Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Two Contrasting Lifestyles

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Two Contrasting Lifestyles · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, let's begin our worship today. We're singing in Psalm 103, Psalm 103 in the Sing
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Psalms version, and that's on page 135. The tune is Herongate. We're singing verses 1
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to 11, one of the great Psalms of praise, where God is praised by the Psalmist as he
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actually looks into his own soul and calls upon his very inner being to praise the Lord.
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With all his heart. Praise God, my soul, with all my heart. Let me exalt his holy name.
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Forget not all his benefits. His praise, my soul, in song proclaim. Verses 1 to 11 to God's
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praise. And we'll stand. If you're able to stand, please stand to sing.
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Praise God, my soul, with all my heart.
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Let me exalt his holy name. Forget not all his benefits. His praise, my soul, in song proclaim.
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The Lord forgives you all your sins. And heals your sickness and distress. Your life he rescues
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from the grave. And crowns you in his tenderness. He satisfies your deep desires. From his
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name and grace, my soul, with all my heart. He satisfies your deep desires. He satisfies your
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heart. And he satisfies your deep desires. From his unending stores of good. So he
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He satisfies your deep desires
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From His unending stores of good
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So that just like the eagle's strength
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Your youthful vigor is renewed
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The Lord is known for righteous acts
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And justice too, downtrodden ones
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To Moses He made known His ways
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His mighty deeds to Israel's sons
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The Lord is merciful and kind
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To anger slow and full of grace
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He will not constantly reprove
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For in His anger hide His face
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He does not punish our misdeeds
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Or give our sins their just reward
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Our greatest love as I attend
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Towards all those who fear the Lord
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Let's now join together in prayer briefly
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O Lord, our God, as we give thanks once again
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Like the psalmist for all the good things
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That you give to us day by day
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We come before you now to worship you
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And we pray for your help as we do so
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That our hearts too may be stirred up
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Like David's was
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So that we may come to call upon the Lord
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In praise and thanksgiving
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We pray especially now for our children
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We thank you, Lord, for those who are here today
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For the creche, for the Sunday school, for tweenies
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We thank you for all the children who belong to us
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As a congregation
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And for the special place they have in our hearts
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We pray for them, O Lord, at this time
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And we pray for them
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That as they continue to grow up in years
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That they will grow in the knowledge of the Lord
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And we pray for them today, Lord
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As they receive teaching from your word
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That you would truly bless them
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And bless that to them
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We pray for your protective care of them
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In every way, morally and physically and spiritually
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We ask, Lord, that you would shield them about
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With your own power
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As they go from day to day in this world
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As they attend school
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As they come to other activities as well
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We pray for them
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As they do these things
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That they will know the blessing of the Lord
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Remember today also those who teach them
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Those in our Sunday school classes
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We thank you for them
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And for the Bible class too
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And we pray
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That in all of these areas, Lord
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That you would bless our young people
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And go before them
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And teach them your ways
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Hear us now, we pray
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And pardon our sin
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For Jesus' sake
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Amen
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Amen
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Okay, children
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It's good to see you all out today
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And I'm going to say something
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Is that at the end of the service?
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Buddy
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End of the service?
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Okay
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Okay
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Okay
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Minister always needs directions from church officers
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So
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I'm going to speak to you today
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A bit about Bluetooth
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Hands up
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Don't have to say anything
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But hands up
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Those who know what Bluetooth is
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Or where you'd find Bluetooth
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Some of the older ones probably know
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Maybe some of the younger ones as well
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Hands up those who know what Bluetooth is
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Hands up those of the adults
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Who know what Bluetooth is
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Okay
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There's quite a decent percentage of you
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Well Bluetooth
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Is a wireless system
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By which you can join together
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Mobile phones
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Or your mobile phone with a speaker
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Or your mobile phone with headphones
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So that you don't need wires
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It's very handy
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You just connect them together wirelessly
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And actually
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I just discovered
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Looking at this
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That it takes its name
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Bluetooth
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From a Danish king
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Way back in the 900s
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And he united
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Denmark together
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And he united
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Norway under his
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His rule as well
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And when the person who invented
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Bluetooth in the 1990s
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I think it was
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Was looking for a name
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For this wireless system
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He came across this name
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Harold Bluetooth
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The name of this king
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Who united these people
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Of
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Of
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Denmark
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And took Norway in as well
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And he said
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That would be a great name
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For my wireless system
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Because it unites
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Various
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Um
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Various phones
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Or other
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Other
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Electronic devices
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Together
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So what happens
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In Bluetooth
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You can actually set
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Your phone
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Let's just keep it to the phone
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For a moment
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You can set your phone
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With the Bluetooth
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On it
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Live
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You have to have
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The Bluetooth
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Active on it
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You can shut it off
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But if you want to
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Use it
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You need to put it on
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And the thing is
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If you want to
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Communicate
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Your phone
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With another phone
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Or with another device
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They also must have
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Their Bluetooth on
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Because that way
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They communicate
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To each other
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And
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Bluetooth
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As you need
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To have that on
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Makes your phone
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Discoverable
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Other phones
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That have Bluetooth
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Can then discover
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Your phone
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As long as it's
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No more than
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About 10 meters away
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It doesn't work
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Any further away
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Than that
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But through Bluetooth
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You can actually
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Then transfer
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Photos
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Music
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Files
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Whether they're
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Typed up files
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Or photos
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Whatever
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You can transfer
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That very quickly
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Through Bluetooth
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And it reminded me
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Of how God
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Has made himself
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Known to us
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In Jesus Christ
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That's how we come
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To know God
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And we wouldn't
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Be able to know God
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Unless God
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Had made himself
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Discoverable to us
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And just like
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Bluetooth on your phone
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The Bible is
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God's word
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Where he has
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Made himself
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Known to us
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Where we can
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Find out about him
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And more importantly
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Where we can
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Communicate with him
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Now just like
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If you're going to
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Use Bluetooth
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You must have it
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On on your phone
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So to communicate
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With God
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You must have
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Your mind
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And your soul
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Switched on
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I'm going to
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Speak in the
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Sermon today
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About people
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Who don't have
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That
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Who don't want
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God
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Who don't want
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To communicate
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With God
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But for all of us
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Here
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For all you
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Young folks as well
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I'm quite sure
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You want to
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Communicate with God
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You want to
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Speak to God
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You want to
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Hear God's voice
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Speaking to you
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And that's what
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You do
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When you come
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To pray to God
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You're communicating
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With God
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So it's important
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That our souls
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If you like
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Are switched on
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That we have
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The desire
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In our hearts
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To communicate
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With God
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To meet with God
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To get to know God
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To tell God
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About our concerns
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To ask him
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To forgive our sins
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To ask him
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To guide us
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Through the things
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Of life
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And in every other way
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In which we can
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Communicate with God
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We hear God's voices
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Also speaking to us
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Through his word
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So Bluetooth
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It's important
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You have it switched on
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And it's important
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Our souls
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Are switched on today
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Not just to young folks
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But ourselves
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As older ones too
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That we are switched on
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If you like
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To hear God's voice
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To be able
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To communicate with him
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And to hear him
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Communicating with us
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That's why
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Jesus came into the world
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So that we would come
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To know God
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Through him
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And in knowing God
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Through him
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Come to enjoy
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Eternal
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Life
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Well you can
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Google Bluetooth
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And you'll find out
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A lot more about it
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Than I've said today
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And it's very interesting
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Especially
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That it goes back
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To such a long time
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And we're back
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In the 900s
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Okay now
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We're going to say
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The Lord's Prayer together
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So let's just say
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The Lord's Prayer
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Our Father
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Our Father
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Which art in heaven
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Hallowed be thy name
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Thy kingdom come
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Thy will be done
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On earth
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As it is in heaven
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Give us this day
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Our daily bread
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And forgive us
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Our debts
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As we forgive
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Our debtors
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And lead us not
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Into temptation
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But deliver us
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From evil
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For thine is the kingdom
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The power
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And the glory
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Forever
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Amen
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Now the children
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Leave through
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The side door
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As well
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Please
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To go to your classes
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Today
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Because the front door
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Is very windy
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Or it's very windy
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At the front door
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I should say
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We're going to praise God
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Now from Psalm 31
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Psalm 31
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On page 243
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The tune is
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Spore
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And we're singing
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From verse
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19 to 24
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How great's the goodness
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Thou for them
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That fear thee
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Keep'st in store
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And wrought's for them
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That trust in thee
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The sons of men before
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In secret of thy presence
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Thou shalt hide them
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From man's pride
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From strife of tongues
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Thou closely shalt
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As in a tent
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Them hide
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Verses 19
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To 24
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To God's praise
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Amen
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There's the goodness
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Thou for them
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That fear thee
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Keep'st in store
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And rose for them
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That trust in thee
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The sons of men before
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In secret of thy presence
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Thou shalt hide
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Shall hide them
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From man's pride
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From strife of tongues
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Thou closely shalt
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As in a tent
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Them hide
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All praise and thanks
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Be to the Lord
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For he hath magnified
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His wondrous love
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His wondrous love
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To be within
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A city fortified
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For from thy night
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For from thy night
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God of I am
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I hear in my ears
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Christ has said
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My voice
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It hurts
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The wind
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To thee
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With Christ
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My moon
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My moon
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My way
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My way
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O love
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The Lord
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All ye
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His names
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Because the Lord
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God
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God
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The faithful
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Lamb
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He blen
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Justly
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Thou
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Ears
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Thou
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Reward
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Lord
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그래
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doth on the Lord depend.
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Let's turn to read God's word now as we find that in John's gospel,
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gospel of John chapter 3.
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We're reading from the beginning, down as far as verse 21.
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John 3, from the beginning of the chapter.
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There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
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This man came to Jesus by night and said to him,
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Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God,
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for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.
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Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you,
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unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
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Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old?
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Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?
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Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you,
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unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
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he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
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That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
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and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.
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Do not marvel that I said to you,
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You must be born again.
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The wind blows where it wishes,
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and you hear its sound,
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but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.
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So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
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Nicodemus said to him, How can these things be?
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Jesus answered him, Are you the teacher of Israel,
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and yet you do not understand these things?
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Truly, truly, I say to you,
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we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen,
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but you do not receive our testimony.
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If I have told you earthly things,
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and you do not believe,
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how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
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No one has ascended into heaven
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except he who descended from heaven,
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the Son of Man.
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And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
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so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
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that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
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For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
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that whoever believes in him should not perish,
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but have eternal life.
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For God did not send his Son into the world
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to condemn the world,
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but in order that the world might be saved through him.
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Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
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but whoever does not believe is condemned already,
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because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
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And this is the judgment.
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The light has come into the world,
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and people loved the darkness rather than the light,
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because their deeds were evil.
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But everyone who does wicked things hates the light,
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and does not come to the light,
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lest his deeds should be exposed.
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But whoever does what is true comes to the light,
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so that it may be clearly seen
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that his deeds have been carried out in God.
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Amen.
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May God follow with his blessing our reading of his word today.
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Let's again call upon him in prayer.
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Our gracious God and our Father in heaven,
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we thank you for the light that your word brings to us,
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for the way that you, yourself in it,
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are the light of the world.
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We thank you today, O Lord,
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as we give thanks for the privilege of being here to worship you.
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We thank you for the way in which your word of truth guides our thoughts.
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We pray today, Lord, for a receptive heart.
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We pray that you would give to us by your Holy Spirit
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the ability that is not of ourselves
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to receive the things of God gladly,
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to hide them in our hearts so that we might live by them,
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that they may be shown forth in the life we live.
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Lord, we thank you today for the many privileges
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that are ours in your providence.
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We know that there are so many things that disturb us
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and cause us disquiet in the world
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and in the generation that we live in.
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And yet we know that we have so many benefits,
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so many advantages as your people,
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as your church in the world,
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so much freedom to enjoy,
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so much, Lord, of a knowledge of your own truth
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in the midst of the darkness that surrounds us so much.
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Lord, help us, we pray today,
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to be honest with you,
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to be honest with ourselves.
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Help us to be honest with your written word.
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Help us to handle it aright in speaking and in hearing.
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And give us, we pray,
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to have our minds shaped by it as the truth of God.
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We ask today that your blessing will be here with us as a people.
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We give thanks, O Lord,
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for all who come to worship you here week by week,
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for all who join us online,
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especially those, Lord,
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who are unable themselves physically to be here.
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We give thanks that they are able to participate
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in the worship services
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through the live stream
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that we are privileged to have.
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We pray today for each and every family,
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each and every home
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belonging to us as a congregation.
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We thank you again for our children and young people.
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Lord, we give thanks for the number of them
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that we've seen going through to Bible class
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and to the tweenies
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and to Sunday school today.
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We pray, gracious one, for them once again
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and ask that you would bless them
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as they develop in their years.
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We pray, too,
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that you'd grant your blessing
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to all our activities as a congregation,
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in addition to our services of worship, O Lord.
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Remember all that we anticipate
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in this week ahead, God willing.
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And we pray that you would bless every venture
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that seeks to make you known
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and make the gospel known
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amongst ourselves and in our community.
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And we ask today, O Lord,
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that your blessing will accompany
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all of these efforts,
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that they may be used to further your kingdom,
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to advance your glory in the world.
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And we pray, O Lord,
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that we may take such an interest in that
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as we ourselves, if we don't attend yet.
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O Lord, we pray that you would bless
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each and all of these activities.
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And we pray for the Hope Explored sessions
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that are about to start.
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We pray for them and for those who lead.
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We pray that many will come, Lord,
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to hear of the death and the resurrection,
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the exaltation of our Lord.
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Lord, we ask, Lord,
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that you would give us especially
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to have an interest in that above all else,
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for this is how you have come
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to provide salvation for us.
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We pray, Lord, today that you would bless
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all in the congregation
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and of our friends and neighbors
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who are unwell at this time.
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We pray that you bless those
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who are recovering from illness,
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those recovering from treatment,
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those anticipating treatment or surgery
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in days to come.
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We pray your blessing for them.
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We pray for all, O Lord,
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who have other trials in life
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to contend with,
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those especially, Lord,
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who have difficulties in their families
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and tensions.
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We pray for those who have
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various aspects of addiction
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to contend with.
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We ask that you would bless those
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who seek to help them from week to week.
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We pray for Road to Recovery.
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We pray for our street pastors.
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We pray that you'd bless them
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as they interact with people
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from week to week.
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Lord, bless them, we pray,
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and protect themselves
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as they go about their work.
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We pray for all in our health service,
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hospital, care homes, Bethesda.
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We ask, Lord,
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that you would continue to bless us
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through these means.
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Grant to us, O Lord,
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we pray that as we give thanks
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for these facilities
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so that you would bless them
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with further resources
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and enable them to use their resources
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well and wisely
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in the benefit of others.
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We pray that your blessing
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will be with all our medical practices
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and doctors and practitioners.
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We pray your blessing for them,
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for all who attend to care
25:14
in our hospital as nurses, consultants.
25:17
We pray for them, Lord, as well.
25:20
We pray that you will bless those
25:22
who are in charge over us
25:24
in government.
25:26
And Lord, while we do lament
25:28
the failures in many ways
25:29
of those who lead us
25:31
and different ways
25:32
in which that failure
25:33
is shown to us
25:35
in their lives
25:37
and in their day-to-day
25:38
carrying out of their duties
25:40
and their confessions,
25:42
we lament especially, Lord,
25:44
the fact that so few of them
25:46
seem to look to your ways
25:48
and so many of them
25:50
seem to have rejected
25:51
the light of your truth.
25:53
Lord, we pray that you would
25:54
turn us into your ways.
25:57
We pray that you would forgive
25:58
our many sins as a people.
25:59
We pray that throughout our land,
26:02
throughout our communities,
26:04
the light of the gospel
26:05
may powerfully shine.
26:07
We ask, Lord, for ourselves
26:09
that we may give more place
26:10
to prayer and to supplication
26:13
for your blessing to come,
26:15
for your power to be shown
26:17
turning people to yourself
26:20
and empowering us as your people
26:22
to be living witnesses
26:23
for you in the world.
26:25
We ask now that you would
26:27
continue, Lord, to bless us here
26:29
as we turn to your word.
26:31
We pray that you would help us
26:33
in our understanding
26:34
and application of it
26:35
and all with the forgiveness
26:37
of our sin.
26:38
For Jesus' sake.
26:39
Amen.
26:42
Well, before we turn
26:43
to that passage in God's word,
26:44
let's sing once again.
26:46
We're going to sing in Psalm 26.
26:51
Psalm 26, page 30.
26:53
We'll sing verses 1 to 6,
27:00
not verses 1 to 9.
27:01
We'll just sing the four stanzas,
27:04
verses 1 to 6.
27:05
The tune is Balerma.
27:07
Declare me innocent, O Lord,
27:09
I've walked in blameless ways,
27:11
and I have trusted in the Lord,
27:13
not wavering all my days.
27:15
Test me, O Lord,
27:16
and try my heart.
27:18
My inmost thoughts survey.
27:19
Your love surrounds me.
27:22
From your truth my feet
27:23
will never stray.
27:25
Verses 1 to 6 of Psalm 26.
27:28
Declare me innocent, O Lord,
27:42
I've walked in blameless ways,
27:50
and I have trusted in the Lord,
28:00
not wavering all my days.
28:08
Test me, O Lord,
28:14
and try my heart.
28:18
My inmost thoughts survey.
28:25
Your love surrounds me from your truth.
28:36
My feet will never stray.
28:44
I do not sit with worthless woe.
28:56
I shun the hypocrite.
29:04
I hate the wind.
29:09
His gatherings.
29:14
With them I will not sit.
29:22
I wash my hands.
29:28
I wash my hands.
29:29
In illicit.
29:33
And when blessed is my heart,
29:42
I go apart.
29:48
Your altar, Lord,
29:52
the place you set upon.
30:03
Let's turn now to John chapter 3
30:05
and reading at verse 19.
30:14
And this is the judgment.
30:17
The light has come into the world,
30:19
and people love the darkness
30:20
rather than the light
30:21
because their deeds were evil.
30:24
For everyone who does wicked things
30:25
hates the light
30:26
and does not come to the light,
30:28
lest his deeds should be exposed.
30:30
But whoever does what is true
30:33
comes to the light
30:34
so that it may be clearly seen
30:37
that his deeds have been carried out
30:39
in God.
30:44
When I was in secondary school,
30:46
there was a time when activities
30:49
were available
30:49
for the last two sessions
30:52
on a Friday each week.
30:54
Various kinds of activities,
30:56
sporting activities,
30:57
other kinds of craft activities.
30:59
At one time,
31:01
I and a few friends
31:01
decided to take up oil painting
31:03
for these activities.
31:06
And I remember the first time
31:07
we went into the class
31:08
with the art teacher.
31:09
He handed out these large books
31:11
with oil paintings in them.
31:13
They were actually paintings
31:15
mostly of Impressionist paintings,
31:17
by Impressionist painters.
31:20
So they weren't the kind of thing
31:21
that we were expecting.
31:23
We were expecting nice landscapes
31:25
or something like that.
31:26
And one of my pals,
31:29
not knowing the teacher
31:30
was standing behind him,
31:31
behind him said,
31:32
this is just rubbish.
31:35
And the teacher stood and said,
31:38
that's not rubbish, boys.
31:40
These are masterpieces.
31:42
And of course,
31:43
what the boy was showing
31:43
was his own ignorance.
31:45
He was really bringing judgment
31:46
upon himself for his ignorance
31:49
because he just didn't know
31:50
anything much about these paintings.
31:52
But he decided nevertheless
31:53
to give his opinion.
31:55
And his opinion, of course,
31:56
was not right.
31:58
Well, in a spiritual sense,
32:00
that's something of what you find here
32:02
in verse 19 onwards.
32:03
This is the judgment.
32:05
The light has come into the world
32:07
and people love the darkness
32:08
rather than the light
32:10
because their deeds were evil.
32:13
The light has come into the world.
32:15
God has revealed himself to us.
32:17
That's what we're trying to say
32:19
to the children
32:19
through the illustration of Bluetooth.
32:22
Light has come into the world,
32:24
but that doesn't mean
32:25
the light was accepted
32:26
or even welcomed
32:28
because people turned from the light
32:32
and still turn from the light
32:33
and they're really bringing judgment
32:36
upon themselves.
32:37
They're evaluating the light
32:38
and then they dismiss the light
32:40
and reject the light.
32:41
And what they're doing
32:42
is really saying,
32:43
that's not according to
32:45
my better understanding
32:46
of what human life should be.
32:49
And of course,
32:49
that's just bringing judgment
32:50
upon themselves
32:51
because speaking out of
32:53
our own natural ignorance
32:55
as sinners.
32:57
And it's rejecting God's masterpiece
33:00
of salvation that this is about.
33:03
Light has come into the world.
33:04
We'll see that that's especially so
33:06
in the person of Jesus
33:07
and in the work that Jesus has done
33:10
and accomplished
33:10
through his life,
33:12
through his death,
33:13
through his resurrection.
33:15
Light has come into the world,
33:16
but people loved darkness
33:19
rather than light
33:20
because their deeds were evil.
33:23
God is saying,
33:24
here is my masterpiece.
33:27
Here is what nobody else
33:29
could have provided
33:30
but myself.
33:32
And yet people say,
33:33
no, I don't want that.
33:35
I don't think that's attractive at all.
33:37
It doesn't fit with my expectations.
33:39
I can do better than that myself.
33:46
And you can see,
33:47
first of all,
33:48
in verse 19,
33:50
that John speaks about
33:51
the condemnation.
33:53
This is the condemnation.
33:56
That's really judgment
33:57
that's used here in the translation,
33:58
but it's more than just judgment.
34:00
The word used
34:01
actually means judgment
34:04
after examination of something.
34:07
It means condemnation
34:08
as a result of rejection.
34:11
This is the condemnation.
34:12
The light has come into the world.
34:14
People love the darkness
34:15
rather than the light.
34:16
So there's the condemnation
34:17
spoken of in verse 19.
34:19
And then verses 20 to 21
34:22
speaks of two contrasts
34:24
or a contrast between
34:25
two types of people.
34:28
Those who hate the light
34:29
and those who hate the light,
34:31
it says there,
34:32
are those who do wicked things.
34:33
They don't come to the light
34:35
and they do not come to the light
34:37
in case their deeds should be
34:38
or so that their deeds
34:39
would not be exposed.
34:41
But the contrast with that
34:43
is those who do the truth
34:44
or what is true.
34:46
They come to the light
34:47
so that their deeds
34:49
may be clearly seen
34:50
that they've been carried out
34:52
in God
34:53
or in relation to God
34:55
or to the honor of God.
34:57
That's basically the outline
34:58
of our study today.
34:59
And I want to do that
35:01
in relation to the kind of situation
35:04
we face in our society.
35:06
I mean, I need not tell you,
35:07
you can see it very clearly yourselves,
35:10
that our society
35:11
is steadily breaking up.
35:14
There are so many things
35:15
about our society
35:16
that really makes us say that.
35:18
When you consider, for example,
35:20
all the attacks
35:21
and the disintegration
35:23
that has happened
35:23
even in such things,
35:25
I'm just going to mention
35:25
a few examples.
35:27
You'll know about them yourselves.
35:29
Marriage,
35:30
gender confusion,
35:31
gender transition,
35:33
the life of the unborn,
35:35
family values,
35:36
what family should be about,
35:38
sex education materials,
35:41
violence in schools,
35:42
various addictions,
35:44
health service concerns,
35:46
and that's not saying anything
35:48
about the disintegration
35:49
of the Lord's Day itself.
35:52
You can see from that
35:53
and you could add to that list
35:54
many ways in which
35:56
our society
35:56
is breaking up around us.
35:59
And I want to try and
36:01
get from this,
36:02
see from this passage today,
36:05
how this rejection of the light,
36:07
how this hatred of the light
36:08
really stands as a basic factor
36:11
in that breakup.
36:13
There are many other factors, yes,
36:15
but this is one of the most basic factors
36:18
as to why this is happening
36:19
in our society,
36:20
amongst us as a people.
36:22
Why is all this taking place?
36:23
What's the underlying reason?
36:25
Well, here is a prominent
36:26
underlying reason
36:27
that light has come into the world
36:30
and people love the darkness
36:33
rather than the light.
36:35
See, the Bible
36:36
is always straight talking.
36:39
And we don't like straight talking
36:41
when it's the truth
36:42
that's been spoken of.
36:43
But God does the straight talking
36:45
and we really should be listening.
36:48
We are listening.
36:49
I know in terms of our own
36:51
situation here,
36:52
but so many people in the world
36:53
don't want to receive
36:55
or to listen to that.
36:56
So what is this saying to us?
36:58
Well, first of all,
36:59
the condemnation.
37:00
The light has come into the world.
37:02
And you notice the definite article there.
37:04
It's the light.
37:06
This is the judgment.
37:07
This is the condemnation.
37:09
The light has come into the world.
37:11
And in the Gospel of John,
37:12
that is pretty obviously referring
37:15
to the light that has come
37:17
from God in Christ.
37:18
Jesus spoke himself.
37:20
And for example,
37:20
in chapter 8,
37:22
one of the I am's of John's Gospel
37:25
in chapter 8, verse 12,
37:27
where Jesus there spoke of himself.
37:30
Jesus spoke to them saying,
37:31
I am the light of the world.
37:33
Whoever follows me
37:34
will not walk in darkness,
37:35
but will have the light of life.
37:38
And then you flick forward
37:39
to chapter 12 as well.
37:41
You find verse 46 there
37:43
near the end of the chapter
37:44
where you find Jesus again saying,
37:47
I have come into the world.
37:49
Very similar to the words
37:50
in chapter 3.
37:51
I have come into the world
37:53
as light,
37:55
so that whoever believes in me
37:57
may not remain in darkness.
38:00
If anyone hears my words,
38:02
does not keep them,
38:03
and so on.
38:04
It's all tied together,
38:05
isn't it,
38:05
with the light that has appeared
38:07
in Jesus.
38:08
God revealed himself
38:09
and is revealing himself
38:10
through the Gospel,
38:12
through Jesus Christ,
38:13
in the person of Christ.
38:14
That's the light
38:15
that has come into the world.
38:17
God has made himself known
38:18
as more than just being discoverable.
38:21
He's actually saying,
38:22
this is who I am.
38:24
This is what I am like.
38:28
And yet people loved the darkness
38:30
rather than the light.
38:34
And notice,
38:35
there's a definite article
38:36
with the darkness as well,
38:39
because it's telling us
38:40
that this is the polar opposite
38:41
of the light
38:43
that has come into the world.
38:44
The darkness that people love
38:46
is the exact opposite.
38:48
It is all that's opposite
38:49
to the light
38:51
that has come
38:52
in the person of Christ,
38:53
especially into the world.
38:56
And that means that
38:57
what is opposite to the light,
38:59
all the activity
39:00
of sinful behavior,
39:02
all the activity
39:02
of what he says here
39:04
are those who do wicked things
39:05
or evil things.
39:07
Those who do these things,
39:10
they're not living
39:11
in a kind of spiritual neutrality.
39:13
The darkness is not
39:16
a spiritual neutrality.
39:18
It's not as if it's just neutral
39:19
compared to the positive elements
39:21
of the light.
39:22
The darkness has its own
39:24
positive attributes.
39:27
And the positive attributes
39:28
in John's gospel,
39:30
when you read through John's gospel
39:31
and what he says
39:32
about the light
39:33
and about its opposite
39:34
in the darkness,
39:35
it's the positive activity
39:37
of sin and of evil.
39:39
And it's especially
39:39
in John's teaching,
39:41
the darkness
39:42
that is antagonistic
39:43
to God.
39:45
It's the darkness
39:46
of the world
39:47
and its sinfulness,
39:48
the world
39:49
and its lostness.
39:51
You see what he's saying here.
39:52
Light has come
39:54
into the world
39:56
and yet people
39:58
love the darkness
39:59
rather than the light
40:01
because their deeds
40:03
were evil.
40:07
People loved
40:09
the darkness
40:09
rather than the light.
40:13
Now what's that saying to us?
40:15
It's saying that this is
40:17
something that is done
40:18
knowingly.
40:20
Something that is done
40:21
deliberately.
40:23
Something that is done
40:24
using the process
40:25
of reason and thought.
40:28
You don't actually
40:28
love something
40:30
without thinking about it.
40:31
Without considering it.
40:34
And here he is saying
40:35
people loved
40:36
the darkness
40:37
rather than the light.
40:38
it's not something
40:40
they actually slipped
40:40
into accidentally.
40:42
When people reject
40:43
the gospel
40:44
in the world
40:45
in which we live.
40:46
When you see
40:47
the elements of darkness,
40:48
the activities of darkness,
40:50
the darkness of our age,
40:52
it's not something
40:53
that's just done
40:54
as it were.
40:55
it's not...
40:56
Okay, I'm not sure
41:08
what's going on there
41:08
but it's obviously
41:09
to do with
41:10
the electronics.
41:13
The darkness
41:14
of our world
41:15
is a deliberate darkness.
41:17
People
41:17
love the darkness.
41:19
It's not something
41:19
that they just
41:20
do
41:21
without thinking about it.
41:22
It's a deliberate
41:23
knowing choice.
41:25
Why is that?
41:25
Because their deeds
41:27
are evil.
41:30
Well, John
41:30
is a wonderful gospel.
41:33
John has so
41:34
many wonderful
41:35
images
41:36
to present to us.
41:38
Many of them
41:39
are comforting
41:39
but this one
41:40
is very uncomfortable.
41:42
What he's saying
41:43
to us is that
41:43
people
41:44
reject the light.
41:46
People hate
41:47
the light.
41:48
People don't want
41:49
the light.
41:49
Why?
41:50
Because their deeds
41:51
are evil.
41:54
Their workings
41:55
are evil.
41:56
It's very similar
41:57
in many ways
41:58
to the teaching
41:59
of Romans 1
42:00
verses 18
42:01
to 32
42:02
where to reject
42:04
that
42:05
people actually
42:05
choose to
42:06
live an alternate
42:07
lifestyle
42:08
to the one
42:09
that God
42:09
himself
42:10
actually says
42:11
is pleasing
42:11
to him
42:12
and that's not
42:13
something they do
42:14
unknowingly.
42:15
Paul is saying
42:16
just like John here
42:17
it's a deliberate
42:17
choice.
42:18
it's a deliberate
42:20
rejection of the
42:21
light.
42:22
Now and again
42:22
it's not something
42:23
that happens
42:24
sporadically
42:24
or just once
42:26
in a while.
42:26
It's something
42:27
that characterizes
42:28
the life of
42:29
these people
42:30
constantly
42:31
in an ongoing
42:32
way.
42:32
It's a constant
42:33
with them.
42:35
Everyone who
42:35
does wicked
42:37
things.
42:38
But then you see
42:38
the question is
42:39
well what are
42:40
wicked things?
42:42
How do we know
42:43
what wicked
42:44
things are?
42:45
How do you
42:46
distinguish wicked
42:47
things from
42:48
good things?
42:50
People have
42:50
different opinions
42:51
about what is
42:52
wicked and what
42:53
is not.
42:54
And we've chosen
42:54
largely to
42:55
confine the
42:58
definition of
42:59
wicked to
43:00
gross crimes
43:02
or sins.
43:04
Things that are
43:05
really very
43:06
much to do
43:07
with open
43:08
corruption or
43:09
whatever.
43:10
But wickedness
43:11
in the Bible
43:11
takes in much
43:12
much more than
43:13
that.
43:14
In fact it's a
43:15
word that really
43:16
describes what
43:17
we are
43:18
without Christ.
43:20
What we are
43:20
without salvation.
43:22
We may not
43:23
see ourselves
43:23
as wicked.
43:25
People out
43:25
there today
43:25
would not
43:26
say that
43:26
they are
43:27
wicked.
43:28
But this is
43:28
God's definition
43:29
of how do
43:30
we know what
43:30
wicked things
43:31
are?
43:31
God has
43:32
defined them
43:33
for us in
43:34
the Bible.
43:35
God tells us
43:36
what is and
43:36
isn't acceptable
43:37
to him.
43:38
What is and
43:39
isn't wrong
43:39
with ourselves.
43:41
And that's
43:42
where he
43:43
describes for
43:43
us what
43:45
wicked things
43:45
are.
43:50
That's why
43:51
there is
43:53
such a
43:55
constant
43:56
attempt to
43:58
take the
43:59
Bible out
43:59
of human
44:00
life.
44:01
Because those
44:02
who love
44:03
the darkness,
44:05
those who
44:05
want to
44:05
promote the
44:06
darkness,
44:07
those who
44:07
think that
44:08
the darkness
44:08
is really
44:09
the light
44:09
that people
44:10
need,
44:11
whether it's
44:12
in the
44:12
teaching of
44:13
our children,
44:13
in medical
44:14
ethics,
44:14
wherever you
44:15
find it,
44:16
this is what
44:17
is really
44:17
of concern
44:18
to them,
44:19
that the
44:19
Bible really
44:20
shows up
44:21
that sort
44:22
of behavior
44:22
as wrong,
44:23
and the
44:23
word wrong
44:24
really is
44:24
not acceptable.
44:26
People who
44:28
actually love
44:29
the darkness
44:29
rather than
44:30
the light
44:30
because their
44:31
deeds are
44:31
evil,
44:32
they hate
44:33
the light
44:33
and they
44:33
don't come
44:34
to the
44:34
light.
44:36
It's a
44:37
constant
44:37
dismissal
44:39
of the
44:40
authority,
44:41
of the
44:41
teaching,
44:42
of the
44:43
words of
44:44
the
44:44
Bible.
44:46
You
44:46
think of
44:47
every
44:47
attempt
44:47
in your
44:49
own
44:49
lifetime
44:49
of having
44:51
this
44:51
Bible
44:51
removed
44:52
and
44:52
its
44:52
teaching
44:52
removed
44:53
from
44:54
various
44:54
areas
44:54
of our
44:55
society,
44:57
our
44:57
schools,
44:58
wherever
44:58
else you
44:59
think about
44:59
it,
45:00
universities,
45:00
schools,
45:01
places of
45:01
teaching,
45:02
places of
45:02
care,
45:04
where else
45:05
do you
45:05
find it?
45:05
I remember
45:06
quite a number
45:07
of years
45:08
back when
45:08
I was
45:08
part of
45:10
the
45:10
committee
45:11
of
45:12
Bethesda
45:12
hospice,
45:14
that a
45:14
certain
45:14
inspection
45:15
had come
45:15
up with
45:16
recommendations
45:16
and one
45:17
of the
45:18
recommendations
45:18
was that
45:19
the plaques
45:20
that had
45:20
been donated
45:21
to Bethesda
45:22
and were
45:22
actually shown
45:23
on the
45:23
walls
45:23
throughout
45:24
the building
45:25
that had
45:26
texts on
45:27
them should
45:27
actually be
45:28
removed
45:28
because these
45:30
texts would
45:30
be offensive
45:31
to certain
45:31
people and
45:32
Bethesda's
45:33
practice is that
45:34
there's no
45:34
prejudice,
45:35
there's no
45:35
discrimination as
45:36
to who can
45:36
get care
45:37
there,
45:37
whether they're
45:37
Christians or
45:38
not,
45:39
whether they're
45:40
believers or
45:40
not,
45:41
the hospice is
45:42
there for
45:43
them,
45:43
the facilities
45:43
are there
45:44
for them,
45:45
but this
45:45
inspection said
45:46
no you can't
45:46
have that
45:47
because that's
45:48
going to offend
45:49
people and
45:49
that's something
45:51
that people will
45:51
not agree with.
45:52
Well there you
45:52
see it's a
45:53
very small
45:53
example of
45:55
where you
45:55
find people
45:56
wanting to
45:57
remove the
45:58
influence of
45:58
the light,
46:00
the references
46:00
to the light
46:01
from human
46:02
life.
46:03
And you
46:06
see what it's
46:07
saying here?
46:08
Those who
46:08
hate the
46:09
light,
46:10
those who
46:11
do wicked
46:12
things as
46:13
God defines
46:13
them,
46:14
they hate
46:15
the light.
46:17
And you
46:17
couldn't put it
46:17
any stronger
46:18
than that because
46:19
that's really as
46:20
strong as John
46:21
could have put it.
46:22
Everyone who
46:22
does wicked
46:23
things hates
46:24
the light.
46:25
It's not a
46:25
matter of them
46:26
being unconcerned
46:27
about this thing
46:28
one way or
46:28
another.
46:28
It's not that
46:29
they couldn't
46:29
care less about
46:30
it.
46:30
It's that there's
46:31
a positive
46:31
hatred of it.
46:32
All you've
46:32
got to do
46:33
is really
46:33
stick your
46:34
head above
46:34
the parapet
46:35
on social
46:35
media today,
46:36
come out
46:37
with a
46:37
Christian
46:37
opinion
46:38
against
46:39
something
46:39
that you
46:40
know is
46:40
wickedness,
46:41
and you'll
46:41
soon find
46:42
the reaction
46:43
to that
46:43
is hatred.
46:45
They hate
46:46
the light.
46:46
They don't
46:47
want to see
46:47
the light.
46:48
They don't
46:48
want the
46:49
light to
46:49
shine upon
46:50
them at
46:50
all.
46:51
And that's
46:52
a characteristic
46:53
of our
46:53
society.
46:54
It's not
46:54
just confined
46:55
to Twitter.
46:56
This is
46:56
emblematic of
46:57
people's
46:58
thinking,
46:58
people's
46:59
reaction,
47:00
people's
47:00
insistence on
47:01
living their
47:02
way,
47:02
whatever else
47:03
people will
47:04
say,
47:04
whatever the
47:05
church says,
47:05
and especially
47:06
what the
47:06
church says.
47:09
And that's
47:10
really,
47:10
friends,
47:11
the main
47:11
factor behind
47:12
our society
47:14
falling apart.
47:16
The issues I've
47:16
mentioned already,
47:17
you can add to
47:18
them yourself,
47:19
as I've said.
47:20
But the reason
47:21
for that,
47:21
the underlying
47:22
reason,
47:23
one of the
47:23
main reasons,
47:24
if not the
47:24
main reason,
47:25
is because as
47:26
a people,
47:27
we've largely
47:27
turned away
47:28
from God,
47:29
turned away
47:30
from God's
47:30
way,
47:31
turned away
47:32
from the
47:32
things that
47:32
God says
47:33
is best for
47:34
us as a
47:34
people,
47:35
turned away
47:35
from the
47:36
light,
47:37
and instead
47:37
we've come
47:38
to love
47:38
the darkness.
47:41
Love the
47:42
darkness.
47:44
Not look at
47:44
it in a sort
47:46
of neutral
47:46
way or a
47:47
casual way.
47:48
We have come
47:49
as a people
47:49
to love it,
47:51
to love its
47:51
ways,
47:52
to love its
47:53
characteristics.
47:53
Of course
47:54
there are
47:54
exceptions.
47:55
You're
47:55
exceptions
47:55
yourselves.
47:57
There are
47:57
many exceptions
47:58
thankfully,
47:59
but by and
47:59
large what
48:00
you see
48:00
going on
48:01
in our
48:01
society
48:01
throughout
48:02
all the
48:03
levels of
48:03
our society
48:04
is hatred
48:04
of the
48:05
light and
48:06
a love
48:06
of darkness.
48:09
At the
48:09
end of our
48:10
study I'll
48:10
come to
48:10
apply this
48:11
to ourselves
48:12
and how we
48:12
should react
48:13
to that.
48:15
But you
48:15
see then
48:16
it says
48:17
those who
48:17
hate the
48:17
light,
48:18
they do
48:19
not come
48:19
to the
48:20
light.
48:21
They don't
48:21
want to
48:22
come near
48:22
the light.
48:23
That's why
48:24
the Bible
48:24
is so
48:25
distasteful
48:25
to them.
48:26
Why the
48:27
idea of
48:27
the gospel
48:28
and hearing
48:28
about sin
48:29
and the
48:29
salvation
48:30
from sin
48:31
is so
48:31
distasteful
48:32
because they
48:33
shun the
48:34
light.
48:34
They don't
48:34
like the
48:35
light.
48:35
They hate
48:35
the light.
48:36
They will
48:36
not come
48:37
to the
48:37
light.
48:37
It stands
48:38
to reason.
48:39
Nobody is
48:39
drawn to
48:40
what they
48:40
hate.
48:42
And if
48:43
you hate
48:43
the light
48:44
you're not
48:44
going to be
48:45
drawn to
48:45
the light
48:46
until God
48:47
changes your
48:47
heart.
48:50
There's an
48:51
aversion to
48:51
the light.
48:52
And I
48:52
want you
48:52
to see
48:54
how this
48:54
has been
48:55
a characteristic
48:56
of human
48:57
behavior and
48:58
human response
48:59
to God
49:00
ever since
49:01
man fell
49:01
as recorded
49:03
in Genesis
49:03
3.
49:06
And from
49:07
verse 3
49:07
to verse 10
49:09
of Genesis
49:09
3,
49:11
these are
49:11
important verses
49:12
in regard to
49:13
what we're
49:13
looking at
49:14
today as
49:14
well for
49:15
other reasons
49:16
too.
49:17
but you'll
49:18
find here
49:19
from verse
49:20
8 especially
49:20
where you
49:22
find they
49:23
heard,
49:23
that's Adam
49:24
and Eve,
49:24
they heard
49:25
the sound
49:25
of the
49:26
Lord God
49:26
walking in
49:28
the garden
49:28
in the
49:29
cool of
49:29
the day.
49:30
And the
49:31
man and
49:31
his wife
49:32
hid
49:32
themselves
49:33
from the
49:34
presence
49:34
of the
49:35
Lord God
49:35
among the
49:36
trees of
49:37
the garden.
49:37
What's
49:37
happening
49:38
there?
49:39
The light
49:39
has come.
49:40
God
49:40
has come
49:41
into the
49:42
garden.
49:42
Man has
49:43
now fallen.
49:44
Man has
49:44
become a
49:44
sinner.
49:45
Man has
49:45
turned his
49:46
back upon
49:46
God.
49:47
Man has
49:47
chosen his
49:48
own way.
49:49
So he
49:49
tries to
49:50
hide.
49:51
He doesn't
49:51
want the
49:51
light.
49:52
He doesn't
49:52
want to
49:52
come near
49:53
the light.
49:54
The light
49:54
is now
49:55
distasteful
49:55
to him.
49:56
The God
49:57
with whom
49:57
he wants
49:57
love to
49:58
have
49:58
fellowship
49:58
is now
50:00
the one
50:00
he wants
50:00
to be as
50:00
far away
50:01
from as
50:01
possible.
50:03
You see
50:04
what's
50:04
happened
50:04
in people's
50:06
hearts
50:06
and why
50:07
they love
50:07
the darkness
50:08
rather than
50:09
the light
50:09
that become
50:10
corrupt
50:10
inwardly.
50:12
And that
50:12
passage goes
50:12
on.
50:13
And God
50:14
said,
50:14
the Lord
50:14
God called
50:15
to the
50:16
man and
50:16
said,
50:16
where are
50:17
you?
50:18
And he
50:19
said,
50:19
I heard
50:20
the sound
50:21
of you
50:21
in the
50:22
garden
50:22
and I
50:24
was
50:24
afraid.
50:27
I was
50:28
afraid
50:28
and I
50:29
hid myself.
50:30
And you
50:31
see,
50:31
that's one
50:32
of the
50:32
reasons
50:32
that people
50:33
shun the
50:34
light.
50:34
They don't
50:35
want the
50:35
light.
50:36
They will
50:36
not come
50:36
to the
50:37
light because
50:38
they're afraid
50:39
of the
50:39
light.
50:39
They know
50:40
the light
50:40
exposes
50:41
sin.
50:42
They know
50:42
the light
50:43
puts us
50:43
to the
50:44
test.
50:44
They know
50:45
the light
50:45
contains
50:46
things
50:46
which
50:47
will
50:47
actually
50:47
call
50:48
upon
50:48
us
50:49
to
50:49
change
50:49
our
50:49
way
50:50
of
50:50
life.
50:52
And so
50:53
we shun
50:54
that.
50:55
We hide
50:55
from that.
50:56
It's not
50:57
to our
50:58
taste.
50:58
God
50:59
to our
51:00
people
51:01
do this
51:04
so that
51:06
their
51:06
deeds
51:06
should
51:07
not
51:07
be
51:07
exposed.
51:08
It's the
51:08
best
51:08
translation
51:09
I think.
51:10
It says
51:10
here,
51:11
lest their
51:11
deeds
51:11
should be
51:12
exposed,
51:13
but it's
51:13
more than
51:13
that,
51:13
so that
51:15
their
51:15
deeds
51:15
be not
51:16
exposed.
51:16
And the
51:17
word
51:17
exposed
51:17
means
51:18
much
51:18
more
51:18
than
51:19
just
51:19
brought
51:19
to
51:19
life
51:20
and
51:20
being
51:20
revealed.
51:21
It
51:22
actually
51:22
means
51:22
include
51:24
such
51:24
ideas
51:25
as
51:25
shame,
51:27
conviction,
51:29
condemnation,
51:30
the word
51:30
that's used
51:31
here in
51:31
verse 19.
51:33
That's
51:34
what the
51:34
light
51:34
does.
51:36
It
51:37
exposes
51:38
things
51:38
judgmentally.
51:41
You
51:41
can't
51:42
place
51:42
your life
51:42
under the
51:43
light of
51:43
God's
51:44
word,
51:44
of God's
51:45
truth,
51:46
and not
51:47
expect it
51:48
to bring
51:48
up things
51:49
which will
51:49
be distasteful
51:50
to you.
51:51
Which will
51:52
actually
51:53
initially
51:54
condemn
51:54
you until
51:56
God shows
51:56
you that
51:57
your
51:57
condemnation
51:58
has been
51:59
accounted for
51:59
in Jesus,
52:00
and you
52:00
accept him,
52:01
and your
52:01
condemnation
52:02
is then
52:02
removed.
52:05
But that's
52:06
what God's
52:07
truth does.
52:07
It tests,
52:09
it tries,
52:09
it convicts,
52:11
and so
52:12
those people
52:12
who hate
52:13
the light
52:13
shun it
52:14
and don't
52:15
want it.
52:16
That's the
52:17
contrast,
52:18
the first
52:19
contrast,
52:19
those who
52:20
hate the
52:20
light,
52:20
and it's
52:20
contrasted
52:21
with,
52:22
I went
52:22
through this
52:22
very quickly,
52:23
those who
52:24
approach the
52:24
light,
52:25
whoever does
52:26
what is
52:27
true,
52:27
and again
52:27
literally it's
52:28
whoever does
52:29
the truth,
52:30
the truth as
52:31
God has
52:31
revealed that
52:32
in Jesus,
52:33
the truth
52:34
that's revealed
52:34
in the light
52:35
that Christ
52:36
is,
52:36
the light
52:36
of God's
52:37
truth.
52:39
Whoever
52:40
does the
52:41
truth,
52:41
and you take
52:42
John 14
52:43
verse 6,
52:44
Jesus said,
52:44
I am the
52:45
way,
52:46
the truth,
52:47
and the
52:47
life.
52:49
You go to
52:49
John 17
52:50
where Jesus
52:50
prays to
52:51
the Father,
52:52
Father sanctify
52:53
them,
52:54
sanctify the
52:54
disciples,
52:55
your people,
52:57
through your
52:58
truth,
52:59
your word
53:00
is truth.
53:01
Jesus,
53:02
the person
53:02
of Jesus,
53:03
the word
53:04
of God,
53:05
the truth
53:05
of God,
53:06
this is what
53:06
he's saying,
53:07
those who do
53:07
the truth,
53:08
in other words,
53:09
what he means
53:09
by that is
53:10
those who
53:11
live in
53:12
obedience to
53:13
Christ.
53:13
that's the
53:15
big distinction,
53:16
that's the
53:16
big difference,
53:18
that's the
53:18
great contrast,
53:19
those who
53:20
reject the
53:22
light,
53:22
those who
53:22
love the
53:23
darkness,
53:23
those who
53:24
do wicked
53:24
things,
53:25
those who
53:25
don't come
53:25
to the
53:26
light,
53:26
these are
53:27
so much
53:28
a contrast
53:29
to those
53:29
who love
53:30
the light,
53:31
who want
53:31
more of
53:31
the light,
53:32
who draw
53:32
near to
53:33
the light,
53:34
so that
53:35
their deeds
53:36
may be seen
53:37
to be carried
53:38
out in
53:39
God.
53:40
It's the
53:41
doing that
53:42
pleases
53:43
God,
53:44
in contrast
53:45
with the
53:46
doing of
53:47
the previous
53:48
verse,
53:48
the doing
53:48
wicked
53:49
things that
53:50
please
53:50
themselves.
53:54
The
53:55
contrasts
53:56
are all
53:56
the way
53:56
through
53:57
every
53:58
strand,
53:59
every layer
54:01
of our
54:01
society
54:02
today.
54:05
So what
54:06
should our
54:07
reaction be
54:07
to this?
54:09
It's one
54:10
thing to
54:10
know all
54:11
about this,
54:12
things.
54:13
But where
54:13
does that
54:13
leave
54:14
ourselves
54:14
as a
54:15
Christian
54:15
congregation,
54:16
as Christian
54:17
people?
54:19
Well, of
54:19
course, it
54:20
means that
54:20
we ourselves
54:21
first of
54:22
all must
54:22
come to
54:23
the light,
54:24
must come
54:24
to the
54:25
Lord,
54:25
must come
54:25
to give
54:26
our life
54:27
over to
54:27
Jesus,
54:28
to the
54:28
light,
54:29
and not
54:29
shun it,
54:30
and not
54:30
put it
54:31
aside,
54:31
and not
54:32
be like
54:33
those here
54:33
who hate
54:34
the light.
54:35
But having
54:36
done that,
54:37
I want to
54:37
speak of
54:38
someone near
54:39
the beginning
54:39
of the
54:40
chapter,
54:40
Nicodemus.
54:42
Because it's
54:42
very interesting
54:43
that these
54:44
verses are
54:45
in the
54:45
context of
54:46
Nicodemus
54:46
being addressed
54:47
by the
54:48
Lord.
54:49
You see,
54:50
Nicodemus
54:50
came by
54:52
night.
54:53
And what's
54:53
night?
54:53
It's the
54:54
opposite of
54:55
daylight.
54:57
And it
54:57
doesn't just
54:57
mean this
54:58
literally.
54:58
I think in
54:59
the spiritual
54:59
meaning,
55:00
in the
55:00
theology of
55:01
John,
55:02
light and
55:02
darkness
55:02
have a
55:03
profound
55:03
theological
55:04
and spiritual
55:05
meaning.
55:05
So when
55:06
Nicodemus
55:07
came by
55:08
night to
55:09
Jesus,
55:09
it wasn't
55:10
just so that
55:10
he wouldn't
55:10
be seen by
55:11
his fellow
55:12
members of
55:13
the Sanhedrin,
55:14
the fellow
55:14
teachers of
55:15
Israel.
55:16
John is
55:16
really presenting
55:17
us with a
55:17
spiritual truth
55:18
in that he
55:19
was still in
55:20
darkness
55:21
spiritually.
55:21
He didn't
55:22
know the
55:22
Lord.
55:22
He was
55:23
interested.
55:24
He had
55:24
come to
55:24
take note
55:25
of him,
55:25
but now he
55:26
wants to
55:26
find out
55:26
something else
55:27
from him.
55:29
But he's
55:29
still in
55:30
darkness
55:30
spiritually and
55:31
morally.
55:32
And as you
55:33
trace Nicodemus
55:34
through John's
55:35
gospel,
55:35
you'll find
55:36
something very
55:36
interesting.
55:38
He appears
55:39
again in
55:39
chapter 7,
55:41
where he's
55:42
not yet
55:42
really set
55:44
out as a
55:44
true believer
55:45
in Christ,
55:47
but he is
55:47
actually speaking
55:48
against those
55:49
who want to
55:50
bring Christ
55:51
under arrest
55:52
and try him
55:52
and are
55:53
obviously
55:54
antagonistic
55:55
to him.
55:56
And what he
55:56
says there
55:57
near the end
55:58
of chapter 7,
55:59
as you have
55:59
it,
56:00
is Nicodemus
56:00
speaking up
56:01
against the
56:02
Pharisees,
56:02
against the
56:03
rulers,
56:03
and the
56:05
officers that
56:06
came back
56:07
with this
56:08
opinion about
56:08
Jesus,
56:09
no one ever
56:09
spoke like
56:10
this man.
56:11
Pharisees
56:11
said,
56:11
have you
56:12
also been
56:12
deceived?
56:13
Have any
56:14
of the
56:14
authorities
56:14
of the
56:15
Pharisees
56:15
believed in
56:16
him?
56:16
This crowd,
56:17
this rabble,
56:18
that's what it
56:18
means,
56:19
who don't
56:20
know the
56:20
law,
56:20
they're
56:21
cursed.
56:22
Nicodemus,
56:23
who had
56:23
gone to
56:24
him before,
56:25
and who
56:26
was one
56:26
of them,
56:27
one of the
56:27
Pharisees,
56:28
said,
56:28
does our
56:29
law judge
56:30
a man
56:30
without
56:31
first giving
56:31
him a
56:32
hearing,
56:32
and learning
56:33
what he
56:34
does?
56:34
And what's
56:34
the reaction?
56:35
Oh,
56:36
instant
56:36
opposition,
56:37
instant
56:38
antagonism.
56:39
They replied,
56:40
are you
56:41
also from
56:41
Galilee?
56:42
Do you
56:42
belong to
56:43
him as
56:43
well?
56:43
Are you
56:44
a disciple
56:44
of his
56:45
as well?
56:46
Search
56:47
and see
56:47
that no
56:48
prophet
56:49
arises from
56:50
Galilee.
56:51
There's
56:51
instant
56:52
hostility,
56:53
instant
56:53
rejection,
56:54
even at the
56:54
thought of
56:55
him being
56:56
associated
56:56
with Jesus.
56:58
And the
56:58
third
56:58
appearance,
57:00
well,
57:00
where's
57:00
that?
57:00
That's
57:01
in chapter
57:01
19 and
57:02
verse 39.
57:04
Joseph of
57:05
Arimathea,
57:06
Jesus has
57:07
died on
57:07
the cross,
57:09
and Joseph
57:09
came and
57:10
asked Pilate
57:11
to give him
57:12
permission to
57:13
take the
57:13
body of
57:14
Jesus away.
57:16
Nicodemus
57:16
also,
57:18
who earlier
57:18
had come
57:19
to Jesus
57:20
by night,
57:24
came bringing
57:25
a mixture of
57:25
myrrh and
57:26
aloes and
57:26
75 pounds
57:27
in weight,
57:28
they took
57:28
the body
57:29
of Jesus
57:29
bounded
57:31
in linen
57:31
cloths as
57:32
the burial
57:33
custom of
57:34
the Jews,
57:34
and they
57:35
buried him
57:35
in this
57:36
new tomb
57:36
in the
57:37
garden.
57:38
You see
57:39
what's
57:39
happened?
57:40
He's come
57:41
to be
57:41
interested in
57:42
Jesus in
57:43
chapter 3.
57:44
He's come
57:44
closer to
57:45
being a
57:46
follower of
57:46
Jesus in
57:47
chapter 7.
57:48
He speaks
57:48
up for
57:49
him,
57:49
or to an
57:50
extent in
57:50
defense for
57:51
him.
57:52
And then
57:52
in chapter
57:53
19,
57:53
he comes
57:54
out on
57:54
the side
57:55
of Jesus.
57:56
And he
57:57
comes out
57:57
on the
57:57
side of
57:58
Jesus with
57:58
his special
57:59
reference to
58:00
the cross and
58:01
to the death
58:02
of Christ.
58:05
Now,
58:06
where does
58:07
that leave us
58:08
in regard to
58:08
the disintegration
58:09
of our
58:10
society?
58:11
What is the
58:12
answer to
58:13
that?
58:15
Well, the
58:15
answer is
58:16
people's lives
58:16
being changed.
58:19
The answer
58:19
isn't people
58:20
coming to
58:21
experience what
58:22
Nicodemus
58:22
experienced in
58:23
being born
58:24
again.
58:27
Because society
58:28
will not
58:28
change until
58:29
the individuals
58:29
change.
58:32
And for the
58:33
individuals to
58:33
change takes
58:35
the power of
58:36
God.
58:38
The power
58:38
that brings
58:39
rebirth.
58:41
The power
58:42
that enables
58:44
us to turn
58:45
and move out
58:46
of the light
58:47
and come out
58:48
of the darkness
58:48
and come into
58:49
the light.
58:50
And to love
58:51
the light.
58:52
Instead of
58:53
loving the
58:53
darkness.
58:54
And that's
58:54
what needs
58:54
to happen.
58:57
That's what
58:57
we need to
58:58
pray for.
58:58
I know you're
58:59
praying for it,
59:00
but we need
59:00
to pray for it
59:01
with all the
59:01
more earnestness.
59:03
When we
59:03
realize that
59:04
this is one
59:05
of the
59:05
underlying
59:05
factors of
59:06
what's
59:06
happening in
59:07
our society,
59:08
our prayers
59:09
need to be
59:10
more consistent,
59:12
firmly fixed
59:13
upon the
59:14
situation as
59:15
it is,
59:16
convinced us
59:16
we should be
59:17
that only
59:17
God's
59:18
reviving power
59:19
is going to
59:20
change this.
59:21
That the
59:22
only thing
59:22
that's going
59:22
to change
59:23
us is
59:23
changed
59:24
people and
59:25
people changed
59:25
by the
59:26
power of
59:26
God.
59:28
Friends,
59:28
this is vital.
59:32
We have the
59:33
privileged position
59:33
of looking at
59:35
what's happening
59:36
around us and
59:37
having the
59:38
privilege of
59:39
calling upon
59:40
and beseeching
59:40
our God
59:41
to come to
59:43
actually intervene,
59:45
to come to
59:45
change things
59:46
by changing
59:47
people,
59:48
by giving
59:49
ourselves
59:50
further
59:50
impetus
59:51
spiritually,
59:52
to be on
59:52
our knees
59:53
more constantly,
59:54
and I'm
59:54
speaking to
59:55
myself,
59:56
to actually
59:58
appeal to
59:59
God,
1:00:00
because unless
1:00:02
that happens,
1:00:05
the darkness
1:00:06
is going to
1:00:06
actually grow.
1:00:08
More and more
1:00:09
people are going
1:00:10
to be enveloped
1:00:11
in the darkness.
1:00:13
Now,
1:00:13
we're not
1:00:14
saying this
1:00:15
to discourage
1:00:16
you,
1:00:17
so we become
1:00:18
despondent,
1:00:19
or reach a
1:00:20
level of near
1:00:21
despair.
1:00:23
This passage
1:00:24
is telling us,
1:00:26
this is why
1:00:26
things are as
1:00:27
they are.
1:00:29
But look at
1:00:30
Nicodemus.
1:00:32
This is how
1:00:32
things can be
1:00:33
changed from
1:00:35
what they are
1:00:36
to what they
1:00:37
should be.
1:00:39
May God
1:00:39
bless his
1:00:40
word to us.
1:00:41
Let's pray.
1:00:43
Lord,
1:00:44
our God,
1:00:44
you have
1:00:45
brought before
1:00:47
us in your
1:00:47
word how
1:00:48
your people
1:00:48
are described
1:00:50
by you as
1:00:50
the light
1:00:51
of the world.
1:00:52
And you
1:00:53
call upon us,
1:00:54
Lord,
1:00:54
to let our
1:00:54
light shine
1:00:55
before people,
1:00:56
so that they
1:00:57
may see our
1:00:58
good works
1:00:58
and bring glory
1:00:59
to our
1:00:59
Father who
1:01:01
is in heaven.
1:01:02
Forgive us,
1:01:03
we pray,
1:01:03
O Lord,
1:01:05
whenever we
1:01:05
fall short
1:01:06
of this,
1:01:06
as we often
1:01:07
do.
1:01:08
Forgive us
1:01:08
for our
1:01:09
reluctance.
1:01:11
Forgive us
1:01:11
for our
1:01:11
coziness with
1:01:12
the world.
1:01:14
Forgive us,
1:01:14
Lord,
1:01:15
for every
1:01:15
way in
1:01:16
which we
1:01:16
have failed
1:01:17
to live up
1:01:18
to the
1:01:19
standard of
1:01:19
being your
1:01:20
people as
1:01:21
lights in
1:01:21
the world.
1:01:23
Lord,
1:01:24
be merciful to
1:01:24
this generation,
1:01:25
we pray.
1:01:27
Bring about,
1:01:27
we pray,
1:01:28
that change
1:01:28
that only you
1:01:29
can.
1:01:31
Grant to
1:01:31
us the
1:01:31
power of
1:01:32
your spirit.
1:01:33
Grant to
1:01:34
us the
1:01:34
force of
1:01:34
your truth.
1:01:36
O give
1:01:36
people,
1:01:37
Lord,
1:01:37
to see
1:01:37
the wastage
1:01:39
of human
1:01:39
life without
1:01:40
you,
1:01:42
the grotesqueness
1:01:42
of ungodliness,
1:01:45
the way in
1:01:45
which it is
1:01:45
an affront to
1:01:46
you and
1:01:47
your eyes.
1:01:48
Lord,
1:01:49
we pray in
1:01:49
your mercy
1:01:50
that you
1:01:51
would indeed
1:01:51
turn us as
1:01:52
a people,
1:01:53
and to that
1:01:54
end we pray
1:01:54
again for
1:01:55
those who
1:01:55
rule over
1:01:56
us,
1:01:57
for the
1:01:57
governments
1:01:58
in our
1:01:58
land,
1:01:59
for the
1:02:00
king on
1:02:00
the throne,
1:02:01
for,
1:02:02
Lord,
1:02:02
all those
1:02:02
who have
1:02:03
such places
1:02:04
of eminence
1:02:04
and authority
1:02:05
and influence
1:02:06
in our
1:02:06
land.
1:02:07
Bring
1:02:08
them under
1:02:08
the influence
1:02:09
of the
1:02:09
gospel,
1:02:10
the influence
1:02:11
of your
1:02:11
truth,
1:02:12
the influence
1:02:13
of the
1:02:13
light,
1:02:14
and turn
1:02:15
them from
1:02:15
the love
1:02:16
of darkness
1:02:16
into the
1:02:18
love of
1:02:18
Christ.
1:02:19
We pray
1:02:20
in his
1:02:20
name.
1:02:21
Amen.
1:02:24
Now,
1:02:24
the final
1:02:25
singing
1:02:25
today is
1:02:26
Psalm 119,
1:02:29
Psalm 119,
1:02:30
and that's
1:02:30
at page
1:02:32
164.
1:02:39
We're
1:02:39
singing
1:02:39
verses
1:02:39
113
1:02:40
to
1:02:41
120.
1:02:44
And the
1:02:44
tune this
1:02:45
time is
1:02:45
Finart.
1:02:47
The
1:02:48
double-minded
1:02:48
I abhor,
1:02:49
but your
1:02:49
commands I
1:02:50
love,
1:02:51
O Lord.
1:02:52
You are
1:02:52
my refuge
1:02:53
and my
1:02:53
shield.
1:02:54
I've
1:02:55
set my
1:02:55
hope upon
1:02:56
your word.
1:02:57
You
1:02:57
evildoers,
1:02:58
leave me
1:02:58
now,
1:02:59
that God's
1:03:00
commands I
1:03:00
may obey.
1:03:02
By your
1:03:03
word keep
1:03:04
me,
1:03:04
I shall
1:03:04
live.
1:03:05
Let not
1:03:06
my hope
1:03:07
be swept
1:03:08
away.
1:03:09
The
1:03:09
psalmist's
1:03:10
concern to
1:03:12
be different,
1:03:13
to be an
1:03:13
alternative to
1:03:14
the ungodliness
1:03:15
of his own
1:03:16
age,
1:03:17
similar to
1:03:18
what we've
1:03:18
been thinking
1:03:18
of this
1:03:19
morning.
1:03:20
So,
1:03:20
these verses
1:03:20
113 to
1:03:22
120,
1:03:22
the
1:03:23
double-minded
1:03:23
I
1:03:24
abhor.
1:03:25
Amen.
1:03:29
The
1:03:31
double-minded
1:03:35
I
1:03:37
have
1:03:38
more,
1:03:39
but
1:03:41
your
1:03:41
commands
1:03:44
my
1:03:45
love,
1:03:47
O Lord.
1:03:50
You
1:03:51
are
1:03:52
my
1:03:53
refuge
1:03:55
and
1:03:57
my
1:03:58
shield.
1:04:00
I
1:04:00
set
1:04:02
my
1:04:03
hope
1:04:04
upon
1:04:05
your
1:04:06
word.
1:04:08
You
1:04:10
need
1:04:11
to
1:04:12
achieve
1:04:16
me
1:04:17
now,
1:04:18
that God's
1:04:23
promise
1:04:23
I
1:04:26
may
1:04:26
obey,
1:04:27
I
1:04:30
cure,
1:04:31
your
1:04:32
word,
1:04:33
give me
1:04:34
I
1:04:36
shall
1:04:37
live,
1:04:38
let
1:04:40
not
1:04:41
my
1:04:42
hope
1:04:43
be
1:04:44
swept
1:04:45
away.
1:04:46
upon
1:04:47
me
1:04:48
and I
1:04:50
shall
1:04:52
be
1:04:54
saved,
1:04:56
for
1:04:58
your
1:04:59
deeds
1:05:00
I
1:05:01
have
1:05:02
respect,
1:05:03
which I
1:05:05
have
1:05:06
respect,
1:05:08
all
1:05:10
those
1:05:11
who
1:05:12
stray
1:05:13
from
1:05:14
your
1:05:16
commands,
1:05:17
and
1:05:18
practice
1:05:20
all
1:05:21
to
1:05:23
do,
1:05:24
reject,
1:05:25
you
1:05:26
reject.
1:05:27
The
1:05:30
wicked
1:05:31
you
1:05:32
discard
1:05:33
my
1:05:35
cross,
1:05:36
therefore
1:05:37
I
1:05:38
love
1:05:39
your
1:05:40
holy
1:05:41
law,
1:05:42
my
1:05:43
holy
1:05:44
grace
1:05:45
for
1:05:46
your
1:05:47
holy
1:05:48
law,
1:05:49
my
1:05:50
holy
1:05:51
grace
1:05:52
grace
1:05:54
for
1:05:55
me
1:05:56
of
1:05:57
you,
1:05:58
of
1:05:59
your
1:06:00
all
1:06:01
hands
1:06:03
I
1:06:04
stand
1:06:05
in
1:06:06
all.
1:06:09
Now I
1:06:10
take it the
1:06:11
main door is actually being used to vacate the building, if not you'll be given
1:06:14
directions, yes it is open, okay, so that's fine. I'll go to this door to my right this morning.
1:06:20
Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore. Amen.