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Faith, Forgiveness and Freedom · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We're going to begin our worship this evening singing in Psalm 89 in the Scottish Psalter.
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! That's on page 344.
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Singing verses 1 to 6.
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And of course we're conscious of the fact that David, as he is here before us in the psalm,
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is a type or a representation of the Lord Jesus Christ himself in his kingship, the kingship of his saviourhood.
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And so as we sing these verses, we're very conscious that they do apply to Christ and the kingdom that Christ presides over.
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Psalm 89 and verses 1 to 6 will stand to sing.
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The Lord's mercies I will ever sing,
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And with my life I shall
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Thy faithfulness
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Take to the Lord
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To generations
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To generations
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All
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Thy faithfulness
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Thou will
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When
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Thy faithfulness
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Thou
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Thy faithfulness
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Thou
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Thou
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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Thy faithfulness
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! Thy faithfulness
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O Lord, our God, as we gather once again here in this place of worship,
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as we do so collectively with our minds focused on those things
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that we have been singing that are before us in your word,
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we thank you that we begin our service with certainties,
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the certainty of your being, the certainty of your kingdom,
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the certainty of your rule and its precision.
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And we give thanks to you, Lord, for the certainty of the promises
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that you give and have given to your people.
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And we bless you, O Lord, that we find ourselves as we trust in you
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based upon those certainties for ourselves.
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And, Lord, we live in a world of uncertainty,
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and our lives in many ways are uncertain from day to day.
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And yet we thank you that we draw near tonight to the God
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who is sure and certain and steadfast in all his ways and in his being.
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Bless us, we pray, as we familiarize ourselves again with these great truths.
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And as we come to take them to ourselves,
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help us, we pray, to feed our souls upon them.
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And enable us tonight, O Lord, to come with that relish for your word
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that would come like the psalmist to treasure it in our hearts
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and to have it in such a way that would express its truth every day through our lives.
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And we thank you, O Lord, for the many benefits that we have received from you already today.
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A day that you have set apart, even in the creation of the world,
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to be a day that is marked by holiness to the Lord.
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A day that you have set apart as sacred for your people.
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Lord, while we acknowledge that every day brings elements of sacredness
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in the way in which we are to dedicate ourselves and our time to you,
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we thank you that you have given special emphasis to your day
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as a day that is a reminder to us of the Lord's oversight
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and especially of the Lord as the Redeemer of his people
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who gives us peace and who enables us to look forward to the fulfillment of that kingdom
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that is in the Lord Jesus Christ and over which he is set as king.
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And we thank you, Lord, tonight for your word to guide us once again.
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You have guided us many times previously through your word.
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You have blessed your word to us.
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You have given us, Lord, times of magnificent consideration,
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requests and petitions also, Lord, that seek your help during the course of life.
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We thank you that your knowledge above all of these things ensures
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that every aspect of our need is known to you
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and that you are able to meet us at all times.
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We pray your blessing, Lord, to be with us as worshipers tonight.
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And we thank you for the privilege of worshiping you,
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the privilege of having all elements of our worship in which we engage freely available to us.
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And we thank you, Lord, that even as we sing these words of praise to you,
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we thank you that we can sing our times of rejoicing and gladness to you,
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but that we can also sing out the pains and the sorrows of our heart.
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And we give thanks, O Lord, that such expressions of our pain and of our suffering at times
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enable us to accommodate these things and to dwell upon them in such a way
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as would carry them before the Lord for his help.
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We thank you tonight, Lord, for your church,
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for the way in which we are a part of that great church of God
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throughout the whole realms, all the realms of this whole world.
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And we give thanks that we form part of that great number
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which no one is able to number but yourself.
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And we give thanks that your church is undivided,
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whether it be in heaven or in earth, in the past or in the future or present.
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You know your people and they come to know you.
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And we pray tonight for your people, wherever they may be,
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throughout all the places in the world in which you have set them.
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O Lord, we pray that you would bless them,
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bless those of them unable to gather as we do,
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bless all the gatherings of your people also,
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bless those who are isolated from others,
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bless those, Lord, who partake of services online
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and are able thereby to hear your word
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and to be joined in that medium with your people
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as they worship you together.
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We pray for those who are ill tonight.
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We ask, Lord, that you'd bless them.
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They are known to us and unknown alike.
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And we pray that whether we know them or hear about them,
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we pray, Lord, that you would help us to carry them
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before your throne of grace.
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We pray for those who are seriously ill.
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We ask that you would be near to them.
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O Lord, as the end of life may seem very close for them,
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we pray that you would prepare them and us
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for that final step from time into eternity,
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which may come much more quickly than we are ourselves anticipating.
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Make us ready, O Lord, we pray,
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and through the gospel prepare us
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to enter into the realms of glory
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to be with the Lord himself.
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We pray that you would bless all families
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who have lost loved ones
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in recent times or in times past.
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We thank you especially for those
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who have traveled with us on the way
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and shown to us the way of faith
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and are no longer in this life.
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O Lord, we thank you for their witness
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that it goes on speaking to us.
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And we pray that you would help us to walk
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in the ways of faith like them.
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And your blessing too to those who rule over us,
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we pray tonight for our government,
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both in Westminster and here
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and in our own parliament in Scotland.
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We ask, O Lord, that in the turmoil of these days
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that you would give them wisdom.
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You have called upon us to remember them
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in prayer before you.
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And we set them before you, Lord, tonight,
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though we recognize so many of them.
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They do not seem to walk in your ways
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or want to do so.
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And yet we pray for all of them.
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And we pray that you would bring to them
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the light through the gospel
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that will shine into their own lives
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and that will enable them to look out
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on the world in which they live
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and on the people over which you have placed them
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in a way that would have regard for God
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and for his ways.
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We pray especially, Lord, at this time
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for the bill about to go through
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the Scottish Parliament
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with regard to the end of life.
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We pray, Lord, that you would be pleased
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to have this bill fall from being passed.
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We recognize as you people
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how important it is that the Lord
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only has a claim over the time of our birth
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and the time of our death.
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And we pray, Lord, that you would grant
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that there may be a majority
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that would reject the proposals of this bill
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and that would therefore enable us
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as your people to give thanks to you
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for the way in which, once again,
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we pray that you would preserve life
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until you see fit to take us out of this world.
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Remember those who care for us
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in palliative care.
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We thank you for the provisions
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of palliative care, O Lord.
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Lord, we pray that you would enhance it
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and that it might be increased in our land
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and that resources might be given to it further
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to enlarge its provision for us.
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Grant, O Lord, that we may look to you
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for the provision of all of these things
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that come to us for our benefit.
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And so bless us now, we pray,
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continue to look over us in your mercy and grace
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to pardon our sins,
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to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness.
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We offer all of these prayers to you, O Lord,
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this evening, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
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and for his sake.
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Amen.
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Let's continue to praise God.
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We're singing this time in Psalm 32.
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Psalm number 32 in the Sing Psalms version.
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That's on page 38.
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We'll sing verses 7 to 11.
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You are my hiding place, O Lord,
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my true security.
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You keep me safe in troubled days.
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You circle me with joyful praise
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when you have set me free.
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I will instruct you by my word
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and guide you in my way.
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My counsel I will give to you.
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My eye will keep your path in view
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and watch you day by day.
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So these verses in Psalm 32 from verse 7
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through to the end.
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You are my hiding place, O Lord.
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You are my hiding place, O Lord,
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my true security.
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You keep me safe in troubled days.
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You are my hiding place,
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to circle me with joyful praise,
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when you have set me free.
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I will instruct you by my word
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and guide you in my way.
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My counsel I will give to you.
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My eye will keep your path in view
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and watch you day by day.
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You not be like the horse or new
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which cannot understand.
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They must be hurt and kept in check.
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As they the pride of turn their neck
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to go where you command.
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The way its walls will march in peace,
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but those who trust the Lord
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is come and let me will surround.
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Your righteous let your joy abound
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and face the Lord your God.
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Let's turn now to read God's word
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and you'll find a reading tonight
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in the book of Acts.
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The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 13.
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And we can begin reading at verse 26.
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We have an account here from verse 13
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onwards of the journey of Paul and Barnabas
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to arrive in Antioch of Pisidia
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and where Paul preached there in the synagogue.
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And so we pick up the narrative at verse 26
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where he addresses those in the synagogue.
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Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham
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and those among you who fear God,
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to us has been sent the message of this salvation.
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For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers
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because they did not recognize him
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nor understand the utterances of the prophets
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which are read every Sabbath,
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fulfilled them by condemning him.
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And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death,
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they asked Pilate to have him executed.
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And when they had carried out all that was written of him,
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they took him down from the tree
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and laid him in a tomb.
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But God raised him from the dead
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and for many days he appeared to those
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who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem
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who are now his witnesses to the people.
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And we bring you the good news
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that what God promised to the fathers,
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this he has fulfilled to us their children
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by raising Jesus
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as also it is written in the second Psalm.
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You are my son.
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Today I have begotten you.
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And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead,
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no more to return to corruption,
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he has spoken in this way.
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I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.
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Therefore, he says also in another Psalm,
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you will not let your holy ones see corruption.
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For David, after he had served the purpose of God
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in his own generation,
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fell asleep and was late with his fathers
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and saw corruption.
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But he whom God raised did not see corruption.
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Let it be known to you, therefore, brothers,
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that through this man forgiveness of sins
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is proclaimed to you.
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And by him, everyone who believes is freed
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from everything from which you could not be freed
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by the law of Moses.
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Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the prophets
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should come about.
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Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish.
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For I am doing a work in your days,
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a work that you will not believe,
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even if one tells it to you.
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As they went out, people begged that these things
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might be told them the next Sabbath.
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And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up,
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many Jews and devout converts to Judaism
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followed Baal and Barnabas,
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who, as they spoke with them,
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urged them to continue in the grace of God.
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Amen.
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May God bless to us again a reading of his word.
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Before we turn back to look at one or two things
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from this passage, let's sing again,
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singing in Psalm 16 in the Scottish Psalter
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in verses 1 to 7.
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Lord, keep me, for I trust in thee.
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To God thus was my speech.
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Thou art my Lord, and unto thee my goodness
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doth not reach.
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To saints on earth, to the excellent,
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where my delights all placed,
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their sorrows shall be multiplied
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to other gods that haste.
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Of their drink offerings of blood
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I will no offering make.
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Yea, neither I their very names up in my lips will take.
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God is of mine inheritance,
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and cup the portion.
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The lot that fallen is to me
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thou dost maintain alone.
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And to me, happily,
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the lines in pleasant places fell.
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Yea, the inheritance I got,
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in beauty doth excel.
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I bless the Lord,
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because he doth by counsel me conduct.
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And in the seasons of the night
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my reigns do me instruct.
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These verses from the beginning.
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Lord, keep me, for I trust in thee.
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Lord, keep me, for I trust in thee,
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to God thus was my speech.
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The heart my Lord,
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round love to thee,
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my goodness doth not reach.
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Who saves on earth to the excellent,
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where my delight so blessed.
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Their sorrows shall be multiplied,
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to other gods that haste.
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Of their day offerings of blood,
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I will no offering make.
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Yea, neither I their very names up in my lips
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will take.
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God is of my inheritance,
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and God the portion.
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God is of my heart.
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The Lord hath fallen,
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is to me,
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and does not maintain alone.
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Come to me, happily,
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Bum,
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Bum,
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Bum,
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Bum,
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Bum,
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Bum,
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Bum,
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Bum,
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Bum,
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Bum,
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I got in beauty doth herself.
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I bless the Lord because he doth
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I counsel, he conduct
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And in the seasons of the night
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My praise to thee is God.
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If you turn with me please to Acts chapter 13.
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Acts chapter 13.
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We can give our minds for a short time tonight.
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To verses 36 to 39.
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So reading at Acts 13 verse 36.
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For David, after he had saved the purpose of God
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And his own generation fell asleep
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And was laid with his fathers and saw corruption.
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But he whom God raised up did not see corruption.
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Let it be known to you therefore, brothers,
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That through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
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And by him everyone who believes
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Is freed from everything from which you could not be freed
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By the law of Moses.
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Beware therefore, lest what is said in the prophets
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Should come about.
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Well, we'll read here about Paul's first missionary journey
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Which took him through the various places mentioned
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Until he arrived here, as we read here in this passage,
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At Antioch in Pisidia.
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It's part of what's now known as Turkey.
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As he came to Antioch in Pisidia,
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He did what was his custom at the time
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He went to the synagogue
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Where the Jews gathered for worship.
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And as he came to the synagogue
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And addressed the people in the synagogue,
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He took from the Old Testament
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What God had led him to
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Declare to the people there
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A passage that led to
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The person of Jesus.
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It's always interesting to note
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How Paul went about addressing
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Wherever he was
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The context in which he ministered the gospel
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Because he didn't
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He didn't approach every situation
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In exactly the same way
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Although he preached exactly the same gospel.
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It was always Jesus
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The death of Jesus
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And here particularly the resurrection of Jesus as well.
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But if you compare this with chapter 17
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Where you find Paul in Athens
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At the Areopagus
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Addressing a large crowd of pagans
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He didn't begin with the Old Testament
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He began with a more general revelation
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Or an emphasis on more general revelation
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Of God as creator
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And even found it appropriate to quote
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Once or twice from the prophets
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Of the pagans themselves
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Just to make points that he wished to
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Set before them
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That led him to speak about
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This God that he himself
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Had come to declare.
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But here he's speaking to Jews
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So it's quite appropriate
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That he goes to the Old Testament
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Well known by the Jews
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And takes them from the Old Testament
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To the person of Jesus.
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And that's of course important
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For ourselves as well.
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Because wherever you start in the Bible
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You always have to try and trace the line
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That brings you to Christ.
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Whether it's in the Old Testament
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Prior to the coming of Christ
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Or in the New Testament epistles
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Or in Revelation
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After Jesus had come
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After Jesus had died and risen
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And gone back to heaven
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It still always comes back to him.
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So in your Bible study
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You always try and trace these lines
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That take you back to the person of Jesus
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Because it's in him
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That everything really hangs together.
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He is the one
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That God himself has set
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As saviour
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And so everything else goes through him
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Including the preaching of the gospel itself
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As we'll see tonight.
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And so as he presents
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These various details
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From the Old Testament
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He comes to focus especially
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On King David.
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And he sets that beside
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Jesus himself
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Who is of course the king
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In the New Testament sense
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That fulfilled the kingship
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Of David.
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And so you find in this passage
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Some correspondences with David
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In the person and work of Jesus
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But also some contrasts
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Between Jesus and King David.
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And that's what we're really focusing on
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For a short time this evening.
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We'll break it into three parts.
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Verses 39
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Through verses 36 to 39.
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First of all we'll look at
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Some details of David's life
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And death.
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And then looking secondly at
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Christ's death and life.
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And thirdly
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How the passage ends
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With an emphasis on
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Gospel life
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And death.
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King David's life and death.
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Christ's death and life.
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And then the gospel's emphasis
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On life but also
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On death.
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So David's
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Life and death
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Very briefly
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In the compass in which
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Paul dealt with it here.
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Verse 36
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David
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After he had served
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The purpose of God
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In his own generation
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Fell asleep
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And was laid with his fathers
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And saw corruption.
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Now that's really all he says there
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About God
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Sorry
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God says about David
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But there's a correspondence with
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And a contrast with
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What happened
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In Jesus himself.
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But notice what he says.
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He served
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God's purpose
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In his own generation.
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What does that actually mean?
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Before we go on
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To look at the following
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Details about Jesus
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It's important
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To stop over that.
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What does he mean by saying
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David
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Actually served
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The purpose of God
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In his own generation?
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Well it certainly leads us
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To that great question
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What is the purpose
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Of human life?
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Why are we here?
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What is the purpose
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We exist?
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What is the purpose
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Of living the life
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We live in this world?
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This is the great question
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Of what is the meaning?
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What does it give meaning
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To human life?
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Many people in the world
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Would of course
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Answer that question
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In very different ways
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And some would even say
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There's no meaning at all
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To it
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You just live your life
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The best you can
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And at the end of it
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That's it
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That's not what the Bible
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Of course tells us
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The Bible tells us
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Indeed the Shorter Catechism
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In the first question
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And answer of the Shorter Catechism
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Really summed up for us
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The Bible's teaching
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On the purpose of human life
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What is man's chief end?
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What is the chief purpose?
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The main purpose
31:14
For which man exists
31:15
Man's chief end
31:17
Is to glorify God
31:19
And to enjoy Him forever
31:21
When you look at the overall purpose
31:24
Of human life
31:25
Whether you look at Christians
31:27
Or whether you look at the whole world
31:29
Who are not Christians at all
31:31
But as far as God's creation
31:33
Of human beings is concerned
31:34
This is the purpose
31:36
With which they were created
31:37
This is the purpose
31:38
For which you and I
31:39
Must look at life
31:41
Our own life
31:42
And the life
31:42
Of the world in which we live
31:44
God created us
31:46
For this end
31:48
For this purpose
31:49
To glorify God
31:51
To give praise to God
31:53
To bring Him honor and glory
31:55
But also to enjoy Him forever
31:58
It's not one side or the other
32:01
It's glorifying God
32:02
But it's to enjoy Him forever
32:05
That's the overarching purpose
32:06
Of human life
32:08
But then Paul is talking here
32:10
About something
32:11
You might say more specific
32:13
Something that's narrower
32:15
Than the overall purpose
32:16
Of human life
32:17
What he's talking about here
32:19
Is God's purpose for David
32:21
In his own generation
32:23
So while you can ask that question
32:26
What is the great purpose
32:28
And meaning of human life
32:30
And when I was with you
32:32
Remember we tried at one time
32:34
To go through the book
32:35
Of Ecclesiastes
32:36
Which really asks
32:37
All of these questions
32:39
And ends up with
32:40
That great summary
32:41
This is the whole purpose
32:43
Really the meaning
32:44
Of human life
32:45
Which is to fear God
32:47
And keep His commandments
32:48
In other words
32:49
To honor God
32:50
To bring Him praise
32:51
And glory
32:52
To exalt His name
32:54
But as you look at the way
32:56
In which Paul puts it here
32:57
He served the purpose of God
32:59
In his own generation
33:01
That asks the question then of me
33:03
Not just why do I exist
33:06
But why has God placed me
33:08
Where I am today
33:09
In this generation
33:10
What am I doing
33:11
With the advantages
33:12
The benefits
33:14
That God has given me
33:15
In this life
33:16
Where I am now set
33:18
And so it's the same
33:19
For yourself tonight
33:21
In this specific timeline
33:23
Of our own generation
33:25
What is God's purpose
33:27
For me
33:28
In the span of my life
33:31
In this world
33:32
However short
33:33
Or long it might be
33:34
That's the question
33:36
That's really arising
33:37
For us from this terminology
33:38
David serving
33:40
The purpose of God
33:41
In his own generation
33:42
So you have to ask
33:44
The question
33:45
As I have to ask it
33:46
Of myself
33:47
What am I doing
33:49
With my life tonight
33:50
Is my life serving
33:53
To bring honor
33:55
And praise to God
33:56
Am I doing the things
33:58
For which God
33:59
Has given me
34:00
The facility
34:01
Or the gifts
34:02
By which I can serve Him
34:04
By which I can show Him
34:06
To this coming
34:07
To this generation
34:08
That I'm part of
34:10
And the generation to come
34:11
What's His purpose
34:15
For me today
34:17
What does He have
34:18
What is He
34:19
Seeking of me to do
34:22
For Him
34:25
In the here and now
34:27
You have to answer
34:28
That question for yourself
34:30
I can't answer it for you
34:32
Under the overarching
34:33
Purpose of God
34:35
For all human life
34:36
To glorify
34:37
And enjoy Him
34:38
You bring it down
34:39
To your own
34:40
Personal situation
34:41
In this life
34:42
And you say
34:43
Where does that leave me
34:44
In terms of my
34:45
Precise
34:46
Individual responsibilities
34:48
And privileges
34:49
In the course of my life
34:50
Is your life
34:53
Tonight dedicated
34:54
To bringing glory
34:56
To God
34:57
In this generation
34:58
Is your life
35:00
One of serving
35:01
The Lord
35:02
And of asking daily
35:03
What must I do
35:04
For Him today
35:05
How am I going to
35:07
Serve God today
35:09
In the ways
35:10
That He enables me
35:12
To do that
35:13
David served
35:15
The purpose of God
35:16
In his generation
35:18
He fulfilled
35:20
What God had given him
35:21
To do as the king
35:22
Over Israel
35:23
And wherever you're set
35:26
Tonight
35:27
You have responsibilities
35:28
At home
35:29
You have responsibilities
35:30
To your neighbors
35:31
You have responsibilities
35:32
In your place of work
35:34
You have responsibilities
35:35
In your retirement
35:36
You have responsibilities
35:38
Wherever it is
35:39
God has placed you
35:40
But here is something
35:41
That always follows on
35:42
From wherever we're placed
35:44
What will you have me
35:46
To do Lord
35:47
In the span of my life
35:50
In this generation
35:52
Will my life
35:54
Will your life
35:55
Be one of positive influence
35:58
In this generation
36:00
That's really
36:00
What's behind
36:01
Some of what's behind
36:03
This reference here
36:04
In David serving
36:06
The purpose of God
36:08
In his own generation
36:09
I don't want to dwell on that
36:10
Any further
36:11
Because we've got more to do
36:12
In the rest of the passage
36:14
That David after he had saved
36:16
The purpose of God
36:16
In his own generation
36:18
Fell asleep
36:20
And was laid with his fathers
36:23
And saw corruption
36:24
Now this is moving towards
36:26
A contrast with Jesus
36:28
But the contrast
36:29
Can only be brought out
36:30
Really if you look at the detail
36:32
In regard to David
36:33
First of all
36:34
What is he saying about
36:35
David having saved
36:36
His own generation
36:37
He fell asleep
36:39
What does that mean
36:40
Obviously it's not
36:40
It's not just a physical sleep
36:43
Fell asleep
36:45
Is the Bible's way
36:46
Of believers in Jesus
36:48
Believers in God
36:49
Coming to the end of life
36:51
In this world
36:52
And entering into eternity
36:53
It doesn't mean
36:54
That when God's people
36:56
Leave this world
36:57
They enter into
36:58
An unconsciousness
36:59
That they enter into
37:01
A blissful unconsciousness
37:03
In eternity
37:03
That they enter into
37:05
An eternity
37:06
Where they're not
37:07
You might say
37:08
Awake in their souls
37:09
Or in their minds
37:10
Where they're not able
37:11
To exorcise and function
37:13
Their minds
37:13
As they are in this world
37:15
Actually it's the very opposite
37:16
To fall asleep
37:20
In the biblical sense of it here
37:23
Means to enter into
37:24
Perfect rest
37:26
Because one of the things
37:28
You associate with sleep
37:30
With sound sleep
37:31
Especially with calm sleep
37:34
You associate peace with that
37:36
Don't you?
37:37
You associate
37:37
There's somebody who's at rest
37:39
And of course the Bible
37:41
Uses the word rest too
37:42
To describe the eternity
37:45
Of those who've left this world
37:47
This side of the resurrection
37:49
They've gone to their rest
37:50
They've gone to sleep
37:52
They've gone to their peace
37:54
They've gone to be with Jesus
37:58
Their souls are at rest
38:03
They are at rest spiritually
38:05
There is nothing
38:06
There is nothing
38:06
To disturb them
38:08
How often do you find
38:11
In this world
38:12
That your life is disturbed
38:15
We can have nightmares
38:16
We can have worries
38:18
In our mind
38:19
That cause us to
38:20
Remain awake
38:22
Or to have a fitting
38:23
Sort of sleep
38:24
Just here and there
38:25
And here and now
38:26
But not constantly
38:28
At peace or at rest
38:30
So many things
38:31
In this life
38:32
That crowd in upon
38:33
Your mind
38:34
That really leave you
38:36
Without the kind of sleep
38:38
That you'd love to have
38:39
Nothing enters into
38:43
The sleep of the saved
38:44
Nothing enters into
38:46
The bliss and the peace
38:48
Of those who've left
38:48
This world in Christ
38:50
There is nothing
38:51
To disturb their rest
38:52
Nothing to spoil
38:54
Their peace
38:55
Nothing of nightmares
38:56
Coming into their existence
38:58
No worries to carry with them
39:00
To disturb them
39:01
In their peace
39:01
That's your prospect
39:03
As a Christian
39:04
That's something
39:05
That awaits you
39:06
You might go through
39:08
This whole life
39:09
Filled with worries
39:11
Filled with anxieties
39:12
Filled with pains
39:13
Mental
39:14
Physical
39:14
You might have all sorts
39:16
Of things happening
39:17
In your life right now
39:18
That make you just
39:19
Long for peace
39:20
Well if you're a Christian
39:21
If your trust is in the Lord
39:24
This is what's awaiting you
39:26
You're going to leave
39:27
All of these things behind
39:29
And you're going to enter
39:30
Into this perfect sleep
39:31
This bliss
39:32
This bliss
39:33
This blessing of peace
39:36
Where nothing's going
39:38
To disturb you
39:39
How different is it
39:43
With the death
39:45
Of the unsaved
39:46
The death of what the Bible
39:49
Calls the wicked
39:50
And remember
39:51
The wicked are not just
39:52
Those who've led
39:53
A debauched life
39:55
And openly been
39:56
Flagrant in sin
39:57
The Bible uses
39:58
The word wicked
39:59
Just very often
40:01
Just as the opposite
40:01
Of the saved
40:02
The believer
40:03
And as there are no
40:08
Nightmares in heaven
40:10
Hell is one
40:12
Endless nightmare
40:14
A nightmare for which
40:17
There is no waking
40:19
No rest
40:21
No undisturbance
40:25
No end
40:29
No change
40:31
No prospect of release
40:34
That's the nightmare
40:37
But the contrast
40:39
Is the peace
40:40
The sleeping
40:42
The rest
40:44
Which the Bible
40:46
Presents to us
40:48
As God's
40:50
Eternal life
40:51
Given
40:51
To those who
40:52
Trust in Christ
40:53
What is the prospect
40:56
Tonight
40:58
For you
40:58
And for me
40:59
As you look
41:01
At your own life
41:02
As you think
41:04
Of your relationship
41:04
With God
41:05
As you think
41:07
Of how it is
41:08
Between yourself
41:08
And God
41:09
As you think
41:11
Of whether you've
41:12
Come to repent
41:12
Of sin or not
41:13
To trust in Jesus
41:15
Or not
41:16
Where does that
41:17
Leave you with regard
41:18
To your eternity
41:20
I have to ask
41:22
The same
41:22
Of myself
41:23
Well here is David
41:25
After he had
41:26
Served the purpose
41:27
Of God
41:27
In his own generation
41:29
He fell asleep
41:30
And was laid
41:32
With his fathers
41:32
And saw
41:34
Corruption
41:35
Saw corruption
41:38
Means his body
41:39
Returned to the dust
41:40
It's something
41:43
That happens
41:44
To all
41:45
Who are laid
41:46
Into the grave
41:47
It's what's
41:49
Ahead of us all
41:50
We don't like
41:51
To think about it
41:52
As we attend
41:54
Funerals
41:54
But we often
41:55
Leave grave sites
41:57
And cemeteries
41:58
With some
41:59
Maybe fleeting
42:00
Thoughts about ourselves
42:01
But they soon
42:01
Pass on
42:02
But we shouldn't
42:04
Allow that
42:04
We should always
42:06
Say when you look
42:07
At the grave
42:07
Or a present
42:09
At a funeral
42:09
That's going to be
42:11
Me in a very short
42:12
Time
42:12
But where will I be
42:14
That's going to be
42:16
My body
42:16
Laid into the grave
42:18
Where will I be
42:19
Where will I be
42:21
Conscious of peace
42:23
Or conscious
42:24
Of the nightmare
42:25
Of hell
42:26
Well Psalm 48
42:28
Reminds us
42:30
That death
42:30
For the Lord's people
42:31
The passing of
42:32
Of us from this world
42:34
Into the next
42:35
Does not in any way
42:36
Interfere with
42:37
Our peace
42:38
With being at rest
42:40
With God
42:41
Psalm 4
42:43
Verse 8
42:44
You remember
42:44
David puts it there
42:45
I will both
42:47
Lay me down
42:47
To sleep
42:48
And take rest
42:50
In peace
42:50
For you Lord
42:52
Alone
42:53
Makes me
42:54
To dwell in safety
42:56
Or to dwell safely
42:58
I will lay me down
43:00
And rest in peace
43:02
He's surrounded
43:03
By his enemies
43:04
He's harassed
43:06
He's crying out
43:08
To the Lord
43:08
In his pain
43:09
What is the end
43:11
Of the psalm
43:11
He's thinking about
43:13
What's across
43:14
That bridge
43:15
In eternity
43:16
He's thinking
43:17
I will lay down
43:18
My life in peace
43:20
He's certainly
43:21
Talking about
43:22
The present life
43:23
As well
43:23
That he can still
43:24
Sleep
43:25
If God gives him
43:26
The safety
43:27
To protect him
43:28
From his enemies
43:28
He can still say
43:29
My life is safe
43:30
With God
43:31
I don't need to worry
43:32
About my enemies
43:33
Yes he can do that
43:34
But he's surely
43:35
Taking us beyond
43:36
The grave
43:36
Beyond this life
43:38
Into eternity
43:38
This is my future
43:40
This is the prospect
43:41
For me
43:42
He's saying
43:42
I will lay down
43:43
In peace
43:44
And I'll take
43:44
Quiet rest there
43:46
Why?
43:46
Because you Lord
43:47
Alone
43:47
Make me dwell
43:49
In safety
43:51
And that safety
43:53
Tonight
43:55
Is yours
43:55
In Jesus Christ
43:58
He is your security
44:00
And your safety
44:02
Forever
44:02
David's life
44:04
And death
44:05
But he goes on
44:06
To speak about
44:06
Christ's death
44:07
And life
44:08
As he brings out
44:08
The contrast
44:09
In many ways
44:10
With David
44:11
He whom God
44:13
Raised up
44:13
Did not see
44:15
Corruption
44:15
Let it be known
44:17
To you therefore
44:18
That through this man
44:19
Is preached to you
44:20
Proclaimed to you
44:21
Forgiveness of sin
44:22
Well
44:22
It says here
44:23
Jesus died
44:25
He did not see
44:27
Corruption
44:27
He did die
44:28
And he was laid
44:31
For a time
44:32
In the sepulcher
44:33
But God
44:35
Raised him up
44:35
From the dead
44:36
It's important
44:38
That we notice
44:39
How Paul
44:40
Also
44:41
In his epistles
44:42
Emphasizes
44:43
The death
44:44
Followed by the
44:45
Resurrection
44:45
Of Jesus
44:46
That at the heart
44:48
Of the gospel
44:48
As he passed on
44:50
To the Corinthians
44:51
The very heart
44:52
Of the gospel
44:52
The kernel
44:53
Of what he preached
44:54
This is what he said
44:55
I passed on
44:56
I gave to you
44:57
What the Lord
44:57
Also gave to me
44:59
That the Lord
45:00
Jesus Christ
45:01
Died
45:03
According to the
45:04
Scriptures
45:04
That he was buried
45:06
That he rose again
45:07
According to the
45:09
Scriptures
45:09
That is the heart
45:10
Of the gospel
45:10
That's the basis
45:11
Of our hopes tonight
45:13
That there's a death
45:14
Greater than the death
45:15
We ourselves die
45:16
That there's a resurrection
45:18
From the dead
45:19
Which we could never
45:20
Accomplish for ourselves
45:21
A resurrection
45:22
That stands above death
45:24
And says
45:24
Death you are now
45:26
Defeated
45:26
And without Jesus
45:30
You don't have that
45:31
In Christ
45:33
That's your great privilege
45:35
That's the prospect
45:37
That you have
45:38
Looking into eternity
45:39
What a prospect it is
45:41
That you're united
45:43
To Christ
45:43
In both his death
45:45
And his life
45:46
Well it's saying here
45:47
That he was
45:48
He was
45:48
Raised from the dead
45:50
And that through him
45:52
Is proclaimed
45:52
Forgiveness of sins
45:54
God raised him up
45:56
There's a lot we could say
45:57
About that
45:58
It's important to realize
46:00
That Christ really died
46:02
He wasn't just
46:03
He wasn't unconscious
46:04
As he was laid
46:05
His body wasn't laid
46:07
In the
46:08
In the sepulcher
46:09
As somebody
46:10
Who was unconscious
46:10
He was dead
46:12
He died on the cross
46:15
He died the death
46:17
Due to us
46:18
For our sins
46:19
Remember always
46:21
I think I've emphasized
46:21
This so many times
46:23
From this pulpit
46:24
We need to
46:24
Because it's part
46:25
Of the gospel
46:26
The death he died
46:27
Was the death
46:28
You and I deserve
46:29
For our sins
46:30
Not just the death
46:32
In terms of
46:32
Body and soul
46:33
Being separated
46:34
And no longer
46:36
In this world
46:37
And his body
46:38
Being laid
46:38
Into the tomb
46:40
The death
46:40
Jesus died
46:41
Was the death
46:43
We deserved
46:43
For our sins
46:44
The death
46:45
That is nothing
46:45
Less than hell
46:46
That's what he suffered
46:48
That's what he endured
46:51
That's what he took
46:52
To himself
46:53
But when all that
46:57
Was over
46:58
As it was
47:00
On the cross
47:00
Itself
47:01
When he said
47:03
It is finished
47:04
Father into your hands
47:07
I commit my spirit
47:08
Then his body
47:10
Was laid in the sepulcher
47:11
And on the third day
47:13
He rose again
47:15
From the dead
47:15
He's emphasizing here
47:16
As so often
47:17
God raised him up
47:19
Why did God
47:20
Raise him up
47:21
Why does it say
47:21
That it was God
47:22
Who raised him up
47:23
Because God
47:25
Was well pleased
47:26
With what Jesus
47:27
Had done
47:28
To say it
47:29
Just put it briefly
47:30
Like that
47:30
He raised him up
47:32
Because he was pleased
47:33
With the death
47:34
He died
47:35
That it was sufficient
47:36
For all eternity
47:37
To cover the sins
47:38
Of his people
47:39
And no other person
47:44
Could have done that
47:45
But Christ
47:48
Has achieved it
47:49
And if you go to
47:51
Hebrews
47:52
And chapter 13
47:53
You'll find an emphasis there
47:55
Which is also important
47:56
In its own right
47:57
Where the emphasis there
48:00
On the resurrection
48:01
Of Jesus
48:02
Is that
48:03
God actually
48:04
Raised him up
48:06
In such a way
48:07
That
48:07
He brought
48:09
God again
48:10
The God of peace
48:11
Brought again
48:12
From the dead
48:13
Our Lord Jesus
48:15
The great shepherd
48:16
Of the sheep
48:16
And these words
48:17
He brought him again
48:18
From the dead
48:19
Actually mean literally
48:21
He was obliged
48:22
To bring him back
48:23
From the dead
48:24
If we can say
48:26
Such bold language
48:27
Of God
48:28
He had no option
48:29
But to
48:30
Bring Jesus
48:31
Back from the dead
48:32
Why?
48:34
Because Christ
48:34
Had fulfilled
48:35
All that he came
48:37
In this world
48:37
To achieve
48:38
By his life
48:39
And death
48:40
On the cross
48:40
Wherefore God
48:41
Brought him back
48:43
From the dead
48:44
And you know
48:45
The resurrection
48:46
Of Christ
48:46
In many ways
48:48
You could say
48:48
It's God's own
48:49
Stamp of approval
48:50
Over what Christ
48:52
Did
48:52
In his death
48:53
On the cross
48:54
God raised him up
48:57
So as not
48:58
To see corruption
48:59
So that's
49:01
Christ's
49:02
Death
49:02
And life
49:03
That's where he's
49:05
Unlike David
49:06
David was
49:07
Buried
49:08
And saw corruption
49:09
Christ was buried
49:11
And saw no corruption
49:13
David was buried
49:15
And didn't
49:17
Come back
49:18
To this world
49:19
Christ was buried
49:21
And rose from the dead
49:23
On the third day
49:25
Wherefore
49:26
On account of that
49:28
Let it be known
49:30
To you therefore
49:30
Brothers
49:31
That through this man
49:32
Forgiveness of sins
49:34
Is proclaimed to you
49:35
And by him
49:36
Everyone who believes
49:38
Is freed from everything
49:40
From which you could not
49:41
Be freed
49:41
By the law of Moses
49:43
So there's David's
49:45
Life and death
49:45
There's Christ's
49:47
Death and life
49:48
And finally
49:50
There's this gospel
49:51
Life and death
49:53
The emphasis
49:54
In the gospel
49:55
He's saying
49:55
Let it be known
49:57
To you therefore
49:57
Brothers
49:58
He's appealing to them
49:59
To listen to this point
50:00
Through this man
50:02
Through this Jesus
50:03
Is proclaimed to you
50:05
Forgiveness
50:06
Of sins
50:07
The gospel is good news
50:13
It's the best news
50:16
We could actually have
50:16
Declared to us
50:17
And why is it good news?
50:22
Because the emphasis
50:24
In the gospel
50:25
Is on life
50:26
Life in Christ
50:28
For those like you
50:30
And I
50:30
Who don't deserve it
50:31
But for whom
50:32
It's provided
50:33
Through Jesus
50:34
By him
50:38
Through him
50:39
Forgiveness of sins
50:40
Is proclaimed
50:41
And when you think of
50:43
Forgiveness of sins
50:45
That lies at the heart
50:47
Of the message
50:47
Of the gospel
50:48
That's really what
50:51
Paul is emphasizing here
50:53
For these Jews
50:53
In Antioch
50:55
In Pisidia
50:56
And it's a crucial
50:59
Emphasis
51:00
Because it means
51:01
Freedom
51:02
From condemnation
51:04
That's really what
51:05
He's saying
51:05
Forgiveness of sins
51:06
Is proclaimed to you
51:07
And everyone
51:09
Who believes
51:10
Is freed from
51:11
Delivered from
51:13
Everything from
51:14
Which you could not
51:15
Be freed by the law
51:16
Of Moses
51:16
Here were these Jews
51:17
Thinking
51:18
The law of Moses
51:19
Is ours
51:20
God gave us
51:20
The law of Moses
51:21
If we obey
51:22
The law of Moses
51:23
Then we're right
51:24
With God
51:25
We are righteous people
51:26
And Paul as you see
51:28
Particularly in Romans
51:29
And Galatians
51:30
You read these epistles
51:31
He's saying
51:31
No that's not how
51:32
You come to be justified
51:34
You cannot be justified
51:35
By your own efforts
51:36
However much
51:37
You keep the law
51:38
And who knew that
51:39
Better than Paul
51:40
Who tried mightily
51:42
By his own efforts
51:43
To persuade himself
51:45
That he was right
51:46
With God
51:47
Until he came
51:49
To meet with Jesus
51:51
On the road to Damascus
51:52
And Jesus
51:56
Knocked him
51:58
To his knees
51:59
And actually
52:02
So
52:02
Said to Paul
52:05
That he was actually
52:06
A persecutor
52:07
Rather than a righteous man
52:09
Persecutor of God's people
52:12
That was the turning point
52:16
Especially
52:16
In the life of the apostle
52:19
And from then on
52:20
He sought
52:21
To emphasize
52:22
At the heart
52:23
Of the gospel message
52:24
He preached
52:25
Here is forgiveness
52:26
Not one that you can
52:28
Manufacture for yourself
52:30
You don't need to
52:30
Not one you can
52:31
Create for yourself
52:32
It's not necessary
52:33
It's already there
52:35
In the person and work
52:36
Of Jesus
52:37
Who died and rose
52:38
From the dead
52:38
And therefore
52:39
On the basis of that
52:40
Forgiveness of sins
52:42
Is declared to you
52:43
And to everyone
52:44
Who believes
52:45
They are freed
52:46
From the sentence
52:47
Of the law
52:48
From condemnation
52:49
For what the law
52:50
Could not do
52:51
Could not be done
52:52
By the law of Moses
52:54
And that's such an
52:57
Important emphasis
52:58
Right through
52:59
The course of
53:00
New testament history
53:02
And on to our own day
53:03
There are millions
53:05
In the world tonight
53:06
Who think that
53:06
Being a Christian
53:08
Means doing everything
53:09
The best you can
53:10
And because God is kind
53:12
He's not going to
53:13
Reject you
53:14
God is kind
53:16
God is good
53:17
The goodness of God
53:18
Is nowhere better
53:19
Emphasized than in the
53:20
Provision of a saviour
53:21
For us
53:22
But it's not because
53:24
We do certain things
53:26
Ourselves
53:26
Not even because
53:28
Of our faith in him
53:29
That we're saved
53:31
We're saved because
53:32
Of him
53:32
And because of
53:34
What he has done
53:35
And through his
53:37
Person
53:38
And through his work
53:39
Whoever
53:40
Believes
53:41
Comes actually
53:43
To be delivered
53:44
Freed from
53:45
What the law of Moses
53:47
Could not free them from
53:49
Now that's
53:50
That's through freedom
53:52
And I've emphasized
53:53
It many times
53:54
In this pulpit
53:54
Freedom is not
53:56
The definition
53:57
The world gives
53:57
To freedom
53:58
Freedom for you
53:59
And for me tonight
54:00
Is not what the world
54:01
Especially that
54:02
Atheistic hostile world
54:04
To the gospel
54:04
Says is freedom
54:06
That freedom
54:06
Is just casting off
54:07
These things of the bible
54:09
These things of religion
54:10
Especially these things
54:11
Of the Christian religion
54:12
And especially
54:13
Of reformed religion
54:14
Where Jesus is the
54:15
Center of everything
54:16
Do away with that
54:17
Just follow your own
54:18
Inclinations
54:18
Do the best you can
54:20
As you see your life
54:21
Developing
54:22
That's an argument
54:25
From the pit
54:25
It's an argument
54:29
From the devil
54:29
Who wants to
54:30
Destroy you
54:31
And end up
54:33
With him
54:34
In a lost eternity
54:35
Now God is saying
54:39
Forget about
54:41
Trying to do the best
54:42
You can
54:42
In order to be saved
54:43
Because I have
54:46
Someone here
54:46
Who has done
54:47
The best he could
54:48
And that's far better
54:49
Than your best
54:50
The best
54:52
That Jesus is
54:54
And that Jesus has done
54:55
And you don't need
54:57
Anything other than that
55:00
To be right with God
55:01
When you reach out
55:03
By faith
55:04
And take Jesus
55:04
To yourself
55:05
This is what comes
55:07
Into your possession
55:08
This is what's marked up
55:09
On your account
55:10
In eternity
55:11
By God
55:12
This person
55:13
Is now righteous
55:15
Because the righteousness
55:17
Of my son
55:18
God is saying
55:19
Has become theirs
55:21
In Colossians chapter 2
55:25
And verse 6
55:26
You find it put there
55:27
That again faith
55:29
And trust in Christ
55:30
Is emphasized
55:32
Because faith is
55:33
Essentially trust in Jesus
55:35
And Colossians 2
55:36
And verse 6
55:38
Puts it there
55:39
Where you find
55:41
Paul emphasizing
55:43
How they received
55:45
Jesus Christ
55:46
As you received
55:47
Christ Jesus
55:48
The Lord
55:49
So walk in them
55:50
He's emphasizing for them
55:52
How they have to continue
55:53
In the form
55:54
And way of life
55:55
That they began
55:56
When they came to Christ
55:58
First of all
55:58
But the word received
56:00
There is important
56:01
And it's important
56:02
To remember
56:03
That we receive Christ
56:05
Remember that great
56:06
Catechism 31
56:08
Preceded by the
56:11
Previous 132
56:12
How does the spirit
56:13
Apply to us
56:14
The redemption
56:15
Purchased by Christ
56:17
The spirit
56:18
Applies to us
56:19
The redemption
56:19
Purchased by Christ
56:21
By working faith in us
56:23
And thereby
56:24
Uniting us to Christ
56:26
In our effectual calling
56:27
And in effectual calling
56:29
Which is the next question
56:30
And answer in the catechism
56:31
We're reminded that
56:33
Effectual calling
56:34
Involves
56:35
God persuading
56:36
And enabling
56:38
Us to embrace
56:40
Jesus Christ
56:41
Freely offered
56:42
In the gospel
56:43
So don't go along
56:46
With the idea
56:46
Though it may sound
56:48
Nice
56:48
That a Christian
56:51
Is somebody
56:51
Who believes
56:52
A certain set
56:54
Of principles
56:55
And of promises
56:57
And of commandments
56:58
Or you might say
57:00
The whole Bible
57:00
A Christian is somebody
57:02
Who believes that
57:03
Who believes that
57:04
To be true
57:05
Of course a Christian
57:07
Believes that
57:08
To be true
57:08
But a Christian
57:10
Primarily
57:11
A believer
57:12
Primarily
57:13
A saved person
57:15
Primarily
57:16
Is one who has
57:17
Embraced Christ
57:18
There is no salvation
57:20
By just saying
57:21
Well I believe
57:22
Everything that's in the Bible
57:23
But I'm not going to
57:24
Embrace that way of life
57:25
That embraces Jesus
57:27
And tries every day
57:28
To be true to him
57:29
That's a Christian life
57:31
Persuades and enables us
57:34
To embrace
57:35
Jesus Christ
57:36
Freely offered
57:38
In the gospel
57:39
And Paul is saying here
57:40
This is the gospel
57:42
Through this man
57:43
Forgiveness of sins
57:44
Is proclaimed to you
57:46
And by him
57:49
Everyone who believes
57:51
Is freed
57:52
From the law of Moses
57:54
Freed from the condemnation
57:56
The law actually
57:58
Pronounces
57:59
Well he goes on
58:01
To say
58:02
There's a warning as well
58:03
He quotes here
58:04
From the prophecy
58:06
Of Habakkuk
58:07
Beware therefore
58:09
Lest what is said
58:10
In the prophets
58:10
Should come about
58:11
Look you scoffers
58:12
Be astounded
58:13
And perish
58:14
For I'm doing
58:15
A work in your days
58:16
A work
58:16
That you will not believe
58:18
Even if one tells you
58:19
In other words
58:21
He's drawing from
58:21
That condemnatory note
58:24
In the prophet Habakkuk
58:25
That reminded the people
58:27
Of his day
58:28
Of the consequences
58:29
Of not believing
58:30
And trusting in God
58:31
And it all comes down
58:35
To this at the end
58:35
Of the day friends
58:36
Doesn't it
58:37
The cross
58:39
As it divided
58:40
Two individuals
58:42
At Calvary
58:43
From each other
58:44
So it divides
58:46
Humanity
58:47
Into two types
58:49
Of people
58:50
Those who believe
58:52
And those who don't
58:54
Those who are saved
58:56
And those who are not
58:58
Those who will not
59:00
Be saved
59:01
And those who will be
59:03
That's why it's so important
59:07
For you and for me
59:09
Tonight
59:09
With the wonderful
59:10
Privilege that God
59:11
Has given us
59:12
Of freedom
59:13
To hear the word
59:14
Of God
59:15
To hear the gospel
59:16
To hear the good news
59:17
That through Christ
59:18
Is proclaimed to us
59:20
Where God is saying to us
59:21
Here is acceptance
59:22
With me
59:23
Here is righteousness
59:24
Here is something
59:26
That I guarantee
59:27
I will always respect
59:30
And I will always accept
59:31
When you receive my son
59:34
By faith
59:35
By trusting in him
59:36
When you take him
59:37
To yourself
59:38
When you make him
59:39
Your own
59:39
When by faith
59:41
The faith God gives you
59:42
You come to receive him
59:44
Then you receive
59:47
His righteousness
59:47
You receive God's acceptance
59:52
God's friendship
59:53
And you receive
59:57
Everything the Bible
59:58
Tells you
59:59
Comes in Jesus himself
1:00:01
For you
1:00:02
As a saviour
1:00:03
Through this man
1:00:07
Forgiveness of sins
1:00:10
Is proclaimed to you
1:00:11
And everyone who believes
1:00:13
Is freed
1:00:14
From everything
1:00:15
From which you could not
1:00:16
Be freed
1:00:16
By the law
1:00:18
Of Moses
1:00:19
In other words
1:00:21
It's really saying to us
1:00:22
Very strongly
1:00:23
And very clearly
1:00:26
Very graphically
1:00:28
In many ways
1:00:29
And because of the type
1:00:32
Of people you and I are
1:00:33
We need to have it that way
1:00:34
And God in his kindness
1:00:37
Has given us
1:00:38
This gospel
1:00:39
Where life and death
1:00:41
Are set out before us
1:00:43
Where it tells us
1:00:45
Trust in the Lord
1:00:46
And you will not perish
1:00:49
Don't trust in him
1:00:53
Continue without
1:00:55
Giving your life to him
1:00:56
And you will perish
1:00:58
You will perish
1:01:00
Forever
1:01:02
But that's not going to be you
1:01:05
Is it?
1:01:07
Surely
1:01:08
Surely you tonight
1:01:11
Are going to say
1:01:11
Even if you've never
1:01:13
Said it before
1:01:14
I must
1:01:16
Come to Jesus
1:01:18
I must receive him
1:01:21
I must embrace him
1:01:24
I cannot afford
1:01:27
For time
1:01:28
Or eternity
1:01:29
To die without him
1:01:32
May it be so
1:01:34
Let's pray
1:01:34
Eternal God
1:01:37
We give thanks
1:01:38
For the gospel
1:01:39
We give thanks
1:01:41
For your kindness
1:01:41
And love
1:01:42
In providing us
1:01:43
With such a glorious
1:01:45
Message of salvation
1:01:46
Lord we pray
1:01:48
That you would grant us
1:01:49
To use that faith
1:01:51
And trust in Jesus
1:01:52
That would bring us
1:01:53
Into that right relationship
1:01:55
With you
1:01:56
And when we have done so
1:01:57
Lord enable us
1:01:58
To proceed in it
1:01:59
To know you better
1:02:01
Day by day
1:02:01
And to come to welcome
1:02:03
All that you bring to us
1:02:05
By way of further assurance
1:02:07
Of the Lord
1:02:08
Of the Lord
1:02:08
Of your people
1:02:09
Bless this congregation
1:02:11
We pray
1:02:12
Continue to provide
1:02:13
For them
1:02:13
We thank you
1:02:15
For them
1:02:15
We thank you
1:02:16
For their witness
1:02:17
We thank you
1:02:19
For their support
1:02:20
We thank you
1:02:21
For all that it means
1:02:22
To us to be here
1:02:23
Tonight
1:02:23
And we thank you
1:02:25
Especially for
1:02:26
The way in which
1:02:27
You have continued
1:02:28
To bless them
1:02:28
Down through the years
1:02:30
We pray that you
1:02:31
Would provide them
1:02:33
With one to lead them
1:02:34
In the things of God
1:02:35
We ask that you
1:02:36
Would help them
1:02:37
To focus upon
1:02:38
One who would become
1:02:39
Their minister
1:02:40
In due time
1:02:41
And graciously hear us
1:02:43
Now and accept us
1:02:44
For Jesus' sake
1:02:45
Amen
1:02:46
We're going to conclude
1:02:49
Our service tonight
1:02:50
Singing in Psalm 85
1:02:52
Psalm 85
1:02:54
That's in Sing Psalms
1:02:55
Singing verses 8 to 13
1:02:58
Page 113
1:03:01
If you're using the Psalm books
1:03:03
Page 113
1:03:04
We'll sing from verse 8
1:03:05
I will hear what God the Lord says
1:03:09
To his saints he offers peace
1:03:11
But his people must not wander
1:03:13
And return to foolishness
1:03:15
Surely for all those
1:03:17
Who fear him
1:03:17
His salvation is at hand
1:03:19
So that once again
1:03:21
His glory may be seen
1:03:23
Within our land
1:03:25
Verses 8 to the end of the Psalm
1:03:27
To God's praise
1:03:28
Amen
1:03:29
Amen
1:03:30
Amen
1:03:45
Amen
1:03:47
Amen
1:04:01
For all those who fear Him, His salvation is at hand.
1:04:12
So that once again His glory may He sing within our hands.
1:04:26
Come to our head together, righteousness and peace and grace.
1:04:41
Righteousness lives down from heaven, from the earth's faithfulness.
1:04:54
What is good the Lord will give us, and our madness truth will be.
1:05:09
Righteousness will go before Him, and His royal way be given.
1:05:20
Amen.
1:05:22
If you'd like me get to the main door, please, after the benediction.
1:05:25
I'll shake hands with you there.
1:05:28
Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father,
1:05:32
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore.
1:05:36
Amen.
1:05:37
Thank you.