WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Amen. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.600 Let's begin with prayer. 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:45.539 Father, for us this morning to say let's begin with prayer is not to say that this is the start. 00:00:47.620 --> 00:00:50.920 Because this day has been bathed in prayer. 00:00:50.920 --> 00:01:00.079 Your people rising early to come into your presence with humility and thanksgiving. 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:12.780 Your people driving and praying with expectation for the blessing of this day and corporate worship. 00:01:12.780 --> 00:01:22.460 Your people praying as we have sung together of your glory and your mercy. 00:01:22.459 --> 00:01:28.519 Your people joining now together with me in prayer. 00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:33.579 Recognizing the undeniable and clear truth of Scripture. 00:01:35.299 --> 00:01:38.699 That apart from your working among us. 00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:43.399 All that we engage in is futile and worthless. 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:49.000 We are reminded of the words of our Savior who said, 00:01:49.180 --> 00:01:50.980 From apart from me you can do nothing. 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:56.100 And so we pray with expectation. 00:01:57.680 --> 00:01:59.800 That the word of God would have free course. 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:01.980 And bear fruit. 00:02:01.980 --> 00:02:09.500 And that those who are here this morning that know the Lord Jesus Christ would have their hearts strengthened. 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:11.819 That their spirit would be lifted. 00:02:12.300 --> 00:02:15.680 That their eyes would be set upon the glory to come. 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:21.740 And those that are here that do not know Christ. 00:02:21.740 --> 00:02:26.360 Would be drawn by the certainty of your mercy. 00:02:29.200 --> 00:02:30.860 And the gloom of judgment. 00:02:32.140 --> 00:02:33.379 To find hope. 00:02:34.420 --> 00:02:35.400 And forgiveness. 00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:38.960 And salvation in the finished work. 00:02:39.480 --> 00:02:40.360 Of Jesus. 00:02:44.040 --> 00:02:46.140 And we ask this in Jesus name. 00:02:47.340 --> 00:02:47.680 Amen. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:47.800 Amen. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:52.640 Well I would like you to turn in your Bibles. 00:02:53.580 --> 00:02:57.180 To Isaiah chapter 66 verse 22. 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:03.520 How many of you have ever stopped to think about the way books end? 00:03:07.780 --> 00:03:09.719 Books have to start a certain way. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:11.659 I mean there's a start to a book. 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:13.240 And there's an end to a book. 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:17.500 And if you were to kind of work your way through the Bible. 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:24.040 You would find that there are a number of instances where the ends to various books in the Bible. 00:03:24.260 --> 00:03:26.439 Are rather sober or maudlin. 00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:29.400 You know how Genesis ends? 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:32.159 Take a look at it. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:36.000 Bones in Egypt. 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:37.200 How's that? 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:39.140 That's encouraging isn't it? 00:03:39.139 --> 00:03:46.119 And you think about how Malachi ends. 00:03:46.839 --> 00:03:47.879 End of the Old Testament. 00:03:48.519 --> 00:03:49.379 Pretty sobering. 00:03:52.059 --> 00:03:54.859 If ends are important. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:57.879 Well certainly the end of the book of Isaiah. 00:03:58.099 --> 00:03:59.399 And that's where we are this morning. 00:03:59.899 --> 00:04:03.239 Is deserving of our thought. 00:04:03.359 --> 00:04:03.979 And our attention. 00:04:03.979 --> 00:04:08.039 So let me read verse 22, 23, and 24. 00:04:08.399 --> 00:04:10.599 And I want you to frame it in your thinking. 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:17.439 For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:21.100 So shall your offspring and your name remain. 00:04:22.500 --> 00:04:25.420 From new moon to new moon. 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:27.620 And from Sabbath to Sabbath. 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:31.860 All flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the Lord. 00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:40.139 And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:42.120 For their worms shall not die. 00:04:42.840 --> 00:04:45.520 Their fire shall not be quenched. 00:04:45.960 --> 00:04:49.900 And they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh. 00:04:52.080 --> 00:04:58.879 I found myself kind of pondering hearing Joel Olsteen read the end of Isaiah. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:11.100 And thinking to myself, how would that fit into any sermon apart from the clear instruction of the word of God. 00:05:11.339 --> 00:05:15.240 That there is more to the message than just sweetness and light. 00:05:17.159 --> 00:05:24.500 And this morning I want you to think very carefully about how Isaiah closes off this book. 00:05:24.500 --> 00:05:32.800 Because it has practical value and application to your life this morning. 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:41.800 With Isaiah 66 in your ears, I want you to go to Isaiah 66 verse 1 and 2. 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:51.759 Thus says the Lord, heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. 00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:58.439 What is the house that you would build for me and what is the place of my rest? 00:06:00.819 --> 00:06:06.120 All these things my hand has made. 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:10.100 And so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:14.439 But this is the one to whom I will look. 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:23.300 He who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:31.180 The opening nines that we have read both from the very end of the book of Isaiah 00:06:31.180 --> 00:06:39.019 and hear from the beginning of the closing chapter are ones that I want to kind of resonate in your heart. 00:06:39.019 --> 00:06:46.079 Because what the indication of the text is, is that an appropriate activity for us this morning 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:49.600 is to consciously and deliberately think very carefully, 00:06:50.100 --> 00:06:54.000 am I indeed a worshiper of the living God? 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:56.939 And how will my story end? 00:06:57.660 --> 00:06:58.240 It's important. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:04.000 As we look at the passage this morning, 00:07:04.540 --> 00:07:08.680 I want you to recognize that through the book of Isaiah, 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:13.400 we have seen this ongoing theme of the mercy of God, but the judgment of God. 00:07:14.579 --> 00:07:18.800 In particular, Isaiah written to a very stubborn and rebellious people 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:21.920 whose hearts were not at all inclined towards God 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:27.040 and warning after warning of the fact that God would indeed deal with sin. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:34.259 On the other hand, there is the encouragement of knowing that God in His grace and His mercy 00:07:34.259 --> 00:07:38.420 would lavish upon a people the blessings that they didn't deserve 00:07:38.420 --> 00:07:43.100 and God would do a work in bringing us salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:43.100 --> 00:07:51.040 I think it's appropriate that this coming Sunday, next Sunday, 00:07:51.900 --> 00:07:56.000 Pastor Andrew is going to preach the last message from the book of Isaiah, 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:59.120 and then we're going to step into the book of 1 John. 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:05.260 And Isaiah chapter 53 is going to be the frame from which that message comes. 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:09.159 So as you are looking at this passage this morning, 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:11.480 the question I want you to pose to yourself is this, 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:12.860 Am I a true worshiper? 00:08:13.779 --> 00:08:14.980 Am I a true worshiper? 00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:16.439 It's critical. 00:08:17.099 --> 00:08:17.879 It's essential. 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:21.980 Because as we saw in reading the last verses of this book, 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:27.879 the story is pretty gloomy for those that don't know Christ and are not true worshipers. 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:31.040 So I want you to think, Am I a true worshiper? 00:08:31.100 --> 00:08:36.340 Let's get into it by listening to what we find in the very first part of verse 1. 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:39.659 Thus says the Lord. 00:08:40.419 --> 00:08:44.879 So when Isaiah begins saying something or writing in that way, 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:52.639 he is telling us that what is coming is something that is more than just an overview of history 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:55.860 or perhaps even an account of a miracle. 00:08:56.299 --> 00:09:01.580 It is something that God is declaring, and it demands our attention and our weight. 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:03.000 We need to pay attention. 00:09:04.199 --> 00:09:05.620 And so as we look at this, it says, 00:09:06.179 --> 00:09:10.259 Thus says the Lord, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. 00:09:11.699 --> 00:09:18.220 God wants us this morning to know his immensity and his majesty. 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:24.820 The Bible has many different ways of declaring God's transcendent glory and his immensity. 00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:30.259 And the image that we find here in Isaiah 66 is one that takes the heavens and the earth 00:09:30.259 --> 00:09:34.580 and kind of relegates them to these incidental pieces of his glory. 00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:36.460 They're not overly significant. 00:09:36.700 --> 00:09:38.639 We might think of them as being profound. 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:44.779 And yet here we see that they are very small in comparison to the immensity and the glory of God. 00:09:44.779 --> 00:09:51.579 God, the heavens, a place that he has chosen to reveal himself to a certain degree. 00:09:52.179 --> 00:09:56.679 The earth, what he created, his footstool, not all that important. 00:09:57.319 --> 00:10:01.000 And yet the purpose in bringing this to our attention is this, 00:10:01.079 --> 00:10:04.159 is we have a tendency to be impressed with size, don't we? 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:07.639 Something big strikes us. 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:14.699 And here is God saying, listen, I want you to get it in your mind that these things that to you are so profound and so significant, 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:18.279 they're really relatively small and insignificant to me. 00:10:19.179 --> 00:10:23.679 Let me give you several other illustrations where we find this same comparison being made 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:29.639 to drive home the point of God's awesome reality and significance. 00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:32.220 Psalm 8, verse 3 and 4. 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:38.820 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:44.720 what is man that you are mindful of him and the son of man that you care for him? 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:51.120 This morning as I was having prayer, I stopped and I was just taking a moment to kind of think about the significance of prayer. 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:53.500 Why in the world would God listen to me? 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:56.300 And I kind of pondered that. 00:10:56.560 --> 00:10:58.300 And then I stopped and thought, you know what? 00:10:58.299 --> 00:11:03.379 There are other people here in Columbus that he's listening to as well at the same time. 00:11:03.859 --> 00:11:06.859 How many of you do well when more than one people are speaking in your ear? 00:11:10.359 --> 00:11:11.779 You're trying to put it no. 00:11:12.179 --> 00:11:15.899 And I stopped and thought, here's God listening to me as I'm praying this morning. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:17.519 I know he's listening to Pastor Andrew. 00:11:17.579 --> 00:11:18.659 He's listening to Pastor David. 00:11:18.839 --> 00:11:19.919 He's listening to Jack. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:20.859 He's listening to Bob. 00:11:21.099 --> 00:11:21.879 He's listening. 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:23.699 And I thought, whoa, whoa, whoa. 00:11:24.219 --> 00:11:25.179 That's all in English. 00:11:25.179 --> 00:11:30.979 Do you realize that he is listening to people in China as they pray in Chinese? 00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:32.339 Mandarin, we're right? 00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:32.819 Mandarin. 00:11:33.219 --> 00:11:33.359 Okay. 00:11:34.579 --> 00:11:36.079 Is Cantonese another dialect? 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.299 Oh, there we go. 00:11:37.579 --> 00:11:39.479 He's listening in Cantonese. 00:11:39.579 --> 00:11:40.419 He's listening to Mandarin. 00:11:40.719 --> 00:11:41.739 He's listening to Hindi. 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:43.159 He's listening to Bengali. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:44.159 He's listening to Manapuri. 00:11:44.359 --> 00:11:44.879 He's listening to... 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:49.120 You know, God is immense. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:54.179 And here is the psalmist saying, man, I stop and think about God. 00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:56.980 And what is man? 00:11:57.480 --> 00:11:58.500 Who am I? 00:11:59.100 --> 00:11:59.639 Who am I? 00:12:01.539 --> 00:12:04.659 I think also of Isaiah chapter 40, verse 12. 00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:06.060 And you are in the book of Isaiah. 00:12:06.259 --> 00:12:08.259 So let's turn back just for a moment. 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:17.299 And here in Isaiah, again, this picture of the immensity of our God comes to our mind. 00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:19.200 Isaiah chapter 40, verse 12. 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:23.000 It says, 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:50.059 The picture here is of God holding all of the water in the little cup of his hand. 00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:56.199 How many of you have ever tried to carry water in the palm of your hand to get it from point A to point B? 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:58.279 How much stays in there? 00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:02.179 Have you ever tried to take it from the sink to the stove? 00:13:02.439 --> 00:13:05.479 Instead of getting something out of the drawer, you just, I'll grab a little. 00:13:05.579 --> 00:13:07.059 And by the time you get over there, what happened? 00:13:07.099 --> 00:13:08.519 It all leaked through the fingers, right? 00:13:08.859 --> 00:13:12.439 And it's all the waters in the palm of his hand. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:14.479 And then look what it says there. 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:18.059 And he's marked off the heavens with a... 00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:19.659 How large is a span? 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:23.079 Does anybody know how the span is right there? 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:26.699 About nine inches. 00:13:27.219 --> 00:13:28.659 Is that a big measurement? 00:13:29.599 --> 00:13:30.519 All the heavens? 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:39.759 I can't help but think about Louis Giglio and his wonderful descriptions of the majesty of the heavens 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.399 and how large they are. 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:49.459 And yet here, here Isaiah says, our God just kind of stretch it out and yeah, that's a span. 00:13:49.579 --> 00:13:51.360 That's about nine inches. 00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:59.939 And here, he enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, little spoon. 00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:04.320 And the weight of the mountains in scales. 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:10.500 So when you think about the God that you and I have the privilege of knowing and serving 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:18.659 and being in intimate communion with, it does us good to stop and realize just how awesome 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:22.460 and how large and how significant he is. 00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:30.820 Furthermore, as we look in the passage, going back to Isaiah 66 verse 1, God wants us to know that worship is not about a place. 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:37.620 What is the house that you would build for me and what is the place of my rest? 00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:46.960 How many of you have found yourself on occasion thinking that the church is tremendously important because it's a place? 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:55.419 Growing up, my parents made a great deal out of when we were traveling back and forth from India to America, 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:59.220 we went through Italy, we went through Germany, went through England, all different kinds. 00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:07.440 And my parents were absolutely obsessed with seeing to it that we saw all the famous cathedrals in the cities that we were in. 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:10.960 I have been in the Basilica in Rome. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:17.980 In fact, the truth of the matter is, is my brother, Mark, got his head stuck between the balusters. 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:23.700 St. Peter was supposedly, there's a tomb down in the center of the Basilica, 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:28.960 and he put his little head through there, looked down, and then when he raised up, he got his head stuck. 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:36.860 And so that large, it was buried down below the grave. 00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:38.639 So it made an echo chamber. 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:43.860 And here is my little brother screaming that his head is stuck in St. Peter's Basilica. 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:46.860 We've seen them all. 00:15:47.940 --> 00:15:53.639 And the idea is that those are holy places, and yet Isaiah tells us, 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:56.100 you think that's important? 00:15:57.300 --> 00:16:02.779 What makes you think that that place is significant? 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:15.000 And the reminder and caution here is this, is that we need to understand that our God is much greater than a place. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:20.679 I think about the little argument that Jesus had with the woman at the well, remember? 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:27.159 He comes and speaks with her, and she says, well, we believe you worship in such and such a place, 00:16:27.199 --> 00:16:32.959 and you guys believe, and he says, hey, listen, God is into those who worship him in spirit and in truth. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:39.379 And I want you to understand this morning that worship is not a place, 00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:43.800 but it is rather a relationship and communion with the triune God, 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:46.639 and it's all about the attitude that we have in our heart. 00:16:47.180 --> 00:16:48.740 So let me ask you a question this morning. 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:51.259 How big is God in your thinking? 00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:54.660 How big is your view of God this morning? 00:16:54.659 --> 00:17:01.419 Where is God in the picture, in the economy and aspect of which you have come here to this place? 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:04.819 So let me kind of have you think with me about this in practical terms. 00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:10.619 Do you find yourself often circling the drain with anxiety? 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:14.399 How many of you know what I mean by circling the drain with anxiety? 00:17:14.879 --> 00:17:17.980 Some people are by nature professional worriers. 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:23.159 They can do it incessantly, and they can do it about the same things. 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:25.180 I mean, they don't get tired doing it. 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:30.200 And worriers are individuals who really, when they're engaged in their activity, 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:34.660 are indicating that they don't have a great deal of confidence in God. 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:38.320 He created all things. 00:17:39.320 --> 00:17:41.060 He knows your thoughts before you do. 00:17:41.840 --> 00:17:43.320 He has determined your address. 00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:45.779 He's determined your lifespan. 00:17:46.320 --> 00:17:47.660 He's determined your gifting. 00:17:48.040 --> 00:17:50.380 He's determined whether or not you're going to be fed today. 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:55.780 And here you are fretting about things that, at the end of the day, you really can't change. 00:17:57.500 --> 00:18:01.420 That tells us what you think about God. 00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:03.020 Let me give you another one. 00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:04.940 Do you find yourself... 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:09.520 And what we're doing is talking about what is your view of God. 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:14.480 Do you find yourself easily offended and given to unforgiveness? 00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:16.860 Check the box if that's the case. 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.680 Don't do it publicly. 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:19.799 Your wife is nudging you anyway. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:24.960 But do you find yourself easily offended and inclined to have an unforgiving spirit? 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:32.240 Do you keep on bringing up things that have happened in the past and other people have done to you 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:34.360 and kind of refreshing it in your memory? 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:36.220 I can't believe they said that. 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.580 I should have said. 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:39.600 You get caught in that kind of conversations? 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:44.059 Well, let me encourage you to recognize that when you are engaged in that, 00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:48.759 what you are doing is indicating that the God you know is not very significant or very large. 00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:50.139 He's not very powerful. 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:53.659 Do you believe that God is just? 00:18:53.919 --> 00:18:57.299 Evidently not, because you don't think He's taking care of your issues properly. 00:18:58.059 --> 00:19:00.179 Do you believe that He's concerned with your good? 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:05.980 No, you must not, because you are the one who's engaged in just bringing this all up and hashing it out. 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:11.339 So the first thing that we see in Isaiah 66, verse 1 is this. 00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:18.900 The God that you and I are in relationship with is awe-inspiring, majestic, and immense. 00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:30.180 And if God is indeed awesome and glorious, how must true worship be? 00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:31.880 Question. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:39.640 We find next three marks of true worship. 00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:45.160 Three marks of true worship. 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:55.320 God begins this little short summary by letting us know that He pays particular attention to a kind of individual and a hard attitude. 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:58.680 We tend to pay attention to physical features, don't we? 00:19:59.300 --> 00:20:07.680 I remember watching, I have to admit it, I don't pay much attention to college basketball until March Madness. 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:15.140 And the other night, as I was watching, the cameraman got stuck behind one of those behemoths that play basketball. 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:19.080 A behemoth is, you know, kind of like a Leviathan with legs. 00:20:19.320 --> 00:20:25.620 This guy must have been like 8 feet, 10 inches, and weighed like about 500 pounds looking at the camera. 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:27.640 It kind of blocked out the screen. 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:29.820 The guy should have backed up to get a better picture. 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:30.740 Huge! 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:36.279 And I thought to myself, wow, that's big! 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:42.700 The fact of the matter is, is we look on the outside and God looks on the inside. 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:49.839 And we have a tendency to pay attention to what's going on outside, but not think very much about the heart. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:57.980 And God is far more interested in the heart that you have in worship than just the fact that you're present. 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:05.179 I want you to recognize, first of all, that God looks favorably on the humble. 00:21:06.959 --> 00:21:08.779 Here's what He says there in verse 2. 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:14.419 This is the one to whom I will look, he who is humble. 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:25.039 The word is used to identify an individual who has a low opinion and submissive spirit. 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:28.640 Who's not all taken up with himself. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:32.360 You want to talk about a person who's not humble? 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:35.980 Here is the way you really find out whether a person is not humble. 00:21:36.300 --> 00:21:40.800 How easily offended they are and how long they hold on to the offense. 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.519 Here's what it says. 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:48.619 Yes, God is interested in those who have a humble spirit. 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:51.519 I have to put it this way. 00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:54.879 The truth of the matter is, is that only one person is a hero in your story. 00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:58.299 God is the hero, isn't that right? 00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:00.480 Do you ever act like it's actually you? 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:05.900 You're the one who's miffed or you're the one who's interested in the credit? 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:12.519 I got to tell you, I am blown away by VBS already in the spin. 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.220 I like that. 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:18.400 I walked in this morning and I'm looking at that board, you know, that, what is it, galvanized metal. 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:20.160 And I'm trying to figure, what are those things here? 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:25.079 And it dawned on me, these are things that I can pick off that and I can put them on my refrigerator. 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:28.759 I mean, that's technology to the extreme. 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:31.839 I can remember something without putting in my iPhone. 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:34.480 And I forget, I do go to the refrigerator regulars, right? 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.039 There it is. 00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:39.220 I like that. 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:40.539 Plan ahead, right? 00:22:41.439 --> 00:22:45.919 I was talking with someone else who's pretty wrapped up into VBS every year. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:52.539 And this individual commented on, man, there's just a lot of horsepower coming to the table to help with a VBS. 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:54.800 And I like that kind of thinking. 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.460 You know what? 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:58.360 It's like, I don't have to get the credit for it. 00:22:58.360 --> 00:22:59.019 Let somebody out. 00:22:59.100 --> 00:22:59.720 It's great. 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:05.680 Humble people are very quick to see that other people get the credit. 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:10.519 They're not always irritated by things not going their way. 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:16.400 The other day, Pastor Andrew was talking about the fact that in Columbus, people always honk at stoplights. 00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:24.820 So, having heard my pastor say that, I thought I would do a little bit of a survey as to why people honk at stoplights. 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.980 Now, I'm working not to honk at stoplights. 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:35.720 But here's what I discovered was why people are honking at stoplights. 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:38.079 Do you know what stoplights are used for in Columbus? 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.500 Okay. 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:51.880 So, when people are not moving at your rate, do you get irritated with them? 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:58.040 Humble people are not very irritated with things not going their way. 00:23:58.920 --> 00:24:02.100 The humble people are quicker to listen to what other people think. 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:09.020 Humble people are more interested in what is better for others than what they're getting out of things. 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:15.540 It's amazing how often the Bible has things to say about humility. 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:24.000 And I wonder whether or not it is something that you are conscious and deliberate in pursuing in your own life. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:37.599 Are you an individual who readily recognizes you have an ongoing battle with pride and humility is the remedy and you need to pursue it? 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:40.319 Here's what the Scriptures say. 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:45.460 God pays attention to the humble heart. 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:53.159 Secondly, God looks favorably on those who are contrite. 00:24:54.659 --> 00:24:55.139 Contrite. 00:24:56.579 --> 00:25:04.539 The word contrite that is used here in the Scripture is not one that we use commonly. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:07.480 How many times do you have somebody in your family say, 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:09.259 you really have a contrite spirit? 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:11.000 Anybody here? 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.440 Contrite. 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:13.519 Contrite. 00:25:14.320 --> 00:25:16.759 And we're wondering, what is contrite? 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:23.000 Well, let me give you a little picture from 2 Samuel 4, verse 4. 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.519 Mephibosheth. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:26.559 Does anybody know who Mephibosheth was? 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.500 Okay. 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:29.920 He was Jonathan's son. 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:33.340 Let me tell you one of the distinguishing features of Mephibosheth. 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:35.919 I won't say that word again. 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.559 Just trust me. 00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.099 It's in the Bible. 00:25:39.199 --> 00:25:39.959 This guy. 00:25:41.959 --> 00:25:44.839 In the future that you think to yourself, pastor couldn't say that name. 00:25:44.899 --> 00:25:45.519 Just let it go. 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:46.399 Okay. 00:25:46.959 --> 00:25:48.539 He was crippled in both feet. 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:50.399 He was crippled. 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:54.639 That's the same Hebrew word that's used for contrite. 00:25:54.640 --> 00:26:00.340 It's talking about a guy who is deficient and crippled and can't get around very well. 00:26:02.060 --> 00:26:04.100 Who is the one that God looks at? 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:14.840 The person who is weak and is crippled and is fairly well persuaded that in and of himself, 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:18.520 he's not that significant and he's not entirely capable. 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:26.660 That's rather interesting, isn't it, that God looks for people who are not all that impressed with themselves, 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:31.579 who are not caught up in their own abilities or their own righteousness. 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:39.740 I love the way that God helps Job deal with his sense of self-righteousness and worth. 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:42.559 Job's a good guy, but how does that argument go? 00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:45.259 Remember Job's friends come and say, you've got to be a sinner. 00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:47.339 You're a low life and I'm sure there's something you've done. 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:50.839 God's trying to get your attention and Job's, no, no, no, no, no. 00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:53.639 And so when God shows up on the scene, what does God do? 00:26:55.419 --> 00:26:58.659 He only deals with peanut issues. 00:26:58.959 --> 00:26:59.379 Do you got me? 00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:03.939 In the scriptures, it talks about creation being the work of his fingers. 00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:06.039 Do you know what salvation is? 00:27:06.679 --> 00:27:09.579 It's when God bears his mighty right arm and shows power. 00:27:11.159 --> 00:27:12.000 Creation's peanuts. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:20.039 And so in Job chapter 38 through 40, we find God just kind of beginning to ask Job a couple little easy questions. 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:22.940 You know, this is like starting quiz questions. 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:24.740 A little brain teaser here. 00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:27.000 So where were you when I did this and I did that? 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.779 And how does that go for Job? 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:28.859 Job. 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:37.240 He ends up saying, I'm at the point where I'm going to keep my mouth shut. 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.299 You ever been there? 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:48.440 And then as God continues the argument, he says, I've heard of you with the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:56.400 So I wonder whether or not this morning, remember this, here's the kind of person that God looks at. 00:27:56.700 --> 00:28:05.160 The person who recognizes their deficiencies and is ready to accept them and understand that they are entirely dependent upon God. 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:15.460 Another perfect illustration of that would be in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 where the apostle Paul, because of the blessings that he had received, 00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:18.960 how many of you think you're really blessed and that's the reason you're having problems? 00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:23.380 Smile at me because you know that's you, right? 00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:24.759 I'm blessed. 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:29.819 And God gave me proportionate problems to help me with my natural tendency towards what? 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.500 Profound humility and thankfulness. 00:28:32.620 --> 00:28:34.160 That's just, I'm all about that. 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:34.880 I'm good with that. 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:40.640 You know, it's like, no, God brings heartache and difficulty and challenge and brokenness into my life. 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.860 And here is Paul. 00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:46.000 And he goes to the Lord three times. 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:46.779 He says, you know what? 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:53.099 If you take away this problem that I have, I could really up my game as an apostle. 00:28:54.459 --> 00:28:56.219 I write another book or two for you. 00:28:57.479 --> 00:29:00.959 I mean, I could plant about four or five more churches if I wasn't here. 00:29:00.959 --> 00:29:07.719 And here is Paul kind of asking for some kind of remedy for his struggling and his thorn in the flesh. 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.679 And what does God say? 00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:14.759 My strength is made perfect in weakness. 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:18.799 And Paul turns around and he says, you know what? 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:29.880 I will glory in those things because they bring about an understanding of the sufficiency and the grace of God in my life and the lives of other people. 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:44.660 So in practical terms, as we think about what is an indication of a contrite spirit, I would have to tell you that probably one of the clearest indicators of a genuinely contrite spirit is the prayer life that you have. 00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:52.160 We only pray for things that we really think we need help on. 00:29:53.340 --> 00:29:54.040 Am I right? 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.080 Huh? 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:59.740 When you've got it down, it's good, it's easy. 00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.860 I was praying for Atticus this morning. 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:02.840 I'm proud of you, Atticus. 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.759 Just start again. 00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.519 Don't worry about it. 00:30:04.560 --> 00:30:05.259 Keep hammering out. 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:07.320 You pray for people when they need help. 00:30:07.340 --> 00:30:07.779 Am I right? 00:30:08.340 --> 00:30:09.400 I hope you're praying for me. 00:30:10.100 --> 00:30:10.320 Okay? 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:14.099 We pray when we're having trouble. 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:17.259 We pray when we can't pull it off ourself. 00:30:18.179 --> 00:30:21.139 We pray when we're broken and we don't know how to fix it. 00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:25.359 And here is the truth of our God. 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:29.399 He is looking for that kind of person. 00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:33.740 There's a third thing. 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:39.539 God looks favorably on those who tremble at his word. 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:42.799 Now stop and be honest with yourself here. 00:30:47.139 --> 00:31:00.779 When was the last time you trembled at his word? 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:04.799 Church is a place that we can come and sit. 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:07.259 I mean, we brush our teeth. 00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:08.779 We take a shower. 00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:11.339 There are a lot of things that are pretty decent on the outside. 00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:13.519 But here's what God is looking for. 00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:18.139 He's not as interested in our hygiene as he is in our heart. 00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:22.259 So when was the last time you trembled at his word? 00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:26.059 Let's think through how this word is used in the Scripture, 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:28.240 then apply it practically in our own lives. 00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:31.819 Trembling happens for a variety of reasons in human beings. 00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:37.419 We may find ourselves trembling because of extreme emotion. 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:43.720 Or we may find ourselves trembling because of extreme fright. 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:55.240 I have a little dog that every day when I come home, she goes into apoplexy with my presence. 00:31:55.559 --> 00:32:01.420 I mean, it's only good for about five or six seconds and she's done her thing and after that it's ho-hum back to the couch. 00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:04.319 But that's the way she is. 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:04.720 Okay. 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:11.039 So, let's think about this trembling that comes from being scared spitless. 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:13.480 I love this passage. 00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:17.359 Isaiah, I'm sorry, Genesis chapter 27 verse 33. 00:32:17.879 --> 00:32:21.859 Here is Isaac who fully intends to bless who? 00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:24.500 Who does he want to bless? 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:27.220 He wants to bless Esau. 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:34.079 What had God already explained to Isaac and his wife about who was going to be blessed? 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:36.360 I mean, it was no surprise. 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:39.240 God had said, Jacob is going to be the one who is blessed, right? 00:32:39.299 --> 00:32:43.319 The younger is going to be the one who is given ascendant place. 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:49.660 And so, here's Isaac, decides he's going to steal a march on God and decides, 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.319 I'm going to go ahead. 00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:51.660 I happen to like Cain. 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.640 Not Cain. 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:54.299 I like Esau. 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:55.559 And so, I'm going to bless him anyway. 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.759 I don't care what God says. 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:57.399 I'm blessing him. 00:32:58.919 --> 00:33:08.899 Now, we don't want to commend the wife for her sneakiness, but, you know, Jacob gets blessed. 00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:20.179 Esau shows up late, and here's what happened when Esau reveals to himself that Isaac has actually blessed his younger brother. 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:22.480 Do you know what Isaac does? 00:33:23.179 --> 00:33:24.639 He begins to tremble. 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:38.079 He begins to tremble because he is terrified at the reality of who he has been messing with and what God has done despite his best laid plans. 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:44.859 Another picture of trembling is over in Exodus chapter 20. 00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:51.799 You remember when God gave the law to the nation of Israel, he displayed himself in thunder and flashes of lightning. 00:33:53.119 --> 00:33:58.379 And I love that little passage where the people say to Moses, I mean, they're trembling. 00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.579 They're scared spitless. 00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:03.799 They're literally quaking in their boots and, well, in their sandals. 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:12.460 And so, here is the nation petrified at the revelation of the reality of God's word to them. 00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:14.940 And they say, Moses, would you talk to him? 00:34:16.279 --> 00:34:19.480 You know, you talk to him because we'd rather listen to what you have. 00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:21.119 It's scaring us. 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:24.000 Here's another one. 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:33.219 In Acts chapter 7, it says that Moses trembled when he drew near the burning bush and heard God speak. 00:34:33.219 --> 00:34:44.219 So, I would say it this way, to tremble at his word is to take his word personally and seriously. 00:34:46.399 --> 00:34:53.039 There are some of you that are sitting here this morning that for the reality of it, you really have no fear of God's word. 00:34:54.259 --> 00:34:58.239 It shows up on the way you act. 00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:04.319 It shows up in bitterness and unforgiveness. 00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:08.739 It shows up in indulgence and immorality. 00:35:09.739 --> 00:35:16.699 It shows up in an unwillingness to repent despite his gentle promptings to the contrary. 00:35:17.639 --> 00:35:24.059 In every point where you display a lack of holy reverence and fear for the word of God, 00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:27.659 you are indicating that you really don't tremble at his word. 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:37.959 It's a fair question for me to ask myself, do I tremble at his word? 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:44.459 And it's a fair question for you to ask yourself, do I take him seriously? 00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:54.539 We tremble when we take his word seriously, but we also tremble when we are overwhelmed with pleasure in him. 00:35:55.559 --> 00:36:00.659 His word is the vehicle whereby we learn of him and grow to know and love him. 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:02.980 And his word is a delight to us. 00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:07.539 I want you to turn to one of my many favorite verses. 00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:12.099 1 Peter 1, verse 8. 00:36:12.099 --> 00:36:42.079 1 Peter 1, verse 9. 00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:55.380 Peter uses this passage to identify the emotional makeup of a believer. 00:36:55.380 --> 00:37:02.400 And I have to tell you that the word tremble is not in the passage. 00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:16.480 But I cannot imagine the verse, at least the way I'm wired, without having a sense of a series of cold chills going through my body and a tingling. 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:19.780 I mean, this morning as we were singing, John, where are you? 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:20.780 You're back there somewhere. 00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:24.079 Do you watch me being emotional every now and then? 00:37:24.119 --> 00:37:24.960 Does it throw you off? 00:37:25.139 --> 00:37:26.119 It's the way it is. 00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:29.920 You know, Michelle, I mean, you know, Marsha. 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:32.220 My emotions get the best of me. 00:37:33.159 --> 00:37:34.380 Somebody move the Kleenex. 00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:35.360 They're supposed to be right here. 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:36.539 Okay. 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:39.099 That's the way I'm wired. 00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:41.900 But, I mean, let me read the passage again. 00:37:42.659 --> 00:37:44.500 Though you have not seen him, you love him. 00:37:44.599 --> 00:37:51.840 Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. 00:37:51.840 --> 00:38:09.220 When was the last time that in your devotional life and in your prayer life you found yourself so overwhelmed with the sweetness of emotion at the reality of communion with the triune God that you just couldn't contain yourself? 00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:11.700 Huh? 00:38:14.640 --> 00:38:16.039 God pays attention. 00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:38.840 I wonder how often when we're singing, do you find yourself just caught up with the beauty of his word and the privilege of expression? 00:38:40.140 --> 00:38:51.320 How often in prayer do you just kind of revel in the fact that the God of this universe, who is the creator and sustainer of all things, has his ear bent to hear your plea? 00:38:52.680 --> 00:39:03.180 How often when you find yourself overwhelmed with the baggage and heartache of life and ministry, do you recognize that he cares about these things more than you do? 00:39:05.579 --> 00:39:16.260 And in the reality of the God that you and I know, does your soul just thrill and your body literally begin to kind of react physically? 00:39:16.260 --> 00:39:24.740 I close with coming to the dangerous word of preaching. 00:39:27.040 --> 00:39:28.500 The end of all things. 00:39:28.500 --> 00:39:39.199 I'm going to do something that is a little atypical for me and we're going to cover verses 3 through 24 and some of you are thinking, I've never seen pastor do that in the five remaining minutes. 00:39:39.340 --> 00:39:40.159 Just watch. 00:39:40.159 --> 00:39:41.819 I'm going to work. 00:39:41.819 --> 00:39:44.159 I'm going to work. 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.159 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:52.759 I'm going to push these verses together and summarize the close of the book. 00:39:53.719 --> 00:40:00.039 You see, what we've already recognized is the God of this universe, the creator and sustainer of all life, 00:40:00.379 --> 00:40:04.460 who's the Lord and maker and judge, cares deeply about our hearts. 00:40:04.539 --> 00:40:05.539 That's what we've seen. 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:13.440 He pays attention to true worship, and he pays attention to faults, and he despises it. 00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:23.980 In the flow of Isaiah 66, we found that statement made here that false worship is something that is just highly offensive to him. 00:40:25.659 --> 00:40:32.719 And we think that we can engage in our secret idolatries and our immoralities and our covetousness and bitterness, 00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:35.039 and that he really isn't affected by it. 00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:35.799 He is. 00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:47.260 Just as certain as God takes pleasure in genuine worship, he is as offended by that which is false. 00:40:47.260 --> 00:40:51.020 Listen to what we find there in verse 3 and 4. 00:40:51.080 --> 00:40:53.980 He who slaughters an ox like one who kills a man. 00:40:55.340 --> 00:40:59.120 He who sacrifices a lamb like one who breaks a dog's neck. 00:40:59.880 --> 00:41:03.800 He who presents a grain offering like one who offers pig's blood. 00:41:04.800 --> 00:41:10.760 He who makes a memorial offering of frankincense like one who blesses an idol. 00:41:10.760 --> 00:41:18.720 What's being described here is people who are going through the motions on the outside, 00:41:18.900 --> 00:41:23.120 but whose heart is far away from God. 00:41:25.380 --> 00:41:30.220 Thankfully, that's not all that God has to say here, because as we saw at the very end of the book, 00:41:30.980 --> 00:41:34.740 God talks about the way things are going to end, 00:41:34.739 --> 00:41:39.000 and I love what we find there at the end of verse 23. 00:41:39.299 --> 00:41:39.619 It says, 00:41:39.939 --> 00:41:43.259 All flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the Lord. 00:41:45.500 --> 00:41:48.859 All flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the Lord. 00:41:50.259 --> 00:41:53.179 So let me ask you this practical question as I close. 00:41:54.139 --> 00:41:57.359 Will you be the one, will you be one, rather, 00:41:58.000 --> 00:42:02.539 who worships forever in his presence and enjoys the new heavens and the new earth, 00:42:02.539 --> 00:42:09.599 or will you be one who suffers for all eternity because of your conscious and deliberate choice 00:42:09.599 --> 00:42:16.259 to refuse the offer of salvation and hope through the Lord Jesus Christ? 00:42:17.420 --> 00:42:18.920 That's the way Isaiah ends. 00:42:20.039 --> 00:42:22.340 It's a book that talks about God dealing with sin, 00:42:23.119 --> 00:42:26.800 and it's a book that talks about God in his infinite kindness and mercy 00:42:26.800 --> 00:42:30.679 offering to us hope of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:33.859 And so I put it on the table for you who are sitting here this morning. 00:42:34.299 --> 00:42:37.279 The truth of the matter is this, is that when the story's over, 00:42:38.799 --> 00:42:42.199 you will either spend eternity in heaven, 00:42:42.619 --> 00:42:49.179 enjoying his presence and worshiping him with joy and adoration and complete satisfaction, 00:42:49.739 --> 00:42:54.319 or you will spend eternity in hell, 00:42:54.320 --> 00:42:57.600 persisting in your rebellion, 00:42:57.600 --> 00:42:59.180 angry with God, 00:43:00.160 --> 00:43:03.800 bitter at every thought of him in your past. 00:43:05.140 --> 00:43:11.420 And if you think it has been miserable to lie in bed at night with a gloomy spirit now, 00:43:12.820 --> 00:43:16.140 nothing will compare with the heartache of eternity. 00:43:16.139 --> 00:43:21.859 And so on the basis of the sure mercies of God, 00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:24.259 here is my undeniable plea to you. 00:43:24.779 --> 00:43:27.480 Today, now, is the time of salvation. 00:43:27.599 --> 00:43:28.480 Do you know what Scripture says? 00:43:29.900 --> 00:43:31.819 Call upon the Lord while he may be found. 00:43:33.079 --> 00:43:36.179 And I would plead with you this morning that in the face of the reality, 00:43:36.319 --> 00:43:40.759 the certainty of the God who is the controller and sustainer of this universe, 00:43:41.039 --> 00:43:42.359 the day of judgment is coming, 00:43:42.360 --> 00:43:43.140 and don't delay. 00:43:43.539 --> 00:43:47.700 Plead with him and confess and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:43:48.340 --> 00:43:49.440 Let's close in prayer. 00:43:53.980 --> 00:44:00.920 Our Father God, this morning, as we recognize the truth that Isaiah has for us, 00:44:02.099 --> 00:44:08.460 we're thankful that you're a God who has a tender spirit towards your creation. 00:44:08.460 --> 00:44:13.480 That as we saw last week, you take no pleasure in the death of the wicked. 00:44:15.300 --> 00:44:20.039 And Lord, I am confident that there are those here this morning that know the Lord Jesus Christ 00:44:20.039 --> 00:44:24.940 that need their heart comforted to know that you're paying attention to their heartache 00:44:24.940 --> 00:44:27.900 and you love them and you're actively at work 00:44:27.900 --> 00:44:30.360 and help them not to despair in that struggle. 00:44:30.360 --> 00:44:36.340 Help them to think with hope and anticipation, 00:44:37.420 --> 00:44:41.240 resting in the certainty of your unchanging love. 00:44:42.740 --> 00:44:46.400 And I would plead with you, Father, this morning that you would bring repentance, 00:44:47.840 --> 00:44:53.160 confession, and salvation to those that are here that do not loathe the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:44:53.320 --> 00:44:56.620 Let them not leave this place without conviction 00:44:56.619 --> 00:44:59.940 and being drawn to the cross. 00:45:00.019 --> 00:45:01.500 And we ask this in Jesus' name. 00:45:01.980 --> 00:45:02.239 Amen. 00:45:02.239 --> 00:45:02.380 Amen.