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What's Your Motivation? · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise. We're going to sing in Psalm 27,
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the Sing Psalms Version, page 32 of the psalm books. Psalm 27, the Sing Psalms Version, page 32.
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We're going to sing from verse 7 down to the end of the psalm and the tune is Belmont.
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Lord, hear me when I call to you, be merciful and speak. Come seek my face, you told my heart.
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Your face, Lord, I will seek. We'll sing from verse 7 down to the end of the psalm to God's praise.
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Come seek my face, you told my heart. Your face, Lord, I will seek.
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Oh, do not hide your face from me.
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Don't do not turn aside.
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Your servant in your righteous wrath.
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Oh, God, my Savior, leave me not.
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Do not reject my plea.
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My parents may forsake me, Lord,
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But you will welcome me.
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Teach me, O Lord, how I should live,
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And lead me in your way.
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Make straight my path, because my foes
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Oppress me every day.
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Give me not over to the will of the evil and enemy.
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For liars' price to slander me,
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And without cruel deeds.
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Yet I am sure that in this life,
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What goodness I will see.
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Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart.
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For him wait patiently.
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Let's join together in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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O Lord, our gracious God, as we come to worship you today, we thank you to be able to come in the great invitation that you have given us.
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The invitation that we have sung from your word here, come and seek my face you have told us.
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And so we come, O Lord, seeking your blessing on our time together, on your word to us, and on all that we do.
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May it be for your glory.
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We thank you for your day.
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We thank you for your day.
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We thank you that you have given us a day in the week to use for this very purpose, to come, to gather together as your people, to gather together, young and old alike, to come and give up our praise to you, offer our prayers to you, and to hear your word and what it says to us.
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And we thank you for every opportunity we have.
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We thank you for the freedom that we have and the peace that we have to enjoy these things.
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We thank you that at this time of year we enjoy a time of holiday, and we thank you for the school holidays just now.
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We pray for our children and the teachers.
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We pray for everyone who hasn't had a busy year that they would enjoy a break now.
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We thank you for the Sunday school and for all that was done in the last year as well with the prize giving last week.
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We thank you for all the children who have attended so regularly.
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And we pray that they will still come to church over the summer holidays to come and continue to hear your word.
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We pray, Lord, that you will refresh both the schoolteachers and Sunday schoolteachers alike over the summer months, that you will be with them and watch over families who come and go on holiday times.
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And who do different things over these summer weeks.
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We pray, Lord, that you will protect us and keep us.
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We pray above all, Lord, that we will know that you are with us, that no matter what day it is or what time it is or what time of year it is, that you have promised that you will be with us always.
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And so we thank you for that.
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And may we know it.
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And may it continue to help us to live our lives day by day for you.
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So continue with us in our worship now.
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Guide us and keep us.
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And pardon all our sins for Jesus' sake.
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Amen.
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It's good to see some of the young ones here today.
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I know a lot will be away on holiday just now as well.
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And I hope you do have a great summer holiday.
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But I wonder if in the last few weeks anyone was at the circus.
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I saw a headline in a paper, the Gazette, saying that the circus came to tongue.
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And I know a lot of young people went along to the circus.
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And I wonder what you saw at the circus.
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Maybe you saw clowns.
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Maybe you saw acts taking place that were quite funny and lots of different things.
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But very often in a circus, when we think back, circuses often had animals that would come along as well.
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So I don't know if there was any animals at the circus in tongue.
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Tongue itself is full of enough wild animals without the circus bringing even more.
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But I know in the past they used to take animals to circus.
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And it reminds me of a story I heard about a minister who once took his child to the circus.
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And during the circus they had the same kind of acts with clowns coming in and doing funny things.
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But this circus also had animals that they brought in.
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And one of the animals was an elephant.
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A big elephant.
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And as one of the clowns, the last act that was on, when he was doing his funny stuff,
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he had this big hat on, on his head.
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He was a wee clown but he had a really big hat on his head.
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And at the end of his part, when he was finished his act, he bowed in front of the crowd.
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And as he bowed, his hat fell off.
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And what happened to the hat?
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The elephant sat on his hat.
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And it wouldn't move.
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So he tried all kinds of different things to try and get his hat back.
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He started making arm movements at the elephant to get up.
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The elephant never budged.
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He started shouting at the elephant to get up.
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And it never budged.
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And then what he did was he went round the back of the elephant and tried to kick it to see if it would move.
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And he only hurt his foot.
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The elephant still wouldn't move.
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And so the clown came back round and just started shouting and bawling for the elephant to get up.
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But the elephant just wouldn't move.
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So the clown gave up.
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He went to the side and he sat down.
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And then he started to eat some peanuts.
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And all of a sudden, the elephant got up and started walking towards the clown
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because the elephant wanted some of his peanuts.
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And the elephant sat in front of him and started making a movement to show that he wanted some peanuts.
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And then it dawned on the clown and realized,
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all I had to do was offer the elephant some peanuts and he would have got up.
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But the minister who was there with his child realized there was a powerful lesson there for him as well.
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When we are thinking about people all around us and we think about how we motivate people to do things,
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how do we get people to do things?
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Do we just shout and scream or kick out in anger at them?
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That's not what's going to work.
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The minister realized that we have something to offer people to make them realize the greatest gift of all
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and to come and seek this gift themselves.
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He realized our greatest motivation for others to come and know and enjoy what we have is to show them,
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not shouting and bawling and screaming at them, but to show them love, to show them compassion,
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to show them what we have to offer them.
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This clown offered the elephant a peanut and he got up off his hat and he got his hat back.
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And I think when we show that same love to people, when we show that same compassion to people,
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when we show them the love of Christ and the wonder of the gospel that we have,
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that is what will stir people up to come and put their trust in the Lord Jesus.
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So, the clown learned a lesson, the minister learned a lesson,
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and let us all learn a lesson too, that we would show a love for the people around us,
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to make them interested in and long for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Well, may God bless these thoughts to us.
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We're going to say the Lord's Prayer together now.
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We'll say the Lord's Prayer.
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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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Well, let's again sing to God's praise this time in Psalm 85 in the Singed Psalms.
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Psalm 85.
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We'll find this on page 113.
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We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 9 on the tune of Ebenezer.
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In times past, Lord, you showed favour to your own beloved land,
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the prosperity of Jacob, you restored by your strong hand.
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We'll sing from verse 1 to 9 to God's praise.
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Amen.
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In times past, Lord, you showed favour to your own beloved land,
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the prosperity of Jacob, you restored by your strong hand.
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In times past, Lord, you showed favour to your own beloved land,
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the prosperity of Jacob, you restored by your strong hand.
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You restored by your strong hand.
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You restored by your strong hand.
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You forgive your people's trespass,
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you were pleased their sins to hide.
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You were pleased their sins to hide.
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You withdrew all your displeasure,
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from your wrath you turned aside.
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God our Saviour, now restore us.
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From us turn away your rage.
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Will your anger burn against us?
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Will it last from age to age?
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Will you not again revive us,
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that we may rejoice in you?
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Show us, Lord, your covenant mercy,
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your salvation grant anew.
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I will hear what God the Lord says,
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to his saints he offers peace.
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But his people must not wander,
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and return to foolishness.
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Surely for all those who fear him,
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his salvation is at hand,
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so that once again his glory,
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may be seen within our hands.
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Lord, your God, your God, your God, your God, your God.
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We'll turn to read in God's word in the New Testament,
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in 1 Thessalonians.
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1 Thessalonians, reading in chapter 2.
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We'll read from verse 1 down to verse 16.
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1 Thessalonians chapter 2.
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1 Thessalonians chapter 2.
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1 Thessalonians chapter 2.
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1 Thessalonians chapter 3.
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1 Thessalonians chapter 3.
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1 Thessalonians chapter 3.
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2 Thessalonians chapter 3.
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2 Thessalonians chapter 5.
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3 Thessalonians chapter 4.
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3 Thessalonians chapter 5.
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4 Thessalonians chapter 5.
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5 Thessalonians chapter 5.
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5 Thessalonians chapter 5.
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we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God,
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but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
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For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil.
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We worked night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you,
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while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
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You are witnesses, and God also.
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How holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct towards you believers.
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For you know how, like a father with his children,
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we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you,
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and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God,
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who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
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We also thank God constantly for this,
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that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us,
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you accepted it not as the word of men,
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but as what it really is, the word of God,
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which is at work in you believers.
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For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus
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that are in Judea.
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For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen,
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as they did from the Jews,
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who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets,
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and drove us out,
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and displeased God and opposed all mankind,
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by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles,
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that they might be saved.
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So as always, to fill up the measure of their sins.
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But God's wrath has come upon them at last.
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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's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
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Amen.
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O Lord, our God, as we continue to seek your face,
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we thank you for your word which speaks to us.
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We thank you for what we have read,
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and as we come to open it up together,
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may you prepare our hearts to receive it.
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May you prepare our hearts to understand it
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and to be changed by it.
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For we know that we can often outwardly hear the word,
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and outwardly we can seek to do so many things for you.
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But unless that comes from a sincere and a pure heart,
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then we are lacking in so much.
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And we thank you that you are the God
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who is so able to transform us,
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that we read in your word how you are the God
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who is there to save his people.
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And we thank you that you are the same God today
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as always and ever will be,
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the one who is able to save
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and to save all who will come to you.
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And we thank you that your word is a word
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that continues to go out to people,
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that the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ
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is heard far and wide.
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We may not see it received by all people,
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but we thank you that it does go out
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and that it has power, for it is your word,
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and you are the power behind it.
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And so we pray that even today,
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as your word is proclaimed around the world,
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that it will be heard and received
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and received with great gladness.
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We thank you that your word tells us
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that in heaven there is rejoicing
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over one sinner who repents.
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And we pray that there be much rejoicing
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in heaven today,
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not just for one sinner, but for many,
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many who would turn from their ways
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and turn to Christ
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and know that great joy of salvation.
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And so we pray, Lord,
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that your word, as it goes out today,
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as it's preached, as it's received,
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even here in our own midst,
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that you would be behind it all,
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that your spirit would be with us
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to work in us and through us.
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We thank you for one another, Lord.
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We thank you for the words that we have read
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that remind us of the great blessing
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and privilege there is
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in being gathered together as your church,
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as your people.
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We thank you that these are
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such wonderful opportunities for us,
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that they are opportunities
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that we are to take with great joy
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and gladness that we can come,
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come together and worship you.
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And we thank you for all
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who are here in the building.
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We pray your blessing on us, each one.
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We thank you for all who tune in online
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as well, those unable to come out
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to be with us.
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We pray, Lord, your blessing on them,
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that they will know that they are part
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of the body of Christ.
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We pray for those who will maybe hear this
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at some point in the future,
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maybe even in all corners of the world
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as we think of the way
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that the internet has enabled us
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to reach out with the gospel
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in ways that we never imagined before.
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We thank you, Lord, for these opportunities.
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And we pray for people far and wide
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in very different circumstances.
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We come in here in peace,
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but we know that throughout the world
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there is much heartache and trouble and pain.
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There is persecution that is rife
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in so many parts of the world.
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And yet we thank you
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that the gospel still goes out.
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And we pray, Lord, for your people far and wide,
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those who suffer so much
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at the hand of cruel rulers
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or oppressors of different kinds.
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We pray, Lord, that you will surround your people,
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that you will hold them in their suffering,
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that you will be near to them and remind them,
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even as Paul and Silas,
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who we have read of here,
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as they were beaten for their faith,
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yet they knew that God was with them
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and they knew the gospel hope.
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We pray that that might be the case
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for your people far and wide today,
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that they would know the God of all grace
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and mercy with them.
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We do thank you, Lord,
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for every endeavor of our church
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to reach out with the gospel.
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We pray even for this week ahead
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and for the summer season,
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as we think of all the activities
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that are going on.
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We thank you that there is the free church camps
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that have started already
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and going on over the summer months.
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We pray your blessing on them
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upon all who gather there,
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who travel for them,
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who lead them,
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and who attend them.
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Give them safety.
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Give them your presence.
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Give them to know that you are with them,
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that you will surround them at all times.
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We pray for the camp
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that we have been linked with,
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the Kin Craig camp,
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starting next Saturday.
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We pray, Lord,
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your blessing on it
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upon all the leaders
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and the campers who attend.
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Surround them with your love
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and with your grace.
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We thank you too, Lord,
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for the holiday club
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that we look forward to,
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God willing,
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in the end of the month
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and into August.
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We pray for all the preparation
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being made for that,
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that you will be with
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everyone who is helping with it
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in all different kinds of ways.
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And above all, Lord,
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as we pray for it,
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we pray to know your blessing on it,
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to know the blessing
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upon our young people
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as they gather for it.
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We pray too, Lord,
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for the weekly activities,
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the meetings for prayer.
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Remember Muriel,
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as we'll be able to meet with her on Tuesday.
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We pray for her,
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continue to remember her
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and the work that she is involved in in Cambodia.
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We commit her to your care
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and to your keeping.
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Remember the meetings for prayer
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and worship throughout the week
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and the Friday at the freeze
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and all the different activities going on.
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Help us to surround them all with prayer
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and praise.
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Much thanksgiving to you
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for these opportunities
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and these times
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when we are able to serve you
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in so many different ways.
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We pray, Lord,
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your encouragement in it
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to see people coming,
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not just to see a building here
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or to see the people,
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but to experience the wonder of God,
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to experience a meeting with Jesus Christ,
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to experience the Holy Spirit
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and the power that there is with him.
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So we pray, Lord,
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that in all things
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we will seek your face,
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even as we have been instructed to,
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asking your blessing on it.
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Remember us in our homes
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and in our families too.
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We remember those
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who have lost loved ones
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even in this past week.
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We continue to commit them
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to your care
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and to your keeping.
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The families of Ian McKenzie
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and Ian McFarlane
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and Mary MacArthur,
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we commit them to you, O Lord,
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asking you to surround them,
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to be near to them,
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to uphold them at all times,
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that they would know your grace
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and your help
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in times of need.
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Remember those
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who are unwell
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as well in hospital,
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in homes or at home.
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We pray, Lord,
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that you will help them
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to know your hand
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upon them for good.
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Remember us, Lord,
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we pray
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as we commit ourselves
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into your hands.
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Lord, we thank you
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that we can come
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any time of day or night
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knowing that you hear us,
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knowing that you are there for us,
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that you are with us.
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So, Lord,
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hear our prayers,
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continue with us
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as we commit
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all these things to you,
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asking in all things
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forgiveness for all our sins
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and shortcomings,
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thankful for the forgiveness
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that is found in Christ Jesus.
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And may we know
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what it is to seek him
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and to know his blessing
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and his peace with us.
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For we ask all things
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in Jesus' precious name,
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for his sake and glory.
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Amen.
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We're going to sing again
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to God's praise
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in Psalm 122,
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the Scottish Psalter version,
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Psalm 122.
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Find this on page 416
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of the psalm books.
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We'll sing from verse 1
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to verse 6
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in the tune of Jackson.
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I joyed when to the house of God
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go up,
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they said to me,
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Jerusalem within thy gates
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our feet
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shall standing be.
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We'll sing from verse 1
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to 6
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to God's praise.
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Amen.
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I joyed when to the house of God
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go up,
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Jerusalem within thy gates
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our feet shall standing be.
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Jerusalem,
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as a city is,
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compactly built together,
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unto that place
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the tribes go up,
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the tribes of God,
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God with unless
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to fall.
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Jesus
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To Israel,
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can単 sin in to God
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oıyor before,
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there to God's name
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thanks to pay.
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For thrones of judgment
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in the thrones of day,
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of David's eyes
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dare stay.
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Pray that
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Jerusalem
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may have
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peace and
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felicity.
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Let them
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that love
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thee and
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thy peace
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have still
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prosperity.
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Well we can
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turn back to our passage
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we read in 1 Thessalonians chapter
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2. Our focus
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is going to be on verse 1 to verse 8.
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We can read again at verse
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3.
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But our appeal does not spring
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from error or impurity or any
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attempt to deceive.
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But just as we have been approved
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by God to be entrusted with
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the gospel, so we speak
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not to please man, but to
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please God who
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tests our hearts.
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Our lives are
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full of routines
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of all the things that we do.
31:22
So much of our lives is full of
31:24
different routines.
31:26
But how often do we stop
31:28
and ask ourselves
31:30
why am I doing this?
31:32
What is the reason
31:34
behind what I am doing?
31:36
What is my motivation
31:39
in doing what I am doing?
31:41
Very often we can just
31:43
go on in life as it were
31:44
on automatic pilot.
31:46
Just going through all the different
31:48
routines without
31:50
without actually pausing for a moment
31:52
and asking ourselves
31:53
why am I doing this?
31:55
Just think of some of the things
31:57
that you do
31:58
on a regular basis.
32:00
Going to school.
32:02
Why do you do that?
32:03
I'm sure many of the young people
32:04
ask that question
32:05
every morning.
32:06
Why am I bothering
32:07
going to school?
32:08
What's the point?
32:10
What's our motivation
32:11
in doing it?
32:12
Is there a purpose
32:13
in it or is it just
32:14
because I have to do it?
32:16
I'm told
32:17
I have to do it.
32:19
But then it can be the same
32:20
when it comes to work.
32:22
When we're doing work
32:23
and going to work
32:24
we ask ourselves
32:25
what's the purpose
32:26
in my going?
32:28
Is there a purpose
32:29
behind it
32:30
or am I doing it
32:31
just because
32:32
I have to do it?
32:34
Then there's other activities
32:36
that we're involved in
32:37
maybe throughout
32:38
the week
32:38
different things we do.
32:40
Some are for pleasure
32:41
some are because
32:42
we have to as well
32:43
but what's our motivation
32:45
in it?
32:45
if we're working on sheep
32:48
if we're going fishing
32:49
if we're cooking a meal
32:50
if we're decorating the house
32:52
all these different things
32:54
the list goes on.
32:56
Why are we doing it?
32:57
What's our motivation?
33:00
Or what about
33:01
coming to church
33:02
or serving in the church?
33:06
Why are we doing it?
33:07
What's the purpose in it?
33:09
Is it more that
33:10
we see a purpose in it
33:12
that's a motivation for us
33:14
or is it more
33:15
that we just feel
33:16
that we have to do it?
33:20
What can make
33:20
all the difference
33:21
in all of these situations?
33:26
Our day-to-day lives
33:28
our worship of God
33:31
our serving God
33:33
what can make
33:34
all the difference
33:35
in these things?
33:37
a love
33:39
for what we are doing
33:41
and why we are doing it.
33:44
And as we turn
33:46
to the scriptures
33:47
we find
33:48
so often
33:49
throughout God's word
33:51
God's people
33:52
going through
33:52
different times
33:54
and experiences
33:55
where
33:55
their motivation
33:57
is maybe lost
33:58
and where they have to
34:00
again ask themselves
34:01
why are we doing
34:03
the things
34:04
that we are doing?
34:05
There are other times
34:06
in the scriptures
34:07
where you clearly see
34:09
the motivation
34:10
in doing what they are doing
34:11
is because of a love
34:13
for God
34:14
and it's that latter
34:16
experience
34:17
that we want to have
34:18
at all times.
34:20
If you were just
34:21
to go back
34:22
to the Old Testament
34:23
to the book of Malachi
34:24
there
34:25
in that book
34:27
you see God's people
34:28
who have
34:28
become stuck
34:30
in a rut
34:30
in so many ways.
34:32
their lives
34:34
and their worship
34:35
has become
34:35
a sense of just
34:37
going through
34:38
the motions
34:39
doing it
34:41
because
34:42
they have to
34:43
doing it
34:44
out
34:44
of a sense
34:46
of duty.
34:48
But if in all
34:49
that we are doing
34:50
we are just doing it
34:51
out of a sense
34:51
of duty
34:52
all we end up doing
34:54
is giving
34:55
the bare minimum.
34:58
But if we do it
34:59
out of a sense
35:00
of devotion
35:01
if we do it
35:02
in a sense
35:03
of delight
35:04
then that will
35:06
move us
35:06
from giving
35:07
the bare minimum
35:08
to giving
35:10
our all.
35:12
Doing all
35:12
as
35:13
to the Lord.
35:16
And here
35:16
in the book
35:17
of Thessalonians
35:18
as Paul
35:19
is writing
35:20
these letters
35:20
to the church
35:21
at Thessalonica
35:22
this first letter
35:24
he was writing
35:25
to them
35:25
to encourage them
35:26
to strengthen them
35:28
and to help them
35:29
go on in life
35:30
and serving
35:31
the Lord
35:31
not out of a sense
35:32
of duty
35:34
and the purpose
35:35
being well I've just
35:35
got to do this
35:37
but an encouragement
35:39
for them to carry on
35:40
and go on doing this
35:42
in delight.
35:44
Delighting
35:44
in knowing
35:45
what they are doing
35:46
why they are doing it
35:47
and who
35:48
they are doing it for.
35:50
Knowing that they are
35:51
doing it
35:51
for the Lord Jesus
35:53
who has done
35:54
all for them.
35:56
and so
35:58
he comes
35:59
to encourage them
36:01
to encourage the people
36:02
to live
36:04
as examples.
36:06
It's a letter
36:07
of encouragement
36:08
and he says
36:09
in chapter 1
36:11
as he is
36:11
introducing them
36:13
in chapter 1
36:15
he is saying
36:15
their faith
36:16
is a great example
36:18
to others.
36:19
He says in verse 7
36:20
of chapter 1
36:21
so that you became
36:22
an example
36:23
to all the believers
36:25
in Macedonia
36:26
and in Achaia
36:27
for not only
36:28
has the word
36:29
of the Lord
36:29
sounded forth
36:30
from you
36:31
in Macedonia
36:31
and Achaia
36:32
but your faith
36:33
in God
36:34
has gone forth
36:34
everywhere
36:35
so that we need
36:36
not say anything.
36:38
They don't even
36:39
have to tell others
36:40
around this area
36:41
about their faith
36:43
because their example
36:44
how they have lived
36:45
has already gone
36:46
before them.
36:47
They are known
36:48
for their love
36:50
of God
36:51
and that is
36:52
a wonderful
36:53
example to us
36:55
as to what we
36:55
should aim
36:56
to be as well.
36:58
The people of God
36:59
who are examples
37:01
to others
37:02
all around us
37:03
that people
37:04
would speak
37:05
of our love
37:06
for Christ
37:07
and so that
37:08
in all the ways
37:09
that we serve God
37:10
we would do it
37:11
not just out of
37:12
a sense of duty
37:13
or to please
37:14
somebody else
37:16
but out of
37:17
devotion
37:17
for the Lord
37:19
and in a congregation
37:21
that can become
37:22
so busy
37:23
in different things
37:24
and as we think
37:24
of all the activities
37:25
going on
37:26
and that are
37:27
to go on
37:28
even over the
37:29
summer months
37:30
what we do
37:31
we do out of
37:32
devotion
37:33
and delight
37:33
and that would
37:34
make all
37:35
the difference
37:36
that people
37:37
would then speak
37:38
of the faith
37:40
and love
37:40
of the people
37:41
in this place
37:42
that they would
37:43
speak of Christ
37:45
who we are sharing
37:46
with others
37:47
that they would
37:48
see us
37:49
as an example
37:50
to be for others
37:52
and that is why
37:54
Paul was writing
37:56
to the Thessalonians
37:57
to encourage them
37:58
and in chapter 2
38:00
what he does
38:01
is he shows
38:02
his own
38:03
motivations
38:04
in what he has done
38:06
that it might
38:07
motivate them
38:08
and he says
38:10
in verse 1
38:11
that their coming
38:11
to them
38:12
was not in vain
38:13
for you yourselves
38:15
know brothers
38:16
that are coming
38:16
to you
38:17
was not
38:18
in vain
38:19
but
38:20
and so he goes on
38:21
and he explains
38:23
why it was not
38:24
in vain
38:25
and he explains
38:26
the kind of
38:27
motivations
38:28
that are behind
38:29
everything that he
38:30
is doing
38:31
and everything
38:32
that's behind
38:33
what they should
38:34
the motivations
38:34
that should be behind
38:35
what they are doing
38:36
as well
38:37
and even for ourselves
38:39
what our own
38:40
motivations
38:41
are
38:42
so there are
38:43
three motivations
38:45
here that Paul
38:46
outlines
38:47
three motivations
38:48
to take for ourselves
38:49
as well
38:51
the first one
38:51
is this
38:52
the gospel
38:53
motivates
38:55
the gospel
38:57
motivates
38:58
in verse 2
39:00
but though we had
39:01
already suffered
39:02
and been shamefully
39:03
treated at Philippi
39:04
as you know
39:05
we had boldness
39:06
in our God
39:07
to declare to you
39:09
the gospel
39:10
of God
39:11
the gospel
39:13
is the great
39:14
motivation
39:15
here
39:16
it is for Paul
39:18
it is for the church
39:19
of Thessalonica
39:20
it is for ourselves
39:22
the gospel
39:23
is the great
39:24
motivation
39:25
the gospel
39:27
of God
39:28
the gospel
39:30
of good news
39:31
the gospel
39:31
that comes
39:32
even in the midst
39:33
of great conflict
39:35
as Paul
39:36
says here
39:37
how do you
39:38
picture
39:39
Paul
39:40
and Silas
39:41
arriving
39:42
in Thessalonica
39:43
when you read
39:45
of the missionary
39:46
journeys
39:47
of Paul
39:48
in the gospels
39:49
how do you
39:50
picture him
39:51
what do you
39:51
see of him
39:52
we speak
39:54
about church
39:54
planters
39:55
today
39:56
those who are
39:57
starting new
39:58
churches
39:59
in different
39:59
parts
40:00
of our nation
40:01
in many ways
40:02
Paul
40:03
and Silas
40:04
and others
40:04
with them
40:05
they were the
40:05
church planters
40:06
of their day
40:07
they were going
40:08
out with the gospel
40:09
reaching across
40:10
new boundaries
40:11
going into
40:12
new places
40:13
and always taking
40:14
the gospel
40:15
with them
40:16
how do you
40:17
imagine
40:18
church planters
40:19
today
40:20
perhaps we can
40:21
often
40:22
think of
40:23
church planters
40:24
today as maybe
40:25
having it easy
40:26
in many ways
40:27
sitting in coffee
40:28
shops and just
40:29
meeting up with
40:29
people from
40:30
time to time
40:31
they're having
40:32
quite comfortable
40:33
lives
40:34
being at
40:35
peace
40:35
finding the
40:37
way
40:37
maybe easy
40:38
going
40:38
it's far
40:40
from it
40:41
far from
40:43
it
40:43
all you have
40:44
to do is
40:45
listen to
40:45
some of the
40:46
church planters
40:47
who are involved
40:47
in these works
40:48
and you hear
40:49
the reality of
40:50
it is so
40:50
different
40:51
how hard
40:52
it is
40:52
I was speaking
40:54
to a church
40:54
planter once
40:55
and he said
40:56
in the first
40:56
three years
40:57
of his ministry
40:58
he moved
40:58
home four
40:59
times
41:00
each
41:02
Lord's day
41:03
as we were
41:03
gathering to
41:03
worship
41:04
sometimes
41:04
they didn't
41:05
know where
41:05
they were
41:05
going to
41:05
be gathering
41:06
because
41:06
they didn't
41:07
have a
41:08
permanent
41:08
place to
41:09
meet
41:09
they had
41:11
to move
41:11
around
41:11
so that
41:12
maybe even
41:12
on a
41:12
Friday
41:13
they still
41:14
didn't know
41:14
where they
41:14
were going
41:15
to meet
41:15
on the
41:16
Sunday
41:16
they would
41:18
meet with
41:18
opposition
41:19
they would
41:20
meet with
41:20
people who
41:21
were against
41:21
them using
41:22
buildings
41:23
or even
41:23
coming into
41:24
their community
41:25
they would
41:25
face
41:26
opposition
41:26
and people
41:27
speaking out
41:28
against them
41:29
it is not
41:30
easy
41:31
the same as
41:32
it isn't
41:32
for ourselves
41:34
but what
41:35
was it
41:36
that motivates
41:37
what is it
41:38
that motivates
41:39
it's a
41:40
devotion
41:40
for God
41:42
a devotion
41:43
for the
41:44
gospel
41:44
a longing
41:45
that people
41:46
would hear
41:46
the gospel
41:47
and as you
41:49
look at Paul
41:50
and Silas
41:50
and how they
41:51
came into
41:52
places
41:53
especially maybe
41:54
Thessalonica
41:54
how did they
41:56
arrive
41:56
well they
41:58
arrived
41:59
beaten
41:59
and bloodied
42:01
with their
42:02
clothes
42:02
torn
42:03
we see
42:05
that
42:05
in the
42:06
book of
42:06
Acts
42:07
chapter 16
42:08
before they
42:09
came to
42:09
Thessalonica
42:10
they had
42:10
been
42:11
at
42:11
Philippi
42:12
it says
42:13
there
42:13
falls in
42:14
verse 2
42:14
as well
42:15
but though
42:16
we had
42:16
already
42:16
suffered
42:17
and been
42:17
shamefully
42:18
treated
42:18
at
42:19
Philippi
42:20
what
42:21
had
42:21
happened
42:21
well if
42:23
you go
42:23
to Acts
42:23
16
42:24
verse 20
42:25
they
42:26
they were
42:26
in
42:26
Philippi
42:27
and they
42:27
were brought
42:27
before the
42:28
magistrates
42:29
and they
42:30
said to
42:31
them
42:31
these men
42:32
are Jews
42:32
and they
42:33
are disturbing
42:33
our city
42:34
they advocate
42:35
customs
42:36
that are not
42:36
lawful
42:37
for us
42:37
as Romans
42:38
to accept
42:39
or practice
42:40
the crowd
42:41
joined in
42:42
attacking
42:43
them
42:43
and the
42:44
magistrates
42:45
tore their
42:45
garments
42:46
off them
42:46
and gave
42:47
orders
42:48
to beat
42:48
them
42:49
with rods
42:50
and when
42:51
they had
42:51
inflicted
42:52
many blows
42:53
upon them
42:54
they threw
42:55
them into
42:55
prison
42:56
ordering the
42:57
jailer to
42:58
keep them
42:58
safely
42:59
that is what
43:01
they experienced
43:02
before they
43:03
came to
43:04
Thessalonica
43:05
they were
43:06
beaten
43:07
with rods
43:08
and this is
43:11
just a few
43:12
days before
43:13
they came
43:14
to Thessalonica
43:15
now what do
43:17
we do when
43:17
we face
43:18
opposition
43:18
if we
43:20
knock on a
43:20
door and
43:21
someone says
43:22
to us
43:22
just go
43:23
away
43:23
I want
43:24
nothing to
43:24
do with
43:25
you
43:25
we take
43:27
that to
43:28
heart
43:28
we feel
43:29
hurt
43:29
perhaps we
43:30
don't go
43:31
back to
43:31
that door
43:32
again
43:32
it's going
43:32
to be
43:32
difficult
43:33
but here
43:35
is a
43:35
reminder
43:36
to us
43:36
to be
43:37
bold
43:37
for the
43:38
gospel
43:39
to be
43:40
seeing
43:41
our
43:41
greatest
43:42
motivation
43:42
is
43:43
the
43:44
gospel
43:44
and the
43:45
need that
43:46
people have
43:47
to hear
43:48
the gospel
43:49
you see
43:50
they were
43:51
entrusted
43:52
with this
43:53
message
43:54
in verse
43:55
four
43:56
but just
43:56
as we
43:57
have been
43:57
approved
43:58
by God
43:58
to be
43:59
entrusted
43:59
with the
44:00
gospel
44:01
so we
44:02
speak
44:03
not to
44:03
please man
44:04
but to
44:05
please
44:05
God
44:06
they were
44:07
entrusted
44:08
with the
44:09
gospel
44:09
and that
44:10
is what
44:11
the church
44:11
of God
44:12
is entrusted
44:13
with today
44:13
as well
44:14
entrusted
44:15
with this
44:16
gospel
44:17
that is
44:18
what we
44:18
are entrusted
44:20
with
44:20
that is
44:21
our greatest
44:22
motivation
44:23
in all
44:24
that we
44:24
do
44:24
or it
44:24
should
44:25
be
44:25
it is
44:26
the gospel
44:27
which is
44:28
the good
44:29
news
44:29
of Jesus
44:30
Christ
44:31
and they
44:32
were entrusted
44:33
with it
44:33
because they
44:34
were convinced
44:35
by it
44:36
themselves
44:36
and so
44:38
must
44:38
we be
44:39
too
44:40
in 2nd
44:41
Corinthians
44:42
chapter 5
44:43
verse 14
44:44
Paul
44:46
there
44:46
is
44:46
writing
44:47
to the
44:47
church
44:48
there
44:48
and what
44:49
he says
44:49
is
44:49
the love
44:51
of Christ
44:52
controls
44:53
us
44:53
or
44:53
constrains
44:54
us
44:55
as another
44:55
version
44:55
says
44:56
because
44:57
we have
44:58
concluded
44:58
this
44:59
they're
44:59
convinced
45:00
by this
45:00
that
45:01
one
45:01
has
45:02
died
45:02
for
45:02
all
45:03
therefore
45:03
all
45:04
have
45:04
died
45:04
and he
45:05
died
45:06
for
45:06
all
45:06
that
45:07
those
45:07
who
45:07
live
45:08
might
45:08
no
45:08
longer
45:08
live
45:09
for
45:09
themselves
45:09
but
45:10
for
45:11
him
45:11
who
45:11
for
45:12
their
45:12
sake
45:12
died
45:13
and
45:13
was
45:13
raised
45:14
there
45:15
is
45:16
the
45:16
motivation
45:17
there
45:18
is
45:18
the
45:18
heart
45:19
of
45:19
the
45:19
gospel
45:19
one
45:20
has
45:20
died
45:21
for
45:22
all
45:22
Christ
45:23
died
45:24
for
45:25
sinners
45:26
that
45:27
is
45:27
the
45:28
gospel
45:28
and
45:29
that
45:29
is
45:30
what
45:30
motivates
45:30
Paul
45:31
here
45:31
and
45:32
the
45:32
people
45:32
of
45:33
Thessalonica
45:33
and
45:34
that
45:34
is
45:34
what
45:34
should
45:35
motivate
45:36
ourselves
45:36
to
45:37
the
45:37
love
45:37
of
45:38
Christ
45:38
constrains
45:40
us
45:40
it
45:42
motivates
45:42
us
45:43
to
45:43
go
45:44
out
45:44
and
45:44
tell
45:44
others
45:45
that
45:45
Christ
45:46
died
45:47
for
45:47
their
45:47
sins
45:48
somebody
45:51
once
45:51
said
45:52
we do
45:52
what
45:52
we
45:53
do
45:53
because
45:54
we
45:54
love
45:54
what
45:55
we
45:55
love
45:56
we
45:58
do
45:58
what
45:58
we
45:58
do
45:58
because
45:59
we
46:00
love
46:00
what
46:01
we
46:01
love
46:01
and
46:04
so
46:04
it
46:04
is
46:04
to
46:05
be
46:05
bold
46:05
for
46:06
the
46:06
gospel
46:07
to
46:08
love
46:08
the
46:09
gospel
46:10
that
46:11
is
46:11
what
46:12
Paul
46:13
has
46:13
experienced
46:14
in
46:14
his
46:15
own
46:15
life
46:15
the
46:16
transforming
46:17
power
46:18
of
46:18
Christ
46:19
in
46:19
his
46:19
own
46:20
heart
46:20
who
46:21
brought
46:21
him
46:22
from
46:22
one
46:22
who
46:23
was
46:23
beating
46:23
Christians
46:24
to
46:25
being
46:25
beaten
46:26
himself
46:27
to
46:28
be
46:28
able
46:28
to
46:28
say
46:29
as
46:29
he
46:29
says
46:30
in
46:30
Philippians
46:30
for
46:31
me
46:31
to
46:32
live
46:32
is
46:33
Christ
46:33
they
46:35
no
46:35
longer
46:35
live
46:36
for
46:36
themselves
46:37
but
46:37
live
46:37
for
46:38
Christ
46:39
and
46:40
you
46:40
wonder
46:40
what
46:40
Paul
46:41
thought
46:41
even
46:42
as
46:42
he
46:42
was
46:43
beaten
46:43
in
46:44
Philippi
46:45
that
46:46
this
46:47
is
46:47
what
46:47
I
46:47
used
46:48
to
46:48
do
46:48
to
46:49
Christians
46:49
myself
46:50
and
46:51
I
46:51
would
46:51
wonder
46:51
how
46:52
it
46:52
is
46:53
they
46:53
could
46:53
accept
46:53
these
46:54
beatings
46:55
but
46:56
now
46:56
he
46:57
knows
46:57
because
46:59
he's
46:59
receiving
46:59
these
47:00
beatings
47:01
himself
47:01
convinced
47:03
of
47:04
God
47:04
convinced
47:06
of
47:06
God
47:07
who
47:07
is
47:08
with
47:08
him
47:08
no
47:10
matter
47:11
the
47:11
opposition
47:12
what
47:12
happens
47:13
is
47:13
boldness
47:14
results
47:16
when
47:17
we are
47:18
convinced
47:18
by the
47:19
gospel
47:20
ourselves
47:20
when
47:20
we are
47:21
convinced
47:21
by
47:22
Jesus
47:22
Christ
47:23
when
47:23
the
47:23
gospel
47:24
is
47:25
our
47:25
great
47:25
motivation
47:26
then
47:28
we are
47:28
bold
47:28
for
47:29
Christ
47:30
he
47:31
loved
47:32
the
47:32
gospel
47:32
he
47:33
loved
47:33
God
47:34
and
47:35
he
47:35
knew
47:35
God
47:36
with
47:36
him
47:36
and
47:37
that
47:37
is
47:38
what
47:38
we
47:38
should
47:38
long
47:39
for
47:39
and
47:40
be
47:41
motivated
47:41
by
47:42
ourselves
47:43
too
47:43
the
47:44
gospel
47:45
motivates
47:46
the
47:47
second
47:48
thing
47:48
we see
47:48
here
47:49
is
47:49
the
47:50
lies
47:50
that
47:51
motivate
47:52
we
47:53
see
47:53
this
47:53
in
47:53
verse
47:54
3
47:54
for
47:56
our
47:56
appeal
47:57
does
47:57
not
47:57
spring
47:58
from
47:58
error
47:58
or
47:59
impurity
47:59
or
48:00
any
48:00
attempt
48:01
to
48:01
deceive
48:02
what's
48:03
going
48:04
on
48:04
here
48:04
well
48:05
Paul
48:05
and
48:06
Silas
48:06
weren't
48:06
the
48:07
only
48:07
missionaries
48:08
in
48:08
town
48:09
there
48:10
were
48:10
others
48:10
who
48:11
had
48:11
come
48:11
as
48:11
well
48:12
but
48:12
their
48:13
motives
48:13
and
48:13
their
48:14
message
48:14
was
48:15
completely
48:15
different
48:16
many
48:17
came
48:17
with
48:18
selfish
48:19
motivation
48:19
and
48:20
suffered
48:21
nothing
48:21
for
48:22
telling
48:22
lies
48:23
but
48:24
Paul
48:25
and
48:25
Silas
48:25
they
48:26
came
48:26
motivated
48:27
by
48:27
God
48:27
to
48:27
share
48:28
the
48:28
gospel
48:29
to
48:29
tell
48:30
the
48:30
truth
48:31
and
48:32
they
48:32
suffered
48:33
so
48:33
much
48:34
and
48:35
so
48:36
why
48:36
keep
48:37
going
48:37
well
48:39
what
48:39
they
48:39
were
48:39
seeing
48:40
was
48:40
those
48:40
with
48:40
selfish
48:41
motives
48:42
those
48:42
who
48:43
were
48:43
preaching
48:43
a lie
48:44
to
48:44
those
48:45
in
48:45
Thessalonica
48:46
and other
48:46
places
48:46
as well
48:47
they were
48:47
leading
48:48
these
48:48
people
48:49
astray
48:50
they
48:51
were
48:51
leading
48:52
them
48:52
to
48:52
an
48:53
eternal
48:53
downfall
48:55
and
48:56
that
48:56
is
48:56
what
48:56
motivated
48:57
Paul
48:58
and
48:58
the
48:59
church
48:59
they
49:00
saw
49:01
that
49:02
people
49:02
needed
49:02
to
49:02
hear
49:03
the
49:03
true
49:04
gospel
49:05
and
49:07
that's
49:07
what
49:07
we
49:07
see
49:07
here
49:08
it
49:08
is
49:09
such
49:09
a
49:09
powerful
49:10
motivation
49:11
and
49:11
it
49:11
should
49:12
be
49:12
for
49:12
ourselves
49:13
as
49:13
well
49:13
because
49:14
even
49:14
as
49:14
we
49:15
look
49:15
around
49:15
today
49:16
we
49:16
see
49:16
a
49:16
people
49:17
who
49:17
are
49:18
being
49:18
swept
49:18
along
49:19
by
49:19
the
49:19
lies
49:20
of
49:20
this
49:20
world
49:20
the
49:22
lies
49:23
that
49:23
this
49:23
world
49:23
tells
49:24
us
49:24
will
49:24
make
49:25
all
49:25
the
49:25
difference
49:26
the
49:26
lies
49:26
that
49:27
are
49:27
leading
49:27
to
49:28
the
49:28
broad
49:28
road
49:28
that
49:29
leads
49:29
to
49:29
destruction
49:30
and
49:31
that
49:31
should
49:31
grieve
49:32
us
49:32
that
49:33
should
49:33
pain
49:33
us
49:34
so
49:34
our
49:34
motivation
49:35
is
49:35
to
49:36
show
49:36
what
49:37
these
49:37
lies
49:38
are
49:38
and
49:38
show
49:39
the
49:39
truth
49:39
in
49:40
the
49:40
midst
49:40
of
49:41
them
49:41
these
49:43
false
49:44
teachers
49:45
were
49:45
there
49:45
in
49:46
Thessalonica
49:47
with
49:47
flattery
49:48
with
49:49
greed
49:49
seeking
49:50
fame
49:50
for
49:51
themselves
49:51
and
49:53
Paul
49:53
highlights
49:54
just how
49:55
wrong
49:55
this
49:56
is
49:56
our
49:58
appeal
49:58
does
49:58
not
49:59
spring
49:59
from
49:59
error
50:00
or
50:00
impurity
50:01
or
50:01
any
50:01
attempt
50:02
to
50:02
deceive
50:02
but
50:03
just
50:03
as
50:03
we
50:03
have
50:03
been
50:04
approved
50:04
by
50:04
God
50:05
to be
50:05
entrusted
50:06
with
50:06
the
50:06
gospel
50:06
so
50:07
we
50:07
speak
50:08
not
50:09
to
50:09
please
50:09
man
50:09
but
50:10
to
50:10
please
50:11
God
50:11
who
50:12
tests
50:12
our
50:13
hearts
50:13
and
50:15
he
50:15
goes
50:15
on
50:15
to
50:15
speak
50:16
about
50:16
words
50:16
of
50:17
flattery
50:17
of
50:18
greed
50:18
of
50:19
the
50:19
lies
50:19
of
50:20
the
50:20
glory
50:20
self
50:21
glory
50:21
that
50:22
the
50:22
people
50:22
are
50:22
looking
50:23
for
50:23
there's
50:24
all
50:24
these
50:24
lists
50:25
of
50:25
things
50:26
that
50:26
you
50:26
see
50:26
here
50:27
we
50:28
didn't
50:28
see
50:29
glory
50:29
from
50:29
people
50:30
he
50:31
says
50:31
in
50:31
verse
50:31
6
50:32
you
50:33
go
50:33
through
50:33
these
50:34
verses
50:34
and
50:34
you
50:34
see
50:35
the
50:36
desires
50:36
of
50:36
those
50:37
who
50:37
came
50:37
with
50:37
lies
50:38
and
50:38
false
50:39
motives
50:39
was
50:40
all
50:40
for
50:40
self
50:41
but
50:43
Paul
50:44
and
50:44
Silas
50:44
came
50:45
to
50:46
please
50:46
God
50:47
and
50:49
so
50:50
it
50:51
makes
50:51
us
50:52
think
50:52
of
50:52
the
50:52
world
50:53
in
50:53
which
50:54
we
50:54
live
50:54
today
50:55
the
50:56
lies
50:57
that
50:57
are
50:57
being
50:57
told
50:58
and
50:59
can
50:59
you
50:59
think
50:59
of
51:00
anyone
51:00
who
51:00
has
51:01
these
51:01
motives
51:02
self
51:04
glory
51:04
praise
51:05
from
51:06
man
51:06
greed
51:07
even
51:07
when
51:08
it
51:08
comes
51:08
to
51:09
the
51:09
gospel
51:09
we
51:11
think
51:11
perhaps
51:12
of
51:12
people
51:12
on
51:12
television
51:13
evangelists
51:14
as they
51:15
call
51:15
themselves
51:16
who
51:16
are
51:16
saying
51:16
send
51:17
a
51:17
donation
51:17
and
51:18
we
51:18
will
51:18
pray
51:18
and
51:18
you
51:19
will
51:19
receive
51:19
a
51:19
blessing
51:20
all
51:21
they're
51:21
doing
51:21
it
51:21
for
51:22
is
51:22
to
51:22
get
51:23
money
51:23
for
51:23
themselves
51:24
to
51:24
get
51:24
glory
51:24
from
51:25
people
51:25
but
51:26
not
51:26
for
51:26
God
51:27
but
51:29
it
51:29
challenges
51:30
ourselves
51:30
too
51:31
are we
51:31
a
51:31
people
51:32
who
51:33
look
51:33
for
51:33
our
51:33
own
51:34
glory
51:34
or
51:35
for
51:35
God's
51:36
glory
51:36
that
51:38
in
51:38
whatever
51:38
we are
51:39
doing
51:39
as it
51:40
says
51:40
here
51:41
being
51:41
example
51:41
to
51:42
others
51:42
we have
51:42
to be
51:43
so
51:43
careful
51:44
in
51:44
that
51:44
that
51:45
we're
51:45
not
51:45
seeking
51:45
to be
51:46
examples
51:46
that
51:47
people
51:47
would
51:47
praise
51:48
us
51:48
and
51:49
give
51:50
glory
51:50
to
51:50
us
51:51
but
51:52
instead
51:52
that
51:53
they
51:53
would
51:53
give
51:53
glory
51:54
to
51:54
God
52:55
God
52:57
God
52:58
God
53:01
tests
53:02
your
53:02
heart
53:16
and
53:16
mine
53:16
today
53:17
to see
53:18
what is
53:18
our
53:19
motivation
53:20
in
53:20
this
53:20
life
53:21
are
53:22
we
53:22
caught
53:22
up
53:23
in
53:23
the
53:23
lies
53:23
of
53:24
this
53:24
world
53:25
or
53:25
are
53:25
we
53:25
caught
53:26
up
53:26
with
53:27
the
53:27
truth
53:27
of
53:28
the
53:28
gospel
53:28
it
53:31
gets
53:31
to
53:31
the
53:31
heart
53:32
of
53:32
what
53:32
the
53:32
Christian
53:32
faith
53:33
is
53:34
all
53:34
about
53:35
you
53:36
see
53:36
so
53:36
many
53:37
other
53:37
religions
53:38
and
53:38
philosophies
53:39
and
53:39
world
53:39
views
53:40
they
53:41
focus
53:42
on
53:43
outward
53:43
actions
53:44
on
53:46
our
53:47
works
53:47
that
53:50
you
53:50
can
53:50
be
53:50
accepted
53:51
by
53:51
God
53:52
in
53:52
a
53:52
certain
53:53
way
53:53
or
53:53
that
53:53
you
53:53
can
53:53
please
53:54
others
53:55
and
53:55
that
53:55
that
53:55
is
53:55
all
53:56
that
53:56
counts
53:56
but
53:58
we
53:58
see
53:59
here
53:59
the
53:59
gospel
54:00
gets
54:01
to
54:01
the
54:01
heart
54:01
that
54:02
God
54:03
searches
54:04
the
54:05
heart
54:05
he
54:05
tests
54:06
the
54:07
heart
54:07
so
54:09
the
54:09
gospel
54:09
isn't
54:09
about
54:10
making
54:10
us
54:10
nicer
54:11
neighbors
54:12
or
54:12
nicer
54:12
people
54:13
in our
54:13
communities
54:14
better
54:14
kids
54:15
it's
54:16
not
54:16
about
54:17
that
54:17
that's
54:18
something
54:18
that may
54:19
lead out
54:19
from it
54:20
but it's
54:22
about
54:22
the
54:22
heart
54:23
and what
54:24
motivates
54:25
us
54:25
in our
54:26
hearts
54:27
what do
54:28
we do
54:28
and why
54:29
are we
54:29
doing it
54:30
are we
54:31
doing it
54:31
in the
54:32
lives of
54:32
this world
54:33
for our
54:33
own
54:34
greed
54:34
our
54:35
own
54:35
gain
54:36
our
54:36
own
54:37
praise
54:37
or are
54:39
we doing
54:39
it
54:40
to
54:40
please
54:41
God
54:41
we
54:44
see
54:44
the
54:44
lives
54:44
of
54:45
this
54:45
world
54:45
sweeping
54:46
people
54:47
along
54:47
who
54:48
are
54:48
perishing
54:48
but
54:50
does
54:50
that
54:51
motivate
54:51
us
54:52
to be
54:53
different
54:53
and to
54:55
show
54:55
the
54:55
gospel
54:56
of
54:56
Jesus
54:57
Christ
54:58
to
54:59
show
54:59
that
54:59
there
54:59
is
54:59
a
55:00
truth
55:00
that
55:01
people
55:01
need
55:02
a
55:03
truth
55:03
that
55:03
we
55:04
might
55:04
suffer
55:04
for
55:05
but
55:06
at
55:06
the
55:06
end
55:06
of
55:06
the
55:07
day
55:07
is
55:08
what
55:08
really
55:08
matters
55:09
a
55:10
truth
55:10
that
55:11
reaches
55:11
into
55:12
our
55:12
hearts
55:12
and
55:13
transforms
55:14
hearts
55:15
the
55:15
lies
55:16
that
55:16
the
55:16
others
55:17
came
55:17
for
55:17
were
55:18
destroying
55:19
people
55:19
and
55:19
places
55:20
just as
55:21
they are
55:21
today
55:22
but the
55:23
truth
55:24
of the
55:24
gospel
55:24
is what
55:25
makes
55:26
all
55:26
the
55:27
difference
55:27
so the
55:28
lies
55:29
that were
55:29
around
55:30
motivated
55:31
Paul
55:31
and should
55:31
motivate
55:32
us
55:32
to
55:33
guard
55:34
our
55:34
hearts
55:35
and to
55:36
stand up
55:36
against
55:37
the
55:37
lies
55:37
of
55:38
this
55:38
world
55:38
and
55:39
proclaim
55:39
the
55:40
gospel
55:41
the
55:42
final
55:43
thing
55:43
I
55:43
want
55:43
us
55:43
to
55:44
see
55:44
here
55:44
is
55:44
the
55:45
love
55:46
that
55:46
motivates
55:47
you
55:49
see
55:49
that
55:49
from
55:50
verse
55:50
6
55:51
down
55:52
to
55:52
verse
55:52
8
55:53
we
55:54
do
55:54
not
55:55
seek
55:55
glory
55:55
from
55:56
people
55:56
whether
55:56
from
55:57
you
55:57
or
55:57
from
55:57
others
55:58
though
55:58
we
55:58
could
55:58
have
55:59
made
55:59
demands
55:59
as
56:00
apostles
56:01
of
56:01
Christ
56:01
but
56:01
we
56:02
were
56:02
gentle
56:03
among
56:03
you
56:04
like
56:04
nursing
56:04
like a
56:05
nursing
56:05
mother
56:06
taking
56:06
care
56:06
of
56:06
our
56:07
own
56:07
children
56:07
so
56:08
being
56:09
affectionately
56:09
desirous
56:10
of
56:10
you
56:11
we
56:11
were
56:11
ready
56:12
to
56:12
share
56:12
with
56:13
you
56:13
not
56:13
only
56:13
the
56:14
gospel
56:14
of
56:14
God
56:15
but
56:15
also
56:16
ourselves
56:17
because
56:18
you
56:18
had
56:18
become
56:19
very
56:20
dear
56:21
to
56:21
us
56:22
how
56:23
does
56:24
he
56:24
seek
56:24
to
56:25
make
56:25
them
56:25
live
56:26
to
56:27
motivate
56:27
them
56:27
to
56:27
live
56:28
likewise
56:28
he
56:30
lives
56:30
out
56:30
the
56:31
gospel
56:31
in
56:32
their
56:32
midst
56:33
you
56:34
see
56:34
the
56:34
affection
56:35
that
56:35
Paul
56:36
had
56:36
for
56:37
the
56:37
people
56:37
there
56:38
at
56:38
the
56:38
end
56:38
of
56:38
verse
56:38
8
56:39
you
56:39
have
56:39
become
56:40
very
56:41
dear
56:41
to
56:42
us
56:42
you
56:44
might
56:44
think
56:45
that
56:45
having
56:45
been
56:45
severely
56:47
beaten
56:47
a bitterness
56:48
would have
56:49
creeped
56:50
into
56:50
his
56:50
heart
56:50
thinking
56:51
what's
56:52
the
56:52
point
56:52
in
56:53
all
56:53
of
56:54
this
56:54
but
56:54
no
56:55
all
56:56
it
56:56
does
56:57
is
56:57
encourage
56:58
it
56:59
makes
56:59
him
57:00
tender
57:01
he
57:02
had
57:02
a
57:02
love
57:03
for
57:04
his
57:04
people
57:05
when
57:07
a
57:07
minister
57:07
comes
57:08
to
57:08
a
57:09
congregation
57:09
one
57:11
of
57:11
the
57:11
questions
57:11
that
57:12
is
57:12
put
57:12
to
57:13
him
57:13
is
57:14
this
57:14
are
57:15
not
57:16
sealed
57:16
for
57:17
the
57:17
honour
57:17
of
57:17
God
57:18
love
57:19
to
57:19
Jesus
57:20
Christ
57:20
and
57:21
desire
57:22
of
57:22
saving
57:23
souls
57:23
your
57:24
great
57:25
motives
57:25
and
57:26
chief
57:26
inducements
57:27
to
57:28
enter
57:28
into
57:28
the
57:28
function
57:29
of
57:29
the
57:29
holy
57:30
ministry
57:30
and
57:31
not
57:31
worldly
57:32
designs
57:32
and
57:33
interests
57:34
it's
57:36
a
57:36
great
57:36
question
57:37
and
57:38
it's
57:38
a
57:38
question
57:38
for
57:39
every
57:39
minister
57:40
myself
57:40
and
57:41
every
57:42
other
57:42
minister
57:42
to
57:42
keep
57:43
coming
57:43
back
57:44
to
57:44
what
57:45
is
57:45
our
57:46
motives
57:46
in
57:47
entering
57:48
into
57:48
holy
57:49
ministry
57:49
seal
57:50
for
57:51
the honour
57:51
of
57:52
God
57:52
love
57:53
to
57:54
Jesus
57:54
Christ
57:55
and
57:55
a
57:56
desire
57:56
of
57:57
saving
57:58
souls
57:58
I
58:00
think
58:01
for
58:01
every
58:01
believer
58:03
that
58:03
should
58:04
be
58:04
a
58:04
question
58:04
put
58:05
to
58:05
us
58:05
that
58:06
that
58:06
would
58:06
be
58:07
all
58:08
our
58:08
motives
58:08
together
58:09
as
58:09
we
58:09
serve
58:10
God
58:10
seal
58:12
for
58:12
the honour
58:12
of
58:13
God
58:13
love
58:14
to
58:15
Jesus
58:15
Christ
58:16
and
58:17
a
58:17
desire
58:18
for
58:19
the
58:19
saving
58:19
of
58:20
souls
58:21
is
58:22
there
58:22
any
58:22
other
58:23
greater
58:24
motive
58:24
and
58:26
it's
58:26
grounded
58:27
in
58:27
a
58:27
love
58:28
for
58:28
God
58:29
and
58:30
a
58:30
love
58:31
for
58:32
one
58:32
another
58:32
a
58:34
minister
58:35
felt
58:35
God's
58:36
call
58:37
on
58:37
his
58:37
life
58:37
but
58:39
he
58:39
was
58:39
a
58:39
successful
58:40
businessman
58:41
but
58:42
he
58:43
began
58:43
taking
58:43
a
58:44
Bible
58:44
course
58:44
at
58:45
night
58:45
and
58:45
eventually
58:46
he
58:46
obtained
58:47
his
58:48
degree
58:48
in
58:49
theology
58:49
and
58:50
before
58:51
his
58:51
graduation
58:52
he
58:53
informed
58:53
his
58:54
boss
58:54
that
58:54
he
58:54
would
58:55
be
58:55
leaving
58:55
his
58:56
work
58:56
shortly
58:57
to
58:57
become
58:57
a
58:57
pastor
58:58
in
58:59
a
58:59
rural
58:59
church
59:00
his
59:02
boss
59:02
didn't
59:02
believe
59:03
him
59:03
and
59:04
the
59:04
owner
59:05
of
59:05
the
59:05
company
59:05
didn't
59:06
believe
59:07
him
59:07
why
59:07
was
59:07
this
59:07
man
59:08
so
59:08
successful
59:09
in
59:09
business
59:09
making
59:10
so
59:11
much
59:11
money
59:11
why
59:11
was
59:12
he
59:12
going
59:12
to
59:12
leave
59:13
that
59:13
and
59:14
go
59:14
into
59:14
the
59:14
ministry
59:15
they
59:15
just
59:15
didn't
59:16
think
59:16
he
59:16
would
59:17
do
59:17
it
59:17
but
59:18
the
59:19
minister
59:19
felt
59:19
the
59:20
call
59:20
I
59:20
told
59:20
him
59:21
look
59:21
you
59:21
need
59:21
to
59:22
find
59:22
a
59:22
replacement
59:23
for
59:23
me
59:23
I'm
59:24
going
59:24
to
59:24
be
59:24
leaving
59:25
soon
59:25
but
59:26
they
59:26
didn't
59:26
bother
59:27
and
59:28
eventually
59:28
it
59:28
came
59:29
to
59:29
the
59:29
day
59:29
when
59:29
he
59:29
told
59:30
his
59:30
boss
59:30
that
59:31
he
59:31
was
59:31
going
59:31
to
59:32
leave
59:32
and
59:33
that
59:33
he
59:33
needed
59:34
to
59:34
find
59:34
a
59:34
replacement
59:35
as
59:35
soon
59:36
as
59:36
possible
59:36
the
59:37
boss
59:38
called
59:39
the
59:39
owner
59:39
of
59:39
the
59:39
company
59:39
and
59:40
said
59:40
look
59:40
this
59:40
man
59:40
is
59:41
serious
59:42
he's
59:42
going
59:42
to
59:49
and
59:50
if he
59:50
takes
59:51
it
59:51
fire
59:51
him
59:51
on
59:52
the
59:52
spot
59:53
he
59:54
was
59:54
testing
59:54
his
59:55
motives
59:56
the
59:57
minister
59:58
didn't
59:59
take
59:59
it
1:00:00
money
1:00:01
didn't
1:00:02
matter
1:00:02
to
1:00:03
him
1:00:03
that
1:00:04
wasn't
1:00:04
his
1:00:04
motivation
1:00:05
he
1:00:07
had
1:00:07
been
1:00:07
called
1:00:07
by
1:00:08
God
1:00:08
to
1:00:09
serve
1:00:09
him
1:00:10
to
1:00:10
pastor
1:00:11
a
1:00:11
people
1:00:12
and
1:00:12
his
1:00:13
longing
1:00:13
was
1:00:13
to
1:00:13
see
1:00:14
a
1:00:14
people
1:00:15
coming
1:00:15
to
1:00:16
God
1:00:16
seal
1:00:17
for
1:00:18
the
1:00:18
honour
1:00:18
of
1:00:18
God
1:00:19
love
1:00:19
for
1:00:20
Jesus
1:00:20
Christ
1:00:21
and
1:00:21
a
1:00:21
desire
1:00:22
for
1:00:22
the
1:00:23
saving
1:00:23
of
1:00:24
souls
1:00:25
when
1:00:26
we
1:00:26
think
1:00:26
ourselves
1:00:27
what
1:00:28
is
1:00:28
our
1:00:29
motivation
1:00:29
in
1:00:30
life
1:00:31
what
1:00:32
do
1:00:32
people
1:00:33
say
1:00:33
of
1:00:34
us
1:00:34
as
1:00:35
a
1:00:35
congregation
1:00:36
do
1:00:37
they
1:00:37
see
1:00:37
us
1:00:37
as
1:00:38
an
1:00:38
example
1:00:39
of
1:00:39
the
1:00:39
love
1:00:40
of
1:00:40
Christ
1:00:41
I
1:00:42
pray
1:00:42
they
1:00:43
do
1:00:43
but
1:00:44
it's
1:00:45
something
1:00:45
that we
1:00:46
should
1:00:46
always
1:00:46
guard
1:00:47
ourselves
1:00:47
against
1:00:48
our
1:00:49
motivations
1:00:50
not
1:00:50
coming
1:00:51
to
1:00:51
just
1:00:51
do
1:00:52
things
1:00:52
out
1:00:53
of
1:00:53
a
1:00:53
sense
1:00:54
of
1:00:54
duty
1:00:55
but
1:00:57
out
1:00:57
of
1:00:57
a
1:00:57
sense
1:00:58
of
1:00:59
devotion
1:00:59
and
1:01:01
a
1:01:01
desire
1:01:01
for
1:01:02
the
1:01:02
saving
1:01:03
of
1:01:03
souls
1:01:03
and
1:01:04
the
1:01:04
love
1:01:05
of
1:01:06
God
1:01:06
that
1:01:08
we
1:01:08
would
1:01:08
come
1:01:08
closer
1:01:09
to
1:01:10
each
1:01:10
other
1:01:10
and
1:01:11
closer
1:01:12
to
1:01:13
God
1:01:13
and
1:01:14
then
1:01:14
from
1:01:15
there
1:01:15
that
1:01:16
we
1:01:16
would
1:01:16
show
1:01:16
that
1:01:17
love
1:01:17
of
1:01:18
Christ
1:01:18
to
1:01:19
all
1:01:19
around
1:01:20
us
1:01:21
so
1:01:22
that
1:01:22
we
1:01:22
would
1:01:22
live
1:01:23
in
1:01:23
the
1:01:23
midst
1:01:23
of
1:01:23
opposition
1:01:24
and
1:01:25
affliction
1:01:25
and all
1:01:26
kinds
1:01:26
that is
1:01:26
going on
1:01:27
around
1:01:27
us
1:01:27
in the
1:01:28
midst
1:01:28
of
1:01:28
all
1:01:29
the
1:01:29
lies
1:01:29
that
1:01:29
are
1:01:30
being
1:01:30
told
1:01:30
that
1:01:32
our
1:01:32
motivation
1:01:33
would
1:01:33
be
1:01:33
the
1:01:34
gospel
1:01:34
the
1:01:35
good
1:01:36
news
1:01:36
that
1:01:37
our
1:01:37
motivation
1:01:38
would
1:01:38
be
1:01:38
to
1:01:39
show
1:01:39
that
1:01:40
the
1:01:40
lies
1:01:40
that
1:01:40
the
1:01:40
world
1:01:41
is
1:01:42
telling
1:01:43
are
1:01:44
just
1:01:44
that
1:01:44
lies
1:01:45
lies
1:01:47
that
1:01:47
lead
1:01:47
to
1:01:47
destruction
1:01:48
and
1:01:49
that
1:01:50
our
1:01:50
motivation
1:01:50
would
1:01:51
be
1:01:51
the
1:01:51
love
1:01:51
of
1:01:52
Christ
1:01:52
and
1:01:53
the
1:01:53
love
1:01:54
of
1:01:54
lost
1:01:54
souls
1:01:55
and
1:01:56
that
1:01:56
that
1:01:56
would
1:01:56
motivate
1:01:57
us
1:01:57
to
1:01:58
go
1:01:58
on
1:01:59
are
1:02:00
we
1:02:00
motivated
1:02:01
by
1:02:02
the
1:02:02
love
1:02:02
of
1:02:02
Christ
1:02:03
and
1:02:04
do
1:02:04
we
1:02:04
do
1:02:04
all
1:02:05
to
1:02:06
please
1:02:06
him
1:02:07
may
1:02:08
that
1:02:08
be
1:02:09
so
1:02:09
let
1:02:10
us
1:02:10
pray
1:02:10
our
1:02:13
father
1:02:13
in
1:02:13
heaven
1:02:14
we
1:02:14
thank
1:02:14
you
1:02:14
that
1:02:15
in
1:02:15
the
1:02:15
gospel
1:02:15
we
1:02:16
have
1:02:16
our
1:02:16
greatest
1:02:16
motivation
1:02:17
of
1:02:17
all
1:02:18
for
1:02:19
it
1:02:19
reminds
1:02:19
us
1:02:19
of
1:02:20
what
1:02:20
you
1:02:20
have
1:02:20
done
1:02:20
for
1:02:21
us
1:02:21
that
1:02:22
you
1:02:22
gave
1:02:22
your
1:02:23
son
1:02:23
Christ
1:02:23
Jesus
1:02:24
who
1:02:24
came
1:02:25
to
1:02:25
die
1:02:26
for
1:02:26
our
1:02:26
sins
1:02:27
but
1:02:27
who
1:02:28
rose
1:02:28
again
1:02:28
on
1:02:28
the
1:02:29
third
1:02:29
day
1:02:29
and
1:02:30
we
1:02:30
thank
1:02:31
you
1:02:31
that
1:02:31
the
1:02:31
gospel
1:02:31
is
1:02:32
good
1:02:32
news
1:02:32
good
1:02:33
news
1:02:34
in
1:02:34
the
1:02:34
midst
1:02:34
of
1:02:34
all
1:02:34
the
1:02:35
lies
1:02:35
that
1:02:35
this
1:02:35
world
1:02:36
offers
1:02:40
yet
1:02:41
we
1:02:41
have
1:02:41
the
1:02:41
gospel
1:02:41
that
1:02:42
leads
1:02:42
to
1:02:42
life
1:02:43
and
1:02:43
so
1:02:44
may
1:02:44
we
1:02:44
be
1:02:44
motivated
1:02:45
to
1:02:46
know
1:02:46
it
1:02:46
to
1:02:47
love
1:02:47
it
1:02:48
and
1:02:48
to
1:02:48
share
1:02:49
it
1:02:49
with
1:02:49
others
1:02:50
Lord
1:02:50
we
1:02:51
pray
1:02:51
these
1:02:51
things
1:02:52
asking
1:02:52
your
1:02:52
mercy
1:02:53
on
1:02:53
us
1:02:53
and
1:02:53
your
1:02:53
help
1:02:54
in
1:02:54
all
1:02:55
of
1:02:55
it
1:02:55
as
1:02:56
we
1:02:56
ask
1:02:56
it
1:02:56
with
1:02:56
the
1:02:56
forgiveness
1:02:57
of
1:02:57
our
1:02:57
sins
1:02:58
in
1:02:59
Jesus
1:02:59
name
1:02:59
Amen
1:03:00
we
1:03:07
are
1:03:07
going
1:03:07
to
1:03:07
conclude
1:03:08
by
1:03:08
singing
1:03:08
the
1:03:08
last
1:03:09
two
1:03:09
verses
1:03:09
of
1:03:10
Psalm
1:03:10
122
1:03:11
on
1:03:12
the
1:03:12
Scottish
1:03:13
Psalter
1:03:13
page
1:03:14
417
1:03:14
verse
1:03:16
7
1:03:16
to
1:03:16
9
1:03:17
the
1:03:19
tune
1:03:20
is
1:03:20
St
1:03:21
Paul
1:03:21
Psalm
1:03:22
122
1:03:23
at
1:03:23
verse
1:03:24
7
1:03:24
therefore
1:03:24
I
1:03:25
wish
1:03:25
that
1:03:25
peace
1:03:26
may
1:03:26
still
1:03:26
within
1:03:27
thy
1:03:27
walls
1:03:28
remain
1:03:28
and
1:03:29
ever
1:03:29
may
1:03:30
thy
1:03:30
palaces
1:03:31
prosperity
1:03:31
retain
1:03:33
we'll
1:03:33
sing
1:03:33
these
1:03:33
last
1:03:34
two
1:03:34
verses
1:03:34
to
1:03:35
God's
1:03:35
please
1:03:36
therefore
1:03:42
I
1:03:44
wish
1:03:45
that
1:03:46
peace
1:03:47
may
1:03:48
still
1:03:49
within
1:03:51
thy
1:03:53
walls
1:03:54
remain
1:03:57
and
1:03:58
peace
1:04:00
that
1:04:00
me
1:04:00
generous
1:04:11
day
1:04:15
For my friends and brethren's sake,
1:04:23
Peace be in me, I'll say,
1:04:32
And for the house of God our Lord,
1:04:40
I'll seek my good away.
1:04:49
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left
1:04:52
and close with a benediction.
1:04:55
Now may grace, mercy and peace from God,
1:04:58
Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon
1:05:01
and abide with you all now and forevermore.
1:05:05
Amen.
1:05:10
Amen.