WEBVTT 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:06.900 Well, good evening everyone. Let me invite you to turn back to Psalm 119 and to those 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:12.060 verses that Neil read for us. And two things we need to do just before we start this evening. 00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:16.899 One is you need to ensure that you've got your Psalm 119 handout. If you don't have 00:00:16.899 --> 00:00:20.780 one then I'm sure if you put your hand up somebody at the back, we'll make sure you 00:00:20.780 --> 00:00:27.080 get one. And the second one is to pick up your knife and fork and let's put on our serviettes 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:33.759 and let's feast on God's words together. And let's pray just before we come to look at it now. 00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:35.019 Let's pray. 00:00:40.019 --> 00:00:48.320 Our Father, we come before your words this evening and our prayer is that you would show us Christ. 00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:56.340 We ask that by your Spirit that you would teach us more about him, that you would deepen our 00:00:56.340 --> 00:01:02.820 understanding, that you would open our eyes, that you would thrill our hearts. And oh God, 00:01:02.860 --> 00:01:09.480 that you would increase our affection and our love for him. And this is our prayer in and through his 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:20.460 name. Amen. Excellent. So you may or may not be aware that Friday saw the kickoff of the Rugby 00:01:20.459 --> 00:01:28.119 World Cup. Was anybody aware of that? Okay, John on tech. Wow. Okay, a few people. I don't know if 00:01:28.119 --> 00:01:33.919 you were here last Sunday evening, but just at the end of the service there were four people that came 00:01:33.919 --> 00:01:38.899 in at the back and they were tourists. And the reason I could tell they were tourists is because 00:01:38.899 --> 00:01:43.339 they had Edinburgh hoodies on and they were all in different colours. So it was a bit of a giveaway. 00:01:43.340 --> 00:01:48.620 And so I got talking to them after the service and I asked them what they were doing in Edinburgh. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:53.820 And they said they were up from the weekend from Wales. And so naturally knowing that Wales is a rugby 00:01:53.820 --> 00:02:01.340 daft country and knowing that they got to the previous Rugby World Cup final, I asked them if they were 00:02:01.340 --> 00:02:07.000 looking forward to this World Cup. And so they proceeded to tell me that they were very excited. 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:13.620 And even though they had just lost their star player to injury, they were increasingly confident 00:02:13.620 --> 00:02:20.879 and extremely optimistic of success. And this week in the build-up to their first match, I read an 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:27.400 interview with Wales' ex-captain Jonathan Davies, where he was being asked his thoughts on the upcoming 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:29.120 games. And here's what he said, okay? 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:34.840 Now feel some of this fire-breathing Wales passion, talking about their first game. 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:38.460 Daffodils in your hands at the ready. He says this, okay? 00:02:39.099 --> 00:02:41.599 He said, we need to be all in for this game. 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:45.280 We should hit the ground running. We smash them. 00:02:45.939 --> 00:02:46.920 Make a statement. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:51.599 And put the pressure on everyone else to score points. 00:02:53.300 --> 00:02:54.300 We need to... 00:02:54.300 --> 00:03:02.680 We need to be all in for this game. All in. What an interesting statement, I thought. 00:03:03.420 --> 00:03:06.660 What does it mean to be all in for something? 00:03:08.420 --> 00:03:12.640 Well, it means to give your all to something. To give all of you to something. 00:03:13.320 --> 00:03:15.240 To hold nothing back. 00:03:15.980 --> 00:03:18.260 To give all-out commitment. 00:03:18.260 --> 00:03:22.900 To give nothing but a full and unflinching devotion to the cause. 00:03:24.300 --> 00:03:27.600 Now, I've spent all week with Mr. Sam 119. 00:03:28.420 --> 00:03:35.020 And he strikes me as a man that when it comes to God's Word, he is all in. 00:03:35.980 --> 00:03:39.540 He knows God's Word is true. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:41.980 He knows God's Word is trustworthy. 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:43.860 And he knows it's good. 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:45.520 Because God is good. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:48.240 And he loves it. 00:03:48.300 --> 00:03:51.480 And to him, God's Word, this isn't a condemning word. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:53.840 It's not a crushing word. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:58.300 It's a life-giving, grace-filled word. 00:03:59.020 --> 00:04:00.340 And he delights in it. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:02.219 He loves it. 00:04:02.580 --> 00:04:03.659 He desires it. 00:04:03.740 --> 00:04:04.960 He depends on it. 00:04:06.420 --> 00:04:08.780 And brothers and sisters, what a privilege it is tonight. 00:04:09.020 --> 00:04:10.159 With joy. 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:13.719 That in hindsight, we know what he didn't know. 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:22.180 That the grace of God was so dazzlingly revealed to the world in Jesus Christ. 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:27.040 The one who laid down his life so that he could give life. 00:04:27.699 --> 00:04:31.579 The one who opened the way up to all who would believe in him. 00:04:31.660 --> 00:04:33.240 To come and be reconciled. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:35.100 To be made right with God. 00:04:35.100 --> 00:04:38.860 Let me ask you right at the outset. 00:04:39.100 --> 00:04:41.939 Have you been dazzled by Christ this week? 00:04:43.020 --> 00:04:44.580 Have you savored in? 00:04:44.700 --> 00:04:54.100 Have you delighted in that life-giving, all-pursuing, freely available, undeserved grace of God that's been extended to every single one of us here? 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:58.100 You see, that's what Mr. Sam 119 knows. 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:00.020 And what he loves. 00:05:00.960 --> 00:05:08.140 This God-breathed, life-giving word is, oh, such a sweet melody of grace to him. 00:05:08.139 --> 00:05:16.979 And this week, as we finish our time in this psalm, we're getting our money's worth out of him these last few weeks. 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:18.360 We're going to ask him one more question. 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:23.479 We're going to ask him, what does he do with God's words? 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:26.019 So this is really practical this evening. 00:05:26.159 --> 00:05:30.060 In his life, what does he do with this word? 00:05:30.779 --> 00:05:32.500 Well, here's what he's going to tell us this evening. 00:05:33.699 --> 00:05:37.620 He responds to God's gracious and life-giving words. 00:05:38.139 --> 00:05:40.860 With all in worship. 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:44.120 All of him worship. 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:46.079 Now, what does that look like in his life? 00:05:47.139 --> 00:05:48.860 Well, I'll tell you what it doesn't involve. 00:05:49.419 --> 00:05:54.699 It doesn't involve him sitting in a dark room, thinking blessed thoughts and singing kumbaya to himself. 00:05:56.500 --> 00:06:06.159 But rather, as he lives his life in the world in which he lives, he is active in his worship and his devotion and his love for God and his words. 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:14.740 Now, our verses here, the verses that Neil read out, verses 1 to 16, they are full of what your primary teacher at school used to say, doing words. 00:06:15.820 --> 00:06:17.040 They're full of verbs. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:27.379 That is, what he's trying to say is that all of him, every part of him, worships in response to God's lavish grace. 00:06:28.100 --> 00:06:35.640 He's telling us that there's no part of him that is uninvolved in treasuring God, loving God and his word above all else. 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:39.159 And here's how he expresses it to us in these verses. 00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:42.539 He draws attention to his body. 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:47.379 This is head-to-toe worship. 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:52.439 Now, as we look at this together, this is what I found as I was preparing it this week. 00:06:52.539 --> 00:07:01.459 What we need to ask ourselves as we look at this is, are we head-to-toe all in with our worship? 00:07:01.459 --> 00:07:05.079 Let me show you how this works. 00:07:05.180 --> 00:07:07.859 Firstly, see how he is all in with his mind. 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:10.359 Verse 7, what does he write? 00:07:10.459 --> 00:07:16.459 He says, I praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. 00:07:16.539 --> 00:07:19.060 Verse 15, I meditate. 00:07:19.179 --> 00:07:21.519 There's our word from last week, meaning he chews it over. 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:26.299 Remember, I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 00:07:26.699 --> 00:07:27.579 So what is he doing? 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:33.699 He's devoting himself to learning, to considering, to meditating on God's word. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:38.620 He's making every effort to fill up his mind with God's word. 00:07:38.699 --> 00:07:43.979 To have it as the thing, not a thing, the thing that shapes his mind. 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:45.639 Because do you know what he's aware of? 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:51.919 He's aware that he lives in a world that is constantly trying to shape him into its mold. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:53.920 And he needs his mind. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:57.980 He knows that he needs his mind to be filled with the truth, God's truth. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:07:59.939 And he learns it. 00:08:00.960 --> 00:08:02.340 Let me ask you this evening. 00:08:03.400 --> 00:08:05.920 What are you filling your mind with? 00:08:07.280 --> 00:08:12.600 As you live your life in this world, what are the words that you are listening to? 00:08:12.780 --> 00:08:16.220 What is shaping your values and your motives? 00:08:16.220 --> 00:08:19.520 As my grandpa used to say, what's going on to the noggin? 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:22.960 Now just think about it this week. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:23.660 Think about it. 00:08:24.880 --> 00:08:27.460 What are the words that you've listened to this week? 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:31.200 What are the things that you've watched? 00:08:31.320 --> 00:08:33.480 What are the images that have gone into your head? 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:36.540 What are the opinions that have gone into your head? 00:08:36.539 --> 00:08:40.519 There was an Ofcom Scotland report published a few months ago. 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:43.659 And it reported that the average Scot, I'm not calling any of you average. 00:08:44.079 --> 00:08:48.699 But the average Scot now spends 19.9 hours online each week. 00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:54.139 And presumably that figure is not accounting for DVDs and television. 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:56.659 Now I think that's probably almost true in my life. 00:08:57.419 --> 00:08:58.059 That exposure. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:08:59.860 Friends, that's a lot of exposure. 00:09:01.019 --> 00:09:03.899 What is filling our minds? 00:09:03.899 --> 00:09:06.879 The American evangelist William Chapman, he used to say, 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:10.899 it's not the ship in the water, but the water in the ship that sinks it. 00:09:11.459 --> 00:09:14.240 In the same way, it's not the Christian in the world, 00:09:14.579 --> 00:09:17.179 but the world in the Christian that constitutes the danger. 00:09:18.539 --> 00:09:22.879 And we have to ask ourselves, as we honestly think about what's going into our minds, 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:25.819 the question to be asking ourselves is, 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:29.299 is it helping or is it hindering our walk with God? 00:09:29.299 --> 00:09:34.779 How much exposure is your mind getting to God's word? 00:09:34.859 --> 00:09:37.819 What does Paul say in the book of Romans? 00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:38.699 He says, 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:42.139 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:09:43.579 --> 00:09:45.339 Do you see what the psalmist is saying here? 00:09:45.439 --> 00:09:49.539 That God's word is the most important voice in his life. 00:09:49.599 --> 00:09:55.299 And so he pulls out all the stops to make sure it gets ingrained on his mind. 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:56.479 He learns God's word. 00:09:56.539 --> 00:09:57.299 He learns it. 00:09:57.299 --> 00:09:59.679 He doesn't give it a casual glance. 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:01.439 He doesn't skim read it. 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:03.519 He doesn't gloss over it. 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:05.000 He learns it. 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:13.139 And he consistently reminds himself, as he does so, of this God of all grace. 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:14.399 Now, why does he do that? 00:10:16.819 --> 00:10:18.399 Well, he knows his own heart. 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:22.599 As we'll come on to see, he knows his proneness to wander. 00:10:23.419 --> 00:10:25.719 He knows his ability to forget. 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:27.920 Do you not know that to be true in your own life? 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:28.920 I do. 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:31.779 I forget all the time. 00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:40.540 And he brings himself to God's word as the means of constantly bringing his wandering heart back to its true destination. 00:10:40.539 --> 00:10:44.219 Now, let me just allow you into my life this week. 00:10:44.219 --> 00:10:45.860 This is how it's worked out for me. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:51.360 There are many times this week that I have felt massively unworthy. 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:54.620 Massively unworthy. 00:10:54.819 --> 00:10:57.719 That harsh word that I've said about someone. 00:10:57.720 --> 00:11:02.600 The impatience that I've shown with Alex, my wife. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:06.820 The judgmental attitudes that I've had towards people. 00:11:06.920 --> 00:11:08.779 And that's just the stuff that's made it to my tongue. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:10.180 Leather rolling what's in my brain. 00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:14.620 And I've felt the weight of my sin. 00:11:15.779 --> 00:11:17.680 And I've felt the evil ones say, 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:29.039 Now, on the one hand, he's absolutely right, isn't he? 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:32.019 Who am I? 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:34.639 Well, I've got two options at that point. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:38.960 I can listen to what the devil is saying and I can wallow in it. 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:43.000 Or I can address what he's saying with the gospel. 00:11:44.199 --> 00:11:47.559 For what did the Spirit of God bring to my mind this week? 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:51.120 This verse in 2 Corinthians 5.21. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:56.740 He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf 00:11:56.740 --> 00:12:01.500 so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:05.059 It's the verse that we made an effort of learning 00:12:05.059 --> 00:12:06.759 at the student weekend a few years ago. 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:08.740 And it came to my mind. 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:10.580 The Spirit of God brought it to my mind. 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:13.860 Graham, you are not worthy, but Jesus is. 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:17.639 And your life is hidden with his. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:19.519 You are caught up with him. 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:23.220 And the Spirit of God brought me to the cross. 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:28.220 The cross, the way of salvation that deeply, deeply humbles man. 00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:31.700 Because this has nothing to do with us earning salvation. 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:37.399 And the cross that exalts the grace of God 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:39.440 and causes us to wonder, why? 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:40.420 Why? 00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:42.860 But praise him that he did. 00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:44.200 He looked upon us. 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:47.100 He loved us and he saved us. 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:49.040 And he looked upon a sinner like me. 00:12:50.680 --> 00:12:52.740 Reminding ourselves of the gospel, friends. 00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:53.639 Learning the gospel. 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:56.039 Preaching the gospel to ourselves 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:59.379 is the most important daily habit that we can establish. 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:02.000 Jerry Bridges writes this. 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:06.059 We should bathe our hearts and minds daily in the gospel 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:08.699 as part of our daily communion with God. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.419 What words are filling your mind? 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:13.519 What are you learning? 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:17.960 Mr. Sam 119, he's all in with his mind. 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:20.180 I'm very much tied to that. 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:24.960 See that he is all in with his mouth. 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:26.440 Verse 13, look at it there. 00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:28.600 What does he write? 00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:35.420 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:39.060 Now that word to recount is not talking about politics. 00:13:39.259 --> 00:13:40.060 This is not a recount. 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.860 I looked it up in the dictionary this week 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:44.740 and it means to tell the story of. 00:13:44.820 --> 00:13:46.220 That's what to recount means. 00:13:46.220 --> 00:13:49.960 And I think what Mr. Sam 119 is doing here 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:52.420 is he is speaking scripture to himself. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:57.740 He is reminding himself of who God is 00:13:57.740 --> 00:14:00.639 as he speaks his word to himself. 00:14:01.560 --> 00:14:02.820 Let me ask you this evening, 00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:05.639 what are you saying to yourself with your lips? 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:10.940 Are you in the habit of speaking scripture to yourself? 00:14:12.060 --> 00:14:13.540 You know, there's this wonderful story told 00:14:13.540 --> 00:14:14.639 about Martin Lloyd-Jones, 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:16.279 the famous Welsh preacher. 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:18.379 He was speaking to a member 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:20.039 of his own congregation one evening 00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:21.340 and this particular member 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:23.279 was really struggling with the gravity 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:24.539 and the weight of his sin 00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:27.500 and he was spouting forth to Martin Lloyd-Jones. 00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:30.319 And Martin Lloyd-Jones turned to him after a while 00:14:30.319 --> 00:14:31.259 and he said this. 00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:31.740 He said, 00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:33.439 Have you not realized, 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:34.879 have you not realized 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:37.559 that so much of the unhappiness in your life 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:40.199 is because you are listening to yourself 00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:42.239 instead of speaking to yourself? 00:14:44.819 --> 00:14:48.199 Speak God's word to ourselves. 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.719 That's what the psalmist is doing here. 00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:51.339 Let me ask you this evening, 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:54.139 what are you saying to yourself with your lips? 00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:56.979 What are you saying to yourself with your lips? 00:14:57.199 --> 00:14:59.079 What are you saying to others with your lips? 00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:02.199 Now here, I was thinking about this recently. 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:04.540 We were on holiday a few weeks ago 00:15:04.540 --> 00:15:07.140 with my parents-in-law down in Brittany. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:09.580 My father-in-law, bless his heart, 00:15:09.660 --> 00:15:11.600 he found a book of old nursery rhymes 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.740 in his loft 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:16.000 and he proceeded to take this book 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:17.280 with us on holiday. 00:15:17.400 --> 00:15:18.640 So this book of nursery rhymes 00:15:18.640 --> 00:15:20.379 from about the 60s, I think, 00:15:20.820 --> 00:15:23.080 was in the living room. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:24.780 And I'm up early one morning 00:15:24.780 --> 00:15:25.940 with Chloe, our little girl, 00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:27.860 and I noticed this book in the corner 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.320 and I thought, 00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:29.240 Well, I'll give it a shot. 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:31.120 I'll read her a little nursery rhyme. 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:33.440 And this is the first one that I read, okay? 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:33.980 This is called 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:35.600 There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe. 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:36.320 Have you heard of that? 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:37.620 This classic. 00:15:38.180 --> 00:15:39.019 This is how it goes. 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:40.440 I thought I'd put it on the screen for you. 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:44.240 This is what my six-month-year-old girl 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.080 was hearing from me. 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:47.340 There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:49.899 She had so many children 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:51.139 she didn't know what to do. 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:54.060 She gave them some broth without any bread 00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:56.060 and whipped them all soundly 00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:57.039 and put them to bed. 00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:59.399 That's cracking, that. 00:16:00.599 --> 00:16:01.839 So short of puzzling over 00:16:01.839 --> 00:16:03.179 the political correctness 00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:04.659 of that nursery rhyme 00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:06.699 and how exactly that shoe 00:16:06.699 --> 00:16:08.599 matches up to current building standards, 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:10.699 I'm thinking to myself, 00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:13.000 What am I saying with my lips 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:14.199 to this young girl? 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:16.899 Am I passing on to her? 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:19.120 Am I speaking to her meaningless fluff? 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:22.399 Am I passing on to her empty tales? 00:16:23.099 --> 00:16:24.159 Or in my life, 00:16:24.219 --> 00:16:25.459 as a father, as a Christian, 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:28.300 am I striving to pass on to her 00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:30.620 the words of the eternal and the living God? 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:34.019 Would it not be an absolute travesty 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:37.620 if she grew up knowing more about Jack and Jill 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:39.379 than she did about Calvary's Hill? 00:16:40.280 --> 00:16:42.860 What are we passing on with our lips 00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:44.080 to our families? 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:46.900 What are we passing on with our lips 00:16:46.900 --> 00:16:48.200 to our friends? 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:52.600 Am I seeking to bring her up, 00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:53.520 Chloe up, 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:54.100 in a home, 00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:55.680 a Bible-saturated home 00:16:55.680 --> 00:16:57.520 where the very atmosphere of Scripture 00:16:57.520 --> 00:16:59.160 gets down into her bones, 00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:00.640 gets into her lungs? 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:02.320 That is just what we talk about 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:03.360 as a family. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.360 What are you passing on 00:17:05.360 --> 00:17:07.340 to others with your lips? 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:10.519 And in our interactions with one another 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.960 in this church family, 00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:13.940 what are we speaking to one another 00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:14.980 with our lips? 00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:18.599 Are we seeking to bring this word, 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.839 this life-giving word 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.920 that God has given us 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:22.960 to bear in each other's lives? 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:24.339 Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:26.579 as we come to it each day, 00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:27.700 we could pray and say, 00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:30.160 Lord, help me to be nourished myself, 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:32.440 but help me also to nourish others 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:33.480 and to encourage them 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:34.539 with what you're teaching me. 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:37.960 Are we seeking to build one another up 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:39.420 and to strengthen one another 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:41.680 with our words? 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:43.579 Now, we've got a vision evening 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.199 next Sunday, 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:46.439 and we'll be telling, 00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:47.519 we'll be launching 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.619 and discussing together 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:49.619 this great resource 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.799 that John and I have put together 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.480 over the summer 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.899 that's designed specifically 00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:54.720 for us to read the Bible 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.740 one-to-one together. 00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:57.339 And it's really designed 00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.199 for this purpose, 00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.159 that we can get 00:17:59.159 --> 00:18:00.500 speaking God's word 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:02.359 into one another's lives. 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.679 What are we recounting 00:18:04.679 --> 00:18:05.319 to one another 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.419 with our words? 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.319 What are we recounting 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:08.199 to the world 00:18:08.199 --> 00:18:10.339 with our words? 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:11.759 And I was reading 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.779 on the news this week. 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.539 I don't know if anybody saw 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.819 Alistair Darling's comments 00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:16.900 about Jeremy Corbyn. 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:19.339 And he simply said this, 00:18:19.379 --> 00:18:19.660 he said, 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:20.700 I need to know 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:23.000 what Jeremy Corbyn stands for. 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.960 That's probably what you're thinking 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.460 as well. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.079 But he needs to know 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:29.019 what Jeremy Corbyn stands for. 00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:29.359 Friends, 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.459 let me ask you this evening, 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:31.279 does the world 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:33.859 know what you and I stand for? 00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:37.019 Are we recounting, 00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:38.459 are we telling God's word, 00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.779 are we telling the story, 00:18:39.879 --> 00:18:40.859 the gospel story 00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:42.059 to this lost world 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.019 in which we live? 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.399 The gospel, 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.559 the good news 00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:46.919 that is the hope 00:18:46.919 --> 00:18:47.719 for this world. 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.779 Are we telling them 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.399 about Jesus 00:18:50.399 --> 00:18:51.679 who is the hope 00:18:51.679 --> 00:18:53.039 of the nations? 00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:56.359 The God of all grace 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:58.079 has so magnificently 00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:59.099 revealed himself 00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:00.399 in Jesus. 00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:02.379 Jesus who could not 00:19:02.379 --> 00:19:04.319 have gone any lower 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.639 in his mission 00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:06.599 to save us. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.139 And who now 00:19:08.139 --> 00:19:08.979 has the name, 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:10.019 the victorious name 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.719 that could not be 00:19:10.719 --> 00:19:11.479 any higher. 00:19:12.659 --> 00:19:13.759 Are we using 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.599 our lips 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:15.939 to speak 00:19:15.939 --> 00:19:16.740 God's word, 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.439 the gospel 00:19:17.439 --> 00:19:18.539 to our world? 00:19:19.439 --> 00:19:20.579 Are we using 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:21.159 our lips 00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:21.839 so that the people 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:23.039 in our lives 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:25.000 know about 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.899 Christ? 00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.640 Do you see 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.040 how Mr. 00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:28.120 Psalm 119, 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.280 he is all in 00:19:29.280 --> 00:19:30.740 with his mind 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.680 and he's all in 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.240 with his mouth. 00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:34.380 And what we need 00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:35.140 to see at this point 00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:37.440 is that this word, 00:19:37.560 --> 00:19:38.100 this knowledge, 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:38.640 God's word, 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.240 doesn't just stay 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:39.800 in his head, 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:41.440 but it travels 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.600 18 inches down 00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:44.060 and it pierces 00:19:44.060 --> 00:19:45.019 and penetrates 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.259 his heart. 00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:47.120 Do you see 00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:47.920 what God's word 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.360 is informing him 00:19:49.360 --> 00:19:49.700 of, 00:19:49.780 --> 00:19:51.280 this life-giving 00:19:51.280 --> 00:19:51.820 God, 00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:52.940 this good God, 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:55.040 is the furnace 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.159 that drives 00:19:56.159 --> 00:19:57.059 the engine 00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:58.700 of his affections. 00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.319 John Piper 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:00.319 puts it like this. 00:20:01.819 --> 00:20:02.480 He says, 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.240 it's the mind 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.119 that provides 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:04.859 the kindling 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.819 for the fires 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:06.319 of the heart. 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:08.319 Mr. 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.339 Psalm 119, 00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:10.240 his theology, 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.099 what he knows 00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:11.779 about God, 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.539 serves doxology, 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:14.480 so his praise 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.039 of God. 00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.980 His reflection 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:18.099 on God's word 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:18.960 serves the purpose 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.480 of stirring 00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.220 his affection 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.600 for God. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.539 His contemplation 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:25.120 serves his exaltation. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:25.839 You get the point? 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.180 It doesn't just 00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:27.860 stay in his head, 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:28.740 it penetrates 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:30.079 and changes 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:31.339 his heart. 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:31.880 This is what 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:32.519 we need to see. 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:34.519 He's all in 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.480 with his heart. 00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:35.980 He does not 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.620 remain static. 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.519 He does not 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.900 remain hands folded. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:42.039 Look at the words 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:42.940 that he uses 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.799 in these verses. 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.440 Verse 7, 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.140 for example, 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.539 I will praise you 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:48.559 with an upright heart. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.179 Verse 12, 00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:51.019 praise be to you, 00:20:51.139 --> 00:20:51.339 Lord. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.279 Verse 14, 00:20:52.679 --> 00:20:53.480 I rejoice 00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:54.740 in following 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.679 your statutes 00:20:55.679 --> 00:20:56.539 as one who 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.579 rejoices 00:20:57.579 --> 00:21:00.000 in great riches. 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.500 He is not 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.139 unmoved 00:21:02.139 --> 00:21:03.259 by God's word. 00:21:03.399 --> 00:21:03.899 God's word 00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:04.759 moves him 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.839 to worship, 00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:06.659 to sing 00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:07.899 exuberantly 00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:10.679 as he revels 00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:12.039 in God's goodness. 00:21:12.139 --> 00:21:12.579 To come at it 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.379 from another angle. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.099 It's just not 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:16.419 what Jesus said 00:21:16.419 --> 00:21:17.139 was at the heart 00:21:17.139 --> 00:21:17.700 of how God 00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:18.259 told his people 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:18.779 to live. 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.539 To obey 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.440 the Lord God 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.339 with all your heart, 00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:22.619 your soul, 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.259 your mind and strength. 00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:23.779 No, no, no, no. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.319 To love 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.420 the Lord, 00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.160 your God, 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.180 with all your heart 00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:30.240 and all your soul 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.879 and all your mind 00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:33.900 and all your strength. 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.480 Now, of course, 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:34.980 obeying 00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:36.700 is part of that love 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:38.460 as we'll come on to see. 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.579 But do you see 00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:40.440 how love, 00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:41.879 loving God 00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:43.940 is at the very heart 00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:46.099 of God's words? 00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:47.939 We need to understand, 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:48.279 friends, 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.299 that God's word 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.259 should lead us 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:52.039 to love him more. 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.799 There's a great story 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:55.539 I read recently 00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.899 about the great Bible teacher 00:21:56.899 --> 00:21:57.599 John Stott 00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:00.179 and somebody asked him 00:22:00.179 --> 00:22:01.199 what his biggest fear 00:22:01.199 --> 00:22:02.439 was for the students 00:22:02.439 --> 00:22:03.679 that came to study 00:22:03.679 --> 00:22:04.199 under him 00:22:04.199 --> 00:22:06.240 and his reply 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:08.179 was that his biggest fear 00:22:08.179 --> 00:22:10.899 was that many of his students 00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:11.379 would leave 00:22:11.379 --> 00:22:12.219 with a doctorate, 00:22:12.659 --> 00:22:13.480 would have ceased 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.259 to be a disciple. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.880 They would leave 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:18.279 with a qualification 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.839 but they would have long 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:21.039 stopped loving the Lord Jesus. 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.920 That many would go 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.900 from talking about God 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.980 in the second person 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:26.240 to talking about him 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:26.700 in the third. 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.960 If that's you this evening, 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:33.279 if the fire has gone cold, 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:35.660 if the fire has gone out, 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:37.360 then can I plead with you 00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:38.240 from God's word 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:40.019 to pray 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.180 and to ask God 00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:42.259 that he would help you 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.559 put that right this evening. 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:46.700 That he would install in you 00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:48.460 a deep, deep love 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.079 for him 00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:50.339 and his son 00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:51.660 and his words 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:52.400 and that it would 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:53.680 transform your heart. 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:56.039 The study of God's word 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:57.000 should lead us 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:59.140 to love him more. 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.440 And do you notice 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.039 where the psalmist 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.700 sees himself 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:03.039 storing up God's word? 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.660 Verse 11. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:06.440 Is it in the mind? 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:07.460 No. 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.960 It's in his heart. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:12.019 So what starts in the mind 00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:13.440 travels all the way 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.580 down to his heart. 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:15.860 God's word goes deep, 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:17.900 deep, deep down into him. 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:19.299 It gets in his bloodstream. 00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:21.480 Now John Bunyan, 00:23:21.580 --> 00:23:22.640 the great Christian thinker 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.019 and writer, 00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:23.960 his contemporaries 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.980 used to say of him, 00:23:25.580 --> 00:23:26.400 why this man 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.340 is a living Bible. 00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:29.200 Prick him anywhere 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.539 and his blood 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:32.039 would bleed bibline. 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.500 And of course 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.519 what was hyperbolically 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.640 true of Mr. Bunyan 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:40.680 was absolutely true 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:42.720 in the life of Jesus. 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:45.180 The devil tempting him 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.039 in Luke 4, 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:46.759 what does he do 00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.539 in response? 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:49.339 He quotes scripture. 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:52.319 He quotes God's word. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.480 He defends himself 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.500 with Deuteronomy. 00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.720 What does he do 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:58.119 when he's on the cross? 00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:00.039 He quotes scripture. 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:02.559 Psalm 22, 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.879 Psalm 69, 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:06.619 Jesus literally breathed 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:08.179 and bled scripture. 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:12.220 So my question this evening is, 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:13.220 as his followers, 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.220 his example, 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.619 why would we think 00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:17.279 it would be any different 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:17.899 in our lives? 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:21.480 Our Lord devoted himself 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.279 to learning 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:24.240 his father's words. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:27.259 Mr. Sam 119, 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.460 all in 00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:30.059 with all his heart. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.339 Next, 00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:32.720 see how he is 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:33.240 all in 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:34.680 with his knees. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.180 He is one 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:37.759 that is so 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.140 dependent on God 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:40.720 and he comes 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.420 before him 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:42.059 humbly 00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:43.380 and he takes 00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:44.099 that posture 00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:45.339 of humility. 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:45.960 Let me show you 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.700 how that works. 00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:48.460 See him express it 00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:49.279 in verse 12. 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.200 In those two 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.339 simple words, 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:54.140 teach me. 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:56.599 Teach me. 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.319 It's almost as if 00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:57.799 he is saying, 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:58.220 Lord, 00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.859 I recognize 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:01.099 my need 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:01.759 for you. 00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:02.539 I need your help. 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.519 It's the language 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.819 of a pupil 00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:07.000 before his teacher. 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.900 It's the language 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.759 of a man 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:10.180 who recognizes 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:10.940 that he doesn't 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.620 know it all. 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.559 He needs 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:15.279 God's help. 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:17.099 Let me ask you 00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:17.519 this evening, 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.079 when it comes 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:18.920 to God's words, 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:20.420 are you teachable? 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:23.519 Do you stop 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.740 and pray 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.980 each and every 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.779 day as you 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.740 open God's 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.100 words? 00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.860 Do you pray, 00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:29.300 Lord, 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.140 teach me, 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.019 teach me, 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:31.880 teach me, 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:32.700 teach me? 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:35.220 Do you adopt 00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:35.900 that stance 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.500 of humility 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.400 as you open 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:37.980 your Bible? 00:25:38.840 --> 00:25:39.100 Friends, 00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:39.560 let me ask you, 00:25:39.600 --> 00:25:40.320 have you settled 00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:41.480 in your understanding 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.300 of God's word? 00:25:43.800 --> 00:25:44.940 Have you settled? 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:45.940 Are you pressing 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:47.100 into it? 00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:47.919 Because the truth 00:25:47.919 --> 00:25:48.480 this evening 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.299 is that there 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:50.539 is more and more 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.740 of God to know, 00:25:51.939 --> 00:25:52.639 to love, 00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:53.559 and enjoy 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:55.000 in his words. 00:25:56.219 --> 00:25:57.000 Now let me tell you 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.519 how that worked 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.480 out for me this week. 00:25:59.399 --> 00:26:00.599 I study two mornings 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.879 a week at the 00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.740 Edinburgh Theological 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.279 Seminary, 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:05.039 and we started up 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.839 a few weeks ago, 00:26:05.939 --> 00:26:06.779 and I've been going 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.679 to this new class, 00:26:08.399 --> 00:26:09.199 and my lecturer 00:26:09.199 --> 00:26:09.919 just opened one 00:26:09.919 --> 00:26:10.500 of the Gospels, 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:11.419 I think it was John, 00:26:11.679 --> 00:26:12.339 and his lecture 00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:13.419 for the day was 00:26:13.419 --> 00:26:16.059 the life of Jesus 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.719 in the Gospels, 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.480 something as simple 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:17.920 as that. 00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:19.799 And he just opened 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.559 up the Gospel, 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.440 the Gospel that I 00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:22.360 have read hundreds 00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:23.799 of times in my life, 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.539 and I came away 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:25.900 thinking, 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.799 I have never 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.600 seen that before. 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.980 I have never 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:30.880 seen that before. 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.579 And the truth 00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.860 is that there is 00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:34.900 always new stuff 00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:36.279 to see in God's word. 00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:36.740 There's always 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:38.299 depths to plumb, 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:40.920 heights to climb, 00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:41.960 things to savour 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.860 and enjoy. 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:45.940 And you see as well 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.820 how that humility 00:26:46.820 --> 00:26:48.500 expresses itself 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:48.980 in prayer? 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.440 This is what he 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:51.759 writes, 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.480 verse 8. 00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.160 Now you'll notice 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.519 that the word 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.039 prayer isn't 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.900 specifically used 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.120 there, 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:56.799 but the action 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.559 certainly is, 00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:59.039 and the words 00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.759 look at verse 8. 00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:01.000 I obey your decrees, 00:27:01.340 --> 00:27:02.380 do not utterly 00:27:02.380 --> 00:27:03.140 forsake me. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.660 Verse 10, 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.039 I seek you 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:07.120 with all my heart, 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.200 do not let me 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:08.840 stray from your 00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:09.320 commands. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.500 In fact, 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:10.880 I don't think 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:11.360 it's too much 00:27:11.360 --> 00:27:11.799 of a stretch 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.500 to say that this 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:13.840 psalm is smothered 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.459 in prayer. 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.259 And the reason 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.240 that it is, 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:17.919 is that Mr. 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:19.079 Sam 119 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:20.439 is so aware 00:27:20.439 --> 00:27:21.379 of his complete 00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:22.579 and utter dependence 00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:23.579 on God. 00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:25.899 And that's how 00:27:25.899 --> 00:27:26.939 humility expresses 00:27:26.939 --> 00:27:27.579 itself. 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.939 Closed door, 00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:31.480 on your knees, 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:32.659 hearts open, 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:34.439 conversing with God, 00:27:34.959 --> 00:27:36.419 praying for ourselves, 00:27:37.439 --> 00:27:38.899 praying for each other, 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.599 praying for this world, 00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:42.139 because the thing 00:27:42.139 --> 00:27:43.679 is that we need 00:27:43.679 --> 00:27:44.099 God, 00:27:44.939 --> 00:27:45.439 don't we? 00:27:45.919 --> 00:27:47.039 We need God. 00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:49.599 Christopher Ashe 00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.500 puts it like this, 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:51.480 the place of 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.419 Christian prayer 00:27:52.419 --> 00:27:54.240 is not the armchair, 00:27:54.919 --> 00:27:56.079 but on the edge 00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:57.259 of a hard seat. 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:58.859 Dependency. 00:27:59.419 --> 00:28:01.240 Let me ask you 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:02.359 the question 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:02.980 that I've asked 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.500 of myself this week 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:04.959 is, 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:06.599 is your life 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:07.799 marked by reverent 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.439 and dependent 00:28:08.439 --> 00:28:08.839 prayer? 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:13.279 Are you quite 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:13.859 comfortable? 00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:15.119 Are you quite set 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.539 that you've got 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.339 this Christian life 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:16.899 figured out? 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.179 And how that will 00:28:19.179 --> 00:28:20.099 show itself 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:20.980 will be in your 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.619 prayer life. 00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:23.579 And we went away 00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.639 as an eldership 00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:25.459 a few weeks back 00:28:25.459 --> 00:28:27.000 and we asked 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:28.019 ourselves the question 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.259 if there was 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:30.179 one area 00:28:30.179 --> 00:28:31.139 of our church life, 00:28:31.179 --> 00:28:31.859 one area of our 00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:32.319 church life 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.119 that we would love 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:34.899 to see grow 00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:36.980 in the next year, 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.599 what would it be? 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.939 And do you know 00:28:38.939 --> 00:28:39.480 what came in at 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:39.899 number one 00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:40.559 from each and 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.159 every single one 00:28:41.159 --> 00:28:41.480 of us? 00:28:42.379 --> 00:28:43.039 It was our 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.619 prayer life. 00:28:44.459 --> 00:28:45.199 Our prayer life 00:28:45.199 --> 00:28:46.599 both individually 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:48.480 and our prayer life 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.179 corporately 00:28:49.179 --> 00:28:50.439 as a church. 00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:54.059 Let me ask you, 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:54.799 if the Lord Jesus 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.500 were to return 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:55.980 tomorrow, 00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:57.719 would he find 00:28:57.719 --> 00:28:58.559 in us 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.980 that deep 00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:01.259 longing for God, 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.099 that deep 00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:03.159 dependence on God 00:29:03.159 --> 00:29:04.279 that pours itself 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:05.199 out in prayer, 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:06.740 or would he 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.539 instead find 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.360 a bunch of 00:29:08.360 --> 00:29:09.840 self-sufficient, 00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:11.660 lukewarm, 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.440 respectables 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.360 who are going 00:29:14.360 --> 00:29:15.080 through the motions? 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.340 It really is, 00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:17.660 isn't it, 00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:18.539 the litmus test 00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.140 of where we're at 00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:19.600 as a church, 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.240 our corporate 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:20.740 prayer life, 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.539 our dependency 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:22.380 on the Lord. 00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:24.860 Mr. 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.819 Sam 119, 00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:26.819 all in with his 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:27.140 knees. 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.720 And lastly, 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:29.500 let's see how he 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.500 is all in with 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.059 his feet. 00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:31.680 Verse 1, 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:34.900 Blessed are those 00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:35.620 whose ways 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.440 are blameless, 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.640 who walk 00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:38.460 according to 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:38.980 the law 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:39.980 of the Lord. 00:29:40.060 --> 00:29:40.600 Verse 9, 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:42.180 How can a young 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:43.000 person stay 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.620 on the path 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:44.220 of purity? 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:46.140 By living 00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:47.100 according to 00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:47.960 your words. 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.480 So he draws 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:51.519 the attention 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.279 to his feet. 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.240 Did you notice 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:53.560 that? 00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:54.480 And do you see 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.160 the direction 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:55.900 of his feet? 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.519 He's a disciple 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.460 that is deciding 00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.220 to walk 00:29:59.220 --> 00:29:59.880 in the way 00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:00.640 of the Lord. 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.580 Now what does 00:30:01.580 --> 00:30:01.960 that mean? 00:30:02.020 --> 00:30:02.500 That means he 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.380 obeys God's 00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:03.720 word. 00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:05.020 It means he 00:30:05.020 --> 00:30:06.100 follows God's 00:30:06.100 --> 00:30:06.280 word. 00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:06.700 It means he 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:07.640 lives his life 00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:08.580 in accordance 00:30:08.580 --> 00:30:09.640 to God's 00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:09.880 word. 00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:10.820 So the governing 00:30:10.820 --> 00:30:12.200 metaphor of 00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:12.940 the life of 00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:13.400 faith, 00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:14.100 according to 00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:14.280 Mr. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:15.400 Sam 119, 00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:16.880 is to walk 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:17.759 the way 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.640 of the Lord. 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.560 That's what 00:30:20.560 --> 00:30:20.940 he's saying. 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.460 So let's just 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:24.920 bring a few 00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:25.480 of these strands 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.100 to close. 00:30:27.320 --> 00:30:27.500 Mr. 00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:28.420 Sam 119, 00:30:28.820 --> 00:30:29.320 all in with 00:30:29.320 --> 00:30:29.759 his mind. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.600 He is all 00:30:31.600 --> 00:30:31.860 in with 00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:32.259 his mouth. 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.759 He is all 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.000 in with 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.440 his heart. 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:35.640 He's all 00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:35.840 in with 00:30:35.840 --> 00:30:36.340 his knees. 00:30:37.060 --> 00:30:37.520 And he's 00:30:37.520 --> 00:30:37.900 all in with 00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:38.320 his feet. 00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:39.280 He is all 00:30:39.280 --> 00:30:39.880 in. 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.860 And I'll 00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:43.200 be honest, 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:43.759 I reflected 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.420 on this 00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:44.700 week, 00:30:45.600 --> 00:30:46.200 having gone 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:46.520 the last 00:30:46.520 --> 00:30:46.920 two weeks 00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:47.340 looking at 00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:47.540 this, 00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:47.820 Sam, 00:30:48.820 --> 00:30:49.960 and having 00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.600 seen his 00:30:50.600 --> 00:30:51.360 affection for 00:30:51.360 --> 00:30:51.640 God, 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.100 having seen 00:30:52.100 --> 00:30:52.920 his devotion 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:53.720 for God, 00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:54.880 I wonder if 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.520 you're thinking 00:30:55.520 --> 00:30:56.040 what I was 00:30:56.040 --> 00:30:56.400 thinking, 00:30:57.060 --> 00:30:57.940 that I could 00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.360 never do 00:30:58.359 --> 00:30:58.659 that. 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:00.779 That I 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.419 fall so 00:31:01.419 --> 00:31:02.199 far short 00:31:02.199 --> 00:31:02.599 of what 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:03.819 he is 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.919 writing here, 00:31:04.979 --> 00:31:05.319 that his 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:05.899 life and my 00:31:05.899 --> 00:31:06.159 life, 00:31:06.219 --> 00:31:06.639 they seem a 00:31:06.639 --> 00:31:07.219 million miles 00:31:07.219 --> 00:31:07.659 apart. 00:31:09.899 --> 00:31:10.279 Well, 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:10.679 let me ask 00:31:10.679 --> 00:31:11.259 you a question. 00:31:12.199 --> 00:31:12.619 How would 00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.240 you have 00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:14.619 ended that 00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:14.919 psalm, 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:15.759 this psalm? 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:16.879 If you were 00:31:16.879 --> 00:31:17.339 the guy that 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:17.779 wrote it, 00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:18.219 if you were 00:31:18.219 --> 00:31:18.439 Mr. 00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:19.379 Sam 119, 00:31:19.459 --> 00:31:19.779 how would 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.339 you finish 00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.099 this psalm? 00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:22.740 Well, 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:22.939 if you've 00:31:22.939 --> 00:31:23.179 got your 00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:23.379 Bible, 00:31:23.479 --> 00:31:23.579 say, 00:31:23.659 --> 00:31:23.839 why don't 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:24.139 you turn 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:27.140 to verse 00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:28.340 176, 00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:29.120 it's a 00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:29.560 very long 00:31:29.560 --> 00:31:29.900 one after 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.200 all. 00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:33.020 Because if 00:31:33.020 --> 00:31:33.300 it were 00:31:33.300 --> 00:31:33.759 me, 00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:35.040 I would 00:31:35.040 --> 00:31:35.420 have ended 00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:36.120 this psalm 00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:36.700 on a real 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.140 high. 00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:38.900 As if to 00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.080 say, 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:40.020 listen to 00:31:40.020 --> 00:31:40.360 me, 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:40.720 look at 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.560 this incredible 00:31:41.560 --> 00:31:42.080 bit of 00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:43.020 literature that 00:31:43.020 --> 00:31:43.620 I've written, 00:31:44.280 --> 00:31:45.000 look at my 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:46.140 victorious Christian 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:46.560 life, 00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.160 look how I've 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:47.560 got it 00:31:47.560 --> 00:31:47.940 sorted. 00:31:48.800 --> 00:31:49.320 I'm the 00:31:49.320 --> 00:31:49.640 guy that 00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.040 you want to 00:31:50.040 --> 00:31:50.320 book at 00:31:50.320 --> 00:31:50.720 your next 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.320 church weekend 00:31:51.320 --> 00:31:51.740 away. 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:53.779 But where 00:31:53.779 --> 00:31:54.079 does the 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:54.779 psalmist end? 00:31:55.380 --> 00:31:55.720 Does he 00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.140 end in a 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:56.620 real high? 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:57.839 No, 00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:58.980 he ends 00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.579 in real 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:00.480 life. 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:01.980 Now let 00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:02.579 this encourage 00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:02.880 you. 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:03.940 For the 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:04.380 man who 00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:04.859 has penned 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.279 this great 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:05.579 psalm, 00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:06.000 is he a 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.640 colossus of 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.160 the faith? 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:08.779 Is he a 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:09.180 spiritual 00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:09.680 giant? 00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.140 Well, 00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:11.539 he may 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.079 well be 00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:12.720 all in, 00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.039 but his 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:14.680 confession at 00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.039 the end, 00:32:15.120 --> 00:32:15.279 do you 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:15.779 notice it? 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:17.039 He is a 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:17.480 lost 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.299 sheep. 00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.160 Mr. 00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:22.080 Psalm 119 00:32:22.080 --> 00:32:22.920 is so, 00:32:23.320 --> 00:32:24.100 so aware 00:32:24.100 --> 00:32:24.480 of his 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:24.900 weakness, 00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:25.440 of his 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.120 fragility, 00:32:26.580 --> 00:32:26.920 and his 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:27.440 complete 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.040 reliance, 00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:28.960 utter dependence 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:29.640 on God's 00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:30.180 grace. 00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:30.820 And is that 00:32:30.820 --> 00:32:31.120 not the 00:32:31.120 --> 00:32:31.480 authentic 00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:31.900 Christian 00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:32.340 life? 00:32:33.800 --> 00:32:34.200 In your 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:34.860 walk with 00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:35.100 God, 00:32:35.140 --> 00:32:35.240 do you 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:35.960 know that 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:36.279 to be 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:36.840 true? 00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:37.940 That one 00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:38.440 minute you're 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.000 singing, 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.200 and the 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:40.700 next minute 00:32:40.700 --> 00:32:40.960 you're 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.500 straying? 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.700 This is 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.140 not a 00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:45.360 man, 00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:45.680 this is 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:46.120 not a 00:32:46.120 --> 00:32:46.560 man who's 00:32:46.560 --> 00:32:47.000 got this 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.400 Christian 00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:48.279 life thing 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.940 sorted. 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:49.360 And that 00:32:49.360 --> 00:32:50.040 should massively 00:32:50.040 --> 00:32:50.980 encourage us. 00:32:52.060 --> 00:32:52.560 He is 00:32:52.560 --> 00:32:53.060 praying, 00:32:53.540 --> 00:32:54.800 verse 147, 00:32:54.860 --> 00:32:55.100 what does 00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:55.400 he say? 00:32:55.540 --> 00:32:56.700 Seek your 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:57.480 servant. 00:32:58.840 --> 00:32:59.740 Seek your 00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:00.160 servant. 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:00.480 So he's 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:00.960 praying that 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:01.820 God would 00:33:01.820 --> 00:33:02.680 seek him 00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:04.400 out and 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:05.779 save him. 00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:08.420 And how 00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:08.900 does Jesus 00:33:08.900 --> 00:33:09.580 speak of 00:33:09.580 --> 00:33:10.900 himself and 00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:11.440 the reason 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:11.740 that he 00:33:11.740 --> 00:33:12.080 came? 00:33:13.040 --> 00:33:13.880 He is the 00:33:13.880 --> 00:33:14.320 one who 00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:14.940 has come 00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:17.040 to seek 00:33:17.040 --> 00:33:17.920 and to 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:19.060 save the 00:33:19.060 --> 00:33:19.600 lost. 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:20.799 Jesus 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:21.559 came to 00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:22.699 save you, 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:23.480 he came 00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:23.899 to save 00:33:23.899 --> 00:33:24.299 me, 00:33:24.500 --> 00:33:24.899 and he 00:33:24.899 --> 00:33:25.419 came to 00:33:25.419 --> 00:33:26.139 save Mr. 00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:27.939 Sam 119. 00:33:29.139 --> 00:33:29.919 And as we 00:33:29.919 --> 00:33:30.439 draw this 00:33:30.439 --> 00:33:31.119 evening to a 00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:31.439 close, 00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:31.779 and our 00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:32.359 time I guess 00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:33.039 in this 00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:34.039 psalm to a 00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:34.419 close, 00:33:35.439 --> 00:33:36.299 I hope that 00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:36.619 you've been 00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:37.439 inspired in 00:33:37.439 --> 00:33:38.179 your confidence 00:33:38.179 --> 00:33:38.839 in God's 00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:39.059 word, 00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:39.519 that you can 00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:40.259 trust it and 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.859 you can love 00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:41.079 it. 00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:42.500 And I hope 00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:43.279 you've been 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:43.939 praying that 00:33:43.939 --> 00:33:44.259 God would 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:45.119 help increase 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:45.799 your affection 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:46.379 for his 00:33:46.379 --> 00:33:46.819 words, 00:33:47.219 --> 00:33:47.719 that you want 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:48.000 to be 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:48.819 delighting in 00:33:48.819 --> 00:33:48.900 it, 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.180 you want 00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:49.779 to desire 00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:49.980 it, 00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:50.220 you want 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:50.700 to depend 00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:51.120 on it, 00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:51.799 and in 00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:52.259 your Christian 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:52.519 life, 00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:53.079 I hope after 00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:53.579 this evening, 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.480 I hope that 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:55.000 we've seen 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.420 that we want 00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:55.960 to give our 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:57.360 all and do 00:33:57.360 --> 00:33:58.500 everything according 00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.319 to this word. 00:33:59.380 --> 00:33:59.880 But if that's 00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:00.640 all that we've 00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:01.420 taken away from 00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:01.980 this little 00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:02.500 series, 00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:03.519 then friends, 00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:04.319 we have massively 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:04.880 missed it. 00:34:08.179 --> 00:34:09.039 We cannot 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:10.079 wholeheartedly sing 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.539 this psalm, 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.039 even on our 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:11.760 best days, 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:13.159 even on the 00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:13.639 days that you 00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:14.280 have your quiet 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:14.619 time, 00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:15.619 we cannot sing 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.179 this psalm 00:34:16.179 --> 00:34:16.940 wholeheartedly. 00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:19.939 Only Jesus 00:34:19.939 --> 00:34:21.379 can honestly 00:34:21.379 --> 00:34:22.519 sing this 00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:22.879 psalm. 00:34:22.959 --> 00:34:23.719 He is the 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.259 ultimate 00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:24.819 psalm 00:34:24.819 --> 00:34:26.239 119 man, 00:34:26.459 --> 00:34:27.239 the blessed 00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:27.879 man, 00:34:28.319 --> 00:34:28.879 the obedient 00:34:28.879 --> 00:34:29.459 man, 00:34:29.759 --> 00:34:30.359 the man who 00:34:30.359 --> 00:34:31.459 was and 00:34:31.459 --> 00:34:32.679 fully delighted 00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:33.619 in God's 00:34:33.619 --> 00:34:33.899 word, 00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:34.559 and the man 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.119 who came 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:35.679 to seek 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.439 us out 00:34:36.439 --> 00:34:37.879 and bestow 00:34:37.879 --> 00:34:38.719 on us 00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:39.579 life. 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:40.500 You see, 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.199 the word of 00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:42.000 God is where 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:43.019 life is, 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:44.199 because at the 00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:44.719 heart of the 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.579 Christian faith 00:34:45.579 --> 00:34:46.739 is a God 00:34:46.739 --> 00:34:47.639 who speaks, 00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:48.579 and what 00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:49.000 is it he 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.639 speaks about, 00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:50.219 the heart of 00:34:50.219 --> 00:34:50.759 what he speaks 00:34:50.759 --> 00:34:51.239 about is 00:34:51.239 --> 00:34:52.219 Jesus Christ 00:34:52.219 --> 00:34:53.039 and him 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:54.619 crucified and 00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.039 risen. 00:34:56.359 --> 00:34:56.879 And as we 00:34:56.879 --> 00:34:57.599 encounter him 00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:58.199 and his word, 00:34:58.279 --> 00:34:58.879 as we know 00:34:58.879 --> 00:34:59.659 that forgiveness, 00:35:00.419 --> 00:35:01.519 as we experience 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.319 that new life 00:35:02.319 --> 00:35:03.119 and come to love 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:03.779 that amazing 00:35:03.779 --> 00:35:04.319 grace, 00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.439 he transforms 00:35:05.439 --> 00:35:05.939 us. 00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:07.239 He puts a 00:35:07.239 --> 00:35:08.099 new heart 00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:09.119 in us, 00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:09.939 he takes out 00:35:09.939 --> 00:35:10.500 the heart of 00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:10.959 stone and 00:35:10.959 --> 00:35:11.439 gives us a 00:35:11.439 --> 00:35:12.000 new heart 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:12.459 that beats 00:35:12.459 --> 00:35:13.019 for him. 00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.399 And in 00:35:14.399 --> 00:35:14.859 Jesus, 00:35:15.500 --> 00:35:16.359 because Jesus 00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:17.280 is delightful, 00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.180 only in 00:35:18.180 --> 00:35:18.680 him and 00:35:18.680 --> 00:35:19.380 through him 00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:20.079 can we 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:20.980 sing the 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.840 song of 00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:22.420 amazing 00:35:22.420 --> 00:35:23.260 grace, 00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:25.620 of our 00:35:25.620 --> 00:35:26.320 wonderful 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:27.039 saviour who 00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:27.620 sought us 00:35:27.620 --> 00:35:27.880 out, 00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.480 who came to 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.019 save and 00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:29.480 to seek 00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:30.240 the lost. 00:35:31.620 --> 00:35:32.360 So let's 00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:32.700 be people 00:35:32.700 --> 00:35:33.180 who devote 00:35:33.180 --> 00:35:33.840 ourselves to 00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:34.440 God's word. 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.300 Let's be 00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:35.720 people who 00:35:35.720 --> 00:35:37.000 love God's 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:37.220 word. 00:35:37.320 --> 00:35:38.160 Let's allow 00:35:38.160 --> 00:35:38.780 God by 00:35:38.780 --> 00:35:39.300 his spirit 00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:40.039 to transform 00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:40.720 us as we 00:35:40.720 --> 00:35:41.460 open his 00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:42.099 words. 00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:43.200 Let's pray 00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:43.640 that we can 00:35:43.640 --> 00:35:44.440 see Christ 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.619 everywhere in 00:35:45.619 --> 00:35:46.179 this book. 00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:47.480 Let's make 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:48.200 it the supreme 00:35:48.200 --> 00:35:49.179 beauty and 00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:49.860 the driving 00:35:49.860 --> 00:35:51.039 force and 00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:51.760 thing that we 00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:52.780 value most in 00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:53.559 our lives. 00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:56.679 And we're 00:35:56.679 --> 00:35:57.019 going to stand 00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:57.720 to sing in 00:35:57.720 --> 00:35:59.119 just a second 00:35:59.119 --> 00:35:59.659 our closing 00:35:59.659 --> 00:35:59.940 hymn. 00:36:01.360 --> 00:36:02.079 But let me 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.539 read you just 00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:03.420 the first verse 00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:04.300 of this song 00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:05.000 before we do. 00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:05.519 And let's make 00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:06.300 this our prayer 00:36:06.300 --> 00:36:07.760 as we go into 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:08.380 this week. 00:36:10.380 --> 00:36:11.619 My heart is 00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:12.519 filled with 00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:13.579 thankfulness. 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.179 to him who 00:36:15.179 --> 00:36:16.099 bore my 00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:16.599 pain, 00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:18.360 who plumbed 00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:19.340 the depths 00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:20.119 of my 00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:20.659 disgrace 00:36:20.659 --> 00:36:22.099 and gave 00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:22.659 me life 00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.099 again, 00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:24.440 who crushed 00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:25.460 my curse 00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:26.300 of sinfulness 00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:27.300 and clothed 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:28.039 me in his 00:36:28.039 --> 00:36:29.920 light and 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:30.599 wrote his 00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.200 law of 00:36:31.200 --> 00:36:31.920 righteousness 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:33.400 with power 00:36:33.400 --> 00:36:34.920 upon my 00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:35.500 heart. 00:36:36.380 --> 00:36:36.840 Let's pray 00:36:36.840 --> 00:36:37.400 together as we 00:36:37.400 --> 00:36:37.740 close.