[0:00] Let's turn again to the chapter we read in Luke's Gospel, Luke chapter 8, and although it's quite a large section, I want us to look at this section where we have, probably more particularly, the parable of the sower, and that's really what I want to focus on, but we'll look at the rest of what we read as well, but if we read at verse 4, and when a great crowd was gathering, and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, a sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it, and so on.
[0:46] I think I said before that if someone was to ask, what do you do for a living, I'm sure I could give a very honest answer and say, well, I'm a sower, and maybe some people would think that because of that, that I work on a farm, but it's very obvious from what we read here, that sowing is what we do with God's word.
[1:14] Every time God's word is read, every time God's word is preached, that the act of sowing takes place, the sowing of God's word.
[1:27] And today, this word is being sown, and the Bible shows us here, or this particular parable that Jesus gives us shows that there are, that different things happen whenever the word is sown, that there are different responses from different people.
[1:47] And so, that's what I want us to look at. In fact, it's quite an interesting parable here, because sometimes Jesus just gives a parable, but on this occasion, he not only gives a parable, but he, as it were, gives an exposition of the parable, he opens a parable out and explains the meaning of it.
[2:08] Now, as we know, the parable was one of Jesus' favorite ways of teaching, and we often hear it said that a parable was an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
[2:20] But while that is true, the parables were meant to engage people. They were meant to act in such a way that a person was stimulated by them, challenged by them, made to look into their own lives as to where they were in relation to the truth that Jesus was teaching.
[2:40] And in fact, some of the parables were so powerful and so personal that the Jews, the Jewish leaders, the religious leaders, after Jesus had given the parable, they were so incensed, realizing just what these parables were saying, that they wanted to kill him.
[2:59] So the parables were often very powerful and sometimes very personal as well. Now, here we see that the sower went out to sow his seed. And as it makes it very clear here, it tells us in verse 11 that the seed is the word of God.
[3:17] And that's why it's so important to bring people under the preaching of the word. Because we can never get away from the fact that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
[3:31] We live in a day where it's a very visual age. I suppose far greater emphasis is put upon the visual than upon the listening.
[3:43] Although there's an awful lot of communication that goes on, for instance, through song. It's a very powerful medium. But we live in a visual age and a lot of advertising is worked on these short, just almost flashing messages.
[4:01] And I'm sure when we think about it, these are often, you can look at something for half an hour. But sometimes when you just see something for a second, that's what stays rather than something that you can gaze on for a long time.
[4:17] And advertisers have understood the power of these short, sharp, just these sometimes flashing messages. And somehow they stick into your mind and they linger there.
[4:29] And while that is absolutely true, we cannot get away from the fact that the Lord still, with regard to his word, that his word is to be, the word is to be brought before people.
[4:44] And again, that is the word in its reading and in its preaching. And of course, that again, you can do that in the whole way of bringing the word before people.
[4:56] That can be done, communicated even in that visual way where the word is brought before people. I'm sure that it would bring its own impact and its own power as well.
[5:07] I think it was John Bunyan, was it, in the Holy War, in that very interesting story he had there, that the ear gate, there were more guards, there were extra guards put there because this was the key way in which the word was brought to people.
[5:28] So it's vital for people to come to church. And you may say to yourself, and I've often said that the most effective way of bringing people to church is by you asking somebody to come, asking a friend to come.
[5:48] It's far, far more effective than any other way is for people who are already there to ask someone. They might say no, they might say yes.
[6:00] And I suppose part of what the reason sometimes that we're maybe hesitant in asking people is because as we look at our whole sort of format and as we look at worship compared to so many of the other things in the world, we tend to think maybe worship is kind of, it's sort of dull.
[6:22] There's nothing spectacular. It's just plain singing, plain reading, plain preaching. And you might say to yourself, well, the person I'm asking is used to the kind of life where everything is short and sharp and vivid and powerful.
[6:38] And I don't know what they may think of this. But the fact is this, that whenever we come under God's word, we come under, we're in the place where God is able to work.
[6:50] And one of four things Jesus shows will happen when people come under the word. Jesus shows that there were four different responses to the word.
[7:04] And we will pray that when people come under the word, just as I will today pray, that it will be the last response. That the good seed will fall upon good soil and bring forth fruit to the glory of God.
[7:20] But just to look at these, and we've often looked at this, and I'm sure you've read this and maybe talked about it, discussed it, and heard sermons about it.
[7:31] But still, as we're going through Luke, we'll look at this briefly. And the first could be termed the careless hearer. Because here are people where the word really has had no impact upon their life at all.
[7:46] Because we see what happens, that as the seed is sown, it fell along the path, trampled on the foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And when we come to what Jesus tells us then in verse 12, he explains to us what happens.
[8:01] So you see, while the word of God is being preached, we've always got to remember that there's an enemy of our souls at work.
[8:22] We pray every Lord's Day that we come to church that the Lord will be present with us. We pray for his presence. We pray for his power. But we also have to remember that there's somebody else present that we don't want.
[8:36] And that will be the devil, because he doesn't want people to hear and to believe. His great purpose, whenever God's word is being preached, is to prevent people believing the word.
[8:51] He'll do anything to stop you believing and accepting God's word. And he's at it just now. He's been at it since you came in here. And I'm sure he's been at it many times in your own experience.
[9:05] And he will try to get your mind to focus upon something else. Or to reflect upon something that was happening. And you'll be thinking, you're going down memory lane maybe just now.
[9:16] You're thinking about things you did last week. Or things that you're planning to do. And particularly if there's something coming up. Whether it's on holiday or something that's at the forefront of your thinking.
[9:29] Something that you're looking forward to. My word, he uses that occasion in church. And so often we may hear a wee bit. We may in fact be conscious.
[9:41] Just if you're standing beside a waterfall for quite a long time. Not a massive, powerful waterfall where you cannot hear anybody or anything else. But supposing just quite a flow of water.
[9:54] And initially you're so conscious of the kind of roar. But after a wee while you become oblivious to it. It's kind of a background noise. And so it is sometimes we can be in church.
[10:07] And the preaching is like a kind of background noise. Because your mind is caught up with other things. And I'm sure all of us can say. That's happened to me.
[10:20] And maybe it's not always the devil. We cannot always blame the devil. But certainly that's one of the things that he'll be doing. Is doing anything he can. Particularly if he sees that you are being challenged.
[10:35] That you're becoming concerned. That there's a realization in your heart. That you need a savior. If you are coming to wakening up to this fact. And saying I've got to get right with God.
[10:47] The alarm bells will go off with Satan. And he will try to keep you away. From embracing Jesus Christ as savior. Because we're told that he is the God of this world.
[10:58] And that he has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. And that's what you need to do today. Is ask the Lord. Lord open my mind. Open my eyes. Open that I may see.
[11:10] Open my heart that I might believe. Please Lord. Help me to do that very thing. So Jesus is showing. That we have this enemy of our souls.
[11:22] And he's at work. Trying to keep you. And you know one of the most dangerous things he does. Even if he cannot cloud your mind. And take you on to other things.
[11:33] And daydream. You know sometimes we think. Daydreaming is only what. You do when you're in school. And I'm sure many. When you think back.
[11:43] Of the number of times. As you sat in class. Of how you daydreamed. Sometimes brilliant daydreaming. And you say to yourself. Oh that's. It's only young people who daydream. Not at all.
[11:54] We still daydream. And sometimes. Our dreams are quite extraordinary. And we still hope. In our day. Well we know it's not going to happen. But sometimes we still.
[12:05] We daydream like a little boy. But. It's not always that. That the devil works with. Because sometimes. If we're challenged by the gospel.
[12:17] And we're saying to ourselves. Maybe you're there today. And you're saying to yourself. I really need to get right with God. I must. Satan will come up beside you.
[12:27] And he'll say. Yeah. You must. Now that you've. Established that fact. Just. That's far enough.
[12:38] Just now. Sort that out later. That's a great step forward. A realization that you. Must. Get right with God. In Jesus.
[12:49] Great step forward. But leave it there. Just now. Pick that up again. That's the first step. My friend. Don't stop now. You see.
[13:00] That's what he's trying to do. He's trying to get you to stop. Even although he's seeing that. You've. You've made as it were. Almost a breakthrough. Into this realization. He doesn't want you to take the next step.
[13:11] And he'll do anything to hold you. Where you're at. My friend. Move on. Call to the Lord. Cry to him. Today. The Bible says. If you hear his voice. Harden.
[13:21] Not your heart. So that's a careless hearer. The next we find. Is a stony ground hearer. And these in a sense. I suppose. Are various titles. You can give these.
[13:32] For instance. This might be the emotional hearer. These are people. Who hear the word of God. Some. Who fell on the rock. And it grew up. And it withered away. Because it had no moisture.
[13:44] Jesus tells us. In verse 13. That those. And the ones on the rock. Are those who. When they hear the word. Receive it with joy. But these have no root.
[13:54] They believe for a while. And in time of testing. Fall away. Now apparently. In the holy land. You often get. Huge.
[14:08] Like. Areas of land. With. Covered in limestone. With just the tiniest. Tiniest. Bit of soil. Above it. And it's probably.
[14:19] This kind of. Land. That. That Jesus. Was speaking about here. And if seed. Fell on it. There would be. Almost like. A very rapid. Springing up. But then. Wuthering away.
[14:30] Because. It couldn't. Get root. It couldn't. Get through. This limestone. And. While there was. A little soil. And while there was. An initial. As it were. Like a little.
[14:40] Bursting up. It withered away. In the heat. Because it. Couldn't. Take root. Properly. It couldn't. Fix down. And take root. And Jesus.
[14:50] Is saying. There's going to be. Some people. Like that. That when they hear. The gospel. It has. Some effect. Upon them. And it might be. Some kind of. Emotional. Response.
[15:02] Or emotional. Experience. And they say. Yeah. I'm. I'm. A Christian. I'm going to be. A Christian. And it may appear. For a little while. That they're beginning.
[15:12] To follow. The Lord. God. But. Then. When the heat. Comes. In other words. When. Times. The Lord. Tells us.
[15:22] Exactly. What it is. In the time. Of testing. The time. Of trial. The time. That's the type. Of heat. When these. Difficulties. Come. They wither away.
[15:35] In other words. They've. You see. There are people. And it was very clear. In the time. Of Jesus. There were times. It was popular. And easy. To follow Jesus. There were times. There were huge crowds.
[15:47] And there was times. They wanted to make Jesus king. There were times. They cried. Hosanna. Hosanna. But there were other times. When they didn't like. What they were hearing.
[15:58] And they went away. In their droves. And the very city. That cried. Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna. Just very very shortly. Afterwards. Cried. Crucify him.
[16:10] Crucify him. So you see. Just how. How quickly. Things change. And that is where. People. Do not have. That. Where there hasn't.
[16:21] Where it hasn't. Taken root. Where they haven't. Really come in. To a full union. And into. Personal. Faith. With Jesus Christ. As savior.
[16:32] And it's. Very interesting. That the same. Sun. Which would. Cause. The. The. The. The seed. To flourish. And grow. In good.
[16:43] Rich soil. Is the same. Sun. That will. Cause. The same. Seed. To. Wither. Where there is no. Root. Where there is no. Where the soil isn't good.
[16:55] And there's. There's nowhere for it. To take root. And that is. Proved over. And over. And over again. In the time. In the experience. Of God's people. So many.
[17:07] Of God's people. Go through. Times. Of testing. And trial. If they weren't. Rooted. To Jesus. They would have gone away. Long ago. Their places.
[17:18] Would be empty. In church. They wouldn't be meeting. With God's people. Anymore. They would have turned. Their back upon it all. And gone back. To where they were. But they haven't.
[17:30] Because. They are rooted to Jesus. They are. In him. They are. Bound in him. They are found in him. He is the rock. In which they have. Been built up in.
[17:42] And so. This is. This is a fact. That's the reason. Why today. You're still following the Lord. Despite the knocks. Despite the blows. Despite these things.
[17:53] That have happened. In your life. You're still here. You're still going on. And that is. In itself. A great encouragement. Many.
[18:06] A gospel preacher. And not just a gospel preacher. But anybody. Who has a heart. For the gospel. Has often been disappointed. With people. Who. Seemed at one stage.
[18:18] To be so promising. And I've now just gone. I said. Well. Off the radar. Spiritually. And it's one of the hardest. Things to see.
[18:29] Because. Whenever. You see a person. Coming to faith. In Jesus Christ. Your heart. Rejoices. It's something. It's. There's. There's a thrill. In the heart.
[18:39] Of the believer. And when you see. Somebody. Appearing. To come. Towards the kingdom. There's this sense. Of anticipation. This sense. Of growing joy. But if they come.
[18:51] Close to the kingdom. And then go away. There's the disappointment. And there's the sorrow. And I often. Think. It must have been awful. For Jesus. Because I don't think.
[19:01] Anybody. Ever saw. So many people. Desert. So many people. Turn that back. So many people. Go away. As went away. From Jesus. Jesus. It reached a point.
[19:13] On one occasion. When there had been. Thousands. After him. And they began. To desert him. In their. In their droves. When you remember. That lecture. Where he gave.
[19:24] Where he said. I am the bread of life. And he began. To teach. About the importance. Of eating him. Of feeding. Upon him. The importance. Of faith. In him.
[19:35] That they. They took offense. And they began to. They began to go away. A little before. They had wanted. To make him king. And there they were. Going away. He actually turned. To his. Own. Close little band.
[19:45] And he said. Will you also. Go away. It must have been. A heart. Rending. Scene. For Jesus. To see. Thousands. Desert.
[19:57] And go away. Where he has to. Turn to his little band. And of course. Peter gave these. Great words. Lord. To whom else. Can we go. You alone.
[20:07] Have the words. Of eternity. In a life. And then. The next. Response. We have. We find. The seed. That fell. Among thorns.
[20:18] And these are. The worldly hearers. That's what we read. About in verse 7. And some fell. Among thorns. And the thorns. Grew up. With it. And choked it. And verse 14. Tells us.
[20:28] And as for. What fell. Among the thorns. They are those. Who hear. But as they go. On their way. They are choked. By the cares. And riches. And pleasures. Of life. And their fruit.
[20:38] Does not. Mature. And again. This is a very. Very sad. Case. Here. Because here are people. Who hear the word. And it would. It would indicate.
[20:49] That there is. A response. In their heart. Here are people. And they are not. They are not. Disinterested. In the word. They are people. Who are interested. People who seem.
[21:00] To respond. And. But. The cares. Of this world. Choke. The life. They choke. The good seed.
[21:11] It's like. A garden. That is completely. Unmanaged. And untended. Not. It has never been attended. Unattended. And.
[21:22] You will see there. That. You can actually. See that happen. Gardens. Where the weeds. As it were. Devour. Sometimes. Plants.
[21:32] And. And things. That are growing there. And we've got to be. Very careful. Because we live. In a world. That is. So powerful. That places. So many demands. Upon us.
[21:43] And. Jesus is not. Talking here. About things. That are. In and of themselves. Sinful. He's talking about. The ordinary. Legitimate. The proper. The necessary.
[21:54] Things. Of life. But it's the cares. That the. These things. Things. The riches. And pleasures. Of life. These kind of things. The ordinary.
[22:05] The everyday. Things. Not only. The pleasures. Of sin. Just the pleasures. Of life. The good things. Of life. But that these things. Can actually. Strangle.
[22:16] Spiritual life. And if you find. That. The things. Of God. That. His word. That your own. Time.
[22:27] With the Lord. Has been so. Relegated. In the list. Of priorities. Of your life. That you barely. Have any time. Alarm bell.
[22:37] Should be going off. Because you. Are in that place. Where the cares. Of this world. Are beginning. Or could begin. To. To suffocate.
[22:48] Be careful. Just be careful. I have to be careful. Because these. These are. These are. Dangerous. These are things. That. Can have such.
[22:59] A detrimental. Effect. Upon our soul. And I know. It's difficult. Because we live. In a world. It's. It's like. Going on a. Threadmill. Today.
[23:10] That's. Not just. Walking. A treadmill. That's. Not just. Jogging. But a treadmill. Almost. That's sprinting. And you can't. Get off. I understand. That. And the Lord. Knows.
[23:20] The world. That we're living in. The pressures. The demands. It's just. It's continual. Movement. And momentum. It's hard. But we must heed this warning.
[23:34] Because that's what Jesus is saying. You remember the story of the great supper. How they all began to refuse to come. They weren't angry with the message. They weren't offended with the message.
[23:45] But they said. No look. My land. My property. My work. My marriage. All these things. I'm sorry. I'm just sorry. I can't.
[23:55] You're going to have to excuse me. Because I have to attend to these things. Just want to say one word here. The Lord doesn't understand that excuse.
[24:07] However important it might be. With you. With me. He doesn't understand it. Because in that story. About the great supper. Remember the Lord of the feast said.
[24:19] Well none of these people. Are going to be invited again. They've had their opportunity. And he said to his messengers. You go out into the highways. And in the hedges. And compel these people.
[24:30] To come in. Because those who have received this offer. That offer is not going to be extended. Anymore. How careful.
[24:41] We need to be. But then finally we see. The receptive hearer. This is the one. Who hears the word. Who receives the word. Who accepts. Absolutely.
[24:52] Jesus. As Lord and Savior. And the evidence. That they have accepted. Jesus as Savior. Is that fruit. Will become evident.
[25:02] In their life. They will bring. Forth. Fruit. To the glory of God. And if we want to see. Primarily. What that fruit is.
[25:13] You go to Galatians. And you see the fruit of the spirit. Where we see love. And joy. And peace. And goodness. And gentleness.
[25:24] All these kind of things. This is what should begin. To characterize. The people of God. Bringing forth fruit. To the glory of God. Now we've got to remember.
[25:35] That not everybody. Is going to bring forth fruit. At the. At the. In the same way. Because. If. When we read about this. In Mark's gospel.
[25:46] It's very interesting. How the Lord Jesus. Tells us. That there will be different degrees. Of. Of. Of fruit bearing. Not everybody. Brings forth. The same amount.
[25:57] Of fruit. And. Because we find. In Mark chapter 4. Verse 20. But those that were sown. On the good soil. Are the ones who hear the word. And accept it. And bear fruit.
[26:08] Thirtyfold. Sixtyfold. A hundredfold. The important thing is. That you're bearing fruit. There are some Christians.
[26:19] On their way. Up there. There's a spirituality. There's a vitality. There's a holiness. There's a fruit bearing. That every single person.
[26:30] Can see. And you say to yourself. These are really remarkable. Christians. You can see it. They're the hundredfold. But not everybody's a hundredfold.
[26:41] Christian. Some are sixtyfold. Some are thirtyfold. And we've got to realize that. This is what Jesus is saying.
[26:53] And then we move on. Just very very briefly here. And really. If we were to sum up. Because in verse 18. Jesus says. Take here then. In light. Of what has been spoken of here.
[27:05] In verse 18. Jesus says. Take here then. Take care. How. You. You. Will. Hear. Be careful.
[27:16] How you hear. Remember. When we were looking at James. We. We went through the. The epistle to James. James put a lot of emphasis. Upon. The word of God. And upon hearing.
[27:26] The word of God. Remember what James said. You've got to be doers of the word. As well as hearers. It's not enough. To be a hearer. In order to prove.
[27:38] That you have faith. You must put that faith. Into practice. By doing the word. Not just hearing it. And James goes on to say.
[27:50] If we don't practice. That word. Then we're deceiving ourselves. We can make all kind of claims. And we can make all kinds of confessions.
[28:01] But unless we are actually. Living that word. If this isn't the sort of the. Day by day. Way. Then we're deceiving ourselves.
[28:12] And these are very challenging things. Remember when we're looking at James. There was a comment. I remember making there. That this person said. Too many people mark their Bibles.
[28:25] But don't let the Bible mark them. Great statement that. You know often we put a. We underline something in the Bible. Something that catches our minds. Well that's great. And put a line under it.
[28:37] This person was saying. Too many people mark their Bibles. But don't have the Bibles. Mark them. In other words. The word of God ought to be marking. Our life.
[28:48] Changing it. Putting the stamp of God. Upon it. And so. That's what the Lord is saying. So take here. Take care then.
[28:59] How you hear. For the one who has. More will be given. And for the one who has not. Even what he thinks that he has.
[29:10] Will be taken away. Isn't that solemn? See the word of God. In other words. The spiritual law of God.
[29:20] Can be summed up in these words. Use it. Or lose it. That's it. Use it. Or lose it. If you have the word of God.
[29:32] Use it. If you don't use it. You will lose it. You will lose everything. Because. Really what it's talking about here. If we have the word. And if we've accepted this word.
[29:43] And lived by this word. Then we receive more. And more. And more. More will be given. But even if we have this word. But we haven't. Accepted it.
[29:54] Even if we know it inside out. Supposing we. We had. The most extraordinary memory. And could memorize. Huge sections of scripture.
[30:04] But I'd never come to know. The Lord of this word. To know this word. In a living form. In our own life. Then whatever we may have had.
[30:16] In this world. By way of knowledge. And understanding. Everything. Will be taken from us. That is really. What the Lord. Is saying here. And in light. Of that.
[30:27] Going back to verse 16. No one after lighting a lamp. Covers it with a jar. Or puts it under a bed. But puts it on a stand. So that those who enter. May see the light.
[30:39] And I believe here. Jesus is talking about. Our responsibility. With the gospel. That we don't just live it. For ourselves. But we live it. For others. That we live it.
[30:51] To others. We live it. For the benefit of others. It's like going. What we're talking to. The young folk. Even today. With the starfish. Where we.
[31:01] Even if it's just one person. But it should be more than one person. That we should. Ought to be witnessing. In whatever way we can. To the glory. Of the Lord.
[31:13] And then finally. Just. We see. In verse 19. We're just looking at this. Very briefly. We find Jesus's. Mother. And brothers. Coming. Then his mother. And his brothers. Came to him. But they could not reach him.
[31:24] Because of the crowd. And he was told. Your mother. And your brothers. Are standing outside. Desiring to see you. But he answered them. My mother. And my brothers. Are those. Who hear the word of God.
[31:35] And do it. Here we have this situation. Where. Jesus's mother. And his brothers. Come to see him. And. It's not. I believe that.
[31:46] What is. What we have here. Is not just. That they're wanting. As it were. To see him. For a moment. They're wanting him. Back with themselves.
[31:57] They're wanting to see him. They're wanting to. I think. The idea. Here is. They're wanting him. Whether it's for a while. They're wanting him. To themselves. For a while. Or they're wanting to take him away.
[32:08] For a while. They're wanting him. And Jesus's response. Is really. Quite extraordinary. He says. My mother. And my brothers. Are those. Who hear the word of God.
[32:19] And do it. Now let us not think. For one moment. That Jesus had no time. To give to his mother. Or no concern. For his mother. You can see that. Even. To the very last.
[32:29] He had a concern. Even on the cross. Jesus was making provision. For his mother. And was caring for her. And thinking. Of her. As to the very. Very last.
[32:40] In this life. So let's not think. For one moment. That Jesus had no place. Or no time. For his mother. But Jesus is highlighting. A couple of. Really important things here.
[32:52] First is. That no one. Is to get in the way. Of the gospel. You see. Jesus was. At this point. On a particular mission. He was at work.
[33:04] He was involved. He was teaching. He was engaging. With people. He was. At this particular moment. Although all the time. He was doing. His father's will. This was a. A vital part.
[33:14] Of his father's will. Where he was. In the whole process. Of teaching. And reaching out. To people. And his family. Were wanting. To take him. To sidetrack him. And they were saying.
[33:25] No. We want you. Just now. And Jesus is saying. No. I must do. My father's will. This. Was the. Main priority.
[33:36] Of his life. And remember. Even when he was a boy. We saw that. The time he was up in the temple. When he was only 12. And Mary was. His mom was saying to him. We would beside ourselves.
[33:46] With worry. And he said. Do you not realize. I've got to be about. My father's business. My heavenly father. Comes first. And following on.
[33:58] Very closely. From that. Important. And precious. And all. Though our family. Is to us. And our families. At a human level.
[34:11] Are more important. More precious. Than any. We know that. In this. In this life. Family. Is vital. And God has made the family. Vital.
[34:21] So precious. So important. And we would. We would give our life. For our family. We would. But Jesus is teaching.
[34:32] That there's a. A relationship. That's even more powerful. More personal. And even closer. And that is the relationship. With himself. Because it is a relationship.
[34:44] That cannot be broken. In any way. Sadly. In life. Relationships. Sometimes break down. Family relationships.
[34:54] Break down. It's one of the saddest things. But it happens. But this is a relationship. That will never break down. It cannot break down. Because the relationship. With Christ.
[35:06] Is permanent. It is forever. Even death. When a couple get married. That is what. Part of what is brought. In. In.
[35:16] In. In the marriage. That this. This. This. Union. Is until death. Severs. Until. They are parted.
[35:27] By death. There's a reminder. Of that. That doesn't happen. With Jesus. Because even death. Cannot. Sever it.
[35:39] Even death. Cannot. Break. That union. It's permanent. It's forever. And ever. So we've got to remember that. That this is. The most powerful. The most personal.
[35:50] It is the closest. Relationship. In the whole. World. Jesus will never. Let us down. And so I would ask that.
[36:01] Today. That we may indeed. Come to. To experience. And to know. The Lord. Jesus Christ. As he has revealed to us. In his word. That we may come to understand.
[36:12] Just how real he is. Not just read about him. Not just know about him. From a. From a. An intellectual. At an intellectual level. But that we might know him personally.
[36:24] As our own Lord. And as our own saviour. May the Lord bless us. Let us pray. Lord our God. We. We pray that.
[36:35] As we've come under the word today. That the response might be. The one who hears. And who hears. In such a way. That we accept the Lord.
[36:46] As our own Lord and saviour. Oh Lord. Help us. We pray. As we journey through life. With all its. Complexities. With all its. Different experiences.
[36:57] But we pray that. We might. Go through life. In a right way. Forgive us Lord. For when we don't. Forgive us Lord. When. For the times we speak.
[37:07] In a wrong way. In a wrong manner. With a wrong attitude. Forgive us Lord. For the times. When we act. In ways. Which are not. Consistent.
[37:19] With our confession. And profession. Lord bless us. And keep us. We pray. Bless us Lord. In light. Of a coming. Not just Lord's day. But the Lord's supper.
[37:31] God willing. Next. Lord's day. And we pray. That we might be prepared. In our heart. And that we might know. The joy of the Lord. Being our strength. Do us good.
[37:41] And take away all our sin. In Jesus name we ask it. Amen. Amen.