Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / A Surprising Sabbath
Transcript
- 0:00Let us begin our worship of God by singing together in Psalm 46 of the Scottish Psalter version.
- 0:10You'll find that on page 271 of the Blue Books.
- 0:17Singing to the Tune Lingam.
- 0:21Psalm 46, we'll sing verses 1 down to verse mark 6.
- 0:25God is our refuge and our strength, and straight at present aid.
- 0:30Therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid.
- 0:35The hills amist, the seas be cast, the waters roaring make.
- 0:39And troubled be, yea, though the hills by swelling, seas do shake.
- 0:44We'll sing from the beginning of that psalm down to the end of verse mark 6.
- 0:49And we'll stand to sing, if we can.
- 0:51God is our refuge and our strength.
- 0:55God is a refuge and our strength.
- 1:03In streets of present aid.
- 1:07In streets of present aid.
- 1:13Therefore, although the earth remove,
- 1:18We will not be afraid.
- 1:20We will not be afraid.
- 1:23We will not be afraid.
- 1:27We will not be afraid.
- 1:29We will not be afraid.
- 1:35Though hills amids, the seas be cast.
- 1:41Though water's roaring make.
- 1:45Though water's roaring make.
- 1:49Though water's roaring make.
- 1:50And troubled be, yea, though the hills.
- 1:57Menschet, how it is.
- 2:00By swelling, seas do shake.
- 2:01By swelling, seas do shake.
- 2:06By swelling, seas do shake.
- 2:08By swelling, seas do shake.
- 2:11shady
- 2:41Most high hath his afford
- 2:52God in the midst of heart doth dwell
- 2:59Nothing shall her remove
- 3:09The Lord to have and help us well
- 3:16And that right there he flew
- 3:19And that right there he flew
- 3:23And that right there he flew
- 3:26And that right there he flew
- 3:31The heathen rage to much us see
- 3:38The kingdoms move and where
- 3:45The kingdoms move and where
- 3:48The Lord God God direct his voice
- 3:55The earth is meant for fear
- 4:02The earth is meant for fear
- 4:06The earth is meant for fear
- 4:10We'll join together in a short word of prayer
- 4:18Let us pray to God
- 4:21Our Father in heaven
- 4:25We ask that we would know your peace
- 4:28As we come to you
- 4:30That you would still our hearts
- 4:32That we would be quiet
- 4:34And know the quietness of your presence
- 4:36So that we would hear your voice
- 4:39And it would speak to us
- 4:43And as we come to your word
- 4:45May we know the riches of it
- 4:47And we pray for the young ones that are here with us
- 4:51We thank you for them
- 4:53We thank you for them
- 4:54It enriches and it brings joy to their heart
- 4:58To see children coming and singing praises to God
- 5:02That they may learn of your ways
- 5:05And learn all about Jesus Christ
- 5:07Learn of the biblical stories
- 5:09And the power of God
- 5:11And the authority that he has over all creation
- 5:16God created us
- 5:19And God made us so that we may bring forth his glory
- 5:25And that we may know what he has given to us
- 5:32In Jesus Christ
- 5:34Jesus came and died for us on the cross
- 5:38And that through that
- 5:41We can enter into heaven
- 5:44And we can be with God
- 5:46And we have the right to call God our Father
- 5:50A loving Father that looks after us
- 5:53A loving Father that always hears us when we cry to him
- 5:57And so we have confidence when we come to you in prayer
- 6:01That you will listen to us
- 6:03And that you will hear our voice
- 6:05So Lord we just ask
- 6:07Bless us in the gathering of your people
- 6:11In this time and this hour
- 6:13Bless the children as they go into Sunday school
- 6:16And tweenies and creche
- 6:17That they may hear of the beauty of God
- 6:21And the wonders of Jesus Christ
- 6:23All this we ask in your name
- 6:26Amen
- 6:27Just a short word to the boys and girls
- 6:31Before you go into Sunday school
- 6:37Holiday twinies and creche
- 6:41Have you ever seen them before?
- 6:43Do you know what they are?
- 6:45Sweeties
- 6:47Do you like them?
- 6:49We love sweeties
- 6:51We love sweeties
- 6:53We love sweeties
- 6:54And supposing there were seven sweeties in here
- 6:57Supposing I had to go out one, two, three, four, five, six, seven
- 7:01And I left them all there
- 7:03And I said well you can have six of them
- 7:07But I want you to leave one of them
- 7:09It would be very hard to leave one wouldn't it?
- 7:13You'd eat this one
- 7:15Yummy
- 7:17You'd eat the two
- 7:18Oh that was good
- 7:19You'd eat the three, four, five, six
- 7:22You'd eat them all
- 7:24I think that was great
- 7:25I love them sweeties
- 7:27It tastes so good
- 7:29But there'd be one left
- 7:31And you'd be looking at it
- 7:33You'd be thinking hmm
- 7:34Will I eat that one?
- 7:36I've not meant to eat that one
- 7:39But what we do is
- 7:41We love these sweeties
- 7:44And we think well
- 7:46No one will notice
- 7:48I'll just slip it in my mouth
- 7:50And I'll enjoy it too
- 7:53Yeah, that's what we do isn't it?
- 7:55We're tempted by these things
- 7:58And it's very like what we do with the days that we have
- 8:02God has given us six days
- 8:06And then one day is for God
- 8:09That's one day where we come to church
- 8:13But what we do
- 8:14And what people do
- 8:16And what we like to do
- 8:18Is to do all the things that we want to do
- 8:21Even on God's day
- 8:24Just like the sweeties
- 8:25We enjoy doing all the things we love doing
- 8:28Through the week
- 8:30The days were Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
- 8:33And then Sunday
- 8:36We have to give that to God
- 8:38But it's pleasing to God
- 8:41To come and remember his day
- 8:44To give God his day
- 8:47That we come to church
- 8:49And we learn all about God
- 8:51Because it's good for us
- 8:53Too many sweets aren't good for us
- 8:55No
- 8:57But God knows that it is good for us
- 8:59To have a day set apart
- 9:02Where we come and worship God
- 9:04It's good for children
- 9:06And it's good for grown-ups
- 9:08To have a rest on Sunday
- 9:10And to give our time
- 9:12To thinking about all that God has done for us
- 9:15The hardest thing to give is our time
- 9:18Because we want to do all the things
- 9:21We're so busy
- 9:23But God asks us
- 9:25To give us time
- 9:27To share our time
- 9:29With him
- 9:30Because he wants to share time with us too
- 9:33And that's what happens on Sunday
- 9:36When we come to God
- 9:38That we share our time
- 9:40And that he would share time with us
- 9:42So we'll say the Lord's prayer together
- 9:45Before we go through
- 9:46Our Father
- 9:49Which art in heaven
- 9:50Hallowed be thy name
- 9:52Thy kingdom come
- 9:54Thy will be done on earth
- 9:56As it is in heaven
- 9:58Give us this day our daily bread
- 10:00And forgive us our debts
- 10:02As we forgive our debtors
- 10:04Lead us not into temptation
- 10:06But deliver us from evil
- 10:08For thine is the kingdom
- 10:10The power and the glory
- 10:12Forever
- 10:13Thank you for listening to me
- 10:17Now we'll continue by singing
- 10:19In our praise to God
- 10:21In Psalm 36
- 10:23Of the Sing Psalms version
- 10:25Psalm 36
- 10:27In the Sing Psalms
- 10:29You'll find that on page 44
- 10:31Of the blue book
- 10:35Singing from verse mark 7
- 10:37Through to verse mark 12
- 10:39How precious is your steadfast love
- 10:45What confidence it brings
- 10:47Both high and low find shelter
- 10:49In the shadow of your wings
- 10:51They feast within your house
- 10:52And drink from streams of your delight
- 10:55For with you is the source of life
- 10:57In your light we see light
- 10:59To those who know you as their God
- 11:02Your steadfast love impart
- 11:04Maintain your righteousness
- 11:05To those of pure and upright heart
- 11:08Let not the ruthless foot of pride
- 11:10Approach and threaten me
- 11:12Nor let the hand of wickedness
- 11:14Force me to turn and flee
- 11:17See where these evildoers lie
- 11:20Who righteousness despise
- 11:22Thrown down they are
- 11:24And there they stay
- 11:27Unable to rise
- 11:29God's steadfast love to us
- 11:31God's protection of his people
- 11:33From the wicked
- 11:34And that he will ultimately
- 11:37Cast them down
- 11:39That they will not rise up
- 11:42So we'll stand to sing
- 11:44To God's praise from verse 7
- 11:46How precious is your steadfast love
- 11:48To the tune Jackson
- 11:49How precious is your steadfast love
- 11:54What confidence it brings
- 11:56What high and low find shelter in
- 11:59The shadow of your wings
- 12:02The shadow of your wings
- 12:03They feast within your house and drink
- 12:05From streams of pure delight
- 12:08For with you is the source of light
- 12:09For with you is the source of light
- 12:11Find shelter in the shadow of your wings
- 12:15To the tune of your wings
- 12:16To the tune of your wings
- 12:18They feast within your house and drink
- 12:20From streams of pure delight
- 12:21For with you is the source of light
- 12:23In your light we see light
- 12:26To the tune of your wings
- 12:27To those who know
- 12:48To those who know you past
- 12:50God, you steadfast love impart, maintain your righteousness to those of pure and upright
- 13:09Let not the ruthless fruit of pride approach and threaten me
- 13:24Nor let the hand of wickedness force me to turn and flee
- 13:37See where these people doers lie, who righteousness despise
- 13:51Roadmen are red and their lives still are able to abide
- 14:04Turn now to a reading from scripture and we'll find that in the Gospel of Mark chapter 1
- 14:14Gospel of Mark chapter 1 and we'll read it from verse Mark 14 through to the end of that chapter
- 14:24Gospel of Mark chapter 1 reading from verse Mark 14
- 14:36Let us hear God's word
- 14:40Now after John was arrested, John the Baptist, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God and saying
- 14:50The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand
- 14:54Repent and believe in the Gospel
- 14:56Passing alongside the sea of Galilee
- 15:00He saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon
- 15:02Casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen
- 15:06And Jesus said to them
- 15:08Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men
- 15:12And immediately they left their nets and followed him
- 15:16And going on a little further he saw James the son of Zebedee
- 15:20And John his brother
- 15:22Who were in their boat mending the nets
- 15:24And immediately he called them
- 15:26And they left their father Zebedee in the boat
- 15:28With the hired servants and followed him
- 15:30And they went into Capernaum
- 15:32And immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching
- 15:40And they were astonished at his teaching
- 15:42For he taught them as one who had authority
- 15:44And not as the scribes
- 15:46And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit
- 15:52And he cried out
- 15:54What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
- 15:56Have you come to destroy us?
- 15:58I know who you are
- 16:00I know who you are
- 16:01The Holy One of God
- 16:03But Jesus rebuked him saying
- 16:06Be silent and come out of him
- 16:09And the unclean spirit convulsing him
- 16:12And crying out with a loud voice came out of him
- 16:15And they were all amazed
- 16:17So they questioned among themselves saying
- 16:20What is this?
- 16:22A new teaching with authority
- 16:24He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him
- 16:28And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout
- 16:32And all the surrounding region of Galilee
- 16:35And immediately he left the synagogue and entered into the house of Simon and Andrew
- 16:40With James and John
- 16:42Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever
- 16:46And immediately they told him about her
- 16:49And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up
- 16:53And the fever left her
- 16:55And she began to serve them
- 16:57That evening at sunset
- 16:59They brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons
- 17:03And the whole city was gathered together at the door
- 17:07And he healed many who were sick with various diseases
- 17:10And cast out many demons
- 17:12And he would not permit the demons to speak
- 17:15Because they knew him
- 17:17And rising very early in the morning
- 17:20While it was still dark
- 17:21He departed
- 17:23And went out to a desolate place
- 17:25And there he prayed
- 17:26And Simon and those who were with him
- 17:28Searched for him
- 17:30And they found him and said to him
- 17:32Everyone is looking for you
- 17:34And he said to them
- 17:36Let us go on to the next towns
- 17:38That I may preach there also
- 17:41For that is what I came for
- 17:43And he went throughout Galilee
- 17:45Preaching in their synagogues
- 17:48And casting out demons
- 17:50And a leper came to him
- 17:52And imploding him
- 17:53And kneeling said to him
- 17:55If you will
- 17:56You can make me clean
- 17:58Moved with pity
- 18:00He stretched out his hand
- 18:01And touched him
- 18:02And said to him
- 18:03I will
- 18:04Be clean
- 18:06And immediately the leprosy left him
- 18:08And he was made clean
- 18:09And Jesus sternly charged him
- 18:12And sent him away at once
- 18:14And said to him
- 18:15See that you say nothing to anyone
- 18:17But go
- 18:18Show yourself to the priest
- 18:20And offer for your cleansing
- 18:21What Moses commanded
- 18:23For a proof to them
- 18:25But he went out
- 18:26And began to talk freely about it
- 18:29And to spread the news
- 18:31So that Jesus could no longer
- 18:32Openly enter a town
- 18:35But was out in desolate places
- 18:37Where people were coming to him
- 18:39From every quarter
- 18:41Amen
- 18:42May the reading of God's word
- 18:45Be a blessing to those
- 18:46Who hear it this day
- 18:47May we join again
- 18:50In prayer before God
- 18:52Our Father in heaven
- 18:55We give thanks that we are here
- 18:57On this day
- 18:58On your day
- 18:59A day in where we will remember
- 19:01The power of your resurrection
- 19:02A day where we find out
- 19:05Found out that the tomb was empty
- 19:07The grave cloths had been folded
- 19:12Signifying your return
- 19:14And return you did
- 19:17And as we read there in the passage
- 19:19The people were astonished even
- 19:21At your teaching
- 19:23And they wondered
- 19:25What is this?
- 19:27But you revealed to them
- 19:30Things that were kept for secret
- 19:32Of the Old Testament
- 19:34And you fulfilled the Old Testament
- 19:37Through your life
- 19:39And you showed forth
- 19:42The ways of God
- 19:44And the glory of God
- 19:46And the power of God
- 19:47And the authority of God
- 19:49That you were indeed
- 19:51Undoubtedly
- 19:53The son of God
- 19:56When we look at you
- 19:57We see the characteristics of God
- 19:59We learn about God
- 20:01And so let us
- 20:03Have our focus upon you
- 20:05This morning
- 20:07That we may see the riches
- 20:09Of your glory
- 20:11That we may understand
- 20:12What is set before the people
- 20:14Who have faith in you
- 20:16And trust in you
- 20:18That they will be in your presence
- 20:21And it is a wonder
- 20:24That you would have us
- 20:26And that you would listen to us
- 20:28When we come and pray to you
- 20:31That we seem so insignificant
- 20:34In our eyes
- 20:36That you would be mindful
- 20:38Of me
- 20:40That you would be mindful
- 20:41Of each one of us
- 20:42That is gathered here
- 20:44But so you are
- 20:46We know it from your word
- 20:48And we know it
- 20:50That you speak to us
- 20:52Each individually
- 20:53In the mysterious outworkings
- 20:56Of your ways
- 20:58We know it to be true
- 21:00And we are
- 21:02With confidence
- 21:04Draw near to you
- 21:07This morning
- 21:08To hear you speak
- 21:10That we may learn of you
- 21:13And know your direction
- 21:14That you would show us your paths
- 21:16The paths in which we are
- 21:18To walk our lives
- 21:20The ways in which we are
- 21:21To be obedient to you
- 21:24And how we are
- 21:25To bring glory to you
- 21:27That we may know
- 21:29What are calling us
- 21:30In this life
- 21:32And that may it
- 21:34Bring forth
- 21:36The riches of your fruit
- 21:38Things that are heavenly
- 21:41Not of this world
- 21:43Things that are pure
- 21:45And undefiled
- 21:47Things that are rich
- 21:48And everlasting
- 21:49Lord
- 21:50We bring before you
- 21:51The expectations
- 21:53Of the week ahead
- 21:55That we may draw to you
- 21:57Prayerfully
- 21:59Seeking your presence
- 22:00With us
- 22:02That we as your people
- 22:04May come with joyous hearts
- 22:07Remembering
- 22:09All that you have done for us
- 22:11In your death
- 22:13And resurrection
- 22:15And that it will be a source of strength
- 22:16For the Christian
- 22:17That is weak
- 22:19A source of encouragement
- 22:20For those who are downcast
- 22:23That we may come
- 22:25And sit at your feet
- 22:27Like Mary did
- 22:29That we would not be busy
- 22:30With the things of the world
- 22:32Like Martha
- 22:33That we would choose the good part
- 22:35That we would be wise
- 22:37To give of our time
- 22:39As we said to the young ones
- 22:41That we would be willing
- 22:42To be willing
- 22:43And come with willingness
- 22:46To sacrifice the time
- 22:49And to give pleasingly
- 22:51Cheerfully
- 22:53Our time
- 22:55And that you may bless us in it
- 22:58For we know it is good
- 23:00To sit at your feet
- 23:02To hear your word
- 23:04To know your ways
- 23:06And to remember
- 23:07What you have done for us
- 23:08What you have done for us
- 23:10Otherwise
- 23:12Without it
- 23:13We would be lost
- 23:15We would have no hope
- 23:17Without the death of Christ
- 23:19But you give us hope
- 23:22And you are
- 23:24An anchor in our lives
- 23:26When we have no hope
- 23:28To whom else can we go
- 23:31That we can turn with confidence to you
- 23:33You are the one
- 23:34You are the one that holds us
- 23:37You are the one that carries us at times
- 23:40And it is in you
- 23:43That we place our faith and trust
- 23:46In the days ahead
- 23:48And our lives
- 23:50Whatever is set before us
- 23:52We commit to you
- 23:54Faithfully
- 23:56Lord we just pray
- 23:59That you would be mindful of each of us
- 24:00In our circumstances
- 24:02Those who have difficulties in life
- 24:05Those who have difficulties of health
- 24:08We pray that you would draw near to them
- 24:11And be their strength and comfort
- 24:13Give them assurances from your word
- 24:16May your presence be ever felt in their hearts
- 24:19And knowing that you are with them by their side
- 24:22We pray for those who mourn
- 24:24Be their comforter
- 24:26May they know your loving arms
- 24:27Wrapped around them
- 24:29As the loving fatherly arms
- 24:31Of the heavenly father
- 24:32Draws near calling you to come
- 24:35And be embraced by his love
- 24:37We pray for those who are on mission for you
- 24:41Who seek to go out into this world
- 24:44And reveal to people that are hidden in the darkness
- 24:48The light of the gospel
- 24:50We remember Muriel in Cambodia
- 24:53And the work that she does with the girls in that area
- 24:55We pray that you would continue with her
- 24:59Be a strength and may she see fruits for her labour
- 25:02As she sows the seed
- 25:04May she see it grows in the hearts of many
- 25:07Remember Kenny John's work in Uganda
- 25:10And across Africa
- 25:13God is good
- 25:15Remember the schools that have been established
- 25:17They are in the clinics
- 25:19That it may bring forth questions from people
- 25:22And wondering why such a man would do these things
- 25:26And yet it is the love of Christ within him
- 25:29That drives him to give of himself
- 25:34And to care for his fellow beings
- 25:36And to share the gospel message
- 25:39Lord we pray
- 25:41That you would be with us
- 25:43As we come to your word
- 25:45May it be rich in our eyes
- 25:47May we understand what it says to us
- 25:49May your glory be revealed to us
- 25:53May we come and trust in it
- 25:56So be with us in our time together
- 26:00Keep the evil one from us
- 26:02Give our focus and attention
- 26:05To the wonder of Jesus Christ
- 26:08And we ask all of these things
- 26:10By the name and power of your son
- 26:12And our saviour
- 26:14Jesus
- 26:15Amen
- 26:17We will continue in our praise of God
- 26:19By singing in Psalm 9
- 26:21Of the Sing Psalms version
- 26:23From page 8
- 26:28Psalm 9a
- 26:30In the Sing Psalms version
- 26:32Page 8
- 26:34Singing from verse Mark 6
- 26:36Down to verse Mark 11
- 26:38The enemy have made their doom
- 26:41Destroyed eternally
- 26:43And you have uprooted all their towns
- 26:46They are lost to memory
- 26:48The Lord as ever reign on high
- 26:50His throne for judgment stands
- 26:52He will judge the world in righteousness
- 26:54With justice rule the Lamb
- 26:56The Lord as ever
- 26:57The Lord as ever
- 26:58The Lord as ever
- 26:59The Lord is the King
- 27:00And the Lord as ever
- 27:01The Lord is the King
- 27:02The King
- 27:03The King
- 27:04The King
- 27:05The King
- 27:06Who has saved them
- 27:07And destroyed eternally
- 27:09The enemy's threat
- 27:11They are lost to memory
- 27:13So we will stand together
- 27:14Singing from verse Mark 6
- 27:16Down to verse Mark 11
- 27:17To God's praise
- 27:19The enemy have made their doom
- 27:20Destroyed eternally
- 27:21The enemy have met their doom
- 27:22Destroyed eternally
- 27:23You have uprooted all their towns
- 27:25And lost to memory
- 27:26The enemy have met their doom
- 27:30Destroyed eternally
- 27:31You have uprooted all their towns
- 27:32And lost to memory
- 27:35The enemy have met their doom
- 27:36Destroyed eternally
- 27:37You have uprooted all their towns
- 27:38You have uprooted all their towns
- 27:39And lost to memory
- 27:53The Lord forever reigns on high
- 28:03His throne for judgment stands
- 28:10He'll judge the world in righteousness
- 28:19With justice through the lands
- 28:26The Lord will be a hiding place
- 28:36For those who are oppressed
- 28:43And He will be a strong defense
- 28:51For those who have oppressed
- 29:01All those who know Your name, O Lord
- 29:10And You their trust will play
- 29:16For you do not abandon those
- 29:23Who seek Your gracious face
- 29:33Sing praises to the Lord who sits
- 29:41Sit Zion on His throne
- 29:46Among the nations of the world
- 29:58Proclaim what He has done
- 30:05Turn back to the passage that we read, the Gospel of Mark.
- 30:18We'll consider the account there of the unclean spirit coming into the meeting on the Sabbath day in the synagogue.
- 30:30Particularly verses there, 24, 25.
- 30:33Well, the spirit cried out, what have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
- 30:38Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.
- 30:44But Jesus rebuked him, saying, be silent and come out of him.
- 30:51This reading sets forth the beginning of Christ's ministry.
- 30:57John the Baptist has been arrested. He is in jail.
- 31:00Jesus has been led out to the wilderness, already to be tempted by the devil.
- 31:07And in that account, it tells us that he returns to Galilee, the region that is Galilee.
- 31:14And particularly that western coast of that region on the Sea of Galilee,
- 31:20where we read that he recruits his first disciples at that coast, his disciples being the fishermen.
- 31:27But he comes to the words of verse 15, saying to the people,
- 31:34The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand.
- 31:39Repent and believe the Gospel.
- 31:41This account that we come to here in Capernaum, Capernaum,
- 31:49seems that it would be after, follow after the events of Cana,
- 31:57where Jesus went with his disciples to the wedding feast.
- 32:01If you can imagine, just briefly, the Sea of Galilee is like an egg-shaped, upside-down egg-shaped sea,
- 32:10Galilee like a lake, the River Jordan, directly north, directly south.
- 32:15That River Jordan's subdivision in the land, to the west is the region of Galilee.
- 32:20Capernaum sits at the kind of near the top of that egg-shaped lake.
- 32:26Out directly to the west is Cana, and directly below that, you have Nazareth, where, of course, he grew up.
- 32:36And we come into this passage, it seems he has gone to Cana to the wedding,
- 32:40and he returns to Capernaum, or Capernaum, as people say,
- 32:44where he enters into the synagogue, as he did on the Sabbath day,
- 32:49and he meets with this evil spirit, this unclean spirit,
- 32:54as they join together to worship in the synagogue.
- 32:59The people had gathered as normal on that Sabbath day,
- 33:02which would have been the Saturday.
- 33:05Forgive me if Sunday slips out of my mouth when I'm referencing the Sabbath,
- 33:10but it would have been the Saturday for them.
- 33:12Nothing is out of the ordinary for their worship.
- 33:16Apart from the visitor, Jesus has come with his disciples.
- 33:20And the practice was that they would read from the Old Testament, of course,
- 33:25the reading from the law, a section of the law,
- 33:28they would read from a section of the prophets.
- 33:30And if there were any visiting rabbis or teachers,
- 33:33they would be invited to say a word about the readings,
- 33:37or to take the readings.
- 33:38And such, we see that Jesus Christ spoke with the people as a visiting rabbi.
- 33:46And we read of the reaction that the people had to his words in verse 22.
- 33:51And they were astonished at his teaching,
- 33:55for he taught them as one who had authority, not as the scribes,
- 34:00not like the people that they knew.
- 34:02There was something remarkable about Jesus Christ and the way he taught.
- 34:08The words that he spoke came with great power.
- 34:11There was great authority in his words.
- 34:14And even when you consider that Jesus Christ came to join with the people,
- 34:22he had a desire to meet in the synagogue with others who had the intent desire to worship God.
- 34:32There's a lot in that, that Jesus Christ, Jesus himself,
- 34:36desired to come with the people as they met in the synagogue.
- 34:41And there was an immediacy about his worship.
- 34:44You can see there in verse 21,
- 34:46when they came into Capernaum,
- 34:48immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue.
- 34:51There's more, you know, it doesn't just come out of routine.
- 34:55It's purposeful.
- 34:57It's like the first thing on his mind to come and gather with the people.
- 35:01The other gospels tell us that it was his custom
- 35:03to gather in the synagogue for worship on the Sabbath.
- 35:07And as it was his desire to come and join with the people,
- 35:12as it should be for the Christians' desire,
- 35:15Jesus had the desire to teach them,
- 35:19not of the things of old,
- 35:21the things that were new,
- 35:24the powerful things of the gospel
- 35:26and the kingdom of God
- 35:28that he had insight to.
- 35:31And he leaves the people that were listening to him
- 35:34in complete awe and astonishment.
- 35:39They joined together to worship God
- 35:42and he astonished them
- 35:44when they grasped,
- 35:46when the people grasped what Jesus was saying,
- 35:49they couldn't believe it.
- 35:50And we, as we gather together to worship God,
- 35:56we pray
- 35:57that as we likewise incline our hearts
- 36:02with an intent to worship God,
- 36:05that we would be astonished
- 36:07by the words of Christ
- 36:09and that we would be in awe
- 36:11as we join together in worship,
- 36:15that we would know his presence
- 36:19coming to be with us,
- 36:22the pleasing custom
- 36:23that would be for the Spirit
- 36:25to join with his people,
- 36:28to reveal us things of the gospel,
- 36:32things that are new to us,
- 36:33and the richness of his words
- 36:35would come forth to every one of us
- 36:38and speak to every heart
- 36:40that is gathered here
- 36:41that would leave us
- 36:44in astonishment and awe
- 36:46of what Christ has done for us
- 36:49and what God has revealed to us
- 36:51through his word.
- 36:54But of course,
- 36:56that's not an everyday occurrence for us
- 36:58that we are in awe
- 36:59as we come to worship,
- 37:01nor would it have been
- 37:02an everyday occurrence for Jesus
- 37:04to come and join with them
- 37:06for Sunday worship,
- 37:07for Sabbath worship.
- 37:09though we wish it would be.
- 37:13We wish when we come
- 37:15to join together
- 37:16that we would come out
- 37:18astonished and amazed
- 37:19about what Christ has done for us,
- 37:23as the people were astonished
- 37:25when Christ spoke there.
- 37:28It's not always the case for us.
- 37:31It wasn't always the case for them
- 37:32that Christ was there to teach them.
- 37:35But the Christian can certainly say,
- 37:38that there have been days
- 37:40when that has happened.
- 37:43As you look back in your memory,
- 37:45even if you sat in the seat
- 37:47that you sat in,
- 37:48you've listened to a different preacher come,
- 37:51and there have been days
- 37:53where you can say,
- 37:55the Spirit was with us.
- 37:59Christ was here.
- 38:00And we have left in awe
- 38:03of the words that were spoken to us.
- 38:08This Sabbath day,
- 38:10where they joined together,
- 38:12it was a surprising day for them,
- 38:14because there are two distinct things
- 38:17that happen on that day
- 38:19in that worship in the synagogue.
- 38:21The first thing is,
- 38:22the demon causes disruption.
- 38:26The demon comes in
- 38:27into the middle of that service.
- 38:28But also,
- 38:30we see that the Son saves.
- 38:33Two points to hang our thoughts on this morning.
- 38:36The demon's disruption
- 38:37and the Son's salvation.
- 38:41So let us first look at the disruption
- 38:43that was caused in this passage.
- 38:46The people are astonished by Christ.
- 38:50And in then comes this man
- 38:53in verse 23.
- 38:55Immediately in the synagogue
- 38:57was a man with an unclean spirit.
- 39:00The timing of this
- 39:02is just perfect,
- 39:05well, typical,
- 39:06in a sense.
- 39:08Spiritual battle commences.
- 39:11Spiritual warfare enters into the room.
- 39:14As soon as people
- 39:16become interested in the gospel,
- 39:18as soon as people
- 39:20show wonder in Christ
- 39:26and question who is he,
- 39:29the devil's not far away.
- 39:31This man who is seemingly
- 39:33controlled by the power of the Spirit,
- 39:37a spirit which we read of
- 39:38has been unclean,
- 39:40could easily be translated,
- 39:41has been evil,
- 39:43from the Greek.
- 39:44But if you look at Luke's
- 39:46parallel account of this chapter,
- 39:48it calls this an unclean demon
- 39:52or possessed the man.
- 39:55And we can say for sure
- 39:56that it is the work of the devil
- 39:57and we can identify it as such.
- 40:02And though this account
- 40:03may seem so foreign to us today,
- 40:06it's difficult to understand
- 40:07what is meant by the unclean spirit
- 40:10to know exactly
- 40:11what the demon possession
- 40:13looked like.
- 40:15It is true that it is still
- 40:17a valid characteristic
- 40:18of the works of the devil today
- 40:20to use any means he can
- 40:23to disrupt us
- 40:24from the awe of Christ,
- 40:27to disrupt us from that wonder.
- 40:31When we show an inclination
- 40:32towards Jesus,
- 40:35when we show an interest
- 40:36in this man,
- 40:38when you find Jesus wonderful,
- 40:44when you seek him out,
- 40:47the devil will not be far away.
- 40:52It's his characteristic
- 40:53to distract us,
- 40:55to disrupt us,
- 40:57to interrupt us
- 40:58as we join together
- 41:00to worship God.
- 41:01You know,
- 41:02we may come this morning
- 41:03with great intentions
- 41:05to listen to what has been said
- 41:07and we struggle
- 41:08to keep our focus.
- 41:10We may leave
- 41:10with good intentions
- 41:11to live our lives
- 41:12devoted to Christ
- 41:13with greater resolve
- 41:15and we're so easily
- 41:18distracted,
- 41:20disrupted
- 41:20and we turn away
- 41:22from the desires
- 41:24of our hearts.
- 41:25There is a war
- 41:26between the Christian
- 41:27and the evil spirits
- 41:30at our present.
- 41:31the evil
- 41:32in our hearts.
- 41:34The closer
- 41:35we draw to Christ,
- 41:37you can be sure
- 41:38that the more active
- 41:39the work
- 41:40of the devil
- 41:40will be.
- 41:42But in this passage here
- 41:43we have
- 41:44a vocal
- 41:45voice
- 41:47from this spirit.
- 41:49Verse 24,
- 41:51it says,
- 41:51What have you to do
- 41:52with us,
- 41:52Jesus of Nazareth?
- 41:54Have you come
- 41:55to destroy us?
- 41:56I know who you are,
- 41:57the Holy One of God.
- 41:59And you may look
- 41:59at this
- 42:00and think,
- 42:00why on earth
- 42:01did this spirit
- 42:03come in
- 42:04on the Sabbath day
- 42:05into the synagogue?
- 42:07And it sounds like
- 42:08he's revealing
- 42:09for the good
- 42:11of Jesus' cause
- 42:12and the good
- 42:13of God,
- 42:14to reveal
- 42:16the goodness
- 42:16of God
- 42:17by revealing
- 42:19who Jesus is.
- 42:23He's revealing
- 42:23that this is
- 42:25the Messiah
- 42:25set before you.
- 42:26Why on earth
- 42:26is an evil spirit,
- 42:28unclean spirit
- 42:28doing this?
- 42:29I think there's
- 42:32more to it
- 42:33than meets the eye.
- 42:35I think there's
- 42:36more to it
- 42:36than we can
- 42:37understand.
- 42:39This entering line
- 42:40is,
- 42:40what have you to do
- 42:41with us,
- 42:41Jesus of Nazareth?
- 42:43It's not,
- 42:44what have you to do
- 42:45with me?
- 42:46It's,
- 42:46what have you to do
- 42:46with us?
- 42:49And looking at it,
- 42:50there's significance
- 42:52in this plurality
- 42:53that is emphasized here.
- 42:55What have you to do
- 42:56with us?
- 42:57Is it the us
- 42:59of the people
- 42:59gathered there
- 43:00in the building?
- 43:02Is the devil
- 43:02trying to associate
- 43:03himself with
- 43:04the people?
- 43:06Jesus is a visitor
- 43:07and he's speaking there.
- 43:10Or is the us
- 43:11there?
- 43:12The possession
- 43:13of the spirits
- 43:14within him.
- 43:15Cast your minds
- 43:16to the passage
- 43:18again,
- 43:18or passage of
- 43:19where Jesus meets
- 43:20Legion
- 43:20and he asks
- 43:22him his name,
- 43:22my name is Legion
- 43:23for we have many,
- 43:25the many possessions
- 43:26of spirits
- 43:26within him.
- 43:27Is the us
- 43:28there?
- 43:29Speaking of
- 43:30the spirits
- 43:31within him,
- 43:33this may be true.
- 43:35Picture the scene
- 43:36if you will though.
- 43:37We're in the synagogue.
- 43:39It would be a very
- 43:39simple sort of
- 43:40building like we
- 43:41have here.
- 43:43This man walks
- 43:44in.
- 43:45Is he trying
- 43:46to include
- 43:46the people
- 43:47as part of the us?
- 43:49Is the demon
- 43:50trying to excite
- 43:51with the many?
- 43:53Associating himself
- 43:54with the people
- 43:55to turn them
- 43:56against God
- 43:57and say,
- 43:58you have nothing
- 43:58to do with us,
- 43:59the visitor,
- 44:01Jesus of Nazareth.
- 44:05If you look
- 44:05into that,
- 44:06it seems that
- 44:07there's nothing
- 44:07too good
- 44:08to come from Nazareth.
- 44:10There was no
- 44:11good reputation
- 44:12in Nazareth
- 44:12at that time.
- 44:15Nathaniel questioned
- 44:17the disciples.
- 44:19Can anything
- 44:19good come out
- 44:20of Nazareth?
- 44:22The devil
- 44:23is saying,
- 44:24what have you
- 44:24to do with us,
- 44:26Jesus of Nazareth?
- 44:29The people
- 44:30are not waiting
- 44:31for someone
- 44:31from Nazareth,
- 44:32the people of God.
- 44:34They are waiting
- 44:35for someone
- 44:35from Bethlehem.
- 44:37In the scriptures
- 44:38that was revealed.
- 44:40He's instantly
- 44:41trying to cause
- 44:42a divide
- 44:43by his words.
- 44:45He's trying
- 44:46to stir doubt
- 44:47amongst the people.
- 44:48if this is the case.
- 44:51People that were
- 44:52just in awe
- 44:53of him prior
- 44:53are now forced
- 44:55to question
- 44:56his identity
- 44:56and question,
- 44:57well,
- 44:57who is this man?
- 45:01This man's
- 45:01from Nazareth.
- 45:04The devil's,
- 45:05is he instigating
- 45:06that this man
- 45:07is some sort
- 45:07of a fraud?
- 45:09Is he there
- 45:10only to deceive you?
- 45:12It says that
- 45:13are you there
- 45:13to destroy us?
- 45:15And a rendering
- 45:16of this word
- 45:17destroy
- 45:18is cause us
- 45:19to lose.
- 45:21Are you there
- 45:22to cause us
- 45:23to lose?
- 45:25Now,
- 45:25if the devil
- 45:25was trying
- 45:26to influence
- 45:27the people
- 45:28to turn against God,
- 45:29that's an interesting
- 45:30phrase
- 45:31because it is
- 45:32very suitable
- 45:33for him to use
- 45:34that if they would
- 45:35listen to his words,
- 45:37they would be
- 45:37at a loss.
- 45:39Take this phrase
- 45:40in its essence.
- 45:42What have you
- 45:42to do with us,
- 45:43Jesus of Nazareth?
- 45:44You have come
- 45:45to destroy us.
- 45:48What it's saying
- 45:49is,
- 45:49Jesus,
- 45:50you have nothing
- 45:50to do with us.
- 45:53Jesus,
- 45:53you have nothing
- 45:54to do with me.
- 45:57You're
- 45:57from somewhere
- 45:58that I don't want
- 45:59to know anything about.
- 46:01I don't regard
- 46:02anything
- 46:02of your people.
- 46:06You're coming here
- 46:07to deceive me
- 46:08with your words.
- 46:08you're coming
- 46:10here to deceive
- 46:11others with your words.
- 46:12And if people
- 46:13listen to your words,
- 46:15they're going
- 46:15to be at a loss.
- 46:20Have you heard
- 46:21that before?
- 46:23Something similar
- 46:24like that?
- 46:25Have you heard
- 46:26people say
- 46:27they don't want
- 46:27Jesus to have
- 46:28anything to do
- 46:28with them?
- 46:29Have you heard
- 46:30people say
- 46:30if you listen
- 46:31to these words,
- 46:33you'll be at a loss?
- 46:36We don't have
- 46:36to look far
- 46:37to find that.
- 46:39I'm not saying
- 46:40that people
- 46:42that have these
- 46:43views are demon
- 46:43possessed,
- 46:44but it's the evil
- 46:45inclination of our hearts.
- 46:47It is the evil
- 46:48that is within us.
- 46:50But we do not
- 46:51desire God.
- 46:53We only love
- 46:54because he first
- 46:55loved us.
- 46:57Our heart
- 46:58is turned
- 46:58against God.
- 47:00We don't want
- 47:00to have anything
- 47:02to do with Jesus.
- 47:05Our heart
- 47:06desires.
- 47:06You take
- 47:10that's a possibility.
- 47:15I don't know
- 47:16if it's right,
- 47:17but there's an element
- 47:17of truth to it.
- 47:20The other
- 47:21case is
- 47:22that if it were
- 47:22the Spirit
- 47:23speaking,
- 47:24have you come
- 47:25to destroy us?
- 47:27They knew fine
- 47:28that Jesus
- 47:30had authority
- 47:30to destroy them.
- 47:32They wanted
- 47:33to be left alone.
- 47:34They wanted
- 47:34to go about
- 47:36causing
- 47:39stirring contempt
- 47:44against the people
- 47:45of God.
- 47:46They wanted
- 47:46to be left
- 47:47alone,
- 47:47the spirits
- 47:47if it was.
- 47:49But why
- 47:50did this
- 47:50spirit enter
- 47:51into
- 47:52when the people
- 47:54were in awe
- 47:54of God
- 47:55if it were not
- 47:56to distract them,
- 47:58to turn them
- 47:58away from God?
- 47:59The last
- 48:02phrase here
- 48:02that he speaks
- 48:03is,
- 48:04I know
- 48:05who you are,
- 48:07the Holy
- 48:07One of God.
- 48:10Why did he
- 48:11say this?
- 48:13But there's a
- 48:13change in this
- 48:14phrase.
- 48:16It's not us
- 48:17anymore,
- 48:17it's not we,
- 48:18it's I.
- 48:19I know
- 48:22who you are.
- 48:23Why change
- 48:24that singular
- 48:25pronoun now?
- 48:27Because if it
- 48:28were a spiritual
- 48:28sense that
- 48:30they had been
- 48:31speaking about,
- 48:33the devils
- 48:36know fine
- 48:37who Jesus
- 48:39was.
- 48:41There are no
- 48:42questioning,
- 48:43why is it a
- 48:44single pronoun
- 48:45there?
- 48:45Why?
- 48:47The we
- 48:48of the
- 48:48spirits
- 48:50evil within
- 48:50him would
- 48:51have all
- 48:52known who
- 48:52Jesus was.
- 48:54The devils
- 48:54know more
- 48:55of God
- 48:55than we
- 48:56do.
- 48:58R.C.
- 48:58Sproul says
- 48:59that the
- 49:00devils would
- 49:00score 100%
- 49:02in their
- 49:02theology exams.
- 49:04They know
- 49:05exactly who
- 49:06Jesus is.
- 49:07They know
- 49:08exactly who
- 49:09God is.
- 49:11They know
- 49:11full well,
- 49:12every one of
- 49:13them knows
- 49:13full well,
- 49:13so why has
- 49:15it changed
- 49:15to an
- 49:15I now?
- 49:16Why does
- 49:17it not
- 49:17say we
- 49:17know who
- 49:18you are,
- 49:19the Holy
- 49:19One of
- 49:20God?
- 49:24You wonder
- 49:25at these
- 49:26things,
- 49:27but you've
- 49:28seen evil
- 49:29in your
- 49:29life.
- 49:30You know
- 49:31what evil
- 49:31looks like.
- 49:33And if
- 49:34someone
- 49:34stirred evil,
- 49:37they may
- 49:37come in
- 49:37shouting.
- 49:39And if
- 49:39they have a
- 49:40problem with
- 49:40someone,
- 49:42they may
- 49:43come up and
- 49:43speak directly
- 49:44to that
- 49:45person.
- 49:46It is,
- 49:47I know
- 49:47who you
- 49:48are.
- 49:50I may
- 49:50be wrong,
- 49:51but did
- 49:51the devil
- 49:52spirit then
- 49:53come and
- 49:54directly
- 49:54attend to
- 49:56Jesus by
- 49:57saying,
- 49:58I know
- 49:59who you
- 49:59are.
- 50:01You are
- 50:01the Holy
- 50:01One of
- 50:02God,
- 50:02and I
- 50:03am against
- 50:04you in
- 50:04every way.
- 50:06I will
- 50:06do everything
- 50:07in my
- 50:07power to
- 50:08oppose you
- 50:09and frustrate
- 50:09your plans.
- 50:10you rejected
- 50:12me in the
- 50:13wilderness.
- 50:15I will
- 50:15do
- 50:15everything
- 50:16to speed
- 50:17up your
- 50:17demise and
- 50:18turn the
- 50:19people against
- 50:19you.
- 50:22There's a
- 50:23deep-rooted
- 50:23hatred in
- 50:25this man.
- 50:27But when
- 50:28we seek,
- 50:29when we as
- 50:30the people
- 50:30of God,
- 50:31we seek to
- 50:32do good,
- 50:33we draw near
- 50:34to God,
- 50:34we pray,
- 50:35we read,
- 50:36there's moments
- 50:37when we are in
- 50:37awe of God,
- 50:38as we
- 50:39said,
- 50:39the devil
- 50:40will be
- 50:40on your
- 50:40heels.
- 50:41If we
- 50:42succeed in
- 50:42something,
- 50:43he won't
- 50:44be far
- 50:44away to
- 50:45cause us
- 50:46to fall,
- 50:46to doubt,
- 50:47cause us
- 50:47to distraction.
- 50:51I don't
- 50:51know if
- 50:51you're
- 50:52considering
- 50:52coming to
- 50:53sit at
- 50:54the Lord's
- 50:54table next
- 50:55week.
- 50:57Maybe you
- 50:57have resolved
- 50:58in your
- 50:58mind that
- 50:59you would
- 50:59come,
- 51:00but the
- 51:01devil's at
- 51:01you saying,
- 51:03no,
- 51:03don't go,
- 51:05you're not
- 51:06good enough.
- 51:08He'll be
- 51:09on your
- 51:10heels when
- 51:11you decide
- 51:12to turn
- 51:12you away.
- 51:16He'll do
- 51:17everything he
- 51:17can to
- 51:18make a
- 51:18doubt
- 51:19salvation
- 51:19in Christ.
- 51:22But if we
- 51:22hold on to
- 51:23Christ and
- 51:23hold on to
- 51:24his words,
- 51:25the one who
- 51:26spoke,
- 51:26be silent,
- 51:27depart from
- 51:29us,
- 51:30come out
- 51:30of this,
- 51:31be silent,
- 51:32come out
- 51:32of him.
- 51:34Christ has
- 51:35the power
- 51:35and authority
- 51:36to separate
- 51:37us from
- 51:37that evil,
- 51:38power.
- 51:40That is
- 51:41what he
- 51:41is saying,
- 51:41the son
- 51:42that saves.
- 51:44It is
- 51:44Jesus Christ
- 51:45that saves
- 51:46us.
- 51:47And the
- 51:47doubts of
- 51:48our hearts
- 51:49as we
- 51:49stick faithfully
- 51:50to him,
- 51:51and it is
- 51:51our custom
- 51:52to come
- 51:53to him,
- 51:56he has
- 51:56the power
- 51:57to cast
- 51:58out every
- 51:58evil that
- 52:00grows within
- 52:01our hearts
- 52:01and says,
- 52:02be silent,
- 52:03come out
- 52:04of him.
- 52:05Jesus is
- 52:05the son
- 52:06that saves.
- 52:08And we
- 52:11gauge from
- 52:11the reaction
- 52:12that Christ
- 52:12has here
- 52:13in verse
- 52:1525.
- 52:17He rebuked
- 52:18him saying,
- 52:18be silent,
- 52:19come out
- 52:19of him.
- 52:21Be silent,
- 52:22it's not
- 52:23your place
- 52:24to reveal
- 52:24who I
- 52:25am,
- 52:25he's saying
- 52:25to the
- 52:26spirit.
- 52:27You're
- 52:28not to
- 52:28reveal who
- 52:29I am,
- 52:29I will
- 52:29reveal who
- 52:30I am,
- 52:31and by
- 52:31my own
- 52:31means.
- 52:33He reveals
- 52:33in his
- 52:34word and
- 52:35in his
- 52:36practice.
- 52:38You
- 52:38remember
- 52:38John the
- 52:38Baptist
- 52:39when he
- 52:39questioned,
- 52:40he heard
- 52:42about all
- 52:42the things
- 52:42Jesus had
- 52:43done,
- 52:44and he
- 52:44was in
- 52:45the prison
- 52:45cell there,
- 52:46and he
- 52:46sent his
- 52:47disciples,
- 52:47go and
- 52:48ask that
- 52:48man if
- 52:49he is the
- 52:50one that
- 52:50is to
- 52:50come,
- 52:51or should
- 52:51we wait
- 52:52for another?
- 52:53Jesus'
- 52:54response to
- 52:54him was
- 52:55not to
- 52:55say,
- 52:55I am
- 52:56the Holy
- 52:56One of
- 52:56God,
- 52:57I am
- 52:58the Messiah,
- 52:59I am
- 53:00the one
- 53:00you have
- 53:00waited for.
- 53:01He said
- 53:02to the
- 53:03disciples,
- 53:04return to
- 53:05John and
- 53:05tell him
- 53:05of all
- 53:06the things
- 53:06you have
- 53:07seen and
- 53:07heard.
- 53:09That is
- 53:10how Jesus
- 53:10reveals
- 53:11himself,
- 53:13that we
- 53:13see what
- 53:14he has
- 53:14done,
- 53:15we hear
- 53:16his word,
- 53:18and it is
- 53:18likewise in
- 53:19our lives,
- 53:20we see
- 53:21that word
- 53:22taking root
- 53:23in someone's
- 53:24heart,
- 53:24and we
- 53:25see that
- 53:26power taking
- 53:27hold of
- 53:27their hearts
- 53:28and lives,
- 53:30someone that
- 53:30we didn't
- 53:31expect maybe
- 53:32to come
- 53:32to God.
- 53:34And we
- 53:34say,
- 53:34well,
- 53:34what is
- 53:35this?
- 53:36What power
- 53:37is in
- 53:37this word
- 53:38that it
- 53:39would turn
- 53:39such a
- 53:40man to
- 53:41God,
- 53:41that it
- 53:42would turn
- 53:42me to
- 53:44God?
- 53:45It is
- 53:46by the
- 53:46word and
- 53:47power and
- 53:49authority of
- 53:50Jesus Christ.
- 53:53Jesus reveals
- 53:54his authority
- 53:55through his
- 53:56word and
- 53:58through the
- 53:59practice,
- 54:00of his
- 54:02actions.
- 54:05You know,
- 54:06this account,
- 54:07it's strange
- 54:07to us,
- 54:08as we
- 54:08said,
- 54:09to consider
- 54:11what is
- 54:11evil and
- 54:12what is
- 54:12spiritual.
- 54:14There's
- 54:14things in it
- 54:15we cannot
- 54:16grasp,
- 54:17there's
- 54:17things that
- 54:17we don't
- 54:18have answers
- 54:18for.
- 54:21There's a
- 54:21battle between
- 54:22two great
- 54:23authorities
- 54:23here,
- 54:24but which
- 54:25one comes
- 54:25out the
- 54:26greater?
- 54:26which one
- 54:27succeeds.
- 54:30When Christ
- 54:31comes and
- 54:32we meet
- 54:33with him,
- 54:33only one
- 54:34can succeed
- 54:35in our
- 54:36heart.
- 54:37It is a
- 54:37great
- 54:37conversion
- 54:38within us
- 54:40that when
- 54:42Jesus draws
- 54:43near to
- 54:44us and
- 54:45he speaks
- 54:46a word
- 54:46to us,
- 54:47the
- 54:49authority of
- 54:50good
- 54:50conquers,
- 54:51the
- 54:51authority
- 54:52of evil.
- 54:55It's the
- 54:56same in
- 54:56our
- 54:56hearts.
- 54:59Spiritual
- 55:00warfare may
- 55:01enter into
- 55:01us for a
- 55:02time and
- 55:03we may
- 55:04battle with
- 55:04these things.
- 55:06The spirit
- 55:07did not just
- 55:08come out of
- 55:08the man,
- 55:09it convulsed
- 55:10him and
- 55:11cast him to
- 55:12the ground.
- 55:12God and
- 55:16the word
- 55:17of his
- 55:17power and
- 55:18authority
- 55:18comes to
- 55:19us.
- 55:20We don't
- 55:21like to
- 55:21separate
- 55:22ourselves
- 55:22from the
- 55:23world.
- 55:26It takes
- 55:26difficulty.
- 55:29It's a
- 55:30war that
- 55:30goes on
- 55:31within us
- 55:31because we
- 55:33love the
- 55:33things of
- 55:33this world
- 55:34and we
- 55:34want to
- 55:34hold on
- 55:35to them.
- 55:38But the
- 55:38only one
- 55:39that can
- 55:39succeed
- 55:40is the
- 55:41power and
- 55:42authority
- 55:42of God.
- 55:45Even what
- 55:45we have in
- 55:46this passage
- 55:47here, the
- 55:49power of
- 55:50Christ and
- 55:51his authority
- 55:52overrules the
- 55:53whole situation.
- 55:56And that is
- 55:56a power that
- 55:57overrules your
- 55:59situation today.
- 56:01The whole
- 56:02world is
- 56:03under the
- 56:03authority of
- 56:04God ultimately.
- 56:06But what the
- 56:07devil does is
- 56:08he comes in.
- 56:10He knows
- 56:10he's a
- 56:10defeated
- 56:11foe.
- 56:12But he
- 56:13stirs us
- 56:14against God.
- 56:15He stirs the
- 56:16people against
- 56:16God.
- 56:17He does
- 56:17what he
- 56:17can by
- 56:19his power
- 56:19to distract
- 56:21us from
- 56:22God, to
- 56:22turn us
- 56:23from God.
- 56:24But you
- 56:25know what?
- 56:26He's
- 56:27defeated.
- 56:28The power
- 56:29of God
- 56:30through Jesus
- 56:31Christ
- 56:32is a great
- 56:34reassurance
- 56:35to us.
- 56:36God
- 56:37will be
- 56:38to
- 56:38God.
- 56:38When we
- 56:38have our
- 56:39doubts,
- 56:40when we
- 56:41know that
- 56:42we have
- 56:42failed,
- 56:44ultimately,
- 56:48if we
- 56:48trust in
- 56:49him,
- 56:50trust in
- 56:50his word,
- 56:51trust what
- 56:51he can do
- 56:52for us,
- 56:54that greater
- 56:54power will
- 56:55reveal to
- 56:56us greater
- 56:57things.
- 56:59We will be
- 57:00welcomed into
- 57:01his glory.
- 57:06God's
- 57:06glory will
- 57:08be revealed
- 57:08to us.
- 57:10It will be a
- 57:11wonder like
- 57:12no other.
- 57:13We'll say,
- 57:14what is
- 57:16this beauty?
- 57:19What are
- 57:20these things
- 57:21that words
- 57:23cannot
- 57:23express?
- 57:29We come
- 57:30next week
- 57:32hopefully
- 57:32to remember
- 57:34what Christ
- 57:35has done
- 57:36for us.
- 57:38And there
- 57:39is no
- 57:39greater
- 57:40place
- 57:40where we
- 57:41can come
- 57:41that we
- 57:44sit at
- 57:45the feet
- 57:45of Jesus
- 57:46so you
- 57:48can expect
- 57:49that there
- 57:49will be no
- 57:49greater
- 57:50disruption
- 57:51in your
- 57:53lives and
- 57:53distraction
- 57:54from it.
- 57:57But
- 57:58ultimately,
- 57:58Jesus
- 58:01is in
- 58:01control of
- 58:01everything.
- 58:04And you
- 58:05ask him
- 58:06to silence
- 58:06these voices
- 58:07that come
- 58:08to us
- 58:08and the
- 58:09worrying
- 58:09that happens
- 58:10within our
- 58:11hearts.
- 58:14And we
- 58:14focus our
- 58:16minds and
- 58:17our sight on
- 58:17Jesus and
- 58:18his words.
- 58:20It opens
- 58:20our perspective
- 58:21to things
- 58:22eternal
- 58:23and what is
- 58:24set before
- 58:25us.
- 58:25the people
- 58:28gathered in
- 58:30the passage
- 58:30here.
- 58:31After the
- 58:32Sabbath day,
- 58:33the Sabbath
- 58:34ended in
- 58:34the evening
- 58:35and all
- 58:36the people
- 58:36gathered
- 58:37because they
- 58:39heard about
- 58:39what Christ
- 58:40had done.
- 58:41And wouldn't
- 58:41it be
- 58:42wonderful
- 58:42if we
- 58:44saw the
- 58:44people of
- 58:46Stornoway
- 58:46gathered
- 58:47because
- 58:49we saw
- 58:50the wonderful
- 58:51things of
- 58:52Christ Jesus
- 58:53in each
- 58:53of us.
- 58:55And they
- 58:56saw his
- 58:56beauty
- 58:57and his
- 58:58power and
- 58:59his authority
- 58:59revealed to
- 59:01them in
- 59:03the way
- 59:04we conduct
- 59:06ourselves,
- 59:07in the way
- 59:07we speak
- 59:08to them.
- 59:12That they
- 59:12may question
- 59:13in their
- 59:13hearts,
- 59:14what is
- 59:15this in
- 59:16that man,
- 59:17in that
- 59:17woman,
- 59:18in that
- 59:18boy,
- 59:19in that
- 59:19girl.
- 59:19that they
- 59:21may come
- 59:21and draw
- 59:22near to
- 59:22Jesus and
- 59:24see his
- 59:25glory and
- 59:26that all
- 59:27would be
- 59:27revealed to
- 59:28him.
- 59:31Praise
- 59:31God
- 59:32for the
- 59:34Son
- 59:34has come,
- 59:37the Son
- 59:38who loves
- 59:38us.
- 59:39He is the
- 59:39Son that
- 59:40saves us.
- 59:41And he
- 59:42is a
- 59:42Son that
- 59:43we can
- 59:43rest,
- 59:44assure us
- 59:45in with
- 59:46confidence
- 59:47that he
- 59:48will watch
- 59:50over us,
- 59:51guide us,
- 59:51and keep us
- 59:52in every
- 59:52step of
- 59:52the way
- 59:53and protect
- 59:54us in
- 59:55life's
- 59:56journey.
- 59:56May these
- 59:57thoughts be
- 59:58blessed to
- 59:58us.
- 59:59We'll
- 1:00:00conclude our
- 1:00:01worship by
- 1:00:01singing in
- 1:00:02Psalm 105
- 1:00:03of the
- 1:00:09Scottish
- 1:00:09Psalter on
- 1:00:10page 347.
- 1:00:14Psalm 105
- 1:00:15Scottish
- 1:00:17Psalter,
- 1:00:20page 374.
- 1:00:23Sorry.
- 1:00:24374.
- 1:00:26Singing from
- 1:00:27the beginning
- 1:00:28of that
- 1:00:28psalm.
- 1:00:29Psalm speaks
- 1:00:29with
- 1:00:30thankfulness
- 1:00:31to God
- 1:00:33for the
- 1:00:34steadfast
- 1:00:34love he
- 1:00:35has that
- 1:00:36breeds
- 1:00:36admiration
- 1:00:37in our
- 1:00:37hearts.
- 1:00:39Give
- 1:00:39thanks to
- 1:00:40God,
- 1:00:40call on
- 1:00:41his name,
- 1:00:42to men
- 1:00:42his deeds
- 1:00:43make known.
- 1:00:43sing ye
- 1:00:45to him,
- 1:00:45sing psalms,
- 1:00:47proclaim this
- 1:00:48wondrous works
- 1:00:49each one.
- 1:00:49We'll sing
- 1:00:50down to the
- 1:00:50end of
- 1:00:50verse 5,
- 1:00:51to God's
- 1:00:52praise.
- 1:00:52Give
- 1:00:53thanks to
- 1:00:53God,
- 1:00:54call on
- 1:00:54his name.
- 1:00:55Stand to
- 1:00:56sing.
- 1:00:56sing psalm,
- 1:01:05sing psalm,
- 1:01:06sing psalm,
- 1:01:08proclaim this
- 1:01:08one of the
- 1:01:09songs of
- 1:01:10his name.
- 1:01:10Give thanks to
- 1:01:11God, call on
- 1:01:12his name, to men
- 1:01:13his deeds make known.
- 1:01:15Sing ye to him, sing psalm, proclaim this one,
- 1:01:19sing psalm, proclaim this one,
- 1:01:22sing psalm, proclaim this one,
- 1:01:26as one, as one, as each one.
- 1:01:31See that he is his holy name, to God in you accord,
- 1:01:46and let the heart of everyone rejoice that seeks the Lord.
- 1:02:02The Lord Almighty and his strength will steadfast hearts in thee.
- 1:02:17His blessed and his gracious grace,
- 1:02:26seeking continually.
- 1:02:28Think on the words that he hath done, which admiration free.
- 1:02:47His wonders and the judgment saw, which draweth his mouth from the sea.
- 1:03:05And conclude with prayer.
- 1:03:07Our Father in heaven, as we come to you, may we have admiration bred within our hearts
- 1:03:14for the wonders that you have done for us, and that you have saved us from evil,
- 1:03:20and rescued us and redeemed us.
- 1:03:22Lord, be with us, we pray, in the days ahead.
- 1:03:25Protect us from the schemes of the evil one,
- 1:03:28that we may know you and your beauty,
- 1:03:30and that all these things may be revealed to us in new and amazing and astonishing ways,
- 1:03:38that we may question in our hearts,
- 1:03:40what is these things so wondrous and beautiful,
- 1:03:44that we may draw near with assurance,
- 1:03:47and not waver to or fro,
- 1:03:49but hold fast to Christ.
- 1:03:52Be with us as we part.
- 1:03:54Watch over us, guide us, bless the word to us this evening,
- 1:03:57as it is preached and read and sung.
- 1:03:59We thank you for the singing of your praise.
- 1:04:01Forgive us our sins, we ask in Jesus' name.
- 1:04:03Amen.
- 1:04:04Amen.
- 1:04:10Amen.
- 1:04:11Amen.