Andrew McClenaghan - Sunday, 12 December 2021
Who can Stand before God?
Scripture References: Psalms 24:1-10, Hebrews 12:18-24, John 1:1-18
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CloseStatements of fact help us understand the world around us. And Psalm 24 starts with a statement of fact: everything in this world belongs to the LORD (vs.1-2). This leads to two realisations for the original author. First, it means that there is a certain standard to come into the LORD’s presence – one cannot just wander into the presence of the LORD! (vs.3-6). Second, when the LORD comes to his world, what will happen, and what will he be like? (vs.7-10). Well, the first realisation should fill any human with despair: how can anyone reach that standard? And the second realisation will fill any human with fear: how can I face that? The result is a waiting for the LORD to come – and a question of how I – or any human – can be ready for that day.
Scripture References: Psalms 24:1-10, Hebrews 12:18-24, John 1:1-18
Related Topics: Christmas, Psalms | More Messages from Andrew McClenaghan | Download Audio
Andrew McClenaghan
Psalms 24:1-10
Brent Weightman
Psalms 56:1-13
Jesus deals with the question of ‘Who belongs in the kingdom?’ Is it children? Is it the good? Is it the godly? And, how and what does this look like? This question of ‘belonging’ is one that is constant in our lives – where do I belong, do I belong, what does belonging look like? And Jesus is very clear: the kingdom of heaven is made up of the dependent, the reliant, the weak – just like children.
The book of Esther recounts a period where God's people are in exile, aliens in a foreign land. Sounds like our time doesn't it? Even when God seems absent, He is at work. The great reversal of power at the heart of the universe has already taken place. Jesus won victory over death on the cross and in His resurrection. Satan the great enemy of God and His people, has been defeated. We wait in the now but not yet. Waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and give His people relief and rest. But as we wait, we share the good news of the gospel, call people to faith in Jesus, faithfully endure persecution, knowing that our deliverance is assured.
We love a turning point. Whether it is a story or a football game. Hope dawning at the darkest time. Where is the great turning point in Esther? It could be our memory verse, when Esther is persuaded by Mordecai to act to save her people. It could be when the king looks with favour upon Esther and holds out the golden scepter to her. It could be when Haman is forced to lead Mordecai through the city mounted on the king’s horse and proclaims that he is the man the king delights to honour. They are major events in the story of Esther. They are turning points of a sort. But the writer of Esther points us to another event. That looks so trivial.
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