1 00:00:04,300 --> 00:00:09,400 Many Sundays. Let me put it this way. 2 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,800 Almost, every Saturday night. I feel like the next day is 3 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,200 Christmas. For many reasons. 4 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,800 And one of those reasons is, I am eager to preach the word. 5 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:26,900 And even there, as I'm singing with you, I feel that excitement 6 00:00:26,900 --> 00:00:29,200 and I pray and ask the Lord to help. 7 00:00:30,500 --> 00:00:33,000 But there are also many Sunday's including this one, where I just 8 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:38,200 wish we can keep singing. We will continue to sing but for 9 00:00:38,208 --> 00:00:39,800 now we will go to the word of God. 10 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:45,500 And so meet me in Mark chapter 6 As we look at three simple 11 00:00:45,500 --> 00:00:52,900 versus today, Mark 6. It may be there in verse 30. 12 00:00:57,300 --> 00:01:05,300 My goal today is to invite the Willing heart. to take the time 13 00:01:05,300 --> 00:01:12,500 and to sit before this text and to stare at this snapshot of the 14 00:01:12,500 --> 00:01:17,600 Lord Jesus Christ, long enough that you would be able to 15 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:25,700 comprehend on some level The mindfulness, the compassion and 16 00:01:25,700 --> 00:01:30,700 the gentleness of Jesus. And that your heart would be 17 00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:35,100 more convinced and more compelled regarding such 18 00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:38,300 qualities in the Savior than ever before. 19 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,600 My Hope. And my prayer is that these 20 00:01:42,700 --> 00:01:45,900 lingering observations over these three verses would 21 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:51,100 stimulate higher exaltation of Christ in your life and in mine. 22 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,100 That with every minute that passes by through the word of 23 00:01:55,100 --> 00:02:00,400 God, this afternoon, the Lord himself would be elevated in our 24 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,800 affections elevated in our meditations and eventually 25 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,300 elevated in are imitations by his power. 26 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:12,800 And by his grace If you're wondering what the topic of this 27 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,600 sermon will be, if you're wondering what will dominate 28 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,800 this presentation, it's very simple. 29 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:23,500 It's very clear, it's very plain. 30 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:30,500 It's Jesus Christ. There is no greater subject than 31 00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:35,300 him. He is the golden thread that 32 00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:38,000 weaves through the holy scriptures. 33 00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:45,200 He is the Bedrock that every narrative, every story, every 34 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:52,700 psalm, every proverb every prophecy every epistle, Is built 35 00:02:52,700 --> 00:02:56,400 on. It's Christ, it's the Lord 36 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:01,500 Jesus, the son of the Living. God The Treasure of the father 37 00:03:01,500 --> 00:03:06,700 and the object of our adoration. The great Apostles said 38 00:03:06,700 --> 00:03:10,800 something and it is no wonder in Colossians 2 3, that Christ in 39 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:17,700 whom is hidden all all what the treasures of wisdom and 40 00:03:17,700 --> 00:03:21,600 knowledge. That wonderful Apostle also said 41 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:27,100 in Romans 16:25 now to him who is able to strengthen you, 42 00:03:27,100 --> 00:03:33,200 according to my gospel and get this and the preaching of Jesus 43 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,800 Christ. Did you catch it? 44 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:42,900 There is a strength that is reserved for and imparted to the 45 00:03:42,900 --> 00:03:47,500 Saints who are willing to give their ear to the preaching of 46 00:03:47,500 --> 00:03:50,100 the man Jesus Christ. Iced. 47 00:03:51,100 --> 00:03:56,600 There's something powerful about Christ, being heralded Christ, 48 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:02,800 being expounded, Christ being discovered, just Christ. 49 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:10,300 Just Jesus. And what do we have before us 50 00:04:10,300 --> 00:04:14,400 today? That will help us no, this 51 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:19,300 strength that Paul speaks of let's read together. 52 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:26,300 And verse 30 in Mark 6. The apostles returned to Jesus 53 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,700 and told him all that they had done and taught. 54 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:36,100 And he said to them, come away by yourselves to a desolate 55 00:04:36,100 --> 00:04:41,100 place and rest a while. For many were coming and going, 56 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,500 and they had no leisure even to eat. 57 00:04:47,500 --> 00:04:51,500 Lord. May you bless us with the 58 00:04:51,500 --> 00:04:56,200 strength that your servant Paul spoke of as we simply Behold The 59 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:01,200 Glory of your son. In Jesus name, amen. 60 00:05:03,500 --> 00:05:06,900 The Holy Spirit. Has just finished concluding a 61 00:05:06,907 --> 00:05:11,400 flashback concerning, John the Baptist martyrdom, the gruesome 62 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:16,000 execution that he experienced under the Filthy Hands of Herod 63 00:05:16,300 --> 00:05:19,200 and herodias. And after giving us a very 64 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:23,500 detailed account, he now brings us back to real time and reminds 65 00:05:23,500 --> 00:05:27,700 us that the disciples were sent out by Jesus on their first 66 00:05:27,700 --> 00:05:31,100 Evangelistic campaign, and apparently they came back 67 00:05:31,100 --> 00:05:35,400 successful. They came back with a completed 68 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,600 mission. And for the first time in the 69 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:43,200 gospel of Mark in verse 30 the Disciples of referred to as the 70 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:48,800 apostles and it's very fitting because these disciples fulfill 71 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,600 the very meaning of that word, the word Apostle simply means 72 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,700 one who is sent out? Or you can expound upon that. 73 00:05:54,700 --> 00:05:59,100 Definition one, who is sent out with orders and these men 74 00:05:59,300 --> 00:06:01,400 Faithfully fulfilled? Exactly. 75 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,600 That they were given a commission, they were given 76 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,100 orders, and they went out and they came I'm back. 77 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,200 Satisfying. What Christ had asked of them? 78 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,300 But these Apostles did not just go out. 79 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:20,700 They did use not fulfill what the desires of their master was. 80 00:06:20,700 --> 00:06:27,400 No, we read here that they knew instinctively to come back to 81 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:32,300 Jesus. To return to Jesus. 82 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,900 A transitional comment here, that's worthy of Greater 83 00:06:35,900 --> 00:06:38,800 meditation. Something that offers us more 84 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:43,500 than just an awareness that they were indeed faithful in what 85 00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:47,100 Jesus told them to do. Here we have some kind of a 86 00:06:47,100 --> 00:06:50,600 model here. We have some kind of a brilliant 87 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:54,500 example. Of the steps that we should 88 00:06:54,500 --> 00:07:00,900 follow in in our service here we have some kind of a balance a 89 00:07:00,900 --> 00:07:04,700 principle for us when it comes to serving God and I pray that 90 00:07:04,700 --> 00:07:07,400 you want to serve him. I pray that you are serving him. 91 00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:09,900 And what is that? Exactly. 92 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,000 These disciples who were committed to activity for 93 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,600 Christ. At the same time, did not lose 94 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,300 sight of their fellowship and their accountability to Christ. 95 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,100 Unfortunately, this is not the case for many people. 96 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,500 Many laborers in the kingdom of God today, they understand their 97 00:07:28,500 --> 00:07:33,400 assignment They've been able to successfully identify the gifts 98 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:38,200 that they've been given by God. They know the holy orders 99 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:42,300 according to the word and they give their strength to observing 100 00:07:42,300 --> 00:07:45,400 exactly what has been given to us and this sacred blueprint. 101 00:07:46,700 --> 00:07:51,400 and yet, at the same time, they rarely report to the one who 102 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:53,100 commissioned them in the first place. 103 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,800 Not these men. What these disciples are 104 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:02,700 demonstrating here. And this one occasion is what 105 00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:05,400 every believer should Endeavor to make a holy habit. 106 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:08,200 And that is to know a dependency upon the Lord. 107 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:14,500 And dependency upon the Lord is communicated through communion 108 00:08:14,500 --> 00:08:20,100 with the Lord. No matter where he sends you, no 109 00:08:20,108 --> 00:08:25,500 matter what you do for his name, you and I must have it 110 00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:31,000 conviction of continually and regularly bringing before him 111 00:08:31,300 --> 00:08:34,799 our successes. Our concerns. 112 00:08:36,299 --> 00:08:42,200 Our worries, our fears, our confusion, especially your 113 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:47,000 ideas, and your plans. And at the same time, we must 114 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:51,000 not fail to come before him regularly to give him his due. 115 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,900 Praise. To bring it to spread before his 116 00:08:54,900 --> 00:09:00,700 feet are anxieties. And to express our faith in him 117 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:04,800 for our tomorrow's. Come to Christ. 118 00:09:05,700 --> 00:09:09,500 Come to him regularly. In the midst of serving him, 119 00:09:09,500 --> 00:09:14,000 don't lose sight of that, wherever he sends, you think of 120 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,900 yourself as someone with a rope around your waist and that rope 121 00:09:17,900 --> 00:09:20,700 is held in the hands of the Savior. 122 00:09:20,700 --> 00:09:23,000 And he threw the messages like this. 123 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,900 Tugs on you. And to remind you the source of 124 00:09:25,900 --> 00:09:30,400 all of this. And not to go, too far, and not 125 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:36,700 to go too long without returning to him and looking at him and 126 00:09:36,700 --> 00:09:39,300 speaking to him. And telling him all that you've 127 00:09:39,300 --> 00:09:43,100 done and saying all that you have taught and expressing 128 00:09:43,300 --> 00:09:47,000 exactly what it is. That is going about in your 129 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,700 life, especially as you live under the banner of glorifying 130 00:09:49,700 --> 00:09:51,900 him. The disciples did this more than 131 00:09:51,900 --> 00:09:55,200 once the disciples did this. Again, when they were sent out 132 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,400 on another mission, this time, with dozens more namely 272. 133 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:03,200 And in Luke 10, we see a little closer look at what this kind of 134 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:06,700 dance of service and accountability to Christ looks 135 00:10:06,700 --> 00:10:08,800 like, can I show it to you in, Luke, 10 17? 136 00:10:10,700 --> 00:10:16,500 And Luke 10:17 says that the 72 returned with joy. 137 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:21,700 Saying Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name. 138 00:10:23,700 --> 00:10:28,900 They returned with joy. There are many dangers ahead for 139 00:10:28,900 --> 00:10:31,100 the servant of Christ. There are many hazardous things. 140 00:10:31,100 --> 00:10:33,800 There are many warnings, there are many challenges, but can I 141 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,100 tell you something the matter? How difficult it may seem no 142 00:10:36,100 --> 00:10:38,800 matter what kind of things we see in the word of God, 143 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,100 concerning being hated for his namesake and being despised for 144 00:10:42,100 --> 00:10:44,700 righteousness and persecution from our family. 145 00:10:44,700 --> 00:10:47,300 In the difficult choices, in order to express our 146 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,000 consecration to the Lord. It's A Joyful thing to serve 147 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,400 him. It's a joy filled thing to serve 148 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:56,300 him. They returned with joy after 149 00:10:56,300 --> 00:10:59,400 serving him. And if you're not experiencing 150 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:03,000 that Joy, not saying that you will not know difficulty, but if 151 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,600 you don't have joy, you maybe are doing it wrong. 152 00:11:07,100 --> 00:11:11,200 Maybe for the wrong reason. And they come to Jesus. 153 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:15,800 Again, what a thing to imitate to remain connected to Christ. 154 00:11:16,100 --> 00:11:22,400 Not just when you are in need, but also in your triumphs And 155 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:26,400 your accomplishments. With trophies that have been 156 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:30,600 placed in your hand with crowns that have been placed on your 157 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,100 brow, where do you bring those things? 158 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,900 Do you put them on the shelf of your self-confidence? 159 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,700 Do you put them in a glass casing for you to look at to 160 00:11:41,700 --> 00:11:45,300 give you some worth. Or do you bring them to the feet 161 00:11:45,300 --> 00:11:48,000 of Jesus? And give him the glory. 162 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:52,900 That is due his name. They come to him with joy and we 163 00:11:52,900 --> 00:11:57,400 see that in this place of serving but also fellowshiping 164 00:11:57,700 --> 00:11:59,600 of going. But also coming. 165 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:04,300 We see what crisis willing to give in principle in return for 166 00:12:04,300 --> 00:12:06,400 the one who knows how to come before him. 167 00:12:07,500 --> 00:12:09,800 Looking what we see here in Luke 10 again. 168 00:12:09,900 --> 00:12:13,000 If you scroll down after verse 17, what Jesus says to them in 169 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:18,200 verse 18 and in verse 19 it says here and he said to them, I saw 170 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,800 Satan fall. Like, lightning from heaven. 171 00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:24,400 Behold. I have given you authority to 172 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:28,300 tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the 173 00:12:28,300 --> 00:12:30,700 enemy and nothing shall hurt you. 174 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:36,000 I see Revelation there, greater Revelation, I saw Satan fall 175 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:40,500 down like lightning from Heaven. Oh, there's a revelation of the 176 00:12:40,500 --> 00:12:45,300 authority of Christ of the glory of Christ of the strength of 177 00:12:45,300 --> 00:12:47,500 Christ, but more than just Christ's Authority. 178 00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:50,700 There is this reassurance to the Disciples of the authority that 179 00:12:50,700 --> 00:12:53,400 he's given them. M of the promises that belong to 180 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,400 them. The TaylorMade Graces that 181 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,800 belong to them. And this is what you can expect. 182 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,600 When you come to Christ greater revelation of him, greater, 183 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:07,500 assurances of his promises for you as his child. 184 00:13:09,500 --> 00:13:12,700 He is faithful to do that and you need that. 185 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:17,000 I need that. I was reading Psalm 1:19 this 186 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:17,900 week. I'm in the Book of Psalms. 187 00:13:17,900 --> 00:13:20,900 You heard me say that last time and when I was reading Psalm 188 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:23,200 1:19 that chap. I'm so familiar with that 189 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,800 chapter. Many of us are very familiar 190 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,500 phrase theologies and truths about the glories of the word of 191 00:13:28,508 --> 00:13:29,700 God. But there is something. 192 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:32,900 Is that a surprise? There is something that I saw 193 00:13:32,900 --> 00:13:35,800 and oh, did it stir me and it still stirring me now. 194 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:38,700 Go to Psalm 119. I have to share it with you. 195 00:13:38,708 --> 00:13:41,200 I'm sorry. Verse 96. 196 00:13:42,100 --> 00:13:45,300 I just want, I want you to believe. 197 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:52,200 That when you take time for the Lord, he will honor that and he 198 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,400 will meet you in one way or another. 199 00:13:55,400 --> 00:14:01,600 And in Psalm 119 verse 9600, this blessed me This is this is 200 00:14:01,608 --> 00:14:05,000 a commentary about the word of God and this is what the 201 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:09,100 psalmist says. I have seen a limit to all 202 00:14:09,100 --> 00:14:13,600 Perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly, Broad. 203 00:14:15,300 --> 00:14:18,400 What a verse, what is he saying here? 204 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:22,600 Well, and the realm of all creation. no matter what 205 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:27,400 terrain, you entertain, if you're in the realm of nature, 206 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:31,500 if you go to the Arts, if you go to the Sciences, if you look at 207 00:14:31,500 --> 00:14:39,100 clever inventions, If you study scientific discoveries. if you 208 00:14:39,100 --> 00:14:46,400 peek into the complexities and the joys of languages, All these 209 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:50,100 things have their limits. All these things have their 210 00:14:50,100 --> 00:14:54,600 limits in their brilliance. They're exhilaration and their 211 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,100 stimulation but the psalmist says the word of God is 212 00:14:58,100 --> 00:15:03,000 exceedingly Broad. Exceedingly brought it has no 213 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,500 borders. There are no Dimensions. 214 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:12,200 Climb as high as you will. You will not find a ceiling dive 215 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:17,300 as deep as possible. You will not find a bottom When 216 00:15:17,300 --> 00:15:20,400 you come to the word of God, unlike the objects of this life 217 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,800 though, the author is the creator that we worship. 218 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,400 Realize this. You cannot exhaust, its 219 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:31,900 excellencies. You cannot say I've reached the 220 00:15:31,900 --> 00:15:37,000 point of complete Revelation and application. 221 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:42,000 No, it's never ending. It is never ending in its supply 222 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:46,800 of aw. Humbles. 223 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:52,300 You it teaches you a comforts. You it makes you wiser than your 224 00:15:52,300 --> 00:15:54,700 teachers. It brings light to your path. 225 00:15:55,300 --> 00:16:01,500 It Whispers, wisdom. And it never ends all your 226 00:16:01,500 --> 00:16:03,600 commandment is exceedingly. Broad. 227 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,900 Christ. When you come to him, he'll give 228 00:16:07,900 --> 00:16:10,900 you, he'll give you Revelation, he'll give you Assurance. 229 00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:14,400 He'll remind you of promises, but we see him even granting 230 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,700 more to the one who makes that habit, and that practice of 231 00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:21,300 coming to him, not just serving him, not just doing things in 232 00:16:21,300 --> 00:16:26,200 his name, but sitting before him coming to him. 233 00:16:27,300 --> 00:16:29,300 Look at verse 20 of Luke chapter 10. 234 00:16:30,100 --> 00:16:32,300 What does he say something that you and I are very familiar 235 00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:35,700 with. He says here after talking about 236 00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:38,400 their Authority. Nevertheless do not rejoice in 237 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,800 this that the spirits are subject to you, but Rejoice that 238 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:46,100 your names are written in heaven when you come to the word of 239 00:16:46,100 --> 00:16:49,600 God, when you come before the presence of God? 240 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,700 Yes, there will be Revelation. Yes, he will grant you some 241 00:16:53,700 --> 00:16:57,500 Assurance, but he also in his love bring correction. 242 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:03,300 And he'll realign your thinking, you see, they had this Joy but 243 00:17:03,300 --> 00:17:06,000 Christ saw that, it was a misguided Joy, or that there is 244 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:10,300 a priority issue here in the object of their joy, and he 245 00:17:10,300 --> 00:17:14,599 gently reminds them. The ultimate thing is my grace, 246 00:17:15,300 --> 00:17:18,000 not what you do, not how you perform. 247 00:17:18,500 --> 00:17:23,400 But what I have done, let that be the supremacy of your 248 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:27,500 Delight. And listen, if I'm saying this 249 00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:30,600 because it's true, if you do not, I'm talking to the servant 250 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:34,000 of the Lord, if you do not make it a regular practice to come 251 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:36,500 before him. When I mean before, I mean his 252 00:17:36,500 --> 00:17:40,400 word, his presence in the Simplicity of silence and 253 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,100 Devotion to him, then you can be misguided in your priorities, 254 00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:47,300 even in your service. Then you can lose sight of what 255 00:17:47,300 --> 00:17:49,900 really matters. You can begin to be tempted to 256 00:17:49,900 --> 00:17:53,100 put your joy and the authority. He has given you instead of who 257 00:17:53,100 --> 00:17:55,400 he is. And what he's done on your 258 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:59,200 behalf. So we see a wisdom here. 259 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:01,200 We some see something, wonderful. 260 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,800 These are more than just transitional comments in the 261 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:07,300 Gospels. If carefully interpreted there 262 00:18:07,300 --> 00:18:09,500 is wonderful, instructions for the Saints. 263 00:18:10,100 --> 00:18:12,600 And one might object to these kind of applications with these 264 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,100 verses and say brother you are you were trying to pull 265 00:18:15,100 --> 00:18:19,300 something out of a time in church history, time and 266 00:18:19,300 --> 00:18:20,700 Redemptive history. That doesn't apply. 267 00:18:20,700 --> 00:18:24,000 They had access to Jesus. They could come to him at any 268 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,300 time. He was physically there to, 269 00:18:26,300 --> 00:18:28,900 which I would respond. Do you think they were any less 270 00:18:28,900 --> 00:18:32,600 dependent upon Christ after he ascended into heaven? 271 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,400 All, there's so many examples of that may give you one. 272 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:42,000 In Acts 15 when the elders came together to speak and to 273 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,200 converse it to come to a conclusion about how these 274 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:46,600 Gentiles who believe in this Jewish Messiah. 275 00:18:46,700 --> 00:18:50,600 How should they live what? Jewish laws apply to them? 276 00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:54,600 And there was debate, there was back and forth and finally, 277 00:18:54,600 --> 00:19:00,000 there was a settlement, there was clear Direction and I love 278 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,700 with the letter, says the letters at the these elders and 279 00:19:02,700 --> 00:19:06,100 leaders wrote to the Gentiles. And this is the part that I want 280 00:19:06,100 --> 00:19:10,400 to draw to your attention, an axe, 15:28, it reads in that 281 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:17,400 letter quote for it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to 282 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,900 us to lay on you, no, greater burden than these requirements. 283 00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:22,800 And then They spell out those requirements. 284 00:19:23,700 --> 00:19:27,900 But did you see that? It seemed good to the Holy 285 00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:30,900 Spirit. And to us. 286 00:19:32,700 --> 00:19:37,500 Yeah, I get it this this is this is a clear indication that these 287 00:19:37,500 --> 00:19:39,400 distinct representatives of Christ. 288 00:19:39,700 --> 00:19:44,200 The apostles had access to divine revelation and direct 289 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,100 access to the Lord to have, what is necessary to lay the 290 00:19:47,100 --> 00:19:48,700 foundations of the doctrine of the church. 291 00:19:48,700 --> 00:19:53,500 I get it, but can you feel the familiarity and the intimacy of 292 00:19:53,500 --> 00:19:57,300 that statement? It seemed good to the Holy 293 00:19:57,300 --> 00:20:03,900 Spirit and to us as though the Lord was in their midst and was 294 00:20:03,900 --> 00:20:08,500 numbered among them. As though, the Lord was present. 295 00:20:08,500 --> 00:20:14,100 So, present in that vital crucial council meeting, As 296 00:20:14,100 --> 00:20:21,400 though the Lord graciously. Was given access by these 297 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,500 Apostles. They had access to him with such 298 00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:28,000 immediacy and availability and he was willing to bring a 299 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:32,900 comforting conclusion to this difficult time for the church, 300 00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:37,100 it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us indicating 301 00:20:37,100 --> 00:20:39,100 that. They consulted them indicating 302 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,500 that in that room filled with Saints. 303 00:20:41,500 --> 00:20:44,300 They did not fail to turn to their God. 304 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:48,500 And to seek him and to ask of him and they receive something 305 00:20:48,500 --> 00:20:51,200 from him. Is he any different today? 306 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,500 I'm not speaking about him, giving you more Revelations of 307 00:20:53,500 --> 00:20:54,900 the word of God. That's a different Spirit 308 00:20:54,900 --> 00:20:59,700 speaking to you. I'm speaking about how he is 309 00:20:59,700 --> 00:21:04,300 there and he can speak and he can guide and he can lead and he 310 00:21:04,300 --> 00:21:07,200 can illuminate. Surely he is the same. 311 00:21:07,900 --> 00:21:10,900 Surely he is the same. He is with us now. 312 00:21:11,500 --> 00:21:15,500 He's with you at all times. And this is one of the great 313 00:21:15,500 --> 00:21:18,300 Thrills of our faith. We're coming to celebrate today 314 00:21:18,300 --> 00:21:20,000 and this is one of the great Thrills of our faith. 315 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:24,300 Yes, the gospel, but who is our God, what kind of God is he? 316 00:21:24,700 --> 00:21:26,100 Can I tell you what kind of God is? 317 00:21:26,500 --> 00:21:30,900 He is a personal God. He is an approachable God and 318 00:21:30,900 --> 00:21:34,900 more than that, he is a God. Who is acquainted with each of 319 00:21:34,900 --> 00:21:38,900 us? He is acquainted with each of 320 00:21:38,900 --> 00:21:40,300 us. And that is what you see in, 321 00:21:40,300 --> 00:21:44,200 Mark, 6, and Mark 6 when these men came to tell them, all that 322 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:48,100 they had done and taught, Jesus said to them, come away by 323 00:21:48,100 --> 00:21:51,900 yourselves to a desolate place. And rest a while. 324 00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:02,500 What care, what attention? What love What's sympathy? 325 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:06,500 What understanding you know what I love about that? 326 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:11,900 This was Jesus. As idea this Retreat to rest was 327 00:22:11,900 --> 00:22:14,900 not a protest from the disciples after a long journey out. 328 00:22:14,900 --> 00:22:17,000 Preaching saying, Lord, we've been, we've been working really 329 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:18,600 hard. We need some kind of a vacation 330 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,500 here. Can you work something up? 331 00:22:21,500 --> 00:22:24,200 Because we need a few days to just kick back and relax. 332 00:22:25,100 --> 00:22:26,800 That's not what these disciples is. 333 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:32,200 This was the Lord Jesus who looked at his men and after 334 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:35,600 they've given him the account of their service, he says come 335 00:22:36,300 --> 00:22:38,500 let's go. Now, that's rest. 336 00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:41,000 Why? Because he knew that they needed 337 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,900 rest. There's no indication that these 338 00:22:43,900 --> 00:22:47,000 men expressed that need or that desire. 339 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,900 And I think that's by Design, is to show us that the Lord was 340 00:22:50,900 --> 00:22:52,800 aware of something that perhaps, they were not even aware of 341 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,900 themselves. And the lord gave them, what? 342 00:22:55,900 --> 00:22:58,200 Perhaps? They did not know they needed. 343 00:22:59,500 --> 00:23:05,500 He knew what his servants needed and he provided exactly what was 344 00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:09,900 needed. That's Christ, he he just 345 00:23:09,900 --> 00:23:11,900 doesn't send you off to do things. 346 00:23:11,900 --> 00:23:14,100 And in says, I'll see you on Judgement Day to give you your 347 00:23:14,100 --> 00:23:20,500 grade He's there observing and watching, as long as we are 348 00:23:20,500 --> 00:23:24,100 close to him, we are safest and as long as we are close to him, 349 00:23:24,100 --> 00:23:30,200 we will know. his presence in this way, I thought to myself, 350 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,500 looking at this, you know, when we think about the omniscience 351 00:23:33,500 --> 00:23:39,600 of God, when you even here that the very word demands are right 352 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:43,300 on the emissions, that the the doctrine of God being 353 00:23:43,300 --> 00:23:48,600 all-knowing, And usually what comes and what Spring sport in 354 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:53,200 the imagination. Is the massive implications of 355 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:58,200 that ability. God knows all things and when we 356 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,200 just even begin to entertain what that looks like. 357 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:06,200 We usually can't get Beyond his perfect awareness of the future 358 00:24:06,700 --> 00:24:11,000 and his ability to solve every mystery and matter known to man. 359 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:16,500 And all of that is true. God knowing all things Christ, 360 00:24:16,500 --> 00:24:20,100 knowing what was happening in the lives of their disciples and 361 00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:25,400 beyond all of that. Should the man such amazement of 362 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,900 the, the depth and the breadth of that kind of characteristic. 363 00:24:29,300 --> 00:24:33,000 Just like the other Omni characteristics of God. but you 364 00:24:33,008 --> 00:24:37,200 know what, the Holy Spirit help David, recognize something about 365 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:41,500 the Omni omniscience of God, rather and what he realized 366 00:24:41,500 --> 00:24:44,200 about the omniscience of God is that it was not just something 367 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:49,100 that was so Grand and powerful and Beyond what we can 368 00:24:49,100 --> 00:24:54,800 contemplate, it was deeply personal And individually 369 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:58,300 applicable. You know, the text that I'm 370 00:24:58,300 --> 00:25:06,800 perhaps referring to Psalm 139, Psalm 139, the plain reading of 371 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:11,600 it, alone can melt the heart. Let me read it to you. 372 00:25:11,608 --> 00:25:13,700 And then, let me show you some things about it. 373 00:25:14,100 --> 00:25:18,300 What is David say, as the Holy Spirit brooded over his mind and 374 00:25:18,300 --> 00:25:23,200 showed him something, just something about the mind of God. 375 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,800 Well, this is it. Oh Lord, you have searched me. 376 00:25:28,300 --> 00:25:33,100 And known me. You know, when I sit down and 377 00:25:33,100 --> 00:25:38,200 when I Rise Up, you discern my thoughts from afar, you search 378 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:43,500 out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my 379 00:25:43,500 --> 00:25:48,500 ways. Even before a word is on my 380 00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:51,900 tongue behold O Lord you know it all together. 381 00:25:51,900 --> 00:25:58,100 You hem me in behind and before and laid your hand upon me. 382 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:00,700 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. 383 00:26:00,700 --> 00:26:03,600 It is high. I cannot attain it. 384 00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:09,100 Generally, it is not a comforting thought to know that 385 00:26:09,100 --> 00:26:11,000 somebody is watching you all the time. 386 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:17,500 It's not usually a comforting thought to know that somebody is 387 00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:20,900 evaluating and watching your every move. 388 00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:24,400 And I agree. That's disturbing. 389 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,200 It really depends who's doing it and why they're doing it. 390 00:26:29,100 --> 00:26:32,100 And when it comes to understanding how God 391 00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:36,700 investigates, There is an element of that that should 392 00:26:36,700 --> 00:26:41,100 cause a fear of God to arise in the heart of a rebel or a 393 00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:43,600 hypocrite to reconsider their ways. 394 00:26:44,100 --> 00:26:48,700 And yet David when this download comes to him, he understands 395 00:26:48,700 --> 00:26:52,500 that this aspect of who God is is worthy of Wonder and 396 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:55,200 admiration. This is something that he's 397 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:58,800 enjoying as much as he is perplexed by. 398 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:02,500 He is enjoying it, he's writing about, he's writing a song to 399 00:27:02,500 --> 00:27:06,100 it. And again, I just read it and 400 00:27:06,100 --> 00:27:08,200 it's clear, it's obvious. But when you just take the time 401 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:13,100 to really pick it apart and see what this really implies, oh, 402 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:15,100 your heart would be stirred even more. 403 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:16,900 Let me give you a couple of examples. 404 00:27:16,900 --> 00:27:18,600 Look, back at verse 3 of The Psalm. 405 00:27:18,900 --> 00:27:23,900 He says you search out my path and my lying down and are 406 00:27:23,900 --> 00:27:26,500 acquainted with all my ways. You know, the word search there 407 00:27:26,500 --> 00:27:29,300 is not the same word, a search in the Hebrew as verse 1. 408 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,600 He says in verse 10 Lord you have searched me but that's not 409 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,400 the same word. Now our hebrew-speaking pastor 410 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,800 here is going to confirm that later on to me at least. 411 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:46,300 The word for search here. In verse 3 is the Hebrew word 412 00:27:46,300 --> 00:27:50,600 Zara. A word that is associated in 413 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:55,100 that is winnowing, you know, the process of taking grain mixed 414 00:27:55,100 --> 00:27:57,600 with Chaffin to throw it up into the air. 415 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,900 So that some kind of wind would Gus through it and remove the 416 00:28:00,900 --> 00:28:07,500 chaff so that grain that the substance of Desire remains And 417 00:28:07,500 --> 00:28:10,400 that is what David is using here when he says that he says you 418 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:15,300 search out my path, you are win, knowing you are casting off 419 00:28:15,300 --> 00:28:18,200 certain things. You are removing certain things 420 00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:23,100 about my path and when I, when I laid down, why that word? 421 00:28:23,500 --> 00:28:25,100 Why bring that here at this point? 422 00:28:25,100 --> 00:28:28,200 What is he trying to say? Well, I believe this is what he 423 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:32,000 is trying to say that in some way, when the Lord looks at you, 424 00:28:33,900 --> 00:28:37,100 And the Lord's knowledge of you is so precise. 425 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:43,700 So true. So perfect that he is able to 426 00:28:43,700 --> 00:28:46,900 distinguish in you that which is false and that which is true. 427 00:28:48,300 --> 00:28:52,200 He is able to evaluate you to such a degree that he can make a 428 00:28:52,208 --> 00:28:55,800 distinction between the insincere and the sincere, the 429 00:28:55,800 --> 00:29:00,400 genuine and the disingenuine. He's Able with x-ray vision to 430 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:04,200 know, the truest of your motives, the deepest parts of 431 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:07,800 your thoughts, you may be able to fool your pastors, you may be 432 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:11,500 able to fool your wife, you may be able to trick your parents, 433 00:29:11,700 --> 00:29:15,000 you may be able to put on a smile and convince the church or 434 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:20,100 the crowds or your employees. You may be able with your 435 00:29:20,300 --> 00:29:24,100 introvert Tendencies to pull away from those who are closest 436 00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:27,400 to you. But this God will scrutinize 437 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:31,800 you. He carefully examines you and it 438 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:37,300 takes him no effort to do so. Same brother. 439 00:29:37,300 --> 00:29:39,400 That's kind of scary. Not if you think of it in the 440 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:43,900 right way. David is saying your knowledge 441 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:48,700 so penetrates whatever, shall I think is shielding me and you 442 00:29:48,700 --> 00:29:56,300 are able to grasp my true substance, you know, it all And 443 00:29:56,300 --> 00:29:59,200 yet you still want to walk with me. 444 00:30:01,100 --> 00:30:03,000 You still want to provide for me. 445 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:06,300 You still want to lead me. You still want to fellowship 446 00:30:06,300 --> 00:30:08,100 with me? You still want to use me. 447 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:13,400 Be honest. If some people even the closest 448 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:17,100 people knew, you knew just 10% of your deepest hearts, are your 449 00:30:17,100 --> 00:30:19,600 deepest thoughts. They might want nothing to do 450 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,100 with you. But not this God. 451 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:26,500 He considers it all your imaginations, every passing 452 00:30:26,500 --> 00:30:33,400 thought, every sigh, every idea everything that is there in your 453 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:34,800 heart, in the middle of the night. 454 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:37,000 And then you see this in verse 5. 455 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:40,500 What does he say? In verse 5, you hem me in behind 456 00:30:40,500 --> 00:30:44,200 and before and lay your hand upon the you have Mian. 457 00:30:46,100 --> 00:30:48,200 Something about surrounding. There's something here about 458 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:50,300 protection. Yes. 459 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:55,600 It's an idea of the omnipresence of God, but it's more than just 460 00:30:56,100 --> 00:30:57,900 the presence of God surrounding me. 461 00:30:57,900 --> 00:31:00,400 Remember, the context you're leading up to this point, it's 462 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:02,400 the knowledge of God that surrounds me. 463 00:31:03,700 --> 00:31:10,200 Every area of who I am. Every thoughtless, step every 464 00:31:10,300 --> 00:31:13,700 every word that I don't have intention to mean something. 465 00:31:15,900 --> 00:31:20,000 Every plan, every idea, every everything that goes by the 466 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:22,700 quarter of my mind, all of that, you're there. 467 00:31:23,300 --> 00:31:26,900 You're just there. I never, I never make you 468 00:31:26,900 --> 00:31:30,400 surprised and I can't hide from you. 469 00:31:32,500 --> 00:31:35,500 And what's so brilliant about verse 5 is that he goes from the 470 00:31:35,500 --> 00:31:44,800 mind of God to the hand of God. And you lay your hand upon me. 471 00:31:46,100 --> 00:31:49,300 Think about that, you lay your hand upon me, the idea of your 472 00:31:49,300 --> 00:31:53,500 hand, his hand being Upon Us implies personal interaction, 473 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:56,400 you see, you need to understand that part. 474 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:58,200 If you're going to understand the omniscience of God, because 475 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:00,400 if you just hear the doctrine of the omniscience of God, you 476 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:04,300 might be tempted to think that all God is, is some Divine 477 00:32:04,300 --> 00:32:08,600 supercomputer with a massive database that has no affection 478 00:32:08,700 --> 00:32:10,700 tied to, or connected to the knowledge. 479 00:32:10,700 --> 00:32:15,900 He possesses He's not just somebody who has surveillance 480 00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:20,600 cameras in every corner of the universe and sits in some box 481 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:24,500 somewhere in the heavens. No, the very knowledge, the 482 00:32:24,500 --> 00:32:26,700 great knowledge of God even with you. 483 00:32:26,700 --> 00:32:32,500 Yes, you son of Adam, you son and daughter of a fallen parent, 484 00:32:32,900 --> 00:32:35,400 Fallen parents redeemed in Christ. 485 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:39,200 Yes. Even that knowledge of all your 486 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:43,600 Brokenness in your inconsistencies, it doesn't 487 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:46,500 distance God from you, it draws him to you in a make some extend 488 00:32:46,500 --> 00:32:49,900 his hand upon you that protection that provision. 489 00:32:51,100 --> 00:32:55,500 That chastisement when it's necessary, that concealing of 490 00:32:55,500 --> 00:32:59,400 you is all provided as a result of what he knows about you. 491 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:03,700 Everything about you. And yet still he comes to you 492 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:07,200 and he commits to you. And ultimately, we see that in 493 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,400 Jesus Christ, that he comes into the world. 494 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:15,000 With all that he knows about us. And he recruits, and he calls 495 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,400 for people to come to him. And when there's disciples that 496 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:22,200 do come to him, he displays his Shepherd heart and he said to 497 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:25,200 them, come away by yourselves to a desolate place, and rest 498 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:28,300 awhile. He's so real. 499 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:34,000 You and I can praise God. This afternoon that we don't 500 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:39,200 worship a cruel and insensitive unfeeling Taskmaster. 501 00:33:41,500 --> 00:33:45,000 As much as he is concerned about how we serve him, he is 502 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:52,900 concerned about the servants. And he looks at you not just 503 00:33:52,900 --> 00:33:56,900 what you do, but at you and he cares. 504 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:00,000 And in his Providence, he knows what to bring, what to remove, 505 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:04,200 what to add, what to subtract, he gets your attention. 506 00:34:05,100 --> 00:34:08,100 He tries to get your attention when you do Veer off. 507 00:34:08,100 --> 00:34:11,400 And in many ways, he communicates to us, primarily, 508 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:18,400 yes, through his word. He's just a glorious master. 509 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:24,500 Who deeply cares about us. You know, it's amazing. 510 00:34:24,500 --> 00:34:29,600 How you forget some things. I'm 31 and I forget things. 511 00:34:30,699 --> 00:34:33,400 And I heard it doesn't get easier as you get older. 512 00:34:35,500 --> 00:34:38,199 But I was reading this late last night, I was looking over this 513 00:34:38,199 --> 00:34:40,900 and I was just trying to, you know, it's very hard for 514 00:34:40,900 --> 00:34:42,699 preachers. Have mercy on preachers. 515 00:34:43,900 --> 00:34:47,900 To try to get up before people and to even attempt to 516 00:34:47,900 --> 00:34:53,900 communicate, the excellencies of Christ is such a wearisome task. 517 00:34:56,400 --> 00:34:59,000 I don't know of one true faithful preacher who who 518 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:02,700 attempts to preach on Christ and walks off the pulpit satisfied. 519 00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:05,900 Satisfied yes and trying to be faithful to the text, but never 520 00:35:05,900 --> 00:35:11,000 satisfied and attempting to try to color his glories with words 521 00:35:12,100 --> 00:35:14,900 and with passion and with emotion, and more importantly, 522 00:35:14,900 --> 00:35:18,600 by the power of the Holy Spirit. I was looking at this as 523 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:23,100 thinking about just the Lord, just Jesus Beyond Doctrine him 524 00:35:23,100 --> 00:35:26,400 personally. And this this came to mind and 525 00:35:26,700 --> 00:35:29,100 would, you know it? I forgot it and it came to mind. 526 00:35:29,500 --> 00:35:31,000 So I'd get to journal some things. 527 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:35,700 Your brain will forget but paper doesn't And this is what came to 528 00:35:35,700 --> 00:35:37,200 mind. Many years ago, just walking 529 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:39,800 with the Lord and I'll end with this testimony before we break 530 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:44,200 bread together. I remember those first first few 531 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:48,400 months that first year and a half so busy so wonderfully 532 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:50,000 busy. No, no complaints. 533 00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:56,800 So wonderfully preoccupied with the things of Christ, so had 534 00:35:56,800 --> 00:35:59,400 school had work but Friday's was Youth Night. 535 00:35:59,900 --> 00:36:02,100 Friday's was youth night with some of the young adults where 536 00:36:02,100 --> 00:36:04,900 we helped lead the youth and Saturday. 537 00:36:04,900 --> 00:36:07,900 Saturday was evangelism night was prayer worship and we would 538 00:36:07,900 --> 00:36:11,800 go out and then Sunday, we had church church not at 1 p.m. and 539 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:14,900 morning, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 540 00:36:16,300 --> 00:36:19,300 And then Sunday night, young adults meeting too late into the 541 00:36:19,300 --> 00:36:22,300 night and in Fellowship afterwards, and then restart. 542 00:36:24,100 --> 00:36:28,400 Heaven on Earth. Those days, heaven on Earth, and 543 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:31,400 remember that going week after week after week, and I began to 544 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:37,700 realize I'm human. And I actually need to eat and I 545 00:36:37,700 --> 00:36:43,100 need good sleep. And so I was beginning to feel 546 00:36:43,100 --> 00:36:47,000 the weight not of the difficulties of it, not of the 547 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:49,200 displeasures of it. No it was the most enjoyable 548 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:50,700 thing. You could not convince me to do 549 00:36:50,700 --> 00:36:54,700 anything else on a weekend. There was a band of brothers and 550 00:36:54,700 --> 00:36:59,200 sisters who felt the same way. And what began to happen was 551 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:01,600 because of wise people in my life older people. 552 00:37:03,100 --> 00:37:05,900 Who observed. My Life, One in particular 553 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:08,600 reached out and said, brother. It's wonderful. 554 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:13,000 It's great but just consider how this might work out in the long 555 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:17,100 term. And I began to even feel that 556 00:37:17,100 --> 00:37:22,100 weariness. And I would begin to talk to the 557 00:37:22,100 --> 00:37:25,400 Lord about it, and I had to had to take a city bus to take the 558 00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:28,500 subway to take the street train, just to get to the internship 559 00:37:28,900 --> 00:37:32,700 for the week. And so this friend advised me he 560 00:37:32,700 --> 00:37:37,600 just gave me biblical principles of rest not rest in the way you 561 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:40,500 and I understand dressed to go on a vacation somewhere for, you 562 00:37:40,508 --> 00:37:42,800 know, it's amazing that you go on vacation thinking, you need a 563 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:43,900 break, you come back from vacation. 564 00:37:43,900 --> 00:37:49,400 You need a vacation from your vacation because true rest true. 565 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:52,400 Rest comes from Christ. You're going to go on vacation 566 00:37:52,400 --> 00:37:55,500 that's fine. Go on vacation with Jesus and 567 00:37:55,500 --> 00:38:01,600 not from Jesus. And so the true rest. 568 00:38:01,700 --> 00:38:03,400 True rest. There's a place for physical 569 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:04,300 Repose. I get it. 570 00:38:04,300 --> 00:38:08,100 Don't hear me wrong here. And it should begin to talk to 571 00:38:08,100 --> 00:38:10,100 it. Talk to about about these things 572 00:38:10,100 --> 00:38:11,700 to the Lord. I was just walk to the bus. 573 00:38:11,700 --> 00:38:13,900 I remember walking to the bus and just in my heart with my 574 00:38:13,900 --> 00:38:17,500 backpack, just talking to the Lord, talking to the Lord about 575 00:38:17,500 --> 00:38:18,700 it. Lord, this is where I'm at. 576 00:38:18,700 --> 00:38:21,200 This is what I'm feeling. I have a wise brother, who's 577 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:24,200 speaking it to my life and telling me just to get a 578 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:28,500 different kind of rhythm going on and And it was challenging to 579 00:38:28,500 --> 00:38:30,900 me, because usually, when you hear about people, taking a 580 00:38:30,900 --> 00:38:33,200 break from serving the lord, they were using that even really 581 00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:36,400 doing anything for the Lord. They want to take a break from 582 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:38,500 worldly Pursuits. They barely attend church. 583 00:38:38,500 --> 00:38:39,600 They're not part of any Ministry yet. 584 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:44,600 They want to take a break. I'm aware of that and I don't 585 00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:48,200 see serving Christ as a difficult thing, but just like, 586 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:51,100 in Mark 6, we're human. He remembers that we were 587 00:38:51,100 --> 00:38:54,800 destined, but flesh. Spraying to the Lord about it. 588 00:38:54,808 --> 00:38:57,900 And it wasn't a one-time prayer, was just a few days, praying and 589 00:38:57,900 --> 00:39:00,800 even going to the next week, praying about this praying about 590 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:02,700 this. And what I want to serve you, I 591 00:39:02,707 --> 00:39:05,900 want to do this for you. But how do I go about this one 592 00:39:05,900 --> 00:39:07,000 day? I'm walking to the bus. 593 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:11,300 When I got on that bus, was the same bus at the same time. 594 00:39:12,500 --> 00:39:14,100 I would always sit in the same seat. 595 00:39:15,400 --> 00:39:18,100 If you take me to Etobicoke Ontario, now I can tell you 596 00:39:18,100 --> 00:39:22,100 where I sat on that city bus. It's right there. 597 00:39:22,100 --> 00:39:24,600 So clear in my mind and there I am. 598 00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:29,600 The same prayers being prayed, trying to understand this 599 00:39:29,900 --> 00:39:32,800 wanting to serve the Lord, but wanting to know his will in even 600 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:34,700 serving him. And as I get on the bus which 601 00:39:34,700 --> 00:39:38,000 was usually empty at that time of the day, I went up and I 602 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:41,000 climbed the back of that bus where was elevated? 603 00:39:41,300 --> 00:39:45,000 And I sat in my chair and when I look down on my seat, I saw a 604 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:49,300 pamphlet And when I looked at the pamphlet, I was stunned 605 00:39:50,100 --> 00:39:52,100 because on that pamphlet is said Sabbath. 606 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:58,000 Biblical principles for rest. I looked around. 607 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:04,800 There is nobody around. I picked that pamphlet up, I 608 00:40:04,808 --> 00:40:07,700 made sure it wasn't some weird thing as Seventh-day Adventist 609 00:40:07,700 --> 00:40:09,500 kind of teaching about the Sabbath or anything like that. 610 00:40:09,500 --> 00:40:13,400 So no this is sound. This is clear. 611 00:40:15,100 --> 00:40:17,600 Put it down and I took a picture of and I send it to the person 612 00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:20,400 who's been speaking to me for days and weeks and all these 613 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:23,800 sent back was something on the lines of God is loud. 614 00:40:28,200 --> 00:40:32,900 The bus took off. And I sat there, looking at 615 00:40:32,900 --> 00:40:35,600 this, you can interpret this however you want. 616 00:40:38,600 --> 00:40:42,300 I thought to myself. You know me. 617 00:40:45,300 --> 00:40:51,200 You know me. You search me and you know me, 618 00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:54,700 you know, my going, you know, my coming, you know where I sit on 619 00:40:54,700 --> 00:40:59,300 the bus. You know what I say on my way to 620 00:40:59,300 --> 00:41:02,600 the bus? You care. 621 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:07,600 You don't just cross your arms in the heavens and look down and 622 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:10,600 say, you're going to actually even peep these kind of prayers 623 00:41:10,600 --> 00:41:12,000 to me, you know what I did for you? 624 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:17,000 You better get busier. Your gentle Shepherd. 625 00:41:18,700 --> 00:41:20,700 I just began to praise God on that bus. 626 00:41:23,500 --> 00:41:26,000 And I put that away and I think it's somewhere, I don't know 627 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:27,400 where it is. I find it. 628 00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:29,400 Maybe I'll show some of you show and tell. 629 00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:38,500 He's so real. He's so close. 630 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:44,200 You're saying, yeah, but you're a Ministry and your impassive 631 00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:46,900 know. I was 22 years old, finishing, 632 00:41:46,900 --> 00:41:51,800 my advertising degree. Barely able to make spaghetti 633 00:41:51,800 --> 00:41:56,400 for lunch. Not knowing what tomorrow holds 634 00:41:56,400 --> 00:41:58,600 not knowing what I'm going to do with my degree, not knowing 635 00:41:58,600 --> 00:42:01,000 where I'm going to live, not knowing what I'm going to not 636 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:03,700 knowing anything other than this is the word. 637 00:42:03,700 --> 00:42:06,900 I want to live for him and love him and then that place of my 638 00:42:06,900 --> 00:42:09,700 life. The Lord and some providential 639 00:42:09,700 --> 00:42:10,800 way. Just gave me a nudge. 640 00:42:10,800 --> 00:42:12,300 I believe. Again, you can interpret it how 641 00:42:12,300 --> 00:42:17,300 you want but I'm here to tell you more than my testimony more 642 00:42:17,300 --> 00:42:23,000 than any Authority. This word you can trust and this 643 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:26,000 word wherever you see of Christ, even that little Glimpse where 644 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:28,000 he says, come away, I know what you need. 645 00:42:29,200 --> 00:42:32,100 I'll lead you all guide you. I'm here with you even when I 646 00:42:32,107 --> 00:42:34,100 send you out, don't forget to come to me. 647 00:42:34,100 --> 00:42:36,200 Don't forget to open your heart to me. 648 00:42:37,900 --> 00:42:41,100 From time to time, I'm sure in many ways. 649 00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:45,100 He'll remind you. He'll reveal himself to you. 650 00:42:45,100 --> 00:42:47,600 He will instruct you. He'll correct. 651 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:51,800 You and he'll make you fall in love with him more and more. 652 00:42:52,800 --> 00:42:53,800 Do we do? Thank you. 653 00:43:09,500 --> 00:43:12,500 and we ask Lord that this afternoon, we would simply 654 00:43:13,700 --> 00:43:19,800 Relish in the revelation of the personal Christ. and Lord, as we 655 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:25,100 prepared to partake in this meal, Help us remember that your 656 00:43:25,100 --> 00:43:28,100 ultimate Act of love the very thing that started it all. 657 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:38,300 Was the cross. You died for us, you bled for 658 00:43:38,300 --> 00:43:41,700 us. So that you can have us. 659 00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:50,500 Pray for the weary heart. The heart that is weary for. 660 00:43:52,200 --> 00:43:56,100 Natural reasons. Lord, pray that this time 661 00:43:56,100 --> 00:43:59,600 together would have just given fresh strength to serve you with 662 00:43:59,600 --> 00:44:03,000 greater Zeal and passion. I pray for the weary heart whose 663 00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:06,800 we read by sin who does not know you who does not know how you 664 00:44:06,800 --> 00:44:10,600 can make our burden light. Your yoke is easy. 665 00:44:10,600 --> 00:44:13,400 I pray Lord, with my brothers and sisters for The Sinner. 666 00:44:14,600 --> 00:44:17,500 To find that Sabbath rest in Jesus Christ. 667 00:44:20,100 --> 00:44:23,100 And Lord, we pray that our hearts would be clean as we come 668 00:44:23,100 --> 00:44:26,000 to this table. That you would not be grieved by 669 00:44:26,000 --> 00:44:27,900 our motives, you who know all things. 670 00:44:29,300 --> 00:44:31,800 Lord, we can always find something that makes us 671 00:44:31,800 --> 00:44:34,800 unworthy, but for conscience unrepented, sin. 672 00:44:35,300 --> 00:44:39,600 Show us your what we need to do before we eat and drink. would 673 00:44:39,600 --> 00:44:43,500 you be blessed, would you be blessed as we remember, you 674 00:44:44,500 --> 00:44:52,300 Faithfully soundly and with worship, we look to you now and 675 00:44:52,300 --> 00:44:55,900 Thanksgiving. Amen. 676 00:44:57,600 --> 00:44:59,000 Let's stand and Worship the Lord. 677 00:45:02,600 --> 00:45:05,700 What are we singing about? We're singing about the truth of 678 00:45:05,700 --> 00:45:09,400 the Gospel were singing about what he's done for us on that 679 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:13,600 night. When Jesus was betrayed, when 680 00:45:13,600 --> 00:45:16,100 Jesus knew what he was going to suffer, when Jesus knew the 681 00:45:16,100 --> 00:45:20,700 agonies of the Cross, we're told there that they sang A Hymn, 682 00:45:21,500 --> 00:45:25,600 they sang A Hymn. Listen, how can someone sing 683 00:45:25,600 --> 00:45:27,600 knowing what they are about to suffer? 684 00:45:29,300 --> 00:45:31,000 And I think there's a principal there for us. 685 00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:34,000 You can sing while you suffer, why? 686 00:45:34,000 --> 00:45:38,300 Because he's worthy of your song, sing of his grace, sing of 687 00:45:38,300 --> 00:45:41,000 his glories, because he is worthy.