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[0:00] Well, let's begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise in Psalm 40.! Psalm 40, the Scottish Psalter, page 259. We're going to sing from verse 1 down to the end of double verse 5.

[0:15] I waited for the Lord my God and patiently did bear. At length to me he did incline my voice and cry to hear. He took me from a fearful pit and from the miry clay.

[0:27] And on a rock he set my feet, establishing my way. We'll sing from verse 1 to the end of double verse 5. We stand to sing to God's praise. He took me from a fearful pit.

[0:59] At length to me he did incline my voice and cry to hear.

[1:15] He took me from a fearful pit.

[1:25] And from the miry clay. And on a rock he set my feet, establishing my way.

[1:50] He put a new song in my mouth.

[2:01] A road to magnify. Many shall see it and shall fear.

[2:18] And on the glory high. O blessed is the man whose trust upon the Lord we lie.

[2:45] O blessed is the man whose trust upon the Lord we lie.

[3:03] O Lord my God, full many are. The wonders Thou hast done.

[3:21] Thy gracious thought to us, Lord, far above all thoughts are gone.

[3:39] In order none can reckon of them.

[3:49] To thee they pray and declare. And speak of them I hold them o'er.

[4:06] And come, be number thou. Let's bow heads in a word of prayer.

[4:21] Let us pray. Lord, our gracious God, we do come acknowledging you at the end of this day as we come. We so much to give thanks to you for thankful for your goodness and mercy that follows.

[4:36] As thankful for every blessing that we have day by day. Thankful for your faithfulness and your mercy that are new each morning. And we do thank you for this day.

[4:48] We thank you that it is your day. The day that the Lord has made. And the day that we can rejoice and be glad in. For we thank you that you remind us in this day of all that you are to us.

[5:00] As we gather around your word. And as we gather as a people together. With the joy of worship in our hearts. The joy of praise on our lips.

[5:12] The joy of the Lord as our strength. We thank you for every reason that we have to give thanks to you. And we do come this evening anew just seeking your blessing upon us.

[5:24] Seeking that you will be in our midst this evening together. As we worship you once more together. As we come reflecting on who you are. As we come to behold the Lamb of God once again.

[5:38] To look on the one who came as promised. The one who came and dwelt among us. The one who came to give his life. And the one who as we will reflect this evening.

[5:50] Will come again to take us to be with himself. We thank you for your word that instructs us. And guides us at every step we take. Even as we have sung we are reminded.

[6:03] Of the great blessing that is ours as we wait upon you. That you are one who hears our voice and our cries. That you are the one for whom to many we can say.

[6:13] That you have taken us from the fearful pit. And from the miry clay. That you have set our feet on a rock. And established our ways. And that you have put a new song in our mouths.

[6:25] That we are a people who can magnify you as our God. And we thank you Lord for the way that you have done. So much for us. And we pray that you will continue to remind us.

[6:37] That even now we only see but a little. We see but through our glass darkly. But the day will come when we will see face to face. So that even the things we cannot understand.

[6:51] Even the things that we don't have comprehension of. The things that are beyond our reach or our understanding. We thank you that all of these things are in your hands. And even the purposes and the reasons why.

[7:04] The many questions that we can have. Lord there is nothing that is beyond you. And you have all the answers. And we just come in faith. To lean upon you.

[7:15] And to love you with all our hearts. So may you guide us in every step we take. And even as we go into this week ahead. As so often is the case. And we come away of a time of communion.

[7:28] As we come away from a time of blessing and encouragement around your word. Lord so often as we go into the week. We know that the devil will be active. That he is never far from us.

[7:39] To take our joy away from us. And we never know how that might come. Or how it might be. But Lord we pray. That you will guard us and protect us.

[7:49] That you will surround us with your presence. And your protection. Day after day. All your people who have professed your name. Lord we thank you that they have that great assurance.

[8:01] Of the words never will I leave you. Or forsake you. And for those maybe who are still seeking you. And fear that absence of you in their hearts or their lives.

[8:12] We pray that you will make yourself known to them. In a very real way. To give them an understanding and a knowledge of who you are. In a new way.

[8:23] In a way that their hearts are opened. And their ears hear. Even for the first time. Of the wonders of our saviour Christ Jesus. And so we pray Lord.

[8:35] That you will continue to bless us together this evening. And as we go into the fellowship later on as well. That we will be encouraged there. As we remember Donald Buchanan. As he will be speaking to us.

[8:47] We thank you for his life and testimony. And for his encouragement to so many of us. Over the years and we pray. That you will encourage him this evening.

[8:58] That you will bless him and uphold him. And keep him. Lord we do thank you that you are one. Who is near to be called upon. In all our different needs.

[9:09] And we understand Lord. That the things of this world. That are beyond our understanding. At times that there is a purpose. And a reason for all things.

[9:21] Even the things that we see day by day. Just now when we reflect on. The world in which we live. And the tragedies that so often surround us. When we think of wars.

[9:32] And just things that. Terror events that go beyond. Our understanding at times as well. We think of the grief. And pain and sorrow.

[9:43] All around our world this evening. In so many different ways. And we pray Lord for you. As the God of all comfort. The God who knows and sees.

[9:53] His people's needs. That you would come. In your power. We pray that for ourselves. As a people locally here as well. Even as we have heard. In these last few hours.

[10:04] Of a woman missing in back. We pray for the search that goes on there. That she might be found safe and well. We commit her. And family. And all who are out searching for our Lord.

[10:16] To your care. And to your keeping. That you would help in these times of need. And here. You're praying people. We do pray Lord as well.

[10:26] That you would bless your church. We thank you for it. To all ends of the earth. We thank you for the many visitors. That come through our doors.

[10:37] Here from week to week. And even today. As we were able to share fellowship. And communion. With people from other parts of our land. We thank you for that. We thank you for every way.

[10:48] We are enabled to engage with people. From near and far. We thank you for the way the church. Has been open again. For the cruise ships visiting. Thank you already for encouraging stories.

[11:01] Of how people have been met. With a warmth. And the love of the gospel. And been encouraged in their faith. We thank you for the remarkable ways Lord. That people can come. From all ends of the earth.

[11:13] And that we can meet with your children. Here and hear. And just see the wonder. Of the far reaching power of the gospel. That on land or sea. Or wherever it is.

[11:25] That your name is being praised. So we pray that people will come. And go from here. Encouraged and strengthened. And even remembering us in prayer. And we thank you.

[11:36] That as we remember them. They can remember us. And pray for the gospel here too. We thank you too Lord. For the gospel that bears fruit.

[11:47] For that is your promise in your word. It's not just a word that goes out. To minister without purpose. For we thank you that your word.

[11:58] Builds up your people. Your word is used to encourage. And to strengthen and to rebuke. And we thank you that throughout the world. Among so many people and nations.

[12:10] That the word is indeed bearing fruit. As we hear so often in these days. Of a stirring of the gospel. Among especially young people. Throughout our land.

[12:21] We heard it again on Friday evening. From the street pastor service. Of how there is encouraging news. Of cities and towns. Where so many young people.

[12:33] Are being stirred up by the gospel. So many have questions. And we thank you that that is true. Even here in our own midst as well. We thank you for all our young people.

[12:43] Who come week by week. To sit under the word of God. And we pray to be able to help them understand. And to help them with questions they might have.

[12:54] Or issues they might be going through. That we would see that unity. And that bonds. The bonds of love in our midst. To be able to encourage one another. And to strengthen one another.

[13:05] And so we pray and thank you. For the very fact. That you are God who is active. God who is working. We thank you for the way we have been encouraged. Even today with new members.

[13:17] And we pray for Donald and Ann Smith. Thankful for their coming into membership with us. And we thank you for Rebecca and McDonald as well. We pray for them.

[13:27] For their families. And for their Christian witness. Here in our congregation. And in all that they do in our community as well. That you would encourage them.

[13:38] Bless them. And keep them. And all of us together Lord. That we would know. That love. That steadfast love. That surrounds us day by day. So hear our prayers Lord.

[13:50] As we continue in our worship. Guide us in all that we do. And all that we say. And may you go with us in the week ahead. And in all that we do. May we know your presence. Your peace.

[14:00] And give glory to you in all things. As we ask all with forgiveness of our sins. In Jesus name. Amen. We're going to sing again to God's praise.

[14:15] In Psalm 103. The Sing Psalms version. Page 135. Of the psalm books.

[14:26] Psalm 103. We're going to sing from verse 1. Down to the end of verse 14. The tune is. Before the throne. And this psalm of course.

[14:38] Speaks about the great love. Of God. Towards us. And how. We see in verse 12. As far as east. Is from the west. So far as love.

[14:48] Has borne away. There are many sins. And trespasses. And all the guilt. That on us lay. And we thank God. That he is a God. Who remembers us. And we come this evening.

[14:59] To praise our God. Praise God my soul. With all my heart. Let me exalt. His holy name. We stand to sing. Verse 1 to 14.

[15:09] Praise God my soul. With all my heart.

[15:21] Let me exalt. His holy name. Forget not all. His benefits.

[15:33] His grace my soul. Is sung. Growing. His grace my soul. The Lord forgives you. All your sins.

[15:46] And gives you. Your sin. Yes. Of his grace. Your life. He rescues. From the grave.

[15:58] And climbs you. In his tender. And climbs you. In his tender. In his tender.

[16:09] In his tender. In his tender. He satisfies. His sure. He desires. From his. Allending. Source.

[16:20] Of good. So. That just. Like. The. In his. In his ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth ninth Israel's sons, his mighty deeds to Israel's sons.

[17:06] The Lord is merciful and kind, to anger slow and full of grace.

[17:19] He will not constantly reprove, or in his anchor hide his face.

[17:32] He does not punish our his deeds, or give our sins their just reward.

[17:44] A British love as high as death, towards all those who fear the Lord.

[17:57] Towards all those who fear the Lord. As far as he's still strong the West, so far his love has borne away.

[18:16] Our many sins and trespasses, and all the guilt that on us lay.

[18:27] Just as a father loves his child, so God loves souls to give his name.

[18:40] But he remembers, we are does, and well he knows our feeble frame.

[18:53] And well he knows our feeble frame. We're going to read the word of God together now in the book of Revelation.

[19:08] On chapter 22, the last chapter of this book. Revelation chapter 22, we'll read the whole of the chapter together.

[19:21] Let's hear the word of God. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, through the middle of the street of the city.

[19:38] Also on either side of the river the tree of life, with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

[19:50] No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

[20:01] They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads, and night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

[20:17] And he said to me, These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.

[20:32] And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.

[20:44] And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said to me, You must not do that.

[20:55] I am a fellow servant with you, and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God. And he said to me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.

[21:11] Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy. Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.

[21:31] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and that they may enter the city by the gates.

[21:46] Outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the sexually immoral, and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches.

[22:04] I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. The spirit and the bride say, Come, and let the one who hears say, Come, and let the one who is thirsty, Come, let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

[22:22] I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

[22:33] And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of the prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life, and in the holy city which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon.

[22:49] Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. We're going to sing again to God's praise, this time in Psalm 147, in the Sing Psalms version, Psalm 147, page 192.

[23:12] We'll sing from verse 1 to verse 7. Psalm 147, page 192. At the beginning of the psalm, O praise the Lord, how good it is to sing him songs of praise, how pleasant to give thanks to him for all his gracious ways.

[23:31] We sing to the tune, Free Church, Psalm 147, verse 1 to 7. Amen. Amen. Amen. Bum, who it is to sing his songs of praise.

[23:57] How blessed to give thanks to him for the whole of his nation's praise.

[24:12] The Lord builds up Jerusalem and he is his alone who reaches out to Israel to bring the exiles home.

[24:43] He heals death, he heals broken hearts, he shores the loose alay, he sets the number of the stars and calls them each lying.

[25:14] Great day, sorrow and great in power, his wisdom is profound.

[25:30] The Lord sustains the weak, the cast, the wicked to the ground.

[25:46] Sing to the Lord with the fullness which I his grace proclaim.

[26:02] And with the music of the heart give glory to his name.

[26:18] We turn back together to our reading in Revelation chapter 22.

[26:31] And we can read again at verse 3. Revelation 22 and at verse 3. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it and his servants will worship him.

[26:54] Are you a good timekeeper? If someone says to you, I'll meet you for lunch at half past 12 in a certain place, what time do you arrive?

[27:08] Are you there for half past 12? Or are you one who when a friend asks for a half past 12 lunch meeting, they're expecting maybe a one o'clock start?

[27:20] Some of us will be very rigid with time. If someone says half 12, it's half 12. Some will be early. They like to be there early before the other person is just to make sure they arrive.

[27:34] Others are maybe a little bit more flexible, shall we say. But how is God when it comes to timekeeping? We sang together in Psalm 40 and it speaks about the psalmist there waiting patiently on God.

[27:54] Does that mean that God was late? You get that sense in the psalm that the psalmist was crying out, waiting patiently on God, almost asking, where is God?

[28:07] Was God late? No. God's timing is perfect. Even when there may be times when we ask of him, where are you?

[28:21] Or why aren't you doing something about this? When we're questioning God's timing, God's timing is always perfect. He has time in his hands.

[28:33] Now this weekend, we've been looking at the theme of the Lamb of God. The Lamb of God. Last evening we saw how the Lamb of God was promised.

[28:46] So as you're looking at the Old Testament, you see the Lamb of God being promised. And then in John, the opening chapter of John's Gospel, we looked at John the Baptist saying, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

[29:02] We saw the Lamb was promised and the Lamb came. Then this morning we're reflecting on the Lamb who was punished. As we looked at Isaiah chapter 53, again it was in that light of the promise of the Lamb of God who would come.

[29:18] But then we were seeing how he would be punished, how by his stripes he would be healed. And how we read in the Gospel of John again, in John 19, they're seeing just how that worked out with the cross.

[29:31] The Lamb of God punished. Well this evening I want us to think about the Lamb of God once again. And we're thinking this evening of the Lamb of God praised.

[29:44] The Lamb of God praised. That's what we see here in verse 3 of chapter 22. The Lamb will be in it and his servants will worship him.

[29:58] There is a day coming when the people of God will praise the Lamb of God. And it all ties together in the sense of timing with God.

[30:12] The three things that we've looked at are all tied together with the timing. The timing of God coming into the world was God's perfect time.

[30:24] He had been promised and he came. The timing of the Lamb of God being punished was at the precise time that God wanted it.

[30:36] You read in the book of Romans chapter 5 verse 6, It says, And what we've come to see this evening now is that all that is still to come is in God's perfect timing.

[31:22] Revelation, the book of Revelation as a whole, is full of references to the Lamb of God. From chapter 5 through to the end, you find the Lamb of God is mentioned again and again.

[31:37] In chapter 5, it begins by speaking about the scrolls that were to be opened to break the seven seals as it speaks of in verse 1 of chapter 5.

[31:51] And who is able to open it is the question. Well, we find the answer again in verse 6. The Lamb was the one who was able to open.

[32:10] And the Lamb, as you see then from chapter 5 through to the end of the book, is the one who is going to be in the midst of his people. He is going to be in the midst of his people.

[32:22] In verse 5 of chapter 22, it says there, The night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

[32:34] So there's this sense of eternity and what is ahead of us forever and ever if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And it will be to be with the Lamb.

[32:48] And the Lamb will be praised. The Lamb will be worshipped. But notice the context of this chapter as well, chapter 22. The context of it is very much when the Lord Jesus is speaking about his coming.

[33:04] And the words he says, I am coming. In verse 7 he says, Behold, I am coming soon. So there's that sense of time once again.

[33:17] In verse 12 he says again, Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me. And then the last words of this book are again in verse 20.

[33:32] He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon. So there's a sense of the coming of the Lord.

[33:44] And the question that that raises for us is, When might this be? When might this happen? If he is coming soon.

[33:56] And he wrote, this book was written 2,000 years ago. Well, what is soon with the Lord? Is he coming? That's the question. We don't need to believe this.

[34:08] If he was going to come, he'd have come by now. But that's not true. He is coming. And soon to him is in his right time.

[34:20] So we need to concern ourselves about this. We need to concern ourselves about not just the fact that he came in the first place, Behold the Lamb of God, as John the Baptist saw him.

[34:34] But we must remember that the Lamb is coming again. And that the Lamb will be in the midst of the throne. But the question is, will we be there with him?

[34:47] Will we be found worshipping him? We need to concern ourselves. Because he is not late. He has not delayed his coming.

[34:58] He has not put off his coming. He is coming. As it says here, he is coming soon. And so we want to see three things out of this chapter this evening.

[35:11] Three things that Jesus teaches us in these words. The first thing is that there is an opportunity given. And then the second thing we see is the authority he has.

[35:24] And then the third thing is the invitation that is given. First of all, we think of the opportunity. What do you do when you are waiting for someone to arrive?

[35:39] Do you sit and do nothing? Or do you keep busy with something else until they appear? Perhaps it depends just where you are at the time.

[35:51] If you are at home waiting for someone to come round, you might busy yourself with dishes or tidying up in some way. Just doing something that needs to be done in the house.

[36:04] Or if you are maybe going to meet someone off the ferry. You are waiting for the ferry to come in. Or if you are in a restaurant waiting for someone who is going to be at least half an hour late. You maybe find a book to read or catch up on.

[36:16] Texts or phone calls or something like that. When we are waiting, there is often something to be done. Waiting is not an excuse for inactivity.

[36:30] And that is especially when it comes to the return of the Lord. And so we see here that the Lord gives us opportunity.

[36:42] He says he is coming soon. But he is also saying to us in these words that this day and all the days that we have are really a day of opportunity.

[36:57] They are a time of his grace towards us. Because the fact is he could come at any moment. But we don't live like it.

[37:10] We are living more like he is not coming. If he was going to come, he would have come by now. But the reality is different. The reality is he could come at any moment.

[37:24] And what do we do in these times of opportunity? What do we do in these days of opportunity? Do we sit idly back?

[37:35] Or do we take heed of what the word of God says? It is a day of opportunity. And in verse 7 where he says, I am coming soon, it is followed by a statement.

[37:50] Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. So you see, it is not waiting for his coming soon without doing anything.

[38:02] It is blessed is the one who keeps the word of the prophecy of this book. What are we doing with our time as we wait? Are we wasteful?

[38:16] Or are we making the most of our time? Psalm 39 is a psalm that speaks about time. It speaks about using our time for vain things in verse 6.

[38:31] Many of the things that we do in life, it can all be in vain. We see it in the Old Testament as well. When the writer to Ecclesiastes is speaking about vanity, vanity.

[38:46] All is vanity. The things done under the sun. When we're going about our life in that business of just time, it's just a commodity that we use. We're in the hamster's wheel, just that routine day by day.

[38:59] But it seems to be in vain. When there's no focus, when there's no attention given to why are we doing these things. So Psalm 39 is similar. It speaks about doing things in vain.

[39:11] But it also speaks with us, too, about perspective as well, about how we see our time. David, the psalmist, says in verse 5, So he's seeing God, isn't it?

[39:31] He's seeing how short, really, our time is. On earth, how brief our time is. To an eternal God. A God who is there without beginning and without end.

[39:44] Time is not the way we see time. But for David and for ourselves, our time is brief. And yet our time is a time of opportunity.

[39:56] Time is a precious commodity. Each minute is a gift that cannot be taken back, cannot be retrieved. We are reminded of that so often.

[40:09] How our time can be cut short. How our time can be wasted in so many things. And so we think of living in a day of opportunity.

[40:21] The Lamb of God is coming. But we are now in a day of opportunity. There are things we need to busy ourselves with. There are things that we need to do on a daily basis.

[40:32] But are we doing them in light of the Lord? Or are we doing them just in that vanity, vanity, all is vanity. Just going through the motions. Time is an opportunity to come to the Lamb of God.

[40:49] To hear these words of John the Baptist. Behold, look, see, the Lamb of God. It takes away the sin of the world. Because the Lamb is coming to judge.

[41:01] And so is our time well spent. When you look at verse 10, we are reminded that this time is a time of opportunity as well.

[41:13] And he said to me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book. For the time is near. The word is still open to us.

[41:23] The word is still being proclaimed in these days. Because the time is near. What are we doing then while we wait? Are we waiting in obedience, ready for his coming?

[41:38] Or are we waiting with a sense of time as my own? I'll do as I please. John Wesley was once asked, What would you do if you knew the Lord was returning this time tomorrow?

[41:54] And his answer was this. I would go to bed and go to sleep, wake up in the morning and go on with my work. For I would want him to find me doing what he had appointed.

[42:11] If I was to ask you that question, if you knew the Lord was coming this time tomorrow, what would you do?

[42:21] Can you answer like John Wesley and say, What I would just do what I would be doing? Because I am already doing what the Lord has appointed for me.

[42:33] If you can say that, praise God. But if you can't say that, that is a more serious matter. Today is a day of opportunity.

[42:45] A time of grace to be made right with God before he comes. The Lamb of God is coming soon.

[42:58] The second thing we see here is the authority that he has. What authority does Jesus have? Is he one among many that we can look to?

[43:12] One among many gods that we can seek to please in this life in the hope that there might be something to come later on? Is that the Jesus that we see?

[43:22] Is that the God that we worship? Should we really take these words seriously? Well, we should. And when we go back to what John the Baptist said, he said, Behold the Lamb of God.

[43:37] God was sending this Lamb. God was sending his Son. So God gave him authority. And he has all authority under heaven and earth.

[43:50] That's what we read in the Scriptures, in the Gospels. And in verse 12 here, we are reminded again in light of his coming. Soon we are reminded of his authority.

[44:02] Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repay everyone for what he has done. So verse 12 says, I am coming soon.

[44:17] And he has authority. And then this authority is followed by saying, I am. And we have two of these in verse 13 and then in verse 16.

[44:28] And he says, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. And this takes us back again to John 1.

[44:41] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

[44:53] And so we're taken back again there. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. And so we see here his authority.

[45:05] He was there when everything began, and he will be there when everything comes to a conclusion. Who created the world?

[45:17] And for what purpose? It's a question that's kind of often discussed and often asked, and there's different kinds of points of view with it all.

[45:28] People will have all their different theories about it. And for many years, people would really hold on the Word of God. God made the heavens and the earth.

[45:39] He created all things. But then we find in our day, more and more people will rubbish that idea and look at all kinds of other theories as to the creation of the world.

[45:51] The creation by God is something that's pushed out more and more. But we have to rely on the Word of God. This is something that's discussed down through all generations.

[46:03] It's amazing how even in the Scriptures you find it discussed. In the book of Job, Job chapter 38, where the Lord is saying to Job, he says, Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

[46:16] Tell me, if you have understanding, who determined its measurements? Surely you know. Or who stretched the line upon it? Or what, where its bases sunk?

[46:27] Or who laid its corners? There's questions there given to Job. Do you have the answers? Where were you when the foundations were laid? That's the question for ourselves as well.

[46:41] Do we have the answers? Or are we trusting by faith in the Word that was with God in the beginning? The Lamb of God who was there, for whom all things were created and by whom all things were created.

[46:55] So there's this fascination looking back to the beginning of creation. But what about the end? What about the end?

[47:08] Again, people have their own theories. The end is just nothing. We die and that's it. What hopeless lives we have if that's all we have.

[47:22] But when we look to the Word of God, we see there's so much more to the end. There's so much more to look forward to if we are trusting in the Lord.

[47:34] But the question is, are we? Can we look forward to His coming soon? To the day when the Lamb will come again and we have to appear before His judgment seat.

[47:47] He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. He created and He will recreate.

[47:59] A new heavens and a new earth. We're reminded too in verse 16 where He says, I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.

[48:12] Again, we are just reminded there of His authority, His power, the descendant from David, the one who was promised, the one who we saw coming, the one who we saw punished, the one who we know will come again and the one who will be praised.

[48:29] He is the bright morning star. It means to be elevated. He is lifted up. And the Lord will indeed be lifted up.

[48:40] When you think of the coming of the Lord, we are told every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And it's so important that we remember He is coming soon.

[48:56] He has authority over all things. Power and authority to bring all things to come to pass. The Lamb has all authority.

[49:10] But the final thing we want to see from this and the amazing thing as we conclude is that we see that there is an invitation. There is an invitation.

[49:23] He says, Come. In verse 17, the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come.

[49:35] And let the one who is thirsty, Come. Let the one who desires take the water of life without price. We all get maybe invitations to different things.

[49:48] And invitations can be exciting. You get an invitation to dinner. You get an invitation to a birthday party or a wedding. You get an invitation to a grand opening of something.

[50:00] Or if you're fortunate, maybe even get an invitation invitation to the royal garden party. All kinds of invitations come. And yet there's none that compare to this.

[50:14] The Spirit and the bride say, Come. Let the one who hears say, Come. The Lamb of God is inviting us.

[50:25] He is inviting us to be with him. To be with him around the throne. Seeing the Lamb as slain. Worshipping him with all that we are forever and ever.

[50:37] But we must respond to the invitation now. The invitations of the Lamb are throughout Scripture.

[50:48] Again, just going back to John 1. There was an invitation there. We read it last night. We didn't reflect on it as such. But in verse 39 or verse 38, Jesus turned and saw them following him.

[51:03] That's some of John the Baptist's disciples. And said to them, What are you seeking? And they said to him, Rabbi, which means teacher, where are you staying? He said to them, Come and you will see.

[51:16] A simple invitation. Come and you will see. And a time that would change them. A time that they would hear that invitation.

[51:28] Not long after that, Jesus is speaking to others in the Gospel of Mark. And he says to the fishermen, Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And so there's all these powerful invitations that go out.

[51:43] Invitations like Matthew 11, verse 28. Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. And when we accept the invitation to come, we have a promise, as John 6 gives to us, whoever comes to me, I will never cast out.

[52:02] There's personal invitations. There's personal invitations. When you think of Zacchaeus, the little man who was up the tree. And Jesus calls him and says, Come down, for today I must abide at your house.

[52:19] There's so many. He invited Lazarus to come out of the grave. He said, Lazarus, come forth. Not even death itself could hold at the power of Jesus' word.

[52:34] There are invitations from the Lord with gracious promises to all who will come to him. And that's the invitation that we have this evening.

[52:44] The invitation to come and be with the Lamb of God for all eternity. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. Let him who hears say, Come.

[52:55] And let him who is thirsty, Come. It's there for us just to come. Come, he sees. The Lamb that John the Baptist saw, the Lamb that we were remembering this morning punished, is the one who says, Come.

[53:16] Come and worship me. Come and behold forever forever. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Come and worship.

[53:28] Come and praise this Lamb. As verse 3 says, There is that hope of a new heaven and a new earth. No longer will be anything accursed, but the throne of God and the Lamb will be in it and his servants will worship him.

[53:47] will you be there? Will you be worshipping around the throne? Worshipping the Lamb of God for all eternity?

[54:02] Some of these things are so hard for us to understand. They're so hard for us to comprehend. We were reflecting on this in the manse a little this afternoon.

[54:12] And I quoted a hymn by Richard Baxter. I'm going to quote it again here this evening. And listen to these words. Christ leads me through no darker rooms than he went through before.

[54:29] He that unto God's kingdom comes must enter by his door. Come, Lord, when grace hath made me meet, thy blessed face to see.

[54:40] For if thy work on earth be sweet, what will thy glory be? Then I shall end my sad complaints and weary sinful days and join with the triumphant saints that sing my Saviour's praise.

[54:58] My knowledge of that life is small, the eye of faith is dim, but tis enough that Christ knows all and I shall be with him.

[55:12] There's so many things that we don't know. But is it not enough that Christ knows all and we shall be with him?

[55:24] The Lamb of God was promised. He came. John the Baptist pointed us towards him. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

[55:38] The Lamb of God was punished. He came with a purpose to give his life. The Lamb was sacrificed once and for all.

[55:55] Today is a day of opportunity to prepare for the time when we might gather round his throne and worship him. To be there is to trust in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

[56:14] Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, may you bless your word again to us as we go from here this evening.

[56:25] We pray that you will make your word go with us, that it will resonate in our ears and in our hearts and guide us in your paths. For we hear these words and we can put them off.

[56:38] Behold, I am coming soon and soon seems so far away for us. But yet we do not know when will that will be. And so help us to be prepared.

[56:52] Help us to be a people who are looking and longing for you. when we might say, come, Lord Jesus. May we find that faith in our hearts.

[57:03] May we find that hope in you to make us ready for that day for all eternity when we might praise and worship the Lamb who was slain. Hear our prayers.

[57:14] Continue with us and pardon us for all our sin as all we ask. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. We're going to conclude by singing to God's praise in Psalm 111, the Scottish Psalter version, page 391.

[57:38] Psalm 111. We'll sing from verse 1 to verse 4, a psalm again of praise to the Lord.

[57:49] Praise ye the Lord with my whole heart. I will God's praise declare where the assemblies of the just and congregations are. There's the theme of praise but then there's the reason of praise in verse 2.

[58:02] The whole works of the Lord our God are great above all measure. Sought out they are of everyone that doth therein take pleasure. The Tunis Argyle will sing from verse 1 to verse 4.

[58:15] Amen. Praise ye the Lord with my whole heart.

[58:28] I will not praise thee there where he has semblings of the just and convications have.

[58:53] The whole works so the Lord our God are great above all measure, so tarn the heart of every one that doth tiling tiling tiling tiling tiling His word most honourable is, most glorious and pure, And His untainted righteousness forever doth endure.

[60:03] His words most wonderful we have made to be caught upon.

[60:20] The Lord is gracious and He is full of compassion.

[60:38] I'll give thanks for the food that we'll be having next door and then close with the benediction. Lord, our gracious God, we thank You that every good and perfect gift is from above.

[60:50] We thank You for every provision that You make for us, Lord, day by day. We have so much to give thanks for. And we pray Your blessing on the food prepared for us next door.

[61:01] And as we go together there for fellowship, we pray that You will continue to bless us and to be with us. And to praise You as our Lord and as our God.

[61:11] And now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.

[61:22] Amen. Thank you, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Father, Thank you.