The collection taken here today is for the support of the Mombasa mission. Let us commence our service this morning with hymn number 36, tune is Mendelssohn 950.

Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king, peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. sons of Zion to arise, join the triumph of the skies, and with angels loud proclaim, Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Hymn number 36, tune Mendelssohn 915.

Let us read together from the Holy Word of God part of the first and second chapters of the gospel according to Matthew. Matthew chapter 1 we'll commence reading at verse 18 and we'll read down to verse 18 in chapter 2.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise when, as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, Thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophets, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, being interpreted as God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife, and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name Jesus.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah art not the least among the princes of Judah for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod when he had privileged called the wise men inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared and he sent them to Bethlehem and said go and search diligently for the young child And when ye have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also. And when they had heard the king, they departed. And lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child, and bring his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wrath, and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men, then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying in Ramah, Was there a voice heard? Lamentation and weeping and great mourning, Rachel, weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they were not.

May the Lord bless the reading of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit of real prayer. Gracious, merciful and eternal God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, We bow before thy glorious majesty and desire a spirit of true worship. They that worship thee must worship thee in spirit and in truth.

Oh, we do pray that as we gather together on this day to remember that wonderful miracle of the virgin birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, We desire, O Lord, to rejoice before thee. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Oh, we do pray that over this period when we do remember and gather together in our houses, that we pray that it may be a special time of sweet spiritual remembrance of the wonderful glory of the incarnation of the Son of God.

We pray to be led of the Spirit, we pray to be guided and directed by Thee, and we pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God our Father, and the sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit may rest and abide upon us. We pray that as those wise men were guided by thee unto Bethlehem, so may we in faith be guided to see that wonder of wonders, that glory of glories of God manifest in the flesh.

We pray that thou would remember us as a church and as a congregation and that thou would work mightily and powerfully and effectually among us We pray, most gracious Lord, that thou would enable us each to come in confession of our sins and of our sinfulness. O most gracious Lord, we do desire to confess what we are, to realize, O Lord, our sinnership and our wretchedness, as the dear apostle himself did on reflection of that conflict that was within him, and that he had to say, O wretched man, that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

And yet, Lord, he could thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, the wonderful Redeemer, the great Deliverer, He that is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth. Oh, we thank thee, most gracious Lord, for Jesus Christ. We thank thee for that door of hope that is open wide in Jesus' bleeding hands and side. And while we rejoice at his birth, that we pray that we may ever bear in mind that before our Lord Jesus suffered, he said, to this end was I born, for this cause came I into the world and that we do pray most gracious Lord that we may have a realization of the tremendous cost of salvation and have a realization given to us that when our Lord Jesus was in Gethsemane that our sins were laid upon him

He that did no sin, he that knew no sin, was made sin for us. O gracious God, we do pray that thou wouldst help us to meditate on these things. And the precious blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin. And when we view that scene of matchless grace, Jesus in the sinner's place, heaven's brightest glory sunk in shame, to realise in our own souls my sins were the nails and the spear. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.

We do pray that there was then bless us, bless the brethren, the deacons, and give needed grace, wisdom, and help. And bless each one present here in the sanctuary, and graciously grant that ears may be opened, eyes may be opened, hearts may be opened. May the power that brings salvation be exerted in the word, The people that sat in darkness have seen a great light. Lord, we pray that it may be so today.

Jesus said, I am the light of the world. And Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by me. Oh, most gracious Lord, we thank thee for that new and living way that thou hast made. Lord, we pray for the little ones and the children. We love to see them in the sanctuary and hear them and we pray that thou wouldst bless them, put thy holy fear in their hearts in their young and tender years and cause them to seek unto thee.

Remember the young friends in all their concerns and graciously bless them with those rich spiritual blessings in the Lord Jesus Christ Show them thy ways and teach them thy paths, Lord, and bring them to living faith in Jesus Christ. Remember parents and give them wisdom and grace and help and guidance and direction in all matters. Help them to bring up their children in the nurture and in the admonition of the Lord in accordance with thy holy word.

And Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst graciously hear prayer for all in the midst of the journey of life. We pray to be delivered from temptation. We pray to be delivered from the power and the dominion of sin. And we pray, most gracious Lord, that we may be guided and directed by thee. We pray for the prodigals that have wandered, from the ways of truth and righteousness, that thou wouldst stretch out thy almighty arm, that thou wouldst cause them to be in one, to cause them to return.

May that appointed time roll on apace, not to propose, but call by grace, to turn their feet to Zion's hill. Do hear us, Lord, we humbly pray thee. Lord, that thou hast promised in thy word that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. We pray, O Lord, that it may be so. In the day in which we live, let thy work appear unto thy servants and thy glory unto their children. We do humbly beseech thee.

Lord, we pray for all of those that are now in the evening time of life's journey. And the time cannot be long before we bid adieu to all things here below. And we pray to be prepared for that great change that must come when we shall soar through tracks unknown and see thee on thy judgment throne. Prepare us, most gracious Lord, We pray for our dear friend at Tunbridge Wells in hospital in her great age and in her great weakness. And we pray that the arms of thine everlasting love may surround her and that thou wouldst at the appointed time give her an abundant entrance into everlasting glory.

Lord, we pray that thou wouldst remember all the gatherings of thy people today and that thou wouldst remember all thy servants as they labour in word and doctrine upon the walls of Zion, and that something may be done in the name of the holy child Jesus, and that mighty signs and wonders may follow the preaching of the word. Send out thy light and thy truth into this village and the surrounding villages and hamlets.

O gracious God, May we see thy work, may we see it in gathering, may we see a rebuilding, a reviving, a renewing in thy church and among thy people we do humbly beseech thee. Lord we pray that thou wouldst be with us as we turn to thy holy word and come and open thy word to our heart and to our understanding.

We would especially remember the Mombasa mission that thou wouldst be with thy servants there as they labour there in word and doctrine, and that we pray that thou wouldst graciously bless thy word, that they may see mighty signs and wonders there. We think also of the Savannah Education Trust and the great work that they do in Ghana. We seek thy blessing upon the FGEA and thy servant that labours among so many different nations. the distribution of thy word and the exposition of it.

Lord bless the labors of thy servants. We do humbly beseech them. We also think of those that live in those nations of the earth where the name of Christ is hated and thy people are persecuted and imprisoned even unto death. We pray that thou would send them help from the sanctuary that thou would strengthen them out of Zion. We pray for thy church and thy people in the Ukraine and the great suffering that they have at this present time and that thou would bring to naught the counsels of the ungodly.

We do humbly beseech thee for thy great namesake. We thank thee for every mercy and every blessing. Come and touch one's lips with a live coal from off the heavenly altar make up in giving where we do so fail in asking, as we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Let us now sing together hymn number 39. The tune is Nativity. 192. Come ye redeemed of the Lord, your grateful tribute bring, and celebrate with one accord the birthday of our King. Hymn number 39, June Nativity 192. Thank you.

Greatly feeling to need the Lord's gracious help, I will direct your attention to the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 9 and we'll read verses 6 and 7 for our text.

The prophecy of Isaiah chapter 9, reading verses 6 and 7 for our text. For unto us a child is born unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

For unto us a child is born who was quite remarkable how that the Lord revealed these wonderful things that were coming to pass on the earth.

We've just read together of the wise men from the East. It is often portrayed as the three wise men but it actually doesn't tell us how many wise men there were. There was a company of wise men and they used to navigate through deserts and lands by the stars and it was revealed unto those wise men from the east that a king would be born in israel and the lord showed them this star a special star and they saw the star and they navigated towards that star see it was revealed unto them and they brought gold frankincense and myrrh with them as gifts for this holy special child that was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea

and in the gospel according to Luke we read of these shepherds those poor humble shepherds that watched over their flocks by night and how a heavenly host appeared unto them and told them that this child was to be born and that they would find the child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. It was revealed unto them.

What a wonderful thing, my beloved friends, if the Lord has revealed something unto us. I look back over my life And there's been a number of occasions when, on Christmas Day, when the Lord Jesus has been made very special, when the Holy Child Jesus has been made very special, and when we understand a little of the language of Sibium, Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before all people,

You see, it was revealed unto them. That little child, as we said on Lord's Day morning, that little child was no different to look at than any other child. But it was revealed unto Simeon. And there was Anna, the prophetess, and she came in also at the same time. They were led of the Spirit. It was revealed unto them.

Beloved friends, real true religion is revealed. It's the divine work of the Spirit in the heart. Our eyes are opened, as the Apostle says, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, to see this wonderful thing.

What a wonderful miracle it was, here in the Prophet Isaiah, in the chapter 7, It says in verse 14, therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel. And the name Immanuel, the names in Holy Scripture are very descriptive. They are what are called proper names. They have a meaning to them. and especially the names that are given to our Lord Jesus Christ. It opens up to us through these names who He is. And that is one, isn't it, Emmanuel. God with us. That is who Jesus Christ is. God with us. God that was manifest in the flesh as we read in the first chapter of John and the word the word means the son of God again it's a name that is given under the son of God and you may say why is he called the word because he makes known by his word his truth unto his children here upon earth The Word of the Lord. He reveals the mind, the purpose of God in the salvation of His people.

Another name, Redeemer. The Redeemer shall come to Zion. Why? Because He will redeem His people. It says in that beautiful text in Galatians chapter 4 and verse 4 concerning the coming of the Son of God. The coming of the Son of God and the birth of the Son of God. In Galatians 4 and verse 4, But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons that's why Christ came that we might receive the adoption of sons and then it follows on with these beautiful words and because ye are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

You don't become sons because the Spirit of God enters your heart. You are a son because you are sons. Sons and daughters of the Lord God of Heaven from all eternity and because you are sons. God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. It's very beautiful, Anne Steele writes in that hymn, isn't it, My God, my Father, blissful name, O may I call thee mine. See, Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father, my Father, I am the way.

This holy child that was born at Bethlehem, wonderful act, this divine act of the Eternal God in sending His Son. God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should be saved. His only begotten Son. He gave His only begotten Son. For unto us a child is born. And it was these first two little clauses here in this sixth verse that seemed to just rest on my spirit yesterday morning when I was thinking of this service. For unto us. It is a wonderful emphasis. It says it twice. For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. It's a wonderful truth.

The other word that seemed to rest on my spirit as I was meditating here was the Lord Jesus Christ. The Son of Man is come. Luke chapter 19 verse 10. The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. That which was lost. Unto us a child is born Unto us a son is given What a wonderful truth and the government shall be upon his shoulders and as I was thinking of this the government shall be upon his shoulder and I was very much drawn to read in Exodus chapter 39 where it speaks of the high priest as he goes into the holy place once a year but it speaks of the what he was wearing and how beautifully what a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus Christ he was but he had on his breast a golden breastplate underneath his linen garments.

And on that golden breastplate there were 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of the children of Israel. 12 precious stones. It tells us in Exodus 39 what those stones were. But they represented the 12 tribes, the chosen people of God. And they were upon his heart. You see it was a breastplate. What a beautiful type of Christ. His children, all upon his heart.

But where it says here the government shall be upon his shoulders, that golden breastplate with those precious stones were hanging from the shoulders there were two ouches on the shoulders of the high priest within those little ouches or pouches as we would say there was precious stones but then there was golden chains that went down and the breastplate was hanging on those golden chains so the weight of it was upon his shoulders.

And there's a sense here of that beautiful meaning, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. The weight of all his children, the chosen people of God, the holy lecture of grace, given to Christ before the foundation of the world, that is what we see in the type of the high priest.

The high priest of course he had linen garments when on the day of atonement but underneath those linen garments was the breastplate, was the all the chosen people of God. The linen garments that he wore represent the righteousness of Christ because he's a type of Christ and he took with him a one of the golden basins and with the blood of the sacrifice on the altar and it was sprinkled seven times before the golden mercy seat and the Lord said to Moses when they set up that worship there will I meet with thee there will I commune with thee so the blood is a type of the blood of Christ the blood of Jesus Christ God's Son that cleanseth us from all sin.

That's what that blood represents. And then those words, there will I meet with them. My dear beloved friends, we cannot meet with the holy, infinite and eternal God except in the person of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot meet with Him except through the sin-atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. We cannot be reconciled unto him except by that precious blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross of Calvary.

You see, there will I meet with thee, there will I commune with thee. And this is all central to the understanding of the birth of this child, this holy child. That holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. That holy thing. There's a wonderful emphasis there. I remember reading something that someone said, it's only a thing. My beloved friends, This thing was something that was so wonderful. You might say, what? It was God manifest in the flesh. That holy thing. That human nature that the Son of God assumed never had a separate existence to the Son of God.

It's that holy thing that the Son of God assumed. as we've often explained to you, the great deeps there is in the incarnation of the Son of God. We do not see two persons. We do not see a divine person and a human person. That would be utter confusion. No, it says in the Word of God, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. It is a great mystery. But what we see is the divine person of the Son of God assuming human nature. So there's one person, the Son of God, who took into union with his divine nature, holy human nature, becoming bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh.

What a profound truth, isn't it? What a wonderful truth. It's beyond our understanding. It has to be revealed. And when Christ is revealed, and when the Holy Spirit reveals to faith the glorious person of the Son of God manifest in the flesh, when revealed to faith is the holy life of that person, he did no sin. Neither was guile found in his mouth. perfect obedience of the holy God-man to the law of God is the righteousness of the believer. We often draw your attention to that beautiful word in Daniel chapter 9, a prophecy concerning Christ to the bringing in of everlasting righteousness as Christ. That is what Daniel is speaking of by faith there, to the bringing in of everlasting righteousness.

That's what Jesus has done in that holy, sinless life that he lived. We've just read in Galatians, made of a woman, made under the law. There are those that have denied that Christ was made under the law but my beloved friends it's absolutely essential to the economy of grace that the Son of God lived under the law as a man when the Son of God assumed human nature he came under the law and he lived under the law he fulfilled it love those beautiful words of our Lord Jesus Christ. I come not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.

That's what Christ has done. That was what was central to his holy life here upon earth, the fulfilling of the law. What you and I cannot do, and you might say, why did God give a law that we can't keep? Adam in his state of innocence he was capable of fulfilling and living under that law. But when he fell into sin, which was before he had any children, when Adam and Eve fell into sin, I think the hymn writer puts it very succinctly, when Adam by transgression fell, He ruined all his future race. The seeds of evil once brought in increased and filled the world with sin.

Now Jesus came to deal with that sin. He says, and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. That's what Jesus has done. And that's the essential meaning of the name Jesus. The Saviour. The Saviour. He shall save his people from their sins.

For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. What a gift, isn't it? I've often greatly admired, I had a Christmas card yesterday and right on the front of it what I would say is probably one of my favourite texts. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. It's unspeakable because it's inexpressible. The wonderful glories. If you see a glory in Christ, a wonder in Christ, it's inexpressible if you're given a revelation of Christ. The apostle in the Corinthians, he said he was taken up into the third heaven and he said, I saw things that were not lawful for me to speak of. What he means there, it was not possible to express. The wonderful glories that he saw in the third heaven.

And if you and I have a clear view of the glorious person of Christ, it's inexpressible. His glory is inexpressible. When I was very sick, just before I actually became pastor here, 2005, I had almost a year when I was laid aside. I took ill at the end of January and right through that year I was in hospital eight times and I wasn't able to preach until the middle of November. It was a time of great trial as you can imagine. In the beginning of February I felt so ill one night, and I went downstairs, I sat reading, and in Solomon's Song, I had an inexpressible view of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was in those words, come with me from Lebanon, my sister, my spouse. I had such a view. It was an overwhelming view of the glory of Christ and the wonder of Christ.

And then, when you feel that personally, you can understand more for unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. It becomes very personal to you. And it seems so sweet to me yesterday meditating this little word, just two letters, us. Something very wonderful. It's what you might call an inclusive word. Unto us, a child is born. Unto us, a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulder. The government. He carries all things on him. The hymn we've just sung together spoke of the wonderful glory of the birth, that his shoulders held up heaven and earth when Mary held up him. What a profound glory that is.

His name shall be called Wonderful. You see, wonderful in his very birth, wonderful in the work that he performed, that the Father sent him to perform, wonderful in his incarnation, wonderful in the holiness of his life and the law fulfilled and honoured and glorified, wonderful in that he became our sin-bearer and that our Heavenly Father laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Wonderful that He took our sins and nailed them to His cross and suffered and bled and died for our sins. Wonderful in the sense that the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin, from all sin. His name shall be called Wonderful. Wonderful in that He died though he did no sin and the word of God says the wages of sin is death he died for our sins he died for our sins that's surely wonderful in itself that he died for our sins and rose again here's another wonderful thing rose again for our justification you see my beloved friends Wonderful things that Jesus has done, that Jesus has accomplished.

The law has been fulfilled. Divine justice has been satisfied. That's wonderful, isn't it? In that holy sacrifice of the cross of Calvary. Divine justice has been satisfied. Wonderful. His name shall be called Wonderful.

Wonderful in his resurrection. In that he has swallowed up death in victory. brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Wonderful in that he himself said I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly. Wonderful in this sense I give unto my sheep eternal life, eternal life, and his name shall be called Wonderful. Eternal life at his request to every soul is given.

His name shall be called Wonderful. He's wonderful in that he has bodily ascended into heaven and he took his, he led his disciples out as far as Ante Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them and as they stood beholding him ascending into heaven in a cloud. I say his name shall be called Wonderful.

He's wonderful in the sense that in Psalm 24 we read of the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and we read it in this sense that heaven's gates were closed when Adam fell, when sin entered into the world, the gates of heaven were closed, the flaming fiery sword of divine justice was put in the way so that man could not approach unto God but Jesus has made a way unto God and he's wonderful in this sense he's the way to God and as he ascended up into heaven at those gates that shut when Adam fell they opened and we read in Psalm 24 lift up your heads oh ye gates be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors and the king of glory shall come in Who is this King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty? He is the King of Glory. Who is it? It's our Lord Jesus Christ.

He's wonderful as we behold Him entering into eternal glory. He's wonderful as we see Him sitting at the right hand of the Father. A man there is, a real man, with wounds still gaping wide. from which rich streams of blood once ran in hands and feet and side." And Joseph Hart, he says there, it's no metaphor, it's a real man who's sitting at the right hand of the Father. He's sitting in eternal glory. The Apostle, he opens it to us in Hebrews chapter 4, for such a high priest have we who is passed into the heavens. Jesus, the Son of God. And because He has entered into heaven, He's made a new and living way into the holy place.

His name shall be called Wonderful. Wonderful. Counsellor. A counsellor. One that we can approach unto. One that we can unburden our hearts to. One that is full of wisdom and grace and receives poor, needy, wretched sinners. Think of what a wonderful counsellor he is.

There's those words spoken by the Pharisees in a disparaging way. But my beloved friends, they're wonderful words of grace. This man, that's the man Christ Jesus, this man receiveth sinners. He receives sinners. He does. And eateth with them. He still does. He says, this man, he says to us, come unto me. all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest for your souls this wonderful counsellor and ye shall find rest for your souls he's giving us counsel there come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take thy yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God. Jesus is the Mighty God. Jesus said all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth and we read in the book of the revelation Alleluia for the Lord God Omnipotent reign the mighty God The everlasting father the everlasting father There's two ways of looking at this No man cometh unto the Father but by me. And the other one is I and my Father are one. I and my Father are one. There's a oneness in the Trinity. It's an eternal Trinity and the bonds are indissoluble. between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. These three are one. They are one. The mighty God, the everlasting Father, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

The Prince of Peace. What a beautiful term, isn't it? The Prince of peace. Peace by his cross as Jesus made the church's ever-living head. Peace. He had broken down the middle wall of partition that was between us. That's what Jesus Christ has done in that wonderful redeeming work that he has accomplished for his people. He says in John 14, peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world give it give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard how I said unto you I go away and come again unto you. If you loved me you would rejoice because I said I go unto the Father for My Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it come to pass that when it is come to pass you might believe. You see, peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. He's the Prince of Peace.

The King and of his kingdom and peace there shall be no end there shall be no end of the increase of his government this glorious government the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ a kingdom must have a king and that king is the King Eternal it's what the Apostle Paul refers to him as, and he writes to Timothy, now unto the king eternal, immortal. The king eternal, that's who Jesus is. Says in Psalm number two, yet have I set my king. He's speaking there of the incarnation of the son of God, of the ushering in of this eternal kingdom, of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory, of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this, this glorious kingdom. A kingdom of immense delight, where life and health and peace unite, where solid pleasures never die. No, an eternal kingdom of peace.

My mind was very much drawn in thinking of this kingdom. It is beautifully expressed in Daniel chapter 7 and in Daniel chapter 7 it speaks of this eternal kingdom and of this eternal king so we read in Daniel chapter 7 in verse 9 these are visions that were given to Daniel at the end of time I beheld till the thrones were cast down And the ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool. His throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as a burning fire. This is as he comes to judge the world in righteousness. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him. Thousands, thousands ministered unto him. and 10,000 times 10,000 stood before him, the judgment was set and the books were opened.

I beheld then, because of the voice of the great words which horns bake, I beheld even till the beast was slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame. You see, then it says in verse 13, I saw in the night visions And behold, one like the Son of Man, that's Christ, came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom that all people, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away. and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

And then we read in verse 27, and the kingdom and dominion and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. As it says in Isaiah I will work and who shall let it? It says in scripture that not a hoof shall be left behind. It says in Amos, not a grain of wheat shall fall to the ground. Each grain of wheat represents a child of God. And in that sifting time, none of it shall be lost. No. Jesus says, None shall pluck them out of my Father's hand. You see, I and my Father are one. The Father has chosen a people, the Son has redeemed that people, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies that people and separates them unto Christ. Every one of them are born again of the Spirit and brought to living, saving faith in Jesus Christ, the King of glory.

in Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of sinners. There is no other name that is given unto heaven whereby you must be saved but the name of Jesus Christ, of the increase of his government and peace. There shall be no end. Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth, even forever, the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.

May the Lord add His blessings. Let us now sing together hymn number 41 and the tune is a Destified Elise, 804.

My God, my Creator, the heavens did bow to ransom offenders and stoop very low. The body prepared by the Father assumes and on the kind errand most joyfully comes. You see it speaks here so beautifully of the kingdom, the king of glory and the assuming of that body prepared by the Father.

May the Lord help us to sing with the heart and with the understanding also.

Hymn 41, tune of Desti Fidelis, 804.

Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit, Rest and abide with us each, both now and forevermore. Amen.