Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Seek the Lord
Transcript
- 0:00begin our worship by singing to God's praise. We're singing in Psalm 50, the first version of
- 0:05the Psalm, in Scottish Psalter, page 276 of the Psalm books. Psalm 50, we'll sing from verse 1
- 0:13to verse 6, and the tune is Malan. The mighty God the Lord hath spoken and did call, the earth from
- 0:21rising of the sun to where he hath his fall, from out of Sion Hill which of excellency and beauty
- 0:28their perfection is God's shine gloriously. We'll sing from verse 1 to 6 to God's praise and we stand to sing.
- 0:35Amen.
- 0:58The mighty God the Lord hath his fall, from out of Sion Hill which of excellency and beauty
- 1:08and beauty and perfection is God's shine gloriously.
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- 2:01their creator we standHere progress upon them
- 2:02earth from Christ to the chorus of Sion Hill the throne and glory and O hearts.
- 2:03our existing wished and anchor m Water solo and hope of him die and Eany kid himself glor reslike.
- 2:08To the heavens pier,
- 2:14reap all the輪 rural.
- 2:21Come to the end,
- 2:25then the Yeti's harbor
- 2:29may childish people come home.
- 2:36Together let my saints come to the hour deep.
- 2:49Those that I stand in my shall be are covered and with thee.
- 3:04And then the devil shall let his righteousness be there.
- 3:18Because the Lord in his heavenly sea by whom they judge it are.
- 3:33Amen.
- 3:35Amen.
- 3:37Amen.
- 3:38I will bow our heads together in a short word of prayer.
- 3:40Let us pray.
- 3:43Our Father in heaven, we thank you that as we come together today that yours is a voice
- 3:49that we hear calling to us.
- 3:51That you speak to us through your word.
- 3:54That you speak to us in a powerful way.
- 3:57Your word reminds us that you are the one who calls his people from the rising of the
- 4:02sun to its setting.
- 4:05And today we thank you that as a church here we are part of a people throughout the world.
- 4:12All around the world there are people, young and old, who come to worship you.
- 4:17Who come to call upon you.
- 4:19Who come to hear you through your word.
- 4:22And we pray that together we will all hear your word today.
- 4:25That you will speak to us.
- 4:27That we will understand more of you.
- 4:29That we will hear the stories of all that you have done for your people from generation to generation.
- 4:37Whether we are hearing it from the Old Testament or from the New Testament.
- 4:41We thank you that we are reminded of your people from long ago and your people even to this very day
- 4:49who need to hear your voice.
- 4:51And we thank you for the ways in which your voice changes our lives and helps us day by day
- 4:58to lean upon you and to know you and to be encouraged and strengthened by you.
- 5:04So together Lord help us to praise you.
- 5:06Help us to worship you with all our hearts.
- 5:08And that we would indeed come seeking you today.
- 5:12And that you would remind us Lord how you have come to seek us.
- 5:16How you sent your son Jesus Christ.
- 5:19Your saviour for this world.
- 5:22The one who came to seek and to save the lost.
- 5:25And so help us today Lord to know your presence.
- 5:28To know your peace.
- 5:29To know your blessing upon us here in the church.
- 5:33And also as the young ones go through to the hall next door as well Lord.
- 5:37Be with us we pray.
- 5:39And we ask all with forgiveness of our sins.
- 5:42In Jesus name.
- 5:44Amen.
- 5:46Well did you all have a good holiday.
- 5:49You all delighted to be back to school.
- 5:51Or nursery.
- 5:52Or whatever you're doing.
- 5:54Delighted to be back.
- 5:56Coming back to Sunday school as well I hope.
- 5:58And creche and tweenies.
- 6:00And all of these things.
- 6:01It's nice to get a break.
- 6:03But then it's nice again to be together once more as we come to worship God.
- 6:09Now I wonder how many of you have played a game.
- 6:13And the game is called hide and seek.
- 6:17Hands up if you've played the game hide and seek.
- 6:21Yeah there's a few hands going up.
- 6:23I'm sure most people at some point have played the game hide and seek.
- 6:28Now I don't know about you but there's a variety of different kinds of ways you can play hide and seek.
- 6:34One way is maybe you would call it the traditional way where someone is it.
- 6:39And maybe has to count to 50 or 100.
- 6:43While everybody else tries to go and hide somewhere and find the best place to hide.
- 6:48And once the person's finished counting they have to go and try and find the people.
- 6:53And sometimes it can be very difficult to find people.
- 6:56Other times it can be quite easy if they haven't had time to find a good hiding place.
- 7:02So that's maybe the traditional way of playing hide and seek.
- 7:06And it can be good fun.
- 7:08Well in our house we've got another version of hide and seek.
- 7:11It's a little bit different where you've got somebody who's it and you're not counting.
- 7:16But it's another way of playing hide and seek.
- 7:18What you do is you hide the keys, the phone or the glasses or something like that.
- 7:25And you spend half your day trying to find them.
- 7:28So it's another way of hide and seek.
- 7:30Maybe you've seen mum and dad playing this game every morning about 10 to 9 when they're meant to be at work at half past 8.
- 7:37It can be good fun if you're watching.
- 7:40It's not so fun if you're the one who's trying to find these things.
- 7:44But it's always these kinds of things.
- 7:45The phone, the keys and the glasses.
- 7:48These are the things that often go missing.
- 7:51And you know this if you were to spend 10 minutes every day having to look for something.
- 7:58Whether it's whatever it is.
- 8:00In the TV, remote, your glasses, your keys.
- 8:03If you're 10 minutes every day looking for something, how long in the year do you think that is you spend looking?
- 8:12Well if you do the maths and take 10 minutes every day for 365 days a year, you spend two and a half days looking for things.
- 8:22And that just sounds crazy, doesn't it?
- 8:24Two and a half days looking for things that should be so easy.
- 8:28To find.
- 8:30Well there's another thing about hide and seek as well.
- 8:34And it's a little bit more serious.
- 8:37And that's what we're going to be thinking about today as we look at Isaiah in the Old Testament.
- 8:43And it's playing hide and seek with God.
- 8:47Because sometimes we can think that we can go away and hide from God.
- 8:52But there's no hiding place from God.
- 8:55God knows always where we are.
- 8:58And when you go back to the Old Testament, you've got Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
- 9:03They tried to hide from God.
- 9:05But God came saying, where are you?
- 9:08Not because he didn't know where they were.
- 9:10He knew exactly where they were.
- 9:12What he was doing was he was calling them out.
- 9:15And that's what God's word does for us.
- 9:18We can try and hide our way from God.
- 9:23But how long do we spend actually seeking God ourselves?
- 9:29Even if we did ten minutes every day, that would be two and a half days a year seeking God.
- 9:36Looking for him and speaking to him and spending time with him.
- 9:40It's not time wasted like looking for keys or glasses or phones or whatever else.
- 9:46It's time well spent.
- 9:49Coming to God who knows us.
- 9:52Who loves us.
- 9:53And who wants us to trust him.
- 9:55So let us spend time not hiding from God, but seeking God and looking for him, knowing that he is there for us.
- 10:08Hide and seek is a fun game to play sometimes.
- 10:11But there's a serious side to it as well.
- 10:13When we think of God who gave his son, Jesus, who came to seek and to save us.
- 10:20So let's seek him with all our hearts.
- 10:25We're going to say the Lord's Prayer together now.
- 10:30Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
- 10:36Thy kingdom come.
- 10:38Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- 10:41Give us this day our daily bread.
- 10:44And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
- 10:48And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
- 10:53For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
- 10:58Amen.
- 11:00Well, we'll sing again to God's praise now in Psalm 27.
- 11:06This is in the Sing Psalms version, page 32 of the psalm books.
- 11:10Psalm 27.
- 11:12We're going to sing from verse 4 down to verse 8.
- 11:18Psalm 27.
- 11:21Psalm 27.
- 11:23Page 32 of the psalm book.
- 11:24Verse 4 to verse 8.
- 11:26The tune is Argyle.
- 11:28One thing I'll plead before the Lord.
- 11:30And this I'll seek always.
- 11:32That I may come within God's house.
- 11:34And dwell there all my days.
- 11:37We'll sing from verse 4 to 8.
- 11:39To God's praise.
- 11:40And I may listen to verse 5 to 9.
- 11:41Valentine's text.
- 11:42This I may become, but I may say is right now.
- 11:51They shall live there all my days.
- 11:57It shall live there all my days.
- 12:02That I may come with it, God's eyes, and well there all my days.
- 12:19That of the beauty of the Lord, I come to me again.
- 12:37And in this heart, may seem to know, thy flesh shall live this way.
- 12:54For in this dwelling, ye will be, be safe and trouble with.
- 13:11Within this dwelling, ye will be, and the Lord, I will be, be safe and trouble with.
- 13:29My hand will bend, ye lifted high, upon thy hand please.
- 13:45And in this heaven, I'll sacrifice with showers of joy and grace.
- 14:04Lord, hear me when I call to you, in mercy, do not seek.
- 14:21Come see my face, you told my heart, your face, Lord, I will see.
- 14:43We're going to read together now God's word in the Old Testament, in the book of Isaiah.
- 14:50Isaiah, the first half of the Bible, Isaiah.
- 14:54We're reading in chapter 55, and you'll find this around page 744.
- 15:05Isaiah chapter 55, and we're going to read the whole of this chapter together.
- 15:10Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and he who has no money, come, buy and eat.
- 15:22Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
- 15:26Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
- 15:32Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
- 15:40Incline your ear and come to me.
- 15:42Hear that your soul may live, and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
- 15:49my steadfast, sure love for David.
- 15:51Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.
- 15:59Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
- 16:06because of the Lord your God and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
- 16:14Seek the Lord while he may be found.
- 16:18Call upon him while he is near.
- 16:20Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.
- 16:25Let him return to the Lord that he may have compassion on him,
- 16:29and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
- 16:33For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
- 16:39For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,
- 16:45and my thoughts than your thoughts.
- 16:48For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth,
- 16:54making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
- 17:01so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth.
- 17:04It shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
- 17:10and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
- 17:14For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace,
- 17:19and the mountains and the hills, before you shall break forth into singing,
- 17:24and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
- 17:28Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress,
- 17:31instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle,
- 17:35and it shall make a name for the Lord,
- 17:38an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
- 17:43Amen.
- 17:44And may God bless that reading from his word.
- 17:48We will again join our hearts together in a word of prayer.
- 17:51Let us pray.
- 17:52Our Father in heaven, we are reminded that as we come to hear your voice,
- 18:03we can often forget who it is that's speaking.
- 18:07We can be confused by the many different voices in this world that call for our attention,
- 18:13the many different things that clamor for our hearts.
- 18:17You know, as we've been reminded in this passage in Isaiah,
- 18:22when the people gathered together,
- 18:25there were so many things that were going on around them.
- 18:29But we thank you that just as you spoke to the people then and said,
- 18:34come, seek the Lord,
- 18:36we thank you that you speak to us in that way as well.
- 18:40And we think of even Samuel in the Old Testament,
- 18:44how he didn't understand when he was hearing a voice calling his name.
- 18:49But when he did understand that you were speaking,
- 18:52he said, speak, Lord, for your servant hears.
- 18:56And we pray, Lord, that we will have ears to hear today,
- 19:00that you will help us to have that prayerful spirit to come
- 19:04and say to you, Lord, speak to us.
- 19:07And we thank you that we're reminded in that psalm that we sung together as well,
- 19:11that the psalmist came calling to you,
- 19:15be merciful and speak,
- 19:17and that you were merciful towards him
- 19:20and said to him, come, seek my face.
- 19:24And we pray, Lord, today again,
- 19:26just to know these very thoughts,
- 19:29that they would come and speak to our hearts,
- 19:32that we would thank you that you do minister to us
- 19:35in all our different needs,
- 19:36that you are a God who speaks a word in season to us so often,
- 19:42even day by day, Lord,
- 19:43as we come to you prayerfully and through your word,
- 19:47we thank you that you have something to say to us always.
- 19:51And that through your word,
- 19:52you build us up as a people,
- 19:54that is a word that is powerful and mighty,
- 19:57even as we're reminded in this passage,
- 20:00that it will never return to you empty or void,
- 20:02but accomplish every purpose for which you send it out.
- 20:07We pray today,
- 20:08Lord,
- 20:08for your mighty word to go out in our midst,
- 20:11in the midst of your people,
- 20:13near and far,
- 20:15throughout the world.
- 20:16May your word bear much fruit,
- 20:19may it have much power by your spirit
- 20:21to speak to many people
- 20:23for how we need it,
- 20:25Lord.
- 20:26And that we see around us,
- 20:27Lord,
- 20:28all the different ways we need you.
- 20:30We need you to give help and strength on a daily basis.
- 20:34We need you for the very air that we breathe,
- 20:37the things that we take for granted so often,
- 20:40the food that we enjoy,
- 20:42the clean water that we drink,
- 20:44Lord,
- 20:44the beds that we sleep in,
- 20:47the homes that we have.
- 20:48We have so much that we just take for granted so often
- 20:51and help us to be more thankful to you.
- 20:55Help us to be more loving to you,
- 21:00to be more generous to you in all our ways,
- 21:04to acknowledge,
- 21:05Lord,
- 21:05that every good and perfect gift is from above,
- 21:08from the one who,
- 21:09with whom there is no,
- 21:10no changing.
- 21:12You're the same yesterday,
- 21:14today,
- 21:14and forever.
- 21:16And we,
- 21:16Lord,
- 21:16we thank you for that,
- 21:18that in a world that changes so much and so quickly,
- 21:21in our lives that are often changed in a moment,
- 21:25Lord,
- 21:25we thank you that you have that unchanging nature,
- 21:29that you are God and there is no other.
- 21:32And we thank you that the way is open to you through your son,
- 21:35Jesus Christ,
- 21:37that in him we come,
- 21:39praying in his name,
- 21:41a name above every name,
- 21:43and that we have the promise of your spirit,
- 21:45the comforter who comes alongside.
- 21:48And so we pray,
- 21:50Lord,
- 21:50that each of us here,
- 21:52and those unable to be with us,
- 21:54those who tune in online,
- 21:56and even those who maybe at this time are laid aside for different reasons,
- 22:01we pray,
- 22:01Lord,
- 22:02for each one to know the nearness of your presence,
- 22:06to know your voice calling,
- 22:08to say,
- 22:09come and seek the Lord.
- 22:11And we seek you,
- 22:12Lord,
- 22:12for all our different needs,
- 22:14for your comfort towards those who mourn.
- 22:16And we know in our own number,
- 22:19Lord,
- 22:19that there are those who have sore hearts at this time,
- 22:23and the loss of loved ones.
- 22:24We know throughout our communities and throughout our island,
- 22:27Lord,
- 22:27that there is much grief and sorrow.
- 22:30And we thank you that your word reminds us that you are a God of much comfort.
- 22:35And so we pray,
- 22:37Lord,
- 22:37for you to bind up these broken hearts,
- 22:40to give your peace,
- 22:43your presence,
- 22:44your help,
- 22:46and your strength in the midst of all their sorrow and sadness.
- 22:50Remember those who are unwell as well in hospital and at home.
- 22:54We pray,
- 22:55Lord,
- 22:55that you will surround them with your love and your grace.
- 22:58And may your healing hand be upon them,
- 23:00if that is in accordance with your will.
- 23:02And we do thank you,
- 23:04Lord,
- 23:04for your church.
- 23:06We thank you for the promise that you are building your church,
- 23:10and for the church as your people here and far and wide.
- 23:15Encourage us in our prayers.
- 23:16Encourage us in our mission.
- 23:19Encourage us in all that we do in your name,
- 23:22through work with young,
- 23:24middle-aged,
- 23:25and old.
- 23:26We pray to know your blessing and your hand upon us for good,
- 23:29to see days of salvation,
- 23:32to see days of your power at work in our midst.
- 23:36We pray for all our homes and our families,
- 23:38and all our different issues going on in life,
- 23:42whatever that might be,
- 23:44Lord,
- 23:44they are already known to you.
- 23:46Remember our young people,
- 23:47especially as they come to times of exams,
- 23:50both in school and university.
- 23:53Just now,
- 23:53Lord,
- 23:53we pray that you will give strength and help towards each one.
- 23:58Help them to prepare diligently,
- 24:01and to do their,
- 24:01give their all,
- 24:02to give their best.
- 24:04And above all,
- 24:05Lord,
- 24:05that they would come seeking your face in it,
- 24:08asking help from you,
- 24:10and strength from you for these times.
- 24:13Remember us,
- 24:14Lord,
- 24:14we pray in our workplaces,
- 24:15in all the different places where we are salt and light,
- 24:20that we can find so challenging at times,
- 24:22where we feel perhaps failures so often.
- 24:26Give us words to speak.
- 24:28Give us your grace.
- 24:30Give us your love.
- 24:31Oh,
- 24:32Lord,
- 24:32that we would show forth your love,
- 24:34that people would speak and ask of the wonder of Christ,
- 24:38that they would see something of us,
- 24:40of you in us,
- 24:42and that they would ask about you,
- 24:44Lord.
- 24:44And as we have opportunity,
- 24:46Lord,
- 24:46give us the words to speak,
- 24:48or to invite them to church,
- 24:50or to other things that are going on in our church as well,
- 24:54Lord.
- 24:55We thank you for your spirit that works,
- 24:57and we pray,
- 24:58oh,
- 24:59Lord,
- 24:59you know its power,
- 25:00the power of your Holy Spirit,
- 25:02preparing the way for us,
- 25:04preparing people's hearts,
- 25:05preparing all our lives,
- 25:08and all that lies ahead of us,
- 25:09Lord,
- 25:09that we would do all for your glory,
- 25:12and go forward in confidence in you.
- 25:16So,
- 25:16Lord,
- 25:16hear our prayers,
- 25:18continue to watch over us,
- 25:19to remember us in all of these things,
- 25:22and to go before us,
- 25:23even in this day,
- 25:24as we continue to worship you this morning,
- 25:26and into the evening as well.
- 25:28May you be with us,
- 25:29Lord,
- 25:30and bless all that we do in your name.
- 25:32Give us praise on our lips now,
- 25:34Lord,
- 25:34as we turn to sing to you,
- 25:36and help us to rejoice in the gift of song that you give to us,
- 25:41to lift our voices to you in praise.
- 25:44Bless James as he leads us in it,
- 25:45and we thank you for all who lead us in praise so often,
- 25:49and help us all to join in with united hearts,
- 25:53and glorify your precious name.
- 25:56So,
- 25:56Lord,
- 25:56lead us now,
- 25:57we pray,
- 25:58in all that we do,
- 25:58and pardon us for all our sin.
- 26:01That's all we ask.
- 26:02We ask in Jesus' name.
- 26:03Amen.
- 26:08Let us again sing to God's praise in Psalm 25,
- 26:13in the Sing Psalms.
- 26:15We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 9.
- 26:20Psalm 25 at verse 1,
- 26:23the tune is Finart.
- 26:25This psalm again reminds us of just how the Lord is able to direct our paths,
- 26:31and to help us on our way in life.
- 26:34To you,
- 26:34O Lord,
- 26:35I lift my soul.
- 26:36I trust in you continually.
- 26:38Do not let me be put to shame,
- 26:40nor let my foes gloat over me.
- 26:45Verse 4 says,
- 26:45O Lord,
- 26:46reveal to me your ways and all your paths.
- 26:49Help me to know.
- 26:50Direct and guide me in your truth.
- 26:52Instruct me in the way to go.
- 26:56We'll sing from verse 1 to 9,
- 26:57to God's praise.
- 26:59Amen.
- 26:59Amen.
- 27:00Amen.
- 27:01To you,
- 27:07O Lord,
- 27:10I lift my soul.
- 27:14I trust in you continually.
- 27:24Do not let me be put to you,
- 27:29I'm not going to be good to shame, nor let my foes go over me.
- 27:42No one who saves his hope in you will never suffer such disgrace.
- 28:01But those who act with destiny, humiliating shame will face.
- 28:20Full heart revealed to me your ways, and all your paths will lead to know.
- 28:39Thy rectum guide me in your truth, and study in the way to hold.
- 28:58You are my Savior and my God.
- 29:08All day I hope with you alone.
- 29:17Remember, Lord, your love and grace, which from those ages you have shown.
- 29:36Do not recall my sins of youth, or my reality of evil ways.
- 29:55Remember me in your great love, for you, O Lord, are good always.
- 30:14Because the Lord is just and good, He shows His path to all who stray.
- 30:32He hurts the meek in what is life, and teaches them His holy way.
- 30:55We can turn back to a reading in Isaiah chapter 55.
- 30:58Just read again at verse 6.
- 31:01We'll be looking at verse 6 down to the end of the chapter.
- 31:05Isaiah 55 at verse 6.
- 31:07Seek the Lord while He may be found.
- 31:10Call upon Him while He is near.
- 31:15Seek the Lord while He may be found.
- 31:20In that last psalm that we sang, it speaks about seeking direction in our ways from God.
- 31:27And the last verse that we sang, verse 8 and 9 there.
- 31:31Because the Lord is just and good, He shows His paths to all who stray.
- 31:38God is just.
- 31:39God is good.
- 31:40And He shows His path to all who stray.
- 31:44And we are all guilty of straying at times.
- 31:48And we ask the question maybe today, where are you?
- 31:51When you think about your life, when you think about your relationship with the Lord, where are you?
- 31:58Are you in the right place?
- 32:00Or are you feeling a little lost along the way?
- 32:04Are you lost among all the different voices that are calling for your attention?
- 32:10The voices that are calling for your time?
- 32:12The voices that are calling for you in life that seem to just take over and overwhelm us at time?
- 32:18Are we hearing the Lord and what He is saying to us?
- 32:22Because we can often get ourselves off track and not listen to the right voice.
- 32:29There was an incident that happened a number of years ago on the west coast of America,
- 32:37where a pod of whales had been coming by the west coast of America.
- 32:44But one of the whales in the pod got off track, swam away from the rest,
- 32:51and he ended up swimming into San Francisco Bay.
- 32:54And as he came into the bay, it's a large expanse of water,
- 32:59but he got confused as he was swimming into the bay and got distracted then by all the attention
- 33:05that was being shown towards him, all the different noises that were around him.
- 33:09He probably became scared.
- 33:12But instead of turning and swimming back out to sea to where the rest of the pod were,
- 33:17he kept going in the wrong direction.
- 33:19This whale started swimming up the Sacramento River.
- 33:24And there were many people gathered round to try their best to help this whale.
- 33:28There was people on boats.
- 33:29There were scientists coming in and trying everything they could to try and get this whale back out to sea.
- 33:36And just nothing was working.
- 33:38The whale just kept swimming in the wrong direction up the river.
- 33:42And people knew that, well, if the whale keeps going, it's going to perish if it carries on in this direction.
- 33:50Then they came with a thought about trying something that might make him turn round.
- 33:56And that was to put the sound of the pod of whales behind him, playing underwater behind him.
- 34:03And this sound got the whale's attention.
- 34:06And the boat that had put the sound on the water started making its way back down the river,
- 34:13out through the bay, out towards the sea.
- 34:16And the whale kept following the sound because he recognized the sound.
- 34:21And the further it was going out the bay and the closer it was getting to the sea,
- 34:25suddenly the whale sped up and started heading out back towards sea and to rejoin the pod.
- 34:31Now, in many ways, sometimes, like that whale, we can just get so confused in our environment,
- 34:39so confused in our surroundings, and we find ourselves just on the wrong track.
- 34:44We've gone the wrong way.
- 34:47We're lost and we're in danger.
- 34:50And maybe we ask ourselves, how have I got here?
- 34:54And how can I find my way back?
- 34:57How can I find my way back to where I'm meant to be?
- 35:02Well, God is just and good.
- 35:07And he shows his paths to those who stray, as the psalm says.
- 35:11And God's word speaks to us in that way.
- 35:14It is calling us.
- 35:16We have gone away from God through our sin.
- 35:20We've gone on the wrong path.
- 35:22We're on the wrong direction.
- 35:23We're going away from God.
- 35:25But God, by his grace, calls us back.
- 35:28And the prophet Isaiah spoke to the people here in his day, as he speaks to ourselves today, calling the people back to God,
- 35:40back to him, that they might find their way in life, that they might find their way to life, that they might find their way to eternal life.
- 35:50And we can often think in life that we're not that far off course.
- 35:55We're not that far away from God.
- 35:57But just a little bit off course can be disastrous for us.
- 36:02If you take, for example, the idea of the world in which we live, and you want to go right round the world, circumnavigate the world,
- 36:13and you want to do it round the equator.
- 36:15So you're going to start at a point on the equator, maybe go by plane, take off and follow the equator right round and come back to the place you started.
- 36:24It sounds fair enough.
- 36:26We'll do that.
- 36:27And then you take off.
- 36:29But you're one degree off course.
- 36:32Now, if you look at a compass and you look at one degree, it seems so insignificant.
- 36:38It seems so small.
- 36:39Just one degree off course.
- 36:41What difference is that really going to make?
- 36:44Well, if you circumnavigate the globe around the equator and you're one degree off course, by the time you come right round, how far out are you going to be?
- 36:55You maybe think, oh, it'll just be the odd mile or two, and you'll still be able to see where you're meant to be.
- 37:02Maybe it's 50 or 100 miles.
- 37:06You'll actually be 500 miles off course, just by being one degree out all the way around.
- 37:11500 miles away from where you're meant to be.
- 37:16The distance between Stornoway and London, that's how far off course you are.
- 37:22And so you think to yourself in life, well, my life isn't that far off course.
- 37:26Maybe I'm getting a few things wrong, but on the whole, I'm on the right path.
- 37:33But just even one degree out can be disastrous.
- 37:36You're miles away from God when it comes to the end of life.
- 37:42And we drift further and further away the more we go on.
- 37:48Well, in this passage before us today, God is calling his people who have gone off course.
- 37:56And if you look at them, you would see they're not that far off.
- 37:59They're still trying to worship God.
- 38:01They're still having God in their midst, as it were.
- 38:05But yet in their hearts, they're still miles away from God.
- 38:09And this is disastrous.
- 38:11And you see in the beginning of chapter 55, this is a wonderful passage, this passage.
- 38:16A gospel passage.
- 38:18It's all about the call of God to come to him.
- 38:22In the first five verses, you see that great invitation to come everyone who thirsts.
- 38:28Come to the waters.
- 38:29As I say, I'm speaking to the people then.
- 38:34God, speaking to the people then.
- 38:36In the midst of all the voices that you're hearing around you just now.
- 38:40Come to me.
- 38:42Come without money, without price.
- 38:45Come.
- 38:46Come to me.
- 38:47Incline your ear.
- 38:48Come to me.
- 38:50Hear that you may live.
- 38:53That is the message.
- 38:54They're getting off track, but God is calling them back.
- 39:01So there's all these voices calling.
- 39:04But then in verse 6, down to the end, it's the direct voice of God speaking here on the whole.
- 39:12The first verse is Isaiah.
- 39:14But then we have the voice of the Lord speaking.
- 39:16And Isaiah begins this by saying,
- 39:20Seek the Lord while he may be found.
- 39:23Call upon him while he is near.
- 39:26And then you have in verse 8, down to the end, God speaking directly and powerfully.
- 39:32And these are the verses that we want to look at today.
- 39:36Now for some people here, the voice of God might be like the sound of that pod of whales to the whale of course.
- 39:45It might be needed behind us to turn us back in the right direction.
- 39:51But for others, it may be that it's just a voice that we have to keep listening to that's ahead of us.
- 39:56That's keeping us going in the right direction.
- 39:59But whatever we are, we may have to turn back on the right path or we may have to keep going on the right path.
- 40:07But God's voice is for all of us to hear and to heed what he is saying to us.
- 40:15And the first thing we have here before us is that call.
- 40:20The call to seek.
- 40:22What was spoken in verse 1 to 5 is reiterated then in verse 6 and verse 7.
- 40:29Seek the Lord while he may be found.
- 40:33Call upon him while he is near.
- 40:37There's an urgency in this call.
- 40:41I say as an urgency to the people here.
- 40:44He has an urgency to ourselves today.
- 40:48Because this is not seek the Lord in your own time.
- 40:53Seek the Lord when it suits you.
- 40:56This is seek the Lord while he may be found.
- 41:00Call upon him while he is near.
- 41:04And the beauty of these words is that the Lord is not hiding.
- 41:09The Lord is inviting.
- 41:12The Lord is speaking.
- 41:14And that's the way he is to us today.
- 41:16He hasn't hidden away from us today.
- 41:19He hasn't abandoned us today.
- 41:21We'll be thinking more of that this evening, God willing.
- 41:24How God promises never to leave us.
- 41:28But this morning we're thinking more of the coming to him.
- 41:32And he's not left us.
- 41:34He is calling us.
- 41:36And the implication of the call that Isaiah has here is that there may not always be this chance.
- 41:43It may not always be possible to seek or to call.
- 41:50And that's the reality that we know all too well in life.
- 41:54Because these opportunities soon go.
- 41:58Seek the Lord while he may be found.
- 42:02The Lord is there.
- 42:08And when is he there?
- 42:11When is he near?
- 42:13It is today.
- 42:16As one of the Psalms says,
- 42:18Today if you hear my voice, then harden not your hearts.
- 42:23Today is the importance, the urgency of this message.
- 42:27It is not something for later on in life.
- 42:32Today if you are hearing my voice.
- 42:37It is possible that God may be found tomorrow.
- 42:41It is possible that he may be near tomorrow.
- 42:45But you don't know.
- 42:47You don't know.
- 42:48The scriptures remind us of that again and again.
- 42:52James in the New Testament.
- 42:54James 4 verse 14.
- 42:56Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.
- 42:59You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
- 43:05You do not know what you will be like tomorrow.
- 43:09So there is the urgency of this call.
- 43:13The call to seek.
- 43:16Many people will feel this call.
- 43:19This tugging of God on their hearts.
- 43:21And put him off.
- 43:23For another time.
- 43:25Another day.
- 43:26Another occasion.
- 43:27We want to concentrate on the important things in life first.
- 43:32Get everything else in order.
- 43:34Maybe when we have done that.
- 43:36Then we will come and seek God.
- 43:39But this is reminding us.
- 43:41Seek the Lord while he may be found.
- 43:44While he is speaking to your heart.
- 43:46While he is calling.
- 43:48That is the time.
- 43:51Don't turn away from him.
- 43:54The urgency here.
- 43:56And I say is leave everything else.
- 43:58And come to God.
- 44:00To God who is fully able to pardon.
- 44:05At the end of verse 7 there it says to our God.
- 44:09For he will abundantly pardon.
- 44:12There is the urgency again.
- 44:14How can you know forgiveness?
- 44:16How can you know restoration with God?
- 44:19How can you know that right path?
- 44:21That when you are going astray.
- 44:23It is to come.
- 44:24And seek.
- 44:26The Lord.
- 44:27So the call.
- 44:28Is there.
- 44:29To seek.
- 44:31And as we move on then.
- 44:33We see.
- 44:34Really three things.
- 44:35Directly then.
- 44:36From God.
- 44:38Isaiah's voice is being heard.
- 44:40In verse 6 and 7.
- 44:42But then God is speaking directly.
- 44:43In verse 8.
- 44:44For my thoughts.
- 44:45Are not your thoughts.
- 44:47Neither are your ways.
- 44:48My ways.
- 44:49Declares.
- 44:50The Lord.
- 44:51So they receive.
- 44:52The need.
- 44:54To seek the Lord.
- 44:55And the Lord.
- 44:56Explains.
- 44:57Why it's so necessary.
- 44:58For us.
- 44:59To seek the Lord.
- 45:01While we can.
- 45:02And at.
- 45:03What is at the heart of it.
- 45:04Is that we are sinners.
- 45:07We are sinners.
- 45:08We cannot.
- 45:09Save ourselves.
- 45:10It is only the Lord.
- 45:12Who can save.
- 45:13And he does.
- 45:13He shows us this.
- 45:14By distinguishing.
- 45:15Between.
- 45:15His thoughts.
- 45:17And our thoughts.
- 45:19And his ways.
- 45:20And our ways.
- 45:22For my thoughts.
- 45:23He says in verse 8.
- 45:24Are not your thoughts.
- 45:26Neither are your ways.
- 45:27My ways.
- 45:28Declares.
- 45:29The Lord.
- 45:31And so.
- 45:32Where is the difference here?
- 45:34How.
- 45:35Are we so different.
- 45:36To God.
- 45:38Well.
- 45:38If you go back.
- 45:39To verse 7.
- 45:40There.
- 45:40Isaiah.
- 45:41Uses the words.
- 45:42Way.
- 45:43And thoughts.
- 45:44As well.
- 45:45Let the wicked.
- 45:46Forsake.
- 45:47His way.
- 45:48And the unrighteous man.
- 45:50His thoughts.
- 45:52Because there is what we are.
- 45:54By nature.
- 45:55The wicked.
- 45:56Forsake.
- 45:57His way.
- 45:59Our ways.
- 46:00Are not the ways.
- 46:01Of God.
- 46:02Our thoughts.
- 46:03Are not.
- 46:04The thoughts.
- 46:05Of God.
- 46:06And we might try and say.
- 46:07But we are good people.
- 46:09That we are.
- 46:09Trying our best.
- 46:10And all of these things.
- 46:12But the reality is.
- 46:13We are never.
- 46:14As good as God.
- 46:16We can never be.
- 46:17Like God.
- 46:19Our ways.
- 46:20Are inclined.
- 46:21To going astray.
- 46:23Our thoughts.
- 46:24Are inclined.
- 46:25To going astray.
- 46:27And therefore.
- 46:29The need is.
- 46:30To come.
- 46:31To God.
- 46:32For he says.
- 46:32My thoughts.
- 46:33Are not your thoughts.
- 46:35Neither.
- 46:35Are your ways.
- 46:37My ways.
- 46:40God.
- 46:41What is.
- 46:42God.
- 46:43Who is.
- 46:44God.
- 46:46Well.
- 46:46God.
- 46:47As we see.
- 46:47In his word.
- 46:49Is describing.
- 46:50Who he is.
- 46:51To us.
- 46:51He is a holy.
- 46:52God.
- 46:53He is a just.
- 46:54God.
- 46:55He is a good.
- 46:55God.
- 46:56As we sang.
- 46:56In Psalm 25.
- 46:58He is everything.
- 46:59That we are not.
- 47:00God.
- 47:01Because our relationship.
- 47:03With him.
- 47:04Has been spoiled.
- 47:06And so.
- 47:07That is why.
- 47:08The call is here.
- 47:09Seek the Lord.
- 47:11Because.
- 47:11We need him.
- 47:13If we see.
- 47:15His holiness.
- 47:16If we see.
- 47:17His beauty.
- 47:18The difference.
- 47:18Between us.
- 47:19And God.
- 47:20It should shake us up.
- 47:22It should stir us up.
- 47:23In our hearts.
- 47:24To realize.
- 47:25I am never going to be good.
- 47:26And just.
- 47:27And perfect.
- 47:28Perfect.
- 47:29I cannot accomplish.
- 47:30Any of these things.
- 47:31I cannot.
- 47:32Save myself.
- 47:35But God.
- 47:36Can.
- 47:38And that is.
- 47:39The beauty of it.
- 47:41That is the beauty of God.
- 47:42Because he has.
- 47:43Given us.
- 47:44Everything that we need.
- 47:45For salvation.
- 47:47We need.
- 47:48God.
- 47:49We need him to live.
- 47:51We need him to move.
- 47:52We need him to be.
- 47:53To have our being.
- 47:54As it is described.
- 47:55Throughout his word.
- 47:56Everything that we have.
- 47:59Is from him.
- 48:03Do we recognize then.
- 48:05Our need.
- 48:06Of him.
- 48:09Do we think ourselves.
- 48:10Good enough.
- 48:12To achieve everything in life.
- 48:13Our own.
- 48:14Salvation.
- 48:15Our own being.
- 48:16All of these things.
- 48:18We cannot.
- 48:20But we have one.
- 48:22Who can.
- 48:23As the book of Proverbs.
- 48:26Says.
- 48:27In chapter three.
- 48:29Trust in the Lord.
- 48:30With all your heart.
- 48:31And lean not.
- 48:32On your own understanding.
- 48:35In all your ways.
- 48:36Acknowledge him.
- 48:37And he.
- 48:38Will direct your paths.
- 48:40Again.
- 48:41It is about God.
- 48:42Bringing us.
- 48:43Back on track.
- 48:44Back.
- 48:46So we have the need.
- 48:48To see God.
- 48:49Because God is so much.
- 48:51Above us.
- 48:52In his ways.
- 48:54And in his thoughts.
- 48:57But then we maybe start to think.
- 48:58Well God is just too far away.
- 49:00From us.
- 49:02God is too distant.
- 49:03We are too sinful.
- 49:05There is just.
- 49:06Too big of a gap.
- 49:08Between us.
- 49:09That we can never reach him.
- 49:10But then the beauty is.
- 49:13That he helps us.
- 49:15To seek him.
- 49:16He gives us help.
- 49:18To seek him.
- 49:19And his help is through.
- 49:20His word.
- 49:22And you see that.
- 49:23In verse 10.
- 49:24And verse 11.
- 49:26Where it speaks about.
- 49:27The rain and the snow.
- 49:28Come down from heaven.
- 49:29And do not return there.
- 49:31But water the earth.
- 49:32Making it bring forth.
- 49:34And sprout.
- 49:34Giving seed to the sower.
- 49:36And bread to the eater.
- 49:37So shall my word.
- 49:40That goes out from my mouth.
- 49:42It shall not return.
- 49:43To me empty.
- 49:44But shall accomplish.
- 49:45That which I purpose.
- 49:47And shall succeed.
- 49:48In the thing.
- 49:49For which I sent it.
- 49:51Here is the wonder.
- 49:52Of who God is.
- 49:54That he doesn't.
- 49:55Stay at a distance.
- 49:56From us.
- 49:57That we don't have to try.
- 49:58And somehow.
- 49:59Reach up to him.
- 50:00Whose thoughts.
- 50:01Are far above.
- 50:02Ours.
- 50:03Whose ways.
- 50:03Are far above ours.
- 50:06Heaven and earth.
- 50:07Can seem.
- 50:08So far removed.
- 50:10As he says.
- 50:11In verse 9.
- 50:12The heavens are higher.
- 50:14Than the earth.
- 50:14So are my ways.
- 50:15Higher than yours.
- 50:16There's this distance.
- 50:18But he has closed.
- 50:20This distance.
- 50:22He has brought.
- 50:23His word.
- 50:24To us.
- 50:26He has sent.
- 50:26His word.
- 50:27Into this world.
- 50:30And you may not.
- 50:32Think.
- 50:32You can start to think.
- 50:33Well I cannot.
- 50:34Come to God.
- 50:35And you can't.
- 50:36But the Lord.
- 50:38Is serious.
- 50:39About his relationship.
- 50:40To us.
- 50:41And so he makes.
- 50:43Provision.
- 50:44For us.
- 50:45He helps us.
- 50:47He sends.
- 50:48His word.
- 50:49He calls us.
- 50:50To turn.
- 50:51To him.
- 50:52To seek him.
- 50:54While we can.
- 50:55And that word.
- 50:56Brings its power.
- 50:57To enable us.
- 50:58To turn to the Lord.
- 51:00Behind the word.
- 51:01Is the Holy Spirit.
- 51:02Who works.
- 51:03Us.
- 51:04The wonder.
- 51:05Of who God is.
- 51:07That he came.
- 51:08To us.
- 51:10And God is.
- 51:11So serious.
- 51:11About this.
- 51:12As so often.
- 51:13We find.
- 51:14In Isaiah.
- 51:15We can see it.
- 51:15Looking ahead.
- 51:16To the New Testament.
- 51:17As well.
- 51:19When we think here.
- 51:20Of the word.
- 51:21Of God.
- 51:23Coming from his mouth.
- 51:24Coming down.
- 51:25From heaven.
- 51:26As the rain.
- 51:27From heaven.
- 51:28Comes to water.
- 51:29The earth.
- 51:30God sent his son.
- 51:32Into this world.
- 51:33As you read.
- 51:35In John.
- 51:35Chapter one.
- 51:36The gospel of John.
- 51:37The word.
- 51:38Became flesh.
- 51:39And dwelt.
- 51:40Among us.
- 51:43From heaven.
- 51:44To earth.
- 51:44God sent.
- 51:45His son.
- 51:47That he might come.
- 51:48And call us.
- 51:49To himself.
- 51:50Call sinners.
- 51:51To repentance.
- 51:52As his ministry.
- 51:53Begins.
- 51:54As you read.
- 51:55In the gospel.
- 51:55Of Mark.
- 51:56Jesus's ministry.
- 51:57Begins.
- 51:58With these words.
- 51:59Repent.
- 52:00And believe.
- 52:01The gospel.
- 52:01And behind that word.
- 52:04Repent.
- 52:05Is a change of direction.
- 52:06Is a turning.
- 52:07Again.
- 52:08To God.
- 52:09Because we've.
- 52:09We've gone astray.
- 52:11And so the word.
- 52:12Came us.
- 52:13To call us.
- 52:14Back to himself.
- 52:17To call the world.
- 52:19Back to him.
- 52:21And the word.
- 52:22That became flesh.
- 52:24And dwelt among us.
- 52:25Jesus.
- 52:26Our savior.
- 52:27Is the one.
- 52:28Who showed us.
- 52:29That everything.
- 52:29That we couldn't do.
- 52:30To save ourselves.
- 52:32To earn the forgiveness.
- 52:33Of our sins.
- 52:34He did.
- 52:36He has done it.
- 52:37For us.
- 52:38He didn't.
- 52:39Return empty.
- 52:40To his father.
- 52:42But just like the water.
- 52:44Comes down.
- 52:44From heaven.
- 52:45To earth.
- 52:45And brings forth.
- 52:47Growth.
- 52:47And seed.
- 52:48And bread.
- 52:49All of these things.
- 52:51So the word.
- 52:52Shall accomplish.
- 52:53That which I purpose.
- 52:54And will succeed.
- 52:55In the thing.
- 52:56For which I sent it.
- 52:57God sent his son.
- 52:59Into this world.
- 53:00That we might have salvation.
- 53:02Through him.
- 53:04It was done.
- 53:05It was finished.
- 53:06On the cross.
- 53:09He has done all things.
- 53:11That we might come to him.
- 53:13And know that he is able.
- 53:14To abundantly pardon.
- 53:16Us through him.
- 53:19He has done everything.
- 53:22For us.
- 53:24Today.
- 53:25The word.
- 53:26The word.
- 53:26The word.
- 53:26The word.
- 53:26The word.
- 53:26The word.
- 53:27The word.
- 53:27The word.
- 53:28The word.
- 53:28The word.
- 53:28The word.
- 53:29The word.
- 53:30The word.
- 53:30The word.
- 53:30It will not return.
- 53:31Empty.
- 53:32Or void.
- 53:33What a wonderful promise.
- 53:37Are we listening.
- 53:38To that word.
- 53:40Are we heeding.
- 53:41The word.
- 53:42When it says.
- 53:43Seek the Lord.
- 53:44While he may be found.
- 53:46Call upon him.
- 53:47While.
- 53:48He is near.
- 53:50That is the help.
- 53:52Of seeking.
- 53:53Finally.
- 53:55We see here.
- 53:57That there is the rest.
- 53:58In seeking.
- 54:01When you think back.
- 54:02To the whale.
- 54:03That was in San Francisco Bay.
- 54:05As it made its way.
- 54:07Back out to sea.
- 54:08It started to speed up.
- 54:10It recognized.
- 54:11Where it was going.
- 54:12And who it was going to.
- 54:14That he was getting back home.
- 54:15Back to where he belonged.
- 54:18Well as you read here.
- 54:19In Isaiah 55.
- 54:20Verse 12 and 13.
- 54:22You have that.
- 54:23Sense of joy.
- 54:24In returning.
- 54:25To the Lord.
- 54:27For you shall go out.
- 54:28In joy.
- 54:29And be led forth.
- 54:30In peace.
- 54:31Every barrier.
- 54:32Every obstacle.
- 54:33That seems to be in the way.
- 54:34Of coming back.
- 54:36God will deal with it.
- 54:38The mountains.
- 54:38And the hills.
- 54:39Before you.
- 54:40Shall break forth.
- 54:41And singing.
- 54:42The trees of the field.
- 54:43Shall clap their hand.
- 54:45Everything is made beautiful.
- 54:47Again.
- 54:47Instead of the thorn.
- 54:51Shall come up the cypress.
- 54:52Instead of the briar.
- 54:53Shall come up the myrtle.
- 54:55All of these things.
- 54:56That show a wilderness.
- 54:57That is barren.
- 54:59Is renewed.
- 55:01Is made new.
- 55:02Is made whole.
- 55:04By coming back.
- 55:05To God.
- 55:07And that was the promise.
- 55:08That God gave to his people.
- 55:11In Isaiah's day.
- 55:12At a time.
- 55:12When they were wandering away.
- 55:14And going to be brought.
- 55:14Into a foreign land.
- 55:16With a foreign people.
- 55:18Because of their disobedience.
- 55:21But he gives the assurance.
- 55:22That they would know the day.
- 55:24Of rejoicing.
- 55:25As they would return.
- 55:26To him.
- 55:28And that's what it is.
- 55:29For us.
- 55:30As we hear the voice.
- 55:32Of God.
- 55:34As we hear the voice.
- 55:35As we cry out.
- 55:37To the Lord.
- 55:38For help.
- 55:39For mercy.
- 55:40The Lord says.
- 55:44Seek.
- 55:44My face.
- 55:47Like the psalmist.
- 55:48That we sang there.
- 55:49Said.
- 55:50Your face Lord.
- 55:51I will seek.
- 55:54And it is in this seeking.
- 55:56That we find.
- 55:57This peace.
- 56:00Because when we shun God.
- 56:02And go on our own way.
- 56:03We are in the wilderness.
- 56:05We are in the barren place.
- 56:07We are in the place.
- 56:08Where there is no hope.
- 56:09And no help.
- 56:10For us.
- 56:12But God.
- 56:13By his mercy.
- 56:14Calls.
- 56:15And as he calls.
- 56:17We are to turn.
- 56:18We are to turn.
- 56:20To him.
- 56:22And to find a place.
- 56:24Of rest.
- 56:26With him.
- 56:28But the question.
- 56:30For us today.
- 56:31Is.
- 56:32Will we come.
- 56:33And seek.
- 56:36Do we see the urgency.
- 56:37Of it for today.
- 56:39Not for tomorrow.
- 56:42Because tomorrow.
- 56:43Has no guarantee.
- 56:46Again and again.
- 56:47We are reminded.
- 56:48Of that.
- 56:51But do we heed.
- 56:52The voice.
- 56:53Of God.
- 56:55I saw one of these.
- 56:56Little.
- 56:57Cartoon sketches.
- 56:58Online this week.
- 57:00And it was.
- 57:02Based on this verse.
- 57:03Isaiah 55.
- 57:05Verse 6.
- 57:05Seek the Lord.
- 57:07While.
- 57:08He may be found.
- 57:10And what was in this sketch.
- 57:11Was six different pictures.
- 57:15And that each picture.
- 57:16Had.
- 57:17An image.
- 57:18That spoke.
- 57:19And then a few words.
- 57:21Under.
- 57:21Underneath.
- 57:22And the first.
- 57:23Picture just had.
- 57:24Someone who was obviously.
- 57:25Young.
- 57:26And maybe still at school.
- 57:27Or just about to leave school.
- 57:29And the.
- 57:30The words underneath were.
- 57:33Too young.
- 57:34To see God.
- 57:36And we can all.
- 57:38Either.
- 57:38Have that sense.
- 57:39Or have known that sense.
- 57:41In our lives.
- 57:42It's too much ahead of us.
- 57:43In life.
- 57:44Want to enjoy life first.
- 57:45We're too young.
- 57:47To see God.
- 57:48I'll do that.
- 57:48When I'm older.
- 57:50That was the first one.
- 57:51Too young.
- 57:52To see God.
- 57:54Maybe you're.
- 57:55In that category today.
- 57:57You feel you're young.
- 57:58You feel.
- 57:59Oh I've got so much.
- 58:00To do in life.
- 58:01So many other things.
- 58:02I want to do first.
- 58:03Well.
- 58:04Take heed.
- 58:07The second picture.
- 58:08Was of someone.
- 58:10In a car.
- 58:11That sense of.
- 58:13Independence.
- 58:15And underneath.
- 58:15Were the words.
- 58:16Too independent.
- 58:18To see God.
- 58:19Now you're beginning.
- 58:20To live life.
- 58:21You're beginning.
- 58:22To feel.
- 58:23A sense of.
- 58:23I'm doing.
- 58:24The things I want to do.
- 58:25I've got things in life.
- 58:26That I want.
- 58:28I'm beginning to have that.
- 58:29Independence.
- 58:29To enjoy life.
- 58:31Too independent.
- 58:33To see God.
- 58:35The third picture.
- 58:36Was of.
- 58:37A happy couple.
- 58:40Falling in love.
- 58:41Going to get married.
- 58:42And all of these things.
- 58:43That that brings.
- 58:45And underneath.
- 58:46Were the words.
- 58:47Too happy.
- 58:48To see God.
- 58:50Again.
- 58:51There's just so much.
- 58:52I don't want to spoil.
- 58:53This relationship.
- 58:54This relationship.
- 58:54By seeking God.
- 58:56Just now.
- 58:56It might upset.
- 58:57My partner.
- 58:58It might upset.
- 58:59My life.
- 59:00Just now.
- 59:00I'll leave it.
- 59:02Too happy.
- 59:04To see God.
- 59:06The fourth picture.
- 59:07Was.
- 59:08Of.
- 59:08An individual.
- 59:09And one of these pictures.
- 59:11Two phones.
- 59:12One to each ear.
- 59:15And underneath.
- 59:16Were the words.
- 59:16Too busy.
- 59:17To see God.
- 59:18A reminder.
- 59:20A reminder.
- 59:20Of how the things.
- 59:21Of this world.
- 59:22Will just overtake us.
- 59:25Joy.
- 59:25Is beginning to go.
- 59:27Busyness.
- 59:27Is taking over.
- 59:29Life.
- 59:30Is just.
- 59:30Going on.
- 59:31And on.
- 59:32So quickly.
- 59:33Too busy.
- 59:34To see God.
- 59:35I've got no time.
- 59:37To see God.
- 59:38Well.
- 59:39The fifth one.
- 59:40Then.
- 59:40Was.
- 59:40Of somebody.
- 59:41Lying in bed.
- 59:44Too tired.
- 59:45To see God.
- 59:48Exhausted.
- 59:49By life.
- 59:50Worn down.
- 59:51By life.
- 59:53Why.
- 59:54Why do I want God now?
- 59:56I'm just too tired.
- 59:58I'm past that.
- 1:00:01And then there was the last one.
- 1:00:03The sixth one.
- 1:00:06What do you think that was?
- 1:00:08Well.
- 1:00:09It was a picture.
- 1:00:10Of a gravestone.
- 1:00:12And underneath.
- 1:00:14Were the words.
- 1:00:15Too late.
- 1:00:16To see God.
- 1:00:20And it's a reminder to us.
- 1:00:22Of our lives.
- 1:00:23That pass us by.
- 1:00:24So quickly.
- 1:00:26From youth.
- 1:00:28Too young.
- 1:00:29To see God.
- 1:00:31From when we start to feel.
- 1:00:32Independence in life.
- 1:00:34Too independent.
- 1:00:35To see God.
- 1:00:37For when we.
- 1:00:38Find a relationship.
- 1:00:39And set up a home.
- 1:00:40Too happy.
- 1:00:41To see God.
- 1:00:43For when the things of this world.
- 1:00:44Overwhelm us.
- 1:00:45We're too busy.
- 1:00:46To see God.
- 1:00:48For when we're almost done.
- 1:00:50In this world.
- 1:00:52And we're exhausted.
- 1:00:53Of this world.
- 1:00:53We're too tired.
- 1:00:54To see God.
- 1:00:56But then.
- 1:00:58It's too late.
- 1:00:59To see God.
- 1:01:02Don't wait.
- 1:01:04Till it's too late.
- 1:01:06Today.
- 1:01:06To see God.
- 1:01:07Today.
- 1:01:07Today.
- 1:01:07Today.
- 1:01:07Today.
- 1:01:08Is the time.
- 1:01:09To see God.
- 1:01:11He speaks to us.
- 1:01:13And he says.
- 1:01:14Seek.
- 1:01:14The Lord.
- 1:01:16While.
- 1:01:17He may be found.
- 1:01:18Call upon him.
- 1:01:20While.
- 1:01:21He is near.
- 1:01:22There's a challenge.
- 1:01:24And there's a promise there.
- 1:01:26The challenge.
- 1:01:27Is to seek.
- 1:01:28And to call.
- 1:01:29All.
- 1:01:30But the promise is.
- 1:01:32That he is there.
- 1:01:34So seek him.
- 1:01:35While.
- 1:01:36He may be found.
- 1:01:38Let us pray.
- 1:01:38Amen.
- 1:01:41Our father.
- 1:01:42In heaven.
- 1:01:43We.
- 1:01:43Do thank you.
- 1:01:44That your word.
- 1:01:45Is a living word.
- 1:01:46An active word.
- 1:01:48A word.
- 1:01:48That we are reminded.
- 1:01:49That became flesh.
- 1:01:50And dwelt among us.
- 1:01:52A word.
- 1:01:52That has accomplished.
- 1:01:53All for us.
- 1:01:54And we pray.
- 1:01:55Lord.
- 1:01:55That you would bless it.
- 1:01:56To all our hearts.
- 1:01:57Today.
- 1:01:58That we would be reminded.
- 1:01:59Of the urgency.
- 1:02:01Of it.
- 1:02:01To seek the Lord.
- 1:02:02While he may be found.
- 1:02:04And to call upon him.
- 1:02:05While he is near.
- 1:02:06And help us Lord.
- 1:02:07Not to get.
- 1:02:08Distracted.
- 1:02:09By so many other things.
- 1:02:10In this life.
- 1:02:12That we do ignore you.
- 1:02:13So help us Lord.
- 1:02:15We pray.
- 1:02:15And guide us.
- 1:02:16In your ways.
- 1:02:17As we ask it.
- 1:02:18In Jesus name.
- 1:02:19Amen.
- 1:02:22We're going to conclude.
- 1:02:24By singing.
- 1:02:25In Psalms 77.
- 1:02:26In the sing Psalms.
- 1:02:28Page 100.
- 1:02:30We sing from verse 7.
- 1:02:38Psalm 77.
- 1:02:42On page 100.
- 1:02:45Singing from verse 7.
- 1:02:47Forever will the Lord reject.
- 1:02:48And never show his grace.
- 1:02:50Has he withdrawn his steadfast love.
- 1:02:52And turned from me his face.
- 1:02:54For all time has his promise failed.
- 1:02:56Is God no longer kind.
- 1:02:59There's all these questions.
- 1:03:00Coming to the psalmist here.
- 1:03:02But then.
- 1:03:03In verse 10.
- 1:03:03And then on my.
- 1:03:04To my heart.
- 1:03:05There came this thought.
- 1:03:06On this.
- 1:03:06I will rely.
- 1:03:07The years of their right hand of power.
- 1:03:10Of him.
- 1:03:11Who is most high.
- 1:03:12The tunist.
- 1:03:13Drathcathro.
- 1:03:14We sing from verse 7 to 14.
- 1:03:16To God's praise.
- 1:03:17Amen.
- 1:03:18And over.
- 1:03:36to his face,
- 1:03:40as neither know
- 1:03:45this steadfast love
- 1:03:49but turner from ye
- 1:03:54in his face.
- 1:03:58For hope's time
- 1:04:01as his godless hail
- 1:04:07is one who other kind,
- 1:04:15as he in his
- 1:04:20great boundlessness
- 1:04:23from passion
- 1:04:27from this line.
- 1:04:33Then to my heart
- 1:04:38there give this thought,
- 1:04:43on this I will rely.
- 1:04:49The years of the air
- 1:04:55I can't offer
- 1:05:00a little high.
- 1:05:07I will recall
- 1:05:13the Lord
- 1:05:16redeemed
- 1:05:18your words
- 1:05:21of all
- 1:05:23my room
- 1:05:26and meditate
- 1:05:29on all
- 1:05:33your hands
- 1:05:35your mighty deeds
- 1:05:40have shown.
- 1:05:43O God
- 1:05:46most holy
- 1:05:49are you raised
- 1:05:53what God compares
- 1:05:58with you.
- 1:06:01You are
- 1:06:03the
- 1:06:04God
- 1:06:06of
- 1:06:07Americans
- 1:06:09whose
- 1:06:12power
- 1:06:13the
- 1:06:14nations
- 1:06:16view.
- 1:06:19After the benediction,
- 1:06:21I'll go to the door
- 1:06:21to my right.
- 1:06:22We'll close
- 1:06:23with the benediction.
- 1:06:24Now may grace,
- 1:06:25mercy,
- 1:06:26and peace
- 1:06:26from God,
- 1:06:27Father,
- 1:06:28Son,
- 1:06:28and Holy Spirit
- 1:06:29rest upon
- 1:06:30and abide
- 1:06:31with you all
- 1:06:32now
- 1:06:32and forevermore.
- 1:06:34Amen.
- 1:06:34Amen.
- 1:06:56Thank you.