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Preparatory Communion Service - Examining Our Surroundings and Ourselves · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise. We're singing in Psalm 50 in the
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Scottish Psalter, the first version of the Psalm. Psalm 50, the first version of the Psalm, page 276
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of the Psalm books. We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 5, and the tune is Carlisle.
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The mighty God the Lord hath spoken and did call, the earth from rising of the sun to where he hath
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his fall, from out of Sion Hill which of excellency and beauty, the perfection is, God shined gloriously.
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We'll sing verse 1 to 5 to God's praise.
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The mighty God the Lord hath spoken and did call,
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the earth from rising of the sun to where he hath his fall.
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From out of Sion Hill which of excellency and beauty, the perfection is, God shined gloriously.
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Our God shall surely come, his silence shall not be.
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Now the world hath from the side.
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Well, remain, Lord, has a great einenembroscopy God sl mater.
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Before him fire shall put straight stars, shall undabilir,勝手 only 그러네.
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J extract them not be.
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unto the heavens clear
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he from above shall call
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and to the earth like wise
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that he may judge his people all
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Together let my sins
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unto the other be
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those that thy sacrifice
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have made
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are God well and with me
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Let's come to God in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Our gracious Father in heaven,
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we come to worship
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and praise your name this night
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that you are a gracious
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and a loving and a kind God.
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We thank you for every reminder
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as we sing from your word
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and as we come and approach it
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with holy reverence and holy fear.
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We recognize to whom we are coming.
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We are coming to the Lord God of hosts,
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the maker, the creator of all things,
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the one who sustains and keeps
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the whole of the universe
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and all of your creation.
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For your word reminds us that it is in you
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that we live, move and have our being.
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All things are from you and for you.
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We praise your name, Lord,
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that you remember us,
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that the mighty God, the Lord,
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has spoken and did call.
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And we thank you that you continue
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to call us as your people,
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that you continue to speak to us
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and to call us to come
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and to find refuge,
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to find strength,
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to find comfort with you,
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to find that peace
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that passes all understanding.
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We live in a world that
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there is so little peace around us
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and even so often
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there's little peace within us.
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Maybe even this evening
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we come with troubled hearts.
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We come with so many things
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going on in our lives
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and all around us, Lord,
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and we can so easily be distracted.
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We can so easily feel
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a sense of despair and despondency.
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But help us, Lord,
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that as we survey
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the world in which we live,
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as we examine ourselves
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and even our own hearts,
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that you would enable us
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to lift our eyes
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and to see the glory of God
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and to see the person
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of Jesus Christ,
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the Lord who was lifted up,
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the Lord who bore our sins,
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the Lord whose death we come
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to remember even in this weekend.
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Prepare our hearts, we pray, Lord.
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We know how unclean we are so often,
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but may you cleanse us.
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May you forgive our sins
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as we come confessing them anew.
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We do indeed fall short
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of your glory so often.
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We sin, O Lord,
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and maybe we ask pardon so often,
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but then return to the sins
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of our hearts.
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But help us, Lord,
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not just to regret our sins,
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but to truly repent
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and to turn to you,
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the one, the only one,
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who is able to forgive our sins.
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And may we come and turn to you
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even anew this evening.
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Turn and look unto Jesus
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and feeling out unworthiness,
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but seeing his beauty,
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his glory.
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The one who came into this world
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to seek and to save
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that which was lost.
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And we thank you, Lord,
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that even as we have wandered
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away from you,
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as we have all like sheep
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gone astray,
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as the word says,
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that you sent the shepherd,
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Lord Jesus Christ,
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to gather his people
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to himself.
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And we thank you that
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you remind us,
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even in the psalm that we sung,
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that we are to come
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to gather together
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as your saints,
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to be gathered unto you.
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Those who have sacrificed
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have made a covenant with me.
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We thank you, Lord,
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that we come seeking
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to know that blessing
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of relationship with you,
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the relationship,
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the covenant
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that you have shown to us,
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how you have kept
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your every promise,
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how it is all secure
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through Jesus Christ,
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your Son.
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In him there is the yea
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and the amen of all things.
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And so we pray, Lord,
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that you will make us
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a willing people,
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that you will encourage us
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in our hearts,
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that you will build us up
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in our faith,
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that you will strengthen us,
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Lord.
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Those who have professed faith,
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maybe over many years,
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that you will give
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great encouragement,
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that you will remind them,
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Lord,
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that you know,
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as the journey goes on,
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we can feel so weary in it,
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but that you renew
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our strength day by day.
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And may we be thankful,
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Lord,
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for every blessing
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and privilege
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that has been ours
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and is ours
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and will be ours
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through Christ.
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We thank you, Lord,
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that your faithfulness
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is so precious,
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your faithfulness towards us,
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your covenant blessings
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new each day.
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We give thanks, Lord,
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that you are the one
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who remembers us.
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And in our weakness,
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Lord,
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you are our strength.
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And we know in this world
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we will go through
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times of trouble,
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but we thank you
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that Jesus said
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to take heart,
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to be of good courage,
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for he has overcome
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the world.
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So help us to go on
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in the strength of the Lord
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as your people
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to worship
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and to serve you
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with all our hearts
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and to know the blessing
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of the communion sacrament,
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to know the blessing
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of coming together
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to remember the Lord's death,
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to come and gather
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as your saints
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and to do so
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loving one another,
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praying for one another,
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encouraging one another.
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May your spirit be upon us
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and to be with us,
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to guard us in peace,
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the peace of Christ.
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Remember those, Lord,
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even here in our midst
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this evening
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who may be there
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longing and desire
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is to come
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to the Lord's table.
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We know, Lord,
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the challenges
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that that presents,
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how active the devil
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will be
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in discouraging
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and distracting,
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how unworthy
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we are made
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to feel in these times.
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But, Lord,
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may you help
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those in that situation here
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to know Christ with them,
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to know his peace,
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to know what it is
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to look to him.
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Yes, we are unworthy,
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but we look to Christ,
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the Lamb of God.
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Worthy is the Lamb
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who was slain.
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And so we pray
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for every one of us
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here this evening
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to fix our eyes on Jesus
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and to give glory
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and praise to him.
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May you bless your word
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to us this evening
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and over these days.
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We thank you
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that it is a living word,
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a powerful and active word.
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And we pray
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that you will use it
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to your glory,
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that you will bless us
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by it, Lord,
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and build up your people,
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not just here,
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but even in our homes
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as people tune in online,
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those who are unable
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to be with us,
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those who would love
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to be here.
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We thank you, Lord,
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that the word reaches out,
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that they are part
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of our fellowship,
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the communion of saints,
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and that as they hear
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your word
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and as they watch on,
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may they know
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the touch of your spirit,
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the blessing of your peace also.
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May you bless us together
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as a people,
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bless us as a town
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and as islands
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and even as a nation now,
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Lord,
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that we would see
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your spirit come in power,
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that we would see,
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oh Lord,
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your hand upon us for good
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when we are in disarray
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and turning away
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from you,
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Lord.
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May you come
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and speak a powerful
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word into our midst,
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that we would see
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a people turning to you,
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a people ruling over us
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by your word
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and by your spirit.
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Remember those who need you
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in particular ways as well.
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We remember those
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who are unwell,
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those who are in hospital,
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those who are grieving
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the loss of loved ones.
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Lord,
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we know so often
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that we can feel alone
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in these things,
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but we thank you
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for a praying people.
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We thank you
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for the unity in Christ
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and the power of prayer
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and surround those
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who need you
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in particular ways.
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Oh Lord,
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that you will comfort
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and draw near to each.
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We do thank you,
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Lord,
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for your church
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far and wide.
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We thank you
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that you have your people,
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your saints
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throughout the world,
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that you have your church
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in all corners,
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a persecuted church
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a growing church,
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a church
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with its foundation
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in Christ Jesus
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and therefore
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a church
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and a people
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with that assurance
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that the gates of hell
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will never prevail
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against it.
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So we thank you
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that your kingdom
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comes in power
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and we pray,
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Lord,
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that you will bless
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your word
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to all ends
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of the earth
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and you will minister
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to us
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and that you will guide us
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and help us
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to be a faithful people,
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trusting
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and praying always
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and looking unto you.
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May you continue
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with us
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then this evening hour
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and go before us
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into this night
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and into the morrow
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as well,
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Lord.
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Take care of us,
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guide us
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and keep us.
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Bless us,
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we pray,
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and we ask all
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with the forgiveness
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of our sins.
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In Jesus'
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precious name,
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Let's further sing
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to God's praise.
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We're singing in Psalm 4
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in the Sing Psalms.
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Psalm 4 in the Sing Psalms.
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It's on page 4.
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We're singing from verse 3,
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verse 3 down to the end
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of the psalm.
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Psalm 4 in the Sing Psalms
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at verse 3.
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Know that the Lord
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has set apart
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the godly as his own.
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The Lord will hear me
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when I call
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and my request
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make known.
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We'll sing from verse 3 to 8,
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the tune is Earshire.
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We sing to God's praise.
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Amen.
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Let's sing to God's praise.
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Amen.
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Know that the Lord
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has set apart
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the godly as his own.
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The Lord will hear me
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when I call
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And thy request may go
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In anger do not pay God's law
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Consider and be still
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Present a righteous sacrifice
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And wait upon his will
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For who can show us any good
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I hear so many say
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O Lord, shine on us with your light
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Show us your face, I pray
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You filled my heart with bitter joy
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The mother's sake of fire
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As they rejoice at harvest time
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When pain and wine abound
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I will lie down and sleep in these
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My heart will rest secure
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For you alone, O gracious Lord
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Will keep me safe and sure
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Let's turn to read in God's word
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In the Old Testament
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We're going to read in the prophecy of Isaiah
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Isaiah chapter 6
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We can read the whole of this chapter together
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Isaiah chapter 6
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Isaiah chapter 6
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From the beginning
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In the year that King Uzziah died
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I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne
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High and lifted up
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And the train of his robe filled the temple
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Above him stood the seraphim
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Each had six wings
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With two he covered his face
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With two he covered his feet
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And with two he flew
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And one called to another and said
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Holy, holy, holy
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Is the Lord of hosts
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The whole earth is full of his glory
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And the foundations of the thresholds
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Shook at the voice of him who called
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And the house was filled with smoke
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And I said, woe is me
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For I am lost
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For I am a man of unclean lips
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And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips
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For my eyes have seen the King
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The Lord of hosts
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Then one of the seraphim flew to me
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Having in his hand
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Having in his hand a burning coal
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That he had taken with tongs
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From the altar
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And he touched my mouth
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And said
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Behold, this has touched your lips
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Your guilt is taken away
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And your sin atoned for
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And I heard the voice of the Lord saying
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Whom shall I send
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And who will go for us
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Then I said
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Here am I
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Send me
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And he said
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Go
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And say to this people
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Keep on hearing
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But do not understand
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Keep on seeing
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But do not perceive
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Make the heart of this people dull
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And their ears heavy
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And blind their eyes
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Lest they see with their eyes
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And hear with their ears
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And understand with their hearts
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And turn
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And be healed
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Then I said
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How long, O Lord?
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And he said
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Until the cities lie waste
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Without inhabitant
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And houses without people
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And the land is a desolate waste
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And the Lord removes people far away
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And the forsaken places are many
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In the midst of the land
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And though a tenth remain in it
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It will be burned again
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Like a terebinth or an oak
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Whose stump remains when it is felled
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The holy seed is its stump
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Amen
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And may God bless
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That reading from his word
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Before we turn back to that passage
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We'll again sing to God's praise
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This time in Psalm 37
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In the Scottish Psalter
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Psalm 37
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At the beginning of the psalm
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On page 252
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We're going to sing
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From verse 1 to verse 6
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For evildoers
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Fret thou not
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Thyself unquietly
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Nor do thou envy
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Bear to those
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That work iniquity
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For even like unto the grass
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Soon be cut down
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Shall they
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Like the green
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And tender herb
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They wither
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Shall away
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Then the psalmist
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Goes on to say
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Set thou
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Thy trust
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Upon the Lord
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And be thou doing good
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And so thou
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In the land
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Shalt dwell
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And verily
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Have food
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And so on
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We'll sing from verse 1
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To verse 6
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And the tune is
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Grafenberg
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And we sing
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To God's praise
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For evil
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Do worship
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The love
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Thy self
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Unquietly
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Nor do
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The love
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In me
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Bear to those
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That work
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Iniquity
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Born
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Even like
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Unto the grass
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Soon be
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God
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Thou
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Shall they
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Unlike
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The green
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Of tender herb
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They wither
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Shall
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Shall
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Thou
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Wain
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Set
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Thou
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My
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Trust
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Upon
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The Lord
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And be
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Thou
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Doing
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Good
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And so
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Thou
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In the land
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Shalt
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Well
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And
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Better
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Be
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Comfort
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Delight
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Thou
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Self
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In
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God
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He'll
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Give
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Thy
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Hearts
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Beside
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To
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Thee
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Thy
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Way
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Father
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And
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thine
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Unto
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The
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Light
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Whe
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Shall
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Thy
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Righteous
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こ
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test
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Plain
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And he thy judgment shall bring forth like noontide of the day.
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We can turn back now to a reading in Prophecy of Isaiah, reading in chapter 6.
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In Isaiah chapter 6, we're going to look at verse 1 to verse 8 together this evening.
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We'll just read again in verse 1.
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In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.
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Amen.
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This evening as we come, we come to prepare our hearts and we examine ourselves as we prepare to take the Lord's Supper together.
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Part of that examination is looking around us and we see all that's going on.
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But more importantly, we look at ourselves and look within.
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And we ask, well, what do we see within ourselves?
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As we look at this passage together this evening, what we find is the Lord bringing Isaiah to his knees.
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Bringing him to look around and see what's happening to the nation around him.
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And then looking within himself and seeing what's going on in his own heart.
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But then the focus changes.
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And that's the main thing about preparing ourselves.
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To take the Lord's Supper.
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We look around what's going on around ourselves.
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We look at ourselves and we look within ourselves and we feel this sense of unworthiness.
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But as we prepare, we want to see that our focus is then turned away from ourselves to someone else.
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We look to the Lord.
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Have you ever taken part in a survey?
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I'm sure the majority of you here this evening have taken part of a survey of one kind or another.
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And one of them is perhaps the survey that you've had to do in the last year that the results are now coming out for.
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And that survey is the national census that is taken every 10 years.
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In that survey, people answer a number of different questions.
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They look at the national statistics for all sorts of things.
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Age profiles, working status, education, ethnicity, and faith.
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And the results of this census have started to come out even in this past week.
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And it always makes the main headlines, and especially the results when it comes to faith.
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Some people get very excited about these results.
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And even in this past week, there's been much gloating among many.
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Again, seeing, as it were, a decline in the Christian faith.
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The statistics are showing that there is a decline in the number of people who are putting themselves down as Christian on the survey.
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To the delight of so many.
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Taking great pride in this, that we're now saying that we're no longer a Christian nation.
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And the decline, if you like, has been there in terms of the census for a long period of time.
26:34
If you look from 1930 through to the last one in 2010,
26:39
there was a reduction of about 50% of those who are professing to be Christian.
26:44
And now it's below 50% who are saying that they are of the Christian faith for the first time.
26:54
But what we have to remember with these kinds of surveys,
26:58
that we don't lose heart in them.
27:00
For they don't tell us everything.
27:03
People may delight in some of these results that are coming out.
27:08
But we weep.
27:10
We weep at a nation that's turning away from God.
27:14
But we weep in a way that we remember the one who is high and sovereign and lifted up.
27:22
If you're selling or buying a house, it has to have a survey done.
27:27
But very often the surveyor isn't able to tell you everything.
27:31
Because there are parts that are hidden.
27:34
Or parts that they cannot get access to.
27:36
So the survey isn't complete in that sense.
27:41
There's the hidden things behind it.
27:44
And as we think of our national census that's been taken,
27:48
there are things that are hidden from the eyes of those who are gloating.
27:52
And they are the things that we see.
27:54
Isaiah in his own survey here in Isaiah chapter 6,
27:58
coming to realize what is important for a nation.
28:01
When he surveys the situation of the land, the nation that he is living in,
28:08
when he surveys what's happening all around him,
28:12
and where he is in it all,
28:15
he comes to realize what's important.
28:19
In many ways, in Isaiah's days, like in our own day,
28:24
things may seem bleak.
28:26
There may be so many things that would discourage us
28:28
for our nation and for our people.
28:33
But what Isaiah finds, and what we are to see as well,
28:37
is in the sorrow of our situation,
28:39
we're not just to look on the surface of things.
28:43
We're to think of our survey going down much deeper.
28:46
Something else and something greater.
28:51
It reveals much about the situation that Isaiah's in,
28:55
reveals much about himself,
28:58
but it reminds him of God.
29:01
And so as we examine ourselves tonight,
29:04
as we think about all that's going on around us,
29:07
as we think of our own hearts,
29:09
what we want to see is what Isaiah saw.
29:12
The Lord sitting upon the throne.
29:15
The one who is overruling in all things.
29:21
And our survey, as we see here,
29:23
is going to take us to see five different things.
29:27
Five different things that Isaiah sees or knows
29:31
in this situation.
29:33
And if you like, it's a step-by-step,
29:36
turning away from just looking around
29:39
to coming to fix his eyes on the Lord.
29:43
And that's what I want us all to do this evening together as well.
29:47
To look around us,
29:48
to look within us,
29:50
but ultimately to look to the Lord.
29:53
And to see and remind ourselves
29:55
that the Lord is still lifted up,
29:59
high on the throne,
30:01
and ruling,
30:02
and that we are to trust in him.
30:06
The first thing we see here in Isaiah's survey
30:08
is the ache,
30:11
the pain that there is.
30:14
The opening words tell us in this chapter,
30:17
in the year that King Uzziah died.
30:21
What's the significance of this?
30:24
Is there any significance in these opening words,
30:28
you might ask?
30:29
Well, it is significant.
30:32
And it tells us the situation
30:33
of which Isaiah is surveying.
30:36
The situation in which he is looking around.
30:40
Normally, as you read through the scriptures,
30:43
you find that when a king passes away,
30:46
what's mentioned is the length of his reign.
30:49
So normally this would have said,
30:50
in the 52nd year of King Uzziah,
30:54
but it doesn't say that here.
30:56
It says, in the year that King Uzziah died.
31:01
There's something going on here,
31:04
something important.
31:06
And what the Lord is showing Isaiah is
31:09
that Uzziah, who had reigned for 52 years,
31:13
reigned over a time of prosperity for the people,
31:17
a time of much material blessing for the people,
31:20
a time of much progress for the people,
31:24
but now we are seeing it's a time of great pain for the people.
31:29
There's an ache in this nation.
31:32
There's a pain in this nation.
31:35
A lot has changed with the passing of Uzziah.
31:38
The year that King Uzziah died was significant.
31:45
It disturbed the nation,
31:48
disturbed Isaiah himself.
31:50
As he opens this chapter,
31:52
we see that it's in the year that King Uzziah died.
31:58
It's that signaled the end of a time of great prosperity,
32:02
a time of great consistency within the nation.
32:07
But was it all good?
32:10
Was it all healthy?
32:12
Well, all you have to do is read the opening five chapters of Isaiah,
32:17
and you see it was not.
32:19
There was much material blessing.
32:21
There was much prosperity in the land,
32:24
but it all was not well.
32:27
There was woe.
32:28
There was pain.
32:29
There was wickedness going on all around them.
32:32
Bit by bit,
32:34
they were turning away from the Lord.
32:37
There was judgment coming upon the people.
32:41
And that's made clear for us,
32:43
as Isaiah has given his commission later on in this chapter.
32:48
It is going to get worse before it gets better.
32:53
And that's so often the case in a time of prosperity and blessing
32:57
in that one sense where everything's going well for a people,
33:02
and yet the people forget the Lord.
33:06
And what can we say about our own day?
33:09
What can we say as we describe our own day in which we live?
33:13
It's so very similar to the year in which King Uzziah died.
33:18
When we think about this year,
33:19
as we come to the end of what has been a momentous year in so many ways,
33:24
we come to the end of the year in which Queen Elizabeth II died.
33:30
Having reigned for so long over our nation,
33:33
having seen so much blessing over our land,
33:36
it comes now to a time of great uncertainty.
33:40
As we see our world in which we live and the chaos all around us,
33:44
in a year in which war has broken out in the Ukraine
33:47
between them and the Russians,
33:49
and so much instability in the world in which we're living in,
33:52
so much fear and anxiety all around the world,
33:57
in a year in which COVID has still been so prevalent in all our lives,
34:02
in a year of so much uncertainty in the financial sense,
34:07
in a year of so many pressures bearing down upon our people,
34:12
what do we say about this year?
34:15
There's so much worry, so much anxiety.
34:18
There is an ache in so many people's lives,
34:22
in so many people's hearts.
34:25
It's a time of change,
34:27
and a time of change is always a time of great uncertainty,
34:31
but it's a time to survey.
34:34
As we come to the end of this year,
34:37
as we come even to this weekend,
34:39
as we come to the Lord's Supper,
34:42
God willing, tomorrow,
34:43
it's a time when we look around,
34:46
when we see all that's going on around us,
34:48
we see all the hurt and the ache and the pain that there is,
34:52
but are we just looking at it on the surface,
34:55
or are we looking deeper?
35:00
Well, Isaiah was looking beyond that.
35:03
There was an ache.
35:06
There was so much pain going on around him.
35:10
In the year that King Uzziah died,
35:12
it was a significant year.
35:14
But what it leads to is a greater vision of what is important.
35:20
And for ourselves this evening,
35:23
the ache that we know,
35:24
the pain that we see in ourselves or all around us,
35:27
it should take us to look and see
35:29
what is truly important in life.
35:33
Well, what did Isaiah see?
35:36
And what are we to see?
35:38
The second thing we see here is the aura.
35:43
It's so often spoken about
35:44
that people have this great aura about them.
35:48
There's just something about certain people.
35:50
They describe this aura that's around them.
35:53
But there's no greater aura than what we see in the Lord.
35:58
And that is what Isaiah came to see.
36:01
In the year that King Uzziah died,
36:04
what did he see?
36:04
He saw the Lord sitting upon a throne,
36:09
high and lifted up.
36:12
He saw a greater king.
36:15
He saw one who would rule forever.
36:19
One whose reign was going to go on and on.
36:22
One who is described as the holy seed
36:26
is its stamp at the end of this chapter.
36:29
Our Lord will reign eternal.
36:33
Our Lord will reign forever.
36:36
Earthly kings and queens will come and go.
36:39
We will come and go.
36:41
But the Lord will reign forever.
36:44
And what he saw was the Lord sitting upon a throne,
36:49
high and lifted up.
36:51
So in the midst of the pain of Isaiah's death
36:54
and the doubts about what the future may hold now,
36:57
there is this great reminder that the Lord is sovereign
37:00
and ruling over all things.
37:05
Isaiah is reminded who is really in control
37:09
and his need to focus on him.
37:12
The survey takes him to see the times of turmoil
37:17
and the times of trouble that are going on around them
37:20
as just seeing the surface.
37:22
But now to come and see that the one who's sovereign is the Lord,
37:28
that underneath are the everlasting arms of God,
37:33
the one who has promised through covenant mercy to his people,
37:37
that he will be with them,
37:39
that he will uphold them.
37:41
And what does he see of the Lord?
37:44
Well, we see so much of what he's looking at here.
37:48
He comes to see so many things about God.
37:51
First of all, he sees his position.
37:54
He sees where he is.
37:56
He's high and lifted up, sitting upon a throne.
38:01
He is the Lord in all his glory.
38:06
Isaiah and all the people have been so focused on King Uzziah,
38:10
giving praise to him for all the prosperity that they had.
38:14
But now he is gone.
38:16
Now he is taken away.
38:18
And when life seems to fall apart
38:20
and everything seems to be going wrong,
38:24
where does his focus come?
38:26
It comes on the Lord who is sovereign,
38:29
the one who is high and lifted up.
38:34
Where do our eyes go today?
38:37
Where do our eyes go tonight?
38:39
As we look around us, as we feel anxious,
38:41
as we feel troubled,
38:43
do we see the Lord lifted up?
38:45
Even as we think of how it speaks here of the Lord God lifted up,
38:51
sitting on his throne,
38:52
we remember the Lord Jesus,
38:55
the one who was lifted up,
38:58
not on a throne,
39:00
but on a cross.
39:02
The one who was lifted up
39:03
and that all who would look to him would find mercy,
39:07
would find forgiveness,
39:08
would find peace.
39:10
We come to look at the Lord who came down for us,
39:14
who came down for his people.
39:16
We see him lifted up,
39:18
but one who then ascended up on high
39:20
and who sits on the throne
39:23
at the right hand of God the Father.
39:27
We have a great God
39:28
and a great King.
39:31
And what did he see of God here?
39:33
He was high and lifted up,
39:34
but he also saw that this was a holy God.
39:39
He was a holy God,
39:40
as it goes on to say,
39:42
around him with a seraphim.
39:44
And they were calling out,
39:46
Holy, holy, holy
39:47
is the Lord of hosts.
39:50
The whole earth is full of his glory.
39:53
He is a holy God.
39:58
When we think of that too,
40:00
how unworthy we are
40:02
even to come into his presence.
40:04
This is a holy God.
40:08
But Isaiah comes to learn
40:09
that it's not about a king in Uzziah
40:13
who can help.
40:14
It's not about himself, Isaiah,
40:16
who can help in this situation.
40:18
But it's about this holy God.
40:21
Uzziah might have done much good
40:24
for the nation,
40:25
but there is no good apart from God.
40:29
And God is holy.
40:31
He is deserving of all praise.
40:33
He deserves all glory
40:35
from us as his people.
40:38
And when you think about yourself tonight,
40:40
when all your life is stripped bare,
40:43
what do you have?
40:46
What do you look to?
40:47
Who do you look to
40:48
to find help and comfort and blessing?
40:51
Sometimes we need everything else stripped away.
40:55
Just like this nation of God,
40:57
this people was having everything stripped away.
41:00
They were going to be taken into exile.
41:03
They were going to suffer,
41:04
but they needed that.
41:06
So they might come to see the glory of God,
41:09
the only one who could help.
41:10
And so where is our focus this night?
41:16
Are we giving glory to God,
41:19
the one who is holy, holy, holy?
41:23
I say I seize the holiness of God.
41:29
But then he also sees something else as well.
41:32
He saw the presence of God.
41:35
The whole earth is full of his glory,
41:39
they were saying.
41:41
And the foundations and the threshold shook
41:43
at the voice of him who called,
41:45
and the house was filled with smoke.
41:48
The presence of God was there in a powerful way.
41:53
I say, Isaiah may be gone,
41:55
but God, the Lord, is reminding them
41:59
that he is there for them.
42:02
And that's so often the reminder
42:03
that we have throughout Scripture.
42:06
We see and remember the truth
42:09
that God promises to be with his people.
42:13
That as we call on him,
42:15
he hears our cry.
42:17
As we, in our desperation,
42:19
as we see our great needs in this world,
42:23
if we call on him,
42:25
he is there.
42:29
If we trust in him,
42:32
we are never alone.
42:35
And maybe you're anxious this evening.
42:37
Is the Lord with me?
42:40
Can I really know him?
42:42
Well, the promise of his word is
42:44
that he will be with you always.
42:47
That is his promise.
42:49
The presence of God is with his people.
42:54
Isaiah, he saw the Lord.
42:57
He saw the aura, the glory of God.
43:00
And that is what we are to see ourselves.
43:04
The third thing that we see
43:07
as Isaiah surveys here
43:09
is an awareness.
43:12
An awareness within himself.
43:15
So he's been looking around.
43:16
He's been looking at the nation.
43:17
He's been looking at the people.
43:19
Everything that's going on around them.
43:21
But now he begins to look at himself.
43:26
And how did he respond in this circumstance?
43:29
As he saw the glory of God,
43:31
what happened to Isaiah
43:33
and the death of Isaiah, the king,
43:38
and all this being taken away from the people?
43:40
Isaiah became aware
43:41
that he had been relying on his earthly king.
43:44
But the people had been trusting in Isaiah
43:48
instead of relying on the heavenly king.
43:53
Instead of relying on the Lord
43:55
who is high and lifted up.
43:57
And now what he realizes is
43:59
is he has seen the glory of the Lord
44:01
as the error of his way.
44:03
And look at what it makes him say
44:06
in verse 5.
44:09
And I said,
44:10
Woe is me
44:12
for I am lost.
44:14
I am a man of unclean lips
44:17
and I dwell in the midst
44:18
of a people of unclean lips.
44:20
From my eyes
44:21
I've seen the king,
44:23
the lord of hosts.
44:26
The more he sees the king,
44:28
the lord of hosts,
44:29
the more he realizes
44:30
how lost he is.
44:32
Oh, that we would see that ourselves.
44:36
That we would recognize
44:38
those words of Isaiah for ourselves.
44:40
Woe is me
44:41
for I am lost.
44:43
There is a realization,
44:45
there is a recognition here
44:46
that apart from God
44:48
we are as good as dead.
44:51
We fall short of his glory.
44:55
Isaiah and so many of the people
44:57
with him in that day
44:58
would have thought all is well.
45:00
We have a good king in Isaiah.
45:03
We have a great prosperity
45:04
in our land.
45:05
All is going well.
45:07
But underneath
45:08
there is something
45:10
seriously wrong.
45:12
And it's only when we see God
45:14
that we begin to realize
45:16
no matter how good our life is
45:19
apart from God
45:20
there is nothing there
45:21
at the end of the day for us.
45:23
We are as good as dead.
45:25
And when Isaiah sees
45:29
the glory of God
45:30
all he can say is
45:31
woe is me
45:33
for I am lost.
45:37
Have you come to that point yourself?
45:40
You begin to see
45:41
the wonder of God
45:43
the glory of God
45:45
and the passion of Christ.
45:47
And is it making you say
45:49
woe is me
45:50
I am as good as lost.
45:54
I am not worthy
45:55
of the least
45:56
of these mercies.
45:58
The glory of God
45:59
just stops us
46:00
in our tracks.
46:03
It's never a nice time of year
46:05
just now
46:06
to be out driving
46:07
when the late afternoon
46:09
when it's starting
46:09
to get dark
46:10
or into the evening.
46:12
Especially when you're driving
46:13
and there's another car
46:15
coming towards you.
46:16
And it can be so dazzling.
46:18
The lights of the other car
46:19
can be so bright.
46:20
You almost have to slow down
46:22
to a stop sometimes
46:23
because it's just
46:23
putting you into a blindness.
46:25
You can't see
46:26
where you're going.
46:28
Well the glory of God
46:30
is just that to us.
46:33
It stops us
46:34
in our tracks.
46:38
The glory of God
46:39
is a powerful thing.
46:42
And when Isaiah sees it
46:43
he's there in the temple.
46:47
He sees the glory of God.
46:49
And it just stops.
46:52
Woe
46:52
is me.
46:54
The closer we come
46:55
to God
46:56
the more we hear
46:58
of this Christ
46:59
who died
46:59
for our sins.
47:01
The more we see
47:02
that it was our sins
47:04
that put him there.
47:06
The more we see
47:07
woe is me.
47:09
For I am lost.
47:12
So Isaiah was coming
47:13
to see that.
47:15
And our conclusion
47:16
may be that
47:18
very same conclusion
47:19
as Isaiah
47:20
that we
47:22
are lost.
47:25
And that's where
47:26
our survey
47:27
or examination
47:28
will take us.
47:29
We feel
47:30
lost.
47:32
But we remember
47:34
the shepherd
47:35
who came
47:36
to seek
47:37
the lost.
47:38
The good shepherd
47:39
who came
47:41
even for that one sheep
47:42
who was still missing.
47:43
He came
47:44
to bring
47:45
that sheep in.
47:48
And so as we move on
47:49
the fourth thing
47:50
that we see here
47:51
is the assurance
47:53
that Isaiah
47:54
has given.
47:58
The assurance
47:59
in God's word
48:01
that when we draw near
48:02
to him
48:02
he will draw near
48:04
to us.
48:07
Isaiah
48:07
feels
48:08
lost.
48:10
He is a man
48:10
of unclean lips
48:12
when he sees
48:13
the king
48:14
the lord of hosts.
48:15
Then in verse 6
48:16
it goes on to say
48:17
then one of the seraphim
48:18
flew to me
48:19
having in his hand
48:20
a burning coal
48:21
they had taken
48:23
with tongs
48:24
from the altar
48:26
and he touched
48:27
my mouth
48:28
and said
48:30
behold
48:30
this has touched
48:32
your lips
48:32
your guilt
48:34
is taken away
48:36
and your sin
48:37
atoned for.
48:39
There is this great
48:41
assurance
48:42
to Isaiah.
48:45
There is this great
48:47
assurance
48:47
that as we see
48:49
our sin
48:50
and as we repent
48:51
of our sin
48:51
as we come
48:53
to the sacrifice
48:54
of the Lord
48:55
Jesus Christ
48:56
that there
48:57
we find the place
48:58
where our sin
48:59
our guilt
49:00
is taken away
49:02
and our sin
49:02
atoned for
49:04
at the cross
49:05
of Jesus Christ.
49:07
Christ.
49:12
In John chapter 6
49:14
Jesus says
49:15
all
49:16
that the father
49:17
gives me
49:18
will come to me
49:19
and whoever
49:20
comes to me
49:22
I will never
49:23
cast out.
49:26
So if you come
49:27
you have that
49:28
promise
49:29
you have that
49:30
assurance
49:31
he will never
49:32
cast you out.
49:34
yes you feel
49:36
woe is me
49:37
yes you feel
49:38
I am lost
49:40
but as you
49:42
trust
49:42
in the sacrifice
49:44
that Christ
49:45
has made
49:45
as you put
49:46
your trust
49:47
in him
49:47
your sin
49:49
is atoned
49:50
for
49:51
your guilt
49:51
is taken
49:53
away
49:53
through faith
49:55
in the Lord
49:56
Jesus Christ.
49:59
Isaiah
50:00
found that
50:01
as he came
50:01
near to God
50:02
God was a
50:04
God of glory
50:05
that he was
50:06
lost and unclean
50:08
but that God
50:09
was able
50:10
to save
50:11
and that's
50:13
what we have
50:14
in the sacrament
50:15
of the Lord's
50:16
supper.
50:17
We remember
50:18
what he has
50:19
done
50:19
what we could
50:21
never and
50:21
cannot ever
50:22
do ourselves
50:23
he gave
50:25
his body
50:26
he shed
50:27
his blood
50:28
so we might
50:29
have that
50:30
assurance
50:31
that through
50:31
faith in him
50:32
our sin
50:33
is atoned
50:35
for
50:35
so we
50:37
examine
50:37
ourselves
50:38
to that
50:39
end as well
50:40
thanks to
50:42
God
50:43
that the Lord
50:44
does not
50:44
just point
50:45
out our
50:46
sins
50:47
and say
50:48
look
50:48
at all
50:49
the things
50:50
that you
50:50
have done
50:50
wrong
50:51
that's what
50:52
we'll do
50:52
we'll examine
50:54
ourselves
50:55
and say
50:55
how could I
50:56
possibly come
50:57
before this
50:58
holy God
51:00
this God
51:01
of glory
51:01
how could I
51:02
possibly come
51:03
and sit at
51:04
the Lord's
51:04
table
51:05
we don't
51:07
come through
51:08
what we have
51:08
done
51:09
we come
51:10
through what
51:11
has been
51:11
done for
51:12
us
51:12
through the
51:14
cleansing
51:14
blood
51:15
of Christ
51:16
our sins
51:17
are atoned
51:18
for
51:19
with the
51:19
precious
51:20
blood
51:20
of Christ
51:22
so what
51:24
you see
51:24
is
51:25
he is
51:26
beholding
51:26
the glory
51:27
of God
51:28
and the
51:29
more he
51:29
is beholding
51:30
the glory
51:31
of God
51:32
the more
51:32
he sees
51:33
the wonder
51:34
of sin
51:35
atoned
51:36
for
51:36
the more
51:37
he sees
51:37
the wonder
51:38
of the
51:39
grace
51:40
of God
51:41
and for
51:42
us today
51:43
we behold
51:44
this glory
51:45
in the
51:45
portion
51:46
of Christ
51:47
we come
51:48
through
51:50
faith
51:50
in him
51:52
so him
51:53
writer
51:53
says
51:54
when I
51:55
survey
51:55
the wondrous
51:56
cross
51:57
on which
51:57
the prince
51:58
of glory
51:59
died
51:59
my riches
52:01
gain
52:01
I count
52:02
but lost
52:03
loss
52:03
and poor
52:04
contempt
52:05
on all
52:06
my pride
52:07
forbidden
52:08
Lord
52:08
that I
52:09
should boast
52:09
save in
52:10
the death
52:11
of Christ
52:12
my God
52:12
all the vain
52:14
things that
52:15
char me
52:15
most
52:16
I sacrifice
52:17
them
52:18
through
52:18
his blood
52:19
where the
52:20
whole world
52:21
the realm
52:22
of nature
52:22
mine
52:23
that were
52:24
a present
52:25
far too
52:26
small
52:27
love
52:28
so amazing
52:29
so divine
52:31
demands
52:31
my soul
52:32
my life
52:34
my all
52:35
the assurance
52:39
that God
52:40
gives
52:41
that when we
52:41
come through
52:42
faith
52:43
our sins
52:44
are forgiven
52:45
it makes a
52:46
demand
52:47
of us
52:47
demands
52:49
our life
52:50
demands
52:52
our all
52:54
and so the
52:56
final thing
52:56
that we see
52:57
here is
52:57
that through
52:58
this assurance
52:59
that Isaiah
53:00
is given
53:01
we see
53:01
finally
53:02
the availability
53:03
in verse
53:06
8 it says
53:07
I heard the
53:07
voice of the
53:08
Lord saying
53:09
whom shall
53:10
I send
53:11
and who
53:12
will go
53:12
for us
53:13
then I
53:13
said
53:14
here am
53:15
I
53:15
send
53:16
me
53:17
what a
53:20
transformation
53:20
has taken
53:21
place
53:22
woe is
53:23
me
53:24
for I
53:25
am lost
53:25
but now
53:27
through the
53:27
assurance
53:28
that God
53:28
gives
53:29
and a
53:30
greater
53:30
vision
53:30
of God
53:31
inspires
53:32
him
53:32
that whatever
53:33
he will do
53:34
he will do
53:35
it for
53:35
God
53:36
and that
53:38
is the
53:38
challenge
53:39
to ourselves
53:40
this evening
53:41
as we
53:42
examine
53:43
ourselves
53:44
do we
53:45
put ourselves
53:45
into the
53:46
hands of
53:47
God
53:47
and say
53:48
here
53:49
am I
53:50
yes
53:52
I'm a
53:53
sinner
53:53
yes
53:55
I'm
53:55
unworthy
53:56
but here
53:57
am I
53:58
Lord
53:59
send
54:00
me
54:00
Lord
54:01
use
54:03
me
54:03
as Isaiah
54:05
realizes
54:06
that he
54:07
is redeemed
54:07
he also
54:09
realizes
54:10
he is
54:11
ready
54:11
do you
54:14
do you
54:16
realize
54:16
that through
54:17
faith
54:17
you are
54:18
redeemed
54:19
and therefore
54:21
you are
54:21
ready
54:21
you are
54:23
ready to
54:23
come
54:24
to the
54:25
Lord's
54:25
table
54:25
you are
54:27
ready to
54:27
come
54:27
to be
54:28
used
54:29
by God
54:29
to be
54:30
sent
54:30
by God
54:32
to whatever
54:32
ends
54:33
he has
54:34
prepared
54:34
for you
54:35
to make
54:36
yourself
54:37
available
54:38
to put
54:40
yourself
54:40
into
54:41
his
54:42
hands
54:42
the hands
54:44
of this
54:44
God
54:44
the Lord
54:45
of hosts
54:46
high and
54:47
lifted up
54:48
the one
54:49
who is
54:50
able
54:50
Isaiah
54:52
realizes
54:52
this
54:53
and he
54:53
says
54:54
here am
54:55
I
54:55
send
54:56
me
54:57
what a
54:59
brilliant
55:00
transformation
55:01
are you
55:04
trusting
55:04
and making
55:05
yourself
55:05
available
55:07
are you
55:08
coming
55:09
in faith
55:10
to the
55:11
table of
55:11
the Lord
55:11
trusting
55:13
in him
55:13
who has
55:14
prepared
55:15
it for
55:15
you
55:16
the one
55:18
who says
55:18
there is
55:19
a place
55:20
for you
55:21
his word
55:22
may sear
55:24
your heart
55:25
but may
55:27
touch
55:27
your lips
55:28
and may
55:29
you see
55:30
that though
55:31
you are
55:31
still saying
55:32
what I say
55:33
a woe
55:33
is me
55:34
may your
55:36
lips be
55:37
touched
55:37
by Christ
55:39
that you
55:40
may profess
55:41
him
55:41
there is
55:43
a story
55:43
told
55:44
it was
55:46
late
55:46
in 1903
55:47
and there
55:49
was a
55:49
pastor
55:49
in West
55:51
Wales
55:51
who had
55:53
been
55:53
ministering
55:54
for a
55:54
number of
55:55
years
55:55
there
55:55
and he
55:56
was
55:56
growing
55:57
weary
55:58
and grieved
55:59
by the
56:00
worldiness
56:00
of the
56:01
young
56:01
people
56:02
in that
56:03
village
56:03
and how
56:05
little
56:05
devotion
56:05
they had
56:06
to the
56:07
Lord
56:07
Jesus
56:08
he was
56:09
concerned
56:10
and troubled
56:11
for them
56:12
and as
56:13
his burden
56:13
grew
56:14
he arranged
56:15
for a
56:16
special
56:16
two day
56:17
youth
56:17
meeting
56:18
to take
56:19
place
56:19
over the
56:20
new year
56:20
many of
56:22
the young
56:22
people
56:23
were invited
56:24
and messages
56:25
were preached
56:25
that spoke
56:26
to the
56:26
hearts
56:27
of many
56:28
of these
56:28
young
56:28
people
56:29
the word
56:30
of God
56:31
was powerful
56:32
and it
56:33
made a
56:33
deep
56:34
impression
56:34
on them
56:35
and especially
56:37
on one
56:37
young
56:38
girl
56:38
a teenage
56:39
girl
56:40
named
56:41
Flory
56:41
Evans
56:42
she was
56:44
maybe in
56:45
her late
56:45
teens
56:45
at this
56:46
point
56:46
but she
56:46
was
56:47
challenged
56:47
by what
56:48
she heard
56:49
troubled
56:50
by what
56:51
she heard
56:51
so just
56:52
a few
56:53
weeks
56:53
after
56:53
this
56:54
event
56:54
she was
56:55
so
56:55
troubled
56:56
in her
56:56
heart
56:56
she was
56:57
grieving
56:57
over her
56:58
life
56:59
that she
56:59
came to
57:00
speak
57:00
to the
57:00
pastor
57:01
one
57:01
evening
57:01
she
57:03
shared
57:04
how
57:04
troubled
57:04
she
57:04
was
57:05
and she
57:06
realized
57:06
she
57:06
couldn't
57:07
rescue
57:07
herself
57:08
but what
57:10
happened
57:11
in her
57:12
life
57:12
was this
57:13
she came
57:15
to the
57:15
conclusion
57:16
that she
57:16
knew
57:16
I cannot
57:18
go on
57:18
like this
57:20
and the
57:21
pastor
57:22
asked
57:22
young
57:23
Flory
57:23
he said
57:25
to her
57:25
can you
57:26
say
57:27
my
57:28
Lord
57:28
of the
57:29
Lord
57:30
Jesus
57:30
Christ
57:31
she
57:33
couldn't
57:33
answer
57:34
but she
57:35
was left
57:36
pondering
57:37
this
57:38
question
57:38
soon after
57:40
she was
57:41
converted
57:42
she gave
57:43
her heart
57:43
to the
57:44
Lord
57:44
Jesus
57:45
Christ
57:45
and now
57:47
she was
57:48
wanting to
57:48
be obedient
57:49
to him
57:50
but her
57:52
heart was
57:52
so troubled
57:53
by her
57:54
own
57:54
nature
57:55
she was
57:55
such a
57:56
shy
57:56
girl
57:56
she
57:57
just
57:57
couldn't
57:58
speak
57:58
out
57:59
for the
57:59
Lord
57:59
but one
58:01
Sunday
58:02
evening
58:02
in February
58:03
she heard
58:04
the minister
58:04
ask an
58:05
assembled
58:06
crowd of
58:07
the youth
58:07
what Jesus
58:08
meant to
58:09
them
58:09
he was
58:12
looking around
58:12
the room
58:13
for an
58:13
answer
58:13
not just
58:14
in a
58:14
general
58:15
sense
58:15
but to
58:16
actually hear
58:17
what Jesus
58:18
meant
58:19
to them
58:19
he asked
58:21
what does
58:22
Jesus
58:22
mean to
58:24
you
58:24
there was
58:26
silence
58:27
in the room
58:28
no one
58:28
was speaking
58:30
then after
58:32
a minute
58:32
or so
58:33
Flory
58:33
stood
58:34
to answer
58:34
and she
58:36
said
58:36
I love
58:37
the Lord
58:38
Jesus
58:38
with all
58:39
my heart
58:40
and as
58:42
she spoke
58:43
those words
58:44
the spirit
58:45
of God
58:46
moved
58:46
in that
58:47
place
58:47
and those
58:49
who heard
58:49
her saying
58:50
it began
58:50
to understand
58:52
the love
58:52
of Christ
58:53
that had
58:53
touched
58:54
this young
58:54
girl's
58:55
heart
58:55
and there
58:57
was a
58:57
great
58:58
movement
58:58
of the
58:59
spirit
59:00
in Wales
59:01
in 1904
59:03
this was
59:04
the beginning
59:04
of a mighty
59:05
revival
59:06
the Welsh
59:06
revival
59:07
of 1904
59:08
1905
59:09
a young
59:12
girl
59:12
a shy
59:13
girl
59:13
stood
59:15
on the
59:15
side
59:15
of the
59:15
Lord
59:16
and said
59:16
I love
59:17
the Lord
59:17
with all
59:19
my heart
59:19
can we
59:23
say that
59:23
in a year
59:26
when so
59:26
much
59:26
has changed
59:27
when so
59:29
much is
59:29
going on
59:30
around us
59:31
may we
59:31
see the
59:32
Lord
59:32
high
59:33
and lifted
59:34
up
59:35
ruling
59:35
over all
59:37
our woes
59:37
and see a
59:39
gracious
59:39
saviour
59:40
who has
59:41
come
59:41
to save
59:43
us
59:44
and that we
59:44
would come
59:45
and worship
59:46
him
59:47
can you
59:50
say
59:51
my
59:52
Lord
59:52
of the
59:54
Lord
59:54
Jesus
59:54
Christ
59:55
can you
59:57
say
59:57
I love
59:58
the Lord
59:59
with all
1:00:01
my heart
1:00:01
then your
1:00:03
sins
1:00:04
are forgiven
1:00:05
your sins
1:00:07
are atoned
1:00:08
for
1:00:09
because
1:00:10
through faith
1:00:11
in him
1:00:12
he does
1:00:14
that
1:00:14
for you
1:00:15
that love
1:00:18
demands
1:00:20
our all
1:00:21
it demands
1:00:23
a response
1:00:24
and the
1:00:25
greatest
1:00:26
response
1:00:26
we can
1:00:27
give
1:00:27
is to
1:00:28
come
1:00:29
and do
1:00:30
this
1:00:30
in remembrance
1:00:32
of him
1:00:33
we examine
1:00:35
ourselves
1:00:35
we feel
1:00:36
unworthy
1:00:37
we feel
1:00:38
woe is me
1:00:39
for I am a
1:00:40
man of
1:00:40
unclean
1:00:41
lips
1:00:42
but we
1:00:43
lift our
1:00:44
eyes
1:00:44
to the
1:00:44
Lord
1:00:45
the one
1:00:46
who rules
1:00:46
on high
1:00:47
we fix
1:00:48
our eyes
1:00:49
on Jesus
1:00:50
the one
1:00:51
who was
1:00:52
lifted up
1:00:53
may we
1:00:54
see him
1:00:54
in all
1:00:56
his glory
1:00:56
and see
1:00:57
ourselves
1:00:58
unworthy
1:00:59
as we
1:00:59
are
1:01:00
but to be
1:01:01
able to
1:01:01
say I
1:01:02
love the
1:01:02
Lord
1:01:03
with all
1:01:04
my heart
1:01:05
let us
1:01:06
pray
1:01:06
Herrn
1:01:07
Lord
1:01:08
help us
1:01:17
please
1:01:20
help us
1:01:23
lives. Help us, Lord, that we may be able to profess the Lord as my Lord and to say I love
1:01:30
the Lord with all my heart. Lord, help us and strengthen us for it as we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
1:01:43
We're going to conclude by singing to God's praise in Psalm 116.
1:01:48
Psalm 116. We're singing from verse 11 down to the end of the psalm.
1:01:58
I said when I was in my haste that all men liars be. What shall I render to the Lord for all his
1:02:05
gifts to me? I love salvation. Take the cup on God's name will I call. I'll pay my vows now to
1:02:13
the Lord before his people all. We sing from verse 11 to 19 to God's praise and the tune is rest.
1:02:20
I said when I was in my haste that all men liars be. What shall I render to the Lord for all his
1:02:50
gifts to me? I love salvation. Take the cup on God's name will I call. I'll pay my vows now to the Lord.
1:03:18
The Lord before his people all.
1:03:25
The Lord before his people all.
1:03:27
The Lord in God's sight is his sin's death.
1:03:33
.
1:03:40
.
1:03:42
.
1:03:46
.
1:03:52
.
1:03:54
.
1:03:55
.
1:03:56
.
1:03:57
.
1:03:58
And all things I to thee will give, and on God's name will call.
1:04:11
I'll pay my arms now to the Lord, before his people all.
1:04:28
Within the courts of God's own hearts, within the midst of thee, O city of Jerusalem,
1:04:51
Father, praise to the Lord, dear thee.
1:05:00
After the benediction, I'll go to the main door.
1:05:04
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon,
1:05:10
and abide with us all now and forevermore.
1:05:14
Amen.