Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / A Time For Everything
Transcript
- 0:00We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 46 in the Scottish Psalter.
- 0:10Psalm 46 in the Scottish Psalter, page 271 of the psalm book.
- 0:18We're going to sing from verse 1 down to verse 7.
- 0:23Psalm 46, page 271.
- 0:25God is our refuge and our strength in straits a present deed.
- 0:30Therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid.
- 0:34Though hills amidst the seas be cast, the waters roaring make and troubled be.
- 0:40Yea, though the hills by swelling seas do shake.
- 0:43We'll sing verse 1 to 7 to God's praise and we stand to sing.
- 0:48Amen.
- 0:48God is our refuge and our strength in straits a present day.
- 1:10Therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid.
- 1:26Though hills amidst the seas be cast, though waters roaring make and troubled be.
- 1:50In all the hills by swelling seas do shake.
- 2:03A river is whose streams to glad the city of our God.
- 2:20God is our refuge and our strength in the city of God.
- 2:50God is our refuge and our strength in the city of God.
- 3:20God is our refuge and our strength in the city of God.
- 3:50God is our refuge and our strength in the city of God.
- 3:52The Lord of hosts upon our side doth constantly remain.
- 4:08God is our strength in the city of our breve, Amen.
- 4:10The Holy God of hosts upon our prime
- 4:35Our gracious Father in heaven, we thank you for the privilege that is in coming to worship you today on such a glorious day, a beautiful day.
- 4:46Outside, we pray to know the blessing of your peace inside here as well, that you will be with us, Lord, and with all who gather to worship you this day.
- 4:56We thank you that together we come to look to you and to praise your name, even as we have sung, that you are our refuge and our strength, our help in times of trouble.
- 5:07And today, as we remember, Lord, so much that goes on in our world and has gone on in the past, especially on this Remembrance Sunday, we thank you for the freedom we enjoy, especially for those who gave their lives that we might have that freedom.
- 5:23And we pray that from the youngest to the oldest here, we will have a great sense of thankfulness for all that we have, all that is from your hand.
- 5:33And we pray today, Lord, that we will be still before you and just know that you are with us.
- 5:39So bless us, we pray, Lord.
- 5:40Look down upon us.
- 5:41Bless the young ones as they will go through to the Sunday school in a few moments.
- 5:45Lord, be with them there and watch over us all as a people here, pardoning all our sins as we ask it all in Jesus' name.
- 5:55Amen.
- 5:57Boys and girls, before you go through to the hall for Sunday school classes, I just want to say a few words to you.
- 6:04Today is Remembrance Sunday and yesterday was Remembrance Day, the 11th of November.
- 6:10It was a significant date in our calendar because we look back over a number of years and to this day and we remember those who have given such a great sacrifice for our freedom.
- 6:25Many lost their lives in conflict in the past and today we remember too that around the world there are many conflicts going on.
- 6:32And we do look to God to help in these times and that he might give us peace.
- 6:38But there's something that we see at this time that reminds us just to pause for a few moments in remembrance.
- 6:48And that is the poppy.
- 6:51You'll see it, people wearing it today and you'll see it in different places.
- 6:55I'm sure you've seen it during this week.
- 6:57The poppy is seen at this time and it just reminds us of people who have given their lives.
- 7:06I wanted to show you a poppy that was made for the church here.
- 7:10It was by someone who comes to the Friday at the Free.
- 7:14And a few weeks ago they gave us this.
- 7:17And it's a number of poppies that have been knitted and then sewn together to make one big wreath.
- 7:23And then in the middle, maybe you can't see it, but this black strip has words on it that says,
- 7:30Lest we forget.
- 7:33We are to remember what many people did for us in the past.
- 7:37And that is really what the poppy is about.
- 7:41It's a reminder for us.
- 7:42It was first used in 1921.
- 7:46Not long after the end of the First World War.
- 7:49And the poppy was significant because after the war ended, there was a number of fields,
- 7:55especially in France, where so much devastation was left.
- 8:00It was just a place of mud.
- 8:03And they were thinking, could anything grow here once again after all these years of war?
- 8:09And the first thing that started to grow on the ground was the poppy.
- 8:13And some of the fields ended up just full of poppies, red in color.
- 8:21And it's a powerful reminder to us, especially when you even think of the color red,
- 8:26when you think of sacrifices made, number of people who died in conflicts over many years.
- 8:33And somebody said at the end of the First World War,
- 8:37when you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we give our today.
- 8:46And again, it's just a powerful reminder to us of the sacrifice that was made for us to enjoy freedom,
- 8:54to be able to come to church, to be able to live our lives,
- 8:57to be able to go to Sunday school, to enjoy our freedom.
- 9:01But our greatest reminder today of our freedom is that another one gave his life,
- 9:09the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 9:11Our freedom from sin came at a price.
- 9:16And again, the color red reminds us of that,
- 9:20that Jesus shed his blood on the cross,
- 9:24that we might have freedom from our sins.
- 9:27So today, we do remember those who gave their lives and continue to give life for our freedom.
- 9:36But above all, we remember the Lord Jesus Christ,
- 9:40who died for our peace and for our salvation and our security,
- 9:46that through him we might have life and life eternal.
- 9:51So may God bless us today as a people and as a nation and indeed as a world
- 9:56as we think of these things and pray for God's peace and presence for all his people.
- 10:04Well, we'll say the Lord's Prayer together now.
- 10:07Let's say the Lord's Prayer.
- 10:08Amen.
- 10:38Well, there's again, sing to God's praise.
- 10:41This time we're singing in Psalm 139a.
- 10:45This is in the Sing Psalms version.
- 10:49Psalm 139a.
- 10:51And we're going to sing from verse 13 down to verse 18.
- 10:56This is on page 181 of the psalm book.
- 11:00Psalm 139a and at verse 13.
- 11:03A reminder to us that the Lord knows all about us and all his people.
- 11:09For you, O Lord, created me.
- 11:11You wove me on your loom.
- 11:13My inmost being you have formed within my mother's womb.
- 11:16Because I'm wonderfully made, with all your praise I'll tell.
- 11:20Your workmanship is marvelous.
- 11:22And this I know full well.
- 11:25We'll sing from verse 13 to 18 to God's praise.
- 11:29For you, O Lord, created me.
- 11:42You hold me on your loom.
- 11:49My inmost being you have formed within my mother's womb.
- 12:06Because I'm wonderfully made, with all your praise I tell.
- 12:24Your workmanship is marvelous.
- 12:33And this I know full well.
- 12:42When in the secret place my frame was made before my birth.
- 13:01You saw my body yet conformed within the depths of earth.
- 13:19And all the days that I should live, which you ordained for me,
- 13:36Were written in your book, O Lord, before they came to me.
- 13:53O God, how precious are your thoughts.
- 14:05I scarred them from afar.
- 14:12And as I seek to grasp them all,
- 14:23How numberless they are.
- 14:30Were I to count them they would be,
- 14:41More than the grains of sand.
- 14:48When I awake, I am with you.
- 14:58Still safe within your hands.
- 15:05Amen.
- 15:12Well, we'll turn together to read in God's word now in the Old Testament
- 15:16in the book of Ecclesiastes.
- 15:18And we're reading in chapter 3.
- 15:22Ecclesiastes chapter 3.
- 15:24You know, the book of Psalms and Proverbs and then Ecclesiastes.
- 15:31Ecclesiastes chapter 3.
- 15:33And we can read the whole of this chapter together.
- 15:37For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.
- 15:44A time to be born and a time to die.
- 15:47A time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted.
- 15:52A time to kill and a time to heal.
- 15:54A time to break down and a time to build up.
- 15:58A time to weep and a time to laugh.
- 16:01A time to mourn and a time to dance.
- 16:04A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together.
- 16:10A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
- 16:15A time to seek and a time to lose.
- 16:18A time to keep and a time to cast away.
- 16:22A time to tear and a time to sow.
- 16:26A time to keep silence and a time to speak.
- 16:30A time to love and a time to hate.
- 16:33A time for war and a time for peace.
- 16:38What gain has the worker from his toil?
- 16:42I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
- 16:47He has made everything beautiful in its time.
- 16:50Also he has put enmity into eternity into man's heart.
- 16:55Yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
- 17:00I perceive that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.
- 17:08Also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil.
- 17:13This is God's gift to man.
- 17:15I perceive that whatever God does endures forever.
- 17:19Nothing can be added to it.
- 17:21Not anything taken from it.
- 17:23God has done it so that people fear before him.
- 17:27That which is already has been.
- 17:31That which is to be already has been.
- 17:34And God seeks what has been driven away.
- 17:38Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice even there was wickedness.
- 17:44And in the place of righteousness even there was wickedness.
- 17:48I said in my heart God will judge the righteous and the wicked.
- 17:54For there is a time for every matter and for every work.
- 17:58I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.
- 18:07For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same.
- 18:11As one dies so dies the other.
- 18:14They all have the same breath and man has no advantage over the beasts.
- 18:19For all is vanity.
- 18:21All go to one place.
- 18:23All are from the dust and to dust all return.
- 18:26Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upwards and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth.
- 18:33So I saw there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work.
- 18:38For that is his lot.
- 18:40Who can bring him to see what will be after him.
- 18:44Amen.
- 18:45And may God bless that reading of his word.
- 18:48Let's again just bow our heads in a word of prayer.
- 18:51Let us pray.
- 18:53Lord our gracious God as we continue in your presence today.
- 18:58We thank you that your promise is of your presence with your people.
- 19:02We have such great promises in your word that never will you leave us.
- 19:07Never will you forsake us.
- 19:09We have sung of these promises in Psalm 46 that God is our refuge and our strength.
- 19:16And all of these things remind us that we need you.
- 19:21And where would we be without you?
- 19:24And even in times of trouble and conflict as we remember today.
- 19:29We thank you that you are the God of heaven and earth.
- 19:32That you are the God who is sovereign over all things.
- 19:36That you are the one who rules on high and has plans and purposes even that we cannot comprehend at times.
- 19:43We cannot see or understand.
- 19:45And yet we look to your word and we thank you that you remind us through it.
- 19:51That as we look to the things in this world from our own perspective that we seek, where we seek understanding we cannot find it.
- 19:59But yet when we look above, when we look to you as God of heaven and earth, that you are able to help us.
- 20:07That you are able to give us a peace in the midst of trouble.
- 20:11A peace that passes all understanding.
- 20:14For your word is a word of life.
- 20:18You have made us for a purpose, Lord.
- 20:20You have formed us.
- 20:21You have marked our days.
- 20:23And we pray, Lord, that you will help us even as we live and breathe in this earth.
- 20:29That we would seek to do all for your glory.
- 20:32That we would seek to draw near to you and come and offer up worship and praise to you.
- 20:38That even today as you remind us through your word of a time for everything.
- 20:44That you will help us, Lord, to seek understanding and wisdom.
- 20:48Not in our own selves or in anything of this world.
- 20:52But in you.
- 20:53That your spirit will minister to us and help us to have understanding.
- 20:58And we do pray today, Lord, for our world.
- 21:02And we pray, O Lord, in the midst of a day of remembrance.
- 21:06That you will hear your praying people.
- 21:09That you will look down upon us and hear a people who cry.
- 21:13A people who weep.
- 21:14A people who mourn.
- 21:16And we pray, Lord, that you will come in your power.
- 21:19That you will come to bring peace and to bring comfort.
- 21:23In the midst of such devastating situations.
- 21:26We do pray, Lord, that you will remember us as a people.
- 21:32Even as you have done in the past.
- 21:34When you have brought times of conflict to an end as we remember today.
- 21:38We give thanks, O Lord, for the many occasions that you have brought nations and people.
- 21:44Through such difficult days.
- 21:47Such dark days.
- 21:48But you are a God who has been able to bring peace when it seemed impossible.
- 21:53And even today, as we think of things that are impossible for ourselves.
- 21:58We thank you that all things are possible with you.
- 22:02And so, Lord, hear our prayers.
- 22:04Hear us, Lord, and look down upon us.
- 22:06And do us good, we ask.
- 22:08And we thank you that today is a day to rejoice.
- 22:13Today is a day when we are reminded of your great power.
- 22:16A power that is life and resurrection.
- 22:20That on this first day of the week we come to worship you as our Lord and as our God.
- 22:26Thankful for your Son, Christ Jesus.
- 22:29Who you sent into this world.
- 22:31That he would lay down his life for his people.
- 22:35And that he would take it up again.
- 22:37And that he would ascend on high.
- 22:39And that there is a promise that he will come again.
- 22:43That he will come, O Lord, to fulfill all scripture.
- 22:48That he will come to fulfill all promises of peace and life and life eternal.
- 22:55That he will come to bring his people together with him.
- 23:00To wipe away all the tears.
- 23:02And to fill our mouths with joy and singing and gladness.
- 23:07And we thank you for the promise of hope that is in your word.
- 23:11And we pray today that as your word is preached and proclaimed.
- 23:15Far and wide.
- 23:17That people will have ears to hear.
- 23:19And that your spirit will work in power among us.
- 23:23As a people here and throughout our nation and throughout the world.
- 23:27That your word will bear much fruit.
- 23:30And we do thank you, Lord, that in all our different needs.
- 23:33Our needs are there many.
- 23:35That we can come to you in prayer.
- 23:37You are the one who hears.
- 23:39And you are the only one who can help.
- 23:42In so many different situations we find ourselves.
- 23:45We think of those who are mourning and grieving at this time.
- 23:49And we commit them to you, O Lord.
- 23:52We ask your blessing, your comfort, your help towards them.
- 23:56We think of those who are unwell in hospital or homes.
- 24:00Or at home, their own homes.
- 24:02Lord, we pray for your help towards them.
- 24:05It may not be that healing will come.
- 24:08But we pray, Lord, for your healing of the soul.
- 24:13For you to bless as only you can.
- 24:16To give hope in the midst of such uncertain times.
- 24:21We pray for our people as a whole throughout our communities, Lord.
- 24:25That you will look down upon us.
- 24:28That you will bless us, Lord.
- 24:30That you will work in our midst.
- 24:32Bringing young and old.
- 24:34Boys and girls.
- 24:35Men and women.
- 24:36To profess Christ Jesus as Lord.
- 24:39Again, O Lord, we pray that you will revive our hearts.
- 24:43That you will stir us up, O Lord.
- 24:45That you will hear our prayers.
- 24:47And so we thank you, Lord, that you are the God who is with us.
- 24:51That you have not abandoned us.
- 24:53That even in moments of silence, Lord, you speak to us.
- 24:58For there is power even in silence.
- 25:00But we thank you, Lord, that you have spoken from the very beginning.
- 25:05That you created all things by the word of your power.
- 25:09And we thank you, too, that you have spoken to us and speak to us even now.
- 25:14Through your son, Christ Jesus.
- 25:17And we pray that as we hear your word even now.
- 25:20That you will speak to us all.
- 25:23That you will help us to hear.
- 25:25And repent and turn to you.
- 25:28And so we ask all these things acknowledging our sins.
- 25:32We know, Lord, how far short we fall.
- 25:35And we seek forgiveness for all our sins.
- 25:38We sin daily in thought, word, and indeed in action as your word says.
- 25:44And we just ask your forgiveness, Lord, that you will restore us.
- 25:48And that you will bless us.
- 25:50So be with us now and continue to go before us throughout this day.
- 25:54And throughout the days ahead, according to your will.
- 25:57That you will direct us in your paths.
- 25:59And hear our prayers.
- 26:01And all we ask, we ask in Jesus' precious name.
- 26:04Amen.
- 26:08Let's again sing to God's praise.
- 26:10Before we turn back to our reading in Ecclesiastes.
- 26:13We're singing in Psalm 76.
- 26:15In the Sing Psalms version, Psalm 76.
- 26:19Page 99 of the Psalm book.
- 26:22We can sing from verse 1 down to verse 9.
- 26:29Psalm 76 from verse 1 down to verse 9.
- 26:36In Judah's land, God's name is known.
- 26:41In Israel, he is great.
- 26:43In Salem, he has pitched his tent.
- 26:45His home in Zion set.
- 26:47He broke the fire.
- 26:48He broke the fire.
- 26:49He arrows there.
- 26:50The military might of those who with their swords and shields against us came to fight.
- 26:57We'll sing Psalm 76 verse 1 down to verse 9.
- 27:02Psalm 76.
- 27:03In Judah's land, God's name is known.
- 27:05In Israel, he is great.
- 27:07In Salem, he has pitched his tent.
- 27:09His home in Zion set.
- 27:10He broke the fire.
- 27:12He has pitched his tent.
- 27:13In Israel, he is great.
- 27:14He broke the fire.
- 27:16In Israel, he is great.
- 27:18In Israel, he is great.
- 27:20In Salem, he has pitched his tent.
- 27:22Salem, he has pitched his tent, his home in Zion set.
- 27:35He broke the fiery arrows there, the military might of those who with their swords and shields against us came to fight.
- 28:03Your splendor is more glorious on hillsides rich with praise.
- 28:18Brave men were stripped of hope, their squirt asleep in death they lay.
- 28:32Not one of those great warriors could lift his hands to kill.
- 28:46At your rebuke, O Jacob's God, ride there and heart lay still.
- 29:01For you alone are to be feared before you who can stand.
- 29:16Who can injure your anger, Lord, the judgments you command.
- 29:31From heaven your verdict was thrown out, and was hashed in awe.
- 29:46When you arose to save the poor and vindicate your law.
- 30:01Amen.
- 30:09Well, let's turn back to our reading in Ecclesiastes chapter 3.
- 30:15Ecclesiastes chapter 3, and it speaks here about a time for everything and how our times are in the hands of God.
- 30:25For everything there is a season and a time.
- 30:28For every matter under heaven, a time to be born and a time to die.
- 30:33And so it goes on down to verse 8 where it speaks of a time to love and a time to hate.
- 30:39A time for war and a time for peace.
- 30:46Newspaper headlines today are designed to catch your attention.
- 30:51So as you're looking online or as you're looking in the shops, you'll see the front pages.
- 30:58And you'll be drawn to them by a headline that stands out.
- 31:02And in order to do this nowadays, sometimes maybe truth is stretched.
- 31:07Or even at times maybe a downright lie is told in order to draw attention towards that.
- 31:14But there are times, however, when front page headlines do shock.
- 31:22And they shock us to the point where we maybe hope that it is a lie.
- 31:27That it is not true.
- 31:30The headlines in newspapers at times of war are often such a time.
- 31:37A time when we hope this headline may not be true.
- 31:41May the suffering that we're seeing not actually be happening.
- 31:47And today as we come on a day of remembrance,
- 31:52when we remember the sacrifices that have been made for us as a people,
- 31:58as we remember those who lost their lives and conflicts passed,
- 32:02and to this day who put their lives on the line so that we might enjoy peace.
- 32:08Our thoughts go back.
- 32:12We reflect looking back perhaps over many years.
- 32:17And when you look at newspaper headlines over the years,
- 32:20there have been times when they have shocked this nation's and many nations in the world.
- 32:26For example, the newspaper headline on the 5th of August 1914
- 32:31was Great Britain at war with Germany.
- 32:36Germany.
- 32:37From that date until the end of the First World War,
- 32:41four years later,
- 32:43the suffering was immense and there was a horrendous loss of life that ensued.
- 32:49But then, just a few years later,
- 32:5325 years later,
- 32:54on the 3rd of September 1939,
- 32:57the newspaper headline once again had these same words on the front.
- 33:02Great Britain at war with Germany.
- 33:07And another conflict ensued over a long period of time,
- 33:10and again,
- 33:11many lives were lost.
- 33:13And these are headlines that our nation has seen at different times.
- 33:18In 1982 with the Falklands War,
- 33:21in 2003,
- 33:22and 2014
- 33:24with the Gulf War.
- 33:26And they are headlines that we see in our news in this past year,
- 33:32and even in these days in which we live.
- 33:37These things cause us to pause.
- 33:42And as we think of these things today,
- 33:45the Word of God speaks to us.
- 33:48It speaks into our situation today,
- 33:52as it always does,
- 33:54that even into the darkest of times,
- 33:57God's Word is able to give light,
- 34:01to give direction,
- 34:02and to give hope.
- 34:05And to give us a hope of a better future.
- 34:09To give us hope of a peaceful end.
- 34:12And above all,
- 34:13to give us hope for eternity.
- 34:16The Word here in Ecclesiastes,
- 34:20as we're going to look at,
- 34:21reminds us of the realities and the truths of life.
- 34:26Things that we often cannot understand.
- 34:29Things that we maybe see no reason for,
- 34:32and just don't have the answer to.
- 34:35God's Word helps us.
- 34:38Helps us in some measure to see
- 34:40that He has a plan and a purpose in all things.
- 34:44And the opening words of Ecclesiastes,
- 34:47if you go back to chapter 1,
- 34:50they're a little like a newspaper headline
- 34:52that's there to shock us as well,
- 34:55when it says in verse 1,
- 34:57the words of the preacher,
- 34:58the son of David, king of Jerusalem.
- 35:01Then verse 2, it just stands out to us.
- 35:04Vanity of vanities, says the preacher.
- 35:07Vanity of vanities.
- 35:08All is vanity.
- 35:11Another translation is
- 35:13meaningless, meaningless,
- 35:14all is meaningless.
- 35:18And surely you would expect
- 35:20something more from the Word of God
- 35:23than to say,
- 35:24meaningless, meaningless,
- 35:25all is meaningless.
- 35:28Well, there are two phrases
- 35:30that are used in these opening chapters
- 35:33of Ecclesiastes
- 35:34that help us to see a real contrast.
- 35:37And one is,
- 35:39as it speaks here of
- 35:40under the sun,
- 35:42as it says in chapter 1,
- 35:44verse 3,
- 35:45what does man gain by all the toil
- 35:47at which he toils?
- 35:49Under the sun.
- 35:51Under the sun is
- 35:53when we look at things
- 35:54in our own perspective,
- 35:56when we look at things,
- 35:57seeking to understand them
- 35:59by ourselves.
- 36:01But then as you go into chapter 3,
- 36:06the first verse there says,
- 36:08for everything,
- 36:10there is a season,
- 36:11a time for every matter
- 36:13under heaven.
- 36:16And there is the contrast for us.
- 36:19No longer are we looking at things
- 36:20under the sun,
- 36:23and seeking to look at things
- 36:24from our own perspective
- 36:26and our own understanding,
- 36:28but now we're beginning to see
- 36:30how the Lord gives us
- 36:32understanding and help,
- 36:34even to understand
- 36:35the difficult things in life.
- 36:38For everything,
- 36:39there is a season,
- 36:41there is a time,
- 36:42and a time for every matter
- 36:44under heaven.
- 36:46And this is under heaven,
- 36:48seeking to help us
- 36:49to understand things
- 36:51from God's perspective,
- 36:54to look to him
- 36:55in the things
- 36:56that we so often
- 36:57cannot understand,
- 36:59and to see
- 37:00that we can trust him.
- 37:04So that is what
- 37:05we are looking at today.
- 37:07In chapter 3,
- 37:09we see that things
- 37:10under heaven,
- 37:12things that are
- 37:13in the light
- 37:14of God's providence
- 37:15and God's control,
- 37:19that everything
- 37:19that happens
- 37:20in our world,
- 37:22as it speaks here
- 37:23of a time for everything,
- 37:25a time to be born,
- 37:26a time to die,
- 37:27a time to love,
- 37:28a time to hate,
- 37:30a time for war,
- 37:32and a time for peace.
- 37:35That we can see it
- 37:36as God is still
- 37:37in control,
- 37:39God is still sovereign,
- 37:42God is able
- 37:43to help.
- 37:46And so there's three things
- 37:47I want us to take
- 37:48from verse 1
- 37:50to verse 15
- 37:52in particular.
- 37:54What we're looking at here
- 37:56is a time
- 37:57for everything.
- 37:59And that's our first thought,
- 38:01a time
- 38:01for everything.
- 38:03But the second thing
- 38:04slightly changes that
- 38:05it's everything
- 38:06in its time.
- 38:09So we don't seek
- 38:10to rush things.
- 38:12Much as we would love
- 38:12things to change,
- 38:14that God has
- 38:15everything
- 38:16in its time.
- 38:17And then the third thing
- 38:19I want us to think about
- 38:20is a time
- 38:21to reflect,
- 38:23a time to think
- 38:24about these things.
- 38:27So first of all,
- 38:28we see
- 38:28a time
- 38:29for everything.
- 38:32The opening verses
- 38:33in chapter 3
- 38:34remind us
- 38:35of the seasons
- 38:36of life
- 38:37that we go through.
- 38:39Verse 2
- 38:40through to verse 8,
- 38:41it just shows us
- 38:42the way our lives
- 38:44so often go.
- 38:45Although these words
- 38:46were written so long ago,
- 38:48they still speak to us.
- 38:50Each of these phrases
- 38:51that you read,
- 38:52it still speaks to us
- 38:54to this very day.
- 38:56They're a reality
- 38:56of our lives
- 38:58in this world
- 38:59for every generation.
- 39:01And the words
- 39:01open with
- 39:02the main events
- 39:04in our lives,
- 39:06a time to be born
- 39:07and a time
- 39:09to die.
- 39:11But then you'll go down
- 39:12to verse 8.
- 39:13Everything else
- 39:14in between
- 39:15we have as well.
- 39:16But verse 8
- 39:17ends with
- 39:17a time
- 39:18of war
- 39:20and a time
- 39:21for war
- 39:22and a time
- 39:24for peace.
- 39:27Now when we think
- 39:27of the wars
- 39:28we remember today
- 39:29and the lives
- 39:30that were lost,
- 39:32so many of them
- 39:33were just
- 39:34young men
- 39:35and young
- 39:36women.
- 39:38And it's hard
- 39:39for us
- 39:40to understand.
- 39:42It's hard
- 39:43for us
- 39:43even as you
- 39:44go around
- 39:44cemeteries
- 39:45or you look
- 39:46at war memorials
- 39:47and you see
- 39:47every name
- 39:48inscribed there
- 39:50and you see
- 39:50their age
- 39:51beside it.
- 39:52Some just
- 39:52teenagers
- 39:53are in their
- 39:54twenties.
- 39:55So many
- 39:55lost their lives
- 39:57so young.
- 39:59It's hard
- 40:00for us
- 40:00to understand.
- 40:02And if you think
- 40:03of our own
- 40:04contexts
- 40:04here in our
- 40:06islands,
- 40:06as you think
- 40:07of how many
- 40:08have gone away
- 40:08from our
- 40:09islands
- 40:09never
- 40:10to return.
- 40:13It's hard
- 40:13for us
- 40:14to understand.
- 40:16Death
- 40:16is something
- 40:17that is always
- 40:18hard for us
- 40:19to understand
- 40:20no matter
- 40:20the context,
- 40:22no matter
- 40:22the situation.
- 40:25And Ecclesiastes
- 40:26opens,
- 40:27as I've said,
- 40:28with the vanity
- 40:30of life
- 40:30as it seems
- 40:31when everything
- 40:32is meaningless,
- 40:33the futility
- 40:33of life
- 40:34when we
- 40:34give no thought
- 40:36to God.
- 40:37nothing makes
- 40:38sense.
- 40:39Nothing
- 40:40we can
- 40:42understand
- 40:43in this
- 40:44world at
- 40:44times.
- 40:46And if we
- 40:46look at life
- 40:47through our
- 40:47own wisdom,
- 40:49if we look
- 40:49at life
- 40:50seeking to
- 40:51find meaning
- 40:52by ourselves,
- 40:54where does it
- 40:54lead us to
- 40:55but so often
- 40:56just despair?
- 40:58We just
- 40:58cannot
- 40:59understand.
- 41:01If you
- 41:01attempt to
- 41:02think of
- 41:02things apart
- 41:03from God,
- 41:04because we
- 41:05look at this
- 41:05world and we
- 41:06look at
- 41:06what has
- 41:07happened in
- 41:08our world
- 41:08in the past
- 41:09and we
- 41:09look at
- 41:09what's
- 41:10happening
- 41:10in our
- 41:11world today
- 41:11and there
- 41:12are so
- 41:12many,
- 41:13so many
- 41:14heartbreaking
- 41:14things that
- 41:16have happened
- 41:17and are
- 41:17happening
- 41:18and we
- 41:20struggle to
- 41:21have answers
- 41:22for them
- 41:23and it
- 41:24only leads
- 41:25us to
- 41:25grief
- 41:26and to
- 41:27despair.
- 41:29There seems
- 41:30to be no
- 41:31meaning and
- 41:32no hope
- 41:33in it.
- 41:33and even
- 41:35as we
- 41:36come into
- 41:37chapter 3
- 41:38and look
- 41:39at things
- 41:39as a
- 41:40matter
- 41:40under
- 41:41heaven,
- 41:42as we
- 41:42begin to
- 41:43see in
- 41:44the light
- 41:44of God's
- 41:45works of
- 41:45providence,
- 41:46as we
- 41:47begin to
- 41:47see that
- 41:48God is in
- 41:49control,
- 41:49still we
- 41:51can struggle
- 41:51to understand
- 41:53and that
- 41:55is where
- 41:55faith comes
- 41:57in,
- 41:58to believe
- 41:59in God
- 42:00and to
- 42:01trust
- 42:02him,
- 42:04to see
- 42:04that with
- 42:05him there
- 42:06is hope
- 42:07because God
- 42:08has appointed
- 42:09a season
- 42:10and a time
- 42:11for everything,
- 42:13for our
- 42:14lives and
- 42:15for the
- 42:15lives of
- 42:16all people.
- 42:18Think of
- 42:18the words
- 42:18that we
- 42:19sang in
- 42:19Psalm 139.
- 42:22In
- 42:23verse 15
- 42:23it says,
- 42:24you saw
- 42:24my body
- 42:25yet unformed
- 42:26within the
- 42:26depths of
- 42:27earth and
- 42:28all the
- 42:28days that
- 42:30I should
- 42:31live which
- 42:32you ordained
- 42:32for me were
- 42:34written in
- 42:34your book,
- 42:35O Lord,
- 42:36before they
- 42:37came to
- 42:38be.
- 42:39You see
- 42:40there that
- 42:40God has
- 42:42everything in
- 42:43his hands.
- 42:44There is a
- 42:45time for
- 42:46everything.
- 42:48And so
- 42:48when it
- 42:49says there
- 42:49is a time
- 42:50to be
- 42:50born and
- 42:51a time
- 42:52to die,
- 42:52when it
- 42:52says there
- 42:53is a time
- 42:53for war
- 42:54and a time
- 42:55for peace,
- 42:56we see
- 42:57that some
- 42:58are born
- 42:58for a
- 42:59time of
- 43:00war,
- 43:01some are
- 43:02born for
- 43:03a time
- 43:03of peace,
- 43:04and some
- 43:05are born
- 43:06for both.
- 43:08Everyone's
- 43:09providence
- 43:10in life
- 43:11is different.
- 43:13And it
- 43:14can all
- 43:14seem
- 43:15meaningless,
- 43:16but here
- 43:17the only
- 43:18solution to
- 43:18meaningness
- 43:19in life
- 43:19is to
- 43:20see the
- 43:21sovereignty
- 43:21of God,
- 43:24that he
- 43:25is in
- 43:26control,
- 43:28that there
- 43:28is indeed
- 43:29a time
- 43:30for
- 43:31everything.
- 43:34As I
- 43:34shared with
- 43:34the children
- 43:35before they
- 43:36went through,
- 43:37these words
- 43:37are often
- 43:38used at
- 43:40time of
- 43:40remembrance
- 43:41for our
- 43:41tomorrow.
- 43:43They gave
- 43:43their
- 43:44today
- 43:45a time
- 43:47for
- 43:48everything.
- 43:50They
- 43:50sacrificed
- 43:51that we
- 43:52might have
- 43:53a freedom
- 43:54to live.
- 43:56We don't
- 43:57always
- 43:57understand
- 43:59this life,
- 44:01but God
- 44:02is in
- 44:03control.
- 44:05The poem
- 44:06The Weaver's
- 44:08Shuttle
- 44:08speaks so
- 44:10powerfully
- 44:10into our
- 44:12sort of
- 44:12lack of
- 44:13understanding.
- 44:15As it
- 44:15says,
- 44:16not till
- 44:16the loom
- 44:17is silent
- 44:17and the
- 44:18shuttles
- 44:19cease to
- 44:20fly,
- 44:20shall God
- 44:21unroll the
- 44:22canvas and
- 44:22explain the
- 44:23reason why.
- 44:25The dark
- 44:25threads are
- 44:26as needful
- 44:27in the
- 44:27weaver's
- 44:28skillful
- 44:29hand as
- 44:30the threads
- 44:31of gold
- 44:31and silver
- 44:32in the
- 44:33pattern he
- 44:34has planned.
- 44:37As we
- 44:37think of
- 44:38meaning
- 44:38that God
- 44:40gives to
- 44:41life,
- 44:42the things
- 44:42that we
- 44:42don't
- 44:43understand,
- 44:44ultimately
- 44:44it brings
- 44:45us to
- 44:46the cross
- 44:47and to
- 44:48see there
- 44:49even the
- 44:49darkest of
- 44:50days.
- 44:52As there
- 44:52was darkness
- 44:53at midday
- 44:55as Jesus
- 44:55was crucified,
- 44:56nothing
- 44:57seemed to
- 44:58make sense
- 44:58even to
- 44:59God's
- 44:59people then,
- 45:01but God
- 45:02had a
- 45:02plan and
- 45:04a purpose.
- 45:06He is
- 45:06the
- 45:07resurrection
- 45:08and the
- 45:09life.
- 45:11There is
- 45:12a time
- 45:12for
- 45:13everything.
- 45:15The
- 45:15second
- 45:16thing we
- 45:16see here
- 45:17is that
- 45:17everything
- 45:18is in
- 45:19its
- 45:20time.
- 45:22Written
- 45:233,000
- 45:24years ago,
- 45:25these words
- 45:25in Ecclesiastes
- 45:26still speak
- 45:27powerfully
- 45:28to us.
- 45:30What was
- 45:31happening
- 45:31then still
- 45:32happens
- 45:33to this
- 45:34day.
- 45:35In
- 45:36chapter 1
- 45:36verse 9
- 45:37it says,
- 45:38there is
- 45:38nothing new
- 45:39under the
- 45:40sun.
- 45:41And even
- 45:41as we
- 45:41look in
- 45:42the world
- 45:42in which
- 45:43we live
- 45:43today,
- 45:43we say
- 45:44there is
- 45:44nothing new
- 45:45under the
- 45:46sun.
- 45:47As we
- 45:47think of
- 45:47man's
- 45:48inhumanity
- 45:49to man,
- 45:50there is
- 45:50nothing new
- 45:51under the
- 45:52sun.
- 45:53Still
- 45:54people live
- 45:55without any
- 45:56thought of
- 45:56God,
- 45:57just as
- 45:58they did
- 45:58in the
- 45:59days of
- 46:00the
- 46:00writer to
- 46:01the
- 46:01Ecclesiastes.
- 46:04But when
- 46:05we see
- 46:05things as
- 46:06under God's
- 46:07sovereign rule,
- 46:08as under
- 46:09heaven,
- 46:10in light of
- 46:11who God
- 46:12is,
- 46:13God at
- 46:14work in
- 46:14every
- 46:15period of
- 46:15time,
- 46:16in every
- 46:16generation,
- 46:17moving things
- 46:18on by
- 46:19his will
- 46:20and his
- 46:21purpose,
- 46:22we see
- 46:23that he
- 46:23is in
- 46:25control.
- 46:26In
- 46:26chapter 1
- 46:27it speaks
- 46:28of the
- 46:29cycle of
- 46:29life almost
- 46:30in the
- 46:30sense of
- 46:31going round
- 46:32and round
- 46:33in a
- 46:33circle.
- 46:34When you
- 46:35look at
- 46:35verse 4
- 46:36through to
- 46:36verse 9
- 46:37of chapter 1,
- 46:38you can read
- 46:39it again in
- 46:40your own time,
- 46:40it says,
- 46:41a generation
- 46:41goes and
- 46:42a generation
- 46:43comes,
- 46:44but the
- 46:45earth remains
- 46:46forever.
- 46:48And so it
- 46:48goes on to
- 46:49speak about
- 46:50our lives as
- 46:51almost this
- 46:52way the sun
- 46:53rises, the
- 46:53sun goes
- 46:54down and
- 46:55hastens to
- 46:55the place
- 46:56where it
- 46:56rises.
- 46:57There is
- 46:57this constant
- 46:58just going
- 46:59round and
- 46:59round in
- 47:00life.
- 47:01It almost
- 47:01seems that
- 47:02there is no
- 47:03direction.
- 47:06But here
- 47:07in verse
- 47:0811, we
- 47:10see that
- 47:10as we
- 47:10see things
- 47:11under
- 47:11heaven and
- 47:12in God's
- 47:12control, in
- 47:14chapter 3,
- 47:14verse 11, he
- 47:15says, he
- 47:16has made
- 47:16everything
- 47:17beautiful in
- 47:19its time.
- 47:21In its
- 47:22time.
- 47:23That God
- 47:24has time
- 47:26in his
- 47:27hands.
- 47:28That
- 47:28everything
- 47:29is in
- 47:30his time.
- 47:32His promise
- 47:32is that he
- 47:33will make
- 47:33everything
- 47:34beautiful in
- 47:36its time.
- 47:36even the
- 47:38most difficult
- 47:39experiences
- 47:40of life.
- 47:42But it
- 47:43is in
- 47:43his
- 47:44appointed
- 47:45time.
- 47:46Things
- 47:46don't just
- 47:47happen.
- 47:48It isn't
- 47:49just a
- 47:50random
- 47:50sequence of
- 47:51events.
- 47:52We are
- 47:53looking at
- 47:53things here
- 47:54in light of
- 47:55God who
- 47:56has time
- 47:57and everything
- 47:57in his
- 47:58hands, who
- 47:59gives
- 47:59direction.
- 48:00the Bible
- 48:02often speaks
- 48:03of things
- 48:04being at
- 48:04the right
- 48:05time.
- 48:08Romans 5,
- 48:10verse 6
- 48:10says, for
- 48:12while we
- 48:12were still
- 48:13weak, at
- 48:14the right
- 48:15time, Christ
- 48:16died for
- 48:18the ungodly.
- 48:20We don't
- 48:20rush God.
- 48:23We don't
- 48:23make him
- 48:24move quicker
- 48:25even though we
- 48:26would want it
- 48:26at times, but
- 48:28at the right
- 48:29time.
- 48:30he will
- 48:31make things
- 48:31right.
- 48:32God is
- 48:33working.
- 48:34God will
- 48:35put things
- 48:36right.
- 48:36That is the
- 48:36promise of
- 48:38his word, even
- 48:39in times and
- 48:40situations that
- 48:41seem to make
- 48:42no sense to
- 48:43us.
- 48:45There are
- 48:46numerous stories
- 48:47told of
- 48:48heroic actions
- 48:49during times
- 48:50of conflict.
- 48:53I'm sure you
- 48:54know many
- 48:54of them.
- 48:56One I
- 48:57have heard
- 48:58so often
- 48:59and recall
- 48:59so often
- 49:00is about
- 49:00a ship
- 49:01called
- 49:01the
- 49:02Jarvis
- 49:02Bay.
- 49:04Back in
- 49:051940, in
- 49:06the early
- 49:07years of
- 49:07the Second
- 49:08World War,
- 49:09the Jarvis
- 49:10Bay was
- 49:10part of a
- 49:11convoy
- 49:12making its
- 49:12way across
- 49:13to the
- 49:13United
- 49:14Kingdom,
- 49:15across the
- 49:15Atlantic.
- 49:17On the
- 49:175th of
- 49:18November
- 49:181940, they
- 49:20came under
- 49:20attack from
- 49:21a battleship
- 49:22called the
- 49:23Admiral
- 49:24Shear.
- 49:24convoy.
- 49:25The convoy
- 49:26was in
- 49:27great danger.
- 49:28The battleship
- 49:29was too
- 49:30powerful for
- 49:31the convoy
- 49:32and one
- 49:32by one
- 49:33it was
- 49:33starting to
- 49:34take the
- 49:34ships out.
- 49:36But the
- 49:37Jarvis Bay,
- 49:38the captain
- 49:38of the
- 49:38Jarvis Bay,
- 49:39decided to
- 49:40take action
- 49:41and he
- 49:43turned the
- 49:43ship towards
- 49:45the battleship,
- 49:46the Admiral
- 49:46Shear.
- 49:47And although
- 49:49they only
- 49:49had small
- 49:50guns on
- 49:50board,
- 49:51they engaged
- 49:52in battle
- 49:53with this
- 49:53battleship,
- 49:54knowing it
- 49:55was hopeless,
- 49:57but hoping
- 49:57that it would
- 49:58give enough
- 49:58time for
- 49:59the convoy
- 50:00to get
- 50:00further ahead
- 50:01and further
- 50:02away.
- 50:03And so
- 50:04it did.
- 50:04The convoy
- 50:05escaped,
- 50:07but it was
- 50:07at a great
- 50:08cost.
- 50:10The Jarvis
- 50:10Bay was
- 50:11sunk,
- 50:13and of
- 50:13the 255
- 50:14on board,
- 50:15187,
- 50:17were lost.
- 50:19It was a
- 50:19great loss
- 50:20of life.
- 50:22They turned
- 50:23knowing it
- 50:24was futile,
- 50:25but in the
- 50:26hope of
- 50:27saving others.
- 50:29The reason
- 50:29I know
- 50:30this story
- 50:31so well
- 50:32is because
- 50:32I sailed
- 50:33on a
- 50:34ship in
- 50:35my own
- 50:35time at
- 50:35sea called
- 50:36the Jarvis
- 50:37Bay.
- 50:39It was
- 50:39the third
- 50:40one to
- 50:40have been
- 50:41built.
- 50:42And on
- 50:42board was
- 50:43a memory
- 50:44towards the
- 50:45first Jarvis
- 50:46Bay,
- 50:46the story
- 50:47was told
- 50:48of the
- 50:49original
- 50:49Jarvis
- 50:50Bay that
- 50:51had made
- 50:51that
- 50:52sacrifice.
- 50:52It was
- 50:53a powerful
- 50:53witness.
- 50:54Even though
- 50:55I wasn't
- 50:55a Christian
- 50:56at the
- 50:56time,
- 50:57it was
- 50:57a powerful
- 50:58witness.
- 51:00But there's
- 51:01nothing more
- 51:01powerful than
- 51:03the witness
- 51:03of the
- 51:04one who
- 51:05gave his
- 51:05life for
- 51:06us on
- 51:08the cross.
- 51:10But all
- 51:11of these
- 51:11things,
- 51:12they remind
- 51:13us of
- 51:13what it
- 51:14says here
- 51:15that the
- 51:16Lord has
- 51:17made
- 51:17everything
- 51:17beautiful
- 51:18in its
- 51:18time,
- 51:19but it
- 51:19says there
- 51:19in verse
- 51:2011,
- 51:20he has
- 51:21put
- 51:21eternity
- 51:22into
- 51:22man's
- 51:23heart.
- 51:26Eternity
- 51:26is before
- 51:27us all
- 51:28at such
- 51:28times as
- 51:29these.
- 51:30It's
- 51:30always
- 51:30before us.
- 51:32But on
- 51:33a day of
- 51:33remembrance,
- 51:34as we
- 51:34think of
- 51:34the lives
- 51:36given for
- 51:37our
- 51:37freedom,
- 51:39eternity
- 51:39becomes
- 51:40more
- 51:41powerful.
- 51:43We all
- 51:43have
- 51:44eternity
- 51:44before
- 51:45us.
- 51:47And
- 51:47Thomas
- 51:48Watson,
- 51:48the
- 51:48Puritan,
- 51:49once said,
- 51:49eternity
- 51:50to the
- 51:50godly
- 51:51is a
- 51:51day that
- 51:52has no
- 51:53sunset,
- 51:54but eternity
- 51:55to the
- 51:56wicked
- 51:56is a
- 51:57night
- 51:58that has
- 51:59no
- 51:59sunrise.
- 52:01And that
- 52:01is the
- 52:02difference.
- 52:03Eternity
- 52:04for the
- 52:04godly
- 52:05is a
- 52:05day that
- 52:06has no
- 52:06sunset.
- 52:07We will
- 52:07be in
- 52:07the light
- 52:08of the
- 52:08Lord for
- 52:09all
- 52:10eternity.
- 52:12But
- 52:12eternity
- 52:12to the
- 52:13wicked
- 52:13is a
- 52:14night
- 52:14that
- 52:14has
- 52:15no
- 52:15sunrise,
- 52:17no
- 52:17hope
- 52:17of
- 52:18light,
- 52:19darkness
- 52:19for
- 52:20all
- 52:21eternity.
- 52:23The
- 52:24Lord
- 52:25has a
- 52:26time
- 52:27for
- 52:27everything
- 52:28and
- 52:28everything
- 52:28in its
- 52:30time.
- 52:31But
- 52:32where are
- 52:32we when
- 52:32we think
- 52:33of our
- 52:34freedom
- 52:34today,
- 52:36our
- 52:36freedom
- 52:37to
- 52:37worship,
- 52:38our
- 52:39freedom
- 52:39that is
- 52:40offered
- 52:40in
- 52:41Christ,
- 52:43the
- 52:43eternity
- 52:43before
- 52:45us.
- 52:46Where
- 52:46are
- 52:47we?
- 52:49The
- 52:50third
- 52:50thing we
- 52:51see here
- 52:51is a
- 52:53time to
- 52:54reflect.
- 52:56It's a
- 52:57time to
- 52:57pause
- 52:58and
- 52:59remember
- 52:59and it's
- 53:00a time
- 53:01to reflect
- 53:02for
- 53:02ourselves.
- 53:04As we
- 53:05have stopped
- 53:05in silence
- 53:06for a
- 53:06moment
- 53:07today as
- 53:07we come
- 53:08under
- 53:09the
- 53:09word
- 53:09for
- 53:10a
- 53:10time,
- 53:12it
- 53:12brings
- 53:12to
- 53:13mind
- 53:13things
- 53:14that
- 53:14we
- 53:14can
- 53:14so
- 53:15easily
- 53:15forget.
- 53:17We
- 53:18don't
- 53:18want to
- 53:18go away
- 53:19from
- 53:19here
- 53:19and
- 53:20just
- 53:20forget
- 53:21all
- 53:22that's
- 53:22been
- 53:22done
- 53:22for
- 53:23us.
- 53:23We
- 53:23don't
- 53:23want to
- 53:23go away
- 53:23from
- 53:24here
- 53:24today
- 53:24and
- 53:24forget
- 53:25all
- 53:25that
- 53:25the
- 53:26word
- 53:26of
- 53:26God
- 53:26is
- 53:27saying
- 53:27to
- 53:27us.
- 53:29That
- 53:29there
- 53:29is a
- 53:30time
- 53:30for
- 53:30everything.
- 53:30That
- 53:31everything
- 53:31is in
- 53:32its
- 53:32time.
- 53:32God
- 53:33has
- 53:33put
- 53:34eternity
- 53:34into
- 53:35our
- 53:35hearts
- 53:35so we
- 53:36might
- 53:36reflect
- 53:37on
- 53:37these
- 53:38things.
- 53:40We
- 53:41don't
- 53:41forget
- 53:42our
- 53:42past,
- 53:44but let's
- 53:45not forget
- 53:46our
- 53:47future
- 53:47either.
- 53:49We
- 53:50may not
- 53:50understand
- 53:51his time
- 53:52and his
- 53:53purpose
- 53:54as always.
- 53:55There are
- 53:56many things
- 53:56we can
- 53:57struggle
- 53:57to
- 53:58understand,
- 53:59but we
- 53:59remember
- 54:00that we
- 54:01will
- 54:01step
- 54:02out
- 54:02of
- 54:02time
- 54:03and
- 54:04into
- 54:05eternity.
- 54:08And what
- 54:09we do
- 54:09with our
- 54:09time
- 54:10now
- 54:10is what
- 54:11matters.
- 54:14There are
- 54:14times
- 54:15of war
- 54:16in this
- 54:17world.
- 54:17We are
- 54:18seeing such
- 54:19days
- 54:19in other
- 54:20parts of
- 54:20the world
- 54:21even
- 54:21today.
- 54:23But we
- 54:24remember
- 54:24as the
- 54:26word
- 54:26says
- 54:26there is
- 54:27a time
- 54:28for
- 54:29peace.
- 54:30peace.
- 54:31And that
- 54:32is what
- 54:32we pray
- 54:33for today.
- 54:35Peace.
- 54:36Peace from
- 54:37war.
- 54:39Peace from
- 54:40conflict.
- 54:42But above
- 54:43all,
- 54:44peace in
- 54:45Christ.
- 54:47That we
- 54:48might know
- 54:48his peace
- 54:49that passes
- 54:51understanding.
- 54:54One of the
- 54:54most powerful
- 54:55images of
- 54:56wartime
- 54:57is at a
- 54:58time of
- 55:00ceasefire.
- 55:02A time
- 55:02when peace
- 55:04comes.
- 55:06When you
- 55:07see armies
- 55:08marching
- 55:08back from
- 55:09battle.
- 55:11Often
- 55:11dirty,
- 55:13tired,
- 55:13carrying
- 55:14wounded.
- 55:15And their
- 55:16own wounds
- 55:16are obvious.
- 55:18And yet
- 55:19because of
- 55:19peace
- 55:20there may
- 55:21be joy.
- 55:22And for
- 55:24the
- 55:24Christian,
- 55:25that is
- 55:26the promise
- 55:27too.
- 55:28That though
- 55:28there are
- 55:29many things
- 55:29that we
- 55:30suffer in
- 55:31this world,
- 55:32although there
- 55:32is a
- 55:32reality of
- 55:33a time
- 55:34to be
- 55:34born and
- 55:35a time
- 55:35to die,
- 55:36a time
- 55:36of war
- 55:37and a
- 55:38time of
- 55:38peace,
- 55:40there is
- 55:41a reality
- 55:41of a
- 55:42greater
- 55:43day as
- 55:44well.
- 55:45A day
- 55:45spoken of
- 55:46in Isaiah
- 55:4735,
- 55:48verse 8
- 55:49through
- 55:49verse 10
- 55:50where it
- 55:51says,
- 55:52a highway
- 55:52shall be
- 55:53there and
- 55:54it shall
- 55:54be called
- 55:55the way
- 55:55of holiness.
- 55:57The
- 55:57unclean
- 55:58shall not
- 55:58pass over
- 55:59it,
- 55:59it shall
- 56:00belong to
- 56:00those who
- 56:01walk on
- 56:01the way.
- 56:02Even if
- 56:03they are
- 56:03fools,
- 56:04they shall
- 56:04not go
- 56:05astray.
- 56:06No lion
- 56:06shall be
- 56:07there,
- 56:08nor shall
- 56:08any ravenous
- 56:09beast come
- 56:10upon it.
- 56:11They shall
- 56:11not be
- 56:12found there,
- 56:12but the
- 56:13redeemed
- 56:13shall walk
- 56:14there.
- 56:15And the
- 56:15ransomed
- 56:16of the
- 56:16Lord shall
- 56:17return and
- 56:18come to
- 56:18Sion with
- 56:19singing.
- 56:21Everlasting
- 56:21joy shall
- 56:22be upon
- 56:23their heads.
- 56:24They shall
- 56:24obtain gladness
- 56:26and joy,
- 56:27and sorrow
- 56:28and sighing
- 56:29shall flee
- 56:30away.
- 56:32There we
- 56:32are reminded
- 56:33of a
- 56:34greater day
- 56:35for the
- 56:36Christian,
- 56:37a day
- 56:38that Isaiah
- 56:39prophesied,
- 56:40a day that
- 56:41the book of
- 56:41Revelation
- 56:42speaks of
- 56:43being fulfilled,
- 56:44a day when
- 56:45he will wipe
- 56:46away every
- 56:47tear.
- 56:48Today,
- 56:50we remember
- 56:51those who
- 56:51served and
- 56:52who serve.
- 56:54We remember
- 56:54those who
- 56:55gave the
- 56:56ultimate
- 56:56sacrifice,
- 56:58who lay
- 56:58down their
- 56:59lives for
- 57:00our peace
- 57:01and our
- 57:02freedom.
- 57:03But above
- 57:04all today,
- 57:06let us
- 57:07remember the
- 57:07one who
- 57:09gives us
- 57:09peace.
- 57:12The news
- 57:12headlines so
- 57:14often shock
- 57:15us.
- 57:17A war,
- 57:18a time of
- 57:19war when
- 57:20a war has
- 57:20broken out.
- 57:22We see
- 57:23these headlines
- 57:24that shock
- 57:24us.
- 57:25We see the
- 57:26devastation it
- 57:28brings.
- 57:30And we
- 57:30pray for
- 57:32peace.
- 57:34Today,
- 57:35that is our
- 57:36prayer for
- 57:37the world
- 57:37in which we
- 57:38live,
- 57:40that we
- 57:40may know
- 57:40days of
- 57:42peace,
- 57:43days of
- 57:44freedom.
- 57:46But above
- 57:47all,
- 57:48let us
- 57:48remember the
- 57:49Lord.
- 57:51There is a
- 57:51time for
- 57:52everything.
- 57:54But everything
- 57:55is in its
- 57:56time.
- 57:58And God
- 57:58has put
- 57:59eternity
- 57:59into the
- 58:01heart of
- 58:01man.
- 58:02So let's
- 58:03not see
- 58:03things as
- 58:04under the
- 58:05sun,
- 58:05where we
- 58:06struggle to
- 58:07understand.
- 58:08Let's see
- 58:09things under
- 58:11heaven,
- 58:12that God
- 58:13rules,
- 58:14that he
- 58:15is with
- 58:15us,
- 58:17and that
- 58:17he will
- 58:18give joy
- 58:19and gladness
- 58:20to his
- 58:21people when
- 58:22he takes
- 58:23them to
- 58:24himself.
- 58:25Let us
- 58:25pray.
- 58:27Our
- 58:28Father in
- 58:29heaven,
- 58:29we thank
- 58:30you for
- 58:30your word,
- 58:31a word that
- 58:32speaks in
- 58:32every situation
- 58:34and circumstance
- 58:35of life for
- 58:36us.
- 58:37We thank
- 58:37you that it
- 58:38speaks not
- 58:38just for
- 58:39this day,
- 58:40but for
- 58:40eternity too,
- 58:41for you have
- 58:42put eternity
- 58:42in all our
- 58:43hearts.
- 58:44And we
- 58:45pray,
- 58:45Lord,
- 58:45that on
- 58:46this day
- 58:46of reflection,
- 58:48on this
- 58:48day of
- 58:48remembrance,
- 58:49that we
- 58:50will give
- 58:50thanks,
- 58:51O Lord,
- 58:51for the
- 58:52freedom that
- 58:52we enjoy,
- 58:54that we
- 58:54will realize
- 58:55too that
- 58:56the greatest
- 58:57price of
- 58:57all has
- 58:58been paid,
- 58:59that Christ
- 59:00came to
- 59:01lay down
- 59:02his life
- 59:02for his
- 59:03people.
- 59:04So help
- 59:04us,
- 59:05Lord,
- 59:06to consider
- 59:06these things,
- 59:07to reflect
- 59:08upon them,
- 59:09to turn to
- 59:10you in
- 59:10prayer and
- 59:11cry out,
- 59:11O Lord,
- 59:12have mercy,
- 59:13have mercy
- 59:14on your
- 59:14world,
- 59:14have mercy
- 59:15upon your
- 59:16people.
- 59:17Come to
- 59:17us,
- 59:18Lord,
- 59:18we pray,
- 59:19and give
- 59:19us your
- 59:20peace,
- 59:21as we
- 59:21ask it
- 59:22in Jesus'
- 59:22name.
- 59:23Amen.
- 59:27We're
- 59:27going to
- 59:28conclude by
- 59:29singing to
- 59:30God's praise
- 59:31in Psalm
- 59:3172.
- 59:34Psalm 72
- 59:35in the
- 59:35Scottish
- 59:36Psalter,
- 59:36page
- 59:37314.
- 59:38We sing
- 59:40from verse
- 59:4017 to
- 59:41the end
- 59:41of the
- 59:42psalm,
- 59:43words we
- 59:43perhaps know
- 59:44well and
- 59:46often sing
- 59:46at times when
- 59:47we remember
- 59:48the Lord's
- 59:49death,
- 59:50but too we
- 59:50can sing
- 59:51them today
- 59:51knowing that
- 59:52his name
- 59:53will forever
- 59:54endure.
- 59:56His name
- 59:57forever shall
- 59:57endure,
- 59:58last like the
- 59:59sun it
- 59:59shall,
- 1:00:00men shall
- 1:00:01be blessed
- 1:00:01in him
- 1:00:02and blessed
- 1:00:03all nations
- 1:00:04shall him
- 1:00:05call.
- 1:00:06We sing
- 1:00:06from verse
- 1:00:0717 to
- 1:00:08the end
- 1:00:08of the
- 1:00:08psalm.
- 1:00:09His name
- 1:00:15forever
- 1:00:16shall
- 1:00:19endure,
- 1:00:22last like
- 1:00:25the sun
- 1:00:27it
- 1:00:28shall,
- 1:00:30men
- 1:00:31shall
- 1:00:31be
- 1:00:33blessed
- 1:00:35in him
- 1:00:37and blessed
- 1:00:39all nations
- 1:00:41shall
- 1:00:43him
- 1:00:44call.
- 1:00:46Now
- 1:00:48blessed
- 1:00:50be
- 1:00:52the
- 1:00:54Lord
- 1:00:56our God,
- 1:00:57the
- 1:00:59God
- 1:01:00God
- 1:01:01of Israel
- 1:01:03of Israel
- 1:01:05for he
- 1:01:08alone
- 1:01:10doth
- 1:01:11wondrous
- 1:01:13works
- 1:01:15in glory
- 1:01:18that
- 1:01:19excel
- 1:01:21and blessed
- 1:01:27and blessed
- 1:01:28be his
- 1:01:30glorious
- 1:01:31name
- 1:01:33to all
- 1:01:35eternity
- 1:01:37the whole
- 1:01:42earth
- 1:01:44let his
- 1:01:47glory
- 1:01:48glory
- 1:01:49fill
- 1:01:51amen
- 1:01:52so
- 1:01:54let
- 1:01:56it
- 1:01:56be
- 1:01:57after the
- 1:02:01benediction
- 1:02:02I'll go to the door
- 1:02:03to my left
- 1:02:03we'll close
- 1:02:04the benediction
- 1:02:05now may
- 1:02:06grace
- 1:02:07mercy
- 1:02:08and peace
- 1:02:09from God
- 1:02:10Father
- 1:02:10Son
- 1:02:11and Holy
- 1:02:11Spirit
- 1:02:12rest upon
- 1:02:13and abide
- 1:02:14with us
- 1:02:15all
- 1:02:15now and
- 1:02:16forevermore
- 1:02:17amen