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Worship the Living God · 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 77, in the Sing Psalms version.
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Psalm 77, so on page 100 of the psalm books, we'll sing from verse 6 down to verse 14.
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Psalm 77 at verse 6,
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Throughout the watches of the night, my songs I called to mind.
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I ponder deeply while my heart an answer tried to find.
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Forever will the Lord reject and never show his grace.
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Has he withdrawn his steadfast love and turned from me his face?
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And then we see in verse 10 a response.
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Then to my heart there came this thought.
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On this I will rely.
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The years of the right hand of power of him who is most high.
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How God remembers us in all our needs.
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So we'll sing from verse 6 to verse 14 and the tune is Glencairn.
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I invoke the singing of Jadion, Schmidt divers out of England.
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interval six feet away from the r computational group.
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I wonder deeply while my heart
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an answer I to find.
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Forever will the Lord be dead
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and never show his face.
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As he withdrawn his strength as love
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and turned only his face.
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For all time has his promise
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in his God no longer kind.
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As he is, he traverses
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compassion from his mind.
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Then to my heart
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there came this thought
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of which I will rely.
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The years of the bright hand of hand
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of him who is most high.
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I will recall the Lord's great peace
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pure works of long and long.
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I'll meditate on all your act
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pure mighty deeds that show.
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O God, most holy higher ways
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what God compares with you.
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You are the Lord of the hills
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who is part of the nation's view.
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Let's come to God in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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O Lord, our gracious God,
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as we continue in our worship of you this day,
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we do thank you for your word
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as we have heard it today,
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as we come to hear it once more,
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that we would never tire of it,
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that we would never tire of uniting our hearts
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in praise and worship to you,
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that our hearts would not go cold
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or hard towards you.
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We often feel, Lord,
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that that would not be possible
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and yet your word reminds us
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that so often down through
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the generations of your people,
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your people have lost that focus,
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lost that attention to who they are to worship.
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And yet constantly you remind us
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that only you are worthy of all our prayers
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and all our worship,
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that glory is to you alone.
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Even in these words that we have sung,
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we are reminded of it,
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that there is no God who compares to you,
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for you are the God of miracles,
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whose power the nations view.
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And yet as we think of these words
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in our own times just now
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and with all the nations around us,
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we know that we still see your power
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and your miracles at work in our midst,
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and yet we have no thought of them.
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We have no thought towards you.
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And so we pray, Lord,
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that you will remember us,
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that you will awaken us,
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that you would give us the prayer of this psalm,
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that we would be a people
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who would constantly remember,
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that we can rely upon you,
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the years of the right hand of power,
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of him who is most high,
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the wonders of the Lord's great deeds,
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his works of long ago,
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that we can still look to these things,
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that we can still remind ourselves
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that you are still the God of miracles,
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that you are still the one,
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even today,
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who is able to do so much more
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than all that we ask or imagine.
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And so give us faith, O Lord.
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Give us to look to you
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and to trust and rely upon you for all things.
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For in you we live,
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move and have our being,
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as your word says.
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And Lord,
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there are times when we so often think
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we can rely on ourselves,
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but again and again,
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you remind us,
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Lord,
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that we are weak enough ourselves,
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that we are unable to do so much in our lives.
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And especially,
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Lord,
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the greatest thing we cannot achieve
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is our own salvation.
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We cannot do anything
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to receive glory from you,
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that you would say to us,
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well done,
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on being able to do
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what can bring forgiveness of sins
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to yourself.
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We have to look beyond ourselves.
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We have to acknowledge our sin
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and look to the one
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who was without sin
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and the one who came to bear
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the sins of this world.
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And we thank you that in Jesus Christ,
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we have that one to look to,
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that we can lift our eyes to him,
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that we can behold him,
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the one who was pierced
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for our transgressions,
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the one by whose wounds
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we can be healed.
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And we thank you that it is your word
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that directs us
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in all of these things
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to see the wonder
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and the beauty of Jesus.
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And we thank you for the promise
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of the Holy Spirit,
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the one who leads us
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towards the wonder of Christ
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and the wonder of the glory of his name.
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And we pray tonight
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that your spirit will be with us
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as we gather here
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and as others tune in online.
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We pray for your spirit
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to lead us in our worship,
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to guide us in your word,
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to teach us,
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to build us up,
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to challenge and rebuke
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where that is required,
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to do all things,
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O Lord, for us,
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that we might leave here
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with a clearer knowledge
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and a clearer understanding
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of who you are.
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And our trust would increase,
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that our faith would go on strengthened,
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even for this week ahead,
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in all the uncertainties of it
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and the challenges that may lie ahead for us.
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That, as your word reminds us,
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if we were to have faith,
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even the size of a mustard seed,
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we could say to the mountains
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to be cast into the sea.
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So, Lord, give us that faith
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to look to you at all times
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and to lean upon you
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for understanding and wisdom
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and help in all life's experience.
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We do pray for our people here.
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We thank you for every home
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and family represented.
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We thank you for our community,
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our church community,
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our church family.
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And we pray, Lord,
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that you will bind us together
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day by day,
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that as the message of your word
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is delivered here this morning
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by the Reverend Colin McLeod,
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that we are to be a living church for you,
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that you would make us so,
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that you would enable us, Lord,
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to go on in your strength,
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to do all things well
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and to do all for your glory.
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And we thank you for every service
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that we have to give to you.
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We thank you for the gift of prayer.
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We thank you that whether we are together
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or apart,
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we are to exercise that,
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that we are to look to you, O Lord,
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and wait patiently upon you.
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We are to offer up our prayers to you
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for all things.
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And especially as we seek, O Lord,
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wisdom from you
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in all the days ahead,
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as we seek your blessing
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on all the works we are involved in,
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as we seek your help in all things.
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Lord, we thank you
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that we have a name to come to you with,
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that we pray,
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not in of ourselves,
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but in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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And we thank you, Lord,
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that together we pray that name this evening.
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And may you teach us to pray, Lord.
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May you encourage us in prayer.
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May you give answer to your,
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to our prayers according to your will,
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as we ask it all,
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looking for your glory.
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And may you teach us, O Lord,
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as we go on to know that
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you are the one who builds your church.
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As we think of every endeavor,
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as we preach the word,
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as we share it,
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as we meet for prayers during the week,
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as we look to your help
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for the holiday club
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and for the Fridays of the Free,
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for all that we do
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to reach out to our communities
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with the gospel.
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We pray for patience.
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We pray for words to speak.
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We pray for your spirit to move among us,
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that we would see your power at work,
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that we would see the revelation
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of your acts once more in our midst,
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that we would give glory and praise to you.
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We thank you too, Lord,
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that as a people,
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we can mourn with those who mourn as well.
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And we thank you for that power
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that there is in your people
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to gather round one another in such times.
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And as we have been touched by the sad news,
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even in these last days,
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we do thank you, Lord,
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that as you call your people home,
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that we have that great comfort
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and great assurance
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that to die is gain for your people.
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And so we pray, Lord,
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your comfort in the midst of sorrow.
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And we think especially of
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the family of Charlie Finlayson at this time
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and ourselves as a congregation.
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We thank you for his humble service to you
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over so many years.
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And we pray, Lord,
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for Catherine and for Ruthie at this time
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and the grandsons too
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and all the family as a whole.
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Lord, may your peace and blessing be over them.
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May you draw near to them
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and comfort them throughout these days
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and give help, O Lord,
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in all that is to be done over these days.
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We thank you that your grace
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is always sufficient.
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And we pray for that to be poured out upon them
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and that they would know it in a special way.
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Lord, we do pray for those
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who are unwell at this time.
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We know there's been so much illness
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over these last few weeks,
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not just with ourselves,
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but throughout our island communities.
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There are so many who are unwell
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and suffering in different ways.
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We just pray for healing and help
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in the midst of it.
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We thank you, Lord,
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for all the health service
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and for all that they do for us
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in hospitals and in the community
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and serving in so many different ways.
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We pray for them, Lord,
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that you will strengthen them
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and bless them.
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We do pray for our land at this time as well.
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In the midst of this last week
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and the general election that's taken place,
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a general election that has seen so much change
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throughout our land,
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not least in the leadership of our parliament.
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We do pray for our new prime minister.
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We ask, O Lord,
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that you would lead them
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and guide them and his government
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and all who will serve in parliament
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in these coming years,
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either re-elected or elected anew.
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We do pray for them, Lord,
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that you will guide them by your spirit
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and help them to know
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that your power is there for them,
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that they would call upon you
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and ask for your wisdom
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and your guidance.
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We do pray for our nation.
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We pray for the gospel
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as it goes out throughout our land.
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We pray for you to build your church in our midst,
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that you would have mercy upon us,
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that you would pour out your spirit upon us.
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We pray that for the lands of the world, O Lord,
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in which we live,
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the nations, the peoples,
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all that we see around us.
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We pray, Lord,
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that you would pour out your blessing upon us,
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guide us towards you,
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that your word will be blessed
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to all ends of the earth.
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We thank you for our time here,
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this evening,
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and we pray that you will continue with us,
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watch over our people,
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watch over those who are visiting with us
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over these coming weeks
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and people who are traveling away as well.
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We pray your protection,
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your safety,
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your blessing,
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your refreshing upon us all.
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And we ask, O Lord,
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that above all,
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together we would praise you,
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together we would fix our eyes on Jesus
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and look to him,
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we might know his power and presence
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in our midst,
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and even going into this week ahead,
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that we would know your strength
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and your mercy with us.
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We thank you for your grace
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and pray to know it more and more.
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So hear our prayers
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and pardon our sin
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as we ask all of these things
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in that precious name
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that we look to even anew this evening,
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in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
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and his glory in our midst.
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Amen.
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We'll again sing to God's praise
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this time in Psalm 30
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in the Singed Psalms version.
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Psalm 30 on page 34.
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We'll sing from the beginning of the psalm
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down to verse 8.
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And then our next singing
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will be from the same psalm as well.
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Psalm 30 on page 34 at verse 1.
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O Lord, I will exalt your name
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for you have rescued me.
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You did not let my foes rejoice
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and gloat triumphantly.
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Lord God, in need I cried to you
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and you restored my health.
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O Lord, you brought me from the grave
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and saved my soul from death.
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We'll sing from verse 1 to 8
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to God's praise in the tune of St. Andrew.
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Amen.
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O Lord, I will exalt your name
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for you have rescued me.
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You did not let my foes rejoice
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and hope triumphantly.
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Lord God, in need I cry to you
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and you restored my health.
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O Lord, you brought me from the grave
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and saved my soul from death.
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You holy ones sing to the Lord.
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Sing out with joyful voice
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When you recall his holy name
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Let praise him and rejoice
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His anger, what an open glass
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Life on his river stays
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Though tears may last
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Throughout the night
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Throughout the night
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Joy comes with morning's rays
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Joy comes with morning's rays
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I never shall be moved
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I said
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In my hostility
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You made my mountain
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In grenade
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Changezil
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ritual
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Yet
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It's my house
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My heart was terrified
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To you, O Lord, I call the Lord
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For mercy, Lord, I cry
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We'll turn to read together now God's Word in the book of Acts.
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We're reading in chapter 14.
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We're taking up our reading at verse 8.
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Acts chapter 14, and we'll take up our reading at verse 8.
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In here we find Paul and Barnabas.
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They've been traveling around different places.
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As you see at the beginning of the chapter, they've been in Iconium,
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and now they find themselves in Lystra
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as they are taking the Word of God to different places
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and facing up to many different challenges in the midst of it.
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We're going to read then from verse 8,
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reading down to verse 28.
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Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet,
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he was crippled from birth and had never walked.
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He listened to Paul speaking.
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And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,
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said in a loud voice,
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Stand upright on your feet.
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And he sprang up and began walking.
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When the crowd saw what Paul had done,
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they lifted up their voices, saying in Lyconium,
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the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.
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Barnabas they called Zeus and Paul Hermes,
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because he was the chief speaker.
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And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,
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brought oxen and garlands to the gates
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and wanted to offer sacrifices with the crowds.
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But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it,
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they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd,
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crying out,
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Men, why are you doing these things?
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We also are men of like nature with you,
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and we bring you good news,
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that you should turn from these vain things
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to a living God,
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who made the heavens and the earth and the sea
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and all that is in them.
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In past generations he allowed all the nations
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to walk in their own ways.
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Yet he did not leave them without witness,
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for he did good by giving you rains from heaven
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and fruitful seasons,
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satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
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Even with these words,
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they scarcely restrained the people
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from offering sacrifice to them.
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But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium,
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and having persuaded the crowds,
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they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
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supposing that he was dead.
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But when the disciples gathered about him,
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he rose up and entered the city,
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and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derby.
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When they had preached the gospel to that city
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and had made many disciples,
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they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
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strengthening the souls of the disciples,
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encouraging them to continue in their faith,
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and saying that through many tribulations
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we must enter the kingdom of God.
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And when they had appointed elders for them
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in every church with prayer and fasting,
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they committed them to the Lord
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in whom they had believed.
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Then they passed through Pisidia
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and came to Pamphylia.
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And when they had spoken the word in Perga,
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they went down to Atalia.
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And from there they sailed to Antioch,
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where they had been commended to the grace of God
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for the work they had fulfilled.
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And when they arrived and gathered the church together,
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they declared all that God had done with them,
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and how he had opened a door of faith
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to the Gentiles.
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And they remained no little time with the disciples.
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Amen.
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And may God bless that reading from his word.
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Before we come to look at some of that passage,
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we'll again sing in Psalm 30.
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We'll continue singing in this psalm,
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the last verses of the psalm,
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verse 9 down to verse 12.
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What gain will my destruction bring
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if I descend to death?
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Will thus proclaim your faithfulness
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or praise you with its breast?
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Hear as I cry, O Lord my God,
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and listen to my plea.
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Come to my aid and my distress.
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Have mercy, Lord, on me.
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We'll sing these four verses
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to God's praise in the tune of Spore.
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Amen.
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What gain will my destruction bring?
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And why descend to death?
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Well, does your pain
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pure faithfulness
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or praise you with its breast?
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Be thus, I cry, O Lord my God,
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and listen to my plea.
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Come to my aid and my distress.
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You turned my breathing into dust.
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For no longer was I sad.
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My sad, O God,
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You gave me most
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What joy that I was died.
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Therefore, my heart will sing to you
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And never cease to praise
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To your great name.
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O Lord my God,
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I will give thanks always.
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Let's turn back to our reading
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in the book of Acts, chapter 14.
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We can read again at verse 15.
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Men, why are you doing these things?
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We also are men of like nature with you,
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and we bring you good news
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that you should turn from these vain things
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to a living God
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who made the heaven and the earth and the sea
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and all that is in them.
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Turn from these vain things
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to a living God.
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As we read through this passage,
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we are reminded so much of the grace of God,
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how he deals with his people.
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We were thinking last Lord's Day
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about God's mercy and wrath.
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Remember mercy we were looking at in Habakkuk.
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And mercy is a powerful word,
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and we see another word
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that's powerful here this evening.
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Grace.
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It is a wonderful thing.
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Question is,
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have you known it?
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Have you known the grace of God
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in your own life?
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Do you know it even just now?
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Do you have it in your heart,
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that grace of God in all its power?
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Or what is the grace of God?
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Perhaps maybe you're not sure just what is.
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The grace of God.
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Well, grace is a reminder to us
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of something that we cannot do ourselves.
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It is by grace you have been saved,
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Paul says as he writes to the church
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at Ephesus through faith.
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It is a gift of God.
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A gift for what?
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For the forgiveness of our sin.
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And how is that accomplished?
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How are our sins forgiven?
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Well, it's a faith that is based
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on what Christ himself has done for us.
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Martin Luther spoke of grace
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in the light of the impossibility of our sin
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being forgiven by our own actions.
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He spoke of it in this way.
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He said,
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Since this was impossible for us,
28:05
God ordained for us in our place
28:07
one who took upon himself
28:10
all the punishment we deserve.
28:13
He fulfilled the law for us.
28:15
He averted the judgment of God from us
28:18
and appeased God's wrath.
28:21
Grace therefore costs us nothing,
28:25
but it costs another much to get it for us.
28:30
Grace was purchased with an incalculable,
28:34
infinite treasure,
28:36
the Son of God himself.
28:39
That is the wonder of grace.
28:42
What we could never do for ourselves,
28:44
God by his grace has done for us
28:46
through his Son, Jesus Christ.
28:50
And as we look at this passage here in Acts,
28:52
that is the grace that we see
28:53
when Paul and Barnabas meet with this crowd at Lystra.
28:58
They think these two are the gods
29:01
who have come down in the form of men,
29:04
but they say to them,
29:06
No, no, not us.
29:08
It's not about us.
29:09
We are men just like you.
29:12
But they say we bring you good news.
29:16
Good news that you should turn
29:18
from these vain things to a living God.
29:22
And it's this grace that runs through the Bible
29:26
from beginning to end,
29:28
the wonder of God's grace.
29:30
Every time we hear the word of God proclaim,
29:34
every Christ-centered sermon,
29:36
we hear the grace of God is running through it.
29:40
For we are always pointed to the wonder of Christ Jesus
29:44
as our Savior.
29:46
But there are times.
29:49
There are times when we are more aware of it.
29:52
There are times when we feel it more
29:54
and clearly in our own hearts,
29:55
in our own minds,
29:57
how clear it is,
29:58
especially in terms of how undeserving
30:01
we are of this grace.
30:04
We don't deserve it.
30:05
And that's what grace is all about.
30:07
Just like mercy, undeserved,
30:09
so grace, undeserved.
30:12
And yet God pours it out upon his people
30:16
that we might know it through faith in him.
30:20
You see grace running through the Old Testament.
30:25
You see it through the experience
30:27
of God's people with him.
30:30
You think of the book of Exodus
30:31
and how God dealt graciously with his people there
30:35
when he gave the Ten Commandments to Moses.
30:39
While Moses was away,
30:41
the people started to think
30:42
he's not coming back.
30:44
He's left us.
30:45
So what did they do?
30:46
They did what is natural in the heart of man.
30:49
They made an idol.
30:51
They gathered the gold they could find
30:53
and they made a golden calf
30:55
that they might worship that calf.
30:58
And when Moses came back down,
31:00
when he returned,
31:01
this is what he found.
31:02
This is what God saw.
31:04
And yet God graciously
31:06
gave the commandments once more.
31:09
You see it in chapter 34 of Exodus in verse 6.
31:14
As God speaks to Moses
31:16
and meets with Moses again
31:18
to make new tablets of stone
31:20
and to give the commandments,
31:22
he says in verse 6,
31:23
the Lord passed before him
31:25
and proclaimed,
31:27
the Lord, the Lord,
31:29
a God merciful and gracious,
31:31
slow to anger,
31:33
and abounding in steadfast love
31:35
and faithfulness.
31:36
And so he goes on
31:38
to remind them of the grace of God there.
31:43
Did they deserve it?
31:44
No.
31:46
And that is grace shown.
31:48
The Lord is merciful and gracious
31:51
and praise his name that he is.
31:54
And so that's what we continue to see
31:57
as you go on through the scriptures.
31:59
This grace being shown
32:01
in the midst of a people
32:03
who continually turn away from God.
32:08
The reaction as we see
32:10
who God is
32:11
and his power
32:12
and in all his glory,
32:13
it should be for us
32:15
to just bow before him,
32:17
to fall before him,
32:19
pleading for mercy.
32:21
But is that what we do?
32:24
Well, as you see
32:24
as you go through the scriptures,
32:26
you think even of the children of Israel
32:28
in the book of Exodus,
32:29
what happened with them?
32:31
They blew hot
32:32
and they blew cold.
32:34
One minute they were trusting God,
32:36
the next minute
32:37
they were seeing something
32:38
more appealing,
32:39
another God,
32:40
another idol
32:40
they could worship
32:41
that would help them more
32:43
than the living God
32:44
as we read of here.
32:47
And so as we come
32:48
into the book of Acts,
32:49
what we're seeing
32:50
is this ongoing dilemma
32:52
of the people of this world.
32:54
How we turn away
32:55
from the living God,
32:57
turn to our idols,
32:58
and worship them
32:59
and the grace of God,
33:02
the mercy of God
33:03
is that he calls us back.
33:05
And that's what Paul
33:06
and Barnabas
33:07
are doing here.
33:10
We see a similar people
33:11
with a similar problem,
33:14
but with that same grace
33:15
still surrounding them
33:17
and still to this day.
33:20
In the beginning of this chapter
33:22
and when they were in Iconium,
33:24
in verse 3 there,
33:26
you read of the grace
33:27
being preached there.
33:29
So they remained
33:30
for a long time
33:31
speaking boldly of the Lord
33:33
who bore witness
33:34
to the word of his grace.
33:38
They ministered the word of God
33:40
and in the midst
33:40
of the challenges
33:41
that they faced,
33:43
even stoning us,
33:44
we see,
33:45
they continued
33:46
to proclaim
33:47
the good news.
33:51
This morning,
33:52
Colin, I think,
33:52
was preaching on
33:53
the theme of
33:54
the living church.
33:57
And we need grace
33:58
to be
33:58
the living church.
34:01
And this evening,
34:02
we're thinking
34:02
of the grace
34:03
that we receive
34:04
from the living God.
34:07
There is a living God
34:08
that is the heart
34:10
of our church.
34:12
Turn from these vain things,
34:14
in verse 15,
34:15
to a living God
34:16
who made the heaven
34:17
and the earth
34:18
and the sea
34:19
and all
34:20
that is in them.
34:22
We need grace preached.
34:24
We need grace received.
34:25
We need grace lived
34:27
in our midst
34:28
to be a living church,
34:30
worshipping
34:30
the living God.
34:33
And so do we see
34:34
this God
34:35
in our midst?
34:36
Do we have
34:36
this God
34:37
in our midst?
34:38
Are we looking
34:39
and trusting
34:39
to him
34:40
in all things?
34:42
I want us to see
34:43
three things
34:44
from these verses
34:45
before us
34:46
just to remind us
34:47
to always have our eyes
34:48
on the living God
34:49
and the good news
34:50
that he gives.
34:53
And the first thing
34:53
we see
34:53
is the same old problems.
34:56
Then secondly,
34:57
we'll see
34:57
that there's no more excuses.
35:00
And then thirdly,
35:01
we'll see
35:01
that the gospel
35:02
is key.
35:03
The gospel
35:04
is at the heart.
35:06
So the first thing
35:06
we see
35:07
is the same
35:07
old problems.
35:10
When you go back
35:11
to the book
35:11
of Ecclesiastes
35:12
in the Old Testament
35:14
in the first chapter
35:15
there,
35:16
it's a powerful book
35:18
that reminds us
35:19
of what our life
35:20
is like.
35:21
And in verse 9
35:22
it says this,
35:23
what has been
35:24
is what will be
35:25
and what has been done
35:26
is what will be done
35:27
and there is nothing new
35:29
under the sun.
35:31
The cycle
35:32
of life
35:33
just going on,
35:34
going around
35:34
all the time.
35:36
What has been
35:36
will be
35:36
and what has been done
35:37
is what will be done.
35:39
Nothing new
35:40
under the sun.
35:42
It's the same
35:43
old problems
35:45
over and over
35:46
again.
35:48
And so that even
35:48
as you think of
35:49
the Exodus time,
35:51
here we are
35:52
more than
35:53
maybe a thousand
35:53
years later
35:54
when we come
35:55
to the book of Acts
35:56
and you would think
35:57
the people,
35:58
well they're bound
35:59
to have learned.
36:00
They're bound
36:01
to have made progress.
36:02
They're bound
36:02
to have learned
36:03
from all the different
36:04
experiences
36:05
of seeing
36:06
God's punishment
36:08
on their sin
36:08
in the Old Testament
36:09
times when they were
36:10
taken into captivity
36:11
and yet his mercy
36:13
and his grace
36:13
in restoring them.
36:16
They've come
36:16
to see the cross,
36:18
the fulfillment
36:19
and the wonder
36:20
of God's love.
36:21
They've seen
36:22
Christ crucified.
36:23
They're hearing
36:24
this gospel message.
36:25
They're bound
36:26
to have learned.
36:28
They're bound
36:28
to have made progress.
36:30
They're bound
36:30
to be living,
36:32
worshipping God
36:33
with all their hearts
36:34
now.
36:35
In many ways
36:36
progress has been made
36:38
in terms of buildings
36:41
and cities
36:41
and economies
36:42
that have expanded
36:43
and flourished
36:44
throughout all different
36:46
kinds of places.
36:47
That's what the book
36:48
of Acts
36:48
so highlights for us
36:50
the different places
36:51
the gospel was going to.
36:54
The gospel was spreading.
36:56
So yes,
36:57
things have progressed.
36:58
Things have developed.
37:01
And yet more knowledge
37:02
isn't always the answer.
37:05
Because the same problems
37:07
still exist.
37:10
And this great problem
37:11
still exists.
37:14
The problem
37:14
that the people had
37:15
in the days of Moses
37:17
is still the same problem
37:19
here in the book of Acts.
37:21
It's still the same problem
37:23
today.
37:25
And what is
37:26
that great problem?
37:27
Well, the problem is
37:29
a people
37:30
turning from
37:31
the living God
37:33
and turning
37:35
to worship
37:36
idols.
37:38
Idols that take
37:39
all kinds
37:40
of forms.
37:42
Idols that take
37:43
all kinds of shapes.
37:45
Idols that we don't
37:46
even see.
37:47
And yet
37:48
we worship them.
37:50
Just as they do here
37:51
in the book
37:52
of Acts.
37:53
And what you see
37:56
here is just
37:56
how quickly
37:57
the hearts
37:58
can turn
37:59
towards
38:00
idols.
38:03
You see it here
38:05
in verse 11.
38:06
When they had healed
38:07
this man
38:08
who was crippled
38:08
from birth,
38:09
what happened?
38:10
People were amazed.
38:12
In verse 11,
38:13
when the crowd
38:13
saw what Paul
38:15
had done,
38:15
they lifted up
38:16
their voices
38:16
saying in Lyconian,
38:18
the gods
38:19
have come down
38:20
to us
38:21
in the likeness
38:21
of men.
38:23
And what did
38:24
they do?
38:25
They made
38:25
Paul and Barnabas
38:27
their gods.
38:29
Barnabas
38:29
they called
38:30
Zeus
38:31
and Paul
38:32
Hermes.
38:34
These
38:35
were the gods
38:36
they felt
38:36
they were looking
38:37
for.
38:39
They were looking
38:40
to men.
38:43
Just a wee
38:44
aside here
38:45
as we think
38:45
of our own
38:46
situation
38:47
as a congregation
38:48
going forward.
38:50
What are we
38:50
looking for
38:51
when we think
38:52
of ministry
38:53
going forward?
38:55
We don't
38:56
look
38:56
for men.
38:59
We don't
38:59
look
38:59
for someone
39:01
who is going
39:02
to lead
39:03
this church.
39:04
We don't
39:04
look for a man
39:05
in that sense
39:07
but to the
39:08
living God.
39:10
That is
39:11
where we are
39:11
to look.
39:12
any preacher
39:13
is here
39:14
to point
39:15
to the
39:15
living God
39:16
and not
39:18
to ourselves.
39:19
And that's
39:20
what Paul
39:21
and Barnabas
39:22
do here.
39:23
That's what
39:23
they say
39:23
in verse 15.
39:25
We are men
39:26
of like
39:27
nature
39:28
with you.
39:29
That is
39:29
all we
39:30
are.
39:31
As the saying
39:32
goes,
39:32
the best
39:33
of men
39:33
are men
39:34
at best.
39:37
So let's
39:37
not fall
39:38
into the
39:38
trap
39:39
of looking
39:39
to man
39:40
but looking
39:42
to the
39:42
living God.
39:45
But when
39:45
they say
39:46
this,
39:48
when they
39:48
saw
39:49
the fact
39:50
that this
39:50
healing
39:52
had taken
39:53
place,
39:53
they say
39:53
in verse
39:54
11,
39:54
the gods
39:55
have come
39:56
down to
39:56
us in
39:57
the likeness
39:58
of men.
39:59
Look how
39:59
close they
40:00
are to
40:01
the truth.
40:03
Look how
40:04
close they
40:04
are to the
40:05
truth.
40:05
the gods
40:06
have come
40:07
down to
40:07
us in
40:08
the likeness
40:09
of men.
40:11
It's like
40:11
it's in
40:11
their heart
40:12
to look
40:13
for God.
40:14
They're
40:15
looking for
40:15
God to
40:16
come down.
40:17
They're
40:17
just looking
40:18
at the
40:18
wrong God.
40:20
God
40:21
came down
40:22
in the
40:22
person of
40:23
Jesus Christ.
40:25
There's no
40:26
one else
40:26
we need
40:26
to look
40:27
to.
40:28
He is
40:29
God of
40:29
gods.
40:30
He is
40:31
King of
40:31
kings.
40:32
He is
40:32
Lord of
40:33
lords.
40:34
They
40:35
have this
40:35
confession
40:36
that's so
40:37
close to
40:37
the truth
40:38
and yet
40:39
so far
40:40
away.
40:42
And so
40:42
for ourselves
40:43
too,
40:44
we must
40:45
think to
40:45
ourselves,
40:46
what God
40:47
are we
40:47
looking to?
40:49
Do we
40:49
fall into
40:50
the same
40:50
old problems
40:52
of making
40:53
idols or
40:54
looking to
40:54
the false
40:55
gods?
40:56
You see
40:56
here they
40:57
even had
40:57
names for
40:58
their gods,
40:59
Zeus and
41:00
Hermes.
41:00
These were
41:01
the gods
41:01
that the
41:02
people were
41:02
looking to
41:03
for prosperity
41:03
and they
41:04
wanted to
41:05
please these
41:06
gods.
41:06
They were
41:06
willing to
41:07
offer
41:07
sacrifices
41:08
to these
41:09
gods straight
41:10
away in
41:11
the person
41:11
of Paul
41:12
and Barnabas.
41:14
But they
41:14
say,
41:15
no,
41:15
it's not
41:16
us.
41:19
How foolish
41:19
it may be
41:20
looks to you
41:21
and I
41:21
today that
41:22
they would
41:22
do this
41:23
before any
41:23
men,
41:24
before anyone,
41:25
that they
41:26
would make
41:26
these kinds
41:27
of offerings.
41:28
And yet,
41:29
in our own
41:29
hearts,
41:30
we put other
41:30
things before
41:31
God.
41:32
God,
41:32
and that
41:32
is what
41:33
idolatry
41:34
is.
41:35
The foolishness
41:36
of idolatry.
41:39
Somebody once
41:40
put it like
41:40
this,
41:40
you are not
41:41
a fool
41:41
just because
41:43
you have
41:43
done something
41:44
foolish,
41:45
only if the
41:47
folly of it
41:48
escapes you.
41:50
Doing something
41:51
foolish is not
41:52
what foolishness
41:53
is about.
41:55
It's not
41:55
recognizing the
41:56
foolishness in
41:58
it.
41:59
And that's
42:00
the people
42:01
here.
42:02
And that's
42:02
so often
42:02
what our
42:02
own hearts
42:03
can be
42:03
like as
42:04
well.
42:05
We don't
42:05
think it's
42:06
foolish because
42:06
we don't
42:07
see the
42:07
foolishness
42:08
in it
42:09
until it's
42:09
pointed out
42:10
to us.
42:11
And that's
42:12
what Paul
42:12
and Barnabas
42:13
do here
42:14
in verse
42:14
15.
42:14
They point
42:15
out this
42:15
foolishness.
42:17
Men,
42:17
why are you
42:18
doing these
42:19
things?
42:23
Why are you
42:24
doing these
42:24
things?
42:24
Stop what
42:25
you are doing.
42:26
we are not
42:27
the gods
42:27
that you
42:28
are looking
42:28
for.
42:30
But let
42:30
us tell
42:30
you of
42:31
another.
42:33
We want
42:33
to point
42:34
you to
42:34
the living
42:35
God.
42:37
The one
42:37
who is
42:38
God.
42:38
And there
42:39
is no
42:40
other.
42:40
The same
42:41
old problems
42:43
still exist
42:44
because we
42:45
don't put
42:45
God first.
42:48
We look
42:49
to men.
42:51
So we are
42:51
to look
42:52
to the
42:52
living God.
42:54
The second
42:55
thing we see
42:55
here is
42:56
there is no
42:56
more excuses.
43:00
We are
43:00
so apt
43:02
at making
43:03
excuses for
43:04
all our
43:05
faults.
43:06
We become
43:07
experts from
43:08
a young age
43:09
trying to
43:09
hide our
43:10
faults,
43:10
making excuses
43:11
for what we
43:12
do wrong.
43:14
It is
43:14
somebody else's
43:15
fault or
43:15
something else's
43:16
fault.
43:17
You can
43:18
think of
43:18
making excuses
43:19
for not
43:20
doing your
43:20
homework,
43:21
for being
43:21
late for
43:22
something.
43:23
All of
43:24
these kinds
43:24
of things
43:24
are from a
43:25
very early
43:26
age.
43:26
We start
43:27
making
43:28
excuses.
43:31
But do we
43:31
have an
43:32
excuse?
43:33
Do you have
43:33
an excuse
43:34
for not
43:34
believing in
43:36
the living
43:36
God?
43:38
Do you have
43:38
an excuse
43:39
that will
43:40
satisfy God
43:41
when he
43:41
comes as
43:43
to the
43:43
reason why
43:43
you would
43:44
not believe,
43:44
you would
43:45
not trust
43:45
fully in
43:47
this living
43:47
God?
43:49
Paul and
43:50
Barnabas here
43:51
show the
43:51
people that
43:52
have no
43:52
excuse for
43:54
not believing
43:55
in God.
43:57
There are
43:58
no words
43:59
that we
43:59
can offer
44:00
up that
44:00
will appease
44:01
God.
44:02
And you
44:03
see it in
44:04
the end of
44:04
verse 15
44:05
into verse
44:06
16.
44:06
They're
44:06
pointing them
44:07
towards the
44:08
living God
44:09
who made
44:09
the heavens
44:09
and the
44:10
earth and
44:10
the sea
44:11
and all
44:11
that is
44:11
in them.
44:13
In past
44:13
generations he
44:14
allowed all
44:15
the nations
44:15
to walk
44:16
in their
44:17
own ways,
44:18
yet he
44:19
did not
44:19
leave himself
44:20
without witness.
44:22
He did
44:23
not leave
44:24
himself
44:24
without witness.
44:26
There is
44:26
evidence for
44:27
God all
44:28
around us
44:29
that we
44:30
are not
44:30
without
44:31
excuse.
44:33
The living
44:34
God is
44:35
the one
44:35
that we
44:36
are to
44:36
look to.
44:39
God
44:40
allowed,
44:40
it says
44:41
here,
44:41
his people
44:42
to go
44:42
their own
44:43
ways.
44:44
They were
44:44
free,
44:45
just as we
44:45
are today,
44:46
to do
44:46
what we
44:47
want,
44:48
but they're
44:49
not without
44:49
excuse.
44:52
God
44:52
and this
44:53
is the
44:54
reality of
44:56
this verse
44:56
for ourselves
44:57
today as
44:58
well.
44:59
God
45:00
leaving us
45:00
to our
45:01
own
45:01
devices,
45:02
you see
45:02
it in
45:03
the book
45:03
of Romans
45:04
as well,
45:04
we'll quote
45:05
that in
45:05
just a
45:06
moment,
45:07
but he
45:07
leaves people
45:08
to their
45:09
own
45:09
desires.
45:10
He
45:10
gives them
45:10
over to
45:11
their own
45:12
desires.
45:13
He
45:14
allowed all
45:15
the nations
45:16
to walk
45:16
in their
45:17
own ways.
45:18
And again,
45:19
we could
45:19
just apply
45:20
that to
45:21
ourselves
45:21
today as
45:22
nations of
45:22
the world.
45:23
We are
45:24
walking so
45:24
much in
45:25
our own
45:25
ways.
45:26
We are
45:26
turning from
45:27
the living
45:28
God and
45:28
going our
45:29
own ways,
45:30
doing our
45:31
own things.
45:33
But even
45:34
then,
45:34
we are not
45:35
left without
45:36
God's
45:36
testimony to
45:38
us in
45:39
what is
45:39
known as
45:40
common
45:41
grace.
45:43
And we
45:43
see that
45:43
in verse
45:44
17.
45:45
Yet he
45:45
did not
45:46
leave himself
45:46
without witness,
45:47
for he
45:47
did good
45:48
by giving
45:49
you rains
45:50
from heaven
45:50
and fruitful
45:51
seasons,
45:52
satisfying your
45:53
hearts with
45:54
food and
45:55
gladness.
45:57
They are
45:57
pointing them
45:58
here to
45:58
the fact
45:59
that this
45:59
living God,
46:00
this is the
46:01
God of
46:01
prosperity.
46:03
This is the
46:03
God who is
46:04
able to
46:04
bless.
46:04
This is the
46:05
God who is
46:06
able, the
46:06
only God
46:07
who is
46:07
able to
46:08
provide.
46:10
He is
46:10
the one
46:11
who has
46:12
made the
46:12
heaven and
46:13
the earth
46:13
and the
46:14
sea and
46:14
all that
46:15
is in
46:15
him.
46:16
So as
46:16
we look
46:17
around,
46:18
we are
46:18
without
46:18
excuse.
46:21
That is
46:21
common
46:22
grace,
46:23
what we
46:23
all see.
46:25
But it's
46:26
only God's
46:27
special grace
46:28
that can
46:28
help us
46:29
to fully
46:30
see and
46:30
to understand.
46:32
But we're
46:32
without
46:33
excuse.
46:35
As I
46:35
said,
46:36
the book
46:36
of Romans,
46:37
it shows
46:38
it to us
46:38
there as
46:39
well.
46:40
In chapter
46:40
1,
46:41
verse 18,
46:42
it says,
46:42
the wrath
46:42
of God
46:43
is revealed
46:44
from heaven
46:44
against all
46:45
ungodliness
46:46
and unrighteousness
46:47
of men,
46:48
who by their
46:48
unrighteousness
46:49
suppress the
46:50
truth.
46:52
For that
46:52
can be
46:53
known,
46:53
for what
46:54
can be
46:54
known about
46:54
God is
46:55
plain to
46:56
them,
46:56
because God
46:57
has shown
46:58
it to
46:59
them.
46:59
For his
47:00
invisible
47:00
attributes,
47:02
namely,
47:03
his eternal
47:04
power and
47:04
divine nature,
47:06
have been
47:06
clearly perceived
47:07
ever since the
47:08
creation of
47:09
the world,
47:10
in the
47:10
things that
47:11
have been
47:11
made,
47:12
so they
47:13
are without
47:13
excuse.
47:16
There is
47:16
no excuse,
47:18
because we
47:18
see by
47:19
common grace
47:20
the living
47:21
God is
47:22
all around
47:23
us.
47:25
So it's
47:25
not a case
47:26
of making
47:27
an excuse.
47:28
Nobody
47:28
told me.
47:29
If only I
47:30
had known,
47:31
I would have
47:31
done something
47:32
about it.
47:32
I would have
47:32
believed.
47:34
That's not
47:35
an excuse,
47:36
because the
47:36
evidence of
47:37
God is
47:38
all around
47:39
us.
47:41
But we
47:41
want to
47:42
suppress it.
47:43
We want to
47:43
put it down
47:44
by our
47:45
nature and
47:46
look to
47:46
ourselves or
47:47
to something
47:48
else.
47:50
But there's
47:50
no excuse.
47:53
Imagine,
47:54
even this
47:55
evening,
47:56
if a
47:57
knock came
47:58
to the
47:58
door of
47:59
this church
48:00
and it's
48:01
the Lord.
48:03
You hear
48:04
it.
48:05
You hear
48:06
him at the
48:07
door and
48:08
someone says,
48:08
it is the
48:09
Lord.
48:10
The word
48:11
says he
48:12
is coming
48:12
and we
48:13
don't know
48:14
when he
48:14
will come
48:15
like a
48:15
thief in
48:16
the night.
48:17
Are you
48:18
ready?
48:19
Are you
48:20
ready when
48:21
you hear
48:21
that knock?
48:23
Would you
48:23
need to
48:23
try and
48:24
make an
48:24
excuse
48:25
tonight if
48:26
the Lord
48:26
returned,
48:27
to come
48:27
stumbling
48:28
before him,
48:29
trying to
48:30
get words
48:30
out, but
48:31
there's no
48:31
words,
48:32
because there
48:32
is no
48:33
excuse.
48:34
Nobody
48:35
told me.
48:36
Not an
48:36
excuse.
48:37
the whole
48:38
of this
48:39
creation, it
48:40
speaks to
48:40
you of
48:41
God.
48:42
It's no
48:43
excuse.
48:45
I couldn't
48:46
believe because
48:47
the evidence
48:47
wasn't there.
48:48
It is.
48:49
He has
48:51
given us
48:52
the sign.
48:53
He has
48:53
given us,
48:54
He has
48:54
shown us
48:55
through the
48:55
wonder of
48:56
the gospel,
48:57
through His
48:57
giving His
48:58
Son,
48:59
through His
48:59
crucifixion,
49:00
through His
49:01
resurrection.
49:01
It is all
49:02
there.
49:02
We are
49:02
without
49:03
excuse.
49:04
There is
49:07
no excuse.
49:10
So are
49:11
you ready?
49:13
If that
49:13
knock comes,
49:14
are you
49:14
going to
49:15
go and
49:15
give an
49:16
excuse,
49:17
or are
49:17
you going
49:17
to go
49:18
and say
49:18
like Mary
49:19
who saw
49:20
the risen
49:21
Lord and
49:21
said,
49:21
Rabboni,
49:23
when she
49:24
heard her
49:25
name being
49:26
called?
49:28
Are you
49:28
ready to
49:29
grasp your
49:30
Savior?
49:32
The grace
49:33
that He
49:34
has shown
49:34
you,
49:34
have you
49:35
received it?
49:36
Are you
49:36
overwhelmed by
49:37
it?
49:37
Are you
49:38
overpowered
49:38
by it?
49:39
That it
49:40
fills you
49:40
with joy,
49:42
fills you
49:42
with emotion
49:43
that the
49:43
Lord would
49:44
remember
49:44
you.
49:47
There is
49:47
no excuse.
49:51
The
49:51
Lord,
49:52
He is
49:53
the living
49:54
God,
49:55
and He
49:55
is the
49:55
one that
49:56
we are
49:57
to look
49:57
to.
49:58
So there's
49:58
no excuse.
50:00
And what
50:01
is it that's
50:01
the key to
50:02
this grace?
50:04
Well,
50:04
thirdly and
50:05
finally,
50:05
we see
50:06
here the
50:07
gospel is
50:08
key to
50:09
everything.
50:10
The grace
50:11
of God
50:12
that is
50:12
seen through
50:13
the gospel.
50:19
There's
50:19
something
50:21
different in
50:23
these verses.
50:24
There's
50:24
something that
50:24
has changed
50:25
in these
50:26
verses.
50:26
It says,
50:27
in past
50:28
generations,
50:29
He allowed
50:29
all the
50:30
nations to
50:30
walk in
50:32
their own
50:32
ways.
50:33
Now,
50:35
what is
50:35
new?
50:36
What is
50:36
different?
50:37
Well,
50:38
there is
50:38
a testimony.
50:40
There is
50:40
a testimony.
50:42
There's
50:42
no excuse
50:44
because we
50:44
have the
50:45
gospel.
50:46
And we
50:47
see this
50:47
in verse
50:47
15,
50:48
going back
50:49
to that
50:49
verse.
50:49
Men,
50:50
why are
50:51
you doing
50:51
these things?
50:52
Why are
50:52
you following
50:53
your hearts
50:54
that are
50:54
just full
50:55
of idolatry?
50:56
Why are
50:57
you doing
50:57
these things?
50:57
we also
50:59
are men
50:59
of like
51:00
nature
51:00
with you.
51:02
But they
51:02
say,
51:02
we bring
51:03
you good
51:04
news.
51:06
We bring
51:07
you good
51:08
news that
51:08
you should
51:08
turn from
51:09
these vain
51:10
things to
51:11
the living
51:12
God.
51:14
That is
51:15
what the
51:15
gospel is
51:16
about.
51:17
Why are
51:19
you doing
51:19
these things?
51:21
Why are
51:22
we going
51:23
on in
51:24
this way?
51:26
We need
51:26
to turn
51:27
to the
51:28
living God.
51:29
Not because
51:30
we are afraid
51:30
of the
51:31
consequences
51:31
of not
51:32
doing so,
51:33
but realizing
51:34
what the
51:35
good news
51:36
means,
51:36
what the
51:36
good news
51:37
tells us.
51:38
It tells
51:39
us of the
51:39
wonder of
51:40
salvation
51:41
in Christ.
51:43
The wonder
51:43
of forgiveness
51:44
for our
51:45
sin through
51:46
him.
51:47
That we
51:47
turn from
51:48
these worthless
51:49
things,
51:50
these things
51:51
that cannot
51:52
save us,
51:53
these gods
51:53
as they have
51:54
made them,
51:54
that are
51:54
dead.
51:55
They can't
51:56
hear,
51:56
they can't
51:57
do anything.
52:00
But we
52:00
look to
52:01
the living
52:01
God,
52:02
to the
52:03
risen Lord,
52:04
to the
52:05
Son of
52:05
God who
52:06
is at
52:06
the right
52:06
hand of
52:07
God on
52:08
high,
52:08
the Lord
52:10
who is
52:10
making
52:10
intercession
52:11
for us.
52:13
We look
52:13
to the
52:14
living God.
52:15
That is
52:15
the good
52:16
news.
52:17
That if
52:18
the Lord
52:18
returns
52:19
tonight,
52:19
if he
52:19
knocks on
52:20
our door
52:21
tonight,
52:21
that we
52:21
can be
52:22
ready by
52:23
the gospel,
52:23
by faith
52:25
in Jesus
52:26
Christ.
52:28
Oswald
52:29
Chambers,
52:29
in one of
52:30
his books,
52:30
he says
52:31
this,
52:32
it is not
52:33
repentance
52:33
that saves
52:34
me.
52:35
Repentance
52:36
is a sign
52:36
that I
52:37
realize what
52:37
God has
52:38
done in
52:39
Christ Jesus.
52:41
The danger
52:41
is to put
52:42
the emphasis
52:42
on the
52:43
effect instead
52:44
of on
52:44
the cause.
52:46
Is it my
52:47
obedience that
52:48
puts me
52:48
right with
52:49
God?
52:49
Never.
52:50
I am
52:51
put right
52:52
with God
52:52
because prior
52:53
to all
52:54
else,
52:54
Christ died.
52:57
When I
52:57
turn to
52:58
God and
52:58
by belief
52:59
accept what
53:00
God reveals
53:01
instantly,
53:02
the stupendous
53:03
atonement of
53:04
Jesus Christ
53:05
rushes me
53:06
into a
53:07
right relationship
53:08
with God.
53:10
By the
53:11
miracle of
53:12
God's grace,
53:13
I stand
53:14
justified,
53:15
not because of
53:16
anything I have
53:17
done,
53:17
but because
53:19
of what
53:19
Jesus has
53:20
done.
53:21
The salvation
53:22
of God
53:22
does not
53:23
stand on
53:23
human logic.
53:25
It stands
53:26
on the
53:26
sacrificial
53:27
death of
53:28
Jesus.
53:29
Sinful men
53:30
and women
53:31
can be
53:31
changed into
53:32
new creatures
53:33
by the
53:34
marvelous work
53:35
of God
53:36
in Christ
53:37
Jesus.
53:38
That is
53:39
the wonder
53:40
of the
53:41
grace of
53:41
God through
53:43
his gospel,
53:44
the good
53:44
news.
53:46
Men and
53:46
women,
53:47
sinful men
53:48
and women
53:48
changed into
53:50
new creatures
53:51
by the
53:51
marvelous work
53:53
of God
53:54
in Christ
53:55
Jesus.
53:57
The grace
53:57
that he has
53:58
shown to
54:00
us.
54:01
Grace is to
54:02
put our
54:02
trust in
54:03
him who
54:04
is able to
54:05
save,
54:07
for we
54:07
cannot save
54:09
ourselves.
54:11
We see
54:12
grace at the
54:13
start of
54:14
this chapter
54:15
when they're
54:15
speaking there
54:16
of how
54:17
they bore
54:18
witness to
54:18
the word
54:19
of his
54:20
grace in
54:20
verse 3.
54:22
It is
54:22
grace that
54:23
ends this
54:24
chapter as
54:25
well.
54:25
As they
54:26
returned,
54:27
as they
54:27
went back
54:28
to the
54:29
place from
54:29
which they
54:30
were sent,
54:31
the church
54:32
had declared
54:33
in them
54:34
how the
54:35
grace of
54:35
God
54:36
had been
54:37
commended to
54:38
them,
54:38
it says in
54:38
verse 26,
54:40
where they
54:40
had been
54:40
commended to
54:41
the grace
54:42
of God
54:43
for the
54:43
work that
54:44
they had
54:45
fulfilled.
54:45
It is
54:46
grace that
54:47
sent them.
54:48
It is
54:48
grace that
54:49
kept them.
54:51
And so it
54:51
is this
54:52
grace that
54:53
we need to
54:54
be a living
54:55
church, to
54:56
look to a
54:57
living God.
54:59
There is
54:59
common grace
55:00
that leaves us
55:01
without excuse,
55:03
but it is a
55:04
special grace
55:05
that reminds us
55:07
of all that we
55:08
have in
55:09
Christ.
55:10
Christ.
55:11
We so
55:11
often in
55:12
our lives,
55:13
we step
55:14
into the
55:15
unknown.
55:16
We don't
55:17
know what's
55:18
ahead of us,
55:19
but we know
55:20
one who
55:21
does.
55:23
A little
55:24
story, just
55:25
as we finish,
55:26
of a couple
55:27
who took
55:27
their children
55:28
on holiday.
55:30
Young
55:30
children, a
55:31
son who
55:31
was 11,
55:32
and a
55:32
daughter who
55:33
was 7.
55:34
This was in
55:35
America, and
55:35
they took
55:36
them to one
55:37
of the big
55:37
national parks
55:38
there.
55:39
And one
55:39
day they
55:40
took them
55:40
to explore
55:41
some of
55:42
the deep
55:43
caves in
55:43
this national
55:44
park.
55:45
And they
55:46
were part
55:46
of a party
55:47
that was
55:47
being led
55:48
by a guide
55:49
deep under
55:50
the earth
55:50
into these
55:51
caves.
55:53
And at
55:53
one point
55:54
when they
55:54
were way
55:55
into the
55:55
cave in
55:56
one of
55:56
the deepest
55:56
parts,
55:57
just to
55:58
make the
55:58
effect more
55:59
dramatic,
56:00
the guide
56:00
switched off
56:01
his light.
56:03
And the
56:04
whole cave
56:05
was plunged
56:06
into darkness.
56:07
No one
56:08
could see
56:09
a thing.
56:11
The little
56:11
girl was
56:12
scared, and
56:13
she started
56:13
to cry.
56:15
Then she
56:15
heard her
56:16
brother's voice
56:17
saying,
56:18
don't cry.
56:19
Somebody here
56:20
knows how
56:22
to turn on
56:22
the lights.
56:25
And that's
56:26
the wonder
56:27
of the
56:28
gospel.
56:29
There are
56:29
times when we
56:30
are taken
56:30
into a place
56:31
where there
56:32
seems to be
56:33
just darkness
56:34
all around
56:35
us.
56:37
But the
56:37
good news
56:38
is that we
56:39
have a
56:40
living God.
56:41
A living
56:42
God who
56:43
pours his
56:43
light upon
56:44
us.
56:46
Yes,
56:47
they were so
56:47
close to the
56:48
truth here.
56:50
The gods
56:50
have come
56:51
down to
56:51
us in the
56:52
likeness of
56:53
men.
56:54
We know
56:55
through grace
56:56
that God
56:58
has come
56:58
down in
57:00
the likeness
57:00
of man,
57:01
in his
57:02
son,
57:03
Christ
57:03
Jesus.
57:05
The one
57:05
who is the
57:06
light of
57:07
the world.
57:09
And it is
57:09
his grace,
57:11
it is his
57:11
favor that
57:13
we seek.
57:15
We see
57:16
in this
57:17
passage the
57:18
same old
57:19
problems that
57:20
keep repeating
57:21
themselves again
57:23
and again.
57:24
How quickly
57:24
we can turn
57:26
from the
57:26
living God
57:27
and look to
57:28
the idols
57:29
of this
57:30
world.
57:31
But we
57:31
see we
57:33
are without
57:33
excuse.
57:35
But praise
57:36
God we
57:37
see his
57:38
grace in
57:40
the good
57:40
news that
57:42
we can turn
57:42
from these
57:43
vain things
57:44
to the
57:45
living God
57:46
who is the
57:47
God of
57:49
all grace
57:50
and the
57:51
God of
57:52
all miracles.
57:54
May we
57:54
praise his
57:55
name and
57:56
seek his
57:57
blessing.
57:58
Let us
57:58
pray.
57:58
our
58:01
father in
58:01
heaven we
58:02
do rejoice
58:03
in your
58:03
goodness to
58:04
us.
58:04
We thank
58:05
you for
58:06
your grace
58:06
and the
58:07
wonder of
58:07
it.
58:08
Undeserving
58:09
as we
58:09
are you
58:10
have poured
58:10
it out
58:11
upon us.
58:12
And we
58:12
thank you
58:13
that it is
58:13
so shown
58:14
to us at
58:15
the cross
58:15
where we
58:16
see your
58:17
love in
58:18
giving your
58:19
son that
58:20
he would
58:20
bear our
58:21
sins.
58:22
We thank
58:23
you for
58:23
that good
58:23
news of
58:25
a living
58:25
God.
58:26
And so
58:26
turn our
58:27
hearts away
58:28
from the
58:28
idols that
58:29
we so
58:29
easily put
58:30
there and
58:31
help us to
58:32
fix our
58:33
eyes on
58:33
the living
58:34
God that
58:34
you would
58:35
go before
58:35
us in
58:36
all things
58:37
pardoning
58:37
our sin
58:38
in Jesus
58:39
name.
58:40
Amen.
58:44
We're going
58:45
to conclude
58:46
by singing
58:46
to God's
58:47
praise in
58:48
Psalm 145.
58:49
This is
58:50
in the
58:51
Scottish
58:51
Psalter
58:51
version
58:52
page
58:53
442.
58:59
Psalm 145
59:01
the first
59:01
version at
59:02
verse 7
59:03
and we
59:04
sing down
59:04
to verse
59:05
9.
59:07
The tune
59:07
is Effingham
59:08
The memory
59:09
of thy
59:10
goodness
59:10
great
59:11
they largely
59:12
shall express
59:13
with songs
59:13
of praise
59:14
they shall
59:15
extol thy
59:16
perfect
59:16
righteousness
59:17
the Lord
59:18
is very
59:19
gracious
59:19
in him
59:20
compassion
59:21
flow
59:21
in mercy
59:22
he is ever
59:23
great
59:24
and is
59:25
to anger
59:26
slow.
59:26
We'll sing
59:27
from verse
59:27
7 to 9
59:28
to God's
59:29
praise.
59:30
Amen.
59:31
Amen.
59:33
Amen.
59:35
The memory
59:38
of thy
59:40
goodness
59:42
great
59:44
they
59:45
harshly
59:47
shall
59:48
sight
1:00:00
prayer
1:00:00
means
1:00:00
the
1:00:07
world
1:00:09
is
1:00:11
stead
1:00:17
In him compassion's hope.
1:00:24
In mercy he is very late,
1:00:34
And is to anger store.
1:00:41
The Lord Jehovah unto all,
1:00:51
His goodness of delay,
1:00:59
And over all his other works,
1:01:07
His tenderer, Jesus.
1:01:16
After the benediction, I'll go to the main door.
1:01:19
We'll close the benediction.
1:01:21
Now may grace, mercy, and peace
1:01:23
from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
1:01:26
be upon you all, now and forevermore.
1:01:29
Amen.
1:01:37
Amen.
1:02:07
Amen.
1:02:37
Amen.