WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.400 As Luke just said, our reading this morning is from Psalm 27. 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:06.400 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 Psalm 27. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:29.980 Psalm 27. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Psalm 27. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:02:02.000 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:02.840 Wait for the Lord. 00:02:03.219 --> 00:02:05.659 Be strong and let your heart take courage. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:07.260 Wait for the Lord. 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:09.319 Hear the word of the Lord. 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:09.340 Amen. 00:02:09.340 --> 00:02:15.700 Good morning, everyone. 00:02:15.699 --> 00:02:15.799 Amen. 00:02:20.299 --> 00:02:22.859 If you're visiting this morning, my name is David. 00:02:23.079 --> 00:02:25.060 I'm one of the pastors here. 00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:29.719 My name is David every other day in the week as well. 00:02:29.939 --> 00:02:34.620 Not just when you're visiting, but will you pray with me as we come to God's word? 00:02:34.620 --> 00:02:34.680 Amen. 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:45.180 Father, we're all going to be coming here this morning with different things on our minds and 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:51.960 in our hearts coming from the week we've had and the fears for the week we think we're going 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:52.280 to have. 00:02:52.960 --> 00:03:01.000 I pray that you'd give us a stillness to just meditate on your word and I pray that you would 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:09.300 help us to take these rich words of this psalm into your presence in prayer. 00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:10.680 So teach us how to pray. 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:12.000 In Jesus' name. 00:03:12.160 --> 00:03:12.420 Amen. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:17.719 Well, this psalm has a really special place in my life. 00:03:19.100 --> 00:03:21.240 There was a time I was terrified. 00:03:21.600 --> 00:03:23.020 I really was terrified. 00:03:23.020 --> 00:03:25.260 And I'm going to try and hold it together, okay? 00:03:25.540 --> 00:03:28.060 My mind was totally in a panic. 00:03:29.420 --> 00:03:31.460 I was absolutely powerless. 00:03:32.580 --> 00:03:34.379 There was nothing I could do. 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:44.879 And my mind, like, my mind could not sit for one moment to focus on all the beautiful, precious 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:47.100 promises that we have in Scripture. 00:03:47.260 --> 00:03:48.320 Like, I'm meant to be a pastor. 00:03:48.460 --> 00:03:49.300 I knew all the promises. 00:03:49.300 --> 00:03:53.100 I just, I couldn't get a hold of myself. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:04:00.000 Now, Emma, being more godly than me, wanted to open up to a psalm. 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:05.939 And we did what good reformed evangelicals who have been to Bible college do. 00:04:06.020 --> 00:04:06.939 And we just flipped. 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:08.880 This will do. 00:04:13.200 --> 00:04:14.220 Wait for the Lord. 00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:21.139 Sorry. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:31.439 I tried to hold it together. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:32.220 It didn't work. 00:04:33.080 --> 00:04:39.939 There can be an assumption that someone fully trusting in God won't be afraid. 00:04:40.220 --> 00:04:42.800 I think that's a false assumption. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:49.360 I think we hear it when we talk about, like, an older saint who was on their deathbed, and 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:51.420 they're afraid. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:56.400 And we talk about it as if they're dying less well than someone who's able to sing in that 00:04:56.400 --> 00:04:56.740 moment. 00:04:57.560 --> 00:04:58.720 Of course they're afraid. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:08.440 I think we see it when we look at someone we admire in the faith, and they're doing these 00:05:08.440 --> 00:05:12.580 amazing things, and it looks like they're doing them with ease. 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:16.580 But if you knew what was going on on the inside. 00:05:17.900 --> 00:05:26.440 What if faith isn't the absence of fear, but it's what we do with our fear that expresses 00:05:26.440 --> 00:05:26.880 faith? 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:35.319 Now, Andrew Carr in our Bible study got me onto a quote by C.S. Lewis that he has on his 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:35.659 fridge. 00:05:36.699 --> 00:05:42.240 Courage is not simply one of the virtues, one of the Christian virtues, but the form of 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:45.620 every virtue at the testing point. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:52.399 It is easy for us in this room to believe honesty is good. 00:05:53.740 --> 00:05:55.759 It's easy when it benefits you. 00:05:55.759 --> 00:06:00.539 But what about when your boss tells you, just be a good team player. 00:06:00.740 --> 00:06:02.420 Fudge the numbers just a little bit. 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:05.800 Just, are you loyal to this company? 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:09.920 Fear is going to kick in. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:19.379 It takes courage to really believe in honesty in the face of the consequences, the potential 00:06:19.379 --> 00:06:20.379 consequences. 00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:25.319 It is easy to believe in brotherly love when it's mutually beneficial. 00:06:26.719 --> 00:06:31.959 But when you've been hurt once by their words, fear is going to kick in. 00:06:32.219 --> 00:06:33.939 Are they going to reject you even more? 00:06:34.159 --> 00:06:36.159 Are they going to injure you even more? 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:43.780 It takes courage to really believe in brotherly love in the face of fear. 00:06:43.779 --> 00:06:53.859 So whether you're totally overwhelmed like that moment I was or anything, anytime you're called, 00:06:54.119 --> 00:06:55.599 you're at a testing point. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:07:02.520 We've been given this psalm to express our faith. 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:06.500 Because faith isn't the absence of fear, it's what we do with it. 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:09.780 Bring it to the Lord in prayer. 00:07:09.779 --> 00:07:19.139 What we're going to see in this psalm is that we're taught to seek the beauty of God in the darkness. 00:07:19.619 --> 00:07:24.299 Not once you're out of the darkness, but when you're in the darkness, seek the beauty of God. 00:07:25.899 --> 00:07:26.500 Fight. 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:32.779 Fight until you see God's face and know his will. 00:07:34.259 --> 00:07:36.500 And you can draw strength by waiting. 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:40.220 And then we're going to finish by asking, how do we see the Lord's face? 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:41.819 How do we see his beauty today? 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:42.699 So that's where we're headed. 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:45.560 If you want to have Psalm 27 open. 00:07:48.060 --> 00:07:53.680 Now, you may or may not like the imagery of poetry, but I suspect we've all had times when 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:56.620 we've felt overwhelmed by our circumstances. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:59.759 And a really compassionate brother or sister says, trust the Lord. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:00.779 He is sovereign. 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:06.439 Now, that propositional truth, there's times where it's just like, 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:09.639 wonderful truth. 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:11.139 Of course, I believe it. 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:13.180 But they just don't hit you. 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:14.959 Have you ever had that experience? 00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:16.939 It's not meeting you where you're at. 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:26.300 There's something about prayer of those same truths that actually bring us into the presence of God. 00:08:26.300 --> 00:08:32.159 These images here, they stir our emotions. 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:34.399 They meet us in our emotions. 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:37.460 They don't just give us propositional truth. 00:08:37.820 --> 00:08:41.740 They meet me, meet you in our emotions. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:49.899 They give us words to ignite our imagination and to give us something for our memory to hold on to. 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:56.539 It is a wonderful gift of God that he's given us these words to express to him in prayer. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:01.500 Now, we don't know the precise situation in David's life. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:07.879 And I think that gives us freedom to apply a lot of this psalm to a whole bunch of circumstances when we're afraid. 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:14.320 This psalm is intensely personal. 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:17.100 Some psalms, it's let us. 00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:20.419 But here, it's individual. 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:23.299 I, my. 00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:44.259 When the darkness of cancer or depression or you lost your job or someone dear to you is disconnecting from you, 00:09:47.059 --> 00:09:48.759 Yahweh is my light. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:53.219 He's mine. 00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:56.659 It's intensely personal. 00:09:56.839 --> 00:10:00.259 Light is both a picture of hope and life and guidance. 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:01.839 I have no idea what to do. 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:09.899 When we're feeling powerless and hopeless, the Lord, you, Lord, are my salvation. 00:10:13.699 --> 00:10:17.079 My bank account is not the stronghold of my life. 00:10:17.199 --> 00:10:19.459 My family isn't even the stronghold of my life. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:22.759 I have a fortified castle. 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:28.439 Who can assail, who can get past the walls of the Lord himself? 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:30.799 Who shall I be afraid of? 00:10:31.839 --> 00:10:32.759 Now, make no mistake. 00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:34.659 I think David is very afraid. 00:10:35.859 --> 00:10:36.919 He's very afraid. 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:37.759 That's why he's praying. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:42.000 He begins and ends this psalm. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:43.340 Speaking to his fear. 00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:46.059 Or speaking his fear to the Lord. 00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:48.279 Whom shall I fear? 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:53.759 How about evildoers who are like a tiger who want to rip my flesh apart? 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:56.399 Verse 2. 00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:01.120 He's afraid. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:03.259 Whom shall I fear? 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:03.259 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:04.299 How about an army? 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:07.560 I haven't had an army encamped around me lately. 00:11:12.179 --> 00:11:14.500 How about everyone abandoning me? 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:19.240 Even the closest earthly commitments of mum and dad. 00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:24.639 David is not a stoic. 00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:28.500 He's just suppressing and downplaying his emotions. 00:11:28.700 --> 00:11:29.379 She'll be right. 00:11:29.659 --> 00:11:30.480 She'll be right, mate. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:31.680 Yeah. 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:33.340 I'm not afraid of death. 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:35.039 Get. 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:35.820 Get. 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:36.720 Oh, come on. 00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:37.799 Yes, you are. 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:39.019 All right. 00:11:39.180 --> 00:11:39.519 Anyway. 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:40.120 Sorry. 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:43.019 It's a bit of a hobby horse. 00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:46.620 He's not a stoic. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.779 But he's not being ruled by his emotions either. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.340 He's not paralyzed. 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:55.379 He's not frantically trying to regain control of the situation. 00:11:55.539 --> 00:11:56.980 He's praying his fears. 00:11:58.679 --> 00:12:03.840 In the safety of the Lord, he can look at his fears head on and call them for what they are. 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:08.840 He's speaking truth into them. 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:17.759 Our God delights when his people express confidence in him for our lives. 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:22.780 If we look to any other saviour, it's turning to idols. 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:32.399 I think if, and this is a critique on me, okay, when we don't pray, we're probably turning to idols. 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:39.159 Why is prayer the last thing I think to do? 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:46.819 Oh, what peace we often forfeit. 00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:49.759 Oh, what needless pain we bear. 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:52.879 All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:56.279 So David's not a stoic. 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.860 He's not ruled by his emotion. 00:12:57.980 --> 00:12:59.279 He's praying his fears. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:04.879 And in verse 4 and 5, we see what triumphs over his fear. 00:13:05.299 --> 00:13:07.019 One thing have I asked of the Lord. 00:13:07.319 --> 00:13:08.740 That will I seek after. 00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:12.419 That all the cancer disappears. 00:13:15.959 --> 00:13:17.299 It's not wrong to pray that. 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:18.059 Don't hear me wrong. 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:22.120 That I'll be publicly vindicated. 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:23.319 I'm the victim here. 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:25.879 That's my one prayer. 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:28.840 My one prayer is that I keep my job. 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.360 That I keep whatever it is. 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:38.100 David's prayer, his ultimate goal, is not changing circumstances. 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:41.320 Don't forget the situation he's in. 00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:44.700 He's in extreme circumstances. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:47.580 One thing I ask, the thing I want most in the world. 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:50.080 I want the cancer gone, but this I want more. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:55.360 That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life and into eternity. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:58.220 To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. 00:13:59.580 --> 00:14:03.520 And to inquire of his will to know him more in his temple. 00:14:06.420 --> 00:14:10.060 I don't think David is literally asking, can I become a Levite? 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:13.200 Can I become a priest to be literally in the temple? 00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:15.720 He wants to experience God's presence. 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:25.860 There's a man named Alan Gardner. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:31.740 He was in the British Royal Navy and he was a missionary in the 1800s. 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:34.160 He went to Africa and then he went to Chile. 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:38.720 And then he went on another trip to the southern tip of South America. 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:43.480 He went with six others and they had enough provisions for six months. 00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:44.720 So this is 1800s. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:48.259 And they needed to, they took everything with them. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:50.440 You can't just get another plane the next week. 00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:53.200 Although Luke wouldn't come on the plane anyway. 00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:55.820 But, sorry, Luke, I don't know why I said that. 00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:04.480 All the men eventually died of starvation one by one. 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:08.500 And Gardner kept a journal. 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:13.000 And the last thing he wrote was Psalm 3410. 00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:17.200 The young lions suffer want and hunger. 00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:22.019 But those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:23.220 And then he wrote, 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:30.840 I am overwhelmed with the sense of the goodness of God. 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:38.759 His starvation is eating his flesh. 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:43.740 He's failed in his missionary goal. 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:46.860 He's lost his family back home. 00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:49.779 He's not just coping. 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:53.419 He's gazing at the beauty of the Lord. 00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:55.879 What is that? 00:15:56.180 --> 00:15:56.940 I want that. 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:01.620 Religious people obey God to get things from God. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:06.139 Gardner, David, anyone who's seen the beauty of God, 00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:08.819 they serve God to get God. 00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:16.120 Do you know God just as useful? 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:20.720 Useful to get that one thing you want. 00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:24.199 Whatever that one thing is, that's your real God. 00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:29.919 Or do you know him as beautiful? 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:32.620 He is the one thing. 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:40.840 The beauty of God, it's not just another attribute 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:43.960 to his power and his justice and his mercy. 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:48.939 It's all his attributes are attractive and satisfying. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.139 They're pleasurable. 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:58.600 If you just know doctrine in your head 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:02.039 and you don't have pleasure, 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:05.599 you haven't seen him for who he is. 00:17:06.580 --> 00:17:07.720 Because he's beautiful. 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:12.600 Now, I wish in this life we could stay 00:17:12.600 --> 00:17:14.160 in that constant enjoyment. 00:17:15.320 --> 00:17:16.340 That's going to be heaven 00:17:16.340 --> 00:17:19.460 when we're in that constant state 00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:21.580 of just enjoyment and bliss. 00:17:21.780 --> 00:17:24.080 But have you ever tasted, 00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:26.380 taste and see that the Lord is good? 00:17:26.560 --> 00:17:28.200 Not just know that he's good. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.460 Have you tasted it? 00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:33.020 Beauty is to take pleasure. 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:35.379 When you look out on the ocean, 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:36.180 you're not going, 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:39.259 ocean, give me something to do something. 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:41.440 You're gazing and you can't look away 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:43.339 because you're just taking pleasure in it. 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:48.539 When you open God's word, 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:51.740 if you're treating the Bible as useful 00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.859 to get through the week, 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:56.180 you're going to find a lot of it pretty irrelevant. 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:58.460 And I'm like, 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:00.360 what is that about? 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.680 But if you're looking going, 00:18:02.860 --> 00:18:04.360 God, and you're praying, 00:18:04.560 --> 00:18:06.660 God, show me your beauty. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.920 It is an ocean. 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:10.960 It is an ocean to see the character 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:12.080 and goodness of the Lord. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:19.439 And beauty puts all the darkness 00:18:19.439 --> 00:18:20.740 into perspective. 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:24.559 It's what triumphs over fear. 00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:33.939 When in the true story of Sam and Frodo 00:18:33.939 --> 00:18:35.399 on the way to Mount Doom, 00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:39.319 poor attempt at a joke, 00:18:39.399 --> 00:18:40.139 in The Lord of the Rings, 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:44.400 they're overwhelmed by fear and danger 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:46.780 and Sam is losing hope 00:18:46.780 --> 00:18:47.640 and he can't sleep. 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.540 And then J.R. Tolkien writes this, 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.920 peeping behind the cloud, 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:56.740 Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. 00:18:57.380 --> 00:18:59.620 The beauty of it smote his heart 00:18:59.620 --> 00:19:03.680 as he looked up out of the forsaken land 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:05.980 and hope returned to him. 00:19:06.840 --> 00:19:08.280 The thought pierced him 00:19:08.280 --> 00:19:09.360 that in the end, 00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:12.259 the shadow was only a small 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.380 and passing thing. 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:14.580 There was light 00:19:14.580 --> 00:19:16.060 and high beauty 00:19:16.060 --> 00:19:16.640 forever 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.920 beyond its reach. 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.660 And then he fell into 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.840 a deep untroubled sleep. 00:19:23.540 --> 00:19:25.360 That's what's going on here for David. 00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:26.720 One thing, 00:19:28.020 --> 00:19:29.480 if you find the Lord beautiful, 00:19:29.580 --> 00:19:30.740 it puts your fears 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.500 into perspective. 00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:35.640 shadow is a small and passing thing. 00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:38.880 There is light and high beauty 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:40.460 forever beyond its reach. 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:44.279 And then you can say with David, 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:47.900 he will lift me upon a rock. 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:48.799 I'll be okay. 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:56.900 I am inside the threshold of his home. 00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:59.580 He's not going to let any evil come in. 00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:04.700 Now, he's not promising that all the darkness 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.680 is taken away. 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:10.320 But we can know we have that one thing 00:20:10.320 --> 00:20:11.200 we most want, 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:14.200 is to find God satisfying. 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:16.480 Verse 6, 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:18.180 the enemies are still around David, 00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:19.920 but my head is lifted up. 00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:24.420 He knows God will get the victory in the end. 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:27.240 All because he's staring at the beauty of God. 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:29.279 He's able to lift his head. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:31.000 He's able to sing. 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:36.460 Seek his face as the one thing. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:37.940 Whatever darkness is going on, 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:39.559 seek his face. 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:41.740 Beauty 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:44.460 will mean 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:46.519 you can sing 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.700 even in the darkness. 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:50.579 So this psalm teaches us 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.720 to seek the beauty of God. 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:53.519 And the second thing I think we're taught to pray 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:57.119 is 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:58.380 to fight. 00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:00.299 Now, I'm using that word because 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:04.879 David doesn't fight his external enemies. 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:09.659 He's not plotting and scheming. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:12.539 How can I get control again? 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:16.379 In verses 7 to 12, 00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:18.879 I think he's fighting internally. 00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:23.879 He's wrestling with his own mind and heart. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.579 I found it, 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:26.859 I was struggling this whole week 00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:29.039 to understand verses 7 to 12 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.899 because verses 1 to 6 00:21:30.899 --> 00:21:31.279 are just, 00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.139 aren't they, 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:34.259 they're wonderful declarations of confidence. 00:21:34.399 --> 00:21:35.720 And then verses 7 to 12 is, 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:39.200 don't turn me away in anger. 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:40.819 The Lord will, 00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:44.000 the Lord will cover me in his house. 00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:44.859 And then he's saying, 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:47.000 don't abandon me. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:52.180 It is my foes who will stumble and fall. 00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:54.079 And then he's saying, 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.200 don't give me up 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.839 to my enemies. 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:01.500 We may not lack the certainty, 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:05.740 we may not like the uncertainty 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:07.119 David is expressing here, 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:08.720 but isn't that exactly where we live? 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:12.980 God can feel distant, 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:13.620 can he not? 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:17.299 It's like our prayers barely reach him. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.019 Our troubles get worse, 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.839 not better. 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:23.579 Hear, 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.059 oh Lord, 00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:24.779 when I cry, 00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:27.519 where are you? 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:30.220 I'm not saying I deserve an answer, 00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:31.400 be gracious to me. 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:33.279 You say in your word to all your people, 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.399 seek my face, 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:36.299 and I can't see you 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:38.759 in the darkness. 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:40.399 I think that's the thrust of these verses. 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.759 He's wrestling with God. 00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:42.500 I'm trying. 00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.740 I'm reading your word. 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:44.500 I'm here at church, 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.399 and I feel nothing. 00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:48.920 The troubles are more real to me 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.579 than you are. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.539 Are you abandoning me? 00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:53.519 It feels like 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:55.119 everyone else is. 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.960 To seek the face of the Lord, 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:05.000 it's an emotional experience. 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:05.299 Now, 00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:07.559 those who love their rationality 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.180 in this room 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.759 are not going to like me saying that, 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:12.400 but if you're wary of your emotions, 00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:15.660 it's just what it means. 00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:18.500 To seek the face of the Lord 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:20.039 isn't asking for a vision 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:21.319 when you go to sleep. 00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:26.059 It's for what you know in your mind 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:28.340 to sense it on your heart. 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:33.939 It's like you've talked to someone 00:23:33.939 --> 00:23:34.959 over video chat. 00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:36.579 You know them. 00:23:36.659 --> 00:23:37.579 You know what they look like, 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:39.000 but you meet them in person, 00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:39.299 go, 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.619 great to finally meet you 00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.679 because you're just getting 00:23:42.679 --> 00:23:43.339 more, 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.559 more of them. 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.439 There's something about 00:23:45.439 --> 00:23:46.899 the face of someone. 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.379 It's just, 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.699 it's not necessarily new knowledge, 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.339 but it's just more. 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:55.639 It's not only to know 00:23:55.639 --> 00:23:57.019 that God is loving 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.799 with your head, 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.839 it's to sense his love 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.639 on your heart. 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:02.659 It fills you sometimes 00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:04.199 with a joy unspeakable 00:24:04.199 --> 00:24:07.079 and you don't go into 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:08.019 your relationships 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.000 and into the world 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.059 needy anymore 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:11.839 because you're content. 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.759 It's gripped you. 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:17.059 I think David is fighting 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.799 in these verses. 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:19.399 It feels like 00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:20.859 you're abandoning me. 00:24:21.919 --> 00:24:22.799 But with every cry, 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.819 he comes back to truth. 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:27.460 You have been my help 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.159 in the past. 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.599 You have been faithful. 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:32.299 Oh God of my salvation. 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:34.180 He's wrestling 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:36.759 until he gets to the end 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:38.220 of verse 10. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:43.339 He finally feels the love 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.440 of God on his heart. 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:46.759 Even if all other human love 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:48.119 reaches its limit, 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.640 even if my father 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:51.460 and mother abandon me, 00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:54.039 you, Lord, 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:54.819 will take me in. 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:59.319 It is one thing to know 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.819 Jesus will never abandon you. 00:25:00.879 --> 00:25:01.579 It's another thing 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.579 to feel it. 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:05.779 I will never leave you 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.879 nor forsake you. 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:15.359 In verses 11 and 12, 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:16.859 he does want vindication 00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:17.699 over his enemies. 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.479 He wants all the trouble 00:25:20.479 --> 00:25:21.219 to be put right, 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:22.939 but his main fight 00:25:22.939 --> 00:25:24.919 is for what he does. 00:25:26.219 --> 00:25:26.979 Teach me. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:29.859 Teach me. 00:25:30.179 --> 00:25:31.359 How do I please you 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:32.219 in this situation? 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.059 Teach me your way, 00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:35.559 oh Lord. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.319 I think the main fight 00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:42.139 when we're going through 00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:42.839 hard times 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.659 and troubled times 00:25:43.659 --> 00:25:44.819 isn't what's happening 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:45.439 on the outside, 00:25:45.639 --> 00:25:46.339 it's what's happening 00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:47.799 inside in my heart 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:48.379 and mind. 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.500 And I think this psalm 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.099 is given to us 00:25:51.099 --> 00:25:52.099 to fight, 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.379 to wrestle with God 00:25:53.379 --> 00:25:54.079 like Jacob 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:56.159 until we feel him. 00:25:57.919 --> 00:25:59.220 Until you sense 00:25:59.220 --> 00:25:59.939 the depths 00:25:59.939 --> 00:26:00.559 of the Lord's 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.480 steadfast love, 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:03.679 I will never leave you 00:26:03.679 --> 00:26:04.599 nor forsake you. 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:05.199 Yes, 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.179 you could lose your job. 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.220 Yes, 00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:08.779 you could lose everything, 00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:10.159 but I will take you in. 00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:11.319 It's going to be okay. 00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:16.720 We're fighting 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.480 until we're asking 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.460 the right questions. 00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:20.659 What is going to please you 00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.539 in this situation? 00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:25.819 So this psalm helps us 00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:27.419 to seek the beauty of God 00:26:27.419 --> 00:26:28.200 as our one thing 00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:28.899 and it helps us 00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:30.379 to fight in prayer 00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:31.879 until we sense 00:26:31.879 --> 00:26:34.519 God's face 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:36.240 and we're seeking 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:36.779 his will. 00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:38.799 and then he finishes 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.779 by drawing strength 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.399 by waiting. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.960 I think he's speaking 00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:44.899 to his own fear. 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:46.079 No doubt he's counselling 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:47.339 others to do the same. 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:49.160 Wait for the Lord. 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.440 Be strong, 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.099 let your heart 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.720 take courage. 00:26:52.899 --> 00:26:53.779 Wait for the Lord. 00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:54.240 Now, 00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:54.899 I don't think waiting 00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:55.899 means inaction, 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:57.220 although if you're 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.779 anything like me, 00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.519 you need to close 00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.579 your mouth more often. 00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:02.039 It can mean inaction. 00:27:04.179 --> 00:27:04.960 We're going, 00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:05.740 do I do this, 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:05.939 this, 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.179 this, 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:06.419 this? 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.220 Sometimes it's just, 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.279 just stop. 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.699 I think most of all, 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:14.079 waiting is a condition, 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:15.399 it's a, 00:27:15.399 --> 00:27:17.539 it's a settled heart. 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:20.799 I know I'm loved. 00:27:23.899 --> 00:27:25.159 I have confidence 00:27:25.159 --> 00:27:26.480 the Lord is a stronghold 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.099 of my life. 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:28.000 He's in control. 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:30.079 And David draws courage 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:30.480 from that. 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.859 I can move into this 00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:33.899 situation precisely 00:27:33.899 --> 00:27:34.779 because it doesn't 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.420 depend on me. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.299 I'm going to wait 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:36.960 on you. 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.099 I think waiting 00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:39.519 on the Lord 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.799 is a settled heart. 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:40.879 I think waiting 00:27:40.879 --> 00:27:41.579 on the Lord 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:40.799 is a settled heart. 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:51.220 because once you're settled, 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.819 you will act wisely 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.139 then. 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.500 It's in fear 00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:54.960 and panic 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.819 that we say 00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.839 and hurt each other 00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:58.720 and do really 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:00.480 stupid things. 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.139 Or maybe it's just me. 00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.779 So we seek 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:06.500 the beauty of God 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.099 as our one thing. 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:07.779 We fight 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:09.339 until we sense 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.220 God's face 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:12.519 and we wait 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.079 on the Lord. 00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:14.899 So I just want 00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:15.299 to finish. 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.539 How do we seek 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.220 the Lord's face 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.539 today? 00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:20.299 Where do you see 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:21.100 the beauty of God? 00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.240 Everyone, 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.200 believer or not, 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.500 is captured 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.220 by the beauty 00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.940 of creation. 00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:33.940 The heavens 00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:34.819 do declare 00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:35.740 the glory of God. 00:28:35.860 --> 00:28:36.860 We live in a beautiful 00:28:36.860 --> 00:28:37.740 part of the world. 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:40.319 There's so much 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:41.440 water to look at. 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:43.440 It's quite a privilege. 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:44.980 The whole earth 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:46.100 is full of 00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:46.680 his glory. 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:50.220 You probably heard 00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:50.640 the interview 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:51.279 of the commander 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.279 on Artemis 2, 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:54.059 Reid Wiseman. 00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.019 He said, 00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:55.759 when the sun 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.720 eclipsed behind 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.259 the moon, 00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.539 I turned to Victor 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:58.960 and I said, 00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.539 I don't think 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.720 humanity has evolved 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.259 to the point 00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:01.700 of being able 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.339 to comprehend 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:03.559 what we were 00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:04.339 looking at 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.460 right now 00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.079 because it was 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:06.920 otherworldly. 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.480 It was amazing. 00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:11.099 I'm not really 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:11.940 a religious person 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.860 but there was 00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:13.900 just no other 00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:15.240 avenue for me 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.440 to explain anything 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.259 or to experience 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:17.460 anything. 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.039 So I asked 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.680 for the chaplain 00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:19.460 of the Navy ship 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.059 to just come 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.579 and visit us 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:20.960 for a minute 00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.980 and when that man 00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.460 walked in, 00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:23.240 I never met him 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:24.079 before in my life 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.519 but I saw the cross 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:27.120 on his collar 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.900 and I just broke 00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.700 down in tears. 00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:31.680 It's very hard 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.319 to fully grasp 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:33.160 what we just went through. 00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:34.620 It's a wonderful 00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:35.080 testament. 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.980 The creation 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:37.319 declares the glory, 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:38.279 the beauty of God 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.819 but fortunately 00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.420 you don't have 00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:40.360 to become an astronaut. 00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:43.620 It's in the temple 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:46.700 David sees the beauty 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:47.299 of God. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.000 In his house, 00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:49.940 in his tent, 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:51.019 we read again 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.420 and again, 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.840 it's the blood, 00:29:53.840 --> 00:29:55.660 the blood in the temple 00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:57.539 over the mercy seat 00:29:57.539 --> 00:30:00.700 that God would pay 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.920 for sin 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.339 to make us one 00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:03.819 with him 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.539 so that he will 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:06.000 never abandon us. 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.799 Anzac Day yesterday, 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:10.299 we all intuitively 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:12.659 know no greater love 00:30:12.659 --> 00:30:13.980 as anyone 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:15.180 than to lay down 00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:16.339 his life for his friends. 00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:18.119 We know that is beauty. 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:22.220 It's in the temple. 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.940 Now we have 00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:27.500 something much better 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.579 than the temple today. 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:33.240 Charles Spurgeon 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:37.759 famously said, 00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:38.660 Jesus Christ 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.839 was up on the cross 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:42.079 nailing, 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.359 bleeding, 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:44.880 dying, 00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:45.799 looking down 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.500 on the people, 00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:48.440 betraying him, 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:50.700 forsaking him 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:53.039 and denying him 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:54.799 and in the greatest 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.720 act of love 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.480 in the history 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.099 of the universe, 00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.000 he stayed. 00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:01.359 If he didn't 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.420 abandon you then, 00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:04.339 he never will. 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.879 Whatever darkness 00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:10.500 is happening, 00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:12.339 the shadow of death 00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:12.920 is hitting you 00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:13.579 and your family 00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:14.420 or injustice, 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.639 your inner sense 00:31:16.639 --> 00:31:17.159 of failure 00:31:17.159 --> 00:31:17.899 and shame, 00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:21.860 anything that makes 00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:22.360 you feel like 00:31:22.360 --> 00:31:22.980 I'm abandoned, 00:31:23.360 --> 00:31:24.460 we can just gaze 00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:25.160 on the beauty 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:26.740 that he stayed 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.540 on the cross, 00:31:28.280 --> 00:31:29.400 that he will 00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:30.360 take you in 00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:31.519 precisely because 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.100 he abandoned 00:31:32.100 --> 00:31:32.640 his son. 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:40.700 And Jesus' head 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.960 is raised up 00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.820 over all his 00:31:42.820 --> 00:31:43.180 enemies 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:43.820 and all our 00:31:43.820 --> 00:31:44.120 enemies. 00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.220 He's conquered 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:46.960 the devil 00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:47.700 and sin 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.460 and the world 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.220 and even our 00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:49.520 death. 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.640 So where do we 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:52.920 see it? 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.660 We see it 00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:55.240 in his 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:56.100 substitutionary 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:56.420 death. 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.540 That's how we 00:31:57.540 --> 00:31:58.100 gaze on his 00:31:58.100 --> 00:31:58.400 beauty. 00:31:59.540 --> 00:32:00.040 And it's by 00:32:00.040 --> 00:32:00.820 faith now. 00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:02.240 it's going 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.519 to turn 00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:02.980 to sight 00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:03.399 one day 00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:03.980 when we 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.439 see him 00:32:04.439 --> 00:32:04.859 face to 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.220 face. 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:09.839 That's what 00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.200 we're doing 00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:10.679 here today. 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:12.700 We're trying 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.079 to help 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.599 each other 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:16.019 gaze on 00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:16.639 the Lord 00:32:16.639 --> 00:32:17.200 Jesus 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:18.279 afresh. 00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:21.000 That's why 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.559 we sing. 00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:24.679 That's why 00:32:24.679 --> 00:32:25.200 we study 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:25.599 the Bible 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:25.939 together. 00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:26.740 It's why 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.859 you need 00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.200 a brother 00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:28.720 or sister 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.559 who actually 00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:30.500 knows you 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.319 knows your 00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:31.859 doubts 00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:32.359 and your 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:32.859 fears 00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:33.480 and can 00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.160 speak 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:35.160 Jesus 00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:35.519 and the 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:35.839 cross 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:36.420 into your 00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:36.839 heart. 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.000 It's what 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.460 we're doing. 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.259 We're just 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:39.859 constantly, 00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.160 I want to 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.839 gaze on you 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:42.240 all the 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.579 days of 00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.099 my life. 00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.960 John Newton 00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:52.519 who wrote 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.359 Amazing Grace 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:54.079 also wrote 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.440 this, 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.480 this hymn. 00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:57.860 I asked 00:32:57.860 --> 00:32:58.279 the Lord 00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:58.620 that I 00:32:58.620 --> 00:32:59.360 might grow 00:32:59.360 --> 00:33:00.559 in faith 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:01.620 and love 00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:02.059 and every 00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:02.539 grace, 00:33:03.360 --> 00:33:03.960 might more 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:04.259 of his 00:33:04.259 --> 00:33:04.720 salvation 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:05.259 know and 00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:05.799 seek more 00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:06.339 earnestly 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:07.380 his face. 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:09.940 But 00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:11.980 with his 00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:13.160 own hand 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:14.160 he seemed 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:15.120 intent to 00:33:15.120 --> 00:33:16.120 aggravate my 00:33:16.120 --> 00:33:16.640 woe, 00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:18.700 crossed all 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.180 the fair 00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:20.140 designs I 00:33:20.140 --> 00:33:20.720 schemed, 00:33:21.339 --> 00:33:21.960 humbled my 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:22.460 heart and 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:22.880 laid me 00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:23.279 low. 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:25.519 Lord, 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:27.619 why is 00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:28.019 this? 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:28.660 I trembling 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.200 cried. 00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:31.319 Will thou 00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:32.220 pursue thy 00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:32.720 worm to 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:33.039 death? 00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:36.619 These 00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:37.019 inward 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:38.099 trials I 00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:38.579 employ 00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:41.240 from self 00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:42.339 and pride 00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:43.279 to set 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:43.859 you free 00:33:43.859 --> 00:33:45.980 and break 00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:46.839 the schemes 00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:47.539 of earthly 00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:48.339 joy that 00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:49.559 you may 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.299 find 00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:51.220 your 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:51.799 all 00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:53.160 in me. 00:33:53.279 --> 00:34:02.160 fear is 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:02.740 an opportunity 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.619 to seek 00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:04.279 his face. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:07.279 David 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:07.779 only had 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:08.219 the temple. 00:34:09.219 --> 00:34:09.699 We get 00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.599 the glory 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.019 of God 00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:11.279 in the 00:34:11.279 --> 00:34:11.679 face of 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:11.960 Jesus 00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:12.500 Christ. 00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:14.559 So can I 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.000 just encourage 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.500 us, take 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.079 these words, 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:16.800 take them 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.619 as you pray 00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:18.039 and think 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.480 of Jesus. 00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:19.340 Jesus is 00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:19.920 my light 00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:20.300 and my 00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:20.759 salvation. 00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:21.340 Whom shall 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:21.779 I fear? 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:25.140 one thing 00:34:25.140 --> 00:34:25.780 I ask, 00:34:26.040 --> 00:34:26.519 to gaze 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:26.880 on the 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.220 beauty 00:34:27.220 --> 00:34:27.519 of the 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:27.720 Lord. 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:28.100 That's 00:34:28.100 --> 00:34:28.500 the one 00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:28.900 thing. 00:34:29.140 --> 00:34:29.380 I'm going 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:29.980 to fight 00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:30.519 until I 00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:31.540 feel your 00:34:31.540 --> 00:34:31.980 beauty 00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.440 again, 00:34:32.740 --> 00:34:33.640 to know 00:34:33.640 --> 00:34:34.019 that I'm 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.620 loved by 00:34:34.620 --> 00:34:34.800 you. 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:35.480 Even if 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:35.940 this goes 00:34:35.940 --> 00:34:36.360 horribly 00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:36.760 wrong 00:34:36.760 --> 00:34:37.200 tomorrow, 00:34:38.080 --> 00:34:39.019 I know 00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:39.260 you'll 00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:39.740 take me 00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:40.400 in because 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:40.640 of the 00:34:40.640 --> 00:34:40.800 Lord 00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:41.160 Jesus 00:34:41.160 --> 00:34:42.540 and I'm 00:34:42.540 --> 00:34:42.700 going to 00:34:42.700 --> 00:34:43.019 wait. 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.719 I'm 00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:44.679 going 00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:43.719 to 00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:46.039 act as 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:46.320 if it's 00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:46.500 all 00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:46.820 in my 00:34:46.820 --> 00:34:47.159 control. 00:34:47.219 --> 00:34:47.360 I'm 00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:47.420 going 00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:47.480 to 00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:47.860 wait 00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:48.079 for 00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.280 you 00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:48.599 Lord. 00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:53.840 Will 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:55.719 you pray 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:56.039 with me? 00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:56.500 Let's 00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:56.699 pray. 00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:57.619 Let's 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:56.699 pray. 00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:57.619 Let's 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.619 00:34:57.619 --> 00:35:16.639 Father, we can sit under your word. 00:35:17.839 --> 00:35:19.519 We can study your word. 00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.839 We can come to you in prayer. 00:35:20.840 --> 00:35:33.019 But unless you, by your spirit, just press these truths into our heart, we won't feel them. 00:35:33.700 --> 00:35:38.579 We won't see your face as we really desperately want to. 00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:47.259 So I simply ask that for whatever's going on in each of our lives, you would help us to seek your face and feel you. 00:35:48.699 --> 00:36:01.380 So that we won't be acting as needy people and acting out of fear, but acting content in your love, confident that you are the stronghold of our life. 00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:04.880 That if you gave your only son, you'll give us everything else as well. 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:07.740 Teach us to pray like this. 00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:08.700 In Jesus' name. 00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:09.200 Amen.