Serving and Following

We're going to begin our service singing to God's praise from Psalm 89, verses 13 to 18.

Psalms 89:13–18

Psalm 89, verses 13 to 18. This is from the Scottish Psalter, and the tune is Newington.

Psalms 89:13–18

Psalm 89, from verse 13.

Thou hast an arm that's full of power, thy hand is great in might,

and thy right hand exceedingly exalted is in height. Justice and judgment of thy throne are made the dwelling place.

Mercy accompanied with truth shall go before thy face. O greatly blessed the people are, the joyful sound that know.

In brightness of thy face, O Lord, they ever on shall go. They in thy name shall all the day rejoice exceedingly,

and in thy righteousness shall they exalted be on high.

Because the glory of their strength doth only stand in thee, and in thy favour shall our horn and power exalted be.

For God is our defence, and he to us doth safety bring. The Holy One of Israel is our Almighty King.

13 to 18 of Psalm 89.

13 to 18 of Psalm 89.

13 to 18. This is from the Scottish Psalm 89.

14 to 18. This is from the Scottish Psalm 89.

14 to 19 of June.

In thy name shall all the day rejoice succeedingly, and in thy righteousness shall live exalted beyond high.

Because the glory of their strength doth only stand in me, and in my heaven shall our Lord and Father exalted be.

God is our defense, and he to us thus deeply pray.

The Holy One of Israel is the Almighty King.

Amen.

Let us bow in prayer.

O Lord, as we bow before you this evening, we pray that you will help us to worship you in a right way.

We pray that we may be conscious of your power and glory and majesty, that we may realize that this is a special moment for us, where we draw near to the King of glory.

We are so grounded in the here and the now.

This world has such a powerful grip and influence upon us, that so often our vision of you is clouded.

There is so much that hides you from us.

But we pray that even as we gather here just now, that we may be given a little insight, a little sight of you,

in such a way that it will enlighten our minds, that it will lift our hearts, that it will enable us to be more zealous, more committed to you.

And our desire is to follow you with all our heart.

We pray, O Lord, that we might praise you for all that you are.

We realize that you are beyond our understanding.

The Word of God reveals so much to us.

You have made known so much about yourself to us.

And yet our understanding is so limited.

There is so little that we're able to fully grasp or understand.

But, Lord, we give thanks that when we come to faith, that our eyes are opened, our understanding is enlightened,

and we're able to lay hold on spiritual truths that beforehand were completely such that we couldn't figure them out at all.

We give thanks, Lord, for your patience with us.

We give thanks, Lord, for how you look after us, despite who we are and what we are.

Despite our sin and our waywardness, our faults and our failings.

And we seek tonight to confess our sin before you.

We sin before you so readily, so freely, and so often we are unaware of our sin.

And yet every so often through your Spirit and the Word, you are revealing to us just what we are

and of how far short we are of the glory that you require from us.

And so we pray that you will indeed be merciful to us in our failings and in our sin against you and also our sins against one another.

We pray, Lord, that you'll bless this congregation, particularly at a time of vacancy.

We pray that you will guide and lead and direct in the right way and that you will make it abundantly clear the way in which we are to go.

We give thanks for Calamurdo being with us and we pray for him for all the extra responsibilities and duties that are placed upon him just now.

We give thanks for all the extra responsibilities and give thanks for all the extra responsibilities and the rest of us.

For many years to come.

We give thanks for all the willing hands and willing helpers.

And we're blessed in this congregation with men and women who are so able in so many different ways.

And we give thanks, Lord, especially just now for the women that do so much.

And we give thanks for their zeal and their many great gifts that they've been equipped with.

And we give thanks, Lord, for our leadership of men and we pray your blessing upon them.

And we ask that you will guide them and bless them in everything.

So we pray for Calamurdo and Joanne and family.

We pray also for our intermoderate, Colin and Aileen and their family.

And we pray your blessing upon your church at large.

And we give thanks for the news we had this week of Reverend David Ferguson accepting the call to North Uist.

And so we pray for him and Catherine and for Duncan as that will be soon their new place and new sphere of work.

And ask that you will undertake for them and bless them and that their ministry will be a fruitful one there.

Lord, we give thanks for the way your word goes out.

Whether it is in the gathered assembly like we have here just now.

Or whether it's on live links.

Or whether it is on the airways.

Or in whatever way throughout this world.

Hundreds of thousands, millions in fact, are hearing your word.

And we pray that millions will come to faith.

We pray that today will be a great day in the kingdom of God.

And it will be a mighty day where the kingdom of darkness is being hit hard.

Where many souls will come to faith.

Where people will come bowing the knee before the Lord.

Seeking that Jesus Christ will be Lord of their lives.

Pray for those who are lonely and struggling.

We pray, Lord, for those who are recovering from illness.

Or undergoing surgery or treatment.

Pray for those who are unwell, confined to their homes.

We ask your blessing on them.

Pray for those whose hearts are heavy and sore.

Those who know what it is to have lost family.

To have lost loved ones.

It's a pain that lingers on day, week, month, year after year.

And so we pray for every broken heart.

And ask that you will draw near and grant your grace and your upholding strength.

Lord, we pray that we may then, as we come under your word, know your peace, your presence, your power.

Lord, we pray to bless us nationally as well.

We pray for a new government.

We pray, Lord, that you will lead us in the right way.

We seem to be going further and further and further away from you.

There is a godlessness taking hold of our land that is frightening.

And we pray that you will have mercy upon us.

In wrath that you will remember mercy.

We pray for the nations of this world, particularly where there is conflict.

In the Middle East and in Ukraine and in many other places throughout this world.

We pray especially for your people that they will be protected.

We long for peace.

And we pray, Lord, that peace may come.

Watch over us then as we wait upon you.

Grant us your grace and take away from us our sin in Jesus' name.

Amen.

We're going to sing again Psalm 26.

Psalm 26, verses 1 to 8.

Psalms 26:1–8

It's on page 30 and sing Psalms.

1 to 8.

Declare me innocent, O Lord.

I have walked in blameless ways.

And I have trusted in the Lord, not wavering all my days.

Test me, O Lord, and try my heart.

My inmost thoughts survey.

Your love surrounds me.

From your truth my feet will never stray.

I do not sit with worthless folk.

I shun the hypocrite.

I hate the wicked's gatherings.

With them I will not sit.

I wash my hands in innocence.

And blameless is my heart.

I go about your altar, Lord.

The place you set apart.

Verses 1 to 8.

The tune is in Minver.

Psalm 26.

Declare me innocent, O Lord.

I have walked in blameless ways.

And I have trusted in the Lord, not wavering all my days.

Let me, O Lord, and try my heart.

My inmost thoughts survey.

Your love surrounds me from your truth.

My feet will never stray.

Do not sit with worthless hope.

I shun the hypocrite.

I hate the wicked's gatherings.

With them I will not sit.

I wash my hands in innocence.

And with blessed is my heart.

I go about your altar, Lord.

The place you set apart.

Tell of all your awesome deeds.

Oh, faith in life, your grace.

Your glory fills.

Your dwelling place.

I love your hearts always.

Your background.

Let's turn now to read God's word in John's gospel.

John chapter 12.

John 12 · chapter mention

John chapter 12.

John 12 · chapter mention

And we pick up a reading at verse 12.

John chapter 12, and reading from verse 12 through to verse 36.

John 12 · chapter mention

Verse 36.

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.

And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it.

Just as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Zion.

Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt.

His disciples did not understand these things at first.

But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.

The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.

So the Pharisees said to one another, You see you are gaining nothing.

Look, the world has gone after him.

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.

So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, Sir, we wish to see Jesus.

Philip went and told Andrew.

Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

Jesus answered them, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone.

But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Whoever loves his life loses it.

And whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

If anyone serves me, he must follow me.

And where I am, there will my servant be also.

If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Now is my soul troubled.

And what shall I say?

Father, save me from this hour.

But for this purpose I have come to this hour.

Father, glorify your name.

Then a voice came from heaven.

I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.

The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered.

Others said, An angel has spoken to him.

Jesus answered, This voice has come for your sake, not mine.

Now is the judgment of this world.

Now will the ruler of this world be cast out.

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

So the crowd answered him, We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever.

How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up?

Who is this Son of Man?

So Jesus said to them, The light is among you for a little while longer.

Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.

The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

Amen. And may God bless to us this reading of his holy word.

Going to sing again now in Psalm 63 from the Scottish Psalter.

And the tune is Barrow.

Psalm 63.

It's on page 295.

And we're going to sing verses 1 to 8.

Psalm 63.

Lord, thee my God I'll early seek, my soul to thirst for thee.

My flesh longs in a dry, parched land wherein no waters be.

That I thy power may behold and brightness of thy face.

As I have seen thee heretofore within thy holy place.

Since better is thy love than life, my lips thee praise shall give.

I in thy name will lift my hands and bless thee while I live.

Even as with marrow and with fat my soul shall fill it be.

Then shall my mouth with joyful lips sing praises unto thee.

When I do thee upon my bed, remember with delight.

And when on thee I meditate and watch us of the night.

So on to the end of verse 8, Psalm 63, 1 to 8.

Lord, thee my God I'll early seek.

Amen.

Lord, thee my God I'll early seek,

my soul and thirst for thee.

My flesh longs in a dry, parched land wherein no waters be.

That I thy power may behold and brightness of thy face.

As I have seen thee heretofore within thy holy place.

Then better is thy love than life, my earth's weak wish shall appear.

I in thy name will lift my hands and bless thee while I live.

I in thy name will lift my hands and bless thee while I live.

He comes with marrow and with fat, my soul shall fill it in thee.

Then shall thy love with joyfulness sing praises unto thee.

When I do thee upon my bed, remember with delight.

And when on thee I meditate in watches of the night.

Then shadow of thy wings of joy, on the night hell has been.

My soul be called, O pardon me, my right hand thou sustain.

Amen.

Let's turn again to the chapter we read.

Psalm, John chapter 12.

John 12 · chapter mention

Maybe we could read from verse 20.

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.

So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him,

Sir, we wish to see Jesus.

Philip went and told Andrew.

Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

Jesus answered him, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

And especially these verses 25,

Whoever loves his life loses it,

and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

If anyone serves me, he must follow me,

and where I am, there will my servant be also.

If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Now it's interesting that we have here,

at the beginning of this section here, of Greeks,

wanting to see Jesus.

Because there's almost here for us a picture of just about what is to happen.

Jesus came to the Jews, he came to his own,

and his own didn't receive him.

Not only did they not receive him,

they wanted rid of him.

And that moment was drawing near,

where they were finally going to get him,

and in their minds get rid of him.

And at that very same moment,

we have Gentiles coming,

and they're wanting to see Jesus.

And it's almost giving us a picture of what is about to take place.

The rejection by the Jews of Christ,

and the great spread of the gospel,

out into the Gentile world.

Now, these Greeks who came up,

and there was a part,

they could assimilate to a certain extent,

extent into Jewish worship.

But there were a lot of restrictions,

a lot of barriers,

and even in the temple,

they weren't allowed past the court of the temple.

And how thankful we live in a day

where there are no restrictions,

there are no barriers,

because Jesus has broken down all the barriers.

There is now no wall of separation.

And it doesn't matter a person's background,

it doesn't matter a person's culture,

it doesn't matter a person's position in life,

it doesn't matter a person's wealth,

or it doesn't matter a person's,

it doesn't matter anything.

Every person is being invited

through the gospel to Jesus Christ.

And when a person comes to faith,

irrespective of how old they are,

or of how young they are,

where they are from in the world,

they will become one in Christ Jesus.

And that is the wonderful thing

about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is for the prince as much as for the prisoner.

And it is something that we've grown up with,

we're used to.

But it was so different back then,

in the time when there were all these restrictions.

So these Greeks came to Philip.

Philip was kind of a,

although he was from Bethsaida,

was kind of a, almost a Greek,

largely a Greek name.

So maybe it was,

maybe there were relations that he had

that were Greeks.

But anyway, they come to Philip.

And it's very interesting

that Philip goes to Andrew

before he goes to Jesus.

And as we mentioned this before,

that Andrew always seems to be

the go-between of the disciples.

He seems to be the approachable one.

He seems to be the one that,

if people are wanting to,

to reach Jesus or speak to Jesus,

it tends to be by Andrew.

Remember the time where

there was the feeding of the thousands?

And it was to Andrew.

The boy had the loaves and the fish.

So Andrew was the one who told Jesus,

here's a boy here.

He's got the five loaves and the fish.

And it's a very important part

of our Christian walk

to be approachable to people.

We shouldn't put up any barriers.

Because if you look at the life of Jesus,

he most certainly did not put up any barriers.

He was the most welcoming person

that ever walked this world.

And he was open to everybody.

And so should we.

We should always be open and accessible

and approachable

if we are serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

And of course it was Andrew

who was the one who introduced

his brother to Jesus.

Because Jesus had spoken to Andrew first

and when Andrew had discovered

there was the Messiah,

he went straight and got his brother.

And you and I know that

that's often the hardest thing to do

is to witness in our own family,

isn't it?

It's often easier to witness

to people outside,

to other people,

than to those of your own family.

But anyway, Andrew,

witnessed to Peter

and he took Peter along

to meet Jesus.

Little did Andrew know

that day when he brought

Peter to meet with Jesus

that just a few years later

Peter would be preaching

and thousands would be converted.

And you see the wonderful link

in that chain.

You know, we're all part.

We all have a part to play.

And it's amazing

the threads that run through.

You can trace it in your own life,

the threads that run through

your own life.

When you look back

and you see the influence

of this person

and the influence of that person

and what this person was

and what this person said

and you can look back

and all these things,

it's like a jigsaw

coming together

to the place

where you come to faith

in the Lord Jesus Christ.

That's the wonder of it.

We've all got our own

little part to play.

Well, Andrew was somebody

who was very much used

by the Lord.

So Philip and Andrew,

they tell Jesus.

And Jesus answered them

and he said very simply,

the hour has come

for the Son of Man

to be glorified.

Now, there was nothing

at this moment

to indicate that

that hour had come.

Because just a little earlier,

if we had read,

well, we did back there,

we find that Jesus,

that's what we read,

the triumphant,

the entry of Jesus

into Jerusalem.

It's a moment

when the crowd

seemed to be embracing Jesus.

In fact, the Pharisees say,

look, the whole world

has gone after him.

It seemed to be a high point,

a key point

in the popularity of Jesus.

And yet Jesus says,

the hour has come.

He was following

a heavenly timetable.

All along the way,

he was keeping

exactly to the timetable

that his father

had given him.

That's why on other occasions

in Scripture

you will find it saying,

his hour had not yet come,

but the hour has come.

And the hour has come.

And so Jesus is telling them,

those there,

the hour has come

for the Son of Man

to be glorified.

And in this he is telling

how he is to be seen.

It is not as a king,

he didn't come as a kingly monarch.

Oh, he's going to come

as a kingly monarch

when he comes again.

When he came into this world,

it wasn't as a kingly monarch.

He didn't journey through this world

wearing a crown,

but carrying a cross.

He didn't come into this world

being born in a palace,

but in a stable.

And all his journey

through this world

was a downward kush

of shame and humiliation.

But all the time

he was keeping to the timetable

and honoring his father

every single step of the way.

And this was a way

that the Greeks

were going to see Jesus

in what he was going to do.

You know, there are some people

that they look on Jesus

and they look at his example in life.

They look at the way

he denied himself.

And they look at his death

as a kind of a martyr's death.

And they hold him up as a martyr.

A great man, a martyr.

A man who lived a life of self-denial.

But they're just looking

at the human Jesus.

They're missing the point.

If that's the only Jesus

that we have

as one who set an example

and let us not miss

the example that Jesus set,

but if that's all we're seeing,

then we're missing the main point.

He came in order to die.

And as the young people

were looking at the substitute,

he came as a substitute.

And so this was a way

that the Greeks

were going to be able

to see Jesus.

And one last thing

I would say talking about

the Greeks coming to see Jesus.

Can I say to anybody in here,

and you're saying to yourself,

you know,

I have wanted to see Jesus

for a long time.

You might be saying,

oh, it comes and it goes,

but there's a desire in my heart

to become a Christian.

And I sit in church,

and I pray,

and I don't seem to get anywhere.

I read my Bible,

and I pray,

and I don't seem to get anywhere.

Well,

see what the Greeks did.

They went,

and they spoke to Philip,

and they said,

we want to see Jesus.

And I think there's a point

there for us.

If you're somebody

who's seeking and searching,

and you're from so far,

you haven't found,

you can't quite get hold of it.

Speak to a Christian

that you know.

And you might say to yourself,

that's the hardest thing

for me to do.

What will he say?

What will she say?

They'll be delighted.

And speak to them in confidence.

It's not that they're going

to enable you

to be a Christian,

but it might be

just what they say.

They might give you

that final point.

That's something

which will encourage you

and enable you

to see for yourself.

Because at the end of the day,

you have to see for yourself

and believe yourself.

But there's a point

we mustn't miss there

of the desire

to see Jesus,

of going to speak

to a Christian,

to speak to somebody else.

Because they will very likely

be able to help you.

But Jesus then says

that the hour has come

for the Son of Man

to be glorified.

And of course,

the glory of God

is revealed.

It's the manifestation

of His divine majesty.

And you know,

when we think about the cross,

we say,

what's the glory in the cross?

All we can think of

is shame.

There was,

it was,

anyone who was

hanged on a tree,

it was shame.

It says that in Scripture.

It was cursed.

Where's the glory in it?

But you and I know

that that weekend,

that weekend

that occurred there

in the death,

the arrest,

the death,

and the resurrection

of Jesus Christ,

was the greatest display

of God's glory

that this world

has ever seen.

The creation

was an awesome display

of the glory of God.

In fact,

when we look up

to the heavens up,

it tells us

the heavens declare

the glory of God.

His handiwork

is written all across.

the stars speak

of the glory of God.

The moon,

the sun,

the whole being,

it all speaks

of the glory of God.

This world

and this massive universe,

it all speaks.

But that,

that doesn't touch

the magnificence

of the display

of his glory

that is found

in this weekend

when Jesus dies

for our sins.

Because the very heartbeat

of the salvation

of millions

is in that weekend there.

That is where

the great glory

of Jesus

and the glory

of God the Father

is seen.

And we're so thankful

that we're able

to understand this.

And Jesus then says,

unless a grain of wheat

falls into the earth

and dies,

it remains alone.

But if it dies,

it bears much fruit.

And of course,

he's speaking here

about himself.

And you and I know

that if you have

a grain of wheat

and you take it

off the shelf

and you just put it

back on the shelf,

it'll never be more

than a grain of wheat.

But if you take

that grain of wheat

and a number

of grains of wheat

and you put it

into the earth,

you sow it

into the earth,

it dies.

But from its death,

the death,

then life comes.

And that's what

Jesus is saying.

That's what's going

to happen.

In order for the Greeks

to see me,

they have to see

my death

and what it achieves.

I am like that grain

of wheat

being deliberately

sown into the ground

and from it

will come

the most amazing harvest.

If you're a believer

tonight,

you're part of the harvest

that has come

from the death

of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And Jesus continues

to ingather

his people.

But then

at verse 25,

Jesus says,

whoever loves

his life

loses it

and whoever

hates his life

in this world

will keep it

for eternal life.

If anyone serves me,

he must follow me

and where I am there

will my servant be.

If anyone serves me,

the Father

will honor him.

Now,

people might find

this verse

kind of strange

because it's saying

whoever hates

his life

in this world

will keep it

for eternal life.

And in a sense,

that almost goes

against the grain

because the greatest

instinct that you

and I have

is self-preservation,

looking after ourselves.

When we're little children,

we have the

me first

syndrome.

We want to be first.

Children are,

they don't realize it,

but by nature,

they're very selfish

and self-centered.

And I'm not being

critical of them.

We were all like that.

It's me.

It's about me.

Now,

as we grow up

and as we develop

within culture

and within our society

and with our peers

and so on,

we learn to give

and to take

and all that.

But that me first,

it's about me.

It's my life.

It's about me.

It remains.

It's part of us.

And so,

self-preservation

is a great instinct

within our lives.

We want the best

for ourselves.

And so,

in a sense,

we might almost think,

well,

this is a strange thing

what Jesus is saying here

about hating our life.

Does that mean

I've got to go about

saying,

oh,

I hate myself.

Oh,

I'm a horrible person.

Well,

as a Christian,

there will be times

we will say that.

There are times

we will grovel.

There are times

that we will cry out

before the Lord

and we'll say

like the Apostle Paul,

oh,

wretched man that I am

because we're so conscious

of our sin

and our disobedience

and our failures

of all that we've done wrong.

And so,

there are times

that we honestly

hate who we are.

But that's not really

what it's actually

talking about here

at this point.

Because

what is being said here

is the same

as Jesus said elsewhere

about,

he said,

whoever was going

to follow me

has to hate

his father

and his mother

and hate

even his own life.

And again,

people might find

that very strange.

What does Jesus

mean by that?

Well,

the word hate

here is really

it has a comparative

force.

And what Jesus

is really meaning

here is

that nothing

must come

between himself

and you

and me.

He doesn't mean

that you are to

start hating

your father

and your mother

and your brothers

and your sisters

and your husband

and your wife.

Not at all.

Indeed,

we're commanded

to love.

We're commanded

to love.

Husbands,

love your wives.

But what Jesus

means is that

we aren't to

allow anything

to come

between ourselves

and the Lord.

In other words,

we're to hang

loose to the

things of this

world.

And Jesus

goes on

and he shows

us here

how it works

out.

He says,

whoever loves

his life

loses it

and whoever

hates his life

in this world

will keep it

for eternal life.

And what Jesus

is simply

talking about

here is that

there are people

and their whole

goal in life

is about themselves.

And they want

to get on

and they want

to build

their own empire.

Whether it is

a tiny empire

or a great big empire.

But the world

is all that

matters for them.

And they want

to progress

and they want

to do well

and there's

nothing wrong,

don't get me wrong,

there's nothing wrong

with trying to progress

and trying to do well.

But it's an exclusion.

of Jesus.

Jesus is in the background

or Jesus is not

there at all.

And people who live

only for this world

are in for the biggest

shock and disappointment

possible.

Because you see,

whatever the world

gives with one hand,

it takes straight back

with the other.

Nothing that we get

in this life

ever lasts.

And we can't hang

on to it.

And there are

so many of the rich

and the famous

and they seem

to be able

to go here,

go wherever.

There seem to be

so few restrictions

in life.

But you know,

the thing is,

one day it's all

going to come

to an end.

I remember reading

one of the star

famous people

and he had been

diagnosed with cancer

and he was dying.

And he said,

this is a disaster.

I have so loved life.

I have loved living

in life.

I can't cope.

That's,

you see,

this life was

all that he had.

And out with

all the trappings

of life,

life was

absolutely

empty.

That's why there's

so much despair

in people's lives.

Because there isn't

ultimate meaning.

Because all these

other things are just,

they pass with the using.

But Jesus is saying,

if we lose

our life

in him,

if we give

our life

to him,

then we gain

everything.

And you and I

know that in life,

maybe as we get older,

maybe the sparkle

in life begins

to go and

there's various

ailments

and problems

come in

and life isn't

quite the same.

But you know,

for the Christian,

the sparkle

in Christ

never goes.

And that's a beauty.

That's the joy

of it all.

And so it is

imperative that we

learn to die

to self

and to live

for Christ.

And then Jesus

says,

if anyone

serves me,

he must follow

me.

And where I am,

there will my

servant be also.

Now,

we often ask

the question,

you know when a

person is converted,

when you,

you think back

to when you became

a Christian,

what's one of

the first things

that you said?

Lord,

what will you

have me to do?

What do you

want me to do?

And that's

very often

the response

of grace.

Lord,

what will I do?

Now,

we always think

of,

when we think

of serving,

we often tend

to think

of serving

in a particular

capacity.

ministry,

and we might

talk of ministry

as being a

servant of the

Lord.

Well,

there are

very,

very few

when you

think of

all the

millions of

Christians

who are

ministers,

who are

missionaries.

But Jesus

shows us

here that

service

and following

are inseparably

bound.

And the

moment you

begin to

follow Jesus,

you have

started to

serve.

And I

think it's

one of the

things that

we've got to

realize is

that our

service is

our life.

Wherever you've

been placed,

whether you're

still in

school,

you're serving

the Lord

there.

You might

say to

yourself,

oh,

when I get

older,

when I leave

school,

when I get

older and do

things,

I'll start

serving the

Lord.

No,

you're serving

the Lord

where you

are.

Whether you're

in primary

school,

secondary

school,

if you love

the Lord,

you're serving

the Lord

where you

are.

That's the

beauty of

it.

Whether you're

a mother

tending to

the wee

ones,

you're serving

the Lord

there.

Whether you're

serving teas

and coffees,

whether you're

a mechanic,

whether you're

a boat

builder,

whether you're

a teacher,

you can go

through wherever

the Lord has

placed you.

That's your

field of

service.

Because every

single day,

you are

serving the

Lord.

And I

think we've

got to lay

hold upon

this because

often we

tend to

compartmentalize

service and

think,

well,

service is

only something

that we

do when

we do it

with regard

to the

church.

Yes,

that is

part of

it.

But our

whole life

is service.

And always

remember this,

that following

and service

are together.

The moment

you start

following,

you have

begun to

serve the

Lord.

every single

believer in

here tonight

is serving

the Lord

wherever you

are at,

wherever the

Lord has

placed you.

You serve

him in your

home,

you serve

him in

your church,

you serve

him in your

work,

you serve

him in the

school,

you serve

him wherever.

And so we

mustn't lose

sight of that

great truth.

And again,

the word

following is

one, it's

such a

biblical expression,

it's one that

we use

here in

our own

culture.

When somebody's

converted,

we sometimes

say, oh

did you

hear so

and so

I started

following?

So biblical.

My sheep

hear my

voice and

they follow

me.

That's what

happened in

your life as

a Christian.

You heard

through the

word the

voice of

Jesus.

You might

not be able

to explain

it, but

that's what

happened.

And because

you know

Jesus and

I've come

to love

Jesus,

you're

following

him and

you're

serving

him.

And then

Jesus says,

if anyone

serves him

he must

follow me

and where

I am,

there will

my servant

be also.

Where is

Jesus?

Well,

primarily

he's in

the word,

he is the

word.

So when

we serve

and follow

Jesus,

we will

be much

in the

word.

Because the

word is

our guide,

it's what

feeds us

and teaches

us and

shows us

the way

to go.

Our

delight is

in the

word.

You're

here tonight

because you

love the

Lord.

You want

to be

here.

Because

why?

Because

Jesus has

promised

where two

or three

are gathered

in his

name.

He's

there.

And that's

why you

want to

be here.

Because it's

the place

where Jesus

blesses

people.

it's

the place

where Jesus

has promised

to be.

And so

it's natural

that you

want to

be there.

If you

love

Jesus,

you will

be seeking

to obey

him.

And that's

what faith

does.

Faith lays

hold upon

the word.

Now you

might be

saying to

yourself,

you know,

my grace

seems to

be so

weak and

my hope

seems to

be so

dim.

and my

faith seems

to be so

fragile.

And I'm

so aware

of all

my faults.

If you

could even

a strand

of faith.

Faith even

like a

grain of

mustard seed.

That faith

is sufficient.

That is the

faith that

enables you

to follow

Jesus.

And you

want to

obey.

When you

love someone,

you want

to do

what you

know

pleases

them.

You

won't

spend

your life

doing

things

that you

know

that will

aggravate

them or

annoy

them or

hurt

them.

You

will try

and do

what

pleases

them.

And so

it is

for the

Christian.

And how

do we

know what

pleases

Jesus?

By reading

his word.

His word

tells us.

And you

say to

yourself,

how do I

know that

I love

the Lord?

Jesus

says,

if you

love me,

you will

keep my

commandments.

So that

the desire

of your

life is

seeking to

obey what

the Lord

says to

us.

We

follow him.

as our

teacher.

That's in

the word.

We follow

him as

our guide.

We follow

him as

our lover.

We're

married to

Christ.

We've

taken his

name.

You know

when a

bride and

groom get

married,

normally

speaking,

I know

there's the

odd

exception,

but normally

speaking,

the bride

will take

the husband's

surname.

And when

we come

to Christ,

we are in

that union

as a bride

and a groom.

That's the

description

that scripture

takes.

And we

take his

name,

Christians.

That's what

we become.

We hold

up the

name of

Christ in

this world.

Oh, the

world doesn't

honor the

Christian.

The world

is more

likely to

laugh and

to ridicule

the Christian.

But we

see here

there is

someone who

does honor.

And that

is the

Father in

heaven.

Because

Jesus tells

us here,

if anyone

serves me,

he must

follow me.

And where

I am,

there will

my servant

be.

And if

anyone serves

me, the

Father will

honor him.

Isn't that

wonderful?

Jesus says,

and where

I am,

there will

my servant

be.

You know,

we know

where Jesus

is tonight,

and we know

that he's

present through

his spirit

here.

But we

know that

Jesus is

in heaven.

And what's

Jesus doing

in heaven for

us tonight?

Yes, we

know he's

interceding

on our

behalf.

But he

has gone

to prepare

a place

for us.

Your name

is there.

Your place

is there.

It's reserved.

And one

day Jesus

is going

to come

back.

He's going

to call

for you.

And in

the meantime

he's preparing

you for

the place

he has

prepared

for you.

Because

he wants

you,

as you've

been with

him here,

following

him here,

he wants

that you

will be

then with

him forever

and ever

and ever

and ever

and ever

in glory.

And you

know you

might feel

that your

service is

poor.

And I

think at the

end of the

day every

Christian feels

their service

is poor.

But you

notice what

it says?

If anyone

serves me,

the Father

will honor

him.

Isn't that

beautiful?

Every Christian,

all of you

tonight are

following the

Lord.

Remember

Lord, I

said you're

serving

him.

And in

serving

him, you're

going to get

the well

done, good

and faithful

servant when

you enter

into heaven.

Because the

Father is

going to

honor you

because of

your love

of his

Son.

And we

must always

remember that

this is how

it's going

to end.

I hope

everybody here

tonight is

following and

serving Jesus.

I hope

that your

soul, I

hope that

you haven't

made the

whole goal

of your

world just

to get

on.

Yes, by

all means

it's important

to get

on, but

not at the

expense of

your soul.

Jesus

elsewhere says

what will

profit somebody

to gain the

whole world

and lose

his own

soul.

Calmerda

told a

beautiful story

today.

I'm sure

all of you

heard it.

And I

had never

heard that

before.

But the

boy who

asked his

father,

is your

soul insured?

Because he

said your

house is

insured,

your barns

are insured,

your car is

insured,

your own

life, you

got life

insurance.

What about

your soul?

And that's

the question

you have to

ask yourself

tonight.

Because there's

only one who

can insure

your soul.

And that's

Jesus.

you make

sure then

that you

are in

Jesus,

trusting in

Jesus.

And the

moment you

are, you've

started to

follow, and

the moment

you've started

to follow, you've

begun to

serve.

And we see

what the

outcome is

here.

Let us

pray.

Lord, our

God, we

give thanks

that your

word tells

us how

things really

are.

This

world tells

us very

differently.

And we

pray, Lord,

that we

might be

wise to

what your

word says,

that the

word of

God may

regulate and

rule our

lives.

We pray that

we might not

lose our

way by

being caught

up in all

the world's

trappings,

but that we

may seek to

put Jesus

first.

And the

great promise

is that if

we seek

first the

kingdom of

heaven,

seek first

the kingdom

of righteousness,

seek first the

kingdom of

God and his

righteousness,

then all the

other things

will be added

to us.

Help us then

to get our

priorities right

in life.

Bless each and

every one of

us.

Take us all

home safely,

we pray.

Cleanse us

from our sin.

In Jesus'

name we ask

it.

Amen.

We're going

to conclude

singing in

Psalm number

16.

Psalm 16

and sing

Psalms from

verse 8,

the tune is

Golden Hill.

Before me

constantly I

set the

Lord alone.

Because he

is at my

right hand I

will not be

overthrown.

Therefore my

heart is glad,

my tongue with

joy will sing,

my body too

will rest secure

in hope

unwavering.

For you will

not allow my

soul and death

to stay,

nor will you

leave your

Holy One to

see the tombs

decay.

You have

made known

to me the

path of life

divine.

bliss shall

I know

at your

right hand.

Joy from

your face

will shine.

8 to the

end,

Psalm 16

and sing

Psalms

before me

constantly.

Amen.

Before me

constantly

I

set

the

Lord

alone

because he

is at my

right hand

and not

be

overthrown.

Therefore

my heart

is glad,

my tongue

with joy

will sing,

my body

too

will rest

secure

in hope

and with

a

need.

Holy One

to tend

Thank you.

The path of light divine, this shall I know, and your right hand, joy from your face will shine.

I'll go to the door on my left.

Now may the grace, mercy, and peace of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest and abide upon each one of you now and forevermore.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you.

Thank you.