WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.560 I'm going to begin by singing to God's praise. I'm singing in Psalm 42, in the Scottish Psalter 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:15.480 version, Psalm 42 on page 262 of the psalm books. We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 5. 00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:21.519 Like as the heart for water brooks and thirst doth pant and bray, so pants my longing soul, 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:28.339 O God, that come to Thee I may. A great song of worship as we come to approach God, and may we 00:00:28.339 --> 00:00:33.100 thirst for Him as we do. So we'll sing verse 1 to 5 to God's praise. 00:00:33.100 --> 00:00:34.100 Amen. 00:00:58.340 --> 00:01:26.780 My soul, O God, that come to Thee I may. My soul, O God, the living God, doth curse, when shall I hear? 00:01:26.780 --> 00:01:42.540 And to Thy countenance approach, how dead cross I appear. 00:01:42.540 --> 00:02:00.540 My tears shall come to Thee beneath, O tender night and day. 00:02:00.540 --> 00:02:02.540 Why not to Thee, O tender night and day. My soul is born and out in me. When is I may? 00:02:02.540 --> 00:02:04.540 God, that come to Thee beneath, O tender night and day. My soul is born and out in me. When is I may? 00:02:04.540 --> 00:02:09.540 God, that come to Thee beneath, O tender night and day. My soul is born and out in me. When is I may? 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:16.539 God, that come to Thee beneath, O tender night and day. My soul is born and out in me. When is I may? 00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:31.539 God, that come to Thee beneath, O tender night and day. My soul is born and out in me. When is I may? 00:02:31.539 --> 00:02:33.539 God, that come to Thee beneath, O tender night and day. My soul is born and out in me. When is I may? 00:02:33.539 --> 00:02:38.539 God, that come to Thee beneath, O tender night and day. My soul is born and out in me. When is I may? 00:02:38.539 --> 00:02:51.539 God, that come to Thee beneath, O tender night and day. My soul is born and out in me. My soul is born and out in me. 00:02:51.539 --> 00:03:00.539 God, that come to Thee beneath, O tender night and day. My soul is born and out in me. When is I may? 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:04.840 voice of joy 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:07.419 and praise. 00:03:07.419 --> 00:03:11.199 Near with the 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:15.639 multitude hath 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:19.419 kept the solemn 00:03:19.419 --> 00:03:23.419 holy day. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:26.419 O why 00:03:26.419 --> 00:03:28.979 art thou 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:30.179 caster, 00:03:31.379 --> 00:03:33.179 my soul? 00:03:33.179 --> 00:03:34.539 O why 00:03:34.539 --> 00:03:37.179 in me so 00:03:37.179 --> 00:03:41.179 dismayed? 00:03:41.179 --> 00:03:43.579 Trust God, 00:03:43.739 --> 00:03:45.179 for I 00:03:45.179 --> 00:03:48.179 shall praise 00:03:48.179 --> 00:03:50.179 him yet. 00:03:50.519 --> 00:03:51.359 His 00:03:51.359 --> 00:03:54.179 confidence is 00:03:54.180 --> 00:03:57.659 my name. 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:03.840 We draw near to God in prayer. Let us pray. 00:04:06.760 --> 00:04:15.260 Our Father in heaven, we come to you this day. I knew we come thankful for the great privilege and delight that there is in worship. 00:04:15.259 --> 00:04:41.699 We thank you for the delight and praise that we can come singing to you and help us that we may have that thirst of the psalmist that we've sung about, that we will long to meet with you, that we will long to hear your word, that we will long to worship you together, that that will be our great delight, and that we will remember that as we do, that you are here with us, that we do not just gather together. 00:04:41.699 --> 00:05:02.639 as our people here, that we will not just gather together as our people here, that we will not just gather together with you as our God, and help us to long for you to be with us, to want you in our midst, that you would bless all that we do and all that we see. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:18.459 We thank you, Lord, that together we come, young and old alike, we come to praise your name, and may all that we do be for your glory today, both here in the church and also as the Sunday school and the creche and the tweenies meet next door as well. 00:05:18.459 --> 00:05:36.339 We thank you for your word that speaks to us all, that whatever age we are at, we are reminded of the great love that you show towards us, the great mercy that you have given to us, that you have given your son, Jesus Christ, and that we come in his name today. 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:45.539 May we learn more of him, and enjoy him more, and experience him more and more, day by day, and that he will be our great delight. 00:05:45.540 --> 00:05:53.879 So, Lord, bless us, we pray, and be with us in all that we do, be with all our families and our loved ones, our communities at these times. 00:05:54.100 --> 00:05:58.740 Lord, may we know your goodness with us, and your grace and love upon us. 00:05:59.200 --> 00:06:06.740 So, guide us, we pray, and pardon all our sin, as we ask it all in Jesus' name, and for his sake. Amen. 00:06:06.740 --> 00:06:06.840 Amen. 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:15.379 Well, I'm sure many people here, you enjoy maybe baking or cooking. 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:17.900 Who enjoys baking or cooking? 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:21.720 Anybody thinking of maybe doing something special today? 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:28.019 Maybe making a special meal or a special cake for Mother's Day or something like that? 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:35.879 Maybe it's somebody's birthday, or maybe it's just a special occasion, and you enjoy the idea of making something special for someone. 00:06:35.879 --> 00:06:42.319 And when you're going to bake or when you're going to cook, you have to bring all the ingredients together. 00:06:43.339 --> 00:06:48.759 So, for example, if you're going to bake a cake, you need a lot of different things, don't you? 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:52.199 You maybe need flour, especially. 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:55.079 That's so important if you're baking a cake. 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:56.219 You'll need eggs. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:59.219 You'll need things like salt and sugar. 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:01.100 Baking soda. 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:04.699 Maybe you need to put some milk or oil in it as well. 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:08.399 But all the ingredients have to come together. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:17.240 Now, if you're making a cake for someone, would you just bring all the ingredients on separate plates before them with a cup of tea? 00:07:18.219 --> 00:07:22.039 Do you think we'd just bring them a plate of flour and say, there's the flour. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:24.060 Have that with your cup of tea. 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:25.639 Do you think that would be good? 00:07:26.339 --> 00:07:28.180 Would you enjoy eating a plate of flour? 00:07:28.180 --> 00:07:30.379 No, I don't think so. 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:31.220 Nobody would want that. 00:07:31.280 --> 00:07:33.280 Or maybe a little bowl of sugar. 00:07:33.780 --> 00:07:37.600 It might taste quite sweet initially, but you'd probably get sick of it after a while. 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:40.199 Or maybe a few spoons of salt. 00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:43.720 Who would like to just sit down with a few spoons of salt? 00:07:44.300 --> 00:07:46.500 It doesn't sound very appealing, does it? 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:59.639 No, what you have to do is you have to bring it all together and mix it all together so that then, all together, that will make a cake that you can bake and that then you can serve that and give that maybe with a cup of tea. 00:08:00.339 --> 00:08:05.480 But it's important that everything is mixed together, that everything comes together. 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:11.379 And this morning in our passage, we're going to be looking at the Old Testament and a book called Isaiah. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:20.980 And there we're going to be looking at a passage that reminds us that so often people can have all the ingredients to do with God there before them. 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:32.100 They can have everything set before them, but so often what we end up doing is taking things separately and individually and not bringing it all together and mixing it all together. 00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:37.840 So, for example, we maybe think, well, what day of the week do we worship God? 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:41.320 Maybe we think, well, that's Sunday. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:44.639 But is that the only day we're to worship God? 00:08:45.379 --> 00:08:46.820 It's not just about Sunday. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:48.860 It's about every day. 00:08:49.340 --> 00:08:54.460 Because if we only do it on Sunday and forget about it the rest of the week, what good is that to us? 00:08:54.680 --> 00:09:01.080 We're missing out part of the essential ingredients that we're mixing it all together with everything that we do. 00:09:01.080 --> 00:09:05.320 Do we only sing praise to God when we come to church? 00:09:06.259 --> 00:09:09.340 No, we can sing praise to God at any time. 00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:11.160 And we should do it during the week. 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:14.320 Even when we're by ourselves, we can praise God. 00:09:15.160 --> 00:09:15.820 And prayer. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:17.500 We have to pray. 00:09:17.940 --> 00:09:21.100 And again, it's not just when we're gathered with everybody else together. 00:09:21.100 --> 00:09:22.960 We pray by ourselves as well. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:33.080 But in the passage that we're looking at this morning, we're seeing that the people were having all of these things at different times, but not mixing them together in the right way. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:39.900 And what they were doing was saying, well, really, we only want God with us some of the time, but not all of the time. 00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:49.799 And the question for us today as we come to worship is not just that we have the ingredients here for today, but that every day of our lives we have all the ingredients together. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:54.899 We mix them all together so that every day we have God with us. 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:59.179 That every day we think of maybe today a special day for Mother's Day. 00:09:59.779 --> 00:10:03.939 But every day is a day to appreciate your mother, not just one day in the year. 00:10:04.319 --> 00:10:06.059 We're to do it every day of the year. 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:07.299 And it's the same with God. 00:10:07.299 --> 00:10:10.740 We don't just do it one day of the week or sometimes in our lives. 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:12.539 We do it all the time. 00:10:13.319 --> 00:10:28.419 And it's to remind ourselves that we always have all the ingredients before us, not taking them just separately at different times, but mixing them together every day so that we enjoy God's blessing and his favor every day of our lives. 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:32.839 So may he help us to know that he is with us. 00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:38.800 And may we appreciate that he is with us day by day and live for him day by day. 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:42.680 We're going to say the Lord's Prayer together now. 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:43.840 We'll say the Lord's Prayer. 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:48.720 Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:50.399 Thy kingdom come. 00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:53.700 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:56.440 Give us this day our daily bread. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:11:00.480 And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 00:11:00.900 --> 00:11:04.820 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:09.520 For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:10.520 Amen. 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:10.679 Amen. 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:15.960 We're going to sing together again to God's praise. 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:17.259 This time in Psalm 31. 00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:18.860 And let's sing Psalms version. 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:22.120 It's on page 36 of the Psalm books. 00:11:24.319 --> 00:11:25.439 Psalm 31. 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:28.799 We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 8. 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:32.340 In you I have taken refuge, Lord. 00:11:32.419 --> 00:11:34.659 You are my shelter in distress. 00:11:35.199 --> 00:11:39.460 O let me never be ashamed, but save me in your righteousness. 00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:43.440 We'll sing from verse 1 to verse 8 to God's praise. 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:56.580 In you I've taken refuge, Lord. 00:11:56.920 --> 00:12:04.340 You are my shelter in distress. 00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:21.160 O let me never be ashamed, but save me in your righteousness. 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:31.139 Lord, turn you dear to hear my cry. 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:39.480 Come quickly to deliver me. 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:54.480 And be my rock and firm defense, my stronghold and security. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:13:04.480 You are my fortress and my rock. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:13.580 For your name's sake, be my sure guide. 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:21.920 Reserve me from the trap that's set. 00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:30.800 You are the refuge where I hide. 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:39.219 Redeem me, Lord, O God of truth. 00:13:39.219 --> 00:13:47.599 My spirit I commit to you. 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:55.600 I hate all those who trust false gods. 00:13:56.580 --> 00:14:03.840 I trust the Lord, for he is true. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:21.000 I will rejoice and take delight in all the love that you have shown. 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:29.000 For my affliction you have seen. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:37.480 To you my soul's distress is known. 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:54.080 You have not left me to my foe, or given me into his hand. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:15:10.400 But you have set my feet within a spacious place where I may stand. 00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:21.120 We're going to read together in God's Word now in the Old Testament, the book of Isaiah. 00:15:21.540 --> 00:15:23.600 We're reading in chapter 58. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:31.379 Isaiah chapter 58. 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:33.759 We can read the whole of this chapter together. 00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.780 Cry aloud. 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:39.500 Do not hold back. 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:41.520 Lift up your voice like a trumpet. 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:47.259 Declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. 00:15:48.300 --> 00:15:51.500 Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:57.580 as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:00.639 They ask of me righteous judgments. 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:03.519 They delight to draw near to God. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:10.819 Why have we fasted and you see it not? 00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:11.980 Why have we humbled ourselves and you take no knowledge of it? 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:19.699 Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure and oppress all your workers. 00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:26.360 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:31.700 Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. 00:16:32.800 --> 00:16:37.700 Is such the fast that I choose a day for a person to humble himself? 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:43.740 Is it to bow down his head like a reed and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:48.680 Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord? 00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:52.120 Is not this the fast that I choose? 00:16:52.699 --> 00:16:54.699 To loose the bonds of wickedness? 00:16:54.939 --> 00:16:57.279 To undo the straps of the yoke? 00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:00.899 To let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke? 00:17:01.319 --> 00:17:03.819 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry? 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:07.099 And bring the homeless poor into your house? 00:17:07.679 --> 00:17:09.839 When you see the naked, to cover him. 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:13.079 And not to hide yourself from your own flesh. 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:16.859 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn. 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:19.699 And your healing shall spring up speedily. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:22.619 Your righteousness shall go before you. 00:17:23.139 --> 00:17:25.799 The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 00:17:26.399 --> 00:17:29.359 Then you shall call and the Lord will answer. 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:32.720 You shall cry and he will say, here I am. 00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:36.220 If you take away the yoke from your midst, 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:39.639 the pointing of the fingers and speaking wickedness. 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:44.720 If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted. 00:17:45.300 --> 00:17:48.320 Then shall your light rise in the darkness. 00:17:48.860 --> 00:17:51.259 And your gloom be as the noon day. 00:17:51.800 --> 00:17:54.460 And the Lord will guide you continually. 00:17:55.020 --> 00:17:57.980 And satisfy your desire in scorched places. 00:17:58.620 --> 00:18:00.420 And make your bones strong. 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:03.280 And you shall be like a watered garden. 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:05.480 Like a spring of water. 00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:07.840 Whose waters do not fail. 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:11.159 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:14.959 You shall raise up the foundations of many generations. 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:18.679 You shall be called the repairer of the breach. 00:18:19.159 --> 00:18:21.740 The restorer of streets to dwell in. 00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:24.819 If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath. 00:18:25.179 --> 00:18:27.919 From doing your pleasure on my holy day. 00:18:28.399 --> 00:18:30.119 And call the Sabbath a delight. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:32.500 And the holy day of the Lord honourable. 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:34.019 If you honour it. 00:18:34.659 --> 00:18:36.539 Not going your own ways. 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:38.819 Or seeking your own pleasure. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:40.099 Or talking idly. 00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:42.960 Then you shall take delight in the Lord. 00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:46.279 And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.839 I will feed you. 00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:50.559 With the heritage of Jacob your father. 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:54.200 For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:55.819 And so on. 00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:58.920 And may God bless that reading from his word to us. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:02.139 We'll again engage in a word of prayer. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:03.119 Let us pray. 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:03.539 Amen. 00:19:06.179 --> 00:19:07.799 Our father in heaven. 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:10.599 As we continue in our dependence upon you. 00:19:11.179 --> 00:19:12.619 We're reminded in your word. 00:19:12.719 --> 00:19:16.219 That it is in you that we live, move and have our being. 00:19:16.959 --> 00:19:19.759 And yet our lives so often neglect that. 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:23.679 Our lives will so often reflect a very different attitude. 00:19:24.219 --> 00:19:26.799 Where we feel that it is through our own strength. 00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:28.339 That we do all of these things. 00:19:28.919 --> 00:19:30.159 That it's through our own wisdom. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:32.120 That we live, move and have our being. 00:19:32.800 --> 00:19:36.279 But Lord you remind us again and again in your word. 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:39.100 That we are dependent upon you. 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:43.480 And you remind us of that in our experience in life as well. 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:46.380 In all the providence that we experience. 00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:50.240 Whether it's in the good providence that we are blessed by. 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:52.860 And enjoy good things from your hands. 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:57.500 Or whether it's in the hard providence that we experience at times as well. 00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:59.439 When we feel overwhelmed. 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:01.479 When we feel perplexed. 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:06.179 When we feel as if the world is turned against us Lord. 00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:10.579 We thank you that there is a promise that you are with your people. 00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:13.639 That you are with those who will call upon you. 00:20:14.099 --> 00:20:19.059 That you will be with those who delight in serving you and honouring you. 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:21.459 And delight in worshipping you. 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:25.160 And we thank you for these words that we've read together. 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:28.779 They remind us of the instructions that you give. 00:20:29.340 --> 00:20:31.819 Of the many areas Lord where we go wrong. 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:37.400 Where there are many ways in which we can make our lives a sense of formality. 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:39.680 Of going through the motions. 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:43.420 Of even coming to church on a day like this. 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:46.860 And expecting your blessing just in our appearance. 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:51.539 Just in being here Lord that we may expect great things from you. 00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:56.399 But as your word reminds us that when our hearts are far from you. 00:20:56.719 --> 00:20:58.339 When we are not right with you. 00:20:58.399 --> 00:21:00.139 And when we are just going through the motions. 00:21:00.679 --> 00:21:02.619 That there is no blessing for us. 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:07.099 But Lord we thank you that your word gives instruction to. 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:09.639 That we are to bow before you. 00:21:10.199 --> 00:21:13.559 That we are to open our hearts and pour them out before you. 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:17.959 That we are to seek forgiveness from you for all our sins. 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:21.639 For how far short we fall so often. 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:25.840 But we thank you too Lord that there is great words of healing. 00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:28.300 Great words of restoration. 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:31.220 Restoration for your people. 00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:33.820 Restoration for your church. 00:21:34.580 --> 00:21:38.160 Restoration and healing for the nations of this world. 00:21:39.040 --> 00:21:41.220 But we need to hear the Lord. 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:46.340 And that is the trumpet call that comes through the prophet we have read Isaiah. 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:51.099 And the trumpet call that comes to us even in this day. 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:54.500 That we are to be a people who hear you. 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:56.500 And who listen to your word. 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:59.519 And who obey all that you command of us. 00:22:00.159 --> 00:22:01.779 So Lord we seek your face. 00:22:01.919 --> 00:22:03.500 We seek your blessing. 00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:05.659 That you will turn us towards you. 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:09.579 That you will help us to honour you in all that we do. 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:14.799 And we do thank you that we can come together as a people to worship. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:16.899 That we have this great privilege. 00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:19.339 And that we join in with your people. 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:21.599 Scattered far and wide. 00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:25.659 Lifting up our voices to you in praise and in prayer. 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:27.980 Thankful Lord that we come. 00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:30.799 In a name that is above every name. 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:34.139 The name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:36.700 The one who came into this world. 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:39.279 The one who wept over this world. 00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:40.839 And the disarray of the people. 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:45.699 But the one ultimately who bore the sins of the world. 00:22:45.939 --> 00:22:47.500 As he went to the cross. 00:22:48.379 --> 00:22:51.839 And as we have remembered even recently his death. 00:22:52.199 --> 00:22:57.059 We thank you too for the reminder that every Lord's day is a reminder of the resurrection. 00:22:57.980 --> 00:23:01.519 That we come in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who is risen. 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:03.459 And ascended on high. 00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:08.839 And the one who is able to do so much more than we ask or imagine. 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:10.839 And so help us in our prayers. 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:15.439 Whether it's for ourselves and in our need of you. 00:23:15.679 --> 00:23:20.519 Whether it's in the needs around us and others and families or neighbours or our community. 00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:23.279 Or the broader needs of this world. 00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:26.619 That we would come praying to you as the one. 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:29.959 The only one who is able to help. 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:32.940 So may this day and this time. 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:37.200 Not be for our own pleasure as your word has said to us. 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:39.480 But may it be for your glory. 00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:41.660 May it be for our upbuilding. 00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:46.120 May it be Lord that we will go from here strengthened and encouraged. 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.900 Through your word. 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.720 Built up in the faith. 00:23:50.340 --> 00:23:52.340 And seeking to honour you not just today. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.700 With our attendance here. 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:57.559 But with our lives day by day. 00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:59.759 That we would be salt and light. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.399 That we would be your witnesses. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.720 That we would live our lives for you. 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:06.379 That we would devote ourselves to you. 00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:08.000 To serve others. 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.599 And to love the Lord. 00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:12.679 So we pray your blessing on your word to us. 00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:14.720 And remember us as a people. 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:17.799 Remember those who need you in particular ways. 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:20.159 Those who are unwell at this time. 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:21.960 Those who are confined to their homes. 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:25.819 We thank you to be able to reach out into homes. 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:29.100 Even through the live stream. 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:32.180 And the blessing that that is to those unable to attend. 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:36.460 We pray for each one of our homes and our families. 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:39.160 We pray Lord your blessing upon us. 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:41.819 We pray for those who mourn and grieve today. 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:45.000 In our community and further afield as well. 00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:47.079 In the loss of loved ones. 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:50.759 We pray Lord for you to comfort as only you can. 00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.599 To console oh Lord. 00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:55.139 And to bind up broken hearts. 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:56.419 And to be. 00:24:57.079 --> 00:25:00.339 To find a people who will call upon your name. 00:25:00.399 --> 00:25:02.879 In the midst of such great troubles. 00:25:03.659 --> 00:25:05.259 We pray Lord for our land. 00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:08.460 We continue to pray for our leaders over us. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:11.220 We pray Lord for you to grant them wisdom. 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:13.619 For you to come into their hearts. 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:15.839 For you to Lord speak to them. 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:18.720 That they would hear your voice calling to them. 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:21.000 That they would be helped by you. 00:25:21.399 --> 00:25:23.039 To lead us in the right ways. 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.240 Your ways. 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:27.519 Ways that seem so far removed from us today. 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:31.619 But ways in which we need to find our paths once again. 00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:33.139 That we would honour you. 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:34.480 That you might honour us. 00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:37.599 So Lord may your wisdom and your guidance be given. 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:39.619 To those in power over us. 00:25:39.659 --> 00:25:40.779 And throughout the world. 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:43.599 In conflicts and natural disasters. 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:45.459 And all that's going on around us. 00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.779 In all the pain. 00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:48.640 And the grief that is suffered. 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:51.319 We pray Lord for a day of your healing. 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:53.180 And a day of your power. 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:55.880 Bless us this day Lord in all that we do. 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:57.220 In our fellowship together. 00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.620 Throughout the day. 00:25:58.700 --> 00:26:00.120 And into this evening as well. 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:03.420 As we thank you for the congregational fellowship this evening. 00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:04.700 And thank you for Muriel. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:06.720 Who has been with us over these months. 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.720 And as she prepares. 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:09.519 To go away once again. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:11.799 Lord we pray for your help towards her. 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.180 In her preparation. 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:15.180 And in all that's got to be done. 00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:15.980 And above all. 00:26:16.379 --> 00:26:17.579 Your blessing with her. 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:19.519 And your protecting hand over her. 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:21.579 Encourage her Lord in her heart. 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:22.379 And keep her. 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:24.819 As we keep her in our prayers. 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:28.139 And Lord we thank you for all things from your hand. 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:31.279 Every good and perfect gift that is from above. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:33.480 And we praise your name today Lord. 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:36.019 That we have so much to be thankful for. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.819 So hear our prayers. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.099 Receive our thanks. 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:41.019 And pardon all our sin. 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.740 As we ask it in Jesus name. 00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:43.559 Amen. 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:49.220 We're going to sing again to God's praise. 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.539 This time Psalm 98. 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:52.160 In the Scottish Psalter. 00:26:53.379 --> 00:26:55.539 Page 360. 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.680 Psalm 98. 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:02.380 We'll sing from verse 1 to verse 6. 00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:06.620 Page 360 of the psalm. 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:08.519 So sing a new song to the Lord. 00:27:09.080 --> 00:27:10.480 For wonders he has done. 00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:12.900 His right hand and his holy arm. 00:27:13.360 --> 00:27:14.880 In victory have won. 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.700 We'll sing from verse 1 to 6. 00:27:17.060 --> 00:27:18.220 To God's praise. 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:23.759 Do you sing from verse 1 to 6. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:25.779 Do you sing from verse 1 to 6? 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:27.100 Do you sing from verse 1 to 6? 00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:29.600 To the Lord? 00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:37.400 For wonders he has done. 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:45.180 His right hand and his holy arm. 00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:51.680 In victory have won. 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:59.460 The Lord for his salvation. 00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:11.279 eds andั่c. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:22.279 and blood in ensign the opening of the show. 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:30.279 In light full of His grace and truth, 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:37.279 to His just powers have been, 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:45.279 and the salvation of our God 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:52.279 all ends of earth have seen. 00:28:52.279 --> 00:29:00.279 Let all the earth come to the Lord, 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:07.279 send forth a joyful noise. 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:15.279 Let Thou pure voice have love to Him, 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:21.279 sing praises and rejoice. 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:31.279 With heart, with heart, and voice of sound, 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:37.279 unto Jehovah sing, 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:46.279 with trumpets, florent the peace of sound, 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:53.279 and pray for the Lord the King. 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:54.279 Amen. 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:56.279 Amen. 00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:58.279 Amen. 00:29:58.279 --> 00:30:02.279 Well, we can turn back to our reading in Isaiah chapter 58. 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:06.279 We're going to reflect on the whole of this chapter together. 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:09.279 We can read again at verse 1. 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:11.279 Cry aloud. 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.279 Do not hold back. 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:15.279 Lift up your voice like a trumpet. 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:18.279 Declare to my people their transgression, 00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:24.279 to the house of Jacob their sins, and so on. 00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:30.279 What's the one thing in life you could not live without? 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:35.279 What comes into your mind when you think of that? 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:39.279 What's the one thing in life you could not live without? 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:43.279 I'd love to ask everyone to give a response to that immediately, 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:46.279 but there may be different things that come into your mind 00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:48.279 when you think of that question. 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:52.279 It could be, first of all, maybe it's something very personal to yourself. 00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:55.279 It might even be a person that comes to your mind. 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:57.279 I just cannot live without that person. 00:30:57.279 --> 00:31:01.279 Or it might be an item, a possession that you hold dear. 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:04.279 I cannot live without that. 00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:07.279 It could be something practical for yourself. 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:10.279 Well, I just can't live without my mobile phone. 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:13.279 I'll just be lost without it. 00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:16.279 I can't live without my car. 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:20.279 Or just something that's very personal and practical to yourself. 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:24.279 Or it may be the things that are essential for everyone 00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:26.279 that we cannot live without. 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:30.279 Things like food and water and the air that we breathe, 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:33.279 we cannot live without that. 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:37.279 What can we, could we live our life, 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:42.279 what could one thing could we not live our life without? 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:49.279 But I hope among us, one of the first things that comes to our mind is the Lord. 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:54.279 That apart from God, we can do nothing. 00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:59.279 The Bible reminds us of the most essential thing for us. 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:05.279 And it's a thing that we so often neglect or maybe put away for a time or think, 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:10.279 well, we can do without him at certain points in our life. 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:16.279 But the Bible reminds us that we need God with us at all times. 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:25.279 And so many of the promises that we see throughout Scripture remind us that God has promised to be with us. 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:31.279 When God sent his son into this world, he said to them, 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:36.279 you will call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us. 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:40.279 A powerful reminder that we need God with us. 00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:43.279 We need him for our salvation. 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:48.279 We have other reminders through Scripture where God says things like, 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:52.279 I will never leave you or forsake you. 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:57.279 I am with you always, even to the end of the age. 00:32:57.279 --> 00:33:04.279 Even when Jesus is taken up into heaven, he says, I will send my comforter, the Holy Spirit, 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:10.279 one who is called alongside you so that we have his presence with us always. 00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:17.279 We are reminded in the Scripture again and again of the main thing that we cannot live without, 00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:22.279 we cannot die without, is God with us. 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:31.279 And God has shown his promises to us that he will be with us if we call upon him, if we look towards him. 00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:38.279 And as you think of the various promises of God, they focus on God's promises to us. 00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:43.279 But as we look through this passage today and as you think about God with us, 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:48.279 what I want to focus on today is to think about it from our perspective. 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:54.279 God has promised to be with us, but what do we want of God ourselves? 00:33:54.279 --> 00:34:01.279 And to think about it under this question, do we want God with us? 00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:05.279 Do we want God with us? 00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:09.279 Billy Graham's daughter in an interview once said, 00:34:09.279 --> 00:34:14.279 For years we've been telling God to get out of our schools. 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:19.280 We've been telling him to get out of our government. 00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:23.280 And we've been telling him to get out of our lives. 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:25.280 So she went on and said, 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:36.280 How can we expect God to give us his blessing and his protection if we demand he leave us alone? 00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:43.280 If we're saying we only want God on our terms, or we only want God when we feel we need him, 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:49.280 If we think otherwise we can just say we leave him alone, that he would leave us alone, 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:53.280 how can we expect his blessing and his protection? 00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:58.280 So the question is, do we want God with us? 00:34:58.280 --> 00:35:02.280 And how much do you want God with you? 00:35:02.280 --> 00:35:07.280 Isaiah the prophet was one who was constantly warning a people. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:11.280 And there's a people who took God for granted so much. 00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:17.280 They were God's people and yet they expected God to be with them on their terms. 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:23.280 That he would always be there for them, but that almost they could do what they pleased. 00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:28.280 They could do things for their own pleasure as we see in this chapter. 00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:35.280 And then expect God just to be there at the first call, at the first time of need. 00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:40.280 But what they didn't realize was how far from God they were. 00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:45.280 They were going through the motions outwardly, but inwardly in their hearts, 00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:49.280 they were just pushing God further and further away. 00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:56.280 And today in our lives we so often long to see things change for the better. 00:35:56.280 --> 00:36:00.280 When we live in a world that's confused and in so much need, 00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:05.280 we long for things to change and to change for the better. 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:08.280 But that boils down to this question. 00:36:08.280 --> 00:36:13.280 If we want things to be better, do we want it on our terms and for our own pleasure? 00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:19.280 Or do we want it on God's terms and for his pleasure and his glory? 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:23.280 And the question is, do we want God with us? 00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:27.280 And if so, how do we want God with us? 00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:32.280 So as I say, I challenge us to people here in chapter 58. 00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:37.280 There's three sections I want us to look at here that speak to us about different things. 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:41.280 The first section we see is a trumpet call. 00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:49.280 And that's really in verse 1 to verse 5, where Isaiah is outlining the faults of the people. 00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:53.280 And then we'll see a change of direction. 00:36:53.280 --> 00:36:58.280 And that goes from really verse 6 down to verse 12. 00:36:58.280 --> 00:37:04.280 And then in the last part, verse 13 to verse 14, 00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:09.280 the last section there, we have a call for commitment to worship. 00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:13.280 So there's three sections in this chapter that we're going to look at. 00:37:13.280 --> 00:37:17.280 And they're all under this heading, do we want God with us? 00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:23.280 And the first thing we see is this call that Isaiah is given from God. 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:25.280 A trumpet call. 00:37:25.280 --> 00:37:28.280 He says in verse 1, the Lord speaking, 00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:39.280 A trumpet was a warning cry, that there was imminent danger. 00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:42.280 And this is what God is saying through the prophet Isaiah. 00:37:42.280 --> 00:37:45.280 There is this imminent danger towards you. 00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:49.280 So he's saying, lift up your voice like a trumpet. 00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:53.280 Lay out to my people their transgression. 00:37:53.280 --> 00:37:57.280 Our world is often a noisy world. 00:37:57.280 --> 00:38:03.280 There are so many sounds that we hear probably on a daily basis. 00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:07.280 When we hear the sound of life going on all around us. 00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:12.280 We'll hear the sound of people around us in different ways. 00:38:12.280 --> 00:38:18.280 We'll hear the sound of machinery and work going on around us day by day. 00:38:18.280 --> 00:38:24.280 We'll hear the sound of transport, of cars, of lorries, of buses, of ambulances. 00:38:24.280 --> 00:38:27.280 All kinds of sounds that we hear. 00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:29.280 The list goes on and on. 00:38:29.280 --> 00:38:32.280 There's always noise around us. 00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:34.280 A noise to hear. 00:38:36.280 --> 00:38:43.280 This week though, on Thursday, it'll mark three years since the first lockdown with COVID. 00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:47.280 And when you think back to that day and that time, 00:38:47.280 --> 00:38:52.280 one thing that was so noticeable in our nation and indeed around the world 00:38:52.280 --> 00:38:59.280 was how all that noise that would go on day by day came to a sudden halt. 00:38:59.280 --> 00:39:02.280 That the world went almost quiet. 00:39:02.280 --> 00:39:07.280 The world went almost silent in so many ways. 00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:11.280 And in that silence, when things came to a shuddering halt, 00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:15.280 for a time, there was a realization of the needs. 00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:19.280 The need that there was in the midst of this silence. 00:39:19.280 --> 00:39:22.280 What was happening in our world? 00:39:22.280 --> 00:39:24.280 What was going on? 00:39:24.280 --> 00:39:27.280 What was the future going to look like? 00:39:27.280 --> 00:39:30.280 How were these days going to work out? 00:39:30.280 --> 00:39:33.280 When everything came to a stancel and a silence, 00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:37.280 there was this sense that God was speaking. 00:39:37.280 --> 00:39:41.280 And for a time, it seemed like people were going to listen. 00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:46.280 That they may hear the voice of God in the midst of this silence. 00:39:46.280 --> 00:39:50.280 And I remember at the time hearing a quote. 00:39:50.280 --> 00:39:52.280 And the quote said this, 00:39:52.280 --> 00:39:58.280 When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful. 00:39:58.280 --> 00:40:03.280 And you think of that in the midst of a silent place. 00:40:03.280 --> 00:40:08.280 Very often in a sports stadium, they have a mark of respect, 00:40:08.280 --> 00:40:09.280 they have a minute's silence. 00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:13.280 And the whole place descends into quiet. 00:40:13.280 --> 00:40:18.280 Even a crowd of 60,000 to 80,000, there can be a silence. 00:40:18.280 --> 00:40:24.280 But if one person shouts out, that voice can be heard so clearly. 00:40:24.280 --> 00:40:28.280 And it's amazing looking back over these years, 00:40:28.280 --> 00:40:32.280 how when the place went quiet, that people were looking for a voice, 00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:34.280 something to listen to. 00:40:34.280 --> 00:40:39.280 It seemed as if God was the one that people were going to hear. 00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:45.280 But as the silence started to come back to noise once again, 00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:48.280 as the world became a busy place, 00:40:48.280 --> 00:40:51.280 and as people went back to their ways once again, 00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:56.280 that silence wasn't there, and the noise only increased. 00:40:56.280 --> 00:41:01.280 But the question was, what were we listening to? 00:41:01.280 --> 00:41:04.280 And were we listening to the voice of God? 00:41:04.280 --> 00:41:08.280 Or how we again maybe pushed God away, back into the background, 00:41:08.280 --> 00:41:11.280 that we can manage fine without Him? 00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:15.280 We needed God with us then, and many people realized it. 00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:19.280 But do we still need God with us today? 00:41:19.280 --> 00:41:23.280 Well, Isaiah's day was a day of much noise as well. 00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:29.280 Much noise of the people, much noise of people busy in life and in the world. 00:41:29.280 --> 00:41:34.280 But a people who were turning away from God and worshipping idols, 00:41:34.280 --> 00:41:38.280 making covenants with other nations. 00:41:38.280 --> 00:41:42.280 And you see it right throughout this section, 00:41:42.280 --> 00:41:47.280 chapter 56 through to chapter 58 as well. 00:41:47.280 --> 00:41:51.280 How the people had turned away from God. 00:41:51.280 --> 00:41:55.280 In verse 8 of chapter 57, there it says in the middle of the verse, 00:41:55.280 --> 00:41:58.280 that the people were deserting me. 00:41:58.280 --> 00:42:00.280 You have uncovered your bed. 00:42:00.280 --> 00:42:02.280 You're going away from me. 00:42:02.280 --> 00:42:04.280 You're deserting me. 00:42:04.280 --> 00:42:08.280 Also in verse 11 of chapter 7 there as well. 00:42:08.280 --> 00:42:11.280 You do not remember me. 00:42:11.280 --> 00:42:14.280 You know, the Lord who had been so good to them. 00:42:14.280 --> 00:42:17.280 The Lord who had done so much for them. 00:42:17.280 --> 00:42:21.280 And yet they're turning away from Him, and they're not remembering Him. 00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:25.280 And again, we've seen that in our own day and age as well. 00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:28.280 God who was good to us in so many ways. 00:42:28.280 --> 00:42:32.280 But then when we get back on our feet, when we reestablish ourselves, 00:42:32.280 --> 00:42:36.280 when we build ourselves up again, we drift away. 00:42:36.280 --> 00:42:39.280 And why had they drifted away here? 00:42:39.280 --> 00:42:45.280 Well, they had drifted away because from the top down, from the leaders down, 00:42:45.280 --> 00:42:48.280 people had started to just turn away from God. 00:42:48.280 --> 00:42:52.280 They were doing things for their own pleasure. 00:42:52.280 --> 00:42:55.280 In verse 12 of chapter 56, it says, 00:42:55.280 --> 00:42:57.280 Come, they say, let me get wine. 00:42:57.280 --> 00:43:02.280 Let us fill ourselves with strong drink, and tomorrow will be like this day. 00:43:02.280 --> 00:43:04.280 Great beyond measure. 00:43:04.280 --> 00:43:06.280 They're doing things for their own pleasure. 00:43:06.280 --> 00:43:09.280 They're back to their own ways, their own desires. 00:43:09.280 --> 00:43:12.280 And every day they're saying it's going to be good. 00:43:12.280 --> 00:43:15.280 But is it without God? 00:43:15.280 --> 00:43:22.280 Well, in chapter 58, they're showing a sense of, well, we can have God on our terms. 00:43:22.280 --> 00:43:28.280 In verse 1 to 5, you're seeing that the people are just going through the motions. 00:43:28.280 --> 00:43:30.280 It says in verse 2, 00:43:30.280 --> 00:43:34.280 You seek me daily and delight to know my ways. 00:43:34.280 --> 00:43:37.280 It's as if they want God and they're going through the motions, 00:43:37.280 --> 00:43:42.280 but God is reminding them that you're not really doing it for me. 00:43:42.280 --> 00:43:46.280 He says in chapter, in verse 3 there, 00:43:46.280 --> 00:43:49.280 Why have you fasted and you see it? 00:43:49.280 --> 00:43:53.280 Why have we fasted and you see it not? 00:43:53.280 --> 00:43:56.280 Why are we humble ourselves and you take no knowledge of it? 00:43:56.280 --> 00:44:00.280 They're saying to God, Look, God, we've done all these things. 00:44:00.280 --> 00:44:02.280 We've fasted before you. 00:44:02.280 --> 00:44:04.280 We've humbled ourselves before you. 00:44:04.280 --> 00:44:06.280 Why are you not paying attention? 00:44:06.280 --> 00:44:10.280 Why are you not giving us your blessing and your favor upon us? 00:44:12.280 --> 00:44:14.280 They're going through the motions. 00:44:14.280 --> 00:44:17.280 They're not doing it for themselves. 00:44:17.280 --> 00:44:20.280 It says in verse 3 there as well, 00:44:20.280 --> 00:44:26.280 Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure. 00:44:26.280 --> 00:44:28.280 This is why you're doing it. 00:44:28.280 --> 00:44:32.280 For yourselves and for your own pleasure. 00:44:32.280 --> 00:44:37.280 So their hearts are not right with God. 00:44:37.280 --> 00:44:42.280 It's a day when things seem to be going well for them, 00:44:42.280 --> 00:44:44.280 but things are not well. 00:44:44.280 --> 00:44:47.280 Things are not right. 00:44:47.280 --> 00:44:53.280 And for ourselves too, this is a warning that we need to heed as well. 00:44:53.280 --> 00:44:59.280 That our lives are not to be lives lived for our own pleasure. 00:44:59.280 --> 00:45:03.280 A sense of going through the motions. 00:45:03.280 --> 00:45:07.280 How we can even come to church and worship God. 00:45:07.280 --> 00:45:08.280 We can sit in the pew. 00:45:08.280 --> 00:45:10.280 We can hear God's word. 00:45:10.280 --> 00:45:12.280 We can sing God's praise. 00:45:12.280 --> 00:45:15.280 We can offer up our prayers and almost say to God, 00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:17.280 Look, God, I've done my part. 00:45:17.280 --> 00:45:20.280 I have come and I've sat and I've listened. 00:45:20.280 --> 00:45:22.280 And I've even sung to you. 00:45:22.280 --> 00:45:27.280 Well, why, Lord, will you not help me in the rest of my time, 00:45:27.280 --> 00:45:28.280 in the rest of my days? 00:45:28.280 --> 00:45:30.280 Well, because God is saying, 00:45:30.280 --> 00:45:33.280 because you are doing it for your own pleasure. 00:45:33.280 --> 00:45:37.280 You are doing it seeking your own good. 00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:42.280 And not ultimately to give praise to me. 00:45:42.280 --> 00:45:47.280 You're not showing your love towards me day by day. 00:45:47.280 --> 00:45:50.280 You're not showing honor towards me in all that you do. 00:45:50.280 --> 00:45:54.280 You are doing things for your own pleasure. 00:45:54.280 --> 00:45:59.280 So, and this is a situation where Isaiah is told to cry out, 00:45:59.280 --> 00:46:03.280 to lift up his voice like a trumpet, to sound the warning. 00:46:03.280 --> 00:46:08.280 And the trumpet was a warning of the enemy upon them. 00:46:08.280 --> 00:46:11.280 So what was the enemy here for them? 00:46:11.280 --> 00:46:13.280 It was their own hearts. 00:46:13.280 --> 00:46:17.280 They were doing things for their own pleasure. 00:46:17.280 --> 00:46:20.280 And they were far away from God. 00:46:20.280 --> 00:46:24.280 And so he's reminding them here, 00:46:24.280 --> 00:46:26.280 Stop what you are doing. 00:46:26.280 --> 00:46:30.280 Look at what you are doing and ask yourselves this. 00:46:30.280 --> 00:46:33.280 Do you really want me with you in it? 00:46:33.280 --> 00:46:36.280 Do we want God with us? 00:46:36.280 --> 00:46:42.280 Or are we doing things for our own pleasure and our own ways? 00:46:42.280 --> 00:46:44.280 So there's this call. 00:46:44.280 --> 00:46:49.280 Then we see that there's this change of direction that God calls for. 00:46:49.280 --> 00:46:53.280 Repentance is about change of direction. 00:46:53.280 --> 00:46:57.280 And instead of deserting God, it should be deciding God. 00:46:57.280 --> 00:47:02.280 And as he continues here in verse 6 through to verse 12, 00:47:02.280 --> 00:47:06.280 the focus returns to how God wants the people to know them, 00:47:06.280 --> 00:47:08.280 Him with them. 00:47:08.280 --> 00:47:12.280 And he begins by really giving them a warning. 00:47:12.280 --> 00:47:15.280 When you look at what Isaiah says to the people here, 00:47:15.280 --> 00:47:16.280 where they have gone wrong, 00:47:16.280 --> 00:47:20.280 it seems to speak about social justice, 00:47:20.280 --> 00:47:23.280 about helping the poor. 00:47:23.280 --> 00:47:25.280 And you wonder to yourself, 00:47:25.280 --> 00:47:27.280 well, this seems a bit strange. 00:47:27.280 --> 00:47:30.280 That of all the things that he's going to warn them about, 00:47:30.280 --> 00:47:33.280 it's first about helping the poor. 00:47:33.280 --> 00:47:37.280 What's that to do with the worship of God? 00:47:37.280 --> 00:47:39.280 Well, as you go through this section, 00:47:39.280 --> 00:47:43.280 you realize that even that is at the heart of worship for God. 00:47:43.280 --> 00:47:46.280 Because if they are doing things for their own pleasure, 00:47:46.280 --> 00:47:50.280 then this is something that suffers as a consequence. 00:47:50.280 --> 00:47:54.280 Helping others and loving others. 00:47:54.280 --> 00:47:57.280 Because if they were truly hearing the word of God, 00:47:57.280 --> 00:48:00.280 and their hearts were right with Him, 00:48:00.280 --> 00:48:02.280 then this would not be an issue. 00:48:02.280 --> 00:48:06.280 There wouldn't be these great needy people around them. 00:48:06.280 --> 00:48:09.280 When there's this wickedness going on. 00:48:09.280 --> 00:48:10.280 When there's this yoke, 00:48:10.280 --> 00:48:13.280 this burden that they are putting upon people. 00:48:13.280 --> 00:48:16.280 Where they're not sharing the bread with the hungry. 00:48:16.280 --> 00:48:18.280 Where they're not bringing the homeless, 00:48:18.280 --> 00:48:19.280 the poor into their homes. 00:48:19.280 --> 00:48:21.280 Where they're not helping them. 00:48:21.280 --> 00:48:24.280 There's all of these needs around them. 00:48:24.280 --> 00:48:26.280 And if they were right with God, 00:48:26.280 --> 00:48:28.280 they shouldn't be there. 00:48:28.280 --> 00:48:30.280 As a people, as a nation, 00:48:30.280 --> 00:48:32.280 if we were right with God, 00:48:32.280 --> 00:48:35.280 we should be getting these things right too. 00:48:35.280 --> 00:48:38.280 That's what Isaiah is saying. 00:48:38.280 --> 00:48:42.280 And the ingredients were all there before them. 00:48:42.280 --> 00:48:45.280 But they weren't being mixed together in the right way. 00:48:45.280 --> 00:48:49.280 They were doing things for their own pleasure, 00:48:49.280 --> 00:48:51.280 instead of helping others. 00:48:51.280 --> 00:48:54.280 They didn't have God with them, 00:48:54.280 --> 00:48:57.280 because they didn't really want God with them. 00:48:57.280 --> 00:49:00.280 Because it upset their lives and their lifestyles. 00:49:00.280 --> 00:49:05.280 And this was the fruit of their lives. 00:49:05.280 --> 00:49:07.280 That there was people in need. 00:49:07.280 --> 00:49:10.280 Those who should have been helped by them were still suffering. 00:49:10.280 --> 00:49:15.280 And as Jesus says in the New Testament about false prophets, 00:49:15.280 --> 00:49:18.280 you shall know them by their fruit. 00:49:18.280 --> 00:49:20.280 So it is with the people here. 00:49:20.280 --> 00:49:21.280 The people of God, 00:49:21.280 --> 00:49:22.280 they are known by their fruits. 00:49:22.280 --> 00:49:25.280 And their fruits are not good. 00:49:25.280 --> 00:49:27.280 What needed to change? 00:49:27.280 --> 00:49:31.280 Well, it was a change of direction. 00:49:31.280 --> 00:49:35.280 Instead of doing these things for their own pleasure, 00:49:35.280 --> 00:49:38.280 that they would live their lives for God. 00:49:39.280 --> 00:49:43.280 That they would fulfill the commands of God. 00:49:43.280 --> 00:49:48.280 Just like Jesus taught in the New Testament about the greatest command of all. 00:49:48.280 --> 00:49:49.280 He said, 00:49:49.280 --> 00:49:52.280 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 00:49:52.280 --> 00:49:54.280 with all your soul, with all your mind. 00:49:54.280 --> 00:49:57.280 This is the great and first commandment. 00:49:57.280 --> 00:49:59.280 And the second is like it. 00:49:59.280 --> 00:50:02.280 You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 00:50:02.280 --> 00:50:06.280 Well, it's as if Isaiah here begins with that second part. 00:50:06.280 --> 00:50:10.280 You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 00:50:10.280 --> 00:50:13.280 And when you get that right, he goes on to say, 00:50:13.280 --> 00:50:17.280 then everything else falls into place. 00:50:17.280 --> 00:50:20.280 Because when you look at verse 8 onwards, 00:50:20.280 --> 00:50:25.280 then you see there the blessing that comes when we do right with God. 00:50:26.280 --> 00:50:31.280 When we worship God and honour Him as we should. 00:50:31.280 --> 00:50:38.280 We know God with us, is what Isaiah is then saying in verse 8. 00:50:38.280 --> 00:50:44.280 Verse 8 to verse 12 is all about healing and renewing and blessing 00:50:44.280 --> 00:50:49.280 that God gives as we turn to Him and seek Him with us. 00:50:49.280 --> 00:50:53.280 2 Chronicles 7 verse 14 says, 00:50:53.280 --> 00:50:56.280 If my people who are called by my name, 00:50:56.280 --> 00:51:02.280 humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, 00:51:02.280 --> 00:51:08.280 then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 00:51:08.280 --> 00:51:13.280 And that's so similar to what we have in these verses as well. 00:51:13.280 --> 00:51:18.280 In all that's wrong, God is saying, turn back to me. 00:51:18.280 --> 00:51:24.280 And when you do, we could just pick out four things that he says will happen. 00:51:24.280 --> 00:51:27.280 In verse 8 and verse 9, he says, 00:51:27.280 --> 00:51:31.280 Then your light, then your light break forth, 00:51:31.280 --> 00:51:36.280 then shall your light break forth like the dawn. 00:51:36.280 --> 00:51:40.280 Into the darkness, God brings His light. 00:51:40.280 --> 00:51:43.280 And His light breaks forth. 00:51:43.280 --> 00:51:46.280 It's like this sudden, this rapid change. 00:51:46.280 --> 00:51:52.280 That even as we turn back to God, He is able to transform. 00:51:52.280 --> 00:51:58.280 Things that seem impossible to us, God can change in the blink of an eye. 00:51:58.280 --> 00:52:04.280 He says then, your healing shall spring up speedily. 00:52:04.280 --> 00:52:09.280 The healing he's speaking of here is the healing of an open wound. 00:52:09.280 --> 00:52:15.280 Maybe you've had a cut or a bad cut somewhere on your body and you thought to yourself, 00:52:15.280 --> 00:52:17.280 how on earth is that going to heal? 00:52:17.280 --> 00:52:20.280 It just never seems that that could heal itself again. 00:52:20.280 --> 00:52:24.280 And yet the skin will grow and the wound will heal. 00:52:24.280 --> 00:52:28.280 And that's the kind of healing that it speaks of here. 00:52:28.280 --> 00:52:31.280 Your healing shall spring up quickly. 00:52:31.280 --> 00:52:37.280 When we turn to Him, He is able to heal the wounds in our land, 00:52:37.280 --> 00:52:41.280 the wounds in our churches, the wounds in our lives. 00:52:41.280 --> 00:52:46.280 He is able to bring healing into our difficult experience. 00:52:46.280 --> 00:52:52.280 Then you have this wonderful promise of His protection there in verse 8. 00:52:52.280 --> 00:52:55.280 The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 00:52:55.280 --> 00:52:58.280 He shall be behind you. 00:52:58.280 --> 00:52:59.280 He shall be watching you. 00:52:59.280 --> 00:53:01.280 He'll be with you. 00:53:01.280 --> 00:53:05.280 There is this promise, He is with us. 00:53:05.280 --> 00:53:09.280 So as we think of that question, do we want God with us? 00:53:09.280 --> 00:53:14.280 Well, here we see the blessing that knowing that He is with us, 00:53:14.280 --> 00:53:18.280 that He is bringing light, that He is bringing healing, 00:53:18.280 --> 00:53:20.280 that He is watching over us. 00:53:20.280 --> 00:53:22.280 Then in verse 9, He says, 00:53:22.280 --> 00:53:26.280 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer. 00:53:26.280 --> 00:53:29.280 You shall cry, and He will say, 00:53:29.280 --> 00:53:32.280 Here I am. 00:53:32.280 --> 00:53:34.280 He is with us. 00:53:34.280 --> 00:53:38.280 What a wonderful promise we have there. 00:53:38.280 --> 00:53:42.280 That a promise that a change of direction can bring. 00:53:42.280 --> 00:53:47.280 A promise of a change as we listen to His voice. 00:53:47.280 --> 00:53:50.280 As in all the noise that's going on around us, 00:53:50.280 --> 00:53:54.280 we start to listen and to heed His word. 00:53:54.280 --> 00:53:57.280 And do as His word commands us. 00:53:57.280 --> 00:53:58.280 Here we see it's, 00:53:58.280 --> 00:54:01.280 Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:54:01.280 --> 00:54:05.280 But it's not just about that. 00:54:05.280 --> 00:54:09.280 Because finally you see here in verse 13 and 14, 00:54:09.280 --> 00:54:13.280 He pleads for a commitment to worship. 00:54:13.280 --> 00:54:17.280 This is what is at the heart of it all as well. 00:54:17.280 --> 00:54:21.280 It's not all about social justice. 00:54:21.280 --> 00:54:25.280 It's not all about loving those around us. 00:54:25.280 --> 00:54:29.280 It's coming back now to that first part of the great commandment. 00:54:29.280 --> 00:54:33.280 Love the Lord your God with all your heart. 00:54:33.280 --> 00:54:37.280 That this is the center of how we know God with us. 00:54:37.280 --> 00:54:40.280 That we worship Him aright. 00:54:40.280 --> 00:54:44.280 And look at how He puts it here in verse 13 and 14. 00:54:44.280 --> 00:54:46.280 He puts it about the Sabbath. 00:54:46.280 --> 00:54:48.280 The worship. 00:54:48.280 --> 00:54:51.280 If you turn back your food from the Sabbath, 00:54:51.280 --> 00:54:54.280 you're doing your pleasure on my holy day. 00:54:54.280 --> 00:54:56.280 And again you see that word, 00:54:56.280 --> 00:54:59.280 doing your own pleasure. 00:54:59.280 --> 00:55:04.280 So everything that they were doing in a loving their neighbor sense, 00:55:04.280 --> 00:55:08.280 they got it wrong because they were doing things for their own pleasure. 00:55:08.280 --> 00:55:12.280 Now He's coming back to the heart of worship and the worship of God. 00:55:12.280 --> 00:55:13.280 And He's saying, 00:55:13.280 --> 00:55:17.280 You're using even this for your own pleasure. 00:55:17.280 --> 00:55:18.280 And He's saying, 00:55:18.280 --> 00:55:20.280 Turn your way back. 00:55:20.280 --> 00:55:27.280 Turn back your food from the Sabbath for doing your own pleasure on my holy day. 00:55:27.280 --> 00:55:30.280 And call the Sabbath a delight. 00:55:30.280 --> 00:55:35.280 So what gives you a sense of delight today? 00:55:35.280 --> 00:55:40.280 What gives you a sense of delight in your life? 00:55:40.280 --> 00:55:45.280 We sometimes delight in football scores. 00:55:45.280 --> 00:55:48.280 We delight in holiday times. 00:55:48.280 --> 00:55:50.280 We delight in good weather. 00:55:50.280 --> 00:55:52.280 We delight in good food. 00:55:52.280 --> 00:55:55.280 We delight in so many different things. 00:55:57.280 --> 00:56:00.280 Do we delight in the Sabbath? 00:56:00.280 --> 00:56:05.280 Now the Sabbath here was the Saturday in the Old Testament. 00:56:05.280 --> 00:56:09.280 It was the day God set aside from the very beginning of creation. 00:56:09.280 --> 00:56:14.280 The seventh day when He rested was a day to observe as rest and worship. 00:56:14.280 --> 00:56:19.280 And He's asking the people, 00:56:19.280 --> 00:56:21.280 Do you delight in it? 00:56:21.280 --> 00:56:24.280 For ourselves, the Sabbath is now the Sunday. 00:56:24.280 --> 00:56:28.280 The Lord's day, the first day of the week. 00:56:28.280 --> 00:56:30.280 And the question for ourselves is, 00:56:30.280 --> 00:56:34.280 As we come to the Lord's day, as we come to worship, 00:56:34.280 --> 00:56:37.280 Do we long for God with us? 00:56:37.280 --> 00:56:43.280 And do we delight in the Lord's day and the Lord? 00:56:43.280 --> 00:56:47.280 It's a day to delight in. 00:56:47.280 --> 00:56:50.280 A day not for our own pleasure. 00:56:50.280 --> 00:56:53.280 And if we want to know God with us, 00:56:53.280 --> 00:56:59.280 Is there any better way to know it than to delight in the Lord's day? 00:56:59.280 --> 00:57:04.280 And to delight in the Lord and the worship of Him. 00:57:04.280 --> 00:57:09.280 When we think of our nation today, 00:57:09.280 --> 00:57:14.280 Even our islands, how we've drifted away from acknowledging this day. 00:57:14.280 --> 00:57:18.280 From delighting in the Lord's day. 00:57:18.280 --> 00:57:22.280 And ourselves, we know too, we don't always get it right. 00:57:22.280 --> 00:57:25.280 Even as we seek to honour the Lord's day, 00:57:25.280 --> 00:57:28.280 We can so often fail to delight in it, 00:57:28.280 --> 00:57:30.280 Because we focus on what we shouldn't do, 00:57:30.280 --> 00:57:32.280 As opposed to what we should do. 00:57:32.280 --> 00:57:38.280 And the more we show people the reason we have to delight in the Lord's day. 00:57:38.280 --> 00:57:41.280 And not just to say, you don't do that on the Lord's day. 00:57:41.280 --> 00:57:46.280 But we show them instead, this is what we do on the Lord's day. 00:57:46.280 --> 00:57:49.280 We worship God, we come together, 00:57:49.280 --> 00:57:52.280 We delight to be with His people, 00:57:52.280 --> 00:57:55.280 We delight to be with His word, 00:57:55.280 --> 00:57:58.280 We delight to do all things to the glory of God. 00:57:58.280 --> 00:58:01.280 It's not a day for our own pleasure, 00:58:01.280 --> 00:58:04.280 In the sense of just doing our own thing. 00:58:05.280 --> 00:58:09.280 But doing it all for the glory of God. 00:58:09.280 --> 00:58:13.280 So do we delight in the Lord's day? 00:58:13.280 --> 00:58:15.280 And do we show our delight in the Lord's day? 00:58:15.280 --> 00:58:19.280 Or has it become just a burden where we go through the motions, 00:58:19.280 --> 00:58:22.280 As it had become for the people here? 00:58:22.280 --> 00:58:24.280 We go through the motions and we say, 00:58:24.280 --> 00:58:27.280 Look Lord, we've done all of this. 00:58:27.280 --> 00:58:29.280 Will you be with us? 00:58:29.280 --> 00:58:30.280 Well, the Lord is saying, 00:58:30.280 --> 00:58:33.280 No, if your heart is not delighting in me. 00:58:35.280 --> 00:58:36.280 But we don't come saying, 00:58:36.280 --> 00:58:39.280 Lord, look, we've been to church on Sunday. 00:58:39.280 --> 00:58:41.280 Be with us the rest of the week, 00:58:41.280 --> 00:58:43.280 Because we deserve that. 00:58:43.280 --> 00:58:45.280 But we come, 00:58:45.280 --> 00:58:47.280 Worshipping God humbly. 00:58:47.280 --> 00:58:49.280 Seeking His presence. 00:58:49.280 --> 00:58:51.280 Delighting in Him. 00:58:51.280 --> 00:58:53.280 Loving the Lord with all our hearts. 00:58:53.280 --> 00:58:56.280 Seeking to love our neighbour as ourself. 00:58:56.280 --> 00:58:58.280 And delighting in all of these things. 00:58:58.280 --> 00:59:01.280 We go on with the promise and assurance that, 00:59:01.280 --> 00:59:04.280 As we continually delight in Him, 00:59:04.280 --> 00:59:07.280 That He will be with us to bless. 00:59:07.280 --> 00:59:14.280 We have so much reason to delight in the Lord's day. 00:59:14.280 --> 00:59:18.280 The day that remind us that Christ came to give His life, 00:59:18.280 --> 00:59:21.280 And on the third day, He rose again. 00:59:22.280 --> 00:59:27.280 The resurrection and the hope that that brings is reason for delight. 00:59:27.280 --> 00:59:35.280 Do we, do you, do I, do we delight in it as we should? 00:59:35.280 --> 00:59:39.280 And do we delight in the one who is the Lord of the Sabbath, 00:59:39.280 --> 00:59:41.280 Our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:59:41.280 --> 00:59:46.280 Do we delight in Him and know His blessing? 00:59:46.280 --> 00:59:50.280 Do we want God with us? 00:59:50.280 --> 00:59:56.280 And do we want Him on our terms or on His? 00:59:56.280 --> 01:00:00.280 Do we delight in Him? 01:00:00.280 --> 01:00:03.280 After attending church one Sunday morning, 01:00:03.280 --> 01:00:06.280 A little boy in the evening went to bed, 01:00:06.280 --> 01:00:09.280 And he knelt down by his bedside to pray. 01:00:09.280 --> 01:00:12.280 And his prayer was this, 01:00:12.280 --> 01:00:14.280 Dear God, he said, 01:00:14.280 --> 01:00:18.280 We had a good time at church today, 01:00:18.280 --> 01:00:21.280 But I wish you had been there. 01:00:21.280 --> 01:00:26.280 It's not about coming to church for our own pleasure, 01:00:26.280 --> 01:00:30.280 But coming to meet with God, 01:00:30.280 --> 01:00:32.280 The one who is Lord of all, 01:00:32.280 --> 01:00:34.280 Lord of the Sabbath, 01:00:34.280 --> 01:00:38.280 The Lord who we can delight in. 01:00:38.280 --> 01:00:40.280 The warning of the trumpet is, 01:00:40.280 --> 01:00:42.280 If we put Him away, 01:00:42.280 --> 01:00:44.280 He's not going to be with us. 01:00:44.280 --> 01:00:48.280 If we try and pander to Him for our own pleasure, 01:00:48.280 --> 01:00:50.280 He's not going to be with us. 01:00:50.280 --> 01:00:53.280 But if we truly delight, 01:00:53.280 --> 01:00:56.280 And worship Him as we should, 01:00:56.280 --> 01:00:58.280 He will be with us. 01:00:58.280 --> 01:01:01.280 How can we expect God to be with us, 01:01:01.280 --> 01:01:03.280 And give us His blessing, 01:01:03.280 --> 01:01:06.280 If we demand that He leaves us alone? 01:01:06.280 --> 01:01:10.280 Instead, let us hear His voice. 01:01:10.280 --> 01:01:12.280 Turn to Him, 01:01:12.280 --> 01:01:14.280 That we might know His blessing, 01:01:14.280 --> 01:01:17.280 And praise His name. 01:01:17.280 --> 01:01:18.280 Let us pray. 01:01:18.280 --> 01:01:22.280 Our Father in heaven, 01:01:22.280 --> 01:01:24.280 May we delight in this, 01:01:24.280 --> 01:01:25.280 Your day. 01:01:25.280 --> 01:01:27.280 May we delight in Your word, 01:01:27.280 --> 01:01:28.280 And may we delight even more, 01:01:28.280 --> 01:01:29.280 In Your Son, 01:01:29.280 --> 01:01:31.280 The Lord Jesus Christ. 01:01:31.280 --> 01:01:33.280 May we find our joy, 01:01:33.280 --> 01:01:35.280 And our salvation in Him, 01:01:35.280 --> 01:01:38.280 Recognizing that apart from Him, 01:01:38.280 --> 01:01:40.280 We have nothing in this world. 01:01:40.280 --> 01:01:42.280 Apart from Him, 01:01:42.280 --> 01:01:43.280 We cannot live. 01:01:43.280 --> 01:01:45.280 And apart from Him, 01:01:45.280 --> 01:01:48.280 We cannot even face the consequences of our sin, 01:01:48.280 --> 01:01:51.280 In this world and in eternity. 01:01:51.280 --> 01:01:54.280 But we thank You for the promise of Him with us. 01:01:54.280 --> 01:01:56.280 And that as we turn to Him, 01:01:56.280 --> 01:01:59.280 As we praise His name and seek His face, 01:01:59.280 --> 01:02:01.280 That He has promised to meet us. 01:02:01.280 --> 01:02:04.280 And so may we delight in Him always, 01:02:04.280 --> 01:02:05.280 As we ask it in His name. 01:02:05.280 --> 01:02:06.280 Amen. 01:02:06.280 --> 01:02:15.280 We're going to conclude by singing to God's praise in Psalm 18, 01:02:15.280 --> 01:02:17.280 In the Sing Psalms version. 01:02:17.280 --> 01:02:20.280 Psalm 18 and at verse 21. 01:02:24.280 --> 01:02:26.280 We're going to sing down to verse 28. 01:02:26.280 --> 01:02:28.280 Psalm 18 and verse 21. 01:02:28.280 --> 01:02:30.280 For I have kept the ways of God, 01:02:30.280 --> 01:02:32.280 From Him I have not turned away. 01:02:32.280 --> 01:02:35.280 I have not strayed from Your decrees, 01:02:35.280 --> 01:02:38.280 His statutes ever with me stay. 01:02:38.280 --> 01:02:43.280 We'll sing from verse 21 to 28 to God's praise. 01:02:43.280 --> 01:02:44.280 Psalm 18 and verse 21. 01:02:44.280 --> 01:02:45.280 Psalm 18 and verse 21. 01:02:45.280 --> 01:02:46.280 Psalm 18 and verse 21. 01:02:46.280 --> 01:02:47.280 Psalm 18 and verse 21. 01:02:47.280 --> 01:02:48.280 Psalm 18 and verse 21. 01:02:48.280 --> 01:02:53.280 For I have kept the ways of God, 01:02:53.280 --> 01:03:04.280 From Him I have not turned away. 01:03:04.280 --> 01:03:14.280 I have not strayed from His decrees, 01:03:14.280 --> 01:03:23.280 His statutes ever with me stay. 01:03:23.280 --> 01:03:32.280 Before the Lord I've kept myself, 01:03:32.280 --> 01:03:41.280 From blimp and all transgression free. 01:03:41.280 --> 01:03:50.280 Since in His sight my hands were clean, 01:03:50.280 --> 01:03:59.280 The Lord my God rewarded me. 01:03:59.280 --> 01:04:09.280 With faithful people you keep faith, 01:04:09.280 --> 01:04:18.280 And to the painless you are good. 01:04:18.280 --> 01:04:27.280 With pure men you yourself are pure, 01:04:27.280 --> 01:04:36.280 But with the crooked you are sure. 01:04:36.280 --> 01:04:45.280 You saved the humble and the mead, 01:04:45.280 --> 01:04:54.280 But bring the proud of their height, 01:04:54.280 --> 01:05:03.280 You Lord will keep my lamp aflame, 01:05:03.280 --> 01:05:12.280 O turns my darkness into light. 01:05:12.280 --> 01:05:15.280 After the benediction I'll go to the door to my right. 01:05:15.280 --> 01:05:17.280 We'll close with the benediction. 01:05:17.280 --> 01:05:21.280 Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, 01:05:21.280 --> 01:05:23.280 Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 01:05:23.280 --> 01:05:26.280 Rest upon and abide with us all, 01:05:26.280 --> 01:05:27.280 Now and forevermore. 01:05:27.280 --> 01:05:44.280 Amen. 01:05:45.280 --> 01:05:46.280 Thank you.