A Kingdom of Confidence

Let us join our hearts together in praising God

by singing to His praise from Psalm 93 of the Sing Psalms version of the Blue Book.

Psalm 93, Sing Psalms, you'll find that on page 1, 2, 3 of the Blue Book.

We'll sing from the beginning of that psalm, we'll sing the whole psalm.

The Lord is King, His throne endures majestic in His height.

The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength and might.

The world is founded firm and sure, removed it cannot be.

Your throne is strong and You are God from all eternity.

The seas, O Lord, have lifted up, they lifted up their voice.

The seas have lifted up their waves and made a mighty noise.

The Lord enthroned on high is strong, more powerful is He

than thunder of the ocean's waves or breakers of the sea.

Your royal statues, Lord, stand firm.

Unchanging is Your Word and holiness adorns Your house

for endless days, O Lord.

We'll stand together and sing these verses to God's praise.

The Lord is King.

The Lord is King.

The Lord is King.

The heart is king, his throne endures,

a chest in his height.

The Lord is full in majesty,

an arm with strength and light.

The world is found in firm and sure,

we would it have a be.

Your throne is strong,

and you are God of all eternity.

The seas, O Lord, have lifted up,

lifted up their voice.

The seas have lifted up their weight,

and made a mighty voice.

The Lord, in throne of highest,

strong or powerful is he,

that land that all the oceans wave,

are raiders of the sea.

Your voice, O Lord, have lifted up,

and heard of changing his pure word,

and holyness,

and Lord to rise,

O'er the saints, O Lord.

May we draw near to God in prayer.

Let us bow in prayer.

Our Father in heaven,

as we come to you in this evening hour on your day,

we pray that we would direct our minds and our hearts

towards you and your word,

and that we would have a focus upon what is set before us,

and the beauty and wonder of your unchanging word,

and in it may we see the unchanging promises of God,

that we can take hold of,

and embrace within our hearts,

and we can lay hold of your word,

as one that is a sure foundation for our souls,

and that when we look at the world around us,

and the changeableness of it,

and the uncertainty of it,

we then see the reassurance that we have,

and the certainty and trusting in you.

Let our minds be heavenward,

and let us consider who you are,

who you are as God,

and Christ as our King,

and we think on that kingship that is set before us,

that will endure forever,

and that we would love and abide,

expecting to be received into the kingdom of God,

and the kingdom of heaven.

May your kingdom come,

and may you gather all your people,

in your due time,

according to your ways,

mysterious to our understanding.

We pray that your spirit would be at work,

within the hearts of us this night,

and the desires of our heart would be towards you,

and to know you,

and you would reveal yourself to us in a greater sense than ever before,

and that we may behold you with reverence and awe in our hearts,

and consider all that we are receivers of through Christ Jesus.

We thank you for all we have through him,

and that he such so loved us,

that he would go to the cross and die for us,

and yet he gives us a great hope and assurance,

for he did not remain in the grave,

but ascended into heaven.

And there he is preparing a place for his people,

who trust in him and have faith in him.

May we be those people that draw near to you,

and cast aside all other loves of our hearts that we see in this world.

And may the love of Christ Jesus grow and flourish,

the seeds that is planted within us,

abundantly grow and bear fruit in each of our lives,

and as a church united.

And the great phrase of Hebrews where he says,

let us, may we rejoice together

in that provision and inheritance

that the Christian receives in Christ.

We pray this night

for the work that we do in this congregation.

Varied and different people in whom we meet,

we remember the work that the cruise ships

that Martin Walker leads.

We pray the blessing upon that

as visitors come into this building

and see the simplicity of it.

May the word be highlighted and set before them,

that they may see within those who speak with them

the beauty of Christ Jesus.

We pray for the Sunday school.

We pray that a time of rest for the teachers in that.

We remember Twinnies.

We remember the team in Cresce.

We pray for David Chisholm

and his working road to recovery.

And we pray over those who are suffering with addictions.

That you would draw them from these things

that bind them

and that you would set them free.

Lord, we pray for those who visit

and that we would be mindful of those

who are at home,

even listening to us this night.

That they too are part of us

and are joined with us in worshipping you.

Pray that we would be mindful of them.

And that we would give that great consideration

of each other

and have that great concern for one another

and how to stir up each other

to love and good works.

And yet,

as we have that concern for one another,

may that concern be also set within our hearts

for those who are lost.

And those who do not know of the glorious

and immeasurable riches

that they can receive in Christ Jesus.

We pray

that you would guide us in wisdom.

That the words that we speak

would be as fresh as a flowing stream

and to those who do not know you.

And speak to their hearts and souls.

And may they see within the hearts of the believer

a reassured hope and confidence

in what they believe.

Though trialed and afflicted in many ways,

they stand firm upon the rock

that is Jesus Christ and his promises.

We pray

for those who are afflicted.

We pray

for those who are suffering.

We pray

for those who are laid aside

in illness.

We pray

that you would comfort them

and be with them.

We also acknowledge

the anxieties

people have

in awaiting

procedures in hospital.

We pray

also for them.

That you would give them

your peace

and reassurance.

That they would come

and trust in you.

Lord,

we just pray

that we

would be

living

lights

that go about

in a dark world

setting forth

the beauty

of Christ

and illuminating

that great

pressure

and riches

of his word.

Be with us.

We pray

in our time

together

as we come

and consider

what we are

receivers of

by being part

of the kingdom

of heaven.

Be with us

in minds

our thoughts

bodies

and souls

so that we

would not be

distracted

nor turn away

from your word.

Help us

to have that

focus

upon you

a heavenward

focus.

May you

grant us

your blessing.

May your spirit

be your guide

in these things

and these matters.

May your word

be to us

greatest treasure

of all

sweeter than honey

and richer than gold.

So be with us

in our worship

of you

and all this

we ask

in the confession

and forgiveness

of our sins

we ask

in Jesus' name.

Amen.

I would like us

to turn

to your Bibles

for our reading

and we'll find

that first reading

in Exodus

Exodus 19 · chapter mention

chapter 19.

Exodus

Exodus 19 · chapter mention

chapter 19.

We'll break up

our readings

we'll read in Exodus

and then afterwards

we'll read in Hebrews

after us singing.

Exodus

Exodus 19 · chapter mention

chapter 19.

I'm reading

at verse 7.

This is Israel

at Mount Sinai

and Moses

being called

to meet

with God.

Let us hear

God's word.

So Moses

came and called

the elders

of the people

and set

before them

all these words

that the Lord

had commanded him

and the people

answered together

and said

all that the Lord

has spoken

we will do.

And Moses

reported the words

of the people

to the Lord

and the Lord

said to Moses

behold

I am coming

to you

in a thick cloud

that the people

may hear

when I speak

with you

and may also

believe you

forever.

When Moses

told the words

of the people

to the Lord

the Lord

said to Moses

go to the people

and consecrate them

today and tomorrow

and let them

wash their garments

and be ready

for the third day

for on the third day

the Lord

will come down

on Mount Sinai

in the sight

of all the people

and you shall

set limits

for the people

all around

saying

take care

not to go

into the mountain

or touch

the edge of it

whoever touches

the mountain

shall be put

to death

no hand

shall touch him

but he shall

be stoned

or shot

whether beast

or man

he shall

not live

when the trumpet

sounds

a long blast

they shall

come up

to the mountain

so Moses

went down

from the mountain

to the people

and consecrated

the people

and they washed

their garments

and he said

to the people

be ready

for the third day

do not go near

a woman

on the morning

of the third day

there were thunder

and lightnings

and a thick cloud

on the mountain

and a very loud

trumpet blast

so that all the people

in the camp

trembled

then Moses

brought the people

out of the camp

to meet God

and they took

their stand

at the foot

of the mountain

now Mount Sinai

was wrapped

in smoke

because the Lord

had descended

on it in fire

the smoke

of it went up

like the smoke

of Achilles

and the whole

mountain

trembled

greatly

and as the sound

of the trumpet

grew louder

and louder

Moses spoke

and God

answered him

in the thunder

the Lord

came down

on Mount Sinai

to the top

of the mountain

and the Lord

called Moses

to the top

of the mountain

and Moses

went up

and the Lord

said to Moses

go down

and warn the people

lest they break

through to the Lord

to look

and many of them

perish

also let the priests

who come near

the Lord

consecrate themselves

lest the Lord

break out

against them

and Moses

said to the Lord

the people

cannot

come up

to Mount Sinai

for you

yourself

warned us

saying

set limits

around the mountain

and consecrate it

and the Lord

said to him

go down

and come up

bringing Aaron

with you

but do not

let the priests

and the people

break through

to come up

to the Lord

lest he break out

against them

so Moses

went down

to the people

and told them

Amen

I'll continue

in our praise

of God

by singing

there in Psalm 110

of the Scottish

Psalter version

find that

on page 390

Psalm 110

Scottish

Psalter version

page 390

we sing

from the beginning

of that Psalm

down to the end

of verse Mark 5

the Lord

the Lord

did say unto

my Lord

sit thou

at my right hand

until I make

thy force a stool

where on thy feet

may stand

the Lord

shall out of Zion

send

thy rod

of thy great power

in midst of all

thy enemies

be thou

the governor

down to verse 5

the glorious

and mighty Lord

that sits

at thy right hand

shall in this

his day

of wrath

strike through

kings

that do

whom

withstand

we'll stand

and sing

these words

together

the Lord

did say

unto my Lord

sit thou

at my right hand

this

unto

とう

asters

my Lord

serve

high

anto

to

shall

on

return

and

till

I

af

Thy boat's astool, where not thy feet they stand?

The heart shall have the sky ascend,

where shore the life

is heard.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

We turn now to our Bibles in the second portion of

reading from Scripture in the book of Hebrews, Hebrews chapter 12.

Hebrews 12 · chapter mention

We'll read there at verse 18.

Hebrews chapter 12, verse 18.

Hebrews 12:18

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom, and

a tempest and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that

no further messages be spoken to them.

For they could not endure the order that was given.

If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.

Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I tremble with fear.

But you have come, rather, to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly

Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born

who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous

made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood

that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking.

For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will

we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, yet once more I will shake

not only the earth, but also the heavens.

This phrase, yet once more, indicates the removal of things that are shaken, that is, things that

have been made, in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let

us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Amen.

May the reading of God's word be blessed to us as always.

Amen.

We continue in our praise to God before considering this passage, and we'll do so in Psalm 48a of

the Sing Psalms Version.

You'll find that on page 63 of the Blue Book.

We'll also conclude with this psalm after our considerations of Scripture, if you just might

want to keep that page.

We'll sing the whole psalm over them two singings.

Our first singing will take us down to verse marked 8.

Psalm 48a.

Sing down to verse marked 8.

as we have heard, so we have seen, God's city will endure.

The Lord Almighty evermore, his city keeps secure.

A psalm that speaks of the security of Mount Zion

and the king's great city that will endure forever.

May we stand and sing these verses.

Great is the Lord who rules on high, with praise his temple full.

The Lord who rules on high, with praise his temple full.

Within the city of our God and on his holy hill.

Thanks, I long with his graceful heart, his joy to all the earth.

The great is the Lord who rules on high, with praise his temple full.

Within her city of our God and on his holy hill.

God's presence is revealed.

For he has told himself to be a fortress of mercy.

God's presence is revealed.

When kings join forces to attack,

As one they march away.

They saw her and they wear a mist.

They all in terror play.

Like women giving burdened pain,

They tremble in his shame.

You wrecked them like a merchant tree,

By temples and stone away.

But we are so happy seeing,

God's city will endure.

The Lord almighty evermore.

His city is secure.

Amen.

I'll come now and consider the words from the book of Hebrews.

And for our text tonight,

Read there at verse 28.

Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

And thus, let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe.

For our God is a consuming fire.

Over the last few weeks,

We have looked at some of the great Bible similes that we find in the Bible.

And although we don't have one set before us tonight,

In the morning we consider what the kingdom of heaven was like,

As Jesus spoke of in the parables.

And we consider what was the kingdom.

And how that kingdom was all set in place by the gathering of the people.

And how that kingdom would come in the gathering of the people.

And I thought that this section here that speaks of a kingdom that cannot be shaken,

Would be a fitting conclusion to these Bible similes.

And I've tied them all together.

The outworking of Christ's kingdom.

And the gathering of the people as we considered in the morning.

And the riches of it.

We looked at and considered.

And tonight I really want to give our minds to the greatness of that kingdom.

That it is sure and steadfast like the man who built his house on the rock.

It is a place where the king's blessing pours down,

Like the oil on Aaron's head and the dew of Mount Hermon.

It is a place where the people in the kingdom of heaven are washed whiter than snow.

And it is a place where the gathering of that kingdom rejoice in saying together,

Let us.

The greatness of Christ's kingdom is set before us in this passage.

As a great provision and a great inheritance that we receive.

But is it so great to you as you consider it,

That you are stirred to that thankfulness spoken in verse 28,

With a gratefulness in your heart,

For receiving such a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

And is this thought on this great kingdom so wondrous to you,

That you cannot but draw near to him in worship with reverence and awe.

If we do, that's great.

But if not, then we have all the more reason to consider how great this kingdom is,

So that we too would be stirred in such a way.

That we are called by the king to come into this kingdom and receive the king's favour.

I pray that each of us would be found in the kingdom of heaven.

And this kingdom here is represented by two mountains from our passage.

One greater than the other.

And in the final section from verse 25.

There is a comparison made between two kingdoms.

The kingdom of the world that will be shaken and the kingdom of God that will stand forever.

So let us give our mind to those differences that are set before us.

Of two parts, considering two mountains,

And considering the greater mountain.

And considering the greater kingdom.

So let's look at the greater mountain that is set before us.

It says there in verse 18.

For you have not come to what may be touched a blazing fire, darkness and gloom, and a tempest,

And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice whose words made the hearer beg that no further messages would be spoken to them.

For they could not endure the order that was given.

If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.

And so on.

Oh, this passage takes us back to Mount Sinai.

And the section that we read there in Exodus together.

But there is a contrast set before Mount Sinai.

With Mount Zion.

You'll see that in verse 22.

Whereas we come to the Mount Sinai at first in verse 18.

In verse 22, the writer of the Hebrews says,

But you have come to Mount Zion.

There are two mountains set before us.

And if we consider Mount Sinai.

And God's almighty approach that he made to his people there.

And the representative Moses going on behalf of them to meet with God.

God asked for their preparation.

To consecrate themselves.

To wash themselves.

And we read that they came with fear and trembling.

In verse 16 of that chapter.

And as we read through the descriptions of all that happened on Mount Sinai.

We kind of get a picture.

But we don't grasp really the effect of what was going on at that time.

The fear of anyone going near the mountain.

God commanded that they should be stoned or shot.

They were to die.

They were to die.

Man or beast.

They were to stay back.

Until the trumpet sounded.

Then they could draw closer.

But even only so far.

For Moses had to go back.

And restrain them.

From drawing into the presence of God.

They could not endure.

The order that was given.

To draw near to God.

And to come to him.

And we could see that.

When we consider this Old Testament account.

We see in it the great display of God's power.

His might.

His authority.

Really emphasized at Mount Sinai.

This is the obvious revealing of God's character at Sinai.

Such that it produces within the heart of man.

Fear and trembling.

Even in the heart of Moses.

Verse 21.

Yet under this great display of fear.

This great display of might and power.

That provoked such fear.

Underneath that.

There is a loving, forgiving, patient and long-suffering God.

It's not obvious to us.

But we don't even need to leave Mount Sinai to see it.

For if you remember.

While Moses was up on that mountain.

The people of God were building a golden calf.

And making an idol of that calf.

God did not destroy them for such an action.

But God in his patience, forgiveness, long-suffering.

With the people that were so stiff-necked.

He allowed them to be builders of the tabernacle.

Where he would come and dwell with them.

Although when we consider Sinai.

The might and power of God.

Is really set before us.

And the writer is saying there in verse 18.

We have not come to a place like that.

We have not come to the place of things that may be touched.

We have come to far superior things than Mount Sinai.

The Hebrew writer is saying this is the way things were in the old covenant.

In the old ways.

But now consider the ways that we have now.

And the riches of it.

You have come to Mount Zion.

Mount Zion, a mountain that represented the presence of God.

Before Jerusalem.

Mount Zion's mountain stood over Jerusalem.

And it was considered as that seat and throne of God.

That watched over his precious people of Jerusalem.

As we saw in Psalm 133.

And from that throne.

The blessings of God poured down.

And yet it is to this mountain that we come, Mount Zion, not to a place where we are arrested by the fear and terror of God,

but where the immeasurable riches of this king pour down upon his people by the one that went before us,

by our representative, by the blood of Christ, we receive spiritual treasure of surpassing value in the kingdom of heaven that is set before us.

Mount Zion, in a sense, reverses the emphasis of Mount Sinai.

Love is emphasized and not wrath.

The new covenant and the new ways openly display the love of God in the giving of his son at Calvary.

And yet under that great display of love, and no greater display of love can anyone make than to give their life.

Underneath that is the power and might of God, the sovereignty of God.

And you can see, well, on both mountains, there is a God which loves us and is patient and long-suffering with us,

but also a God that causes fear and trembling in our heart.

Such is God, such is God, and such he will be.

We are not to pluck God's attributes as we see fit.

For if we do that, we lose the character of God.

And it will directly influence how we draw near to him and how we worship him.

And if we consider the riches of Mount Zion,

look there what we read of about this mountain in verse 22.

It is so rich of what we receive.

But you have come to Mount Zion,

and to the city of the living God,

the heavenly Jerusalem,

to the innumerable angels and festal gathering,

and to the assembly of the firstborn who are ruled in heaven,

and to God, the judge of all,

and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,

and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

The writer's building upon himself as he speaks about this kingdom,

about this heavenly kingdom that has been prepared for us.

The privileges of it are set forth for us to consider.

You can come to the city of the living God.

You are not restricted from his dwelling place.

You are not restricted like the people were in Mount Sinai,

nor are you restricted like the people were by the curtain of the tabernacle.

We have come into the city of the living God.

We are welcomed into that city,

not restrained,

even to be with the innumerable angels in the worship of God,

to that festal gathering.

And that word to describe that gathering

is a word that is not used anywhere else in Scripture,

and maybe rightly so,

for it is a gathering like no other.

We are come to this adjoining with the innumerable angels

in the worship of God

as receivers of the kingdom of heaven.

And you have come to be included in the assembly in heaven,

enrolled in heaven,

written with your name registered in this place.

You have citizenship in this heavenly kingdom.

Your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

And it is not just to the city,

nor the angels,

nor the assembly,

but you have come unto God,

the judge of all,

and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.

For it is only those

who are made perfect in righteousness,

and the righteousness of Christ,

that are judged as pure.

Those who have washed their garments

in the blood of Christ,

made perfect in his righteousness,

and it is to the one

who gives us his righteousness

that we also come.

It says there,

to Jesus,

our Savior,

our mediator,

our representative,

the one who went into the place

where we could not go,

nor the place where we could endure.

He went to satisfy the justice of God

by his unblemished,

perfect sacrifice,

so that we may enter

into his presence

by the blood that cleansed us

from all our unrighteousness.

and it is a blood spilt

that speaks.

And it speaks a better word

than the blood of Abel.

It says there in verse 24.

Both men were killed unjustly.

Both offered a willing sacrifice

with blood.

Abel brought a lamb

as an offering,

but also his own blood

spoke,

though separately.

Christ's sacrifice

and life is such

that they are both his own.

And while Abel's blood

is a blood

that spoke of vengeance

against his offender,

and a punishment

that God made upon Cain

that it says

he could not bear,

the wrath and curse of God

that was so great for him,

Christ's blood

does not speak

in such a way.

Christ's blood

speaks with forgiveness

to those

who have offended him.

Christ's blood

was so like that

willing sacrifice offered.

And it was such a sacrifice

that was likewise

received and regarded

by God.

And it was a sacrifice

that bore the punishment

that we could not bear.

The blood of Christ

is a far better word.

And though Christ,

and though through this blood

and through Christ,

we come to Mount Zion

through this man.

not in the old ways

of Mount Zion

with fear and trembling,

but a new and living way

is opened up for us.

Unto the heavenly kingdom,

unto the glory of God.

The curtain that kept us back

has been torn.

The way has been opened

by the blood of the Lamb,

allowing us to go

to the places

where we are restricted

from going

into the presence of God.

We enter into

far superior things

and far greater blessings

as the people of God.

We are so privileged

to receive these things.

It is like the words

of Psalm 89.

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

they shall

be exalted,

exalted be on high.

And it is to the heights

of Zion

that we will be exalted

to be with God

and to be in the presence

of God

for Christ has opened up

the way

to be in such a place.

And it is a great kingdom

that is set before

the one who trusts in Christ.

Verse 25

makes a call

to each of us.

See that you do not

refuse him

who is speaking.

For if they did not escape

when they refused him

who warned them on earth,

much less will we escape

if we reject him

who warns from heaven.

At that time

his voice shook the earth,

but now he has promised,

yet once more

I will shake

not only the earth,

but also the heavens.

This phrase

yet once more

indicates the removal

of things that are shaken,

that is,

the things that have been made

in order that the things

that cannot be shaken

may remain.

He's calling

to each of us

to understand

what has been said here.

That we do not

reject

the provision

and inheritance

that we have

through Christ Jesus.

the sacrifice

for our sins.

The king

is asking you

to come

into his kingdom

and receive

these riches.

Do you know

the value

of the treasure

that is set

before you tonight

in his word?

Here is a warning

not to refuse it,

for by the power

that shook Sinai

it says

that he will also

shake this world

and destroy

all things

that have been made

so the things

that cannot be shaken

will remain.

The things

not made

with hands,

the things

that are eternal

in the heavens,

only what cannot

be shaken,

what God

has made

and provided

shall remain.

Mount Zion

will stand

forever.

This kingdom

is such

that it is

so secure

it will not

be shaken.

The kingdom

in which the believer

in Christ

is a part of

today

gives you

the greatest

security

for tomorrow.

For even

our lives

shall be shaken,

our bodies

shall be shaken,

and removed.

But the kingdom

of heaven

and those

who are part

of the kingdom

of heaven

and welcome

into the kingdom

of heaven

shall endure.

Is there an excuse

for those

who have heard

these things

of such

a provision

of wonder

that it is

made for those

through Christ

Jesus?

We are not

to come

with fear

and trembling.

We are to come

and rejoice

in all

that has been

done for us.

And as the trumpet

sounded at Mount

Sinai for the people

to come,

so the trumpet

sounds

tonight.

The gospel

has been

sounded

throughout

our land

and it has

been made

known

to the hearer

of it

and you

tonight

that it is

time

to come

and receive

these riches,

to receive

the blessing

and favour

of the King,

to come

to this

blessed

Mount

Zion.

let us

rejoice

as we

consider

the provision

that has been

made for us.

Where abundant

blessings flow

down to the

people,

the trumpet

sounds

the favour

of the King,

but yet

another

trumpet

shall sound,

a trumpet

that will

sound the

coming

of that

kingdom

and completeness.

as we pray

and call

for his

kingdom

to come,

a prayer

that will

with surety

be answered.

It's just

like the

parable of the

night that we

considered this

morning,

where those

will be

gathered

and those

will be

separated,

the good

from the bad,

those who

believe in

Christ

and are

part of

the kingdom

of heaven

shall be

safe

and secure.

Christ's

own appeal

to the

people

was,

repent,

turn from

the ways

in which

you are

living,

turn from

the desires

of your

heart,

repent,

for the

kingdom of

heaven

is at

hand.

The

King

is calling

to you

tonight,

the trumpet

is being

sounded,

that you

may come.

And what

is the

writer of

the Hebrews

conclusion to

all these

things?

He says,

therefore,

let us

be grateful

for receiving

a kingdom

that cannot

be shaken

and thus

let us

offer to

God

acceptable

worship

with reverence

and awe

for our

God is a

consuming

fire.

When

someone gives

you a gift

of abundance,

you're not

quite sure

what to

do.

And it

is the

abundance

of God's

grace,

the

forgiveness

of your

sins,

the

washings

of your

garments,

a solid

rock in

which to

build your

life upon,

and the

receiving

of God's

favour.

It's

sometimes

hard to

grasp.

and to

receive

them.

But they

are set

before you

tonight.

The

believer in

Christ

has

received

all this

already.

The

believer in

Christ is

already part

of this

kingdom.

His name

is already

written in

the Lamb's

Book of

Life.

Christ is

He is

already

welcomed

into the

king's

city to

join in

the praise

of God

and enrolled

in that

great

assembly.

They can

come to

God,

they can

come to

Jesus

through that

blood that

was poured

out for

you.

we have

received

these

things

already.

We are

one and

the same

in the

kingdom of

heaven.

We are

included in

all these

things.

The

kingdom

has been

prepared for

you.

The king

is waiting

to gather

the people

of his

kingdom

which are

set before

us here

tonight.

the king's

kingdom

will come

in

completion

and he

is calling

you to

come to

it.

And I

admit in

all these

things we

can only

really touch

on it

and probably

rightly so.

We cannot

grasp them

in full.

They are

inconceivable

to us

of what

these riches

really are.

We see

through our

glass dimly

we have

tastes of

this heavenly

experience

but we

fail to

convey

the full

measure

what it

will mean

for us.

Even

the outworking

of God's

grace in

our lives

we can

explain it

so far

but then

we are

left without

words.

There's

just some

point that

comes where

we are

just lost

to explain

the riches

have been

part of

the kingdom

of heaven

and knowing

that the

blood of

Christ

has redeemed

me and

opened up

a way for

me in

which I

can draw

near to

God.

So great

are these

things.

Let us

give thanks

thanks for

the kingdom

of heaven

that is

prepared for

us, the

kingdom of

heaven that

we are

part of, the

believer in

Christ Jesus.

And thus

do so

offer

worship in

a manner

that is

fitting for

the honour

of the

King.

King

Jesus and

the glory

of God

that we

worship him

with reverence

and awe.

There's a

sermon in

this itself

but I

must conclude.

The

reverence

of God

equates

to the

shame in

a sense

of knowing

the abundance

of what we

have received,

the

unworthiness

of our

receiving

it,

whether it

is that

we are

spared his

anger or

that we

are receiving

such an

abundance of

things.

A.W.

Pink

says,

Though God

has taken

his redeemed

into intimate

nearness

with himself,

yet he

requires that

they always

retain a

due apprehension

of the

majesty of

his person

and the

holiness of

his nature,

the severity

of his

justice,

and the

ardent or

passionate

jealousy

of his

worship.

You see,

we cannot

pluck at

the preferable

attributes of

God,

or it will

affect our

worship of

him and

how we

draw near

to him.

if we

only consider

his love,

we will

have no

reverence

to draw

near to

him.

Our

awe will

not be

complete

if we

forget the

almighty

power that

was shown

at

Sinai.

Our

worship

must be

in honour

of God

and to

the glory

of God,

and that's

why he

concludes

by saying,

for our

God is a

consuming

fire.

That

comes from

Deuteronomy

where God

himself

directed the

people of

Israel on

how to

worship him,

that they

were not to

worship him

in ways that

they thought

fit themselves,

they were

worshipped him

in ways in

which he

had appointed,

not to

use images

or idolatry

in any

sense.

Our

worship,

as we

draw near

to God,

should have

a holy

fear and

a captivating

love.

intertwined

with one

another,

and finding

that balance

can be

difficult at

times,

we must

confess.

Though amid

these difficulties

and differences,

the greater

God is to

you,

and the

more that

we know

of God

and understand

of the

greatest

riches

that we

receive in

Christ Jesus,

the greater

our desire

will be to

come to

him.

I hope

we see

the

surpassing

glory

of his

kingdom.

The

King is

calling you

to come

tonight.

The

promise of

his rest

still stands.

Let us

fear,

lest any

of you

should seem

to fail

to reach

it.

Without

the gospel,

we have

only fear

and

trembling.

The

law of

Sinai

condemns

us.

It is

a mountain

that we

will come

to in

fear.

But with

the gospel,

we have

the greatest

provision,

the greatest

inheritance,

the greatest

security,

the way

has been

opened for

us.

We are

not held

back.

we are

welcomed

into the

presence of

the King.

It is a

kingdom that

gives us

confidence

because it

shall not

be shaken.

It is a

great

kingdom,

greater

than any

kingdom

in this

world.

As we

consider it,

may we

draw near

to him

with reverence

and awe

of a

God

that is

mighty

and good.

May these

thoughts be

blessed to

us.

We'll

conclude by

singing in

the psalm

that we

left off

with,

Psalm 48a.

Sing

Psalms,

page 63.

We'll

sing the

remainder of

the verses

there from

verse 9

to 14.

Again,

the

considerations

of the

city of

our God.

We

contemplate

your

steadfast

love

within

your

house,

O God,

for like

your name,

your praise

extends

throughout

the earth

abroad.

All that

you do

is right

as Lord,

Mount Zion's

joy is

great,

and Judah's

towns rejoice

as you,

your judgment

celebrate.

Round Zion

walk and

count her

towers,

view every

citadel,

so that the

children yet

are born,

her story

you may

tell.

For God

the Lord

who is

her God,

forever

will abide,

he is her

God forevermore,

and to

the end

her guide.

The confidence

that the

psalmist

had when

he came

to contemplate

God,

and as

he

round Zion

walked and

counted the

blessings that

he received.

Let us stand

and sing these

verses.

We

contemplate

your steadfast

love within

your house,

O God.

God,

we contemplate

your steadfast

love within

your eyes,

O God,

your eyes,

O God,

for thy

pure

influence

your

grace

makes

faint

through all

the

end

the

pride.

All

that

you

do

is

righteous

for

your

joy

is

great,

and

to

the

time

rejoice

as

may

your

judges

celebrate.

celebrate.

Round

Zion

walk

and

crown

her

heart

you

every

sin

at

end,

so

that

to

children

and

to

children

may

get

apart

their

story

you

may

tell.

For

God,

the

Lord,

who

is

their

God,

forever

and

will

abide,

forever

will

abide,

he

is

our

God,

forever

more,

and

to

the

end

our

night.

just

conclude with a word of prayer.

Our Father in heaven, when we consider your great love shown towards us in Christ Jesus,

and the privilege we receive from him, that we can enter into your presence,

and we receive our show of your glory and great inheritance.

He is the one that went to the places where we could not endure,

and he is the one that calls to us tonight.

May we receive your kingdom with joy.

May it be a treasure to us unspeakable and inconceivable,

and unexplainable in many ways.

May we know what it is to stand firm upon the solid rock that is Jesus Christ,

and a kingdom that shall not be shaken, and in a place where we can find security and confidence in our life.

Be with us as we part, and the week ahead watch over us, we pray in Jesus' name.

May we ask these things. Amen.