WEBVTT 00:00:00.860 --> 00:00:09.220 Amen. Thank you, Clay and Grant. I am thoroughly excited to get to preach this morning, but I'm going to be honest, I could probably listen to y'all play and sing just a little bit more. 00:00:10.060 --> 00:00:21.920 And I think that'd be a wonderful service together. If you have your Bible, turn me to Psalm 67, right there in the middle of Scripture. Now we're going to be looking at this missionary song, as Charles Spurgeon calls it. It's a Psalm 67. 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:33.679 In my office, I have a very small book on missions, many books on missions, but one book particularly, in the introduction, Pastor David Platt reflects on the reality of lostness among the unreached. 00:00:33.740 --> 00:00:41.320 And this is what he writes. He writes, I was near Yemen not long ago. Northern Yemen has approximately 8 million people. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:46.219 Do you know how many believers there are in northern Yemen? 20 or 30. 00:00:46.219 --> 00:00:59.359 Out of 8 million people, the populations of Alabama and Mississippi combined, there are likely more believers in your Sunday school class or a couple of small groups at your church than there are in all of northern Yemen. 00:01:00.219 --> 00:01:06.700 That is a problem. It is a problem because millions of people in the northern part of Yemen have no access to the gospel. 00:01:06.700 --> 00:01:19.480 They join millions and millions of other unreached peoples in the world who are born, live, and die without ever even hearing the good news of what God has done for their salvation in Christ. 00:01:20.379 --> 00:01:32.140 He continues to write this. He writes, it's the primary responsibility of every pastor, of every local church, to love people in that church and to love people in that community. 00:01:32.140 --> 00:01:40.099 All toward the ultimate end of the name of Christ might be praised among every group of people on the planet. 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:42.519 That's what the spirit of Christ wants. 00:01:43.019 --> 00:01:48.340 So that's what every Christian, every pastor, and every local church should want. 00:01:48.420 --> 00:01:52.180 And so I want to spend our short time together this morning with one goal in mind. 00:01:52.180 --> 00:02:02.440 And that is that each of us may commit our lives to this mission of God, proclaiming the gospel among the nations. 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:06.180 Psalm 67, like I mentioned, Charles Spurgeon calls this a missionary song. 00:02:07.080 --> 00:02:17.520 But I hope that as we read this together today that we may be convicted and challenged and be thoroughly committed to prayerfully persisting and proclaiming God. 00:02:18.060 --> 00:02:21.319 That all the peoples may praise God. 00:02:22.180 --> 00:02:24.540 Psalm 67, beginning in verse 1. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:37.819 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, say, la, that your way may be made known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:40.319 Let the peoples praise you, O God. 00:02:40.379 --> 00:02:41.960 Let all the peoples praise you. 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:49.719 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon the earth, say, la. 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:52.300 Let the peoples praise you, O God. 00:02:52.340 --> 00:02:53.740 Let all the peoples praise you. 00:02:54.379 --> 00:02:56.000 The earth has yielded its increase. 00:02:56.139 --> 00:02:57.960 God, our God, shall bless us. 00:02:58.259 --> 00:02:59.599 God shall bless us. 00:02:59.740 --> 00:03:03.219 Let all the ends of the earth fear him. 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:09.479 Now this simple, short missionary psalm gives us a beautiful insight into the worship of God, right? 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:12.780 It's just a very simple, cursory read of this psalm. 00:03:12.979 --> 00:03:13.819 Look at the commands here. 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:15.419 Let the peoples praise you, O God. 00:03:15.419 --> 00:03:19.139 Let the peoples praise you, let the nations be glad and sing for joy. 00:03:19.699 --> 00:03:21.239 Let the peoples praise you, O God. 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:22.500 Let all the peoples praise you. 00:03:22.579 --> 00:03:24.659 Let the ends of the earth fear him. 00:03:24.679 --> 00:03:27.659 With a simple reading of this text, we can already get the main idea, right? 00:03:28.539 --> 00:03:30.719 God's praise among the nations. 00:03:31.699 --> 00:03:34.299 God being praised among the nations. 00:03:34.459 --> 00:03:38.159 And this praise of the nations starts with you and I. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:46.000 So in this passage, we first see that we are created and commanded to worship God. 00:03:46.079 --> 00:03:50.099 This passage is operating on top of a biblical principle that is throughout the scriptures. 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:58.219 And that biblical principle is that we are created for the purpose of praising and worshiping and glorifying God. 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:04.519 We see this in the Old Testament in passages like Isaiah 43, where throughout the chapter it's clear, 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:13.719 but in verse 7, he writes, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. 00:04:14.480 --> 00:04:22.960 Later in Isaiah 43, verse 21, the people whom I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:26.800 Even more familiar, Psalm 139, verses 13 and 14. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:31.060 For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:37.120 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 00:04:37.980 --> 00:04:39.060 Psalm 95, 6. 00:04:39.100 --> 00:04:41.740 O come, let us worship and bow down. 00:04:41.840 --> 00:04:44.860 Let us kneel before the Lord, our maker. 00:04:45.580 --> 00:04:46.220 Here's the idea. 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:49.480 God made me so I should worship him. 00:04:49.580 --> 00:04:50.580 God created me. 00:04:50.699 --> 00:04:51.580 God crafted me. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:52.620 God knit me together. 00:04:52.620 --> 00:04:56.939 Therefore, I must worship him as my creator, as the almighty God. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:58.139 I was created. 00:04:58.340 --> 00:05:00.860 Therefore, I must worship my creator. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:04.780 It's a simple truth, but it's one that, if we're honest, we struggle with. 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:07.040 We fail to do. 00:05:07.780 --> 00:05:12.379 We're created to worship God, to live our lives absolutely and completely for him. 00:05:12.660 --> 00:05:18.780 But even on our best day, we fall short due to our present sinful nature. 00:05:18.779 --> 00:05:23.839 So because we are tempted to worship elsewhere, we are further commanded in this passage. 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:28.759 We are created, but we are also commanded to worship God. 00:05:29.559 --> 00:05:30.359 Praise the Lord. 00:05:30.779 --> 00:05:32.539 Sing with joy to the Lord. 00:05:32.679 --> 00:05:33.399 Worship God. 00:05:33.459 --> 00:05:35.359 These are frequent commands in scripture. 00:05:35.919 --> 00:05:40.719 And it's commanded because it's something we honestly just need reminding of sometimes. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:47.019 There are things that distract us, things that overwhelm us, that cause our praise to be absent to the ears of God. 00:05:47.019 --> 00:05:50.159 We choose to worship other things even sometimes. 00:05:50.299 --> 00:05:53.199 Think of the Israelites in Exodus chapter 32, right? 00:05:53.500 --> 00:05:57.799 They had been miraculously delivered from Egyptian captivity in the book of Exodus. 00:05:58.219 --> 00:06:04.180 They had been delivered through the amazing and wondrous plagues that God had sent on those that held his people in captivity. 00:06:04.799 --> 00:06:05.859 God had delivered them. 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:10.319 He had parted the seas so that he walked through on dry land with an enemy at their back. 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:14.859 He had led them with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:20.920 He had shown them his love, his provision, his grace, his mercy time and time and time again. 00:06:21.259 --> 00:06:30.180 Yet when Moses went up to Mount Sinai, the people of God turned their back on God and turned to Aaron, the high priest, and said, 00:06:30.540 --> 00:06:36.879 Make for us a golden calf that we may worship it instead. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:42.420 You see, our heart designed to worship God seems to work overtime, right? 00:06:42.779 --> 00:06:51.100 It seems to work overtime at finding other things to show worship and praise and the purpose of our lives instead of God. 00:06:51.159 --> 00:07:01.379 The theologian John Calvin refers to our heart as a perpetual factory of idols, meaning that our hearts are just conditioned and they're bent on finding things to worship, 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:05.920 yet often it is not the worship of God, it is the worship of his creation. 00:07:06.819 --> 00:07:14.319 As Paul writes in Romans 1, we exchange the glories of the immortal creator God for the fleeting works of his creation. 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:17.680 We choose to worship lesser things. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:21.719 That's the point C.S. Lewis makes in his book, The Weight of Glory. 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:22.940 He writes, 00:07:22.940 --> 00:07:31.080 If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised us in the Gospels, 00:07:31.900 --> 00:07:36.640 it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. 00:07:37.460 --> 00:07:44.620 We are half-hearted creatures fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us. 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:46.940 We are far too easily pleased. 00:07:47.060 --> 00:07:48.580 So that's the story of Scripture, right? 00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:54.319 We are created in the image of God, yet because of our sinful nature, we choose to worship other things. 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:56.339 We rebel and we run far from God. 00:07:57.579 --> 00:08:01.180 But God demonstrates his love for us. 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:04.479 And that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:08:05.159 --> 00:08:08.060 The beauty of the Gospel is that God loved us anyway. 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:11.000 He would look at mankind, sinful and wretched that we are, 00:08:11.139 --> 00:08:18.099 and love us so much so that he would give his only begotten Son to die an undeserved death on a sinner's cross, 00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:22.040 so that by his blood and sacrifice our sins might be forgiven, 00:08:22.840 --> 00:08:27.360 and that we would no longer be children of wrath, yet sons and daughters of the Most High God. 00:08:27.960 --> 00:08:33.659 We do not worship some deified dictator who demands our praise undeservingly. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.879 We worship the Creator God that breathed all things into existence, 00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:40.100 and made a way by his own blood, 00:08:40.300 --> 00:08:43.379 that we may have life and forgiveness of sins in his name. 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:45.480 He alone is worthy of our praise, 00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:52.919 and our hearts were created, fashioned, cultivated for that singular purpose of worshiping him. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:09:01.240 Yet if we, who know of God through his works and through his word, 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:06.840 need to be commanded and reminded to praise God, 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:10.899 what of those that have little to no access to the Gospel, 00:09:11.780 --> 00:09:14.300 who do not know of God, 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:16.300 know knowledge of God, 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:18.720 they're created with the same purpose, to worship God, 00:09:19.160 --> 00:09:21.920 they're commanded to the same practice, to worship God, 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:24.879 yet they are unable to experience the forgiveness of sins, 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:26.700 and unable to worship God, 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:29.280 because the Gospel has not reached them yet. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:33.339 This leads us to our second truth of this passage, though. 00:09:33.459 --> 00:09:35.399 We are created and commanded to worship God, 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:40.759 but we are also burdened and blessed for the worship of God among the nations. 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:43.899 Look again at the heart behind Psalm 67. 00:09:44.199 --> 00:09:47.839 There's an invocation being made, a request being made to God, 00:09:47.899 --> 00:09:49.120 and see if you pick up the language here. 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:52.139 Verse 1, may God be gracious to you. 00:09:52.179 --> 00:09:53.779 I'm asking him to be gracious to us, 00:09:53.819 --> 00:09:55.759 and bless us, and make his face shot upon us, 00:09:56.079 --> 00:09:58.939 so that his way may be made known on the earth. 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:00.319 Then again, another invocation, 00:10:00.459 --> 00:10:02.419 let the peoples praise you, O God. 00:10:02.439 --> 00:10:03.879 Let all the peoples praise you. 00:10:03.959 --> 00:10:05.980 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy. 00:10:06.439 --> 00:10:07.720 Let the peoples praise you, O God. 00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:08.980 Let all the peoples praise you. 00:10:09.079 --> 00:10:11.139 Let the ends of the earth fear him. 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:13.500 There's a request being made on this psalmist, 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:16.679 that all of the earth may know of God and worship him. 00:10:17.139 --> 00:10:19.059 There's a burden in the heart of this psalmist, 00:10:19.059 --> 00:10:21.480 for all of earth, all the peoples, 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:23.679 to know of God, to know his salvation, 00:10:23.839 --> 00:10:25.120 to see his face, 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:26.980 to know his saving power, 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:27.839 and worship him, 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:30.160 as they were created to worship him. 00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:31.480 There's a burden in his heart, 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:34.100 and I say there should be a burden in our heart, 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:36.460 for those who do not know the Lord. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:38.240 If you remember, 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:39.740 as we were working through the book of Acts, 00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:41.500 there's this huge shift, 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:46.100 as the gospel begins to be preached to the Gentiles. 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:47.759 The apostle Peter saw a vision, 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:50.120 and God began to extend salvation, 00:10:50.340 --> 00:10:51.500 the gospel proclamation, 00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:52.920 to the Gentiles, 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:54.280 those who weren't Jewish, 00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:56.220 or part of God's elect in the Old Testament. 00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:58.420 And so we were looking at it as a huge shift, 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:00.660 because it almost seems as though, 00:11:01.060 --> 00:11:02.180 when you read throughout the Bible, 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:03.820 it almost seems as though, 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:06.200 that God shows favor on the Israelites, 00:11:06.940 --> 00:11:09.019 and everyone else can just suffer his wrath. 00:11:09.540 --> 00:11:10.899 It almost seems as though, 00:11:10.980 --> 00:11:12.000 if you read the Old Testament, 00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:15.320 it seems as though God loves a particular group of people, 00:11:15.540 --> 00:11:16.500 and everyone else, 00:11:16.560 --> 00:11:17.820 he just casts out, 00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:18.519 discards, 00:11:18.660 --> 00:11:20.259 and allows to suffer his wrath. 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:22.100 Yet there's another biblical principle, 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:25.840 that I want us to allow to inform our understanding, 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:27.720 of the mission of God in the Old Testament. 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:29.000 It's throughout, 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:30.379 but in 2 Peter 3, 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:30.899 Peter, 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:32.480 the apostle Peter writes this. 00:11:32.820 --> 00:11:34.820 He writes that God wills, 00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:36.399 God wills, 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:37.300 it is the will of God, 00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:40.180 he desires that none should perish. 00:11:41.060 --> 00:11:42.500 God does not delight, 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:46.300 in the death of those whom he created for himself. 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:49.960 God wills that none should perish. 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:50.980 So looking at this, 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:52.620 God's scope of redeeming mankind, 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:54.000 has always, 00:11:54.160 --> 00:11:55.139 from the very beginning, 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:58.000 had the whole of earth in mind. 00:11:58.560 --> 00:12:00.879 God's redeeming purposes throughout scripture, 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:03.980 always was intended for the whole of earth, 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:04.759 all the peoples. 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:06.139 He tells the first worshipers, 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:07.019 Adam and Eve, 00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:08.879 what does he tell them after he created them? 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:10.240 Be fruitful, 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:12.080 fill the earth, 00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:13.639 subdue it. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:17.160 After exercising judgment on mankind's sin, 00:12:17.160 --> 00:12:17.879 through the flood, 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:21.100 God commands Noah and his family in Genesis 9, 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:22.939 be fruitful, 00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:24.000 multiply, 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:25.899 increase greatly on the earth, 00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:27.279 and multiply in it. 00:12:28.439 --> 00:12:29.200 A few chapters later, 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:29.939 Genesis 12, 00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:30.820 he tells Abram, 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:32.960 I will make you a great nation, 00:12:33.299 --> 00:12:36.259 and all the families of the earth 00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:38.840 shall be blessed through you. 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:40.960 We could read the rest of the Old Testament as evidence, 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:43.340 but God's plan has always been 00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:44.940 that all of his creation, 00:12:45.180 --> 00:12:46.399 all of his peoples, 00:12:46.560 --> 00:12:48.740 be in line with, 00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:50.980 and worshiping their creator. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:54.740 It has always been the plan of God. 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:55.180 Instead, 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:57.740 we don't see God showing favor on Israel 00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:59.300 at the expense of everyone else. 00:12:59.620 --> 00:12:59.920 Instead, 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:01.720 God shows favor on his people 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:03.800 so that all the peoples of earth 00:13:03.800 --> 00:13:05.280 may look to God's people, 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:06.680 may look to us, 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:08.180 and know that he alone is God. 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:10.040 That he alone can satisfy, 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:11.579 he alone can provide, 00:13:11.819 --> 00:13:13.519 he alone can save. 00:13:14.679 --> 00:13:15.459 The psalmist, 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:16.779 who would have been a Jew, 00:13:17.719 --> 00:13:18.519 knows this. 00:13:19.719 --> 00:13:21.139 And though Jesus had not yet come, 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:24.379 though the Holy Spirit did not yet indwell, 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:26.279 though the great commission 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:27.719 had not yet been issued, 00:13:28.579 --> 00:13:29.819 this psalmist prays 00:13:29.819 --> 00:13:32.079 that all the people of earth, 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:33.899 which would include the Gentiles, 00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:36.679 may praise God. 00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:39.199 He looks at the world around him 00:13:39.199 --> 00:13:40.219 and he sees brokenness. 00:13:40.839 --> 00:13:42.199 He sees the vain pursuits. 00:13:42.319 --> 00:13:43.199 He sees the sin. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.879 He sees the tragedy all around him. 00:13:45.959 --> 00:13:47.179 And his desire 00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:49.579 is that they may come to know God 00:13:49.579 --> 00:13:50.659 and worship him. 00:13:50.719 --> 00:13:53.519 He is burdened by the lost in our world. 00:13:54.459 --> 00:13:55.179 Charles Spurgeon, 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.199 he states on this passage 00:13:56.199 --> 00:13:58.000 that the great theme of this psalm 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:01.079 is the participation of the Gentiles 00:14:01.079 --> 00:14:03.179 in the worship of Jehovah. 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:05.279 This is important. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.079 This is a big deal 00:14:06.079 --> 00:14:07.120 because he is burdened 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:07.959 for the worship of God 00:14:07.959 --> 00:14:08.740 among the nations. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:09.959 And he knows that 00:14:09.959 --> 00:14:11.639 one of the primary ways 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:13.000 in which the nations 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:14.579 may come to know of God 00:14:14.579 --> 00:14:15.919 is through the blessings 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:18.439 of God on his people. 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:19.419 So we are burdened 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:20.299 for the worship of God 00:14:20.299 --> 00:14:20.980 among the nations. 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:22.919 We are also blessed 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:24.899 for the worship of God 00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:25.480 among the nations. 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:26.779 Look at verses one and two again. 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:27.860 Verse one, 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:30.139 may God be gracious to us 00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:31.519 and bless us 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.539 and make his face 00:14:32.539 --> 00:14:33.939 to shine upon us. 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:35.099 That, 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:36.079 so that, 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:37.240 the purpose being 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:38.740 that your way 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:40.639 may be made known 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:41.579 on earth. 00:14:42.319 --> 00:14:43.779 Your saving power 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:46.419 among all nations. 00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:47.579 The psalmist is praying 00:14:47.579 --> 00:14:48.919 for blessings 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:50.379 and extended grace. 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:51.279 He is praying 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:52.099 that God's presence 00:14:52.099 --> 00:14:53.120 may be with his people 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.719 so much so 00:14:54.719 --> 00:14:56.819 that the people around him 00:14:56.819 --> 00:14:58.679 may look to the people of God 00:14:58.679 --> 00:14:59.819 and see that he alone 00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:00.979 can save. 00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:02.239 There's a few books 00:15:02.239 --> 00:15:03.059 in the library 00:15:03.059 --> 00:15:04.559 that I was looking at this week 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:06.199 that have old bulletins 00:15:06.199 --> 00:15:07.379 from this church. 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:08.659 And I just happened 00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:09.439 upon Sunday, 00:15:09.839 --> 00:15:10.919 May 23rd, 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:12.099 1976, 00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:14.099 this congregation 00:15:14.099 --> 00:15:15.599 ended their service 00:15:15.599 --> 00:15:16.279 by singing 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:17.659 the Aaronic benediction, 00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:18.879 the benediction of Aaron 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:19.859 from Numbers 6. 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:21.379 And I want to encourage you 00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:22.899 to think of Numbers 6 00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:23.799 as we read through this 00:15:23.799 --> 00:15:24.439 and see if anything 00:15:24.439 --> 00:15:26.319 sounds familiar to you today. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.299 Numbers 6, 00:15:27.359 --> 00:15:27.959 verse 24, 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:29.200 see if this blessing 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:30.440 sounds familiar. 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:32.220 The Lord bless you 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:33.759 and keep you. 00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:35.600 The Lord make his face 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.519 to shine upon you 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.700 and be gracious to you. 00:15:38.540 --> 00:15:39.180 The Lord lift up 00:15:39.180 --> 00:15:40.460 his countenance upon you 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:41.800 and give you peace. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:43.160 This prayer for blessing 00:15:43.160 --> 00:15:43.980 in the Old Testament, 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.960 even from back in Numbers, 00:15:46.180 --> 00:15:47.160 is being referenced here 00:15:47.160 --> 00:15:49.240 in Psalm 67 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.940 for the purpose of seeing 00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:51.620 that God, 00:15:51.920 --> 00:15:53.639 we pray that you may bless us. 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:55.080 But there's a purpose 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:55.800 in this blessing. 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.180 There's a reason 00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:57.979 for this blessing. 00:15:58.919 --> 00:15:59.379 And now I think 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.799 we see that pretty clear 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:02.179 as we look at this. 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.899 There's a quote 00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:05.199 by James Montgomery Boyce 00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:05.859 who Pastor Brett 00:16:05.859 --> 00:16:06.959 quotes all the time. 00:16:07.359 --> 00:16:08.299 But he discusses 00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:09.539 our desire of blessing 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:10.319 and he writes this. 00:16:10.719 --> 00:16:11.039 He writes, 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:12.759 usually all we mean 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:14.159 by asking God to bless us 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:15.459 is that we want God 00:16:15.459 --> 00:16:16.519 to help us succeed 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.079 at something 00:16:17.079 --> 00:16:18.339 or enable us 00:16:18.339 --> 00:16:19.360 to make money 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:20.419 or give us the job, 00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:21.419 house, or care 00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:22.199 that we desire. 00:16:22.839 --> 00:16:24.240 But although such forms 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.159 of material blessing 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.459 are not excluded 00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:27.819 from this Aaronic benediction, 00:16:28.299 --> 00:16:29.579 this prayer in Numbers 6, 00:16:30.199 --> 00:16:31.579 they are only a part of it 00:16:31.579 --> 00:16:33.259 and a lesser part. 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:35.279 more desirable 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:36.840 is that God 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:38.000 would himself 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.539 enter into a gracious 00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:41.299 personal relationship 00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:42.759 with his people. 00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:44.220 You see, 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.319 the greatest blessing 00:16:45.319 --> 00:16:46.200 that you and I 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:47.039 can receive 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:49.100 is a personal relationship 00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:49.939 with God 00:16:49.939 --> 00:16:50.939 through Jesus Christ. 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.480 The greatest blessing 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:55.500 that we can receive 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.559 and partake in 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:58.299 is a salvation 00:16:58.299 --> 00:16:59.679 and a relationship 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:01.399 with Jesus Christ. 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:03.220 So the prayer being 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.460 referenced here 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:06.480 is not for God 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.940 to bless them materially. 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:08.839 Instead, 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:09.960 he's fervently praying 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:11.000 that God may be close 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.599 to his people, 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:13.259 that we may know him, 00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:14.359 that he may shine 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:15.359 his face on us 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:15.980 and that we may set 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.900 our face on him 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:18.539 and be ever satisfied 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.319 in his presence. 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.460 He prays that we may 00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:21.359 feel his warmth, 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.059 his grace, 00:17:22.139 --> 00:17:23.500 and that we may be at peace 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:24.900 in his loving arms. 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:26.379 He prays that we may 00:17:26.379 --> 00:17:27.940 experience God's blessing, 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:28.720 that relationship, 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:29.839 all the more, 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:31.079 so much so 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:32.699 that an unbelieving world 00:17:32.699 --> 00:17:34.259 may look on the lives 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.379 of God's people 00:17:35.379 --> 00:17:38.159 and they may see peace 00:17:38.159 --> 00:17:39.319 in suffering, 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:43.119 content in great loss, 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:45.639 forgiveness in the face 00:17:45.639 --> 00:17:46.599 of utter betrayal. 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:48.759 The prayer is that 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.720 we may experience 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.579 God's presence, 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.339 God's life, 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.399 so much so 00:17:52.399 --> 00:17:53.819 that people may look 00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.559 at our lives 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.279 and the brokenness 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.279 that we experience 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:58.480 and know that the only 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:00.399 explanation for our lives 00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:01.559 in the face of all 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:02.059 the brokenness 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:02.799 we've experienced 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:04.539 is that there's a God 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.079 who's real 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:06.819 that makes all the difference. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:09.339 Lord, bless us. 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.139 Be gracious to us 00:18:11.139 --> 00:18:13.660 so that the world 00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:14.599 may know 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:16.399 that you are God. 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:18.680 this Jewish psalmist 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:19.420 is burdened 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.160 by the lostness 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:20.600 in the world, 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:22.300 including the Gentiles 00:18:22.300 --> 00:18:23.300 and his prayer 00:18:23.300 --> 00:18:23.840 is that God 00:18:23.840 --> 00:18:25.080 may be worshipped 00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:26.300 among all the nations. 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.019 Again, look at 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:28.280 Genesis 6 through 9. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:28.980 There's, again, 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.220 the story of the worldwide flood. 00:18:30.300 --> 00:18:31.259 I referenced a second ago 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:32.640 that after the flood, 00:18:32.780 --> 00:18:33.660 God told Noah 00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:34.640 to be fruitful 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.759 and fill the earth again. 00:18:35.860 --> 00:18:36.280 Essentially, 00:18:37.280 --> 00:18:38.259 bear my glory, 00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:39.680 reflect me 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.120 amongst all the world. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:42.400 But what do we find 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:43.180 God's people doing 00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:44.140 two chapters later 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:44.960 in Genesis 11? 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.080 Two chapters later, 00:18:47.300 --> 00:18:48.259 after being told 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:48.880 to be fruitful 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:50.020 and fill the earth, 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.640 spread yourselves out, 00:18:51.820 --> 00:18:52.420 fill the earth 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:53.220 with my glory, 00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:55.920 we read in Genesis 11, 00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.780 verse 4, 00:18:58.080 --> 00:18:59.000 they say this, 00:18:59.420 --> 00:18:59.820 come, 00:19:00.560 --> 00:19:01.880 let us build ourselves 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:02.640 a city 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:04.259 and a tower 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.000 with its top 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.560 in the heavens. 00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:07.300 Let us make a name 00:19:07.300 --> 00:19:08.420 for ourselves 00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:10.680 lest we be dispersed 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.500 over the face 00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.080 of the earth. 00:19:13.340 --> 00:19:13.860 Essentially, 00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:14.559 they want to do 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.959 the exact opposite 00:19:15.959 --> 00:19:16.859 that God had just 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.819 commanded them to do. 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.619 Rather than living 00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:20.539 lives of worship 00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:21.679 in obedience and faith 00:19:21.679 --> 00:19:22.740 to the commands of God, 00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:23.599 they seek to make 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.839 a name for themselves 00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:26.119 at the expense 00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:27.299 of the rest of the world. 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.500 So God confuses 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.199 their languages, 00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:30.479 scatters them, 00:19:30.699 --> 00:19:31.479 yet in the book of Acts 00:19:31.479 --> 00:19:32.079 we see what? 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.500 A great reversal. 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:35.119 Though there's confusion 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:36.879 from the Tower of Babylon 00:19:36.879 --> 00:19:37.719 in Genesis 11, 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:39.459 there is clarity 00:19:39.459 --> 00:19:40.799 through the Holy Spirit. 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.000 So in Acts, 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.660 we see the reversal 00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.700 of this confusion 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:46.000 and the Holy Spirit 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.339 descends on God's people 00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:48.359 and the gospel 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:49.440 begins to spread 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.359 among all peoples 00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.019 once again. 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.559 So we're going to learn 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.279 from the example 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.059 of the Israelites 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.740 and apply it 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.799 into this passage here, 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.460 Psalm 67, 00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.720 for us personally here, 00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.740 we as the church, 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.960 we as the church 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.099 must have a great burden 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:02.819 for the lost 00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:03.940 in this world. 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:05.599 What a tragedy 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.059 it would be 00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:06.579 if we ever 00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:07.500 grew content 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.799 in building a name 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.399 and a building 00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:10.339 for ourselves 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.599 at the expense 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:12.700 of the rest of the world 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.899 dying and going to hell. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.079 Places where the gospel 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.359 has not yet preached. 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.460 Places like northern Yemen 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:21.039 where there's 20 to 30 Christians 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.899 in a region 00:20:21.899 --> 00:20:22.980 of 8 million people. 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:25.440 We dare not neglect 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.500 our own community, 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.240 absolutely. 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.259 But if we do not go 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:29.899 to the nations, 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:30.799 some of them 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:33.180 will never hear of God 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.880 and they will suffer 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.120 eternity in hell. 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.240 All peoples 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.000 have been created 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.039 and commanded 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:41.120 to worship God 00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:42.640 yet how can they 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.920 worship God 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:45.340 if they have not 00:20:45.340 --> 00:20:45.940 experienced 00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:46.860 his saving power? 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.519 That's the point 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.060 Paul makes 00:20:49.060 --> 00:20:50.340 in Romans 10 00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:51.100 verse 13. 00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:51.660 For everyone 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.220 who calls 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:52.580 on the name 00:20:52.580 --> 00:20:53.039 of the Lord 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:53.960 will be saved. 00:20:54.620 --> 00:20:55.120 How then 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:55.700 will they call 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.160 on him 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.420 in whom 00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.259 they have not believed? 00:20:57.820 --> 00:20:58.480 And how are they 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.440 to believe in him 00:20:59.440 --> 00:20:59.759 of whom 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.560 they have not heard? 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:01.860 And how are they 00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:02.440 to hear 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.120 without someone 00:21:03.120 --> 00:21:03.740 preaching? 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:05.160 How are they 00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:05.680 to preach 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.680 unless they are sent? 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:08.420 As it is written 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:09.180 how beautiful 00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:10.180 are the feet 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:10.500 of those 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:10.980 who preach 00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:12.080 the good news. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:12.799 Faith comes 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.680 from hearing 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.200 and hearing 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:15.240 through the word 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:15.900 of Christ. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.779 So how can they 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.559 worship 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:19.400 if no one 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:20.160 has told them 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:21.200 of God? 00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:23.259 That's the simple 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.420 point that John Piper 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.820 makes with a simple 00:21:25.820 --> 00:21:26.320 sentence. 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.559 Missions 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.740 exist 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:30.500 because worship 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.420 doesn't. 00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:33.000 There are places 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.900 in our world 00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:34.560 where the worship 00:21:34.560 --> 00:21:35.200 of God 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.240 is not 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.420 non-existent. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.580 Therefore we must 00:21:38.580 --> 00:21:39.240 be burdened 00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:39.840 by the absence 00:21:39.840 --> 00:21:40.360 of worship 00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:41.140 among the nations 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:42.480 and by God's 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:42.960 blessing 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.640 of a personal 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.140 relationship 00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:44.580 with you 00:21:44.580 --> 00:21:45.560 with us 00:21:45.560 --> 00:21:46.019 and him 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:47.200 through his son 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.820 for each of us 00:21:47.820 --> 00:21:48.740 may our blessings 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:50.120 lead to the worship 00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:51.720 among the nations. 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:52.480 And you may be sitting 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:52.840 here like 00:21:52.840 --> 00:21:53.320 alright Evan 00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:54.240 you've convinced me 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.320 that sounds great 00:21:55.320 --> 00:21:56.600 obviously I agree 00:21:56.600 --> 00:21:56.900 with you 00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.759 but what do we do? 00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.180 Well from this passage 00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:00.100 I believe a simple 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:00.680 application 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:02.039 is that we must 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:03.700 prayerfully persist 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:05.120 in the proclamation 00:22:05.120 --> 00:22:05.799 of God 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:07.240 so that all the 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.200 peoples may 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.120 praise God. 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.740 We must prayerfully 00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.640 persist in the 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:12.920 proclamation of God 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.180 so that all the 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:14.960 peoples may 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:16.060 praise God. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:16.779 Charles Spurgeon 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.360 says it this way 00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:18.700 if sinners will be 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.160 damned 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:20.279 at least let them 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:21.080 leap to hell 00:22:21.080 --> 00:22:22.019 over our bodies 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:23.340 and if they will 00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:23.660 perish 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.320 let them perish 00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:25.000 with their arms 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.920 about their knees 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:27.480 imploring them to stay 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:29.319 and if hell must be 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:29.740 filled 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.720 at least let it be 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.700 filled with the 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.279 teeth of our 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.019 exertions 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.539 let not one 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.160 go there unwarned 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:37.400 nor unprayed for. 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.240 So if we're going to 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.599 apply this passage 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:41.420 we've got to start 00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:41.880 with prayer. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:42.940 We've got to start 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.420 with prayer. 00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.099 I want to encourage 00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:45.180 us to let our 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.319 prayer lives be 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:47.400 saturated with the 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:49.259 desire of God 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.920 being worshipped 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.759 among the nations. 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.360 Let your prayer 00:22:52.360 --> 00:22:53.519 life be saturated 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.420 by passages like 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:55.259 Psalm 67 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:56.539 where we pray 00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.059 invoke 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.599 request 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.259 God to be 00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:58.680 made known 00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:59.019 among the 00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.379 nations 00:22:59.379 --> 00:23:00.799 and for us 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.279 to be a part 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:01.599 of it. 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:02.900 Let your prayer 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.859 lives be 00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:04.539 saturated 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:05.720 for God's 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.440 worship being 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.379 known among 00:23:07.379 --> 00:23:07.879 the nations. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.480 As you pray 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.019 for our mission 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:09.640 team this week 00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:10.240 and I encourage 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.839 you to do so 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.879 pray not only 00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.619 for their safety 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.319 and their comfort 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:14.339 pray for the 00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:14.819 heathen that 00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.379 knows not yet 00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:15.779 the Lord. 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.099 Pray for these 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.839 families to be 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.779 blessed not only 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.240 with a roof 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:19.940 over their head 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:20.519 but that they 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:20.940 may see the 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:22.559 blessings of God 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.539 upon our team 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.180 that is there 00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:24.860 and they may 00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:25.460 come to know 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:25.860 the Lord 00:23:25.860 --> 00:23:26.580 and his salvation 00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:27.200 through them 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:27.880 that he may 00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:28.880 see the sacrifices 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.400 that they have 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:30.580 made of finances 00:23:30.580 --> 00:23:31.539 vacation time 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.460 comforts of home 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.299 in order that 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.120 families and other 00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:35.120 nations might know 00:23:35.120 --> 00:23:35.840 the Lord. 00:23:36.560 --> 00:23:37.039 Pray for our 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.660 missionaries that 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.259 have given their 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.400 lives to this work 00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:40.180 of reaching the 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:40.820 nations I think of 00:23:40.820 --> 00:23:41.220 the International 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.960 Mission Board 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.840 and many other 00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:44.620 organizations where 00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:45.380 people have gone 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:46.259 to other places 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:47.960 so that the name 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:49.019 of God may be 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.620 known. 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.340 Pray for these 00:23:50.340 --> 00:23:50.900 missionaries. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:51.779 Pray that God 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.500 may raise up 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.200 missionaries for 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:53.799 our midst 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.840 from us 00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.440 that we may 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.279 go elsewhere 00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.039 and labor for 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:57.460 the sake of 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:57.960 the gospel. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.340 This is something 00:23:59.340 --> 00:24:00.039 we know we ought 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.680 to pray for 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.360 but do we? 00:24:02.620 --> 00:24:03.299 I think so often 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:04.140 we fail to pray 00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.880 for missionaries 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.019 and fail to pray 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.980 that God will 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.559 raise up more 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.460 missionaries out 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.539 of fear. 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.799 So often we think 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.279 of missionaries 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:12.840 living amongst 00:24:12.840 --> 00:24:13.480 the unreached 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:14.500 we think of ones 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.019 who have lost 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:16.120 their lives 00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:17.299 for this mission. 00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:18.440 Ones that 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:18.980 Pastor Brett 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.240 mentions regularly 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.500 such as Ann Judson 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.480 from Burma 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.339 or Jim Elliott 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:23.980 from Ecuador 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:25.359 or William Borden 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:26.620 who died before 00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.120 he even reached 00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:27.859 his mission field. 00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:29.319 We think of these 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.400 and we have fear 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:30.980 that comes in our 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.519 hearts and say 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:31.980 I don't want to 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.799 pray that because 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.640 that may be what 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.359 happens. 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.200 But I want to 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:37.079 encourage us to 00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:38.559 think the story 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.339 of John and 00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:40.039 Betty Stamm. 00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:42.099 John Stamm 00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:42.799 gave his life 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.460 to Christ 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.620 at the age of 15 00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:45.880 under the preaching 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:47.160 of a blind evangelist 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:47.759 in New Jersey 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:49.040 while Betty 00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:49.740 was raised in 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:51.060 China to a family 00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:51.720 of missionaries. 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.160 They met at 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:54.259 Moody Bible Institute 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:56.120 they fell in love 00:24:56.120 --> 00:24:56.620 and they both 00:24:56.620 --> 00:24:57.660 felt a strong 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.860 calling towards 00:24:58.860 --> 00:24:59.560 the mission field 00:24:59.560 --> 00:25:00.660 particularly China. 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:01.840 So Betty 00:25:01.840 --> 00:25:02.779 she went ahead 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.600 and went to China 00:25:03.600 --> 00:25:04.480 and John came 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.220 a year later 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:06.000 and when they 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.940 met back together 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.580 when they both 00:25:07.580 --> 00:25:08.440 arrived in China 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:08.700 and they were 00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.920 finally reunited 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:10.940 they got married 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:12.180 the very next day. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.500 John and Betty 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:13.920 Stamm 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:15.019 a married couple 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.300 25 years old 00:25:16.300 --> 00:25:17.019 ready to 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.599 serve God 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.200 in this field 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.879 and so they 00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:19.779 lived there 00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:21.039 for about a year 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.740 before they gave 00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:22.379 birth to their 00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:23.579 daughter Helen 00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:25.559 and during this 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.400 time they labored 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.019 and loved the 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:27.900 people around them 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:29.299 there was a civil 00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:30.299 war breaking out 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:30.799 among them 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.559 when their daughter 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.279 was only three 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.000 months old 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.359 their family 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.000 was seized 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.559 by members 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.139 of the Chinese 00:25:37.139 --> 00:25:38.099 Communist Party 00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:39.500 and John and 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.059 Betty Stamm 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.740 were martyred 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:40.740 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.099 for their 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.920 Christian faith. 00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:43.920 As an aside 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:44.480 as someone 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.099 with a baby 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:45.799 here's another 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.500 part of the story 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.420 their three 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:47.839 month old 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.180 daughter 00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:49.220 was miraculously 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:50.359 found hidden 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.279 in a sleeping bag 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.019 two days later 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.700 by a traveling 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.319 evangelist. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.180 So God 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:55.180 preserved the 00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:55.759 life of the 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.480 child but the 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.079 parents gave 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.799 their lives 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:59.279 as a martyrs 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.099 for the gospel 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:01.180 and shortly 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.720 before their 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.440 death John 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:02.920 had written 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.640 to his father 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.539 about the 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.420 pressing dangers 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:05.960 around them. 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.299 They'd been 00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:06.980 encouraged to 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.519 leave, they'd 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.079 been encouraged 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.599 to flee 00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:09.859 yet they remained 00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:10.339 and he wrote 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:10.960 to his father 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.279 about the 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.079 pressing dangers 00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:13.159 and he included 00:26:13.159 --> 00:26:13.819 these verses 00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.539 from E.H. 00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:14.899 Hamilton 00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:15.740 another pastor 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.720 from that area 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.960 and this is what 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.319 he wrote 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:20.460 afraid of what? 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:22.099 To feel the 00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:22.939 spirit's glad 00:26:22.939 --> 00:26:23.500 release 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:25.019 to pass from 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.619 pain to 00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:26.460 perfect peace 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:27.839 the strife 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.779 and strain 00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.359 of life 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:30.059 to cease 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.919 afraid of that? 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.939 Afraid of what? 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.240 Afraid to see 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.259 the savior's face 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:37.379 to hear his 00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:38.139 welcome and to 00:26:38.139 --> 00:26:39.179 trace the glory 00:26:39.179 --> 00:26:39.899 gleam from 00:26:39.899 --> 00:26:40.859 wounds of grace 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:43.259 afraid of that? 00:26:44.199 --> 00:26:45.299 Afraid of what? 00:26:45.719 --> 00:26:47.079 A flash, a crash, 00:26:47.199 --> 00:26:48.000 a pierced heart 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:49.359 brief darkness 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.679 light, oh heaven's 00:26:50.679 --> 00:26:50.979 art 00:26:50.979 --> 00:26:52.379 a wound of his 00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:53.179 a counterpart 00:26:53.179 --> 00:26:54.719 afraid of that? 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.619 Afraid of what? 00:26:57.199 --> 00:26:57.899 To enter into 00:26:57.899 --> 00:26:58.740 heaven's rest 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:00.319 and yet to serve 00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:00.959 the master 00:27:00.959 --> 00:27:01.519 blessed 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.539 from service 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.079 good 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:03.979 to service 00:27:03.979 --> 00:27:04.619 best 00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:05.439 afraid 00:27:05.439 --> 00:27:06.979 of that? 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:09.079 Afraid of what? 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:11.220 to do by death 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:12.500 what life could 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:12.859 not 00:27:12.859 --> 00:27:14.879 baptized with 00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:15.379 blood 00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:16.879 a stony plot 00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:18.619 till souls 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.720 shall blossom 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.679 from that 00:27:20.679 --> 00:27:21.220 spot 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.960 afraid 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:24.639 of that? 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.139 Friends, I want to 00:27:27.139 --> 00:27:27.899 encourage us today 00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:29.059 don't let fear 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:29.819 keep us from 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.379 praying 00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:32.299 but even more so 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.240 don't let fears 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.960 keep you from 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.819 doing 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:36.439 as God has 00:27:36.439 --> 00:27:37.500 very clearly 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.240 commanded each 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:38.920 of us to do 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:40.460 to proclaim 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.039 God 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.120 among 00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:43.660 the nations 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:45.400 so pray 00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:46.099 Psalm 67 00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:47.099 and as we pray 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:47.519 let us 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.599 persistently 00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:49.779 proclaim of God 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.960 Thomas Brooks 00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.519 he was a Puritan 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:51.940 he wrote 00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:53.140 that a soul 00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:54.039 under assurance 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.920 is unwilling 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.680 to go to heaven 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.359 without company 00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:57.440 there should be 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.079 something about 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:58.720 the desires 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.539 of where we are 00:27:59.539 --> 00:27:59.940 going 00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:00.779 and the knowledge 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:01.279 of what God 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:02.019 has done for us 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.759 where we want 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.359 all the more 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:03.799 for others 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.380 to join us 00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:04.740 in that 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.460 so we must 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:05.980 be a part 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.980 of proclaiming 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.460 the gospel 00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:07.980 be a part 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.440 of sharing 00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:08.960 the gospel 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.579 to those 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.259 around you 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:10.759 and should 00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.460 God call you 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:11.980 elsewhere 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.700 or give you 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.380 the opportunity 00:28:13.380 --> 00:28:14.259 to go 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.860 be faithful 00:28:14.860 --> 00:28:15.660 and go 00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:16.220 finally 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:17.319 trust 00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:18.299 that God 00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:19.319 will receive 00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:21.259 his praise 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:22.839 this passage 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:23.799 ends with confidence 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.259 that God 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:24.860 will bless 00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:25.440 his people 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.259 and he will 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:26.960 bring a great 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.440 harvest 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.640 some point 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:29.259 to this being 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.940 just an answered 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.860 prayer of God 00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:31.599 but I like to think 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:32.420 of the finish line 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.539 again of 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.279 Moses 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:34.779 in the book 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.180 of Exodus 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:36.059 he requested 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.420 to see 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.220 God's face 00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:37.599 in Exodus 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.180 32 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.759 33 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.759 and God 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.460 replies back 00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:40.839 and says 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:41.519 no one 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:41.899 can see 00:28:41.899 --> 00:28:42.500 my face 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.119 and live 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:44.019 reflecting 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:44.639 on that 00:28:44.639 --> 00:28:45.259 reality 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.160 in response 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:46.420 to what 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.099 we see 00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:47.940 in Psalm 00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:48.500 67 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.180 requesting 00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:49.619 God 00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:49.899 to make 00:28:49.899 --> 00:28:50.359 his face 00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:50.839 known among 00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.200 us 00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:51.779 James 00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:52.160 Montgomery 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:52.500 Boyce 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:52.700 makes 00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.279 this point 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:53.519 and I'll 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:53.799 close 00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:54.059 here 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:55.079 he writes 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.420 this is 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.000 profoundly 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.440 true 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:56.940 of course 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.920 no sinner 00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:59.000 however devout 00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.639 or pious 00:28:59.639 --> 00:29:00.279 as Moses 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:00.819 was 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.819 can possibly 00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.299 look upon 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:02.839 the face 00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:03.519 of God 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.439 and survive 00:29:04.439 --> 00:29:05.240 that holy 00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:05.959 piercing 00:29:05.959 --> 00:29:06.859 sight 00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:08.740 but one 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.279 day we 00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:09.759 shall 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:11.199 we shall 00:29:11.199 --> 00:29:11.659 look upon 00:29:11.659 --> 00:29:12.159 God 00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:12.899 in the day 00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:13.379 when all 00:29:13.379 --> 00:29:13.980 his redeemed 00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.419 people 00:29:14.419 --> 00:29:15.119 drawn from 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:15.980 every tribe 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.779 and tongue 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.639 and nation 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:18.480 and purged 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.039 of even 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.839 the slightest 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.799 taint of sin 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:22.259 stand before 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.079 his throne 00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:23.919 to sing 00:29:23.919 --> 00:29:24.480 praises 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.559 to the almighty 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.039 God 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.419 and to the 00:29:26.419 --> 00:29:26.699 Lamb 00:29:26.699 --> 00:29:28.139 in that 00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:28.619 day 00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:29.959 God's face 00:29:29.959 --> 00:29:30.799 will shine 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.579 upon us 00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.460 in fullest 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:32.939 measure 00:29:32.939 --> 00:29:33.639 we will 00:29:33.639 --> 00:29:34.379 see him 00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:35.059 face 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:35.859 to face 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.939 and the 00:29:36.939 --> 00:29:37.839 beatific vision 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:38.799 anticipated 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:40.000 by Psalm 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.579 67 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:41.839 will be 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:42.819 ours 00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:44.179 in that 00:29:44.179 --> 00:29:44.480 day 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.279 our joy 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.879 will be 00:29:45.879 --> 00:29:46.139 even 00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:46.720 greater 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.079 because 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:47.500 great 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.279 multitudes 00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:49.199 from all 00:29:49.199 --> 00:29:49.819 the nations 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.500 of the earth 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.079 will be 00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:51.480 praising 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:52.419 God 00:29:52.419 --> 00:29:53.339 with us 00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:53.939 so we 00:29:53.939 --> 00:29:54.720 must 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:56.000 prayerfully 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.159 persist 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:58.500 in the 00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.120 proclamation 00:29:59.120 --> 00:30:00.080 of God 00:30:00.080 --> 00:30:01.420 so that 00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:01.940 all the 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:02.420 peoples 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.820 of earth 00:30:03.820 --> 00:30:04.580 may praise 00:30:04.580 --> 00:30:04.980 God 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:06.680 both now 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:08.180 and forever 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:08.500 more 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:10.580 this morning 00:30:10.580 --> 00:30:11.060 will close 00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:11.440 in a verse 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:11.960 of invitation 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:13.040 and as they 00:30:13.040 --> 00:30:13.620 come or in a 00:30:13.620 --> 00:30:14.279 moment I invite 00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:14.700 you to begin 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.480 praying now 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.820 about how God 00:30:16.820 --> 00:30:17.420 may be calling 00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.060 you to bring 00:30:18.060 --> 00:30:18.680 about the praise 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.340 of all peoples 00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:20.420 consider how God 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:21.220 has blessed you 00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:21.900 and how he might 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:22.759 be calling you 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.720 to use your 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.460 blessings to 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.340 reach the nations 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:26.220 you've probably 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.159 heard Pastor Brett 00:30:27.159 --> 00:30:28.740 encourage you to 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.359 put your yes 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:29.899 on the table 00:30:29.899 --> 00:30:30.619 at some point 00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:31.379 and I want to 00:30:31.379 --> 00:30:32.299 echo that challenge 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:32.899 by reading 00:30:32.899 --> 00:30:34.099 in closing here 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:34.919 the finisher's 00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:35.319 commitment 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:35.759 from the 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.579 campus crusades 00:30:36.579 --> 00:30:37.699 and I pray 00:30:37.699 --> 00:30:38.419 that these words 00:30:38.419 --> 00:30:39.000 may be true 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.659 for each of you 00:30:39.659 --> 00:30:40.139 so here's the 00:30:40.139 --> 00:30:40.619 finisher's 00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:40.959 commitment 00:30:40.959 --> 00:30:41.679 and I pray 00:30:41.679 --> 00:30:42.240 this may be 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:42.819 something you 00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:43.319 may pray 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:43.839 as well 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:45.000 this is it 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:46.019 with the hope 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.980 that my 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.659 generation 00:30:47.659 --> 00:30:48.899 might be the 00:30:48.899 --> 00:30:49.679 one to see 00:30:49.679 --> 00:30:50.079 Jesus' 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.019 great commission 00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:52.119 finally fulfilled 00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:54.000 I commit 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.859 to become 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.459 a finisher 00:30:55.459 --> 00:30:56.159 of the 00:30:56.159 --> 00:30:56.779 great commission 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:58.099 understanding 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:58.879 that to mean 00:30:58.879 --> 00:30:59.779 I will go 00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.699 if God 00:31:00.699 --> 00:31:01.279 should lead 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:02.059 to take 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:02.599 the gospel 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:03.059 of Jesus 00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:03.579 Christ 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:04.219 to one of 00:31:04.219 --> 00:31:04.679 the world's 00:31:04.679 --> 00:31:05.339 remaining 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:05.899 unreached 00:31:05.899 --> 00:31:06.500 people groups 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.779 I will pray 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.659 persistently 00:31:08.659 --> 00:31:09.439 for the nations 00:31:09.439 --> 00:31:10.559 and God's 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:11.339 glory revealed 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:11.879 among them 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:13.539 I will disciple 00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:14.139 others 00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:15.159 with the focus 00:31:15.159 --> 00:31:15.879 of mobilizing 00:31:15.879 --> 00:31:16.519 them to become 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:17.740 finishers as well 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:19.139 I will live 00:31:19.139 --> 00:31:19.819 a modest 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.859 simple 00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:22.359 financial lifestyle 00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:23.359 and give 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:24.319 sacrificially 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:25.439 so that the 00:31:25.439 --> 00:31:26.099 nations of the 00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:26.679 world might be 00:31:26.679 --> 00:31:27.519 blessed through 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:28.039 Christ 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:29.799 I will with 00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.460 God's help 00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:31.379 to the best 00:31:31.379 --> 00:31:32.039 of my ability 00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:33.460 steward my 00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.700 life in order 00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.359 to maximize 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:36.240 effectiveness 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:37.480 in God's 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:37.939 purpose of 00:31:37.939 --> 00:31:38.519 making his 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.220 name known 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:40.379 among all 00:31:40.379 --> 00:31:41.000 the peoples 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.960 of the world 00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:43.279 I am not 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:43.779 my own 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:45.139 I was purchased 00:31:45.139 --> 00:31:45.619 with a great 00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:46.039 price 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.299 my life 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.179 belongs to 00:31:48.179 --> 00:31:48.519 God 00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:49.399 and his 00:31:49.399 --> 00:31:49.799 purposes 00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:51.579 that's my 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:51.940 goal for 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.379 my life 00:31:52.379 --> 00:31:52.639 and my 00:31:52.639 --> 00:31:52.919 family 00:31:52.919 --> 00:31:53.180 and I 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:53.339 pray 00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:53.700 it may be 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.019 for you 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.480 as well 00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:56.019 let's pray 00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:57.159 father 00:31:57.159 --> 00:31:58.700 thank you 00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:58.940 for this 00:31:58.940 --> 00:31:59.419 time you've 00:31:59.419 --> 00:31:59.919 given us 00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:01.279 lord I 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:01.659 pray that 00:32:01.659 --> 00:32:02.019 as we 00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.539 conclude 00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:03.399 and think 00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:03.960 through this 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.440 passage 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:05.019 and the 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.599 implications 00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:06.180 it has 00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:06.559 for each 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.039 of us 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:08.359 may we 00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:09.099 be burdened 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:09.359 for the 00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:09.680 lost 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:09.980 in our 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.319 world 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:11.899 may you 00:32:11.899 --> 00:32:12.399 not allow 00:32:12.399 --> 00:32:13.099 us to be 00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:13.680 content 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:15.019 with 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.940 building a 00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:16.279 name for 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:16.840 ourselves 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:18.500 instead may 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:18.920 we make 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:19.380 your name 00:32:19.380 --> 00:32:19.720 known 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.860 to all 00:32:20.860 --> 00:32:21.259 those who 00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:21.600 do not 00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:22.100 know you 00:32:22.100 --> 00:32:23.720 may we 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.440 be finishers 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:24.640 of the 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:25.220 great commission 00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.519 ones who 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.220 are actively 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:28.660 and persistently 00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:29.600 proclaiming 00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.080 you 00:32:30.080 --> 00:32:31.180 to all 00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:31.640 those you 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.019 allow us 00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.560 to encounter 00:32:32.560 --> 00:32:33.900 and God 00:32:33.900 --> 00:32:34.240 I pray 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.920 specifically 00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:36.279 that our 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:36.799 church 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.740 may send 00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.120 out more 00:32:38.120 --> 00:32:38.640 missionaries 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.039 in the days 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:39.360 ahead 00:32:39.360 --> 00:32:40.580 particularly 00:32:40.580 --> 00:32:41.320 to the places 00:32:41.320 --> 00:32:41.880 the gospel 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:42.460 has not yet 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:42.880 reached 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:43.940 Lord 00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:44.380 that's my 00:32:44.380 --> 00:32:44.740 prayer 00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:45.880 Lord 00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:46.180 I hope 00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:46.540 that's our 00:32:46.540 --> 00:32:46.860 prayer 00:32:46.860 --> 00:32:47.940 and Lord 00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:48.180 I pray 00:32:48.180 --> 00:32:48.400 that you 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:48.660 may do 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:48.960 a mighty 00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:49.220 work 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.460 today 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:49.680 it's 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:49.820 in your 00:32:49.820 --> 00:32:49.920 name 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:50.240 we pray 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.140 amen 00:32:51.140 --> 00:32:51.780 as we 00:32:51.780 --> 00:32:52.080 close 00:32:52.080 --> 00:32:52.240 we're 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:52.360 going to 00:32:52.360 --> 00:32:52.580 sing a 00:32:52.580 --> 00:32:53.420 verse of 00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:53.860 invitation 00:32:53.860 --> 00:32:54.540 I invite 00:32:54.540 --> 00:32:54.760 you to 00:32:54.760 --> 00:32:55.140 stand with 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:55.300 me 00:32:55.300 --> 00:32:55.900 and turn 00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:56.240 to hymn 00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:56.740 75 00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.180 in the 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:57.580 presence 00:32:57.580 --> 00:32:58.040 of 00:32:58.040 --> 00:32:58.500 Jehovah 00:32:58.500 --> 00:32:59.360 and I 00:32:59.360 --> 00:32:59.520 pray 00:32:59.520 --> 00:33:00.020 that as 00:33:00.020 --> 00:33:00.620 we sing 00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:01.020 you may 00:33:01.020 --> 00:33:01.920 if there's 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.380 any need 00:33:02.380 --> 00:33:02.620 you may 00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:03.000 have 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.960 to respond 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:04.320 today 00:33:04.320 --> 00:33:04.520 that you 00:33:04.520 --> 00:33:04.900 may come 00:33:04.900 --> 00:33:05.240 forward 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:05.540 and see 00:33:05.540 --> 00:33:05.740 me 00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.160 otherwise 00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:06.960 let us 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:07.160 sing 00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:07.480 together 00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:07.880 and worship 00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:08.080 our 00:33:08.080 --> 00:33:08.300 Lord 00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:08.740 God 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.740 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:38.720 Thank you.