Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Family Truths

Transcript

Family Truths · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
May we begin our worship of God by singing to His name in the Sing Psalms version of Psalm 36.
0:10
You'll find that on page 44.
0:15
Singing from verse 5 down to verse 10.
0:20
Sing Psalms, Psalm 36, from verse 5.
0:27
Your steadfast love is great, O Lord.
0:31
It reaches heaven high.
0:34
Your faithfulness is wonderful, extending to the sky.
0:38
Your righteousness is very great, like mountains high and steep.
0:43
Your justice is like ocean depths, both man and beast you keep.
0:49
How precious is your steadfast love.
0:52
What confidence it brings.
0:54
Both high and low find shelter in the shadow of your wings.
1:00
We'll sing from verse 5 down to the end of verse 10 to God's praise.
1:08
Your steadfast love is great, O Lord.
1:12
Let's stand.
1:13
Let's stand.
1:20
Your steadfast love is great, O Lord.
1:26
It reaches heaven high.
1:32
Your faithfulness is wonderful, extending to the sky.
1:48
Your righteousness is very great, like mountains high and steep.
2:04
Your justice is like ocean death, both man and beast to keep.
2:22
My precious is your steadfast love, what confidence it brings.
2:39
Both high and low find shelter in the shadow of your wings.
2:56
They feast within your house and drink from streams of pure delight.
3:12
For with you is the source of life, in your light is delight.
3:29
To those who know you as their God, your steadfast love and heart.
3:47
Maintain your righteousness to those of pure and upright heart.
4:10
May we join together one another in prayer.
4:14
Let us approach God with prayer.
4:17
Our heavenly Father, we thank you for this day that you have given us again.
4:25
This opportunity to come and worship your name.
4:28
And sing praises to you.
4:31
And sing of that steadfast love that endures.
4:36
And under the shelter of your wings, for both high and low, find a shelter and shadow under it.
4:43
Lord, whoever we are, whoever we are, whoever we are, whoever we are, and whatever status we hold in society,
4:51
we are not distanced from the God of salvation.
4:55
We are not distanced from Jesus the Christ.
5:01
Jesus who went to the cross to die for sinners.
5:07
For we are all sinners.
5:09
When we look within the depths of our hearts, we see the sin lurking and lying there.
5:18
And often we try to hide it.
5:20
And we are ashamed to speak of it.
5:24
But there are times that it is greatly evident.
5:30
Especially when we come before you.
5:35
One who is so holy.
5:38
One who is so upright.
5:40
And one who does demand all reverence from us.
5:44
So Lord, as we approach you today,
5:48
pray that we would do so with a humble spirit.
5:50
Acknowledging that we are indeed in need of you.
5:55
And are found wanting before the name of God.
6:02
We are deserving to be punished.
6:08
For we have sinned and fallen short.
6:11
But thanks be to our God,
6:14
who graciously sent his Son.
6:18
The Son that came and acquired salvation for us.
6:24
And the Spirit that has left us an application and working within us.
6:30
So we ask that your Spirit be with us.
6:35
As we gather in your name.
6:38
That it would be a guide to our minds and our thoughts.
6:42
That it would be an opening to our ears.
6:45
Removing the scales from our eyes.
6:50
That hide the wonder and glory of God from us.
6:54
Let that Spirit enable us to see Christ Jesus.
6:59
In all the fullness of his love he had for his people.
7:03
And how he came.
7:05
As that great Lamb that was to be sacrificed.
7:08
That great Redeemer.
7:10
That would give us freedom in our lives.
7:14
Freedom from slavery.
7:16
Freedom from bondage.
7:18
And freedom to enjoy his privileges to us.
7:25
Lord, may we question where we stand before you this day as we gather.
7:32
Lord, may we pray that the power of your word would go out amongst this town.
7:41
Out amongst this nation.
7:43
Convicting and converting.
7:45
Applying it to men that they may see their need.
7:49
And illuminate by the power of pure light.
7:54
Who they are before God.
7:57
Lord, we pray for those who are bereft this day.
8:02
And those who feel the ongoing loss of bereavement.
8:09
Pray you be their comfort.
8:11
Pray they know your spirit.
8:14
Pray they turn to your word.
8:17
To give them that assurance of your presence with them.
8:21
Lord, we remember those who preach your word.
8:25
And we particularly remember Donald as he prepares for his licensing.
8:31
We pray for him tonight as he leads our worship.
8:34
Pray that you would reassure him.
8:36
And give him every encouragement in his work for your cause.
8:40
As he has committed his life to be a preacher of the good news of Jesus Christ.
8:47
Lord, we pray for more men and women.
8:51
To proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
8:55
And we pray for men that will come forth and stand.
8:59
As preachers and leaders of the gospel in this nation.
9:03
And in this day.
9:05
Lord, we do not know how white the fields are for harvest.
9:10
But we are reminded that we must continue to pray for laborers.
9:14
Who will reap the benefits of the harvest.
9:18
And sow the seed even if it be sown in tears.
9:22
But we pray that every seed sown with tears.
9:27
Would return.
9:30
Would have him return with bountiful joy.
9:34
As we snow in the sands.
9:36
Lord, we pray next door for the children that gather.
9:40
And we pray for their meeting that they will have with Muriel.
9:43
We ask that all the technology would work.
9:47
And that they would enjoy their time together.
9:51
We pray for these young people.
9:54
We pray that they would gain an understanding of who Jesus is.
10:00
What he has done for them.
10:02
And what he can do for them in their lives.
10:05
As they look forward with great anticipation of what their life shall be.
10:11
And all their desires.
10:13
And all their wants.
10:14
And the excitement of youth.
10:17
We pray that they would set God before them in all these things.
10:21
For we learn as we grow older.
10:23
That we can have our visions.
10:25
We can have our desires.
10:27
But if they are not in line with the will of God.
10:30
Then we will come to nothing.
10:32
And we end up wasting our energy.
10:36
And fighting and opposing against the will of God.
10:41
So let us be and learn to be submitting to you.
10:46
Who is over all things.
10:49
The one who does order light of day.
10:52
And the nature and seasons of this world.
10:55
That we would acknowledge you as such.
10:58
The great creator of all.
11:00
Let us stand in awe of you today.
11:04
We pray that as we come to your word.
11:06
You would open it to us.
11:08
We pray that your spirit would guide us through it.
11:11
And take us.
11:12
And apply it to everyone that is gathered here.
11:16
Even in the reading of your word.
11:18
How precious it is to us.
11:21
And how vast a treasure it is.
11:24
To the believers of your works and your name.
11:29
So Lord we ask.
11:31
Be with us in our praise.
11:33
Be with us in our worship of you.
11:37
As we gather together.
11:41
Help us to see.
11:43
Help us to understand.
11:45
And know the privileges of what it is.
11:49
To be in the family of God.
11:51
And secured therefore in that family.
11:55
By the works of Jesus Christ.
11:58
Nothing of what we have done ourselves.
12:00
But all to the praise of that name.
12:04
Who is our Savior.
12:06
And we ask these things in his name.
12:09
Jesus Christ our Lord.
12:11
Amen.
12:11
I would like to say a quick word.
12:16
To the younger ones.
12:17
Who are here.
12:18
In Sunday school.
12:20
That there may be some watching online.
12:22
I want today to.
12:24
Say a little bit about families.
12:26
And we'll do so in the service.
12:28
And hopefully it'll tie.
12:29
It'll tie in with our service later on.
12:34
But.
12:36
All of us.
12:37
Have a family.
12:38
And.
12:41
We'll all be familiar.
12:42
With a family tree.
12:44
Usually it'll start with.
12:46
One person at the bottom.
12:47
And it'll grow.
12:49
They'll have.
12:49
That person would have a child.
12:51
Or two children.
12:52
And then.
12:53
That.
12:54
Their daughter or sons.
12:55
Would have more children.
12:57
And this.
12:57
Just keeps going.
12:58
And going.
12:59
And going.
12:59
And going.
12:59
And it grows into this.
13:00
What they call a family tree.
13:04
But this tree.
13:05
If we took it all the way back.
13:07
From ourselves.
13:08
And we followed it all the way back.
13:11
It would lead us.
13:12
Back to Adam.
13:14
And that would be the root of the tree.
13:17
Adam.
13:18
But we know that Adam.
13:20
Sinned.
13:21
And in a sense.
13:22
This tree.
13:23
Has been spoiled.
13:24
By sin.
13:25
Ever since.
13:27
That first sin.
13:28
Of Adam.
13:30
This tree.
13:33
Will die.
13:34
This tree.
13:35
Has something.
13:36
In it.
13:37
That will.
13:39
Cause it to die.
13:40
This sin.
13:41
Will make it.
13:42
Die.
13:43
But in this tree.
13:44
There is.
13:46
One.
13:47
Element.
13:47
Of hope.
13:49
Within this tree.
13:51
There was.
13:52
One man.
13:52
Who came.
13:53
Jesus.
13:54
Christ.
13:56
And Jesus.
13:57
Gives.
13:58
That.
13:59
Every person.
14:00
Within that.
14:01
Family tree.
14:03
A hope.
14:05
To another.
14:06
Family.
14:08
Because it says.
14:09
In first.
14:10
John.
14:10
That.
14:12
See.
14:12
What kind.
14:12
Of love.
14:13
The father.
14:14
Has given.
14:15
To us.
14:16
That we.
14:17
Should be called.
14:18
Children.
14:19
Of God.
14:20
And so.
14:21
We are.
14:23
The father.
14:24
Has loved us.
14:26
That we would be called.
14:27
The children.
14:27
Of God.
14:29
And is willing.
14:30
To adopt us.
14:31
From this.
14:32
Tree.
14:33
That.
14:34
Is full of sin.
14:36
And take us.
14:36
Into this.
14:37
New family.
14:39
And call us.
14:40
His.
14:41
Child.
14:42
That we would become.
14:43
A children.
14:45
Of God.
14:46
It's amazing.
14:48
That we.
14:49
Could have.
14:50
Such a privilege.
14:52
And we had the picture.
14:53
Of the tree.
14:54
To begin with.
14:55
But now.
14:56
The picture.
14:57
That comes.
14:58
Is.
14:59
It's not one.
14:59
That grows.
15:01
From one person.
15:02
To the next.
15:02
And grows.
15:03
And grows.
15:04
And grows.
15:04
We're all children.
15:05
If we believe.
15:06
In Jesus Christ.
15:08
It's like.
15:09
God is in the center.
15:11
We become.
15:11
Children.
15:11
Of God.
15:12
And there is a line.
15:13
Directly.
15:14
To your name.
15:15
To anyone.
15:16
Who believes.
15:17
In Jesus.
15:19
Jesus's name.
15:20
Is there.
15:20
And all the believers.
15:22
Names.
15:23
Are directly.
15:25
Linked.
15:25
Out.
15:25
From God.
15:26
Because we become.
15:27
Children.
15:28
Of God.
15:29
And maybe.
15:30
We could say.
15:31
Rather than.
15:31
It being a tree.
15:32
It becomes.
15:33
Like.
15:33
A ring.
15:35
And there will be.
15:35
Just.
15:36
All these names.
15:37
Of the believers.
15:39
Of God.
15:41
Coming out.
15:42
From his.
15:43
Name.
15:43
And the center.
15:45
Of who he is.
15:47
And we know.
15:48
That rings.
15:49
I want a ring here.
15:51
And we know.
15:51
That a ring.
15:52
Symbolizes.
15:53
Is a promise.
15:54
And that is what.
15:56
The believer has.
15:58
A promise.
15:59
To come.
16:00
That.
16:02
God will be faithful.
16:04
To every believer.
16:05
God will not leave.
16:07
His children.
16:08
God will be with them.
16:10
Throughout.
16:11
Your experiences.
16:13
And for all eternity.
16:15
The ring.
16:16
Symbolizes.
16:17
An eternal.
16:18
Promise.
16:19
But they are due.
16:20
And that's Jesus.
16:23
The jewel.
16:25
Is Jesus.
16:25
In the ring.
16:27
So.
16:28
We grow.
16:30
And we have our families here.
16:32
But Jesus.
16:33
Provides for us.
16:34
Another family.
16:36
That we can be.
16:37
Call.
16:38
God.
16:38
Our father.
16:40
And what a privilege.
16:41
That is.
16:42
For us.
16:43
So I pray.
16:44
That all of us.
16:45
Understand.
16:46
What it is.
16:48
To be.
16:49
A believer.
16:49
In Jesus.
16:51
And the privilege.
16:52
That it is.
16:53
To be part.
16:53
Of that family.
16:55
And that we would see.
16:56
Jesus Christ.
16:57
As a jewel.
17:00
To that life.
17:01
That will come.
17:02
For us.
17:02
So we'll say the Lord's prayer.
17:04
Together.
17:06
Our father.
17:07
Which art in heaven.
17:08
Hallowed.
17:09
Be thy name.
17:10
Thy kingdom come.
17:12
Thy will be done.
17:13
On earth.
17:14
As it is in heaven.
17:16
Give us this day.
17:17
Our daily bread.
17:18
And forgive us.
17:19
Our debts.
17:20
As we forgive us.
17:22
Debtors.
17:23
Lead us not.
17:23
Into temptation.
17:25
But deliver us.
17:26
From evil.
17:27
For thine.
17:28
Is the kingdom.
17:29
The power.
17:30
And the glory.
17:31
Forever.
17:32
Amen.
17:34
If we could turn.
17:36
To the word of God.
17:37
And we'll take a reading.
17:39
From the gospel of.
17:40
John.
17:41
Chapter 8.
17:41
The gospel of John.
17:46
Chapter 8.
17:52
And we'll read from.
17:55
We've got it down as verse 31.
17:56
But I think we'll read from verse 28.
17:58
Amen.
18:10
Gospel of John.
18:11
Chapter 8.
18:12
From verse 28.
18:13
And just before I start reading.
18:16
We have.
18:17
You may see it in your Bible.
18:18
That there is a section there.
18:19
I am the light of the world.
18:21
Jesus.
18:22
Jesus is explaining to the people.
18:24
Here.
18:24
Within the courts of the temple.
18:27
Who he is.
18:28
And trying to justify that.
18:31
Explain.
18:31
And justify that.
18:32
Who he is.
18:34
He has come from his father.
18:36
And his father bears witness to him.
18:39
And every point.
18:40
The Pharisees are questioning him on it.
18:43
You know.
18:43
Why?
18:44
Why?
18:44
Why?
18:45
All the way through.
18:46
Do you believe this?
18:47
And we don't believe you.
18:49
And then.
18:50
We can pick up our reading here.
18:52
At verse 28.
18:54
Let us hear God's word.
18:56
So Jesus said to them.
18:59
When you have lifted up the son of man.
19:01
Then you will know that I am he.
19:04
And that I do nothing on my own authority.
19:08
But speak just as the father taught me.
19:11
And he who sent me is with me.
19:14
He has not left me alone.
19:17
For I always do the things that are pleasing to him.
19:20
As he was saying these things.
19:22
Many believed in him.
19:25
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him.
19:29
If you abide in my word.
19:31
You are truly my disciples.
19:34
And you will know the truth.
19:36
And the truth will set you free.
19:39
They answered him.
19:41
We are offspring of Abraham.
19:43
And have never been enslaved to anyone.
19:45
How is it that you can say.
19:48
You will become free.
19:50
Jesus answered them.
19:52
Truly, truly.
19:53
I say to you.
19:55
Everyone who commits sin.
19:56
Is a slave to sin.
19:58
The slave does not remain in the house forever.
20:01
The son remains forever.
20:03
So if the son sets you free.
20:05
You will be free indeed.
20:07
I know that you are the offspring of Abraham.
20:10
Yet you seek to kill me.
20:12
Because my word finds no place in you.
20:15
I speak of what I have seen with my father.
20:18
And you do what you have heard from your father.
20:23
They answered him.
20:25
Abraham is our father.
20:27
Jesus said to them.
20:29
If you were Abraham's children.
20:31
You would be doing what Abraham did.
20:34
But now you seek to kill me.
20:36
A man who has told you the truth.
20:38
That I heard from God.
20:40
This is not what Abraham did.
20:44
You are doing what your father did.
20:48
They said to him.
20:50
We were not born of sexual immorality.
20:53
But have one father.
20:54
Even God.
20:56
Jesus said to them.
20:59
If God were your father.
21:01
You would love me.
21:02
For I came from God.
21:04
And I am here.
21:07
I came not of my own accord.
21:09
But he sent me.
21:10
Why do you not understand what I say?
21:13
It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
21:18
You are of your father the devil.
21:21
And your will is to do your father's desire.
21:25
He was a murderer from the beginning.
21:27
And has nothing to do with the truth.
21:30
Because there is no truth in him.
21:32
When he lies.
21:34
He speaks out of his own character.
21:37
For he is a liar.
21:39
And the father of lies.
21:41
But because I tell the truth.
21:43
You do not believe me.
21:45
Which one of you convicts me of sin?
21:48
If I tell the truth.
21:50
Why do you not believe me?
21:52
Whoever is of God.
21:55
Hear the words of God.
21:56
The reason why you do not hear them.
22:00
Is that you are not of God.
22:03
Amen.
22:04
May the reading of God's word be blessed to us.
22:07
May we continue in our singing praise to God.
22:11
By singing in Psalm 37 of the Scottish Psalter.
22:15
You will find that on page 255.
22:24
Psalm 37 of the Scottish Psalter.
22:27
On page 255.
22:31
We will sing from verse 26.
22:33
Down to the end of verse 34.
22:38
He is ever merciful and lends.
22:41
His seed is blessed therefore.
22:43
Depart from evil and do good.
22:47
And dwell forevermore.
22:50
For God loves judgment and his sins.
22:53
Leaves not in any case.
22:55
They are kept ever.
22:56
But cut off shall be the sinner's race.
23:00
The just inherit shall the land.
23:02
And ever in it dwell.
23:04
The just man's mouth doth wisdom speak.
23:08
His tongue doth judgment tell.
23:11
We will sing down to the end of verse 34.
23:16
He is ever merciful and lends.
23:19
His seed is blessed therefore.
23:21
We will stand and sing to God's praise.
23:23
He is ever merciful and lends.
23:35
His seed is blessed therefore.
23:41
Depart from evil and do good.
23:47
And dwell forevermore.
23:49
And dwell forevermore.
23:53
For God loves judgment.
23:59
And his saints leaves not in any case.
24:08
They are kept ever.
24:10
They are kept ever.
24:12
But cut off shall be the sinner's race.
24:23
The just inherit shall the land.
24:30
And ever in it dwell.
24:36
The just prosper doth wisdom speak.
24:45
His tongue doth judgment tell.
24:51
His heart the Lord is of his heart.
24:59
His heart slide not away.
25:05
The wicked man doth watch the just.
25:15
And seeketh him to stay.
25:20
Yet him the Lord will not forsake.
25:30
Nor leave him in his hands.
25:36
The righteous will be not condemned.
25:44
When he in judgment stands.
25:51
Wait on the Lord and keep his way.
26:00
And the exalt shall lead.
26:07
The earth to inherit.
26:11
When cut off the wicked.
26:18
The wicked thou shalt see.
26:28
If we turn back to the passage we read together.
26:31
Together.
26:32
And for our text today.
26:37
We will look at verse 38.
26:40
Verse 38.
26:42
I speak of what I have seen with my father.
26:47
And you do what you have heard from your father.
26:54
Disputes always arise from differences.
27:01
And often these things can be minor.
27:06
Unimportant.
27:07
Unimportant.
27:08
Silly.
27:09
Little things that we get.
27:11
A bee in our bonnet about.
27:13
And any conflict as we know.
27:16
Has two sides to the story.
27:18
And you know yourself.
27:20
You can hear one side.
27:22
And it can seem.
27:23
Quite justifiably right.
27:26
Until you hear the other side.
27:29
Disputes can get difficult.
27:33
And they can be messy.
27:35
Especially when it comes to families.
27:38
And that is usually the last thing we would ever want to happen.
27:43
But unfortunately it does.
27:46
And family truths.
27:48
Whatever that may mean.
27:50
May be spoken of.
27:52
And cause great offence or hurt to either side.
27:57
And in most disagreements.
27:59
We have someone who is usually right.
28:02
With their opinion.
28:04
And someone else with another opinion.
28:07
Who is also right.
28:09
And that is funnily the truth of it.
28:12
And the problem is that each side thinks of themselves as being right.
28:17
Hence the disagreement.
28:19
But really.
28:21
And it is not always the case.
28:24
And I want to say.
28:26
Maybe I want to be careful about how I put this across.
28:28
But often we can be wrong ourselves.
28:33
Or each person can be wrong somewhere along the line.
28:37
In our understanding.
28:39
Even if it is just how we approach the person.
28:43
Or how we deal with the situation.
28:45
We can often be wrong in how we present ourselves.
28:50
Or present what we believe to be right.
28:53
And even it may point back to something.
28:57
Far deeper within ourselves.
28:59
Like greed.
29:00
Or lust.
29:01
Or pride.
29:02
Or something along those lines.
29:04
When we really look at what is wrong.
29:08
But I am not here to offer advice on family quarrels.
29:12
I prefer to avoid that if at all possible.
29:15
But we can in fact observe in our reading.
29:19
A disagreement within the family of Israel.
29:22
Or maybe it would be easier if we understood.
29:26
A disagreement within the visible church of their day.
29:31
Jesus is talking with the Jews.
29:34
There are Pharisees within here.
29:37
Possibly Sadducees.
29:38
Different groups.
29:39
But he is talking to them within the courts of the temple.
29:42
That is clear in verse 20.
29:45
We didn't read it.
29:46
But it says that he spoke in the treasury.
29:49
As he taught in the temple.
29:51
And no one arrested him.
29:52
Because his hour had not yet come.
29:54
So he is speaking within the grounds of the temple.
29:57
And he is causing division amongst these people.
30:00
And some receive what he says.
30:02
Some reject it.
30:03
But this is no surprise.
30:06
Because this was expected to happen.
30:09
And we can remember the words that are recorded in Luke 12.
30:13
Where it says.
30:14
Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth?
30:17
No.
30:18
I tell you.
30:19
But rather division.
30:20
For from now on.
30:22
One house.
30:23
There will be five divided.
30:25
Three against two.
30:26
Two against three.
30:27
They will be divided.
30:28
Father against son.
30:30
Son against father.
30:31
And so on.
30:32
Jesus causes division.
30:34
By what he taught.
30:36
And by who he said he was.
30:39
But this disagreement.
30:41
Is different in a sense.
30:43
Because you are disagreeing.
30:45
Or they are disagreeing.
30:47
With not a sinful man.
30:50
But son of God.
30:52
And if truth be told.
30:54
He is always right.
30:56
And he always speaks truth.
30:58
So we essentially have a non-starter.
31:00
To begin with.
31:01
On the path that they are proceeding with.
31:03
But the phallicies just don't accept it.
31:06
They don't accept Jesus has been right.
31:08
They oppose everything.
31:09
How he has been teaching them.
31:12
Everything has been said in the chapter.
31:14
And so he gives them almost this.
31:17
Hard hitting family truth.
31:20
As it were.
31:21
But even in that.
31:23
We see their pride of.
31:25
The men coming through.
31:26
To prove themselves.
31:28
And who they are.
31:29
And disprove.
31:30
What Jesus.
31:31
Is trying to tell them.
31:33
And the truth of Jesus's word.
31:35
And we know that that pride.
31:37
Would ultimately grow.
31:38
Within their hearts.
31:40
And the hostility would grow.
31:41
Within them.
31:42
And they would refuse.
31:44
To hear anything.
31:46
That Jesus would say.
31:48
And they would seek.
31:49
Ultimately.
31:50
To silence him.
31:52
By crucifying him.
31:54
The truth that Jesus declares.
31:57
Is that they are of different parentage.
31:59
In this passage.
32:01
Your father is not my father.
32:03
My father is God.
32:04
Your father is the devil.
32:06
I cannot imagine this went down well with them.
32:10
Rather than it being a disagreement within a family.
32:14
What Jesus is actually saying.
32:16
Is that they are of different families.
32:19
There is the family of the saved.
32:22
And the family of the slaves.
32:24
Two points that we can use.
32:26
To distinguish our time together today.
32:29
As we bring into focus.
32:31
The verses from 31.
32:34
Down to verse 38.
32:35
We'll follow through in these verses.
32:38
So.
32:39
And we'll see.
32:40
And relate.
32:41
The family of the saved.
32:43
And the family of the slaves.
32:45
As we do so.
32:46
And we'll begin with the family of the saved.
32:49
Because this is where.
32:50
Jesus begins.
32:51
And speaks with first.
32:53
And an understanding of our context.
32:57
You can see.
32:58
That in verse 30.
33:00
As he was saying these things.
33:03
Many believed in him.
33:05
The people had believed.
33:07
Some.
33:08
Had believed what Jesus spoke.
33:09
What he had been teaching them.
33:12
With the familiar words.
33:14
That we know of.
33:15
As being the light of the world.
33:18
He continues discussing.
33:20
With the doubtful Pharisees.
33:24
Not arguing back and forth.
33:25
But he is proving who he is.
33:27
And telling them the truth.
33:29
That the son of man.
33:30
Must be lifted up.
33:32
Before they're really going to grasp this.
33:35
And that is of itself.
33:37
A thought for us.
33:39
The necessity that Christ.
33:41
Would submit himself to the cross.
33:44
The son of God.
33:46
So that we would know him.
33:49
There are many ways.
33:50
That he could have revealed himself to us.
33:52
But we don't gain the clarity of it.
33:56
Until he was crucified.
33:59
It's a wonder to us.
34:03
So we.
34:05
So we.
34:06
So we can understand.
34:08
In that crucifixion.
34:10
Who he is to us today.
34:12
But it was also meant for them.
34:15
So they would understand.
34:16
In their time.
34:18
Who he was.
34:19
And likewise.
34:20
That man that died at Calvary.
34:23
So that they would believe.
34:25
As as much.
34:26
For you.
34:27
To believe.
34:28
In him.
34:29
That we would become.
34:32
Like the centurion.
34:34
That.
34:35
Saw.
34:36
How he breathed his last.
34:39
And the light.
34:41
Of the world.
34:42
Was revealed.
34:43
To him.
34:44
At that moment.
34:45
To confess.
34:47
That surely.
34:48
This man.
34:49
Was the son of God.
34:51
See the cross.
34:53
Of Christ.
34:54
Is a place.
34:55
Of revelation.
34:56
As it is.
34:58
Still today.
34:59
But also.
35:00
One.
35:01
That causes.
35:02
Great.
35:03
Division.
35:04
And in our passage.
35:06
What is it.
35:07
That Christ.
35:08
Says.
35:09
To the family.
35:10
Of the saved.
35:11
To the believers.
35:12
Let us read.
35:13
Verse 31.
35:14
So Jesus.
35:15
Said to the Jews.
35:17
Who had believed.
35:18
In him.
35:19
If you abide.
35:20
In my word.
35:21
You are truly.
35:22
My disciples.
35:23
And you will know truth.
35:25
And the truth.
35:26
Will set you free.
35:27
And the first thing.
35:29
This is applicable.
35:30
To them.
35:31
Also.
35:32
As it is.
35:33
For us.
35:34
Today.
35:35
Just as much.
35:36
As we were saying.
35:37
What Jesus says here.
35:38
Is a timeless.
35:39
Truth.
35:40
Because it is a.
35:41
A family.
35:42
Trait.
35:43
Of those.
35:44
Who are saved.
35:45
That they abide.
35:46
In the word.
35:47
Of God.
35:48
Or they remain.
35:49
Within his word.
35:50
And the Christian.
35:52
Should always be someone.
35:53
Who dwells.
35:54
In the word.
35:55
Of God.
35:56
In the word.
35:58
But it doesn't.
35:59
Necessarily mean.
36:00
Because you do.
36:01
Read the word.
36:02
Of God.
36:03
Every day.
36:04
That you are.
36:05
A Christian.
36:06
Doesn't qualify.
36:07
You.
36:08
Instantly.
36:09
To be a Christian.
36:10
Just because.
36:11
You read.
36:12
We must believe.
36:13
What has been spoken.
36:14
To us.
36:15
Believe in the Christ.
36:16
Who speaks.
36:17
To us.
36:18
From.
36:19
Trust ourselves.
36:20
To that word.
36:21
So that the believer.
36:23
Today.
36:24
Comes to.
36:25
Abide.
36:26
In it.
36:27
To dwell on it.
36:28
To remain in it.
36:30
To pray over it.
36:32
To seek.
36:34
And to search it out.
36:35
And to know it.
36:36
As a living word.
36:37
To them.
36:38
That it is alive.
36:40
To them.
36:41
And the more.
36:42
We abide.
36:43
In it.
36:44
The more.
36:45
We come to embrace it.
36:46
And love it.
36:47
And treasure it.
36:48
The word.
36:50
Abide.
36:51
Can actually be.
36:53
Rephrased.
36:54
To mean.
36:55
To be in a state.
36:56
That begins.
36:57
And continues.
36:58
To be in a state.
37:00
That begins.
37:01
And continues.
37:02
In that state.
37:03
It's not a state.
37:04
That begins.
37:05
And stops.
37:06
The believer.
37:08
Abides.
37:09
In it.
37:10
In his word.
37:11
And it portrays.
37:12
An ongoing.
37:13
Trait.
37:14
Within this family.
37:15
That continues.
37:16
With no end.
37:18
In it.
37:19
In the mind.
37:20
And you might be here.
37:21
As a believer.
37:22
And I'm saying.
37:23
Well.
37:24
I don't feel like.
37:25
The word of God.
37:26
Speaks to me.
37:27
Like it did.
37:28
I'm reading it.
37:29
But it seems.
37:30
To be separate.
37:31
To me.
37:32
I don't feel like.
37:34
It's directing me.
37:35
I feel so distant.
37:37
From it.
37:38
But you can confess.
37:40
That you know it.
37:41
To be the word of God.
37:43
It just seems like.
37:45
It's become so distant.
37:46
To you.
37:47
And maybe.
37:48
This is exactly.
37:50
What we need.
37:51
To hear.
37:52
That we need.
37:54
To abide.
37:55
In this word.
37:56
We need to come back.
37:57
To this word.
37:58
And not just to read it.
37:59
But to know that.
38:00
Abiding in it.
38:01
You can abide.
38:03
On a verse.
38:04
For a very long time.
38:06
Especially if you.
38:07
Read something.
38:08
Like Romans 8.
38:09
I always remember.
38:11
The story of.
38:12
Billy Bray.
38:13
And.
38:14
He used to work.
38:15
Down the mines.
38:16
The guys.
38:17
That used to work.
38:18
With them.
38:19
We didn't believe it.
38:20
And they asked.
38:21
Where are you reading?
38:22
And he would say.
38:23
Romans 8.
38:24
And then they came back to him.
38:25
Weeks later.
38:26
And asked.
38:27
Where are you reading?
38:28
I said.
38:29
Romans 8.
38:30
And they went.
38:31
You're still reading.
38:32
The same chapter.
38:33
You were reading.
38:34
Wicks ago.
38:35
It's a passage.
38:36
It's a passage.
38:37
As you know.
38:38
It's so full.
38:39
And he really.
38:40
Would have been.
38:41
Meditating on it.
38:42
And dwelling on it.
38:43
And finding the riches in it.
38:44
And taking the time.
38:45
To read it.
38:46
But on the other hand.
38:48
We can be people.
38:50
That can just read Romans 8.
38:51
And not take anything from it.
38:53
We need to ask.
38:54
Prayerfully.
38:55
That that word.
38:56
Is opened.
38:57
Up.
38:58
To us.
38:59
We need.
39:00
To dwell on it.
39:02
Abide in it.
39:03
And like I said.
39:04
Even a verse.
39:05
Can do us more good.
39:07
Than a chapter read.
39:08
Even if we come back.
39:10
To the words.
39:11
That Christ himself spoke.
39:12
To read them slowly.
39:14
And what he sees.
39:16
To prayerfully.
39:18
Dwell on it.
39:19
And I believe.
39:21
That he.
39:22
Will be one.
39:23
That will restore you.
39:24
With a love.
39:25
For his word.
39:26
Again.
39:27
If we read on it.
39:28
If we read over it.
39:30
We pray over it.
39:32
And we meditate over it.
39:34
I believe.
39:35
That God.
39:36
Will restore us.
39:38
For he himself says.
39:39
That all that he has said.
39:42
All these things.
39:43
Are to keep you.
39:44
From falling away.
39:45
For he has said.
39:47
All these things.
39:48
To keep you.
39:49
From falling away.
39:50
John 16.
39:51
Verse 1.
39:54
And maybe that's why.
39:55
It says if.
39:57
In our passage.
39:58
Verse 31.
39:59
Verse 31.
40:00
So Jesus said.
40:01
To the Jews.
40:02
Who believe in him.
40:03
If you abide.
40:04
In my word.
40:05
That puts a condition.
40:06
If.
40:07
And the condition is.
40:10
If.
40:11
You.
40:12
It places a weight.
40:14
In our laps.
40:15
If.
40:16
You.
40:17
And it evokes.
40:19
An element.
40:20
Of uncertainty.
40:21
At the same time.
40:22
As placing that responsibility.
40:24
Because.
40:26
He knew.
40:28
It would be hard.
40:30
He knew.
40:31
It would be hard.
40:32
For us.
40:33
To continue.
40:34
To be faithful.
40:35
And.
40:36
But if we continue.
40:38
And if we are faithful.
40:40
And if we abide.
40:41
In his word.
40:43
Then we will truly.
40:45
Be his disciples.
40:47
There is no going back.
40:49
It was him.
40:51
Who said.
40:52
No one puts his hand.
40:53
To the plough.
40:54
And looks back.
40:55
As fit.
40:56
For the kingdom of God.
40:57
We must press on.
40:59
And go on.
41:00
With God.
41:02
And those of us.
41:03
Who sit.
41:04
At the Lord's table.
41:05
Are abiding.
41:06
With Christ.
41:09
Come what may.
41:10
In our lives.
41:12
We.
41:13
Are determined.
41:15
To go on.
41:16
With God.
41:17
Whatever.
41:18
May come.
41:19
And believe.
41:20
That he will provide.
41:21
For us.
41:22
And meet our needs.
41:23
Along the way.
41:24
But it is fundamental.
41:26
For us.
41:27
To remember.
41:28
That our abiding.
41:29
Is not.
41:30
If we are strong enough.
41:32
If we are good enough.
41:34
If we don't make mistakes.
41:36
Or even.
41:37
If we doubt ourselves.
41:40
Otherwise.
41:41
There would be none there.
41:43
There would be none.
41:44
Qualified.
41:45
To be a disciple.
41:46
A disciple.
41:47
It is only.
41:48
If.
41:49
If.
41:50
You abide.
41:51
In my word.
41:52
Because.
41:53
Jesus knew.
41:54
That word.
41:55
Would be.
41:57
The strengthening.
41:58
Of his disciples.
41:59
And overcoming.
42:01
Their weaknesses.
42:02
And.
42:03
Is.
42:04
In a roundabout way.
42:05
The actual strength.
42:06
Of our abiding.
42:07
It identifies.
42:08
As.
42:09
As being set apart.
42:10
But also.
42:11
Strengthens us.
42:13
To be set apart.
42:14
If we abide.
42:15
In his word.
42:16
It identifies us.
42:18
As this.
42:19
Different.
42:20
Family.
42:22
But it also.
42:23
Gives us.
42:24
A strength.
42:25
To.
42:26
Maintain.
42:27
And.
42:28
Continue.
42:29
As.
42:30
A member.
42:31
That.
42:32
But.
42:33
Even.
42:34
In these verses.
42:35
We can find.
42:36
Confidence.
42:37
And assurance.
42:38
Because.
42:39
If.
42:40
Which is conditional.
42:41
To us.
42:42
If.
42:43
We.
42:44
Then it says.
42:45
That there.
42:46
Will be.
42:47
A condition.
42:48
Of certainty.
42:49
You will know.
42:50
The truth.
42:51
And the truth.
42:52
Will.
42:53
Set.
42:54
You free.
42:55
Being a part.
42:56
Of this family.
42:57
Guarantees.
42:58
You.
42:59
The truth.
43:00
And.
43:01
What is true.
43:02
Is a great.
43:03
Blessing.
43:04
Because.
43:05
Then you can.
43:06
Identify.
43:07
What's false.
43:08
And the believer.
43:09
Is a.
43:10
Continual.
43:11
Growing.
43:12
And knowing.
43:13
Of truth.
43:14
By abiding.
43:15
Upon.
43:16
Him.
43:17
Who is.
43:18
All truth.
43:19
And that.
43:20
Grows.
43:21
Within us.
43:22
So we see.
43:23
That truth.
43:24
And knowledge.
43:25
Develop.
43:26
For he.
43:27
Will.
43:28
Continue.
43:29
Of.
43:30
And of.
43:31
Who he.
43:32
Is.
43:33
To each.
43:34
Of us.
43:35
When we.
43:36
Abide.
43:37
In his word.
43:38
And secondly.
43:39
It sets.
43:40
Us free.
43:41
We begin.
43:42
To understand.
43:43
And increasingly.
43:44
Grow.
43:45
In our knowledge.
43:46
Of God.
43:47
As creator.
43:48
As a God.
43:49
Loving.
43:50
Enough.
43:51
To let his own son.
43:52
Come.
43:53
As the redeemer.
43:54
To cover.
43:55
His sins.
43:56
To give.
43:57
The believer.
43:58
Liberty.
43:59
There is a freedom.
44:01
Even.
44:02
When we remember.
44:03
Who God is.
44:05
God is in control.
44:07
Of everything.
44:08
That gives the believer.
44:10
A freedom.
44:11
That.
44:12
The weight.
44:14
Is not.
44:15
Really.
44:16
Upon them.
44:17
Because they have a shepherd.
44:18
Who directs them.
44:19
And guides them.
44:20
And takes that weight.
44:21
For them.
44:22
Especially.
44:23
In times.
44:24
When we.
44:25
Have no control.
44:26
The shepherd.
44:29
Guides.
44:30
Us.
44:31
Through these times.
44:32
And Matthew.
44:33
Henry.
44:34
Writes.
44:35
That the truth.
44:36
Makes us.
44:38
Free.
44:39
From our spiritual.
44:40
Enemies.
44:41
Free.
44:42
In the service.
44:43
Of God.
44:44
And free.
44:46
To.
44:47
The privileges.
44:48
Of sons.
44:49
Read that again.
44:50
The truth.
44:51
The truth.
44:52
Makes us.
44:53
Free.
44:54
From our spiritual enemies.
44:55
Free.
44:56
In the service.
44:57
Of God.
44:58
And free.
44:59
To.
45:00
The privileges.
45:01
Of sons.
45:02
There are benefits.
45:03
And privileges.
45:04
Of this truth.
45:06
The truth.
45:07
Will set.
45:08
You free.
45:12
But the world.
45:13
Will try and trap you.
45:15
In many ways.
45:17
One step.
45:18
Down the wrong path.
45:20
Can lead us.
45:21
Into.
45:22
A mess.
45:23
And we may say that.
45:26
Of people.
45:27
That you know.
45:28
They took a wrong path.
45:29
In their life.
45:30
And they went down.
45:31
That path.
45:32
And.
45:35
We don't like to say.
45:36
But it's.
45:37
It's led them in the wrong ways.
45:41
When it could have been.
45:42
Someone else.
45:43
We can easily.
45:45
We can easily fall into the traps.
45:47
Of the devil.
45:49
And.
45:50
It may not be that we choose.
45:52
To take a.
45:53
A wrong step.
45:55
In our life.
45:56
Or we are led into a wrong step.
45:57
But it may even be.
46:00
Even such thing.
46:01
As.
46:02
The world of work.
46:04
That we.
46:05
Can be trapped.
46:06
By that.
46:07
And trapped.
46:08
By businesses.
46:09
Because business makes us.
46:12
Slaves to.
46:13
Demands.
46:14
Slaves to.
46:15
Pressures.
46:16
Slaves to meeting deadlines.
46:17
And we need to be careful of that.
46:19
Especially if we are in the world of business.
46:21
But we.
46:23
There are many.
46:24
Many ways.
46:25
Which the world.
46:26
Can try and trap us.
46:29
And the devil.
46:30
Will try us at most.
46:32
But we are accounted.
46:34
Sons.
46:36
Because he is.
46:37
Our father.
46:38
Our father.
46:39
We are welcome.
46:40
Into this family.
46:41
Because he is our father.
46:42
And the most valuable thing.
46:43
A father.
46:44
Can give a child.
46:45
Is time.
46:46
And we often forget this.
46:49
Within our home lives.
46:50
And within our spiritual lives.
46:52
But the truth is that.
46:55
This.
46:56
Family.
46:57
Who abides.
46:59
With God.
47:01
Will have great privileges.
47:03
It will be their greatest blessing.
47:05
If we.
47:06
Abide.
47:07
As believers.
47:08
With our father.
47:09
And in his word.
47:10
And in his word.
47:11
We.
47:12
Will be greatly.
47:13
Blessed.
47:14
By it.
47:15
And see the blessing of it.
47:16
You may not.
47:18
Value the time.
47:19
Your father gives you.
47:21
As a child.
47:22
But you will see the blessing of it.
47:24
I pray.
47:25
As you grow older.
47:27
But there are many.
47:28
Out with this family.
47:29
Who questioned.
47:31
What Jesus was saying.
47:33
Who opposed and dismissed.
47:34
All his lies.
47:35
All his lies.
47:36
And the truth that he said.
47:37
He didn't tell lies.
47:39
But the truth.
47:40
His truth.
47:41
As lies.
47:42
And they.
47:43
Say that.
47:45
Well.
47:46
I believe what I believe.
47:47
You believe what you want.
47:49
And that's.
47:50
That's.
47:51
That's.
47:52
That's.
47:53
That's the message of today.
47:54
I believe what I want.
47:56
And you believe what you want.
47:57
And in the end.
47:58
Everyone asks.
47:59
Well.
48:00
Because.
48:01
It's so.
48:02
Muddled up.
48:03
It's so.
48:04
Opinionated.
48:05
That's what Pilate ended up asking.
48:07
Even when truth stared him in the face.
48:10
We.
48:11
Cannot distinguish what actual truth is.
48:13
Because.
48:14
Everyone has their own opinion of it.
48:16
And in a way.
48:17
The knowledge of God is lost.
48:19
The knowledge is good.
48:20
And the knowledge is lost.
48:21
So I pray.
48:22
For everyone here.
48:24
That we may come to know.
48:25
The truth.
48:27
And the freedom.
48:28
The knowledge.
48:30
Of God.
48:31
And be.
48:32
One.
48:33
Who desires.
48:34
To be a part of the family.
48:37
To believe in every word that Jesus Christ has spoken.
48:41
Because he is one that will.
48:43
Accept you.
48:45
Whoever you are.
48:47
And whatever state we are in.
48:49
He will welcome you.
48:51
Into his family.
48:53
So that's the family of the saved.
48:55
And let us briefly look at the family of the family.
48:57
The slaves.
48:59
How do they respond to Jesus?
49:01
In verse 33.
49:03
They answered him.
49:05
We are offspring of Abraham.
49:07
We have never been enslaved to anyone.
49:09
How is it that you can say.
49:11
You will become free.
49:13
Remember we are in the courts of the temple.
49:15
And there are many Jews listening to Jesus.
49:17
Here.
49:18
And that they is understood.
49:20
To be this group.
49:22
But of those who did not believe.
49:25
Those who questioned it.
49:27
They that questioned it.
49:28
And this is most likely to be the majority of the people.
49:32
They know they are born of blood.
49:34
They know their family lineage.
49:36
And they have placed their trust in this.
49:39
They have been questioning and arguing with Jesus.
49:42
On every point since he began teaching.
49:44
In verse 12.
49:45
And their pride comes through.
49:47
In opposition.
49:48
Of every word.
49:50
Claiming that.
49:51
Well we are already a free nation.
49:53
We are set apart.
49:54
And born into the promises of Abraham.
49:56
And it is almost as Jesus.
49:59
Turns at this point now.
50:00
And says.
50:01
Look I have been trying to teach you the truth.
50:05
The whole time.
50:06
But you keep opposing it.
50:08
So let me tell it to you.
50:11
All the more clearly.
50:13
Maybe not an approach of anger.
50:15
But definitely an approach.
50:17
Of instruction.
50:18
To these Jews.
50:20
And he begins.
50:21
By saying.
50:22
Truly truly.
50:24
And this we saw last week.
50:26
We saw three truly truly's last week.
50:28
And it is of vital importance.
50:30
And it is an emphasis for us to listen.
50:32
To what he is about to say.
50:34
So what does he say.
50:36
Truly truly.
50:37
I say to you.
50:39
Everyone who commits sin.
50:40
Is a slave to sin.
50:41
And the slave does not remain in the house forever.
50:44
The son remains forever.
50:47
So if the son sets you free.
50:49
You will be free indeed.
50:51
And in a sense.
50:53
We are all slaves to sin since the fall.
50:57
In our natural state.
50:59
As we are born.
51:00
We are corrupted by sin.
51:01
And we all lived lives.
51:04
To a degree.
51:05
As slaves to sin.
51:06
And only the believer.
51:09
Learns by the truth.
51:10
And the knowledge.
51:11
The outworking of the spirit.
51:13
In his life.
51:14
How to resist that sinful nature within us.
51:18
But the others.
51:20
Who abide.
51:21
Without.
51:22
God's word.
51:24
Are open practitioners of sin.
51:27
Doing and making sin.
51:30
But they are also.
51:31
Led.
51:32
And ruled.
51:33
By it.
51:34
And they become slaves.
51:36
To it.
51:37
And I don't know.
51:39
You might be sitting here.
51:40
And thinking.
51:41
I am not a believer.
51:42
In the Lord Jesus Christ.
51:43
But I am not a slave to sin.
51:45
Maybe that's what you're thinking.
51:46
I'll go.
51:48
I'll go and meet my dog.
51:50
I have a dog called Milo.
51:52
And he will.
51:53
Generally.
51:54
Just put it about.
51:55
Doing his own thing.
51:56
Most of the time.
51:57
He's sleeping.
51:58
But if I were to take him outside.
52:01
And to tie him up with a rope.
52:02
He wouldn't like it.
52:04
I know he wouldn't like it.
52:05
Because he's not free.
52:07
So he will fight against it.
52:10
He will.
52:11
He would probably try and break it.
52:13
In one way.
52:14
But.
52:15
The best thing he would probably do.
52:16
Is chew it.
52:17
And I believe he would chew through it.
52:18
No bother.
52:19
Until he would get free.
52:21
He would chew that rope.
52:24
Otherwise if he couldn't.
52:26
I believe he would just give up.
52:27
And lay down.
52:28
And go to sleep.
52:30
But so rather than tying him up.
52:33
For example.
52:34
I took a dog biscuit in my hand.
52:39
One of these wee biscuits that he loves.
52:42
And if I had one in my hand.
52:45
And he would follow my hand.
52:48
Anywhere I went.
52:49
If I was inside.
52:50
Outside.
52:51
If I put my hand under a blanket.
52:53
I could bury my hand in the ground.
52:55
And he would follow my hand.
52:57
If I twill it up.
52:58
He would jump for it.
53:00
If I put it down.
53:01
He would lay down.
53:02
But then if I gave it to him.
53:04
What would he expect?
53:07
Another.
53:08
He would expect another biscuit.
53:10
If I gave it to him.
53:11
And I've done two different things with the dog.
53:13
I've tied him up.
53:15
And I've held a biscuit in my hand.
53:18
Now.
53:19
I hope you see where I'm going with this.
53:23
Where is Milo in the greater bondage?
53:26
Where is he enslaved more so?
53:29
And we can see that.
53:31
Well the rope seems to hold him.
53:33
More in bondage.
53:34
When he is tied.
53:36
But the truth is.
53:38
That the rope only binds him.
53:41
The biscuit.
53:42
Holds him in bondage entirely.
53:46
He is enticed by it.
53:48
He is consumed in getting it.
53:50
And he will do anything it takes to have it.
53:53
I could do anything I wanted with him.
53:56
While holding this.
53:58
And when he eats it.
53:59
When I give it to him.
54:00
He comes back for more.
54:02
And the whole process could start again.
54:03
I could keep doing this all day and all week.
54:05
But it would eventually kill him.
54:07
The biscuits wouldn't do him any good.
54:11
Now you see.
54:12
We are like the dog.
54:13
The man with the biscuit.
54:14
Is the devil.
54:15
And the biscuit is our sins.
54:17
And our sinful distractions.
54:19
The thing about the sin.
54:21
Is that we love it.
54:23
In our natural state.
54:25
We chase after all sorts.
54:27
Money.
54:28
Carriers.
54:29
Houses.
54:30
Cars.
54:31
Kitchens.
54:32
Computers.
54:33
Phones.
54:34
Shoes.
54:35
Clothes.
54:36
Whatever it is.
54:37
The devil knows exactly what each of us want.
54:40
And will put it before each of us.
54:44
Whatever we chase after.
54:46
We are guilty of being enticed by him.
54:48
We end up being slaves to sin.
54:50
Without it actually feeling like it's restraining us.
54:57
Tell someone they are chasing the wind.
54:59
Or they are slaves to sin.
55:00
And they might laugh at you.
55:04
You'll never convince him he is a slave.
55:06
And you know what.
55:08
If you ever wanted a slave.
55:10
To be the best slave you ever had.
55:14
You would want him to think he was free.
55:16
And the devil knows that.
55:19
And the devil is cunning in how he outworks his distractions.
55:24
And placing sin before us.
55:26
He asks you as a slave to sin.
55:29
But he thinks that you are free.
55:32
Just like the dog.
55:34
The dog's not tied.
55:35
But the dog is completely enticed by what I hold.
55:39
The devil entices us, I believe, in a similar manner.
55:43
Believing we are free.
55:45
But actually, we are fully enticed by what he does.
55:49
And it is the son who sets us free from it.
55:54
I have run out of time.
55:56
It is the son who sets us free from it.
56:00
The son, capital S.
56:03
He is the one who has authority to set us free from whatever household we are in.
56:10
We can become sons of God.
56:12
But it is only the son who can declare us free.
56:15
And he comes with hard truths at the end of the passage.
56:19
Saying, we are of different fathers to the Jews.
56:23
Those who believe and those who disbelieve.
56:26
And he makes a division in the Jewish nation.
56:29
He says that you make no room for the word in your life.
56:36
You make no room for it.
56:38
The believer abides in it.
56:40
But the person who does not believe makes no room for it in their heart.
56:46
Jesus has been the dividing truth between the believer and the unbeliever.
56:50
And he will be the dividing truth in eternity for all of us.
56:57
And we must ask ourselves, in what family are we of?
57:02
You must question yourself and ask, does the world hold me captive in slavery?
57:07
Am I being led by the devil?
57:11
Am I rejecting family privileges that God has placed before me?
57:16
Even this day as you gather and the word is set before you.
57:22
But he says to all,
57:26
Come to me, those who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
57:32
If the son sets you free, you shall be free indeed.
57:35
And family truths can be hard.
57:38
But Jesus' message is for our good, whatever it means for us.
57:42
He is the one who can set us free.
57:45
And he is the one that will adopt us into a family that is of love.
57:49
And he will be a father to us.
57:53
Amen.
57:55
May these thoughts be blessed to us today.
57:57
We will conclude by singing to God's praise in Psalm 100.
58:04
Psalm 100 in the Scottish Psalter, the traditional version.
58:09
That is on page 362.
58:11
All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
58:23
Himself with mirth, his praise forth tell.
58:26
Come ye before him and rejoice.
58:30
That is the prayer of all those who are gathered here.
58:33
That all people on earth that dwell would sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
58:39
Himself with mirth, his praise forth tell.
58:42
Come ye before him and rejoice.
58:45
As he is one that reveals himself to us.
58:48
And that we know that he is the Lord and God.
58:52
He is the Lord God indeed.
58:54
And he is a God who shall from age to age endure.
58:59
May we sing praise to him who is our father.
59:05
The one who has firmly stood.
59:09
The one who will from age to age endure for all time.
59:16
So let us stand to sing.
59:17
All people on earth do dwell.
59:18
All people on earth do dwell.
59:30
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
59:39
Him with mirth, his praise forth tell.
59:52
Come ye before him and rejoice.
59:58
Know that the Lord, his God with King,
1:00:01
The Lord lives not in thee.
1:00:08
With thy downbeat he did us make.
1:00:16
We are his fault, his love thus be.
1:00:25
And for his sheep he doth us take.
1:00:35
O enter then his gates with praise.
1:00:44
Approach with joy his courts unto.
1:00:51
Praise God and bless this name always.
1:01:02
For it is simply so to do.
1:01:10
For by the Lord our God is good.
1:01:20
His mercy is forever sure.
1:01:28
It's truth that all times firmly stood.
1:01:38
And shall from age to age endure.
1:01:46
Our Father in heaven we thank you for this time of worship.
1:01:53
We pray that we would all consider ourselves before you.
1:01:57
And ask what family we are a part of.
1:02:00
And who leads us and where our focus is.
1:02:02
And where our minds abide.
1:02:05
Lord be with us as we part.
1:02:07
Be with those who lead the worship later.
1:02:09
And pray that we would know your blessing through it.
1:02:13
Forgive us our sins we pray.
1:02:15
And all this in Jesus' name we ask.
1:02:18
Amen.