Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / The Commission To Go

Transcript

The Commission To Go · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

• 0:00
  We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise. We're going to sing in Psalm 130,
• 0:06
  in the Sing Psalms version, Psalm 130, page 173 of the psalm books.
• 0:14
  We'll sing the whole of this psalm, Psalm 130.
• 0:17
  Lord, from the depths I call to you, Lord, hear me from on high, and give attention to my voice
• 0:24
  when I for mercy cry. Lord, in your presence who can stand if you our sins record?
• 0:30
  But yet forgiveness is with you that we may fear you, Lord.
• 0:34
  So we'll sing the whole of this psalm to God's praise. We stand to sing.
• 0:38
  Amen.
• 0:54
  Amen.
• 0:55
  Amen.
• 0:56
  Amen.
• 0:57
  Amen.
• 1:24
  Amen.
• 1:27
  Amen.
• 1:54
  I quit my soul, wait for the Lord.
• 2:06
  My hope is in His word.
• 2:13
  For that the watch and wait for dawn, my soul is for the Lord.
• 2:32
  Oh, it shall do your hope in God.
• 2:42
  Our mercy is within.
• 2:48
  Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
• 3:15
  Let us pray.
• 3:18
  Our gracious Father in heaven, we come anew before you this evening, thankful for these
• 3:27
  words that we have sung, thankful that we are able to approach you, that we are able
• 3:32
  to cry out to you as our Lord, our Lord, and as our God.
• 3:37
  We thank you that as we sing from this psalm, we see the psalmist crying from the depths,
• 3:43
  and sometimes that is our experience, Lord.
• 3:46
  We feel that we are in the depths of life in so many different ways.
• 3:51
  Yet we thank you, too, that there are so many other occasions when we are reminded that a
• 3:55
  cry comes from on high, a cry comes from different circumstances.
• 4:00
  When it's high or low, Lord, we thank you that you are the God who hears and is able to deal
• 4:07
  with us according to all our different needs.
• 4:09
  And we thank you that this psalm reminds us of one of our greatest needs, that we realize in these
• 4:17
  words, O Lord, the depth of your love towards us, that you are a God with whom there is rich
• 4:25
  forgiveness.
• 4:25
  For forgiveness.
• 4:26
  We thank you, Lord, that we could not stand in your presence if you did record our sins.
• 4:34
  But forgiveness is with you, as the psalmist says.
• 4:37
  And we thank you that we can wait upon you, that we can put our hope in your word, and that you are
• 4:43
  our hope, that you are the one with whom there is full redemption.
• 4:47
  These wonderful words, Lord, encourage our hearts and remind us of the need of coming back to you
• 4:53
  again and again. For prayer is not offered once or even twice, but daily, Lord, as we come to you,
• 5:00
  we come in prayer, we come in dependence upon you. We come thankful for the instructions to pray
• 5:08
  and how your word guides us in our prayers. Even the Lord's prayer itself, as we have said it together
• 5:15
  this morning, we thank you for the great instructions and truths that there are in that, how we are reminded
• 5:21
  that we begin looking to you as our Father in heaven, and the privilege that we have to call you
• 5:27
  by that name, the privilege that is ours to come and approach the creator of the heavens and the earth,
• 5:35
  and yet to come and call you our Father. And we thank you, Lord, that it's a prayer that reminds us,
• 5:43
  too, that our dependence is upon you for all things. Even when we feel that we can satisfy ourselves,
• 5:50
  that we are a people who provide for ourselves in so many different ways. Even today, as we have
• 5:56
  set our tables, as we have eaten our food, as we have enjoyed the comforts of our homes, as we have
• 6:04
  been gathered together around your word and peace and security here, as we have enjoyed fellowship,
• 6:11
  Lord, we can think that these are all of our own making. But yet, Lord, they are all from you.
• 6:17
  They are all gifts from above, from the one who does not change. And so this evening, Lord, we come
• 6:24
  with so much to be thankful for. We come to praise your name for your blessings to us, rich and new each
• 6:32
  day. And we thank you for the blessings of this day as we have gathered in worship and as we continue
• 6:37
  to worship you, that you are with us, for that is your promise. You have reminded us this morning,
• 6:44
  Lord, of how you are one who calls our people, that although we might put out invites to come,
• 6:51
  that you are the one who works, that apart from you we can do nothing. And so we pray and thank you
• 6:57
  for the encouragements that we had this morning of seeing so many gathered here, young and old alike.
• 7:04
  We thank you for all who came and pray, Lord, that the gospel will have borne fruit, even in the midst of it
• 7:10
  all and bear fruit in the days and weeks and months ahead. We thank you for the promise that you are
• 7:16
  building your church. And we pray, Lord, that we will see it in our midst here and throughout our lands.
• 7:24
  And we thank you for the command that you give to us as a people. Even as we have come today and heard,
• 7:32
  we are to be a people who go and tell. And this evening, as we come to your word, may you encourage
• 7:37
  us in that. May you encourage us and strengthen us, Lord, as we seek to be salt and light in all the
• 7:45
  different places that you place us. And as we go into this week, oh Lord, may you help us to be
• 7:51
  courageous, to be bold, to be a people who bear your light to all around us. We pray and thank you
• 7:59
  for opportunities that you give us, whether it's in the home and among our own families, something that
• 8:05
  can be so difficult at times. And yet, Lord, we thank you that you promise to be with us in the workplace,
• 8:12
  in schools, in our communities as we go about our day-to-day lives. Lord, we thank you for all we come
• 8:18
  into contact with. And we pray, Lord, that as we talk about so many other things in life,
• 8:25
  that we would be a people who talk about the gospel, who talk about your goodness to us, who talk about
• 8:31
  the wonder of your truth, the wonder of your grace, your grace that we see all around us, that
• 8:39
  grace that we see in creation and in the sky and in the universe around us, Lord. We marvel at so many
• 8:47
  things. We marvel at the northern lights as we see them in the nighttime. We marvel at the beauty of
• 8:54
  the sunshine and the creation all around us. And yet help us to see you in it. We thank you for these
• 9:01
  grace, the grace that you give us in these things. But we pray too, Lord, that we would see your special
• 9:07
  grace to us, the wonder of the grace that is salvation in Jesus Christ, a gift from God.
• 9:13
  And as with any gift, Lord, that we would rejoice in and share with others, we pray that the gospel
• 9:20
  would be something that we would share and share with all around us. We thank you for your spirit
• 9:26
  who is with us to that end to help us and to be with us. We thank you for your word, how powerful it is.
• 9:34
  It is described as a sword that is, the word is sharper than any two-edged sword and how it cuts into the
• 9:41
  very core of our being. And we pray, Lord, that even tonight and each time we hear it, that your word
• 9:49
  would not just brush over us, that it would not just go in one ear and out another, but that it would
• 9:55
  resonate in our hearts and in our very being. That it would be a word that would give us assurance,
• 10:01
  give us confidence, give us grace for each day, give us that conviction of sin, as it speaks of.
• 10:09
  If we are away from you, Lord, if we have not yet trusted in you, that the arrows of your word would
• 10:16
  pierce deeply, even this night, and to give us that conscience of our need of you and not put it off.
• 10:24
  And so we pray, Lord, that you will be with us, that you will bless us in our time together,
• 10:28
  bless us as a people, as a congregation here, as we commit one another into your hands.
• 10:33
  In all our different needs, Lord, comfort those who mourn, be with those who are going through these
• 10:40
  times of sorrow and sadness. Thankful for your promise as a great comfort to your people,
• 10:47
  that you would be that. Remembering those who are in hospital, both locally and away from here as well,
• 10:54
  we pray for your healing hand upon them, for your goodness to follow them. Thankful for recovery and
• 11:01
  mental health for some and praying for others who are maybe waiting surgery or treatment. Lord,
• 11:06
  we pray to surround each one in all their different needs. We commit our congregations to
• 11:13
  you as well. We thank you for this time of communion season, and we pray that where your people are
• 11:19
  gathered over this weekend and this evening hour, that you would have been pleased to be in their
• 11:24
  midst to bless. We think of the congregation of North Tolstown, Shabbos and North Uist, as they have
• 11:31
  gathered around your word this weekend and around the Lord's table. We pray for encouragement. We pray
• 11:38
  for strengthening. We pray for blessing in the midst of it. We thank you too, Lord, for the upcoming
• 11:45
  induction of the Reverend David Ferguson to North Uist. We pray for that coming in a fortnight's time.
• 11:52
  We thank you for David and Catherine and the young Duncan. We pray for them, Lord, that they would
• 11:58
  settle in well to their new home and surroundings and congregation, and that together, Lord, with the
• 12:04
  congregation, you would use them, that you would bless them, that you would watch over them. We pray that,
• 12:10
  Lord, for our church near and far. We thank you that you are one who blesses your church. We thank you that
• 12:18
  when your truth is proclaimed, that it is mighty and powerful. And so we pray that to all ends of the earth,
• 12:26
  even anew this night, that your word would go out with power, that we go out, Lord, to build up your people and
• 12:33
  challenge those who are in darkness, that they would call them into your wonderful light. And so we pray, Lord,
• 12:40
  for your kingdom to come with power. May you bless us as we continue in our worship this evening. May you
• 12:47
  guide us as a people in the week ahead as we think of all the different activities going on. We thank you
• 12:53
  for the Explorers Group as it resumes this week, both the young ones and the older ones. May you bless
• 12:59
  them as they start once more in a new term. We pray, Lord, that we will see a time of real
• 13:06
  encouragement among our young people. We thank you for the Big Questions Study Group to resume as well.
• 13:14
  We pray for invitations to go out and for many to come, to come and have fellowship with one another
• 13:21
  and to hear your word and to enjoy that time of growing in our knowledge and understanding of you.
• 13:28
  So may you bless that. And may you bless the preaching of your word and our fellowship around it in all the
• 13:35
  different ways. May you go before us now, Lord, in this week ahead. May you guide us and keep us,
• 13:42
  draw us close to yourself, be our constant companion. And may you be the Lord who gives us
• 13:49
  courage and boldness to stand up for truth and to honour you and to serve you with all of our hearts.
• 13:56
  So hear our prayers, Lord, and go before us now,
• 13:59
  pardoning all our sin as we ask it all in Jesus' name for the sake and glory. Amen.
• 14:11
  We're going to sing again to God's praise this time in Psalm 71 in the Scottish Psalter.
• 14:18
  Psalm 71. We'll sing from verse 14 down to verse 18.
• 14:24
  Psalm 71 at verse 14, page 311 of the psalm books.
• 14:34
  Singing at verse 14 there, we see in these words that hope that is in the Lord,
• 14:40
  but I with expectation will hope continually, and yet with praises more and more I will thee magnify.
• 14:47
  And then verse 16 speaks about going on constantly in the strength of the Lord,
• 14:52
  which is what we need. And then verse 18, as we even go into old age,
• 14:58
  that there is that hope and confidence that the Lord will not leave us.
• 15:02
  So we sing from verse 14 to 18 to God's praise, and we stand to sing.
• 15:08
  Thank you.
• 15:38
  Thank you.
• 16:08
  Thank you.
• 16:38
  Thank you.
• 17:08
  Thank you.
• 17:10
  Thank you.
• 17:11
  Thank you.
• 17:12
  Thank you.
• 17:38
  Thank you.
• 17:39
  Thank you.
• 17:40
  Thank you.
• 17:41
  Thank you.
• 17:42
  Thank you.
• 17:47
  Thank you.
• 17:49
  Thank you.
• 17:50
  Thank you.
• 18:07
  We'll turn together to reading God's Word in the Gospel of Matthew.
• 18:16
  Matthew chapter 28.
• 18:19
  I'm going to read the whole of this chapter.
• 18:23
  Matthew chapter 28.
• 18:26
  Find it around page 1006, the end of the Gospel of Matthew.
• 18:37
  Matthew 28 at the beginning.
• 18:39
  Now after the Sabbath, towards the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
• 18:48
  And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
• 18:57
  His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow.
• 19:03
  And for fear of him, the guards trembled and became like dead men.
• 19:07
  But the angel said to the woman,
• 19:10
  Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
• 19:15
  He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
• 19:20
  Come, see the place where he lay.
• 19:24
  Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead.
• 19:29
  Behold, he is going before you to Galilee.
• 19:32
  There you will see him.
• 19:34
  See, I have told you.
• 19:36
  So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples.
• 19:44
  Behold, Jesus met them and said, Greetings.
• 19:47
  And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him.
• 19:51
  Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid.
• 19:55
  Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.
• 20:00
  While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.
• 20:08
  And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said,
• 20:15
  Tell people, his disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.
• 20:22
  And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.
• 20:28
  So they took the money and did as they were directed.
• 20:32
  And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
• 20:36
  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
• 20:43
  And when they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted.
• 20:48
  And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
• 20:54
  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
• 21:03
  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
• 21:07
  And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
• 21:13
  Amen. And may God bless that reading from his word.
• 21:17
  Before we come back to look at this passage, we're going to sing in Psalm 67.
• 21:23
  In the Sing Psalms version, page 84 of the psalm book, Psalm 67, we'll sing the whole of this psalm.
• 21:30
  God be merciful and bless us.
• 21:33
  Shine upon us with your face, that the earth may know your actions and all lands your saving grace.
• 21:41
  A psalm that reminds us of the power of God's word going out into the midst of all the nations and bearing fruit.
• 21:50
  So we're going to sing the whole of this psalm, Psalm 67, page 84.
• 21:55
  Stand to sing to God's praise.
• 21:57
  Amen.
• 22:00
  God be merciful and bless us, try not follow us with your grace,
• 22:15
  and the earth may know your actions and all lands your saving grace.
• 22:27
  O God, may the people praise you, may all people sing your praise.
• 22:41
  Are you just the nation's justly, who they know every grace?
• 22:54
  May they sing with joy and gladness, may they all rejoice as one.
• 23:08
  O God, may the people praise you, as they all unite in song.
• 23:21
  Then the land will yield its harvest, God will pour his gifts abroad.
• 23:34
  God and God will surely bless us, all the earth will fear our God.
• 23:48
  Amen.
• 23:49
  Amen.
• 23:50
  Amen.
• 23:51
  Amen.
• 23:52
  Amen.
• 23:53
  Amen.
• 23:54
  Amen.
• 23:55
  We can turn back together to our reading in Matthew 28.
• 23:58
  We're going to read again at verse 19 to the end there, just these last two verses.
• 24:06
  But the whole chapter is connected together.
• 24:11
  You see it's split into three different sections in the Bibles.
• 24:15
  Here you have the section verse 1 to 10 called the resurrection.
• 24:19
  And then you have the report of the guard, verse 11 to 15.
• 24:25
  And then the last section, the great commission, verse 16 to verse 20.
• 24:30
  But I want us to see that the whole chapter is connected because what we have here is actually
• 24:35
  not just one commission.
• 24:37
  We have the great commission at the end.
• 24:39
  But you have another commission that was given to the soldiers in verse 11 to 15.
• 24:46
  15.
• 24:47
  They were given a message to tell the people.
• 24:50
  And the disciples, the church was given a message to tell the people.
• 24:55
  But they're opposing messages.
• 24:57
  And the messages are linked to the resurrection.
• 25:02
  One message of the soldiers is telling people that his body was stolen away, that he is not
• 25:09
  risen.
• 25:09
  And the other message of the great commission is that he is risen and that he is with us.
• 25:18
  So in verse 19, we read these words.
• 25:20
  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
• 25:26
  of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
• 25:32
  And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
• 25:37
  When you have been to maybe the cinema or to a show, when you've seen something that leaves
• 25:46
  you amazed and astonished, what do you do afterwards?
• 25:51
  Do you just forget about it?
• 25:53
  And you go on in the wake and maybe say nothing to anybody about it?
• 25:57
  Or more likely, if you've seen something that's left you amazed and you think other people need
• 26:03
  to see this, they need to go and see this or they need to hear this, you are going to talk
• 26:07
  to others about it.
• 26:09
  You're going to tell others about it.
• 26:11
  Go and see it for yourselves.
• 26:14
  That's what happens when something leaves you excited and amazed.
• 26:19
  Go and see it for yourselves.
• 26:23
  What about when we think of what we have called today, back to church Sunday?
• 26:29
  Is that it?
• 26:32
  Are we done?
• 26:34
  Do we take the banner down that's up outside, put it away in the box and forget about it?
• 26:40
  That's it.
• 26:41
  We've done our duty.
• 26:42
  Maybe until the next time.
• 26:45
  Do we put the invitations away?
• 26:47
  We don't have to give them out anymore for people to come to church.
• 26:52
  Do we forget about these kinds of things?
• 26:55
  Surely not.
• 26:57
  And it shouldn't just be based around one Sunday that we're calling back to church Sunday.
• 27:04
  It should be based around every time we meet together in this way of coming to worship God.
• 27:10
  That we'll be astonished and amazed at what the word of God is saying to us.
• 27:15
  Astonished and amazed by the love of God towards us.
• 27:19
  Just like we saw with the prodigal son this morning.
• 27:22
  That even though he had gone away from home, even though he had squandered everything that his father had given to him.
• 27:29
  Yet still he was welcomed back.
• 27:33
  It's astonishing.
• 27:35
  It's astonishing to think of what God has done for us through Christ Jesus.
• 27:41
  As we sang in Psalm 130.
• 27:43
  As we think of the forgiveness of our sin.
• 27:47
  Of the cost.
• 27:49
  Of the price that has been paid.
• 27:51
  Let us never lose our amazement and our wonder at that.
• 27:56
  The wonder of having sat at the Lord's table last Sunday.
• 28:00
  Of having remembered the Lord's death.
• 28:02
  And the bread and the wine that we shared with one another.
• 28:05
  As we partook in the Lord's supper.
• 28:08
  Remembering his death.
• 28:11
  Do we lose our wonder and amazement at that?
• 28:15
  Every time we come and hear the gospel.
• 28:20
  It should never leave us unmoved.
• 28:22
  And yet we know ourselves.
• 28:24
  Our hearts can be hard.
• 28:25
  Our hearts can be cold.
• 28:27
  But yet let us keep that fire in our hearts.
• 28:31
  The joy of salvation as the psalmist calls it.
• 28:34
  The one.
• 28:35
  The two on the road to Emmaus.
• 28:36
  Who say did not our hearts burn within us.
• 28:40
  As he walked on the way.
• 28:41
  As he opened up the scriptures to us.
• 28:43
  They were amazed.
• 28:44
  They were in wonder of what they were hearing.
• 28:47
  And what it made them do was go and tell others.
• 28:52
  So this morning we were looking at that idea of the invitation to come.
• 28:56
  To come and hear of the wonder of all that God has done for us in Christ.
• 29:02
  And we broke down the word come in each letter.
• 29:05
  Giving each letter a word of itself.
• 29:08
  Come.
• 29:09
  Christ offers me everything.
• 29:14
  That's the invitation that we have in the gospel.
• 29:18
  Tonight we're looking at it in another way now.
• 29:20
  We're thinking of the go part.
• 29:23
  We've come.
• 29:25
  We've heard.
• 29:25
  So what do we do with that now?
• 29:27
  We go.
• 29:28
  We are to go and tell others.
• 29:30
  To share with others the wonder of this news.
• 29:32
  And I want to break go into two words by itself as well.
• 29:37
  And take the letter G and the letter O.
• 29:40
  And it's great opportunities.
• 29:44
  Great opportunities.
• 29:45
  We are to go because there are great opportunities around us.
• 29:49
  Because there are people all around us.
• 29:52
  And that's the wonder of what we see here in this closing chapter of Matthew's gospel.
• 29:59
  We see the Lord Jesus giving this commission to the disciples, to the church.
• 30:07
  That we are to be a people who go.
• 30:11
  And why do we go?
• 30:12
  We go because there's others who are going into the world and telling people lies.
• 30:16
  That's what we see in the report of the guard in verse 11 to verse 15.
• 30:22
  And it says in verse 15, they took the money and did as they were directed.
• 30:27
  They told lies.
• 30:28
  They told a false story.
• 30:30
  And it says, and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
• 30:35
  In the days of the gospel being written, maybe about 20 years after the event.
• 30:40
  But even to this day, this same story is still being spread among people.
• 30:46
  But Jesus is not real.
• 30:47
  That he never rose from the dead.
• 30:50
  That the resurrection was just some kind of made up story.
• 30:53
  They're saying others are telling the lies.
• 30:56
  We have the truth.
• 30:57
  The truth is they stole his body.
• 30:59
  But Jesus is risen.
• 31:03
  That's what we see in the account of the resurrection.
• 31:06
  And you can almost say that there's a commission already being given before these two.
• 31:11
  In verse 7 of this chapter, when Jesus met with a woman at the tomb, he says,
• 31:18
  Go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead.
• 31:22
  And behold, he is going before you to Galilee.
• 31:26
  So there's already been this commission given to them.
• 31:29
  You go and tell the disciples he has risen.
• 31:33
  He has risen from the dead.
• 31:35
  And he is going before you into Galilee.
• 31:38
  And then you come into the contrasting commissions as we see them in these next two sections.
• 31:45
  And so we're going to think about these things this evening together.
• 31:50
  When Jesus spoke these words at the end of chapter 28 to the disciples,
• 31:56
  He was speaking directly to them, but also indirectly to us as we have it through his word.
• 32:03
  He was giving the church our marching orders.
• 32:07
  Even though he was going away to be with the Father.
• 32:13
  He says at the end of this chapter, I am going to be with you always.
• 32:19
  Through his spirit he is with us even to the end of the age.
• 32:24
  And that's what these disciples knew in their own ministry.
• 32:27
  And that's what we know with us today as well.
• 32:31
  There is this powerful message.
• 32:36
  It's a message that the world needs to hear.
• 32:40
  It's a message that as you were to go into the book of Acts,
• 32:43
  which follows the gospel accounts,
• 32:46
  the acts of the apostles as the church began to go out
• 32:49
  and to be the witnesses of Jesus beginning in Jerusalem to Judea
• 32:54
  and to all the ends of the earth.
• 32:58
  There was this promise that he was with them.
• 33:02
  And it says in Acts chapter 17 verse 6,
• 33:05
  the effect of this message of this gospel was turning the world upside down.
• 33:12
  There was a power in this message.
• 33:14
  And it's a power that is still there today
• 33:17
  because he has all authority on earth and in heaven
• 33:21
  has been given to our Lord Jesus.
• 33:24
  He has all power.
• 33:27
  And so he gave this great commission.
• 33:31
  In the midst of the lies that were being spread,
• 33:33
  there is a commission to the church.
• 33:37
  But it can easily turn into the great omission.
• 33:41
  The part that we forget about.
• 33:44
  The part that we neglect.
• 33:45
  The part that goes undone.
• 33:51
  And so as we think of ourselves here today,
• 33:54
  as we have had this back to church Sunday,
• 33:57
  as we've come,
• 33:58
  we are to remember to not to neglect
• 34:00
  our commission going forward.
• 34:03
  It's not job done.
• 34:05
  That's not the end of the matter.
• 34:07
  Because there are still souls all around us
• 34:10
  who need to hear the gospel.
• 34:13
  So we don't leave it neglected.
• 34:17
  We come and we go.
• 34:19
  Because there's great opportunities all around us.
• 34:24
  Somebody once described it in this way,
• 34:28
  how the church has almost gone backwards
• 34:31
  over the generations.
• 34:33
  It said,
• 34:33
  instead of taking the gospel to all the ends of the earth
• 34:37
  as the Lord commanded,
• 34:39
  the modern church won't even take the gospel
• 34:43
  to the end of the street.
• 34:45
  That's a sad reflection on us
• 34:48
  if that was true of us.
• 34:51
  That we wouldn't be a people
• 34:53
  who are reminded and remember
• 34:55
  that this is our commission.
• 34:58
  That this is our duty,
• 34:59
  our command as a church
• 35:02
  to be a people who go.
• 35:05
  Salvation belongs to God.
• 35:08
  But God has entrusted his church,
• 35:11
  his people,
• 35:12
  with taking this message
• 35:13
  to all the ends of the earth.
• 35:16
  So just three things we want to take
• 35:19
  from this portion tonight.
• 35:21
  I want us to see,
• 35:22
  first of all,
• 35:22
  the contrasting commissions.
• 35:25
  There's a contrast between the guards
• 35:27
  and the disciples
• 35:29
  and what they are told to do.
• 35:31
  And then there's the courage
• 35:33
  that's required.
• 35:35
  And then finally we'll see
• 35:36
  the confident trust
• 35:38
  that we need to have as well.
• 35:41
  So first of all,
• 35:42
  there's contrasting commissions.
• 35:44
  We see this, as I say,
• 35:47
  between the guards
• 35:48
  and the disciples
• 35:49
  and what they were told to do.
• 35:52
  And it's a powerful reminder
• 35:54
  to us of the world
• 35:56
  that we still live in.
• 35:59
  You see,
• 36:00
  when Jesus had risen
• 36:01
  from the grave,
• 36:04
  not everybody believed
• 36:05
  and even wanted to believe
• 36:07
  that this was true.
• 36:09
  And the soldiers,
• 36:10
  the guards
• 36:11
  and the chief priests
• 36:12
  who had heard of this,
• 36:15
  they assembled,
• 36:15
  it says in verse 12,
• 36:18
  with the elders
• 36:18
  and taking counsel
• 36:19
  and they gave sufficient
• 36:20
  sum of money
• 36:21
  to the soldiers
• 36:22
  and said,
• 36:23
  tell people.
• 36:25
  His disciples
• 36:25
  came by night
• 36:26
  and stole them away
• 36:28
  while we were asleep.
• 36:29
  So they are given
• 36:30
  this commission.
• 36:32
  This is their commission
• 36:34
  given from their supervisors,
• 36:38
  their managers,
• 36:39
  if you like,
• 36:40
  the ones who are over them.
• 36:41
  tell people.
• 36:44
  And really,
• 36:45
  that's what this world does.
• 36:48
  The world is always
• 36:49
  telling us a message.
• 36:51
  The case is,
• 36:52
  who do we believe?
• 36:55
  The soldiers,
• 36:56
  we're told,
• 36:57
  tell the people
• 36:57
  that the disciples came
• 36:59
  and stole his body away.
• 37:02
  In other words,
• 37:03
  he's not alive,
• 37:05
  he's dead.
• 37:06
  And they stole the body.
• 37:07
  And that's what the world
• 37:10
  believes to this day,
• 37:11
  that Jesus may have been
• 37:13
  a man who lived
• 37:14
  in this world,
• 37:16
  but he's dead.
• 37:18
  It's got no meaning
• 37:19
  for us now.
• 37:20
  So this is their commission.
• 37:24
  But the disciples
• 37:25
  have a very different commission.
• 37:28
  And when they had gone
• 37:31
  to Galilee,
• 37:33
  to the mountain
• 37:33
  to which Jesus
• 37:34
  had directed them,
• 37:35
  they saw him.
• 37:37
  Not a body.
• 37:40
  They saw him.
• 37:41
  They saw Jesus.
• 37:43
  And they worshipped him.
• 37:45
  And Jesus came
• 37:46
  and said to them,
• 37:48
  spoke these words to them,
• 37:49
  all authority in heaven
• 37:51
  and on earth
• 37:51
  has been given to me.
• 37:53
  Go,
• 37:54
  therefore.
• 37:54
  This is your message.
• 37:56
  Go and tell the people
• 37:59
  my message,
• 38:00
  teaching them to observe
• 38:01
  all that I have commanded you.
• 38:05
  What a contrast.
• 38:08
  A message that is meaningless
• 38:10
  and hopeless.
• 38:11
  Jesus is dead.
• 38:13
  Or the message
• 38:14
  of the power of the gospel
• 38:16
  and the wonder
• 38:17
  of a risen Savior.
• 38:20
  When you look at
• 38:21
  the soldiers here
• 38:23
  who were given
• 38:23
  this message,
• 38:25
  tell the people
• 38:26
  that the disciples
• 38:27
  came and stole
• 38:28
  away his body.
• 38:30
  What hope is in that?
• 38:33
  It's a bit like
• 38:34
  an army commander,
• 38:36
  one who was over
• 38:37
  an army,
• 38:38
  saying,
• 38:39
  go to battle.
• 38:40
  Go and fight.
• 38:42
  Follow my commands.
• 38:44
  So the order
• 38:45
  has been given
• 38:45
  from on high.
• 38:48
  And yet,
• 38:48
  instead of listening
• 38:49
  to that,
• 38:50
  the soldiers
• 38:51
  in this battalion,
• 38:52
  they listen to the cook.
• 38:54
  He says,
• 38:55
  I don't think
• 38:55
  that's a good idea.
• 38:56
  I think we should
• 38:57
  just hold back.
• 38:58
  Just stay where we are.
• 39:00
  Don't want to listen
• 39:00
  to the one who's over us.
• 39:02
  Let's just do
• 39:03
  our own thing.
• 39:04
  Does that make sense?
• 39:06
  It doesn't.
• 39:07
  It would never happen.
• 39:08
  It should never happen.
• 39:10
  And yet,
• 39:11
  that's what they are doing.
• 39:12
  They are listening
• 39:12
  to those who are over them
• 39:14
  in worldly things.
• 39:16
  And yet,
• 39:17
  if they had listened
• 39:17
  and seen
• 39:18
  to what they had seen
• 39:19
  and heard of the cross,
• 39:20
  which many of them
• 39:21
  would have observed,
• 39:23
  even seeing,
• 39:24
  perhaps,
• 39:24
  the risen Lord,
• 39:26
  they wouldn't have gone
• 39:28
  in this way.
• 39:29
  But they're blinded.
• 39:31
  Just like the world
• 39:32
  in which we live,
• 39:33
  so much
• 39:34
  of the messages
• 39:35
  that we hear
• 39:36
  are just blind.
• 39:38
  They don't know
• 39:38
  what they're telling us.
• 39:39
  They don't know
• 39:40
  what they're saying.
• 39:41
  And yet,
• 39:41
  so many
• 39:42
  will listen.
• 39:45
  There is this
• 39:45
  hopeless commission
• 39:47
  that they were given,
• 39:48
  this foolish commission.
• 39:49
  Tell the people
• 39:50
  that he's dead.
• 39:53
  It's just like
• 39:54
  what Paul speaks
• 39:55
  to the Romans.
• 39:56
  And it goes on
• 39:58
  down through
• 39:58
  every generation.
• 40:00
  It's the same thing.
• 40:01
  They've exchanged
• 40:01
  the truth about God
• 40:03
  for a lie.
• 40:05
  And worshipped
• 40:06
  and served
• 40:07
  the creature
• 40:07
  rather than
• 40:09
  the creator.
• 40:11
  It's the ongoing battle.
• 40:13
  It's a battle
• 40:14
  that we are in.
• 40:15
  As a church,
• 40:16
  as a people,
• 40:17
  we are in this
• 40:17
  same battle
• 40:18
  that people today
• 40:19
  have exchanged
• 40:20
  the truth of God
• 40:21
  for a lie.
• 40:22
  It's ongoing.
• 40:24
  They believe it
• 40:24
  to this day.
• 40:28
  But yet,
• 40:30
  what a contrast
• 40:31
  we have
• 40:31
  in the truth.
• 40:33
  What a contrast
• 40:34
  there is
• 40:35
  in the fact
• 40:35
  that Jesus
• 40:36
  is risen.
• 40:39
  He has been
• 40:40
  crucified.
• 40:41
  He was put
• 40:42
  in the grave,
• 40:42
  but he rose
• 40:44
  from the grave.
• 40:45
  That message
• 40:46
  the woman
• 40:48
  received
• 40:48
  in verse 6
• 40:49
  of this chapter
• 40:50
  about the resurrection.
• 40:51
  He is not here
• 40:52
  for he has risen.
• 40:54
  And as he said,
• 40:56
  come,
• 40:56
  see the place
• 40:57
  where he lay.
• 40:57
  Then go quickly
• 40:58
  and tell his disciples
• 40:59
  that he has risen
• 41:01
  from the dead.
• 41:02
  This brings excitement.
• 41:03
  This brings,
• 41:04
  yes,
• 41:05
  fear on one hand,
• 41:06
  but joy
• 41:06
  on the other.
• 41:08
  As well,
• 41:08
  the Lord
• 41:09
  is risen.
• 41:10
  risen.
• 41:12
  And
• 41:12
  he says
• 41:15
  to them
• 41:15
  in verse 10
• 41:16
  there,
• 41:16
  Jesus said,
• 41:17
  don't be afraid.
• 41:18
  Go and tell
• 41:19
  my brothers
• 41:19
  to go
• 41:20
  to Galilee
• 41:21
  and there
• 41:21
  they will see me.
• 41:22
  There's this
• 41:23
  power in this
• 41:24
  message.
• 41:25
  He is risen.
• 41:27
  The truth
• 41:27
  is
• 41:28
  that he
• 41:29
  is risen.
• 41:30
  And that's
• 41:30
  what we need
• 41:31
  to hold
• 41:32
  onto.
• 41:34
  And so
• 41:35
  this is what
• 41:35
  they are to
• 41:36
  go
• 41:37
  with.
• 41:38
  What a
• 41:40
  contrast
• 41:40
  in these
• 41:41
  messages.
• 41:43
  And so
• 41:43
  as Jesus
• 41:44
  is saying,
• 41:45
  go
• 41:45
  therefore
• 41:46
  into the
• 41:47
  world,
• 41:47
  making disciples
• 41:48
  of all
• 41:49
  nations.
• 41:50
  He is saying,
• 41:51
  keep going.
• 41:52
  And as you
• 41:52
  go,
• 41:53
  share this
• 41:54
  message
• 41:55
  with others.
• 41:56
  There are
• 41:56
  plenty who
• 41:57
  will tell
• 41:58
  lies in
• 41:59
  this world,
• 42:00
  but you
• 42:01
  have a
• 42:01
  truth.
• 42:02
  We have
• 42:02
  a truth,
• 42:03
  a wonderful
• 42:04
  truth,
• 42:05
  that he
• 42:05
  is risen,
• 42:06
  that he
• 42:06
  is a
• 42:07
  savior,
• 42:07
  that he
• 42:07
  is able
• 42:08
  to forgive
• 42:08
  our sins
• 42:10
  and to
• 42:10
  give us
• 42:10
  hope of
• 42:11
  eternal
• 42:12
  life.
• 42:15
  And we
• 42:15
  are to
• 42:15
  go into
• 42:16
  the world
• 42:16
  and tell
• 42:17
  the people
• 42:18
  all of
• 42:19
  these
• 42:19
  truths,
• 42:20
  teaching
• 42:21
  them to
• 42:21
  observe
• 42:22
  all that
• 42:23
  I have
• 42:23
  commanded
• 42:24
  you.
• 42:25
  All that
• 42:26
  I have
• 42:26
  commanded
• 42:27
  you.
• 42:27
  The only
• 42:27
  way to
• 42:28
  salvation
• 42:28
  is through
• 42:29
  faith in
• 42:30
  him.
• 42:33
  So,
• 42:33
  we are
• 42:34
  to be a
• 42:34
  people
• 42:35
  who go.
• 42:36
  you
• 42:37
  think of
• 42:38
  the woman
• 42:39
  of
• 42:39
  Samaria
• 42:40
  in
• 42:41
  John
• 42:41
  chapter
• 42:42
  4,
• 42:42
  who
• 42:42
  met
• 42:43
  Jesus
• 42:43
  at
• 42:44
  the
• 42:44
  well
• 42:44
  outside
• 42:45
  the
• 42:45
  town
• 42:45
  by
• 42:45
  herself.
• 42:47
  Again,
• 42:47
  someone
• 42:47
  else
• 42:48
  who
• 42:48
  was
• 42:48
  far
• 42:49
  away
• 42:49
  from
• 42:49
  God
• 42:50
  in
• 42:50
  many
• 42:50
  ways
• 42:50
  and
• 42:50
  cast
• 42:51
  out
• 42:51
  by
• 42:52
  society
• 42:52
  in
• 42:53
  her
• 42:53
  day.
• 42:54
  And yet
• 42:54
  Jesus
• 42:55
  met
• 42:55
  with
• 42:55
  her.
• 42:56
  And
• 42:57
  she
• 42:57
  met
• 42:57
  with
• 42:57
  the
• 42:57
  Christ.
• 42:59
  And
• 42:59
  what
• 42:59
  did
• 43:00
  she
• 43:00
  do?
• 43:00
  She
• 43:02
  went
• 43:02
  to
• 43:02
  the
• 43:02
  town.
• 43:03
  She
• 43:03
  went
• 43:03
  back
• 43:03
  to
• 43:04
  the
• 43:04
  people.
• 43:04
  People
• 43:05
  who
• 43:05
  had
• 43:05
  shunned
• 43:05
  her and
• 43:06
  neglected
• 43:06
  her and
• 43:06
  said,
• 43:07
  come,
• 43:08
  come see
• 43:08
  a man
• 43:09
  who knows
• 43:10
  everything
• 43:10
  about me.
• 43:11
  Could
• 43:11
  this be
• 43:12
  the
• 43:13
  Christ?
• 43:15
  She
• 43:16
  came
• 43:16
  to him
• 43:17
  and she
• 43:18
  went
• 43:18
  to tell
• 43:19
  others.
• 43:19
  There was
• 43:19
  an
• 43:20
  opportunity
• 43:20
  for her
• 43:21
  to go
• 43:22
  to them
• 43:22
  and she
• 43:23
  did.
• 43:25
  And
• 43:25
  Jesus,
• 43:26
  as you
• 43:26
  read in
• 43:27
  this part
• 43:27
  through the
• 43:28
  Gospels,
• 43:29
  he so
• 43:29
  often
• 43:29
  discipling
• 43:30
  his
• 43:31
  people
• 43:31
  in
• 43:31
  this
• 43:32
  way
• 43:32
  of
• 43:32
  how
• 43:33
  we
• 43:33
  are
• 43:33
  to
• 43:33
  live.
• 43:34
  Someone
• 43:34
  has
• 43:34
  described
• 43:35
  the
• 43:35
  book
• 43:35
  of
• 43:35
  the
• 43:36
  Gospels
• 43:36
  as
• 43:37
  just
• 43:37
  Jesus
• 43:38
  discipling
• 43:39
  his
• 43:39
  church,
• 43:40
  showing
• 43:40
  us
• 43:40
  how
• 43:41
  we
• 43:41
  are
• 43:41
  to
• 43:41
  live
• 43:41
  and
• 43:42
  how
• 43:42
  we
• 43:42
  are
• 43:42
  to
• 43:42
  behave
• 43:43
  in
• 43:43
  this
• 43:44
  world.
• 43:45
  And
• 43:45
  he
• 43:45
  often
• 43:46
  gives
• 43:46
  us
• 43:46
  reminders
• 43:47
  about
• 43:48
  how
• 43:48
  we
• 43:48
  have
• 43:49
  a
• 43:49
  message
• 43:49
  to
• 43:50
  share
• 43:50
  and
• 43:50
  where
• 43:51
  we
• 43:51
  are
• 43:51
  to
• 43:51
  share
• 43:52
  it.
• 43:53
  Christ
• 43:54
  met
• 43:54
  unbelievers
• 43:55
  where
• 43:56
  they
• 43:56
  were.
• 43:57
  And
• 43:59
  someone
• 43:59
  has
• 43:59
  gone
• 44:00
  through
• 44:00
  the
• 44:00
  Gospels
• 44:01
  and
• 44:01
  counted
• 44:02
  the
• 44:02
  number
• 44:03
  of
• 44:03
  places
• 44:04
  where
• 44:04
  Jesus
• 44:05
  met
• 44:05
  with
• 44:06
  individuals
• 44:06
  or
• 44:07
  with
• 44:07
  people.
• 44:08
  And
• 44:08
  they
• 44:08
  counted
• 44:09
  132
• 44:10
  contacts
• 44:11
  Jesus
• 44:11
  had
• 44:12
  with
• 44:12
  people.
• 44:14
  And
• 44:14
  where
• 44:14
  were
• 44:15
  they?
• 44:15
  Where
• 44:16
  were
• 44:16
  the
• 44:16
  places
• 44:16
  that
• 44:16
  Jesus
• 44:17
  met
• 44:17
  with
• 44:17
  them?
• 44:19
  Well,
• 44:19
  they
• 44:19
  broke
• 44:20
  it
• 44:20
  down
• 44:20
  into
• 44:20
  this
• 44:21
  six
• 44:21
  were
• 44:22
  in
• 44:22
  the
• 44:22
  temple,
• 44:24
  four
• 44:24
  in
• 44:25
  the
• 44:25
  synagogues,
• 44:27
  and
• 44:27
  122
• 44:29
  were
• 44:30
  with
• 44:30
  people
• 44:30
  in
• 44:31
  just
• 44:32
  the
• 44:32
  ordinary
• 44:32
  place
• 44:33
  of
• 44:34
  life,
• 44:35
  in
• 44:36
  their
• 44:36
  homes,
• 44:37
  out
• 44:37
  in
• 44:37
  the
• 44:38
  countryside,
• 44:39
  down
• 44:40
  by the
• 44:40
  sea,
• 44:41
  in
• 44:41
  their
• 44:41
  workplaces,
• 44:43
  in
• 44:43
  all of
• 44:43
  these
• 44:43
  kinds
• 44:43
  of
• 44:44
  places.
• 44:44
  That
• 44:45
  is
• 44:45
  where
• 44:45
  he
• 44:45
  met.
• 44:48
  122
• 44:49
  of
• 44:49
  the
• 44:49
  132
• 44:51
  occasions
• 44:51
  recorded
• 44:52
  in
• 44:52
  the
• 44:53
  scriptures
• 44:53
  for
• 44:53
  us.
• 44:54
  He
• 44:54
  met
• 44:54
  with
• 44:54
  them
• 44:54
  in
• 44:55
  the
• 44:55
  ordinary
• 44:56
  places.
• 44:58
  And
• 44:59
  there's
• 44:59
  a
• 44:59
  word
• 45:00
  in
• 45:00
  that
• 45:00
  for
• 45:00
  us,
• 45:02
  that
• 45:02
  as
• 45:02
  we
• 45:02
  have
• 45:03
  this
• 45:03
  commission
• 45:04
  to
• 45:04
  go
• 45:04
  and
• 45:05
  tell
• 45:05
  and
• 45:05
  to
• 45:05
  tell
• 45:05
  the
• 45:06
  truth,
• 45:07
  it's
• 45:07
  for
• 45:07
  everywhere
• 45:08
  that
• 45:09
  we
• 45:09
  go,
• 45:10
  in
• 45:10
  the
• 45:10
  ordinary
• 45:11
  places
• 45:11
  of
• 45:12
  life,
• 45:12
  so that
• 45:12
  as
• 45:13
  we
• 45:13
  go
• 45:13
  into
• 45:14
  this
• 45:14
  week
• 45:15
  ahead,
• 45:16
  that
• 45:16
  we
• 45:16
  are
• 45:16
  to
• 45:17
  go
• 45:17
  because
• 45:17
  there
• 45:17
  are
• 45:18
  great
• 45:18
  opportunities
• 45:18
  everywhere
• 45:19
  we
• 45:19
  go,
• 45:20
  in
• 45:21
  the
• 45:21
  homes,
• 45:22
  in
• 45:22
  our
• 45:23
  communities,
• 45:23
  in
• 45:23
  the
• 45:23
  workplaces,
• 45:24
  in
• 45:24
  the
• 45:24
  schools,
• 45:25
  wherever
• 45:25
  we
• 45:25
  go,
• 45:26
  that
• 45:27
  is
• 45:27
  our
• 45:27
  field,
• 45:28
  that
• 45:28
  is
• 45:29
  where
• 45:29
  we
• 45:29
  are,
• 45:29
  that's
• 45:30
  where
• 45:30
  God
• 45:30
  has
• 45:30
  put
• 45:31
  us,
• 45:31
  and
• 45:32
  we
• 45:32
  have
• 45:32
  this
• 45:33
  truth,
• 45:34
  and
• 45:34
  we're
• 45:34
  speaking
• 45:34
  this
• 45:34
  truth
• 45:35
  in
• 45:35
  the
• 45:35
  midst
• 45:35
  of
• 45:36
  a
• 45:36
  world
• 45:36
  that
• 45:37
  hears
• 45:37
  the
• 45:37
  lie
• 45:38
  that
• 45:39
  Jesus
• 45:39
  is
• 45:40
  dead.
• 45:41
  So
• 45:42
  we
• 45:42
  have
• 45:42
  contrasting
• 45:43
  commissions.
• 45:44
  The
• 45:44
  second
• 45:44
  thing we
• 45:45
  see
• 45:45
  here
• 45:46
  is
• 45:46
  something
• 45:46
  we
• 45:47
  so
• 45:47
  often
• 45:47
  need
• 45:48
  as
• 45:48
  well
• 45:48
  as
• 45:48
  the
• 45:48
  courage
• 45:49
  that
• 45:50
  is
• 45:50
  required.
• 45:52
  When
• 45:52
  you
• 45:52
  look at
• 45:52
  the
• 45:53
  soldiers
• 45:53
  here
• 45:54
  as
• 45:55
  they
• 45:55
  were
• 45:55
  given
• 45:55
  this
• 45:56
  lie
• 45:57
  to
• 45:58
  tell,
• 46:00
  they
• 46:00
  were
• 46:00
  in
• 46:01
  fear
• 46:01
  for
• 46:02
  their
• 46:02
  lives.
• 46:04
  They
• 46:04
  were
• 46:04
  afraid
• 46:05
  of
• 46:05
  what
• 46:05
  might
• 46:05
  happen
• 46:06
  to
• 46:06
  them
• 46:06
  if
• 46:06
  the
• 46:06
  truth
• 46:07
  got
• 46:07
  out.
• 46:09
  But
• 46:09
  they
• 46:09
  were
• 46:09
  calmed
• 46:10
  by
• 46:10
  their
• 46:11
  elders
• 46:11
  who
• 46:12
  said,
• 46:12
  don't
• 46:12
  worry,
• 46:13
  in
• 46:14
  verse
• 46:14
  14,
• 46:14
  if
• 46:14
  this
• 46:15
  comes
• 46:15
  to
• 46:15
  the
• 46:15
  governor's
• 46:16
  years,
• 46:16
  we
• 46:16
  will
• 46:17
  satisfy
• 46:17
  him
• 46:18
  and
• 46:18
  keep
• 46:18
  you
• 46:18
  out
• 46:18
  of
• 46:19
  trouble.
• 46:20
  Yet
• 46:20
  there
• 46:20
  was
• 46:20
  still
• 46:21
  a
• 46:22
  fear.
• 46:23
  They
• 46:23
  were
• 46:23
  still
• 46:23
  afraid
• 46:24
  because
• 46:24
  they
• 46:24
  failed
• 46:25
  in
• 46:25
  their
• 46:25
  duties.
• 46:26
  And
• 46:27
  if
• 46:27
  they
• 46:27
  were
• 46:27
  found
• 46:27
  out,
• 46:28
  they
• 46:28
  would
• 46:28
  more
• 46:28
  than
• 46:28
  likely
• 46:29
  be
• 46:29
  put
• 46:29
  to
• 46:29
  death.
• 46:31
  So
• 46:32
  there
• 46:32
  was
• 46:32
  a
• 46:32
  fear
• 46:32
  in
• 46:33
  them.
• 46:34
  They
• 46:35
  had
• 46:35
  to
• 46:35
  be
• 46:35
  courageous
• 46:36
  to
• 46:36
  stand
• 46:36
  up
• 46:37
  for
• 46:37
  a
• 46:37
  lie.
• 46:39
  But
• 46:39
  what
• 46:39
  about
• 46:39
  the
• 46:39
  disciples?
• 46:40
  When
• 46:40
  you
• 46:41
  look
• 46:41
  at
• 46:41
  the
• 46:41
  disciples,
• 46:42
  they
• 46:42
  were
• 46:43
  afraid
• 46:47
  of
• 46:48
  failing
• 46:48
  their
• 46:48
  master.
• 46:50
  What
• 46:50
  kept
• 46:50
  them
• 46:51
  going
• 46:51
  in
• 46:51
  all
• 46:51
  of
• 46:52
  this
• 46:52
  and
• 46:52
  as
• 46:53
  they
• 46:53
  would
• 46:53
  go
• 46:53
  on
• 46:53
  to
• 46:54
  minister
• 46:54
  for
• 46:54
  the
• 46:54
  Lord
• 46:55
  throughout
• 46:56
  their
• 46:56
  lives
• 46:57
  was
• 46:57
  obedience
• 46:57
  to
• 46:58
  the
• 46:58
  Lord.
• 47:00
  Their
• 47:00
  commission
• 47:01
  was
• 47:02
  dangerous.
• 47:03
  Some
• 47:03
  would
• 47:04
  lose
• 47:04
  their
• 47:04
  lives
• 47:05
  in
• 47:05
  it,
• 47:06
  but
• 47:06
  yet
• 47:06
  they
• 47:07
  were
• 47:07
  obedient.
• 47:08
  They
• 47:08
  went
• 47:09
  on
• 47:09
  courageous
• 47:10
  in
• 47:11
  the
• 47:11
  Lord.
• 47:13
  And
• 47:13
  we
• 47:13
  need
• 47:14
  to
• 47:14
  be
• 47:14
  courageous
• 47:15
  too.
• 47:17
  We
• 47:17
  need
• 47:17
  to
• 47:17
  be
• 47:18
  courageous
• 47:18
  ourselves.
• 47:20
  We
• 47:20
  need
• 47:20
  to
• 47:21
  remind
• 47:21
  ourselves
• 47:22
  of the
• 47:22
  wonder
• 47:23
  of
• 47:23
  God
• 47:24
  with
• 47:24
  us.
• 47:25
  So
• 47:26
  that
• 47:26
  as
• 47:26
  we
• 47:26
  go
• 47:27
  we
• 47:27
  have
• 47:27
  this
• 47:27
  promise
• 47:28
  behold
• 47:28
  I
• 47:29
  am
• 47:29
  with
• 47:29
  you
• 47:29
  always
• 47:30
  to
• 47:30
  the
• 47:30
  end
• 47:31
  of
• 47:31
  the
• 47:31
  age
• 47:32
  to
• 47:32
  the
• 47:32
  very
• 47:32
  end.
• 47:33
  I
• 47:34
  will
• 47:34
  never
• 47:34
  leave
• 47:34
  you.
• 47:36
  The
• 47:36
  soldiers
• 47:37
  they
• 47:38
  couldn't
• 47:38
  have
• 47:38
  that
• 47:39
  confidence.
• 47:40
  They
• 47:40
  couldn't
• 47:41
  have
• 47:41
  that
• 47:41
  assurance
• 47:41
  that
• 47:42
  the
• 47:43
  was
• 47:43
  that
• 47:44
  were
• 47:44
  over
• 47:44
  them
• 47:44
  over
• 47:45
  them.
• 47:45
  If
• 47:46
  news
• 47:47
  comes
• 47:47
  to
• 47:47
  the
• 47:47
  governor
• 47:48
  they
• 47:48
  said
• 47:48
  we
• 47:48
  will
• 47:48
  satisfy
• 47:49
  them.
• 47:49
  Well
• 47:49
  if
• 47:50
  the
• 47:50
  elders
• 47:51
  were
• 47:51
  in
• 47:52
  fear
• 47:52
  for
• 47:52
  their
• 47:52
  lives
• 47:53
  they
• 47:53
  wouldn't
• 47:53
  have
• 47:54
  protected
• 47:54
  the
• 47:54
  soldiers.
• 47:55
  They
• 47:56
  would
• 47:56
  have
• 47:56
  passed
• 47:56
  the
• 47:57
  buck
• 47:57
  and
• 47:57
  said
• 47:57
  no
• 47:57
  it's
• 47:57
  their
• 47:58
  fault
• 47:58
  they
• 47:59
  weren't
• 47:59
  doing
• 48:00
  their
• 48:00
  duties.
• 48:01
  So
• 48:01
  the
• 48:02
  soldiers
• 48:02
  would
• 48:02
  always
• 48:02
  be
• 48:03
  in
• 48:03
  fear.
• 48:03
  But
• 48:05
  we
• 48:05
  have
• 48:05
  the
• 48:05
  Lord
• 48:06
  on
• 48:06
  our
• 48:07
  side.
• 48:08
  We
• 48:08
  have
• 48:09
  the
• 48:09
  Lord
• 48:10
  with
• 48:10
  us.
• 48:12
  That
• 48:12
  is
• 48:12
  the
• 48:12
  promise
• 48:13
  that
• 48:13
  he
• 48:13
  gives
• 48:13
  us.
• 48:15
  If
• 48:15
  you
• 48:15
  look
• 48:15
  at
• 48:16
  verse
• 48:17
  17
• 48:18
  you
• 48:19
  see
• 48:19
  there
• 48:19
  though
• 48:20
  if
• 48:20
  you
• 48:20
  are
• 48:20
  of
• 48:20
  seven
• 48:20
  some
• 48:21
  worshipped
• 48:22
  him
• 48:22
  but
• 48:23
  some
• 48:24
  doubted.
• 48:25
  And
• 48:26
  you
• 48:26
  think
• 48:26
  but
• 48:26
  yeah
• 48:26
  look
• 48:27
  even
• 48:28
  the
• 48:28
  disciples
• 48:28
  here
• 48:29
  they
• 48:30
  weren't
• 48:30
  courageous
• 48:31
  they
• 48:31
  weren't
• 48:31
  bold
• 48:32
  doubted
• 48:34
  can also
• 48:35
  be
• 48:35
  translated
• 48:35
  hesitated
• 48:36
  and
• 48:38
  it's
• 48:38
  probably
• 48:39
  closer
• 48:39
  to the
• 48:40
  right
• 48:40
  word
• 48:40
  they
• 48:40
  hesitated
• 48:41
  they
• 48:41
  saw
• 48:42
  Jesus
• 48:42
  but
• 48:43
  it was
• 48:43
  almost
• 48:43
  unbelievable
• 48:44
  this
• 48:46
  is the
• 48:46
  one we
• 48:47
  have
• 48:47
  just
• 48:47
  seen
• 48:47
  crucified
• 48:48
  this
• 48:49
  is the
• 48:50
  one
• 48:50
  who
• 48:50
  hung
• 48:50
  on
• 48:51
  the
• 48:51
  tree
• 48:51
  this
• 48:52
  is the
• 48:52
  one
• 48:52
  whose
• 48:53
  body
• 48:53
  was
• 48:53
  taken
• 48:53
  down
• 48:54
  and
• 48:54
  placed
• 48:54
  in
• 48:54
  the
• 48:55
  tomb
• 48:55
  is
• 48:56
  it
• 48:56
  him
• 48:56
  they
• 48:57
  hesitated
• 48:58
  they
• 48:58
  were
• 48:58
  unsure
• 48:58
  but
• 48:59
  only
• 48:59
  for
• 49:00
  a
• 49:00
  time
• 49:00
  and
• 49:00
  who
• 49:00
  wouldn't
• 49:01
  be
• 49:01
  in
• 49:01
  many
• 49:01
  ways
• 49:02
  you
• 49:02
  think
• 49:03
  of
• 49:03
  Thomas
• 49:03
  how
• 49:05
  he
• 49:05
  would
• 49:06
  say
• 49:06
  well
• 49:06
  I
• 49:06
  will
• 49:07
  believe
• 49:07
  it
• 49:07
  when
• 49:07
  I
• 49:07
  see
• 49:08
  him
• 49:08
  when
• 49:09
  I
• 49:09
  am
• 49:09
  able
• 49:09
  to
• 49:09
  touch
• 49:10
  him
• 49:10
  and
• 49:10
  put
• 49:10
  my
• 49:11
  hand
• 49:11
  and
• 49:11
  my
• 49:12
  finger
• 49:12
  in
• 49:12
  the
• 49:13
  hole
• 49:14
  the
• 49:14
  mark
• 49:14
  on
• 49:14
  his
• 49:14
  hands
• 49:15
  and
• 49:15
  his
• 49:15
  side
• 49:16
  or
• 49:17
  the
• 49:17
  two
• 49:17
  on
• 49:17
  the
• 49:18
  road
• 49:18
  to
• 49:18
  Amaze
• 49:18
  who
• 49:19
  were
• 49:19
  downcast
• 49:20
  they
• 49:20
  were
• 49:21
  just
• 49:21
  dismayed
• 49:22
  that
• 49:23
  the
• 49:23
  Lord
• 49:23
  was
• 49:23
  dead
• 49:24
  that
• 49:24
  he
• 49:24
  was
• 49:24
  gone
• 49:25
  that
• 49:25
  their
• 49:25
  hope
• 49:26
  was
• 49:26
  all
• 49:26
  but
• 49:26
  gone
• 49:27
  all
• 49:27
  kinds
• 49:28
  of
• 49:28
  different
• 49:28
  reactions
• 49:29
  and yet
• 49:29
  in
• 49:30
  them
• 49:30
  all
• 49:31
  Jesus
• 49:31
  gives
• 49:32
  the
• 49:32
  answer
• 49:32
  to
• 49:34
  Thomas
• 49:35
  he
• 49:35
  appears
• 49:35
  to
• 49:36
  him
• 49:36
  Thomas
• 49:37
  says
• 49:37
  my
• 49:38
  Lord
• 49:38
  and
• 49:39
  my
• 49:39
  God
• 49:40
  to
• 49:41
  the
• 49:41
  two
• 49:41
  on
• 49:41
  the
• 49:41
  road
• 49:41
  to
• 49:41
  Amaze
• 49:42
  he
• 49:42
  comes
• 49:42
  alongside
• 49:43
  them
• 49:43
  and
• 49:43
  opens
• 49:44
  up
• 49:44
  the
• 49:44
  scriptures
• 49:45
  and
• 49:45
  their
• 49:46
  hearts
• 49:46
  burn
• 49:47
  within
• 49:47
  them
• 49:47
  there
• 49:48
  is
• 49:48
  that
• 49:48
  assurance
• 49:49
  there
• 49:49
  is
• 49:49
  that
• 49:50
  confidence
• 49:50
  he
• 49:51
  is
• 49:51
  with
• 49:51
  them
• 49:51
  with
• 49:53
  the
• 49:53
  woman
• 49:53
  at
• 49:55
  the
• 49:55
  tomb
• 49:55
  here
• 49:56
  the
• 49:56
  angel
• 49:56
  appears
• 49:57
  to
• 49:57
  them
• 49:57
  and
• 49:57
  then
• 49:57
  the
• 49:57
  Lord
• 49:58
  himself
• 49:59
  appears
• 50:00
  to
• 50:00
  them
• 50:00
  in
• 50:00
  verse
• 50:00
  9
• 50:01
  he
• 50:01
  met
• 50:01
  them
• 50:01
  and
• 50:01
  said
• 50:02
  greetings
• 50:02
  they
• 50:03
  came
• 50:03
  up
• 50:04
  and
• 50:04
  took
• 50:04
  hold
• 50:04
  of
• 50:05
  him
• 50:06
  and
• 50:06
  he
• 50:06
  said
• 50:06
  don't
• 50:07
  be
• 50:07
  afraid
• 50:08
  there
• 50:10
  is
• 50:10
  this
• 50:10
  wonderful
• 50:11
  assurance
• 50:12
  and
• 50:15
  Jesus
• 50:15
  is
• 50:15
  always
• 50:16
  giving
• 50:17
  instruction
• 50:18
  he
• 50:19
  is
• 50:19
  always
• 50:19
  giving
• 50:20
  guidance
• 50:21
  you read
• 50:21
  verse
• 50:22
  16
• 50:22
  there
• 50:23
  and
• 50:23
  it
• 50:24
  just
• 50:24
  seems
• 50:24
  like
• 50:24
  an
• 50:25
  insignificant
• 50:26
  little
• 50:26
  verse
• 50:27
  there
• 50:27
  now
• 50:27
  the
• 50:27
  eleven
• 50:28
  disciples
• 50:28
  went
• 50:29
  to
• 50:29
  Galilee
• 50:29
  to
• 50:30
  the
• 50:30
  mountain
• 50:30
  which
• 50:30
  Jesus
• 50:31
  had
• 50:31
  directed
• 50:32
  them
• 50:32
  and
• 50:33
  yet
• 50:33
  you
• 50:34
  see
• 50:34
  the
• 50:34
  key
• 50:34
  here
• 50:35
  there
• 50:35
  was
• 50:35
  obedience
• 50:36
  they
• 50:36
  were
• 50:36
  listening
• 50:37
  all
• 50:37
  along
• 50:38
  in
• 50:38
  chapter
• 50:39
  26
• 50:40
  verse
• 50:40
  32
• 50:41
  it
• 50:43
  says
• 50:43
  to
• 50:43
  them
• 50:43
  there
• 50:44
  but
• 50:44
  after
• 50:44
  I
• 50:45
  am
• 50:45
  raised
• 50:45
  up
• 50:45
  I
• 50:46
  will
• 50:46
  go
• 50:46
  before
• 50:47
  you
• 50:47
  to
• 50:48
  Galilee
• 50:48
  so
• 50:50
  he's
• 50:50
  told
• 50:50
  them
• 50:51
  even
• 50:51
  before
• 50:52
  the
• 50:52
  crucifixion
• 50:53
  after
• 50:53
  I
• 50:54
  am
• 50:54
  raised
• 50:54
  up
• 50:54
  I
• 50:55
  will
• 50:55
  go
• 50:55
  before
• 50:55
  you
• 50:56
  to
• 50:56
  Galilee
• 50:57
  and
• 50:58
  then
• 50:58
  in
• 50:58
  verse
• 50:58
  7
• 50:59
  of
• 50:59
  chapter
• 50:59
  28
• 51:00
  he
• 51:01
  is
• 51:02
  going
• 51:02
  before
• 51:03
  you
• 51:03
  to
• 51:04
  Galilee
• 51:04
  there
• 51:04
  you
• 51:05
  will
• 51:05
  see
• 51:05
  him
• 51:06
  and
• 51:06
  then
• 51:07
  in
• 51:07
  verse
• 51:07
  10
• 51:07
  then
• 51:08
  Jesus
• 51:08
  said
• 51:08
  to
• 51:08
  them
• 51:08
  do
• 51:09
  not
• 51:09
  be
• 51:09
  afraid
• 51:09
  go
• 51:10
  and
• 51:10
  tell
• 51:10
  my
• 51:10
  brothers
• 51:11
  to
• 51:11
  go
• 51:11
  to
• 51:12
  Galilee
• 51:12
  oh
• 51:14
  you see
• 51:14
  it
• 51:14
  a few
• 51:14
  times
• 51:15
  go
• 51:15
  to
• 51:16
  Galilee
• 51:16
  there
• 51:16
  you
• 51:20
  went
• 51:21
  to
• 51:21
  Galilee
• 51:21
  to
• 51:22
  the
• 51:22
  mountain
• 51:22
  to
• 51:23
  which
• 51:23
  Jesus
• 51:23
  had
• 51:24
  directed
• 51:25
  them
• 51:25
  they
• 51:26
  were
• 51:26
  being
• 51:27
  obedient
• 51:28
  they
• 51:30
  were
• 51:30
  being
• 51:30
  obedient
• 51:31
  and
• 51:33
  so
• 51:33
  we
• 51:34
  are
• 51:34
  to
• 51:34
  be
• 51:35
  obedient
• 51:35
  too
• 51:36
  we
• 51:37
  are
• 51:37
  to
• 51:37
  be
• 51:37
  a
• 51:37
  people
• 51:38
  of
• 51:38
  faith
• 51:38
  who
• 51:39
  go
• 51:39
  in
• 51:40
  that
• 51:40
  promise
• 51:40
  that
• 51:41
  he
• 51:41
  is
• 51:42
  with
• 51:42
  us
• 51:42
  that
• 51:42
  he
• 51:42
  will
• 51:42
  always
• 51:43
  be
• 51:43
  with
• 51:43
  us
• 51:43
  even
• 51:44
  to
• 51:44
  the
• 51:45
  end
• 51:45
  of
• 51:46
  the
• 51:46
  age
• 51:46
  even
• 51:46
  into
• 51:47
  the
• 51:47
  places
• 51:47
  where
• 51:48
  it
• 51:48
  seems
• 51:49
  impossible
• 51:50
  George
• 51:52
  Muller
• 51:53
  a man
• 51:53
  of
• 51:54
  faith
• 51:54
  who
• 51:54
  so
• 51:54
  often
• 51:55
  saw
• 51:55
  the
• 51:55
  Lord
• 51:56
  work
• 51:56
  in
• 51:56
  amazing
• 51:57
  ways
• 51:57
  he
• 51:58
  said
• 51:58
  this
• 51:58
  faith
• 51:59
  does
• 51:59
  not
• 51:59
  operate
• 52:00
  in
• 52:00
  the
• 52:00
  realm
• 52:01
  of
• 52:01
  the
• 52:01
  possible
• 52:02
  there
• 52:03
  is
• 52:03
  no
• 52:03
  glory
• 52:03
  for
• 52:04
  God
• 52:04
  in
• 52:04
  that
• 52:05
  which
• 52:05
  is
• 52:05
  humanly
• 52:06
  possible
• 52:06
  faith
• 52:07
  begins
• 52:08
  where
• 52:09
  man's
• 52:09
  power
• 52:10
  ends
• 52:11
  and
• 52:13
  we
• 52:13
  cannot
• 52:14
  save
• 52:14
  we
• 52:15
  cannot
• 52:16
  go
• 52:16
  and
• 52:17
  make
• 52:17
  disciples
• 52:18
  by
• 52:18
  ourselves
• 52:19
  we
• 52:19
  cannot
• 52:19
  teach
• 52:20
  them
• 52:20
  to
• 52:20
  observe
• 52:21
  all
• 52:21
  that
• 52:21
  I
• 52:22
  have
• 52:22
  commanded
• 52:22
  you
• 52:22
  by
• 52:23
  ourselves
• 52:23
  but
• 52:24
  Jesus
• 52:25
  has
• 52:25
  authority
• 52:26
  all
• 52:27
  authority
• 52:28
  in
• 52:28
  heaven
• 52:28
  and
• 52:29
  on
• 52:29
  earth
• 52:29
  has
• 52:29
  been
• 52:30
  given
• 52:30
  to
• 52:30
  me
• 52:30
  and
• 52:31
  he's
• 52:31
  saying
• 52:31
  go
• 52:32
  and
• 52:32
  at
• 52:33
  the
• 52:33
  end
• 52:33
  behold
• 52:34
  I
• 52:34
  am
• 52:34
  with
• 52:34
  you
• 52:34
  always
• 52:35
  to
• 52:36
  the
• 52:36
  end
• 52:37
  of
• 52:37
  the
• 52:37
  age
• 52:38
  courage
• 52:39
  is
• 52:40
  required
• 52:41
  but
• 52:42
  he
• 52:42
  gives
• 52:43
  courage
• 52:43
  he
• 52:44
  gives
• 52:45
  courage
• 52:45
  through
• 52:45
  that
• 52:46
  promise
• 52:46
  that
• 52:47
  he
• 52:47
  is
• 52:48
  always
• 52:49
  with
• 52:49
  us
• 52:50
  the
• 52:51
  third
• 52:52
  thing
• 52:52
  the
• 52:52
  final
• 52:53
  thing
• 52:53
  I
• 52:54
  want
• 52:54
  us
• 52:54
  to
• 52:54
  see
• 52:54
  here
• 52:55
  is
• 52:55
  that
• 52:55
  confident
• 52:56
  trust
• 52:57
  what
• 52:59
  motivates
• 53:00
  us
• 53:01
  in
• 53:02
  our
• 53:02
  ministry
• 53:03
  what
• 53:04
  motivates
• 53:05
  us
• 53:05
  in our
• 53:06
  Christian
• 53:06
  lives
• 53:07
  in our
• 53:07
  witness
• 53:08
  for the
• 53:09
  Lord
• 53:09
  what
• 53:10
  is a
• 53:10
  contrast
• 53:11
  in the
• 53:11
  motivations
• 53:12
  that we
• 53:12
  see
• 53:12
  between
• 53:13
  the
• 53:13
  guards
• 53:13
  and the
• 53:14
  disciples
• 53:15
  here
• 53:15
  as
• 53:16
  well
• 53:16
  the
• 53:17
  guards
• 53:17
  they
• 53:18
  were
• 53:18
  the
• 53:18
  soldiers
• 53:18
  they
• 53:19
  were
• 53:19
  motivated
• 53:20
  by
• 53:20
  money
• 53:20
  money
• 53:22
  we
• 53:23
  will
• 53:23
  give
• 53:23
  you
• 53:23
  a
• 53:24
  sufficient
• 53:24
  sum
• 53:25
  of
• 53:25
  money
• 53:25
  to
• 53:26
  go
• 53:26
  and
• 53:27
  tell
• 53:27
  people
• 53:28
  this
• 53:28
  story
• 53:28
  tell
• 53:28
  them
• 53:29
  this
• 53:29
  lie
• 53:29
  they
• 53:30
  were
• 53:30
  motivated
• 53:31
  by
• 53:32
  money
• 53:32
  and
• 53:34
  it
• 53:34
  would
• 53:34
  be
• 53:34
  easy
• 53:34
  for
• 53:35
  us
• 53:35
  sometimes
• 53:35
  to
• 53:35
  have
• 53:36
  the
• 53:36
  wrong
• 53:36
  motivations
• 53:37
  and
• 53:38
  sometimes
• 53:38
  people
• 53:38
  can
• 53:38
  see
• 53:39
  our
• 53:39
  motivations
• 53:40
  as
• 53:40
  wrong
• 53:40
  as
• 53:41
  well
• 53:41
  when
• 53:43
  you
• 53:43
  think
• 53:43
  of
• 53:43
  the
• 53:44
  desire
• 53:45
  we
• 53:45
  have
• 53:46
  to
• 53:47
  see
• 53:47
  many
• 53:47
  coming
• 53:48
  into
• 53:48
  the
• 53:48
  congregation
• 53:48
  to
• 53:49
  see
• 53:49
  many
• 53:49
  coming
• 53:50
  in
• 53:50
  under
• 53:50
  the
• 53:50
  word
• 53:51
  people
• 53:52
  will
• 53:52
  say
• 53:52
  our
• 53:52
  numbers
• 53:53
  is
• 53:54
  what's
• 53:54
  driving
• 53:55
  their
• 53:55
  motives
• 53:56
  there
• 53:56
  that's
• 53:57
  what's
• 53:57
  behind
• 53:57
  it
• 53:57
  all
• 53:57
  just
• 53:58
  so
• 53:58
  they're
• 53:58
  able
• 53:58
  to
• 53:58
  say
• 53:59
  that
• 53:59
  there's
• 54:00
  large
• 54:00
  numbers
• 54:01
  of
• 54:02
  people
• 54:02
  that's
• 54:04
  what's
• 54:05
  motivating
• 54:05
  them
• 54:06
  or
• 54:07
  you can
• 54:08
  go into
• 54:08
  all
• 54:09
  kinds
• 54:09
  of
• 54:09
  ways
• 54:10
  that
• 54:10
  we
• 54:10
  think
• 54:10
  wrong
• 54:11
  motivations
• 54:12
  are
• 54:13
  seen
• 54:13
  they're
• 54:13
  just
• 54:13
  doing
• 54:14
  it
• 54:14
  to
• 54:14
  be
• 54:14
  seen
• 54:15
  for
• 54:15
  their
• 54:15
  own
• 54:16
  reputations
• 54:17
  they're
• 54:17
  just
• 54:17
  doing
• 54:17
  it
• 54:17
  to
• 54:17
  be
• 54:18
  spoken
• 54:18
  of
• 54:18
  by
• 54:19
  others
• 54:19
  but
• 54:21
  that's
• 54:21
  never
• 54:22
  what
• 54:22
  should
• 54:22
  drive
• 54:23
  us
• 54:23
  it's
• 54:23
  not
• 54:23
  what
• 54:24
  drives
• 54:24
  us
• 54:25
  our
• 54:26
  greatest
• 54:27
  concern
• 54:28
  should
• 54:29
  always
• 54:30
  be
• 54:30
  our
• 54:31
  love
• 54:31
  for
• 54:31
  Christ
• 54:32
  for
• 54:34
  the
• 54:34
  glory
• 54:34
  of
• 54:35
  his
• 54:35
  name
• 54:36
  and
• 54:37
  for
• 54:37
  the
• 54:37
  saving
• 54:38
  of
• 54:39
  souls
• 54:39
  when
• 54:42
  a
• 54:43
  minister
• 54:43
  is
• 54:44
  ordained
• 54:44
  you
• 54:45
  hear
• 54:46
  a
• 54:46
  minister
• 54:46
  taking
• 54:47
  vows
• 54:47
  and
• 54:47
  it's
• 54:48
  good
• 54:48
  as
• 54:49
  any
• 54:49
  minister
• 54:50
  to
• 54:50
  remind
• 54:50
  ourselves
• 54:51
  of
• 54:52
  the
• 54:52
  vows
• 54:52
  that
• 54:52
  we
• 54:52
  have
• 54:53
  taken
• 54:53
  and
• 54:53
  perhaps
• 54:53
  it's
• 54:54
  vows
• 54:54
  that
• 54:55
  maybe
• 54:55
  even
• 54:55
  every
• 54:55
  Christian
• 54:56
  should
• 54:56
  take
• 54:57
  as
• 54:57
  we
• 54:57
  become
• 54:57
  professing
• 54:58
  members
• 54:59
  of
• 54:59
  the
• 54:59
  church
• 55:00
  that
• 55:01
  our
• 55:01
  desires
• 55:02
  and
• 55:02
  commitments
• 55:02
  would
• 55:03
  be
• 55:03
  aligned
• 55:04
  in
• 55:04
  the
• 55:04
  same
• 55:04
  way
• 55:04
  and
• 55:05
  part
• 55:05
  of
• 55:05
  the
• 55:05
  vows
• 55:06
  that
• 55:06
  a
• 55:06
  minister
• 55:06
  takes
• 55:07
  is
• 55:07
  the
• 55:07
  seal
• 55:08
  for
• 55:09
  the
• 55:09
  honour
• 55:09
  of
• 55:10
  God
• 55:10
  love
• 55:11
  to
• 55:12
  Jesus
• 55:13
  Christ
• 55:13
  and
• 55:14
  desire
• 55:15
  for
• 55:16
  the
• 55:16
  saving
• 55:17
  of
• 55:17
  souls
• 55:18
  that's
• 55:20
  your
• 55:20
  chief
• 55:21
  inducement
• 55:23
  as it
• 55:23
  says
• 55:24
  chief
• 55:24
  motivation
• 55:25
  in the
• 55:26
  ordination
• 55:26
  into the
• 55:27
  ministry
• 55:27
  seal
• 55:28
  for the
• 55:29
  honour
• 55:29
  of
• 55:29
  God
• 55:30
  love
• 55:30
  to
• 55:30
  Jesus
• 55:31
  Christ
• 55:31
  and
• 55:32
  desire
• 55:33
  for
• 55:33
  saving
• 55:34
  of
• 55:34
  souls
• 55:35
  that's
• 55:37
  what the
• 55:37
  church
• 55:37
  is
• 55:38
  about
• 55:38
  not
• 55:39
  just
• 55:39
  the
• 55:39
  minister
• 55:40
  all
• 55:40
  of
• 55:41
  us
• 55:41
  together
• 55:41
  seal
• 55:42
  for
• 55:42
  the
• 55:42
  honour
• 55:43
  of
• 55:43
  God
• 55:43
  love
• 55:44
  to
• 55:45
  Jesus
• 55:46
  Christ
• 55:46
  and
• 55:47
  the
• 55:47
  desire
• 55:48
  of
• 55:49
  the
• 55:49
  saving
• 55:49
  of
• 55:50
  souls
• 55:51
  we
• 55:51
  don't
• 55:51
  do
• 55:51
  it
• 55:52
  of
• 55:52
  ourselves
• 55:53
  we
• 55:54
  look
• 55:55
  to
• 55:55
  him
• 55:55
  who
• 55:56
  is
• 55:56
  able
• 55:57
  and
• 55:58
  there
• 55:58
  are
• 55:58
  souls
• 55:59
  all
• 56:00
  around
• 56:01
  us
• 56:01
  there
• 56:02
  are
• 56:03
  souls
• 56:03
  everywhere
• 56:04
  that we
• 56:05
  look
• 56:05
  and it's
• 56:05
  our
• 56:06
  desire
• 56:06
  that they
• 56:07
  be
• 56:08
  saved
• 56:08
  back to
• 56:10
  church
• 56:11
  Sunday
• 56:12
  is not
• 56:13
  just
• 56:13
  for
• 56:13
  one
• 56:13
  day
• 56:14
  it's
• 56:15
  about
• 56:15
  coming
• 56:16
  to
• 56:16
  see
• 56:17
  a
• 56:17
  saviour
• 56:17
  the
• 56:18
  Christ
• 56:19
  who
• 56:20
  offers
• 56:20
  me
• 56:20
  everything
• 56:21
  come
• 56:22
  and
• 56:23
  see
• 56:24
  this
• 56:24
  man
• 56:24
  could
• 56:25
  he
• 56:26
  be
• 56:26
  the
• 56:26
  Christ
• 56:27
  was
• 56:27
  the
• 56:27
  invitation
• 56:28
  the
• 56:28
  woman
• 56:29
  of
• 56:29
  Samaria
• 56:29
  gave
• 56:30
  that's
• 56:31
  our
• 56:31
  invitation
• 56:31
  come
• 56:32
  see
• 56:34
  a man
• 56:34
  who knows
• 56:34
  everything
• 56:35
  about
• 56:35
  me
• 56:35
  could
• 56:37
  this
• 56:37
  be
• 56:37
  the
• 56:38
  Christ
• 56:38
  does
• 56:40
  that
• 56:40
  drive
• 56:41
  us
• 56:41
  does
• 56:42
  that
• 56:42
  motivate
• 56:43
  us
• 56:43
  Dwight
• 56:45
  Moody
• 56:45
  said he
• 56:47
  made a
• 56:47
  promise
• 56:48
  to God
• 56:49
  that he
• 56:50
  would
• 56:50
  witness to
• 56:50
  Christ
• 56:51
  to at
• 56:52
  least one
• 56:53
  person
• 56:53
  each
• 56:54
  day
• 56:54
  and so
• 56:56
  he did
• 56:57
  each day
• 56:58
  of his
• 56:58
  life
• 56:58
  and there
• 56:58
  was one
• 56:59
  time
• 56:59
  it was
• 57:00
  coming up
• 57:01
  to ten
• 57:01
  o'clock
• 57:01
  at night
• 57:02
  and he
• 57:02
  realised
• 57:03
  he
• 57:03
  hadn't
• 57:04
  spoken
• 57:04
  to
• 57:04
  anyone
• 57:05
  about
• 57:05
  Christ
• 57:06
  that
• 57:06
  day
• 57:06
  he
• 57:07
  hadn't
• 57:07
  witnessed
• 57:08
  and so
• 57:09
  he went
• 57:09
  out onto
• 57:10
  the street
• 57:10
  he went
• 57:10
  out looking
• 57:11
  for someone
• 57:12
  to talk
• 57:12
  to them
• 57:13
  about
• 57:13
  Christ
• 57:13
  and about
• 57:14
  their
• 57:14
  soul
• 57:14
  and he
• 57:14
  saw
• 57:15
  this
• 57:15
  man
• 57:15
  standing
• 57:16
  by a
• 57:17
  lamp
• 57:17
  and he
• 57:17
  went
• 57:17
  over
• 57:17
  asking
• 57:18
  him
• 57:18
  are
• 57:18
  you
• 57:19
  a
• 57:19
  Christian
• 57:19
  and the
• 57:21
  man
• 57:22
  went
• 57:22
  into
• 57:23
  a
• 57:23
  violent
• 57:23
  rage
• 57:24
  he
• 57:25
  was so
• 57:25
  angry
• 57:26
  with
• 57:26
  Dwight
• 57:26
  Moody
• 57:27
  he
• 57:27
  threatened
• 57:27
  to throw
• 57:28
  him
• 57:28
  into
• 57:28
  the
• 57:29
  gutter
• 57:29
  he
• 57:29
  just
• 57:30
  pushed
• 57:30
  him
• 57:30
  away
• 57:31
  he
• 57:31
  just
• 57:31
  told
• 57:31
  him
• 57:32
  to
• 57:32
  get
• 57:32
  lost
• 57:32
  this
• 57:36
  got
• 57:36
  back
• 57:36
  to
• 57:36
  some
• 57:37
  of
• 57:37
  the
• 57:37
  elders
• 57:37
  in
• 57:37
  Dwight
• 57:38
  Moody's
• 57:38
  church
• 57:38
  and they
• 57:39
  said
• 57:39
  you're
• 57:40
  doing
• 57:40
  more
• 57:40
  harm
• 57:41
  than
• 57:41
  good
• 57:41
  you're
• 57:43
  stirring
• 57:43
  up
• 57:43
  people
• 57:44
  to
• 57:44
  anger
• 57:44
  against
• 57:45
  us
• 57:45
  as
• 57:46
  a
• 57:46
  church
• 57:46
  and they
• 57:48
  begged
• 57:48
  him
• 57:48
  to
• 57:48
  stop
• 57:49
  but he
• 57:50
  said
• 57:51
  he
• 57:51
  couldn't
• 57:52
  he
• 57:53
  still
• 57:54
  had to
• 57:54
  go on
• 57:54
  witnessing
• 57:55
  for
• 57:55
  Christ
• 57:56
  three
• 57:57
  months
• 57:57
  later
• 57:57
  Dwight
• 57:59
  Moody was
• 57:59
  awakened
• 58:00
  by a
• 58:00
  knock
• 58:00
  at his
• 58:01
  door
• 58:01
  and at
• 58:03
  the
• 58:03
  door
• 58:03
  when he
• 58:03
  opened
• 58:03
  it
• 58:03
  was
• 58:04
  this
• 58:04
  man
• 58:04
  who
• 58:04
  he
• 58:04
  had
• 58:05
  witnessed
• 58:05
  to
• 58:05
  on
• 58:05
  the
• 58:05
  street
• 58:06
  who
• 58:06
  had
• 58:06
  got
• 58:06
  into
• 58:06
  a
• 58:07
  rage
• 58:07
  with
• 58:07
  him
• 58:07
  and
• 58:08
  threatened
• 58:08
  to
• 58:09
  throw
• 58:09
  him
• 58:09
  into
• 58:10
  the
• 58:10
  gutter
• 58:10
  and
• 58:11
  he
• 58:11
  said
• 58:11
  I
• 58:12
  want
• 58:12
  to
• 58:12
  talk
• 58:13
  to
• 58:13
  you
• 58:13
  about
• 58:13
  my
• 58:14
  soul
• 58:14
  and
• 58:16
  he
• 58:16
  apologized
• 58:17
  for
• 58:18
  the way
• 58:19
  that he
• 58:19
  treated
• 58:19
  him
• 58:20
  that
• 58:20
  night
• 58:21
  and
• 58:21
  said
• 58:21
  I
• 58:22
  have
• 58:22
  had
• 58:22
  no
• 58:23
  peace
• 58:23
  ever
• 58:24
  since
• 58:25
  that
• 58:29
  soul
• 58:29
  is
• 58:30
  troubled
• 58:30
  and
• 58:32
  he
• 58:32
  came
• 58:32
  in
• 58:33
  with
• 58:33
  Dwight
• 58:34
  Moody
• 58:34
  he
• 58:34
  sat
• 58:35
  with
• 58:35
  him
• 58:35
  and
• 58:36
  they
• 58:36
  spoke
• 58:36
  of
• 58:37
  the
• 58:37
  wonder
• 58:37
  of
• 58:37
  Christ
• 58:38
  the
• 58:38
  beauty
• 58:39
  of
• 58:39
  Christ
• 58:39
  the
• 58:40
  one
• 58:40
  who
• 58:40
  is
• 58:41
  able
• 58:41
  to
• 58:41
  save
• 58:41
  come
• 58:43
  because
• 58:44
  Christ
• 58:44
  offers
• 58:45
  me
• 58:45
  everything
• 58:46
  and
• 58:47
  this
• 58:47
  man
• 58:48
  came
• 58:49
  to
• 58:49
  faith
• 58:49
  and
• 58:51
  served
• 58:51
  the
• 58:52
  Lord
• 58:52
  we
• 58:54
  should
• 58:55
  never
• 58:55
  lose
• 58:55
  our
• 58:56
  seal
• 58:56
  for
• 58:57
  souls
• 58:57
  that
• 58:58
  are
• 58:58
  lost
• 58:58
  and
• 58:59
  perishing
• 59:00
  and
• 59:01
  so
• 59:02
  our
• 59:02
  command
• 59:03
  as we
• 59:03
  come
• 59:04
  come
• 59:05
  to
• 59:05
  Christ
• 59:05
  who
• 59:06
  offers
• 59:06
  me
• 59:06
  everything
• 59:06
  is
• 59:07
  also
• 59:07
  tonight
• 59:08
  to
• 59:08
  go
• 59:09
  to
• 59:10
  go
• 59:11
  because
• 59:12
  there
• 59:13
  are
• 59:13
  great
• 59:13
  opportunities
• 59:14
  around
• 59:14
  us
• 59:15
  and
• 59:16
  there
• 59:16
  are
• 59:16
  people
• 59:16
  who
• 59:17
  are
• 59:17
  perishing
• 59:18
  we
• 59:20
  have
• 59:20
  a
• 59:21
  great
• 59:22
  commission
• 59:22
  we
• 59:24
  have
• 59:24
  the
• 59:24
  truth
• 59:24
  of
• 59:25
  a
• 59:25
  risen
• 59:26
  saviour
• 59:27
  there
• 59:28
  are
• 59:28
  others
• 59:28
  who
• 59:29
  still
• 59:29
  spread
• 59:29
  the
• 59:30
  lie
• 59:30
  that
• 59:31
  Christ
• 59:31
  is
• 59:32
  not
• 59:32
  real
• 59:32
  he
• 59:34
  may
• 59:34
  have
• 59:34
  lived
• 59:34
  but
• 59:35
  he's
• 59:35
  dead
• 59:35
  he's
• 59:36
  of
• 59:36
  no
• 59:36
  use
• 59:37
  to
• 59:37
  you
• 59:37
  now
• 59:37
  but
• 59:38
  we
• 59:39
  have
• 59:39
  the
• 59:40
  truth
• 59:40
  Christ
• 59:42
  offers
• 59:43
  us
• 59:44
  eternal
• 59:45
  life
• 59:46
  through
• 59:47
  faith
• 59:47
  in him
• 59:48
  so
• 59:49
  we
• 59:49
  go
• 59:50
  because
• 59:51
  there
• 59:51
  are
• 59:51
  great
• 59:52
  opportunities
• 59:53
  around
• 59:54
  us
• 59:54
  let's
• 59:55
  not
• 59:56
  fail
• 59:56
  in
• 59:57
  our
• 59:57
  commission
• 59:58
  but
• 59:59
  be
• 59:59
  faithful
• 59:59
  to
• 1:00:00
  him
• 1:00:00
  seal
• 1:00:01
  for
• 1:00:02
  God
• 1:00:02
  and
• 1:00:03
  love
• 1:00:03
  to
• 1:00:04
  Jesus
• 1:00:05
  Christ
• 1:00:05
  and
• 1:00:07
  the
• 1:00:07
  saving
• 1:00:07
  of
• 1:00:08
  souls
• 1:00:09
  may
• 1:00:10
  that
• 1:00:10
  move
• 1:00:10
  us
• 1:00:11
  and
• 1:00:11
  make
• 1:00:12
  us
• 1:00:12
  go
• 1:00:12
  as
• 1:00:13
  we
• 1:00:13
  have
• 1:00:13
  been
• 1:00:13
  commanded
• 1:00:14
  let
• 1:00:14
  us
• 1:00:15
  pray
• 1:00:15
  our
• 1:00:18
  father
• 1:00:18
  in
• 1:00:19
  heaven
• 1:00:19
  we
• 1:00:19
  thank
• 1:00:19
  you
• 1:00:20
  that
• 1:00:20
  we
• 1:00:21
  hear
• 1:00:21
  your
• 1:00:21
  word
• 1:00:22
  and
• 1:00:23
  help
• 1:00:23
  us
• 1:00:23
  that
• 1:00:24
  we
• 1:00:24
  would
• 1:00:24
  take
• 1:00:24
  it
• 1:00:25
  to
• 1:00:25
  heart
• 1:00:25
  that
• 1:00:26
  we
• 1:00:26
  would
• 1:00:27
  take
• 1:00:27
  it
• 1:00:27
  as
• 1:00:27
  your
• 1:00:27
  truth
• 1:00:28
  to
• 1:00:28
  us
• 1:00:28
  that
• 1:00:29
  Jesus
• 1:00:30
  Christ
• 1:00:30
  is
• 1:00:31
  risen
• 1:00:32
  from
• 1:00:32
  the
• 1:00:32
  dead
• 1:00:32
  and
• 1:00:33
  that
• 1:00:34
  we
• 1:00:34
  have
• 1:00:34
  this
• 1:00:35
  command
• 1:00:35
  to
• 1:00:36
  go
• 1:00:36
  and
• 1:00:37
  tell
• 1:00:37
  others
• 1:00:37
  of
• 1:00:38
  the
• 1:00:38
  wonder
• 1:00:38
  the
• 1:00:39
  wonder
• 1:00:39
  of
• 1:00:40
  the
• 1:00:40
  gospel
• 1:00:40
  the
• 1:00:41
  wonder
• 1:00:42
  that
• 1:00:42
  he
• 1:00:42
  died
• 1:00:42
  for
• 1:00:43
  our
• 1:00:43
  sins
• 1:00:43
  the
• 1:00:43
  wonder
• 1:00:44
  that
• 1:00:44
  he
• 1:00:44
  rose
• 1:00:45
  from
• 1:00:45
  the
• 1:00:45
  grave
• 1:00:45
  and
• 1:00:46
  the
• 1:00:46
  wonder
• 1:00:47
  that
• 1:00:47
  he
• 1:00:47
  will
• 1:00:47
  come
• 1:00:47
  again
• 1:00:48
  may
• 1:00:49
  you
• 1:00:49
  help
• 1:00:49
  us
• 1:00:50
  Lord
• 1:00:50
  to
• 1:00:50
  be
• 1:00:50
  a
• 1:00:50
  people
• 1:00:51
  to
• 1:00:52
  be
• 1:00:52
  a
• 1:00:52
  church
• 1:00:52
  here
• 1:00:53
  on
• 1:00:53
  earth
• 1:00:53
  that
• 1:00:54
  reflects
• 1:00:55
  your
• 1:00:55
  glory
• 1:00:55
  and
• 1:00:56
  shows
• 1:00:57
  the
• 1:00:57
  wonder
• 1:00:57
  of
• 1:00:58
  your
• 1:00:58
  gospel
• 1:00:59
  to
• 1:00:59
  many
• 1:00:59
  that
• 1:01:00
  we
• 1:01:00
  would
• 1:01:00
  see
• 1:01:00
  your
• 1:01:01
  hand
• 1:01:01
  upon
• 1:01:01
  us
• 1:01:02
  Lord
• 1:01:02
  moving
• 1:01:02
  in
• 1:01:02
  our
• 1:01:02
  midst
• 1:01:03
  your
• 1:01:03
  spirit
• 1:01:03
  working
• 1:01:04
  bringing
• 1:01:05
  many
• 1:01:05
  to
• 1:01:05
  salvation
• 1:01:06
  bringing
• 1:01:07
  many
• 1:01:07
  to
• 1:01:07
  know
• 1:01:08
  the
• 1:01:08
  glory
• 1:01:08
  and
• 1:01:09
  the
• 1:01:09
  wonder
• 1:01:09
  of
• 1:01:10
  Christ
• 1:01:10
  as
• 1:01:11
  their
• 1:01:11
  Lord
• 1:01:11
  and
• 1:01:15
  amen
• 1:01:15
  we're
• 1:01:20
  going
• 1:01:20
  to
• 1:01:20
  conclude
• 1:01:21
  by
• 1:01:21
  singing
• 1:01:22
  again
• 1:01:22
  to
• 1:01:22
  God's
• 1:01:23
  praise
• 1:01:23
  this
• 1:01:23
  time
• 1:01:23
  in
• 1:01:24
  psalm
• 1:01:24
  73
• 1:01:25
  in
• 1:01:25
  the
• 1:01:25
  Scottish
• 1:01:26
  Psalter
• 1:01:26
  psalm
• 1:01:29
  73
• 1:01:31
  singing
• 1:01:32
  from
• 1:01:33
  verse
• 1:01:33
  23
• 1:01:33
  to
• 1:01:34
  verse
• 1:01:34
  26
• 1:01:35
  page
• 1:01:39
  316
• 1:01:40
  of the
• 1:01:41
  psalm
• 1:01:41
  books
• 1:01:41
  a psalm
• 1:01:42
  that
• 1:01:42
  reminds
• 1:01:43
  us
• 1:01:44
  as
• 1:01:44
  the
• 1:01:44
  psalmist
• 1:01:44
  goes
• 1:01:45
  through
• 1:01:45
  it
• 1:01:45
  how
• 1:01:45
  often
• 1:01:46
  we
• 1:01:46
  can
• 1:01:46
  have
• 1:01:46
  questions
• 1:01:47
  and
• 1:01:47
  doubts
• 1:01:47
  and
• 1:01:48
  fears
• 1:01:48
  and
• 1:01:48
  worries
• 1:01:49
  and
• 1:01:50
  yet
• 1:01:51
  he
• 1:01:51
  says
• 1:01:51
  at
• 1:01:51
  the
• 1:01:51
  end
• 1:01:51
  of
• 1:01:51
  verse
• 1:01:52
  22
• 1:01:52
  there
• 1:01:53
  so
• 1:01:53
  rude
• 1:01:53
  was
• 1:01:54
  I
• 1:01:54
  and
• 1:01:54
  ignorant
• 1:01:54
  and
• 1:01:55
  in
• 1:01:55
  my
• 1:01:55
  sight
• 1:01:56
  a
• 1:01:56
  beast
• 1:01:57
  but
• 1:01:58
  then
• 1:01:58
  you
• 1:01:58
  have
• 1:01:58
  these
• 1:01:58
  words
• 1:01:59
  in
• 1:01:59
  verse
• 1:02:00
  23
• 1:02:00
  nevertheless
• 1:02:01
  continually
• 1:02:02
  O
• 1:02:02
  Lord
• 1:02:03
  I
• 1:02:03
  am
• 1:02:03
  with
• 1:02:04
  thee
• 1:02:04
  thou
• 1:02:05
  dost
• 1:02:05
  me
• 1:02:05
  hold
• 1:02:05
  by
• 1:02:06
  my
• 1:02:06
  right
• 1:02:06
  hand
• 1:02:07
  and
• 1:02:07
  still
• 1:02:07
  uphold
• 1:02:08
  this
• 1:02:09
  neither
• 1:02:09
  with
• 1:02:09
  thy
• 1:02:10
  counsel
• 1:02:10
  while I
• 1:02:11
  live
• 1:02:11
  will
• 1:02:11
  me
• 1:02:12
  conduct
• 1:02:12
  and
• 1:02:13
  guide
• 1:02:13
  and
• 1:02:13
  to
• 1:02:13
  thy
• 1:02:13
  glory
• 1:02:14
  afterward
• 1:02:14
  receive
• 1:02:15
  me
• 1:02:15
  to
• 1:02:16
  abide
• 1:02:16
  we'll
• 1:02:17
  sing
• 1:02:17
  from
• 1:02:17
  verse
• 1:02:17
  23
• 1:02:18
  to
• 1:02:18
  26
• 1:02:19
  to
• 1:02:20
  God's
• 1:02:20
  praise
• 1:02:20
  and
• 1:02:21
  we
• 1:02:21
  stand
• 1:02:21
  to
• 1:02:21
  sing
• 1:02:22
  stem
• 1:02:22
  to
• 1:02:42
  men
• 1:02:42
  with
• 1:02:43
  thee
• 1:02:45
  and
• 1:02:46
  does
• 1:02:48
  me
• 1:02:49
  hold
• 1:02:50
  By my God, and still the foolishness be.
• 1:03:03
  The will I counsel while I live, will keep on guard and guide.
• 1:03:21
  And to the glory of the world receive me tonight.
• 1:03:39
  To cover in the heavens high, that the, O Lord, alone,
• 1:03:57
  Have been here, O God, I desire, besides me there is none.
• 1:04:15
  Thy patient heart doth faint and fail,
• 1:04:26
  The God doth fail me there.
• 1:04:34
  For, O my heart, God is the same,
• 1:04:44
  And worship for us.
• 1:04:53
  After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left.
• 1:04:56
  We'll close the benediction.
• 1:04:58
  Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God,
• 1:05:01
  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon us
• 1:05:05
  and abide with us now and forevermore.
• 1:05:07
  Amen.