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Being Christian Witnesses · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 96, the Scottish Psalter
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version on page 358. We'll take up our singing at verse 7, it's verse 8 on the sheep, we'll take it
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up at verse 7 to verse 11. Do ye ascribe unto the Lord of people every tribe, glory do ye unto the
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Lord and mighty power ascribe. Give ye the glory to the Lord that to his name is due. Come ye into
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his courts and bring an offering with you. We'll sing from verse 7 to 11 to God's praise
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and we stand to sing.
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Glory do ye unto the Lord and mighty power ascribe. Give ye the glory to the Lord, that to his name is due.
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O Lord and mighty power ascribe. Give ye the glory to the Lord, that to his name is due.
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Almighty power ascribe. Give ye the glory to the Lord, that to his name is due. Come ye,
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into his force and bring an offering with you. In beauty of his holiness, O dear,
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the Lord and mighty power ascribe. Give ye the glory to the Lord, that to his name is due.
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The grace that all the earth drew out, from the earth's face before.
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All the earth drew out, from the earth's face before.
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れない Omar
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Among the heathen sick, O examples the world shall shed fastly,
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from moving
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he shall judge
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the people
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righteously.
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Let hands be
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glad before
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the Lord
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and let the
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earth
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rejoice.
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Let
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cease
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and all
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that is
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said
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cry
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out
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and make
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a noise.
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Let's come
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together to God
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in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Our Father in
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heaven, we thank
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you for every
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opportunity we have
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to come and
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worship you
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together as a
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people.
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We thank you
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that we have
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your word before
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us that guides
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us, Lord, that
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speaks to us of
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all our needs.
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We thank you
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that we are able
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to offer up
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praise to you
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and offer up
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prayer to you
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and that you
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hear and delight
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in all of these
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things.
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And we do pray,
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Lord, that you
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will bless us
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and be with us.
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We thank you
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that you are a
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king over us
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and that we come
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into the presence
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of you as our
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king.
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And although there
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was much joy in
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our nation and
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excitement yesterday
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over the
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coronation of a
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new king,
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King Charles III,
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we thank you
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above all, Lord,
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and pray for him
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that he would know
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Jesus Christ as his
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Lord and King,
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that all the
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nations of our
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world would come
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to give glory to
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you and that we
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would find in you
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the one who is
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with us.
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So, Lord, may you
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bless us together.
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May you bless us
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young and old alike
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as we hear of your
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truth, of your word
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today.
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May you bless us in
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every home and
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family we represent.
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May you be with us,
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Lord, and guide us
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throughout this day.
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Help us to be glad
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in it, for this is a
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day that you have
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made.
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Help us to rejoice
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in that.
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So, Lord, continue
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with us and go
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before us, pardoning
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all our sin in
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Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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I'm sure not just
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the young folks,
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but many of us
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would have been
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paying attention to
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what was happening
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in London yesterday
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as it was shown
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on our screens,
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as it was heard
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on the radio,
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wherever you went
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yesterday, there
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was signs and
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indications that
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something important
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was happening.
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It was the
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coronation of the
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king.
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And as you
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watched on, I'm
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sure there was
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many different
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things that maybe
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caught your
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attention.
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Maybe you had
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your favorite part
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of the day, maybe
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you weren't
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interested in it
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at all, but
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whatever situation
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we found
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ourselves in,
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something important
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was happening
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with the
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coronation of
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King Charles III.
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And when you
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watch and see
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what was happening,
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you see many
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things that maybe
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catch your
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attention.
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the amount of
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different people
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that were coming
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from all over the
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world to be there,
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important people.
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The fanfare and
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all the parades and
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the crowds that
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were there, all
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there to see what
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was taking place.
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The way King
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Charles was dressed
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and all the
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different things
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that he had to
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go through as he
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became king and
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as the crown was
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placed on his
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head.
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There was lots of
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different things
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happening.
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He is the king
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of our nation,
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but he's not the
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only king in the
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world.
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There's kings and
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queens in other
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parts of the
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world as well.
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If you find a
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list of all the
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different kings and
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queens, you find
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that lots of
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different countries
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around the world
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have their own
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king or queen.
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Norway, Spain,
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Sweden, Belgium,
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Denmark, even
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Cambodia, where
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Muriel, who was
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here with us
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recently, even
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where she is,
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there's a king
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over that nation
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as well.
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So there may be
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lots of different
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kings and queens
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around the world.
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And although all
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of these kings and
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queens, there's a
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lot of fanfare
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around them, there's
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a lot of things
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that are so
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important about
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their role and
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all that's done
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when they become
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king or queen
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and they have
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this crown put
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on their head,
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can they be said
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of one of them
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that they are the
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king or queen
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of the whole
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world?
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It can't.
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And can it be
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said of anyone
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that they are
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king of the
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whole world?
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Yes, it can.
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It can be said
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of only one
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person.
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And that's
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the Lord.
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The Lord is
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king of all
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nations.
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In Psalm 47,
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it speaks about
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how the Lord
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is king.
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It says,
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how awesome
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is the Lord
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most high,
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great king
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who rules
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the earth
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throughout,
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the whole
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of the world.
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It says that
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God has gone
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up with shouts
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of joy,
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the Lord
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amidst the
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trumpets sound.
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So there's
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this fanfare
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that the Lord
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is king.
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And it says
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in the Psalm,
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the leaders
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of the nations
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come to yield
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themselves to
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Abraham's God.
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He is the
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king of all
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the world
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and of all
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people.
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So the Lord
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is king.
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And when we
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think of that,
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we think of,
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well, who is
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our king?
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Is King Charles
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our only king,
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our most
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important king?
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No.
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King Jesus
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is the most
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important king.
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And what we
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see of King
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Jesus is that
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he was given
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a crown
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when he was
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in this world.
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But it was
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very different
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to the crown
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that was put
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on King
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Charles'
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head yesterday.
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It was a
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crown of
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thorns.
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So very
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different.
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Instead of
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people shouting,
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God save
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the king as
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they did
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yesterday,
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people when
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Jesus was
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shown to be
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king were
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shouting,
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crucify him.
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That means
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put him to
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death.
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So Jesus
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came to be
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king over us
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all.
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But in
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order to
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be king,
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he had to
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take that
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crown,
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that crown
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of suffering
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and die
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for us
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that we
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might know
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him as
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our true
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king forever
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for all
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eternity.
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So as we
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think of the
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great fanfare
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around King
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Charles yesterday
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and the
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great crown,
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the beautiful
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crown that
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was put on
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his head,
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he cannot
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be king of
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the whole
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world for
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all time,
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but Jesus
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is.
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And that's
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what we are
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to remember
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and to
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know that
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we can
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have Jesus
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as our
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king too.
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So may
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God bless
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his word
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and these
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thoughts to
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us.
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We're going
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to say the
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Lord's
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prayer together
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now.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Our Father
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which art in
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heaven,
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hallowed be
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thy name.
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Thy kingdom
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come.
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Thy will be
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done on
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earth as it
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is in
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heaven.
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Give us
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this day
10:23
our daily
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bread and
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forgive us
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our debts
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as we
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forgive our
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debtors.
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And lead us
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not into
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temptation,
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but deliver us
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from evil.
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For thine is
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the kingdom,
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the power,
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and the glory
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forever.
10:38
Amen.
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We're going
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to sing again
10:43
to God's
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praise this
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time in
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Psalm 107
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in the
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Scottish
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Psalter.
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At the
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beginning of
10:49
that psalm,
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Psalm 107,
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we'll sing
10:53
from verse
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1 to
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verse 9.
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Psalm 107,
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page 382
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of the
11:01
psalm books.
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Singing from
11:03
the beginning,
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praise God
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for he is
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good, for
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still his
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mercy's
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lasting be
11:08
let God's
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redeemed
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say so,
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whom he
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from the
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enemy's
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hand did
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free.
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We'll sing
11:14
from verse
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1 to
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verse 9
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to God's
11:18
praise.
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Amen.
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Praise God
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for he is
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good for
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self,
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his
11:31
mercy's
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lasting
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be.
11:36
let God's
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let God's
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redeemed
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say so,
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whom he
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from the
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enemy's
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handed free.
11:52
and gather
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and gather
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them
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out of
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the land
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from
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north,
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south,
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east,
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and west,
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they
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strayed
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in deserts
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pathless
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with
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with
12:19
no
12:19
safety
12:21
found
12:23
to rest.
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For
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thirst
12:29
and
12:30
hunger
12:31
in
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their
12:34
soul
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whence
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it's
12:40
empress,
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they
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cry
12:46
out
12:47
to
12:48
the
12:49
Lord
12:50
and
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he
12:52
them
12:53
free
12:54
from
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distress.
13:01
Them
13:02
also
13:03
in
13:06
a way
13:07
to
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walk
13:10
that
13:11
right
13:12
to
13:13
see
13:15
dead
13:16
guide,
13:18
that
13:19
they
13:21
might
13:22
to
13:23
ascetic
13:26
o
13:27
wherein
13:28
they
13:30
might
13:32
abide.
13:34
O
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that
13:38
men
13:39
to
13:40
the
13:41
Lord
13:43
would
13:44
give
13:45
grace
13:46
for
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his
13:48
goodness
13:50
and
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for
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his
13:56
works
13:58
of
13:59
wonder
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done
14:02
unto
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the
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sons
14:05
of
14:07
men.
14:11
For
14:11
he
14:12
that
14:13
soul
14:14
that
14:16
longing
14:17
is
14:19
God
14:20
fully
14:21
satisfied
14:23
with
14:24
goodness
14:29
he
14:30
he
14:31
that
14:32
he
14:33
that
14:33
he
14:34
that
14:35
he
14:36
that
14:37
he
14:38
that
14:39
he
14:40
that
14:40
he
14:42
that
14:42
he
14:43
that
14:44
he
14:45
that
14:46
he
14:47
that
14:48
he
14:49
that
14:50
well
14:51
let's
14:51
turn to
14:51
read
14:51
God's
14:52
word
14:52
together
14:52
we're
14:53
turning
14:53
to
14:53
1st
14:54
Peter
14:54
chapter
14:55
2
14:56
1st
14:56
Peter
14:57
chapter
14:57
2
14:58
it's
15:00
been a
15:01
bit of
15:01
time
15:01
since
15:02
we
15:02
were
15:02
studying
15:03
this
15:03
book
15:04
together
15:04
but
15:04
we're
15:04
going
15:04
to
15:05
return
15:05
to
15:05
it
15:05
today
15:06
and
15:06
over
15:06
the
15:06
next
15:06
few
15:07
weeks
15:07
coming
15:08
as
15:08
well
15:08
to
15:09
look
15:09
continue
15:09
our
15:10
study
15:10
through
15:11
1st
15:11
Peter
15:12
we take
15:12
up our
15:13
reading
15:13
today
15:13
in
15:13
chapter
15:14
2
15:14
at
15:15
the
15:15
beginning
15:15
of
15:16
that
15:16
chapter
15:16
reading
15:17
from
15:17
verse
15:17
1
15:18
down
15:18
to
15:18
verse
15:19
12
15:19
1st
15:21
Peter
15:22
chapter
15:22
2
15:22
so
15:24
put
15:24
away
15:24
malice
15:25
and
15:25
all
15:25
deceit
15:26
and
15:26
hypocrisy
15:27
and
15:27
envy
15:28
and
15:28
all
15:28
slander
15:29
like
15:30
newborn
15:30
infants
15:31
long
15:31
for
15:32
the
15:32
pure
15:32
spiritual
15:33
milk
15:33
that
15:34
by
15:34
it
15:35
you
15:35
may
15:35
grow
15:35
up
15:36
to
15:36
salvation
15:36
if
15:38
indeed
15:38
you
15:38
have
15:38
tasted
15:39
that
15:39
the
15:39
Lord
15:40
is
15:40
good
15:40
as
15:41
you
15:41
come
15:42
to
15:42
him
15:42
a
15:43
living
15:43
stone
15:43
rejected
15:44
by
15:45
men
15:45
but
15:45
in
15:46
the
15:46
sight
15:46
of
15:46
God
15:47
chosen
15:47
and
15:48
precious
15:49
you
15:50
yourselves
15:50
like
15:51
living
15:51
stones
15:52
are
15:52
being
15:52
built
15:52
up
15:53
as
15:53
a
15:53
spiritual
15:54
house
15:54
to
15:55
be
15:55
a
15:55
holy
15:56
priesthood
15:56
to
15:57
offer
15:57
spiritual
15:58
sacrifices
15:59
acceptable
16:00
to
16:00
God
16:01
through
16:01
Jesus
16:02
Christ
16:03
for
16:04
it
16:04
stands
16:04
in
16:05
scripture
16:05
behold
16:07
I am
16:07
laying
16:08
in
16:08
Zion
16:08
a
16:09
stone
16:09
a
16:10
corner
16:10
stone
16:11
chosen
16:11
and
16:11
precious
16:12
and
16:13
whoever
16:13
believes
16:14
in
16:14
him
16:14
will
16:15
not
16:15
be
16:15
put
16:15
to
16:15
shame
16:16
so
16:17
the
16:17
honor
16:18
is
16:18
for
16:18
you
16:18
who
16:19
believe
16:19
but
16:20
for
16:20
those
16:21
who
16:21
do
16:21
not
16:21
believe
16:22
the
16:22
stone
16:23
that
16:23
the
16:23
builders
16:23
rejected
16:24
has
16:25
become
16:25
the
16:26
corner
16:26
stone
16:27
and
16:28
a
16:28
stone
16:28
of
16:29
stumbling
16:29
and a
16:30
rock
16:31
of
16:31
offense
16:32
they
16:33
stumble
16:33
because
16:34
they
16:34
disobey
16:35
the word
16:36
as
16:37
they
16:37
were
16:37
destined
16:38
to
16:38
do
16:38
but
16:40
you
16:40
are
16:40
a
16:40
chosen
16:41
race
16:41
a
16:42
royal
16:42
priesthood
16:43
a
16:43
holy
16:43
nation
16:44
a
16:45
people
16:45
for
16:45
his
16:46
own
16:46
possession
16:46
that
16:47
you
16:47
may
16:48
proclaim
16:48
the
16:49
excellencies
16:49
of
16:50
him
16:50
who
16:50
called
16:51
you
16:51
out
16:51
of
16:52
darkness
16:52
into
16:52
his
16:53
marvelous
16:53
light
16:54
once
16:55
you
16:55
were
16:55
not
16:55
a
16:56
people
16:56
but
16:57
now
16:57
you
16:57
are
16:57
God's
16:58
people
16:58
once
16:59
you
16:59
had
16:59
not
17:00
received
17:00
mercy
17:01
but
17:02
now
17:02
you
17:02
have
17:02
received
17:03
mercy
17:03
beloved
17:05
I
17:05
urge
17:06
you
17:06
as
17:06
sojourners
17:07
and
17:07
exiles
17:07
to
17:08
abstain
17:08
from
17:08
the
17:09
passions
17:09
of
17:09
the
17:09
flesh
17:10
which
17:10
wage
17:11
war
17:11
against
17:12
your
17:12
soul
17:12
keep
17:13
your
17:14
conduct
17:14
among
17:15
the
17:15
gentiles
17:15
honorable
17:16
so that
17:17
when
17:17
they
17:17
speak
17:18
against
17:18
you
17:18
as
17:19
evildoers
17:20
they
17:20
may
17:21
see
17:21
your
17:21
good
17:22
deeds
17:22
and
17:23
glorify
17:24
God
17:24
on
17:25
the
17:25
day
17:25
of
17:26
visitation
17:27
amen
17:28
and may
17:28
God
17:29
bless
17:29
that
17:29
reading
17:30
from
17:30
his
17:31
word
17:31
we'll
17:32
again
17:32
unite
17:32
our
17:32
hearts
17:33
in
17:33
prayer
17:34
let
17:34
us
17:34
pray
17:34
our
17:37
father
17:37
in
17:38
heaven
17:38
as
17:39
we
17:39
continue
17:39
to
17:40
offer
17:40
up
17:41
our
17:41
worship
17:41
to
17:42
you
17:42
we
17:42
thank
17:42
you
17:43
that
17:43
we
17:43
come
17:43
to
17:44
unite
17:45
our
17:45
hearts
17:45
in
17:46
that
17:46
way
17:46
we
17:47
come
17:47
to
17:47
offer
17:48
up
17:48
praise
17:49
and
17:49
prayer
17:50
to
17:50
you
17:50
seeking
17:52
your
17:52
goodness
17:52
over
17:53
us
17:53
seeking
17:54
your
17:54
blessing
17:55
and
17:55
your
17:55
guidance
17:56
and
17:56
your
17:56
mercy
17:56
to
17:57
be
17:57
upon
17:57
us
17:58
as
17:58
a
17:58
people
17:59
here
17:59
but
17:59
also
18:00
as
18:00
your
18:00
people
18:01
far
18:02
and
18:02
wide
18:02
we
18:03
thank
18:04
you
18:04
that
18:04
your
18:04
word
18:05
reminds
18:05
us
18:05
again
18:06
and
18:06
again
18:06
that
18:07
you
18:07
have
18:08
your
18:08
people
18:08
to
18:09
to
18:09
all
18:09
to
18:11
all
18:11
to
18:11
all
18:12
ends
18:12
of
18:13
the
18:14
earth
18:14
and
18:15
you
18:15
are
18:15
to
18:15
yourself
18:16
from
18:16
north
18:17
south
18:17
east
18:17
and west
18:18
you
18:19
seek
18:19
to
18:19
gather
18:20
your
18:20
people
18:21
to
18:21
come
18:22
and
18:22
worship
18:22
you
18:23
and
18:23
to
18:23
return
18:23
to
18:24
the
18:24
one
18:25
who
18:25
is
18:25
our
18:26
only
18:26
Lord
18:27
our
18:27
only
18:28
God
18:28
and
18:29
so
18:29
we
18:30
pray
18:30
that
18:30
as
18:30
your
18:31
word
18:31
goes
18:32
out
18:32
today
18:32
here
18:33
and
18:34
far
18:34
and
18:34
wide
18:34
that
18:35
your
18:35
word
18:36
will
18:36
be
18:36
blessed
18:36
by
18:37
you
18:37
that
18:38
it
18:38
will
18:38
build up
18:39
and strengthen
18:39
your
18:40
people
18:40
and encourage
18:41
us
18:41
Lord
18:41
that
18:42
you
18:42
are
18:42
the
18:42
one
18:42
who
18:43
is
18:43
building
18:44
his
18:44
church
18:45
and
18:45
that
18:45
there
18:45
is
18:46
nothing
18:46
that
18:46
will
18:47
overcome
18:47
not
18:48
even
18:48
the
18:48
gates
18:49
of
18:49
hell
18:49
as
18:49
your
18:50
word
18:50
says
18:51
as
18:51
I'll
18:51
conquer
18:52
your
18:52
church
18:53
but
18:53
we
18:54
thank
18:54
you
18:54
that
18:54
we
18:55
have
18:55
a
18:55
great
18:55
corner
18:56
stone
18:56
that
18:57
the
18:57
foundation
18:58
is
18:58
Jesus
18:59
Christ
18:59
and
19:00
as
19:00
we
19:01
have
19:01
him
19:01
as
19:02
that
19:02
corner
19:03
stone
19:03
the
19:03
one
19:04
who
19:05
was
19:05
so
19:05
precious
19:06
who
19:07
was
19:07
your
19:07
chosen
19:08
son
19:09
that
19:09
he
19:09
would
19:09
come
19:10
into
19:10
this
19:10
world
19:11
to
19:11
save
19:12
sinners
19:13
we
19:14
thank
19:14
you
19:14
that
19:14
you
19:14
did
19:14
not
19:15
hold
19:15
him
19:15
back
19:16
but
19:16
that
19:16
you
19:17
sent
19:17
him
19:17
for
19:18
us
19:18
and
19:18
for
19:18
all
19:18
who
19:18
would
19:19
believe
19:19
that
19:20
we
19:20
would
19:20
know
19:20
the
19:20
great
19:21
joy
19:21
of
19:22
salvation
19:23
that
19:23
we
19:23
would
19:24
know
19:24
that
19:24
great
19:24
turning
19:25
that
19:25
we
19:25
even
19:26
read
19:26
of
19:26
in
19:26
a
19:26
word
19:27
before
19:27
us
19:27
that
19:28
once
19:28
we
19:28
were
19:28
not
19:29
a
19:29
people
19:29
but
19:30
now
19:30
we
19:30
are
19:30
God's
19:31
people
19:31
once
19:32
we
19:32
had
19:32
not
19:32
received
19:33
mercy
19:33
but
19:34
now
19:34
we
19:35
have
19:35
received
19:35
mercy
19:36
that
19:37
we
19:37
have
19:37
been
19:37
brought
19:37
from
19:38
darkness
19:38
into
19:39
his
19:39
marvelous
19:39
light
19:40
so
19:41
we
19:41
pray
19:41
Lord
19:42
that
19:42
that
19:42
would
19:42
be
19:43
taking
19:44
place
19:44
throughout
19:44
the
19:45
world
19:45
today
19:45
that
19:46
people
19:46
would
19:47
receive
19:47
mercy
19:48
and be
19:48
brought
19:49
from
19:49
darkness
19:50
into
19:50
light
19:51
even
19:51
in our
19:51
own
19:52
midst
19:52
here
19:53
Lord
19:53
that
19:54
we
19:54
would
19:54
be
19:54
converted
19:55
and
19:56
convicted
19:56
by
19:57
your
19:57
word
19:57
so
19:58
Lord
19:59
we
19:59
ask
19:59
that
19:59
in
19:59
all
20:00
that
20:00
we
20:00
do
20:00
it
20:01
would
20:01
be
20:01
for
20:01
your
20:02
glory
20:02
we
20:03
pray
20:03
your
20:03
encouragement
20:04
upon
20:04
us
20:05
as
20:05
a
20:05
people
20:05
we
20:05
pray
20:06
Lord
20:06
that
20:06
you
20:06
will
20:07
help
20:07
us
20:07
as
20:08
your
20:08
people
20:09
to
20:09
serve
20:09
with
20:10
all
20:10
our
20:10
hearts
20:11
to
20:11
seek
20:12
your
20:12
glory
20:12
in
20:13
our
20:13
midst
20:14
again
20:14
as
20:14
a
20:15
people
20:15
throughout
20:16
our
20:17
islands
20:17
throughout
20:17
our
20:18
communities
20:18
here
20:18
throughout
20:19
our
20:19
nation
20:20
that
20:20
we
20:20
keep
20:20
praying
20:21
to
20:21
you
20:22
Lord
20:22
as
20:22
the
20:22
one
20:23
the
20:27
coronation
20:28
that
20:28
so
20:29
much
20:29
has
20:29
changed
20:30
over
20:30
these
20:30
last
20:31
number
20:31
of
20:31
years
20:32
we
20:32
think
20:33
of
20:33
the
20:33
coronation
20:33
of
20:34
a
20:34
new
20:34
king
20:35
and
20:35
as
20:36
we
20:36
pray
20:36
for
20:36
him
20:37
as
20:37
he
20:37
goes
20:37
on
20:37
following
20:39
the
20:39
coronation
20:39
we
20:40
pray
20:40
that
20:40
you
20:40
will
20:40
give
20:41
him
20:41
wisdom
20:41
that
20:42
you
20:42
will
20:42
give
20:42
him
20:42
strength
20:43
that
20:43
you
20:43
will
20:43
give
20:44
him
20:44
help
20:44
and
20:45
abundantly
20:46
Lord
20:46
that
20:46
you
20:46
will
20:46
bless
20:47
him
20:47
by
20:47
your
20:48
word
20:48
and
20:48
by
20:48
your
20:49
spirit
20:49
to
20:50
acknowledge
20:50
you
20:51
we
20:52
heard
20:52
so
20:52
much
20:53
of
20:53
your
20:53
word
20:54
and
20:54
your
20:54
truth
20:55
yesterday
20:55
and
20:56
the
20:56
professions
20:57
that
20:57
he
20:58
brought
20:58
before
20:59
us
20:59
Lord
20:59
but
20:59
may
21:00
they
21:00
be
21:00
true
21:00
in
21:01
his
21:01
heart
21:01
and
21:02
not
21:02
just
21:02
on
21:02
his
21:03
lips
21:03
that
21:04
he
21:04
would
21:04
rule
21:04
wisely
21:05
according
21:06
to
21:06
the
21:06
counsel
21:06
of
21:07
your
21:08
word
21:08
so
21:09
we
21:09
pray
21:09
Lord
21:09
that
21:10
you
21:10
will
21:10
be
21:10
with
21:10
him
21:10
and
21:10
his
21:11
family
21:11
and
21:11
all
21:12
who
21:12
lead
21:13
us
21:13
and
21:13
guide
21:13
us
21:14
in
21:14
these
21:14
days
21:14
our
21:15
prime
21:15
minister
21:15
our
21:21
to
21:21
open
21:21
their
21:22
hearts
21:22
to
21:23
open
21:23
their
21:23
eyes
21:24
to
21:24
see
21:24
and
21:24
to
21:24
know
21:25
you
21:25
we
21:26
pray
21:26
that
21:26
throughout
21:27
our
21:27
world
21:27
as we
21:28
were
21:28
reminded
21:28
on
21:29
Wednesday
21:30
evening
21:30
with the
21:30
visit of
21:31
the
21:31
Slavic
21:31
Gospel
21:32
Association
21:33
we are
21:34
reminded
21:34
of
21:34
the
21:35
wonder
21:35
of
21:35
your
21:36
gospel
21:36
and
21:36
the
21:36
power
21:37
of
21:37
it
21:37
how
21:38
it
21:38
is
21:38
able
21:39
to
21:39
bring
21:39
people
21:40
in
21:41
every
21:41
land
21:41
from
21:42
darkness
21:42
to
21:43
light
21:43
we
21:43
thank
21:44
that
21:44
your
21:44
name
21:44
is
21:45
being
21:45
praised
21:45
in
21:46
the
21:46
midst
21:46
of
21:46
times
21:47
of
21:47
conflict
21:48
in
21:49
the
21:49
times
21:49
of
21:49
great
21:50
need
21:50
that
21:51
even
21:51
when
21:51
there
21:52
seems
21:52
to be
21:52
so
21:53
little
21:53
to
21:54
give
21:54
thanks
21:54
for
21:55
yet
21:56
oh
21:56
Lord
21:56
your
21:56
people
21:57
praise
21:58
your
21:58
name
21:58
and
21:59
rejoice
21:59
in
22:00
your
22:00
truth
22:01
and
22:01
that
22:01
reminds
22:02
us
22:02
Lord
22:03
of
22:03
our
22:03
own
22:04
lives
22:05
and
22:06
how
22:06
blessed
22:07
we are
22:07
to have
22:08
so
22:08
much
22:08
and
22:08
yet
22:09
we
22:09
take
22:09
so
22:09
much
22:10
for
22:10
granted
22:10
so
22:11
help
22:12
us
22:12
Lord
22:12
that
22:12
we
22:13
will
22:13
see
22:13
the
22:14
wonder
22:14
of
22:15
your
22:15
truth
22:15
and
22:16
the
22:16
privilege
22:17
to hear
22:18
it
22:18
to
22:19
have
22:19
it
22:19
before
22:19
us
22:20
but
22:20
not
22:20
just
22:20
to
22:21
hear
22:21
and
22:22
see
22:22
it
22:22
but
22:23
to
22:23
truly
22:23
believe
22:24
and
22:25
to
22:25
trust
22:25
on
22:25
the
22:25
one
22:26
who
22:26
is
22:26
the
22:27
word
22:27
the
22:28
Lord
22:28
Jesus
22:28
Christ
22:29
so
22:30
we
22:30
thank
22:30
you
22:30
for
22:31
the
22:31
visit
22:31
of
22:31
the
22:31
Slavic
22:32
Gospel
22:32
Association
22:33
we
22:33
pray
22:33
your
22:33
blessing
22:34
on
22:34
both
22:35
Trevor
22:36
and
22:36
Derek
22:36
as
22:37
they
22:37
go
22:37
round
22:37
congregations
22:38
in
22:38
our
22:38
island
22:39
and
22:39
as
22:39
they
22:39
return
22:40
to
22:40
their
22:40
own
22:41
homes
22:41
and
22:41
families
22:42
and
22:47
people
22:47
in
22:48
the
22:48
lands
22:49
there
22:49
in
22:49
Eastern
22:50
Europe
22:50
into
22:51
Russia
22:51
and
22:51
even
22:52
further
22:52
afield
22:53
Lord
22:54
we
22:54
pray
22:55
that
22:55
your
22:55
power
22:56
of
22:56
your
22:56
spirit
22:57
would
22:57
be
22:57
upon
22:58
our
22:58
lands
22:59
and
22:59
upon
22:59
your
22:59
people
23:00
that
23:01
we
23:01
would
23:01
see
23:01
your
23:01
power
23:02
and
23:02
presence
23:02
in
23:03
our
23:03
midst
23:03
we
23:04
ask
23:04
that
23:05
even
23:05
now
23:05
as
23:05
we
23:05
continue
23:06
in
23:07
worship
23:07
of
23:07
you
23:08
that
23:08
you
23:08
would
23:08
bless
23:08
your
23:09
word
23:09
to
23:09
us
23:09
and
23:10
hear
23:10
our
23:10
prayers
23:11
remember
23:11
us
23:11
as
23:12
homes
23:13
and
23:13
families
23:13
and
23:13
all
23:14
our
23:14
communities
23:15
here
23:15
those
23:16
in
23:16
need
23:16
around
23:17
us
23:18
those
23:18
who
23:18
are
23:18
unwell
23:19
those
23:19
who
23:19
are
23:20
mourning
23:20
and
23:20
grieving
23:21
those
23:22
who
23:22
are
23:22
going
23:22
through
23:23
many
23:23
different
23:23
trials
23:24
so
23:24
Lord
23:24
we
23:25
pray
23:25
for
23:26
your
23:26
goodness
23:26
and
23:27
mercy
23:27
to be
23:27
with
23:27
us
23:28
so
23:29
we
23:29
ask
23:29
all
23:29
things
23:30
confessing
23:31
our
23:31
sins
23:31
and
23:32
pleading
23:32
with
23:33
you
23:33
Lord
23:33
help
23:34
us
23:34
to
23:34
be
23:35
salt
23:35
and
23:35
light
23:36
in
23:36
this
23:36
world
23:36
help
23:37
us
23:37
even
23:37
as
23:38
we
23:38
turn
23:38
to
23:39
your
23:39
word
23:39
to
23:39
learn
23:40
from
23:40
it
23:40
and
23:41
help
23:41
us
23:42
Lord
23:42
that
23:42
we
23:42
would
23:43
rejoice
23:43
in
23:44
your
23:44
goodness
23:44
to
23:44
us
23:45
but
23:45
also
23:46
long
23:46
to
23:47
see
23:47
many
23:47
more
23:48
come
23:48
to
23:49
a
23:49
saving
23:49
knowledge
23:50
of
23:50
you
23:50
so
23:51
go
23:51
before
23:52
us
23:52
now
23:52
pardoning
23:53
our
23:53
sin
23:54
in
23:54
Jesus
23:54
name
23:55
Amen
23:55
we sing
23:59
again
23:59
to
23:59
God's
24:00
praise
24:00
in
24:00
Psalm
24:01
135
24:01
this
24:02
time
24:02
it's
24:02
in the
24:03
sing
24:03
Psalms
24:03
version
24:04
Psalm
24:04
135
24:05
we
24:06
take up
24:07
our
24:07
reading at
24:08
verse 13
24:08
of the
24:09
psalm
24:09
we're
24:09
going
24:09
to
24:09
sing
24:10
from
24:10
verse 13
24:11
down
24:12
to
24:12
the
24:12
end
24:12
of
24:13
the
24:13
psalm
24:14
Lord
24:14
your
24:14
name
24:14
endures
24:15
forever
24:15
your
24:16
renown
24:16
is
24:17
ever
24:17
great
24:18
for
24:18
the
24:18
Lord
24:19
sustains
24:19
his
24:20
servants
24:20
and
24:21
his
24:21
folk
24:22
will
24:22
vindicate
24:23
we
24:24
sing
24:24
from
24:24
verse
24:24
13
24:25
down
24:25
to
24:25
the
24:25
end
24:26
of
24:26
the
24:26
psalm
24:26
to
24:27
God's
24:27
praise
24:28
much
24:28
March your name endures forever,
24:38
during the rest of our great,
24:45
for the Lord succincts his servants
24:51
and his folk will vindicate.
24:58
But the idols of the nations,
25:06
made of silver and of gold,
25:12
are by human hands created
25:18
with a hammer or a moan.
25:26
Must have thought speak they cannot,
25:34
find they have thought cannot see,
25:41
hear they have thought hear they cannot,
25:47
in him a still breath can be.
25:56
Those who make them will be like them,
26:03
those who trust them are the same.
26:09
Praise the Lord, O house of Israel,
26:16
our own south exalted sin.
26:24
Praise the Lord, O house of Levi,
26:30
you who fill him,
26:35
praise the Lord.
26:39
Praise the Lord,
26:42
who dwells in Zion,
26:46
in Jerusalem.
26:48
Praise the Lord.
26:52
Praise the Lord.
26:53
Praise the Lord.
26:54
Praise the Lord.
26:55
Praise the Lord.
26:56
Praise the Lord.
26:57
Praise the Lord.
26:58
Praise the Lord.
26:59
Well, we can turn back to our reading in 1 Peter,
27:03
chapter 2.
27:06
As I say, we're coming back to this study in 1 Peter.
27:09
We had come as far as verse 8 in chapter 2.
27:12
And we're going to look at verse 9 down to verse 12 today,
27:17
under the heading of Being Christian Witnesses.
27:25
If I was to give a brief recap of what we've looked at so far
27:30
in this letter of Peter to a church that was scattered far and wide,
27:36
there are a few things that we would maybe just want to highlight
27:39
before we just jump back in at verse 9.
27:43
Who was Peter writing to?
27:47
Well, we see from the outset of the letter
27:49
that there are people who have been scattered far and wide,
27:54
but they are God's people,
27:56
and they are facing various trials and persecutions
28:00
because of their faith.
28:03
They are suffering for it.
28:05
And that's one of the main reasons why Peter is writing to them.
28:10
He's writing to encourage them in the midst of these trials
28:14
that they face.
28:16
He's writing to a people who are scattered,
28:20
but he's writing to them to encourage them
28:22
and strengthen them and build them up in the faith.
28:26
And what does he say to them to seek to encourage them?
28:30
Well, he reminds them of a few different things.
28:33
He encourages them in both a positive way
28:38
that they have, as we saw in verse 3,
28:41
the first part there,
28:42
that they have a hope and an inheritance to look forward to.
28:47
That as God's people,
28:50
they have much to give thanks for
28:52
and to be blessed by in the present,
28:54
but also much to look forward to in the future.
28:59
But he doesn't ignore the issues
29:00
that are going on around them either.
29:02
He makes it very clear that he knows
29:05
that they are suffering
29:06
because of their faith,
29:10
that they are suffering
29:11
and going through all these trials.
29:14
It says in verse 6 of chapter 1,
29:16
In this you rejoice,
29:17
though now for a little while,
29:19
if necessary,
29:20
you have been grieved by various trials.
29:24
So there's a rejoicing,
29:27
but there's a reality as well
29:29
that they will have trials.
29:31
But then he goes on to remind them
29:34
that they are remembered by God.
29:37
It's not just Peter remembering them in this way
29:39
by writing to them,
29:41
but reminding them that God remembers them too.
29:46
And that they,
29:47
in the midst of everything that's going on,
29:50
are to be a holy people.
29:52
In verse 15,
29:54
in chapter 1,
29:55
he says,
29:55
He says,
29:55
but as he who called you is holy,
29:57
you also be holy
29:59
in all your conduct.
30:02
He is saying you are set apart
30:03
by God.
30:04
And so in the midst of
30:05
all this suffering that you are facing,
30:08
you are to be God's people,
30:11
that you are to be a holy people,
30:12
set apart,
30:14
and that your conduct
30:15
is to be holy
30:16
in the midst of them.
30:18
So all this adds up to Peter
30:22
seeking to equip them
30:24
to a life of mission together,
30:26
being the witnesses of God
30:28
in the midst of a very difficult environment,
30:32
knowing that such a life is costly.
30:36
But it's not just to merely survive
30:39
in this setting,
30:40
but to thrive.
30:43
And so at the end of chapter 1
30:44
and into chapter 2,
30:45
you have this great reminder
30:47
of the foundation of all of it,
30:50
and that is God's Word.
30:52
It is God's Word.
30:54
At the end of chapter 1,
30:56
you're reminded that the Word of the Lord
30:58
remains forever,
30:59
that this is a powerful Word.
31:03
And then as you go into chapter 2,
31:05
you're reminded that
31:06
this Word causes offense,
31:10
but it also causes blessing.
31:12
It is a powerful Word.
31:15
And I use the reminder
31:18
of Charles Spurgeon's conversion
31:21
when we were last looking at this passage
31:24
in chapter 2
31:25
to show the power of God's Word,
31:28
how Charles Spurgeon's own conversion
31:30
was through God's Word
31:32
speaking to him
31:34
in a very powerful way.
31:37
It was almost by mistake
31:39
that Charles Spurgeon
31:40
ended up in the place
31:41
where he heard God's Word
31:43
convicting him.
31:44
He was on his way
31:45
to church
31:46
one Sunday morning,
31:48
but it was in the midst
31:48
of winter
31:49
and there was this great
31:50
snowstorm going on around him
31:52
and he found himself
31:53
ducking into a side street
31:55
to shelter from
31:57
the snow for a time.
31:58
But he noticed
31:59
that there was
32:00
a small Methodist church
32:02
in the street there.
32:03
And so,
32:04
he went in there
32:05
instead of carrying on
32:06
to the church
32:06
that he'd planned
32:07
to go to.
32:09
The minister of the church
32:10
there
32:10
hadn't managed
32:11
to get to church
32:12
because of the snowstorm
32:14
and it was a different preacher
32:15
who hadn't intended
32:16
to be preaching that day.
32:19
And so,
32:19
everything maybe seemed
32:20
to be working against him.
32:23
He hadn't got to
32:24
where he wanted to be.
32:25
He wasn't hearing the preacher
32:27
that was planned
32:27
in the church he was in.
32:29
But yet,
32:29
God had appointed
32:30
this time for him
32:32
to hear words
32:33
that transformed his life.
32:35
The preacher
32:36
who stood to preach
32:37
that day,
32:38
he said,
32:38
didn't have much to say.
32:40
And he kept repeating
32:41
a verse.
32:42
It was from Isaiah 45,
32:44
verse 22.
32:46
Look unto me
32:47
and be ye saved
32:48
all the ends of the earth
32:50
for I am God
32:51
and there is none else.
32:54
This verse was repeated
32:56
so often
32:57
and yet it spoke
32:58
so powerfully
32:59
to Charles Spurgeon.
33:02
The word of the Lord
33:03
remains forever.
33:06
It is a powerful word
33:07
and it's a word
33:08
that is still able
33:10
to convict
33:10
and to convert.
33:13
And so,
33:13
as we go on
33:14
in this chapter,
33:15
as we remember
33:16
the power of God's word,
33:19
we come into
33:20
chapter 2,
33:21
verse 9
33:22
to verse 12
33:23
together today.
33:25
And here we see
33:27
that this trusting
33:28
and unchanging power
33:30
of God's truth,
33:32
we see that it led
33:33
from just looking up
33:35
to God
33:36
and rejoicing in Him
33:37
to looking out
33:38
and to looking out
33:40
to those around us,
33:42
to looking out
33:42
around the people
33:44
that we have
33:45
around us.
33:46
And that's what Peter
33:47
is directing
33:48
the people here to,
33:50
to look to God,
33:51
to trust in Him,
33:52
but also to be aware
33:54
of those
33:54
who are around them
33:56
and the power
33:57
that this word has
33:58
to transform.
34:00
and it's about
34:01
being Christian
34:03
witnesses to this end.
34:06
And so that's what
34:06
we're thinking about
34:07
together here
34:08
this morning
34:09
as we continue
34:10
our study.
34:11
We're going to look
34:12
at verse 9
34:13
to verse 12
34:15
under the heading
34:17
of being Christian
34:19
witnesses
34:19
in a hostile world
34:21
but remembering
34:22
why we are to be so.
34:24
And the first thing
34:26
is the mission
34:27
of our witness.
34:29
The second thing
34:30
is the motivation
34:31
of our witness.
34:33
And the third thing
34:34
is the manner
34:35
of our witness.
34:37
Many of the things
34:38
that we're looking
34:39
at here today,
34:40
they're almost
34:41
a reminder of things
34:42
that we've looked at
34:43
in the past as well.
34:46
So first we have
34:47
the mission
34:48
of our witness.
34:51
And he says
34:51
in verse 9 here,
34:53
you are a chosen race,
34:56
a royal priesthood,
34:58
a holy nation,
34:59
a people
34:59
of his own possession
35:01
that you may proclaim
35:04
the excellencies
35:05
of him
35:06
who called you
35:07
out of darkness
35:08
into his marvelous light.
35:11
If you were watching
35:12
the coronation yesterday
35:14
or if you saw
35:15
any of it afterwards,
35:17
did you feel
35:18
a part of it?
35:20
Did you feel
35:21
that you were involved
35:22
in it
35:23
in a special way?
35:25
Did it make you think,
35:28
there's my king?
35:31
Now the coronation
35:32
is past,
35:34
do you feel
35:34
that you have access
35:36
to this king?
35:39
In many ways,
35:40
we maybe feel
35:41
detached from it.
35:43
We're only seeing it
35:44
on our screens
35:46
or reading about it
35:47
online
35:48
or in newspapers.
35:49
We can't just
35:52
call around
35:53
and ask the king
35:54
for advice
35:56
or help.
35:58
He may be king,
35:59
but he's king
36:01
at a distance.
36:03
But what we have
36:05
before us here
36:06
and the reminder
36:07
that Peter
36:08
is giving
36:09
to the people
36:10
then and to ourselves
36:11
today is
36:12
that we have a king
36:14
who is very different.
36:15
a king
36:17
whose subjects
36:19
we are,
36:20
but a king
36:21
whose relationship
36:22
with us
36:23
is very different
36:24
and ours
36:25
with him.
36:27
And what he says
36:28
in these verses
36:30
are powerful
36:31
reminders to us
36:32
of what we have
36:34
with God.
36:35
after the coronation
36:38
of the king
36:39
yesterday,
36:40
do you feel
36:40
it's your mission
36:42
to proclaim
36:43
the excellencies
36:45
of him?
36:46
Do you feel
36:47
that that's in order
36:48
for you to proclaim
36:49
the excellencies
36:51
of King Charles?
36:53
Well,
36:54
we'll seek
36:54
to uphold him
36:55
in prayer,
36:56
but our prayer
36:58
would be that
36:58
he,
37:00
as king
37:00
in this,
37:01
over our nation,
37:02
would proclaim
37:03
the excellencies
37:04
of him
37:05
who is king
37:06
over all nations
37:07
and all
37:08
the world,
37:11
that he would
37:11
call him
37:12
from darkness
37:13
to light
37:14
to know the joy
37:16
of the salvation
37:17
that there is
37:18
in the king
37:18
who is Christ Jesus.
37:21
And if we know
37:23
Christ
37:23
as king,
37:26
then as Peter
37:27
is saying here,
37:28
as his people,
37:29
as his subjects,
37:31
as his children,
37:33
that we are
37:33
to proclaim
37:34
the excellencies
37:36
of him
37:36
who called us
37:38
from darkness
37:39
to his marvelous
37:41
light.
37:43
This is the mission
37:44
of our witness,
37:47
to proclaim
37:48
him,
37:49
to make
37:50
Christ known,
37:52
to show him
37:53
to the world
37:54
in which we live,
37:56
knowing for ourselves
37:57
the wonder
37:58
that is our king,
38:00
Christ Jesus.
38:01
Jesus.
38:02
Peter is writing
38:03
to these people
38:04
who were scattered,
38:06
who were persecuted,
38:08
but he's writing
38:09
to them,
38:09
reminding them,
38:10
you are God's
38:12
people.
38:14
And he reminds
38:15
them of this
38:15
privilege and
38:17
blessing that is
38:18
theirs.
38:19
Through these
38:19
ways he describes
38:21
them,
38:21
four ways he
38:22
describes them
38:23
there in verse
38:24
nine.
38:24
And they're
38:25
very much
38:26
Old Testament
38:28
language here
38:29
describing them,
38:30
but reminding
38:31
us how God
38:32
continues to
38:33
call his people
38:34
through every
38:36
generation to
38:37
proclaim his
38:39
excellencies.
38:39
And you see
38:40
these four ways
38:42
that he describes
38:43
them.
38:44
When you read
38:45
through the Old
38:46
Testament,
38:46
you see how God
38:47
dealt patiently
38:48
and graciously
38:49
with his people
38:51
again and again.
38:52
For example,
38:53
in Exodus 6,
38:54
verse 7,
38:55
he says,
38:56
I will take
38:56
you to be
38:57
my people
38:58
and I will
38:59
be your God
39:01
and you shall
39:02
know that I am
39:02
the Lord your
39:03
God who has
39:04
brought you out
39:05
from under the
39:06
burdens of the
39:07
Egyptians.
39:08
There's this
39:08
reminder that we
39:10
need God to be
39:11
our God,
39:13
to be our
39:13
king.
39:14
We need to be
39:15
his people,
39:16
to enjoy his
39:18
blessings and
39:19
the abundant
39:20
blessing that is
39:21
salvation through
39:22
Jesus Christ.
39:24
And then he
39:25
uses these words
39:26
to describe how
39:27
they are shown
39:28
as a people.
39:30
He says first
39:31
that you are a
39:31
chosen race.
39:34
You are a
39:35
chosen race.
39:37
I remember
39:37
from the
39:39
beginning of
39:39
this letter,
39:40
he's writing to
39:41
these people,
39:42
but he's reminding
39:43
them that they
39:44
are a people
39:44
who are elect,
39:46
who are called
39:47
by God,
39:48
who God has
39:49
remembered.
39:50
And that's
39:51
what he's
39:52
reminding them
39:52
here again.
39:53
You are a
39:54
chosen race,
39:56
a people God
39:57
has chosen for
39:58
himself.
39:59
Undeserving
40:00
sinners that we
40:02
are, he has
40:02
chosen to call
40:04
us his people,
40:06
his own.
40:08
We are a
40:09
distinct people.
40:11
And he goes on
40:12
to show this as
40:14
well by saying
40:14
you're a chosen
40:15
people, you are
40:16
a royal priesthood.
40:18
Again, the
40:20
Old Testament
40:21
language here,
40:22
when the priest
40:23
was the one
40:24
who would come
40:24
before God
40:25
and offer up
40:26
prayers for
40:27
the people.
40:29
The people
40:29
were separated
40:30
from God.
40:33
And yet,
40:34
here he is
40:34
reminding us
40:35
we have access
40:36
to God.
40:38
Jesus, our
40:39
King, we
40:41
don't even have
40:41
to make an
40:41
appointment to
40:42
try and see
40:43
him.
40:43
We can come
40:44
to him at
40:45
any time.
40:46
We have
40:47
access to
40:49
him, unrestricted
40:50
access, unhindered
40:52
access, because
40:54
we are a chosen
40:55
people, because
40:56
we are a royal
40:57
priesthood.
41:00
We are a
41:01
holy nation, he
41:03
says.
41:04
That is, God
41:06
through Jesus
41:07
has changed
41:08
our lives.
41:10
And that
41:10
allows us to
41:11
be something we
41:12
could never be
41:13
before, a holy
41:15
people.
41:16
A people set
41:18
apart for
41:19
God's glory.
41:22
They are a
41:22
scattered people,
41:24
just as so
41:24
often in the
41:25
Old Testament,
41:26
God's people
41:27
were scattered
41:28
far and wide,
41:29
taken into
41:30
exile so
41:31
often, but yet
41:32
they were to
41:32
be a holy
41:33
people, God's
41:35
representatives,
41:37
no matter
41:37
where they
41:38
were or who
41:39
they were
41:40
with.
41:40
And so is
41:41
the same
41:41
true for
41:43
us.
41:43
God's people
41:44
are
41:45
people for
41:46
his own
41:49
possession.
41:51
It says in
41:52
another translation,
41:54
a peculiar
41:54
people, which
41:56
has maybe been
41:57
misunderstood as
41:58
seen as maybe
41:59
Christians as
41:59
just being a
42:00
strange kind of
42:01
people, but
42:02
that's not what
42:03
it means at
42:04
all.
42:04
A people for
42:05
his possession,
42:06
a peculiar
42:07
people, is a
42:08
people who are
42:09
precious to
42:11
God.
42:13
That's the
42:13
real meaning
42:14
behind that
42:15
word.
42:16
It's purchased,
42:18
a purchased
42:19
possession, a
42:21
unique possession,
42:22
something of
42:23
rare beauty.
42:24
That's how
42:25
Christians are
42:26
to be.
42:28
Malachi chapter
42:29
3 verse 7
42:30
says,
42:31
They shall be
42:31
mine, says the
42:32
Lord of hosts,
42:33
in the day when
42:34
I make up my
42:35
treasured
42:36
possession.
42:37
It's the same
42:38
word, possession,
42:39
there as it is
42:40
here, a
42:40
treasured
42:42
possession.
42:44
Things of
42:44
beauty, bought
42:46
at a high
42:46
price.
42:47
The price was
42:49
Jesus giving
42:50
his life as
42:52
a ransom for
42:53
us.
42:55
And so, here
42:56
is what we
42:56
have as his
42:58
people, a
42:58
chosen race, a
43:00
royal priesthood,
43:01
a holy nation,
43:03
a people who
43:04
are a precious
43:05
possession to
43:07
him.
43:07
Our king keeps
43:08
a close watch
43:09
on us.
43:10
He looks
43:10
after us with
43:11
the greatest
43:12
of care.
43:13
He protects
43:14
us, he
43:15
shelters us,
43:17
and therefore
43:18
he says,
43:19
we are to
43:20
proclaim the
43:21
excellencies of
43:23
him who
43:24
called us out
43:25
of darkness
43:25
into his
43:27
marvelous light.
43:29
The more
43:29
we know the
43:30
beauty of
43:31
Jesus, the
43:32
more we know
43:33
the grace and
43:34
the love that
43:35
he has shown
43:36
to us to
43:36
make us his
43:37
people, to
43:38
purchase us
43:39
as his
43:40
people, the
43:41
more we are
43:42
to proclaim
43:43
the excellencies
43:44
of him, the
43:46
king who has
43:48
loved us
43:49
with a love
43:50
like no
43:51
other.
43:53
So, the
43:54
mission of
43:56
our witness
43:57
is to
43:58
proclaim him
43:59
who has done
44:00
all of this
44:01
for his
44:02
people.
44:03
people.
44:04
The second
44:05
thing we want
44:05
to see here
44:06
is the
44:06
motivation of
44:08
our witness.
44:09
We see this
44:10
in verse 10.
44:12
Once you
44:12
were not a
44:13
people, but
44:13
now you are
44:15
God's people.
44:16
Once you
44:16
had not
44:17
received
44:17
mercy, but
44:18
now you
44:20
have received
44:21
mercy.
44:23
The mission
44:23
of our
44:24
witness, it
44:26
was to
44:26
proclaim.
44:28
And if we
44:28
need any
44:29
more motivation
44:30
in all that
44:30
Christ has
44:31
done for us,
44:32
we are
44:32
reminded of
44:33
it here
44:33
in verse
44:35
10.
44:36
Once you
44:38
were not
44:38
a people,
44:41
but now
44:41
you are
44:42
God's
44:43
people.
44:44
Once you
44:45
had not
44:45
received
44:46
mercy, but
44:46
now you
44:48
have received
44:49
mercy.
44:50
We were
44:51
despised, we
44:52
were worthless
44:53
people.
44:54
We were
44:55
sinners who
44:55
were lost,
44:57
but now we
44:58
are God's
44:59
prized
45:00
possessions.
45:00
sins.
45:01
We have
45:02
mercy shown
45:03
to us.
45:05
God sent
45:06
his Son to
45:08
seek and to
45:08
save the
45:09
lost, and
45:10
how precious
45:10
we are to
45:12
him.
45:13
Isn't it a
45:13
wonderful thing
45:14
that we can
45:15
know mercy,
45:17
to know
45:18
his mercy?
45:22
Once we
45:23
were just
45:23
lost,
45:24
worthless
45:25
people.
45:25
now we
45:27
are God's
45:28
people.
45:31
Do we
45:31
see ourselves
45:33
as God's
45:34
people, or
45:35
do we still
45:36
see ourselves
45:37
as our
45:38
own people?
45:40
We are
45:40
his, we
45:41
are purchased
45:42
with a
45:43
price.
45:44
We belong
45:45
to him.
45:47
When we
45:48
know this
45:48
then, what
45:49
then is
45:50
our motivation?
45:52
when we
45:53
know the
45:54
mercy of
45:54
God, the
45:56
wonder of
45:56
all that he
45:57
has done
45:57
for us,
45:59
what is
45:59
our
46:00
motivation?
46:01
Surely that
46:02
others would
46:03
know this
46:04
mercy for
46:05
themselves.
46:06
Surely that
46:07
others would
46:08
hear that
46:09
this mercy
46:09
is there
46:10
for them,
46:11
that it
46:12
is there
46:12
for all,
46:14
to hear
46:15
this message
46:16
of the
46:16
gospel,
46:17
that we
46:18
are not a
46:19
people when
46:19
we are
46:19
apart from
46:20
God, that
46:21
we can
46:22
know the
46:22
blessing of
46:23
being God's
46:24
people, knowing
46:26
the love that
46:27
he has shown
46:28
for us, that
46:31
we would see
46:32
a perishing
46:33
people around
46:34
us and be
46:36
motivated to
46:37
show them the
46:38
mercy of
46:40
God.
46:42
A teenager
46:44
had once been
46:45
out with
46:46
their friends
46:46
and they
46:48
had their
46:49
ear pods
46:50
in, a set
46:51
of headphones,
46:51
now you get
46:52
these little
46:52
things you
46:53
put in your
46:54
ears, they're
46:54
small and
46:56
they stick in
46:56
but from
46:57
time to
46:57
time they
46:58
can fall
46:59
out.
46:59
Well this
46:59
teenager had
47:00
been out with
47:01
friends and
47:02
lost one of
47:03
their ear pods
47:04
and with their
47:05
friends had been
47:06
hunting around
47:07
trying to find
47:08
it again but
47:09
without success
47:10
so eventually
47:11
he went home to
47:12
his mother and
47:12
said I've
47:14
lost one of
47:15
my ear pods,
47:15
I've tried to
47:17
find it and
47:18
I just can't.
47:20
And the
47:21
mother, as
47:21
mothers often
47:22
do, said let's
47:24
go and have a
47:24
look.
47:26
Within minutes
47:27
the mother had
47:28
found it.
47:29
It would be no
47:30
surprise that the
47:31
child couldn't
47:32
find it but the
47:32
mother could.
47:34
And the
47:36
child said I
47:36
looked so hard.
47:38
How did you
47:39
manage to find
47:40
it?
47:41
And the
47:41
mother's reply
47:42
was this, we
47:43
weren't looking
47:43
for the same
47:45
thing.
47:46
You were just
47:47
looking for a
47:48
bit of plastic.
47:50
I was looking
47:51
for 200
47:52
pounds.
47:53
The difference
47:54
was there in
47:55
the motivation.
47:57
There was a
47:57
cost to the
47:59
mother that
47:59
wasn't there
48:00
for the son.
48:03
And that's the
48:04
way that we
48:04
should see it.
48:06
Every soul
48:07
is precious.
48:09
Every soul
48:10
is priceless.
48:12
And that's
48:13
the way we
48:14
should look
48:15
at it.
48:15
It's not
48:16
just another
48:17
person.
48:19
It's not
48:19
just someone
48:20
we maybe
48:21
don't get
48:21
along with
48:22
or don't
48:22
even like.
48:24
It is a
48:24
person made
48:25
in the image
48:26
of God.
48:29
And we
48:29
should long
48:30
for all
48:30
to know
48:31
the mercy
48:32
of God.
48:34
To know
48:34
the salvation
48:35
that there
48:36
is in
48:37
Christ Jesus.
48:38
That is the
48:39
value of a
48:40
soul.
48:40
it is
48:41
priceless.
48:43
And the
48:43
cost was
48:44
paid by
48:45
Christ
48:46
himself.
48:48
And so
48:48
therefore
48:48
what is
48:49
our
48:50
motivation
48:50
in being
48:53
Christ's
48:53
witnesses?
48:55
It's to
48:56
see everyone
48:57
as precious.
48:59
Precious to
49:00
the Lord
49:01
and needing
49:02
the mercy
49:03
of God.
49:05
So if we
49:06
have received
49:06
mercy we
49:08
should see
49:08
everyone around
49:09
us that needs
49:10
mercy.
49:11
And that
49:11
should be
49:12
our
49:13
motivation
49:14
to witness.
49:16
The final
49:17
thing we
49:18
see here
49:18
is the
49:20
manner
49:20
of our
49:21
witness.
49:23
He speaks
49:23
there in
49:24
verse 11
49:24
and 12
49:25
about our
49:26
behavior
49:26
and our
49:27
conduct.
49:28
Beloved,
49:29
I urge you
49:30
as
49:30
sojourners
49:31
and exiles
49:31
to abstain
49:32
from the
49:33
passions of
49:33
the flesh
49:34
which wage
49:35
war against
49:35
your soul.
49:36
keep your
49:37
conduct
49:38
among the
49:39
Gentiles
49:39
honorable
49:40
so that
49:41
when they
49:42
speak against
49:42
you as
49:43
evildoers
49:44
they may
49:45
see your
49:46
good deeds
49:47
and glorify
49:48
God on
49:50
the day of
49:50
licitation.
49:52
Keep
49:52
your
49:53
conduct
49:54
among the
49:55
Gentiles
49:56
honorable.
49:57
Now this
49:57
links back
49:58
as we said
49:59
before
49:59
to the
50:00
fact of
50:01
being
50:02
holy in
50:03
verse 15.
50:03
He who
50:06
has called
50:06
you is
50:06
holy,
50:07
you also
50:07
be holy
50:08
in all
50:09
your conduct.
50:11
We see
50:12
the connection
50:12
here again.
50:14
Keep
50:14
your conduct
50:15
holy.
50:18
The church,
50:19
the people
50:20
who Peter
50:21
was addressing,
50:22
they were
50:22
given a
50:24
focus of
50:24
the glory
50:25
of this
50:25
gospel.
50:27
And their
50:28
mission was
50:29
there,
50:29
their motivation
50:30
was there,
50:31
but that doesn't
50:31
mean it was
50:32
going to be
50:32
easy.
50:33
There was
50:34
going to be
50:34
many a
50:35
challenge as
50:36
they were
50:37
proclaiming
50:37
this goodness
50:39
of God.
50:40
They lived
50:41
among a
50:42
hostile people.
50:43
They faced
50:44
all kinds
50:45
of persecution
50:46
and could
50:47
justifiably,
50:48
you might say,
50:49
respond in
50:50
anger.
50:51
To have
50:52
the heart
50:52
of Jonah,
50:53
who as he
50:54
was called
50:55
to go back
50:55
to Nineveh,
50:56
say they
50:57
don't deserve
50:58
to hear
50:59
this gospel.
51:00
Look at
51:00
what they've
51:01
done.
51:02
Look at
51:02
how they
51:03
behaved
51:04
towards
51:04
God's
51:05
people.
51:05
I'm not
51:05
going to
51:06
tell them.
51:07
In fact,
51:07
I'm going
51:07
to run
51:08
in the
51:08
opposite
51:08
direction.
51:10
But God
51:11
brought him
51:12
to realize
51:12
they needed
51:14
mercy as
51:14
much as
51:15
him or
51:15
anyone else.
51:17
But his
51:17
heart needed
51:18
to be
51:19
changed.
51:20
And so
51:21
often it is
51:21
the case,
51:22
as Peter is
51:23
writing to
51:24
them here,
51:24
as he's
51:25
writing to
51:25
ourselves
51:26
today,
51:26
that we
51:26
have to
51:27
think of
51:28
our own
51:28
hearts,
51:28
our own
51:29
manner,
51:29
in our
51:30
witness
51:31
to.
51:32
How we
51:32
look at
51:33
people,
51:33
how we
51:34
behave with
51:35
people,
51:35
how we
51:35
deal with
51:36
people.
51:38
So Peter
51:38
here addresses
51:39
the manner
51:40
of their
51:42
witness,
51:42
how they
51:43
conduct
51:44
themselves.
51:46
We see
51:47
as we read
51:48
through chapter
51:48
two here
51:49
that the
51:50
gospel,
51:51
Christ,
51:52
is already
51:52
offensive to
51:54
people.
51:55
You see it
51:56
in verse
51:57
eight where he's
51:57
described as
51:58
a stone of
51:59
stumbling,
52:00
a rock of
52:01
offense.
52:02
The gospel
52:03
message in
52:04
and of
52:04
itself,
52:06
the truth,
52:08
it's offensive
52:09
in and of
52:10
itself.
52:12
It'll often
52:12
offend
52:13
people.
52:15
The people
52:16
Peter was
52:17
writing to
52:17
knew that,
52:18
we know
52:19
that,
52:20
ourselves,
52:21
that the
52:21
gospel offends
52:23
people.
52:25
But as
52:26
God's
52:27
people,
52:28
as a
52:29
chosen race,
52:30
a royal
52:31
priesthood,
52:32
a holy
52:33
nation,
52:33
a people
52:34
of his
52:34
own
52:34
possession,
52:36
we should
52:37
not cause
52:38
the offense.
52:41
The gospel
52:41
offends,
52:43
but we
52:44
should not
52:45
be the ones
52:45
who cause
52:47
offense.
52:49
Keep your
52:49
conduct among
52:50
the Gentiles
52:51
honorable.
52:52
the word
52:56
honorable
52:56
there is
52:58
good.
52:59
We say
53:00
to children,
53:01
now we're
53:01
going somewhere
53:02
important.
53:03
I want you
53:04
to be on
53:04
good behavior,
53:05
I want to
53:05
be on your
53:05
best behavior.
53:07
Well,
53:08
we're saying
53:09
the same
53:10
thing here.
53:11
You're going
53:12
to be in a
53:12
hostile place,
53:14
you're going
53:14
to face
53:15
persecution,
53:16
but I want
53:17
your behavior
53:18
to represent
53:19
me.
53:20
and the
53:22
goodness
53:22
of God,
53:24
the love
53:24
of Christ.
53:27
What is he
53:28
getting at
53:28
here?
53:30
There is a
53:31
vocal
53:31
and a
53:32
visible
53:33
side to
53:34
words
53:34
and actions.
53:37
Our
53:37
witness,
53:39
the impact
53:40
it has,
53:40
is so often
53:41
determined
53:41
by the
53:42
conduct,
53:43
the manner
53:43
we use
53:44
in showing
53:45
the gospel.
53:47
When you
53:47
look back
53:48
at the
53:48
coronation
53:48
yesterday,
53:49
words were
53:50
spoken,
53:51
scriptures
53:52
were read,
53:53
oaths were
53:54
taken,
53:54
all of
53:55
these things,
53:57
but will
53:57
it be seen
53:58
in the
53:58
life and
53:59
rule of
53:59
the king?
54:01
And we
54:02
ourselves,
54:02
we can
54:03
take our
54:04
own oaths
54:05
before God
54:05
too.
54:07
We can
54:08
take vows
54:09
before God,
54:10
and we'll
54:10
see more
54:11
of these
54:11
things as
54:11
we go
54:12
on in
54:13
this letter,
54:14
but what
54:15
is seen
54:16
as the
54:16
evidence of
54:17
them,
54:17
the way
54:18
we conduct
54:19
ourselves,
54:20
the way
54:21
we live
54:21
our lives.
54:24
The scattered
54:24
church here,
54:26
they were
54:27
to live
54:27
in light
54:28
of the
54:28
promises
54:29
of scripture
54:29
and follow
54:30
the commands
54:31
that the
54:32
scriptures
54:32
were giving.
54:34
That's what
54:35
Peter was
54:35
telling them
54:36
and what
54:37
we ourselves
54:38
have to
54:38
live by
54:39
too.
54:40
How do
54:41
we conduct
54:41
ourselves
54:42
among
54:43
those
54:44
around us?
54:45
us?
54:46
We will
54:47
always
54:47
fail and
54:48
have
54:48
regrets,
54:49
and when
54:50
we do,
54:50
we have
54:50
a saviour
54:51
to go
54:51
to who
54:52
is able
54:53
to forgive
54:53
us.
54:56
But the
54:56
problem is
54:57
when we
54:57
don't see
54:58
the manner
54:59
of our
54:59
conduct
55:00
as a
55:01
problem
55:02
or causing
55:03
offence.
55:05
When people
55:05
could say
55:06
of Christians,
55:08
your conduct
55:09
is worse
55:10
than those
55:11
who aren't
55:12
Christians,
55:12
that's
55:14
when we
55:14
are failing.
55:16
We are
55:17
not being
55:18
holy in
55:19
our conduct,
55:20
set apart,
55:22
different in
55:22
the ways
55:23
that we
55:24
behave.
55:26
And so
55:27
that is
55:27
why he
55:28
is saying
55:28
keep your
55:29
conduct
55:30
among the
55:31
Gentiles
55:31
honourable.
55:34
What's
55:34
at stake?
55:37
Well,
55:38
what he
55:38
says is
55:39
so that
55:39
when they
55:40
speak against
55:40
you as
55:41
evildoers,
55:42
they may
55:43
see your
55:43
good deeds
55:44
and glorify
55:45
God on
55:46
the day
55:47
of
55:48
visitation.
55:50
Our
55:51
conduct
55:52
can so
55:53
easily
55:54
come
55:54
between
55:56
those we
55:57
are behaving
55:58
before and
55:59
then coming
56:00
to Christ.
56:03
We are
56:04
to show
56:05
the love
56:06
of Christ
56:07
because what's
56:08
at stake?
56:09
Well,
56:10
he's saying
56:10
here,
56:11
keep your
56:11
conduct
56:12
honourable,
56:12
that they
56:13
may glorify
56:14
God.
56:15
What's on
56:16
the flip
56:16
side of
56:17
that?
56:18
They
56:19
won't.
56:20
They
56:21
won't
56:22
glorify
56:23
God
56:23
because
56:23
of our
56:25
behaviour.
56:26
Or,
56:27
thanks be
56:27
to God,
56:28
sometimes
56:28
they will
56:30
glorify
56:30
God
56:30
despite
56:31
our
56:32
behaviour.
56:34
We
56:34
shouldn't
56:35
be on
56:35
any
56:36
stumbling
56:36
block
56:37
or an
56:37
excuse
56:38
for
56:38
anyone
56:38
to
56:38
say,
56:39
if
56:40
that's
56:40
how
56:40
Christians
56:41
behave,
56:42
I want
56:43
nothing
56:43
to do
56:44
with it.
56:46
How would
56:47
they receive
56:48
this letter?
56:50
How should
56:50
we receive
56:52
this letter?
56:52
Well,
56:53
surely it
56:53
should make
56:54
us think
56:54
of two
56:55
things.
56:57
One,
56:58
how has
56:59
my conduct
57:00
been?
57:02
That's
57:02
what they
57:03
would have
57:03
thought,
57:03
that's what
57:04
we should
57:04
think.
57:05
Are there
57:06
areas where
57:06
I should
57:07
go and
57:07
apologise
57:08
to people
57:08
that my
57:09
conduct
57:10
was not
57:11
right
57:11
as a
57:13
Christian?
57:15
And the
57:16
second thing
57:16
is,
57:17
how do
57:18
we deal
57:19
with this
57:20
going forward?
57:22
Is it
57:22
going to
57:23
change me?
57:24
Am I
57:25
going to
57:25
take these
57:26
words
57:26
seriously?
57:27
Let your
57:28
conduct
57:29
be honourable
57:30
before the
57:33
Gentiles.
57:34
are we
57:35
going to
57:35
go forward
57:36
addressing
57:37
our
57:37
conduct?
57:39
Making
57:39
sure our
57:40
conduct
57:40
is in
57:41
line with
57:42
the word
57:43
of God.
57:44
How do
57:45
we deal
57:45
with fellow
57:46
Christians?
57:48
Is our
57:48
conduct
57:49
honourable?
57:51
How do
57:52
we deal
57:52
with others
57:53
around us?
57:55
Just as they
57:56
had to in
57:56
Peter's day,
57:57
their conduct
57:58
was to be
57:59
honourable
57:59
before those
58:01
who were
58:02
persecuting
58:03
them.
58:04
Romans
58:05
12 says,
58:07
to love
58:08
your enemy,
58:10
that you
58:10
may heap
58:11
burning coal
58:12
on their
58:13
head.
58:13
It's very
58:13
similar to
58:14
what we
58:14
have here.
58:15
So that
58:16
when they
58:16
speak against
58:17
you as
58:17
evildoers,
58:19
they may
58:19
see your
58:20
good deeds
58:21
and glorify
58:22
God.
58:24
Is that
58:24
what our
58:25
conduct
58:26
leads to?
58:27
People
58:28
seeing our
58:29
good deeds
58:30
and glorifying
58:32
God.
58:33
Do we
58:34
lambast
58:35
or do we
58:37
love?
58:39
There's a
58:40
testimony of
58:41
one who
58:41
is now a
58:42
preacher,
58:43
but he
58:44
was in a
58:45
world that
58:45
was lost.
58:46
In his
58:46
life he
58:47
was lost.
58:47
But he
58:48
says this,
58:49
when I
58:50
was lost,
58:51
I certainly
58:52
criticized my
58:53
fair share of
58:54
Christians.
58:55
I argued
58:56
with them.
58:57
I despised
58:58
them for being
58:59
against the
58:59
things I
59:00
did.
59:01
However,
59:02
I never
59:03
could get
59:04
past their
59:05
love and
59:06
their devotion
59:07
to the
59:07
Bible.
59:08
the truth
59:09
and honesty
59:11
of their
59:11
lives made
59:13
a statement
59:13
for God
59:14
that none
59:15
of my
59:16
arguments
59:16
could ever
59:17
overcome.
59:19
It was the
59:20
faithful witness
59:21
of a few
59:22
sincere,
59:23
dedicated
59:24
believers
59:25
that helped
59:26
bring me
59:27
to Jesus.
59:29
Would
59:30
that that
59:31
be said
59:31
of us?
59:34
We see
59:35
here a
59:36
Christian
59:36
witness from
59:37
a people
59:38
who were
59:38
persecuted,
59:39
a people
59:40
who were
59:40
scattered,
59:41
but who
59:41
knew God
59:42
with them.
59:44
We long
59:45
to see
59:45
people coming
59:47
to Christ.
59:48
It is the
59:49
mission of
59:49
our witness
59:50
to proclaim
59:51
the excellencies
59:53
of him who
59:53
called us
59:54
from darkness
59:55
to light.
59:57
Our
59:57
motivation
59:58
is there.
1:00:00
We have
1:00:01
mercy.
1:00:02
We long
1:00:02
for others
1:00:03
to know
1:00:04
this mercy.
1:00:06
And let's
1:00:06
make sure
1:00:07
the manner
1:00:08
of our
1:00:09
witness
1:00:09
is blessed
1:00:11
by God
1:00:12
to see
1:00:13
others
1:00:13
proclaim
1:00:15
the goodness
1:00:16
of God
1:00:18
and give
1:00:19
him praise.
1:00:20
Let us
1:00:20
pray.
1:00:23
Our
1:00:24
Father in
1:00:24
heaven,
1:00:25
help us
1:00:25
if we need
1:00:27
to repent,
1:00:27
to repent
1:00:28
to you as
1:00:29
the one who
1:00:29
is able
1:00:30
to forgive.
1:00:31
And teach
1:00:32
us,
1:00:32
O Lord,
1:00:32
to walk
1:00:33
in your
1:00:34
ways,
1:00:35
to heed
1:00:35
your word,
1:00:36
and to
1:00:36
live lives
1:00:37
that are
1:00:38
honourable in
1:00:38
your sight
1:00:39
and honourable
1:00:40
before others.
1:00:42
Help us to
1:00:42
love and
1:00:43
to obey
1:00:44
and to honour
1:00:45
you in all
1:00:46
that we do,
1:00:47
that we would
1:00:47
see many more
1:00:48
come to glorify
1:00:49
God in the
1:00:51
day of
1:00:51
visitation
1:00:52
when he
1:00:53
returns.
1:00:54
As we ask
1:00:55
it all in
1:00:55
Jesus' name.
1:00:57
Amen.
1:00:57
Amen.
1:00:57
We're going
1:01:01
to sing
1:01:02
in conclusion
1:01:03
to God's
1:01:03
praise in
1:01:04
Psalm 34
1:01:05
and sing
1:01:07
Psalm's
1:01:07
version on
1:01:08
page 40
1:01:09
of the
1:01:10
psalm book.
1:01:10
We'll sing
1:01:10
verse 11
1:01:12
to 14.
1:01:14
Psalm 34
1:01:15
at verse
1:01:16
11.
1:01:17
Come hear
1:01:18
my children,
1:01:19
gather round
1:01:19
and listen
1:01:20
to my word
1:01:21
and I will
1:01:22
help you
1:01:22
understand
1:01:23
how you
1:01:24
may fear
1:01:25
the Lord.
1:01:26
We'll sing
1:01:26
from verse
1:01:27
11 to 14
1:01:28
to God's
1:01:29
praise.
1:01:29
Amen.
1:01:40
Come hear
1:01:43
my children,
1:01:45
come hear
1:01:50
my children,
1:01:53
God, the road,
1:01:57
and listen
1:02:01
to my word
1:02:06
and I will help
1:02:12
you understand
1:02:15
construing his time
1:02:17
by hue
1:02:18
and是這樣 did
1:02:20
your die.
1:02:21
You may fear
1:02:21
the Lord,
1:02:26
does anyone
1:02:30
delight in life
1:02:36
and long
1:02:36
to sing
1:02:37
if
1:02:38
the Lord
1:02:38
unto
1:02:39
Long to sacred days, then keep your tongue from evil speech,
1:02:57
pure lips from lying ways. Depart and turn from evil past,
1:03:18
and practice what is right.
1:03:27
Tis thine to know the way of peace.
1:03:38
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my right.
1:03:52
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
1:03:57
rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore. Amen.
1:04:08
Amen.
1:04:38
Posh, whoとか, nochmal diadem,ALIZAD literal strangers are the permission of the second
1:04:42
example of this beer.
1:04:44
entrust into the living room.
1:04:50
We are finally left here, and we have Mother, Son, and God, I caught the manner of faith from
1:04:53
God, my pig with your condiciones.
1:04:55
To argue in fact it is He will be right if he is this man?
1:04:58
To address the pile of faith, there will be another man who uw welcomeающian
1:05:01
andفrooted.
1:05:02
And знать the duration was the one who Fe grew.
1:05:05
Thank you.
1:05:35
Thank you.