WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.000 Some time ago I read a story which I gather is a true story, it's not a joke. Outside Bristol Zoo 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:20.000 ! There was a car park and the car park was for cars and buses and motorbikes. There was a very nice man outside Bristol Zoo 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:30.000 ! who collected the fees for cars and buses. £2.50 for a car and £7 for a bus. He did that for 25 years and one day 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:39.000 didn't show up. The zoo contacted the council and said to them you need to send a new collector. The 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:47.000 council wrote back to the zoo and said the car park is your business it's got nothing to do with us. In other words 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:56.000 the council basically said we've not employed anyone to collect fees and the zoo was saying we've not employed anyone 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:03.000 to collect fees. But this man for 25 years had turned up with his homemade booth and collected around about 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:13.000 £350 a day for 25 years. That amounts to around about half a million pounds. And so as we sit here this evening 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:20.000 that man is presently probably in a villa in France or Italy or Spain. So my question to you is this 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:36.000 was he clever or is he corrupt? And the answer is yes. Now who's going to deal with that? Who will bring that man to justice? 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:44.000 Multiply that by 50 billion and you've got the problems in the world that need sorting out. 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:51.000 Now we're tracing over these weeks we began this morning the promises of God which are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:59.000 and we're still in Isaiah. He served God in the 8th century BC and the text that Reuben read to us is a wonderful 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:08.000 wonderful promise that God somehow in some way is going to send somebody who will finally fix the world. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:18.000 And if that sounds like a pipe dream to you let me assure you that that's somebody we've already seen come into the world. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:30.000 And we've been given a preview of what God will do when he finally fixes the world by his son the Lord Jesus when he walked this earth. 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:44.000 And I really value this passage in Isaiah 11 because the longer that you live in the world you realise don't you like I do that human leadership it's necessary but it's inadequate. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:49.000 The longer you live you see that human leadership is necessary but inadequate. 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:57.000 And so we see that in our country now don't we? You pin your hopes on the next leader and then after a while you get rid of that leader. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:03.000 And then you pin your hopes on the next leader and then you get rid of that leader. 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:09.000 Malcolm Muggeridge was a writer in the 20th century. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:13.000 He was one of Graham's patients when Graham worked in a pharmacist so Graham knew him. 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:15.000 But Malcolm Muggeridge was quite a famous writer. 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:18.000 He lived in Cambridge then in India in Egypt. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:21.000 He also lived in Moscow for a time. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:24.000 And he wrote for many of the British newspapers. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.000 He was converted to Christ a little bit later in his life. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:31.000 And his biographer says this of Muggeridge. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:36.000 He says this, he says the kingdoms of the earth were seen to be failures. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:42.000 And he turned his attention to that kingdom which is not of this world. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:45.000 And that's what Isaiah 11 does. 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:54.000 Isaiah 11 shows us that we need to turn our attention to that kingdom which is not of this world. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:04:01.000 And so I really value Isaiah 11 because if you keep putting your confidence in people, whoever they may be, 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:08.000 or institutions, or powers, or your own abilities, I can promise you you will get very disappointed. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:13.000 You will keep putting your feet on sand. 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:17.000 And you'll keep looking for a rock. 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:26.000 If we change the illustration, the great preacher Spurgeon, he reflected on that moment where Noah sent out a dove from the ark. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:28.000 Some of you remember that scene. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:33.000 Where Noah released the dove from the ark to go and see if there was any land. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:37.000 And the dove flew around for quite a long time and it found nowhere to land. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:42.000 And then eventually it came back probably exhausted to the ark. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:48.000 And Spurgeon says in a little comment, he says this, you will never find rest in this world for your soul. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:53.000 It is only when you come to the ark that is Christ that you will find rest for your soul. 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:59.000 And so this promise in Isaiah chapter 11 is very important. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:01.000 You're not dealing with a fairy tale. 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:06.000 You are dealing with the solution of God for the problems of this world. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:16.000 Because without the person who is called Christ, who is Christ, this world has got no answers. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:25.000 Although there have been some very good leaders in history, human leaders, nobody has been up to the task of fixing the world, have they? 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:29.000 No one is able to do what the Lord Jesus is able to do. 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:32.000 And we will see that as we look at Isaiah 11. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:36.000 Because when Isaiah wrote these words in chapter 11, he's got a very challenging job. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:41.000 He's got to persuade God's people that God was actually going to reduce them. 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:44.000 We might say God was actually going to decimate them. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:51.000 So if you look at chapter 10 and verse 22, he says, you are like the sand. 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:54.000 You are like sand on the beach. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:56.000 There's going to just be some survivors. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:06:01.000 Or chapter 10 and verse 33, there's going to be some trees. 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:04.000 God is going to bring down some lofty trees. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:09.000 In other words, God is saying in Isaiah 10, I'm going to bring down the proud. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.000 And I'm going to bring down the disobedient. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:13.000 And that's what he did. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:16.000 And why did he do that? 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.000 He did that because his people were disobedient. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:20.000 Disobedient. 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:30.000 But after that, after he's brought God's people down, Isaiah was able to tell the people that God would eventually restore and revive his people. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:34.000 And that's what we pick up in 11 verse 1. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:40.000 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, David's dad. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:45.000 And a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:50.000 There will rise up a righteous leader and a saviour. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:51.000 Why would God do that? 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.000 That is the sheer grace and the kindness of God. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:55.000 Two points this evening. 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:56.000 I want to be brief. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:00.000 Firstly, the answer is a person. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:03.000 The answer to the world is a person. 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:04.000 That's the first point. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:07.000 And secondly, the person has the answers. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:08.000 Did you see what I did there? 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:10.000 I was very impressed with that. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.000 The answer is a person. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.000 And the person is the answer. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.000 So first of all, the answer to the world is a person. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:18.000 Look at verses 1 to 3. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:23.000 So can you see verse 1, the people of God have been reduced to a stump. 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:26.000 You know you cut down a tree and there's a stump left in the ground? 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:30.000 They're going to be removed from the promised land. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:34.000 They would be reduced, but eventually they would be restored. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:44.000 But can you see in chapter 11 verse 1, God is going to raise up somebody from the stump, from the line of David, who would be a shoot, a branch. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:47.000 And we know of course that can't be David. 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:48.000 Because David is long gone. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.000 He's long dead. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:51.000 When Isaiah was writing. 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:57.000 But obviously Isaiah is promising that there's going to be a new king who's going to emerge from that royal line. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:02.000 And we know that it's a person because we see in verse 2, can you see that? 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:04.000 That the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:05.000 On this person. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:08.000 And the Spirit of the Lord will remain on him. 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:11.000 And of course, the new king would be Jesus. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:15.000 Born in the hometown of David, Bethlehem. 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:21.000 Referred to repeatedly as the son of David, the son of David, the son of David. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:26.000 And actually in the last book of the Bible, he calls himself the root and the offspring of David. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:27.000 Revelation 22. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:32.000 And the Holy Spirit rests on Jesus. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:33.000 Yes, he does. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:40.000 We know, don't we, that when Jesus was baptised, that the Spirit came down in the form of a dove. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:43.000 And the Spirit rested on Jesus and never left him. 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:48.000 And so is Jesus just another passing leader? 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:49.000 No. 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:54.000 You read the Old Testament, and every king and prophet before him. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:59.000 And every king and prophet after him has been flawed and sinful, but not Jesus Christ. 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:04.000 And in verse 2, if you look at the text, it tells us about this king. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:07.000 And it gives us some beautiful words to describe the king. 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:09.000 There are couplets, can you see them? 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:13.000 To show that Jesus is supremely qualified. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:14.000 So look at verse 2. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:17.000 This king is going to have, verse 2, wisdom and understanding. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:23.000 In other words, he is going to have the ability to think properly. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:24.000 Think properly. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:34.000 Now, he mentioned, didn't I, that crazy situation of a man who runs a car park that's basically illegal. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:41.000 But think of the headlines that you read in the news, on the internet. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:47.000 Think of situations globally that are so difficult, aren't they, to work out. 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:52.000 Think about government decisions that have to be made about the economy. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:59.000 Think about our own local government with all the decisions that have to be made with all the disagreeing factions. 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:09.000 Or think about this Christmas time when families will get together and it's just impossible to sort out the mess of the family. 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:11.000 It's so messy. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:19.000 And the sadnesses in our homes and in our families and the problems. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:22.000 Who is going to be able to think the right way? 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:30.000 Who is going to be able to think the right way forward to make wise decisions? 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:35.000 And in many cases, the answer to that is nobody, isn't it? 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:37.000 You just don't know. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:41.000 I find myself in so many situations in life, I just don't know. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:46.000 And we get a preview, don't we, of the sheer genius of the Lord Jesus in the New Testament. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:50.000 Think about it. Read a Gospel this week. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:55.000 Every issue that is brought to Jesus, he immediately and somewhat easily solves. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:57.000 He never uses Google. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:04.000 And sometimes people come to Jesus and they attack him and he leaves them speechless. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:11.000 And sometimes people come to Jesus and they come with a very, very difficult question to trap him. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:14.000 And he has extraordinary insight. 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:22.000 And sometimes people come to Jesus in great distress and they do not know what to do. 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:25.000 And he gives them the exact perfect reply. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.000 The wisdom of Jesus. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:33.000 But look at the second couplet. 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:34.000 Can you see? 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:38.000 The spirit of the Lord will rest upon him and he'll have the spirit of wisdom and understanding, but the spirit of counsel and of might. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:41.000 In other words, he's got the ability to do something about it. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:52.000 This King Jesus, he is not only going to have the ability to see what needs to be done, but he's got the ability to do something about it. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:12:00.000 And so contrast that to the leaders in the world, who often, they can see the problem of what needs to be done. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:04.000 And they can see the way forward, but they just don't have the resources or the influence to do it. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.000 Think of your family. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:10.000 Think of the situations that you face. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:16.000 And maybe you can see what needs to be done, but you just haven't got it in you to be able to do it. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:23.000 And so think again about the picture we're given of the Lord Jesus in the New Testament. 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:32.000 Jesus could see the corruption that was going on in the temple and what the religious leaders were doing to the biblical faith. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:34.000 But could he do anything about it? 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:35.000 Yes, he could. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:42.000 Can Jesus see the damage that is done by sickness in the world? 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:44.000 And how it was ruining lives? 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:45.000 And can he do anything about it? 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:46.000 Yes, he can. 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:57.000 And when Jesus saw a dead person and the effect of what death had on families and friends, did he have the ability to do anything about it? 00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:58.000 Yes, he did. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:10.000 And when Jesus saw the sin in the world and the separation between us and God, did Jesus have the ability to do anything about it? 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.000 Yes, he did. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:19.000 It's what we come to remind ourselves of at the table, isn't it? 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:24.000 That truth, yes, he did. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:30.000 He knows, he understands, and he is able to do something about it. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:37.000 And so Jesus not only has the ability to see what needs to be done, but he also has the might and the power to do it. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:39.000 The third quality is this. 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:42.000 He's got the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:49.000 He's got the ability to be the person fit for office. 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:56.000 There is nobody who knows God like Jesus. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:02.000 He himself said no one knows the Father properly except the Son. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:08.000 In other words, Jesus is in a league of his own when it comes to knowing God, being God. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:16.000 Does anyone fear the Lord in that truest sense of the word like Jesus feared the Lord? 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.000 He reverenced God. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.000 He trusted God. 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:20.000 He obeyed God. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:21.000 There is no one like Jesus. 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:33.000 It's amusing and it's wonderful that when God is going to do something in the world, he bypasses the leadership. 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:38.000 Dail Ralph Davis in his commentary on Luke brings this out really helpfully. 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:45.000 As he takes you through the New Testament Christmas accounts, Dail Ralph Davis says it borders on the hilarious. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:50.000 So for example, in Luke 3 we're told that in the time of Caesar, who's a very important person. 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:54.000 Pilate was the governor, quite another important person. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:58.000 Herod was the junior governor, a very important person. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:02.000 Annius and Caiaphas were the high priests, reasonably important people. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:09.000 And then Luke tells us that the word of God bypassed them all and went to a bloke called John in the wilderness. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:16.000 John the Baptist, you can almost see the word of God pushing the leadership of the world aside and saying, 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:19.000 I don't need you, I'm going to John the Baptist. 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:22.000 To give him the message to announce the Savior. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:31.000 Ralph Davis puts it like this, Luke pulls up the movers and shakers of the times who dominate the headlines and get the interviews. 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:39.000 And there are a mere prelude to the main and most significant event that the word of God came to a bloke called John. 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:53.000 Isaiah is announcing in Isaiah 11, someone who is going to outperform and outlast all the leadership of the world. 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:58.000 There is a person on whom the spirit of God will rest. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:07.000 And this person is going to have the ability to think and do and be the solution of the world as he is. 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:10.000 And that person is Jesus. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:13.000 Historical Jesus. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:18.000 The human and divine and supreme Jesus. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:24.000 He is the answer to the world and he is a person. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:32.000 And that is the person, this is the person that you need to put your feet on so to speak. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:36.000 He is the rock on which you and I need to stand. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:42.000 The second thing is that the person has the answers. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:45.000 We see that in verses 3 to 10. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:53.000 Well I want you to notice just how Isaiah describes Jesus as Jesus sits on the kind of magisterial bench. 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:56.000 Look at verse 3. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:09.000 It says he shall not judge by what his eyes see or decide disputes by what his ears hear. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:15.000 In other words, he won't be swayed, he won't be deceived, he won't be manipulated. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:20.000 But his decision, verse 4, will be righteous. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.000 No mistakes. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:24.000 No injustices. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.000 No injustices. 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:30.000 And that tells us that the person who deserves hell will receive it. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:39.000 Do you remember King Solomon was given a gift, wasn't he, of great wisdom and power. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:46.000 He's once presented with a baby and there are two mums claiming that the baby was theirs. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:51.000 It's a very emotional and difficult situation. 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:55.000 But Solomon, with incredible wisdom, solved the case in a second. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:58.000 You can read about it in 1 Kings chapter 3. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:03.000 But Jesus announces that he is a greater person than Solomon. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:07.000 And now the flip side to this justice. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:10.000 That where the needy are provided, 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:14.000 justice punishes the guilty. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.000 Look at verse 3 and 4. 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.000 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:20.000 He shall not judge by what his eyes see or decide disputes by what his ears hear. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:22.000 But with righteousness he shall judge the poor. 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:26.000 And he will decide with equity, with fairness for the meek of the earth. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:31.000 And he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth. 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:35.000 And with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:45.000 And you might read verse 4 and you might think that is a good thing. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:47.000 That people would be brought to justice. 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:51.000 The evil that's been done all over our world. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:53.000 That is a good, good thing. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:19:01.000 But I need to remind you and I want to remind you that you and I are guilty before God. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:08.000 The Bible very clearly says that the soul that sins will die. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:13.000 And therefore I will die and you will die. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:19.000 The Bible also says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:23.000 And therefore I have fallen short and you have fallen short. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:27.000 And therefore I will die and you will die. 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:33.000 And unless you have a saviour you will experience the wrath of God for eternity. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:40.000 Unless you put your sins and yourself into the hands of Jesus Christ. 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:44.000 Hands that you will discover are nail pierced hands. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:49.000 Because he is keen to save and deliver. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:55.000 I told you on Wednesday night those of you who are at the half year L.A.M. 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:57.000 And I think I'll speak about it probably at Stuart's funeral. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:02.000 But the last time I met with Stuart Cashman we met in the hospital at Hammersmith. 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:05.000 And it was obviously very clear he was unwell. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:09.000 And for some reason I don't normally do this when I come and visit people. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:11.000 When they're in hospital and say are you ready to die? 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:14.000 And I said that to Stuart. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:17.000 Stuart said I hope so. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:20.000 I said to Stuart we can do better than that can't we? 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:24.000 And we talked about the gospel and he was ready to die. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:32.000 He as I left kind of sent me a text with all the things he wanted done and said in his funeral. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.000 He was ready to die. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:40.000 And ever since that Thursday every time I look in the mirror I keep trying to ask myself the same thing. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.000 I ask myself the same question. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.000 Are you ready to die? 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:47.000 Are you ready to die? 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:54.000 What will you do on that day when you stand before the judge of all the earth. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.000 The king of kings and the lord of the lords. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:58.000 The judge of all the earth. 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:03.000 And if he would ask you why should I let you into my heaven what will you say? 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:04.000 What will you say? 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:14.000 I hope and I pray that the only thing that you can say the only thing that I can say is because he died for me. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.000 He died for me. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:19.000 Because Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:29.000 And this person who is described here in Isaiah 11 is going to decide well because Jesus is the perfect judge. 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:38.000 He is going to destroy well because he is also going to deliver well. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:43.000 Because this Jesus lived well and died well and rose well. 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:49.000 And as we close this evening there is something that you and I need to understand about these verses in Isaiah 11. 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:54.000 Because Isaiah is focusing his knee on the two comings of Jesus. 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:58.000 Isaiah is so brilliant. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:00.000 He is focusing on the two comings of Jesus. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:03.000 Not just the first coming of Jesus but the second coming. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:09.000 The first coming of the Lord Jesus is where Jesus will show up. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:13.000 And he will show himself to be the one who can think and do. 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:14.000 And be exactly who the world needs. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:16.000 And exactly who you need. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.000 And Jesus did that. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:19.000 He absolutely did that. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:26.000 But the second coming of Jesus. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:30.000 Is where he will come. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.000 To perfect things. 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:35.000 And finish what he has begun. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:41.000 And we see this picture don't we beautifully in the last verses of the chapter verses 6 to 9. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:50.000 Because we read in verses 6 to 9 that the dangers and the tensions of this world that you and I live in. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.000 Will one day completely disappear. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:56.000 And it's described again in two sentences. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.000 So can you see it? 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.000 The wolf and the lamb happy together. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:00.000 The leopard and the goat. 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:02.000 The calf and the lion. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.000 The cow and the bear. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.000 The child and the snake. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.000 All at peace. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.000 Harmonious. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:16.000 It's a beautiful, beautiful portrait of what one day Jesus will bring. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:20.000 And the summary is there in verse 9. 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.000 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:27.000 A world without hurt. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:29.000 Can you imagine that? 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:31.000 And they shall not destroy. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:35.000 There will be no harm or destruction. 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:39.000 Because the one who has reversed the fall. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:42.000 The fall where Adam and Eve sinned. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:43.000 Do you remember it? 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:44.000 And the fall began. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:47.000 And when Jesus came the great reversal began. 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:50.000 And Jesus will reverse. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:53.000 And he will restore everything to what it was supposed to be. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.000 Back to Eden. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.000 And God's people. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:57.000 All of God's people. 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:58.000 Will know him intimately. 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:01.000 Can you see in verse 9? 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:02.000 Verse 9. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:03.000 The earth will be filled. 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:05.000 Full of the knowledge of the Lord. 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:06.000 As the waters cover the sea. 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:11.000 And there will be no tension. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.000 And no fear. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.000 And no suffering. 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.000 And no distress. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.000 And no death. 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:18.000 And no disease. 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:26.000 Let me remind you. 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:28.000 The words of that biography of Malcolm Bungerish. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:29.000 Malcolm Bungerish. 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:30.000 He turned. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.000 His attention. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:33.000 To the kingdom. 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:35.000 Which is not of this world. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.000 The one that will last. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:42.000 And Jesus himself. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:43.000 Who said. 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.000 When he came the first time. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.000 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:46.000 This kingdom is right in front of you. 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.000 Turn around. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.000 Enter into it. 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:54.000 Belong to it. 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:57.000 And belong forever. 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.000 Because one day. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:59.000 This king. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.000 This king. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:01.000 This king. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.000 Who's already shown himself. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:04.000 To be the complete master of the world. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:06.000 Will perfect it. 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.000 And all his people. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.000 Will be present. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.000 With him. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.000 He has proved this. 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:18.000 And he has certainly promised it. 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:21.000 And I think at Christmas. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.000 That is a very. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.000 Very great thing. 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.000 To remember isn't it? 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:27.000 That someone has come. 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:29.000 And will come. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:33.000 Who will make things right. 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:37.000 That's funny. 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.000 Let's pray. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.000