Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Fear and Faith

Transcript

Fear and Faith · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
There's a further notice about the vacancy. Our congregation has recently been made vacant, so I'll just read through that notice on the sheet.
0:11
The Kirk session met on Monday the 15th of July and agreed to follow the practice previously adopted during a vacancy by taking on the role of the vacancy committee.
0:22
The purpose of the vacancy committee is to arrange for the pulpit to be supplied with ministers who are considered suitable to fill the vacancy, but the final choice belongs to our communicant membership.
0:37
The vacancy committee would like to stress that they are seeking to secure the full scope of congregational interest so that the process of contacting ministers and arranging dates for them to preach can begin.
0:50
The initial meeting of the vacancy committee is scheduled for Monday the 26th of August, and over the next five weeks, as we pray to the Lord for guidance,
1:02
the elders would like to encourage everyone in the congregation to speak to their own elder or to any of the elders and inform them of who you would like to be invited to preach in Stornoway.
1:16
Please bear in mind that certain procedural steps are required, namely the completion of a financial schedule as well as a congregational development plan.
1:28
It is hoped that both of these items will be presented to the congregation in September before being sent to the Presbytery and the Mission Board for approval.
1:39
That's something for us all to pray over.
1:42
Let us begin our time of worship by singing together in Psalm 40 of the Blue Praise Book in the Scottish Psalter version.
1:54
We have a Blue Praise Book available at the door if you don't have one.
1:59
Psalm 40 in the Scottish Psalter version.
2:03
You'll find that on page 259.
2:05
And we'll sing from verse 1 down to verse 5 and note that verse 5 follows over the turn of the page.
2:20
The words there are,
2:21
We'll stand to sing these words to God's praise down to the end of verse Mark 5.
2:46
I waited for the Lord my God and patiently did bear.
2:51
I waited for the Lord my God and patiently did bear.
3:08
And then to me,
3:12
He did apply my voice and kind to hear.
3:23
Just fruitfully did.
3:25
Forgive me from the fear for this,
3:28
And from the mighty pain.
3:36
And on our own He set my feet.
3:47
Establishing my way
3:55
He put a new song in my life
4:04
For God to magnify
4:11
Then he shall see it
4:17
And shall feel
4:20
And God the Lord rely
4:26
O blessed is the man
4:35
Whose trust upon the Lord relies
4:44
Respect him not the proud
4:51
For such a stern aside to life
5:02
O Lord my God to many are
5:11
The wonders of the strong
5:18
Thy gracious thoughts
5:23
To us work from above
5:30
O hosts are gone
5:35
The northern unkind
5:41
Reck on them
5:44
To the effective way
5:50
And speak of them
5:56
I will
5:59
The more I can
6:03
Be number
6:05
The more I can
6:06
Be number
6:07
God
6:08
We'll now join our hearts together for a word of prayer.
6:16
Our heavenly Father we give thanks to you for this day.
6:23
We give thanks to you for this opportunity to come before you.
6:28
That we can return our thanks to you for all that you have done for us.
6:33
That we can come and read your word.
6:35
That we can sing your praises.
6:37
That we can come to you in prayer.
6:39
And you are a God that will hear us when we pray.
6:43
Even if we feel like we are in the depths and in the fearful pit like the psalmist.
6:48
You are a God that can draw near to us.
6:51
And put a new song in our heart.
6:53
And turn our lives around.
6:55
That we may come and joyfully sing praise to you.
7:00
For you have saved us from death.
7:04
You have redeemed us because Jesus Christ has died on the cross for each and every one of us.
7:11
And Lord we just pray this time for the young in our congregation.
7:17
We pray for those that are on holiday.
7:20
We pray that you would give them a time of enjoyment.
7:23
We pray for those that have gone to camp.
7:26
And we ask that you would be mindful of them in their worries that they might have.
7:32
But that they would be supported and encouraged by those that are there.
7:36
And that they would understand something new about Jesus and God.
7:42
And that they may have seeds sown in their hearts at a young age.
7:48
That you may bring them to grow.
7:51
And bring forth much fruit.
7:55
We pray for our planned holiday club.
7:59
We pray that you would go before us in all our plans.
8:04
And again as we seek to join together to have fun and to learn more about God.
8:12
We pray that you would bless us in our time together.
8:15
We remember our Sunday school in a time of break.
8:19
We remember our school teachers also.
8:22
That you would be with them.
8:24
Be with those who teach our children in our schools.
8:27
That they may point them in the direction that God has set out for us.
8:36
That God has revealed to us in the Bible.
8:40
That we should follow Jesus.
8:43
And that he will provide for us.
8:46
So be with us Lord as we turn towards your word.
8:49
Give us minds of understanding.
8:52
And ears to hear what you shall say to us.
8:55
And all these we ask in Jesus name.
8:58
Amen.
9:00
Now I want to say a word to the younger ones that are here with us this morning.
9:04
And I want you all to imagine an orchestra.
9:09
Orchestras consisted usually of lots of different people in lots of different things.
9:15
But they are all trying to play music together.
9:18
And they all have a bit of paper in front of them.
9:21
That tells them the music that they are playing.
9:24
The tunes that they are meant to play.
9:28
And while they have the music in front of them.
9:32
They are also looking towards the conductor.
9:35
They are following that man.
9:37
They are keeping an eye on that man that is in front of them as well.
9:40
And it consists of lots of different people playing lots of different instruments.
9:47
You may have the violinists.
9:49
They are a group of violinists.
9:51
And they might be playing very fast.
9:53
They might be getting very tired having to play hard.
9:56
And the conductor is telling them to play and play and play.
9:59
And then there might be someone at the side with trumpets just coming in and out.
10:04
When they are told.
10:06
And then someone with that trombone making a totally different noise.
10:09
Just every now and again.
10:11
And you might have someone at the very back.
10:14
Just standing there and waiting.
10:17
Till the very end.
10:19
To make a big crash with the cymbals.
10:22
And that's not the way that the violinist looks around to everyone else.
10:28
And says I am working very hard here.
10:30
And this man with the trumpets just putting me off.
10:33
And this man with the trombone is making a totally different noise to the noise that I am making.
10:38
And that guy at the back.
10:40
He is not doing anything.
10:41
But when the conductor instructs everyone to do everything at the right time.
10:52
To play the different tunes at the right time.
10:56
It all comes together.
10:58
To make a wonderful sound.
11:00
People come and listen to orchestras.
11:04
Play amazing music.
11:06
But the most important thing is that they follow the music.
11:11
And they follow the conductor.
11:13
And it's a lot like that in our own lives.
11:16
We are all different.
11:18
And we have all got different jobs.
11:21
The Lord will give us different jobs to do in our life.
11:24
We have different purposes.
11:26
But it's not that we look at everyone else.
11:30
And say.
11:31
Well he is not doing what I am doing.
11:33
And he is playing a different tune to me.
11:36
Something totally different.
11:38
And look at that guy.
11:40
He is not doing anything.
11:41
We are not to look at others.
11:44
We are not to judge others.
11:46
The most important thing for us in our lives.
11:50
Is that we follow the instructions that are set out for us in the Bible.
11:55
Almost like the Bible is like the piece of music that is set in front of you.
11:59
We follow what is in the Bible.
12:02
And as we read the Bible.
12:05
As we get to know the Bible.
12:07
And learn about the Bible.
12:09
We will see Jesus.
12:11
And we will see the man that is directing us every step in our lives.
12:16
And when we follow the Bible.
12:18
And when we follow the Bible.
12:19
When we listen to Jesus.
12:21
Something wonderful will happen.
12:25
We will give praise to him and glory.
12:29
And it is something that is so special to God.
12:32
And yes we are all different.
12:37
And yes we have all different jobs to do.
12:41
But that is not to say that we do our own thing.
12:44
It is not to say that we come with our own piece of music.
12:48
And go into the orchestra.
12:50
It would ruin it.
12:52
If we just decided to do what we wanted to do.
12:55
In our lives.
12:58
The best thing for us.
13:00
Is to follow the Bible.
13:03
And to follow Jesus.
13:05
So I pray that as we grow up.
13:08
Even as we grow old.
13:11
We continue.
13:12
To follow Jesus.
13:15
And to look at him.
13:17
I pray that will be blessed.
13:20
To each of you.
13:21
We will now say the Lord's Prayer together.
13:24
You will find it at the top of the bulletin sheet.
13:27
Let us join together in saying these words.
13:32
Our Father which art in heaven.
13:34
Hallowed be thy name.
13:37
Thy kingdom come.
13:39
Thy will be done on earth.
13:41
As it is in heaven.
13:43
Give us this day our daily bread.
13:46
And forgive us our debts.
13:48
As we forgive our debtors.
13:50
And lead us not into temptation.
13:53
But deliver us from evil.
13:55
For thine is the kingdom.
13:57
The power and the glory.
13:59
Forever.
14:00
Amen.
14:04
We will now continue in our praise.
14:07
And we will now sing our Gaelic item of praise.
14:12
Which you will find over leaf.
14:14
On the rear page of the bulletin sheet.
14:17
The words of Psalm 23 in English.
14:21
The Lord's my shepherd.
14:23
I'll not want.
14:25
He makes me down to lie.
14:27
In pastures green.
14:29
He leadeth me.
14:30
The quiet waters by.
14:33
In Gaelic it is here.
14:34
In Gaelic it is here.
14:35
Is the Gia feen.
14:36
Is the Bucheel go.
14:38
Chabimi aon in ni.
14:42
We will remain seated for this singing.
14:46
The Gaelic presenter will read the line out as we go through the psalm.
14:52
And the congregation repeat the line as we go.
14:56
Years ago.
14:57
They wouldn't have had the words.
15:01
Wouldn't be able to.
15:02
The Bibles and psalm books weren't there for everyone to have.
15:06
So this is the way that they sung their praises.
15:09
The presenter would read the line.
15:11
And the people would then repeat the words back.
15:14
So.
15:15
We'll sing this together.
15:17
often singing jatsung..
15:37
Propag format...
15:42
Blue。
15:45
Oh, my God.
16:15
Oh, my God.
16:45
Oh, my God.
17:15
Oh, my God.
17:45
Oh, my God.
18:15
The Gospel of John, chapter 14.
18:20
Gospel of John, New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
18:26
Read at verse 4, chapter 14 at verse 15.
18:30
We have two readings this morning.
18:33
We'll turn to chapter 20 after reading section in chapter 14.
18:39
Gospel of John, chapter 14, reading at verse 15.
18:48
And this is Jesus' words before he was led away to be crucified.
18:54
He's speaking to his disciples and instructing them.
18:57
He says there,
19:27
Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more.
19:30
But you will see me because I live.
19:36
In that day, you will know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you.
19:44
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, it's he it is who loves me.
19:51
And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.
19:59
Judas, not Iscariot, said to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world?
20:08
Jesus answered him, if anyone loves me, he will keep my word.
20:13
And my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
20:20
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.
20:23
And the word that you hear is not mine, but the Father who sent me.
20:28
These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
20:34
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
20:40
he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
20:47
Peace I leave with you.
20:49
My peace I give to you.
20:52
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
20:57
Let not your hearts be troubled.
21:00
Neither let them be afraid.
21:03
You heard me say to you, I am going away, and I will come to you.
21:07
If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father.
21:12
For the Father is greater than I.
21:15
And now I have told you before it takes place,
21:18
so that when it does take place, you may believe.
21:22
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming.
21:28
He has no claim on me.
21:29
But I do as the Father has commanded me,
21:32
so that the world may know that I love the Father.
21:36
Rise, let us go from here.
21:40
If you turn a few pages to chapter 20,
21:44
chapter 20, and we'll read from verse 19.
21:49
This is the account where Jesus appears after his death,
21:57
resurrected to the disciples.
22:00
Verse 19.
22:01
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week,
22:07
the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews,
22:12
Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,
22:16
Peace be with you.
22:18
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
22:22
Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
22:25
Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you.
22:30
As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.
22:35
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
22:40
Receive the Holy Spirit.
22:42
If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven.
22:45
If you withhold the forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.
22:51
Amen.
22:52
May the reading of God's word be blessed to those who have heard it.
22:57
Let us join together once again in a word of prayer.
23:00
Let us pray.
23:04
Our Heavenly Father, we give thanks for this word that we have read.
23:09
And we give thanks that you are the Lord Jesus Christ who brings peace to his people.
23:17
And we just give thanks that you are one who has come to set us free from the power of death.
23:27
Help us to be mindful of what we do when we come to worship you.
23:31
When we come before the presence of God and seek his face.
23:35
That we may hear from you.
23:37
And although it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Lord God Almighty.
23:45
We pray that we may draw before you with our reverence and our fear.
23:50
Acknowledging you as creator of all things.
23:53
The one who sustains all things and keeps our very life.
23:58
And Lord, we pray as we come to this word.
24:02
And consider it.
24:03
We pray that you would give us understanding of it.
24:05
That you may speak to us.
24:09
We pray that the gospel may go forth with power by the power of the Spirit.
24:15
For we acknowledge that if we do it of our own strength, it will come to nothing.
24:19
So we rely on you, Lord God.
24:23
And the presence of the Spirit to be with us as we come to you before your word and before you.
24:28
That you may guide us and show us and instruct us.
24:32
And how we are to live our lives.
24:35
Lord, we pray for our nation.
24:38
We pray for our world.
24:39
We pray that the gospel may go out with power.
24:43
That it may persuade and enable people to receive and embrace Jesus Christ that is offered to them.
24:50
The Christ that went to the cross for them.
24:53
To die for them.
24:55
In order that we may not be found guilty before God.
24:59
That we may come before God knowing that our sins have been forgiven.
25:05
Confident in the blood of Jesus Christ as the sacrifice to pay for our sins.
25:10
All is done.
25:12
We can do nothing of ourselves.
25:14
We trust in Jesus Christ.
25:16
To whom else can we go?
25:20
Who else offers that peace when death is set before us?
25:26
You have promised us life if we believe in you.
25:31
And so help us in our unbelief.
25:35
Help us in this hour to understand who you are and to trust in you.
25:41
We pray for everyone that preaches your word this morning.
25:47
Across our world and nation.
25:50
That it may go forth with great effect.
25:53
We remember those people who have devoted their lives to you and your cause.
25:58
Who are missionaries in this world.
26:00
We remember Muriel from her congregation in Cambodia.
26:04
We pray for the work that she does with the Brow and Grung people.
26:09
And the girls that stay with her.
26:10
Lord, we pray that you would give her strength.
26:14
And enable her to speak about her Saviour.
26:18
And the change that has come about in her life.
26:22
Lord, we pray for those who are worried this morning.
26:24
Those who are fears.
26:26
Those who have uncertainties.
26:27
Those who are anxious over their health.
26:30
Those who mourn.
26:31
We pray that you would draw near to them.
26:34
And comfort them.
26:35
Lord, we just ask that you would be with us in our time together.
26:41
That the gospel of Jesus Christ may take root in our hearts.
26:46
And grow each and every day.
26:49
Be with us.
26:51
Guide us.
26:52
Keep us.
26:53
Keep the evil one from distracting us.
26:56
And let us see Jesus Christ.
27:00
With beauty and wonder and awe.
27:04
All this we ask in Jesus' name.
27:07
Amen.
27:09
We'll continue in our praise by singing in Psalm 56.
27:14
You'll find that on page 73 in the Sing Psalms version.
27:22
Psalm 56.
27:26
I have it marked as verse mark 5.
27:29
But I think we'll begin our singing from verse mark 9.
27:34
At the bottom of the page.
27:35
When I call on you to help me.
27:40
Then my foes will turn aside.
27:43
This is how I will be certain.
27:46
That God is on my side.
27:49
O relief.
27:49
In the Lord whose word I honour.
27:51
In my God I praise his word.
27:54
I will trust and not be fearful.
27:56
What can man do to me, Lord?
28:00
I have taken vows before you.
28:02
To my God I will be true.
28:03
Sacrifices of thanksgiving.
28:06
I will gladly give to you.
28:08
For you kept my feet from stumbling.
28:11
And from death you set me free.
28:14
So that I may walk before you.
28:16
And the light of life may see.
28:20
From verse 9.
28:22
We'll stand to sing.
28:23
When I call on you to help me.
28:26
Then my foes will turn aside.
28:28
Amen.
28:28
When I call on you to help me.
28:34
Then my foes will turn aside.
28:40
This is how I will be certain.
28:46
That my own is on my side.
28:53
When the Lord whose word I own.
28:59
Then my God I praise his word.
29:05
I will trust and not be fearful.
29:11
What can man do to me, Lord?
29:18
I will trust and not be fearful.
29:20
I will trust and not be fearful.
29:24
I will trust and not be fearful.
29:25
To my God I will be true.
29:30
Sacrifices of thanksgiving.
29:37
I will gladly give to you.
29:43
For you kept my feet from stumbling.
29:50
And from death you set me free.
29:56
So that I may walk before you.
30:03
And the light of life may see.
30:16
We turn back to the passage that we read in John chapter 20.
30:21
I want us to consider this passage that we have with Jesus.
30:26
This resurrected body appears to the disciples.
30:29
And there in verse 21.
30:32
You'll see what Jesus says to them.
30:35
Peace be with you.
30:37
As the Father has sent me.
30:39
Even so I am sending you.
30:46
Now the last time I was with you here in Stornoway.
30:49
We looked at the first resurrection appearance of Jesus.
30:54
That was the appearance that he made to Mary.
30:57
And we're walking our way through the resurrection appearances that are recorded in the Gospel of John.
31:04
We thought about Mary.
31:06
We thought about the love that she had for Jesus.
31:10
We thought about the love that she had lost as she came mourning over the loss of Jesus Christ.
31:16
But Jesus appeared to her there at the tomb of the bombshell moment of his first appearance.
31:23
And the love that she had lost had now been restored.
31:26
Because Jesus had conquered death.
31:29
Jesus had not died.
31:31
Jesus would live forever.
31:33
Her love would ever be present.
31:35
All her sorrows had been turned to joy in that account.
31:43
And Jesus' appearances after death form the foundations of the Christian faith.
31:50
And gives everyone who believes in him a hope in life after death.
31:58
The Bible says that though ye die, yet ye shall live.
32:03
And now we come to this second appearance in the Gospel of John.
32:10
We're on the same day still.
32:12
Mary has been at the tomb in the morning in the early hours just at sunrise.
32:16
And now we are told there in verse 19 that it's now the evening.
32:21
And he appears to the gathered disciples within this locked room.
32:26
But what John doesn't record is another account which Luke does.
32:33
Jesus walked with the two on the road to Emmaus between sunrise and the evening hours.
32:39
Now John doesn't record this.
32:42
And it's an interesting account.
32:44
We've got to ask, well, why doesn't John record it?
32:47
Why doesn't John record that fascinating account?
32:51
But John himself says, at the end of chapter 20 there, no, at the end of chapter 21 he says,
33:00
I can't record everything.
33:03
Supposing everything was to be written,
33:06
The whole world could not contain the books about Jesus.
33:14
So John here, when he puts his Gospel together, he's selective to record these accounts for a certain reason.
33:24
And I hope that as we come and consider why and the importance of it,
33:30
we'll understand the purpose of why John wrote this book.
33:34
The purpose is there at the end of chapter 20.
33:37
He writes all of this for the reader.
33:42
The reader this morning.
33:43
For you and for me.
33:45
That we may believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
33:50
Because as we'll see in the evening,
33:53
these men also doubted that Jesus could ever live.
33:56
They're amazed at what happens.
33:59
And so there's nothing else like it in this world.
34:02
They record all this in detail.
34:06
So that everyone who hears it may believe.
34:11
So let us consider this passage together.
34:15
And I want you to think in your life that you know fine that you can't do everything.
34:22
You can't do everything yourself.
34:24
And often you need to, if you have a job to do,
34:27
you need to delegate the task to someone else.
34:29
So if you think about a business, the boss can't do everything.
34:34
And usually he'll give the simpler tasks to other people.
34:37
And he'll hold on to the more vital aspects of the business himself.
34:42
But supposing you were that manager, you were that boss,
34:49
and the time came where maybe you had to retire.
34:53
Maybe you had to hand over the reins to someone else.
34:59
Someone else had to come and fill your boots.
35:01
You'd look for the most competent person you could find.
35:06
The most knowledgeable person on the subject.
35:09
The most person who had the most experience.
35:12
The person who was most trustworthy.
35:14
The most reliable person you had in the company or out with the company.
35:18
Someone that would fill your boots and ensure that the business would run smoothly.
35:24
Best person you could find.
35:29
And in this account here, we've got a handover going on.
35:34
Jesus has died.
35:36
He cannot stay in this world.
35:38
He started a work.
35:40
But he must return to be on the side of his Father in heaven.
35:44
He's handing the work over to the disciples.
35:47
And they must be people that go out boldly into this world,
35:53
facing all opposition and criticism,
35:56
to declare that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Saviour of sinners.
36:02
He is the man that can give you hope in the face of death.
36:08
They need to be bold, men and women.
36:12
But who does he have?
36:13
When you look at the passage here, who does he have?
36:16
He's got people who are scared, confused,
36:22
people who are inexperienced for the job that is required of them.
36:27
These disciples, when you read through the Gospels,
36:30
they've already proven themselves to be unreliable,
36:35
lacking in knowledge,
36:36
not at all competent to do the task that has been asked of them here.
36:42
But this is who Jesus has.
36:44
And if this was your business that you were handing over to people like this,
36:49
you would be thinking,
36:50
this isn't going to work.
36:53
What chance do I have?
36:55
It's going to be a mess.
36:58
And you would expect the work of Jesus to stop.
37:02
Because the people here aren't really top notch.
37:12
But strangely, the work continued.
37:16
And it's continued even up till this morning.
37:20
With similar men and women.
37:23
So, the work is not entirely reliant upon the men and women and their own strength.
37:35
Surely there's something more going on here
37:38
for the work to have continued throughout the ages till this morning.
37:44
And when you continue reading through the Gospels,
37:47
when you continue reading through Acts,
37:50
and the works that these disciples went on to do,
37:53
the leaders of the day complained against these men.
37:57
Because they said,
37:58
they're turning the world upside down
38:01
with the message that they're bringing.
38:04
These people who were in this locked room,
38:08
their lives being turned upside down
38:10
by meeting Jesus.
38:13
They go out boldly.
38:15
And this appearance,
38:17
I believe, is a preparation
38:19
for the work that he has for them to do.
38:23
And the disciples receive three things
38:26
from Jesus here in this passage.
38:28
And the first thing
38:29
that they receive from Jesus is peace.
38:33
The disciples are gathered in this locked room
38:36
and Jesus comes into their presence
38:39
and he says,
38:40
peace be with you at the end of verse 19.
38:45
And I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall
38:47
in that locked room
38:48
to weigh up and to evaluate
38:51
and to watch these disciples
38:53
considering what's going on.
38:56
They're scared of what's going to happen.
39:00
But Mary's come from the morning
39:03
and she's reported that
39:05
I have seen the Lord Jesus.
39:06
Maybe the two from the road to Emmaus
39:09
have now returned and said to them,
39:11
we've seen Jesus too.
39:13
And they're probably weighing it all up
39:16
and asking,
39:17
what's happened?
39:19
Where's Jesus' body gone?
39:23
Has Jesus risen?
39:24
We'll have more of the questions
39:28
that they asked this evening
39:29
when we consider Thomas.
39:31
But here the disciples,
39:33
they're all locked in.
39:35
And they're locked in for fear.
39:37
And it's a fear of death.
39:39
Because what would happen is
39:41
when the Romans condemned someone to die,
39:43
when they condemned a movement,
39:45
they would seek after,
39:48
well, the leader first.
39:49
But then all the followers
39:51
that were associated
39:52
with that man
39:53
that had been condemned,
39:54
they'd try and obliterate them.
39:56
So that movement
39:57
would no longer cause
39:59
any issues amongst the people.
40:02
And the Jews
40:03
weren't exactly their best friends either.
40:06
The Jews did not like
40:08
what Jesus had been teaching.
40:10
So if they had seen
40:11
any of the disciples
40:12
out and about,
40:15
they would have been straight
40:16
reporting them
40:17
as followers of Jesus Christ,
40:19
that they would be captured
40:20
and silenced.
40:22
So you can see straight away
40:24
that there is absolutely
40:25
no peace in this camp.
40:27
They are fearful for their lives.
40:30
They're locked in a room.
40:33
It highlights their fear
40:34
that they're locked in.
40:36
It highlights something
40:37
of the body of Jesus.
40:39
And the body,
40:41
the appearance that he comes in,
40:43
the physical attributes of Jesus,
40:45
that he can just appear.
40:47
We don't really have time
40:48
to go into that this morning.
40:50
But he appears
40:51
out of nowhere
40:53
to people that are already
40:54
scared for their lives.
41:00
Which is quite interesting.
41:03
And it's interesting to note
41:05
that it doesn't record any fear,
41:10
any extra fear on their part.
41:12
they're joyful
41:14
to see the man
41:15
that comes in peace.
41:21
If you remember that count,
41:23
Jesus was taken away
41:25
to be crucified.
41:26
The soldiers came
41:27
to capture Jesus before.
41:29
And where did the disciples go?
41:31
They ran away.
41:34
They were scared
41:35
of the soldiers.
41:36
They were scared
41:37
that they would die too.
41:39
Jesus was captured.
41:43
And Jesus doesn't mention this,
41:45
that you abandoned me.
41:46
Where were you
41:47
when the soldiers came for me?
41:50
He doesn't mention that.
41:53
But they didn't want to die.
41:55
The disciples didn't want to die.
41:57
They had a fear
41:58
of dying at that moment.
42:02
Jesus comes with peace.
42:04
Peace be with you,
42:05
he says.
42:05
Peace.
42:07
A peace that is not like
42:08
any other peace in this world
42:10
that we read in John chapter 14.
42:12
He brings peace
42:14
when things are terrifying.
42:17
Peace in the midst
42:18
of absolute fear
42:20
when their world is upside down.
42:24
And in many ways
42:24
the world is upside down today.
42:27
And I believe the world
42:28
is looking for peace.
42:30
We all want to have peace.
42:32
We all want peace.
42:34
It's almost like
42:35
we're programmed
42:35
for peace.
42:38
We try to make
42:39
our own peace.
42:40
But there's always something
42:41
that will come across
42:42
and spoil it.
42:45
Jesus is here
42:46
saying that he brings
42:48
peace
42:48
in the midst
42:49
of fear.
42:52
His presence
42:53
brings peace.
42:55
And you can maybe imagine
42:56
when you were a little
42:56
boy or girl
42:57
and something
42:58
had happened to you.
43:00
You were fearful
43:01
of something.
43:01
You were scared
43:02
of something.
43:03
You had a nightmare.
43:05
Your parent would come in
43:06
and their presence
43:08
would bring you peace.
43:09
Maybe you've started
43:10
working
43:11
and you're learning
43:12
your trade
43:12
and you make
43:13
a complete blunder
43:14
and you're fearful
43:15
of the outcome.
43:16
What's going to happen?
43:18
And someone more experienced
43:19
comes in
43:20
and says,
43:20
it's okay.
43:21
We can fix it.
43:22
That person's presence
43:24
brings peace to you.
43:26
Jesus brings peace
43:27
to them
43:28
because he knows
43:29
what to do.
43:31
And it's a peace
43:33
not like this world.
43:34
Jesus is called
43:35
the Prince of Peace
43:37
elsewhere in the Bible.
43:40
And that is something
43:41
that the Christian,
43:42
the believer,
43:43
receives.
43:44
They have a certain
43:45
and special peace
43:46
in life.
43:48
Maybe you've seen it
43:49
in action.
43:49
Maybe you've seen
43:50
a Christian
43:51
go through
43:51
the most horrendous
43:52
experience
43:53
and you wonder,
43:55
well,
43:55
how on earth
43:56
can they have
43:57
so much peace
43:58
in the midst
43:59
of something
44:01
so terrifying,
44:03
fearful?
44:05
The Christian
44:06
has peace
44:07
in life,
44:08
but also the Christian
44:09
receives peace
44:10
in death.
44:12
They have peace
44:13
knowing
44:14
that Jesus
44:15
has conquered
44:16
death
44:17
for them.
44:18
they have a special
44:19
and certain peace
44:21
through their life
44:22
because they know
44:23
that although they die,
44:26
Jesus
44:27
has provided
44:29
for them
44:31
and prepared
44:32
for them
44:32
a place
44:33
for them
44:34
to be.
44:36
He has made
44:37
peace
44:38
for this
44:39
disciple.
44:40
Jesus Christ
44:41
has made peace
44:42
for you.
44:43
Peace
44:44
for the one
44:44
who is scared.
44:46
Peace
44:46
for the one
44:47
who is full
44:49
of fears
44:49
in this life.
44:51
Peace
44:52
for the one
44:52
whose life
44:53
is upside down.
44:54
Peace
44:55
for the one
44:55
who feels
44:56
like locking
44:56
themselves
44:57
away from
44:57
the world.
44:59
Peace
45:00
for the one
45:00
who fears
45:02
death.
45:03
Jesus
45:03
brings
45:04
peace.
45:06
It's a great
45:07
treasure to have
45:08
peace in your life.
45:10
But Jesus
45:10
also brings
45:11
something else
45:12
to the disciples
45:13
here and he brings
45:13
a purpose
45:14
to them.
45:15
The second
45:16
point.
45:16
He brings
45:16
peace
45:17
and he brings
45:18
purpose to
45:19
them too.
45:20
Now you
45:21
know in
45:22
your life
45:23
if you don't
45:23
have a purpose
45:24
you feel
45:25
a bit lost
45:26
and when
45:27
you think
45:29
you have
45:29
no purpose
45:30
in this
45:30
life
45:31
you yourself
45:32
can feel
45:34
as someone
45:35
having
45:37
no purpose
45:38
which can
45:40
have sad
45:41
consequences.
45:43
Having
45:44
purpose
45:44
is personally
45:45
a huge
45:46
thing.
45:48
Have you
45:48
ever asked
45:49
why am
45:50
I here?
45:51
What is
45:52
my purpose?
45:54
And a
45:54
group of
45:55
godly men
45:55
knew the
45:56
value of
45:57
people knowing
45:58
their purpose
45:58
when they
45:59
wrote the
46:00
small book
46:01
the shorter
46:01
catechism
46:02
that taught
46:04
people about
46:05
God.
46:06
The first
46:06
question that
46:07
they had
46:08
there posed
46:10
was what
46:11
is man's
46:12
purpose?
46:14
What is
46:14
the chief
46:14
end of
46:15
man?
46:15
Is the
46:16
way it
46:16
was written.
46:18
They knew
46:18
the value
46:19
of it.
46:19
They put
46:20
it first
46:20
and the
46:22
purpose of
46:22
man is to
46:23
glorify God
46:24
and enjoy
46:24
him forever.
46:27
In our
46:27
passage here
46:28
Jesus comes
46:30
to the
46:30
disciples and
46:31
he gives
46:32
them a new
46:32
purpose.
46:33
They would
46:34
go and
46:34
glorify
46:35
God.
46:39
They would
46:39
go out
46:40
with the
46:40
gospel.
46:42
Jesus
46:42
says to
46:43
them peace
46:44
be with
46:44
you again
46:45
in verse
46:46
21.
46:48
It's
46:48
repeated
46:49
because he's
46:49
got something
46:50
really important
46:50
to say to
46:51
them.
46:52
He's saying
46:53
as the
46:53
father has
46:54
sent me
46:55
so I
46:56
am sending
46:57
you.
46:58
This is
46:59
the hand
47:00
over.
47:02
They are
47:02
going to
47:02
carry on
47:03
the work
47:04
that God
47:04
sent Jesus
47:05
to do.
47:08
And in
47:08
many ways
47:09
they could
47:09
not.
47:09
they
47:10
wouldn't
47:10
do the
47:12
work of
47:12
Christ in
47:13
the sense
47:13
of redeeming
47:14
people and
47:16
forgiving
47:16
sins.
47:17
But the
47:18
first thing
47:19
that Jesus
47:19
did when
47:20
he came
47:21
into this
47:21
world,
47:21
you can
47:22
read about
47:22
in the
47:22
gospel of
47:23
Mark,
47:23
is that
47:23
he came
47:24
and proclaimed
47:25
the gospel
47:25
of God.
47:27
Calling
47:28
people to
47:28
repent and
47:29
believe in
47:30
the gospel.
47:31
And that
47:32
is what the
47:32
disciples are
47:33
now being
47:33
instructed to
47:34
do.
47:36
Go out
47:36
with the
47:37
gospel of
47:37
Jesus
47:38
Christ and
47:38
call them
47:39
to believe
47:40
in him.
47:42
That they
47:42
may have
47:43
life.
47:44
The man
47:45
that died
47:45
on the
47:45
cross for
47:46
you and
47:48
for your
47:49
sins.
47:51
So that
47:52
you may be
47:52
set free
47:53
from eternal
47:55
punishment in
47:56
hell and be
47:58
received into
48:00
heaven and to
48:02
be with
48:02
Christ forever
48:03
to the
48:05
eternal
48:05
enjoyment.
48:08
He died
48:10
for you.
48:14
These men
48:15
in this
48:16
account went
48:18
out completely
48:19
changed after
48:21
they saw the
48:22
risen Lord
48:22
Jesus.
48:24
Their purpose
48:25
in life had
48:26
changed.
48:27
They went
48:28
out even
48:30
if it meant
48:30
facing a
48:31
brutal death
48:32
death, which
48:33
it did for
48:34
most of
48:35
them.
48:36
They had a
48:37
new purpose
48:37
in life to
48:38
fulfill and
48:41
their lives
48:42
were turned
48:43
upside down
48:44
by seeing
48:44
this man.
48:47
It's kind
48:47
of proof in
48:48
a sense that
48:49
Jesus did
48:49
appear to
48:50
them.
48:51
They were
48:51
so scared
48:52
to die in
48:53
the first
48:54
instance and
48:55
now they're
48:55
going out
48:56
boldly as
48:57
completely
48:57
different
48:58
people.
48:59
With the
49:00
gospel message
49:01
with confidence
49:04
and even
49:06
if they die
49:06
they know
49:08
they shall
49:09
live.
49:12
And I'm
49:12
sure they
49:13
said of
49:13
themselves
49:14
well I
49:16
can't do
49:16
it.
49:17
I'm not
49:18
the man
49:18
for the
49:19
job.
49:21
But this
49:21
is the
49:22
Christian
49:23
church of
49:24
the day.
49:25
This
49:25
small number
49:27
is the
49:27
Christian
49:28
church.
49:28
church, the
49:30
few that
49:30
are gathered
49:31
in this
49:31
locked room
49:32
they feel
49:32
so weak,
49:34
they're asking
49:35
what's going
49:36
on, they've
49:38
isolated
49:38
themselves,
49:39
they've lost
49:39
all courage.
49:42
The church
49:43
should never
49:43
lock themselves
49:44
away from
49:44
the world.
49:46
We have a
49:47
purpose to
49:48
go out with
49:48
the gospel of
49:49
Jesus Christ.
49:51
The Lord is a
49:52
work for
49:53
everyone and
49:54
it's a different
49:54
work as we
49:55
were saying to
49:55
the children.
49:59
Doesn't mean
50:00
that we'll all
50:00
stand and
50:01
preach, doesn't
50:02
mean that we
50:02
go out and
50:03
put the
50:04
Bible down
50:05
people's
50:05
throats, but
50:06
at very least
50:07
it means that
50:09
we live
50:09
Christ-like
50:10
lives.
50:13
We live
50:14
like Christ
50:14
lived in
50:15
this world and
50:16
continue his
50:16
work in that
50:17
way, if
50:18
nothing else.
50:19
We forgive
50:20
others.
50:22
We give,
50:23
we help
50:24
those who
50:25
are poor,
50:25
we love
50:28
one another,
50:29
we love
50:29
our neighbours,
50:30
we talk to
50:31
those who
50:31
are despised,
50:32
we do not
50:33
judge one
50:33
another.
50:35
We imitate
50:36
Christ as
50:37
Paul saw
50:37
to do.
50:39
God has
50:39
his purpose
50:40
for everyone.
50:42
And the
50:42
funny thing
50:43
is that when
50:44
you come to
50:44
believe in
50:45
this man,
50:46
you've got
50:47
your own
50:47
purpose for
50:48
your life
50:48
already sorted.
50:50
But when
50:51
you meet
50:51
with Jesus
50:52
and you
50:52
believe in
50:53
Jesus Christ,
50:54
he puts a
50:55
new purpose
50:55
in your
50:56
life.
50:56
And the
50:57
things that
50:57
you thought
50:58
you'd never
50:58
do, you
50:59
may well
51:00
end up
51:00
doing.
51:01
Because you
51:02
are fulfilling
51:03
his purpose
51:04
for his
51:05
glory.
51:06
You
51:06
yourself have
51:07
a new
51:07
purpose in
51:08
this life.
51:10
It is
51:10
his purpose.
51:12
And the
51:12
peace that
51:13
we have is
51:14
his peace.
51:15
And the
51:16
last thing I
51:16
want to say
51:17
to you today
51:18
is that
51:20
these disciples
51:21
received power
51:22
as well
51:24
when they
51:25
met with
51:25
Jesus
51:26
Christ.
51:29
Power in
51:30
the sense
51:30
of strength
51:31
because they
51:33
felt so
51:34
weak to do
51:35
the job
51:36
that was
51:36
asked of
51:36
them.
51:40
People like
51:41
to feel
51:41
strong enough.
51:43
We feel
51:44
like we're
51:45
sometimes we
51:46
do feel like
51:46
we're strong
51:47
enough.
51:48
Sometimes we
51:49
do feel like
51:50
we have
51:50
power.
51:50
but there
51:56
are definitely
51:56
times where
51:57
we feel
51:57
weak.
51:59
There are
51:59
definitely
51:59
times when
52:00
we feel
52:01
so weak
52:02
that we
52:03
have nothing
52:03
left to
52:04
give.
52:05
We feel
52:06
like we're
52:06
so weak
52:07
that we
52:07
don't want
52:07
to go
52:07
into this
52:08
world.
52:11
Jesus
52:12
knows our
52:12
weakness.
52:13
Jesus knew
52:14
that these
52:14
disciples needed
52:15
help.
52:16
They needed
52:17
strength and
52:17
so he would
52:18
send that
52:19
Holy Spirit
52:19
we read
52:20
about as
52:20
the helper
52:21
for his
52:22
people.
52:24
He has
52:24
promised to
52:25
give his
52:26
people strength.
52:28
They cannot
52:28
do anything
52:29
on their
52:30
own strength.
52:32
It's clearly
52:32
evident that
52:34
they have no
52:34
strength of
52:35
themselves.
52:36
They lock
52:37
themselves away
52:38
in this room.
52:39
They can't
52:40
face the
52:40
world.
52:42
But they
52:43
changed so
52:44
dramatically
52:44
to go out
52:46
confidently to
52:47
declare the
52:48
gospel.
52:50
And it's
52:51
the same
52:51
for the
52:51
church today
52:52
that we
52:53
must rely
52:54
on the
52:54
power of
52:55
the Spirit,
52:55
the strength
52:56
of the
52:56
Spirit.
52:57
It's the
52:58
same for
52:58
every single
52:59
believer that
53:00
we rely not
53:01
on ourselves
53:02
but we rely
53:03
on his
53:04
strength that
53:05
he gives us
53:06
through the
53:07
Spirit.
53:09
Because it's
53:10
not easy.
53:12
And there
53:13
are days
53:13
where you
53:13
will make
53:15
a mistake.
53:15
There are
53:16
days where
53:16
you will
53:17
blunder.
53:19
Not that
53:20
you want
53:20
to.
53:22
But the
53:22
Spirit will
53:24
also teach
53:25
you,
53:27
correct you.
53:28
That's what
53:29
the Spirit
53:29
will do in
53:30
your life as
53:30
well.
53:32
Give you
53:32
strength but
53:34
also teach
53:35
you every
53:36
step of the
53:36
way.
53:37
And instruct
53:38
you and
53:38
guide you so
53:40
that you may
53:41
keep going.
53:41
and the
53:43
most elderly
53:44
Christian here
53:46
will say
53:47
that, well,
53:48
I have not
53:49
remained a
53:50
believer because
53:51
of my own
53:51
strength.
53:53
I would have
53:53
quickly gone
53:54
off track
53:55
if there
53:57
had not been
53:57
for the
53:58
strength that
53:58
I received
53:59
from the
53:59
Lord Jesus
54:00
Christ.
54:03
And you
54:03
work through
54:04
this passage
54:05
here.
54:07
They receive
54:07
something of
54:08
the Spirit
54:09
that raises
54:10
questions,
54:11
a few
54:12
difficult
54:13
questions that
54:13
are raised
54:14
in the last
54:14
few verses
54:15
here.
54:16
They receive
54:17
the Spirit
54:17
but the
54:17
Spirit comes
54:18
at Pentecost
54:19
later on.
54:20
And people
54:21
ask, well,
54:21
what did they
54:22
receive here
54:23
at this
54:24
moment?
54:24
Was it a
54:25
promise of
54:26
the Pentecost
54:27
to come?
54:27
Was it a
54:28
measure of
54:29
Spirit at
54:29
this moment?
54:31
We're running
54:32
out of time.
54:33
We don't have
54:33
time to
54:34
consider it.
54:36
The second
54:37
thing that it
54:38
says is that
54:38
they would
54:40
have the
54:40
power to
54:41
forgive sins.
54:43
And really
54:44
that is not
54:45
that they
54:45
themselves can
54:46
forgive sins.
54:47
Only the
54:47
Lord Jesus
54:48
Christ can
54:48
forgive sins.
54:49
But they
54:50
are going
54:50
out with
54:51
the strength
54:52
and the
54:52
power of
54:52
the gospel.
54:54
They are
54:54
going out
54:54
as changed
54:55
men and
54:56
it is the
54:56
gospel that
54:57
has the
54:57
power to
54:57
forgive sins.
54:59
They present
55:00
the gospel to
55:01
people as it
55:02
is presented
55:02
to each and
55:03
every one of
55:04
us here this
55:05
morning.
55:06
If we receive
55:07
it, our sins
55:08
will be forgiven.
55:09
If not,
55:12
forgiveness is
55:13
withheld.
55:17
The gospel
55:18
can change
55:19
your life.
55:23
And though we
55:24
feel so very
55:25
weak at times,
55:27
the presence of
55:29
Jesus can turn
55:30
us around,
55:32
turn our world
55:33
upside.
55:34
day.
55:35
Jesus is
55:35
here as a
55:37
man that
55:37
died on the
55:38
cross for
55:38
each and
55:39
every one of
55:39
us, saying
55:41
that he can
55:41
give you
55:42
peace, he
55:43
can give you
55:44
a purpose,
55:45
and he can
55:46
give you
55:47
strength for
55:48
the day and
55:49
strength for
55:50
life.
55:52
And there
55:53
are three
55:53
aspects of
55:54
our lives
55:54
that I
55:55
think we
55:55
all want
55:56
to have.
55:58
We all
55:58
desire to
55:59
have and we
56:01
long to have
56:02
it.
56:02
maybe we
56:02
chase after
56:03
peace,
56:04
purpose,
56:06
strength,
56:06
power.
56:08
The world
56:08
promises to
56:09
give us all
56:10
these things and
56:11
at the end of
56:12
the day,
56:13
we are left
56:14
weak.
56:14
we exhaust
56:21
ourselves finding
56:23
things that
56:24
satisfy us
56:25
when really
56:27
it is to be
56:28
found in the
56:29
gospel of
56:30
Jesus Christ.
56:33
And it is
56:34
nothing of
56:34
ourselves.
56:36
It is a
56:36
gift of God.
56:38
It is whose
56:39
peace that is
56:40
given to us.
56:41
it is whose
56:42
purpose that we
56:44
find ourselves
56:45
doing.
56:46
And it is
56:47
whose strength
56:48
that we find
56:50
the strength to
56:50
go on every
56:51
day.
56:54
Jesus prepared
56:55
the disciples
56:56
for life and
56:59
for death.
57:00
Jesus will
57:01
prepare you
57:02
for life and
57:04
for death
57:04
with his
57:06
peace,
57:07
with his
57:07
purpose,
57:08
and with his
57:09
power.
57:09
I pray that
57:12
we believe in
57:13
the risen Lord
57:15
Jesus.
57:16
Amen.
57:17
We will
57:18
conclude by
57:19
singing in
57:21
Psalm 118 of
57:23
the Scottish
57:23
Psalter.
57:26
Find that on
57:28
page 397 of
57:30
the blue
57:31
praise book.
57:33
We will sing
57:34
from the
57:34
beginning of
57:34
that psalm.
57:37
We will sing
57:38
four stanzas
57:41
down to
57:41
verse Mark
57:41
6 in
57:42
conclusion.
57:44
The words
57:45
there are,
57:46
O praise
57:46
the Lord
57:47
for he is
57:47
good.
57:48
His mercy
57:49
lasteth ever.
57:51
Let those
57:51
of Israel
57:52
now say,
57:53
his mercy
57:53
faileth
57:54
never.
57:56
Now let
57:56
the house
57:56
of Aaron
57:57
say,
57:57
his mercy
57:58
lasteth
57:58
ever.
57:59
Let those
58:00
that fear
58:00
the Lord
58:01
now say,
58:01
his mercy
58:02
faileth
58:03
never.
58:04
I in
58:05
distress
58:05
called on
58:06
the Lord.
58:07
The Lord
58:08
did answer
58:08
me.
58:09
He in a
58:10
large place
58:10
did me
58:11
set,
58:12
from trouble
58:12
made me
58:13
free.
58:14
The mighty
58:14
Lord is
58:15
on my
58:16
side.
58:17
I will
58:17
not be
58:18
afraid for
58:19
anything that
58:20
man can do.
58:22
I shall
58:23
not be
58:24
dismayed.
58:25
The eternal
58:26
abiding
58:27
mercy of
58:28
God do
58:29
we receive
58:30
it.
58:30
Let us
58:30
stand to
58:31
sing praise
58:32
to him.
58:32
O praise
58:33
the Lord
58:33
for he
58:33
is good,
58:34
his mercy
58:35
lasteth
58:35
ever.
58:36
O praise
58:40
the Lord
58:42
for he
58:43
is good,
58:46
his mercy
58:48
lasteth
58:50
ever.
58:52
Let
58:53
those
58:54
of
58:55
his
58:56
that
59:09
free
59:15
come
59:18
again
59:23
Let those that fear the Lord Christ take His mercy favor never.
59:37
I am this faithful of the Lord, the Lord did answer me.
59:54
He in the dark place did me set, from trouble make me free.
1:00:09
The mighty Lord is on my side, I will not be afraid.
1:00:25
For anything that thou can do, I shall not be blessed.
1:00:42
We'll close in prayer, remain standing.
1:00:45
Our Lord and our God, may we know the eternal abiding love and grace known through Jesus Christ.
1:00:53
As we part with one another, we pray that you would remain with us, watch over us and guide us in every step of life.
1:01:01
That we may consider Christ and give us hearts that are willing to receive Him.
1:01:07
Be with us as we part, forgive us our sins, in Jesus' name. Amen.
1:01:23
Amen.
1:01:29
Amen.
1:01:31
Amen.
1:01:31
Thank you.
1:02:01
Thank you.
1:02:31
Thank you.