WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:06.679 Well, good evening everyone. Wonderful to have you tuning in with us. Thank you so much for taking the time to do that. 00:00:06.780 --> 00:00:15.220 Let me encourage you to grab a Bible and come with me back to those verses that we read together in Isaiah chapters 2, 3 and 4. 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:19.160 Now, I won't have escaped your attention, the fact that we're taking on three chapters tonight. 00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:21.339 So we're going to up the pace a little bit. 00:00:21.879 --> 00:00:26.080 But sometimes just taking a section as a whole of one of these bigger books of the Bible, 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:29.839 sometimes the best way to see the main point. 00:00:30.779 --> 00:00:35.439 And talking of the main point, here is a pop quiz for you as we begin. 00:00:36.820 --> 00:00:39.780 Here's a famous quote, and I want you to name the film. 00:00:40.780 --> 00:00:44.179 And I'm going to give you 10 seconds on the Zoom chat to get your answers in. 00:00:44.619 --> 00:00:46.379 And then I'm going to tell you what the answer is. 00:00:46.439 --> 00:00:48.420 Okay, so you ready for this? Here's the quote. 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:53.359 Roads, where we're going, we don't need roads. 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:55.539 So here's your 10 seconds. 00:00:56.079 --> 00:01:01.299 What do you think the answer was? 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:05.159 Answer, back to the future. 00:01:06.019 --> 00:01:12.859 And your prize, if you've got that right, is you can give yourselves a little thumbs up emoji on the Zoom for everyone to see. 00:01:12.979 --> 00:01:14.400 That could be your prize. 00:01:14.519 --> 00:01:15.319 But that's the answer. 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:16.680 Where we're going, we don't need roads. 00:01:16.739 --> 00:01:17.620 It's back to the future. 00:01:18.259 --> 00:01:22.599 Which, when I was growing up, was the film to watch on Christmas Day. 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:23.039 Right? 00:01:23.339 --> 00:01:25.780 You kind of organise Christmas Day around the film. 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:26.959 So excited to see it. 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:31.599 And I remember as a kid being fascinated by its contents. 00:01:32.399 --> 00:01:32.539 Right? 00:01:32.619 --> 00:01:34.000 Watching it and thinking, wow. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:37.519 Do you think that's what it's going to be like in the future? 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:41.659 So the film's giving us all sorts of things about what's going to come. 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:41.859 Right? 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:43.739 So you're seeing things like flying cars. 00:01:44.019 --> 00:01:45.840 You're seeing hoverboards. 00:01:45.939 --> 00:01:48.340 You're seeing baseball players with robotic arms. 00:01:48.420 --> 00:01:52.859 You're seeing dogs taking walks with automated machines walking them. 00:01:52.859 --> 00:02:00.260 And the one that got me really excited was little pizza packs that you would get and you would put in a special machine. 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:02.579 And then moments later, bing, it would go. 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:05.239 And out would come a full-blown pepperoni pizza. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:06.640 And I'm going, how exciting is that? 00:02:06.700 --> 00:02:07.659 How cool is that? 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:12.139 Here's the question of this passage I want you to think about tonight. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:16.639 Friends, have you got any idea what the future holds? 00:02:17.920 --> 00:02:19.560 Any idea what the future holds? 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:28.819 So thinking on that question, let me make an observation about the thing that we would normally do at this time of year. 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:29.300 Right? 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:31.500 January in any kind of year. 00:02:31.580 --> 00:02:32.120 What would we do? 00:02:32.860 --> 00:02:36.020 We would make New Year's resolutions, wouldn't we? 00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:38.199 What we want to achieve. 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:39.500 Who we want to see. 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:40.539 Where we want to go. 00:02:40.699 --> 00:02:41.420 Who we want to be. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:44.719 And normally my Facebook and my Twitter feeds would be full of this stuff. 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:48.500 People saying, this is what this year is going to be all about for me. 00:02:48.580 --> 00:02:49.480 I'm planning it out. 00:02:50.539 --> 00:02:53.840 But the thing is, observation January 2021. 00:02:55.420 --> 00:02:57.879 I don't see anyone making any New Year's resolutions. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:02:59.719 Isn't that interesting? 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:12.539 Could it perhaps be that as a society we're realising that we don't know what the future holds? 00:03:12.539 --> 00:03:25.299 I mean, how humbling is it to think on the fact that all we've been through in the last 12 months of our lives, that not a single person on the planet saw it coming? 00:03:25.300 --> 00:03:30.200 Friends, if you've got any idea what the future holds. 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:31.199 It's going to be that way. 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:32.139 Into that backdrop. 00:03:32.139 --> 00:03:35.639 How timely is the main point of this passage? 00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:40.959 Because it's all about what God is going to do in the future. 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:44.939 And how that impacts our today's. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:50.900 And friends, let me just say straight off the bat, my heart needs this. 00:03:50.900 --> 00:03:55.439 It needs this all the time. 00:03:55.500 --> 00:03:56.700 It needs this all the time. 00:03:56.699 --> 00:03:57.780 What God is going to do. 00:03:57.879 --> 00:03:58.739 Who he is. 00:03:59.819 --> 00:04:01.579 And my life that changes all the time. 00:04:01.619 --> 00:04:03.019 And our world that shakes. 00:04:03.399 --> 00:04:04.219 I need it all the time. 00:04:04.259 --> 00:04:05.819 But I especially need it now. 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:07.500 When I am prone to wander. 00:04:07.679 --> 00:04:08.579 When I doubt. 00:04:08.699 --> 00:04:11.139 When my heart struggles. 00:04:11.139 --> 00:04:12.839 When I take my eye off the ball. 00:04:12.839 --> 00:04:14.719 When I get distracted by silly things. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:18.659 I need to be strengthened by this God of grace. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:22.479 And his promise about what he is going to do in the future. 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:26.579 This needs to be like look his aid for our souls. 00:04:28.539 --> 00:04:29.740 We need this, friends. 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:33.259 So I want you to come with me to Isaiah chapter 2, 3, and 4. 00:04:34.779 --> 00:04:39.639 As you're turning there, let me just, to give appreciation for the author and how he's crafted this. 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:44.360 Let me just help us understand the quite deliberate play in this section. 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:48.339 Isaiah helps his readers to see the main point through the structure. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:54.819 You can think of it like two plastic cups in the middle with a piece of string. 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:57.000 Did you ever used to play that game when you were young? 00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:58.259 You used to cup. 00:04:59.039 --> 00:05:00.159 Your friend used to cup. 00:05:00.659 --> 00:05:02.219 And you used to see whether you could talk to each other. 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:03.019 Maybe that was just me. 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:03.339 I don't know. 00:05:03.379 --> 00:05:04.759 But this is what I thought of with the structure. 00:05:05.459 --> 00:05:07.259 The two cups in either end. 00:05:07.919 --> 00:05:09.120 So we look at the text there. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.120 Two plastic cups. 00:05:10.660 --> 00:05:12.639 Chapter 2, verses 2 to 5. 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:13.459 That's one end. 00:05:14.780 --> 00:05:17.860 And chapter 4, verses 2 to 6 that we read. 00:05:18.280 --> 00:05:19.240 It's the other end. 00:05:19.340 --> 00:05:23.879 And these two things are all about the vision about what God is going to do in the future. 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:38.480 And so in the middle, chapter 2, verse 5 to chapter 4, verse 1, the string is all about a stinging rebuke to this present generation of God's people and how they are living. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:40.480 Two visions of the future. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:44.200 One stinging rebuke to this present generation. 00:05:44.200 --> 00:05:44.840 Right? 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:45.840 Let's start with a string. 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:48.740 Isaiah is pitching this. 00:05:48.900 --> 00:05:50.060 Here's what we need to understand. 00:05:50.640 --> 00:05:55.280 To a generation in the present who are getting it horribly, horribly wrong. 00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:56.739 Right? 00:05:56.739 --> 00:06:11.539 Now we do well to remember that as the camera focuses, verse 1 of chapter 2 on Judah and Jerusalem, we do well to remember that these folks are supposed to be the covenant people of God. 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:12.199 Right? 00:06:12.199 --> 00:06:12.819 Now what does that mean? 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:14.039 Well, this is the people. 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:17.420 This is the through you I will bless the nation's people. 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:23.800 This is the I have rescued you from slavery in Egypt, says the Lord people. 00:06:23.939 --> 00:06:28.899 This is the I will be your God and you will be my people people. 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:33.879 This is the I've led you to the land that I promised your forefathers people. 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:41.879 And this is the you are to be my holy set aside people who will shine my glory to the world kind of people. 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:45.300 You can do this after this. 00:06:45.379 --> 00:06:53.579 Deuteronomy 4, Moses lays out for the people as they obey God's law what's going to happen to them. 00:06:53.719 --> 00:06:53.819 Right? 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:54.740 He says this. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:07:04.539 Moses says to the people, observe them carefully, God's laws, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations. 00:07:04.539 --> 00:07:04.959 Right? 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:17.939 So in other words, if God's people live in covenant relationship with Yahweh, the people of the nations round about will look in and say, I have never seen anything like that. 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:21.560 How different is that to the way that we live our lives? 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:26.179 How different is this God of Israel's to the gods of ours? 00:07:26.180 --> 00:07:30.500 How powerful and awesome is the Lord, they will declare. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:32.800 And how do I know this God? 00:07:32.900 --> 00:07:33.420 Who is he? 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:35.019 And how can I come to know him? 00:07:37.220 --> 00:07:41.819 As God's covenant people are compellingly different to the world around them. 00:07:42.460 --> 00:07:45.860 The world looks in and says, I want to know the Lord. 00:07:46.180 --> 00:07:46.360 Right? 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:52.540 One of my favorite things about where we live in the city is that we live in an area that's slightly raised. 00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:53.460 Okay? 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:56.600 Which is bad news on a windy day. 00:07:57.480 --> 00:07:57.620 Right? 00:07:57.720 --> 00:08:00.760 Got our girls a trampoline not so long ago. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:02.620 And that is pitched into the ground. 00:08:02.860 --> 00:08:03.000 Right? 00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:04.840 Windy. 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:11.200 But the good news is, like me, good news, get cracking panorama views of the city. 00:08:11.900 --> 00:08:15.080 So I go out every day just trying to go for a walk, try and get outside. 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:18.820 And I take in the incredible views of our city. 00:08:19.020 --> 00:08:19.200 Right? 00:08:19.280 --> 00:08:19.960 And I look out. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:20.580 What do I see? 00:08:20.580 --> 00:08:21.740 I see Carton Hill. 00:08:22.540 --> 00:08:23.760 I see Edinburgh Castle. 00:08:24.700 --> 00:08:28.439 I saw what is, what have come to be known as the John Lewis Cranes. 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:30.300 Here's what I also see. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:33.200 I see tons of church spires. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:48.480 I was always told that the original idea of a spire was that if at any point the people in our city wanted to know where to go to find truth in their troubled times, 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:51.659 where to find love in their times of need, where to find help, 00:08:51.659 --> 00:08:56.899 all they needed to do was to lift their eyes and just look for the spires. 00:08:58.339 --> 00:08:59.339 Look for the spires. 00:08:59.340 --> 00:09:04.879 You see, there's a great question to ask, isn't it? 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:06.320 Are we that kind of community? 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:07.440 We've got a spire. 00:09:08.300 --> 00:09:10.600 But in terms of us as a people, are we this kind of people? 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:17.300 There's something in this, I think, of what God calls his people to be. 00:09:17.300 --> 00:09:17.700 Right? 00:09:17.820 --> 00:09:23.040 Just a beacon of hope and of holiness to the world around the world. 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:29.540 But the tragedy is that Isaiah's generation that he's speaking to are a million miles away from that. 00:09:29.539 --> 00:09:33.639 How are this generation getting it horribly wrong? 00:09:33.719 --> 00:09:34.579 Here's what we need to see. 00:09:34.939 --> 00:09:40.559 There's one core issue that's manifesting itself in four different ways. 00:09:40.699 --> 00:09:40.779 Right? 00:09:40.919 --> 00:09:41.860 Four different problems. 00:09:42.079 --> 00:09:44.519 Really quickly, we'll scan over this in the text. 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:46.419 Follow with me. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:47.599 Chapter 2, verse 11. 00:09:47.699 --> 00:09:48.179 What is there? 00:09:48.939 --> 00:09:49.559 Four problems. 00:09:49.659 --> 00:09:50.179 Here's the first one. 00:09:50.219 --> 00:09:51.339 There's a character problem. 00:09:52.179 --> 00:09:53.179 A character problem. 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:53.419 Right? 00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:54.860 Chapter 2, verse 11. 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:59.819 Holiness has been replaced with haughtiness. 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:00.120 Right? 00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:03.419 There's an arrogance that oozes from God's people. 00:10:04.439 --> 00:10:06.479 And the woman, chapter 3, verse 16. 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:09.360 What they're described as dressing up to the nines. 00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:10.339 That's the phrase we would use. 00:10:10.459 --> 00:10:10.579 Right? 00:10:11.019 --> 00:10:12.139 Dressing up to the nines. 00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:17.719 Way more concerned about outward beauty than they are about inward beauty. 00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:25.840 And I think the idea of how it's pitched there is that these women, by the way that they're dressing, the way that they're behaving, are leading others astray. 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:26.540 Right? 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:29.259 There's a character problem with this generation. 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:30.019 Their hearts. 00:10:30.700 --> 00:10:33.000 There's a leadership problem with this generation. 00:10:34.040 --> 00:10:35.519 Chapter 3, verse 12. 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:36.580 What does God say? 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:39.379 Your leaders mislead you. 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:42.379 They confuse your paths. 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:42.680 Right? 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:44.379 They tell you bad ways to go. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:46.519 They teach you bad decisions. 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:49.199 These people are being badly led. 00:10:49.299 --> 00:10:57.779 And I think the reason is because this generation of God's leaders, they don't know the Lord for themselves. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:10:59.240 Okay? 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:04.259 And it's a stinging warning, isn't it, for any of us who would find ourselves in positions of leadership. 00:11:06.579 --> 00:11:13.100 Does our love for the Lord, our love for the Lord, is that how we lead out of our love for the Lord? 00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:21.779 Robert Murray McShane, who was a famous Scottish minister back in the day, he used to talk about, people used to ask him, what is the most important thing that your congregation need from you? 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:29.639 And he said, the greatest need of my people is my own personal holiness. 00:11:31.319 --> 00:11:44.539 In other words, if I'm not seeking the Lord first and foremost, if I'm not loving him with my whole being, if I'm not loving my neighbor as myself, if I'm not basing myself on his word, then how can I expect my people to do it? 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:45.480 This is what they need. 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:47.779 This is what God's people need from their leaders. 00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:51.259 And he just ain't getting that at this generation. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:55.299 People are even looking to mediums for guidance, right? 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:59.559 Just a generation who've given up, given up on seeking God in prayer. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:00.399 What's the point? 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.559 This is functional atheism right here. 00:12:03.659 --> 00:12:04.399 God isn't here. 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:05.980 He doesn't know. 00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:09.419 Verses six and seven, the land is full of the occult. 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:20.219 And God's judgment on this generation, I think as we read it, will be that this leadership crisis here for this people is going to get worse, right? 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:21.039 Leadership problem. 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:23.219 There's a justice problem. 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:25.819 Chapter three, verse 14. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:29.240 You devour the vineyard. 00:12:30.219 --> 00:12:32.699 The spoil of the poor is in your houses. 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:35.519 You're crushing the faces of my people. 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:37.219 You're grinding their faces. 00:12:37.219 --> 00:12:38.839 Feel the imagery there. 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:40.539 Feel the imagery. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:50.399 And this isn't just the peoples of the nations round about that God's people are failing to live up to the standards of justice and equity that God has called them to. 00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:52.259 This is their own people. 00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:57.959 Friends, would we see how God is so concerned about justice? 00:12:59.959 --> 00:13:02.439 These people are just about selfish gain. 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.620 There's a justice problem. 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:06.259 And lastly, there's a worship problem. 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:08.079 Chapter two, verse eight. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.500 Land is full of idols. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.660 Full of idols. 00:13:13.420 --> 00:13:13.560 Right? 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:16.580 People just bowing down to the work of their hands. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:21.120 The land is full of treasures, full of horses, full of chariots. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:25.100 I take it that is just things that people put their confidence in. 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:27.179 Got some stuff in the bank. 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:29.220 Got some stuff behind me. 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:33.539 They seek assurance and protection in the things that they can see and they control. 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:37.779 Just like the nations round about, rather than the Lord. 00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:40.639 So there's four problems, friends. 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:41.139 You see it? 00:13:41.199 --> 00:13:44.579 Character, leadership, justice, worship. 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:47.419 Four problems which plague this generation. 00:13:47.819 --> 00:13:51.419 And yet it all comes back to the one core issue. 00:13:51.419 --> 00:14:02.059 And it's that this generation, they have a very small view of God and a very big view of man. 00:14:03.439 --> 00:14:08.719 If you're into marking your Bibles or you're into memory verses, here's one for you. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:11.160 Chapter two, verse 22. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.040 Easy to remember, 222. 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:13.500 Right? 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:15.000 Chapter two, verse 22. 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:18.700 Here's what Isaiah pitches to this generation. 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:19.620 Here's the summons. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:25.480 Stop trusting in mere humans who have but a breath in their nostrils. 00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:30.980 Why hold them in esteem? 00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:32.200 Now here's what I want you to do. 00:14:32.300 --> 00:14:35.740 I want you to mark it in your Bibles, but I want you to feel the imagery of that. 00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:39.080 And here's what I want you to do. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.259 I want you to breathe in and out. 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.019 Do it a few times. 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:48.860 And keep doing it. 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:50.799 I'll tell you the story. 00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:55.700 You know, I remember when we were young, going on family outings in the car. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:01.399 And because we lived in the north side of Glasgow, every time we wanted to travel to the south side of Glasgow, 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:04.820 we would go through and under the Clyde Tunnel. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.019 Right? 00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:09.580 And as we were approaching it, the radio would start to go dead. 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:11.879 No radio signal in the tunnel. 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:16.919 And at that point, my brother and I, sitting next to each other in the car, would look at one another. 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:17.340 Right? 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:17.759 And nod. 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:20.440 And we both knew what that meant. 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:22.700 It meant it was game time. 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:30.700 And the game was to see who could hold their breath for the whole time that we were in the tunnel. 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:35.759 Could you hold your breath from the minute that we entered to the minute that we exited? 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:40.560 So what we would do is we would look at each other and all of a sudden, as the radio would start to go dead, 00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:43.060 we would just take a big gulp of air. 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:45.440 Can you do it? 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.100 Can you do it? 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:46.940 Here's the thing. 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:47.860 Never did it. 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:59.259 Every time, I've realized just how little time I can go without breathing. 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:02.159 We need breath. 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:04.319 We need it all the time. 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:06.080 We cannot live without it. 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:08.220 And that's Isaiah's point. 00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:12.799 Human beings, they're here one minute, they're gone they're next. 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:15.799 Human beings are the breath in their lungs. 00:16:15.939 --> 00:16:16.740 They are fragile. 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:29.180 And yet this generation are navigating and evaluating life according to the standards and the customs and the wisdom of those that breathe. 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:35.180 Presumably the might of the foreign nations around about them who are pressing in. 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:36.019 Right? 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:42.200 They're evaluating life according to those that breathe rather than the one who gives the breath. 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:53.080 I'm reminded of that famous quote from C.S. Lewis, that everything that is not eternal is eternally out of date. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:54.500 You see, that's the core issue. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.840 That's the core issue. 00:16:57.320 --> 00:17:00.360 This generation have a fear problem. 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:05.140 And I asked myself this week, friends, do I have a fear problem? 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.700 Think about it. 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.620 Do you have a fear problem? 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:09.160 Do you know how it manifests itself for me? 00:17:09.820 --> 00:17:13.480 One of the ways, and we could go many different places here, but because of time, one place. 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:17.060 It manifests itself for me in my evangelistic endeavors. 00:17:19.080 --> 00:17:19.340 Right? 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.180 You know how it goes. 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.300 You're walking to the office on Monday. 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:24.279 Probably not doing that just now, but you know what I mean. 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:26.240 You're walking to the office on Monday. 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:28.380 People ask you, what did you do at the weekend? 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:31.660 At that point, you've got a choice, haven't you, as to who you fear more. 00:17:32.600 --> 00:17:34.500 And I know it when I go to pick up the girls from school. 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.880 Parents, they ask me, what do you do for a job? 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.120 And I tell them what I do for a job. 00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:38.659 I'm a minister. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:44.919 And I can choose, can't I, either to push the conversation further or just to bow out at that point. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.579 And they've got the Vicar of Dibbley in their minds. 00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:54.179 Friends, here is the call to push the conversation on. 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.419 Because you fear the Lord. 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:57.659 Right? 00:17:57.739 --> 00:18:00.579 We can read in a great book just now by a lady called Becky Pippert. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:01.500 Right? 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.419 She's an evangelist. 00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:05.560 She's been traveling the world for years telling people about Jesus. 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:08.200 Cracking story that she tells in this book. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.720 About when she first came to faith. 00:18:11.600 --> 00:18:12.720 In her halls at university. 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:15.140 She discovers who Jesus is. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.140 Gives her life to Jesus. 00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:18.680 And all of a sudden, her friends begin to ask questions. 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.060 Right? 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:22.300 A couple of her friends ask, Becky, we've noticed a difference in you. 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:24.519 Can we read the Bible together? 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:29.839 So there's a couple of them that meet in their halls to read the Bible together. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.579 All of a sudden, this gets around. 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.980 Word gets around that this is going on. 00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:36.559 So there's an announcement comes across the tannoy and says, 00:18:36.639 --> 00:18:38.359 Becky, would you report to the principal's office? 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:40.000 So she goes to the principal's office. 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:43.460 Principal says, you need to stop reading the Bible together. 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:46.879 He says, well, listen, I didn't ask to read. 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.819 They asked me to read. 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:48.519 We're just having conversations. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.839 We're reading it together. 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:52.940 But more importantly, I don't want to stop telling people about Jesus. 00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:55.160 So she keeps on going. 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:57.980 She goes away for a little while. 00:18:58.100 --> 00:18:59.440 She comes back a few weeks later. 00:18:59.580 --> 00:19:03.640 And in the room where they read the Bible together, tons and tons of people. 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:06.299 And she's really worried, saying, why are they in this room? 00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:07.759 We can't have the Bible study together. 00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:08.620 There's so many people. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:10.740 And she's trying to elbow her way through to get there. 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:14.720 And then she realizes the people are there for the Bible study. 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:19.940 Because the word had got around, spirit of the 60s, this kind of revolution. 00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:20.500 Revolution. 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:28.240 Word had got around that this young lady had said, I'm going to keep reading the Bible with my friends. 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.059 Word got around. 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.080 Why would she do that? 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.120 People were intrigued. 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.340 People flocked to hear. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:41.080 Friends, let's never underestimate what small steps of obedience, what the Lord can do through these things. 00:19:42.820 --> 00:19:44.100 Do we fear the Lord? 00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:45.899 This isn't a call for arrogance. 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:48.019 This is a call for reverence. 00:19:48.159 --> 00:19:50.299 Do we fear the Lord? 00:19:50.459 --> 00:19:52.819 Are we willing to be obedient to him? 00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:57.199 And do we fear him more than we fear man? 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:01.439 You see, the problem with this generation, friends, is they've got a massive fear problem. 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:03.699 Massive fear problem. 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.879 How does God feel about this? 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:14.640 Well, the covenant terms, the old covenant for the blessings and the curses, for obedience and disobedience, that they're spelled out in Deuteronomy. 00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:25.880 And to this people in rebellion, God pronounces, chapter 2, verse 12, that he has a day of judgment against the proud and the haughty. 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:30.620 God will bring judgment against his rebellious people. 00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:33.659 And he gives them time to change. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:36.059 How gracious and good of God to do that. 00:20:36.439 --> 00:20:41.319 But this judgment is going to come, we know this in history, first through the Assyrians who will come against this city. 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:48.099 And later, more fully, the Babylonians as they come and take this people into exile in 586 BC. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:52.299 That's how God feels about this present generation. 00:20:53.419 --> 00:20:53.859 Grieved. 00:20:53.859 --> 00:21:00.539 Now listen, we do well to remember that reading this today, we are not Old Testament Israel, right? 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:02.399 We are new covenant people. 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:14.079 And we know that these covenant curses that lawbreakers deserve have been born by Jesus Christ, the perfect covenant keeper on the cross for us. 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:19.559 And so, all those who have trusted in Christ, yes, there will be a day of the Lord. 00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:24.579 At the end of history, where every human being who has ever existed will have to give account to Jesus. 00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:27.879 But friends, in Christ, we have no fear of this judgment. 00:21:30.179 --> 00:21:31.299 We know grace. 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:36.879 But we do well to see God's timeless heart here for his chosen people. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:43.960 So we turn from a generation of God's people who in the present are getting it horribly wrong. 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:47.580 To a people in the future. 00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:51.860 A future generation who will have it wonderfully right. 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:55.320 So we turn from the two cups. 00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:58.900 Sorry, we turn from the string to consider the two cups, right? 00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.780 The two bookends. 00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:03.120 Where God lays out what he will do in the future. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:06.359 What he will do in the future, right? 00:22:06.459 --> 00:22:08.679 To transform the fortunes of his people. 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:10.679 And we're going to see this as all him, right? 00:22:10.719 --> 00:22:15.000 This is not about these guys up in the ante, up in the game. 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:16.419 This is not, they can't do it. 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.159 This is not them. 00:22:18.379 --> 00:22:27.959 This is about God through Christ, through the work of the Spirit, in a way that only he can, working to bring hope. 00:22:28.159 --> 00:22:29.299 Now, follow with me, right? 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:31.639 First cup, verses two to four of chapter two. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:34.399 Scan your eye over it. 00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:35.159 What will God do? 00:22:36.219 --> 00:22:40.000 God will establish his house on the mountain. 00:22:40.659 --> 00:22:40.819 Okay? 00:22:41.239 --> 00:22:42.299 So it's there. 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:44.079 It's there for everyone to see. 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:46.059 High and lifted up. 00:22:46.699 --> 00:22:57.919 And from there, God's word is going to go and it's going to be so powerful that the nations and the peoples of the world are going to come streaming up the hill to hear it. 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:57.960 Okay? 00:22:58.600 --> 00:23:00.360 And as it goes forth from Jerusalem. 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:01.900 Okay? 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:07.420 And this word, do you see, is going to cause peace between the peoples. 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.440 That's what it's going to bring. 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:10.120 Do you feel this imagery there, Isaiah? 00:23:10.320 --> 00:23:13.840 Of swords being put down, of war coming to an end. 00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:17.140 This is what this word is going to accomplish between the peoples of the world. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:20.380 As they stream up the hill to hear God's law. 00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:24.280 And then have a look at the cup at the other end of the bit of string, right? 00:23:24.360 --> 00:23:26.660 Verses two to six of chapter four. 00:23:28.800 --> 00:23:35.820 On that day, God's going to raise up a branch from the tree of David. 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:40.279 And this branch will be beautiful and glorious. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:45.960 And this branch will be the joy of all of God's people. 00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:51.119 And God's going to both judge sin and his holiness and rebellion. 00:23:52.179 --> 00:23:56.619 And he's going to bring about spiritual transformation in his people. 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:58.019 He's going to deal with their sin. 00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:59.339 He's going to cleanse them. 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:02.819 Or as in the words of Alec Mateer, Old Testament scholar said, 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:05.740 He's going to make his people fit for his presence. 00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:07.419 That's what God's going to do in the future. 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.980 Okay, and he will be their canopy. 00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:11.139 I love that image, right? 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.859 Just canopy, shelter. 00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:15.519 That's what God is going to be for his people. 00:24:15.659 --> 00:24:18.700 They will find refuge in him. 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:20.720 They will find a shelter from the storm. 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:24.419 They will find a safe place to live their lives. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:26.119 I love how God describes himself as that. 00:24:26.179 --> 00:24:27.259 He's a safe place. 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.179 He is a refuge. 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.559 He's a rock in times of trouble. 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:31.179 How good is it to know that right now? 00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:34.619 And this is the vision of the future then. 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:39.079 Do you see when God's people will have it wonderfully right? 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:44.099 And in light of that, verse 5, here is the summons. 00:24:45.899 --> 00:24:47.399 Come descendants of Jacob. 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:51.700 Let us walk in the light of the Lord. 00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:54.379 Again, one asterisk start. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.139 Start in your Bible. 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:56.099 Remember in your mind. 00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:56.960 Come. 00:24:57.379 --> 00:24:58.059 Let us. 00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.299 Come descendants of Jacob. 00:24:59.299 --> 00:25:02.759 Let us walk in the light of the Lord. 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:06.960 This is something I've done and got into over the last little season of life. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.139 I've got into long runs. 00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:13.980 And the only time of the day I can seem to do it at the minute in the week is really late at night. 00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:18.139 And I had that experience recently of trying a usual route. 00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:20.579 And running down it. 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:26.240 And it gradually dawning on me that I'm running further and further into the darkness. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.480 Okay? 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:28.839 It's a horrible place to be. 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:32.799 You can have all your fluorescent tops on. 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.559 You can do whatever you want. 00:25:35.620 --> 00:25:36.759 But cars are driving. 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:37.700 They can't see you. 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:39.420 It's a horrible place to be. 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:44.019 And having that experience of running into the darkness, realizing that it's increasing, 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:49.700 and stopping, and looking for the light, and running towards the light. 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:51.059 That's the safe place to run. 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.200 That's the safe place to be. 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.640 That's the greatest place to be. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:56.600 And that's exactly what Isaiah is urging his generation. 00:25:58.600 --> 00:26:00.299 Come descendants of Jacob. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:04.860 Let us walk in the light of the Lord. 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:20.859 Let's turn it and base our lives on his word, his promises, his goodness, his grace, his track record of things happening exactly like he says they will happen. 00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:31.979 And on that note, talking of track records, as you know, Back to the Future was filmed in 1985. 00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:38.279 And the year that they travel to in the future is 2015. 00:26:39.439 --> 00:26:44.799 That's the year, apparently, that all these gadgets and gizmos would be ours. 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:50.419 But the thing is, I'm aware of only, I think, one of those that came to pass. 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:53.000 And it was a pair of Nike trainers. 00:26:55.599 --> 00:27:03.740 But the thing about what God says here to this generation, standing where we do in the story almost 3,000 years later, right? 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:05.460 That was 30 years Back to the Future. 00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:07.519 We're talking 3,000 years later. 00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:09.819 Did God deliver on his promises? 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:12.680 Friends, right here, we can see that he did. 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.700 And we can know that he will. 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:21.379 Okay, there's been a partial fulfillment in everything that we see here about what God will do in the future. 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:26.159 In the coming of Jesus Christ, like he is the branch. 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:30.000 He is the branch who will be beautiful and glorious. 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:33.119 He is the branch that God's people will delight in. 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.919 Let me just ask you that right now. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:37.319 Whatever is going on in your life, wherever you're at. 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:39.579 Friends, do you love the Lord Jesus? 00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.700 Do you love him? 00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:45.019 Is he beautiful and glorious in your sight? 00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:46.700 You know, I love the words of that old hymn. 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:49.740 I love thee in life. 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:54.600 I love thee in death and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath. 00:27:54.779 --> 00:28:02.080 And when the death dew lies cold on my brow, if ever I love thee, my Jesus, tis now. 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:07.519 You see, Christ is the delight of the hearts of his people. 00:28:07.699 --> 00:28:14.740 He is the one who shed his blood on the cross so that we can be cleansed from our sin. 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:22.460 If the very essence of this generation's covenant failings, think about it, our character, leadership, justice and worship. 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:25.259 What do we see in the life of Christ? 00:28:25.340 --> 00:28:28.860 We see that he is the very essence of covenant faithfulness. 00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:33.100 Friends, and in him, that's what it means to be a Christian. 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:33.920 We are in him. 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:37.120 We are treated like we have done the same. 00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:45.779 And the word of the Lord going out from Jerusalem and the nations responding, going up and having life in the Lord. 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:47.079 Friends, do you see, that's us. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.799 That's us. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:54.159 And the gospel of peace that God's word will bring. 00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:56.559 How often have we been thinking about that in Ephesians recently? 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.839 This is what God will do. 00:28:57.899 --> 00:29:02.539 He will smash the hostility that exists between the peoples of the world. 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:06.759 And the thing is, friends, that this message is still going forth and changing lives. 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:12.500 And my favorite tweet from this week was just a picture of a huge crowd of people. 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:14.579 And they were called the D people. 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:19.119 And I presume that's to protect and make their identity anonymous. 00:29:19.899 --> 00:29:20.720 People are there. 00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:23.259 Huge crowd of people in Southeast Asia. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:27.399 And the story goes that Christian missionaries have traveled there. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:30.000 They've spent time learning the local language. 00:29:30.139 --> 00:29:34.159 They've translated the gospel into the language. 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:40.500 And for the first ever time, the photo was of this huge crowd of people for the first time ever hearing the gospel. 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.320 Isn't that thrilling? 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:45.920 First time ever hearing the gospel. 00:29:46.100 --> 00:29:50.860 Friends, there has been a partial fulfillment of this that we can see standing where we do. 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:53.019 But there will be a full fulfillment then. 00:29:54.300 --> 00:29:57.120 This is talking about God's new city. 00:29:57.119 --> 00:30:00.539 This is heaven. 00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:14.819 And a call to this generation, friends, and how much more to us today is to be strengthened by the grace of the Lord and to know that he will bring this to pass. 00:30:15.659 --> 00:30:17.679 He will bring this to pass. 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:20.779 Because do you know what the future holds? 00:30:23.580 --> 00:30:33.140 On that note, let me finish about just an example this week of where really the rubber hits the road if you know what the future holds. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.060 Right? 00:30:34.340 --> 00:30:36.539 A dearly loved man in our congregation called Finley. 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:41.320 He died this week and went to be with the Lord Jesus. 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:43.400 I was speaking to his daughter on the phone the other day. 00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:45.660 And just hearing from her. 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:50.600 And she was telling me that she was amazingly able to be with him in his final moments. 00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:59.280 And together in those moments, they listened to the great old hymn by Augustus Top Lady, The Rock of Ages. 00:31:00.560 --> 00:31:10.480 While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne. 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:14.440 Rock of Ages, cleft for me. 00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:18.200 Let me hide myself in thee. 00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:20.559 Friends, do you know what the future holds? 00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:23.740 Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing to pray for one another this week? 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:31.120 Whatever's going on in our lives that we would know in Christ the certainty of what the future holds. 00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:33.099 Let's pray together. 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:40.500 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:45.139 Thank you that you are a God who has revealed yourself. 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:52.059 And you are a God who's got the track record of always being right on your good promises. 00:31:52.059 --> 00:32:01.000 And so, Lord, I pray that particularly at a time like this, when we realize we don't know the future in so many ways, 00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:11.339 that you would strengthen us in Christ by a glorious vision of who you are and what you will do in the future. 00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:16.179 Father, thank you for your great fatherly love for us. 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:19.659 And we commit ourselves to your care, dear Father. 00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.859 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:21.959 Amen.