WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.299 If you would please open your Bibles to, if you have one, to Psalm 24. 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:10.419 A Psalm of David. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:16.839 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. 00:00:18.059 --> 00:00:21.260 The world and those who dwell therein. 00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:27.679 For he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:32.420 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:35.740 And who shall stand in his holy place? 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:43.500 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:46.019 and does not swear deceitfully. 00:00:47.299 --> 00:00:54.200 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 00:00:54.200 --> 00:01:02.840 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:13.760 Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:17.120 Who is this King of glory? 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:20.840 The Lord, strong and mighty. 00:01:21.580 --> 00:01:23.939 The Lord, mighty in battle. 00:01:23.939 --> 00:01:35.459 Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 00:01:37.140 --> 00:01:39.359 Who is this King of glory? 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:42.680 The Lord of hosts. 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:46.979 He is the King of glory. 00:01:46.980 --> 00:02:16.960 The King of glory. 00:02:16.979 --> 00:02:21.659 Lord, in all seriousness, we always need your help. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:33.699 We need the physical energy, but we need the spiritual light to hear your voice and to see what you're saying and to believe. 00:02:34.259 --> 00:02:35.259 And so I ask for your help. 00:02:35.379 --> 00:02:44.280 I pray that, as Isaiah talks about, that you send forth the rain and you will achieve your purpose. 00:02:44.280 --> 00:02:52.360 I pray that your word would just shower upon us all this morning so that you might grow each of our faith. 00:02:52.360 --> 00:03:00.240 Lord, I pray for an outpouring of your spirit to believe your word deeply in our hearts. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:11.260 Lord, I'm conscious as always of how weak my own words are, but your words are strong. 00:03:11.580 --> 00:03:12.560 They're living and active. 00:03:13.320 --> 00:03:15.939 And so I pray that you'd be piercing each of our hearts this morning. 00:03:15.939 --> 00:03:18.659 Lord, I pray that you'd give us humility. 00:03:20.539 --> 00:03:25.819 There's some enormous pictures of who you are and what you've done. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:35.020 And I pray that you would help us not to be asking whether you cause us offence, but whether we cause you offence. 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:44.360 And so I pray all this in Jesus' name. 00:03:44.980 --> 00:03:45.260 Amen. 00:03:47.939 --> 00:03:57.700 Well, can you be confident that you can get close to God, near to God, as near as a dear friend, 00:03:57.699 --> 00:04:05.299 a friend you can talk to face to face, a friend you can confide in, and they can confide in you? 00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:11.459 Are you confident that you can get that close to God? 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:18.099 Now, I'm guessing one brother will be hearing that question and thinking, of course. 00:04:18.819 --> 00:04:20.019 God is so loving. 00:04:20.779 --> 00:04:22.519 Jesus is gentle and lowly. 00:04:22.599 --> 00:04:26.639 He wants us to pray and sing and expect him to do great things for us. 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:29.079 Of course we can get close to God. 00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:34.680 And I can imagine another sister thinking, responding to the same question instinctively, 00:04:35.979 --> 00:04:40.459 but God is so high above me. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:43.419 He is so holy. 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:49.279 My thoughts about him must just seem so belittling of him compared to his actual greatness. 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:54.659 I'm so keenly aware of how unclean my daily actions are. 00:04:54.660 --> 00:05:00.740 It seems a bit presumptuous to say that I can get close to this God. 00:05:02.320 --> 00:05:07.960 One church is going to sing songs, song after song, of how close God is to us. 00:05:08.020 --> 00:05:09.040 He's near to us. 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:12.240 He's gentle and he's loving. 00:05:12.340 --> 00:05:17.420 And another church sings songs and it's mourning sin. 00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:25.439 One church's sermons have the aroma, oh, God is loving. 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:29.360 It's just the subtext you take away every week. 00:05:29.420 --> 00:05:34.280 Another church's sermons, the aroma is God is great. 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:35.400 He is holy. 00:05:35.399 --> 00:05:40.819 I think Christians, we react differently to this question. 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:48.219 I suspect we, by personality maybe, maybe upbringing, I'm not sure, but past teaching, 00:05:48.919 --> 00:05:51.719 we naturally lean to one side or the other. 00:05:52.899 --> 00:05:59.219 To God's intimacy with us or God's greatness, his otherness. 00:05:59.220 --> 00:06:08.540 I want us to consider some of the seeming paradox that we get in the Psalms. 00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:10.780 So Psalm 2 says, 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:19.180 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. 00:06:19.180 --> 00:06:24.379 Does your head just struggle to compute that? 00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:25.759 Mine does. 00:06:26.300 --> 00:06:32.079 Rejoice with trembling in fear. 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:38.300 Now, it could be a trembling of, wow, this is just incredible. 00:06:39.259 --> 00:06:41.780 But there's also a fear. 00:06:41.939 --> 00:06:43.300 There's also a reverence. 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:54.780 Or in Psalm 25, the friendship, and that word friendship is that close confiding in friendship 00:06:54.780 --> 00:06:58.319 of face-to-face friends. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:04.000 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:13.839 Our psalm today gives us wonderful pictures of confidence to draw near to God, but it first 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:18.120 does that by removing any false confidence. 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:26.939 And David himself, who wrote this poem, who wrote this song, he needed to be stripped of 00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:28.980 a presumptuous false confidence. 00:07:28.980 --> 00:07:38.319 It's possible he wrote this psalm around the day that should have been the greatest achievement 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:41.340 of King David's reign, and he achieved a lot. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:43.040 It should have been the greatest achievement. 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:48.280 They were bringing the Ark of the Covenant to God's holy mountain Jerusalem. 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:54.759 God's promises of giving the promised land are being realised, and the Ark of the Covenant 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:58.439 symbolising God's commitment and presence with his people. 00:07:58.980 --> 00:08:05.620 On top of the Ark of the Cherubim, so angelic creatures that God is enthroned over the hosts 00:08:05.620 --> 00:08:06.180 of heaven. 00:08:06.660 --> 00:08:08.640 So it represents his authority. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:09.400 He is God. 00:08:09.520 --> 00:08:10.700 It represents his commitment. 00:08:10.900 --> 00:08:11.460 It's a covenant. 00:08:12.400 --> 00:08:14.360 It represents his imminence. 00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:16.220 He's coming to be enthroned on Jerusalem. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:18.480 And David organises a parade. 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:19.480 There's singing. 00:08:19.640 --> 00:08:20.500 There's trumpets. 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:26.360 He gets 30,000 of his soldiers to march in this parade. 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:29.480 And he himself is dressed in his royal clothes. 00:08:29.980 --> 00:08:35.179 And it says that he danced with all his might. 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:41.340 I don't know what that looks like, but he danced with all his might before the Lord. 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:50.759 But then the cart carrying the Ark, as Israel were just cheering in this great procession, 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.540 the cart carrying the Ark, it stumbles. 00:08:54.820 --> 00:09:04.139 And one of the men charged to lead the Ark, Uzzah, puts out his hand and touches the Ark to stabilise 00:09:04.139 --> 00:09:07.180 it, and immediately he falls down and dies. 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:14.399 And the trumpets stop. 00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:19.500 David stops dancing. 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:24.699 There's a silence. 00:09:25.979 --> 00:09:34.459 And people must have eventually gone home just afraid, maybe disillusioned. 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:36.679 We're told David was angry with God. 00:09:37.179 --> 00:09:41.620 They asked this question. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:46.899 Who is able to stand before the Lord? 00:09:48.059 --> 00:09:49.459 This holy God. 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:50.179 Who is able? 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:52.559 So wild. 00:09:56.059 --> 00:09:57.319 It's a good question. 00:09:57.479 --> 00:09:58.679 It's the right question. 00:09:58.859 --> 00:10:00.399 It's the opposite of presumption. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:11.879 The celebration that is at the end of this psalm today, it won't grab you. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:17.679 It won't grab hold of you unless you come face to face with how great this king is. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:26.359 We get three main pictures of how great this God, this king is. 00:10:26.439 --> 00:10:28.259 First, we survey his realm. 00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:32.919 And we find that he's all-creating. 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:37.240 Then we go up to his capital city from which he is ruling. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:41.240 And we go in and we ask who is there, who's allowed to be there. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:43.860 And we find he is all-holy. 00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:47.519 His realm, he's all-creating. 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:49.439 What's he like? 00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:51.019 Who can live in his realm? 00:10:51.939 --> 00:10:53.059 He's all-holy. 00:10:53.779 --> 00:11:01.360 And then finally we see a triumphant parade because he is all-victorious. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.539 So that's where we're headed. 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:06.399 So first, we're going to survey his realm. 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:07.480 He's all-creating. 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:16.679 So far, like, if you've been living under a rock, unless you've been living under a rock, 00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:21.879 you'll know about the floods, far north Queensland, last month or so. 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:25.759 Like, the water's just overwhelming the land. 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:32.179 It destroys roads, destroys infrastructure, destroys crops for the season. 00:11:32.179 --> 00:11:39.299 It ruins family homes and businesses, threatens people's lives, especially the most vulnerable. 00:11:40.719 --> 00:11:42.079 All life is disrupted. 00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:43.939 Emergency services are coming in. 00:11:44.059 --> 00:11:44.839 Life has stopped. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:49.899 Like, it's just, it's crisis time with the waters overwhelming. 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:56.579 Like, army helicopters, resources are all deployed because the waters are covering the earth. 00:11:56.580 --> 00:12:06.740 I think that gives us a glimpse of the Jewish picture from Scripture is the chaos of the waters. 00:12:07.540 --> 00:12:09.120 It destroys life. 00:12:10.400 --> 00:12:19.480 It represents, it's a metaphor, it represents the destructive powers, often the spiritual powers, 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:23.180 that destroy life in God's world. 00:12:23.179 --> 00:12:34.279 So I think that's why, in verse 2, when we survey this king's realm, he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. 00:12:34.599 --> 00:12:38.139 That upon can be through it, above it. 00:12:38.779 --> 00:12:39.979 It's recalling Genesis. 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:47.860 Genesis, the chaos that wants to destroy life, God has established solid land. 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:49.519 He is above it. 00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:54.620 He is all sovereign over any power that would take away life. 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:57.779 He has established land. 00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.320 He's the one. 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:07.580 He created the solid earth to be full, to be fruitful. 00:13:07.800 --> 00:13:09.080 He's the one who gives life. 00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:11.759 All the people want it. 00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:12.600 He made them. 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:13.560 He made us. 00:13:14.920 --> 00:13:16.399 That's the kind of God he is. 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:20.860 Pushing back anything destructive so that we can have life. 00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:23.259 He wants to bless. 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:29.539 And he's not just a local deity for ancient Israel borders. 00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:32.399 He isn't restricted to these walls in this church. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:40.100 Whether people acknowledge this king or not, every person belongs to him. 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:48.299 It's in him we live and move and have our being. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:51.419 He created us all. 00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:52.439 We all belong to him. 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:59.200 You think of some of the nations where the gospel hasn't reached yet. 00:14:00.400 --> 00:14:01.200 They're his. 00:14:04.400 --> 00:14:05.760 They belong to him. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:14.039 And this is the theological bedrock of why it is right to tell people about Jesus. 00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:18.360 We can feel ashamed sometimes like we're invading on someone's life. 00:14:19.179 --> 00:14:20.279 We're not invading. 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:27.460 God isn't invading someone's land or life. 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:28.939 They belong to him. 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:30.720 It's all his. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:31.600 We're all his. 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:36.440 He's taking back what's his. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:39.940 Every heart belongs to him. 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:44.460 Every family belongs to him. 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:48.300 Every gift, every resource is from him. 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:54.700 It's crazy. 00:14:54.700 --> 00:15:01.000 I think it's, I'm trying to think of a stronger word than crazy. 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:04.300 Self-destructive, I don't know. 00:15:05.420 --> 00:15:08.220 For people to reject the one who gives life. 00:15:09.640 --> 00:15:15.040 And yet the world is full of such rejection. 00:15:15.280 --> 00:15:19.500 And what's more incredible as we look at the next few verses and the next picture is that 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:25.620 despite this rejection, Yahweh moves towards his world and sets a meeting place. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:27.000 He creates a meeting place. 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:28.120 He wants to be met. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:29.480 Yes, he's present everywhere. 00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:34.279 But in a sense, he's going to be especially present on his holy hill. 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:36.279 He wants to be known. 00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:38.080 He wants to be approached. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:47.080 So the next picture we get is this king's capital where he has told us to meet him. 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:58.840 The biggest issue of my life and your life is whether we are in good relationship with this king. 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:02.240 If he is the source of all blessing, do you want blessing? 00:16:02.660 --> 00:16:03.160 I do. 00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:09.980 If he's the source of it all, the biggest question is, are you good? 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:12.419 Are you on good terms with this God? 00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:19.500 Who may ascend God's place? 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:22.539 Who may stand before him? 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:23.980 Can I come in? 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:30.699 Who does this king welcome? 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:37.519 What we see here is that this king is all holy. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:47.959 He's separate from anything that's destructive to life, anything that's not good. 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:53.699 The person whose deeds with their hands are clean. 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:59.699 They're not stained by blood by harming people. 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:03.759 They're not filled with bribes. 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:07.480 But you care about justice. 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:19.620 They're not clenched in anger, quarrelling, we're told in Timothy, but lifting up holy hands in unity, in prayer, for worship. 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.779 They're the kind of clean hands. 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:29.099 They're the kind of people who are here in this wonderful society. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:34.519 It's not just external deeds he cares about. 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:36.359 He requires a pure heart. 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:39.879 We all look at the outside. 00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:42.000 We can't really... 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:47.039 We get glimpses through people's actions and especially their words, what's going on in our hearts. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:49.240 But we look at the outside. 00:17:49.399 --> 00:17:50.379 God sees the heart. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:56.220 He doesn't just want obedience. 00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:58.980 He wants us to love obedience. 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:02.099 Isn't that challenging? 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.279 He wants us to love it. 00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:09.899 He hates superficial religion. 00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:18.400 People who honour him with their lips, but their hearts are far from him. 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.140 He hates it. 00:18:19.800 --> 00:18:21.980 Like, you are most welcome in this church. 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.120 Please keep coming. 00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:26.900 But if your heart isn't in it, 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:35.960 just know that you're not welcome in his heavenly presence. 00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.820 You're most welcome here. 00:18:38.820 --> 00:18:39.780 Don't get me wrong. 00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:40.900 Don't get me wrong. 00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:42.980 He cares about our heart. 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:49.980 He sees what we're lifting up our souls to. 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:52.259 It's an interesting phrase. 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.060 Lifting up. 00:18:53.320 --> 00:18:54.140 It's... 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.900 What are we... 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:57.440 What are we putting our confidence in? 00:18:57.580 --> 00:18:59.100 What are we giving our life to? 00:18:59.400 --> 00:18:59.900 What... 00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:04.860 What in our inner life that only you and the Lord really know? 00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:09.860 What are our thoughts captivated by and our hopes and our affections? 00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.300 Is it... 00:19:10.300 --> 00:19:12.980 Is it all coming... 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.400 Centered on him? 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:18.800 Is everything in our life integrated into him? 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:29.700 He is the source of all life and blessing is creator. 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:34.019 And so when we trust in something else to give us blessing, 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:41.039 it talks here that it's lifting our soul, our life up to what is false. 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:47.639 If he is the source of blessing and we're looking to something else to give us blessing, 00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:50.059 it's not real. 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.579 It's empty. 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:53.500 It's false. 00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:55.180 It can only disappoint. 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:57.480 If you... 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.720 A good sign of... 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:01.180 To know when this is happening... 00:20:03.060 --> 00:20:05.180 Well, one of the signs is... 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:11.180 When you lose that thing and it feels like you're drowning... 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:15.120 That's because the... 00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:15.940 That could be. 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:19.259 That could be because the oceans of idolatry... 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:20.080 You've lifted... 00:20:20.080 --> 00:20:21.820 You've given your life to something else. 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:24.819 And so, of course, the oceans are coming in... 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:27.000 And flooding you. 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:31.819 This place is filled with people who... 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:33.740 They're lifting up their soul. 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:36.599 They're trusting in him to give life in abundance. 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:38.819 So this God... 00:20:39.399 --> 00:20:42.539 He only accepts purity of inner and outer life. 00:20:42.639 --> 00:20:44.119 Clean hands and a pure heart. 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:50.639 Now, this isn't just some arbitrary standard of perfection. 00:20:50.979 --> 00:20:51.939 This isn't arbitrary. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:55.239 These people, we're told in verse 6, 00:20:55.399 --> 00:20:59.239 Such is the generation of those who seek him. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:03.199 Who seek the face of the God of Jacob. 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:07.000 Their goal in all this purity is him. 00:21:08.199 --> 00:21:10.799 I want to see your face, God. 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.919 I want to know you. 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:17.179 It's a relational goal. 00:21:17.479 --> 00:21:18.379 This isn't arbitrary. 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:21.199 It's because he is holy. 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:25.039 To enjoy him requires holiness. 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:31.299 It's for people seeking his face. 00:21:31.939 --> 00:21:35.059 Even in our digital age, we've got messaging. 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:36.199 We've got FaceTime. 00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:38.679 But people who have only talked on that, 00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:40.539 they might meet each other finally. 00:21:40.699 --> 00:21:41.319 And they might say, 00:21:41.739 --> 00:21:43.399 Great to finally meet you. 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:48.219 Or, like, I've got a rule that sometimes I break, 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:51.619 but if I need to have a deep conversation with someone, 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.859 don't send an email. 00:21:53.939 --> 00:21:54.899 Bad idea. 00:21:55.219 --> 00:21:56.119 Face to face. 00:21:56.899 --> 00:21:59.659 It's how we know one another. 00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:02.379 I think it's... 00:22:02.379 --> 00:22:04.379 So when Scripture... 00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:06.119 The Psalms use this metaphor a lot. 00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:07.459 Seeking his face. 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:09.279 It's obviously a metaphor. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.360 God is spirit. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:14.840 But it's knowing him just more fully. 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:16.660 Like, it's just captivating you. 00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:18.440 It's an emotional term. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:21.220 It's gripping you emotionally. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:24.700 And your thought life and your desires is to seek his face. 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:27.100 Like, doctrine isn't enough for you. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:29.720 You want the doctrine to grip you. 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.880 You want to see him. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:42.560 Like, it's one thing to know that God is holy in your mind. 00:22:43.280 --> 00:22:45.820 It's another thing to sense his holiness. 00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:50.100 That you start to hate sin for his sake. 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:53.320 Like, you just sense his holiness. 00:22:53.520 --> 00:22:57.560 Now, I don't know any Christian living in a constant state of that. 00:22:57.559 --> 00:23:03.000 But the people who belong here are seeking that. 00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:07.500 It's one thing to know in the abstract, God loves you. 00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:08.659 And God is loving. 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:11.759 It's another thing for that love just to grip you. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.679 That you don't... 00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:15.059 You're not so needy. 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:19.759 You're actually wanting to live a life of pouring out love. 00:23:20.399 --> 00:23:22.299 Because his love has gripped you. 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:28.440 I think that's why Jacob is mentioned. 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:32.159 That's what Jacob wrestled God for, we're told in Genesis. 00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:35.480 He's wrestling God. 00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:41.839 Even though he came away limping, he was never the same again. 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:48.039 He didn't let go of God until he got the greatest blessing, 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:50.500 which was seeing his face. 00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:55.919 Knowing God more, enjoying him. 00:23:58.460 --> 00:24:01.200 So there's no religious pretense in this place. 00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:07.460 Everyone accepted here cared deeply about the inner and outer holiness 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:11.779 for his sake, to get his face. 00:24:14.139 --> 00:24:15.539 This is the place to be. 00:24:15.659 --> 00:24:17.899 It would be such a wonderful society. 00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:26.800 So are you confident you currently stand in such a place? 00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:34.120 Bo mentioned David Litchfield, 00:24:35.120 --> 00:24:39.540 confidently approaching those ancient gates, 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:43.259 which when we stand before this great king, 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:47.940 are you confident those ancient doors into his new creation 00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:49.359 are going to open for you? 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:01.879 Have you ever seen depressed gates? 00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:06.780 It's an interesting image. 00:25:07.540 --> 00:25:09.220 We're shown in verse 7. 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:14.020 I think we're meant to picture these gates that are just, 00:25:14.600 --> 00:25:17.560 they are the worst gates you have ever seen. 00:25:18.280 --> 00:25:19.300 They are rusted. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:23.180 There's mould growing on them. 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:26.980 It's as if they're just depressed and sunk over, 00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:28.000 no confidence. 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:29.940 They're growing in ivy. 00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:32.700 Why? 00:25:33.840 --> 00:25:37.720 Because they have been shut for a very long time. 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:41.420 Who can come into this place? 00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:45.320 I deserve to be shut out. 00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:49.339 In the darkness. 00:25:51.419 --> 00:25:52.399 No peace. 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.460 The gates are shut. 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:05.819 For the way, not having clean hands, 00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:08.379 not having a pure heart, the gates are shut. 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:12.059 But then we hear something. 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.519 We hear something in the distance. 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:24.619 Sorry, I can't do a trumpet, 00:26:24.879 --> 00:26:28.339 but if Jimmy Miro was back in the church, we'll get... 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:28.960 We hear... 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:34.159 I kind of did that to wake you all up. 00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:36.359 What is he doing? 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.159 We... 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:47.040 We hear trumpets and these gates are sad, 00:26:47.100 --> 00:26:51.120 but then we hear this parade coming of singing and dancing 00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:53.400 and a procession and the gates are commanded, 00:26:53.860 --> 00:26:55.680 lift up your heads, O gates. 00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:57.519 And be lifted... 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:57.960 Sorry, kids. 00:26:58.040 --> 00:27:00.100 I probably scared the daylights out of you then. 00:27:00.300 --> 00:27:02.300 Be lifted up, O ancient doors, 00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:06.120 that the King of glory may come in. 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:09.759 And the obvious question is, 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:11.439 who is this King of glory? 00:27:11.659 --> 00:27:12.099 Who can... 00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:14.679 Why can he enter when you can't? 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:17.819 Why do the gates swing open for him? 00:27:17.919 --> 00:27:19.059 It's not David. 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.559 It's not David. 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.879 Read Psalm 51. 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:26.239 That's his written confession. 00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:28.059 I should be shut out. 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:32.079 It is not Solomon who built the temple. 00:27:33.899 --> 00:27:37.159 Like, he gave his heart over to other gods 00:27:37.159 --> 00:27:38.980 like there was no tomorrow. 00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:40.899 Like, by the end of his life, 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:43.119 he was lifting up his soul to every other god 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.179 he could get his hands on. 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.079 Not David. 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.919 It's not Solomon. 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.879 We're told who it is. 00:27:49.919 --> 00:27:52.700 It's the creator, the Lord himself. 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:54.859 It's the creator coming into his creation. 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:59.599 Like a man of war, 00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:01.639 strong and mighty, 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:03.279 mighty in battle, 00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:05.019 the Lord of hosts, 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.979 Lord of heaven's armies. 00:28:08.219 --> 00:28:10.059 It's recalling Moses and the Exodus. 00:28:10.219 --> 00:28:11.079 That's what they sung 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:14.079 after they went through the Red Sea. 00:28:14.179 --> 00:28:15.439 I will sing to the Lord, 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:17.439 for he has triumphed gloriously. 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:19.019 The horse and his rider, 00:28:19.139 --> 00:28:20.459 he has thrown into the sea. 00:28:20.979 --> 00:28:23.139 The Lord is my strength and my song, 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:25.000 and he has become my salvation. 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:26.420 This is my God, 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.500 and I will praise him. 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:29.259 My father's God, 00:28:29.320 --> 00:28:30.440 and I will exalt him. 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:32.020 The Lord is a man of war. 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.960 The Lord is his name. 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:36.700 Because they were saved from all their enemies. 00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:38.740 And the song ends, 00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:40.100 what were they saved for? 00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:41.680 They were saved from the enemies. 00:28:41.800 --> 00:28:43.780 They were saved that you will bring them in 00:28:43.780 --> 00:28:45.860 and plant them on your own mountain, 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:47.060 the place, O Lord, 00:28:47.360 --> 00:28:48.920 which you have made for your abode, 00:28:49.080 --> 00:28:49.600 the sanctuary. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:54.559 When Jesus came into his world, 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:56.319 he came to be a warrior, 00:28:56.659 --> 00:28:59.439 to fight for his people. 00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:02.159 He came to be enthroned over the world that is his. 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:08.579 We often speak of what Jesus achieved 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:09.839 in terms of forgiveness 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:13.240 and absorbing the penalty, 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:15.099 so that courtroom picture, 00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:20.299 and the wrath of God is taken away. 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.419 Wonderful pictures, 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.839 essential pictures, 00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:24.039 like, don't get me wrong, 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.799 reconciling us to God. 00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:28.279 But there's another really prominent theme in Scripture 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:29.819 about what Jesus achieved. 00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:34.419 He goes into battle. 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:38.620 He's our champion. 00:29:40.620 --> 00:29:41.580 To fight. 00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:46.400 To defeat the greatest enemies 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:47.759 that keep us shut out. 00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:49.940 The power of sin 00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:51.560 and the power of Satan 00:29:51.560 --> 00:29:55.820 that keep us lifting up our souls 00:29:55.820 --> 00:29:56.900 to what's false 00:29:56.900 --> 00:30:01.140 rather than to the God of blessing. 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:04.060 So Colossians speaks of Christ's cross. 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:07.420 Disarming the spiritual rulers and authorities. 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:09.279 And he put them to open shame 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:11.880 by triumphing over them in him. 00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:16.900 Do you see Jesus as your warrior 00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:18.200 who has fought for you? 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:20.140 He fights for you. 00:30:22.140 --> 00:30:23.539 He's defeated Satan, 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:25.259 the slanderer and accuser, 00:30:25.820 --> 00:30:27.000 by the cross. 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:28.800 When he slanders God 00:30:28.800 --> 00:30:30.840 as if he is not good, 00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:33.299 as if he's the creator 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.679 who doesn't want to bless 00:30:34.679 --> 00:30:36.839 and he's slandering God to you, 00:30:36.919 --> 00:30:37.480 you can say, 00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:39.159 no, 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:41.339 I'm looking at the cross 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:44.439 and if he loves me that much, 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:45.639 no, 00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:47.220 I don't believe you. 00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:50.740 He conquers Satan's slanders. 00:30:51.459 --> 00:30:53.779 He conquers Satan's accusations 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.819 against us 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:56.159 before God. 00:30:56.160 --> 00:31:00.600 Look at all David's unclean hands. 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:01.460 Like, 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:03.160 look at his heart. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:04.880 Prone to wander. 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:06.259 And God says, 00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:07.840 get out of my courtroom. 00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:11.960 My son's blood has conquered. 00:31:12.300 --> 00:31:13.779 The slain lamb 00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:15.000 has conquered. 00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:16.680 Yes, 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.440 he's the lion, 00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:19.540 but he conquers as the lamb. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:22.580 He's defeated Satan. 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.080 He's fought for us. 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:28.939 Our warrior king 00:31:28.939 --> 00:31:30.819 has the victory 00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:33.419 over Satan and sin 00:31:33.419 --> 00:31:34.579 and so the doors 00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:35.699 swing open for him 00:31:35.699 --> 00:31:37.119 because he has clean hands 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:38.000 and a pure heart. 00:31:38.859 --> 00:31:39.879 Always loving God. 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:45.659 So the massive question is, 00:31:46.619 --> 00:31:46.839 well, 00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:48.119 the massive invitation 00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:49.240 and command is 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:51.980 for you to tuck in behind him. 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:54.599 the doors swing open 00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.059 for him 00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:57.860 and he invites you 00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:58.480 to join 00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:00.480 his procession. 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.660 So can you be confident 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:06.120 that you can get close to God 00:32:06.120 --> 00:32:07.099 like a dear friend 00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:10.019 and join him face to face? 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:10.360 Well, 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.299 only if, 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:13.339 only if you've been humbled. 00:32:13.339 --> 00:32:18.639 David himself, 00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:19.559 the second time 00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.339 he brought the Ark 00:32:20.339 --> 00:32:20.859 of the Covenant 00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:23.459 into Jerusalem. 00:32:24.159 --> 00:32:24.919 This time 00:32:24.919 --> 00:32:25.819 he humbled himself. 00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:27.899 He, 00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:29.319 he didn't presume 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:30.879 on how to 00:32:30.879 --> 00:32:32.679 carry the Ark 00:32:32.679 --> 00:32:33.779 into Jerusalem 00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.500 on a cart. 00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:34.919 Instead, 00:32:35.139 --> 00:32:36.579 he listened to what God 00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.599 said through Moses. 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.819 He listened to his voice 00:32:38.819 --> 00:32:39.480 in his word 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:41.339 and he obeyed. 00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:43.299 he humbled himself 00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:43.839 and listened 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:46.480 to his king. 00:32:48.099 --> 00:32:48.659 They 00:32:48.659 --> 00:32:50.379 made atonement 00:32:50.379 --> 00:32:52.339 for their sin. 00:32:52.459 --> 00:32:53.659 Before they made the journey, 00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:54.759 they sacrificed, 00:32:54.899 --> 00:32:55.740 they made atonement. 00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:57.879 He humbled himself 00:32:57.879 --> 00:32:59.980 and then he 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:02.259 stripped his royal robes 00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:02.679 and 00:33:02.679 --> 00:33:04.319 linen, 00:33:04.919 --> 00:33:05.959 a linen garment 00:33:05.959 --> 00:33:07.220 basically in his underwear. 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:08.339 The king 00:33:08.339 --> 00:33:10.019 in his underwear 00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:13.400 so that 00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:14.460 he would be 00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:15.240 humiliated 00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:15.940 so that 00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:17.039 God would get 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.859 all the glory. 00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:18.960 He humbled himself. 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.259 And then 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:24.759 in that humility, 00:33:25.579 --> 00:33:26.940 that's when 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:29.019 he danced. 00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:31.119 That's when he danced 00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:31.799 all the way 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:34.379 and nothing to spoil it. 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:36.139 That's when the trumpets 00:33:36.139 --> 00:33:36.700 were blasting 00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:37.619 the entire way. 00:33:37.619 --> 00:33:39.679 God 00:33:39.679 --> 00:33:41.599 represented by the ark 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:42.639 gladly came in. 00:33:44.639 --> 00:33:45.399 The people 00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:45.959 were blessed. 00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:48.679 That's when 00:33:48.679 --> 00:33:49.479 there was great joy 00:33:49.479 --> 00:33:50.819 when he humbled himself. 00:33:52.439 --> 00:33:53.159 That's when 00:33:53.159 --> 00:33:53.939 the triumphal 00:33:53.939 --> 00:33:54.519 procession 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:55.939 came in. 00:33:58.159 --> 00:33:59.019 So the way 00:33:59.019 --> 00:33:59.519 to rejoice 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:00.759 is to tremble. 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.399 The way 00:34:04.399 --> 00:34:05.079 to be 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:06.000 full of confidence 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.440 of being 00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.059 near to God 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.839 is to be 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:08.460 humbled 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:10.199 before King 00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.579 Jesus. 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.420 It's to be 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:14.940 in awe 00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:16.179 that this king 00:34:16.179 --> 00:34:17.059 wouldn't fight 00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:17.880 against you, 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.679 he would fight 00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:19.860 for you. 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:21.239 Wow. 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.980 So 2 Corinthians 2 00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:26.179 describes Christians 00:34:26.179 --> 00:34:26.699 this way. 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:29.179 2 Corinthians 2.14 00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:49.039 That's an interesting 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:49.960 picture of the church, 00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:50.419 isn't it? 00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:52.579 We're in this 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:53.239 triumphal 00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:53.859 procession 00:34:53.859 --> 00:34:56.639 behind Jesus. 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:56.739 Jesus 00:34:56.739 --> 00:35:01.979 So have you 00:35:01.979 --> 00:35:02.699 joined this 00:35:02.699 --> 00:35:03.299 procession? 00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:05.779 Like only you 00:35:05.779 --> 00:35:06.159 know that 00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:07.239 between you 00:35:07.239 --> 00:35:07.739 and the Lord. 00:35:11.339 --> 00:35:11.859 Many 00:35:11.859 --> 00:35:12.699 within the walls 00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:13.379 of Christianity 00:35:13.379 --> 00:35:14.319 will open 00:35:14.319 --> 00:35:14.899 their spiritual 00:35:14.899 --> 00:35:15.719 eyes on that 00:35:15.719 --> 00:35:16.439 final day 00:35:16.439 --> 00:35:18.239 only to find 00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:18.699 the gates 00:35:18.699 --> 00:35:19.039 shut. 00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.439 Don't let that 00:35:24.439 --> 00:35:24.839 be you. 00:35:24.839 --> 00:35:25.339 Don't let that 00:35:25.339 --> 00:35:26.719 be you. 00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:31.399 To be one 00:35:31.399 --> 00:35:31.939 of Christ's 00:35:31.939 --> 00:35:32.699 people isn't 00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:33.759 to, 00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:34.779 it's not 00:35:34.779 --> 00:35:35.579 about playing 00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:36.239 the part 00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:37.099 expected of 00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:37.419 you in 00:35:37.419 --> 00:35:38.139 church culture. 00:35:38.939 --> 00:35:39.419 It's not 00:35:39.419 --> 00:35:40.879 about am I 00:35:40.879 --> 00:35:41.399 doing all the 00:35:41.399 --> 00:35:42.019 right things? 00:35:42.379 --> 00:35:42.779 Am I doing 00:35:42.779 --> 00:35:43.159 all the right 00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:43.399 things? 00:35:43.959 --> 00:35:44.439 No, it's an 00:35:44.439 --> 00:35:45.099 awareness on 00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:45.799 your soul 00:35:45.799 --> 00:35:46.799 that you 00:35:46.799 --> 00:35:47.559 deserve to be 00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:48.319 shut out. 00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:49.839 But you look 00:35:49.839 --> 00:35:50.319 to Jesus 00:35:50.319 --> 00:35:51.019 and he's 00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:51.779 fought for you. 00:35:52.819 --> 00:35:53.719 And you 00:35:53.719 --> 00:35:54.479 have tucked 00:35:54.479 --> 00:35:55.099 him behind 00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:55.779 his victory 00:35:55.780 --> 00:35:57.560 and you're 00:35:57.560 --> 00:35:58.400 confident behind 00:35:58.400 --> 00:35:58.720 him, 00:35:59.080 --> 00:35:59.880 celebrating in 00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:00.120 him. 00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:04.519 I think one 00:36:04.519 --> 00:36:04.839 of the most 00:36:04.839 --> 00:36:05.699 powerful scenes 00:36:05.699 --> 00:36:06.199 in the Lord 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:06.719 of the Rings 00:36:06.719 --> 00:36:09.259 is, if you 00:36:09.259 --> 00:36:09.679 haven't watched 00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:10.159 it, it's your 00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:10.420 fault. 00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:11.799 No spoiler. 00:36:12.359 --> 00:36:14.199 One of the 00:36:14.199 --> 00:36:14.639 most powerful 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:17.179 scenes is when 00:36:17.179 --> 00:36:18.139 Aragorn is 00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:18.779 crowned. 00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.819 And it's 00:36:22.819 --> 00:36:23.519 his day. 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:24.980 Like he's got 00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:25.519 all the power 00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:25.839 now. 00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:27.440 He's got all the 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:28.159 authority and 00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:31.019 he bows to 00:36:31.019 --> 00:36:31.740 the hobbits. 00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:33.019 It's a 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:33.900 powerful scene. 00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:35.480 He humbles 00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:36.700 himself to 00:36:36.700 --> 00:36:37.460 these hobbits. 00:36:39.720 --> 00:36:40.920 I don't know 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:41.400 if you've seen 00:36:41.400 --> 00:36:41.500 it. 00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:41.980 It is a 00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:42.679 powerful scene. 00:36:44.200 --> 00:36:44.720 I think it's 00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:45.300 powerful because 00:36:45.300 --> 00:36:47.019 it's got an 00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:47.940 echo of the 00:36:47.940 --> 00:36:48.260 gospel. 00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.019 The king has 00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:50.980 humbled himself. 00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.280 Why would you 00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:54.880 not want to 00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:55.619 bow the knee to 00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:56.239 such a king? 00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:01.699 So have you 00:37:01.699 --> 00:37:02.539 joined this 00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.079 procession? 00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:09.299 And church 00:37:09.299 --> 00:37:10.519 family, are we 00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:11.519 like David in 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:12.059 his underwear? 00:37:12.259 --> 00:37:12.739 Don't take 00:37:12.739 --> 00:37:14.619 this grossly. 00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:19.139 Are we 00:37:19.139 --> 00:37:19.559 humbled? 00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:21.619 Are we 00:37:21.619 --> 00:37:23.000 stripped of 00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:23.779 pretense? 00:37:23.780 --> 00:37:24.620 Are we 00:37:24.620 --> 00:37:26.700 of self-merit, 00:37:27.060 --> 00:37:27.900 of comparison, 00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:29.340 of wanting to 00:37:29.340 --> 00:37:29.880 get the 00:37:29.880 --> 00:37:30.320 attention? 00:37:31.600 --> 00:37:32.100 And are we 00:37:32.100 --> 00:37:32.519 dancing? 00:37:33.200 --> 00:37:33.920 Are we 00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:34.360 singing? 00:37:38.200 --> 00:37:39.080 Are we as 00:37:39.080 --> 00:37:39.420 a church 00:37:39.420 --> 00:37:40.400 characterised by 00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:41.180 joy and 00:37:41.180 --> 00:37:42.000 triumph and 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:43.420 confidence because 00:37:43.420 --> 00:37:44.060 of the victory 00:37:44.060 --> 00:37:45.140 Jesus has won 00:37:45.140 --> 00:37:45.640 for us? 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:47.240 Because 00:37:47.240 --> 00:37:47.600 that's 00:37:47.600 --> 00:37:49.920 we need to 00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:50.519 be for the 00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:52.040 fragrance of 00:37:52.040 --> 00:37:52.800 the knowledge of 00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:53.760 Jesus to be 00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:54.260 spread through 00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:54.560 us? 00:37:59.620 --> 00:38:00.260 Wouldn't it 00:38:00.260 --> 00:38:00.860 be great if 00:38:00.860 --> 00:38:01.660 you're walking 00:38:01.660 --> 00:38:02.280 past this 00:38:02.280 --> 00:38:02.840 group of 00:38:02.840 --> 00:38:03.800 teenagers and 00:38:03.800 --> 00:38:05.820 they must have 00:38:05.820 --> 00:38:06.539 had a bath in 00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:07.100 perfume. 00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:08.360 It just hits 00:38:08.360 --> 00:38:08.580 you. 00:38:09.340 --> 00:38:10.420 It just fills 00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:11.120 your nostrils. 00:38:11.720 --> 00:38:12.640 Let's be like 00:38:12.640 --> 00:38:13.140 that as a 00:38:13.140 --> 00:38:13.480 church. 00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:14.280 It's going to 00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:16.080 be an aroma 00:38:16.080 --> 00:38:16.600 that some 00:38:16.600 --> 00:38:17.260 people hate. 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:18.380 For other 00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:19.160 people, it's 00:38:19.160 --> 00:38:19.560 going to be an 00:38:19.560 --> 00:38:20.740 aroma that 00:38:20.740 --> 00:38:21.340 draws them 00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:21.620 in. 00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:24.140 People will 00:38:24.140 --> 00:38:25.019 see our 00:38:25.019 --> 00:38:26.000 community and 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:26.980 smell the 00:38:26.980 --> 00:38:27.780 aroma of our 00:38:27.780 --> 00:38:29.660 community and 00:38:29.660 --> 00:38:30.180 they'll decide 00:38:30.180 --> 00:38:31.180 off that whether 00:38:31.180 --> 00:38:31.800 they take our 00:38:31.800 --> 00:38:32.700 doctrine seriously. 00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:39.200 Yes, we 00:38:39.200 --> 00:38:39.940 currently live in 00:38:39.940 --> 00:38:41.280 the shadow of 00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:41.840 the valley of 00:38:41.840 --> 00:38:42.180 death. 00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:45.380 But Psalm 24 00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:46.560 balances that. 00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:49.380 we're in 00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:49.900 procession. 00:38:52.099 --> 00:38:53.099 Hebrews 12, 00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:54.360 remember who we 00:38:54.360 --> 00:38:54.860 are, church. 00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:55.460 We are 00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:56.679 currently, 00:38:57.639 --> 00:38:58.019 spiritually 00:38:58.019 --> 00:38:58.880 speaking, we 00:38:58.880 --> 00:39:00.440 are gathered 00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:02.320 in the heavenly 00:39:02.320 --> 00:39:03.860 Jerusalem where 00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:05.500 angels are in 00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:06.460 festal gathering. 00:39:06.619 --> 00:39:07.059 That's where we 00:39:07.059 --> 00:39:08.380 are because 00:39:08.380 --> 00:39:09.799 Jesus has opened 00:39:09.799 --> 00:39:10.219 the gates. 00:39:10.340 --> 00:39:10.639 We're in. 00:39:11.119 --> 00:39:11.639 That's where we 00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:11.900 are. 00:39:11.900 --> 00:39:14.000 We know that 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:14.579 at the end of 00:39:14.579 --> 00:39:16.720 our lives, those 00:39:16.720 --> 00:39:18.260 gates into the 00:39:18.260 --> 00:39:19.220 new creation will 00:39:19.220 --> 00:39:20.240 be open for me, 00:39:20.760 --> 00:39:21.820 for us. 00:39:23.700 --> 00:39:25.599 We've got much 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:26.660 to rejoice in. 00:39:26.659 --> 00:39:32.460 Now I know some 00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.119 will be 00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:34.799 struggling with 00:39:34.799 --> 00:39:35.559 depression, so 00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:38.799 I'll just urge you 00:39:38.799 --> 00:39:39.779 to surround yourself 00:39:39.779 --> 00:39:40.719 in this community. 00:39:40.940 --> 00:39:42.179 Let us sing for 00:39:42.179 --> 00:39:42.359 you. 00:39:42.539 --> 00:39:43.379 Let us pray for 00:39:43.379 --> 00:39:44.039 you while you 00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:44.960 can't. 00:39:46.179 --> 00:39:47.000 And the Psalms 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:47.859 encourage you. 00:39:48.059 --> 00:39:49.639 Your soul, you 00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.339 will praise him 00:39:50.339 --> 00:39:50.619 again. 00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.000 We are in 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:55.339 joyful procession. 00:39:55.340 --> 00:39:57.720 that's when we 00:39:57.720 --> 00:39:58.340 will spread the 00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:59.019 fragrance of the 00:39:59.019 --> 00:39:59.660 knowledge of him. 00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:01.980 So are you in 00:40:01.980 --> 00:40:02.680 this procession? 00:40:03.480 --> 00:40:04.400 Are we dancing 00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:05.100 and singing? 00:40:07.100 --> 00:40:07.980 And are we 00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:08.640 seeking his 00:40:08.640 --> 00:40:09.620 holy face? 00:40:13.680 --> 00:40:14.880 You can't 00:40:14.880 --> 00:40:16.000 choose to 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:16.880 focus on God's 00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:18.200 greatness or his 00:40:18.200 --> 00:40:18.640 nearness. 00:40:19.680 --> 00:40:20.440 You can't 00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:21.019 choose between 00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.280 them. 00:40:21.860 --> 00:40:22.480 And scripture's 00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.180 not saying it's 00:40:23.180 --> 00:40:23.760 somewhere in the 00:40:23.760 --> 00:40:23.940 middle. 00:40:24.100 --> 00:40:24.800 It's both. 00:40:25.340 --> 00:40:26.200 It's both. 00:40:28.760 --> 00:40:29.539 To neglect 00:40:29.539 --> 00:40:30.100 one or the 00:40:30.100 --> 00:40:30.600 other is to 00:40:30.600 --> 00:40:31.440 rob Jesus of 00:40:31.440 --> 00:40:32.000 his victory. 00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:35.620 The path to 00:40:35.620 --> 00:40:37.600 confidence and 00:40:37.600 --> 00:40:38.600 joy in his 00:40:38.600 --> 00:40:41.120 presence is to 00:40:41.120 --> 00:40:42.260 pursue holiness. 00:40:43.260 --> 00:40:44.200 It's to pursue 00:40:44.200 --> 00:40:44.700 holiness. 00:40:44.880 --> 00:40:45.760 But the goal of 00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:48.280 that holiness is 00:40:48.280 --> 00:40:49.280 to seek his face, 00:40:49.660 --> 00:40:50.579 is to enjoy him. 00:40:52.079 --> 00:40:53.140 It's we're to 00:40:53.140 --> 00:40:53.920 rejoice and 00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:54.320 tremble. 00:40:55.340 --> 00:40:58.700 So have you 00:40:58.700 --> 00:40:59.200 joined the 00:40:59.200 --> 00:40:59.760 procession? 00:41:00.539 --> 00:41:01.120 And are we 00:41:01.120 --> 00:41:01.980 singing and 00:41:01.980 --> 00:41:02.400 dancing? 00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:05.180 And are we 00:41:05.180 --> 00:41:05.860 seeking his 00:41:05.860 --> 00:41:06.960 holy face? 00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:09.680 Let me pray. 00:41:09.679 --> 00:41:18.319 Lord, thank you 00:41:18.319 --> 00:41:21.779 that you 00:41:21.779 --> 00:41:23.419 promise that 00:41:23.419 --> 00:41:24.519 those who 00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:26.399 seek you 00:41:26.399 --> 00:41:27.539 will find you 00:41:27.539 --> 00:41:30.099 because, 00:41:31.159 --> 00:41:31.739 Jesus, you've 00:41:31.739 --> 00:41:32.239 done it all. 00:41:33.299 --> 00:41:34.279 So I pray that 00:41:34.279 --> 00:41:36.199 for all of us 00:41:36.199 --> 00:41:36.679 that we would 00:41:36.679 --> 00:41:38.940 genuinely seek to 00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:39.619 know you more. 00:41:42.579 --> 00:41:43.559 Lord, I pray that 00:41:43.559 --> 00:41:45.400 you might help us 00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:45.920 as a church. 00:41:46.079 --> 00:41:46.940 Keep us from 00:41:46.940 --> 00:41:50.079 dividing what 00:41:50.079 --> 00:41:51.740 your word keeps 00:41:51.740 --> 00:41:52.139 together. 00:41:53.900 --> 00:41:54.900 Keep us from, 00:41:55.300 --> 00:41:57.059 keep us pursuing 00:41:57.059 --> 00:41:58.659 holiness, but not 00:41:58.659 --> 00:41:59.800 seeing it as this 00:41:59.800 --> 00:42:01.619 external, abstract 00:42:01.619 --> 00:42:04.639 requirement, but 00:42:04.639 --> 00:42:05.599 seeing it as the 00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:06.759 path to 00:42:06.759 --> 00:42:07.719 enjoying you. 00:42:09.239 --> 00:42:10.339 And Lord, I 00:42:10.339 --> 00:42:10.739 pray that you 00:42:10.739 --> 00:42:11.239 would give us 00:42:11.239 --> 00:42:12.759 more and more of 00:42:12.759 --> 00:42:13.440 those sweet 00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:14.559 moments individually 00:42:14.559 --> 00:42:16.079 and as a church 00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:17.279 where we just 00:42:17.279 --> 00:42:19.759 sense you in 00:42:19.759 --> 00:42:22.039 such a deeper 00:42:22.039 --> 00:42:23.639 experience of who 00:42:23.639 --> 00:42:24.099 you are. 00:42:24.819 --> 00:42:25.759 So I pray that 00:42:25.759 --> 00:42:26.619 you'd do that so 00:42:26.619 --> 00:42:27.440 you'd encourage us 00:42:27.440 --> 00:42:28.500 to press on in this 00:42:28.500 --> 00:42:30.579 joyful procession 00:42:30.579 --> 00:42:31.659 until we finally 00:42:31.659 --> 00:42:32.599 see your face 00:42:32.599 --> 00:42:33.159 and we don't 00:42:33.159 --> 00:42:33.960 need preachers 00:42:33.960 --> 00:42:34.500 and we don't 00:42:34.500 --> 00:42:35.619 even need your 00:42:35.619 --> 00:42:36.539 scriptures because 00:42:36.539 --> 00:42:38.159 we will know you 00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:38.500 fully. 00:42:39.300 --> 00:42:40.199 Lord, encourage us 00:42:40.199 --> 00:42:41.039 and keep us going 00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:43.440 so that we just 00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:44.119 spread that 00:42:44.119 --> 00:42:45.460 beautiful aroma. 00:42:46.840 --> 00:42:47.400 I pray this in 00:42:47.400 --> 00:42:47.840 Jesus' name. 00:42:48.019 --> 00:42:48.260 Amen. 00:42:48.260 --> 00:42:48.360 Amen. 00:42:48.360 --> 00:42:48.400 Amen. 00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:48.460 Amen. 00:42:48.460 --> 00:42:48.500 Amen. 00:42:48.500 --> 00:42:48.519 Amen. 00:42:48.519 --> 00:42:48.539 Amen. 00:42:48.539 --> 00:42:48.559 Amen. 00:42:48.559 --> 00:42:50.480 Amen. 00:42:50.480 --> 00:42:50.500 Amen. 00:42:50.500 --> 00:42:50.559 Amen. 00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:52.559 Amen. 00:42:52.559 --> 00:42:52.599 Amen. 00:42:52.599 --> 00:42:52.619 Amen. 00:42:52.619 --> 00:42:52.679 Amen. 00:42:52.679 --> 00:42:54.559 Amen. 00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:54.619 Amen. 00:42:54.619 --> 00:42:54.639 Amen. 00:42:54.639 --> 00:42:54.679 Amen. 00:42:54.679 --> 00:42:55.619 Amen. 00:42:55.619 --> 00:42:56.619 Amen. 00:42:56.619 --> 00:42:56.679 Amen. 00:42:56.679 --> 00:42:58.480 Amen.