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A Perfect Parting · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We're going to begin our service singing to God's praise in Psalm 98.
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!
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He has remembered well the covenant he made with him, the house of Israel.
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And all the nations of the earth have seen what God has done, our God who brings deliverance
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by his right hand alone.
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Acclaim the Lord of all the earth, shout loudly and rejoice.
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Make music and be jubilant to him, lift up your voice.
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With harp make music to the Lord, with harp his praises sing.
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With trumpet and with horn rejoice.
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Before the Lord, the King.
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Let earth, the sea and all in them rejoice triumphantly.
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Let streams clap hands and mountains sing together joyfully.
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Now let them sing before the Lord who comes to judge the earth.
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He'll judge the world in righteousness, the peoples in his truth.
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Verses 3 to the end of Psalm 98 and sing psalms.
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His steadfast love and faithfulness he has remembered well.
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Amen.
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His steadfast love and faithfulness he has remembered well.
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The covenant he made within the house of Israel.
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And all the nations of the earth have seen what God has done.
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His steadfast love and faithfulness he has remembered well.
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Our God who brings deliverance by his right hand alone.
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Acclaim the Lord, O all the earth.
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Shout loudly and rejoice.
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Make music and be jubilant.
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To him lift up your voice.
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With harp make music to the Lord.
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With harp his praises sing.
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With trumpet and with horn rejoice.
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Before the Lord, the King.
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Let earth, the sea, and all in them rejoice triumphantly.
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Let streams clap hands and mountains sing together joyfully.
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Now let them sing before the Lord who comes to judge the earth.
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He'll judge the world in righteousness, the peoples in his truth.
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Let us bow in prayer.
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O Lord, as we bow in your presence tonight, we pray for the grace to worship you in a right way.
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We give thanks, O Lord, that we're able to sing your word and to be reminded of your steadfast love towards us.
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We give thanks that your word reinforces that you are an unchanging God.
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You are unchanging in your character.
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Unchanging in your purposes.
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And we give thanks for that great truth.
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It's often hard for us to understand what that is because we are always changing.
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Our attitudes change.
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Our thoughts change.
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Our thoughts change.
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The very plans that we make change.
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Sometimes, not out of our own making, but we realize that we are constantly in a world of change.
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But you are the God who never changes, and we're thankful for that.
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Because it means that your promises are absolute guaranteed that what you have said you will do.
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It is impossible for God to lie.
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And so tonight we rest in these promises, assured that you are faithful to every single one of them.
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We pray, Lord, that you will lift up our hearts, lift up our mind beyond ourselves,
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because we are so tied to who we are and what we are.
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And help us as we are here tonight to focus upon you and to realize that ultimately life is not so much about ourselves,
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but it is about you and your glory in this world.
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And we pray that we might have the great end in view that we are reminded of,
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that our chief end or chief purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
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And we pray that that enjoyment might be discovered by each and every one of us.
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And help us to realize that it is only in and through the Lord Jesus Christ
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that we are able to find this fulfillment and this enjoyment.
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So we pray for the faith.
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Pray for the faith for maybe some in here who might not already have come to faith.
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We pray that they will.
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And pray for those who have come to faith,
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that they will come to a greater enjoyment of you.
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And that every day will be a day where they will come to a greater knowledge of you.
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We pray that you will help us in our worship.
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And that you will deliver us from the temptations which so often flood our minds as we seek to worship you.
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Because the evil one is never far away trying to distract us.
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And to take our mind off the truth.
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And to think of other things.
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And to bring tempting thoughts before us.
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And even to cast doubt upon who you are and what you are.
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And so we pray Lord that you will grant us that focus as we wait upon you.
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We pray to bless this congregation.
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We give thanks for its witness and testimony over the years.
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And we pray that you will continue to bless us.
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That you will do in us and for us more than we could ask or think.
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That you will grant your people a greater confidence in you.
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A greater strength in the Lord.
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We pray that we might have a greater focus upon you.
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And a greater understanding of our responsibilities to you and to one another.
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We pray Lord that you will bless this congregation particularly at a time of vacancy.
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We pray your leading and guiding.
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We give thanks oh Lord that you have done so in the past.
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And we are persuaded that you will continue to do so.
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So grant us the patience to wait upon you.
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And grant us the wisdom that only you can give.
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We pray your blessing upon Colin who is the intermoderator.
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Pray your blessing upon Colin Murdo and Joanne.
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And we give thanks for his ministry here.
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And the encouragement that he is to us.
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And pray to bless them and their family.
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Pray for all the office bearers and all their differing responsibilities.
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We pray for all who do so much in this congregation.
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And we see that week in, week out.
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That there are so many things happening.
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Good things happening.
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And so much work is on behind the scenes.
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And so we pray to encourage all your people.
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Reminding us that no labour in the Lord is ever in vain.
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There are times we think it is.
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There are times we can become discouraged.
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But your word assures us that it is not in vain.
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And that it will all receive its reward.
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All that is done in faith in due time.
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So we pray that you will bless.
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As we say your witness here.
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And we pray that for all the congregations in our town and throughout our island.
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And indeed throughout our land.
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We pray Lord that you will give a gospel boldness to preachers.
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And that you will give a gospel boldness to your people.
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Because there are so many who do not know who you are.
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They don't know the first thing about you.
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And we pray particularly at this time of year.
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That people who might have for the first time since maybe this time last year any thoughts about you.
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That they may indeed have stronger and greater thoughts.
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And that your truth might be opened up here and there.
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And that people will come to know and to believe.
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We pray for those who are struggling in life.
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And we pray for those who face health battles.
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We pray that you will help them and undertake for them.
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Pray for those who are experienced or have experienced the loss of loved ones.
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Whether of recent times or in times gone by.
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But there is particularly at this time of year an emptiness.
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And an empty soreness within the heart.
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And we pray that you will give them comfort.
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Give them strength.
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And give them a sense of your love towards them.
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We pray for all our young people.
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We give thanks for them.
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And we pray that in the young years of their life.
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That they will come to know you and to serve you.
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And we give thanks Lord for every effort that is made.
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To teach our young in the way of the Lord.
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Pray for all our different families.
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And ask Lord that you will be with them.
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And pray Lord for where there may be difficulties within the home.
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That maybe others aren't aware of.
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That you will come and that you will help.
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We pray for the elderly.
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And those who are no longer able to get out.
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Those who suffer pain in their bodies.
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And weakness in their limbs.
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And maybe weakness in their mind.
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Pray for those who have mental health issues.
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We ask Lord that you will give them strengthening in their mind.
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And we pray Lord for our hospitals.
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For our NH staff.
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For all our emergency services.
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And our chaplains.
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And we pray for our armed forces.
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And our chaplains there.
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And we pray for order within our land.
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Because we live in times where there is so much chaos.
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And we pray Lord for wisdom to our leaders.
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To those in authority over us.
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All grant them Lord.
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The wisdom that is from above.
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That they will lead us in the right way.
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Help us then as we wait upon you.
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And to do us good.
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And watch over each and every one of us.
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Be with the fellowship this evening.
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And pray your blessing upon it.
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And all those who are prepared for it.
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We ask your blessing upon them.
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And grant us your grace.
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And have mercy upon us.
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Cleansing us from each and every sin.
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In Jesus name we ask God.
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Amen.
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I'm going to sing again from Psalm 89.
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And this is from the Scottish Psalter.
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Psalm number 89.
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And we're going to sing from verse 13.
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It's on page 3, 4, 5.
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Thou hast an arm that's full of power.
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Thy hand is great in might.
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And thy right hand exceedingly exalted is in height.
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Justice and judgment of thy throne are made the dwelling place.
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Mercy accompanied with truth shall go before thy face.
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O greatly blessed the people are.
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The joyful sound that know.
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In brightness of thy face, O Lord, they ever on shall go.
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They in thy name shall all the day rejoice exceedingly.
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And in thy righteousness shall they exalted be on high.
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Because the glory of their strength doth only stand in thee.
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And in thy favor shall our horn and power exalted be.
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For God is our defense.
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And he to us doth safety bring.
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The Holy One of Israel is our Almighty King.
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13 to 18, Psalm 89.
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Thou hast an arm that's full of power.
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Thou hast an arm that's full of power.
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Thy hand is great in might.
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And thy right hand exceedingly exalted is in height.
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Justice and judgment of thy throne are made the dwelling place.
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Mercy accompany the need with truth shall go before thy face.
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O greatly blessed the people are.
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The joyful sound that know.
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In brightness of thy face, O Lord, they ever on shall go.
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They in thy name shall all the day rejoice exceedingly.
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And in thy righteousness shall be exalted be on high.
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Because the glory of their strength doth only stand in thee.
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And in thy favor shall our horn and power exalted be.
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For God is our defense.
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And he to us doth safety bring.
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The Holy One of Israel is our Almighty King.
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Let's turn now to read God's word in the gospel of Luke.
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Luke's gospel.
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Chapter 24, the last chapter.
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And we pick up a reading at verse 25.
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We know, of course, that this is
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where Jesus has joined the two on the road to Emmaus.
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And so we pick up on what Jesus is saying at verse 25.
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And he, that's Jesus, said to them,
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O foolish ones and slow of heart,
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to believe all that the prophets have spoken.
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Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things
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and enter into his glory?
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And beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
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he interpreted to them in all the scriptures
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the things concerning himself.
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So they drew near to the village to which they were going.
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He acted as if he were going further,
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but they urged him strongly, saying,
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Stay with us, for it is two or three evening,
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and the day is now far spent.
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So he went in to stay with them.
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When he was at table with them,
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he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
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And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him,
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and he vanished from their sight.
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They said to each other,
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Did not our hearts burn within us
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while he talked to us on the road,
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while he opened to us the scriptures?
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And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem.
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And they found the eleven,
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and those who were with them gathered together,
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saying,
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The Lord has risen indeed,
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and has appeared to Simon.
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Then they told what had happened on the road,
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and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
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As they were talking about these things,
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Jesus himself stood among them,
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and said to them,
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Peace to you.
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But they were startled and frightened,
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and thought they saw a spirit.
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And he said to them,
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Why are you troubled?
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And why do doubts arise in your heart?
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See my hands and my feet,
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that it is I myself.
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Touch me and see.
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For a spirit does not have flesh and bones,
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as you see that I have.
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And when he had said this,
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he showed them his hands and his feet.
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And while they still believed for joy and were marvelling,
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he said to them,
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Have you anything here to eat?
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They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
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and he took it and ate before them.
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Then he said to them,
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These are my words that I spoke to you
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while I was still with you,
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that everything written about me
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in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms
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must be fulfilled.
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Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
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and said to them,
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Thus it is written,
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that the Christ should suffer
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and on the third day rise from the dead,
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and repentance and forgiveness of sins
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should be proclaimed in his name
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to all nations,
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beginning from Jerusalem.
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You are witnesses of these things.
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And behold,
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I am sending the promise of my Father upon you,
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but stay in the city
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until you are clothed with power from on high.
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Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
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and lifting up his hands,
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he blessed them.
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While he blessed them,
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he parted from them
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and was carried up into heaven.
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And they worshipped him
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and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
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and were continually in the temple,
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blessing God.
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Amen,
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and may God bless to us
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this reading of his own holy word.
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We're going to sing again
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and sing Psalms in Psalm number 24.
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It's on page 28,
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Psalm 24,
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from the beginning,
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verses 1 to 8.
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The world and all in it are gods,
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all peoples of the earth,
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for it was founded by the Lord
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upon the seas beneath.
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Who may ascend the hill of God
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or in his temple stand?
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The one who shuns false gods and lies,
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who's pure in heart and hand.
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He will find favour from the Lord
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and from his Saviour grace.
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Thus are they blessed,
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O Jacob's God,
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who truly seek your face.
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You engine gates,
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lift up your heads.
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You doors be opened wide.
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So may the King of glory come
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forever to abide.
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But who is this exalted King?
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What glorious King is he?
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It is the Lord of strength and might,
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the Lord of victory.
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1 to 8, Psalm 24,
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the world and all in it are gods.
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Amen.
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The world and all in it are gods,
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all peoples of the earth,
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for it was founded by the Lord
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upon the seas beneath.
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Who may ascend the hill of God
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or in his temple stand?
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The one who shuns false gods and lies,
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who's pure in heart and hand.
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He will find favour from the Lord
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and from his Saviour grace.
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Thus are they blessed,
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O Jacob's God,
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who truly seek your face.
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You ancient gates,
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lift up your heads.
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You doors be opened wide.
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So may the King of glory come
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forever to abide.
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But who is this exalted King?
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What glorious King is he?
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It is the Lord of strength and might,
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the Lord of victory.
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Amen.
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Let's turn again for a little
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to the chapter we read
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in Luke's Gospel,
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Luke chapter 24.
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Luke chapter 24.
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Luke chapter 24.
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And at verse 50.
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Then he led them out as far as Bethany
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and lifting up his hands,
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he blessed them.
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While he blessed them,
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he parted from them
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and was carried up into heaven.
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And they worshipped him
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and returned to Jerusalem
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with great joy
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and were continually in the temple
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blessing God.
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Now as we know at this time of year,
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there is great focus
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upon the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ
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and this morning,
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Calamurda was looking
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at the return
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of the Lord Jesus Christ,
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his second coming into this world.
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And tonight,
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I want to focus
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on Jesus's leaving this world.
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This which happened between
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his coming first time into the world
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and also between his return again.
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Now as we know,
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at a human level,
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partings are never easy.
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Whether the parting
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is just for a short time
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or whether the parting
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is going to be forever.
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Partings are always difficult
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and it doesn't matter.
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Of course,
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we know that final partings
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are things that we never really get over.
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But even parting for a short time
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is never an easy thing.
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And usually,
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we find the reaction
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is a very heavy heart
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and people are sad
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and down.
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But we find the very opposite here
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because this parting
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has brought in the disciples
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of Jesus
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great joy.
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That's what we find,
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that they return to Jerusalem
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with great joy.
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And at one level,
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we might find that very strange
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because here they are
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parting from the person,
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the one who filled them
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with the greatest delight,
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the one that they loved
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above all others in this world.
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And so,
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we might say to ourselves,
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it's a kind of a strange reaction.
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But they are filled with joy
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because what they had experienced
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and what they were told
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produced joy within their heart.
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Now,
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there was such a contrast
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between Jesus' coming
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into this world
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and his leaving this world.
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And yet,
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in some ways,
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there was also similarity
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because
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only very,
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very few
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witnessed
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the arrival of Jesus
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into this world
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when he was born.
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Very few.
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And again,
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it was only a handful
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that witnessed
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his actual ascension.
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And
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of course,
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when Jesus returns,
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it couldn't be more different.
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His first time
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coming into the world,
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as we said,
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very few
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were witnessed
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to his actual birth.
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To his leaving this world,
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only his disciples
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saw him leave.
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But when he returns,
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everybody
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is going to see him.
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There won't be one
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person alive
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when the Lord Jesus Christ
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returns
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that will have
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the slightest bit of doubt
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that this is
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the Son of God,
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that this is
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the Lord Jesus Christ.
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On that day,
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there will be no scoffers,
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there will be no mockers,
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there will be no agnostics,
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there will be no atheists.
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Every single person
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will be
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absolutely
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convinced
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that this is
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the returning
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Son of God.
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And that
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couldn't have been
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more different
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to how it was
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at the beginning
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because,
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as we know,
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when Jesus was born
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into this world,
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he was born
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in an outhouse.
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There was no
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room in the inn.
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There was no place
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for Jesus
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in the world.
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It's very symbolic
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in many ways
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of how it was.
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There was no room
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in the inn
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because,
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from the very start,
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this world
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had no place
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for Jesus.
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From the very start,
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the world
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didn't want
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Jesus.
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And nothing has changed
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because there's no
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creed
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and there's no faith
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that has
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suffered more
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mocking
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and persecution
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than the Christian faith.
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and down
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throughout the centuries
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right to this
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very day.
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And you remember
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that, I suppose,
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where you see
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the focus
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more than
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anywhere else
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is when the crowd
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were offered
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to choose
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between the most
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loving,
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caring,
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tolerant
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person
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that ever lived
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in this world
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or else
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the riotous
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terrorist
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who struck
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fear in every
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heart,
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Barabbas.
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They chose
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Barabbas.
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At a human level,
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you see,
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it's utterly mad
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that they chose
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a man
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who was a terrorist,
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a man who caused
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total unrest
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within the community
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over against
29:21
the most caring,
29:24
generous,
29:25
loving person
29:26
ever to walk
29:27
this world.
29:28
their choice
29:30
was basically
29:31
anybody
29:32
but Jesus.
29:34
And sadly,
29:35
that's still
29:36
the way it is.
29:38
Get rid of Jesus,
29:40
crucify him.
29:41
But the ascension
29:42
of Jesus
29:43
was really
29:44
quite a remarkable
29:45
thing.
29:46
And the disciples
29:47
had become used
29:48
to seeing
29:49
remarkable things
29:50
in the life
29:51
of Jesus Christ.
29:53
They had seen
29:54
him walk
29:55
on the water,
29:55
they had seen
29:56
him feed
29:57
the 5,000
29:58
from five loaves
30:00
and two fish.
30:01
They had seen
30:02
him heal
30:03
the paralyzed
30:04
and the deaf
30:05
and the mute
30:06
and the blind.
30:08
They had seen
30:09
him cast out
30:10
demons,
30:10
they had seen
30:11
him even
30:13
raise the dead.
30:14
They had seen
30:15
him walk
30:16
on,
30:16
as we say,
30:17
walk on the water
30:17
and they had seen
30:18
him just by the word
30:19
calm the water.
30:21
Three of them
30:21
had seen
30:22
him transfigured
30:23
and they had
30:26
seen him
30:26
crucified
30:27
and they had
30:29
seen him
30:29
reappear before
30:31
them.
30:32
And so,
30:32
in many ways,
30:34
what happened
30:35
was very fitting
30:36
for the life
30:37
of Jesus.
30:38
What they were
30:39
able to witness
30:40
this extraordinary
30:41
departure
30:42
out from this
30:44
world.
30:45
Now,
30:45
we know
30:45
that there was
30:46
a 40-day period
30:47
where Jesus,
30:49
before this
30:49
final ascension,
30:51
was appearing
30:51
and reappearing
30:53
to his
30:53
disciples.
30:55
And it wasn't
30:55
just to the
30:56
immediate 11.
30:58
He also
30:58
appeared to
30:59
Mary.
31:00
He appeared
31:00
to,
31:02
as we saw,
31:02
the two on
31:03
the Emmaus Road.
31:03
He appeared
31:04
to many
31:06
of the other
31:07
women as well.
31:08
And Paul tells
31:09
us that he
31:09
appeared to
31:10
500.
31:12
And it is
31:14
often believed
31:15
that in that
31:15
40-day period
31:16
that Jesus
31:17
was returning
31:18
over,
31:19
back and
31:20
forward,
31:20
to the
31:21
Father,
31:21
but returning
31:22
again to
31:23
the world
31:24
until his
31:25
final ascension.
31:27
And in this
31:27
period of
31:29
these 40
31:29
days,
31:30
he used
31:31
that period
31:32
to encourage
31:34
the church,
31:35
to teach
31:35
the church,
31:37
to restore,
31:38
like, for
31:39
instance,
31:39
Peter,
31:40
and to prepare
31:41
them for the
31:41
future.
31:43
And Luke
31:44
tells us,
31:45
in fact,
31:45
in Acts
31:45
chapter 3,
31:46
he presented
31:47
himself alive
31:48
to them after
31:49
his sufferings,
31:50
by many
31:52
proofs,
31:53
appearing to
31:53
them during
31:55
40 days
31:55
and speaking
31:57
to them
31:57
about the
31:58
kingdom.
31:59
You see,
32:00
the early
32:00
church had
32:01
to be
32:01
witnesses
32:02
to the
32:02
ascension
32:03
of the
32:03
Lord Jesus
32:04
Christ.
32:04
They had
32:04
to be
32:05
witnesses
32:05
to the
32:06
real fact
32:08
that Jesus
32:08
is a
32:09
living
32:09
saviour.
32:10
saved.
32:10
Because if
32:11
Jesus is
32:12
a dead
32:12
saviour,
32:13
he's not
32:13
a saviour
32:14
at all.
32:15
If Jesus
32:16
didn't rise
32:16
from the
32:17
dead,
32:18
Paul tells
32:18
us we're
32:19
still dead
32:19
in our
32:20
sins.
32:20
If Jesus
32:21
didn't rise
32:21
from the
32:22
dead,
32:22
there is
32:23
no gospel
32:23
message.
32:25
And that's
32:25
one of the
32:26
great
32:26
distinctions.
32:27
There are
32:28
many distinctions
32:29
between the
32:30
Christian faith
32:30
and the
32:31
other faiths.
32:32
But when you
32:32
look at the
32:33
leaders of the
32:34
others,
32:34
they died
32:34
and they're
32:35
buried and
32:35
they remain
32:36
buried.
32:36
But our
32:38
saviour
32:40
died,
32:41
was buried
32:42
and defeated
32:43
death and
32:43
rose again.
32:45
And so the
32:45
church has to
32:46
be witness to
32:47
this fact
32:48
that we have
32:49
a risen
32:49
ascended
32:51
saviour.
32:52
Now the
32:53
thing is that
32:53
nobody saw
32:55
the risen
32:56
Jesus
32:57
apart from
32:59
his followers.
33:00
Nobody of
33:00
the world,
33:01
no unbeliever
33:03
was witness
33:04
to the
33:05
risen
33:06
saviour.
33:07
He only
33:08
appeared to
33:09
his people.
33:11
And in a
33:11
sense,
33:12
that's almost
33:12
how it still
33:13
is.
33:14
Because
33:15
until
33:15
naturally,
33:17
we cannot,
33:18
I know it's
33:19
by faith,
33:20
but naturally,
33:21
we cannot
33:22
see Jesus
33:23
as we are.
33:24
We hear
33:25
about him,
33:26
we know
33:26
about him,
33:27
but we've
33:28
never seen
33:29
him in a
33:30
way where
33:30
we're able
33:31
to lay
33:31
hold upon
33:32
him and
33:33
believe in
33:34
what he has
33:34
done,
33:35
that he
33:36
has done
33:36
it for
33:36
us,
33:37
and that
33:37
he has
33:38
by his
33:39
work saved
33:39
us from
33:40
our sins.
33:40
It's only
33:41
by faith
33:42
that we're
33:43
able to
33:43
see him.
33:45
Naturally,
33:46
we can't,
33:48
and
33:48
naturally,
33:50
we don't
33:51
even want
33:52
him.
33:52
We don't
33:53
think about
33:53
him too
33:53
much.
33:54
We might
33:54
think a
33:54
wee bit,
33:55
but we
33:55
don't have
33:56
this desire
33:57
to have
33:58
him as
33:59
our Lord.
34:00
as I
34:01
said,
34:02
they saw
34:03
no beauty
34:03
in him
34:04
that they
34:05
should
34:05
desire
34:05
him.
34:06
So it
34:07
is by
34:07
faith,
34:08
and by
34:08
faith alone,
34:10
that we're
34:10
able to
34:11
see Jesus.
34:12
And the
34:12
thing is
34:13
that I
34:15
think every
34:15
believer
34:16
wishes that
34:17
they could
34:18
see Jesus
34:19
better.
34:20
If you're a
34:20
believer here
34:21
tonight,
34:22
I'm sure
34:22
deep down
34:23
in your
34:23
heart,
34:24
that's what
34:24
you say,
34:25
oh Lord,
34:26
help me to
34:26
see you
34:27
better.
34:27
And I'm
34:28
sure you
34:29
think that
34:29
everybody in
34:30
this church
34:31
has a
34:32
clearer sight
34:34
of Jesus,
34:35
that they're
34:35
able to
34:35
love him
34:38
more than
34:39
you,
34:39
that they're
34:39
able to
34:40
see more
34:41
clearly than
34:42
you.
34:42
It's a
34:42
thing you
34:43
long for,
34:45
but I
34:45
think it's
34:45
something that
34:46
plagues us
34:47
all.
34:48
We see,
34:49
we're told,
34:49
but through
34:50
a glass
34:51
darkly.
34:52
It's a
34:52
very dim
34:53
vision we
34:53
have,
34:54
but we
34:54
have seen
34:55
enough to
34:56
accept
34:57
and to
34:58
believe.
34:59
And I
34:59
would go
34:59
as far
35:00
as to
35:00
say that
35:01
it's only
35:01
somebody who
35:03
has the
35:04
Lord Jesus
35:04
Christ in
35:05
their heart
35:06
that is
35:07
troubled by
35:07
these thoughts.
35:09
Because a
35:10
person who
35:10
doesn't have
35:11
Christ
35:11
isn't
35:14
troubled by
35:14
the fact that
35:15
they're not
35:15
able to see
35:16
him clearly,
35:17
that they're
35:18
not able to
35:19
love him in
35:20
the way that
35:21
they do.
35:22
It's an
35:22
evidence of
35:23
the very fact
35:24
that Christ
35:25
is within
35:26
you,
35:26
that you
35:27
have this
35:28
desire to
35:28
see him
35:29
more clearly
35:29
and to
35:30
love him
35:31
more clearly.
35:34
Now,
35:35
Jesus,
35:36
as we see
35:36
here,
35:37
he spoke
35:37
to them
35:37
and he
35:38
taught them
35:39
and he
35:39
opened their
35:39
minds to
35:41
understand
35:42
things that
35:44
they hadn't
35:45
been able to
35:45
understand before.
35:47
This, in a
35:47
sense, was
35:47
kind of their
35:48
finishing school
35:49
where Jesus
35:51
was opening
35:52
their mind
35:53
to understand
35:54
truths that
35:54
he had taught
35:55
them before,
35:56
but they
35:56
hadn't
35:57
grasped.
35:58
And in
35:59
many ways,
36:00
it's similar
36:01
to ourselves
36:01
as we go
36:02
along in
36:02
life.
36:03
There are
36:04
many things
36:04
when we
36:06
start out
36:06
in the
36:06
faith that
36:08
we don't
36:08
properly
36:09
understand.
36:10
In fact,
36:11
even as we
36:12
go on in
36:12
the faith,
36:13
there are
36:13
things that
36:14
we don't
36:14
understand.
36:16
But I'm
36:16
sure along
36:16
the way,
36:17
often you've
36:17
said,
36:18
I get it
36:19
now.
36:20
I'm beginning
36:21
to see
36:21
this now.
36:23
Well, this
36:24
was a
36:24
dawning
36:24
moment for
36:25
the disciples
36:26
because they
36:28
were able to
36:28
understand.
36:29
We know how
36:29
limited their
36:30
understanding was.
36:31
They hadn't,
36:32
even Peter,
36:32
James,
36:33
and John
36:33
hadn't
36:34
grasped the
36:36
significance of
36:37
Christ's mission.
36:38
Yes, they
36:39
believed in him
36:40
as the son of
36:40
God.
36:41
They believed
36:42
completely in him
36:43
as the Messiah,
36:44
but they
36:44
hadn't grasped
36:46
that he had to
36:47
die.
36:47
Peter, in fact,
36:48
tried to talk him
36:49
out of going
36:50
to the cross.
36:51
He's saying,
36:52
put these
36:52
thoughts away
36:53
from you.
36:54
We've said it
36:55
often enough
36:55
before,
36:56
Mary of Bethany
36:57
was the one
36:58
who fully
36:58
understood the
36:59
mission of
36:59
Christ.
37:02
Remember
37:02
where it
37:03
tells us
37:04
that when
37:04
Peter and
37:05
John went
37:05
to the
37:05
grave,
37:07
it tells
37:07
us Peter
37:08
ran into
37:09
the grave,
37:09
but John
37:10
stood at
37:10
the grave
37:11
and he
37:12
believed.
37:13
It was
37:14
like there
37:15
was a
37:15
dawning of
37:16
how this,
37:16
yeah,
37:17
I understand
37:19
now,
37:19
all Jesus
37:20
is teaching.
37:21
It's all
37:22
coming together.
37:23
You know,
37:24
it's often
37:24
like that
37:24
for us.
37:25
Well,
37:25
here was
37:26
a special
37:26
moment for
37:27
the disciples
37:27
as Jesus
37:29
was teaching
37:29
them about,
37:31
this was
37:31
kind of like
37:32
their finishing
37:32
school.
37:34
And those,
37:35
we all have
37:36
to be taught
37:37
because we're
37:37
all serving
37:38
the Lord.
37:39
Wherever you
37:39
are as a
37:40
believer,
37:40
you're serving
37:41
the Lord.
37:42
And we all
37:42
have to have
37:43
a level of
37:43
understanding
37:44
and a level
37:44
of teaching,
37:45
a level of
37:46
knowledge,
37:46
because we
37:47
have to impart
37:48
to others.
37:49
But those
37:50
who are
37:50
sent out,
37:51
they have
37:52
to be
37:52
taught.
37:54
Moses
37:55
had his
37:55
time of
37:56
learning.
37:57
Paul had
37:58
his time
37:58
of learning.
37:59
The disciples
38:00
had three
38:00
years with
38:01
Jesus,
38:02
but here it
38:02
is,
38:03
here now,
38:03
Jesus is
38:04
teaching them.
38:05
And that's
38:05
what we read
38:05
about there
38:06
from verses
38:07
44,
38:08
45.
38:09
then he
38:09
opened
38:09
their minds
38:10
to understand
38:12
the scriptures
38:12
and so on.
38:14
And what a
38:15
wonderful insight
38:16
was given
38:17
then.
38:18
And then we
38:18
find Jesus
38:19
heading out
38:20
as far as
38:20
Bethany.
38:22
And this
38:22
was,
38:23
Bethany was
38:23
on the
38:23
slopes of
38:24
the Mount
38:24
of Olives.
38:26
And as
38:27
we know,
38:27
it's often
38:27
been suggested
38:28
that Jesus
38:29
rose,
38:30
ascended
38:31
from Bethany,
38:32
from the
38:32
vicinity of
38:33
Bethany,
38:34
as a
38:34
mark of
38:36
the devotion
38:37
of Mary
38:37
of Bethany.
38:39
Jesus didn't
38:39
ascend from
38:41
Jerusalem.
38:42
They had
38:42
put him
38:42
to death.
38:44
He didn't
38:44
ascend from
38:45
Nazareth,
38:46
where his
38:46
home was.
38:47
They'd
38:47
rejected him.
38:49
He didn't
38:49
ascend from
38:50
Capernaum,
38:50
where he
38:51
did many
38:51
mighty works.
38:52
They again
38:53
rejected him.
38:55
But he
38:55
ascended from
38:56
Bethany,
38:57
which was
38:58
the home
38:59
that he
39:00
loved,
39:00
the family
39:01
that he
39:01
loved,
39:02
Mary,
39:02
Martha,
39:03
and Lazarus.
39:04
Many have
39:04
suggested it
39:05
is as a
39:06
token
39:07
to that
39:09
home that
39:10
it is from
39:11
this vicinity
39:12
that he
39:14
ascended.
39:16
Now,
39:16
of course,
39:16
many of the
39:17
significant
39:18
events in
39:19
Jesus'
39:20
life took
39:20
place on
39:21
hills or
39:22
on mountains.
39:23
His famous
39:24
sermon,
39:25
we find in
39:25
Matthew,
39:27
termed the
39:28
Sermon on
39:28
the Mount,
39:29
still termed
39:29
that to
39:30
this very
39:30
day.
39:31
It was
39:32
on a
39:32
mountain
39:33
that he
39:33
was
39:34
transfigured.
39:35
It was
39:35
on a
39:35
hill that
39:36
he was
39:36
crucified.
39:37
We find,
39:38
in fact,
39:38
that there
39:39
were many
39:39
times we
39:40
find Jesus
39:41
going up
39:42
into the
39:42
mountain to
39:43
pray.
39:44
We find
39:45
many of the
39:45
Old Testament
39:46
saints that
39:47
the mountains
39:48
were significant
39:49
to them.
39:50
We find that
39:50
the Lord
39:51
appearing to
39:51
Abraham on
39:52
the mountain.
39:54
We find
39:54
Moses spending
39:55
40 days and
39:56
40 nights with
39:57
the Lord on
39:58
the mountain
39:58
when the
39:59
table of
40:00
the law was
40:00
written out
40:01
by God's
40:02
hand.
40:03
We find
40:03
that Elijah
40:04
was recommissioned,
40:06
as it were,
40:06
and again
40:07
it was on
40:08
the mountain
40:08
to go
40:09
back to
40:10
work for
40:11
the Lord.
40:13
So here
40:13
is Jesus
40:13
with this
40:15
little group
40:15
and it
40:15
tells us
40:16
in verse
40:16
50,
40:17
and he
40:18
and lifting
40:19
up his
40:20
hands,
40:21
he blessed
40:21
them.
40:22
And while
40:23
he blessed
40:23
them,
40:24
he parted
40:24
from them
40:25
and was
40:26
carried up
40:26
into heaven.
40:28
Lifting up
40:29
his hands.
40:31
These are the
40:32
hands that
40:32
fed the
40:34
thousands,
40:34
sins,
40:35
the hands
40:36
that had
40:36
blessed
40:37
the children,
40:38
the hands
40:39
that had
40:39
healed the
40:40
sick,
40:41
the hands
40:42
that had
40:42
been stretched
40:43
out in
40:43
invitation to
40:45
sinners to
40:45
come to
40:46
him,
40:47
the hands
40:47
that had
40:48
been nailed
40:48
to the
40:49
cross.
40:50
These are
40:51
the hands
40:51
that are
40:52
lifted up
40:53
and stretched
40:54
out over
40:54
them.
40:56
And many
40:56
people think
40:57
that this is
40:57
simply the
40:59
benediction,
41:00
like we have
41:01
in parting.
41:02
You know
41:02
how we pronounce
41:03
a benediction
41:04
in parting.
41:05
And while
41:05
definitely that
41:06
is true,
41:07
I think there's
41:08
more involved
41:09
than simply
41:10
a benediction.
41:12
Because the
41:14
whole of
41:14
scripture and
41:16
the Old
41:16
Testament has
41:18
been described
41:19
as God's
41:19
picture book
41:20
where we
41:22
see in
41:24
type and
41:25
in symbolic
41:25
way the
41:27
life of
41:27
Jesus fulfilled.
41:29
And when we
41:30
go to
41:30
Leviticus,
41:31
we read
41:32
in chapter
41:33
8 of
41:34
how Aaron
41:34
was set
41:35
apart to
41:37
be the
41:37
high priest.
41:39
He was
41:39
to be
41:40
over all
41:40
with regard
41:41
to the
41:42
whole
41:42
sacrificial
41:43
system.
41:45
And in
41:45
chapter 9
41:46
we find
41:46
his first
41:47
official
41:49
duty was
41:50
to present
41:51
the offerings
41:52
on behalf
41:52
of the
41:53
people before
41:54
the Lord.
41:55
And we
41:56
find him
41:56
presenting the
41:57
sin offering
41:58
and the
41:59
burnt offering
41:59
and the
42:00
peace offering
42:01
the different
42:01
animals.
42:03
And then it
42:04
tells us when
42:05
he had done
42:05
all that
42:06
that he
42:07
lifted up
42:08
his hands
42:09
to bless
42:10
the people.
42:12
And as he
42:13
did that,
42:14
that fire
42:15
from the
42:15
Lord devoured
42:16
all the
42:17
sacrifice
42:18
and the
42:19
glory of
42:20
the Lord
42:20
appeared.
42:22
Because the
42:23
Lord was
42:24
at this
42:25
very moment
42:26
bearing
42:27
testimony to
42:28
the fact
42:29
that he
42:29
was accepting
42:31
the sacrifice
42:33
that the
42:34
high priest
42:35
Aaron had
42:36
made on
42:37
behalf of
42:37
the people.
42:39
And is
42:39
that not a
42:40
picture exactly
42:41
of what we
42:41
have here?
42:43
Because Jesus
42:44
is the
42:45
great high
42:45
priest and
42:47
he has
42:48
come to do
42:48
everything that
42:50
the father
42:51
gave him
42:51
to do.
42:52
And he
42:53
isn't just
42:54
the high
42:54
priest offering
42:55
the sacrifice,
42:57
he is a
42:58
sacrifice.
42:59
He is a
43:00
burnt offering,
43:01
he is a
43:01
sin offering,
43:02
he is a
43:03
peace offering,
43:04
and through
43:05
his offering
43:06
the wrath
43:08
of God
43:08
has been
43:09
removed.
43:11
And God
43:11
is declaring
43:12
over all,
43:14
I am well
43:15
pleased,
43:16
fully satisfied.
43:18
And so
43:18
there is a
43:19
sense of
43:19
the completion
43:20
and the
43:21
acceptance of
43:22
God in
43:23
the raising
43:24
of the
43:24
hands of
43:25
Jesus.
43:26
But we
43:27
mustn't also
43:28
lose sight of
43:29
indeed that
43:30
benediction
43:31
blessing.
43:32
Yes, it
43:33
is all
43:33
finished.
43:34
God and
43:35
man are
43:35
reconciled
43:36
together.
43:37
The veil of
43:38
the temple
43:39
that separated
43:39
the glory of
43:40
God was
43:41
torn from
43:41
top to
43:42
bottom.
43:43
God and
43:44
man are
43:44
now
43:44
reconciled
43:46
together.
43:48
And so
43:48
Jesus,
43:49
he raises
43:51
up his
43:51
hands and
43:52
as he
43:52
blesses
43:53
them,
43:53
we find
43:54
this
43:55
extraordinary
43:55
thing that
43:56
he's
43:57
carried up
43:57
into heaven.
44:00
That's what
44:00
we're told,
44:01
that he
44:02
parted from
44:03
them and
44:04
was carried
44:04
into heaven.
44:06
And you
44:06
know, it's a
44:07
beautiful picture,
44:08
the idea,
44:09
the picture of
44:10
Jesus rising
44:11
up with
44:12
his hands
44:13
in blessing
44:14
over the
44:15
church.
44:16
In Acts
44:17
chapter 1
44:17
verse 9,
44:18
it tells us,
44:19
as they were
44:20
looking on,
44:20
he was lifted
44:21
up and a
44:22
cloud took
44:23
him out of
44:23
their sight.
44:25
And this
44:25
word lifted
44:26
up indicates
44:27
that the
44:27
ascension is
44:28
actually the
44:29
work of the
44:29
Father.
44:31
And then
44:32
Luke 24,
44:33
51 tells us
44:34
they worshipped
44:35
him.
44:36
You know,
44:37
I think it's
44:38
one of the
44:38
most beautiful
44:39
scenes.
44:40
There's a lot
44:40
of scenes in
44:41
the life of
44:42
Jesus I would
44:42
love to have
44:43
been witness
44:44
to, to have
44:45
been there.
44:47
But I think
44:48
this is as
44:49
good or as
44:50
wonderful as
44:51
any.
44:52
that moment
44:53
where the
44:53
Lord Jesus
44:54
lifts up
44:55
his hand
44:56
in blessing
44:57
over his
44:59
people.
45:00
And he's
45:01
carried on
45:01
up into
45:02
heaven.
45:04
And we
45:04
find that the
45:05
church in
45:05
response to
45:06
this falls
45:08
down before
45:08
him and
45:09
worships him.
45:11
And that
45:12
has always
45:12
got to be
45:13
the response
45:14
of the
45:14
church.
45:15
It's this
45:16
worship as
45:17
the Lord
45:18
continues to
45:19
bless.
45:19
and it
45:20
tells us
45:21
that a
45:21
cloud
45:22
took him
45:25
out of
45:25
their
45:25
sight.
45:27
So some
45:28
people ask
45:28
why had
45:30
there to
45:30
be this
45:31
ascension
45:31
like this?
45:33
Well I think
45:33
very simply
45:34
Jesus is
45:35
showing,
45:36
having appeared
45:36
over this
45:37
40 day
45:38
period,
45:38
that he
45:39
is now
45:39
finally,
45:40
that's him,
45:42
that he's
45:42
gone to
45:43
glory.
45:44
day.
45:45
And the
45:45
cloud,
45:45
the presence
45:46
of the
45:46
cloud,
45:47
of course
45:47
again is
45:47
also symbolic
45:48
because we
45:49
find so
45:50
often in
45:50
the Bible
45:51
the presence
45:51
of the
45:52
Lord is
45:53
accompanied
45:53
by the
45:54
cloud.
45:55
In the
45:55
journey of
45:56
the Israelites
45:56
through the
45:57
wilderness,
45:58
you remember
45:58
there was
45:59
the cloud
46:00
by day
46:01
and the
46:02
pillar of
46:02
cloud by
46:03
day and
46:03
the pillar
46:03
of fire
46:04
by night,
46:05
which spoke
46:06
of the
46:07
presence of
46:07
the Lord.
46:08
The fire
46:09
to give
46:09
them light
46:10
and the
46:11
cloud there
46:12
to protect
46:12
them and
46:13
the cloud
46:14
there as
46:14
a guidance.
46:15
When the
46:16
cloud stopped,
46:16
they stopped.
46:17
When the
46:17
cloud moved,
46:18
they moved.
46:20
This was
46:20
indicating the
46:21
presence of
46:22
the Lord.
46:23
You remember
46:23
again at the
46:24
dedication of
46:25
the temple
46:25
when Solomon
46:26
had built
46:27
the temple
46:27
and dedicated
46:28
that it
46:29
tells us
46:30
that the
46:30
temple was
46:31
filled with
46:32
a cloud
46:33
which spoke
46:33
of the
46:34
glory of
46:34
God.
46:35
When Jesus
46:36
returns,
46:37
it tells us
46:37
in Revelation
46:38
he will
46:39
come in
46:40
the clouds
46:41
of heaven.
46:42
So
46:44
Jesus,
46:45
as he
46:45
disappears
46:45
into the
46:46
cloud,
46:47
we find
46:47
again in
46:48
Acts that
46:48
tells us
46:49
that two
46:49
angels appear
46:50
and tell the
46:51
disciples something
46:52
wonderful.
46:53
This
46:54
Jesus taken
46:55
up to
46:55
heaven will
46:56
come in
46:58
the same
46:59
way as
47:00
you saw
47:01
him go
47:02
into
47:02
heaven.
47:04
And what a
47:05
moment that's
47:05
going to be.
47:07
It tells us
47:08
that Jesus
47:08
will descend
47:09
from heaven.
47:11
And it
47:12
won't be a
47:12
private
47:13
descending
47:15
like the
47:16
ascension was
47:17
private only
47:18
for the
47:18
immediate
47:19
few.
47:20
But we're
47:21
told in
47:21
scripture that
47:23
this is going
47:23
to be the
47:24
most public
47:24
event that
47:25
the world
47:25
has ever
47:26
witnessed.
47:27
Now we
47:27
know that
47:28
nowadays
47:29
through the
47:31
way that
47:32
things are
47:32
able to be
47:33
broadcast,
47:34
that there
47:34
are sometimes
47:35
things are
47:36
broadcast all
47:37
over the
47:37
world.
47:38
but here
47:38
is something
47:38
and I
47:39
don't know
47:39
how it's
47:40
going to
47:40
happen.
47:41
But it's
47:41
going to
47:42
happen that
47:43
Jesus is
47:43
going to
47:44
descend from
47:44
heaven and
47:45
every eye
47:46
will see
47:47
him.
47:48
Everyone.
47:49
Everyone.
47:51
And there's
47:51
going to be
47:52
two distinct
47:53
reactions to
47:54
the return of
47:54
the Lord
47:55
Jesus Christ.
47:57
We're told
47:57
that those
47:58
who have
47:58
rejected him
47:59
will call
47:59
upon the
48:00
rocks and
48:00
to the
48:01
hills to
48:01
cover them,
48:02
to fall,
48:03
to hide
48:03
them from
48:04
the glare,
48:06
from the
48:06
face of
48:07
Jesus.
48:08
But his
48:09
people are
48:10
going to
48:10
say,
48:11
even so
48:11
come Lord
48:13
Jesus.
48:14
That's going
48:15
to be the
48:15
reaction.
48:16
There's going
48:17
to be
48:17
delight,
48:18
anticipation,
48:19
thrill in
48:20
the hearts of
48:20
his people as
48:21
they see the
48:23
descending Jesus
48:24
arrive back
48:26
into this
48:26
world.
48:29
That's why the
48:30
church does
48:30
say,
48:31
even so
48:31
come Lord
48:32
Jesus.
48:32
Christ.
48:34
So what
48:34
does the
48:34
ascension of
48:35
Christ mean
48:36
for us
48:36
tonight?
48:37
Well,
48:37
very simply
48:38
as we
48:38
conclude,
48:39
as we
48:40
said earlier,
48:40
the
48:41
ascension is
48:41
proof that
48:43
everything that
48:44
Christ was
48:44
given to do,
48:46
he did.
48:47
The
48:48
ascension is
48:49
proof that
48:50
all the
48:51
enemies Christ
48:52
came to
48:53
defeat were
48:53
defeated.
48:55
The enemy
48:55
of sin.
48:57
When you
48:57
think of all
48:58
that sin is,
48:59
it's twistedness,
49:00
it's deceit,
49:01
it's guilt,
49:01
all these
49:02
things,
49:03
Christ took
49:04
all that
49:05
upon himself.
49:07
He has
49:08
come and
49:08
he's defeated
49:09
the enemy
49:09
of death
49:10
with all
49:12
its fears
49:13
and with
49:14
all its
49:15
darkness,
49:17
with all
49:17
its separation
49:18
because he's
49:20
taken the
49:21
sting out
49:21
of death.
49:23
We know
49:23
unless the
49:24
Lord returns
49:25
first that we
49:26
will die.
49:28
But while
49:29
it is natural
49:30
to fear,
49:31
death,
49:32
we know
49:32
that the
49:33
sting of
49:33
death has
49:34
been removed.
49:36
He has
49:37
defeated
49:37
Satan,
49:39
that
49:39
malicious,
49:41
ferocious
49:41
enemy that
49:42
we have.
49:44
He has
49:44
defeated
49:44
him.
49:46
He has
49:47
defeated
49:47
hell,
49:48
that place
49:49
of outer
49:49
darkness
49:50
and eternal
49:51
separation,
49:52
so that
49:53
all who
49:53
trust in
49:54
Jesus are
49:55
delivered.
49:56
And he's
49:57
also ascended
49:58
into heaven
49:58
to make
49:59
continual
50:00
intercession
50:01
for us.
50:02
We've
50:02
said it
50:02
before,
50:03
the intercession
50:04
of Jesus
50:05
is not
50:05
Jesus at
50:07
the right
50:07
hand of the
50:08
Father pleading
50:09
on our
50:10
behalf saying,
50:11
Father,
50:11
forgive them,
50:12
they can't
50:12
help it.
50:14
Father,
50:15
forgive them,
50:17
they're
50:17
sinners and
50:18
they're unable
50:19
to break
50:20
these habits.
50:21
not
50:22
no,
50:23
he intercedes
50:24
by presenting
50:25
what he
50:26
has done
50:26
on our
50:27
behalf.
50:28
That the
50:29
Father is
50:30
looking on
50:30
the fulfilled
50:31
work of
50:32
Jesus which
50:33
is shown
50:34
by a
50:35
continual
50:35
intercession
50:36
on our
50:36
behalf.
50:38
He's also
50:39
gone to
50:39
prepare a
50:40
place for
50:40
us.
50:41
Now he
50:42
did that
50:43
when the
50:43
first part
50:44
of the
50:45
preparation
50:45
of that
50:46
place was
50:46
leaving
50:47
heaven,
50:47
coming into
50:48
this
50:48
world.
50:49
That
50:49
preparation
50:50
involved
50:51
living for
50:51
us in
50:52
this
50:52
world.
50:53
That
50:53
preparation
50:54
involved
50:54
dying for
50:55
us in
50:55
this
50:56
world.
50:56
Preparation
50:57
involved
50:57
rising from
50:58
the dead
50:59
and ascending
50:59
into heaven.
51:01
And all
51:02
the meantime
51:02
he is
51:03
preparing us
51:04
for that
51:05
place.
51:06
And one
51:07
day the
51:08
Lord is
51:08
going to
51:09
say,
51:10
it's time
51:10
to come
51:11
home.
51:12
Your place
51:12
is ready.
51:14
You don't
51:14
know when
51:14
it'll be,
51:15
I don't
51:15
know.
51:16
But if we
51:17
love the
51:17
Lord Jesus,
51:19
that call
51:19
will come
51:20
one day.
51:21
Time to
51:22
come home.
51:23
Your place
51:23
is ready.
51:24
Because Jesus
51:25
has gone to
51:27
heaven to
51:28
prepare that
51:28
place.
51:30
And it
51:30
tells us
51:31
the disciples
51:31
worshipped him
51:32
and returned
51:33
with great
51:33
joy.
51:34
And they
51:34
were continually
51:35
praising and
51:36
blessing God
51:37
in the
51:37
temple.
51:38
It's very
51:39
interesting that
51:39
the gospel
51:40
according to
51:41
Luke of
51:41
24 chapters,
51:44
Luke begins
51:45
in the
51:45
temple,
51:46
telling us
51:47
about
51:47
Zachariah.
51:49
Remember
51:49
John the
51:49
Baptist's
51:50
father?
51:51
Zachariah was
51:51
offering the
51:52
sacrifice when
51:53
the angel
51:54
came to
51:55
tell about
51:56
that Elizabeth
51:57
was to have
51:58
the baby.
52:00
That's where
52:00
it begins in
52:01
the temple.
52:03
And 24
52:03
chapters later,
52:04
it ends in
52:05
the temple
52:06
with the
52:07
Lord's people
52:08
praising God.
52:10
And in
52:11
between
52:11
chapter 1
52:12
and chapter
52:13
24,
52:13
24, we
52:15
have the
52:15
most remarkable
52:16
account of
52:18
the greatest
52:18
life that was
52:19
ever lived in
52:20
this world,
52:21
the life of
52:22
Jesus.
52:24
What does
52:24
the life of
52:25
Jesus mean to
52:26
you tonight?
52:28
Is the life of
52:30
Jesus a life
52:31
that has changed
52:32
you?
52:33
Is it a life
52:34
that you're so
52:36
thankful for?
52:37
Or does
52:39
the life of
52:39
Jesus just
52:40
simply interest
52:41
you?
52:42
Or does it
52:43
not really
52:44
mean much
52:44
at all?
52:47
Well, if
52:48
you've never
52:49
really thought
52:50
about it,
52:51
it's time you
52:52
started thinking
52:53
about it.
52:54
Because his
52:55
life is the
52:56
only life that
52:58
can change
52:59
you and
53:00
fulfill and
53:01
make your
53:02
life what
53:04
nobody else
53:05
and nothing
53:06
else.
53:07
can make
53:07
it.
53:08
Let us
53:08
pray.
53:10
Oh, Lord,
53:10
our God,
53:11
we give
53:12
thanks for
53:12
the transforming
53:13
power of
53:14
Jesus Christ.
53:16
We give
53:16
thanks for
53:17
the great
53:17
account of
53:18
his life,
53:19
of his
53:19
death,
53:19
of his
53:20
resurrection,
53:21
and of his
53:21
ascension.
53:23
And we
53:23
give thanks
53:24
that he
53:24
continues to
53:25
make intercession
53:26
for us.
53:28
And how
53:28
thankful we
53:29
are for
53:30
everything that
53:30
your word
53:31
reveals to
53:32
us of
53:32
him.
53:33
We pray
53:34
to bless
53:35
us in
53:35
each and
53:36
every one
53:36
of us.
53:37
Take us
53:37
to our
53:37
home safety
53:38
and grant
53:40
us your
53:40
grace in
53:41
all that
53:41
we're about.
53:42
Lord, we
53:43
pray your
53:43
blessing on
53:44
the fellowship
53:44
tonight and
53:46
again on
53:46
all those
53:47
who have,
53:48
as usual,
53:49
done so
53:49
much behind
53:50
the scenes.
53:52
Grant us
53:52
your grace in
53:53
all that we
53:54
do and
53:54
forgive us
53:55
our every
53:55
sin in
53:56
Jesus'
53:56
name.
53:57
Amen.
53:57
we're
54:00
going to
54:00
conclude
54:00
singing in
54:01
Psalm 68
54:02
from the
54:04
Scottish
54:04
Psalter.
54:05
Psalm number
54:06
68 from
54:07
the
54:07
Scottish
54:08
Psalter.
54:12
And we're
54:13
going to
54:13
sing verses
54:13
18 to
54:14
20.
54:16
Psalm 68
54:17
verses
54:18
18 to
54:18
20.
54:19
Thou hast,
54:25
O Lord,
54:25
most glorious,
54:26
ascended up
54:27
on high,
54:28
and in
54:28
triumph,
54:29
victorious,
54:30
led,
54:30
captive,
54:31
captivity.
54:32
Thou hast
54:33
received gifts
54:34
for men,
54:34
for such as
54:35
did rebel,
54:37
yea,
54:37
even for
54:38
them,
54:38
that God
54:38
the Lord
54:39
in midst
54:39
of them
54:40
might dwell.
54:41
blessed
54:42
be the
54:42
Lord,
54:43
who is
54:43
to us
54:43
of our
54:44
salvation
54:44
God,
54:45
who daily
54:46
with his
54:46
benefits
54:47
as
54:47
plenteously
54:48
doth load.
54:49
He of
54:50
salvation
54:50
is the
54:51
God,
54:51
who is
54:52
our
54:52
God
54:52
most
54:53
strong,
54:54
and unto
54:55
God
54:55
the
54:56
Lord
54:56
from
54:56
death
54:57
the
54:57
issues
54:58
do
54:58
belong.
54:59
18 to
54:59
20,
55:00
Psalm 68,
55:02
the
55:02
Scottish
55:02
Psalter.
55:03
Thou hast,
55:04
O Lord,
55:04
most
55:05
glorious.
55:08
Thou hast,
55:10
the Lord
55:12
most
55:13
glorious.
55:17
Ascended
55:19
upon
55:21
high,
55:24
and in
55:26
triumph
55:28
victorious
55:30
led
55:32
captive,
55:35
captivity.
55:37
thou hast
55:42
received
55:44
gifts
55:47
for men,
55:48
for such
55:50
as did
55:53
rebel,
55:56
yea,
55:57
in for
55:59
them
56:00
that
56:01
got
56:02
the
56:03
Lord,
56:05
in
56:06
midst
56:07
of
56:08
them
56:09
might
56:10
dwell.
56:12
Blessed
56:13
be
56:14
the
56:15
Lord,
56:17
who is
56:19
to
56:20
us
56:21
of
56:22
our
56:24
salvation
56:25
God,
56:28
God,
56:29
who
56:29
daily
56:31
with
56:33
his
56:33
benefits
56:37
as
56:38
plentiously
56:39
doth
56:42
Lord,
56:44
he
56:45
of
56:46
salvation
56:48
is
56:51
the
56:52
God,
56:53
who
56:54
is
56:56
our
56:57
God
56:58
most
56:59
strong,
57:00
and
57:01
unto
57:03
God,
57:05
the
57:05
Lord
57:07
from
57:08
death,
57:09
he
57:10
is
57:11
to
57:12
belong.
57:15
Now,
57:18
may the
57:18
grace,
57:18
mercy,
57:19
and peace
57:19
of God,
57:20
the
57:20
Father,
57:20
Son,
57:20
and Holy
57:21
Spirit,
57:22
rest and
57:22
abide upon
57:23
each one
57:23
of you
57:24
now and
57:24
forevermore.
57:25
Amen.
57:26
I'll go to
57:27
the door
57:27
on my
57:28
left here.
57:28
Amen.
57:45
Amen.
58:15
Amen.