[0:00] Well friends, it is indeed a joy and a privilege to once again be here worshiping with you this morning and we give thanks as always to the Lord for this privilege and thanks to your minister and session, Kirk Session for allowing me to be here. Before our first item of praise can we just bow for a moment in prayer. Heavenly Father, thou hast blessed us with good health of body and of mind to be in the Lord's house this day.
[1:04] And as we gather here, we gather Lord seeking thy blessing, seeking that we might be aware of the Lord's presence, seeking that we might be aware of the Lord's nearness, seeking Lord that in your mercy you would remove from us all of our fears and worries and sorrows for just a while.
[1:36] Help us to experience Lord the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst, not for our glory but for the Lord's glory alone. Help us O Lord that your people in here this day would be encouraged and that those that are seeking you would find you. Go before us Lord as we proclaim your word, as we stand in prayer and as we praise your holy name and singings.
[2:09] Bless our presenter this morning and meet with us in all aspects of our worship so that all that we do here would be to your glory and not to ours in any way. Go before us and we ask in Jesus' precious name. Amen.
[2:32] Our first item of praise this morning is in Psalm 34. Psalm 34 from verse 8 down to the end of verse 17.
[2:50] It is somewhat strange to start singing in Psalm 34 at verse 8. But it's been with me all this week.
[3:01] And I'm remembering and being reminded of the time when I first went to church truly seeking the Lord. Having been to church for years and years, having paid no thought and no attention to the psalmists and the words of the psalmists.
[3:23] And the first time I went I knew that I was pleading with the Lord to come into my life. And the first singing that Sabbath morning was O taste and see that God is good, who trusts in him is blessed.
[3:38] Fear God his saints, none that in fear, shall be with want oppressed. The lions young may hungry be and they may lack their food, but they that truly seek the Lord shall not lack any good.
[3:50] Thus proving to us how important it is to begin with the words of the psalmists in our praises. So we shall sing therefore this morning Psalm 34 from verse marked 8 down to the end of verse marked 17 to the Lord's praise.
[4:09] O taste and see that God is good. O taste and see that God is good.
[4:24] With trust in him is blessed. O taste and see that God is good.
[5:01] O taste and see that God is good.
[5:31] I shall give you the Lord shall not be good.
[6:01] O taste and see that God is good. O taste and see that God is good.
[6:31] O taste and see that God is blind. God is good. God's night. stand on the church this year, I hope ye world Fi' eye on my Gewoon to Him now.
[6:49] The feast of our english, say thy King, The face of God is set against those that you will be.
[7:05] That you will find the peace of the earth and all that memory.
[7:20] The righteous die unto the Lord, he unto them gives the air.
[7:37] And the earth of the earth shall be.
[7:56] Shall we bow once again to the Lord in prayer? Heavenly Father, what a privilege it is to be able to sing these words.
[8:11] What a privilege it is to be able to experience. To taste and see that God is good.
[8:23] And blessed are all those that trust upon him. Oh, what a miracle of grace. That there are those of us in here this day.
[8:37] Of whom it can be said that they are blessed. Blessed not because of anything that they have done or we have done in our lives.
[8:51] But blessed because by the grace of the Lord we have been saved. And it is a mystery and it is a marvel to us, Lord, continually.
[9:05] When we examine ourselves and see that the Lord has come into our lives.
[9:16] When we look back and when we think of those that we grew up with. Those that we went to school with. Those that were our friends. Those that were our companions.
[9:27] And so very few of them have placed their trust in the Lord. And yet here we are this day. And we come, Lord, longing and pleading.
[9:43] That not just some of us would place our trust in the Lord. But that each and every single one of us. Would be able to do so.
[9:53] We give thanks this day, O Lord. For our Savior Jesus Christ. And for all that he had accomplished at Calvary.
[10:07] In providing a way for sinners such as we are to be saved. He is our hope. He is our guide.
[10:18] He is our keeper. And we cannot do anything by our own strength. For the Lord's cause.
[10:30] We are completely dependent upon the Lord. With each step that we take. And as we come into the presence of the Almighty this time.
[10:43] We come, Lord, asking that thou would grant us your perfect peace. And that thou would grant us the privilege of the presence of your Spirit to be with us.
[10:58] We come, Lord, asking the same for the free Presbyterian congregation down the road.
[11:10] And for whoever it is that is taking that service at this time. And for all who stand to proclaim your word this day. How we pray, Lord, that many would be challenged.
[11:24] And many would come to trust in Christ. Or that the seekers would come. And see the beauty that is to be found in Christ.
[11:35] And we pray at this time for this congregation. We pray that you would encourage them. We pray that you would be with the minister and his wife at this time.
[11:47] Whilst they are on holiday. And we pray, Lord, that these would be days of spiritual rest. And spiritual refreshment for him. And that you would bless him.
[12:00] And keep him in safety. And take him back, Lord. To be able to proclaim your word to your people. And to his congregation. Refreshed and renewed.
[12:13] We ask, Lord, that you would be with us at this time. As we, oh, how we have need of being encouraged. We have seen so much.
[12:27] Even in the last week. With regard to the war that is now going on. Between Israel and Gaza.
[12:40] And such things, Lord, have left us with such a heaviness within our hearts. These things have shown to us, Lord.
[12:51] Man's inhumanity towards man. Man's inhumanity towards woman. And unbelievably, man's inhumanity towards children.
[13:08] And these things shock us. And these things reduce us to tears. And these things are so frightening, Lord, at this time. Where a week has gone by.
[13:20] And we have heard hardly anything else. Of the war that is taking place in the Ukraine. And it feels as if there is so much evil in the world.
[13:34] It feels as if so much tragedy and so much chaos is taking over the world.
[13:46] We think of recent floods. We think of recent earthquakes. We think of three earthquakes in Afghanistan alone in the last week that has claimed the lives of thousands.
[13:58] We think of those Palestinian people. And people who are seeking to leave everything behind. Their homes and their belongings. Not knowing where they are going or where they will end up.
[14:12] And we are stuck. And we are wondering, Lord, how long? How long is there left yet until this world comes to an end?
[14:25] How long is there left until the Lord comes again? These things are prophesied in Scripture. But they come as such a shock to us when they happen.
[14:41] We pray, Lord, at this time for all the aid agencies throughout the world in these war-torn areas. And we pray, Lord, that these aid agencies would be able to get in and provide help.
[14:57] We pray, Lord, that there would be a ceasefire yet. Both in Israel and Gaza and in the Ukraine. We pray, Lord, that there would be an end to the multitudes of innocent people who have lost their lives.
[15:16] And we remember our brothers and sisters in these places in the world. And the chaos that they are in.
[15:27] The Christian organizations that are serving in these countries. We pray for your protection upon them. We remember our brothers and sisters in Christ.
[15:39] At this moment in time. Who are persecuted for their faith. Who know not what it is to have the freedom that we have. We remember those, Lord, who are in prison.
[15:51] We remember those who are being tortured just now. We remember those who are being beaten just now. Knowing that one day we will be worshipping with them in glory.
[16:05] Oh, make us thankful, Lord, for all that we have. And forgive us for all that we take for granted. We pray, Lord, for this district and this community.
[16:17] Where once again the voice of death has touched the homes and hearts of people here. And we ask, Lord, that you would be with them. And that you would encourage such people to place their trust in thyself.
[16:31] And that they would know of the love and mercies of a covenant God at this time. Oh, Lord, we confess that we are reaching a point in our lives where it's almost as if if ever we needed you, Lord, it is now.
[16:53] And we pray, Lord, that we would more and more realize that. And that that need would grow stronger each and every single day of our lives.
[17:03] Prepare us, O Lord, for the time when we will stand in your presence. And render an account of how we lived our lives.
[17:18] Bring us each one to that place where we would be able to see that we have trusted in the Lord. By faith.
[17:31] By his grace. By his help. So we ask now, Lord, that you would bless our time together. That you would help us with all aspects of our worship.
[17:43] Bless the sick and the suffering in this congregation at this time. Be with absent friends who may be ill at home. Or ill in other places.
[17:55] Or those who may be working. And bless them where they are. We thank you, Lord, for the fact that you are the one who can come and meet us wherever we are.
[18:09] Whether we are in good health and able to come out and worship you. Or whether we are housebound and denied the privilege. Bless the housebound, we ask.
[18:20] Go before us now, we pray. Guide us in our worship so that all aspects of it will be God glorifying. We ask these things in Jesus' precious name.
[18:32] Amen. Our reading today is in the Gospel of Luke chapter 23.
[18:47] Luke chapter 23. Luke chapter 23.
[19:05] And we shall read from verse 32 to the end of verse 49. Luke chapter 23, verses 32 to 49.
[19:20] Luke chapter 23. Luke chapter 23. Two other sure criminals were led away to be put to death with him. And when they were come to the place that is called the skull, there they crucified him.
[19:34] And the criminals, one on the right and one on his left. And Jesus said, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. And they cast lots to divide his garments.
[19:45] And the people stood by watching. But the ruler scoffed at him, saying, He saved others. Let him save himself. If he is the Christ of God, his chosen one.
[19:57] The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. There was also an inscription over him.
[20:09] This is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hanged railed at him, saying, Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.
[20:20] But the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds.
[20:33] But this man has done nothing wrong. And he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And he said to him, Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise.
[20:47] And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn.
[20:58] And when Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, Father, into your hands I come out of my spirit. And having said this, he breathed his last.
[21:09] And when the centurion saw that what had taken place, he praised God, saying, Certainly this man was innocent. And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.
[21:26] And all his acquaintances and the women who followed him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.
[21:37] Amen. And may the Lord bless to us that portion of his own holy word. We shall sing once again, this time in Psalm 22. Psalm 22.
[21:50] And we shall read from the beginning of the psalm down to the end of verse marked 8. Psalm 22. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
[22:02] Why so far art thou from helping me? And from my words that roaring are, down to the end of verse marked 8, this man did trust in God, that he would free him by his might.
[22:16] Let him deliver him, saith he, had in him such delight. Shall we sing these words together? To the Lord's praise. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
[22:37] For today and what hast thou forsaken me? For today and what hast thou forsaken me?
[22:49] For today and what hast thou forsaken me? My words are holy, I am.
[23:02] For today and what hast thou forsaken me? For today and what hast thou forsaken me? For today and what hast thou forsaken me?
[23:16] For today and what hast thou forsaken me?
[23:46] For today and what hast thou forsaken me?
[24:03] They hold on the assembly. When God to leave, they stand at heart.
[24:25] To them give them a share. Because they do, they stand at heart.
[24:43] They have not been shared. The gas for me, how firm I am.
[25:03] The gas for me, how firm I am. With all men, I am found.
[25:21] The people of His eyes. Oh, let me see, now give you storm.
[25:41] To them give them a share. The people of God.
[25:59] The people of God. The people of God.
[26:17] The people of God. The people of God. The people of God. They have not been shared.
[26:34] The people of God. and shall be died.
[26:55] As we turn once again to that portion of Scripture that we read, we are, I'm sure many of you are like I am today, coming to worship the Lord with a sense of a heavy heart and with a sense of utter dismay, with so many questions and so little answers with regard to things that are going on in this world.
[27:33] Where do we go when the world is in chaos? Where do we go when we see evil at work?
[27:43] Where do we go when we see brutality at work? Where do we go when we see man's inhumanity towards man? Where do we go when we see all around us the innocent suffering?
[27:57] Where do we go when we see women being abused and children being murdered? Where do we go when people are in a helpless situation and the world looks on?
[28:15] Where do we go for hope? Where do we go for answers? There's only one place we can go, my friends, and that's to go back to Calvary, to see there true injustice also, to see there Jesus Christ our Savior being crucified and being put to death, to see there the reaction of the crowds, the haters and the spitters of our blessed Redeemer as he is crucified for you and I.
[29:01] There is our hope. And when we watch the news and listen to the news and see such atrocities in the world, it is to Calvary that we must go time and time again.
[29:16] When your minister asked me to preach here, I was of a mind to do a different service, but I felt led by the Lord to do this service today from an experience on Thursday morning.
[29:33] And I hope that it will be a means of blessing to each one of us as we turn to Calvary again and as we see the words that we find in verse 43.
[29:46] And Jesus said to him, Verily I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in paradise. There is hope.
[29:58] There is comfort. There is comfort. In a fallen world. Towards this man. And towards mankind.
[30:11] So today we will seek to look for a while at the second saying on the cross. And we will do so under two headings. We shall look first of all and more at length at the words of the penitent thief on the cross.
[30:31] And then secondly, briefly, the words of Jesus Christ to the penitent thief on the cross. And there hopefully there will be words of encouragement for each one of us in here today.
[30:47] Those of us who are believers. Those of us who are earnestly seeking the Lord. Those of us who in here are Christians and don't know it to themselves.
[31:01] And maybe even those that maybe don't even want to be here today. There are very few of us in this world who wake up in the morning and the first thought that we have is today will be the day that I will die.
[31:28] Did anybody in here have that thought today? I very much doubt it. We would, many of us have woken this morning and we might say today I might die.
[31:43] Today might be my last day on mercy's ground. But on this day our Saviour knew he was going to die.
[31:56] And not just him but he also knew that this penitent thief was going to die. Because he has just uttered these remarkable words Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.
[32:13] Now many of us in here can be of the opinion that we have plenty time to make things right with God.
[32:26] I don't know if I have ever shared this or not if I have then please excuse me. But I have been doing a lot of thinking this week and a lot of memories creeping up in my head.
[32:40] And I was remembering back in 1990 as an apprentice painter travelling in my old boss's van to Harris when it was all single track.
[32:50] And I misjudged a corner and I went past a sidey and coming down the hill that I was going up was a fully loaded articulated lorry full of salmon.
[33:11] And I had plenty time to make it to the next passing place and I stopped in between the two and I froze. And I watched as this lorry came hurtling towards the van that I was in.
[33:28] And I closed my eyes and I said hell here I come. And I waited for the bang and there was an impact and the van was a mangled wreck.
[33:41] And the van was pushed within a foot of the edge of a steep slope. But I did not get up that morning thinking today will be the day that I will die.
[33:58] And I did not get up that morning thinking that this might be my last day on mercy's ground. But that is the nearest that I can think of with regard to these thoughts.
[34:13] You see sometimes when we think we leave it till later on there is no time for prayer. To me at that moment in time it was only hell here I come and I waited for the bang.
[34:36] And what we have here set before us is a man who is nearing death. and something extraordinary happens to him in his experience.
[34:49] I will call him the penitent thief because that is all that I have ever known him as in the many sermons that I have heard of him growing up. And the word penitent it simply means to show sorrow or to show regret for some things that you have done.
[35:08] The word penitent is very similar to the word repentant. So that is how we will look at this man as we look at our first heading.
[35:20] The words of the penitent thief to Christ. You know as we read these words that he speaks to Christ and as we read these words that Christ speaks to him it is utterly remarkable that they are recorded in Dr. Luke's account of scripture because he wasn't there at Calvary.
[35:48] He was amongst the disciples who had forsaken Christ and fled. And yet in this wonderful marvellous way of the Lord's revelation and the revelation of the Holy Spirit Luke reveals to us the conversation on the cross between Christ and this man despite the fact that he hasn't heard it.
[36:25] Now when you were to read the account that we have here in Luke it seems as if from the very beginning the penitent thief had a different view to the other thief.
[36:44] But when we read the scriptures and when we study the scriptures it is always good for us particularly in the gospels we have need of studying all four gospels to get the full picture.
[37:01] Because remarkably in Matthew's account and in Matthew chapter 27 and in verse 44 this is what we read likewise also the chief priests mocking him with the scribes and elders said he saved others himself he cannot save.
[37:20] If he be the king of Israel let him come down from the cross and we will believe him. He trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the son of God and then we read this and the thieves also which were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth.
[37:45] So what Luke doesn't reveal to us my friends is that there was a time when both thieves were of the same time same mind there was a time and they were both at the very brink of eternity they were both dying and they are both mocking Christ exactly as we have read here in Matthew's account with the scribes and with the elders and with the angry crowd spewing hatred from the put of hell itself there was a time when these two thieves joined in likewise and you know when you read Matthew's account there's a very satanic word in his account and that is the word if in verse 42 if he be the king of
[38:52] Israel you have that same satanic word in verses 35 and 37 of Luke's account if he be the Christ if thou be the king of the Jews if what a thing to say to Christ prove who you are come down from the cross and save yourself but of course our Lord couldn't do that he couldn't do that because he was dying for his own people so what is it we ask them this morning why is it that these two thieves seem to hate the Lord so much what is it that they have against Christ so much as they near death crucifixion was very often in these times and in these days done with three crosses just as it was here with
[40:01] Calvary and the one that was in the middle was always the one who was singled out to be the worst of the three people and that is why our Lord and our Saviour is there in the middle and here at Calvary I think it's safe to say that Christ is receiving all the attention here at Calvary the angry crowd are mocking him in unison and can you imagine if it was you or I who was one of the other thieves there that day how irrelevant we would have felt how defeated we would have felt seeing the one in the middle getting all the attention that is why they joined in that is why they joined the angry mob you know can you hear their satanic chants can you hear what they are saying to our
[41:10] Saviour if if if if I wonder I wonder when these two thieves joined in with all the other haters at Calvary I wonder was there ever a time in this world where one person was hated so much as there was at Calvary where even the two by his side that were silent became vocal and spewing their hatred towards Christ but it's not by chance you see it's not by chance that that Pilate has put Christ in the middle you know he's doing that thinking that he's making a statement but what
[42:14] Pilate doesn't realise and recognise is that hundreds of years before that the prophet Isaiah prophesied and said that he would pour out his soul unto death and that he would be numbered with the transgressors and that he bear the sin of many and made intercession with the transgressors hear what Pilate seeks to do by mocking Christ by adding to his affliction what he's actually doing is he's fulfilling scripture isn't that wonderful to think about fulfilling scripture have you ever thought my friends of the remarkable depths of the love that the Lord has for his own people can we begin to understand this day can we begin to comprehend that at the time of his birth he is surrounded by the beasts of the fields and at the time of his death he has a thief on either side of him on the cross being crucified that's the depths that
[43:33] Christ goes to for his own people from the beginning of his ministry to the end of his ministry oh should we not be found embracing him this morning with all of our heart and all of our being and you know when you compare these two men that are we read of here it's remarkable to think that both these men they have equal access to the Lord at this time equal access both these men are in the same situation they are both in agony they are both dying they all heard what took place at Calvary they all saw what took place with Christ and both these men are urgently in need of forgiveness and is that not how we come to the
[44:42] Lord is that not how the Lord's people in here have come to the Lord in times gone by we have come knowing that we are wicked we have come knowing that we are in a sense dying dying of sin dying knowing that we know not how long we have in this world and desperate to make things right in this world before death comes to us and urgently in need of forgiveness and yet we read that only one of the two men were saved oh my friends is that you in here today are you somebody that knows that you are in desperate need of salvation are you somebody in here that is in a sense has equal access to the saviour week in week out with the words and the ministry of your minister and other preachers and are you still found in here today saying no let's look then my friends today at this repentant sinner this penitent sinner this man whose life is going to be changed and let's look at this noticeable first step that he takes there is always a first step in the life of grace that is notable
[46:34] I wonder can the Lord's people in here today remember their first notable step in seeking the Lord was it a genuine step when you were seeking the Lord with all of your heart or was there a time in your life when like me you were seeking the Lord on your own terms and on your own conditions for many a year do you know I remember in my teenage years when I used to go out at the weekends and I would go out with my friends the first three weekends of the month and the fourth weekend of the month on a Thursday Friday and Saturday I would stay at home and I would read my grandfather's godly books and
[47:36] I would take to my bedroom with a personal stereo and listen to my grandfather's tapes with the headphones and I used to think that if I gave the Lord one weekend in the month and did my own thing three weekends in the month that that would be enough but we have to give the Lord all of our being that is how he comes into our hearts can you remember the first time you did that that first notable step well for this man we read that his first notable step is in verse 40 where we read but the other answer to him rebuked him saying dost thou not fear God you know I wonder have you ever read these words and thought to yourself what a remarkable change in this man's life somewhere in his suffering he has stopped mocking and somewhere in his suffering he has stopped mocking
[48:51] Christ and instead of mocking Christ he rebukes the other thief and this is what he says to him dost thou not fear God I wonder what made him say that well there could be many reasons perhaps he had heard the Lord preach at some point in the past maybe he had seen the Lord perform a miracle maybe it was the way that the Lord spoke to the authorities in the lead up to the crucifixion maybe it was the title that he was reading on the Lord's cross or maybe it was simply when the Lord ordered these words father forgive them for they know not what they do but something happened in this man's life in this experience as he nears death on the cross but the one thing that we do know and we can say with confidence this is that the
[49:53] Holy Spirit is now working in this man's heart and his conscience is being pricked in the presence of God and the oaths and the cursing stops and the praising begins you know I wonder it was that our experience you and I where we are people who used to mock the Lord and where we are people that used to curse the Lord and where we are people that used to take the Lord's name in vain I know I certainly was and by his grace things have changed notice what he doesn't say notice what the thief on the cross doesn't say he doesn't say to him does thou not fear your punishment no he doesn't mention the punishment does thou not fear
[50:55] God what a shock these words must have been to the other thief you know I wonder was the other thief in a sense made speechless in the midst of all the hatred that he was showing towards Christ he now has a sight on the first time of his own sinfulness he now has come to the point where he realizes that he is a sinner deserving of punishment he is now somebody that understands the words of proverbs in verse 9 in chapter 9 and in verse 10 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy is understanding this is this man as he near death oh what a change is taking place in his life first the thief asks him a question and then he rebukes him does thou not fear
[52:13] God and then he goes on to say seeing that thou art in the same condemnation there is the rebuke the same condemnation he's in the same condemnation as Christ not for the same reasons but he's under the same condemnation and all three of them will result in death but even more wonderful than that we read in verse 41 we read of this penitent thief's confession we indeed justly for we receive the reward of our deeds this is where he has reached this is the point that a lost sinner must reach this is the point that you and
[53:13] I must reach in our lives in this world if we are going to get to heaven at the end of life's journey we must realize and we must recognize that we are on our way to hell and hell is where we will be without the Lord's mercy if we don't ask for it and if we don't plead for it and see this penitent thief now he's acknowledging his guilt we indeed justly receive the due reward of our deeds he passes sentences upon himself he makes no excuses upon himself you know maybe that's the way it was with you in the life of grace before you became a Christian maybe you are like me seeking the Lord on your own terms for many a year until we reach this point where we can make no more excuses and we can only say on our knees it is the Lord's way or it is no way at all this is what is happening to this man and he doesn't say notice he doesn't say to the other thief thou dost justly receive the reward this is he doesn't say thou dost justly receive your due reward for your deeds he uses the word plural we that is the acknowledgement he has reached that point where he acknowledges his sin he is confessing his sin and then something more remarkable happens here he has no sooner finished confessing his sins towards the other thief on the cross and then something remarkable happens a second confession look at it in verse 41 we receive the due reward of our deeds but here is the second confession but this man has done nothing amiss and now we see that the penitent thief he joins the long list of people in the lead up to the crucifixion that have reached this point and reached this stage of finding
[55:41] Christ faultless and finding Christ innocent but they have all played their part in his death Pilate has said this Pilate's wife has said this Herald has said this Judas Iscariot has said this and now the penitent thief says it this man has done nothing amiss here we have somebody with a spirit of grace enlightening his heart as he nears death this man has done nothing amiss I wonder if you have ever thought about the courage that the penitent thief had at this moment in time at a time where it was so difficult for them even to speak in the midst of their suffering he is here and he has defined the influence of the fellow thief on the cross he has defined the influence of the crowd
[56:44] I wonder did the crowd hear his comments I wonder did they start to show and roar abuse at this man who was praising the Lord we can only speculate on these things as he declares Jesus Christ innocent and now by faith we see that this penitent thief places his trust in the dying king that is set before him ah what an honour that was to give to the Lord in the midst of all that he was going through what an honour indeed and in verse 42 we see something more miraculous still we see a recognition of Christ's kingship from this man who was dying and he said to
[57:45] Jesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom look at Christ at this moment in time he is in the depths of disgrace he is deserted by his own disciples he is mocked by his own nation and he is suffering there on the cross as a pretender because he claimed to be the Christ and yet still in the midst of all that this thief is praising his name and have you ever looked at the thief's helplessness remember brothers and sisters when we first when the
[58:48] Lord came into our hearts and we set out and oh what we weren't going to do for the Lord's cause but look at this man's helplessness here's a man who can no longer go on to walk the paths of righteousness because his nails his feet are nailed to the cross here's a man who can no longer go out and do good deeds with his hands because his hands are nailed to the cross here's a man who in a sense cannot go now and turn over a new leaf and live a better life because he is dying he has got in a sense hours at the most left to live and you know my friends it's in exactly that state that every single believer in here today has come to the foot of the cross in complete and utter helplessness and that is the way you must come to in that state of helplessness in that state of hopelessness acknowledging the fact that there is nothing at all that you can do to save yourself what we have here said before us my friends it is the prayer of a dying sinner to a dying saviour it's not remarkable he knows fine that
[60:35] Christ the king cannot save him from death from physical death but he knows full well also that Christ this king will save him from eternal ruin lord remember me lord remember me in your mercy is all that he has to say as the clouds of death gather over his head into thy hands I commit my spirit was there hope for him as he finally declares Christ to be the messiah he acknowledges Christ as a kingdom and with that he would acknowledge that Christ has a throne but we don't know what kind of understanding he would have had of that we don't know anything about this man we don't know what understanding he would have had of
[61:42] Christ and his kingdom Christ and his throne we don't know whether he had any understanding really if he was going to be with Christ when he died immediately we don't know if he had any understanding of the second coming of Christ we don't know what level of understanding this man had of the Christ of the king but we only know this is that he desired to be in the kingdom that Christ would one day establish does that not teach us something my friends is that your desire too sometimes the devil will say that we have to know scripture inside out before we are saved what would this man have known but here are some things that he did know for sure and we can put them to ourselves and if today we are in here and we have not trusted in
[62:52] Christ then here are things that he did know for sure number one he knew that there was eternal life after death another thing that this man would have known is that there was a great eternal reward awaiting or a punishment to come after death not only that but this man knows that this kingdom that Christ speaks of belongs to the Lord and he knows that Christ himself does not want to dwell there by himself and it is this thief's now dying wish at some point to be with the Lord in his kingdom and it is at this moment in time that we leave his words and we enter into our second heading which is the words of
[63:53] Christ to the penitent thief to see what Christ's reply is to see is there hope for this man and as we read the words of Christ at Calvary have you ever not been in awe of the complete and utter self control of Christ as he utters these words to this man isn't it amazing isn't it remarkable that Jesus maintains the silence in the midst of all the venom of hatred that is cast upon him can you imagine the noise can you imagine the roar of hatred at Calvary that day can you imagine them all there in unison can you imagine the noise is is immediate and you see
[65:23] Christ in this moment when he speaks to him he does three things that he has done for every single believer in here today he hears and he answers his prayer not only that but he pardons this man's guilty sins and not only that but he promises he promises in verse 43 he promises a reward in glory in paradise what a saviour we have how can we refuse Christ the saviour paradise the resting place of the lord's people or do we not all long to be there one day that is his promise and you know as
[66:26] Christ begins to speak there's a word here that is it's just wonderful and that is the word verily whenever you read the word verily in scripture it speaks of a wonderful announcement that Christ is going to say or a wonderful statement and it's going to have authority within it and this word verily it means so much more than the word truly verily I say unto you today thou shalt be with me in paradise and you know in a sense what Christ is doing is he's giving him even more than he asks for because that's what Christ does and that's what Christ has always done for his own people yes this thief's prayer was great but greater still was the answer to the prayer from his
[67:33] Lord and Saviour imagine that from his Lord and Saviour in the final minutes or in the final hours of this man's life do you know the penitent thief he might not have understood much of the word paradise but he would certainly have understood the meaning of the words with me what after all do we understand of glory how can we comprehend what glory is like right now how can we comprehend what it is like to worship in glory how can we comprehend when we think of those that were in this congregation that have gone home to be with the Lord what they are experiencing how can we comprehend what it is to have no more pain no more suffering no more tears no more sleep no more night we can't begin to understand these things fully but what we can begin to understand is with him him and that's what keeps us going in this world with him this man is granted salvation in the
[69:08] Lord's final hour of weakness isn't that just wonderful and surely this word today teaches us teaches us about the lie of purgatory there is no in between state there is no state of unconsciousness between death and eternal life the moment a sinner who is saved by grace leaves this world in death in that moment they will be with the Lord in glory and likewise the moment that the sinner who refuses Christ dies in a moment they will be in hell spare a thought for the other thief spare a thought for him now in torment with
[70:13] Christ right by his side and not just Christ but a believing criminal praising him as he dies oh how that other thief how the words of the seven sayings of Christ must be going round and round in his mind in hell punishing him forever more how these words dost thou not fear God seeing that thou art on the same condemnation must be punishing this man what a refusal there were of course some people that would go on in crucifixion to survive and to live for two or three days but not these two men these two men we read in scripture that the soldiers came and broke their legs in order to hasten their death and as they do that in sport and as they do that in enjoyment and as they do that in mockery of these two thieves little do they realize that they are fulfilling scripture with the words that
[71:38] Christ has said to this man today thou shalt be with me in paradise so as our time is nearly up let us remember a few encouraging thoughts to encourage all of us with regard to this penitent thief conversion with Christ is possible even with the worst of sinners isn't that remarkable and conversion with Christ is possible even in the latter stages of life sacraments and ordinances and I say this respectfully they are not needful for salvation this man knew nothing about being a member of a church this man most likely was never baptized and this man may very well have known very little about scripture but in glory right now he is found you know my friends
[73:03] I say this with I say this respectfully but I often think that the church sometimes forgets those that are genuinely seeking the Lord and they are classed as unbelievers there are many people in glory that never got the strength to go to the Lord's table and if I can say this reverently to those of you who have not yet maybe to profess Christ as your saviour I think just now of my grandfather in point who every Thursday night would take out a suit and sometimes put it on and then weep and take it off because he didn't feel he was worthy to go to the prayer meeting and yet every night in our home we had family worship and he was more of a
[74:32] Christian man than I will ever be and in glory he is found and I sometimes think that we have made a mistake when it comes to the prayer meeting the prayer meeting is an act of worship and the prayer meeting is a place that is welcome to all and if you are in here and you come to worship the Lord regularly on a Sunday because that is your desire then go to the prayer meeting don't be like many others who punish themselves by not going because they felt unworthy because you know what my friends if you deprive yourself of that be sure of this that the Lord will not deprive you a place of his kingdom if you have a love for him in your heart and what a welcome you would get there if you went to the prayer meeting to sit at the
[75:41] Lord's table is a completely different thing but if you have a desire to worship the Lord go to the means of grace all of them love that he asked the question and
[77:30] Christ's reply was immediate I read a story in conclusion a few years ago and it was the story of a family that went to church and within the family there was a teenage girl and the teenage girl was very troubled at the sermon that she heard and she knew that the Lord was speaking to her and she confessed this to her parents that night and she told them that she wanted to become a Christian and the very next day that poor girl was knocked down and killed while crossing the road.
[78:29] Her mother and father eventually in months to come got the strength to tidy her room and they found her diary and written on the diary the night before she died she had written one year from now I will seek the Lord and there was a line in red put through it and underneath it one month from now I will seek the Lord and a red line underneath it and then under that one week from now I will seek the Lord with a red line underneath it and the last thing she wrote was tomorrow I will seek the Lord.
[79:16] I don't know if she made her peace with the Lord that night or the next day but my friends it's a warning to us all the two crucified thieves that we have spoken of today they are representatives of mankind they are representatives of eternity and as you leave here today you will join one of them in eternity you will either join the one who was saved and is praising the Lord and glory just now or you will join the one who was lost and surely my friends you are not in here today saying that you have a desire to go to hell to be with the haters of Christ and the spitters of Christ and to be with the thief who refused to acknowledge Christ as the Messiah when there is a heaven available if you would ask the Lord into your hearts if the Lord Jesus Christ if a dying saviour could save a dying thief at a time like this how much more how much more will a risen saviour who will never die again be able to save you if you ask him to come into your life ask him ask him plead with him and if you genuinely mean it he will answer immediately and great and great will be your reward and may it be that not one person in here in Tolstaff Free Church today will be eternally lost throughout the great and endless ages of eternity
[81:39] Amen may the Lord bless you these thoughts from his own holy word let us sing in conclusion in Psalm 50 Psalm 50 and we shall sing from verses 1 to 6 Psalm 50 the mighty God the Lord has spoken and did call the earth from rising of the sun to where he hath his fall down to the end of verse marked 6 then all the heavens shall before his righteousness declare because the Lord himself is he by whom men judge shall we sing these words together to the Lord's praise the mighty God the Lord hath spoken the mighty God the Lord hath spoken and God the earth upon in singing хорош hymn
[83:07] God Perfect your hand, all you hear. From thence the Lord I'll shine in loyalty.
[83:25] But God shall come and shall go on each other's feet.
[83:41] Before the night shall wish this storm shall come as ever alone.
[83:58] He turned the hand and saw my love. I'm to thee and be alone.
[84:14] God of all I need, this just man's day. Before his kingdom's soul.
[84:31] Let God mai sing you CHOIR SINGS Lord, his help doth come, my message of the Lord.
[85:40] I've been asked to go to the door after the service, so we just pray in conclusion. Oh, Heavenly Father, what a joyous experience it is to know that we can be a Christian in this world for 40, 50, 60, 70 years, and we can be a Christian in this world for 40, 50, 60, 70 minutes.
[86:15] And great Lord is the reward of both. Lord, what must the thief on the cross, the penitent thief, how wonderful his experience is right now in glory.
[86:32] And we must leave this place because we continually fight and battle against the clock. We long for the day when the clock will not interfere with our worship of you.
[86:51] Until then, Lord, we pray that you would keep us and go before us and guide each and every single one of us to Calvary and to Jesus Christ, who died there as our substitute.
[87:04] Lord, in your mercy, grant that none of us will be lost. Go before us now, we ask, and grant us traveling mercies back to our homes.
[87:16] In Jesus' precious name. Amen.