[0:00] Good morning, a warm welcome to the service today. It's good to see all of you, it's good to see a few visitors with us as well in the service and you're especially welcome.
[0:11] The notices have been on the screen before the service began, I'll just take a moment to go through them. So if you could just flick through them. There's no tea and coffee at the end of the service today in the morning, but there will be tea, coffee, cakes, all kinds of good things tonight at the fellowship after the evening service.
[0:29] And Janinus will be sharing his testimony this evening as well. So be encouraged to come along to the evening service at six. Ladies' fellowship on Monday night as usual and Little Fish's morning and Road to Recovery in the evening.
[0:44] Prayer meeting on Wednesday, usual time and place and the Gaelic Mother and Toddler group on Thursday. The services next Sunday will be taken in the morning by Dr. Adam.
[0:57] I don't think he's preached here on a Sunday before. He has taken various services midweek, but we'll hear from Dr. Adam.
[1:08] He'll open the word for us and he'll share a little of the ministry that he's involved with. The Gaelic service will be at six and I think that service will be taken by Dan Murray, who's sitting here with us this morning.
[1:21] The cleaning rota there, you can see that if the church is messy next week, it's all my fault. Shoebox appeal, you have details there.
[1:31] We've begun that, so please give as you're able to. Scripture Union is back on, so school pupils, please note that. You've got the details there as well.
[1:46] Mackenzie and Ian as they wander in just now. Mackenzie's looking for a co-driver and please speak to her after the service if you're able to help with that.
[1:56] Big Free Rally is coming up as well. You've got details there on the screen. Please speak to maybe Stuart if you want to follow up on that one or Gordon.
[2:07] And there's a book group there as well. Speak to Stuart about the book group. I don't have the list, so I don't know how long this goes on for. I think that's the end of the intimations.
[2:20] But just to say it's good to have visitors with us again this morning. And you can see that this morning we will celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
[2:31] We'll gather around the Lord's table. It's not the Free Church table. It's not the North Harris table. It's a table that is open for all of the Lord's people.
[2:42] So any who know, trust the Lord are called to do this. To take the bread, to take the wine in remembrance of him. We have some from Australia, the Anglican Church.
[2:53] And you're very welcome to join with us this morning also. Again, Lord, again we're thankful for the work of God through Professor Janangas.
[3:05] As we've heard from him of the fact of our unworthiness. As we come to the table we recognise we are not worthy. And it's God the Holy Spirit who shows us that.
[3:17] And we come, as we heard last night, with minds and hearts that are full of God. The God who is worthy. And so we're thankful for the ministry so far.
[3:27] And we look forward to hearing God's word through you again today, Janangas. So I'm going to hand over to you now. Thanks. One thing I do know, you're able to read much faster than I can.
[3:44] I have never seen intimations go so fast across a screen ever. If my students could read at that pace, imagine what they could have done. But I'm sure you were watching them long before the service started.
[3:59] Let's begin our worship of the Lord now by singing from Psalm 146. We'll sing verses 1 to 10. The whole Psalm. Psalm 146.
[4:12] Praise the Lord, my soul, O praise him. I'll extol him all my days. While I live to God my Saviour, from my heart I will sing praise.
[4:22] Before you take this and any other psalm or any other song on your lips, remember to actually mean what you actually sing.
[4:38] Otherwise you're taking the Lord's name in vain. These are amazing statements. So let's sing to his praise with meaningful hearts.
[4:49] Psalm 146. To his praise. Praise the Lord, my soul, O praise him.
[5:12] I'll extol him all my days. While I live to God my Saviour, from my heart I will sing praise.
[5:31] Do not hurt your trusted princes, mortal men who cannot save.
[5:43] All their plans will come to nothing when they perish in the grave.
[5:57] Blessed is the Lord, my soul, O praise him. Blessed is the one who truly moves for help to Jacob's door.
[6:09] Blessed is the one who places all his hope upon the Lord.
[6:22] He who makes the earth and heaven and the seas with all their storm.
[6:34] He who keeps his every promise, who is faithful evermore.
[6:46] He delivers from oppression and relieves the hungry's blind.
[6:59] He releases those in prison to the blind the Lord gives sight.
[7:11] Those who are but them he raises. God delights in righteousness.
[7:23] He protects and cares for strangers. Widows and the fatherless.
[7:35] He frustrates the wicked's purpose. So the Lord through endless days.
[7:46] Praise to every generation. Praise to God, O Zion. Praise.
[8:00] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Let's draw near the Lord in prayer. Amen. Lord, what wonderful, wonderful words.
[8:11] Words that you have given us to sing of yourself. What could we possibly add to them? In our own experience, we have found that you are a God who cares, who lifts, who hears.
[8:27] You are a God, Lord, who loves. You are a God who rebukes. You are a God who will deal with the righteous and with the wicked. You are a God, Lord, who asks of us that we will live for you and that we will praise you all our days.
[8:47] Lord, we confess our utter failure to have done this in our lives up till this day. We want, Lord, we genuinely want to honour you with our lives, with our lips, with everything we do.
[9:04] We find that sin still dwells within us and we still find that we give far too much place to self rather than to you.
[9:15] Lord, we pray that you are more conscious of our own reputation, our own plans and ambitions, our own sorrows than of you and of your glory and the unchanging reasons why we should praise you.
[9:29] Lord, we pray that you would draw us to have a desire to praise you all our days for good reasons.
[9:40] Will you open our eyes, Lord, that we may not be blind to your works, your works within us, your works around us, your works in the world.
[9:51] Lord, we do trust you. We know that you have everything under control. You are the only God, the one and only, the great I am.
[10:02] You are the one who was there yesterday, who is here today and who will be there tomorrow. And we have absolute certainty that everything is well, everything is right.
[10:15] And we come, Lord, trusting you this day, even as we entrust ourselves to you for our salvation. Lord, what a privilege to be able to remember you and what you have done in and through your Son, Jesus Christ.
[10:32] Help us, Lord. Help us even now to realise our destiny, those of us who are in Christ. Help us to love you as much as Christ, your Son, loves you.
[10:47] We know that that is the way it will be for eternity. And we ask, Lord, that increasingly we would love you as he loves you.
[10:59] That that love would be within us. We ask, Lord, that the Lord Jesus himself would be our teacher in loving you. And we pray, Lord, that you would bless everyone who is here today, who is under the sound of your word and who hears your people praising and who call upon your name.
[11:22] Oh, Lord, will you be pleased to hear their cries? Will you open hearts, Lord, for the first time? May you be pleased, Lord, to draw them from death to life.
[11:34] And may there be a new song in the heart of somebody, even in this congregation and the congregations around. Lord, what a wonderful privilege.
[11:46] What a wonderful privilege to be able to be in a place where your word is read and sung and where you are honoured. Lord, we do pray for those who are absent, those who cannot possibly be here.
[12:02] We ask that their absence would be blessed to them. That there would be such a longing created within their hearts that they find themselves worshipping you all their days.
[12:16] And those, Lord, who are absent, who used to be here but never trusted in you. Oh, Lord, will you show your sovereign power by even now where they are, drawing them to yourself.
[12:31] Lord, you're a gracious God. And we would pray that you would show your might and your power in salvation this day. Don't cut down the tree.
[12:44] We pray, Lord, that it would last another year and that there would be fruit in the days to come. Bless those who gather in Scalpby this morning too.
[12:55] Oh, may your own presence be felt and experienced in the reading and the praising and the preaching of your word. And we ask, Lord, that you would draw near to us now.
[13:07] Keep us and forgive us. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. Children's talk.
[13:19] Is that right? Yeah. That's what I do at this point. Boys and girls, come on forward. I want to give one further mission as well. Do that. Please do.
[13:30] Come on, boys and girls. Out you come. One intimation that I meant to give this morning was just in the form of a welcome.
[13:42] And we had the invitation to come forward to the table over the course of the weekend. And Caroline Duncan has come forward, not by profession of faith.
[13:54] She's been accepted into the congregation by certificate. And so she's moved into the congregation. We want to just welcome her and give thanks to God for his ongoing work in her life and in our lives.
[14:08] So. Thank you. Well, you've already done something that I could never do. Do you know, to go down on my haunches like that.
[14:19] Wow. Going down is not so bad. Coming back up. That is impossible these days. Really. So there you are. You go down on your knees and you find it easy to get up again.
[14:31] Yeah? Yeah. Do you think you'll be able to do it when you're as old as me? What about if you're as old as Angus Alec?
[14:42] Do you think you'll be able to do it then? You don't know. You don't know what lies ahead. He opens and closes the door. Who does? Angus Alec. He does.
[14:53] He opens and closes doors. That's actually good. And he's also got a lovely smiley face when he's there at the door, which is a wonderful thing. Because Christians have a lot to smile about, don't they?
[15:10] Tell me. Are you excited? Okay. What are you excited about? Yeah? Going to heaven.
[15:22] Going to heaven. How did you know I was going to talk about that? Are you, Prophet Michael? There you are. Excited about going to heaven.
[15:34] Why would anyone be excited about going to heaven? Before you answer, let me tell you. Okay. Because just a few weeks ago, I was doing a funeral actually for a very good friend, a Mr. John, his name is me, John, surname Ling.
[15:54] Okay. I think his forebears were from the Isle of Uist and he died rather suddenly. Okay. And he went to heaven. So I was doing the funeral and I thought, do you know this?
[16:07] John Ling will be so excited. How could he be excited in heaven? How could he possibly be excited? Well, here's one thing. John, is somebody who's a Christian and who's gone to heaven, is he at the end of a journey or at the beginning of a journey?
[16:27] He's at the beginning. See, that's the great thing. He's at the end of the journey in this world. That's over. That's over. As Paul says, the race is run. The time is finished.
[16:38] Now he goes on. But for John and others who are Christians and they've gone to heaven, that's a new journey. And when does that journey finish?
[16:50] It never finishes. There's going to be another stage in it when Jesus comes back and raises people up from the dead. I mean, that's going to be a brilliant moment because that's when John Ling, who's in heaven just now, really excited, will actually have his body given back to him on the day of the resurrection.
[17:10] And it's going to be the most exciting day for him. But even now, John Ling is excited. Why else would he be excited? Who does he see?
[17:23] Who does he see in heaven? Yeah. He sees Jesus. Could he see God?
[17:36] Yeah. Ah. See, the prophet is holding back now. Yeah. Could you see God? Does God have a body? No.
[17:47] No. Does Jesus have a body? Yes. Yeah? And you can see all of God in Jesus, can't you? So when you see Jesus, you are seeing God and in a way that you can understand.
[17:58] Does John Ling see Jesus? Is he excited to see Jesus? Yes. Absolutely. Because he's seeing the creator of the world.
[18:09] And he knows that that creator is his savior. Something else about John Ling and all the other Christians who have gone to heaven. Are they in a place?
[18:21] Yes. Hmm. You're all thinking theologically now. It's really good. Are they in a place? Yes. Here you're in Harris. They're in heaven. And it is a place.
[18:32] Are there people in heaven with bodies? Yes. Are you sure? Does Jesus have a body? Yes. So Jesus is in heaven with a body. Are there anybody else? No.
[18:43] No? No? Just think now. Are you sure about that? Do you remember on the day that Jesus rose from the dead? The 24 people. Oh yes, you're running ahead. No? No? Just think now.
[18:54] Are you sure about that? Do you remember on the day that Jesus rose from the dead? The 24 people. Hmm. Oh yes. You're running ahead. But on the day that Jesus rose from the dead, remember graves opened.
[19:10] Some of these lovely believers from the old days, they walked in Jerusalem and they seemed to be in heaven with their bodies. Okay, does Elijah have a body in heaven?
[19:26] But most people won't, and you're right. But see, that day will come when they will be giving their bodies back, and their bodies will, I think they'll be able to sit down like you and then get up, so I won't be out of place then.
[19:42] It'll be wonderful. So it's a place. Is heaven a people? Are there lots of people in heaven?
[19:53] Will John feel alone? No, no. He won't. Some of the people that he left behind in this world, like myself, are a bit sad, but we know that John's not sad because John is in heaven with all the people, and he won't meet anybody that doesn't love the Lord.
[20:13] But who is the special one who is there in heaven? God in Jesus. God in Jesus.
[20:26] And that is the most wonderful thing. And I want you, all of you, you're sitting down here, I would love to think that as you grow older, that you'll actually trust in God who sent his son Jesus to do wonderful things.
[20:47] We'll be preaching on it. You'll be hearing about it in your Sunday school. But I want you to be ready to be excited. I'm scared.
[20:58] I'm scared. I'm sometimes scared to live. There are days I'm not excited to live. And there are times I am so excited that I just want to keep on living, and I keep on doing the work of the Lord.
[21:16] But see, I know my time here will be short. And then we will go to heaven. But only if you're Christians.
[21:28] Now, I'm not going to ask you if you're Christians. You can only be in heaven if your name is in the Lamb's Book of Life. All I know is that everybody whose names are in the Lamb's Book of Life are people who came to Jesus and trusted in him.
[21:50] Will you do that? Let's close our eyes and pray. Our Heavenly Father, we would pray that you would bless these young ones all Lord.
[22:01] Thank you for them. Thank you for their honesty. Thank you for their willingness to live and to hear and to listen. Lord, will you do a work of grace in every one of their lives.
[22:15] And will you be pleased, Lord, to raise up from them another generation of Christians and that they will be the ones who will carry the torch of the Gospel.
[22:26] Lord, we would pray that you would raise up from people like this elders and deacons and Sunday school teachers and mothers and fathers and people who really care.
[22:40] Lord, we ask that you would bless every one of these children for your glory. We ask it. Amen. Thank you. Let me watch you stand up now.
[22:51] Oh! That's brilliant. Thank you. We're going to do the reading now.
[23:02] You guys, you can head to San Francisco. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[23:26] I was quite intrigued by what Michael said last night, apparently. talking about me, he says, I think that man wants to die and go to heaven.
[23:43] I wasn't sure what to do with that bit of information, but I'm sure I want to go to heaven. Thankfully, I'm not quite so sure if I want to die quite yet.
[23:55] Let's read the word of God now from the book of Revelation and chapter 5. Revelation and chapter 5. We'll read the whole chapter.
[24:13] Then I saw on the right hand of him who was seated on the throne, a scrawl written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scrawl and break its seals?
[24:32] And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scrawl or to look into it. And I began to weep loudly, because no one was found worthy to open the scrawl or to look into it.
[24:47] And one of the elders said to me, Weep no more. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scrawl and its seven seals.
[25:03] And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain, with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
[25:19] And he went and took the scrawl from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scrawl, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
[25:43] And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scrawl and to open its seals, for you were slain. And by your blood you ransomed people for God, from every tribe and language and people and nation.
[26:01] And you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Then I looked, and I heard, around the throne and the living creatures and the elders, the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing.
[26:36] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, saying, To him who sits on the throne and to the lamb, be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever.
[26:58] And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped. May the Lord bless that reading of his own holy inspired word.
[27:15] We're now going to sing some verses in Gaelic from Psalm 147. Psalm 147.
[27:27] To the praise of God.
[27:41] Piling name. 누가 says, Psalm 147.
[28:01] O worship you are a喜欢. Thank you.
[28:31] Thank you.
[29:01] Thank you.
[29:31] Thank you.
[30:01] Thank you.
[30:31] Thank you.
[31:01] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[31:12] Thank you. Let's turn back now to the book of the Revelation and chapter 5.
[31:51] This is a scroll. This is a scroll. This is a scroll. It's God who is still worshipped. It's God who is still worshipped, but he'll be worshipped through the Lamb.
[32:03] What do we find here? What do we find here? Bear with me? Here, bear with me. You find the scroll of history. I saw in the scroll. I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
[32:20] So here's a scroll. So here's a scroll. So here's a scroll. Okay? All wound up. And there would be seals at various points in the scroll. So even if you opened one seal, you wouldn't be able to open it all.
[32:33] You'd have to go to the next seal and the next seal all the way as it is unrolled. So there's this scroll. What's in this scroll?
[32:45] I think it is the detail of history. I think it's the detail of how God will carry out all that he has promised by way of saving and judging.
[33:00] Every detail is to be found there for every day of the existence of the world, for every hour of our lives, for every moment.
[33:12] It's all there in the scroll. There's nothing missing. And this scroll is in the right hand of God. Whose other hand could it ever be in?
[33:25] We are not masters of our own destiny. We are not people in charge of our own lives. There is one who has the scroll and in his right hand it remains.
[33:40] But this scroll, we're told, is sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?
[33:56] Question. For this scroll to be opened, for God's purposes to go forward, for the history of the world to achieve its destination, somebody has to open the scroll.
[34:14] Somebody has to unseal it. Somebody has to unseal it. Who is worthy to unseal and to open the scroll?
[34:25] God can't do it. That's the most striking thing in a way in this chapter. God cannot unseal the scroll.
[34:39] He can't do it. He's God. Of course he's God. And it's his promises. And it's his judgment. And it's his salvation.
[34:51] But there are things that God cannot do just by being God. He cannot open the scroll.
[35:02] God cannot unseal it. So who can? Who can bear the burden of the whole of history? Who can be given the honour of opening this particular scroll?
[35:18] Who can be trusted with the will of God in its entirety and in all its detail? Who has the integrity?
[35:31] Who is so trustworthy? Who is so righteous? Who could possibly be so acceptable to God that he could open this scroll and unseal it?
[35:47] Who will live long enough to open all the seals of this history? Who is so committed to God that he will never disagree with anything in this scroll?
[36:08] He will never look at it and say, oh no. I'm okay with all up to now, but I can't do this. No. Whoever opens this scroll has to be committed to God and will never disagree, never murmur.
[36:27] Indeed, he has to be somebody who says Amen to everything in this scroll. Every single detail.
[36:39] Who is deserving of opening and unsealing this scroll? Who is worthy? Who is worthy?
[36:51] We learned last night, God is worthy. The question is, who is worthy to reign under God to fulfill his purposes?
[37:08] Who? Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?
[37:22] No one was able to take it on. Notice how it's put in verse 3. No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look into it.
[37:40] No one was able to do it. No one was able to do it. No one in heaven. None of the saints of God who are in heaven.
[37:52] Nobody from the Old Testament who had gone to glory could do it. Nobody in earth. No holy person on earth.
[38:03] No righteous human being could be found on earth who would be able to do it. No one in the church. No one in the church. Not even the apostles.
[38:14] Not even the apostle Paul. Not even the apostle John. Could open this scroll. No one in heaven. No one in earth.
[38:25] What about those who have died in the past and who are under the earth? Is it possible that there are saints somewhere who are there at one time who may be able to do it?
[38:38] No. No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it.
[38:54] Does anyone try? Does anyone try? Does anyone try to be the master of their own destiny? To try and work out their own history?
[39:06] Yes, I'm sure. Remember the serpent in the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve, you'll be like gods knowing good and evil. You could take this on yourselves.
[39:21] That didn't work out well. They were excluded from the presence of God. Human beings today, they somehow think that they can manage their own destiny.
[39:36] They can't. It is not possible. They are not worthy. And look at the effect on John here. Isn't it remarkable?
[39:48] I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
[39:59] Now, you could have said to John, John, what's in the scroll? He says, I don't know. What's the detail in the scroll? I don't know.
[40:10] Then why are you so upset that you're crying loudly? And the word in Greek actually is also that he cried over a long period of time.
[40:22] This wasn't just a brief whimper. This had a real effect on John in the vision. He wept because a search was made and no one was found.
[40:34] They looked. They scanned heaven. They scanned earth. They scanned under the earth. And there was no angel, no human being in the past or in the present that could possibly take on this task.
[40:50] Nobody was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look into it. Oh, John, he didn't know the detail of it.
[41:04] But he could easily say to you, I don't know what's the detail. But I know whose hand that scroll is in. It's in the right hand of God.
[41:15] And because I know God and I trust God, I know that what's there is to his honor and to his glory.
[41:26] That's enough for him. If only there was somebody worthy to open the scroll. He wept.
[41:37] He broke down. And he broke down for a long period of time. So sad. He clearly loved the will of God.
[41:49] And so here the most terrible impediment. Because there was nobody, nobody worthy to open the scroll.
[42:02] And so on Friday evening, we were thinking about the prodigal son. And he, I'm sure, wept in the far off country because he wasn't worthy.
[42:16] How true. All of us know our own sense of unworthiness. But here's unworthiness on another scale.
[42:31] He thinks, he says, of all the cries that will be unanswered. All the hopes that will be unfulfilled. Think of the divine plan that is being postponed and can't be put into effect unless someone is found.
[42:48] John wept loudly. Because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then comes the moment.
[43:00] One of the elders. Remember the 24 elders? Church Old Testament and New Testament church. The people of God. One of the elders said to me, Weep no more.
[43:14] Weep no more. Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah. The root of David has conquered. So that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.
[43:27] Now see, if I'd been writing this. If I'd been giving this vision. I would have pictured God on the throne with this scroll in his hand.
[43:38] And then I would see Jesus coming to take the scroll from his hand straight away. But no.
[43:49] God allows this pause to happen. Who is worthy? No one is found worthy. And then someone from within the church who benefits says, There is one.
[44:04] There is one. And see that pause. That part in this scenario where you actually go through the weeping time before the time of blessing comes.
[44:17] How often that happens in our experience. Where we find ourselves weeping because we can't see the way ahead. And God allows that.
[44:28] God allows us to weep because we don't know how things will progress. And there's nothing at all that we should be ashamed of in doing that.
[44:39] Christians should weep. There are times when we should lament. There are times that we should be broken before the Lord. There are far too many times when Christians are as blasé as the world.
[44:54] No. There are times when the Lord says, This is a time for weeping. Has he ever brought that kind of pause into your own life?
[45:06] Where he stopped you in your tracks. You're journeying along and then all of a sudden it stops. And you realise you can't take another step forward.
[45:21] Because you need the help of God. You realise your own strength is not enough. Your own wisdom is not enough. You need God to go forward.
[45:34] In that situation. Of course you weep. Have you ever wept? Because you needed God. And God in Christ.
[45:46] Past generation did. A present generation does. It happens all the time. Don't you be unashamed of that.
[45:59] Well. Weep no more. Why? Behold. Look. The lion of the tribe of Judah. The root of David has conquered.
[46:11] So that he can open the scroll and its seven seals. They found one. One person. Only one. He's described here as a lion of the tribe of Judah.
[46:24] Those of you know Genesis 49 verse 9. Know that the scepter was not going to depart from Judah. There would be a king that would arise from within Israel itself.
[46:35] It would be a human being. It would be a son that would come from Judah. And he will be king. And he. And he. Marvelously.
[46:46] Will be worthy enough. Committed enough. Righteous enough. With all the integrity required. To take on his shoulders.
[46:57] The rule of the universe. Under God. He's the lion. Of the tribe of Judah. He's the root of David. Those of you know Isaiah chapter 11.
[47:09] And verse 1. Read there that there is this coming one. Who will arise from the root of David. David. He was king under God.
[47:22] But this is the root of David. Why would there ever be somebody like David. Symbolically reigning over God's people. Because there was going to be the root of David.
[47:34] Who would one day appear. Up here. In the Davidic line. He'd be the king. This. Is. The. Lion king.
[47:46] The tribe of Judah. The root of David. And we're told here. He doesn't have the right. To open the scroll. Because he exists.
[47:58] But because he conquered. Weep no more. Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah. The root of David. The root of David. Has conquered.
[48:09] There's been a battle. And he has overcome. He has won. There's been a time of testing. There's been warfare.
[48:22] He's conquered. He's conquered. He's conquered. He's conquered. He's conquered. As king. So that he can open. The scroll. And its seven seals.
[48:36] He's conquered. Sin. Satan. And death. He is now in a position. To save. He's in a position.
[48:48] To judge. John. You can stop crying now. It's all in hand. The lion king. Is here. And then.
[48:59] He turns round. Between the throne. And the four living creatures. And among the elders. I saw a lamb standing. As though it had been slain. With seven horns. With seven eyes. Which are the seven. The lion king.
[49:10] The lion king. Is here. And then. He turns round. Between the throne. And the four living creatures. And among the elders. And the seven eyes. Which are the seven spirits. Of God. Sent out.
[49:21] Into all the earth. He turns. Fully expecting. Of course. To see a lion. And he does see a lion. And he does see a lion.
[49:32] But this lion. Is a lamb. In addition. To being a lion. He is a lion. But he looks like a lamb.
[49:44] He is a lion. And he functions. Like a lamb. And he functions. Like a lamb. And look at where this lamb is. Between the throne. And the four living creatures.
[49:55] And among the elders. The church. I saw a lamb. Standing. This is where the lamb. Of God. Belongs.
[50:06] This is where the lion. Of the tribe of Judah. The root of David. Belongs. Right there. At the throne. Of God. In among the living creature.
[50:17] The angels. And right there. At the heart. Of the twenty-four elders. And the lamb. Is standing there. Remember.
[50:28] These are the people. These are the creatures. The angels. And the church. That were worshipping. In chapter four. Now you find. Here's one of the reasons.
[50:40] They're worshipping. Not only. Is God. Worthy. Of worship. But here. Is the lamb. And he is. Standing. But notice.
[50:52] Standing. As though it had been slain. He's alive. But he looks. As if he's been dead. He's standing.
[51:04] Up. So he's not barely alive. He is fully alive. He is fully alive. But he still bears the marks. Of the past.
[51:15] His death. That had to be conquered. He's alive. Now be careful here. Why does this lion.
[51:27] This lamb. Have the right. To open. The book. The scroll. To unseal it. Unseal it. It's not.
[51:38] Because he's God. It's not. Because he's God. The son. It's not. Even. Because he died. On the cross.
[51:49] The scroll. That. In itself. Would not. Give him the right. To open. The scroll. He dies. And stands.
[52:01] He dies. And rises again. He's slain. And then. He rises.
[52:13] From death. And until he rises. He's not. In a position. To open. The scroll. A dead.
[52:24] Christ. Could not. Do it. A dead. Lamb. Is not worthy. As one. Who was slain. But now. Stands.
[52:35] Alive. Where. In. The presence. Of God. Our crucified. Resurrected.
[52:46] Resurrected. Christ. Is the one. Who alone. Can open. The scroll. Of history. We're going to. Remember him. Shortly. At the Lord's table.
[52:57] What a privilege. He's the lion. Always will be. He's the lamb. Always will be. He was slain.
[53:10] Once. But never again. He stands. Alive. Forever. And that. Whole history.
[53:21] Means that he is worthy. To open. This scroll. Notice also. What is said about him. He has seven horns.
[53:33] Picture language. In the book of the revelation. Horns. Are always to do with strength. Seven horns. Complete strength. No one.
[53:44] Will be able. To topple. Jesus Christ. From the throne. Nobody. Will be able. To snatch. Him. Away.
[53:55] From the center. Of history. He. Has seven horns. There is no. Weapon. Formed against any. Of his people. Or against his church.
[54:06] No government. No. No satanic. No demonic. No demonic. Power. Will be able. To defeat. Because he. Is so strong.
[54:17] So mighty. So powerful. He. Has seven horns. And he has seven eyes. He cares. Somebody said recently.
[54:31] That people. That people. Who care. Look at people. He has seven eyes. He looks. He sees it all.
[54:42] He sees the detail. He sees the people. He sees the past. He sees the present. He sees the future. He is omniscient.
[54:54] He is the one. Who knows all. He sees all. I mean. You wouldn't be. A very good king. Without power.
[55:06] You wouldn't be. A very good king. If you couldn't see. But what a king. What a lion. What a lamb.
[55:17] Who has seven horns. And seven eyes. But the seven eyes. Here are spoken of. In a special way. They are the seven. Spirits of God.
[55:28] Sent out. Into all the earth. How does Jesus. Rule. How does he rule. With precision. Wherever.
[55:39] He sees. He rules. Through the sevenfold spirit. He rules. Through the holy. Spirit. Of God.
[55:51] When Jesus. Ascended up. Into heaven. What happened. When he ascended. Up into heaven. There was a pause. There was a pause.
[56:03] For about ten days. And then something. Happened. The church. Received the outpouring. Of the spirit. Why?
[56:15] It took ten days. For Jesus. To pour out the spirit. On the church. On the church. But he received. That spirit. Immediately. When he ascended.
[56:27] Up into heaven. As the lamb. Standing. In the presence. Of God. He received. From the spirit. And in his own time.
[56:39] Pours it out. Pours him out. Upon the church. To equip the church. For its task. For its task. And here. Is.
[56:50] Our king. Our lion. Our lamb. Reigning with mighty power. Through the Holy Spirit. Who sees all.
[57:01] And this spirit. Works through the church. The church. You. And I. Here. Today. What are we doing?
[57:12] We are here. Indwelt. By the spirit. Of God. If we are Christians. The lion. The lamb. The spirit.
[57:24] Of God. And the work. Of God. Going on. The spirit. The spirit. Well. What are we told. About this lion. This lamb.
[57:35] Verse seven. Ah. I love this portion. He went. And took. The scroll. From the right hand. Of him. Who was seated.
[57:46] On the throne. He went. And took it. You'd almost think. He was willing. Now.
[57:57] You might say. Of course. He was willing. Would you. Have been willing. Would you. Have been willing. Ah. You say.
[58:08] But he's God. The son. He's going to take the. On his shoulders. The raiding of his universe. Forever. And ever. And ever.
[58:19] He's God. The son. He can do that. No. No. This. Is the lamb. We're talking about. This is the God man.
[58:30] This. Is the son of Mary. This. Is the dust. Of the earth. This. Is the one. Who now. Stands. In the presence.
[58:41] Of God. And he says. I am willing. To take. On my shoulders. The government. Of the universe. The government. Will be on his shoulders.
[58:53] To. Think. Of that. When Jesus. Rose. From the dead. He rose. Willingly. I remember. Somebody. In my conlegation.
[59:04] In Dingwall. Saying to me once. You made a mistake. John Angus. I says. What did I do? Well. He said. You said. That. Jesus died.
[59:15] Then the resurrection. Happened. And he went bodily. Up to heaven. I says. Okay. So where's the mistake? Oh. He says. He didn't go bodily. To heaven.
[59:26] He reverted. To being God. Oh. I says. I don't think. You're right there. So I explained to him. From scripture. And he was quite astounded.
[59:37] I says. God. The son. Will never. Just be God again. He is. Irreversibly. God and man. Two distinct natures.
[59:49] One person. For how long? Forever. Well that's one thing. To be committed. To being God. And man forever.
[60:00] But to be committed. To taking the reign. Of the universe. Under holy God. To further his purposes.
[60:13] Forever. And ever. And ever. Is he willing. Is he willing. To do that? Yes. Your salvation. Depends on it.
[60:24] The salvation. Of everyone here. Depends on it. Would he be willing. To do it? To die for them. That's one thing.
[60:36] To rise for them. That's another thing. To reign for them. That's a third thing. But to reign forever. Forever.
[60:47] Are you saying. That this person. Has to take the rule. Of the universe. Forever. And ever. Without end. Yes.
[60:58] You mean. It's not a 60 year commitment. No. 600 years. No. 6000. No. This is.
[61:09] Forever. Will he be willing. Willing to do it. Is there anyone. Who was worthy. To take this. Upon his shoulders. He went.
[61:22] And he took. The scroll. From the right hand. Of him. Who was seated. On the throne. God doesn't get up. From the throne. And give it to him.
[61:35] He. Goes to the throne. Why. Because. He is first. And foremost. A worshiper. He goes.
[61:48] To the throne. He goes. To the throne. Please. Don't mix up. Jesus. And God. He is God. Of very God. And you must worship him.
[61:59] But he. Worships God. God. Doesn't. Worship Jesus. Worship Jesus. He. Worships. God.
[62:10] He goes. And he takes. The scroll. From the right hand. Of him. Who was seated. On the throne. What. What willingness.
[62:22] You know. When he took. That scroll. When he took. The government. On his shoulders. Wow. What a commitment. And I want you.
[62:34] To be full. Of this thought. God. As we said. Last night. Yes. But here's somebody. Under God. For you. And for God's glory. He will reign.
[62:45] Forever. And ever. And ever. And ever. To ensure. That you are sealed. Saved. Sanctified. Forever. Forever. And ever.
[62:56] And ever. And ever. To ensure. That you are sealed. Saved. Sanctified. Forever. His passion.
[63:07] He's perfect. His work. Perfect. His history. Flawless. His power. Limitless.
[63:18] Limitless. His presence. His presence. His presence. He's everywhere. In the spirit. And his willingness. You couldn't find.
[63:30] A more perfect king. To rule the universe. To take the scroll. He willingly. Takes the government. On his shoulders.
[63:41] Well. What's the result. Of that? When he had taken. The scroll. The four living creatures. And the 24 elders. Fell down.
[63:52] Before the lamb. See. They're now. Worshipping the lamb. He is God. The lamb is before the throne. He worships God.
[64:03] But they're also here now. Worshipping. The lamb. They fall down. Before him. Each of them. Holding a harp. And golden bowls.
[64:14] Full of incense. Which are the prayers. Of the saints. There are harps. He is to be praised. There are bowls. Full of incense. He is to be addressed.
[64:26] In prayer. This is a king. Whom we are expected. To both praise. And to pray to. To. And that's exactly. What these.
[64:37] Do. The four living creatures. And the 24 elders. Fell down. Before the lamb. Each. Holding a harp. Each. Holding golden bowls.
[64:48] Full of incense. Which are the prayers. Of God's holy ones. To whom. Do we now pray. We pray. We pray. We pray. To the lion. Who is the lamb.
[64:59] Who is alive. Having been crucified. And who rules. Over the universe. Willingly. God trusts him. And we. Go to him.
[65:11] And we pray. In Jesus name. For. For. For. For. For. For. And then they sang. The new song.
[65:22] A new song. Worthy. Are you. To take the scroll. And to open. Its seals. Why? Because you were slain. We've mentioned that.
[65:33] He. Was. Crucified. It's something that happened. To him. Yes. He laid down. His life. Himself. But he was also.
[65:44] Crushed. By God. Indeed. The God. Who is on the throne. Is the one. Who crushed. The Messiah. He laid.
[65:55] Our sin. Upon him. You were slain. That's one of the reasons. Why you are worthy. And by your blood. You have ransomed.
[66:06] People. For God. By his death. Followed. By his resurrection. Followed. By his ascension. Followed. By taking the universe.
[66:17] On his shoulders. He has ransomed. A people. From their guilt. For God. There's going to be a people saved. And they're going to be saved.
[66:30] From every tribe. And language. And people. And nation. And these are going to be a kingdom. They're going to be priests to our God. And they shall reign on the earth.
[66:41] Notice what happens. The people for whom he died. What does Jesus do with them? He says. I ransomed you. Not for me. Not for me.
[66:54] Not for me. I ransomed you. For God. All these people. Who are being saved. By my death. And resurrection. They have been saved.
[67:06] To be a kingdom. And priests. To our God. That's the truth. You have been saved.
[67:17] For God. Please. Please. Please. Don't. Let the salvation. Stop short.
[67:31] When you become a Christian. You come to Jesus. But Jesus wants you to go further and say. And in coming to me.
[67:42] You come to God. At the end. First Corinthians 15. At the end. What will Jesus do? Do. He'll take the kingdom. All of us.
[67:53] Who are his people. And he'll present them. To God. We are rescued. We are brought back. To God. Himself.
[68:04] What a privilege. What a privilege. What a privilege. What a privilege. What a privilege. What a privilege. Then I looked. And I heard around the throne. And the living creatures.
[68:15] And the elders. I mean. You think of it. Here are these special angels. Who. In some way. Have responsibility. To rule under God. Over the.
[68:26] The world. The animal kingdom. The people. And so on. And there's the church. The 24 elders. And you think. What could more. Could there be. And then.
[68:37] You find this phrase. Around the throne. And around the living creatures. And around the elders. The voice of many angels.
[68:49] Literally. Numbering. Ten thousands. Of ten thousands. And thousands. Of thousands. It's as if you're taking. A hundred thousand.
[69:00] And timing it. By thousands. Upon thousands. We're not talking here. About. A small. Little group. Of angels.
[69:11] We're talking here. About. The whole. Mass. Of angels. This is the biggest number. They could use in Greek. At the time. Murios. Muria.
[69:22] Myriad. Ten thousand. But it didn't really. Ten thousand. Ten thousand. It just meant. A number. So great. You can't count them. And when you say.
[69:33] Myriads. Of myriads. Then you're talking about. Ten thousands. Of ten thousands. And thousands. Of thousands. There was nobody. Who didn't praise.
[69:45] But isn't it remarkable. How many angels. It takes. To rule. Under. Under. God. Under. Christ.
[69:56] And what do they say. Well you see the. The twenty four elders. And the living creatures. They use the second person. You are worthy. You are worthy.
[70:07] These angels said. He is worthy. The lamb. Is worthy. Third person. Worthy.
[70:18] Is the lamb. Who was slain. To receive power. And wealth. And wisdom. And might. And honor. And glory. And blessing.
[70:29] And the church. They just fall down. And they worship. And they worship. And all. That is in them saying. To him. Who sits on the throne. God. And to the lamb.
[70:40] Be blessing. And honor. And glory. And might. Forever. And ever. And the four living creatures. Said. Amen. And the church.
[70:54] They just fall down. And they worship. God. This. Is history. This.
[71:05] Is how we should. See the universe. This. Is what is written. For the encouragement. Of the people. In the first century.
[71:17] Rome. Was mighty. Rome. Powerful. Ready. The church. John's being told, this is the way things are from heaven's point of view.
[71:31] 21st century. Could you possibly become a Christian? Are you afraid that if you started following Christ, that you will not have the strength to keep continuing?
[71:46] Do you somehow think that you can only go so far in your own strength and then you're done? Listen, there's more strength in God than you know of.
[72:02] He will never, ever fail you. I'm hearing a lady in the telephone exchange in Stornoway, before I became a Christian.
[72:13] She was a Christian and she said to me as I was leaving for Liverpool, Janangus, she says, try God. He will never fail you. Never forgot it.
[72:26] I didn't try him then. I've tried him since. And he has never failed. Because God has entrusted everything to Christ.
[72:40] The Lamb. God is worthy. And the Lamb is so worthy. We'll leave that there for the moment.
[72:55] Let's sing now from Psalm 116, verses 1 to 6. Psalm 116, in the traditional version. I love the Lord.
[73:18] I love the Lord. Remember what I said about meaning what you see. I love the Lord. I love the Lord. Because my voice and prayer heeded here.
[73:32] I, while I live, will call on him who bowed to me his ear. Of death the cords and sorrows did. About me compass round.
[73:44] The pains of hell took hold in me. I grief and trouble found. Down to the end of verse 6. To God's praise. I love the Lord.
[74:04] Because my voice and prayer sheeded here.
[74:14] I, while I live, will call on him. Who bowed to me his ear.
[74:28] Of death the cords and sorrows did. Above me compass round.
[74:43] The pains of hell took hold on me. I grief and trouble found.
[74:55] Upon the name of God the Lord. Then did I call and say.
[75:09] Deliver thou my soul, O Lord. I do thee humbly pray.
[75:22] God merciful and righteous is. Yea, gracious is our Lord.
[75:37] God's grace and mercy. God's grace and mercy. God's grace and mercy. I was brought low. He did me help afar.
[75:51] To God's grace and mercy. Thess Like mine. Lord. Then килed higher. Messiah.
[76:03] Thess Like Wonder.