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The Cost of Discipleship · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Let us now call upon the name of God in prayer.
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Amen.
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Gracious and ever-blessed God,
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we seek grace today to approach a throne of grace together
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as a worshipping people,
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mindful that we draw near to one who is infinitely high above us,
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one who is the King, eternal, immortal, invisible,
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the only wise God,
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the one who is worthy of all glory, all honour and all praise,
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and we seek, therefore, to come with reverence and with godly fear
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before one who is holy,
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one who is high and lifted up,
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the lofty one who inhabits eternity,
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whose very name is holy,
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and we seek to come with humility,
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knowing what we are,
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not only creatures of the dust,
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but those who have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
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we seek grace to confess our sins together,
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to confess what we are,
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to say with the psalmist,
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my sins and faults of youth,
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do thou, O Lord, forget,
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after thy mercy think on me,
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and for thy goodness great.
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And we come confessing our sins with that great promise,
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that if we do so,
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that our God is faithful and just
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to forgive us our sins,
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and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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And so, Lord, we pray thee today
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to meet with us here as we worship.
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That is our great desire,
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not in the first place to receive,
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although we know that thou art a God who is bountiful,
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and one who gives freely.
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But our first desire is to give,
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to offer the sacrifices of praise,
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the calves of our lips,
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and to give to God the glory
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that is due to his name.
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We come giving thanks
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that there is a new and living way
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for us to approach,
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and through the blood of Jesus Christ,
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through his Persian and finished work,
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that we are able to draw near
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to a throne of grace with boldness,
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that we might obtain mercy
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and find grace to help us
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in time of need.
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And so, as we seek reverence
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in our own hearts,
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grant that we would know something
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of the boldness of sons
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approaching a father as well,
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knowing that the Lord of hosts
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upon our side
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doth constantly remain,
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the God of Jacob,
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our refuge,
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as safely to maintain.
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And so, Lord, bless us together today.
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Bless the children
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as they go to their classes,
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and their teachers.
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Bless their parents,
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be mindful of them,
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raising children in these days,
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and give them grace,
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and give them strength,
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and give them determination
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to raise them in the Lord
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for the glory of Christ,
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and for the eternal good
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of their own undying souls.
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And so bless us now, Lord,
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as we continue in thy presence.
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Grant that all would be done
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not to the glory of man,
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but to the glory of the triune God,
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Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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And we ask these things
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in Christ's name,
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and for his sake.
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Amen.
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Well, boys and girls,
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I've been asked to say
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a few words to you now.
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I wonder if any of you know
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what a martyr is.
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Well, a martyr
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is somebody
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who was put to death
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because they were a Christian.
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Now, I'm sure you think
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of being a Christian,
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you think of yourselves
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as Christians,
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but you don't ever think
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of being put to death
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for being Christians.
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But you know,
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if we look at history,
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if we look at history
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throughout the nations
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of the world,
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there were actually
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many people
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who loved Jesus so much
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that they were willing
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to be put to death
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to die for Jesus.
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And I don't know
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if you know this,
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but you might hear
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about it sometimes,
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but in many countries
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in our world,
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even today,
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across Africa and Asia,
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different parts of the world,
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there are Christians
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being put to death
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because they refuse
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to deny Jesus.
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And you think to yourself,
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and rightly so,
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well, that would never happen
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in Scotland.
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And we hope that it never
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will happen again.
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But you know what?
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Many times in our history,
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even in Scotland,
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people were put to death
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because they were Christians.
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And I want to tell you
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a wee story
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about a girl
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called Margaret Wilson.
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And in these days,
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there were different types
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of churches.
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And there were some churches
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which preached Christ
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and which held to the truth.
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And there were other churches
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which didn't.
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But in these days,
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the king wanted people
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to go to his own churches
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and not to the churches
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that preached Christ.
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And there was this girl,
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Margaret Wilson.
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She was 18.
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And her sister was 13.
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And they wanted to hear
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the truth.
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They wanted to hear
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the Bible preached.
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And they wanted to hear
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about Jesus Christ.
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So instead of going
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to the main churches,
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to the buildings,
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they went out to the fields
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and to the moors.
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And there were ministers
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who would preach out there.
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And it was actually illegal
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for them to do so.
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But it was so important
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for them to preach Christ
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that that's what they did.
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And that's where Margaret Wilson
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and her sister went.
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But something terrible happened.
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And the police caught them.
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And they were sentenced to death.
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Margaret, who was 18,
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and her sister, who was 13.
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Now, her father went to the police
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and he said,
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Now, they're only young girls.
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Please let them go.
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And the police let one of them go,
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Margaret's wee sister,
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who was 13.
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But they didn't let
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Margaret Wilson go.
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And Margaret Wilson
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was sentenced to death
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on the 11th of May, 1685.
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That was about 340 years ago.
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And she was sentenced to death
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in a very awful way.
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Herself and another Margaret,
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called Margaret McLoughlin.
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You've maybe heard the story,
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The Two Margarets.
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This is where it comes from.
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They were tied to bits of wood
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on a beach.
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Okay?
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And they waited for the sea
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to come in.
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And bit by bit,
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the sea was getting higher
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and higher.
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And they put Margaret Wilson,
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the younger girl,
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they put her nearer the shore.
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And what happened was
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she could see Margaret McLoughlin,
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the older woman.
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She could see the waters
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going over her head.
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And Margaret McLoughlin died.
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And Margaret Wilson saw that.
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And when she saw that,
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the soldiers came to her,
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the policemen came to her
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and said,
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Now what will you do?
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Will you deny Christ?
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Will you give the oath
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to the king?
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And she said,
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No way.
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I love the Lord Jesus Christ
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and I'm not going to do that.
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And bit by bit,
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the waters came higher
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and higher
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until Margaret Wilson
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drowned as well.
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Imagine that.
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She was only 18,
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a few years older
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than some of you,
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maybe the same age
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as some of you.
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And that's how much
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she loved the Lord Jesus,
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that she wasn't willing
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to deny him.
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Now I hope that you'll never
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be asked to die
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for the Lord Jesus.
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But you will be asked
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to deny yourself,
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to make some difficult decisions
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and to do some hard things.
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And I hope when you're asked
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to do these hard things
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for Jesus,
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to stand up for him,
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to speak for him,
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to refuse to yield for him,
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I hope that when you do so,
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you'll think to yourself,
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Well, this is but a very small thing.
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Compared to what that girl,
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Margaret Wilson, did.
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And it's a really,
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really small thing
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compared to what Jesus did
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in dying for her sins.
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That the Lord would bless
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these thoughts to you.
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Well, I've been asked now
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to lead you
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in the Lord's Prayer.
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Our Father,
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which art in heaven,
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hallowed be thy name.
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Thy kingdom come.
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Thy will be done on earth
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as it is in heaven.
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Give us this day
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our daily bread,
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and forgive us our debts
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as we forgive our debtors.
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And lead us not into temptation,
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but deliver us from evil.
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For thine is the kingdom,
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the power and the glory,
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forever.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Well, as the children
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make their way out,
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we're now going to sing again,
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this time from Psalm 49.
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Psalm 49
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in the Sing-Sams version
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of the Psalm.
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And the tune is Sussex.
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From verse 7,
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that's page 65,
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verse 7.
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There is no one
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who is able to redeem
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a soul from death.
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None can pay to God
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the ransom
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to prolong another's breath.
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To redeem a life
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as costly
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none sufficient price
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can pay.
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So that one
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should live immortal,
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free forever
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from decay.
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That's saying,
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no matter how much money
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you have,
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you're going to die.
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You can't pay
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your way out of that.
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For we all
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can see life ending,
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wise and foolish,
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all will die.
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They must leave
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their wealth to others,
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none can death's demand defy.
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So for endless generations
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in their tombs,
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they will remain,
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though they owned
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while they were living
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lands to which
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they gave their name.
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Man, despite his wealth,
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is mortal.
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Like the beasts,
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he fades away.
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Thus the self-assured
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will perish,
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though renowned
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for what they say.
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I'm going to sing
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then these verses,
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Psalm 7 to 13
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of Psalm 49,
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to God's praise.
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There is no one
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who is able
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to redeem a soul
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from death.
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Amen.
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There is no one
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who is able
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to redeem
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a soul
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from death.
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none can pay
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to God
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the ransom
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to prolong
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another's breath.
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To redeem
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a life is costly,
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none sufficient
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price can pay,
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so that one should live
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immortal,
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free forever
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from decay.
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For we all
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can see
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life ending,
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wise and foolish
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all will die.
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They must leave
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their wealth
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to others,
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none can death
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demand,
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defy.
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So for endless
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generations
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in their tomb
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they will remain,
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though they own
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while they were living
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lands to which
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they gave
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their name.
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Man, despite
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his wealth
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is mortal,
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like the beast
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he fades away.
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Thus the self-assured
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will perish,
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though renowned
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for what
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they say.
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Well, let us now
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read God's Word
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as we find it
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in the Gospel
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according to Mark
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and chapter 8,
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picking up our reading
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from verse 22.
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Mark 28
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from verse 22,
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and we're reading
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together
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down to the end
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of the chapter.
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And they came
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to Bethsaida,
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and some people
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brought to him
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a blind man
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and begged him
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to touch him.
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And he took
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the blind man
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by the hand
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and led him
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out of the village.
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And when he had
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spat on his eyes
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and laid his hands
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on him,
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he asked him,
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do you see anything?
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And he looked up
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and said,
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I see men,
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but they looked
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like trees
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walking.
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Then Jesus
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laid his hands
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on his eyes again
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and he reopened
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his eyes.
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His sight was
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restored
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and he saw
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everything clearly.
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And he sent him
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to his home
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saying,
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do not even
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enter the village.
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And Jesus
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went on
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with his disciples
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to the villages
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of Caesarea Philippi.
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and on the way
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he asked his disciples,
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who do people
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say that I am?
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And they told him,
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John the Baptist,
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and others say Elijah,
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and others one
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of the prophets.
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And he asked them,
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but who do you
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say that I am?
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Peter answered him,
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you are the Christ.
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And he strictly
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charged them
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to tell no one
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about him.
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And he began
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to teach them
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that the Son of Man
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must suffer
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many things
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and be rejected
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by the elders
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and the chief priests
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and the scribes
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and be killed
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and after three days
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rise again.
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And he said this
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plainly.
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And Peter took him
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aside and began
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to rebuke him.
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But turning
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and seeing his disciples,
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he rebuked Peter
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and said,
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get behind me,
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Satan,
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for you are not
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setting your mind
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on the things
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of God
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but on the things
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of man.
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And he called
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to him the crowd
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with his disciples
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and said to them,
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if anyone would
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come after me,
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let him deny himself
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and take up his cross
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and follow me.
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For whoever would
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save his life
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will lose it,
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but whoever loses
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his life for my sake
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and the gospels
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will save it.
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For what does it
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profit a man
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to gain the whole world
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and forfeit his life?
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For what can a man
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give in return
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for his life?
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For whoever is ashamed
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of me and of my words
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in this adulterous
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and sinful generation,
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of whom will the
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Son of Man
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also be ashamed
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when he comes
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in the glory
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of his Father
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with the holy angels.
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Amen.
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And we pray that the Lord
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would bless his own word
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to us.
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And to his name
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be all the praise
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and all the glory.
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Well, let us again
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call upon the name
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of the Lord in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Gracious and ever-blessed God,
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as we have read
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the living and breathing
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word together,
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we pray that we would
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have grace to receive it
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and wisdom
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to take it to heart.
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Help us to be
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not hearers
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of the word only,
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but to be doers
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of it also.
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Help us,
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when we hear it,
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not to harden
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our hearts,
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but to yield
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our hearts
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and indeed
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to yield
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our whole lives
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to it,
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knowing that the word
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is good
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and that it is
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for our good,
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that it is for
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our instruction
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in righteousness.
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And so, Lord,
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we pray for humility
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and not to stand
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over the word
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and judgment,
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but to sit under it
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as humble disciples,
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even as Mary of Bethany
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sat at the feet
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of Jesus
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and chose
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that good part
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which could not
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be taken from her.
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And so, Lord,
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we pray today
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as we gather
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in worship
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that our hearts
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would be lifted up
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in praise
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to the God
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who is good
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and who does good,
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the God
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who is love,
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and that we would
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remember
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as thy people
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that herein is love,
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not that we loved God,
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but that he loved us
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and sent his Son
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to be the propitiation
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for our sins.
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And so,
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we pray, Lord,
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now as we continue
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that all would be
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done to the glory
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of the great name
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of Jesus Christ,
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that the people of God
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might be strengthened
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in their faith
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and enabled to go on
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in the truth,
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and that those
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who are yet
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outside of Christ,
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some perhaps
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sitting on the fence,
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others entirely unconvinced,
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that the Holy Spirit
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might challenge them,
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that the sword
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of the Spirit
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might pierce
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their very hearts
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and minds,
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and that they
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might be convinced
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that there is
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a God in heaven,
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a God to whom
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we are all accountable,
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a God before whom
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we will all stand,
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and that as the
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prophet of old
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has told us,
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our great responsibility
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and duty
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in this life
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is to prepare
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to meet our God,
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and so prepare us,
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we ask.
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Bless this congregation,
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we pray for them,
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asking thy blessing
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to be upon them,
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help them to be faithful
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in their worship
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and in their witness,
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grant that the truth
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that is proclaimed
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from this pulpit
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week by week,
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that it might yield fruit,
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and that it might
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do so for eternity,
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we pray for the
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inter-moderator,
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we pray for
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Mr. Smith as well,
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the assistant minister,
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asking thy blessing
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to be upon both of them,
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and the office bearers here,
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and all of the congregation,
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we give thanks
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that we have seen
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so many young ones
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worshipping the Lord,
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and we pray that
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they might grow up
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as trees planted
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in the house of the Lord,
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that they might
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in the future,
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and even in these days,
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bear fruit.
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We pray for
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a new generation,
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a generation
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which will be faithful,
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indeed,
18:54
which will be more faithful
18:55
than our own generation
18:56
has been,
18:58
and so we pray
18:58
for the Church of Christ,
18:59
throughout our island,
19:01
and throughout our nation,
19:02
regardless of denomination,
19:04
where Christ is preached,
19:06
and where holiness
19:07
is exhorted.
19:09
Oh, we pray that
19:09
the Church might increase,
19:12
that the Word
19:13
might go forth with power,
19:16
that the Holy Spirit
19:17
might be poured out
19:18
upon us today,
19:19
and upon other congregations
19:20
throughout our land,
19:22
for we are mindful
19:23
that it is the Spirit
19:25
that quickens
19:25
and gives life,
19:26
and the flesh
19:27
profits nothing,
19:29
that without Him
19:30
we can do nothing,
19:32
and so, Lord,
19:32
meet with us
19:33
and bless us
19:34
and draw near to us,
19:36
that Christ
19:37
might be in our midst,
19:38
that we might hear
19:39
His voice,
19:40
that we might feel
19:41
His presence,
19:42
and that we might know
19:43
Him dwelling richly
19:44
in our hearts.
19:45
Remember our nation
19:46
and those who rule
19:47
over us particularly,
19:49
our King
19:49
and Royal Family,
19:51
our Prime Minister,
19:52
our First Minister,
19:53
our Members of Parliament
19:54
in Westminster
19:56
and Holyrood,
19:57
and our Councillors,
19:59
we ask Thee
20:00
to be mindful of them,
20:01
to give them wisdom,
20:03
because the truth
20:04
tells us that
20:05
righteousness
20:06
exalts a nation,
20:08
and that sin
20:09
is our approach
20:09
to any people,
20:11
and so we pray
20:12
that iniquity
20:13
might be restrained,
20:15
and that righteousness
20:16
might flow forth,
20:18
and we know, Lord,
20:19
that the Church
20:19
will be central to that,
20:20
indeed that the pulpit
20:21
will be central to that.
20:24
And so, Lord,
20:24
protect our pulpits,
20:26
raise up faithful men
20:28
of God,
20:29
who will preach
20:29
the unsearchable riches
20:30
of Christ,
20:31
and who will seek
20:32
to obey God
20:33
more than men.
20:35
And so bless us now
20:36
and go before us
20:37
and forgive us graciously
20:39
for all of our sin,
20:40
for Christ's sake.
20:41
Amen.
20:43
Well, we can sing again
20:46
to God's praise,
20:47
this time in Psalm 37,
20:50
and the tune is Moravia,
20:51
we're singing from
20:53
verse 25,
20:56
sorry,
20:57
verse 35,
21:00
Psalm 37,
21:01
verse 35,
21:03
page 255,
21:05
I saw the wicked,
21:07
great in power,
21:09
spread like a green bay tree,
21:11
he passed,
21:12
yea, was not,
21:13
whom I sought,
21:14
but found he could not be.
21:16
Speaking of those
21:17
who reject the Lord Jesus Christ,
21:20
and they look so strong
21:21
and so powerful,
21:22
but in a short time
21:23
they are gone.
21:25
Mark thou the perfect,
21:27
and behold the man
21:28
of uprightness,
21:29
because that surely
21:30
of this man
21:31
the latter end is peace.
21:33
There is the great distinction
21:36
between the two types of men,
21:37
the two types of women.
21:39
But those men
21:41
that transgressors are
21:42
shall be destroyed together,
21:44
the latter end of wicked men
21:45
shall be cut off forever,
21:47
but the salvation of the just
21:49
is from the Lord above.
21:51
He in the time of their distress,
21:53
their stay and strength
21:54
doth prove.
21:55
The Lord shall help
21:56
and them deliver,
21:57
he shall them free and save
21:59
from wicked men,
22:00
because in whom
22:01
their confidence
22:02
they have.
22:04
Psalm 37,
22:05
verses 35 to 40,
22:07
to God's praise,
22:08
I saw the wicked
22:09
great in power
22:10
spread like a green bay tree.
22:18
I saw the wicked
22:22
great in power
22:26
spread like a green bay tree.
22:33
He passed,
22:35
yea, was not him I sought,
22:42
but found he could not be.
22:48
Mark thou the perfect
22:54
and behold the man of a rightness,
23:04
because that surely of this man
23:14
the latter end is peace.
23:21
but those men that transgressors are
23:30
shall be destroyed together,
23:36
the latter end of wicked men shall be cut off forever.
23:51
forever.
23:52
But the salvation of the just is from the Lord above.
24:09
He in the time of their distress,
24:19
their stay and strength doth prove.
24:26
The Lord shall help and deliver,
24:36
He shall them free and save from wicked men,
24:49
because in him their confidence they have.
25:01
Amen.
25:07
Well,
25:08
now with a view to God's blessing,
25:09
if you would turn back with me
25:10
to the portion of Scripture,
25:11
which we read together in the Gospel
25:13
according to Mark and chapter 8.
25:17
We want to consider together verses 34 to 38,
25:21
but we can take our text from verse 36.
25:24
For what does it profit a man
25:29
to gain the whole world
25:31
and forfeit his life?
25:36
Well, at the center of Christianity
25:38
is the theme of sacrifice.
25:41
And when we think of Christianity and sacrifice,
25:44
we naturally think about the cross
25:46
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
25:47
and rightly so,
25:50
of Jesus' sacrificing himself,
25:53
of denying himself,
25:55
and going through the agony
25:56
and the awfulness
25:59
and the horror of Calvary
26:01
in order that atonement might be made,
26:04
being wounded for our transgressions,
26:07
bruised for our iniquities.
26:09
So we think of his sacrifice
26:11
and the life and the forgiveness
26:13
and the glory that is ours
26:17
if we are in Christ as a result.
26:19
And that is given to us freely.
26:22
We do not earn it.
26:23
It is not of works,
26:24
Paul tells the Ephesians,
26:26
lest any man should boast,
26:28
but it is of grace.
26:29
That is, it is a free
26:31
and undeserved gift.
26:35
And yet it's been said,
26:36
and you've heard it said,
26:37
I'm sure,
26:37
that although the Gospel is free,
26:41
it will cost you everything that you have.
26:44
And you know there is truth in that as well.
26:47
Sacrifice is central to Christianity.
26:53
And that speaks of Christ,
26:54
but it speaks of his people as well.
26:57
Being a Christian is being somebody
26:59
who has sacrificed
27:01
and who does sacrifice.
27:05
And today I want us to consider
27:07
what that sacrifice looks like.
27:10
And I want to consider
27:11
why we ought to make that sacrifice.
27:16
What the alternative
27:17
to that sacrifice is.
27:21
And the first thing that I want us to consider,
27:23
to consider really three headings.
27:25
And the first is
27:25
the nature of discipleship.
27:28
When I speak of discipleship,
27:29
I just mean of the Christian life,
27:32
of being a disciple.
27:34
Christians in Jesus' day
27:36
were called disciples.
27:37
They were those who sat at his feet,
27:40
who learned from him.
27:41
They were those who went with him
27:42
wherever he went
27:43
and who sought to obey his commands.
27:46
So the nature of discipleship.
27:49
What does it look like
27:50
to be a Christian,
27:51
to be a disciple of Jesus?
27:53
Now, here in this section,
27:55
we have arguably
27:56
the clearest description
27:58
from Jesus' own lips
28:00
of what it means
28:01
to be a disciple,
28:03
what it means to be a Christian.
28:04
And we read in verse 34
28:06
that he calls to the crowd
28:09
with his disciples.
28:10
So he's not just talking to the twelve.
28:12
He's talking to the crowd,
28:14
those of them who are disciples
28:15
and any of them
28:16
who would become a disciple.
28:18
And he says to them,
28:20
if anyone would come after me,
28:22
let him deny himself
28:23
and take up his cross
28:25
and follow me.
28:28
Now, just briefly,
28:29
I think that there are
28:30
four things there
28:32
that we should consider.
28:33
Four things that are true
28:34
of the nature of discipleship,
28:37
of what it means
28:38
to be a Christian.
28:41
And the first thing
28:42
is perhaps quite basic
28:44
and we could skip over it.
28:46
And it is this,
28:46
there is willingness there.
28:49
There is a willingness.
28:50
If any man would,
28:52
I think in the authorised version,
28:54
it was if any man will.
28:56
We speak of
28:57
if any man is willing.
28:59
And when we read
29:01
would or willing,
29:02
it is talking about the will.
29:04
It is talking about
29:05
the man or the woman
29:06
volitionally.
29:08
You see, Christianity
29:09
doesn't just affect
29:11
your intellect.
29:12
It's not just about
29:12
learning things
29:13
and keeping things in there.
29:16
It's not just about
29:17
being convinced
29:18
of certain truths,
29:19
that certain things are true
29:20
and certain things are false.
29:22
Now, that is in it
29:23
and that is important.
29:24
But there is more than that
29:26
to being a Christian.
29:27
You can be convinced
29:28
of the truths of Christianity
29:29
and not be a Christian.
29:31
So, there is the intellectual element.
29:34
There is also
29:35
the emotional element.
29:38
Your affections are moved.
29:41
Those who are Christians
29:42
are those who love
29:43
the Lord Jesus Christ.
29:45
They are those who hate sin.
29:49
The affections are moved.
29:50
And as Christians,
29:52
there ought to be times
29:52
when we are moved.
29:55
Moved by what the Lord
29:56
has done for us.
29:57
Moved in our affections.
29:58
Moved in our feelings.
29:59
Moved about our sins.
30:02
And yet, you can be moved.
30:05
We all know people
30:06
who have sat under sermons
30:07
and they have been convinced
30:09
of the truth.
30:10
And they have been moved by it.
30:12
And like Felix,
30:13
their knees have trembled
30:14
or they have wept
30:15
knowing that there is truth in this.
30:18
That this is important.
30:20
That this is urgent.
30:21
That this is life and death.
30:22
And yet,
30:23
they have gone away
30:24
and they have never become Christians.
30:25
Why is that?
30:27
Well, because although
30:27
the intellect was persuaded
30:29
and although the affections
30:31
were moved,
30:32
the will remained unmoved.
30:35
But Christianity affects us
30:37
volitionally as well.
30:40
We become willing to follow.
30:43
You see,
30:44
Jesus doesn't drag anybody
30:45
kicking and screaming
30:46
into the kingdom of God.
30:50
You don't become a Christian
30:51
despite yourself.
30:53
You don't become a Christian
30:54
saying,
30:55
well, I really don't want to do this
30:56
but I'm just going to do it anyway.
30:58
That's not the way it works.
31:00
We read in Psalm 110
31:01
that the Lord will make
31:03
his people willing
31:04
in a day of his power.
31:07
That he doesn't drag us
31:08
kicking and screaming
31:09
but he calls us
31:11
with an effectual call
31:12
with irresistible grace
31:14
so that before we know it,
31:16
our own mind is changed,
31:18
our own will is altered
31:19
and the things that we
31:20
didn't want to do.
31:21
I mean, most of you
31:21
can remember a time
31:22
when you didn't want
31:23
to be a Christian.
31:24
Not all of you
31:25
but most of you.
31:26
And something changed
31:27
and then you found yourself
31:29
wanting to be a Christian
31:30
and then you found yourself
31:32
thinking,
31:32
well, the most important thing
31:33
in all of life for me
31:35
is to become a Christian.
31:38
You see, friends,
31:39
those who follow Jesus,
31:42
those who are disciples
31:42
are those who are willing
31:44
to do so.
31:45
And if you turn that
31:47
on its head,
31:47
then this is true also.
31:50
That if you're not
31:51
a Christian here today,
31:53
well, it might be
31:54
that there are certain things
31:56
that you're not fully
31:56
persuaded of.
31:58
And let's be honest,
31:59
that was true of all of us.
32:01
And you have to search
32:02
the scriptures
32:03
and you have to be in company
32:04
with the Lord's people
32:05
and you have to do it
32:06
all prayerfully
32:06
because you want
32:07
to be persuaded.
32:09
And that might be the case.
32:11
It might be the case
32:11
that you've never been moved
32:12
under the gospel.
32:13
But this is certainly the case
32:15
that if you're not a Christian,
32:16
it's because you don't
32:17
want to be a Christian.
32:19
It's because you don't
32:19
want to be a Christian.
32:20
Now, I don't mean to be harsh
32:22
to anybody there
32:23
because you might be there
32:26
here today
32:27
and you're thinking,
32:27
well, I'm not a Christian
32:29
but I really do want
32:30
to be a Christian.
32:30
I really do.
32:32
Well, there are promises
32:33
for you too.
32:34
Jesus says,
32:35
seek and you shall find.
32:37
Ask and it shall be given to you.
32:39
And if you really want
32:40
more than anything else
32:41
in life to be a Christian today,
32:43
then the chances are
32:44
that you've already
32:45
taken the first steps
32:46
to becoming a Christian,
32:48
that the Lord is already
32:49
working in your life
32:50
and let that be
32:51
an encouragement to you.
32:53
But if you're not a Christian,
32:55
the central thing
32:56
won't be a lack
32:57
of intellectual persuasion
32:59
or not having
33:00
your feelings moved.
33:01
It will be this,
33:02
that you just don't want to be.
33:04
That there are other things
33:04
that are more important
33:05
to you in life
33:07
than giving your life
33:08
to Jesus Christ.
33:10
Christ.
33:11
And so those who are disciples
33:13
are those who are willing
33:14
to follow.
33:15
The second thing,
33:16
and let me try to move
33:17
through them quickly,
33:19
if anyone would come after me,
33:20
if anyone is willing
33:21
to come after me,
33:22
let him deny himself.
33:24
There is self-denial.
33:25
And of course,
33:26
we've touched on this.
33:27
This is a great characteristic
33:28
of our Lord.
33:30
Though he was equal with God,
33:32
yet he made himself
33:33
of no reputation.
33:35
He humbled himself.
33:37
He emptied himself
33:38
of his glory.
33:38
He became obedient
33:40
to suffering and to death,
33:42
even the death of the cross.
33:44
He tells us about it.
33:45
That is a context.
33:46
He said plainly to the people
33:48
that the Son of Man
33:49
must suffer many things
33:51
and be rejected
33:52
by the elders
33:53
and the chief priests
33:54
and the scribes
33:55
and be killed.
33:55
This is the Son of God.
33:57
He didn't need to go
33:58
through any of this.
34:00
But he had entered
34:02
into a covenant to do so.
34:03
He had promised to do so.
34:05
And part of that
34:05
was self-denial.
34:07
And when you look
34:07
at the Lord,
34:08
that is what jumps
34:10
to you off the page,
34:11
that he is one
34:12
who denied himself.
34:15
But here he's telling us
34:17
to deny ourselves,
34:18
to be Christ-like
34:20
in this way as well.
34:22
And you know, friends,
34:23
by nature,
34:24
we want to do
34:24
the very opposite,
34:25
don't we?
34:26
We don't want
34:27
to deny ourselves.
34:28
We don't want
34:29
to deny ours.
34:32
We say,
34:32
I will not have this man
34:34
to reign over me.
34:35
If it means doing things
34:37
that aren't easy
34:37
for me to do,
34:39
doing things
34:39
that I don't want to do,
34:41
doing things
34:42
that are going to cost me,
34:43
that are going to
34:44
entail sacrifice for me,
34:46
then really,
34:48
really,
34:48
I would rather not.
34:50
And yet,
34:51
that's what Jesus
34:51
calls you to, friend.
34:53
He calls you
34:54
to self-denial.
34:56
To live
34:56
no longer for yourself,
34:58
but for him.
34:59
You remember
34:59
that that's what
35:01
the apostle said
35:01
in 2 Corinthians 5,
35:03
that the love of Christ
35:05
constrains us,
35:07
constrains us
35:07
or compels us
35:08
to do what?
35:09
To live no longer
35:10
for ourselves,
35:12
but for him
35:13
who died for us
35:14
and who rose again.
35:17
And so being a Christian
35:18
means denying yourself.
35:22
It means
35:22
putting the Lord first,
35:26
denying your own desires,
35:28
denying your own will,
35:30
denying your own way,
35:31
your own aspirations,
35:33
and saying,
35:34
Lord,
35:35
lead me.
35:37
Lord,
35:37
guide me.
35:38
Show me thy ways,
35:39
O Lord,
35:40
thy paths,
35:40
O teach thou me.
35:42
And do thou lead me
35:43
in thy truth,
35:44
therein my teacher be.
35:46
So there is self-denial
35:48
in the Christian life
35:49
and there will be
35:49
self-denial
35:50
in your life
35:51
if you're a Christian.
35:53
The third thing
35:54
is that
35:55
if any man's
35:56
going to come after Jesus,
35:57
that he must deny himself
35:59
and take up his cross.
36:01
Now,
36:01
you hear people saying
36:03
that we've all got
36:04
our cross to bear.
36:05
And yet,
36:06
we know what they mean,
36:07
but this isn't speaking
36:08
about general afflictions
36:10
or trials.
36:12
The cross was what
36:13
a criminal carried
36:15
to the place
36:16
of his execution.
36:18
Jesus had to bear
36:19
his own cross.
36:21
And other men
36:22
and men who were
36:23
sentenced to death
36:25
in these days,
36:27
they would carry
36:27
their own cross
36:28
on the way
36:30
to the place
36:31
of execution.
36:32
And when people
36:32
saw them,
36:33
well,
36:34
they knew what was
36:34
going on.
36:35
They would say,
36:36
well,
36:36
that person's
36:37
bearing his cross,
36:38
he's on his way
36:38
to be executed.
36:39
He's on his way
36:40
to die.
36:41
The cross was
36:42
a symbol of death.
36:43
That's what it was.
36:44
And what Jesus
36:45
is saying is this,
36:47
that if you're
36:48
going to follow me,
36:50
that you must be
36:51
willing not only
36:51
to deny yourself
36:52
on the smaller things,
36:53
but you must be
36:54
willing to lose
36:55
your life.
36:56
To lose it
36:57
metaphorically
36:58
in giving it to me
36:59
so that I can be
37:00
the master of it
37:01
and the king of it.
37:02
But also,
37:03
he goes further
37:04
and this is a thing.
37:06
He says,
37:06
you must be willing
37:07
to lose it physically
37:08
as well.
37:10
Physically.
37:11
And this is the very
37:12
fulfillment of self-denial.
37:14
You cannot deny yourself
37:15
further than this
37:16
to give your life,
37:18
to breathe your last breath
37:19
like Margaret Wilson did,
37:21
like Margaret McLaughlin did,
37:22
like what people
37:24
are doing all over
37:24
the world today,
37:26
dying for Christ
37:27
rather than denying him.
37:30
And you know,
37:31
friends,
37:31
Jesus was speaking
37:32
to the disciples here
37:33
and these very disciples
37:34
who would be apostles,
37:36
many of them
37:37
experienced this.
37:39
They paid
37:40
the highest price.
37:42
We know,
37:43
well,
37:43
we read in the scriptures
37:44
that James,
37:47
the brother of John,
37:48
was beheaded.
37:50
And that for Christ's sake,
37:52
tradition tells us
37:54
that Peter
37:55
was crucified
37:56
upside down,
37:58
that Paul,
38:00
the apostle Paul,
38:02
himself was put to death.
38:04
History is full
38:06
of instances,
38:07
friends,
38:07
of people giving
38:08
their lives.
38:10
And you know,
38:11
we're not living
38:11
in that kind of country today
38:13
and we're not living
38:14
in that kind of time.
38:15
But be under no illusions.
38:17
Christians,
38:18
there is a cross
38:20
to bear as well
38:20
today,
38:21
in different ways,
38:23
but there is a cross
38:24
to bear.
38:25
To be a Christian
38:26
is to lose your life
38:27
and that's becoming
38:28
increasingly evident
38:29
in a society
38:30
which is not just
38:32
post-Christian
38:32
but is becoming
38:33
increasingly
38:34
anti-Christian.
38:36
And the world today,
38:37
the word of God
38:38
today isn't just
38:39
unpopular,
38:40
but it seemed to be
38:40
actually dangerous.
38:42
And services of worship
38:43
like this,
38:44
where people take
38:45
the word of God
38:45
seriously,
38:47
they're seen to be
38:47
dangerous.
38:48
Prayer is seen
38:50
to be dangerous.
38:52
And so if you're
38:52
going to live out
38:53
the Christian life,
38:55
if you're going to
38:55
live it out
38:55
in your workplace,
38:57
if you're going to
38:57
live it out
38:57
in the school
38:58
or in the hospital
38:59
or in the surgery
39:00
or in the office
39:01
or whatever it might be,
39:03
then you will find
39:05
yourself being
39:05
increasingly marginalized.
39:08
You will find that.
39:10
And you know,
39:10
that cross doesn't
39:12
sit well on our shoulders.
39:14
Because our
39:14
inclination,
39:15
our natural
39:16
inclination,
39:17
is to shun that,
39:18
to run from it.
39:20
We can even see
39:21
that the natural
39:21
inclination,
39:22
human inclination,
39:24
of Jesus
39:25
was to shun it.
39:28
If it be possible
39:29
that this cup
39:31
would be taken
39:32
from me,
39:33
Jesus said,
39:33
but not as I will,
39:35
but as thou wilt.
39:36
Even Jesus felt
39:38
that horror
39:39
at what he saw
39:40
in the cup,
39:41
at what the cross
39:42
would entail.
39:43
And we do as well.
39:44
And yet at the same time,
39:46
as it was what
39:46
Jesus was called to,
39:48
it's what we're called to.
39:49
To give our life.
39:51
To give all of our life.
39:52
To give it metaphorically.
39:54
And whatever that
39:55
might mean,
39:55
might not mean
39:56
losing your life,
39:57
we hope not.
39:57
It may very well mean
39:58
losing your reputation.
40:00
It may very well mean
40:02
losing many other things.
40:03
We'll come to that.
40:04
But that's what
40:05
you're called to.
40:06
And fourthly,
40:07
and finally here,
40:08
the nature of discipleship
40:10
is just a general term.
40:12
He says that you're
40:13
to deny yourself
40:14
to take up your cross
40:15
and follow me.
40:18
To put it very simply,
40:19
the Christian is somebody
40:21
who follows Christ.
40:24
Not the whims
40:25
and the fashions
40:26
of this world.
40:28
Christ is king.
40:30
The word is truth.
40:32
That is law.
40:35
And to follow Christ
40:36
is to submit to him.
40:38
To submit to his will.
40:40
To submit to his word.
40:42
And to do that
40:43
at whatever cost.
40:44
And you know,
40:44
friends,
40:44
the cost can be high.
40:45
I've touched on it.
40:47
But even in our day,
40:48
you know that there are
40:48
lines of work
40:49
which really are closed
40:50
to many Christians.
40:52
Certainly Christians
40:53
who are going to be faithful.
40:55
Certainly Christians
40:56
who aren't going to bend
40:57
on things like
40:58
the Lord's Day.
41:00
There are lines of work
41:01
that are closed to them.
41:03
And being a Christian
41:04
in different parts
41:05
of our country
41:06
can lead to joblessness.
41:08
It can lead to being
41:09
ostracized and mocked.
41:11
We've all known a bit of that
41:12
if we're Christians.
41:13
It can lead to losing
41:14
acquaintances and friends.
41:16
It can even lead to
41:17
breakages in the family.
41:19
Jesus himself speaks
41:21
about father being divided
41:23
against son
41:24
and mother against daughter
41:26
and so on.
41:27
It can lead to suffering.
41:30
It can lead to isolation
41:31
and loneliness.
41:33
And yet,
41:33
yet you know that
41:34
and yet you continue
41:36
to follow the Lord Jesus.
41:38
Because Christ also
41:39
suffered for us,
41:40
as Peter says,
41:41
leaving an example for us
41:43
that we should follow
41:44
in his steps.
41:47
You know, friends,
41:49
we read this
41:49
and I hope we haven't
41:51
in any way
41:52
embellished it
41:54
or misexplained it.
41:56
But we read the very words
41:58
of Jesus
41:58
and we can say this.
42:00
Jesus doesn't lead us
42:01
down the garden path,
42:02
does he?
42:03
He tells us up front
42:04
what Christianity is,
42:06
what it's going to mean.
42:07
He doesn't say
42:07
that it's going to be easy.
42:09
He doesn't say
42:09
that there's going to be
42:10
no cost.
42:11
On the very contrary,
42:12
he says the very opposite.
42:14
He says it's a costly thing.
42:16
It's a sacrificial thing.
42:18
It's a difficult thing.
42:19
Jesus tells us that.
42:21
And you know, friends,
42:22
we shouldn't as churches
42:23
try to deceive people
42:25
into the kingdom of God,
42:26
deceive them into membership
42:28
by not telling them
42:29
really what's expected of them
42:31
and what the Christian life means
42:32
if it's lived,
42:34
if it's lived as the word
42:37
calls us to live it.
42:39
That's what Jesus calls
42:40
his people to be.
42:42
And let's be honest.
42:44
We want a strong church.
42:46
We want a church
42:47
which will leaven society
42:48
and have an impact
42:50
and have an influence
42:51
in our own workplaces,
42:52
in our own families,
42:53
in society at large.
42:56
And these are the kind
42:57
of Christians that we need.
42:59
These are the kind
43:00
of leaders that we need.
43:03
These are the kind
43:04
of men, friends,
43:05
that we need.
43:06
Men who will be strong,
43:08
who will be leaders,
43:09
who will guide their families,
43:11
who will guide churches,
43:12
who will guide societies.
43:14
These are the kind
43:15
of men who we need,
43:16
who will deny themselves
43:17
and take up their cross
43:19
and follow Jesus
43:20
regardless of the cost.
43:22
These are the kind
43:23
of women that we need,
43:24
the kind of mothers
43:25
in Israel,
43:26
the kind of women
43:27
that we need in churches,
43:29
that we need in workplaces,
43:30
that we need in homes,
43:31
that we need throughout society.
43:33
That is what Christ
43:34
calls us to be.
43:35
And friends,
43:36
if we were living this out,
43:38
what a difference
43:38
we would see.
43:40
Devoted,
43:41
selfless,
43:41
faithful Christians,
43:43
that's what Jesus
43:44
calls us to.
43:45
That's the first point.
43:47
Let us see,
43:48
secondly,
43:48
we've seen the nature
43:50
of discipleship,
43:51
the alternative
43:53
to discipleship.
43:56
Verse 35,
43:57
for whoever would save
43:58
his life will lose it,
44:00
but whoever loses
44:01
his life for my sake
44:02
and the gospels
44:03
will save it.
44:06
Now,
44:06
we've seen that being
44:07
a Christian is in many ways
44:08
to lose your life
44:09
or to lose it
44:10
as you want,
44:11
you would naturally,
44:12
let me say sinfully,
44:14
want to live it.
44:15
And the alternative
44:16
to that
44:17
is just to
44:18
take Jesus' words
44:20
with a pinch of salt
44:21
and to keep your life.
44:23
And you can do that
44:25
if you're not a Christian
44:27
here today
44:27
and not a member
44:28
of the church.
44:28
You could say,
44:29
well,
44:29
thanks,
44:29
but no thanks,
44:30
I'll leave it.
44:31
But you can also do this
44:32
if you are a member
44:33
in the church.
44:35
You can be a member,
44:36
you can sit at the Lord's table
44:37
and you can hear
44:38
many of the commands
44:39
of Jesus
44:40
and you can feel him
44:41
and know him
44:42
speaking to your heart
44:43
and to your mind
44:43
and you can say,
44:44
well,
44:44
no thanks.
44:45
Not that kind of Christianity.
44:48
To not lose your life
44:49
is to not surrender it
44:51
to Jesus Christ.
44:53
And what I want us
44:54
to consider just for a moment
44:55
is why.
44:56
Why would we not
44:57
surrender our lives
44:59
to Jesus Christ?
45:00
Why would we not
45:00
be willing to go through
45:01
all this pain and agony
45:02
and all this suffering
45:04
and self-denial?
45:05
Should it lead to that
45:06
or at least be willing?
45:09
Well,
45:09
the answer that Jesus
45:10
gives us here
45:11
is that
45:12
that people
45:13
will not make
45:14
these sacrifices
45:15
because they hope
45:16
to gain the world.
45:18
What shall it profit
45:18
a man
45:19
if he shall gain
45:19
the whole world?
45:21
So that is the context
45:23
here.
45:24
And that is often
45:25
what stops people
45:26
becoming Christians
45:27
or being faithful
45:28
in their Christianity.
45:29
Again,
45:30
not that they're not
45:31
persuaded intellectually
45:32
and not that they're not
45:34
moved under the truth
45:35
but that they're just
45:36
not willing.
45:38
And you know,
45:38
nobody expects
45:39
to gain the whole world
45:40
and you don't expect
45:41
to gain the whole world
45:42
but we expect
45:44
to gain parts of it,
45:45
to annex parts of it
45:46
to ourselves,
45:48
to claim things,
45:49
people,
45:50
places,
45:50
as our own.
45:52
And for these things
45:53
we live.
45:55
We live for family,
45:57
for friends.
45:58
People live for comfort,
46:00
for power,
46:02
for wealth,
46:03
for success.
46:04
People in our day,
46:05
friends,
46:05
they live for the holidays
46:06
that they go on.
46:07
They just plow their way
46:10
through the rest of the year
46:11
and then they've got
46:12
these times of holidays
46:13
that they look forward to
46:14
and they think of little else
46:15
and then oftentimes
46:17
before they've even
46:18
come away from their holiday
46:20
they're booking
46:21
and planning their next one.
46:23
People live for beauty,
46:25
for reputation,
46:27
for acclaim,
46:28
for praise.
46:29
All parts of the world
46:31
that we seek to annex
46:32
for ourselves.
46:34
And that's where people today,
46:35
and there are things
46:37
I've missed out,
46:37
I'm sure,
46:38
but generally speaking
46:39
that's where people
46:40
are seeking their satisfaction.
46:43
It's where they're seeking
46:44
their fulfillment in life.
46:45
That's where people
46:46
are looking for happiness.
46:48
And many people
46:49
will tell you
46:50
that this is what life
46:51
is all about.
46:52
These things.
46:54
And of course
46:55
they look for happiness
46:56
in these things
46:57
and they don't find it.
46:59
I was reading
47:00
not that long ago
47:01
an article
47:01
an article about
47:06
why rich people
47:07
aren't happy.
47:09
And studies
47:10
had been done
47:11
and surveys
47:12
had been taken
47:12
and there was a man
47:14
called,
47:14
he was a,
47:15
I think he was a Jew
47:16
living in America
47:18
but Russian by birth
47:19
and he's a novelist
47:21
but for one of his novels
47:22
he did a great amount
47:23
of research
47:24
into rich people
47:25
and whether they are happy
47:26
or whether they're not happy.
47:28
And he said
47:29
at the end of it
47:30
he said
47:30
here were people
47:32
who could purchase
47:33
anything they wanted
47:34
and whose wealth
47:36
was widely envied
47:37
by others
47:38
and yet even
47:39
they weren't content.
47:42
They weren't content.
47:44
And he went on
47:45
to say that
47:45
at the end of the day
47:47
I was just happy
47:48
to end this research
47:50
because it was
47:51
quite depressing.
47:53
People who had it all
47:54
who had all the things
47:57
that perhaps we would like
47:58
for ourselves
47:59
who had the money
48:00
to buy them
48:00
who had the time
48:02
to do them
48:02
and yet who weren't happy.
48:06
And there was
48:06
another survey
48:08
done around the same time
48:09
with billionaires
48:11
and with millionaires
48:12
to see how happy
48:13
they were
48:13
and they were told
48:14
to give an answer
48:14
out of ten
48:15
and most of them
48:16
were around four
48:17
some five.
48:18
Very famously
48:19
I can't remember his name
48:20
but the man
48:21
who founded
48:22
Phones for You
48:23
a billionaire
48:24
he said that often
48:25
he was at one or two.
48:27
One or two
48:28
out of ten.
48:31
Many of us
48:31
don't remember it
48:33
if we're young enough
48:35
but we've all heard
48:36
the song
48:37
by the Rolling Stones
48:38
I Can't Get No Satisfaction.
48:42
What's interesting
48:42
about that song
48:43
is that here were
48:44
a people
48:44
on top of the world
48:45
here were a people
48:46
who were rich
48:47
who were again
48:48
envied by many other people
48:49
who had everything
48:50
that the world
48:51
teaches us
48:52
to think that we want
48:53
and yet they were
48:54
singing this song
48:55
I can't get
48:57
I'm not satisfied
48:58
by it
48:58
everything that I have
48:59
it doesn't satisfy me
49:01
and what was even
49:02
more interesting
49:03
is that everybody
49:04
sang along to this
49:06
they weren't thinking
49:07
what on earth
49:07
are these people
49:08
talking about
49:09
they've got everything
49:10
that they're not satisfied
49:11
no they sang along
49:12
they knew what it meant
49:13
they knew exactly
49:15
what they were talking about
49:16
and yet
49:18
they
49:19
and indeed
49:20
we to an extent
49:20
continue
49:21
to chase after
49:22
these things
49:23
in the world
49:23
to think
49:25
that the world
49:25
can fulfill us
49:26
that if we just
49:27
try harder
49:28
and try things
49:28
a little differently
49:29
that we can get
49:30
the world
49:31
to work for us
49:32
and you know
49:33
that's why
49:33
it's all consuming
49:34
because it's always
49:35
promising us more
49:36
always promising us better
49:38
and yet never delivering
49:39
there was another
49:41
another survey done
49:44
by a guy called
49:45
Michael Norton
49:46
who's a professor
49:47
in Harvard
49:48
in America
49:49
and he's done
49:49
a lot of work
49:50
on wealth
49:51
and happiness
49:51
and he asked people
49:53
a question
49:53
and again
49:54
it was millionaires
49:55
and billionaires
49:56
how much more
49:58
if you're not happy
49:58
how much more
49:59
would you need
49:59
to be happy
50:01
and he said
50:02
basically everybody
50:03
in that survey
50:04
whether they had
50:06
a million dollars
50:06
to their name
50:07
or whether they were
50:08
billionaires
50:08
basically every single
50:10
one of them
50:11
needed two to three
50:12
times more
50:13
than they already had
50:14
in order
50:15
to be happy
50:16
and then they thought
50:18
well I'll be happy
50:19
I'll be fulfilled
50:20
I'll be satisfied
50:21
then
50:21
and do you think
50:23
they were
50:23
do you think
50:24
that this is what
50:25
life is all about
50:26
and I'm just not
50:27
talking about money
50:27
I'm sure there
50:28
probably aren't
50:29
many millionaires
50:30
in here today
50:30
and yet
50:32
we have our own
50:33
goals
50:34
aspirations
50:35
desires
50:36
perhaps even
50:37
idols
50:38
do these things
50:40
make us happy
50:41
outside of Christ
50:42
you know
50:43
you sometimes
50:44
you may be
50:46
sitting in a sun
50:46
lounge
50:47
if you're on a
50:47
holiday
50:48
or you're
50:49
maybe out for a
50:50
walk in the
50:50
castle grounds
50:51
or you're sitting
50:52
before the fire
50:53
at night
50:53
or you're out
50:54
in the garage
50:55
and you're doing
50:55
what you want
50:56
to do
50:56
and you sit back
50:58
and you say
50:58
to yourself
50:58
well this is
50:59
the life
51:00
this is the
51:01
life
51:02
but is it
51:04
is that the
51:05
life
51:05
really
51:06
sitting in a
51:07
sun lounge
51:08
working in a
51:09
garage
51:09
out for a
51:11
walk
51:11
now these things
51:12
are good
51:12
they're all very
51:13
good
51:13
but is that
51:13
what life
51:14
is all about
51:15
do you really
51:16
think that is
51:16
what life
51:17
is all about
51:18
you remember
51:19
what Jesus
51:20
said in his
51:21
high priestly
51:21
prayer in
51:22
John 17
51:22
he said
51:23
this is life
51:25
eternal
51:25
in other words
51:26
this is what
51:27
life is
51:28
this is what
51:28
life is all
51:29
about
51:29
that they
51:30
might know
51:31
thee the only
51:31
true God
51:32
and Jesus
51:33
Christ
51:33
whom you
51:34
have sent
51:35
that's what
51:36
life is
51:36
to know
51:37
God
51:37
to know
51:38
Jesus
51:38
that is what
51:40
life is all
51:40
about
51:41
that is why
51:42
we have been
51:42
made
51:43
that is a
51:43
purpose
51:44
for which
51:44
we have been
51:45
made
51:45
to glorify
51:46
God
51:47
and to
51:47
enjoy him
51:48
forever
51:49
and so to
51:50
live for the
51:50
world
51:51
and bear in
51:53
mind that
51:53
living for the
51:54
world and
51:54
living for
51:54
Christ are
51:55
mutually
51:55
exclusive
51:56
to live for
51:58
the world
51:58
instead of
51:59
living for
51:59
Christ
52:00
isn't
52:01
the life
52:02
it's to
52:03
miss out
52:03
on life
52:04
it is to
52:05
miss out
52:05
on the
52:06
point of
52:06
life
52:07
and it
52:07
is to
52:07
remain
52:08
unsatisfied
52:09
unfulfilled
52:11
unhappy
52:12
you know
52:13
we have
52:14
seen
52:14
that the
52:15
nature
52:15
of
52:15
discipleship
52:16
takes
52:16
in
52:16
hard
52:17
things
52:17
but I
52:18
don't mean
52:19
to paint
52:19
a dark
52:20
picture
52:20
there is
52:21
joy in
52:22
self-denial
52:22
there is
52:24
joy in
52:24
taking up
52:25
your cross
52:26
there is
52:27
great joy
52:27
heavenly joy
52:29
and peace
52:29
in following
52:30
Jesus
52:30
even when
52:31
that means
52:32
that there
52:32
are hard
52:33
decisions
52:33
to be
52:34
made
52:34
but let
52:36
us notice
52:37
this too
52:37
at the
52:40
flip side
52:41
of living
52:41
to gain
52:42
this world
52:43
is that
52:45
you must
52:45
lose
52:45
your soul
52:46
and that's
52:47
what we
52:47
read
52:47
Jesus
52:47
says
52:48
for whoever
52:49
would save
52:49
his life
52:50
will lose
52:51
it
52:51
and what
52:52
does it
52:53
profit a
52:53
man to
52:53
gain the
52:54
whole world
52:54
and forfeit
52:55
his life
52:56
or as
52:57
it's put
52:57
elsewhere
52:58
to lose
52:59
his own
52:59
soul
53:00
what will
53:00
it profit
53:01
you at
53:01
the end
53:01
of the
53:02
day
53:02
if you
53:02
gain
53:03
this
53:03
whole
53:04
world
53:04
and yet
53:05
lose
53:05
your own
53:06
soul
53:07
but what
53:08
does that
53:09
mean
53:09
I remember
53:09
once
53:10
speaking to
53:11
somebody
53:12
somebody
53:12
who was
53:13
working
53:13
in the
53:13
service
53:13
industry
53:14
and this
53:15
woman
53:15
was
53:16
slightly
53:16
annoyed
53:17
living
53:18
in this
53:18
town
53:19
and she
53:20
was annoyed
53:20
with the
53:20
amount
53:21
of Christians
53:21
who would
53:22
say to
53:23
her
53:23
how is
53:23
your soul
53:24
and she
53:26
didn't like
53:26
this she
53:27
didn't like
53:27
being challenged
53:28
in that
53:29
kind of
53:29
way
53:29
and she
53:30
made a
53:30
flippant
53:31
kind of
53:31
remark
53:31
about her
53:32
soul
53:32
about she
53:33
didn't even
53:33
know where
53:34
her soul
53:34
was
53:35
and I
53:36
remember
53:36
asking her
53:37
do you
53:38
know what
53:39
your soul
53:39
is
53:39
and she
53:40
stopped
53:41
and she
53:41
said
53:41
well
53:42
well actually
53:43
no I
53:43
don't really
53:45
know what
53:45
a soul
53:45
is
53:45
the soul
53:48
friends
53:48
is
53:49
your
53:50
personality
53:51
it is
53:52
your
53:52
consciousness
53:53
it is
53:54
your
53:54
thought
53:54
process
53:54
it is
53:55
you
53:55
that's
53:56
what the
53:57
soul
53:57
is
53:57
your
53:58
body
53:58
will
53:58
die
53:59
and yet
54:00
your soul
54:01
is the
54:02
part of
54:02
you
54:03
which
54:03
shall
54:03
be
54:03
conscious
54:04
throughout
54:05
all
54:05
eternity
54:05
it is
54:06
a part
54:06
of
54:07
you
54:07
which
54:07
is
54:07
immortal
54:07
it
54:08
is
54:08
a part
54:08
of
54:09
you
54:09
which
54:09
never
54:10
dies
54:10
and so
54:12
to lose
54:12
your soul
54:13
if your soul
54:13
is immortal
54:14
isn't for you
54:16
to have no soul
54:17
anymore
54:17
that's impossible
54:18
and so what
54:20
does it mean
54:21
to lose
54:21
your soul
54:22
to lose
54:23
your
54:23
personality
54:24
to lose
54:25
your thought
54:26
processes
54:26
what does
54:27
that mean
54:28
well
54:28
it doesn't mean
54:30
to cease
54:30
to have them
54:30
to cease
54:31
to have a
54:32
personality
54:32
to cease
54:33
to be
54:33
a
54:34
person
54:34
we're
54:35
actually
54:35
told
54:35
in the
54:35
context
54:36
what it
54:36
means
54:37
verse 38
54:37
for whoever
54:39
is ashamed
54:40
of me
54:40
and of
54:41
my words
54:41
in this
54:42
adulterous
54:43
and sinful
54:43
generation
54:44
of whom
54:45
will the
54:46
son of
54:46
man
54:46
be ashamed
54:47
when he
54:47
comes
54:48
in the
54:48
glory
54:48
of his
54:48
father
54:49
with the
54:50
holy
54:50
angels
54:50
what
54:52
Jesus
54:52
is saying
54:53
is this
54:53
life
54:55
will
54:55
shortly
54:55
end
54:56
for each
54:57
and every
54:57
one of
54:58
us
54:58
and we
54:59
shall
54:59
all stand
55:00
before the
55:00
judgment
55:01
seat of
55:01
Christ
55:02
revelation
55:03
chapter 20
55:04
tells us
55:04
that we
55:05
shall stand
55:06
before a
55:06
great white
55:07
throne
55:07
and the
55:08
books
55:08
shall be
55:08
opened
55:09
and everything
55:10
that we
55:10
have done
55:11
and everything
55:11
that we
55:12
have said
55:12
and everything
55:13
that we
55:13
have thought
55:14
even the
55:14
secrets
55:15
of our
55:15
hearts
55:15
will be
55:16
laid bare
55:17
before this
55:18
great judge
55:18
and then we
55:20
shall be
55:20
judged
55:21
and we
55:22
shall be
55:23
judged
55:23
on the basis
55:24
of what we
55:24
did with
55:25
Jesus
55:25
and what we
55:26
did with
55:26
his words
55:27
what a
55:29
response was
55:30
what was the
55:31
response of
55:31
your heart
55:32
did you
55:32
believe
55:33
what was the
55:34
response of
55:34
your life
55:35
did you
55:36
live it
55:36
out
55:36
did you
55:37
respond with
55:38
faith
55:38
or did you
55:39
respond with
55:40
unbelief
55:41
that's what
55:43
you will be
55:44
judged on
55:44
the deeds
55:45
done in the
55:46
body
55:46
Paul says
55:48
whether they
55:48
be good
55:49
or bad
55:50
and the
55:51
reality of
55:51
it is this
55:52
if you
55:53
have disregarded
55:55
your soul
55:55
and the needs
55:56
of your soul
55:57
if you have
55:58
been ashamed
55:58
to own
55:59
Jesus Christ
56:00
as yours
56:01
to deny
56:02
yourself
56:02
and to
56:02
take up
56:03
your cross
56:03
and to
56:04
follow him
56:04
then your
56:05
soul will
56:06
be lost
56:06
eternally
56:07
and it
56:08
will be
56:09
lost
56:09
eternally
56:09
we read
56:10
in the
56:10
rest of
56:11
scripture
56:11
when you
56:13
lift up
56:13
your eyes
56:14
in hell
56:14
as the
56:15
rich man
56:16
in the
56:16
story of
56:16
the rich
56:17
man
56:17
and Lazarus
56:18
the rich
56:18
man who
56:19
had it
56:19
all
56:19
the rich
56:20
man who
56:21
lived in
56:22
the nicest
56:22
house
56:23
and who
56:24
ate the
56:24
best food
56:25
and who
56:26
wore the
56:26
nicest
56:26
of
56:26
clothes
56:27
we're
56:28
told that
56:28
he died
56:29
and that
56:29
he lifted
56:30
up his
56:30
eyes
56:31
in
56:31
torments
56:32
that's
56:34
what it
56:34
means
56:35
friends
56:35
to lose
56:36
your soul
56:36
the rich
56:37
man was
56:38
conscious
56:38
in hell
56:39
and yet
56:41
it was to
56:42
him a
56:42
place of
56:42
weeping
56:43
and gnashing
56:44
of teeth
56:44
a place
56:46
of
56:46
outer
56:47
and utter
56:48
darkness
56:49
that's
56:51
what it
56:51
means
56:52
friends
56:52
to lose
56:53
your soul
56:54
that's
56:55
what it
56:55
means
56:55
and so
56:56
I want
56:56
to
56:56
to just
56:57
wrap this
56:58
up with
56:58
one final
56:58
and very
56:59
brief
56:59
point
57:00
and that
57:00
is the
57:01
choice
57:01
of
57:02
discipleship
57:03
because we
57:03
read in
57:03
verse 37
57:05
what can a
57:06
man give
57:07
in return
57:08
for his
57:08
life
57:09
or what
57:10
can a man
57:11
give in
57:11
exchange
57:12
for his
57:13
soul
57:13
what is
57:14
your soul
57:15
worth
57:16
you know
57:17
we
57:18
we live
57:19
in a day
57:20
when
57:21
people are
57:22
used to
57:22
exchanging
57:23
things
57:23
to buying
57:24
and selling
57:24
I think
57:24
that's
57:25
even
57:25
changed
57:25
in the
57:25
last few
57:26
years
57:26
many
57:28
people
57:28
now
57:29
use
57:29
things
57:29
like
57:30
vintage
57:30
and
57:31
ebay
57:31
they
57:32
see a
57:32
pair
57:33
of
57:33
trainers
57:33
or a
57:34
pair
57:34
of
57:34
trousers
57:35
whatever
57:35
it
57:35
might
57:35
be
57:36
and
57:37
they
57:37
think
57:37
well
57:38
I
57:39
could
57:39
sell
57:40
that
57:40
and
57:40
they
57:40
put
57:41
it
57:41
on
57:41
for
57:41
say
57:41
ten
57:42
pounds
57:42
and
57:43
hopefully
57:43
they'll
57:44
get
57:44
that
57:44
and
57:44
the
57:44
money
57:44
they
57:45
get
57:45
and
57:45
they
57:45
can
57:45
use
57:46
that
57:46
money
57:47
to
57:47
buy
57:47
another
57:52
many
57:52
people
57:52
that's
57:53
what
57:53
we're
57:53
used
57:53
to
57:54
and
57:55
the
57:55
important
57:55
thing
57:55
there
57:56
is
57:56
that
57:56
you
57:56
get
57:57
what
57:57
it's
57:57
worth
57:57
that
57:58
you
57:59
get
57:59
what
57:59
the
57:59
trousers
58:00
are
58:00
worth
58:00
and
58:01
that
58:01
what
58:01
you
58:01
buy
58:02
with
58:02
the
58:02
money
58:02
that
58:03
is
58:03
worth
58:03
at
58:03
least
58:04
as
58:05
good
58:05
as
58:05
what
58:05
you
58:05
sold
58:06
or
58:06
hopefully
58:07
even
58:07
better
58:08
but
58:09
the
58:09
great
58:10
question
58:10
here
58:10
the
58:10
great
58:11
exchange
58:11
question
58:12
here
58:12
is
58:13
what
58:13
is
58:13
your
58:14
soul
58:14
worth
58:14
is
58:15
your
58:16
soul
58:16
worth
58:16
is
58:18
anything
58:18
so
58:22
valuable
58:22
as
58:23
your
58:23
soul
58:23
is
58:24
anything
58:25
more
58:25
precious
58:26
than
58:27
that
58:27
because
58:28
what
58:29
Jesus
58:29
is
58:29
saying
58:29
here
58:30
and
58:30
bear
58:30
this
58:30
in
58:31
mind
58:31
and
58:31
never
58:31
forget
58:32
it
58:32
he's
58:32
saying
58:32
that
58:33
your
58:33
soul
58:33
is
58:33
worth
58:34
more
58:34
than
58:35
this
58:35
world
58:35
what
58:37
shall
58:37
it
58:37
profit
58:38
a
58:38
man
58:38
if
58:38
he
58:38
shall
58:39
gain
58:39
the
58:39
whole
58:39
world
58:39
and
58:40
lose
58:41
his
58:41
own
58:41
soul
58:41
your
58:41
soul
58:42
is
58:42
worth
58:42
more
58:42
than
58:43
the
58:43
world
58:43
and
58:44
he
58:44
made
58:44
the
58:44
world
58:45
and
58:46
he
58:46
knows
58:46
what
58:46
the
58:46
world
58:46
is
58:47
worth
58:47
and
58:48
he
58:48
knows
58:48
that
58:48
your
58:48
soul
58:49
is
58:49
worth
58:49
more
58:50
than
58:50
that
58:50
because
58:51
the
58:51
world
58:52
is
58:52
fleeting
58:52
its
58:52
gold
58:53
and
58:53
silver
58:54
will
58:54
perish
58:54
its
58:55
treasure
58:55
will
58:56
rust
58:56
and
58:56
corrupt
58:57
And
58:57
all
58:57
of it
58:58
at
58:58
the
58:58
end
58:58
of
58:58
the
58:58
day
58:58
will
58:59
be
58:59
consumed
58:59
by
59:00
fire
59:00
and
59:01
as
59:01
we
59:01
read
59:02
in
59:02
Psalm
59:02
49
59:02
as
59:03
we
59:03
sang
59:03
you
59:04
will
59:04
die
59:04
and
59:04
you
59:04
leave
59:04
all
59:05
these
59:05
things
59:05
behind
59:05
you
59:05
and
59:06
you
59:06
don't
59:06
know
59:06
who's
59:06
going
59:06
to
59:07
get
59:07
them
59:07
you
59:07
don't
59:08
know
59:08
who's
59:08
going
59:08
to
59:08
live
59:08
in
59:08
your
59:08
house
59:08
when
59:09
you
59:09
die
59:09
you
59:10
might
59:10
have
59:10
an
59:10
idea
59:10
but
59:11
you
59:11
don't
59:11
know
59:11
who's
59:12
going
59:13
to
59:13
inherit
59:13
your
59:14
money
59:14
who's
59:14
going
59:14
to
59:15
spend
59:15
your
59:15
money
59:15
who's
59:16
going
59:16
to
59:16
drive
59:16
your
59:16
car
59:17
you
59:17
don't
59:17
know
59:17
any
59:17
of
59:17
these
59:18
things
59:18
and
59:18
neither
59:18
do
59:19
I
59:19
it's
59:20
all
59:20
fleeting
59:21
but
59:22
what
59:22
is
59:22
the
59:22
soul
59:22
worth
59:23
well
59:24
Genesis
59:25
1
59:25
tells
59:26
us
59:26
that
59:27
your
59:27
soul
59:36
to
59:37
buy
59:38
it
59:38
back
59:38
what
59:39
did
59:39
it
59:39
cost
59:40
we
59:42
were
59:42
redeemed
59:42
not
59:42
with
59:43
corruptible
59:43
things
59:43
as
59:44
silver
59:44
and
59:44
gold
59:44
but
59:45
with
59:45
the
59:46
precious
59:46
blood
59:47
of
59:47
Christ
59:48
that's
59:49
what
59:50
your
59:51
soul
59:51
was
59:51
worth
59:52
and
59:52
who
59:52
can
59:52
put
59:53
a
59:53
price
59:54
on
59:55
the
59:55
precious
59:55
blood
59:55
of
59:56
Christ
59:56
you
59:57
know
59:57
friends
59:57
compared
59:58
to
59:58
your
59:58
soul
59:59
this
1:00:00
world
1:00:00
as
1:00:00
Daniel
1:00:01
told
1:00:01
Belshazzar
1:00:02
is
1:00:02
weighed
1:00:03
in the
1:00:03
balances
1:00:04
and
1:00:04
it
1:00:05
is
1:00:05
found
1:00:05
wanting
1:00:06
it
1:00:06
is
1:00:07
nothing
1:00:07
the
1:00:08
two
1:00:08
things
1:00:08
are
1:00:08
incompatible
1:00:10
let
1:00:13
me
1:00:13
ask
1:00:13
you
1:00:13
just
1:00:13
finally
1:00:14
what
1:00:16
would
1:00:16
you
1:00:16
really
1:00:16
love
1:00:17
in
1:00:17
this
1:00:17
life
1:00:17
we've
1:00:18
all
1:00:19
got
1:00:19
things
1:00:19
in
1:00:20
our
1:00:20
lives
1:00:20
which
1:00:20
we
1:00:20
wish
1:00:21
would
1:00:21
change
1:00:21
what
1:00:22
would
1:00:22
make
1:00:22
you
1:00:23
happy
1:00:23
perhaps
1:00:24
it
1:00:24
was
1:00:24
it's
1:00:25
better
1:00:25
health
1:00:26
maybe
1:00:27
it's
1:00:27
beauty
1:00:28
maybe
1:00:29
it's
1:00:29
just
1:00:29
to be
1:00:30
a bit
1:00:30
more
1:00:30
comfortable
1:00:30
to be
1:00:31
a bit
1:00:31
more
1:00:31
secure
1:00:32
to get
1:00:33
a promotion
1:00:33
at work
1:00:34
or to
1:00:34
be
1:00:34
respected
1:00:35
at work
1:00:36
more than
1:00:37
you are
1:00:37
to have
1:00:38
more
1:00:38
time off
1:00:39
to have
1:00:39
more time
1:00:40
with the
1:00:40
family
1:00:40
maybe it's
1:00:41
that the
1:00:41
family
1:00:42
circumstances
1:00:42
would be
1:00:43
better
1:00:43
maybe there's
1:00:44
some sort
1:00:44
of breach
1:00:45
in the
1:00:45
family
1:00:45
that there
1:00:46
might be
1:00:46
a reconciliation
1:00:47
that's
1:00:48
what you
1:00:49
want
1:00:49
maybe it's
1:00:51
riches
1:00:51
maybe it's
1:00:52
a new car
1:00:52
a new barn
1:00:53
I don't know
1:00:53
what it is
1:00:53
you know
1:00:54
what it is
1:00:54
but imagine
1:00:56
that you got
1:00:56
all of that
1:00:57
and that it
1:00:57
all from
1:00:58
tomorrow morning
1:00:59
you get up
1:01:00
in the morning
1:01:00
and it all
1:01:01
just started
1:01:02
to fall
1:01:02
in place
1:01:03
you got
1:01:04
an inheritance
1:01:05
the family
1:01:06
situation
1:01:07
just sorted
1:01:07
itself out
1:01:08
you got
1:01:09
a clean
1:01:09
bill of
1:01:10
health
1:01:10
everything
1:01:11
just went
1:01:11
as you
1:01:12
wanted
1:01:12
it to
1:01:12
go
1:01:12
every wish
1:01:13
was fulfilled
1:01:14
and that
1:01:15
for the rest
1:01:15
of your
1:01:15
life
1:01:16
and then
1:01:17
down the
1:01:17
line
1:01:18
say you're
1:01:18
88 years
1:01:20
old
1:01:20
you've
1:01:20
had a
1:01:21
good life
1:01:21
and you
1:01:22
die
1:01:22
peacefully
1:01:23
in your
1:01:23
sleep
1:01:24
and yet
1:01:26
that out
1:01:27
of Christ
1:01:27
not a
1:01:28
Christian
1:01:29
do you
1:01:30
think that
1:01:30
would have
1:01:31
been a
1:01:31
life well
1:01:32
lived
1:01:32
people are
1:01:33
walking down
1:01:34
Francis
1:01:34
Street
1:01:35
behind your
1:01:36
coffin
1:01:36
and they're
1:01:37
all speaking
1:01:38
well of you
1:01:38
and how good
1:01:39
a person
1:01:40
you were
1:01:40
is that a
1:01:41
life well
1:01:42
lived
1:01:42
or is it a
1:01:44
life wasted
1:01:45
because you see
1:01:47
now that all of
1:01:47
these things
1:01:48
are gone
1:01:48
are they really
1:01:50
worth it
1:01:51
were they really
1:01:51
worth the
1:01:52
exchange of
1:01:53
your soul
1:01:54
were they really
1:01:56
worth if they
1:01:56
meant denying
1:01:57
Christ
1:01:58
was this
1:01:59
perfect life
1:02:00
having all
1:02:00
that you had
1:02:01
for that
1:02:01
beautiful
1:02:02
family round
1:02:02
about you
1:02:03
and all
1:02:03
men speaking
1:02:04
well of you
1:02:04
was it
1:02:05
worth eternity
1:02:06
in hell
1:02:06
as Jesus
1:02:08
says what
1:02:09
shall it
1:02:09
profit a
1:02:09
man
1:02:10
what shall
1:02:10
it profit
1:02:11
you friend
1:02:11
if you
1:02:13
gain the
1:02:13
whole world
1:02:14
and get
1:02:14
all these
1:02:14
things that
1:02:15
you're seeking
1:02:15
after and
1:02:16
yet lose
1:02:17
your own
1:02:17
soul
1:02:18
you know
1:02:19
the pleasures
1:02:19
of sin are
1:02:20
but for a
1:02:21
season
1:02:21
but the
1:02:22
soul is
1:02:22
eternal
1:02:23
and it
1:02:24
will live
1:02:24
on
1:02:25
and the
1:02:25
question that
1:02:26
I want to
1:02:26
leave with
1:02:27
you is
1:02:27
where will
1:02:28
it live
1:02:29
on
1:02:29
where
1:02:30
in heaven
1:02:31
or in
1:02:32
hell
1:02:32
what are
1:02:33
you investing
1:02:34
in
1:02:34
in this
1:02:35
world
1:02:36
or in the
1:02:36
next world
1:02:37
you see
1:02:38
what Jesus
1:02:38
is saying
1:02:39
to us
1:02:39
he's saying
1:02:40
and he doesn't
1:02:41
beat about the
1:02:42
bush
1:02:42
he's saying
1:02:43
Christianity
1:02:44
if you're going
1:02:44
to live it
1:02:45
as I want
1:02:45
you to live
1:02:46
it
1:02:46
it's going
1:02:47
to cost
1:02:47
you
1:02:47
and it's
1:02:48
not going
1:02:49
to be
1:02:49
an easy
1:02:50
road
1:02:50
but in
1:02:51
the long
1:02:51
run
1:02:52
not
1:02:53
becoming
1:02:53
a
1:02:54
Christian
1:02:54
and not
1:02:55
following
1:02:55
me
1:02:56
and not
1:02:57
denying
1:02:57
me
1:02:57
and taking
1:02:58
up
1:02:58
your
1:02:58
cross
1:02:58
is going
1:02:59
to cost
1:03:00
you
1:03:00
infinitely
1:03:01
and eternally
1:03:03
more
1:03:04
and so
1:03:05
friend
1:03:05
the choice
1:03:06
is yours
1:03:07
amen
1:03:08
let us
1:03:08
pray
1:03:09
gracious
1:03:12
and ever
1:03:13
blessed
1:03:14
God
1:03:14
as we
1:03:15
come under
1:03:16
the solemn
1:03:16
teaching of
1:03:17
the Lord
1:03:17
Jesus
1:03:18
Christ
1:03:18
help us
1:03:20
to
1:03:20
follow him
1:03:23
closely
1:03:24
and help
1:03:25
us to
1:03:25
count
1:03:26
that cost
1:03:26
and help
1:03:28
us to
1:03:29
yield
1:03:29
ourselves
1:03:29
into his
1:03:30
arms
1:03:30
knowing
1:03:31
that he
1:03:31
is the
1:03:32
one
1:03:32
who will
1:03:32
uphold
1:03:32
us
1:03:33
and who
1:03:34
will
1:03:34
give us
1:03:34
grace
1:03:35
to help
1:03:35
in time
1:03:36
of need
1:03:36
and cause
1:03:38
his strength
1:03:38
to be made
1:03:39
perfect in
1:03:40
our weakness
1:03:40
go before us
1:03:41
and we pray
1:03:42
forgiving sin
1:03:43
for Christ's
1:03:43
sake
1:03:44
amen
1:03:44
well we
1:03:47
conclude our
1:03:48
worship
1:03:48
singing to
1:03:49
God's praise
1:03:49
in Psalm 37
1:03:51
the same
1:03:52
psalm that we
1:03:53
had but
1:03:53
reading from
1:03:54
verse 3
1:03:54
Psalm 37
1:03:56
verses 3
1:03:56
to 7
1:03:57
the tune
1:04:00
is free
1:04:01
church
1:04:01
set thou
1:04:08
thy trust
1:04:09
upon the
1:04:09
Lord
1:04:09
and be
1:04:10
thou
1:04:10
doing
1:04:10
good
1:04:11
and so
1:04:12
thou
1:04:12
in the
1:04:12
land
1:04:12
shalt dwell
1:04:13
and verily
1:04:14
have food
1:04:14
delight
1:04:15
thyself
1:04:16
in God
1:04:16
he'll give
1:04:17
thine
1:04:17
heart's
1:04:17
desire
1:04:18
to thee
1:04:18
thy way
1:04:19
to God
1:04:20
commit
1:04:20
him
1:04:20
trust
1:04:21
to bring
1:04:21
to pass
1:04:22
shall he
1:04:22
and like
1:04:24
unto the
1:04:24
light
1:04:24
he shall
1:04:25
thy
1:04:25
righteousness
1:04:26
display
1:04:26
and he
1:04:27
thy
1:04:27
judgment
1:04:28
shall
1:04:28
bring
1:04:28
forth
1:04:29
like
1:04:29
noontide
1:04:30
of the
1:04:30
day
1:04:30
rest
1:04:31
in the
1:04:31
Lord
1:04:32
and patiently
1:04:33
wait
1:04:33
for him
1:04:34
do not
1:04:35
fret
1:04:35
for him
1:04:35
who
1:04:36
prospering
1:04:36
in his
1:04:36
way
1:04:37
success
1:04:38
in sin
1:04:38
doth get
1:04:39
psalm 37
1:04:41
verses 3
1:04:41
to 7
1:04:42
to God's
1:04:43
praise
1:04:43
set thou
1:04:44
thy
1:04:44
trust
1:04:45
upon
1:04:45
the
1:04:45
Lord
1:04:45
and be
1:04:46
thou
1:04:46
doing
1:04:46
good
1:04:47
set thou
1:04:54
thy
1:04:55
trust
1:04:56
upon
1:04:57
the
1:04:59
Lord
1:05:00
and
1:05:02
be
1:05:02
thou
1:05:04
doing
1:05:05
good
1:05:07
and
1:05:09
so
1:05:09
thou
1:05:10
in
1:05:12
the
1:05:13
land
1:05:14
shall
1:05:15
dwell
1:05:16
and
1:05:17
they
1:05:18
really
1:05:20
have
1:05:22
food
1:05:23
delight
1:05:25
thyself
1:05:28
in
1:05:29
God
1:05:30
and
1:05:32
in
1:05:33
thine
1:05:34
heart's
1:05:35
desire
1:05:37
to
1:05:38
thee
1:05:39
thy
1:05:41
way
1:05:42
to
1:05:43
God
1:05:44
commit
1:05:45
him
1:05:46
trust
1:05:47
it
1:05:50
bring
1:05:51
to
1:05:52
pass
1:05:53
shall
1:05:54
he
1:05:56
and
1:05:58
like
1:06:00
unto
1:06:01
the
1:06:02
light
1:06:03
he
1:06:04
shall
1:06:05
!
1:06:06
thy
1:06:07
righteousness
1:06:08
display
1:06:09
!
1:06:10
he
1:06:11
shall
1:06:12
display
1:06:13
and
1:06:15
he
1:06:16
thy
1:06:17
judgment
1:06:18
forth
1:06:19
like
1:06:20
!
1:06:21
bring
1:06:22
forth
1:06:23
like
1:06:24
loontide
1:06:26
of
1:06:27
the
1:06:28
day
1:06:30
rest
1:06:32
in
1:06:33
the
1:06:34
Lord
1:06:35
and
1:06:37
patiently
1:06:38
wait
1:06:39
for
1:06:40
him
1:06:41
to
1:06:42
not
1:06:43
fret
1:06:44
for
1:06:46
him
1:06:47
to
1:06:48
for
1:06:49
him
1:06:50
who
1:06:51
prospered
1:06:52
in
1:06:54
his
1:06:56
ways
1:06:57
success
1:06:58
in
1:06:59
sin
1:07:00
not
1:07:02
care
1:07:03
not
1:07:07
may the
1:07:08
Jesus
1:07:09
the love
1:07:10
and the
1:07:11
the Holy Spirit
1:07:12
be with you all
1:07:13
amen!
1:07:43
voy
1:07:44
voy
1:07:45
voy
1:07:47
voy
1:07:48
voy
1:07:49
voy
1:07:52
voy
1:07:54
voy
1:07:55
voy
1:07:56
voy
1:07:57
voy
1:08:00
voy
1:08:04
voy
1:08:06
!
1:08:04
voy
1:08:06
!
1:08:04
voy
1:08:06
!
1:08:04
voy
1:08:06
!
1:08:04
voy
1:08:06
!
1:08:04
voy
1:08:06
!
1:08:04
voy
1:08:06
!
1:08:04
voy
1:08:13
Thank you.