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Fearing Jesus · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise.
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We're going to sing in Psalm 23, the Scottish Psalter version, page 229 of the psalm books, Psalm 23.
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!
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The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want. He makes me down to lie in pastures green.
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He leadeth me the quiet waters by.
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We'll stand to sing the whole of this psalm to God's praise.
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I'll not want. He makes me down to lie in pastures green.
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He leadeth me the quiet waters by.
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My soul he doth restore again, and he to work the name.
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Within the paths of righteousness, before his soul may sing.
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Hear, though I walk in death's dark hill, yet will I hear not ill.
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For thou art lift me on thy own.
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I'm standing on for still.
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My devil, thou hast furnished, in presence of my foes.
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My devil, thou hast with oil anoint, and my cup overflows.
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To death's and mercy, O my life, shall surely follow me.
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And in God's eyes forevermore, my dwelling place shall be.
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Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer. Let us pray.
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Our Father in heaven, we thank you to be able to sing these words together,
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to offer up worship to you in song,
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and to sing these words that perhaps we've sung so often in the past,
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words that we maybe even know without looking at the pages of our Bibles.
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We can repeat them, but help us today to know the wonder of them,
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the wonder of the Lord, our Lord Jesus as our shepherd,
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the one who leads us and guides us, the one who helps us in all our lives.
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Every one of us today are dependent upon you, young and old alike.
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And we do ask, Lord, that together you will bless us,
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that you will be with us as we come to hear of you,
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to hear your word and study it together.
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Bless the young ones in the Sunday school, in the creche, the tweenies, in the Bible class.
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We thank you for every one of the children here and the families together as well.
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And together as a people, Lord, that we would have hearts filled with a sense of joy
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in coming to you and knowing that you are with us, that you meet here with us.
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We thank you for even the Lord's prayer as we say it week by week.
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It reminds us of how we are dependent upon you as our Father in heaven.
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And we pray that even as we say these words together in a moment,
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that there will be words that we may be familiar with as well,
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that help us to know who it is we are praying to and what you are able to do for us.
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And so may we all together know what the power of prayer is,
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and we especially think of our young people going through exams at this time,
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that they would do so with that knowledge that they can ask you for help,
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that they can ask you for guidance, and that you are there for them.
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And we do pray for them, for all our children,
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and we just pray for exam periods ahead.
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Just now, Lord, that you would give clarity and help in all that they have to do.
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Bless us and we pray and watch over us as we ask all with the forgiveness of our sins.
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In Jesus' name. Amen.
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Well, I was just praying there about exams,
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and maybe it's the last thing you want to hear about just now when you're going into May
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and the exams are starting for those who are older in the higher classes.
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But every one of us has to face tests at different points in our life.
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And especially as we're going through school, we do different kinds of tests as we're going through school.
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And one of the tests we often have is listening tests.
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So who's good at listening? Hands up if you're good at listening.
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Many people say, what?
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You weren't listening, were you?
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Listening is a skill.
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It's something we have to learn and to pay attention to things that we are hearing.
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But it's often a difficult thing for us to do because we're easily distracted.
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So I want to give you a little test just now.
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I'm going to read some verses from Psalm 81.
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And I want you to listen out for words that are related to hearing.
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And I think the teachers, when they're in school, they do this, do they?
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So that you have to listen in.
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You have to listen carefully to these words.
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I'm going to read Psalm 81 at verse 8 down to verse 13.
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Hear, my people, let me warn you, if you would but listen now.
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No strange God shall be among you.
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To a false God do not bow.
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I have brought you up from Egypt, from your own God, the Lord am I.
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Open wide your mouth towards me, and your food I will supply.
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But my people would not listen, would not do what I required.
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So I gave them up to follow what their stubborn hearts desired.
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If my people would but heed me, Israel follow my command.
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I would soon subdue their enemies and against them turn my hand.
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So, how many times there did you hear something related to listening?
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It comes up quite often there, doesn't it?
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The word listen is there twice.
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The word hear is the first word that was mentioned.
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Hear, my people.
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And then there was the word heed in verse 13 as well.
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So four times at least you could say there's a word there that's to do with listening.
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And so God is speaking there, and so it's important, as he says, hear, listen, heed, all of these things to us.
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And that's what's important for us as we come to God's word, as we're hearing it here, as we're hearing it in our Sunday school classes too, that we listen.
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Now, what do we need in order to listen?
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Listen, first of all, we need to stop.
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Stop what we're doing and just pause so that we're sitting ready to listen.
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The other thing we need is quietness.
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If there was loads of noise going on around us, if there was a building site or something outside and people were working away there,
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and there's so much noise around, we wouldn't be able to hear, so we need quietness to be able to hear.
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And the third thing we need is focus.
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To listen is to listen as it's going on.
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I mean, when you're in the house, do you listen to everything mum and dad say to you?
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At what point do you stop listening?
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They'll shout your name, so they maybe shout,
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Callum, come and do, and that's when you stop listening.
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Do, no, I'm not going to listen anymore.
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I don't want to do anything but what I want to do myself.
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We need to focus.
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And God is calling us all today to come and to stop and to focus and to listen and to do.
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And so today we have to stop, hear, listen, and heed the word of God.
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May he give us that skill, that ability to listen and to hear what he is saying to us.
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We're going to say the Lord's Prayer together now.
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Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
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Thy kingdom come.
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Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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Give us this day our daily bread.
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And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
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And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever.
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Amen.
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We're going to sing together again to God's praise this time
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in Psalm 107, the Scottish Psalter version, page 384.
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Psalm 107, and at verse 23,
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page 384 of the psalm books.
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And then we're reminded of the passage that we're looking at today,
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how Jesus is able to bring calm into the midst of a storm.
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And in verse 29, it says that the storm is changed into a calm
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at his command and will.
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We're going to sing from verse 23 to 30 to God's praise.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Which makes the sea with roaring wings
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I want to swell and rise
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If unto heaven and to the dead
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They do all come again
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Their soul of pain can melt away
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With love alone with fear
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They relapse stagger like wonder
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At their waves in daily
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Then they do come in trouble cry
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Who then from straits are free
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The storm is changed into account
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At his command and will
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So that the waves which raged before
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Now quiet and still
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Then are they not because of rest
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And quiet the lady
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So to the lady
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I will turn to read God's word together now in the gospel of Mark
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And chapter 6
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Mark chapter 6
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We take up our reading at verse 30
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You find it around page 1015
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Of the church Bibles
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Mark chapter 6 at verse 30
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The apostles returned to Jesus
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And told him all that they had done and taught
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And he said to them
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Come away by yourselves
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To a desolate place and rest a while
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For many were coming and going
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And they had no leisure even to eat
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And they went away in the boat
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To a desolate place by themselves
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Now many saw them going and recognized them
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And they ran there on foot from all the towns
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And got there ahead of them
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When he went ashore he saw a great crowd
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And he had compassion on them
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Because they were like sheep without a shepherd
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And he began to teach them many things
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And when it grew late
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His disciples came to him
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And said
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This is a desolate place
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And the hour is now late
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Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages
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And buy themselves something to eat
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But he answered them
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You give them something to eat
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And they said to him
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Shall we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread
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And give it to them to eat
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And he said to them
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How many loaves do you have?
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Go and see
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And when they had found out
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They said five and two fish
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Then he commanded them all
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To sit down in groups on the green grass
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So they sat down in groups by hundreds and by fifties
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And taking the five loaves and the two fish
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He looked up to heaven
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And said a blessing
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And broke the loaves
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And gave them to the disciples
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To set before the people
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And he divided the two fish among them all
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And they all ate and were satisfied
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And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces
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And of fish
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And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men
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Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat
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And go before him to the other side
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To Bethsaida
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While he dismissed the crowd
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And after he had taken leave of them
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He went up on the mountain to pray
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And when evening came
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The boat was out on sea
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And he was alone on the land
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And he saw that they were making headway painfully
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For the wind was against them
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And about the fourth watch of the night
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He came to them walking on the sea
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He meant to pass by them
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But when they saw him walking on the sea
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They thought it was a ghost and cried out
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For they all saw him and were terrified
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But immediately he spoke to them and said
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Take heart
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It is I
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Do not be afraid
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And he got into the boat with them
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And the wind ceased
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And they were utterly astounded
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For they did not understand about the loaves
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But their hearts were hardened
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And so on
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And may God bless that reading from his word
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We'll again come to God in prayer
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Let us pray
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Our Father in heaven
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As we approach your word
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We do so
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Recognising
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Our own lack of understanding
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And even
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As the disciples here
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Were seeing and hearing
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The wonders of Jesus
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It says
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Their hearts were hardened
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And we know ourselves
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That that can be true
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At times in our own experience
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Perhaps even we come in here today
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With that sense of
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Of hardness
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Of not coming to listen
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But maybe just coming
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And just to show
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Our face here
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And to put others at ease
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That we have come
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But we thank you
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That as we come
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We come under
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What is your word
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A living
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And an active word
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And a word that is powerful
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A word that we see there
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That is still through to this day
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That Jesus as he spoke
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Had the power to calm
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Even the wind itself
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And the waves of the sea
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And we thank you
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That that is true for us today as well
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That you are the one
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Who is able to calm us
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And to change out every situation
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That seems so powerless to us
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That we have no ability
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To change anything
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In and of ourselves
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But your word reminds us
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That you are the one
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Who is able
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And so we come in prayer to you
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Depending on you
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Depending on you
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For all things
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From the beginning of a day
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To the end
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And even through the watches
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Of the night
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When we may
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Be unaware of everything
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Going on around us
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When we are in the depths of sleep
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We thank you
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That you are one
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Who is constantly awake
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Never slumbering
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Nor sleeping
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As the psalmist says
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But that you are always
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Watching over your people
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That your presence is near
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And in all our cares
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And all our anxieties
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And all our thanksgivings
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We thank you
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That we can come
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And bring them all to you
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As the one who hears us
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That you hear us
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Through the name of your son
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Our Lord and saviour
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Jesus Christ
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And as we have read of him
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And how he prayed
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To you himself
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We thank you
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That even as he was dependent
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In all things
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That we too are as well
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And so Lord
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We thank you
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That we come
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Through a name
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Above every name
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That we offer up our prayers
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In and through
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The name of Jesus
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And so hear us
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Lord we ask
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And may your will be done
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And may all be
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To your glory
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And we do ask
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Oh Lord
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For all our different needs today
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And the needs of those around us
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We thank you
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That again
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You are the one
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The one who is able to comfort
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The one who is able to heal
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The one who is able to help
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In any and every circumstance
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And we know Lord
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The many around us
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Who need you
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In particular ways
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And especially
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Oh Lord
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In times of
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Of grief and sorrow
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As in our own midst
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Lord
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There are
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Those who grieve
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And those
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Who we know
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Even in our own denomination
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Who are grieving today
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In the midst of loss
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We thank you
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That you are
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A God of all comfort
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And so throughout
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Our communities today
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May that comfort
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Be evident
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In special ways
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That people
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Would know
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The everlasting arms
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Underneath
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Upholding
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And strengthening
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We do remember
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Even those
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In our own denomination
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Who have been servants
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To you
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And who have been
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Taken to glory
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As we have heard
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Of the passing
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Of the Reverend Ian Allen
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In these days
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We thank you
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For his life
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And for his ministry
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In different places
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And over many years
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We do
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Lord
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Give thanks
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For the word
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That he preached
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So faithfully
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And pray Lord
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That even
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It would still
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Continue
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To bear fruit
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We do pray Lord
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For comfort
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For his family
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That you will
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Surround them
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In these times
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We thank you
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Of the Macphersion family
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The Reverend John Macphersion
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And his wife Catherine
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In the sad news
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Of the sudden loss
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Of a son Malcolm
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We pray Lord
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That you will
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Surround them
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And comfort them
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As only you can
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And Dave Macphersion
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As well
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The Reverend Dave Macphersion
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And his brother
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In Govan too
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Lord
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We just pray Lord
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For him and his family
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As well
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And in this time
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Of grief Lord
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That you would be one
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Who is very near
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And we know too Lord
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That there are those
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Who are going through
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Ill health
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And so many different trials
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And we just commit
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Each one to you
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And Lord
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When they cannot pray
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That they would feel
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That they could ask
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For prayer
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Or that they would know
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That there are people
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Praying for them
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And we do ask
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Oh Lord
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That you will
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Just go before us
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In all of these things
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We thank you Lord
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Of our nation
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And all that's going on
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As we know
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The various issues
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Going on in parliaments
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At this time
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We thank you
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For your hearing of prayer
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And so many different things
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To do with the gender recognition
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And we thank you Lord
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For the way that you are able
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To turn the tide in that
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And we thank you
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Of the upcoming
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Assisted Suicide Bill
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And we pray Lord
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For wisdom
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And for your intervention
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And those who maybe have
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Leanings towards it
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That they would be convinced
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Otherwise
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For we know that
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Life is precious
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And life is in your hands
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And we know that
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Although there can be
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So much that will be
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Painted as intended for good
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That we see it
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Oh Lord
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In the wider picture
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That it can be used
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Oh Lord
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In so many wicked ways
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And so we pray Lord
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That you would come
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In a day of your power
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And heal our land
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And pour blessing upon us
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To see your goodness
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And your mercy with us
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In all of these things
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We pray that for the world
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In which we live in as well
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A world in so much turmoil
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A world with so much conflict
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And hatred being showered
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Upon so many
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In so many different ways
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We see Lord
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A stirring of anger
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In so many places
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And we just pray for peace
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May your peace come
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And so Lord
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Hear our prayers
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And give our people
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Ears to listen
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To hear what you are saying to us
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As you call us
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To bow the knee before you
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May you open hearts and minds
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To receive the wonder of the gospel
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That we would be astounded
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Even as the disciples were
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In this passage that we've read
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That people would be astounded
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At what you are able to do
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And to do for good
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So hear our prayers
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Continue with us
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And go before us
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In the rest of this day
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That's all we ask
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We ask for the forgiveness
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Of our sin
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In Jesus' name
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Amen
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Well before we come back
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To look at this passage
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We'll sing again
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To God's praise
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In Psalm 62
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In the Sing Psalms version
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Psalm 62
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On page 79
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Of the Psalm books
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We're going to sing
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From verse 1
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Down to verse 8
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Psalm 62
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On page 79
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My soul finds rest
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In God alone
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From him comes my salvation sure
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My safety fortress
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Sheltering rock
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In him alone
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I am secure
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We'll sing from verse 1 to 8
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And we stand to sing
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To God's praise
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In the Sing Psalms
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And we stand to sing
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To God's praise
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In God alone
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From him comes my salvation sure
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My safety fortress
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Shelter secure
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In the Singwasser
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And his hope
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And his hope
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And his hope
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From his high place
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They take delight
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In spreading eyes
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With force
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And fighting
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Clouds may bless
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But in
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Thy hearts
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Are times
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Despite
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I rest
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My soul
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And brought
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Alone
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In him
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My hope
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Is ever
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Burture
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My safety forecast shall be brought, in him alone I am secure.
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I own the land's salvation rest, on God my rock and my deep heart.
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O people, trust in him always, to him alone for a pure heart.
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We can turn back to a reading in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6.
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I'm reading again at verse 48.
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Mark, chapter 6, at verse 48.
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And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them.
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And about the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the sea.
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He meant to pass by them.
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But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out.
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For they all saw him and were terrified.
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But immediately he spoke to them and said,
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Take heart, it is I.
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Do not be afraid.
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Are you afraid to follow Jesus?
28:57
You may have come in here today just thinking,
29:00
I just want to come and go and maybe not truly hear what the Word of God is saying,
29:06
because you may be afraid of what it might say to you,
29:09
what difference it might make in your life.
29:12
Are you afraid to follow Jesus, to hear what he says?
29:17
Well, you're not alone.
29:20
It's not a new thing.
29:21
It's there from the beginning of time.
29:25
It'll be there till the return of the Lord Jesus.
29:28
There'll be a sense of fear in terms of what Jesus means.
29:32
And sometimes it's a good thing to be afraid.
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It's a good thing to be afraid because it can make us look for what the right answer is
29:41
and where help can be found in our fear.
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And as you're reading here in the Gospel of Mark,
29:48
as you're looking at the first half of the Gospel of Mark,
29:50
it's full of accounts of Jesus revealing himself to the people in so many different ways.
29:56
You see there's many miracles that he's done,
30:00
so many teachings that he's given,
30:02
and people were marveling.
30:04
And you think to yourself,
30:05
well, the more they're seeing,
30:07
the more they'll believe,
30:09
the more people that there will be that will believe.
30:13
But yes, there were some who believed,
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but there was many who turned away
30:17
and many who were afraid
30:19
because he was preaching a truth to them
30:22
that they couldn't fully understand.
30:26
So truth and fear are often things that go together.
30:31
There can be anxiety in the midst of hearing truth
30:33
and you're wondering,
30:34
is it true?
30:37
You think even of this coming week,
30:38
it marks 80 years
30:40
since VE Day,
30:42
Victory in Europe Day,
30:43
when the Second World War
30:44
came to an end,
30:45
when peace came.
30:47
And you can imagine
30:48
the differing emotions
30:50
that would have been throughout the country
30:52
at that time.
30:54
So many mixed emotions,
30:56
so many tears flowing,
30:58
tears of joy and tears of sadness
31:00
mixed together.
31:02
Joy and fear just there in abundance.
31:05
And for some,
31:06
it was probably a moment
31:07
where they would actually ask,
31:08
is it really true?
31:11
Do we really have peace?
31:14
It would have been hard to believe
31:16
after all that they'd gone through.
31:19
Was it actually a day when peace
31:21
had come?
31:23
Can we believe what we're hearing?
31:27
And as we come to the Word of God,
31:29
sometimes we read through it
31:30
and we think,
31:31
can this really be true?
31:34
Does this really matter to my life?
31:37
It can make us turn away
31:40
and reject it.
31:41
It can make us afraid
31:43
and it can also fill us
31:45
with joy.
31:47
And you see here
31:48
that just mixture of emotions.
31:51
The disciples terrified
31:53
and astounded
31:54
just in a short space of time.
31:57
And you see it again and again
31:58
as you're going through Scripture.
32:00
This is often what the truth
32:01
of God does.
32:03
And especially when it comes
32:05
to seeing Jesus
32:07
and who He is.
32:09
You just think back
32:10
a couple of chapters
32:11
to chapter 4.
32:12
And there was,
32:13
Jesus was with the disciples
32:14
in a boat
32:15
on another occasion
32:16
in the middle of a storm.
32:18
And they're afraid.
32:20
And they asked,
32:20
do you not care
32:21
that we are perishing?
32:22
Do you not care
32:23
that we are dying here?
32:25
And Jesus is able
32:27
to calm that storm.
32:29
Peace, be still.
32:30
And the wind
32:32
and the waves ceased.
32:33
And they're asking,
32:34
who is this?
32:36
They're afraid
32:37
of this Jesus.
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And you see it
32:40
in chapter 5 as well
32:42
in verse 15 to 17.
32:43
Another time
32:44
when Jesus did a miracle.
32:46
He healed a demon-possessed man.
32:48
And you see the crowd's reaction.
32:50
They're afraid.
32:52
And what do they do?
32:52
They beg Jesus
32:54
to go away.
32:55
To leave us alone.
32:58
And is that what we need
33:00
when we hear about Jesus?
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Just beg him.
33:02
Just go away.
33:03
Leave me alone.
33:03
I'm too afraid
33:04
of these things.
33:06
Well, fear often keeps us
33:08
from recognizing Jesus
33:10
and who he is
33:11
and what he wants for us.
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Fear paralyzes us.
33:16
But we need to hear
33:18
what he is saying to us.
33:21
We need to overcome
33:22
that fear
33:23
and come to be a people
33:26
of faith
33:27
instead of fear.
33:29
We are being paralyzed
33:30
by fear.
33:32
We've all got maybe
33:33
different fears
33:34
and we're afraid
33:35
of certain situations
33:36
and it leaves us
33:37
kind of paralyzed.
33:39
If you're afraid
33:40
of heights,
33:40
you start climbing a ladder,
33:43
you look down,
33:44
the fear
33:44
can just paralyze you.
33:46
You're stuck.
33:47
You cannot go up.
33:48
You cannot go down.
33:50
Fear of spiders
33:51
leaves you afraid
33:53
of going into
33:54
any room
33:55
where you've seen
33:55
when you close the door
33:56
and you're afraid
33:57
to go in there again
33:58
until that spider's gone.
34:01
Fear of the doctor.
34:02
You just say,
34:03
I'm not going.
34:04
I'm afraid
34:05
what he might say to me.
34:07
We can be afraid
34:08
in so many different situations.
34:11
But are you afraid here?
34:13
Are you afraid
34:14
as you're hearing
34:15
the word of God?
34:19
Fear stirs us up
34:20
to see we need faith.
34:22
And somebody once said,
34:24
I am inwardly fashioned
34:25
for faith,
34:26
not for fear.
34:28
Fear is not
34:29
my native land.
34:30
Faith is.
34:32
I am not made
34:33
for fear and worry.
34:35
They are the sand
34:36
of the machinery of life.
34:38
They're there
34:38
to grind away
34:40
and to damage
34:40
the machinery.
34:42
But faith is the oil.
34:45
Faith is the oil
34:45
that keeps machinery
34:47
lubricated,
34:47
that keeps our lives
34:48
going in the right direction.
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fear and worry
34:54
leaves me grasping
34:56
for breath.
34:57
But faith and confidence
34:59
helps me to breathe freely.
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We are not designed
35:03
for fear,
35:04
but we are a people
35:04
of fear.
35:07
But we are to be
35:08
a people of faith.
35:09
So is fear
35:10
keeping you back today?
35:11
Are you afraid
35:12
of Jesus?
35:13
Are you afraid
35:14
of what might happen
35:15
if you commit
35:16
to Jesus?
35:17
Are you afraid
35:17
that you'll let him down?
35:19
Are you afraid
35:20
of what people
35:21
will think?
35:21
Are you afraid
35:22
maybe you're sitting
35:23
at home
35:23
watching online?
35:24
Are you afraid
35:25
to come to church
35:26
in case something
35:29
happens?
35:32
We should be more
35:33
afraid
35:33
of what will happen
35:35
if we don't come
35:36
to Jesus.
35:37
We should be more
35:38
afraid of not
35:39
listening
35:39
to Jesus
35:41
because the day
35:43
comes when we have
35:43
to appear
35:44
before him.
35:46
And we need
35:46
to be a people
35:47
of faith,
35:49
believing
35:49
in him.
35:50
William Garnall
35:51
once said,
35:52
we fear men
35:54
so much
35:54
because we fear
35:55
God so little.
35:58
What are we
35:59
more afraid
35:59
of today?
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What people
36:01
will think,
36:02
what people
36:03
will say,
36:04
or what God
36:05
the Lord
36:06
will think?
36:07
Are we afraid
36:08
of Jesus?
36:11
Well,
36:11
the disciples
36:12
here,
36:12
they were learning.
36:13
and there was
36:14
a mix of fear
36:15
and faith
36:16
all intermingled.
36:19
And I want us
36:19
to look at
36:20
three things
36:21
from this passage
36:22
today.
36:23
And they help us
36:24
to see our own
36:25
lives as well.
36:27
And the three things
36:28
are the Lord's
36:28
paths,
36:30
the way the Lord
36:31
leads us.
36:32
And then you see
36:33
the Lord's presence
36:34
and then the Lord's
36:36
prompting.
36:38
And there are
36:38
three things,
36:39
situations that can
36:41
leave us afraid,
36:42
but that can also
36:43
give us assurance.
36:46
And the first thing
36:46
we see is the
36:47
Lord's path.
36:49
We can focus,
36:50
first of all,
36:51
on the disciples
36:51
here.
36:53
It's late at night
36:55
and we've seen
36:56
they've fed
36:57
the 5,000 men
36:59
there.
36:59
And Jesus
37:00
has instructed
37:01
them to go
37:03
before him
37:03
to the other side,
37:04
it says in verse
37:05
45,
37:06
to Bethsaida,
37:07
while he
37:08
remained with
37:09
the crowd
37:10
to dismiss them.
37:12
And so
37:13
they've listened.
37:14
The Lord's
37:15
told them
37:16
what to do
37:16
and they've
37:17
gone and
37:17
they've done it.
37:19
They've gone
37:20
out in the boat.
37:21
But once more
37:22
they find themselves
37:24
out on the lake
37:24
and a storm
37:25
rises,
37:26
the wind
37:27
is against them.
37:29
And it almost
37:30
seems to happen
37:31
so often
37:32
whether they're
37:32
away from the
37:33
Lord,
37:34
that they're
37:35
presented with
37:36
a challenge.
37:38
They're left
37:39
in a situation
37:40
where what
37:40
are you
37:41
going to
37:41
do
37:41
here?
37:45
And so
37:45
often in
37:46
these early
37:46
days,
37:47
it seems
37:48
that fear
37:49
is what
37:49
overwhelms
37:50
them.
37:50
Fear is
37:51
what almost
37:51
overcomes
37:52
each time.
37:54
And it's
37:55
so similar
37:56
to the
37:56
situation
37:57
where they
37:57
were in
37:58
chapter 4.
38:00
The Lord
38:00
had instructed
38:01
them to go
38:02
out in the
38:02
boat and
38:03
to make
38:04
their way
38:04
and they're
38:04
caught up
38:05
in a storm.
38:06
the Lord
38:07
was directing
38:08
them.
38:09
It's not
38:09
like a
38:10
Jonah
38:10
situation
38:11
where they're
38:11
running away
38:12
from the
38:13
Lord.
38:13
When the
38:14
Lord's told
38:15
him to do
38:15
something,
38:16
to go one
38:16
way,
38:17
and he
38:17
goes the
38:18
completely
38:18
opposite,
38:19
that's not
38:19
the situation
38:20
here.
38:20
They're doing
38:21
exactly what
38:22
they've been
38:22
told.
38:25
And still
38:26
a storm
38:27
comes.
38:28
They're
38:28
listening to
38:28
Jesus and
38:30
a storm
38:30
arises and
38:31
they're afraid
38:32
in the midst
38:33
of this
38:34
storm.
38:34
And it
38:36
would be
38:36
easy for
38:37
them to
38:37
blame him.
38:40
You've
38:41
sent us
38:41
this way.
38:42
You told
38:43
us to do
38:43
this and
38:44
we're doing
38:44
it and yet
38:44
still here
38:45
we are
38:45
caught in
38:46
a storm.
38:48
But what
38:48
you find
38:49
with the
38:49
disciples is
38:50
that so
38:50
often in
38:51
these early
38:51
experiences
38:52
they're
38:53
obedient to
38:54
the Lord
38:54
but the
38:55
Lord is
38:55
testing them.
38:57
The Lord
38:58
is discipling
38:59
them and
39:00
the Lord
39:00
is reminding
39:01
them of
39:01
their need
39:02
to depend
39:03
on him.
39:04
And the
39:05
same is
39:05
true for
39:06
ourselves.
39:08
If we
39:08
are to be
39:09
a people
39:09
of faith
39:10
there are
39:11
going to
39:11
be times
39:12
of fear,
39:13
times of
39:14
doubt,
39:15
times of
39:15
worry,
39:16
times of
39:16
testing.
39:17
They're
39:17
always going
39:18
to come.
39:20
Even when
39:20
we're doing
39:21
exactly what
39:21
the Lord
39:22
has told
39:22
us.
39:24
We can
39:24
be obedient
39:25
to God
39:26
and doing
39:26
everything
39:27
in his
39:28
will and
39:28
the way
39:28
he wants
39:29
us and
39:29
yet still
39:30
testing
39:31
comes.
39:33
And we
39:33
are thinking
39:33
am I
39:34
wrong?
39:35
Have I
39:35
done the
39:36
wrong thing?
39:37
Yes,
39:38
there are
39:38
times when
39:38
we do
39:39
and the
39:39
Lord will
39:39
teach us
39:40
in that
39:40
as well
39:41
but sometimes
39:42
when we're
39:42
obedient
39:42
testing
39:44
comes.
39:46
But it's
39:46
how we
39:46
respond
39:47
in that
39:48
testing.
39:50
Hardships
39:50
and trials
39:51
will come
39:51
but it's
39:52
not to
39:52
misunderstand
39:53
that we're
39:54
on the
39:54
wrong path.
39:57
The
39:57
Lord's
39:58
paths
39:58
aren't
39:59
always
39:59
easy
40:00
and the
40:02
Lord is
40:02
here
40:03
testing
40:03
the
40:04
disciples
40:05
testing
40:06
them to
40:07
see how
40:07
they respond
40:08
and how
40:08
they react
40:09
and what
40:09
they'll learn
40:10
in the
40:10
midst of
40:11
it but
40:11
the Lord
40:12
is with
40:12
them and
40:13
we'll come
40:14
to that
40:14
in a
40:14
moment.
40:17
But it's
40:17
the reality
40:17
of a life
40:18
of faith
40:19
and fear
40:19
together
40:20
is how
40:21
we respond
40:22
but the
40:23
Lord is
40:24
often teaching
40:25
us.
40:27
And if
40:27
you think
40:27
of different
40:28
career paths
40:29
in life,
40:31
if you
40:31
want to
40:31
be a
40:32
pilot,
40:32
an
40:32
aircraft
40:33
pilot,
40:34
if you
40:34
want to
40:34
go into
40:34
space or
40:35
if you
40:35
want to
40:35
go to
40:36
sea,
40:37
work on
40:37
ships,
40:38
there's
40:38
often times
40:40
in the
40:40
training where
40:41
you have
40:41
to be in
40:41
a simulator
40:42
and you
40:43
go into
40:44
a simulator
40:45
and it
40:45
simulates
40:46
a certain
40:46
situation.
40:48
It may
40:49
be you're
40:49
flying a
40:50
plane and
40:50
a bird
40:51
strike comes.
40:52
How are
40:52
you going
40:52
to deal
40:53
with it?
40:54
Well,
40:54
the simulator
40:55
is a
40:55
safe place
40:56
to learn
40:57
and you'll
40:58
get all
40:58
kinds of
40:59
issues being
41:00
thrown at
41:01
you.
41:01
So maybe
41:01
it's not
41:02
just one
41:02
issue.
41:03
It'll be
41:04
two or
41:04
three things
41:05
coming all
41:05
at once.
41:06
And how
41:06
do you
41:06
respond?
41:08
In a
41:08
simulator,
41:09
it's a
41:10
safe
41:10
environment.
41:11
Training
41:12
you to do
41:12
the right
41:13
thing if it
41:13
happens for
41:14
real.
41:16
And many
41:16
of the
41:16
situations go
41:17
beyond anything
41:18
you'll ever
41:19
see.
41:20
But it's
41:20
still good to
41:21
know how
41:22
to respond.
41:24
And you
41:24
could almost
41:25
look at this
41:25
simulator in
41:27
Jesus'
41:27
experience with
41:28
his disciples.
41:29
He's there
41:30
in a safe
41:30
environment with
41:31
them.
41:32
It's almost
41:32
like they're
41:33
learning to
41:33
ride their
41:34
bike but
41:34
the stabilizers
41:35
are on and
41:36
the parent is
41:37
alongside just
41:38
there to catch
41:39
when we
41:40
fall.
41:41
Well,
41:41
Jesus is here
41:42
putting them
41:43
on these
41:44
paths,
41:45
putting them
41:45
through these
41:46
testing times
41:47
because he's
41:48
preparing them
41:49
for when he's
41:50
not there with
41:51
them, when he
41:52
leaves them
41:52
to it.
41:55
Jesus is
41:56
going to go
41:56
away from
41:57
them.
41:58
He'd be at a
41:58
distance and
42:00
when he's not
42:00
there, how
42:01
will they
42:01
respond?
42:03
Of course,
42:04
he's always
42:04
there as we'll
42:05
see in a
42:05
moment as well.
42:07
But we are
42:07
to learn in
42:08
every situation
42:09
that we're
42:10
going through.
42:12
Trusting
42:12
Jesus is
42:14
what we
42:14
need.
42:15
As we go
42:16
on our own
42:17
paths, as we
42:18
go our own
42:19
way, as we
42:19
live a life
42:20
of faith,
42:21
doing what
42:21
the Lord
42:21
wants,
42:22
obedient to
42:23
him, know
42:25
that testings
42:26
will come,
42:29
that we need
42:29
to lean on
42:31
the Lord
42:31
and be
42:33
prepared through
42:34
learning through
42:35
his word,
42:35
through experience,
42:36
through the
42:37
experience of
42:38
others.
42:39
Even as James
42:40
says in his
42:41
letter,
42:42
consider it
42:43
pure joy,
42:43
my brothers,
42:44
whenever you
42:44
face trials
42:45
of many kinds
42:46
because you
42:47
know the
42:47
testing of
42:48
your faith
42:49
develops
42:49
perseverance.
42:51
And
42:51
perseverance
42:52
must finish
42:53
its work
42:53
so that you
42:54
may be
42:54
mature and
42:55
complete,
42:56
not lacking
42:57
in anything.
42:58
It's there
42:59
for us.
43:01
We're going
43:01
through the
43:02
fire,
43:02
testing,
43:04
but it's
43:04
for our
43:05
good.
43:06
To make us
43:07
mature and
43:08
complete,
43:09
not lacking
43:10
in anything.
43:11
are you
43:13
afraid of
43:15
what Jesus
43:15
might put
43:16
you through?
43:17
Are you
43:18
afraid of
43:18
what path
43:19
Jesus might
43:20
take you
43:20
down?
43:22
Well,
43:22
whatever it
43:23
is,
43:23
it's to be
43:23
obedient to
43:24
God.
43:25
It may be
43:25
a hard
43:26
path,
43:27
but be
43:28
obedient to
43:30
God and
43:31
follow the
43:32
way that he's
43:33
showing.
43:34
The Lord's
43:35
path is one
43:36
filled with
43:36
testing but
43:37
also teaching.
43:38
but above
43:40
all is the
43:41
path to
43:41
salvation and
43:43
to eternal
43:44
life.
43:47
So the
43:47
Lord's
43:48
path.
43:48
The second
43:49
thing we see
43:49
is the
43:49
Lord's
43:50
presence.
43:52
And we
43:52
have this
43:53
great assurance
43:54
here as
43:55
well, the
43:55
Lord's
43:56
presence.
43:58
And when we
43:58
look at this,
43:59
we do so
43:59
first of all
44:00
looking at the
44:01
situation where
44:02
we find the
44:03
Lord.
44:05
As he sent
44:06
them on,
44:07
he sent
44:07
them ahead
44:08
to the
44:08
other side
44:09
to Bethsaida,
44:10
he's dismissed
44:11
the crowd,
44:12
and he's
44:12
gone up the
44:13
mountain to
44:14
pray.
44:17
Jesus lets
44:17
the disciples
44:18
go, and
44:19
he goes to
44:21
pray.
44:24
Is he
44:24
leaving the
44:25
disciples?
44:27
Has he just
44:28
left them to
44:29
go?
44:30
Or is there
44:31
a reminder to
44:32
us here of
44:33
where he is
44:34
even now?
44:34
praying?
44:35
In the
44:37
gospel of
44:38
Mark, there
44:39
are three
44:39
times when
44:40
Jesus is
44:41
mentioned
44:42
praying.
44:43
In chapter
44:44
one, at the
44:45
beginning of
44:45
his ministry,
44:46
here in this
44:47
chapter, and
44:48
in chapter
44:48
14 in
44:49
Gethsemane,
44:51
in each he is
44:52
alone, in
44:53
each the
44:54
disciples are
44:54
in the
44:55
vicinity, and
44:57
in each they
44:58
do not
44:58
understand, or
45:00
they're afraid.
45:00
And yet
45:02
he's praying.
45:05
I wonder, was
45:06
he praying for
45:07
them?
45:09
We know in
45:09
John 17 that
45:11
Jesus prays for
45:12
his people, he
45:13
prays for us.
45:15
And you
45:15
wonder here if
45:16
that prayer that
45:17
he was offering
45:17
up was,
45:18
Father, teach
45:19
these disciples
45:20
through this
45:21
experience.
45:23
May they see
45:24
your glory.
45:26
May they know
45:27
your presence.
45:29
We don't know,
45:30
it's not recorded
45:31
for us.
45:32
But that prayer
45:33
in John 17
45:34
certainly makes
45:35
it clear to
45:36
us that he
45:37
prays for
45:38
his own.
45:41
And here we
45:42
have this
45:42
reminder too
45:43
for ourselves
45:44
that even we
45:45
are going
45:45
through times
45:47
of trial
45:48
and challenge.
45:50
Where is
45:50
he now?
45:52
He is at the
45:52
right hand of
45:53
God, and
45:54
what is he
45:55
doing?
45:55
He's making
45:55
intercession for
45:56
his people.
45:58
Even as we
45:59
offer up our
45:59
cries and our
46:00
prayers, Jesus
46:02
is the one
46:02
who is
46:03
interceding
46:04
for us.
46:06
And so he
46:06
was one who
46:07
prayed, showing
46:10
us our need
46:10
to pray, that
46:12
we are dependent
46:13
on God for
46:15
all things.
46:17
It's a lesson
46:18
and a reminder
46:19
to us, a
46:21
lesson to have
46:21
our own times
46:22
alone with the
46:23
Lord because we
46:24
do face all
46:25
these trials.
46:26
But it's to be
46:26
in the presence
46:27
of our Lord
46:28
as we do
46:29
so.
46:31
And it's a
46:31
reminder too
46:32
that as Jesus
46:33
was dependent
46:34
on the
46:34
Father, so
46:35
are we.
46:36
We do
46:37
nothing by
46:38
ourselves.
46:38
And that's a
46:39
reminder, but
46:40
it's also a
46:41
blessing.
46:42
We don't have
46:43
to face up to
46:44
anything by
46:44
ourselves.
46:45
Whatever it
46:46
is, we go
46:47
through it knowing
46:48
that there is
46:48
prayer there to
46:50
the Father in
46:50
heaven who is
46:51
able to help.
46:53
help.
46:55
And so it
46:55
seems he was
46:56
at a distance,
46:58
but he was
46:58
close, and
47:00
he is close to
47:01
us as well.
47:03
And even
47:04
though he had
47:04
sent his
47:05
disciples, he
47:06
had not
47:06
forgotten
47:07
them.
47:09
And you
47:10
see that in
47:10
verse 48.
47:12
He saw that
47:14
they were
47:14
making headway
47:15
painfully for
47:16
the wind was
47:17
against them.
47:18
He was aware.
47:19
He knew what
47:20
was happening
47:20
to them.
47:21
He knew their
47:21
situation.
47:22
like he knows
47:23
yours and
47:23
mine too.
47:24
He knows
47:25
everything that's
47:26
going on.
47:27
And he was
47:28
aware they
47:29
were in
47:29
trouble, and
47:30
he came to
47:31
their aid.
47:33
But isn't it
47:34
strange what it
47:35
says?
47:36
They were
47:37
making headway
47:38
painfully for
47:39
the wind was
47:39
against them, and
47:40
about the fourth
47:41
watch of the
47:41
night, he came
47:42
to them walking
47:43
on the sea.
47:45
He meant to
47:46
pass by them.
47:49
It seems a
47:49
bit odd.
47:50
He meant to
47:52
pass by them.
47:54
Had he
47:54
changed his
47:55
mind?
47:56
Had he
47:57
thought they're
47:57
being disobedient,
47:58
they're not
47:59
listening, I'm
47:59
just going to
48:00
go past them?
48:01
What was he
48:01
doing here?
48:02
Was he not
48:02
concerned about
48:04
them?
48:05
Or was there
48:06
more to this?
48:09
He made to
48:11
pass by them.
48:13
There was
48:14
revelation in
48:15
this.
48:16
they were to
48:17
see who he
48:18
was and what
48:20
he was doing.
48:22
Some people
48:23
have tried to
48:24
put this down
48:25
as the walking
48:26
on the sea,
48:26
that the
48:27
disciples were
48:29
tired, it was
48:29
late at night,
48:30
they thought they
48:31
saw him walking
48:31
on the sea, but
48:32
he was actually
48:32
on the land.
48:33
No.
48:35
Others have
48:35
said, oh, there
48:35
must have been a
48:36
shallow part, a
48:37
sandbar, the
48:39
water was very
48:39
shallow, he was
48:40
just walking on
48:41
that.
48:41
No.
48:42
He was walking
48:43
on the sea, and
48:46
he made to
48:46
pass by.
48:49
What was he
48:50
doing here?
48:50
He was showing
48:51
who it was that
48:52
was with them.
48:53
When you go
48:54
back to the
48:55
Old Testament,
48:56
to Exodus
48:56
33, verse 19
48:58
to 23, there
48:59
you see the
49:01
word pass by
49:02
used again, and
49:04
the phrase is
49:05
used to
49:06
describe God
49:07
revealing himself
49:08
to Moses as
49:09
he passed
49:10
by.
49:10
And here
49:13
is Jesus
49:13
making us
49:14
to pass
49:15
by, that
49:16
they might
49:17
see his
49:18
glory, that
49:19
they might
49:19
know who
49:20
it is that
49:21
is with
49:21
them, that
49:22
it's not
49:23
just on the
49:24
land he's
49:24
walking on,
49:25
on a
49:25
sandbar, that
49:26
Jesus has
49:27
power and
49:28
authority over
49:28
all things.
49:29
He is walking
49:30
on the water,
49:32
and he is
49:32
there for
49:33
them, and
49:34
then he
49:34
comes into
49:35
the boat
49:35
with them.
49:36
It's a
49:40
reminder to
49:41
the disciples,
49:42
they won't
49:42
always have
49:43
Jesus in a
49:44
physical way,
49:46
but that he's
49:47
always going to
49:48
be with them.
49:49
We have
49:50
God the
49:51
Lord on
49:52
our side.
49:52
Even as we
49:52
sang in
49:53
Psalm 23,
49:55
there's these
49:55
great words of
49:56
the Lord being
49:57
with his
49:57
people.
49:59
Verse 2
50:00
gives that
50:00
image of
50:01
the green
50:02
pastures and
50:03
the calm
50:04
waters, and
50:05
a lovely
50:05
calm setting.
50:07
But then
50:07
you have
50:07
verse 3
50:08
and 4
50:08
that remind
50:10
us that
50:10
even in
50:11
the valley
50:11
of the
50:11
shadow of
50:12
death, he
50:12
is there
50:13
for his
50:13
people.
50:15
His rod
50:15
and his
50:16
staff, they
50:16
comfort.
50:17
So the
50:18
Lord is
50:19
there.
50:22
God is
50:22
with us.
50:23
That's his
50:24
promise.
50:24
Never will
50:25
I leave
50:25
you, never
50:26
will I
50:27
forsake
50:27
you.
50:28
Thomas, when
50:29
he saw the
50:30
risen Lord,
50:30
he said he
50:31
would not
50:31
believe unless
50:32
he saw the
50:33
marks on his
50:34
hands and
50:34
the side.
50:35
But what
50:37
did Jesus
50:37
say to
50:38
him when
50:38
he believed?
50:40
Because you
50:40
have seen
50:41
me, you
50:41
have believed.
50:43
Blessed are
50:44
those who
50:44
have not
50:45
seen and
50:45
yet have
50:46
believed.
50:47
Do these
50:48
things make
50:49
you afraid
50:49
of Jesus?
50:52
He can't
50:53
walk on
50:53
water, he
50:54
can't feed
50:54
5,000, he
50:56
can't calm
50:56
a storm, the
50:58
wind and the
50:58
waves.
50:59
Well, he
50:59
can.
51:00
That's the
51:01
truth we
51:01
hear.
51:03
But do we
51:03
believe it?
51:05
That's the
51:06
question.
51:08
So the
51:09
Lord's
51:09
presence is
51:11
there for
51:12
us.
51:12
What a
51:12
wonderful
51:13
assurance we
51:13
have that
51:14
he is
51:14
there for
51:15
his people.
51:18
And he
51:18
is there
51:19
for you.
51:21
Do not
51:21
be afraid,
51:23
but believe.
51:25
Believe in
51:27
the Lord
51:27
Jesus.
51:28
Jesus.
51:30
Well, the
51:30
third and
51:30
final thing
51:31
we see
51:32
here is
51:32
the Lord's
51:33
prompting.
51:35
The Lord's
51:36
prompting.
51:36
Fear can
51:37
often lead
51:38
us to
51:38
missing
51:39
what's
51:39
important.
51:42
And the
51:42
disciples
51:43
here, yes,
51:44
they were
51:45
terrified, but
51:46
Jesus spoke
51:46
to them there
51:47
in verse 50
51:48
saying,
51:49
take heart,
51:49
it is I,
51:50
do not be
51:51
afraid.
51:52
The Lord
51:52
prompts them
51:53
here.
51:54
You fear
51:55
so much,
51:55
you're afraid
51:56
even of me.
51:57
Do not
51:58
be afraid.
51:59
See who
52:00
it is.
52:01
It is I.
52:02
I am.
52:03
I am the
52:04
Lord who
52:05
is with
52:05
you.
52:06
And he's
52:06
prompting
52:07
them in
52:08
their hearts
52:08
to believing.
52:10
Take
52:10
heart.
52:13
And they
52:13
were astounded,
52:14
utterly
52:15
astounded,
52:15
it says
52:16
there in
52:16
verse 51.
52:19
And they
52:19
were growing
52:20
in their
52:20
knowledge of
52:21
Jesus and
52:22
their
52:23
understanding
52:23
of who
52:24
he is.
52:25
we may
52:27
be believers
52:28
in our
52:28
hearts,
52:29
but our
52:30
hearts are
52:30
still hardened
52:31
at times,
52:32
as we see
52:33
here in
52:33
verse 52.
52:35
Our hearts
52:36
are hardened
52:36
by things
52:37
that go on
52:38
and our
52:38
experience
52:39
and our
52:40
own
52:40
sinfulness.
52:41
All of
52:42
these things
52:42
leave us
52:43
hardened,
52:44
but we
52:44
should be
52:44
utterly
52:44
astounded
52:45
by what
52:47
God is
52:47
saying to
52:48
us.
52:49
We don't
52:50
always
52:50
understand,
52:52
but here
52:52
is Jesus,
52:53
the Son of
52:54
God,
52:54
revealing
52:54
himself
52:55
to us.
52:58
He had
52:59
come to
52:59
them,
52:59
as it
53:00
says here,
53:00
by walking
53:01
on the
53:01
sea.
53:02
And Psalm
53:03
77,
53:04
verse 19,
53:04
it says
53:05
there,
53:05
your way
53:06
was through
53:06
the sea,
53:07
your path
53:08
through the
53:08
great waters,
53:09
yet your
53:10
footprints
53:10
were unseen.
53:13
It's
53:13
almost like
53:14
for this
53:14
occasion,
53:15
that Psalm
53:16
footprints
53:17
they couldn't
53:18
see,
53:18
but he
53:19
was there
53:19
with them.
53:21
The Lord
53:21
is prompting
53:22
them,
53:24
prompting
53:24
them through
53:24
his word
53:25
and through
53:25
his presence
53:26
to lean
53:28
upon him,
53:29
to not
53:30
be afraid,
53:31
but to
53:32
listen to
53:33
him.
53:34
And this
53:35
was not
53:35
just a
53:35
word for
53:36
this one
53:38
occasion.
53:40
Take
53:40
heart,
53:41
as I do
53:41
not be
53:42
afraid,
53:42
was for
53:43
this day
53:43
onwards.
53:45
And his
53:46
promise to
53:47
always be
53:48
with them
53:49
and to be
53:50
with all
53:50
his people,
53:51
for all
53:52
their future,
53:54
all their
53:54
eternity,
53:56
he would
53:56
be there
53:56
with them.
54:00
But when
54:00
we look at
54:01
Jesus,
54:01
he has
54:02
our future
54:03
proofed
54:03
entirely.
54:05
For any
54:06
change,
54:06
for anything
54:06
that comes
54:07
our way,
54:07
he's got
54:08
it covered.
54:09
He is
54:09
ever
54:10
enough.
54:12
There is
54:13
no situation
54:14
that arises
54:14
that's out of
54:15
his control.
54:16
There's no
54:16
time in
54:17
our life
54:17
that we
54:18
go through
54:18
that he's
54:18
not there
54:19
for us.
54:19
Everything
54:20
is there,
54:21
whether it's
54:21
personally,
54:22
collectively,
54:24
even as we
54:24
think of the
54:24
world in
54:25
which we
54:25
live in,
54:26
the chaos
54:26
that we
54:26
see all
54:27
around us,
54:28
he is
54:28
still enough.
54:30
He is
54:31
all we
54:32
need.
54:34
He alone
54:35
is to
54:35
be our
54:36
hope,
54:37
our refuge,
54:38
our security,
54:39
all of
54:40
these things.
54:43
And yet
54:43
still,
54:45
we're
54:45
afraid.
54:48
We're
54:48
afraid
54:49
what people
54:50
might say,
54:51
what people
54:51
might think.
54:53
We're
54:53
afraid of
54:54
letting him
54:54
down.
54:54
We're
54:55
afraid of
54:55
going
54:56
forward
54:56
in
54:57
faith
54:57
because
54:58
we're
54:58
fearful.
55:01
It's
55:02
better to
55:02
be afraid
55:03
of the
55:04
consequences
55:05
of naught
55:06
and to
55:07
come
55:08
and follow
55:09
him.
55:12
He
55:12
says,
55:13
take heart
55:14
at his
55:14
eye.
55:15
Do not
55:16
be afraid.
55:16
And he
55:18
speaks that
55:19
word to
55:20
us today
55:20
as well.
55:22
Don't be
55:23
afraid to
55:24
follow
55:24
Jesus.
55:26
The paths
55:27
may not
55:27
always be
55:28
straightforward,
55:29
but it's
55:30
better to be
55:30
on his
55:31
path,
55:32
the narrow
55:33
way that
55:33
leads to
55:34
eternal life
55:35
and the
55:35
broad road
55:35
that leads
55:36
to destruction.
55:38
You have
55:38
the promise
55:39
of his
55:40
presence.
55:41
presence.
55:42
He sees,
55:43
he knows,
55:44
he prays,
55:45
and he's
55:46
with you.
55:49
And that
55:49
is what he
55:50
is prompting
55:50
us with
55:51
today,
55:52
to go
55:53
his way,
55:54
to follow
55:55
him,
55:55
not to be
55:56
afraid,
55:57
but to
55:57
have faith
55:58
and to
56:00
go with
56:00
him.
56:02
Are you
56:03
good at
56:03
listening?
56:06
Because
56:06
God the
56:07
Lord is
56:07
speaking,
56:09
and we
56:09
are to
56:10
follow him.
56:11
Let's
56:12
pray.
56:16
Lord,
56:17
our
56:17
gracious
56:17
God,
56:18
we thank
56:18
you that
56:19
your word
56:20
is a
56:20
living word,
56:21
and we
56:21
pray that
56:22
you will
56:22
take it to
56:23
our hearts
56:24
today,
56:25
and that
56:25
you will
56:25
apply these
56:26
truths of
56:27
our need
56:27
to listen,
56:28
even in the
56:29
midst of
56:29
our fear
56:30
and our
56:31
anxieties
56:31
and all
56:32
that troubles
56:32
us,
56:34
that,
56:34
Lord,
56:34
we would
56:34
come to
56:35
recognize
56:35
that you
56:36
are with
56:36
us,
56:37
and that
56:37
you are
56:38
for us.
56:39
So help
56:39
us to
56:40
be a
56:40
people of
56:41
faith,
56:42
leaning upon
56:42
you for
56:43
all of
56:43
these things,
56:44
as we
56:45
ask it
56:45
in Jesus'
56:46
name.
56:47
Amen.
56:51
We're
56:51
going to
56:52
conclude by
56:53
singing in
56:53
Psalm 34.
56:56
We'll sing
56:57
from verse
56:57
8 to
56:58
11.
56:58
Psalm 34.
57:06
Come
57:07
taste and
57:09
see the
57:10
Lord is
57:10
good,
57:10
who
57:11
trusts in
57:11
him,
57:12
is
57:12
blessed.
57:13
Oh,
57:13
fear the
57:13
Lord,
57:14
your
57:14
saints
57:14
with
57:14
need,
57:15
you
57:15
will
57:15
not
57:15
be
57:16
oppressed.
57:17
Then
57:18
verse 11,
57:18
it says,
57:19
come here,
57:20
my children,
57:20
gather round
57:21
and listen
57:22
to my
57:23
word,
57:24
and I
57:24
will help
57:25
you understand
57:26
how you
57:26
may fear
57:27
the Lord.
57:28
We'll sing
57:29
from verse
57:29
8 to 11,
57:30
we stand
57:30
to sing
57:31
to God's
57:32
praise.
57:32
Amen.
57:33
The Lord is true, you trust in His best.
57:48
Oh, fear the Lord, you saints with me, you will not be offended.
58:01
And thy odds may grow weak and faint and hunger for their good.
58:15
But those who wait upon the Lord will not lack any good.
58:28
Come here, my children, gather round and listen to my word.
58:43
And I will help you understand how you may fear the Lord.
58:56
Amen.
58:58
After the benediction, I'll go to the main door.
59:01
We'll close the benediction.
59:03
Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.
59:12
Amen.
59:13
Amen.
59:13
dethъ
59:29
Amen.
59:13
Thank you.
59:43
Thank you.