1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:07,500 This morning, we are concluding our Advent series based on the 2 00:00:07,500 --> 00:00:11,000 ancient o antiphon prayers, which form the verses to the 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,900 hymn. We sang earlier, O come O come 4 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,500 Emmanuel in the verse we sang right at the beginning of this 5 00:00:18,500 --> 00:00:24,400 service we sang and prayed for people from every nation to come 6 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,700 to Jesus Christ as their only Savior and as their true king 7 00:00:28,700 --> 00:00:32,400 and we can sing that and we can pray that with confidence 8 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:36,600 because Cuz that promise is spread throughout the whole 9 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:40,600 Bible. From Genesis to Revelation the 10 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:44,100 promise that the Covenant promise that Redemption is not 11 00:00:44,100 --> 00:00:49,900 only for one man or one family or one nation, but for people 12 00:00:49,900 --> 00:00:55,500 from every tribe and tongue and nation and Isaiah 60, which is 13 00:00:55,500 --> 00:00:58,200 the passage, we're going to focus on this morning, Isaiah 14 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:04,599 60, lays this out, in incredibly powerful and Beautiful language. 15 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,400 And so, it's a privilege to open this passage together for a few 16 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,800 minutes this morning. So if you will, please take your 17 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,000 bullets in and your Bible and stand together for the reading 18 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,200 of God's word. From Isaiah 60. 19 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:23,400 I'll read just the beginning portion of Isaiah 60 and then 20 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:28,300 also a passage that describes its fulfillment in the end in 21 00:01:28,300 --> 00:01:36,000 Revelation 21. Arise Shine for your light has 22 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:41,200 come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you for behold 23 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,600 Darkness shall cover the Earth and thick Darkness. 24 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,000 The people's. But the Lord will arise upon 25 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:52,500 you, and His glory will be seen upon you and Nations shall come 26 00:01:52,500 --> 00:01:57,500 to your light and Kings to the brightness of your Rising, lift 27 00:01:57,500 --> 00:02:00,600 up, your eyes all around and see, they gather together. 28 00:02:00,900 --> 00:02:04,400 They come to you, your son's shall Come from afar and your 29 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:06,500 daughters shall be carried on the hip. 30 00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:10,699 Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall thrill 31 00:02:10,699 --> 00:02:14,800 and exalt because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to 32 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,100 you, the wealth of the Nations shall come to you. 33 00:02:18,700 --> 00:02:22,000 A multitude of camels shall cover, you and young camels of 34 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,700 Midian and ephah all those from Sheba shall come and they shall 35 00:02:26,700 --> 00:02:30,900 bring gold and frankincense and shall bring good news. 36 00:02:31,300 --> 00:02:35,800 The Praises of the Lord. From Revelation 21. 37 00:02:36,100 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaking of this new city, this New Jerusalem The city has no 38 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,600 need of sun or moon to shine on it for the glory of God gives 39 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:50,100 its light. And its lamp is the Lamb by its 40 00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:51,900 light. The Nations will walk in the 41 00:02:51,900 --> 00:02:56,000 kings of the earth will bring their Glory into it and it's 42 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,600 Gates will never be shut by day and there will be no night 43 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,700 there. They will bring into it. 44 00:03:01,700 --> 00:03:06,000 The glory and honor of the nation's but nothing unclean 45 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,000 will ever enter it nor anyone who does what is detestable or 46 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,000 false but But only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of 47 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,700 Life. This is the word of the Lord may 48 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:27,600 be seated. let's pray together father we ask that as we come to 49 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:32,900 this your word that that you would illuminate that you would 50 00:03:32,900 --> 00:03:37,600 help us to see and understand and believe the promise of the 51 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:42,800 Gospel, the promise of all Redemptive history explained and 52 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:47,700 portrayed here by Isaiah and John Father, we pray that you 53 00:03:47,700 --> 00:03:52,500 would fix our eyes on Jesus. The one who is our light? 54 00:03:53,100 --> 00:03:55,900 It's in his name, we pray. Amen. 55 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,100 This morning, we have more kids in the sanctuary, probably than 56 00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:07,600 usual because we don't have our usual programming for preschool 57 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:09,400 and elementary, and middle school and high school. 58 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,600 So, kids this morning as we start, I want to ask you a 59 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,800 question. You belong here, you are 60 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,500 worshipers here. So I want to ask you a question. 61 00:04:18,300 --> 00:04:22,100 What is the most popular sport in the world? 62 00:04:25,100 --> 00:04:26,700 All right. Well done. 63 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:28,900 Well done. The World Cup. 64 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:32,500 Probably helped you a little bit with that if you think of what 65 00:04:32,500 --> 00:04:33,800 you usually play in the playground. 66 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,600 If you think about what's on TV, like continuously all weekend 67 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,200 this weekend, you might be tempted to think that football 68 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:45,000 is the most popular sport, but it is your right soccer. 69 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:48,500 Soccer is the most popular sport around the world. 70 00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:53,300 The World Cup certainly emphasized that far more than 71 00:04:53,300 --> 00:04:57,200 the Super Bowl or even the Olympics, the World Cup is the 72 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:01,300 sporting event that unites the Nations and unites people around 73 00:05:01,300 --> 00:05:04,700 the globe to watch it and cheer in it. 74 00:05:05,900 --> 00:05:10,800 The population of the planet in mid-november reached eight 75 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,800 billion people. It's estimated that between late 76 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:19,700 November and the championship final match, on December 18th, 77 00:05:19,700 --> 00:05:23,000 that more than half of the world's population. 78 00:05:23,300 --> 00:05:28,500 Watched some portion of the World Cup staggering. 79 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:33,400 It's absolutely staggering. But but think about that for a 80 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,900 moment. Consider a few things that Yes, 81 00:05:35,900 --> 00:05:39,500 it's a unifying event, but think of some Dynamics number one, 82 00:05:39,500 --> 00:05:45,500 only 32 nations were represented in those matches, only 32 of 83 00:05:45,500 --> 00:05:48,100 more than 200 Nations. Number two, the nature of the 84 00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:52,900 vent really isn't Unity its superiority, you want to win? 85 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:56,000 You want to make it to the end and be crowned, the champion, 86 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,900 and of course only one nation really went home Happy. 87 00:06:00,700 --> 00:06:04,500 Argentina. Only that team only their fans 88 00:06:04,500 --> 00:06:09,200 really went home, truly fully rejoicing and happy. 89 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:13,800 But what if I told you that there's another event happening 90 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:20,600 now, Involving every single nation that really will bring 91 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:25,000 perfect unity and perfect permanent. 92 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:30,700 Joy to every single participant, I'd be pretty cool. now, what if 93 00:06:30,700 --> 00:06:36,000 I told you that the event has already started, And you are in 94 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:40,400 it, you're a participant in it, what I'm talking about is the 95 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,800 coming of Jesus Christ. His first coming, his second 96 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:47,700 coming. It is that thing which touches 97 00:06:47,700 --> 00:06:54,700 every single nation and every single person in an Isaiah 60, 98 00:06:54,700 --> 00:06:58,100 these comings of Jesus Christ, his first and second coming are 99 00:06:58,100 --> 00:07:02,100 described poetically, with the imagery of light. 100 00:07:02,500 --> 00:07:05,600 That's the metaphor used throughout the Bible for 101 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,300 Redemption. So often you think of the light 102 00:07:08,300 --> 00:07:12,300 that Shone down over, Noah and his family, casting the colors 103 00:07:12,300 --> 00:07:16,000 of a rainbow, you think of the light that Moses Encountered in 104 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:20,100 a burning bush or that led the people of Israel crossed the Red 105 00:07:20,100 --> 00:07:26,000 Sea and through the Wilderness. You think of the light that John 106 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:30,400 said of Jesus, that he was the light of men, you think of what 107 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,800 we just read in Revelation at the new city. 108 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:40,500 This new, Heavenly Jerusalem is illumined by the glory of God in 109 00:07:40,500 --> 00:07:45,800 the lamb Jesus Christ. and In this passage the prophet Isaiah 110 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:50,200 casts, an awe-inspiring vision for how Jesus Christ is a light 111 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:57,500 not only for His Covenant People Israel, but for all nations. 112 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:00,700 How Jesus is the light for all nations? 113 00:08:00,700 --> 00:08:06,700 To be saved to bring glory to God, and to be healed to be 114 00:08:06,700 --> 00:08:12,000 saved to bring glory to God, and to be healed, and encourage you 115 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,200 to open your Bible. Pastor our senior pastor, Mark 116 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:18,400 Davis has been encouraging us to bring our Bibles, that is a good 117 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,500 habit, to be in and renew as we enter a new year. 118 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:24,800 So encourage you to take out your Bible or use the Pew, Bible 119 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,300 in front of you. If you're open to the middle of 120 00:08:27,300 --> 00:08:29,000 your Bible, you probably. Get to Psalms. 121 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,000 If you go a little bit to the right of middle you probably get 122 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:34,500 to Isaiah. And so if you're using a beaut, 123 00:08:34,500 --> 00:08:39,299 bloop you Bible turn to page six nineteen and you'll find Isaiah 124 00:08:39,700 --> 00:08:42,500 60. We're going to look at the 125 00:08:42,500 --> 00:08:45,700 verses we read but also some additional verses this morning 126 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,600 but in these opening verses these first three verses are. 127 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:53,400 So we see Isaiah's promise that in the light of Jesus Christ, 128 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,600 All Nations. There's a offering of all 129 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:01,200 Nations to be saved. Look down with me at verse 3, in 130 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:06,700 particular, Isaiah writes, and Nations shall come to your light 131 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:11,000 and Kings to the brightness of your Rising. 132 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:15,700 He affirms that. That Redemption is coming to 133 00:09:15,700 --> 00:09:20,400 God's people Israel. But also to those surrounding 134 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:26,000 God's people to the nation's. And this is a huge biblical 135 00:09:26,300 --> 00:09:29,800 theme that the promise of redemption grows from a person 136 00:09:30,100 --> 00:09:34,800 to a family to a community to a nation to All Nations. 137 00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:39,500 If you flip back in your Bible to Genesis chapter 12, we read 138 00:09:39,500 --> 00:09:44,700 that the Covenant promises made to Abraham and embedded in them 139 00:09:44,900 --> 00:09:50,300 is a promise for the nation's. Genesis 12, verses 1 through 3, 140 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:53,500 Moses writes. Now, the Lord said to Abram go 141 00:09:53,500 --> 00:09:56,000 from your country and your Kindred and your father's house 142 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:57,400 to the land that I will show you. 143 00:09:57,700 --> 00:10:00,500 And I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you and 144 00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:03,700 make your name great. So that you will be a blessing. 145 00:10:04,100 --> 00:10:05,600 I will bless those who bless you. 146 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:10,300 And Him who dishonors you? I will curse and in you all the 147 00:10:10,300 --> 00:10:14,000 families of the Earth shall be blessed. 148 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:21,300 God promises Abram, family, and a land, and a blessing to the 149 00:10:21,300 --> 00:10:23,800 nation's to all the families of the earth. 150 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,800 And of course it's in Jesus. That all of those promises, all 151 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:31,100 of those Covenant promises are fulfilled and so Jesus comes and 152 00:10:31,100 --> 00:10:35,800 he says, I am the light of the world in John chapter 8. 153 00:10:35,900 --> 00:10:38,500 Eight. I am the light of the world or 154 00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:45,100 as we read in Revelation chapter 21 of this new city, this 155 00:10:45,100 --> 00:10:47,700 heavenly Jerusalem. This picture of the new Heaven 156 00:10:47,700 --> 00:10:52,500 and new earth that God will Usher into our reality on the 157 00:10:52,500 --> 00:10:56,000 last day. We read that the city has no 158 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,400 need of sun or moon to shine on it. 159 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:03,900 For the glory of God gives it's light and it's lamp is the lamb. 160 00:11:04,500 --> 00:11:09,200 And by its light the Nations We'll walk John tells us that 161 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,700 the new heavens and the new Earth will be continuously. 162 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:19,700 And exclusively illuminated by the glory of the Lamb of God. 163 00:11:20,700 --> 00:11:22,900 If you read the book of Revelation, you'll notice that 164 00:11:22,900 --> 00:11:27,600 the most common title for Jesus, in The Book of Revelation is not 165 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:33,100 Jesus Christ or Son of God, or son of, man, or savior or 166 00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:36,300 Redeemer. The most common title for Jesus, 167 00:11:36,300 --> 00:11:39,400 in The Book of Revelation is the Lamb. 168 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:45,300 And it's a reminder to us that our faith and our savior that 169 00:11:45,300 --> 00:11:50,500 our faith rests on a savior who was crucified a lamb of God, who 170 00:11:50,500 --> 00:11:54,800 was slain for us, a spotless, pure Lamb of God. 171 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:59,900 Our savior is one who not only taught or performed Miracles, 172 00:11:59,900 --> 00:12:04,100 but our faith is fixed on a savior who was born and 173 00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:08,800 crucified and died and buried and raised again. 174 00:12:10,100 --> 00:12:14,800 We worship every Sunday in that grand context of redemption of 175 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:19,300 Covenant promises made to Abraham and Covenant promises 176 00:12:19,300 --> 00:12:24,300 fulfilled to Jesus end the focus of our worship being on Jesus 177 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:26,800 Christ, the Lamb of God we're surrounded by that story every 178 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:28,300 week and you might not notice it. 179 00:12:29,100 --> 00:12:33,600 The stories told in the windows above you beginning from Genesis 180 00:12:34,100 --> 00:12:37,400 through the Old Testament. The gospel is on these rear 181 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:39,600 windows all the way to revelation. 182 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:43,100 Yeah. And multiple places at least 183 00:12:43,100 --> 00:12:46,800 three places in this Sanctuary. There is that symbol of the Lamb 184 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:51,600 of God? Jesus Christ, the resurrection 185 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,300 Lambs symbol that's been used. You see it in these two lower 186 00:12:55,300 --> 00:12:58,900 Windows here, the Lamb with the resurrection flag over his 187 00:12:58,900 --> 00:13:01,500 shoulder. It's a reminder to us that our 188 00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:06,800 faith as God's people is fixed on Jesus Christ, and him 189 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,600 crucified. His glory, his brightness, the 190 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:14,600 light he brings comes through his suffering. 191 00:13:15,500 --> 00:13:19,300 Through his death, through his resurrection. 192 00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:25,200 And by the truth of his word and by the power of His spirit and 193 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:30,600 by the means of his church that good news of Jesus Christ. 194 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:35,400 The crucified risen Lamb of God is going to every tribe and 195 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:40,600 every tongue and every nation. How do we know it? 196 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:42,200 Yes. God promised it. 197 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:46,200 But how do we know that is actually coming true? 198 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:52,500 Well, you can serve a church history. you can look at piles 199 00:13:52,500 --> 00:13:58,400 upon piles of data of how the nations are being reached Even 200 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:03,300 in our own age, but perhaps most compiling Lee, and clearly of 201 00:14:03,300 --> 00:14:08,800 all Think of this proof. We're here. 202 00:14:10,300 --> 00:14:14,000 We are the nation's. We are the Nations gathered 203 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,500 here. The gospel went out from 204 00:14:16,500 --> 00:14:19,800 Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the Earth 205 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,500 even crazy plate. Strange places like Dallas, 206 00:14:22,500 --> 00:14:26,500 Texas. And two people like us. 207 00:14:27,300 --> 00:14:32,400 Foreigners Outsiders historically, an ethnically 208 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:37,400 speaking to the promises originally made to God's people. 209 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:43,900 We are evidence that these things are true, and they're 210 00:14:43,900 --> 00:14:48,100 continuing to come true, and we have the opportunity then from 211 00:14:48,100 --> 00:14:51,800 from our own lives and our own homes and families and church, 212 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:55,300 to extend the gospel to the nation's surrounding us. 213 00:14:55,300 --> 00:14:59,000 Both in other places. Has and even in our own City. 214 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:03,100 And so I would just Echo, Sam's words about the city at missions 215 00:15:03,100 --> 00:15:06,400 Expo next week. Come, see how we are seeking to 216 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:11,800 engage the nation's, even here in our city even here in our 217 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:15,300 church. The promise of Salvation goes to 218 00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:20,500 all the nations and it's important to make a distinction 219 00:15:20,500 --> 00:15:24,200 that the promise is, not that every single person will be 220 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,200 saved at its that's universalism. 221 00:15:27,300 --> 00:15:31,100 We the Bible does not teach that but rather that there are people 222 00:15:31,100 --> 00:15:35,500 from every civilization from every tribe from every nation 223 00:15:35,500 --> 00:15:39,400 who are being saved, as they placed their faith in Jesus 224 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:43,000 Christ. The Lamb of God, it's a 225 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:47,000 beautiful promise that this light this brightness has come, 226 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,500 it's come in. Christ's first coming. 227 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:56,000 It's expanding now and Shining brighter through the ministry of 228 00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:00,200 the church and the word and the spirit it will come in its 229 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:03,000 fullness at Christ's second coming. 230 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:08,200 And so we see in this passage, Jesus Christ, the light bringing 231 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,200 salvation to All Nations. But s we also see all nations 232 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:14,900 bringing glory to God. All nations bringing glory to 233 00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:18,500 God, as they come to Faith in Jesus Christ, let me read. 234 00:16:18,500 --> 00:16:21,700 Look back down again and Isaiah. T. 235 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,500 And look at verse 6, we read this just a moment ago. 236 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:31,200 It says a multitude of camels shall cover you the young camels 237 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,600 of Midian and ephah and those from Sheba shall come and they 238 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,900 shall bring gold and frankincense and shall bring 239 00:16:37,900 --> 00:16:42,600 good news. The Praises of the Lord, as 240 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:46,700 people from All Nations calm. They also bring with them, the 241 00:16:47,300 --> 00:16:51,800 talents, the resources, the gifts that God has entrusted to 242 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:56,300 them and redeemed, for his glory, in the story of the birth 243 00:16:56,300 --> 00:16:57,400 of Jesus. Christ. 244 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:01,700 And the thing we talked about in point to in Epiphany, is the 245 00:17:01,700 --> 00:17:05,800 story of that being fulfilled in the wise men coming from the 246 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,599 East and bringing gold and frankincense. 247 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:12,599 It evens mentions those things right there in Isaiah 6, the 248 00:17:12,599 --> 00:17:16,300 wise men and their gifts were a partial fulfillment of that 249 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:19,099 prophecy, but it also says that they bring other things, these 250 00:17:19,099 --> 00:17:21,099 nations bring other things like camels. 251 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:29,800 Later on in verse 7, flocks of rams. later in verse 9, they 252 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:36,100 bring ships, says the ships of tarshish shall come And there's 253 00:17:36,100 --> 00:17:40,200 also other precious wealth, silver and gold. 254 00:17:40,900 --> 00:17:45,800 So why are the nation's bringing these things these resources to 255 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:49,300 the lord? Well, these are ways in which 256 00:17:49,300 --> 00:17:53,400 the nations are bringing tribute laying at the feet of Jesus 257 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:58,400 Christ, those things which God gifted them with and trusted 258 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:03,000 them with and with all that they are and all that they have, they 259 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,500 are coming into the service into the worship. 260 00:18:05,500 --> 00:18:09,100 Chip of Jesus Christ to praise him. 261 00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:14,500 As verse 7 says, in verse 13, says, specifically to beautify 262 00:18:14,500 --> 00:18:20,200 his worship and to beautify his house, there's Geographic 263 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,000 significance to this picture of Nations coming with their 264 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,200 wealth. The geographic significance is 265 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:29,300 that that Isaiah mentions Nations coming from all 266 00:18:29,300 --> 00:18:33,100 directions, Midian from the south FIFA from the East keytar 267 00:18:33,100 --> 00:18:35,300 and naboth from the north tarshish. 268 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,700 From the West just as the Book of Revelation sent out the 269 00:18:38,700 --> 00:18:40,900 message of the Gospel to seven churches. 270 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,700 This promised here is a promise of people coming from all 271 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:50,900 directions, back to Jesus Christ, and to the worship of 272 00:18:50,900 --> 00:18:56,600 God in the new Heaven and the new Earth, he flip again to 273 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:03,100 Revelation 21 where we read earlier, verse 24, speaks of the 274 00:19:03,100 --> 00:19:07,100 kings of the earth. Bringing their Lori and then in 275 00:19:07,100 --> 00:19:10,100 verse 26 it says that they will bring into it. 276 00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:17,200 The glory and honor of the nation's the glory and honor of 277 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,200 the nation's kids, you probably remember that scene in the movie 278 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:26,200 Aladdin when Prince Ali comes into the city Prince, Ali 279 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,600 Worthy, is he Ali Ababwa and he comes with all these possessions 280 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:34,400 and animals and wealth in tribute. 281 00:19:35,100 --> 00:19:40,600 To the King as a comical exaggerated version of of that 282 00:19:40,700 --> 00:19:44,000 historic practice. Its ultimate fulfillment, though 283 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,200 is in how people from every tribe and tongue and Nation are 284 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:52,100 bringing their tribute to the feet of Jesus Christ. 285 00:19:53,300 --> 00:19:57,400 And of course, the focus here in this passage is not the 286 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,500 possessions themselves. It's not the gold, it's not the 287 00:20:00,500 --> 00:20:05,900 frankincense, it's not the flocks, it's the hearts and the 288 00:20:05,900 --> 00:20:09,400 lives of the people. Coming into the presence of God, 289 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:15,000 being transformed, to be worshippers Eternal, worshippers 290 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:19,800 of the lamb in the new Heaven and the new Earth as we enter a 291 00:20:19,808 --> 00:20:22,800 new year, think of how your heart needs that. 292 00:20:23,300 --> 00:20:28,900 Orientation that your worship, your passion, your desires to be 293 00:20:28,900 --> 00:20:33,700 fixed on Jesus Christ. And with all that you have, and 294 00:20:33,700 --> 00:20:39,400 with all that you are pouring into the worship and work of 295 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:43,200 Jesus Christ, the King. That will be your activity in 296 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:49,500 all eternity. How wonderful to start now, it 297 00:20:49,500 --> 00:20:52,200 is good. It's commanded. 298 00:20:53,300 --> 00:20:57,800 And it's a joy. And so God's light goes out in 299 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,700 Jesus Christ. Not only to save people from All 300 00:21:00,700 --> 00:21:04,400 Nations and for all nations to bring their glory to God. 301 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:09,200 But then finally we see in this passage at the end of Isaiah 60 302 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:13,800 and the very beginning of revelation, 22 the promise that 303 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:18,600 in Jesus Christ. There is light for all nations 304 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:22,300 to be healed for all nations to be healed. 305 00:21:22,300 --> 00:21:25,400 There's not only salvation and and worship and Glory, but 306 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,600 there's healing for the people who come. 307 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:34,200 If you look down and Isaiah 60 beginning in verse 17, notice 308 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:39,200 you see a repeated phrase. There's a there's these phrases 309 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,300 that emphasize the great reversals of Fortune the great 310 00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:46,500 reversals of Providence for God's people. once having 311 00:21:46,500 --> 00:21:52,600 suffered once having endured long oppression, hope and 312 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:57,000 healing comes in verse 17. The repeated phrase is instead 313 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:01,700 of Isaiah writes instead of bronze, I will bring gold 314 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,400 instead of iron. I will bring silver instead of 315 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:09,200 wood bronze. Instead of Stones iron, I will 316 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,900 make your overseers peace and your taskmasters righteousness. 317 00:22:12,900 --> 00:22:18,000 It's this picture of blessing and healing coming to God's 318 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:23,000 people, once poor and Scattered and oppressed and then it goes 319 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:27,400 on in verses 18 through 20 with the repeated phrase, no more 320 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:28,900 three. Times. 321 00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:34,900 Isaiah says no more. He says violence shall no more 322 00:22:34,900 --> 00:22:37,800 be heard in your land Devastation or destruction 323 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,500 within your borders. You shall call your walls 324 00:22:40,500 --> 00:22:45,300 salvation, your Gates, praise the sun shall be no more your 325 00:22:45,300 --> 00:22:49,200 light by day, nor for brightness, shall the moon, give 326 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,800 you light, but the Lord will be your Everlasting Light and your 327 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:57,800 God Will Be Your Glory. Your son shall no more go down 328 00:22:58,300 --> 00:23:01,500 nor your moon, withdraw itself for the Lord, will be your 329 00:23:01,500 --> 00:23:07,500 Everlasting Light and your days of mourning shall be ended. 330 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:13,100 That phrase is so powerful. The Lord will be your 331 00:23:13,100 --> 00:23:20,000 Everlasting Light and your days of mourning shall be ended. 332 00:23:21,500 --> 00:23:27,100 Listen to how John describes it in Revelation, chapter 22 in the 333 00:23:27,100 --> 00:23:30,600 first few verses. This is Page 1041. 334 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:34,200 If you're still following along, in that Pew, Bible says then the 335 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:38,000 angel showed me the river of the Water of Life bright, as Crystal 336 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,300 flowing from the Throne of God and of the Lamb, through the 337 00:23:41,300 --> 00:23:43,000 middle of the street of the city. 338 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:47,100 Also on either side of the river the Tree of Life. 339 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:51,800 With its 12 kinds of fruit yielding, its fruit. 340 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:57,900 Each month, the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the 341 00:23:57,900 --> 00:24:02,900 nation's. That's the picture that so 342 00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:08,000 soothe and Comforts us as God's people that there is a day 343 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:12,800 coming with no more sin with no more sorrow with no more pain 344 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:17,600 with No More Tears. That we will be in the presence 345 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:22,400 of God. At the Tree of Life. 346 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:27,600 Once guarded by angels, to prevent us from accessing, it 347 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:29,800 will be opened to us as God's people. 348 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:38,000 For our healing. In her commentary, her new 349 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:40,700 commentary on the Book of Revelation. 350 00:24:40,700 --> 00:24:44,600 Nancy Guthrie, writes this tying together. 351 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:49,300 This the story of the Tree of Life from the garden to the New 352 00:24:49,300 --> 00:24:53,200 Jerusalem, she writes in the beginning, God planted a garden. 353 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:56,600 The tree of life was in the midst of the garden because of 354 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,200 their Disobedience. Adam and Eve were banished from 355 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:02,300 the garden and God placed the cherubim and a flaming sword 356 00:25:02,300 --> 00:25:05,100 that turned every way to guard the tree of life. 357 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:11,100 So God sent his son, a second. Adam who also faced Temptation 358 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:15,000 regarding a tree, the tree of Calvary, but to make it possible 359 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,400 for his people to enter into the presence of God. 360 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:22,100 Jesus came under the Flaming sword on the cross. 361 00:25:22,300 --> 00:25:27,400 Jesus was pierced by The Flaming sword of judgment Jesus entered 362 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:32,100 into death, so that we might enter into this greater Garden 363 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:35,800 that John saw in his vision again. 364 00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:39,400 Again, and again, the promises of the Gospel, the promise of 365 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,800 Salvation, the promise of beautiful, true worship, the 366 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:49,100 promise of healing from All Things, sad from All Things, 367 00:25:49,100 --> 00:25:52,400 discouraging from All Things leading to death. 368 00:25:53,800 --> 00:26:00,200 All of that will be healed. And only because of the 369 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:04,300 suffering and death of our faithful Lamb of God. 370 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:08,900 Jesus Christ. Kids, some of, you know, this 371 00:26:08,900 --> 00:26:12,400 book, The Jesus story book Bible, there's a great line at 372 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:20,400 the end of the book. Where the author writes look, 373 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:23,000 God. And his children are together 374 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,200 again. No more running away. 375 00:26:27,300 --> 00:26:32,900 Or hiding no more crying or being lonely or afraid, no more 376 00:26:32,900 --> 00:26:37,600 being sick or dying because all those things are gone. 377 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:44,800 Yes, they're gone forever. Everything sad has come untrue. 378 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:51,600 That's the promise for us as God's people and we are called 379 00:26:51,700 --> 00:26:56,200 and equipped in this age to not keep it to ourselves. 380 00:26:57,900 --> 00:27:02,200 But that in every conversation in every responsibility that we 381 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:07,400 have in this new year in every moment where the holy spirit 382 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:12,400 opens that door, we are Faithfully to speak of and 383 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:15,500 reflect the light of Jesus Christ. 384 00:27:17,900 --> 00:27:21,600 You may know that in this past year NASA redoubled its efforts 385 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:26,800 to return to the moon and it said that by 2025 or in the year 386 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:32,400 2025 NASA and SpaceX will combine efforts to return 387 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:36,700 American astronauts to the moon. It's fascinating stuff. 388 00:27:39,500 --> 00:27:42,200 But it's important as you think of the Moon in these coming 389 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:46,700 years think of this. There's a beautiful quote that 390 00:27:46,700 --> 00:27:51,600 reminds us of our place in this age pointing people to Jesus 391 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,700 Christ. One author. 392 00:27:54,700 --> 00:27:59,000 Michael Horton says the church is never the Sun, but always the 393 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:05,000 moon never creating but only reflecting the light of the 394 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:08,900 world. In other words, if we long to 395 00:28:08,900 --> 00:28:12,800 see the nation's come we better, not point to ourselves. 396 00:28:13,900 --> 00:28:16,900 We better not point to our institutions and our 397 00:28:16,900 --> 00:28:22,500 accomplishments we as the people of God are continually pointing 398 00:28:22,700 --> 00:28:28,300 to the Sun to Jesus Christ. And as we do, so, simply 399 00:28:28,300 --> 00:28:31,300 reflecting him as the light of the world. 400 00:28:31,300 --> 00:28:33,300 That is God's Plan of Redemption. 401 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:37,000 That is God's plan for the Nations to come that our eyes, 402 00:28:37,300 --> 00:28:41,600 and our mouths, and our hearts, and our lives will be fixed on 403 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:43,000 Jesus. Christ, may it be. 404 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:47,500 So for all of us in this new year, Heavenly Father, we thank 405 00:28:47,500 --> 00:28:49,300 you for the promises of your word. 406 00:28:49,900 --> 00:28:56,100 We ask that we as a church. Would be re-inspired, Andre 407 00:28:56,100 --> 00:29:01,400 motivated and reinvigorated by the reality that you are calling 408 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:05,500 People Like Us from every tribe and tongue and Nation to your 409 00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:09,400 son, Jesus. May you show us in this new year 410 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,100 ways? We can pray and labor and work 411 00:29:12,100 --> 00:29:15,800 for your gospel to go forth to all people. 412 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:20,900 To our neighbors in our city and to those around the world. 413 00:29:20,900 --> 00:29:26,200 Father, use us in the few days. You've given us use us to point. 414 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:34,000 All we meet to Jesus to his light to his salvation and to 415 00:29:34,008 --> 00:29:36,200 the healing that alone is found in him. 416 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:38,900 We pray in Jesus name, amen.