Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Where Are You?
Transcript
- 0:00Well, begin our worship this evening.
- 0:01We're going to sing to God's praise in Psalm 116,
- 0:06the Scottish Psalter version on page 395 of the Psalm books.
- 0:11Psalm 116, page 395.
- 0:17We're going to sing from the beginning of the Psalm
- 0:19down to the verse marked eight.
- 0:21I love the Lord because my voice and prayers he did hear.
- 0:25I, while I live, will call on him who bowed to me his ear.
- 0:28Of death the chords and sorrows did about me compass round.
- 0:32The pains of hell took hold on me, I grief and trouble found.
- 0:36We'll sing from verse one to verse eight to God's praise
- 0:39and we stand to sing.
- 0:45I love the Lord because my voice
- 0:54and where she did hear.
- 1:01My wife, I live with all of him who bowed to me his ear.
- 1:19Of death the chords and sorrows did about me compass round.
- 1:36The pains of hell took hold on me, I grief and trouble found.
- 1:53Upon the name of God the Lord.
- 2:03Then did I call and say,
- 2:12He delivered the Lord.
- 2:14He delivered the Lord.
- 2:18My soul, O Lord.
- 2:22I do the humbling praise.
- 2:29God merciful and righteousness.
- 2:39He gracious is our Lord.
- 2:47God merciful and sorrows did about me, I was brought home.
- 2:57He did be held upon.
- 3:02God merciful and sorrows did about me, I was brought home.
- 3:04He sang to me, I was brought home to God.
- 3:17In thy quiet rest
- 3:23For God's below
- 3:27The Lord to thee
- 3:33His bounty hath expressed
- 3:40For my distress
- 3:46And soul from death
- 3:50Delivered caused by thee
- 3:58Thou gives my pouring eyes
- 4:06From tears, my feet
- 4:10Of falling free
- 4:14We'll come to God in prayer.
- 4:23Let us pray.
- 4:30Our gracious Father in heaven,
- 4:32as we come to offer up our praise
- 4:35to you and you this evening,
- 4:37we thank you for the words
- 4:38which we have shared
- 4:39in praise to you
- 4:41that we can come
- 4:42echoing the words of the psalmist
- 4:45that we can love you
- 4:46because you have heard
- 4:47our voice and our prayer.
- 4:50And we thank you
- 4:51that your promise is
- 4:53that you will always hear your people,
- 4:55that your ear is towards
- 4:57all who call upon you.
- 4:59And we thank you
- 5:00that there is such a great privilege
- 5:03in prayer,
- 5:04such a blessing to us
- 5:05to know that in our needs
- 5:07and in our helplessness
- 5:09that you are a God
- 5:10who hears
- 5:11and is always there for us.
- 5:14We thank you
- 5:15that as we look through the psalms
- 5:17we see the great experience
- 5:19of the variety of psalmists
- 5:21and the positions
- 5:22and situations
- 5:23that they found themselves in.
- 5:26And so often, Lord,
- 5:27we recognize ourselves in them,
- 5:30whether it's going astray
- 5:32and away from you,
- 5:33whether it's in times
- 5:34of sorrow and distress,
- 5:37whether it's in times
- 5:38of questioning
- 5:39and uncertainty,
- 5:41or whether it's in times
- 5:42of great rejoicing and praise.
- 5:45We thank you
- 5:45that our experiences
- 5:46are echoed
- 5:47in these words so often.
- 5:49And we pray tonight, Lord,
- 5:51that we will enter in
- 5:52to these words
- 5:54and to the experience of them,
- 5:56that we will hear
- 5:57your words speaking to us,
- 5:58that you are the one
- 6:00who is able to deliver us
- 6:02and to give us
- 6:03great rest for our soul.
- 6:06We thank you
- 6:07that there is that reminder
- 6:09that we are a people
- 6:10who are perishing,
- 6:12for we are a sinful people.
- 6:14We are living
- 6:15in the midst
- 6:16of a sinful world,
- 6:18and our hearts are wicked
- 6:20beyond all
- 6:21that we could imagine.
- 6:23But we thank you
- 6:24that your word reminds us
- 6:25that you have sent your son
- 6:27into this world
- 6:28because of our sin,
- 6:30that he came
- 6:31to save us
- 6:32from our sin.
- 6:33And we thank you
- 6:34that your word
- 6:35is a word of hope,
- 6:37a word of hope
- 6:38even in our most troubled times.
- 6:41So we pray
- 6:41that you will bless
- 6:42your word to us
- 6:43together this evening,
- 6:44and indeed bless it to us
- 6:46in this week ahead as well
- 6:48as we look forward
- 6:49with a sense
- 6:50of anticipation
- 6:51and prayerful preparations
- 6:53as we will come,
- 6:55God willing,
- 6:56to prepare ourselves
- 6:57for the Lord's Supper
- 6:58and all being well
- 6:59to partake in it
- 7:01next week.
- 7:03We thank you, Lord,
- 7:04for these seasons
- 7:05and for being able
- 7:07to meet once again
- 7:08in this way
- 7:08after a period
- 7:10when things have been
- 7:11so different.
- 7:12And we pray
- 7:13that there will be
- 7:14a sense of urgency
- 7:15and longing
- 7:16for us to meet
- 7:17with you
- 7:18in the midst
- 7:18of your word
- 7:19and sacrament.
- 7:21And so we pray
- 7:22that you will help us
- 7:23to prepare our hearts
- 7:24for it,
- 7:25to prayerfully approach
- 7:26each day of the week
- 7:28and pray for the services
- 7:29to take place.
- 7:31Your word preached
- 7:32and those who will preach,
- 7:34preach your word to us
- 7:36in our fellowship together.
- 7:38And in your people's hearts,
- 7:40Lord,
- 7:40may you encourage us
- 7:42and build us up.
- 7:44May you draw people
- 7:45to yourself.
- 7:47May you help those
- 7:48even now
- 7:48who may be wondering
- 7:50of what they should do
- 7:51of coming to the Lord's table,
- 7:54feeling unworthy,
- 7:55feeling unprepared,
- 7:57feeling undeserving
- 7:58of the least
- 7:59of your mercies.
- 8:01But yet that's the way
- 8:02we all come.
- 8:04We recognize
- 8:04we do not deserve
- 8:06it in and of ourselves,
- 8:08but that we are
- 8:08to look to Jesus,
- 8:10the one who took our place,
- 8:13the one whose death
- 8:15we come to remember,
- 8:17the one who we can trust in,
- 8:20the one who we can
- 8:22put all our hope in,
- 8:24for he has done
- 8:25all that we could not.
- 8:27And so we pray
- 8:28that you will encourage us
- 8:30all in our hearts
- 8:31to hear and see
- 8:33of the wonder of Jesus Christ,
- 8:36the one who died
- 8:37for our sins,
- 8:38but greater than that,
- 8:40who rose again,
- 8:41and whoever lives
- 8:42making intercession
- 8:44for us even now
- 8:45at the right hand
- 8:46of God the Father.
- 8:48So as we come
- 8:48in our prayers,
- 8:49we come in his name,
- 8:51seeking your goodness
- 8:52and mercy upon us
- 8:53and seeking your blessing
- 8:55on us as a church
- 8:57and as a church
- 8:58throughout the world,
- 8:59as your people
- 9:00gather in your name
- 9:02throughout this day.
- 9:04We pray, Lord,
- 9:05that your kingdom
- 9:07will be blessed,
- 9:08that you will be
- 9:09bringing many sinners
- 9:10into repentance
- 9:11and into salvation,
- 9:13into your kingdom.
- 9:15We pray, Lord,
- 9:16that you will continue
- 9:17to pour out
- 9:18your blessing upon us
- 9:19as a nation
- 9:20at this time,
- 9:22undeserving as we are,
- 9:24yet still we see
- 9:25your hand upon us.
- 9:27We see your hand upon us
- 9:29in teaching
- 9:29and rebuking,
- 9:31but we see your hand upon us
- 9:33in encouragement as well,
- 9:35that there are people
- 9:36who are seeking after you,
- 9:39that there are those
- 9:40who in the midst
- 9:40of some of the greatest turmoil
- 9:42maybe we've ever experienced
- 9:44in our own lives,
- 9:46who are looking to you
- 9:47and recognizing
- 9:48how frail a people we are,
- 9:51but how great a God you are.
- 9:53And so we pray
- 9:54that as you continue
- 9:55to teach us
- 9:56many hard lessons,
- 9:58that we will recognize
- 9:59your grace and your love
- 10:00and your mercy towards us,
- 10:02and that if we as a nation
- 10:04would repent and turn
- 10:06and seek you as our God
- 10:08and as our Lord,
- 10:10what a blessing that would be
- 10:12and the blessing that would be ours
- 10:14poured out from heaven.
- 10:15So, Lord, we pray
- 10:16that you will rule over us
- 10:18in the midst of these days,
- 10:21rule over those
- 10:21who are our nation's rulers,
- 10:24that they would recognize
- 10:25that they must bow the knee
- 10:27before you,
- 10:28give wisdom and guidance
- 10:30to all who would seek
- 10:31to lead us
- 10:32in every aspect of life,
- 10:35be it in our governments,
- 10:37in our councils,
- 10:38in any line of work
- 10:41where there are decisions
- 10:41that affect us
- 10:42as a nation
- 10:43and as a people.
- 10:45We pray, Lord,
- 10:46for your mercy and grace
- 10:47when we think of
- 10:49the trying times
- 10:52we face in terms of
- 10:53financial crisis
- 10:55and pressures upon people.
- 10:58We pray, Lord,
- 10:58that the hearts of those
- 11:00who are so often greedy
- 11:02for more,
- 11:03although they have so much,
- 11:04it's never enough
- 11:05and no matter
- 11:07the consequences of others,
- 11:09they seem to just want more.
- 11:11We pray, Lord,
- 11:12that you will change
- 11:13the hearts that are greedy
- 11:14for financial gain
- 11:18in this world
- 11:19to hearts that are filled
- 11:20with mercy,
- 11:22hearts that will show favor
- 11:23and help
- 11:24and kindness
- 11:24towards others.
- 11:26We know, Lord,
- 11:27we live in a world
- 11:28where we so often hear it said,
- 11:31the rich are getting richer
- 11:32and the poor are getting poorer.
- 11:34But we know that
- 11:35to know Christ
- 11:36and to have him
- 11:38would be to make us rich
- 11:40beyond all comparison.
- 11:42So we pray for
- 11:43rich and poor,
- 11:45young and old,
- 11:46everyone to come
- 11:47to know and to understand
- 11:49the love of Christ,
- 11:51that love that is beyond
- 11:52all comparison.
- 11:53So we pray, Lord,
- 11:55your mercy upon us
- 11:57and we pray, Lord,
- 11:58that you will go before us
- 11:59in this week ahead
- 12:01as well as we look forward
- 12:03to the time of communion season
- 12:05in our midst.
- 12:06We pray your blessing
- 12:07on all the services
- 12:08that will take place
- 12:10and upon every preacher
- 12:11who will minister in our midst.
- 12:13May you help them
- 12:14as they prepare
- 12:15for the services
- 12:16in these coming days.
- 12:18We pray for each of them, Lord,
- 12:20that you will bless them
- 12:21and use them to your glory
- 12:23and for our blessing here.
- 12:26We pray for Reverend
- 12:27Kenneth Ferguson
- 12:28for the Thursday evening service.
- 12:31We thank you
- 12:31for his years of ministry
- 12:33and his willingness
- 12:34to serve in so many ways.
- 12:36We pray that you will bless
- 12:37that time around your word there.
- 12:40We pray for Emma Critchie
- 12:42and Paul Murray
- 12:42as they come on the Friday evening.
- 12:45May you bless them
- 12:46and use them too.
- 12:47We pray for Reverend
- 12:48James McKeever
- 12:49and Reverend Colin McLeod too
- 12:51as they minister
- 12:52over the weekend
- 12:53and the sacrament
- 12:55of the Lord's Supper.
- 12:57May you bless them, Lord,
- 12:59and encourage them.
- 13:00And may we be ever
- 13:01prayerful towards them.
- 13:03We thank you
- 13:04that even in this past week,
- 13:06Mr. McKeever
- 13:06has celebrated 35 years
- 13:09in the ministry.
- 13:10We pray you'll continue
- 13:11to bless him
- 13:12in his ministry here
- 13:13and further afield as well.
- 13:16Thanking you
- 13:16for the congregations
- 13:17he's been in in the past,
- 13:19for East Kilbride
- 13:20and for Point.
- 13:22And we pray for the congregation
- 13:25here as well,
- 13:26Lord,
- 13:26and his ministry here.
- 13:28May you bless each one
- 13:29and may you continue
- 13:30to help us
- 13:31to know your goodness
- 13:33with us
- 13:33all the days of our lives.
- 13:35So we continue
- 13:36to seek your face now
- 13:38as we worship you
- 13:39and as we turn to your word,
- 13:41as we sing your praise.
- 13:43May you draw near to us
- 13:44as we seek
- 13:45to draw near to you.
- 13:47We ask all things,
- 13:49confessing our sins
- 13:50before you anew,
- 13:52that we are a people
- 13:53who fall short
- 13:54of your glory,
- 13:56who sin daily
- 13:57in thought,
- 13:58word,
- 13:58and in deed.
- 13:59But we thank you
- 14:00that in Christ
- 14:02there is rich forgiveness.
- 14:04So we come
- 14:04confessing anew
- 14:05and looking to him,
- 14:08asking for your mercy
- 14:09upon us as a people,
- 14:10that you'll go with us now.
- 14:12We ask all in Jesus' name
- 14:14and for his sake.
- 14:16Amen.
- 14:20We're going to sing again
- 14:22to God's praise,
- 14:23this time in Psalm 139
- 14:25in the Scottish Psalter.
- 14:30Psalm 139 on page 432.
- 14:35We're going to sing
- 14:36from verse 1
- 14:37down to verse 10.
- 14:40O Lord,
- 14:40thou hast me searched
- 14:41and known,
- 14:42thou knowest
- 14:43my sitting down
- 14:44and rising up.
- 14:45Yea, all my thoughts
- 14:46afar to thee are known,
- 14:48my footsteps
- 14:49and my lying down
- 14:50thou compassest always.
- 14:52Thou also most entirely
- 14:54art acquaint
- 14:54with all my ways.
- 14:56We'll sing
- 14:57from verse 1 to 10
- 14:58to God's praise
- 14:59and we stand to sing.
- 15:01Amen.
- 15:05O Lord,
- 15:07thou hast me searched,
- 15:11and thus,
- 15:16anche onen of the nations
- 15:17and endure his name
- 15:17again.
- 15:19I have come to autre
- 15:20the star of 632.
- 15:24If one of the nations
- 15:25или reach,
- 15:25or 100% of the nations
- 15:26may have come to Thee
- 15:27and above the nations
- 15:28and where he hailed
- 15:30of mine as I know.
- 15:32I have come to say
- 15:33though God isMI
- 15:34above us will.
- 15:35Our Lord
- 15:39My footsteps
- 15:42And my lying
- 15:47God
- 15:49Thou God
- 15:51Passest always
- 15:55Thou also
- 15:59Holds
- 16:01My entire
- 16:03Yard
- 16:05I'll wait
- 16:07With all my
- 16:11Ways
- 16:13For in
- 16:15My tongue
- 16:17Before
- 16:19I speak
- 16:21Not any
- 16:25Work
- 16:27Can be
- 16:29But
- 16:31All
- 16:33Together
- 16:35O
- 16:37Lord
- 16:39It is
- 16:41Well
- 16:43Long to
- 16:45Thee
- 16:47Behind
- 16:49Before
- 16:51The
- 16:53Past
- 16:55We
- 16:57And
- 16:59And
- 17:01Live
- 17:03On
- 17:05Thee
- 17:07Thee
- 17:09Thee
- 17:11Thee
- 17:13Thee
- 17:15Thee
- 17:17Thee
- 17:19Thee
- 17:21From
- 17:23Thy
- 17:25Sand
- 17:27Thine
- 17:31Thee
- 17:32From
- 17:33Thy
- 17:35Thee
- 17:36Thee
- 17:37Thee
- 17:39Thee
- 17:41Thee
- 17:43Thee
- 17:45Thee
- 17:47There is in hell I lie.
- 17:57Take I the morning wings and dwell
- 18:06in utmost parts of sea.
- 18:13In heaven, Lord, shall thy hand be me,
- 18:23thy right hand hold shall be.
- 18:35If we could turn together now, we'll read in God's word
- 18:39in the beginning of the Old Testament in the book of Genesis.
- 18:45I'm reading in Genesis chapter 3.
- 18:51I'm going to read the whole of this chapter.
- 18:54Genesis chapter 3 and the whole of this chapter.
- 18:57Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field
- 19:03that the Lord God had made.
- 19:06He said to the woman,
- 19:08Did God actually say,
- 19:10You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?
- 19:14And the woman said to the serpent,
- 19:16We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,
- 19:19but God said,
- 19:20You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree
- 19:22that is in the midst of the garden,
- 19:24neither shall you touch it,
- 19:26lest you die.
- 19:28But the serpent said to the woman,
- 19:30You will not surely die,
- 19:32for God knows that when you eat of it,
- 19:35your eyes will be opened,
- 19:37and you will be like God,
- 19:38knowing good and evil.
- 19:41So when the woman saw that the tree
- 19:43was good for food,
- 19:45and that it was a delight to the eyes,
- 19:48and that the tree was to be desired
- 19:49to make one wise,
- 19:50she took out its fruit and ate.
- 19:53And she also gave some to her husband,
- 19:56who was with her,
- 19:57and he ate.
- 19:59And the eyes of both were opened,
- 20:02and they knew that they were naked,
- 20:03and they sewed fig leaves together
- 20:06and made themselves loincloths.
- 20:09And they heard the sound of the Lord God
- 20:12walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
- 20:15And the man and his wife hid themselves
- 20:17from the presence of the Lord God
- 20:20among the trees of the garden.
- 20:23But the Lord God called to the man
- 20:25and said to him,
- 20:27Where are you?
- 20:29And he said,
- 20:30I heard the sound of you in the garden,
- 20:32and I was afraid,
- 20:34because I was naked,
- 20:35and I hid myself.
- 20:38He said,
- 20:38Who told you that you were naked?
- 20:41Have you eaten of the tree
- 20:42of which I commanded you not to eat?
- 20:44The man said,
- 20:47The woman whom you gave to me
- 20:49to be with me,
- 20:50she gave me fruit of the tree,
- 20:51and I ate.
- 20:53Then the Lord said to the woman,
- 20:55What is this that you have done?
- 20:58The woman said,
- 21:00The serpent deceived me,
- 21:02and I ate.
- 21:04The Lord God said to the serpent,
- 21:06Because you have done this,
- 21:08cursed are you above all livestock,
- 21:11and above all beasts of the field.
- 21:13On your belly you shall go,
- 21:16and dust you shall eat
- 21:17all the days of your life.
- 21:19I will put enmity between you and the woman,
- 21:22between your offspring and her offspring.
- 21:26He shall bruise your head,
- 21:29and you shall bruise his heel.
- 21:32To the woman he said,
- 21:34I will surely multiply your pain
- 21:36and childbearing.
- 21:37In pain you shall bring forth children.
- 21:40Your desire shall be for your husband,
- 21:43and he shall rule over you.
- 21:46And to Adam he said,
- 21:48Because you have listened to the voice of your wife,
- 21:50and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you,
- 21:53you shall not eat of it.
- 21:55Cursed is the ground because of you.
- 21:58In pain you shall eat of it
- 21:59all the days of your life.
- 22:02Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
- 22:05and you shall eat the plants of the field.
- 22:09By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread,
- 22:12till you return to the ground.
- 22:14For out of it you were taken,
- 22:16for you are dust,
- 22:18and to dust you shall return.
- 22:20The man called his wife's name Eve,
- 22:23because she was the mother of all living.
- 22:26And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife
- 22:28garments of skins and clothed them.
- 22:31And the Lord God said,
- 22:34Behold, the man has become like one of us
- 22:37in knowing good and evil.
- 22:40Now lest he reach out his hand
- 22:42and take also the tree of life
- 22:44and eat and live forever.
- 22:47Therefore the Lord God sent him out
- 22:49from the garden of Eden
- 22:50to work the ground from which he was taken.
- 22:54He drove out the man,
- 22:56and at the east of the garden of Eden
- 22:57he placed the cherubim
- 22:59and a flaming sword that turned every way
- 23:02to guard the way to the tree of life.
- 23:06So I want to make God bless
- 23:07that reading from his word.
- 23:11Before we turn back to that passage,
- 23:12we'll again sing to God's praise this time
- 23:15in the Singed Psalms version of Psalm 56.
- 23:20Psalm 56.
- 23:23We find this on page 73.
- 23:25We're singing from verse 1 to verse 9.
- 23:30Oh my God, show mercy to me.
- 23:32Men would take my life away.
- 23:35Hostile forces press upon me.
- 23:37They pursue me all the day.
- 23:39Slanderers are close behind me.
- 23:42They pursue me all day long.
- 23:44In their arrogance they hound me.
- 23:47They are numerous and strong.
- 23:49We'll sing from verse 1 to verse 9.
- 23:52To God's praise and we stand to sing.
- 23:54O my God, your mercy to me.
- 24:06Men would take my life away.
- 24:14All sad forces press upon me.
- 24:21They pursue me all day long.
- 24:26All day long.
- 24:27All day long.
- 24:28All day long.
- 24:31They are numerous and strong.
- 24:33When they are no guards without me.
- 24:36They are numerous and strong.
- 24:38They are numerous and strong.
- 24:43When they are no guards without me.
- 24:50They are numerous and strong.
- 24:55When I am afraid and trusting.
- 25:07I will praise your faithful word.
- 25:13I will trust and not be fearful.
- 25:21What can man do to me, Lord?
- 25:29All day long.
- 25:30All day long.
- 25:31All day long.
- 25:32They platter hardly.
- 25:36Twisting everything I say.
- 25:44They will praise my heart.
- 25:47They will praise the Lord.
- 25:48And I will praise the Lord.
- 25:49And I will praise the Lord.
- 25:50And I will praise the Lord.
- 25:51All day long.
- 25:52All day long.
- 25:53To take my life away.
- 25:57Let them all dishing their anger, ring the nations down, O Lord.
- 26:14In your hope, write my entreaties, in your scroll my tears record.
- 26:28When I call on you to help me, then my faults will turn aside.
- 26:43This is how I will be certain, that my God is on my side.
- 26:59Amen.
- 27:00Well, if we can turn together to our reading in Genesis chapter 3.
- 27:09I want us to read again at verse 8.
- 27:12Genesis chapter 3, reading at verse 8.
- 27:17And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
- 27:25And the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
- 27:33But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, Where are you?
- 27:40And so on.
- 27:44But God willing, this coming week, we look forward to a time of communion season in our midst.
- 27:51And we come to remember the Lord's death.
- 27:54But we ask ourselves as we look forward to it, what is it that we are remembering in the Lord's death?
- 28:01What is the reason for his death?
- 28:03But we look at ourselves, we examine ourselves, and we turn to Scripture,
- 28:08and we see what God is saying to us through his word is that we as a people are a fallen people.
- 28:16That is, that our relationship with God has been marred by sin.
- 28:21And in order to be made right once again with God,
- 28:25something had to take place to restore that relationship,
- 28:28to make right that relationship, a price had to be paid.
- 28:33And the price that was paid was ultimately that the Lord Jesus came to give his life.
- 28:41Everything that was foreshadowed in the Old Testament,
- 28:44where you read through it and you see the whole sacrificial system,
- 28:49where sacrifices were offered to have forgiveness of sin,
- 28:54bringing it to the high priest once a year.
- 28:57We see ultimately that pointing to a Savior who is Christ the Lord.
- 29:03The way to God was barred to his people,
- 29:08but a way was opened up once again through the death of the Lord Jesus.
- 29:14And really it takes us back to the roots here in Genesis,
- 29:18in Genesis chapter 3,
- 29:22where we see the coming of sin into the world
- 29:25and how we are all marred by this sin.
- 29:29And the way back to God was cut off,
- 29:32as you see at the end of chapter 3,
- 29:34where the cherubim were there to protect the way to God.
- 29:39And then we see that the man was cast out,
- 29:42cast out of the garden to work the ground in hard toil.
- 29:46But it's a chapter that reminds us too of the wonder of God's grace.
- 29:54That God didn't give to them what they deserved,
- 29:58but that he still showed mercy towards them.
- 30:02And this is the mercy that is shown to us in Christ Jesus.
- 30:06That in him we have one who is able still to take away our sins,
- 30:11to make us right with God.
- 30:13So as we look at this passage tonight,
- 30:17I want to think about it in light of one of the questions
- 30:19that we see in this chapter.
- 30:22I want to ask ourselves that question this evening.
- 30:26But first of all, what's the hardest question
- 30:31you have ever had to answer?
- 30:35What's the hardest question you've ever had to answer?
- 30:40We all find ourselves maybe in situations
- 30:42where we face up to questions,
- 30:44be it from someone around us
- 30:46or in a setting that we find ourselves in,
- 30:49where someone asks us a question.
- 30:51And we maybe think to yourself,
- 30:53I'm just not sure how I might answer this question.
- 30:57There'll be some teenagers in here tonight
- 30:59or maybe listening in.
- 31:01And over the last few months,
- 31:03you've had to sit in a classroom situation,
- 31:06sitting exams.
- 31:07And sometimes when you sit in an exam,
- 31:09you turn over the question sheet
- 31:10and you look at the question,
- 31:12you just think to yourself,
- 31:13oh, I just didn't see that question coming.
- 31:16I'm just not sure how I'm going to try
- 31:19and answer that question.
- 31:20Such a difficult question.
- 31:23We're always maybe facing up to situations
- 31:25where we have difficult questions
- 31:28we have to try and answer.
- 31:30Well, as we look at this chapter,
- 31:33we are reminded of one of the most serious questions
- 31:36that we have to face up to.
- 31:40And maybe it's a question we've answered in the past.
- 31:43And maybe you thought,
- 31:44I'm okay.
- 31:45I'm fine.
- 31:46Everything's well in my life.
- 31:48Everything's going fine.
- 31:50But then you find yourself coming into a situation
- 31:53where the Lord begins to open your eyes
- 31:56and to open your heart.
- 31:57And as he asks this question again,
- 32:00you begin to think to yourself,
- 32:01well, actually,
- 32:02is everything okay in my life?
- 32:05Is where I am now,
- 32:07am I right with God?
- 32:09Or is there something that needs to change?
- 32:13What we find in this chapter,
- 32:15in Genesis chapter 3,
- 32:16is the account of what is called the fall,
- 32:20where sin came into the world,
- 32:23where man's relationship with God
- 32:26was ruined in a sense.
- 32:30And yet where God shows mercy.
- 32:34The shorter Catechson puts it well
- 32:36when he speaks about
- 32:37what man entered into
- 32:39in the beginning with God
- 32:40is called a covenant.
- 32:42This relationship,
- 32:43this bond with God,
- 32:44and it was called a covenant of life.
- 32:48And everything was good and well in the garden.
- 32:50But the covenant had a condition.
- 32:55And the condition was perfect obedience.
- 32:59And as you read through chapter 3,
- 33:01you realize where this obedience was broken.
- 33:04Where the serpent,
- 33:05the crafty serpent,
- 33:07came into the garden with his own questions,
- 33:10leading them away from God.
- 33:12And this question that brought them
- 33:15to a place where they sinned.
- 33:18They broke God's law.
- 33:19They broke their covenant relationship with him.
- 33:22The Catechson again says,
- 33:23the fall brought mankind
- 33:24into an estate of sin and misery.
- 33:29And this chapter alone,
- 33:30chapter 3,
- 33:31makes it clear for us
- 33:33what this misery was.
- 33:35hard labor,
- 33:37a relationship ruined with God,
- 33:40cast out of the garden,
- 33:42ultimately the pain of death.
- 33:46It also brought with it
- 33:47many other difficulties
- 33:49and trials and temptations.
- 33:53And they are all things
- 33:54that we can relate to today as well.
- 33:56We live in a world
- 33:58where sin is all around us,
- 34:00but it's not just out there.
- 34:02Sin is in here.
- 34:04Sin is in our heart.
- 34:07In our own hearts tonight,
- 34:09there is sin because we sin
- 34:11daily in thought,
- 34:13word and deed.
- 34:16You don't have to think too hard
- 34:18to think today,
- 34:20well, how have I sinned?
- 34:22I'm sure all of us
- 34:23can immediately just think of ways
- 34:24we've fallen short,
- 34:26ways we've sinned,
- 34:28something we've said,
- 34:30something we've done,
- 34:32or more often than not,
- 34:35something we've thought.
- 34:37The sins that we think
- 34:38that nobody else sees,
- 34:40but God knows.
- 34:43So what's the solution for us
- 34:45in this situation
- 34:47where we think to yourself tonight
- 34:49and we all think it may be,
- 34:50well, here I am,
- 34:52just a miserable sinner,
- 34:54the chief of sinners
- 34:55as Paul describes himself.
- 34:57What can we do?
- 35:00What's the answer for us?
- 35:03Well, it's not to keep asking questions
- 35:05of ourselves.
- 35:07We can often ask questions
- 35:09of ourselves,
- 35:10but it's to hear the questions
- 35:12that God asks.
- 35:15And in the midst of the garden setting here,
- 35:19when Adam and Eve had sinned against God,
- 35:22when they disobeyed his command,
- 35:24what happened to them?
- 35:27They heard the sound of the Lord God.
- 35:32He was walking in the garden
- 35:33in the cool of the day
- 35:35and they hid themselves.
- 35:39That's not the answer for us.
- 35:42It wasn't the answer for them,
- 35:44as we will see.
- 35:45The answer when we recognize
- 35:46that we fall short,
- 35:48when we're sinners,
- 35:49is not to try and hide ourselves from God,
- 35:52not to try and push God away,
- 35:54the answer is to come near to God
- 35:56and to see that he is a God
- 35:59that is inviting us in,
- 36:01inviting us back.
- 36:03And that is what we see God doing here.
- 36:06In the midst of everything that's happened,
- 36:07God comes with this question
- 36:10that we have in verse 9.
- 36:12But the Lord God called to the man
- 36:17and said to him,
- 36:18Where are you?
- 36:21And it's that question
- 36:22I want us to ponder this evening.
- 36:25It's one of the hardest questions
- 36:28you'll maybe have to give answer to.
- 36:31Where are you?
- 36:33As we remember who is asking that question,
- 36:37it is God, the Lord.
- 36:39And there are three things
- 36:41I want us to take from that question
- 36:43this evening.
- 36:43The first is this,
- 36:45the nature of the question.
- 36:48Secondly, the nurture of the question.
- 36:51And thirdly, the need of the question.
- 36:55So firstly, we see the nature
- 36:57of this question.
- 37:00What do we see of this question?
- 37:04In the nature of it,
- 37:05what kind of question is it?
- 37:06The Lord God called to the man
- 37:09and said to him,
- 37:11Where are you?
- 37:14It's very much a penetrating question.
- 37:19It's a cutting question.
- 37:22It's a question that Adam and Eve
- 37:24are hearing,
- 37:26believing they've hid themselves
- 37:28from God.
- 37:29But God's asking them
- 37:30this penetrating question.
- 37:33It's not like a question
- 37:36that you or I would ask
- 37:37when we don't know the answer.
- 37:40Because God has a knowledge of us
- 37:42that we can never have.
- 37:45We maybe ask questions like this
- 37:47in a frustrated situation
- 37:49where we're thinking,
- 37:50we're looking for our keys.
- 37:52Where are they?
- 37:54Where did I leave them?
- 37:56Or maybe we're trying to drive
- 37:58to a certain place
- 37:59and we're saying to ourselves,
- 38:00Which turning is it?
- 38:01Where do we go?
- 38:02Where do we turn?
- 38:03We ask these questions
- 38:05and we don't know
- 38:06the answers to them.
- 38:08But God asks the question here,
- 38:10not because he doesn't know
- 38:12where they are.
- 38:13He knows exactly
- 38:14where they are.
- 38:17This is not a game of
- 38:18hide and seek
- 38:19that God is playing with them.
- 38:22It's not like us
- 38:23as small children
- 38:24or little children
- 38:25playing with our friends
- 38:26and we try and go
- 38:27and hide somewhere
- 38:28and someone's trying to find us
- 38:29and they're becoming frustrated
- 38:31and they're,
- 38:31where are you?
- 38:32Will you not just come out?
- 38:35This is not God
- 38:36playing a game.
- 38:39God is asking this question
- 38:40in a much more serious way.
- 38:44He knows
- 38:44where they are.
- 38:47And Matthew Henry
- 38:48says in his commentary
- 38:49on this verse
- 38:50that he's not asking
- 38:51this question
- 38:51in the sense of
- 38:53it's not
- 38:53what place
- 38:55are they.
- 38:57What he's asking is
- 38:58in what condition
- 39:00are they?
- 39:02Where are you
- 39:03in the sense
- 39:05of what condition
- 39:06you're in?
- 39:08And that's
- 39:09the nature
- 39:10of this question.
- 39:12It's a penetrating
- 39:14question.
- 39:16God isn't asking you
- 39:17tonight
- 39:17where are you?
- 39:20And your answer is
- 39:21I'm sitting in the church
- 39:22in Kenneth Street.
- 39:24That's not the question
- 39:25that God is asking you here.
- 39:27The question
- 39:28he's asking you here
- 39:29is
- 39:30where are you
- 39:31in the sense of
- 39:32what condition
- 39:33are you in?
- 39:35What condition
- 39:36are you in
- 39:36in your relationship
- 39:38with God?
- 39:40Do you realize
- 39:41what you've done?
- 39:44Adam and Eve
- 39:45are hearing
- 39:46this question.
- 39:49God's question
- 39:49has come as a result
- 39:51of their response
- 39:52to the question
- 39:53that Satan
- 39:53the serpent
- 39:54had asked them earlier.
- 39:56Did God
- 39:57really say
- 39:58that you would die?
- 40:01He had come
- 40:02with his crafty
- 40:03questions.
- 40:05He put doubt
- 40:06into their relationship
- 40:07with God
- 40:08and saying
- 40:08can God
- 40:09really be trusted?
- 40:12That's so often
- 40:13the condition
- 40:13we've been in
- 40:14ourselves.
- 40:16Maybe we've heard
- 40:17of God
- 40:18all our days
- 40:18growing up
- 40:19but now
- 40:20we want to
- 40:21put him away
- 40:21and there's a doubt
- 40:22that comes in.
- 40:23Is God real?
- 40:25Can God
- 40:25be trusted?
- 40:28But then
- 40:29God comes
- 40:30with his
- 40:30own question.
- 40:33God comes
- 40:34and asks you
- 40:35tonight
- 40:35but where
- 40:37are you?
- 40:39Where are you
- 40:40now?
- 40:41What has
- 40:42all of your life
- 40:43done?
- 40:44All that you thought
- 40:44you could get away
- 40:45with?
- 40:46All the ways
- 40:47you thought
- 40:47you could run
- 40:47away from me
- 40:48and hide
- 40:49and just
- 40:49go on
- 40:50with your life
- 40:50in the way
- 40:51that was pleasing
- 40:52to yourself?
- 40:53Where are you
- 40:53now?
- 40:56What condition
- 40:56are you in?
- 40:59What is your
- 40:59relationship
- 41:00with me?
- 41:03Where
- 41:04are you?
- 41:07God's word
- 41:08penetrates.
- 41:10God's voice
- 41:10penetrates
- 41:12here in the garden
- 41:13and it should
- 41:14penetrate into
- 41:14our own
- 41:15hearts
- 41:15tonight
- 41:16asking us
- 41:17that question
- 41:17where are we?
- 41:19The book of
- 41:20Hebrews chapter
- 41:214 verse 12
- 41:22says the word
- 41:23of God is
- 41:23living and
- 41:24active
- 41:24sharper than
- 41:26any two
- 41:26edged sword
- 41:27piercing
- 41:28to the division
- 41:29of soul
- 41:30and spirit
- 41:31of joints
- 41:31and marrow
- 41:32and discerning
- 41:33the thoughts
- 41:34and intentions
- 41:35of the heart.
- 41:37There's no
- 41:38hiding place
- 41:39from God
- 41:40and his
- 41:41word
- 41:42penetrates.
- 41:44His word
- 41:44searches
- 41:45into your
- 41:46heart
- 41:47tonight
- 41:47asking you
- 41:48that question
- 41:49where are you?
- 41:51And the
- 41:51question
- 41:52that goes
- 41:53with it
- 41:53is
- 41:53what does
- 41:54that
- 41:55convict you
- 41:55of tonight?
- 41:57Where
- 41:58are you?
- 42:01Jesus'
- 42:02question
- 42:02so often
- 42:03did the
- 42:03same
- 42:04when he
- 42:05was with
- 42:06his disciples
- 42:06and people
- 42:07were discussing
- 42:08who Jesus
- 42:09was.
- 42:10Some people
- 42:11were saying
- 42:11that he was
- 42:12John the
- 42:12Baptist
- 42:13others saying
- 42:13one of the
- 42:14prophets
- 42:14but Jesus
- 42:16asked a
- 42:17searching
- 42:17question of
- 42:18his disciples
- 42:19he said
- 42:19to them
- 42:20but what
- 42:21about you
- 42:21who do
- 42:22you say
- 42:23that I
- 42:23am?
- 42:25It's a
- 42:25very similar
- 42:26kind of
- 42:27question
- 42:27it's a
- 42:28searching
- 42:28question
- 42:29it's a
- 42:30piercing
- 42:30question
- 42:32who do
- 42:34you say
- 42:35that I
- 42:36am?
- 42:38where
- 42:38are you?
- 42:41I like
- 42:41to watch
- 42:42sometimes
- 42:42crime
- 42:44dramas
- 42:44when a
- 42:46crime has
- 42:46been committed
- 42:47and maybe
- 42:48a team
- 42:49is trying
- 42:49to work
- 42:49out who
- 42:50committed
- 42:50the crime
- 42:51and they
- 42:51have their
- 42:51suspects
- 42:52they bring
- 42:53them in
- 42:53one of the
- 42:54questions
- 42:55that they
- 42:55often ask
- 42:56is where
- 42:57were you
- 42:57at midnight
- 42:58or a
- 42:59certain
- 42:59time
- 42:59last night?
- 43:01It's a
- 43:02searching
- 43:02question
- 43:03it's a
- 43:05question
- 43:05that your
- 43:06defense is
- 43:06maybe going
- 43:07to be based
- 43:08upon
- 43:08do you
- 43:08have an
- 43:09alibi
- 43:09or can
- 43:11you
- 43:11do you
- 43:11have no
- 43:12answer to
- 43:12that question
- 43:13that's going
- 43:13to convince
- 43:14them that
- 43:15you weren't
- 43:15involved in
- 43:16the crime?
- 43:18Well God's
- 43:19question comes
- 43:20in the same
- 43:21way tonight
- 43:21as well
- 43:22where are
- 43:22you?
- 43:24So can
- 43:24you say
- 43:25you've got
- 43:25your alibi?
- 43:27I am in
- 43:28Christ
- 43:29I am
- 43:30entrusting
- 43:31my soul
- 43:32to him
- 43:33I believe
- 43:34in him
- 43:35with all
- 43:36my heart
- 43:37or like
- 43:38the psalmist
- 43:38in Psalm
- 43:39116
- 43:40you're able
- 43:40to say
- 43:41I love
- 43:42the Lord
- 43:43because my
- 43:44voice and
- 43:45prayers he did
- 43:46hear
- 43:46I while I
- 43:47live
- 43:48will call
- 43:49on him
- 43:49who bowed
- 43:50to me
- 43:50his ear
- 43:51is that
- 43:53your defense
- 43:54or are you
- 43:56recognizing
- 43:57your sin
- 43:58in the sense
- 43:58you've got
- 43:59no defense
- 44:00where are
- 44:01you?
- 44:02You're
- 44:03outside
- 44:03the camp
- 44:04you're
- 44:05away from
- 44:06God
- 44:06you're
- 44:06running
- 44:07you're
- 44:07hiding
- 44:08God is
- 44:10calling you
- 44:10not because
- 44:11he doesn't
- 44:12know where
- 44:12you are
- 44:12but he
- 44:13knows your
- 44:13condition
- 44:14and the
- 44:15nature of
- 44:16his question
- 44:16is a
- 44:17piercing
- 44:18one
- 44:18where
- 44:19are you?
- 44:22But we
- 44:23also see
- 44:23with this
- 44:24question
- 44:24that there
- 44:24is nurture
- 44:25to this
- 44:25question
- 44:26God is
- 44:28asking
- 44:28this in
- 44:29a
- 44:29compassionate
- 44:30way
- 44:31he'll
- 44:33be well
- 44:33within his
- 44:33rights to
- 44:34come and
- 44:35condemn them
- 44:36for what
- 44:36they've done
- 44:37they've
- 44:39broken the
- 44:39covenant
- 44:40they've
- 44:40broken
- 44:40the
- 44:41relationship
- 44:42with God
- 44:42and God
- 44:43was within
- 44:43his rights
- 44:44to cast
- 44:45them away
- 44:46but that's
- 44:48not how
- 44:49God
- 44:50comes
- 44:50so often
- 44:52we maybe
- 44:53see things
- 44:55or hear
- 44:55things where
- 44:56a joke
- 44:57has been
- 44:57played on
- 44:58someone
- 44:58in my
- 44:59younger
- 45:00years
- 45:00it was
- 45:00Beatles
- 45:01about
- 45:02when
- 45:02they
- 45:03used
- 45:03to
- 45:03set
- 45:03up
- 45:04someone
- 45:04to
- 45:04maybe
- 45:05have
- 45:05their
- 45:05card
- 45:06thrashed
- 45:07or something
- 45:07like that
- 45:08and just
- 45:08filming them
- 45:09and what
- 45:09their reaction
- 45:10would be
- 45:11today it's
- 45:11more
- 45:12aunt and
- 45:13deck
- 45:13on a
- 45:13Saturday
- 45:14night
- 45:14setting up
- 45:15some
- 45:15celebrity
- 45:16when something
- 45:17goes
- 45:17wrong
- 45:18and they're
- 45:18just
- 45:19filming them
- 45:19to see
- 45:20how they'll
- 45:20react
- 45:21there's
- 45:22a funny
- 45:23side
- 45:23to it
- 45:24but there's
- 45:26not
- 45:26humour
- 45:28in the
- 45:28way God
- 45:29looks on
- 45:29us
- 45:30he's not
- 45:30looking on
- 45:31us and
- 45:31thinking
- 45:31well I'm
- 45:32just going
- 45:32to do
- 45:32this to
- 45:33see
- 45:33how they
- 45:34react
- 45:34how does
- 45:38God react
- 45:38when we
- 45:39have wronged
- 45:39him
- 45:40how did
- 45:42Christ react
- 45:44as Peter
- 45:45denied him
- 45:46how did
- 45:47he react
- 45:48on the
- 45:48cross as
- 45:49he looked
- 45:49down and
- 45:50saw those
- 45:50who were
- 45:51crucifying
- 45:52him
- 45:52the wonder
- 45:54of compassion
- 45:55and grace
- 45:57and love
- 45:58that he showed
- 45:58towards his
- 45:59own
- 46:00so when you
- 46:01look at the
- 46:01question here
- 46:02where are you
- 46:04God within
- 46:05his rights
- 46:05to come
- 46:06in immediate
- 46:07judgment
- 46:08on these
- 46:09people
- 46:09to condemn
- 46:10them
- 46:11say why
- 46:11have you
- 46:11done this
- 46:12he could
- 46:13give them
- 46:14a lecture
- 46:14and say
- 46:15Adam
- 46:15Eve
- 46:15I can't
- 46:16believe
- 46:16what you've
- 46:17done
- 46:18how could
- 46:20you
- 46:20after all
- 46:21I've done
- 46:22for you
- 46:22how could
- 46:23you be
- 46:23so stupid
- 46:24but God
- 46:28graciously
- 46:29comes to
- 46:30Adam and
- 46:30Eve
- 46:30asking
- 46:31where
- 46:32are you
- 46:33there is
- 46:36almost
- 46:36a sense
- 46:37of humor
- 46:38here
- 46:39when you
- 46:39see
- 46:39they're
- 46:40trying to
- 46:41hide
- 46:41among
- 46:42the trees
- 46:43trying to
- 46:45hide
- 46:45themselves
- 46:46from the
- 46:46God
- 46:46who
- 46:47made
- 46:47the
- 46:48heavens
- 46:48and
- 46:49the
- 46:49earth
- 46:50it's
- 46:52impossible
- 46:53even as
- 46:55we sang
- 46:56in
- 46:56Psalm 139
- 46:57Psalm that
- 46:58says you
- 46:59know it
- 46:59doesn't matter
- 47:00where we go
- 47:00in this
- 47:01world
- 47:01there's no
- 47:02getting away
- 47:02from God
- 47:03whether you
- 47:05take the
- 47:05wings to the
- 47:05utmost parts
- 47:06of sea
- 47:07even there
- 47:08God is
- 47:09there's no
- 47:11hiding
- 47:12there's no
- 47:12getting away
- 47:13from God
- 47:14but God
- 47:17is saying
- 47:17here yes
- 47:18sin must
- 47:19be judged
- 47:20he's not
- 47:22letting that
- 47:23go
- 47:24and we see
- 47:25that at the
- 47:25cross as sin
- 47:26was judged
- 47:27finally as
- 47:28Christ gave
- 47:29his life
- 47:30but God
- 47:32does not
- 47:32immediately
- 47:33give what
- 47:34sin
- 47:34deserves
- 47:35thank God
- 47:37for his
- 47:38grace
- 47:38towards us
- 47:40because where
- 47:41would we be
- 47:42without his
- 47:43grace
- 47:43where would
- 47:45you be
- 47:45tonight
- 47:46without his
- 47:47grace
- 47:47where are
- 47:48you tonight
- 47:49in light
- 47:50of his
- 47:50grace
- 47:50are you
- 47:52leaning upon
- 47:53it
- 47:53are you
- 47:54trusting
- 47:54in it
- 47:55we forget
- 47:57the Lord
- 47:58but as one
- 48:00commentator
- 48:01put it
- 48:01he must
- 48:02draw him
- 48:03out of
- 48:04hiding
- 48:04that's what
- 48:06he says
- 48:06of Adam
- 48:07he is a
- 48:08good shepherd
- 48:08who seeks
- 48:10the lost
- 48:10sheep
- 48:11and it's
- 48:13not what
- 48:13God does
- 48:14to us
- 48:14when he
- 48:16comes to
- 48:16save us
- 48:17from our
- 48:17sin
- 48:17he draws
- 48:18us out
- 48:19of our
- 48:19hiding
- 48:20place
- 48:20wherever
- 48:22you're
- 48:22hiding
- 48:22wherever
- 48:23you're
- 48:23running
- 48:23to
- 48:24you're
- 48:25running
- 48:25from
- 48:25God
- 48:26but he
- 48:27will
- 48:27come
- 48:28and he
- 48:29will
- 48:29come
- 48:29to draw
- 48:30you
- 48:30out
- 48:31of
- 48:31hiding
- 48:31we so
- 48:33easily
- 48:33forget
- 48:34the
- 48:35Lord
- 48:35our
- 48:35God
- 48:36and there's
- 48:38consequences
- 48:39for that
- 48:40Deuteronomy
- 48:418
- 48:41verse 11
- 48:42says
- 48:43take care
- 48:43lest you
- 48:43forget
- 48:44the Lord
- 48:44your God
- 48:45by not
- 48:46keeping
- 48:47his commandments
- 48:48and his
- 48:49rules
- 48:49and his
- 48:49statutes
- 48:50which I
- 48:51command
- 48:51you today
- 48:52you know
- 48:53he still
- 48:54says to us
- 48:55to keep
- 48:55his laws
- 48:56to keep
- 48:56his commandments
- 48:57but he knows
- 48:58we cannot
- 48:59keep them
- 48:59perfectly
- 49:00but even
- 49:02when we
- 49:02fail
- 49:02in that
- 49:03we have
- 49:03a way
- 49:04to salvation
- 49:05that is
- 49:06through
- 49:06Christ
- 49:07Jesus
- 49:07because when
- 49:09you come
- 49:09into the
- 49:09New Testament
- 49:10you think
- 49:10of the
- 49:11words
- 49:11of Jesus
- 49:12in Matthew
- 49:1311
- 49:13verse 28
- 49:14come to
- 49:15me
- 49:15all you
- 49:16who labor
- 49:17and are
- 49:17heavy laden
- 49:17and I
- 49:18will give
- 49:18you rest
- 49:19he calls
- 49:21a people
- 49:22to himself
- 49:24so even
- 49:25as he
- 49:26asks this
- 49:26question
- 49:27that is
- 49:28nurtured
- 49:28in it
- 49:29where
- 49:30are
- 49:31you
- 49:32but
- 49:34there's
- 49:34warning
- 49:35to
- 49:35he's
- 49:37saying
- 49:37to us
- 49:38will you
- 49:39listen
- 49:40will you
- 49:42heed
- 49:42this
- 49:42question
- 49:43will you
- 49:43recognize
- 49:44your
- 49:44condition
- 49:45how far
- 49:46short
- 49:46you're
- 49:47falling
- 49:47when you're
- 49:47running
- 49:47from me
- 49:48what is
- 49:50your
- 49:51condition
- 49:51tonight
- 49:52in this
- 49:53sense
- 49:53do you
- 49:55need
- 49:55the grace
- 49:56of God
- 49:57as we
- 49:57all do
- 49:57or do
- 49:58you
- 49:58recognize
- 49:58your
- 49:59need
- 49:59of the
- 50:00grace
- 50:00of God
- 50:00or maybe
- 50:01you're
- 50:01saying
- 50:01to yourself
- 50:02I know
- 50:02I need
- 50:03it
- 50:03but I
- 50:05don't
- 50:05deserve
- 50:05it
- 50:06none
- 50:08of us
- 50:09do
- 50:09and yet
- 50:11God
- 50:11by his
- 50:12mercy
- 50:12is able
- 50:13to show
- 50:13grace
- 50:14there's a
- 50:15story told
- 50:16of a man
- 50:16who was
- 50:17struggling
- 50:17to believe
- 50:18and to
- 50:19find peace
- 50:20with God
- 50:20and he
- 50:22came to
- 50:22another
- 50:23Christian
- 50:23friend
- 50:24one day
- 50:24and he
- 50:24said to
- 50:25him
- 50:25I am
- 50:26such
- 50:27a
- 50:27helpless
- 50:28miserable
- 50:29sinner
- 50:30there's
- 50:31no hope
- 50:32for me
- 50:32I've
- 50:34prayed
- 50:34and I've
- 50:34tried
- 50:35my best
- 50:35and I've
- 50:35vowed
- 50:36until I'm
- 50:36sick of
- 50:37my efforts
- 50:38there's
- 50:39just no
- 50:39hope
- 50:40in my
- 50:41situation
- 50:42his friend
- 50:44said to
- 50:45him
- 50:45do you
- 50:46believe
- 50:46that Christ
- 50:48died for
- 50:49your sins
- 50:50and rose
- 50:51again
- 50:51and he
- 50:53said yes
- 50:54of course
- 50:55I do
- 50:56believe
- 50:56that
- 50:57his
- 50:59Christian
- 50:59friend
- 50:59said
- 51:00to
- 51:00him
- 51:00well
- 51:00if
- 51:01he
- 51:01were
- 51:01here
- 51:01on
- 51:01earth
- 51:02in bodily
- 51:02form
- 51:03invisible
- 51:03what would
- 51:04you do
- 51:05he said
- 51:07well I
- 51:07would go
- 51:08to him
- 51:08at once
- 51:09and what
- 51:11would you
- 51:12ask of
- 51:12him
- 51:13well I
- 51:15would ask
- 51:15him
- 51:15to forgive
- 51:17my sins
- 51:18and what
- 51:21would he
- 51:21answer
- 51:22and there
- 51:25was a
- 51:25silence
- 51:26and then
- 51:29he asked
- 51:29him again
- 51:29what would
- 51:30he answer
- 51:31and then
- 51:34suddenly
- 51:35the man's
- 51:36eyes lit
- 51:37up and a
- 51:37smile of
- 51:38peace
- 51:39came on
- 51:40his face
- 51:40he said
- 51:42he would
- 51:43answer
- 51:43I will
- 51:45and that's
- 51:48the wonder
- 51:49of God's
- 51:50grace
- 51:50the devil
- 51:52will have
- 51:53us
- 51:53troubled
- 51:54by our
- 51:54sins
- 51:55forever
- 51:56if he
- 51:56could
- 51:56but the
- 51:58word of
- 51:59God
- 51:59the
- 51:59nurture
- 51:59of it
- 52:00calls us
- 52:01to himself
- 52:02to find
- 52:02one who
- 52:03is able
- 52:04to forgive
- 52:05as it
- 52:06says in
- 52:07first John
- 52:07one verse
- 52:08nine
- 52:08if we
- 52:09confess
- 52:10our sins
- 52:11he is
- 52:12faithful and
- 52:13just to
- 52:14forgive us
- 52:14our sins
- 52:15and cleanse
- 52:16us from
- 52:17all
- 52:17unrighteousness
- 52:19may we
- 52:21see the
- 52:23grace of
- 52:23God
- 52:24the
- 52:25unworthiness
- 52:25because of
- 52:26our sin
- 52:27but see
- 52:28why he
- 52:29came and
- 52:29come and
- 52:30confess our
- 52:30sins
- 52:31and that he
- 52:32is faithful
- 52:33and just
- 52:35to forgive
- 52:35where are
- 52:38you tonight
- 52:39if you
- 52:41will come
- 52:41to him
- 52:42and say
- 52:43to him
- 52:44forgive my
- 52:44sins
- 52:45he is
- 52:46able to
- 52:47say
- 52:47I will
- 52:49the final
- 52:51thing just
- 52:52briefly we
- 52:52see of
- 52:53this question
- 52:54is the
- 52:55need of
- 52:56this
- 52:56question
- 52:57it's such
- 53:01a needful
- 53:02question for
- 53:03us all
- 53:04you know as
- 53:06we approach
- 53:06the Lord's
- 53:07Supper
- 53:07every one
- 53:08of us
- 53:08God willing
- 53:09in this
- 53:10coming week
- 53:10this is a
- 53:11question
- 53:11we need to
- 53:13ask of
- 53:13ourselves
- 53:14where are
- 53:16you
- 53:16if you
- 53:18come
- 53:19as one
- 53:20who is
- 53:20professing
- 53:21faith
- 53:21you will
- 53:22ask yourself
- 53:22that question
- 53:23and you
- 53:24realize
- 53:24so often
- 53:25we're not
- 53:26where we
- 53:26want to
- 53:27be
- 53:27so often
- 53:29we feel
- 53:30so far
- 53:31removed
- 53:31from God
- 53:32so far
- 53:33away
- 53:34from God
- 53:35we see
- 53:36our sins
- 53:37we know
- 53:37them
- 53:38only too
- 53:39well
- 53:39but it's
- 53:42a question
- 53:42that puts
- 53:43us right
- 53:43back to
- 53:44the cross
- 53:45right back
- 53:46to Christ
- 53:47back to
- 53:49where we
- 53:49need to
- 53:50come always
- 53:50recognizing
- 53:52our
- 53:52shortcomings
- 53:53but recognizing
- 53:55we come
- 53:56to do this
- 53:58in remembrance
- 53:58of him
- 53:59not because
- 54:00of ourselves
- 54:00but in
- 54:03remembrance
- 54:03of him
- 54:04and what
- 54:05he's done
- 54:06and if
- 54:10you are
- 54:10not
- 54:11professing
- 54:11tonight
- 54:12this
- 54:13coming
- 54:14week
- 54:14may the
- 54:14Lord
- 54:15prick
- 54:15you in
- 54:16your
- 54:16heart
- 54:16asking
- 54:18you this
- 54:18question
- 54:19where are
- 54:20you
- 54:20and if
- 54:22you're not
- 54:23right with
- 54:23God
- 54:23what needs
- 54:24to change
- 54:25it is
- 54:27to come
- 54:28to come
- 54:30to him
- 54:31when you
- 54:35look at
- 54:35this
- 54:35passage
- 54:36the
- 54:36Lord
- 54:37came to
- 54:38them
- 54:38it says
- 54:40in verse
- 54:408
- 54:40in the
- 54:41cool
- 54:42of the
- 54:43day
- 54:43and
- 54:45commentators
- 54:46debate
- 54:46and say
- 54:47well what
- 54:47time of
- 54:48day
- 54:48was this
- 54:49there are
- 54:51some who
- 54:51would say
- 54:52and go
- 54:52along with
- 54:53them and
- 54:53say well
- 54:54it's
- 54:54probably
- 54:54first
- 54:55thing
- 54:55in the
- 54:55morning
- 54:55the
- 54:57morning
- 54:57would bring
- 54:58with it
- 54:58a cool
- 54:59wind
- 54:59and the
- 55:00light
- 55:01would be
- 55:01coming
- 55:01and they
- 55:03say this
- 55:03is almost
- 55:04indicative of
- 55:04where they
- 55:05were
- 55:05from the
- 55:06darkness
- 55:07of night
- 55:07knowing that
- 55:09they'd
- 55:09sinned
- 55:10into the
- 55:10light of
- 55:11day when
- 55:12God
- 55:12calls them
- 55:13and showing
- 55:15there
- 55:15we see
- 55:16what Christ
- 55:17did
- 55:17how he
- 55:19came
- 55:19into the
- 55:20darkness
- 55:20of a
- 55:21fallen
- 55:21world
- 55:22but he
- 55:23came as
- 55:23the light
- 55:24of the
- 55:24world
- 55:25the light
- 55:26to show
- 55:26us the
- 55:27way to
- 55:28God
- 55:28and back
- 55:29to him
- 55:30the human
- 55:31response to
- 55:32guilt
- 55:33is so
- 55:34often to
- 55:35try and
- 55:35hide
- 55:36to run
- 55:37away
- 55:38but there's
- 55:39nowhere
- 55:40where we
- 55:41can hide
- 55:42and this
- 55:44question
- 55:44is needful
- 55:45for ourselves
- 55:46where are
- 55:48we
- 55:49today
- 55:49in light
- 55:51of this
- 55:51what is
- 55:54the hardest
- 55:54question
- 55:55you face
- 55:56tonight
- 55:57what is
- 55:58the hardest
- 55:59question
- 56:00you've had
- 56:01to answer
- 56:01in your
- 56:02life
- 56:03well the
- 56:06hardest
- 56:06questions
- 56:07are not
- 56:08the questions
- 56:09for ourselves
- 56:10but the
- 56:11question
- 56:12that puts
- 56:13God into
- 56:14our life
- 56:14and questions
- 56:17prick
- 56:18our hearts
- 56:19one of the
- 56:21greatest
- 56:22questions
- 56:23that challenged
- 56:24me was a
- 56:24question on a
- 56:25tract I was
- 56:26given
- 56:26where will you
- 56:28spend
- 56:29eternity
- 56:30another
- 56:33important
- 56:34question
- 56:34and you can
- 56:36only answer
- 56:37that in light
- 56:38of this
- 56:38question
- 56:39where are
- 56:40you
- 56:41where are
- 56:44you
- 56:44with God
- 56:45tonight
- 56:46is the
- 56:47question
- 56:48we need
- 56:48so how
- 56:51do you
- 56:51answer
- 56:51are you
- 56:54resting
- 56:54in Christ
- 56:55or are you
- 56:57still running
- 56:58and trying
- 57:00to hide
- 57:00in the midst
- 57:01of the
- 57:02trees
- 57:02like Adam
- 57:03and Eve
- 57:04thinking
- 57:04God won't
- 57:06see me
- 57:06God
- 57:08isn't asking
- 57:09you the
- 57:09question
- 57:10because he
- 57:11doesn't know
- 57:11where you
- 57:11are
- 57:12he's asking
- 57:14the question
- 57:14because he
- 57:15knows
- 57:15exactly where
- 57:17you are
- 57:17he knows
- 57:19your condition
- 57:19and the
- 57:21reason he's
- 57:21asking
- 57:22is that you
- 57:23might come
- 57:24and be
- 57:25right with
- 57:25him
- 57:26so ponder
- 57:28this question
- 57:28tonight
- 57:30and God
- 57:31willing if you
- 57:32have time
- 57:32in the days
- 57:33ahead
- 57:33but don't
- 57:35leave it
- 57:35too long
- 57:36because
- 57:38eternity
- 57:39depends
- 57:39on your
- 57:41answer
- 57:41so where
- 57:43are you
- 57:44may you
- 57:46come
- 57:46and find
- 57:48yourself
- 57:48leaning
- 57:49and resting
- 57:51in Christ
- 57:52and may you
- 57:53come
- 57:53may we all
- 57:55come
- 57:55to remember
- 57:57him
- 57:57in his grace
- 57:59and his love
- 58:00towards us
- 58:01and do it
- 58:02in remembrance
- 58:04of him
- 58:05let us pray
- 58:06our father
- 58:09in heaven
- 58:10help us
- 58:11to have
- 58:11answers to
- 58:12the questions
- 58:13that you
- 58:13pose to
- 58:14us
- 58:14and especially
- 58:15the most
- 58:16important
- 58:16questions
- 58:17of all
- 58:18as we
- 58:19ask ourselves
- 58:19this evening
- 58:20where are
- 58:21we
- 58:21in light
- 58:22of your
- 58:22word
- 58:23and in
- 58:23light of
- 58:23your grace
- 58:24in light
- 58:25of all
- 58:26that you
- 58:26have done
- 58:26for us
- 58:27in Christ
- 58:27Jesus
- 58:28your Lord
- 58:28help us
- 58:30that we
- 58:30will find
- 58:30ourselves
- 58:31resting
- 58:32in him
- 58:32and trusting
- 58:33in him
- 58:34Lord
- 58:35show us
- 58:36your ways
- 58:36and guide
- 58:37us
- 58:38and forgive
- 58:38us
- 58:38for all
- 58:39we ask
- 58:40we ask
- 58:40in his
- 58:40name
- 58:41amen
- 58:42we're going
- 58:47to conclude
- 58:48by singing
- 58:49again in
- 58:49Psalm 56
- 58:51in the
- 58:52Sing
- 58:52Psalms
- 58:53version
- 58:53the last
- 58:53three
- 58:54stanzas
- 58:55from
- 58:56verse 10
- 58:56Psalm 56
- 58:59on page
- 59:0074
- 59:01in the
- 59:03Lord
- 59:03whose
- 59:03word
- 59:04I
- 59:04honor
- 59:04in my
- 59:05God
- 59:05I
- 59:05praise
- 59:06his
- 59:06word
- 59:06I
- 59:07will
- 59:07trust
- 59:08and not
- 59:08be
- 59:08fearful
- 59:09what
- 59:10can
- 59:10man
- 59:11do
- 59:11to
- 59:11me
- 59:11Lord
- 59:12we'll
- 59:13sing
- 59:13from
- 59:13verse 10
- 59:13down to
- 59:14the
- 59:14end
- 59:14of
- 59:14the
- 59:14Psalm
- 59:15to
- 59:15God's
- 59:16praise
- 59:31word
- 59:32I
- 59:33will
- 59:34trust
- 59:35and not
- 59:37be
- 59:37fearful
- 59:38what
- 59:40can
- 59:41man
- 59:41do
- 59:42to
- 59:43me
- 59:44Lord
- 59:45I
- 59:47have
- 59:48taken
- 59:49verse
- 59:50before
- 59:51you
- 59:52to
- 59:53my
- 59:54God
- 59:55I
- 59:56will
- 59:56be
- 59:57true
- 59:58sacrifice
- 1:00:00of
- 1:00:03thy
- 1:00:04giving
- 1:00:05I
- 1:00:06will
- 1:00:07gladly
- 1:00:08give
- 1:00:09to
- 1:00:10you
- 1:00:11for
- 1:00:13you
- 1:00:13kept
- 1:00:14my
- 1:00:15feet
- 1:00:16from
- 1:00:16stumbling
- 1:00:18and
- 1:00:19from
- 1:00:20death
- 1:00:20you
- 1:00:21set
- 1:00:22me
- 1:00:23free
- 1:00:24so
- 1:00:25that
- 1:00:26I
- 1:00:27may
- 1:00:27walk
- 1:00:28before
- 1:00:30you
- 1:00:30and
- 1:00:31the
- 1:00:32light
- 1:00:33of
- 1:00:34life
- 1:00:34may
- 1:00:35see
- 1:00:36after
- 1:00:39the
- 1:00:39benediction
- 1:00:39I'll
- 1:00:40go to
- 1:00:40the
- 1:00:40door
- 1:00:40to
- 1:00:41my
- 1:00:41right
- 1:00:41here
- 1:00:41now
- 1:00:43may
- 1:00:43grace
- 1:00:44mercy
- 1:00:44and
- 1:00:45peace
- 1:00:45from
- 1:00:45God
- 1:00:46Father
- 1:00:46Son
- 1:00:47and
- 1:00:47Holy
- 1:00:47Spirit
- 1:00:48rest
- 1:00:49upon
- 1:00:49and
- 1:00:50abide
- 1:00:50with
- 1:00:50you
- 1:00:51all
- 1:00:51now
- 1:00:51and
- 1:00:51forever
- 1:00:52more
- 1:00:52Amen
- 1:00:53Thank ser υ