We're going to begin our service singing to God's praise from Psalm 89, verses 13 to 18.
Psalm 89, verses 13 to 18. This is from the Scottish Psalter, and the tune is Newington.
Psalm 89, from verse 13.
Thou hast an arm that's full of power, thy hand is great in might,
and thy right hand exceedingly exalted is in height. Justice and judgment of thy throne are made the dwelling place.
Mercy accompanied with truth shall go before thy face. O greatly blessed the people are, the joyful sound that know.
In brightness of thy face, O Lord, they ever on shall go. They in thy name shall all the day rejoice exceedingly,
and in thy righteousness shall they exalted be on high.
Because the glory of their strength doth only stand in thee, and in thy favour shall our horn and power exalted be.
For God is our defence, and he to us doth safety bring. The Holy One of Israel is our Almighty King.
13 to 18 of Psalm 89.
13 to 18. This is from the Scottish Psalm 89.
14 to 18. This is from the Scottish Psalm 89.
14 to 19 of June.
In thy name shall all the day rejoice succeedingly, and in thy righteousness shall live exalted beyond high.
Because the glory of their strength doth only stand in me, and in my heaven shall our Lord and Father exalted be.
God is our defense, and he to us thus deeply pray.
The Holy One of Israel is the Almighty King.
Amen.
Let us bow in prayer.
O Lord, as we bow before you this evening, we pray that you will help us to worship you in a right way.
We pray that we may be conscious of your power and glory and majesty, that we may realize that this is a special moment for us, where we draw near to the King of glory.
We are so grounded in the here and the now.
This world has such a powerful grip and influence upon us, that so often our vision of you is clouded.
There is so much that hides you from us.
But we pray that even as we gather here just now, that we may be given a little insight, a little sight of you,
in such a way that it will enlighten our minds, that it will lift our hearts, that it will enable us to be more zealous, more committed to you.
And our desire is to follow you with all our heart.
We pray, O Lord, that we might praise you for all that you are.
We realize that you are beyond our understanding.
The Word of God reveals so much to us.
You have made known so much about yourself to us.
And yet our understanding is so limited.
There is so little that we're able to fully grasp or understand.
But, Lord, we give thanks that when we come to faith, that our eyes are opened, our understanding is enlightened,
and we're able to lay hold on spiritual truths that beforehand were completely such that we couldn't figure them out at all.
We give thanks, Lord, for your patience with us.
We give thanks, Lord, for how you look after us, despite who we are and what we are.
Despite our sin and our waywardness, our faults and our failings.
And we seek tonight to confess our sin before you.
We sin before you so readily, so freely, and so often we are unaware of our sin.
And yet every so often through your Spirit and the Word, you are revealing to us just what we are
and of how far short we are of the glory that you require from us.
And so we pray that you will indeed be merciful to us in our failings and in our sin against you and also our sins against one another.
We pray, Lord, that you'll bless this congregation, particularly at a time of vacancy.
We pray that you will guide and lead and direct in the right way and that you will make it abundantly clear the way in which we are to go.
We give thanks for Calamurdo being with us and we pray for him for all the extra responsibilities and duties that are placed upon him just now.
We give thanks for all the extra responsibilities and give thanks for all the extra responsibilities and the rest of us.
For many years to come.
We give thanks for all the willing hands and willing helpers.
And we're blessed in this congregation with men and women who are so able in so many different ways.
And we give thanks, Lord, especially just now for the women that do so much.
And we give thanks for their zeal and their many great gifts that they've been equipped with.
And we give thanks, Lord, for our leadership of men and we pray your blessing upon them.
And we ask that you will guide them and bless them in everything.
So we pray for Calamurdo and Joanne and family.
We pray also for our intermoderate, Colin and Aileen and their family.
And we pray your blessing upon your church at large.
And we give thanks for the news we had this week of Reverend David Ferguson accepting the call to North Uist.
And so we pray for him and Catherine and for Duncan as that will be soon their new place and new sphere of work.
And ask that you will undertake for them and bless them and that their ministry will be a fruitful one there.
Lord, we give thanks for the way your word goes out.
Whether it is in the gathered assembly like we have here just now.
Or whether it's on live links.
Or whether it is on the airways.
Or in whatever way throughout this world.
Hundreds of thousands, millions in fact, are hearing your word.
And we pray that millions will come to faith.
We pray that today will be a great day in the kingdom of God.
And it will be a mighty day where the kingdom of darkness is being hit hard.
Where many souls will come to faith.
Where people will come bowing the knee before the Lord.
Seeking that Jesus Christ will be Lord of their lives.
Pray for those who are lonely and struggling.
We pray, Lord, for those who are recovering from illness.
Or undergoing surgery or treatment.
Pray for those who are unwell, confined to their homes.
We ask your blessing on them.
Pray for those whose hearts are heavy and sore.
Those who know what it is to have lost family.
To have lost loved ones.
It's a pain that lingers on day, week, month, year after year.
And so we pray for every broken heart.
And ask that you will draw near and grant your grace and your upholding strength.
Lord, we pray that we may then, as we come under your word, know your peace, your presence, your power.
Lord, we pray to bless us nationally as well.
We pray for a new government.
We pray, Lord, that you will lead us in the right way.
We seem to be going further and further and further away from you.
There is a godlessness taking hold of our land that is frightening.
And we pray that you will have mercy upon us.
In wrath that you will remember mercy.
We pray for the nations of this world, particularly where there is conflict.
In the Middle East and in Ukraine and in many other places throughout this world.
We pray especially for your people that they will be protected.
We long for peace.
And we pray, Lord, that peace may come.
Watch over us then as we wait upon you.
Grant us your grace and take away from us our sin in Jesus' name.
Amen.
We're going to sing again Psalm 26.
Psalm 26, verses 1 to 8.
It's on page 30 and sing Psalms.
1 to 8.
Declare me innocent, O Lord.
I have walked in blameless ways.
And I have trusted in the Lord, not wavering all my days.
Test me, O Lord, and try my heart.
My inmost thoughts survey.
Your love surrounds me.
From your truth my feet will never stray.
I do not sit with worthless folk.
I shun the hypocrite.
I hate the wicked's gatherings.
With them I will not sit.
I wash my hands in innocence.
And blameless is my heart.
I go about your altar, Lord.
The place you set apart.
Verses 1 to 8.
The tune is in Minver.
Psalm 26.
Declare me innocent, O Lord.
I have walked in blameless ways.
And I have trusted in the Lord, not wavering all my days.
Let me, O Lord, and try my heart.
My inmost thoughts survey.
Your love surrounds me from your truth.
My feet will never stray.
Do not sit with worthless hope.
I shun the hypocrite.
I hate the wicked's gatherings.
With them I will not sit.
I wash my hands in innocence.
And with blessed is my heart.
I go about your altar, Lord.
The place you set apart.
Tell of all your awesome deeds.
Oh, faith in life, your grace.
Your glory fills.
Your dwelling place.
I love your hearts always.
Your background.
Let's turn now to read God's word in John's gospel.
John chapter 12.
And we pick up a reading at verse 12.
John chapter 12, and reading from verse 12 through to verse 36.
Verse 36.
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.
And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it.
Just as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Zion.
Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt.
His disciples did not understand these things at first.
But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.
The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.
The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.
So the Pharisees said to one another, You see you are gaining nothing.
Look, the world has gone after him.
Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.
So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, Sir, we wish to see Jesus.
Philip went and told Andrew.
Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Jesus answered them, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone.
But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it.
And whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
If anyone serves me, he must follow me.
And where I am, there will my servant be also.
If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Now is my soul troubled.
And what shall I say?
Father, save me from this hour.
But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
Father, glorify your name.
Then a voice came from heaven.
I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.
The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered.
Others said, An angel has spoken to him.
Jesus answered, This voice has come for your sake, not mine.
Now is the judgment of this world.
Now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
So the crowd answered him, We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever.
How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up?
Who is this Son of Man?
So Jesus said to them, The light is among you for a little while longer.
Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.
The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.
When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
Amen. And may God bless to us this reading of his holy word.
Going to sing again now in Psalm 63 from the Scottish Psalter.
And the tune is Barrow.
Psalm 63.
It's on page 295.
And we're going to sing verses 1 to 8.
Psalm 63.
Lord, thee my God I'll early seek, my soul to thirst for thee.
My flesh longs in a dry, parched land wherein no waters be.
That I thy power may behold and brightness of thy face.
As I have seen thee heretofore within thy holy place.
Since better is thy love than life, my lips thee praise shall give.
I in thy name will lift my hands and bless thee while I live.
Even as with marrow and with fat my soul shall fill it be.
Then shall my mouth with joyful lips sing praises unto thee.
When I do thee upon my bed, remember with delight.
And when on thee I meditate and watch us of the night.
So on to the end of verse 8, Psalm 63, 1 to 8.
Lord, thee my God I'll early seek.
Amen.
Lord, thee my God I'll early seek,
my soul and thirst for thee.
My flesh longs in a dry, parched land wherein no waters be.
That I thy power may behold and brightness of thy face.
As I have seen thee heretofore within thy holy place.
Then better is thy love than life, my earth's weak wish shall appear.
I in thy name will lift my hands and bless thee while I live.
He comes with marrow and with fat, my soul shall fill it in thee.
Then shall thy love with joyfulness sing praises unto thee.
When I do thee upon my bed, remember with delight.
And when on thee I meditate in watches of the night.
Then shadow of thy wings of joy, on the night hell has been.
My soul be called, O pardon me, my right hand thou sustain.
Amen.
Let's turn again to the chapter we read.
Psalm, John chapter 12.
Maybe we could read from verse 20.
Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.
So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him,
Sir, we wish to see Jesus.
Philip went and told Andrew.
Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Jesus answered him, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,
it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
And especially these verses 25,
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
If anyone serves me, he must follow me,
and where I am, there will my servant be also.
If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Now it's interesting that we have here,
at the beginning of this section here, of Greeks,
wanting to see Jesus.
Because there's almost here for us a picture of just about what is to happen.
Jesus came to the Jews, he came to his own,
and his own didn't receive him.
Not only did they not receive him,
they wanted rid of him.
And that moment was drawing near,
where they were finally going to get him,
and in their minds get rid of him.
And at that very same moment,
we have Gentiles coming,
and they're wanting to see Jesus.
And it's almost giving us a picture of what is about to take place.
The rejection by the Jews of Christ,
and the great spread of the gospel,
out into the Gentile world.
Now, these Greeks who came up,
and there was a part,
they could assimilate to a certain extent,
extent into Jewish worship.
But there were a lot of restrictions,
a lot of barriers,
and even in the temple,
they weren't allowed past the court of the temple.
And how thankful we live in a day
where there are no restrictions,
there are no barriers,
because Jesus has broken down all the barriers.
There is now no wall of separation.
And it doesn't matter a person's background,
it doesn't matter a person's culture,
it doesn't matter a person's position in life,
it doesn't matter a person's wealth,
or it doesn't matter a person's,
it doesn't matter anything.
Every person is being invited
through the gospel to Jesus Christ.
And when a person comes to faith,
irrespective of how old they are,
or of how young they are,
where they are from in the world,
they will become one in Christ Jesus.
And that is the wonderful thing
about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is for the prince as much as for the prisoner.
And it is something that we've grown up with,
we're used to.
But it was so different back then,
in the time when there were all these restrictions.
So these Greeks came to Philip.
Philip was kind of a,
although he was from Bethsaida,
was kind of a, almost a Greek,
largely a Greek name.
So maybe it was,
maybe there were relations that he had
that were Greeks.
But anyway, they come to Philip.
And it's very interesting
that Philip goes to Andrew
before he goes to Jesus.
And as we mentioned this before,
that Andrew always seems to be
the go-between of the disciples.
He seems to be the approachable one.
He seems to be the one that,
if people are wanting to,
to reach Jesus or speak to Jesus,
it tends to be by Andrew.
Remember the time where
there was the feeding of the thousands?
And it was to Andrew.
The boy had the loaves and the fish.
So Andrew was the one who told Jesus,
here's a boy here.
He's got the five loaves and the fish.
And it's a very important part
of our Christian walk
to be approachable to people.
We shouldn't put up any barriers.
Because if you look at the life of Jesus,
he most certainly did not put up any barriers.
He was the most welcoming person
that ever walked this world.
And he was open to everybody.
And so should we.
We should always be open and accessible
and approachable
if we are serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
And of course it was Andrew
who was the one who introduced
his brother to Jesus.
Because Jesus had spoken to Andrew first
and when Andrew had discovered
there was the Messiah,
he went straight and got his brother.
And you and I know that
that's often the hardest thing to do
is to witness in our own family,
isn't it?
It's often easier to witness
to people outside,
to other people,
than to those of your own family.
But anyway, Andrew,
witnessed to Peter
and he took Peter along
to meet Jesus.
Little did Andrew know
that day when he brought
Peter to meet with Jesus
that just a few years later
Peter would be preaching
and thousands would be converted.
And you see the wonderful link
in that chain.
You know, we're all part.
We all have a part to play.
And it's amazing
the threads that run through.
You can trace it in your own life,
the threads that run through
your own life.
When you look back
and you see the influence
of this person
and the influence of that person
and what this person was
and what this person said
and you can look back
and all these things,
it's like a jigsaw
coming together
to the place
where you come to faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ.
That's the wonder of it.
We've all got our own
little part to play.
Well, Andrew was somebody
who was very much used
by the Lord.
So Philip and Andrew,
they tell Jesus.
And Jesus answered them
and he said very simply,
the hour has come
for the Son of Man
to be glorified.
Now, there was nothing
at this moment
to indicate that
that hour had come.
Because just a little earlier,
if we had read,
well, we did back there,
we find that Jesus,
that's what we read,
the triumphant,
the entry of Jesus
into Jerusalem.
It's a moment
when the crowd
seemed to be embracing Jesus.
In fact, the Pharisees say,
look, the whole world
has gone after him.
It seemed to be a high point,
a key point
in the popularity of Jesus.
And yet Jesus says,
the hour has come.
He was following
a heavenly timetable.
All along the way,
he was keeping
exactly to the timetable
that his father
had given him.
That's why on other occasions
in Scripture
you will find it saying,
his hour had not yet come,
but the hour has come.
And the hour has come.
And so Jesus is telling them,
those there,
the hour has come
for the Son of Man
to be glorified.
And in this he is telling
how he is to be seen.
It is not as a king,
he didn't come as a kingly monarch.
Oh, he's going to come
as a kingly monarch
when he comes again.
When he came into this world,
it wasn't as a kingly monarch.
He didn't journey through this world
wearing a crown,
but carrying a cross.
He didn't come into this world
being born in a palace,
but in a stable.
And all his journey
through this world
was a downward kush
of shame and humiliation.
But all the time
he was keeping to the timetable
and honoring his father
every single step of the way.
And this was a way
that the Greeks
were going to see Jesus
in what he was going to do.
You know, there are some people
that they look on Jesus
and they look at his example in life.
They look at the way
he denied himself.
And they look at his death
as a kind of a martyr's death.
And they hold him up as a martyr.
A great man, a martyr.
A man who lived a life of self-denial.
But they're just looking
at the human Jesus.
They're missing the point.
If that's the only Jesus
that we have
as one who set an example
and let us not miss
the example that Jesus set,
but if that's all we're seeing,
then we're missing the main point.
He came in order to die.
And as the young people
were looking at the substitute,
he came as a substitute.
And so this was a way
that the Greeks
were going to be able
to see Jesus.
And one last thing
I would say talking about
the Greeks coming to see Jesus.
Can I say to anybody in here,
and you're saying to yourself,
you know,
I have wanted to see Jesus
for a long time.
You might be saying,
oh, it comes and it goes,
but there's a desire in my heart
to become a Christian.
And I sit in church,
and I pray,
and I don't seem to get anywhere.
I read my Bible,
and I pray,
and I don't seem to get anywhere.
Well,
see what the Greeks did.
They went,
and they spoke to Philip,
and they said,
we want to see Jesus.
And I think there's a point
there for us.
If you're somebody
who's seeking and searching,
and you're from so far,
you haven't found,
you can't quite get hold of it.
Speak to a Christian
that you know.
And you might say to yourself,
that's the hardest thing
for me to do.
What will he say?
What will she say?
They'll be delighted.
And speak to them in confidence.
It's not that they're going
to enable you
to be a Christian,
but it might be
just what they say.
They might give you
that final point.
That's something
which will encourage you
and enable you
to see for yourself.
Because at the end of the day,
you have to see for yourself
and believe yourself.
But there's a point
we mustn't miss there
of the desire
to see Jesus,
of going to speak
to a Christian,
to speak to somebody else.
Because they will very likely
be able to help you.
But Jesus then says
that the hour has come
for the Son of Man
to be glorified.
And of course,
the glory of God
is revealed.
It's the manifestation
of His divine majesty.
And you know,
when we think about the cross,
we say,
what's the glory in the cross?
All we can think of
is shame.
There was,
it was,
anyone who was
hanged on a tree,
it was shame.
It says that in Scripture.
It was cursed.
Where's the glory in it?
But you and I know
that that weekend,
that weekend
that occurred there
in the death,
the arrest,
the death,
and the resurrection
of Jesus Christ,
was the greatest display
of God's glory
that this world
has ever seen.
The creation
was an awesome display
of the glory of God.
In fact,
when we look up
to the heavens up,
it tells us
the heavens declare
the glory of God.
His handiwork
is written all across.
the stars speak
of the glory of God.
The moon,
the sun,
the whole being,
it all speaks
of the glory of God.
This world
and this massive universe,
it all speaks.
But that,
that doesn't touch
the magnificence
of the display
of his glory
that is found
in this weekend
when Jesus dies
for our sins.
Because the very heartbeat
of the salvation
of millions
is in that weekend there.
That is where
the great glory
of Jesus
and the glory
of God the Father
is seen.
And we're so thankful
that we're able
to understand this.
And Jesus then says,
unless a grain of wheat
falls into the earth
and dies,
it remains alone.
But if it dies,
it bears much fruit.
And of course,
he's speaking here
about himself.
And you and I know
that if you have
a grain of wheat
and you take it
off the shelf
and you just put it
back on the shelf,
it'll never be more
than a grain of wheat.
But if you take
that grain of wheat
and a number
of grains of wheat
and you put it
into the earth,
you sow it
into the earth,
it dies.
But from its death,
the death,
then life comes.
And that's what
Jesus is saying.
That's what's going
to happen.
In order for the Greeks
to see me,
they have to see
my death
and what it achieves.
I am like that grain
of wheat
being deliberately
sown into the ground
and from it
will come
the most amazing harvest.
If you're a believer
tonight,
you're part of the harvest
that has come
from the death
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And Jesus continues
to ingather
his people.
But then
at verse 25,
Jesus says,
whoever loves
his life
loses it
and whoever
hates his life
in this world
will keep it
for eternal life.
If anyone serves me,
he must follow me
and where I am there
will my servant be.
If anyone serves me,
the Father
will honor him.
Now,
people might find
this verse
kind of strange
because it's saying
whoever hates
his life
in this world
will keep it
for eternal life.
And in a sense,
that almost goes
against the grain
because the greatest
instinct that you
and I have
is self-preservation,
looking after ourselves.
When we're little children,
we have the
me first
syndrome.
We want to be first.
Children are,
they don't realize it,
but by nature,
they're very selfish
and self-centered.
And I'm not being
critical of them.
We were all like that.
It's me.
It's about me.
Now,
as we grow up
and as we develop
within culture
and within our society
and with our peers
and so on,
we learn to give
and to take
and all that.
But that me first,
it's about me.
It's my life.
It's about me.
It remains.
It's part of us.
And so,
self-preservation
is a great instinct
within our lives.
We want the best
for ourselves.
And so,
in a sense,
we might almost think,
well,
this is a strange thing
what Jesus is saying here
about hating our life.
Does that mean
I've got to go about
saying,
oh,
I hate myself.
Oh,
I'm a horrible person.
Well,
as a Christian,
there will be times
we will say that.
There are times
we will grovel.
There are times
that we will cry out
before the Lord
and we'll say
like the Apostle Paul,
oh,
wretched man that I am
because we're so conscious
of our sin
and our disobedience
and our failures
of all that we've done wrong.
And so,
there are times
that we honestly
hate who we are.
But that's not really
what it's actually
talking about here
at this point.
Because
what is being said here
is the same
as Jesus said elsewhere
about,
he said,
whoever was going
to follow me
has to hate
his father
and his mother
and hate
even his own life.
And again,
people might find
that very strange.
What does Jesus
mean by that?
Well,
the word hate
here is really
it has a comparative
force.
And what Jesus
is really meaning
here is
that nothing
must come
between himself
and you
and me.
He doesn't mean
that you are to
start hating
your father
and your mother
and your brothers
and your sisters
and your husband
and your wife.
Not at all.
Indeed,
we're commanded
to love.
We're commanded
to love.
Husbands,
love your wives.
But what Jesus
means is that
we aren't to
allow anything
to come
between ourselves
and the Lord.
In other words,
we're to hang
loose to the
things of this
world.
And Jesus
goes on
and he shows
us here
how it works
out.
He says,
whoever loves
his life
loses it
and whoever
hates his life
in this world
will keep it
for eternal life.
And what Jesus
is simply
talking about
here is that
there are people
and their whole
goal in life
is about themselves.
And they want
to get on
and they want
to build
their own empire.
Whether it is
a tiny empire
or a great big empire.
But the world
is all that
matters for them.
And they want
to progress
and they want
to do well
and there's
nothing wrong,
don't get me wrong,
there's nothing wrong
with trying to progress
and trying to do well.
But it's an exclusion.
of Jesus.
Jesus is in the background
or Jesus is not
there at all.
And people who live
only for this world
are in for the biggest
shock and disappointment
possible.
Because you see,
whatever the world
gives with one hand,
it takes straight back
with the other.
Nothing that we get
in this life
ever lasts.
And we can't hang
on to it.
And there are
so many of the rich
and the famous
and they seem
to be able
to go here,
go wherever.
There seem to be
so few restrictions
in life.
But you know,
the thing is,
one day it's all
going to come
to an end.
I remember reading
one of the star
famous people
and he had been
diagnosed with cancer
and he was dying.
And he said,
this is a disaster.
I have so loved life.
I have loved living
in life.
I can't cope.
That's,
you see,
this life was
all that he had.
And out with
all the trappings
of life,
life was
absolutely
empty.
That's why there's
so much despair
in people's lives.
Because there isn't
ultimate meaning.
Because all these
other things are just,
they pass with the using.
But Jesus is saying,
if we lose
our life
in him,
if we give
our life
to him,
then we gain
everything.
And you and I
know that in life,
maybe as we get older,
maybe the sparkle
in life begins
to go and
there's various
ailments
and problems
come in
and life isn't
quite the same.
But you know,
for the Christian,
the sparkle
in Christ
never goes.
And that's a beauty.
That's the joy
of it all.
And so it is
imperative that we
learn to die
to self
and to live
for Christ.
And then Jesus
says,
if anyone
serves me,
he must follow
me.
And where I am,
there will my
servant be also.
Now,
we often ask
the question,
you know when a
person is converted,
when you,
you think back
to when you became
a Christian,
what's one of
the first things
that you said?
Lord,
what will you
have me to do?
What do you
want me to do?
And that's
very often
the response
of grace.
Lord,
what will I do?
Now,
we always think
of,
when we think
of serving,
we often tend
to think
of serving
in a particular
capacity.
ministry,
and we might
talk of ministry
as being a
servant of the
Lord.
Well,
there are
very,
very few
when you
think of
all the
millions of
Christians
who are
ministers,
who are
missionaries.
But Jesus
shows us
here that
service
and following
are inseparably
bound.
And the
moment you
begin to
follow Jesus,
you have
started to
serve.
And I
think it's
one of the
things that
we've got to
realize is
that our
service is
our life.
Wherever you've
been placed,
whether you're
still in
school,
you're serving
the Lord
there.
You might
say to
yourself,
oh,
when I get
older,
when I leave
school,
when I get
older and do
things,
I'll start
serving the
Lord.
No,
you're serving
the Lord
where you
are.
Whether you're
in primary
school,
secondary
school,
if you love
the Lord,
you're serving
the Lord
where you
are.
That's the
beauty of
it.
Whether you're
a mother
tending to
the wee
ones,
you're serving
the Lord
there.
Whether you're
serving teas
and coffees,
whether you're
a mechanic,
whether you're
a boat
builder,
whether you're
a teacher,
you can go
through wherever
the Lord has
placed you.
That's your
field of
service.
Because every
single day,
you are
serving the
Lord.
And I
think we've
got to lay
hold upon
this because
often we
tend to
compartmentalize
service and
think,
well,
service is
only something
that we
do when
we do it
with regard
to the
church.
Yes,
that is
part of
it.
But our
whole life
is service.
And always
remember this,
that following
and service
are together.
The moment
you start
following,
you have
begun to
serve the
Lord.
every single
believer in
here tonight
is serving
the Lord
wherever you
are at,
wherever the
Lord has
placed you.
You serve
him in your
home,
you serve
him in
your church,
you serve
him in your
work,
you serve
him in the
school,
you serve
him wherever.
And so we
mustn't lose
sight of that
great truth.
And again,
the word
following is
one, it's
such a
biblical expression,
it's one that
we use
here in
our own
culture.
When somebody's
converted,
we sometimes
say, oh
did you
hear so
and so
I started
following?
So biblical.
My sheep
hear my
voice and
they follow
me.
That's what
happened in
your life as
a Christian.
You heard
through the
word the
voice of
Jesus.
You might
not be able
to explain
it, but
that's what
happened.
And because
you know
Jesus and
I've come
to love
Jesus,
you're
following
him and
you're
serving
him.
And then
Jesus says,
if anyone
serves him
he must
follow me
and where
I am,
there will
my servant
be also.
Where is
Jesus?
Well,
primarily
he's in
the word,
he is the
word.
So when
we serve
and follow
Jesus,
we will
be much
in the
word.
Because the
word is
our guide,
it's what
feeds us
and teaches
us and
shows us
the way
to go.
Our
delight is
in the
word.
You're
here tonight
because you
love the
Lord.
You want
to be
here.
Because
why?
Because
Jesus has
promised
where two
or three
are gathered
in his
name.
He's
there.
And that's
why you
want to
be here.
Because it's
the place
where Jesus
blesses
people.
it's
the place
where Jesus
has promised
to be.
And so
it's natural
that you
want to
be there.
If you
love
Jesus,
you will
be seeking
to obey
him.
And that's
what faith
does.
Faith lays
hold upon
the word.
Now you
might be
saying to
yourself,
you know,
my grace
seems to
be so
weak and
my hope
seems to
be so
dim.
and my
faith seems
to be so
fragile.
And I'm
so aware
of all
my faults.
If you
could even
a strand
of faith.
Faith even
like a
grain of
mustard seed.
That faith
is sufficient.
That is the
faith that
enables you
to follow
Jesus.
And you
want to
obey.
When you
love someone,
you want
to do
what you
know
pleases
them.
You
won't
spend
your life
doing
things
that you
know
that will
aggravate
them or
annoy
them or
hurt
them.
You
will try
and do
what
pleases
them.
And so
it is
for the
Christian.
And how
do we
know what
pleases
Jesus?
By reading
his word.
His word
tells us.
And you
say to
yourself,
how do I
know that
I love
the Lord?
Jesus
says,
if you
love me,
you will
keep my
commandments.
So that
the desire
of your
life is
seeking to
obey what
the Lord
says to
us.
We
follow him.
as our
teacher.
That's in
the word.
We follow
him as
our guide.
We follow
him as
our lover.
We're
married to
Christ.
We've
taken his
name.
You know
when a
bride and
groom get
married,
normally
speaking,
I know
there's the
odd
exception,
but normally
speaking,
the bride
will take
the husband's
surname.
And when
we come
to Christ,
we are in
that union
as a bride
and a groom.
That's the
description
that scripture
takes.
And we
take his
name,
Christians.
That's what
we become.
We hold
up the
name of
Christ in
this world.
Oh, the
world doesn't
honor the
Christian.
The world
is more
likely to
laugh and
to ridicule
the Christian.
But we
see here
there is
someone who
does honor.
And that
is the
Father in
heaven.
Because
Jesus tells
us here,
if anyone
serves me,
he must
follow me.
And where
I am,
there will
my servant
be.
And if
anyone serves
me, the
Father will
honor him.
Isn't that
wonderful?
Jesus says,
and where
I am,
there will
my servant
be.
You know,
we know
where Jesus
is tonight,
and we know
that he's
present through
his spirit
here.
But we
know that
Jesus is
in heaven.
And what's
Jesus doing
in heaven for
us tonight?
Yes, we
know he's
interceding
on our
behalf.
But he
has gone
to prepare
a place
for us.
Your name
is there.
Your place
is there.
It's reserved.
And one
day Jesus
is going
to come
back.
He's going
to call
for you.
And in
the meantime
he's preparing
you for
the place
he has
prepared
for you.
Because
he wants
you,
as you've
been with
him here,
following
him here,
he wants
that you
will be
then with
him forever
and ever
in glory.
And you
know you
might feel
that your
service is
poor.
And I
think at the
end of the
day every
Christian feels
their service
is poor.
But you
notice what
it says?
If anyone
serves me,
the Father
will honor
him.
Isn't that
beautiful?
Every Christian,
all of you
tonight are
following the
Lord.
Remember
Lord, I
said you're
serving
him.
And in
serving
him, you're
going to get
the well
done, good
and faithful
servant when
you enter
into heaven.
Because the
Father is
going to
honor you
because of
your love
of his
Son.
And we
must always
remember that
this is how
it's going
to end.
I hope
everybody here
tonight is
following and
serving Jesus.
I hope
that your
soul, I
hope that
you haven't
made the
whole goal
of your
world just
to get
on.
Yes, by
all means
it's important
to get
on, but
not at the
expense of
your soul.
Jesus
elsewhere says
what will
profit somebody
to gain the
whole world
and lose
his own
soul.
Calmerda
told a
beautiful story
today.
I'm sure
all of you
heard it.
And I
had never
heard that
before.
But the
boy who
asked his
father,
is your
soul insured?
Because he
said your
house is
insured,
your barns
are insured,
your car is
insured,
your own
life, you
got life
insurance.
What about
your soul?
And that's
the question
you have to
ask yourself
tonight.
Because there's
only one who
can insure
your soul.
And that's
Jesus.
you make
sure then
that you
are in
Jesus,
trusting in
Jesus.
And the
moment you
are, you've
started to
follow, and
the moment
you've started
to follow, you've
begun to
serve.
And we see
what the
outcome is
here.
Let us
pray.
Lord, our
God, we
give thanks
that your
word tells
us how
things really
are.
This
world tells
us very
differently.
And we
pray, Lord,
that we
might be
wise to
what your
word says,
that the
word of
God may
regulate and
rule our
lives.
We pray that
we might not
lose our
way by
being caught
up in all
the world's
trappings,
but that we
may seek to
put Jesus
first.
And the
great promise
is that if
we seek
first the
kingdom of
heaven,
seek first
the kingdom
of righteousness,
seek first the
kingdom of
God and his
righteousness,
then all the
other things
will be added
to us.
Help us then
to get our
priorities right
in life.
Bless each and
every one of
us.
Take us all
home safely,
we pray.
Cleanse us
from our sin.
In Jesus'
name we ask
it.
Amen.
We're going
to conclude
singing in
Psalm number
16.
Psalm 16
and sing
Psalms from
verse 8,
the tune is
Golden Hill.
Before me
constantly I
set the
Lord alone.
Because he
is at my
right hand I
will not be
overthrown.
Therefore my
heart is glad,
my tongue with
joy will sing,
my body too
will rest secure
in hope
unwavering.
For you will
not allow my
soul and death
to stay,
nor will you
leave your
Holy One to
see the tombs
decay.
You have
made known
to me the
path of life
divine.
bliss shall
I know
at your
right hand.
Joy from
your face
will shine.
8 to the
end,
Psalm 16
and sing
Psalms
before me
constantly.
Amen.
Before me
constantly
I
set
the
Lord
alone
because he
is at my
right hand
and not
be
overthrown.
Therefore
my heart
is glad,
my tongue
with joy
will sing,
my body
too
will rest
secure
in hope
and with
a
need.
Holy One
to tend
Thank you.
The path of light divine, this shall I know, and your right hand, joy from your face will shine.
I'll go to the door on my left.
Now may the grace, mercy, and peace of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest and abide upon each one of you now and forevermore.
Amen.
Thank you.