WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.300 We're going to begin our worship firstly. We're singing in Psalm 27. 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:09.200 Those of our visitors will, if you have this blue psalm book, there are two sections to it. 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:16.500 The first section is some of the newer psalms, newer renderings, and the second section from 00:00:16.500 --> 00:00:24.199 page 200 or so are the more traditional psalms, the older psalms of David in the Scottish Psalter. 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:33.679 So we're singing from Psalm 27 on page 236 in this blue book, 236. The tune is Jackson, 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:36.140 singing verses 1 to 5. 00:00:54.200 --> 00:01:03.440 And so on all the way through to the verse marked 5 on page 236. And we stand. If you're able to stand, please stand to sing. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:20.439 The Lord's my light on saving hell, who shall make me desperate. 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:35.179 My life's that there's the Lord of earth, then shall I be afraid. 00:01:35.180 --> 00:01:51.440 When I smile and hear me sun calls, most wicked persons all, 00:01:51.439 --> 00:02:06.439 To eat my flesh against me rose, this humble dunderpong. 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:21.759 Against me, though I'm close and calm, my heart yet fearless is. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:37.199 Though more against me, price I help, be confident in this. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:51.199 One thing I offer, Lord, desire, and will seek to obtain, 00:02:51.199 --> 00:03:06.199 That all days of my life I may, within God's eyes remain. 00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:22.199 The time that beauty of the Lord behold may and admire, 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:38.199 Am not I in His holy place may reverently inquire. 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:41.939 be trze athing day, but ali becomes a white man. 00:03:41.939 --> 00:03:45.259 The peace of the Lord is koyed極 lyon, 00:03:45.259 --> 00:03:46.859 of the fruit of us is full and áng h rudek, 00:03:46.859 --> 00:03:47.839 the Onae days into my money in this. 00:03:47.839 --> 00:03:54.339 ора tells thee to obey the Lord of O plenty of save and mil eae. 00:03:54.339 --> 00:03:58.039 For these children of this land is free, 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:01.199 to observe the Lord of who has正解 of me that may Nakā, 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:03.199 One day of my shoes and live in the world of earth, 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:06.399 Or an earth will бывublik and passa upon me be compared to sea. 00:04:06.399 --> 00:04:07.500 Before we are part of the Father of albes and I'm close to sea. 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:19.040 praise. Let's join together in prayer briefly. Our prayer is particularly for the children and 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:27.319 young people today. Lord, our gracious God, make us thankful, we pray, even though we express our 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:32.680 thankfulness already, increase our thankfulness that we are gathered here around your Word, 00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:39.280 and that we come together as a fellowship of believing, worshiping people. We thank you today 00:04:39.280 --> 00:04:45.360 that this is our great privilege to draw aside for a time from the things of the world, from the 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:51.360 things of the ordinary course of life, and to give due space to the worship of your glorious name. 00:04:52.280 --> 00:04:58.860 We thank you today, Lord, that we come together as all ages and all backgrounds, and we give thanks 00:04:58.860 --> 00:05:05.680 today that we are able to come to your Word to receive further guidance and teaching from what 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:11.360 it has to say to us. Bless the children, we pray, as they gather with us at this time. We thank you 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:17.360 again for them. We thank you that as they belong to your church and the world, so you have many promises 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:25.000 attached to their participation in worship and in being in your church visibly. We bless you today 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:30.420 for them and ask that you bless them and be with their families, with each and all who belong to 00:05:30.420 --> 00:05:36.439 them, and look after them and care for them in the world. Bless all our children. Bless the generation 00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:42.600 rising up amongst us, we pray, and shield them from all the harmful influences that are in the world 00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:48.279 that seek to draw them away from the things of the gospel, from the things of the Lord, from salvation 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:54.639 in Christ. Bless us now, we pray, continuing with us and hearing our prayer and pardoning our sin 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:56.919 for Jesus' sake. Amen. 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:07.000 Okay, children, the hands up. Those of you who like to help with cooking or with baking, 00:06:08.119 --> 00:06:16.719 hands up. Those who like helping out mums or dads or grannies or even shenners with cooking or with 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:22.140 baking. Yeah, quite a few hands going up, so that's always a nice thing to learn, isn't it? How to cook 00:06:22.140 --> 00:06:28.260 and how to actually bake scones or whatever it is, cakes or whatever, and then taste them afterwards. 00:06:29.260 --> 00:06:38.200 Well, in Psalm 34 and verse 8, we have a verse that's really to do with eating, but it's spiritually. 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:49.599 It says that, oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:56.620 Now, what does it mean to taste and to see that the Lord is good? Well, when you've got something to 00:06:56.620 --> 00:07:02.240 cook, if you've got a recipe that you're following, then you'll have a list before you of all the 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:07.639 different parts of it, the different ingredients, as we call them, that go into the recipe, whether 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:13.659 soup or a stew or you're baking a cake, you'll have a list of the things that go into it. So, 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:18.800 you have to set apart all of those things that you're going to use, first of all, and it's important 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:23.659 that you have them all ready and that you use them in the way that they're set out in the recipe. 00:07:24.919 --> 00:07:32.500 And whoever makes up the recipe is always careful to actually have the recipe so that all the bits 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:38.459 of it go together properly. All the things you use in your cooking or in your baking actually do work 00:07:38.459 --> 00:07:43.000 together and work together so that the final product, whatever you get at the end of it, 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:49.399 is as it should be, that it tastes as it should be, and that it's actually going to be really pretty 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:57.620 special, you hope. So, if I was looking at a recipe and it said, add, I don't know, three spoons of 00:07:57.620 --> 00:08:05.579 sugar to it if I was making a cake, and if I decided, I think instead of using sugar, I'll try and use salt. 00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:12.259 How would that be? Do you think that would work if I just put three spoons of salt into the cake 00:08:12.259 --> 00:08:18.560 instead of what it says on the recipe, three spoons of sugar? Would that be very tasty, do you think? 00:08:18.980 --> 00:08:25.500 Hands up those who think that would be pretty horrible. Yeah, I agree it would be. So, we have to keep 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:31.860 carefully to what's set out in the recipe because whoever made up the recipe has been very careful 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:37.899 in putting all these things together in the right measure and the right kinds of things. Now, God is 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:45.700 telling us in order to actually experience what it's like to be a Christian and to be saved, God has given 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:52.799 us the food that we need, the spiritual food for our souls, and it's explained to us in the Bible. 00:08:52.799 --> 00:09:00.439 And that's why it's important always to keep to the things that God himself has said are important 00:09:00.439 --> 00:09:06.659 for our spiritual feeding and well-being. If we try and add things that God hasn't specified, 00:09:07.199 --> 00:09:13.179 or if we take away things that God has, let's say, for example, we could think that, well, I don't really 00:09:13.179 --> 00:09:20.699 need to believe in Jesus. I can manage without doing that. Would that still be okay? Of course it wouldn't, 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:28.060 because God is saying the recipe for eternal life means and includes believing in Jesus for our 00:09:28.060 --> 00:09:34.040 salvation. So, you actually need to have all the right ingredients, and you need to make sure you're 00:09:34.040 --> 00:09:38.620 keeping them together the way that they are in the recipe. It's the same with our salvation, 00:09:39.300 --> 00:09:45.700 with our being in the kingdom of God. All the things that God says are important, we keep them like that, 00:09:45.700 --> 00:09:50.860 and we use them and we follow them like that. The second thing I need, if I'm going to be 00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:57.020 following a recipe and actually saying that the outcome is going to be good, it's no use just 00:09:57.020 --> 00:10:02.860 looking at a picture of it. I might have a card with the recipe on it and a picture of the final dish 00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:09.560 on the card, and it looks absolutely delicious, whether it's a main dish or whether it's a dessert, 00:10:09.559 --> 00:10:17.119 like a pudding on the card. The picture of it looks great, but I can't taste it from the picture. 00:10:18.079 --> 00:10:24.179 I have to do it. I have to actually cook it, or I have to bake it, and then I have to taste it, 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:32.199 and it's only then that I realize whether it's good or not. And so it is with what the Bible tells us 00:10:32.199 --> 00:10:38.859 as well. God is giving us in the Bible a picture of salvation. He describes what it's like. He sets out 00:10:38.860 --> 00:10:46.580 all the ingredients of it, but we have to actually do what it says, not just look at it. We have to 00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:53.180 do it. We have to believe. We have to confess our sins. We have to come to Jesus. We have to live the 00:10:53.180 --> 00:11:01.340 kind of life that the Bible says is pleasing to God. It doesn't matter what age we're at. That's what's 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:08.659 important. So there's the recipe for eternal life, the recipe for a Christian life. All the 00:11:08.659 --> 00:11:13.799 ingredients need to be kept as they are carefully, and then when you actually put them together, 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:21.659 you need to do what it says in the Bible in order to come to know God and to know Jesus for ourselves. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:26.439 Now we're going to say the Lord's Prayer, so let's say the Lord's Prayer together. 00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:27.440 Amen. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:36.620 Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:11:37.180 --> 00:11:44.620 Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:53.200 into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:12:00.420 Amen. We're going to praise God once again. This time we're praising him in Gaelic. We're singing two 00:12:00.420 --> 00:12:07.200 verses in Gaelic. We do this every so often, especially at times when we have a lot of visitors 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:14.140 with us. And the Gaelic Psalm is Psalm 130. And on the back of the bulletin sheet, you'll find the 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:19.679 English words specified there from Psalm 130, verses 7 to 8. 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:27.379 I say more than that to watch the morning light to see. Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with him mercies be, 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:34.879 and plenteous redemption is ever found with him, and from all his iniquities he, Israel, shall redeem. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:44.220 A psalm of confession of sin, a psalm of assurance of salvation and forgiveness, as we come to trust in the Lord. 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:47.340 So the two verses we're singing in Gaelic. 00:12:47.340 --> 00:13:09.960 And for the Gaelic sing, we remain seated. These two verses, Begdachis Israel in Gaelic. 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:39.940 And for the Gaelic sing, we remain seated. 00:13:39.960 --> 00:14:02.759 ... 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:07.240 Chant как-то прос潜. 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:33.480 Occursor AKA Dowania 00:14:33.480 --> 00:15:03.460 Thank you. 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:33.460 Thank you. 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:41.580 Thank you. 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:45.779 Form 1945, we will be estrogen. 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:56.439 Now we're going to read from the Scriptures, from God's Word, in the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 14. 00:15:58.319 --> 00:16:01.159 The Gospel according to Luke, chapter 14. 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:08.360 And your pew Bibles, it should be around page 1052 or so. 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:15.399 I'm going to read verses 1 to 24. 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:23.159 So Luke, chapter 14, at the beginning. 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:31.100 On Sabbath, when Jesus went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:34.519 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:38.019 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, 00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:42.179 Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not? 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.339 But they remained silent. 00:16:45.300 --> 00:16:47.580 Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:49.280 And he said to them, 00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:56.500 Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out? 00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:59.580 And they could not reply to these things. 00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:06.819 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:16.159 When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him. 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:22.000 And he who invited you both will come and say to you, give your place to this person. 00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:25.620 And then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:33.980 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, friend, move up higher. 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:38.259 Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:45.880 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:49.480 He said also to the man who had invited him, 00:17:49.800 --> 00:17:56.580 When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors, 00:17:57.260 --> 00:18:00.320 lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:06.380 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:10.100 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. 00:18:10.760 --> 00:18:13.740 You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:18.839 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:22.700 Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:27.859 But he said to him, A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:33.000 And at the time for the banquet, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:35.759 Come, for everything is now ready. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:39.420 But they all alike began to make excuses. 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:45.200 The first said to him, I have bought a field, and I must go out to see it. 00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:47.019 Please excuse me. 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:52.519 Another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. 00:18:52.600 --> 00:18:53.720 Please excuse me. 00:18:54.620 --> 00:18:58.360 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 00:18:58.359 --> 00:19:02.479 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. 00:19:03.179 --> 00:19:06.199 Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 00:19:06.479 --> 00:19:12.559 Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and the crippled 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.839 and the blind and lame. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:19.619 And the servant said, Sir, what you have commanded has been done, and still there is room. 00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:26.179 And the master said to the servant, Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people 00:19:26.179 --> 00:19:29.139 to come in, that my house may be filled. 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:36.459 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my banquet. 00:19:38.419 --> 00:19:42.419 And may God add his blessing to this reading of his word. 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:44.479 Let's call upon him once again in prayer. 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.759 Let's join together in prayer. 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:52.660 Lord, our God, as we come once again to draw near to you in prayer, 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:57.700 enable us to do so in due dependence on your Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:02.379 to bring before us those matters which we ought to lay before you in prayer. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:06.000 We thank you for this access that we have to you, 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:10.480 that we are able to speak to you as our Creator God and as our Savior, 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:14.900 that we are able to come for ourselves through the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:20.240 We thank you that we are assured of access and of a reception by you, 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:22.700 as we come trusting in his name. 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:26.180 And we pray today, O Lord, as we come before you, 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:28.559 that you would bless us through your word, 00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:30.559 that you would bless us by your Spirit, 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:32.319 taking of the teaching of your word, 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:34.960 and applying it to our hearts and to our minds. 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:39.720 We pray that you would further us in our knowledge of yourself, 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:43.319 knowledge of you as you are revealed in your word to us. 00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:47.019 And we thank you that you have revealed yourself to us in this way, 00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:51.900 that you have not left us in the darkness of our fallenness and our sinfulness, 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:56.120 but that you have come, Lord, to bring us the light of your truth 00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:58.799 so that it may shine into our darkness. 00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:03.200 And we pray today that you would bless your word to us. 00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:08.139 We pray that we may be all the more dependent upon you for your word teaching. 00:21:09.139 --> 00:21:11.639 We thank you, Lord, today that we gather with others, 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:14.619 not only here but throughout the world, 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:19.240 indeed as we find so many people who worship you today in different places. 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:24.200 And we thank you for the many, many people who worship you as the same God as we do. 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:26.579 And we give thanks today, O Lord, 00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:31.380 that we form part of a great number of people who believe in you and trust in you 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:33.799 and seek to commend you to others. 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:38.019 We bring before you, Lord, the needs of our own lives as we know them, 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:42.940 though we acknowledge that you know our need far better than we do ourselves. 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:45.240 And we give thanks for this, 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:51.900 for even if we find, O Lord, that there are things which we are unable to see for ourselves 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:53.299 or measure for ourselves, 00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:56.180 we thank you that all things are known to you. 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:59.220 We pray today as we confess our sins 00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:01.240 that we may know your forgiveness, 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:05.180 that we may know, Lord, that cleansing of our lives 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:09.039 in such a way that our sin will be lifted up from us 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:12.140 and taken away and buried out of your sight. 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:16.980 We thank you for all that has happened to make this possible, O Lord, 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:22.060 that you have come to enter into this world in the person of your own Son, 00:22:22.860 --> 00:22:26.140 that you have come in him to take our sin to yourself 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:28.680 and to die the death that we deserved. 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:30.700 And we bless you today 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:32.660 that at the heart of the Gospel 00:22:32.660 --> 00:22:36.180 is that person of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:40.280 and that great account that we have of his obedience unto death, 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:42.119 even the death of the cross. 00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:45.660 Lord our God, what shall we render to you in return? 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:48.259 As the psalmist once said, 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:51.019 for all your goodness extended to us, 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:53.500 enable us to reply with him, 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:56.480 I will take the cup of salvation 00:22:56.480 --> 00:23:01.039 and pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of his people. 00:23:01.899 --> 00:23:05.420 Help us then, we pray, to reach out by faith anew today 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:09.019 and take to ourselves all that you have provided for us 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:11.720 in the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:16.460 We pray your blessing, Lord, at this time upon us as a congregation. 00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:18.720 We pray in all our activities 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:21.160 that we may reach out with the Gospel 00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:22.759 in due dependence upon you, 00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:26.100 that we may fulfill our own responsibilities nevertheless 00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:29.139 and realize that you are calling us to yourself 00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:32.259 not to keep to ourselves those things 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:35.559 that you dispense to us by way of blessings, 00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:40.159 but that you tell us to go and make disciples of all nations, 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:44.079 teaching them all the things that you have commanded. 00:23:44.959 --> 00:23:48.719 And Lord, we pray today that for our own responsibility 00:23:48.719 --> 00:23:50.079 in our own locality, 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:52.559 this may be true of us also. 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:57.399 So, bless us here, each one according as you see our needs. 00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:01.519 We pray that you would, Lord, come and speak to us 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:03.779 personally today through the Word. 00:24:04.659 --> 00:24:08.599 We pray that you bless us in our homes and families and communities. 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:11.359 Bless us in all that we seek to do in the world, 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.639 in our daily lives. 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:17.099 Bless, we pray, those today who have particular difficulties 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:19.460 and traumas in life to contend with. 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:21.980 We think of those who have serious illness. 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:23.259 We commend them to you. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:27.259 We ask that you bless those who are facing surgery. 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:31.620 We ask for those who have lost loved ones in recent times. 00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:32.720 We pray for them. 00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:36.380 Ask, Lord, that you would bind up their hearts with your comfort 00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:41.099 and pray that they may know yourself and your strengthening during this time. 00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:44.220 We pray for those who are anxious over loved ones, 00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:48.220 those who have received bad news in regard to their health. 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:54.039 We pray, Lord, that all of these matters of your providence may draw us to yourself 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:58.860 and may be blessed by you in such a way that we would, in being drawn to you, 00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:03.740 come to know the strength and the comfort that God alone is able to minister to us. 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:05.839 Bless the world in which we live. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:09.220 Bless us in our own nation, in our own locality here. 00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:12.120 Bless all that is done, Lord, from day to day. 00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:15.059 May particularly we commend to you those who are in authority, 00:25:15.739 --> 00:25:20.679 those in the parliament, those, Lord, who have places of importance in our land 00:25:20.679 --> 00:25:24.719 as they seek to administer justice and keep law and order 00:25:24.719 --> 00:25:26.739 and deal with those who are sick. 00:25:27.399 --> 00:25:30.139 Lord, we ask that you would return us, we pray, 00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:33.459 to the teaching and the principles of your word 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:36.519 which have served us so well over many years. 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:41.360 Yet, Lord, we find that in these recent days that we find 00:25:41.360 --> 00:25:46.900 so much of a decline, so much of a turning away from the teaching 00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:51.700 and from the principles, the foundational things that your word sets out for us. 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:55.019 Return us, we pray, and return to us, O Lord, 00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:58.340 in your own mighty power. 00:25:59.059 --> 00:26:01.180 Bless us and be merciful to us. 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:04.019 Bless us and we ask again that you bless our children, 00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:08.060 be with them as they grow up and protect and care for them. 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:12.880 Be with all those who seek through different agencies to deal with, 00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:18.240 those who are poor, those who have so few of the things in life that many of us enjoy. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:20.180 We pray that you bless them. 00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:23.539 We ask for the work that goes on in our own locality, 00:26:24.100 --> 00:26:25.420 with regard to safe families. 00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:29.299 We pray that your blessing, Lord, will accompany all that they do. 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:31.500 We pray, too, for road to recovery, 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:34.059 those dealing with various types of addiction. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:39.619 We pray for those, Lord, who are engaged so wonderfully in that work. 00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:44.419 And we pray that your blessing will follow all that they seek to do in your own name. 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:46.960 Now hear us, we pray, and this is our prayer. 00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:49.980 Continue with us throughout the service and bless us 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:52.319 more than we are able to ask or think, 00:26:53.159 --> 00:26:55.500 pardoning all our sin for Jesus' sake. 00:26:55.919 --> 00:26:56.279 Amen. 00:26:56.279 --> 00:27:01.200 Well, before we turn to look at that chapter in Luke, 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:02.440 let's sing once again. 00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:05.579 And it's Psalm 116. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:08.500 This time it's from the Sing Psalms version. 00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:13.740 That's on page 154. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:19.879 Sorry, I think I gave the presenter the wrong psalm there. 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:21.599 It's not the wrong psalm, but it's the wrong version. 00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:25.059 It's Psalm 116 in the older version. 00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:30.799 And that's on page 395. 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:33.579 The tune this time is Cunningham. 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:38.960 I love the Lord because my voice and prayers he did hear. 00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:43.980 I, while I live, will call on him who bowed to me his ear. 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:47.859 Of death the cords and sorrows did about me compass round. 00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:50.359 The pains of hell took hold on me. 00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:52.579 I grief and trouble found. 00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:59.079 Singing the verses 5, beginning at verse 5 through to verse 14. 00:27:59.659 --> 00:28:01.539 God merciful and righteous is. 00:28:02.179 --> 00:28:03.879 Yea, gracious is our Lord. 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:05.699 God saves the meek. 00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:07.240 I was brought low. 00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:09.899 He did me help afford. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:15.980 So that's Psalm 116 from verse 5 through to verse 14 to God's praise. 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:27.900 God merciful and righteous is. 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:34.779 Yea, gracious is our Lord. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:39.059 God saves the meek. 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.059 God saves the meek. 00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:42.940 I was brought low. 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:49.059 He did me help afford. 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:58.059 O thou, my soul, do thou return. 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:05.759 Unto thy quiet rest. 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:19.599 For your hearts below the Lord to thee, his bounty hath expressed. 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:36.599 For my distress and soul from death delivered what's by thee. 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:41.599 Thy lips by hoarse. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:44.599 My heart, my eyes from tears. 00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:51.599 My hate from falling free. 00:29:51.599 --> 00:30:01.599 I hear the land of those that live. 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:07.599 Will walk the Lord before. 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:12.599 I can't believe. 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:16.599 Therefore I speak. 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:23.599 I was afflicted sore. 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:33.599 I said when I was in my haste. 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:40.599 That all men lie are seen. 00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:49.599 What shall I render to the Lord. 00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:56.599 What all his gifts to me. 00:30:56.599 --> 00:31:01.599 I love salvation. 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.599 I love salvation. 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:03.599 I love salvation. 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:05.599 Take the cup. 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:08.599 On God's name will I call. 00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:22.599 I'll take my life now to the Lord. 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:31.599 For his people long. 00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:35.599 Now please turn with me to Luke chapter 14. 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:38.599 Luke chapter 14. 00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:42.599 And we're going to look at the section there from verse 12. 00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:45.599 Down as far as verse 24. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:54.599 It's entitled, some Bibles at least, entitled the parable of the great banquet. 00:31:54.599 --> 00:32:01.599 So that's Luke 14 from verse 12 down to verse 24. 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:08.599 Throughout the Bible we find that meal times were very often significant occasions. 00:32:08.599 --> 00:32:16.599 Because to have a meal at times, as the Bible describes it, is more than just to replenish your physical needs. 00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:20.599 Meal times were times of family times. 00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:22.599 Times of family teaching. 00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:25.599 Times of family gatherings and fellowships. 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:27.599 Time for sharing. 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:33.599 And of course that's something that you find built into what you find in the Lord's Supper. 00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:40.599 Which is essentially a spiritual meal as well as being physically taking bread and wine. 00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:45.599 It's a meal in terms of sharing together in the death of Christ. 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:46.599 In the blood of Christ. 00:32:46.599 --> 00:32:51.599 And in all that Christ has achieved by his death and resurrection. 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:59.599 And in this passage we find that Jesus is using a meal time or a banquet really as it is. 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:05.599 In order to convey the teaching that he wants to get across at that time to those who are listening. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:11.599 Now you have a preliminary there as he uses this as the basis of a teaching. 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:15.599 Of teaching regarding salvation or entering into the kingdom of God. 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:17.599 Or having a place in the kingdom of God. 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:22.599 You'll find the preliminary to it in verses 12 to 14. 00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:31.599 When you find there the verses that are preliminary to what he says from verse 15 also. 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:34.599 The preliminary being that this man who gave a dinner. 00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:40.599 When he says, when you give a dinner, don't invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors. 00:33:40.599 --> 00:33:44.599 Lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 00:33:44.599 --> 00:33:49.599 When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. 00:33:49.599 --> 00:33:51.599 And you will be blessed. 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:53.599 Because they cannot repay you. 00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:57.599 You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. 00:33:57.599 --> 00:34:03.599 In other words, that's a challenge really to our motives as to why we do things. 00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:05.599 What is the purpose for our doing things? 00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:08.599 What lies behind how we deal with other people? 00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:10.599 How we treat other people? 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:18.599 And indeed, in many ways, what you find in these verses is really a key to that Old Testament book, the book of Job. 00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:21.599 The book of Job is a pretty difficult book to go through. 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:26.599 It's a book that deals largely with suffering, the suffering of this man Job. 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:27.599 But what's the key to it? 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:31.599 Because he wasn't somebody who needed correction in his life. 00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:33.599 He was a very holy man. 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:40.599 And the key to the book of Job is, was Job really believing in God and being true to God, 00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:46.599 so that he could himself then reap the benefits of and get so much out of it even for this present life? 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:52.599 And the whole emphasis of the book of Job is, no, Job is not actually a believer in God. 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:56.599 He doesn't trust in the Lord just for selfish reasons. 00:34:56.599 --> 00:35:00.599 He trusts in the Lord because it's the right thing to do. 00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:04.599 He trusts in the Lord, come what may in his life. 00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:07.599 He goes on trusting in the living God. 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:11.599 And in a sense, that's behind these words of Jesus as well. 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:17.599 You don't actually invite people so that you will get something in return for it. 00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:24.599 You do it as an act of love, as an act of mercy, or whatever it may be, just as this person was, 00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:30.599 when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you'll be blessed. 00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:35.599 That's the preliminary, really, to the words that follow on from verse 15 onwards. 00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:41.599 So as it challenges our motives, then you come across this man, one of those who reclined at table with him. 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:47.599 When he heard these things, he said, Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God. 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:54.599 And I think we take from these words that he himself was pretty sure he was in the kingdom of God. 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:57.599 That he already belonged to the kingdom of God. 00:35:57.599 --> 00:36:02.599 Just as you find very often in the New Testament, Jesus challenging those who thought, 00:36:02.599 --> 00:36:09.599 well, by way of birth, for example, as a Jewish people, by way of their birth, they were themselves of the view, 00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:12.599 many of them, that they were automatically in the kingdom of God. 00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:16.599 But as he said to Nicodemus in John chapter 3, 00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:20.599 no one is in the kingdom of God except those who are born again. 00:36:20.599 --> 00:36:22.599 You entered through rebirth. 00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:28.599 And here is Jesus actually saying to this man, one of them when he said, 00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:33.599 Blessed is he who or everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God. 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:37.599 But he said to him, a man once gave a great banquet. 00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:40.599 In other words, Jesus, as he so often you find through the Gospels, 00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:47.599 he doesn't actually answer either statements or questions in the way the person making the statement 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:49.599 or asking the question might expect. 00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:54.599 Jesus always gives the right answer, the correct answer. 00:36:54.599 --> 00:37:01.599 Sometimes he even goes as far as to say, well, this is what you should have asked and not what you did ask. 00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:06.599 And Jesus here is in a sense correcting this man as well. 00:37:06.599 --> 00:37:12.599 Here he is confident that he himself is among the blessed ones who will eat bread in the kingdom of God, 00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:16.599 just assuming that he himself automatically is belonging to that number. 00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:20.599 And Jesus saying, no, but a man gave a banquet. 00:37:20.599 --> 00:37:26.599 And then he went on to explain, not everyone who was invited to the banquet actually came to partake of the banquet. 00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:35.599 And as you come to this description of the banquet, we can divide it into two sections. 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:40.599 First of all, invitations returned by the unwilling. 00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:44.599 Invitations returned by the unwilling. 00:37:44.599 --> 00:37:50.599 And then you find also invitations extended to the unlikely. 00:37:50.599 --> 00:37:54.599 Here from verse 22 especially. 00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:59.599 Invitations returned by the unwilling. 00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:01.599 Here he is then giving this parable. 00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:05.599 A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 00:38:05.599 --> 00:38:08.599 At the time of the banquet, he sent a servant to say to those who had been invited, 00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:11.599 Come, for everything is now ready. 00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:14.599 In other words, the table was set. 00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:16.599 All the things that were there for the banquet had been prepared. 00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:18.599 They were all set out. 00:38:18.599 --> 00:38:22.599 The banquet, the table, this great feast was ready for people to partake of. 00:38:22.599 --> 00:38:25.599 So those who had been invited, the servant went and said, 00:38:25.599 --> 00:38:26.599 Look, everything is now ready. 00:38:26.599 --> 00:38:32.599 So come, come and take freely of all that's been provided for you in this banquet. 00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:36.599 And exactly the same is true of the gospel table today. 00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:47.599 Exactly the same is true of the salvation that this really is setting out for us as an imagery of salvation of the kingdom of God. 00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:51.599 And in responding to blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God, 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:58.599 Jesus is saying, well, there are invitations given, but they're not all returned in a way that accepts them. 00:38:58.599 --> 00:39:00.599 They're not all accepted. 00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:02.599 Some return them and say, I can't come. 00:39:02.599 --> 00:39:04.599 We'll see that when we come to the excuses. 00:39:04.599 --> 00:39:09.599 But in the gospel, in the salvation that God has provided in Jesus Christ, 00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:13.599 God is saying to you and to me today, the table is set. 00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:14.599 How is the table set? 00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:15.599 What's on the table? 00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:19.599 What's on the table is salvation, all the ingredients of salvation. 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:25.599 Everything that you need for salvation, for time, for eternity, it's already spread on the table. 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:26.599 Why is it spread on the table? 00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:28.599 How has it been prepared? 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:30.599 Well, Jesus has come. 00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:33.599 Jesus has taken our human nature to himself. 00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:36.599 Jesus has come into the world and died the death of the cross. 00:39:36.599 --> 00:39:38.599 Jesus has risen from the dead. 00:39:38.599 --> 00:39:40.599 Jesus ascended to glory. 00:39:40.599 --> 00:39:49.599 Every single thing that was needed to be done to actually provide for us as fallen, sinful human beings has been done by God. 00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:50.599 The table is set. 00:39:50.599 --> 00:39:51.599 The table is set. 00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:55.599 And the message of the gospel is, everything is now ready. 00:39:55.599 --> 00:40:03.599 Come and take your fill of what God has provided. 00:40:03.599 --> 00:40:08.599 God has set the table already. 00:40:08.599 --> 00:40:14.599 And through the gospel today, his invitation is to you and to me. 00:40:14.599 --> 00:40:16.599 Come and sit at this table. 00:40:16.599 --> 00:40:19.599 Come and see for yourself. 00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:24.599 Or as we said to the children earlier, come and taste that God is good. 00:40:24.599 --> 00:40:26.599 How do you taste that God is good? 00:40:26.599 --> 00:40:27.599 You actually comply. 00:40:27.599 --> 00:40:36.599 You respond obediently to his invitation to come, to his offer of salvation in Jesus Christ that comes to us through the gospel. 00:40:36.599 --> 00:40:39.599 Everything is now ready. 00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:41.599 And then what do you read? 00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:45.599 Well, he said, they all alike began to make excuses. 00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:48.599 First of them said, I've bought a field. 00:40:48.599 --> 00:40:50.599 I must go out and see it. 00:40:50.599 --> 00:40:51.599 Please excuse me. 00:40:51.599 --> 00:40:54.599 Another one said, I've bought five yoke of oxen. 00:40:54.599 --> 00:40:55.599 I'm going to examine them. 00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:56.599 Please excuse me. 00:40:56.599 --> 00:40:58.599 Another one said, I've married a wife. 00:40:58.599 --> 00:41:00.599 Therefore, I cannot come. 00:41:00.599 --> 00:41:07.599 Now, we don't need to go into each of those excuses because they're really just sample excuses, if you like, 00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:16.599 that really covered all the excuses you might think of that people could give for not responding to God's invitation to come and eat at his table. 00:41:16.599 --> 00:41:22.599 And you notice, they are all things that have to do with this current life that we're living. 00:41:22.599 --> 00:41:25.599 Life in this present world as we know it. 00:41:25.599 --> 00:41:27.599 That's what they're saying. 00:41:27.599 --> 00:41:32.599 All of these things have to do with everyday things, everyday activities, everyday situations. 00:41:32.599 --> 00:41:34.599 Somebody's bought a field. 00:41:34.599 --> 00:41:36.599 Somebody's bought five yoke of oxen. 00:41:36.599 --> 00:41:38.599 Somebody's just newly married. 00:41:38.599 --> 00:41:40.599 All of those things are everyday happenings. 00:41:40.599 --> 00:41:48.599 And yet here they are, made as excuses for not responding to the provision that this man made in the great banquet. 00:41:48.599 --> 00:41:53.599 That's how life is. 00:41:53.599 --> 00:41:57.599 That's how life is. 00:41:57.599 --> 00:42:01.599 And that's how you and I often are ourselves. 00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:08.599 Because when we look for an excuse not to accept Christ's offer of salvation, 00:42:08.599 --> 00:42:15.599 we very often, almost always, turn to things that we are actually engaged in in the present time. 00:42:15.599 --> 00:42:18.599 I'm just too busy with my work. 00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:25.599 I can't afford to take the time just now to start becoming a disciple of Jesus, to follow Jesus, 00:42:25.599 --> 00:42:31.599 to actually have what the Bible requires of me in terms of attending church or coming to pray. 00:42:31.599 --> 00:42:33.599 Life is too busy. 00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:36.599 Or maybe I have many other responsibilities. 00:42:36.599 --> 00:42:39.599 And this one then has to take its own place. 00:42:39.599 --> 00:42:42.599 Somebody might say, well, that's all very well. 00:42:42.599 --> 00:42:44.599 But at the moment I'm not in that position. 00:42:44.599 --> 00:42:49.599 Maybe later on in life when a lot of the things that burden me just now will no longer be there. 00:42:49.599 --> 00:42:55.599 Maybe then I'll be able to think more clearly about coming and taking my place at this table. 00:42:55.599 --> 00:43:00.599 You see, they're all excuses made from everyday activities. 00:43:00.599 --> 00:43:04.599 And what it challenges us with is this. 00:43:04.599 --> 00:43:08.599 What is my priority in life? 00:43:08.599 --> 00:43:11.599 What do I put first in life? 00:43:11.599 --> 00:43:15.599 What do I put at the top of life's agenda? 00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:19.599 What is it that I cannot afford to be without? 00:43:19.599 --> 00:43:22.599 What is my priority? 00:43:22.599 --> 00:43:28.599 And if you go back to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel in chapter 6 especially, 00:43:28.599 --> 00:43:37.599 you'll find that Jesus addresses all the concerns that people have in the world, 00:43:37.599 --> 00:43:40.599 things that fill up our minds, that fill up our time, 00:43:40.599 --> 00:43:45.599 things that keep us back from our trusting in God and following Christ Himself. 00:43:45.599 --> 00:43:50.599 And He points out to the likes of the lilies of the field. 00:43:50.599 --> 00:43:53.599 He says, look at them, look at them and their beauty. 00:43:53.599 --> 00:43:59.599 They're not taken up so much as people are with concerns and with worries and with anxieties. 00:43:59.599 --> 00:44:01.599 And how shall I do this? 00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:02.599 And how shall I do that? 00:44:02.599 --> 00:44:03.599 How can I afford this? 00:44:03.599 --> 00:44:04.599 How can I afford that? 00:44:04.599 --> 00:44:07.599 All legitimate worries, but you don't put them top of the agenda. 00:44:07.599 --> 00:44:09.599 So what did Jesus say? 00:44:09.599 --> 00:44:15.599 You see, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. 00:44:15.599 --> 00:44:18.599 And all these things will be added to you. 00:44:18.599 --> 00:44:20.599 You see, you begin with the kingdom of God. 00:44:20.599 --> 00:44:21.599 You begin with your salvation. 00:44:21.599 --> 00:44:23.599 You begin with pleasing God. 00:44:23.599 --> 00:44:27.599 You don't begin with the things that you cram into your life 00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:32.599 and then somehow expect to tack on believing in God or following Christ at the end of it. 00:44:32.599 --> 00:44:35.599 Must be the other way about, mustn't it? 00:44:35.599 --> 00:44:40.599 That's what He's teaching us here, the priority, the priorities in life. 00:44:40.599 --> 00:44:48.599 And the priority is the salvation, the banquet, the wonderful eternal life that God has provided for us. 00:44:48.599 --> 00:44:54.599 So here are invitations returned by the unwilling. 00:44:54.599 --> 00:44:59.599 They all alike began to make excuse. 00:44:59.599 --> 00:45:06.599 And then secondly, you have invitations extended to the unlikely. 00:45:06.599 --> 00:45:12.599 The servant came, verse 21, and reported these things to his master. 00:45:12.599 --> 00:45:15.599 Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 00:45:15.599 --> 00:45:22.599 Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city and bring in the poor and the crippled and the blind and the lame. 00:45:22.599 --> 00:45:43.599 Who were these people? 00:45:43.599 --> 00:45:45.599 Who were these people? 00:45:45.599 --> 00:45:53.599 Well, they were generally, by the Pharisees and those who were at the top of the religious system of the time, 00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:55.599 generally they were despised people. 00:45:55.599 --> 00:45:57.599 They were looked down on. 00:45:57.599 --> 00:46:00.599 They were not worthy of a place in the kingdom of God. 00:46:00.599 --> 00:46:07.599 That's why Jesus is emphasizing here and so often that actually the kingdom of God is for their like. 00:46:07.599 --> 00:46:13.599 And the people who excuse themselves are very often too proud to bow to come into the kingdom of God. 00:46:13.599 --> 00:46:14.599 They're self-sufficient. 00:46:14.599 --> 00:46:16.599 They have everything themselves as so they think. 00:46:16.599 --> 00:46:24.599 And if you go back to chapter 13 and verse 28. 00:46:24.599 --> 00:46:34.599 In that place, he says, where he speaks about those who will ultimately be rejected in the judgment of God. 00:46:34.599 --> 00:46:37.599 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 00:46:37.599 --> 00:46:41.599 When you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God. 00:46:41.599 --> 00:46:44.599 And you yourselves cast out. 00:46:44.599 --> 00:46:50.599 People will come from the east and the west, the north and the south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 00:46:50.599 --> 00:46:52.599 And behold, some who are last will be first. 00:46:52.599 --> 00:46:54.599 Some who are first will be last. 00:46:54.599 --> 00:46:58.599 That would be incredibly offensive to the Pharisaic mind. 00:46:58.599 --> 00:47:03.599 To the mind that automatically, that thinks automatically they have a place in the kingdom of God. 00:47:03.599 --> 00:47:05.599 Who are these people? 00:47:05.599 --> 00:47:10.599 How does Jesus mean that these people are going to be ahead of us in the kingdom of God? 00:47:10.599 --> 00:47:15.599 But of course, the Lord knows the situation very well. 00:47:15.599 --> 00:47:30.599 And what is a scandal to the Pharisee is very much a treasured, precious thing to the poor and the blind and the halt and the maimed and the crippled. 00:47:30.599 --> 00:47:36.599 Those who are looked down upon by the likes of the Pharisees. 00:47:36.599 --> 00:47:43.599 And when that was reported to the man who had provided the banquet, what was the response? 00:47:43.599 --> 00:47:49.599 Well, he became angry and said, go quickly to the streets and lanes of the city. 00:47:49.599 --> 00:47:51.599 Bring in the poor and the crippled, the blind and the maimed. 00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:57.599 And the servant said, sir, what you have commanded has been done and still there is room. 00:47:57.599 --> 00:48:04.599 Many a great sermon has been provided on the basis of these words, yet there is room. 00:48:04.599 --> 00:48:11.599 Here is a banquet provided by someone who wants as many as possible to come and partake of it. 00:48:11.599 --> 00:48:14.599 Those who initially received the invitations refused. 00:48:14.599 --> 00:48:15.599 They said they couldn't come. 00:48:15.599 --> 00:48:17.599 So now he is saying, well, go out further. 00:48:17.599 --> 00:48:18.599 Widen the circle. 00:48:18.599 --> 00:48:21.599 Bring people from the streets and lanes of the city. 00:48:21.599 --> 00:48:23.599 Tell them this is for them as well. 00:48:23.599 --> 00:48:30.599 And so they say, we have done that, but there is yet room. 00:48:30.599 --> 00:48:36.599 Are you here today and still not saved? 00:48:36.599 --> 00:48:42.599 Are you here today still outside the kingdom of God? 00:48:42.599 --> 00:48:49.599 Are you here today and have not yet come to know Jesus as your own savior? 00:48:49.599 --> 00:48:52.599 To know God as your father in heaven? 00:48:52.599 --> 00:48:58.599 Are you here today thinking somehow that automatically you have a place in the kingdom of God 00:48:58.599 --> 00:49:03.599 because you were brought up in this church or some other church or in some other advantage position? 00:49:03.599 --> 00:49:08.599 Are you thinking that that itself is going to be somehow or other going to be a guarantee 00:49:08.599 --> 00:49:14.599 that your place in the kingdom of God is assured that whoever else is left out, it will not be you? 00:49:14.599 --> 00:49:16.599 Well, listen to what God is saying. 00:49:16.599 --> 00:49:18.599 Listen to what this parable is saying. 00:49:18.599 --> 00:49:27.599 There is no such thing as an automatic right to a place in the kingdom of God. 00:49:27.599 --> 00:49:35.599 It is something that Christ has earned for us, but it is something that we receive from him 00:49:35.599 --> 00:49:42.599 by coming to comply with and be obedient to and accept his terms of belonging, 00:49:42.599 --> 00:49:50.599 his terms of membership in the kingdom of God, to receive himself, to confess our sin, 00:49:50.599 --> 00:49:59.599 to know his forgiveness, to place our life in his hands, to say, Lord, I cannot look after myself 00:49:59.599 --> 00:50:04.599 when I think of all that it means that's facing me in terms of the difficulties of life 00:50:04.599 --> 00:50:09.599 and especially of death and entering into eternity and coming before you in judgment. 00:50:09.599 --> 00:50:11.599 I cannot look after myself. 00:50:11.599 --> 00:50:14.599 I don't have the resources myself that will guarantee my acceptance. 00:50:14.599 --> 00:50:17.599 So, Lord, here is my life. 00:50:17.599 --> 00:50:18.599 I give it to you. 00:50:18.599 --> 00:50:21.599 That's what the gospel is saying to us. 00:50:21.599 --> 00:50:23.599 That's what the table is spread for. 00:50:23.599 --> 00:50:32.599 So that we will leave all those things that we think qualify us and instead come and accept Jesus himself 00:50:32.599 --> 00:50:35.599 as the only qualification we need. 00:50:35.599 --> 00:50:40.599 He has done everything already for us. 00:50:40.599 --> 00:50:47.599 And so, we are only excluded if we exclude ourselves. 00:50:47.599 --> 00:50:53.599 Because he's saying we've done that, but yet there is room. 00:50:53.599 --> 00:51:00.599 And so today, if you are still outside of the kingdom, 00:51:00.599 --> 00:51:04.599 I'm not saying to you, don't worry about that. 00:51:04.599 --> 00:51:08.599 I'm saying to you, do something about it urgently. 00:51:08.599 --> 00:51:12.599 Because if you're outside now, you might be outside forever. 00:51:12.599 --> 00:51:14.599 You might be left outside. 00:51:14.599 --> 00:51:21.599 There is no guarantee that you'll be inside, but just by wishful thinking. 00:51:21.599 --> 00:51:28.599 But I am saying there is plenty room for you here as well. 00:51:28.599 --> 00:51:32.599 All are invited throughout the streets and lanes of the city. 00:51:32.599 --> 00:51:35.599 And yet there is room. 00:51:35.599 --> 00:51:39.599 There is still room in the kingdom of God for you and for me. 00:51:39.599 --> 00:51:41.599 We're still not saved. 00:51:41.599 --> 00:51:44.599 But then there is something else. 00:51:44.599 --> 00:51:48.599 The seventh said that is room. 00:51:48.599 --> 00:51:56.599 And the master said, go out into the highways and hedges and compel people to come in that my house may be filled. 00:51:56.599 --> 00:52:00.599 In other words, go out further than the city. 00:52:00.599 --> 00:52:04.599 He's saying go out into the countryside, into the highways and the hedges. 00:52:04.599 --> 00:52:06.599 Go as far as you can into the countryside. 00:52:06.599 --> 00:52:09.599 Because this house of mine must be filled. 00:52:09.599 --> 00:52:17.599 And if people refuse, nevertheless, go further and seek others that will come in their stead. 00:52:17.599 --> 00:52:29.599 See, it's important, isn't it, that however many people refused and made excuses and couldn't come to the feast because of some reason they gave themselves, the feast goes on. 00:52:29.599 --> 00:52:31.599 This is the thing, you see. 00:52:31.599 --> 00:52:38.599 People refuse to accept God, refuse to believe in God, sometimes refuse to believe there is a God. 00:52:38.599 --> 00:52:41.599 Is that going to change reality? 00:52:41.599 --> 00:52:44.599 Is that going to suddenly mean that God no longer exists? 00:52:44.599 --> 00:52:52.599 Is that going to suddenly mean that, well, if this is what I believe myself, this is certainly how the outcome will be? 00:52:52.599 --> 00:52:53.599 Of course it isn't. 00:52:53.599 --> 00:52:58.599 Nothing is altered by our unbelief except our own hopes. 00:53:01.599 --> 00:53:03.599 Compel them to come in. 00:53:03.599 --> 00:53:05.599 What does that mean? 00:53:05.599 --> 00:53:09.599 Well, that doesn't mean force them into the kingdom. 00:53:09.599 --> 00:53:16.599 Preaching the gospel that I'm seeking to do today is not a matter of trying to force people's minds. 00:53:16.599 --> 00:53:23.599 You do not become a Christian by your mind being forced by a minister, by elders, by the church. 00:53:23.599 --> 00:53:28.599 You become a Christian because the Holy Spirit opens your heart. 00:53:28.599 --> 00:53:31.599 You are made willing to accept Christ. 00:53:31.599 --> 00:53:33.599 That's the bottom line. 00:53:33.599 --> 00:53:39.599 We're not in the position of seeking to coerce people, to force people. 00:53:39.599 --> 00:53:51.599 That's why we need to counter this whole idea that's current in our day that wants to have laws enacted against so-called conversion therapy. 00:53:51.599 --> 00:54:01.599 Now, whatever is meant by that, and I'm still seeking to find a proper definition of what these people mean by conversion therapy, but we're not in the business in the church. 00:54:01.599 --> 00:54:02.599 Not in this church. 00:54:02.599 --> 00:54:06.599 We're not in the business of conversion therapy. 00:54:06.599 --> 00:54:08.599 Conversion is God's work. 00:54:08.599 --> 00:54:10.599 It's not my work. 00:54:10.599 --> 00:54:12.599 It's not the church's work. 00:54:12.599 --> 00:54:18.599 We don't force people's minds, but we present the gospel that says, think about this. 00:54:18.599 --> 00:54:19.599 Consider this. 00:54:19.599 --> 00:54:24.599 Is your life as it should be in relation to God? 00:54:24.599 --> 00:54:26.599 Because it's not a matter of forcing. 00:54:26.599 --> 00:54:42.599 It's a matter of reasoning, setting out the biblical arguments, why it's important to be in Christ, to accept Jesus, why it's important to confess your sins, to seek pardon and cleansing from God. 00:54:42.599 --> 00:54:52.599 Remember, in Acts chapter 24, we have an account of Paul preaching, preaching to a very important man of his day, a man called Felix. 00:54:52.599 --> 00:55:03.599 And we read there that as Paul reasoned with Felix, that's the important word, as Paul reasoned with him, what did he reason with him about? 00:55:03.599 --> 00:55:10.599 He reasoned with him about righteousness, sober living, and judgment to come. 00:55:10.599 --> 00:55:14.599 These three things were the three points of his sermon to Felix. 00:55:14.599 --> 00:55:17.599 Righteousness, what God requires of us. 00:55:17.599 --> 00:55:24.599 And also, sober living, a life that's properly based. 00:55:24.599 --> 00:55:27.599 And judgment to come. 00:55:27.599 --> 00:55:29.599 Felix trembled. 00:55:29.599 --> 00:55:34.599 And just like those people here who made excuses, he said, well, go your way for the moment. 00:55:34.599 --> 00:55:37.599 I'll send for you when it's convenient for me. 00:55:37.599 --> 00:55:40.599 What was Paul doing? 00:55:40.599 --> 00:55:43.599 Was Paul trying to force Felix into the kingdom? 00:55:43.599 --> 00:55:45.599 Was Paul engaged in conversion therapy? 00:55:45.599 --> 00:55:46.599 Of course he wasn't. 00:55:46.599 --> 00:55:48.599 Paul was presenting the truth. 00:55:48.599 --> 00:55:54.599 And the truth is addressed to people's minds, to your mind, to my mind, to our conscience. 00:55:54.599 --> 00:55:56.599 The conscience that God has given us. 00:55:56.599 --> 00:55:59.599 The conscience that's informed by the word of God. 00:55:59.599 --> 00:56:07.599 If we're familiar with the gospel as we are today, that gospel is a gospel, the truth of which comes into our minds. 00:56:07.599 --> 00:56:11.599 And through our minds, it's then, if you like, filtered to your conscience. 00:56:11.599 --> 00:56:14.599 And your conscience pronounces you either guilty or not guilty. 00:56:14.599 --> 00:56:16.599 Acceptable to God or not. 00:56:16.599 --> 00:56:26.599 And if your conscience is saying to you today, I can't be acceptable to God because I haven't accepted Jesus. 00:56:26.599 --> 00:56:31.599 Well, God is saying to you today, why not do it now? 00:56:31.599 --> 00:56:35.599 Why not do it today? 00:56:35.599 --> 00:56:45.599 When will you have a better moment to accept the offer of the gospel, to accept Jesus, than now? 00:56:45.599 --> 00:56:52.599 When will you have a more convenient time than you have at this moment? 00:56:52.599 --> 00:56:58.599 So, you see, this is really the essence, if you like, of our evangelism. 00:56:58.599 --> 00:57:01.599 If you want to carry it into that area, I'm not going to expand on it. 00:57:01.599 --> 00:57:04.599 But evangelism is not trying to force people's minds. 00:57:04.599 --> 00:57:07.599 It's presenting them with the truth of the gospel. 00:57:07.599 --> 00:57:12.599 It's providing means by which we come to have the gospel presented to them. 00:57:12.599 --> 00:57:14.599 Not just in church services like this, of course. 00:57:14.599 --> 00:57:16.599 Other ways as well. 00:57:16.599 --> 00:57:20.599 And other activities that we actually have in this congregation itself. 00:57:20.599 --> 00:57:29.599 By which we seek the truth of God to come to touch our hearts and change our lives. 00:57:29.599 --> 00:57:33.599 But it's always going to be the truth itself. 00:57:33.599 --> 00:57:36.599 Reasoning its way, or God, if you like, through the Holy Spirit. 00:57:36.599 --> 00:57:39.599 Reasoning by using his word. 00:57:39.599 --> 00:57:42.599 Reasoning his way into our minds. 00:57:42.599 --> 00:57:44.599 Not forcing us. 00:57:44.599 --> 00:57:47.599 But making us willing. 00:57:47.599 --> 00:57:49.599 Giving us the mind to accept Christ. 00:57:49.599 --> 00:57:54.599 To accept the truth of what God is saying. 00:57:54.599 --> 00:57:59.599 Invitations returned by the unwilling. 00:57:59.599 --> 00:58:04.599 Invitations extended to the unlikely. 00:58:04.599 --> 00:58:09.599 Unlikely, in the words, in the eyes at least of the Pharisees and others. 00:58:09.599 --> 00:58:14.599 Who would not see these people as candidates for the kingdom of God. 00:58:14.599 --> 00:58:16.599 But if you're in the kingdom of God today. 00:58:16.599 --> 00:58:17.599 If you've accepted Jesus. 00:58:17.599 --> 00:58:19.599 If Jesus is your savior. 00:58:19.599 --> 00:58:21.599 If you're living by faith in Christ. 00:58:21.599 --> 00:58:25.599 If your basis of hope is in all that Christ has completed and done. 00:58:25.599 --> 00:58:26.599 Well, you're blessed. 00:58:26.599 --> 00:58:30.599 You're blessed because you're eating bread in the kingdom of God. 00:58:32.599 --> 00:58:35.599 And if you're not today, then don't despair. 00:58:35.599 --> 00:58:38.599 But along with saying, don't despair. 00:58:38.599 --> 00:58:40.599 I say, don't delay. 00:58:40.599 --> 00:58:48.599 Why should anyone delay when it means the best thing possible is laid before them? 00:58:48.599 --> 00:58:52.599 Why should there be any delay? 00:58:52.599 --> 00:58:55.599 When God is saying, here is my table. 00:58:55.599 --> 00:59:01.599 It's spread with the best possible products and ingredients and dishes. 00:59:01.599 --> 00:59:04.599 Spiritually, here is eternal life. 00:59:04.599 --> 00:59:05.599 Here is forgiveness of sin. 00:59:05.599 --> 00:59:07.599 Here is justification. 00:59:07.599 --> 00:59:08.599 Here is sanctification. 00:59:08.599 --> 00:59:09.599 Here is hope. 00:59:09.599 --> 00:59:11.599 Here is all of these things that you require. 00:59:11.599 --> 00:59:16.599 Be foolish to refuse, wouldn't it? 00:59:16.599 --> 00:59:18.599 When everything is there. 00:59:18.599 --> 00:59:21.599 And it's all free. 00:59:21.599 --> 00:59:24.599 Christ has paid the price. 00:59:24.599 --> 00:59:30.599 All that's required of us to say, I accept it, Lord. 00:59:30.599 --> 00:59:33.599 Thank you for your love. 00:59:33.599 --> 00:59:35.599 Let's pray. 00:59:36.599 --> 00:59:43.599 Almighty God, we thank you for the provision you have made for us in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:59:43.599 --> 00:59:54.599 We thank you for the fullness of life that is in him that the gospel comes to us with and brings before us and invites us to partake of. 00:59:54.599 --> 01:00:04.599 And we thank you for this day and we thank you for these moments when we can dwell for a time upon those important truths that your word sets out for us. 01:00:04.599 --> 01:00:06.599 So bless this to us, we pray. 01:00:06.599 --> 01:00:11.599 And give us whatever our relationship with you is, Lord, today. 01:00:11.599 --> 01:00:16.599 Give us, we pray, the grace by which our hearts will be opened to you. 01:00:16.599 --> 01:00:26.599 And may your Holy Spirit help us once again to open our minds and willing to receive you so that we may become members of the kingdom of God. 01:00:26.599 --> 01:00:28.599 Hear us, we pray, for Jesus' sake. 01:00:28.599 --> 01:00:29.599 Amen. 01:00:29.599 --> 01:00:37.599 Now we're singing, it's our final psalm, in Psalm 36. 01:00:37.599 --> 01:00:45.599 Psalm number 36, you'll find that on page 44. 01:00:45.599 --> 01:00:51.599 We're singing verses 5 to 9. 01:00:51.599 --> 01:00:55.599 Your steadfast love is great, O Lord, it reaches heaven high. 01:00:55.599 --> 01:00:58.599 Your faithfulness is wonderful, extending to the sky. 01:00:58.599 --> 01:01:02.599 Your righteousness is very great, like mountains high and steep. 01:01:02.599 --> 01:01:07.599 Your justice is like ocean depths, both man and beast. 01:01:07.599 --> 01:01:08.599 You keep. 01:01:08.599 --> 01:01:09.599 You keep. 01:01:09.599 --> 01:01:10.599 You keep. 01:01:10.599 --> 01:01:11.599 You keep. 01:01:11.599 --> 01:01:12.599 You keep. 01:01:12.599 --> 01:01:13.599 You keep. 01:01:13.599 --> 01:01:14.599 You keep. 01:01:14.599 --> 01:01:15.599 You keep. 01:01:15.599 --> 01:01:16.599 You keep. 01:01:16.599 --> 01:01:17.599 You keep. 01:01:17.599 --> 01:01:18.599 You keep. 01:01:18.599 --> 01:01:19.599 You keep. 01:01:19.599 --> 01:01:24.599 You keep. 01:01:24.599 --> 01:01:27.599 You keep. 01:01:27.599 --> 01:01:29.599 You keep. 01:01:29.599 --> 01:01:32.599 International psalms say best and said best, here most are without us. 01:01:32.599 --> 01:01:46.599 You will find whatuniversal usaethil, but heaven is ever anduhil . 01:01:46.599 --> 01:01:55.360 Where righteousness is very great, 01:01:55.360 --> 01:02:02.480 Like mighty high and steep, 01:02:02.719 --> 01:02:10.360 Where justice is like ocean depths, 01:02:10.360 --> 01:02:18.120 O man, how peace to him. 01:02:18.120 --> 01:02:27.120 Thy precious sense to step past love, 01:02:27.120 --> 01:02:34.360 What confidence it brings, 01:02:34.360 --> 01:02:42.120 O thy and o'er thy shelter in, 01:02:42.120 --> 01:02:50.120 The shadow of your wings. 01:02:50.120 --> 01:02:58.120 The feast when they hear house and play, 01:02:58.119 --> 01:03:05.880 From streams of pure delight, 01:03:05.880 --> 01:03:13.880 For when here is the source of life, 01:03:13.880 --> 01:03:21.880 In your light we see light. 01:03:21.880 --> 01:03:25.960 If you please let me get to the main door after the benediction, 01:03:25.960 --> 01:03:27.960 I'll greet you on the way out. 01:03:27.960 --> 01:03:30.720 Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 01:03:30.720 --> 01:03:32.460 The love of God the Father, 01:03:32.460 --> 01:03:36.720 And the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore. 01:03:36.720 --> 01:03:37.720 Amen. 01:03:37.720 --> 01:03:38.720 Amen. 01:03:57.960 --> 01:04:06.720 Amen. 01:04:06.720 --> 01:04:07.720 Amen. 01:04:07.720 --> 01:04:08.720 Amen. 01:04:08.720 --> 01:04:09.720 Amen. 01:04:09.720 --> 01:04:10.720 Amen.