Well, friends, welcome to our service this evening. A special welcome to those who might be visiting with us.
! We look to God to bless His Word to us as we worship Him together.
! It's my privilege to be here on this final Sunday service of 2024, and we have accumulated much benefit from the gospel during this past year,
and we've also accumulated a lot of responsibility. And we trust as we worship God together this evening that He will remind us of that,
and we'll be able to respond to the claims of the gospel upon us.
I don't think I mentioned anything about the intimation. You'll remember the New Year's Day service on Wednesday. That will be at 12 noon.
So we begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm number 61 in the Scottish Psalter. It's on page 293.
I was saying at the beginning of the psalm, Psalm 61, that verse 1, the tune is Salzburg.
O God, give ear unto my cry, and to my prayer attend. From the utmost corner of the land, my cry to Thee I'll send.
We're singing from verse 1 to the verse Mark 6 to God's praise.
O God, give ear unto my prayer, and to my prayer attend.
From the utmost corner of the land, my cry to Thee I'll send.
What time my heart is overwhelmed, and in perplexity.
Do thou be with me, and to the roar, that I am is the night.
For thou who hast for my refuge been, a shelter by thy power,
And for defense against my foes, thou must be not strong, child.
Within thy tower, not will I, forever will abide,
And under cover all thy ways, with confidence behind.
For thou the man's that I did make, O Lord, my God is near.
Thou hast given me, the heritage of those thy name that will.
Thou hast given me, the heritage of the land, my heart is near.
Let's join together in prayer. Let's bow our heads to pray.
Almighty and most gracious God,
who rejoice in you as the only true and living God,
who calls us into the worship of your name,
who is ready to impart your word and your blessing to us,
the God who sits enthroned in heaven,
who calls us all to bow down before you,
with humble hearts, with sincere hearts,
that you may hear what you have to say to us.
As we approach you in worship, we recognize the great need that we have for you to draw near to us,
so that we can draw near to you,
for you to place your hand upon our minds and our hearts,
and to give us to be sensitive to your word and to your spirit as we do worship you.
And so that we might come to that place,
where we do indeed hear the voice of the living God,
where we do sense the claims of the gospel upon us,
where we do sense our lostness without the salvation you have prepared in Christ Jesus, your Son,
and where we come to realize the importance and the urgency of having peace with you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We give thanks to you that you have sent your Son into the world.
We have remembered much of his coming in these past days.
Help us, O Lord, that we would not be forgetful.
Help us to remember that his birth is but the beginning.
Help us to remember his life.
Help us to remember his death.
Help us to remember his resurrection.
Help us to remember that he is in glory at your right hand,
that he is seated,
and that all power is given to him in heaven and on earth.
Help us to know tonight the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Help us to know what it is to bow down at his feet.
Help us to know what it is to worship him.
And help us to know what it is to love him,
to love him with all of our hearts.
To know truly the words of your servant Paul,
that Jesus Christ loved me and gave himself for me.
May you grant to us in our hearts
that intimate, personal relationship with your Son
that will bring to us the joy of forgiveness of sin,
that will give to us the assurance of
your ongoing care and shepherding of us,
that will give us the certainty of the paradise
and the glory you have prepared for your people,
and that will give to us the assurance of
your strength along life's way.
We do give thanks to you this evening as our God
who has been with us in the year that is drawing to a close.
We bless and praise your name
for every way in which you have been your help.
You are the God who takes us on paths and on journeys
that we do not expect.
But we bless and praise your name
that your purpose is good
and that you work everything for good for your people.
And we pray that you will bless
all I've gathered before you this evening
that they may be able to reflect on life
and reflect on your presence with them
and be able to give thanks to you
for every way in which you have shepherded,
for every way in which you have cared,
for every way in which you have given strength,
and for every way in which your eye has been upon them.
And give especially those tonight
who know what it is to have pain in their hearts,
to have sorrow, to have grief,
to reflect upon a year
where they have lost much
and lost those who are precious to them.
We do remember the mourning and the grieving
and we ask you to draw near to them.
Your comfort is beyond description,
but your comfort transforms.
It gives peace.
It gives consolation.
It gives even rest
in the midst of the turmoil of grief.
And so we pray for your blessing
to be upon those
who know grief and sorrow tonight.
And I do reflect on the pain
of losing loved ones
in this past year.
We pray for your blessing
to be upon all of the homes
of our congregation,
that the blessing of God
would filter from the public worship
of your name
through the witness of your people
to touch hearts and lives
and homes and families,
reaching out to those
who are far from you,
causing your kingdom to come
and praying your blessing
upon every effort that is made
to make contact with those
who live in the town,
around it and beyond,
and for every effort that is made
to raise the awareness
of the preciousness of Jesus Christ
in the gospel
and seeking prayerfully
that others would come
into your kingdom
and that your kingdom would grow
and that you would add
to the number of your people
such as it is your purpose to save.
So bless, we ask,
and bless us together
and bless your word to us
this evening
and bless all that has been done
in your name in this past year.
We ask you to bless your word
and we are thankful to you
that you have promised
that your word will not return
unto you void or empty,
that it will accomplish
what pleases you.
and we are thankful
that you are the God
who brings about fruit
and blessing
in ways that we don't expect
and in ways that we never see.
And we are thankful to you
that you are the God
who is working.
We pray for your blessing
upon our wider community,
our island community
stream these days.
We pray a blessing
to be upon the gospel today,
a blessing to be upon the gospel
across the nation and land
to which we belong.
and pray, O Lord,
that we may know something
of what it means
to see the old life
and the old things
of departing from God
replaced by a new life
and of a people
and of a nation
turning to seek you
as the fountain of living water
and as the only true
and living God.
Bless those who rule over us,
bless those in authority,
bless all those
who have influenced you to pray,
and may their hearts
be in your hands
to bring about good
and to bring us back
to yourself.
Bless the nations of the world,
we remember the places
where there is grief and sorrow,
where there is conflict
and strife.
Pray that you will bring an end
to all of these
and pray that peace would reign,
O Lord, our God.
We pray for the parts
of the world
where your people
are persecuted for their faith,
we pray your protection
of them.
And we pray for the parts
of the world
that are still in darkness
and that do not know
the light of the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
May we know something
of your mission in our hearts
and a sense of the great need
of the world in which we live
to hear the good news.
And may you lay it
upon all of our hearts,
not only to pray,
but to be actively engaged
in the service of your kingdom
for the good of those
who are outside of it,
even to the far corner
of the earth.
And we acknowledge,
O Lord, our God,
that at times
we will need to be
uprooted by you
and loosened from
our comfort zone
and be sent to serve you
at home and beyond.
And we pray, O Lord,
that you will work
in people's hearts
and lives
for their great purpose,
for the honour
and the privilege
of serving you,
for going out
with the good news
of the gospel
and for doing so
in the fear of your name
and regardless of
what that may mean
as far as their lives
and as far as their faith
and as far as their
suffering is concerned,
may you call those
who will be strengthened
and persuaded
and equipped by you
to serve you
in the gospel.
Be merciful,
we pray,
to the dark corners
of this world
and cause your light
to shine in it.
We pray for your blessing
to be upon our worship
now as we continue
before you this evening.
as we pray your blessing
to be upon the reading
of your word
and the singing of it.
We ask that you will
draw close to us
and give to us
a sense of your word
truly being the breath of God
and may it breathe upon our hearts
and breathe upon our minds
and may we know
a rich blessing coming from you
and a sense of your hand
being upon us
as your word is read
and proclaimed.
Draw near to us,
we pray and be merciful to us
and go before us
into this evening
and go before us
into this week
we do pray
as we commit ourselves
to you.
May you be your guide
as we draw to the close
of this year
and may you be merciful
to us in our needs
and whatever may arise
in life
in the remaining days
of this year.
May you continue
to be with us
and to be gracious to us
and to be compassionate
and to be merciful
and to watch over ourselves,
all our friends
and all of our families
and our wider community.
Protect, we do pray
and spare life, we do ask
as we commit ourselves to you.
So hear our prayer
and watch over us now
and go before us.
Have your mercy, we ask.
We ask all these things
for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
Now we're going to turn
to praise God
from Psalm number 42
and sing Psalms.
Psalm 42 and verse 1.
It's on page 53
and the tune is Rockingham.
Psalm 42 and verse 1.
As pants the deer
for flowing streams,
so long's my soul,
O God, for you.
I thirst for God,
the living God.
When can I meet
with God anew?
We stand to sing
from verse 1
to the verse Mark 5
to God's praise.
Amen.
singing voy voy voy
with no other news.
My tears have been
my constant good
both in the night
and in the day.
While all day long
insistent be
where is this God
of the earth chasing?
As I go around
my soul in me
these things I do
remember still.
How with the multitude
to thy rent
up to God's house
on Zion Hill
in their possession
I would lead
as we approached
with cheerful song
and shouts of joy
and thankfulness
rejoice in the
the festive throne
Why are you downcast
O my soul?
Why are you so
disturbed in me?
Trust God for I
will praise him yet
My Saviour
and my God
is he
I'll turn to read
the word of God together
and we do so in the
New Testament
in the book of Revelation
and in chapter 22
the book of Revelation
chapter 22
I'm reading at the
beginning of the chapter
Let us hear the word
of God
Then the angel
showed me
the river of the
water of life
bright as crystal
flowing from the
throne of God
and of the Lamb
through the middle
of the street
of the city
also on either side
of the river
the tree of life
with its twelve
kinds of fruit
healing its fruit
each month
the leaves of the
tree were for
the healing of
the nations
No longer will
there be anything
accursed
but the throne
of God
and of the Lamb
will be in it
and the servants
will worship him
they will see his
face
and his name
will be on their
foreheads
and night will be
no more
they will need
no light
of lamp
or sun
for the Lord
God will be
their light
and they will reign
forever
and ever
and he said
to me
these words
are trustworthy
and true
and the Lord
the God
of the spirits
of the prophets
has sent his
angel to show
servants what
must soon
take place
and behold
I am coming
soon
blessed as the
one who keeps
the words of
the prophecy
of this book
I John
am the one
who heard
and who saw
these things
and when I
heard and saw
them
I fell down
to worship
at the feet
of the angel
who showed
them to me
but he said
to me
you must
not do
that
I am a
fellow servant
with you
and your
brothers
the prophets
and with those
who keep
the words
of this
book
worship
God
and he said
to me
do not
seal up
the words
of the
prophecy
of this
book
for the
time is
near
that the
evildoers
still do
evil
and the
filthy
still be
filthy
and the
righteous
still be
right
and the
holy
still be
holy
behold I
am coming
soon
bringing
my
recompense
with me
to repay
everyone
for what
he has
done
I am
the
alpha
and the
omega
the
first
and the
last
the
beginning
and the
end
blessed
are those
who wash
their robes
so that they
may have the
right to the
tree of life
that they may
enter the city
by the gates
outside are the
dogs and
sorcerers
and the
sexually
immoral
and murderers
and idolaters
and everyone
who loves
and practices
falsehood
I
Jesus
I
sent
my
angel
to
testify
to you
about
these
things
for the
churches
I
am the
root
and the
descendant
of David
the bright
morning
star
the spirit
and the
bride
say come
and let
the one
who
hears
say come
and let
the one
who is
thirsty
come
let the
one
who
desires
take
of the
water
of life
without
price
I
warn
everyone
who
hears
the
words
of the
prophets
of this
book
if anyone
adds to
them
God
will add
to him
the
plagues
described
in this
book
and if
anyone
takes
away
from the
words
of the
book
of this
prophecy
God
will
take
away
his
share
in the
tree
of life
and to
the
holy
city
which
are
described
in this
book
he
testifies
to
these
things
says
surely
I'm
coming
soon
I
mean
come
Lord
Jesus
the
grace
of the
Lord
Jesus
be
with
you
all
Amen
this is
God's
word
and we
bless
to us
our
reading
from
it
we
turn
to
praise
God
now
in
Psalm
number
84
in
the
Sing
Psalms
page
112
Psalm
number
84
page
112
and
we're
singing
at
verse
number
5
blessed
are
those
whose
strength
is
in
you
those
who
have
a
pilgrim's
mind
pools
from
autumn
rains
refresh
them
springs
and
break
as
veil
they
find
strength
increasing
signward
they go
on
their
way
to
God
and we
sing
from
verse
5
to
the
verse
Mark
10
to
God's
praise
!
praise
God
for
those
who
have
is
in
you
those
who
have
a
!
and
love
shine
!
For
!
God
has
to
praise
!
voy
Almighty, and receive the free I may.
Listen to me, God of Jacob, hear me for your mercy's sake.
Look upon our shield and ring, favor to your chosen King.
One day in your courts is better than a thousand days elsewhere.
Let me stay in my house temple, let me be a dormant there.
Brother, can find happiness in the tents of wickedness.
Turn back now to the book of Revelation and chapter number 22, and we can read at verse 12.
Revelation 22 and at verse number 12.
Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repay everyone for what he has done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
And so on down to the following verses.
Now we know we have thought much of the birth of Jesus Christ as he came into the world, the Son of God, as he was born in Bethlehem.
And we have celebrated his birth in various ways.
And in many ways, that is the most significant event that has ever taken place in the history of this world.
But alongside of that, and on a par with that, as far as importance is concerned, is the second coming of Jesus Christ.
We are liable and we do tend to remember and celebrate his birth and then fold up our arms and our lives and forget about his significance,
forget about his work, and forget about the fact that he is returning to this world.
And bearing that in mind, I want us to look at these verses that we have before us this evening.
As we do read this book, obviously it is the last book in the Bible.
It's a revelation given to John.
It was given to John to encourage those who were being persecuted for their faith,
those who were being pressurized into worshipping the Roman Emperor as Lord,
and those who were in danger of losing their faith.
And so the revelation was given to John to encourage them.
And one of the principles of the way in which this revelation is used is that the people are to be encouraged
with information about what is going to happen afterwards.
And that's an important lesson for ourselves, that we live in this moment.
But this moment is not an island, not connected to what comes.
Where we are is connected to the future.
And to understand what the future holds is the means not only of our encouragement,
but the means of helping us to adjust our lives so that we walk along the paths that God has set for us.
And when we come to these last words, obviously they are the last words that Jesus spoke in the Bible.
And they are the last words which are reminding us that he is indeed coming back to be here.
And so for encouragement this evening, and perhaps as a reminder to us,
we want to look at these words and to think of an end-of-the-year outlook from the mission of Jesus.
I want to see first of all that we have a headline.
And for the headline we have a herald.
And who is the herald?
And the herald we have in verse number 13,
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
And as soon as we read in our Bibles,
Jesus at any time saying, I am,
then we pause and we consider and we think of what he's trying to communicate to us.
And he is reminding us that he is the Lord who appeared to Moses in Exodus chapter 3,
the I am who appeared to Moses in the burning bush.
So he connects himself with that great truth and the revelation of God
who came to save Israel and who came to make himself known to Moses and to the people of God.
But here he moves on to remind us something else about himself
and about his passion and about his being.
He is the Alpha and the Omega.
The Alpha being the first letter of the Greek alphabet
and the Omega being the last letter of the Greek alphabet.
And by giving himself that name, he is reminding us of his own supremacy.
He is reminding us that he is the first in a series and he's also the last.
He is reminding us of his own importance.
And because he is the Alpha and the Omega,
that he is in control of everything that takes place in this world.
And for a people who are suffering because of their faith,
that was great news.
That no matter what the Roman Emperor did,
no matter what happened in their everyday lives,
Jesus, the Son of God, he was reigning supremely
over the whole of the course of the universe,
including the detail of their lives.
I am the Alpha and the Omega.
I am the first and the last.
The one who precedes everyone else
and the one who comes after everyone else.
He is the eternal Son of God
who has no beginning and who has no end.
And he wants to communicate that as the one who is supreme
over the whole of the earth,
that he is also the eternal God.
God, that he is the beginning and the end,
that he was there in the work of creation
and that he is also there at the end or in the terminus,
the telos of the whole course of the world,
that there he is at the very end of it,
waiting to see the conclusion of life in this world
and waiting to welcome his people into his own presence.
He is the Alpha, the Omega,
the first and the last,
the beginning and the end.
And he is using a title
that we see in the beginning of this book,
which reflects the way in which this title belongs
in verse 8,
to Almighty God.
So the herald is Jesus,
the Son of God,
who is the Almighty God,
who was the agent of creation
and was there before creation,
and everything is running through this world
in accordance with his purposes
to bring them to a conclusion
and to bring an end to his plans.
Their encouragement that this is the herald.
And from time to time in our own lives,
we need to hear that encouragement.
In so many ways,
our faith is threatened,
our faith is assaulted by life around us.
In so many ways,
our faith is perhaps forced to the periphery
and forced to be invisible.
And we face these challenges day by day.
And we are encouraged tonight
to remember that whatever challenges we face,
as in being the children of God,
that the Son of God
in his supremacy has control over everything
and nothing is done outside of his work,
his influence,
and the direction of our lives.
We have a headline
and we have a herald
and he is no one and nothing less
than the Son of God.
So what is the headline then?
If this is the herald,
what is the headline?
Behold,
listen to this,
he's saying,
take note of this,
I am coming
soon.
And when we read the story of Jesus
in the Gospel,
we recognize that
the mission of Jesus
and the mission of God
is all about the coming of Jesus.
He has come to do
the Father's will,
he says in John 10.
He has come in the Father's name
in John 5.
His coming into the world
was through the womb of the Virgin Mary,
but that coming was all about
the mission of God.
And he justifies
and testifies
to everything that he is doing
that he has come
in the mission of God
to do the will of God
and to secure salvation
for those who put their trust in him.
But now he's adding another element
to the whole mission of God
to remind us
that he is coming.
He is returning.
His mission is not yet complete.
He is going to return
to this world.
And that's a great truth
for those
who are the people of God
who are struggling
in the hearing of this lecture.
It's a great encouragement
for ourselves
that the Son of God,
our Savior,
as part of the mission of God,
that he is coming
and that he is coming soon.
it is an encouragement
and we can also say
that it is a threat.
It's an encouragement
because he is coming
and his recompense
is with him.
He is coming with his reward,
rewarding his people
for their work.
It's paying the laborer
for the work that he has done.
And every laborer
is worthy of his hire.
It is the reward of God
in recognition of people
doing the will of God.
It's an encouragement.
Don't be discouraged
because of the Roman Empire.
Be encouraged that
as you continue to live
in faithfulness to God,
doing the will of God,
that when I come
in the mission of God,
I come to give you
your reward,
that your work
is not in vain,
and that even through
your suffering,
that your reward
becomes greater and greater.
It is a word
of encouragement.
And for yourself tonight,
if your trust is in God,
if your delight
is in doing the will of God,
and if you're struggling
through life
and in your faith
because you don't think
that you can cope
with the challenges
of your faith,
with the testings
that you face,
you're encouraged
to continue
to persevere
in your faith
because the Son of God
will reward you
for your perseverance.
He will reward you
for remaining loyal
to Him.
And no matter
how great the pressure
to be disloyal,
that you continue
in your devotion
to your Master,
you will have
your reward,
the encouragement
of the reward.
But there is also
the threat.
He will repay everyone
for what He has done.
It's the threat
of the Bible
that brings us back
to the heart of God,
to the purposes of God,
to the claims of God
upon our lives,
that what you and I do,
that God is obligated
because of who He is
and because of His relationship
with us,
that He is obligated
to give to you
according to what you have done.
And regularly
through the New Testament,
that sense of
repaying everyone
is with regard
to judging people
for their sin
and judging people
for the rejection
of the Lord Jesus Christ
as their Savior.
And in these words,
the Herald,
the Son of God,
He is saying
to all those tonight
who have no faith
in the Son of God,
I'm going to come
and when I do come,
I'm going to repay you
because you failed
to put your trust in me.
You failed to believe in me.
You loved the darkness
rather than the light.
You rejected me.
No matter how much
I claimed your life
and claimed your heart
and claimed your mind,
you rejected me
and I'm coming
to judge you,
to give you in accordance
with what you have done.
I am coming.
I am coming soon.
And perhaps the headline
is in particular tonight
for anyone who is here
who continues to reject
the claims of the gospel
and the outstretched arms
of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God.
hear what is going
to happen to you.
If you continue
to reject,
He will reject you
at the end.
He will welcome
those whom He wants
to reward
because of their
perseverance
and their loyalty
to Him.
But He will reject you.
Depart from me.
How do you get in here,
says Jesus in the parable,
without a wedding garment?
Who is that person here
without a wedding garment?
Take Him out
and cast Him away.
The headline,
I am coming soon.
Let's take that to heart
as we close this year,
as we think
in the providence of God
of going into a new year.
If God leaves us
to see that,
let's remember the headline.
Let's remember
what it means
for those who love
the Lord Jesus Christ.
And let's remember
what it means
for those who don't
love Him at all,
for those who
know about Him so much
and yet don't yet know Him
and haven't yet
put their trust in Him.
The headline.
Secondly,
we want to think of
the heritage.
there is a particular
heritage
for those
who are described here
by Jesus,
the Son of God
in verse number 14.
Blessed
are those.
There are those
who are special
in this world.
And we can think
of blessed
in the sense of
the blessing of God
descending upon us
and God empowering us
with His blessing
and giving us
that sense of newness
and of well-being
because of His blessing.
But the other meaning
that we have of blessing
in the Old Testament
is that we
look at a person
and we
envy that person
with desire
because they are
something that we
should have
and would have
ourselves.
and it's not
envy in any
kind of
wrong or
evil way.
It's that
holy envy
that the Old Testament
speaks of.
Here is somebody
and I want to be
more like them
more than anyone else.
And we hear
David in Psalm
number 32
saying,
Blessed is the one
whose sins
is forgiven.
What does he mean
by that?
To be envied
with desire.
That's the person
I want to be.
The person
whose sins
are forgiven.
And carrying that
meaning into these
words here,
here are our people
and we want to be
like them
more than we
want to be like
anyone else,
even ourselves.
These are the people
we want to be like.
Blessed are those
who wash
their robes.
There's a sense
of being unclean
and because of
the uncleanness
there's a need
for washing.
And there's a sense
of the need
for washing
in order to be
acceptable.
In the Old Testament
the unclean person
doesn't have the right
to have access
into the presence
of God.
In Exodus chapter 19
the children of Israel
were asked to
wash themselves
and to prepare
themselves
because God
was coming down
to meet them.
And so Moses
commanded them
to prepare
for the entrance
of God
on Mount Sinai
and for him
to speak
to the people.
There is that sense
of the need
of cleansing
in order
to be
acceptable
in the presence
of God.
And the cleansing
here is quite
specific.
The detergent,
the agent
that we're going
to use
for the cleansing
is quite specific.
Blessed are those
who wash their robes
so that they may
have a right
to the tree of life
and that they may
enter the city
by the gates.
When we go back
to Revelation chapter 7
we read of those
who wash their robes
and have made them
white in the blood
of the Lamb.
It's in their
relationship with Jesus
that they are cleansed.
It's in their
relationship with Jesus
that their sins
are forgiven
so that they do
have access
into the presence
of God.
But also
and especially
in Revelation 7
and in this passage
here
there is the sense
of which
washing their robes
reflects
their loyalty
to Jesus.
And we
can read
in chapter 19
at verse number 8
that the
fine linen
and the white robes
they are the righteous
deeds of the saints.
Who are the
blessed ones?
Who are the ones
that we want to be
like more than
anyone else?
It is those
who put their
trust in the Lord
Jesus
and to remain
loyal to him
throughout the
whole of their
lives.
And no matter
the difficulty
no matter
the persecution
no matter
the challenge
no matter
the test
or the temptation
they continue
to put their
trust
in the Lord
Jesus.
And in that
sense
kept their
garments
from being
soiled
by becoming
like the
world
or taking
up the
habits
and the
behaviors
of the
world
they remained
loyal
to the
passion
of the
Lord Jesus.
These are the
ones
that we
need to be
like.
Those who
are holy
because God
is holy.
Those who
have a
lifestyle
conformant
to the
word of
God.
Those who
have a
lifestyle
that speaks
loudly
of their
devotion
to the
Lord
Jesus.
They are
the ones
that we
want to
be like.
And we
need to
ask ourselves
this evening
are we
the kind
of people
that others
would say
about us
we want
to be
like that
Christian
more than
any other
person in
the world
because we
see there
a Christian
devoted to
the Lord
Jesus.
That's what
God requires
of us.
That's what
Jesus our
Savior requires
of us.
And tonight
if we are
not the
children of
God and
if we do
not have
the faith
in the
Lord Jesus
then we
need to
look around
in the
light of
what the
Bible says
and to
find for
ourselves
the most
Christ-like
person in
the world
and to
see what
makes them
Christ-like
and to
say to
yourself
in your
heart
that's
the
person
that shows
me
that the
Bible is
true
that the
salvation of
Jesus is
real
and that's
the person
that persuades
me that I
must know
this Jesus
for myself.
There is
that description
of a people
who are
special
who are
special because
God has
made them
special
and to
continue to
be special
because by
the grace
of God
they are
kept and
remain loyal
day by
day.
But what
is the
heritage?
They are
special
because of
who they
are in
the first
place.
But they
are special
because they
have a
right to
the tree
of life
that they
may enter
the city
by the
gates.
They have
a right
to close
fellowship
with God.
And tonight
when we
think of
the tree
of life
I simply
want us
to think
of three
images.
And the
first image
is in
the garden
of Eden
where we
have the
flaming sword
guarding the
way to the
tree of
life.
Image number
one.
The second
image is in
Ezekiel
chapter 47
where all
kinds of
trees are
growing by
the riverside
and they
are for
food for
the people.
Image number
two.
The way
is barred
in image
number one.
That's the
promise of
the openness
to all the
nations of
the world
in image
number two.
And here
in this
chapter we
have the
third image
that the
promise of
this new
way being
opened
that does
away with
the sword
that blocks
the way
into the
fellowship of
God in the
paradise of
the garden
of Eden
that here
now that
promise has
been fulfilled.
And those
who remained
loyal to
the Lord
Jesus
who put
their trust
in him
who is the
way, who
is the
truth and
who is the
life, through
their faithfulness
to him they
have their
reward and
they have
access to
the tree
of life,
to the
renewed
paradise of
the garden
of Eden
that whatever
sin brought
into life
has been
removed by
the saving
work of the
son of
God and
at last
there is
that
inheritance
of walking
into the
bliss of
the presence
of God
without fear
but comfortable
with our
deep sense
of new
health and
well-being
that we
never experienced
before but
perhaps in
small glimpses
but now to
be sitting
in the
kingdom of
heaven and
satisfied by
the fruit of
the tree of
life that
is satisfied
with our
fellowship
with God
they have
access to
the tree of
life and
they may
enter the
city by
the gates
what does
the city
mean to the
readers
what does
it mean to
the people
of God
that John
was writing
to
what does
it mean to
John
himself
again we
have the
image of
the city
of Jerusalem
where Solomon
built his
temple
we have
image number
two where
the temple
was destroyed
because God's
people were
rebellious
we have image
number three
in Ezekiel
47 where
the temple
is restored
restored
and there
is the
waiting for
the return
of the
presence of
God
and here
we have
all of that
now fulfilled
there is
the
entrance
to the
city by
the gates
and we'll
read down
at the
beginning of
this chapter
and at
chapter 21
the beauty
of the
city of
God
and the
beauty of
the gates
of the
city of
God
but it
is having
that right
of access
into the
new heavens
and the
new earth
and into
the renewed
Jerusalem
it is
the right
to enter
in to
the new
creation
of God
it's a
place of
close fellowship
with God
and a place
of separation
from all
appearances of
evil that
we read of
in the
following
verse
outside
the city
on the
other
side
of the
gate
are
dogs
and
socialers
the
sexually
immoral
and
murderers
and
idolaters
and
everyone
who
loves
and
who
practices
false
suit
every
other
person
in the
world
whatever
their
sins
are
however
they may
look like
Christians
and are
not
all of
them are
on the
outside
and
because
of that
the pain
is on
the
outside
the
testing
is on
the
outside
everything
that brings
sorrow is
on the
outside
it's
entering
into
the
final
paradise
of God
where all
that sin
has brought
into the
experience
of the
world
is
undone
and is
reversed
by the
grace
of God
so that
we
the
blessed
ones
who
remain
loyal to
the
Lord
Jesus
so that
we may
enter
in
to
everlasting
bliss
that
inheritance
that Peter
describes
that is
incorruptible
and
undefiled
reserved
in heaven
for us
the
herald
has
great
news
he is
coming
the
herald
has
great
news
because
there
is
a
heritage
there
is
an
inheritance
that
we're
going
to
enjoy
at
the
time
of
his
return
and
tonight
again
as we
come to
the
close
of
this
year
we're
asked
to
reflect
upon
that
who
is
blessed
who
must
we
be
like
and
where
do
we
want
to
be
when
the
Son
of
God
returns
the
herald
the
heritage
and
thirdly
the
harmony
there
is
harmony
in
these
verses
that
speak
to us
of the
mission
of
God
the
harmony
comes
through
this
word
that
Jesus
himself
uses
in
verse
12
behold
I
am
coming
and
we
read
the
harmony
of
verse
number
17
the
spirit
and
the
bride
say
come
Jesus
the
Son
of
God
has
announced
that
he
is
coming
and
as
soon
as
he
says
that
there's
a
harmonious
tune
going
across
the
whole
of
the
existence
of
the
people
of
God
when
he
says
come
they
are
longing
for
him
to
come
and
it
reminds
us
of
the
way
which
the
mission
of
God
is
about
coming
and
the
way
in
which
that
mission
impacts
upon
the
hearts
and
the
minds
of
the
people
of
God
I
am
coming
and
as
soon
as
he
says
that
the
spirit
and
the
bride
say
come
the
Holy
Spirit
who
works
through
the
preaching
of
the
gospel
the
word
of
God
to
bring
us
alive
to
keep
us
alive
to
unite
us
to
Jesus
to
bring
about
the
new
birth
that
Holy
Spirit
sent
by
Jesus
into
the
world
to
fulfill
the
mission
of
God
he
is
saying
Lord
Jesus
Son
of
God
come
the
spirit
longs
for
his
own
work
of
redemption
to
be
completed
for
all
of
the
people
of
God
to
be
gathered
together
to
bring
the
whole
of the
experience
of the
people
of God
through
the
power of
the
Holy
Spirit
to a
new
level
and to
raise it
up to
the kind
of platform
never before
experienced
the Holy
Spirit
saying
come
and
joining
with the
Holy
Spirit
is
the
bride
the
Holy
Spirit
and the
bride
say
come
and
when
we
read
this
book
of
the
Revelation
we
see
that
the
bride
is
the
bride
of
the
Lamb
of
the
Son
of
God
we
read
in
chapter
19
of
the
marriage
supper
of
the
Lamb
and
the
bride
has
made
herself
ready
and
when
we
think
of
the
bride
here
we
are
thinking
of
those
believers
who
went
before
us
down
through
the
generations
who
have
passed
on from
the
scene
of
time
and
to
have
entered
into
the
glory
of
God
the
bride
of
Christ
around
the
throne
of
God
waiting
for
the
end
of
time
waiting
for
the
day
when
their
bodies
will
be
raised
and
when
they
will
be
in
glory
as
body
and
soul
to
enjoy
the
full
satisfaction
of
the
salvation
and
the
redemption
of
Jesus
Christ
the
bride
is
saying
come
and
in
chapter
6
we
read
that
the
people
of
God
in
heaven
are
saying
how
long
before
you
come
and
judge
those
who
put
my
people
to
death
there's
that
sense
come
son
of
God
and
it's
a
wonderful
thought
that
reminds
us
of
the
fact
that
those
who
have
gone
before
us
the
believers
who
remained
faithful
and
who
have
gone
to
glory
that
they
are
looking
for
something
more
that
they
are
looking
for
perfection
and
for
completion
which
they
haven't
had
yet
and
because
of
that
they
are
saying
son
of
man
alpha
and
omega
come
the
spirit
and
the
bride
say
come
there's
a choir
building
up
of
those
who
are
saying
to
the
son
of
God
come
let
the
one
who
hears
say
come
the
ones
who
are
hearing
this
letter
in
its
reading
this
revelation
who
are
hearing
it
the
hearers
of
the
gospel
the
hearers
of
the
word
of
God
yourselves
this
evening
we
are
here
to
hear
the
word
of
God
and
let
the
hearers
the
one
who
hears
let
them
say
come
there
is
an
imperative
and
the
imperative
is
calling
on
all
of
you
this
evening
to
reach
out
to
the
son
of
God
who
has
said
I'm
coming
soon
and
out
of
a
sense
of
longing
in
your
heart
to
say
to
him
come
Lord
Jesus
come
oh
son
of
God
and
come
in
the
mission
of
God
and
do
what
you
have
purposed
to
do
and
read
some
of
the
psalms
42
and
psalm
84
of
the
longing
of
the
people
of
God
when
shall
I
appear
again
before
God
blessed
are those
who have
the
mind
the
will
the
ways
of
God
in
their
hearts
journeying
on to
the
temple
of
God
where
God's
presence
is
found
and
tonight
if
you
are
the
child
of
God
and
your
faith
is
in
the
Lord
Jesus
there
should
be
a
sense
of
longing
there
should
be
a
sense
of
reaching
out
it's
in
the
very
nature
of
the
salvation
that
is
gifted
to
us
that
we
are
not
completely
satisfied
with
what
we
have
now
and
the
more
we
experience
of
salvation
now
the
more
it
awakens
us
to
the
realization
that
there
is
more
and
better
still
to
come
and
that's
why
Paul
in
Romans
8
and
2
Corinthians
5
speaks
of
groaning
of
longing
because
he
knows
that
there
is
something
better
than
what
he
has
in
Corinth
and
in
Rome
there
is
the
harmony
of
the
coming
of
the
Son
of
God
come
Lord
Jesus
and
what
a
blessing
it will
be
as we
leave the
service
this
evening
we
are
seeing
this
in
our
hearts
to
the
Alpha
and
the
Omega
who
has
impressed
upon
our
minds
that
he's
coming
soon
that
we
long
for
him
to
come
that
we're
reaching
out
to
him
not
that
that's
going
to
change
God's
timetable
but
it
reflects
our
ongoing
loyalty
our
understanding
of who
we
are
and
our
longing
to be
with
Christ
which is
better
by
far
but
the
harmony
is
not yet
complete
there is
the
coming
as I've
said
with regard
to the
mission
of God
as Jesus
came to
fulfill
that
mission
but
there is
also
the
coming
that
is
at the
very
center
of the
gospel
invitation
at the
mission
of God
for a
lost
world
has at
his
very
center
the
same
word
come
the
same
word
draw
near
the
same
word
come
near
to
embrace
the
same
word
come
and
believe
come
to
me
all
you
who
labor
and
are
heavy
laden
I
will
give
you
rest
whosoever
will not
take up
this
cross
and
come
after
me
and
follow
me
cannot
be
my
disciple
there is
that
sense
of
coming
that
impresses
upon
those
who are
still
outside
of the
kingdom
of
God
their
need
to
be
at
peace
with
God
through
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
Jesus
the
Alpha
and
the
Omega
he
makes
that
clear
in this
verse
that
there
is
a
responsibility
for those
who are
yet
unbelievers
let the
one who is
thirsty
come
let the
one who
desires
take
the water
of life
freely
the one
who is
thirsty
the
psalmist
in
psalm 42
was
thirsty
for
God
Jesus
the
son
of
God
on
cross
at
calvary
was
thirsty
for
God
in the
midst
of
his
forsakenness
he
cried
out
I
thirst
and
here
is
an
invitation
an
imperative
for
anyone
here
this
evening
who is
thirsty
for
God
who
has
discovered
that
this
world
and all
that it
offers
no
satisfaction
who
have
learned
of the
emptiness
of
everything
that
once
filled
their
hearts
and
lives
if
you
are
thirsty
for
God
this
evening
this
is
for
you
thirsty
for
God
let
him
come
let
the
one
who
desires
take
the
water
of
life
without
price
the
one
who
desires
what
is
the
desire
of
your
heart
this
evening
thirsting
for
God
naturally
means
or
supernaturally
means
that
there
is
that
desire
that
willingness
to
embrace
and
that's
the
recognition
that
God
is
working
you
may
say
that
you
desire
the
salvation
of
the
gospel
offers
but
are
you
willing
to
accept
it
that's
the
nub
of
your
relationship
with
the
Lord
Jesus
your
willingness
or
your
unwillingness
tonight
if
you
desire
and
if
you
are
willing
take
the
water
of
life
freely
Jesus
stood
in
the
temple
in
John
chapter
7
and
in
the
midst
of
the
feast
of
tabernacles
where
water
was
poured
around
the
altar
if
any
man
is
thirsty
let him
come
unto
me
and
drink
because
he
says
out
of
his
heart
will
flow
rivers
of
living
water
that's
out
of
the
heart
of
Jesus
the
living
water
comes
from
him
it's
the
living
water
that's
around
the
throne
of
God
that's
in
the
river
of
life
that
the
people
of
God
will
drink
of
in
the
paradise
of
God
but
tonight
the
harmony
is
complete
as the
people
of
God
say
to
the
Son
of
God
come
and
come
soon
Jesus
also
saying
to
you
if
you
desire
if
you
are
thirsty
come
and
join
in
the
chorus
join
in
the
harmony
what
an
end
it
would
be
to
2024
if
we
all
left
here
this
evening
with
the
same
tune
and
the
same
cry
to
the
Son
of
God
as
our
Savior
having
come
at
last
to
understand
what
is
coming
at
the
end
of
the
world
means
and
what
is
coming
in
the
manger
means
and
I've
learned
the
truths
and
the
preciousness
of the
work
that
all
of
that
tales
and
that
we
are
ready
to
go
forward
waiting
for
his
return
without
fear
because
he
has
promised
to
reward
those
who
put
their
trust
in
him
may
God
bless
to
us
his
word
may
let
us
hear
the
headline
take
note
of
the
heritage
and
may
we
join
in
this
glorious
harmony
that
is
to
the
glory
of
the
Son
of
God
let's
bow
heads
in
prayer
Lord
our
gracious
God
we
rejoice
in
you
are
the
great
God
of
our
salvation
you
have
spoken
so
wonderfully
and
marvelously
in
your
word
drawing
to
our
attention
the
many
different
ways
in
which
you
reach
out
to
us
and
we
are
thankful
tonight
that
our
salvation
is
not
yet
complete
but
that
the
day
will
come
when
it
shall
be
and
we
shall
be
called
and
summoned
into
your
near
presence
give
thanks
to
you
also
that
your
kingdom
is
not
yet
complete
and
that
you
are
calling
others
into
your
kingdom
this
evening
and
bless
every
heart
here
this
evening
that
is
still
outside
of
your
kingdom
convict
and
convert
and
give
them
to
drink
with
joy
from
the
wells
of
salvation
and
to
know
what
it
is
to
have
peace
with
God
through
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
bless
your
word
to us
who
pray
and
hear
us
we
ask
for
Jesus
sake
Amen
glory
psalm is
psalm number
24 in
the
Scottish
Psalter
it's
on
page
230
and
we're
singing
at
verse
number
7
to
the
end
of
the
psalm
and
the
tune
is
St
George's
Edinburgh
psalm
24
at
verse
number
7
ye
gates
lift up
your
heads
on
high
ye
doors
that
last
foray
be
lifted
up
that
so
the
king
of
glory
enter
me
now
to
the
benediction
I'll
go to
the
main
door
we'll
stand
to sing
these
vessels
to
God's
praise
!
Amen
to
the
king
slid up
your
heads
of
night
He
would
us
for
name
He
lifted up
the
soul
of
glory
entering
the
doom
of
glory
is
the
king
that
mighty
Lord
resist
in
that
sin
Lord
that
gate
in
mine
and
strong
in
matters
He
has
saved
Lord
that
gate
in
mine
and
strong
in
matters
He
lifted
up
your
head
doors
have
to
last
for
aim
He
waked
up
the
soul
and
King
of
glory
enter
name
but
truth
is
he
that
is
the
King
of
glory
who
is
this
the
Lord
of
hosts
and
number
team
the
King
of
glory
is
the
Lord
of
hosts
and
number
team
King
of
!
of
glory
!
Jesus
Alleluia!
Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God the Father,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you all now and forevermore.
Amen.