Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / The Joy of the Lord Gives Strength
Transcript
- 0:00Notice as we begin our worship by singing to God's praise, we're going to sing in Psalm 96
- 0:05in the Scottish Psalter, Psalm 96. We'll sing from verse 1 to verse 6, the tune is Glasgow.
- 0:15We'll sing a new song to the Lord, sing all the earth to God, to God sing, bless his name,
- 0:21show still his saving health abroad. We'll sing from verse 1 to 6 to God's praise.
- 0:30O sing a new song to the Lord, sing all the earth to God, to God sing, bless his name,
- 0:54show still his saving health abroad.
- 1:03Among the hidden nations, his glory to the fair.
- 1:20And now to all the people show, his words that long the star.
- 1:38For grace adored and greatly he is to be magnified.
- 1:56He is to be magnified.
- 1:58He is to be magnified.
- 2:03Even though the universe caelessly on the grandes楽ies of his flag is black.
- 2:10For the God of 모두 нес名 stayed below to the ground,
- 2:18He is to be magnified.
- 2:22O Son, with light and patience here.
- 2:32Our Father, God is the Lord by whom the heavens created there.
- 2:50Great honor is before His face and majesty divine.
- 3:08Strength is within His holy place.
- 3:18And there the beauty shine.
- 3:26Amen.
- 3:34Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
- 3:36Let us pray.
- 3:41Lord, our gracious God, we thank You for Your Word.
- 3:44We thank You to be able to sing praise to You.
- 3:48We thank You that the words that we have sung can resonate so much with our hearts.
- 3:54We recognize, Lord, that You are worthy of all our praise.
- 3:59For great is the Lord, and greatly He is to be magnified.
- 4:04And we pray, Lord, that that is how we would see You this evening.
- 4:08As the one who we want to lift up.
- 4:12The one who we want to magnify and bless.
- 4:15The one who we want to come and praise with all our hearts.
- 4:19For we can acknowledge, even as the psalmist speaks of, that there are times when we have other idols that we worship.
- 4:27There are other things in this life that are magnified before us so often.
- 4:33Things that we look to and sometimes we find joy in and help in and strength in.
- 4:39And yet ultimately are of no great value to us.
- 4:44And certainly of no great eternal benefit to us.
- 4:49And so we pray that we would be able to say with the psalmist,
- 4:53But our God is the Lord by whom the heavens created were.
- 4:58That that is a God we would come to know as a mighty God.
- 5:03And also come to know, as even Jesus taught us to pray,
- 5:09That we can come and say of this mighty God,
- 5:12Our Father, who art in heaven.
- 5:15And we pray, Lord, to know You in all of these ways.
- 5:19For we see Your power around us in so many ways.
- 5:23And yet we see Your care towards us too.
- 5:27We see the consequences of sin.
- 5:30And we are reminded of the judgment that that brings.
- 5:34But we are reminded too of Your compassion and Your grace.
- 5:38And we pray, Lord, that You would come in Your power.
- 5:42That You would come into our midst here this evening by Your Spirit.
- 5:47That You would help us to be still in Your presence.
- 5:51And to know You as God.
- 5:53And we thank You that we come in and through the name.
- 5:57Above every name.
- 5:58We come not in our own names.
- 6:01We come not in our own status or our own weakness.
- 6:05We come through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 6:09And we thank You that we can approach You through Him.
- 6:13And that we are assured that whenever we come to Him,
- 6:17He will never turn us away.
- 6:19He will never tell us to go.
- 6:22For indeed the gospel is a gospel that says,
- 6:25Come, come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden,
- 6:30and I will give You rest.
- 6:32And we pray, Lord, that we will be able to come
- 6:35and approach You in that manner this evening,
- 6:38seeking to find rest with the Lord Jesus,
- 6:42seeking to find rest for our souls.
- 6:45We thank You, Lord, that we come in prayer to You,
- 6:49knowing that every need that we have already known unto You,
- 6:55that You delight to hear us sharing with You,
- 6:58that You delight as Your children come to You in prayer.
- 7:02For in prayer we acknowledge our dependence upon You,
- 7:05for apart from You, without You, we can do nothing.
- 7:08And so as we come, we thank You to be able to bring all our prayers to You
- 7:13for the cause of Your kingdom near and far,
- 7:17for our own individual needs and for the needs of others around us,
- 7:22and for the growth of Your church, Lord, near and far.
- 7:26And we thank You that we can come remembering who You are,
- 7:31that You are the God who has done mighty works in the past,
- 7:34the God who is doing even powerful works today,
- 7:39and the God who will be the same into the future,
- 7:42that You will be with Your people,
- 7:44that You will watch over Your people,
- 7:47that You will bring Your people to Yourself
- 7:50on that great day appointed as the day of judgment.
- 7:54And we thank You for Your constancy towards us,
- 7:58that You are a God who never fails us,
- 8:01a God whose steadfast love,
- 8:03whose great love towards us is so faithful each day.
- 8:08And we thank You that today, as a new day,
- 8:11we can come to You.
- 8:12And thank You for the blessings of this day.
- 8:14We can thank You for being able to gather round Your Word,
- 8:19to be able to gather together,
- 8:20to be able to share in this way.
- 8:23And we thank You and bless You for these opportunities that we have.
- 8:28And help us, Lord, not to take them for granted,
- 8:30help us to be wise with our time,
- 8:34and to use it to seek Your will for us.
- 8:37And we do pray, Lord, for every individual and home represented here,
- 8:44and all who tune in online as well.
- 8:46We thank You for the means that we have to meet with one another
- 8:51in so many different ways,
- 8:53that we are not confined here,
- 8:55but that Your Word goes out far and wide.
- 8:58And remember us in all our homes and our families.
- 9:01Remember us with all our different needs.
- 9:04Remember their young people.
- 9:05Lord, we thank You for them.
- 9:07We thank You for each one who we see coming through these doors week by week,
- 9:12both to church services and to explorers groups,
- 9:17to the YF.
- 9:18Even this evening, we pray Your blessing on those who will gather in the hall next door
- 9:23as they gather for the YF there.
- 9:25May Your blessing be with them.
- 9:28Encourage them, Lord, and watch over them in their young years.
- 9:32We thank You too for those who are involved in the trip to Scalladale this weekend.
- 9:36We thank You for the blessings of that,
- 9:40being gathered together in fellowship
- 9:42and enjoying learning from Your Word
- 9:46and building relationships there.
- 9:49We thank You for their safety and for encouragement in their time.
- 9:53We pray, Lord, Your blessing on all who are involved in arranging that
- 9:57and in leading it over this weekend as well.
- 10:00We thank You too, Lord, for the blessings of the wider church too.
- 10:09We thank You for our own denomination
- 10:10and for all the congregations up and down our land
- 10:14who faithfully proclaim Your gospel week by week.
- 10:18We thank You for encouraging news in different parts.
- 10:23We hear so often of discouragement around us, Lord,
- 10:27but we thank You for even the gathering in Portree yesterday
- 10:31where the new church building was officially opened.
- 10:34We thank You for the vision that You gave to the people there
- 10:37to begin that work and to see it through.
- 10:41And as they are encouraged now in its opening,
- 10:44that they will be further encouraged in the years ahead
- 10:47to see it used for Your glory
- 10:49and for the goodness of the community there.
- 10:52So we ask Your blessing on the minister there,
- 10:56the Reverend Donny G. MacDonald.
- 10:58We thank You that even though he has been through
- 11:01a period of ill health himself,
- 11:03that he is in better health now
- 11:06and able to be involved in the ministry there once again
- 11:09and continue to uphold him and to strengthen him
- 11:12and all of the congregation there.
- 11:15We pray that for ourselves as well as our congregation, Lord.
- 11:18We look forward to a time of communion in these coming weeks
- 11:22and we pray that it will be a time of encouragement to us
- 11:25as we gather for word and sacrament.
- 11:29And we pray for the Reverend Angus MacRae
- 11:31and Reverend Carl MacDonald as they prepare to come to us.
- 11:35May You use them, Lord, and encourage them
- 11:37through the ministry of Your word to us.
- 11:41We pray for those who may long to sit at Your table,
- 11:45for those who would profess in their hearts
- 11:48that they are saved by You,
- 11:50that they would come to have the strength
- 11:52to profess it publicly,
- 11:54to be encouraged and to be an encouragement to others.
- 11:58We pray, Lord, for Your help
- 12:00and every preparation to be made in all our hearts
- 12:03as we look to You and turn to You
- 12:06for Your blessing over us in these things.
- 12:08And we pray, too, for our own minister here,
- 12:13Reverend James McKeever and his wife Donna.
- 12:16As we heard this morning of an announcement
- 12:19of his upcoming retirement, Lord,
- 12:22we want to thank You for his ministry
- 12:23and support to us as a people here
- 12:26and to the church at large as well.
- 12:29We pray, Lord, that You will continue to use him
- 12:32in these remaining months here, Lord.
- 12:35Use him and bless him mightily
- 12:37as he continues to preach the word.
- 12:40And we pray for prayers to be answered,
- 12:43even offered up over these last number of years
- 12:45and maybe even decades, Lord,
- 12:47to see Your glory in this place,
- 12:50to see Your Spirit working.
- 12:52We pray for them as a couple, too,
- 12:54remembering Donna,
- 12:55thankful for her most recent surgery
- 12:58and pray for her going forward as well,
- 13:01that together they will know Your goodness
- 13:03and mercy upon them.
- 13:05So we ask all these things looking to You.
- 13:08We ask all these things as undeserving
- 13:11of the least of Your mercies,
- 13:12but thankful for Your love
- 13:14and Your steadfast love towards us.
- 13:17Hear our prayers, Lord.
- 13:18Watch over us.
- 13:19Guide us in our worship and in our praise.
- 13:22May we lift our hearts to You
- 13:23with much thankfulness
- 13:25as we have much reason to rejoice.
- 13:28So go with us now
- 13:29and pardon all us
- 13:30and as we ask all these things
- 13:33in Jesus' name.
- 13:34Amen.
- 13:39We're going to sing again to God's praise,
- 13:42this time in Psalm 30,
- 13:44in the Singed Psalms.
- 13:47Find this on page 34 of the Psalm books.
- 13:52Psalm 30.
- 13:53We're going to sing from verse 1 down to verse 8.
- 13:56O Lord, I will exalt Your name,
- 13:59for You have rescued me.
- 14:01You did not let my foes rejoice
- 14:03and gloat triumphantly.
- 14:06We'll sing from verse 1 to verse 8,
- 14:08and the tune is Kilmarnock.
- 14:10We sing to God's praise.
- 14:12Amen.
- 14:17O Lord, I will exalt Your name,
- 14:26for You have rescued me.
- 14:33Give in the day,
- 14:38my foes rejoice
- 14:43and no triumphantly.
- 14:49Lord, I will exalt Your name,
- 14:57I will exalt Your name,
- 14:58and You have rescued me.
- 14:59And You have rescued me.
- 15:01And You have restored my health.
- 15:07O Lord, You brought me from the grave,
- 15:16and saved my soul from death.
- 15:25You holy ones sing to the Lord,
- 15:35sing and with joyful hearts.
- 15:43When you read all His glory,
- 15:51then please Him and rejoice.
- 15:59His anger,
- 16:04His anger,
- 16:05but have obeyed us,
- 16:10life on His chamber's cage.
- 16:19Though tears play us
- 16:24throughout the night,
- 16:28joy comes with morning's lips.
- 16:36I never shall be would I say,
- 16:46in my prosperity.
- 16:52You made my country,
- 16:59you made my country firm and strong,
- 17:03when you Lord favored me.
- 17:11But when you hid your face on me,
- 17:21my heart was terrified.
- 17:28For you, O Lord, I call thou life.
- 17:38For bless me, O Lord, I cry.
- 17:47Amen.
- 17:49Amen.
- 17:50Amen.
- 17:51Amen.
- 17:51Amen.
- 17:52Amen.
- 17:53We'll turn to read God's Word in the Old Testament,
- 17:55in the book of Nehemiah.
- 17:58Nehemiah chapter 8.
- 18:02You'll find this around page 482,
- 18:05depending what version of the Bible you have.
- 18:08Nehemiah chapter 8.
- 18:10We can read the whole of this chapter.
- 18:15Nehemiah chapter 8.
- 18:18And all the people gathered as one man
- 18:21into the square before the water gate.
- 18:24And they told Ezra the scribe
- 18:26to bring the book of the law of Moses
- 18:28that the Lord had commanded Israel.
- 18:32So Ezra the priest brought the law
- 18:34before the assembly,
- 18:36both men and women,
- 18:37and all who could understand what they heard
- 18:39on the first day of the seventh month.
- 18:42And he read from it,
- 18:45facing the square before the water gate,
- 18:48from early morning until midday,
- 18:51in the presence of the men and the women
- 18:53and those who could understand.
- 18:55And the ears of all the people
- 18:57were attentive to the book of the law.
- 19:01And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
- 19:03that they had made for the purpose.
- 19:06And beside him stood Mattathiah, Shema,
- 19:10Ananiah, Uriah, Hilkiah,
- 19:12and Messiah on the right hand.
- 19:15And Padaiah, Mishel, Malchijah, Hashim,
- 19:20Hashbadanah, Zachariah, and Meshulam
- 19:23on the left hand.
- 19:25And Ezra opened the book
- 19:27in the sight of all the people,
- 19:29for he was above all the people.
- 19:31And as he opened it,
- 19:32all the people stood.
- 19:34And Ezra blessed the Lord,
- 19:37the great God,
- 19:38and all the people answered,
- 19:40Amen, Amen.
- 19:42lifting up their hands.
- 19:45And they bowed their heads
- 19:46and worshipped the Lord
- 19:48with their faces to the ground.
- 19:50Also Jeshua, Bani,
- 19:52Sherebiah, Jamin,
- 19:54Akub, Shabithiah,
- 19:57Hodiah,
- 19:58Messiah,
- 19:59Kelita,
- 20:00Asariah,
- 20:01Josabat,
- 20:02Hanan,
- 20:03Peliah,
- 20:04Nehemiah,
- 20:05the Levites,
- 20:06they helped the people
- 20:07to understand the law,
- 20:10while the people remained
- 20:11in their places.
- 20:13They read from the book
- 20:14of the law of God
- 20:15clearly,
- 20:16and they gave the meaning
- 20:17so that the people
- 20:18understood the reading.
- 20:21And Nehemiah,
- 20:22who was the governor,
- 20:23and Ezra the priest
- 20:25and scribe,
- 20:26and the Levites,
- 20:27who taught the people,
- 20:28said to all the people,
- 20:30This day is holy
- 20:32to the Lord your God.
- 20:34Do not mourn or weep.
- 20:36For all the people wept
- 20:37as they heard
- 20:38the words of the law.
- 20:40Then he said to them,
- 20:41Go on your way.
- 20:43Eat the fat
- 20:44and drink sweet wine
- 20:45and send portions
- 20:46to anyone who has nothing,
- 20:48who has nothing ready.
- 20:50For this day
- 20:50is a holy day
- 20:52to our Lord.
- 20:53And do not be grieved,
- 20:55for the joy of the Lord
- 20:57is your strength.
- 20:58So the Levites
- 21:00calmed all the people,
- 21:01saying,
- 21:02Be quiet,
- 21:03for this day is holy.
- 21:05Do not be grieved.
- 21:07And all the people
- 21:08went on their way
- 21:09to eat and drink
- 21:10and to send portions
- 21:11and to make great rejoicing,
- 21:13because they had understood
- 21:15the words
- 21:16that were declared to them.
- 21:18On the second day,
- 21:19the heads of the fathers' houses
- 21:21of all the people
- 21:22with the priests
- 21:23and the Levites
- 21:24came together
- 21:25to Ezra the scribe
- 21:26in order to study
- 21:27the words of the law.
- 21:29And they found it written
- 21:30in the law
- 21:31that the Lord
- 21:32had commanded by Moses
- 21:33that the people of Israel
- 21:35should dwell in booths
- 21:36during the feast
- 21:37of the seventh month,
- 21:39and that they should
- 21:39proclaim it
- 21:40and publish it
- 21:41in all their towns
- 21:42and in Jerusalem.
- 21:44Go out to the hills
- 21:46and bring branches
- 21:47of olive,
- 21:48wild olive,
- 21:49myrtle,
- 21:50palm,
- 21:51and other leafy trees
- 21:52to make booths
- 21:53as it is written.
- 21:54So the people went out
- 21:56and brought them
- 21:56and made booths
- 21:57for themselves,
- 21:58each on his roof
- 21:59and in their courts
- 22:01and in the courts
- 22:02of the house of God
- 22:03and in the square
- 22:04at the water gate
- 22:05and in the square
- 22:06at the gate of Ephraim.
- 22:09And all the assembly
- 22:10of those who had returned
- 22:11from the captivity
- 22:13made booths
- 22:14and lived in the booths.
- 22:16For from the days
- 22:17of Jeshua,
- 22:18the son of Nun,
- 22:20to that day,
- 22:21the people of Israel
- 22:22had not done so.
- 22:24And there was
- 22:24very great rejoicing.
- 22:27And day by day,
- 22:28from the first day
- 22:29to the last day,
- 22:31he read from the book
- 22:32of the law of God
- 22:33that kept the feast
- 22:35seven days.
- 22:36And on the eighth day,
- 22:38there was a solemn assembly
- 22:40according to the rule.
- 22:44Amen.
- 22:44And may God bless
- 22:45that reading
- 22:45from his word.
- 22:49Before we turn back
- 22:50to this passage,
- 22:51we'll read again,
- 22:52sing again,
- 22:53in Psalm 47.
- 22:56We'll sing Psalm's version,
- 22:57page 62 of the psalm books.
- 23:01Psalm 47,
- 23:02we'll sing the whole
- 23:03of this psalm,
- 23:03the tune is Duke Street.
- 23:05All nations,
- 23:06clap your hands
- 23:07and shout.
- 23:08Let joyful cries
- 23:10to God ring out.
- 23:11How awesome
- 23:12is the Lord Most High,
- 23:14great King,
- 23:15who rules the earth
- 23:17throughout.
- 23:18We'll sing the whole
- 23:18of this psalm
- 23:19to God's praise.
- 23:20Amen.
- 23:21Amen.
- 23:25All nations,
- 23:29clap your hands
- 23:32and shout.
- 23:35Play joyful cries
- 23:39to God ring out.
- 23:44How awesome is the Lord Most High,
- 23:53great King,
- 23:55who rules the earth
- 23:59to rise.
- 24:01He has subdued
- 24:06believe the free,
- 24:11the nations who have
- 24:16in our foes.
- 24:19In blessing,
- 24:22Jacob,
- 24:24whom he loved,
- 24:29a heritage
- 24:31for us,
- 24:35he chose.
- 24:37God has gone up
- 24:42with shams of joy,
- 24:47the Lord,
- 24:49how it let
- 24:52have a sound.
- 24:56Sing,
- 24:57grace,
- 24:58sing,
- 24:59pledge
- 25:00to God
- 25:02Most High,
- 25:05God
- 25:06to God
- 25:07our King,
- 25:09let grace
- 25:11happen.
- 25:13For God is King,
- 25:18O Holy
- 25:21Earth,
- 25:23sing sounds of praise
- 25:27to Him alone.
- 25:31God rules the nations
- 25:36from on high,
- 25:41He sits upon
- 25:45His holy throne.
- 25:50Godifies it.
- 26:01God bless
- 26:06your crown
- 26:08To Him
- 26:10beyond
- 26:11the shields
- 26:14of earth
- 26:17ängen
- 26:18Exalted great, the extra Lord.
- 26:30We'll turn back to our reading in Nehemiah chapter 8.
- 26:36We can read again at verse 9 through to verse 12 there.
- 26:41Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe,
- 26:46and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people,
- 26:50This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.
- 26:55For all the people wept as they heard the words of the law.
- 27:00Then he said to them, Go on your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine,
- 27:05and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready.
- 27:09For this day is holy to our Lord.
- 27:12And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
- 27:17So the Levites calmed all the people, saying,
- 27:22Be quiet, for this day is holy. Do not be grieved.
- 27:26And all the people went on their way to eat and drink,
- 27:29and to send portions, and to make great rejoicing,
- 27:33because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
- 27:38Well, our study in Nehemiah comes to this point now,
- 27:43where we find ourselves in chapter 8.
- 27:46And if you think it's hard reading through the beginning of chapter 8 with all these names,
- 27:51if you turn back to chapter 7, you'll see the reason why we jumped over it.
- 27:55It's because there's a whole host of names there of people who returned from the exile.
- 28:02Now, we're not just jumping over to ignore it.
- 28:04We see its importance because it breaks down to us the number of people who were involved in this
- 28:10and who returned to Jerusalem after the exile, after the walls had been restored.
- 28:17And it's these people that we find who have gathered there, as we read in verse 1 of chapter 8,
- 28:23all the people gathered as one man into the square before the water gate.
- 28:29There's this whole host of people who have gathered.
- 28:35And what is our vision?
- 28:38That's the question that we often find arising as we study Nehemiah.
- 28:44It's a question that keeps arising as you're going through this great book.
- 28:49And the reason it keeps arising is because it's there before us all the time.
- 28:54What is our vision?
- 28:58It's there as the book starts because Nehemiah himself, we find, is given a reminder.
- 29:05He's told what is happening back in Jerusalem.
- 29:09And he's not happy with how things are in Jerusalem when he hears that the walls are broken down,
- 29:16that the people are in great trouble.
- 29:19He's concerned.
- 29:21He's troubled.
- 29:21He mourns over this.
- 29:23But we find that God gives him this sense of vision to be a man who will come and begin the work of restoring Jerusalem.
- 29:34Nehemiah is a visionary.
- 29:37And through the vision that God has given to him, we see that he returns to Jerusalem.
- 29:42He returns.
- 29:43It's a great journey in itself just to return to Jerusalem.
- 29:48It takes a while to get there.
- 29:49And when he arrives, he finds the walls are just all broken down.
- 29:55There's hardly anything left of it.
- 29:58And it would be easy to be discouraged.
- 30:01It would be easy for him to lose heart and think this task is impossible.
- 30:07But he knows that God has given him a vision.
- 30:10And when we've looked through this book of Nehemiah, I've quoted this maybe once or twice before as we've gone through.
- 30:19It's a quote from George Barna.
- 30:21I think it's helpful to always have this quote before us as well because it helps us remind ourselves that we need to be a people of vision as well.
- 30:31George Barna once said,
- 30:33Vision is the ability to understand the history, the present condition, and the potential of the church,
- 30:41and to conceive a plan for action that will maximize the ministry potential.
- 30:47It goes on a little bit after that as well.
- 30:50And what we've seen is the vision that Nehemiah was one that had history behind it,
- 30:57the history of Jerusalem as a great city.
- 31:00It had the present condition involved in it as well,
- 31:04that Jerusalem was a city that's walled.
- 31:07The walls were broken down.
- 31:08The gates were burned.
- 31:10It was a place in trouble.
- 31:12But as George Barna says,
- 31:15It's the potential of the church as well.
- 31:18And to conceive a plan for action that will maximize the ministry potential.
- 31:25And really that's the stage we're at now.
- 31:28We've seen the history.
- 31:29We've seen the condition it was in.
- 31:31But now we're seeing the great potential that there is in Jerusalem.
- 31:38And we ask ourselves too, for our own context here today,
- 31:43what is our vision?
- 31:45Has going through Nehemiah stirred up our vision for the church here,
- 31:50in terms of its history,
- 31:53in terms of its present condition,
- 31:56and in terms too of its potential.
- 31:59To see what God has done,
- 32:03to see where we are today.
- 32:05It's not where we would want to be,
- 32:07to see the troubles that are around us,
- 32:09but not to fall short there and think,
- 32:12well, what can we do now?
- 32:14To be like Nehemiah coming back
- 32:16and not seeing a place in disarray and disillusionment
- 32:20and thinking, what is possible here?
- 32:22There's nothing.
- 32:23It's just a place of ruin.
- 32:25But to have a vision
- 32:26and to see a God-given vision
- 32:29and a God-given potential
- 32:31for where we are at today.
- 32:34When we think of our own vision in a physical sense,
- 32:39there are a number of things that can hinder
- 32:41our vision physically.
- 32:44There's blindness.
- 32:47Caused by maybe a number of different things.
- 32:50We can be a people who are blind.
- 32:53Our vision can also be hampered by darkness.
- 32:57If there's darkness all around us,
- 33:00our vision is hampered
- 33:01because we cannot see where we're going.
- 33:04But there's a third one as well
- 33:06that hampers our vision.
- 33:09And that is sleeping.
- 33:11When we're sleeping,
- 33:13we're not seeing.
- 33:15We're not aware.
- 33:16We're not aware of what is happening around us.
- 33:19And when you think of these three things
- 33:21in a spiritual sense,
- 33:22you could say the same applies.
- 33:25There are three things that can hinder
- 33:27our vision spiritually.
- 33:30There is darkness.
- 33:33There is blindness.
- 33:34These two are often maybe the ones
- 33:37that we look at most often.
- 33:39Blindness, the Bible speaks of so often.
- 33:42We don't see God.
- 33:44We are blind.
- 33:46We're dead, as it were,
- 33:47in our trespasses and sins,
- 33:49as the Bible says.
- 33:50We don't see our need of God.
- 33:53And yet what we read in the Bible is
- 33:56that God can save us.
- 33:59God can restore our sight.
- 34:02We're surrounded by darkness as well.
- 34:06The Bible again reminds us of that so often.
- 34:10There's darkness all around us in this world.
- 34:13But it says to us, too,
- 34:15as you read through,
- 34:16that Christ has come
- 34:18to be the light of the world,
- 34:20that there is a cure
- 34:21for both of these.
- 34:24But what about when it comes
- 34:26to sleeping?
- 34:28As a church,
- 34:31as a people,
- 34:32if we're spiritually sleeping,
- 34:36it's not that we're dead,
- 34:38but we're not alive either.
- 34:40We're not living for God.
- 34:41We're just in this slumber.
- 34:44We're not aware
- 34:45of what's going on around us.
- 34:48We're ignorant to it.
- 34:50It can lead to discouragement.
- 34:52It can lead to dismay for us.
- 34:55And what's the cure for that?
- 34:58Well, again,
- 35:00it's about Christ
- 35:01and having a vision of him
- 35:05and of what he can do for us.
- 35:07We heard this morning
- 35:09how the psalmist was saying to God,
- 35:12are you asleep?
- 35:14Will you not awaken
- 35:16and come and help us?
- 35:19Well, God sometimes says
- 35:20to his people as well,
- 35:22it's time for you to wake up.
- 35:25We're reminded this morning,
- 35:26God does not sleep,
- 35:29but we sometimes do.
- 35:33Ephesians chapter 5, verse 14.
- 35:36There the context is talking
- 35:38about darkness and light
- 35:39and which one we're walking in.
- 35:42And it says in verse 14,
- 35:44awake, O sleeper,
- 35:46and arise from the dead,
- 35:48and Christ will shine in you.
- 35:51A wake-up call.
- 35:54And that is what Nehemiah came
- 35:56to his people with.
- 35:59It was a wake-up call for them,
- 36:01calling the people to awake and arise
- 36:04and to get on with the work
- 36:06of restoration of Jerusalem.
- 36:08And this evening,
- 36:10we come to the point
- 36:11in the book where we almost see
- 36:14this vision that Nehemiah had
- 36:16for his people
- 36:17and for Jerusalem fulfilled.
- 36:21Almost,
- 36:22but not fully.
- 36:24And what we find here is
- 36:26that the fulfillment
- 36:27is found
- 36:28in the Lord.
- 36:30And these verses
- 36:32that we read
- 36:33in verse 9 to 12
- 36:34in particular,
- 36:35here we see a culmination
- 36:37of all this work
- 36:38where he says,
- 36:40do not mourn or weep.
- 36:42For all the people wept
- 36:43as they heard
- 36:44the word of the Lord.
- 36:45Then he said to them,
- 36:46go on your way,
- 36:47eat and drink sweet wine
- 36:49and send portions
- 36:50to anyone
- 36:50who has nothing.
- 36:51Ready for this day
- 36:52is holy
- 36:53to our Lord.
- 36:55And do not be grieved
- 36:56for the joy of the Lord
- 36:58is your strength.
- 37:02For the joy of the Lord
- 37:03is your strength.
- 37:07This was a momentous moment
- 37:09for the people
- 37:10as they returned
- 37:11to Jerusalem.
- 37:13And we're going to see that.
- 37:14We're going to see
- 37:15the potential
- 37:16that Nehemiah
- 37:18is beginning to see fulfilled
- 37:20in this place.
- 37:23Potential that is found
- 37:25even in the midst
- 37:26of difficulty,
- 37:27in the midst of weeping,
- 37:29in the midst of grief.
- 37:30We find that the Lord
- 37:32is speaking.
- 37:33The joy of the Lord
- 37:34is your strength.
- 37:38We were reminded
- 37:38this morning too
- 37:39of how it's often
- 37:41in trials
- 37:42that we see
- 37:44and need the Lord
- 37:45more and more.
- 37:46William Cowper,
- 37:47God moves in mysterious ways.
- 37:49We heard how he wrote that
- 37:51in difficult personal circumstances
- 37:53himself.
- 37:54Well, another one
- 37:56who wrote
- 37:57in very difficult
- 37:57personal circumstances
- 37:59was Horatio Spafford.
- 38:02He wrote that
- 38:03wonderful hymn,
- 38:05It is well
- 38:06with my soul.
- 38:08He said,
- 38:09When peace like a river
- 38:10attendeth my way,
- 38:12when sorrows
- 38:12like sea billows roll,
- 38:14whatever my Lord
- 38:15there has taught me
- 38:16to say,
- 38:17it is well,
- 38:19it is well
- 38:19with my soul.
- 38:20I think,
- 38:22well,
- 38:22he must have been
- 38:23in a wonderful place
- 38:24in his life
- 38:25to write these words,
- 38:27to say it is well
- 38:28with my soul.
- 38:30Well,
- 38:30it wasn't
- 38:31a wonderful time
- 38:33in his life.
- 38:35He had lost
- 38:36a son
- 38:37aged four,
- 38:39not long before this.
- 38:41He wrote these words.
- 38:43He had lost
- 38:44financially.
- 38:46His business
- 38:47was ruined
- 38:48through a great fire
- 38:49in Chicago.
- 38:51He had lost
- 38:53four daughters
- 38:54who he had sent
- 38:56with his wife
- 38:57over to England
- 38:58by boat
- 38:58and the boat
- 39:00was tragically sunk.
- 39:02It was a time
- 39:03of great dismay
- 39:04and sorrow
- 39:05in his life.
- 39:07And it was as he was
- 39:08sailing to England
- 39:09himself
- 39:10and as he was
- 39:10passing the spot
- 39:12where his daughters
- 39:13had drowned
- 39:14that he went back
- 39:15to his cabin
- 39:16and wrote
- 39:17these words
- 39:18where he could find
- 39:20that even in the midst
- 39:22of that he could say
- 39:22it is well,
- 39:24it is well
- 39:25with my soul.
- 39:27The joy
- 39:28of the Lord
- 39:29was a strength
- 39:31to him.
- 39:32Do you have
- 39:33that strength
- 39:35from
- 39:36that joy
- 39:37of the Lord?
- 39:38There's three
- 39:39things I want
- 39:40us to see
- 39:40from these
- 39:42verses before us
- 39:43this evening.
- 39:44When we think
- 39:44of these words,
- 39:46the joy
- 39:46of the Lord
- 39:47is our strength.
- 39:50And the first
- 39:50thing we want
- 39:51to see is
- 39:52how these
- 39:53words
- 39:54humble us.
- 39:56Then we see
- 39:57how these
- 39:58words
- 39:59lift us up.
- 40:01And then
- 40:02thirdly,
- 40:02we'll see
- 40:03how these
- 40:03words
- 40:04they keep
- 40:05us
- 40:05going.
- 40:07And the first
- 40:08thing we see
- 40:08here is
- 40:09these words
- 40:10humble us.
- 40:13What did
- 40:13Nehemiah want
- 40:14as he came
- 40:15to Jerusalem?
- 40:17What was his
- 40:18great desire?
- 40:19What was his
- 40:19great vision?
- 40:20And when
- 40:21would his
- 40:21vision be
- 40:22fulfilled?
- 40:24At what
- 40:24point
- 40:25was it
- 40:25the work
- 40:26done?
- 40:28You might
- 40:28have said
- 40:29in chapter
- 40:296
- 40:30verse 15
- 40:32there you
- 40:33could see
- 40:33well that's
- 40:34it.
- 40:35The work
- 40:35is done.
- 40:36His vision
- 40:36is complete.
- 40:37What does
- 40:37it say?
- 40:38So the
- 40:39wall was
- 40:39finished
- 40:40on the
- 40:4125th day
- 40:42of the
- 40:42month of
- 40:43Elul
- 40:44in the
- 40:4552
- 40:45days.
- 40:48You might
- 40:48think there.
- 40:50That's the
- 40:51point where
- 40:51his vision
- 40:52was complete.
- 40:52The walls
- 40:53are finished.
- 40:56But that's
- 40:56not it.
- 40:58That's not
- 40:59the fulfillment
- 40:59of his
- 41:01vision.
- 41:02You might
- 41:02then say
- 41:03well it
- 41:03must be
- 41:04chapter 7
- 41:05then.
- 41:06When you
- 41:06read through
- 41:07chapter 7
- 41:08and you
- 41:08see all
- 41:09these great
- 41:10numbers
- 41:10returning
- 41:11to Jerusalem
- 41:12was this
- 41:14the point
- 41:14where he
- 41:15could say
- 41:15my work
- 41:16is done?
- 41:17My vision
- 41:18is fulfilled?
- 41:20No
- 41:21it wasn't.
- 41:24It's what
- 41:24we find
- 41:25in chapter
- 41:278.
- 41:29And what
- 41:29we find
- 41:30in chapter
- 41:318 is a
- 41:31reminder
- 41:32to us
- 41:32that the
- 41:33great
- 41:34burden
- 41:34that
- 41:34Nehemiah
- 41:35had
- 41:36was not
- 41:36just for
- 41:37the walls
- 41:38of Jerusalem.
- 41:40It was
- 41:41not just
- 41:41for a
- 41:42material
- 41:42outlook on
- 41:43Jerusalem.
- 41:44His great
- 41:45burden
- 41:46was for
- 41:46the people.
- 41:48It was
- 41:49the people
- 41:50who were
- 41:51in trouble.
- 41:53And this
- 41:53is where we
- 41:54begin to
- 41:55see his
- 41:56vision
- 41:56fulfilled.
- 41:57as the
- 41:58people
- 41:59hear in
- 41:59the beginning
- 42:00of verse
- 42:008,
- 42:01they
- 42:01command
- 42:02the
- 42:02hearing
- 42:03of the
- 42:04word.
- 42:06Ezra
- 42:06brings
- 42:07the book
- 42:08before them.
- 42:10The book
- 42:10of the
- 42:10law
- 42:10of Moses
- 42:12it says
- 42:12in verse
- 42:131.
- 42:14And it
- 42:14was a
- 42:15book
- 42:15that was
- 42:16to be
- 42:17opened up
- 42:18and to
- 42:18be heard
- 42:19by them.
- 42:22The people
- 42:23had had
- 42:23much
- 42:23to be
- 42:24distressed
- 42:25about.
- 42:25They
- 42:27had been
- 42:27in exile.
- 42:29They were
- 42:29returning
- 42:29from this
- 42:30period of
- 42:30exile.
- 42:31They were
- 42:31returning
- 42:32to a
- 42:32place
- 42:33that had
- 42:33been a
- 42:34shambles,
- 42:35that had
- 42:35been broken
- 42:35down,
- 42:36their homes
- 42:37ruined,
- 42:38the city
- 42:38ruined.
- 42:40And they
- 42:40had returned
- 42:41hearing and
- 42:42knowing that
- 42:43it was
- 42:43because they
- 42:44hadn't
- 42:44listened
- 42:45to God,
- 42:47that they
- 42:48had rejected
- 42:48God.
- 42:51And this
- 42:51is brought
- 42:52home to
- 42:52them as
- 42:53they hear
- 42:53Ezra
- 42:54read the
- 42:55word of
- 42:56God to
- 42:57them.
- 42:58And what
- 42:59did this
- 42:59word do?
- 43:02Well,
- 43:02as they
- 43:03hear the
- 43:03word read,
- 43:05it humbled
- 43:06them.
- 43:08And when
- 43:08you look
- 43:08at this,
- 43:09you find
- 43:09that they
- 43:10were here
- 43:11together on
- 43:11the first
- 43:12day of
- 43:12the seventh
- 43:13month.
- 43:13They were
- 43:13hearing the
- 43:15word read,
- 43:16it says in
- 43:16verse 3,
- 43:18from early
- 43:18morning until
- 43:20midday.
- 43:22Around
- 43:22five or
- 43:23six hours
- 43:24they were
- 43:24gathered
- 43:25together
- 43:25hearing the
- 43:27word of
- 43:28God.
- 43:29And you
- 43:30notice three
- 43:30things that
- 43:31this was
- 43:32doing for
- 43:33them, that
- 43:34was happening
- 43:35in their
- 43:35midst here.
- 43:36First of
- 43:37all, they
- 43:37listened.
- 43:39And you
- 43:39see that
- 43:40in verse
- 43:41three.
- 43:43They were
- 43:44there before
- 43:46God, they
- 43:46were hearing
- 43:47this word.
- 43:48And at the
- 43:49end of verse
- 43:49three it
- 43:50says,
- 43:50all the
- 43:50ears of
- 43:51the people
- 43:52were attentive
- 43:53to the
- 43:54book of
- 43:55the law.
- 43:56They were
- 43:57listening to
- 43:58every word
- 43:59that was
- 43:59being spoken.
- 44:01They were
- 44:02beginning to
- 44:03understand
- 44:04every word
- 44:05that was
- 44:06being spoken
- 44:07as well,
- 44:07because that's
- 44:08the second
- 44:08thing we
- 44:09see here.
- 44:10They were
- 44:10helped to
- 44:11understand.
- 44:12In verse
- 44:12seven and
- 44:13eight you
- 44:14have the
- 44:14list of
- 44:14all these
- 44:15people.
- 44:16And it
- 44:17says there,
- 44:17they helped
- 44:18the people
- 44:19to understand
- 44:21the law.
- 44:24So there's
- 44:25these two
- 44:25things going
- 44:26on as a
- 44:27reminder to
- 44:27us of what
- 44:28we are about,
- 44:29isn't it?
- 44:29That we are
- 44:29a people who
- 44:31are to be
- 44:31under the
- 44:32word, but
- 44:33that we are
- 44:33also to be
- 44:34helped to
- 44:35understand the
- 44:37word.
- 44:38If we have
- 44:39questions we
- 44:40should ask,
- 44:41we should be
- 44:42gathered around
- 44:43God's word in
- 44:44this way to
- 44:44help one
- 44:45another to
- 44:46understand.
- 44:47Yes, to
- 44:48listen to
- 44:48the word
- 44:49preached, but
- 44:51then to
- 44:51encourage and
- 44:52to help one
- 44:53another to
- 44:54understand what
- 44:56the word
- 44:56means.
- 44:58And the
- 44:59third thing
- 44:59you see
- 45:00here is that
- 45:01as these
- 45:01things were
- 45:02going on,
- 45:03they were
- 45:03convicted by
- 45:04the word.
- 45:06In verse
- 45:06six, we
- 45:08see that
- 45:08Ezra blessed
- 45:10the Lord,
- 45:11the great
- 45:11God, and
- 45:12all the
- 45:12people answered,
- 45:14Amen,
- 45:14Amen,
- 45:15lifting up
- 45:16their hands
- 45:18to God.
- 45:21And so
- 45:21there was
- 45:21this response
- 45:22to the
- 45:23word, they
- 45:23were convicted
- 45:24by it,
- 45:25initially with
- 45:25a sense of
- 45:26Amen to
- 45:27the word of
- 45:28God.
- 45:29But then you
- 45:29see later
- 45:30on, as you
- 45:31read down
- 45:32into verse
- 45:33nine onwards
- 45:34there, the
- 45:35end of verse
- 45:35nine, it
- 45:36says, for
- 45:37all the
- 45:37people wept
- 45:38as they
- 45:39heard the
- 45:40words of
- 45:41the law.
- 45:41the people
- 45:43wept as
- 45:44they heard
- 45:45the words
- 45:46of the
- 45:47law.
- 45:48They were
- 45:49convicted
- 45:49by it, they
- 45:50needed this
- 45:52word.
- 45:53We need
- 45:54this word
- 45:55ourselves
- 45:56too, because
- 45:57it is this
- 45:58word that
- 45:59helps us to
- 45:59see how
- 46:00far from
- 46:01God we
- 46:02have fallen
- 46:02away, but
- 46:05it helps us
- 46:06to come
- 46:06back to
- 46:07him as
- 46:08well.
- 46:09It is the
- 46:10word of
- 46:11God that
- 46:12brings
- 46:12healing.
- 46:15And that
- 46:15is what
- 46:16we need.
- 46:17Every one
- 46:18of us, that's
- 46:18what our
- 46:19people all
- 46:20around us
- 46:20need, that's
- 46:21what our
- 46:21nations need,
- 46:23the word
- 46:23of God to
- 46:24convict, to
- 46:26remind us
- 46:27who God
- 46:28is.
- 46:29And we
- 46:29can say
- 46:30Amen to
- 46:30so many
- 46:31things, but
- 46:33that to
- 46:33remind us
- 46:34who we
- 46:34are, and
- 46:35to bring us
- 46:35to that
- 46:36point of
- 46:36mourning and
- 46:38weeping.
- 46:41yesterday in
- 46:42Port 3, it
- 46:44was a day of
- 46:44vision being
- 46:45realized there
- 46:46with the
- 46:47official opening
- 46:48of the
- 46:48church.
- 46:50A great
- 46:50day for
- 46:51them and
- 46:52for all
- 46:52concerned.
- 46:54But is
- 46:55that it?
- 46:56Is the
- 46:57work done?
- 46:58Of course
- 46:59not.
- 47:01The vision
- 47:01is ongoing
- 47:03because the
- 47:04vision is to
- 47:05make Jesus
- 47:06known through
- 47:07the preaching
- 47:07of the word
- 47:08in that
- 47:09place.
- 47:11It won't
- 47:11be, come
- 47:12and see
- 47:13this new
- 47:14building.
- 47:15Come and
- 47:16see how
- 47:16warm this
- 47:17space is.
- 47:18Come and
- 47:19see the
- 47:19technology we
- 47:20have.
- 47:21That's not
- 47:21what it
- 47:22will be
- 47:22about.
- 47:24It's
- 47:24about
- 47:25something
- 47:25else,
- 47:26something
- 47:26greater.
- 47:27Come
- 47:27see a
- 47:28man who
- 47:30knows
- 47:30everything
- 47:30about you.
- 47:32Could
- 47:32this be
- 47:33the
- 47:34Christ?
- 47:35It's
- 47:36about the
- 47:36preaching
- 47:37of the
- 47:38word.
- 47:39The
- 47:40city of
- 47:40Glasgow
- 47:41motto as
- 47:41it was
- 47:42originally
- 47:42had that
- 47:43at its
- 47:43very
- 47:44core.
- 47:45Let
- 47:46Lord,
- 47:47let
- 47:47Glasgow
- 47:47flourish
- 47:48through
- 47:48the
- 47:49preaching
- 47:49of the
- 47:49word
- 47:50and
- 47:50the
- 47:50praising
- 47:51of
- 47:51thy
- 47:52name.
- 47:53Now
- 47:53they've
- 47:54shortened
- 47:54it to
- 47:55let
- 47:55Glasgow
- 47:56flourish.
- 47:58But
- 47:59there's
- 47:59no thought
- 47:59of what
- 48:00is going
- 48:00to make
- 48:00it
- 48:00flourish.
- 48:02We
- 48:02have to
- 48:03get back
- 48:03to that
- 48:04Lord,
- 48:04let
- 48:05Glasgow,
- 48:05let
- 48:05everywhere
- 48:06flourish
- 48:06through
- 48:07the
- 48:07preaching
- 48:07of
- 48:07thy
- 48:08word
- 48:08and
- 48:09the
- 48:09praising
- 48:09of
- 48:10thy
- 48:10name.
- 48:12Being
- 48:13humbled
- 48:13under
- 48:14the
- 48:14word
- 48:15of
- 48:16God.
- 48:16That
- 48:16is
- 48:17where
- 48:17we
- 48:17start.
- 48:20Peter
- 48:20says in
- 48:211 Peter
- 48:22chapter 5,
- 48:23humble
- 48:24yourselves
- 48:24therefore under
- 48:25the mighty
- 48:25hand of
- 48:26God,
- 48:27so that at
- 48:27the proper
- 48:28time he
- 48:28may exalt
- 48:29you,
- 48:30casting
- 48:30all your
- 48:31anxieties
- 48:32on him
- 48:32because he
- 48:33cares
- 48:34for you.
- 48:36So Nehemiah's
- 48:37vision begins
- 48:38here being
- 48:39fulfilled with
- 48:40being humbled
- 48:41under the
- 48:42word of
- 48:42God.
- 48:43They wept
- 48:43and mourned
- 48:45under it,
- 48:46but it
- 48:47doesn't stay
- 48:47there.
- 48:49And that's
- 48:49important for
- 48:50us as we
- 48:51move on
- 48:51because the
- 48:53joy of the
- 48:53Lord lifts
- 48:55us up.
- 48:57And that is
- 48:57what we all
- 48:58want to know
- 48:59as well.
- 48:59The joy of
- 49:00the Lord,
- 49:01the strength
- 49:02that it
- 49:02gives,
- 49:03it lifts
- 49:04us up.
- 49:04God
- 49:06doesn't
- 49:06want to
- 49:06leave
- 49:07his people
- 49:08in a
- 49:08pit of
- 49:09despair.
- 49:11Yes,
- 49:12he wants
- 49:12us to
- 49:12be humbled,
- 49:14but only
- 49:14so that
- 49:15he can
- 49:15lift us
- 49:16up.
- 49:17And
- 49:17Nehemiah
- 49:18and Ezra
- 49:19here,
- 49:19we see
- 49:20the vision
- 49:21too,
- 49:21is not
- 49:21just to
- 49:22bring a
- 49:22people
- 49:22under
- 49:23the
- 49:23word,
- 49:24to
- 49:24despair
- 49:24in
- 49:25their
- 49:25sin,
- 49:26but that
- 49:26they
- 49:26would
- 49:27come
- 49:27and
- 49:27rejoice
- 49:28in
- 49:29the
- 49:29Lord.
- 49:30The
- 49:30joy of
- 49:31the
- 49:31Lord
- 49:31is
- 49:32your
- 49:33strength.
- 49:34Nehemiah
- 49:36is not
- 49:36just a
- 49:37man
- 49:37to
- 49:38talk,
- 49:39he's
- 49:40a man
- 49:40of
- 49:40action.
- 49:41He
- 49:41returned
- 49:41to
- 49:42Jerusalem
- 49:42to
- 49:43spur
- 49:43people
- 49:43on
- 49:44in
- 49:44the
- 49:44work.
- 49:45And
- 49:45now
- 49:46he
- 49:46shows
- 49:46them
- 49:47the
- 49:47fulfillment
- 49:49of
- 49:49his
- 49:49work
- 49:49is
- 49:50to
- 49:50come
- 49:50under
- 49:50the
- 49:50word
- 49:51to
- 49:51know
- 49:52the
- 49:52joy
- 49:53of
- 49:53the
- 49:53Lord
- 49:54as
- 49:55their
- 49:55strength.
- 49:57The
- 49:57source
- 49:58of
- 49:59every
- 49:59help
- 50:01and need
- 50:02that
- 50:02they
- 50:02have
- 50:02can
- 50:03be
- 50:03fulfilled
- 50:04in
- 50:04the
- 50:05Lord.
- 50:06There's
- 50:06always
- 50:07a time
- 50:07for
- 50:07reflection
- 50:08and a
- 50:09time
- 50:09for
- 50:09mourning
- 50:10as we
- 50:11mourn
- 50:12over
- 50:12sin.
- 50:13It's
- 50:13always
- 50:13a part
- 50:14of
- 50:14our
- 50:14life
- 50:14to
- 50:14repent
- 50:15of
- 50:16our
- 50:16sins.
- 50:18But
- 50:19we
- 50:19should
- 50:19never
- 50:19constantly
- 50:20remain
- 50:20in
- 50:21that
- 50:21frame
- 50:22where
- 50:23we're
- 50:23despondent
- 50:24under
- 50:25sin
- 50:26because
- 50:26that
- 50:26paralyzes.
- 50:28There
- 50:29is no
- 50:29joy
- 50:30in
- 50:30that.
- 50:31There
- 50:31is no
- 50:32strength
- 50:32from the
- 50:33Lord
- 50:33in
- 50:33that
- 50:33because
- 50:34the
- 50:34Lord
- 50:34wants
- 50:35to
- 50:35lift
- 50:35us
- 50:35up
- 50:36above
- 50:36that
- 50:36and
- 50:37use
- 50:37us
- 50:37for
- 50:38his
- 50:38glory.
- 50:39And
- 50:39that
- 50:39is
- 50:39what
- 50:40is
- 50:40happening
- 50:40in
- 50:41Jerusalem
- 50:41here.
- 50:42So
- 50:43from
- 50:43Jerusalem
- 50:43and as
- 50:44you
- 50:44go
- 50:44forward
- 50:45in
- 50:45the
- 50:45Old
- 50:46Testament
- 50:46into
- 50:46the
- 50:47New
- 50:47Testament
- 50:47this
- 50:48would
- 50:48be
- 50:49a
- 50:49place
- 50:49that
- 50:49the
- 50:50vision
- 50:50is
- 50:50continuing
- 50:51to
- 50:51be
- 50:52fulfilled.
- 50:53That
- 50:54the
- 50:54word
- 50:54of
- 50:54God
- 50:55would
- 50:55be
- 50:55proclaimed.
- 50:56That
- 50:56the
- 50:57people
- 50:57would
- 50:57be
- 50:57under
- 50:58it.
- 50:58That
- 50:58they
- 51:03to
- 51:03forgive.
- 51:05This
- 51:06joy
- 51:07is to
- 51:08be
- 51:08infectious.
- 51:09This
- 51:09joy
- 51:09is to
- 51:10be at
- 51:10the
- 51:10heart
- 51:11of
- 51:11what
- 51:11they
- 51:11are
- 51:12doing.
- 51:13There
- 51:13are
- 51:14two
- 51:15characters
- 51:15in
- 51:17Winnie
- 51:17the
- 51:17Pooh.
- 51:18I
- 51:18don't
- 51:18know
- 51:18if
- 51:19any
- 51:19of
- 51:19you
- 51:19watched
- 51:20or
- 51:20read
- 51:20Winnie
- 51:21the
- 51:21Pooh
- 51:21but
- 51:21there's
- 51:21two
- 51:22characters
- 51:22that
- 51:23maybe
- 51:23often
- 51:23stand
- 51:24out
- 51:25as
- 51:25complete
- 51:26opposites.
- 51:28You
- 51:28have
- 51:28on
- 51:29one
- 51:29hand
- 51:29Tigger
- 51:30and
- 51:31on
- 51:31the
- 51:31other
- 51:31hand
- 51:32you
- 51:32have
- 51:32Eeyore.
- 51:33And
- 51:34they
- 51:34are
- 51:34just
- 51:34complete
- 51:35opposites.
- 51:36Tigger
- 51:36is
- 51:37ever
- 51:37the
- 51:37optimist.
- 51:39He
- 51:39always
- 51:40has
- 51:40a
- 51:40vision
- 51:40of
- 51:41doing
- 51:41and
- 51:42doing
- 51:42excitement
- 51:44and
- 51:44keeping
- 51:44going
- 51:45in
- 51:45different
- 51:45things
- 51:46with
- 51:46a
- 51:46sense
- 51:47of
- 51:47anticipation.
- 51:49Eeyore
- 51:50on the
- 51:50other
- 51:50hand
- 51:50is
- 51:51a
- 51:51pessimist.
- 51:52The
- 51:53one
- 51:53who's
- 51:53often
- 51:54glum.
- 51:55The
- 51:55one
- 51:55who's
- 51:55often
- 51:56got
- 51:56a
- 51:56negative
- 51:56outlook.
- 51:59When
- 51:59our
- 52:00children
- 52:00were
- 52:01young
- 52:02we
- 52:02had
- 52:03a
- 52:03wee
- 52:03toy
- 52:03Tigger
- 52:04and
- 52:05it
- 52:05was
- 52:06operated
- 52:06by
- 52:06batteries
- 52:07and
- 52:07sprung
- 52:08tail
- 52:08as you
- 52:09know
- 52:09Tigger
- 52:09has
- 52:09so if
- 52:10you
- 52:10switched
- 52:10it on
- 52:11the
- 52:11Tigger
- 52:11would
- 52:12start
- 52:12bouncing
- 52:12around
- 52:13and
- 52:13making
- 52:13a
- 52:14noise
- 52:14and
- 52:16the
- 52:16children
- 52:16would
- 52:17see
- 52:18this
- 52:18and
- 52:18sitting
- 52:18they
- 52:19weren't
- 52:19quite
- 52:20walking
- 52:20but
- 52:21they
- 52:21were
- 52:21sitting
- 52:21up
- 52:22and
- 52:22they
- 52:22would
- 52:22start
- 52:22bouncing
- 52:23trying
- 52:24to
- 52:24copy
- 52:24Tigger
- 52:25because
- 52:26it
- 52:26was
- 52:26infectious
- 52:27it
- 52:28had
- 52:29this
- 52:29impact
- 52:30on
- 52:30them
- 52:30where
- 52:31they
- 52:31were
- 52:31seeing
- 52:31this
- 52:31and
- 52:31excited
- 52:32about
- 52:32it
- 52:33and
- 52:33trying
- 52:33to
- 52:34copy
- 52:34it
- 52:34now
- 52:37God
- 52:37doesn't
- 52:37expect
- 52:38us
- 52:38all
- 52:38to
- 52:38be
- 52:39bouncy
- 52:39Tiggers
- 52:39but
- 52:41neither
- 52:41should
- 52:42we
- 52:42resign
- 52:42ourselves
- 52:43to
- 52:43be
- 52:43glum
- 52:44ears
- 52:44because
- 52:46we
- 52:47have
- 52:47this
- 52:48joy
- 52:48of
- 52:49the
- 52:49Lord
- 52:49as
- 52:49her
- 52:50strength
- 52:50we
- 52:52have
- 52:52this
- 52:52to
- 52:52go
- 52:53on
- 52:53and
- 52:54you
- 52:55notice
- 52:55here
- 52:55what
- 52:56this
- 52:56joy
- 52:56is
- 52:57surrounded
- 52:57in
- 52:58it
- 52:59is
- 52:59by
- 52:59knowing
- 53:00the
- 53:00assurance
- 53:00of
- 53:01God's
- 53:02blessing
- 53:02verse
- 53:039
- 53:04speaks
- 53:05about
- 53:05this
- 53:06day
- 53:06is
- 53:07holy
- 53:07to
- 53:07the
- 53:08Lord
- 53:08your
- 53:08God
- 53:09do
- 53:09not
- 53:10mourn
- 53:10or
- 53:11weep
- 53:11they
- 53:13were
- 53:14approaching
- 53:15an
- 53:15important
- 53:16time
- 53:16in
- 53:16the
- 53:17year
- 53:17at
- 53:18the
- 53:18end
- 53:19of
- 53:19chapter
- 53:197
- 53:20as
- 53:20we
- 53:20come
- 53:20into
- 53:21chapter
- 53:218
- 53:22it
- 53:22speaks
- 53:23about
- 53:23the
- 53:23first
- 53:24day
- 53:24of
- 53:24the
- 53:24seventh
- 53:25month
- 53:26and
- 53:27this
- 53:27was
- 53:28significant
- 53:28because
- 53:30it
- 53:30was
- 53:30a
- 53:30time
- 53:30of
- 53:31festival
- 53:31it
- 53:32was
- 53:32a
- 53:33time
- 53:33of
- 53:33reminding
- 53:34the
- 53:34people
- 53:35of
- 53:35what
- 53:35great
- 53:36joy
- 53:36they
- 53:37had
- 53:37in
- 53:37the
- 53:37Lord
- 53:38that
- 53:38the
- 53:38festival
- 53:38of
- 53:39booths
- 53:39as
- 53:39we
- 53:39read
- 53:40a
- 53:40little
- 53:41bit
- 53:41of
- 53:41but
- 53:42they
- 53:42also
- 53:42had
- 53:42the
- 53:42day
- 53:43of
- 53:43atonement
- 53:44a
- 53:45reminder
- 53:45of
- 53:45the
- 53:46forgiveness
- 53:46of
- 53:47God
- 53:47towards
- 53:48his
- 53:49people
- 53:49through
- 53:50sacrifice
- 53:51and
- 53:53this
- 53:53is a
- 53:53time
- 53:53not
- 53:54to
- 53:55grieve
- 53:55and
- 53:56to
- 53:56mourn
- 53:57that
- 53:57day
- 53:57was
- 53:58past
- 53:59now
- 53:59he's
- 53:59saying
- 54:00you've
- 54:00had
- 54:00that
- 54:01you've
- 54:01mourned
- 54:01you've
- 54:02wept
- 54:02as
- 54:03you've
- 54:03heard
- 54:03the
- 54:03word
- 54:04but
- 54:04they're
- 54:04saying
- 54:05now
- 54:05do
- 54:06not
- 54:06grieve
- 54:07go
- 54:09your
- 54:09way
- 54:10eat
- 54:10the
- 54:10fat
- 54:11drink
- 54:11the
- 54:11sweet
- 54:12wine
- 54:12send
- 54:13portions
- 54:13to
- 54:14anyone
- 54:14who
- 54:14has
- 54:15nothing
- 54:15ready
- 54:16for
- 54:16this
- 54:16day
- 54:17is
- 54:17holy
- 54:18to
- 54:18our
- 54:18Lord
- 54:18do
- 54:19not
- 54:19be
- 54:19grieved
- 54:20for
- 54:21the joy
- 54:21of
- 54:21the
- 54:22Lord
- 54:22is
- 54:23your
- 54:23strength
- 54:24God
- 54:24there
- 54:25there
- 54:25was
- 54:25this
- 54:25powerful
- 54:26reminder
- 54:28to
- 54:28them
- 54:28the
- 54:31great
- 54:31hope
- 54:32that
- 54:32there
- 54:33is
- 54:33in
- 54:34God
- 54:34and
- 54:36for
- 54:36us
- 54:36Christ
- 54:37has
- 54:37come
- 54:38to
- 54:38fulfill
- 54:39that
- 54:39joy
- 54:40for
- 54:40us
- 54:41we
- 54:43can
- 54:43look
- 54:43forward
- 54:43to
- 54:44a
- 54:44day
- 54:44ourselves
- 54:45in
- 54:45a
- 54:45couple
- 54:45of
- 54:46weeks
- 54:46a
- 54:46time
- 54:47of
- 54:47communion
- 54:47as
- 54:47a
- 54:48congregation
- 54:48where
- 54:49we
- 54:50will
- 54:50rejoice
- 54:51in
- 54:52the
- 54:52offering
- 54:52of
- 54:53Christ
- 54:53for
- 54:54us
- 54:54when
- 54:56you
- 54:57think
- 54:57of
- 54:57Jesus
- 54:58as
- 54:58he
- 54:58was
- 54:58with
- 54:58his
- 54:59disciples
- 54:59in
- 55:00John
- 55:0015
- 55:01he's
- 55:02there
- 55:02in
- 55:02the
- 55:03upper
- 55:03room
- 55:03with
- 55:03them
- 55:04the
- 55:04evening
- 55:05before
- 55:05the
- 55:05crucifixion
- 55:06what
- 55:07does
- 55:07he
- 55:07have
- 55:07to
- 55:07say
- 55:08to
- 55:08them
- 55:08he
- 55:10says
- 55:10in
- 55:10verse
- 55:1011
- 55:10these
- 55:11things
- 55:11I
- 55:11have
- 55:11spoken
- 55:12to
- 55:12you
- 55:12that
- 55:13my
- 55:13joy
- 55:14may
- 55:15be
- 55:15in
- 55:15you
- 55:16and
- 55:16that
- 55:16your
- 55:17joy
- 55:17may
- 55:18be
- 55:18full
- 55:19and
- 55:20then
- 55:20you
- 55:20go
- 55:21into
- 55:21chapter
- 55:2117
- 55:22you
- 55:22read
- 55:22about
- 55:23the
- 55:23great
- 55:24prayer
- 55:24of
- 55:24Christ
- 55:25for
- 55:25his
- 55:25people
- 55:26about
- 55:28abiding
- 55:28in
- 55:29him
- 55:30when
- 55:31you
- 55:32think
- 55:32of
- 55:32the
- 55:32context
- 55:32of
- 55:33the
- 55:33disciples
- 55:34in
- 55:34the
- 55:34upper
- 55:34room
- 55:35it
- 55:36was
- 55:36a
- 55:36time
- 55:36of
- 55:36great
- 55:37worry
- 55:37and
- 55:37fear
- 55:38but
- 55:40Jesus
- 55:40has
- 55:40these
- 55:41words
- 55:41to
- 55:41them
- 55:42I
- 55:42have
- 55:42said
- 55:42these
- 55:43things
- 55:43to
- 55:43you
- 55:44that
- 55:44my
- 55:44joy
- 55:44may
- 55:45be
- 55:45in
- 55:46you
- 55:46and
- 55:47that
- 55:47your
- 55:47joy
- 55:47may
- 55:48be
- 55:49full
- 55:49the
- 55:51joy
- 55:51of
- 55:52the
- 55:52Lord
- 55:52is
- 55:53your
- 55:54strength
- 55:54Peter
- 55:57again
- 55:58reminds
- 55:59us
- 55:59of
- 55:59the
- 56:00vision
- 56:00that
- 56:00we
- 56:01are
- 56:01to
- 56:01have
- 56:01in
- 56:02this
- 56:02way
- 56:03in
- 56:031
- 56:04Peter
- 56:041
- 56:04verse
- 56:058
- 56:05though
- 56:05you
- 56:05have
- 56:06not
- 56:06seen
- 56:06him
- 56:06you
- 56:07love
- 56:07him
- 56:08though
- 56:08you
- 56:08do
- 56:09not
- 56:09now
- 56:09see
- 56:09him
- 56:10you
- 56:10believe
- 56:10in
- 56:11him
- 56:11and
- 56:12rejoice
- 56:12with
- 56:13joy
- 56:13that
- 56:13is
- 56:14inexpressible
- 56:15and
- 56:15filled
- 56:16with
- 56:16glory
- 56:17obtaining
- 56:18the
- 56:18outcome
- 56:18of
- 56:18your
- 56:19faith
- 56:19the
- 56:20salvation
- 56:20of
- 56:21your
- 56:21souls
- 56:22that
- 56:23is
- 56:23the
- 56:23joy
- 56:24the
- 56:25joy
- 56:25that
- 56:25Horatio
- 56:27Spafford
- 56:28knew
- 56:28the
- 56:30peace
- 56:30for
- 56:30his
- 56:31soul
- 56:31that
- 56:33is
- 56:33the
- 56:33joy
- 56:33we
- 56:33can
- 56:34have
- 56:34in
- 56:35Christ
- 56:36not
- 56:36joy
- 56:36that
- 56:37is
- 56:37immune
- 56:37to
- 56:38all
- 56:38the
- 56:38troubles
- 56:39and
- 56:39griefs
- 56:39of
- 56:39this
- 56:40world
- 56:40not
- 56:41joy
- 56:41that
- 56:41changes
- 56:42out
- 56:43on
- 56:43the
- 56:43outside
- 56:44but
- 56:45joy
- 56:45that
- 56:46is
- 56:46within
- 56:46joy
- 56:47that
- 56:48comes
- 56:48from
- 56:49the
- 56:49Lord
- 56:49and
- 56:49the
- 56:50strength
- 56:50that
- 56:50he
- 56:51gives
- 56:51day
- 56:52by
- 56:52day
- 56:53the
- 56:54joy
- 56:55of
- 56:56the
- 56:56Lord
- 56:56is
- 56:56to
- 56:56be
- 56:57our
- 56:58strength
- 56:58the
- 57:00final
- 57:00thing
- 57:01I want
- 57:01us
- 57:01to
- 57:01see
- 57:02here
- 57:02is
- 57:02this
- 57:03joy
- 57:04in
- 57:04the
- 57:04Lord
- 57:04the
- 57:05strength
- 57:05that
- 57:05it
- 57:05gives
- 57:06gives
- 57:07us
- 57:07a
- 57:07vision
- 57:07and
- 57:07a
- 57:08hope
- 57:08looking
- 57:08forward
- 57:09as
- 57:10well
- 57:10the
- 57:12outcome
- 57:13of
- 57:14our
- 57:14faith
- 57:15as
- 57:15Peter
- 57:16speaks
- 57:16the
- 57:16salvation
- 57:17of
- 57:18your
- 57:18souls
- 57:19what
- 57:21great
- 57:22joy
- 57:22there
- 57:22is
- 57:23in
- 57:23that
- 57:23to
- 57:25know
- 57:25the
- 57:26salvation
- 57:26that
- 57:27there
- 57:27is
- 57:27in
- 57:28Christ
- 57:28Jesus
- 57:29you've
- 57:31heard
- 57:32perhaps
- 57:32talk
- 57:33in
- 57:33these
- 57:33last
- 57:34number
- 57:34of
- 57:34weeks
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- 57:36what
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- 57:37call
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- 57:37doomsday
- 57:38clock
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- 57:41supposed
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- 57:42situation
- 57:43of the
- 57:43world
- 57:44in
- 57:44terms
- 57:44of
- 57:44the
- 57:44potential
- 57:45for
- 57:46destruction
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- 57:49at
- 57:4990
- 57:49seconds
- 57:50to
- 57:50midnight
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- 57:52closest
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- 57:53been
- 57:53since
- 57:53it
- 57:54started
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- 57:551945
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- 57:58about
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- 57:58fear
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- 57:59this
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- 58:04about
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- 58:14book
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- 58:32all
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- 1:05:35wonderful
- 1:05:35word of
- 1:05:37the gospel
- 1:05:37of Jesus
- 1:05:38Christ
- 1:05:39that he
- 1:05:40would do
- 1:05:40marvelous
- 1:05:41things
- 1:05:41in our
- 1:05:42midst
- 1:05:43let us
- 1:05:44pray
- 1:05:44our
- 1:05:47father in
- 1:05:48heaven we
- 1:05:49thank you
- 1:05:49for your
- 1:05:50word and
- 1:05:50for every
- 1:05:51encouragement
- 1:05:52and challenge
- 1:05:53that it
- 1:05:53gives
- 1:05:54but may
- 1:05:55we see
- 1:05:55you in
- 1:05:56it all
- 1:05:56as the
- 1:05:56one who
- 1:05:57is able
- 1:05:58for the
- 1:05:59things that
- 1:05:59are impossible
- 1:06:00to us
- 1:06:00are possible
- 1:06:02with you
- 1:06:02and so
- 1:06:03Lord
- 1:06:04humble us
- 1:06:05under your
- 1:06:06word
- 1:06:06that we
- 1:06:07might be
- 1:06:07lifted up
- 1:06:08even if we
- 1:06:08come
- 1:06:09through tears
- 1:06:10and much
- 1:06:11mourning
- 1:06:11may we be
- 1:06:12lifted up
- 1:06:13and come
- 1:06:13to know
- 1:06:14the joy
- 1:06:15of the
- 1:06:15Lord
- 1:06:16as our
- 1:06:17strength
- 1:06:17as we
- 1:06:18ask it
- 1:06:18all in
- 1:06:19Jesus name
- 1:06:19Amen
- 1:06:20we're going
- 1:06:27to conclude
- 1:06:28by singing
- 1:06:28to God's
- 1:06:30praise
- 1:06:30Psalm
- 1:06:3124
- 1:06:32Psalm
- 1:06:3724
- 1:06:38we're going
- 1:06:38to sing
- 1:06:39from verse
- 1:06:397 down
- 1:06:40to the
- 1:06:41end
- 1:06:41of the
- 1:06:42psalm
- 1:06:43ye gates
- 1:06:45lift up
- 1:06:45your heads
- 1:06:46on high
- 1:06:46ye doors
- 1:06:47that last
- 1:06:48foray
- 1:06:48be lifted
- 1:06:49up
- 1:06:50that so
- 1:06:50the king
- 1:06:51of glory
- 1:06:52enter me
- 1:06:53we're going
- 1:06:53to sing
- 1:06:54the last
- 1:06:54four stanzas
- 1:06:55the tune
- 1:06:56is
- 1:06:56St. George's
- 1:06:57Edinburgh
- 1:06:58and we'll
- 1:06:59have an
- 1:06:59opportunity
- 1:06:59to sing
- 1:07:00hallelujah
- 1:07:01our God
- 1:07:03reigns
- 1:07:03Vide
- 1:07:12oplan
- 1:07:13in quantity
- 1:07:13standard
- 1:07:14to
- 1:07:15begin
- 1:07:20forain
- 1:07:30But who only is the King?
- 1:07:47The mighty Lord exists, in that sin, Lord, that great in might, and strong in that is.
- 1:08:07In that sin, Lord, that great in might, and strong in that is.
- 1:08:22Ye kings, let the Lord bless you, Lord, that's not true as for a.
- 1:08:38He lifted up, that's all the King of glory entering.
- 1:08:52But who is He that is the King of glory who exists?
- 1:09:08The Lord of hosts and and and and and the King, the King of glory is.
- 1:09:23The Lord of hosts and and and the King, the King of glory is.
- 1:09:39Alleluia!
- 1:09:44Alleluia!
- 1:09:49Alleluia!
- 1:09:54Alleluia!
- 1:09:59Alleluia!
- 1:10:04Amen.
- 1:10:11Amen.
- 1:10:16Amen.
- 1:10:20After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left.
- 1:10:23We'll close with the benediction.
- 1:10:25Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God,
- 1:10:29Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
- 1:10:31rest upon and abide with you all
- 1:10:33now and forevermore.
- 1:10:36Amen.
- 1:11:00Amen.
- 1:11:03Amen.
- 1:11:04Amen.
- 1:11:05Amen.