Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Fact or Fiction?

Transcript

Fact or Fiction? · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
We'll begin our worship this evening. We're going to sing to God's praise.
0:04
We're singing in Psalm 119 in the Scottish Psalter version, page 413.
0:10
We're going to sing from verse 153.
0:14
Psalm 119, the 20th section of the psalm, at verse 153.
0:21
Psalm 119 is a psalm that speaks about the centrality, the importance of God's Word,
0:27
how when we turn away from it, we go astray, but the blessing of always seeking to listen to the Word of God and live out the Word of God.
0:37
So Psalm 119 at verse 153.
0:39
Consider mine affliction. In safety do me set. Deliver me, O Lord, for I thy law do not forget.
0:46
After thy word, revive thou me. Save me and plead my cause.
0:51
Salvation is from sinners far, for they seek not thy laws.
0:56
We'll sing this section down to verse 160, and the tune is Martyrdom.
1:02
Consider mine affliction.
1:04
Consider mine affliction.
1:17
Salvation is from sinners far, for they seek not thy law do not forget.
1:24
For they seek not thy law do not forget.
1:39
God forbid.
1:44
After
1:45
thy word
1:48
they
1:49
hide
1:51
thou me.
1:53
Save me
1:55
and lead
1:58
my cause.
2:01
Salvation
2:04
is
2:06
of
2:07
sinners
2:09
by
2:11
our
2:12
ways
2:14
seek not
2:16
thy
2:17
love.
2:19
O
2:20
Lord,
2:21
bold
2:23
and
2:25
magnified
2:27
thy
2:29
tender
2:31
ne'er
2:33
she's
2:35
be.
2:37
According
2:39
to
2:41
thy
2:43
judgment
2:45
just
2:47
be
2:48
my
2:49
and
2:51
will be.
2:53
be.
2:55
By
2:56
persecutors
2:57
many
2:59
are
3:01
and
3:03
fools
3:05
shall
3:07
do
3:09
do
3:11
do
3:13
do
3:15
do
3:17
do
3:19
do
3:21
do
3:23
do
3:25
do
3:27
and
3:29
love.
3:31
God
3:33
do
3:35
do
3:37
do
3:39
do
3:41
do
3:43
do
3:45
do
3:47
do
3:51
do
3:55
do
3:57
do
3:59
do
4:01
do
4:03
do
4:05
do
4:07
do
4:09
do
4:11
do
4:13
do
4:17
do
4:19
do
4:21
do
4:23
do
4:25
do
4:27
do
4:29
Your righteous God, is there the one forevermore endure?
4:48
Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer. Let us pray.
4:51
Amen.
5:21
The regular routines of the rest of the week, whether it be the busyness of work or just generally life,
5:29
or the many other things that go on around us from a day-to-day basis,
5:32
we thank you that there is a day where the purpose is to rest and to refresh ourselves in your presence and with your people.
5:41
And we thank you that the activity of worship, as it is aware, is to be something that is alive and something that blesses us in our hearts.
5:52
for we come to meet with you as our Lord and as our God.
5:56
We come to see that you are one who is alive,
6:01
one whose words are alive,
6:03
one who gives life and who gives life abundantly.
6:08
And we thank you for every blessing that is ours.
6:11
We have them all around us, Lord.
6:13
We have them within us.
6:15
We have the ones that we see around us,
6:16
but we have so many that are even unseen to us.
6:19
But as your word reminds us that there are blessings that are ours through Christ.
6:24
And we thank you that he is the cornerstone for all our hope,
6:29
that he is the one who we look to,
6:31
the one who we long for,
6:34
to know him more, to serve him more,
6:37
to honour him more.
6:38
For he has done all for us.
6:41
As we remembered even last weekend,
6:44
as we gathered around the Lord's table,
6:46
as we took part in the sacrament of the Lord's supper,
6:49
as we were around your word,
6:51
we were reminded of what has been done for us by him,
6:56
that you sent your son into this world
6:59
to seek and to save sinners.
7:02
We were reminded of his coming this morning,
7:05
as we heard of the name that was given.
7:08
You shall call his name Jesus,
7:10
for he will save his people from their sins.
7:13
And so we thank you for your great purpose
7:16
in sending your son.
7:18
And even as he gave,
7:20
and gave ultimately his life,
7:22
we thank you too that this is a day that reminds us
7:25
that he is risen.
7:27
And that even as we pray,
7:28
we pray in his name and for his sake,
7:32
that we come knowing that he ever lives,
7:35
as your word says,
7:37
and that he will return
7:38
to take his people to himself.
7:41
We thank you too for the promise
7:43
of your Holy Spirit,
7:45
the Comforter,
7:47
the one who was promised in your word
7:49
that would come alongside,
7:51
and the one who is still that promise
7:53
to us all today,
7:55
that we have one who is not just alongside,
7:57
but within,
7:58
that we can know the power of the Holy Spirit
8:01
leading us into your word
8:03
and into your truth,
8:04
showing us ourselves,
8:06
but above all,
8:07
showing us you,
8:08
as the God who is a God of great compassion
8:11
and a great love towards his people.
8:14
And we thank you that we have your word
8:16
to show us just how precious it is,
8:20
the word we have before us
8:21
in a world that seeks after its own truth,
8:26
even makes up its own truth.
8:28
We thank you that your word is truth,
8:31
that we have sung of it even in this psalm.
8:34
We are reminded of the dangers
8:36
of not keeping your word,
8:39
but we thank you too
8:40
that there is power in your word,
8:42
and we pray that for every one of us
8:44
we may be able to say,
8:46
as the psalmist said,
8:47
see how I love thy law,
8:49
see how I love your word
8:52
and how rich it is to us,
8:54
and we pray that we will always be hungry
8:57
for your word,
8:59
to learn more from it,
9:01
and not just learn it,
9:02
but to apply it to our lives,
9:04
to live the truths that we find in it,
9:07
that we would live them out.
9:09
As we see your promises,
9:10
as we see your challenges to us,
9:13
Lord, help us to have listening ears
9:15
to understand what you are saying to us.
9:19
But we thank you that your word
9:20
does indeed endure forever,
9:23
that from the beginning
9:24
all your word has been most true and sure,
9:27
as we have sung,
9:28
and that we can come to it anew this evening,
9:31
and that your people all over the world today,
9:34
and whatever hour of day it is
9:36
where your people meet even now,
9:38
that your people hear your word,
9:41
that it is true and sure
9:43
in a world that is so often filled
9:46
with so much chaos.
9:47
And we pray that throughout the world
9:49
your word will bear much fruit,
9:52
that people will hear it
9:54
and rejoice in it,
9:56
that it will be the salvation
9:57
of sinners throughout all ends of the earth.
10:01
And that for ourselves here tonight
10:04
and for all who are at home and listening
10:06
and for all who may be tuning in
10:08
at a later point,
10:09
O Lord,
10:10
that your word will be blessed to each of us,
10:13
that as we read it and share from it,
10:15
your voice will be truly heard,
10:17
that you would speak into our hearts,
10:20
reminding us, Lord,
10:21
that you are the God of truth
10:23
and a God of hope.
10:25
So bless us together, we pray, Lord,
10:27
and remember us in our different needs,
10:30
in our homes, in our families,
10:31
in our communities at this time.
10:34
We know for so many, O Lord,
10:36
that going through different trials in life
10:39
just now is hard for so many,
10:42
that there are people who are struggling
10:44
in different ways.
10:46
And we pray, Lord,
10:47
that you will always help us
10:49
to have our eyes open,
10:51
not to be like those
10:53
who walked past
10:56
the one who had been robbed on the way
10:59
as Jesus spoke the parable
11:01
of the good Samaritan.
11:03
They rushed by the one who was beaten
11:06
and bruised at the side of the road
11:08
because they had other things
11:09
that were seemingly more important,
11:12
but help us to have
11:13
the heart of the good neighbor,
11:16
the good Samaritan.
11:17
although he saw one
11:20
who was perhaps foreign to him,
11:23
yet he showed compassion
11:25
and he loved him.
11:27
And we pray, Lord,
11:28
that that's how we would see
11:29
people all around us as well,
11:32
that we would see them
11:33
as those made in your image,
11:36
those who are made by you
11:39
and who all have the need,
11:42
everyone does,
11:44
the need of a Savior,
11:45
Christ Jesus.
11:47
And so, Lord,
11:48
give us that heart
11:49
to reach out,
11:50
to reach out with the good news,
11:52
to reach out in compassion,
11:54
to reach out in love,
11:56
and to share with all around us
11:58
the hope that is Jesus Christ.
12:01
We pray, Lord,
12:02
that in every endeavor we have,
12:04
even in this coming week,
12:05
that we will be seeking
12:06
to do just that,
12:08
to share a hope like no other,
12:10
to share the one
12:12
who is a friend
12:14
that stays closer
12:15
than any brother,
12:16
to share the good news
12:18
of the gospel.
12:20
And so we pray
12:20
that as we join together,
12:22
even in different times
12:23
throughout this week,
12:25
whether it's in times
12:26
of prayer and worship,
12:28
whether it's at the 55 plus
12:30
on Friday,
12:32
whether it's through
12:33
the work among our young people
12:34
at Explorers or Toddlers
12:36
or the Christmas Club,
12:37
that in every endeavor, Lord,
12:40
we would seek
12:40
to share the gospel,
12:43
the good news,
12:44
with all we see around us.
12:46
But may you bless us, Lord,
12:48
in all of these things,
12:49
that as we prayerfully prepare
12:51
for the week ahead,
12:53
that you would go before us in it,
12:55
that you would give strength,
12:56
that you would help us
12:57
in every task,
12:58
in every duty,
13:00
to do all as unto the Lord.
13:02
That everywhere we go
13:03
and whatever place
13:05
we represent you,
13:06
whether it's before
13:08
brothers and sisters in Christ
13:10
or whether it's before
13:11
people in our workplaces
13:13
or homes
13:13
or even the strangers
13:14
we see around us,
13:16
that we would seek
13:17
to reflect the beauty of Christ
13:19
and to show him.
13:21
So, Lord, we pray
13:22
all these things,
13:23
acknowledging our dependence
13:25
upon you
13:26
and our need of you.
13:28
We pray, too, Lord,
13:29
for the seminary
13:32
in Edinburgh at this time
13:33
as well
13:33
and all the students.
13:34
Remember this period
13:36
of exams
13:37
just now
13:38
in our seminary.
13:40
We pray that all the students
13:41
who are sitting exams
13:42
and finishing coursework
13:44
just now for this session,
13:46
that they will be
13:47
upheld by you
13:48
and strengthened by you
13:49
in it.
13:50
We pray for Scott
13:51
as he will go away
13:52
tomorrow for the week.
13:53
We pray for safety
13:54
and travel.
13:55
We pray for him
13:56
as he sits his exams
13:57
in this coming week,
13:59
that you will give him
14:00
clarity of thought
14:01
and mind,
14:02
that you would uphold him
14:03
and strengthen him for it,
14:05
that you would guide him
14:06
throughout this week
14:08
to know that you are with him,
14:10
that you will uphold him,
14:11
that you will keep him.
14:12
We pray for Fiona
14:13
and the girls, too,
14:14
in the busyness of a week
14:15
without him at home.
14:17
We pray, Lord,
14:17
that you will bless them
14:18
and all the family together
14:20
at this time, Lord,
14:21
that you will be near to them.
14:22
And as we pray that for them,
14:24
we pray it for ourselves
14:25
as families, too, Lord,
14:27
that together we would
14:28
encourage one another,
14:29
strengthen one another,
14:30
and remember one another.
14:32
Remember those who are
14:34
grieving at this time, too, Lord.
14:36
We know that throughout
14:37
our communities,
14:38
week by week
14:40
and even sometimes
14:41
day by day,
14:42
the pain of grief
14:44
comes into our midst
14:45
and it's a pain
14:47
like no other.
14:49
It is unnatural for us
14:50
because it is an enemy
14:52
in this world.
14:53
And yet we pray
14:54
for you to comfort,
14:56
for you to give help,
14:57
and as your word says
15:00
that you will bind up
15:01
the brokenhearted,
15:02
we pray that many people
15:04
will know the real truth
15:05
of that,
15:06
that you are a God
15:07
who is able to comfort,
15:09
to strengthen,
15:09
and to uphold.
15:11
So surround us, Lord,
15:12
we pray,
15:12
and go before us
15:13
tonight and in all
15:15
the days ahead.
15:16
We commit ourselves
15:16
into your hands
15:17
asking for your help,
15:19
for your blessing,
15:20
for your peace
15:21
to be with us,
15:22
asking forgiveness
15:23
for all our sins
15:24
as we confess them anew.
15:26
In the name of our Lord
15:27
and Savior,
15:28
we ask all these things
15:29
and for his glory.
15:31
Amen.
15:35
Well, let's sing again
15:36
to God's praise.
15:37
This time in the Sing Psalms
15:39
version of Psalm 14.
15:41
We'll find this on page 15
15:42
of the Psalm books.
15:46
Psalm 14.
15:48
We'll sing the whole
15:49
of this Psalm
15:49
on page 15.
15:52
Psalm 14.
15:56
This is a Psalm
15:57
that speaks about
15:58
the one who says
16:01
in his heart
16:02
that there is no God
16:04
and the Word describes
16:05
this person
16:07
as the fool
16:07
and we do want
16:09
to be foolish
16:10
to say
16:10
there is no God
16:12
because the Word
16:13
of God,
16:14
the truth of God
16:15
makes it clear
16:16
that he has made
16:17
all things
16:18
and that we are
16:19
accountable to him.
16:21
So the fool
16:21
speaks in his heart.
16:22
There is no God,
16:23
he says.
16:24
They are corrupt,
16:25
but their deeds
16:25
are vile,
16:26
none walk
16:27
in godly ways.
16:29
But then we sing
16:30
at the end of the Psalm,
16:31
may help from Sion come,
16:33
the Lord
16:33
his captive spring,
16:35
and then let Jacob's
16:36
tribes rejoice,
16:38
let Israel
16:39
gladly sing.
16:40
We'll sing the whole
16:41
of this Psalm
16:41
the tune of Selma
16:42
and we sing
16:43
to God's praise.
16:44
Amen.
16:45
Amen.
16:45
Amen.
16:46
Amen.
16:46
Amen.
16:47
Amen.
16:47
Amen.
16:48
Amen.
16:49
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:50
Amen.
16:51
Amen.
16:51
Amen.
16:51
Amen.
16:51
Amen.
16:53
Amen.
16:55
Amen.
16:56
Amen.
16:56
Amen.
16:58
Amen.
16:58
Amen.
16:58
Amen.
16:59
Amen.
17:03
Amen.
17:04
Amen.
17:06
Amen.
17:06
Amen.
17:15
Amen.
17:16
Amen.
17:17
Amen.
17:18
Amen.
17:19
Amen.
17:22
Amen.
17:23
O heaven, of all the human race,
17:32
to see him may he understand
17:40
if may he see all things.
17:47
We all have turned aside,
17:55
all of them have become.
18:02
Not one of them does any good,
18:10
no, not a single one.
18:18
Will sinners never learn,
18:25
my people get deeper,
18:31
as if they were once to be laid,
18:41
they may not seek the Lord.
18:49
Strong doubt they are with them,
18:55
our God is without us.
19:04
Purely, the loomer,
19:09
in the blue,
19:12
but in the Lord they trust.
19:18
We have from Zion come,
19:27
the Lord is now dead free,
19:35
and let let the hope's right rejoice,
19:43
let Israel have we sing.
19:54
We'll turn to read together now
19:56
in the book of Nehemiah
19:57
and the Old Testament.
20:01
The book of Nehemiah,
20:02
we're reading in chapter 6 together this evening.
20:04
You'll find it around page 479
20:09
in the church Bibles.
20:10
Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job.
20:16
So Nehemiah chapter 6,
20:18
as we continue our study in this book,
20:20
where we've seen it's not just
20:21
about the work of building the wall of Jerusalem,
20:24
that's going on,
20:26
but that's not really the major lesson
20:28
that we're taking from it,
20:29
because it's a reminder to us
20:31
that in the work of the Lord
20:32
that there are many challenges for us,
20:34
as Nehemiah faced up
20:36
to so many challenges along the way.
20:39
And we see again more challenges
20:40
that he faces here in chapter 6,
20:43
and just how he deals with these challenges
20:45
is really what we want to focus on.
20:49
So we'll read together in Nehemiah chapter 6
20:52
from the beginning of the chapter,
20:53
reading down into chapter 7.
20:56
Now when Simballat and Tobiah and Geshem,
21:00
the Arab and the rest of our enemies,
21:02
heard that I had built the wall
21:03
and that there was no breach left in it,
21:07
although up to that time
21:08
I had not set up the doors in the gates.
21:12
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me,
21:14
saying,
21:15
Come, and let us meet together
21:17
at HaKepharim in the plain of Ono.
21:20
But they intended to do me harm,
21:23
and I sent messengers to them,
21:25
saying,
21:26
I am doing a great work,
21:28
and I cannot come down.
21:30
Why should the work stop
21:31
while I have it,
21:33
while I leave it,
21:34
and come down to you?
21:36
And they sent to me four times
21:38
in the same manner.
21:40
In the same way,
21:41
Simballat for the fifth time
21:43
sent his servant to me
21:44
with an open letter in his hand.
21:47
In it was written,
21:49
it is reported among the nations,
21:51
and Geshem also says it,
21:54
that you and the Jews intend to rebel.
21:58
That is why you are building the wall.
22:01
And according to these reports,
22:02
you wish to become their king.
22:05
And you have also set up prophets
22:07
to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem,
22:10
there is a king in Judah.
22:13
And now the king will hear of these reports.
22:16
So now come and let us take counsel together.
22:20
Then I sent to him, saying,
22:23
No such things as you say have been done,
22:26
for you are inventing them
22:28
out of your own mind.
22:30
For they all wanted to frighten us,
22:32
thinking their hands will drop from the work,
22:36
and it will not be done.
22:38
But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
22:42
Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah,
22:46
the son of Deliah,
22:47
son of Methabal,
22:49
who was confined to his home,
22:51
he said,
22:52
Let us meet together in the house of God,
22:55
within the temple.
22:56
Let us close the doors of the temple,
22:59
for they are coming to kill you.
23:02
They are coming to kill you by night.
23:04
But I said,
23:06
Should such a man as I run away,
23:10
and what man such as I
23:12
could go into the temple and live?
23:14
I will not go in.
23:16
And I understood and saw
23:18
that God had not sent him,
23:21
but he had pronounced the prophecy against me,
23:24
because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
23:27
For this purpose he was hired,
23:30
that I should be afraid
23:32
and act in this way and sin,
23:35
and so they could give me a bad name
23:37
in order to taunt me.
23:40
Remember Tobiah and Sanballat,
23:42
O my God,
23:43
according to these things that they did,
23:46
and also the prophetess Nadiah
23:49
and the rest of the prophets
23:51
who wanted to make me afraid.
23:53
So the wall was finished
23:56
on the twenty-fifth day
23:58
of the month Elul,
24:00
in fifty-two days.
24:03
And when all our enemies heard of it,
24:05
all the nations around us
24:07
were afraid and fell greatly
24:08
in their own esteem,
24:11
for they perceived that this work
24:12
had been accomplished
24:13
with the help of our God.
24:16
Moreover, in those days,
24:17
the nobles of Judah
24:18
sent many letters to Tobiah,
24:21
and Tobiah's letters came to them.
24:23
For many in Judah
24:24
were bound by oath to him,
24:26
because he was the son-in-law
24:28
of Shekaniah,
24:29
the son of Ara.
24:31
And his son Jehonanan
24:33
had taken the daughter
24:35
of Mesushalim,
24:36
the son of Berchiah,
24:38
as his wife.
24:40
Also they spoke of his good deeds
24:42
in my presence
24:44
and reported my words to him.
24:46
And Tobiah sent letters
24:48
to make me afraid.
24:50
Now when the wall had been built
24:51
and I had set up the doors
24:53
and the gatekeepers,
24:54
the singers,
24:55
and the Levites
24:56
had been appointed,
24:57
I gave my brother Hanani
24:59
and Hananiah,
25:01
the governor of the castle,
25:02
charge over Jerusalem,
25:04
for he was a more faithful
25:05
and God-fearing man
25:07
than many.
25:08
And I said to them,
25:09
let not the gates of Jerusalem
25:11
be opened until the sun is hot.
25:14
And while they are still
25:15
standing guard,
25:17
let them shut and bar the doors.
25:19
Appoint the guards
25:20
from among the inhabitants
25:21
of Jerusalem,
25:23
some at their guard posts
25:25
and some in front
25:26
of their own homes.
25:28
The city was wide and large,
25:30
but the people within it
25:31
were few
25:32
and no houses
25:34
had been rebuilt.
25:36
And so on.
25:36
And may God bless that reading
25:38
from his word.
25:40
Before we turn back
25:41
to look at this passage,
25:43
we'll again sing together
25:44
to God's praise.
25:46
Again in Psalm 119,
25:47
but this time
25:48
in the Sing Psalms version,
25:51
page 157.
25:56
We're singing the section
25:57
from verse 9
25:58
down to verse 16.
26:00
Four stanzas.
26:01
The tune is
26:01
Head and Gate.
26:03
Again, this psalm,
26:04
as I said,
26:05
reminds us of the importance
26:06
of God's word.
26:08
And here this section
26:09
speaks of
26:10
the young ones,
26:13
really.
26:13
How can the young
26:14
keep their life pure?
26:16
So as we think of this,
26:17
we see the word of God
26:19
is for everyone,
26:20
young and old alike.
26:22
And the command
26:22
is there for us,
26:23
even from our young days,
26:25
to keep the word of God
26:27
by listening
26:27
to what the word does
26:29
and not to be
26:30
led astray,
26:32
as it were,
26:32
by so many of the lies
26:33
and temptations
26:34
of this world.
26:36
So we'll sing this section,
26:37
verse 9 to 16,
26:39
to God's praise.
26:41
Amen.
26:41
Amen.
26:41
How can the young
26:52
keep their life pure?
26:56
By doing what
27:00
you're working must,
27:04
I see you with my heart and soul,
27:13
let me not stray from your command.
27:21
Your word I've laid in my heart
27:32
To keep me from
27:36
hope and in you
27:40
Praise be to you,
27:45
O Lord my God,
27:49
teach me your
27:53
Sagittarius,
27:55
learn my truth,
27:58
each love proceeding
28:04
from your heart,
28:08
I gladly with my lips
28:15
have told,
28:17
I love to follow you
28:24
from us,
28:26
as others
28:29
love to count their gold.
28:35
I meditate upon your ways,
28:45
And all your
28:48
precepts I repay,
28:53
I take delight
28:58
in your decrees,
29:03
Your word I never will
29:10
be paid.
29:12
Amen.
29:16
Let's turn back to our reading
29:18
in Nehemiah chapter 6
29:20
and study this passage
29:22
together for a time
29:23
this evening.
29:24
We can read again
29:25
at verse 8 and 9.
29:28
Nehemiah chapter 6
29:30
at verse 8.
29:32
At this point,
29:32
the reports have been
29:34
sent to Nehemiah
29:36
from Geshem
29:39
and Tobiah
29:40
and Sambalat,
29:41
these three men
29:42
who came into
29:43
his life
29:45
in this way,
29:46
and they're bringing
29:46
false accusations
29:48
against him,
29:49
and then
29:49
Nehemiah's response
29:51
to them is this
29:51
in verse 8,
29:52
Then I sent to him
29:53
saying,
29:54
No such things
29:55
as you say
29:56
have been done,
29:58
for you are inventing
29:59
them out of your own mind,
30:02
for they all
30:02
wanted to frighten us,
30:04
thinking their hands
30:06
will drop from the work,
30:07
and it will not be done.
30:10
But now,
30:11
O God,
30:12
strengthen
30:12
my hands.
30:16
Well, as we've been
30:17
going through this
30:18
book of Nehemiah,
30:19
we've seen how
30:20
Nehemiah was given
30:21
this real burden
30:22
and vision
30:23
for the work
30:24
that needed to be done
30:25
in Jerusalem.
30:27
Nehemiah was a Jew
30:28
who had been living
30:29
in a land
30:30
many miles away
30:32
from Jerusalem.
30:32
He'd never even been
30:33
in Jerusalem.
30:35
His parents
30:36
had been taken captive,
30:37
there,
30:38
many years prior to this
30:40
and been taken into
30:41
captivity in Persia
30:43
and Babylon.
30:45
But Nehemiah had come
30:47
to be in an important
30:48
role there.
30:49
He was a cupbearer
30:50
of the king
30:51
in Persia,
30:52
a very important job.
30:55
But God came to him
30:57
through his brother
30:58
with a word
30:59
that gave him
30:59
a real sense
31:00
of burden
31:01
for Jerusalem
31:02
and especially
31:03
for God's people,
31:05
that they were suffering,
31:07
that the walls
31:08
had been burnt down,
31:09
that the city
31:10
was in ruin
31:11
and God gave him
31:12
this vision
31:13
to rebuild.
31:15
And so he traveled
31:16
back to the city
31:17
and began
31:18
this great work
31:19
of restoring
31:20
the wall
31:21
of Jerusalem.
31:22
But it was more
31:23
than just restoring
31:24
the walls.
31:25
It was about restoring
31:28
the people,
31:30
restoring them
31:31
to a right worship
31:32
of God,
31:34
restoring them
31:34
in their faith
31:35
and their desire
31:36
to serve the Lord.
31:39
And what we've seen
31:40
up to this point
31:40
is how faithful
31:42
Nehemiah was
31:43
to this call.
31:45
He had encountered,
31:46
yes,
31:46
many problems
31:47
and oppositions.
31:49
Every corner
31:50
seemed to have
31:50
someone or something
31:52
that would challenge
31:52
this work
31:54
and seek
31:54
to stop this work.
31:56
But the work
31:57
has gone on.
31:59
He's leading
32:00
the people
32:00
with this vision
32:02
and this sense
32:02
of this is what God
32:04
has for us
32:05
to do.
32:07
His kingdom
32:08
is so important.
32:10
His people
32:10
are so
32:12
important.
32:14
And what we saw
32:14
the last time
32:15
was that
32:16
in chapter 5
32:17
Nehemiah's work
32:19
was going on
32:20
he had to be open
32:21
to just everything
32:22
that was taking
32:22
place all around.
32:25
And the point
32:26
really was
32:26
that we can become
32:27
so consumed
32:28
in just one aspect
32:30
of the work
32:30
that we fail
32:32
to see
32:33
suffering
32:34
that is going on
32:35
in other places
32:35
and other ways.
32:37
What happened
32:37
with Nehemiah
32:38
in his day
32:39
was a famine
32:40
had come
32:40
that was affecting
32:42
the people
32:42
who were still living
32:43
outside Jerusalem
32:45
in villages
32:45
and towns
32:46
around it.
32:47
They were suffering
32:48
because many
32:49
or nearly all
32:50
of the men
32:51
were involved
32:52
in the building
32:53
work of the wall.
32:55
But those
32:55
who were still
32:55
left in the villages
32:56
and towns
32:57
were suffering.
32:58
They were in
32:59
great debt.
33:00
They were in famine.
33:01
They were starving.
33:03
And so Nehemiah
33:04
was challenged
33:05
by men and women
33:06
from these towns
33:07
to remember them.
33:09
And we saw
33:10
how every aspect
33:11
of the work
33:12
was covered.
33:13
Nehemiah
33:14
was again
33:14
challenged
33:15
and burdened
33:16
by the word
33:17
of God
33:18
to him
33:18
at that point
33:19
and led
33:19
by example.
33:21
He didn't
33:22
take things
33:23
that he had
33:23
the right to
33:24
but he made
33:25
sure that everyone
33:26
was looked out
33:27
for and looked
33:28
after.
33:29
Nehemiah
33:30
was a wise
33:31
leader,
33:32
a good leader.
33:33
And in leading
33:33
the people
33:34
he made sure
33:35
that everyone
33:35
was looked
33:36
after and cared
33:37
for and that
33:39
everyone was
33:39
going in the
33:40
same direction.
33:42
But as with
33:43
any good leader
33:44
they're always
33:44
going to face
33:45
opposition.
33:47
And for
33:48
Nehemiah
33:49
it just seemed
33:49
to come
33:50
again and
33:52
again.
33:53
As with any
33:54
good work
33:54
that's happening
33:55
in the work
33:55
of the kingdom
33:57
of God
33:57
there's always
33:58
going to be
33:59
challenges.
34:01
And we're
34:02
always going
34:03
to see that
34:03
there is one
34:04
who wants
34:05
to spoil
34:06
and to hinder.
34:08
So when there's
34:09
something good
34:10
happening
34:10
there's another
34:11
one who wants
34:12
to come in
34:12
and spoil.
34:14
and this
34:15
one will
34:15
use any
34:17
means possible.
34:19
We are of
34:19
course talking
34:21
about the
34:21
devil and
34:23
how he will
34:23
come in and
34:24
seek to
34:25
spoil so
34:26
many things.
34:27
And as we
34:27
come into
34:28
chapter 6
34:28
we see
34:29
another
34:30
challenge
34:31
arise for
34:32
Nehemiah.
34:33
We see a
34:34
familiar foe
34:35
return and
34:37
this time
34:38
they've got a
34:39
different kind
34:40
of attack
34:41
to bring to
34:42
Nehemiah.
34:44
They're going
34:44
to start
34:45
telling lies
34:47
about Nehemiah
34:48
about the
34:49
work
34:50
about what
34:51
he's doing.
34:52
They're going
34:52
to try and
34:53
disgrace him
34:54
to make him
34:55
stop the
34:56
work that he
34:56
has been
34:57
involved in.
34:58
Lies are
34:59
central to
35:01
what they're
35:01
going to
35:02
do.
35:03
Have you
35:04
ever told
35:05
a lie?
35:07
Have you
35:08
ever been
35:08
lied to?
35:09
I'm sure
35:11
if we had
35:12
a show
35:12
of hands
35:13
for both
35:13
these
35:13
questions
35:14
pretty much
35:15
every hand
35:16
would go
35:17
up.
35:18
Lying can
35:18
almost become
35:19
second nature
35:20
to us and
35:21
if we're
35:21
telling lies
35:22
we know
35:22
there'll be
35:23
others around
35:24
us who are
35:24
telling lies
35:25
as well.
35:27
And as we
35:27
look around
35:28
us it's so
35:29
difficult for
35:30
us sometimes
35:31
to tell what
35:32
is a lie
35:33
and what
35:34
is truth.
35:34
truth.
35:36
There's a
35:36
program on
35:37
television called
35:38
Would I
35:39
Lie to
35:39
You?
35:41
In many
35:41
ways it's a
35:42
funny program
35:43
to watch.
35:44
You have two
35:45
different teams
35:45
two different
35:46
panels and
35:47
each team has
35:48
to try and
35:49
convince or
35:50
not the
35:50
other team
35:51
whether what
35:51
they're saying
35:52
is a truth
35:53
or a lie.
35:55
And it can
35:56
be very
35:56
amusing at
35:57
times.
35:58
They can be
35:58
so convincing
35:59
whether it's
36:00
delivering something
36:00
that is a
36:01
lie and
36:01
trying to
36:02
make it out
36:02
as truth
36:03
or something
36:04
that is
36:04
true.
36:04
And they're
36:05
trying to
36:05
make people
36:06
think it
36:06
is a
36:06
lie.
36:07
And it's
36:07
so hard
36:08
sometimes just
36:09
to tell the
36:09
difference.
36:11
But there's a
36:12
serious side to
36:13
that kind of
36:14
thing as well
36:15
because of the
36:16
kind of world
36:17
that we live
36:18
in.
36:19
Where we're
36:20
trying to
36:21
work out
36:21
well who
36:22
is telling
36:23
the truth
36:24
and who
36:25
is lying.
36:27
It's a
36:27
challenge for
36:28
us on a
36:29
daily basis
36:30
when we're
36:30
hearing from
36:31
others,
36:32
when we're
36:32
reading things,
36:33
when we're
36:33
listening to
36:34
the news,
36:34
what is
36:36
truth
36:37
and what
36:38
is a
36:40
lie?
36:41
And how
36:42
do we
36:42
tell the
36:42
difference?
36:44
We can so
36:44
easily get
36:45
pulled in
36:46
by what we
36:47
believe is
36:48
truth but it's
36:48
actually a
36:49
lie and vice
36:50
versa.
36:52
Is it fact
36:53
or is it
36:54
fiction?
36:55
It's a
36:55
challenge to
36:56
us.
36:57
And that
36:57
was a
36:58
challenge in
36:59
Nehemiah.
37:00
his day
37:02
as well
37:02
and for
37:02
his people
37:03
there as
37:04
well.
37:05
Samballet,
37:06
Tobiah and
37:06
Geshem came
37:08
on the attack
37:08
to try and
37:09
bring fear
37:10
among them
37:11
because that
37:12
is so often
37:13
what trying to
37:14
suss out what
37:15
is lie and
37:16
truth does
37:16
for us.
37:17
It leaves us
37:18
confused.
37:18
It leaves us
37:19
afraid.
37:20
And so we
37:23
need to try
37:23
and work
37:24
out what
37:24
is truth.
37:27
Truth is
37:28
what we
37:28
should be
37:28
seek but
37:29
our world
37:30
has turned
37:31
away from
37:32
truth because
37:33
we've turned
37:34
away from
37:34
the word of
37:35
God.
37:36
Therefore
37:36
truth is so
37:37
difficult to
37:38
find.
37:40
But this
37:40
is not
37:40
new.
37:42
In Romans
37:42
chapter 1
37:43
verse 24
37:44
it tells us
37:45
there,
37:46
therefore God
37:47
gave them up
37:47
in the lusts
37:48
of their
37:48
hearts to
37:49
impurity.
37:50
to the
37:51
dishonoring of
37:51
their bodies
37:52
among themselves
37:53
because they
37:54
exchanged the
37:55
truth about
37:56
God for a
37:58
lie.
37:59
They exchanged
38:01
the truth
38:01
about God
38:03
for a
38:04
lie.
38:05
And that's
38:06
the recurring
38:07
problem of
38:09
a sinful
38:09
heart, a
38:11
sinful people.
38:12
We replace
38:13
the truth
38:14
about God
38:15
for a
38:16
lie.
38:18
And
38:18
therefore it's
38:19
so hard for
38:20
us then
38:20
to see
38:21
what is
38:22
truth
38:22
and what
38:24
is a
38:25
lie.
38:25
Wouldn't it
38:26
be great to
38:26
have somewhere
38:27
to go to
38:28
find truth?
38:31
Well we
38:32
do.
38:33
We have
38:34
God's
38:35
word.
38:37
Jesus
38:37
himself as
38:38
he prayed
38:38
for his
38:40
people in
38:40
John 17
38:41
he said
38:42
this,
38:43
sanctify them
38:44
in the
38:44
truth.
38:46
Your
38:46
word is
38:48
truth.
38:50
We have
38:51
truth.
38:53
And what we
38:53
have to do
38:54
is replace
38:55
a lie
38:56
for the
38:58
truth
38:59
about God.
39:00
We need to
39:01
reverse the
39:02
situation that
39:03
we read of
39:03
in Romans,
39:04
the situation
39:05
that is so
39:06
common in
39:07
every generation
39:08
and every
39:09
people.
39:10
exchanging the
39:11
truth about
39:12
God for a
39:12
lie.
39:13
We need to
39:14
replace the
39:15
lies of this
39:15
world for the
39:16
truth about
39:17
God and his
39:18
word is
39:20
truth.
39:20
truth.
39:22
We have
39:23
it but do
39:25
we believe
39:26
it and do
39:27
we live
39:27
it?
39:29
That is a
39:29
challenge that
39:30
Nehemiah
39:31
faced.
39:32
That is a
39:33
challenge that
39:33
he stood up
39:34
to in a
39:36
world full of
39:37
lies.
39:37
He shows us
39:38
how to
39:38
respond by
39:39
standing on
39:40
truth and
39:42
surrounding
39:42
ourselves with
39:44
it.
39:45
So tonight I
39:45
want us to
39:46
take three
39:46
lessons again
39:47
from Nehemiah's
39:48
life and
39:49
experience so
39:50
we can
39:50
apply to
39:51
ourselves.
39:53
Three things
39:54
that we see
39:54
here are
39:55
first of all
39:56
fear or
39:56
faith.
39:58
What is
39:59
our dependence
40:00
in?
40:01
How are we
40:01
living in
40:02
that sense?
40:02
Are we
40:02
living in
40:03
fear or
40:04
are we
40:04
living in
40:05
faith?
40:07
And secondly
40:07
we will see
40:08
here the
40:08
false friends
40:09
that can so
40:10
often lead us
40:11
astray.
40:13
And then
40:13
thirdly we are
40:14
going to think
40:14
about what is
40:15
our defense
40:16
in the midst
40:18
of all of
40:19
this.
40:19
faith.
40:21
So the
40:22
first thing
40:22
we want to
40:23
consider is
40:23
fear or
40:25
faith.
40:26
How are we
40:27
going to
40:28
live?
40:28
What kind
40:28
of people
40:29
are we
40:29
going to
40:30
be?
40:31
How important
40:32
is truth
40:33
to you?
40:36
Does every
40:37
word that
40:37
come out of
40:38
your mouth
40:39
do you make
40:39
sure I
40:40
want that
40:40
word to
40:42
be truth?
40:42
truth?
40:44
I want
40:44
every word
40:45
that I
40:46
say to
40:47
be truth.
40:48
Do you
40:49
listen to
40:50
every word
40:50
and think
40:51
I want to
40:51
hear every
40:53
word that
40:53
is truth?
40:55
Or are there
40:56
times where
40:56
you twist
40:57
the truth
40:58
or twist
40:59
what you
41:00
hear or
41:00
enjoy hearing
41:01
something that
41:02
maybe is
41:02
only a half
41:03
truth?
41:04
It's so
41:05
hard for us
41:06
at times.
41:08
But truth
41:09
should be
41:09
essential
41:10
to us.
41:12
Truth
41:13
should be
41:13
what we
41:13
live by.
41:14
If we
41:15
live by
41:15
God's
41:15
word we
41:16
are to
41:16
live by
41:17
truth because
41:18
his word
41:19
is truth.
41:22
But what
41:22
is true?
41:24
That is so
41:25
often the
41:26
challenge.
41:28
One group
41:29
of musicians,
41:30
one band,
41:31
they wrote
41:32
an album and
41:32
the title of
41:33
the album
41:34
was This
41:35
is my
41:35
truth,
41:36
now tell
41:37
me yours.
41:39
Can we
41:41
all have
41:42
a different
41:43
truth?
41:45
Can we
41:45
all believe
41:46
something that's
41:47
different in
41:48
every part of
41:49
our life or
41:49
society or
41:50
our world and
41:51
think that's
41:51
okay, we
41:52
can all have
41:53
our different
41:54
truth?
41:56
No, because
41:56
everything cannot
41:58
be true.
42:00
That is not
42:01
possible.
42:04
There are
42:04
things that are
42:05
fact and
42:06
there are
42:06
things that
42:07
are fiction.
42:09
And if we
42:10
listen to
42:10
the lies of
42:12
this world,
42:13
listening to
42:14
lies is what
42:14
so often
42:15
leaves us in
42:16
a state of
42:17
fear because
42:19
we're not
42:19
leaning upon
42:20
truth.
42:21
We're not
42:22
depending upon
42:23
truth.
42:25
And so this
42:25
is a very
42:26
challenge that
42:27
Nehemiah faced
42:28
here when these
42:29
three familiar
42:30
people came
42:31
into his
42:32
experience again.
42:33
We'd seen
42:33
them before in
42:34
chapter 2,
42:35
how they had
42:36
come to try
42:37
and stop
42:38
the work.
42:39
They had
42:39
come on the
42:40
attack and
42:40
here they are
42:41
returning again
42:42
in chapter 6
42:43
just before the
42:45
work of building
42:46
the wall is
42:46
nearly complete.
42:47
So you maybe
42:48
think to
42:48
yourself, the
42:49
reappearance of
42:50
Sanballat,
42:51
Tobiah and
42:52
Gershom, they're
42:53
going to maybe
42:53
come and
42:54
apologize for
42:55
their poor
42:56
behavior previous.
42:59
They're going
42:59
to look around
43:00
and see actually,
43:02
Nehemiah, you
43:02
were right in
43:03
what you've done
43:03
in rebuilding
43:04
this wall.
43:05
they've come to
43:06
congratulate him
43:07
in this work.
43:09
No.
43:11
Even though the
43:12
work is nearly
43:13
complete in terms
43:14
of the outside
43:14
of the wall
43:15
of Jerusalem,
43:17
they come to
43:18
intimidate
43:19
Nehemiah,
43:20
attempting to
43:20
make him fear.
43:22
And attempting
43:23
to make him fear
43:24
in order that the
43:24
work will come
43:25
to a standstill
43:26
once again.
43:29
And fear is
43:30
central to
43:32
their plans.
43:34
You see this
43:35
as you go
43:35
through this
43:36
chapter,
43:36
verse 9,
43:37
11,
43:38
13,
43:38
14,
43:39
19.
43:41
Each of
43:42
these verses,
43:43
it says,
43:44
they wanted
43:44
him to be
43:46
afraid.
43:48
In verse 9,
43:49
it says,
43:49
for they wanted
43:50
to frighten
43:51
us.
43:52
In verse 11,
43:53
he said,
43:54
a false prophet
43:55
was hired to
43:56
make him
43:57
afraid.
43:59
Again,
43:59
he reiterates
43:59
that.
44:00
In verse 13,
44:00
he was hired
44:01
that I should
44:02
be afraid.
44:03
Verse 14,
44:04
he prays
44:04
and asks
44:05
God to
44:05
remember
44:06
these people,
44:07
Tobiah,
44:07
Sambalat,
44:08
and these
44:08
prophets,
44:09
who wanted
44:09
to make
44:10
me afraid.
44:12
In verse 19,
44:13
Tobiah sent
44:14
letters to
44:14
make Nehemiah
44:15
afraid.
44:17
Fear.
44:18
They're trying
44:18
to plant
44:19
this fear
44:20
in Nehemiah
44:21
and the
44:21
people so
44:22
that the
44:23
work will
44:24
stop.
44:25
Because fear
44:26
paralyzes.
44:29
And especially
44:30
when it comes
44:31
to doing the
44:32
work of the
44:32
Lord,
44:33
so often
44:33
it is fear
44:34
that will
44:35
paralyze
44:37
and stop
44:38
the work
44:39
of the
44:39
Lord going
44:40
on.
44:42
But how
44:42
are they
44:42
going to
44:43
implement
44:43
this plan?
44:44
How are they
44:45
going to
44:45
get this
44:46
to work?
44:48
Well,
44:48
first,
44:49
they're going
44:49
to use
44:49
flattery.
44:52
In verse
44:52
4,
44:54
well,
44:55
between
44:55
verse 2
44:57
and verse
44:58
4,
44:59
they start
44:59
to invite
45:00
Nehemiah
45:02
to meet
45:02
together in
45:03
this place
45:03
called
45:04
Olo.
45:06
Four times
45:07
they invited
45:07
him.
45:09
They're trying
45:09
to flatter
45:10
him.
45:10
Come,
45:11
let us
45:11
come together
45:12
and let's
45:13
talk about
45:13
this.
45:14
Surely we
45:14
can come
45:15
to some
45:15
kind of
45:16
compromise.
45:19
But you
45:19
read in
45:20
verse 3,
45:21
he knows
45:22
that their
45:22
intention was
45:23
not right.
45:24
it says
45:24
in the end
45:26
of verse 2
45:27
and into
45:28
verse 3,
45:29
he said,
45:29
but they
45:30
intended to
45:31
do me
45:31
harm.
45:34
You see,
45:35
he knew
45:35
them too
45:36
well.
45:38
He knew
45:38
their
45:38
intentions,
45:39
but he
45:40
knew God
45:41
better.
45:43
And when
45:43
you look
45:43
at it,
45:44
what they
45:44
were trying
45:45
to do
45:45
is take
45:47
him away
45:47
from the
45:48
work.
45:51
But he
45:52
says in
45:52
verse 3,
45:53
I am
45:53
doing
45:53
a great
45:54
work and
45:55
I cannot
45:55
come down.
45:56
Why should
45:57
the work
45:58
stop while
45:59
I leave
46:00
it and
46:01
come down
46:02
to you?
46:06
Now,
46:07
he's not
46:07
saying that
46:08
his work
46:09
is what
46:09
he's proud
46:10
of,
46:10
his own
46:11
handwork.
46:12
What he's
46:13
saying is
46:13
the work
46:14
that he
46:14
is involved
46:15
in,
46:16
God's
46:16
work,
46:17
is a
46:18
great work.
46:19
It's the
46:20
most important
46:20
work.
46:22
To him,
46:22
this is the
46:23
chief work.
46:24
To be
46:24
involved in
46:25
doing what
46:26
God is
46:26
wanting him
46:27
to do and
46:28
giving him
46:28
a vision
46:28
to do.
46:31
So their
46:32
flattery isn't
46:33
going to
46:33
work.
46:34
He puts
46:35
them off.
46:36
He puts
46:36
them away.
46:38
But then
46:39
there's another
46:39
plan.
46:41
This doesn't
46:41
work, so
46:42
they have
46:42
another plan.
46:43
This is when
46:43
the lies
46:44
come in.
46:46
In verse
46:46
6,
46:48
they sent him
46:48
a letter,
46:49
that.
46:50
And in
46:50
it is
46:50
said,
46:51
it is
46:51
reported
46:52
among the
46:52
nations,
46:53
and Geshem
46:53
also says
46:55
that you
46:55
and the
46:57
Jews intend
46:58
to rebel.
47:00
So this
47:00
is their
47:01
new plan.
47:02
It is
47:03
reported.
47:06
This is
47:07
their way
47:08
to get
47:08
him.
47:09
Lies.
47:11
Let's
47:12
just make
47:13
up stories
47:14
about.
47:16
Fake
47:16
news is
47:17
something that
47:18
seems to
47:18
be a new
47:19
phenomenon,
47:20
especially over
47:21
the years of
47:21
President Trump
47:22
when it
47:22
seemed to
47:23
just come
47:24
to the
47:24
fore.
47:25
Fake
47:25
news was
47:26
spoken about
47:27
every week.
47:28
Everything
47:29
that was
47:29
said against
47:30
certain people,
47:31
that's just
47:31
fake news.
47:32
And again,
47:33
it just adds
47:34
to the
47:34
confusion.
47:35
What do
47:36
we believe?
47:37
And it's
47:37
based around
47:38
really what
47:38
we read
47:39
here.
47:40
It is
47:40
reported.
47:42
Let's
47:42
just make
47:43
up something
47:44
that's
47:44
going to
47:45
get
47:45
Nehemiah
47:45
in trouble
47:46
and disgrace
47:47
him.
47:49
This
47:49
still goes
47:50
on.
47:51
The
47:51
intention
47:51
behind
47:52
these
47:52
lies
47:53
is to
47:53
disgrace
47:54
and to
47:54
bring a
47:55
leader
47:55
down.
47:57
And
47:58
well,
47:58
it's
47:58
nothing
47:59
new.
48:00
Telling
48:00
lies is
48:01
not a
48:01
new
48:02
thing.
48:03
When
48:03
was the
48:03
first lie
48:04
told?
48:06
All you
48:06
have to
48:07
do is
48:07
go back
48:07
to
48:07
Genesis
48:08
and there
48:09
you see
48:09
it.
48:10
Did
48:10
God
48:10
actually
48:11
say?
48:12
Satan
48:14
comes
48:14
into the
48:15
garden
48:15
and it's
48:16
almost
48:16
like he's
48:17
saying,
48:17
well,
48:17
it is
48:18
reported
48:18
that God
48:19
has said,
48:20
but did
48:20
he really
48:21
say,
48:22
you shall
48:22
not eat
48:23
of any
48:23
tree in
48:23
the garden?
48:25
What did
48:26
it lead
48:26
to?
48:27
It led
48:27
to fear
48:28
because you
48:29
read just
48:30
further on
48:31
that they're
48:32
trying to
48:32
hide then
48:33
in the
48:33
garden and
48:34
they're
48:34
trying to
48:35
defend
48:35
themselves
48:35
before God
48:36
saying,
48:36
I heard
48:37
the sound
48:37
of you
48:38
in the
48:38
garden and
48:39
I was
48:39
afraid.
48:40
So they
48:41
hid from
48:42
God.
48:44
And that
48:44
is what
48:44
lies
48:45
seeks to
48:46
lead us
48:46
to.
48:47
We end
48:47
up replacing
48:48
fact for
48:50
fiction and
48:51
it only
48:52
leaves us
48:52
afraid and
48:53
hiding from
48:54
God.
48:54
That's the
48:55
intention of
48:56
Sanballat and
48:57
Tobiah and
48:58
Geshem here
48:59
to get
49:00
Nehemiah away
49:01
from the
49:01
work of
49:02
God and
49:04
get him
49:04
hiding from
49:05
God.
49:08
And it's
49:10
still the
49:11
tactic of
49:11
Satan to
49:12
this day.
49:14
You read of
49:14
Jesus in the
49:15
New Testament
49:16
in the
49:16
Gospel of
49:17
John.
49:18
There he's
49:18
speaking in
49:19
chapter 8 to
49:20
Jews who
49:20
are, some
49:21
are believing,
49:22
some aren't.
49:25
But what he
49:25
says is as he
49:26
speaks in
49:27
chapter 8
49:27
verse 44,
49:28
he's speaking
49:29
about the
49:29
father of
49:30
lies, the
49:30
devil.
49:31
He says he
49:32
was a
49:32
murderer from
49:33
the beginning
49:34
and has
49:34
nothing to
49:35
do with
49:35
the truth
49:36
because there
49:37
is no
49:37
truth in
49:38
him.
49:39
When he
49:39
lies he
49:40
speaks out
49:41
of his
49:41
own
49:41
character
49:42
for he
49:43
is a
49:43
liar and
49:44
the
49:44
father of
49:45
lies.
49:46
This is
49:47
the enemy
49:48
that prowls,
49:49
this is the
49:49
enemy that's
49:50
at work in
49:50
Tobiah and
49:52
Sanballat and
49:54
Geshem.
49:55
He's at work
49:56
in them to
49:56
disgrace Nehemiah,
49:58
the father of
49:58
lies.
50:00
And he's
50:01
still at work
50:01
to this
50:02
day to
50:04
discourage all
50:06
of God's
50:06
children,
50:07
all of
50:07
God's
50:08
people,
50:08
away from
50:09
the work
50:09
of the
50:10
Lord,
50:10
of trusting
50:11
the Lord.
50:12
This is
50:12
his tactic.
50:14
Replace
50:15
the truth
50:16
for a
50:17
lie.
50:18
Make
50:19
them afraid
50:20
and hide
50:20
from God.
50:23
But as
50:23
somebody once
50:24
said,
50:25
we were not
50:25
made for
50:26
fear,
50:27
we were
50:28
made for
50:29
faith.
50:30
Fear is
50:31
not my
50:32
native land,
50:33
faith is.
50:34
I am so
50:36
made that
50:36
worry and
50:37
anxiety are
50:37
sand in
50:38
the machinery
50:39
of life.
50:40
Faith is
50:41
oil.
50:42
Sand will
50:43
destroy
50:44
machinery,
50:45
oil will
50:46
keep it
50:46
going.
50:48
I live
50:48
better by
50:49
faith and
50:50
confidence and
50:50
by fear,
50:52
doubt and
50:52
anxiety.
50:55
And so he
50:55
went on to
50:56
say that
50:57
this is what
50:58
we are made
50:58
for.
51:00
To live by
51:01
worry is to
51:02
live against
51:03
reality,
51:04
but to
51:05
live by
51:06
the way
51:06
God made
51:07
us is to
51:09
live by
51:10
faith.
51:12
Fear or
51:14
faith,
51:15
how are we
51:16
living?
51:17
They came
51:18
to make
51:18
Nehemiah
51:19
afraid,
51:20
discouraged,
51:21
fall away
51:22
from the
51:22
work.
51:24
But Nehemiah
51:25
was a man
51:26
of faith.
51:27
He trusted
51:28
God, he
51:29
listened to
51:29
him, and
51:31
so should
51:32
we.
51:34
The second
51:35
thing we see
51:35
here is the
51:36
false friends
51:38
that we can
51:39
see around
51:39
him.
51:41
They tried to
51:41
get him with
51:42
fake news,
51:43
they tried to
51:44
get at him
51:44
with lies,
51:45
but the
51:46
second thing
51:46
we see here
51:47
is they
51:47
tried to
51:47
come at
51:48
him through
51:48
a prophet
51:49
in verse
51:50
10.
51:52
Now when
51:52
I went
51:52
into the
51:52
house of
51:53
Shemiah,
51:54
the son of
51:55
Deliah,
51:55
son of
51:56
Methabel,
51:57
who was
51:58
confined to
51:58
his home,
51:59
he said,
51:59
let us meet
52:00
together in
52:01
the house
52:01
of God
52:02
within the
52:03
temple.
52:04
So again,
52:05
there's this
52:05
subtle way
52:06
where this
52:07
man,
52:08
Shemiah,
52:09
was a
52:09
prophet who
52:10
was one
52:10
who should
52:11
be able to
52:13
trust and
52:13
to listen
52:14
to.
52:14
And if he
52:15
is saying
52:15
something,
52:16
Nehemiah
52:17
should listen
52:17
to him
52:18
because a
52:19
prophet should
52:20
speak from
52:20
the Lord.
52:23
So it
52:23
should be a
52:24
safe place,
52:25
a secure
52:25
place.
52:26
But Shemiah,
52:27
he falsely
52:28
led Nehemiah
52:29
to think that
52:30
people were
52:30
going to
52:31
kill him.
52:32
And he
52:33
encouraged
52:33
Nehemiah
52:34
to flee.
52:36
And not
52:36
only to
52:36
flee,
52:37
but to
52:37
run into
52:38
the place,
52:38
the temple.
52:40
And you
52:41
see it in
52:41
verse 10,
52:42
the house
52:43
of God
52:43
within the
52:44
temple.
52:44
And it is,
52:45
close the
52:45
doors within
52:46
the temple
52:46
so that
52:47
you can
52:47
be safe.
52:49
But notice
52:50
how Nehemiah
52:51
responds.
52:52
But I
52:53
said,
52:53
should such
52:54
a man
52:55
as I
52:55
run away?
52:56
And what
52:57
man such
52:58
as I
52:58
could go
52:58
into the
52:59
temple and
53:00
live?
53:01
I
53:01
will not
53:02
go in.
53:04
What's he
53:05
saying here?
53:06
How could
53:07
he go into
53:08
the temple
53:08
and live?
53:09
Well,
53:09
if this
53:10
prophet,
53:10
this message
53:11
from God
53:12
is saying
53:12
this is
53:12
the place
53:13
you are
53:13
to go
53:13
and live,
53:14
why wouldn't
53:15
you listen?
53:17
But Nehemiah
53:18
is close
53:18
to God
53:19
and he
53:19
knows God's
53:20
law,
53:20
he knows
53:21
God's
53:22
word,
53:22
and he
53:23
knows that
53:23
he has
53:23
no right
53:24
to go
53:25
into the
53:26
heart of
53:26
the temple.
53:27
Because
53:28
when you
53:28
look in
53:29
the Old
53:29
Testament,
53:31
the inner
53:31
sanctuary of
53:32
the temple
53:33
was the
53:33
Holy of
53:34
Holies.
53:35
And that
53:36
was a
53:36
place where
53:36
only the
53:37
high priest
53:38
could go.
53:41
And so
53:41
Nehemiah
53:41
had no
53:42
right to
53:43
go in
53:44
there.
53:45
And if
53:45
he did
53:46
go in
53:46
there,
53:46
he was
53:47
likely to
53:48
be put
53:49
to death.
53:51
But what
53:52
he begins
53:52
to see is
53:53
this is
53:53
not of
53:54
God.
53:55
this is
53:56
further
53:56
lies.
53:58
In
53:58
verse 12,
53:59
I understood
53:59
and saw
54:00
that God
54:01
had not
54:01
sent him,
54:02
but he
54:02
had pronounced
54:03
the prophecy
54:04
against me
54:04
because Tobiah
54:05
and son
54:06
Ballant had
54:07
hired him.
54:09
Again,
54:10
you're just
54:10
buying
54:11
lies for
54:13
a price.
54:17
And how
54:18
difficult it
54:19
is sometimes
54:19
to understand,
54:20
well,
54:21
what is
54:21
truth and
54:23
what is
54:23
lies?
54:25
one
54:26
commentator
54:26
said of
54:27
Nehemiah
54:28
here,
54:29
had he
54:29
tried to
54:30
save himself
54:31
in such
54:31
a way,
54:32
that is
54:32
going into
54:33
the temple,
54:34
he would
54:34
have lost
54:35
possibly his
54:36
life,
54:37
certainly his
54:37
honor,
54:38
and would
54:39
have jeopardized
54:40
the very
54:40
cause,
54:41
the very
54:41
work that
54:42
he had
54:42
at heart.
54:43
It would
54:44
have brought
54:44
disgrace.
54:47
And that
54:47
is what
54:48
they were
54:48
trying to
54:49
achieve.
54:51
And this
54:51
is beginning
54:52
to sound
54:52
a familiar
54:54
picture.
54:55
telling lies
54:56
against
54:57
someone,
54:58
seeking
54:58
for him
54:59
to break
55:00
God's
55:01
law.
55:01
Who else
55:02
did they
55:02
do this
55:02
with?
55:04
The Lord
55:05
Jesus in
55:05
the New
55:06
Testament.
55:08
They
55:09
sought to
55:10
get at
55:11
him in
55:12
these ways,
55:13
to make
55:14
up stories
55:15
about him,
55:16
to tell
55:16
lies about
55:17
him,
55:18
to try and
55:19
get him
55:19
to break
55:20
the law
55:20
of God
55:21
as they
55:21
saw it.
55:22
but he
55:23
stood
55:23
firm in
55:24
the truth
55:25
of God,
55:27
his
55:27
father.
55:29
And Nehemiah
55:30
too is
55:31
strong in
55:32
the Lord.
55:32
And it's a
55:32
reminder for
55:33
us not to
55:34
be afraid to
55:36
have confidence
55:37
in the word
55:38
of God,
55:38
not to be
55:38
embarrassed or
55:39
ashamed about
55:40
the word of
55:41
God,
55:42
but to see it
55:42
as truth
55:43
and to
55:45
surround
55:45
ourselves with
55:46
people who
55:47
see it as
55:48
truth.
55:48
the book
55:50
of Proverbs
55:51
speaks about
55:52
surrounding
55:53
ourselves with
55:54
people who
55:54
are wise.
55:56
Proverbs 13
55:57
verse 20,
55:58
whoever walks
55:59
with the wise
56:00
becomes wise,
56:02
but the
56:02
companion of
56:03
fools will
56:04
suffer harm.
56:06
Surround
56:07
ourselves with
56:09
people who
56:10
love the
56:11
Lord, who
56:12
trust the
56:12
Lord, who
56:13
keep us
56:14
right in
56:15
the Lord.
56:16
We live in
56:17
a world where
56:17
so many
56:18
friendships,
56:20
as it were,
56:20
can be
56:21
superficial.
56:22
They're just
56:23
on the
56:23
surface,
56:24
especially in
56:25
a world of
56:26
social media.
56:28
We have to
56:28
be careful
56:30
what we
56:30
believe and
56:31
who we
56:32
listen to.
56:33
When you
56:34
look at
56:34
social media
56:35
today,
56:36
Facebook,
56:36
TikTok,
56:37
all these
56:37
things is
56:38
about friends
56:39
and followers,
56:40
listening to
56:41
what they
56:41
have to
56:42
say, but
56:42
can we
56:43
believe
56:43
everything?
56:45
Even when
56:46
it's intended
56:46
for good
56:47
sometimes,
56:48
we have
56:48
to ask
56:49
questions
56:49
about it.
56:51
For example,
56:52
just now in
56:53
these days,
56:53
there's been a
56:54
story going
56:54
around Facebook
56:55
about the
56:56
Lord's Prayer
56:57
being banned
56:58
on Facebook,
57:00
that the
57:01
CEO of
57:03
Facebook,
57:03
Mark Zuckerberg,
57:04
has put this
57:05
down as
57:06
something that
57:06
is not
57:07
allowed,
57:08
that it goes
57:09
against their
57:09
policy.
57:10
They're not
57:11
allowed to
57:11
post the
57:12
Lord's Prayer.
57:13
And so many
57:13
people are
57:14
posting this and
57:15
saying this is
57:15
wrong,
57:16
and they
57:16
post the
57:17
Lord's Prayer
57:18
up just to
57:18
make that
57:19
point.
57:21
They think to
57:21
themselves,
57:21
this is good,
57:22
this is right,
57:23
we should
57:23
stand up on
57:24
the Lord's
57:25
side here.
57:28
It's not a
57:29
bad thing,
57:29
and of course
57:30
there is a
57:31
time for it,
57:31
but it's
57:33
not true.
57:35
The Lord's Prayer
57:36
has not been
57:36
banned from
57:38
Facebook.
57:39
Mark Zuckerberg
57:39
has not
57:40
banned it.
57:41
So it's
57:43
just a
57:43
reminder to
57:44
us that we
57:45
should be
57:45
looking into
57:46
everything that
57:46
we're hearing
57:47
and seeing
57:48
and reading
57:48
and asking,
57:50
is it
57:50
true?
57:52
And especially
57:53
when it comes
57:53
to dealing
57:54
with people,
57:55
are we
57:55
dealing with
57:56
facts or
57:57
fiction?
57:59
Are we
58:00
listening to
58:00
what is
58:00
true or
58:01
what is a
58:02
lie?
58:04
When it
58:04
comes to
58:05
speaking about
58:06
people,
58:06
how do we
58:07
speak about
58:07
them?
58:08
Do we
58:08
hear something
58:09
and just
58:09
pass it on?
58:10
Well,
58:10
we've heard
58:11
it,
58:11
it must
58:11
be true.
58:13
Or do we
58:14
check,
58:14
do we
58:15
listen and
58:15
do we
58:15
think,
58:16
is that
58:16
actually
58:17
right?
58:18
Is what
58:18
I'm saying
58:19
to my
58:19
neighbor or
58:20
my friend
58:20
true about
58:21
that person?
58:23
Young and
58:24
old alike,
58:25
we need to
58:25
think about
58:26
these things.
58:27
As Christians,
58:28
we should
58:29
set an
58:29
example for
58:30
truth and
58:31
not for
58:31
lies in
58:32
everything that
58:33
we do,
58:35
in every
58:35
aspect of
58:36
our lives
58:37
when we're
58:37
dealing with
58:37
people.
58:38
Let us
58:39
deal with
58:39
truth.
58:40
And let
58:43
us surround
58:44
ourselves with
58:45
people who
58:46
will be
58:46
truthful to
58:47
us and
58:48
tell us
58:48
truth.
58:50
Not
58:50
superficial
58:51
friends,
58:52
but deep
58:52
friendships.
58:54
People we
58:55
can trust.
58:57
Like one
58:58
person said,
58:59
a friend is
59:00
the first
59:00
person who
59:01
comes in
59:01
when the
59:02
whole world
59:03
has gone
59:04
out.
59:04
friends.
59:05
What kind
59:07
of friends
59:08
do we
59:09
surround
59:09
ourselves
59:10
with?
59:13
Nehemiah
59:13
had enemies,
59:14
but he
59:15
also had
59:16
people he
59:17
could trust.
59:19
It says in
59:19
verse 2 of
59:20
chapter 7,
59:21
I gave
59:21
my brother
59:22
Hananiah
59:23
and Hananiah
59:24
the governor
59:25
of the
59:25
castle,
59:26
charge over
59:27
Jerusalem,
59:28
for he was
59:29
a more
59:31
faithful and
59:32
God-fearing
59:32
man than
59:34
many.
59:35
He had
59:36
people he
59:36
could trust
59:37
around him.
59:38
I'm not saying
59:39
here we
59:40
abandon all
59:41
our friends
59:42
just because
59:42
they don't
59:43
believe in
59:44
God's word.
59:44
We are to
59:45
be witnesses
59:46
to our
59:46
friends and
59:47
our families
59:48
and our
59:48
neighbors about
59:49
God's word.
59:51
But what we
59:52
don't allow
59:52
to happen is
59:53
to let
59:54
them take
59:55
us away
59:56
from the
59:56
truth,
59:57
misrepresent
59:58
the truth
59:59
of God,
1:00:01
but to
1:00:02
see for
1:00:02
ourselves
1:00:03
especially
1:00:03
the friend
1:00:05
who is
1:00:06
our Lord
1:00:06
Jesus Christ,
1:00:08
the friend
1:00:09
that the
1:00:10
book of
1:00:10
Proverbs
1:00:10
describes as
1:00:11
a friend
1:00:12
who stays
1:00:13
closer than
1:00:14
any brother,
1:00:16
that we
1:00:16
stay close
1:00:17
to the
1:00:18
Lord.
1:00:19
Because that's
1:00:20
our final
1:00:21
thing we
1:00:21
see here,
1:00:22
our defense.
1:00:25
What could
1:00:26
Nehemiah do?
1:00:27
What can
1:00:28
we do?
1:00:30
When we
1:00:30
live in a
1:00:31
world where
1:00:31
truth and
1:00:32
lies are
1:00:33
so interwined
1:00:34
and so
1:00:35
difficult to
1:00:36
separate at
1:00:36
times,
1:00:37
what can
1:00:38
we do?
1:00:39
Well,
1:00:39
the answer
1:00:40
is found
1:00:41
in verse
1:00:42
9.
1:00:44
For they
1:00:44
all wanted
1:00:45
to frighten
1:00:46
us thinking
1:00:47
their hands
1:00:48
will drop
1:00:48
from the
1:00:49
work and
1:00:50
it will
1:00:50
not be
1:00:51
done.
1:00:52
So this
1:00:52
is what
1:00:53
they wanted,
1:00:53
but look
1:00:53
at Nehemiah's
1:00:55
response.
1:00:56
But now,
1:00:57
O God,
1:00:59
strengthen
1:00:59
my hands.
1:01:02
That is the
1:01:03
answer for
1:01:04
us too.
1:01:06
Now,
1:01:07
O God,
1:01:08
strengthen
1:01:08
our hands.
1:01:11
Strengthen
1:01:12
our hands
1:01:12
that the
1:01:12
work will
1:01:13
go on.
1:01:15
Strengthen
1:01:15
our hands
1:01:16
so we
1:01:16
will know
1:01:17
the
1:01:17
difference
1:01:18
between
1:01:18
truth and
1:01:19
lie.
1:01:21
That we
1:01:21
will stand
1:01:22
firm in
1:01:23
the truth
1:01:23
because God
1:01:24
is sufficient
1:01:25
for all
1:01:26
things.
1:01:27
He is the
1:01:27
one who
1:01:28
strengthens.
1:01:30
You know,
1:01:30
as Christians,
1:01:31
there are
1:01:31
those who
1:01:32
will cast
1:01:32
stories claiming
1:01:33
everything we
1:01:34
believe is
1:01:35
fiction.
1:01:37
It will be
1:01:37
one big joke
1:01:38
to so many
1:01:39
in this world.
1:01:40
There is no
1:01:40
truth in
1:01:41
God's word,
1:01:42
it is just
1:01:43
fairy tales.
1:01:44
That's what
1:01:44
we hear so
1:01:45
regularly,
1:01:46
just fairy
1:01:47
tales.
1:01:50
And yet
1:01:50
God's word
1:01:51
says this
1:01:52
is truth.
1:01:55
Who do you
1:01:56
believe?
1:01:58
Who will
1:01:59
you listen
1:02:00
to?
1:02:01
Do you just
1:02:02
listen to your
1:02:03
friends or
1:02:04
those who claim
1:02:05
this is just
1:02:06
fairy tales
1:02:06
without any
1:02:07
real knowledge
1:02:08
of the word
1:02:09
or God
1:02:09
or God
1:02:10
himself?
1:02:12
Or will you
1:02:12
believe the
1:02:13
living word
1:02:14
of God?
1:02:16
The one
1:02:16
who says,
1:02:17
I have
1:02:17
made the
1:02:18
heavens and
1:02:19
the earth.
1:02:20
I have
1:02:21
formed you
1:02:21
in my
1:02:22
image.
1:02:23
I have
1:02:23
breathed into
1:02:24
your life.
1:02:24
I am the
1:02:25
one who
1:02:25
keeps you.
1:02:26
I am the
1:02:27
one who
1:02:27
has sent
1:02:27
my son
1:02:28
that you
1:02:28
will have
1:02:28
life and
1:02:29
have it
1:02:30
abundantly.
1:02:30
I am the
1:02:31
one who
1:02:31
will take
1:02:32
you through
1:02:32
life and
1:02:33
through death
1:02:34
into eternity
1:02:35
if you
1:02:36
will believe
1:02:36
in me.
1:02:39
Who do
1:02:39
we believe
1:02:40
in?
1:02:40
Nehemiah
1:02:43
was feeling
1:02:43
the pressure
1:02:44
of attack
1:02:45
but he
1:02:46
knows where
1:02:47
to go.
1:02:48
He says,
1:02:48
but now
1:02:48
O God
1:02:49
strengthen
1:02:50
my hands.
1:02:52
Isn't it a
1:02:53
blessing to us
1:02:54
to be able
1:02:54
to have one
1:02:55
to call
1:02:56
upon,
1:02:57
to have the
1:02:58
Lord
1:02:58
himself?
1:03:01
Nehemiah
1:03:01
and the
1:03:01
word could
1:03:02
have crumbled
1:03:02
here but
1:03:04
instead what
1:03:05
you read is
1:03:05
in verse 15
1:03:06
the wall
1:03:07
was finished.
1:03:10
The work
1:03:11
was complete
1:03:11
on the
1:03:12
walls.
1:03:14
And look
1:03:14
at the
1:03:14
change that
1:03:15
this brings.
1:03:16
In verse
1:03:17
16,
1:03:18
when all
1:03:18
our enemies
1:03:19
heard of
1:03:19
it,
1:03:20
all the
1:03:20
nations
1:03:21
around us
1:03:21
were afraid
1:03:23
and fell
1:03:24
greatly in
1:03:25
their own
1:03:25
esteem.
1:03:26
For they
1:03:27
perceived
1:03:27
that this
1:03:28
work had
1:03:29
been accomplished
1:03:30
with the
1:03:30
help of
1:03:31
our God.
1:03:33
The tide
1:03:34
is turned.
1:03:35
the nations
1:03:37
are afraid
1:03:38
because they
1:03:39
see that
1:03:40
God has
1:03:41
been at
1:03:41
work.
1:03:44
A day
1:03:44
will come
1:03:45
when every
1:03:46
knee will
1:03:47
bow and
1:03:48
every tongue
1:03:49
confess that
1:03:51
Jesus Christ
1:03:52
is Lord.
1:03:54
But today
1:03:55
is the day
1:03:56
to find our
1:03:57
defense in
1:03:58
him.
1:04:00
God is the
1:04:00
only help
1:04:01
we need
1:04:02
for life
1:04:03
and for
1:04:03
eternity.
1:04:04
he is
1:04:05
not
1:04:05
fiction.
1:04:07
He is
1:04:07
fact.
1:04:09
And as we
1:04:09
heard this
1:04:09
morning,
1:04:10
he is the
1:04:10
only one
1:04:11
who can
1:04:12
save.
1:04:14
You know,
1:04:14
when Jesus
1:04:15
was speaking
1:04:15
to the
1:04:16
Jews in
1:04:16
John
1:04:17
chapter 8,
1:04:19
there were
1:04:19
those who
1:04:20
were just
1:04:21
putting him
1:04:22
away, but
1:04:23
he was
1:04:23
saying,
1:04:24
my word
1:04:24
is truth.
1:04:25
You have
1:04:26
to believe
1:04:26
it.
1:04:27
And he
1:04:28
says to
1:04:28
them in
1:04:28
verse
1:04:29
31 and
1:04:30
32,
1:04:31
if you
1:04:31
abide in
1:04:32
my word,
1:04:33
you are
1:04:34
truly my
1:04:34
disciples,
1:04:36
and you
1:04:36
will know
1:04:37
the truth,
1:04:38
and the
1:04:38
truth will
1:04:39
set you
1:04:40
free.
1:04:42
He was
1:04:42
speaking because
1:04:43
there was
1:04:44
one, the
1:04:44
devil, who
1:04:45
was the
1:04:46
father of
1:04:47
lies.
1:04:49
But he
1:04:49
is saying,
1:04:51
you will
1:04:51
know the
1:04:52
truth in
1:04:52
me, and
1:04:54
the truth
1:04:54
will set
1:04:55
you free.
1:04:57
Do you
1:04:58
have that
1:04:59
freedom?
1:04:59
Do you
1:05:01
doubt, or
1:05:03
do you
1:05:03
have faith?
1:05:05
Well, let
1:05:05
me leave
1:05:05
you with
1:05:06
these words,
1:05:07
a little
1:05:07
verse that
1:05:08
speaks about
1:05:09
doubt and
1:05:10
faith and
1:05:10
the difference
1:05:11
between them.
1:05:12
It says,
1:05:13
doubt sees
1:05:14
the obstacles,
1:05:16
faith sees
1:05:17
the way.
1:05:18
Doubt sees
1:05:19
the darkest
1:05:20
night, faith
1:05:22
sees the
1:05:23
day.
1:05:24
Doubt
1:05:24
dreads to
1:05:26
take a
1:05:27
step, faith
1:05:28
soars on
1:05:29
high.
1:05:31
Doubt
1:05:32
questions,
1:05:33
who
1:05:33
believes?
1:05:35
Faith
1:05:36
answers,
1:05:37
I.
1:05:37
are you
1:05:40
a man or
1:05:40
woman of
1:05:41
doubt, or
1:05:43
are you a
1:05:43
man or
1:05:43
woman of
1:05:45
faith?
1:05:47
The lies
1:05:48
of the
1:05:48
devil will
1:05:49
make us
1:05:50
fear and
1:05:50
turn away
1:05:51
from God.
1:05:53
But thank
1:05:53
God we
1:05:54
have his
1:05:54
word, his
1:05:56
truth, to
1:05:57
lead us to
1:05:58
the rock, to
1:05:59
lead us to
1:06:00
Christ.
1:06:01
And may we
1:06:02
cry with
1:06:03
Nehemiah, but
1:06:04
now, O
1:06:05
God, strengthen
1:06:07
my hands,
1:06:09
strengthen our
1:06:10
faith, that
1:06:12
we will go
1:06:12
on in your
1:06:13
strength and
1:06:14
in your
1:06:15
work.
1:06:16
May God
1:06:16
bless his
1:06:17
word to
1:06:18
us.
1:06:20
We'll
1:06:20
conclude by
1:06:21
singing to
1:06:22
God's praise
1:06:23
in Psalm
1:06:24
86,
1:06:25
in the
1:06:28
Scottish
1:06:29
Psalter,
1:06:29
page 341.
1:06:32
Psalm 86,
1:06:33
on page
1:06:33
341.
1:06:37
We'll
1:06:38
sing from
1:06:39
verse 10
1:06:40
down to
1:06:41
verse 12,
1:06:42
three stanzas,
1:06:43
and the tune
1:06:43
is St.
1:06:44
David.
1:06:46
Because thou
1:06:46
art exceeding
1:06:47
great, and
1:06:48
works by
1:06:48
thee are
1:06:49
done, which
1:06:50
are to be
1:06:50
admired, and
1:06:51
thou art God
1:06:52
thyself alone,
1:06:53
teach me thy
1:06:54
way and in
1:06:55
thy truth.
1:06:55
O Lord, then
1:06:56
walk will I,
1:06:58
unite my
1:06:58
heart, that
1:06:59
I thy name
1:07:00
may fear
1:07:00
continually.
1:07:02
We'll
1:07:02
sing from
1:07:02
verse 10
1:07:03
to 12,
1:07:04
to God's
1:07:05
praise.
1:07:05
Amen.
1:07:33
and the
1:07:34
heart of
1:07:37
thyself
1:07:39
alone.
1:07:41
Teach me
1:07:45
thine
1:07:46
ring and
1:07:48
in
1:07:49
thy
1:07:50
truth.
1:07:51
O Lord,
1:07:53
then
1:07:54
all will
1:07:56
I,
1:07:58
unite
1:08:01
my
1:08:01
heart,
1:08:03
thou
1:08:04
thy
1:08:05
name,
1:08:07
may
1:08:08
hear
1:08:09
of
1:08:10
genuinely.
1:08:15
O Lord,
1:08:17
my
1:08:18
God,
1:08:19
with
1:08:20
all
1:08:21
my
1:08:22
heart,
1:08:23
to
1:08:24
thee
1:08:25
I
1:08:26
will
1:08:28
give
1:08:29
praise.
1:08:31
and
1:08:32
thy
1:08:33
love,
1:08:34
glory,
1:08:36
will
1:08:37
ask
1:08:38
thy
1:08:39
unto
1:08:41
thy
1:08:43
name,
1:08:44
o
1:08:45
praise.
1:08:47
After the
1:08:48
benediction, I'll
1:08:49
go to the door to
1:08:50
my left.
1:08:50
We'll close with a
1:08:51
benediction.
1:08:52
Now may grace,
1:08:53
mercy, and
1:08:54
peace from
1:08:55
God,
1:08:56
Father,
1:08:56
Son, and
1:08:57
Holy Spirit,
1:08:58
rest upon
1:08:58
and abide
1:09:00
with you all.
1:09:00
No one
1:09:01
forevermore.
1:09:02
Amen.