1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,160 Great hymn. We're going to turn in our 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:05,800 Bibles to First Samuel chapter 20. 3 00:00:12,770 --> 00:00:23,510 First Samuel chapter 20, as you find the place, I do want to 4 00:00:23,510 --> 00:00:30,950 preach what I'm calling A1 off topical message and we'll apply 5 00:00:30,950 --> 00:00:35,880 it as the Lord gives help next week in the will of God. 6 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,960 We'll return then to Thessalonians and try to finish 7 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:49,080 off chapter 5 at least. First Samuel chapter 20, we'll 8 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,200 read from the verse 11. The words will come up and 9 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,920 scream. For those that are on the 10 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:59,000 Internet, let's hear the word of God. 11 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,920 First Samuel chapter 20, verse 11. 12 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:13,920 And Jonathan said unto David, Come and let us go out into the 13 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,160 field. And they went out, both of them 14 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:23,200 into the field. And Jonathan said unto David, O 15 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:27,680 Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about 16 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:33,920 tomorrow, anytime, or the third day, and behold, if there be 17 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:40,920 good toward David, and I, then send not unto thee, and show it 18 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:45,680 thee, the Lord do so, and much more to Jonathan. 19 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:51,280 But if it please my Father to do thee evil, then I will show it 20 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:56,360 thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace, and the 21 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:00,200 Lord be with thee as he hath been with my father. 22 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:06,960 And thou shalt not only while I, while yet I live, show me the 23 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:12,680 kindness of the Lord, that I die not, but also thou shalt not cut 24 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,320 off thy kindness from my house forever. 25 00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:20,000 No, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David, 26 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,400 everyone from the face of the earth. 27 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,520 So Jonathan made a covenant with the House of David, saying, let 28 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,840 the Lord even require it at the hands of David enemies. 29 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,720 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved 30 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,760 him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 31 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:44,480 Then Jonathan said to David, Tomorrow is the new moon, and 32 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:49,160 thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. 33 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,160 Amen. We know the Lord's stamp of his 34 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,840 own approval and blessing, this reading of his own precious and 35 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,240 infallible word. Amen. 36 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:04,800 Now my text this morning is taken from first Samuel chapter 37 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:09,120 20 and verse 18. It reads as follows. 38 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:15,280 Then Jonathan said to David, Tomorrow is the new moon, and 39 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:20,880 thou shalt be missed because thy seat will be empty. 40 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:27,720 They have entitled this message the silence speech of an empty 41 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:32,200 seat. The context of our text is a 42 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:38,360 moment filled with great tension and fear and uncertainty. 43 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:44,200 David once celebrated as a hero of Israel after the death of 44 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,200 Goliath of Gath. It's now a fugitive. 45 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:56,960 King Saul's jealousy has turned murderous, and David's life 46 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:03,760 hangs in a balance. Jonathan, Saul's son, and David, 47 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:09,520 his closer friend, are having a meeting before the feast of the 48 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,720 new moon. They agree on a particular test 49 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:18,959 to prove whether there's murders intent in Saul's heart or not, 50 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:25,360 and as part of that test, David will not appear at the King's 51 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,400 table during the feast of the New Moon. 52 00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:32,480 Notice what Jonathan actually said to David. 53 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,840 Tomorrow is the new moon, and thou shalt be missed. 54 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:41,880 We can ask why. Here's the answer. 55 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:50,560 Because thy seat would be empty. Beloved, listen to me carefully. 56 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:57,000 The Holy Scriptures often speak to us not only by what is 57 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:01,680 present, but also by what is absent. 58 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:09,680 Do you know that God uses silence silence speech to teach 59 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,600 His people? And then our text? 60 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:19,120 Notice that Jonathan speaks of such a silent speech. 61 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,400 David's seat at the King's table will be empty. 62 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:31,360 Oh yes, the feast will go on, the food will be served, the 63 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:38,600 places will be set, but one seat will be empty, and that one seat 64 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:46,080 will proclaim a silent sermon. It will preach A sermon louder 65 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:51,000 than the rest. Notice that Jonathan says thou 66 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,320 shall be missed. I believe these words were 67 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:59,800 uttered in sorrow. David, the Lord's anointed, has 68 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:04,520 been forced into hiding. Saul, the once chosen king, has 69 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,520 hardened his heart against David. 70 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:11,320 He's intent in lifting up his hand against the innocent. 71 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:22,160 So Jonathan, a godly son in an ungodly home, speaks lovingly 72 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:26,080 and tenderly and affectionately to his friend. 73 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:30,960 You see, this is about more than a seat at the table, because 74 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:37,640 that seat at the table speaks of a place that's no longer filled. 75 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,760 It speaks of an empty place of fellowship. 76 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:50,520 It speaks of an empty calling. It speaks and proclaims A solemn 77 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:56,120 sermon to every generation. Because that empty seat speaks 78 00:06:56,120 --> 00:07:02,000 to us about purpose and time and value and loss and 79 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,840 responsibility. When Jonathan uttered these 80 00:07:05,840 --> 00:07:09,720 words, he was speaking simply from his heart. 81 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,120 He was speaking sorrowfully to his friend. 82 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:19,560 And yet, as I thought about them, they echo a very deep 83 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:24,560 meaning. So this morning I just want us 84 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:28,960 to consider before we return to Thessalonians, I want us to 85 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:36,320 consider this the silent speech of an empty seat. 86 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:43,760 Firstly, think about the transitory nature of an empty 87 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:47,560 seat. You see, everyone of us here 88 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,800 understands the phrase, even the children. 89 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:59,560 Thy seat will be empty. For all of us in our homes have 90 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:04,280 empty seats, seats that are no longer filled. 91 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:10,640 The silence of an empty seat has preached to us at the dinner 92 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:17,960 table, caused a tear, caused a pang of grief, stirred up 93 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:23,360 memories in our mind and heart. The same applies to the House of 94 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:25,840 God. We think of Saints who have been 95 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:31,240 called home to glory. We think the same when we visit 96 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:36,280 the graveyard to lay flowers at the tomb of a loved 1. 97 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:41,000 You see an empty seat. Reminds me that life is 98 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,600 temporary, that life is transitory. 99 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,720 There's a transitory nature to seek. 100 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:54,360 Life is transitory. It reminds us of the brevity of 101 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:58,440 life. Did Job not say Job 14 and one 102 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:02,400 man that is born a woman is a few days and full of trouble. 103 00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:07,360 As the sparks fly upward, Did Moses not pray? 104 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:13,080 In Psalm 90, verse 12, Teach us to number our days, that we may 105 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:17,880 apply our hearts unto wisdom. Not our years, not our months, 106 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,840 not our weeks, but our days. Because we're only promised one 107 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:26,040 day at a time. We're not even guaranteed 108 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:33,160 tomorrow. One day we are born and we 109 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,720 celebrate that special birthdays. 110 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:42,480 We grow in strength. We go to school, university and 111 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:48,160 then we go out into the field of work and labour in Our Calling. 112 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:54,320 And if the will of God, we progress in the middle years and 113 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:58,840 then we grow old and one day our seat will be vacant. 114 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:05,480 One day our seat will be empty. One day we will die. 115 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:11,520 And in the home, when a father's seat is empty, leadership is 116 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:16,240 missed, stability is gone, strength is no more. 117 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:21,640 When a mother's seat is empty and the home is broken because 118 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:27,680 mummy is gone, then you think of the mummy's nature and prayers 119 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:32,040 and love and warm compassion. It is missed most kingly. 120 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:36,920 How when a child's seat is empty, doesn't the joy go out of 121 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:40,440 the home and the laughter and the hope? 122 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:45,520 Oh, it has gone. Life becomes an existence. 123 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,400 You see, the reality is this. Listen to me carefully. 124 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:55,040 Husbands leave empty seats, wives leaves anti seats. 125 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,760 Fathers and mothers leave anti seats. 126 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:01,680 Children and young people, parents, friends, neighbours, 127 00:11:01,680 --> 00:11:06,160 Saints of God, work colleagues, they all leave anti seats. 128 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:16,800 One day the cool hand of death comes and takes these away from 129 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:18,960 the place that they once occupied. 130 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,120 The places where they once sat is empty. 131 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:29,520 The dinner table changes. The church Pew changes the Kirk 132 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:35,880 session room changes the committee room changes the 133 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:40,480 prayer meeting seats that were once filled and occupied. 134 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:46,000 Places where there was laughter and wisdom and love. 135 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,240 Strength. It's become vacant. 136 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:54,280 Listen to me carefully. David's seat was empty. 137 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:57,680 Why? Because. 138 00:11:57,680 --> 00:12:00,440 Of the transitory nature of the empty seat. 139 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:06,000 David's seat was empty because life had shifted, Circumstances 140 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:09,360 had changed. Nothing in this world is 141 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:14,000 permanent, James tells us. Life is like a vapour that 142 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,520 appears for a little while and then vanishes. 143 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:22,520 The way James, 4 and 14, the silence of an empty seat teaches 144 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:27,000 us that physical life is tampering. 145 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:30,400 You're only here for a little time. 146 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,760 You used to visit a woman in Ballymena, and she had a little 147 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,920 sign outside her door, and it was in Latin. 148 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:38,680 And it I asked her one day what it meant, for I didn't know 149 00:12:38,680 --> 00:12:41,840 Latin, and she said it just means here for a little time. 150 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:48,000 Every time people enter that home, that sign was preaching a 151 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,680 sermon here for a little time. I don't think it she meant it 152 00:12:52,680 --> 00:12:55,720 literally, but but that's what the sign said. 153 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,480 Life was tampering only here for a little time. 154 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:06,320 You know, I can look back, think of the day I was born. 155 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:09,120 I think of where I went to school. 156 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,960 I think of what happened when I left the secondary school, the 157 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,640 big school, through the school bag into the river. 158 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:21,080 Ban 16, started my first job. You can do the same. 159 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:24,480 Look at your life now. Some of you're in your 20s, some 160 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,960 of you're planning your wedding, some of you're in your 30s. 161 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:32,120 Soon you'll be 40, soon you'll be 60, soon you'll be 80. 162 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,840 And I want to emphasise, life is not a rehearsal. 163 00:13:36,680 --> 00:13:42,520 And so often we look back and we realise that our life is 164 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,640 virtually gone and we can look back with regrets and missed 165 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:51,680 opportunities and bad choices and, and, and and and choices of 166 00:13:51,680 --> 00:13:54,880 consequences, remember, and the end of life. 167 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,200 We're going to stand before God and we'll give an account. 168 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:02,360 Romans 14 verse 12 then teaches us, then every one of us will 169 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:06,320 give an account of himself to God, account of our time, how 170 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,920 we've used it, account of our talents that God has given us. 171 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:12,760 Are we guilty of burying those talents? 172 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,800 Account for the tithe and the offering. 173 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:21,280 Too many rich have served themselves, they haven't served 174 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:23,920 the Saviour. Give an account of our thoughts. 175 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:28,760 Why? Because man's chief end us to 176 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:30,520 glorify God and enjoy Him forever. 177 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:34,520 We all must needs die. There is but a step, David said, 178 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,360 between me and death. Boast not thyself of tomorrow, 179 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:39,600 for no man knoweth what a day may bring forth. 180 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:43,400 The Saviour taught in Matthew 6 and 33. 181 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,440 Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 182 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,320 We've already asked the question, What is your life? 183 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:55,120 It is a a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then 184 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,960 vanisheth away. How quickly things change. 185 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:03,360 We can apply it to the home. We'll apply it to the classroom, 186 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,320 the university. We can apply it to the 187 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,000 workplace, we can apply it to the church, we can apply it to 188 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:14,720 the community and society. No man is an island. 189 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:20,040 One day our seats where we have occupied now would be empty. 190 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:24,600 And it's not only death that comes and brings those changes. 191 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:29,960 Divorce brings changes. Desertion, distance, decisions 192 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:37,480 all impact the transitory nature of the empty seat very quickly. 193 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:43,840 The testimony needed for an empty seat. 194 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:48,200 Notice what Jonathan said. Then Jonathan said to David, 195 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:51,520 Tomorrow was the new moon and thou shalt be missed. 196 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:57,960 Underline that. You see, an empty seat testified 197 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:05,040 to a life that once mattered. It speaks of a life worth 198 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:10,840 living. Thou shalt be missed. 199 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,720 Let me ask the question this morning, as a professing child 200 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:18,720 of God, you have sang enthusiastically, dear Saviour, 201 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:23,560 the word mine, Mine by grace. Mine because of the blood 202 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,480 sacrifice of Christ. Mine, because Christ's love was 203 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,320 in your heart this morning. And that's why you come to the 204 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:33,360 House of God. Does your life speak of a life 205 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,400 that's worth living because you're living that life to the 206 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:42,880 glory of God? I remember often the life of the 207 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,720 late Matthew Arnold, a young man that was tragically killed in 208 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:50,960 his motorbike coming home from his work to go home to his young 209 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:56,400 bride and newly born child. And his motto for life was this. 210 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:01,400 Live your life. So to be missed does not apply 211 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:06,079 to us all. Live your life so to be missed. 212 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:08,720 If you weren't here, would you be missed? 213 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,480 Robert Mary Mcsheehan died at the age of 29. 214 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,119 Did you know that he was the minister of Saint Peter's in 215 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,800 Dundee? He was a powerful young Scottish 216 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:21,800 preacher. Whenever he died and was being 217 00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:26,280 buried, the streets of Dundee were lying 6 and 7 deep. 218 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:33,040 The news reports were this. Jesus Christ walked in the body 219 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,360 of Robert Mary McShane in the streets of Dundee. 220 00:17:36,360 --> 00:17:43,240 He was a godly minister. He was a godly man, a young 221 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,200 individual. I think he was training for the 222 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,240 ministry. He was visiting Dundee and he 223 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,200 decided to go to Mcshane's church. 224 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,560 The caretaker, of course, was there and he was showing him 225 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,560 round, and that was very kind of the caretaker. 226 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,360 And he said to the young man when he heard he was a preacher. 227 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:04,080 Would you like to see the room where Reverend McShane studied 228 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:05,120 in? Oh, yes. 229 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:07,320 What would you like to see? The table? 230 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,960 Oh, yes, that would be lovely. We can go one better, young 231 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:13,400 fella. I'm going to let you sit in his 232 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,480 chair. There's his Bible. 233 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,600 It's in front of you. The Bible was open. 234 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:21,320 Here's where he once prepared his sermons. 235 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:26,080 And son, if you want to be like machine, you put your elbows on 236 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:32,320 this table, you put your head in your hands as your head is 237 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:38,640 bowed, and you weep for the people of Scotland like Dundee. 238 00:18:40,360 --> 00:18:42,200 See. Notice this word missed. 239 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:51,640 You'll not be missed unless you're living a godly, holy life 240 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,600 that's been influential and impacting upon others. 241 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:02,440 Matthew 6 and 33 teach us, but seek ye first the Kingdom of God 242 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,160 and His righteousness, and all these other things shall be 243 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:07,920 added unto you. That was our Bible text for 244 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:12,240 teaching the children on Wednesday night, and happiness 245 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:17,320 which people crave and holiness of heart and life and harmony in 246 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,520 families and in church fellowships and honesty. 247 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:24,160 All is included in in putting God first. 248 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:31,480 The seat is only noticed as empty when your life has made a 249 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:35,920 spiritual impact when your life has made a difference. 250 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:41,240 Solomon says the memory of the just as blessed Proverbs 710. 251 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,920 I can think of many influential people in their own life. 252 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:52,040 Late Doctor Paisley, late Doctor Douglas, the late Doctor SB 253 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,400 Cook, the late Doctor Alan Kearns. 254 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,800 Many others remember meeting for the first time the late Jim 255 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:04,600 McLennan over in Lisburn. I think of the encouragement of 256 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,320 the late Willie Hugh Baxter in the prayer meetings in those 257 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:10,720 early days in Lisburn. The life of the late Joe 258 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:14,560 Chapman. Another man in Coleraine comes 259 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:20,520 to mind, Mr William Mccune. These brethren are all home in 260 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,360 the glory. Their seats are empty. 261 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:28,800 But those seats that are empty all testify to a life well 262 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:34,400 lived, to the glory of God. And that applies not only in the 263 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:37,720 home, but applies especially in the House of God. 264 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,600 No, the empty seat says. Someone was once to hear. 265 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:47,240 Someone worshipped here. Someone radiated the beauty of 266 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:51,120 Christ here. Someone once prayed here. 267 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,960 Someone once lifted up their voice in praise. 268 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,920 Someone once gave themselves to the Lord here. 269 00:20:57,120 --> 00:21:00,400 Someone once gave all their tithes and offerings and used 270 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,680 their influence for the Lord and served Him faithfully. 271 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:09,600 In other words, their seat testified to the Lord. 272 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,880 They did all that they could to further the work of God. 273 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:20,560 They were not a lover of themselves, they were a lover of 274 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:23,920 the Saviour. They put the Lord first. 275 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,240 Remember what we read in Psalm 12. 276 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:33,480 The David laments Help Lord, for the godly man seethes the 277 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:37,280 faithful feel from among the children of men. 278 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:41,640 Isaiah the prophet and Isaiah 57 verse one says the righteous 279 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:46,120 perisheth and no man layeth at the heart and merciful men are 280 00:21:46,120 --> 00:21:49,920 taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away 281 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,280 from the evil to come. Could I ask the? 282 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:59,040 Question this morning. Where are the godly? 283 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:01,440 Men. And the godly. 284 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:07,560 Woman of a past generation, where are the spiritual giants 285 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:13,600 for the work of God today? Doctor Leonard Ravenhill. 286 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:18,680 Died in the year 1991. When he's died, his wife stood 287 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:22,280 weeping at the graveside. Someone thought they would come 288 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:24,960 in, comfort her. You know this is what they said, 289 00:22:25,360 --> 00:22:26,920 Mrs Ravenhill. Don't be sad. 290 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:31,320 Don't be downcast. Your husband was one of the 291 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:35,480 godliest men who ever lived, and your husband has gone home. 292 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:38,320 He has gone home to be with Christ. 293 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,520 He's at home in heaven. So don't be sad. 294 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:44,640 Smile. This is what she. 295 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:46,920 Said to the person who'd come to comfort her. 296 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:52,680 I'm not weeping for. Myself, these tears are not for 297 00:22:52,680 --> 00:23:02,120 me and my children. I'm weeping for America because 298 00:23:02,120 --> 00:23:08,120 this country doesn't know what an intercessor it has lost. 299 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:14,680 And who will? Wrestle with God now in prayer 300 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:19,440 for America. And the same can. 301 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:26,320 Be said for this United Kingdom. Empty seats in the. 302 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:29,400 House of God. Empty seats. 303 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,840 In the prayer meeting, empty seats at the communion table. 304 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:41,280 I'm very conscious. That individuals can't 305 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:43,920 physically always be in the House of God. 306 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:47,560 I think today of those who are in the hospital, if they could 307 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:50,760 change places with you, they would rather be here in the 308 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,440 House of God than in the hospital. 309 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,880 I realised that. Some are at home recovering from 310 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,200 strokes. Some are struggling with cancer. 311 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:03,600 Some are struggling with Parkinson's disease, some of 312 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:07,640 heart attacks. Others have legitimate work. 313 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:11,320 And I I stress that legitimate work because at the end of the 314 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:14,720 day, each of us are answerable and accountable to God. 315 00:24:16,120 --> 00:24:17,520 But for those who. Are not I'll. 316 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:21,640 For those who. Are able bodied and I say this 317 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:25,120 to my own family and I said this to my family this morning before 318 00:24:25,120 --> 00:24:28,160 I left the house. For those who are fit and able. 319 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:30,920 On a Sunday. Morning. 320 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:34,800 They should be in the House of God with the people of God, 321 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:39,520 worshipping the living and the true God through the Christ of 322 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:41,920 God and. When they're not. 323 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:46,640 Here then, they're missed as far as their physical presence is 324 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:51,440 concerned and everything else that flows from that you see in 325 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:57,480 Saul's house at that table. The empty. 326 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:01,720 Seat centred a message And what was the message? 327 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:08,400 Someone should be here. Someone is missing. 328 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:14,160 They're not here and all I'm saying. 329 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:18,480 This morning is this. They're accountable to God. 330 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:23,280 They're answerable to. Him on that day the book shall 331 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:27,080 be opened and he'll hold up the book, this book that says in the 332 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:32,120 book of Exodus, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 333 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,400 And we're ought people to be in the Sabbath day. 334 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:38,160 They ought. To be in the. 335 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,240 House of God with the people of God worshipping the living and 336 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:43,480 the true God through the Christ of God. 337 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:46,600 That's where they ought to be, and God will hold them 338 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,280 accountable. If they're not, I'll. 339 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,680 And they are able bodied and they've just decided to lie in 340 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,760 bed in Blanket Cathedral or they've decided to go to the 341 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,960 golf course or the swimming pool or play football or whatever 342 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:03,280 people do on the Sabbath day. The Bible says woe unto them 343 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:06,560 that perfaean the Sabbath. God has set a principle one day 344 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:11,280 and seven set aside. For praise and worship. 345 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:15,800 Six days they have to labour and do all that they have to do and 346 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:21,360 can do and want to do, but one day is the Lord's Day and our 347 00:26:21,360 --> 00:26:24,480 country's the poorer. Because 10s. 348 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:29,200 Of thousands of Ulster people, non the Protestants, Orangemen 349 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:33,320 included, members of The Apprentice Boys, the Royal Black 350 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:35,800 Perceptory. They should be at the House of 351 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:39,520 God on the Lord's Day, but their seats are empty. 352 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:42,640 Those anti seats? Testify. 353 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:46,520 That they are missing, that's what I. 354 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:50,480 Mean by we have testimony. Testimony can be for. 355 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:53,280 Good. Many of the Saints who've gone 356 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:57,920 home left a good testimony. Many of the professing. 357 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,680 Saints. Are leaving a bad. 358 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:04,920 Testimony, because when it comes to the Lord's Day, they're 359 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:07,760 absent. One final thing. 360 00:27:10,120 --> 00:27:12,200 The tragic news? Of an empty seat. 361 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:18,200 You see David's empty seat. Was tragic. 362 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,720 Because of the. Exposed and spoke of a broken 363 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:27,000 relationship. It spoke of a. 364 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:31,080 Threatened leadership. It spoke of the rejection of a 365 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:35,080 future king, which is different. And in. 366 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:37,760 The House of God when seats are empty. 367 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,320 That empty seat. With that person is missing. 368 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,160 It exposes. Something about the state of 369 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:51,280 their heart and their mind. It exposes a spiritual drift 370 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:54,960 from God. It exposes a a relational 371 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:59,560 distance with God. It exposes A gradual 372 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:05,120 disengagement from God. And the result. 373 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:09,920 Is a diagnosis of a slow spiritual sickness that's in 374 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:13,880 their heart and in their mind. What's the cause? 375 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:18,800 Very quickly, let me suggest backsliding in heart. 376 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:24,680 Individuals who don't care, full of spiritual neglect, half 377 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:27,960 hearted, not living in a real spiritual. 378 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,080 Prioritise. Relationship with the Lord 379 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:37,400 didn't the Lord Jesus say in Matthew 24 verses 12 and 13? 380 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:39,960 Here's one of the signs of the last days. 381 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:43,920 Because iniquity shall abound, the love of the many shall wax 382 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,280 cold. And that's one of. 383 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:49,520 The reasons why people have stopped attending to the House 384 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:52,360 of God. They they, they don't. 385 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,280 Have the love for the Lord that they ought. 386 00:28:55,440 --> 00:29:03,480 Another calls is negativity. They've faced unjust criticism. 387 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:09,120 Do you know the? Unjust criticism chases away 388 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:12,560 true commitment. It drives true commitment out 389 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:16,320 the door. But sometimes that. 390 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:20,080 Criticism is necessary. I know criticism can be unjust 391 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:22,600 and people can be cruel and harsh in their words. 392 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:26,720 But if men have become lovers of themselves, if men are me first, 393 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:32,000 men not the master first, if men make decisions but refuse to 394 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:35,360 bring in what's the will of God and not put the Lord first? 395 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:39,240 Because the mindset. Should be Lord, what is your 396 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:41,120 will? If we're living to the glory of 397 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:43,120 God, if we're putting the Lord first? 398 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:45,760 Lord, I want your will, not mine. 399 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:50,040 But sometimes when men. Don't get their way and it's 400 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:52,800 their will. Then they become argumentative, 401 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,000 they become critical. They can become twisted in their 402 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:58,880 thinking and that can impact upon others. 403 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:06,640 Here's another cause offence. People have unresolved. 404 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:09,080 Hurts and issues in their heart and mind. 405 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:12,920 In other words, they've been wounded in the House of God, and 406 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:17,960 the word spoken and hastened has brought an insult to them. 407 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:23,320 And how many? People because of offence. 408 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:27,320 Stay away from. The House of God. 409 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:32,720 Their seat is empty. Not only in the Lord's Day, the 410 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:36,480 prayer meeting, Sunday night, Sunday morning. 411 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,160 And we only really see them at special times. 412 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:43,120 Maybe weddings or funerals. Maybe they're happier at home on 413 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:45,640 the sofa. Maybe worse than that, they're 414 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:51,040 happier in or on the bar stool. Something is wrong. 415 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:53,920 Could I point out? This morning. 416 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:58,880 The Bible says. Demas has loved, have forsaken 417 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:00,800 me, having loved this present world. 418 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:05,400 Second Timothy 4 and 10. Demas wanted a. 419 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:09,560 Life of convenience rather than a life of consecration unto the 420 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:11,680 Lord. Doctor Martin Lloyd Jones was 421 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:15,560 asked one time about Demas. Was Demas saved and he said 422 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:18,840 this? Well, the last time we read 423 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:24,880 about Demas in the Bible, Demas is going in the wrong direction. 424 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:28,520 What direction? Are you going? 425 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:32,440 Are you going away from the House of God? 426 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:37,440 Away from the prayer. Meeting away from the Word of 427 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:42,720 God and the preaching of Christ. See, many are weary. 428 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:49,760 Today, and I'm well aware it's easy to get discouraged and 429 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:54,160 dispirited. I'm well aware of obstacles and 430 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:58,040 objections, but you know the hardest thing for a preacher? 431 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:04,280 Is to not see. People in the House of God on 432 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:08,520 the Lord's Day. Because it didn't have. 433 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:13,680 To be that way. David's absence. 434 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:19,640 Exposed and indifference, an offence, a spiritual dright, 435 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:23,800 unconfessed sin, a loss of love for the Lord. 436 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:29,200 It exposed Saul's. Hatred because the empty seat 437 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:31,160 revealed the truth in Saul's heart. 438 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:35,000 That Saul. Was out to murder David. 439 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:43,560 This was a warning, David was. Missed Is your seat empty 440 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:46,920 because of offence, Compromise. Neglect. 441 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:52,560 Is it empty because? Of the loss of love for the Lord 442 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:59,440 whenever your seats occupied I. Say this as we. 443 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:07,160 Finish your occupation occupies not only a seat. 444 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:09,920 But it strengthens. Others. 445 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:14,800 It shapes an atmosphere. It provides a sense of stability 446 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:16,360 and security to the House of God. 447 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:18,520 People reconnect with one another. 448 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:21,200 Relationships are strengthened and restored. 449 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:25,200 There's a sense of relevance. I've been to the House of God 450 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:26,680 today. I've met with the Lord. 451 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:28,960 I've heard him speak to me. There's a sense of 452 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:31,400 responsibility. You. 453 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:33,440 See our greatest. Need, and I say this as I 454 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:37,320 finish, is to know God. To know Jesus. 455 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:41,320 Christ as Lord and Saviour. To know that there's. 456 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,240 A Saviour in heaven who can set men free. 457 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:47,080 To know you have a soul. To know that you need God's 458 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:50,360 salvation. To know that only in this life 459 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:53,920 you can be saved. She has. 460 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:59,360 No empty seats in heaven. To get into heaven. 461 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:01,200 You've got to come and kneel at a seat. 462 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:05,640 You've got to kiss the Son and be reconciled to Him and be 463 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:07,840 redeemed by his blood. He invites us. 464 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:10,440 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that 465 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:13,880 we've obtained mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 466 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,239 And you can kneel before the Lord and cry out. 467 00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:18,520 God, be merciful to me, the Sinner. 468 00:34:18,679 --> 00:34:21,239 You can cry out. Lord, be gracious to me. 469 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:24,320 It's not what the. Dying thief did. 470 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:28,960 Lord, Remember Me when thy comest into thy Kingdom, because 471 00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:31,800 do you see at the Lord's seat that's occupied? 472 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:36,679 Grace and mercy. That the net, through the cross 473 00:34:36,679 --> 00:34:41,760 of Christ and on the ground of the blood God can bestow grace 474 00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:47,040 and mercy to us. The tragic news of an empty 475 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:49,639 seat. It exposed. 476 00:34:49,639 --> 00:34:54,080 All of these things, the indifference, the offence, the 477 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:57,800 spiritual dread, the unconversed sin, the loss of love for God. 478 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:00,640 But let's take this. Typology. 479 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:05,040 Home to our heart. There'll be no empty seats in 480 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:08,200 heaven. And one sat. 481 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:10,760 In the throne. And your duty and. 482 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:14,440 Responsibility is to kneel before that throne and receive 483 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:17,600 first from His hand. His mercy. 484 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:22,800 And his grace, let me ask you as we close have you confessed your 485 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:25,520 sin? Have you trusted Christ as your 486 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:29,040 Lord and Saviour? Can you say in truth, dear 487 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:32,120 Saviour, that word mine? You've tasted the grace of God, 488 00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:35,120 the blood has been applied. Love for Him is in your heart, 489 00:35:35,240 --> 00:35:36,840 and that's why you're here every Sunday. 490 00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:41,080 You come out of. Love for him, you. 491 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:43,320 Come to meet with. Him you come to worship Him. 492 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:46,720 That's the. Kind of mindset. 493 00:35:48,120 --> 00:35:50,400 That the Saints of. God had whom I mentioned. 494 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:53,080 That's the kind of mindset that we need. 495 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:57,400 The Lord bless. This topical message to your 496 00:35:57,400 --> 00:35:57,920 heart.