It's good to see the Meeting House well packed this morning. You know, as our brother was praying there, that thought came over me that there's a great joy in my heart this morning. And that's the joy of sins forgiven. I thank God for the day that he spoke to me, that he brought me through the door of this Meeting House. But you know, there used to be an old pastor not so far from here, and in his prayers he used to say, And Lord, I thank you for the simplicity of the gospel. Friend, if you do not know the joy of the Lord in your heart yet, today, whenever you hear the gospel in the simplest of forms, it's my prayer and the prayer of the session here that you would leave this meeting house knowing that joy within your heart. I'm not going to say anything more. I'm sure the pupils and teachers are going to say, well, amen to that. But I'm going to ask my helper, Charlotte, to come. Although I'm only very small, I have a part to play by saying welcome to you all on this very special day. Thank you Sharon. Now we're going to ask Velma and Sharon's class and they're going to recite to us the 23rd Psalm. I don't know whether that's a good setting or not, but you see the preacher at the bottom of the pulpit. The Bible says in Psalm 23, verses 1 to 6. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restores my soul, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, for his name's sake. Yea, who I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, thy eye art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. There is a table before me, in the presence of my enemies. I anoint this my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Well done. I hope you'd like to be in that class. Emma's class. They're going to sing to us One Door and Only One. One door and only one, and yet a side or two I'm inside and outside, and which side are you? One door and only one, and yet a side or two I'm on the inside, and which side are you? One book and only one, and yet it's hard to believe A good book is true, but with all the power to save One book and only one, and yet it's hard to believe God's book, the Bible, will you trust it too? Now Carrie's coming to sing to us. She's going to sing Every Promise in the Book is Mine. Every promise in the book is mine Every chapter, every verse, every line I'm the trusting in His love's divine Every promise in the book is mine There's a promise of a Saviour's love and the promise of a home above. When our sins are cleansed in Jesus' blood, hallelujah for the promises of God. Now, Paul's class, we are going to recite John chapter 3, 1 to 16. John, chapter 3. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, the ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that art a teacher come from God. For no man can do these miracles that thy just said to God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I say unto thee, ye must be born again. The womb bloweth where it resteth, and the heath the son thereof. But canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth? So is every one who is born of spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Hound if I a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I have told you heavenly things? God sent of the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Now we're going to have Rose. She's going to come up and she's going to sing There's a Friend for Little Children. A friend for little children Above the bright blue sky A friend who never changes His love will never die Unlike our friends by nature They change with changing years This friend is always worthy the precious name he bears. There's a crown for little children above the brightly scarred, and all who look to Jesus shall wear it far and wide. The crown of Christ is glory, which He will ever bestow. On all who love the Savior and walk with Him below, there's a room for little children. above the bright blue sky. Harp of sweetest music and palms of victory, all above the treasures of finding Christ alone. Oh, come, dear little children, that all may be your own. Now as this class is coming, they're going to recite to us the books of the Bible. The Books of the Bible, Old and New Testament Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Proverbs, Deuteronomy, Joshua, George's book, 1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st and 2nd Kings, 1st and 2nd Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the Magicians, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Jewel of Yemes of Udai, Jonah, Micah, Nehemiah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Isaac, Romans, 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1st and 2nd Peter, 1st and 2nd John, 2, and Revelation. Excellent. And now I would like to join that class, St. Elizabeth. Now we're going to have Lydia's class, and they're going to recite Thy Works, Not Mine. Thy works not mine, O Christ, speak gladness to this heart. They tell me all is done, they bid my feet depart. To whom but thee, who can alone, have sin atoned, nor shall I flee. Thy blood, not mine, O Christ, can heal my sinful soul. Thy stripes, not mine, contain the balm that makes me whole. To whom but thee, who can alone, for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee. Thy cross, not mine, O Christ, has borne an awful load. A sin that no good bore, but now in colour endure. To whom but thee, who can alone, for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee. Thy death, O mind, O Christ, has paid the ransom due. Ten thousand deaths like mine would have been all to you. To him but they who can't alone, who sin atone, Lord, shall I play. Thy righteousness, O Christ, alone can cover me. Thy righteousness reveals, see that which is of thee. To him but they who can't alone, who sin atone, Lord, shall I play. Titus chapter 3, verse 5. not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. First Peter, chapter 2, verse 24. Who made his own self for our sins, and his own body on the tree, that we, being in debt to sin, should live on to righteousness by whose stripes ye now believe. Now we're going to have the junior group up. So if you're a junior or feel like a junior, you come ahead to the pulpit. Now we're going to sing Isn't He Wonderful. Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead. Isn't he wonderful, wonderful, wonderful? Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful? Eyes of sin, ears of hurt, it's recorded in God's Word. Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful? Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, isn't Jesus my Lord wonderful? I just sing, here's a phrase, it's recorded in God's words, isn't Jesus my Lord wonderful? Now David's class, they're going to recite Psalm 34, verses 1 to 8. I will bless the Lord at all times, his worship continually be in my mouth. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. The looks unto him were enlightened, and their faces were not ashamed. The palm and crown of the Lord taught us, even by a voice taught us. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them, that fear him and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Well done, David's class. Now, my own class is coming. They're going to recite Hebrews 11, and the verses 1 to 6. Hebrews chapter 11, verses 1 to 6. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, for by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith they understand that the world is reframed by the word of God, so that things which are seen are not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, in which he attained witness that he was righteous, while testifying of his gifts, and he being dead, yet speaketh. By faith he in August translated that he should not see death, and was not foreign, because God had translated him. For before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that they will do sick him. By faith, Noah be he warned of God's things, not saying, as yet, move with fear. He prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world, and he came out of righteousness, which is by faith. Now we're going over the whole Sabbath school. And there a commenter sang two pieces to us. Don't be afraid, and he paid a debt. Additional light. Don't be afraid. Jesus is watching you in the dark night. He is protecting you. Talk to the Lord. Ask him to make you brave. Jesus will hear when you pray. Jesus is caring for you. Jesus is helping you today. ♪ When you believe in glory the truth ♪ ♪ Jesus is coming for you ♪ ♪ Jesus is helping you too ♪ ♪ Jesus will do whatever you do ♪ Jesus is helping you do. Jesus is helping you do. Jesus is always looking in you for he loves you. Jesus is caring for you. Jesus is helping you too. Jesus is with you whatever you do. He paid a delicate mortal high advice. And now I sing a brand new song, Amazing grace, the whole day long, For Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay. One day he's coming back for me, to live with him eternally. Won't that be glory, to see him on that day? And now I sing a brand new song, amazing prayers to hold their own. Won't Jesus pay the debt? But I could never pay. My friends, that is the end of our programme for this morning. Not for today, for this morning. And I would invite you, on behalf of the Sabbath Week, each one of you back this evening to see the second half of our programme. I want to thank you again all for coming, and I'll just hand over now to the Reverend Foster. Well, I want to say well done to the boys and girls and to the young people. I want to thank you again for all the hard work you've put in over previous weeks in preparation for this morning. I'm horribly pleased to bless the gospel truths that we've heard to every one of our hearts. In terms of announcements, Robert has already mentioned there is a service tonight, and that's at 7 o'clock. And it would be great to see many coming back to see the second part of the program and hearing God's Word and what will be sung and what will be read. There will be supper after the service tonight, and so it would be great to have many not only attend the service, but also enjoy then that fellowship afterwards, whenever it comes to the things of God. There will be some time of congregational singing before the service tonight, so even come a few minutes early to enjoy that as well. Whenever it comes to the services normally on during the week, Please remember that the children's meeting has now finished for the term and also the youth fellowship as well. May the Lord keep every young person and every boy and girl safe even over the summer period. There will be the open air on at half past seven this Saturday evening there in the lower square in the town. May the Lord bless his word as it goes forth this Saturday. Next Lord's Day there will be the early time of prayer at nine o'clock, the Sabbath school at 10.30, I'm assuming, well, hold on a minute, is the Sabbath school finished? No, it's still on, next Lord's Day. And then the adult Bible class at 10.45. It will then be the times of corporate worship at 12 noon and 7 p.m. And if you don't have anywhere you normally attend, it'd be great to have you even coming here to hear the gospel next Lord's Day. So it'd be great to have you coming along, even the visitors here this morning. It will be the seasons of prayer before the services at half 11 and 6.30. Please do remember that next Lord's Day evening there will be a remembrance of the Lord's death until Christ comes again. And so therefore there will be that remembrance of the Lord's Supper. This week, as many in the congregation know, but perhaps some of the visitors this morning do not, this week commences a two-week gospel mission being held there in the main road just before Ballymartin, there at the rack road on the right-hand side. Some of you may have seen it on the field, a tent that has been erected for the purpose of the gospel going forth each day this week. It commences today at half past three, and if you're able to come along, you'd be extremely welcome. to come and hear the gospel as it is proclaimed. It then continues Monday through to Friday, each night at 8 p.m., and it will be finished around about nine o'clock each evening. And again, it would be great to see many coming out to hear the word of God. And if you'd like to bring somebody else with you, then by all means, you bring one, two, three, or even 10 people with you. There's plenty of room in that tent. May the Lord bless us, word as it goes forth, each day this week. God willing, there will be a place for prayer time from tomorrow each evening. Half an hour before the 10th mission service starts, so from half seven, there will be a time of prayer for those who are able to make it. And then also then next week, it will be the same. Half past three, next Lord's Day afternoon, and then seven to eight Monday through to Friday. Only a short time, those two weeks will fly through, so don't leave it and think, well, I'll go to the second week, I'll go to the end of the second week. You go early, and you go often to hear God's word. And then finally, may I just say that There will be five-day Bible clubs held from the 9th through to the 13th of June. So I know it's a couple of weeks away, but while there's so many here this morning, I want to announce it. Friday, sorry, Monday the 9th through to Friday the 13th of June, five-day Bible clubs. One holiday Bible club will be held from four o'clock in the afternoon through to 4.45 at 35 Manch Road. And then a second holiday Bible club will be held then on Newry Street there outside the Unite building in Hillside Drive from seven o'clock in the evening to 7.45. So boys and girls and young people, you remember that. And it would be great to see even many at those holiday Bible clubs as well. That's all the announcements I have to make at this stage. We're going to further sing to the Lord. We can all take part in this. It's hymn number 695 in your hymn book. It's found on page 456. Page 456, and hymn number 695, I Am So Glad. that our Father in heaven tells of his love in the book he has given. Wonderful things in the Bible I see. This is the dearest that Jesus loves me. And the Lord write this truth upon every heart. Please do remain seated for the commencement of this hymn. while offering and ties are collected. And if you've come along and you haven't come prepared for that, don't you worry at all. Don't feel embarrassed in any form or fashion. Just you pass the basket along. It's for all those people this morning who know about it. So remain seated for the commencement of this hymn, please. I am so glad that our Father in heaven has all his love in the earth he has given, wonderful things in the life he has given. I am so glad that Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me. I am so glad that Jesus loves me. Jesus loves even me. Though I forget Him and wander away, still He doth love me wherever I stay. Back to His dear loving arms will I be, when I remember that Jesus loves me. I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me. I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me. Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him. Thou sent Him Thy wonderful soul to redeem. Yes, it was love made in Thy only dream. Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me. I am so glad that Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me. I am so glad that Jesus loves me. Jesus loves even me. Glory to Jesus, I know very well. A Holy Spirit with mind of the grave, Constantly witnessing Jesus' love free. I am so glad that Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me. I am so glad that Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me, and me. This shall my song in eternity ring. Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me. I am so glad that Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me. I am so glad that Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me. You may be seated. It's a real delight to have our brother, Mr. Robert McConnell, along to bring God's word to us. I'm just gonna invite Brother Robert to come and do that now. Lord bless you and make you be a blessing to us today. Well, boys and girls, moms and dads, it's a real delight to be here today and to share with you in your Children's Day services. Now, you have done really well so far, and if I had some prizes for singing, well, I would have to give out a lot of prizes, but we don't have prizes for singing. We do have one or two little prizes for sitting, and that's altogether a different exercise, a lot more difficult. So, if you can sit better than the person beside you, have a little look at them. then you might get one of my little prizes. Because we have brought along today a little fishing net. It's ever so small, but we can make it a little bit bigger, and we can make it a little bit bigger again, and we can keep on going. And Aunty Velma at the front's getting excited because it's getting very near to her. I'm putting it over this way purposely in case a wee hand goes out. But if you happen to be sitting really, it's getting bigger. If you happen to be sitting really well today and I happen to spot you and notice you, then I'll just take this here and I'll just slip it straight over to you. And you can take one. How many? One. That's good. Just the one. Good counting. So we'll look at this girl here. We'll try it out and see if it works. Well done. And now I know what happened there. You see, what happens before Children's Day service starts, all the mummies and daddies, they do this. They give their children an awful chiseling, you know. A real chiseling. Now, you sit up straight and you don't move, and that poor girl, even with the sweets and all, she would hardly move, but she did really well. We'll keep that nearby. We might be using that a little bit later. We want to add our congratulations to all the boys and girls for taking part today, for doing so well. It's not easy to be at the front. It's ever so difficult. But there's never, I have noticed in this last few years, never a nerve, no one's ever a bit anxious apart from the Sunday school teachers. They're all chewing away at their nails. But don't worry, you're halfway through. Now, don't let it spoil your dinner, and then you'll be back out tonight again. I can remember when I was a little boy coming along to be at the front to take part on Children's Day, and I was always ever so nervous. In fact, on one occasion, I had a little poem, only two verses, and I had it well memorized. It was about David and Goliath. But with all the faces in front of me and all the eyes upon me, I got so nervous I got the verses mixed up. And I had David cutting the head off Goliath with the sword before he ever hit him, even with the stone. So, there was none of that today. You did really well. And we'll get started in our message. I've got my Bible with me, and if you have yours, you might need it in a minute or two, because we want to look at some things from God's precious Word. Now, it's a very anxious time for somebody coming as a visitor to do a Children's Day service, because these boys and girls, week in and week out, month in and month out, they have been in Sunday school And no doubt, you have heard a lot of stories from the Bible. And it would be a real shame today if I was just to get up and tell the story that you heard last week. You might even correct me and say, you missed a bit out. I know that bit wasn't just as good as what my Sunday school teacher said. So I have to be careful. And so today, for a few minutes, I am going to look at a story in the Bible. And it's one of several very strange stories. And they're all about a man called Elisha. Now, that's another difficulty. And if I halfway through start calling him Elijah, just you bear with me, because I've got myself on the wrong person, but it's Elisha. And I hope today that you haven't heard this story recently in your Sunday school class. I really believe perhaps that you haven't. I think perhaps that you've maybe never heard this story at all. Because there are three stories all around this man, Elisha, and they have the strangest titles. Do you know there's a story in the Bible about Elisha and the man he wouldn't let into his house? Oh, yes. There's a story in the Bible about Elisha and the axe head that got lost. And there's a story in the Bible about Elisha and the big pot of soup. And we're going to look at one of those stories today. You can read them for yourselves. They're all found in 2 Kings 4, 5, and 6. The story we want to look at today is Elisha. and the big pot of soup. Hopefully, this will whet your appetite for your dinner. You'll get it down you quick and away out to that mission. But this is the story we want to look at. Now, boys and girls, if you want to look it up, mums and dads, we'll be reading a few verses from 2 Kings, and we're going to look at chapter 4 and just a couple of small verses in that chapter. Now, to help the boys and girls to remember this story, because I want you to remember it, and maybe be able to tell it to somebody else, there's going to be an awful lot of words in this story, and they all begin with the letter F. The letter F. And there are lots. There's about 10. So, I don't know how many points your minister does every Sunday. We're going for 10 today, and we're gonna have to do it very quickly. 10-point sermon. So, if you've got your Bible, let's read what God's Word says in 2 Kings chapter 4, and breaking in at verse number 38. Don't forget, this is the story of Elisha and the big pot of soup. Here's what we have. Here's what God's Word says. And Elisha came again to Gilgal, and there was a dearth in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. Can you just see them all there? There they are. And he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seeth pottage for the sons of the prophets. And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shredded them into the pot of pottage, for they knew them not." That just means nobody realized, nobody twigged on. So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating off the pottage, that they cried out and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot, and they could not eat thereof. But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot, And he said, pour out for the people that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot. Now just before we have a wee word of prayer, I was watching, I was looking up the page and I was looking up and I was looking down and there's a man here in the front row and he was following every word. He was doing a great job. So there you are, dip in there and take one. How many? Good memory, okay. I have to make these last for two or three more Children's Days. Okay. If not, the treasure, you may get the pound coins out. So, with God's Word open, and what a strange story, let's just have a wee word of prayer. Let's just pray. Dear Lord, we ask just now in the closing moments of the meeting that thou would take full control, that thou would help with regards to thy Word, and we pray, O Lord, that hearts would be spoken to, lives would be changed, and drawn unto thee, for we ask it in our Savior's name. Amen. Okay, now we have very little time, so we need to get really into this, because boys and girls, we have told you that we're gonna do a 10-point sermon at least, maybe 11, and all the words will begin with the letter, good work, the letter F. All the people in the back sitting all in a dream, they can't remember anything. And these ones here at the front, if you couldn't shortchange them in the shop, I'll tell you what, they're listening. Now, the first of these words beginning with F is found in verse 38. Get your eyes to verse 38. And it says there, there was a dearth in the land. Now, boys and girls, that word dearth, we maybe wouldn't use it so much today, but it really means a shortage. There wasn't enough. And here's the word we're going to use, a famine. There was a famine. Everybody was unable to get what they needed to feed themselves. And we have then in verse 38 another word that we can slip in there, because we're told that the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. It was dinnertime. You didn't need to tell these boys twice the dinner was ready. They were always hungry. These fellas were big fellas and they had a poor appetite, but here they are sitting before the prophet. Elisha, and they were absolutely, here's the next word, they were famished. There was a famine, and these fellas were famished. They were really hungry, just the way everybody seems to be hungry when you're running about all day and it's coming near dinner time. Oh, I'm famished. Maybe you've said that before. But in this same verse 38, there's another word that begins with F, tremendous word, and it's all to do with Elisha. Because here they were, there was a famine in the land, there wasn't enough food, a real shortage, and these fellas were all sitting there, it's dinner time, and they were famished. But let's look at Elisha, verse 38. Here's what Elisha said, "'Set on the great pot.'" Now, in case you're not too sure what that is, you're not maybe culinary minded, I brought my big pot with me today, look at that. Now, we've got an even bigger one than that, but there's the big pot. Set on the great pot. That's what Elisha said. You see, this man, here's the word, he had faith in God. There was a famine. These young fellows were famished. And this man was full of faith. He said, set on the great pot. Now, he didn't have faith in the farmers. because there was no crops in the fields, things had been bad. He didn't have faith in those who worked the markets, who were the shopkeepers, because the shelves were empty. And no doubt that was a reflection of what was going on, maybe in the little kitchen where Elisha and the young men were. Wouldn't have been much in the cupboards because of this great famine. But he still says, because he's faith in God, set on the great pot. Not the middle-sized pot. Not the wee milk saucepan. Put the great pot on. He knew the Lord was going to supply the need. I'm going to put that down. That's a bit heavy for me. It's a good thing there's nothing in it. And do you know what? His faith was well answered. But then in verse number 39, something else happens. The whole story moves away from this awful famine and all these young men sitting famished and the great faith that this man Elisha had when he called to bring the great pot in. The whole story turns to one young man. And I want to turn this whole story to one young person today, one older person, one very young person. Because the Lord's looking for one today to speak to in this place, I believe with all my heart. Because in verse 39, we have another word beginning with F, and it's a very foolish notion. Because in verse 49, the narrative just focuses in on one of the young men, one young man in particular. And we're told that one went out You see, I think this young man was maybe the hungriest of them all. That's probably me. And what happened was this. He took a wee tiptoe into the kitchen. He was tired waiting with the rest, and he took a wee tiptoe into the kitchen to have a look in this big pot to see what was going to be for dinner. And don't tell me you don't do it, because I know rightly you come in from work, and you come in from wherever you're at, and you're away rattling the lids, looking in the pots to see what's made for dinner. What's up? What we having tonight? We have a son. Well, he's gone now, married, and he probably tortures his wife. He used to torture his mama, and every night he would ring. Very nice, wasn't it? Imagine ringing your mommy every night, not to ask how she was. What's for dinner? That was the big thing. What's for dinner? First question. And so this young man away went, had a nosy end to see what was going to be made, and he looked into the pot and it wasn't very appealing. Mainly boiling water, there was hardly a thing to put in. A few vegetables bobbing about here and there, wasn't worth talking about. He probably did this to see if there was any nice aroma, not a thing. He wasn't one bit impressed. And we're told that this young man, the foolish notion that he had, and it says one went out. You see, although this meal would have been nutritious enough, It would have seen them through the difficult times the Lord had provided. This young man looking into the pot was not impressed. It was boring. It was drab. It was plain. It was ordinary. It was not what he wanted. And he went off in search of something that would satisfy him better, something that he would feel more content with. And where did he go? Look at your Bible. We have another word beginning with F. Verse 39, it says, and one went out into the field. He went out into the field to gather herbs. You see, the whole plan with this young man having looked in the pot, he wasn't one bit satisfied. He decided he'll go out and he'll go and look for herbs and bring the herbs and he'll drop the herbs in. Maybe make it a wee bit nicer, enhance the flavor. And as he went out to look for herbs, it was suddenly very short-lived. It wasn't long till he forgot all about the herbs. Verse 39, here's another word beginning with F. He found something. He found a wild vine and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full. That's what he did. And then in verse 39, we have another word beginning with eth, because it says that he came and he shred them into the pot of pottage. Nobody knew what he was doing. He was shredding them up ever so small, put them into the pot. Nobody was about. There he did it all by himself. And by and by, Elisha came back in to see how things were progressing, to check on this pottage, to check on this big pot of soup, see how things were coming along. And everything, as he looked in, he could suddenly see the whole thing had thickened up beautiful. Oh, really good. Wasn't what he was expecting at all. And all the young men were called for, and here's the word we have, a feast. Verse number 40, and they poured out for the young men, for the men to eat. It was a feast. They're going to get a queer tuck in tonight. And the pot and the soup and everything was thick and ready. What a surprise. That's only the first surprise. The second surprise is found in the middle of verse 40. And that was a foul taste. Verse 40 says, as they were sitting at the pottage, that they cried out and said, and I can just see it, suddenly the spoon drops and the bowls pushed away and the faces all screwed up, oh, thy man of God, there is death in the pot, and they could eat, they could not eat thereof. It was horrible, it was really foul, they couldn't touch it. Even no matter how hungry they were, they couldn't touch it. Here's our last letter F, the final outcome. Verse 41 of our reading, we're told that Elisha, immediately seeing the problem, what a spiritual man, he called for meal and cast it into the pot, and suddenly everything was rectified, and they were all able to eat, and I no doubt, maybe some wanted seconds. And the Bible says there was no harm in the pot. And that's the story all finished. That was a good story, wasn't it? Well, as a wee boy growing up, I used to think to myself, what on earth was the point in that story? Of all the things that God would want to give us in His Word, why did He give us that story? Thinking of maybe those who sacrificed their lives to translate the Word of God into our language, those that stood up for it valiantly, those who gave their lives for it, why would they stand up for a story like that? story about a famine and a meal that was ruined, and then it was remedied and everything was okay. What was the point of that going into God's Word? What's the purpose of that? Well, in the closing moments, and this will be as quick as we can, I want to look at this story very closely with you. Will you come with me? Will you follow along? And with God's help, we're going to lift out some spiritual truths, because you need to know some things, perhaps today that you've let slip or don't know at all. Number one, let's look at this young man in the story. Now, this young man is a picture of us all at one stage or another. There are older folks in this meeting today, and this man was once you. And maybe there's problems and difficulties in your life today, and you can stem it right back to those young years where you then went in a direction that this young man went in. There are young men and young women in this meeting this afternoon, and you are exactly this young man now. You are just on the very precipice of teetering this way or going that way. And I want you to listen because you are the closest to this young man in the meeting. There are young ones at the front here and I'm going to warn you because there's days coming ahead where you could end up like this young man and it'll come quickly. Because this young man was longing for something better than he had. Longing for something to satisfy his fleshly desires. Longing for something to make him content because he wasn't one bit content. Are you discontent today? Listen up, this is for you. This young man's you. This young man's you. Secondly, let's look for a moment or two at the content of the pot. What was in the pot? The young man, he had a good look into the pot. And you and I with our own imagination and our own thoughts can see what happened here. He looked into the pot and it was boring, it was bland, it was plain, it was ordinary. There was nothing fancy about it. And although it was nutritious enough and it would have seen them through this time of famine, the Lord hadn't failed them whatsoever. But the content of this pot was not one bit thrilling or exciting to this young man. And perhaps this is a picture today of your home life. You may be being brought up in a good home, maybe a godly home, even better, where God's Word is front and central. Or every day, maybe morning and night, God's Word is brought down and you're made to sit and listen and go through a time of family devotion. The Lord's Day to you maybe is the worst of all, the most boring, bland day, and you can't wait to get through it, and you spend most of it sleeping. Because this pot and the contents of this pot are maybe a picture of your home life. Christian home, a godly home, and you are looking for something more exciting. This young man had been brought up in a godly environment, brought up at the feet of godly Elisha, but such upbringing brings its curtailments, doesn't it? Bounds and limits in your home where you think everybody else can do whatever they like. You maybe believe the foolish nonsense your friends tell you in school. And such things can be a real dampener to a young person growing up. You do what you like attitude that the world promotes. It's not happening in your house, not happening under the watch of your parents. And you just want something better, something more exciting. And it's not found in your godly home. It's not found with your godly parents. And it's not found in this house because you know what? You're in darkness and you're far from God. But the contents of this soup brings us on a little further, because there's the field, and there's the herbs, and there's the wild vine and the gourds, and we're going to try and cover it very quickly. If this young man's a picture of us all, and the contents of this pot maybe are a picture of the constraints of a godly upbringing, then what's this field all about? Well, let me tell you, this field is a picture of the world. Very often when you read your Bible and this word fail comes up in the reading, it's a picture of the world. This is an Old Testament example of that. There are others in the New Testament, just to give you another reference to point to. There was, in the New Testament, a wonderful parable told about a sower who went out to sow, and he went out into the field. He was taking God's Word across the world, far and wide. And here we have this field, a picture of the world again. Now, initially, there was all this talk about this young man going to look for herbs. It wasn't long when he was in the world, out in the field, that the herbs were forgotten about. Because suddenly we're told that the young man sees something, something that attracts his attention, and it's this wild vine and these wild gourds. Notice something from the reading. The word wild is mentioned twice. Consider that. That word wild should often have us think of something that's dangerous or harmful. It's wild. If you're out for a walk and you see a big sign up, wild animals, you would know to keep away, but not this young man. Despite the godly upbringing, he forgot it all out in the world, and he went headlong into this, what seemed to be a terrific find. And he sees these wild goods. Now, I wouldn't really know what wild goods are. Sometimes my wife sends me into the shop for a list of stuff, and I don't know what the half of them things are either. But wild goods, not something you'd maybe see on the shelf. But what are they in spiritual terms? They're a picture of all the attractions and all the distractions and all the sinful entertainment that the world pressed on by the devil has ready for you, all dressed up to look ever so good. And do you notice something? There wasn't any shortage. We're told here that he gathered his lap full. This young man, in many ways, like me, when I go into the shop, I never take a bag. And then I go around and see maybe something, you know, the yellow sticker offers and something that's near the time up. And no matter whether I need it or not, oh, that's, look at the value of that, down to 30p, I'll buy that. I have to get that out tonight, because I have a date tomorrow. I might come to the hotel with a whole pile of stuff, but with no bag. There's no way I'm paying 6p for a bag, after all these bargains. And this young man was the same. He gathered his lap full. Do you know what he did, boys and girls? He did something that you're not allowed to do, boys, especially. He pulled his shirt tail out. If your mummy seen you up there with your shirt tail out, you'd be in for it, wouldn't you? He pulled his shirt tail out and he just filled that with the wild goods. Plenty of them. If he had a wheelbarrow, he could have filled the wheelbarrow. If he had a cart, he could have filled the cart. There was no shortage. And let me tell you today, there's no shortage of the entertainment and the wickedness and the attractions of this world from the devil for you. He'll never run out. And then he brought them home. And not only did he harm himself, but he harmed all those around him. And young person tonight, you might be out in the world wild and bare, but you will start to bring those wild goods into the household. There are maybe siblings who are younger than you and they're watching you and they want to be like you. There's parents at home when you're breaking their heart because of your behavior. And your sin is never in isolation because he didn't just harm himself, he harmed everybody. Everybody was drawn in and hurt, and our sin hasn't affected others. But then there's that wild vine, and we've run out of time completely. We want to just touch on it quickly. The wild vine that he was plucking off and he was gathering from, can I tell you about another vine in the Bible? It's the true vine. Oh, that you would be at the true vine. Get yourself quickly to the true vine. That's the Lord Jesus. That's the Savior. Oh, feed on Him. Nurture yourself spiritually. Grow up strong in Him. Keep away from the wild vines and the attractions and the distractions of the devil. But we need to move on very quickly, and finally, there's a remedy to this whole solution. Verse 41, it says, bring the meal. Now, meal, boys and girls, is really flour in its roughest state. It's a bit like a crushed up Weetabix. And flour is the substance that's used to make bread, and the bread of life is the Lord Jesus Himself. And what Elisha was really doing, in effect, was this. He was calling on the Lord to intervene. What a spiritual man. Others would have went any direction. But he called for the Lord to intervene. And in this story, we can see immediately that the male, the picture of the Savior, drew out all the poison and all the harm and all the bitterness and even death itself from this situation. So, too, it is with the Savior. When the Lord Jesus steps into lives that are ruined and wracked by sin, folly, and foolishness, when He's in the midst Whenever He takes control of all harm and all hurt, that of sin is immediately taken away. Behold the Lamb of God. What does He do? That taketh away, hallelujah, the sin of the world. What can wash away my sin? Nothing. Stop there, it'd be a disaster. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanses us from all sin. Everything's going to be dealt with. His suffering, His sacrifice, borne on the cross. Let me tell you today, it draws out all death, all the filth, all the hurt, all the harm, all the folly of your continual sin. And we can end today with a high note, because depending on Him and calling upon Him, no matter what mess your life is in, there will be no harm. in the pot. That's the difference. The Savior's the difference. And you need Him today. You need Him more than you ever needed Him before. You need Him now. And He's waiting and willing to forgive you and to put things right. What a wonderful end to a story that was a disaster. And what a wonderful end can be to your life story rather than a disaster. Trust that the Lord will bless these few thoughts to your heart. I'm going to hand straight back over to your minister. I want to thank you for sitting so, so well today. We really appreciate it. Thank you. You can turn your hymn books. We're going to sing just two verses of a closing hymn. It's hymn number 701. Listen to the words. Come to the Savior. Make no delay. Here in his word, he has shown us the way. Here in our midst, he's standing today, tenderly saying, come. Come to Christ, if you've heard today, and he will take that sin away. We're going to stand, sing the first verse and the third verse, and then we'll close in prayer, and that will be our service concluded. So standing and singing after the musical introduction, verses one and three. Come to the Savior, make no delay. Here in His Word He has showed us the way. Here in our midst He is standing today. tenderly saying, Come! Joyful, joyful, well-admitting we, when from sin our hearts are pure and free, and we shall gather, Savior, with Thee, in our eternal home. Once again he's with us today. Midnight has blessed the land and the way. Here are his accents tenderly saying, Will you, my children, come? Joyful, joyful, will the meeting be, When from sin our hearts are pure and free, And we shall gather, Savior, with Thee, In our eternal home. The Lord has spoken to you today about your need to come to Christ, Could I encourage you to come to Christ before you even leave the service. If you want to speak with our brother Robert, or indeed with myself or another person whom you know to be a Christian, please do that. But come and make no delay, and Christ will save all those that come to him in faith and in repentance. Our heavenly father, we thank thee for giving help to the boys and girls, the young people this morning. We thank thee for giving help to thy servant, our brother Robert. We thank thee for this message. We thank you for Christ. the one who changes everything, the one who saves, the one who forgives, the one who cleanses. Lord, one who'll take us home to be with him in eternal glory. Instead of that place where our sin deserves to be punished, a terrific place called hell. Bless thy word to every heart. In Jesus' name we ask these things, amen.