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What Is Your Chief End? · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We'll begin our worship together by singing to God's praise in Psalm 29 in the Scottish Psalter
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version, page 238 of the psalm books. We're singing from verse 1 to verse 5. The tune is
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Amazing Grace, and this psalm reminds us of coming into the presence of God, coming to worship our
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Lord. Give ye unto the Lord, ye sons, that of the mighty be all strength and glory to the Lord,
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with cheerfulness give ye. And to the Lord the glory give, that to his name is due, and in the
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beauty of holiness unto Jehovah. So we come to worship God with these words, verse 1 to 5, to God's praise.
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Give ye unto the Lord Jesus, that of the mighty be all strength and glory to the Lord,
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the Lord with cheerfulness give ye. And to the Lord the glory give, that to his name is due.
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And in the beauty of holiness unto Jehovah.
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God of majesty, the thunder and on multitude of water set doth he. A powerful voice,
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O majesty, the thunder and on multitude of water set doth he. A powerful voice,
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O Tumres
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That comes out from the Lord most high.
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The voice of that great Lord is full of glorious majesty.
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The voice of the eternal God.
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Asunder, see, the same.
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Yea, God the Lord does see the spring.
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That left and on does pay.
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Amen.
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Let's join together in prayer.
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Now let us pray.
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Our Father in heaven, we thank you anew for this day.
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We thank you for the blessing that is ours to come to worship you and to praise your name together.
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And we thank you for these words that we've sung together that remind us of how worthy you are of all our worship.
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That you are the only one who is worth worshipping in this world.
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And we thank you that as we come to worship, we have that reminder that you are a God who speaks to us.
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That your word is powerful and mighty.
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And even as we've sung that the voice of the Lord is a powerful voice that comes from you on most high.
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And we pray that together as we worship you, we will know your blessing upon us.
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That each one of us, Lord, will hear you and seek to know you more and more.
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That as we learn about you, as we learn through your word in the church here and in Sunday school and Cresce and Tweenies as well.
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That your word will be beautiful for us.
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That it will be something that we treasure.
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Something that we love to hear and to read for ourselves as well.
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And teach us by it, Lord.
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That you will show us your goodness and mercy all the days of our lives.
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And that you will remind us that in you is all beauty and glory.
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We can be distracted by so many things in this world.
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And even from a young age, we can be caught up in looking for the things of this world that we think will satisfy us.
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Whether it's technology or friendships or whatever it may be that lead us away from you.
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But help us, Lord, to know you as a great friend who stays close to us.
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So bless us together now, Lord.
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Be with us.
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Be with all the young ones here today as we will shortly go out to the Sunday school.
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Lord, bless them and be with them.
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And gather us all in your name here just now.
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And watch over us, we pray.
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In Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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It's good for us to be together worshipping God.
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We enjoy, I hope, worshipping God in different times during the week as well.
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We worship him as we come and read his word together.
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And we do that by ourselves as well.
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It's good to read God's word.
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He speaks to us through it.
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That's what that psalm that we reminded us of.
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That the Lord's voice is a powerful voice.
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And he speaks to us.
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I just want to think for a minute about where our treasure is.
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In the Gospel of Luke, we read there in chapter 12, verse 34.
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And it says these words,
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For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
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So there's a question there for us.
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Where is your treasure?
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Treasure.
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And what is your treasure?
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Has anyone ever done a treasure hunt?
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I'm sure a number of you have done treasure hunts at different points.
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Whether it's maybe at a birthday party.
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Maybe it's at a special time of year.
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Very often at Easter time, there's a treasure hunt.
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Or it might have been if you were at the holiday clubs the last couple of summers.
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Or the explorers groups as well.
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And you think about treasure hunts.
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And what do you need when you're doing a treasure hunt?
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Well, you need things like either a clue or a map.
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So if you're going by clues, you find one clue, you read it,
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and it will show you then where you go to find the next clue.
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And you hope eventually you're going to find the treasure.
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Or if you've got a map, it does the same thing, but in a different way.
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The map will show maybe places you have to go to.
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And it will show you the way to get there.
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It will show you maybe lines on the map.
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And you've got to follow these tracks, finding your way until you find the treasure.
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And what's more exciting?
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Is it looking and searching?
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Or is it when you find the treasure?
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Because sometimes you might find a treasure and you might be disappointed with it.
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You might think, is that it?
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Because after all that time hunting, is this all I get?
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Maybe just a little pack of sweets or something like that.
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And you think, oh, I should have got so much more.
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I put so much effort into it.
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Well, the Bible tells us that when we look to God, that we'll never be disappointed.
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And every one of us here, not just the young ones, every one of us here,
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from the youngest to the oldest, we're all on a treasure hunt in life.
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We're all looking for something that's going to satisfy us,
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that's going to make us happy and make us glad when we find it.
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But so often we're looking in the wrong place.
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And that's why Jesus says here,
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where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
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There will your heart be also.
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And that means, what do you love?
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What do you love in this life?
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Are you looking for treasure away from God that you think,
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this is what's going to make me happy?
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Or are you looking for the treasure that God offers in his word?
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That he gives us his own son to be our treasure.
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That he gives us his word to show us the way to him.
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We're on a journey, every one of us.
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We're on a treasure hunt.
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But what treasure are we looking for?
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And where is our heart today?
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Does your heart love God and his word?
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Or does your heart love other things in this world?
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The Bible tells us to love the Lord our God with all our heart.
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And then we'll find our treasure in him.
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And we'll rejoice all the days of our lives.
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So we're all on a treasure hunt.
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And let's all pray that our hearts will be seeking the right treasure.
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The treasure that God offers us in his son, Christ Jesus.
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Well, let's say the Lord's Prayer together now.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
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Thy kingdom come.
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Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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Give us this day our daily bread.
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And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
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And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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We're going to sing again to God's praise, this time in Psalm 40.
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Again, we're in the Scottish Psalter version, Psalm 40, page 260 of the Psalm books.
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We're going to sing from verse 7 to verse 10, the end of double verse 10, the tune is martyrdom.
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Then to the Lord, these were my words.
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I come, behold and see, within the volume of the book it written is of me.
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To do thy will I take delight.
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O thou my God that art, yea, that most holy law of thine I have within my heart.
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It's about the treasure of having God's word in our hearts and to do God's will.
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So we'll sing from verse 7 to 10 to God's praise.
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pers, yes.
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Amen.
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Thanks.
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Amen.
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Thank you.
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Amen.
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Then to the Lord is where my words I come behold and see.
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Within the volume of the book a treasure is of me.
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To do thy will I take delight.
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O come, my God, that art, yea, that most holy love of night.
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I have within my heart.
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Within the congregation grave, I rise just as to preach.
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Though thou just so, O Lord, that I regret and not my speech.
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I never parted within my heart until thy righteousness.
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I thy salvation have declared and shown thy faithfulness.
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Thy kindness which most loving is.
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Conceal the lamb, not I.
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Not from the congregation grave.
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I have within my heart.
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I am.
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I am.
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I am.
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We're going to turn to reading God's Word in 1 Thessalonians.
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1 Thessalonians.
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1 Thessalonians.
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We take up our reading in chapter 3 and at verse 6.
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And we read down into chapter 4 down to the end of verse 12.
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1 Thessalonians chapter 3, reading from verse 6.
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Now that Timothy has come to us from you and has brought us the good news of your faith and love.
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And reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us as we long to see you.
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For this reason, brothers, in all our desires and affliction, we have been comforted about you through your faith.
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For now we live if you are standing fast in the Lord.
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For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you?
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For all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God,
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as we pray most earnestly night and day,
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that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith.
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Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.
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And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all,
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as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts,
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blameless in holiness, before our God and Father
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at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
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Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus
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that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God,
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just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.
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For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
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For this is the will of God, your sanctification,
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that you abstain from sexual immorality,
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that each one of you know how to control his own body
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in holiness and honour,
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not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles,
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who do not know God,
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that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter,
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because the Lord is an avenger in all these things,
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as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
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For God has not called us for impurity,
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but in holiness.
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Therefore, whoever disregards this,
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disregards not man,
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but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
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Now concerning brotherly love,
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you have no need for anyone to write to you,
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for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
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For that indeed is what you are doing
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to all the brothers throughout Macedonia.
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But we urge you, brothers,
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to do this more and more,
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and to aspire to live quietly,
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and to mind your own affairs,
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and to work with your hands,
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as we instructed you,
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so that you may live properly before outsiders,
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and be dependent on no one.
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And so on.
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And may God add his blessing
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to that reading of his word.
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Again, join together in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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O Lord, our gracious God,
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you are a holy God,
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who we have no right to approach in so many ways,
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for we are unworthy of it.
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We are unclean before you because of our sin.
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We should not be able to stand upon
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the very holy ground that you give to us.
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And yet we thank you that you are a God
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who has opened a way for us
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to come through a name that is mighty,
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a name that is powerful,
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the one who is your own Son,
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Jesus Christ,
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that we have been taught
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through him
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how to approach you,
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even how we approach you in prayer.
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As he taught the disciples,
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we are reminded ourselves
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that that is how we can come
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to call upon you
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as our Father in heaven.
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And we thank you
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that there is that wonderful power
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in that relationship
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that we come,
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bringing all our cares and concerns to you,
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but first and foremost,
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giving you praise and honor and glory.
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And we do thank you, too,
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that we have instruction
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as to how we are to live
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and that we are to seek to please you
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more and more
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as we have read
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in these words before us.
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And as we come to study them, Lord,
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as we seek to learn from them,
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may you help us
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to have teachable hearts
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and to know the power of your Spirit
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speaking to us
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that we would not grieve you.
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We thank you that you are one,
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even as we've read in these words,
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too,
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who has given his Holy Spirit to us.
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And we pray, Lord,
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that we would not seek
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to grieve that Holy Spirit,
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that we would not seek
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to turn away from you
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as many have done
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and as many still do,
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but that we would seek
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all the more
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to walk closely with you,
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to walk humbly before you
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and to walk in a manner
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worthy of you.
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And we know that we cannot
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do this alone.
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And we pray, Lord,
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for your grace
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and your mercy to help,
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to help us
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in all our different needs,
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that we would keep our eyes
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fixed on you,
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that we would look to Jesus
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as the one who is the author,
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the perfecter of faith.
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And even as a people of faith,
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Lord, we know
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how far short we fall
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and how dependent we are upon you
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day by day.
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And so, Lord,
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may you continue to build us up
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as your people.
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May you work in us
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to make us
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into the people
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you would have us to be,
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to take away
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the many blemishes
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that are in our hearts
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and in our lives, Lord.
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We know that we will never
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be perfect in this world,
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but we seek, Lord,
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to be a people
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who will always
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look to please you
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in whatever way we can.
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And we thank you
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that you do not leave us
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alone in this,
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but as we will study
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your word together today,
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we are reminded
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that you are working in us.
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And we pray
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that we would know it
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and that your church
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would know it
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and that the world
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would know it,
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that you are a God
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who is mighty to work,
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that you are a God
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who is mighty to change,
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to change even the most
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wicked of heart
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and to use it
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for your glory.
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So, Lord,
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we pray your blessing
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upon us as a people,
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upon your word
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as it goes out today,
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that powerful word.
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Lord,
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we thank you
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that it is
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so powerful
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because it is sent
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from you.
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It is not the words
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of men,
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but the words of God.
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And we pray
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that it will be heard
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far and wide today,
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that it will be received
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with great gladness
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and humbling
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and repenting today.
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And we pray that
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throughout the world,
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that as your word
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goes out,
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Lord,
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you would accompany it
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with your blessing.
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blessed to us here as well,
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Lord,
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as we commit ourselves
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to you.
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And in this coming week,
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Lord,
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we ask that you would
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go before us
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to teach us
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by your spirit
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and by your word
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in all things.
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And as we look ahead
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to a communion time
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in our midst,
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Lord,
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we pray
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for a sense,
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a real sense
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of your peace
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and your blessing
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over us,
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a sense of your
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building us up
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together as a people
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in brotherly love
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as we have read of
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in this passage as well.
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That you would unite us
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in the cords of love
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and under the banner
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of the gospel
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to rejoice in your goodness
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to us.
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That we would make sure
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our treasure is found
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in you.
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That we would seek first
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the kingdom of God
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and that all other things
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would be added unto us.
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And so, Lord,
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guide us in this week ahead.
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Guide us collectively
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and individually
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as well,
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we pray
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that as we approach
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a communion season
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we would do so
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prayerfully,
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praying for one another
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and praying for ourselves
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too
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and praying
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for your glory
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to be in our midst.
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Bless the preachers
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who will come
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to minister to us.
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We pray for each of them
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who will be involved
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in the communion weekend.
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We pray for Reverend
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Angus McRae
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and the Reverend
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Carl MacDonald
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as they prepare
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for the weekend ahead,
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Lord,
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that you will guide them
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by your spirit
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that you will give them
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the words to speak.
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Words that will
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both challenge
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and convict us
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but also encourage us
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and build us up.
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We pray for a real sense
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of unity
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in our time together.
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We pray too, Lord,
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for all aspects
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of your church
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not just here
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in our midst
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but throughout
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our islands,
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throughout our presbytery
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here.
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we pray for all
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our congregations
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as we begin
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our communion season
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again, Lord.
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We pray that
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there will be a sense
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of your pouring out
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your spirit over us
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as a people,
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reviving us in our hearts
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and building up
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your church.
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We pray that
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throughout our land,
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Lord,
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that your church
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will be blessed by you,
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that you would build it up
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in our midst
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and restore our land
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once again
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to be a place
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where your name
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is lifted high,
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a place where your name
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is glorified,
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where we would not
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be ashamed
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of the name
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of Jesus Christ,
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that we would lift it up
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as a banner over us,
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the banner
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that is so needed
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in our day
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and in our times.
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We pray that
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that as your people
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go out in the world
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far and wide
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to all ends
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of the earth,
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we thank you
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that you have
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your people
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called to minister
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to young and old,
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to men and women
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throughout all the many
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countries of this world,
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even from our own midst
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here, Lord,
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we thank you
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that you have called
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people to serve you
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and we pray for them,
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Lord,
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we pray your blessing
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over everyone
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of your people,
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many who would feel
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perhaps isolated
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and lonely at times,
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fearful even,
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and yet, Lord,
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to know
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the great courage
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that you are able
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to give,
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the blessing
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of knowing
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that you are with them.
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We pray that
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for all of us,
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Lord,
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together as a people
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in homes and families
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and all our different needs,
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that we would know
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your great faithfulness
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to us, Lord,
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that you never leave us
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or forsake us.
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And we pray, Lord,
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for many who may be
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needing you
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in different ways
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of times of ill health,
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times of grief
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and sorrow,
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times of falling away
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from you
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in different ways.
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we pray, Lord,
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that your voice,
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that mighty voice
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would be heard by you,
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by your people
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near and far.
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Continue to bless us
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throughout this day,
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Lord,
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watch over us,
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hear our prayers
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collectively together
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and individually too,
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that as we offer up
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our thanks
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and our praise to you,
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it will be acceptable
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before you.
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And we ask
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all these things
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knowing our sin,
26:22
knowing the sin
26:23
of our hearts
26:24
and thought,
26:25
word,
26:26
and inaction as well.
26:27
And we pray forgiveness
26:28
for all our sin.
26:30
Cleanse us anew,
26:31
we pray,
26:32
and go before us now
26:33
in all things,
26:35
teaching us by your Spirit
26:36
to walk closely with you
26:39
as we ask it
26:40
in Jesus' precious name.
26:42
Amen.
26:42
Amen.
26:42
Before we turn back
26:47
to look at our passage
26:48
this morning together,
26:50
we'll sing in Psalm 15.
26:52
Psalm 15,
26:53
in the Sing Psalms version,
26:55
in page 16
26:56
of the Psalm books,
26:58
we can sing
26:59
the whole of this Psalm.
27:00
The tune is
27:00
St. Andrew.
27:02
Psalm 15,
27:03
Lord,
27:04
who may stay
27:05
within your tent,
27:06
your sacred dwelling place,
27:08
and who upon
27:08
your holy hill
27:09
may live before your face,
27:11
whoever walks
27:13
a blameless path,
27:14
who acts
27:14
in righteousness,
27:16
and who will always
27:17
from the heart
27:18
sincerely truth express.
27:21
We'll sing
27:21
the whole of this Psalm
27:22
to God's praise.
27:24
Amen.
27:30
Lord,
27:32
who may stay
27:35
within your tent,
27:40
your sacred dwelling place,
27:47
and who upon
27:52
your holy hill
27:56
may live before your face,
28:03
who ever walks
28:08
a blameless path,
28:12
who acts in righteousness,
28:18
and who will always from the heart,
28:28
sincerely truth express.
28:35
He casts no blood on anyone,
28:45
nor does his day
28:49
in the wrong.
28:51
He has no sight
28:57
within his heart,
29:01
or slander
29:04
on his tongue.
29:08
He on the soul
29:13
to fear the Lord,
29:18
the worthless
29:21
in his eyes.
29:22
He gives the oath
29:29
which he has sworn,
29:33
however high the price.
29:41
He lets his money
29:46
and no charge,
29:50
no pride
29:52
can he
29:54
during the deathَ
30:05
will always stand secure.
30:16
Well, we can turn back together for a time
30:19
to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.
30:23
We're going to look at verse 1 to 8 in particular together.
30:27
Just now we can read from verse 1 there.
30:30
Finally then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus
30:34
that as you received from us how you ought to live
30:37
and to please God, just as you are doing,
30:41
that you do so more and more.
30:43
For you know that the instruction we gave through the Lord Jesus,
30:48
for this is the will of God,
30:50
your sanctification, and so on.
30:55
The title of this morning's sermon is
30:59
What is Your Chief End?
31:01
And I'm sure there's many of you here
31:04
who will be familiar with that question.
31:08
It's a question perhaps you've been familiar with
31:10
from a very young age.
31:12
What is the chief end of man?
31:15
Now, if you don't know where it's from,
31:17
if you're new to that question,
31:19
then it's from the Shorter Catechism,
31:21
which has been an important source of teaching
31:25
throughout the church for many generations now.
31:29
The Shorter Catechism is a collection of questions and answers
31:35
all based on the Word of God.
31:38
Here's one example of that.
31:40
It's a book.
31:42
Sometimes it's much smaller.
31:43
This actually contains the Westminster Confession of Faith
31:47
along with the Shorter Catechism and the Longer Catechism.
31:50
So you have these three different documents in one book,
31:54
but very often you find they come individually as well.
31:57
And the Shorter Catechism book is sometimes just a very small book.
32:01
And for many of us, we learned it in our young age.
32:06
And perhaps for some,
32:07
maybe the only question that you remember is,
32:10
what is the chief end of man?
32:12
And you know, the answer perhaps,
32:14
the chief end of man is to glorify God
32:17
and to enjoy him forever.
32:21
But what does that mean?
32:24
What does the question mean?
32:26
And what does the answer mean?
32:28
They're both important for us to understand,
32:31
even what Paul is writing to the Thessalonians here.
32:36
What is the chief end?
32:38
What is our purpose in life?
32:42
That's really what the question is asking.
32:45
What is our purpose?
32:47
And then the answer to that question is,
32:50
our chief end,
32:51
our purpose is to glorify God
32:54
and to enjoy him forever.
32:59
Glorify God means to give him all the worship
33:03
and praise that is due to him.
33:06
But what does it mean to enjoy him
33:08
and to enjoy him forever?
33:12
Maybe we think that's something
33:13
that's further down the road.
33:16
That's something maybe even for eternity,
33:18
that that's when we will enjoy him.
33:22
But it's not just for eternity.
33:24
Yes, there's a sense of the day will come
33:26
when we will fully enjoy him in that sense.
33:29
But that's not to say
33:30
that there shouldn't be any enjoying him today
33:32
and all the days of our lives.
33:36
And we enjoy him by growing in him.
33:39
And that's what this passage
33:41
that we're looking at together
33:43
is all about.
33:46
Enjoying him.
33:48
And as Paul is writing to the church
33:51
at Thessalonica here,
33:52
he's writing to them,
33:54
seeking this for them,
33:55
that they will be growing in the Lord,
33:58
that they will be going on
33:59
in the strength of the Lord.
34:03
And he's doing this in the way
34:05
that he's asking them
34:06
many different questions
34:07
to encourage them along the way.
34:11
And one question that you could maybe draw
34:13
from the reading that we've had today is,
34:15
are they the finished article?
34:19
And when we think of Paul writing to them,
34:21
we think of him speaking to ourselves
34:23
through his word today as well.
34:24
Are we the finished article?
34:28
If you look back just to the end of chapter 3 there
34:31
where we read the encouraging,
34:34
the report that they had
34:35
coming back from Thessalonica,
34:38
Paul was not there anymore.
34:40
He was writing to them to hear
34:41
how they were.
34:42
But Timothy had come back to him
34:44
with a report.
34:46
And the report gave him great comfort
34:49
and great joy because he was hearing
34:51
that they were going on
34:53
in their faith.
34:54
The question there is,
34:57
how is your faith?
34:59
And you could almost answer there for them,
35:02
their faith was strong.
35:04
They were going on in the Lord.
35:06
But Paul's great concern
35:09
and encouragement was
35:10
that they keep going,
35:13
that they press on,
35:14
that they don't lose heart along the way,
35:16
that they don't enter into trials
35:18
and temptations that will
35:20
make them fall away
35:22
from walking closely with the Lord.
35:24
And so he's writing
35:25
to encourage them.
35:28
So after all has been said
35:30
in this letter up until this point,
35:33
now he's focusing,
35:34
as you come into chapter 4,
35:36
how are we going to go forward?
35:39
How are we going to go on
35:40
from here?
35:42
And that's something
35:44
every Christian should always have in mind.
35:47
Every one of us should have in mind,
35:50
whether we're Christians here or not,
35:52
whether we're looking for the Lord.
35:53
The question is always
35:54
in the back of our mind,
35:56
where are we going from here?
35:58
Where are we going
35:58
from this service today?
36:00
What direction are we going in?
36:02
What are we leaning on
36:03
for help and understanding?
36:07
This week was a school report week,
36:10
a parents' evening
36:11
in the Nicholson,
36:13
which we were at.
36:15
And as with any parent evening,
36:17
it's always a time of looking at
36:19
where the child is now,
36:21
which is important.
36:23
But what always comes up
36:24
is the pathway for going forward.
36:27
What needs to be done
36:29
to achieve their aim,
36:31
their goal,
36:31
or their career.
36:33
There's always a sense
36:34
of a pathway going forward.
36:38
And for Paul,
36:39
this is almost like a report
36:41
that's coming back
36:42
from Thessalonica,
36:43
where God's children
36:46
are being reported
36:47
on their faith strong.
36:50
They're in a good place just now.
36:52
They're standing fast in the Lord,
36:55
as it says in verse 8
36:56
of chapter 3.
36:58
They're standing fast in the Lord.
37:00
That's great.
37:01
But now as you come into chapter 4,
37:03
it's,
37:04
but what's the pathway going forward?
37:07
Where do they go?
37:08
from here.
37:10
And he's already encouraged them
37:12
in their walk with the Lord.
37:15
In verse 12 of chapter 2,
37:18
we exhorted each one of you
37:20
and encouraged you
37:21
and charged you
37:21
to walk in a manner
37:23
worthy of God,
37:24
who calls you
37:25
into his own kingdom
37:27
and glory.
37:28
So they were charged,
37:29
they were called to this,
37:30
to walk in a manner
37:32
worthy of God.
37:33
Their pathway
37:34
was put before them.
37:35
But now he's reminding them
37:38
and challenging them
37:39
to keep going
37:40
in this way.
37:43
But there's a great reminder
37:45
here too
37:46
for them and for us
37:48
that even if we feel
37:50
that we're falling short
37:52
in so many ways.
37:54
And the reminder
37:55
is what we have
37:56
in verse 3.
37:58
For this is the will of God,
38:01
your sanctification.
38:03
that God is working
38:06
in them.
38:08
And God is working
38:10
in you and me.
38:13
That he doesn't leave us alone
38:15
in this pathway,
38:17
in this life of seeking
38:19
to please him.
38:20
It's not in our own strength
38:21
that we go on,
38:24
but through him
38:25
who works in us
38:26
for his glory.
38:29
And when we think of that
38:30
in light of what is
38:31
our chief end,
38:33
what is our main purpose,
38:35
what is our pathway
38:37
going forward,
38:38
we ask,
38:39
well,
38:39
is it to worship
38:41
and glorify God?
38:43
And is it to enjoy him now
38:45
and forever?
38:48
And so there's three things
38:49
I want us to take
38:50
from these verses
38:52
before us
38:52
this evening.
38:55
How we see God
38:56
working in us.
38:57
And the first thing is
38:58
in the opening verses
38:59
of chapter 4,
39:01
we see Paul encouraging
39:02
them to please God
39:04
more and more.
39:06
To please God
39:07
more and more.
39:11
Our lives are so often
39:12
dictated by goals
39:15
and targets.
39:17
When you think of
39:18
a parent's evening
39:20
and setting out
39:21
pathways and goals
39:23
in life,
39:24
they're important.
39:25
But it's also important
39:28
to remind
39:29
children and ourselves
39:30
the goal of
39:32
knowing God
39:33
is the greatest
39:34
of all.
39:36
Because we can get
39:37
so easily
39:38
distracted
39:38
by pathways
39:40
and lives
39:40
and career paths
39:42
and goals
39:42
in life.
39:45
It's in every aspect
39:46
of life
39:47
these days.
39:48
Targets
39:49
to be met.
39:50
Whether it's
39:51
in sports,
39:53
targets
39:53
to be met,
39:54
personal bests
39:56
to be gained.
39:57
Whether it's
39:58
in work,
39:59
targets
40:00
that we're set,
40:01
production,
40:02
or earning
40:03
certain amount
40:04
of money,
40:05
all of these things.
40:06
And then you have
40:07
life targets,
40:08
relationships,
40:09
and personal targets,
40:11
cars and houses
40:12
and promotions
40:13
and all of these things.
40:15
The list
40:15
can go on
40:16
where we see
40:16
a pathway in life
40:18
that is
40:18
all about us
40:20
and satisfying
40:22
ourselves
40:23
and achieving
40:24
our own goals.
40:26
And whether you
40:27
look at Paul's day
40:28
or our own day,
40:29
that's common.
40:31
It's common
40:31
in every generation
40:33
and every aspect
40:34
of life
40:34
where we can get
40:35
so entangled
40:36
in our own goals.
40:39
And our purpose
40:40
becomes
40:41
not to glorify God
40:43
but to make glory
40:45
for ourselves.
40:47
And not to enjoy
40:48
him forever
40:49
but to enjoy life
40:50
forever
40:51
as we see it.
40:53
And it's so easy
40:54
to go on the wrong path,
40:55
the wrong way.
40:57
And that's the warning
40:58
that's behind
40:59
what Paul is writing
41:00
to them here.
41:02
He knows this fact.
41:03
He knows
41:04
the distractions
41:05
that are so often
41:06
all around
41:06
in his day
41:08
and God's speaking
41:09
to us today
41:10
as well.
41:11
And so
41:12
as he's writing here
41:13
he's saying,
41:14
yes,
41:14
your faith
41:15
is strong at the moment.
41:16
You're standing
41:16
in the Lord
41:17
but where are you going?
41:20
Where are you going
41:20
from here?
41:21
And so he says
41:22
there in verse 1,
41:22
finally then brothers,
41:24
we ask and urge you
41:25
in the Lord Jesus
41:26
that as you received
41:28
from us
41:28
how you ought to live
41:29
and to please God
41:30
just as you are doing
41:32
that you do so
41:33
more
41:34
and more.
41:36
That this is
41:37
your ongoing
41:38
chief end,
41:40
chief purpose
41:41
to please God,
41:43
to enjoy him
41:45
more
41:46
and more.
41:48
A life
41:48
pleasing
41:49
to God.
41:52
And is that
41:53
the life
41:54
that you are living,
41:55
that I am living
41:56
today?
41:57
Is that my
41:57
chief end,
41:58
my chief purpose
41:59
today
42:00
to live a life
42:01
pleasing God
42:02
more
42:03
and more?
42:06
And the question
42:07
is,
42:07
well,
42:07
how?
42:09
How do we
42:10
please God?
42:11
How do we know
42:12
what is right
42:13
to do
42:13
and what is wrong
42:14
to do?
42:16
How do we decide
42:17
what is morally
42:19
right and what is
42:19
morally wrong?
42:21
You see the context
42:22
of Paul writing
42:23
here was a lot
42:24
of morality,
42:25
a lot of moral
42:26
issues that were
42:27
pulling them away
42:29
from God.
42:31
And it's the same
42:31
in our own world
42:32
too.
42:33
These issues
42:34
of life
42:34
are still always
42:35
there,
42:36
seem to pull us
42:36
away from God.
42:38
And how do we know
42:38
what is right
42:39
and what is wrong?
42:40
We can base it
42:41
on what we've
42:42
been brought
42:43
up with.
42:44
And that's fine
42:45
if we've been
42:46
privileged and blessed
42:47
with a Christian
42:48
upbringing,
42:49
our morals coming
42:51
from the Bible,
42:51
but what about
42:53
when that changes?
42:54
What if that's
42:55
never what we've
42:56
had?
42:57
What if we base
42:58
what is right
42:58
and wrong
42:59
on present culture
43:00
and ways of
43:01
thinking and laws?
43:04
If a law
43:05
changes to say
43:06
something that
43:07
was wrong
43:07
is now right,
43:09
or even the other
43:10
way around,
43:10
something that
43:11
was right
43:11
is now wrong.
43:13
How do we know?
43:14
What do we base
43:15
it on?
43:17
Francis Schaeffer
43:18
once said,
43:20
if there is
43:20
no absolute
43:21
by which to
43:22
judge society,
43:24
then society
43:26
is absolute.
43:28
If there is
43:29
no absolute
43:30
by which to
43:31
judge society,
43:32
then society
43:33
is absolute.
43:36
And is there
43:38
an absolute
43:39
for us?
43:41
Well,
43:42
if we believe
43:42
in God
43:43
and we believe
43:45
in his word,
43:45
there is,
43:46
because it is
43:46
found in the
43:48
word of God.
43:49
That is
43:50
our absolute
43:52
guide,
43:53
our absolute
43:54
instruction,
43:56
our absolute
43:56
way to our
43:57
chief end
43:58
to please God
43:59
is not
44:00
through society's
44:01
absolutes,
44:02
but through
44:03
the word of God.
44:05
And our prayer
44:06
would be that
44:07
society's
44:07
absolutes
44:08
would come
44:09
from the
44:10
word of God.
44:11
But when they
44:12
don't,
44:13
we still
44:14
remain in
44:15
God's word,
44:17
because our
44:18
desire should
44:18
be to
44:19
please God
44:20
more and
44:22
more.
44:24
And that's
44:24
a clear warning
44:25
in Scripture.
44:27
If we seek
44:27
to please
44:28
self,
44:30
we'll never
44:30
please God.
44:31
Romans 8,
44:32
verse 8,
44:33
those who are
44:34
in the flesh
44:34
cannot
44:35
please God,
44:36
it says.
44:38
And then
44:38
Romans 12
44:39
goes on
44:40
to outline
44:40
how we
44:41
can
44:41
please God.
44:43
Do not
44:44
be conformed
44:45
to this
44:46
world,
44:46
but be
44:46
transformed
44:47
by the
44:48
renewal of
44:49
your mind,
44:49
that by
44:49
testing you
44:51
may discern
44:51
what is
44:52
the will
44:52
of God,
44:52
what is
44:53
good and
44:54
acceptable
44:54
and perfect.
44:57
We find
44:58
it in the
44:59
word of
45:00
God.
45:01
God.
45:02
He's
45:02
saying,
45:02
please God
45:03
more and
45:05
more.
45:07
The question
45:07
for them
45:08
was,
45:08
are they?
45:10
And the
45:10
question for
45:10
us is,
45:12
are we?
45:13
Is that
45:14
our chief
45:14
end,
45:15
to please
45:16
God
45:16
more and
45:18
more?
45:20
We're
45:20
always
45:20
challenged.
45:21
I mean,
45:21
you think
45:21
of Psalm
45:22
15,
45:23
who can
45:24
stand
45:24
before the
45:26
Lord?
45:27
And there's
45:27
so many
45:28
things there
45:28
that if you
45:28
go through
45:29
them,
45:29
you think,
45:29
I can't.
45:31
I can't
45:32
stand before
45:33
God.
45:34
He who
45:34
honors,
45:35
who fears
45:35
the Lord,
45:36
he who
45:37
does right
45:38
to his
45:38
neighbor,
45:39
he who
45:39
has no
45:40
spite in
45:40
his heart
45:41
or no
45:41
slander in
45:42
his tongue.
45:43
You go
45:43
through that
45:43
list and
45:44
you think,
45:44
how is it
45:45
possible for
45:46
anyone to
45:46
stand before
45:47
God?
45:48
And that's
45:49
the reality
45:49
for us
45:50
too.
45:50
How can
45:50
any of
45:51
us please
45:52
God more
45:53
and more?
45:53
We know
45:54
it's
45:54
impossible.
45:56
Is a
45:57
life pleasing
45:57
to God
45:58
about making
45:59
changes
46:00
ourselves?
46:01
Well,
46:01
that's the
46:01
second thing
46:02
we want
46:02
to see
46:03
here.
46:04
Because if
46:05
you read
46:05
verse 2
46:06
to 4
46:07
and go
46:08
through that
46:09
yourself
46:09
without the
46:10
first sentence
46:11
of verse 3,
46:12
if you leave
46:13
out the
46:14
first part
46:14
of verse 3,
46:15
for this is
46:15
the will
46:16
of God,
46:16
your
46:17
sanctification,
46:18
you leave
46:19
that out
46:19
and read
46:19
verse 2
46:20
to 4,
46:21
you think,
46:22
I can
46:22
try and
46:24
do that
46:24
myself.
46:25
And this
46:27
is the
46:27
way many
46:28
people try
46:28
to approach
46:29
God.
46:31
We hear
46:31
what God's
46:32
word says
46:33
and what
46:34
we're going
46:34
to do is
46:35
we're going
46:35
to make
46:35
all the
46:36
changes
46:36
in our
46:37
own
46:38
lifestyle.
46:38
We're going
46:38
to make
46:39
all the
46:39
changes
46:39
in our
46:40
own
46:40
hearts
46:41
by ourselves.
46:42
We're going
46:42
to manage
46:42
this.
46:43
We're going
46:43
to do
46:43
it.
46:44
We're going
46:44
to set
46:45
a goal.
46:45
We're going
46:45
to achieve
46:46
it.
46:46
We've got
46:46
the pathway
46:47
marked out
46:48
before us.
46:49
I'm going
46:49
to be
46:49
someone whose
46:50
chief end,
46:51
whose chief
46:52
purpose is
46:53
to glorify
46:54
God and
46:54
to enjoy
46:55
him forever.
46:57
And we
46:57
try and
46:58
do it
46:58
ourselves.
47:00
But does
47:01
it work?
47:02
It doesn't.
47:04
We end
47:05
up failing
47:06
because
47:07
without God
47:09
it's impossible
47:10
to please
47:11
him.
47:12
And that's
47:13
the beauty
47:14
of this
47:14
verse.
47:15
That's the
47:15
beauty of
47:16
what God
47:17
teaches us
47:18
in his
47:18
word.
47:19
It is
47:19
God who
47:20
works in
47:21
us.
47:23
And that's
47:23
why you
47:24
have the
47:24
beginning
47:24
of verse
47:25
3.
47:25
For this
47:26
is the
47:26
will of
47:26
God,
47:27
your
47:28
sanctification.
47:30
God
47:31
working
47:32
in us.
47:34
John
47:34
Newton
47:35
once famously
47:36
said,
47:36
I'm not
47:37
what I
47:37
ought to
47:38
be.
47:39
And I'm
47:39
guessing
47:39
we could
47:40
all say
47:40
these
47:41
things.
47:42
I'm not
47:42
what I
47:42
want to
47:43
be.
47:44
I'm not
47:44
what I
47:45
hope to
47:45
be in
47:45
another
47:45
world.
47:46
But still,
47:47
I am
47:48
not what I
47:48
once used
47:49
to be.
47:51
But by
47:52
the grace
47:52
of God,
47:53
I am
47:54
what I
47:55
am.
47:57
By the
47:58
grace of
47:58
God,
47:59
I am
48:00
what I
48:01
am.
48:02
You see,
48:03
John
48:03
Newton
48:03
didn't
48:03
try and
48:04
change
48:04
his own
48:05
life.
48:06
He knew
48:07
that only
48:07
the Lord
48:08
could,
48:09
and his
48:10
grace
48:10
could.
48:12
And that
48:12
is what
48:12
we need
48:13
to remember
48:13
ourselves
48:15
as well.
48:16
That it
48:17
is God
48:18
who can
48:18
change
48:19
us.
48:21
And that's
48:23
the wonder
48:23
of this
48:24
passage,
48:24
how God
48:25
knows us,
48:26
and how
48:26
God gives
48:27
us these
48:28
encouragements
48:29
along the
48:30
way.
48:30
The blessing
48:31
of these
48:32
words should
48:33
not go
48:33
past us,
48:35
because we
48:35
can all
48:36
find that
48:36
sense of
48:37
struggling
48:38
along by
48:39
ourselves,
48:40
looking at
48:41
ourselves and
48:42
thinking,
48:42
if only I
48:43
could please
48:44
God,
48:44
but I
48:44
can't.
48:46
And we're
48:47
trying to
48:47
go on
48:48
leaning on
48:48
our own
48:49
strength.
48:51
But Paul
48:51
is saying,
48:52
look,
48:53
even when
48:53
you're
48:53
standing
48:54
firm in
48:54
the Lord,
48:55
don't get
48:55
complacent.
48:56
Don't think
48:57
you've
48:57
arrived,
48:58
don't think
48:58
you've
48:59
made it.
49:02
Instead,
49:02
keep looking
49:03
to the
49:04
Lord,
49:05
to please
49:06
him more
49:07
and more,
49:08
knowing the
49:09
will of
49:09
God is
49:10
your
49:10
sanctification.
49:13
Now,
49:13
what is
49:14
sanctification?
49:16
That's
49:16
important for
49:17
us to
49:17
know what
49:18
Paul is
49:19
saying to
49:20
us here.
49:21
When we're
49:21
thinking that
49:22
instead of
49:24
our chief
49:25
end is to
49:26
please
49:26
ourselves,
49:27
we're
49:27
wanting our
49:28
chief end
49:29
to glorify
49:30
God and
49:30
to enjoy
49:31
him forever,
49:33
what makes
49:34
the difference?
49:34
It is God
49:35
working in
49:37
us.
49:38
And again,
49:39
we can come
49:39
back to the
49:40
shorter
49:41
catechism,
49:41
which again
49:42
gives us an
49:43
answer for
49:43
what is
49:44
sanctification.
49:45
sanctification
49:47
is the
49:48
work of
49:48
God's
49:49
free grace,
49:50
whereby we
49:51
are renewed
49:51
in the
49:52
whole man
49:52
after the
49:53
image of
49:53
God and
49:54
are enabled
49:55
more and
49:56
more to
49:56
die unto
49:57
sin and
49:58
to live
49:59
unto
49:59
righteousness.
50:01
It is the
50:02
work of
50:03
God's
50:04
free grace,
50:07
where we
50:07
are enabled
50:08
more and
50:09
more to
50:09
die unto
50:10
sin and
50:11
to live
50:12
unto
50:12
righteousness.
50:13
And we
50:14
think,
50:15
can I
50:15
ever make
50:16
it?
50:18
Well,
50:18
again,
50:19
we come
50:19
back to
50:19
the fact
50:20
that it
50:21
is God
50:21
working in
50:23
us.
50:26
A man
50:26
once bought
50:28
a new
50:28
house.
50:30
And in
50:31
the backyard
50:31
of his
50:32
house,
50:33
there was
50:33
a tree,
50:34
a tree
50:35
just standing
50:36
by itself,
50:37
and he
50:38
didn't know
50:38
what kind
50:38
of tree
50:39
it was.
50:39
Nothing
50:40
marked this
50:41
tree out
50:41
in any
50:42
significant
50:43
way,
50:43
because he
50:43
bought the
50:44
tree in
50:44
winter.
50:46
When spring
50:47
came,
50:48
leaves and
50:49
tiny little
50:50
buds started
50:51
appearing on
50:52
the tree.
50:54
And for a
50:54
few days,
50:55
he marveled
50:56
at this
50:56
tree.
50:57
What a
50:57
beautiful
50:57
tree.
50:59
It's got
50:59
these beautiful
51:00
flowers.
51:02
And he
51:02
enjoyed them
51:03
for a few
51:03
days, but
51:04
then a
51:05
wind came,
51:06
and within
51:07
a few
51:08
hours, all
51:08
the leaves
51:09
and all
51:10
the flowers
51:10
were gone.
51:11
they were
51:12
scattered all
51:14
over the
51:14
back garden.
51:16
And he
51:16
was so
51:16
disappointed.
51:17
What a
51:17
mess.
51:19
What a
51:19
worthless
51:20
tree this
51:21
is.
51:22
This tree
51:23
isn't of
51:23
any use
51:24
after all,
51:24
he thought.
51:26
But then
51:27
the summer
51:28
came, and
51:30
he noticed
51:31
during the
51:32
summer that
51:32
there were
51:33
these small
51:34
buds now on
51:35
the tree,
51:36
but the
51:36
size of a
51:36
large nut.
51:38
And he
51:38
thought, oh,
51:39
it must be a
51:40
fruit tree.
51:41
And so
51:42
he took
51:42
down one
51:43
of the
51:44
buds, and
51:44
he bit
51:45
into it, and
51:46
he spat it
51:46
out immediately.
51:48
Tasted
51:49
horrible, so
51:49
sour.
51:51
And he
51:51
thought, again,
51:52
what a
51:53
worthless
51:53
tree.
51:54
It can't
51:54
even bear
51:55
good fruit.
51:56
I'm going
51:56
to cut
51:57
this tree
51:57
down in
51:59
winter.
52:01
But then
52:02
come the
52:03
autumn, and
52:04
what did he
52:05
notice on
52:06
the tree?
52:07
But a
52:08
large
52:09
produce of
52:10
red apples.
52:12
It had
52:13
taken time,
52:14
but from
52:15
the wee
52:15
blossoming
52:16
buds that
52:17
had been
52:17
seemingly
52:18
blown away
52:18
to the
52:20
sour-tasting
52:21
fruit that
52:22
he thought
52:22
was being
52:23
produced in
52:24
the summer,
52:25
he realized
52:26
that the
52:26
tree itself
52:27
had been
52:27
taken from
52:28
the ground
52:28
all this
52:29
time to
52:30
produce a
52:31
ripe crop
52:32
of apples.
52:33
And that's
52:36
a reminder
52:36
to us of
52:37
what the
52:38
work of
52:38
sanctification
52:39
is like.
52:41
Can we
52:42
bear fruit
52:43
by ourselves?
52:45
No.
52:46
Will we
52:47
make mess
52:48
of our
52:49
life over
52:50
and over
52:50
again sometimes?
52:52
Yes.
52:53
Will our
52:54
fruit sometimes
52:55
be sour and
52:56
bitter?
52:57
Yes.
52:59
But it is
53:00
God who is
53:01
working in
53:02
us, that
53:04
we might
53:04
bear fruit
53:05
at some
53:06
point that
53:07
is good.
53:09
And it
53:10
may be that
53:10
it's always a
53:11
mix of all
53:12
the different
53:13
ones, but
53:15
our desire,
53:16
our chief
53:16
end should
53:17
be to
53:18
glorify God
53:19
and to
53:20
enjoy him
53:21
forever.
53:23
We can so
53:24
easily lose
53:25
heart because
53:27
of our
53:27
mistakes, and
53:28
especially if
53:30
we're thinking
53:31
we can do
53:31
it by
53:32
ourselves.
53:34
We can't,
53:36
but we
53:36
remember God
53:38
is working
53:39
in you.
53:40
God is
53:41
making you
53:42
into what
53:42
he wants
53:43
you to
53:43
be, useful
53:45
and giving
53:46
all glory
53:47
to him.
53:49
Mistakes
53:50
along the
53:50
way, yes.
53:52
Bitterness
53:52
and sourness
53:53
along the
53:53
way, yes.
53:55
But that
53:55
we might
53:56
have a
53:57
produce, a
53:59
harvest at
54:00
the end.
54:02
And that's
54:02
the last
54:02
point I
54:03
just wanted
54:03
to take
54:04
from this
54:04
passage.
54:04
What is the
54:06
outcome of
54:07
our
54:07
sanctification?
54:09
What is he
54:10
looking at
54:11
that we
54:12
might be
54:13
holy?
54:15
In verse
54:16
seven it
54:16
says,
54:17
for God
54:17
has not
54:18
called us
54:18
for impurity
54:20
but in
54:22
holiness.
54:22
holiness.
54:23
What is
54:24
a holy
54:25
person?
54:27
We have
54:28
our own
54:28
idea perhaps
54:29
what a
54:30
holy person
54:30
is.
54:32
A holy
54:32
person is
54:33
someone who
54:34
goes to
54:34
church.
54:35
A holy
54:35
person is
54:36
someone who
54:37
reads their
54:37
Bible.
54:39
But is that
54:40
what the
54:40
Bible means
54:41
by what a
54:42
holy person
54:43
is?
54:45
At the
54:45
root of
54:46
what being
54:46
holy means
54:47
and the
54:48
idea of
54:48
being holy
54:49
is being
54:50
set apart.
54:52
And so
54:54
when you
54:54
come to
54:55
worship God
54:56
we worship
54:57
a holy
54:58
God.
54:59
He is the
55:00
one who
55:00
is to be
55:01
set apart
55:02
and worthy
55:03
of all
55:04
our worship.
55:06
In Exodus
55:07
20
55:08
the ten
55:09
commandments
55:10
the first
55:11
commandment
55:12
is you
55:12
shall have
55:12
no other
55:13
gods
55:13
before me.
55:16
There shall
55:16
be nothing
55:16
else in
55:17
your pathway
55:18
nothing else
55:19
as your
55:20
treasure
55:20
nothing else
55:22
as your
55:22
chief end
55:23
but God.
55:25
You shall
55:25
have no
55:26
other gods
55:27
before me
55:28
because he
55:29
is a
55:30
holy God.
55:31
And before
55:32
that in
55:32
Exodus 15
55:33
it had
55:34
said who
55:35
is like
55:35
you O
55:36
Lord among
55:36
the gods
55:37
who is
55:37
like you
55:38
majestic
55:39
in holiness
55:40
awesome
55:40
in glorious
55:41
deeds
55:42
doing wonders.
55:44
There is
55:44
no other
55:45
God like
55:46
our Lord.
55:48
And therefore
55:48
he is a
55:49
holy God
55:50
and that
55:51
is how
55:51
we are
55:51
to worship
55:52
him.
55:52
As a
55:53
holy God
55:53
set apart.
55:58
But what
55:59
does holiness
55:59
mean for
56:00
ourselves?
56:01
You see it
56:02
in different
56:02
parts of
56:03
scripture
56:03
where we
56:03
are told
56:04
to be
56:05
holy
56:05
because
56:06
God
56:06
is
56:07
holy.
56:09
C.S.
56:09
Lewis
56:10
once said
56:10
how little
56:12
people know
56:12
who think
56:13
that holiness
56:14
is dull.
56:16
When one
56:16
meets the
56:17
real thing
56:18
it is
56:19
irresistible.
56:21
Holiness
56:21
is a
56:22
beautiful
56:22
thing.
56:24
Holiness
56:24
is a
56:24
precious
56:25
thing.
56:25
A thing
56:26
that we
56:26
should be
56:26
aspiring
56:27
for.
56:28
And that's
56:28
what Paul
56:29
is speaking
56:30
of here.
56:30
As you
56:31
seek to
56:31
please
56:32
God
56:32
more and
56:33
more.
56:34
As you
56:34
seek to
56:35
go on
56:35
in this
56:36
way being
56:37
sanctified
56:38
by God.
56:38
God
56:39
working
56:39
in us.
56:40
It is
56:41
to be a
56:41
beautiful
56:42
thing.
56:43
Set
56:44
apart
56:44
for the
56:45
worship
56:46
of God.
56:48
Holiness
56:48
is so
56:49
important
56:50
for us.
56:52
And why
56:53
is it
56:54
so important?
56:55
Because
56:56
we're given
56:56
a warning
56:57
there in
56:57
verse 8
56:57
of this
56:58
chapter.
56:59
Whoever
56:59
disregards
57:00
this
57:01
disregards
57:01
not man
57:02
but God.
57:05
When we
57:06
disregard
57:06
these things
57:07
we disregard
57:08
God
57:10
himself.
57:12
And when
57:12
we do
57:12
that
57:12
we cannot
57:14
be holy.
57:16
Hebrews
57:16
12
57:17
14
57:18
says to
57:18
us
57:18
as well
57:19
strive
57:19
for peace
57:20
with everyone
57:21
for the
57:21
holiness
57:22
without
57:23
which no
57:24
one will
57:25
see the
57:26
Lord.
57:28
Well
57:29
do we
57:30
want to
57:31
see God?
57:33
Do we
57:33
want to
57:34
enjoy him
57:34
forever?
57:36
Do we
57:36
want him
57:37
to be our
57:37
chief purpose
57:38
glorifying him
57:40
and enjoying
57:41
him
57:42
always?
57:43
I pray
57:45
we all
57:46
do.
57:47
That that
57:48
would be
57:48
our longing
57:48
that that
57:49
would be
57:49
our desire
57:50
and remembering
57:51
we don't
57:52
do it
57:53
just by
57:54
ourselves.
57:55
And if
57:56
you feel
57:57
that you
57:57
are struggling
57:58
if you
58:00
are feeling
58:00
that you
58:01
are failing
58:01
to please
58:03
God
58:03
in this
58:04
way
58:04
if you
58:04
are failing
58:05
to achieve
58:06
what
58:07
Psalm 15
58:08
describes
58:09
for us
58:09
no you're
58:11
not
58:12
alone.
58:13
because we
58:14
all fall
58:15
short.
58:16
Every one
58:17
of us
58:18
falls short
58:19
of the
58:21
glory of
58:21
God.
58:22
That is
58:22
what God's
58:23
word says
58:24
to us.
58:26
But what
58:27
we want
58:27
to know
58:27
is God
58:28
working
58:30
in us.
58:32
You
58:33
think of
58:33
someone
58:34
holy in
58:34
your own
58:35
mind
58:35
and you
58:37
say to
58:37
yourself
58:38
I can
58:39
never
58:39
be like
58:40
that.
58:41
God's
58:43
eternal
58:43
inici cocktail
58:44
iggly
58:53
Jesus
58:53
looks
58:53
on the
58:54
inside.
58:55
God
58:55
looks
58:55
on the
58:55
heart.
58:57
Not
58:57
on the
58:57
outside.
58:59
And that's
59:00
what we
59:00
think of
59:00
here as
59:02
Paul is
59:02
writing to
59:03
the
59:03
Thessalonians.
59:04
He's
59:04
encouraged
59:05
that they
59:06
are standing
59:07
fast in
59:07
the
59:08
Lord
59:08
yes, but he wants them to have the right pathway going forward as well, the right direction
59:16
in their lives, to keep living a life pleasing to God as much as they possibly can,
59:24
but knowing to God working in them that they might be holy and set apart for God.
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Would that be our desire? Would that be our longing? Is that your chief end, your chief purpose?
59:41
To please God, to know him working in you, that you might be holy and set apart by him and for him.
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God working in us. What a wonderful privilege that God would take you and I, imperfect as we are,
1:00:01
with all our faults, all the mess that we make, all the sourness and bitterness that we have,
1:00:07
and seek to make us fruitful for him, a thing of beauty to him, set apart for him. May he work in us
1:00:18
for his glory. Let us pray.
1:00:20
Our Father in heaven, we thank you for your work in us, an ongoing work, and a work we know even in
1:00:30
our own hearts is so needed because we cannot do it by ourselves. And we just pray, Lord, that you will
1:00:36
have mercy on us for all our bitterness, our sourness, all the mess that we make in our life,
1:00:42
and that you would make us fruitful, set apart for your glory. We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
1:00:50
Amen.
1:00:53
We're going to close by singing to God's praise in Psalm 40, the Sing Psalms version this time,
1:01:00
Psalm 40, and the last two verses there on page 52. The tune is Finart, Psalm 40 at verse 16,
1:01:10
page 52. But let all those who seek your face be joyful in you all their days. Let those who love
1:01:18
salvation say, exalted be the Lord always. We'll sing these last two stanzas to God's praise.
1:01:25
Let those who love salvation say, exalted be the Lord always. And let us pray. And let us know
1:01:33
in this verse 1. But let all those who seek your face be joyful in you all their days. Let those who love
1:01:51
of salvation
1:01:54
say
1:01:56
exalted
1:01:58
be
1:02:00
the Lord
1:02:02
always
1:02:05
yet
1:02:07
I am
1:02:09
poor
1:02:10
and in
1:02:12
great need
1:02:14
Lord think
1:02:17
on me
1:02:18
I am
1:02:21
humbly pray
1:02:23
you are
1:02:25
my saviour
1:02:28
and
1:02:29
my help
1:02:31
come
1:02:32
oh my
1:02:34
God
1:02:36
do not
1:02:38
delay
1:02:39
after the
1:02:43
benediction I'll go to the main door
1:02:44
we'll close with the benediction
1:02:46
now may grace mercy and peace
1:02:49
from God Father Son
1:02:51
and Holy Spirit
1:02:52
rest upon and abide with you all
1:02:55
now and forevermore
1:02:56
Amen
1:02:57
going flow
1:03:01
ma doc
1:03:15
come on
1:03:16
go 받
1:03:20
Thank you.