WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.340 Let's pray. 00:00:04.339 --> 00:00:04.860 Heavenly Father, this morning we come to you with complete confidence in your character, 00:00:04.860 --> 00:00:16.780 ! Heavenly Father, this morning we come to you with complete confidence in your character, 00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:23.080 ! In your sufficiency, in the word that you've given to us, in the word that you've given to us, 00:00:23.080 --> 00:00:28.660 in the indwelling spirit in the life of each believer. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:41.000 In the promises that you have given to us that hold us and strengthen us in the moments of challenge and darkness. 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:47.719 And I, along with this dear people, 00:00:47.719 --> 00:01:00.100 trust you and call upon your name to make your word clear, 00:01:00.100 --> 00:01:07.980 convicting, strengthening, and Christ-exalting. 00:01:08.980 --> 00:01:12.099 We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:12.099 --> 00:01:14.099 Amen. 00:01:14.099 --> 00:01:18.759 I'd like you to turn in your Bibles this morning to Isaiah chapter 60. 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:28.620 By way of explanation, a reminder that the purpose of preaching 00:01:28.620 --> 00:01:34.560 is rooted in the great responsibility of making the word of God clear. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:41.460 doing so through the power of the Spirit of God for the glory of Christ. 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:47.280 And I read that to you not just to kind of give an introductory statement, 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:49.700 but to tell you right up front what I'm here to do. 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:57.840 My desire is to lift up Jesus and do so clearly that you walk out of here with confidence 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:02.939 an abiding trust in His finished work on the cross. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:06.600 Saturday. 00:02:08.140 --> 00:02:12.000 And I have been making numerous trips to Home Depot. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:14.120 Some of you know that I'm a permanent remodeler. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:18.840 When I die, I'm going to the place that's finished and somebody else did the work. 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:23.400 And I got to tell you, I like that idea. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:29.000 But I am checking out. 00:02:30.099 --> 00:02:32.140 One young guy says to me, how are you doing? 00:02:33.180 --> 00:02:34.099 You know what I said, right? 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:36.520 Any better than I'd be dead. 00:02:38.460 --> 00:02:40.780 Guy got this really quizzical look on his face. 00:02:40.780 --> 00:02:43.879 He's like, are you saying that? 00:02:44.819 --> 00:02:45.879 Let me see. 00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:49.259 Are you glad you're not dead? 00:02:49.340 --> 00:02:50.199 I said, well, yeah, I was. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:50.639 I was okay. 00:02:50.759 --> 00:02:52.060 But I said, that's not what I said. 00:02:52.139 --> 00:02:54.319 What I said is, any better than I'd be dead. 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:58.879 That just took it further into the dark. 00:02:59.019 --> 00:03:02.120 I mean, what do you mean? 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:08.939 I said, well, the truth of the matter is, is when I die, I'm going to heaven and I'm going to see Jesus. 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:13.879 And today doesn't compare with that time. 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:21.659 And, you know, the reason I could say that with absolute confidence, do you understand that? 00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:38.060 Real confidence is because the God who is my Lord and Savior, the Lord Jesus who is my Redeemer, keeps every one of his promises. 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:42.280 He makes a promise. 00:03:44.780 --> 00:03:49.560 Now, by the way, you have to parse the fact that he doesn't make all the promises to the same people exactly the right. 00:03:49.800 --> 00:03:52.020 But when he makes a promise to me, he keeps it. 00:03:52.020 --> 00:03:58.380 His unconditional promises, I rest on and I have confidence in. 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:04.240 And that's the reason that Saturday when I was speaking to the young man there, I could say, any better than I'd be dead. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:18.620 Because when I die and I leave this place, I am going to see the Lord Jesus face to face and I will delight myself in his presence beyond my present imagination. 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:33.459 And when we come to Isaiah chapter 60, we're looking at a compressed portion of text that tells us about our promise keeping God. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:48.699 I admit that one of the challenges of interpreting the book of Isaiah is dealing with the question of what happens to the nation of Israel. 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:59.000 And does God actually keep his promises to Abraham and to the people that he promised the things that we read of so often in the Old Testament? 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:15.079 And so as we step into this passage, I want to kind of bring together, first of all, kind of the overview of the ugly reality of the nation of Israel's difficulties and hardness. 00:05:15.740 --> 00:05:19.519 How many of you have ever read through the book of Judges and thought to yourself, really? 00:05:20.980 --> 00:05:22.500 Or just try this. 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:30.399 You've worked your way through the care that God gave to the nation of Israel after he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:38.500 Remember how willing they were to obey him in everything and how enthusiastic they were in following God and just really tender hearts towards God. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:39.040 Isn't that right? 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:40.660 No. 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:45.699 And you think to yourself, how in the world could God put up with them? 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:50.639 Until you wake up and look at yourself in the mirror and think, I'm really glad. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:53.159 You know, he was faithful to them. 00:05:53.479 --> 00:05:55.240 I can trust him to be faithful to me. 00:05:56.180 --> 00:06:02.500 And Isaiah gives us a reason to have confidence in our promise-keeping God. 00:06:03.339 --> 00:06:11.279 Now, I want you to, by way of background, take a look at the point of hope for Israel by turning back just for a moment to Isaiah chapter 59. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:12.919 You're there in 60. 00:06:13.159 --> 00:06:14.800 You don't have to go very far back. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:17.879 But look at Isaiah 59, verse 20 and 21. 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:21.540 And a redeemer will come to Zion. 00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:50.439 Now, stop and think with me just for a moment about what we've learned so far in the book of Isaiah. 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:56.680 Isaiah, namely in relationship to his prophetic utterances to the land of Israel, to the nation of Israel. 00:06:57.100 --> 00:07:00.079 What kind of people populated that land? 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:03.180 A pretty disobedient, hard-headed group. 00:07:03.259 --> 00:07:03.680 Isn't that right? 00:07:04.459 --> 00:07:07.579 And he had every reason to deal with them. 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:12.060 And eventually, he dealt with them with unbelievable firmness. 00:07:12.220 --> 00:07:14.360 And he sent them off into the land of captivity. 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:17.699 And he was very firm in his discipline with them. 00:07:19.180 --> 00:07:20.600 But here are promises made. 00:07:21.960 --> 00:07:26.920 A redeemer will come to Zion and to those in Jacob who turned from transgression. 00:07:27.080 --> 00:07:32.639 There is something that's going to happen that is supernatural and something that is not earned or deserved. 00:07:34.180 --> 00:07:35.259 God's going to do something. 00:07:35.259 --> 00:07:44.019 And when you stop and think about it, when you think about the word redeemer, you're recognizing that it suggests to us that there's somebody who's in a mess and needs help. 00:07:45.019 --> 00:07:46.879 A redeemer is someone who rescues. 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:49.099 A redeemer is someone who delivers. 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:55.199 A redeemer is someone who comes into the picture when all is lost and there's nothing that you can lean upon. 00:07:55.339 --> 00:07:57.060 And then the redeemer arrives. 00:07:57.060 --> 00:08:04.339 The value of a redeemer is not seen when everything is going well and there are no difficulties. 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:10.360 The value of the redeemer is seen in brokenness and in heartache and in difficulty. 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:24.720 So here, at the cusp of the change between the history of Israel and the promises of God, we find here that this nation which had drifted away into idolatry 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:37.620 and who had endured the firm judgment of God, nevertheless, is given this promise and this hope that there will be a day when God will do something spectacular for his people 00:08:37.620 --> 00:08:39.399 and according to his promise. 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:47.600 So here we have, we know, we know God will not break his promises. 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:50.960 And that's kind of an underlying theme that I want you to hold on to this morning. 00:08:51.180 --> 00:08:59.860 And really it's something that when you walk out of here, if you are here this morning and you are a believer, one of the things that should be an abiding confidence to you 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:04.759 and an encouragement to your soul is this, is the one who has redeemed you is going to keep his promises. 00:09:05.580 --> 00:09:06.480 He's not going to break them. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:17.560 I was thinking of illustration of dealing with little kids and one of the things I have a tendency to do, putting out my hand and they smack my hand and they smack my hand and they smack. 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:19.300 What do I do eventually? 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:22.799 Pastor Andrew, you've got a good spirit. 00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:23.459 I like that. 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:24.899 He's a little bit of a tease. 00:09:24.959 --> 00:09:25.620 I can tell that. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:28.579 He's tamped down because he's going to be a senior pastor in a couple months here. 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:32.059 But, you know, you let him hit it three or four times and then what do you do? 00:09:34.359 --> 00:09:35.019 Atticus, you're right. 00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:35.759 You pull it away. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:40.960 God never does that to us. 00:09:41.019 --> 00:09:41.840 Do you understand that? 00:09:43.139 --> 00:09:45.779 When he makes a promise, he follows through with it. 00:09:45.819 --> 00:09:47.259 He doesn't mess with us ever. 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:57.279 Now, by the way, a little sidebar on that is that God's promises to his children are that he will get you home. 00:09:58.419 --> 00:09:59.500 You like that, don't you? 00:10:00.460 --> 00:10:05.439 But a little part of that promise is he'll get you home if he has to put the hurt to you to get your attention. 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:13.059 You don't realize that sometimes, but if you're sitting here and you're a child of God and you drift left of center, trust me. 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:15.620 He'll work to help you. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:19.899 And so my advice to you, kind of a little note on the side, is don't mess. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:24.919 Trust his promises and follow his word. 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:28.299 Walk in obedience and humility and don't mess things up. 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:36.960 And the reason I bring that to you is because Israel had struggled with obedience and trust and they brought a lot of heartache into their lives. 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:39.100 God dropped the hammer on them. 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:45.139 And yet here he is letting them know that he will redeem them. 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:54.360 It's interesting to notice that this passage, actually, that I read there in Isaiah chapter 59, appears elsewhere in the Scriptures. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:57.399 And so I want you to...we'll be there for a while. 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:01.120 So go ahead and turn to Romans chapter 12. 00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:03.100 Romans chapter 12. 00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:23.759 By the way, when you find a passage being recited in another place in the Bible, it's an indication that the previous passage has bearing on the argument or the case that is being presented in the next passage. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:26.720 And so we're in Romans chapter...did I say 12? 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:27.439 I meant 11. 00:11:28.179 --> 00:11:30.679 Romans chapter 11, verse 26 and 27. 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:31.620 Let me read it to you. 00:11:32.939 --> 00:11:36.980 And in this way, all Israel will be saved as it is written. 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:41.960 And what you find next is the very passage out of Isaiah chapter 59. 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:44.040 The Deliverer will come from Zion. 00:11:44.160 --> 00:11:45.920 He will banish ungodliness from Jacob. 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:49.900 And this will be my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins. 00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:55.940 The larger context of the ministry that Isaiah had prophetically. 00:11:56.379 --> 00:12:07.820 Now, it is important for us to recognize that when Paul recited this passage from Isaiah, he had a reason for doing it. 00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:15.879 The book of Romans is a book that lays out God's glory in salvation. 00:12:17.540 --> 00:12:27.600 And the starting point of helping us realize God's glory in salvation is the recognition of the absolute darkness and depravity of our hearts. 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:28.480 Do you realize that? 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:32.580 People don't get saved without coming to grips with the darkness of their soul. 00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:44.300 And that's one of the reasons that you have the first three chapters of Romans argue very clearly for the reality of the hardness and darkness of men's souls. 00:12:44.560 --> 00:12:48.759 So that they can hear also the message of salvation in Christ. 00:12:49.540 --> 00:12:51.540 You work your way through the book of Romans. 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:54.740 And after Romans chapter 8, it begins now with this statement. 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:58.340 There is now therefore no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. 00:12:58.440 --> 00:12:58.900 Isn't that right? 00:12:59.400 --> 00:13:02.080 Hey, if you're saved, the case is closed. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:02.960 It's done. 00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:06.700 In the court of heaven, you are redeemed for all eternity. 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:10.360 And you can look forward to the day that you're going to see him face to face. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:15.440 The argument also follows on in beginning there in Romans chapter 8, verse 28. 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:16.400 It says what? 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:17.800 All things work together. 00:13:17.900 --> 00:13:20.240 How many of you going through things that you're wondering, is this good? 00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:22.000 Is this good? 00:13:23.020 --> 00:13:23.320 Yeah. 00:13:23.980 --> 00:13:31.800 It says all things work together for good to those that are called according to his purpose and those that love God or are loved by him. 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:35.120 So here we have this ongoing argument. 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.379 God saves us. 00:13:37.459 --> 00:13:41.099 He grants us the blessing of peace with him. 00:13:41.339 --> 00:13:45.620 And he will never stop loving us. 00:13:47.219 --> 00:13:48.179 I want you to think about that. 00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:51.219 I want you to think about that. 00:13:51.220 --> 00:14:00.560 God will never change his mind in relationship to you who have been called by him and loved by him. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:02.440 That's a pretty neat promise, isn't it? 00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:08.060 But when you think about that, the very next thought that you have to ask yourself is, really? 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:16.060 Paul takes three chapters to prove the unconditional, unchangeable love of God, 00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:22.220 and he does so by bringing your attention to the nation of Israel. 00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:22.620 What? 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:28.420 You really don't change your mind? 00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:34.420 You really continue loving people like them, like me? 00:14:35.160 --> 00:14:41.180 Three chapters give us a picture of God's love for the nation of Israel. 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:55.459 And what you find in Romans 9, 10, and 11 is this clear argument that our confidence in our salvation can rest in the sovereign faithfulness of God to the nation. 00:14:55.460 --> 00:15:06.560 Paul takes great pains to show us that though God has dealt with the nation of Israel and with their rebellious heart incredibly firmly, 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:09.759 nevertheless, he's going to keep his promises and are going to redeem them. 00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:20.340 Now, with that in mind, I want you to next look at a promise that was made to Abraham that we actually find over in Isaiah being fulfilled. 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:28.740 And in Genesis chapter 12, I want you to mark the very first promise made in relationship to the nation of Israel. 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:30.000 Now, here, follow me. 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:34.899 Why is it important to track the promises of God? 00:15:36.300 --> 00:15:37.420 Why is it? 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:43.120 Because we find ourselves in a regular situation where we wonder, 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:45.700 is God a promise-keeping God? 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:48.160 Is this going to work out well? 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:50.980 Well, every one of us here, 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:54.639 struggling with adversity and hardship and difficulty, 00:15:54.939 --> 00:15:57.419 and life is not the way we would like it. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:00.519 But do we know how the story ends? 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:05.379 I believe we do because of who God is and because of the promises that he's made. 00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:07.299 So in Genesis chapter 12, 00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:12.579 I want you to mark the promise that God made to Abraham. 00:16:12.699 --> 00:16:14.279 By the way, how did Abraham start out? 00:16:14.339 --> 00:16:14.899 Does anybody know? 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:16.639 Hey, listen up. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:18.039 He was a really neat guy. 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:20.659 He just, he had a heart for God. 00:16:20.959 --> 00:16:23.219 He was just all over being spiritual. 00:16:23.819 --> 00:16:24.879 Is that the truth? 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:29.059 He was just an ordinary pagan, and God called him. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:32.759 And so here, we work our way through the story. 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:34.759 And in Genesis chapter 12, it says, 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.939 Now the Lord said to Abraham, 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:40.580 Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:47.000 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.600 so that you will be a blessing. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:53.679 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse. 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:58.399 And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 00:16:59.939 --> 00:17:03.559 I want you to recognize here in these promises that is made to Abraham, 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:06.700 they kind of break down into three different parts that I want you to recognize. 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:11.139 Number one, God promised a land to the descendants of Abraham. 00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:17.660 This promise is explained more completely in Genesis chapter 15. 00:17:17.780 --> 00:17:21.920 We're not going to look at it in detail, but recognize that in Genesis chapter 15, 00:17:22.320 --> 00:17:28.940 the boundaries of the land that God said he would give to Abraham are clearly stipulated. 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:33.820 You can Google it, and you can check and say, 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:37.140 Hey, what is the land that God promised? 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.640 What are the boundaries of that? 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:40.380 And you'll get an idea of it. 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:47.840 Incidentally, the covenant that God made with Abraham was not conditional. 00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.700 It was unconditional. 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:52.700 Let me make a distinction so you follow along with me here. 00:17:52.700 --> 00:18:00.880 A conditional contract or a covenant is a little bit like the one you make with your mortgage company. 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:02.920 What's that contract like? 00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.220 You make a covenant. 00:18:05.100 --> 00:18:08.960 Hey, I get to live in this house, but I have to make monthly payments. 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:11.380 What happens if you stop making monthly payments? 00:18:12.620 --> 00:18:15.100 Eventually, they invite you to leave. 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:19.019 And if you don't leave under invitation, 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:25.980 they will help you by moving your stuff out and setting it on the street or on the curb. 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.799 Got that? 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:28.839 Same thing with a car. 00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:32.119 They say, You can buy that car. 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:34.920 You make X number of dollar monthly payment. 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:38.400 And what happens if you don't make the payment? 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:41.660 I was driving through my neighborhood a little while back, 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:48.099 and I saw this guy working his truck up to the car that was sitting on the curb. 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:52.180 And I noticed that he was a little nervous about doing it. 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:56.119 And I actually, being a conversationalist that I am, I said, Hey, what are you doing? 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:59.079 He said, Well, I'm picking up this car. 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:02.039 I said, Is there something wrong with it? 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:03.579 He says, No, they just didn't make the payments. 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:04.839 Ah. 00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:07.420 That's a conditional covenant. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:08.980 You keep your part. 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:09.920 I'll keep my part. 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:15.980 An unconditional covenant is one in which there's no two parties agreeing to everything. 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:19.800 There's one party that says, I'm going to do this. 00:19:20.140 --> 00:19:22.160 Let me give you an illustration of an unconditional covenant. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:25.480 Here's what I said to my wife. 00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:28.460 48 years ago almost. 00:19:28.600 --> 00:19:29.019 Yeah, 48. 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:37.539 I said, I will love you in sickness and in health until death do us part. 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:41.000 That's unconditional. 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:43.279 There's no qualifier in it. 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:47.940 I'll love you so long as you love me and you bring me breakfast in bed and blah, blah, blah. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.599 You know, no. 00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:50.960 This is me. 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:52.079 I'm doing it. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:20:01.960 And here is God saying to Abraham, Genesis chapter 12, I am going to keep my promise to you and I'm going to give you a land. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:07.480 Has this promise been met completely? 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:10.339 Not yet. 00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:13.019 Number two. 00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:16.980 God also promised a nation to Abraham. 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:18.119 Going back there. 00:20:19.159 --> 00:20:19.559 Verse two. 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:22.359 I will make of you a great nation. 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:26.099 By the way, Abraham at that point was 75. 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:34.279 Now, I'm not going to get into biology, but 75 is kind of stretching it for being a daddy. 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:42.119 And here is God saying to Abraham, who had been childless for all these years, many years. 00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:46.139 Someday, you're going to be a great nation. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.500 His answer was, yeah, right. 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:47.819 Really? 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:47.899 Really? 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:51.339 Where's the start to all of this? 00:20:54.059 --> 00:21:05.539 And yet, we find that God kept his promise and made a great nation of Abraham and his offspring spread all over the world. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:14.919 Furthermore, God promised that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through God's blessing to Abraham. 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:16.920 How was that? 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:18.200 How is that? 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:32.160 Well, to help you think it through in broad terms, you understand that it was through the seed of Abraham that God brought David and brought ultimately our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:36.320 He came through Abraham's line. 00:21:36.320 --> 00:21:48.180 And so here we have, and I want you to see the picture, against the backdrop of the ugliness of the absolute spiritual failure of Israel. 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:56.920 God says to his people that he is chastising and he's disciplining, I am going to keep my promise. 00:21:56.920 --> 00:22:09.400 I remind you, the promises of God are cast in particularly neat light against the backdrop of some of the hardest moments of our life. 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.160 Do you understand that? 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:17.779 I want to say that to you who are sitting here today and your life is marked by difficulty and hardship and things you didn't choose. 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:19.039 I encourage you to know this. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:24.059 God's promises are most precious against the backdrop of the hardship you're in. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:29.899 And I want to remind you that if he keeps his promise to the nation of Israel, he'll keep his promise to you. 00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:31.920 So here we are. 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:36.240 God says, you're going to have a land. 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:38.740 You're going to have children. 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:41.879 And you are going to be a blessing to other people. 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:45.860 And the full range of God's promise to Abraham is yet to be fulfilled. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:50.320 But do we believe that God is going to keep his promise? 00:22:50.760 --> 00:22:51.200 Absolutely. 00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:56.920 And it is because of that that we kind of step in now to the broad picture of Isaiah chapter 60. 00:22:57.220 --> 00:23:00.520 And I want you to look at the future blessings to the nation of Israel. 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:03.580 You look there at Isaiah chapter 60. 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:07.420 And we're not going to read all through the passage. 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:10.520 But in Isaiah chapter 60, beginning there in verse 1 and 2, it says, 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:15.559 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:22.240 I want you to recognize as you work your way through that, look at verse 4. 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:26.660 Lift up your eyes all around and see they all gather together. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.779 They come to you. 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:29.920 Your sons shall come from afar. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:33.160 What is God saying to the nation here? 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:38.920 And this is Isaiah making a promise to a group of people that are going to suffer great hardship. 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:44.759 He says, I want you to understand that the day is coming that God is going to fulfill his promises to Abraham, 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.200 and he's going to bless you. 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:46.820 How? 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:53.560 He is going to gather the dispersed people that he drove out because of the rebellion of their hearts. 00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:55.800 He's going to bring them back together again. 00:23:57.580 --> 00:24:00.620 God drove them from the land because of discipline. 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:08.259 He will regather them as a people from every corner of the world. 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:13.819 That has happened only in part, and it will happen in its entirety. 00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:16.719 And in doing so, people are going to look at this and say, 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:22.939 wow, this is God doing something unbelievable, and he's doing it according to his promise. 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:32.660 Why could I say to the man in Home Depot, my end is going to be better than the present? 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:34.900 It's because I know God keeps his promises. 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:41.400 And here we are being reminded, God says, listen, there will be a regathering of these dispersed people. 00:24:41.580 --> 00:24:44.039 Wherever they've been sent to, I'll bring them back. 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:47.120 Secondly, you look there in verse 9. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:49.319 It says, 00:24:49.319 --> 00:25:07.459 There will be a rejoicing in God's care for his people. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:09.879 Not only is he going to bring them back, 00:25:10.219 --> 00:25:15.000 but there are going to be people that rejoice together in the reality that he keeps his promises. 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:19.700 What value is it that God keeps his promises to other people? 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:22.099 Do you benefit from that? 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:23.359 Yes. 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.279 How do you benefit? 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:30.640 Because you have assurance that if he did it for them, he will do it for you. 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:36.740 I think about the song that we probably don't sing very often anymore. 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:40.079 It is no secret what God can do, what he's done for others. 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.940 He'll do for you. 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:48.980 And God, keeping his promise to the nation of Israel, reminds me that he will also keep his promise to me. 00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:50.640 He is going to fulfill his promises. 00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:55.840 He is not going to back away from bringing blessing to me, despite the hardness of my heart 00:25:55.840 --> 00:26:02.059 and the similarity I have between my life and pattern and the life of the nation of Israel. 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:13.339 Furthermore, I want you to recognize in the passage that the nation will honor God by delighting in his work for his people. 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:20.839 Mark what we find there in Isaiah chapter 60, looking at verse 19 through 21. 00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:25.599 Isaiah chapter 16, verse 19 through 21. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:30.559 The sun shall be no more, your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light. 00:26:30.639 --> 00:26:34.519 But the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:42.500 Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself, for the Lord will be your everlasting light. 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:45.099 And your days of mourning shall be ended. 00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:49.039 Your people shall all be righteous. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.819 They shall possess the land forever. 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:55.940 The branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified. 00:26:57.059 --> 00:27:04.220 And what will the response of others be when they see the hand of God in the life of his people? 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.559 They are going to rejoice. 00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:10.299 They're going to mark the success and the certainty of God who keeps his promises, 00:27:10.619 --> 00:27:13.339 and they're going to find pleasure and satisfaction in it. 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:24.599 I want you to turn over to Revelation and see what the future is going to be according to the promises of Scripture. 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:30.079 Go in your Bible to Revelation chapter 21, verse 23. 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:35.440 Revelation chapter 21. 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.819 Verse 23. 00:27:38.679 --> 00:27:46.940 There in Isaiah chapter 60, we have this assurance that God will keep his promises to his people. 00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:54.440 In Revelation chapter 21, we find out what that future is going to be. 00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:57.559 And mark what we read there in verse 23. 00:27:57.559 --> 00:28:05.319 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives its light, 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:08.319 and its lamp is the Lamb. 00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:17.779 By its lights will nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:23.240 and its gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there. 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:26.940 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:29.799 What's the future going to be like? 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:34.440 Stop and think with me just for a moment of how messy the day is that we live in. 00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:40.240 How unbelievably tense, marked by turmoil. 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:45.059 Everywhere you turn, you see good reason to be reasonably anxiety, 00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:49.319 anxiety or have a reasonable anxiety with the messiness of life. 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:51.619 Our government is not what you'd like. 00:28:51.659 --> 00:28:52.079 Am I right? 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:56.139 The neighborhoods that you live in are not as safe as you'd like. 00:28:57.279 --> 00:29:00.579 The job that you have, it's not as certain as you'd like. 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:05.139 The health that you enjoy is not what you hope. 00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:09.659 And everywhere we live, relationships, a struggle. 00:29:10.819 --> 00:29:11.519 Well, guess what? 00:29:11.699 --> 00:29:19.339 The day is coming when we will enjoy the fulfilled promises of God in every aspect of our life. 00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:26.419 And one of the proofs of that is what God did and is doing for the nation of Israel. 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:33.640 You mark there of how this story ends in Revelation. 00:29:34.320 --> 00:29:42.779 But I want you to turn to another passage to see a better picture of the promises God made to the nation of Israel in particular. 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:45.700 Go over to Jeremiah chapter 31. 00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:47.759 Jeremiah chapter 31. 00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:53.519 If you're in Isaiah, just kind of cut forward a little bit and go to Isaiah chapter 31 or Jeremiah 31. 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:55.640 Let me remind you of something. 00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:56.940 We had communion. 00:29:57.600 --> 00:29:58.600 Was it last week, Pastor? 00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.380 Yes, it was, right? 00:29:59.560 --> 00:29:59.759 Yeah. 00:30:00.320 --> 00:30:08.540 And if you're looking at the passage in 1 Corinthians 11, Jesus speaks of the new covenant, right? 00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:12.200 This cup is the new covenant in my blood. 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:14.800 What is the new covenant? 00:30:16.780 --> 00:30:18.600 Remember, covenant is a promise. 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:21.200 Basically, there are two kinds of promises. 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:21.400 There are promises. 00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:25.940 There are promises in which you agree and somebody else agrees. 00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:28.019 Or there's an unconditional covenant. 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:35.059 I want you to look at Isaiah or Jeremiah chapter 31 and go to 31 through 34. 00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:59.679 Now, stop for a moment. 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:03.600 God says the new covenant is going to be different than that covenant. 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:08.740 That covenant is one that they failed to keep. 00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:10.140 A reminder. 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:16.360 After God gave the Ten Commandments to the nation of Israel, if you were to go back into the book of Exodus, 00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:22.399 you would find there that after Moses read the covenant and the sacrifice was made, 00:31:22.639 --> 00:31:24.119 here's what the nation of Israel said. 00:31:24.479 --> 00:31:28.479 All that you have said we will do. 00:31:29.179 --> 00:31:30.039 How'd that go? 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:38.480 You read through the Pentateuch and you think, I can't believe it. 00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.859 I mean, you stop and think about it. 00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:45.299 Every morning when an Israelite got up, he had food that came from where? 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.159 Heaven. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:54.599 And every morning when he got up, he saw that there was a pillar of cloud, 00:31:54.659 --> 00:31:58.299 or there was a cloud over the tabernacle, or there was a pillar of fire by night. 00:31:58.299 --> 00:32:01.500 Do you think they had any doubt who was in charge and who was leading them? 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:01.879 No. 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:09.139 And yet, in their stubborn, dark hearts, they kept on rebelling, and God kept on caring for them. 00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:11.119 So here we are. 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:15.059 Jeremiah, I'm going to make a different covenant with you. 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.919 And in verse 33, 00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:40.460 Periodically, I end up in conversation with people who make professions of faith, 00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:45.500 faith, but they really have no evidence of faith. 00:32:45.600 --> 00:32:46.680 Do you follow what I'm talking about? 00:32:47.819 --> 00:32:52.019 I mean, it's still moderately popular to say, yes, I'm a believer, I'm a believer. 00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:56.720 But the truth of the matter is, there's no evidence. 00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:05.640 This passage is indicating that one of the genuine characteristics of a person who is a believer 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:08.200 is a connection with the Word of God. 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:13.700 There's an affection. 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:16.360 Not always, but there is, remember it says, 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:20.080 As newborn babes desiring the sincere milk of the Word, 00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:25.480 one of the things that I get into when I'm talking to a person about the authenticity of their faith, 00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:31.759 the question is, has there ever been a time when you were actually genuinely interested in the Word? 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:33.920 You were encouraged by it. 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:35.019 You were strengthened by it. 00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:36.420 You were convicted by it. 00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:39.220 You were connected to it. 00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:46.640 You know, it's one thing to read a letter from somebody you don't care. 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:50.900 It's another thing to read a letter from someone you really love. 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:54.059 Years ago, when we had a Christian school here, 00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:57.180 I remember walking across between the two buildings 00:33:57.180 --> 00:33:59.500 and finding a note folded up real small. 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:03.920 Now, being a person who grew up in boarding school, 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:06.680 there was a amount of a perverse curiosity in me, 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.980 so I opened it up. 00:34:09.780 --> 00:34:10.780 Oh, it was drippy. 00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:17.119 It was as sappy a note as I've read in some time. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:18.719 Of course, I haven't read many of those for a long time, 00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:20.219 but I remember reading it, 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:23.079 and so I had the nerve to take it to the young man and say, 00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:25.820 Hey, this probably belongs to you because your name's on it. 00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:31.080 When I read the letter, it didn't mean a thing to me. 00:34:31.740 --> 00:34:33.200 He turned all colors of red. 00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:33.720 You know, it was like, 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:37.780 But it meant a lot to him. 00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:42.220 So, coming back, here's God. 00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:43.340 Look at the passage. 00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:45.240 He says, Here's what I'm going to do. 00:34:45.239 --> 00:34:48.099 I'm going to put my law within you, 00:34:48.219 --> 00:34:50.299 and I'm going to write it on your hearts. 00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:55.739 Are there any of you here that have ever memorized Bible verses 00:34:55.739 --> 00:34:57.399 and they didn't mean a thing to you? 00:34:58.179 --> 00:35:01.759 You were just doing it because you wanted to play games in Awana 00:35:01.759 --> 00:35:04.739 or, you know, you got a prize in VBS or something like that, 00:35:04.739 --> 00:35:11.579 but then there have been those moments where adversity and hardship 00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:14.379 has just brought you brokenhearted to God, 00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:18.000 and the Word has touched and encouraged your heart 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:21.339 and lifted you up, and it's found a place, 00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:24.919 and it's been revival and encouragement, right? 00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:28.479 God says, Hey, this is what I'm going to do. 00:35:29.879 --> 00:35:33.419 And here he is talking to a people who he gave them the Word, 00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.900 and it just didn't connect, and he says, 00:35:35.180 --> 00:35:36.240 Here's what I'm going to do. 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.420 You don't need to worry about it. 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.940 I'm going to drive that business home. 00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:41.240 I'm going to get the Word in your life, okay? 00:35:41.860 --> 00:35:45.320 And verse 34, And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor 00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:47.639 and each his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they'll know me 00:35:47.639 --> 00:35:51.180 from the least of them to the greatest. 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:56.200 And then mark the last part, for I will forgive their iniquity, 00:35:56.200 --> 00:36:00.740 and I will remember their sins no more. 00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:06.639 I have been reading through the Scriptures, 00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:11.920 and I'm in the Psalms right now. 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:16.039 And one of the things that I've been kind of struck by 00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:25.119 is the psalmist talking about the sins of youth, okay? 00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:27.119 Forgive the sins of my youth. 00:36:27.200 --> 00:36:29.300 Don't remember my sins from my youth. 00:36:29.300 --> 00:36:34.700 And, boy, I don't know how many of you kind of think back. 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:37.700 Some of you are fairly young, are still in that youth part, 00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:40.300 and are kind of stacking up the crowd or the tally. 00:36:41.060 --> 00:36:43.420 But some of you are older, and you can remember, 00:36:43.720 --> 00:36:45.720 Oh, that wasn't smart. 00:36:46.700 --> 00:36:47.640 That was wicked. 00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:50.080 I mean, yeah. 00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:53.360 Here is God saying to His people. 00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:54.940 Look at that passage again. 00:36:54.940 --> 00:37:00.760 I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:09.019 One of the undeniable pleasures, pleasure that I have 00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:11.500 in talking to people about the Lord Jesus 00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:16.480 is I can look them in the eye, and I can tell them this. 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:20.760 I know the one who can forgive all of your sins 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:28.860 and take away the shame and guilt of the darkness of your heart. 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:35.619 You ever laid awake at night feeling bad about something, 00:37:36.860 --> 00:37:40.039 a lie you told, something you stole, 00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:43.059 a gross dishonesty, 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:47.360 manipulating someone else and taking something from them, 00:37:48.679 --> 00:37:49.340 immorality, 00:37:49.820 --> 00:37:54.519 and the burden of that darkness just eats away at your heart at night, 00:37:54.599 --> 00:37:56.860 and there really seems to be no recovery. 00:37:58.119 --> 00:37:59.099 You know what it says in the Bible? 00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:03.480 I will forgive all your sins. 00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:08.179 I will take away that burden and that sin. 00:38:08.179 --> 00:38:10.659 And here we are, 00:38:11.379 --> 00:38:17.179 understanding that God made promises to the nation of Israel 00:38:17.179 --> 00:38:19.399 and God is going to keep them. 00:38:20.419 --> 00:38:24.739 Now, His unconditional covenant to Abraham 00:38:24.739 --> 00:38:27.059 and to the nation of Israel 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:32.539 gives us confidence in His unconditional covenant with us. 00:38:32.539 --> 00:38:39.659 We are a people that do believe in salvation being something 00:38:39.659 --> 00:38:41.239 that when we are saved, 00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:43.779 we don't have to sit in constant anxiety 00:38:43.779 --> 00:38:46.059 about whether or not we're going to make it home. 00:38:48.300 --> 00:38:51.460 I bump into people periodically and, 00:38:51.739 --> 00:38:53.360 you know, hey, if you were to die tonight 00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:55.179 and God were to ask you why He should let you into heaven, 00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:55.860 what would you say? 00:38:56.199 --> 00:38:57.099 Well, I don't know. 00:38:57.940 --> 00:38:59.519 I'm trying the best I can. 00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:01.920 Have you ever heard that answer? 00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.980 I'm trying the best I can. 00:39:04.920 --> 00:39:07.380 Well, I am thankful that my getting home 00:39:07.380 --> 00:39:10.360 does not have anything to do with me trying the best I can. 00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:15.300 My confidence rests in the finished work of Christ, 00:39:15.380 --> 00:39:16.099 not in mine. 00:39:17.460 --> 00:39:21.780 And Jeremiah reminds me of that work of God. 00:39:22.780 --> 00:39:25.659 Let me bring you to the last part that I want you to see. 00:39:25.659 --> 00:39:28.599 Go back to Isaiah chapter 60 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:31.819 and see the blessing to the nations. 00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:35.679 Do other people get blessed 00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:40.219 when Israel is blessed? 00:39:41.500 --> 00:39:45.019 Well, God told Abraham that that's the way it would work. 00:39:46.619 --> 00:39:49.899 Incidentally, as a corollary to that, 00:39:50.420 --> 00:39:51.480 over in 2 Corinthians, 00:39:51.719 --> 00:39:53.659 and we're just kind of a sidebar here for a moment, 00:39:53.659 --> 00:39:55.899 but in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 4, 00:39:56.319 --> 00:39:59.759 it tells me that the blessings I've received, 00:39:59.879 --> 00:40:02.420 in part, are to play out into the lives of other people. 00:40:02.480 --> 00:40:02.960 Isn't that right? 00:40:07.299 --> 00:40:10.699 And so we look at Isaiah chapter 60 00:40:10.699 --> 00:40:12.319 and look at verse 2 and 3, 00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:14.619 the latter part of 2. 00:40:14.739 --> 00:40:14.899 It says, 00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:28.720 Think back with me again to the promise 00:40:28.720 --> 00:40:30.400 that God made to Abraham. 00:40:31.559 --> 00:40:32.300 Through you, 00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:35.220 all the nations of the earth 00:40:35.220 --> 00:40:36.720 will be blessed. 00:40:38.180 --> 00:40:39.680 I'm going to make you a great nation 00:40:39.679 --> 00:40:42.319 and I'm going to bless you 00:40:42.319 --> 00:40:44.819 and I'm going to make your name great 00:40:44.819 --> 00:40:48.179 and all the families of the earth 00:40:48.179 --> 00:40:50.460 will be blessed through you. 00:40:51.919 --> 00:40:54.259 Now, do you see the similarity? 00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:57.259 God made a promise to Abraham 00:40:57.259 --> 00:40:59.279 that all the nations of the earth 00:40:59.279 --> 00:41:01.159 would be blessed through his offspring. 00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:05.559 And that promise has had partial fulfillment 00:41:05.559 --> 00:41:07.440 in the coming of our Christ 00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:09.500 who died and rose again 00:41:09.500 --> 00:41:12.440 to be the Savior of all who trust in him by faith. 00:41:13.379 --> 00:41:17.359 But there still is a portion of the promises 00:41:17.359 --> 00:41:19.319 that are yet to be realized 00:41:19.319 --> 00:41:22.019 and that is in the eternal reign of Christ 00:41:22.019 --> 00:41:23.239 over all the earth. 00:41:24.739 --> 00:41:27.299 I listen to our songs 00:41:27.299 --> 00:41:29.819 and I think about the things we sing 00:41:29.820 --> 00:41:32.200 about Jesus being king. 00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:34.440 The day is coming 00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:38.000 that he will reign over all the earth 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:40.340 and he will reign for all eternity. 00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:46.960 I am thankful that I see less on Facebook today 00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:47.800 about politics. 00:41:47.960 --> 00:41:48.500 I'm not sure. 00:41:48.600 --> 00:41:51.019 It's just because I've excluded people 00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:52.480 that are obsessive about it. 00:41:53.320 --> 00:41:55.120 But, you know, I can only take so much. 00:41:57.220 --> 00:41:59.080 It does make me kind of think forward. 00:41:59.079 --> 00:42:01.079 I am looking forward to the day 00:42:01.079 --> 00:42:03.079 that Jesus is in charge. 00:42:07.299 --> 00:42:08.739 And that's going to be wonderful. 00:42:10.400 --> 00:42:11.340 And so you look here 00:42:11.340 --> 00:42:13.219 in the reality of the fact 00:42:13.219 --> 00:42:14.199 and you realize that 00:42:14.199 --> 00:42:16.340 the promise that God made to Abraham 00:42:16.340 --> 00:42:17.460 has had partial fulfillment 00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:18.460 in the coming of our Savior. 00:42:19.119 --> 00:42:20.279 But the promise of blessing 00:42:20.279 --> 00:42:21.119 will be completed 00:42:21.119 --> 00:42:22.719 in the eternal reign of Christ. 00:42:23.860 --> 00:42:25.380 Are you looking forward to that? 00:42:26.279 --> 00:42:28.159 Are you longing for his coming? 00:42:28.159 --> 00:42:30.239 Are you anticipating it? 00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:31.399 How many of you know 00:42:31.399 --> 00:42:32.279 what Maranatha means? 00:42:32.879 --> 00:42:33.599 It does not. 00:42:33.679 --> 00:42:34.980 It's not pronounced Marantha. 00:42:36.119 --> 00:42:37.339 In the old days 00:42:37.339 --> 00:42:38.339 when we had a school, 00:42:38.539 --> 00:42:40.039 I used to just die 00:42:40.039 --> 00:42:41.899 when they would go on the radio 00:42:41.899 --> 00:42:43.440 and they'd go on the TV 00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:45.659 and say Marantha Christian School. 00:42:46.219 --> 00:42:46.879 But anyway, 00:42:47.000 --> 00:42:48.559 I stopped trying to correct people. 00:42:48.940 --> 00:42:49.819 Hey, it's good. 00:42:50.199 --> 00:42:51.159 What works for you? 00:42:51.559 --> 00:42:52.279 How do you spell it? 00:42:52.280 --> 00:42:53.120 You know, 00:42:53.240 --> 00:42:54.940 do you know what it means? 00:42:55.740 --> 00:42:56.820 Our Lord's coming. 00:42:57.920 --> 00:42:59.040 It is to be something 00:42:59.040 --> 00:43:00.120 that characterizes 00:43:00.120 --> 00:43:02.580 the heart of the believer. 00:43:03.900 --> 00:43:05.780 I'm looking forward to it. 00:43:06.400 --> 00:43:06.820 Why? 00:43:07.340 --> 00:43:08.200 Because for one, 00:43:08.240 --> 00:43:09.140 I'm going to see him. 00:43:10.060 --> 00:43:10.780 For two, 00:43:10.840 --> 00:43:11.880 I'm going to be like him. 00:43:12.420 --> 00:43:13.180 And third, 00:43:13.340 --> 00:43:14.620 I am going to enjoy 00:43:14.620 --> 00:43:15.960 his perfect reign 00:43:15.960 --> 00:43:17.440 over all, 00:43:17.440 --> 00:43:18.440 all, 00:43:19.480 --> 00:43:21.019 the kingdoms of the earth 00:43:21.019 --> 00:43:23.420 and over all of creation 00:43:23.420 --> 00:43:25.079 for all of eternity. 00:43:27.360 --> 00:43:28.539 That's the way 00:43:28.539 --> 00:43:31.320 I'd like every person's story 00:43:31.320 --> 00:43:32.200 to end. 00:43:33.079 --> 00:43:33.960 Do you understand that point? 00:43:37.300 --> 00:43:39.019 But the truth of the matter is 00:43:39.019 --> 00:43:41.639 all of eternity 00:43:41.639 --> 00:43:42.420 will be spent 00:43:42.420 --> 00:43:43.980 in one of two conditions. 00:43:43.980 --> 00:43:47.019 Those who have come 00:43:47.019 --> 00:43:48.340 in humility 00:43:48.340 --> 00:43:49.360 and brokenness, 00:43:49.460 --> 00:43:50.619 confessing their sins 00:43:50.619 --> 00:43:51.500 and believing 00:43:51.500 --> 00:43:52.760 in the finished work of Christ 00:43:52.760 --> 00:43:54.179 will spend eternity 00:43:54.179 --> 00:43:54.900 with him. 00:43:55.880 --> 00:43:56.619 That's good. 00:43:58.380 --> 00:43:59.519 If you were to go back 00:43:59.519 --> 00:44:00.440 to the book of Revelation 00:44:00.440 --> 00:44:01.059 and you don't need 00:44:01.059 --> 00:44:02.039 to go there this morning, 00:44:02.179 --> 00:44:03.099 you will find that 00:44:03.099 --> 00:44:04.360 there is another part to it. 00:44:05.519 --> 00:44:06.500 Those who refuse 00:44:06.500 --> 00:44:07.659 the offer of salvation 00:44:07.659 --> 00:44:08.659 through the finished work 00:44:08.659 --> 00:44:09.179 of Christ 00:44:09.179 --> 00:44:11.360 will spend all of eternity 00:44:11.360 --> 00:44:12.460 in hell, 00:44:12.460 --> 00:44:14.079 suffering forever 00:44:14.079 --> 00:44:15.380 for their rebellious 00:44:15.380 --> 00:44:16.500 and hardened heart. 00:44:18.300 --> 00:44:19.519 And when's the time 00:44:19.519 --> 00:44:21.320 to come to grips with that? 00:44:22.619 --> 00:44:23.019 Now. 00:44:24.280 --> 00:44:24.720 Now. 00:44:26.099 --> 00:44:27.639 And so I would appeal to you 00:44:27.639 --> 00:44:28.720 if you are here this morning 00:44:28.720 --> 00:44:29.260 and don't know 00:44:29.260 --> 00:44:30.220 the Lord Jesus Christ 00:44:30.220 --> 00:44:30.880 as your Savior, 00:44:31.340 --> 00:44:32.539 don't walk out of here 00:44:32.539 --> 00:44:32.880 saying, 00:44:33.019 --> 00:44:34.099 well, there will be another day 00:44:34.099 --> 00:44:35.440 because you don't know that. 00:44:36.699 --> 00:44:38.079 The fact of the matter is 00:44:38.079 --> 00:44:38.820 is Christ Jesus 00:44:38.820 --> 00:44:39.699 came into the world 00:44:39.699 --> 00:44:40.500 to save sinners. 00:44:40.500 --> 00:44:42.940 And if you are here 00:44:42.940 --> 00:44:44.559 and you sense the burden 00:44:44.559 --> 00:44:45.280 of your heart 00:44:45.280 --> 00:44:46.360 and you realize 00:44:46.360 --> 00:44:47.079 that the darkness 00:44:47.079 --> 00:44:47.800 of your soul 00:44:47.800 --> 00:44:48.760 is not something 00:44:48.760 --> 00:44:50.400 that you can solve, 00:44:51.780 --> 00:44:53.300 I would plead with you, 00:44:53.420 --> 00:44:54.860 trust in the Lord Jesus Christ 00:44:54.860 --> 00:44:56.039 in whom alone 00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:57.199 is salvation. 00:44:58.260 --> 00:44:59.139 Let's close in prayer. 00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:03.440 Father God, 00:45:03.440 --> 00:45:07.159 I'm thankful that you keep promises. 00:45:08.659 --> 00:45:10.360 You have promised to bless. 00:45:11.800 --> 00:45:13.720 You have promised also to judge. 00:45:15.220 --> 00:45:16.720 And this morning you offer 00:45:16.720 --> 00:45:18.500 the gift of salvation 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:20.019 to all who will believe 00:45:20.019 --> 00:45:21.260 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:45:21.639 --> 00:45:23.159 And that work of belief 00:45:23.159 --> 00:45:24.659 is a work of your grace. 00:45:24.659 --> 00:45:27.579 And I would plead with you 00:45:27.579 --> 00:45:28.079 this morning 00:45:28.079 --> 00:45:28.940 that you would touch 00:45:28.940 --> 00:45:29.899 the lives of those 00:45:29.899 --> 00:45:30.420 that are here 00:45:30.420 --> 00:45:31.960 that do not know Christ, 00:45:32.019 --> 00:45:32.799 that they would be drawn 00:45:32.799 --> 00:45:33.559 to the cross. 00:45:35.139 --> 00:45:35.940 That believers 00:45:35.940 --> 00:45:37.099 who are under the burden 00:45:37.099 --> 00:45:37.699 and heartache 00:45:37.699 --> 00:45:38.779 and challenge of life 00:45:38.779 --> 00:45:40.699 would rest in confidence 00:45:40.699 --> 00:45:41.779 that you, 00:45:42.099 --> 00:45:43.119 who have done everything 00:45:43.119 --> 00:45:44.159 for our salvation, 00:45:44.399 --> 00:45:45.359 will bring them through 00:45:45.359 --> 00:45:46.000 the heartache 00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:46.619 and the challenge 00:45:46.619 --> 00:45:47.239 of this day. 00:45:47.480 --> 00:45:48.940 You will not fail them. 00:45:48.940 --> 00:45:51.400 Help us to walk out of here 00:45:51.400 --> 00:45:53.119 victorious because of Christ 00:45:53.119 --> 00:45:55.840 and to display that joy 00:45:55.840 --> 00:45:56.579 and that victory 00:45:56.579 --> 00:45:58.139 to an unbelieving world 00:45:58.139 --> 00:45:59.139 with quietness 00:45:59.139 --> 00:46:00.000 and with gentleness. 00:46:01.420 --> 00:46:03.159 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:46:03.940 --> 00:46:04.240 Amen.