WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.339 Now, as I mentioned, the psalm we just sang will be our passage this morning. 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:19.339 And as we get going, I'm curious as to how many of us may be fans of English literature. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.679 Certainly all of us would have studied English literature probably sometime in our education. 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:31.960 If your education was anything like mine, then English literature would have also included the study of Shakespeare. 00:00:33.079 --> 00:00:36.480 Now, to be honest, in secondary school, I wasn't a huge fan of Shakespeare. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:47.359 I found it rather hard to understand at times, rather dull, when you just sit in class and you open this book and read this play and analyze dialogue and look at these prose. 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:50.579 And it can be quite boring to many of us. 00:00:50.579 --> 00:00:58.939 And it really wasn't until I got to university that I developed this appreciation and more of this affection for Shakespeare. 00:00:59.079 --> 00:01:02.280 And it really was because of how it was taught. 00:01:03.239 --> 00:01:07.359 You see, Shakespeare didn't write these plays for us to sit in a classroom and read them. 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:12.780 He wrote them that they could be performed and experienced by an audience. 00:01:12.980 --> 00:01:18.280 In the same way that a musician composes music, he doesn't want us to just look at his sheet music. 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:22.079 He wants us to listen and enjoy the music that he's created. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:31.480 And so while there's value in analyzing a text like Shakespeare, really a true appreciation comes from being able to experience it being performed. 00:01:32.620 --> 00:01:42.140 And so I think, as I mentioned before, Rachel and I actually studied abroad in the UK when we were at university and had the opportunity to see Shakespeare performed when we were studying in London. 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:49.680 We actually got to go to the Globe Theatre to see The Merchant of Venice performed and other performances on the West End and since back in the States as well. 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:59.819 And so it's amazing when you actually watch these performances, how much more you understand the storyline, how much more you pick up that you just can't read in a book. 00:02:00.340 --> 00:02:04.180 Where you experience the emotions of the characters, right? 00:02:04.180 --> 00:02:09.659 You pick up on humor and little things that just doesn't come through in writings of the book. 00:02:10.700 --> 00:02:16.360 And so especially when you think of, I don't know if you've ever been to the Globe Theatre, which kind of sits on the south bank of the Thames. 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:19.180 But it's a very intimate setting. 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:20.580 It's very close. 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:26.460 Most of the audience is actually standing for the whole performance right at the foot of the stage. 00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:28.700 So you're very close to the actors. 00:02:28.699 --> 00:02:30.939 You can see the expressions on their face. 00:02:31.379 --> 00:02:35.379 And in a lot of ways, the audience becomes a part of the performance. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:43.280 And so when we think of the Psalms, it's really not all that different when we think about how we experience them. 00:02:43.679 --> 00:02:45.259 Certainly we're familiar with Psalms. 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:46.679 We sing them every Sunday. 00:02:47.139 --> 00:02:52.219 They may be a part of your daily devotions as you read the Word of God. 00:02:52.219 --> 00:02:57.120 But oftentimes we may fail to engage on a deeper level. 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:02.680 Though we understand what they're saying and we give it our intellectual assent, 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:09.599 we fail to engage it with our hearts in the same way that we do with our minds. 00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:14.099 And so the thing is about the Psalms, perhaps more than anywhere else in the Bible, 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:18.379 this is somewhere we can really insert ourselves into the text often 00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:25.000 because we are invited in by the Psalmist to share in their emotions and their experience 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:30.859 to be able to revel in the attributes of God, to see God's love and His care for His people. 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:35.800 And so as we look at Psalm 96 today, I want that to be our goal. 00:03:35.939 --> 00:03:40.340 I don't want us to simply consider its poetic form and appreciate it. 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:44.919 I don't want us to just simply understand what the Psalmist is saying and agree with it. 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:50.239 I want us to use both our heads and our hearts to engage this text, 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:54.000 to be able to participate with the Psalmist and the saints 00:03:54.000 --> 00:04:00.459 in experiencing the praise of our Lord as we look at our reigning King. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:05.259 So I'm going to read for us again Psalm 96, which we just sang. 00:04:06.539 --> 00:04:08.479 Sing to the Lord a new song. 00:04:09.419 --> 00:04:11.259 Sing to the Lord all the earth. 00:04:11.259 --> 00:04:16.560 Sing to the Lord, praise His name, proclaim His salvation day after day. 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:22.000 Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:25.699 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise. 00:04:26.019 --> 00:04:28.300 He is to be feared above all gods. 00:04:29.099 --> 00:04:33.659 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 00:04:34.339 --> 00:04:36.459 Splendor and majesty are before Him. 00:04:36.579 --> 00:04:38.980 Strength and glory are in His sanctuary. 00:04:38.980 --> 00:04:42.900 Ascribe to the Lord all you families of nations. 00:04:43.300 --> 00:04:45.620 Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:49.140 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. 00:04:49.520 --> 00:04:51.640 Bring an offering and come into His courts. 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:54.860 Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. 00:04:55.180 --> 00:04:57.080 Tremble before Him all the earth. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:00.980 Say among the nations, the Lord reigns. 00:05:01.520 --> 00:05:02.980 The world is firmly established. 00:05:03.860 --> 00:05:04.759 It cannot be moved. 00:05:05.400 --> 00:05:07.379 He will judge the peoples with equity. 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:09.659 Let the heavens rejoice. 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:10.759 Let the earth be glad. 00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:12.980 Let the seas resound in all that is in it. 00:05:13.219 --> 00:05:15.819 Let the fields be jubilant and everything in them. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:18.980 Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. 00:05:19.779 --> 00:05:22.399 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord. 00:05:22.740 --> 00:05:23.659 For He comes. 00:05:24.259 --> 00:05:26.159 He comes to judge the earth. 00:05:26.719 --> 00:05:31.379 He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness. 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:34.040 This is the word of God. 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:40.420 Now if you've been with us for the last month or so, you know we've been walking through different psalms. 00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:46.579 And as you're likely aware, the book of Psalms, which is in the Old Testament, composes 150 individual psalms. 00:05:46.579 --> 00:05:50.259 And so many of these psalms fall into different categories. 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:51.680 We have psalms of praise. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:53.680 There are psalms of thanksgiving. 00:05:53.819 --> 00:05:55.079 There's psalms of lament. 00:05:55.599 --> 00:06:04.079 And this psalm, Psalm 96, falls into a group of psalms from Psalm 93 to 100 that are known as the enthronement psalms. 00:06:04.599 --> 00:06:07.939 These are psalms that focus on the kingly reign of God. 00:06:08.139 --> 00:06:09.959 That He is our sovereign ruler. 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:12.060 That He is Lord over creation. 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:17.860 And so as we look at this psalm, much like many psalms, they are actually written as poetry. 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:21.480 And we can break it down into stanzas if we wanted to. 00:06:21.819 --> 00:06:24.120 And so we see a lot of repetition in the psalm. 00:06:24.180 --> 00:06:27.379 And we could actually break it down into four parts if we wanted to. 00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:29.379 Where it gives us a command. 00:06:29.860 --> 00:06:31.500 And then the reason for that command. 00:06:32.139 --> 00:06:33.620 And then a reiteration of the command. 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:35.340 And then a reiteration of the reasoning. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:37.660 And so the command is quite obvious. 00:06:37.819 --> 00:06:38.660 Sing to the Lord. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:38.860 Right? 00:06:38.899 --> 00:06:40.620 We are to worship the Lord. 00:06:40.620 --> 00:06:42.040 Why are we to do that? 00:06:42.100 --> 00:06:43.600 Because He is worthy. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:46.620 Because our Lord reigns. 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:49.639 So we have the what and the why. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:51.560 And that's what I want us to focus on today. 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:55.319 But I actually want to switch it as we, the order as we go through it today. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:57.480 I want us to consider the why first. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:00.620 The why being that our God reigns. 00:07:01.699 --> 00:07:05.620 And then go back to consider the what, which is our response. 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:06.060 Response. 00:07:06.840 --> 00:07:08.920 So we're going to look at our reign in God. 00:07:09.060 --> 00:07:12.639 And then our response as we move through the text this morning. 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:18.139 And so as we consider the reign of God. 00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:23.360 I think it's important to see where this psalm was used by the people of Israel. 00:07:23.899 --> 00:07:26.060 Where in the world did they sing this song? 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:27.420 What was the occasion for it? 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:30.079 And it actually was in the text that we read earlier in the service. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:33.019 From 1 Chronicles 15 through 17. 00:07:33.019 --> 00:07:35.579 This is when David is ruling. 00:07:36.159 --> 00:07:40.279 And he decides he wants to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:43.639 The newly established capital of Israel. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.060 And so we see there's occasion for great rejoicing when this happens. 00:07:48.659 --> 00:07:50.319 If you're not familiar with the Ark of the Covenant. 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:57.339 This was something that was when Moses had brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. 00:07:57.339 --> 00:08:01.000 God instructed Moses to build this box. 00:08:01.159 --> 00:08:02.839 This gold plated chest. 00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:07.699 That was going to serve as a place to place the tablets of the law. 00:08:07.779 --> 00:08:09.879 These ten commandments that God had given Moses. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:15.139 And it was also going to serve as a seat for the presence of God. 00:08:16.099 --> 00:08:18.139 And so we see that this Ark of the Covenant. 00:08:18.359 --> 00:08:20.179 It was to be kept in the tabernacle. 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:24.799 Which was a tent that was set up when the Israelites were not on the move. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:27.340 But when they were on the move moving through the wilderness. 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:30.520 This would have been the Ark of the Covenant would have been covered in a veil. 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:34.220 And it would have been led by the priests ahead of the nation of Israel. 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:36.019 As they went through the promised land. 00:08:36.580 --> 00:08:41.500 And so we see when the people of Israel finally after 40 years of the wilderness. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:42.940 Move into the promised land. 00:08:43.019 --> 00:08:44.060 They cross the Jordan River. 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:45.220 How do they do so? 00:08:45.500 --> 00:08:48.000 It's the Ark of the Covenant that's led by the priests. 00:08:48.060 --> 00:08:50.000 As they step into the Jordan the waters part. 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:52.560 And Israel walks through on dry ground. 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:57.459 It was also this Ark that led the people of Israel around the walls of Jericho. 00:08:57.859 --> 00:08:59.839 Before they collapsed and they took the city. 00:09:00.859 --> 00:09:05.419 And so the Ark of the Covenant after some of these battles was eventually kept in the city of Shiloh. 00:09:05.779 --> 00:09:09.939 And there is cared for by the priests until the reign of King Saul. 00:09:10.979 --> 00:09:12.059 And so Saul comes in. 00:09:12.139 --> 00:09:13.639 He's going to battle against the Philistines. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:17.699 And he decides he wants to take the Ark with him into battle against God's will. 00:09:18.239 --> 00:09:21.699 And as a result of his disobedience Israel fails. 00:09:21.700 --> 00:09:23.560 They fall to the Philistines. 00:09:23.680 --> 00:09:25.780 The Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines. 00:09:26.940 --> 00:09:30.040 But really the Ark is only kept by the Philistines for a matter of months. 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:34.060 Because of the plagues that they began to suffer for having this Ark. 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:36.460 So they return it to Israel. 00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:42.680 And at that point it's only placed in a rather obscure village of Kuriath-Jerim. 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:47.739 And there it remained for 20 years until King David finally comes to power. 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:52.000 So that's the background of the Ark of the Covenant and this bringing it to Jerusalem. 00:09:52.839 --> 00:09:57.699 And so King David, he'd been on his throne for seven years after the death of Saul. 00:09:57.819 --> 00:10:01.859 And he decides finally it's time to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. 00:10:02.239 --> 00:10:04.819 And so this is the occasion for this rejoicing. 00:10:04.959 --> 00:10:08.579 We've read part of this psalm from 1 Chronicles 16. 00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:13.440 Psalm 96 would have been included in portion of that singing that would have happened. 00:10:13.560 --> 00:10:15.759 There was great rejoicing among the people of Israel. 00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:20.980 All of Israel coming together to see this procession of the Ark coming into Jerusalem. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:28.240 And so when we see, when we consider this reign of God as it mentions in Psalm 96. 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:34.379 It's important, there's really three characteristics that are pointed out in this psalm that I want us to focus on. 00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:37.860 And it's one being that God's reign is incomparable. 00:10:38.899 --> 00:10:40.620 God's reign is eternal. 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:43.820 And God's reign is universal. 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:46.639 So I want to consider those one at a time briefly. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:48.000 God's reign is incomparable. 00:10:48.439 --> 00:10:49.519 God's reign is eternal. 00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:51.759 And God's reign is universal. 00:10:52.659 --> 00:10:53.539 So look with me. 00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:55.399 Psalm 96, verse 4. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:56.019 It says this. 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:58.539 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise. 00:10:58.899 --> 00:11:01.019 He is to be feared above all gods. 00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:03.740 For all the gods of the nations are idols. 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:06.620 But the Lord made the heavens. 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:10.779 Now, probably many of us have family traditions. 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:16.139 One family tradition that we have is every Saturday morning we make biscuits together for breakfast. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:18.679 Now, probably not the biscuits you're thinking of. 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:21.039 Not like a Scottish biscuit, which is more like a cookie. 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:25.720 But a real American biscuit, which is like a southern buttermilk biscuit. 00:11:25.779 --> 00:11:27.079 Which would be more like a scone. 00:11:27.199 --> 00:11:29.220 Something that's light and fluffy. 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:30.519 It's savory and buttery. 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:34.600 You eat it hot out of the oven with either honey or jam. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:38.620 And so this is something we enjoy as a family every Saturday. 00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:43.620 And so a couple weeks ago, I was making these biscuits before anyone else was up in the house yet. 00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:47.799 And I realized that something wasn't right about making this dough. 00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:51.299 I've done it enough that you can tell just by the feel of it if something's not right. 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:53.059 And I knew I'd use the right ingredients. 00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:54.460 I knew I'd use the right proportions. 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:56.340 But just something wasn't turning out. 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:58.079 So I still made them. 00:11:58.120 --> 00:11:58.799 I put them in the oven. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:00.439 They came out after 20 minutes. 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:02.100 And they were bricks. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:04.379 I mean, I could have played baseball with them. 00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:05.679 They were hard. 00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:06.579 They were gritty. 00:12:06.679 --> 00:12:07.840 They didn't taste good at all. 00:12:08.079 --> 00:12:09.879 And I had no idea what went wrong. 00:12:10.699 --> 00:12:11.980 And so I was trying to figure this out. 00:12:12.079 --> 00:12:14.360 Rachel finally asked me, well, what flour did you use? 00:12:15.079 --> 00:12:17.179 I said, the flour that's in the canister I always use. 00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:25.459 And then realized that I was the one who last refilled the canister and I filled it with gluten-free flour without knowing about it. 00:12:26.959 --> 00:12:29.339 So I don't know what's in gluten-free flour. 00:12:29.739 --> 00:12:32.239 But it certainly doesn't compare to wheat flour. 00:12:32.359 --> 00:12:37.939 And it should never be used as a substitute, obviously, for making my buttermilk biscuits. 00:12:37.940 --> 00:12:46.520 And so as we think of this psalm here, there is nothing and no one that compares to our God. 00:12:46.800 --> 00:12:54.020 This word that's used to describe these idols in the psalm actually means something that is worthless and powerless. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:56.440 Something that is entirely useless. 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:59.360 That's made by the hands of man. 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:05.560 In comparison, we have a God who made the heavens and the earth. 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:08.820 If we look at the preceding psalm, Psalm 95, it says this. 00:13:09.180 --> 00:13:11.820 In his hands are the depths of the earth. 00:13:11.900 --> 00:13:14.560 The heights of the mountains are also his. 00:13:15.380 --> 00:13:20.140 The sea is his for he made it and his hands formed the dry ground. 00:13:20.140 --> 00:13:26.200 There is truly nothing and no one that compares to our God. 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:31.940 And because of this, God is not going to tolerate any sort of fake substitute. 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:37.240 We see this command given in the Ten Commandments and repeated over and over again to the nation of Israel. 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:40.400 You should have no other God before me. 00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:45.360 Oftentimes, this is ignored or forgotten by the people of Israel. 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:49.740 So this was part of the reason that King David wanted to bring the ark to Jerusalem. 00:13:49.900 --> 00:13:52.180 That it may be the center of worship for his people. 00:13:52.520 --> 00:13:55.860 That it may not be on the periphery like it was during the time of King Saul. 00:13:55.860 --> 00:14:00.120 But it can be used for the worship and enjoyment of God's people. 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:04.080 That God's presence may be among his people. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:08.899 And so secondly, we see that God's reign is also eternal. 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:10.279 In verse 10. 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:22.319 I don't know if you watch a lot of YouTube videos. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:25.079 There's these videos I've seen over time. 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:33.799 And one YouTuber in particular, he goes around the world and he videotapes himself recording within these abandoned buildings. 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:36.699 And it's really, I don't know how he gets in these places. 00:14:36.819 --> 00:14:37.719 Probably you shouldn't ask. 00:14:37.859 --> 00:14:42.399 But he, just the videos that he comes out with are just incredible. 00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:46.659 And most entertaining to me is when he goes into these abandoned mansions. 00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:53.299 These massive homes that would have cost millions, tens of millions of pounds to build that are now abandoned. 00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:57.199 And you see these marble columns and this intricate woodwork. 00:14:57.319 --> 00:15:01.859 These grand staircases and great ballrooms that lay empty. 00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:04.659 That are falling into disrepair. 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:11.479 And so it serves to me as an example of just how temporary the things of this world really are. 00:15:12.079 --> 00:15:16.439 When we think about, regardless of how much power or influence or wealth people have, 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:21.120 their little kingdoms that we create inevitably fall apart. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:23.740 And so that's just on a micro level. 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:27.679 I mean, consider the macro level, the whole scope of human history. 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:30.580 How many nations have fallen? 00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:34.399 How many countries have been destroyed? 00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:36.360 How many rulers have been deposed? 00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:43.960 But yet our God, since the beginning of time, has been on his throne and continues to reign. 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:50.080 And so the neat thing about the reign of God is he has invited us in to share in this reign with him. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:53.420 We know that God, back in Genesis, came to a man named Abram. 00:15:54.420 --> 00:15:57.759 And he said to Abram that he chose him to bless him. 00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:59.420 In Genesis 17 it says this, 00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:25.439 This was to be a covenant that did not end. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:29.000 And so when we look at the rule of King David during the time of the Psalms, 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:32.420 Yes, he is a king and he comes from the line of Abraham, 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:35.780 But that's not the king that's referred to by God here. 00:16:36.660 --> 00:16:40.720 Because David, just like every ruler before or since, perished. 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:43.540 His kingdom, earthly kingdom, did not last. 00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:49.400 But it's pointing to someone who would come from the line of David, the Messiah Jesus. 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:53.699 And this is what Gabriel the angel said to his mother Mary, 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:56.819 Announcing the coming of the Messiah. 00:16:56.939 --> 00:16:57.199 He said, 00:16:57.319 --> 00:17:01.659 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:06.639 And he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:10.339 The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:12.960 And he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever. 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:16.680 His kingdom will never end. 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:20.799 And so this is the Messiah. 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:23.799 This is Jesus who lived a perfect life, 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.500 Who suffered a horrible death, 00:17:25.560 --> 00:17:26.759 Who conquered the cross, 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:31.440 Defeating sin that we may have life. 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:35.980 And now Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father. 00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:42.080 And so you may think though that if Jesus serves as king, 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:43.360 And this is now his kingdom, 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:49.199 Well, we look around us and we still see suffering and sin and brokenness all around us. 00:17:49.919 --> 00:17:51.439 And so you may be tempted to think, 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:54.479 Well, he can't be that great of a king because his kingdom is not that great. 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:59.559 But we got to recognize here what the psalmist is looking at. 00:17:59.699 --> 00:18:02.379 The psalmist isn't looking at the first coming of Jesus. 00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:08.419 The psalmist is looking further into the future when Christ will come again. 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:14.259 And so we need to understand this time that we live right now is really a time of in-between. 00:18:14.560 --> 00:18:18.039 We're living in the time of the already and the not yet. 00:18:19.320 --> 00:18:24.460 We now have the full blessings of God for those who are in Christ. 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:29.800 But we have not yet been able to experience that to its fullest. 00:18:30.340 --> 00:18:33.420 Christ has defeated sin through his blood, 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:36.900 But he has not vanquished sin eternally yet. 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:39.460 We know that Christ has won the victory, 00:18:39.620 --> 00:18:43.820 But God's full plan of redemption is still being carried out. 00:18:45.060 --> 00:18:47.259 And so with the psalmist then we can have hope, 00:18:47.340 --> 00:18:48.600 Not looking to the current, 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:49.960 But looking to the future, 00:18:50.100 --> 00:18:51.620 To know that God, 00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:55.780 That Jesus will come again and set up his everlasting kingdom. 00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:57.620 This is what is prophesied in Revelation. 00:18:57.900 --> 00:19:00.160 This is what the psalmist is looking forward to, 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:06.420 That the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ. 00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:09.660 And he shall reign forever and ever. 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:14.340 And so we've seen the reign of God is incomparable, 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.340 It's eternal, 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:17.320 But it's also universal. 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.180 Look at verse 13. 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:22.600 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.500 For he comes, 00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:25.759 He comes to judge the earth. 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:28.160 He will judge the world in righteousness, 00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:30.340 And his peoples in faithfulness. 00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:33.159 So who does the Lord come to judge? 00:19:34.439 --> 00:19:34.919 Everyone. 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.699 The whole earth. 00:19:36.919 --> 00:19:40.339 Everything is subject to the reign and judgment of God. 00:19:41.179 --> 00:19:43.299 And so Jesus said this himself to his disciples. 00:19:43.459 --> 00:19:43.679 He said, 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:47.339 God has given me the authority to serve as judge. 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:51.319 And therefore whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:54.559 But whoever rejects the Son has not seen life, 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:56.559 And the wrath of God remains on him. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:20:00.799 And so this is wonderful news for those of us who are in Christ, 00:20:00.899 --> 00:20:03.619 To know that we have averted the wrath of God, 00:20:04.159 --> 00:20:05.259 Through the blood of Jesus. 00:20:06.659 --> 00:20:08.240 But those who don't believe, 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:10.039 It's an entirely different story. 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:15.059 There's no security in the salvation that comes from God. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:18.879 And this is where we as Christians can oftentimes get hesitant, 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:23.600 Because nowadays it's very troubling to talk about judgment. 00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:27.940 Just a couple weeks ago in church we sang Psalm 145. 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:32.000 And one of the stanzas ends with this line. 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:32.360 It says, 00:20:32.800 --> 00:20:35.400 God slays those who practice wickedness. 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:38.100 And to be perfectly honest, 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:40.340 It made me a little uncomfortable to sing that. 00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:43.340 Not because I didn't believe it, 00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:46.340 But it's just awkward to talk about the judgment of God, 00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.780 Much less to sing about it. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:51.660 I mean, if you think about the world around us, 00:20:53.580 --> 00:20:59.320 Judgment is one of maybe the greatest sins in our society, right? 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:03.160 We can't tell people how to act or what to choose. 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:05.700 Everyone can have their own truth. 00:21:05.820 --> 00:21:08.200 Everyone's entitled to their own feelings and opinions. 00:21:10.260 --> 00:21:14.480 And so when we recognize that that hesitancy, 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.360 That temptation has crept into the church, 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:18.539 We really need to push away on it. 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.799 Because the psalmist is saying, 00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:23.019 No, the judgment of God is not something that should trouble us. 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:26.179 The judgment of God is not something that we should be embarrassed by, 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:28.579 But something that can be celebrated. 00:21:28.899 --> 00:21:31.959 Because we need to recognize that God cannot be king 00:21:31.959 --> 00:21:34.819 If he does not exercise judgment. 00:21:35.179 --> 00:21:37.059 Any more than a nation can remain sovereign 00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:40.339 If it allows the invasion of enemies. 00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:44.039 If you're up on World War II, 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:46.179 Consider the Battle of Britain. 00:21:47.159 --> 00:21:49.980 Nazi forces have quickly moved through France. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:52.940 They are now sitting alongside the English channel. 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:58.399 They want to assert their authority in the sea and in the air. 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:01.420 And so what do they decide to do? 00:22:01.540 --> 00:22:04.180 They decide that the Nazi air force, 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:04.860 The Luftwaffe, 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:07.019 Is going to come and they bomb Britain. 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.780 They target ports, 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.360 And ships, 00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:12.259 And infrastructure, 00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:14.360 And even civilian locations. 00:22:15.080 --> 00:22:16.740 All because Hitler had the plan. 00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:18.840 There was this Operation Sea Line, 00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:19.360 It was called, 00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:22.840 Where he wanted this amphibious invasion of Britain. 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:26.799 And so what would have happened if British forces did nothing? 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.539 Certainly, 00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:32.639 Things would be different today, right? 00:22:34.199 --> 00:22:36.720 Who knows how long Britain could have stood 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.759 If they didn't put up a defense. 00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:40.099 And so likewise, 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:42.459 The sovereignty of God goes hand in hand 00:22:42.459 --> 00:22:44.619 With his judgment and his justice. 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:48.539 Any stable kingdom requires the execution of justice. 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:51.299 Evil, it must be put in check. 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:55.939 And so in order for Jesus to establish his eternal kingdom, 00:22:56.419 --> 00:22:57.879 Satan must be defeated. 00:22:58.779 --> 00:23:00.679 Sin must be destroyed. 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:06.259 A holy king cannot set aside his judgment for sin. 00:23:07.939 --> 00:23:10.720 And so this is what the psalmist celebrates here. 00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:13.859 The true triumph of our divine king. 00:23:13.859 --> 00:23:15.659 Where he has destroyed sin forever. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:18.179 Where he will establish an everlasting kingdom. 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:20.639 And so then that leads us to our response. 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.679 If God reigns, 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:23.299 How should we respond? 00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:25.779 The nations should worship. 00:23:26.820 --> 00:23:27.799 Look back in verse 1. 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:29.160 Sing to the Lord a new song. 00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:30.900 Sing to the Lord all the earth. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:32.060 Sing to the Lord. 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.060 Praise his name. 00:23:33.560 --> 00:23:35.740 Proclaim his salvation day after day. 00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:38.060 Declare his glory among the nations. 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:40.539 His marvelous deeds among all peoples. 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:48.000 You may be familiar enough with that passage that it doesn't really sound strange. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:53.720 But the more I thought about this, these few stanzas, the more I questioned this command. 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:59.119 Because we just finished talking about the judgment of God. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:02.279 How God will wipe out the wicked. 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:04.039 How nations will fall. 00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:07.199 And this is a theme that we see throughout the book of Psalms. 00:24:08.199 --> 00:24:15.199 And so why then should these nations that are set to be destroyed rejoice in the Lord? 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:20.220 If we turn back to think about Shakespeare again. 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:23.580 I don't know if you're familiar with the play The Merchant of Venice. 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:27.200 But it's a play that the main character, his name is Bassanio. 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:31.380 He has this woman that he's trying to woo, Portia. 00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:35.120 And so he needs to borrow some money in order to woo this wealthy heiress. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:38.100 And so he turns to a moneylender, Shylock. 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:40.580 And he borrows money from Shylock. 00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:45.900 And it's actually Bassanio's friend, Antonio, who serves as the guarantor of this loan. 00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:51.660 And so as the contract goes, Antonio has to repay this loan within a certain amount of time. 00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:57.260 And if he doesn't, then Shylock gets a pound of Antonio's flesh. 00:24:57.259 --> 00:25:01.700 And so as the story develops, we know that Antonio, even though he's a wealthy merchant, 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:03.539 his ships are lost at sea. 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:05.099 He can't repay this loan. 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:08.920 And so Shylock hauls him into court demanding his pound of flesh. 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:13.740 And so we see then that Portia, this beautiful heiress, what does she do? 00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:17.859 She disguises herself as a man, pretends to be a lawyer, and enters the courtroom 00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:22.059 and makes this passionate plea for mercy on behalf of Antonio. 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.200 And this is what she says. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:26.379 She says, mercy tis mightiest in the mightiest. 00:25:26.380 --> 00:25:29.960 It becomes the throned monarch better than his crown. 00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:34.800 She's basically saying that mercy is better than power. 00:25:35.300 --> 00:25:39.340 And she goes on to say that mercy is actually an attribute of God himself. 00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:46.300 That earthly power is most like God's power when mercy seasons justice. 00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:55.280 And so we see that even Shakespeare, he recognizes that God's justice does not come apart from his mercy. 00:25:56.380 --> 00:26:00.020 And so the great thing is this mercy isn't just available to the people of Israel, 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:02.280 these people that are bringing the ark to Jerusalem. 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.920 It's available to all people. 00:26:04.020 --> 00:26:07.440 This is what God had promised Abraham, that the nations would be blessed. 00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:12.220 God says in the prophet Isaiah about his son Jesus, the coming Messiah. 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:21.539 He says, it's too small a thing for you to be a servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:30.220 I will also make you a light for the Gentiles that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth. 00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:35.940 And so this truth really isn't fully realized until the New Testament church, 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:40.539 where Christ has been crucified, risen, and has ascended into heaven. 00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:46.539 And now Peter is leading the church and sharing the gospel with primarily Jewish people. 00:26:47.360 --> 00:26:53.579 But in Acts 10, we see that Peter is confronted by this Roman soldier, Cornelius, 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:55.640 who had had this vision from God. 00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:59.220 And through this interaction, Peter realizes through the power of the Spirit, 00:26:59.600 --> 00:27:03.680 and he professes for the first time that God does not show favoritism, 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:09.560 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:14.060 And so the nations, the nations that are to be judged, 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:16.980 that includes you and me as Gentile people, 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:20.520 our only hope is in Jesus. 00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:27.960 Although we were once enemies to God, we have now been reconciled through the blood of Jesus. 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:29.900 So this is what we celebrate here. 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:32.680 This is the salvation that has been offered to all. 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:35.500 This is why we can rejoice. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:39.740 And so the psalmist, when he talks about rejoicing and praising, 00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:42.160 he's really talking about it in two different forms. 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:44.700 Our praise must be directed upward, 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:48.099 but our praise is also directed outward. 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:50.939 When we think about our praise directed upward, 00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:55.159 we're commanded three times in these first few verses to sing to the Lord. 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.000 Sing to the Lord. 00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:57.199 Sing to the Lord. 00:27:58.919 --> 00:28:01.079 And so oftentimes when we think about this, 00:28:01.219 --> 00:28:02.119 when we think about singing, 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.419 we may think about it in the figurative sense, right? 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:07.419 Like sing in our hearts, sing with our spirits. 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.859 And that's true, 00:28:09.699 --> 00:28:13.039 but he's literally saying to sing with our voices. 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:15.879 And so the question is, 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:18.119 how often do you sing to the Lord? 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.359 What we read in Chronicles, 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:22.859 it said that David, when he brought the ark to Jerusalem, 00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:27.700 he was singing and dancing so hard that his wife despised him. 00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:31.000 Does that characterize our worship? 00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:33.839 Are we unhindered in our worship, 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:37.039 or do we normally just reserve our singing for here, 00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:39.420 when we're here together on a Sunday morning? 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:43.620 I think it's a hard question for us, 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:46.500 especially maybe Stoic Presbyterians, right? 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:50.420 Emotion is something that we don't always do well. 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:53.380 But consider these words from Charles Spurgeon. 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:56.019 This is what he said about this passage in Psalms. 00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:56.500 He says, 00:28:56.500 --> 00:29:26.380 And so if we have, 00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:28.220 the reigning God of the universe, 00:29:28.820 --> 00:29:30.100 whose kingdom is eternal, 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:31.560 whose love is endless, 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:34.420 then how great and how sincere 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:38.540 and how exuberant must our worship be to him. 00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:40.720 It talks about in the latter part of the Psalms 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:42.400 how the heavens rejoice, 00:29:42.540 --> 00:29:43.920 how the fields and the forests 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:45.460 are expected to sing to God. 00:29:45.540 --> 00:29:47.360 So if those inanimate objects 00:29:47.360 --> 00:29:49.560 are expected to worship God, 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:51.080 how much more should we, 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:53.600 who are created in the image of our Lord? 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:57.179 And it's not just singing about God. 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:59.919 It says to sing to God. 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:02.639 We communicate directly to the Lord 00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:04.240 through our song. 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:06.879 And we do so day after day. 00:30:06.959 --> 00:30:08.539 It's talking about a new song. 00:30:09.919 --> 00:30:11.899 God's mercies are new every morning. 00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:15.779 Let our worship to him be new every morning. 00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:17.939 Let's think about making this a habit. 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.539 I mean, it's, 00:30:18.860 --> 00:30:19.480 the thing is, 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:22.920 if we are supposed to convince the world 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:25.019 to sing praises to the Lord, 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.900 how are, 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.519 is the world supposed to do that? 00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:30.220 How should we expect the world to do that 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:33.600 if we are reluctant to do that ourselves? 00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:37.200 Look down in verse eight and nine. 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:37.960 It says, 00:30:38.100 --> 00:30:40.019 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name. 00:30:40.100 --> 00:30:41.860 Bring an offering and come into his courts. 00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:42.820 Worship the Lord 00:30:42.820 --> 00:30:44.440 in the splendor of his holiness. 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:46.539 Tremble before him all the earth. 00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:50.480 So these verses show 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:52.399 that our worship is to be intimate. 00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.980 It is this closeness 00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:55.740 that we need to have with the Lord 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:59.159 to come into the presence of our God 00:30:59.159 --> 00:31:01.079 with a gift worthy of a king. 00:31:02.379 --> 00:31:03.559 As it says in Romans 12, 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:06.539 we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.819 holy and acceptable to God, 00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:11.420 because this is our act of worship. 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:14.240 And when it says trembling, 00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:15.599 this word in the Hebrew 00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:17.439 is the same trembling, 00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:19.839 the fear that comes to the people, 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:21.199 the enemies of God, 00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:22.819 when the armies of Israel 00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:23.980 are coming against them. 00:31:25.179 --> 00:31:26.719 And so it really shows 00:31:26.719 --> 00:31:28.759 that our worship is not to be done flippantly. 00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:31.319 We need to have this healthy fear, 00:31:31.659 --> 00:31:34.859 this sincere reverence for our God, 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:37.099 that we can recognize his power 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:38.579 and his majesty. 00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:42.299 And so this is how we worship God. 00:31:42.399 --> 00:31:43.720 Our worship also, like I said, 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.619 is directed outward. 00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:45.919 Look at verse three. 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.500 Declare his glory among the nations, 00:31:47.679 --> 00:31:50.539 his marvelous deeds among all the peoples. 00:31:50.659 --> 00:31:51.099 Verse 10. 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.240 Say among the nation, 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:53.919 the Lord reigns. 00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:57.740 Think about something that brings you joy. 00:31:58.619 --> 00:32:00.460 Maybe it's a sports team, 00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:03.399 maybe it's going to your favorite restaurant, 00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:06.419 or maybe finding a new little holiday spot 00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:07.519 for you or your family. 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:10.000 Now certainly our praise is directed 00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:11.860 to those objects to a certain extent, right? 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:13.960 We like to celebrate when our team wins. 00:32:14.060 --> 00:32:17.500 We like to celebrate a great meal, 00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:19.259 to say thank you to a chef 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:20.259 that might have prepared it. 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:22.200 But that's not all. 00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:24.960 We like to share in this praise with others, right? 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:26.539 When our team wins, 00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:28.180 we want to celebrate with others. 00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.860 When we go to a good restaurant, 00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.420 have a good meal, 00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:31.420 we want to tell other people 00:32:31.420 --> 00:32:32.300 to go there as well. 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:34.339 When we find a new little beach 00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:35.919 to take your family, 00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:37.680 we want to tell other people about it too. 00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:40.480 And so this is a natural response 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.659 that people have. 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:44.059 This is naturally how we should worship the Lord. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:47.039 That we share this praise with the nations 00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:48.319 for how are they going to know 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.579 of the goodness of God 00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:51.200 if we aren't willing to tell them. 00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:55.460 You may be familiar with the Joshua Project. 00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:57.619 This is an organization 00:32:57.619 --> 00:33:00.179 that's involved in global missions 00:33:00.179 --> 00:33:02.899 and tracks the spread of the gospel 00:33:02.899 --> 00:33:03.539 around the world. 00:33:04.379 --> 00:33:05.799 And according to Joshua Project, 00:33:05.979 --> 00:33:09.000 there are over 17,000 people groups 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.439 in the world. 00:33:10.739 --> 00:33:12.139 And of those groups, 00:33:12.299 --> 00:33:14.659 over 7,400 of them 00:33:14.659 --> 00:33:16.519 are considered unreached, 00:33:16.859 --> 00:33:18.079 which means that there's no 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:20.119 indigenous community of believers 00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:22.839 with adequate numbers and resources 00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:24.699 in order to evangelize 00:33:24.699 --> 00:33:26.599 the group of people in which they live. 00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:30.959 And so that amounts to 42% 00:33:30.959 --> 00:33:32.399 of the world population 00:33:32.399 --> 00:33:35.039 that's unreached with the gospel. 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.859 And so the reality is 00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:41.679 that tens of millions of people 00:33:41.679 --> 00:33:43.339 die every year 00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:45.599 without hearing the name of Jesus 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:48.519 who are now suffering the wrath of God. 00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:53.019 And so how does that strike us? 00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:56.139 How do we respond to that? 00:33:56.140 --> 00:33:58.160 Those of us who live in Edinburgh, 00:33:58.300 --> 00:34:01.000 those of us who go to Beclu, 00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:05.820 does our praise for God 00:34:05.820 --> 00:34:07.580 compel us to the proclamation 00:34:07.580 --> 00:34:08.260 of the gospel? 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:12.440 Is our joy overflowing in our lives 00:34:12.440 --> 00:34:13.420 that we can't help 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.720 but share it with other people? 00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:17.619 Are we willing to abandon our lives 00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:18.660 and our reputations 00:34:18.660 --> 00:34:19.400 and our jobs 00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:20.360 and even our lives 00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:21.539 for the spread of the gospel? 00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:25.599 You may think that these are 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:27.019 kind of grandiose questions 00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:28.539 but think about it 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:30.320 on a personal level, 00:34:31.099 --> 00:34:32.380 on a more practical level. 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.860 You know, this church building 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:36.659 sits mere steps 00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:38.019 from the University of Edinburgh 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:40.099 where there's over 13,000 00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:41.820 international students. 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:44.119 Back in December, 00:34:44.239 --> 00:34:45.259 many of us here at Beclu, 00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:47.300 we handed out Christmas goodie bags 00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:48.039 to internationals 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:50.179 who weren't able to go home 00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.699 for Christmas. 00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:52.719 And my family and I 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:53.239 had only been here 00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:53.900 for a matter of months 00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.699 and there was a lot of these 00:34:54.699 --> 00:34:55.940 little streets around church 00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:56.900 that I had never been before 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:58.579 where there's university housing. 00:34:59.340 --> 00:35:00.840 And I was overwhelmed 00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:01.920 by the number 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:03.599 of international students. 00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:05.900 If you go just a block 00:35:05.900 --> 00:35:06.880 over here to Clark Street, 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.639 Nicholson Street, 00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:09.079 I dare you 00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:10.219 to count how many 00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:12.039 ethnic restaurants there are. 00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:13.940 I mean, 00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:15.519 truly the fact is 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:17.139 that God has brought 00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:19.579 the nations to Edinburgh. 00:35:20.739 --> 00:35:21.659 Many of these people 00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:22.320 have moved here 00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:22.920 and will remain 00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:23.860 the rest of their lives 00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:24.360 here at Edinburgh. 00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:26.539 But there's some students 00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:28.059 that come from various countries 00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:28.759 that are the best 00:35:28.759 --> 00:35:29.279 and brightest 00:35:29.279 --> 00:35:30.460 of their countries 00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:31.460 who will be here 00:35:31.460 --> 00:35:32.360 for a short time 00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:33.579 and then return home 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.219 to be leaders 00:35:34.219 --> 00:35:34.800 in government 00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:35.539 or politics 00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:37.380 or education 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:38.059 or finance 00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:38.960 or whatever it may be. 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:41.719 And so what a wonderful 00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:43.279 opportunity we have 00:35:43.279 --> 00:35:44.639 to impact the nations 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.259 here in Edinburgh 00:35:45.259 --> 00:35:45.899 to be willing 00:35:45.899 --> 00:35:47.179 to develop relationships 00:35:47.179 --> 00:35:48.059 with these students 00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:49.219 that they may see 00:35:49.219 --> 00:35:51.219 the love of Christ. 00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:54.079 Think about 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:57.299 our refurbishment campaign. 00:35:58.759 --> 00:35:59.899 The whole purpose 00:35:59.899 --> 00:36:00.679 is for us 00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:01.819 to make this building 00:36:01.819 --> 00:36:02.739 more conducive 00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:04.119 to ministry 00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:05.079 and outreach. 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.299 That's certainly 00:36:07.299 --> 00:36:07.679 going to take 00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:08.199 a lot of money 00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:09.599 to do what we want to do. 00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:11.920 Are you willing 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.900 to dedicate 00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:13.940 your finances 00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:15.119 to create 00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:16.299 more gospel opportunity? 00:36:18.339 --> 00:36:19.159 But the thing is 00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:19.659 it's not just 00:36:19.659 --> 00:36:20.400 about finances. 00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:21.219 Much more 00:36:21.219 --> 00:36:21.920 do we need to be 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:23.000 willing to invest 00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:24.440 our lives, 00:36:25.259 --> 00:36:25.719 to invest 00:36:25.719 --> 00:36:27.019 our time 00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:28.199 and our energy 00:36:28.199 --> 00:36:28.759 to be able 00:36:28.759 --> 00:36:29.900 to meet with strangers 00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:31.039 and develop relationships 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:32.319 that others may see 00:36:32.319 --> 00:36:33.679 the love of Christ. 00:36:34.319 --> 00:36:35.199 Because the truth 00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:35.679 of the matter is 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:36.980 no matter if we are 00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:38.000 able to renovate 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.500 this building, 00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:39.219 if we don't commit 00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:40.019 our lives 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:41.079 to the spread 00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:41.760 of the gospel 00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:42.519 then this building 00:36:42.519 --> 00:36:44.000 project is all for nothing 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:45.360 because there's no sense 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:46.860 it being a nice place 00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:47.840 that only gets used 00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:48.860 three hours a day 00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.960 once a week 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:51.679 on a Sunday morning. 00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:54.719 What about 00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:55.500 our community groups? 00:36:56.699 --> 00:36:57.239 Many of us 00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:57.739 might have been 00:36:57.739 --> 00:36:58.320 in community groups 00:36:58.320 --> 00:36:59.260 for years and years 00:36:59.260 --> 00:36:59.659 and years 00:36:59.659 --> 00:37:00.500 and have developed 00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:01.460 wonderful friendships 00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:02.119 through them. 00:37:03.400 --> 00:37:04.519 But what if 00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:05.300 these community groups 00:37:05.300 --> 00:37:06.500 are not just meant 00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:08.260 to be these insular 00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:09.019 little bubbles 00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:09.940 that we've created 00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:12.300 but we instead 00:37:12.300 --> 00:37:13.099 turn outward? 00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:14.239 We're willing 00:37:14.239 --> 00:37:15.179 to multiply 00:37:15.179 --> 00:37:16.559 in order to create 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.519 room for visitors 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:18.239 and neighbors 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:19.980 to share in fellowship 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:21.639 to feel the love 00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:22.260 of the gospel. 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:23.960 What if rather than 00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:24.880 being inward focused 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:25.760 we turn outward 00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:26.920 and use our community groups 00:37:26.920 --> 00:37:27.820 as a platform 00:37:27.820 --> 00:37:28.980 for ministry 00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:29.900 and evangelism? 00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.480 Many of you know 00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:33.960 that we're 00:37:33.960 --> 00:37:34.880 as a church 00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:35.720 supporting a church 00:37:35.720 --> 00:37:36.900 plant in Gal Shields 00:37:36.900 --> 00:37:38.380 that's going to be led 00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:39.340 by Craig Anderson 00:37:39.340 --> 00:37:41.480 and we have been 00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:42.380 praying for him 00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.539 and his leadership 00:37:43.539 --> 00:37:44.420 there and his planning 00:37:44.420 --> 00:37:44.860 and preparation 00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:45.599 for that. 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.360 What if 00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:48.460 we didn't only pray 00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:49.220 for him 00:37:49.220 --> 00:37:51.160 but we pray 00:37:51.160 --> 00:37:52.680 that many of us 00:37:52.680 --> 00:37:54.920 may be called 00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:55.840 to go with him 00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:56.920 to plant that church? 00:37:58.360 --> 00:37:59.119 What if 00:37:59.119 --> 00:37:59.760 rather than 00:37:59.760 --> 00:38:00.920 trying to curate 00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:01.920 this careful 00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:02.599 comfortable 00:38:02.599 --> 00:38:03.960 life 00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:05.779 we are willing 00:38:05.779 --> 00:38:06.639 to engage 00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:07.460 in international 00:38:07.460 --> 00:38:07.860 mission 00:38:07.860 --> 00:38:08.259 to be able 00:38:08.259 --> 00:38:08.860 to give up 00:38:08.860 --> 00:38:09.659 of our lives 00:38:09.659 --> 00:38:10.639 and our careers 00:38:10.639 --> 00:38:11.480 to leave family 00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:12.059 behind 00:38:12.059 --> 00:38:13.219 to leave retirement 00:38:13.219 --> 00:38:13.799 behind 00:38:13.799 --> 00:38:14.839 for the spread 00:38:14.839 --> 00:38:15.400 of the gospel 00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:16.079 to the nations? 00:38:18.900 --> 00:38:20.099 This is what 00:38:20.099 --> 00:38:20.799 we are called 00:38:20.799 --> 00:38:21.179 to do 00:38:21.179 --> 00:38:21.920 because the thing is 00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:23.259 Psalm 96 00:38:23.259 --> 00:38:24.179 is really 00:38:24.179 --> 00:38:25.000 a missionary 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:26.139 hymn. 00:38:27.339 --> 00:38:28.019 If God 00:38:28.019 --> 00:38:29.319 is the reigning 00:38:29.319 --> 00:38:29.880 king 00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:31.280 then we need 00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:31.740 to dedicate 00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:32.860 our lives 00:38:32.860 --> 00:38:33.980 to serving 00:38:33.980 --> 00:38:34.519 his kingdom. 00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:38.660 We need 00:38:38.660 --> 00:38:39.260 to have 00:38:39.260 --> 00:38:40.059 the same 00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:40.559 hope 00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:41.220 that the 00:38:41.220 --> 00:38:41.579 psalmist 00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:42.240 has here. 00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:43.460 The same 00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:44.079 excitement 00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:44.700 and the same 00:38:44.700 --> 00:38:45.099 joy 00:38:45.099 --> 00:38:46.160 that overflows 00:38:46.160 --> 00:38:47.019 both upward 00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:48.019 and outward 00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:48.760 looking forward 00:38:48.760 --> 00:38:49.380 to the future 00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:50.320 when Christ 00:38:50.320 --> 00:38:51.300 will come 00:38:51.300 --> 00:38:52.059 again 00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:52.820 and as it says 00:38:52.820 --> 00:38:53.260 in Revelation 00:38:53.260 --> 00:38:53.900 there will be 00:38:53.900 --> 00:38:55.220 another new song 00:38:55.220 --> 00:38:55.900 that is sung 00:38:55.900 --> 00:38:56.960 by the saints. 00:38:57.180 --> 00:38:57.960 Worthy are you 00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:58.699 to take the scroll 00:38:58.699 --> 00:38:59.519 and to open 00:38:59.519 --> 00:38:59.920 its seal 00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:00.579 for you were 00:39:00.579 --> 00:39:01.000 slain 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:01.840 and by your 00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:02.300 blood you 00:39:02.300 --> 00:39:03.019 ransomed people 00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:03.559 for God 00:39:03.559 --> 00:39:04.059 from every 00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:04.619 tribe 00:39:04.619 --> 00:39:05.780 and language 00:39:05.780 --> 00:39:06.740 and people 00:39:06.740 --> 00:39:07.720 and nation 00:39:07.720 --> 00:39:08.480 and you have 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:08.900 made them 00:39:08.900 --> 00:39:09.400 a kingdom 00:39:09.400 --> 00:39:10.199 and priests 00:39:10.199 --> 00:39:10.920 to our God 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:11.420 and they 00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:12.280 shall reign 00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:13.300 on earth. 00:39:15.820 --> 00:39:16.880 May this 00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:17.940 be our 00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:18.380 song. 00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:20.780 May we 00:39:20.780 --> 00:39:21.480 worship the 00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:22.039 Lord with the 00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:22.400 psalmist 00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:23.380 to experience 00:39:23.380 --> 00:39:24.240 his joy 00:39:24.240 --> 00:39:24.900 in his 00:39:24.900 --> 00:39:25.400 salvation 00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:26.099 to recognize 00:39:26.099 --> 00:39:26.839 the goodness 00:39:26.839 --> 00:39:27.880 of our 00:39:27.880 --> 00:39:28.239 God 00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:28.980 with all 00:39:28.980 --> 00:39:29.360 the saints 00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:29.880 so that the 00:39:29.880 --> 00:39:31.039 nations may 00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:31.900 know that 00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:32.920 our God 00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:33.699 reigns. 00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:35.719 Amen. 00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:36.559 Will you pray 00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:36.860 with me? 00:39:40.819 --> 00:39:41.619 God we 00:39:41.619 --> 00:39:42.480 recognize that 00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:43.519 you are 00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:44.619 the reigning 00:39:44.619 --> 00:39:45.619 ruler of 00:39:45.619 --> 00:39:46.299 the universe 00:39:46.299 --> 00:39:50.199 and that 00:39:50.199 --> 00:39:50.960 you are 00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:51.900 deserving of 00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:53.199 all praise 00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:53.799 and honor 00:39:53.799 --> 00:39:54.299 and there's 00:39:54.299 --> 00:39:54.860 nothing that 00:39:54.860 --> 00:39:55.259 we can do 00:39:55.260 --> 00:39:55.660 to even 00:39:55.660 --> 00:39:56.340 give you 00:39:56.340 --> 00:39:57.220 enough 00:39:57.220 --> 00:40:01.040 but may 00:40:01.040 --> 00:40:01.420 we be 00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:01.960 willing to 00:40:01.960 --> 00:40:02.640 give of 00:40:02.640 --> 00:40:03.400 our lives 00:40:03.400 --> 00:40:03.780 and our 00:40:03.780 --> 00:40:04.400 time 00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:04.900 and our 00:40:04.900 --> 00:40:05.520 finances 00:40:05.520 --> 00:40:07.160 for the 00:40:07.160 --> 00:40:07.620 furtherance 00:40:07.620 --> 00:40:07.900 of your 00:40:07.900 --> 00:40:08.380 gospel. 00:40:09.200 --> 00:40:09.920 May we 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:10.820 desire that 00:40:10.820 --> 00:40:11.520 our lives 00:40:11.520 --> 00:40:12.300 be filled 00:40:12.300 --> 00:40:13.280 with praise 00:40:13.280 --> 00:40:15.160 that is 00:40:15.160 --> 00:40:16.060 sent upward 00:40:16.060 --> 00:40:17.000 and outward 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:18.900 and that 00:40:18.900 --> 00:40:19.240 you may 00:40:19.240 --> 00:40:20.000 receive all 00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:20.400 glory 00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:22.140 and all 00:40:22.140 --> 00:40:22.540 honor. 00:40:23.660 --> 00:40:24.060 God may 00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:24.500 we look 00:40:24.500 --> 00:40:25.019 forward to 00:40:25.019 --> 00:40:25.559 your return 00:40:25.559 --> 00:40:25.960 when a 00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:26.539 new kingdom 00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:26.960 a new 00:40:26.960 --> 00:40:27.199 heaven 00:40:27.199 --> 00:40:27.539 and a new 00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:27.779 earth 00:40:27.779 --> 00:40:28.059 will be 00:40:28.059 --> 00:40:28.320 created 00:40:28.320 --> 00:40:28.920 when all 00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:29.360 nations 00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:29.960 and peoples 00:40:29.960 --> 00:40:30.920 will surround 00:40:30.920 --> 00:40:31.599 your throne. 00:40:34.480 --> 00:40:35.299 May that be 00:40:35.299 --> 00:40:36.179 our new song 00:40:36.179 --> 00:40:36.799 today Lord. 00:40:37.860 --> 00:40:38.579 In Jesus name 00:40:38.579 --> 00:40:38.960 we pray. 00:40:39.639 --> 00:40:39.900 Amen. 00:40:39.900 --> 00:40:40.000 Amen. 00:40:43.920 --> 00:40:44.739 Now if you will 00:40:44.739 --> 00:40:45.179 stand with me 00:40:45.179 --> 00:40:45.779 for our last 00:40:45.779 --> 00:40:47.119 hymn which is 00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:47.960 again recorded 00:40:47.960 --> 00:40:48.340 but we will 00:40:48.340 --> 00:40:48.980 sing it together 00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:49.740 O praise 00:40:49.740 --> 00:40:50.260 the name. 00:40:50.260 --> 00:41:15.600 I cast my mind 00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:18.360 to Calvary 00:41:18.360 --> 00:41:21.019 where Jesus 00:41:21.019 --> 00:41:22.559 bled 00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:24.659 and died 00:41:24.659 --> 00:41:25.940 for me 00:41:25.940 --> 00:41:28.039 I see 00:41:28.039 --> 00:41:29.920 his wounds 00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:32.000 his hands 00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:33.319 his feet 00:41:33.319 --> 00:41:35.659 my Savior 00:41:35.659 --> 00:41:36.819 Lord 00:41:36.819 --> 00:41:39.279 that cursed 00:41:39.279 --> 00:41:40.039 tree 00:41:40.039 --> 00:41:46.420 his body 00:41:46.420 --> 00:41:47.800 bound 00:41:47.800 --> 00:41:50.259 and drenched 00:41:50.259 --> 00:41:51.759 in tears 00:41:51.759 --> 00:41:53.699 they laid 00:41:53.699 --> 00:41:55.480 him down 00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:58.219 in Joseph's 00:41:58.219 --> 00:41:58.679 tomb 00:41:58.679 --> 00:42:01.000 the entrance 00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:02.259 sealed 00:42:02.259 --> 00:42:04.739 by heavy 00:42:04.739 --> 00:42:05.639 stone 00:42:05.639 --> 00:42:08.380 Messiah 00:42:08.380 --> 00:42:12.000 and all 00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:13.000 alone 00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:16.760 O praise 00:42:16.760 --> 00:42:18.200 the name 00:42:18.200 --> 00:42:19.400 of the 00:42:19.400 --> 00:42:20.400 Lord 00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:22.099 our God 00:42:22.099 --> 00:42:24.079 O praise 00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:25.780 his name 00:42:25.780 --> 00:42:28.260 forevermore 00:42:28.260 --> 00:42:31.519 for endless 00:42:31.519 --> 00:42:32.780 days 00:42:32.780 --> 00:42:33.940 we will 00:42:33.940 --> 00:42:34.900 sing 00:42:34.900 --> 00:42:36.579 your praise 00:42:36.579 --> 00:42:38.460 O Lord 00:42:38.460 --> 00:42:39.719 O Lord 00:42:39.719 --> 00:42:40.559 O Lord 00:42:40.559 --> 00:42:40.860 our God 00:42:40.860 --> 00:42:41.659 O Lord 00:42:41.659 --> 00:42:42.460 our God 00:42:42.460 --> 00:42:45.579 O Lord 00:42:45.579 --> 00:42:46.019 O Lord 00:42:46.019 --> 00:42:49.880 O Lord 00:42:55.980 --> 00:42:57.099 notreå±€ 00:42:57.099 --> 00:42:59.480 O Lord 00:42:59.480 --> 00:42:59.960 oder 00:42:59.960 --> 00:43:00.420 O Lord 00:43:00.420 --> 00:43:03.420 our God 00:43:03.420 --> 00:43:04.340 let not 00:43:04.340 --> 00:43:05.539 the third 00:43:05.539 --> 00:43:07.900 rose again 00:43:07.900 --> 00:43:12.139 O trampled death 00:43:12.139 --> 00:43:15.659 where is your sting 00:43:15.659 --> 00:43:17.360 the angels 00:43:17.360 --> 00:43:18.159 roar 00:43:18.159 --> 00:43:23.000 for Christ the King 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:25.759 O praise 00:43:25.759 --> 00:43:27.239 the name 00:43:27.239 --> 00:43:29.480 of the Lord 00:43:29.480 --> 00:43:31.219 our God 00:43:31.219 --> 00:43:33.159 O praise 00:43:33.159 --> 00:43:34.800 his name 00:43:34.800 --> 00:43:37.800 forevermore 00:43:38.460 --> 00:43:41.800 for endless days 00:43:41.800 --> 00:43:43.860 we will sing 00:43:43.860 --> 00:43:45.580 your praise 00:43:45.580 --> 00:43:47.460 O Lord 00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:49.460 O Lord 00:43:49.460 --> 00:43:51.800 our God 00:43:51.800 --> 00:43:53.800 O Lord 00:43:53.800 --> 00:43:55.800 O Lord 00:43:55.800 --> 00:43:59.800 O Lord 00:43:59.800 --> 00:44:01.800 O Lord 00:44:01.800 --> 00:44:03.780 O Lord 00:44:03.780 --> 00:44:05.720 He shall return 00:44:05.720 --> 00:44:09.539 in robes of light 00:44:09.539 --> 00:44:12.460 the blazing sun 00:44:12.460 --> 00:44:16.760 shall pierce the night 00:44:16.760 --> 00:44:20.300 and I will rise 00:44:20.300 --> 00:44:23.920 among the saints 00:44:23.920 --> 00:44:31.039 My gaze transposed on Jesus' face 00:44:31.039 --> 00:44:40.240 O praise the name of the Lord our God 00:44:40.240 --> 00:44:46.920 O praise His name forevermore 00:44:46.920 --> 00:44:54.800 For endless days we will sing Your praise 00:44:54.800 --> 00:45:00.820 O Lord, O Lord our God 00:45:00.820 --> 00:45:09.300 O praise the name of the Lord our God 00:45:09.300 --> 00:45:15.920 O praise His name forevermore 00:45:15.920 --> 00:45:23.800 For endless days we will sing Your praise 00:45:23.800 --> 00:45:29.599 O Lord, O Lord our God 00:45:29.599 --> 00:45:56.279 If you remain staying for the benediction, this is taken from Revelation 5, the same passage that shows all nations surrounding the throne of our Lord. 00:45:56.280 --> 00:46:06.600 To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. Amen. 00:46:06.599 --> 00:46:08.599 Amen. 00:46:08.599 --> 00:46:10.599 Amen. 00:46:10.599 --> 00:46:12.599 Amen. 00:46:12.599 --> 00:46:14.599 Amen. 00:46:14.599 --> 00:46:16.460 Amen. 00:46:16.460 --> 00:46:16.599 Amen. 00:46:16.599 --> 00:46:18.480 Amen. 00:46:18.480 --> 00:46:20.719 Amen. 00:46:20.719 --> 00:46:50.699 Thank you.