“Is God Just? Is God Fair?” | Revelation 16 (Part 1) | Morning Service with Pastor Keith

Yes, let's open your Bible. Bring your Bible.

Bring your Bible. When you if your kids go to

youth, get them a Bible. Tell them to carry it.

Tell them to take it. When you go for a cup of coffee

with a friend, take your Bible. You might not read it, but take

it. Just sit it there.

You might read it while you're waiting.

You're going to read it. If your friend turns up and

you're speaking about, well, what's the Bible there for?

Take your Bible with you. Take your Bible with you.

Wherever you go. If you're going to wait, man, if

you're going shopping, you can read the whole Old Testament.

I can always tell when I go into a shop that a guy has done

something because they've put a chair there.

I go. A bloke thought of that.

Take your Bible. You'll be amazed how much you

can read it. How much you can read it.

Revelation chapter 16. We're hoping to have a number of

Revelation 16 · chapter mention

Calvary pastors come and speak with us.

We spoke to them. Things are pretty tough around

the world and the Calvary's didn't close down during COVID.

They refused to. Many of them were taken to

court. They said have a go and they

really stood fast. They said no, the law of the

land says we will worship with God.

Your law doesn't tell us to do that.

So we're we're we're worshipping God.

Our God's law says above that. So it's interesting to talk to

the guys. The difficulties that they face

went through, but they stood for you.

The question titled this morning's message in Revelation

16 is, is God fair? Is he just how often used to

hear kids when you're dealing with kids, especially if you ran

youth groups? We ran youth groups.

We taught Sunday school for many years.

And there's always something that's not fair.

It isn't fair, it's not fair. Is God fair?

Is he just? But, you know, it's interesting

that such a question usually is raised only by people who

actually don't believe in God. Atheist agnostics.

It's got fear. We don't even believe in him, so

why are you even asking the question?

Yet it is they who usually make or repeat such statements.

It's got fear. Is he just the prophet?

Joel wrote of the time we'll be examining this morning in

Revelation 16, the Great Tribulation period.

So we're in over halfway now. And Joel referred to it as the

day of the Lord. He actually said these words.

Joel chapter 2, verse 11 for the day of the Lord is great.

Joel 2:11

And he wasn't saying great in the sense of wow, it's awesome,

but great in enormous magnitude. And he said and very terrible,

very terrible for the judgement of God has been poured out upon

humanity. And Joel finishes that verse.

He says, who can endure who? Who will survive it?

Revelation 16 verse one, let's read.

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven

angels, So on a different group of angels, go pour out the balls

of the wrath of God on the earth. 7 Seal judgments, 7

trumpet judgments, and now 7 ball judgments.

A loud voice from the temple cried out over 29 times in this

prophetic book. We read of a loud or a great

voice saying something speaking. Why is it loud?

Why does it say that? What does it say in a voice

said? Why does it say in a loud voice?

Because it's grabbing our attention.

Hey, listen up. Something cataclysmic is about

to happen. I got your attention.

Go and pour out the balls. Could it be that the voice that

cried out? Could it be that the angels who

are holding the balls are aware, totally aware of the momentous

events and the plagues and the destruction that they hold in

each of their bowls that they're about to pour out upon a Christ

annoying world? These are the most horrific

judgements soon to fall. Is God having to command the

angels hesitancy? Pour out the bowls, proceed the

wrath of God. This too is about to fall.

Pour out the balls the judgement of God.

Pour out the balls of the wrath of God upon the earth.

You know, the word or the term the wrath of God is mentioned

over 375 times in the Bible. It's mentioned more the wrath of

God than the love of God and the grace of God.

Interesting. It's interesting that it's not

mentioned in many churches. Who will come to church if

you're going to hear about the wrath of God?

I mean, no, it's here. I want to hear about how to be a

good bloke and how to be do well in business and stuff like that

and how to be happy, you see. And that's the man centred

gospel. A man centred gospel appeases

you. It scratches, sorry.

It helps the scratch that you have, which is the time in which

we live. It's like the kids coming to the

table and go what? Dad, at moment, you know, I'm I

want chocolate cake for breakfast, ice cream for lunch

for tea, crumpets and honey and more cream.

You go. No Brussels sprouts.

Parsnips. Who invented parsnips?

Parsnips. Cauliflower.

When I was a kid, it was beetroot.

Look at beetroot. I touch on that.

I love beetroot. Now that's funny.

You see when you come to church and you open your Bible, you are

to get what God says you need, not what I want.

Otherwise we're spoiled. And those that give to support

children only raise more sport children, The wrath of God.

You know the devil does not want us to know about judgement.

The Jehovah Witnesses remember knocking on our door one time

saying, well you're God, he's created, He's got a hell.

He sends people hell. No, a hell was not created from

humanity. He was created for the angels

who left and lost their first place.

B People. God doesn't send anyone to hell.

People choose to go to hell of their own accord.

Besides, you don't even believe in hell, so why are you

questioning me about that? The devil does not want to know

us about to know about judgement.

You know. Knowing that judgement is coming

can change our lives. I've seen that when I've been in

hospices, when people are knowing they're about to die,

they don't know Christ. They know judgement is coming.

But but because I start to get fearful of death and death is

the last great enemy of us all, every one of us is going to die.

My brother rang me yesterday. He said Keith back in hospital,

he's quite a bit older than me. I need you to come up, bring a

pen and paper. We're going to organise his

funeral. So we're going to go through

that and part of that organising will be me saying and talk to

him about his walk with God, his salvation, so that when I do his

funeral, I'll be able to say I know where he is, I know what's

happened changes the whole matter.

He's going to get his house in order.

Have you got your house in order?

Are you ready to make God? Because each and every one of us

will die. We don't know when, but each and

every one of us will. Knowing judgement is coming can

change our lives. So God commands the wrath of God

is going to be poured out. You know that actually, as we

read through the Book of Revelation, you know, we're

heading to one place. We're heading to the great White

Throne judgement where every man, every woman, every child

who has rejected Christ will be raised and stand before God.

They'll stand before Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne

judgement, and no one who comes up in the second resurrection

will go to heaven. And so all of earth, those who

reject Jesus Christ, all of earth are moving towards

billions of people moving towards this place this day when

they will each stand before God and having rejected Jesus Christ

as the Lord and Saviour will be cast into eternity of darkness,

loneliness without God. Verse 2 So the first went Angel

poured out his bowl upon the earth and a fowl and loathsome

saw came upon the men who had noticed it only affected a

certain group who had the mark of the beast.

Remember the Antichrist is ruling the world at this time.

He's the world's most powerful dictator to ever come.

He's taken the mark because you don't have.

You don't have his mark. You can't buy.

You can't eat. They'll kill you.

You don't take his mark means you're a believer.

You're a Jesus Christ. You'll die for your faith, but

billions of the world will take them out.

Yeah, I'm following him, man. Yeah.

I'm. I'm for him.

They receive his mark. I'm, I'm, I'm.

I'm all for. They worship his image.

This judgement, bold judgement is poured out upon all the men

who had the mark of the beast and those who worship the image

to worship his image. And remember, halfway through,

remember Israel has rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem.

That's been happening and going along.

Then on the abomination of desolation on that day, the

Antichrist arrives. They all welcome.

Yeah, man, he's the guy that helped build the temple.

He goes into the temple, says stop everything, worship me,

take my mark. The Jews will have to flee, run

for their lives, literally, literally not grant, not go back

and get in, Just take off, run. And from that moment he will be

worshipped as God, and he sets up in that new temple to be

built his image, and people will worship his image.

It says of the sores in the old King James Version.

It says noisome. Other translations have

loathsome sores. In the Greek it means evil.

This is the physical description, evil, bad, wicked,

malignant source, festering, painful, horrific source,

meaning these sores will be festering, painful and

incurable. But it's only on those who have

rejected Jesus Christ, who have worshipped the Antichrist, who

have chosen to follow the Antichrist, who have taken upon

themselves with great joy to bear His mark, to identify fully

with Him. I worship him.

Look, it's on here and here. But these saws will not affect

believers at this time. Drop down to verse 11 very

quickly. Verse 11.

Notice 1611. They blasphemed the God of

heaven because of their pains and their sores.

They did not repent of their deeds.

These sores don't go away. They had them forever.

While they live, the sores are still inflicting them, still

uncured. We find the people with these

sores and that notice what's happened.

They're beyond repentance even though they've been afflicted.

That I don't want God beyond repentance.

There is a place, the book of Romans chapter 1 and 2, read it

Romans 1 · chapter mention

carefully. It says there is a line in the

sand. There's a place when God's Holy

Spirit continues to talk to you, talk to you, woo you, guide you,

lure you, try and get you. There's a place in the sand

where you go no, no, no, no, no. And the God says, OK, as you did

with Pharaoh, OK, all right. And God gives you over, God

gives them over to a reprobate mind.

God gives them over a place in the line on the sand where you

can say no too many times. These people, no matter what's

happening to them, it says, and they did not repent of their

deeds beyond repentance. Verse 3 Then the second Angel

poured out his ball on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead

man. And every notices every living

creature in the sea died. Every living creature in the sea

died. The second bold judgement, the

sea. This is the entire, all the

oceans of the world took on the form of the blood of a dead man.

Now I've seen that it's not not pretty.

It's clotted. It's dark, gelatinous.

It's foul. It's rank.

Every sea creature perishes. Not one fish, not one living

thing in the world's oceans escapes death at this time.

It's like it's choked. You know, we see it every

occasionally in the Swan River. You know, the algae comes and

stuff. But this is, it's, it's the

whole, the oceans of the world are choked.

Everything dies. Everything dies.

Nothing escapes death at this time.

And so there is now no life on 71% of the Earth's coverage,

which is the ocean. There's not an ounce of life on

there. Think about it here where we

are. It's similar to the first plague

that fell in Egypt in Exodus 7, verse 20 to 24.

Exodus 7:20–24

And it's similar to the second judgement.

But the second judgement that occurred trumpet judgement.

It was only a small area, an area of the ocean.

But here it's all the oceans of the world.

As I said, 71% of the Earth's surface is now dead.

It's now like blood, stinking death, full of death.

Every dead fish, every dead animal, they're all floating.

It's just. And they're all just perishing.

The ocean, which we take so much for granted today, will become

one giant pewter pool of stinking death.

There's 4 and the third Angel poured out his ball on the

rivers and springs. Notice springs.

Springs come up out of the out of the ground from the bottom,

don't they? They spring up.

That's what I call springs, springs of water.

And they became blood. The third Angel pours out his

ball and the world's total water supply two becomes undrinkable

as it assumes also the likeness of blood.

So what will be left for people to drink or to die of thirsty.

Think of Australia. W Australia, we have desalina

tion plants not going to work because the Ocean's full of

can't pump that in all our dams. It's 1 river, all the springs

that that pour out of the ground or just going to be bubbling

blood, nothing to drink so great first and besides the ocean, how

many people live off the ocean? Think of the Asiatic lands, I

mean the sea Polynesian islands, they they their whole lifestyle,

their diet is on the oceans. Each of the bold judgements at

this time in the great tribulation that occur, besides

being horrific in their destructive effect, there's

something else that's occurring that hasn't happened before this

time. The judgements are cumulative.

You know, before we've had demonic things coming out the

pits and they've lasted for a period of five years, five

months, and then gone away. This has happened and it's

finished. It's going to, these aren't

going away. The saws aren't going and it's

not for a period of time, the pollution of the ocean and the

waters. It's not just for a period of

time, it's done. This is for good.

And this is what makes the bold judgements even more devastating

as they remain and build up one upon another.

The Ocean's putrid rotting stench of death.

Decaying bodies of every sea creature decomposing in the

coagulative blood like waters, the rivers and spring waters

polluting, becoming like blood. There is nothing to drink.

In addition, you remember back in Chapter 11 verse 6, two

witnesses. Remember those guys, 2 witnesses

and God had given them power to halt the rain for a 3 1/2 year

period. It says in Revelation 11/6 these

have power to shut heaven so that no rain falls in the days

of their prophecy and they have power over waters to turn them

to blood and to strike the earth with all plagues as often as the

desire. So besides these events

happening, the spin offs of all these things, you know, death, I

mean, and and they contagion that that breaks out the the

disease and plagues and pestilence that comes from from

being around death and putrefaction.

So the question is, how can a God of compassion, mercy, grace,

how can that God send such horrific judgements?

Upon humanity during this time, Maybe you're thinking that well,

I mean, this is how can he do that.

It's been said if God's great love for you does not bring you

now to repentance, 2025 God's great love, then in the future

if you miss the rapture of the church and you are left behind,

then the future judgments of God either won't bring you to

repentance. In other words, you've had your

chance here, you missed out. There's a good chance.

Why would the judgments of God then turn your heart to God?

In Romans chapter 2, verse four in the new living Translation,

Romans 2 · chapter mention

Paul puts it this way. He speaks to us now.

He says, don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant and

patient God is with you? He is with that, with you now,

right now. We're living in a period called

grace. Does this mean nothing to you?

Paul's ass? Paul goes on to say, can't you

see that his kindness, God's kindness to you now, is intended

to turn you from your sin? In other words, you think, well,

I'm going OK. I mean, I'm, I'm going, well,

you're living. You're going good.

That's God's blessing. The fact that your heart keeps

beating is God's blessing. The fact that you have food,

that you have a job, that you live in Australia.

I mean as you travel, and I hate travelling, done with it.

As you travel, you come back to Australia, we have clean air, no

rubbish. And you know, we take Australia

especially. This is the judgement that's

going to come on. Aren't we one of the most

blessed nations in the world? We have this huge landmass,

there's only 27,000,026 million of us.

We have land, we have food, we're in the top 3% individually

of the wealthiest people in the world.

And yet we've walked away from God.

And this is the kindness of God. This is what Australians don't

get. We are living in the kindness of

God right now, and yet we're, we're, we're, we're turning our

backs upon Him. Listen carefully.

If a person continues to resist God's goodness, his kindness,

his grace, then in the end the Bible tells us that person will

receive judgement and this they will have chosen for themselves.

It says in the book of Romans that when we each stand before

God, and I'm saying not us Christians, but non believers,

when they stand before God and people say, well, when I stand

for oh God, I got some questions for him.

You know, you ever read those magazines and they'll have you

know what, when you go to heaven, what you got to say,

Well, if there is a God, and I'm going to just no, because the

Bible says when you stand before God as an individual, you know

what? You'll say nothing because you

know, you'll know you're guilty. You'll know you're guilty,

guilty of your sin. These bold judgments will occur.

They are a certainty. We are reading the word of God.

This is prophetic. These events are going to

happen. Jesus is telling John, this is

what's going to happen to our world.

This is what's coming these judgements to come.

They are not some speculative propaganda or press release from

a group of brainstorming pro climate change scientists

collaborating their research study.

They've just told us again now this week I heard that polar

aspects going to flood and we're we're all done.

We're all going to be, you know, all this.

Well, actually they're just a a bit out.

I'm not funny at the moment, but in the Book of Revelation, it's

going to happen. It's coming.

God's Word says all this is going to happen.

But in the same manner, as real and as terrible as we read that

these judgments are, I want to remind you of something else,

that the forgiveness of God, the grace of God, He's offered to

you today of his forgiveness and that there is a place called

heaven that he wants you to go to that he has prepared for you

is also as real. Jesus says, I go to prepare a

place for you. That's that's an actual location

that where I am, there you may be also.

And so as real as these are, you see, here's the conundrum.

There's only two groups in the world, believers and non

believers. It's not a split up of

religions. There's only those who believe

in Jesus Christ because Jesus says I am the way, the truth and

the light. There's no other way, no other

path. And those who reject Jesus

Christ. The question we want to ask

again today is, is God fair? Is he just?

Do you ever think God's unfair, that he's unjust?

Is God fair? Is he just?

Verse 5 And I heard the Angel of the waters saying you're

righteous. Oh Lord, the one who is and who

was and who is to be we, who is that?

That's Jesus Christ, isn't it? Jesus Christ the same yesterday,

today and forever, because you have judged these things and

here's the reason why he judged these things for they that is

the earth dwellers, those who's the judgement is falling upon

those who had the mark of the beast, For they have shed the

blood of Saints. That's Christians and prophets.

And you have given them blood to drink.

They've shed the blood. So here it goes.

Here's here's the judgement. Whatsoever a man sows, so shall

he reap. They sow death killing believers

during the tribulation period. They're going to drink blood.

And it says for it is their just Jew.

And I heard another from the altar saying Even so.

So a different voice, This voice is coming from the altar of God.

Even so, Lord God Almighty, notice what this voice says.

True and righteous are your judgments.

What you're doing, Lord, is exactly right on.

These are witnesses. This is the angels.

This is another voice from the altar of God.

What you're doing is absolutely perfect.

God in this, in his judgement, absolutely right on.

Then the 4th Angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and power

was given to him to scorch men with fire, and men were scorched

with great heat. This is coming from the sun.

And they and what did they do? They blasphemed the name of God

who has power over these plagues, and they did not repent

and give him glory. In the midst of the outpouring

of these ball judgements, the third Angel, the one who's

poured his ball out upon the springs and the rivers, makes

this profound statement as as he's saying, well, what we're

doing what you're this judgement exactly right.

The Angel says, this is exactly right, Lord.

He declares for all to hear. You are righteous.

Oh Lord, the one who is and was and who is to be because you

have pledged these things, you have judged these things.

This is their just you. So three things.

One, God's judgement of sinners is always and at all time

unquestionably righteous. Why?

Because he's the holy God. Whatever he does, it's always

righteous. That's his character.

He can't make doesn't go. Oh, that's Oh yeah, that was a

bit of a mistake. Whatever God does, the holy God

and he makes a judgement, it's absolutely righteous to.

Although God's wrath is terrifying and deadly, it is.

The Bible says just in other words, it is an appropriate

response to sinners rejecting him.

How often have you and I watch the courts?

It's go to court, people go to court, they kill someone, they

do this and all like this horrific thing and they're out,

they're gone. You got that?

Well, that's not judgement. That's not just, oh God, when he

makes his judgements with these judgements, they're exactly

right on. Thirdly, those who have spilled

and taken innocent blood during the Tribulation, those who are

serving the Antichrist, killing all the Christians at this time,

are given, fittingly, blood to drink in the angels.

Chilling words in this interlude he says the Angel says for it is

their just Jew or in other words, they deserve it.

Well, they're what's happening. They get they're getting exactly

what they deserve. Now remember back a few chapters

in chapter 6, there was a group of people, Revelation chapter 6,

Revelation 6:10

verse 10, who are believers who die for their faith.

The word of the testimony of the blood of the Lamb did not take

the mark of the beast. They die for their faith during

the tribulation period. And as they've died, they are

before the Lord under the altar. And it says, and they cried,

this group with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy

and true, until you judge and avenge our blood, our deaths on

those who dwell upon the earth. They were killed by the

followers of the Antichrist. How long, Lord, before these

people that killed us because of our faith and love in you, we

would not deny you, and we died forever.

How long, Lord, before they're judged?

And in verse 11 it says, then following that verse, it says a

white robe was given to each of them.

It was said to them that they should rest a little while

longer until both the number of their fellow servants and their

brethren who would be killed, believers as they were, was

completed. These judgments that are

occurring, these bold judgments are an answer to their prayer,

to the prayers of those Saints who die during the Tribulation

period, who are murdered for their faith during the

Tribulation period, for following Jesus Christ and

refusing to worship the Antichrist, refusing to bow down

to his image, refusing to take his mark.

And for this they were executed. But there also comes another

voice came from the altar. This time it comes directly from

the altar and I heard from the altar saying Even so, Lord God

Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments in the book of

Romans chapter 12, verse 19, the writer says, beloved, do not

Romans 12:19

avenge yourselves. You know you and I really want

to take matters in their own hands often.

Don't we ever done that and found out.

Oh, well, that was I made a blue.

I mean, we had four children and you know, you'd go into the room

and there's chaos in the room is that little and they're all

going. It was him, it was her.

And so we used to line them up and smack them, smack them all

and some innocent kids going well, what the heck come, it was

you and that would happen when you walk out there.

And so we can't we can't even decide where their own kids is.

No right or wrong, but God does. That's why judgement is left to

him. He says in Romans 12/19

vengeance is mine. I will reply.

That's the thing, you know, how often have you said, well,

people are getting away with things?

No, they're not. They appear to be getting away

with things, but they're not kind of.

No one's going to get away with anything because God is holy,

right? Just vengeance is mine.

I will replace as the Lord again and again.

The Lord will judge his people. Hebrews 10/30 having willfully

rejected the knowledge of the truth, Hebrews 10/26 says to

those who reject Jesus Christ, don't want the gospel, don't

give me any. You know your church stuff, I'm

not interested, OK. And God says if we sin willfully

after we have received the knowledge of truth, you've been

told about Jesus Christ, you know, John 316, you know that

God is real. Yeah, I know.

I remember walking up, there was some US sailors that had come to

shore. We were witnessing in the

streets of Perth. We used to do that on a Friday

night, go to Perth and witness and give out tracks.

And these sailors went up to these sailors and they went,

Amen. Look, I know what you're saying

is true, you know, and everything.

I know God is real Jesus Christ. I know that, but I'm here to

sin. So.

So they have the knowledge, but they make a choice.

Hebrews 10/26. If we sin willfully after we

have received the knowledge of the truth, notice these words.

There no longer remains A sacrifice for sins.

It's done. There's nothing left for the

unbelieving world but to receive what they deserve.

And that's why these bold judgements are coming out upon

people to have taken the mark of the beast.

And at the end of each one, they, they, they blasphemy God.

The 4th Angel poured out his hand upon the sun, ball upon the

sun. Power was given to him to scorch

men with fire. The men were scorched with great

heat and they blasphemed you and I.

You know, we. Who's had enough winter?

Yeah, we've had enough winter, you know.

And you know what we'll be doing soon as the summer comes, man,

it's hot. Oh, it's too hot.

Let's wish it was winter again. We're so fickle, aren't we?

At least I am. I know.

And I complained. We were away at the conference

place and it was hot now, which we were looking to stay in the

shade. It's too hot.

It's too hot. Come back here.

It's freezing. You know, it's draining.

So the sun God gets the thermostat and goes and it just

powers on and it gets hot. Now at this moment, at this

judgement, the 4th bowl judgement, the ice caps will

melt. They will melt and massive

flooding all here, Secret harbour everywhere.

We'll all be lent like that. Those are left and the ocean

remember is stench. All that flooding.

We just move inland all the coastal areas because the pole

oz caps will melt. The fifth ball this 10.

Then the 5th Angel pulled out his ball on the throne of the

beast. On the throne of the beast.

See how specific the judgements are?

There's not RAA, check it over here.

That'll do. The 5th bowl is poured out on

the throne of the Antichrist, and it says.

And his Kingdom, all that he rules, became full of darkness.

And we're talking darkness that you cannot see a hand in front

of your face. And it was so dark.

And it's like the plague in Egypt, so dark people can't,

can't see, can't see the person next to them, can't see where

they're walking. It's so dark that they gnawed on

their tongues. Where are we?

Where are we? What's going on?

Because of the pain, they blasphemy the God of heaven.

Because of their pains and their sores, the sores are still

pulsating and did not repent of their deeds.

You'll note now in our text how the followers of the Antichrist

at this time have adopted the character of the Antichrist.

The character is what the continually blaspheming God Bob

Dylan wrote a song. Everyone's got to worship

somebody. You all bow down to somebody

what you worship, what you worship, you become like you can

talk to people, you can go out and and when you have discussion

with people, whatever they worship, whatever they're really

into, they are you know, if they're into their career, it's

just solely about on the phone. Yeah, yeah, I'm going to do

this. And and that's they, they're

just living their career. If it's sport to the NTH degree,

it's just everything. It's about that whatever,

whatever you worship, whatever you are giving your life, your

time, your resources, your finances and your passion to

whatever you worship, you will become like.

That's why the Bible says we are to become like Christ.

Why? Because we should be worshipping

Him. And the more you and I worship

Jesus Christ, then the more and more each day you should take on

His character. So if you go, well, I, this is

how I am. Well, have a look what you're

worshipping because I'm going to tell you, you've got something

else in place of God. But if you're becoming more like

Christ, more gracious, more kind, more loving, more giving,

more forgiving, comforting, if you're becoming like that, then

you are worshipping the one who is like that.

But if you, if you're unhappy with the way that you are now,

it's either you don't know Christ or be you have got an

idol in place of Christ and you are becoming, you will become

whatever you worship. And you know, The funny thing

is, or the sad thing is, as people get old, you know,

getting and you talk to elderly folk.

And I'm getting there. You see so many sad elderly

situations because they have risen to the place of what they

have worshipped, whether it be selfishness or or criticism,

sarcasm, whatever. They have worship and given

their life to their career. The kids aren't interested in

them. They don't have a relationship

with their kids. No, no one's interested in them

and him. No one visits them.

They don't have friends or anything like that because

they've been their own worshipper of another idol.

But if you are a worshipper and a follower of Jesus Christ,

you'll attract people. People wanted to be with Jesus.

Kids want to hang out with him. People want to be with you.

They know you're kind, you're generous, you're comfy that

would you give your life to we who worship Jesus Christ become

like our Saviour. So the question is, is God

faithful? Is he just?

Let us all today be reminded that God's wrath and his

judgement. And I want to bring us to the

point. Here is what we each actually

deserve. No one in this room deserves

mercy. God, to rightly judge us, should

judge us because we're sinners. We're full of ourselves.

We live simple lives. We have simple thoughts.

We do terrible things. We say terrible things.

Let us all be reminded that God's wrath and his judgement is

what we each actually deserve. There is none righteous.

The Bible says no, not one. We've all fallen short of the

glory of God. No one said, well I'm a good

person, yeah, but you're not good enough in comparison to who

else. In Luke 23 verse 39, remember

Luke 23:39

Jesus is hanging between 2 criminals, 2 thieves, and one of

the criminals who was hanging blasphemed Jesus saying if you

ever Christ save yourself and ask, do something.

But the other answer rebuked the other thief saying do you not

even fear God seeing you under the same condemnation?

And then the thief says this we indeed justly, for we receive

the Jew reward of our deeds. We're thieves, we're criminals,

but this man has done nothing wrong.

But God and his great love sent his only begotten Son Jesus to

rescue you and I. He came to suffer in our place

to take God's wrath, which is deservedly to come upon us.

Step aside and says no, I'll take it for you.

I'll take what you deserve upon me.

Is God acting too harshly in these judgments we read?

We are told to remember Christ each time we gather at the

Lord's table for communion. Remember what?

Remember that He stood in our place.

God's wrath is exactly what befell our Saviour on the cross

of Calvary. Jesus, the Son of God took the

wrath of God upon Himself for was doing during His torturous

crucifixion, as those great spikes were driven in and

through His hands and driven in and through His feet.

Pain, agony, torturous. Remember the blackness of

darkness that fell on Calvary as our Lord Jesus hung in agony

there on that cross for those three painful hours in complete

darkness. It was at that time that the

full weight of God's wrath that we're reading about here was

pressed and crushed Him, and it was poured out upon the innocent

Lamb who was bearing all our sins, your sin, my sins upon

Himself. Isaiah 53 verse 5.

Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised

for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace

was upon him. He was oppressed, He was

afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth.

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.

Jesus voluntarily. He didn't have to took our wrath

upon Himself. Mercy is what He offers us.

Mercy is what He offers you. Separated from the Father.

That's what death is. When people die without Christ,

they'll be separated from God forever.

That's what death is. Jesus hangs on the cross.

What does he cry out as he feels the wrath of God that I should

take? He says, my God, my God, the

only time he calls his Father God, why have you forsaken me?

So that I wouldn't be forsaken? So that you wouldn't be

forsaken. He takes it upon himself, he who

promised the living waters, remember to the woman at the

well. He says, I, I can give you water

that you'll never thirst again, never thirst again.

He's at he says that in John chapter 4.

John 4 · chapter mention

And now as he hangs upon the cross, he says I first, he's

first thing. Why?

Because he's, he's taken the place where I'm going to be

without him first thing forever. Unquenched at first.

And from the moment they threw him down on the cross and they

got those great spikes and they drove them into his hands and

his feet, he was saying what? Father forgive them.

Father, forgive them over and over.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Father, forgive them. Father, forgive them so that you

and I might receive forgiveness and be given eternal life in

heaven. So I asked you a question, is

God just? Is he fair?

John chapter 3 verse 14, it says as Moses lifted up the serpent

John 3:14

in the wilderness, Even so must the Son of man be lifted up,

that whoever believes in him should not perish.

That's all you have to do. But have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in him should not perish, not be

judged, but have everlasting life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it,

no, but that the world through Him might be saved.

He who believes in Him is not condemned.

If you're a believer here today, judgments don't fall upon you

because they fell upon Him. But he who does not believe is

condemned already. If you don't know Jesus Christ

and you're here today and you're not a Christian, my friend,

judgement sits upon you right now.

If you were to die, if your heart was to stop at this

moment, you would face the judgement of God.

If you reject Jesus Christ and continue to live on after the

rapture and still reject Jesus Christ, these judgements will

occur upon you. He who believes in Him is not

condemned, but he does not believe, is condemned already

because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten

Son. For those who refuse Christ,

those who reject the gospel, the righteous wrath of God, God

still awaits them. It will come.

This is going to happen. Is God just?

Is He fair? Is there no hope for me?

You might be thinking this morning, Well, I'm a Sinner.

Yes, there is hope for you. Our Lord's death on the cross

had to happen because the whole world was in sin.

And our transgressions, our iniquities, we deserve

judgement. We are helpless and hopeless.

We can't save ourselves. We can't do anything.

He had to come, He had to come and rescue us, and He has come

and He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.

There's a classic hymn, The Rock of Ages that says this.

Not the labours of my hands can fulfil thy laws.

Demands could my zeal no respite, no could my tears

forever flow, Or for sin could not atone.

None of those things will save you from your sin.

You must save you alone. Nothing in my hand I bring

simply to the cross. I cling naked.

Come to thee for grace, foul I to the fountain.

Fly or wash me, Saviour, or I die.

Is God just? Is he fair?

He has given his all for you. Today will you receive his

mercy. If you're here today, you don't

know Jesus Christ. I beg you, repent.

You deserve judgement just as I do.

But God says I ioffer you mercy. But God loves you, for God so

loved the world. He offers you his love today He

suffered and died for you. If you say no, I don't want it,

then judgement awaits. You will know the reality of

these things, but today, right where you are, you can repent

before He was holy and receive His forgiveness right this

moment. Let's pray.

If you're here today and you're not a Christian and you're

fearful of the things that we've read, and God wants you, He's

warned you to say today is the day for you to commit your life

to Him, to repent of your sins. Yes, you're a Sinner.

I'm a Sinner, So what do you do? You say Father, forgive me for I

have sinned and he will. Father, I believe Jesus Christ

died in my place and He did. Father, I ask you to come into

my life right now. I accept you as my Lord and

Saviour, and He'll come and you'll be saved right this

moment if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart.

The Bible says that Jesus is Lord.

You shall be saved. If you're here today and you

prayed that prayer, whether you're young, old, or whatever,

whether you've been coming to church for a long time, maybe

you've never committed your life to Christ.

You got to do that. You don't get into heaven by

assimilation. You get into heaven by Jesus

Christ and Him alone.