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Christ's Compassion and Concern · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, let's begin our worship by singing to God's praise.
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We're going to sing in Psalm 147, in the Sing Psalms version, Psalm 147.
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Sing Psalms version.
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We're going to sing from verse 1 to 7.
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This is page 192.
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And it's a psalm that just reminds us about coming to the Lord with praise.
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Praise the Lord, how good it is to sing him songs of praise.
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How pleasant to give thanks to him for all his gracious ways.
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We come with these words in mind to praise our God.
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Singing from verse 1 to verse 7 on the Tunis Free Church.
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The Lord, how good it is to sing him for all his gracious ways.
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The Lord builds up Jerusalem and the ages alone.
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To bring the exile's home.
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He heals his people's broken hearts,
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He stores the news that way.
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He sets the number of the stars and rolls very tiny.
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the end of the house and rocks,
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The Lord sustains the defense,
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The Lord must live miy in the
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The wicked to the God.
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Sing to the Lord with handfulness,
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with joy in space proclaims.
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And when the music of the heart
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give glory to his name.
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Let's unite our hearts in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Our gracious Lord, our Father in heaven,
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we bow in your presence at this time,
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just coming in adoration of you,
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coming in praise of you,
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with much to be thankful for.
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We thank you for who you are,
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for how we have sung of your greatness
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in this psalm,
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how profound your wisdom is,
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as the psalmist says.
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And we thank you that your wisdom
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is so much greater than ours.
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Your word reminds us that your ways
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are above our ways and your thoughts
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above our thoughts.
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And so we are reminded by that, Lord,
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that whatever our ways and our own wisdom,
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that you are the one who is able to direct us
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and to help us to find our security
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and our help in you.
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And we thank you that as we come to you,
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we recognize just who you are,
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for your word describes it so wonderfully for us.
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There are so many passages of Scripture
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that we can turn to and we're reminded of
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your great power,
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your steadfast love,
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your great mercy towards your people,
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the way that you are a God
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who abhors all wickedness, Lord,
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the way that you are in knowledge of all things,
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that judgment belongs to you.
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But we thank you that you have great power
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over your people,
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that you have authority in all things.
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For you are the Lord who builds up Jerusalem.
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You are the one alone who reaches out to Israel,
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as your word says,
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to bring the exiles home.
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We thank you for these wonderful promises
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for your people.
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We thank you too that your word speaks of
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your great healing power,
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that you are the one who is able to heal
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the people's broken hearts,
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to restore the bruised and lame,
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so that in the midst of all the authority
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and power you have in creation,
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you have numbered the stars
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and called them by name.
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But you have also seen your people.
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You have numbered them
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and you call them by name as well.
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And you know every need,
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every personal need,
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every wider need,
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every national and international need
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of your people far and wide.
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And so we call upon your name tonight
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as the living God.
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We call upon you as the one,
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the only one who is able to help,
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the only one who is able to bless.
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And in all that we see
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as impossible for ourselves,
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we thank you that all things
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are possible with you.
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And so we come this night, Lord,
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praying for your church.
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We pray that you will build your church up,
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that here in our own midst,
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in our town,
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in our community,
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in our presence here, Lord,
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that you will build us up as a people,
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that you will help us
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to be a living people,
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an active people,
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a people of much faith,
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of much prayer,
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of much service to you.
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We thank you, Lord,
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that you have promised
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to build your church up,
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that the very foundation of it
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has been set,
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that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone,
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that he is the one
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upon whom all things are built.
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And we thank you, Lord,
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that that is such a wonderful reminder to us
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of the security of your church.
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For when the enemy attacks,
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as we so often see it,
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as we read it in your scripture too,
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we are given that wonderful promise
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that though the gates of hell
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prevail against your church, Lord,
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that it will stand secure.
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And so we pray, Lord,
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that you will continue to bless
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your people near and far.
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As we think of the atrocities
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taking place in Israel and Gaza,
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as we think of the devastation,
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the loss of life,
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the ongoing conflict, Lord,
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we are just,
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have no words in it, Lord,
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but we cry out to you
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that you might have mercy,
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that you might come,
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O Lord,
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in your power,
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that you might turn
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a people to you,
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that peace would come,
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that we would see,
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O Lord,
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your hand
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in the midst of these
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terrible situations,
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that we would see,
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even if we don't understand it,
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that you would use it for good.
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We remember and continue
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to pray as well
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for other conflicts
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around the world,
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as we think of
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the Russian and Ukraine
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conflict as well
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and ongoing there,
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so we pray, too, Lord,
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for peace to come.
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We recognize, too, Lord,
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that our world,
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in so many ways,
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has turned away from you,
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but yet we thank you
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that throughout the world
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there are signs of growth
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and encouragement,
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that especially where we see
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and hear of people
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being persecuted
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for their faith,
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suffering for it,
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that you are indeed
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giving us strength of faith,
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that we should long
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for ourselves,
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that we would see,
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O Lord,
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and pray for your church
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far and wide,
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that we would pray
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for ourselves, O Lord,
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to be built up
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with a strength of faith
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that will stand up
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to all the attacks
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that we come under,
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that we would stand up
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with courage and boldness
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and speak out against wrongs
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and seek your good
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throughout our land
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and for all people.
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And for that,
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we pray for all our leaders,
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Lord,
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from our king
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and the royal family
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as a whole.
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Lord,
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we pray
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that you will give them
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wisdom to lead
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and to rule over a people,
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Lord.
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We pray for them,
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Lord,
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to know
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your spirit working,
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to know
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what it is
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to truly believe
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in the Lord Jesus,
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to put their faith
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in him.
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we ask,
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Lord,
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that you will
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do them good
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to that end.
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We pray for
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Prime Minister
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and First Minister
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and Parliaments
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in London
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and Edinburgh.
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We pray again
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for your blessing
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over them,
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O Lord,
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that you would guide them
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to yourself,
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that you will humble them
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under your mighty hand,
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that they would know
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your power,
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that they would know
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that all authority
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belongs to you.
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O Lord,
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have mercy on us
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in these things.
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We pray too,
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Lord,
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for our people here
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and especially
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remembering those,
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Lord,
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with particular needs.
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We pray for
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families going
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through times
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of bereavement
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just now.
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Again,
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we commit the family
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of Asda McKenzie
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to you,
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asking for your blessing
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on them,
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Lord,
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for you to comfort,
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to uphold
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and to strengthen.
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Remember too,
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Lord,
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the MacLeod family,
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Reverend Duncan MacLeod
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and Morick
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and their other children
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and the wider family
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as they will
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come together
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on Tuesday
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for the funeral
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of Katie.
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O Lord,
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in the midst
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of that great sorrow
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and pain
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that they feel,
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we just pray
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for your comfort,
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for your promises,
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even as we have
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sung of,
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that you are the one
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who is able
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to heal
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the people's
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broken hearts.
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O Lord,
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we pray
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for your great
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mercy and comfort
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to them all
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at this time
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and others too,
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Lord,
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who mourn.
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We pray
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to be near to them,
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be with all
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who are ill
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and in hospital
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and homes again,
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Lord,
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we pray for them.
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Be with us all
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as a people,
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we pray that
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as we even read
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your word
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and turn to it
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this evening
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that you will
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remind us of
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what a wonderful
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Savior we have,
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what a wonderful
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sacrifice he has
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made for us,
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that he has come
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to seek
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and to save
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sinners.
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We thank you,
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Lord,
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for the wonderful
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compassion
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shown by our Lord
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that even as he saw
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a crowd helpless
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and harassed
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like sheep
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without a shepherd,
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we thank you
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that his gaze
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upon them
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was one of loving
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compassion
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and concern.
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And so we pray
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that you will
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fill our hearts
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with that same
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burden
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for all we see
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around us,
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that we would have
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a great compassion
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and concern
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for all people
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near and far.
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So, Lord,
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may you bless
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your word to us.
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May you help us
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to have understanding
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of what you are
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saying to us.
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May you guide us
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through it.
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So, may you continue
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to bless us,
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Lord,
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and watch over us.
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Can we commit
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the youth fellowship
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that meets later
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to you as well,
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Lord,
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for your blessing
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there upon the young
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people who meet.
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We thank you
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for Jonathan and Alison
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as they host
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and for Hannah
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as she comes to speak
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and we just pray,
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Lord,
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that you will be
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in their midst
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as well.
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So, Lord,
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continue with us now.
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Go before us
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in the week ahead.
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Guide our steps,
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guide our thoughts,
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guide our words
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and actions
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and all that we do,
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may it be,
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to your glory
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and forgive us
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our sins,
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O Lord,
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as we confess them
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on you,
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that you will cleanse us
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by the precious blood
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of Christ.
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For we thank you
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that in the cost
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that has been paid,
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that there is redemption
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for your people.
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We pray, Lord,
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to know that saving power.
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So, bless us,
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we pray,
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and hear us
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as we ask all these things
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in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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We'll again sing
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to God's praise,
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this time in Psalm 87
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in the Singed Psalms,
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page 115
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of the psalm books.
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Psalm 87.
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And we can sing
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the whole of this psalm.
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Psalm 87,
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page 115.
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On Jerusalem's holy mountain,
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he has founded his abode.
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More than all of Jacob's dwelling,
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Sion's gates,
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are dear to God.
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We'll sing
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the whole of this psalm
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to God's praise.
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Psalm 87.
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Glorious kings of you are spoken,
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Zion, city of the Lord,
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May be drawn from all the nations,
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As your people I record.
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I will name us,
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Lord, to know me,
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Egypt, Tyre, and Balea,
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Palestine,
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along with Gershaw,
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I will count us high on war.
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Yet,
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Saint,
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it will be said,
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O Zion,
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This and that
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will hear the old,
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And on her
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the highest blessing
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Will descend
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And make us strong.
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For in Zion,
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God will enter,
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In the people's register,
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They will sing
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As saving,
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All my fountains
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Are in hell.
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We turn together
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to read God's word
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now in the gospel
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of Matthew,
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chapter 9.
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Matthew,
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chapter 9.
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We're going to take up
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our reading at verse 9,
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reading down to the end
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of this chapter.
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Matthew,
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chapter 9,
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and taking up
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our reading at verse 9.
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In the previous chapter,
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chapter 8,
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in the beginning of this chapter,
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if you just have a quick glance,
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you see Jesus healing
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and cleansing many people.
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We see that's a theme
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running through these chapters.
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And what we're seeing
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is really Jesus' longing
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and desire towards a people,
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and we'll see that at the end.
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of chapter 9,
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which we'll be focusing on
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together this evening.
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And let's take up
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our reading at verse 9
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of chapter 9.
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As Jesus passed on from there,
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he saw a man called Matthew
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sitting at the tax booth,
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and he said to him,
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Follow me.
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And he rose and followed him.
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And as Jesus reclined
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the table in the house,
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behold, many tax collectors
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and sinners came
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and were reclining
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with Jesus and his disciples.
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And when the Pharisees saw this,
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they said to his disciples,
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Why does your teacher
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eat with tax collectors
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and sinners?
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But when he heard it,
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he said,
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Those who are well
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have no need of a physician,
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but those who are sick.
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Go and learn what this means.
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I desire mercy
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and not sacrifice.
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For I came not to call
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the righteous,
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but sinners.
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And the disciples of John
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came to him,
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saying,
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Why do we and the Pharisees fast,
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but your disciples
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do not fast?
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And Jesus said to them,
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Can the wedding guests
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mourn as long
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as the bridegroom
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is with them?
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The days will come
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when the bridegroom
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is taken away from them,
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and then they will fast.
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No one puts a piece
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of unshrunk cloth
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on an old garment,
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for the patch tears
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away from the garment,
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and a worse tear is made.
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Neither is new wine
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put into old wineskins.
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If it is,
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the skins burst
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and the wine is spilled
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and the skins are destroyed.
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But new wine is put
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into fresh wineskins,
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and so both are preserved.
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While he was saying
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these things to them,
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behold,
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a ruler came in
18:58
and knelt before him,
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saying,
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My daughter has just died,
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but come and lay your hand
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on her and she will live.
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And Jesus rose
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and followed him
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with his disciples.
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Behold,
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a woman
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who had suffered
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from a discharge of blood
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for twelve years
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came up behind him
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and touched
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the fringe of his garment,
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for she said to herself,
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If I only touch his garment,
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I will be made well.
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Jesus turned
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and seeing her,
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he said,
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Take heart, daughter.
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Your faith
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has made you well.
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And instantly,
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the woman was made well.
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And when Jesus came
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to the ruler's house
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and saw the flute players
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and the crowd
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making a commotion,
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he said,
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Go away,
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for the girl is not dead,
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but sleeping.
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And they laughed at him.
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But when the crowd
19:49
had been put outside,
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he went in
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and took her by the hand,
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and the girl arose.
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And the report of this
19:57
went through
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all that district.
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But as Jesus passed on
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from there,
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two blind men
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followed him,
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crying aloud,
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Have mercy on us,
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son of David.
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When he entered the house,
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the blind men came to him,
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and Jesus said to them,
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Do you believe
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that I am able
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to do this?
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They said to him,
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Yes, Lord.
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Then he touched
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their eyes,
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saying,
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According to your faith,
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be it done to you.
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And their eyes
20:26
were opened.
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And Jesus sternly warned them,
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See that no one knows
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about it.
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But they went away
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and spread his fame
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through all that district.
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As they were going away,
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behold,
20:40
a demon-oppressed man
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who was mute
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was brought to him.
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And when the demon
20:45
had been cast out,
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the mute man spoke.
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And the crowds marveled,
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saying,
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Never was anything
20:51
like this seen in Israel.
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But the Pharisees said,
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He casts out demons
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by the prince of demons.
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And Jesus went throughout
21:01
all the cities and villages,
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teaching in their synagogues
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and proclaiming
21:06
the gospel of the kingdom
21:07
and healing every disease
21:09
and affliction.
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When he saw the crowds,
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he had compassion for them
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because they were harassed
21:17
and helpless,
21:18
like sheep without a shepherd.
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Then he said to his disciples,
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The harvest is plentiful,
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but the laborers are few.
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Therefore,
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pray earnestly
21:30
to the Lord of the harvest
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to send out laborers
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into his harvest.
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Amen.
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And may God bless that reading
21:38
from his word.
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Before we turn back
21:44
to that passage,
21:45
we'll again sing
21:45
to God's praise
21:47
in Psalm 103
21:48
in the Scottish Psalter version.
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Psalm 103,
21:53
page 369.
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And we'll sing
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from verse 1
22:02
to verse 5,
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the tune is Kilmarnock.
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Although my soul
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bless God the Lord
22:08
and all that in me is,
22:10
be stirred up
22:11
his holy name
22:13
to magnify
22:14
and bless.
22:16
We'll sing
22:16
from verse 1 to 5
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to God's praise.
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O Lord, my soul, best of the Lord, and all that in me is,
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He stood up his soul in him, to my life, and all that in me is,
22:55
Bless, O my soul, the Lord, I know, and not forget for thee.
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Of all his gracious benefits, he hath which stood on thee.
23:27
All thy name, if we're thee to God, most graciously forgive.
23:43
O Lord, my soul, the Lord, my soul, and grace, hath thee and me weary.
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O Lord, my soul, best of the Lord, and all that in me is,
24:30
O Lord, my soul, best of the Lord, and all that in me is,
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Who with the wonders of good things, does satisfy thy mind,
24:51
So that he can speak, O sing, bring you in his time in good.
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can we turn back together to our reading in Matthew chapter 9
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and we can read again at the end of the chapter verse 35 to 38
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as you read through these verses we've read together from verse 9 you see Jesus
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it said that he's passing on he's moving on he's going from place to place with many different
25:35
things happening and he's seeing many different people and then as kind of summarizing at the end
25:42
of the chapter here in verse 35 we see that he continued to go through so many places Jesus went
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through all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel
25:55
of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction then these words when he saw
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the crowds he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a
26:09
shepherd and he said to his disciples the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few therefore pray
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earnestly to the lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest
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Jesus as we say has seen many crowds of people in many different circumstances as he's been traveling
26:32
around and it's this idea of a crowd as he sees him and what he sees in them that we want to think
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about this evening because it says here in verse 36 when he saw the crowds he had compassion for them
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compassion because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd so it was something
26:55
that Jesus was seeing in his day and I'm sure something in many ways we see ourselves today too we see many
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different crowds around us but how do you react in crowds of people some people find crowds difficult
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find it kind of overwhelming and claustrophobic to be in a crowd others love to be in the midst of a crowd
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of people I suppose it might depend sometimes what kind of crowd of people you're with or you're in
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if we're gathered together here this evening or if we're in other places where we gather to worship
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God with a large crowd of people it can be a real joy and a delight and uplifting to be
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among like-minded people lifting our voices and praise to God but other times you can end up in a
27:50
crowd and it's not your own fault you end up in a crowd by mistake perhaps you're just walking along
27:56
and all of a sudden you're in the midst of a crowd of people perhaps you are out marching or protesting
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about something and you end up just almost being swept along by this crowd and it can be a terrifying
28:08
experience a very unnerving experience so a lot of times it depends what kind of crowd we're in and
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i'm sure many of us have been in different crowds in different places over the years
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whatever crowd you find yourself in wherever you are what's fascinating about crowds is just observing
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the variety of people that you find there whatever kind of crowd it is wherever it is
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however many people there are what you see is a people who are all made in the image of God
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the question very often is is that how we see them and we want to see this evening how
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jesus sees crowds how he sees people and the compassion that he has for them for as a great reminder
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to ourselves how we should look out ourselves and see the people around us a reminder of the compassion
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of the lord to his people and as you read through the gospel of matthew we are reminded even in this
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chapter we've read it in verse 13 why god sent his son into this world why jesus came into this world when
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you look at verse 13 of this chapter in the midst of jesus again with being with people sitting with
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tax collectors and sinners as the the pharisees would see them but jesus sees them differently
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he says in response to the complaints that he receives those who are well have no need of a physician but
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those who are sick in verse 13 go and learn what this means i desire mercy and not sacrifice for i came
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not to call the righteous but sinners that is why jesus came and up until this point in the gospel of matthew we
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learn so much about the authority of jesus who he is as the son of god and why he has come
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in the fulfillment of scripture she has come to save his people from their sins
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so we've learned you learn up to this point about the power the authority of jesus
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and then at the end of chapter 9 this section that we're looking at this evening we come to a kind of
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a point of transition where the focus shifts not just on jesus and all the work that he is doing
30:46
and the authority and the power he has but what he wants his people to do and the power and authority
30:54
that he is giving to them as they are being reminded of the people around them as they are to see them as
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we will see as the harvest feels the harvest is plentiful and as he goes on from here it's
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sending his disciples and sending his people out that they might proclaim the gospel of the kingdom
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of god and you see that as you go in to chapter 10 the 12 apostles then being sent out but before
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that we come to that and the end of chapter 9 we're seeing just why they were chosen and sent out
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and why jesus continues to send his church out today we are being sent out and we are to be a people who
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have a compassion and a concern for those around us what do we see we see jesus here as he says here in
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verse 36 he had compassion for them and this compassion is then shown in the concern that there will be people
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laborers to go out into the fields to go out into the fields to bring in the harvest and as a people as a church that is
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the compassion and concern we should have ourselves as well as a church we should long and look around us to see
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the harvests brought in a people brought in to know the lord jesus that the lord would give us the heart of christ himself
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for that compassion for that compassion for the lost the christian writer jc ryle he said this once
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a person who does not feel for souls of all unconverted people surely does not have the mind of christ
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so what a challenge there is in these words as we think of them in the context of this passage the
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compassion and the concern that jesus showed towards the crowds and as jc ryle says if we don't have that
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feeling for souls of the unconverted people surely then we do not have the mind of christ
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we can become distracted even as a church as a body of god's people as a denomination as a church
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worldwide we can become so distracted by so many things that go on things that we think are so
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important for our own agendas and our own lives that we can so easily lose sight of what is at the heart of
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the gospel that jesus proclaims to us here it is a people who are lost and a people who are perishing
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that we would seek to have this compassion and concern that will be infectious to us that we would see the
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lord jesus and what he has done for us that he came for sinners and that he claimed as he claims sinners for
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himself that he would equip us as poor sinners as we were thinking this morning as fragile frail jars of
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clay but with a great treasure the gospel the glorious gospel so let's think about christ's compassion and
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christ's concern as we see it in this passage and see what it says to ourselves first of all we think of
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christ's compassion and we see it there so clearly in verse 36 when he saw the crowds he had compassion for
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them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd going astray lost no direction in their lives
34:53
and he saw them and he had compassion on them so where does the compassion come from what is the heart what's
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behind this compassion well it's the essence of who he is of who jesus is when we think of the word compassion we maybe think of
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just one word in english but there's a number of different words that are used for compassion in the greek
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and the one that's used here for compassion in the greek is only used of the lord it's almost like it's a unique
35:32
word that only applies to the lord himself that only he can have this kind of perfect
35:40
compassion because our compassion is never perfect because we are sinners but christ's compassion is perfect
35:51
and when you read where this word is used and used of the lord it's always into circumstances
36:00
of distress and despair and grief but the lord is there showing his wonderful compassion
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whether it's seeing crowds as we're seeing here or whether seeing families or individuals
36:18
that jesus has a special compassion for his people unlike anything that we could show
36:28
but when you think of who he is should we be surprised of course not we are imperfect but he is perfect
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how could jesus reach out to all the people he did how could he care about so many different people
36:44
in so many different situations what motivated him motivated him well you have to go back to who he is
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as the gospel of john reveals to us this is god himself made flesh the word of god who dwells among us who is with us
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who god sent into this world
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jesus born into this world god with us god is behind it he sent his son in this world to
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this world because of his love for the world for the lost
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and so many people look at the old testament and they read it and come away from it with the idea that
37:27
that that god is a cruel god a harsh god a god who is almost full of wrath
37:36
and yet when you read in the new testament of jesus what we see is the exact nature of god who this is
37:46
so it reminds us of god is a god of compassion yes he has wrath and judgment but also such great love
37:55
we are reminded of who jesus is in the book of hebrews chapter one and it says long ago at many times and
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in many ways god spoke to our fathers by the prophets but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son
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whom he appointed the heir of all things through whom all he also he created the world and it says he is the
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radiance of the glory of god and the exact imprint of his nature
38:28
god is holy he is a consuming fire he's a god of wrath and judgment but he's also a god of steadfast love
38:38
grace and mercy and compassion so this is the essence of who jesus is and where his compassion
38:47
comes comes from he is not hindered by a fallen sinful nature he is not selfish like we are he goes
38:57
beyond all the flaw flaws and faults that mark us
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but that does not mean we should not long to be like him surely that is the desire of every christian
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to be more christian to be more christian to be more christian to be more christian to be more christian
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so what do we see here of christ jesus we see how he sees the crowd he sees his people he's looking on
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them intently and as he looks upon them he sees them with compassion compassion
39:34
a longing that they would not be lost that they would not be without a shepherd but that they would know what it is to be brought into the fold
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that they would know what it is to have the peace of jesus
39:47
a quick glance over chapter 8 into chapter 9
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it shows us the concern that jesus had
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jesus cleanses a leper he heals a centurion servant he heals peter's mother-in-law he calms a storm
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he delivers men from being demon possessed he heals a paralytic he raises a girl from her deathbed he heals two blind
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men and casts out a demon out of a man who was mute you read through it and you see all of these things
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why because of his compassion he sees a people in need
40:30
jesus knows the pain his people suffer he knows every situation that they are in he knows what it is to be hurt
40:39
deeply but he is also able to help in our hearts to enter into our hearts with us to be there with us
40:50
he sees a people as only he can
40:56
and so it asks us that question how do we look on people
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an american author he's no longer living by the name of stephen covey
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and he wrote a number of books and in one of his books he speaks about an unusual experience he had
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and it was a day when he was on the new new york subway
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and he was traveling on the subway and while he was sitting in one of the cars
41:25
with a number of a large number of other people the place was fairly quiet
41:31
until a man came on who had a couple of children with him
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the man just sat back in his seat and his children just started playing around making much noise and
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disturbing the place causing chaos and it was getting to the other passengers on the tram on the underground
41:52
that they felt that children's behavior was inappropriate that the father should do something about it
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and eventually it got to the point where stephen covey felt that he had to go and speak to the man and so
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he did he went over to him and said look
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your children are being so disruptive can you not do something to settle them down
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at that point the man just who had been sitting with his eyes closed opened his eyes and started looking around
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oh he said i'm sorry you're right
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i should do something about it but then he went on to say this we've just come
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from the hospital where their mother just passed away an hour ago
42:38
and i don't know what to think i don't know what to do and all of a sudden stephen's attitude of
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being annoyed by what was going on was suddenly changed to a thought of compassion for this man
42:57
stephen like so many others had just looked and judged without knowing what was going on in this man's experience
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experience now what's interesting is stephen covey didn't believe in jesus as we believe in him
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but yet he had compassion
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so how much more compassion should we have as the disciples of christ to look around ourselves and not look
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around with eyes of judgment thinking we know exactly what's going on and what needs to be done
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when perhaps behind it all we know nothing of the experience of individuals of families of strangers that we see around us
43:44
compassion starts when we begin to understand the hurts of others and to know that we are one who is able to help
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but do we have that heart and these eyes of compassion for those around us in that way jesus saw the crowds and he had compassion on them
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on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd
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how do we view people how do we see those around us do we look through the eyes of jesus through eyes
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of compassion or do we look with eyes of judgment
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he saw the crowd and had compassion the second thing we see here is christ's concern
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perhaps we do have compassion
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perhaps we do have
44:45
compassion towards not just those we know but those we see around us as well
44:51
but we see with the compassion of jesus here
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it's not a compassion
44:57
without
44:58
action
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you see you see it as you read through
45:02
the book of matthew up to this point he had compassion
45:06
compassion but he was doing something about the needs of the people
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helping us only he could but also teaching his disciples that as they would be sent out that
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they would go with his power with his authority with his help
45:25
and that he would teach them to have that compassion
45:28
for all that they would come into contact with
45:31
as well
45:34
if we think of compassion
45:36
in our own understanding
45:39
compassion is often defined as
45:41
a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness
45:44
for the suffering and a wish to help them
45:49
we cannot maybe reach
45:51
the compassion of jesus that only he could show in a perfect way
45:55
but we should have a compassion that leads to a concern
45:59
to help others
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seeing them as harassed and helpless and not just
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doing nothing
46:06
but asking what can we do
46:09
he's full of compassion here jesus
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but he's also got a plan
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and his plan is for his church
46:19
his church to go out into the harvest fields
46:22
and his church to pray for others from generation to generation to go out
46:28
into the harvest field
46:31
his plan is to send help to a needy people
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and so when you look at verse 37 and 38
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it shows that his compassion leads into this concern
46:44
he said to his disciples the harvest is plentiful
46:48
but the laborers are few
46:50
therefore pray earnestly to the lord of the harvest to send out
46:54
laborers into his harvest
46:57
jesus describes here the people the crowds that he is seeing as the harvest fields
47:03
ripe with grain that are ready to be harvested
47:07
but what he sees is the laborers are few
47:11
but we see that he has a plan
47:17
and his plan is founded on prayer
47:21
he said to his disciples pray earnestly to the lord of the harvest to send out the laborers
47:28
into his harvest
47:30
when you read these words you think
47:35
the prayers that his disciples had at this time
47:39
are they still being answered today
47:43
that they prayed not just for the harvest field as it was in these days
47:49
but that for every generation
47:52
and every nation of this world
47:54
that there would be laborers for the harvest for generations to come
48:00
and that as we pray we enter into this ongoing prayer
48:05
that the harvest would be brought in
48:10
there to pray
48:11
but there to pray earnestly with this heart and eye of compassion
48:18
that they too would see the crowd and would see the need that there is
48:23
that they would go
48:26
as part of jesus's concern to show this compassion and concern to others themselves
48:34
if you go and sit in any public place
48:38
whether it's an airport or a coffee shop or the library or wherever you might go
48:44
a place where people are passing by
48:48
do you ever take time just to look at the people who are around
48:52
the people who are dashing around perhaps if you're
48:56
certainly if you're not so much storing away airport
48:58
but if you go to a bigger airport
49:00
glasgow or heathrow or somewhere like that
49:02
you'll always see people
49:05
dashing around rushing from
49:07
one terminal to another or from one gate to another
49:10
and everybody seems so harassed
49:13
the same with trains and stations and places like that
49:16
you see people who are just dashing around
49:19
you ever stop just to wonder about these people and pray for these people
49:26
with a sense of concern and compassion for them
49:29
whether it's around us here or wherever we go
49:33
that we have a sense of concern and compassion towards them
49:40
and pray for them
49:42
pray for the people who pass by you in the street here
49:45
who pass by you in the coffee shops and other shops
49:50
pray because they are part of the harvest field
49:54
pray that they would come pray for laborers
49:56
whether they be others or ourselves
50:00
that as the lord gives us a burden that we would go
50:05
because that is the prayer that jesus is telling them to have here
50:09
pray earnestly to the lord of the harvest
50:13
to send out laborers
50:16
into his harvest
50:18
and there's a real sense of power behind that word
50:21
send
50:24
it's more than just
50:26
just go out if you want
50:29
there's a sense of power because this is his plan
50:32
plan for his church for his people
50:35
that they would be sent out
50:40
thrust out
50:41
it has almost a violence behind it
50:46
people are being forced out to go
50:49
but it's not so much forced
50:51
but behind this word is the idea of an explosion taking place
50:57
that there's a real sense of power behind
50:59
so they're sent out with the power of god behind them
51:03
and with a real desire to go out
51:07
with a compassion of their savior in their hearts
51:11
a desire for many to be saved
51:15
that is what is behind this
51:19
and is that how we pray
51:22
pray
51:23
lord not just you do the work
51:26
we pray that of course
51:29
but lord help us
51:31
to see
51:32
men women boys and girls
51:35
used in this way
51:37
used by you because the harvest
51:40
is plentiful and the laborers are few
51:47
J.C. Ryle again
51:49
to quote him
51:50
him he reminds us that yes we are doing this
51:55
in the power of god
51:58
he says personal working for souls is good
52:01
giving money is good but praying is best of all
52:05
by prayer we reach him without money
52:08
who money and work
52:10
by prayer we reach him without whom money and work are in vain
52:14
we obtain the aid of the holy ghost
52:19
the holy spirit
52:21
that we have that power with us
52:27
that is often our prayer
52:29
and that should always be our prayer
52:32
prayer
52:33
but behind it too
52:35
is his willingness to go
52:39
this willingness to go
52:41
he says here
52:43
we send out that he would send out laborers into his harvest
52:46
and what happens next in chapter 10
52:49
Jesus sends out the 12 apostles
52:54
they didn't sit back
52:56
they went out
52:58
and what happens at the end of the gospel of Matthew
53:02
in the last chapter chapter 28
53:04
that chapter concludes with the great commission
53:09
go therefore and make disciples of all nations
53:12
baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the
53:15
holy spirit teaching them to observe all that i have commanded you
53:20
and behold i am with you always to the end of the age we do nothing apart from him
53:26
he has promised to be with us
53:31
but we are to go
53:34
they go in chapter 10
53:36
they go at the end
53:38
and they continue to go to this very day
53:41
seeking the power of god with us
53:46
Jesus is concerned for his church
53:50
he has compassion and he has a concern
53:53
and his concern leads to a plan that he will send his people out
54:00
so what hinders this compassion and this concern
54:08
sometimes it's this
54:11
complacency
54:11
i don't know who said this
54:15
but somebody once wrote this
54:17
complacency is a blight that saps energy
54:22
dulls attitudes and causes a drain on the brain
54:26
the first symptom is satisfaction with things as they are
54:31
the second is rejection of things as they might be
54:35
good enough becomes today's watchword and tomorrow's standard
54:40
complacency makes people fear the unknown
54:45
mistrust the untried and abhor the new
54:48
like water
54:50
complacent people follow the easiest course
54:55
downhill
54:57
they draw false strength from looking back
55:01
complacency
55:03
complacency
55:04
complacency
55:05
kills
55:06
complacency
55:07
complacency
55:09
brings everything to a shuddering halt
55:14
we pray to the lord of the harvest
55:18
as we pray
55:20
we are to go
55:22
not satisfied with what we have
55:26
not saying that's good enough
55:28
enough
55:29
but remembering the compassion of christ
55:34
and the concern of christ
55:38
that is how we are to be
55:42
to press on in our walk with the lord
55:46
to not be satisfied with what we are or what we have
55:51
but to always be looking to him for more
55:54
more in ourselves more faith
55:58
more courage
56:00
more boldness
56:02
more in terms of people being saved
56:05
more in terms of laborers being sent out into the harvest field
56:11
more glory to god
56:14
is that our longing
56:17
c.s lewis once wrote these words he said
56:23
when he's talking here about kind of a
56:26
complacency in the midst of a people he says it's it is hard but the sort of
56:32
compromise we're hankering after is harder in fact it is impossible he says about staying as we are
56:39
but he expresses it like this
56:43
we are like eggs at present
56:47
and we can cannot go on indefinitely
56:50
just being an ordinary decent egg
56:55
we must be hatched
56:58
or else we go bad
57:02
we're never to stand still
57:04
we're never to stay as we are
57:09
we are to press on
57:11
being thrust out
57:14
sent out
57:15
not just forced out
57:17
but longing to go out
57:20
and to serve the lord
57:23
to have his compassion
57:26
and his concern
57:28
to pray to him
57:30
whether it be others or ourselves
57:32
to go
57:34
because the fields
57:36
are white
57:37
to harvest
57:39
let us pray
57:40
to the lord of the harvest
57:43
to send out laborers
57:45
into his harvest
57:47
that we would see many
57:49
being drawn in
57:50
for christ
57:52
let us pray
57:54
our father in heaven
57:56
we thank you
57:57
for the power of your word
57:59
we thank you for the power of your spirit
58:01
for the power you afford to your people
58:05
that when we are a people of faith
58:07
and courage and boldness
58:08
that we have that great assurance
58:11
that you are with us
58:12
and so help us lord
58:13
even as we see
58:15
the crowds around ourselves
58:17
how we see so many people
58:19
day by day
58:21
that we would see them
58:22
through the eyes of our lord and savior
58:24
jesus christ
58:26
that we would have compassion
58:27
and concern
58:29
and concern for them
58:29
for they are indeed so many
58:31
like sheep
58:32
without a shepherd
58:33
lord may you
58:35
send laborers out
58:37
may you send them out
58:38
from among ourselves
58:39
and from many other parts of our nation
58:42
and to all ends of the earth
58:44
for the fields are white to harvest
58:47
so we pray
58:48
to the lord of the harvest
58:50
to be with us in all of these things
58:53
so we ask it in jesus name
58:55
amen
58:56
we'll conclude by singing to god's praise
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in psalm 145
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the first version of the psalm
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psalm
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psalm 145
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page 442
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we'll sing from verse 8
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down to verse 11
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the tune is
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amazing grace
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and we see these words in verse 8
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the lord is very gracious
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in him
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compassions flow
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in mercy he is very great
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and is to anger slow
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we're reminded there
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of the steadfast love
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and the compassion
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of our lord
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and that that would be our prayer
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to these words
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as we sing them
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that as we go out
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in the week ahead
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we would go
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in this manner
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we'll sing from verse 8 to 11
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to god's praise
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the lord is
1:00:01
eto
1:00:03
inter�avia
1:00:17
and is to rife
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CHOIR SINGING
1:00:52
And over all his other words, his tender mercy shall.
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Behold, thy words shall praise, O Lord, and in thy saints shall bless.
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They shall thy kingdom's glory show, Thy power my speech express.
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After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my right. We'll close with a benediction.
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Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore. Amen.