1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,920 Men. Let's read a few. 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,560 Verses from God's Word. We're going to turn today to 3 00:00:06,560 --> 00:00:23,400 Psalm 102, Psalm 102, and we will read together the 1st 14 4 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:27,880 verses of the chapter, Psalm 102. 5 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:45,420 Let's hear the Word of God, Psalm 102. 6 00:00:56,030 --> 00:01:04,470 Hear my prayer, O Lord. Let my cry come unto thee, Hide 7 00:01:04,470 --> 00:01:08,470 not thy face from me in the day when I am in. 8 00:01:08,470 --> 00:01:13,910 Trouble incline thine ear. Unto me in the day when I call, 9 00:01:13,910 --> 00:01:20,080 answer me speedily, For my days are consumed like smoke, and my. 10 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,720 Bones are burnt. As an hearth. 11 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,320 My heart is smitten and weathered like grass so that I 12 00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:31,960 forget to eat my bread by reason of the. 13 00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:35,840 Voice of my. Groaning, my bones cleave to my 14 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:39,200 skin. I am like a Pelican of the 15 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,680 wilderness. I am like a Nile of the desert. 16 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,760 I watch and now. As a Sparrow. 17 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:51,600 Alone upon the housetop mine enemies reproach me all the day, 18 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,960 and they that are mad. Against me or sworn against me? 19 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,160 For I've eaten ashes like bread. And mingled my. 20 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:04,600 Drink with weeping because of thine indignation and thy wrath, 21 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:06,920 for thou has. Lifted me up. 22 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,600 And cast me down. My days are like a. 23 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:14,320 Shadow that. Declineth and I am withered like 24 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:16,960 grass. But thou O. 25 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,800 Lord shall endure forever. And thy remembrance unto. 26 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:25,440 All generations thou shall arise and have mercy upon. 27 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:30,240 Zion for the set. Time to favour her, Yeah, the 28 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,920 set time has come for Thy servants take pleasure in her 29 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:39,280 stones, and favour the dust thereof. 30 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,040 Amen to God, and stamp his own approval and blessing this 31 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,920 reading of His own precious. Infallible word in. 32 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:53,600 My text this. Morning is taken from Psalm 102, 33 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:58,200 verses 6 and 7, the psalmist said. 34 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,080 I am like a. Pelican of the wilderness. 35 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:09,360 I am like an Isle of the desert. I watch and I'm as a Sparrow. 36 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,600 Alone upon the housetop now you've entitled. 37 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,320 This message, the bitter and blessed lessons. 38 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,120 Of the birds. For those who were here on the 39 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,720 Tuesday night past, we had a visit and a testimony. 40 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:30,640 From Doctor Ron Neller. Of the creation ministries, he 41 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:34,600 was an atheist. An evolutionist, a man who 42 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:39,360 studied landscapes as a. Professor and scientist. 43 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,600 And one day he came to the. Conclusion Studying the 44 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,760 landscapes. There. 45 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,160 Must be a God. And that started him on a 46 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:53,440 spiritual journey and him. Along with his wife. 47 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:57,240 Julie, who was here. He eventually came. 48 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,280 To personal. Faith in Christ. 49 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,400 Put their hand up. On a meeting and trusted Christ 50 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,520 as Lord and Saviour we had a lovely time. 51 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:09,280 In the Lord's. Presence. 52 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,320 It's good to be. Here at the book. 53 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,440 Table afterwards in. Speaking to Julie. 54 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,200 I bought a set. Of the Creation magazine and I 55 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:25,160 brought the current article that Julie gave me on Tuesday night 56 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:27,120 and. Whenever I went home and. 57 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,920 Read it. The article that was most 58 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:37,120 eye-catching to me was this one, Pondering the Majestic Pelican. 59 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:39,760 Now, I've always been fascinated. 60 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:44,120 As you know, with Bible animals. With the birds. 61 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,800 Of the Bible and. This article gives a. 62 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:54,520 Tremendous insight into the. Features and the flight. 63 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:57,200 And the facts. Of the Pelican. 64 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:02,000 And before I went to bed. I looked up the word Pelican and 65 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,720 I discovered there's three references to the. 66 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:11,240 Pelican in the Bible Look, sorry, Leviticus 11/18. 67 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,840 Deuteronomy 14, verse 17. And Psalm 100. 68 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:20,200 And two verse 6. I am like a Pelican of the 69 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:24,120 wilderness. Now 3 in the Bible is the 70 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:25,520 number. Of witness. 71 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,480 And no. Wonder the article called. 72 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:33,120 Pondering the majestic Pelican. So so when I awoken. 73 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,640 Wednesday morning I had. Psalm 102 in my mind. 74 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:38,360 I had these words. I am like a. 75 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:42,000 Pelican of the Wilderness. And then as I. 76 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,040 Read the Psalm again. So probably tired on Tuesday 77 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:46,280 night, as you could well imagine. 78 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,080 And then? When I read it. 79 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,560 Again on the. Wednesday morning I discovered 80 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:52,920 there's two more birds mentioned. 81 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,160 Look again at the text. I am like a Pelican of the 82 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:00,320 wilderness one. I am like a Nile of the desert. 83 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,240 Too, I watch and I'm as a. Sparrow. 84 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:12,680 Alone upon the housetop. So that got me thinking and then 85 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,000 I looked again at. Psalm 102 and. 86 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:16,720 Noticed the title. A. 87 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:18,880 Prayer of the afflicted when he is. 88 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:24,840 Overwhelmed and poureth out his. Complaint before the Lord. 89 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,440 Now I. Believe that this prayer was 90 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:32,840 uttered by King David perhaps. During the time when? 91 00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:36,320 He was on the run from King Saul being haunted for his life. 92 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:40,080 Like an animal. It could also have. 93 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,680 Been written during. The time of his exile from 94 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:47,600 Jerusalem, when he. Was facing Absalon's. 95 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,640 Rebellion. It's interesting. 96 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:54,960 That Psalm 102 is sandwiched between Psalm 101 and Psalm 100 97 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:55,400 and. Three. 98 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,320 And if you look at the title of those psalms, it says a Psalm of 99 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,600 David. See, some people try to tell us. 100 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,040 Daniel wrote this. Other people say no, it was 101 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:04,920 Ezra. Other people say it was. 102 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,920 Nehemiah and they spend a whole. Lot of time trying to argue. 103 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,040 As to who the. Author was but I. 104 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:11,200 Have to tell. You it doesn't. 105 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:15,360 Really matter even though the author isn't given. 106 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:19,920 This is a prayer of the afflicted, so whoever the 107 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,040 author. Was he was afflicted and not 108 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:24,680 only that. He was overwhelmed. 109 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:28,400 In his affliction and on top of that, then he, he, he. 110 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,320 Poured out his complaint before the Lord. 111 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,960 He took his burden to the Lord. And. 112 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:34,480 He left it there. Psalm 100. 113 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,320 And two is also a messy Alex Sam. 114 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:38,920 Because it's quoted in the book. Of Hebrews. 115 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:41,440 Chapter 1, verses 10 through to 12 and. 116 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,840 When you read especially. The 1st 11 verses. 117 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:46,840 Before. You come to the. 118 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:49,800 Butt of verse 12. You'll. 119 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,920 Discover that the psalmist David has taken up. 120 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,840 With. Himself 20 times he. 121 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:02,480 Uses the personal pronoun. I look at our. 122 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,640 Text. I am like a. 123 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,520 Pelican of the Wilderness. I am like a. 124 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,000 Nile of the Desert. I watch. 125 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,120 And I was a. Sparrow alone upon the. 126 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:14,560 House. Top. 127 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:20,640 You see in these 11 verses. King David is describing. 128 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:24,080 For us. How he is feeling. 129 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:31,040 He's revealing to. Us the true state and condition 130 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:35,480 of. His heart and mind I. 131 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,600 Have no doubt that. He's facing a very distressing 132 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:40,760 situation for. Him. 133 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:45,920 It's a day of trouble. It's a day of better complaint. 134 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,680 And as he. Ponders a situation. 135 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:54,320 He describes himself. Like these three birds, what am 136 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:55,640 I? Like in my situation. 137 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:58,320 I'm like a Pelican. I'm like an owl. 138 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:00,520 And I'll add to. That I'm like a. 139 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:04,280 Sparrow. See what's he doing? 140 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:08,360 He's taking us to the. Aviary He. 141 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:12,800 Wants us to study and look at a bit of what we call biblical. 142 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:17,120 Ornithology. That's a study of the birds. 143 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:22,400 And of course the birds of the air are worthy of a study. 144 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,200 And if we were to study all the birds of the Bible, we would 145 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:30,280 learn a whole lot of things. Today I just. 146 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:32,000 Want to look at? These three birds. 147 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,480 Because they're in my mind on Wednesday morning, I thought we 148 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,080 may just focus on the Pelican. But. 149 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:40,840 We're going to. Look at these other. 150 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:49,960 Birds think with. Me. 1 The category of these 151 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,680 birds. I am like a. 152 00:09:52,680 --> 00:09:59,560 Pelican underline that I am like a Nile underline that I watch 153 00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:04,640 Shanam as a Sparrow. So you've got three birds here. 154 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:11,920 Pelican, owl and Sparrow, and in the study of these three. 155 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,320 Birds. We learned this that. 156 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:18,840 Two out of the. Three birds are unclean birds. 157 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:20,560 The. Pelican's an unclean. 158 00:10:20,560 --> 00:10:23,760 Bird the owl. Is an unclean bird. 159 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,760 How do we know? Are you just? 160 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:29,840 Making that up, No Listen to what? 161 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,200 The Bible says it's always good to go back to the. 162 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,320 Bible to the Law and to the. Testimony they. 163 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,280 Speak not according to this word, it's because there's. 164 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,240 No light in there. This is what God says. 165 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:48,880 And the swan and the Pelican. And the Gear Eagle. 166 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,560 So I'm reading from Leviticus Chapter 11 verse 18. 167 00:10:52,680 --> 00:10:54,880 That's one of the references to the Pelican. 168 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,960 And then of course we read there in the book of Deuteronomy, in 169 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:03,240 Deuteronomy 14, verse 17, and the Pelican and the. 170 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:07,600 Gear Eagle and the. Cormorant, you see these? 171 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:09,360 Birds. Are. 172 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,440 Unclean. Birds see the Pelican. 173 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,200 Is not a little. Bird The. 174 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:16,720 Pelican's a big. Bird. 175 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,560 It's like the. Size of a swarm. 176 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,600 It's got. Webbed feet it. 177 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:25,760 Eats fish and God. Says. 178 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,480 It wasn't to be eaten. For food. 179 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:33,440 The Pelican along with the owl is classed as an unclean bird. 180 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:35,240 We go to the. Owl. 181 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:37,040 That's another fascinating creature. 182 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:38,840 In fact, we could preach a sermon in. 183 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:42,400 The owl just by. Itself, there's 200. 184 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:44,120 Species of. Owls. 185 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:48,200 The barn owl. The gear owl. 186 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:50,480 The Eagle. Owl the Great. 187 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,520 Owl, the little owl. But they're all unclean. 188 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,840 God says it's an abomination. To. 189 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:01,480 Eat any of these animals because these are. 190 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:05,000 Unclean animals in. His sight. 191 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,120 And here's the psalmist and what he's saying in his day. 192 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:09,920 Of trouble in his better complaint. 193 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:14,080 I'm like a Pelican. I'm like a gnarl. 194 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:18,520 Did he feel himself unclean before God? 195 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,760 Was there some unconfessed unrepentant sin in his? 196 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:27,600 Heart. Was it at the time of absence 197 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:29,360 rebellion? Was it at the? 198 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:34,000 Time after he. Sinned with Bathsheba, see. 199 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,720 I want to apply that that. It'll be apply it to those of 200 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:38,800 you who are unconverted without Christ. 201 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,120 So I apply it to the. Sinner is. 202 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:43,720 That how you. Really feel about yourself. 203 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,600 You look into your heart and you remember the heart is. 204 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,920 Deceitful and above all. Things desperately wicked. 205 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:51,600 Who can know it? Under. 206 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,560 Romans 3 and 20. 3 for all have. Sinned and come. 207 00:12:54,560 --> 00:12:57,120 Short of the glory of. God, and you haven't just come 208 00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:59,840 short a little bit. You've come short by a mile. 209 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:00,680 You. You. 210 00:13:00,680 --> 00:13:02,280 Think of a. An Archer. 211 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:05,960 And he's got the bow and the arrow, and he's trying to. 212 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,760 Hit the target so many metres. Away. 213 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:12,560 And he doesn't miss just by an inch. 214 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:14,400 He misses by a. Mile. 215 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:16,000 It it. Goes away off. 216 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,840 To the left or a way off to the right? 217 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:20,640 You see the, the the. Psalmist. 218 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:25,560 Could say in Psalm 51. He made this tremendous 219 00:13:25,560 --> 00:13:30,400 statement. Against thee thee only. 220 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:32,000 Have I sinned and done this evil? 221 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,160 And thy sight, that they might not be justified when thou 222 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:35,920 speakest, and be clear when thou judges. 223 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:39,800 Behold, I was. Shapen in iniquity and in sin. 224 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:41,960 Did my mother? Conceive me. 225 00:13:42,680 --> 00:13:46,040 And as we commence this time of Gospel Mission 25. 226 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:48,640 You have to search your heart. You have to. 227 00:13:48,680 --> 00:13:52,040 Ask yourself this question. Do I know that I'm a guilty? 228 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,400 Hell deserving Sinner. Do I know that I have a precious 229 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:58,640 soul that's housed inside this body of clay? 230 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:00,600 Do I know that I need to be saved? 231 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,920 Do I know that I. Need Jesus Christ? 232 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:07,760 As Lord and Saviour. See this Psalm? 233 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:15,400 It's a very precious Psalm. Because the psalmist here is. 234 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:19,760 Making a confession of his true condition. 235 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,760 Before God. How do you feel, David? 236 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:28,400 I feel unclean. So I asked this. 237 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,720 If you feel your sense of uncleanness, acknowledge the 238 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:34,440 true state and condition of your heart. 239 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:39,640 Acknowledge your sin then. Have you trusted Christ as Lord 240 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:40,560 and Saviour? There's not. 241 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:41,960 Only a word. For the Sinner here, I'll tell 242 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:43,720 you something else. In the category of these birds, 243 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:45,880 there's a word for the backstater. 244 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,720 Look at the words in verse 7. I watch an Amazon Sparrow. 245 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:53,920 You see the Sparrow? Was not an unclean. 246 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:57,360 Bird the Sparrow is a. Clean. 247 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,120 Bird. But notice where it's. 248 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:04,920 At it's upon the housetop and I put it to you. 249 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:11,120 That the Sparrow is out of. Place the Sparrow feels. 250 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,560 Like a. Stranger in a strange. 251 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:15,360 Place. And that's exactly what David's 252 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,800 saying. I watch and I'm as a Sparrow 253 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:23,080 alone upon the housetop. See how many? 254 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:25,120 People today profess to be believers. 255 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,240 They tell us that they've trusted Christ as Lord and 256 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:30,440 Saviour and for a. Time, maybe all goes well. 257 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:35,040 Here they are as a. Pilgrim on a journey and on that 258 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:38,240 journey. Something happens and they feel 259 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,760 like an outcast. And how many have? 260 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,960 Professed the name of. Christ lived well, and then 261 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,280 something has happened. Trials or troubles have. 262 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:49,520 Come, some better complaint has come. 263 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,240 Something has happened that has knocked them out of. 264 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:55,280 Sorts and now. They feel completely out of 265 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,720 place with God and maybe. Even in that journey, in that. 266 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:00,440 Profession of faith that. They've. 267 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,040 Suffered a lot of hatred and backlash from. 268 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:05,560 Family. Members or friends, how many in 269 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:07,080 the past have suffered the loss of? 270 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,160 A job because they. Profess the name of. 271 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,000 Christ. Or or or. 272 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,960 Maybe they've been spot. On maybe they've been cursed. 273 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:22,480 And they've become disheartened. They've become dispirited. 274 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:25,920 Could I just ask? This morning. 275 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:30,680 Do you? Feel like a stranger in this 276 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:34,400 world. Do you feel a sense? 277 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:43,840 Of uneasiness, see backsliders true. 278 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,880 Backsladers. Not everyone can say I am a 279 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:48,280 backslader A. True. 280 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:51,640 Blackslader is. Spoiled for the world? 281 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:57,440 A true backslader is unhappy. A true backslader is the most. 282 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:02,600 Miserable individual you could. Ever come across because a true 283 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:07,839 backslader feels alone? A true backslader feels is under 284 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:11,119 the rod of. Affliction he's. 285 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:12,560 Full of a load. Of guilt. 286 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:14,960 He he has a. Concern for his. 287 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:19,079 Soul, he knows he's. Not right with God. 288 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:22,119 He knows that he. Needs to get right or she needs 289 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:22,960 to get. Right. 290 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,880 And that feeling I. Believe is an indication of the 291 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:29,520 work of the Spirit. And you see a. 292 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,160 Back stator can be impacted. Physically. 293 00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:35,200 They could be the loss of appetite is not what the. 294 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:37,640 Psalmist said. He said so that. 295 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:41,040 I forget to. Eat my bread, he says by reason 296 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:42,320 of the voice of my. Groanings. 297 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:46,360 My bones cleave to my skin. He's impacted physically, he 298 00:17:46,360 --> 00:17:48,400 just can't eat. There's a loss of. 299 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:50,240 Appetite that. There's a loss of. 300 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,080 Weight. He he's mentally impacted. 301 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,400 He he talks about. Groaning here he. 302 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,440 He has no peace, and he's not really. 303 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:02,880 Sure, what is wrong? And and not only is he annoyed 304 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:04,200 and gets easily. Upset. 305 00:18:04,360 --> 00:18:07,080 Not only is he full of a. A miserable spirit. 306 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:09,960 But he's very sharp. And if you try. 307 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,480 To talk to him. They they get very angry. 308 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:13,760 And very agitated. Very. 309 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,480 Quickly and I shout at you. Why? 310 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:22,840 Well, here's the answer. Because they're really out of a 311 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:25,440 right relationship with God. They're out of sorts. 312 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:26,840 With God. Remember. 313 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:30,000 Isaiah. I said this in chapter 14 of 314 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:35,840 verse one of Isaiah. O Israel return. 315 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:38,920 Unto the Lord thy God, for that was. 316 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:43,920 Fallen by thy iniquity. Take with your words, and turn 317 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,920 to the Lord, and say unto him. Take away all iniquity. 318 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:49,480 And receive us graciously. So will we. 319 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,120 Render the calves. Of our lives, remember. 320 00:18:52,120 --> 00:18:55,840 The Bible tells us the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth 321 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:58,160 us from all sin. The Bible tells us if we. 322 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:00,440 Confess our sins. He is faithful and just to 323 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:01,520 forgive. Us our sins. 324 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:03,920 And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 325 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:06,120 See in the. Category of the birds. 326 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,720 David saw himself as unclean. And yet on the other. 327 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,640 Hand he saw himself among the clean birds who were just. 328 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,880 Completely in the wrong place, completely alone. 329 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:21,360 And out of sorts. And I asked. 330 00:19:21,360 --> 00:19:23,920 Today, is that a picture of you? I want you to. 331 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,720 Move on very quickly, I want. You to think of this. 332 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,200 Think not only of the. Category of these birds, but 333 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:30,600 think of. The condition of these. 334 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,160 Birds. You see, if I. 335 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,640 Asked you to ponder this. The condition of these. 336 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:40,200 Birds was one of. Utter loneliness. 337 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:46,240 These birds are in the wrong. Place you see a. 338 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,160 Pelican's not a bird of the wilderness. 339 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:50,400 I am like a Pelican of the wilderness. 340 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,440 Young people Pelicans don't live in the wilderness. 341 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,720 Pelicans live in the. Water. 342 00:19:57,880 --> 00:19:59,240 They they've got webbed. Feet. 343 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,520 They eat fish. Do you know that? 344 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:04,960 The female pouch of the. Pelican under its. 345 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:06,960 Bill is about 15. Inches long. 346 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:10,520 It's large enough to. Hold fish that feeds a family of 347 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:12,680 6. It's the only bird that has a 348 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,920 fishing. Net for a beak. 349 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:18,040 It's a big bird. And where does it? 350 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:21,280 Live it. Lives in the water. 351 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:25,880 And you know that whenever it wants to catch some food, it 352 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,440 just sees fish. There. 353 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,720 And it flies. Into the water, almost like a. 354 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:37,040 Belly flap stings the fish and then scoops them up. 355 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:39,640 In their long beak. And you'll find them. 356 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,320 In the Great Lakes of Uganda, you, you, you'll, you'll. 357 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:47,280 Find them at the Danube Delta. You might even find them. 358 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:49,280 At the sea of Galilee, but most of. 359 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:52,000 The time they fly. Over Israel. 360 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:56,360 They're not meant to. Stop, but something has. 361 00:20:56,360 --> 00:20:58,640 Happened one of the. Pelicans. 362 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:01,920 Our Pelican is sort of we. Find it. 363 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:06,640 We find it in. The wilderness that's not meant 364 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:10,040 to be there, it speaks of. Utter. 365 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:14,080 Loneliness. It speaks of isolation and 366 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,080 solitude. Look at the Isle. 367 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:18,000 Where's the Isle? I'm like an. 368 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:23,920 Isle of the Desert well. The desert's not the home of the 369 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:27,520 Isle. Deserts live in the forest. 370 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:33,600 They they, they live. Among the trees, where's the 371 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:35,480 home of the? Isle it's it's the. 372 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,720 Forest among the trees. Not the desert. 373 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:44,160 The desert is a very lonely, barren, isolated kind of place. 374 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,560 You look at the. Sparrow, I watch and I'm as a. 375 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:50,440 Sparrow. Alone upon the housetops. 376 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:52,840 You've got one single Sparrow. Think of. 377 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:57,040 Sitting on the housetop. Right, but the. 378 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,320 Reality is the Sparrow. 'S not meant to be alone. 379 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:02,440 Usually if you see 1 Sparrow, you see a. 380 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:08,000 Hundreds go down there to Ferndale stand in the. 381 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,720 Collecting yard. Or stand in the typical house in 382 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:15,920 any given day during the time. Of the sparrows. 383 00:22:16,120 --> 00:22:19,560 And you'll see hundreds. Of them, maybe even thousands of 384 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:24,680 them, all sitting perched on. The various steel rafters. 385 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:28,760 You see these birds? Now here's the point. 386 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:35,080 They're communal birds that. Means when you see one. 387 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:40,000 They're all. Together in a company, they're 388 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,240 never alone. I mean, you see one wee Sparrow. 389 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:48,360 You see hundreds by itself. And if you see 1 Pelican, you'll 390 00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:49,760 see. Loads of Pelicans. 391 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:53,440 At the water's age. And if you see one owl? 392 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:58,600 You'll see a number of owls all there in the forest. 393 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,960 This speaks of loneliness. Isolation. 394 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:10,760 Solitude. Maybe that's. 395 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:12,720 How you see? Yourself today. 396 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:21,840 As a Christian, here's David and he's facing his life. 397 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:26,040 And he feels very much alone. And feels very much. 398 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:27,520 By. Himself. 399 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:29,640 So. I asked. 400 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,720 Today. Is that how you're feeling? 401 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:36,400 Maybe you're. Feeling alone at home. 402 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:38,640 Because you're the only true Christian that's in. 403 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:40,120 Your home and family. Circle. 404 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:43,080 Nobody else is interested. In God or the things of God? 405 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:44,280 And you're even. Fearful at this. 406 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:47,320 Time of mission How am I going to get some of my loved ones out 407 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:49,840 to the gospel mission? If I go and ask them, they're. 408 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:51,720 Going to. Chew the head off me. 409 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:57,320 You're thinking Nobody, really. Understands there's no. 410 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,800 Love for God or? Christ or the things? 411 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:03,920 Of the Gospel. You could be alone in a crowd. 412 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:08,120 Do you know that you could be in a crowd? 413 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:10,720 People can be laughing. And smiling all. 414 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:13,880 Around you and yet. Individuals within that crowd 415 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:17,480 are very much alone, feel a sense of struggling inside, 416 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,720 unable to cope. With all that life. 417 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:21,880 Is thrown at them. Unable to cope. 418 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:27,200 In a mental sense. Do you know that the. 419 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,240 Pelican can sit for. Hours. 420 00:24:30,360 --> 00:24:34,880 Alone. Resting it's bill on its breast. 421 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:37,360 Let me just point out that I I know that. 422 00:24:37,360 --> 00:24:40,600 I want to emphasise this the the Roman Catholics are very good at 423 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,600 using the Pelican as a symbol, and they say that that the 424 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:50,760 Pelican's a symbol of Christ and that the the Pelican picks at 425 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:52,880 its. Breast until it bleeds. 426 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:58,440 And then the Pelican kills its young, and then the Pelican who 427 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:01,320 picks its breast till. Bleeds pours that blood. 428 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:05,280 On the little young. Pelicans and they magically 429 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:07,480 revive. And I want to tell you that's 430 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,880 not factual, and that's what I read in this article. 431 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:14,040 And that really? Impressed me, I was. 432 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:15,840 Encouraged. How true it? 433 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:20,280 Was to the. Bible's understanding because. 434 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:23,000 Even though the. Pelican can sit. 435 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:26,160 For hours and. Rest its bill. 436 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:27,920 On its. Breast. 437 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:33,080 It's sitting there in a melancholy mood. 438 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:36,440 It's sitting there. Even in a crowd. 439 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,480 Of other. Pelicans feeling very much. 440 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:41,200 Alone. The Isles, the Sea. 441 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:44,760 But whether it's in the wilderness or whether it's in 442 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:47,480 the desert or. Alone in the housetop it is out 443 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:49,840 of. Place it's a condition. 444 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:54,400 Of utter loneliness, isolation and solitude. 445 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:57,680 Could I ask this? Do you feel that you're in a 446 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:02,080 spiritual wilderness, a barren place, a lonely place you're 447 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,440 away from? God, you're you're. 448 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:07,320 Cut off you're shut up to your particular. 449 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:12,360 Trial set of circumstances. You've got a complaint today. 450 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:16,040 And you have to. Confess that. 451 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:20,000 Spiritually, you feel lonely. Spiritually. 452 00:26:20,360 --> 00:26:22,440 You feel cut off. From the place where you should. 453 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:25,920 Be with God spiritually. You feel you're in the wrong. 454 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:29,600 Environment. And you see it as Christians, we 455 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:32,360 can be spiritually alone. You can be alone at home. 456 00:26:32,360 --> 00:26:34,520 As I've said, you can be the only Christian there. 457 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:37,680 You could be alone in the workplace, the only Christian in 458 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:40,360 your place of employment. You could be the only Christian 459 00:26:40,360 --> 00:26:43,280 in your university. Let's pray for our young people. 460 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,600 University's a difficult. Place universities are. 461 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:50,920 Hotbeds of atheism and certainly anti God and anti Christian 462 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:53,480 mindset and spirit and when you've got an. 463 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:55,520 Atheistic. Ungodly evolutionist. 464 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:57,240 Kind of. Professor to try and. 465 00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,600 Teach you or a? Lecturer, As a young person, 466 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:00,920 you're going to aim to please. Them. 467 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,920 And their world view is different from your world. 468 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:05,720 View and you're very reluctant to. 469 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:08,280 Share your world view with them because you're. 470 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:09,800 Going to be thinking I'm going to get. 471 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:14,000 Degraded, I'd be marked down. I might even get up a feel. 472 00:27:14,120 --> 00:27:18,360 Rather than a pass, you're viewed by them as. 473 00:27:18,360 --> 00:27:21,960 Strange. And you've got that feeling of 474 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:25,880 isolation and solitude. Not really belonging and. 475 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,160 That's how God's people felt in the 1st century. 476 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,240 Over there in the book of Hebrews and Hebrews chapter 13, 477 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:40,080 the apostle Paul says this. In the verse 13 of Hebrews 478 00:27:40,360 --> 00:27:44,680 chapter 13, he said this. Listen to these words. 479 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:47,760 Let us go. Forth therefore unto him without 480 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:50,960 the camp, bearing his reproach, For here we have no continuing. 481 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,800 City, but we seek. 1. To come. 482 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:56,000 What did? The 1st century Christians face 483 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:58,640 because they were viewed as being strange and different in 484 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:02,200 the world. They faced persecution. 485 00:28:03,120 --> 00:28:08,440 They faced opposition. We shouldn't be. 486 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,440 Surprised Jesus. Said in the world, Ye shall of 487 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:13,160 tribulation, but be of good cheer. 488 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,000 I have overcome the world, but often we can feel. 489 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:18,080 Like a stranger. In the world, the home, the 490 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:20,600 workplace, the university. Even in society. 491 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:22,960 Even in our own. Community we we feel. 492 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:26,400 Unwelcome and maybe. That's the way you feel right 493 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:27,080 now. You're you're in a. 494 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:32,560 Time of trial, you're depressed and discouraged and the devil 495 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:35,880 can use. As that to Embetter. 496 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:38,040 Your heart and mind and. You can easily. 497 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:39,960 Forget that God is in the. Throne and. 498 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:43,320 God has can control. Here's these birds. 499 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:46,480 And, and they're full of melancholy and, and and and 500 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:50,440 morbidity. And in our affliction, in our 501 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,400 loneliness, we can also adopt the same. 502 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:57,760 Mindset. But let's think of Christ. 503 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:02,080 Because where was Christ? He was most lovely when he was. 504 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:04,640 On the cross, My God, My God, why? 505 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:07,920 Has thy forsaken me? But God commended his love 506 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:09,280 toward us, and while we were yet. 507 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,440 Sinners Christ. Died for us, remember he 508 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:13,000 suffered the. Guilt and punishment. 509 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:15,280 Of our sins He endured the wrath of God. 510 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:17,680 Not when he think of his loveliness on the cross. 511 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:20,080 But think of his. Life on the Cross the. 512 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:22,160 Cross of the Emblem of Suffering and. 513 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:26,400 Shame and and he. Lived that life of suffering and 514 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:28,520 shame for you. With. 515 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:34,360 All its affliction, with all its loneliness, all to bring. 516 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:36,640 Life to the full. All to bring. 517 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:42,200 An abundant and eternal life. See, even in our affliction and 518 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:44,120 our loneliness, if we think of the birds. 519 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:48,600 Go to the Sparrow. The Sparrow by. 520 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:53,320 Nature's friendly by. Nature the Sparrow wants. 521 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:54,880 And longs to be in the company of. 522 00:29:55,200 --> 00:30:01,480 Other Sparrows and that should be the same. 523 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:03,600 With us, you're Christians. We should. 524 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:05,080 Want to be. With our brethren. 525 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:06,480 We should want to. Be with our. 526 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:10,080 Brothers and sisters in Christ. This lonely Sparrow, the 527 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:11,080 psalmist said. I watch. 528 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,640 And I'm a spiral. Alone upon the. 529 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:15,160 What was the Sparrow? Doing. 530 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:17,280 Was the spiral waiting for others? 531 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:20,360 To come and join. With it, David is watching this. 532 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:22,200 David is wondering. This. 533 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:28,160 And in that isolation, in that solitude. 534 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:32,560 We can pray. We can bear. 535 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:35,040 One another's burdens we can turn our. 536 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:36,880 Sorrows into supplication we can go. 537 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,960 To the Lord the psalmist says a prayer if they afflict it when 538 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:41,360 he is overwhelmed, and pour without his. 539 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:44,320 Complaint before the Lord. And in prayer, we can get. 540 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:47,520 Peace, peace with God. The peace of God, the God of 541 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:49,640 peace, can. Be with us as far as our hearts 542 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:52,040 and minds is concerned, we can get protection. 543 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:54,800 At times. We can be envious of the wicked. 544 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:58,880 But the believer, the believer is protected. 545 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:04,560 This is God's portion of. His people. 546 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:09,280 His. Provision, His presence, his 547 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:11,360 power. Even in times of. 548 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:14,440 Trial and trouble he is. Proving us because. 549 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:19,840 The wilderness is a hard. Place The wilderness can be a 550 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:22,920 place of sickness. The wilderness could be the. 551 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:25,560 Loss of a loved one. The wilderness can be. 552 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:29,400 Hardship, the wilderness could be bodily. 553 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,240 Peeing Even, so much so that you don't. 554 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:33,800 Eat and you groan. And you're. 555 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:38,560 Physically impacted then that. Solitude. 556 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:40,240 Let's not just remember to. Pray. 557 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:43,360 And have the peace of God and. Know his protection and. 558 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:45,960 Provision, but let's. Rest in his promises. 559 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:47,400 Because he says, lo, I am with you. 560 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:50,800 Always. I'll never leave you nor forsake 561 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:52,640 you. And remember Christ. 562 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:55,760 Was alone in the. Wilderness and remember this 563 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:56,920 Christ. Was led of the. 564 00:31:56,920 --> 00:31:58,440 Spirit into the. Wilderness if I. 565 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:00,920 Ask you to put up your. Hand, How many of us want to be 566 00:32:00,920 --> 00:32:03,840 led by the Holy Spirit in this gospel mission? 567 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:05,880 Well, well. We would all have our hands up. 568 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:07,840 We want the. Spirit of God to lead us as a 569 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:11,800 congregation, but the spirit of God looked for and one. 570 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:13,880 Led the Lord Jesus, where did it lead him? 571 00:32:13,880 --> 00:32:16,320 After he was fell. Into the wilderness. 572 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:20,080 To be counted by the devil. The wilderness speaks of. 573 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:22,720 Hardship. And trials and a barren. 574 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:25,760 Please. A place where you feel very much 575 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:27,320 the brevity of life. And its. 576 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:32,440 Burdens and its battles. See, that was the condition of 577 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:34,200 these birds. That's what they speak. 578 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:37,520 About. Is that how you feel today? 579 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:41,520 We'll. Finish with this this morning, 580 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:44,840 not only think about the category. 581 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:47,560 Of these birds. Not only think about the 582 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:51,880 condition. Of these birds, but think about 583 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:53,280 the. Concern. 584 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:57,960 Of these birds. You see, the Lord is sovereign. 585 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:00,400 This is a put into the. Bible for our. 586 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:04,600 Learning and edification. Why these birds? 587 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:11,240 Out of. Place see again. 588 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:14,040 If I go back. To the birds. 589 00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:17,560 The Raven speaks to us of the grace of God. 590 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:21,480 The eagle speaks about the strength of God. 591 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:24,240 The Hen. Speaks about the protection. 592 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:27,280 Of God, these birds. The three of them. 593 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:31,680 Together, they speak about the comfort of. 594 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:35,280 God, despite the. Wilderness Experience. 595 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:39,520 Despite being the desert. Despite being alone on. 596 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:42,200 The. Rooftop, these birds speak. 597 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:43,800 About the. Comfort of God. 598 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:46,400 And I. Believe that's what David. 599 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:49,400 Was really thinking about not just the category. 600 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:52,480 Of birds being unclean. And one being clean, not just 601 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:55,080 about their condition. Speaking of loneliness. 602 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:58,400 And solitude and isolation. But he was thinking. 603 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:00,840 About. The concern for these. 604 00:34:00,840 --> 00:34:03,320 Birds. Because somebody actually. 605 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:05,440 Cared for them. God was sovereign. 606 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:07,360 God's in the throne, God's in control. 607 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:13,000 And God cares. And these birds speak of comfort 608 00:34:14,560 --> 00:34:16,920 and what? Comfort have we remember David 609 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:22,560 said Psalm 55 verse 2 cast. Thy burden of the Lord, and he 610 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:24,800 shall. Sustain thee, one of the men 611 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:26,360 prayed this morning in the prayer meeting. 612 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:29,120 What a friend we have in Jesus all. 613 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:30,520 Our sins and griefs to bear. What a. 614 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:31,600 Burden. What a privilege. 615 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:34,760 To carry everything to God in prayer. 616 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:41,639 You see, in the wilderness they didn't really fit in the Isle, 617 00:34:41,639 --> 00:34:45,199 didn't fit in the desert. The Sparrow wasn't meant to be 618 00:34:45,199 --> 00:34:46,920 alone in the housetop. It was meant. 619 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:48,960 To be with the other. Little sparrows. 620 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:50,800 And you're not meant to be alone. 621 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:57,040 But often times the Lord, to prove and test you can lead you 622 00:34:57,040 --> 00:35:01,800 into the wilderness situation. The Lord can lead you because 623 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:06,320 He's got a plan and purpose, even into the dry, barren, 624 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:09,440 isolated place. Where you feel the. 625 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:12,720 Pressures of life. Where you feel the. 626 00:35:12,720 --> 00:35:15,800 Stress and strain. Of everyday living. 627 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:20,280 Even in a place of loneliness where you can't seem. 628 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:21,840 Really to find the. Lord. 629 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:28,680 And you can't remember you want fellowship in the community, in 630 00:35:28,680 --> 00:35:32,760 a place there is no. Water, even in that place. 631 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:37,480 The Lord can lead you there because He's in control and He. 632 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:41,840 Does it? To speak to us about comfort. 633 00:35:43,240 --> 00:35:46,200 The wilderness is real. It's a lonely. 634 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:50,160 Place and here's these. Creatures. 635 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:53,800 And it's the Lord that sustains their. 636 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:56,960 Life. Only the Lord can help them. 637 00:35:58,160 --> 00:35:59,600 You. Living in a spiritual. 638 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:03,840 Wilderness right now. And you think I'm alone and 639 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:07,040 there's none to help? Why am I here in this place? 640 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:12,760 Well here's the answer. I will lift up mine eyes under 641 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:14,360 the hills. From whence cometh my help? 642 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:16,160 My help cometh from the. Lord. 643 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:18,720 Which made heaven and earth the Lord is. 644 00:36:18,720 --> 00:36:23,080 Teaching us something was enjoying the Baptist only a 645 00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:27,520 voice of one crying. In the wilderness, you see, in 646 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:30,240 the wilderness we should. Focus on the. 647 00:36:30,240 --> 00:36:33,200 Lord. In In the Wilderness. 648 00:36:33,240 --> 00:36:35,240 We should focus our mind and where we're. 649 00:36:35,240 --> 00:36:41,240 Really at? Charles Spurgeon said this Psalm 650 00:36:41,240 --> 00:36:44,560 102 is like a. Typical weather forecast. 651 00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:47,520 For the United. Kingdom it begins with. 652 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:49,880 Wet. And wind. 653 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:53,120 And rain. It clears up at noon, then the 654 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:53,840 sun. Shines. 655 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:56,520 And then there's. Another wee shower or two and 656 00:36:56,520 --> 00:36:59,160 then the warm sunsets in toward the evening. 657 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:02,160 And it climaxes. With the best sunset. 658 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:07,960 Ever this Pelican, this awl. This Sparrow. 659 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:16,320 It's not meant to live in isolation and solitude, it's 660 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:18,520 meant for fellowship with others. 661 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:22,760 And God has made us. For fellowship. 662 00:37:22,760 --> 00:37:24,040 With one another. He. 663 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:27,280 Sets the solitude in. Family. 664 00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:29,040 We we could talk. This. 665 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:32,760 Morning about the condition and the cause and the cure of the 666 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:37,320 loneliness. We could talk. 667 00:37:37,320 --> 00:37:40,240 About the cause being sin and we could talk about the cause being 668 00:37:40,240 --> 00:37:45,760 selfishness and the cause being. Shame and each one of these 669 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:52,240 little birds all tie into that the condition, the cause and the 670 00:37:52,240 --> 00:37:55,760 cure for loneliness. Let me say this as we finish 671 00:37:55,760 --> 00:38:01,040 this morning, the Pelican and the Isle. 672 00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:04,920 And the Sparrow. Is devoted to their young. 673 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:09,520 It weeps. For the young, the. 674 00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:15,600 Pelican, you and I should have a special place for the children, 675 00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:20,840 be burdened for them because they're the future. 676 00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:25,200 They're going to carry the torch whenever we're gone. 677 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:32,200 There's a story. Told about a man. 678 00:38:34,120 --> 00:38:38,280 His name was George Matheson. George Matheson was engaged. 679 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:40,800 To be married, Lovely. Girl. 680 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:44,560 And then something happened. His eyesight. 681 00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:48,560 Some sort of defect and he went to the medical doctors at that 682 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:52,080 time and they said. That he was going to go blind. 683 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:54,600 Now you remember he's on the verge of getting married. 684 00:38:54,840 --> 00:38:57,080 So he's. Honest with his fiance, he he. 685 00:38:57,080 --> 00:38:58,560 Tells her. Of something. 686 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:02,240 To tell you I've been. Diagnosed with this, whatever. 687 00:39:02,240 --> 00:39:03,760 Disease. It was in the eyes. 688 00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:07,480 And I'm going to go. Blind eventually and you know. 689 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:08,280 What? She said. 690 00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:12,040 I can't marry a blind man and she didn't. 691 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:17,040 He was heartbroken. He felt alone and isolated and. 692 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:21,560 What was his cure for that condition? 693 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:30,880 The cure was the word of God, and you know the Pelican uses 694 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:32,960 it's beak. And so does the. 695 00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:35,280 Isle. To feed. 696 00:39:35,280 --> 00:39:38,960 It's young. And what do we feed on? 697 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:44,080 We feed in the Word of God, George. 698 00:39:44,080 --> 00:39:46,240 Mathewson went on to become a preacher. 699 00:39:46,240 --> 00:39:51,080 Of the gospel set forth Christ and him crucified. 700 00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:54,440 Filled his mind. With Christ's person, passion, 701 00:39:54,440 --> 00:40:00,600 pardon, promise, purpose. See, God is a plan for you, but 702 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:04,240 it's connected to Christ. Not apart from. 703 00:40:04,240 --> 00:40:05,640 Christ. It's with Christ. 704 00:40:06,720 --> 00:40:10,040 And I pray this morning that something of. 705 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:14,000 The concern and the care. That God has for you, you'll 706 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:15,880 experience. That in your soul. 707 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:20,080 And you'll be delivered from the. 708 00:40:20,080 --> 00:40:26,240 'Cause you'll discover the cure. For a lonely existence, don't 709 00:40:26,240 --> 00:40:29,800 live without the Lord, because the reality is you can't live 710 00:40:29,800 --> 00:40:33,000 without Him. May the Lord take these few 711 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:37,080 thoughts and bless them to our understanding and help today.