trust in thee. And God I'll praise his word. I will not fear what flesh can do. My trust is in the Lord. [27:36] Each day the rest my words, their thoughts. Against me are all for ill. They meet. They lurk. They mark my steps. Waiting my soul to kill. [27:46] We'll sing to verse 12. To God's praise. When I am afraid I'll trust in thee. [27:58] In God's grace's word. I will not fear what flesh can do. [28:14] My trust is in the Lord. And God's 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 child is lying in it with me, it's dead, thy judgment's own. [29:11] O God, with this division, God, good earth, the people's throne. [29:27] My one brings all the whole day of being, thou knowst their number too. [29:43] In whom I walk to put, my tears are laid, not in thy been. [29:59] My food shall win, and I turn back. I know God is for me. [30:18] In God's word, I pray. His word in God shall praise to thee. [30:32] In God I trust, I will not fear. [30:43] What man can do to me? Thy vows upon me are, O God, I'll render it to thee. [31:06] Amen. We're turning again in our Bibles to the Gospel of John and chapter 4. [31:21] We read of our Lord returning from Judea to the north, back to Galilee, his home region. And on the way he diverts through Samaria, and there's a ministry of some two days where many believed on him. [31:37] First of all, for the testimony of the woman. And then they would eventually say to him in verse 42 of chapter 4, Now we believe not because of what you have said, for we have heard him ourselves. [31:49] And there are many who come to the Lord and put their belief and trust in him. And so he continues on and eventually comes back to Cana of Galilee in verse 46, where he made the water wine. [32:03] And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him. [32:18] He went to him. So I want us to think this morning for the time we have about what we call, or what is called here in John's Gospel, the second sign that Jesus did in the Gospel that points us in a certain direction, that points us to his identity, that points us to who this man is. [32:42] This is not just the preaching carpenter from Nazareth. This is not just a good man, but the God man. And John, when he wrote his Gospel, wanted everyone who would ever pick up the scroll or open the book to be in no doubt whatsoever as to the identity of Jesus Christ. [33:03] We know that because even by the time we come out of the first chapter, there have been three resounding statements setting right before our understanding of this amazing individual and why we need to get to grips with him. [33:18] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. [33:29] And then we come to the third statement, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is incredible stuff. So he's putting the bar right up there, and he's saying, I don't just want to interest you. [33:43] I don't even want to, I don't want your, I don't want applause from you. I don't want you to be impressed when you read this book. [33:54] I want you to be changed. I want you to be astounded. I want you to have a sense of awe when you read of Jesus of Nazareth. And so he sets before us a pathway through the Gospel. [34:07] We call it the seven signs. There are also the seven I am sayings. There's the glorious word of chapter 3, verse 16, which everybody knows. The Bible in a sentence, for God so loved the world, he gave his only son. [34:21] There's this message that comes through again, and again, and again, as to the wonder and glory of the Gospel of grace. And it all comes down to Jesus. When he heard that Jesus was come to Galilee, he went to him. [34:36] So there's an application here, and I want to apply this as we go through it, and there's the first application. He heard about Jesus, as you have. He went to him. [34:49] Have you? This is the first question. The first and most personal level of application when it comes to the Gospel is, having heard about the Lord Jesus, and having listened to the claims of the Gospel, and having seen what the Bible presents to us about his person and work, his divinity and his humanity, his crucifixion, his resurrection, his ascension to glory, having heard about these things, what have you done with them? [35:16] How have you responded to Jesus? And we have a mirror here, because we have this unnamed man, a nobleman, a man of standing, perhaps a Roman, perhaps a Jewish, one of the leading men. [35:32] We're not sure that this word nobleman, there's a lot of discussion over what it was, but he's a man of standing, and authority, and influence, and power. He has a voice in the community, but his voice is gone, because his heart is broken, because his son is dying. [35:48] And then he hears, that Jesus has returned to Galilee, and he went to him, and he besought him, that he would come down, and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. [36:02] This is solemn stuff, this is as personal as it gets, a desperate father, who doesn't stay away from Jesus, he comes to him, and he pours his heart, into this meeting, into this opportunity, and we have from it, the second sign, that we're given. [36:23] Now the signs, I mentioned them to be, to be a pathway, and they lead us through the gospel, all the way through to chapter 30, to chapter 20, where we read these well-known words, many other signs, Jesus truly did, in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written, the seven that we have, in God's gospel, these are written, that you might believe, that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing, you might have life, in his name, that's exactly, what happens here, at this sign, the nobleman said, sir, come down, lest my child, will die, Jesus said, go your way, your son, will live, and the man, believed the word, that Jesus had spoken to him, and he went his way, he came to Jesus, he believed in Jesus, and the application, we carry with us, all the way through this, morning service, how have you, and how have I, responded, to Jesus, in our heart, what have we done with him, have we committed ourselves to him, have we put our belief in him, is there hope in him this morning, praise God, but if not, the question remains, why, what would hold you back, what is it that's putting you off, if you were to form a list, in your mind, and maybe you've done that many times, maybe you've formed a list, and you sat in this pew, many times, and thought, well that's all well and good, but, and then the list, what's on that list, bring it to Christ, give it to Christ, give your heart to Christ, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, what a message that is, for the church, to gather around on a Sunday, for the children to consider, in Sunday school, believe in Jesus, and the life it brings, so we think about then, [38:21] Jesus this morning, he came into Cana of Galilee, where the first sign had taken place, where he turned the water, into wine, he then travelled to Jerusalem, he's now returning from Jerusalem, but my goodness, he made his mark there, we read in chapter 2, of the first, what we call the cleansing, of the temple, where Jesus upturned the tables, and exposed, the financial, skullduggery, that was going on, the whole trappings, of the religious system, that the Jews, they just venerated so much, and Jesus exposed it, for what it had become, where was the prayer, where was the worship, where was the joy in the Lord, it was all being caught up, and sacrificed, to the Aaronic priesthood, and the symbolism, of the altar, and Christ comes among them, and says, this system is fulfilled in me, and they immediately, turn away from him, in chapter 2, we read about this, verses 13 and 18, he made a scourge, of small cords, and drove them out, of the temple, the sheep and oxen, and poured out, the money changers, and said to them, take these things hence, make not my father's house, a house of merchandise, it had become, a money spinner you see, it had become, the banks were open, and the coins were pouring in, and the leaders of the system, they loved this, and then Jesus comes in, and threatens it all, and the disciples remembered, it was written, the zeal of this house, has eaten me up, they answered, then answered the Jews, the leaders are there, and they said to him, what sign do you give, seeing that thou doest, these things, immediately, they asked for a sign, it's not interesting, but many signs, [39:57] Jesus, did in this gospel, we're told, that in verse 23, at the end of chapter 2, listen to this, now when he was in Jerusalem, at the Passover, in the feast, many believed in his name, when they saw the signs, which he did, there were signs going on, in Jerusalem, at that moment, that brought people to Christ, and they put their trust in him, there and then, but the Jewish leaders, not for them, they were unconvinced, and they remained, at a distance, and so we find Jesus, returning from Jerusalem, he comes back to Galilee, and his fame, is now spreading, not notoriety, but celebrity, and we read at verse 45, that the Galileans received him, for they also went to the feast, they had seen, and heard enough, as this man in Capernaum had, he had heard enough, we're going to come back to that, in a minute, but now the scene is set, for the second, for the second sign, he comes back to Cana, this village, where he had turned the water, into wine, the people knew him, and now his fame, his celebrity, it's spreading, that Jesus is here, remember what you heard, about the wedding, he's here, he's here, and have you heard, what he did in Jerusalem, he cleared the temple, he caused a real scene, and the leaders were after him, and he's here, and so the crowds are coming, the people are coming, they're coming to hear, and see, [41:25] Jesus of Nazareth, 20 miles away, from this, growing atmosphere, in Cana, is the town of Capernaum, on the north shore, of the Sea of Galilee, it's a market town, it's a centre, for the fishing industry, there's lots of money, it's a wealthy place, in its day and age, in its time, 2000 years ago, lots going on in Capernaum, where Jesus will base himself, for much of his Galilean ministry, but in there, at this point in time, as the, as the, the, as the, the atmosphere grows, and, and there's a bit of a fuss, around Jesus, up in Cana, there's this unnamed nobleman, whose son, is dying in Capernaum, what does he do? [42:04] He heard, Jesus, had come to Galilee, and here's another level, of application, especially, for Christians, here today, what do people hear, in our communities, about Jesus, from us, he heard, Jesus, had come to Galilee, what do people hear, from us, what do people see, in us, what do people detect, in us, Christian friends, you know as well as I, I know I'm stating, the obvious here, our lives are an open book, all the people, in our communities, who are not in church, this morning, why are they not here? [42:47] Well we know, there's an apathy, an unbelief, a resistance, a hardness, a sense of well, just don't need church, don't want church, I'm interested, but not that interested, good for you, but not for me, don't we hear this, all the time, brothers and sisters, in Christ, what are we doing, to confront that, what are we doing, to challenge that, what is it that, we can gently, correct it, there are so many, around us today, on our island, who are uninformed, and misinformed, about the gospel of grace, they make assumptions, based on what, on what they see in us, and how we conduct ourselves, here, and out there, we are open books, and we are, described as, a city on a hill, the light of which, cannot be hid, do not hide your light, under a bushel, we know all the text, all the texts, that talked about, the witness, of the individual, man, woman, and boy and girl, in the community of darkness, what do we know about darkness, light shines in the darkness, and so people will see you, and they will read you, and they will assess, your saviour, by you, that's what happens, in the world, and so we say, [43:59] Lord, here am I, send me, give me grace, and mercy, and peace, and tact, and wisdom, and answers to the questions, that will come, when people challenge my faith, this man heard, Jesus will come, and that was enough for him, and we want people to hear, through, and by, as, and what we do, that they would come, and ask questions, and come, and be challenged, and come, and want to know more, about their Lord, and saviour, Jesus Christ, we know, that faith, comes through, hearing, and hearing, through the word, of Christ, in Galatians, in chapter 3, the apostle wrote, did you receive the spirit, by works of the law, or by hearing, with faith, he heard, may it please the Lord, to use, our life, and, our witness, that we would, indeed be light, in the darkness, and share, something of, our Lord, and saviour, Jesus Christ, that flows around us, [45:00] I was very taken, recently, to read of, what, the, the, the, the 19th century, early 20th century, writer, H.G. Wells, that he once wrote, about Jesus Christ, is the most unique, person in history, no one can write, the history, of the human race, without giving, first and foremost, place, to the penniless, teacher of Nazareth, wonderful sentiments, but as far, as we know, Wells, never gave him, that first place, in his own heart, he did as a historian, he was a historian, and he liked to study, and research, and write history, and he understood, that Christ, was this unique, person, the most unique, person, he spoke, well enough, but sadly, it would seem, that, when he passed, he had held, on to the view, that ultimately, mankind is doomed, and, we have no, prospect of, salvation, or eternity, none of that, he came close, but not close enough, so Christian friends, we take to heart, the application here, of this man heard, and that should make us, think, well what do they hear, from us, what do they hear, through us, we have to make, [46:13] Jesus known, don't we, remember the, the wonderful example, of Philip, with the Ethiopian, official, in the desert, when he was reading, Isaiah 53, and he said, I don't understand, what it is, what this is, how can I know, unless someone tells me, and so Philip, climbed up, into the chariot, and told him, the good news, about Jesus, the good news, about Jesus, so, just in the time left, to think about, two things, this morning, we see, two things, firstly, we see, fearfulness, and then we see, faithfulness, we see, that this man, comes to Jesus, with a clear request, in a desperate hour, he besought him, he pleaded with him, with great energy, and all he had, that he would come down, and heal his son, he's heard enough, about Jesus, he's heard about, the miracle in Cana, the water into wine, he's maybe heard more, about the signs, that went on in Jerusalem, maybe he's heard, about the cleansing, of the temple, maybe he's heard, about the way, Jesus is preaching, and teaching, how he's challenging, the system, how he's challenging, the authorities, how he's speaking, with an authority, that's never been heard before, with power, and conviction, and clarity, and people are being, drawn to him, whatever it was, he heard, it was enough, and he comes, and he seeks, [47:33] Jesus, but he comes, and his heart, is full of fear, he's come here, in fearfulness, and he says to him, except, he says to him, he went to him, and besought him, that he would, come down, and heal his son, and the nobleman said, sir, come down, lest my child die, it's a desperate cry, it's a cry, of fearfulness, but you see, the focus, the focus, is not quite there, he's heard enough, about Jesus, he comes to him, you have to come down, 20 miles, you have to come, to Capernaum, my son's down there, you need to come, and be in the room, to do something, to heal him, to make him well, to save his life, and so we see, the focus, is being sharpened now, by Jesus, who says to him, in verse 50, go your way, your son, lives, and the man, believed the word, that Jesus, had spoken to him, and he went his way, wonderful words, from the scripture, come to mind, in this moment, this interaction, be still, and know, that I am God, be still, and know, that I, am God, [48:49] Jesus, however, calls out, something, in verse 48, before there, he says, except you see, signs and wonders, you will not believe, and he is here, calling out, a fascination, a fixation, that, in the people, they want to be amazed, they want to be impressed, or they've heard so much, maybe we'll see something, that's quite wonderful, so let's go up, and there's this, this call, and there's this, inner leaning, in the people, they want to be amazed, but they're not ready, to adore, they want to be, entertained, and impressed, but, they're not quite, at that stage, of being prepared, to worship, and so Jesus, calls that out, and he wants them, to understand, through the word of God, that the promise, of the gospel, is being fulfilled, before them, in him, and through him, and so the focus, is slightly wrong, the Messiah, he did not need, to walk 20 miles, up the coast, to Capernaum, this is no miracle worker, to go at, this is the son of God, to worship, and this, this hesitation, and this, this lack of focus, and understanding, was called out, by Calvin, in his day, he said, [50:03] I wish, there were not so many, today, suffering with the same disease, strong language, isn't it, but the disease, he was calling out, was people, who were, intrigued by Jesus, but, they have not committed, to him, they were drawn, to him, but they were hesitating, in front of him, they were, maybe amazed, and, maybe, they were, in some sense, considering him, but, still, the commitment, is, missing, you know, the words of the, the carol, come let us adore him, Christ the Lord, that's the response, that Christ is looking for, this morning, not hesitation, but commitment, not, not, not a discussion, but a giving of yourself, heart, and mind, soul, and will, home, and life, personally, and unreservedly, acknowledging him, as saviour, and Lord, and walking with them, as your friend, and so there is, there's fearfulness here, but secondly, there's this, there's faithfulness, sir, come down, lest my child die, [51:13] Jesus said, go your way, your son lives, and the man believed, and as he was, now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, your son lives, then inquired he, of them, the hour, when he began to mend, and they said unto him, yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him, so the father knew, that it was at the same hour, in which Jesus said unto him, your son lives, and himself believed, and his whole house, this is now, the second miracle, that Jesus did, when he came out of Judea, to Galilee, the second sign, in Cana, you see, they both take place, in Cana, the water had been turned, into wine, and the fever, leaving this young boy, they both centered, in Cana, this little, obscure village, made so famous, by our Lord, and Saviour's work, there that day, and the chaos, of fear, the sense, of impending doom, is gone, the man believed, the word, [52:20] Jesus had spoke to him, and went his way, and what's really interesting, is that, it seems, he stayed in Cana, he traveled up, from Capernaum, pleading with the Lord, to come with him, and then he heard Jesus, say your son lives, and that for him, was enough, he believed, here then is the, the faith, the response, of the heart, that the gospel, always calls for, that the man believed, the word Jesus spoke to him, and he doesn't go, sprinting back down, to Cana, Capernaum, he doesn't immediately, turn there, it seems, that he spent the night, in Cana, and then, when he made his way down, his servants met him, and he inquired of them, the hour when he began, to mend, and they said to him, yesterday, so he stayed the day, in Cana, and is now making his way, back to Capernaum, the next day, what's the difference, the fear is gone, faith has come, he believed the word, and this is wonderful, the scripture, in Isaiah 26, says you will keep, them in perfect peace, whose mind is fixed, on you, because they trust, in you, the peace of Christ, that passes all understanding, and there's a wonderful, imagery in Psalm 131, here is stillness, calmness, faithfulness, the chaos, of impending doom, the fear is gone, and he stays in Cana, and now makes his way down, in faith, the man believed, the man believed, the word, [53:59] I was reading, just recently, about the life, of Lieutenant General, Sir William Doby, a senior officer, in the Second World War, who was appointed, the governor of Malta, right at the outset, of the siege of Malta, that lasted, for almost two years, this was terrible suffering, as the Axis forces, Italy and Germany, pummeled the island, in an attempt, to just destroy it, and bring it to its knees, to surrender, and take possession of it, but the island held out, and it turns out, that Doby, was a very committed Christian, he had been born again, in his younger days, and he wrote, thinking back, to all he went through, as the governor of Malta, all the experience, the incredible, providence of God, that held him, and sustained him, he wrote these words, I have found, that Jesus, can and does, meet my needs, in everyday life, in the small details, as well as the bigger issues, I have found, that his help, is real, we can count, on his friendship, at all times, and he will, keep hold of us, it's that promise, that the world, the flesh, and the devil, wants to tear, from the Christians, understanding this morning, it wants you to feel, intimidated, outnumbered, boxed in, cornered, and alone, and if we begin, to feel like that, we're not going to, say much, we're not going to, do much, we're going to feel, powerless, we're going to be, looking in here, feeling timorous, and afraid, and uncertain, that's where the devil, wants the church of Christ, and Calanish, and everywhere else, in Scotland, this morning, silent, on the peripheral, avoided, and ignored, but we, refuse, to go there, we have a message, of life, to share, because we have, the promise of life, in Christ Jesus, that has been made clear, through signs, such as, what happened in Cana, that day, the fever was gone, the Lord, restored, that young boy, to health, that very moment, and they said to him, yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him, and the father knew, it was at the same hour, in which Jesus said unto him, your son lives, and himself believed, and his whole house, you see what's happening now, the spread of faithfulness, the witness of, the message of life, in Christ Jesus, is beginning to transform, hearts and lives, and homes, all around, both in Jerusalem, and now up in Galilee, here in Cana, down in Capernaum, people responding, in faith, and again, the question, how have you responded, to the gospel of grace, how have you responded, to the message of, life in Christ Jesus, you know, [56:51] I'm sure you know, the story of, Martin Luther, he was, one of the, the reformer, who led, the movement, we call the reformation, when he began to expose, the limitations, of the church, of Rome, as Roman Catholicism, what it had developed into, and he took issue with it, and he, and he confronted it, and he exposed it, and challenged it, but at that time, Luther, was one of the most religious men, on earth, he was a lecturer, a theologian, he was a preacher, he, he devoted himself, to prayer, and to liturgy, and to, to, all sorts of devotional exercises, that, just boggle the mind, where did he find, there's only 24 hours in a day, and it would say, how did he manage this, and yet, in the depths, of that religiosity, when we read of his life story, we find misery, and depression, and anxiety, and a deep sense, of lostness, he couldn't, couldn't shed it, he couldn't deal with it, he couldn't get rid of it, it didn't matter what he did, how many candles, he lit, how many pilgrimages, he went to, how many times, he crawled on his hands and knees, to the religious sites, and prayed to the relics, and the saints, he couldn't, he understood, he couldn't get rid of the sense of sin, that was just crushing him, and in the depths, of that misery, he discovered the glory, and grace of the gospel, studying, through Romans, himself, as he prepared his lectures, in the book of Psalms, here's this man, in a state of misery, under the conviction of sin, it doesn't make sense, does it, unless, until we step back and say, well here's someone, who's trying to save himself, that's what he was trying to do, thinking, well if I do this, surely that's good enough for God, if I say my prayers, if I make confession, if I light candles, if I do my penance, if I do the rosary, if I go to relics, and if I go to pilgrimages, and I spend, seven hours a day, and surely that, none of it, none of it could shift, the guilt of his sin, and then, he read anew, and studied anew, and the light of the spirit, shone into his heart, and understanding, in Romans in chapter 3, where he read, all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, oh he knew that all right, then he read, being justified freely, by his grace, through the redemption, that is in Christ Jesus, and he understood, we do not save ourselves, we do not justify ourselves, in our efforts, in our religious practices, in our devotions, in our, whatever it is, that we think, is precious to us, and these things, are good and right, and proper, are distinctively, the matter to us, we do things, in a certain way, of course we do, every church, and denomination, and congregation, has a liturgical model, that we follow, but, in and of itself, it saves no one, the only, way of salvation, is to be justified, freely, by his grace, through the redemption, that is in Christ Jesus, and therefore, [59:53] Luther was, the very gates of paradise, and he understood, that in Christ, alone, our hope, is found, and we see, something of that, here in John 4, the father knew, it was at that hour, that very moment, when Jesus had said to him, your son lives, and himself believed, and his whole house, the second sign, in Cana, there was an impact, down the road, in Capernaum, and a household, gives itself, to Jesus, it's an oasis, of grace, and calm here, to an extent, that, there's a wonderful, transformation, and this is the, the transformative, impact, and effect, of faith, faith, the assurance, of things hoped for, the, it is, the conviction, of things, not seen, and that's what, Luther came to understand, and reading again, [60:55] Romans 3, not through the prism, of his own efforts, thinking, well I've done all my, my duties, and my diligence, that's done, let's see what the Bible, has to say to me today, he parked all that, and he just went to the word, breathed out by God, and understood, for the first time, that we are saved, by grace, through faith, and that's what we find, here in this man, the man believed, the word, that Jesus, spoke to him, in a moment, we're going to sing, in closing from Psalm 24, that glorious Psalm, that asks a question, that comes to the very heart, of the gospel, who is this, King, this King, of glory, who is this, John's answer, is here, this is the second sign, that Jesus did, when he was come out, of Judea, into Galilee, and what John, please do remind us, is the purpose, of all these signs, that you tell us about, in your book, many other signs, [61:59] Jesus did, in the presence, of his disciples, which are not written, in this book, but these are written, that you might believe, Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by, believing, you might have life, through his name, and notice, what Jesus said, to the Father, here as we close, go your way, your Son lives, this, is a message, of life, through our loving, Saviour, who gave himself, for us, take that message, into the week, take that message, into your life, and into your heart, believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, follow him, trust in him, live for him, day by day, and just like, Lieutenant General, Sir William Dobie, each one of us, here today, who may not know, high office, and governorships, and military command, very few, go to these heights, of things, but we know, as well as he, that his friendship, can be relied on, he will keep hold of us, his help is real, may help us, to be a witness, to him this week, let's pray, for a moment together, [63:12] Lord our God, this Sunday morning, we give thanks, for the message of life, in Christ Jesus, indeed for the promise of life, in Christ Jesus, we see this sign, a sign that speaks of life, and power, and authority, not only to restore, to health, but to give, new spiritual life, to that whole family, in Capernaum, so long ago, and we bless you, that that same life, that spiritual vitality, courses through many, here today, may that life, and faithfulness, spread Lord, to this congregation, and community, we pray, in Jesus name, Amen, well we'll close our service, this morning, and we'll sing, from Psalm 24, just to remind you, that the intimations, say there's a cup of tea, available in the hall, at the close of the service, for everyone, who doesn't have to go home, straight away, please do, feel free to stay, we'll sing from Psalm 24, verse 7 to the end, ye gates lift up, your heads on high, ye doors at last for a, be lifted up, that so the King of glory, enter me, but who of glory, is the King, the mighty Lord, is this, even that same Lord, that great in might, and strong in battle is, [64:35] Psalm 24, we'll sing, from verse 7 to the end, to God's praise, He gets lifted, the pure hands on high, ye doors at last for a, 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 holy The mighty Lord is this. [65:36] In that sin, Lord, that great in high and strong in battle is. [65:54] He gave to the pure head, Savior, to our child to last for him. [66:13] Be lifted up, that's all the King of glory everly. [66:31] The true is He that is the King of glory. [66:46] Jesus, the Lord of all, the King of glory is. [67:08] Amen. Let us pray. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. [67:19] Amen. Amen.