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[0:00] Scripture reading is in the Old Testament, taken from the prophecy of Isaiah, the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 6, and we'll read the first 8 verses of that chapter.

[0:18] Isaiah chapter 6 verses 1 to 8, and it's on page 689 of your pew Bible.

[0:30] In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple.

[0:47] Above him stood the seraphim, each had six wings, with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

[1:00] And one called to the other and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory.

[1:12] And the foundations of the threshold shook at the voice of him who called. And the house was filled with smoke. And I said, Woe is me, for I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.

[1:36] For my eyes have seen the Lord of hosts. Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.

[1:52] And he touched my mouth and said, Behold, this has touched your lips. Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.

[2:05] And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Who shall I send, and who will go for us?

[2:17] Then I said, Here am I, send me. And he said, Go and say to this people.

[2:29] May God, that is blessing to that person of his word. And over in the New Testament, in John's Gospel, chapter 20, we're reading from verse 11 to 18.

[2:47] St. John's Gospel, chapter 20, and reading from verse 11 to 18. And that's in page 1093 in the Bible.

[3:03] But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. And as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb.

[3:16] And she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, Woman, why are you weeping?

[3:30] Whom are you seeking?

[3:56] Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.

[4:08] Jesus said unto her, Mary. She turned and said to him in Arameach, Rabboni, which means teacher.

[4:22] Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God.

[4:41] Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, I have seen the Lord. And that he had said these things to her.

[4:57] May God add his blessing to that public reading of his holy and precious world. I have had to go round the congregation tonight, round every one of you, and ask you perhaps what is the greatest thing you have actually seen in your life.

[5:27] Some of us have lived longer than others. Therefore, we have saw perhaps more things throughout our life than some of you.

[5:39] But I am sure if I had to ask you what is the greatest thing through our fleshy eyes that you have seen, I am sure there will be many and varied answers to my question.

[5:57] So what is the greatest thing or event that you have seen in your lifetime or even some great personality? Some things you would like to see again, and of course some things we would not like to see or ever remember again.

[6:19] For instance, 2021 and 2022 for a start. And we know not, of course, what 2023 may bring to us.

[6:35] How easily you and I take for granted some of the smallest things that affect us and that we have in life, yet most essential to our life and to our living and our existence in this creation of time.

[7:00] The psalmist declares in Psalm 138 and verse 14. He says, For I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

[7:16] And so we are. We are wonderfully and fearfully made when you think of it. We were created in the very image of God himself.

[7:33] But how far that creation has been deflected through failure and sin. One of the greatest things I saw once was coming out of one of the Norwegian fiers at 2 o'clock in the morning.

[7:55] And there was a glorious sunset. And everybody was out in the decks of the cruise ship taking pictures of this great and glorious sunset at 2 o'clock in the morning.

[8:12] That's one simple thing that was great to perceive and to see. But just think for a moment if God had not, when he created man, had not given eyes or eyesight to see the creation.

[8:34] Just how essential then is these eyes of ours in our being and in our creation.

[8:44] How we should cherish the fact that we are able to see and to witness what we see.

[8:58] How essential then is our eyes. And you know, you might agree with me and you might not agree with me. But I'm perfectly sure God, it's as God had eyes.

[9:11] When God saw its creation, he looked upon it and saw everything was great and good. Everything was perfect. But I believe that God could create it, this world, with his eyes shut.

[9:29] Why do I say that? Could you imagine God with his eyes shut? But God is the God of the impossible and is the all-powerful one.

[9:41] And he brought out a void and nothingness, this creation that we have around us today. So I'm perfectly sure that the all-powerful God could even have created what he created.

[9:58] And all perfection, even with his eyes shut. Sight and seeing is very special and essential.

[10:11] And more particularly to us as Christians in the outworking of God's word. And our seeing it and understanding of it.

[10:27] So God created us with two eyes to see. And how wonderful that is to us.

[10:39] But you know, some people that is claimed have second sight. Second sight. They can see ahead of things.

[10:53] And they claim by this second sight to see things that are going to happen ahead. And often the case has been true that these things have happened.

[11:06] You know, my old boss that I served my time with came from Oban.

[11:16] He's a Gaelic-speaking man from Oban. And a wild swearing man he was. But he'd done most of his swearing in Gaelic.

[11:28] So nobody understood what he was saying. But we knew what he was saying. And he said that the first language spoken in the Garden of Eden was Gaelic.

[11:42] He said that the first language spoken in the Garden of Eden was Gaelic. And when I told him, went in and told him one day I got converted.

[11:53] Well he picked on me from that day. And it was one continual argument throughout the apprenticeship of the Bible and of religion and of God and of Jesus Christ.

[12:06] He said I can worship God anywhere. And I'm out on the side. He said I can get up Ben Crewein and worship God up there. I don't need to go to any church or have any preaching for me to worship God.

[12:21] And that was John McCall. I spoke to him. He retired. And he was working for another butcher part time. Just to keep him so low he proud.

[12:32] I spoke to him one day at three o'clock in the afternoon. And I got home and I got a phone call saying, John McCall died at half as three. Just as sudden as that.

[12:44] So that was John McCall. But he claimed that Highlanders had this second sight. They could see ahead of things.

[12:56] Prophesize things. My grandmother was like that. She saw two of her grandsons born. And she said to us, she said Peter had a son this morning.

[13:11] Five o'clock and it was two. Came to pass. And she claimed to have this second sight. So there is something in it.

[13:24] But I believe that us as Christians have second sight. Second sight Christians. We see with the eye of flesh one particular side of this world in which we live.

[13:43] And we see with the other eye. And we see with the other eye. The spiritual eye. Which God through his Holy Spirit. Opens our spiritual eye.

[13:54] And we see. We see things. Eternal. As well. As things. Earthly. So in a certain sense.

[14:05] We as Christians. Are second sighted. We see through the eyes of flesh. When God by spirit. When God by spirit converts us.

[14:15] And opens our spiritual eyes. Then we see. The things. Of the spirit. The things which are seen. We are told. Are temporal.

[14:26] The things which are not seen. Are eternal. But we are able to see. Some of these eternal aspects. Through spiritual insight.

[14:37] Given by God. So I believe that we as Christians. Have this second sight. In the spiritual sense.

[14:48] And to see something. To see something. And to be moved by it. Is brought.

[15:00] From time to time. To us. In and throughout. God's inspired world. People who have saw things. In both aspects.

[15:13] From the world view. The flesh view. And the spiritual view. They have seen things. Which have challenged them. Inspired them. Jolted.

[15:24] And even shocked them. And moved them. To action. And encouragement. Something.

[15:36] For them. It seems so impossible. Had come to pass. And this. God's word. Is full. Of such.

[15:46] Examples. Examples. For our. For our knowledge. And for our. Teaching. We see things.

[15:57] That move us. We see things. That jolts us. And inspires us. And shocks us. We're in a world today. Of absolute shocks.

[16:08] Between one thing. And another. We just think. Of this terrible. Of this terrible. Case. With these policemen. In Memphis. Tennessee. The other night.

[16:19] Kicking that young fella. To bits. And they were all coloured. And big strong men. That no need. To use such force. And power. To arrest.

[16:30] A man. Such things. That move us. And yet inspire us. Now as you and I read. The account of creation.

[16:43] And this. Perfect paradise. That God had created. Peaceful. Perfect. And absolute.

[16:54] Stillness. Just as we would hope. The world to be. God created everything. Absolutely perfect. And for his glory. And then.

[17:05] Along comes. This. Creeping. Serpent. Or is it. For this serpent. Has a voice. And speaks. And you know.

[17:18] Today. As you and I. Live in a world. Of. Chiefly. Sin. Corrupted. Ruined. Mankind. Wrecked. By.

[17:28] And by the curse. Of Eden. And sin. And God's. Flame and sword. Of justice. Wrath. And judgment. All this.

[17:44] Has come to pass. Simply. One of the things. Simply. That has brought. This ruination. In the world. In which we live today.

[17:55] In the state. Of affairs. In which. We see ourselves. Is because. Of eyes. These two eyes. We are told that.

[18:09] Eve. Saw this tree. And she. Looked. Looked at it. And it looked. Very. Encouraging.

[18:20] And inviting. And she looked. She saw. She took. And she ate. And she literally swallowed.

[18:31] All. That the serpent. Satan. Had said. And advised her to do. And thus. Sin. Entered. The world. And not satisfied.

[18:43] With that. She gave. Also to her partner. Her husband. And he. Partook. And ate. And brought. The judgment. Of the flaming sword. Of justice.

[18:55] And. Of God's justice. Upon the humankind. Now away. I say. Away with your. Drawings. Of Satan.

[19:07] All covered. And draped. In black. With a. Black hood. Over his head. And. Great big. Feet.

[19:17] And nails. And hands. With large nails. And everything. These are the pictures. That I once saw. When I was a kid. Fierce looking pictures.

[19:28] Of Satan. All in black. Painted up. And. Gruesome. Looking. As possible. But you know. That.

[19:39] That's not really true. Because. The Bible. Gives us a description. Of Satan. As appearing. As an angel. Of light. And you see.

[19:50] I believe. That Satan. Is a master. Of illumination. He can put up. Things. As a. Me. And lights. And make them look.

[20:02] So. Attractive. To the eye. To the human eye. So. Attractive. So large. Because.

[20:14] He can make things. Look as beautiful. And as bright. As. Possible. So attractive. To the eyes.

[20:25] And so. It was partly. Through eyes. That brought. This world. To where. It is. Today. By ease.

[20:36] Looking. And partaking. And. Swallowing. All. That the devil. Had suggested. And you know.

[20:48] That brought. God's wrath. And separation. From God. How can.

[21:01] How Satan. Can make us look. How. He can make. Look. Us look at things. So bright. So beautiful. So attractive. That we are compelled.

[21:14] At times. To look at them. When we should be looking. The other. Way. Such. Is this devious. Way.

[21:24] Of. Working. With. Our human race. Eve. Was trapped. Therefore. By the eyes. She was trapped. By these two eyes.

[21:36] Looking. And partaking. Of the unforbidden. Fruit. Take David. Great and called. Of God.

[21:46] To rule Israel. A great king. All his amazing. Escapes. From Saul. His great victories. That he won. His triumphs.

[21:57] Yet. He was caught. Simply. By Satan's. A trap. Simply. By the eyes. Satan. Trapped him.

[22:08] By the same. As he trapped Eve. By. The eyes. By looking. That. David. Looked. And saw.

[22:19] This woman. From the. Rooftop. And his eyes. Of lust. Was cost. Upon her. And. He committed. This.

[22:29] Devilish. Way. And horrific. Way. Of obtaining. What his eyes. Saw. And lusted after. He got. A rightful husband.

[22:40] Killed. Put him. In the front line. Of battle. When he knew. He would get killed. In order. To fulfill. His lusts. And.

[22:51] The sight of his eyes. His lustful. Desires. Then he was rebuked. By Nathan. And he confesses. I have sinned. But the wonderful thing.

[23:04] About it is. Nathan said. God is prudent. Your awful. Iniquity. There is nothing more.

[23:17] Appealing. I'm sure. Than. What. Nehemiah. Saw. Nehemiah. Was just. An ordinary servant. Serving the king.

[23:29] With his wine. And. And other. Victuals. But. Nehemiah. Had a great burden. On his back. A great burden.

[23:39] On his mind. And that. Was of his beloved. In Jerusalem. His beloved city. Which was once. The pride. Of the whole earth. Lies and ruins.

[23:50] Destroyed. Temple. Broken down. Walls. Rubble. And ruin. What. Dessolution. Met his eyes.

[24:01] That night. He rode out. Around the walls. Of Jerusalem. But. Such a sight. Moved him. What he saw. Moved him.

[24:14] What he saw. And met his eyes. Caused him. To action. Much grief.

[24:25] And such grief. Moved him. To prayer. And we see. In Nehemiah. A great concern. To rebuild. These walls.

[24:35] These walls. Of Jerusalem. He had tremendous faith. In his heart. That these. Walls. Not temple. Would be.

[24:46] Once again. Restored. And I believe. In that very moment. His eyes. Was caught. With another vision. Another vision.

[24:57] Caught his eyes. For I believe. At that moment. He saw. A restored temple. A rebuilt. Wall. And he saw. He saw.

[25:07] A new. Jerusalem. Remember. That great. Revelation. That John saw. A prisoner.

[25:19] In Patmos. For. The witness. Of the gospel. Of Jesus Christ. Was given. That great. And tremendous. Vision. Of the new. Jerusalem.

[25:30] Coming down. From God. Out of heaven. He saw. A new. Jerusalem. And he heard. These wonderful. Words. Behold.

[25:41] I make all. Things. A new. And I believe. At Nehemiah. Saw. A rebuilt. Temple. A rebuilt. Wall. A restored.

[25:52] Temple. And a new. Jerusalem. Altogether. And what of us. What of us.

[26:02] Here. Is this. Not our. Jerusalem. The. The. The town. Itself. We. See.

[26:13] These. Towns. Of the. The spiritual. Walls. Broken. Down. Ruined. By. Sin. Churches.

[26:24] Closing. Their. Doors. Once. Were. Thriving. Mission. Halls. Demolished. And houses. Built. In a place. Churches.

[26:35] Turned. Into pubs. And into. Dance halls. We see. This. Here. In our. Own. Town.

[26:46] Of. The. Face. One. Church. I know. Of. Had. Has. 900. Listed. Members. On. Its. Communion.

[26:57] Role. And now. They tell me. It's down to about 50. Or 60. Of a membership. And a morning service.

[27:09] And more threats. Of closure. And how does this challenge your vision. And my vision. As it is. Jerusalem. Challenged.

[27:21] Nehemiah. How deep a concern. Have we. For. Our. Jerusalem. Here. In this town.

[27:32] Of. Dumfries. Just the other day. At the mosque. There's a. Islamic mosque. Up the road from me. At Noble Hill School.

[27:44] Just the other day. I watched. I'd say. Almost. 60. At least. And 20. Of them. Were young. Children. Coming out.

[27:55] Of the Friday. Prayers. At 2 o'clock. In the afternoon. It used to be 6. Or 10.

[28:07] Went to these meetings. In Noble Hill School. Now it's increased. To I said about 60. Or even. More. And I thought to myself.

[28:19] As I watched them coming out. I said. What if these were all Christians. 60 of them in there. Praying. For God. To work.

[28:30] And move. In revival. And quickening. In this very town. Here. Of Dumfries. And there they were. All in there.

[28:41] Praying. To Mohammed. Six. Six. Six. Six. Six. Of them. All crowding out. Of that. Prayer meeting. I know how.

[28:54] Desire. And wish. That God. Would move. In such a way. That. Our prayer meetings. Would be greatly. And tremendously. Increased.

[29:04] And perhaps then. God. Might. Seek to move. In our midst. In revival. Men here.

[29:15] In the face. Have prayed for years. And preached. For revival. And still. We are looking. For that. Abundant blessing. For God's hand.

[29:26] To be upon us. We are a small congregation here. Some of us. Some of us. Are committed.

[29:37] And do. What we can do. But some of us. Can't do. What we once. Could do. And wish to do. Because infirmity.

[29:48] And age. Has set in. Has caught up with us. Unfortunately. But you know. At Christmas. I received a book. From two great friends.

[29:59] Here in the congregation. Entitled. Old. But not out. And there's one thing. We can faithfully. And in the spirit's power.

[30:10] We are not out. Nor will be out. We can. We can't pray. For the work. If we cannot work. As we used to work. And this is an open door.

[30:22] For us. Which will never. Be shut. So long as we seek. To enter. Into it. It will neither be shut. By time. Nor.

[30:33] By age. We can pray. Fervently. To seek. The Lord's. Blessing. And coming over. Then to Isaiah.

[30:44] We have entered. We have entered. A new year. And. This. For Isaiah. Was to be.

[30:54] A special year. It was a special year. For him. Because he had a special. Revelation. When he could. Explain. Exclaim.

[31:05] I saw. The Lord. And by. Seeing the Lord. In such a way. That comes. This expression. From. The prophet.

[31:16] Woe is me. For I. Am undone. Conviction. Strikes his soul. And he realises. His total.

[31:27] Unworthiness. Before. A holy. And a righteous. God. Woe is me. For I am undone. I am a man. Of unclean lips. And I dwell. In the midst of a people.

[31:38] Of unclean lips. For mine eyes. Have seen the king. The Lord. Of hosts. But for Isaiah. Too. There is hope.

[31:49] Of salvation. We see that. Seraph. And taking that life. Call. And purging flame. You. Your iniquity.

[32:00] Is taken. Away. Thy sin. Is purged. And do you and I. Not see in this. A preview. Of Calvary. A preview.

[32:12] Of Calvary. The taking away. Of sin. And the purging. And cleansing. Of its power. This changed. The whole life.

[32:23] Of the prophet. And by that. Changed life. We see here. A committal. To the question.

[32:34] That God asks. Whom. Shall I send. Says the Lord. And Isaiah. Responses. Here am I. Send me.

[32:46] Such a revelation. Such a sight. Of seeing God. Changed his life. And. Made him willing. To go. And serve. And to tell.

[32:57] Of what. He had seen. This for me. Is a total picture. Of total conversion. We see here. A changed life. And seeing.

[33:09] The Lord. Is that our experience. This evening. Hour. The sight. It's a sight. That saves.

[33:20] The sight. Of seeing the Lord. Is a sight. That saves. And brings salvation. I believe. That Isaiah. So. Isaiah.

[33:31] Saw himself. As he really was. In the sight. Of a holy God. And how do you. And I. See ourselves. In the sight.

[33:42] Of such a holy God. And the seraphim. To me. Is a sign. Of salvation. Here. Is a sign.

[33:52] Of the cross. Of Calvary. We go to Calvary. And we see. Three figures. Hanging there. On a cross. Three. One condemned.

[34:03] Criminal. Sees with his eyes. It brings conviction. And salvation. Here. Is a picture. Of. God. Opening.

[34:14] The spiritual eyes. Of this dying. Thief. Is it not. His eyes. Bring to him. Conviction. And salvation.

[34:25] We deserve. He said. The punishment. But this man. Has done nothing. Amiss. And he makes. That simple. Pray Lord.

[34:36] Remember me. When I comest. Into thy kingdom. A very. Simple. Prayer. And.

[34:47] I do believe. That. That he saw. In that. Sacred. And. Bludgeoned. Body. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ. Cown with thorns.

[34:58] Pierced with nails. Hands. And feet. He saw. The ultimate. Victor. Over sin. And death. And hell. And Satan.

[35:11] He saw. Beyond. That. Affliction. On the cross. The one. Who was. The glorious. That triumphant. The victor.

[35:22] And would rise. From the grave. Lord. Remember me. He says. When thou comest in. To thy kingdom. The kingdom. Pastor. The German. Theologian.

[35:35] In prison. In a Nazi. Concentration camp. Someday. Asked him. An enquirer. About. The situation. And. And. Damn.

[35:46] Damn. Damn. Damn. Damn. Went. Plant war. And simply wrote. On the ground. Christus. Victor. Christ.

[35:57] Is. Victor. And. I believe. That's what the thief saw. In Christ. Hanging there. On the cross. Christ. The mighty. Victor.

[36:08] it was there that the flaming sword of Eden's garden fell in Jesus Christ or the burning coal as it were the burning coal and the flaming sword fell in Christ the living sacrifice on that altar at Golgotha but for that cross that he died and for you and for I and coming into the New Testament the experience of Mary of Magdala one of the most stunning words that ever was spoken to anyone there has been many great words spoken and expressions made of many famous individuals in the past many of them are quoted again and again but none can ever compare with the eternal word of God you remember these men who were sent to arrest Jesus they were sent to arrest him by the crowd and when they came back without him the accuser said where is he?

[37:40] why haven't you got him? and their simple answer was this because no man ever spake no man ever spake like this man they were arrested and they were caught by the words of Jesus Christ and here is one of these other great and tremendous eternal words which I'm sure will never pass away as God's words shall not pass away Mary says I have seen the Lord the Lord the Lord and Campbell Morgan tells us that Mary was first sent with the gospel of the resurrection and I believe here again is the very part where Christian believers have this second spiritual sight not through the eyes of flesh but as God by his spirit and his words opens our spiritual eyes to see

[38:50] Jesus and seeing Jesus we see God himself his revelation to us Mary received that second sight she saw her Lord and I knew in different ways she saw him in all his resurrected power and glory and so if you have come tonight with Thomas' unless you remember Thomas' unless unless I see I shall not believe or even Philip's question show us the father and it suffices us may God open the spiritual eyes your spiritual eyes that you may see Jesus Christ saying behold my hands and my side and my feet it is

[39:51] I and that by God's spirit he may be able to answer as Thomas did my Lord and my God I listened to Jesus answer to Philip Jesus said to him and this is a man that had followed and walked with Jesus all these years Jesus answered to him was he that has seen me has seen the father also God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself on another occasion Jesus said I and the father are one united together in that holy paraclete but here comes this old Jehovah witness trick the old Jehovah witness trick he said the point to that portion of scripture where Jesus says of myself

[41:01] I can do nothing and he said there you are he's hopeless he's helpless I of myself can do nothing how can he be God how can he be Jesus Christ and be God at the same time when he says I can do nothing well he said to him that's absolutely true it's true what he said but he was speaking in his humility he was speaking as a man in his condescension and humility and he said to them not in his divinity he was still not only the son of God but he was God him very still of myself I can do nothing yes humanly speaking but in the spiritual sense and the divinity of Christ he was all a powerful one he was speaking in his humility and not in his divinity and people talk about making new year resolutions

[42:18] I have done it I'm sure some of you have done it you make resolutions and they don't last five minutes these resolutions are broke and here is a resolution that the psalmist made I psalm 16 and verse 8 to 30 wonderfully expounded just a few sabbets ago by our friend John James Cranston on what the psalmist made this resolution I set the Lord he said always before me he is at my right hand I shall not be moved that was the resolution of the psalmist and that can be our resolution not only throughout the coming year or years that are past but the years ahead

[43:22] I set the Lord always before me every year every month every day of the year may God help us to do that I don't know who wrote these words the barn wastes are fruitful green the desert blooms with roses when he the glory of all lands his lovely face discloses and I close with that wonderful promise that eternal and immortal promise given us in 1 John chapter 3 verses 1 and 2 behold what manner of love the father has bestowed upon us now are we the sons of God there is God and it does not yet appear what we shall be but we know when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is there

[44:35]  Jesus Christ seeing Jesus is seeing God that is God's ultimate for us and that is beyond all reasoning and all understanding and all reality may God bless these few thoughts to our hearts this evening hour we close我是 as re Christ as as may oderif contrach