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But I Have Prayed For You · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Thank you, James, for the warm welcome.
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Once again, it's lovely to be with you,
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to be back amongst old friends,
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and we pray that indeed we'll know God's blessing
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by his spirit over these days
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as we come around word and sacrament.
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Well, friends, we're going to begin
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by singing to God's praise.
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We're going to worship his name from Psalm 146.
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This is a Sing Sam's version on page 191.
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Psalm 146.
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We can read at the beginning of the psalm.
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Praise the Lord, my soul, O praise him.
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I'll extol him all my days.
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While I live to God, my saviour,
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from my heart I will sing praise.
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Do not put your trust in princes,
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mortal men who cannot save.
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All their plans will come to nothing
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when they perish in the grave.
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Then down to verse 9 and 10.
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He frustrates the wicked's purpose,
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so the Lord through endless days
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reigns to every generation.
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Praise your God, O Zion, praise.
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We'll stand to sing the whole psalm
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to the praise of God.
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Praise the Lord, my soul, O praise him.
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I'll extol him all my days.
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While I live to God, my saviour,
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from my heart I will sing praise.
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Do not put your trust in princes,
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or tell men who cannot save.
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All their plans will come to nothing
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when they perish in the grave.
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Blessed is the one who truly
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works for help to Jacob's call.
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Blessed is the one who places all his hope
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upon the Lord.
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He who made the earth and heaven
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and blesses with all their store.
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He who keeps his every promise
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who is faithful evermore.
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He delivers from oppression
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and releases the hungry's plight.
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He releases those in prison
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to the blind the Lord his side.
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Those who are bowed down he raises.
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God delights in righteousness.
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He protects and cares for strangers,
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widows and the fatherless.
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He frustrates the wicked purpose
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So the Lord through endless days
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Praise to every generation
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Praise your God, O Zion, praise.
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Praise your God, O Zion, praise.
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Amen.
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Let's join together and unite our hearts in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Gracious and eternal God,
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King of kings and Lord of lords,
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the God of heaven and the God of earth,
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the one who inhabits eternity,
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we gather this evening out before you, O Lord,
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with that longing in our hearts
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to truly know what it is to worship.
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You are truly worthy of all praise
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and adoration of your name being high
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and lifted up.
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You are the one to whom we seek to sing praises
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and even exalt in our hearts.
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And yet we are so aware that even for this short time
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as we come together as a people,
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that without you we can do nothing.
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We are completely reliant upon you
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in all that we seek to do in terms of worship,
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worship, and in service.
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And in light of this, O Lord,
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we pray that you might be pleased
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to fulfill that promise to your people
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that where two or three gather in your name,
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you are there in their midst,
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that for all of us here,
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we could truly say that we come not in our own name,
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but in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
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and that you would honor this
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by your Holy Spirit coming
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and applying this word to our hearts
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and our minds,
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so that all the more
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we might bow down before you.
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And as we reflect upon who you are
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and what we have from your hand day by day,
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we cannot but come and give thanks.
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You are the God who is supplying all of our needs
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according to your riches and glory,
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the one who gives unto us health and strength
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and daily food,
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the one who's lavishing upon us
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such an abundance of blessings day by day.
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Forgive us, we pray, O Lord,
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for the fact that we are so slow
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to return thanks to you,
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that all too often as a people
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we find ourselves taking from the hand of God,
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yet are so reluctant to give back.
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Forgive us, O Lord, for such,
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and grant unto us that true
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and that right spirit of thankfulness,
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not least for these spiritual blessings,
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the blessings of our soul,
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that for God so loved the world,
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he gave his only begotten Son,
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so that whosoever believes in him
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should not perish,
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but have everlasting life.
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What a wonder it is
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that we can lay hold of this promise by faith.
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What a wonder it is
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that when our health, our strength,
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and our daily food passes away as it will,
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that we can lay hold
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upon the eternal promises of Christ
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that are indeed yea and amen.
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And as we gather these days
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and as we seek to remember,
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we pray, O Lord,
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that our hearts and our minds
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might be taken to Calvary's hill,
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that we might be enabled
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to a fresh gaze upon
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the beauty of our Saviour,
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the one who was despised
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and rejected of men,
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a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.
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There was no beauty in him
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that we should look upon him.
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But yet there is beauty there,
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inexpressible beauty,
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beauty that enables sinners
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such as us to cry out,
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He died for me.
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O Lord, we praise you then
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for the wonder of what it is
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to be brought into the royal household of faith
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with that spirit of adoption
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whereby we can cry out,
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Abba, Father.
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And if there are any here this evening hour
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who are yet to know what it is
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to take their place
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in the banqueting house of the Lord,
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who perhaps,
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as we once were ourselves,
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are strangers both to grace and to God,
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who know not their danger,
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who sense not their load,
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who are quite content
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going through the realms of time
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without a word of eternity.
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We pray, O Lord,
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that tonight and in the days that lie ahead,
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your Holy Spirit might be pleased
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to touch them at their point of need,
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taking them to that place of darkness
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to your own most marvellous light
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from death to life.
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And if there are any here this evening
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who do know you in their hearts
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and love you,
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but are yet to come
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and to profess your name
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for the first time,
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through perhaps fear of man
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or whatever reason
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they are perhaps following from a distance,
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we pray, O Lord,
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that you would impress upon them,
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even through the preaching
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of your word this evening,
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the blessing that follows obedience.
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We know in many ways
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that the easiest thing is to stay away.
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We know that all that we are called to do
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in the name of the Lord
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appears to be so difficult,
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a mountain set before us.
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But yet we know that these thoughts
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come not from yourself,
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but from the evil one
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who seeks to distract us
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and to destroy our peace
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and to lead us on a path
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that does not honour your name.
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And so help our dear friends here
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who perhaps have even been on the road
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for many a year,
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who are yet to come
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and to take this step of faith,
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to know in a very real way
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that they will not walk on water
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until they step out of that boat,
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keeping their eyes upon Jesus,
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the author and the finisher
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of their faith.
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And we thank you, Lord,
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that you do not call us
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to go it alone,
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that you give unto us
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that helping hand
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every step of the way.
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As for many of us here tonight,
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perhaps we are so acutely aware
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of the challenges
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that face us in this wilderness,
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but yet you've not promised
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an easy path for any of us,
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but what you have promised
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is that you will be with us,
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that your rod and your staff,
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that they will comfort us
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and lead us and guide us
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as we navigate our way
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through this scene of time.
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Be with us, dear congregation,
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we pray.
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We give thanks for them
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and their witness in this town.
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We pray for all their efforts
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to reach out
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with the glorious gospel
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of Jesus Christ
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in a world that in many ways
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is so dark
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and is so needful
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of the light of your gospel.
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We pray that you may give unto them
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that boldness to go out,
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not in their own strength,
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but in the strength
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of the one who cried out,
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it is finished,
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the one who promises to us
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that he will be with us,
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that he will honor those
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who honor them.
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We pray now that you will
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lead us in your truth,
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that you will open out hearts
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and our minds
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to incline your voice,
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to hear what you have
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to say to us this evening hour.
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To all we ask,
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we ask for the forgiveness
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of our many sins.
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In Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Well, friends,
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we're going to sing once more
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to the praise of our Lord and Savior
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from Psalm 46,
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this time in the Scottish Psalter.
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Psalm 46.
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We can pick up our reading
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at verse 7 of the Psalm.
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The Lord of hosts upon our side
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doth constantly remain,
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the God of Jacob's our refuge
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us safely to maintain.
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Come and behold
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what wondrous works
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have by the Lord
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have by the Lord been wrought.
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Come see what desolations
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he on the earth
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hath brought.
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Down to verse 10.
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Be still and know
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that I am God
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among the heathen.
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I will be exalted.
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I on earth
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will be exalted.
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I will sing
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verses 7 to 10
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to the praise of God
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standing to sing
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the Lord of hosts
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upon our side.
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Amen.
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The Lord of hosts
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upon our side
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hath constantly
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hath lost me
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hath lost me
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hath lost me
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hath lost me
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hath lost me
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hath lost me
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hath lost me
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hath lost me
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hath lost me
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hath lost me
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hath lost me
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The evil desolation he on the earth hath thrown.
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Until the ends of all the earth, wars into peace he turns.
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The glory break, the spear he cut, in fire the child burns.
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Be still and know that I am gone, upon the hidden eye.
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Will be exalted, thy honour will be exalted high.
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Friends, we're going to turn now to read God's word together from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22.
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Luke, chapter 22.
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We're going to read two sections of this chapter.
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Firstly, from verse 14 through to 34.
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And then we'll pick up our reading at verse 54 through to verse 62.
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So that's Luke 22, 14 to 34, and 54 to 62.
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Let us hear the word of God.
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And when the hour came, he reclined at a table, and the apostles with him.
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And he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
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For I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
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And he took a cup.
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And when he had given thanks, he said, take this and divide it among yourselves.
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For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.
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And he took bread.
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And when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
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This is my body, which is given for you.
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Do this in remembrance of me.
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And likewise the cup, after they had eaten, saying,
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This cup that is poured out for you is a new covenant in my blood.
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But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.
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For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined.
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But woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.
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And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
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A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
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And he said to them,
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The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them,
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and those in authority over them are called benefactors.
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But not so with you.
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Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest,
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and the leader as one who serves.
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For who is the greater, one who reclines at a table or one who serves?
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Yes, is it not the one who reclines at table?
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But I am among you as the one who serves.
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You are those who have stayed with me in my trials.
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And I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,
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that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom,
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and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
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Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,
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that he might sift you like wheat.
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But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail,
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and when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
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Peter said to him,
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Lord, I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death.
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Jesus said, I tell you, Peter,
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the cock will not crow this day
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until you deny three times that you know me.
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Then on to verse 54.
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Then they seized him and led him away,
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that is Jesus, bringing him into the high priest's house.
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And Peter was following at a distance.
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And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard
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and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
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Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light
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and looking closely at him, said,
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This man also was with him.
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But he denied it, saying,
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Woman, I do not know him.
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And a little later, someone else saw him and said,
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You also are one of them.
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But Peter said, Man, I am not.
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After an interval of about an hour,
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still another insisted, saying,
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Certainly this man also was with him,
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for he too is a Galilean.
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But Peter said, Man,
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I do not know what you are talking about.
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And immediately while he was still speaking,
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the cock crowed,
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and the Lord turned and looked at Peter.
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And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord,
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how he had said to him,
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Before the cock crows today,
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you will deny me three times.
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And he went out and wept bitterly.
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And so on.
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Amen.
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We pray God's blessing on that portion of his own holy,
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inspired and inerrant word.
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Friends, before we come back to this passage,
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we're going to sing once more.
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This time from Psalm 9,
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again in the Sing Psalms,
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Psalm 9,
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9a.
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We'll pick up our reading at verse 7.
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Psalm 9, verse 7.
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This is on page 9 of the psalm book.
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The Lord forever reigns on high.
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His throne for judgment stands.
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He'll judge the world in righteousness.
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With justice rule the lands.
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The Lord will be a hiding place for those who are oppressed.
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And he will be a strong defense for those who are distressed.
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We'll sing down to the end of the verse marked 11,
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to the praise of God,
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standing to sing,
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The Lord forever reigns on high.
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The Lord forever reigns on high.
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His throne for judgment stands.
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He'll judge the world in righteousness.
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He'll judge the world in righteousness.
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With justice rule the lands.
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The Lord will be a hiding place for those who are oppressed.
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And he will be a strong defense for those who are distressed.
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All those who know your name, O Lord,
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In you, there trust will place.
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For you do not abandon those.
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For you do not abandon those who are afflicted.
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Sing praises to the Lord who sits in Zion on his throne.
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Among the nations of the world proclaim what he has done.
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Well friends, for a short time, let's turn back together to the chapter that we read in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22.
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Luke, chapter 22.
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If we were to take a text this evening, perhaps we could consider the words of verses 31 and 32.
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Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat.
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But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.
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And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
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Well friends, over the course of the weekend, what I'd like to do, or God willing, what I hope to do, is to lay before you something of that great plan of God's redemption.
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That is, after all, why we are here.
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What I'm going to do is ask for questions.
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Tonight we're going to think about why we are here this weekend.
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And we're going to focus our thoughts and answering this question upon the narrative that we have before us.
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Why are we here?
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God willing, tomorrow night, we're then going to answer the question, how has this been made possible?
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On Lord's Day morning, we'll think about what we've received as a result of that which has been made possible for us.
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And then God willing, on Lord's Day evening, we'll close by thinking about who this is for.
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Why, how, what, and who.
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Now I'm going to begin this evening by asking another question.
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And as we think about the answer to this question, we hopefully, by the end of the sermon,
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and we'll be able to answer the overarching question that we're considering, why are we here?
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And the question I have for you friends is this.
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Tonight, on Friday the 17th of February, 2023,
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how is your walk with the Lord?
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It's a searching question.
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It's a probing question.
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It's a question that causes us to stop and to think.
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And were we to go around this building this evening and ask individuals that very question,
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I dare say that we would have many different answers.
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Some of you would say, well, my walk isn't as it should be.
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It's not what I would like it to be.
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In fact, if I'm being honest, I feel like I'm following the Lord from afar,
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and I have been for a while.
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I present myself outwardly as following the Lord,
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but in my heart there's something not quite right.
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Perhaps others of you might say, well, I actually feel close to the Lord at the minute.
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I'm enjoying sweet fellowship with him in his word, in prayer with his people.
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I would say, yes, I am walking closely with the Lord.
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Yet if we're being entirely honest, all of us, myself included,
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those of us who are Christians here tonight,
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we can identify with both of these feelings and everything in between at one time or another,
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being close to the Lord or perhaps walking at a distance from him in our heart.
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But of course, and we'll see this tonight,
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there's nothing new under the sun.
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Because here we have our friend Peter.
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Here we have Peter who, in the space of a few hours,
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he thought in his own mind's eye that, yes, he was walking closely with the Lord.
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But then soon after, within a matter of hours,
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he shows that, in fact, he isn't.
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So tonight we're going to think about Peter and his denial of Christ under three headings.
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Firstly, we're going to think about Peter's confidence in himself.
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Secondly, we're going to think about how he is confronted by Satan.
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And then lastly, we're going to close by looking at that commitment
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that is shown to Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Confidence, confrontation, and commitment.
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And after having considered these three points,
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we should be able to answer the question,
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why are we here this weekend?
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So here we are in verse 31, 32.
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And we find ourselves in the upper room.
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This is, of course, the night before Jesus is crucified.
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And here he is spending time with his disciples.
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He's having fellowship with his disciples.
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He's breaking bread with his disciples in the form of the Lord's Supper.
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He's having a blessed time.
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But what do we notice, friends?
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We notice that no sooner has our blessed time of fellowship
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had with Jesus and his disciples that it's broken.
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It's broken.
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What we see here is that something comes in
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that seeks to destroy that blessing.
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The problem?
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Well, the problem is that very quickly after having had the Lord's Supper,
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the disciples, what they do is they forget.
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They take their eyes off Jesus.
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They neglect to remember exactly what they've just been doing
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and who they've been doing it with.
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And instead, their eyes are focused upon themselves.
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See, in verse 24, I have here.
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Yes, 24.
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A dispute also arose among them
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as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
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Isn't this just so like us?
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After a time of great blessing with God's people,
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around sacrament, around word,
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isn't it so like us just to be distracted,
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to be embroiled in disputes and discussions
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which in reality have no real importance?
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That's what we see here.
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And of course, this has consequences
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because when we're in that heady frame of mind,
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what we find, friends,
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and we know this knowing what human nature is like,
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when we've had a dispute over something,
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something we're intently focused on,
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what we find is that we have this confidence in ourselves,
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this assumed confidence,
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whether it's genuine or not is another thing,
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but we have this confidence.
33:00
We're sure that we're right.
33:03
We're sure that our point of view is the point of view
33:07
as the disciples themselves were eager to find out
33:10
who would be the greatest.
33:11
Would it be me?
33:15
And that's what we see with Peter
33:17
because no sooner has this dispute taken place
33:22
that Jesus announces the unthinkable to him.
33:28
Simon, Simon.
33:30
Just notice that.
33:31
Simon, Simon.
33:32
What's Jesus doing here?
33:34
He's referring to Simon Peter by his old name.
33:39
Jesus had given to him the name Peter.
33:41
Now he's been referred to as his old name.
33:44
Why?
33:45
Because he was going to go back very soon to his old ways.
33:51
And just look at how he says it.
33:53
Simon, Simon.
33:55
There's that tone of disappointment.
33:58
That tone of a loving heavenly father
34:02
speaking to a son,
34:03
of a brother speaking to a brother.
34:06
Simon, Simon.
34:07
I don't want you to do this.
34:10
Simon, Simon.
34:12
Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you
34:16
that he might sift you like wheat.
34:20
And it goes on to say,
34:20
I tell you, Peter,
34:22
the rooster will not crow this day
34:25
until you deny three times that you know me.
34:30
I wonder, friend, tonight,
34:32
if you were told that this very evening
34:35
you would deny the Lord three times
34:37
with cursing and with swearing.
34:40
If I was to tell you that,
34:42
what would your reaction be?
34:43
Well, you would no doubt,
34:45
and me with you,
34:46
our natural reaction would be to say,
34:48
never, never would I do such a thing to my Lord.
34:53
Never would I deny my Savior,
34:55
certainly not with cursing and with swearing.
35:00
Peter certainly had that confidence.
35:03
And in Matthew's account of what we have before us here,
35:06
he responds by saying,
35:07
even if I must die with you,
35:11
I will not deny you.
35:16
You've all heard the saying,
35:17
never say never.
35:21
And of course,
35:22
as the Lord's people,
35:23
as Christians,
35:23
this is something that we continually need
35:26
to take on board.
35:28
You know,
35:28
one of the most dangerous things
35:30
for us to do,
35:31
friends,
35:31
as Christians,
35:32
is to look upon others
35:34
who have perhaps fallen into sin
35:37
and to look upon them
35:39
with disgust
35:40
and with disdain
35:42
and confidently saying out hearts,
35:44
although we might not articulate it
35:46
with our lips,
35:46
saying out hearts,
35:47
I would never do that.
35:49
Whatever I would do,
35:50
I would never do that.
35:54
It's lethal.
35:55
It's lethal because it shows
35:59
that we've lost sight
36:00
of who we really are by nature.
36:03
It's lethal because this way of thinking,
36:06
it overestimates our own strength
36:09
and ability to resist sin.
36:14
It's lethal.
36:15
We see this with Peter
36:16
because at its center,
36:18
this way of thinking
36:20
is one of the most ugliest sins of all.
36:26
The sin of pride.
36:30
And of course,
36:30
as an aside,
36:31
when we see our brothers
36:33
or sisters falling into sin
36:35
instead of looking down upon them
36:38
from our ivory tower,
36:39
what are we to do?
36:41
We are to draw alongside them.
36:43
We are to seek to restore them
36:46
in that same spirit of restoration
36:48
that has been granted to us
36:51
as undeserving sinners
36:53
by our Lord and our Savior.
36:55
We forget, don't we,
36:57
who we are in Christ
37:00
and what he's done for us.
37:04
And so,
37:05
such unfounded confidence
37:07
that here Peter has it
37:09
only goes on to make him weaker.
37:12
He who thinks he stands,
37:13
take heed lest he falls.
37:15
And that's what happens.
37:17
His confidence leads him,
37:19
and this brings us to our second point,
37:21
to be confronted by Satan.
37:26
Remember what Jesus said,
37:27
Satan has desired to sift you as wheat.
37:33
What a vivid and clear picture this is.
37:37
When the wheat was harvested,
37:39
the wheat and the chaff,
37:41
they were shaken,
37:42
they were tossed up into the air,
37:45
and as it was being tossed up into the air,
37:47
what would happen was
37:48
that the wind would blow
37:50
the chaff away
37:53
and the wheat would be left,
37:55
the good grain would be left.
37:59
And that's what Satan's deciding
38:00
to do with Peter.
38:01
That's what he's deciding to do
38:02
with all of us,
38:03
if the truth be told.
38:04
That's what he's deciding
38:05
to do with Peter.
38:06
He wants to violently shake him
38:09
to see if really,
38:10
really this faith
38:11
that he professes to have
38:13
is through.
38:14
After all,
38:14
look at the many times
38:15
Peter has blundered.
38:17
Look at the many times
38:18
he's let the Lord down.
38:20
He certainly doesn't look
38:21
like one of the Lord's people.
38:23
Let's shake him,
38:24
let's sift him,
38:25
let's get to the root of the matter
38:26
and show him for who he really is.
38:33
And so he confronts Peter.
38:37
But what does he confront him with?
38:40
Does he confront Peter
38:41
with an obviously glaring sin
38:43
that would instantly derail Peter,
38:48
discredit Peter?
38:50
Is that what he does?
38:51
Leading Peter into this obvious,
38:53
heinous sin?
38:54
Is that what he does?
38:55
No, it's not,
38:55
because that's not how Satan operates.
38:57
He's far more subtle
38:59
and clever than that.
39:03
What he does is this.
39:05
The next day,
39:06
when Jesus is being led away,
39:08
we missed out some of the chapter,
39:09
when he's being led away
39:11
by those, of course,
39:13
who are going to crucify him,
39:14
he confronts Peter.
39:17
Satan confronts Peter.
39:19
What does he confront him with?
39:20
Well, he confronts him
39:21
with a temptation.
39:23
What's the temptation?
39:26
Well, it's such a subtle temptation,
39:28
but one that I believe
39:29
is so real to all of us,
39:31
that temptation of comfort
39:34
and of ease.
39:37
You see, Peter had a choice.
39:40
Here's his Lord and Savior
39:42
being led away to be crucified.
39:45
He has a choice.
39:46
He can either boldly
39:48
and publicly identify
39:49
as a follower of Jesus,
39:52
or he can remain in the shadows.
39:56
He can go to the side.
39:58
He can somehow show
40:01
that he doesn't really know
40:02
this man Jesus.
40:03
Verse 54.
40:06
Then they seized him
40:07
and led him away,
40:08
bringing him into
40:09
the high priest's house.
40:12
And what does Peter do?
40:14
And Peter was following
40:16
at a distance.
40:19
That's the first temptation.
40:21
The subtle temptation.
40:23
Following at a distance.
40:26
Having so been confronted
40:29
with that temptation
40:30
of comfort,
40:31
of ease,
40:32
of taking the easy way out,
40:34
he does so.
40:35
He follows Jesus at a distance.
40:37
No doubt he's embarrassed
40:38
or he's scared
40:40
to identify
40:41
with the Lord Jesus Christ
40:43
because in doing so,
40:44
he knows
40:45
there will be repercussions.
40:50
There was repercussions,
40:53
but perhaps not in the way
40:54
that he expected.
40:56
Because in following Jesus
40:58
from a distance,
40:59
friends,
40:59
he was putting himself
41:01
in the perfect place
41:03
to be confronted further
41:05
by Satan.
41:08
And that's again what happens.
41:10
Because not only does Peter
41:12
follow Jesus from a distance,
41:15
but then he goes on further
41:17
to identify
41:18
with the enemies of God.
41:22
Verse 55.
41:22
And when they had kindled
41:25
a fire in the middle
41:26
of the courtyard
41:27
and sat down together,
41:31
Peter sat down among them.
41:35
Then a servant girl,
41:36
seeing him as he sat
41:37
in the light
41:38
and looking closely at him,
41:40
said,
41:41
This man also
41:43
was with him.
41:45
At this crucial,
41:48
pivotal point
41:49
in the life
41:49
and the ministry
41:50
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
41:52
instead of actively
41:53
being involved
41:55
with what's going on,
41:57
instead of spending time
41:58
with the disciples,
41:59
perhaps in prayer
42:00
over the situation
42:02
that was unfolding
42:03
before their very eyes
42:04
or fighting the cause
42:06
of Christ,
42:07
trying to be there
42:08
for his Savior,
42:10
instead,
42:10
what do we see?
42:11
we see Peter
42:13
abdicating
42:14
all responsibility
42:16
and warming himself
42:19
at the fire
42:21
of the faithless.
42:23
This was one
42:25
who had been
42:25
so confident
42:26
and now compromised,
42:31
weakened in his witness,
42:34
so that having been
42:35
confronted by that
42:37
temptation
42:38
of comfort
42:39
and ease,
42:41
by distancing himself
42:42
from Jesus,
42:43
things begin
42:44
to snowball,
42:46
to get out
42:47
of all control.
42:48
Verse 57,
42:50
but he denied it,
42:51
saying,
42:51
Woman,
42:52
I do not know him.
42:54
I don't know this man,
42:55
he's saying.
42:57
And a little later,
42:58
someone else saw him
42:59
and said,
42:59
You also are one of them,
43:01
but Peter said,
43:02
Man,
43:02
I am not.
43:06
And it's not even
43:06
as if he regretted
43:08
what he said
43:08
and wished he hadn't
43:10
said it.
43:10
You know,
43:11
sometimes we say things
43:12
in the heat of the moment
43:14
and we wince
43:15
at the thought
43:16
that we've just said it,
43:17
we wished we hadn't said it,
43:18
we wouldn't say it again.
43:20
Well,
43:20
we see that another hour
43:21
goes past
43:22
and what does Peter do?
43:25
He goes on
43:25
to deny
43:26
his Savior
43:28
again.
43:29
Satan desired
43:33
to sift
43:34
Peter
43:35
as wheat
43:37
and Peter
43:39
agreed.
43:40
As it were,
43:41
he signed
43:42
on the dotted line.
43:44
An important point
43:45
for all of us
43:46
to remember,
43:47
it's
43:47
so easy,
43:49
I suppose,
43:50
for us
43:50
when we're confronted
43:51
with the suggestions
43:52
of Satan
43:52
that
43:53
we blame
43:55
Satan,
43:55
that we blame
43:58
Satan
43:59
for our sins.
44:01
He made me do it.
44:03
And of course,
44:03
Satan does whisper
44:05
in our ears,
44:06
sometimes very loudly,
44:08
sometimes very convincingly,
44:10
sometimes even
44:11
as an angel of light.
44:14
So it's hard
44:14
to discern
44:15
if it's
44:16
from the Lord
44:17
or if it's
44:18
from Satan himself.
44:19
But at the end
44:21
of the day,
44:22
we cannot
44:22
blame
44:23
Satan
44:24
for
44:24
our
44:25
own
44:26
sin.
44:30
So friends,
44:32
what we
44:32
have before us
44:34
here is,
44:35
is it not
44:36
a
44:36
heartbreaking
44:38
scene?
44:40
A scene
44:41
that ought to
44:42
lead all of us,
44:43
myself included,
44:44
to examine
44:45
ourselves
44:45
and to
44:46
remind
44:47
ourselves
44:48
that the only
44:49
confidence we
44:50
can ever
44:50
afford to
44:51
have,
44:52
it's not
44:52
in ourselves,
44:54
it's not
44:55
in our own
44:55
estimation
44:56
of things
44:58
in this world.
45:00
The only
45:01
confidence
45:01
that we
45:02
can ever
45:03
or should
45:04
ever have
45:05
should be
45:05
in the person
45:06
and in the work
45:07
of the Lord
45:09
Jesus
45:10
Christ.
45:13
Maybe
45:14
tonight
45:14
you're sitting
45:15
here or
45:16
perhaps you're
45:16
joining us
45:17
online and
45:18
and you're
45:20
saying with a
45:20
heavy heart,
45:21
that's me.
45:23
That's me.
45:24
People around
45:25
me don't
45:25
know it,
45:25
but that's
45:26
me.
45:27
You're
45:27
talking to
45:28
me.
45:28
I see
45:29
myself in
45:29
this whole
45:30
situation.
45:34
Well,
45:34
friends,
45:34
if that is
45:35
you tonight,
45:36
dear
45:36
struggling
45:38
Christian
45:39
friend,
45:39
and I'm
45:40
sure there
45:40
are some
45:41
of you
45:41
here,
45:41
that is
45:42
the reality
45:42
of what
45:43
it is to
45:44
be the
45:44
Lord.
45:44
We're
45:44
not good
45:45
at talking
45:45
about that,
45:46
are we?
45:47
Building one
45:48
another up,
45:48
being there
45:49
for one
45:49
another,
45:51
but yet
45:51
it's so
45:51
part and
45:52
partial of
45:53
what it
45:53
is to
45:54
be called
45:54
from
45:55
darkness
45:55
into
45:56
his
45:56
marvelous
45:57
light,
45:58
that we
45:59
are
45:59
warring
45:59
against
46:00
principalities
46:01
and powers
46:02
each and
46:04
every day.
46:04
and if
46:05
you are
46:05
in the
46:05
center of
46:06
that
46:06
warfare,
46:07
if you're
46:08
so aware
46:09
of it
46:09
and you're
46:10
succumbing
46:11
time and
46:12
time again
46:13
not to
46:14
make excuse
46:15
for sin,
46:15
we do not
46:16
make excuse
46:16
for sin,
46:17
we see the
46:17
result of
46:18
sin,
46:19
we see
46:19
where it
46:20
leads us
46:20
here,
46:22
and as
46:22
heartbreaking
46:23
as this
46:24
scene is,
46:26
we can't
46:27
leave it
46:28
there,
46:29
we can't
46:31
leave it
46:32
there because
46:32
we come
46:33
here tonight
46:34
around a
46:35
message of
46:36
hope,
46:38
and so
46:39
as
46:39
heartbreaking
46:39
as the
46:40
scene is
46:41
before us
46:42
here,
46:42
it's not
46:42
a hopeless
46:44
scene,
46:45
this brings
46:47
us to our
46:47
final point,
46:49
the
46:49
commitment,
46:51
the
46:52
commitment
46:53
shown by
46:53
the Lord
46:54
Jesus Christ
46:55
to a
46:56
weak and
46:57
weary
46:57
sinner,
46:59
Peter,
47:00
and to
47:00
a weak
47:01
and weary
47:02
sinner,
47:03
you,
47:04
and to a
47:05
weak and
47:06
weary
47:06
sinner,
47:08
me,
47:09
and as
47:11
we reflect
47:11
upon that
47:12
commitment,
47:14
we're led
47:15
to answer
47:16
that question,
47:17
why are
47:18
we here
47:19
this weekend?
47:21
Verse 31,
47:22
Simon,
47:23
Simon,
47:24
behold,
47:25
Satan
47:26
demanded
47:27
to have
47:28
you,
47:29
that he
47:29
might sift
47:30
you like
47:31
wheat,
47:31
but,
47:32
but,
47:32
aren't we
47:33
so thankful
47:33
for that
47:34
word,
47:34
but,
47:35
but,
47:36
I have
47:38
prayed for
47:38
you that
47:40
your faith
47:41
may not
47:44
fail,
47:46
because although
47:47
Satan desired
47:48
to sift
47:49
Peter as
47:50
wheat,
47:51
and Peter
47:52
said yes,
47:54
Jesus said
47:54
no,
47:55
just like
47:57
with Job,
47:58
the Lord
47:59
allowed
47:59
Satan to
48:00
go so
48:01
far with
48:02
Peter
48:03
in that
48:06
whole
48:06
rendezvous
48:08
that they
48:08
have here
48:09
at this
48:10
time,
48:10
but no
48:11
further,
48:11
no further,
48:13
Satan
48:15
might for a
48:16
time have
48:17
God
48:18
Peter's
48:18
service,
48:20
he might
48:21
for a time
48:21
have your
48:22
service,
48:22
but he
48:25
won't get
48:25
his soul,
48:27
he won't
48:28
get your
48:28
soul,
48:29
if you're
48:29
in Christ
48:30
tonight,
48:33
why?
48:34
Because
48:35
greater
48:35
is he
48:37
that is
48:37
in you,
48:39
than he
48:39
that is
48:40
in the
48:41
world,
48:41
and so
48:42
no matter
48:43
how low
48:43
we go,
48:44
and maybe
48:45
tonight you
48:45
are very
48:46
low,
48:47
I don't
48:48
know,
48:49
maybe you're
48:50
very low
48:50
in your
48:51
walk with
48:52
the Lord,
48:52
and at
48:53
times you
48:54
feel like
48:54
as it were
48:55
throwing the
48:56
towel,
48:56
and giving
48:56
up,
48:57
turning your
48:58
back on
48:59
the whole
48:59
thing,
48:59
it's just
49:00
too
49:01
difficult,
49:03
no matter
49:04
how low
49:05
you go,
49:07
you can
49:08
have
49:08
confidence
49:09
in the
49:10
one who
49:11
has committed
49:12
to you,
49:14
the one
49:15
who will
49:15
never leave
49:16
you,
49:17
never forsake
49:18
you,
49:18
the one
49:19
who died
49:20
on that
49:21
cross
49:22
for a
49:22
reason,
49:23
the Lord
49:24
Jesus
49:25
Christ,
49:27
and we
49:28
see that
49:28
commitment,
49:29
do we
49:29
not,
49:30
in this
49:31
very
49:31
statement,
49:32
I have
49:33
prayed for
49:34
you,
49:35
that your
49:35
faith
49:36
fail you
49:38
not,
49:38
and what's
49:39
wonderful
49:39
about this
49:40
statement
49:40
is that
49:41
it's said
49:43
before Peter
49:44
even fell,
49:46
before Peter
49:47
fell,
49:48
he prayed
49:49
for Peter
49:50
before Peter
49:51
sinned,
49:51
isn't that
49:52
something,
49:53
the Lord
49:53
is always
49:54
a step
49:55
ahead of
49:57
his
49:58
people,
50:00
does this
50:00
mean that
50:00
Jesus'
50:01
prayer wasn't
50:02
answered,
50:03
you might
50:03
say well
50:04
his faith
50:05
did fail
50:06
him,
50:06
did it
50:06
not,
50:06
look at
50:07
what he's
50:07
just done,
50:09
he's denied
50:09
the Lord
50:10
Jesus three
50:11
times,
50:12
and so
50:12
maybe,
50:13
maybe Jesus'
50:14
prayer wasn't
50:15
answered by
50:16
God the
50:16
Father,
50:17
of course
50:17
that's not
50:18
true,
50:18
we know
50:19
that's not
50:20
true,
50:21
Peter failed
50:22
himself
50:23
undoubtedly,
50:24
but his
50:25
faith never
50:26
failed,
50:28
because his
50:28
faith is in
50:29
the finished
50:29
work of the
50:30
Lord Jesus
50:31
Christ,
50:31
and that
50:32
can never
50:32
fail,
50:33
our faith
50:34
can flounder,
50:36
it can waver,
50:37
that is true,
50:38
but it can
50:38
never fail,
50:39
ultimately,
50:40
it can
50:41
never fail,
50:43
I have
50:46
prayed for
50:46
you,
50:47
that your
50:47
faith may
50:48
not fail,
50:49
why is he
50:49
praying,
50:51
why is this
50:52
intercessory
50:53
prayer necessary,
50:54
we might
50:54
ask,
50:56
was Peter's
50:57
sins not
50:58
going to be
50:58
defeated once
51:00
and for all
51:01
on the cross
51:02
on Calvary's
51:03
hill,
51:03
why pray at
51:04
all,
51:04
what's the
51:05
point of
51:05
this,
51:06
it's a
51:07
good question,
51:09
well one
51:09
commentator put
51:10
it like this,
51:10
this is not
51:12
a supplemental
51:13
work adding
51:15
to his
51:15
sacrifice of
51:16
himself on
51:17
the cross,
51:18
but rather
51:19
a consequential
51:21
work based
51:22
on it,
51:24
this is a
51:24
fruit of
51:26
the cross,
51:26
this prayer
51:27
is as a
51:28
result of
51:29
what's to
51:29
take place
51:30
on the
51:31
cross,
51:32
a prayer
51:33
that we
51:33
see also
51:35
in John
51:36
17,
51:37
and this
51:38
is one of
51:38
the most
51:38
wonderful
51:39
chapters
51:39
whereby we
51:40
see the
51:42
care and
51:43
the commitment
51:44
that the
51:45
Lord Jesus
51:46
Christ has
51:48
for his
51:50
people.
51:53
I do not
51:54
ask for
51:55
these only,
51:56
but also for
51:57
those who
51:57
will believe
51:58
in me
51:58
through their
51:59
word,
51:59
this is a
52:00
high priestly
52:00
prayer,
52:01
that they
52:02
may all
52:03
be one,
52:04
just as
52:04
you Father
52:05
are in me,
52:06
and I
52:07
in you,
52:08
that they
52:08
also may
52:09
be in us,
52:10
so that
52:11
the world
52:12
may believe
52:13
that you
52:14
sent me.
52:16
In verse
52:17
24,
52:17
Father, I
52:18
desire that
52:19
they also,
52:20
that's us
52:20
if it is
52:21
tonight,
52:22
Father, I
52:22
desire that
52:23
they also
52:24
whom you
52:24
have given
52:25
me may be
52:26
with me
52:27
where I
52:28
am to
52:28
see my
52:29
glory that
52:30
you have
52:31
given me
52:32
because you
52:33
loved me
52:34
before the
52:35
foundation
52:36
of the
52:38
world.
52:39
He
52:40
prays
52:41
because he
52:43
loves,
52:45
because he's
52:45
committed,
52:47
committed
52:48
to that
52:49
cause,
52:51
that cause
52:52
that had
52:52
been set
52:52
out from
52:54
all
52:54
eternity.
52:56
eternity.
52:58
And so
52:58
we can
52:59
put an
53:00
amen to
53:01
the
53:01
psalmist
53:01
when he
53:02
says,
53:02
my flesh
53:03
and heart
53:04
doth faint
53:06
and fail,
53:07
but God
53:08
doth fail
53:10
me
53:11
never.
53:13
And so
53:14
to answer
53:14
the overarching
53:15
question of
53:16
tonight,
53:17
why are we
53:18
here this
53:19
weekend?
53:19
Well,
53:19
friends,
53:20
we are here,
53:20
are we not,
53:21
to remember
53:22
and to
53:23
rejoice in
53:24
the glorious
53:24
reality of
53:26
what it is
53:26
to be safe
53:27
and secure
53:28
in Christ.
53:29
Not to
53:30
excuse our
53:30
sin,
53:31
far from
53:32
it,
53:33
but still
53:35
to remember
53:35
that we
53:36
are safe
53:37
and secure
53:38
in Jesus,
53:40
a glorious
53:41
reality that
53:42
we're not
53:44
to keep
53:44
to ourselves.
53:47
Jesus
53:48
says this
53:48
to Peter,
53:51
and when,
53:52
not if,
53:53
notice that
53:53
word when,
53:54
and when
53:55
you have
53:56
returned to
53:57
me.
53:57
He had his
53:58
eye on
53:58
Peter,
53:58
he knew
53:59
that Peter
54:00
would return
54:01
just as he
54:01
has his
54:01
eye on
54:02
any
54:02
wandering
54:03
lamb of
54:05
his.
54:05
When you
54:06
have returned
54:07
to me,
54:08
strengthen
54:09
your
54:11
brethren.
54:13
Strengthen
54:13
your
54:15
brethren.
54:17
Maybe this
54:18
is a
54:18
picture of
54:19
someone here
54:20
tonight,
54:20
I don't
54:21
know,
54:21
someone who
54:22
perhaps hasn't
54:23
been walking
54:24
closely with
54:25
the Lord
54:25
for some
54:26
time,
54:26
has
54:27
strayed,
54:29
someone perhaps
54:30
joining us
54:30
online,
54:31
I don't
54:32
know.
54:33
But what I
54:34
do know is
54:34
this,
54:35
is that you're
54:36
not to
54:37
stay away,
54:39
you're to
54:40
come back,
54:42
you're to
54:42
profess your
54:43
faith publicly
54:45
again.
54:46
He has
54:46
prayed that
54:47
your faith
54:48
will not
54:49
fail.
54:50
why don't
54:50
you come
54:51
back?
54:52
Come back
54:53
and strengthen
54:54
your
54:54
brethren.
54:56
We are
54:57
a family.
54:58
We are a
54:59
church family.
55:01
And as a
55:02
family, we
55:03
long, do we
55:04
not, and if we
55:04
don't, there's
55:05
something far
55:05
wrong, we
55:06
long, do we
55:07
not, to see a
55:08
long-lost family
55:09
member coming
55:10
back to the
55:11
table.
55:13
And when they
55:13
do, what do we
55:14
do?
55:14
we rejoice.
55:16
We praise
55:17
God.
55:18
We ourselves
55:19
are strengthened
55:21
in our
55:22
faith.
55:22
It does our
55:23
hearts good to
55:24
see those who
55:25
perhaps haven't
55:26
been with us
55:27
for many a
55:28
long year,
55:28
they're back
55:29
in their
55:30
rightful place.
55:33
Because Christ
55:35
has prayed for
55:35
them.
55:37
Their faith
55:38
will not
55:40
fail.
55:45
Maybe you're
55:45
here tonight
55:46
and you've
55:46
never professed
55:47
and you wonder
55:49
where you fit
55:50
into all of
55:50
this.
55:53
You might say,
55:54
well, how can I
55:55
return when I
55:56
never went away
55:56
in the first
55:57
place?
55:57
Well, you
55:58
did.
55:59
You did go
56:00
away.
56:02
Because we've
56:03
all got
56:04
that
56:05
image of
56:08
Christ
56:09
within us.
56:11
That's how
56:11
we've been
56:12
made, to
56:13
serve and
56:15
to worship.
56:17
And so for
56:17
every single
56:18
man and
56:19
woman, boy
56:19
and girl in
56:20
this world
56:20
who is not
56:21
in the way,
56:22
they've gone
56:23
astray.
56:25
They've chosen
56:25
to go away
56:27
from their
56:27
creator.
56:29
And so the
56:30
same plea
56:30
goes to you
56:32
tonight.
56:34
Come back.
56:36
Come back
56:37
to the
56:37
Lord.
56:39
Come back
56:40
to that
56:41
place whereby
56:42
you can come
56:43
to know not
56:44
just the
56:44
creation, but
56:45
the creator.
56:47
The one who
56:48
died on that
56:48
cross so
56:49
sinners like
56:50
us might
56:51
live.
56:52
Or maybe
56:53
tonight you
56:53
do know him
56:54
in your
56:54
heart.
56:56
Maybe you
56:56
are one of
56:56
the Lord's
56:57
people, but
56:58
still you
56:59
haven't
57:00
professed his
57:01
name.
57:01
I'll just
57:05
look at
57:06
Peter.
57:08
You might
57:08
think, well
57:09
I've got
57:09
plenty time.
57:11
I'll
57:11
profess in
57:12
my own
57:13
good time.
57:13
Just look
57:14
at Peter.
57:15
He
57:16
followed from
57:16
afar and
57:18
what happened?
57:20
He fell.
57:23
He followed
57:23
from afar and
57:24
he fell.
57:26
So dear
57:27
Christian friend,
57:28
if you
57:28
haven't
57:29
professed,
57:29
if you
57:31
follow from
57:31
afar, if
57:33
you're scared
57:34
of the
57:34
consequences
57:35
of coming
57:36
out on his
57:37
side and
57:37
for everyone
57:38
knowing that
57:39
you are a
57:39
child of
57:39
God, beware
57:42
because Satan
57:44
desires you
57:45
also.
57:47
Friend, we
57:47
know that the
57:48
blessing follows
57:50
obedience.
57:51
Not to say
57:52
that when we
57:52
come to the
57:53
Lord's table
57:54
somehow our
57:54
lives are
57:55
going to be
57:56
miraculously
57:57
smooth,
57:58
sailing,
57:58
plain sailing,
57:59
that is not
58:00
true.
58:02
But what is
58:02
true is this,
58:04
that when we
58:04
obey we
58:06
will have
58:07
that strength
58:08
that comes
58:09
from the
58:10
one who
58:10
tells us
58:11
that if we
58:13
come and
58:14
if we
58:15
profess his
58:16
name publicly
58:17
he will
58:18
honour them
58:19
who honour
58:21
him.
58:22
Does that
58:22
mean you'll
58:23
be perfect?
58:24
No it
58:24
doesn't.
58:24
Maybe that's
58:25
what you're
58:25
waiting for.
58:26
Maybe you
58:26
look at
58:27
yourself and
58:27
you think
58:27
well what
58:28
about this
58:29
sin in
58:29
my life
58:29
and what
58:30
about that?
58:31
And you're
58:31
waiting until
58:32
all of these
58:33
sins are
58:33
eradicated and
58:34
then you'll
58:35
come.
58:35
Well you'll
58:36
never come.
58:38
You'll never
58:38
come.
58:40
Peter was
58:41
far from
58:41
perfect,
58:42
you are
58:42
far from
58:43
perfect,
58:44
I am
58:44
far from
58:45
perfect but
58:45
still we can
58:46
profess the
58:47
one who
58:48
is perfect.
58:49
If we love
58:50
the Lord
58:51
that is our
58:52
calling tonight
58:53
hope to
58:55
come forward
58:56
and to
58:59
show to
58:59
all those
59:00
around us
59:01
that we
59:02
love the
59:03
one who
59:03
has interceded
59:04
on our
59:05
behalf,
59:07
the one
59:08
who tells
59:09
us that
59:10
our faith
59:11
will never
59:13
fail us.
59:15
I wonder
59:16
if you're
59:16
waiting.
59:19
Don't
59:19
wait.
59:20
there is
59:23
no perfect
59:23
time apart
59:26
from tonight
59:27
because today
59:29
friend is a
59:29
day of
59:31
obedience.
59:31
Let's
59:32
unite our
59:32
hearts in
59:33
prayer.
59:37
We come
59:37
oh Lord
59:38
and we
59:39
praise your
59:41
name that
59:41
you've given
59:42
unto us a
59:43
mirror in
59:45
your word
59:45
whereby we
59:46
can see
59:47
ourselves so
59:48
clearly.
59:50
but yet
59:51
often times
59:52
we neglect
59:54
to focus
59:54
on it.
59:56
We neglect
59:57
to look
59:58
into the
59:59
realities of
1:00:00
what we
1:00:00
see therein.
1:00:03
But yet
1:00:03
it is there
1:00:04
for us to
1:00:05
know that
1:00:07
indeed there
1:00:08
is nothing
1:00:08
new under
1:00:09
the sun
1:00:10
that you
1:00:11
are God
1:00:12
and that you
1:00:13
have prayed
1:00:14
that our
1:00:15
faith will
1:00:16
not fail
1:00:18
us.
1:00:18
We thank
1:00:19
you oh
1:00:19
Lord for
1:00:20
that anchor
1:00:21
for our
1:00:21
soul sure
1:00:22
and steadfast
1:00:23
that is to
1:00:24
be found
1:00:25
in you
1:00:26
and you
1:00:27
alone.
1:00:28
And so
1:00:28
help us
1:00:29
one and
1:00:29
all to
1:00:29
be strengthened
1:00:30
by this
1:00:31
as we go
1:00:31
forward
1:00:32
into this
1:00:33
weekend
1:00:34
as we
1:00:34
perhaps are
1:00:35
so aware
1:00:36
of our
1:00:37
unworthiness
1:00:38
to come
1:00:39
and sit
1:00:39
at your
1:00:40
table
1:00:40
that we
1:00:41
would have
1:00:42
one eye
1:00:43
at ourselves
1:00:44
that we
1:00:46
would have
1:00:47
our vision
1:00:48
set firmly
1:00:49
upon you
1:00:51
the one
1:00:53
who is
1:00:53
worthy
1:00:54
for worthy
1:00:55
is the
1:00:55
lamb
1:00:56
who takes
1:00:56
away the
1:00:57
sin
1:00:58
of the
1:00:59
world.
1:00:59
Go with us
1:01:00
then we
1:01:00
pray.
1:01:01
Forgive us
1:01:01
for Jesus
1:01:02
sake.
1:01:03
Amen.
1:01:05
Well we're
1:01:05
going to
1:01:05
conclude
1:01:06
friends
1:01:06
singing
1:01:07
together
1:01:07
from
1:01:08
Psalm 73
1:01:09
in the
1:01:13
Scottish
1:01:13
Psalter
1:01:14
reading
1:01:19
at
1:01:19
verse
1:01:19
25
1:01:20
Whom have
1:01:27
I in
1:01:27
the heavens
1:01:28
high
1:01:28
but thee
1:01:29
O Lord
1:01:29
alone
1:01:30
and in
1:01:31
the earth
1:01:31
whom I
1:01:32
desire
1:01:32
besides
1:01:33
thee
1:01:34
there is
1:01:34
none
1:01:35
my flesh
1:01:36
and heart
1:01:37
doth faint
1:01:38
and fail
1:01:38
but God
1:01:40
doth fail
1:01:40
me never
1:01:41
for of my
1:01:42
heart
1:01:43
God is
1:01:44
a strength
1:01:44
and portion
1:01:46
forever
1:01:47
for lo
1:01:48
they that
1:01:49
are far
1:01:50
from thee
1:01:50
forever
1:01:51
perish
1:01:52
shall
1:01:52
them that
1:01:53
are whoring
1:01:54
from thee
1:01:54
go
1:01:55
thou hast
1:01:56
destroyed
1:01:57
all
1:01:57
but surely
1:01:59
it is good
1:02:00
for me
1:02:01
that I
1:02:02
draw near
1:02:03
to God
1:02:03
in God
1:02:05
I trust
1:02:05
that all
1:02:07
thy works
1:02:07
I may
1:02:08
declare
1:02:10
abroad
1:02:10
standing to
1:02:11
sing these
1:02:11
verses
1:02:12
to the
1:02:13
praise
1:02:13
of our
1:02:14
Lord
1:02:15
that SEMPEVE
1:02:16
Him
1:02:19
somewhere
1:02:20
ize
1:02:21
in the
1:02:23
heavens
1:02:24
heaven
1:02:25
up
1:02:27
but
1:02:27
the
1:02:29
O
1:02:30
Lord
1:02:32
alone
1:02:36
and
1:02:38
in the
1:02:40
earth
1:02:41
whom I desire besides thee there is none.
1:02:55
My flesh and heart, a kingdom here,
1:03:06
but God will fail thee never.
1:03:15
For, O my God, God is the strength
1:03:26
and portion forever.
1:03:36
For, Lord, may that our power profit
1:03:47
forever perish thou,
1:03:56
then that the warring wrongly go,
1:04:07
thou hast destroyed all.
1:04:16
But surely it is good for me
1:04:27
that I draw near to God.
1:05:06
Amen.
1:05:13
Amen.
1:05:15
Amen.
1:05:16
Amen.
1:05:18
Amen.
1:05:20
Amen.
1:05:22
Amen.
1:05:24
Amen.
1:05:26
Amen.
1:05:37
Amen.
1:05:56
Thank you.