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[3:10] has largely become a godless nation. I think we're aware of that. And one of the many consequences of this lack of trust, confidence in God, one of the many consequences is that trust has been destroyed.
[3:28] Those of you who were there yesterday at the music convention will know that I was talking about this new tract I've done about trust because I think it's one of the big issues. There's a sense of disappointment in society and those that we once looked up to and felt we could revere and esteem and trust seem to have become a disappointment.
[3:45] Think about it. Who do you trust? Let me ask you that. Do you trust the politicians? At each election, we always hope for better things and we pray for good government.
[3:58] It's right. We're commanded to do so. And yet it seems as though politicians have repeatedly shown themselves to lie and mislead. They fiddle their expenses.
[4:10] I mentioned yesterday that cartoon that's on the front of the tract I've done on this subject with a bespoke tailor measuring up a politician in London to get him a new suit. And he simply turns to him and says, do you want to line your own pockets, sir?
[4:24] It's a great cartoon. And yet we have a sneaking feeling that maybe he's speaking more truth than... On basic issues, they don't seem to want to know what the people feel.
[4:37] They think that they know better. But perhaps more seriously, over the last 50 years or so, successive governments of different flavours, different political tunes, have sought to systematically legislate against the Ten Commandments, one after the other.
[4:53] Do you trust the politicians? Let me ask you another question. And I don't want you to dismiss me as a cynic because on this one especially, you know, everything within me wants to say, yes, I do want to trust these people.
[5:06] I couldn't do what they're doing. I wouldn't want to do what they're doing. But I'm glad they're there. But nevertheless, do you trust the police? Hmm. As a child, I was always taught to.
[5:19] They have a difficult work, but then you think of Hillsborough and a systematic covering up of the truth for 20 years. You think of the death of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protest.
[5:32] You think of the murder of Jean-Charles de Menzies on a London underground by a police marksman. And if you don't know this story, you Google it in and read about it.
[5:43] Think of the arrest and subsequent death of Harry Hammond in Bournemouth. Again, my newspaper carried a major article about him just a few months ago saying he's the last British Christian martyr.
[5:56] All he was doing was carrying a placard, an older man carrying a placard with a Christian message on it and a gang of thugs set on him. The police came and arrested him, not the thugs.
[6:09] And he died on the day of his trial where he was found guilty. Do you trust the police? We want to, but do you? Think of Oxfordshire just this week.
[6:21] Let me ask you this. Do you trust the bankers? Hmm. Well, I suppose we all use them. We like to put money in and we love to take money out. But it's not just Fred the Shred, is it?
[6:33] It's a whole host of faceless managers that seem to have destroyed trust. I've never robbed a bank in my life. I can name some banks that have robbed me, but apparently they're allowed to do that.
[6:44] Do you trust the bankers? Or what about, and I think this is, I know there's a lightness about what I'm saying, but I think this is incredibly serious. Do you trust the BBC?
[6:56] For decades, it seems as though they've followed an aggressive anti-God campaign that depicts Christians as cranks.
[7:07] It esteems atheists, rarely questions their lives or their lifestyles, their attitudes, their ideas. Christians and Jesus himself are mocked by sneering comedians and blasphemous artists, and it just continues hour after hour on radio, on television.
[7:26] The BBC loves to boast about itself, saying it's the best broadcaster in the world, and yet, Newsnight was discredited last October over the whole Jimmy Savile affair, but it's interesting, last April, a year and a bit ago, I was watching when Jeremy Paxman, I love Jeremy Paxman, he's from Leeds, so that helps, but I love that Rottweiler approach as well, but he had Richard Dawkins, the atheist.
[7:52] He didn't have anybody putting a different point of view, which he normally would, and then he was just totally fawning towards, it's almost as if he was bowing down before him, and I thought, uh-uh, Newsnight have got an agenda of atheism, I've never watched it since, to be honest, I just lost it completely with Newsnight, but, it's true of most of their programmes, airbrushing first of all Jimmy Savile, and then of course, they love to criticise others who are doing similar things, and so they should be criticised, but they themselves seem to have been the worst, and it leaves me certainly sceptical about their self-praise, do I trust the BBC?
[8:29] But let me ask this, do you trust the churches? Hmm. Now I love church, I've never quite got my head around the attitude of people who say they're Christians, but only want to go to one service on a Sunday, I can never quite understand it, I love a morning service, an evening service, if they'd put on an afternoon one, I'd be there, I'm the type, I even love to go to a funeral in the week, just think I enjoy church, and I love it, I love being with Christians, I love singing his praise, I love hearing the word preached, I love church, and yet, so many so-called churches display a lack of trust in the word of God, somebody was telling me only a few minutes ago about a minister who says that he doesn't believe in judgment, well clearly he doesn't believe in Jesus, because Jesus spoke about that, the word of God speaks about it, there have been cases which have hit the headlines where the clergy, ministers, have been guilty of immorality, and you think what is going on, that this is happening in the church, and churches which should be proclaiming the Bible, proclaiming the gospel, seem to speak about anything and everything except what the word of God says, do we trust the churches, do we trust the newspapers, well I love newspapers,
[9:52] I read my daily one, I often pop into the library and read all the others as well, I enjoy newspapers, I love to know what's going on, I once interviewed the northern editor for the Sunday People, alright, bit of an extreme thing, but he'd become a Christian, and he felt he had to leave doing that particular job, once he'd become a Christian, and I asked him about it, this is what he said, it's true, he said, do you know, I reckon about 2% of the news in the Sunday People is true, and my eyes opened wide, I said, well that's about, I don't know, the price and the date, and he said, that's more or less it, you remember the Levson inquiry, I could go on, do you trust the NHS, well not if you live in Mid Staffordshire, do you trust the judges, do you trust all the members of the royal family, let me ask you this, do you trust yourself, hmm, I don't know that I do trust myself, first of all, physically, things go wrong, don't they, since the age of 9,
[11:03] I've worn eye crutches, the Lord knows, I'd like a pair in heaven, I just wouldn't feel at home without them, but anyway, that things go wrong, our body lets us down, it fails doesn't it, but it's not just that, it's, there is that within us all, that is desperately wrong, I think if we trust ourselves, it really is saying, that we're ignorant, as to who we really are, we mess up, we've all said and done things, that we know we ought not to have done, we've gone places, we shouldn't have gone to, we haven't got involved, when we should have done, and we got involved in other things, where we shouldn't have done, we mess up, but it's not even just that, being involved in Christian work, one's asked to go on various committees, etc, and, and, you know, it's a privilege, but I look back on two major committees, that I was involved with, and actually, on both of them, I look back and think, I voted for something, that in retrospect, was a big mistake, there was nothing sinful in my vote,
[12:09] I thought it was the right thing to do, so did others, and we carried it, and we went along, but you look back and think, uh-uh, we made a big mistake, it's left me feeling, I don't really trust my own judgment on issues, I trust the Bible, I trust the Lord, and you'll see why in a few moments, but do I trust myself?
[12:26] Listen to these startling words, that the Lord Jesus Christ spoke, 2000 years ago, but they could be on the front page, of a newspaper today, for from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly, do I trust myself?
[13:03] I'm not encouraged to, but Psalm 146, let's get back to the Bible quick, Psalm 146, is telling us, exactly what I've been, trying to get our minds, thinking along these lines, do not put your trust in, princes, immortal men, who cannot save, actually, this Psalm, gives us the reason why, when their spirit departs, they return to the ground, on the very day, their plans come to nothing, do you remember, a few weeks ago, when Hugo Chavez died, the people of Venezuela, were absolutely devastated, because he was the man, they thought, was going to turn their nation around, but people die, there is only one, who is truly, worthy, of our absolute trust, and of course, that is the Lord, only God, is worthy, of our trust, he has never let down, anybody, who has put their trust, in him, he has never, broken, a single promise, that he's made, and he's made, hundreds of them, but never broken one, every Christian, who has trusted, the Lord Jesus, and is walking with him, would say, he is not, a disappointment, in any way, oh, he may take us through, some tough, hard times, and a lot of gospel music, focuses on that, but nevertheless, it also focuses on the fact, that he takes us through it, he doesn't leave us, he doesn't forsake us, there is no conceivable situation, in which it is not safe, to trust in God, it is always safe, to trust in him, and the more, we depend on him, the more dependable, we find him to be, now this is one of the great themes, of the whole of the Bible,
[14:53] Joshua, remember Joshua, Moses led the Israelites, out of Egypt, towards the promised land, Joshua, led the Israelites, into the promised land, he was the one who, marched the people, around the walls of Jericho, for those seven days, he was the one, who led the people, into more and more, of the land, this great, great man of God, at the end of his life, he said this, not one of the Lord's, good promises, to the house of Israel, has failed, everyone was fulfilled, or Solomon, the wisest of all kings, the one, who reigned over a period, where there was prosperity, and peace, he was the one, who built, the king's palace, but more significantly, he was the one, who built the temple, where God was going to meet, with men and women, at the dedication, of the temple, he prayed a great, great prayer, and in it, he said, not one word, has failed, of all the good promises, that he gave, through his servant Moses, the apostle Paul, 30 odd years, traveling the then known world, preaching the gospel, suffering so much, and yet proclaiming Christ, repeatedly spoke, of the faithfulness, of God, about 12 miles, north of Amsterdam, is the very beautiful, city of Harlem, in Holland, marvelous city square, wonderful cathedral, where Mozart played, and just off the city square, is a clockmaker's shop, in the second world war, the Ten Boom family, ran that clockmaker's shop, they were a God fearing family, and they felt, it was their Christian responsibility, when the Nazis, had come into Holland, that they should try, and hide, give a hiding place, to Jewish people, and they did this, for many years, and did an amazing work, but then sadly, 1944, somebody turned traitor, and they were arrested, they went to various, concentration camps, and all but one,
[16:51] Corrie, all the others died, listen to these words, of Corrie, never be afraid, to trust an unknown future, to a known God, never be afraid, to trust an unknown future, to a known God, I want to ask each one of you, don't think about your next door neighbor, I want to ask you, do you trust in God, do you, it's a question, that Jesus repeatedly asked, he asked two blind men, who came to him for healing, he said, do you believe, that I'm able to do this, he questioned another man, whom he had just healed, and said, do you believe, in the son of man, in other words, do you believe in me, Jesus was saying, he asked his disciples, don't you believe, that I am in the father, and that the father, is in me, and after saying, these great words, he who believes in me, will live again, even though he dies,
[17:51] Jesus turned to his disciples, and said, do you believe this, so it's a great question, do you trust in God, do you believe, have you put your confidence, in God alone, everybody else, will be a disappointment, but we can trust him, trust and belief, is a matter of choice, we wouldn't be encouraged, to believe, we wouldn't be encouraged, to trust, if it wasn't a matter of choice, and today, this very day, you can put your trust, in the God, who has loved us, and given himself for us, the greatest demonstration, of his love, yes it's written in the Bible, we've experienced it, in the world that we live, you know, only a few weeks ago, there was snow, in fact, earlier this week, I think there was snow, in Sheffield, but, and now, all this beautiful colour, that there is all around, a God, who's shown his love, but the greatest demonstration, of all, is that, he, came into our world,
[18:56] God, big enough, to become small, and be born, and laid in a manger, and that little baby, destined to grow up, and die, die on a cross, cruelly, callously, and hanging, suffering, bleeding, dying on that cross, he was going to take on himself, all our sin, yes the sin of the world, but your sin, my sin, our rebellion, our defiance, God took, the things that he hates, the things that have cut us off, from God, and would keep us out of heaven, and would condemn us to hell, God took those sins, every one of them, the sins we've forgotten, and the sins we wish, we could forget, the sins of yesterday, and today, and tomorrow, all our sin, the sins we love, and the sins we loathe, ourselves for, God took sin, which is the breaking, of his commandments, that cuts us off from him, and laid it on Jesus, his darling son, and he who is pure, and holy, and undefiled, was made, sin, for us, so, the eternal penalty, of our sin, was laid on Jesus, the eternal one, and in those hours, of suffering on the cross, because he loved us, he died for us, paying the penalty, now if that isn't love,
[20:26] I don't know what is, this is Jesus, the life, laying down his life, for us, people didn't kill him, they crucified him, but he's the one, who said, no one can take my life, from me, I have power, to lay it down, I have power, to take it up again, and when he'd fully, paid the price of sin, he dismissed his spirit, father into your hands, I commit my spirit, and he gave up his life, but three days later, this same Jesus, rose from the dead, we've all been around, the grave of a loved one, and we know, the pain of grief, but Jesus was, laid in that tomb, for three days, cold, and still, he was dead, but then rose, triumphantly, this living Jesus, who has defeated sin, and suffering, and death, who's exalted, he is worthy of our trust, he is the only one, who'll never be, a disappointment, he promises to make, all things new, for all, who will turn from their sin, to trust him, whatever you've done, whatever your past, whatever the failure, if you're willing to, repent of sin, turn from it, and trust the crucified, risen Jesus, he'll change you, completely, he'll move you, not, not in the way that we might move, a chair from one place, to another, but he breathes his life, into you, and gives you power, and the desire, to live for him, and the ability, to do so,
[21:58] Jesus, who offers forgiveness, of sin, who gives spiritual life, to all, who trust him, and we can trust God, when even, the pieces don't seem, to fit together, and that is often, the case in our lives, but God never, never, turns his back, on his people, even when we fail, and falter, he never turns away, from us, now Psalm 146, says, look, don't put your trust, in princes, in mortal men, the first five verses, of this Psalm, say that only God, can be trusted, and I've tried to lay that out, by saying the negatives, as well as the positives, but then the next five verses, interestingly, give us reasons, why we should trust him, because he's the creator, he brought all things, into being, more than that, he's the provider, he opens his hand, and provides, sufficient, sometimes more, than sufficient for us, he's the judge, he's the one, before whom, everyone will stand,
[23:08] I've been saying, of late, they're really trying, to shock people, a little bit, but trying to get, this truth across, so listen, don't write me off, but all religions, do lead to God, I say that, because we've often said, oh only Christianity, leads to God, no, all religions, lead to God, but, all other religions, lead to God, on the throne, of judgment, only Jesus, leads to God, on the throne, of grace, so those, who deny God, are involved, in a faith, that will lead them, to him, but they'll meet him, as their judge, but for the Christian, we'll meet him, as our father, the one, who's called us friends, the one, who's forgiven us, he's the judge, he's the deliverer, says the psalm, he is the king, before whom, all other kings, will bow, that's why, the Bible says things like, trust in the Lord, with all your heart, and lean not, on your own understanding, that's why, the Bible repeatedly, simply says, trust in the Lord, who is able to meet, all our needs, if we'll allow him to, if we'll trust him, so I want to ask, very specifically, and many of you,
[24:27] I know very well, it's always a great pleasure, to be here, in each other's company, isn't it, but I want you, to ask yourself, search your own heart, am I trusting, in Jesus alone, is he my Lord, and my saviour, am I relying, on what he did, by dying, and rising from the dead, and not on what I do, to make me safe, and secure, in the hands of God, now my time has gone, it may be, that you're here today, and you think, well I just don't have, any trust, at all, eternity, depends on what you do, with Jesus, so this is incredibly important, it's not just a matter, of do I join this club, or not, this is much more significant, could I, urge you, urge you, to get hold, of a gospel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, one of these four, sort of biographies, of Jesus, there'll probably be, some downstairs, you can just take, take one of the gospels, I particularly love people, to read Luke's gospel, but whichever,
[25:27] Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and just read it, and let as it were, Jesus walk off, the pages of the Bible, and introduce himself, to you, and then start coming, regularly, here, or to a church, where the Bible, where Jesus is preached, some of you say, I've got a little faith, but I don't know, that I'm trusting, in the way, that you say Roger, well I'd suggest, exactly the same, listen to the Bible, being preached, read the word of God, for yourself, you say, why do you say that, because the Bible says, faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word, of God, so as you listen, to the word, God will stir up faith, if you're seeking him, you will find him, but it may well be, there is somebody here, today, and you say, I want to trust in God, I don't know, that I really am doing, but I want to, well shortly, we're going to sing, a lovely hymn, and then I'm going to ask us, to sit down again, and I'm going to close in prayer, I'm going to commit us, to the Lord in prayer, for the coming week, but I want to pray a prayer, very similar to the one, that I prayed, when I became a Christian, a prayer of repentance, and faith, a prayer of commitment, and trust, a prayer of asking Jesus, to forgive, and to become Lord, and Saviour, and I urge you, to as it were, clinch the deal, if I can put it like that, by saying, yes,
[26:50] I am going to trust, in the Lord Jesus, if you pray that prayer, I'd love you to do, one other thing, I'll be downstairs, I'll be giving those, leaflets about the Yorkshire camps, but I will have with me as well, a booklet, entitled Trust in Christ, which has the prayer, printed out in it, and some little tips, about living for the Lord Jesus, ask for one of these, and it would be my pleasure, to give you one, or if you'd like, just give me a piece of paper, with your name and address, not email, but ordinary address, and I'll write to you tomorrow, and I'll send you, a little bundle of booklets, to help you start going on, as a Christian, if you pray with me, in a few minutes, to trust the Lord Jesus, either ask for this, if you want to remain anonymous, I'll give you one, or give me your name and address, if you're praying, to trust Christ like this, and I'll send you these, these in the post, and then lastly, maybe there are Christians here, you say, well I do trust, but life is tough, remind yourself, of the gospel, every day, read the word, pray, and remind yourself, of the gospel, and you'll find, that trust will grow, there is nothing, more important, or urgent, than that you make sure, that you're right with God, that you've turned, from your sin, and you've trusted him, and if you've never done that, with all my heart, with all the sincerity, and love that I have,
[28:06] I would beg you to do so, don't leave, this morning, without at least taking steps, towards doing so, we're going to sing though, a modern rendering, of Psalm 23, the Lord's my shepherd, and I chose this really, because of the chorus, and I will trust, in you alone, so the Lord's my shepherd, I shall not want, Amen.
[28:25] Amen. The Lord's my shepherd, I love one, He leads me by, in rascals green, He leads me by, the still, still waters, His goodness, is not my soul, and I will trust, in you alone, and I will trust, in you alone, for your endless mercy, follows me, your goodness, will lead me home,
[29:37] He has my place, in righteousness, and the annoys, my head with oil, and my heart, is over, close with joy, and the sun, is pure, divine, and I will trust, in you alone, and I will trust, in you alone, for your endless mercy, follows me, your goodness, your goodness, will lead me home, and though I fall, the darkness, I will not fear, the evil one, for you are with me, and you're on and sound,
[30:44] I comfort, I need to know, and I will trust, in you alone, and I will trust, in you alone, for your endless mercy, follows me, your goodness, will lead me home, and I will trust, So I'm going to pray two prayers.
[31:20] The first prayer, a prayer that I urge you to pray if you've never truly trusted Christ. God does not promise us tomorrow, but he does say today if you hear my voice, don't harden your heart.
[31:33] Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation. So if you've never truly trusted Christ, I urge you to pray this with me. And then I'm going to commit us to the Lord in prayer for the coming week. I'll pray this first prayer slowly so you can make it your own, echoing it in your mind and heart.
[31:49] Dear God, you know all that there is to know about me and therefore I want to confess my sin to you. I am sorry for it.
[32:02] And with your help, I want to turn from it. I do believe Jesus died for me and I believe he rose again from the dead.
[32:16] Please forgive me. Come and live within me. Become my Lord, my Saviour. And from this day, help me to follow you.
[32:31] For I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. And Father, we thank you for our time together. We do want to praise our maker while we've breath.
[32:45] And Lord, as we go into the rest of the week, down no doubt at the spa, here this evening, down there or elsewhere this evening, we commit the rest of the day, some of us traveling, we commit all our journeyings to you.
[32:59] And then this coming week, Lord, help us to walk worthy of the high calling wherein we're called. For we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
[33:10] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[33:38] Amen. Amen.
[33:52] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.