WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.000
 Okay, well, if you have your Bible, it would be great to have it open, Psalm 97.

00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:06.759
 I found this Bible on the pew.

00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:09.839
 I don't know if it's the church Bible, but it's on page 603.

00:00:10.040 --> 00:00:12.839
 If you happen to have a Bible that looks a little like this one,

00:00:13.280 --> 00:00:16.500
 and that would be great to have that open before you.

00:00:17.859 --> 00:00:19.960
 Psalm 97, beginning at verse 1.

00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:22.240
 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad.

00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:24.780
 Let the distant shores rejoice.

00:00:26.219 --> 00:00:28.300
 Clouds in thick darkness surround him.

00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:32.520
 Righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne.

00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:37.179
 Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.

00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:40.039
 His lightning lights up the world.

00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:42.700
 The earth sees and trembles.

00:00:43.700 --> 00:00:47.500
 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.

00:00:48.400 --> 00:00:53.859
 The heavens proclaim his righteousness and all peoples see his glory.

00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:57.960
 All who worship images are put to shame.

00:00:58.299 --> 00:01:01.799
 Those who boast in idols worship him, all you gods.

00:01:03.099 --> 00:01:09.120
 Zion hears and rejoices, and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, O Lord.

00:01:09.379 --> 00:01:12.859
 For you, O Lord, are the most high over all the earth.

00:01:13.179 --> 00:01:16.159
 You are exalted far above all gods.

00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:25.579
 Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

00:01:26.459 --> 00:01:30.700
 Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.

00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:36.939
 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.

00:01:36.939 --> 00:01:39.700
 Let's pray together.

00:01:39.700 --> 00:01:48.799
 O gracious God and Father, we thank you that you are the most high over all the earth.

00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:55.359
 That the heavens proclaim your righteousness and all peoples will one day see your glory.

00:01:55.359 --> 00:02:01.640
 And as we come now to your word, Lord, we pray that we would have a glimpse of that glory.

00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:07.099
 You would show us something of the eternal things which are to come.

00:02:07.099 --> 00:02:11.939
 That you would quieten our hearts, you would humble our spirits.

00:02:12.799 --> 00:02:17.280
 And that by your Holy Spirit, you would speak to us and into our lives now.

00:02:18.019 --> 00:02:19.500
 That we might see your face.

00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:21.259
 We might love you more.

00:02:21.819 --> 00:02:23.359
 And we might live for that glory.

00:02:24.259 --> 00:02:26.000
 And we ask this in Jesus' name.

00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:27.180
 Amen.

00:02:29.459 --> 00:02:32.340
 Well, let me thank you again for the invitation to come this morning.

00:02:32.340 --> 00:02:34.800
 It's always a joy to come to Brunsfield.

00:02:34.939 --> 00:02:38.520
 And when I realized there was a church lunch, my joy increased all the more.

00:02:39.140 --> 00:02:41.420
 And I've invited myself to lunch.

00:02:41.500 --> 00:02:43.420
 And Graham has very kindly accepted that invitation.

00:02:43.860 --> 00:02:46.280
 And I hope to spend some time with you after.

00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:50.840
 As I mentioned, this psalm was brought home to me in a very vivid way,

00:02:50.920 --> 00:02:54.259
 listening to that song, Let It Rain, by Michael W. Smith.

00:02:54.920 --> 00:02:57.360
 And it's just a wonderful psalm, isn't it?

00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:04.440
 That speaks of God, our God, who is exalted above all the so-called gods of the world.

00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:09.700
 One of the highlights, I suppose, of the summer, one of the images that will remain with us,

00:03:09.700 --> 00:03:15.740
 is the sight of the French national team driving up the Champs-Élysées in their open-top bus,

00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:17.320
 going up to the Élysées Palace.

00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:21.400
 The French planes flying overhead with the tricolor.

00:03:22.060 --> 00:03:24.080
 And it was just a wonderful scene, wasn't it?

00:03:24.200 --> 00:03:26.480
 Especially if you're, I suppose, a French football fan.

00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:31.539
 And the French team celebrating their victory in the World Cup, just as well for them.

00:03:31.639 --> 00:03:32.519
 Scotland didn't qualify.

00:03:32.979 --> 00:03:34.579
 But they were the champions.

00:03:34.739 --> 00:03:37.199
 They were exalted over all the other teams.

00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:43.039
 And those in France, the people gathered in Paris that day, celebrating their triumph.

00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:47.979
 But, of course, as they celebrated, there were many who grieved, who mourned,

00:03:47.979 --> 00:03:51.979
 who were disconsolate, people whose nations didn't win,

00:03:52.079 --> 00:03:55.060
 who might have been knocked out in the first round, maybe even the semifinals.

00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:58.020
 It was a sad day, wasn't it, for many.

00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:00.000
 And that was true in our house.

00:04:00.099 --> 00:04:04.420
 We have a little competition, these events where everybody picks a team,

00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:06.680
 and we follow that team's progress.

00:04:06.819 --> 00:04:09.199
 My seven-year-old daughter, Anna, picked France.

00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:11.520
 And her dad picked Croatia.

00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:17.639
 And while she was rejoicing, I, of course, was greatly distressed.

00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:20.419
 But that's what we see in Psalm 97.

00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:26.519
 We see God triumphing, God exalted over all the so-called gods of the earth.

00:04:26.579 --> 00:04:32.599
 And verse 7, those who worship idols being put to shame, sorrow, remorse,

00:04:32.599 --> 00:04:35.240
 that they were on the losing side.

00:04:35.479 --> 00:04:37.699
 They picked the wrong team.

00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:42.519
 That's what we want to think about today, the greatness of God over his earth,

00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:44.500
 over all the so-called gods.

00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:49.459
 And to do that, I just want to understand a little bit of the context.

00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:53.180
 I believe you've been looking at these psalms over the past few weeks,

00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:57.420
 really from Psalm 90 through to Psalm 97 today.

00:04:57.639 --> 00:04:59.459
 And as you've been reading these psalms,

00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:02.339
 you'll have seen certain themes which recur.

00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:05.860
 There is the idea that God is the creator.

00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:10.819
 He is the king and the ruler of the heavens and the earth.

00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:12.659
 Psalm 95 says this,

00:05:12.740 --> 00:05:15.779
 The Lord is the great God, the great king above all gods.

00:05:16.099 --> 00:05:20.159
 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.

00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:25.620
 This sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

00:05:25.740 --> 00:05:30.259
 He is a great king, for he created this world.

00:05:31.459 --> 00:05:34.120
 And as the creator, he rules this world.

00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:35.579
 Psalm 96 verse 10,

00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:38.019
 Say among the nations, the Lord reigns.

00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:39.780
 The world is firmly established.

00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:40.780
 It cannot be moved.

00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:44.139
 He will judge the peoples with equity.

00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:48.120
 And the psalms speak about God as the righteous judge,

00:05:48.840 --> 00:05:51.019
 the one who will draw history to a close,

00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:53.100
 who will right all wrongs.

00:05:53.420 --> 00:05:54.660
 It's Psalm 96.

00:05:55.220 --> 00:05:57.100
 Let the sea resound and everything in it,

00:05:57.300 --> 00:05:58.740
 the world and all who live in it.

00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:00.519
 Let the rivers clap their hands,

00:06:00.620 --> 00:06:01.980
 the mountains sing for joy.

00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:04.900
 For the Lord comes to judge the earth.

00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:07.100
 He will judge the world in righteousness,

00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:09.360
 and the peoples with equity.

00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:11.040
 God is the king.

00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:11.879
 He is the ruler.

00:06:12.280 --> 00:06:15.680
 He is the judge, and the judge who judges in righteousness.

00:06:16.980 --> 00:06:18.480
 Psalm 99 verse 4,

00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:19.480
 The king is mighty.

00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:21.220
 He loves justice.

00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:23.960
 You have established equity in Jacob.

00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:27.600
 You have done what is just and right.

00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:31.439
 And so our psalm begins by looking at these great themes

00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:33.140
 and saying, verse 1,

00:06:33.140 --> 00:06:34.340
 The Lord reigns.

00:06:34.400 --> 00:06:35.360
 Let the earth be glad.

00:06:35.640 --> 00:06:37.879
 Let the distant shores rejoice.

00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:39.900
 This is cause for rejoicing,

00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:41.660
 that our God is a king,

00:06:41.840 --> 00:06:43.660
 that he reigns over the whole earth,

00:06:43.780 --> 00:06:45.800
 that he is the one who made it,

00:06:45.900 --> 00:06:48.900
 and he is the one who will one day judge it

00:06:48.900 --> 00:06:53.260
 and root out sin and evil and wickedness.

00:06:53.259 --> 00:06:56.319
 And that is rejoicing, isn't it,

00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:58.539
 for us too in our lives.

00:06:58.599 --> 00:07:01.079
 It was lovely to hear our brother Tim's testimony

00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:03.959
 that God is in control.

00:07:04.939 --> 00:07:07.120
 I remember interreeling once around,

00:07:07.620 --> 00:07:08.740
 ironically, Croatia.

00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:10.139
 That's not why I picked the team.

00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:11.300
 It was just a sheer coincidence.

00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:12.879
 But I was interreeling around once,

00:07:12.920 --> 00:07:15.259
 and I ended up in a Baptist church on Sunday

00:07:15.259 --> 00:07:16.339
 with some Americans,

00:07:16.779 --> 00:07:18.920
 and we went for a lunch,

00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:19.959
 another church lunch.

00:07:20.039 --> 00:07:21.699
 There seems to be a pattern emerging here.

00:07:21.699 --> 00:07:24.360
 And I was sitting talking to one of them,

00:07:24.599 --> 00:07:25.139
 and I said,

00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:25.879
 well, tell me, brother,

00:07:25.939 --> 00:07:26.879
 what are you doing tomorrow?

00:07:27.219 --> 00:07:27.699
 And he said,

00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:30.159
 well, I work as a policeman for the United Nations,

00:07:30.159 --> 00:07:32.420
 and tomorrow I have to go and arrest

00:07:32.420 --> 00:07:33.920
 an armed war criminal

00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:35.800
 who's locked in a hotel,

00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:37.399
 and he says he's not coming out alive.

00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:39.199
 And I said,

00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:40.480
 how do you as a Christian

00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:42.259
 approach these situations?

00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:43.719
 And he said to me,

00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:47.079
 my God is bigger than that situation.

00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:50.120
 Now, I don't know what your Monday morning

00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:50.919
 has in store,

00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:52.960
 but Psalm 97 verse 1

00:07:52.960 --> 00:07:54.819
 tells us that the Lord reigns,

00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:56.420
 and so we can rejoice.

00:07:57.480 --> 00:07:59.040
 And we can rejoice when there is talk

00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:00.000
 on the news, isn't there,

00:08:00.020 --> 00:08:02.460
 of food and medicine being stockpiled

00:08:02.460 --> 00:08:06.080
 in anticipation of a no-deal Brexit next year.

00:08:06.140 --> 00:08:08.060
 We can rejoice when there is talk

00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:09.220
 of a new Cold War

00:08:09.220 --> 00:08:11.560
 as sanctions bounce back and forth

00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:12.920
 across the Atlantic.

00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:15.200
 We can rejoice because,

00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:17.460
 as Psalm 97 verse 10 tells us,

00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:19.659
 that those who love the Lord hate evil,

00:08:19.659 --> 00:08:21.399
 for he guards the lives

00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:23.159
 of his faithful ones

00:08:23.159 --> 00:08:25.259
 and delivers them from the hand

00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:26.539
 of the wicked.

00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:28.159
 There is a higher throne

00:08:28.159 --> 00:08:30.959
 than all this world has known.

00:08:31.219 --> 00:08:32.460
 The Lord reigns,

00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:34.559
 and so we can rejoice.

00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:37.919
 And what the psalmist does now

00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:39.679
 from verse 2 down to verse 9

00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:40.979
 is he takes up this idea

00:08:40.979 --> 00:08:41.879
 of the Lord,

00:08:41.979 --> 00:08:42.819
 the righteous judge,

00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:43.659
 coming in judgment,

00:08:44.119 --> 00:08:45.959
 and he portrays for us

00:08:45.959 --> 00:08:47.639
 this very vivid scene.

00:08:48.479 --> 00:08:50.639
 It's an image we've seen in Psalm 96.

00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:51.719
 It's an image you'll see,

00:08:51.819 --> 00:08:53.399
 I guess, next week in Psalm 98.

00:08:53.599 --> 00:08:55.119
 And in both of those psalms,

00:08:55.199 --> 00:08:56.579
 the image is one of joy.

00:08:57.439 --> 00:08:58.939
 We have this wonderful language,

00:08:59.259 --> 00:09:01.399
 trees of the forest singing for joy.

00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:04.220
 We have the rivers clapping their hands.

00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:06.759
 And yet in Psalm 97,

00:09:07.079 --> 00:09:08.319
 it is a scene both of joy,

00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:09.439
 but also of terror,

00:09:10.019 --> 00:09:11.519
 as the awesome God

00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:14.360
 is revealed to his world.

00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:16.840
 We see that, don't we,

00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:18.539
 in the descriptions in verse 2

00:09:18.539 --> 00:09:20.100
 down to verse 6,

00:09:20.220 --> 00:09:22.840
 these descriptions of natural phenomena.

00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:24.860
 Verse 2, we're told,

00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:27.679
 clouds and thick darkness surround him.

00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:29.539
 Though it was a little bit cloudy

00:09:29.539 --> 00:09:30.639
 this morning, wasn't it,

00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:31.419
 when we woke up

00:09:31.419 --> 00:09:33.100
 and there was a bit of a har.

00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:35.439
 I lived next to Arthur's seat

00:09:35.439 --> 00:09:37.620
 and it was obscured by cloud,

00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:39.240
 but he's not talking about

00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:40.480
 a few pleasant little clouds

00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:41.659
 and a little bit of mist.

00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:45.279
 This is impenetrable cloud,

00:09:45.419 --> 00:09:46.620
 cloud in which you cannot see

00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:48.419
 your hand before your face

00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:50.500
 and thick darkness.

00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:53.360
 And again, he's not talking about

00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:55.460
 a pleasant evening under the stars

00:09:55.460 --> 00:09:56.779
 with your friends looking up

00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:58.600
 and looking at the Milky Way.

00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:01.060
 He's talking about the kind of darkness

00:10:01.060 --> 00:10:03.399
 those boys in Thailand experienced

00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:04.480
 when for over a week

00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:05.519
 they were in a cave

00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:06.920
 in which there was absolutely

00:10:06.920 --> 00:10:07.879
 no light,

00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:10.600
 complete and utter darkness.

00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:14.600
 Verse 3, we're told of fire

00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:16.259
 going before him.

00:10:17.060 --> 00:10:18.379
 I was at a wedding last week

00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:19.379
 and it was nice to have

00:10:19.379 --> 00:10:20.600
 these fire pits at night

00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:21.740
 and as you sat down

00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:22.720
 for the reception,

00:10:22.920 --> 00:10:24.340
 you were given a bag of marshmallows.

00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:25.660
 And I thought, well,

00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:27.120
 that's a rather interesting

00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:27.940
 wedding breakfast,

00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:29.420
 but maybe there's more to come.

00:10:29.540 --> 00:10:30.440
 And my wife explained

00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:31.500
 it was for after the meal

00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:32.759
 and you took them outside

00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:34.139
 and you toasted the marshmallows

00:10:34.139 --> 00:10:35.759
 and it was a lovely thing to do.

00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:37.240
 It isn't that kind of fire.

00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:39.019
 This is the awesome fire

00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:40.180
 of God's judgment.

00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:42.500
 This is the fire you see in Greece

00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:44.899
 burning like a wildfire.

00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:47.879
 As lightning lights up the world again,

00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:48.900
 it's impressive lightning,

00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:49.379
 isn't it?

00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:50.180
 Thunder and lightning,

00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:51.980
 particularly if you're inside

00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:52.980
 on a rainy night.

00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:54.740
 Not so impressive

00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:55.899
 if like a friend of mine,

00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:56.840
 you're in an aeroplane

00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:58.360
 and the lightning begins

00:10:58.360 --> 00:10:59.580
 to strike the wings.

00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:01.759
 Terrifying, awesome.

00:11:02.920 --> 00:11:04.060
 And the mountains melting

00:11:04.060 --> 00:11:06.360
 like wax before the Lord,

00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:09.620
 before the Lord of all the earth.

00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:11.120
 So we have this scene

00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:13.399
 and it is a terrifying scene

00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:16.620
 of the whole earth convulsing,

00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:18.379
 the whole earth preparing

00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:21.159
 for the arrival of the righteous judge.

00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:23.639
 And it is an awesome sight.

00:11:25.199 --> 00:11:25.699
 And of course,

00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:26.639
 it brings to mind

00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:29.319
 a scene from earlier in Scripture.

00:11:30.339 --> 00:11:31.620
 If you turn back in your minds

00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:33.459
 to the life of Moses,

00:11:34.079 --> 00:11:34.959
 you remember Moses

00:11:34.959 --> 00:11:36.019
 as he met God

00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:38.059
 in the fire of the bush.

00:11:39.199 --> 00:11:40.439
 And the Lord used Moses

00:11:40.439 --> 00:11:41.719
 to deliver his people

00:11:41.719 --> 00:11:43.639
 from their enemies in Egypt.

00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:45.500
 And after the Passover,

00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:46.879
 the Lord went before them

00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:48.939
 in a pillar of cloud by day

00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:50.880
 and a pillar of fire by night.

00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:52.700
 And the Lord led them

00:11:52.700 --> 00:11:54.260
 through the wilderness.

00:11:55.260 --> 00:11:57.300
 And he brought them to Sinai,

00:11:57.580 --> 00:11:58.180
 to Horeb,

00:11:58.340 --> 00:11:59.360
 the mountain of God.

00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:01.120
 And when he brought them there,

00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:02.420
 the Lord appeared to them

00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:05.020
 in cloud and in fire.

00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:06.840
 Listen to the description

00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:09.060
 in Exodus chapter 19.

00:12:10.020 --> 00:12:11.620
 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke

00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:13.460
 because the Lord descended on it

00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:14.240
 in fire.

00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:16.600
 The smoke billowed up from it

00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:17.759
 like smoke from a furnace

00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:18.940
 and the whole mountain

00:12:18.940 --> 00:12:19.960
 trembled violently.

00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:22.019
 As the sound of the trumpet

00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:23.060
 grew louder and louder,

00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:23.899
 Moses spoke

00:12:23.899 --> 00:12:24.779
 and the voice of God

00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:25.440
 answered him.

00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:26.600
 The Lord descended

00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:27.879
 to the top of Sinai

00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:28.879
 and Moses went

00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:29.860
 to the top of the mountain.

00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.480
 When the people saw

00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:33.460
 the thunder and lightning

00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:34.299
 and heard the trumpet

00:12:34.299 --> 00:12:36.299
 and saw the mountain in smoke,

00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:37.480
 they trembled in fear

00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:39.740
 and stayed at a distance.

00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:42.960
 What happened in that scene

00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:43.620
 is that God

00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.840
 presenced himself

00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:46.159
 among his people

00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:48.519
 in cloud and in fire

00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:50.399
 and the mountain shook

00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:52.060
 and the lightning struck

00:12:52.060 --> 00:12:53.860
 and it was a terrifying scene.

00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:55.740
 And they were afraid

00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:58.899
 of the Lord.

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.639
 Afraid of his power.

00:13:01.820 --> 00:13:02.980
 Afraid of his purity.

00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:04.980
 Remembering that righteousness

00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.980
 and justice

00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:07.180
 are the foundation

00:13:07.180 --> 00:13:07.980
 of his throne.

00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:10.420
 He is the holy God

00:13:10.420 --> 00:13:11.440
 and he taught them

00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.000
 that he is the only God

00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:14.700
 as he gave them

00:13:14.700 --> 00:13:15.320
 the commandments

00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:16.200
 instructing them

00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:17.220
 to have no gods

00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:18.820
 except him.

00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:20.680
 We've been singing

00:13:20.680 --> 00:13:22.320
 these wonderful songs

00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:22.940
 this morning,

00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:23.440
 haven't we,

00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:24.200
 about God

00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:25.180
 in his glory,

00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:25.720
 God

00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:27.440
 in his exaltation.

00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:27.940
 Our God

00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:28.820
 is an awesome God.

00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:29.639
 We didn't sing that one

00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:30.940
 but it came into my mind

00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:32.300
 and the psalmist

00:13:32.300 --> 00:13:33.680
 wants us to recognize

00:13:33.680 --> 00:13:34.440
 that our God

00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:36.220
 is an awesome God.

00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:38.580
 And sometimes,

00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:39.060
 of course,

00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:40.120
 we can forget that

00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:42.560
 in our Christian thinking

00:13:42.560 --> 00:13:43.639
 and perhaps even

00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:45.240
 in our evangelism.

00:13:46.220 --> 00:13:46.659
 As Christians,

00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:47.759
 we have the great joy

00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:49.000
 of being children

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:50.200
 of the living God

00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:50.840
 through our faith

00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:52.560
 in the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:54.420
 And we rejoice

00:13:54.420 --> 00:13:55.879
 and speak rightly

00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:57.360
 of the fatherhood

00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:58.180
 of God.

00:13:58.980 --> 00:13:59.840
 And as believers,

00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:01.060
 we know what it means

00:14:01.060 --> 00:14:02.100
 to have friendship

00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:02.659
 with God.

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:03.720
 Romans chapter 4

00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:04.899
 speaks about Abraham,

00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:05.980
 the friend of God.

00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:06.840
 And though once

00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:07.580
 we were enemies,

00:14:07.800 --> 00:14:08.860
 we are now reconciled

00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:09.259
 to God

00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:11.159
 and are friends.

00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:12.600
 We rejoice

00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:13.600
 in the fatherhood of God.

00:14:13.680 --> 00:14:14.320
 We rejoice

00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:15.000
 in our friendship

00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:15.440
 with God

00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:16.200
 but we can perhaps

00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:17.100
 neglect to speak

00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:18.159
 of the fear

00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:19.139
 of God.

00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:21.420
 Of course,

00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:22.500
 a former generation

00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.440
 spoke of this

00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:24.379
 perhaps too much

00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:25.700
 but we're in danger,

00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:26.139
 I think,

00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:27.680
 of losing this idea

00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:28.720
 of the fear

00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:29.759
 of God.

00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:31.320
 I was reminded

00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:32.100
 of it the other day

00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:33.379
 just in the central library

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.740
 as you go down the stairs

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:36.039
 to the art library

00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:36.799
 and there's that

00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.860
 lovely tiled

00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:39.159
 frieze

00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:40.060
 and it has certain

00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:40.840
 verses from the

00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:41.620
 book of Proverbs

00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.960
 and the first

00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:43.940
 quote it has

00:14:43.940 --> 00:14:44.840
 is Proverbs 1

00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:45.379
 verse 7

00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:46.440
 the fear of the Lord

00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:47.500
 is the beginning

00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.080
 of wisdom.

00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:48.759
 Interestingly,

00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:49.820
 apparently that's

00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:50.240
 the motto

00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.940
 of Aberdeen University.

00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.080
 Well,

00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:53.919
 in our generation

00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:54.480
 we always run

00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:54.899
 the danger,

00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:55.299
 don't we,

00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.259
 of forgetting

00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:57.419
 about the fear

00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:58.399
 of God.

00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:00.500
 Craig Bartholomew,

00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:01.919
 the Bible scholar

00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:03.180
 defines it like this,

00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:05.339
 to fear Yahweh

00:15:05.339 --> 00:15:06.179
 is to sense

00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:06.779
 his power

00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:07.579
 and holiness

00:15:07.579 --> 00:15:09.459
 and yet at the same

00:15:09.459 --> 00:15:10.379
 time to embrace

00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:11.000
 him in love

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:12.439
 and obedience.

00:15:14.239 --> 00:15:15.319
 We are in danger

00:15:15.319 --> 00:15:16.639
 of making God

00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:17.439
 as David Wells,

00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:18.299
 the author says,

00:15:18.699 --> 00:15:19.279
 weightless.

00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:21.379
 This is what he writes

00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:22.479
 in his very helpful book

00:15:22.479 --> 00:15:23.479
 No Place for Truth.

00:15:24.719 --> 00:15:25.419
 It is one of the

00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.199
 defining marks

00:15:26.199 --> 00:15:26.739
 of our time

00:15:26.739 --> 00:15:27.259
 that God

00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:28.240
 is now weightless.

00:15:29.079 --> 00:15:29.759
 I do not mean

00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.839
 that he is ethereal

00:15:30.839 --> 00:15:31.719
 but rather he has

00:15:31.719 --> 00:15:32.719
 become unimportant.

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:34.459
 He rests upon

00:15:34.459 --> 00:15:34.899
 the world

00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:36.279
 so inconsequentially

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.620
 as not to be noticeable.

00:15:39.239 --> 00:15:39.799
 He commands

00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:41.279
 less authority

00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:42.419
 than their appetites

00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:43.099
 for affluence

00:15:43.099 --> 00:15:43.939
 and influence.

00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.599
 He is less interesting

00:15:45.599 --> 00:15:46.359
 than television.

00:15:46.939 --> 00:15:47.459
 His judgments

00:15:47.459 --> 00:15:48.959
 are no more awe-inspiring

00:15:48.959 --> 00:15:50.139
 than the evening news

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.159
 and his truth

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.139
 is less compelling

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:53.579
 than the advertiser's

00:15:53.579 --> 00:15:54.159
 sweet fog

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:54.959
 of flattery

00:15:54.959 --> 00:15:55.659
 and lies.

00:15:55.979 --> 00:15:56.239
 That,

00:15:56.359 --> 00:15:57.159
 says David Wells,

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.279
 is weightless

00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:00.399
 because we have lost

00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.259
 the fear

00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:02.259
 of God

00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:03.759
 to sense

00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.220
 the power

00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:04.779
 and holiness

00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:06.439
 and yet at the same time

00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:07.259
 to embrace him

00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:08.039
 in love

00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:08.960
 and obedience.

00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:11.620
 And I find here

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.179
 an analogy

00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:12.879
 with the sea

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:13.659
 quite helpful.

00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:14.759
 We holidayed

00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:15.600
 at the start

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.200
 of July

00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:17.860
 in Dornach,

00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:19.059
 around Dornach

00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:20.539
 and we had a lovely day

00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:21.360
 at the beach

00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:22.580
 and we took the children

00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:23.379
 down to the sea

00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:24.059
 with the buckets

00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:25.240
 and the spades

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:26.080
 and we played

00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:26.600
 in the water

00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.220
 and we looked at jellyfish

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:30.139
 and we had a lovely day.

00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:31.820
 But at the end of that week

00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:32.840
 I visited some friends

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.340
 in Oban

00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:34.759
 and one of the friends

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.379
 had organised

00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.100
 a boat trip

00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:37.420
 on a speedboat,

00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:38.200
 a rib.

00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:39.620
 If you're familiar

00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:41.340
 with that sort of boat,

00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.100
 I wasn't

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.440
 and I'm not very much

00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:45.420
 familiar with it now actually

00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:46.180
 but it was very fascinating

00:16:46.180 --> 00:16:46.840
 and it was very exciting.

00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:48.600
 But before we got on it

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.600
 we were given

00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:50.840
 waterproof suits,

00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:51.480
 we were given

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.300
 life jackets,

00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:54.040
 we were given instructions

00:16:54.040 --> 00:16:54.980
 about what we should

00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:55.680
 and shouldn't do

00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:57.099
 and then we sailed out

00:16:57.099 --> 00:16:58.279
 into the Atlantic

00:16:58.279 --> 00:17:00.439
 and the pilot of the ship

00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:01.519
 said we're now going to go

00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.699
 and we're going to sail past,

00:17:03.219 --> 00:17:03.899
 sail over,

00:17:03.979 --> 00:17:04.220
 in fact,

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.679
 the third biggest whirlpool

00:17:05.679 --> 00:17:06.440
 in the world,

00:17:06.879 --> 00:17:07.700
 I think it was called

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.899
 the Korovaque Ridge

00:17:08.899 --> 00:17:10.799
 and I questioned in my head

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.319
 whether that was

00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:12.119
 a very good idea

00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:13.079
 but we got there

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:14.039
 and there was no whirlpool

00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:15.579
 and I breathed a sigh of relief

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.200
 and then he said,

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:16.359
 well,

00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:18.200
 we'll try and start it ourselves

00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:19.740
 and he circled round and round

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:21.119
 and created these giant waves

00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.339
 and lo and behold

00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:23.319
 the whirlpool appeared.

00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:26.339
 But it was quite a different experience,

00:17:26.439 --> 00:17:26.859
 wasn't it?

00:17:26.899 --> 00:17:27.619
 Playing on the beach

00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:28.919
 in Dornoch with the children

00:17:28.919 --> 00:17:30.559
 and then sailing out

00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.419
 into the Atlantic

00:17:31.419 --> 00:17:33.259
 and trying to raise

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.419
 a giant whirlpool

00:17:34.419 --> 00:17:35.619
 from the ocean floor.

00:17:35.919 --> 00:17:36.980
 We love the sea

00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:39.059
 and we play with the sea

00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:40.200
 and we delight in the sea

00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:41.240
 and yet we fear

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.539
 and respect the sea

00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:44.579
 and you don't trifle

00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.460
 with the sea,

00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:46.679
 you don't mess around

00:17:46.679 --> 00:17:49.500
 with the Korovaque whirlpool.

00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:52.339
 And so it is with God,

00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:53.879
 we can fear the Lord,

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:55.379
 we can sense his power

00:17:55.379 --> 00:17:56.299
 and holiness

00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:58.500
 and yet at the same time

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.539
 embrace him in love

00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.599
 and obedience.

00:18:02.179 --> 00:18:02.740
 As Christians,

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:04.379
 we perhaps take ourselves

00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:05.679
 a little bit too seriously

00:18:05.679 --> 00:18:07.439
 but we can never take God

00:18:07.439 --> 00:18:08.199
 too seriously.

00:18:09.679 --> 00:18:11.359
 And we need to examine our lives

00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:11.879
 and think,

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:14.220
 do we manifest the fear of God

00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:15.579
 in our worship?

00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:17.899
 Are we more interested

00:18:17.899 --> 00:18:19.720
 in the screens on our phone

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.539
 than the pages of Scripture?

00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:23.939
 Do we neglect prayer

00:18:23.939 --> 00:18:25.439
 trusting that everything

00:18:25.439 --> 00:18:26.339
 is by grace

00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:27.720
 and the Lord knows

00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.839
 in advance what we need

00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.679
 before we ask it

00:18:29.679 --> 00:18:30.839
 and so we forget to pray?

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.419
 Or we leave prayer

00:18:32.419 --> 00:18:33.899
 to the very end of the day

00:18:33.899 --> 00:18:34.819
 when we've done everything

00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:35.939
 that's important to us

00:18:35.939 --> 00:18:38.079
 and we squeeze in a few words

00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:39.500
 before we fall asleep

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.079
 on the pillow?

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:43.119
 Do we make time

00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:43.779
 for the Lord

00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.799
 or do we,

00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:45.859
 as one man said to me

00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.959
 this week when I invited him

00:18:46.959 --> 00:18:47.399
 to church,

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.919
 I'll come if I have time.

00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.700
 Do we wait and see

00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:52.080
 if we get a better invitation

00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:54.240
 on a Sunday morning?

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:57.200
 Or do we honour the Lord

00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.360
 with the firstfruits

00:18:58.360 --> 00:18:59.880
 of all that we have?

00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:03.160
 It's very easy, isn't it,

00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:04.420
 to forget

00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:05.759
 as we rejoice

00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:06.800
 in the fatherhood of God

00:19:06.800 --> 00:19:07.779
 and the friendship of God

00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.759
 to remember the fear

00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.279
 of the Lord

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.720
 which is the beginning

00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.740
 of wisdom.

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.640
 But of course

00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:14.539
 when Scripture speaks

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.480
 of the fear of the Lord

00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.140
 it doesn't mean

00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:17.840
 that we have confidence

00:19:17.840 --> 00:19:18.720
 to approach God.

00:19:18.820 --> 00:19:19.660
 On the contrary,

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.700
 we are invited

00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:23.160
 into his royal courts.

00:19:23.300 --> 00:19:23.860
 We are invited

00:19:23.860 --> 00:19:24.740
 to come before

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:26.400
 this throne of grace.

00:19:26.820 --> 00:19:27.420
 The New Testament

00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:28.280
 says that we come

00:19:28.280 --> 00:19:29.000
 with confidence

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:30.580
 and with boldness.

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.280
 We come,

00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:32.220
 as the song says,

00:19:32.300 --> 00:19:33.480
 as guests invited.

00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:36.360
 And we must remember,

00:19:36.520 --> 00:19:36.700
 therefore,

00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.740
 when we come to God

00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.300
 to pray

00:19:38.300 --> 00:19:39.259
 as we are commanded

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:40.720
 and invited to do so

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:42.140
 before whom we come.

00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:46.180
 I enjoy our little time

00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:46.940
 with the children

00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:48.000
 at night before bed

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:50.200
 and we say our prayers

00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.740
 and we just think

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.240
 about things

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.600
 we want to give thanks for

00:19:53.600 --> 00:19:54.620
 and to pray for

00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:55.920
 from the day.

00:19:56.340 --> 00:19:56.880
 And it's lovely

00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.700
 when young children,

00:19:57.820 --> 00:19:59.220
 our children are primary age

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.400
 and some of the things

00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:00.940
 they pray for

00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:01.600
 are very sweet.

00:20:02.020 --> 00:20:02.620
 They might pray,

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.160
 for example,

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.140
 that their teddy bears

00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:04.840
 will sleep well

00:20:04.840 --> 00:20:06.960
 or after a trip to the zoo

00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:07.780
 they might give thanks

00:20:07.780 --> 00:20:08.580
 for the penguins.

00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:10.560
 Just sort of little

00:20:10.560 --> 00:20:11.380
 sweet prayers

00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:12.360
 of course,

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.340
 they pray for other things

00:20:13.340 --> 00:20:14.620
 and it's right to encourage them

00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.560
 and it's lovely to hear

00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:16.940
 the young voices praying

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.700
 but some of the things

00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.260
 they pray well,

00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:19.060
 they bring a smile

00:20:19.060 --> 00:20:20.400
 to my face

00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:20.940
 and I'm sure

00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:22.100
 they bring a smile

00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:23.880
 to the angels in heaven as well.

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:25.200
 We must encourage them

00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:26.120
 in all of their prayers.

00:20:27.100 --> 00:20:28.320
 But I suppose the problem is

00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:30.320
 when a child becomes an adult

00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:31.540
 and when the mature Christian

00:20:31.540 --> 00:20:32.340
 gets down to pray,

00:20:32.620 --> 00:20:33.420
 whether our prayers

00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:34.860
 are of the same type,

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:37.120
 whether we're just so concerned

00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:38.520
 with small things

00:20:38.520 --> 00:20:39.740
 in close proximity

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.500
 to our lives,

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:42.539
 Lord, help me get a parking space

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.720
 when I go shopping.

00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.819
 Help me to recover

00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:45.660
 from this cold

00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.640
 before the weekend.

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.059
 May we have good weather

00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:49.359
 on our family holiday.

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:51.180
 I trust the interview goes well,

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.779
 that the kitchen engineer

00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.759
 will come and repair

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:55.059
 the washing machine quickly.

00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:56.640
 I mean,

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:58.079
 these are nice prayers,

00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:59.160
 they're important prayers,

00:20:59.279 --> 00:20:59.960
 they're prayers that

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:01.079
 perhaps we should pray

00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:03.140
 but if that's the end

00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:04.099
 of your prayer life,

00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:06.160
 then there's an issue.

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.940
 If all we are praying for

00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:09.120
 as the Lord will help us

00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:10.440
 in our daily lives,

00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.380
 it's right for that

00:21:11.380 --> 00:21:12.259
 that may be the beginning

00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.240
 of our prayer lives

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:15.080
 but not the end.

00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:17.279
 John Newton in his,

00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:19.039
 one of his hymns says this,

00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:20.580
 you are coming to a king,

00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:23.140
 great petitions with you.

00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:23.779
 Bring,

00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:25.100
 we need to be ambitious

00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:27.120
 for Christ in our generation

00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:28.539
 and in our prayer lives.

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.620
 There is nothing

00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:30.600
 the Lord cannot do,

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.799
 there is no one

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:33.840
 he cannot reach

00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:35.299
 by his grace.

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:37.519
 On Friday,

00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:38.680
 I had lunch with an American

00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:40.779
 who works for an international

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.779
 mission organization

00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:44.180
 and he told me of a story.

00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:45.599
 They were given a house

00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.779
 on an island

00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:48.440
 in New York State.

00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:49.899
 It was a Christian couple

00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:51.480
 and when they passed away,

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.299
 they left the house

00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:52.759
 in the will

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:54.559
 to this Christian organization

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:56.139
 and it's a beautiful island

00:21:56.139 --> 00:21:57.460
 and they run

00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.619
 a Bible college there

00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.899
 but it was just spoiled

00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:01.720
 because as you got on the island,

00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.759
 there was a big inn

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:05.339
 where wealthy New York residents

00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.379
 would come at the weekend

00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:07.759
 and there would be drunkenness

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:09.640
 and all kinds of misbehavior.

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.680
 And you'd be sitting

00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.500
 in the Bible college

00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.640
 and you'd see this

00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.460
 and you'd hear this

00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:15.420
 and the people there

00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:16.460
 running the Bible college

00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:16.680
 thought,

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:16.819
 well,

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:18.119
 we need to pray about this

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:19.700
 and so they began to pray.

00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.759
 The Lord would do something

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.859
 and one day,

00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.160
 the director of the Bible college

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.200
 after a time of prayer said,

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.420
 I'm just going to go

00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.259
 and speak to them

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:28.640
 and he walked across the island

00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:29.579
 and he got to the inn

00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:31.259
 and the manager was in a bad mood

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:31.559
 and he said,

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.359
 what do you want?

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.460
 And he said,

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.619
 well,

00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:35.899
 I'd like to buy the inn

00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:37.859
 and the manager said,

00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:38.000
 well,

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.720
 that's incredible

00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.839
 because this morning

00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:40.419
 I woke up

00:22:40.419 --> 00:22:41.619
 and I'm so fed up

00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.519
 with running this place.

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.079
 I said,

00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:44.440
 if somebody walks in here now

00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:45.559
 and offers to buy it,

00:22:45.639 --> 00:22:46.779
 I'll give it to them for free.

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:50.139
 And the inn is now

00:22:50.139 --> 00:22:51.940
 part of the Bible complex.

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:54.399
 You are coming to a king,

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:56.279
 great petitions with you bring.

00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:57.419
 We need to be ambitious

00:22:57.419 --> 00:22:58.879
 praying about our own lives

00:22:58.879 --> 00:23:00.919
 but remembering we worship a God

00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:03.200
 whose heavens proclaim his righteousness,

00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:05.840
 who sits upon the throne of the universe.

00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:08.640
 F.B. Meyer says this,

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:10.539
 you do not test the resources of God

00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:12.880
 until you attempt the impossible.

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.380
 Andrew Murray,

00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.440
 the theologian,

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.300
 not the tennis player,

00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:17.060
 says this,

00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:17.980
 beware in your prayers

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.860
 above everything else

00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:20.039
 of limiting God,

00:23:20.300 --> 00:23:21.720
 not only by unbelief

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:23.060
 but by fancying

00:23:23.060 --> 00:23:24.539
 that you know what he can do.

00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:27.100
 Expect unexpected things

00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:29.519
 above all that we can ask

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:31.319
 or imagine.

00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:35.179
 Psalm 97,

00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:36.659
 verse 2 to 9

00:23:36.659 --> 00:23:37.740
 reminds us that we have

00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:39.079
 an awesome God,

00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:40.459
 a God whose glory

00:23:40.459 --> 00:23:41.719
 is far above the heavens

00:23:41.719 --> 00:23:42.799
 and yet a God,

00:23:42.919 --> 00:23:43.379
 verse 10,

00:23:43.439 --> 00:23:44.419
 who guards the lives

00:23:44.419 --> 00:23:45.539
 of his faithful ones

00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:47.759
 and who sheds light

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.559
 upon the righteous

00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.019
 and pours joy

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.139
 into the heart

00:23:51.139 --> 00:23:52.159
 of the upright.

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.480
 And that is great cause,

00:23:53.560 --> 00:23:53.900
 isn't it,

00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:54.820
 for rejoicing.

00:23:57.040 --> 00:23:57.880
 The psalm goes on

00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:58.360
 to tell us

00:23:58.360 --> 00:23:59.860
 that not everybody rejoices

00:23:59.860 --> 00:24:01.680
 in the Lord.

00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.560
 You've noticed

00:24:02.560 --> 00:24:03.380
 as we've read through

00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:05.000
 there are really two categories

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:06.800
 of people in this psalm.

00:24:07.060 --> 00:24:07.680
 There are those

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.820
 who are introduced to us

00:24:08.820 --> 00:24:09.940
 as the worshippers

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.700
 of idols.

00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.880
 And then there are those,

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.480
 verse 8,

00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:14.640
 who are the worshippers

00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:15.840
 of the Lord.

00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.640
 And on the day

00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.640
 of the Lord's appearing,

00:24:19.100 --> 00:24:19.740
 there are two

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:21.040
 very different responses.

00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.859
 There is the response,

00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.539
 verse 7,

00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:25.200
 of those who worship idols

00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:27.299
 and they will be put to shame.

00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.940
 All peoples will see

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.859
 God's glory

00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:32.019
 and they will be put

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:33.079
 to shame.

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.559
 However great the throngs

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:37.359
 which worshipped with them,

00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:38.579
 however marvellous

00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.319
 their temples,

00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.319
 however ancient

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.319
 their traditions,

00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:42.399
 they will be exposed

00:24:42.399 --> 00:24:43.659
 as having been worshipping

00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:44.859
 created things

00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:46.500
 rather than the Creator.

00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:48.279
 And they will be put to shame

00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:50.099
 that their worship

00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:51.219
 and their service

00:24:51.219 --> 00:24:52.539
 were misdirected,

00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:55.500
 that they supported Croatia

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:57.719
 instead of supporting France.

00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:00.059
 There is a danger

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:01.639
 that we can invest our lives

00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:02.819
 in the wrong things.

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.319
 We can invest them

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:05.219
 so thoroughly

00:25:05.219 --> 00:25:06.699
 in making names

00:25:06.699 --> 00:25:07.439
 for ourselves

00:25:07.439 --> 00:25:08.699
 and making fame

00:25:08.699 --> 00:25:09.500
 for ourselves

00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.319
 in our career

00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:12.019
 or academic success

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:13.379
 in our relationships

00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:15.759
 that there is no space

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.939
 or place for God.

00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:18.259
 and that at the end

00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.920
 of our lives

00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:20.039
 or when the Lord returns

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:21.240
 we will be put to shame

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.259
 because we invested

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.279
 too much

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.600
 in the wrong places

00:25:24.600 --> 00:25:25.920
 and we forgot

00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.960
 the primary thing

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.039
 to seek first

00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:28.559
 His kingdom

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.960
 and His righteousness.

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:32.580
 When the glory of God

00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:33.039
 is revealed

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.740
 among His people

00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:35.279
 we will be put to shame.

00:25:37.600 --> 00:25:38.460
 There are those

00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:40.059
 who worship idols

00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:41.879
 but there are also

00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.980
 those in this category

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:44.079
 who oppose

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.119
 the true worship

00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:45.819
 of God.

00:25:45.919 --> 00:25:46.539
 Verse 3

00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:48.099
 Fire goes before Him

00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:49.779
 and consumes His foes

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:51.099
 on every side.

00:25:51.919 --> 00:25:52.539
 In every time

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.500
 in every generation

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.399
 there are people

00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:55.279
 who oppose

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.099
 the worship

00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:57.159
 of the one

00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:59.440
 true and living God.

00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:01.460
 We see that periodically

00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:01.919
 don't we?

00:26:01.919 --> 00:26:02.419
 In Scotland

00:26:02.419 --> 00:26:04.079
 one of the stories

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.919
 over the summer

00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:06.359
 was the humanists

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:06.819
 I believe

00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.740
 who were complaining

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:09.140
 that you find crosses

00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:10.059
 in crematoria

00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:11.440
 and they argue

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.019
 that because

00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:12.980
 less than 50%

00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.880
 of people in Scotland

00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:15.079
 now identify as Christian

00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:16.660
 this might cause distress

00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:17.859
 or offence

00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:18.960
 to non-religious people

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.359
 using the crematoria

00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:21.480
 for their funerals.

00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:22.779
 Paul wrote,

00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:23.140
 didn't it,

00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:23.980
 in the first century

00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:25.000
 there were enemies

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.120
 of the cross of Christ

00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:27.460
 and it seems

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.700
 in the 21st century

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.640
 the offence

00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.640
 of the cross

00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:32.339
 is still an issue.

00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:33.960
 So there is

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:34.920
 mild opposition

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.579
 in Scotland

00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:36.200
 but of course

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.140
 we are living through

00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:37.920
 one of the worst

00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:38.980
 persecutions

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:40.860
 of the modern age

00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:41.500
 the persecution

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.320
 of Christians

00:26:42.320 --> 00:26:43.440
 in the Middle East

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.060
 in Iraq

00:26:44.060 --> 00:26:44.980
 and of Syria

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.800
 and we know

00:26:45.800 --> 00:26:46.680
 there are enemies

00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.480
 of God

00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.980
 enemies of the cross

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.800
 who oppose

00:26:49.800 --> 00:26:50.780
 the true worship

00:26:50.780 --> 00:26:51.720
 of the one

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:53.060
 true God.

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.680
 Psalm 97 says

00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:57.240
 they will be consumed

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:59.640
 on every side.

00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.240
 So on the day

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.020
 of the Lord's appearing

00:27:03.020 --> 00:27:03.759
 there will be those

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.620
 who are put to shame

00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:06.500
 and yet

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:06.899
 the Psalm

00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:07.699
 goes on to say

00:27:07.699 --> 00:27:08.779
 there are many

00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.579
 who will rejoice

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.139
 verse 8

00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:11.019
 Zion hears

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:11.779
 and rejoices

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.639
 the villages

00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.239
 of Judah

00:27:13.239 --> 00:27:14.419
 are glad

00:27:14.419 --> 00:27:15.199
 because of your

00:27:15.199 --> 00:27:15.779
 judgments

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:17.439
 O Lord.

00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:19.159
 The Lord's people

00:27:19.159 --> 00:27:20.259
 will be delivered

00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:21.619
 from the hand

00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:22.539
 of the wicked.

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.419
 The Lord's people

00:27:23.419 --> 00:27:24.459
 will be vindicated

00:27:24.459 --> 00:27:25.959
 for their faith

00:27:25.959 --> 00:27:26.459
 in him

00:27:26.459 --> 00:27:27.339
 when he is revealed

00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:27.939
 as the one

00:27:27.939 --> 00:27:28.619
 exalted

00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:30.219
 far above

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.880
 all gods.

00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.279
 They will be rescued

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.980
 and they will be

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.559
 rewarded

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:38.400
 for their faithfulness.

00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.160
 Isaiah 25

00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:42.400
 has the people

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:42.819
 of God

00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:43.180
 saying

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:44.460
 this is our God

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.160
 we waited

00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:45.799
 on him

00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:47.100
 and he

00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:48.420
 saved us.

00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.900
 Maybe you're here

00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:51.259
 today

00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:51.960
 and you're coming

00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.640
 under pressure

00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.799
 because of your

00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.640
 Christian life

00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:55.819
 and your Christian

00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.420
 testimony.

00:27:56.860 --> 00:27:57.460
 Maybe you are

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:57.839
 thinking

00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:59.180
 it would be easier

00:27:59.180 --> 00:28:00.100
 just to give up

00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:01.580
 and to follow

00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:02.460
 the crowd

00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:04.220
 and to do things

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:05.180
 just the same

00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:06.740
 as everybody else.

00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.460
 It would be so much

00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.920
 easier just to fit in

00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:10.259
 and accommodate

00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.200
 to the standards

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.900
 of this age.

00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:15.140
 People maybe say to you

00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:15.720
 why do you spend

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.740
 all that time in church

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:18.100
 when you could be away

00:28:18.100 --> 00:28:19.140
 every weekend

00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:20.200
 you could take your boat

00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:21.299
 round the Koravaki Ridge

00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:22.100
 off the west coast.

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:24.019
 Why do you give up

00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.560
 your evenings

00:28:24.560 --> 00:28:25.500
 to go to the Christian

00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.620
 Union at university

00:28:26.620 --> 00:28:28.400
 and get involved

00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:29.420
 in those lunch bars

00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:30.540
 and those outreach events?

00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:31.580
 Why do you spend

00:28:31.580 --> 00:28:32.360
 so much time

00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:33.740
 and give so much money

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.580
 to that church

00:28:34.580 --> 00:28:35.640
 in Brunsfield?

00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.820
 Why do you experience

00:28:38.820 --> 00:28:39.960
 such mocking

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:41.460
 and ridicule

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:42.360
 from your friends

00:28:42.360 --> 00:28:43.940
 or from your colleagues?

00:28:44.060 --> 00:28:44.519
 Life would be

00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.519
 so much easier

00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:47.340
 if you just went

00:28:47.340 --> 00:28:48.160
 the same way

00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:49.200
 as everyone else.

00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:51.259
 Well,

00:28:51.560 --> 00:28:52.740
 Psalm 97 verse 8

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.200
 tells us

00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:53.720
 there is a day

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.580
 when we will rejoice

00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:55.340
 and be glad

00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.699
 because of the judgments

00:28:56.699 --> 00:28:57.339
 of the Lord.

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.240
 All the earth

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.379
 will see his glory

00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:00.379
 and we will know

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.179
 that we supported

00:29:01.179 --> 00:29:02.059
 the right team

00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:02.980
 that our hope

00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.699
 and our confidence

00:29:03.699 --> 00:29:04.759
 were in the right place

00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:06.659
 and we had faith

00:29:06.659 --> 00:29:07.879
 in the one true

00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.939
 and living God.

00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:09.839
 This is our God.

00:29:09.939 --> 00:29:10.879
 We waited on him

00:29:10.879 --> 00:29:13.959
 and he saved us.

00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.579
 So the psalmist

00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:17.519
 describes the coming

00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.480
 of God in judgment

00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.579
 and it depicts

00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:20.639
 these two camps

00:29:20.639 --> 00:29:21.339
 those who worship

00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:23.699
 other gods

00:29:23.699 --> 00:29:24.319
 so called

00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:24.819
 or oppose

00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:25.500
 the true worship

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:25.919
 of God

00:29:25.919 --> 00:29:26.519
 they will be put

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:26.959
 to shame

00:29:26.959 --> 00:29:28.099
 they will experience

00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:28.899
 that judgment

00:29:28.899 --> 00:29:30.699
 and yet the Lord's people

00:29:30.699 --> 00:29:31.759
 those who kept faith

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.699
 who waited upon him

00:29:32.699 --> 00:29:33.259
 who lived

00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:34.139
 in the light

00:29:34.139 --> 00:29:34.819
 of his coming

00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:35.980
 will be rewarded

00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:36.899
 and vindicated

00:29:36.899 --> 00:29:38.279
 and saved.

00:29:39.699 --> 00:29:40.939
 And these two themes

00:29:40.939 --> 00:29:42.339
 of the Lord's enemies

00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.019
 being judged

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.779
 and the Lord's people

00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.439
 being saved

00:29:44.439 --> 00:29:45.399
 run all the way

00:29:45.399 --> 00:29:46.079
 through scripture.

00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:47.399
 We see it

00:29:47.399 --> 00:29:47.740
 don't we

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.720
 at the story of Noah.

00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:49.899
 We see it

00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:50.560
 as we've mentioned

00:29:50.560 --> 00:29:51.440
 in the story

00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:52.180
 of the Exodus

00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:53.440
 as the people

00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:53.960
 of Israel

00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:54.820
 were delivered

00:29:54.820 --> 00:29:56.019
 and the armies

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.900
 of Egypt

00:29:56.900 --> 00:29:57.759
 were judged.

00:29:58.560 --> 00:29:59.259
 And we see it

00:29:59.259 --> 00:29:59.680
 of course

00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.800
 in the New Testament

00:30:00.800 --> 00:30:02.880
 and if you have

00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:04.140
 your Bible before you

00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:04.820
 if you could perhaps

00:30:04.820 --> 00:30:06.280
 open to the page

00:30:06.280 --> 00:30:07.000
 on which we have

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:08.660
 Thessalonians 4

00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.600
 again in my Bible

00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:11.940
 it's page 1188

00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:13.580
 but we want just

00:30:13.580 --> 00:30:14.759
 to look at two passages

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:17.480
 in this book.

00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.560
 Thessalonica

00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.359
 is the city

00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:20.740
 in Greece

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.139
 it's a very

00:30:21.139 --> 00:30:21.579
 attractive

00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:23.480
 seaside town

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:25.119
 and Paul

00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:25.720
 you recall

00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.200
 went there

00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:27.319
 in Acts

00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:28.119
 he preached

00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:28.940
 all around

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.679
 the Mediterranean

00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:31.599
 and as he got

00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:32.819
 to Thessalonica

00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:34.079
 he experienced

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.639
 some of that

00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:35.099
 opposition

00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:36.940
 and this mob

00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.899
 it brought him

00:30:37.899 --> 00:30:38.619
 to the court

00:30:38.619 --> 00:30:39.500
 and said

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.099
 this man

00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:41.039
 is preaching

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.240
 he's defying

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.319
 Caesar's decrees

00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.399
 because he says

00:30:44.399 --> 00:30:45.139
 there is another

00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:46.200
 king

00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:48.359
 one called

00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:48.940
 Jesus.

00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:50.240
 we've been

00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:50.539
 thinking

00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:50.940
 haven't we

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.159
 in the

00:30:51.159 --> 00:30:51.379
 psalm

00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:51.799
 of a great

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.099
 king

00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:53.019
 who comes

00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.480
 in cloud

00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:53.799
 and who

00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.440
 comes in fire

00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:54.980
 to judge

00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.940
 and to save

00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.359
 well in the

00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:56.839
 New Testament

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.839
 Jesus is called

00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:58.339
 the king

00:30:58.339 --> 00:31:00.740
 and the Thessalonians

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.659
 put their trust

00:31:01.659 --> 00:31:02.460
 in this king

00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:02.779
 and they

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.919
 believed on him

00:31:03.919 --> 00:31:05.419
 despite much

00:31:05.419 --> 00:31:05.940
 opposition

00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:07.500
 and Paul

00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.299
 wrote to the church

00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:08.799
 he was unable

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.700
 to visit the church

00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.159
 but he wrote

00:31:10.159 --> 00:31:10.940
 on two occasions

00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:12.039
 to encourage them

00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:12.679
 in their faith

00:31:12.679 --> 00:31:13.599
 and to remind

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:14.500
 them of their hope

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:16.680
 and in 1 Thessalonians

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.619
 4 he writes

00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:18.420
 to tell them

00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:19.079
 about the coming

00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:19.599
 of the Lord

00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:20.440
 the day of the Lord

00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:20.900
 when the Lord

00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:21.480
 will return

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.640
 for his own

00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:25.259
 and in chapter 4

00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:26.700
 verse 17

00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:28.640
 verse 16

00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:28.900
 rather

00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:29.779
 Paul says this

00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.660
 the Lord himself

00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:31.240
 will come down

00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:31.759
 from heaven

00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:33.099
 with a loud command

00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:33.660
 with the voice

00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:34.420
 of an archangel

00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:36.000
 and the trumpet call

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.440
 of God

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:37.480
 and the dead in Christ

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.500
 will rise first

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.859
 after that

00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:40.940
 we who are still alive

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:41.440
 who are left

00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.140
 will be caught up

00:31:42.140 --> 00:31:42.900
 together with them

00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:44.220
 in the clouds

00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:46.120
 to meet the Lord

00:31:46.120 --> 00:31:46.780
 in the air

00:31:46.780 --> 00:31:48.360
 and so we will be

00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:49.340
 with the Lord

00:31:49.340 --> 00:31:50.100
 forever

00:31:50.100 --> 00:31:52.600
 Paul reminds us

00:31:52.600 --> 00:31:53.780
 in this chapter

00:31:53.780 --> 00:31:55.300
 that when a Christian

00:31:55.300 --> 00:31:56.120
 dies

00:31:56.120 --> 00:31:57.960
 they simply fall asleep

00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:58.880
 in Christ

00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:00.460
 that's why

00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.140
 cemeteries

00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:02.180
 were called cemeteries

00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:03.519
 it's from the Greek word

00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:04.420
 meaning to sleep

00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:06.440
 because we fall asleep

00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:07.160
 in the Lord

00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:08.240
 trusting that one day

00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.460
 the voice which rose

00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:10.800
 Lazarus from the tomb

00:32:10.800 --> 00:32:12.660
 will wake us

00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:14.340
 from our sleep

00:32:14.340 --> 00:32:16.620
 we will be taken up

00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:17.240
 caught up

00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:18.160
 with the Lord

00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:19.480
 in the clouds

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:22.040
 Jesus used the language

00:32:22.040 --> 00:32:22.519
 of clouds

00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:22.900
 didn't he

00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:23.820
 just before his trial

00:32:23.820 --> 00:32:24.779
 Mark 13

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.600
 he said this

00:32:25.600 --> 00:32:26.380
 people will see

00:32:26.380 --> 00:32:27.000
 the son of man

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.080
 coming in clouds

00:32:28.080 --> 00:32:29.060
 with great power

00:32:29.060 --> 00:32:29.940
 and glory

00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:30.820
 and he will send

00:32:30.820 --> 00:32:31.259
 his angels

00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:31.920
 and gather

00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:32.560
 their elect

00:32:32.560 --> 00:32:34.240
 from the four winds

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:35.500
 from the four ends

00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:36.920
 of the earth

00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:38.980
 so the New Testament

00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:39.800
 gives us a picture

00:32:39.800 --> 00:32:40.460
 of this king

00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:41.779
 coming in clouds

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:43.220
 to save his people

00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:44.120
 to save them

00:32:44.120 --> 00:32:44.980
 from their enemies

00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:45.620
 to save them

00:32:45.620 --> 00:32:46.600
 from the last enemy

00:32:46.600 --> 00:32:47.799
 which is death

00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:50.720
 what a wonderful hope

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.319
 to have

00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.019
 as Christians

00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:54.299
 that we fall asleep

00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:54.880
 in the Lord

00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:55.500
 and one day

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.140
 as he woke

00:32:56.140 --> 00:32:57.400
 Jairus' daughter

00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:59.019
 with those words

00:32:59.019 --> 00:32:59.559
 little girl

00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.480
 I say to you awake

00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.440
 you will come to us

00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:03.319
 and speak our names

00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:04.160
 into our ears

00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.519
 and say

00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.259
 I say to you

00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:06.319
 wake up

00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:08.099
 and we will be

00:33:08.099 --> 00:33:08.599
 forever

00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:09.619
 with the Lord

00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:10.039
 the king

00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.639
 who comes

00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:11.700
 in cloud

00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:13.939
 and as we go

00:33:13.939 --> 00:33:14.919
 to 2 Thessalonians

00:33:14.919 --> 00:33:15.419
 we see

00:33:15.419 --> 00:33:16.659
 another image

00:33:16.659 --> 00:33:17.839
 of the Lord's

00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:18.259
 return

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:18.720
 this time

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.240
 not coming

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:20.480
 to save his people

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.299
 from their enemies

00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.559
 but coming to judge

00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.519
 those enemies

00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:25.099
 in verse

00:33:25.099 --> 00:33:26.439
 chapter 1

00:33:26.439 --> 00:33:28.179
 verse 5

00:33:28.179 --> 00:33:29.619
 Paul says this

00:33:29.619 --> 00:33:31.379
 this is evidence

00:33:31.379 --> 00:33:32.220
 that God's judgment

00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:32.859
 is right

00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:33.939
 and as a result

00:33:33.939 --> 00:33:34.579
 you will be counted

00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:35.439
 worthy of the kingdom

00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:35.880
 of God

00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:36.840
 for which you are suffering

00:33:36.840 --> 00:33:38.180
 God is just

00:33:38.180 --> 00:33:39.259
 he will pay back trouble

00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.320
 to those who trouble you

00:33:40.320 --> 00:33:41.519
 and give relief

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.559
 to you who are troubled

00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:44.059
 this will happen

00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:44.900
 when the Lord Jesus

00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:46.200
 is revealed from heaven

00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:47.759
 in blazing fire

00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:50.600
 with his powerful angels

00:33:50.600 --> 00:33:51.900
 he will punish those

00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:52.799
 who do not know God

00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:54.019
 and do not obey

00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:54.580
 the gospel

00:33:54.580 --> 00:33:57.120
 of our Lord Jesus Christ

00:33:57.120 --> 00:33:57.900
 the Lord coming

00:33:57.900 --> 00:33:58.820
 the same event

00:33:58.820 --> 00:34:00.759
 but from a different perspective

00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.700
 not the Lord coming

00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:02.580
 in the clouds

00:34:02.580 --> 00:34:03.160
 to save

00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:03.960
 but the Lord coming

00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:04.580
 in fire

00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:05.579
 to judge

00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:06.379
 the great king

00:34:06.379 --> 00:34:07.259
 of heaven and earth

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:08.460
 his glory visible

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.559
 to the whole world

00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:11.480
 saving his people

00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.779
 and judging

00:34:12.779 --> 00:34:14.420
 their enemies

00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:16.559
 and so we see

00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:17.519
 the same themes

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.340
 appearing

00:34:18.340 --> 00:34:20.059
 both in the Psalms

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:21.819
 and in Paul's correspondence

00:34:21.819 --> 00:34:24.239
 to the Thessalonian church

00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:27.279
 and the wonderful thing

00:34:27.279 --> 00:34:27.639
 of course

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.779
 about the Christian gospel

00:34:28.779 --> 00:34:30.159
 is that we're able

00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:30.699
 to move

00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.059
 aren't we

00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:32.099
 from one body

00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:32.539
 of people

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.460
 to another

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:35.319
 maybe you're here

00:34:35.319 --> 00:34:35.679
 today

00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.339
 and maybe you're

00:34:36.339 --> 00:34:36.880
 saying well

00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:38.299
 I'm not a worshipper

00:34:38.299 --> 00:34:38.839
 of God

00:34:38.839 --> 00:34:40.639
 and I'm not a follower

00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.900
 of the Lord Jesus Christ

00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:42.739
 what hope have I

00:34:42.739 --> 00:34:44.900
 the wonderful thing

00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.559
 about the gospel

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.339
 is that the door

00:34:46.339 --> 00:34:46.799
 is open

00:34:46.799 --> 00:34:47.679
 the way

00:34:47.679 --> 00:34:48.440
 is open

00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:48.960
 for us

00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.839
 to return

00:34:49.839 --> 00:34:51.339
 and that through

00:34:51.339 --> 00:34:51.900
 the death

00:34:51.900 --> 00:34:53.119
 and the resurrection

00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:54.400
 of the Lord Jesus Christ

00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:54.940
 our sins

00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:55.759
 can be forgiven

00:34:55.759 --> 00:34:57.519
 we can go

00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:58.480
 from being sinners

00:34:58.480 --> 00:35:00.219
 to being saints

00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:01.500
 we can go

00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:02.219
 from being those

00:35:02.219 --> 00:35:02.579
 who walk

00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:03.659
 according to the flesh

00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:04.599
 who go the way

00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.159
 of the world

00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:06.039
 to those who are led

00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:07.059
 by his Holy Spirit

00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:08.559
 we can go

00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.579
 from being enemies

00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:10.500
 of God

00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:12.079
 to being his friends

00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:14.599
 those who go

00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:16.219
 from hating God

00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:17.159
 to those who

00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:17.919
 love him

00:35:17.919 --> 00:35:18.619
 and are loved

00:35:18.619 --> 00:35:19.299
 by him

00:35:19.299 --> 00:35:21.519
 those who are dead

00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.179
 in sin

00:35:22.179 --> 00:35:23.259
 and trespass

00:35:23.259 --> 00:35:24.319
 who are alive

00:35:24.319 --> 00:35:25.299
 in Christ

00:35:25.299 --> 00:35:27.000
 and raised with him

00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:27.959
 and living

00:35:27.959 --> 00:35:29.019
 according to his

00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:29.819
 ways

00:35:29.820 --> 00:35:30.880
 we can move

00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.320
 from being

00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:32.380
 children of wrath

00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:33.580
 to children

00:35:33.580 --> 00:35:34.700
 of God

00:35:34.700 --> 00:35:37.260
 and this is a profound

00:35:37.260 --> 00:35:38.120
 transformation

00:35:38.120 --> 00:35:38.860
 isn't it

00:35:38.860 --> 00:35:40.300
 we have the great hope

00:35:40.300 --> 00:35:41.559
 verses 8 and 9

00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.480
 but we have the present

00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:43.180
 experience

00:35:43.180 --> 00:35:43.860
 verse 10

00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:45.300
 of knowing the Lord's

00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:46.400
 providential care

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.580
 in our lives

00:35:47.580 --> 00:35:49.300
 he guards the lives

00:35:49.300 --> 00:35:50.880
 of his faithful ones

00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:52.200
 and he delivers them

00:35:52.200 --> 00:35:53.220
 from the hand

00:35:53.220 --> 00:35:54.160
 of the wicked

00:35:54.160 --> 00:35:55.320
 wonderful to hear

00:35:55.320 --> 00:35:57.300
 Tim and Hazel's testimony

00:35:57.300 --> 00:35:58.960
 of the Lord guiding

00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:00.760
 and the Lord providing

00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:01.720
 and I'm sure

00:36:01.720 --> 00:36:02.360
 many of us

00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:03.659
 will be able to share

00:36:03.659 --> 00:36:05.340
 something of that

00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:06.280
 the Lord's provision

00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:07.780
 just the right time

00:36:07.780 --> 00:36:08.760
 and in just

00:36:08.760 --> 00:36:09.659
 his way

00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:12.039
 we know God

00:36:12.039 --> 00:36:12.639
 as our father

00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:13.900
 and we know him

00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:14.920
 as our friend

00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:16.599
 and that transforms

00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:17.519
 our present experience

00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:18.139
 verse 11

00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:19.340
 light is shed upon

00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:19.840
 the righteous

00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:21.039
 and joy

00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:22.139
 on the upright

00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:22.740
 in heart

00:36:22.740 --> 00:36:23.500
 what a wonderful

00:36:23.500 --> 00:36:24.400
 joy it is

00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:25.059
 to be a Christian

00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:25.900
 to be brought out

00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:26.420
 of the domain

00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:26.980
 of darkness

00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:28.260
 and brought into

00:36:28.260 --> 00:36:28.960
 his wonderful

00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:29.920
 light

00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:31.780
 instead of hostility

00:36:31.780 --> 00:36:32.320
 with God

00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:32.920
 and with others

00:36:32.920 --> 00:36:34.019
 to know peace

00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:34.599
 with God

00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:35.559
 and peace

00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:36.539
 with men

00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:39.240
 so let me ask you

00:36:39.240 --> 00:36:39.940
 friends

00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:40.579
 where are you

00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:41.519
 this morning

00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:44.079
 are you verse 7

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:45.119
 a worshipper

00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:46.079
 of idols

00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:46.800
 or are you

00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:47.320
 verse 8

00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:48.059
 somebody who

00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:49.019
 rejoices

00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:50.039
 in the Lord

00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:51.820
 are you somebody

00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.780
 under God's judgment

00:36:52.780 --> 00:36:53.599
 or somebody

00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:54.319
 who has enjoyed

00:36:54.319 --> 00:36:55.179
 his salvation

00:36:55.179 --> 00:36:57.380
 are you somebody

00:36:57.380 --> 00:36:58.839
 who fears the Lord

00:36:58.839 --> 00:36:59.279
 oh yes

00:36:59.279 --> 00:36:59.759
 but knows him

00:36:59.759 --> 00:37:00.339
 as a father

00:37:00.339 --> 00:37:01.400
 and a friend

00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:03.000
 or are you

00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.839
 somebody opposed

00:37:03.839 --> 00:37:04.739
 to his purposes

00:37:04.739 --> 00:37:05.420
 indifferent

00:37:05.420 --> 00:37:06.960
 to his promises

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:08.380
 and his plan

00:37:08.380 --> 00:37:10.079
 for all that he has made

00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:11.839
 the wonderful news

00:37:11.839 --> 00:37:12.360
 in the gospel

00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:13.299
 is that we can come in

00:37:13.299 --> 00:37:14.239
 to that family

00:37:14.239 --> 00:37:15.079
 we can be cleansed

00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:16.059
 from all of our sins

00:37:16.059 --> 00:37:17.239
 we can be filled

00:37:17.239 --> 00:37:18.199
 with his Holy Spirit

00:37:18.199 --> 00:37:19.219
 and incorporated

00:37:19.219 --> 00:37:20.059
 into his people

00:37:20.059 --> 00:37:21.799
 and we can have hope

00:37:21.799 --> 00:37:22.960
 and a future

00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:24.740
 what a wonderful

00:37:24.740 --> 00:37:25.619
 gospel

00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:27.280
 we can be on the

00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:27.900
 winning side

00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:29.500
 like my daughter

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:30.599
 who supported France

00:37:30.599 --> 00:37:31.720
 we can join

00:37:31.720 --> 00:37:32.519
 in the celebrations

00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:34.199
 and we can share

00:37:34.199 --> 00:37:35.900
 in that wonderful joy

00:37:35.900 --> 00:37:36.880
 the Lord reigns

00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:37.820
 let the earth be glad

00:37:37.820 --> 00:37:39.099
 let the distant

00:37:39.099 --> 00:37:40.740
 shores rejoice

00:37:40.740 --> 00:37:41.519
 well we rejoice

00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:42.420
 and let's

00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:43.280
 pray together

00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:44.320
 as we close

00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:51.880
 Father we do thank you

00:37:51.880 --> 00:37:52.720
 that you are indeed

00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:53.599
 an awesome God

00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:57.220
 that your lighting

00:37:57.220 --> 00:37:58.460
 lights up the worlds

00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.079
 the earth

00:37:59.079 --> 00:38:00.480
 sees and trembles

00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:03.900
 and yet we thank you

00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:04.400
 oh God

00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:04.920
 that you

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:06.300
 though exalted on high

00:38:06.300 --> 00:38:07.019
 stooped down

00:38:07.019 --> 00:38:08.660
 to lift us out

00:38:08.660 --> 00:38:09.340
 of the ash heap

00:38:09.340 --> 00:38:11.320
 to set our feet

00:38:11.320 --> 00:38:12.099
 upon a rock

00:38:12.099 --> 00:38:13.160
 to put a new song

00:38:13.160 --> 00:38:13.840
 in our mouths

00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:16.440
 and we pray this week

00:38:16.440 --> 00:38:17.360
 Lord as we face

00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:18.680
 trials and temptations

00:38:18.680 --> 00:38:19.500
 of many kinds

00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:20.159
 that we will look

00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:20.920
 not to our

00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:22.159
 weakness

00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:23.239
 but to your strength

00:38:23.239 --> 00:38:25.440
 and we will bring

00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:26.480
 before you in prayer

00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:28.480
 all the matters

00:38:28.480 --> 00:38:29.460
 which trouble us

00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:31.340
 trusting that you

00:38:31.340 --> 00:38:32.539
 care for us

00:38:32.539 --> 00:38:34.739
 and we pray

00:38:34.739 --> 00:38:35.420
 that you would help us

00:38:35.420 --> 00:38:36.300
 to walk in your ways

00:38:36.300 --> 00:38:36.599
 Lord

00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:38.559
 to live distinctively

00:38:38.559 --> 00:38:39.079
 as salt

00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:39.659
 and as light

00:38:39.659 --> 00:38:40.980
 to be willing

00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:41.440
 to suffer

00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:42.380
 for being a Christian

00:38:42.380 --> 00:38:44.219
 knowing that there is

00:38:44.219 --> 00:38:44.900
 in store for us

00:38:44.900 --> 00:38:45.559
 great glory

00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:47.940
 and that you have

00:38:47.940 --> 00:38:48.779
 plans and purposes

00:38:48.779 --> 00:38:49.299
 for us

00:38:49.299 --> 00:38:49.920
 to give us hope

00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:50.420
 in the future

00:38:50.420 --> 00:38:52.619
 so we thank you

00:38:52.619 --> 00:38:53.779
 for our Lord Jesus Christ

00:38:53.779 --> 00:38:54.480
 through whom we have

00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:55.480
 boldness and confidence

00:38:55.480 --> 00:38:56.340
 to come to you

00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:57.960
 and we pray

00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:58.559
 that as we

00:38:58.559 --> 00:38:59.639
 close our service

00:38:59.639 --> 00:39:00.519
 and begin our time

00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:01.039
 of fellowship

00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:01.799
 you would

00:39:01.799 --> 00:39:03.179
 just bless us

00:39:03.179 --> 00:39:03.840
 as our Father

00:39:03.840 --> 00:39:05.480
 as our best

00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:06.739
 and our most powerful friend

00:39:06.739 --> 00:39:08.440
 and help us

00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:09.519
 to encourage one another

00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.139
 toward love

00:39:10.139 --> 00:39:10.759
 and good deeds

00:39:10.759 --> 00:39:12.480
 and all the more

00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:13.179
 as we see this

00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:14.219
 glorious day approaching

00:39:14.219 --> 00:39:16.500
 and so we thank you

00:39:16.500 --> 00:39:17.199
 for this time now

00:39:17.199 --> 00:39:17.980
 in Jesus name

00:39:17.980 --> 00:39:19.379
 Amen