WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.040 Okay, morning folks. Lovely to see you today. My name is Graham. I'm the pastor here. 00:00:05.980 --> 00:00:11.560 I'm a bit tired this morning. I haven't been on that weekend away yesterday, but it is lovely to be 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:17.839 ! together as a church family. If you have a Bible, you're going to need Psalm 43 open in front of you. 00:00:18.219 --> 00:00:23.559 Also worth having a finger in John chapter 14, which is, surprise, it's just where we're going to end 00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:28.140 this morning. Two places that are going to be helpful for us to have God's Word open in front 00:00:28.140 --> 00:00:35.439 of us so that you can see that what I'm saying, I hope, is what God says in His Word. But maybe to 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:42.439 get us started and to get us into the situation of this Psalm, complete the phrase on the screen. 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:51.679 It's given away. There's no place like home. So I wonder who here this morning is the furthest away 00:00:51.679 --> 00:01:03.640 from home. Michaela, what do you think? Which is home in it? Where's home again? Michigan. 00:01:04.859 --> 00:01:08.460 I can think of one person in this room who might top that, but go for it. Yeah. 00:01:08.459 --> 00:01:18.839 10,000 miles. Wow. Putting the proclaimers to shame with their 500 miles. Hayden, you're 00:01:18.839 --> 00:01:21.899 who I was thinking of this morning. Where are you from, buddy? Where's home? 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:23.000 South New Zealand. 00:01:23.259 --> 00:01:27.939 South New Zealand, which I don't think you could actually get much further away from here, 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:32.419 could you? Puts my 12 minutes down the road to shame. But you know that phrase that we 00:01:32.420 --> 00:01:38.540 have, okay? There's no place like home. When was the last time you found yourself saying 00:01:38.540 --> 00:01:44.299 that? We don't say it when we're away from home, do we? We actually say it when we're in 00:01:44.299 --> 00:01:49.020 our bed and we're at home. Actually, there's no place like home. But we all know that feeling, 00:01:49.020 --> 00:01:58.120 don't we? That my body might be somewhere, but my heart is way back there. And that longing, 00:01:58.120 --> 00:02:04.439 bring it to this psalm, and you begin to understand the situation into which this is written. 00:02:05.980 --> 00:02:12.400 Take it with you to Psalm 43. Right? My body might be here, but my heart's way back there. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:20.540 That's where the writer of this psalm is in Psalm 43. Here's the geography of this psalm. 00:02:20.539 --> 00:02:31.639 Currently, if you look at verse 6 of Psalm 42, the writer of this psalm is miles away from Jerusalem, 00:02:31.819 --> 00:02:39.780 up in the north, miles away from home. But their heart is back in Jerusalem, back at home. 00:02:41.620 --> 00:02:48.799 But this is about way more than just homesickness. No wish you were here postcard from his mates 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:52.840 back home. He's going to soften the blow that the psalmist feels from being miles away from his home. 00:02:53.420 --> 00:02:58.680 There's a way bigger spiritual dimension going on in this psalm for us to see. 00:03:00.219 --> 00:03:04.800 What we're going to see this morning is the reality of how hard life can be. 00:03:05.920 --> 00:03:10.920 We're going to think about the beauty of who Jesus is. And then we're going to think about the wonder 00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:19.739 for every Christian of the glory of home. And this is what is pulled out in this psalm today. 00:03:20.239 --> 00:03:26.179 So if you're in that place where actually life is really hard just now, and you're longing that it 00:03:26.179 --> 00:03:30.979 wouldn't be the case, there's wonderful balm for your soul in this psalm. 00:03:30.979 --> 00:03:39.319 The detachment, if you look at verse 2 of Psalm 43, the detachment, if the writer's trying to describe 00:03:39.319 --> 00:03:45.620 what this feels like, do you see the word beginning with M that they go for? It's not miss, a miss home. 00:03:46.179 --> 00:03:53.519 This detachment feels like mourning. That's how there's been a death in the family word, isn't it? 00:03:53.520 --> 00:04:00.620 It's mourning. And the strength of that word there makes us want to ask, why so strong? 00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:09.740 Two things I think explain it. Here's the first one. I think it's his job, the psalmist job. 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:17.920 Now, Psalm 43, you'll notice, doesn't have underneath the word Psalm 43. It doesn't have an assigned author. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:26.360 But if you look at Psalm 42, and there's good reason to think of Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 going together, 00:04:26.460 --> 00:04:32.160 we'll come back to that. Underneath the words of Psalm 42, do you see what's written in italics? 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:40.420 It is a mascal, and that word just means a song that's written in order to impart wisdom, right? 00:04:40.460 --> 00:04:45.639 So you can imagine you go to Spotify, you type in, I want a wisdom song. This is the one that's coming up. 00:04:45.639 --> 00:04:54.959 It's that kind of gig, okay? A mascal, song to, written to impart wisdom, and written by the sons of Korah. 00:04:55.039 --> 00:05:00.339 Now, the sons of Korah were the musicians who served at the temple back in Jerusalem. 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:05.379 So they are, for all intents and purposes, if you want to understand it in our language today, 00:05:05.459 --> 00:05:12.279 they are the worship leaders at the temple. That's their job, but it's more than just their job. 00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:16.559 This is not something kind of Dolly Parton, 9 to 5. This is just what we do. 00:05:17.039 --> 00:05:21.479 No, this is, and you get it in this psalm, this is their job, and it's their joy. 00:05:22.559 --> 00:05:23.619 Love doing this. 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:32.259 But now, this psalmist, because he's away up north, away from home, away from his job, away from his people, 00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:38.699 this psalmist is staring early retirement from the thing that they love doing right in the face, 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:42.759 and they wonder if they'll ever get back to do it again. 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:44.660 That's the first thing. It's their job. 00:05:44.660 --> 00:05:53.400 But the second thing that explains it, it's all to do with the reason that they've ended up away from Jerusalem in the first place. 00:05:54.300 --> 00:06:01.480 And it's not because they typed the wrong digits into Satnav and got lost and refused to ask for directions. 00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:09.620 They've been driven away from Jerusalem, way up to the north, because their enemies have forced them out. 00:06:09.620 --> 00:06:16.079 And the combination of both of those things, this is a double whammy. 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:23.620 The combination of both of those things, and notice the word verse 5, it has left them feeling downcast. 00:06:25.899 --> 00:06:28.340 And that's a hugely emotional word. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:30.620 Of all the words they could have picked, downcast. 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:36.120 And it's spelled out with graphic metaphors all the way through Psalm 42. 00:06:36.579 --> 00:06:39.259 Take, for example, verse 3. Do you see it of Psalm 42? 00:06:40.019 --> 00:06:42.560 My tears have been my food day and night. 00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:46.780 Now there's a metaphor and everything in that phrase. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:48.840 Have you ever done that? 00:06:48.899 --> 00:06:55.300 Have you ever cried so much that the taste from the salt of your tears hits your mouth and you begin to taste it? 00:06:58.120 --> 00:06:59.819 That's the idea that's going on here. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:02.259 This person, this psalmist, is at rock bottom. 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:11.199 And if life were a boxing match, this is the point where you would be winded, lying on the canvas, thinking to yourself, 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:14.300 do I have the strength to get myself back up again and go again? 00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:18.360 And do you know what? 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:23.439 There will be times for all of us, I think, as Christians, as we follow Jesus, when we're there. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:26.839 We're downcast. 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:28.899 We're overwhelmed. 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:32.100 And we're just really sad. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:32.719 We're low. 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:37.060 And it's not that we've done anything wrong. 00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:43.360 It's just living in this world where it's broken. 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:48.220 You know, there's no indication that the psalmist has done anything wrong here. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:50.199 There's no sin involved here. 00:07:51.400 --> 00:07:59.040 But I think the very fact that God has given us this hymn book of the Psalms is God's way of saying, 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:00.780 do you know what? 00:08:00.819 --> 00:08:03.680 In life, you will feel like this. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:16.379 And here's my permission slip, as it were, as a parent, to say, it's okay to feel like this. 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:19.300 And I'll go better than that. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:24.399 I'll give you a song that you can sing when you feel like this, and you can just sing it back to me. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:28.860 Do you not love that God is big enough to handle our questions? 00:08:28.860 --> 00:08:34.480 Do you not love that God is loving enough that he invites these kind of questions as a father who knows us? 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:40.560 Here's what we can sing in the times when we're downcast. 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:44.259 And we need to add this song to the Spotify playlist of our Christian lives. 00:08:44.680 --> 00:08:45.740 Because do you know what this is? 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:51.080 This is a hymn for the hurting and homesick heart. 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:55.340 It's a hymn for the hurting and homesick heart. 00:08:55.340 --> 00:08:59.480 And just look what is going on in this psalm if we get into the details of it. 00:08:59.540 --> 00:09:00.300 They're crying out. 00:09:00.379 --> 00:09:01.399 This psalm is two things. 00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:02.660 Just crying out to God. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:03.879 Look at the first thing. 00:09:04.019 --> 00:09:04.840 Firstly, verse 1. 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:05.500 Do you see that? 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:07.800 God, here's the first cry. 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:09.360 Declare me right. 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:12.420 Do you see the first word there, verse 1? 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:13.700 Literally the first word. 00:09:14.379 --> 00:09:14.860 Vindicate. 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:17.759 Straight from the law court. 00:09:18.280 --> 00:09:19.220 What's going on here? 00:09:20.460 --> 00:09:21.220 Vindicate me. 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:24.980 Because currently the enemies living round about me are saying, 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:26.360 Oi, Bible basher. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:28.660 Where's your God now? 00:09:30.180 --> 00:09:31.139 Did he miss the memo? 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:32.620 Is he asleep? 00:09:35.220 --> 00:09:36.580 And so the Sabbath is saying, 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:37.379 God, would you, 00:09:38.660 --> 00:09:39.759 in your perfect way, 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:43.960 would you declare in the sight of the watching world 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:45.820 that I'm in the right for trusting you 00:09:45.820 --> 00:09:49.640 and they're in the wrong for mocking and defying you? 00:09:49.780 --> 00:09:50.240 That's what he's, 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:51.740 he's crying out to God. 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:52.660 Right? 00:09:53.140 --> 00:09:53.840 I don't know about you, 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:56.200 but I found it in my own soul this week 00:09:56.200 --> 00:09:57.500 as you kind of watch the stuff 00:09:57.500 --> 00:09:58.680 that was going on in the parliament, 00:09:58.840 --> 00:09:59.340 the votes, 00:10:01.300 --> 00:10:02.879 and just the heaviness of that. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:04.920 You know, we're living our lives in a world 00:10:04.920 --> 00:10:07.340 that is just hostile to God. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.720 Just pursuing our own ways. 00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:10.960 And of course, 00:10:11.020 --> 00:10:13.000 we engage in those debates compassionately, 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:14.940 but we engage with conviction as well. 00:10:14.940 --> 00:10:16.180 But a world that says, 00:10:16.260 --> 00:10:17.320 no, do we want to go our own way? 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:18.360 We're not going God's way. 00:10:20.160 --> 00:10:21.440 I found that overwhelming. 00:10:24.420 --> 00:10:25.140 The psalmist is saying, 00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:27.100 declare me right in the eyes of the watching world 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:27.980 for trusting you. 00:10:28.560 --> 00:10:30.160 And the second thing, verse three, 00:10:30.560 --> 00:10:32.240 if the first cry is declare me right, 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:33.740 the second cry is bring me home. 00:10:35.880 --> 00:10:37.440 Do you see the language here? 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:38.620 Send me, 00:10:39.800 --> 00:10:40.500 verse three, 00:10:41.280 --> 00:10:42.060 let them, 00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:43.860 let them. 00:10:43.860 --> 00:10:45.560 So here's what I think 00:10:45.560 --> 00:10:47.039 the psalmist realizes 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:49.960 as he says those words. 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:51.060 I think he realizes 00:10:51.060 --> 00:10:52.259 that he is powerless 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:53.779 to change this situation. 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:56.879 Being there, 00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:59.340 God, this has to be all of you 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:00.659 because I ain't got nothing. 00:11:01.800 --> 00:11:03.259 And look specifically 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:06.159 at the plea of verse three. 00:11:08.340 --> 00:11:09.899 Send me your light 00:11:09.899 --> 00:11:12.460 and your faithful care. 00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:13.220 Some of your translations 00:11:13.220 --> 00:11:14.420 will say truth. 00:11:14.820 --> 00:11:15.560 Send me your light. 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:16.879 Send me your truth. 00:11:17.280 --> 00:11:18.620 Maybe he's thinking 00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:19.980 in the Bible story, 00:11:20.780 --> 00:11:21.100 of course, 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:21.860 if he's a worship leader 00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:22.480 at the temple, 00:11:22.660 --> 00:11:23.759 he's singing about 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:24.560 how God has delivered 00:11:24.560 --> 00:11:26.259 his people over the past. 00:11:27.040 --> 00:11:27.780 Maybe he's thinking 00:11:27.780 --> 00:11:28.820 specifically about 00:11:28.820 --> 00:11:29.879 how God led his people 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:30.460 from Egypt 00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:31.600 through the wilderness 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:33.100 and to the promised land 00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:34.860 by a pillar of fire 00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:35.400 by night. 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:36.480 Maybe that's what he's thinking 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.120 of in his head. 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:37.500 And he's saying, 00:11:37.560 --> 00:11:38.780 God, I want you to do it again. 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:40.259 And I want that light, 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:41.299 I want that truth 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:42.139 to lead me, 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:42.539 as it were, 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:44.539 carry me all the way 00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:45.139 to your, 00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:45.819 do you see it? 00:11:46.179 --> 00:11:47.080 Holy mountain. 00:11:49.299 --> 00:11:50.039 And what's the deal 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:51.100 with God's holy mountain 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:51.860 in this psalm? 00:11:51.939 --> 00:11:53.220 It is the place 00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:54.600 where God dwells. 00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:55.700 So he's not after 00:11:55.700 --> 00:11:56.559 a bit of real estate, 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:56.960 is he? 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:58.899 He's after the very presence 00:11:58.899 --> 00:11:59.919 of God himself, 00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:01.200 which at the time 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:01.799 of writing 00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:02.340 would have been 00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:03.019 the temple 00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:03.879 at Jerusalem. 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:07.439 He's saying, 00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:08.799 God, bring me to you. 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:11.139 I want you. 00:12:12.419 --> 00:12:13.919 My soul is lost. 00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:14.360 It is, 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:16.379 look at verse 1 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:17.139 of verse 42. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:18.620 I'm like a deer 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.500 panting by streams 00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:20.120 of water. 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:22.439 I've actually not seen 00:12:22.439 --> 00:12:23.600 many deer in my life, 00:12:23.740 --> 00:12:24.299 believe it or not, 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:24.980 but I've seen a lot 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:25.919 of dogs do this. 00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:29.220 Just desperate, 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:30.419 desperate for water. 00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:31.139 And that's what he's saying, 00:12:31.220 --> 00:12:32.019 Lord, I'm desperate 00:12:32.019 --> 00:12:32.600 for you. 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:36.600 Because you are my joy 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:38.340 and you are my delight, 00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:39.500 would you bring me home? 00:12:40.779 --> 00:12:41.700 But this is all of you. 00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:42.500 I can't do this. 00:12:42.580 --> 00:12:43.659 Would you bring me home? 00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:44.500 And then we get 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:45.580 that inner pep talk 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:46.960 repeated at verse 5. 00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.279 He's saying to himself, 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:52.559 come on soul. 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:55.220 Come on soul. 00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:55.820 Remember. 00:12:56.659 --> 00:12:58.019 Remember who this God is. 00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:59.220 Remember he's the Lord. 00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:00.340 Capital L, 00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:01.399 capital O, 00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:02.000 capital R, 00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:02.519 capital D. 00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:02.980 He's the God 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:03.539 who promises. 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.179 He's the God 00:13:04.179 --> 00:13:04.659 that delivers. 00:13:05.719 --> 00:13:06.759 And I know it's 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:07.919 looking bleak out here, 00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:09.019 but come on soul, 00:13:09.199 --> 00:13:10.799 remember who this God is. 00:13:12.599 --> 00:13:13.599 He will act. 00:13:13.719 --> 00:13:14.360 He will be faithful 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.139 to his promises. 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:16.279 And do you see 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:16.959 how these are 00:13:16.959 --> 00:13:18.459 the exact same words? 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:19.719 This is a total 00:13:19.719 --> 00:13:21.319 copy and paste job. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:22.699 Right? 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:24.139 This was the plagiarism check 00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:25.059 when you submit 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:25.939 your essay at uni. 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:27.159 This would be flagging up. 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:27.480 Right? 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.839 We've seen this before. 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:31.139 Three times we get it. 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:31.740 See verse, 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:32.220 sorry, 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:34.179 Psalm 42 verse 5. 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:37.819 Psalm 42 verse 11. 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:40.659 And here we go, 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:42.259 Psalm 43 verse 5. 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.500 Three times it's 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:46.240 exactly the same phrase. 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:47.740 And that tells us 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:48.759 something really important 00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:49.720 about the Christian life. 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:52.779 Our soul needs to hear 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:53.980 the same truths 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:54.840 from God's word 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:57.000 over and over 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:58.420 and over 00:13:58.420 --> 00:13:59.120 and over 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:00.100 again. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:01.840 Pride says, 00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:02.680 I've heard it before. 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:04.820 Humility says, 00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:06.200 I need it again. 00:14:07.420 --> 00:14:07.860 Over 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:09.019 and over 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:10.500 and over. 00:14:10.540 --> 00:14:11.019 What do they say 00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:11.720 about repetition? 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:12.840 It's the mother of all 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:14.480 education. 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:19.420 Here's his advice. 00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:20.420 This song, 00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:21.920 put it on your record player. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:24.639 This advice, 00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:25.259 why are you, 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:26.199 my soul, 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:26.879 so downcast? 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:27.839 Play it on repeat. 00:14:28.439 --> 00:14:29.240 Play it on repeat. 00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:30.199 Feel no embarrassment 00:14:30.199 --> 00:14:31.599 about putting it on repeat. 00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:32.559 My kids are always like that. 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:32.779 Dad, 00:14:32.819 --> 00:14:33.500 we've heard this song. 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.159 We heard another one. 00:14:34.219 --> 00:14:34.399 No. 00:14:35.079 --> 00:14:36.199 Let's hear the same one. 00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:39.199 Hope in God. 00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:40.099 That's what he's saying. 00:14:40.839 --> 00:14:41.419 In other words, 00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.339 remember soul 00:14:42.339 --> 00:14:43.379 because of who God is 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.240 and what he said is true. 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:44.719 One day, 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:46.000 all of this is going to pass 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:48.799 and I'll be home with God. 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:49.679 And here's the thing. 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:53.679 We can sing this today 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:54.679 ever so, 00:14:55.959 --> 00:14:56.679 so much more confidently 00:14:57.219 --> 00:14:58.299 than the psalmist here 00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:58.939 could sing this. 00:14:59.019 --> 00:14:59.519 Do you know why? 00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:02.059 Because that plea 00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:03.679 that the writer has made 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:04.859 away from home, 00:15:06.359 --> 00:15:06.679 God, 00:15:06.739 --> 00:15:07.919 would you send me 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:08.439 your light 00:15:08.439 --> 00:15:09.259 and your truth 00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.139 and would that light 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:10.559 and truth 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.759 lead me home to you? 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:14.639 We can say to ourselves 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.219 this morning 00:15:15.219 --> 00:15:16.620 that God has answered 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.339 that cry 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:19.519 and he's answered 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:20.259 that cry 00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:21.259 in the person 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.960 of the one 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:23.200 who called himself 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:24.320 the way, 00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:24.800 the truth 00:15:24.800 --> 00:15:25.460 and the life. 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.600 Jesus says that 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:29.060 about himself 00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:30.639 in John chapter 14. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.300 Do you want to 00:15:32.300 --> 00:15:32.940 skim there? 00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:34.200 You can turn there 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:35.540 to John chapter 14. 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:39.639 And it's a wonderful 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:41.279 chapter of John's gospel 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:42.399 and the context 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:44.480 is that Jesus 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.339 has just told 00:15:45.339 --> 00:15:46.360 his 12 disciples 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:46.819 that 00:15:46.819 --> 00:15:48.659 having been with them 00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:49.519 for three years, 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:51.659 he's leaving them 00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:53.699 and he's going 00:15:53.699 --> 00:15:54.500 to his father 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:55.019 in heaven. 00:15:55.219 --> 00:15:56.620 So he's no longer 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.620 going to be physically 00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.379 with them. 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.759 And imagine the questions 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.980 flying about their minds 00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:02.679 at this point. 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:03.959 How are we going to cope 00:16:03.959 --> 00:16:05.299 when our main guy 00:16:05.299 --> 00:16:05.939 is not around? 00:16:07.199 --> 00:16:07.879 How are we going to 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.959 stand for him 00:16:08.959 --> 00:16:10.519 when he's not 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.259 by our side? 00:16:11.479 --> 00:16:11.959 How are we going to 00:16:11.959 --> 00:16:13.659 experience knowing him 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:15.539 when he's not physically 00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:16.799 with us anymore? 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:17.879 Will we ever get home? 00:16:20.359 --> 00:16:21.099 You see the disciples 00:16:21.099 --> 00:16:21.739 are panicking 00:16:21.739 --> 00:16:22.559 in John 14 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:23.259 but Jesus 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.359 isn't. 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:27.379 And he speaks 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:28.959 words of truth 00:16:28.959 --> 00:16:32.179 to troubled hearts. 00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:32.879 And if you see 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:33.639 is it verse 1 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.620 of chapter 14? 00:16:36.579 --> 00:16:37.279 Jesus says 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:38.059 do not be troubled. 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:41.059 And so when we cry 00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:41.579 why? 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:42.299 Why? 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:43.039 God? 00:16:43.219 --> 00:16:44.019 How long? 00:16:44.339 --> 00:16:44.679 Lord? 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:46.159 There are no sweeter 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:47.199 words for our souls 00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:48.099 to hear than Jesus 00:16:48.099 --> 00:16:48.599 saying 00:16:48.599 --> 00:16:50.739 don't be troubled. 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.299 And what makes 00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:53.959 those words more 00:16:53.959 --> 00:16:54.500 than just one 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.199 of those thinking 00:16:55.199 --> 00:16:55.919 of you cards 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:56.599 that you'd pick up 00:16:56.599 --> 00:16:57.500 in the card factory 00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:59.259 and gives them 00:16:59.259 --> 00:16:59.779 gravity 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:01.740 is that Jesus 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:03.120 says in John 14 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.220 that he goes 00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:06.839 to prepare a place 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:08.660 for us. 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.579 And before he's 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:13.339 talking about heaven 00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:13.899 what we need to 00:17:13.899 --> 00:17:14.859 understand is that 00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:15.740 place that he's 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.220 talking about 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:17.079 is the cross. 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.440 That's the place 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.119 where he's going 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:20.139 first and foremost. 00:17:20.399 --> 00:17:21.420 The place where he 00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:22.599 will willingly die 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:24.079 bearing the punishment 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.740 for all of our mistakes, 00:17:26.399 --> 00:17:27.319 all of our sin, 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:28.200 all of our shame, 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.360 all of our regrets. 00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:30.759 He goes there 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.980 to make us 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:32.960 right with God. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:34.779 It's there 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:35.519 that we are made 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.480 sons and daughters 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.600 adopted into the 00:17:37.600 --> 00:17:38.400 family of God 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:39.059 as the Spirit 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:39.700 is sent 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.420 to live inside 00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:40.779 of us. 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:41.759 Salvation 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:44.299 is all of him. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.700 It's all of him. 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.559 The psalmist 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.000 is saying 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.779 God it has to be 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:50.500 all of you 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.299 and Jesus 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:51.960 comes along 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:52.420 and says 00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:53.140 John 14 00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:53.900 do you know what? 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.580 It's going to be 00:17:54.580 --> 00:17:55.259 all of me. 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:57.740 salvation 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.460 is all of him. 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:00.000 I feel that burden 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.539 off of you 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:00.980 this morning. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:01.460 Salvation 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.180 is all of him. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.240 I like to think 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:03.900 of it like this 00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:04.420 when it comes 00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.160 to salvation. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.259 You know when you 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.039 go out with a friend 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.579 for dinner 00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:09.519 something to eat 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.059 and there's that 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:10.599 awkward moment 00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:11.339 when it comes 00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:12.960 to paying 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:15.099 and if you haven't 00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:15.980 agreed this in advance 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:16.799 what often happens 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.379 in those moments 00:18:17.379 --> 00:18:17.900 is just say 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:19.160 we're going to 00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:19.759 split it. 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:20.879 Yeah? 00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:21.700 We're going to split 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:22.119 the bill. 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:24.879 See when it 00:18:24.879 --> 00:18:25.759 comes to salvation 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.759 friends 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.519 we don't split 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:27.859 the bill 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.399 with Jesus. 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:30.919 This is all 00:18:30.919 --> 00:18:31.299 of him. 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:33.839 Jesus goes 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:34.679 to pay it all 00:18:34.679 --> 00:18:37.259 and because 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:37.699 he goes 00:18:37.699 --> 00:18:38.500 to the cross 00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:41.159 God vindicates 00:18:41.159 --> 00:18:41.559 him at the 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.119 resurrection 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:44.519 and 40 days 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.599 later he ascends 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.239 to heaven 00:18:46.239 --> 00:18:48.059 and do you not 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:48.699 love the intimate 00:18:48.699 --> 00:18:49.119 and homely 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:49.859 language that 00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:50.599 Jesus uses 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:51.239 to speak of 00:18:51.239 --> 00:18:51.500 heaven? 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.619 This is not 00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:53.900 the father's 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:54.359 hotel. 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.279 This isn't a 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:57.720 place where 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.460 guests check 00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:58.980 in, stay 00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.319 the night 00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:00.039 have breakfast 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.819 leave a review 00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:01.539 on TripAdvisor 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.140 and then check 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:02.640 out again. 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.700 This is the 00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.640 father's house. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.559 Children live 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:08.019 there with 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:08.599 their father. 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.359 I don't know 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:11.779 maybe home 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:12.099 for you 00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:12.839 wasn't a good 00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:13.519 place 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:15.119 when you were 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:15.619 growing up 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.019 and I'm 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:17.319 really sorry 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:17.880 to hear that 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.420 that was your 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.119 experience 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:19.859 but this will 00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.619 be everything 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:21.939 that we 00:19:21.939 --> 00:19:22.619 ever want 00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:23.219 in a home. 00:19:24.139 --> 00:19:24.539 A place 00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:25.199 of warmth, 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:25.619 a place 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:26.419 of protection, 00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:26.959 a place 00:19:26.959 --> 00:19:27.559 of communion, 00:19:27.699 --> 00:19:28.000 a place 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:28.579 of delight. 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.299 Of course 00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:29.879 in the bigger 00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:30.639 Bible story 00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:31.059 this is 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.519 everything 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.000 that Adam 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.319 and Eve 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:32.839 had, 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.159 Genesis 1 00:19:34.159 --> 00:19:34.939 and Genesis 2 00:19:34.939 --> 00:19:35.879 before sin 00:19:35.879 --> 00:19:36.539 entered the 00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:37.339 human equation. 00:19:38.479 --> 00:19:39.239 How often 00:19:39.239 --> 00:19:39.759 we think of 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:40.339 heaven as a 00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:40.779 place where 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.219 our dreams 00:19:41.219 --> 00:19:41.919 come true 00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:43.359 like heaven 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:43.739 is this 00:19:43.739 --> 00:19:44.539 never ending 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:45.879 round of golf 00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:46.500 or it's a 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.099 never ending 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:47.839 week long 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:48.739 shopping trip 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.339 in Milan. 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:50.539 What makes 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.099 heaven heaven 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:51.519 is what 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.240 Jesus says 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:52.859 about it 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:54.039 that one 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.420 day he 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.200 will return 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:57.339 and he 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:57.859 will take 00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.620 us to be 00:19:58.620 --> 00:20:00.599 with himself. 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.079 So what 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:03.680 makes heaven 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.140 heaven 00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:06.339 is the fact 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.019 that he's 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.359 there. 00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.420 Meanwhile 00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:11.180 Thomas chips 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:11.740 in at verse 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.180 5, 00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:13.039 Lord how 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:13.500 will we 00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:13.880 know the 00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:14.220 way? 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.660 So we're 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:16.960 going to be 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.519 away from 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:17.700 you, 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.000 we're going 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.180 to be 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:18.880 away from 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:20.059 our home. 00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:21.860 How are 00:20:21.860 --> 00:20:22.299 we going 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:22.580 to know 00:20:22.580 --> 00:20:22.960 the way? 00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:23.600 So he's 00:20:23.600 --> 00:20:23.860 out with 00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.220 his map 00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:24.460 and his 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:24.779 compass, 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.200 he's 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:25.420 wanting 00:20:25.420 --> 00:20:26.220 GPS 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:28.140 digits 00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:29.480 and Jesus 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:29.880 says 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.700 unashamedly 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.039 and yet 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:31.840 unreservedly 00:20:31.840 --> 00:20:32.380 that he 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:32.960 is the 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.240 way, 00:20:33.840 --> 00:20:34.299 the truth 00:20:34.299 --> 00:20:34.620 and the 00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:34.840 life. 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.039 You've 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:35.240 got to 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:35.620 notice the 00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:35.880 definite 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:36.620 article there. 00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:38.080 He's 00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:38.539 the way, 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:39.960 the truth 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:40.500 and the 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:40.799 life. 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:41.259 So Jesus 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:41.840 doesn't give 00:20:41.840 --> 00:20:42.360 Thomas a 00:20:42.360 --> 00:20:42.960 postcode. 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:45.700 As it were 00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.059 he gives 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.660 him a 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.100 person. 00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:49.519 And he 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:49.860 says, 00:20:50.100 --> 00:20:50.559 look at 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:50.860 me. 00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:53.460 You see, 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.019 Jesus is 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.440 the light 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:54.700 and the 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.340 truth sent 00:20:55.340 --> 00:20:55.740 from the 00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.100 Father. 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:57.519 He is 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:57.940 the light 00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:58.220 and the 00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:58.720 truth that's 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.220 mentioned in 00:20:59.220 --> 00:20:59.779 this psalm. 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.420 He is 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:02.660 the one 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:02.980 who has 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:04.539 acted and 00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:04.980 he is the 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:05.279 one who 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:05.840 will return 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:06.460 one day 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.660 to take 00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:08.319 us home. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.519 And so 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.019 see when we're 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.819 downcast, 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.400 see when we're 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.000 lying on that 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:13.400 canvas, 00:21:13.580 --> 00:21:13.880 see when we're 00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:14.460 wondering if 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:15.779 we can get 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.259 back up 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:16.640 again. 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:17.680 The 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.100 psalmist 00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:18.880 pep talk 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:19.579 to himself 00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:20.120 is hope 00:21:20.120 --> 00:21:20.640 in God. 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.220 For us, 00:21:25.620 --> 00:21:26.279 this side of 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.720 the cross 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.120 are waiting 00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:27.620 for Jesus' 00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:28.279 return. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:29.880 Filled with 00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:30.420 the spirit, 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.279 the advice 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.039 to us is to 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:34.380 look to 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:34.799 Christ. 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.200 All eyes 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:37.579 on him. 00:21:39.100 --> 00:21:39.759 Why, my 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.240 soul, are you 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.779 downcast? 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.660 Why so 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.319 disturbed within 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:42.460 me? 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:42.779 Put your 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.140 hope in 00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:43.400 God. 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:44.759 Lift your 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.079 eyes to 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.420 Christ. 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:45.880 Remember 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.299 who he 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:48.079 is and 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.400 remember 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:48.920 where he 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:49.240 is. 00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.299 Just as we 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:51.860 finish, let's 00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:52.380 just close on 00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:52.860 that note. 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.579 There was a 00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.160 story once 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:54.680 told of 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:56.319 Charles 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:56.840 Spurgeon, 00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:58.880 a famous 00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.440 preacher down 00:21:59.440 --> 00:21:59.819 in London 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.440 in the 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:01.519 early, 00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:02.200 mid-18th 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.579 century. 00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.000 He once 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.279 did a 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.500 kids' 00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:04.700 talk and 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:04.880 he got 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:05.019 the 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.360 children 00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:06.240 to gather 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.240 around and 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:07.819 he had 00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.100 on the 00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:08.460 stage a 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:09.100 big bucket 00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:09.559 of water 00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.100 and he 00:22:10.100 --> 00:22:10.579 said to 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:10.940 one of 00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.259 the kids, 00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:11.840 I want 00:22:11.840 --> 00:22:12.059 you to 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.340 put your 00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:12.799 hands in 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.039 it for 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:13.359 30 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:13.839 seconds. 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:15.619 So they 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:15.859 put their 00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:16.139 hands in 00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:16.319 it for 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:16.619 30 00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:17.199 seconds and 00:22:17.199 --> 00:22:17.480 then he 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.339 asks them 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:19.899 to everyone 00:22:19.899 --> 00:22:20.379 watching, 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.059 can anyone 00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.779 tell me why 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.299 that child 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:22.939 hasn't drowned? 00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:25.220 And of 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:25.500 course the 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.099 answer that 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:26.599 the little 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.059 girl did 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:27.399 who was 00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:27.859 doing the 00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:28.319 demonstration 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:28.779 said, 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.359 it's because 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:29.799 my head's 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.019 not in 00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:30.399 the water. 00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.119 And he 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:33.899 said precisely 00:22:33.899 --> 00:22:35.019 because if 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:35.480 your head's 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:35.899 alive, 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:37.859 it doesn't 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:38.299 matter if the 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:38.759 rest of you 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.099 is in the 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:39.319 water. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.000 What the 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.439 most important 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:41.779 thing is 00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.080 where your 00:22:42.080 --> 00:22:42.580 head is. 00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.240 And I 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.559 just find 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:44.880 that little 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.360 illustration, 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:45.980 see when I'm 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.240 in these 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:46.720 places of 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:47.539 being downcast, 00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:48.019 I just find 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.400 that so 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.039 helpful to 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.600 remember that 00:22:49.600 --> 00:22:50.120 our head, 00:22:50.360 --> 00:22:50.640 Jesus, 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.500 he's there. 00:22:53.840 --> 00:22:54.240 Right? 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.200 He's victorious, 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:55.880 he's there. 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.360 So I might be 00:22:57.360 --> 00:22:58.240 struggling down 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.880 here, I might 00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.759 be weary, I 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.259 might be weak 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.799 down here, but 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.440 he says look to 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.220 me, look where 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.600 I am. 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:03.960 I'm victorious 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.480 at God's 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:05.000 right hand. 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.460 I've paid for 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.120 your sin on the 00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:07.580 cross, you're 00:23:07.580 --> 00:23:08.259 mine, I've 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.660 bought you to 00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:09.160 myself and I've 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:09.940 sent my spirit, 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:11.120 my spirit lives 00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:11.700 in you so 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.160 that you can 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.200 know, you 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.880 can know the 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:14.720 future as hard 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.240 as it gets 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:15.960 down here, you 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:17.299 can know who 00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.600 I am, you 00:23:18.600 --> 00:23:19.660 can know communion 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:21.140 with me and you 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:21.519 can know the 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.380 glorious future 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:23.120 that's ahead of 00:23:23.120 --> 00:23:23.400 you. 00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.840 Because one day 00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:27.440 what happened to 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.120 Jesus in the eyes 00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:28.600 of the watching 00:23:28.600 --> 00:23:29.400 world when he 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:30.140 was vindicated, 00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:32.180 when he returns 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:32.920 friends, the same 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.519 thing will happen 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.039 to us. 00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.140 If our trust is in 00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:36.940 him today, we will 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.920 be vindicated in the 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.720 eyes of the watching 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.140 world. 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.660 When our king 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:41.960 returns, evil will 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:43.860 be banished, sin 00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:44.600 will be a distant 00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:47.120 memory, tears will 00:23:47.120 --> 00:23:48.980 be redundant, doctors 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:50.059 will be unemployed, 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.319 death will no longer 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:57.240 be a thing and we 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.940 will be physically 00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:59.180 with the God who is 00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:01.299 our delight and our 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:01.600 joy. 00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:03.759 You know, no one 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.700 puts this better than 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.620 English hymn writer 00:24:05.620 --> 00:24:07.319 Charles Wesley in his 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:10.579 song and can it be. 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.639 And let me just 00:24:12.639 --> 00:24:13.259 finish with this. 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:14.659 This is his chorus. 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:17.379 No condemnation now 00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:17.980 I dread. 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:20.859 Jesus and all in 00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:21.819 him is mine. 00:24:23.179 --> 00:24:24.799 Alive in him my 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:25.720 living head and 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.379 clothed in 00:24:26.379 --> 00:24:27.559 righteousness divine. 00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:29.439 Bold I approach 00:24:29.439 --> 00:24:30.579 the eternal throne 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:32.359 and claim the crown 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.599 through Christ my own. 00:24:33.659 --> 00:24:36.079 Amazing love, how can 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:38.359 it be that thou my 00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:40.799 God should die for 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.059 me. 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:42.639 Let me pray. 00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:49.539 And so Father we 00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.379 thank you so much for 00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:51.240 your word this 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:51.559 morning. 00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.259 Thank you that we 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:54.139 have it in our own 00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:55.159 language that we can 00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:56.119 pick up, read, 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:58.460 understand and know 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.139 who you are. 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.059 Thank you that you're a 00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:02.159 God who is delighted 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.380 to reveal yourself. 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:06.060 And you still speak 00:25:06.060 --> 00:25:06.940 through what you have 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.400 spoken. 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.880 And so Father I pray 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:10.820 for any of my 00:25:10.820 --> 00:25:11.940 brothers and sisters 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.180 here this morning who 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.140 are downcast. 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:17.220 For whatever reason 00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:18.440 Lord and we're all 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.259 there at some point 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.220 that we're just low 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:23.019 and maybe we're weary 00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:25.440 and maybe we're 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:25.940 doubting. 00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.960 Maybe we're full of 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:29.420 questions and so Lord I 00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:30.340 pray that by your 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:31.939 spirit as your word 00:25:31.939 --> 00:25:33.119 goes forth as it does 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.079 its work in our 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.539 lives. 00:25:35.699 --> 00:25:36.439 Lord that we would 00:25:36.439 --> 00:25:37.339 leave here today 00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:38.679 knowing that you're a 00:25:38.679 --> 00:25:39.799 God who invites us to 00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:41.000 come to you with our 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.579 questions. 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.939 But knowing that you 00:25:43.939 --> 00:25:44.659 are a God who has 00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:45.899 wonderfully answered 00:25:45.899 --> 00:25:47.299 that prayer of the 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:48.259 psalmist to send out 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.899 your light and your 00:25:48.899 --> 00:25:49.199 truth. 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:50.359 And so Father I pray 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.899 Lord that we would be 00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:53.079 captivated this morning 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:55.519 with the glory of the 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.500 one who said that he is 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.359 the way, the truth and 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.759 the life. 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:59.339 Help the eyes of our 00:25:59.339 --> 00:26:01.759 hearts be fixed on him. 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:04.039 So Lord we thank you 00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:05.640 for your commitment and 00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:07.079 your steadfast love to us 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.799 this morning and we pray 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.779 all of these things in 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:11.079 Jesus' precious name. 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.200 Amen.