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Doubts Dispersed at Christ's Appearing · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

• 0:00
  Good morning. Welcome to our service this morning, especially those present and also welcoming those who are watching online this morning.
• 0:11
  The bulletin sheet is with you. The only real item that needs to be given special attention today is that there will be a congregational meeting on Wednesday the 18th.
• 0:22
  That's a week on Wednesday at 7.30pm in the seminary, and that will be in relation to the congregation's vacancy.
• 0:31
  We're going to begin our worship this morning singing to God's praise in Psalm 103.
• 0:37
  This is in the Scottish Psalter, the traditional version of the Psalms, page 369.
• 0:43
  We're going to sing verses 1 to 5 to God's praise.
• 0:53
  O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be stirred up his holy name to magnify and bless.
• 1:01
  Bless, O my soul, the Lord thy God, and not forgetful be of all his gracious benefits he hath bestowed on thee.
• 1:09
  We'll sing to God's praise, verses 1 to 5. We'll stand to sing, if you're able.
• 1:13
  O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be stirred up his holy name to magnify and bless.
• 1:43
  O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be of all his gracious benefits he hath bestowed on thee.
• 2:13
  O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be of all his gracious benefits he hath bestowed on thee.
• 2:17
  O thou my name, equities to the most gracious be forgave.
• 2:33
  O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be of all his gracious grace.
• 2:35
  O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be of all his gracious grace.
• 2:37
  O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be of all his gracious grace.
• 2:39
  O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be of all his gracious grace.
• 2:41
  O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be of all his gracious grace.
• 2:43
  O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be of all his gracious grace.
• 2:45
  O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be of all his gracious grace.
• 2:47
  O thou thy body, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be of all his tower, and all that in me is, be of all his gracious grace.
• 3:17
  CHOIR SINGS
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  CHOIR SINGS
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  CHOIR SINGS
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  CHOIR SINGS
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  CHOIR SINGS
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  CHOIR SINGS
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  CHOIR SINGS
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  CHOIR SINGS
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  CHOIR SINGS
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  which far exceeds our wildest expectations.
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  And here we are after all of these years of existence.
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  And we can today rejoice not only in the fact that you have created us
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  and that you provide for us day by day,
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  but that you have also provided a salvation in the person of Jesus.
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  A salvation for rebels who deserve your wrath and curse.
• 5:11
  So we rejoice today in your great grace.
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  You are long-suffering, slow to wrath.
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  You are abundant in mercy.
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  And today we remember the resurrection of our Lord.
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  We remember his finished work.
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  We give thanks that today he is enthroned in heaven,
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  that he is at your right hand,
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  and that all things that happen in our lives,
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  every moment of our existence,
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  is under his sovereign power.
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  And so may we today rest and find peace
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  in the person of Jesus.
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  May we find him to be a worthy saviour,
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  worthy of our hope and our faith,
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  our trust.
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  Minister therefore to us today.
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  Meet each one of us, we pray, at the point of our need.
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  All of us come as sinners in need of cleansing,
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  but we come, Lord, with particular burdens this day as well.
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  And we ask that into each one of our lives
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  and into each of our experiences,
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  you would today minister with your great grace.
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  We long, therefore, today to know the Holy Spirit's presence
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  and power working in us.
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  We pray, Father, for the Holy Spirit to open our hearts
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  to receive the gospel,
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  to tend to the wounds that are found there,
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  and to lead us with renewed courage and resolve
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  into all that we must do in your service.
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  And so we pray, Father, for forgiveness for our sins.
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  In Jesus' name.
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  Amen.
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  I was saying to Roddy as I was coming in this morning,
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  you know I'm preaching today
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  because I have something with me.
• 7:00
  And Roddy laughed and said,
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  yes, it's a tape measure.
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  Maybe your sermon will be quite long today.
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  But those of you, your children, young people today,
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  I wonder if you've used one of these
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  to measure anything really important.
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  You can't quite use them to measure time,
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  but you can use them to measure things that change over time.
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  So I wonder if any of you got a measuring stick at home
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  where you've been measuring your height
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  as you've been growing up.
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  I know certainly in our house,
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  well, actually not in our house,
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  in my in-law's house,
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  there is a stick.
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  And the stick has lots of little marks on it
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  that have been made over the years
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  as all of their grandchildren have grown bigger.
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  And so there's lots of marks on that stick
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  and there's dates on that stick
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  that tell you how high someone was at that time.
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  And you use a measuring tape for that.
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  So you get your measuring tape out
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  and you'd say, how tall do you think we are?
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  Well, you'll put yourself against the stick
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  and you'll put a wee mark on the stick
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  to see how tall you are.
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  And then you'll measure from the ground
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  up to where the mark is.
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  And that'll tell you how tall somebody is.
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  But you can use measuring rods and sticks
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  for other things as well.
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  There's other things you could measure, isn't there?
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  Maybe you do it in school.
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  What sort of things do you measure in school?
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  Have you measured ever the size of your desk?
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  I tell you, that's a really important skill.
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  I did that this week.
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  I was measuring the size of desks.
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  And we were rearranging an office.
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  And we wanted to be sure before we started
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  that one wall would be able to fit
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  two pieces of furniture
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  as well as a big tall cupboard.
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  And we weren't quite sure.
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  And so we thought, before we start,
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  let's measure that wall
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  just to make sure everything will fit.
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  And thankfully it did.
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  And it was just as well.
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  Because there was no room to spare.
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  We didn't have to push it
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  and wedge it in really hard.
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  But it just fitted.
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  And no more.
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  Maybe you'd be really interested.
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  You'd be thinking to yourself,
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  I wonder how big the church is today.
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  Do you think we could measure
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  how big the church is?
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  No.
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  Maybe far too big to measure, isn't it?
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  But, you know, scientists would measure
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  and engineers would measure
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  the size of the church.
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  And they'd measure how big
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  the whole planet is.
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  Do you think how big the whole earth is?
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  If you were to get a measuring tape out,
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  you could measure,
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  well, this one's only,
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  I think this one's about three metres long.
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  So, oh no, it's five metres.
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  So that's a bit better.
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  But it would still be a long time
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  if we were going in five metre chunks,
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  measuring the whole way
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  round the whole earth.
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  And then you'd think, well,
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  I mean, the world, the universe
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  is much bigger than that, isn't it?
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  How far away is the moon?
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  The moon.
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  And you'd want to measure
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  how far away the moon is.
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  And before too long,
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  you start to ask really big questions.
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  How far away is God?
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  Can you think about that?
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  You ever thought,
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  how far away is God?
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  Do you think we could measure
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  how far away heaven is?
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  It's a difficult question.
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  There's a man in the Bible,
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  he's called Thomas.
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  We're going to be thinking about him
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  a wee bit in the sermon today.
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  And Thomas, I think,
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  was the kind of person
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  who would be completely worried
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  about measurements all the time.
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  He'd want exact measurements for things.
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  He'd want the exact distance something is.
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  Sometimes he wants to know
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  exactly when something's going to happen.
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  He wants to know exactly
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  where Jesus is going to be.
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  Jesus says,
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  I'm going to be with my father.
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  And he says to the disciples
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  not to worry about that
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  because if he goes to be with his father,
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  he's going to prepare a place for them
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  and then he'll come back
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  and so that they can come
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  and be with him where he is.
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  And Thomas says,
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  how can we be with you where you are
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  when we don't know the way?
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  He says,
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  Thomas was a detail guy.
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  He wanted to know
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  the exact details
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  of how things worked
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  and how far away things were,
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  how you would get somewhere,
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  what your route would be.
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  And so Thomas is the kind of guy
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  who would want to measure things exactly.
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  And that's what actually happened.
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  After Jesus died,
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  he rose again.
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  We remember that.
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  That's what we're doing
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  on the first day of the week.
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  We're remembering
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  the resurrection of Jesus.
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  But after he rose again,
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  Jesus appeared to the disciples
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  and they were amazed
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  to see him risen and alive.
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  But Thomas wasn't there.
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  And so when the disciples
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  were talking about it afterwards,
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  Thomas was like,
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  I don't believe you
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  and I'll only believe it
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  if I can measure it for myself,
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  if I can see the holes in his hands,
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  the hole in his side
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  where he was stabbed with a spear.
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  And so the following week,
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  Jesus appeared again to the disciples
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  and Thomas was there this time.
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  And Thomas is amazed
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  because the very things
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  that he was asking about,
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  Jesus knew about,
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  the very questions he had,
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  the very measurements that he wanted,
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  the science, the data,
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  the information that he wanted
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  that was so important.
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  Jesus said to him,
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  look Thomas, there's my hands.
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  There's my side
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  where the spear went in.
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  And Thomas believed
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  and said,
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  my Lord
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  and my God.
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  I want you to think today,
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  maybe you're a wee bit like that,
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  like Thomas.
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  Maybe you're somebody
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  who needs a measuring tape.
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  You're somebody
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  who really wants
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  the information exact.
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  Well, the amazing thing is
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  we can ask God
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  and he'll show us.
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  He will tell us.
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  He won't leave us alone.
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  Let's pray just now.
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  We're going to say
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  the Lord's Prayer together.
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  Amen.
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  Our Father in heaven,
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  hallowed be your name.
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  Your kingdom come,
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  your will be done
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  on earth
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  as it is in heaven.
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  Give us this day
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  our daily bread
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  and forgive us our debts
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  as we forgive our debtors.
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  And lead us not
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  into temptation,
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  but deliver us from evil.
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  For yours is the kingdom,
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  the power,
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  and the glory forever.
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  Amen.
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  We're going to sing again
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  just now to God's praise
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  in Psalm 13.
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  Young folk can go out
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  to their Sunday school classes
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  whilst this is happening.
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  So we're going to sing
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  Psalm 13
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  and let's sing Psalms
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  page 14.
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  We're going to sing
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  the whole Psalm.
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  How long will you forget me, Lord?
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  Will you forget always?
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  How long, Lord,
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  will you hide your face
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  and turn from me your gaze?
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  How long must I be sad each day
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  in deep perplexity?
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  How long will my opponents
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  stand in triumph
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  over me?
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  You can sometimes
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  feel like that.
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  Just wondering
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  how long is God
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  going to leave us
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  without the answers
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  to our situation?
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  And yet,
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  we know he will answer
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  because he has
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  this constant love
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  that he has for his people.
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  So let's sing
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  from verse 1
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  through to the end
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  of the Psalm.
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  How long will you forget me, Lord?
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  We'll stand to sing for a while.
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  How long will you forget me, Lord?
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  Will you forget always?
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  How long will you forget me, Lord?
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  How long will you forget me, Lord?
• 14:42
  How long will you forget me, Lord?
• 14:43
  How long will you forget me, Lord?
• 14:44
  How long will you forget me, Lord?
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  seeking your days?
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  How long does it be a lifestyle
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  and deeper
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  and Imperial
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  Gott my God
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  Consider me and give me a revival.
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  Light up my eyes, for I will sleep,
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  I'll sleep on those who die.
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  Then would my enemy declare,
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  At last I'd make it low,
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  And so my hope would sing for joy,
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  To see my hope are grown.
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  But still I trust your constant love,
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  You say must set me free.
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  With joy I will extol the Lord,
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  Who hast been good to me.
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  I think we're maybe going to need longer psalms,
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  With the number of kids that are going out to Sunday school,
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  It's so encouraging to see that.
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  And let's turn just now and read in God's word,
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  In John's gospel,
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  John chapter 20.
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  We're going to read at verse 19,
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  Through to the end of the chapter.
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  On the evening of that day,
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  The first day of the week,
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  The door's been locked where the disciples were
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  For fear of the Jews.
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  Jesus came and stood among them,
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  And said to them,
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  Peace be with you.
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  And when he had said this,
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  He showed them his hands on his side.
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  Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
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  Jesus said to them again,
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  Peace be with you.
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  As the Father has sent me,
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  Even so I am sending you.
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  And when he had said this,
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  He breathed on them,
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  And said to them,
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  Receive the Holy Spirit.
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  If you forgive the sins of any,
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  They are forgiven them.
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  If you withhold forgiveness from any,
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  It is withheld.
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  Now Thomas,
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  One of the twelve,
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  Called the twin,
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  Was not with them when Jesus came.
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  And so the other disciples told him,
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  We have seen the Lord.
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  But he said to them,
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  Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails,
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  And place my finger into the mark of the nails,
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  And place my hand into his side,
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  I will never believe.
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  Eight days later,
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  His disciples were inside again,
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  And Thomas was with them.
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  Although the doors were locked,
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  Jesus came and stood among them,
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  And said,
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  Peace be with you.
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  Then he said to Thomas,
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  Put your finger here,
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  And see my hands,
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  And put out your hand,
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  And place it in my side.
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  Do not disbelieve,
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  But believe.
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  Thomas answered him,
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  My Lord,
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  And my God.
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  Jesus said to him,
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  Have you believed,
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  Because you have seen me?
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  Blessed are those,
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  Who have not seen me,
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  And yet have believed.
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  Now Jesus did many other signs,
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  In the presence of the disciples,
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  Which are not written in this book.
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  But these are written,
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  So that you may believe,
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  That Jesus is the Christ,
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  The Son of God,
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  And that by believing,
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  You may have life,
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  In his name.
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  Amen.
• 19:59
  And this is,
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  God's word to us.
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  Let's,
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  Bow our heads in prayer,
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  Once more.
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  Heavenly Father,
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  How good it is,
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  Oh Lord,
• 20:16
  For us to,
• 20:17
  Be able today,
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  To spend time,
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  Reading your word,
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  Being able to spend time,
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  Singing your praises,
• 20:24
  Being able to spend time,
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  Learning of your ways,
• 20:29
  And of your character.
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  And,
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  We need,
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  Lord,
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  To know,
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  These things,
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  We need to,
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  Experience these things,
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  Because,
• 20:39
  It's so easy for us,
• 20:40
  To get distracted,
• 20:42
  To find our faith,
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  Lose a sight of its,
• 20:45
  Objective and goal.
• 20:48
  We need these things,
• 20:49
  Lord,
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  To be,
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  Able to pray.
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  We need these things,
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  To pray with confidence,
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  To pray with great expectation,
• 20:59
  On who you are,
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  And of what you can do.
• 21:04
  And so we would come to you today,
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  Father,
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  And we seek to intercede,
• 21:08
  For this congregation,
• 21:11
  For all those associated with it.
• 21:13
  We want to pray especially,
• 21:14
  For that mass of young people,
• 21:16
  Who have just gone out to,
• 21:17
  Sunday school classes today.
• 21:19
  We want to pray for their teachers,
• 21:20
  And pray for,
• 21:22
  Each one of those lives,
• 21:24
  That you would,
• 21:24
  Speak into their hearts,
• 21:27
  That in these days,
• 21:28
  You would,
• 21:29
  Be gracious to them,
• 21:31
  And fill them,
• 21:32
  Lord,
• 21:32
  With a sense of,
• 21:34
  Purpose,
• 21:35
  That what they are doing,
• 21:36
  Is not just an insignificant thing,
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  On a Sunday morning,
• 21:39
  To take up a short time,
• 21:40
  Of the day,
• 21:42
  But help them to know,
• 21:43
  And to perceive,
• 21:44
  That the questions,
• 21:46
  That they are,
• 21:46
  Learning about,
• 21:47
  The things they are learning,
• 21:48
  The Bible stories,
• 21:49
  That they are,
• 21:50
  Coming to understand,
• 21:51
  That these things really matter,
• 21:53
  And that they make,
• 21:54
  A profound difference,
• 21:56
  In all of our lives.
• 21:58
  I pray that you would,
• 21:59
  Stood up in them faith,
• 22:01
  That you would help them,
• 22:01
  To believe the gospel,
• 22:03
  That you would help them,
• 22:04
  To have confidence,
• 22:05
  In who Jesus is,
• 22:06
  And how he matters,
• 22:08
  In an incredibly,
• 22:10
  Diverse and challenging world,
• 22:11
  In which we now live.
• 22:13
  We pray for wisdom,
• 22:14
  For their Sunday school teachers,
• 22:15
  Today,
• 22:16
  But more generally,
• 22:17
  We pray Father,
• 22:17
  For their parents,
• 22:18
  That you would give them,
• 22:19
  Wisdom in how they raise,
• 22:20
  Young people in these days,
• 22:22
  That you would help them,
• 22:23
  To see and understand,
• 22:24
  The truth of the gospel,
• 22:25
  More clearly in their own homes,
• 22:27
  That you would help them,
• 22:28
  To impart valuable,
• 22:30
  And lifelong lessons,
• 22:32
  Of faith and trust,
• 22:34
  That our kids would see,
• 22:35
  In our homes,
• 22:37
  Examples of faith in Jesus,
• 22:39
  In action.
• 22:40
  We know Father,
• 22:41
  All of our families face,
• 22:42
  Difficult times,
• 22:43
  Challenging times,
• 22:44
  We face times of crisis,
• 22:46
  Times of upset,
• 22:46
  It's around the dinner table,
• 22:49
  Father,
• 22:49
  That so often,
• 22:50
  These things,
• 22:51
  Can be aired,
• 22:52
  And teased out,
• 22:53
  So we pray for your blessing,
• 22:55
  In these times of family fellowship,
• 22:57
  That our homes,
• 22:58
  Will be places,
• 22:58
  Where the gospel is at the center,
• 23:01
  And with an understanding,
• 23:01
  Of who Jesus is,
• 23:02
  And who God is,
• 23:03
  And how the Holy Spirit,
• 23:04
  Works in our lives,
• 23:05
  That these things,
• 23:06
  Would really make a difference,
• 23:08
  In how we explain the world,
• 23:10
  To young people,
• 23:11
  In this day,
• 23:12
  We pray today,
• 23:14
  Father,
• 23:14
  For your blessing,
• 23:16
  On the congregation,
• 23:17
  As a whole today,
• 23:18
  And we ask Father,
• 23:19
  That everyone present,
• 23:20
  Both those physically,
• 23:21
  Here in the building,
• 23:22
  And those at home,
• 23:23
  Watching on screens,
• 23:24
  We ask Father,
• 23:25
  That the blessing of God,
• 23:26
  Would be with us today,
• 23:27
  That we would hear the gospel,
• 23:28
  That we would hear your word,
• 23:31
  And that by hearing,
• 23:31
  We would believe,
• 23:33
  And we know Lord,
• 23:34
  That was the purpose,
• 23:34
  Why John wrote the gospels for us,
• 23:36
  And so we ask and pray today,
• 23:38
  For the Holy Spirit's working,
• 23:39
  And power in and through us,
• 23:42
  As we worship,
• 23:43
  That all of this,
• 23:44
  Would be to your glory,
• 23:46
  That we would see,
• 23:47
  The magnificence of Jesus,
• 23:48
  In what we read,
• 23:50
  And that we would be encouraged Lord,
• 23:52
  The day in which we're living,
• 23:53
  It's a day where we've seen the church,
• 23:55
  And decline,
• 23:56
  And retreat across our country,
• 23:58
  For many many years,
• 24:00
  But we cry to you Father,
• 24:01
  In these days,
• 24:02
  That you would be gracious to us,
• 24:03
  And that you would remember our land,
• 24:06
  We ask Father,
• 24:06
  That you would bless our nation,
• 24:08
  With wise gospel leaders,
• 24:10
  In our churches,
• 24:11
  We pray for those,
• 24:12
  Who minister today,
• 24:13
  We pray for all those Lord,
• 24:14
  This day who are,
• 24:15
  Ministering your word,
• 24:17
  In sometimes very difficult situations,
• 24:20
  Places where there is uncertainty,
• 24:22
  And fear,
• 24:23
  And places where,
• 24:25
  There are,
• 24:26
  Or perhaps little signs of growth,
• 24:28
  And yet,
• 24:29
  Your servants are still diligently,
• 24:30
  Going out with the word,
• 24:32
  And still preaching,
• 24:33
  And we ask today,
• 24:34
  For your blessing on them,
• 24:35
  And you would encourage them,
• 24:36
  That you would uphold them,
• 24:39
  We pray for those,
• 24:39
  Who are fearful preaching today,
• 24:41
  Those who have come,
• 24:43
  With a great sense of trepidation,
• 24:45
  Before congregations,
• 24:46
  Knowing that,
• 24:47
  What the message they have this day,
• 24:48
  Is a difficult thing,
• 24:50
  For people to hear,
• 24:51
  We ask that you would give them,
• 24:53
  Boldness as well,
• 24:54
  We pray Father,
• 24:56
  For those who are ministering,
• 24:57
  In congregations,
• 24:58
  Where there is,
• 24:59
  Real spiritual deadness,
• 25:02
  And we ask Father,
• 25:02
  That you would bring forth,
• 25:04
  A great awakening,
• 25:05
  A revival in the church,
• 25:06
  In these days,
• 25:07
  That you would remember,
• 25:08
  Our land,
• 25:09
  The need that our land has,
• 25:12
  It needs Christians,
• 25:13
  Who were commissioned,
• 25:14
  To go out,
• 25:15
  Just as you sent out,
• 25:16
  The first disciples,
• 25:18
  Into the world,
• 25:19
  After the resurrection,
• 25:21
  We need that same,
• 25:22
  Commissioning today,
• 25:23
  Across our nation,
• 25:25
  And so we pray Father,
• 25:26
  That you would raise up workers,
• 25:27
  We pray for our seminary,
• 25:28
  Those who are training,
• 25:29
  For gospel ministry,
• 25:30
  And those who are,
• 25:31
  Training in other institutions,
• 25:33
  Around our country as well,
• 25:34
  We pray Father,
• 25:34
  That you would bless,
• 25:35
  Those who are,
• 25:37
  Seeking to serve you,
• 25:38
  In the Christian ministry,
• 25:39
  That you would bless,
• 25:40
  And prosper them,
• 25:42
  We pray for the,
• 25:43
  Equipping of the church,
• 25:44
  Therefore,
• 25:45
  And that,
• 25:46
  Those who are,
• 25:47
  Preparing for that ministry,
• 25:48
  Just now,
• 25:49
  Would see their,
• 25:50
  Their role,
• 25:50
  Not simply as,
• 25:52
  Being equipped and trained,
• 25:53
  To go out into,
• 25:54
  The highways and byways,
• 25:55
  Of our nation,
• 25:55
  As evangelists,
• 25:56
  But to feed the flock of God,
• 25:58
  That the flock of God itself,
• 26:00
  The whole church,
• 26:01
  May be equipped,
• 26:02
  To rise up as one,
• 26:03
  And to address,
• 26:04
  The spiritual needs,
• 26:05
  Of our nation at this time,
• 26:07
  We cry to you Lord,
• 26:08
  For our nation,
• 26:09
  We pray for our leaders,
• 26:10
  We pray for those,
• 26:11
  Who have responsibility over us,
• 26:13
  That you would bless them,
• 26:15
  And we thank Lord,
• 26:15
  Of the great,
• 26:16
  Challenges of our time,
• 26:18
  And we know Lord,
• 26:19
  That great wisdom is needed,
• 26:20
  In all those who lead,
• 26:22
  And so we do pray Father,
• 26:23
  For those in,
• 26:24
  Local authority and council,
• 26:26
  We pray for those,
• 26:26
  In our devolved government,
• 26:28
  In West,
• 26:29
  In Holyrood,
• 26:30
  And we pray for the government,
• 26:30
  In Westminster,
• 26:31
  That you would bless,
• 26:32
  And prosper them,
• 26:34
  As they seek to uphold righteousness,
• 26:36
  As they seek to do good,
• 26:37
  As they seek to alleviate,
• 26:39
  The great effects of sin,
• 26:41
  And the effects of,
• 26:43
  Abuse in our age,
• 26:45
  Lord,
• 26:45
  There are so many things,
• 26:46
  That the government,
• 26:46
  Is necessary for,
• 26:49
  They wield a sword,
• 26:50
  We know for a reason,
• 26:51
  And so we pray for your blessing,
• 26:53
  And prospering on them,
• 26:54
  As far as righteousness,
• 26:56
  Can be pursued,
• 26:57
  We pray today,
• 26:59
  For your blessing,
• 26:59
  On our nation,
• 27:01
  As it seeks to,
• 27:02
  Shine a light for,
• 27:04
  Hope and democracy,
• 27:05
  In the world,
• 27:06
  Lord,
• 27:07
  There are so many places,
• 27:08
  Where the privileges,
• 27:09
  And the good things,
• 27:10
  That we have,
• 27:10
  Are denied to so many people,
• 27:12
  And so we do pray Father,
• 27:14
  That as we seek to,
• 27:16
  Have a presence,
• 27:17
  On the world stage as well,
• 27:18
  That you would help us in that,
• 27:19
  May we be known above all,
• 27:23
  As a place of the gospel,
• 27:24
  And so we pray Father,
• 27:25
  For those who would,
• 27:27
  Limit the gospel,
• 27:28
  In our own nation,
• 27:30
  That you would,
• 27:31
  Change their hearts,
• 27:32
  That you would bring,
• 27:33
  Understanding to them,
• 27:35
  We think Lord,
• 27:35
  Of plans,
• 27:37
  Which have recently,
• 27:38
  Been scrapped here in Scotland,
• 27:40
  To bring in,
• 27:41
  Measures that would,
• 27:44
  Limit the ability,
• 27:46
  Of the church,
• 27:46
  To speak with clarity,
• 27:48
  On moral issues,
• 27:49
  Under a so called,
• 27:50
  Conversion therapy ban,
• 27:52
  We pray for our leaders,
• 27:53
  In Westminster,
• 27:54
  As they now consider,
• 27:55
  The same issues,
• 27:56
  And we ask and pray,
• 27:58
  That restraint would be shown,
• 27:59
  That wisdom would be understood,
• 28:01
  And received,
• 28:02
  We want to pray today Father,
• 28:04
  For the world in which we live,
• 28:06
  We know it's a broken place,
• 28:08
  We know it's full of,
• 28:09
  Great ills and disasters,
• 28:11
  We know it's full of,
• 28:12
  Violence,
• 28:13
  We know that there are,
• 28:14
  Schemes within schemes,
• 28:15
  Of violent men,
• 28:16
  And wicked men,
• 28:17
  Who would seek to have,
• 28:18
  Their own way,
• 28:19
  And we ask and pray Father,
• 28:20
  That in all of these places,
• 28:22
  You would bring relief,
• 28:23
  That you would bring help,
• 28:26
  We pray especially,
• 28:27
  For our friends who minister,
• 28:28
  In these difficult areas,
• 28:30
  We think especially,
• 28:30
  Of the work of Blytheswood today,
• 28:32
  As they minister,
• 28:33
  Particularly in Ukraine,
• 28:35
  We pray for Jeremy Ross,
• 28:37
  And for all of the team,
• 28:38
  That work in that charity,
• 28:40
  That you would bless,
• 28:41
  And prosper them,
• 28:41
  That you would help them,
• 28:42
  And encourage them,
• 28:43
  In the work they're doing,
• 28:44
  And we pray for,
• 28:45
  The partners that they work with,
• 28:47
  In places like Ukraine,
• 28:48
  Under incredibly difficult circumstances,
• 28:51
  Under great tension,
• 28:53
  And stress,
• 28:54
  And we ask that you would bring,
• 28:56
  Help and relief,
• 28:57
  There,
• 28:57
  We pray for an end,
• 28:58
  To that conflict,
• 29:00
  And we pray that you would bring,
• 29:01
  About peace and justice,
• 29:04
  We pray the same Lord,
• 29:05
  For the,
• 29:06
  Terrible scenes,
• 29:07
  That we see continuing in Gaza,
• 29:09
  And we ask and pray Father,
• 29:10
  That across the world,
• 29:11
  You would teach us,
• 29:13
  As a race,
• 29:14
  As a people,
• 29:16
  That the only way,
• 29:17
  To true reconciliation,
• 29:19
  Is through the gospel,
• 29:21
  We know that Jesus came,
• 29:23
  To bring reconciliation,
• 29:25
  And we know that that fruit flows,
• 29:27
  Not merely into,
• 29:28
  The great reconciliation,
• 29:29
  Between God and sinners,
• 29:31
  But the reconciliation,
• 29:32
  That flows between sinful men and women,
• 29:35
  And we cry to you Father,
• 29:36
  In these days,
• 29:37
  That you would bring that to bear,
• 29:38
  In its fullness,
• 29:40
  And in light of,
• 29:41
  The great hope of Jesus,
• 29:43
  My peace I give to you,
• 29:44
  May that peace flow,
• 29:45
  Throughout our world,
• 29:47
  This day,
• 29:48
  And therefore bless the church,
• 29:49
  In all of these places,
• 29:51
  Bless those who are seeking,
• 29:52
  To bring the light of the gospel,
• 29:53
  Into people's lives,
• 29:55
  And may our nation,
• 29:56
  Our world,
• 29:57
  And our own hearts today,
• 29:59
  Be transformed,
• 30:00
  With this great good news,
• 30:02
  That Jesus has come,
• 30:04
  We ask then your blessing,
• 30:05
  In all of these things,
• 30:06
  And we pray in Jesus name,
• 30:07
  Amen.
• 30:11
  And we're going to continue,
• 30:19
  Singing to God's praise,
• 30:21
  Again,
• 30:22
  And sing,
• 30:23
  Psalms,
• 30:25
  In Psalm 29,
• 30:26
  And this is page,
• 30:28
  34,
• 30:28
  Of the blue book,
• 30:29
  Really love this psalm,
• 30:40
  It's a picture of a,
• 30:41
  Of a storm,
• 30:43
  Passing through,
• 30:45
  The land of Israel,
• 30:46
  From the north,
• 30:47
  All the way down,
• 30:47
  Into the south,
• 30:49
  And David,
• 30:49
  As he reflects on this,
• 30:51
  Magnificent experience,
• 30:52
  This awe-inspiring experience,
• 30:54
  He relates it,
• 30:55
  To the word of God,
• 30:57
  The law of the Lord,
• 30:58
  And God's voice,
• 30:59
  Speaking into,
• 31:00
  The lives of his people,
• 31:02
  And it's that same,
• 31:03
  Earth-shattering significance,
• 31:04
  That David longs for,
• 31:06
  As the storm,
• 31:07
  Sweeps through the land,
• 31:08
  And shakes the,
• 31:09
  The trees,
• 31:10
  And the very earth,
• 31:11
  We would long for the same experience,
• 31:13
  That our hearts,
• 31:13
  Would be today moved,
• 31:15
  By the power of God's word,
• 31:17
  As well,
• 31:17
  So we're going to sing,
• 31:18
  The whole of this psalm,
• 31:19
  You mighty ones,
• 31:20
  Give to the Lord,
• 31:20
  As his right,
• 31:21
  Ascribe to the Lord God,
• 31:22
  Both glory and might,
• 31:24
  To the Lord's name,
• 31:25
  Due glory and honour accord,
• 31:27
  In beauty of holiness,
• 31:28
  Worship the Lord.
• 31:30
  We'll stand to sing,
• 31:31
  If we're ready.
• 31:36
  You mighty ones,
• 31:38
  Give to the Lord,
• 31:41
  As his right,
• 31:44
  Ascribe to the Lord God,
• 31:48
  Both glory and might,
• 31:52
  Till the Lord's name,
• 31:53
  Till the Lord's name,
• 31:54
  Till the Lord's name,
• 31:55
  To glory and honour accord,
• 32:00
  In beauty of holiness,
• 32:04
  Worship the Lord.
• 32:09
  The Lord's name,
• 32:12
  The Lord's voice is like,
• 32:14
  There have been one of our
• 32:14
  Shouldым pillars,
• 32:19
  The Lord's name stand about,
• 32:23
  O Lord, the glorious Lord, upon all the waters cross under its earth,
• 32:34
  Hath the word, O voices, the voice of the Lord.
• 32:42
  The voice of the Lord is majestic and loud.
• 32:52
  By the voice of the Lord the great cedars are loud.
• 33:00
  Yes, even the cedars of heaven adore.
• 33:08
  The Lord brings in pieces and shatters them all.
• 33:17
  Like the leaf of a camp he shakes when the looms go.
• 33:25
  And silly unskills like the startled white hoax.
• 33:33
  The voice of the Lord causes lightning to flash.
• 33:42
  The voice of the Lord makes the wilderness cash.
• 33:51
  The Lord makes the desert of man is to shave.
• 33:58
  The Lord causes hopes of the forest to quake.
• 34:07
  The trees of the forest, the streets of their reams.
• 34:16
  And he in this temple great glory receives.
• 34:23
  The Lord overflows, sits as monarch alone.
• 34:33
  The Lord sits forever as king on his throne.
• 34:40
  The Lord makes the strength of his people in peace.
• 34:49
  The Lord gives his people the blessing of peace.
• 34:57
  The Lord makes the earth.
• 35:14
  Would you turn with me and your Bibles, please, back to John's Gospel?
• 35:17
  John chapter 20. We've read that passage, Jesus appearing to the disciples, verse 19, and then
• 35:26
  Thomas being with them the following week once again. Let's bow in prayer before we stop and
• 35:33
  study God's Word. Heavenly Father, as we come for a short time just now to your Word, we do pray that
• 35:38
  you would give us both hearing ears but also hearing hearts. We pray that our hearts today
• 35:45
  would be laid open by the Holy Spirit, that we would see ourselves and our great need in these
• 35:51
  verses, that we would see our own experience reflected in what is before us, and above all
• 35:56
  that we would today see Jesus. It's the entry of Jesus into the closed, barred darkness of our own
• 36:04
  hearts that really makes the difference, that transforms us. And so we pray today that Christ
• 36:08
  would come in, that in your own powerful working way that the Holy Spirit would be here
• 36:14
  bringing home to us these truths. And we ask this then in Jesus' name. Amen.
• 36:26
  I wonder how much uncertainty and doubt preoccupies you. I don't say that just to those of you today
• 36:33
  who are not believers. That may well be the case. There may be many, many questions that you have
• 36:38
  about the gospel. There may be many questions you have about the person and the work of Jesus. There
• 36:43
  may be many questions you have about the way the gospel changes our hearts and understanding what's
• 36:48
  actually going on in your own life just now as perhaps the Holy Spirit is working with you.
• 36:52
  We have great means in the congregation to try and help you with these things. The group that meets
• 36:57
  on Thursday nights, for example, to handle big questions. That's a great place to go and explore
• 37:01
  some of these things. But if I can just for a moment just address that same question to believers.
• 37:05
  You know, you're a Christian today who struggles at times with periods of doubt and uncertainty.
• 37:12
  I think we'd be liars if we said that never happened to us. We'd be liars if we said that that never came
• 37:17
  to us. And I think Thomas is recorded in John's gospel for that reason. He's a great example of somebody
• 37:25
  who needed what I would almost call empirical certainty. He's one of these people who just wants evidence.
• 37:32
  He wants something to persuade him of the truth, the whole truth about Jesus. And so he's asked that
• 37:40
  question previously, for example. You know, John tells us that in John 14 when Jesus says,
• 37:45
  in my father's house there are many mansions, that famous passage. It's at the end of that as he says,
• 37:50
  I'm going to prepare a place for you. Thomas is the one who pipes up and says, how can we know?
• 37:54
  How do we know that we don't even know the way? How do we get there? And that's where Jesus responds
• 37:58
  with that wonderful passage where he says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
• 38:03
  the Father except through me. So Thomas is somebody who's filled with doubt. But I would suggest,
• 38:10
  actually, that before we get to Thomas, the rest of the disciples are in the same boat.
• 38:15
  The rest of the disciples are filled, quaking with fear. And fear is the experience of the
• 38:23
  disciples. We've already read in John's gospel how, you know, Jesus has appeared to Mary Magdalene.
• 38:29
  The other apostles have gone to the tomb. They've seen the empty grave. They've been confronted by
• 38:34
  the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. But by the end of the first day of the week, they are still
• 38:40
  uncertain. And so they have gathered probably back in the upper room again.
• 38:45
  That seems to be the location that they've maybe retreated to for some days since the death of Jesus.
• 38:53
  And the doors are bolted and the disciples are gathered inside. The reality of the joyful hope
• 39:03
  of the resurrection just hasn't come home to them yet. The penny hasn't dropped. It's a bit like a Coke
• 39:11
  machine. You know, you put a coin into a Coke machine and there's a minute, maybe not a minute,
• 39:15
  if there's a minute, there's something wrong. But, you know, you're waiting for the can to drop out
• 39:20
  the bottom. It's like that. The good news of the resurrection of Jesus has gone in there. They
• 39:27
  know what's happened. But the reality of it has not yet hit home to them. And so I think doubt and
• 39:36
  uncertainty is for them very, very real. These final chapters of John's gospel, these last couple
• 39:44
  of chapters in particular after the death and the resurrection of Jesus, John is very deliberately
• 39:49
  weaving together a series of images that are meant to confirm what we know. And that is that
• 39:58
  it's that although our faith is based on the death and resurrection of Jesus, and although the foundation
• 40:08
  of our hope as believers is in the work of Christ, the growth that we experience as believers, the way
• 40:17
  forward for us as believers is through fellowship. It's through the gathering together of the church.
• 40:26
  And it's interesting that here it's in fellowship that the solution to their problems appears.
• 40:34
  As the disciples are gathered together in fellowship, Jesus comes into their midst. And through that,
• 40:42
  and through the presence of Jesus and the gathering of the disciples, great blessing is received.
• 40:48
  And Thomas is an example of someone on the outside of that who needs to come in, who needs to be
• 40:55
  re-engaged in the fellowship of the church and built up and strengthened through it.
• 41:01
  And so it's really through that experience of fellowship that we see so much of the blessing of what follows.
• 41:13
  I don't think today we should see ourselves as being any different.
• 41:18
  John had been pastor of the church in Ephesus.
• 41:24
  And it's to an ordinary church that he writes this gospel. It's for an ordinary set of Christians.
• 41:31
  And the ordinary experience of Christians is that we go through phases where sometimes doubt and uncertainty
• 41:37
  becomes greater and more experienced.
• 41:39
  We go through phases where our experience of fellowship maybe wanes and where we need to be re-engaged and brought back in to that experience.
• 41:50
  So I want to think about the experience of the disciples, first of all, then the experience of Thomas,
• 41:55
  and then just finally come back to our own experience as well.
• 41:59
  As I say, the disciples, they're gathered in the upper room and they're filled with uncertainty
• 42:08
  and they are almost waiting for what's next because they just don't know.
• 42:15
  They don't know what happens next.
• 42:18
  The angels certainly have told them, Jesus has gone ahead and he'll meet you in Galilee.
• 42:22
  That somewhere lies ahead of them.
• 42:24
  But at this moment, they're still not sure quite what to do.
• 42:30
  And it's into that doubt-filled reality that Jesus appears.
• 42:37
  There's a question, I suppose, is how did he appear?
• 42:39
  Have you ever stopped and thought about it in this passage?
• 42:41
  It's interesting to think about.
• 42:43
  Did Jesus come with a locksmith?
• 42:46
  Did he come and unlock the door somehow and walk in through the door?
• 42:51
  Or was it sort of like Star Trek and he just materialized?
• 42:54
  Right in the middle of the room?
• 42:56
  Did he just kind of fade in through the wall?
• 42:58
  Who knows?
• 43:00
  You can speculate on it, but we're not told what the answer is.
• 43:05
  What we're told is that he simply appeared there.
• 43:09
  Nor are we told where he appeared from.
• 43:11
  Where has he been?
• 43:13
  I think it's likely that he's been with the Father.
• 43:16
  That he has been, we could say, in heaven.
• 43:19
  And that's during these 40 or so days between his death and his resurrection and his final ascension.
• 43:25
  That he is between heaven and earth.
• 43:28
  And so in this moment, he appears among the disciples.
• 43:30
  And he is in the right place.
• 43:35
  And this is the important thing.
• 43:36
  At the right time.
• 43:38
  So for us, that's one of the key things to remember.
• 43:41
  Into our doubt and uncertainty.
• 43:44
  Into the times where we have lots of questions.
• 43:47
  Jesus already knows.
• 43:50
  And is fully prepared to come at that moment.
• 43:54
  Into our experience.
• 43:56
  Into our doubts and into our uncertainties.
• 43:59
  To come with answers to the questions that we have.
• 44:03
  And it's part of the glory of Jesus.
• 44:07
  Because remember, John has already told us.
• 44:09
  John's introduction.
• 44:11
  The first chapter of John's gospel that we have.
• 44:13
  Is so important for grasping the themes that John is building as he goes through this gospel.
• 44:19
  And one of the things that John says.
• 44:20
  Probably the pivotal thing that John says is.
• 44:22
  We have seen his glory.
• 44:24
  Glory as of the only Son from the Father.
• 44:27
  Full of grace and truth.
• 44:30
  And that idea of grace and truth.
• 44:31
  The Old Testament ideas.
• 44:32
  God's loving kindness.
• 44:34
  God's covenant faithfulness.
• 44:36
  His chesed.
• 44:38
  And God's faithfulness.
• 44:40
  The fact that God will never abandon his people.
• 44:42
  He's utterly trustworthy.
• 44:44
  He's a covenant keeping God.
• 44:45
  We may fail him.
• 44:46
  But he will never fail us.
• 44:48
  And part of the glory of Jesus.
• 44:50
  Is the fact that he does things like this.
• 44:52
  He appears at the right moment.
• 44:57
  Ministering to his people.
• 44:59
  He appears with the right words.
• 45:02
  The right things we need to hear.
• 45:04
  He appears in the right place.
• 45:06
  In the place of our darkest fears.
• 45:09
  He appears.
• 45:10
  And he comes with us.
• 45:12
  And he ministers to us in that.
• 45:15
  And we should never lose sight of that character.
• 45:18
  That is on display for us.
• 45:21
  So Jesus appears in the right place at the right time.
• 45:24
  And he brings to them peace.
• 45:27
  The disciples are probably alarmed.
• 45:29
  Someone's just appeared right in their midst.
• 45:32
  And Jesus says to them.
• 45:33
  My peace.
• 45:36
  I give to you.
• 45:37
  Peace be with you.
• 45:39
  The word peace that's used there.
• 45:41
  Is the idea of shalom.
• 45:44
  It's not just the absence.
• 45:45
  We tend to think of peace very much as the absence of war and stress.
• 45:50
  If someone's at peace.
• 45:51
  They're pretty chill.
• 45:52
  But the idea of peace in the Bible.
• 45:57
  And the peace of the gospel.
• 45:59
  Is the good news that sinners are liberated in and through Christ.
• 46:02
  And have full peace with God.
• 46:05
  Complete fellowship.
• 46:07
  There is a full functioning operational.
• 46:11
  Perfect harmonious relationship.
• 46:13
  Created.
• 46:14
  And it comes through Jesus.
• 46:19
  Through his blood shed at the cross.
• 46:21
  Through his finished work.
• 46:23
  Through us believing in him.
• 46:24
  Trusting in the sufficiency of what he has done.
• 46:27
  He brings us peace.
• 46:28
  And Jesus announces this to the disciples.
• 46:30
  He says peace be with you.
• 46:33
  I give you this shalom.
• 46:35
  It's the common greeting thereafter of the whole New Testament.
• 46:38
  Grace and peace.
• 46:39
  Almost every one of Paul's letters.
• 46:41
  Begins with that.
• 46:42
  It's that shalom of God.
• 46:45
  And the disciples are glad.
• 46:47
  Because Jesus has presented himself with them.
• 46:50
  So Jesus comes in.
• 46:51
  And offers them this reassurance.
• 46:54
  Of the shalom of God.
• 46:56
  That flows from the cross.
• 46:58
  That flows from his finished work.
• 47:01
  That flows from the fact that he's now risen from the dead.
• 47:04
  They can say with confidence.
• 47:06
  We have now got peace with God.
• 47:10
  Because of what Jesus has done.
• 47:12
  The same thing that we can say today.
• 47:15
  Because the resurrection confirms for us.
• 47:18
  Christ's sacrifice was acceptable.
• 47:24
  So nothing more is needed on God's side.
• 47:26
  God says it's done.
• 47:28
  It's finished.
• 47:29
  I'm satisfied with what my son has done.
• 47:31
  It's there for you.
• 47:32
  And it's fullness and completeness.
• 47:34
  Peace is available to us today.
• 47:37
  Peace is available to us in the brokenness of our lives.
• 47:39
  Spilling out into every aspect of our lives in fact.
• 47:44
  I mean certainly peace is available in your relationship with God.
• 47:47
  If you're laboring under the guilt of sin today.
• 47:51
  Peace is available to you.
• 47:53
  For that guilt to be taken away.
• 47:56
  If today you're struggling though.
• 47:58
  Through the realities of the brokenness of life.
• 48:01
  Perhaps in a series of broken realities in your own experience.
• 48:09
  Maybe substance abuse.
• 48:13
  Maybe parts of your character that are just not right.
• 48:18
  An angry temperament.
• 48:20
  Perhaps a broken and messy marriage.
• 48:22
  It's into all of this that God says peace be with you.
• 48:30
  Because the fullness of the gospel and the reconciliation that flows from the grace of God with himself.
• 48:36
  Overflowing into all of our human relationships with other people.
• 48:39
  And ultimately in the fullness of time.
• 48:42
  And in the new heavens and the new earth.
• 48:43
  Into the fullness of the whole of creation.
• 48:45
  Being placed under that peace of God.
• 48:47
  All of it is available to us today.
• 48:52
  Through Christ himself.
• 48:55
  And so the disciples were glad.
• 48:57
  They have every reason to be.
• 49:00
  And then Jesus though doesn't just leave them there.
• 49:02
  I mean sometimes we tend to think that's what discipleship is about isn't it?
• 49:04
  We'd love it if discipleship was about being brought to a place of peace and harmony.
• 49:09
  Where everything is still.
• 49:12
  But that isn't what Jesus says.
• 49:14
  It's interesting if you read it.
• 49:15
  Jesus appears and says to them peace be with you.
• 49:17
  As my father or as the father rather has sent me.
• 49:22
  Even so I am sending you.
• 49:28
  As I've been sent.
• 49:30
  I'm sending you.
• 49:33
  What Jesus is doing there is commissioning the disciples.
• 49:36
  It's a commission that he gives to the disciples specifically.
• 49:40
  But it's one which extends from the disciples to the whole church.
• 49:45
  Because as we'll see.
• 49:47
  The point Jesus has already prayed this.
• 49:48
  If you remember in John's gospel.
• 49:49
  Back in John 17 you've got the high priestly prayer of Jesus.
• 49:52
  He prays for himself first of all.
• 49:54
  And what he has to endure.
• 49:55
  He prays for the disciples.
• 49:57
  The 12 or the 11 as they are then.
• 49:59
  Who are going to be sent out in his name.
• 50:00
  And what they have to endure as a specific bearers of that responsibility.
• 50:04
  But then he prays for the rest of the church.
• 50:06
  All those who believe in him because of what the disciples have said.
• 50:09
  And so the commission that's given to the disciples here.
• 50:12
  Being sent out.
• 50:13
  Is a commission that today extends.
• 50:15
  To all those who have believed in the gospel.
• 50:16
  Because of what they have said.
• 50:19
  So it's like a chain that flows from the disciples to us.
• 50:23
  It's not a chain that flows from the apostle Peter.
• 50:25
  All the way down to the current Pope of Rome for example.
• 50:27
  It's not an individual thing.
• 50:29
  It's a collective commission that is given to the whole church.
• 50:33
  Every single believer.
• 50:34
  Not just ministers and elders.
• 50:35
  But every single believer.
• 50:37
  Shares in this commission.
• 50:39
  Where Jesus says as the father sent me.
• 50:41
  So I am sending you.
• 50:44
  It's interesting to note as well.
• 50:45
  Who's doing the work here.
• 50:47
  The whole trinity is involved in this.
• 50:50
  As the father has sent me.
• 50:51
  So I am sending you.
• 50:53
  And then Jesus breathes on the apostles.
• 50:55
  And he says receive the Holy Spirit.
• 50:57
  So you have the father, the son and the Holy Spirit.
• 50:59
  Triune God.
• 51:00
  All working together.
• 51:02
  Combined together in the same mission.
• 51:04
  And objective and goal.
• 51:07
  Of this great work of the father.
• 51:09
  Into which he sent the son.
• 51:12
  And the son.
• 51:13
  Engaged in that work himself.
• 51:15
  Then sends and commissions the disciples.
• 51:18
  And all of this empowered by the working.
• 51:20
  And the presence.
• 51:22
  And the transformation of the Holy Spirit.
• 51:23
  In their lives.
• 51:27
  So the whole of the triune God.
• 51:29
  Is involved in this.
• 51:30
  The characteristic of God himself.
• 51:32
  As a missionary is very clear.
• 51:35
  That God himself is involved.
• 51:36
  In this great work.
• 51:38
  Of going into the darkness of the world.
• 51:40
  And saving sinners.
• 51:43
  Of his son.
• 51:43
  Coming into the darkness of this world.
• 51:46
  And revealing the father's glory.
• 51:49
  The glory of the only son.
• 51:50
  From the father.
• 51:50
  Full of grace and truth.
• 51:51
  And so we ask ourselves today.
• 51:53
  What is the characteristics then.
• 51:55
  Of this mission.
• 51:56
  That Jesus is commissioning the disciples into.
• 51:59
  It's the same thing.
• 52:01
  Revealing the character of the father.
• 52:04
  Revealing the character of Jesus.
• 52:07
  Revealing grace.
• 52:09
  And truth.
• 52:10
  Going to people with an undeserved message.
• 52:13
  Of salvation.
• 52:15
  Reminding people.
• 52:16
  Everyone here today.
• 52:16
  Ought to be reminded of this.
• 52:18
  That your salvation is not your own.
• 52:21
  It's not your own work.
• 52:22
  It's not your own effort.
• 52:23
  It's not your own intentionality.
• 52:26
  It's not your own righteousness.
• 52:30
  It's gracious.
• 52:31
  It's a gift.
• 52:32
  It's a salvation that's given to you.
• 52:34
  Because you could never do it yourself.
• 52:37
  That's the commission that we have.
• 52:39
  To tell people.
• 52:40
  Salvation is free.
• 52:42
  It's a gift.
• 52:43
  And it's to be done faithfully.
• 52:48
  How often is it that we give up on people?
• 52:51
  How often is it that we get frustrated.
• 52:53
  And we say.
• 52:54
  Oh no.
• 52:54
  I'm not going on with trying to persuade you of this.
• 52:56
  It's just pearls.
• 52:57
  We use that phrase.
• 52:59
  The pearls before swine.
• 53:01
  The faithfulness of God.
• 53:05
  Persists.
• 53:05
  Until God and his sovereignty.
• 53:08
  Ends things.
• 53:10
  People on mercy's ground.
• 53:11
  People that we've been praying for.
• 53:16
  People that we want to see saved.
• 53:18
  That we've been longing to see.
• 53:19
  Come to salvation for years upon years.
• 53:21
  Those of you who are parents know this.
• 53:23
  You never stop.
• 53:26
  The faithfulness of God.
• 53:28
  The characteristic of the faithfulness of God.
• 53:32
  Which characterizes Christ's mission.
• 53:35
  Characterizes ours.
• 53:37
  And we go on in that constant hope.
• 53:39
  It's interesting the way Jesus states this as well.
• 53:45
  As the Father has sent me.
• 53:46
  That's a perfect tense in Greek.
• 53:48
  So it's complete.
• 53:48
  It's done.
• 53:49
  The Father has sent me.
• 53:50
  I have done the work that the Father sent me to do.
• 53:53
  The work of Jesus is finished.
• 53:55
  Nothing more needs to be added to it.
• 53:57
  There's nothing extra needs to be done.
• 53:59
  The grace of salvation.
• 54:01
  The gift of salvation.
• 54:02
  It has been fully purchased.
• 54:03
  It is a self-contained thing now.
• 54:07
  The work is done.
• 54:09
  And Jesus' ongoing work now is for the church.
• 54:11
  As its head.
• 54:12
  As the Lamb of God.
• 54:13
  Who continues to pray and intercede for the people.
• 54:16
  We've been hearing about that recently.
• 54:17
  What's Jesus doing right now?
• 54:19
  It's a great sermon.
• 54:22
  So.
• 54:22
  How does he send us?
• 54:25
  Does he send us in the same way?
• 54:26
  No.
• 54:26
  He says.
• 54:27
  Now.
• 54:28
  The present tense is used.
• 54:30
  I am sending you.
• 54:33
  He's sending us.
• 54:34
  In an ongoing sense.
• 54:36
  We are to go on with this great commission.
• 54:39
  Continuing to work.
• 54:39
  As the Father has sent him.
• 54:41
  So we are to be sent.
• 54:44
  That means the key characteristic for us.
• 54:46
  Has to be.
• 54:47
  The heart for the lost.
• 54:50
  And that's what the really confusing bit in verse 23 is about.
• 54:53
  As you look at verse 23.
• 54:54
  Jesus says.
• 54:55
  I.
• 54:55
  If you forgive the sins of any.
• 54:57
  So this is as the.
• 54:58
  The church of God is sent out into the world.
• 55:00
  Commissioned by Jesus.
• 55:01
  Empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• 55:03
  Jesus then says.
• 55:04
  If you forgive the sins of any.
• 55:06
  They are forgiven them.
• 55:07
  If you withhold forgiveness from any.
• 55:08
  It is withheld.
• 55:10
  And that is a profoundly difficult verse.
• 55:14
  Perhaps wisdom would have said.
• 55:16
  Don't preach on that today Gordon.
• 55:17
  One sensible thing to do.
• 55:19
  Would have been to avoid it.
• 55:21
  But this is an important verse for us.
• 55:24
  Because if we're to understand.
• 55:25
  The commission of Jesus.
• 55:27
  If it's to be in the same terms.
• 55:28
  As Jesus was sent into the world.
• 55:30
  As the Father sent him.
• 55:32
  And he is to reveal the character of the Father.
• 55:34
  And our commission by Jesus.
• 55:35
  Is to go into the world.
• 55:37
  Fulfilling the same mission.
• 55:38
  Showing the character of the Father.
• 55:40
  Then that means.
• 55:41
  What happens here today.
• 55:44
  Is the fulfillment of verse 23.
• 55:47
  If I don't preach to you today.
• 55:50
  That sins can be forgiven.
• 55:54
  You will not know that sin can be forgiven.
• 55:56
  And if you don't know your sins can be forgiven.
• 55:59
  Your sins won't be.
• 56:03
  If I don't preach the gospel faithfully.
• 56:06
  You won't have your sins forgiven.
• 56:09
  You can't.
• 56:11
  Because sins can't be forgiven.
• 56:12
  In the absence of faithful preaching of the gospel.
• 56:18
  And that is a really solemn thought.
• 56:22
  The lost outside.
• 56:24
  Can never know the salvation of Jesus.
• 56:28
  Unless they have a preacher.
• 56:30
  Unless someone goes to them.
• 56:33
  With the word.
• 56:35
  Unless we go to them.
• 56:37
  With the word.
• 56:38
  Unless we share with people.
• 56:42
  The good news of the gospel.
• 56:45
  If we don't do it.
• 56:47
  Our friends.
• 56:48
  Our neighbors.
• 56:50
  Our workmates.
• 56:52
  Will be lost.
• 56:53
  To hell.
• 56:55
  Because the gospel.
• 56:58
  Has to be proclaimed.
• 57:00
  And that's what verse 23 is saying.
• 57:02
  The only way sin can be forgiven.
• 57:06
  Is in the context of the faithful ministry of Christ's people.
• 57:14
  And if we as a congregation.
• 57:16
  Want to see our town saved.
• 57:18
  That's a good thing.
• 57:19
  That's a good desire.
• 57:21
  The only way.
• 57:23
  To that salvation.
• 57:24
  For those around us.
• 57:26
  Is if someone goes faithfully.
• 57:28
  With the gospel.
• 57:29
  So preaching is key.
• 57:30
  But remember.
• 57:32
  The outcome doesn't rest with us.
• 57:35
  Because Jesus says.
• 57:36
  We need the power of the Holy Spirit.
• 57:39
  We don't have the power to forgive sins.
• 57:41
  I mean.
• 57:41
  You can't.
• 57:42
  You can't go to that version.
• 57:44
  Verse 23.
• 57:44
  And say.
• 57:44
  Well that means we have the power to forgive sins.
• 57:46
  And we just say to people.
• 57:46
  Your sins are forgiven.
• 57:47
  They're forgiven.
• 57:47
  They're not.
• 57:48
  You can't forgive people's sins.
• 57:49
  You're not the judge.
• 57:51
  What you need.
• 57:52
  Is the Holy Spirit's power.
• 57:55
  To do what the Holy Spirit does.
• 57:57
  And the Holy Spirit's work.
• 58:00
  Is one of shining a light.
• 58:02
  The Spirit shines a light.
• 58:04
  On the person of Jesus.
• 58:06
  And that's what he'll do.
• 58:08
  Through your witness as well.
• 58:10
  So if we go out.
• 58:11
  And we pray.
• 58:12
  That the Lord will bless our witness.
• 58:14
  Day by day.
• 58:16
  The Holy Spirit.
• 58:17
  Will shine a light on Jesus.
• 58:20
  Through your witness.
• 58:25
  And Christ will be eliminated.
• 58:28
  Illuminated.
• 58:28
  Sorry.
• 58:30
  Shown on.
• 58:31
  Shown to be clear.
• 58:33
  And the church.
• 58:34
  Faithfully going out.
• 58:35
  Will make Christ known.
• 58:38
  I would say it's costly.
• 58:40
  As well.
• 58:42
  And the reason I say it's costly.
• 58:44
  Is because.
• 58:45
  For Jesus.
• 58:46
  The sending of the Father.
• 58:47
  Was costly.
• 58:50
  Jesus coming into the world.
• 58:52
  Came.
• 58:53
  And.
• 58:53
  We remember that verse.
• 58:54
  We were looking at it actually.
• 58:55
  On Wednesday night.
• 58:55
  In the Bible study.
• 58:56
  It's that downward trajectory.
• 58:57
  In Philippians 2.
• 58:58
  He came into a sinful world.
• 59:00
  He came into a place of slavery.
• 59:01
  He came into.
• 59:03
  Despised and rejected of men.
• 59:04
  He went to the cross.
• 59:06
  Not just any death in fact.
• 59:07
  But the death of the cross.
• 59:08
  The cursed death.
• 59:09
  Of being hung in a tree.
• 59:11
  And then he was buried.
• 59:13
  And you kind of think.
• 59:14
  That was God who did this.
• 59:15
  God the son.
• 59:17
  Who went through that.
• 59:17
  Downward trajectory.
• 59:18
  All the way to the cross.
• 59:19
  That path of suffering.
• 59:22
  And cost.
• 59:23
  Is what it means.
• 59:24
  To be sent by God.
• 59:25
  Into a sinful world.
• 59:28
  And I have to be honest with you today.
• 59:29
  There's a great danger.
• 59:31
  In showing people.
• 59:34
  Cheap discipleship.
• 59:35
  Become a Christian.
• 59:36
  And you know.
• 59:36
  It's just a little bit of a.
• 59:38
  You know.
• 59:38
  It's a little thing.
• 59:40
  It's not.
• 59:42
  Being a disciple of Jesus.
• 59:43
  Is profoundly costly.
• 59:45
  It's not without profound reward.
• 59:49
  There's not profound hope.
• 59:50
  In the resurrection.
• 59:51
  And eternal life.
• 59:53
  There's not profound comfort.
• 59:54
  In the presence of the Holy Spirit.
• 59:55
  With us.
• 59:56
  And the comfort of Jesus.
• 59:58
  Being present.
• 59:58
  As I said.
• 59:59
  In his fullness.
• 59:59
  Of his grace.
• 1:00:00
  And truth.
• 1:00:01
  Coming in.
• 1:00:01
  To meet us.
• 1:00:02
  At our point of need.
• 1:00:03
  And comforting us.
• 1:00:04
  And assuring us.
• 1:00:05
  And helping us.
• 1:00:06
  But it's not cost free.
• 1:00:09
  People will hate you.
• 1:00:11
  People will despise you.
• 1:00:12
  Because you are a follower of Christ.
• 1:00:13
  People will reject you.
• 1:00:15
  Because they rejected him.
• 1:00:18
  And yet we go on.
• 1:00:19
  With confidence.
• 1:00:21
  And so we preach.
• 1:00:22
  With power.
• 1:00:23
  Knowing there's a price.
• 1:00:25
  And the peace of God.
• 1:00:26
  Will flow.
• 1:00:28
  From us.
• 1:00:29
  Then on to others.
• 1:00:32
  Thomas.
• 1:00:33
  Time's nearly away.
• 1:00:34
  So let me very briefly.
• 1:00:35
  Just mention Thomas.
• 1:00:37
  Thomas was absent.
• 1:00:38
  When all of this happened.
• 1:00:40
  And so it's really interesting.
• 1:00:42
  To just pause.
• 1:00:43
  And remember.
• 1:00:43
  What happens there.
• 1:00:45
  The importance of fellowship.
• 1:00:47
  And getting this right.
• 1:00:49
  Thomas has.
• 1:00:50
  For reasons.
• 1:00:51
  Which are probably lengthy.
• 1:00:53
  And tricky to get into.
• 1:00:54
  But Thomas is one of these people.
• 1:00:55
  Who needs evidence.
• 1:00:56
  When he's.
• 1:00:56
  So you know.
• 1:00:57
  Certainly we thought on that.
• 1:00:58
  But he's also probably someone.
• 1:00:59
  Who needs a bit of time by himself.
• 1:01:01
  There's nothing wrong with that.
• 1:01:03
  Sometimes taking a bit of time out.
• 1:01:05
  To reflect.
• 1:01:05
  And chill.
• 1:01:06
  Is good.
• 1:01:09
  What's wrong is.
• 1:01:10
  Making that habitual.
• 1:01:12
  Stepping back.
• 1:01:13
  And saying.
• 1:01:13
  Well I'm not.
• 1:01:14
  You know.
• 1:01:14
  I'm giving up in the prayer meeting.
• 1:01:16
  I'm giving up in Christian fellowship.
• 1:01:18
  I'm giving up in meeting with other Christians.
• 1:01:19
  Because they're hypocrites.
• 1:01:20
  And it's awful.
• 1:01:22
  There's no place for that.
• 1:01:24
  And so.
• 1:01:24
  The cure to that.
• 1:01:26
  Position of.
• 1:01:27
  Outside.
• 1:01:28
  Taking yourself outside.
• 1:01:30
  Is.
• 1:01:30
  What happens to Thomas.
• 1:01:31
  Where he's brought back in.
• 1:01:32
  But what's really interesting.
• 1:01:34
  Is when Thomas is brought back in.
• 1:01:36
  And he comes.
• 1:01:37
  And he meets with the disciples.
• 1:01:38
  And he's got.
• 1:01:38
  You know.
• 1:01:38
  He's got his empirical questions.
• 1:01:40
  I want to see them.
• 1:01:40
  I want to see the nail prints.
• 1:01:42
  I want to see the wound in his side.
• 1:01:44
  When he does come back in.
• 1:01:47
  There's real blessing is found.
• 1:01:49
  And what's really interesting.
• 1:01:50
  Is Jesus ministers to him.
• 1:01:51
  At the point of his need as well.
• 1:01:53
  What does Jesus say.
• 1:01:54
  To Thomas.
• 1:01:56
  He says.
• 1:01:56
  Here Thomas.
• 1:01:57
  Look at my hands.
• 1:01:57
  You want to put your hand.
• 1:02:00
  On my side.
• 1:02:01
  There is.
• 1:02:04
  Jesus.
• 1:02:05
  Knows.
• 1:02:06
  Exactly.
• 1:02:06
  What Thomas's questions were.
• 1:02:08
  And he answers them.
• 1:02:09
  He ministers to Thomas.
• 1:02:11
  At the point.
• 1:02:11
  Of his need.
• 1:02:14
  And so we have a gracious.
• 1:02:16
  And kind.
• 1:02:17
  And faithful.
• 1:02:18
  Savior.
• 1:02:19
  In Jesus.
• 1:02:20
  He shows the father's glory.
• 1:02:21
  In how he speaks to Thomas.
• 1:02:23
  But then.
• 1:02:24
  He also.
• 1:02:25
  Ministers to Thomas.
• 1:02:26
  In the same way that he ministers.
• 1:02:27
  To the rest of the disciples.
• 1:02:27
  He doesn't leave him where he is.
• 1:02:30
  He says.
• 1:02:31
  Now it's time to move forward.
• 1:02:34
  And Thomas.
• 1:02:34
  Is commissioned.
• 1:02:35
  In the same way.
• 1:02:36
  Do you believe these things.
• 1:02:37
  Thomas says.
• 1:02:38
  Jesus says to him.
• 1:02:39
  And Thomas's response.
• 1:02:40
  Is really fascinating.
• 1:02:41
  He says.
• 1:02:41
  My Lord.
• 1:02:41
  And my God.
• 1:02:44
  He recognizes.
• 1:02:46
  That Jesus.
• 1:02:47
  Is.
• 1:02:48
  The.
• 1:02:48
  The.
• 1:02:48
  The word in Greek.
• 1:02:49
  Is kurios.
• 1:02:50
  The.
• 1:02:50
  The.
• 1:02:51
  The Lord.
• 1:02:51
  The master.
• 1:02:53
  The word's probably closer to master.
• 1:02:54
  Than it is Lord.
• 1:02:54
  Actually.
• 1:02:55
  A slave master relationship.
• 1:02:57
  And so Thomas is recognizing.
• 1:02:59
  That his life.
• 1:03:00
  From this point on.
• 1:03:01
  Is under the same authority.
• 1:03:03
  As the other disciples.
• 1:03:04
  Have just been placed under.
• 1:03:06
  As the father has sent me.
• 1:03:07
  So I am sending you.
• 1:03:08
  Thomas.
• 1:03:09
  Recognizing the lordship of Jesus.
• 1:03:10
  Acknowledges.
• 1:03:11
  That.
• 1:03:11
  The commission.
• 1:03:12
  That the disciples had.
• 1:03:13
  Is his.
• 1:03:15
  And I often think.
• 1:03:16
  That's perhaps.
• 1:03:17
  The biggest cure.
• 1:03:18
  To.
• 1:03:19
  Times of doubt.
• 1:03:20
  Perhaps even times.
• 1:03:21
  Of backsliding.
• 1:03:22
  It's to recognize.
• 1:03:23
  That Jesus.
• 1:03:24
  Wants you back.
• 1:03:26
  Because he has a commission.
• 1:03:27
  For you.
• 1:03:28
  He wants you to go on.
• 1:03:30
  In his service.
• 1:03:32
  He wants to recommission.
• 1:03:33
  You with a purpose.
• 1:03:34
  To continue the work.
• 1:03:35
  That he's given you.
• 1:03:37
  And so Thomas.
• 1:03:38
  Has the same commission.
• 1:03:39
  From the same Christ.
• 1:03:42
  And the point is.
• 1:03:43
  So do we.
• 1:03:43
  Because that's where.
• 1:03:46
  John really tells us.
• 1:03:47
  That little.
• 1:03:49
  Comment that he gives us.
• 1:03:50
  At the end of this chapter.
• 1:03:52
  Thomas is telling us.
• 1:03:54
  These things are written.
• 1:03:55
  So that you may believe.
• 1:03:57
  All of this.
• 1:03:58
  Is for us.
• 1:04:00
  Thomas was not just.
• 1:04:01
  Giving us a historical account.
• 1:04:03
  Of what happened.
• 1:04:04
  After Jesus rose again.
• 1:04:05
  And spoke to the disciples.
• 1:04:06
  He's saying.
• 1:04:07
  This is what's still going on.
• 1:04:08
  Just now.
• 1:04:10
  If you believe.
• 1:04:11
  Jesus is the Christ.
• 1:04:12
  You will have life.
• 1:04:13
  You'll have life.
• 1:04:16
  Because.
• 1:04:17
  Believers accept.
• 1:04:18
  That Jesus is the one.
• 1:04:19
  Who can commission us.
• 1:04:20
  Who can send us.
• 1:04:20
  And give us peace.
• 1:04:21
  And shalom.
• 1:04:22
  Jesus is the one.
• 1:04:22
  Who sends us.
• 1:04:24
  On our way.
• 1:04:26
  And today.
• 1:04:26
  That's what he's doing with you.
• 1:04:28
  With me as well.
• 1:04:30
  He's sending us.
• 1:04:32
  Commissioning us.
• 1:04:33
  In the work of the gospel.
• 1:04:35
  Sending us out.
• 1:04:36
  Into Stornoway.
• 1:04:37
  To be his witnesses.
• 1:04:39
  Literally.
• 1:04:40
  The ends of the earth.
• 1:04:41
  To be here.
• 1:04:44
  Showing.
• 1:04:45
  The light of Christ.
• 1:04:48
  His grace and glory.
• 1:04:50
  Fully revealed.
• 1:04:53
  For sinners.
• 1:04:54
  Like us.
• 1:04:57
  These things are written.
• 1:04:58
  So that you may believe.
• 1:05:00
  That Jesus is the Christ.
• 1:05:02
  And that believing.
• 1:05:03
  You may have life.
• 1:05:05
  In his name.
• 1:05:06
  Let's pray.
• 1:05:07
  Heavenly Father.
• 1:05:15
  As we.
• 1:05:16
  Bow in.
• 1:05:17
  Conclusion of our service today.
• 1:05:18
  We ask and pray.
• 1:05:19
  That you would bless us.
• 1:05:20
  Bless us with that peace.
• 1:05:22
  That comes.
• 1:05:22
  From Christ's appearing.
• 1:05:24
  May we know.
• 1:05:25
  The shalom of God.
• 1:05:26
  In our experience.
• 1:05:28
  May we know this.
• 1:05:28
  Because these things.
• 1:05:29
  Have been passed to us.
• 1:05:30
  And are worthy of believing.
• 1:05:32
  And help us therefore.
• 1:05:33
  To have faith.
• 1:05:34
  In the risen Christ.
• 1:05:35
  We ask this in his name.
• 1:05:37
  For his sake.
• 1:05:38
  Amen.
• 1:05:50
  And we're going to sing.
• 1:05:51
  In conclusion.
• 1:05:52
  In Psalm 77.
• 1:05:53
  In Sing Psalms.
• 1:06:05
  John.
• 1:06:09
  John.
• 1:06:09
  If it's all right.
• 1:06:10
  I think maybe.
• 1:06:10
  I'm seeing the time.
• 1:06:11
  So let's maybe just finish up.
• 1:06:13
  Verse 10.
• 1:06:14
  Through to verse 14.
• 1:06:15
  So.
• 1:06:16
  In this Psalm.
• 1:06:17
  The thought has been.
• 1:06:18
  In these watches of the night.
• 1:06:19
  At verse 6.
• 1:06:20
  There's these distressing.
• 1:06:22
  Deep.
• 1:06:22
  Ponderous thoughts.
• 1:06:23
  That are coming.
• 1:06:24
  They're the thoughts of someone like Thomas.
• 1:06:26
  The doubting thoughts.
• 1:06:27
  The questioning thoughts.
• 1:06:27
  The wondering.
• 1:06:28
  But then verse 10.
• 1:06:29
  Then to my heart there.
• 1:06:31
  Came this thought.
• 1:06:32
  On this I will rely.
• 1:06:34
  The years of the right hand of power.
• 1:06:35
  Of him that is most high.
• 1:06:37
  I will recall the Lord's great deeds.
• 1:06:39
  Your works of long ago.
• 1:06:40
  I'll meditate on all your acts.
• 1:06:42
  Your mighty works.
• 1:06:43
  Your mighty deeds.
• 1:06:44
  Sorry.
• 1:06:44
  I'll show.
• 1:06:45
  O God.
• 1:06:46
  Most holy are your ways.
• 1:06:47
  What God compares with you.
• 1:06:49
  You are the God of miracles.
• 1:06:51
  Whose power the nations view.
• 1:06:52
  So we'll sing these three verses.
• 1:06:53
  Verses 10 to 14.
• 1:06:55
  To God's praise.
• 1:06:56
  Then to my heart there came this thought.
• 1:06:58
  We'll stand a second.
• 1:06:59
  To my heart there came this thought.
• 1:07:10
  For this I will rely.
• 1:07:17
  The years of the right hand of power.
• 1:07:26
  Of him is most high.
• 1:07:33
  I will recall the Lord's redeemed.
• 1:07:42
  Your words of long ago.
• 1:07:48
  I'll meditate on all your acts.
• 1:07:57
  Your mighty deeds I'll show.
• 1:08:04
  O God.
• 1:08:06
  O God.
• 1:08:08
  What soul we are your ways.
• 1:08:14
  O God.
• 1:08:16
  How much with you.
• 1:08:21
  You are the Lord.
• 1:08:25
  O God.
• 1:08:25
  How much with you.
• 1:08:26
  How much with you.
• 1:08:28
  How much with you.
• 1:08:29
  How much with you.
• 1:08:29
  What soul we are your ways.
• 1:08:30
  How much with you.
• 1:08:32
  How much with you.
• 1:08:34
  How much with you.
• 1:08:38
  Now the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 1:08:40
  The love of God the Father.
• 1:08:41
  And the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit.
• 1:08:43
  Be with each one of us.
• 1:08:44
  Now and always.
• 1:08:45
  Amen.
• 1:08:45
  So.
• 1:09:15
  Thank you.