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Rescue · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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It's my pleasure to welcome to the pulpit this evening Reverend Joe Hall who is Minister in Bon Accord Free Church in Aberdeen.
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! It's delighted to welcome him here with us this evening. He's been preaching in Kalanish already today this morning and now he's preaching with ourselves.
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This evening he's been to the island before but just spending time visiting the place as a tourist.
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So this is his first time coming over to preach here in the island.
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So we're delighted to have him with us.
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I know he'll be familiar to some of you here with either being in Aberdeen or relatives in Aberdeen or if you've been out in Aberdeen he's maybe familiar to you.
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So we look forward to his ministry with us this evening and I'm delighted just to hand over to him at this point.
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Well thank you Kalan and thank you all for your invitation.
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It's a delight to be with you this evening to worship God with you.
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Bring warm greetings from the congregation at Bon Accord.
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Some of whom have been known to some of you.
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But just delighted to be here to partner with you and to worship with you here this evening.
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Hear these words of Jesus that come from John chapter 8.
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Jesus said,
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As we come to the risen Lord Jesus Christ this morning, this evening, let us believe in him and we will never hunger.
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We will not thirst.
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We will not thirst.
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We will be satisfied in him.
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Let us come to him then with our praise this evening.
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We're going to stand together to sing from the Scottish shelter Psalm 100.
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All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
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Let us stand to sing God's praise.
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Let us stand to sing God's praise.
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Let us stand to sing God's praise.
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Let us stand to sing God's praise.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Why the Lord the God is good.
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His mercy is forever sure.
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His truth at all times turn thee to.
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I shall promise to his vengeance.
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Let's join our hearts in prayer to God.
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Let us pray together.
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Gracious God and loving Heavenly Father,
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it's our joy and delight this evening
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to join our hearts and our voices together
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in praise of ye,
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your goodness,
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your glory,
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your greatness.
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Father, we delight to join our voices
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with your church throughout the earth,
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all peoples that on earth do dwell,
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who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
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and gather in your presence this Lord's day.
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It's our joy and our delight, Father,
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to join our voices,
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even with the angels in heaven,
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gathered around your throne
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to be in your presence,
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exalted and majestic,
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the holy God.
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we come to you with praise and adoration,
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for truly you are over all.
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And yet, Father, we praise you,
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we glorify you,
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that you have drawn near to us
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through your Son,
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by your Holy Spirit.
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Our Father, we praise you,
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that you, by your grace,
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have called a people to yourself in Christ.
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Christ,
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we thank you that you have set
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your everlasting love upon us,
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that you have put your triune name upon us,
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the name of the Father
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and of the Son
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and of the Holy Spirit.
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And you give us strength
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and you bless us.
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And our Father,
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as we gather to you this evening,
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we confess that it is only in your strength
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and it is only with your blessing
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that we can come.
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Our Father,
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it is only because you have sought
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and called us
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that we are gathered here.
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Lord, we confess that if
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our coming before you
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depended on our own strength
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or will,
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our merit,
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our works,
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our own desire,
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oh Lord,
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we would not be before you.
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We could not stand.
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Our Father,
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we have proved in countless ways
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this past week
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how our love for you
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has not been with all our heart,
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soul, mind, and strength.
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Lord, we have not loved
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our neighbor as ourselves.
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And yet, as we gather to you,
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our Father,
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we rejoice that you have loved us
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from eternity past,
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that you have shown your love for us
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in this,
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that while we were still sinners,
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Christ died for us.
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And so, Father,
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it is not for our own love
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that we come,
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but for yours.
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Forgive us,
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we pray,
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for what we're not.
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Lord,
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make us like your Son.
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And as we hear your word
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and as your spirit
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is at work in us tonight,
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as we trust,
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according to your promise,
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that he will be,
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that you would conform us
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to his image
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from one degree of glory
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to the next.
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Our Father,
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be at work in us.
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Renew our hearts
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that we might love
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and worship
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and serve you
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tonight
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and as we go from here
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into the coming week.
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For we ask in the name
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of the crucified
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and risen Lord Jesus.
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Amen.
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Well, we are going to hear
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the words of Jesus now
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from Matthew's Gospel,
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chapter 14,
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and reading from page 13.
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Matthew, chapter 14.
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We're beginning from verse 13.
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Just before this,
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we hear of the death
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of John the Baptist.
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That is what Jesus
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is hearing about
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in verse 13.
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Now, when Jesus heard this,
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he withdrew from there
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in a boat
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to a desolate place
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by himself.
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But when the crowds heard it,
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they followed him
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on foot from the towns.
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When he went ashore,
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he saw a great crowd
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and he had compassion on them
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and healed their sick.
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Now, when it was evening,
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the disciples came to him
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and said,
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this is a desolate place
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and the day is now over.
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Send the crowds away
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to go into the villages
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and buy food for themselves.
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But Jesus said,
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they need not go away.
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You give them something to eat.
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They said to him,
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we have only five loaves here
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and two fish.
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And he said,
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bring them here to me.
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Then he ordered the crowds
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to sit down on the grass
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and taking the five loaves
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and the two fish,
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he looked up to heaven
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and said a blessing.
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Then he broke the loaves
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and gave them to the disciples
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and the disciples
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gave them to the crowds
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and they all ate
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and were satisfied.
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And they took up 12 baskets
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full of broken pieces left over
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and those who ate
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were about 5,000 men
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besides women and children.
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Immediately,
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he made the disciples
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get into the boat
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and go before him
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to the other side
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while he dismissed the crowds.
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And after he dismissed the crowds,
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he went up on the mountain
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by himself to pray.
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When evening came,
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he was there alone,
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but the boat by this time
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was a long way from the land,
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beaten by the waves,
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for the wind was against them.
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And in the fourth watch of the night,
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he came to them,
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walking on the sea.
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But when the disciples
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saw him walking on the sea,
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they were terrified
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and said,
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It is a ghost.
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And they cried out in fear.
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But immediately,
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Jesus spoke to them,
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saying,
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Take heart.
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It is I.
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Do not be afraid.
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And Peter answered him,
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Lord, if it is you,
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command me to come to you
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on the water.
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He said,
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Come.
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So Peter got out of the boat
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and walked on the water
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and came to Jesus.
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But when he saw the wind,
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he was afraid.
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And beginning to sink,
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he cried out,
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Lord, save me.
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Jesus immediately
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reached out his hand
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and took hold of him,
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saying to him,
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O you of little faith,
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why did you doubt?
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And when they got into the boat,
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the wind ceased.
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And those in the boat
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worshipped him,
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saying,
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Truly,
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you are the Son of God.
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And when they crossed over,
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they came to land
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at Gennesaret.
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And when the men of that place
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recognized him,
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they sent word around
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to all that region
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and brought to him
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all who were sick
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and implored him
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that they might only touch
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the fringe of his garment.
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And as many as touched it
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were made well.
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Amen.
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This is God's living
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and holy word
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and the words
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of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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We'll come back to those verses
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later in our service.
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But now as we respond
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to the reading of God's word,
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we're going to sing
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from Psalm 77
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in Sing Psalms
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and verses that speak
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of a similar event
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in the history of God's people
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in the Exodus
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and the crossing of the sea.
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So we're singing
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from Psalm 77
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verses 13 to 16
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and then 19 to 20.
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That's on page 100
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of the Psalter.
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Sing Psalms
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and the tune is Kilmarnock.
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Let us stand
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to sing together.
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Amen.
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singing singing
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singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing singing, singing, singing singing, singing singing, singing singing, singing singing, singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing
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Kikov's and Joseph's children
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In the crown of mine
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The waters of you, O my God
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Is so unrightly pain
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The Greatest, the King of the
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The glass for the rain
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The full earth's death of the land
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The path of the sea
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Your way to the mighty waters
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And your good place now to see
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Your people like God's long-doubts
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Your guide in every day
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My God's wisdom, my dear old son
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You let them all go away
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Let's come again in prayer to God together
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Let us pray
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Living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
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We bow before you as the God who alone saves
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Lord, you are the God of miracles
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Looked upon with awe by all the earth
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And Lord, as we have just sung and reflected upon
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Your mighty works of old
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The history of your faithful love towards your people
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The keeping of your promises
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The rescuing of them
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From sin and slavery and death
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Our Father, we reflect on your great love for us
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In the Lord Jesus Christ
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Your Son, our Savior
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Who has saved us from sin and darkness
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And death through his cross
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And his resurrection
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Our Father, we thank you that in him
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You have provided for us eternal life
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The forgiveness of sins
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The renewal of our hearts
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And the hope of a new creation
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Our Father, we thank you that you provide for us
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All things that are needed for life and for godliness
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Our Father, we thank you for every good gift that you have given us today
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Lord, we thank you for every good thing that you grant to us in life
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We thank you, Lord, for friendship and for family
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For the food that you give us
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For the homes that we live in
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We thank you for the measure of health that you give us each day
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Father, we pray for those among us this evening who are unwell
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Perhaps, Lord, confined to their homes
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Father, we continue to trust ye for health and wellness
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We pray, Lord, that you would grant it to our brothers and sisters
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Who struggle with ill health
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But, Lord, above all, we pray, Lord, that their trust would be holy in ye
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For your timing
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For your timing
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To know that you are good
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That you are kind
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And that you are in control
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Father, we thank you that you have provided for us a church on earth
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Your people, your body here
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We thank you, Lord, for this congregation in Stornoway
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Lord, we pray that you would continue to uphold your saints here
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Lord, continue to strengthen their faith
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To grow their love for you and for one another
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We pray, Lord, that their witness to the surrounding world would be bright and clear
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Father, we pray that you would uphold them particularly in a time of vacancy
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Father, we thank you for Callum
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And, Lord, we pray that you would continue to minister to your people through him
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Lord, we thank you for the Kirk session
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Lord, we thank you for the Kirk session, for the vacancy committee
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And, Lord, we pray that you would grant wisdom
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Lord, we trust that you would call the right man to come to minister here alongside Callum
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Lord, we continue to seek you for that
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And, Lord, we pray across the island and across our church
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That you would continue to raise up workers for the harvest field
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Lord, you told us on earth that the harvest is plentiful
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But the workers are few
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And you instructed us to continue to pray to the Lord of the harvest
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To send out workers
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And so we do, Lord, we implore you
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And we pray, Lord, that you would raise up godly men
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For ordained pastoral ministry
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Godly men and women, Lord, to engage in evangelism
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And pastoral care
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And good works
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Strengthen and equip your church, we pray
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Father, we pray and thank you for the youth conference that has taken place, Lord, over these past few days
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Lord, we thank you for the blessing that they have known
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And pray that the teaching that the young people have received from Andy
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And from others, Lord, would bear fruit in their young lives
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Father, we pray that friendships would be formed and strengthened as a result of this past weekend
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Among them that would support them in their walk with you through their lives
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Father, we pray that you would raise up and strengthen a generation of Christians, Lord, in our land
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Who are bold in their testimony
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And in their living for you, Lord
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In a world
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That is so hostile to you and your Christ and your word
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Lord, we pray for those who attended, Lord
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And all those who didn't
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Who were young
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And that you would help them, Lord
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To remember their Creator
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In the days of their youth
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Our Father, further afield, we pray for your people in parts of the world where they suffer
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At persecution and hardship that we can barely imagine
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Lord, we pray for your church this evening in Myanmar
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Lord, we pray that you would strengthen your people there
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Lord, we pray that in your infinite wisdom and justice and mercy
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That you would bring an end to the conflict that is there
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Father, we pray that you would relieve all the people of that land from war
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But Lord, particularly we pray that you would keep your church and guard and protect your people
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Lord, we pray that in a divided country that their unity and peace would shine
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That their witness to the gospel would remain pure
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And that your church there would grow in number and in maturity
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Lord, keep your people there, we pray
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Father, as your word instructs us to do, we remember this evening
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Kings and all those in high places
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Lord, we are so aware that our world is unstable
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Lord, your word also tells us that the heart of a king is like water in your hands
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That you turn whichever way you would
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And so, our Father, we pray that you would turn the hearts of those whom you have set in authority over us
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To wisdom and peace and justice
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Father, we pray that as world leaders take great decisions
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Great decisions
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That they would be conscious of the importance, Lord, that they have and their standing before you
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That they are accountable to you, the God of heaven
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Lord, we trust that even in an uncertain time that you are unfolding your eternal plan
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For the good of your people and for your glory
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Lord, we pray that you would help us to set our hope on the coming again of Jesus
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Lord, in your mercy, we pray that there would be peace in our time
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But more than that, Lord, we know that there will be peace and renewal
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And an end of sickness and suffering and death with the return of the Lord Jesus
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And so we pray with your people throughout the ages and across the world
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Come, Lord Jesus
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Come soon
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For we pray and ask in your name
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Amen
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Well, as we prepare to come back to Matthew's Gospel
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We're going to sing from Psalm 93
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From Sing Psalms
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And the whole psalm
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Again, reflecting in God's almighty power over the chaotic waters of darkness
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And the power of his voice
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It's on page 123
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In Sing Psalms
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Let us stand again to sing God's praise
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Let us pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray pray and pray and pray pray and pray pray and pray and pray pray and pray pray and pray pray and pray pray and pray pray and pray
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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CHOIR SINGS
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To royal statues, Lord, stand firm, and changing is your word.
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And holiness adores your love, our endless creation, Lord.
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Wonderful. Well, if you would please have that passage of Matthew's Gospel open, that would be most helpful as we work our way through it this evening.
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And more helpful even than that will be to pray for the Lord's help and that he would speak to us. Let's do that together.
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Our Father, we thank you for your precious word. It is unchanging, it is sure, the very word by which you created the earth and the stars and the heavens.
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Lord, humble our hearts this evening, we pray, as we bow before you and listen to your word.
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Speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening. In Jesus' name, amen.
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Well, I wonder, what kind of rescue do you think we need?
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What comes to mind when I say the word rescue?
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Now, at home, we have toddlers, a three-year-old and a two-year-old.
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So, I won't lie, what comes to mind when I say the word rescue?
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For me, in our house is Paw Patrol.
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Perhaps some of you have watched an episode or two or three or four or five of Paw Patrol.
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If you haven't seen it, no worries.
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Every episode is exactly the same.
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All is well in Adventure Bay.
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And then mild peril strikes.
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Ryder summons the pups to the pup tower.
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They get a breakdown of what has gone wrong.
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And once they have worked out what kind of problem it is that they have to solve,
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they then need to work out which pups with which special skills, special tools will be needed
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to save the day.
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Who will do the rescue?
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Now, I won't spoil it.
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Every episode is the same.
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They succeed in the rescue.
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But what do we think of when we think of the word rescue?
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What kind of rescue do you think that we need?
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Of course, we face far more serious situations in life than ever visit the people of Adventure Bay.
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Wars.
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Terminal illness.
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Natural disasters.
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Relationship breakdown.
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Sexual violence.
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We could go on.
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What kind of rescue do you think we need?
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And what do we need to do about it?
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We're coming to a section of Matthew's Gospel this evening where Matthew wants us as learners of Jesus
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to learn what kind of rescue King Jesus came to bring and how we need to respond.
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So far in the Gospel, if we'd read up to this point, we have seen something of what King Jesus came to do.
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He has been bringing God's kingdom into the world.
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That is God's good and loving rule to bear on people's lives.
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We've seen that through the countless healings that he's performed.
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Our reading tonight is topped and tailed with even more as King Jesus brings, restores something of the wholeness to people
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that God created us for in the beginning.
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But he has brought God's kingdom all the more through his word, through his teaching.
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And so in this Gospel, we have had up to this point three big sermons, three teaching blocks,
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where Jesus has set his people, and to some extent the wider crowd, straight on what God's kingdom is and how we live in it.
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And we've seen different responses.
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Some have heard Jesus' message of God's kingdom, and they have bowed before him.
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They've taken the crown off their own heads.
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They've given it to him.
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They have recognized him as Lord and Christ and Savior.
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And they have turned and begun to live in God's kingdom.
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They have followed King Jesus.
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Many, though, have heard him and have either misunderstood what he has said,
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or they've only partly got what he has said.
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And of those who have only got part of what he said, some even then haven't liked what Jesus has said.
31:59
So the religious leaders, the Pharisees, the scribes, have called him, no less, the prince of demons,
32:06
and begun already to plot his death.
32:10
So now we've had a chance to see and to respond to something of what King Jesus has come to do.
32:19
It's time to see more.
32:21
This is a new chapter in the gospel, a new chapter in Jesus' ministry,
32:25
because now Jesus decides it's the time to reveal the rescue plan to his people.
32:32
Jesus to the rescue.
32:36
So what kind of rescue is it?
32:39
And what do we need to do about it?
32:43
Two points this evening.
32:44
Firstly, then, let us see that King Jesus has come to Exodus rescue us.
32:50
Now, our reading from Matthew, it's one of these chapters, isn't it,
32:58
that shows that we know our Bibles both too well and not well enough.
33:03
Right?
33:04
We heard that chapter, didn't we?
33:05
And we thought together, we know this.
33:10
I reckon we could go out on the street this evening,
33:12
we could ask people about Jesus walking on the water, feeding the 5,000,
33:17
and they would know what we were talking about.
33:19
We know these chapters of the Bible, don't we, too well.
33:24
But like so many things in the Bible, we think we don't need to hear again.
33:28
It turns out that's because actually, perhaps, perhaps,
33:31
we don't know our Bibles well enough.
33:36
See, how many of us, I wonder, as we read, thought,
33:40
well, this is a big chapter.
33:42
Why don't we break it down?
33:44
Right?
33:44
Can't he see the headings?
33:46
It says, doesn't it, Jesus feeds the 5,000,
33:49
Jesus walks on the water.
33:50
Slow down!
33:53
Why are we going so quickly?
33:56
But it's only when we put it together
33:58
that we begin to see what is going on.
34:01
So, let me tell you this story
34:04
in a different way
34:06
and see if we can see.
34:08
Let me tell you from the end,
34:10
working backwards,
34:12
and tell me what you see.
34:13
The Lord's people worship him.
34:16
They cry out to him to save them.
34:18
They are terrified,
34:19
but he brings them safely through the sea.
34:22
He goes up on a mountain.
34:25
In the wilderness, they are hungry.
34:27
In his compassion,
34:29
he feeds them with bread from heaven.
34:32
Now, if I asked you,
34:36
what part of the Bible does that come from,
34:38
what would you say?
34:39
Where would you take me?
34:40
Through the sea,
34:41
up a mountain,
34:42
in the wilderness,
34:43
where they eat miracle bread.
34:47
That is the Exodus, isn't it?
34:49
It's the Exodus.
34:51
Specifically, it's the Exodus rescue.
34:54
God hits Egypt with 10 plagues,
34:57
10 strikes.
34:58
After the tent,
34:59
his people are set free.
35:01
He brings them safely out.
35:03
Across the sea,
35:04
he gathers them to himself,
35:06
makes them his own,
35:08
and lovingly feeds them
35:10
with bread from heaven on the way.
35:13
Now, what Jesus does here,
35:16
and what Matthew wants us to see,
35:19
is that Jesus is recreating
35:22
the Exodus rescue.
35:25
Just see that with me in the text.
35:28
Verse 13,
35:29
Jesus goes out to the wilderness,
35:32
and a crowd comes to him.
35:34
Soon, the question of food comes up.
35:36
His disciples say,
35:37
literally, the word they use,
35:39
this is a wilderness.
35:41
Send the crowds away
35:42
to go and buy food for themselves.
35:44
What are we going to eat, Lord?
35:47
Now, the target audience here
35:49
is the disciples.
35:51
Okay, we've seen this before
35:52
in Matthew,
35:54
the Sermon on the Mount.
35:55
For example,
35:56
the crowds are all around him,
35:58
but before him,
35:59
close up,
36:00
he's got the 12,
36:01
the disciples.
36:03
Jesus wants them,
36:05
particularly,
36:06
to see what he's going to do.
36:09
So he says to the disciples,
36:11
verse 16,
36:12
they need not go away,
36:13
you give them something to eat.
36:15
And straight away,
36:17
this has all become
36:18
a lot more personal,
36:20
hasn't it?
36:22
It's a bit like,
36:22
perhaps,
36:23
you've said,
36:24
oh, so-and-so's here,
36:25
they need a lift.
36:26
And somebody said,
36:28
well, can't you take them?
36:30
Right, suddenly,
36:31
the problem has become
36:32
your problem.
36:35
Jesus does that
36:36
to the disciples,
36:37
I think not because
36:38
he's really expecting them
36:39
to feed the crowds,
36:41
but so that they'll recognize
36:43
that he is going to do something
36:45
that they have no power to do.
36:49
Hence,
36:49
when they say,
36:51
when we have five loaves
36:52
and two fish,
36:53
Jesus says not,
36:54
he doesn't say,
36:55
does he just start
36:55
giving them out?
36:57
He says,
36:58
bring them here
36:59
to me.
37:02
Significantly,
37:03
he looks up
37:03
to heaven,
37:05
where the manna came from,
37:06
the bread from heaven.
37:08
He says a blessing
37:09
and gives it back
37:10
to the disciples
37:10
to distribute.
37:13
Then we read,
37:14
the disciples gave it
37:14
to the crowds
37:15
and they all ate
37:17
and were satisfied.
37:21
Not only that,
37:22
they took up
37:22
twelve baskets
37:24
full of broken pieces
37:25
left over,
37:25
that is,
37:26
the number of tribes
37:27
in the wilderness,
37:29
and those who ate
37:30
were about five thousand men
37:31
besides women
37:33
and children.
37:36
So,
37:37
the heading in your Bible,
37:38
which is not inspired,
37:39
says Jesus feeds
37:40
the five thousand,
37:41
which is wrong,
37:42
isn't it?
37:42
Jesus feeds
37:44
the fifteen to twenty thousand,
37:46
five thousand men plus,
37:48
women and children.
37:51
Now,
37:52
if you were those disciples,
37:53
what would you be thinking
37:54
at this point?
37:57
Who can do stuff like this?
38:01
Feed thousands of people
38:02
in a desert
38:03
where there is no food?
38:05
food.
38:06
And this wasn't just like
38:07
passing around the loaf
38:08
at communion
38:09
or taking the wee
38:11
bits of bread.
38:13
No,
38:13
these people
38:14
ate to the full.
38:16
They were satisfied.
38:17
They were filled
38:18
and then some.
38:21
With our own hands,
38:23
we gave him
38:23
five loaves
38:24
and two fish.
38:26
And with our own hands,
38:28
we gave out
38:28
enough food
38:29
to feed
38:29
five thousand
38:31
men plus
38:32
women and children
38:33
and then some.
38:35
What happened
38:36
in between?
38:39
Well,
38:39
he did.
38:40
Jesus happened.
38:43
We tell the story
38:44
of the bread from heaven
38:45
every year,
38:46
they would say,
38:46
but now we're living it
38:48
because of Jesus.
38:49
Then once everyone's eaten,
38:54
Jesus sends them away
38:55
on a boat
38:55
while the crowds
38:56
trickle away.
38:57
And at verse 23,
38:58
after he's dismissed
38:59
the crowds,
38:59
he went up on a mountain
39:01
by himself
39:02
to pray.
39:04
Now,
39:05
given the disciples
39:06
aren't there
39:06
at this point,
39:08
this is for Jesus
39:10
and for us,
39:12
isn't it?
39:13
It's for Jesus.
39:14
That's why he went
39:15
into the wilderness
39:15
in the first place,
39:16
to have that time
39:18
by himself
39:19
with his father.
39:21
Only at this point
39:21
does he actually
39:22
get that time.
39:24
But it's written here
39:25
for us
39:26
so that we get
39:27
another piece
39:27
of the big picture
39:28
because after they've
39:30
been fed in the wilderness,
39:31
where do the people go?
39:34
Well,
39:34
to the mountain
39:35
where Moses goes up
39:37
by himself
39:38
to pray to God
39:40
and meet with him
39:41
on the mountain
39:42
before coming down
39:45
and Jesus crosses
39:48
the sea
39:48
to meet his disciples
39:50
in the boats,
39:52
which was a long way
39:53
from the land
39:53
beaten by the waves
39:54
so the wind
39:55
was against them.
39:57
Now,
39:57
perhaps you're thinking
39:58
the sea does not,
40:00
does it,
40:00
at this point,
40:01
split open for him
40:02
to walk through
40:03
on dry land,
40:05
okay?
40:06
But when Moses
40:07
raised his staff
40:08
over the sea,
40:09
it says,
40:11
all that night
40:11
the Lord drove
40:12
the sea back
40:13
with a strong
40:14
east wind
40:15
and turned it
40:16
into dry land
40:17
and the people
40:17
walked through the sea.
40:20
Well,
40:21
now,
40:21
on another windy night,
40:24
Jesus walks
40:25
through the sea,
40:27
across the water,
40:28
as if on dry land,
40:29
he came to them
40:30
walking
40:31
on the sea.
40:32
and then his people
40:35
do too.
40:38
Lord,
40:38
if it is you,
40:39
asks Peter,
40:40
command me
40:41
to come to you
40:41
on the water.
40:43
Come on,
40:43
Peter.
40:45
So Peter
40:46
got out of the boat
40:46
and walked on the water
40:47
and came to Jesus.
40:49
I take it like
40:50
giving them the bread
40:51
and the fish.
40:53
This is because
40:54
Jesus wants
40:55
the disciples
40:55
to experience
40:57
his power
40:58
up close
40:59
and personal.
41:02
Their need,
41:03
his power
41:04
at work.
41:05
And right on key,
41:07
as he begins
41:08
to sing,
41:08
Peter cried out,
41:09
verse 30,
41:11
Lord,
41:12
save me.
41:14
Lord,
41:15
save me.
41:17
Immediately,
41:18
we read,
41:18
the Lord Jesus
41:19
reached out his hand,
41:20
took hold of Peter,
41:22
and when they got
41:22
into the boat,
41:23
the wind ceased.
41:25
The Lord
41:26
saves his people
41:27
by bringing them
41:28
safely through
41:29
the sea.
41:32
And the final
41:33
piece of the puzzle,
41:34
if we need it,
41:35
is there in verse 33,
41:36
those in the boat
41:37
worshipped him,
41:39
saying,
41:40
truly you are
41:41
the Son of God.
41:43
Again,
41:44
who can do this?
41:47
Right?
41:47
Only one who's
41:48
worthy of praise
41:49
and worship,
41:51
the Lord,
41:52
Jesus,
41:53
the Son of God,
41:54
the Christ,
41:55
the Son of God.
41:56
Now,
41:57
each bit of that story
41:59
is an amazing miracle
42:01
in its own right,
42:02
isn't it?
42:03
But I think,
42:04
put it together,
42:06
and the point
42:07
is simply incredible.
42:11
That Jesus is the God
42:13
of the Exodus,
42:15
and,
42:16
still better,
42:18
that he has come
42:19
to do another
42:20
Exodus rescue.
42:21
I take it that
42:24
these miracles
42:25
are not recorded
42:26
for us in this
42:27
chapter of Matthew
42:28
simply to reinforce
42:30
that Jesus is God.
42:32
He is God.
42:34
But Matthew
42:35
has made that point
42:36
before.
42:36
He's shown us that.
42:37
We know that.
42:39
Why show us
42:40
that Jesus
42:41
can recreate
42:42
the Exodus
42:42
rescue?
42:43
well,
42:47
because,
42:47
friends,
42:47
that is the kind
42:48
of rescue
42:49
that we need,
42:51
and so it is
42:52
the kind of rescue
42:53
that he has come
42:54
to bring.
42:58
Think about it.
42:58
What would be the problem
42:59
with Jesus
43:00
simply bringing
43:02
God's kingdom
43:03
into the world
43:03
and calling us
43:05
into it?
43:07
What would still
43:08
not happen?
43:10
What could we
43:10
not do?
43:11
Why would we
43:12
not come?
43:14
Well,
43:15
what's holding
43:15
us back?
43:17
It's that we
43:18
are captives
43:20
in a kingdom
43:20
of darkness.
43:23
It's that we
43:24
are slaves
43:25
of sin
43:25
and death.
43:27
We live out
43:27
our days
43:28
under the shadow
43:28
of death,
43:29
and like the
43:30
Israelites in
43:31
Egypt,
43:31
we cannot just
43:32
go when we
43:33
please.
43:34
The kingdom
43:35
of darkness
43:36
will fight
43:36
tooth and nail
43:37
to hold
43:38
onto us.
43:40
The devil
43:40
will work
43:41
us to death
43:41
in his service,
43:43
and like
43:43
Pharaoh,
43:45
the actual
43:46
prince of
43:46
this world
43:47
will not
43:48
let his
43:49
people go.
43:52
So what
43:53
point would
43:53
there be
43:54
in Jesus
43:54
calling us
43:55
into his
43:55
kingdom
43:56
if we
43:56
can't
43:57
come?
44:00
Friends,
44:00
this chapter
44:01
of Matthew
44:01
reminds us
44:02
that Jesus
44:02
is not
44:03
a helpless
44:04
salesman
44:05
pitching us
44:07
his wares,
44:07
selling us
44:08
his stuff,
44:09
hoping
44:10
hoping
44:10
that we
44:12
will buy.
44:14
And we
44:14
are not
44:15
smart
44:15
consumers
44:16
weighing
44:16
up our
44:17
options.
44:18
What's
44:18
best for
44:19
me?
44:20
What's
44:20
the best
44:21
deal
44:21
in life?
44:24
No,
44:25
we are
44:25
slaves in
44:26
a kingdom
44:26
of darkness.
44:27
darkness.
44:29
And here
44:30
is the
44:30
good news
44:30
of the
44:30
gospel,
44:31
that King
44:31
Jesus
44:32
has come
44:33
to pound
44:34
the kingdom
44:34
of darkness
44:35
until it
44:36
lets us
44:36
go,
44:37
to set
44:38
our hearts
44:38
free,
44:39
to live
44:40
under his
44:40
wise and
44:41
loving and
44:42
compassionate
44:43
rule in
44:44
his kingdom.
44:46
In other
44:46
words,
44:47
he has come
44:47
to exodus,
44:50
rescue us,
44:52
because that
44:53
is the rescue
44:54
that we
44:54
need.
44:55
there are
44:59
lots of
44:59
things wrong
45:00
in the
45:00
world,
45:01
aren't
45:01
there?
45:03
In the
45:04
news this
45:05
week,
45:05
wars,
45:07
diplomatic
45:08
breakdown,
45:10
corruption,
45:13
rescues
45:14
are needed.
45:16
But what
45:17
is the
45:17
problem behind
45:18
those problems?
45:21
Well,
45:21
it is the
45:22
fact that by
45:22
nature we
45:23
belong to a
45:24
kingdom of
45:24
darkness,
45:24
and we
45:25
serve its
45:26
interests,
45:26
and we
45:27
obey its
45:27
rules.
45:28
We are
45:28
born as
45:29
slaves in
45:30
an empire
45:30
of evil.
45:33
Friends,
45:33
we suffer
45:34
from the
45:35
mother of
45:35
all problems.
45:38
But the
45:38
gospel tells
45:39
us that
45:40
Jesus came
45:40
to rescue
45:42
us from
45:43
the mother
45:44
of all
45:44
problems.
45:46
He's come
45:46
to break
45:47
us out of
45:48
slavery to
45:49
darkness,
45:49
set our
45:50
hearts free
45:50
to serve a
45:51
better master,
45:52
the God who
45:53
created us,
45:54
who knows
45:54
us,
45:55
who loves
45:55
us.
45:56
That is the
45:57
rescue that
45:58
we desperately
45:58
need, and
46:00
is what he
46:01
came to
46:02
do.
46:02
He has
46:02
come to
46:03
exodus,
46:04
rescue us.
46:05
what kind of
46:11
rescue do you
46:12
think you
46:13
need?
46:16
What kind of
46:17
rescue do you
46:18
think our
46:18
world needs?
46:22
The story of
46:23
the Bible is
46:23
so much bigger
46:25
than we think,
46:25
isn't it?
46:26
Jesus' work,
46:27
God's rescue,
46:27
it is so much
46:28
deeper,
46:30
better,
46:31
longer lasting
46:32
than we dare
46:33
even to
46:33
imagine.
46:36
And so what
46:37
do we need to
46:38
do about it?
46:39
Friends, this is
46:39
the rescue Jesus
46:41
has come to
46:42
do.
46:43
So secondly,
46:44
trust him with
46:45
your rescue.
46:46
This is the
46:46
second of our
46:47
two points
46:47
tonight.
46:48
Trust him
46:48
with your
46:49
rescue.
46:51
And now we're
46:52
not told what
46:52
the disciples
46:53
talked about
46:54
after Jesus
46:54
had fed us
46:55
a small town
46:56
with bread
46:56
and fish,
46:58
but over the
46:59
page in
46:59
chapter 16,
47:00
we find out
47:01
they didn't
47:01
really get
47:02
it.
47:03
In another
47:03
boat,
47:04
they find
47:05
they haven't
47:05
bought any
47:06
bread.
47:07
Jesus says
47:08
to them,
47:09
oh, you
47:10
of little
47:10
faith,
47:10
why are you
47:11
discussing
47:11
among yourselves
47:12
the fact
47:13
that you
47:13
have no
47:13
bread?
47:14
Do you
47:14
not yet
47:15
perceive?
47:17
Do you
47:18
not remember
47:18
the five
47:20
loaves for
47:21
the 5,000
47:22
and how many
47:22
baskets you
47:23
gathered?
47:25
The miracle
47:25
has gone
47:26
straight over
47:26
their heads.
47:29
But the
47:29
drumbeat
47:30
of these
47:30
chapters
47:31
is not,
47:33
oh, you
47:33
of little
47:34
intelligence,
47:36
you of
47:37
little
47:37
IQ,
47:39
it is
47:39
you of
47:40
little
47:40
faith.
47:43
He's going
47:44
to say that
47:44
three times
47:45
in the next
47:45
four chapters
47:46
because their
47:47
problem is
47:47
not up here
47:48
that they're
47:49
not clever
47:49
enough to
47:50
piece the
47:50
pieces together,
47:51
it is in
47:51
here that
47:53
they do
47:54
not trust
47:55
him to
47:55
properly be
47:56
their
47:56
rescuer.
47:57
that's
48:00
what the
48:00
scene with
48:01
Peter nearly
48:01
drowning
48:02
is about.
48:03
Again, it's
48:04
so well
48:04
known it's
48:05
lost its
48:05
impact on
48:06
many of
48:06
us.
48:08
We think
48:09
coming to
48:09
this passage
48:10
that Jesus
48:11
perhaps is
48:12
being a bit
48:12
harsh on
48:13
Peter.
48:15
How many
48:15
of us have
48:16
walked on
48:16
water?
48:17
It was a
48:17
stormy
48:18
night.
48:19
Peter
48:19
probably
48:20
couldn't
48:20
swim.
48:21
Is Jesus
48:22
just being
48:22
the strict
48:23
teacher
48:24
with a
48:25
standard
48:25
that's
48:26
impossible
48:26
to meet?
48:30
Well, no.
48:31
Think about
48:31
the rescue
48:32
Peter is
48:33
part of.
48:34
It's as if
48:35
he and the
48:35
other disciples
48:36
have been
48:36
taken back
48:37
in time.
48:38
They're
48:38
reliving
48:38
the greatest
48:39
rescue story
48:40
in the
48:40
world.
48:41
The Exodus
48:42
rescue was
48:42
their history
48:43
and heritage,
48:44
but that
48:45
day it
48:45
became their
48:46
lived
48:47
experience.
48:49
They'd
48:49
put a
48:49
small
48:50
lunch
48:50
into
48:50
Jesus'
48:51
hands
48:51
and they
48:52
have
48:52
given
48:53
back
48:53
out
48:53
supermarkets
48:55
worth of
48:56
food to
48:56
people.
48:58
They've
48:58
been
48:58
struggling
48:59
across the
48:59
sea.
49:00
Jesus
49:00
simply
49:00
walked up
49:01
to them
49:01
on the
49:01
water.
49:03
And
49:04
Peter
49:04
gets
49:04
something,
49:05
doesn't
49:05
he?
49:06
Something
49:06
of what's
49:07
going on.
49:08
Lord,
49:08
if it
49:08
is you,
49:09
he says,
49:09
command me
49:10
to come
49:10
to you
49:11
on the
49:11
water.
49:12
He
49:12
wants
49:12
to live
49:13
it.
49:13
He
49:13
wants
49:13
to grasp
49:14
it for
49:14
it all
49:15
to be
49:15
true
49:15
and real
49:16
for
49:16
him.
49:19
And
49:19
so he
49:20
gets out
49:21
of the
49:21
boat.
49:22
And he
49:23
rests his
49:24
feet on
49:24
the water
49:25
trusting that
49:26
it will
49:26
hold his
49:26
weight simply
49:27
because Jesus
49:28
has said
49:29
it will.
49:30
There is
49:31
real faith
49:32
there,
49:32
isn't there?
49:34
But what
49:35
kind of
49:35
faith is
49:36
it?
49:38
We asked
49:39
before,
49:39
what kind
49:40
of rescue?
49:41
Not all
49:41
rescues are
49:42
equal,
49:42
are they?
49:43
we
49:44
not only
49:45
have two
49:45
small
49:46
children,
49:46
we also
49:46
have a
49:47
small
49:47
dog.
49:48
One
49:49
very
49:49
stormy
49:50
night,
49:50
we took
49:50
the dog
49:51
for a
49:51
walk,
49:51
and a
49:51
different
49:52
dog
49:52
actually
49:52
followed
49:53
us
49:53
home
49:53
that
49:54
had
49:54
lost
49:54
its
49:54
owner.
49:56
And
49:56
thankfully,
49:57
the dog
49:58
had a
49:58
tag,
49:59
we phoned
49:59
the number
50:00
on it,
50:00
the owner
50:01
came 20
50:02
minutes
50:02
later,
50:03
he was
50:03
very
50:04
grateful,
50:05
he took
50:05
his dog
50:06
home,
50:07
but you
50:08
know what,
50:08
we've never
50:08
seen him
50:09
again,
50:09
we didn't
50:10
get a
50:11
card or
50:11
flowers or
50:12
anything,
50:13
because it's
50:13
not like
50:14
we performed
50:15
CPR on
50:16
somebody in
50:16
his family,
50:18
or saved
50:19
one of his
50:20
children from
50:20
being run
50:21
over,
50:22
the response
50:23
is proportionate
50:24
to the
50:24
rescue,
50:25
isn't it?
50:26
The bigger
50:26
the rescue,
50:28
the deeper
50:29
the response.
50:32
Jesus didn't
50:33
just tell
50:34
Peter to
50:34
walk on
50:35
the water,
50:35
did he?
50:36
He also
50:36
said as he
50:37
stood on
50:38
the water,
50:38
verse 27,
50:39
take heart,
50:40
it is I,
50:41
don't be
50:42
afraid,
50:43
don't be
50:44
afraid,
50:45
but what
50:46
happens?
50:46
Peter got
50:46
out of the
50:47
boat,
50:47
walked on
50:48
the water
50:48
and came
50:48
to Jesus,
50:49
but when
50:49
he saw
50:49
the wind,
50:50
he was
50:51
afraid.
50:53
Is that
50:54
a proportionate
50:55
response to
50:57
the rescue
50:57
that Jesus
50:58
is doing?
51:00
What kind
51:01
of faith
51:01
does Peter
51:02
have here?
51:03
Half a
51:04
faith.
51:06
Faith in
51:07
some of
51:07
what Jesus
51:08
has said
51:08
and done,
51:09
not faith
51:10
in the
51:10
rest.
51:12
And that
51:13
is not
51:13
a proportionate
51:14
response,
51:14
is it,
51:15
to someone
51:15
who is
51:17
doing what
51:17
Jesus is
51:18
doing.
51:19
It's not
51:19
a big enough
51:20
response to
51:20
the biggest
51:21
rescue that
51:22
Jesus is
51:23
showing that
51:23
he has come
51:24
to do.
51:24
of course,
51:26
the point of
51:27
the original
51:27
Exodus rescue
51:28
is that
51:29
God's
51:29
people did
51:30
cross the
51:31
sea to
51:31
safety,
51:33
but Peter
51:34
very nearly
51:35
suffers the
51:36
fate of
51:38
the Egyptians
51:38
being swallowed
51:41
by the
51:41
waves.
51:43
Why?
51:45
Well,
51:45
because he
51:45
didn't trust
51:46
Jesus not
51:47
to be afraid
51:48
when Jesus
51:50
told him
51:50
there was
51:51
nothing to
51:52
be afraid
51:53
of.
51:54
He trusted
51:55
Jesus enough,
51:56
didn't he,
51:57
to obey some
51:58
of his words,
51:59
come to me,
52:01
but not the
52:01
rest of his
52:02
words,
52:02
have no fear.
52:06
And friends,
52:06
the rest of
52:07
these chapters
52:08
in this section,
52:08
they're here to
52:09
show us that
52:10
more than
52:11
anything,
52:11
that is what
52:12
we need to be
52:13
rescued from.
52:14
little faith,
52:18
little faith,
52:20
unbelief,
52:21
a heart that
52:22
has one foot
52:23
in the kingdom
52:24
of heaven,
52:24
but one foot
52:25
still trapped
52:25
in the kingdom
52:26
of darkness,
52:28
a heart that
52:29
on its own
52:30
cannot trust
52:31
Jesus all the
52:31
way,
52:32
even if we
52:32
wanted to,
52:34
which is why
52:35
Peter is
52:37
an uncomfortably
52:38
unclear mirror,
52:39
isn't he,
52:40
for us to
52:40
look into.
52:41
In some ways,
52:42
we should want
52:43
to be more
52:43
like him,
52:44
in other
52:45
ways,
52:46
we are far
52:47
too much
52:48
like him.
52:51
But when
52:52
he's really
52:52
pushed,
52:53
as he's
52:53
sinking and
52:54
he's going
52:54
to drown,
52:55
he cries
52:55
out,
52:56
doesn't he,
52:56
the most
52:57
important words
52:58
that anyone
52:59
could ever
52:59
say to
53:01
the Lord
53:01
Jesus,
53:03
Lord,
53:05
save me,
53:07
Lord,
53:08
save me.
53:10
If his
53:11
first stumbling
53:12
steps of
53:13
faith were
53:14
weak,
53:15
what he
53:16
says when
53:16
he stumbles
53:17
shows a
53:18
faith that
53:19
is big
53:19
enough for
53:21
the rescue
53:21
that Jesus
53:22
is bringing.
53:25
And that
53:25
can be true
53:26
for us as
53:26
well,
53:27
can't it?
53:27
Perhaps you
53:28
can relate to
53:28
Peter here.
53:30
If things
53:30
feel like
53:31
they're getting
53:31
harder for
53:32
you,
53:34
like temptation
53:35
is getting
53:35
worse,
53:36
doubts,
53:37
or doubts
53:39
are growing
53:39
stronger,
53:42
or perhaps
53:43
just the
53:43
pressure to
53:44
conform to
53:45
a worldly
53:46
lifestyle,
53:46
a way of
53:47
thinking,
53:47
is getting
53:47
tougher,
53:48
or just
53:48
generally
53:49
situations in
53:50
life that
53:51
are getting
53:51
harder,
53:52
or just not
53:53
getting better,
53:54
and the longer
53:54
we have to
53:55
carry it,
53:55
the tougher
53:56
it gets,
53:57
and you feel
53:57
like you're
53:58
sinking and
53:58
you're going
53:59
to drown,
54:00
well,
54:00
it's at that
54:01
point,
54:01
isn't it,
54:02
that our
54:02
need becomes
54:03
clearest,
54:05
and therefore
54:07
our faith in
54:08
Jesus grows
54:09
deepest.
54:12
Before we
54:13
could walk
54:13
on water,
54:14
now we're
54:15
sinking and
54:15
we can't
54:16
help but
54:17
cry out to
54:17
Jesus,
54:18
Lord,
54:19
save me.
54:23
Well,
54:23
friends,
54:23
let me say
54:24
that that is
54:24
where Jesus
54:25
would rather
54:25
have us
54:26
than going
54:27
through life
54:28
only half
54:30
trusting in
54:31
him,
54:32
but half
54:33
relying on
54:33
us.
54:35
A full-throated,
54:36
whole-hearted,
54:38
desperate trust
54:38
in him to
54:39
save us
54:39
rather than
54:40
a halfway
54:41
faith that
54:42
secretly fears
54:43
that we
54:43
won't make
54:44
it.
54:46
If you're
54:46
here tonight
54:47
and you
54:47
feel like
54:48
you're sinking
54:48
or going
54:49
to drown,
54:50
you only
54:51
need cry
54:52
to Jesus
54:52
to save
54:53
you,
54:53
and what
54:54
will he
54:54
do?
54:56
Just see
54:56
in verse
54:56
31,
54:59
Jesus
54:59
immediately
55:00
reached out
55:01
his hand
55:01
and took
55:02
hold of
55:02
him.
55:05
He was
55:06
waiting for
55:06
Peter to
55:07
say the
55:07
words,
55:08
but no
55:08
longer than
55:08
that,
55:09
right?
55:10
Immediately
55:10
he reached
55:11
out his
55:11
hand and
55:12
saved him.
55:14
Friends,
55:15
you say
55:15
the word
55:16
and Jesus
55:18
will immediately
55:18
reach out
55:19
and take
55:20
hold of
55:20
you in
55:20
all his
55:21
compassion
55:21
and power
55:22
to save
55:23
you from
55:23
sinking
55:24
and drowning
55:25
in fear,
55:26
judgment,
55:26
and death.
55:30
And perhaps
55:30
for some
55:31
of you,
55:31
you've
55:31
never done
55:32
that in
55:32
your life,
55:33
you've
55:33
never prayed
55:34
that prayer
55:35
in your
55:35
heart or
55:36
said those
55:36
words with
55:37
your mouth
55:37
to the
55:38
Lord Jesus.
55:40
Let me
55:41
say with all
55:41
the tenderness
55:42
in the world
55:42
that if that
55:43
is you,
55:44
this is where
55:45
you are
55:45
tonight,
55:47
sinking and
55:48
drowning,
55:49
not only in
55:51
life,
55:51
in busyness
55:52
and stress,
55:54
but one
55:55
day into
55:56
death and
55:56
condemnation
55:57
and hell.
56:01
Friend,
56:02
you need
56:02
only say
56:03
the word
56:03
to Jesus,
56:05
cry out
56:06
to him,
56:06
these three
56:07
simple words,
56:08
Lord,
56:09
save me,
56:11
and immediately
56:12
he will.
56:15
Immediately
56:15
he will.
56:17
Not before
56:18
you ask,
56:19
but at the
56:20
very moment
56:21
that you
56:21
ask,
56:22
he will
56:23
immediately
56:24
save you.
56:24
If that's
56:25
you,
56:25
don't hold
56:26
back,
56:26
cry out
56:27
to him,
56:27
pray that
56:28
prayer,
56:29
speak to
56:29
somebody
56:30
after the
56:30
service,
56:32
Lord,
56:32
save me.
56:35
But really
56:36
as we come
56:37
into close,
56:38
the challenge
56:39
of these
56:39
verses is
56:40
for those
56:41
of us
56:41
who are
56:42
Jesus'
56:43
disciples,
56:43
who are
56:44
Christians,
56:46
because even
56:46
if Jesus
56:47
were rather
56:48
that we
56:48
were at
56:49
the end
56:49
of ourselves
56:50
rather than
56:51
half trusting
56:52
in him,
56:53
he would
56:54
still rather,
56:55
wouldn't he,
56:55
that we
56:56
didn't have
56:56
to get to
56:57
that point
56:58
before we
56:58
trusted fully
56:59
in him.
57:01
Hence,
57:01
here's the
57:02
twist,
57:03
Jesus doesn't
57:03
commend Peter
57:04
for his
57:05
faith,
57:05
does he?
57:06
But actually
57:07
says,
57:07
verse 31,
57:09
oh you
57:10
of little
57:11
faith,
57:12
why did
57:13
you doubt?
57:14
think about
57:17
it,
57:18
it's a bit
57:18
of a
57:18
functional
57:19
faith,
57:19
isn't it?
57:21
That we
57:21
need to
57:22
sink before
57:23
we're ready
57:24
to cry out
57:25
to him.
57:27
Wouldn't
57:27
Jesus rather
57:28
that Peter
57:28
had kept
57:29
his eyes
57:29
upon him
57:30
the whole
57:31
way,
57:31
not let
57:32
him go,
57:33
not feared
57:34
the wind
57:34
and waves,
57:35
but stuck
57:36
to him
57:37
and got
57:37
across to
57:38
him?
57:40
Isn't
57:41
that the
57:41
doubt that
57:42
Jesus is
57:43
speaking about,
57:43
the little
57:44
faith?
57:47
The faith
57:48
that Jesus
57:48
is looking
57:48
for,
57:49
the proportionate
57:50
response to
57:50
his saving
57:51
work is a
57:51
trust that
57:52
doesn't let
57:52
go of him
57:53
on any
57:54
part of the
57:55
journey,
57:55
a trust that
57:56
when he
57:56
tells us
57:57
not to
57:57
fear,
57:58
therefore
57:58
doesn't
57:59
fear,
58:01
but keeps
58:01
its eyes
58:02
firmly fixed
58:03
upon him.
58:06
I trust
58:06
that most
58:07
of us in
58:07
this room
58:07
have seen
58:08
who this
58:08
man is,
58:10
and we
58:11
don't need
58:11
to be
58:11
convinced
58:12
that he
58:12
is the
58:12
son of
58:13
God,
58:13
he is
58:13
the
58:14
Christ.
58:15
We've
58:15
seen what
58:16
he can
58:16
do,
58:17
we've
58:17
seen the
58:17
rescue
58:18
that he
58:18
brings
58:19
from sin
58:20
and death
58:20
and unbelief,
58:21
what more
58:22
does he
58:23
need to
58:23
do to
58:23
convince
58:24
us
58:24
that we
58:26
therefore
58:26
do not
58:27
need to
58:27
fear
58:28
when he
58:29
tells us
58:30
we don't
58:30
need to
58:30
fear,
58:31
that he
58:32
is
58:33
trustworthy
58:34
and
58:34
reliable
58:35
to save,
58:36
to redeem,
58:37
to deliver.
58:40
Brothers and
58:40
sisters,
58:41
we still
58:41
need him
58:42
don't we
58:42
to save
58:43
us from
58:43
our
58:43
faithless
58:44
fears,
58:45
to pray
58:47
with that
58:48
man at
58:48
the bottom
58:49
of the
58:49
mountain,
58:50
Lord I
58:50
believe,
58:51
help my
58:52
unbelief,
58:53
that he
58:54
would free
58:55
us from
58:57
the stubborn,
58:58
the hard
58:58
parts of
58:59
us that
58:59
still resist
59:00
trusting him
59:01
with our
59:02
lives,
59:02
from the
59:03
bits of
59:03
us that
59:03
run back
59:04
to the
59:04
chains
59:05
that he's
59:05
freed us
59:06
from in
59:06
the past,
59:07
to put
59:08
them back
59:08
on
59:09
ourselves.
59:11
Friends,
59:12
when we
59:12
cry out
59:13
to him,
59:14
he has
59:14
proved that
59:14
he will
59:15
rescue,
59:16
that he
59:17
will deliver
59:17
us,
59:18
not only by
59:19
stretching out
59:20
his hand to
59:20
Peter to
59:21
pull him out
59:22
of the sea,
59:23
but by
59:24
stretching out
59:25
his hands
59:25
on a
59:26
cross
59:26
to pull
59:28
us out
59:29
of sin
59:29
and darkness
59:30
and death.
59:33
That is
59:34
where the
59:34
rescue of
59:35
Jesus took
59:37
him to
59:37
the cross
59:38
to suffer,
59:39
to die in
59:40
our place,
59:41
to set our
59:42
hearts free
59:42
from sin
59:43
and fear
59:44
and death,
59:45
so that as
59:47
we trust him
59:48
for that
59:48
rescue,
59:49
Lord,
59:49
save me,
59:50
we are
59:50
saved,
59:52
we are
59:52
rescued.
59:54
Friends,
59:55
Jesus has
59:55
come and he
59:56
has accomplished
59:57
his rescue.
59:58
He is mighty
59:58
to save,
59:59
so let us
1:00:01
trust him
1:00:01
fully with
1:00:02
that full
1:00:03
and free
1:00:04
rescue that
1:00:05
he holds
1:00:05
out to us
1:00:06
tonight.
1:00:07
And let's
1:00:08
pray as we
1:00:08
do that.
1:00:09
Let us
1:00:10
pray.
1:00:21
Lord,
1:00:21
we believe.
1:00:24
Help our
1:00:24
unbelief,
1:00:25
we pray.
1:00:27
Lord,
1:00:28
we have
1:00:28
seen that
1:00:29
you are
1:00:29
the Son
1:00:30
of God,
1:00:30
that you
1:00:30
are mighty
1:00:31
to save,
1:00:33
that you
1:00:33
are the
1:00:34
God of
1:00:34
miracles,
1:00:35
that you
1:00:36
give life
1:00:36
to the
1:00:37
dead,
1:00:38
and we
1:00:39
simply ask,
1:00:40
Lord Jesus,
1:00:42
that by your
1:00:42
Holy Spirit
1:00:43
you would set
1:00:44
our hearts
1:00:44
free from
1:00:45
fear,
1:00:46
that you
1:00:47
would fix
1:00:48
our eyes
1:00:48
firmly upon
1:00:49
you,
1:00:50
that we
1:00:51
would not
1:00:51
take our
1:00:52
eyes away
1:00:52
from you,
1:00:53
Lord,
1:00:53
when we
1:00:53
are battered
1:00:54
by winds
1:00:55
and waves
1:00:56
of life,
1:00:58
or indeed,
1:00:58
Lord,
1:00:59
the winds
1:00:59
and waves
1:01:00
that are in
1:01:00
our own
1:01:01
hearts,
1:01:01
the chaos
1:01:01
of our
1:01:02
own doubts
1:01:03
and sin.
1:01:05
Oh,
1:01:05
Lord,
1:01:05
hold us
1:01:06
close,
1:01:06
we pray.
1:01:07
We thank
1:01:08
you,
1:01:08
Lord,
1:01:08
that you
1:01:08
immediately
1:01:09
saved Peter,
1:01:10
and immediately,
1:01:11
Lord,
1:01:12
you do
1:01:13
deliver,
1:01:13
you do
1:01:14
rescue.
1:01:15
And so,
1:01:16
from our
1:01:16
hearts,
1:01:17
we pray,
1:01:17
Lord,
1:01:18
save us.
1:01:19
And,
1:01:20
Father,
1:01:20
we ask
1:01:20
particularly for
1:01:21
those who have
1:01:22
never said
1:01:22
that in
1:01:23
their heart,
1:01:24
and that by
1:01:24
your Holy Spirit
1:01:25
you would grant
1:01:26
them that
1:01:26
faith that
1:01:28
leads to
1:01:28
repentance and
1:01:29
eternal life,
1:01:31
that they
1:01:31
would pray to
1:01:32
you,
1:01:32
Lord,
1:01:33
save me.
1:01:34
This we ask
1:01:35
in Jesus'
1:01:36
name.
1:01:36
Amen.
1:01:39
As we
1:01:40
respond to
1:01:41
God's word,
1:01:43
we're going to
1:01:43
sing together
1:01:44
from Psalm
1:01:45
116,
1:01:47
from Sing
1:01:47
Psalms,
1:01:48
words that
1:01:48
echo
1:01:49
Peter's cry
1:01:51
to Jesus,
1:01:52
Lord,
1:01:53
save me.
1:01:54
We're singing
1:01:54
from verses
1:01:55
1 to 6,
1:01:56
and the tune
1:01:57
is
1:01:58
even tied.
1:02:01
Let's stand
1:02:01
to sing
1:02:02
God's praise.
1:02:10
I love
1:02:12
the Lord
1:02:13
because
1:02:15
he
1:02:16
heard
1:02:17
my
1:02:18
heart.
1:02:18
voice
1:02:19
he
1:02:20
listened
1:02:22
and
1:02:23
I
1:02:25
cried
1:02:26
to him
1:02:27
for
1:02:28
me.
1:02:29
I'll
1:02:31
call him
1:02:33
as
1:02:35
for
1:02:36
us
1:02:37
I
1:02:37
shall
1:02:38
live
1:02:39
because
1:02:41
he
1:02:43
turned
1:02:43
to hear
1:02:44
me
1:02:45
when
1:02:47
I
1:02:48
force
1:02:52
of
1:02:53
death
1:02:54
the
1:02:57
manage
1:02:58
and
1:02:59
will
1:03:00
lead
1:03:00
upon
1:03:02
me
1:03:04
give
1:03:05
thee
1:03:06
and
1:03:08
wish
1:03:08
of
1:03:09
the
1:03:10
grave
1:03:11
with
1:03:13
Grief and trouble I was overcome.
1:03:21
Then on the name of what I called, Lord, sing.
1:03:31
The Lord, our God, is high and full of praise.
1:03:43
O Christ, and come, God, sure is He.
1:03:54
The Lord protects all those of childlike faith.
1:04:04
When I was in great, He rescued me.
1:04:17
Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
1:04:21
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be yours both now and forever.
1:04:26
Amen.
1:04:51
Amen.