We'll begin this time of worship with some words from Isaiah chapter 40. Isaiah chapter 40.
! I'm reading from verse 28.
!
We'll sing to God's praise now from the Scottish Psalter, from Psalm 40, verses 1 to
verse 5. You'll find that on page 259 of the book. Psalm 40, and we sing from verse 1 to
verse 5 of the Psalm.
I waited for the Lord my God and patiently did bear. At length to me he did incline my
voice and cry to hear. He took me from a fearful pit and from the miry clay, and on a rock he
set my feet establishing my way. He put a new song in my mouth, our God to magnify. Many
shall see it and shall fear, and on the Lord rely. And we'll sing down to the end of verse
verse 5 to God's praise.
I waited for the Lord my Lord, a nation he did bear. A word to me he did.
I waited for the Lord my heart and patiently did bear. He took me from the fearful pit and
he took me from the mighty clay, and on the war he set my feet establishing my way. He put a new song in my heart, and on the
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The man whose trust
And of all the Lord provides
Please pray not the blood
Or such as turn aside tonight
O Lord, my God, who may be not
The waters of Christ come
My gracious Lord to us, Lord God
How all those are gone
Enorms are none
And there on the air
To be in the air
Deep in air
That's the stream of death
That I voy voy voy
That I voy voy
Let's unite our hearts together in prayer
Let's pray
Heavenly Father we thank you
that once more you have called us to come
into this place and we have the privilege of knowing
that we are in your presence
because we have the promise that we're
even two or three of us meet together
in the name of Jesus you are here with us
in the power of the Holy Spirit
we thank you Lord that that is a promise
that is something that we can depend on
we can lean on
that you are here with us
and we pray that we would know
that not only is a promise that we can grasp with our minds
but we pray that we would experience
that sense of your presence
as we gather in this place this evening
even as Callum has spoken
of our hearts burning within us
we pray that we would have that experience
that we are in the presence of God
we pray that as we wait upon you
that you would indeed meet with us
and renew our strength
we thank you for the psalm that we have sang
that psalm that is so familiar to us
a psalm that speaks out as the testimony
of a man who was saved by God
and we praise you that even though
that psalm was written many thousands of years ago
in a place far from here
these words can be taken by each one of us
and we can identify with all that the psalmist speaks of
if we are your people
just as he confessed his sin
that sense of the miry clay and the pit
that experience
that conviction of sin
that comes over us
when God the Holy Spirit begins to work
as he confessed sin
Lord we confess our sin this evening
we must examine self
not others
but we are called to examine self
as we prepare to come to the table
and as we do so Lord
we confess that we are sinners
and we pray that you would forgive us
we think of the things that we have said
that we wish we hadn't said
maybe even in the last few days
we think of the silences
that we have allowed to stretch on
when we should have spoken up
a word in season
we think of the times
when we have acted and reacted
in a way that is more of selfish impulse
than a response that is molded by your spirit
we think about even the thoughts
that are hidden from others
but are seen by you
the motivation sometimes
of our hearts
and Lord as we examine self
we confess that we are sinners
in thought and word
in deed
and we cry out with one of old
God have mercy on me
the sinner
we thank you that as we do so
we have the promise
that we are forgiven
we thank you that we can
enter into the joy
that comes through this psalm also
we can sing of the salvation
that is promised to all
who look to the Lord
look unto me
and be ye saved
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
we are told
and you will be saved
call upon the name of the Lord
and you will be saved
and so Lord we do that even
this evening
afresh
perhaps there are some
who have come under
a conviction of sin
in past years
and have never actually
cried out with
the tax collector
God have mercy on me
and we pray that even
in these moments
in this hour tonight
there would be none
who feels the weight of sin
and leaves under that weight
but we pray that each one of us
would cry out for mercy
that we would seek
and receive the grace
that is offered to us in Christ
and that we would be enabled
to sing that new song
of praise to God
that song where we want
with our voices
and in our hearts
and through our lives
to lift up the name of Jesus
our Saviour
and we thank you Lord Jesus
for all that you have done for us
as we prepare to come to the table
we think of the bread
and the wine
these elements
that speak of the body
of Christ given for us
and the blood
of Christ shed for us
we thank you that for us
the offer of salvation
the offer of grace
it is the free offer
all we have to do
is confess our sin
and receive
the grace
that is
that is gifted to us
but this weekend
as we gather
around the table
once more
we are reminded
of the great cost
at which
our salvation came
the death
father
of your son
your only
begotten son
we thank you
that he
laid down
his life
so that we might live
we thank you that
the Lord Jesus
came into this world
knowing
that he would be
despised
and
rejected
that he would be
forsaken
that he would suffer
the man of sorrows
that he would die
to pay the penalty
for our sin
and we thank you
that we remember
that death
over these days
so grant to us
Lord we pray
a clear vision
of the cross
that we might
be even more amazed
by the grace
that is outstretched
to us
and that we would be
even more
worshipful
and filled with love
in our hearts
for the God
who first loved us
so bless
these days
to us
we pray
bless
your word
to us
meet with us
we ask
and renew
our strength
as we come
together
as your people
we thank you
for those
who
have come
forward
into the
membership
of this
congregation
over these
last
couple of
days
for some
who have
transferred
here
for the
McCritchies
Lord
we pray
that you
would bless
them
and that
your hand
would be
upon them
and as we
remember
them
we remember
Ian
in Greyfriars
as he continues
to serve you
in Inverness
and we pray
your blessing
on his
ministry there
that you would
continue to use
him
to lift up
the name of
Jesus
that you would
sustain him
through the
days
that you have
ordained for him
as he
continues to
serve you
and we pray
for others
who have
come forward
for one
who came
forward
today
and we
ask Lord
that you
would bless
her
and that
she would
know your
presence
that she
would know
your peace
that she
would know
the joy
that each
one of us
would know
the joy
of your
salvation
as we
take the
bread and
we take
the wine
and we
remember
all that
Christ has
done for
us
and we
pray
Holy Spirit
that you
would continue
to strive
with others
this evening
for any
in this
building
who have
not yet
trusted
Christ
we ask
Lord
that you
would be
drawing near
to them
that you
would open
their eyes
as we
pray that
you would
open our
eyes
that we
would see
that we
are great
sinners
but Christ
is the
great
Savior
and we
pray for
those who
are outside
of the
building
as well
many who
will pass
going to
different
things this
evening
with no
thought
of the
things of
God
and yet
in a
moment
Lord
you are
able
to
change
your
heart
and to
awaken
a soul
and so
we pray
as we
did
yesterday
evening
for
awakenings
in these
islands
as we
have known
of in
the past
we pray
that you
would revive
your work
Lord
God
in the
midst
of the
years
we pray
for any
who are
your people
any who
may be
here tonight
and who
are trusting
in Christ
who are
forgiven
who have
been
cleansed
who are
saved
who are
secure
and who
have not
yet come
forward
we think
of the
woman
with the
issue
of blood
who was
healed
and who
felt that
healing
and the
joy
of that
but
hid back
in the
shadows
we thank you
that as she
heard the
call of
Jesus
eventually
she came
forward
to profess
that Christ
had healed
her
and if
there are
any hearts
that have
been healed
and cleansed
tonight
but still
the voice
is silent
we pray
that you
would give
courage
and clarity
that every
one of your
people
would come
forward
and profess
that Jesus
is their
Lord and
Saviour
so bless
us
we pray
be amongst
us we pray
we pray
for Calum
as he continues
to serve you
here
we pray
for all
the office
bearers
for the
members
for the
adherents
we ask
that in
everything
that is
done
that Christ
would be
lifted up
that each
one would
know the
joy of
worship
as we come
together as
your people
and we pray
on Lord
that this
congregation
as all
the
congregations
in this
place
would be
helped
as your
people seek
to reach
out with
the good
news of
the gospel
give us
opportunities
we pray
give us
courage
we pray
and as
the seed
of the
gospel
is sown
in this
community
we ask
that it
would bear
fruit
as we
hear our
prayers
cleanse us
from our
sin
and go
before us
we ask
we pray
all this
in Jesus
name
Amen
we'll sing
again now
to God's
praise
we'll sing
this time
from
Psalm
121
again the
Scottish
Psalter
page
416
Psalm
121
I to
the hills
will lift
mine eyes
from whence
doth come
my need
my safety
cometh
from the
Lord
who heaven
and earth
hath made
we'll sing
the whole
of this
Psalm
to God's
praise
I to
the hills
will lift
mine eyes
from whence
doth
come
my
name
my
safety
cometh
from the
Lord
who heaven
and earth
hath
made
my
safety
cometh
from the
Lord
who heaven
and earth
hath
made
I
who
till not
bless
life
nor will
be
summer
that
he
is
behold
he
that
he
exists
voy
!
voy
!
voy
!
voy
!
He shall not smite, nor yet the sun by day.
The moon by night, he shall not smite, nor yet the sun by day.
The Lord shall keep thy soul, he shall preserve me from all ill.
Hence for thy going, I'll stand in, God keep forever will.
If I could ask you to turn with me now please to Matthew chapter 11.
Matthew chapter 11, page 984 in the Bible here.
And we looked at the first part of the chapter yesterday evening down to verse 24.
And I want this evening and into tomorrow morning also to look at the verses from 25 through to the end of the chapter.
So Matthew chapter 11 and we're reading from verse 25 to verse 30.
At that time, Jesus declared, and think about the context actually here as we looked at it last evening.
Jesus has just spoken some of the strongest words of judgment on these cities that he had preached to,
that he had performed amazing, miraculous works in, and they dismissed him.
They rejected him.
And so there's really strong words of warning in the verses immediately preceding this section.
That's the time that Matthew is speaking of.
And now we have the contrast that comes through.
At that time, Jesus declared,
I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.
Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Amen.
And may God bless that reading of his word to us.
We're going to sing again now to God's praise.
Again, the Scottish Psalter.
Psalm 116, page 395.
Psalm 116.
And we'll sing from verse 1 to verse 7 of the psalm.
I love the Lord, because my voice and prayers he did hear.
I, while I live, will call on him who bowed to me his ear.
Of death the courts and sorrows that about me compass round.
The pains of hell took hold on me.
I grief and trouble found upon the name of God the Lord.
Then did I call and say, Deliver thou my soul, O Lord.
I do thee humbly pray, God merciful and righteous as ye gracious as our Lord.
God saves the meek.
I was brought low.
He did me help afford.
O thou, my soul, do thou return unto thy quiet rest.
For largely, lo, the Lord to thee his bounty hath expressed.
These verses of Psalm 116 we sing to God's praise.
I love the Lord, because my voice and prayers he did hear.
I, while I live, will call on him who bowed to me this year.
Of death the courts and sorrows that about me compass round.
The grace of heaven to hold on me.
I, while I live, will call on him.
singing in singing
Amen.
If you could turn back, please, with me to Matthew chapter 11.
And as we come back to these verses, once more, let's pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word that we have sung.
We thank you for the bounty that is found, that we are able to meditate upon and receive
as we take time to listen to your voice and to think once more upon the wonder of the
gospel, the good news about Jesus.
We thank you that every salvation story, even as we sing the Psalms and as we hear these
accounts of crying out for salvation.
We thank you that every experience, every answered prayer for salvation that was received and
known leads us to the cross where we see Jesus.
And we thank you that we hear in the verses that we have read the words of God the Son who
says, come to me.
And so we ask that you would enable us, Lord God, in this time to come, to come afresh to
Jesus.
That we may know the blessing, the rest, the peace, the joy, the contentment that is found
only in him.
So clear our minds, we pray, of all that would distract us, all that has preoccupied us over
these days and perhaps over the last week.
Cleanse us from sin, the sin that weighs us down.
Bind the evil one, we pray, that he may not be able to assault us and attack us.
And fill us with the Holy Spirit, that the Spirit who inspired Matthew to record these words
as we have them written down, that he would be our teacher, that the Holy Spirit himself
would illuminate our minds and touch our hearts and spotlight Jesus, that we may fix our eyes
upon him.
And we ask all this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Matthew chapter 11 and looking at verse 25 down to verse 30.
And where I'd like to begin this evening is with the idea, the doctrine, the words that guide
us here into thinking about God's will.
We often talk about God's will.
We often wonder about God's will.
Sometimes, even in our every good day conversation, we will answer in terms of God's will for our lives.
Something maybe as ordinary as an invitation to go and join friends for dinner in six weeks' time
or six months' time, we check the diary.
And if it's free, we'll come back in our response and we'll say, I'd be delighted to meet you.
I'll see you at this place at this time, DV, Dio Valenti, which means God willing.
And when we pray, as we come together as God's people to pray, as we attend prayer meetings,
we draw near in worship and we bring our petitions in prayer as we are taught to,
we ask for things.
But often we add rightly as we ask for things, if it be thy will.
And so God's will, God's ways are often mysterious to us.
His ways are higher than our ways.
Often God's will is obscured from our view and our understanding.
But sometimes God's will is revealed to us.
There are aspects of God's will that are shared with us.
And Jesus speaks in this passage about the will of God, the will of the Father.
And that's where we begin this evening.
Three points in the time that we have.
We'll think first of all about the will of the Father.
God, the Son, Jesus, he tells us about the will of the Father.
The second thing we'll see is the way to the Father.
We're taught how we can know the Father, how the Father can be revealed to us.
And the final thing we see or we hear is this amazing call.
The call of the Son.
The will of the Father, the way to the Father, and the call of the Son.
So first of all, the will of the Father.
Verse 25 as we pick this up.
At that time, Jesus declared,
I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that you have hidden these things, these gospel things,
from the wise and understanding,
and revealed them to little children.
Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Now, in Jesus' ministry,
in this world, as it's recorded for us in the Gospels,
it's very clear for us to see that Jesus,
he met a lot of resistance.
And the majority of the resistance that Jesus met with
was concentrated in people who were wise
and understanding in their own estimation.
Jesus clashed most regularly
with people who had a very high opinion of themselves.
I was reminded when I was preparing
of a story that came back to my mind from Loch Caron,
the first place I had a charge.
And we'd, as a family, just moved to Loch Caron.
We were getting our boxes unpacked and getting organized.
And our next-door neighbor was a Highland gentleman
called Donnie Colonel,
a wise, witty, warm character.
A character.
And he would be in and out most days
asking how we were getting on.
And I remember one day he said to me,
have you met this one?
Have you met that one?
Have you met the next person?
And I said, yes, I've met this one.
I haven't met that one next.
And then he said, he says, have you met,
I'll change the guy's name,
but he says, have you met Jim?
And I said, well, as a matter of fact,
I have met Jim.
I could remember Jim.
He was a very confident character.
I said, yes, I have met Jim.
And Donnie paused.
And he says, Jim is a very, very, very important man.
And then Donnie paused with a half a smirk on his face.
And he said, by the way, Jim told me that himself.
Now, Jesus met a lot of Jims.
We have a record in the gospel of Jesus encountering lots of people
who thought that they were very, very important.
And sadly, the majority of these people were religious people.
They were scribes and Pharisees.
And in their own view, in their own estimation,
they were wise and they had great understanding.
They were very, very proud people.
And it's true that many of these people would have been able to recite large sections of the Old Testament.
They had a good grasp of the scriptures in terms of recall.
They may have had an excellent understanding of church law.
They may have been religious experts and had their names in many of the institutions of theology.
But when it came to the gospel, when it came to the good news about Jesus,
these things, these gospel things were hidden from them.
They couldn't see.
They would not see Jesus.
They were filled with spiritual pride.
And spiritual pride is the biggest obstacle to seeing Jesus.
If we are wise and understanding in our own eyes,
we won't be able to see Jesus clearly.
If we are wise and understanding in our own eyes and think that we are something,
the cross will make no sense to us.
It will be of no relevance to us.
And the good news that Jesus preaches will be hidden from us.
J.C. Ryle says this.
Those to whom the gospel is revealed are generally humble,
simple-minded, and willing to learn.
Let us watch against pride.
In every shape, pride of intellect,
pride of wealth,
pride in our own goodness.
Nothing is so likely, says Ryle,
to keep a man out of heaven
and prevent him seeing Christ as pride.
So long as we think we are something,
we shall never be saved.
Let us pray for
and cultivate humility.
And so Jesus,
as he teaches the disciples here,
and as we have this record from Matthew,
we are given a negative example.
We are given an example of what we are not to be.
We are not to be those who are wise
and understanding in our own eyes.
We are to fight against any creeping spiritual pride.
And then we have the positive
from verse 25.
Jesus, having illustrated what we're not to be,
he teaches us what we are to be like.
He teaches us what the Father would will us to be like in our approach.
And he says in verse 25,
we need to become like little children.
Now, in that day, much more so than in our day,
little children had very low position.
Little children didn't have money or power or influence.
Little children in that stage,
in that age,
they couldn't stamp their feet and demand rights.
And little children,
they hadn't become cynical
and hard-hearted.
We don't read in the Gospels of little children
clashing with Jesus
and resisting and pushing Jesus away
like the wise and the understanding were.
Little children, we are told in the Gospels,
they were coming to Jesus.
And Jesus says,
it is the will of the Father
to hide salvation
from the spiritually proud
and to reveal salvation,
to reveal the Savior
to the humble,
to the lowly,
to those who come like little children.
Augustus,
this top lady in the hymn,
Rock of Ages,
has a great line
and it says in that hymn,
nothing in my hands I bring,
simply to
thy cross
I cling.
and that's the way
that we are to come to Jesus.
We come like little children.
Whether it's the first time
or whether it's the thousandth time,
this is how we come.
We come like little children.
Nothing in our hands we bring.
We come with empty hands.
We come with hearts
that we pray that the Spirit has opened.
We come ready to receive
the salvation,
the grace that Jesus offers.
And as we approach the Lord's table,
let's ask the question,
who comes to the table?
Who is it that is called
to come to the table?
And the answer is
only those who see that
they are not worthy.
Only those who see
that we have nothing good
in ourselves
that we can offer God.
we don't come with
a spiritual portfolio.
We come with empty hands.
We come acknowledging
the fact that
there is nothing
that we can trade in.
You know,
when it comes to
the stage where we want
to buy a new car,
we see the car
that we want
and we go to the salesman
at the garage.
and we ask about the price.
But in the conversation,
we're saying,
I have another car
parked out the back
and it's just four years old
and I've looked after it
and it's only got
50,000 miles on it.
So what will you give me for it?
I want to do a trade-in.
Let's come to a deal.
Let's negotiate.
Let's bargain here.
Let's trade.
And that's the way
we approach
a salesman
in a garage.
But
when we come to Jesus,
let's remember
that
we have nothing
that we can negotiate with.
There's nothing
that we can come
and bring
to trade in.
as we prepare
to come
to the Lord's table.
Jonathan Edwards said,
you contribute nothing
to your salvation
except the sin
that made it necessary.
It's a very humbling
truth that is pressed in on us.
You contribute nothing.
I contribute nothing
to my salvation
except the sin
that made it necessary.
And so
as we come
to the Lord's table,
as we come
to Jesus,
we come
not like the wise
and understanding.
That's the lesson.
we come
telling Jesus
about the
good religious
things we do.
We don't come
showboating
the great
theological truths
we have grasped.
We come
in humility
with reverence
and simple
faith
like little
children.
This is the will
of the Father.
The second point,
the will of the Father
is the first thing
that we are taught
by Jesus
as we listen in
to this
lesson.
The second thing
we see here
is the way
to the Father.
Jesus says
in verse 27,
all things
have been handed
over to me
by my Father.
So that's
where we start.
So what's Jesus
saying in that
statement?
Well,
Jesus is saying
in that statement
what Matthew
is teaching
so clearly
right throughout
the Gospel.
Jesus is saying
that he is king.
All things,
says Jesus,
all authority
has been handed
over to me
by my Father.
Jesus is making
clear that he
has authority,
that he has
kingly authority.
And we see
that kingly authority
illustrated in
lots of ways.
We could just
glance back
through a few
chapters.
You can do that
yourself later
in the evening.
And as we scan
over the past
few chapters,
we can see
where the
authority of Jesus
is so clearly
demonstrated.
when Jesus
preaches,
people listen.
Matthew 7
and at verse 29
says,
he was teaching
them as one
who had
authority,
not as the
scribes.
he's teaching
them like the
king,
but he was
and is.
And then
there's the
miracles.
We see all
these records
of miracles
in Matthew's
Gospel.
Jesus is healing
the sick.
He is
casting out
demons.
He's raising
the dead.
And through
these miracles,
through these
signs and
wonders,
we see the
authority of
Jesus.
And even if we
rewind a few
verses to the
section that we
were in last
night,
we listen to
Jesus as he
pronounces
woe on
Carazin and
Bethsaida and
Capernaum.
And as he
pronounces these
woes, he is
showing that he
has authority
to judge.
He is judge
and king.
And now
Jesus goes on
to teach that he
has authority
to save.
Verse 27.
Jesus says,
no one knows
the Son
except the
Father.
And Jesus is
teaching in
these verses
that he is
God the Son.
He calls
God his
Father,
which to
us doesn't
surprise us,
but to those
who are listening
on this day,
they would have
been shocked
and appalled
to hear such
language.
And yet
Jesus is just
teaching the
truth.
of who he
was and
is.
No one
knows the
Father
except the
Son.
Verse 27,
if I continue,
no one knows
the Son
except the
Father,
and no one
knows the
Father except
the Son,
and anyone
to whom the
Son chooses
to reveal
him.
And with
that statement,
Jesus,
he emphasizes,
he gives
us
something of
a window in
to the
Trinity.
there's
something of
the intimacy
of the
Trinity
revealed to
us as
Jesus speaks
of his
Father and
the relationship
between
Father and
Son.
But then
Jesus goes
on, you
could say,
to open the
door further
to show
us
that we
can know
the
Father.
Something
that would
have shocked
the people
as they
heard him
speak.
So how
can we
know the
Father?
How can
the Father
be revealed
to us?
How can
we be
brought
into
relationship
with
God?
The most
important
question any
of us will
ever grapple
with, how
can we be
brought into
relationship
with God?
How can
we know
the Father?
How can
we gain
access to
heaven where
the Father
is?
And the
answer is
through
Jesus.
And
only
through
Jesus.
No
other way,
no other
name,
no other
route,
no other
religion,
no other
man.
Only
Jesus.
The only
way that we
can know
God, the
only way that
the Father
can be
revealed to
us is
through
Jesus.
this
connects
with
John 14
6,
these
familiar
verses
that we
know so
well.
Jesus
says,
I am
the way,
singular,
full stop.
No one
comes to
the Father
except
through me,
says Jesus.
Jesus.
Or
John
chapter 10
and verse
9,
Jesus
says,
I am
the
door.
The
way to
the
Father
is
through
Jesus,
the
Son.
One
commentator,
again,
it's
Ryle,
says,
Jesus
bears
the
keys.
To
him,
we
must
go for
admission
into
heaven.
He is
the
door.
Through
him,
we
must
enter.
He
is
the
shepherd.
We
must
hear
his
voice
and
follow
him.
If
we
would
not
perish
in
the
wilderness,
he
is
the
physician.
We
must
apply
to
him.
If
we
would
be
healed
of
the
plague
of
sin,
he
is
the
bread
of
life.
We
must
feed
on
him.
If
we
would
have
our
soul
satisfied.
!
He
is
the
light.
We
must
walk
after
him.
If
we
would
not
wander
into
darkness,
he
is
the
fountain.
We
must
wash
in
his
blood
if
we
would
be
cleansed
and
made
ready
for
the
great
day
of
account.
The
so-called
wise
and
understanding
who
were
rejecting
Jesus,
they
were
choosing
woe,
they
were
choosing
judgment,
they
were
choosing
hell.
But
those
who
came
like
little
children
to
Jesus
were
being
assured
that
this
was
the
way
to
the
Father.
So
the
will
of
the
Father
is
that
we
will
come
to
Jesus
like
little
children.
The
way
to
the
Father
is
through
Jesus
the
Son,
the
Savior.
And we
finish
with the
call
of the
Son.
Verse 28
is as
far as
we'll
get.
Jesus
says,
come
to
me,
all
who
labor
and
are
heavy
laden,
and I
will
give
you
rest.
Weerspe,
the
commentator,
says,
the
Pharisees
all
said
do
and
tried
to
make
the
people
follow
Moses
and
the
traditions,
but
true
salvation
is
found
only
in
a
person,
Jesus
Christ.
And
that
person,
Jesus
Christ,
God
the
Son,
the
Savior,
the
King
of
Kings,
he
says
to
us,
come,
come
to
me.
And
just
think
about
the
privilege
of
that
and
the
wonder
of
that.
The
magnitude
of
the
goodness
of
the
news
that
is
communicated
to
us
in
that
God
the
Son,
the
Savior,
the
one
who
promises
access
into
heaven,
eternal
life,
forgiveness
of
sin.
He
doesn't
push us
away.
He
doesn't
hold us
at a
distance.
He
says
come.
I was
watching
a
video
on
the
computer
the
other
day
and
there
was
a
concert
and
the
lead
singer
was
singing
and
at
one
point
he
extends
his
hand
and
this
girl
in her
20s
or 30s
is
invited
onto
the
stage
and
she
sings
along
with
this
singer
and
all
these
comments
underneath
are
saying
how
amazing
that
she's
not
pushed
back
by
security,
how
amazing
that
she
gets
to
come.
This
is a
life
changing
experience.
It's
only a
singer.
It's
only a
moment.
But
there's
such
amazement
that
this
singer
who's
got
some
degree
of
importance
says
come.
And
yet
here
the
King
of
Kings
the
Lord
of
Lords
the
Saviour
the
Son
of
God
says
come
to
me.
Who
can
come?
Well,
those
to
whom
the
Father
has
revealed
the
Son.
Verse
25.
If we
think
back to
the day
that
Jesus
first
spoke
these
words,
there
were
many
who
heard
the
call,
but
they
wouldn't
come.
They
could
see no
reason
to
come
to
Jesus.
The
beauty,
the
glory,
of
Jesus
was
hidden
from
them.
So how
do we
know
tonight
if the
Father
is
revealing
the
Son
to
us?
How
do we
know
if this
call
is for
us?
Well,
we
know
because
we feel
weary
and
heavy
laden.
And we
know
that the
reason
for the
weight
that makes
us weary
and weighs
us down
and leaves
us restless
is sin.
sin.
And when
we see
that,
when we
feel that
God
is working
in us,
Jesus told
us in
John
chapter 16
and verse
8 that
when the
Spirit
comes,
He
convicts
us of
sin.
And we're
told in
verse 25
that the
Father
reveals
Jesus
to us
as the
Savior of
sinners.
And when
these things,
these things
come together,
when we
see,
as I pray
that we
see tonight,
that we
are great
sinners
and that
Christ
is the
great
Savior,
we are
to come
to Him
in
response
to His
call,
to us.
And we're
to confess
our sin.
We're
to ask
Him to
take the
weight of
that sin
from us.
And that's
what the
cross is
all about.
The
weight of
our sin
at Calvary
is transferred
from us
to Jesus.
We
often sing
a line
in a hymn,
Behold
the man
upon
the cross,
my sin
upon
His
shoulders.
And yet
when we
come to
Jesus,
He takes
our sin
away from
us.
That's
His
promise.
And He
gives us
rest.
So the
call of
the Son
is come
to me.
Come
to me,
says
Jesus.
If you
feel weary,
if you
feel burdened,
if you
know that
you're a
sinner,
come to
me,
says
Jesus,
and keep
on coming
to me.
So will
we do
that
tonight?
Will we
come to
Jesus?
Maybe
there's
someone
who's
come into
this church
a thousand
times,
but still
you haven't
come to
Jesus.
come to
Him.
Tonight,
maybe there's
someone watching
at a distance
who never
comes into
the church,
and yet
is beginning
to feel
the weight
of sin,
and beginning
to understand
the restlessness
of heart.
Come to
Jesus.
And then
come to
the table.
like little
children,
like little
children,
to remember
with gratitude
all that
Jesus has
done
in and
through
His death
to secure
our salvation
and to
promise us
eternal
rest.
come to
me,
all who
labor
and are
heavy laden,
and I
will give
you rest.
The call
of the
Son.
Let's
pray.
Our
Heavenly
Father,
we thank
you for
your word,
and we
thank you
for your
will that
is revealed
to us in
the verses
that we've
read this
evening.
We thank
you that
it is your
will to
hide from
those who
are full
of pride
the wonder
and glory
of your
Son,
and to
reveal
the
wonder
and the
salvation
that is
promised in
Jesus to
those who
are
recognizing
that we
are sinners.
We thank
you that
when we
see that
we are
sinners,
God,
the Holy
Spirit,
is at
work.
We cannot
see this
on our
own.
It's a
work of
the Spirit.
And we
thank you
that when
we see
that we
are sinners,
we also
are shown
that Jesus
is the
Savior.
He is
the way
to the
Father.
O come
to the
Father
through
Jesus the
Son and
give him
the glory.
Great
things he
hath done.
Help us,
we pray,
as we
prepare to
come to
the table,
as we
prepare for
your day,
to remember
and to
rejoice in
the great
things that
Jesus has
done for
us.
And help
each one of
us, we
pray, to
come in
response to
the call,
to trust
Christ,
in response
to the
command to
do these
things,
to remember
him.
Help us,
we ask,
in Jesus'
name.
Amen.
We'll sing
to conclude
from
Psalm,
sing
Psalms 116,
page 154,
from verse
12 to
verse 19.
How can I
thank the
Lord for
all he's
done.
With
gratitude,
salvation's
cup I'll
raise.
I'll call
upon his
name and
will
fulfill my
vows to
him before
his people's
face.
Down to
the end
of the
Psalm,
to God's
praise.
Psalm 116,
verse 12 to
verse 19,
page 154 of
the Psalter.
Oh,
can I
thank the
Lord for
all he's
done,
with
gratitude,
salvation,
cup I
raise.
I'll
walk
upon
his
name and
will
fulfill
my
love to
him before
his
people's
face.
The
Lord,
don't
hear the
death of
all
his
face.
Hear
me,
O
Lord,
I am
your
servant
too.
I
am
your
servant
and
your
son.
And
what
change
I
have
been
free
by
you.
And
what
means
I
will
sacrifice
to
you.
And
call
upon
the
name
of
God
the
Lord,
!
When
our
people
live
not
set
me
eat,
which
I
have
fulfilled
my
solemn
word.
Before
his
people
I
will
keep
my
blood
love
within
the
of
our
God's
holy
place,
within
the
city
of
Jerusalem,
to
the
Lord
alone
be
all
the
place.
Now
may
the
grace
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
the
love
of
God
the
Father,
and
the
fellowship
of
God
the
Holy
Spirit
be
with
us
all
now
and
forever
more.
Amen.