Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / The Question You Have To Answer
Transcript
- 0:00Let us worship God, singing to his praise in Psalm 1a.
- 0:06That's in Sing Psalm, Psalm 1a.
- 0:16It's on the first page.
- 0:19Blessed is the one who turns away from where the wicked walk,
- 0:23who does not stand in sinners' paths or sit with those who mock.
- 0:28Instead, he finds God's holy law, his joy and great delight.
- 0:33He makes the precepts of the Lord his study day and night.
- 0:37He prospers ever like a tree that's planted by a stream,
- 0:41and in due season yields its fruit, its leaves are always green.
- 0:46Not so the wicked. They are like the chaff that's blown away.
- 0:50They will not stand when judgment comes or with a righteous day.
- 0:54It is the Lord who sees and knows the way the righteous go,
- 0:59but those who live an evil life the Lord will overthrow.
- 1:03Psalm 1a, the whole psalm, blessed is the one who turns away.
- 1:06Blessed is the one who turns away from where the wicked walk,
- 1:24who does not stand in sinners' paths or sit with those who mock.
- 1:40Instead, he finds God's holy law, his joy and great delight.
- 1:55He makes the precepts of the Lord his study day and night.
- 2:11He prospers ever like a tree that's planted by a stream,
- 2:26and in due season yields its fruit, its leaves are always green.
- 2:41Not so the wicked. They are like the chaff that's blown away.
- 2:56They will not stand when judgment comes or with a righteous day.
- 3:12It is the Lord who sees and knows the way the righteous go,
- 3:27that those who live an evil life the Lord will overthrow.
- 3:41Let us bow in prayer.
- 3:48Lord, as we gather before you this morning,
- 3:51we give thanks for another opportunity to praise you.
- 3:54We give thanks that you are God of heaven and earth
- 3:57and that you have given us this wonderful day,
- 4:02a day that's set aside in order to not only to recognize
- 4:06your goodness and mercy towards us, but for us to worship you.
- 4:09And we give thanks for us being able to come here on this lovely morning
- 4:14and for we're able to give praise and thanks to the God of heaven and earth.
- 4:20We pray that you'll bless us all, each and every one of us,
- 4:23as we wait upon you.
- 4:25Help us to hear what God the Lord will speak,
- 4:28because we're told that he speaks peace to his people.
- 4:32And we pray that we might have that peace deep within our heart,
- 4:35that we may come to a greater knowledge of you
- 4:38and an understanding of who you are.
- 4:41And so we pray that you'll bless us from the youngest to the oldest.
- 4:45Pray your blessing on the creche and the tweenies and Sunday school
- 4:49that are just meeting just now.
- 4:52And we ask that you'll bless each one.
- 4:54We pray for help and for health and strength.
- 4:57We pray particularly for those who are maybe unwell at this time.
- 5:01And we do again bring before you little Lucy Beth,
- 5:06and we pray your blessing upon her.
- 5:08We give thanks for hearing of progress being made,
- 5:11but we know that she's still really needing attention
- 5:15and down in hospital.
- 5:17And ask that you'll bless her and be with Laura Jane.
- 5:20And with Nuck, we ask that you'll bless them
- 5:22and all the respective members of the family.
- 5:25And ask, Lord, that you'll be able to bring her home soon
- 5:28and look after her.
- 5:30We pray for all who are anxious over loved ones
- 5:33and who are so aware of how fragile life is.
- 5:37And we pray for those whose hearts are crushed and broken,
- 5:40particularly when there is so much sorrow and sadness with young.
- 5:46Watch over us then, we pray, and do us good.
- 5:49Help us to wait upon you
- 5:50and take away from us our sin.
- 5:52In Jesus' name we ask it.
- 5:54Amen.
- 5:54Amen.
- 5:57Just a wee word to the young folk before they go through.
- 6:02Yesterday, just before lunch,
- 6:05I went up to the shop just up the road from us
- 6:08to get some rolls.
- 6:10And Joshua, who can't come here today,
- 6:13became sick this morning,
- 6:14but he came with me.
- 6:17He said, I want to come up with you.
- 6:18So that was fine.
- 6:19And it was, you know, in the winter,
- 6:22sometimes the sun seems to be lower than in the summer.
- 6:26In the summer, the sun's way, way, way up high in the sky.
- 6:29But sometimes it's a bit lower and can be very bright.
- 6:33And sometimes it shines off the road
- 6:35and it's a bit, it's dazzling.
- 6:37Well, it was like that when we were going up the road.
- 6:41And he said to me,
- 6:42Papa, I can't see properly in the sun.
- 6:44You know what?
- 6:45Well, you take my hand and be my eyes.
- 6:48So I said, okay.
- 6:50So he closed his eyes and I took his hand
- 6:53and we started walking.
- 6:55I said, what if I walk out into the middle of the road?
- 6:58Oh, no, Papa, you wouldn't do that.
- 6:59Just walk in a straight line.
- 7:01Well, okay, I said, that's what I'll do.
- 7:04And I had to tell him everything.
- 7:05I said, right, stop.
- 7:07We're going to have to cross the road here.
- 7:09His eyes were still closed.
- 7:11I said, no, we're going to have to stop.
- 7:13I'm careful now.
- 7:14We're coming off the pavement.
- 7:16His eyes were still closed.
- 7:17The only time he opened his eyes
- 7:19was when a big bus stopped beside us
- 7:22to let somebody off.
- 7:23He had to check what that was.
- 7:25But the thing was, he trusted me all the way
- 7:28from just after the house, all the way to the shop.
- 7:32I said, that's us.
- 7:33We're arriving at the shop.
- 7:35And I got me thinking.
- 7:36I said, isn't that really how it should be with us,
- 7:39with Jesus, that we would trust him like that?
- 7:44He trusted me that I wouldn't take him out on the road.
- 7:47He said, just walk in a straight line.
- 7:50And you know, every day we should do the same with Jesus.
- 7:54And go to him and say, Lord, help me just to walk with you.
- 7:58And will you guide me and show me the way to go?
- 8:02Because, you know, often we don't know.
- 8:04We can make the wrong choices.
- 8:06We can do the wrong things.
- 8:07Help me, Lord, to do the right things.
- 8:10Help me to be kind and wise and careful and helpful and obedient.
- 8:17And help me, above all, to love you.
- 8:20And, Lord, take me all the way through life.
- 8:23And at the end, take me home to heaven with yourself.
- 8:27Couldn't ask for anything better
- 8:29or to have anything better in your life.
- 8:32So let's now say the Lord's Prayer together.
- 8:35Our Father, which art in heaven,
- 8:40hallowed be thy name.
- 8:42Thy kingdom come.
- 8:43Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- 8:47Give us this day our daily bread
- 8:49and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
- 8:54And lead us not into temptation,
- 8:56but deliver us from evil.
- 8:59For thine is the kingdom,
- 9:00the power and the glory forever.
- 9:03Amen.
- 9:04Amen.
- 9:06We're going to sing again now from Psalm 37
- 9:08in the Scottish Psalter, Psalm number 37.
- 9:13We're going to sing verses 10 to 16.
- 9:17Psalm 37, verses 10 to 16.
- 9:27For yet a little while and then the wicked shall not be.
- 9:31His place thou shalt consider well,
- 9:34but it thou shalt not see.
- 9:37But by inheritance the earth the meek ones shall possess.
- 9:42They also shall delight themselves in an abundant peace.
- 9:46The wicked plots against the just,
- 9:48and Adam whets his teeth.
- 9:50The Lord shall laugh at him,
- 9:52because his day he coming seeth.
- 9:54The wicked have drawn out the sword,
- 9:56and bent their bow to slay the poor and needy,
- 9:59and to kill men of an upright way.
- 10:02But their own sword, which they have drawn,
- 10:05shall enter their own heart.
- 10:07Their bows, which they have bent,
- 10:09shall break,
- 10:10and into pieces part.
- 10:13A little that a just man hath
- 10:16is more and better far
- 10:18than is the wealth of many such
- 10:21as lewd and wicked are.
- 10:23That's on page 253 of the Psalm book,
- 10:25Psalm 37, verses 10 to 16.
- 10:31For yet a little while and then
- 10:33the wicked shall not be.
- 10:34For yet a little while and then
- 10:48the wicked shall not be.
- 10:55His place thou shalt consider well,
- 11:04but if thou shalt not see.
- 11:12But by inheritance the earth
- 11:20the meek ones shall possess.
- 11:28They also shall delight themselves
- 11:37in an abundant peace.
- 11:45The wicked not
- 11:50sagates the just
- 11:54and not
- 11:57him
- 11:58raise his
- 12:00deed.
- 12:02The Lord
- 12:05shall
- 12:06affect him
- 12:09because
- 12:11his
- 12:13stay
- 12:14he
- 12:15coming
- 12:16see.
- 12:19The wicked
- 12:22have
- 12:24drawn
- 12:24out the sword
- 12:28and
- 12:30bent
- 12:31their
- 12:32bow
- 12:32to
- 12:33slay.
- 12:36The
- 12:37poor
- 12:39and
- 12:40he
- 12:41thee
- 12:42thee
- 12:43and
- 12:44to
- 12:45kill
- 12:46and
- 12:47all
- 12:48time
- 12:49of
- 12:50night
- 12:51way.
- 12:52But
- 12:53their own
- 12:56sword
- 12:57which
- 12:58they
- 12:59have
- 13:00drawn
- 13:01shall
- 13:03enter
- 13:05their
- 13:06own
- 13:07heart.
- 13:08heart
- 13:10their
- 13:11boat
- 13:12which
- 13:13they
- 13:14have
- 13:15been
- 13:16shall
- 13:17break
- 13:18and
- 13:19into
- 13:21pieces
- 13:22heart.
- 13:23A
- 13:25little
- 13:27that
- 13:29touch
- 13:31that
- 13:32just
- 13:33man
- 13:34have
- 13:35is
- 13:36more
- 13:37and
- 13:38better
- 13:39far
- 13:41than
- 13:44is
- 13:45the
- 13:46wealth
- 13:47of
- 13:48many
- 13:49such
- 13:50as
- 13:52good
- 13:53and
- 13:54we
- 13:55and
- 13:56we
- 13:57have
- 13:58to
- 13:59read
- 14:00God's
- 14:02words
- 14:03which
- 14:04we do
- 14:05in
- 14:06Matthew's
- 14:07Gospel.
- 14:08Matthew
- 14:09chapter
- 14:1027.
- 14:11Matthew
- 14:1227.
- 14:13Matthew
- 14:1427.
- 14:15Reading
- 14:16from
- 14:18the
- 14:19beginning
- 14:20through
- 14:21to
- 14:22verse
- 14:2331.
- 14:24when
- 14:27morning came
- 14:28all the chief priests
- 14:29and the elders of the people
- 14:30took counsel against Jesus
- 14:32to put him to death
- 14:33and they bound him and led him away
- 14:36and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.
- 14:39Then when Judas his betrayer saw that Jesus was condemned
- 14:45he changed his mind
- 14:47and brought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders saying
- 14:51I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.
- 14:54They said what is that to us?
- 14:57See to it yourself.
- 14:59And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple he departed and he went and hanged himself.
- 15:06But the chief priests taking the pieces of silver said it is not lawful to put them into the treasury since it is blood money.
- 15:15So they took counsel and bought with him the potash field as a burial place for strangers.
- 15:22Therefore that field has been called the field of blood to this day.
- 15:28Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah saying
- 15:33and they took the 30 pieces of silver the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel.
- 15:43And they gave them for the potash field as the Lord directed them.
- 15:48Now Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him are you the king of the Jews?
- 15:53Jesus said you have said so.
- 15:57But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders he gave no answer.
- 16:02Then Pilate said to him do you not hear how many things they testify against you?
- 16:09But he gave him no answer.
- 16:12Not even to a single charge.
- 16:15So that the governor was greatly amazed.
- 16:17Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.
- 16:25And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
- 16:30So when they had gathered Pilate said to them whom do you want me to release for you?
- 16:36Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ.
- 16:39For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.
- 16:43Besides while he was sitting on the judgment seat his wife sent word to him.
- 16:50Have nothing to do with that righteous man.
- 16:53For I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.
- 16:57Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
- 17:05The governor again said to them which of the two do you want me to release for you?
- 17:10And they said Barabbas.
- 17:13Pilate said to them then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?
- 17:19They all said let him be crucified.
- 17:22And he said why?
- 17:24What evil has he done?
- 17:27But they shouted all the more let him be crucified.
- 17:30So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing but rather that a riot was beginning.
- 17:38He took water and washed his hands before the crowd saying I am innocent of this man's blood.
- 17:43See to it your shells.
- 17:45And all the people answered his blood be on us and on our children.
- 17:50Then he released for them Barabbas and having scourged Jesus delivered him to be crucified.
- 17:58Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters.
- 18:03And they gathered the whole battalion before him.
- 18:06And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.
- 18:10And twisting together a crown of thorns they put it on his head.
- 18:13And put a reed in his right hand.
- 18:16And kneeling before him they mocked him saying hail king of the Jews.
- 18:21And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.
- 18:26And when they had mocked him they stripped him of the robe.
- 18:30And put his own clothes on him.
- 18:33And led him away to crucify him.
- 18:35And so on. Amen.
- 18:36And may God bless to us this reading of his own holy word.
- 18:41And let us again bow in prayer.
- 18:46Oh Lord we are very conscious that we need you at all times.
- 18:51We have just read your word.
- 18:54And sometimes we find it so difficult to understand and comprehend.
- 18:59That we are reading there of the second person of the Godhead.
- 19:03The one by whom all things were made.
- 19:07And yet we find that he has come as a man into this world.
- 19:12And he has so allowed himself to be brutalized.
- 19:16And so allowed himself to be abused.
- 19:20And he went into the place of sinners to experience the wrath of God.
- 19:26We were remembering this last week.
- 19:29And we give thanks for the opportunity of meeting at the Lord's Supper.
- 19:33We give thanks for the table of the Lord.
- 19:36A time to remember what Jesus has done for us.
- 19:40We are aware that we should be remembering this all the time.
- 19:44But we are so prone to forget.
- 19:47Just like we have our war memorials in the here and there.
- 19:51And the list so often of people who gave their lives.
- 19:55And every so often we do come to remember lest we forget.
- 20:01And it is important that we do when we remember the cost for our freedom.
- 20:06But we remember above all the cost for our spiritual freedom.
- 20:12Our release that was found in Jesus.
- 20:15And so we pray that you will help us and that you will bless us as we come under your word today.
- 20:21Lord, we need you at every step.
- 20:24We need you in our going in and in our going out.
- 20:26In our sitting down and in our rising up.
- 20:28Lord, there are times when we have to confess that we feel self-reliant and self-sufficient.
- 20:35We feel that we are on top of things.
- 20:39And there are times that we might forget you.
- 20:42But Lord, it doesn't take long for that to change.
- 20:47And again, we discover our vulnerability.
- 20:50And we discover that we are not who we thought we were.
- 20:53But we give thanks, Lord, that your ear is open to our cry.
- 20:57And we give thanks, O Lord, that you answer way beyond even what we ask or think.
- 21:03Give us a spiritual eyes to see the answers to prayer.
- 21:07Because so often when we pray, we expect an answer in a particular way.
- 21:12But you often surprise us.
- 21:14You often answer in a different way.
- 21:17In fact, your word says, by fearful works unto their prayers, an answer doth express.
- 21:24And so we must be ready for that.
- 21:27And to realize that your ways are not our ways.
- 21:30So often we stand before the mystery of your providence.
- 21:34And we do have to confess that in this world there will be times that we will never understand.
- 21:40Or be able to comprehend your providence.
- 21:43Because sometimes it is so baffling.
- 21:46It can hurt.
- 21:47It can be so sore.
- 21:48And so we pray, Lord, especially for those today whose hearts are broken.
- 21:53Whose hearts are sore.
- 21:55Those, Lord, who are struggling with the mystery of your providence.
- 22:00And whether it is of recent times or even further away, it's still the same.
- 22:06The pain is still there.
- 22:07And so, Lord, we pray that you'll be gracious.
- 22:10Lord, our God, we pray that you'll bless those who are in need of you today.
- 22:15We remember little Lucy Beth.
- 22:19But we remember all who are in hospital.
- 22:21All who are laid aside at this time.
- 22:23We commit to your care and keeping.
- 22:25Those undergoing treatment or waiting for it or who have had it.
- 22:29Those with regard to surgery.
- 22:32Remember those who are old and no longer able to do for themselves.
- 22:37There's almost a reversal where we go back from being so dependent as little children
- 22:44to a stage in life where we become dependent on others.
- 22:47And, O Lord, our God, help us in all the different stages of our life to look to you
- 22:52and to trust in you so that our dependence will be daily upon the living and through God.
- 22:58Help us to remember that you are our maker.
- 23:00Help us to remember that it is in you that we live, move, and have our being.
- 23:04And so, we ask that you'll be gracious to us and do us good.
- 23:09We pray, Lord, that you will bless all who mourn and all whose hearts are heavy and sore.
- 23:15Do them good. Lift them up, we pray.
- 23:17Lord, we pray to bless us as a nation.
- 23:20We ask for your guidance.
- 23:23We pray for everybody who are in positions of authority in our land.
- 23:27We pray for all who are in government, whether that be in Westminster or in Holyrood or here locally in our council.
- 23:35We ask, Lord, that you'll give wisdom.
- 23:37Leave us not to ourselves because our own judgments are so often not the right judgments.
- 23:43We need the wisdom that is from above.
- 23:46Help us, Lord, so to look.
- 23:49And we give thanks, Lord, for all who do look to you.
- 23:52And we do remember at this time, Kate Forbes, we give thanks for her.
- 23:57And whatever people's political allegiance may be, we give thanks, Lord, for the courage that she has displayed.
- 24:04And we pray, Lord, that you will watch over her and keep her.
- 24:09And in many ways, we have come to see how many do not lay hold upon your word.
- 24:18Because while she spoke, she didn't just speak with regard to herself, but she spoke with regard to what your word says.
- 24:27And it brings us to see how many people cannot stand what your word says or don't believe it.
- 24:34But people don't have a knowledge of your word anymore.
- 24:37Oh, Lord, forgive us as a nation for the way we've turned our back upon you.
- 24:42And so we ask, oh, Lord, that your word might become more prominent so that we may come to discover that it is the way of life.
- 24:51That you are the God who shows us the right way to go.
- 24:55We're commanded to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to lean not to our own understanding.
- 25:01In all our ways to acknowledge you and you will direct our paths.
- 25:05And we couldn't seek anything greater than to have our paths directed from above.
- 25:10So, Lord, we pray to bless us.
- 25:13Bless the nations of this world who remember the Ukraine and think it's over a year of bloodshed.
- 25:19And it's been a hard, a terrible year out there.
- 25:24Oh, Lord, we would long to see peace come when there are those who are just for war, those who do not want peace.
- 25:34Oh, Lord, we pray that you will overrule and overturn and that you will bring peace.
- 25:40Lord, we think of Turkey and Syria and we have to confess how quickly it is that we can forget the harrowing pictures that we see.
- 25:50But, Lord, we know that there is intense and immense suffering.
- 25:54Because lives have been shattered and broken.
- 25:58And we, Lord, ask that you will bring healing and help.
- 26:02And that you will bring provision.
- 26:04And that the structure of cities might be restored so that water will be, the things that we rely on in life will be given.
- 26:14But your word also reminds us that as the end time comes, that there will be wars and rumors of wars, that there will be earthquakes in various places.
- 26:26It's like the very creation that is groaning.
- 26:28And we ourselves are groaning, looking forward to our redemption.
- 26:33Looking forward to, indeed, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 26:38Watch over us, then, we pray, and do us good.
- 26:41Cleanse us from our every sin, we pray.
- 26:44In Jesus' name we ask it. Amen.
- 26:46We're going to sing now in Psalm 2.
- 26:50And this is from Psalm 2.
- 26:52And we're going to sing verses 1 to 7.
- 26:58Psalm 2, verses 1 to 7.
- 27:01That's on page 2.
- 27:03Why do the heathen rage?
- 27:05Why do the peoples plot in vain?
- 27:08Earth's kings combine in enmity.
- 27:10Her rulers join against God's reign.
- 27:13They take their stand against the Lord and challenge his anointed one.
- 27:18Let us break off their chains from us.
- 27:20With their restraints let us be done.
- 27:22The one enthroned in heaven laughs.
- 27:25The Lord on high derides them all.
- 27:28Then he rebukes them in his wrath, his rage and terror on them fall.
- 27:32The Lord has made it known to them,
- 27:35My chosen king I have installed.
- 27:38On Zion, my own holy hill, he is the one whom I have called.
- 27:42The king then solemnly declares,
- 27:45I will proclaim the Lord's decree.
- 27:47Today your father I become.
- 27:49You are my son, he said to me.
- 27:52Verses 1 to 7, Psalm 2.
- 27:54That's on page 2.
- 27:55And sing Psalms.
- 27:56Why do the heathen nations rage?
- 27:59Why do the people's bought in vain?
- 28:14Earth's kings combine in enmity.
- 28:30And runes on against the Lord.
- 28:31And runes on against the Lord.
- 28:37O day, they take their stand against the Lord, and challenge His annoys Him on.
- 28:57Let us break up their chains from us, with every space let us be done.
- 29:15The one in one in ever last, the Lord Almighty, He hath them all.
- 29:33Then He rebukes them in His path, His rage and terror call them all.
- 29:50The Lord has made it known to them, my chosen King, my half is called.
- 30:08On Zion, I, O holy hill, He is the one whom I have called.
- 30:26The King then solemnly heard, I will proclaim the Lord's decree.
- 30:43To be your Father, I be God.
- 30:53You are my Son, He said to me.
- 31:07Let's turn again to the chapter we read in Matthew 27,
- 31:10and focusing on verse 22, one of the great questions in the Bible.
- 31:18Pilate said to them, Matthew 27, verse 22,
- 31:22Pilate said to them,
- 31:24Then what shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?
- 31:30As we know, questions are a vital part of life.
- 31:35Some people are always asking questions.
- 31:37Other people, they hardly ever ask questions.
- 31:40They kind of just take life as it is and just get by like that.
- 31:44Children are always asking questions.
- 31:46It's one of the ways they learn.
- 31:49We often have to ask very important questions in life.
- 31:53And this question that we have here is a question of absolute paramount importance.
- 32:00In fact, probably there's only one other question that is equal in Scripture.
- 32:05And that's a question the Philippian jailer asked.
- 32:09What must I do to be saved?
- 32:11Remember the reply, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.
- 32:16And here we have another question.
- 32:19What?
- 32:20That's what the question that Pilate asks here.
- 32:23He's asking this question.
- 32:24What shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?
- 32:28Now we could look at this in different ways.
- 32:33We could look at it as if we're going to examine exactly these words as to who Jesus is and Christ and all that that involves and entails.
- 32:44And that would take up a whole sermon in itself.
- 32:47We could look at it focusing on the choice that is made between Barabbas and Jesus because that's what prompts the question from Pilate.
- 32:57But it's a question that everybody has to answer.
- 33:03Because whether a person vocally asks it, it's a question that Jesus is asking of everybody.
- 33:12What are you going to do with me?
- 33:16That's a question Jesus asks worldwide.
- 33:18Not just here today, but everywhere.
- 33:21Because every single person is one day going to have to come before Jesus and give an account of what they did, of how they answered that question in this world.
- 33:34That's quite a searching, solemn thought.
- 33:36And just in light of the communion, I was thinking last week we actually read this chapter, that great question, what shall I do with Jesus?
- 33:47Because we had our communion, we had our wonderful communion last Lord's Day.
- 33:53And the Sunday morning was a beautiful morning.
- 33:57But that question is asked.
- 34:00And I would urge any here today who were here last week, or even if you weren't here last week, what are you doing with Jesus?
- 34:09Because, you know, the communion is such a special time, such an important time.
- 34:14It's a time where Jesus is specially present.
- 34:18And to let that slip, to let it go by.
- 34:21Why?
- 34:22Because a lot of people say, oh, you know, it's time I came out on the Lord's side.
- 34:26Well, it is.
- 34:28Because it's one of the worst things of your heart is towards the Lord and for the Lord.
- 34:34And you're wanting, you're saying to yourself, you know, it's one of the things I hope before I leave this world.
- 34:39I want to take my place at the Lord's table.
- 34:41I want to confess and show that Jesus means a lot to me.
- 34:45He means everything to me.
- 34:46Well, you see, we're not in charge.
- 34:49We're not in control of our lives.
- 34:52We don't know when one day we'll be taken away.
- 34:55So it's imperative that we don't let these opportunities slip.
- 34:59So if Jesus is your Lord, then come out on his side.
- 35:04Make it clear.
- 35:05What must I do?
- 35:06What will I do with Jesus?
- 35:07But this morning, what I want us to look at is just how different people reacted to Jesus that we find in this chapter.
- 35:17Because it tells us through that the different responses that go on in people's lives towards the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 35:27And the first group that we see here are the chief priests and the elders.
- 35:30And for a long time, we know exactly what their response was to Jesus, what they wanted to do with Jesus.
- 35:39You know, every picture tells a story.
- 35:42And we see that in the previous chapter.
- 35:45And we see of just the way they treated Jesus.
- 35:49And we see it also in this chapter.
- 35:55We see of how they abused him and of how they hit him and they smote him.
- 36:00And they were so filled with spite against him.
- 36:05And they hated him because he claimed to be the son of God.
- 36:09And to them, that was utter blasphemy.
- 36:13They saw him as an imposter.
- 36:15And they were saying, how dare he claim to be the son of God.
- 36:21And you know, it's quite extraordinary.
- 36:24They didn't understand.
- 36:26And if any group of people should have understood that this was the son of God, that this was the Messiah, it was these men.
- 36:37Because they were the studiers of the law.
- 36:39They spent their day studying the law.
- 36:41It wasn't that Jesus just arrived all of a sudden on the scene.
- 36:46They had the whole of the Old Testament.
- 36:49And it was their daily study.
- 36:52And if any people should have been prepared and come to understand that this is the Messiah.
- 36:58Because Jesus, he said to them often enough, the scripture is being fulfilled right before you.
- 37:06But you know that problem?
- 37:08They were prejudiced.
- 37:09They were bigoted.
- 37:11They had their own mind set.
- 37:13And they refused to believe what was staring them in the eyes.
- 37:18And you know, that is often the case.
- 37:20That's often how it is with people.
- 37:23You know, you've got to remember, these are people who lived by the law.
- 37:28And the Pharisees, and this is what makes it so sad.
- 37:32The Pharisees, they wanted to be right with God.
- 37:36They had this idea, but they didn't know God.
- 37:38They didn't know the God that was revealed in the word.
- 37:41But they lived by the law.
- 37:45And what they did was, in order to try and be right with God, they added law after law after law upon the law of God.
- 37:55And in fact, life became intolerable.
- 37:59They didn't know anything of the strength of the Lord.
- 38:03They didn't know the joy of the Lord.
- 38:05They didn't know his grace, his freedom, his love.
- 38:09They were just bound by all these laws.
- 38:12And they were adding and adding and adding to laws.
- 38:15And it became an intolerable burden for everybody.
- 38:19Now, when Jesus came, he didn't listen to their man-made laws.
- 38:24Yes, he kept the law of God perfectly.
- 38:27But not their laws.
- 38:29And they couldn't bear him.
- 38:30They were incensed by him.
- 38:33And so they saw him as a massive threat to their authority, to their power, and to their control.
- 38:43And, you know, that's part of the great problem.
- 38:46You look right around the world, and you can see to yourself nearly all the problems that are happening in this world.
- 38:55Certainly at political levels, at government levels, throughout with different countries, often comes down to this power, control, authority.
- 39:09People want it.
- 39:10But it's not just on a large scale.
- 39:12You look at all the problems in a home.
- 39:16If there are problems in a home, it often comes down to these things.
- 39:19Wanting power, wanting control, wanting authority.
- 39:22It's the same within churches.
- 39:23It's the reason why there's been so many divisions in churches down throughout the years.
- 39:29Power, authority, control.
- 39:31It's the same within communities.
- 39:33It's the same within councils.
- 39:35It's the same in the workplace.
- 39:37It's the same within countries.
- 39:39It's all about power.
- 39:41You look at all the wars are taking place.
- 39:45And this is what was happening to these people there.
- 39:47They were losing their power and their authority.
- 39:51Because Jesus was somebody that the people loved.
- 39:56It tells us that they were saying of Jesus, this man speaks with an authority.
- 40:01Not like the scribes or the Pharisees.
- 40:04And that did their head in.
- 40:06They didn't like that.
- 40:07Because they thought they were the power.
- 40:09They were in control.
- 40:10And so they wanted rid of Jesus.
- 40:14And you see, Jesus was exposing, really, he was exposing what they were like.
- 40:21And they got angry.
- 40:22You know, I often think, I might be wrong, but sometimes when you see people who are really angry against Christianity.
- 40:31Who are really angry against the Christian faith.
- 40:36And I say to myself, why are they so angry?
- 40:39You know, there's a lot of people, they don't think anything of it.
- 40:42They just shrug their shoulders and let it pass by.
- 40:45But some people get really hot under the collar and angry.
- 40:48And they want rid of the Bible.
- 40:50They want rid of Sundays.
- 40:51And they want rid of everything.
- 40:52Why?
- 40:52Well, I often think because our wrong air deep down has been struck.
- 40:59They might not recognize it or know it.
- 41:02Why is there, why has an anger been provoked in so many people against the Bible?
- 41:10Well, I think the only logical thing is that our wrong air has been struck.
- 41:17And people may not realize it.
- 41:18But why do you want to remove and eradicate the Bible and Christianity unless it's bothering you?
- 41:27And if it's bothering you, why is it bothering?
- 41:30Because it's God's voice pushing down into the heart.
- 41:36That's why.
- 41:37And that's why these people, they had to get rid of Jesus.
- 41:40Because he was provoking them.
- 41:43And they were not measuring up to what he was saying.
- 41:45And so they had to get rid of him.
- 41:51But there was another reason.
- 41:52And Pilate figured it out right away.
- 41:54And we read of that in verse 18.
- 41:57Pilate recognized that they had delivered him up because of envy.
- 42:02They were envious of him.
- 42:05And side by side with the desire for power and control,
- 42:09envy is a cancer that causes no end of heartache.
- 42:14Remember that envy is murderous.
- 42:18And if you discern envy within your own heart,
- 42:22ask the Lord to deliver you from it.
- 42:24Because envy can parade itself in all kinds of masks
- 42:27and try to shield it and cover it and let out.
- 42:30You're not envious at all.
- 42:32But Pilate knew they had delivered Jesus up because of envy.
- 42:35They were jealous of him.
- 42:37And you look out through the Bible.
- 42:39We've said it before.
- 42:42Envy equals murder.
- 42:44Cain was envious of his brother Abel.
- 42:50And he killed him.
- 42:52Joseph's brothers were envious of Joseph.
- 42:56And so they sold him as a slave.
- 42:59Saul was envious of David.
- 43:01And he tried to kill him.
- 43:03Those in the days of Daniel were envious of his position before the king.
- 43:10And so they had him thrown into the den of lions.
- 43:15Envy is no little thing.
- 43:17Its end is death.
- 43:19And here is Jesus.
- 43:21And he's been delivered up because of envy.
- 43:24I wonder how much heartache throughout people's lives have been brought about
- 43:31because one person is jealous of another.
- 43:37Pray against it.
- 43:38And I wonder how much problems have been caused in the church because of it.
- 43:44I said this before.
- 43:45I remember in college the late Professor Douglas MacMillan saying to us,
- 43:50make sure, brothers, that you pray daily when you get out into the ministry
- 43:56that you will never be envious or jealous of another of your fellow ministers
- 44:02because he said it causes problems.
- 44:04And you know it's true.
- 44:07Being jealous of somebody else.
- 44:10It can cause all because the moment that jealousy in the heart,
- 44:15once it starts to break out into action,
- 44:18then it causes all kinds of problems.
- 44:22So we see that they had given him up because of envy.
- 44:29Move on very quickly.
- 44:30We see there's another person here,
- 44:32and he features at the very beginning of the chapter,
- 44:34well, from verse 3 on.
- 44:35And that's Judas.
- 44:37And Judas had this question as well.
- 44:39What will I do with Jesus?
- 44:42You see, Judas stands as one of the most solemn warnings in Scripture
- 44:46because here was a man who began so well.
- 44:50In fact, he was one of the men that Jesus chose.
- 44:53A man that went with Jesus for three years,
- 44:57the three greatest years this world ever saw.
- 45:00Where Jesus went about healing, preaching, teaching, interacting with people,
- 45:06the son of God in our nature.
- 45:08Judas went everywhere with Jesus.
- 45:11In fact, it would appear that Judas was quite a shrewd, smart character
- 45:16because he was given the bag.
- 45:18In other words, he was a treasurer amongst the disciples.
- 45:21He was given a position of privilege.
- 45:22And at no point along the way did the other disciples think
- 45:28that Judas was going to turn out the way he did.
- 45:32Because when Jesus said,
- 45:34one of you is going to betray me,
- 45:37none of them automatically said,
- 45:39oh, that'll be Judas.
- 45:40Didn't think like that.
- 45:41Because Judas appeared just to be the same as all of them.
- 45:45But the problem was Judas,
- 45:48although Judas wasn't,
- 45:51I've seen a painting where Judas is looking like this really sinister, horrible character.
- 45:56He would have looked just the very same as the others.
- 45:58He would have appeared the same.
- 46:00There was nothing differentiating Judas except in his heart,
- 46:04which Jesus read and Jesus saw.
- 46:07And Jesus said, one of you is a devil.
- 46:09Again, none of them.
- 46:11One of you has a devil.
- 46:12None of them thought, oh, I'll be Judas.
- 46:13But the problem with Judas,
- 46:16he had a rival to Jesus in the heart.
- 46:19And that was money.
- 46:20And it tells us that he was a thief
- 46:22because he used to dip into the bag,
- 46:25the money bag that they had.
- 46:26He used to help himself.
- 46:28That's what scripture tells us.
- 46:30So you see, money was an ongoing problem in Judas' life.
- 46:35And there came a day when Judas had to make a decision.
- 46:39Is it this money that I love or is it Jesus?
- 46:41And you see, the problem of money is our God,
- 46:45or money is our goal.
- 46:46We can never, ever, ever get enough.
- 46:48It doesn't matter how much you have.
- 46:49You have to have more.
- 46:50And that was the problem with Judas.
- 46:52He needed more.
- 46:54And so when the opportunity came for 30 pieces of silver
- 46:57to betray Jesus,
- 47:01and much on all, though I believe Judas liked Jesus,
- 47:04he didn't love him,
- 47:05all his heart,
- 47:06but he liked Jesus,
- 47:08it came to the point where he said,
- 47:10no, I'm betraying Jesus.
- 47:13Money won.
- 47:15And you know, we've got to watch against that.
- 47:17Because what Jesus tells us,
- 47:21what will it profit a person
- 47:22if he gains the whole world
- 47:26and loses his soul?
- 47:28A person could amass the greatest fortune possible.
- 47:31And we know we live in a day
- 47:32where there are people who are multi-billionaires.
- 47:36But if you lose your soul,
- 47:37what is it?
- 47:38It counts for nothing.
- 47:40It's a solemn, solemn warning to us all.
- 47:44This is what happened in the life of Judas,
- 47:47that money became more important to him
- 47:50at the end of the day than Jesus did.
- 47:53And it's, as I say,
- 47:59it's one of the most solemn thoughts in our life
- 48:03where we can find that we would be prepared
- 48:07to sell Jesus.
- 48:09I think that there are people
- 48:10who would probably do that.
- 48:13There are probably people who,
- 48:14in order to get on in the world,
- 48:16are prepared to sell their soul
- 48:17in order to make it.
- 48:20to make it.
- 48:22Well, Judas stands
- 48:23as one of the grimmest warnings.
- 48:27Because we see the end of Judas
- 48:28when he answered the question,
- 48:31what will I do with Jesus?
- 48:32But then, again, very briefly,
- 48:34the man who actually asks the question,
- 48:36who is Pilate,
- 48:37Pilate says,
- 48:39what shall I do with Jesus,
- 48:41who is called the Christ?
- 48:42Because he recognizes
- 48:43something has to be done.
- 48:46And Pilate is facing this great dilemma
- 48:48because as Pilate looks at Jesus,
- 48:52he recognizes that standing before him
- 48:54is an innocent man.
- 48:58Now, Pilate isn't a good man.
- 49:00History will show us
- 49:01the kind of person that he was.
- 49:03Pilate is a politician.
- 49:05Pilate is the kind of person
- 49:06who he will do what favors himself
- 49:09at the end of the day.
- 49:12But he represented the law.
- 49:14He stood for the government.
- 49:15He stood for the law.
- 49:16He stood for what was right
- 49:19or supposed to be right.
- 49:21And Pilate knew that the correct decision
- 49:23at that moment
- 49:24was to release Jesus,
- 49:25let him go.
- 49:27But Pilate had a problem
- 49:28because there was a big crowd
- 49:30in front of him
- 49:31that were demanding
- 49:33the death of Jesus.
- 49:34Not just any death,
- 49:36but the worst death possible
- 49:37reserved for slaves
- 49:39and criminals,
- 49:40crucifixion.
- 49:41Pilate's wife came to him
- 49:45and he said to Pilate,
- 49:47listen,
- 49:47whatever you do,
- 49:49do not condemn that man.
- 49:50I had a dream about him
- 49:52and she called Jesus
- 49:54a righteous man.
- 49:57Got to let him go.
- 49:59And Pilate knew what was right.
- 50:02And so he's facing this dilemma
- 50:04and he tries,
- 50:05first of all,
- 50:06evasive action.
- 50:07And he tries a bit of compromise
- 50:09and he thought,
- 50:10right,
- 50:10this is what I'll do.
- 50:11I'll get this guy, Barabbas,
- 50:13one of the worst going,
- 50:14a notorious terrorist.
- 50:15You could term him that.
- 50:17He was a notorious disruptor
- 50:21of the society.
- 50:22He was in prison.
- 50:24I'll get one of the worst guys possible
- 50:26and I'll put him against Jesus.
- 50:29It's obvious who they'll in the end go for.
- 50:30They're not going to pick Barabbas.
- 50:33So he's trying to evasive action.
- 50:35What does the crowd do?
- 50:38They call for Barabbas.
- 50:39He wasn't expecting that.
- 50:42And so he's facing this dilemma.
- 50:44And you know,
- 50:44there's a lot of people in life
- 50:45try the evasive action
- 50:47with regard to the gospel.
- 50:48You know,
- 50:49some people,
- 50:50I say,
- 50:51they've grown up maybe under the gospel
- 50:52and as time goes on,
- 50:54their conscience begins to bother them.
- 50:56Maybe they'll send their children
- 50:57to Sunday school.
- 50:58They don't come themselves.
- 51:00And you know,
- 51:01it's one of the wonderful things
- 51:02to see so many children
- 51:04and so many parents coming to church.
- 51:08That aside,
- 51:09but then people sometimes say,
- 51:11they'll try,
- 51:12what they'll do,
- 51:12they'll come to church now and again
- 51:14and they'll say,
- 51:15well,
- 51:15God will be happy with that.
- 51:17But then the rest of the time
- 51:18they don't think
- 51:19and they're trying to compromise.
- 51:21They're trying to sort of
- 51:22have a wee bit of a religious side
- 51:24to keep God happy
- 51:25and they're trying then
- 51:26just to live the other way
- 51:28any,
- 51:29the rest of the time.
- 51:30It doesn't work like that.
- 51:31See,
- 51:31there's no,
- 51:33in battle,
- 51:34they talk of no man's land.
- 51:36There doesn't exist
- 51:37a no man's land
- 51:38in the Christian faith.
- 51:40You're either with the Lord
- 51:41or you're against Him.
- 51:43You're either for Him
- 51:44or you're against Him.
- 51:45There's no in between.
- 51:47You're either there
- 51:48or you're not.
- 51:48And so it's important
- 51:52that we nail our colors
- 51:54to the mast.
- 51:57So Pilate is facing a problem.
- 51:59In fact,
- 51:59even as Jesus scourged,
- 52:01a Roman flogging
- 52:02was a fearful thing.
- 52:04And I think he thought
- 52:05that through all these things
- 52:06they'll say,
- 52:06no,
- 52:07let him go.
- 52:08But no,
- 52:09they don't.
- 52:11And at the end,
- 52:12Pilate,
- 52:13he gives in
- 52:14because he doesn't want
- 52:16to lose his popularity.
- 52:17He doesn't want to lose
- 52:18face.
- 52:20That's more important to him
- 52:21than doing what is right.
- 52:23I wonder how many people
- 52:24have done that in life.
- 52:26You know the right decision.
- 52:27You know what's right.
- 52:29But you take the other way
- 52:31because you want
- 52:33the praise of man
- 52:34more than the praise of God.
- 52:36That's what it said
- 52:37about some of the people
- 52:39who were following Jesus
- 52:40secretly in the day.
- 52:42They didn't want it
- 52:43to be discovered
- 52:44that they were followers
- 52:45of Jesus
- 52:45because they might have been
- 52:46thrown out of the synagogue.
- 52:48And they loved the praise
- 52:49of men more than
- 52:50the praise of God.
- 52:52It still happens
- 52:53to this day.
- 52:55Well,
- 52:55that's where the kind
- 52:55of person Pilate was.
- 52:58He preferred to do
- 52:59what was going to grant
- 53:03him favor with people
- 53:04than to do what was right.
- 53:06And so he delivers Jesus
- 53:08to be crucified.
- 53:09and he's,
- 53:11I think it's one of the most,
- 53:13I think it's words
- 53:14that send a shiver
- 53:15down your spine.
- 53:17Where they cry out,
- 53:20that awful cry,
- 53:23when Pilate,
- 53:24he washes his hands
- 53:24saying,
- 53:25I'm innocent
- 53:25to this man's blood.
- 53:27And they cry out,
- 53:28his blood be upon us
- 53:30and our children.
- 53:33And you look at the history,
- 53:35the history of the Jewish race,
- 53:36and see the blood.
- 53:40You know,
- 53:40it's a fearful thought.
- 53:43But before we finish,
- 53:46there are two other things
- 53:47I just want to highlight.
- 53:49And one was picked on
- 53:50last weekend.
- 53:51I thought Ian McCritchie
- 53:52spoke about this
- 53:53absolutely beautifully
- 53:55in the service.
- 53:55And he mentioned
- 53:57the women
- 53:58that we read about
- 54:00in verse 55, 56.
- 54:03There were also
- 54:04many women there,
- 54:05this is,
- 54:06at the crucifixion,
- 54:08looking on from a distance
- 54:09who had followed Jesus
- 54:11from Galilee,
- 54:12ministering to him.
- 54:14Isn't that lovely?
- 54:15Galilee was away
- 54:16up in the north.
- 54:18These women
- 54:18had followed Jesus
- 54:20every step of the way.
- 54:22And they'd followed him
- 54:23when it was dangerous.
- 54:24They followed him
- 54:25when he was despised.
- 54:27They followed him
- 54:28to the very end.
- 54:31And some of these women
- 54:32came to administer,
- 54:33we see,
- 54:35to embalm his body afterwards.
- 54:38But of course,
- 54:39he was risen.
- 54:40And I love the commitment
- 54:41of these women.
- 54:43What will we do with Jesus?
- 54:44Well, follow him
- 54:45to the very end.
- 54:47You know,
- 54:48these women,
- 54:49these women will have
- 54:50a high place in glory.
- 54:52These were women
- 54:53who followed Jesus
- 54:54through thick and thin.
- 54:55Didn't matter the cost.
- 54:57They were going to follow.
- 54:59What an example to us.
- 55:01And then there's one other,
- 55:03before we finish,
- 55:05tells us in verse 57,
- 55:06when it was evening,
- 55:08there came a rich man
- 55:09from Arimathea
- 55:09named Joseph,
- 55:11who was also
- 55:13a disciple of Jesus.
- 55:15Tells us just very starkly
- 55:17there what it is.
- 55:18But if we went to John's gospel,
- 55:21John tells us there,
- 55:22after these things,
- 55:23Joseph of Arimathea,
- 55:25who was a disciple of Jesus,
- 55:27but secretly
- 55:28for fear of the Jews.
- 55:31That's the very thing
- 55:32we're talking about.
- 55:33He's one of these
- 55:33secret disciples.
- 55:37But you know,
- 55:37there came the point,
- 55:38he says,
- 55:38what am I going to do
- 55:39with Jesus?
- 55:41What does he do?
- 55:43When it could cost his life,
- 55:47when it was the most
- 55:48dangerous time,
- 55:50because Jesus had been
- 55:51put to death,
- 55:52bar John,
- 55:53the followers of Jesus,
- 55:54have run.
- 55:56They're nowhere to be found.
- 55:57They forsook him and fled.
- 55:59Here's this man,
- 56:00who had been a secret disciple.
- 56:02He comes up and he says,
- 56:03I'm with Jesus.
- 56:05Give me the body of Jesus.
- 56:06I want to bury him
- 56:07and put him in a good tomb.
- 56:10But another man comes along.
- 56:11It's not mentioned.
- 56:12Here,
- 56:12but it does.
- 56:13And John's gospel tells.
- 56:14The other man was Nicodemus.
- 56:17The man who came to Jesus
- 56:18under the cover of darkness.
- 56:20Again,
- 56:21a high-ranking Pharisee.
- 56:23Didn't want people to know.
- 56:27You know,
- 56:27when push comes to shove,
- 56:29they throw their colors.
- 56:32Nail their colors to the mast.
- 56:34They come out of the darkness.
- 56:36Nicodemus had come in the darkness.
- 56:38Today he's come into the light.
- 56:41What about you?
- 56:42Are you still hiding in the shadows
- 56:44and the darkness?
- 56:47Or have you come to the light
- 56:48to own,
- 56:50to acknowledge,
- 56:51to display that Jesus is your Lord?
- 56:53Well, it's time you did.
- 56:56I know there are people here
- 56:58and I believe you love the Lord.
- 57:02But you need to come out.
- 57:03You need to take that stand,
- 57:05to take that step.
- 57:06What shall I do with Jesus?
- 57:09It's called Christ.
- 57:11And if you've never come to accept him,
- 57:14then it's time you did.
- 57:16Because he's offering himself.
- 57:17We had our communion last week.
- 57:18Here's the next week after the communion.
- 57:20Time's going.
- 57:22One day,
- 57:23the offer
- 57:24will not be any...
- 57:26You know,
- 57:27it's wonderful.
- 57:29We have,
- 57:31quite often,
- 57:31you'll go to the shop
- 57:32and you'll see
- 57:33something and say,
- 57:36offer,
- 57:37there's a price reduction,
- 57:38offer on
- 57:39until such and such a date.
- 57:41That's it.
- 57:43And after that,
- 57:44it reverts back to normal price.
- 57:47You know,
- 57:47the offer of the gospel
- 57:48right now
- 57:49doesn't have any
- 57:50until such date.
- 57:53But let me tell you
- 57:54there is a date.
- 57:56And the offer of the gospel
- 57:57will be offered
- 57:58until
- 57:59Jesus returns.
- 58:02And he's going to come
- 58:02all of a sudden.
- 58:04We don't know when.
- 58:06It's going to be
- 58:07when everything is
- 58:08just as normal.
- 58:09That's what he tells us.
- 58:10It tells us
- 58:11like in the day of the flood.
- 58:12They ate,
- 58:12they drank,
- 58:13they gave in marriage.
- 58:14It was a normal day
- 58:16and then the flood.
- 58:17And he says,
- 58:18it's going to be
- 58:18exactly like that
- 58:20when I return.
- 58:23And when he returns,
- 58:25there will be
- 58:26no more offers.
- 58:28But today there is.
- 58:30It's as clear
- 58:30and as fresh
- 58:31as ever it was.
- 58:33Well, today you accept Jesus
- 58:35if you already haven't.
- 58:36Let's pray.
- 58:37Lord our God,
- 58:38we pray to bless us.
- 58:39We give thanks
- 58:39for our time together.
- 58:41We pray that
- 58:41this word
- 58:43may go deep down
- 58:44in our heart
- 58:44that it might affect us,
- 58:46change us.
- 58:47Help us, Lord,
- 58:48to stand on your side.
- 58:49Help us, Lord,
- 58:50to be courageous.
- 58:51We know that so often
- 58:52we don't want to be,
- 58:54so often we prefer
- 58:55to hide in the shadows.
- 58:57We might want to be
- 58:58the secret disciple.
- 59:01It's amazing
- 59:01how things propel us out
- 59:03from the shadows
- 59:04and the darkness.
- 59:04And we pray that
- 59:05that might be so
- 59:06for people here today.
- 59:08Watch over us
- 59:09and bless our homes,
- 59:10bless our families.
- 59:12Grant health and strength,
- 59:13we pray.
- 59:14Do us good.
- 59:15Lord, we need you.
- 59:16And we ask that your grace
- 59:18and your mercy
- 59:19and peace may indwell us
- 59:20and surround us.
- 59:21Take away from us
- 59:22and our every sin.
- 59:23In Jesus' name we ask it.
- 59:25Amen.
- 59:25Amen.
- 59:27We're going to conclude
- 59:28singing in Psalm 57.
- 59:32And this is in the Scottish Psalter.
- 59:36Psalm 57, verses 1 to 3.
- 59:42Psalm 57, verses 1 to 3.
- 59:44Be merciful to me, O God,
- 59:48thy mercy unto me
- 59:49do thou extend,
- 59:50because my soul
- 59:51doth put our trust in thee.
- 59:53Yea, in the shadow of thy wings
- 59:55my refuge I will place,
- 59:57until these sad calamities
- 59:59do wholly overpass.
- 1:00:01My cry I will cause
- 1:00:03to ascend unto the Lord most high.
- 1:00:06To God who doth all things for me
- 1:00:08perform most perfectly.
- 1:00:10From heaven he shall send down,
- 1:00:13and me from his reproach defend,
- 1:00:16that would devour me.
- 1:00:17God is truth,
- 1:00:18and mercy forth shall send.
- 1:00:21One, two, three, four stanzas.
- 1:00:24Be merciful to me, O God.
- 1:00:30Be merciful to me, O God.
- 1:00:40Thy mercy unto me,
- 1:00:48through thou extend,
- 1:00:53because my soul
- 1:00:57doth put her trust in thee.
- 1:01:05yea, in the shadow of thy wings,
- 1:01:15my refuge I will place,
- 1:01:23until these sad calamities
- 1:01:32who hold me overpass.
- 1:01:39My cry I will cost you
- 1:01:48to ascend,
- 1:01:49and to the Lord most high.
- 1:01:58to God who doth all things for me,
- 1:02:07her form most perfectly.
- 1:02:13from him he shall send down,
- 1:02:23and me from his reproach defend,
- 1:02:31that would be,
- 1:02:36and to the Lord most high.
- 1:02:37that would be,
- 1:02:39my God is truth,
- 1:02:41and mercy forth shall send.
- 1:02:50I'll go to the front door.
- 1:02:51Now may the grace,
- 1:02:52mercy,
- 1:02:52and peace of God,
- 1:02:53the Father,
- 1:02:54Son,
- 1:02:54and Holy Spirit,
- 1:02:56rest and abide upon each one of you now,
- 1:02:58and forevermore.
- 1:02:59Amen.
- 1:02:59Amen.
- 1:02:59Amen.
- 1:03:04Amen.
- 1:03:06Amen.
- 1:03:07Amen.
- 1:03:08Amen.
- 1:03:08Amen.
- 1:03:10Amen.
- 1:03:10Honor,
- 1:03:11Honor,
- 1:03:12myész,
- 1:03:15Cyani from Jack,
- 1:03:17Franciselet,
- 1:03:17Choctwitch,
- 1:03:18свят and
- 1:03:28Amen.