Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / A Vision and Mission Statement
Transcript
- 0:00We'll begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise. We're going to sing in Psalm 106,
- 0:06the Scottish Psalter version, Psalm 106, page 378 of the Psalm books. We'll sing from verse 1
- 0:13to verse 5. The tune is done firmly in Psalm 106. At verse 1, give praise and thanks unto the Lord,
- 0:22for bountiful is he, his tender mercy doth endure unto eternity. We'll sing from verse 1 to
- 0:295 to God's praise, and we stand to sing.
- 0:32Give praise and thanks unto the Lord, for bountiful is he, his tender mercy doth endure unto eternity.
- 1:01God's mighty works who can express, or show forth all his grace.
- 1:17Blessed are they the judgment key, and justly do always.
- 1:31Remember me, Lord, with that love, which thou to thine dost bear. With thy salvation, O my God,
- 1:54for send me draw near. But I, my chosen stood may see, and in their joy rejoice. And may with thine inheritance,
- 2:22Let us unite our hearts in prayer.
- 2:39Let us pray.
- 2:45Our gracious and everlasting Father,
- 2:47we thank you that we come to you as our Lord
- 2:51and as our God.
- 2:52We come with so much to be thankful for.
- 2:56We thank you for the peace that we enjoy.
- 3:00We thank you for the blessing that we have
- 3:02in coming to praise your name together.
- 3:05We come, Lord, thankful for your tender mercies towards us,
- 3:10mercies that are new each day.
- 3:12And Lord, as we just look into our hearts this evening
- 3:17and as we look into your word
- 3:18and as we look out into the world, O Lord,
- 3:21we come just thankful, Lord,
- 3:23for the very fact that we have a God to call upon.
- 3:28We have a God who hears the cries of his people.
- 3:32We have a God who is able to do so much more
- 3:36than we even ask or imagine.
- 3:38And when there are times when we feel helpless,
- 3:41when there are times where we feel much grief for our world,
- 3:46when there is so much sorrow and sadness around us,
- 3:51we thank you that you are a God who is able to comfort,
- 3:55that you are a God who is able to change,
- 3:58to change war into peace.
- 4:01And as we have heard and seen in this last week, Lord,
- 4:05the devastation of war in our midst once again in the world,
- 4:08we do pray for you as the God of mercy,
- 4:11the God of peace,
- 4:13even to bring a quick end to this awful war in Israel,
- 4:16as we are reminded on our prayer notes.
- 4:19But in other parts of the world, too,
- 4:21we see much devastation, much atrocities.
- 4:25And we pray, Lord, for quick ends to it all.
- 4:29In many ways, we know that that will not be until you return.
- 4:35For your word reminds us that there will be wars
- 4:38and rumors of war.
- 4:40But we thank you, too, Lord,
- 4:42that you are still God in the midst of it all,
- 4:46that you are the one who is able to change evil to good.
- 4:51And we pray, Lord, that in these days
- 4:53that we would see your power at work,
- 4:56that again, as we see, oh, Lord,
- 4:59so much that we wonder at,
- 5:02we don't have answers to the many questions we might face.
- 5:06We don't have answers to the wickedness of mankind.
- 5:11But, Lord, we thank you that in the midst of confusion
- 5:15that you are able to bring more clarity.
- 5:19We thank you, Lord,
- 5:20that your word is such a great blessing to us
- 5:24and to all your people,
- 5:25even as we have sung in these words together this evening,
- 5:29remember me, Lord, with that love
- 5:31which thou to thine dost bear.
- 5:34We thank you that your love is unending
- 5:36and unchanging towards your people,
- 5:39wherever they find themselves
- 5:41and whatever circumstances they are in this evening,
- 5:44that your love is unchanging towards them,
- 5:48that you are the God of all covenant and all grace,
- 5:52that you are the God who keeps his people,
- 5:56not just here, but for all eternity,
- 6:00and that whatever comes the way of your people in this world,
- 6:03we know, Lord, that as your word says,
- 6:06that it's greater to come,
- 6:08that our blessings unending
- 6:09and at the throne of God in heaven.
- 6:13And we thank you, Lord,
- 6:15that in the midst of turmoil,
- 6:18that your word is such a blessing to us,
- 6:21but how we need the eyes of faith,
- 6:24how we need to hear your word through ears
- 6:27that hear what you are saying to us.
- 6:30For in the midst of it all,
- 6:31there are warnings to our world
- 6:33and to our people as well,
- 6:34to each of us even here this evening,
- 6:37that our times, O Lord,
- 6:39are out with our control,
- 6:40that all our lives are in your hands,
- 6:43our days are numbered by you,
- 6:45and teach us, Lord,
- 6:47to do wisely with them.
- 6:49For we know, Lord,
- 6:50that we can so often put things away,
- 6:52we can put them off till tomorrow,
- 6:54when tomorrow is never guaranteed for any of us.
- 6:58And so we pray, Lord,
- 6:59that as you remind us again and again
- 7:01of how quickly our lives and our world can change,
- 7:07teach us, Lord,
- 7:08to come near to you,
- 7:10to call upon you,
- 7:11to find our refuge in you.
- 7:15And we pray, Lord,
- 7:16that as a church and as a people,
- 7:19that we will be spoken to in these days as well.
- 7:23For we are reminded that there is nothing new under the sun,
- 7:27that your church,
- 7:28your people have been opposed
- 7:30down through all the generations and all time.
- 7:34And we are reminded even in your word,
- 7:36as we will read it this evening
- 7:38and as we study it together,
- 7:40that whether we look in the Old or the New Testament,
- 7:43we see your people suffering at the hands of evil.
- 7:48We see, O Lord,
- 7:49the church, as it were,
- 7:50being attacked from all sides.
- 7:52And yet we see,
- 7:54Lord,
- 7:54the need for your people to stand strong
- 7:58and to stand strong in the Lord,
- 8:01to be a people of vision,
- 8:02to be a people who have fixed their eyes on God
- 8:06and who trust in him with all their hearts.
- 8:09And we pray, Lord,
- 8:11that in our day and in our time here,
- 8:13that you will help us to stand in the Lord,
- 8:17to stand strong in the Lord,
- 8:19to put on the full armour of God
- 8:21and so to stand as your word sees.
- 8:24And we pray, Lord,
- 8:25and thank you for all the armour that we have,
- 8:30for all the provision that you have made for us
- 8:32through your word,
- 8:34through prayer,
- 8:35through your righteousness,
- 8:37through the church at large, Lord.
- 8:40We thank you that you have equipped us
- 8:42in every way to be your people,
- 8:46to stand in this world and fight for your cause.
- 8:50And we pray, Lord,
- 8:51that you will encourage us,
- 8:53that you will encourage us in these days
- 8:55to see the urgency of the gospel
- 8:58and to see the need to tell others of a saviour,
- 9:02to show them the love of Christ,
- 9:05the one who came to take away the sin of the world.
- 9:10And so we pray and thank you, Lord,
- 9:12that you are able to build your church
- 9:15in the midst of every conflict,
- 9:17every worry and every anxiety,
- 9:20that your promise is that you will build your church.
- 9:23And so we ask, Lord,
- 9:25that to all ends of the earth today,
- 9:27that you will speak,
- 9:29that you will minister,
- 9:30that you will draw people to yourself,
- 9:32from all tribes and from all people,
- 9:35from all ends of the earth,
- 9:37Lord,
- 9:37that you will be the God of salvation
- 9:40that the psalm speaks of.
- 9:43With thy salvation,
- 9:44O my God,
- 9:45to visit me,
- 9:46draw near.
- 9:47We sung these words
- 9:49and we pray these words,
- 9:51that it will be so for all your people,
- 9:53near and far.
- 9:55Draw near with your saving power.
- 9:57Draw near with your grace
- 9:59and with your mercy.
- 10:01Lord,
- 10:01remember us as a congregation here
- 10:04and remember us in homes and families
- 10:06represented and connected with us as a people.
- 10:10Remember us,
- 10:11Lord,
- 10:11in all our different needs.
- 10:13Help us and draw near to us,
- 10:15Lord,
- 10:15as we go through
- 10:16all the different emotions
- 10:17and experience of life,
- 10:19whether it's times of joy,
- 10:21O Lord,
- 10:22as we saw the marriage of Yoin and Dawn on Friday,
- 10:26as we saw such joy and happiness.
- 10:30We thank you for that day.
- 10:31We thank you for the marriage
- 10:33and the celebration of it.
- 10:36And we pray your blessing upon Yoin and Dawn
- 10:39as they set on and married life together,
- 10:43Lord.
- 10:43We pray your blessing will be upon them
- 10:45and for their families too,
- 10:47Lord,
- 10:48as they enjoyed the day together,
- 10:50Lord,
- 10:50that your blessing would be upon them also.
- 10:54And yet in the midst of joy,
- 10:55Lord,
- 10:55we know that there is so often sadness,
- 10:59even on the same hour,
- 11:00Lord,
- 11:00just here and along the road,
- 11:02a wedding in one place
- 11:03and a funeral in another.
- 11:05And it's just a reminder to us
- 11:07of our lives
- 11:08and all that they entail,
- 11:10joy in one place
- 11:11and sorrow in another.
- 11:13And we know that the experience of many,
- 11:15even in this past week,
- 11:16has been that sorrow and grief of loss.
- 11:20And we pray,
- 11:20Lord,
- 11:21that in our communities here
- 11:23and throughout our island,
- 11:25that your comfort would visit homes
- 11:27that have endured such sorrow and sadness.
- 11:30We pray that your comfort will be with them,
- 11:33Lord,
- 11:33who mourn the loss of loved ones.
- 11:36We pray also for those who are unwell.
- 11:39We pray,
- 11:39Lord,
- 11:40for those who are in hospital and homes
- 11:41and confined to their own homes,
- 11:44Lord,
- 11:44going through different experiences just now,
- 11:47times of trial
- 11:49and yet times when you minister,
- 11:52Lord,
- 11:52in powerful ways.
- 11:53And we thank you
- 11:54that your grace is sufficient,
- 11:57sufficient for all experience,
- 11:59that you are the one who draws near
- 12:01in all our times of need.
- 12:04And so,
- 12:04Lord,
- 12:04hear our prayers for one another
- 12:06and do us good,
- 12:07we ask.
- 12:09Look down upon us,
- 12:10Lord,
- 12:10and continue with us this day
- 12:12and in the days ahead as well,
- 12:14Lord,
- 12:14that we would know your leading,
- 12:15your guiding,
- 12:17your blessing with us
- 12:18as we come confessing our sins,
- 12:21Lord,
- 12:21how we fall short of your glory
- 12:23in so many ways
- 12:25and as the word says in thought,
- 12:27word and in deed,
- 12:29how there are so often things
- 12:30that we are convicted by
- 12:32in our own hearts,
- 12:34in our own lives,
- 12:35in so many different ways.
- 12:37But Lord,
- 12:38we thank you
- 12:38for that sense of conviction,
- 12:41for for so many
- 12:43their conscience is dead to sin.
- 12:46But we thank you
- 12:47that when you stir to life
- 12:48there is that sense of conviction.
- 12:51But we thank you too
- 12:52that you do not leave us there,
- 12:54but that with you
- 12:55there is forgiveness,
- 12:56that you are the one
- 12:57who is able to lead us
- 12:58to the rock that is higher,
- 13:00to our Saviour Christ Jesus,
- 13:02our Lord,
- 13:04that we can come
- 13:04confessing our sins,
- 13:07knowing that he is faithful
- 13:08and just to forgive.
- 13:10So, Lord,
- 13:10hear our prayers
- 13:12and draw an ear to us now
- 13:14and continue with us
- 13:15in this time of worship.
- 13:16We ask it all
- 13:17in the precious name
- 13:19of Jesus Christ,
- 13:20our Lord,
- 13:21and for his glory.
- 13:23Amen.
- 13:23We'll again sing
- 13:28to God's praise.
- 13:30We're going to sing
- 13:30in Psalm 17
- 13:32in the Scottish Psalter.
- 13:35Psalm 17,
- 13:36page 217
- 13:38of the Psalm books.
- 13:39We'll sing from verse 4
- 13:41to verse 9.
- 13:42Psalm 17,
- 13:50page 217,
- 13:52verse 4.
- 13:54The tune for this one
- 13:55is St. Andrew.
- 13:56As for men's work,
- 13:58I buy the word
- 14:00that from thy lips
- 14:01doth flow,
- 14:02did me preserve
- 14:03out of the paths
- 14:04wherein destroyers go.
- 14:06Hold up my goings,
- 14:08Lord,
- 14:08me guide
- 14:09in those
- 14:10thy paths divine,
- 14:12so that my footsteps
- 14:13may not slide
- 14:14out of those ways
- 14:16of thine.
- 14:17We'll sing from verse 4
- 14:18to 9
- 14:18to God's praise.
- 14:20St. Andrew.
- 14:50St. Andrew.
- 14:51St. Andrew.
- 15:20ST.
- 15:24those ways of life.
- 15:30I call in love on me, O God,
- 15:38because thou wilt me hear,
- 15:46but thou is hearken to my speech,
- 15:55to me in my, my ear.
- 16:04Thy wondrous loving kindness show,
- 16:12thou art not by thy right hand,
- 16:20since them are just in thee from those
- 16:29that up against them stand.
- 16:36At the apple of the ivy keep,
- 16:46in thy wings shake me close,
- 16:54from lud of deserts compassing,
- 17:01the hand of the heavenly voice.
- 17:17We can turn together this evening to read in Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians,
- 17:23reading in chapter 2.
- 17:241 Thessalonians chapter 2.
- 17:29We read from the beginning of the chapter down to verse 16.
- 17:371 Thessalonians chapter 2,
- 17:40and at verse 1.
- 17:43For you yourselves know, brothers,
- 17:45that our coming to you was not in vain.
- 17:48But though we had already suffered
- 17:50and been shamefully treated at Philippi,
- 17:52as you know, we had boldness in our God
- 17:56to declare to you the gospel of God
- 17:59in the midst of such conflict.
- 18:02For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity
- 18:05or any attempt to deceive.
- 18:09But just as we have been approved by God
- 18:11to be entrusted with the gospel,
- 18:14so we speak,
- 18:15not to please man,
- 18:16but to please God,
- 18:18who tests our hearts.
- 18:19For we never came with words of flattery,
- 18:24as you know,
- 18:25nor with a pretext for greed.
- 18:28God is our witness.
- 18:30Nor did we seek glory from people,
- 18:33whether from you or from others,
- 18:35though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
- 18:39But we were gentle among you,
- 18:41like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
- 18:44So being affectionately desirous of you,
- 18:48we were ready to share with you,
- 18:51not only in the gospel of God,
- 18:53but also our own selves,
- 18:56because you had become very dear to us.
- 18:59For you remember, brothers,
- 19:01our labor and toil.
- 19:03We worked night and day
- 19:04that we might not be a burden to any of you,
- 19:07while we proclaimed to you
- 19:09the gospel of God.
- 19:11You are witnesses and God also,
- 19:14how holy and righteous and blameless
- 19:16was our conduct towards you believers.
- 19:20For you know how like a father with his children,
- 19:23we exhorted each one of you
- 19:26and encouraged you
- 19:27and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God,
- 19:33who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
- 19:37And we also thank God constantly for this,
- 19:39that when you received the word of God,
- 19:43which you heard from us,
- 19:45you accepted it not as the word of men,
- 19:48but as what it really is,
- 19:49the word of God,
- 19:51which is at work in you believers.
- 19:54For you, brothers,
- 19:55became imitators of the churches of God
- 19:58in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.
- 20:01For you suffered the same things
- 20:03from your own countrymen
- 20:04as they did from the Jews,
- 20:06who killed both the Lord Jesus
- 20:08and the prophets
- 20:10and drove us out
- 20:12and displeased God
- 20:14and opposed all mankind
- 20:16by hindering us
- 20:18from speaking to the Gentiles
- 20:19that they might be saved.
- 20:22So as always,
- 20:24to fill up the measure of their sins,
- 20:26but God's wrath has come upon them
- 20:29at last.
- 20:31And so on.
- 20:32May God bless that reading from his word.
- 20:36Before we turn back to look at part of this passage,
- 20:39we'll sing again to God's praise in Psalm 43.
- 20:43Psalm 43 in the Sing Psalms version,
- 20:46page 54 of the psalm book,
- 20:48and we'll sing the whole of this psalm.
- 20:51The tune is Marl.
- 20:53Psalm 43,
- 20:54We'll sing the whole of this psalm
- 21:07to God's praise.
- 21:09Amen.
- 21:14Amen.
- 21:16Get me, O my God,
- 21:22Against destruction
- 21:25Bleed my cause.
- 21:30Deliver me
- 21:33From wicked foes
- 21:38And hypocrites
- 21:42To break your laws
- 21:47You are my stronghold
- 21:53And my God
- 21:57Why then have you rejected me
- 22:05Why must I go
- 22:09Abound in me
- 22:13Untrodden by the enemy
- 22:21O send your life
- 22:28For found your truth
- 22:32Let them direct me
- 22:36In your grace
- 22:40And bring me to your holy hill
- 22:48Into your sacred dwelling place
- 22:57Then to God's altar
- 23:03I will go
- 23:07To God my joy
- 23:11And my delight
- 23:14And I will praise you
- 23:21With the heart
- 23:23O God, you are
- 23:28My God of might
- 23:33Why are you downcast
- 23:39O my soul
- 23:43Why are you so disturbed
- 23:49In me
- 23:51Trust God
- 23:53For I will praise him yet
- 24:00My Savior and my God is he
- 24:08Well we can turn back
- 24:15To our reading
- 24:16In 1 Thessalonians
- 24:18Chapter 2
- 24:18We're going to look at
- 24:20Verse 13 to 16
- 24:22Together this evening
- 24:241 Thessalonians
- 24:25Chapter 2
- 24:26Verse 13 to 16
- 24:29Reading at verse 13
- 24:31There we also thank God
- 24:32Constantly for this
- 24:33That when you received
- 24:35The word of God
- 24:36Which you heard from us
- 24:37You accepted it
- 24:39Not as a word of men
- 24:40But as what it really is
- 24:42The word of God
- 24:43Which is at work
- 24:45In you believers
- 24:46And so on
- 24:47In some ways
- 24:49We're picking up
- 24:50Where we left off
- 24:51This morning
- 24:52Where James was preaching
- 24:54On the gathered church
- 24:56And being gathered
- 24:57To listen
- 24:58To God's word
- 24:59We were challenged
- 25:01At the end
- 25:02To be hearers
- 25:03Of the word
- 25:04And not
- 25:05Doers of the word
- 25:06And not just
- 25:06Hearers of it
- 25:08And this evening
- 25:09As I was sitting
- 25:10This morning
- 25:11I was saying
- 25:11Stop James
- 25:13You've got so many things
- 25:13I'm going to say tonight
- 25:14That there will be
- 25:15A little bit of overlap
- 25:16Perhaps this evening
- 25:18But hopefully not just
- 25:19Saying the same things
- 25:21But we're continuing
- 25:23Our study
- 25:24In Nehemiah
- 25:25And how are we
- 25:27Continuing the study
- 25:28In Nehemiah
- 25:29When we're in
- 25:30First Thessalonians
- 25:32We're jumping forward
- 25:33Some 500 years
- 25:36We're in the New Testament
- 25:38We're in the days
- 25:40Of Paul writing
- 25:41To this church
- 25:42So how are we
- 25:43Continuing our study
- 25:44In Nehemiah
- 25:45Well as I've said
- 25:47As you go through
- 25:48In the book of Nehemiah
- 25:50The danger is
- 25:51It can easily become
- 25:52About us
- 25:53And not about God
- 25:56It's about our plans
- 25:58Our works
- 25:59Our strategies
- 26:00All of these kinds
- 26:02Of things
- 26:02That naturally
- 26:03Appear in the book
- 26:05Of Nehemiah
- 26:06As he comes to
- 26:07To rebuild
- 26:08The walls of Jerusalem
- 26:09It can become
- 26:11Very structured
- 26:12And organized
- 26:13In some ways
- 26:14But as we saw
- 26:15Before
- 26:16When you look
- 26:16At Nehemiah
- 26:17As one commentator
- 26:19Says
- 26:19It's all about
- 26:21Jesus
- 26:22It's all about
- 26:24The kingdom of God
- 26:25And the kingdom of God
- 26:27Being built
- 26:28When you go back
- 26:30To the days of Nehemiah
- 26:31What was at stake
- 26:33It was more than just
- 26:35The walls
- 26:36It was more than just
- 26:37The city
- 26:38Of Jerusalem
- 26:39It was the good
- 26:40Of the Lord's people
- 26:42And it was the worship
- 26:44Of God
- 26:45And the spread
- 26:46Of the gospel
- 26:48You wonder
- 26:50If Nehemiah
- 26:51Had not had
- 26:51That burden
- 26:52And that burden
- 26:53From God
- 26:54To go back
- 26:55And to rebuild
- 26:56The walls
- 26:57What would have become
- 26:58Of Jerusalem
- 27:00Jerusalem
- 27:01A place where
- 27:02500 years later
- 27:04Paul left from
- 27:05To take the gospel
- 27:07To other parts
- 27:08Of the continents
- 27:09To reach out
- 27:11To the churches
- 27:12In Philippi
- 27:13Thessalonica
- 27:13Corinth
- 27:14All of these
- 27:15Different places
- 27:16But it all goes back
- 27:18To Nehemiah
- 27:20In some ways
- 27:21And you think
- 27:21Nehemiah's ministry
- 27:23Was more about
- 27:24Just the there
- 27:25And then
- 27:26For the people
- 27:27Of his day
- 27:28It was for the kingdom
- 27:29Of God
- 27:30And generations
- 27:31To come
- 27:32In Nehemiah
- 27:35Chapter 4
- 27:35We saw
- 27:36How the people
- 27:37Had become
- 27:37Overwhelmed
- 27:39By the work
- 27:40All they were seeing
- 27:42Was the debris
- 27:43Of the wall
- 27:44And it was coming
- 27:45To that point
- 27:46Where they were
- 27:46Starting
- 27:47To be discouraged
- 27:49And to ask
- 27:49Different questions
- 27:51And the question
- 27:53That can often arise
- 27:54In the midst of a work
- 27:55Where you don't really see
- 27:56The purpose in it
- 27:58Is
- 27:58What's the point?
- 28:01What are we doing?
- 28:03And why?
- 28:05What are we doing?
- 28:07And why?
- 28:09And that's the question
- 28:10That can continue
- 28:11To arise
- 28:12Arise in the days
- 28:13Of Paul
- 28:14As he was going out
- 28:15With the gospel
- 28:16To all these places
- 28:17What are we doing?
- 28:19And why?
- 28:21The question that arises
- 28:22In our day to day
- 28:23What are we doing?
- 28:25And why?
- 28:26As a church
- 28:27It's always
- 28:29A danger
- 28:30For ourselves
- 28:32And that's why
- 28:34It's important
- 28:34That we see
- 28:35The whole picture
- 28:37Not just
- 28:38Of the gospel
- 28:38And the mission
- 28:39Of the gospel
- 28:39Not just from Nehemiah
- 28:41But right throughout
- 28:42The word of God
- 28:44So as we go
- 28:44Through Nehemiah
- 28:45We intersperse it
- 28:46With little bits
- 28:48From here and there
- 28:49We look before
- 28:51At the team ministry
- 28:52In Colossae
- 28:53How everyone
- 28:55Had a part
- 28:56To play
- 28:57And how we saw
- 28:57That
- 28:57Inacted too
- 28:59In Nehemiah's day
- 29:01Where all the people
- 29:02Came together
- 29:03To work
- 29:04On the wall
- 29:04Everyone had
- 29:05Their part
- 29:06To play
- 29:07But I think
- 29:08In the midst
- 29:08Of everything else
- 29:10That's going on
- 29:11This question
- 29:12Of vision
- 29:13Is why
- 29:14And what are we doing
- 29:15And why
- 29:16It's to see it
- 29:18As the work
- 29:19Of God's kingdom
- 29:20That's what's important
- 29:22To remind ourselves
- 29:24Of constantly
- 29:25It's not just
- 29:26For us
- 29:27It's not just
- 29:29For today
- 29:29It's for generations
- 29:31Coming after
- 29:33So that if we were
- 29:34To think even
- 29:35Of Nehemiah's day
- 29:36And Paul's day
- 29:37500 years apart
- 29:39How they're connected
- 29:40By the kingdom
- 29:42Of God
- 29:43And the work
- 29:44Of the gospel
- 29:45So that if God willing
- 29:47500 years from now
- 29:50There's still a congregation
- 29:51Of God's people
- 29:53Here
- 29:53And the gospel
- 29:54Is spreading
- 29:55Far and wide
- 29:56They may look back
- 29:58On days
- 29:58Long long time ago
- 30:00And think
- 30:00Well in difficult days
- 30:03In days when the world
- 30:04Was in crisis
- 30:05We thank God
- 30:07For those who were
- 30:08Faithful to the gospel
- 30:09In these times
- 30:10That they stood strong
- 30:13In the gospel
- 30:14That they preached
- 30:14The word of God
- 30:16That their vision
- 30:16Was for God
- 30:18For his people
- 30:19And for his cause
- 30:21Far and wide
- 30:22That is the aim
- 30:24Of the gospel
- 30:25In all generations
- 30:27Our eyes
- 30:28Fixed on God
- 30:31Many churches today
- 30:33They speak
- 30:34Excuse me
- 30:35About vision statements
- 30:37Vision statements
- 30:39It's a way of reminding us
- 30:41About what we are about
- 30:43Just a few words
- 30:45That maybe give us
- 30:46A summary of
- 30:46What we are doing
- 30:48The Free Church of Scotland
- 30:49Has a vision statement
- 30:51A healthy gospel church
- 30:54For every community
- 30:56In Scotland
- 30:56Just one sentence
- 30:59And yet
- 31:00In that sentence
- 31:02Is packed
- 31:02So much vision
- 31:04A healthy gospel church
- 31:06For every community
- 31:08In Scotland
- 31:09Not everybody likes
- 31:12These kinds of things
- 31:13But isn't it good
- 31:14To have something
- 31:15To focus on
- 31:17And ask ourselves
- 31:18What are we doing
- 31:20And why
- 31:21The Free Church
- 31:23Is this vision
- 31:23A healthy gospel church
- 31:26It wants God
- 31:28To be worshipped
- 31:29In the right way
- 31:30In every community
- 31:32In Scotland
- 31:33That the gospel
- 31:34Is for all people
- 31:36Here in this land
- 31:37Because it is
- 31:38The word of God
- 31:39That can make
- 31:40Such a difference
- 31:41And as you look back
- 31:43In the word of God
- 31:44You look
- 31:45Into Nehemiah's day
- 31:47You think to yourself
- 31:48Well what was Nehemiah's
- 31:49Vision statement
- 31:50For the people
- 31:51Of Jerusalem
- 31:52In his day
- 31:53Did he have one
- 31:54Well as we see
- 31:56Nehemiah is a man
- 31:57Of vision
- 31:58He is someone
- 31:59Who is fully focused
- 32:01On God
- 32:02And in Nehemiah 2
- 32:04Verse 17
- 32:05You have
- 32:06If you would like
- 32:07A vision statement
- 32:08A vision of what's
- 32:10Happening
- 32:10And a vision
- 32:11Of what's to be done
- 32:13In Nehemiah 2
- 32:15Verse 17
- 32:16We've looked at it
- 32:17It says
- 32:17You see the trouble
- 32:19We are in
- 32:20How Jerusalem lies
- 32:21In ruins
- 32:22And its gates burned
- 32:23Come
- 32:24Let us build
- 32:25The wall of Jerusalem
- 32:26That we may no longer
- 32:28Suffer derision
- 32:29So there's three
- 32:31Aspects
- 32:33To that vision
- 32:33Statement
- 32:34The trouble
- 32:36That they are in
- 32:38There's a realization
- 32:39There's a realization
- 32:39That we are in ruin
- 32:41The walls are in ruin
- 32:42The gates are burned
- 32:44But there's a vision
- 32:45For the work
- 32:46Come
- 32:47Let us build
- 32:49The wall of Jerusalem
- 32:50And there's a purpose
- 32:52In it
- 32:53That we may no longer
- 32:55Suffer derision
- 32:56That the people of God
- 32:58Would no longer
- 33:00Be mocked
- 33:01And so that
- 33:02As they come up
- 33:04Against challenges
- 33:05Along the way
- 33:05They can go back
- 33:07To this
- 33:08They can go back
- 33:09To these words
- 33:10And look on them
- 33:11And say
- 33:11What are we doing
- 33:12And why
- 33:13When it doesn't seem
- 33:15To be gaining
- 33:16Any headway
- 33:17When it seems
- 33:18To be failing
- 33:18What are we doing
- 33:19And why
- 33:20We don't like
- 33:21What we're seeing
- 33:22We don't like
- 33:24What's going on
- 33:24Around us
- 33:25We want to build
- 33:27The wall of Jerusalem
- 33:28Because we don't want
- 33:30The people of God
- 33:31To be mocked
- 33:32And for ourselves
- 33:34There's a vision statement
- 33:35There for us today
- 33:37We look around
- 33:38We see the ruins
- 33:39We look around
- 33:41And we see the work
- 33:42That's to be done
- 33:43And we are to go
- 33:44To that work
- 33:45To rise to it
- 33:46But always
- 33:47This vision of God
- 33:49Before us
- 33:50That we are doing it
- 33:52For him
- 33:53And so
- 33:55As we come into
- 33:56First Thessalonians
- 33:57We are reminded here
- 33:58Of another kind of
- 34:00Vision statement
- 34:02What are we doing
- 34:03And why
- 34:04Paul may be asking
- 34:06In the days
- 34:06Here in the New Testament
- 34:08And you've got
- 34:10Great statements
- 34:11In First Thessalonians
- 34:13In chapter 1
- 34:15Verse 3
- 34:15It's wonderful
- 34:17Verse 2
- 34:18And verse 3
- 34:19It's wonderful
- 34:20The way Paul here
- 34:22Looks at the church
- 34:23At Thessalonica
- 34:24We give thanks to God
- 34:26Always for all of you
- 34:28Constantly mentioning you
- 34:29In our prayers
- 34:30Remembering before
- 34:32Our God and Father
- 34:33Your work of faith
- 34:34And labour of love
- 34:36And steadfastness of hope
- 34:38In our Lord Jesus Christ
- 34:40What vision
- 34:42What vision there is
- 34:43In these words
- 34:44What purpose
- 34:45There is
- 34:46In these words
- 34:47How
- 34:49Your work of faith
- 34:51Your labour of love
- 34:52Your steadfastness
- 34:54Of hope
- 34:55But as you come
- 34:57To the end of chapter 2
- 34:59Where we're going to focus
- 35:00On this evening
- 35:01You see it kind of
- 35:03Builds on that vision there
- 35:05So that as the believers
- 35:07As he's praying for them
- 35:08As he's so encouraged
- 35:10In all of their faith
- 35:12Their love
- 35:13Their hope
- 35:13In the Lord Jesus Christ
- 35:15In verse 13
- 35:17To verse 16
- 35:18Although it's
- 35:19A slightly longer section
- 35:21It's like a vision statement
- 35:23It's like a mission statement
- 35:25For us
- 35:26Where it's highlighting for us
- 35:29Three things
- 35:30That the church
- 35:31At Thessalonica
- 35:32Was about
- 35:33And it's these things
- 35:35That I want us to focus on
- 35:37This evening
- 35:38These
- 35:40This section
- 35:41Verse 13
- 35:42To verse 16
- 35:44It highlights
- 35:45Three things for us
- 35:47Three things that
- 35:48Nehemiah would have
- 35:50A focus on
- 35:50In his day as well
- 35:52Three things that we
- 35:54Can have our focus on
- 35:56In our day as well
- 35:57A vision
- 35:58For the church
- 36:00Here
- 36:00A vision for
- 36:01Any congregation
- 36:03Of the Lord's people
- 36:05And the three things
- 36:06That we can take
- 36:07From these verses
- 36:08Are this
- 36:08One
- 36:09Preach the word
- 36:12This is what we were hearing
- 36:13This morning
- 36:15The focus
- 36:17The centrality
- 36:18Of preaching
- 36:19The word of God
- 36:21The second thing is
- 36:23Building up
- 36:24Of believers
- 36:26Building up
- 36:28Of believers
- 36:28A sense of
- 36:29As it says
- 36:30In verse 14
- 36:31Become
- 36:32You become
- 36:32Imitators
- 36:33Of the churches
- 36:34Of God
- 36:35In Christ Jesus
- 36:36That are in Judea
- 36:37The believers
- 36:39Are being
- 36:40Built up
- 36:41And then thirdly
- 36:43You see the focus
- 36:45You see the focus
- 36:45In verse 15
- 36:47And 16
- 36:48Of the opposition
- 36:48Of the opposition
- 36:48That Paul
- 36:50And the people
- 36:51In Paul's day
- 36:52Were facing
- 36:52Those who were
- 36:54Opposed to the gospel
- 36:55Just as we saw
- 36:57In Nehemiah
- 36:58There were those
- 36:58Who were opposed
- 37:00To the work
- 37:00And there is
- 37:02This sense
- 37:02Of reaching
- 37:04The lost
- 37:05So you have
- 37:07These three things
- 37:08Preach the word
- 37:10Build up
- 37:11Believers
- 37:12And reach
- 37:14The lost
- 37:15And you could
- 37:16Take them
- 37:16In that order
- 37:18It is so
- 37:20Necessary
- 37:21First and foremost
- 37:22To preach
- 37:23The word
- 37:24And in the
- 37:25Preaching of the word
- 37:26Believers
- 37:28Are built up
- 37:29And in believers
- 37:30Being built up
- 37:31There is this burden
- 37:32And this sense
- 37:33Of reaching
- 37:34The lost
- 37:36You know
- 37:38What are we doing
- 37:39And why
- 37:40It is such an
- 37:42Important question
- 37:43For us
- 37:43To always have
- 37:44In focus
- 37:46Preaching the word
- 37:48Building each other up
- 37:50And reaching the lost
- 37:52We can ask the question
- 37:56What is the point
- 37:57In preaching
- 37:58And you can come at it
- 38:01In two ways
- 38:02You know
- 38:04What is the point
- 38:05In preaching
- 38:06And come at it
- 38:08In a negative way
- 38:09Nobody is listening
- 38:11People are rejecting
- 38:13The word of God
- 38:15What is the point
- 38:16In preaching
- 38:17That is the focus
- 38:19Of those who would
- 38:20Lose heart
- 38:21In it
- 38:21But we don't
- 38:23Lose heart
- 38:24We don't lose
- 38:26Confidence
- 38:27In the word
- 38:28Of God
- 38:29What is the point
- 38:31In preaching
- 38:31It is because
- 38:33The word of God
- 38:34Is powerful
- 38:35To change
- 38:36God
- 38:37Is able
- 38:38To change
- 38:40To change
- 38:42This world
- 38:42To change
- 38:44The people
- 38:44Of this world
- 38:46So we do not
- 38:48Lose heart
- 38:48In the work
- 38:50We fix our eyes
- 38:51On God
- 38:53In it
- 38:53Nehemiah
- 38:54Did that for his people
- 38:56As they set
- 38:57To rebuilding
- 38:58The walls
- 38:59Of Jerusalem
- 39:00Don't think
- 39:02The encouragement
- 39:03Was there last week
- 39:04To rebuild
- 39:04A wall
- 39:05From the church
- 39:06Here to plaster
- 39:07Field and back
- 39:08But we're involved
- 39:10In the kingdom
- 39:11Work
- 39:12Of God
- 39:13That's our work
- 39:15Today
- 39:15Not building
- 39:17A physical wall
- 39:18In many ways
- 39:20We're breaking
- 39:21Down walls
- 39:22We're breaking
- 39:23Down barriers
- 39:23And we're here
- 39:25To build
- 39:26The kingdom
- 39:27Of God
- 39:28To be used
- 39:28By him
- 39:29So the three things
- 39:31That he reminds us
- 39:32Of here
- 39:32To have
- 39:33In our focus
- 39:34As we get on
- 39:35With the work
- 39:36Of building
- 39:37The kingdom
- 39:38Of God
- 39:38Firstly
- 39:39Preach
- 39:40The word
- 39:41Because of the
- 39:43Faithfulness
- 39:44Of Nehemiah
- 39:45And the people
- 39:46The gospel
- 39:48Is here being
- 39:49Preached
- 39:49In Thessalonica
- 39:51And look at what it says
- 39:53In verse 13
- 39:54We also thank God
- 39:56Constantly for this
- 39:58That when you received
- 39:59The word of God
- 40:01Which you heard from us
- 40:02You accepted it
- 40:03Not as the word of men
- 40:04But as what it really is
- 40:06The word of God
- 40:08Which is at work
- 40:09In you
- 40:10Believers
- 40:11There's a powerful
- 40:14Reminder to us there
- 40:16Of what the church of God
- 40:18Is about
- 40:18In every generation
- 40:20We'll see it more
- 40:21As we go back
- 40:22To Nehemiah
- 40:24Again we'll look at it
- 40:26In a later date
- 40:27But throughout
- 40:29Every generation
- 40:30Of God's people
- 40:31The importance
- 40:32As we are hearing
- 40:33This morning
- 40:33Of listening
- 40:35To what God
- 40:36Is saying
- 40:37Nehemiah
- 40:39Listened
- 40:39To God
- 40:41He was given
- 40:42A burden
- 40:43But he listened
- 40:44To God
- 40:45The good hand
- 40:46Of God
- 40:47As it says
- 40:47Again and again
- 40:48Was upon him
- 40:50And so it was
- 40:52With Paul
- 40:53As he listened
- 40:55To God
- 40:56As he took
- 40:57The gospel
- 40:58To all corners
- 40:59Of the world
- 41:00In that day
- 41:01As he preached
- 41:02The gospel
- 41:02Look at how it was
- 41:04Received
- 41:05In Thessalonica
- 41:06Not as the word
- 41:08Of men
- 41:08But what it really is
- 41:10The word of God
- 41:12There was power
- 41:14In this
- 41:15There was hope
- 41:16And there was
- 41:17A realization
- 41:18That this is
- 41:19What we need
- 41:20Nehemiah's day
- 41:23This is what we need
- 41:24We need
- 41:25God with us
- 41:26No other God
- 41:28Can help us
- 41:29And this is
- 41:31What we need
- 41:31Today
- 41:32The same God
- 41:34And it's
- 41:35The same word
- 41:36That we have
- 41:37Today
- 41:38It is
- 41:39The word
- 41:40Of God
- 41:41Which is at work
- 41:42In you believers
- 41:43It is
- 41:45A powerful
- 41:47Word
- 41:48Jim Packer
- 41:50He says this
- 41:52Of preaching
- 41:52In preaching
- 41:54The word of God
- 41:55Delivers through the preacher
- 41:57A message from God
- 41:59To his people
- 42:00About God
- 42:01And godliness
- 42:02How we trust in God
- 42:26And how we live
- 42:28For him
- 42:29There is commands
- 42:31And there is instructions
- 42:33For us
- 42:34And as we come under
- 42:35The preaching
- 42:36Of God's word
- 42:37It should stir up in us
- 42:39A love
- 42:40And appreciation
- 42:41For the word of God
- 42:43The blessing that is ours
- 42:45To be able
- 42:45To come and hear
- 42:47The word of God
- 42:48Proclaimed
- 42:49And to share
- 42:50In this together
- 42:51The gathered people
- 42:53Of God
- 42:54With God's presence
- 42:55With us
- 42:56We should hunger
- 42:59To learn
- 42:59More of this Christ
- 43:01More of God
- 43:03And what he has done
- 43:04For us
- 43:06And this is what
- 43:07Paul
- 43:08Is rejoicing in here
- 43:10We also thank God
- 43:12Constantly for this
- 43:14That you received
- 43:17The word
- 43:18Of God
- 43:19It was something
- 43:21To rejoice in
- 43:23And what we
- 43:26See here
- 43:27Is God's word
- 43:28And being received
- 43:30And at work
- 43:31In them
- 43:33And you wonder
- 43:35What does it mean
- 43:36The word of God
- 43:37At work in them
- 43:38It's keeping
- 43:40The people going
- 43:42Day by day
- 43:44It's this word
- 43:45Of God
- 43:45That's sustaining them
- 43:47And encouraging them
- 43:48And building them up
- 43:49And keeping them going
- 43:50Day after day
- 43:51Think about it
- 43:54In this way
- 43:55It's like a car engine
- 43:56And a car engine
- 43:58Needs certain things
- 44:00To keep it going
- 44:01You need to put fuel in
- 44:04To keep it going
- 44:05You need to put water in
- 44:07To keep it cooled
- 44:08But you also need
- 44:11To put oil in
- 44:12To keep all the parts
- 44:14Moving and lubricated
- 44:15And all working
- 44:17Together
- 44:18So for ourselves
- 44:20Too
- 44:21We need all aspects
- 44:23Of the gospel
- 44:24Of God
- 44:25In our lives
- 44:26We need prayer
- 44:29We need fellowship
- 44:31But we need the preaching
- 44:33Of the word
- 44:34That keeps everything
- 44:35Moving
- 44:36And lubricated
- 44:38Together
- 44:38The preaching
- 44:41Of the word
- 44:41Is essential
- 44:43Essential
- 44:44In any vision
- 44:46And mission
- 44:47Statement
- 44:47That we're going
- 44:48To have
- 44:49We are going
- 44:49To preach
- 44:50The word
- 44:51Of God
- 44:52Romans
- 44:54Chapter 10
- 44:56Verse 15
- 44:58Shows us
- 44:58Just how important
- 45:00The preaching
- 45:01Of the word
- 45:01Of God
- 45:02Is
- 45:02And says
- 45:03How are they
- 45:04To preach
- 45:04Unless they
- 45:05Are sent
- 45:06As it is written
- 45:07How beautiful
- 45:07Are the feet
- 45:08Of those
- 45:09Who preach
- 45:10The good news
- 45:11But they
- 45:12Have not all
- 45:12Obeyed
- 45:13The gospel
- 45:13For Isaiah
- 45:14Says
- 45:15Lord who
- 45:16Has believed
- 45:17What he has
- 45:17Heard from us
- 45:18But faith
- 45:20Comes
- 45:21From hearing
- 45:22And hearing
- 45:24Through
- 45:24The word
- 45:25Of Christ
- 45:26Faith
- 45:27Comes
- 45:28Through hearing
- 45:30So the word
- 45:31Of God
- 45:32Preached
- 45:33Is essential
- 45:34In our vision
- 45:35In our mission
- 45:36The next thing
- 45:39We see here
- 45:40Is the building
- 45:41Up of believers
- 45:43There's a sense
- 45:46Of the believers
- 45:47Responding
- 45:48To the word
- 45:49Of God
- 45:50In verse 14
- 45:52For you brothers
- 45:53Became imitators
- 45:54Of the churches
- 45:55Of God
- 45:56In Christ
- 45:56Jesus
- 45:57That are in Judea
- 45:58For you suffered
- 45:59The same things
- 46:01From your own
- 46:01Countrymen
- 46:02As they did
- 46:03From the Jews
- 46:04You look at this
- 46:07And you see
- 46:08The similarities
- 46:09With Nehemiah's day
- 46:10You know
- 46:12As soon as
- 46:13The people
- 46:14In Nehemiah's day
- 46:15Started to build
- 46:16The wall
- 46:16They were met
- 46:18With opposition
- 46:19Opposition
- 46:21From hostiles
- 46:23Outside
- 46:23Their own people
- 46:24But opposition
- 46:25Within
- 46:26From their own
- 46:27People as well
- 46:28And here it is
- 46:30Again in the days
- 46:31Paul writing
- 46:32To the Thessalonians
- 46:33There's opposition
- 46:35From out with
- 46:36Which you can
- 46:37Understand
- 46:37But here it's
- 46:39Coming within
- 46:40As well
- 46:41The same things
- 46:43That you suffered
- 46:44The same things
- 46:45From your own
- 46:46Countrymen
- 46:46As they did
- 46:48From the Jews
- 46:49It's fascinating
- 46:51How whenever
- 46:53There's something
- 46:54Good happening
- 46:55With the Lord
- 46:56There's always
- 46:58Opposition
- 46:59Nehemiah's day
- 47:03The work
- 47:04Had been
- 47:04At a standstill
- 47:05There was
- 47:07Nothing
- 47:08Happening
- 47:08There was
- 47:09No opposition
- 47:10But as soon
- 47:11As the stones
- 47:12Started to get
- 47:13Built up together
- 47:14All of a sudden
- 47:15The evil one
- 47:16Is in there
- 47:17And the same
- 47:19Is true here
- 47:19The gospel
- 47:20Is spreading
- 47:21Through the ministry
- 47:22Of Paul
- 47:23And his partners
- 47:24And again
- 47:25The evil one
- 47:27Is in there
- 47:27Straight away
- 47:28There'll be
- 47:30Opposition
- 47:30And for ourselves
- 47:31Today
- 47:32There'll be
- 47:33Opposition
- 47:34In whatever
- 47:34We do
- 47:35For the gospel
- 47:35If we are
- 47:37Going to stand
- 47:38For the gospel
- 47:39If we are
- 47:39Going to preach
- 47:39The gospel
- 47:40If we are
- 47:41Going to be
- 47:41Witnesses
- 47:42For the gospel
- 47:42Whatever the
- 47:43Lord puts us
- 47:44There will be
- 47:45Opposition
- 47:45And so
- 47:47What do we need
- 47:48What do we need
- 47:49In our vision
- 47:50In our mission
- 47:51Statement
- 47:51Well we need
- 47:53To be built up
- 47:54As the word
- 47:56Of God
- 47:56Is preached
- 47:57We need to be
- 47:58Building one
- 48:00Another up
- 48:00As well
- 48:01What do we need
- 48:03Most
- 48:03As a church
- 48:04Today
- 48:05Do we need
- 48:08More people
- 48:09To come
- 48:09Yes
- 48:10We long
- 48:11For that
- 48:12Do we need
- 48:15What do we need
- 48:17Is it not
- 48:21Spiritual
- 48:21Growth
- 48:23Is it not
- 48:24So that when
- 48:25People come
- 48:26In
- 48:26They meet
- 48:27With mature
- 48:28Christians
- 48:29People who
- 48:31Have experienced
- 48:31Life in all
- 48:33Shapes and
- 48:33Form
- 48:34And who are
- 48:35Able to meet
- 48:36People in
- 48:36Their need
- 48:37Now
- 48:37And to show
- 48:39The power
- 48:40And the wonder
- 48:41Of the gospel
- 48:41That the gospel
- 48:43Can help
- 48:44In every
- 48:45Situation
- 48:46A church
- 48:48Will never
- 48:49Grow or
- 48:50Prosper
- 48:50When there
- 48:51Is no
- 48:52Spiritual
- 48:52Growth
- 48:53When there
- 48:55Is no
- 48:55Growing
- 48:56In our
- 48:57Understanding
- 48:58Of god
- 48:59And who
- 49:00He is
- 49:01Again
- 49:02This is what
- 49:03We see
- 49:03Paul
- 49:04Teaching
- 49:05Again and
- 49:05Again as
- 49:06He's writing
- 49:06To all
- 49:07These different
- 49:08Churches
- 49:09Encourage one
- 49:11Another
- 49:11Build one
- 49:12Another up
- 49:13That the
- 49:14One
- 49:14Another
- 49:15Are there
- 49:15Constantly
- 49:16For us
- 49:17And there's
- 49:19Just another
- 49:20Reminder to
- 49:21Us here
- 49:21You brothers
- 49:22Became
- 49:23Imitators
- 49:23Of the
- 49:24Churches of
- 49:25God in
- 49:26Christ Jesus
- 49:26That are in
- 49:27Judea
- 49:27We learn
- 49:28From one
- 49:29Another
- 49:29We share
- 49:30With one
- 49:31Another
- 49:31And it is
- 49:32This that
- 49:33Will see us
- 49:33Through
- 49:34The times
- 49:35Of persecution
- 49:37The times
- 49:38Of our
- 49:39Afflictions
- 49:40The times
- 49:41Of our
- 49:41Suffering
- 49:42When we
- 49:43Have been
- 49:44Built up
- 49:44Through the
- 49:45Preaching of
- 49:45The word
- 49:46And we
- 49:46Are built
- 49:46Up in
- 49:47The fellowship
- 49:47Of god's
- 49:49People
- 49:50It is this
- 49:52That enables
- 49:53Them to
- 49:54Stand
- 49:55It is this
- 49:56That will
- 49:56Enable us
- 49:57To stand
- 49:58As well
- 49:59And you
- 50:00Go back
- 50:00Again to
- 50:01Verse 3
- 50:02Of chapter
- 50:031
- 50:04Verse 2
- 50:05And 3
- 50:05Where he's
- 50:05Giving thanks
- 50:06To god
- 50:07Always
- 50:07In his
- 50:08Prayers
- 50:08Remembering
- 50:09Before our
- 50:10God and
- 50:10Father
- 50:11Your work
- 50:11Of faith
- 50:12Your labour
- 50:13Of love
- 50:14Your steadfastness
- 50:16Of hope
- 50:17Why was this
- 50:18So important
- 50:20Why were
- 50:22These things
- 50:22Three things
- 50:24There so
- 50:25Important
- 50:26A labour
- 50:27Of love
- 50:27Steadfastness
- 50:29Of hope
- 50:29All of these
- 50:31Things
- 50:32Were so
- 50:33Important
- 50:33Because it
- 50:34Is what
- 50:34Kept them
- 50:35Going
- 50:35When the
- 50:37Days
- 50:37Were hard
- 50:38And difficult
- 50:38It's what
- 50:39Kept them
- 50:40Going
- 50:40God
- 50:41With them
- 50:42God
- 50:44Giving them
- 50:44Assurance
- 50:45It's what
- 50:46We're seeing
- 50:47In Nehemiah
- 50:48Chapter 4
- 50:49As the people
- 50:50Were dismayed
- 50:51At the rubble
- 50:52That seemed
- 50:52To be everywhere
- 50:53The lost cause
- 50:55Asking these
- 50:55Questions
- 50:55What are we
- 50:56Doing
- 50:56And why
- 50:57It's for
- 50:59God
- 51:00It's because
- 51:02God is
- 51:03With us
- 51:03Because God
- 51:05Is at work
- 51:05In this place
- 51:06He wants
- 51:06Good
- 51:07For his
- 51:08People
- 51:08God is
- 51:10On our
- 51:11Side
- 51:12So
- 51:15Paul
- 51:15Is thankful
- 51:16Here that
- 51:17He sees
- 51:17The word
- 51:19Of God
- 51:19At work
- 51:20In these
- 51:21People
- 51:22Building
- 51:23Them
- 51:24Up
- 51:25And this
- 51:26Is again
- 51:27Is a great
- 51:27Part
- 51:28Of our
- 51:29Vision
- 51:29Statement
- 51:29For us
- 51:30As well
- 51:31We preach
- 51:32The word
- 51:33We build
- 51:34Up one
- 51:35Another
- 51:35And all
- 51:37Of this
- 51:37Is focus
- 51:38On God
- 51:39Who is
- 51:40Good to
- 51:41His people
- 51:41A focus
- 51:43On Christ
- 51:45Our
- 51:46Savior
- 51:46That is
- 51:48What keeps
- 51:48Our vision
- 51:50Right
- 51:51But added
- 51:53Unto these
- 51:53Two things
- 51:55Is the
- 51:56Last
- 51:56Part
- 51:57Reaching
- 51:58The
- 51:59Lost
- 52:00What you
- 52:02See
- 52:02At the
- 52:03End of
- 52:04Verse 14
- 52:04Down to
- 52:05Verse 16
- 52:06Is again
- 52:07A reminder
- 52:08To us
- 52:09Of the
- 52:10World in
- 52:11Which we
- 52:11Live
- 52:12Today
- 52:12That the
- 52:13Gospel
- 52:14And Jesus
- 52:15Christ
- 52:16Is so
- 52:17Often
- 52:17Rejected
- 52:19Verse 15
- 52:20Who killed
- 52:21Both
- 52:22The Lord
- 52:23Jesus
- 52:23And the
- 52:25Prophets
- 52:25And drove
- 52:26Us out
- 52:27And displeased
- 52:29God
- 52:29And oppose
- 52:31All mankind
- 52:32By hindering
- 52:34Us
- 52:34From speaking
- 52:36To the
- 52:37Gentiles
- 52:37That they
- 52:38Might
- 52:39Be saved
- 52:40You see
- 52:42What's
- 52:42Happening
- 52:42Here
- 52:43Paul is
- 52:46Reaching out
- 52:46With the
- 52:47Gospel
- 52:47And he's
- 52:49Got his
- 52:49Church
- 52:50Reaching
- 52:51Out
- 52:51With the
- 52:52Gospel
- 52:52Reaching
- 52:53Out
- 52:54Speaking
- 52:54To the
- 52:54Gentiles
- 52:55That they
- 52:56Might be
- 52:57Saved
- 52:57But in
- 52:59This
- 53:00There is
- 53:01Opposition
- 53:02And again
- 53:05You ask
- 53:06What are
- 53:07We doing
- 53:07And why
- 53:09What's
- 53:11Our vision
- 53:12In the
- 53:12Midst
- 53:13Of this
- 53:14What was
- 53:15Nehemiah's
- 53:16Vision
- 53:16In his
- 53:17Day
- 53:17As all
- 53:18Around
- 53:19Was
- 53:19Opposition
- 53:20Well it
- 53:22Was so
- 53:22The nations
- 53:23Wouldn't
- 53:24Ridicule
- 53:25God
- 53:26And his
- 53:26People
- 53:27So that
- 53:29Jerusalem
- 53:29Would stand
- 53:30Tall
- 53:31Once again
- 53:32As a
- 53:33Place that
- 53:33Worshipped
- 53:34God
- 53:35And honoured
- 53:36Him
- 53:36And sought
- 53:38For others
- 53:39All around
- 53:40Them
- 53:40To see
- 53:41This is
- 53:42Our
- 53:42God
- 53:43He is
- 53:45On our
- 53:45Side
- 53:46And you
- 53:46Will not
- 53:47Defeat
- 53:48Us
- 53:48And when
- 53:50You look
- 53:50Into the
- 53:51New Testament
- 53:52When you
- 53:52Look at
- 53:52The days
- 53:53Of Paul
- 53:54Here
- 53:54Where he's
- 53:55Saying
- 53:55You know
- 53:56Those are
- 53:57The ones
- 53:57Who killed
- 53:58The Lord
- 54:00Jesus
- 54:00They were
- 54:02So opposed
- 54:03To the
- 54:03Gospel
- 54:04That they
- 54:04Killed
- 54:05The Lord
- 54:06Jesus
- 54:06Did they
- 54:09Win
- 54:09Were they
- 54:10Victorious
- 54:11Was the
- 54:12Gospel
- 54:13Silenced
- 54:14No
- 54:15The
- 54:17Gospel
- 54:17Spread
- 54:18Spread
- 54:19Even as
- 54:19Paul was
- 54:20Preaching
- 54:21Here
- 54:21Ministering
- 54:21Here
- 54:22To the
- 54:22Church
- 54:23At
- 54:23Thessalonica
- 54:24To all
- 54:26To all
- 54:26Ends
- 54:26Of the
- 54:26Earth
- 54:26The
- 54:27Gospel
- 54:27Still
- 54:28Goes
- 54:29Out
- 54:29God
- 54:30Is
- 54:30Building
- 54:31His
- 54:32Church
- 54:32And we
- 54:34Are part
- 54:35Of this
- 54:36Work
- 54:36We are
- 54:37Involved
- 54:38In the
- 54:39Kingdom
- 54:39Work
- 54:40Of God
- 54:41What's
- 54:43The point
- 54:43What are
- 54:45We doing
- 54:45And why
- 54:47We are
- 54:49Seeking
- 54:50To worship
- 54:52God
- 54:52Through
- 54:52His
- 54:53Word
- 54:53To build
- 54:55One another
- 54:56Up
- 54:56And to
- 54:57Reach
- 54:58Those
- 54:59Who are
- 55:00Perishing
- 55:00Those
- 55:02Who are
- 55:03Lost
- 55:03Those
- 55:05Who as it
- 55:06Says at
- 55:06The end
- 55:06Of this
- 55:07Verse 16
- 55:08But God's
- 55:09Wrath
- 55:10Has come
- 55:10Upon them
- 55:11At last
- 55:12To realize
- 55:14God's
- 55:15Wrath
- 55:16Is a
- 55:16Thing
- 55:17To be
- 55:17Feared
- 55:18And you
- 55:19Want no
- 55:19One
- 55:19To experience
- 55:21And to
- 55:21Suffer
- 55:22That
- 55:22And so
- 55:24We preach
- 55:25The gospel
- 55:26So we
- 55:28Reach out
- 55:29With the
- 55:30Gospel
- 55:30Even when
- 55:31It means
- 55:31At times
- 55:32That we
- 55:34Suffer
- 55:34For it
- 55:35You know
- 55:37As Paul
- 55:37Was writing
- 55:38To them
- 55:39Here he
- 55:39Was saying
- 55:39You will
- 55:41Suffer
- 55:41As Nehemiah
- 55:43Was speaking
- 55:44To the people
- 55:44In his day
- 55:45You are going
- 55:46To suffer
- 55:47In this
- 55:47There is
- 55:47Opposition
- 55:48All around
- 55:49It
- 55:50But all
- 55:50He was
- 55:50Doing was
- 55:51Confirming
- 55:52One thing
- 55:52That people
- 55:55Were noticing
- 55:56They were
- 55:58Noticing
- 55:58That they
- 55:59Were faithful
- 55:59To God
- 56:00The Lord
- 56:01And because
- 56:03They were
- 56:04They were
- 56:05Attacked
- 56:06The question
- 56:08For us
- 56:09Today is
- 56:10Are we
- 56:11Are we
- 56:14Noticed
- 56:15Does anybody
- 56:18Notice
- 56:18What we're
- 56:19Doing for
- 56:20The Lord
- 56:20Does anybody
- 56:22See the
- 56:23Faith that
- 56:24I have
- 56:25Do they
- 56:26Challenge me
- 56:27For it
- 56:28Do they
- 56:30Take notice
- 56:30Of who we
- 56:32Are and
- 56:33What we
- 56:33Do
- 56:34Do they
- 56:35Because if
- 56:35We do
- 56:36If we
- 56:37Are doing
- 56:37It right
- 56:38There will
- 56:40Be those
- 56:40Who oppose
- 56:42It
- 56:42There will
- 56:43Be those
- 56:44Who reject
- 56:45It
- 56:45But we
- 56:47Have God
- 56:48On our
- 56:49Side
- 56:50And that
- 56:51Is what
- 56:52We are
- 56:52Always
- 56:53To remember
- 56:54To set
- 56:55The Lord
- 56:56Always
- 56:57Before us
- 56:59What do
- 57:00We do
- 57:00And why
- 57:02When Hudson
- 57:04Taylor
- 57:04Was director
- 57:05Of China
- 57:06Inland
- 57:06Mission
- 57:07He would
- 57:08Often interview
- 57:09Candidates
- 57:10For the
- 57:10Mission
- 57:10Field
- 57:11On one
- 57:12Occasion
- 57:13As he was
- 57:13Meeting with
- 57:14A group
- 57:14Of applicants
- 57:15He wanted
- 57:16To ask
- 57:17What their
- 57:17Motivation
- 57:18Was
- 57:19In going
- 57:20On the
- 57:20Mission
- 57:21And he
- 57:22Asked the
- 57:23Question
- 57:23To each
- 57:25In turn
- 57:25Why do
- 57:27You wish
- 57:28To go
- 57:30As a
- 57:30Foreign
- 57:31Missionary
- 57:32The first
- 57:34One replied
- 57:35I want to
- 57:35Go because
- 57:36Christ has
- 57:36Commanded us
- 57:37To go into
- 57:38All the
- 57:39World and
- 57:39Preach the
- 57:40Gospel
- 57:40The next
- 57:42Replied
- 57:43I want to
- 57:44Go because
- 57:44Millions
- 57:45Are perishing
- 57:46Without
- 57:46Christ
- 57:47So the
- 57:49Answers
- 57:49Kept coming
- 57:50One after
- 57:51Another
- 57:52And at
- 57:53The end
- 57:53He had
- 57:53Them all
- 57:54Together
- 57:54And he
- 57:54Started sharing
- 57:55Some of the
- 57:56Motivations
- 57:57That people
- 57:58Had shared
- 57:58And he
- 57:58Says
- 57:59He says
- 58:00You've all
- 58:00Given your
- 58:00Motives
- 58:01Many of
- 58:02Them are
- 58:02Good
- 58:03Motives
- 58:04But these
- 58:07Motives
- 58:07Will fail
- 58:08You in
- 58:08Times of
- 58:09Testing
- 58:10Times of
- 58:11Trials
- 58:12Times of
- 58:12Tribulations
- 58:14Times even
- 58:15Of possible
- 58:16Death
- 58:16He says
- 58:18There is
- 58:18But one
- 58:18Motive
- 58:19That will
- 58:20Sustain you
- 58:21In all
- 58:22Of these
- 58:22Situations
- 58:23Love of
- 58:25Christ
- 58:26That is your
- 58:28Greatest
- 58:29Motive
- 58:30The love
- 58:32Of Christ
- 58:33All these
- 58:34Other things
- 58:35Are good
- 58:36A burden
- 58:38For people
- 58:39Perishing
- 58:40A burden
- 58:41To go and
- 58:43Preach to
- 58:44All the
- 58:44Ends
- 58:45Of the
- 58:46Earth
- 58:46But it's
- 58:48All to be
- 58:48Done in
- 58:50The love
- 58:50Of Christ
- 58:51Because he
- 58:53First loved
- 58:54Us
- 58:55So everything
- 58:57That we
- 58:58Do is to
- 59:00Be for
- 59:01Christ
- 59:01For his
- 59:03Sake
- 59:03And for
- 59:04His glory
- 59:06And so
- 59:07What is our
- 59:08Vision here
- 59:09What is our
- 59:11Mission here
- 59:13In Nehemiah's
- 59:15Day
- 59:15It was for
- 59:17The glory
- 59:17Of God
- 59:18That the
- 59:19People
- 59:20Would worship
- 59:21God
- 59:21And not be
- 59:23Mocked and
- 59:23Ridiculed as
- 59:24They were
- 59:24In Paul's
- 59:26Day
- 59:27It was a
- 59:28People
- 59:28Would hear
- 59:29The word
- 59:30Of God
- 59:31Be built
- 59:31Up by it
- 59:32And reach
- 59:33Out to
- 59:33The lost
- 59:34Is it not
- 59:36Still the
- 59:37Same for
- 59:37Ourselves
- 59:38Today
- 59:38For the
- 59:40Glory of
- 59:40God
- 59:41And for
- 59:42The love
- 59:43Of Christ
- 59:44We are
- 59:45To preach
- 59:46We are
- 59:47To encourage
- 59:48And we
- 59:49Are to
- 59:49Reach
- 59:50May that
- 59:52Be our
- 59:53Vision
- 59:53And our
- 59:54Mission
- 59:55Statement
- 59:56Day after
- 59:57Day
- 59:58Our eyes
- 59:59On Christ
- 1:00:00Who loved
- 1:00:01Us
- 1:00:02And gave
- 1:00:03Himself
- 1:00:04For us
- 1:00:05Let us
- 1:00:05Pray
- 1:00:06Our
- 1:00:08Father
- 1:00:09In heaven
- 1:00:10We rejoice
- 1:00:11In you
- 1:00:11As the
- 1:00:12God of
- 1:00:13All glory
- 1:00:13The God
- 1:00:14Of hope
- 1:00:14The God
- 1:00:15Of all
- 1:00:16Love
- 1:00:16And grace
- 1:00:17And mercy
- 1:00:17And we
- 1:00:19Thank you
- 1:00:19Lord
- 1:00:19That you
- 1:00:20Are indeed
- 1:00:20Building
- 1:00:21Your church
- 1:00:22And that
- 1:00:23Through your
- 1:00:23Word
- 1:00:24Proclaimed
- 1:00:24There is
- 1:00:25Such power
- 1:00:26Such mighty
- 1:00:27Power
- 1:00:27Even as the
- 1:00:29Psalmist
- 1:00:29Says
- 1:00:29It is the
- 1:00:30Power that
- 1:00:30Is able to
- 1:00:31Convict
- 1:00:31And convert
- 1:00:32The soul
- 1:00:33That lies
- 1:00:34In sin
- 1:00:35And we
- 1:00:36Pray Lord
- 1:00:36That as
- 1:00:37Your word
- 1:00:37Has been
- 1:00:38Proclaimed
- 1:00:38Today
- 1:00:39Through all
- 1:00:40Ends of
- 1:00:40The earth
- 1:00:41That it
- 1:00:41Will have
- 1:00:42Gone out
- 1:00:42With power
- 1:00:43That it
- 1:00:44Will accomplish
- 1:00:44All the
- 1:00:45Purposes
- 1:00:46That you
- 1:00:46Have for it
- 1:00:47And that it
- 1:00:48Will not
- 1:00:48Return to
- 1:00:49You
- 1:00:49Empty
- 1:00:49Or void
- 1:00:50We commit
- 1:00:51Ourselves
- 1:00:52Into your
- 1:00:52Hands
- 1:00:53Oh Lord
- 1:00:53Take care
- 1:00:55Of us
- 1:00:55Lord
- 1:00:55Help us
- 1:00:56To be
- 1:00:56Strong
- 1:00:57In this
- 1:00:57Day
- 1:00:58To stand
- 1:00:59Up for
- 1:01:00You
- 1:01:00To have
- 1:01:01A great
- 1:01:01Vision of
- 1:01:02Christ
- 1:01:02And to
- 1:01:03Love him
- 1:01:04With all
- 1:01:04Our hearts
- 1:01:05To serve
- 1:01:05Him
- 1:01:06With all
- 1:01:07We have
- 1:01:07Knowing that
- 1:01:08He has
- 1:01:09Loved us
- 1:01:10And given
- 1:01:11Himself for
- 1:01:11Us
- 1:01:12So Lord
- 1:01:13Hear our
- 1:01:14Prayers
- 1:01:14Watch over
- 1:01:15Us and
- 1:01:16Continue with
- 1:01:16Us now
- 1:01:17In Jesus
- 1:01:17Name
- 1:01:18Amen
- 1:01:19We are
- 1:01:23We are
- 1:01:23Going to
- 1:01:23Conclude by
- 1:01:24Singing to
- 1:01:25God's
- 1:01:26Praise
- 1:01:26In Psalm
- 1:01:2784
- 1:01:28Psalm 84
- 1:01:31On page
- 1:01:32339 of
- 1:01:33The
- 1:01:33Psalm
- 1:01:33Books
- 1:01:34We will
- 1:01:37Sing from
- 1:01:37Verse 8
- 1:01:38To the
- 1:01:39End of
- 1:01:39The
- 1:01:40Psalm
- 1:01:40Psalm 84
- 1:01:42At verse
- 1:01:438
- 1:01:43Lord
- 1:01:43God of
- 1:01:44hosts
- 1:01:44My prayer
- 1:01:45Hear
- 1:01:46O Jacob's
- 1:01:46God
- 1:01:47Give
- 1:01:47Ear
- 1:01:47See
- 1:01:48God
- 1:01:48Our
- 1:01:49Shield
- 1:01:49Look
- 1:01:49On the
- 1:01:50Face
- 1:01:50Of
- 1:01:51Thine
- 1:01:51Anointed
- 1:01:52Dear
- 1:01:53The tune
- 1:01:53is
- 1:01:53Gerlach
- 1:01:54And we'll
- 1:01:54Sing from
- 1:01:55Verse 8
- 1:01:55To the
- 1:01:56End of
- 1:01:56The
- 1:01:56Psalm
- 1:01:57Lord
- 1:02:02God of
- 1:02:04Us
- 1:02:05My
- 1:02:06Prayer
- 1:02:08Hear
- 1:02:09O
- 1:02:11Jacob
- 1:02:12God
- 1:02:14Give
- 1:02:15Ear
- 1:02:17See
- 1:02:18God
- 1:02:20Our
- 1:02:20Shield
- 1:02:22Look
- 1:02:23Look
- 1:02:23On
- 1:02:24The
- 1:02:25Face
- 1:02:26Of
- 1:02:27Thine
- 1:02:29Anointed
- 1:02:31Dear
- 1:02:34For
- 1:02:36In
- 1:02:37Thy
- 1:02:38Course
- 1:02:39One
- 1:02:40Day
- 1:02:41Excels
- 1:02:43A
- 1:02:45Thousand
- 1:02:47Brother
- 1:02:48In
- 1:02:51My
- 1:02:52God
- 1:02:53God
- 1:02:53Has
- 1:02:54Thine
- 1:02:56Thine
- 1:02:57Thine
- 1:02:58Adore
- 1:03:00And
- 1:03:01Dwell
- 1:03:03In
- 1:03:04Tempts
- 1:03:05Of
- 1:03:06Sin
- 1:03:08For
- 1:03:10God
- 1:03:11The
- 1:03:12Lord
- 1:03:13Thine
- 1:03:14Son
- 1:03:16And
- 1:03:16Shield
- 1:03:18Heal
- 1:03:19Grace
- 1:03:20And
- 1:03:21Glory
- 1:03:23Heir
- 1:03:25And
- 1:03:26Well
- 1:03:27With
- 1:03:29Hope
- 1:03:30No
- 1:03:31Good
- 1:03:32From
- 1:03:33Them
- 1:03:34But
- 1:03:35Thine
- 1:03:36Thine
- 1:03:37Thine
- 1:03:38Thine
- 1:03:39Thine
- 1:03:40Thine
- 1:03:41Thine
- 1:03:42Thine
- 1:03:43Thine
- 1:03:44Thine
- 1:03:45Who
- 1:04:15I'll go to the main door after the benediction.
- 1:04:22Now may grace, mercy and peace from God,
- 1:04:25Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon
- 1:04:28and abide with you all now and forevermore.
- 1:04:32Amen.
- 1:04:45Amen.