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The Great Commission Today · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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It's my pleasure this morning to welcome with us Reverend Rory Stott. He's Minister in Fort Throes in the Black Isle.
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! Myself and Rory, we began studies in the Free Church College as it was known then, which is now the Free Church Seminary, back in 2008.
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And we went through college years together, so it's a privilege, a delight to welcome him to the Pope.
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But he's never preached here in Stornoway before, but he's got close ties with Stornoway.
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He actually met his wife, Kirsteen, on a trip over to Lewis, and we're delighted that Kirsteen is able to be with us today as well.
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So please do speak to him if you come through to the hall afterwards.
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Himself and Kirsteen, they'll be delighted to meet with you as well.
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So my pleasure to hand over to Rory now to lead us in our worship.
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Thank you so much. It is such a privilege to be with you today, to worship God.
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Shall we just listen to the Word of God in Isaiah in chapter 40?
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The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.
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He does not faint or grow weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
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He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, he increases strength.
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Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted.
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But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.
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They shall mount up with wings like eagles.
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They shall run and not be weary.
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They shall walk and not faint.
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Let us worship God.
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And we're going to sing in Psalm 103.
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And sing Psalm 103, verses 1 to 11.
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Let's sing to God's praise.
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Amen.
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Praise God, my soul, with all my heart.
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Let me exalt his holy name.
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Forget not all his benefits.
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His praise, my soul, in song proclaim.
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The Lord forgives you all your sins.
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And heals your sickness and distress.
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Your life he rescues from the grave.
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And crowns you in his tenderness.
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He satisfies your deep desires.
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From his unending source of good.
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So that, just like the eagle's strength.
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Your beautiful vigor is renewed.
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The Lord is known for righteous acts.
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And justice too, down-trodden ones.
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To Moses he gave known his ways.
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His mighty deeds to Israel's sons.
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The Lord is merciful and kind.
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To anger slow and full of grace.
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He will not constantly reprove.
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For in his anger hide his face.
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He does not punish our misdeeds.
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Forgive our sins, their just reward.
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For the Lord.
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How great is love as high as hen.
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To hearts of those who fear the Lord.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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Let us pray.
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of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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You are worthy of all praise and honor and glory.
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Father, we confess our sins before you this morning.
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We have sinned against you in thought, word, and in deed.
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Forgive us for all our shortcomings.
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We thank you that in Jesus Christ there is forgiveness and there is hope.
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We do thank you and we praise you for the hope that we have in the gospel.
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We thank you again, dear Lord, for your creation.
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We thank you for the beauty that surrounds us.
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And as we look out on such a glorious morning, we cannot help but worship you and praise you.
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We thank you for the mountains and the seas.
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We thank you for the birds, the singing birds.
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We thank you, Lord, for all that reminds us of your goodness and your mercy and your love and your power, your creativity.
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We thank you for all these things.
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Lord, we long to hear from you.
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So help us to put aside all that distracts us and to focus on you.
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And we pray this in Jesus' name and for his sake.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Okay, boys and girls.
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Now, I don't really know how many boys and girls are here.
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I can see as I look out, I can see a few young faces.
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And I wonder, boys and girls, if I had to ask you what a missionary is, I wonder if you would know the answer.
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What is a missionary?
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And I don't think in this church that you would shout out, would you?
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But if I had to ask you what a missionary is, and a short answer is that a missionary is, say, somebody who is sent out to tell people about Jesus Christ.
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Now, I wonder if you enjoy Paw Patrol.
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Paw Patrol is a great program.
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And I wonder who your favorite Paw Patrol dog is.
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Now, I've got to confess that my favorite is Chase.
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And there are a couple of reasons for that.
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Chase is always dressed in blue.
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You know that.
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And Chase is just very cool.
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He's normally wearing his police hat.
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And he goes out and he helps rider.
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Otherwise, there's Rocky or Zuma or Sky.
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Sky is very cool.
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If you like pink, then Sky is for you.
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Sky goes up in the helicopter and does everything that rider asks her to do.
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Now, what I really love is when there's a problem and the Paw Patrol are called via their pup pads.
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And their pup pads sort of make the sound and they all go together to the center.
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And rider says, there's a problem.
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We need you to help.
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And he's always a really, really organized rider.
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And he says, you go, Zuma, you do this.
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And Chase, you do that.
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And Sky, I want you to do this.
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Really, really good planning and well organized.
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But rider sends them off with their instructions.
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He sends them off.
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And they all know exactly what they have to do.
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And they, oh, it's just so cool.
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When they go down that slide and they fall into these very smart Paw Patrol vehicles.
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And they've all got their unique vehicles.
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And they go out and they do their thing.
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But they're sent out, aren't they?
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And the Bible tells us very, very clearly that God's people are sent out into the world to tell people about Jesus.
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Now, everybody is gifted in different ways.
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And so they can use their gifts to help in that work.
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Somebody might be really good on the computer and they can help with that.
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Or they might be good at speaking.
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Or they might be good mechanics or whatever it is.
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And they can serve God in that way.
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Paw Patrol reminds us that Jesus tells all his children to go out and tell people about him.
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Boys and girls, thank you so much for listening.
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We're going to say the Lord's Prayer together as we pray together.
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Our Father, which art in heaven.
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Amen.
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Hallowed be thy name.
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Thy kingdom come.
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Thy will be done on earth 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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Lead us not into temptation.
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But deliver us from evil.
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For thine is the kingdom.
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The power and the glory.
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Forever and ever.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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I'm going to sing again in Psalm 40.
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Psalm number 40 and sing psalms on page 50 of the psalm books.
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Psalm 40 verses 1 to 8 on page 50.
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I waited long upon the Lord.
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He heard my cry and turned to me.
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He raised me from the slimy pit.
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And from the mire he pulled me free.
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Let's sing to God's praise.
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I waited long upon the Lord.
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I waited long upon the Lord.
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He heard my cry and turned to me.
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He raised me from the slimy pit.
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And from the mire he pulled me free.
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He raised me from the slimy pit.
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And from the mire he pulled me free.
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He set my feet on solid rock.
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A place to stand bold, firm and broad.
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He put a new song in my mouth.
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A joyful hymn of praise to God.
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Many will look with godly fear.
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And on the Lord alone rely.
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Blessed are they who trust the Lord.
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Who shone the proud and gods that lie.
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Thou wonders you have a full heart.
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How many and how great they are.
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You and sorrows are far beyond.
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Their power to number or declare.
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You did not ask that cast or goats.
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He brought a sacrifice for sin.
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But you have opened up my ears.
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You did not seek burnt offering.
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Please, if you are,
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Please, if you are,
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Please, if you are,
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Please, if you are,
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Please, if you are,
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Please, if you are,
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Please, if you are,
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Please, if you are,
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Please, if you are,
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Pure will, my God, pure love is in my heart and soul.
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Thank you.
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Shall we turn in our Bibles, turn with me to Matthew's Gospel and chapter 28.
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Matthew's Gospel and chapter 28, last chapter in the Gospel of Matthew.
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And this is a chapter about the resurrection and the famous words of Jesus to his disciples
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in that last little section of the chapter, what we call the Great Commission.
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And that's what we're going to be thinking about this morning.
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So let me read the whole chapter, Matthew and chapter 28.
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Now after the Sabbath, towards the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and
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the other Mary went to see the tomb.
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And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven
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and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
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His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow.
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And for fear of him, the guards trembled and became like dead men.
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But the angel said to the woman, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified.
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He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
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Come, see the place where he lay.
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Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead.
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And behold, he is going before you to Galilee.
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There you will see him.
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See, I have told you.
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So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples.
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And behold, Jesus met them and said greetings.
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And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him.
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Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid.
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Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.
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While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.
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And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said,
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Tell people.
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His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.
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And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.
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So they took the money and did as they were directed.
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And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
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Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
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And when they saw him, they worshipped him.
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But some doubted.
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And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
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Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
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And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
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Amen.
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This is God's inerrant word.
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And we pray his blessing on that reading.
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Friends, shall we again just bow our heads and pray?
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Let's pray.
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Father, we do thank you for that great commission to go out and make disciples of all nations.
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We bless you, Lord God, that your desire is that all would be saved.
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And we thank you that you use the ordinary to bring about transformation and change in people's lives.
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Father, this morning we are conscious of those who are saddened, of those who are grieving.
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And we do pray that you would be with those who are mourning the loss of loved ones.
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We reflect on the tragedy that took place on Friday evening and a family that is heartbroken.
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We pray for that family.
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We pray, Heavenly Father, that you would be very close to them at this time.
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We thank you, Lord, for the promises of your word that tell us that you are close to the brokenhearted.
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But, Lord, not only those who are grieving, but there will be some who have received difficult news this last week.
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We live in a broken, fallen world.
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And life is full of uncertainty and pain and suffering.
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And so we pray, Lord, for those who are suffering this morning.
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We thank you for the fact that your church is a spiritual hospital.
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We come here not because we have everything together and our lives are all rosy.
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We come here because we are broken and those who are needy.
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We thank you, dear Father, for your grace.
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We thank you for your mercy.
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And we thank you that you are the great comforter.
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So be very near to those who are in particular need of you this morning.
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And we pray for your people.
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We pray, Lord, that you would give to your people the joy of the Lord, whatever their circumstances.
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That they would have that deep assurance of faith.
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That they would have that peace which surpasses all understanding.
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We do pray for the communion services coming up this week.
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We pray for those who will be leading the services and involved in the services.
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We pray that your blessing would be on them.
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We pray that you would give to your people an expectation that they would hear from you and not the wisdom of man.
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And so work by your Holy Spirit amongst your people this week.
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We pray, Heavenly Father.
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We pray for those who do not know you.
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We pray, Lord God, that you would open eyes.
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We pray that you would bring people to the end of themselves.
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That they would turn to you and repent of their sins.
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We ask these things in Jesus' name and for his sake.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Okay.
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Let's sing again in Psalm 130 on page 421.
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Psalm 130 on page 421.
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Lord, from the depths to thee I cried.
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My voice, Lord, do thou hear.
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Unto my supplication's voice give an attentive ear.
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Let's stand to sing to God's praise.
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Amen.
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Lord, from the depths to thee I cried.
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My voice, Lord, do thou hear.
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Come to my supplication's voice give an attentive ear.
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Lord, who shall stand if thou, O Lord, should smile in me with thee.
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But yet with thee forgiveness is that fear thou mayest be.
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I wait for God.
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My soul doth wait.
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My hope is in his word.
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More than may that for morning watch.
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My soul, which part the Lord.
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I say more than may that to watch.
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The morning light to see.
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Let Israel open the Lord.
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Lord, for with him mercy is dear.
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And plenty as redemption is ever found with him.
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And from all his iniquities Israel shall redeem.
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Amen.
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Well, shall we turn back to the passage that I read earlier, Matthew's Gospel in chapter 28.
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And Matthew 28 and verse 18, we read,
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And Jesus came and said to them,
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All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
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Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
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And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
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Well, Billy Graham, the famous evangelist, whatever our thoughts about him,
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he had great influence on many, many people.
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And at one of his meetings in 1954 at London's Haringey Arena,
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someone asked him just before he was going to go out and preach,
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somebody asked him,
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What would you like to come out of this?
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Well, said Billy gravely,
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among other things, at least a thousand missionaries.
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A thousand missionaries.
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And eventually, as we know,
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the influence that he was to have on so many people,
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he was to realize that and so much more.
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The Great Commission.
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This is maybe the main passage in the whole Bible,
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but it's not the only passage in the Bible
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that tells us to go out and tell people about Jesus.
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It tells us about mission.
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Now, remember the context here is that the resurrected Jesus
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is speaking to his disciples.
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The disciples and many people have witnessed the power of God.
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They have been witnesses to the extraordinary power of God at work.
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As Jesus stands there after having died for three days
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and risen after three days,
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he stands there and says to his disciples,
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I want you to go out.
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I want you to make my name known.
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I want you to make disciples of all nations.
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And what we might say the greatest movement in human history,
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not might,
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this is the greatest movement in human history.
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And that movement continues to this day.
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As people share about Jesus Christ in all nations,
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throughout the whole world,
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and as their lives are transformed.
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And so we know in the book of Acts,
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this ripple effect that goes out into all the world.
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As people go out and tell people about Jesus.
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And what we need to remind ourselves this morning
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is that mission is part of the church's DNA.
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Whether we're the free church or whatever church we are,
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that mission is part of the DNA.
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It is part of who we are,
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that this ripple effect goes outside of us.
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I want to notice two things,
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and maybe a half point after that.
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But two main things this morning.
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The first one, as we think about mission,
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is the authority of mission.
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Very, very simple.
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But we're taking from the passage here.
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What is the authority?
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Who is the authority of mission?
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The authority of mission is Jesus Christ.
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And he uses that word authority.
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All authority has been given to me.
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So I want to jump very quickly,
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just for us to get this idea of the authority of Jesus.
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And if you know your Bibles,
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you will know John 17,
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is that high priestly prayer of Jesus
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as he prays to his father.
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And he says,
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he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said,
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Father, the hour has come.
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Glorify your son,
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that the son may glorify you,
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since you have given him authority
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over all flesh.
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There's the hymn, the words of the hymn,
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Rock of Ages,
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cleft for me.
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There is that solid foundation
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of Jesus Christ.
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Notice a couple of things.
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The unmistakable authority of Jesus Christ.
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And we turn to that,
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if you know your Bibles,
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Daniel 7 is a key chapter in the Old Testament.
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And we have the prophecy
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of the Messiah who will come into the world.
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And we read in Daniel 7 and verse 13,
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I saw in the night visions
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and behold,
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with the clouds of heaven,
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there came one like a son of man
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and he came to the ancient of days
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and was presented before him.
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And to him was given dominion,
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authority,
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and glory,
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and a kingdom
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that all peoples, nations, and languages
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should serve him.
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His dominion is an everlasting dominion
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which shall not pass away
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and his kingdom,
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one that shall not be destroyed.
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And so,
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the unmistakable authority of Jesus.
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Notice there,
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in Matthew
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and in Daniel,
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we see that he was given this authority.
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That doesn't mean that he didn't have authority before
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in the Trinity,
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in the Godhead.
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But what it does mean
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is that in his role as mediator,
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he has given this authority
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over all people.
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And so,
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it's an unmistakable authority,
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but it is also an unending authority.
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We've already seen that in that passage in Daniel.
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It is an everlasting authority
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as we think about the kingdom of God
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and the kingdom of Jesus,
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which is everlasting.
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It is eternal.
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Thinking here about authority,
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about the power that Jesus has.
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Think for a moment about
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the power that there is
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in the world.
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Chairman Mao Zedong,
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the famous dictator,
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communist dictator,
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he famously said,
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power grows
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out of the barrel
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of a gun.
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And Alfred Nobel of Sweden,
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he introduced dynamite
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to the world
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in 1866.
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And he called it,
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ironically,
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he called it security powder.
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Isn't that ironic?
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And the idea behind it
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was to promote peace
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and stability across the world.
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And so,
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there are two versions here
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of the power
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that is found in the world.
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And somebody said this,
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from the Babylonian,
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Greek,
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and Roman empires
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through to present tyrannies,
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we have come to recognize
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that every apparatus of state
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dedicated to keeping a people
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docile and obedient
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to a doctrinaire system
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has a limited lifespan.
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And all I'm doing here
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right now
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is I'm comparing
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power of the world
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to the power of Jesus.
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A contrast between
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these two things.
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And because Christ
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is behind mission,
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it is a powerful force.
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It is the most powerful force
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in the history of mankind.
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Because he has authority
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and because he has power,
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it is a powerful force.
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Powerful things happen.
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Powerful things happen to people.
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Lives are transformed
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because of the authority
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of Jesus.
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Think of Central Asia
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without naming any countries.
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But there are things
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happening there
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that the people,
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that the leaders
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in those countries
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don't want people
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to hear about.
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But the gospel is at work
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and lives are really transforming
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because of who Jesus is.
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The gospel is flourishing.
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Lives have been transformed.
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Many of you know
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what I'm talking about here
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because your lives
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have been transformed.
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And so the authority
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of mission,
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we think of the power
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of Jesus.
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And if you are a disciple
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of Jesus this morning,
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if you are a follower
35:59
of Jesus Christ,
36:01
the reason you are able
36:03
to take those moments,
36:08
although we always struggle,
36:10
don't we,
36:10
but take those moments
36:11
and boldly share about Jesus
36:15
and perhaps take the opportunity
36:18
and tell somebody about Jesus,
36:20
the reason why you're able
36:21
to do that
36:22
is because of this power
36:24
that Jesus has.
36:25
We have the Holy Spirit
36:26
inside of us.
36:27
And so there is
36:28
the authority of mission,
36:30
but then we notice secondly
36:31
the mandate for mission.
36:33
So what are we to do?
36:34
What is the church to do?
36:36
The mandate is
36:37
that you are to go out
36:38
and make disciples
36:40
of all nations.
36:42
It's very simple,
36:43
isn't it?
36:43
You are to go out
36:45
and make disciples
36:46
of all nations.
36:48
Let's notice a couple of things
36:49
again about this mandate.
36:51
First of all,
36:51
the scope of the mandate,
36:53
you are to go to all nations.
36:56
I love it.
36:57
You are to go to all people groups
37:00
and tell people about Jesus.
37:03
And we have here
37:04
the inclusivity of the gospel.
37:06
That simply means
37:07
that the gospel message
37:08
is for every human being
37:10
in the whole world.
37:11
The inclusivity of the gospel.
37:14
Isaiah 42, 6 says,
37:16
I, the Lord,
37:17
have called you in righteousness.
37:19
I will take hold of your hand.
37:21
I will keep you
37:22
and make you
37:23
to be a covenant
37:24
for the people
37:25
and a light for the Gentiles.
37:29
Another word for nations
37:31
is that word Gentiles.
37:35
It was, I believe,
37:38
the understanding
37:39
of David Livingston
37:40
when he went out into Africa.
37:43
It was the understanding
37:47
of Eric Little
37:48
after his exploits,
37:50
after winning gold.
37:52
And he had a call from the Lord
37:54
to go to China
37:56
and tell people
37:58
about Jesus Christ.
38:00
It was the understanding
38:01
of William Carey
38:02
to go into India
38:04
and tell people
38:06
about Jesus,
38:07
to go out
38:09
into all parts of the world.
38:10
And so they had this understanding
38:12
of the message
38:15
that the gospel message
38:16
is for all people
38:18
because he says,
38:19
go to all nations
38:21
and tell people
38:22
of the gospel.
38:24
We are in the Black Isle
38:26
and we are in Highland Council.
38:31
Now, the Highland Council,
38:33
the administrative area
38:36
of the Highland Council
38:37
is very limited.
38:39
It's a big area,
38:40
but it's very limited.
38:42
The administration
38:43
takes place
38:44
within a certain
38:45
geographical area.
38:47
They don't do anything
38:49
outside of that area.
38:51
It is only
38:51
in the Highland Council,
38:53
in those villages
38:54
and cities
38:55
within the Highland Council
38:57
that that administration
38:58
takes place.
39:00
The gospel is different.
39:03
Mission is different.
39:04
We told you
39:05
that the mandate
39:06
is to go to all nations.
39:08
We see it in the Bible.
39:10
The psalmist
39:11
in Psalm 117,
39:13
O praise ye the Lord,
39:15
O all you nations.
39:17
The Bible tells us
39:18
that God would have it,
39:21
that all would be saved,
39:22
but not all will be saved,
39:24
but that all hear
39:25
the good news
39:26
of Jesus Christ.
39:28
And there is the scope.
39:29
The scope is to go
39:30
to all nations
39:31
and then we have
39:32
the nature.
39:34
What is it
39:35
that the church
39:36
is to do?
39:37
What is
39:38
Stornoway Free Church
39:40
to do?
39:42
Well,
39:42
we are to
39:43
make disciples.
39:46
The original
39:47
language there used
39:49
basically translates
39:51
to
39:52
teach
39:53
all nations,
39:55
to teach
39:55
all nations.
39:56
Now,
39:57
there are two things
39:57
that are involved here.
39:59
First of all,
39:59
to preach the gospel.
40:01
And we know that
40:02
because Mark tells us
40:04
at the end of his gospel
40:05
that that is the way
40:07
that we make disciples
40:08
is that the gospel
40:09
is proclaimed.
40:12
That that is a call
40:14
to people
40:15
to repent
40:16
of their sins
40:17
and to turn away
40:19
from self
40:20
and turn
40:21
to Christ.
40:22
And by the way,
40:23
there will be some people
40:24
who have never,
40:25
ever bowed the knee
40:26
to Jesus Christ
40:28
this morning.
40:28
And you need to know
40:29
this morning
40:30
that you are
40:30
separated from God.
40:32
And the only thing
40:34
that is going to
40:35
bring you
40:36
into relationship
40:37
to God
40:38
is to repent
40:39
of your sins
40:40
and to turn away
40:41
from yourself
40:42
and to turn
40:43
to Jesus Christ.
40:44
That is the gospel message.
40:46
You are
40:47
in danger.
40:49
You will be
40:49
judged for eternity
40:51
if you do not
40:52
turn to Jesus.
40:53
But the good news
40:54
is that through
40:55
Jesus Christ,
40:56
you can have
40:57
a relationship
40:57
with the creator
40:59
of the whole universe
41:00
and receive
41:02
all the blessings
41:03
that comes
41:04
with having
41:05
that relationship
41:06
with Jesus Christ.
41:07
And so that is
41:07
a challenge for you
41:08
if you do not know
41:10
Jesus this morning.
41:11
But that's the first thing,
41:12
to preach the gospel.
41:14
And the second thing
41:15
is to baptize.
41:18
Baptize.
41:19
To go out,
41:21
make disciples,
41:22
and to baptize.
41:24
Now,
41:24
what is the
41:25
prerequisite
41:26
for baptism?
41:28
It is faith,
41:30
isn't it?
41:30
It is faith
41:31
in Jesus Christ.
41:33
And now we
41:34
as a denomination,
41:36
this church,
41:36
believes in infant
41:38
baptism.
41:39
But there are
41:40
some perhaps
41:41
who don't,
41:43
who believe
41:44
in adult baptism.
41:45
That's absolutely fine.
41:47
There may be people here
41:47
who believe
41:48
in adult baptism.
41:50
But what is important
41:51
is that you are
41:52
a follower
41:53
of Jesus Christ,
41:54
that you are
41:55
baptized,
41:57
whether as a child
41:58
or as an adult,
41:59
that you are
41:59
baptized.
42:00
And that is one
42:01
of the two sacraments
42:02
that we celebrate.
42:04
The Lord's Supper,
42:05
which you're going
42:05
to be celebrating
42:06
next weekend,
42:07
and baptism.
42:09
And so baptism,
42:10
go and make disciples
42:11
and baptize
42:13
in the name
42:13
of the Father
42:14
and the Son
42:15
and of the Holy Spirit.
42:17
The Belgic
42:17
confession
42:18
about baptism
42:19
says,
42:20
in this way,
42:22
he signifies
42:23
to us
42:23
that just as water
42:25
washes away
42:26
the dirt
42:27
of the body
42:28
when it is poured
42:29
on us
42:30
and also is seen
42:31
on the body
42:32
of the baptized
42:33
when it is sprinkled
42:34
on him,
42:35
so too
42:36
the blood of Christ
42:37
does the same thing
42:39
internally
42:40
in the soul
42:41
by the Holy Spirit.
42:43
It washes
42:43
and cleanses
42:45
from its sins
42:47
and transforms us
42:49
from being
42:49
the children
42:50
of wrath
42:51
into the children
42:52
of God.
42:54
Now,
42:54
we need to be clear
42:56
when we talk
42:57
about baptism
42:58
that not all
42:59
are called
43:01
to preach the word,
43:02
not all
43:03
are called
43:04
to administer
43:05
sacraments,
43:06
but what is
43:07
really,
43:08
really important
43:09
is that we are
43:11
all called
43:12
to be missionaries.
43:15
I love,
43:16
actually,
43:17
there's a church
43:17
in Lewis
43:18
with a sign
43:21
above the door
43:22
as you go
43:23
out of the church,
43:25
above the door
43:26
is the sign
43:27
you are about
43:28
to enter
43:29
a mission field.
43:32
You are about
43:33
to enter
43:34
a mission field.
43:35
I love that.
43:38
I love that
43:39
because it takes away
43:40
this fallacy,
43:42
this idea
43:42
that mission
43:43
takes place
43:44
only in places
43:45
like India.
43:46
and actually
43:48
what we are
43:49
reminded this morning
43:50
is that mission
43:50
takes place
43:51
on your doorstep.
43:56
What are some
43:56
of the things
43:57
that we can do?
44:00
We can pray
44:01
for mission.
44:04
I'm pretty sure
44:05
that you do that
44:06
in this church.
44:07
In fact,
44:08
I know you do.
44:09
you pray
44:12
for souls
44:13
to be converted.
44:14
You pray
44:15
for missionaries
44:16
on the mission field.
44:18
So you can pray.
44:20
You can get involved
44:21
with mission.
44:23
You can support
44:25
mission
44:26
financially.
44:28
And maybe God
44:29
is placing
44:30
on your heart
44:31
this morning
44:32
a call
44:33
to go
44:35
and tell people
44:36
about Jesus Christ.
44:39
Maybe this is
44:40
just one of the
44:41
various ways
44:43
he is knocking
44:44
at your door
44:45
on your heart
44:46
for you
44:48
to do something
44:49
about the mandate
44:50
that has been
44:51
given to his children
44:52
to tell people
44:54
about Jesus Christ.
44:57
Now,
44:58
we need to be
44:58
very aware
44:59
that not all of us
45:00
are called
45:01
to go to India
45:03
or to China
45:04
or to Africa
45:05
or to the mainland
45:06
and actually
45:07
verbally
45:08
tell people
45:10
about Jesus
45:11
although we are
45:11
all to
45:12
always be ready
45:14
to give a reason
45:14
for the hope
45:15
that is inside of us.
45:16
Hopefully,
45:17
there's something
45:18
that is bubbling
45:18
out of us
45:19
because of what
45:20
Christ has done
45:21
for us
45:22
on the cross.
45:23
But there are
45:24
various ways
45:26
in which we
45:27
can get involved.
45:28
I love the
45:29
missionary organization
45:30
MAF,
45:31
Mission Aviation
45:33
Fellowship.
45:33
And what comes
45:35
from the work
45:36
of MAF
45:37
is that
45:38
mission
45:39
is not
45:40
necessarily
45:41
speaking on
45:43
the street
45:43
corner
45:44
or on a church
45:44
and actually
45:45
verbally telling
45:46
people about Jesus.
45:47
You can go
45:48
if you're a pilot
45:49
or a mechanic
45:50
or if you have
45:51
administrative skills
45:52
or you are good
45:54
with technology.
45:55
We have a family
45:56
in our church
45:58
in Fort Rose
45:59
who were
46:02
in Papua New Guinea
46:03
and he was
46:05
a specialist
46:06
in IT
46:07
and he was
46:08
supporting
46:09
the work
46:10
of Wycliffe
46:10
with his skills
46:12
in technology.
46:16
And I think
46:17
when we think
46:18
about mission
46:19
I think it's
46:20
good for us
46:21
to dream
46:22
to dream
46:25
a dream
46:25
of what
46:27
the Lord
46:27
can do
46:28
through
46:29
a bunch
46:30
of ordinary
46:30
people
46:31
like you
46:32
and I.
46:34
And so let's
46:34
dream for a moment.
46:35
Imagine
46:35
the highlands
46:36
and islands
46:37
and that's
46:39
the Lord's
46:41
people
46:41
evangelicals
46:42
bought into
46:44
the priority
46:46
of mission.
46:47
The priority
46:49
of telling
46:50
people
46:50
about
46:51
Jesus
46:51
Christ
46:52
and increasingly
46:53
became
46:53
burdened
46:54
to either
46:55
pray
46:55
or give
46:56
financially
46:56
or be
46:57
involved
46:57
in some
46:58
way
46:58
even
46:59
coming
47:00
to the
47:00
elders
47:00
and say
47:01
you know
47:01
I was
47:02
really
47:03
challenged
47:03
by what
47:03
was said
47:04
there
47:04
about
47:04
mission.
47:05
Is there
47:05
some way
47:06
that I
47:06
can serve
47:07
the church
47:07
in this
47:08
field?
47:09
Are there
47:09
missionaries
47:10
that you
47:10
as a church
47:11
support?
47:12
You know
47:12
I'd actually
47:12
like to be
47:13
involved
47:13
with that
47:14
because I
47:14
see that
47:15
it is
47:15
biblical.
47:16
I see
47:16
that the
47:16
Lord Jesus
47:17
Christ
47:17
has given
47:18
us the
47:19
mandate
47:19
to do
47:20
that we
47:22
became
47:22
burdened
47:23
to equip
47:23
people
47:24
for
47:24
mission.
47:26
In
47:26
Fort Rose
47:27
we're getting
47:28
really excited
47:29
about the
47:30
first holiday
47:30
club that
47:31
we're having
47:31
in a long
47:32
time there
47:32
on that
47:33
section of
47:34
the Black
47:34
Isle and
47:35
we're having
47:35
a holiday
47:36
club in
47:36
early August.
47:37
I wonder
47:38
if you can
47:38
pray for
47:39
that.
47:40
And what
47:40
I'm saying
47:41
to our
47:41
people is
47:42
just imagine
47:43
for a
47:43
moment
47:43
30
47:44
young
47:45
primary
47:46
school
47:47
kids
47:47
who
47:48
have
47:48
never
47:48
darkened
47:49
the
47:49
door
47:49
of
47:49
a
47:49
church
47:50
who
47:51
will
47:51
hear
47:52
about
47:52
Jesus
47:52
Christ
47:53
for the
47:53
first
47:53
times
47:54
in
47:54
their
47:54
lives.
47:56
I wonder
47:57
if you can
47:58
pray for
47:58
that
47:58
with us
47:59
and pray
48:01
for the
48:01
organization
48:02
and pray
48:03
for that
48:05
holiday
48:05
club.
48:06
You're a
48:06
big
48:07
congregation
48:07
and there
48:08
are all
48:08
sorts of
48:08
things going
48:09
on in
48:09
this
48:09
congregation.
48:11
Wonderful.
48:13
Wonderful.
48:14
Because we're
48:15
doing what
48:16
we're called
48:16
to do.
48:17
Now there
48:17
is a lot
48:18
more to
48:19
this passage
48:19
which I'll
48:20
say in
48:21
just a
48:21
moment.
48:22
Go and
48:22
make
48:22
disciples of
48:23
all nations.
48:24
Baptize
48:25
them.
48:26
But also
48:26
to teach
48:29
them what
48:29
I have
48:30
taught you.
48:31
So discipleship
48:32
comes into
48:33
it as well.
48:34
And so we've
48:34
seen the
48:34
authority of
48:35
mission.
48:36
We've seen
48:36
the mandate
48:37
of mission.
48:38
But we need
48:38
to see as
48:39
well the
48:40
extension of
48:41
mission if
48:42
you like.
48:42
I'm just
48:43
using that
48:43
as a way
48:44
to describe
48:45
discipleship.
48:46
We become
48:47
disciples of
48:48
Jesus Christ
48:49
when we
48:51
are new
48:52
creations.
48:53
When we
48:54
are being
48:55
transformed by
48:57
God the
48:57
Holy Spirit.
48:58
We then
48:58
become
48:59
disciples and
49:00
we need to
49:00
be discipling
49:01
each other
49:03
and growing
49:05
in our
49:08
faith.
49:08
And so we
49:09
can't talk
49:10
about the
49:10
great commission
49:11
without mentioning
49:12
the importance
49:14
of discipleship.
49:15
Verse 20
49:16
tells us what
49:17
it is.
49:18
Teach them
49:18
to observe
49:19
all that I
49:20
have commanded
49:21
you and
49:22
behold I
49:23
am with you
49:23
always to
49:24
the end
49:25
of the
49:26
age.
49:27
The
49:28
authority of
49:28
mission,
49:30
the mandate
49:30
for mission,
49:32
and the
49:32
extension
49:33
of mission.
49:37
Again,
49:37
let's dream
49:38
just for a
49:38
moment.
49:40
A dream
49:41
that ETS,
49:42
the college
49:43
in Edinburgh,
49:46
continues to
49:47
equip people
49:48
to minister
49:48
in Scotland
49:49
and all
49:50
over the
49:50
world.
49:51
And that
49:52
ripple effect
49:52
of the
49:53
great commission
49:53
as we see
49:55
in Acts
49:55
continues to
49:56
go out.
49:57
And we
49:57
in a very
49:58
small way
49:59
are involved
50:00
with that.
50:01
Pray for
50:01
ETS and
50:02
the work
50:03
of ETS
50:03
as men
50:05
are being
50:05
equipped to
50:07
lead the
50:07
church and
50:08
to go.
50:09
Men and
50:09
women are
50:09
being equipped
50:10
to go and
50:11
tell people
50:12
about Jesus
50:13
Christ in
50:13
Scotland and
50:14
to the ends
50:15
of the
50:16
world.
50:17
Dream just
50:17
for a
50:18
moment that
50:20
this congregation
50:21
becomes
50:22
increasingly
50:23
burdened to
50:26
obey the
50:27
great commission
50:28
and tell
50:28
people about
50:29
Jesus Christ.
50:32
Dream just
50:32
for a
50:33
moment that
50:33
in ten
50:33
years time
50:34
people would
50:35
look at
50:35
this congregation
50:35
and see
50:37
that the
50:38
Lord has
50:38
blessed this
50:39
congregation
50:39
and they
50:40
have grabbed
50:41
that burden
50:43
to go out
50:45
into the
50:46
world
50:47
with the
50:48
good news
50:49
and that
50:50
you would
50:52
continue to
50:53
do that
50:53
and as
50:54
God's word
50:55
is preached
50:55
here that
50:56
as you are
50:57
equipped to
50:57
be disciples
50:59
you are also
51:00
equipped to
51:02
tell people
51:02
about Jesus
51:04
the great
51:06
ripple effect
51:06
of the
51:07
gospel.
51:07
Let me
51:08
finish
51:09
going back
51:11
to Billy
51:12
Graham
51:12
and there
51:15
is an
51:15
organization
51:16
called
51:16
African
51:17
Enterprise
51:17
and African
51:19
Enterprise
51:19
engages
51:20
in evangelism
51:22
and relief
51:24
work in the
51:25
great cities
51:26
of Africa.
51:26
Now African
51:28
Enterprise
51:28
is truly
51:29
African
51:29
in being
51:32
led and
51:33
African
51:34
inspired
51:34
but African
51:36
Enterprise
51:37
began in
51:38
Madison Square
51:39
Gardens with
51:40
a young
51:40
white South
51:41
African by
51:42
the name
51:43
of Michael
51:44
Cassidy.
51:46
Michael
51:47
Cassidy was
51:48
under the
51:48
preaching of
51:48
the gospel
51:49
and he was
51:50
fired up
51:51
and he
51:52
sensed a
51:53
call by the
51:54
Lord to
51:55
go into
51:56
Africa and
51:56
evangelize the
51:57
cities of
51:59
Africa.
52:00
And there
52:01
are a couple
52:01
of lessons
52:01
in that for
52:04
us this
52:04
morning as
52:05
we finish
52:05
off.
52:06
The first
52:07
lesson is
52:07
this, that
52:08
the preaching
52:08
of the
52:09
gospel touches
52:10
lives and
52:12
goes throughout
52:13
the world.
52:14
It is the
52:14
greatest human
52:15
movement in
52:16
human history
52:17
and the most
52:18
powerful human
52:19
movement in
52:20
human history.
52:21
And so that's
52:22
what happens
52:22
when people
52:23
tell people
52:24
about Jesus,
52:26
when people
52:27
gossip the
52:28
gospel to
52:29
their neighbors
52:29
and when the
52:30
gospel is
52:31
preached in
52:32
a church like
52:32
this.
52:33
And so there
52:34
is that ripple
52:34
effect.
52:35
But another
52:36
lesson is this,
52:37
that there is
52:38
a whole army,
52:40
more than an
52:41
army, of
52:42
people who
52:43
are not
52:43
recognized like
52:45
Billy Graham
52:46
or Michael
52:47
Cassidy or
52:48
Callum
52:49
Motto Smith
52:49
or James
52:51
McKeever
52:51
who are
52:53
God's
52:53
soldiers
52:54
who are
52:55
transforming
52:56
lives.
52:58
Again, you
52:59
don't need to
53:00
be a preacher.
53:01
We are all
53:03
the soldiers
53:03
of God who
53:04
have been
53:04
given a
53:05
mandate.
53:06
Whether we
53:07
can give
53:07
ten pounds
53:08
a month
53:09
to mission
53:09
or whether
53:11
we can help
53:11
in administration
53:12
or whether
53:14
we can serve
53:15
in a church
53:15
like this
53:16
whose mandate,
53:17
part of their
53:18
mandate because
53:18
this is a
53:19
biblical church
53:20
to go out
53:21
into all
53:22
the world
53:22
and support
53:23
missionaries
53:23
and do
53:24
something on
53:25
the mission
53:25
field.
53:26
However small
53:27
it is,
53:28
however big
53:29
it is,
53:29
perhaps you
53:30
won't be
53:30
recognized for
53:32
what you do,
53:33
but the Lord
53:34
recognizes you
53:35
and the Lord
53:37
knows what you
53:38
are doing
53:39
and he is
53:40
pleased.
53:41
If we are
53:42
involved with
53:44
mission and
53:45
you will arrive
53:46
hopefully and
53:47
the Lord
53:48
will say,
53:50
well done
53:50
good and
53:52
faithful servant.
53:54
You know,
53:54
the rest of
53:56
the people,
53:57
many people
53:57
didn't know
53:58
what you
53:58
were doing
53:58
but I
53:59
see what
53:59
you're doing.
54:01
Well done
54:02
good and
54:03
faithful servant.
54:05
Let's pray.
54:08
Father, we
54:09
thank you
54:09
for the
54:11
authority of
54:12
mission.
54:12
We thank you
54:13
for Jesus.
54:14
we thank you
54:15
for the
54:15
mandate for
54:16
mission and
54:18
we thank you
54:18
for the
54:20
event which
54:22
allows us
54:23
to tell
54:24
people about
54:25
Jesus.
54:26
We thank you
54:26
for his
54:27
death and
54:27
resurrection on
54:28
the cross and
54:29
we thank you
54:30
for your
54:31
amazing grace
54:33
that you
54:34
poured out on
54:35
your people
54:35
by sending
54:37
him to die
54:38
for our
54:38
sakes.
54:40
Father,
54:40
help us to
54:41
die every
54:41
day to
54:42
ourselves and
54:44
to live
54:44
to Christ
54:45
and bless
54:46
your people.
54:48
Send them
54:49
out to
54:51
serve you
54:51
in whatever
54:52
small ways
54:53
that may be,
54:54
whether it's
54:55
prayer,
54:55
whether it's
54:56
financially,
54:57
or whether
54:57
it's actually
54:58
going.
54:59
Lord,
54:59
equip them
55:00
and send
55:01
them out,
55:01
we pray.
55:02
We ask it
55:03
in Jesus.
55:04
Amen.
55:05
Amen.
55:06
Shall we
55:07
conclude our
55:09
service by
55:10
singing in
55:10
Psalm 126?
55:11
Psalm 126
55:13
and verses
55:14
126.
55:16
Psalm 126
55:17
on page 171,
55:20
when Zion's
55:21
fortunes God
55:22
restored,
55:22
it was a
55:23
dream come
55:23
true.
55:24
Our mouths
55:25
were then
55:26
with laughter
55:26
filled,
55:27
our tongues
55:28
with songs
55:29
and news.
55:30
Psalm 126
55:31
on page
55:32
171,
55:34
the man
55:35
who bearing
55:36
seed to
55:36
sow
55:37
goes out
55:38
with tears
55:39
of grief
55:39
will come
55:40
again with
55:41
songs of
55:42
joy
55:42
bearing
55:43
his harvest
55:45
sheaf.
55:45
Let's stand
55:46
to sing
55:47
to God's
55:47
praise.
55:48
song 126
55:49
when Zion's
55:55
fortunes
55:57
got
55:57
restored,
55:59
it
56:00
was a
56:02
dream
56:03
come
56:04
true.
56:06
Our
56:07
lives
56:08
were then
56:09
with
56:10
laughter
56:11
filled,
56:13
our tongues
56:14
with songs
56:16
anew.
56:19
The
56:20
nations
56:21
said
56:23
the
56:24
Lord
56:24
has
56:25
done
56:26
great
56:27
things
56:28
for
56:28
Israel.
56:32
The
56:33
Lord
56:34
did
56:35
mighty
56:36
things
56:37
for
56:38
us
56:38
and
56:40
joy
56:40
our
56:41
hearts
56:42
knew
56:43
well.
56:45
restore
56:47
our
56:48
fortunes
56:50
gracious
56:51
Lord
56:52
like
56:53
streams
56:54
in
56:55
desert
56:56
soil.
56:59
A
57:00
joyful
57:01
harvest
57:03
will
57:04
reward
57:05
the
57:06
weeping
57:08
sowers
57:10
tall.
57:12
The
57:13
man
57:14
who
57:15
bearing
57:16
seed to
57:18
sow
57:19
goes
57:20
out
57:21
with
57:21
tears
57:23
of
57:24
grief
57:25
will
57:26
come
57:27
again
57:29
with
57:29
songs
57:30
of
57:31
joy
57:32
bearing
57:33
his
57:34
harvest
57:35
sheep.
57:37
now to
57:41
him
57:41
who
57:41
is
57:41
able
57:42
to
57:42
keep
57:42
you
57:42
from
57:42
stumbling
57:43
and to
57:44
present
57:44
you
57:45
blameless
57:46
before the
57:47
presence
57:47
of his
57:48
glory
57:48
with
57:48
great
57:49
joy
57:49
to
57:50
the
57:50
only
57:50
God
57:51
our
57:51
Savior
57:51
through
57:52
Jesus
57:53
Christ
57:54
our
57:54
Lord
57:55
be
57:55
glory
57:55
majesty
57:56
dominion
57:57
and
57:58
authority
57:58
before
57:59
all time
58:00
and now
58:01
forever
58:02
Amen
58:03
just
58:09
up
58:10
there
58:10
voy
58:31
voy
58:33
!
58:31
voy
58:33
!
58:31
voy
58:33
!
58:31
voy
58:33
!
58:31
voy
58:33
!
58:31
voy
58:40
Thank you.