WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:17.000 When I first started taking funerals, the most popular song to have played at the crematorium, according to the charts, was My Way. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:22.000 ! I think it's been replaced by, it's time to say goodbye by Andrea Bocelli. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:31.000 But it's slightly ironic, isn't it, that people would have My Way played at the crematorium. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:36.000 And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain. 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:50.000 My friend, I'll say it clear, I'll state my case of which I'm certain, I've lived a life that's full, I've travelled each and every highway, and much more than this, I did it My Way. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:58.000 And I suggest to you that's a pretty brazen thing to do, isn't it, because the end isn't just near, it's already arrived. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:05.000 But to broadcast to the world and in chief to God that in fact you've done it your way, 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:11.000 although I'm all for individual expression, God has created every single one of us as near unique individuals, 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:20.000 the Bible never ever encourages you to go your own way, to do it your way, to try and follow your own path in life. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Our culture on the other hand, it sees it, doesn't it, as the epitome of self-expression, the ultimate thing, to be yourself, to do it your way. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.000 The Bible disagrees. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:40.000 And in fact when you go to the Bible, the Bible is very clear, fundamentally, that there are only two ways to live. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:47.000 Now as we pick up this series for Isaiah, we find in Isaiah 8 that one of those ways is mentioned explicitly, 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:50.000 and the other by implication is there. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:53.000 Look at verse 11 of chapter 8. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:02:04.000 For the Lord spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of his people. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:10.000 This seems to follow on from the last time we were in Isaiah, it was two weeks ago, we were in Isaiah 6. 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:13.000 And do you remember what Isaiah saw and heard? 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:16.000 And in Isaiah 8, God comes again to Isaiah. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:23.000 And so after his conversion on his call last time, we saw that his sins were forgiven. 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:27.000 That he was commissioned to preach to the people. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:32.000 And that he's told he's not going to be popular amongst those who hear it. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:37.000 And now God says to him, actually there's going to be another temptation apart from keeping your head down. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:42.000 There will be another temptation as you speak in my name, and I don't want you to fall for it. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:47.000 Do not fall for the trap, verse 11, of going the way of this people. 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:55.000 Do not go the way of this people who've adopted Frank Sinatra as my way as their theme song. 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:59.000 And the implication is this, that there are two ways to go. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:06.000 There is the way of this people that Isaiah is encouraged not to go. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:13.000 But as the Bible would usually and often refer to it, the other ways to go the way of the Lord. 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:17.000 And what we see in this passage is that Isaiah is given two pictures. 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:19.000 Two ways of life. 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:21.000 Two ways to go. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:26.000 And every single one of us this morning in this room must choose which way we will go. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:31.000 We will either be on one way, the way of the world, or the way of the Lord. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:34.000 And which way are you going to go? 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:38.000 And my prayer is that by the end you will be sure which way you're on. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:41.000 And actually you'll want to go the Lord's way. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:46.000 Now part of the chapters of working through a book like Isaiah is 60 chapters. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:48.000 And it's a massive book. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:54.000 And I don't think we need to look at every verse or even every chapter. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:59.000 So last time we were in chapter 6, but you'll see that we fast forward into chapter 8. 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:03.000 Let me try and give you a quick synopsis of what's happened in between. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:13.000 In chapter 7, Isaiah gets to experience first hand and immediately what God has already told him was going to happen in chapter 6. 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:19.000 That is God is saying, you are going to preach this message Isaiah and you will be rejected. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:25.000 And the first person to reject Isaiah's message is none other than the new king of Judah, King Ahaz. 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:29.000 Now Ahaz in this kind of time is in a bit of a pickle. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:36.000 Because his northern neighbours Israel and Syria are pressuring Judah to join the alliance. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:42.000 To join an alliance to fight against a powerful nation to the east which is called Assyria. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:45.000 And Ahaz refuses to join that alliance. 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:49.000 And therefore Judah is isolated and comes under attack. 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:52.000 From Israel and from Syria. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:55.000 But it withstands that attack from them. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:59.000 But Ahaz and the rest of Judah, they are scared stiff by this point. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:03.000 And God says to Ahaz, you don't have to be afraid. 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:08.000 You don't have to be afraid of Israel and Syria. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:11.000 And Assyria, you don't have to be afraid of that. 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:13.000 All you have to do is trust in God. 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:17.000 All you need to do Ahaz is trust in God. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:20.000 God who is well able to take care of you. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:23.000 And well able to take care of Judah. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:28.000 But you discover from 2 Kings 16 that Ahaz thinks actually I've got a better idea. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.000 That I will not put my trust in the Lord. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:36.000 But I will put my trust in the mighty superpower of the day of Assyria. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:42.000 And so God sends a sign through Isaiah to Ahaz and the people. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:45.000 And the sign is a child called Emmanuel. 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:47.000 We know that sign don't we? 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:50.000 We know that is called Emmanuel gone with us. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:52.000 And we are on the sign of the New Testament. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:55.000 We are well aware of what that sign will lead to. 00:05:55.000 --> 00:06:02.000 But in Isaiah's day, this child was to be a sign for those who trusted in God. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:03.000 That God was with them. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:08.000 But because Ahaz and the Lord's people have not trusted in God but in the nation of Assyria. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:12.000 That sign was actually a sign of judgment. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:14.000 The judgment was going to hit them. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.000 Hit them hard. 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:19.000 In fact it was going to hit them in the form of the nation of Assyria. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:23.000 Ahaz and the people have therefore decided which way they are going to go. 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:25.000 They are going to go the way of the people. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:29.000 They are going to go the way of this people that God mentions to Isaiah. 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:31.000 And so God makes sure, doesn't he? 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:33.000 He wants to make sure that Isaiah will not go that way. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:36.000 Let's pick it up in verses 11 to 15 of chapter 8. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:40.000 For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:43.000 And he warned me not to walk in the way of this people. 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:47.000 Saying do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:50.000 Do not fear what they fear nor be in dread. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:52.000 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honour as holy. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:56.000 Let him be your fear and let him be your dread. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:59.000 And he will become a sanctuary to you. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:02.000 And a rock, a stone of offense. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.000 And a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:08.000 A trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:10.000 And many will stumble on it. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:11.000 They shall fall and be broken. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:13.000 They shall be snared and taken. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:17.000 Now it's not that clear in the ESV. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:20.000 But there are two ways which you've already seen, aren't there? 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:24.000 There are the way of the people and there is the way of the Lord. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:30.000 And one way finds God to be, at the start of verse 14, a sanctuary. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:36.000 However the other way, the way of the people, finds God to be a stumbling stone. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:42.000 And the determining factor as whether God will be a sanctuary. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.000 Or whether God will be a stumbling stone. 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:48.000 Is basically your attitude to him. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:51.000 Do you fear God? 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:53.000 Or do you fear something else? 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:58.000 And so the question we often get asked when we come across the idea of the fear of the Lord. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:01.000 Is why is the Bible so big on fear? 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:03.000 Isn't fear a negative? 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:06.000 Doesn't the New Testament say that perfect love casts out fear? 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:08.000 And of course it does. 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:13.000 But the Bible recognizes that there is a good fear and there is a bad fear. 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:16.000 We sing about it in Amazing Grace. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:17.000 That second verse. 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:21.000 T'was grace that taught my heart to fear. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:22.000 That's a good fear. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:25.000 T'was grace that taught my heart to fear. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:26.000 That's a good fear. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:30.000 And grace, my fear is relieved. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:33.000 That's the bad kind of fear. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:39.000 Grace does teach our hearts to fear God. 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:44.000 And grace does relieve the fear of man. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:53.000 And I think in the context of Isaiah 8, it is a fear of what the Almighty God can and will do. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:55.000 That he's encouraging. 00:08:55.000 --> 00:09:00.000 Fear of what God will do if we trust in Him. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:08.000 But there is also the fear of what God will do if we trust in something or someone other than Him. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:10.000 It's a dread of God. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:13.000 If we fail to trust in Him. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:16.000 There is an actual fear being spoken of here. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:22.000 Ahaz and the people are going to discover who they really should have been fearful of. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:25.000 When God judges them. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:27.000 But there is a wider point in the Bible. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:29.000 There is a wider sense of the fear of the Lord in the Bible. 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:33.000 Which really has this sense of being completely centred on God. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:35.000 Centred on Him. 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:37.000 One way to think about it. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:38.000 It's not perfect for a speech. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:40.000 And that's imagine that you go home. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.000 And you have a fear of mice. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:47.000 And as you are cutting the meat or whatever you are doing in the kitchen this lunchtime. 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:50.000 There is a mouse in the kitchen. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:52.000 And you see it. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:54.000 And it doesn't matter what else is going on in the kitchen. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:57.000 All your focus is on the mouse. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:00.000 It doesn't matter what else is going on. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:02.000 You are transgressed by the mouse. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.000 And you are afraid of. 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:05.000 And then your wife comes in. 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:09.000 And you see all of you thought it was the woman didn't you. 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:11.000 That was afraid of the mouse. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.000 But there you are standing on the chair. 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:14.000 And you are scared stiff. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:17.000 And all you want to do is get rid of the mouse. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:19.000 And you cannot focus on anything else. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:21.000 You don't even notice who else is in the room. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:23.000 Until the mouse is dealt with. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:26.000 That mouse has consumed your attention. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:30.000 And the fear of the Lord in the Bible is a little bit like that. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:33.000 That nothing distracts you from Him. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:36.000 That the Lord is central to everything. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:41.000 There is nothing more important to you than pleasing God. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:43.000 That those who fear the Lord. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:46.000 There is nothing more important than living for God. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:47.000 Than obeying God. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:48.000 He is central to everything. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:50.000 He commands your attention. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:51.000 You fear Him. 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:55.000 Through Isaiah he says. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:58.000 I am the only one you should treat like that in life. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:02.000 I am the only one that you should fear like that. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:05.000 I am the only one that should hold that place. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:06.000 And for the people of Judah. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:09.000 I am the only one that you should dread. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:12.000 Certainly not the Assyrians. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:14.000 So two ways. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:16.000 Each with different results. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:18.000 If you fear God. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.000 He will be your sanctuary. 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:20.000 Your refuge. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:22.000 Your resting place. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:25.000 We don't use that word very much do we? 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:28.000 People talk about a bird sanctuary. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:30.000 Where birds can go and be at rest. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:32.000 Or sometimes in the church. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:34.000 In the area where we meet. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:36.000 In our place. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:37.000 The chapel. 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:38.000 If you think of the chapel. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:39.000 People will often say. 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:40.000 What about the sanctuary? 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:41.000 Sanctuary. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:43.000 What is the sanctuary going to be like. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.000 In the new building? 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:47.000 It is not the best word is it? 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:48.000 Because. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:50.000 The place where we meet on a Sunday. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:52.000 Is no more holy than your bathroom. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:55.000 This is an exam room during the week isn't it? 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:57.000 Or a hall for assemblies. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.000 It is no more holy. 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:00.000 On a Sunday morning. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.000 Than it is during the rest of the week. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:05.000 But it is where we have corporate worship. 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:07.000 Where we gather to worship God together. 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:09.000 So the word is used. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:10.000 You see. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:12.000 No building is a sanctuary. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:15.000 Because our God is a sanctuary. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:18.000 God is the place of wreckage. 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:21.000 God is the place of safety. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.000 God is our hiding place. 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:24.000 In fact. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:26.000 Isaiah has a whole play on words. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:28.000 In verses 13 to 14. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:29.000 He says. 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:31.000 But the Lord of hosts. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:34.000 Him you shall honour as holy. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:36.000 Let him be your fear. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.000 Let him be your dread. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:40.000 And he will become a sanctuary. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:42.000 That is. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:44.000 Set God apart as holy. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:50.000 As we acknowledge him to be the one who has the right to direct and rule our lives. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:55.000 He becomes that place of safety and refuge in any storm in life. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:58.000 But if we do not fear God. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:01.000 If God is not central. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:04.000 If God is not the main thing in life. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:05.000 He is not a sanctuary to us. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:09.000 Isaias says he is a stumbling stone. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:12.000 But the inhabitants of Judah. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.000 They thought of their neighbouring nations. 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:17.000 They thought their neighbouring nations. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:22.000 They were the greatest threat to their happiness and to their security. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:24.000 But God says no. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.000 I am your biggest threat. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:29.000 You and I are tempted to think. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.000 Aren't we. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:31.000 That. 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:33.000 The stumbling stones to our happiness. 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:34.000 Are things like. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:36.000 Lack of physical security. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:39.000 Or not achieving our goals. 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:41.000 That is our biggest threat. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.000 A lack of money. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.000 That is the biggest threat to our lives. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.000 Or not having the perfect job. 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:50.000 Or being married. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:51.000 Or not being married. 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:52.000 Or not being married. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.000 Whatever it is. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:57.000 Those are the biggest threats in my life. 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:00.000 And God says no. 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:03.000 If you do not sanctify me. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:06.000 If you do not regard me as holy. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:08.000 I myself. 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:10.000 Will be your biggest threat. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:14.000 I will be the most difficult stumbling block that you can ever encounter. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:17.000 So God actually said. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:20.000 I will put myself in the way to trip you up. 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:22.000 Two ways. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.000 Two ways. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:25.000 Fear God. 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:28.000 And when he is central to your life. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.000 He will be your refuge. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:30.000 And your sanctuary. 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:33.000 But if you do not fear God. 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.000 He will be something else. 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:36.000 He will be a stumbling stone. 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:39.000 But there is another picture given to us. 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:40.000 Of these two ways. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:42.000 So secondly. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.000 The way of light. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.000 And the way of darkness. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:46.000 Let's pick that up in verses 19 to 22. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:50.000 And when you say. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:52.000 When they say to you. 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:54.000 Inquire of the mediums. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:56.000 And the necromancers. 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:58.000 Who chirp and mutter. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:01.000 Should not have people inquire of their God. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.000 Should they inquire of the dead. 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:04.000 On behalf of the living. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:08.000 To the teaching. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:09.000 And to the testimony. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:10.000 That's where you go. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:13.000 If they will not speak according to this word. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:14.000 It is because they have no door. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.000 They have no light. 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.000 They will pass through the land. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:18.000 Greatly distressed and hungry. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.000 And when they are hungry. 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.000 They will be enraged. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:22.000 And will speak contentiously. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:24.000 Against their king and their God. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.000 And turn their faces upwards. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:27.000 And they will look to the earth. 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:29.000 But behold distress and darkness. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:30.000 To the gloom of anguish. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.000 And they will be thrust into thick darkness. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:36.000 Isaiah speaks of those who forsaken the Lord. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.000 He says. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.000 Look at these people. 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:40.000 They look at superstition. 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.000 They look for answers. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:43.000 Through the occult. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.000 Through popular spirituality. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:48.000 And notice these people. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.000 That he is talking about. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.000 They are part of the people of God. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:55.000 God. 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.000 Isaiah says. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.000 Should they. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:59.000 Should not a people inquire of their God. 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:02.000 These are in essence. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.000 Church people. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:05.000 Good living people. 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.000 He is talking about. 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:08.000 But they have chosen the path. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:10.000 Of superstitious nonsense. 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:12.000 And it says. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.000 They are in darkness. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:16.000 And the sun never rises in their lives. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.000 There is no light. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:21.000 Because to go the way of the people. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.000 Or. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:23.000 Is to go the way of darkness. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:24.000 And darkness. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:26.000 And fearful gloom. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.000 And it is to be thrust. 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:28.000 At the end of verse 8. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.000 Can you see. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:31.000 The last two fearful words. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.000 Into thick darkness. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:38.000 But look at how chapter 9 begins. 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:40.000 But. 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:42.000 But. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:43.000 There will be no gloom. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.000 For who was in anguish. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.000 In the former time. 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.000 He brought into contempt. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.000 The land of Zebulun. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.000 And the land of Naphtali. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.000 But in the latter time. 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.000 He is made glorious. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.000 For way of the sea. 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.000 The land beyond the Jordan. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.000 The Galilee. 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:56.000 Of nations. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.000 Suddenly. 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.000 Out of a situation. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:01.000 At the end of chapter 8. 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:02.000 Where there is thick. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.000 Deep darkness. 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:06.000 There is a battle. 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:09.000 And everything is starting to look different. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.000 And Isaiah has announced. 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:12.000 That there is something. 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:15.000 Outside the sphere. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.000 Or everyone's realm. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.000 Or imagination. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:18.000 He says. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:19.000 There is a light. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:20.000 There is a light. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:21.000 There is a light. 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:22.000 There is a light. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.000 Steve Jobs. 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.000 Was the founder of Apple. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.000 That some of you are addicted to. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.000 And when he died. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.000 I don't really remember it. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.000 It was incredible. 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:32.000 Wasn't it? 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.000 And there were so many tributes. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.000 Paid to Steve Jobs. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:36.000 One writer has said. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.000 The internet. 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.000 The internet buckled. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.000 Under the weight. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.000 Of the words. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:42.000 That's about Steve Jobs. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.000 But in those stories. 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:45.000 I read one of them this week. 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:47.000 It pointed to one particular ability. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.000 That set off Steve Jobs. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.000 From everyone else. 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.000 What made Steve Jobs. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.000 The founder of Apple. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.000 The kind of greatest. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:57.000 Kind of technical man of his age. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.000 And they said. 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:00.000 It was his foresight. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.000 And vision. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:03.000 In anticipating. 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.000 And speaking. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.000 To fulfill. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.000 People's needs. 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:08.000 And desires. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.000 That is. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.000 Job work. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.000 Steve Jobs worked out. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:13.000 What he was going to make. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.000 And what he was going to sell. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:16.000 On the basis of potential customers. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.000 And what those customers. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:20.000 Found it even hard. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.000 To articulate. 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.000 What their needs were. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.000 And their desires. 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:24.000 Other. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:26.000 People had technology. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.000 But they didn't know. 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.000 How it could be used. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:29.000 They didn't know. 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.000 What their needs were. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:31.000 They didn't know. 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:32.000 What they needed. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.000 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.000 Was able to think through that. 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.000 What they needed. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.000 People weren't looking for them. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.000 Those solutions. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.000 Or they were looking in the wrong. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.000 Wrong place. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:40.000 And. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.000 Jobs' perspective. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.000 Was not unlike. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.000 A previous entrepreneur. 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.000 Henry Ford. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.000 You know. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.000 The kind of. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.000 Founder. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.000 The maker. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.000 Of the Ford cars. 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.000 And Henry Ford. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:51.000 Is attributed. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.000 With saying. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.000 If I asked customers. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.000 What they wanted. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.000 They would have said. 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.000 A faster horse. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:57.000 And Henry Ford. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.000 He thought outside the box. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.000 He thought of the car. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.000 And Steve Jobs. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.000 Was like that. 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.000 Wasn't he? 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.000 He thought outside the box. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.000 He was described. 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.000 By one commentator. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.000 The eye visionary. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:09.000 The eye visionary. 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.000 The eye visionary. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:11.000 He saw what people needed. 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:13.000 Even when they didn't see it themselves. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:15.000 And Isaiah. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:17.000 And all the other prophets. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:18.000 They are the ultimate. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.000 Eye visionaries. 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:21.000 Because they anticipate. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:24.000 The people's ultimate needs. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.000 Before the people. 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.000 Even know what they are. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:28.000 And while people are looking. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.000 In all the wrong places. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.000 To satisfy them. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.000 Isaiah. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:33.000 The eye visionary. 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.000 The eye visionary. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.000 Introduces. 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:36.000 This great light. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.000 To a people. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.000 Who are walking. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.000 In darkness. 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:42.000 And usually. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.000 You hardly need to be Steve Jobs. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.000 To know that people. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.000 In utter deep. 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.000 Thick darkness. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.000 Need a great light. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.000 And that is true. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.000 And yet. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:50.000 It is the nature. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.000 Of the light here. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.000 That could not have been. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.000 Anticipated. 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:56.000 Because the light. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:57.000 Turns out. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.000 Doesn't it. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.000 Not to be something abstract. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:00.000 But a person. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.000 A person. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.000 A person. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:04.000 And in the famous passage. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.000 That I read. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:06.000 That we hear around Christmas time. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.000 Isaiah announces. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.000 That God is going to. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.000 Take the responsibility. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.000 To dispel the darkness. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:11.000 To destroy it. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:13.000 And God is going to. 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:14.000 Shatter the yoke. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.000 That is on the people. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.000 That weighs them down. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.000 That bar. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.000 That's across their shoulders. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:20.000 The rod. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.000 Of their oppressors. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:22.000 The boots. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.000 The army boots. 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:24.000 Of the oppressors. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.000 Are going to be burned. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.000 And God is going to be. 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:27.000 Responsible. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.000 For bringing the light. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.000 But the light. 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.000 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.000 Is. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.000 A child. 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.000 Verse 6. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:35.000 A child. 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.000 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:36.000 Born to us. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.000 But as the NIV is right. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:39.000 Born for us. 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:42.000 For to us. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.000 For for us. 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:45.000 A child is born. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.000 For us. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:47.000 A son is given. 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.000 And the government. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.000 Shall be upon his shoulders. 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.000 And his name. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.000 Shall be called. 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:52.000 Wonderful. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.000 Counselor. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.000 Mighty God. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:55.000 Everlasting. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.000 Father. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:57.000 Prince of peace. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.000 Will be no end. 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.000 And on the throne. 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.000 Of David. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:01.000 And over his kingdom. 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:02.000 For establishing. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.000 And to uphold it. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:04.000 With justice. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.000 And with righteousness. 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:06.000 From this time. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.000 Forth. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.000 And forevermore. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.000 And the zeal of the Lord. 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:10.000 Will do this. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.000 Isaiah. 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:12.000 The eye visionary. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.000 Is going to emphatically. 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:13.000 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:14.000 Deal with the darkness. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:19.000 To such an extent. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:21.000 That there will be no end. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.000 There will be an ever increasing. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.000 Rain. 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:24.000 And government. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.000 On his part. 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:26.000 And peace will know no end. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.000 Justice and righteousness. 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.000 Will go on forever. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:30.000 And notice. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.000 Back in verse 2. 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:33.000 The people walking in darkness. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:34.000 Have seen a great light. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.000 All the way through to verse 5. 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:36.000 All the tenses. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.000 Are in the past tense. 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.000 Aren't they? 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:41.000 And if you'd asked. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.000 Isaiah's audience. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.000 On that day. 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:45.000 You would have had to say. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.000 Why are you speaking. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.000 In the past tense. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.000 This hasn't happened yet. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:51.000 It's still in the future. 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:53.000 But Isaiah would say. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:54.000 Okay. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.000 But when you're dealing. 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:56.000 With the promises of God. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.000 It's as if they've already. 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.000 Taken place. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.000 Isaiah is using. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:01.000 What we sometimes call. 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:02.000 The prophetic past. 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:05.000 Meaning that when God promises. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.000 To do something. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.000 In the future. 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:09.000 Sure as if it's already happened. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:11.000 The dispelling of this darkness. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:13.000 Is not something vague here. 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:15.000 But it's going to be brought about. 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:17.000 By the birth of a child. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.000 In history upon the earth. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:19.000 On a definite time. 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:20.000 In a definite place. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:22.000 This is the hope. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:24.000 Isaiah says. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:25.000 There are two ways. 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.000 That you have to choose. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:28.000 Which way are you going to go? 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:30.000 There is the way of the people. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:32.000 Or the way of the Lord. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:33.000 And he says. 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:35.000 Trust in God. 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.000 The way of the Lord. 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.000 The way of the Lord. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.000 And if you go that way. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.000 You will find God. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.000 To be a sanctuary. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.000 That leads to the light. 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:43.000 To go the way of the people. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:45.000 Finds God to be a stumbling stone. 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.000 And it leads. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.000 At a darkness. 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:51.000 When however. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.000 We turn. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.000 To the New Testament. 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:55.000 What is strongly suggested. 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.000 In Isaiah. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:58.000 Is that the way of the Lord. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.000 Is indeed a person. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:01.000 And that all of this. 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:02.000 Is pointing to a person. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:04.000 So thirdly. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.000 The way of the person. 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:07.000 Is pointing to somebody. 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.000 In fact. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.000 Who called himself. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:10.000 Their way. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.000 Their truth. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.000 And their life. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:15.000 And we see in the New Testament. 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:16.000 How many of the threads. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.000 Of this passage. 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:18.000 Are brought neatly together. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:20.000 So first of all. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:22.000 Come with me to Matthew chapter 4. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:24.000 Matthew chapter 4. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:26.000 And verses 12 to 16. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:29.000 Matthew 4 verses 12 to 16. 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:31.000 Matthew 4 verses 12 to 16. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:33.000 Now when he heard. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:35.000 It's on page 809. 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:36.000 When he heard. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.000 That John had been arrested. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:39.000 He withdrew into Galilee. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:41.000 And leaving Nazareth. 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.000 He went and lived in Capulian. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:43.000 By the sea. 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:44.000 In the territory of Zebulun. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:45.000 And Naphtali. 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.000 So that what was spoken. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:47.000 By the prophet Isaiah. 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:48.000 Might be fulfilled. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:49.000 The land of Zebulun. 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.000 And the land of Naphtali. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.000 The way of the sea. 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:52.000 Beyond the Jordan. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.000 Galilee of the Gentiles. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.000 And the land of Naphtali. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.000 The sea beyond the Jordan. 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.000 Galilee of the Gentiles. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:58.000 The people dwelling in darkness. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.000 Have seen a great light. 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:00.000 And for those dwelling. 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:02.000 In the region of the shadow of death. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:04.000 On them a light is stormed. 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:06.000 The prophetic past. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:08.000 Has become the past. 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:11.000 Because the light has arrived. 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:13.000 The place where we're told. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:14.000 In Isaiah chapter 9. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.000 Which would be the first. 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.000 To come under the judgment. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.000 Of the Assyrians. 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:18.000 Became the place. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:19.000 From which Jesus. 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:20.000 Lord Jesus mission. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:22.000 And what mission is that? 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:25.000 Well Matthew couldn't be clearer. 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:26.000 Could he? 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.000 Jesus is the light. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:29.000 To dispel the darkness. 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:30.000 Jesus is the one. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.000 Who will take. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.000 All the darkness. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.000 Of our life. 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:35.000 And if you don't want to take. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.000 Isaiah's word for it. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.000 Or Matthew's word for it. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.000 Here's what Jesus himself. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:39.000 Says about it. 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:40.000 He says. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:41.000 John 8. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:42.000 Chapter 8. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:43.000 Verse 12. 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.000 I am the light of the world. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:46.000 I am the light of the world. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.000 And whoever follows me. 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:49.000 Will never walk in darkness. 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:51.000 But have the light of life. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.000 If Jesus himself. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.000 Says. 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:55.000 He is the light. 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:58.000 Therefore he is. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:59.000 The child born for us. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.000 The son born for us. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:01.000 He is the counsellor. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.000 The mighty God. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.000 The everlasting father. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:04.000 The prince of peace. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:06.000 But there's more to it. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.000 Than that. 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.000 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:08.000 In 1 Peter. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:09.000 If you turn there. 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:11.000 1 Peter chapter 2. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.000 Verses 4 to 8. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:15.000 Which is on page 1015. 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:17.000 Peter writes this. 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:19.000 1 Peter chapter 2. 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:21.000 And verse 4. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:23.000 As you come to him. 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:25.000 A living stone. 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:26.000 A living stone. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:28.000 Rejected by men. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.000 But in the sight of God. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:30.000 Chosen and precious. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.000 You yourselves. 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:33.000 Are like living stones. 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:34.000 Are being built up. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.000 As a spiritual house. 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.000 To be a holy priesthood. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:38.000 To offer spiritual sacrifices. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:39.000 Acceptable to God. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.000 Through Jesus Christ. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:42.000 For it stands in scripture. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:42.000 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.000 I am laying. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.000 As I am a stone. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.000 A cornerstone. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:48.000 A chosen and precious stone. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.000 And whoever believes in him. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:50.000 Will not be put to shame. 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.000 So the honour. 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:53.000 Is for you who believe. 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.000 But for those who do not believe. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:56.000 The stone that the builders rejected. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:57.000 Has become the cornerstone. 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:58.000 And a stone of stumbling. 00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:00.000 A rock of offence. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.000 Peter draws. 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:04.000 Three Old Testament references together. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.000 The last one. 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:07.000 Which is from Isaiah 8.14. 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:09.000 And he demonstrates. 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:10.000 To the readers. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.000 That the stumbling stone. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.000 You are reading about. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:13.000 In Isaiah 8. 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:14.000 Isaiah 8. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.000 Is Jesus. 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:18.000 For those who trust in Jesus. 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:20.000 They will never be put to shame. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:21.000 For those who trust. 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:23.000 Who do not trust in Jesus. 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:25.000 He will be a stumbling stone. 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:27.000 And so the principle is the same. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:29.000 When you and I think. 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:30.000 The stumbling stone. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.000 To our happiness. 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:32.000 In life. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:33.000 Has to do with money. 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:35.000 Or how much we have. 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:36.000 Or how much we don't have. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.000 Or relationships. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.000 Or jobs. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:40.000 Or possessions. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.000 Or reputations. 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.000 Or repetitions. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.000 Jesus says. 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:45.000 If you don't put me first. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:46.000 I will be. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:48.000 The most difficult stumbling stone. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:49.000 That you encounter. 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.000 Now remember. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.000 That here in Isaiah 8. 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.000 One way we were told. 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:56.000 Led to God. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:57.000 Being a sanctuary. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.000 And one way. 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:00.000 Led to him. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.000 Being a stumbling stone. 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:02.000 One way we were told. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:03.000 Led to God. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.000 Being our light. 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:06.000 And the other way. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.000 Led to darkness. 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:08.000 Amen. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:11.000 And so the question is. 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:12.000 Is he a sanctuary? 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:14.000 For those. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:16.000 He's not a stumbling stone. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.000 Well. 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:18.000 The word sanctuary. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.000 Is not used in the New Testament. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:20.000 Interestingly. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:22.000 But it's a very appropriate picture. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.000 Isn't it? 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.000 Because the golden way. 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.000 Of the Lord. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.000 In the New Testament. 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:30.000 Is to find in Jesus. 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:31.000 Not a stumbling stone. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.000 But he is a refuge. 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:34.000 And a hiding place. 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:35.000 How easy that. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.000 How easy that. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:37.000 Let's look at the last reference. 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:38.000 And then we're done. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:39.000 Hebrews chapter 2. 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:40.000 Hebrews chapter 2. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:44.000 And verses 11 to 13. 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.000 It's on page 1002. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:53.000 For it was fitting that he. 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.000 For whom. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.000 And by whom. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:56.000 All things. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.000 In bringing many sons to glory. 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:59.000 Should make the founder of their salvation. 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:00.000 Perfect through suffering. 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.000 So it's this time. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.000 For he who sanctifies. 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:04.000 And those who are sanctified. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.000 All of one source. 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:06.000 That is why. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.000 He's not ashamed to call them brothers. 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.000 Saying I will tell of your name. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:09.000 To my brothers. 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:10.000 In the midst of the congregation. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:12.000 I will sing of your praise. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:13.000 And again. 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:14.000 I will put my trust in him. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.000 And again. 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:16.000 Behold. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.000 I am the children. 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:19.000 God has given me. 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:21.000 The writers of the Hebrews. 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:22.000 After quoting Psalm 22. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:24.000 Quotes from Isaiah 17 and 18. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:25.000 8. 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:26.000 Verse 17 and 18. 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:28.000 And if you look back. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:29.000 At those verses in Isaiah 8. 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.000 You'll see Isaiah. 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:31.000 Who had been told. 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:32.000 At the beginning of this section. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:34.000 Do not go the way of the people. 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:35.000 Don't give in to the temptation. 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:37.000 Of going the way of everyone else. 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:39.000 But go the way of the Lord. 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:41.000 In verses 17 to 18. 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.000 Of Isaiah 8. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:43.000 He says. 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:44.000 I've heard you Lord. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:45.000 I'm going to wait for you. 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:47.000 I'm going to put my hope in you. 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:49.000 I'm going to trust you. 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:51.000 I'm going to trust you God. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.000 That you will fulfill your promises. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:54.000 In the face of all the opposition. 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:55.000 And rejection. 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.000 That I might face. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.000 All the darkness. 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.000 And the death. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:00.000 That those who hear my message. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:02.000 And who are rejecting it. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.000 You will reject. 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:05.000 But I will hold on to you Lord. 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:08.000 And the writer tells us. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:10.000 That Jesus saw himself. 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.000 As the greater Isaiah. 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:14.000 Jesus speaks those words for himself. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:16.000 That as he faced death on the cross. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:18.000 By those who would reject him. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:21.000 As he bore the blackest darkness of our sin. 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:23.000 And rebellion. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:26.000 Under an unnaturally dark sky. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:27.000 On that day. 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:28.000 That first good Friday. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:30.000 He was the one who said. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:31.000 To the father. 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:32.000 Into your hands. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.000 I commend my spirit. 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:36.000 I will put my trust in you. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:37.000 I will hope in you Lord. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.000 And as he did so. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:40.000 The father was stabbing the darkness. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:42.000 With the light of his son. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:44.000 And bringing salvation. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.000 And hope. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:46.000 And eternal life. 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.000 To all who would trust in him. 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:51.000 Jesus was putting his trust. 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:52.000 In the Lord. 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:54.000 So that through his death. 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:56.000 He would be a sanctuary. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.000 For you and I. 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:59.000 To all who hide in him. 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:02.000 To all who would say. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:03.000 Yes Lord. 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.000 All my happiness. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.000 All my significance. 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:07.000 Are found in Jesus. 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:08.000 My sanctuary. 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:10.000 My light. 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:12.000 My wonderful counsellor. 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:14.000 My mighty God. 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:16.000 My everlasting father. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.000 My prince of peace. 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:19.000 But the way of the Lord. 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:20.000 For you and I. 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:21.000 To trust in the one. 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:23.000 Who put his trust in God. 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:25.000 For Jesus is our sanctuary. 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:28.000 Now as a church. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:29.000 What are we trying to do? 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:32.000 We are trying. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.000 We are seeking. 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.000 To see people move. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:35.000 Aren't we? 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:36.000 From darkness. 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:37.000 To light. 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:38.000 That's what we're about. 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:41.000 We are investing in one another's lives. 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:42.000 In other people's lives. 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:43.000 To help them. 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:44.000 To move. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:45.000 In Isaiah's language. 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:46.000 From the way. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.000 Of the people. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.000 To the way. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.000 Of the Lord. 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:51.000 And that is our calling. 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:52.000 For there are two ways. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.000 To live. 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:55.000 And we want to tell people. 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:56.000 Do not go the way. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:57.000 Of the people. 00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:00.000 Because God will be a stumbling block. 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:01.000 For you. 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:03.000 And you will end in darkness. 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.000 We want you to go the way. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:05.000 Of the Lord. 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:06.000 Because God is. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.000 Will be a sanctuary to you. 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:08.000 And leads to light. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:10.000 And so there are two things. 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:11.000 Sorry I said finally. 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:13.000 And I wasn't telling the truth. 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:14.000 Moving darkness to light. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.000 Point four. 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:16.000 But I'll go quickly. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.000 There are two things. 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:19.000 That Isaiah tells us to do. 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:20.000 Okay. 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:22.000 So look. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.000 What Isaiah says. 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.000 In chapter eight. 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:25.000 In verse 20. 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:26.000 He says. 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:27.000 I love it. 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:28.000 To the teaching. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:29.000 To the teaching. 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:31.000 And to the testimony. 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.000 Do you remember that great moment. 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:34.000 In Robin Hood. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:35.000 Prince of Feeds. 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:36.000 It was just a terrible moment. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.000 Isn't it? 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:38.000 That man that shouts. 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:39.000 To the trees. 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.000 To the trees. 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:41.000 When. 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:46.000 It's not a very good moment. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:47.000 It's a great moment. 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:48.000 My brother used to shout. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.000 To the trees. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:50.000 To the place of safety. 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:51.000 Now where do we go? 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:52.000 Verse 820. 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:53.000 Hear the call. 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:54.000 To the teaching. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.000 To the testimony. 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:57.000 Every single one of us. 00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:58.000 This week. 00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:59.000 Is going to be tempted. 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:00.000 To go the way of the world. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:01.000 That's the default position. 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.000 Of my heart. 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:03.000 Isn't it? 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:04.000 You've got to school tomorrow. 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:06.000 You've got to work tomorrow. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:08.000 You're at the school gate tomorrow. 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:11.000 The temptation is to go the way of the world. 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:12.000 We want to trust in anything. 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:14.000 And everything other than God. 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:15.000 We'll trust in money. 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:17.000 In relationships. 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:18.000 We'll trust in possessions. 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:20.000 We'll trust in our ability. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:21.000 Our reputation. 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:24.000 So what steps can we take. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:26.000 To help one another. 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.000 And ourselves. 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:29.000 Hear the call of Isaiah. 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:30.000 To the testimony. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:31.000 And to the teacher. 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.000 The teacher. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:35.000 We need to be people of the book. 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:36.000 God's word. 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:38.000 We need to be people of God's word. 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:40.000 And God's promises. 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:44.000 Because you've got this onslaught from the world. 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:46.000 Telling you that everything that is going to make you happy. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:48.000 Is found here. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:51.000 But God's word gives you a very different picture. 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:54.000 It says that you have to be here in it. 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:56.000 You have to be here in it. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:33:00.000 That God has promised to take care of all your needs this morning. 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:02.000 To all the needs of those people. 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:03.000 That he is Emmanuel. 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:04.000 He is God with us. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:06.000 And he has sent his child for us. 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.000 He is the God who is with us. 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:09.000 And who is for us. 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:12.000 But you've got to keep going back to the law. 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:14.000 And to the testimony. 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:16.000 So we do it individually don't we? 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:18.000 We read our Bibles. 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:19.000 We meet with one another. 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:21.000 To study God's word. 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:22.000 We come on Sunday. 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:24.000 We want to hear God's word. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:26.000 Because God makes the reading. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:28.000 And especially the preaching of his word. 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.000 Effective to our salvation. 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:34.000 And so we remind ourselves what is reality. 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.000 And then secondly. 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:36.000 Isaiah reminds us. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:38.000 Verse 17 of chapter 8. 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:42.000 To wait for the Lord. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:43.000 He takes his standards. 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:44.000 And he says. 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:46.000 I will wait for the Lord. 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:47.000 And we don't want to fall into the mistake. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:49.000 Of thinking that God has forgotten about us. 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:52.000 That we need to take some matters into our own hands. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:56.000 That we need to deal with the pain in our life. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:57.000 In some other way. 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.000 No we wait on him. 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.000 We trust in him. 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:01.000 And this week. 00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:03.000 There are going to be some large things. 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:06.000 That you will have to trust him for. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:08.000 And for some of us here. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:10.000 They may be larger than others. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:11.000 And for some of us. 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:14.000 They may be seemingly mundane things. 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:16.000 But there will be a test. 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:17.000 Of which way will you go. 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:19.000 Do you want to go the way of the people. 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:21.000 Or the way of the Lord. 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:24.000 And Isaiah says. 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.000 We wait on him. 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:27.000 And we trust in him. 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:29.000 And in effect. 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:31.000 We say. 00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:33.000 I am not going to do it. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:34.000 My way. 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:36.000 I don't want. 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:37.000 My way. 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:40.000 To be my theme song. 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:42.000 Lord help me to do it your way. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:44.000 Let's pray.