WEBVTT 00:00:00.460 --> 00:00:05.860 Well, please do have a seat and isn't it great just to sing God's praises together as his people? 00:00:06.820 --> 00:00:10.919 And as we turn to Psalm 94 now, which is maybe where you want to turn, we'll be looking at it there, 00:00:10.980 --> 00:00:17.559 we'll see just how fitting that last song that we've been singing is as we think about who our God is together. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:22.219 So why don't we just spend a moment just in prayer as we come to God's word this morning. Let's pray. 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:31.320 Father, thank you so much that we learned last week that you are the God who is robed in majesty. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:35.259 You are the God who is high and exalted and you're the God who is eternal. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:39.859 And so, Father, with that in mind, we do not look to ourselves. 00:00:40.340 --> 00:00:48.640 We don't look to our world, but we look to you this morning, the Holy One, for words of life and truth. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:55.939 So I ask that your spirit would come and he would speak, that he would lead us into truth, 00:00:56.160 --> 00:00:59.980 that he would help us grasp a bigger picture, a bigger understanding of who you are, 00:01:00.060 --> 00:01:02.880 and that might impact our everyday lives as we live for you. 00:01:03.299 --> 00:01:06.480 Father, thank you that you are good and your love endures forever. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:09.799 And this is our prayer in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:15.340 Well, Psalm 94, it's a wonderful psalm. It's a strong psalm. 00:01:15.340 --> 00:01:22.060 And it's a psalm that's reminded me this week, actually, about a story that I heard about a little Quaker congregation down in Birmingham. 00:01:23.020 --> 00:01:27.920 And this little congregation, this little gathering of people didn't have an awful lot going for them. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.980 They were an aging membership. They were dwindling in their numbers. 00:01:31.980 --> 00:01:40.560 But they did have this going for them, that the piece of land that they owned was fast turning into very prime property. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:51.200 Because next door to them was John Lewis, the ever-expanding, at the time, UK retailer who were in desperate need of more space. 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:57.200 So they looked upon this little Quaker congregation and they thought, this is the space that we need. 00:01:57.859 --> 00:02:05.159 So they tried to assert a little bit of pressure and they wrote to this little congregation, and this is what the letter read. 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:09.180 Dear Sirs, always good to start polite, isn't it? 00:02:09.219 --> 00:02:15.019 Dear Sirs, as part of our ongoing expansion, we would be grateful if you could allow us to purchase your land. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:18.780 It seems only right because we were here before you. 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:23.859 Please let us know what you decide. You're sincerely John Lewis. 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:29.159 Now imagine you're a member of this little Quaker gathering. 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:34.219 And you're sitting together, you're reading out this letter together, and you look at one another. 00:02:34.299 --> 00:02:35.020 What are you thinking? 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:38.319 You're outnumbered. 00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:40.319 You're unimpressive. 00:02:41.139 --> 00:02:42.620 You're unspectacular. 00:02:43.379 --> 00:02:46.719 What's the question that is in your mind as you look at one another? 00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:50.699 Surely the question is, who's going to stand for us? 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:53.840 Who will stand for us? 00:02:53.840 --> 00:03:00.439 It's the question that God's people are asking in Psalm 94. 00:03:01.340 --> 00:03:03.480 Come with me to verse 16. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:11.840 Here's the key question that's going on in this psalm, and feel the emotion and feel the pain with which this question is asked. 00:03:13.060 --> 00:03:16.099 Who will rise up for me against the wicked? 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:22.140 Who will take a stand for me against evil doers? 00:03:22.139 --> 00:03:23.919 This is what the psalmist wants. 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:25.479 We see it in the opening verses here. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:27.679 He wants God to stand. 00:03:27.839 --> 00:03:31.279 He wants God to rise like the judge in a courtroom. 00:03:31.939 --> 00:03:33.199 And he wants justice. 00:03:33.339 --> 00:03:36.019 He wants God to bring judgment on the wicked. 00:03:36.139 --> 00:03:39.659 These people who are persecuting God's people. 00:03:40.919 --> 00:03:41.979 What are they doing? 00:03:42.079 --> 00:03:45.899 We'll look at the verbs used here from verse 5. 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:48.219 They crush. 00:03:48.780 --> 00:03:49.939 They oppress. 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:51.379 They slay. 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:52.560 They murder. 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:54.240 And notice the little detail. 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:56.759 Who in particular are they doing this to? 00:03:57.719 --> 00:03:58.360 You see it? 00:03:59.300 --> 00:03:59.939 The widow. 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:01.379 The foreigner. 00:04:01.860 --> 00:04:03.580 And the fatherless. 00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:04.200 Or the orphan. 00:04:04.920 --> 00:04:08.900 So these people, the most vulnerable in this society. 00:04:08.900 --> 00:04:12.580 Who God in his mercy had particularly looked upon. 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:13.719 Had set his heart upon. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:16.939 And had made provision for them in the law of his people. 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:18.980 That these people were going to be provided for. 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:20.340 Protected and loved. 00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:22.259 And what's going on here. 00:04:22.459 --> 00:04:25.199 Is that they are being taken advantage of by the wicked. 00:04:26.699 --> 00:04:27.720 What are the wicked saying? 00:04:27.819 --> 00:04:28.360 Verse 7. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:29.240 Look at it there. 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:31.519 God doesn't see. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:34.939 God takes no notice. 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:37.000 What do they say to God's people? 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:39.180 What use is it calling out to your God? 00:04:40.100 --> 00:04:42.420 What good is it hoping in your God? 00:04:44.839 --> 00:04:45.759 I must have hurt. 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:46.500 I'd imagine if you. 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:47.680 Did you hear that? 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:50.839 And so the psalmist sees all this going on. 00:04:50.899 --> 00:04:53.019 And he understandably exclaims that question. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:54.180 Who will stand for us? 00:04:54.480 --> 00:04:55.100 Who will stand? 00:04:56.680 --> 00:04:59.379 Now it's a very real and raw question. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.920 For many of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:04.100 Who will stand for us? 00:05:04.100 --> 00:05:08.520 Here's some stats I pulled off of Operation World this week. 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:11.580 Today if you make a decision to follow Jesus in Afghanistan. 00:05:12.439 --> 00:05:15.420 That may well get you admitted to a psychiatric hospital. 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:18.260 It may get you beaten up by neighbours and friends. 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:22.420 And it may get you the very real possibility that you will lose your livelihood. 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:24.040 Your home and your business. 00:05:24.200 --> 00:05:26.000 Because people will just not stand for it. 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:28.160 That's going on in our world. 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:31.140 33 Christian women. 00:05:31.260 --> 00:05:32.939 I wonder if you saw it in the news recently. 00:05:33.080 --> 00:05:35.900 33 Christian women in Eritrea imprisoned. 00:05:36.320 --> 00:05:38.600 Simply because they were found to be praying to their God. 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:41.800 Who will stand for us? 00:05:44.379 --> 00:05:48.900 Maybe that's the question that's true for you this morning. 00:05:49.440 --> 00:05:54.080 Maybe in a smaller, in a less life threatening, but no less real way. 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:57.419 Who will stand for us? 00:05:58.099 --> 00:06:03.599 Family and friends think you're weird because you make life decisions because you follow Jesus. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:12.919 People at work, you find yourselves in very tricky situations because you will not shift from the Bible's moral teaching. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:14.779 You will just won't move from it. 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:17.860 Different situations. 00:06:18.219 --> 00:06:19.279 Difficult situations. 00:06:19.419 --> 00:06:21.919 But it's the same fundamental question for the Lord's people. 00:06:22.139 --> 00:06:23.299 Who will stand for us? 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:24.780 Where is our hope? 00:06:24.960 --> 00:06:25.900 What is our answer? 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:26.840 Where should we run? 00:06:27.139 --> 00:06:28.579 When is justice going to come? 00:06:28.900 --> 00:06:29.600 What should we do? 00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:30.600 How should we respond? 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:35.939 Well, welcome to the very real and the very raw world of Psalm 94. 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:42.699 Many commentators, as they interpret this psalm, they conclude that Psalm 94 is out of place here. 00:06:43.620 --> 00:06:44.600 But a context work. 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:48.439 It's in the middle of these psalms about God's majesty, God's reign. 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:58.579 And these psalms about our response to that as we sing his praises that there is no one like him, that he reigns, that he's on his throne, that no one is going to topple him from that throne. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:01.800 And Psalm 94 seems to be interrupting the flow of that. 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:04.699 Those pattern of psalms. 00:07:05.660 --> 00:07:07.100 And they say, why is it here? 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:09.300 Why is Psalm 94 here? 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:12.060 Now, it may well be that there's no connection between psalms. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:16.460 But let me just pitch you an idea here, okay, that I've been thinking about all week. 00:07:16.459 --> 00:07:23.319 As you read Psalm 93 and Psalm 94 together, you notice that they both talk about thrones. 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:29.259 Verse 2, Psalm 93, God, your throne is eternal. 00:07:29.539 --> 00:07:30.680 Your throne is eternal. 00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:37.599 Verse 20 of Psalm 94, can a corrupt throne be allied with you? 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:40.759 Implication, your throne, God. 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:44.099 Do you see how both psalms are thinking about God's throne? 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:51.539 Because if things are right with the world in Psalm 93, they seem to be all wrong with the world in Psalm 94. 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:53.139 Does God still reign? 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:57.920 Will God stand by and watch as the wicked cause havoc to God's people? 00:07:58.379 --> 00:08:00.259 Now, those are real questions in life. 00:08:01.539 --> 00:08:04.439 They are real questions of the life of faith. 00:08:04.539 --> 00:08:06.120 We know those times in our lives. 00:08:06.459 --> 00:08:09.159 And if we don't know them yet, it's only a matter of time before we do. 00:08:10.759 --> 00:08:13.779 You know those times in life when feelings have faded? 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:18.000 Those times in life where songs, they just bring no comfort? 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:22.420 Those times in life when Christian cliches just will not cut it anymore? 00:08:23.719 --> 00:08:27.699 Times when as God's people, we feel battered and we feel bruised. 00:08:28.219 --> 00:08:34.139 And we find ourselves asking as we go up against the world, as we feel the pinch, as we feel the heat. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:36.679 Who is this God that we claim to know? 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:37.720 Who is our God? 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:42.639 When I grow up, I used to go to the Boys Brigade. 00:08:43.899 --> 00:08:46.759 I only used to go along really to be part of the football team. 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:50.120 If you didn't go on Wednesday night to the Boys Brigade meetings, you didn't play football on a Saturday. 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:51.560 So I was there every Wednesday. 00:08:52.300 --> 00:08:54.759 And I soon learned the theme song of the Boys Brigade. 00:08:55.420 --> 00:08:55.960 Does anybody know it? 00:08:55.960 --> 00:09:01.860 Will your anchor hold in the storms of life? 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:02.560 I'm not going to sing it, okay. 00:09:03.139 --> 00:09:05.320 When the clouds unfold, they're wings of strife. 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:09.980 When the strong tides lift and the cables strain, will your anchor drift? 00:09:10.300 --> 00:09:11.860 Or will it firm remain? 00:09:12.540 --> 00:09:13.460 That's life. 00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:19.300 Friends, in our darkest moments, we need our deepest theology. 00:09:20.420 --> 00:09:27.340 It's why we need to fill our souls with God's Word and allow God's Spirit to bring that Word to bear in our lives. 00:09:27.340 --> 00:09:34.220 And it's why these Psalms that we've been going through over the last few weeks have been so precious for God's people down to generations 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:39.060 who are feeling the heat for standing for Jesus because they reveal to us who this God that we worship really is. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:40.820 Who is this God? 00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:41.660 Right, track with me. 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:42.320 Here's where we've been. 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:42.960 Psalm 90. 00:09:43.100 --> 00:09:44.420 God is the Eternal One. 00:09:46.019 --> 00:09:46.840 Our lives. 00:09:47.060 --> 00:09:49.060 We heard it in Psalm 1 in the kids talk, didn't we? 00:09:49.059 --> 00:09:51.679 Our lives are here today and gone tomorrow. 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:57.459 But God has always been and God will always be. 00:09:57.579 --> 00:09:58.819 He is the Eternal One. 00:09:58.919 --> 00:09:59.599 Psalm 90. 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:01.719 Psalm 91. 00:10:01.959 --> 00:10:03.239 He is our refuge. 00:10:04.339 --> 00:10:09.559 He is the one that we can run to and find shelter and safety in times of darkness. 00:10:09.779 --> 00:10:10.959 He is our refuge. 00:10:12.199 --> 00:10:12.799 Psalm 92. 00:10:12.939 --> 00:10:13.639 He is faithful. 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:16.139 He's not going to change. 00:10:16.139 --> 00:10:18.019 He is the ever-constant one. 00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:25.620 He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, meaning that you and I won't wake up tomorrow, pick up our Bibles, read a promise, and think that doesn't apply because God's changed. 00:10:26.199 --> 00:10:27.100 He's the same. 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:29.360 And Psalm 93. 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:30.039 God reigns. 00:10:30.059 --> 00:10:31.379 He's in control of all things. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:33.019 Nothing happens without his permission. 00:10:33.579 --> 00:10:36.319 He is in control of all things at all times. 00:10:36.659 --> 00:10:42.199 Now, they are not promises simply to put on the side of a coffee cup. 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:48.320 Those are promises to put deep in the chambers of our hearts and build our lives upon. 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:58.280 And the connection, I think, between Psalm 93 and Psalm 94 is God is reigning, and even in situations when it doesn't look like he is, 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:09.000 the conviction of this person of faith who has poured their soul onto paper, Psalm 94, is that even though that doesn't look like it's true, it still is. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:11.120 It still is. 00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:18.259 And so into this dark situation, the psalmist brings to mind four truths about who his God is. 00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:26.820 And as we travel through these today, my prayer for us this morning is that it strengthens us, that it encourages us, that it challenges us, 00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:30.740 and it equips us to be his people who proclaim his praises in the world. 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:31.620 Are you ready for this? 00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:33.660 When we travel through these, these will be really quick, okay? 00:11:34.280 --> 00:11:36.000 Here's the first one, verses 8 to 11. 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:39.000 Who is God? 00:11:39.400 --> 00:11:40.420 He's the all-knowing one. 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:42.360 He's the all-knowing one. 00:11:43.340 --> 00:11:45.960 The wicked say, see the connection here, the wicked say what? 00:11:46.040 --> 00:11:47.040 God takes no notice. 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:50.560 The psalmist replies, you guys take notice. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:54.240 Lovely little play on notice there. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:12:00.680 And he offers them some heavenly wisdom into a world full of poor wisdom. 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:04.180 Now, we were up in that school in Glen Almond last week. 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:09.560 And the first poster you notice as you go into one of their rooms, and it says this. 00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:11.539 And get this for wisdom, okay? 00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:15.879 Life is not about the destination. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:16.759 It's about the journey. 00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:18.580 Right? 00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:20.320 Life is not about the destination. 00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:21.159 It's about the journey. 00:12:21.940 --> 00:12:23.200 And I read it, and I thought, really? 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:29.279 Because whoever came up with that has clearly never been in a car with small children. 00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:34.940 Let me tell you, when I was in the car last week, a few weeks ago we were on holiday, 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:36.519 and the voice comes from the back, 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:37.799 Daddy, I've got a sore tummy. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:39.799 As the driver, I am not thinking about the journey. 00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:44.000 I'm thinking about getting to the destination before the inevitable happens. 00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:46.299 And we didn't get there before the inevitable happens. 00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:50.600 Life, that is just pure wisdom. 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:51.240 Do you see? 00:12:51.820 --> 00:12:56.220 Here is the psalmist offering some heavenly wisdom to his world. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:57.700 Here it is. 00:12:57.779 --> 00:12:58.399 Look at it with me. 00:12:58.740 --> 00:13:01.720 God is the creator, and you are his creature. 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:05.879 God is infinite, and you are finite. 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:08.740 God is the unformed, and you are the formed. 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:13.720 He who came up with the idea of the ear, he can hear. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:19.259 He who created the eye, he can see. 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:24.139 He who created the world in wisdom, he is not lacking in understanding. 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:27.360 And he knows all human plans. 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:32.259 I think particularly in the context with those against his people, 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:34.500 he knows that those plans are futile. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.259 Now, see what this is saying. 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:41.740 The fact that God hasn't brought full justice yet is nothing to do with his blindness. 00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:46.120 It has everything to do, rather, with his kindness. 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:54.480 His gracious desire to give human beings, out of his great love and mercy and grace, 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:59.480 an opportunity to repent and come to know him and receive new life in his son, Jesus Christ. 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:00.939 That's the reason the Bible gives. 00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:06.900 Wherever you are in relation to this God today, 00:14:07.900 --> 00:14:11.740 let me ask you just to stop and think about the wisdom that you're building your life upon. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.660 Is it the world's wisdom? 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:18.320 Is it about the journey, not the destination? 00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:21.020 Or is it God's wisdom? 00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:25.020 The Bible would say that the fear of the Lord, 00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:28.720 knowing who he is and knowing who you are, 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:30.480 that is the beginning of wisdom. 00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:32.940 Who is this God? 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.040 He is the all-knowing one. 00:14:34.180 --> 00:14:35.620 Secondly, verses 12 to 15, 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:37.120 he is the never-changing one. 00:14:38.520 --> 00:14:42.380 The testimony of the psalmist is that even in these testing times, 00:14:42.520 --> 00:14:43.640 God was teaching him, 00:14:44.140 --> 00:14:47.180 God was molding him as a loving heavenly father, 00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:48.800 and he was doing it by his word. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.220 Do you see? 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:51.720 It's a lovely testimony, isn't it? 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:54.740 As Elizabeth Elliot used to say, 00:14:56.020 --> 00:15:00.880 God will not protect his people from anything that will make us more like Jesus. 00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:03.820 Is that not true in life? 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:08.420 That there's some things that we can only learn when we walk with God, 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:11.180 not around the storm, but we walk with God through the storm. 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:14.980 As he teaches us to lean less on who we are, 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:17.540 to lean less on our change in circumstances, 00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:19.860 and to lean more on who he is. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:24.500 Sam's confidence, having come through all of that, 00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:26.460 are the words of verse 14. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:30.259 And I think this is the theological heart of this psalm, 00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:33.159 that the Lord will not reject his people, 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:36.899 that the Lord will never forsake his inheritance. 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:38.600 That is a wonderful truth. 00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:41.320 That God is not like us. 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.519 Praise him that that is so. 00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:46.539 When it comes to being faithful to his people, 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:49.460 do you see, God has not just signed himself up for an 18-month contract. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:52.480 He is not going to go on money supermarket and compare 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:55.179 to see if he can get a better deal in terms of a people to love. 00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:59.360 He's not going to have people in a trial period to figure out if he wants to say, 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:02.980 this is why the psalmist uses the covenant name of the Lord here. 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:09.879 Capital O, sorry, capital L, capital O, capital R, capital D. 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:13.220 This is the God who said to his people, 00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:15.100 I am your God, 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:18.779 and you will be my people. 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:21.460 God is fully committed to his people. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.500 God will never abandon his people. 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:24.980 What a wonderful truth, 00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:26.700 a promise to cling to and know 00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:28.259 in the darkest of times 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.939 that God is going nowhere. 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.860 God is going nowhere. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:36.600 Who is this God? 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.759 He's a never-changing one. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:39.720 And thirdly, verses 16 to 19, 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:41.200 he's the ever-present one. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:44.500 There we are, the big question at verse 16, 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.759 who will stand for me? 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.960 Who will stand for us? 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:51.000 Now feel the testimony here that the psalmist gives us. 00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:52.000 If we read this together, 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:53.720 maybe this is where you are this morning. 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:56.860 We'll let the psalmist speak to you about his, 00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:58.100 verse 18, 00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:59.100 my foot was slipping. 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:02.000 I was falling. 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:05.019 And God, you rescued me. 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:07.379 Reading that, 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:09.379 I was reminded of that quite incredible video 00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:11.519 you might have seen of Mamadou Gassama, 00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:15.039 the man who scaled that apartment complex in Paris 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.480 and reached out to that toddler 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.180 and pulled them in. 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:19.879 This is the language that the psalmist is using here 00:17:19.879 --> 00:17:22.359 to describe his spiritual battle 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:23.220 that he was in, 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.220 the fight of faith. 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.180 God, I was almost gone, 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:28.079 but you lifted me up 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:30.079 when I was ready to give it all up. 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:31.759 Presumably, he's talking about 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.119 abandoning his confidence 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:34.219 and who this God is 00:17:34.219 --> 00:17:36.539 because he'd had enough of watching the wicked win. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:39.019 God, you reached out 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:40.199 and by your grace, 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.799 you took hold of me. 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:44.379 When my chest was heavy 00:17:44.379 --> 00:17:47.759 and anxiety was pressing in, 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:49.599 God, you were there 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:51.319 and you consoled me. 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:54.379 God, when I was falling, 00:17:54.479 --> 00:17:55.699 your unfailing love, 00:17:56.479 --> 00:17:58.039 lovely description, isn't it, 00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:59.919 of God's love unfailing. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:02.279 God, you supported me. 00:18:04.060 --> 00:18:06.660 Wonderful testimony of God's sustaining grace 00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:07.980 and how did God do it? 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:11.360 Well, it's interesting to note 00:18:11.360 --> 00:18:12.800 that there's nothing in this psalm 00:18:12.800 --> 00:18:16.240 to suggest that the comfort came for the psalmist 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:18.920 because the situation for them get any better. 00:18:20.820 --> 00:18:22.860 How true is that for the Christian 00:18:22.860 --> 00:18:25.100 as we pilgrim away through this life 00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:28.099 that our hope is not in the fact 00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:30.299 that our circumstances might get better 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:33.419 because history is filled with the testimonies 00:18:33.419 --> 00:18:34.419 of people of faith 00:18:34.419 --> 00:18:35.379 down to generations 00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:36.740 for whom that was never true. 00:18:37.199 --> 00:18:40.419 That's not where this consolation came from. 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:43.559 Presumably, it came, verse 12, 00:18:43.619 --> 00:18:44.539 from God's law, 00:18:44.639 --> 00:18:45.779 from God's word. 00:18:46.439 --> 00:18:48.199 As God brought words of life 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:49.860 life and truth 00:18:49.860 --> 00:18:52.360 into the psalmist dark situation, 00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:54.440 proclaimed into the situation, 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:56.519 here's who I am 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:59.960 and here's how things really are. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.779 And the psalmist gets 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:04.519 a God-sized perspective in things. 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:08.019 That's what brought comfort. 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:10.580 And notice it didn't just bring 00:19:10.580 --> 00:19:11.500 the psalmist relief, 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.600 it brought him joy. 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:19.159 Martin Nimler was a courageous German pastor 00:19:19.159 --> 00:19:20.799 who spent seven years 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.299 in concentration camps 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.819 because he spoke out 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:25.399 against the ungodly influence 00:19:25.399 --> 00:19:27.119 that Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:28.919 was exercising in the German church. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:31.699 And he said this about his Bible, 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.419 what it meant to him 00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:35.459 in those darkest, darkest of hours. 00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:38.059 What did the word of God mean to me 00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:38.779 during those years? 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:40.679 It was simply everything. 00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:43.299 Comfort and strength, 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:45.119 guidance and hope, 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.759 master of my days 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:48.319 and companion of my nights. 00:19:48.719 --> 00:19:49.679 It was the bread 00:19:49.679 --> 00:19:51.119 which kept me from starvation 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:52.799 and the water of life 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:54.059 that refreshed my soul. 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.980 Who is this God? 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:00.759 He's the ever-present one. 00:20:01.699 --> 00:20:02.879 Fourthly, finally, 00:20:03.219 --> 00:20:04.119 who is this God? 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:05.419 Verses 20 to 23, 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:06.899 he's the fully righteous one. 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:10.139 You see, this God-sized perspective 00:20:10.139 --> 00:20:11.439 has taught the psalmist 00:20:11.439 --> 00:20:12.399 to take confidence 00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:13.179 in the truth 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.360 that ultimately God 00:20:14.360 --> 00:20:15.279 is going to win the day, 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:17.080 that he can leave it with God, 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:19.920 that he will triumph. 00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:21.240 See what he declares 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.019 at verse 20, 00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:23.900 that God is on the throne 00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:26.100 and he does not align himself 00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:26.980 with wicked rulers. 00:20:28.340 --> 00:20:29.380 And he reigns 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.340 and he rules today 00:20:30.340 --> 00:20:31.080 and one day 00:20:31.080 --> 00:20:32.400 every knee will bow before him 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:32.799 and one day 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.279 perfect justice will be done. 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:37.299 And it's the rule 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.220 that we all crave 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:40.660 and it's the reign 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:41.740 that we all long for. 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:43.539 And friends, 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:44.279 it's the king 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:45.599 that we all need. 00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:48.480 I found it fascinating 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.940 over the last little while 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.819 as we've watched 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.799 the World Cup 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:55.420 to see the reaction 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:56.660 to England manager 00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:57.519 Gareth Southgate. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.420 I don't know if anybody else 00:20:58.420 --> 00:20:59.379 has picked up on this. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:20:59.879 I mean, 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:00.740 who would have thought 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.660 that the must-have 00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:02.480 fashion item 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:03.519 of summer 2018 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.839 would be a grey waistcoat? 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:07.019 Gareth Southgate. 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.799 But I asked myself, 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.240 why? 00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.579 I find it 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:14.160 interesting to read 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.559 a comment on social media 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.859 about Gareth Southgate 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:17.799 that captured, 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.200 I thought, 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.539 the reasons pretty well. 00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.779 And I'm paraphrasing here 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.359 because I couldn't find 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:22.000 the original tweet, 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:23.259 but it went something like this. 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:25.559 At last our country 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.680 has a decent leader, 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:28.599 one who we can love, 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.220 one who we can trust, 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.759 and one that we can get behind. 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.900 Now you read that 00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:34.180 and you think, 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.119 is he talking about Churchill? 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:35.440 No, 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.059 he's talking about 00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:36.960 Gareth Southgate. 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:39.099 But is that not so revealing 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:40.460 about where our country is? 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.240 Desperate need of a leader 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.119 who can do right. 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:46.839 Someone to trust, 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:47.980 someone to follow. 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:49.140 The problem is, 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:49.799 going to the Bible, 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:50.640 that we look for leaders 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:51.680 in all the wrong places. 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:54.180 The psalmist says, 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.320 when it comes to me, 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.259 when it comes to my search 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:58.080 for someone to follow, 00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.580 when it comes to my search 00:21:59.580 --> 00:22:00.340 for someone to trust, 00:22:00.560 --> 00:22:01.360 I'm not looking out, 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:01.980 I'm looking up. 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.320 I'm looking to 00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:06.519 heaven's throne. 00:22:07.340 --> 00:22:08.240 That's where he's looking. 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:11.380 I can't help but think, 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.240 sitting where we do 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.019 in the Bible story 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.880 of the one who, 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.500 in the words of John Wesley, 00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:17.380 who left his father's throne above, 00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:20.640 whose life on this earth 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.340 was perfect, 00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:22.159 whose kingdom, 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:23.699 as we see it glimpsed 00:22:23.699 --> 00:22:24.399 in the Gospels, 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.379 was full of, 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.899 founded on righteousness 00:22:26.899 --> 00:22:28.039 and justice, 00:22:29.199 --> 00:22:30.319 and he surrendered his life 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.039 from the cross, 00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:32.319 the place where God's 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.339 unfailing love 00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:34.639 and his justice meet, 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:36.679 and as he rescued 00:22:36.679 --> 00:22:37.859 his people for himself, 00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:40.039 paying their debt of sin 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.740 on the cross, 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:43.079 this king who defeated death 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:44.139 and God is exalted 00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:45.619 high above every name, 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:47.119 who rules and reigns 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.119 in heaven's throne room. 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:49.339 There's a king 00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:50.559 worth following. 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.199 I love it as you read 00:22:53.199 --> 00:22:53.919 the book of Acts, 00:22:53.959 --> 00:22:54.740 and maybe you can do this 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.259 afterwards, 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:56.500 about the first Christian 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.459 martyr, Stephen. 00:22:58.399 --> 00:22:59.699 And Stephen is proclaiming 00:22:59.699 --> 00:23:00.579 to his generation 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.879 the glory of the gospel 00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:03.079 about the crucified, 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:04.779 risen, reigning, 00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:05.759 and returning Jesus. 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.879 He's proclaiming it to them, 00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:09.360 and how do they respond? 00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.400 Do they hear him? 00:23:10.540 --> 00:23:11.880 No, they stone him. 00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:14.800 And Luke tells us 00:23:14.800 --> 00:23:15.540 that in that moment, 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:17.060 as Stephen breathes his last, 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:17.920 he looks to heaven 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.980 and what does he see there? 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:21.760 Is Jesus sleeping? 00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:23.040 Is Jesus twiddling his thumbs? 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:23.300 No. 00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:24.120 What is Jesus doing? 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:24.720 He's standing. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.460 As if to say, 00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.060 in that moment, 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.720 that man is mine. 00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:32.200 I have paid his debt 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.080 of sin on the cross. 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:34.960 I have given him new life. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:37.480 His times are in my hands. 00:23:40.600 --> 00:23:41.759 And it's to Jesus 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.860 that verse 32, 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.980 22 rather, 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:44.440 for us, 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.480 it takes its shape. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:48.140 Jesus is the rock 00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:50.160 on whom we stand. 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.460 Jesus is the one 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:54.720 in whom we find refuge, 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:57.059 because he has taken us 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:58.460 under the shadow of his wing, 00:23:58.759 --> 00:24:00.279 and because he has made us his own. 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.340 And one day, 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:03.259 Jesus will return 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:04.559 to judge the world. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:06.660 as the king 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:08.059 of heaven, 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.680 and he will do everything 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:11.940 that verse 23 talks about, 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.720 bringing justice 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.400 for his people 00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:14.799 and executing justice 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:16.840 for those who have rejected him 00:24:16.840 --> 00:24:17.519 as king. 00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:20.680 Who is this God? 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:24.480 He is the fully righteous one. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:26.759 Friends, as we close, 00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:27.579 let me just take you back 00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:29.299 to that little Quaker congregation 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.059 down in Birmingham. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:30.940 Do you remember their question? 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.680 Who will stand for us? 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:35.299 John Lewis made an offer 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.360 to buy their land. 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.519 They receive a letter back 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.299 a few weeks later, 00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:38.980 and it says this, 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.539 Dear Sirs, 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.420 so they're polite as well. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:41.500 Dear Sirs, 00:24:42.080 --> 00:24:43.100 thank you for your letter. 00:24:44.100 --> 00:24:45.060 I think you're mistaken 00:24:45.060 --> 00:24:46.140 in thinking that you were here 00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:46.740 before us, 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.580 but in any event, 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:49.299 we kindly reject your offer. 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:51.140 But we would in fact like 00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:51.740 to make an offer 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:53.000 to purchase your land. 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:55.240 As you can imagine, 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.420 that response was met 00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.359 with much laughing 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.579 and much scoffing 00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.480 around the boardroom, 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.160 John Lewis, 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:01.319 as they talked about it together, 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:02.839 until they read the signature 00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.980 at the bottom of the letter, 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.420 and it said, 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.259 You're sincerely, 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.640 John Cadbury. 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.579 John Cadbury, 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.380 the founder, 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:12.380 the owner of that vast 00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:13.680 Cadbury's chocolate empire, 00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:15.059 and himself a member 00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:17.579 of that unimpressive, 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:18.900 dwindling, 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:20.880 little Quaker congregation. 00:25:21.540 --> 00:25:21.720 You see, 00:25:21.800 --> 00:25:23.100 knowing who is in your corner, 00:25:23.320 --> 00:25:24.900 knowing who is standing for you, 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:26.300 makes all the difference. 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.920 And as God's people here today, 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:29.140 we have somebody far greater 00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:29.960 than John Cadbury 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.900 standing in our corner. 00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:33.200 Who will stand for us? 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:35.180 This God of San Linty 4. 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.080 Who is he? 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:37.260 He is the unknowing one. 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:39.040 He is the never-changing one. 00:25:39.300 --> 00:25:40.620 He is the ever-present one. 00:25:40.760 --> 00:25:42.460 And he is the fully righteous one. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.300 And that's who stands in our corner. 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.160 Friends, 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.860 let me just invite you 00:25:46.860 --> 00:25:47.720 just to close your eyes. 00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.620 We're just going to close. 00:25:48.619 --> 00:25:50.959 And in a time of prayer, 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:53.899 but just before we finish our service 00:25:53.899 --> 00:25:55.019 and move on this morning, 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:57.859 as I was praying about this this week, 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:00.339 and just with our eyes closed, 00:26:00.899 --> 00:26:03.479 I was particularly thinking about those 00:26:03.479 --> 00:26:07.019 who would describe themselves right now 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:09.659 as those whose feet are slipping. 00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:13.539 Those who are thinking, 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:15.319 is God really in control? 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:17.500 And at times that's all of us, 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:17.819 isn't it? 00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:19.119 But particularly for those 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:19.939 who are here this morning, 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.079 maybe I could ask you 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:22.079 all with our eyes closed, 00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:23.379 maybe just really bravely, 00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:24.480 if that is you, 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:25.519 maybe just raise your hand 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.639 just for five seconds. 00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:32.059 And let me pray particularly 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:36.839 that this wonderful psalm 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:39.399 would be true for you in particular. 00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:41.700 and it would be true for us 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.800 this morning as a church. 00:26:46.040 --> 00:26:47.320 Father, thank you 00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:49.180 that your word would tell us 00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:52.300 that those who put their trust in you 00:26:52.300 --> 00:26:54.759 will never be put to shame. 00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:57.940 And I pray particularly for 00:26:57.940 --> 00:27:00.120 folks here this morning 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:01.019 who've raised their hand, 00:27:01.300 --> 00:27:02.200 particularly for them, 00:27:02.280 --> 00:27:03.519 that this would be true 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.980 in their own lives, 00:27:05.360 --> 00:27:07.040 that you would support them, 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:08.859 that you would equip them, 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.740 that you would help them stand, 00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:12.639 and that you would support them 00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.539 and surround them 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:15.180 with your unfailing love. 00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:17.019 Father, thank you 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:18.599 that you are the same yesterday, 00:27:18.879 --> 00:27:19.920 today, and forever. 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.579 And so it's to you 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:22.379 we look today. 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.940 Father, we love you. 00:27:24.379 --> 00:27:25.299 And we ask that you would come 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.099 and be with us now. 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.339 In Jesus' name. 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:28.180 Amen. 00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:28.339 Amen.