Let us join our hearts together in praising God
by singing to His praise from Psalm 93 of the Sing Psalms version of the Blue Book.
Psalm 93, Sing Psalms, you'll find that on page 1, 2, 3 of the Blue Book.
We'll sing from the beginning of that psalm, we'll sing the whole psalm.
The Lord is King, His throne endures majestic in His height.
The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength and might.
The world is founded firm and sure, removed it cannot be.
Your throne is strong and You are God from all eternity.
The seas, O Lord, have lifted up, they lifted up their voice.
The seas have lifted up their waves and made a mighty noise.
The Lord enthroned on high is strong, more powerful is He
than thunder of the ocean's waves or breakers of the sea.
Your royal statues, Lord, stand firm.
Unchanging is Your Word and holiness adorns Your house
for endless days, O Lord.
We'll stand together and sing these verses to God's praise.
The Lord is King.
The heart is king, his throne endures,
a chest in his height.
The Lord is full in majesty,
an arm with strength and light.
The world is found in firm and sure,
we would it have a be.
Your throne is strong,
and you are God of all eternity.
The seas, O Lord, have lifted up,
lifted up their voice.
The seas have lifted up their weight,
and made a mighty voice.
The Lord, in throne of highest,
strong or powerful is he,
that land that all the oceans wave,
are raiders of the sea.
Your voice, O Lord, have lifted up,
and heard of changing his pure word,
and holyness,
and Lord to rise,
O'er the saints, O Lord.
May we draw near to God in prayer.
Let us bow in prayer.
Our Father in heaven,
as we come to you in this evening hour on your day,
we pray that we would direct our minds and our hearts
towards you and your word,
and that we would have a focus upon what is set before us,
and the beauty and wonder of your unchanging word,
and in it may we see the unchanging promises of God,
that we can take hold of,
and embrace within our hearts,
and we can lay hold of your word,
as one that is a sure foundation for our souls,
and that when we look at the world around us,
and the changeableness of it,
and the uncertainty of it,
we then see the reassurance that we have,
and the certainty and trusting in you.
Let our minds be heavenward,
and let us consider who you are,
who you are as God,
and Christ as our King,
and we think on that kingship that is set before us,
that will endure forever,
and that we would love and abide,
expecting to be received into the kingdom of God,
and the kingdom of heaven.
May your kingdom come,
and may you gather all your people,
in your due time,
according to your ways,
mysterious to our understanding.
We pray that your spirit would be at work,
within the hearts of us this night,
and the desires of our heart would be towards you,
and to know you,
and you would reveal yourself to us in a greater sense than ever before,
and that we may behold you with reverence and awe in our hearts,
and consider all that we are receivers of through Christ Jesus.
We thank you for all we have through him,
and that he such so loved us,
that he would go to the cross and die for us,
and yet he gives us a great hope and assurance,
for he did not remain in the grave,
but ascended into heaven.
And there he is preparing a place for his people,
who trust in him and have faith in him.
May we be those people that draw near to you,
and cast aside all other loves of our hearts that we see in this world.
And may the love of Christ Jesus grow and flourish,
the seeds that is planted within us,
abundantly grow and bear fruit in each of our lives,
and as a church united.
And the great phrase of Hebrews where he says,
let us, may we rejoice together
in that provision and inheritance
that the Christian receives in Christ.
We pray this night
for the work that we do in this congregation.
Varied and different people in whom we meet,
we remember the work that the cruise ships
that Martin Walker leads.
We pray the blessing upon that
as visitors come into this building
and see the simplicity of it.
May the word be highlighted and set before them,
that they may see within those who speak with them
the beauty of Christ Jesus.
We pray for the Sunday school.
We pray that a time of rest for the teachers in that.
We remember Twinnies.
We remember the team in Cresce.
We pray for David Chisholm
and his working road to recovery.
And we pray over those who are suffering with addictions.
That you would draw them from these things
that bind them
and that you would set them free.
Lord, we pray for those who visit
and that we would be mindful of those
who are at home,
even listening to us this night.
That they too are part of us
and are joined with us in worshipping you.
Pray that we would be mindful of them.
And that we would give that great consideration
of each other
and have that great concern for one another
and how to stir up each other
to love and good works.
And yet,
as we have that concern for one another,
may that concern be also set within our hearts
for those who are lost.
And those who do not know of the glorious
and immeasurable riches
that they can receive in Christ Jesus.
We pray
that you would guide us in wisdom.
That the words that we speak
would be as fresh as a flowing stream
and to those who do not know you.
And speak to their hearts and souls.
And may they see within the hearts of the believer
a reassured hope and confidence
in what they believe.
Though trialed and afflicted in many ways,
they stand firm upon the rock
that is Jesus Christ and his promises.
We pray
for those who are afflicted.
We pray
for those who are suffering.
We pray
for those who are laid aside
in illness.
We pray
that you would comfort them
and be with them.
We also acknowledge
the anxieties
people have
in awaiting
procedures in hospital.
We pray
also for them.
That you would give them
your peace
and reassurance.
That they would come
and trust in you.
Lord,
we just pray
that we
would be
living
lights
that go about
in a dark world
setting forth
the beauty
of Christ
and illuminating
that great
pressure
and riches
of his word.
Be with us.
We pray
in our time
together
as we come
and consider
what we are
receivers of
by being part
of the kingdom
of heaven.
Be with us
in minds
our thoughts
bodies
and souls
so that we
would not be
distracted
nor turn away
from your word.
Help us
to have that
focus
upon you
a heavenward
focus.
May you
grant us
your blessing.
May your spirit
be your guide
in these things
and these matters.
May your word
be to us
greatest treasure
of all
sweeter than honey
and richer than gold.
So be with us
in our worship
of you
and all this
we ask
in the confession
and forgiveness
of our sins
we ask
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
I would like us
to turn
to your Bibles
for our reading
and we'll find
that first reading
in Exodus
chapter 19.
Exodus
chapter 19.
We'll break up
our readings
we'll read in Exodus
and then afterwards
we'll read in Hebrews
after us singing.
Exodus
chapter 19.
I'm reading
at verse 7.
This is Israel
at Mount Sinai
and Moses
being called
to meet
with God.
Let us hear
God's word.
So Moses
came and called
the elders
of the people
and set
before them
all these words
that the Lord
had commanded him
and the people
answered together
and said
all that the Lord
has spoken
we will do.
And Moses
reported the words
of the people
to the Lord
and the Lord
said to Moses
behold
I am coming
to you
in a thick cloud
that the people
may hear
when I speak
with you
and may also
believe you
forever.
When Moses
told the words
of the people
to the Lord
the Lord
said to Moses
go to the people
and consecrate them
today and tomorrow
and let them
wash their garments
and be ready
for the third day
for on the third day
the Lord
will come down
on Mount Sinai
in the sight
of all the people
and you shall
set limits
for the people
all around
saying
take care
not to go
into the mountain
or touch
the edge of it
whoever touches
the mountain
shall be put
to death
no hand
shall touch him
but he shall
be stoned
or shot
whether beast
or man
he shall
not live
when the trumpet
sounds
a long blast
they shall
come up
to the mountain
so Moses
went down
from the mountain
to the people
and consecrated
the people
and they washed
their garments
and he said
to the people
be ready
for the third day
do not go near
a woman
on the morning
of the third day
there were thunder
and lightnings
and a thick cloud
on the mountain
and a very loud
trumpet blast
so that all the people
in the camp
trembled
then Moses
brought the people
out of the camp
to meet God
and they took
their stand
at the foot
of the mountain
now Mount Sinai
was wrapped
in smoke
because the Lord
had descended
on it in fire
the smoke
of it went up
like the smoke
of Achilles
and the whole
mountain
trembled
greatly
and as the sound
of the trumpet
grew louder
and louder
Moses spoke
and God
answered him
in the thunder
the Lord
came down
on Mount Sinai
to the top
of the mountain
and the Lord
called Moses
to the top
of the mountain
and Moses
went up
and the Lord
said to Moses
go down
and warn the people
lest they break
through to the Lord
to look
and many of them
perish
also let the priests
who come near
the Lord
consecrate themselves
lest the Lord
break out
against them
and Moses
said to the Lord
the people
cannot
come up
to Mount Sinai
for you
yourself
warned us
saying
set limits
around the mountain
and consecrate it
and the Lord
said to him
go down
and come up
bringing Aaron
with you
but do not
let the priests
and the people
break through
to come up
to the Lord
lest he break out
against them
so Moses
went down
to the people
and told them
Amen
I'll continue
in our praise
of God
by singing
there in Psalm 110
of the Scottish
Psalter version
find that
on page 390
Psalm 110
Scottish
Psalter version
page 390
we sing
from the beginning
of that Psalm
down to the end
of verse Mark 5
the Lord
did say unto
my Lord
sit thou
at my right hand
until I make
thy force a stool
where on thy feet
may stand
the Lord
shall out of Zion
send
thy rod
of thy great power
in midst of all
thy enemies
be thou
the governor
down to verse 5
the glorious
and mighty Lord
that sits
at thy right hand
shall in this
his day
of wrath
strike through
kings
that do
whom
withstand
we'll stand
and sing
these words
together
the Lord
did say
unto my Lord
sit thou
at my right hand
this
unto
とう
asters
my Lord
serve
high
anto
to
shall
on
return
and
till
I
af
Thy boat's astool, where not thy feet they stand?
The heart shall have the sky ascend,
where shore the life
is heard.
Amen.
We turn now to our Bibles in the second portion of
reading from Scripture in the book of Hebrews, Hebrews chapter 12.
We'll read there at verse 18.
Hebrews chapter 12, verse 18.
For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom, and
a tempest and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that
no further messages be spoken to them.
For they could not endure the order that was given.
If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.
Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I tremble with fear.
But you have come, rather, to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born
who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous
made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood
that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
See that you do not refuse him who is speaking.
For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will
we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, yet once more I will shake
not only the earth, but also the heavens.
This phrase, yet once more, indicates the removal of things that are shaken, that is, things that
have been made, in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let
us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Amen.
May the reading of God's word be blessed to us as always.
Amen.
We continue in our praise to God before considering this passage, and we'll do so in Psalm 48a of
the Sing Psalms Version.
You'll find that on page 63 of the Blue Book.
We'll also conclude with this psalm after our considerations of Scripture, if you just might
want to keep that page.
We'll sing the whole psalm over them two singings.
Our first singing will take us down to verse marked 8.
Psalm 48a.
Sing down to verse marked 8.
as we have heard, so we have seen, God's city will endure.
The Lord Almighty evermore, his city keeps secure.
A psalm that speaks of the security of Mount Zion
and the king's great city that will endure forever.
May we stand and sing these verses.
Great is the Lord who rules on high, with praise his temple full.
The Lord who rules on high, with praise his temple full.
Within the city of our God and on his holy hill.
Thanks, I long with his graceful heart, his joy to all the earth.
The great is the Lord who rules on high, with praise his temple full.
Within her city of our God and on his holy hill.
God's presence is revealed.
For he has told himself to be a fortress of mercy.
God's presence is revealed.
When kings join forces to attack,
As one they march away.
They saw her and they wear a mist.
They all in terror play.
Like women giving burdened pain,
They tremble in his shame.
You wrecked them like a merchant tree,
By temples and stone away.
But we are so happy seeing,
God's city will endure.
The Lord almighty evermore.
His city is secure.
Amen.
I'll come now and consider the words from the book of Hebrews.
And for our text tonight,
Read there at verse 28.
Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
And thus, let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe.
For our God is a consuming fire.
Over the last few weeks,
We have looked at some of the great Bible similes that we find in the Bible.
And although we don't have one set before us tonight,
In the morning we consider what the kingdom of heaven was like,
As Jesus spoke of in the parables.
And we consider what was the kingdom.
And how that kingdom was all set in place by the gathering of the people.
And how that kingdom would come in the gathering of the people.
And I thought that this section here that speaks of a kingdom that cannot be shaken,
Would be a fitting conclusion to these Bible similes.
And I've tied them all together.
The outworking of Christ's kingdom.
And the gathering of the people as we considered in the morning.
And the riches of it.
We looked at and considered.
And tonight I really want to give our minds to the greatness of that kingdom.
That it is sure and steadfast like the man who built his house on the rock.
It is a place where the king's blessing pours down,
Like the oil on Aaron's head and the dew of Mount Hermon.
It is a place where the people in the kingdom of heaven are washed whiter than snow.
And it is a place where the gathering of that kingdom rejoice in saying together,
Let us.
The greatness of Christ's kingdom is set before us in this passage.
As a great provision and a great inheritance that we receive.
But is it so great to you as you consider it,
That you are stirred to that thankfulness spoken in verse 28,
With a gratefulness in your heart,
For receiving such a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
And is this thought on this great kingdom so wondrous to you,
That you cannot but draw near to him in worship with reverence and awe.
If we do, that's great.
But if not, then we have all the more reason to consider how great this kingdom is,
So that we too would be stirred in such a way.
That we are called by the king to come into this kingdom and receive the king's favour.
I pray that each of us would be found in the kingdom of heaven.
And this kingdom here is represented by two mountains from our passage.
One greater than the other.
And in the final section from verse 25.
There is a comparison made between two kingdoms.
The kingdom of the world that will be shaken and the kingdom of God that will stand forever.
So let us give our mind to those differences that are set before us.
Of two parts, considering two mountains,
And considering the greater mountain.
And considering the greater kingdom.
So let's look at the greater mountain that is set before us.
It says there in verse 18.
For you have not come to what may be touched a blazing fire, darkness and gloom, and a tempest,
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice whose words made the hearer beg that no further messages would be spoken to them.
For they could not endure the order that was given.
If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.
And so on.
Oh, this passage takes us back to Mount Sinai.
And the section that we read there in Exodus together.
But there is a contrast set before Mount Sinai.
With Mount Zion.
You'll see that in verse 22.
Whereas we come to the Mount Sinai at first in verse 18.
In verse 22, the writer of the Hebrews says,
But you have come to Mount Zion.
There are two mountains set before us.
And if we consider Mount Sinai.
And God's almighty approach that he made to his people there.
And the representative Moses going on behalf of them to meet with God.
God asked for their preparation.
To consecrate themselves.
To wash themselves.
And we read that they came with fear and trembling.
In verse 16 of that chapter.
And as we read through the descriptions of all that happened on Mount Sinai.
We kind of get a picture.
But we don't grasp really the effect of what was going on at that time.
The fear of anyone going near the mountain.
God commanded that they should be stoned or shot.
They were to die.
Man or beast.
They were to stay back.
Until the trumpet sounded.
Then they could draw closer.
But even only so far.
For Moses had to go back.
And restrain them.
From drawing into the presence of God.
They could not endure.
The order that was given.
To draw near to God.
And to come to him.
And we could see that.
When we consider this Old Testament account.
We see in it the great display of God's power.
His might.
His authority.
Really emphasized at Mount Sinai.
This is the obvious revealing of God's character at Sinai.
Such that it produces within the heart of man.
Fear and trembling.
Even in the heart of Moses.
Verse 21.
Yet under this great display of fear.
This great display of might and power.
That provoked such fear.
Underneath that.
There is a loving, forgiving, patient and long-suffering God.
It's not obvious to us.
But we don't even need to leave Mount Sinai to see it.
For if you remember.
While Moses was up on that mountain.
The people of God were building a golden calf.
And making an idol of that calf.
God did not destroy them for such an action.
But God in his patience, forgiveness, long-suffering.
With the people that were so stiff-necked.
He allowed them to be builders of the tabernacle.
Where he would come and dwell with them.
Although when we consider Sinai.
The might and power of God.
Is really set before us.
And the writer is saying there in verse 18.
We have not come to a place like that.
We have not come to the place of things that may be touched.
We have come to far superior things than Mount Sinai.
The Hebrew writer is saying this is the way things were in the old covenant.
In the old ways.
But now consider the ways that we have now.
And the riches of it.
You have come to Mount Zion.
Mount Zion, a mountain that represented the presence of God.
Before Jerusalem.
Mount Zion's mountain stood over Jerusalem.
And it was considered as that seat and throne of God.
That watched over his precious people of Jerusalem.
As we saw in Psalm 133.
And from that throne.
The blessings of God poured down.
And yet it is to this mountain that we come, Mount Zion, not to a place where we are arrested by the fear and terror of God,
but where the immeasurable riches of this king pour down upon his people by the one that went before us,
by our representative, by the blood of Christ, we receive spiritual treasure of surpassing value in the kingdom of heaven that is set before us.
Mount Zion, in a sense, reverses the emphasis of Mount Sinai.
Love is emphasized and not wrath.
The new covenant and the new ways openly display the love of God in the giving of his son at Calvary.
And yet under that great display of love, and no greater display of love can anyone make than to give their life.
Underneath that is the power and might of God, the sovereignty of God.
And you can see, well, on both mountains, there is a God which loves us and is patient and long-suffering with us,
but also a God that causes fear and trembling in our heart.
Such is God, such is God, and such he will be.
We are not to pluck God's attributes as we see fit.
For if we do that, we lose the character of God.
And it will directly influence how we draw near to him and how we worship him.
And if we consider the riches of Mount Zion,
look there what we read of about this mountain in verse 22.
It is so rich of what we receive.
But you have come to Mount Zion,
and to the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem,
to the innumerable angels and festal gathering,
and to the assembly of the firstborn who are ruled in heaven,
and to God, the judge of all,
and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,
and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
The writer's building upon himself as he speaks about this kingdom,
about this heavenly kingdom that has been prepared for us.
The privileges of it are set forth for us to consider.
You can come to the city of the living God.
You are not restricted from his dwelling place.
You are not restricted like the people were in Mount Sinai,
nor are you restricted like the people were by the curtain of the tabernacle.
We have come into the city of the living God.
We are welcomed into that city,
not restrained,
even to be with the innumerable angels in the worship of God,
to that festal gathering.
And that word to describe that gathering
is a word that is not used anywhere else in Scripture,
and maybe rightly so,
for it is a gathering like no other.
We are come to this adjoining with the innumerable angels
in the worship of God
as receivers of the kingdom of heaven.
And you have come to be included in the assembly in heaven,
enrolled in heaven,
written with your name registered in this place.
You have citizenship in this heavenly kingdom.
Your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
And it is not just to the city,
nor the angels,
nor the assembly,
but you have come unto God,
the judge of all,
and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.
For it is only those
who are made perfect in righteousness,
and the righteousness of Christ,
that are judged as pure.
Those who have washed their garments
in the blood of Christ,
made perfect in his righteousness,
and it is to the one
who gives us his righteousness
that we also come.
It says there,
to Jesus,
our Savior,
our mediator,
our representative,
the one who went into the place
where we could not go,
nor the place where we could endure.
He went to satisfy the justice of God
by his unblemished,
perfect sacrifice,
so that we may enter
into his presence
by the blood that cleansed us
from all our unrighteousness.
and it is a blood spilt
that speaks.
And it speaks a better word
than the blood of Abel.
It says there in verse 24.
Both men were killed unjustly.
Both offered a willing sacrifice
with blood.
Abel brought a lamb
as an offering,
but also his own blood
spoke,
though separately.
Christ's sacrifice
and life is such
that they are both his own.
And while Abel's blood
is a blood
that spoke of vengeance
against his offender,
and a punishment
that God made upon Cain
that it says
he could not bear,
the wrath and curse of God
that was so great for him,
Christ's blood
does not speak
in such a way.
Christ's blood
speaks with forgiveness
to those
who have offended him.
Christ's blood
was so like that
willing sacrifice offered.
And it was such a sacrifice
that was likewise
received and regarded
by God.
And it was a sacrifice
that bore the punishment
that we could not bear.
The blood of Christ
is a far better word.
And though Christ,
and though through this blood
and through Christ,
we come to Mount Zion
through this man.
not in the old ways
of Mount Zion
with fear and trembling,
but a new and living way
is opened up for us.
Unto the heavenly kingdom,
unto the glory of God.
The curtain that kept us back
has been torn.
The way has been opened
by the blood of the Lamb,
allowing us to go
to the places
where we are restricted
from going
into the presence of God.
We enter into
far superior things
and far greater blessings
as the people of God.
We are so privileged
to receive these things.
It is like the words
of Psalm 89.
O greatly blessed
the people are
the joyful sound
that know
in brightness
of thy face,
O Lord,
they ever on shall go.
They in thy name
shall all the day
rejoice exceedingly
and in thy righteousness
they shall
be exalted,
exalted be on high.
And it is to the heights
of Zion
that we will be exalted
to be with God
and to be in the presence
of God
for Christ has opened up
the way
to be in such a place.
And it is a great kingdom
that is set before
the one who trusts in Christ.
Verse 25
makes a call
to each of us.
See that you do not
refuse him
who is speaking.
For if they did not escape
when they refused him
who warned them on earth,
much less will we escape
if we reject him
who warns from heaven.
At that time
his voice shook the earth,
but now he has promised,
yet once more
I will shake
not only the earth,
but also the heavens.
This phrase
yet once more
indicates the removal
of things that are shaken,
that is,
the things that have been made
in order that the things
that cannot be shaken
may remain.
He's calling
to each of us
to understand
what has been said here.
That we do not
reject
the provision
and inheritance
that we have
through Christ Jesus.
the sacrifice
for our sins.
The king
is asking you
to come
into his kingdom
and receive
these riches.
Do you know
the value
of the treasure
that is set
before you tonight
in his word?
Here is a warning
not to refuse it,
for by the power
that shook Sinai
it says
that he will also
shake this world
and destroy
all things
that have been made
so the things
that cannot be shaken
will remain.
The things
not made
with hands,
the things
that are eternal
in the heavens,
only what cannot
be shaken,
what God
has made
and provided
shall remain.
Mount Zion
will stand
forever.
This kingdom
is such
that it is
so secure
it will not
be shaken.
The kingdom
in which the believer
in Christ
is a part of
today
gives you
the greatest
security
for tomorrow.
For even
our lives
shall be shaken,
our bodies
shall be shaken,
and removed.
But the kingdom
of heaven
and those
who are part
of the kingdom
of heaven
and welcome
into the kingdom
of heaven
shall endure.
Is there an excuse
for those
who have heard
these things
of such
a provision
of wonder
that it is
made for those
through Christ
Jesus?
We are not
to come
with fear
and trembling.
We are to come
and rejoice
in all
that has been
done for us.
And as the trumpet
sounded at Mount
Sinai for the people
to come,
so the trumpet
sounds
tonight.
The gospel
has been
sounded
throughout
our land
and it has
been made
known
to the hearer
of it
and you
tonight
that it is
time
to come
and receive
these riches,
to receive
the blessing
and favour
of the King,
to come
to this
blessed
Mount
Zion.
let us
rejoice
as we
consider
the provision
that has been
made for us.
Where abundant
blessings flow
down to the
people,
the trumpet
sounds
the favour
of the King,
but yet
another
trumpet
shall sound,
a trumpet
that will
sound the
coming
of that
kingdom
and completeness.
as we pray
and call
for his
kingdom
to come,
a prayer
that will
with surety
be answered.
It's just
like the
parable of the
night that we
considered this
morning,
where those
will be
gathered
and those
will be
separated,
the good
from the bad,
those who
believe in
Christ
and are
part of
the kingdom
of heaven
shall be
safe
and secure.
Christ's
own appeal
to the
people
was,
repent,
turn from
the ways
in which
you are
living,
turn from
the desires
of your
heart,
repent,
for the
kingdom of
heaven
is at
hand.
The
King
is calling
to you
tonight,
the trumpet
is being
sounded,
that you
may come.
And what
is the
writer of
the Hebrews
conclusion to
all these
things?
He says,
therefore,
let us
be grateful
for receiving
a kingdom
that cannot
be shaken
and thus
let us
offer to
God
acceptable
worship
with reverence
and awe
for our
God is a
consuming
fire.
When
someone gives
you a gift
of abundance,
you're not
quite sure
what to
do.
And it
is the
abundance
of God's
grace,
the
forgiveness
of your
sins,
the
washings
of your
garments,
a solid
rock in
which to
build your
life upon,
and the
receiving
of God's
favour.
It's
sometimes
hard to
grasp.
and to
receive
them.
But they
are set
before you
tonight.
The
believer in
Christ
has
received
all this
already.
The
believer in
Christ is
already part
of this
kingdom.
His name
is already
written in
the Lamb's
Book of
Life.
Christ is
He is
already
welcomed
into the
king's
city to
join in
the praise
of God
and enrolled
in that
great
assembly.
They can
come to
God,
they can
come to
Jesus
through that
blood that
was poured
out for
you.
we have
received
these
things
already.
We are
one and
the same
in the
kingdom of
heaven.
We are
included in
all these
things.
The
kingdom
has been
prepared for
you.
The king
is waiting
to gather
the people
of his
kingdom
which are
set before
us here
tonight.
the king's
kingdom
will come
in
completion
and he
is calling
you to
come to
it.
And I
admit in
all these
things we
can only
really touch
on it
and probably
rightly so.
We cannot
grasp them
in full.
They are
inconceivable
to us
of what
these riches
really are.
We see
through our
glass dimly
we have
tastes of
this heavenly
experience
but we
fail to
convey
the full
measure
what it
will mean
for us.
Even
the outworking
of God's
grace in
our lives
we can
explain it
so far
but then
we are
left without
words.
There's
just some
point that
comes where
we are
just lost
to explain
the riches
have been
part of
the kingdom
of heaven
and knowing
that the
blood of
Christ
has redeemed
me and
opened up
a way for
me in
which I
can draw
near to
God.
So great
are these
things.
Let us
give thanks
thanks for
the kingdom
of heaven
that is
prepared for
us, the
kingdom of
heaven that
we are
part of, the
believer in
Christ Jesus.
And thus
do so
offer
worship in
a manner
that is
fitting for
the honour
of the
King.
King
Jesus and
the glory
of God
that we
worship him
with reverence
and awe.
There's a
sermon in
this itself
but I
must conclude.
The
reverence
of God
equates
to the
shame in
a sense
of knowing
the abundance
of what we
have received,
the
unworthiness
of our
receiving
it,
whether it
is that
we are
spared his
anger or
that we
are receiving
such an
abundance of
things.
A.W.
Pink
says,
Though God
has taken
his redeemed
into intimate
nearness
with himself,
yet he
requires that
they always
retain a
due apprehension
of the
majesty of
his person
and the
holiness of
his nature,
the severity
of his
justice,
and the
ardent or
passionate
jealousy
of his
worship.
You see,
we cannot
pluck at
the preferable
attributes of
God,
or it will
affect our
worship of
him and
how we
draw near
to him.
if we
only consider
his love,
we will
have no
reverence
to draw
near to
him.
Our
awe will
not be
complete
if we
forget the
almighty
power that
was shown
at
Sinai.
Our
worship
must be
in honour
of God
and to
the glory
of God,
and that's
why he
concludes
by saying,
for our
God is a
consuming
fire.
That
comes from
Deuteronomy
where God
himself
directed the
people of
Israel on
how to
worship him,
that they
were not to
worship him
in ways that
they thought
fit themselves,
they were
worshipped him
in ways in
which he
had appointed,
not to
use images
or idolatry
in any
sense.
Our
worship,
as we
draw near
to God,
should have
a holy
fear and
a captivating
love.
intertwined
with one
another,
and finding
that balance
can be
difficult at
times,
we must
confess.
Though amid
these difficulties
and differences,
the greater
God is to
you,
and the
more that
we know
of God
and understand
of the
greatest
riches
that we
receive in
Christ Jesus,
the greater
our desire
will be to
come to
him.
I hope
we see
the
surpassing
glory
of his
kingdom.
The
King is
calling you
to come
tonight.
The
promise of
his rest
still stands.
Let us
fear,
lest any
of you
should seem
to fail
to reach
it.
Without
the gospel,
we have
only fear
and
trembling.
The
law of
Sinai
condemns
us.
It is
a mountain
that we
will come
to in
fear.
But with
the gospel,
we have
the greatest
provision,
the greatest
inheritance,
the greatest
security,
the way
has been
opened for
us.
We are
not held
back.
we are
welcomed
into the
presence of
the King.
It is a
kingdom that
gives us
confidence
because it
shall not
be shaken.
It is a
great
kingdom,
greater
than any
kingdom
in this
world.
As we
consider it,
may we
draw near
to him
with reverence
and awe
of a
God
that is
mighty
and good.
May these
thoughts be
blessed to
us.
We'll
conclude by
singing in
the psalm
that we
left off
with,
Psalm 48a.
Sing
Psalms,
page 63.
We'll
sing the
remainder of
the verses
there from
verse 9
to 14.
Again,
the
considerations
of the
city of
our God.
We
contemplate
your
steadfast
love
within
your
house,
O God,
for like
your name,
your praise
extends
throughout
the earth
abroad.
All that
you do
is right
as Lord,
Mount Zion's
joy is
great,
and Judah's
towns rejoice
as you,
your judgment
celebrate.
Round Zion
walk and
count her
towers,
view every
citadel,
so that the
children yet
are born,
her story
you may
tell.
For God
the Lord
who is
her God,
forever
will abide,
he is her
God forevermore,
and to
the end
her guide.
The confidence
that the
psalmist
had when
he came
to contemplate
God,
and as
he
round Zion
walked and
counted the
blessings that
he received.
Let us stand
and sing these
verses.
We
contemplate
your steadfast
love within
your house,
O God.
God,
we contemplate
your steadfast
love within
your eyes,
O God,
your eyes,
O God,
for thy
pure
influence
your
grace
makes
faint
through all
the
end
the
pride.
All
that
you
do
is
righteous
for
your
joy
is
great,
and
to
the
time
rejoice
as
may
your
judges
celebrate.
Round
Zion
walk
and
crown
her
heart
you
every
sin
at
end,
so
that
to
children
and
to
children
may
get
apart
their
story
you
may
tell.
For
God,
the
Lord,
who
is
their
God,
forever
and
will
abide,
forever
will
abide,
he
is
our
God,
forever
more,
and
to
the
end
our
night.
just
conclude with a word of prayer.
Our Father in heaven, when we consider your great love shown towards us in Christ Jesus,
and the privilege we receive from him, that we can enter into your presence,
and we receive our show of your glory and great inheritance.
He is the one that went to the places where we could not endure,
and he is the one that calls to us tonight.
May we receive your kingdom with joy.
May it be a treasure to us unspeakable and inconceivable,
and unexplainable in many ways.
May we know what it is to stand firm upon the solid rock that is Jesus Christ,
and a kingdom that shall not be shaken, and in a place where we can find security and confidence in our life.
Be with us as we part, and the week ahead watch over us, we pray in Jesus' name.
May we ask these things. Amen.