[0:00] So let's begin our service of worship by singing to God, to his praise, out of Psalm 89 in the Scottish Psalter. Psalm 89 in the Scottish Psalter, and we sing verses marked 8 to 5.
[0:18] Psalm 89, verse 5. The praises of thy wonders, Lord, the heavens shall express, and in the congregation of saints, thy faithfulness. Down to verse 8. O thou that art the Lord of hosts, what Lord in mightiness is like to thee, who compassed round art with thy faithfulness? Psalm 89, verses 5 to 8.
[0:56] The wishes of thy wonders are the heavens and express, and with the congregation of saints, the Lord of hosts, what compassed round art with thy faithfulness?
[1:24] For whom we may dream with the Lord may what himself compare?
[1:37] Who is thy God among the saints of the Lord of hosts, my dear?
[1:52] Who has throughed thy Hinaltung, theépoque Christ, and with the congregation of sinners. By other than theầy of thou ahold of démission.
[2:04] and to the Lord. And the O'er of redemption will lament be our Lord.
[2:25] O the Lord of the Son of God, work hard with my beginning.
[2:40] And I will see He quiqua up current and will open thyOrnist.
[2:56] Let us bow our heads in prayer. Gracious and eternal Lord, we have just been singing out of your own word.
[3:16] O thou that art the Lord of hosts, what Lord in mightiness is like to thee? Perfectly holy, incontestably sovereign, all-powerful, ultra-discerning, the sole proprietor of everything there is, the creator of all things, our lawgiver, our judge, and we trust our Saviour.
[4:01] We come to you, Heavenly Father, and we pray that you would bless us tonight in your house as we come to worship you.
[4:14] And we cannot give you anything but honour and praise and glory, but we cannot even give you that until you first give us your spirit, your grace, your blessing.
[4:34] Eternal One, be pleased to continue your mercy upon us. Many of us here can say for decades, for 80 decades, you have been favourable toward us.
[4:55] You've taken care of us since we came out of the womb. O Lord, what reason we have to bow humbly before you and worship you, but become gracious God before you as one who is full of steadfast love.
[5:19] You never begin to love eternally and stop. O Lord, we thank you, even our sin cannot stop you loving your people.
[5:35] And so we bow before you and thank you. We worship you and praise you for your great grace. O Heavenly Father, you are worthy.
[5:49] You are worthy to be praised. We come, Lord, humbly, remembering we brought the curse on the universe.
[6:01] We remember we have despised and rejected overtures of mercy. We come, Lord, remembering that we've done our own thing.
[6:12] We've pleased ourselves instead of our maker. Lord, we acknowledge that we are more guilty than the heathen.
[6:24] For the heathen have never heard of your glory. The heathen have never heard of your mercy. The heathen have never had the overtures of mercy which we've had.
[6:38] Thank you, Heavenly Father, for not instantly abandoning us. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving us your word.
[6:52] Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving us promises. Thank you for giving us the gospel. Thank you for giving us hope.
[7:03] Thank you for your love. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who is present. But thank you most of all for giving your son.
[7:17] Giving him up to the horrors and agonies of Calvary. A cruel cross having first been scourged and beaten.
[7:27] And then the horrific death of the cross. You gave him up to that for us. Oh, Lord, we would bow and worship you and thank you.
[7:44] We ask, oh, Lord, that your spirit would move amongst us. Bless us. Revive us. Keep us. Challenge us.
[7:55] Stir us up. Oh, Lord, you know how flat we are. How dead we are. Stir us up. Revive us again, oh, holy God.
[8:06] We humbly pray. We ask, gracious God, that you would bless us as a congregation of your people. Bless this congregation with a pastor that loves you and serves you.
[8:23] And one who will teach them and bless them out of your word. One who will be accompanied by your Holy Spirit. We pray, Heavenly Father, that you would bless every congregation of your church and your people.
[8:42] We pray, Lord, again for mercy on our nation. Mercy on our leaders. Give them wisdom. Even give them grace, Lord.
[8:56] Alert them to the fact that you are in heaven. And they are not really in control. They are responsible for following your commands in your word.
[9:10] Lord, oh, Lord, we pray that you might raise up in state those who would lead us back to your word and your ways.
[9:25] We pray, Heavenly Father, that you would visit us with mercy. That you would visit us with revival. Lord, send revival to us, we humbly pray.
[9:35] We acknowledge we do not deserve it. Therefore, we apply for grace. We apply for mercy and grace.
[9:48] Because we have no right to it. But, oh, Lord, you're full of mercy. You're full of grace. We pray, Heavenly Father, that you would bless every endeavor to spread this gospel by your church, by your people.
[10:09] We pray for these handmaidens of the gospel. We think of the Christian Institute even meeting this week. We think of Bible distributors like the Gideons or their new name, Good News, I think it is.
[10:25] We pray for Bible translators who translate the scriptures. We pray for missions. We pray for Christian colleges and seminaries.
[10:37] And ask that you bless all that their hand finds to do. We pray, Heavenly Father, that you'd remember those who need particular prayer at this time.
[10:48] We pray for the bereaved. Comfort, console, all who have suffered loss. Be with those who are seriously ill. Bless surgery, medication, treatment, therapies, where they are available.
[11:05] And where they are not available, be pleased to heal apart from any human means. If this be to your glory and for their good.
[11:17] We ask, Lord, that you'd continue to favor us. Bless us. Bless us with converts. Lord, convert the wicked.
[11:30] Convert the self-righteous. Save souls. Turn lives. Send revival. We humbly pray. Gracious God.
[11:42] And now, Lord, as we turn to your word. In song. In prayer. In meditation. Speak. Speak from heaven.
[11:55] Bless. Encourage. Enlighten. Strengthen. Feed. Restore. Build up. Convict.
[12:05] And challenge. Now, Lord, hear. Now, Lord, forgive. Now, Lord, bless. For we pray all in Christ's name.
[12:18] And for Christ's sake alone. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. We continue to praise God by singing from the Scottish Psalter.
[12:30] This time, Psalm 125. Psalm 125. Psalm 125. They in the Lord that firmly trust shall be like Sion Hill, which at no time can be removed, but standeth ever still.
[12:57] And we go down to verse 5. But as for such as turn aside after their crooked way, God shall lead forth with wicked men.
[13:09] On Israel, peace shall stay. Psalm 125. Psalm 125. To God's praise. Psalm 125. Psalm 125. Psalm 125. Psalm 125.
[13:19] Say in the Lord that firmly trust shall be like Sion Hill, which at no time can be removed, but standeth ever still.
[13:49] Psalm 125. As for love, God shall be like Sion Hill, the land is kind of air.
[14:05] Psalm 125. Psalm 125. Psalm 125. Oh Oh Oh
[15:38] Oh Let's turn in our Bibles to the Gospel of John chapter 16 and we'll read from verse 16 to the end The Gospel of John chapter 16 at verse 16 A little while and you shall not see me and again a little while and you shall see me because I go to the Father
[16:41] Then said some of his disciples among themselves What is this that he says unto us a little while and you shall not see me and again a little while and you shall see me and because I go to the Father They said therefore What is this that he saith a little while We cannot tell what he saith Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him and said unto them Do you inquire among yourselves of that I said a little while and you shall not see me and again a little while and you shall see me Verily, verily, verily I say unto you that you shall weep and lament but the world shall rejoice and ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy
[17:44] A woman when she is in travail has sorrow because her hour is come but as soon as she is delivered of the child she remembereth no more the anguish for joy that a man is born into the world and ye now therefore have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice and your joy no man taketh from you and in that day you shall ask me nothing Verily, verily I say unto you whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you hitherto have you asked nothing in my name ask and you shall receive that your joy may be full these things I have spoken unto you in Proverbs but the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in Proverbs but I shall show you plainly of the Father at that day you shall ask in my name and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you because you have loved me and I have believed that I came out from God
[19:15] I came forth from the Father and I am come into the world again I leave the world and go to the Father his disciples said unto him lo now speakest thou now speakest thou plainly and speakest no proverb now are we sure that thou knowest all things and needest not that any man should ask thee by this we believe that thou camest forth from God Jesus answered them do you now believe behold the hour cometh yea is now come that ye shall be scattered every man to his own and shall leave me alone and yet I am not alone because the
[20:15] Father is with me these things I have spoken unto you that in me you might have peace in the world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world may God bless to us the very reading of his own word now let's praise God once more this time through Psalm 71 Psalm 71 we sing verses marked 1 to 5 Psalm 71 at the beginning O Lord my hope and confidence is placed in thee alone then let thy servant never be put to confusion now we go down to verse 4 free me my God from wicked hands hands cruel and unjust for thou
[21:34] O Lord God art my hope and from my youth my trust Psalm 71 verses 1 to 5 purpose O Thank you.
[22:45] Thank you.
[23:15] Thank you. Thank you.
[23:47] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[23:59] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[24:11] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. will refer to several things in the chapter. Let's just concentrate on the last verse in the chapter, verse 33. John chapter 16, verse 33. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.
[25:03] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. As we noted in the morning, this is Christ's last private talk with his disciples before he went out to suffer. And they're very confused with what he had to say. And they're very discouraged. But Jesus emphasizes at the very beginning in verse 1, these things have I spoken unto you, that you should not be offended. And as most of you will know, the translation of the word offended can be and is translated, that you should not stumble. He's telling them this, that they would not stumble. He's saying in these verses, these things I have spoken unto you, that you might have peace. And they don't. They don't have peace.
[26:18] But he said it to them, that they would have peace. He told them Peter was going to deny them. He told them there was a mole in the camp that was going to betray them. He told them, I'm going to leave you. And they were unnerved. And yet, he tells them twice in this chapter, I'm telling you these things Christ's intention. And it always is his intention. When he says something, when he does something, his only purpose is to strengthen and prepare and encourage these people. Christ has never and will never say anything to discourage anyone. And if we find something, he says discouraging, we have not understood it properly. We need to pray to God to open our understanding and grasp it.
[27:35] Christ's basic message here is, the Christian life is not easy. But still be encouraged.
[27:54] Don't let anyone tell you it's easy to be a Christian. It's glorious to be a Christian. It's glorious. There's a wonderful future. But it's not easy. It's hard. Let's look precisely, and as best we can, at what he's saying to them. In the world, you will have tribulation. Now, when he said that to them, he did not mean, you're going to have problems now and again in the world. That's not actually what he's saying when he says, in the world, you'll have tribulation. In fact, the word tribulation, if I remember correctly, could be translated, in the world, you'll be under pressure.
[28:51] What he's saying here is not that you'll have problems now and again in the world, but that the whole world system is opposed to Christian teaching. He's saying the mindset of this world is designed to make it difficult for the Christian to live a godly life. It will be difficult to follow me closely. It doesn't come easily, but be of good cheer. You see, the way the world operates is now out of sync with Christian thinking, Christian teaching, and Christian practice. The way the world operates is now out of sync. You see, when God created the world, he created the laws of nature, to put it some way, one way, one way. The law he created. In other words, he wired the world a certain way. But the moment sin entered into the world, that moment, there was a disjunction. A disjunction took place in the whole universe. And now, the world is not wired to make it conducive to Christian living. In the world, you'll be under pressure. In the world, it will not be easy to live the Christian life. In the world, you will have tribulation. The problems that Christians will experience in the world are not hiccups now and again. They'll actually be routine. But be of good cheer. Nevertheless, be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.
[31:11] Christ has defeated and overcome the world's system, the world's mindset, the world's way of working.
[31:25] Christ has defeated and overcome the world's way of working. Do not go with the flow. Instead, swim against the tide and meet Christ at the other side. That's his advice. Don't go with the flow. Swim against the tide and meet me in glory.
[31:55] In the world, you'll be under prayer. In the world, you'll be under prayer. But be of good cheer. In me, these things I've spoken to you, that in me, you might have peace.
[32:14] I'm sure I've said here before, the Bible hardly ever uses the term Christian. It's only three times in the Bible. The word Christian is only in the Bible, or at least only in the authorised version, three times.
[32:30] The word the Bible uses for what we would call Christian is only in Christ. That's the most popular term, the most common term in the Bible for a Christian.
[32:42] If any man be in Christ, he's a new creation. And here he is saying, in me, you will have peace. In this turbulent, stormy, under-pressure world, in me, you will have peace.
[33:06] Now, I've never been in a submarine. But they tell me that a submarine is not subject to storms, like ships.
[33:22] In a submarine, you're sailing above the sea, on the water. In a submarine, you're underneath it all. And you've got peace.
[33:34] You're not conscious of a storm in a submarine, the way you are in a ship. And it's something like that, that Christ is saying, look, in me, the storms above will not have the same effect upon you.
[33:52] In me, you can have peace. We've often said here, I'm sure, peace in the Bible is not absence of trouble.
[34:03] It's not absence from problems. The peace of God in the Bible is peace while trouble is going on all around you.
[34:17] But in Christ, you can have peace. Things are falling apart all around you. But the Christian can still have peace in Christ.
[34:31] Be of good cheer is also a scripture in Matthew 14, 27.
[34:42] When he says, be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid. Storms. Storms. And they see Christ walking on the water and they're afraid.
[34:55] They're afraid. It is I, be not afraid. The literal translation would be, is, take courage.
[35:09] I am. Storms disturb us. Bad news suddenly shakes us.
[35:23] It doesn't disturb, it doesn't cause a ripple in heaven. Take courage. Take courage. I am. That is what Christ is saying to every Christian when things go so wrong according to the way we think here on earth.
[35:46] I am. Christ is our peace if we're Christians. To know Christ strengthens.
[36:00] To know Christ encourages. To know Christ builds one up in the faith. To know Christ stimulates the Christian.
[36:14] Revives the Christian. Makes them alive. And that can happen in the greatest storms of life. In me you shall have peace.
[36:28] In the world you'll have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I am greater than the world. I have overcome the world.
[36:41] I am. Be encouraged. Take courage. I am. Be of good cheer.
[36:52] Now. Be of good cheer. Is a command. It's an imperative.
[37:03] As the Gamerians will tell us. It's an imperative. Be of good cheer. It's a command. Therefore. Therefore.
[37:14] It's a command. Therefore. You don't pray about it. You obey it. It's something you have to do.
[37:28] We're told to do it. The Christian. The Christian. Is told. In this troubled world. Will you're under pressure. Be.
[37:39] Of. Good. Cheer. The future is glorious. Now. Cheerfulness.
[37:51] Is not. A feeling. Cheerfulness. Is not a feeling. Cheerfulness. Cheerfulness. Is an attitude.
[38:02] We're to adopt. It's a case of. Activating it. We're to take the decision. To be cheerful.
[38:13] We're commanded. What would you say. To your child. You're teaching your child. You're trying to bring up. Your child. To be mannerly. And you say to him.
[38:24] Once he gets a gift. From someone. Now. Say. Thanks. What would you say. If he turned around. And you say to him. Oh. I can't. I can't.
[38:34] I don't feel. Thankful. You're teaching. Say. Thanks. What the saviour. Is saying to us. Be.
[38:45] Of. Good. Cheer. Adopt. That. Attitude. It's not a feeling. It's an attitude. And it's something.
[38:58] We've to. Adopt. Of course. By the grace of God. But we're to adopt it. We're to exercise it. Christians. Are. Told.
[39:09] Commanded. Several times. In the word. Be. Of good. Cheer. Now. How. Do we.
[39:20] Adopt. This. Peace. Peace. Men. These things. I've told you. These things. That you've interpreted.
[39:30] As very bad news. And they are. They were. News. It was information. That exercised them. But I've told you that. That you might have.
[39:41] Peace. How can we. You and I. Adopt. This. Peace. Take this. Decision. To. Be of good cheer.
[39:53] Well. As God would help me. Three things. Number one. Adopt. A spiritual. Mind.
[40:06] In Romans. Chapter 8. Verse 6. We are told. To be spiritually. Minded. Is life.
[40:18] And peace. To be spiritually. Minded. Is life. And peace. As a. Categoric. Statement. Of fact.
[40:30] Of truth. It's. It's. It's. The Bible. It's God's word. To be spiritually. Minded. Is life. And peace. Tell me. Your grandchild.
[40:42] Your grandchild. Never say to you. Grandpa. Get a life. Get a life. To be spiritually.
[40:53] Minded. Is life. But we don't believe it. But that's the Bible. That's the word of God. Do you want a life?
[41:05] Jesus said. I have come. That you might. Have life. That you might have a real life. And he's sending out a challenge. To every non-Christian.
[41:17] And say. Look. You don't know what life is. Until you have me. I have come. That you might have life. And that you might live life.
[41:29] To the full. But the Christian. Can say. Christ. Is my life. And here we're told.
[41:40] In Romans 8. 6. To be spiritually. Minded. Is life. And. Peace. And as we've said.
[41:54] Peace is not. Immunity to problems. Peace is. Despite problems. Peace of God is. During problems.
[42:06] Isaiah. 26. Verse 3. Says. God speaking. I will. Keep him. In perfect. Peace.
[42:18] Whose mind. Is stayed. On thee. The person. Whose mind. Is fixed. On God.
[42:29] God. And the things. Of God. Have. God. Have. Perfect. Peace. When you think.
[42:42] On it. The things. That troubled. The disciples. Should have. Troubled. Christ. More. When you think. Of it. He was going.
[42:53] To be crucified. Jesus. Had. Several times. He was going. To be lifted up. From the earth. And the disciples. And all those. Who knew. The culture. Of the age. Knew. What that term. It meant.
[43:03] It meant. Being lifted up. In crucifixion. But who has been crucified? It was the disciples. It was. It was. It was Christ. Who was Peter denying?
[43:16] He was denying Christ. It's Christ. It should have been more worried. Than Peter. Who was Judas Iscariot. Betraying Christ. These things. Should have worried Christ.
[43:27] More. Than the disciples. But he. Was calm. How. Is Christ. So calm. Answer.
[43:39] His mind. Was fixed. On God's will. This was God's will. You remember. In the garden. In the garden.
[43:51] Garden of Gethsemane. When the disciples. Fell a street. When he asked them. To come and accompany him. And pray with him. He said.
[44:03] Father. Let this cup. Pass on me. But not. My will. But thine. Be done. Resting.
[44:14] In God's will. Resting in God's will. Give him peace. Resting in God's will. Remember. We noted. Last time. I was here.
[44:24] I think that. Christ said. It is written. All you will forsake me. And flee. Luke 22. 28. He had just said to them.
[44:35] You are those. Who have been loyal to me. You have been faithful with me. In all my troubles. You followed me. But. It is written.
[44:46] Smite the shepherd. And the sheep will be scattered. Therefore. You will all forsake me tonight. You will all forsake me later on. But he felt strong. And they had never ever let him down before.
[45:00] But he said. I go by. What is written. To have a spiritual mind. Is to have your mind fixed on God.
[45:12] And on his word. You remember. When he met Zacchaeus. Hiding up in the tree. Nobody knew he was there. But Christ knew he was there.
[45:24] And he said. Today. Today. I must abide in your house. And he went along. And had a dinner. With him. How did he know that?
[45:37] How did he know. That he was hiding up in the tree? How did he know. His duty. Was to go to. Zacchaeus' house. And have a dinner. With him. His mind.
[45:48] Was fixed. On God. Do you remember. In John chapter 4. Looking at the woman of Samaria. We noted. The Bible said. He must.
[45:59] Needs. Go through. Samaria. It was his duty. To go. When he was going. Through Samaria. And you get a map out. You see.
[46:10] Well he hasn't got to go that way. It's not the obvious. A shorter way there. Why did he go the long way? How did he know? He knew he had to meet the woman that day. How did he know?
[46:21] Well. His mind. Was fixed. On God. And it leads to peace. And it leads to glory. But you say.
[46:32] Look. How can we. Discover things like that? How can we discover. The mind of God. By reading his word.
[46:44] God's word is God's. Mind. Being made known. To us. And that's why it is so important. To know the word. To be familiar with the word.
[46:58] You want to get your mind. Fixed. On God. Have your mind. Fixed. On the word. It's the word of God. It's the revelation.
[47:09] God wants his people. To know. And it's the best way. For getting through problems. To be familiar. With the word. God. So the first thing.
[47:22] To adopt. To be of good cheer. Is to. Adopt. A spiritual mind. Secondly. A believing. Heart.
[47:34] John tells us. In his letter. Not his gospel. But in his first letter. This is the victory. That overcomes the world. Our faith. Be of good cheer.
[47:45] I've overcome the world. How can we overcome the world? Faith. Our faith. You cannot have peace. Without faith.
[47:58] Romans chapter 5. The apostle tells us. Having been. Being justified by faith. We have peace with God.
[48:12] You'll never have peace with God. You'll never have peace. Until you faith. In God. Have you not noticed.
[48:23] Various generations. Various societies. A faithless age. Is a restless age.
[48:35] You cannot have rest. If you don't have faith. Faith. I mean. It's so fundamental. And basic. To life. You go. And you sit. In a chair.
[48:46] Well. If you don't have faith. That the chair. Will sit you up. You'll not have a comfortable seat. If you think. This is going to let me down. It's a basic.
[48:57] For living. It's a basic. For. I go to live in my house. I have no peace. If I think. The host is going to come in. You can't live without faith. It's essential.
[49:09] And it's special. It's the only way. To get right with God. Have faith in God. But you not only cannot have peace.
[49:20] Without faith. You can't have peace. Without love. Faith. And love. Are. The theologians call them.
[49:30] The inseparable twins. If you have one. You've got the other. It's a good. Way to test. It's a good. Mark of grace. Do you wonder.
[49:42] Is your faith. Really in Christ. Well ask yourself. Do you love Christ. And if you can honestly say. You love Christ. Your faith.
[49:53] Is in Christ. And if you want to know. Do you love Christ. You ask yourself. Well. Do I trust him. Do I believe what he says. Is true. Well if you do.
[50:04] You love him. Faith and love. Are the two sides. Of one coin. If you've got one. You've got the other. Do you want the peace.
[50:16] Of God. Do you want to be able. To have good cheer. Have faith. In Christ. And love Christ. Peace.
[50:28] Doesn't come. From the absence. Of trouble. It comes from. Knowing God. Is in control. Knowing that while we're terribly shocked.
[50:41] Surprised. Gutted. Perhaps. What happens on earth. Nothing surprising. Has happened.
[50:52] In heaven. God. Is in total. Complete. Control. That gives peace. That's the peace of God. That's a.
[51:03] Believing. Heart. Faith. And love. In Christ. Can wait for the blessing.
[51:13] And you know. One of the things. We Christians. Are missing. Today. Is. We're not. Looking forward. To heaven. Enough.
[51:24] There's. Tremendous. Encouragement. Tremendous. Peace. And. Not just. Believing. You're going. There. But.
[51:35] Looking. Forward. To it. There's. Tremendous. Peace. There. And the believer. The person. Of. Faith. And love. Can. Wait.
[51:46] For. Future. Blessings. Can't we? The world. Wants. Things. Now. Now. Immediate. I want. Results. Immediately. Well.
[51:57] Faith. Can wait. God's. Time. Is. Best. Faith. Waits. Love. Waits. Now.
[52:08] Notice. Christ. Has said. To his people. My. Peace. I. Give. To you. Not that.
[52:19] Carefully. My. Peace. I. Give. To you. What do you have to do. To get that peace? Christ. Is saying.
[52:29] I give you my peace. What have you got to do? Nothing. He's given it to you. You don't have to do anything. To get it. If you're a believer.
[52:41] You just enjoy it. You just enjoy it. It's a decision to take. Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.
[52:54] How can you be of good cheer? A spiritual mind. A believing heart. And thirdly. A submissive will.
[53:09] Philippians 4. Verse 6 says. Be anxious for nothing. But in everything. In prayer. And supplication. With thanksgiving.
[53:20] Let your requests. Be made known to God. And. What? And. The peace.
[53:31] Of God. Which surpasses. All understanding. Will guard. Your heart. And minds. Through Christ Jesus.
[53:45] Have you ever. Come through. A difficult time. And you're speaking about it. To your friends. And they say.
[53:56] Oh. Oh. What would have happened. If this took place. Eh. And you say. Oh. I never thought about that. I never even thought of that.
[54:07] What happened in that case? God was keeping. Your mind. And heart. From these thoughts. A submissive will.
[54:21] The peace of God. Will guard. Your heart. Your heart. And mind. Now. We're speaking about. A submissive.
[54:32] Will. I was always. Had a problem. Between. Commands. Obedience. And submission. What's the difference?
[54:43] What's the difference? Between obedience. And submission. Well. We obey. Commands. But we. Submit. To God's will. We submit.
[54:58] To God's. Providence. You see. We can be keeping. The commandments. Perfectly. But then. God. Does something.
[55:08] In providence. You lose. Your job. Your wife. Walks out. In you. You get. Cancer. You're keeping. The commandments.
[55:19] Perfectly. And these things. Happen. But you're not. Happy. You're not. Agreeing. With God. You see. Lord. That's awkward. That's awkward. That's difficult.
[55:30] That's hard. God. That's providence. We're to submit. To God's will. We obey. All these commandments. But we're to submit.
[55:42] To his will. A submissive will. We're to submit. To providence. You can refuse. To do a command. But you can't refuse.
[55:54] You can't. Refuse a providence. God reigns. God rules. But we have to. Submit. To it. We have to. Agree.
[56:05] With it. Do you want peace? Have no will. Of your own. Now listen. Have plans.
[56:17] Have plans. For life. But submit. These plans. To God. Submit. These plans. To God.
[56:28] And say. If it's your will. Submit. Submit. Your plans. To God's. Agenda. Let God. Tweak. Your plans. To his agenda.
[56:41] And once again. You see. Let God. Be God. Is an attitude. Let God. Be God. God. God is sovereign.
[56:52] Let him be sovereign. God is on high. Let him be. Let him rule. He's ruling. From an eye. Let him rule. Let God.
[57:03] Be sovereign. Let God. Have the final. Say. In our plans. And I speak. Reverently.
[57:13] When I say this. Let God. Do the worrying. I speak reverently. Let God. Do the worrying. God. He actually knows.
[57:25] Far better than us. He knows. The end. From the beginning. A submissive. Will. We're to submit. Our plans. To God.
[57:37] And when we submit. Our plans. To God. We are submitting. Our plans. To love. God.
[57:47] Is. Love. When we submit. Our plans. To God. We're submitting. Them. To security. Security. Resides.
[57:58] In God. God's will. God's plan. When we submit. Our plans. To God. We're submitting. To blessing. A spiritual mind.
[58:11] A believing. Heart. A submissive will. helps us. Enable us. Empowers us. To adopt. To be of good cheer. Well.
[58:24] Just two things. In conclusion. One. To the non-Christian. If you're here. If you're listening to me.
[58:35] And you're not a Christian. Remember this. Christ. Christ. Has overcome. The world. Listen.
[58:46] This world. Does not. Have. The last. See. This world. Is not.
[58:58] Winning. The battle. This world. Is not. The real world. This world.
[59:09] Is not. The only world. There's another world. And that's the world. That's important. That's the world. We must be ready for. And that's the world.
[59:20] We can only prepare for. Down here. On this earth. If you don't have. The blessings. The Christian has.
[59:34] Do understand this. Every blessing. The Christian has. Is offered. Is offered. To you. In Christ. If there's something.
[59:47] You don't have. That the Christian has. That thing. Is offered. To you. Freely. In Christ. But you must believe.
[59:58] You must believe. Finally. For the Christian. There is.
[60:10] What we call. You've heard the word. Utopia. Do you know what it means? I've said things in the past. Years and years ago. And someone said. Oh. That's just utopia.
[60:21] Forget. That's just utopia. Do you know where the word. Utopia comes from? It comes from the title. Of a book. Which Sir Thomas More. Wrote. In I think.
[60:33] 1516. He wrote a book. He was a Lord Chancellor. At the time. And he wrote a book. About an imaginary island.
[60:46] Where everything on that island. Was wonderful. There was no death. There was no disease.
[60:56] There was no storms. No bad weather. There was no wild animals. Things did not go wrong.
[61:08] There wasn't even deterioration. Everything was absolutely perfect. On this imaginary island. And he called it.
[61:20] Utopia. But do you know what utopia means? It means. It means. No place. Sir Thomas More.
[61:31] Was trying to say. There's no such place. Listen. It's a lie. There is such a place. And it's called heaven.
[61:44] It's glorious. And it belongs. To every Christian. And Christ is saying. To every Christian. Tonight. In the gospel.
[61:55] In the world. You'll be under pressure. You'll have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.
[62:07] And you are on your way. To heaven. To glory. May God. The Holy Spirit. Make his word. His truth.
[62:19] Effectual. To every one of us here. Let's bow our heads. Our. Father.
[62:29] In heaven. We come to you. In the name. Of the Lord Jesus. Your son. Whom you gave. To the cross.
[62:40] Whom you gave. For us. Whom you gave. To be our substitute. We come. Heavenly Father. And ask.
[62:51] In his name. For your Holy Spirit. To give us this faith. Which saves the soul. This spiritual mind.
[63:02] This believing heart. This submissive will. That leads us. Into the blessing. Of Christ. On earth.
[63:13] We pray. By believing. That we would know. The joy. And peace. Of believing. And know. We're on our way. To heaven. But may we. On this earth.
[63:25] Be of good cheer. Because Christ. Has overcome. The world. Hear us in mercy. Answer us in peace. As we pray only.
[63:37] In his name. For your glory. Amen. Amen. We'll conclude.
[63:47] Our service of worship. By singing. The last. Four verses. Of Psalm 73. Psalm 73. At verse.
[63:58] 25. Psalm 73. At verse. 25.
[64:08] Whom have I. In the heavens high. But thee. O Lord. Alone. And in the earth. Whom I desire. Besides thee.
[64:21] There is none. Turn to the last verse. But surely. It is good for me. That I draw near. To God. In God. I trust.
[64:31] That all thy works. I may declare. Abode. Psalm 73. Verse 25. Whom have I. In the heavens high. In the heavens high. I am the heavens high, a deal of Lord alone.
[64:59] I am the heavens high, a deal of Lord alone.
[65:16] My flesh and heart, the thin and thin, that on them lead me never.
[65:32] For of my heart, the hills and the ground, and portion forever.
[65:48] For your holy God afar from me, forever perish, y'all.
[66:06] Then while the holy throne, the hell destroyed all.
[66:23] That surely has been for me, that I'm only a good God.
[66:39] In God I trust, that on my Lord, I be in the clear, O God.
[66:57] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and forevermore.
[67:13] Amen.