WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.940 Our text for this morning is Isaiah 56. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.480 We're going to be going through verses 1-8. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:10.060 I'll give you all a moment to turn there. 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:29.980 But as we're looking at this text, I'll just say up front, we're going to be thinking about it somewhat broadly with the topic of missions as it pertains to the Old Testament and as it relates to God's overarching redemptive plan throughout the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.700 Many of us have asked questions before like, did God adjust his plan to save Gentiles or has he always planned that? 00:00:39.700 --> 00:00:46.879 Another way that can be asked is, does the Old Testament ever actually talk about God planning to save Gentiles? 00:00:47.519 --> 00:00:55.179 And on top of that, you might ask, did God save Gentiles in the Old Testament or was it merely talk or hinted at in something that didn't happen until New Testament? 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:58.119 And furthermore, why does God save? 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:01.500 To what end or what purpose is he saving has chosen? 00:01:02.500 --> 00:01:08.000 So this is a sampling of some of the things we're going to be talking about today through our text, Isaiah 56. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:24.079 So turning there, verse 1, thus says the Lord, Isaiah writes, thus says the Lord, keep justice and do righteousness for soon my salvation will come and my righteousness be revealed. 00:01:24.819 --> 00:01:29.379 Blessed is the man who does this and is the son of man who keeps and holds it fast. 00:01:29.379 --> 00:01:35.500 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, the Lord will surely separate me from his people. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:39.259 And let not the eunuch say, behold, I am a dry tree. 00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:46.799 But thus says the Lord to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant. 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:53.920 I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters. 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:58.780 I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. 00:01:59.780 --> 00:02:06.239 And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord and to be his servants, 00:02:06.819 --> 00:02:10.780 everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it and holds fast my covenant, 00:02:10.780 --> 00:02:16.300 these I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:20.800 Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar. 00:02:21.460 --> 00:02:25.560 From my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. 00:02:26.139 --> 00:02:34.780 The Lord God who gathers the outcasts of Israel declares, I will yet gather others to him besides those already gathered. 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:38.719 So just real quickly here, a little context. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:43.560 Again, Clay preached on Isaiah 40 last week and did most of the grunt work for me in laying that. 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:48.659 But I just wanted to note two things that are pertinent for our discussion today. 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:54.560 One, it is important to note that Isaiah is a contemporary of Hosea and Micah. 00:02:54.780 --> 00:02:57.699 And if you're familiar with Isaiah, if you're familiar with Hosea and Micah, 00:02:58.360 --> 00:03:02.879 you recall that those prophets are constantly calling out Israel and Judah for their sin, 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:06.020 namely injustice and a lack of righteousness. 00:03:06.020 --> 00:03:08.520 They're worshiping foreign gods. 00:03:09.900 --> 00:03:15.980 At this point, it was a nation that exploited the poor and the vulnerable while worshiping these false gods 00:03:15.980 --> 00:03:20.120 and only giving external ritualistic worship to Yahweh, 00:03:20.600 --> 00:03:23.680 not true single-minded devotion as he has called for. 00:03:24.700 --> 00:03:25.780 So that's important to note. 00:03:25.860 --> 00:03:28.719 And the other thing I wanted to note contextually before we move on 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:33.699 is that we need to bear in mind that Israel and Judah are on the verge of collapse. 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:36.520 God has been announcing his judgment. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:40.860 It's been withheld at times through the prayers of Hezekiah and other intercessions. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:46.079 But nonetheless, it is on the way, and the Babylonians will drag them away into captivity, into exile. 00:03:47.060 --> 00:03:50.379 And they're going to be in exile for a while, and there's going to be three dispersions. 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:54.680 So we want to keep that in mind as we read this text with all that God's saying in it, 00:03:54.759 --> 00:03:56.799 all that God is planning, all that God is doing. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.879 So just looking at verses 1 through 2, and I've subtitled this section, 00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:03.199 A Call to Righteousness. 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:06.599 And I'll read it again briefly, but we see here the Lord says, 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:26.639 So this is not works-based salvation. 00:04:27.540 --> 00:04:29.699 Paul's very clear on this in Galatians. 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:31.480 Tyler read this text for us this morning. 00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:32.159 We didn't collaborate. 00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:33.100 That just worked out. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:34.899 But Paul writes, 00:04:34.899 --> 00:04:38.939 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:40.699 For it is written, 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:45.599 Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the law and do them. 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:50.219 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law. 00:04:50.739 --> 00:04:52.779 For the righteous shall live by faith. 00:04:53.019 --> 00:04:56.319 Galatians 3, verse 10 through 11. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:00.539 So Isaiah himself understood the logical flow of this. 00:05:00.539 --> 00:05:03.799 He understood regeneration leading to sanctification. 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:05.819 In other words, we have to be made right, made new. 00:05:06.340 --> 00:05:08.879 And then we can grow in holiness, grow in obedience. 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:11.800 Regeneration precedes sanctification. 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:18.379 And Isaiah recognizes this, and we see that in chapter 1, verses 16 through 17, as he records the Lord. 00:05:18.939 --> 00:05:19.620 And the Lord said, 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:20.900 Wash yourselves. 00:05:21.780 --> 00:05:23.180 Make yourselves clean. 00:05:23.400 --> 00:05:24.879 It's that regeneration language. 00:05:25.540 --> 00:05:28.560 Remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:30.360 Cease to do evil. 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:31.399 Learn to do good. 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:32.579 There's the sanctification. 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:33.680 That idea of turning. 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:34.660 Total repentance. 00:05:34.819 --> 00:05:35.439 180 degree. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:37.199 Learn to do good. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:38.879 Seek justice. 00:05:39.220 --> 00:05:40.100 Correct oppression. 00:05:40.780 --> 00:05:42.379 Bring justice to the fatherless. 00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:44.720 Plead the widow's cause. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:47.180 So again, the flow. 00:05:47.300 --> 00:05:49.779 It goes from washing, that renewal, that regeneration, 00:05:49.779 --> 00:05:54.019 to sanctification, to doing good, to stop doing evil. 00:05:55.359 --> 00:06:00.579 So what is God saying in our first two verses back in our primary text, Isaiah 56? 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:07.639 He's saying that the true people of God will and should act like people of God. 00:06:08.119 --> 00:06:10.679 They should be godly as a result of their faith. 00:06:11.619 --> 00:06:12.719 God is just. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:14.099 Isaiah 61.8. 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:17.020 So as his people, we too should act justly. 00:06:17.660 --> 00:06:18.900 God is righteous. 00:06:19.100 --> 00:06:20.760 Psalm 119.137. 00:06:21.580 --> 00:06:24.920 So as his people, we too should act righteously. 00:06:25.720 --> 00:06:26.740 Keeping justice. 00:06:26.920 --> 00:06:27.560 Doing righteousness. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:31.620 This is why God mentions the nearness of his kingdom. 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:35.100 And arriving in the later half of verse 1, 00:06:35.200 --> 00:06:38.060 for soon my salvation will come and my righteousness be revealed. 00:06:38.820 --> 00:06:41.460 This serves as a reminder and an incentive. 00:06:42.520 --> 00:06:43.240 Hey, I'm coming. 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:44.879 Let that incentivize you. 00:06:45.780 --> 00:06:50.139 In other words, we practice righteousness now because one day we will be made entirely renewed 00:06:50.139 --> 00:06:52.340 and completely obedient from the heart. 00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:55.740 And if we're not acting like citizens of heaven now, 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:58.319 then we have no reason to think we will be someday. 00:06:59.860 --> 00:07:02.439 All right, we should be putting on the things of God now. 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:05.600 And we can only be the people of God by faith. 00:07:05.819 --> 00:07:07.879 And that faith produces those good works. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:10.240 It bears fruit, as Jesus himself said, 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:12.439 I am the vine, you are the branches. 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:15.060 Whoever abides in me and I in him, 00:07:15.660 --> 00:07:17.280 he it is that bears much fruit. 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:19.620 For apart from me you can do nothing. 00:07:20.420 --> 00:07:21.579 That's John 15.5. 00:07:21.579 --> 00:07:28.039 So we cannot keep justice nor do righteousness apart from Christ by faith. 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:32.040 So going back to our text, Isaiah 56, 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:36.600 we see that God says all of this, justice and righteousness language, 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:41.020 all of that is in relation to his covenant with Moses in verse 2, 00:07:41.140 --> 00:07:43.560 when he refers to those who keep the Sabbath. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:49.480 Keeping the Sabbath is the most important sign of the Mosaic covenant. 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:51.780 Exodus 31.12. 00:07:51.900 --> 00:07:53.840 And the Lord said to Moses, 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:56.240 you are to speak to the people of Israel and say, 00:07:56.819 --> 00:08:00.100 above all, you shall keep my Sabbaths. 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:04.319 But this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:08.180 that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:12.160 You shall keep the Sabbath because it is holy for you. 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:15.580 Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:17.800 So this is of vital importance. 00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:20.240 In other words, when an Israelite is looking at this text, 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:22.000 they're not just hearing, oh, Sabbath law, 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:23.519 they're hearing Mosaic covenant. 00:08:24.339 --> 00:08:26.159 Understanding this is in connection with covenant. 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:30.759 So when we look at that, we've got to go, 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:31.699 okay, well, what's going on? 00:08:31.779 --> 00:08:35.819 Well, it's an external sign like practicing righteousness and keeping justice. 00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:38.299 It's revealing what's going on internally. 00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:41.519 It's revealing that regeneration, that salvation, 00:08:42.259 --> 00:08:44.240 that demonstrates one's belief in God 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:45.980 to provide and sustain him. 00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:48.740 It is an exercise of faith 00:08:48.740 --> 00:08:53.060 because keeping the Sabbath requires people to not work seven days a week 00:08:53.060 --> 00:08:55.860 despite whatever shortage of food or what have you, 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:57.299 whatever problem they may face. 00:08:57.899 --> 00:09:01.500 In other words, it could potentially be a loss in the worldly sense 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:03.639 when you're thinking about it pragmatically. 00:09:05.419 --> 00:09:07.460 So for them to give up a whole day of work 00:09:07.460 --> 00:09:09.899 in a time in which food is everything, right? 00:09:10.019 --> 00:09:13.240 Farming, harvesting, that's how everything's driven at that time. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:16.080 That is an act of faith. 00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:21.840 So we see then it is entirely by faith that we are able to meet the standards of God 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:26.279 because we are all lawbreakers, both Jew and Gentile, Romans 3.23. 00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:29.440 So we show this faith by our works, 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:32.620 as James and Paul most clearly articulate throughout their epistles. 00:09:32.620 --> 00:09:37.580 It is by faith that saints of both Old Testament and New Testament, 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:40.419 Old Covenant, New Covenant, are saved. 00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:43.080 For even Abraham himself, the father of our faith, 00:09:43.220 --> 00:09:46.379 as you've heard the expression, was saved by just that, faith. 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:49.899 So in short, we as a people of God, 00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:51.639 in light of these first two verses, 00:09:52.299 --> 00:09:56.100 we are called to be holy for he is holy, Leviticus 11.44. 00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:59.600 And this only happens by faith. 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:03.659 So moving on to our next section, 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:06.879 verses 3 through 5, 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:10.080 and I've entitled this a reminder of the promise to Abraham. 00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:12.100 So we're talking about the Mosaic Covenant, 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:14.440 and we're about to move into the Abrahamic Covenant. 00:10:15.540 --> 00:10:16.879 But picking up in verse 3, 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:18.679 God says, 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:50.700 So again, this is hearkening back to the Abrahamic Covenant. 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:54.960 God promised Abraham that he would father many nations, 00:10:55.419 --> 00:11:00.059 and that all of those nations would be blessed by him and his descendants. 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:01.600 Genesis 22.18. 00:11:02.679 --> 00:11:05.580 In his offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. 00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:09.179 So again, looking back at Isaiah 56, 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:14.159 we can see that the foreigner, right, the nations, right, 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:15.440 the foreigner here, 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:19.000 he is being brought near. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:22.380 He has as much reason to hope in God as the Israelites, 00:11:22.520 --> 00:11:24.480 as the physical seed of Abraham does. 00:11:24.560 --> 00:11:26.440 So they too, as the seed of faith, 00:11:27.160 --> 00:11:28.740 they have as much reason to hope in God, 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:32.200 so long as they come to God on God's own terms, 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:34.100 namely through his covenant. 00:11:35.640 --> 00:11:38.800 But did foreigners ever actually become part of the people of God in the Old Testament? 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:40.860 Did God save them during that time, right? 00:11:40.900 --> 00:11:43.020 This is that question I mentioned earlier. 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:45.000 And the answer is, well, yes. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:49.580 There's actually a significant amount, but I'll note just four briefly. 00:11:51.180 --> 00:11:53.580 Mosea's wife, if you've been doing the Bible reading plan, 00:11:53.680 --> 00:11:55.120 you probably caught this this week, 00:11:55.580 --> 00:12:00.160 but Zipporah was a Midianite who joined the covenant by circumcising her son. 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:03.120 Exodus 4.25-26. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:07.320 So here you have a foreigner being blessed by Moses by way of covenant, 00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:09.360 being brought in, being grafted in. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.879 Two, many Gentiles, likely to be mostly Egyptian, 00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:16.779 joined the Israelites on their exodus. 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:18.659 Exodus 12.3 says, 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:24.120 And granted, many of them rebelled later on, 00:12:24.199 --> 00:12:26.419 but it's not a total rebellion by all of them. 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.939 It's never really clear on that, but I think we can infer 00:12:28.939 --> 00:12:30.919 many of them probably remained faithful 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:33.259 and partook of the covenant as Zipporah did. 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:36.699 Another individual is Ruth. 00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:40.219 She was a Moabite who joined in the covenant with God 00:12:40.219 --> 00:12:41.959 and was part of Christ's lineage. 00:12:42.299 --> 00:12:44.679 Ruth 1.4, Matthew 1.5-6. 00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:48.419 And finally, and probably most notably, most famously 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:49.559 in the entire Old Testament, 00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:51.599 is the city of Nineveh. 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:53.839 Repented and turned to God, 00:12:53.959 --> 00:12:55.799 and their salvation in a broad sense 00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:58.919 was confirmed by Christ himself, Matthew 12.41. 00:13:00.699 --> 00:13:03.539 A great New Testament picture of these eunuchs and foreigners 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:06.179 who entered the covenant that God is speaking of 00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:08.579 is found in Acts 8 with the Ethiopian eunuch. 00:13:09.699 --> 00:13:12.120 The Ethiopian eunuch, who is both a foreigner 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:13.719 and obviously a eunuch, 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:16.519 was reading Isaiah 53, 7-8, 00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:17.860 when Philip encountered him. 00:13:19.060 --> 00:13:20.360 Of course, we all know the story. 00:13:20.560 --> 00:13:23.700 Philip uses that text to preach to him about Christ, 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:24.940 forgiveness of sins, 00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:28.420 and being made new and aright with God 00:13:28.420 --> 00:13:30.200 by way of Christ, by way of the cross, 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.040 death, resurrection. 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:35.120 And that results in the Ethiopian repenting of his sin, 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:37.379 and Philip baptizes him in the name of the Father, 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:38.480 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:42.920 This is just one of many fulfillments of Isaiah's prophecy 00:13:42.920 --> 00:13:44.480 of the eunuchs and foreigners 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:46.320 who become God's people. 00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:49.279 The Ethiopian eunuch came to God 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:50.620 by way of God's new covenant, 00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:53.100 which includes the external sign of baptism. 00:13:54.060 --> 00:13:55.759 So though there's some discontinuity 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.300 in the exact external signs, 00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:59.440 there's much continuity in terms of 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.980 the meaning behind it, 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:01.840 the faith behind it. 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:02.920 It's all by faith. 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:05.599 And it's interesting, too, 00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:07.379 because Deuteronomy 23, 1 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:09.240 forbids any eunuchs 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:10.899 from coming into the presence of Israel 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:12.899 and the Lord for worship. 00:14:14.059 --> 00:14:16.439 But here, Isaiah speaks of an elimination 00:14:16.439 --> 00:14:17.779 of that restriction. 00:14:18.219 --> 00:14:19.339 It no longer bears. 00:14:19.459 --> 00:14:22.199 It's not the same, right? 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:24.079 Now the eunuch is called to serve God 00:14:24.079 --> 00:14:25.399 and be in right standing with him, 00:14:25.439 --> 00:14:26.319 as is the foreigner. 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:29.259 So the eunuch should not be discouraged 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:30.879 that he is a dry tree, 00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:32.179 as our text writes, 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:33.939 which is meaning unable to reproduce, 00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:36.919 because God has made provision 00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:38.579 for the eunuch to keep the Sabbath 00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:40.959 and enter a covenant relationship with him. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:45.199 The reminder of the Abrahamic covenant 00:14:45.199 --> 00:14:46.979 means a lot of things, 00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:48.019 but we cannot overlook 00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:49.639 the missional aspect of it 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:53.120 as it is so, I think, critical to this text, 00:14:53.199 --> 00:14:55.339 I think is central to this text in many ways. 00:14:56.339 --> 00:14:59.219 Again, Genesis 22, 18 shows us that 00:14:59.219 --> 00:15:00.939 God's plan for Abraham, 00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:02.380 and by extension Israel, 00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:04.840 has always been to bless the nations, 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:06.280 the foreigners, the eunuchs. 00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:08.880 This means God has always intended to save 00:15:08.880 --> 00:15:10.400 both Jews and Gentiles, 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:12.320 as it's been part of his predetermined plan. 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:16.760 God is about the work of drawing a people for himself 00:15:16.760 --> 00:15:19.240 from every tribe, tongue, and nation, 00:15:19.380 --> 00:15:20.540 Revelation 7, 9. 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:22.980 And Paul, the apostle, 00:15:23.199 --> 00:15:25.259 confirms the good news of the Abrahamic covenant, 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:26.699 the gospel of it, 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:27.959 when he writes, 00:15:28.579 --> 00:15:29.179 in the scripture, 00:15:29.439 --> 00:15:32.519 foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:36.099 preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:37.240 saying, 00:15:37.839 --> 00:15:40.240 In you shall all the nations be blessed. 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:43.259 So then, those who are of faith 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:45.339 are blessed along with Abraham, 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:46.899 the man of faith. 00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:49.360 Galatians 3, 8 through 9. 00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:53.720 And just a nice little verse here in the Old Testament, 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:56.620 I think somewhat captures this well, 00:15:56.959 --> 00:15:57.439 beautifully, 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:59.500 is from Isaiah's contemporary, 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:00.139 Hosea. 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:02.159 We recorded the word of the Lord, 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:02.939 and declared, 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:05.019 and this is the Lord speaking, 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:07.620 I will have mercy on no mercy, 00:16:07.959 --> 00:16:09.759 and I will say to not my people, 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:11.399 you are my people. 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:13.079 And he shall say, 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:14.439 you are my God. 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:15.640 Isaiah 2, 23. 00:16:16.680 --> 00:16:18.320 And that's such a beautiful picture, 00:16:18.420 --> 00:16:19.080 when you consider it, 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:21.040 because I'm just going off the faces here, 00:16:21.140 --> 00:16:22.240 but I think everybody in here 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.920 is probably more Gentile than not. 00:16:24.660 --> 00:16:25.440 And this means, 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:27.540 we too are grafted in, 00:16:27.660 --> 00:16:29.180 we too are part of that blessing, 00:16:29.380 --> 00:16:32.220 we too can be brought into that covenant. 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:35.420 This is news that should cause us to leap for joy, 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.940 we're not cut off from Israel, 00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:38.540 but we are brought in by faith. 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:42.160 And a quick word of encouragement as well, 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:44.639 keep in mind the context. 00:16:44.819 --> 00:16:45.439 So going back, 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:47.100 I mentioned Israel and Judah 00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:48.659 are about to be dragged out, 00:16:48.699 --> 00:16:49.819 away from the promised land, 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:51.259 away from the covenant land. 00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:54.740 They're going to be Babylon's captives for their sin. 00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:56.799 God's prophesying this through his prophets. 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:59.120 They're being punished for their injustice 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.039 and unrighteousness. 00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:01.559 That's about to happen, 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:03.179 in just a short while. 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:06.339 And yet our text here is very encouraging. 00:17:06.659 --> 00:17:09.279 It seems to be talking about people being gathered 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.319 on the holy hill, 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:11.160 which we'll come back to. 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.440 But meanwhile, 00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:14.500 the Babylonians, 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.759 similar to the Assyrians, 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:18.079 they're thinking that they were mightier, 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:19.859 and that their gods were the true gods, 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:21.160 and that the Hebrew God, 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:21.799 our God, 00:17:21.899 --> 00:17:22.319 Yahweh, 00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:23.440 was weak. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:25.740 They thought they were conquering Israel 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:26.859 because of their greatness, 00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:27.539 their merit, 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.740 their things, 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:29.319 their whatever. 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.859 But they failed to recognize 00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:33.519 that God was merely using them 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.240 as a tool 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.440 for his purposes, 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:35.980 namely, 00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:38.539 the carrying out of Israel's punishment, 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.559 which was most fitting 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:40.360 for a couple reasons. 00:17:41.360 --> 00:17:42.500 They were guilty of injustice, 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:44.039 as I've said so many times now, 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.740 and now their punishment 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:47.339 is that they will serve as slaves 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:49.519 in an unjust Babylonian society. 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:51.740 Another reason it's fitting 00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:53.620 is that Israel failed to be 00:17:53.620 --> 00:17:54.860 a blessing to the nations. 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:57.140 They failed to draw people in 00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:58.079 and gather them 00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:59.440 for worship, 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:00.599 as God had ordained. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:02.200 But even now, 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.259 in the midst of their punishment 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.119 for their sin, 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.980 God is still accomplishing 00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:07.299 his plan to gather people 00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:09.000 for Israel to be a blessing 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.700 to the nations, 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.920 as they are now about 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:11.879 to be dragged out 00:18:11.879 --> 00:18:13.039 to the nations 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:15.339 to proclaim the glory of God. 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:17.519 And two obvious examples of that 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.539 are Daniel and Esther, 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.859 and just consider the many ways 00:18:19.859 --> 00:18:21.420 in which they glorified God 00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.559 in pagan lands 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.599 among the nations. 00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:26.619 So I'm mentioning all this to say 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:29.619 that regardless of what persecutions 00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.140 we face, 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.140 regardless of what trials 00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:32.340 or obstacles arise, 00:18:32.780 --> 00:18:34.480 and even despite our own sin, 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.380 nothing will thwart 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:37.880 or oppose the plans of God. 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.880 Nothing's going to get in his way 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:40.800 of bringing the nations 00:18:40.800 --> 00:18:41.380 to gather, 00:18:41.540 --> 00:18:42.040 to worship. 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.960 So God is calling his people 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.800 to keep justice 00:18:45.800 --> 00:18:47.100 and practice righteousness 00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:49.740 while also reminding his people 00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:52.000 that he is using each individual 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.380 to bring about multiplication, 00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:55.620 that we should all be messengers 00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:56.960 of his good news 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:58.200 and witness the expansion 00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:58.900 of his kingdom 00:18:58.900 --> 00:19:00.500 as free captives 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.280 from their sin. 00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:03.640 But why? 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.980 To what end 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.000 is he doing this? 00:19:07.780 --> 00:19:08.380 And this leads us 00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:09.340 to our final section, 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.300 verses 6 through 8. 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:12.800 And I've subtitled this, 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:13.880 Those God Gathers 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:14.800 Will Worship. 00:19:16.100 --> 00:19:17.600 Starting in verse 6 again, 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:19.579 And the foreigners 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.419 who join themselves 00:19:20.419 --> 00:19:21.019 to the Lord 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:21.859 to minister to him 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:23.059 to love the name of the Lord 00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:24.219 and to be his servants, 00:19:24.459 --> 00:19:25.500 everyone who keeps the Sabbath 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.699 and does not profane it 00:19:26.699 --> 00:19:28.379 and holds fast my covenant, 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:30.000 these I will bring 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.159 to my holy mountain 00:19:31.159 --> 00:19:32.759 and make them joyful 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.879 in my house of prayer. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.539 Their burnt offerings 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.679 and their sacrifices 00:19:36.679 --> 00:19:37.659 will be accepted 00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:38.480 on my altar. 00:19:39.459 --> 00:19:40.459 My house shall be called 00:19:40.459 --> 00:19:41.259 a house of prayer 00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.779 for all peoples. 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.339 The Lord God 00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:45.539 who gathers the outcasts 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.539 of Israel declares, 00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:48.440 I will gather yet others 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:49.180 to him besides 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:50.579 those already gathered. 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.299 So the answer is clear. 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.639 God gathers his chosen 00:19:55.639 --> 00:19:57.240 for the express purpose 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.019 of worship. 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:00.059 It is not enough 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.960 that they are gathered. 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:02.859 We know that God 00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:04.259 gathers people out of Egypt 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.539 so that they would worship him, 00:20:05.659 --> 00:20:06.879 Exodus 7, 16. 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.680 But as he was giving 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.579 the law to Moses 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.319 on Mount Sinai, 00:20:10.399 --> 00:20:11.659 they gathered to rebel 00:20:11.659 --> 00:20:12.940 by worshiping 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.920 the golden calf. 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.359 It's all Exodus 32. 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.899 In Matthew 21, 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:19.119 starting verse 12, 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.920 we see many gathered 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.579 at the temple, 00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:23.720 but Jesus drives them out. 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.200 Why? 00:20:24.899 --> 00:20:25.659 Because they are not 00:20:25.659 --> 00:20:26.920 worshiping God rightly 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:28.460 in his house of prayer. 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.440 Further, 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.539 their actions were wretched 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:33.119 because this very house 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:33.619 was meant to be 00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:34.420 a place of blessing 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:35.359 for all people 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:36.920 as they worshiped, 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.839 and yet the merchants 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.639 were using it 00:20:38.639 --> 00:20:39.579 as a den of thieves 00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:40.379 to rob people, 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.240 to bring oppression, 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.779 to serve injustice. 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:44.000 The same problem 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.879 we're seeing in Isaiah. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:47.280 They completely inverted 00:20:47.280 --> 00:20:48.320 God's expressed will 00:20:48.320 --> 00:20:48.840 and desire 00:20:48.840 --> 00:20:50.520 by their sinful rebellion. 00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:53.080 Again, 00:20:53.120 --> 00:20:53.760 it is not enough 00:20:53.760 --> 00:20:54.660 that the people are gathered. 00:20:54.760 --> 00:20:55.580 They must be gathered 00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:56.320 to worship. 00:20:57.100 --> 00:20:57.780 And Isaiah 56 00:20:57.780 --> 00:20:58.480 makes it clear 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.260 that we are gathered 00:20:59.260 --> 00:21:00.260 to serve God, 00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:01.160 to love God, 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.480 to offer sacrifices, 00:21:03.040 --> 00:21:03.460 prayers, 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.340 and offerings. 00:21:06.060 --> 00:21:07.140 This is the language 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:07.800 of worship, 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.580 the language and actions 00:21:09.580 --> 00:21:10.320 of one who has 00:21:10.320 --> 00:21:11.560 truly denied himself, 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.420 picked up his cross, 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.620 and followed after Christ. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:15.700 If you will, 00:21:15.780 --> 00:21:16.800 turn with me real quickly 00:21:16.800 --> 00:21:18.500 to John chapter 4, 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:19.760 verse 20. 00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:28.640 This is the famous passage 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:29.440 in which Jesus 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.500 talks to the Samaritan woman 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.120 at the well. 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:33.820 Again, 00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:34.580 I think there's a lot 00:21:34.580 --> 00:21:36.080 of things going on here 00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:36.780 that are striking 00:21:36.780 --> 00:21:38.480 in comparison 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.600 with Isaiah 56. 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:43.339 Picking up in verse 20, 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.939 the Samaritan woman 00:21:44.939 --> 00:21:45.439 is speaking, 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.240 and she says, 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:48.159 Our fathers worshipped 00:21:48.159 --> 00:21:48.959 on this mountain, 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.000 but you, 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.839 referring to Christ, 00:21:50.939 --> 00:21:51.980 but you say that 00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:53.439 in Jerusalem 00:21:53.439 --> 00:21:54.439 is the place 00:21:54.439 --> 00:21:55.500 where people ought 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.039 to worship. 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.399 Verse 21, 00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.439 Jesus said to her, 00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:58.799 Woman, 00:21:59.179 --> 00:21:59.859 believe me, 00:22:00.459 --> 00:22:01.379 the hour is coming 00:22:01.379 --> 00:22:02.619 when neither on this mountain 00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:03.539 nor in Jerusalem 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.339 will you worship 00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:04.879 the Father. 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.159 You worship 00:22:06.159 --> 00:22:07.179 what you do not know. 00:22:07.699 --> 00:22:08.299 We worship 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.059 what we know, 00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.639 for salvation 00:22:10.639 --> 00:22:11.879 is from the Jews. 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.799 But the hour is coming 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.980 and is now here 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:16.619 when the true worshippers 00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:17.680 will worship the Father 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:19.539 in spirit and truth, 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:20.940 for the Father 00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:22.460 is seeking such people 00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.339 to worship him. 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:24.339 He's gathering them. 00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.379 Verse 24, 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:26.720 God is spirit 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:28.460 and those who worship him 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.259 must worship 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.980 in spirit and truth. 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:33.059 The woman said to him, 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.559 I know that the Messiah 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.139 is coming, 00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:36.740 he who is called Christ. 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:38.200 When he comes, 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:38.919 he will tell us 00:22:38.919 --> 00:22:39.579 all things. 00:22:40.419 --> 00:22:41.240 Jesus said to her, 00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.599 I who speak to you 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.339 am he. 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.980 So a couple of observations. 00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:48.159 In the new covenant, 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:50.159 the hill on which we worship 00:22:50.159 --> 00:22:50.859 is irrelevant. 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.879 Neither on this mountain 00:22:52.879 --> 00:22:53.759 nor in Jerusalem, 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.599 but we are able 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.419 to worship the Lord 00:22:55.419 --> 00:22:55.980 everywhere 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.099 now that we are 00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:58.440 indwelled by the Holy Spirit. 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:00.940 We also see 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.940 that Jesus, 00:23:02.419 --> 00:23:03.539 as the Son of God, 00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:05.619 echoes God the Father 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.779 in Isaiah 56 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:08.539 by clearly asserting 00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:09.779 that he is saving people 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.739 for himself 00:23:10.739 --> 00:23:11.859 to worship in spirit 00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:12.539 and truth. 00:23:13.979 --> 00:23:15.159 We must be active 00:23:15.159 --> 00:23:16.279 about the work of obedience 00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.459 and doctrinal purity 00:23:17.459 --> 00:23:18.719 if we are to know 00:23:18.719 --> 00:23:19.959 and worship God rightly. 00:23:20.679 --> 00:23:21.639 It's all of 1 John. 00:23:21.699 --> 00:23:22.419 We know we love him 00:23:22.419 --> 00:23:23.439 if we keep his commands, 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.219 we keep his word, 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:25.159 we keep his law. 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.479 We have to know him. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:28.660 And finally, 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.420 Jesus Christ 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:31.599 is God incarnate, 00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:33.120 the Holy One of Israel, 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.380 whom we will worship 00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:35.180 one gathered 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:35.819 for the marriage 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.380 of the church 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.460 and the Lamb of God. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:40.140 Revelation 19, 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.360 verse 6, 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.900 Then I heard 00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:43.519 what seemed to be 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.039 the voice 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.140 of a great multitude, 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:46.099 like the roar 00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:46.880 of many waters 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:47.579 and like the sound 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.440 of mighty pearls 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.000 of thunder, 00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:49.720 crying out, 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.620 Hallelujah, 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:52.360 for the Lord our God, 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:54.019 the Almighty reigns. 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.400 Let us rejoice 00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.060 and exalt, 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:58.120 and give him the glory, 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.240 for the marriage 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:00.400 of the Lamb has come, 00:24:00.540 --> 00:24:01.140 and his bride 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:02.700 has made herself ready. 00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:04.860 It was granted her 00:24:04.860 --> 00:24:05.759 to clothe herself 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.600 with fine linen, 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.519 bright and pure, 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:08.920 for the fine linen 00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.960 is the righteous deeds 00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:10.560 of the saints. 00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:12.519 And the angel said to me, 00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.180 Write this, 00:24:13.280 --> 00:24:14.080 Blessed are those 00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:14.640 who are invited 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:15.660 to the marriage supper 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.320 of the Lamb. 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:17.580 And he said to me, 00:24:17.580 --> 00:24:18.560 These are the true words 00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:19.120 of God. 00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.080 Then I, 00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:21.100 this is John speaking, 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.880 Then I fell down 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:23.400 at his feet 00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.140 to worship him, 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:24.840 but he said to me, 00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:26.319 You must not do that. 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.839 I am a fellow servant 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.779 with you and your brothers 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.859 who hold to the testimony 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:30.519 of Jesus. 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.279 Worship God, 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.019 for the testimony 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.519 of Jesus 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.459 is the spirit 00:24:34.459 --> 00:24:35.159 of prophecy. 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.399 The great multitude 00:24:38.399 --> 00:24:39.099 being made up 00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:39.639 of Jews 00:24:39.639 --> 00:24:40.720 and Gentiles, 00:24:41.459 --> 00:24:42.559 those whom God 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.119 has called, 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.059 they, 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:44.519 we, 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.159 will give him 00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:46.659 the glory. 00:24:47.659 --> 00:24:48.399 We will wear 00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:49.039 fine linen 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:50.099 as we produce 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.959 righteous deeds 00:24:50.959 --> 00:24:51.779 by faith, 00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:53.319 and we will 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:53.879 be gathered 00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:54.559 and worship 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.079 the Lord. 00:24:56.879 --> 00:24:57.680 So just three 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.839 applications in closing. 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.019 We want to be about 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.039 the works of missions. 00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.660 By prayer, 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.660 by giving, 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:06.160 by encouraging, 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.139 by serving. 00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.180 We have many 00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:09.680 in our church 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.420 that are senders 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:10.960 and we have many 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.379 in our church 00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:12.160 that are goers. 00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:13.700 Let's come alongside 00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.859 them in whatever capacity 00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:15.460 that we can 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.180 to serve the Lord. 00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:17.980 And don't undermine prayer. 00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:18.660 I think so often 00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.319 people feel, 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:19.579 oh, 00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:19.720 well, 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.179 I don't have 00:25:20.179 --> 00:25:20.619 enough money 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.039 to give 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.859 or I don't have 00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:22.419 the ability 00:25:22.419 --> 00:25:22.939 or the means 00:25:22.939 --> 00:25:24.000 or calling 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.359 or whatever 00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:25.019 you want to call it 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.559 to go over 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.740 and do that work. 00:25:27.419 --> 00:25:27.539 Well, 00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:28.000 prayer is one 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.500 of the primary 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.139 motives in which 00:25:29.139 --> 00:25:29.960 the church has grown 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.480 and you see it 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.259 throughout Acts. 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.019 And that's something 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.480 you can do 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:32.980 and it's free. 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.279 Right? 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.599 It's easy. 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.379 Let's be in prayer 00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:37.039 about missions. 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:37.659 Let's be in prayer 00:25:37.659 --> 00:25:38.700 for missionaries 00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:40.200 and prayer 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:40.960 for the lost. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.740 Second application, 00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.720 let's take heart 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.359 in knowing 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:45.980 that nothing 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.539 can thwart 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.059 or stop 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:47.659 God's plan 00:25:47.659 --> 00:25:48.259 of salvation 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.799 and restoration. 00:25:49.939 --> 00:25:50.980 We do not have 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.740 to worry about 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.480 persecution, 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.119 poor political 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:54.759 candidates, 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:55.919 or anything 00:25:55.919 --> 00:25:56.519 that might 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.399 seemingly be 00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:58.079 in our way. 00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.639 Obviously, 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.220 a lot of things 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:00.759 are going on 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.119 right now 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:01.720 in our country 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.799 and some good, 00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:03.359 some bad, 00:26:03.419 --> 00:26:04.559 and, you know, 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.019 we all have 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.659 our interpretations 00:26:05.659 --> 00:26:06.119 of them, 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.720 but regardless 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.539 of what's happening, 00:26:07.679 --> 00:26:08.240 regardless of how 00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:08.819 many conspiracy 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.700 theories are true 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.599 or this or that, 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:12.059 it's irrelevant. 00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:12.579 It's not going 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.200 to stop God. 00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:13.799 It's not going 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.079 to thwart 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:15.019 his plans to gather. 00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.059 It's not going 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.659 to stop him 00:26:16.659 --> 00:26:17.519 from saving 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.179 those whom he's 00:26:18.179 --> 00:26:18.480 called. 00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:20.500 And three, 00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.779 most importantly, 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.099 and I think 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.480 if we're doing 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.039 the first two 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.299 right, 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:24.919 it results 00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.259 in doing 00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:25.720 this third 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.000 one, 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.679 we want 00:26:27.679 --> 00:26:28.119 to worship 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.720 the Lord. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.619 We do this 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.159 by obeying 00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:31.720 his word, 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:32.919 by keeping 00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:33.480 justice, 00:26:33.659 --> 00:26:34.019 practicing 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.619 righteousness, 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.200 by being salt 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.559 and light 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.259 to the earth, 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.019 a blessing 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.439 to it 00:26:38.439 --> 00:26:38.720 and its 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.079 peoples. 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:40.899 We should 00:26:40.899 --> 00:26:41.480 be thankful 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.359 as Gentiles, 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.099 foreigners to 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:43.399 Israel, 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:43.819 that God 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.299 has always 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.000 planned to 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.480 graft us 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:45.879 into his 00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.740 salvific plan. 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.880 let's express 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:48.779 that thankfulness. 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:50.259 We should be 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.759 thankful that 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.480 he is a just 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:51.960 and righteous 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:53.359 God who we 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:54.019 can trust. 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.120 And we are 00:26:55.120 --> 00:26:55.700 going to an 00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.400 eternal kingdom 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.319 where there will 00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:58.240 be no injustice, 00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:58.859 oppression, 00:26:59.059 --> 00:26:59.620 wrongdoing, 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.759 or any evil 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.400 of any kind. 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:01.779 We're not going 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.420 to worry about 00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:03.400 voter fraud 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.000 or any kind 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.480 of other 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.640 worldly thing. 00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.880 In everything 00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:08.279 we do, 00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:08.720 we are going 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:10.019 to glorify God. 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:11.720 Everything 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.380 falls under 00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:13.019 that umbrella 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.379 and there 00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:14.859 is no 00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:15.460 substitute 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.359 for it. 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:17.160 Without 00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:17.619 it, 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:18.500 missions, 00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:19.379 salvation, 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.559 and everything 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:21.500 becomes meaningless. 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.119 We are 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:23.819 saved for the 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.579 purpose of 00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:26.259 worship and 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.900 we go on 00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:28.559 mission and 00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:29.319 support missions 00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:30.000 for the sake 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.980 of gathering 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.779 God's people 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.559 on his holy 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.000 hill for 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.359 worship. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.539 So let's go 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:35.859 to the Lord 00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:36.599 now in prayer 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.299 and let's 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:37.799 worship him.