Lift Your Eyes

[0:00] So if you've got your Bible, so that's 10, and we're going to read one from Psalms, so the Old Testament from Psalms to start with and then a couple of others after that.

[0:13] ! Psalm 121. Psalm 121. I hope that this sermon will raise a few eyebrows today. I hope that this sermon will raise a few eyebrows.

[0:27] It's talking about lifting up your eyes, raising up your eyes and looking up. Matthew 17 verse 18, it talks about some people that they had been with Jesus.

[0:41] They had been with Jesus. And what they were looking for, Matthew 17 verse 8, I'll just flick there as you turn to Psalm 121. Matthew 17 verse 8, it says, They lifted up their eyes and they saw no man save Jesus only. That's Matthew 17 verse 8.

[1:00] They lifted up their eyes but they saw no man save Jesus only. Lift up your eyes! Here's my theme today. God is not looking so much for buildings as a heart. That was the context of those people as they were on the Mount of Transfiguration.

[1:19] They saw Jesus only. And they were talking about building and building. But the Lord Jesus was more interested that they spent time with Him, that they saw Him. And we want to see Jesus today, high and lifted up, and His train filling the temple.

[1:32] In Revelation 1 verse 13, it says that they saw the Lord Jesus and He had eyes as a flame of fire. He was a glowing, glorious person when they saw Him there.

[1:44] The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. In Daniel 10, He's described as His face is like lightning. His eyes is like flaming torches.

[1:56] We want to see Him today. See Him in all His glory. Look up and see Him today. Look up and get a vision of who He is and what He wants to do in our lives.

[2:07] And I want us to visit together three places today where we can lift up our eyes and get a glimpse of what He wants us to see today. And the first place is in Psalm 121.

[2:19] Psalm 121. It tells us there of a place that we can lift up our eyes. Psalm 121. And I'll read the whole passage there.

[2:32] I will lift up my eyes unto the hills. From whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the Lord, which may heaven and earth. He will not suffer by foot to be manned.

[2:44] He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper. The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

[2:56] The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil. He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even forevermore.

[3:12] It tells us there, The sun has cried out, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills. From whence cometh my help? First place to lift up our eyes and see is the hill.

[3:25] To see the help comes from the Lord. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Perhaps you're going through the valley. Perhaps you're going through a valley time.

[3:36] A time of trouble. A time of suffering or crisis. God has a purpose in those trials. In those troubles. In those suffering times. And he has got a place that we can turn to.

[3:47] He has got the high place. The hill here in this passage, It speaks to us of the hill of Mount Moriah. Or Mount Zion. It's the mountains of Jerusalem.

[3:59] The psalmist was crying out and saying, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills of Jerusalem. Of the holy city. They were the same mountains. Those same hilly peaks.

[4:10] On which our Lord and Saviour was crucified. Amongst those mountains. Amongst those hills of Jerusalem. Was the hill of Calvary. Mount Calvary. The shame.

[4:22] The agonising death of our Saviour. That is where we can look. When we're feeling like everything's hopeless. We can look unto the Lord. We can look unto the hill of Calvary.

[4:33] Where he died and shed his blood for us. From whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord. Christ's compassion is there. On that hill of Calvary. Christ's redeeming love is there.

[4:45] As he's stretched out his arms for you. And for me. Genesis 22 tells us that an altar was there. That Abraham offered his very son Isaac.

[4:57] Was about to slay him. In obedience to the Lord. The place of sacrifice is there. On the hill. On the hill of Calvary. The Mount Moriah.

[5:07] The very same mount. Where God Almighty gave his son. Jehovah Jireh. God provided a lamb. You know. As Abraham went up there. The Lord challenged him.

[5:18] To sacrifice his very son Isaac. Abraham willingly went to that mountaintop. And was ready to do that task. When the Lord provided.

[5:29] A ram and a thicket. There was a ram caught in some bramble bush. And he was the sacrifice. The son didn't have to be sacrificed. And yet we know that God Almighty.

[5:41] God the Father. He did sacrifice his very own son. For us. And we can lift up our eyes. Onto that hill. Of Calvary today. We can lift up our eyes. In a figurative sense.

[5:52] To that cross. Today. And see. Where Christ died for our sins. That we can be saved today. And the Lord Jesus. In Isaiah 45. Verse 22. He says.

[6:03] Look unto me. Look unto me. And be saved. You know. That was a verse that Spurgeon. Was touched by. He got that. Sense that.

[6:13] Yes. That's where he had to look. That was where he had to find his salvation. That is where he had to turn. Hebrews 12. Talks about. Looking unto Jesus. The author.

[6:24] And the finisher of our faith. We should look away from the things that distract. Those things that would take our attention. And look unto the Lord Jesus. Look unto him.

[6:36] Children. Older people today. Look unto the Lord Jesus. He is the one. From whom. You can find help. And strength. And support. Today. He is the one. The only one.

[6:47] There is no other name. Given among men. Whereby we must be saved. No other name. That man can speak. Than Jesus' name. That can give salvation. It's in no other name.

[6:59] Our help comes. From the Lord. Who made heaven and earth. Our help comes. As we look unto the hills. We look unto the hill. Of Calvary. The hill. Where Christ died for our sins.

[7:11] And get that vision today. Get that vision. Of who Jesus is. And what he has done for you. And the help. And the peace. And the salvation. That only he can bring. If you need help.

[7:22] There is one to turn to. There's a helpline. There's a helpline. It's not. Not the pastor's phone number. It's that helpline. Of Jeremiah 33. Verse 3. You know.

[7:33] Well how does it go? Does someone know that one? Call unto me. And I'll answer thee. And show thee great and mighty things. Which thou knowest not. That's God's telephone number.

[7:45] Jeremiah 33. 3. It's the place that we can call. And find that answer. That help that we need. As we talked earlier. Of the help. In time of healing.

[7:55] Help is available. Call out. It says. This river shall call. On the name of the Lord shall be saved. If you're looking for help. If you're looking to be saved. He is the one.

[8:06] To call out. To call out to him today. And secondly. Let's turn to another passage of scripture. It's in the New Testament now. In Luke chapter 16. Another place where someone lifted up their eyes.

[8:20] Friends. I want to urge you today. To get a grasp. To get a firm hold. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. Get a hold of his peace. Get a hold of who he is. Get a look at that hill of Calvary today.

[8:34] In your mind's eye. Can you hear those hammer blows. As they strike. The nails into his very flesh. Get a hold of that tonight. Get a grasp of that tonight. He is the one who can help you.

[8:46] Who laid his hand on a piece of work. And was nailed for you. And for me. Catch a glimpse. Catch a vision. Of that matchless face. That one.

[8:57] That loves you so much. That he gave his very self for you. And you can find help today. So. Look unto the hills. From whence come your help.

[9:08] Secondly. Look. Lift up your eyes. And look. And see help. See the place called help. Tonight.

[9:19] Luke 16. We see. There was a man there. In that. Prefiguring place. Of the eternal hell. That he was in. At this time. Of course we know. The hell of this.

[9:30] Of which this speaks. Will be thrown into. The lake of fire. The Bible says that. Death and hell. Is thrown into the lake of fire. Which is the eternal hell.

[9:41] This is the holding place. Of the hell. That the lost are in. At this time. And the Lord Jesus. Describes this place. In great detail. In Luke 16.

[9:52] Verse 19 onwards. It talks about. A certain rich man. And he was clothed. In purple. And fine linen. And he fared sumptuously. You know. He had a good thing. Every day. And there was a certain beggar.

[10:04] That laid at his gate. Called Lazarus. Full of sores. Verse 21. And Lazarus there. He was desiring to be fed. When the cronswitch fell. From the rich man's table.

[10:14] Moreover the dogs came. And licked his sores. And it came to pass. That the beggar died. And was carried by the angels. Into Abraham's bosom.

[10:26] The rich man also died. And was buried. And what does it say of the rich man here? In verse 23. It says of this lost man. In Luke 16.

[10:36] Verse 23. It says. And in hell. He lift up his eyes. Being in torment. And seeth Abraham afar off. And Lazarus in his bosom.

[10:47] And he cried. And said. Father Abraham. Have mercy on me. And said Lazarus. That he may tip his finger in water. And cool my tongue.

[10:57] For I am tormented. In this flame. But Abraham said. Son. Remember that thou. In thy lifetime. Receivest thy good things. And likewise Lazarus. Evil things.

[11:07] But now he is to comfort it. And thou art tormented. And beside all this. Between us. And you. There is a great gulf fixed. So that they.

[11:18] Which would pass from thence. To you. Cannot. Neither can they pass to us. That would come from thence. Then said I. Sorry. Then he said.

[11:29] I pray thee therefore father. That they would ascend him to my father's house. He cried out. He wanted someone to go. To his father's house. He said. I've got five brothers there. I don't want them to come here.

[11:39] This is awful. In this torment. In this flame. I'm tormented. Just get Lazarus to send. To get his finger and dip it. I just want one drip. Just one drip.

[11:51] Just one drip. Of water. There's no water in hell people. It's a place of fire. It's a place of torment. It's a place of agony. It's a real place. Not some figurative.

[12:02] Imaginary. Illustrated kind of thing. It's a real place. There's a real gulf there. Between the saved and the lost. There's a real pain. A discomfort there. Some will try to explain it away.

[12:14] But God says it's real. It's eternal. It's as real and as eternal as heaven itself. In Matthew 24. I believe it is. There's the same word used.

[12:24] Of hell being eternal. As heaven being everlasting. It's the very same sense of it. Friends. Lift up your eyes. And see hell today.

[12:35] Like this man did. And friends. Men earn their own hell. In Galatians 6 verse 7. It talks about whatever a man sows. That shall he reap. Man deserves hell.

[12:48] He reaps what he sows. Every one of us deserves hell. Of our own selves. Of our own strength. Of our own efforts. But the good news is. You need not be lost.

[12:59] You need not be lost. God has done everything that he possibly could do. That we can be saved. It says that he s not willing that any should perish. It's not his will. It's not his perfect will.

[13:12] That any should be in that place of torment. He s done everything that he can extend that gift to you. To avoid that place. Lift up your eyes and see hell today.

[13:24] You know this is something. It's a subject not always talked about. Hell. Hell. Not talking about the swear word. But the place. The place. Some people it's just a curse word.

[13:35] But this is a place that we're talking about here. People use it as a curse word. But that's where they're going to end up. Friends. Hell is real. There's a terror. A horror. A despair there.

[13:47] A darkness. A dungeon. It's fierce. It's frightening. Endless torture. Horrid screams. Wailing. Weeping. Vain cries for help.

[13:58] Misery. Gnashing of teeth. Pain. Tears. Smell the brimstone. Feel the pain. It is real. Hell is no picnic. No party. No pleasure there.

[14:10] It's real. It's an eternal. Awful. Place of penalty. A place where. Friends. There's no unbelief in hell. The unbeliever starts to realise.

[14:24] Hey. Now I see what I've missed out. There's no light there. There's no exit sign. On the doorway. There's no air conditioning there. It's a lake of fire.

[14:36] There's no floor there. Your bottomless pit. You're falling. There's no hope there. There's no true preachers there. There is no church. No rest. No day. Nor day or night.

[14:47] It's a real place. It's a place of bitter memory. In Luke 16.23. And in hell. He lift up his eyes. Being in torment. The bitter memory.

[14:58] The despair. The doom. The regret. Of his friends. Of his loved ones. Of his brothers. And back down on earth. That had missed out. Friends. What a shame. What a tragic.

[15:09] Tragic thing. A preacher said. I would rather frighten them. Into hell. Than let them go to hell. Unafraid. I want to impress on you today.

[15:22] It is real. It's not some fairy story. I don't want anybody here to go there. To that place. Friends. How much more. How much pleasant. How much more wonderful to go to heaven.

[15:33] As we've been singing. How beautiful heaven must be. That's our home. That's our destination. We that love the saviour. And even younger ones. If you just have that simple trust.

[15:44] That simple trust. In who he is. And what he has done for you. You know. We know. That he'll take us there. Not by anything. Of ourselves. But. Of his great grace.

[15:55] And love. And provision for us. We don't have to go there. But booth said. Go and stand. By the gates of hell. And hear the damned.

[16:05] And treat you to go to their father's house. And bid their brothers and sisters. And servants and masters. Does not come there. Smell that. That. Feel that.

[16:17] Catch the glimpse of that. If we can just. Catch a glimpse of that. Like Booth talked about. You know. We would want to. Share the message. Of hope. Of salvation. That no one.

[16:28] No one would need to be. To go there. In that terrible place. That awful. Awesome reality. Hell is no joke. There's 27 books in the New Testament.

[16:40] 234 times. God talks about. A place of judgment. And eternal punishment. 234 times. Imagine you're going down a road. And you see 234 signs.

[16:53] Saying. Don't go this way. This is the way to hell. You know. Wouldn't you want to. Turn around. And that's what becoming a Christian is. It's when you realize. Yeah.

[17:04] I'm on the highway to hell. Like the singer sings it. But no. I'm going to do a U-turn. And I'm going to go. God's way. That's being a Christian. Is when you repent.

[17:14] You do a U-turn. And you go from your own way. To God's way. But yet. People don't see the signpost. Warning of judgment. Of eternal damnation to come. 234 times.

[17:26] Wouldn't you want to see that signpost. That says you're headed to destruction. I want to implore you. Everyone. Answer not to be sure. Be sure. That you're saved. Be sure that Christ.

[17:38] Is your confidence. It's not yourself. It's not any religious experience. Or imagination. Or work of your own. It's everything that he has done for you. It's everything that he is for you.

[17:49] That he offers to you. That can save you. And you won't have to go to that real place. That place of regret. That place of shame. And it's a place for passion.

[17:59] It's a place of passion for souls. He was a soul winner there. He said. Please send somebody. Send somebody back down. To my home. Send somebody back down.

[18:10] To my dad's place. My brothers are still there. They're still alive. They've still got a chance to be saved. They've still got a chance to avoid. This awful mistake that I've made. That was the plea of hell.

[18:23] Of this man there. He had a passion. About hell. A passion. Of saving souls. It was too late for him. Don't leave it too late. For yourself. Sometimes I think.

[18:35] People think. Oh I'm my deathbed. When I'm breathing my last gas. I'll ask Jesus to save me. Don't leave it that late. You don't know. That you'll have that chance. Leave it.

[18:46] Don't leave it. A moment too long. Trust him now. Trust him now. It's a constant place of awful punishment. And the fact is.

[18:58] About 80,000 people die unsaved daily. To stand before the judge. When they die. And they wake up in hell.

[19:09] In effect. Friends it's real. That's a lot of people. Going to that place. Lift up your eyes. And see. The Lord. His help.

[19:19] Lift up your eyes onto the hill. From whence cometh your help. Trust him. And lift up your eyes and see. There is a reality. Of a place called hell. Lift up your eyes and see.

[19:30] Like the rich man. In his suffering. He lifted up his eyes in hell. In torment. Lift up your eyes and see. That it's a real place. A place to avoid. And thirdly. Another place to turn.

[19:41] If you could. To John. Gospel of John. Chapter 4. Another place. That we're urged to. Well. We could take this. This phrase.

[19:52] Of lift up your eyes. And. Put it into our lives. I pray. John 4. Verse 34. It tells. Us here. Of how the Lord Jesus.

[20:04] He says. The disciples asked of him. Has anyone brought you anything to eat? And in verse 34. Of John 4. He says.

[20:14] My meat. Or my food. Is to do the will. Of him that sent me. And to finish his work. Say not ye. There are yet four months. And then come at the harvest.

[20:26] Behold I say unto you. Lift up your eyes. And see. The fields. Lift up your eyes. And look. On the fields. For they are white.

[20:37] Or ready to harvest. Lift up your eyes. And see. The hills. Lift up your eyes. On the hills. From whence cometh your help. Lift up your eyes. And see hell.

[20:48] It's a real place. That we want to see. Everybody avoid. And lift up your eyes. Thirdly. And see the harvest. Lift up your eyes. And see the harvest. The Lord Jesus says. Lift up your eyes now.

[20:59] He says. Don't. Wait four months. Until. You know. Don't say. Make some excuse. To put it off. To tell another. To reach another. He says.

[21:10] Don't. Have some reason. To prolong. Serving him. Don't. Put it off. To. Live for him. To reach another.

[21:21] For him. He says. The harvest. The opportunity. Is now. The opportunity. Is now. It's not in some distant time. You know. I know. At times.

[21:32] People make the mistake. Of thinking. Well. Before I witness to someone. I've got to have. Everything. Perfect. In my life. Or.

[21:43] I've got to. Memorise. So many scriptures. That I can rattle them off. And not get confused. Or. Have just the right. Things to say. Or.

[21:54] I've got to. Go to some training course. And have. Or maybe go to a bible school. For. Maybe three years. So that I get it right. So that I get everything.

[22:04] Just so. Before I open my mouth. And start to talk to another. About the Lord Jesus. But no. The Lord Jesus says. Say not four months. He says. Behold. Look. Now.

[22:15] The fields are white. Now. They're ready. Now. Unto harvest. Behold. Look now. Is what it has the sense of. Look on the field. See the need. Now.

[22:26] They're white already. Many Christians. Are not sowing. Or reaping. Context. Delay to there. Is of sowing and reaping. Now. Of sowing the seed. Maybe you won't see the fruit.

[22:36] Straight away. I know there's folk. That faithfully go out. And give out. Bible pamphlets. Little tracks. Into. Letterboxes. And. They might go for years.

[22:47] Doing that. Without seeing any fruit. Any results at all. They're sowing. They're sowing. They're putting it out. They may not know. The blessings. Of souls. Reef. Of the words.

[22:57] That people reap. That can touch. People's lives. And hearts. And yet. For others. It's reaping. They might see people. That they can. Lead through. A prayer. And a guide.

[23:08] And through. To reach Christ. For themselves. And see them. One. There and there. As they trust him. In that. In that. Very public way. Of that.

[23:18] Public testimony. Of that public. Acceptance of Christ. In a. In a meeting. Or in a. In a one to one. Witnessing situation. They're reaping. But God wants us. Whether we're a sower.

[23:30] Or a reaper. To get out there. Into the harvest. Now. Look now. The lost. We need to mount. A rescue operation. When you hear. When the media has a story. There's some child.

[23:40] Gone missing. There's a child. Gone missing. In our community. In our neighbourhood. In one of these streets. In Elizabeth Park. Somebody has gone missing. They're lost. Wouldn't you want to go out.

[23:50] And reach them. Wouldn't you want to go out. And find them. Before it's too dark. Before they're in danger. You'd want to go out. You'd want to mount. A rescue operation. That's what the Lord Jesus. Wants us to do church.

[24:01] He wants us to mount. A rescue operation. To reach the lost. At any cost. To reach the lost. To mount. A rescue operation. The lost souls. The lost ones. Are all around us.

[24:12] Perishing. Perishing. Perishing multitudes. And they're ready for the sickle. As it were. Now there was an advertising thing. Being about. The AIDS virus.

[24:23] And they had a grim reaper. This ugly great big. Ghostly looking. Ghoulish looking character. With a big sickle. And you know. In a sense. I can imagine. The devil's like that. Going around.

[24:33] Reaping his harvest. Of people. That know Christ not. You know. When they die lost. They go to an eternity. Of damnation. You know. And yet. God wants us to reap.

[24:45] Souls. He wants us to. To bundle him in. Like it talks about. Bringing in the sheaves. He wants to bring them in. Into his harvest. He wants to bring those. Those harvest grain.

[24:56] Into his storehouse. He wants people to be saved. Now when. In the end of the world. It talks about how the angels. Are going to go out. And they're going to. Take the people. You know.

[25:07] To one place or the other. You know. There's a sense where. When there's an end time. When there's a judgment time. Probably getting mixed up here. Theologically. But. You know. There's a sense where. You know. There's a reaping time.

[25:18] There's a time when. Okay. God says. Right. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Time's up. Planet Earth. And that's it. You know.

[25:28] It's like. When God shut the door. On Noah's Ark. God says. No. Time's up. No more chances. No more time. To make your mind up. It's over. Red Rover. That's what God's going to do one day.

[25:40] I don't know how theologically. Correct that is. But. But there's a sense where that is. Time's up. God's going to say. Time's up. And he says that. For everyone of us. He says. It is appointed unto man. Once to die.

[25:51] But after that. The judgment. We don't know when that time is. Could be tonight. Could be in ten minutes time. God's going to say. Right. Heart attack. For you. Bang. Whoa.

[26:01] Didn't expect it to happen that quick. I thought I had another. 20 or 30 years. You step out of the church tonight. And bang. A bus. Biles you over. Hopefully it's not Gwen to drive you dangerously.

[26:14] Where is she? But no. It's. You know. It can happen. It can happen. Seriously. We don't know how. When our numbers are. But God knows. He's got the appointment. He's already got. You know. In his diary up.

[26:25] In heaven. Not being flippant about it. But seriously. He knows. What date you're going to die. If. If. He's already got. Appointed. It's appointed. Unto man.

[26:36] Wants to die. And after that. The judgment. You know. Hopefully he'll come. In glory. And take us. Before that. We have to die physically. But. Yet. The harvest is coming.

[26:47] And. It says in Jeremiah. The harvest is over. And we are not saved. Son. When the harvest time comes. When the sickle comes. In the harvest grain. And the. Wheat is gathered.

[26:58] I'm. I'm using all kinds of analogies here. But. There's a sense where. When. When God reaps that. Final harvest field. That is planet earth. And we're pictured as being like grain. Some of that grain.

[27:10] Will be. His. Some of it will be. The. Tears. The weeds. And he'll. Separate the weeds. From the weeds. He'll separate the goats.

[27:21] From the sheep. There's a sense where. There'll be a separating time. And we will know then. Which side of Christ we're on. Which side of eternity are we on. 55 people die. Every minute.

[27:32] Without Christ. Every man. With Christ. Is a missionary. Every man. Without Christ. Is a mission field. Harvest time. Lift up your eyes.

[27:43] And see the fields. They're ready. The harvest is ready. The opportunity is ready. For every one of you. If you're a Christian man. Boy. Girl. Woman tonight. If you're a Christian believer.

[27:54] In Christ today. You've got a mission. You've got a call. You've got a reason. To be alive. And that's to tell others. To reach others. For Christ. And.

[28:05] Sure. There's. There's many ways of doing that. It could be a quiet testimony. At the workplace. Could say. Could speak volumes. To others. It could be that. Fact that you're a glowing.

[28:15] Radiant testimony. Of what Christ does. When others use foul language. And filthy jokes. There's something different. And people will notice that. It could be that gospel track.

[28:26] You put in your neighbor's letter box. When no one's looking. It could be. A quiet word. A testimony. To someone. That. May come to church. Who knows the saviour not. That's all about witnessing.

[28:37] It could be. Standing publicly. And preaching the gospel. There's so many opportunities. So many ways. That we can be. A witness. It could be. Enriching the young people. Through various outreach programs.

[28:49] Friends. You are called. You've got a task to do. It talks about. In 1 Corinthians 16. Verse 15. It says. Always abounding. In the work of the Lord.

[29:00] Always abounding. In the work of the Lord. That's 1 Corinthians 15. Verse 58. The other one I'm referring to there. Talks about. People who addicted themselves. 1 Corinthians 16.

[29:11] Verse 15. It tells us there. Of some. That they've addicted themselves. To the ministry. They've addicted themselves. Now you can get addicted.

[29:21] To all kinds of things. Kids today. Don't get addicted. To nicotine. Don't get addicted. To that foul. Filthy wean. That's going to kill you. Don't touch the stuff.

[29:32] It's filthy. It stinks. Don't touch alcohol. Don't get addicted. To that stuff. That's going to. You know. They say it drowns you. You drown your sorrows. But you're poisoning yourself.

[29:44] It's poison. Don't touch the stuff. It's better to steer a wide berth. From anything like that. It's a wrecker of homes. Of lives. It's destructive. Friends.

[29:55] I urge you. Don't get addicted. To drugs. But there is one thing. You should get addicted to. In 1 Corinthians 16. Verse 15. They addicted themselves. To the ministry.

[30:05] They were addicted. They loved serving. They loved being. In Christ's service. They loved serving. And ministering. And being about.

[30:16] The work of the Lord. That's 1 Corinthians 16. 15. They were addicted to it. They just couldn't get enough of it. You know. They just couldn't. Get enough. Of being with Christ.

[30:26] Of serving him. And friends. Today. There's not many laborers. There's a harvest field. There's not many laborers. There's abundant grain. But there's few laborers. As Matthew 9.

[30:37] Verse 37. Talks. There's lots of need. We see Christ on the hillside. There's many harassed. And helpless. And without a shepherd. And Christ says.

[30:47] They're like sheep without a shepherd. Friends. They need Christ. We've got a mandate. We've got a calling. In Mark 16. Go and preach the gospel. To every creature. Take the word of God.

[30:58] We're called to it. The task is still the same. They're still perishing. Just the same. Rescue the perishing. Many are all taught. But no action. And. He's looking for souls today.

[31:12] He's loving souls. He's longing for souls to be one. And he wants us to be about. The rescue work. The rescue work. The work of mission. And Jude 23. Talks about stride.

[31:23] To save others. Snatching them. Out of the flames. That's the picture there. Look. If you saw someone. And they're there. In a burning bush. Wouldn't you want to do something about it?

[31:34] Peggy. Wouldn't you want to do? Ian. If someone's there. In a burning house. And they're crying out. In the window. Wouldn't you want to get a ladder. And try to get them out.

[31:45] Wouldn't you want to call them. Wouldn't you want to. Wouldn't you want to. Help them. That's the message. That's the picture. Of Jude 23. Of snatching them from the burning. Snatching them from the flames.

[31:56] It's a must. It's essential. It's urgent. It's not enough just to. Think about it. We've got to be about. The work. Be about the work. There is work to be done. It talks in the Bible about disciples.

[32:10] Disciples. Now. Julie and I used to live in the Northern Territory. And they've got a Creole Bible. In the. The Creole Aboriginal language.

[32:21] Up in Northern Territory. And. They translate the word disciple. Working men. Working men. Christ's disciples are his working men. His working men.

[32:32] That's what he wants you to be. Working for him. His working man. His working woman. A worker for the kingdom of God. Be his disciple. Be his worker. Be his hand extended. Be addicted to the ministry.

[32:44] Be addicted. Be so. You just can't get enough. Of serving Christ. Of living for him. God wants you to be like that. God wants you to be his working man.

[32:55] To be productive. And. There's a story told. About people standing idle. In the marketplace. In another. Of the gospels. It talks about people. Standing idle. In the marketplace.

[33:07] It's got the sense. Of they're unemployed. They're not working. And. God. Takes hold of them. And gets them. Productively engaged. He gets them. The pictures of a man going out.

[33:17] And takes these unemployed. These. These. People not working. And he gives them a job to do. He takes them out. And he gives them work to do. And. There's plenty of vacancies.

[33:28] In the kingdom of God. There's plenty of employment. Plenty of employment. Plenty of employment positions for you. To be about. The work of the kingdom of God. To be about. His service.

[33:39] There's no university degree required. There's no experience necessary. There's. Full on the job training provided. He says. I will make you fishers of men.

[33:52] There's an immediate start. No one. Who applies correctly. Is denied a position. There's an excellent boss. Plenty of bonuses. There's a unique pay rate.

[34:03] It's matchless. Very rewarding. It's out of this world. There's a house supply. Rent free. You just have to wait. A little while for it. And the qualification.

[34:15] You just have to be a sinner. Calling on the name of the Lord. There's a vacancy for you. In the kingdom of God. There's a position available. You can apply today. Tonight. To trust him.

[34:26] To be his worker. To be his servant. There's a recruitment drive. Going on right now. On planet earth. For people. Who say. Yes. I want to call on the name of the Lord.

[34:37] Yes. I want to be saved. Yes. And we that are saved. We've got a work to do. In going out. Into the highways and hedges. And compel the lost.

[34:48] To come in. The Christless ones. The sin cursed souls. Of our world. And let's lift up our eyes. And get that heart rending vision. Of that harvest field.

[34:58] Of that ripened grain. Of the immediacy of it. Of the urgency. Of the present tense of it. Behold. Look. Now. They're right. They're right.

[35:08] Now. And point the unsaved to Christ. Let's be alert. For every opportunity. As we go about life. For every opportunity. That God brings our way. To introduce another soul.

[35:20] To the saviour. Let's look out for that. So friends. Just to wrap up. Tonight. I've asked us to look at three verses. Just quickly to recap. Three things to do.

[35:31] Three ways. We can lift up our eyes. Three things to look. And lift up our eyes. And see tonight. First let me talk to you about. Lift up your eyes. Unto the hills. From whence come your help.

[35:43] My help comes from the Lord. If you're looking for help. Look no further than looking to Christ today. Especially if you need help for your soul. For your soul's condition. If you're lost today.

[35:54] Look no further than look at Christ today. Look at the one who died for your sins. Who died to give you life. Look unto the hill. The hill where he died. The hill of Calvary.

[36:05] Where he shed his blood. Where he took our place. Our very sin upon himself. So we could be saved and spotless from our sin. Look to him today. Look to the hill.

[36:16] Look to the Lord. Secondly we saw the man who lifted up his eyes in hell. In torment. In flame. In suffering. Lift up your eyes and see the reality. There is a place called hell.

[36:27] It's real. It's eternal. We don't want any of our loved ones. Of our enemies to go there. We don't want anybody to go there. You know Christ died. And it says while we were yet sinners.

[36:39] While we were still enemies. God wanted to reconcile us to himself. By what he had done. And he's not willing that any should perish. God doesn't want to even send Adolf Hitler to hell.

[36:51] God is not willing that any should perish. If that man should repent of his sin. And ask for salvation. God will extend it. Friends. If you might think you're too guilty.

[37:02] Too shamefully sinful. God extends his invitation. You don't have to go to that place called hell. And thirdly. There is a harvest. Lift up your eyes as believers today.

[37:14] If you're a believer. There's a harvest. Jesus says look out. Lift up. Behold. Look out now. It's all about us. The harvest field. That is Elizabeth. The harvest field.

[37:25] That is Smithfield. Salisbury. Davin Park. Adelaide. Lift up your eyes and see the harvest. That is all about you. And get about the work of harvest. Take it.

[37:36] It's message. Take this message about you. To the souls about you. As God leads you. You don't have to go crazy about it. But you can take it.

[37:47] As you go. And live your life. Take it. As opportunity opens. God will lead you to those souls. That he wants you to speak to. And he will lead you.

[37:57] To give you the words to say. That they can trust him. And most of all. Be prayerful. Be prayerful about it. That the Lord would guide you. Prayerfully. To the ones to speak to.

[38:07] They could be even here tonight. People that you rub shoulders with. That you can share the message with. Even just now. Let us pray. Lord we thank you today. For your precious pages of your word today.

[38:18] That opens our lives to your truth. Lord we ask you dear God. That if there be any present today. Who know you're not. That Lord you're just some theory.

[38:29] Some person who lived long ago. But they haven't got a relationship with you. They don't know you personally. Lord that they'll cry out. From the bottom of their heart. And say Lord I want to know you tonight.

[38:41] Lord I want to be yours today. I want to belong to you. I don't want to belong to this old sinful world. And this old devil anymore. I want to be yours. To be adopted into your family.

[38:52] To be yours today. To turn from my sin and self. To turn from my own way of living. To find that new way of living. Of eternal life that you give. As a gift to each one.

[39:03] Lord I call on you. By faith just now. Lord that if there be any one. They'll do that. From the depths of their heart. Lord we pray for any. Here today that not one. Will go to hell.

[39:14] But that I'll know. That heaven is their home. That place of eternal harmony. And bliss. And perfection. Lord that you've made available. By your precious work.

[39:24] On the cross. And Lord lastly that. We see about us. The need. Of our world. And we respond. Lord taking the message. As you give us grace and strength to.

[39:35] Lord if there's any present. Who've got hurts and needs. They'll call on you right now. Lord that we can find that help. We can find that grace. In Jesus name. Amen.

[39:46] God bless you everybody. We're going to close with a song. What about. Should have not prepared. What about.

[39:58] We have heard the joyful sound. 217. We've heard the joyful sound. Jesus saves. Jesus saves. Young and old. Jesus saves tonight. He can be your saviour. He can be your Lord.

[40:09] Jesus saves. Jesus saves. 217. We have heard the joyful sound. That's the message. That's the message. There is a hell. But there's a heaven.

[40:20] Amen. Who wants to go to heaven today? Amen. I'm sure we all. Deep down. We'd rather be. With Christ in heaven. We want to see his joyful face. As he welcomes you.

[40:31] You know it says. One day. He's going to stand. At a gateway. At a portal somewhere. And he's going to say. Welcome. He says. He's going to. He's going to say. Well done.

[40:41] That good. And faithful servant. Enter into. The joy. Of my Lord. And I think when he says that. He's going to have a beam on his face. He's going to have a smile from ear to ear.

[40:52] Enter into the joy. Of my Lord. Won't it be great to see his face? And the Bible says. When we see him. We'll be like him. We'll be like him. You'll be smiling brighter than you've ever smiled Peggy.

[41:02] If you know the Savior. When you see his face. It says you're going to be like him. And you're going to enter into. The joy of my Lord. Well done. That's going to be a great welcome. A great welcoming time.

[41:13] And yet. It will only happen. If you find him here below. If you find him here below. Make sure you know him now. And then. He'll welcome you then. Thank you.