To Glorify God (Magnification)
Series: HIS PURPOSE OUR PURPOSE MY PURPOSE
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 3rd November 2018
Passage: Isaiah 6:1-8
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Value this time in your life, kids.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:08 It's a time of your life when you still have your choices and it goes by so fast.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 When you're a teenager, you think you can do anything and you do.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 Your 20s are just a blur.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 In your 30s, you have a family, make a little money.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 Think to yourself, what happened to my 20s?
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 In your 40s, you grow a little pot belly and another chin.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:31 The music starts to get too loud and one of your girlfriends from high school becomes a grandmother.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 In your 50s, you have a minor surgery.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:39 You'll call it a procedure, but it's still surgery.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 In your 60s, you'll have a major surgery.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:46 The music is still too loud, but it doesn't matter because you can't hear it anyway.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:52 In your 70s, you and the wife will retire to Fort Lauderdale, start eating lunch at 10am,
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 dinner at 2pm and breakfast the night before.
00:00:56 --> 00:01:02 You'll spend most of your time wandering around shopping malls looking for the ultimate soft serve yogurt
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 and muttering, how come the kids don't call?
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 How come the kids don't call?
00:01:07 --> 00:01:12 In your 80s, you'll have a major stroke and end up babbling to some Jamaican nurse
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 who your wife can't stand but whom you call mama.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:16 Any questions?
00:01:16 --> 00:01:29 That's Billy Crystal's speech to his child's school class in the 1991 Western comedy film City Slickers.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 Billy Crystal, he plays a guy named Mitch.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:37 He hits 39 years of age and he has a midlife crisis.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:42 Suddenly, he realises that his life isn't what he thought it would be.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:43 It's not so great.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:45 The world in which he lives is a mess.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 And he starts asking the question, what's the point of it all?
00:01:50 --> 00:01:51 What's the point of life?
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 What is the purpose of life?
00:01:53 --> 00:02:03 And so he and a few mates go on a cowboy camping holiday to rediscover their masculinity and to find the purpose of life.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:08 And he finds it by helping a cow give birth to a calf.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:19 It's a feel-good, occasionally funny, but empty movie in the end.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 But it does raise questions.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:34 The sort of questions that people are asking, the sort of questions that teenagers and children are asking,
00:02:34 --> 00:02:40 the sort of questions that retirees are asking, the sort of questions that we ask,
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 what is it all for?
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 It's not about you.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 That's how Rick Warren begins his book, The Purpose Driven Life.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 It's not about you.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:02 And he goes on to say,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 the purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment,
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 your peace of mind, or even your happiness.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:15 It's far greater than your family, your career, and even your wildest dreams and ambitions.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 If you want to know why you were placed in this planet,
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 you must begin with God.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:31 You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:37 The atheist and philosopher Bertrand Russell said,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:42 if God doesn't exist, which he didn't believe God existed,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:47 then what is the purpose of life is a question that has no sense at all.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:53 And the Bible is clear on the purpose of life.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:54 It's not about me.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 It is, in fact, about him.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 Colossians 1.15,
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 The Son is the image of the invisible God,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 the firstborn over all creation.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 For in him all things were created,
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:14 All things have been created through him and for him.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 He is before all things,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 and in him all things hold together.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 He is the head of the body, the church.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 He is the beginning of the firstborn from among the dead,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:28 so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 So you have a purpose.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:37 This church has a purpose because God has a purpose.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:45 And there are five very specific but interacting purposes
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 that God has for your life and my life
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 and our life together.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 And we're going to look at each one of those things,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 as Deb indicated, over the next five weeks
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 in this Our Vision series.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 And we begin with magnification.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 We exist for the glory of God.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:08 This is the only one of the five purposes
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 that is not a means to an end.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 This is the end.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 Magnification is the goal of all things,
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 the glory of God.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 Now, magnification, or to magnify,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 is used in a limited way in our day.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:33 It normally refers to making something appear larger
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 than it actually is,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 like through a lens of a microscope
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 or something like that, or a telescope.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 Or through a telescope,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 something that's small, making it look bigger.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 Or in another way,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 it's used in common language
00:05:47 --> 00:05:52 to increase or to exaggerate
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 the importance of something
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 or the effect of something.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 For instance, wow, you know,
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 you had your issues before you went to prison,
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 but man, prison really magnified them.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 That kind of an idea.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 Now, the original use of the word magnify,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:12 which comes from the Latin word magnus,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 which means great,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:20 is to praise highly or to glorify.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 Its supreme use,
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 in its original context,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 was in reference to God.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 Because God is great.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 Because God is magnus,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:37 he is worthy of being magnified.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 And this is, in fact,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 what we see in Isaiah 6,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 which was just read out to us.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 So go to Isaiah 6.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 I'm going to linger there for a bit.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 Get your Bibles out.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 If you haven't got a Bible,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:51 stick your hand up.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 We'll get one to you real quick.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 Isaiah 6.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 We see two things
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 in the verses that were read out to us
00:06:59 --> 00:07:03 that make God worthy of being magnified.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 God is great, firstly,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 and God is gracious, secondly.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 And we get seven glimpses
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 of the greatness of God
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 in the first four verses.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 I'm going to travel across these real quick,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 even though I'd love to linger longer in them.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 But firstly, it says God is alive.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 Notice,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 In the year that King Uzziah died,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 I saw the Lord sit on the throne.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 King Uzziah was the longest serving monarch at the time.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 He was the greatest, most powerful man
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 in the world at the time.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 And it says,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 King Uzziah is dead,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 but in the year that he died,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 God is alive.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 He continues to live.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 Psalm 90 verse 2 says,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 Before the mountains were born
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 or brought forth the earth and the world,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 from everlasting to everlasting,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 you are God.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 From infinite that direction
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 to infinite that direction,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 no ending, no ending.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 You are God.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 You are alive.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 So this God was the living God
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 when the universe was banged into existence
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 as he spoke it into existence.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 He was the living God
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 when the Great Wall of China
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 was built over a very long period of time.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 He was the living God
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 when in 1966,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 Time magazine put a title on its cover
00:08:21 --> 00:08:21 that said,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 God is dead.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 He is alive.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 He was alive then.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 Is he alive today?
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 And he will be living
00:08:27 --> 00:08:32 still 10 trillion ages from now.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:37 There is not a single head of state
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 in the entire world,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 not a single person sitting on the throne
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 who will be ruling in 90 years.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:51 And in a brief 120 years,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 this planet is going to be populated
00:08:53 --> 00:08:58 by more than 10 billion brand new people
00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 and all 7.7 billion of us today,
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 alive today,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 will vanish off the face of the earth
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 like King Uzziah.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 But not God.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:13 He never had a beginning
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 and therefore he depends on nothing
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 for his existence.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 He always has been
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 and always will be alive.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 Second glimpse we get here
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 is that God is authoritative.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:26 Verse 2,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 I saw the Lord seated on a throne.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 That's his vision.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:35 He sees this God on a throne.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 You see, no vision of heaven.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 Read the Bible.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 There's no vision of heaven
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 where you ever catch a glimpse of God
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 cooking a meal.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 He's never out cutting the grass
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 or shining shoes
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 or filling out forms
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 or loading a truck.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 He sits.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 He sits on his throne.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:54 The throne.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 The throne is his right to rule.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 You see, we do not give God authority
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 over our lives.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 He has authority over our lives
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 whether we surrender to it or not.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 I think few things are more humbling.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 Few things give us that sense
00:10:14 --> 00:10:18 of the raw majesty of God
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 as the truth of God
00:10:19 --> 00:10:23 is utterly authoritative.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 After him, there is no appeal.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 And that's the third glimpse.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 You see, we see this God
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 is not just has authority,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 but he has all authority,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 has all power.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 The throne of his authority
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 is not one amongst many thrones.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:44 I saw the Lord seated on a throne
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 high and exalted.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 That God's throne is higher
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 than every other throne,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 every other authority,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 every other power
00:10:55 --> 00:10:59 signifies that God's superior power
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 to exercise his authority
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 over all things.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:06 There is no opposing authority
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 that can nullify the decrees of God.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 What he promises,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 what he declares cannot be undone.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 What he purposes,
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 he accomplishes.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 As God says a little later
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 in Isaiah 46.10,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 I make known the beginning
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 from the end,
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 from the beginning,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 from ancient times,
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 what is still to come.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 I say,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 my purpose will stand
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 and I will do all that I please.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 To be gripped
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 by the all-powerful
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 sovereignty of God
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 is either marvelous
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 because he is for you
00:11:55 --> 00:11:58 or it is terrifying
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 because he is against you.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 Indifference to it,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:07 just indifference to it
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 means that you have not seen it.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 You have not seen him
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 for who he is.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 The sovereign authority
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 of the living God
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 is a refuge full of joy
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 and power for those who are his.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 His promise to you
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 can never be nullified,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 never be overturned.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 Fourthly,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 we see that this God
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 is magnificent.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 It says,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 I saw the Lord
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 sitting on his throne
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 high and exalted
00:12:32 --> 00:12:35 and the train of his robe
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 filled the temple.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 Now,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 royal weddings
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 are a bit of a rage lately.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 Well,
00:12:44 --> 00:12:44 at least one anyway.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 You know,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 Harry and Megan,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 the other ones
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 haven't been rated as highly.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 But,
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 you may remember
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 if you're as old as I am
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 or maybe even seen the pictures
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 of the wedding dress
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 when Harry's mum
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 was married,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 Diana,
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 Princess of Wales,
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 married to Charlie
00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 back in 1981.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 And I remember
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 as a young lad
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 at that point
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 being in a room
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 watching this wedding,
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 not sure why,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 but being told to stay up
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 and I remember
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 in the moment
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 that she hopped out
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 of the carriage
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 and started walking
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 up the stairs
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 into St. Paul's Cathedral,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 the only thing
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 I remember
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 is this dress
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 just kept going
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 on
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 and on
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 and on
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 and on
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 and the women
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 in the room
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 gasping
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 at this dress,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 the train
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 of her robe
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 was eight metres long.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 It sort of like
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 filled the steps
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 at St. Paul's Cathedral
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 in London.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 So what would it mean
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 if the train
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 filled the aisle
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 and covered the seats
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 and the choir loft
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 and the pulpit
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 and it wasn't,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 it was just one piece
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 of cloth
00:13:59 --> 00:14:02 just...
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 You see,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 that God's robe
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 fills the entire temple
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 is a
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 splendour moment.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:16 God is incomparable
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 in His splendour.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 The fullness
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 of God's splendour
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 shows itself
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 in millions
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 and billions
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 of ways.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 His magnificence
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 spills over
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 into excessive
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 creative beauty.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 It's what we see
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 in the wonder
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 of all
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 of creation.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 Everything
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 in the universe
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 from the tiniest
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 atom to the depths
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 of the ocean
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 where there is fish
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 with headlights
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 and big teeth
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 and you go,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 why are they there?
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 No one knows.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 Except it's God
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 saying,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 there you go.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 That is where
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 you exist.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 The furthest reach
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 of the...
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 It just displays
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 the magnificence
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 of His character.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 And fifthly,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 we get a glimpse
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 of this God
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 is revered.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 Above Him
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 were seraphs,
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 each with six wings.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 With two wings,
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 they were covering
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 their faces.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 With two,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 they covered their feet.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 With two,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 they were flying.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 Now,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 no one really knows
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 from the rest
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 of the Bible
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 what these
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 strange six-wing
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 creatures
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 with feet
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 and eyes
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 and intelligence
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 are.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 There's some
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 kind of an angel.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 One thing is for sure,
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 given the grandeur
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 of this scene
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 in the heavenly realms
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 and the power
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 of the angelic hosts,
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 it is best for us
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 not to picture
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 the angelic hosts
00:15:41 --> 00:15:45 as chubby little babies
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 with wings
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 fluttering around
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 the throne of God.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 According to verse four,
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 when one of them speaks,
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 the foundations
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 of the temple shake.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 Wind this sound system up
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 as far as it goes,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 and I can't get
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 this building to shake.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 These are not
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 chubby little babies
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 with wings.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 There are no puny
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 or silly little creatures
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 in heaven,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 only magnificent ones.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 And the point is,
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 not even they,
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 not even these seraphs
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 can look upon God,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 nor do they feel worthy
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 even to leave
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 their feet exposed
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 in His presence.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 One of my kids
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 is in kids' church
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 this morning
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 with no shoes on.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 Totally fine.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 In the presence of God,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 you cover them up.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 You see,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 great and good
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 as they are
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 untainted
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 by human sin,
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 they revere
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 their maker
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 in great humility.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 You see,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 when one of these seraphs
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 an angel appears
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 before a human being
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 in the Bible,
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 they normally begin
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 dialogue with the human being
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 with fear not.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 Because
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 that's exactly
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 the human response
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 when you're confronted
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 with one of them.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 Fear and trembling,
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 but angels themselves
00:17:16 --> 00:17:19 hide in holy fear
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 and reverence
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 in the presence of God.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:25 so far greater
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 than they
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 is He.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 Six,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 God is holy.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 Verse three,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 and they were calling
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 to one another.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 And let me try
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 to pick it up here.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 Holy,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 holy,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 holy,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 holy
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 is the Lord
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 almighty.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 The whole earth
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 is full of His glory.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 Multiply that
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 billions of times
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 until the
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 thresholds shake.
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 You see,
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 the possibility
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 of language
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 to carry the meaning
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 of God
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 eventually runs out
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 and holy
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 is as far
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 as you can go.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 The word holy
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 carries us to the brink
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 and from there
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 the experience
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 of God
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 is beyond words.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 You see,
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 the reason I say that
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 is that every effort
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 to define
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 the holiness
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 of God
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 ultimately winds up
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 by saying
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 God is holy
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 means
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 God is holy.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 Means God is God.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 You see,
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 the word holy
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 means to cut
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 or to separate
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 from.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 And a holy
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 thing
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 in our
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 terms
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 is cut off
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 from
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 or separated
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 from
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 from common
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 use.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 That's what it
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 means.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 You separate
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 from common
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 use,
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 set it aside,
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 it becomes
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 a holy
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 thing.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 Earthly
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 things and
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 persons are
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 holy
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 as they are
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 distinct from
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 the world
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 and devoted
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 to God.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 But what
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 happens
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 if that
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 definition
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 is applied
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 to God
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 Himself?
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 from what
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 can you
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 separate
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 God
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 to make
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 Him
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 holy?
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 You see,
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 the very
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 Godness
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 of God
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 means
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 that He
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 is separate
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 from all
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 that is
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 not God.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 That's because
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 God
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 exists
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 in a
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 different
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 way
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 to us.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 We,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 His creatures,
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 exist
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 in a
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 dependent,
00:19:33 --> 00:19:36 derived,
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 finite,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 fragile
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 way,
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 but our
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 God
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 exists
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 in an
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 eternal,
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 self-sustaining,
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 necessary
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 way.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 I use
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 the word
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 necessary
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 there
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 in the
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 sense that
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 God does
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 not have
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 it in
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 Him.
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 It's not
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 part of
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 His nature
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 to go
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 out of
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 existence.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 in the
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 same way
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 that we
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 do not
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 have it
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 in our
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 nature
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 to not
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 go out
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 of
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 existence.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 We
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 cannot
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 naturally
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 live
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 forever.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 God
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 cannot
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 naturally
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 die.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 We
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 all
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 necessarily
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 age and
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 die
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 because
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 it is
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 our
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 present
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 nature
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 to do
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 that.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 And so
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 we ask
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 the question,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 well,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 what is
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 this
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 short
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 time span
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 that I'm
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 on earth
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 is all
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 about?
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 We
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 cannot do
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 anything
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 else but
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 eventually
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 die.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 One of
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 my girls
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 said
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 recently
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 in the
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 last couple
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 of weeks,
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 I don't
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 want to
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 grow up
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 and I
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 want to
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 stay a
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 child
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 forever.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 Well,
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 good luck
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 with that,
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 I thought.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 It didn't
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 work for
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 Michael
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 Jackson
00:20:53 --> 00:20:56 or most
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 Aussie
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 blokes,
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 as it
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 turns out.
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 Only
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 God,
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 only
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 God
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 necessarily
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 continues
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 forever
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 unchanged.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 The
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 God
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 of
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 the
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 Bible
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 needs
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 no
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 support
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 system.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 God
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 is
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 one
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 of
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 a
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 kind
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 and
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 in
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 that
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 sense
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 he
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 is
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 utterly
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 holy.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 God
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 has
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 life
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 in
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 himself.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 He
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 draws
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 his
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 unending
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 energy
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 from
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 himself.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 His
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 being
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 and his
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 character
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 not
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 determined
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 by
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 anything
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 outside
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 of
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 himself.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 He
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 is
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 absolute.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 Everything
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 else
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 derives
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 from
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 him.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 He
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 does
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 not
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 derive
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 his
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 being
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 from
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 anything
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 else.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 He
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 is
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 incomparable.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 His
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 holiness
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 determines
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 all that
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 he
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 is
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 and
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 he's
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 determined
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 by
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 no
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 one
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 else.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 Nothing
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 else.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 You
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 can
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 call it
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 his
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 majesty.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 You
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 can
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 call it
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 his
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 divinity.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 You
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 can
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 call it
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 his
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 greatness.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 You
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 can
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 call it
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 his
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 value.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 You
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 can
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 call
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 it
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 his
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 worth.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 You
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 can
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 call
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 it
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 his
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 magnificence.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 In
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 the
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 end,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:55 we
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 sail
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 up to
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 the
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 very
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 of
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 human
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 language
00:22:00 --> 00:22:03 and
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 it
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 runs
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 out.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 There
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 may
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 be
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 so
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 much
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 more
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 to
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 know
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 of
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 this
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 God
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 but
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 that
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 is
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 beyond
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 our
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 ability
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 to
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 express
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 it.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 And
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 so
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 Habakkuk
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 2.20
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 says
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 get to
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 the
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 edge.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 The
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 Lord
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 is in
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 his
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 holy
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 temple,
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 the
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 whole
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 earth.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 Be
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 silent
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 before
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 him.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 Just
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 ah.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 We
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 learn a
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 seventh and
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 a final
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 thing about
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 God.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 God
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 is
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 glorious.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 Verse
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 3.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 Holy,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 holy,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 holy is
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 the
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 Lord
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 almighty.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 The
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 whole
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 earth
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 is
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 full
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 of
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 his
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 glory.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 glory.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 We
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 get to
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 the
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 edge
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 and we
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 go
00:22:57 --> 00:23:00 ah.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 And
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 we
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 would not
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 know
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 anything
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 about
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 this
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 God
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 and his
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 holiness
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 and his
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 magnificence
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 if he
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 did not
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 graciously
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 reveal it
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 to us.
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 See,
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 God's
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 glory
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 is in
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 fact the
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 revealing
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 of his
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 holiness.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 God
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 is
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 glorious
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 means that
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 God's
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 holiness,
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 his divine
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 being,
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 his character
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 has gone
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 public.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 It means
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 that he
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 sent it
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 viral.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 He's
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 displayed it.
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 He's
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 made it
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 clear.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 Romans 1
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 says the
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 whole
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 earth,
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 God has
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 revealed
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 himself in
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 what he's
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 made.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 And
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 unless he
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 reveals
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 himself,
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 we would
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 not see
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 him for
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 who he
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 is.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 But
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 when he
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 does,
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 there is
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 only one
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 response.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 Leviticus 10
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 verse 3,
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 God says,
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 among those
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 who approach
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 me,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 I will
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 show
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 myself
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 holy.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 In
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 the sight
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 of all
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 people,
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 I will
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 be
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 honoured.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 Or
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 another
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 word that
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 can be
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 changed
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 with
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 honoured
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 there is
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 I will
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 be
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 magnified.
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 When I
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 reveal my
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 magnus,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 the
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 response is
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 magnification.
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 When God
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 reveals his
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 glory to
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 his
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 creatures,
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 the
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 response of
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 his
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 creatures is
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 to give
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 glory,
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 to give
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 praise,
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 to give
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 adoration,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 to magnify
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 God.
00:24:24 --> 00:24:26 To magnify
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 God is
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 to respond
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 to his
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 revealing of
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 his
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 magnificence.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 We cannot
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 glorify God
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 without engaging
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 with his
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 glory.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 You see,
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 God wants
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 to be
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 praised for
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 his
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 praiseworthiness,
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 magnified for
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 his greatness
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 and his
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 goodness.
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 He wants
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 to be
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 appreciated
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 for who
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 he is.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 And so
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 God reveals
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 his glory
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 to people
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 and to
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 angels
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 in a
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 free
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 and a
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 radically
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 generous
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 way.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 Then there
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 is a
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 response
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 of
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 adoration
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 on the
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 part of
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 people
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 and the
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 angels
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 where they
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 give glory
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 to God
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 out of
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 gratitude
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 for what
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 they
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 have
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 seen
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 of
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 God
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 and
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 received
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 from
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 him.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 God's
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 glory
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 showing
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 requires
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 glory
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 giving
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 and this
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 is at the
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 heart
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 of true
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 fulfillment
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 of God's
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 creatures.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 It brings
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 joy to
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 people
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 as it
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 does
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 to God.
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 God's
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 glory
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 revealing
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 prompts
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 glory
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 giving
00:25:36 --> 00:25:39 and that
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 is the
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 purpose
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 of why
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 you were
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 made.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 The New
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 Testament
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 writers
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 declare that
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 the public
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 display of
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 God's
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 nature,
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 his
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 character,
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 his
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 power,
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 his
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 purpose,
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 his
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 grace,
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 his
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 glory,
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 his
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 magnus
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 is now
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 open to
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 view
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02 for all
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 peoples
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 in the
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 person
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 and the
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 work of
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 God's
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 Son,
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 the Lord
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 Jesus
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 Christ.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 That is,
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 Jesus is
00:26:11 --> 00:26:13 the pinnacle
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 of God's
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 glory
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 revealing.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 And what
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 is amazing
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 is this
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 little bit
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 in John's
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 gospel that
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 you read
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 it,
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 it's
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 surrounded
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 by a
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 difficult
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 text,
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 but when
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 you read
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 this verse,
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 you flip
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 straight through
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 it without
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 noticing it,
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 but let me
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 just read
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 it to you.
00:26:34 --> 00:26:36 John 12
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 verse 41,
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 he's just
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 quoted the
00:26:41 --> 00:26:43 prophet Isaiah,
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 and he
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 says,
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 Isaiah said
00:26:46 --> 00:26:48 this because
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 he saw
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 Jesus'
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 glory and
00:26:52 --> 00:26:54 spoke about
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 him.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 See what
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 John says
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 there?
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 You'd flip
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 straight through
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 that.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 See what
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 he says?
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 Jesus is
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 who Isaiah
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 saw here in
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 his vision
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 in Isaiah
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 6.
00:27:13 --> 00:27:16 Jesus
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 radiates,
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 he reflects,
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 he mirrors,
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 he displays
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 the character,
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 the purpose,
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 the power,
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 and the grace
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 and the mercy
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 of God.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 The magnificence
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 of what went
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 public in
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 Jesus was
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 the plan
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 and the work
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 of grace
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 whereby he
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 saves
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 sinners.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 And so
00:27:33 --> 00:27:35 that's why
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 our purpose
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 statement says
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 that we
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 exist as a
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 church because
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 we treasure
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 Jesus.
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 Treasuring
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 Jesus for
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 God's glory
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 and the joy
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 of all
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 peoples.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 Now on
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 one level
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 it probably
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 shocks us
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 to think
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 that God's
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 goal is
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 his glory,
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 his goal
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 of all
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 things is
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 his glory.
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 If my
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 goal in
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 life was
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 my glory,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 which without
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 the work of
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 God in our
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 life, that's
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 exactly the
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 reason why we
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 exist, we
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 pursue our
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 own glory,
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 we call
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 that egotism.
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 Most of
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 us in
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 the North
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 Shore are
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 really good
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 at hiding
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 our egotism
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 or work
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 really well
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 at hiding
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 our egotism,
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 but it's
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 there, the
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 heartbeat of
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 our lives,
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 my glory all
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 the time.
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 For God
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 to pursue
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 his glory,
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 it doesn't
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 point to
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 divine ego,
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 but in
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 fact to
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 divine love.
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 For us
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 it's self-centered,
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 for him it's
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 divine love.
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 God doing
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 everything for
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 his glory is
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 the foundation
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 of his love
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 for us.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 God's
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 commitment to
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 his glory
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 means love
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 and life
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 and forgiveness
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 and eternal
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 fame for
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 those who
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 live for
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 his glory.
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 His
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 commitment to
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 his glory
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 is the
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 foundation for
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 his love
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 for us.
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 Did you
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 note Isaiah's
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 response,
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 having seen
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 God's glory
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 in verse 5,
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 what does he
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 immediately do?
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 Wow,
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 you're God
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 and I'm
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 not.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 Woe to
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 me,
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 I cried,
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 I am
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 ruined,
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 for I'm
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 a man of
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 unclean
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 lips and
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 I live
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 among a
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 people of
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 unclean
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 lips and
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 my eyes
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 have seen
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 the King,
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 the Lord
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 Almighty.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 You see,
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 this is
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 Isaiah,
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 one of
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 God's
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 people and
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 as sincere
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 as his
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 worship has
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 been,
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 Isaiah has
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 not been a
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 man whose
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 heart has
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 been in
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 love with
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 God.
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 His
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 profession of
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 faith has
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 been orthodox
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 but empty
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 with little
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 heart awareness
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 of the
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 grandeur of
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 God.
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 God,
00:29:42 --> 00:29:44 and as
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 this
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 awareness
00:29:46 --> 00:29:48 forms in
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 Isaiah's
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 mind,
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 he blorts
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 out the
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 obvious
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 conclusion,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 woe to
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 me.
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 He's
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 tracking along,
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 God reveals
00:29:58 --> 00:30:00 his glory and
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 he goes,
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 whoa.
00:30:01 --> 00:30:03 And the
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 very first
00:30:04 --> 00:30:06 words that
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 are spoken
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 by the
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 prophet Isaiah
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 in this
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 enormous book
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 of Isaiah
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 is those
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 words there.
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 And for
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 the first
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 time in
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 his life,
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 he actually
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 worships
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 God.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 For the
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 first time,
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 he sees
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 that he is
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 typical of
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 his generation
00:30:27 --> 00:30:29 whose faith
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 was unthinking
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 and glib.
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 Their mouths
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 were not
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 filled with
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 worship but
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 with flippant
00:30:34 --> 00:30:37 repetitions
00:30:37 --> 00:30:39 and self-justifying
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 excuses.
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 And now
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 Isaiah sees
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 himself
00:30:45 --> 00:30:47 because he
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 sees God.
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 And something
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 new is
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 entering his
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 heart.
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 Humility.
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 See,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 the most
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 telling
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 indicator
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 that God's
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 grace is
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 renewing
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 us is
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 not when
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 we say
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 all the
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 right things
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 about his
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 grace,
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 but when
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 we stop
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 putting
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 ourselves
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 above
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 others and
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 even above
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 God.
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 It's when
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 he starts
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 breaking
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 our hearts.
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 Where was
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 the last
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 time you
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 lamented?
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 I mean
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 really
00:31:27 --> 00:31:29 lamented
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 over your
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 sin.
00:31:30 --> 00:31:32 Then
00:31:32 --> 00:31:39 something
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 wonderful
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 happens.
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 A
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 seraph
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 circling the
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 throne of
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 God,
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 peels off
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 from his
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 flight path
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 and he
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 dives
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 straight for
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 Isaiah.
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 He's
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 holding a
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 burning coal
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 that he
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 took from
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 the altar
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 with tongs.
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 He's not
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 using the
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 tongs because
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 it's hot.
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 He took
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 this coal
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 with tongs
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 because he's
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 handling a
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 holy thing.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:11 this thing,
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 this coal
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 belongs in
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 the place of
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 sacrifice and
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 atonement and
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 forgiveness.
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 And with it,
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 the seraph
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 touches
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 Isaiah's
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 dirty mouth.
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 And it
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 doesn't hurt
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 him.
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 It doesn't
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 burn him.
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 It actually
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 heals him.
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 The seraph
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 says,
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 your guilt
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 is taken
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 away and
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 your sin
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 is atoned
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 for.
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 What we
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 must see
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 in the
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 context of
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 the whole
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46 Bible is
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 that this
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 burning coal
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 symbolizes
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 the finished
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 work of
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 the Lord
00:32:50 --> 00:32:50 Jesus on
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 the cross.
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 Jesus went
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 to the place
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 of sacrifice.
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 He's dying.
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 Love is the
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 only power
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 that can
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 awaken
00:32:57 --> 00:32:59 dead people
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 to God
00:33:00 --> 00:33:03 and awaken
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 as he
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 does.
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 He comes
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 to us
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 today.
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 through the
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 Holy Spirit
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 and says
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 again,
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 your guilt
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 is taken
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 away,
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 your sin
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 is atoned
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 for.
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 Welcome
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 into the
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 overwhelming
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 delight of
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 my presence.
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 And when
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 the magnitude
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 of that
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 grace
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 touches
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 Isaiah,
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 he is
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 awakened
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 to live
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 for God.
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 Who am I
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 going to send?
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 Pick me,
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 pick me.
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 I now
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 want to live
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 for your
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 glory.
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 You see,
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 at least
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 one major
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 purpose
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 in God
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 revealing
00:33:44 --> 00:33:46 who he
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 is,
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 his
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 magnus,
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 is so
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 that we,
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 like Isaiah,
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 might experience
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 his compassion,
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 his mercy,
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 his grace,
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 and his
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 forgiveness.
00:33:54 --> 00:33:59 For us to
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 effectively
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 magnify God,
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 it has to
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 be so
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 much more
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 than certain
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 external
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 behaviors.
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 This is the
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 warning of
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 Isaiah the
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 prophet and
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 the people
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 of God
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 in Isaiah.
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 God,
00:34:12 --> 00:34:14 if we're
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 not careful,
00:34:15 --> 00:34:17 we can be
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 like them,
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 we can
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 settle into
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 a pattern
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 of dutiful
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 behavior
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 where we
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 fulfill our
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 obligations
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 to God,
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 where we
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 say the
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 right things,
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 orthodox
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 faith.
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 See,
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 relationship
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 with God
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 can so
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 easily
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 become
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 about
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 duty
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 and
00:34:36 --> 00:34:36 obligation
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 and
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 loyalty
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 and
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 lips.
00:34:39 --> 00:34:41 When we
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 are settled
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 into that
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 position,
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 we may
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 even
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 fulfill
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 our
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 duty
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 at
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 great
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 personal
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 cost.
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 We may
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 even
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 give
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 more
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 and
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 sacrifice
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 more,
00:34:50 --> 00:34:52 just
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 like
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 the
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 Pharisees
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 and
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 the
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 teachers
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 of
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 the
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 law.
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 And
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 Jesus
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 called
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 them
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 hypocrites.
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 He
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 cursed
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 them.
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 He
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 quoted
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 Isaiah
00:35:04 --> 00:35:04 to them
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 in
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 Matthew
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 15.
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 He
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 says,
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 these
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 people
00:35:07 --> 00:35:07 honor me
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 with their
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 lips,
00:35:09 --> 00:35:09 but their
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 hearts
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 are far
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 from
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 me.
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 They
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 worship
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 me
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 in
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 vain.
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 They
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 magnify
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 me
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 in
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 vain.
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 Just
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 like
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 Isaiah
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 before
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 this
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 encounter,
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 lips
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 that
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 said
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 the
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 right
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 things
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 but a
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 heart
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 that
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 wasn't
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 in
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 it.
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 What's
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 missing
00:35:26 --> 00:35:28 for the
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 Pharisees,
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 the
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 tax
00:35:29 --> 00:35:29 collectors?
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 What's
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 missing
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 for
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 Isaiah?
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 The
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 affections.
00:35:39 --> 00:35:41 genuine
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 magnification
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 is seeing
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 God's
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 glory
00:35:44 --> 00:35:46 and being
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 moved
00:35:47 --> 00:35:49 in all
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 of our
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 life,
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 mind
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 and
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 affections,
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 lips
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 and heart.
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 You see,
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 genuine
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 worship
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 is based
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 on the
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 mind's
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 perception
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 of
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 historical
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 and biblical
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 truth,
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 the revelation
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 of God's
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 glory as
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 he has
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 spoken it.
00:36:05 --> 00:36:08 glory
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 giving
00:36:08 --> 00:36:10 requires
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 solid
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 intellectual
00:36:12 --> 00:36:12 biblical
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 truth.
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 It is
00:36:16 --> 00:36:16 not the
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 frenzied
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 emotion,
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 emotional
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 product of
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 manipulation
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 or
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 gimmickry.
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 But
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 friends,
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 that's not
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 our problem
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25 here at
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25 St.
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25 Paul's.
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 We're not
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 in danger
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 of
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 emotionalism.
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 We're not
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 in danger
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 of frenzied
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 gimmickry.
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 Far from
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 it,
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 in fact.
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 Our
00:36:40 --> 00:36:41 problem is
00:36:41 --> 00:36:41 more the
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 understanding
00:36:42 --> 00:36:42 that there
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 is no
00:36:43 --> 00:36:43 genuine
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 worship
00:36:44 --> 00:36:44 where
00:36:44 --> 00:36:44 feelings
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 for God
00:36:45 --> 00:36:45 are not
00:36:45 --> 00:36:46 quickened.
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 That's
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 our
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 problem.
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 The
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 understanding
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 that there
00:36:50 --> 00:36:50 is no
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 genuine
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 worship,
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 no genuine
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 magnification
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 of God
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 where
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 feelings
00:36:55 --> 00:36:55 for God
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 are not
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 quickened.
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 There
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 is not
00:37:01 --> 00:37:01 true
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 worship
00:37:02 --> 00:37:02 where the
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 heart is
00:37:03 --> 00:37:03 far from
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 God.
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 The
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 heart's
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 approach
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 to God
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 happens
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 in the
00:37:09 --> 00:37:09 quickening
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 of our
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 feelings
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 for God.
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 Where
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 feelings
00:37:13 --> 00:37:13 are dead,
00:37:13 --> 00:37:14 so is
00:37:14 --> 00:37:14 worship,
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 so is
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 magnification.
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 You see,
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 God wants
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 us to
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 love him
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 according
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 to
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 Deuteronomy
00:37:20 --> 00:37:20 6.5.
00:37:21 --> 00:37:21 He wants
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 us to
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 delight
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 ourselves
00:37:22 --> 00:37:23 in him
00:37:23 --> 00:37:23 in
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 Psalm
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 37.4.
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 He wants
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 us to
00:37:26 --> 00:37:27 worship
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 him with
00:37:27 --> 00:37:28 gladness
00:37:28 --> 00:37:28 according
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29 to
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 Psalm
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 100.
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 In
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 fact,
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 he condemns
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 dutiful
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 obedience
00:37:34 --> 00:37:34 where there
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 is no
00:37:35 --> 00:37:35 gladness
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 and no
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 joy in
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 him in
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 Deuteronomy
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 28.4.
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 Now,
00:37:43 --> 00:37:43 Nat and
00:37:43 --> 00:37:45 I are
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45 marking
00:37:45 --> 00:37:46 20 years
00:37:46 --> 00:37:47 of marriage
00:37:47 --> 00:37:47 at the
00:37:47 --> 00:37:47 end of
00:37:47 --> 00:37:48 January
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 next year.
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 Thank
00:37:50 --> 00:37:50 you.
00:37:55 --> 00:37:56 If I
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 buy her
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 flowers,
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 that's not a
00:37:58 --> 00:37:59 big if,
00:37:59 --> 00:37:59 that's more
00:37:59 --> 00:38:00 likely when I
00:38:00 --> 00:38:00 buy her
00:38:00 --> 00:38:00 flowers,
00:38:00 --> 00:38:02 I
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 must put
00:38:03 --> 00:38:03 that in
00:38:03 --> 00:38:03 my
00:38:03 --> 00:38:03 diary.
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 She,
00:38:06 --> 00:38:08 so imagine
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 this,
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 I buy her
00:38:08 --> 00:38:10 flowers and
00:38:10 --> 00:38:10 she is
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 overjoyed and
00:38:11 --> 00:38:12 she thanks
00:38:12 --> 00:38:12 me.
00:38:14 --> 00:38:14 You know,
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 first time in
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 20 years.
00:38:17 --> 00:38:17 No,
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 it's not.
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 No,
00:38:19 --> 00:38:19 it's not.
00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 Imagine if
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 my response
00:38:24 --> 00:38:25 to her at
00:38:25 --> 00:38:25 that point
00:38:25 --> 00:38:25 is,
00:38:25 --> 00:38:26 well,
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 don't mention
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 it,
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 it's actually
00:38:27 --> 00:38:27 my duty.
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 You know,
00:38:29 --> 00:38:31 20 years
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 and so on,
00:38:31 --> 00:38:32 it's what I'm
00:38:32 --> 00:38:32 required to
00:38:32 --> 00:38:32 do.
00:38:32 --> 00:38:32 I mean,
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 I read it
00:38:33 --> 00:38:33 online,
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 20 years,
00:38:34 --> 00:38:34 you must
00:38:34 --> 00:38:35 get flowers.
00:38:36 --> 00:38:36 You know,
00:38:36 --> 00:38:37 I must do
00:38:37 --> 00:38:37 this,
00:38:37 --> 00:38:38 I must
00:38:38 --> 00:38:39 sacrifice my
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 money and
00:38:39 --> 00:38:40 I must
00:38:40 --> 00:38:41 sacrifice my
00:38:41 --> 00:38:41 time to
00:38:41 --> 00:38:41 go to the
00:38:41 --> 00:38:42 floristry.
00:38:44 --> 00:38:45 How do you
00:38:45 --> 00:38:45 think she
00:38:45 --> 00:38:46 would respond
00:38:46 --> 00:38:47 to that?
00:38:49 --> 00:38:50 It would
00:38:50 --> 00:38:51 insult her
00:38:51 --> 00:38:52 honor and
00:38:52 --> 00:38:53 the relationship.
00:38:53 --> 00:38:54 she is
00:38:54 --> 00:38:55 honored when
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 I sacrifice
00:38:56 --> 00:38:56 and I
00:38:56 --> 00:38:58 give because
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 it is my
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 delight to
00:39:00 --> 00:39:00 do so.
00:39:01 --> 00:39:02 And frankly,
00:39:02 --> 00:39:02 she can tell
00:39:02 --> 00:39:03 the difference.
00:39:05 --> 00:39:06 So here's
00:39:06 --> 00:39:07 the thing.
00:39:07 --> 00:39:08 If we are
00:39:08 --> 00:39:09 doing everything
00:39:09 --> 00:39:10 for the glory
00:39:10 --> 00:39:11 of God
00:39:11 --> 00:39:11 out of
00:39:11 --> 00:39:12 sense of
00:39:12 --> 00:39:12 duty,
00:39:13 --> 00:39:16 if it is
00:39:16 --> 00:39:17 a great
00:39:17 --> 00:39:17 sacrifice
00:39:17 --> 00:39:19 for us,
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 if you
00:39:21 --> 00:39:22 struggle to
00:39:22 --> 00:39:23 gather
00:39:23 --> 00:39:24 for
00:39:24 --> 00:39:25 magnification,
00:39:26 --> 00:39:28 then it's
00:39:28 --> 00:39:29 quite possible
00:39:29 --> 00:39:31 that is
00:39:31 --> 00:39:32 revealing where
00:39:32 --> 00:39:32 your treasure
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 truly is.
00:39:36 --> 00:39:37 If it's a
00:39:37 --> 00:39:38 great sacrifice
00:39:38 --> 00:39:38 to do
00:39:38 --> 00:39:39 anything for
00:39:39 --> 00:39:39 the glory
00:39:39 --> 00:39:40 of God,
00:39:40 --> 00:39:41 it shows
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 what we
00:39:42 --> 00:39:43 value more
00:39:43 --> 00:39:43 than God.
00:39:47 --> 00:39:47 When he
00:39:47 --> 00:39:48 is our
00:39:48 --> 00:39:48 greatest
00:39:48 --> 00:39:49 treasure,
00:39:49 --> 00:39:50 then choosing
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 him over
00:39:51 --> 00:39:52 lesser things,
00:39:52 --> 00:39:52 that's not a
00:39:52 --> 00:39:53 sacrifice at
00:39:53 --> 00:39:53 all.
00:39:57 --> 00:39:57 And so
00:39:57 --> 00:39:58 friends, if
00:39:58 --> 00:39:58 you find
00:39:58 --> 00:39:59 yourself in
00:39:59 --> 00:40:00 that place
00:40:00 --> 00:40:00 at the
00:40:00 --> 00:40:00 moment where
00:40:00 --> 00:40:01 it's duty,
00:40:02 --> 00:40:03 you have
00:40:03 --> 00:40:03 not felt
00:40:03 --> 00:40:03 your
00:40:03 --> 00:40:05 affections
00:40:05 --> 00:40:06 for God
00:40:06 --> 00:40:07 rise at
00:40:07 --> 00:40:07 all as
00:40:07 --> 00:40:07 you've
00:40:07 --> 00:40:08 engaged with
00:40:08 --> 00:40:08 him in
00:40:08 --> 00:40:09 his word
00:40:09 --> 00:40:09 or in
00:40:09 --> 00:40:10 corporate
00:40:10 --> 00:40:11 worship at
00:40:11 --> 00:40:11 all,
00:40:12 --> 00:40:14 then don't
00:40:14 --> 00:40:15 be content
00:40:15 --> 00:40:15 with that.
00:40:15 --> 00:40:19 we must
00:40:19 --> 00:40:20 do what
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 Isaiah
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 does here,
00:40:20 --> 00:40:21 we must
00:40:21 --> 00:40:21 gaze on
00:40:21 --> 00:40:22 his
00:40:22 --> 00:40:23 magnificence,
00:40:25 --> 00:40:26 gaze at,
00:40:26 --> 00:40:26 delight in
00:40:26 --> 00:40:27 his power,
00:40:27 --> 00:40:28 his perfection,
00:40:28 --> 00:40:28 his beauty,
00:40:28 --> 00:40:28 and his
00:40:28 --> 00:40:29 mercy,
00:40:29 --> 00:40:30 that's when
00:40:30 --> 00:40:30 our worship
00:40:30 --> 00:40:31 and our
00:40:31 --> 00:40:32 service of
00:40:32 --> 00:40:32 him will
00:40:32 --> 00:40:34 glorify him.
00:40:34 --> 00:40:35 God is
00:40:35 --> 00:40:36 dishonored when
00:40:36 --> 00:40:37 all of our
00:40:37 --> 00:40:38 worship and
00:40:38 --> 00:40:39 our service
00:40:39 --> 00:40:39 of him is
00:40:39 --> 00:40:40 a duty.
00:40:40 --> 00:40:43 And if
00:40:43 --> 00:40:43 you find
00:40:43 --> 00:40:44 yourself right
00:40:44 --> 00:40:45 here in
00:40:45 --> 00:40:45 this moment
00:40:45 --> 00:40:47 thinking of
00:40:47 --> 00:40:48 intellectual
00:40:48 --> 00:40:49 biblical
00:40:49 --> 00:40:50 arguments to
00:40:50 --> 00:40:50 try and undo
00:40:50 --> 00:40:51 what I've
00:40:51 --> 00:40:51 just said,
00:40:52 --> 00:40:53 be wary,
00:40:54 --> 00:40:55 be cautious
00:40:55 --> 00:40:56 right now.
00:41:05 --> 00:41:05 God
00:41:05 --> 00:41:06 desires that
00:41:06 --> 00:41:07 we see
00:41:07 --> 00:41:07 him,
00:41:08 --> 00:41:08 that we
00:41:08 --> 00:41:09 gaze on
00:41:09 --> 00:41:10 him regularly
00:41:10 --> 00:41:10 in his
00:41:10 --> 00:41:11 word,
00:41:11 --> 00:41:12 that we
00:41:12 --> 00:41:13 savor his
00:41:13 --> 00:41:13 greatness
00:41:13 --> 00:41:14 and his
00:41:14 --> 00:41:16 mercy and
00:41:16 --> 00:41:16 his forgiveness
00:41:16 --> 00:41:17 and his
00:41:17 --> 00:41:18 acceptance
00:41:18 --> 00:41:20 and serve
00:41:20 --> 00:41:20 him with
00:41:20 --> 00:41:21 all of our
00:41:21 --> 00:41:22 lives,
00:41:22 --> 00:41:23 with joy
00:41:23 --> 00:41:24 and with
00:41:24 --> 00:41:24 gladness
00:41:24 --> 00:41:25 and our
00:41:25 --> 00:41:25 lips and
00:41:25 --> 00:41:26 our hearts.
00:41:28 --> 00:41:28 Our
00:41:28 --> 00:41:29 church's
00:41:29 --> 00:41:29 purpose
00:41:29 --> 00:41:30 statement
00:41:30 --> 00:41:30 deliberately
00:41:30 --> 00:41:31 connects
00:41:31 --> 00:41:32 God's
00:41:32 --> 00:41:33 glory and
00:41:33 --> 00:41:34 our joy
00:41:34 --> 00:41:35 together as
00:41:35 --> 00:41:36 one.
00:41:40 --> 00:41:41 we exist
00:41:41 --> 00:41:41 to treasure
00:41:41 --> 00:41:42 Jesus for
00:41:42 --> 00:41:42 God's
00:41:42 --> 00:41:43 glory and
00:41:43 --> 00:41:44 the joy
00:41:44 --> 00:41:45 of all
00:41:45 --> 00:41:45 peoples.
00:41:47 --> 00:41:47 You and
00:41:47 --> 00:41:47 I were
00:41:47 --> 00:41:48 made for
00:41:48 --> 00:41:48 the express
00:41:48 --> 00:41:50 purpose of
00:41:50 --> 00:41:51 magnifying God
00:41:51 --> 00:41:52 at all times,
00:41:52 --> 00:41:52 in all places,
00:41:52 --> 00:41:53 in every
00:41:53 --> 00:41:53 circumstance.
00:41:54 --> 00:41:55 And it is a
00:41:55 --> 00:41:56 delight to be
00:41:56 --> 00:41:57 able to do
00:41:57 --> 00:41:57 that Sunday
00:41:57 --> 00:41:58 by Sunday.
00:41:59 --> 00:42:00 As Rachel
00:42:00 --> 00:42:00 said at the
00:42:00 --> 00:42:01 beginning,
00:42:01 --> 00:42:02 enjoying Jesus
00:42:02 --> 00:42:02 together,
00:42:04 --> 00:42:04 that's a
00:42:04 --> 00:42:04 delight.
00:42:04 --> 00:42:06 and can I
00:42:06 --> 00:42:06 say,
00:42:08 --> 00:42:09 this is a
00:42:09 --> 00:42:09 glimpse of
00:42:09 --> 00:42:10 what we're
00:42:10 --> 00:42:10 doing here
00:42:10 --> 00:42:11 this Sunday
00:42:11 --> 00:42:12 is a
00:42:12 --> 00:42:13 glimpse of
00:42:13 --> 00:42:14 what we
00:42:14 --> 00:42:15 were created
00:42:15 --> 00:42:15 and we
00:42:15 --> 00:42:16 were redeemed
00:42:16 --> 00:42:17 for.
00:42:18 --> 00:42:19 This is
00:42:19 --> 00:42:20 what we
00:42:20 --> 00:42:21 will delight
00:42:21 --> 00:42:21 to do
00:42:21 --> 00:42:22 for all
00:42:22 --> 00:42:23 of eternity
00:42:23 --> 00:42:24 with the
00:42:24 --> 00:42:25 angels around
00:42:25 --> 00:42:26 the throne.
00:42:28 --> 00:42:29 More like
00:42:29 --> 00:42:30 the Habakkuk
00:42:30 --> 00:42:30 2.
00:42:30 --> 00:42:35 as we
00:42:35 --> 00:42:35 gaze at
00:42:35 --> 00:42:36 his throne.
00:42:38 --> 00:42:38 The
00:42:38 --> 00:42:39 arrogance of
00:42:39 --> 00:42:39 people who
00:42:39 --> 00:42:40 say,
00:42:40 --> 00:42:40 I can't
00:42:40 --> 00:42:41 wait to
00:42:41 --> 00:42:41 get to
00:42:41 --> 00:42:42 heaven so
00:42:42 --> 00:42:42 that I
00:42:42 --> 00:42:43 can give
00:42:43 --> 00:42:43 God the
00:42:43 --> 00:42:44 questions that
00:42:44 --> 00:42:44 I want
00:42:44 --> 00:42:44 him to
00:42:44 --> 00:42:45 answer.
00:42:46 --> 00:42:47 No.
00:42:49 --> 00:42:50 You will
00:42:50 --> 00:42:51 see him
00:42:51 --> 00:42:52 and you
00:42:52 --> 00:42:53 will fall
00:42:53 --> 00:42:53 and your
00:42:53 --> 00:42:54 list of
00:42:54 --> 00:42:54 questions will
00:42:54 --> 00:42:55 be crumpled
00:42:55 --> 00:42:55 up and
00:42:55 --> 00:42:56 thrown away.
00:42:57 --> 00:42:57 They will
00:42:57 --> 00:42:57 become
00:42:57 --> 00:42:59 insignificant in
00:42:59 --> 00:42:59 his presence.
00:43:00 --> 00:43:04 how we
00:43:04 --> 00:43:05 engage with
00:43:05 --> 00:43:05 this Sunday
00:43:05 --> 00:43:06 by Sunday
00:43:06 --> 00:43:06 is a
00:43:06 --> 00:43:08 reflection of
00:43:08 --> 00:43:08 whether we
00:43:08 --> 00:43:09 are living out
00:43:09 --> 00:43:09 God's purpose
00:43:09 --> 00:43:10 for our lives
00:43:10 --> 00:43:11 the rest of
00:43:11 --> 00:43:11 the week.
00:43:13 --> 00:43:14 Our purpose
00:43:14 --> 00:43:14 and our
00:43:14 --> 00:43:15 pleasure is
00:43:15 --> 00:43:17 found when
00:43:17 --> 00:43:17 we find it
00:43:17 --> 00:43:18 in his
00:43:18 --> 00:43:19 glory.
00:43:21 --> 00:43:22 We exist to
00:43:22 --> 00:43:22 magnify this
00:43:22 --> 00:43:23 God 24
00:43:23 --> 00:43:24 hours a day
00:43:24 --> 00:43:26 and find our
00:43:26 --> 00:43:26 deepest pleasure
00:43:26 --> 00:43:27 in him.