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What's in a Blessing? · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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I'm delighted again this evening to welcome Reverend Colin Dow to the pulpit.
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! He was saying this morning he was here as a student placement 24 years ago.
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! So some of you will remember him, I'm sure.
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Some of you might be a new face for you, but we're delighted to have him with us.
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Colin is a minister in Crow Road Free Church in Glasgow,
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what was previously St. Glasgow City Free Church.
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And we're thankful for the ministry tours already today and look forward to his ministry this evening as well.
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We pray God's blessing on Colin and the family.
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We've been delighted to have them with us as well today as they return to Glasgow in the coming days as well.
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Let the Lord be with them.
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Thank you very much for your warm welcome.
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Let us worship God and sing to his praise in Psalm 146.
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Psalm 146 from St. Sams.
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This is page 191.
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We shall sing the whole psalm to the praise of God.
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Psalm 146 from verse 1 to verse 10.
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Praise the Lord, my soul will praise him.
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I'll extol him all my days.
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While I live, to God my Saviour,
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from my heart I will sing praise.
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Let's stand as we sing to God's praise.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Thank you, Father, my soul will praise him.
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Thank you, Father, my soul will praise him.
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Thank you, Father, my soul will praise him.
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Thank you, Father, my soul will praise him.
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Oh, praise him.
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I'll extort it all my days.
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I'll I live to God my Savior.
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From my heart I will sing praise.
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God, who do trust in princes?
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Mortal men who cannot say.
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All their plans will come to nothing.
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When they perish in the grave.
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Blessed is the one who truly looks for heaven.
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To Jacob's God.
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Blessed is the one who places all his hope upon the Lord.
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He who made the earth and heaven.
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And the sea split all their store.
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He who gives his heavenly promise.
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He who is faithful evermore.
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He delivers from oppression.
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And relieves the hungry's might.
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He releases those in prison.
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To the life the Lord gives sight.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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He who does not know.
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Let us pray.
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O Lord our God, we join with the psalmist
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in calling upon our souls to praise you
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and to extol you all the days of our lives.
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For you are God, our Savior.
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You are the one who made the heaven and the earth,
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the sea with all its store.
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You are the one who keeps every promise.
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You are the one who is faithful.
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You are the one who delivers us from oppression
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and relieves the plight of the hungry,
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who releases those in prison and gives the blind their sight.
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You are the one who raises those who are bowed down.
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For you, O Lord, delight in righteousness,
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protecting and caring for strangers,
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for the widow and for the fatherless.
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You are the one who frustrates the purposes of the wicked.
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You reign to every generation, O Lord.
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For over a hundred years,
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the message of your sovereignty has been proclaimed from this pulpit.
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That our God reigns.
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You reign then, you reign still.
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You will always reign as King and Lord.
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And so our souls praise you.
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Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
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one true and living God,
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help me worship you for who you are
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and for all that you have done.
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Our relentless Redeemer.
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We thank you that you have demonstrated
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your love for us in this.
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While we were yet sinners,
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Christ died for us.
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The word became flesh and dwelt among us.
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We have beheld his glory.
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How then do we see the glory
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of God on the cross?
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If it is not that your own Son,
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O Lord our Father,
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was humiliated
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and crucified in our place,
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bearing the punishment our sin deserved,
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bearing shame and scoffing rude,
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in my place condemned he stood,
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sealed my pardon with his blood.
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Hallelujah.
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What a Savior.
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We draw near to you tonight
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in the name of Jesus
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as your people.
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We thank you for the faith
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that you have given us,
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for even the faith
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by which we are saved
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is a gift from yourself.
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Lord, we may have small faith,
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we may have great faith.
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It's not our faith that counts,
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but the one in whom we have faith.
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We thank you that you, O Lord,
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are forever committed to us
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in love and covenant promise.
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You have said,
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I will never leave you,
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I will never forsake you.
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Behold, I am with you
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to the very end of the age.
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Our Lord God and loving Heavenly Father,
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we pray that you would comfort
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those in distress.
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We pray that you would give hope
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to those in despair.
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We pray that you would give strength
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to those who are exhausted.
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We pray that you would give joy
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to those who are depressed.
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We pray that you would give serenity
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to those who are anxious.
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We thank you that you are
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the God of our hearts,
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the God who overcomes our hearts
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and is greater than our hearts.
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We pray that you would speak truth
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to us this evening.
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We pray for our church here.
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We ask that you would
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open the floodgates of heaven
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and send your spirit
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to begin a movement
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in these islands once again
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that would cause people
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to fill the church,
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to rush into the church,
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eager to hear the good news
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of Jesus Christ and be saved.
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We pray, Lord,
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that you would do a work
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here in Kenneth Street.
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Once again, Lord,
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we thank you for Callum Smith here.
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We thank you for Callum
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for his gifting
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and for his godliness.
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We thank you for the way
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that he shepherds
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and cares for this congregation.
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We pray that you would bless him
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and Johan and the family
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richly
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in their ministry among us.
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and we pray, Lord,
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that as he looks for a colleague
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and as we look for a colleague
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that you would give us
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unanimity of heart and spirit,
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focusing our minds
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upon what you would have for us,
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not upon what our
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personal preferences may be.
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We pray for our denomination
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as a whole.
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We ask, Lord,
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that you would help us
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to remain faithful
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to your word.
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We do not stand
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on the laurels of our heritage.
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As much as we look forward
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to a dynamic future
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of your blessing.
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We pray for the growth
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of the church
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all over Scotland.
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Lord, we ask
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that you would work powerfully
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in every pulpit
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from which your word
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is preached this evening.
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We remember the missionary
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endeavour of your church
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all over the world.
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We thank you for the growth
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of your church
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in many nations.
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We also remember
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those nations
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where there's
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great challenge.
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We remember the nation
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of Japan
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where a tiny church
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is faced with
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further decline.
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We pray for your people
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there
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in that
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highly populated country,
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technologically advanced
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and yet spiritually dead.
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Lord,
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will you not open
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the floodgates of heaven
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and pour down
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your spirit
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upon that great nation?
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We pray, O Lord,
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for our world.
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We ask, Lord,
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that you would make
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wars to cease,
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that you would frustrate
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the purposes
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of wicked men,
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that you would relieve
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the plight of the oppressed
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!
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And the hungry.
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And Lord,
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we pray for
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our politicians
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and those
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in authority over us.
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We especially
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remember them
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as they debate
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the proposed
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euthanasia bill.
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And we ask, O Lord,
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that your word
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would take
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front and centre
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in all
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of their decisions.
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Lord,
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we ask and pray
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for this bill
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not to go forward,
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for it to be defeated
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in both
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Holyrood and Westminster.
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And we ask that
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rather than ending life,
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which is your prerogative,
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you would help us
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to invest our
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care and resource
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and money
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in preserving life
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and giving dignity
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to those
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who are dying.
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And Lord,
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we consider now
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our own personal needs.
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We are hungry
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for your word
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this evening.
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That's why we're here.
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So will you fill us
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with a new vision
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of Jesus Christ?
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But Lord,
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there may be some
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among us here
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this evening
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who do not yet know you,
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who are here
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by force of habit,
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or because they have been
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forced to be here
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by their parents
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or by peer pressure.
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But do not know you.
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They have not yet
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discovered
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the great meaning
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of life
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and the pearl
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of great price
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that is to be found
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in Jesus Christ.
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Lord,
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will your spirit
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do a work among us
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this evening
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that breaks open
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the hardness
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of our hearts?
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will your spirit
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do a miracle
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of grace
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within us
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this evening
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to transform
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our hearts
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of stone
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into hearts
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of flesh?
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Help us all,
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O Lord,
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this evening
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as we come
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to come
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with that attitude
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of those Gentiles
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who came to the disciples
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saying,
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Sir,
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we would see Jesus.
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Now we ask
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all these things
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with the forgiveness
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of our sin
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in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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We're going to sing again
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this time in Psalm 1.
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This is on page
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number 200.
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It's from the
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Scottish Psalter.
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Psalm 1.
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That man
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hath perfect blessedness
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who walketh
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not astray
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in counsel
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of ungodly men
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nor stands
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in sinner's way.
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nor sitteth
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in the scorner's chair.
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But placeth
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his delight
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upon God's law
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and meditates
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on his law
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day and night.
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Psalm 1,
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the whole psalm
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to God's praise.
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best best best
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nor stands in sinners' way.
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Lord sitteth in the scorners' ship,
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and raiseth his delight.
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At most grog, so grog, so grog, so grog,
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so grog, so grog, so grog, so grog, so grog,
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We shall be like a tree that goes near planted by our earth.
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Which in this season yields its fruit, and its sweet faith ever.
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And only thou shalt prosper well, now with it are not so.
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But like they are bound to virtue, which when right to our goal.
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In judgment therefore shall most and such as the God we are.
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Nor in the assembly of the earth shall we yet men appear.
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For while the way of God remain, unto the Lord is Lord.
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Where as the way of the earth shall white be overgrown.
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We are going to read now in God's word from the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 13.
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2 Corinthians chapter 13.
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2 Corinthians chapter 13.
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This is the word of God.
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This is the third time I am coming to you.
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Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
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I warn those who sinned before and all the others.
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And I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit.
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That if I come again I will not spare them.
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Since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me.
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He is not weak in dealing with you.
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But is powerful among you.
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For he was crucified in weakness.
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For he lives by the power of God.
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For we also are weak in him.
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But in dealing with you.
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We will live with him by the power of God.
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Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.
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Test yourselves.
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Or do you not realize this about yourselves.
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That Jesus Christ is in you.
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Unless indeed you fail to meet the test.
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I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.
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But we pray to God that you may do no wrong.
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That not that we may appear to have met the test.
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But that you may do what is right.
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Though we may seem to have failed.
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For we cannot do anything against the truth.
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But only for the truth.
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For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong.
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Your restoration is what we pray for.
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For this reason I write these things while I am away from you.
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So that when I come.
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I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority.
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That the Lord has given me for building up.
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And not for tearing down.
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Finally brothers.
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Rejoice.
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Aim for restoration.
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Comfort one another.
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Agree with one another.
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Live in peace.
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And the God of love and peace will be with you.
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Greet one another with a holy kiss.
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All the saints greet you.
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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And the love of God.
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And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
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Be with you all.
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This is the word of God.
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Before we turn back to that passage.
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We'll sing in Psalm 19.
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On page 23.
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Psalm 19.
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On page 23.
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From which we shall sing.
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Verses 7.
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To verse 14.
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Psalm 19.
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Page 23.
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From verse 7.
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The perfect law of God.
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Revives the soul of man.
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His statutes which are sure.
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Make wise the simple one.
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The precepts of the Lord are right.
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And fill the heart.
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With great delight.
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Let's sing Psalm 19.
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From verse 7 to the end.
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To God's praise.
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The perfect law of God.
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Revives the soul of man.
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His statutes which are sure.
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Make wise the simple one.
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The precepts of the Lord are right.
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And fill the heart with great delight.
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God's praise.
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For great, the earth commands.
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Share light on what we see.
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The fear of God is pure.
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At last eternally.
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The standards of the Lord express.
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His perfect truth and righteousness.
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The power of God is pure.
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The power of God is pure.
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The power of God is pure.
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The power of God is pure.
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The power of God is pure.
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The power of God is pure.
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You can discern His cause, forgive my hidden sin, keep me from willful deeds, may they not rule within.
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And then I shall be free from blame and guiltless of transgressions.
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Lord, let the words I speak, be pleasing in Your sight, and may my endless thoughts be in Your judgment right.
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O Lord, You are the rock to me, You have redeemed and sent me free.
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May I begin by once again thanking you from the bottom of my heart for the welcome that myself and my family have received this weekend up here.
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It's been wonderful for Kathmer and myself to renew friendships.
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You don't seem to have changed one little bit in the last 24 years.
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As I said this morning, I have far less hair and far more children than I had back then.
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But you don't seem to have changed at all, except the man standing beside me, Callum Smith.
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He is your minister now.
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My first experience of Callum was when he was inducted to Dumfries Free Church.
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And over the years, I felt very blessed to work with him on the presbytery.
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And it's wonderful to see him as your shepherd at this time.
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But of course, we pray for a colleague for him.
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Please turn with me back to 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 14.
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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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At the end of every service of worship, the presiding minister will raise his hands and pronounce the benediction.
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The word benediction literally means blessing or more literally to speak well.
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The minister on behalf of God dismisses God's people with his blessing upon them.
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The service concludes with the minister, or God rather, speaking well over his people.
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Pronouncing both his pleasure in them and his intention for them.
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His pleasure in them in that they are his children whom he loves, protects, and will provide for.
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And his intention to strengthen them for all the challenges which lie in the week ahead.
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So the benediction is an essential component in every Christian service of worship.
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It is the public announcement of God's blessing upon his people.
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As Christians, we are to listen carefully to the benediction.
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Recognizing it's for us.
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It's God's gift to us.
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It's God's words of pleasure and intention for us.
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Whatever issues I may be facing, whether grief or depression, whether joy or thankfulness, anxiety or doubt,
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be it peace or tranquility, God wants me to experience his pleasure in me as his child and his loving intention toward me.
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Now the benediction that I choose to use most often is this one taken from 2 Corinthians 13, 14.
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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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Now we're tempted, are we not, because we've heard these words so often,
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not to think too deeply about what they mean.
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In truth, we're rather spoiled by them because there's a richness here which goes beyond anything the world can offer us.
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God blesses us not so much with grace, love and fellowship, although these are wonderful things.
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God blesses us with himself and in essence says to us,
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I will know you this week and you will know me this week.
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I'll be with you through all the trials of this week.
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Know this, my beloved child, I take great pleasure in you.
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I love you and I'll be with you always.
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Out of this benediction in 2 Corinthians 13, verse 14, we could say many things,
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but I want to reflect this evening on just three.
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First of all, it tells us about God.
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Then it tells us about salvation.
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And then it tells us about prayer.
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Tells us about God, salvation and prayer.
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At the end of the service this evening, listen carefully to the good words of this benediction.
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They are for us as a Christian church.
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And they are for us as individual Christians.
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First of all then, these words tell us about God.
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These words tell us about God.
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My wife and I were privileged recently to travel down to Newcastle to attend a celebration for the ministry of Dr. Ian Hamilton.
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Known to many of us, Ian is an influential Christian pastor, writer and theologian.
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He has influenced many of us, myself included, for the good.
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And inspired us to be the best servants of Christ it's possible for us to be.
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At that celebration dinner, one of the speakers highlighted some of the distinctive emphases of Ian's preaching.
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And he read something that Ian had written some years ago.
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Ian wrote these words in a banner of Truth magazine.
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We as Christians worship one God in three persons.
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Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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This is the chief and distinctive doctrine of the Christian faith.
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The doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
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It's a mysterious doctrine without any earthly pattern.
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But it's a doctrine we must believe if we are to call ourselves Christians.
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It's a doctrine clearly taught in the Bible even if the word Trinity is never used.
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We serve one God.
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But the Father is God.
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And the Son is God.
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And the Holy Spirit is God.
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The early fathers of the church, like Athanasius of Alexandria, stood firmly on the truth of the Trinity.
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This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the formulation of the Nicene Creed.
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The fundamental confession of the Christian faith.
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In my church, we'll be studying the Nicene Creed a little later this year.
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Athanasius was the key figure in its formulation.
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We may be familiar with some of the language of the Nicene Creed by virtue of the Christmas carol,
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O come all ye faithful, where in verse 2, it quotes verbatim some of the language of the Creed.
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The Apostles' Creed, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
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The Apostles' Creed, for as valuable as it is, does not definitively declare the divinity either of Jesus as the Son nor of the Holy Spirit.
31:52
As such, a Mormon or a Jehovah's Witness can recite the Apostles' Creed.
31:59
But not the Nicene Creed.
32:02
For in unmistakable terms, the Nicene Creed declares,
32:06
The Son is God, the Father is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.
32:11
They are not of a similar essence to God.
32:15
They are the same.
32:16
Later, the Nicene Creed declares,
32:21
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
32:27
With the Father and the Son, he is to be worshipped and glorified.
32:33
People often ask whether Christians worship the same God as Muslims or Jews.
32:42
The answer is an emphatic no.
32:48
No.
32:50
We believe in the divine trinity.
32:53
It is the cardinal doctrine of our faith.
32:57
Both Jews and Muslims worship a God who we may describe as a monad.
33:02
One God, one person, who alone, eternally has been alone,
33:08
and as alone, has nothing else other than himself to love.
33:14
For the Christian, because God is trinity, love stands central to the being of God.
33:21
The Father has always loved the Son and the Spirit, for they are not him.
33:25
The Son has always loved the Father and the Spirit, for they are not him.
33:31
And the Spirit has always loved the Father and the Son, for they are not him.
33:38
Such a strong inner Trinitarian love allows that infinite, eternal, and unchangeable love
33:46
each person of the Trinity has for the other to spill over into all he's created.
33:52
It's the doctrine of the Trinity which allows the Apostle John to say,
33:58
God is love.
34:01
So to the answer of whether Christians worship the same God as Muslims, Jews, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses,
34:08
the answer is an emphatic no.
34:12
There is no common ground between the God of these religions.
34:16
For their gods are monads, our God is divine Trinity, three in one.
34:24
The God who offers himself to us in this blessing, this benediction,
34:29
is the God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the fullness of his Trinitarian glory.
34:35
The great church father, Gregory Nazianzus, beautifully said,
34:43
No sooner do I conceive of the one, than I am illumined by the splendor of the three.
34:52
No sooner do I distinguish him, than I am carried back to the one.
34:56
No sooner do I conceive of the one.
34:57
No sooner do I conceive of the one.
34:58
It's a beautiful mystery.
35:01
Don't feel threatened by it.
35:04
Feel invited by it to participate,
35:08
even as the overflow of each divine person's love for the other
35:12
overflows into the life of the church
35:15
and into the life of individual believers.
35:18
Now one of Ian Hamilton's famous phrases is that
35:26
every doctrine of the Christian faith must be practical
35:30
or it's of no use.
35:32
Every doctrine of the Christian faith must be practical.
35:35
The doctrine of the Trinity is the cornerstone of our faith.
35:39
So it's not surprising it is the most practical
35:41
of all the doctrines of Christianity.
35:44
What warrant do I have to believe
35:50
that God loves me?
35:55
How do I know that God loves me?
36:00
When I've failed him,
36:02
when I've backslidden,
36:04
when I've become spiritually cold,
36:07
when I've sunk into pits of depression and anxiety
36:10
where I cannot but hate myself,
36:12
when I've fallen away from him,
36:15
what assurance do I have
36:17
that God loves me?
36:21
It is because
36:23
by virtue of his being Trinity,
36:27
God is love.
36:30
It is more natural for him to love
36:32
than it is for me to breathe.
36:36
Among many other warrants,
36:39
this is the most powerful,
36:40
the eternal,
36:42
infinite,
36:43
and unchangeable
36:44
inner Trinitarian love
36:46
between Father,
36:47
Son,
36:47
and Spirit
36:47
which overflows
36:49
into our daily experience
36:50
as Christians.
36:52
Shall such love
36:53
now hate me
36:57
who it has loved
36:59
since before I was born?
37:02
Shall he now hate me?
37:06
Shall such love
37:07
cast me away now
37:09
who it has held close
37:11
to its heart
37:12
since before the sun
37:13
began to shine in the sky?
37:15
Shall he?
37:18
If I am united to Christ,
37:19
the Father cannot look upon me,
37:21
yes,
37:22
even the ugly,
37:23
messy,
37:23
sinful me,
37:24
without seeing
37:25
the glorious righteousness
37:26
of his Son,
37:28
and he loves me.
37:32
Furthermore,
37:33
if the inner Trinitarian love
37:36
of Father,
37:37
Son,
37:37
and Spirit
37:38
has overflowed
37:38
into my life,
37:40
surely that love
37:41
should overflow
37:42
from my heart
37:43
into the lives
37:45
of others.
37:47
Why do we bear
37:48
with one another,
37:50
forgive one another,
37:51
and comfort one another?
37:54
We do it
37:55
because
37:56
the love
37:57
of a Father
37:58
for a Son
37:59
and the Spirit
37:59
has flooded
38:01
our hearts
38:01
with the love
38:02
of God,
38:03
a love
38:03
which spills
38:04
over into
38:04
our love
38:05
for others.
38:07
And so
38:08
the Apostle John
38:08
writes,
38:10
Beloved,
38:10
if God so loved us,
38:11
then we
38:12
ought to love
38:13
one another.
38:16
You see,
38:16
this wonderful
38:17
doctrine of the Trinity,
38:18
far from being
38:19
an abstract theological
38:20
doctrine,
38:21
is the most practical
38:22
of all Christian doctrines.
38:24
It serves
38:25
as the foundation
38:25
for all we are
38:26
to believe
38:27
concerning God
38:28
and for our life
38:29
together
38:29
as Christians.
38:32
When hands are raised
38:33
at the end
38:34
of the service
38:34
and a blessing
38:35
is pronounced,
38:36
it's as if God
38:37
himself is saying,
38:40
Go,
38:41
my children,
38:42
live in love,
38:45
even as the Father
38:47
loves the Son
38:47
and the Spirit
38:48
and the Son
38:50
loves the Father
38:50
and the Spirit
38:51
and the Spirit
38:52
loves the Father
38:53
and the Son.
38:56
So this blessing
38:57
tells us,
38:57
first of all,
38:58
something about God.
39:00
Secondly,
39:02
it tells us
39:03
something about salvation.
39:05
Tells us about salvation.
39:09
This benediction
39:10
is remarkable
39:11
on many accounts
39:13
but chief among them
39:14
is what it tells us
39:16
about the source
39:17
and the means
39:17
and the purpose
39:18
of our salvation.
39:20
Here we have
39:21
the Christian gospel
39:22
in miniature.
39:25
The grace
39:26
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
39:27
The love of God.
39:29
The fellowship
39:30
of the Holy Spirit.
39:33
The source
39:34
of our salvation
39:34
is to be found
39:35
in the love
39:36
of God the Father.
39:38
The source
39:38
of our salvation
39:39
is to be found
39:40
in the love
39:40
of God the Father.
39:42
God so loved
39:43
the world
39:44
that he sent
39:45
his only begotten
39:46
Son.
39:47
We wrongly
39:48
attribute
39:49
to God the Father
39:50
the sternest
39:51
of all the divine
39:52
attributes.
39:52
wrath,
39:54
judgment,
39:55
righteousness,
39:56
etc.
39:57
But time and again
39:58
the Bible
39:59
wants us to understand
40:00
that the source
40:01
of our salvation
40:02
is to be found
40:03
in the infinite,
40:05
eternal,
40:05
and unchangeable
40:06
love of the Father.
40:10
God,
40:11
to be understood
40:11
as the Father,
40:13
demonstrated
40:14
his love
40:16
for us
40:16
in this.
40:18
While we were
40:18
yet sinners,
40:20
Christ died
40:20
for us.
40:22
God the Father
40:23
is simply
40:23
filled with love.
40:25
In 1 John 3
40:27
verse 1,
40:28
see what kind
40:29
of love
40:29
the Father
40:30
hath lavished
40:31
upon us
40:32
that we should
40:33
be called
40:33
children of God
40:34
and that is
40:35
what we are.
40:37
It's a love
40:38
with no beginning
40:39
and no end,
40:41
no start
40:41
and no finish.
40:43
A love
40:44
for us
40:44
as infinite
40:45
as God
40:46
himself
40:47
is infinite.
40:48
It can't be
40:49
measured
40:49
or calculated
40:50
not even
40:51
by our actions.
40:53
It's an
40:53
unconditional
40:53
love.
40:54
No human
40:55
love
40:55
is unconditional
40:56
but God's
40:59
love for us
41:00
carries no
41:00
condition.
41:03
If someone
41:03
was to ask
41:04
me this
41:05
evening
41:05
why I
41:05
am a
41:06
Christian,
41:07
I could
41:07
only answer
41:08
I love
41:09
him because
41:09
he first
41:10
loved me.
41:12
And then
41:13
if that
41:13
someone
41:13
was to
41:14
explore with
41:15
me why
41:15
God loved
41:16
me,
41:17
all I can
41:17
say is
41:18
that God
41:18
loves me
41:19
not for
41:19
any qualities
41:20
I have,
41:21
not for
41:22
anything he
41:23
can make
41:23
out of me,
41:25
but because
41:26
it's in the
41:27
nature of
41:28
God the
41:28
Father to
41:29
love.
41:31
Many of us
41:32
are fond of
41:33
the Christian
41:33
singer-songwriter
41:34
Stuart Townend,
41:36
how deep
41:36
the Father's
41:37
love for us,
41:39
how vast
41:40
beyond
41:40
all measure.
41:42
if the
41:46
love of
41:46
God the
41:47
Father is
41:47
the
41:49
source of
41:50
our
41:50
salvation as
41:51
Christians,
41:52
the grace
41:53
of the
41:53
Lord Jesus
41:54
Christ is
41:55
the means
41:56
of our
41:57
salvation.
41:58
How our
41:59
becoming
41:59
Christians
42:00
came about.
42:02
The
42:02
mechanism
42:02
of our
42:03
salvation
42:03
is the
42:04
grace of
42:05
God in
42:06
the Lord
42:06
Jesus
42:06
Christ.
42:08
In
42:08
2 Corinthians
42:09
8 verse
42:10
9,
42:11
the apostle
42:11
writes,
42:12
you know
42:13
the grace
42:13
of our
42:14
Lord Jesus
42:14
Christ that
42:15
though he
42:15
was rich
42:16
yet for
42:16
our
42:17
sakes he
42:18
became
42:18
poor so
42:19
that you
42:20
by his
42:20
poverty
42:21
might become
42:22
rich.
42:23
When we
42:24
think of
42:24
Jesus we
42:26
cannot but
42:26
think of
42:27
the grace
42:28
of God
42:29
toward us.
42:31
Because of
42:32
Jesus we
42:34
did not
42:34
receive what
42:35
we deserved.
42:37
We received
42:38
what we did
42:38
not deserve.
42:40
On account
42:41
of our
42:41
sins we
42:42
deserved
42:42
the
42:42
condemnation
42:43
of death
42:43
but on
42:45
the cross
42:45
Jesus was
42:46
punished
42:46
for our
42:47
sins and
42:48
died to
42:49
bear our
42:49
condemnation.
42:51
On account
42:52
of our
42:53
sins we
42:53
did not
42:53
deserve the
42:54
riches of
42:55
the mercy
42:56
and glory
42:57
of God
42:57
but on
42:58
the cross
42:58
Jesus earned
42:59
them all
43:00
for us
43:00
and has
43:01
freely gifted
43:02
them to
43:03
us.
43:05
Our
43:05
salvation may
43:06
have cost us
43:07
nothing but
43:09
it cost the
43:10
glorious son
43:10
of God
43:11
his life
43:11
blood shed
43:12
on the
43:13
cross for
43:13
us.
43:14
What gift
43:15
of grace
43:16
is Jesus
43:18
my redeemer
43:19
that is no
43:20
more for
43:20
heaven now
43:21
to give.
43:23
Because of
43:24
Jesus Christ
43:25
I who
43:27
deserved to
43:27
die eternally
43:28
now by
43:29
faith in him
43:30
shall live
43:31
eternally in
43:33
the glory of
43:33
my heavenly
43:34
father.
43:34
because of
43:36
Jesus Christ
43:37
I whose
43:39
sins were
43:40
once as
43:40
crimson as
43:41
blood
43:41
now by
43:42
faith
43:43
wear the
43:43
white robe
43:44
of the
43:44
righteousness
43:44
of Christ.
43:48
Well if the
43:49
love of God
43:49
the father
43:50
is the
43:51
source of
43:51
our salvation
43:52
why we
43:54
are Christians
43:54
the grace
43:55
of the
43:55
Lord Jesus
43:56
Christ
43:56
the how
43:57
of our
43:57
becoming
43:58
salvation
43:58
the means
43:59
the
44:00
fellowship
44:01
of the
44:01
Holy
44:01
Spirit
44:02
is the
44:02
purpose
44:03
of our
44:05
becoming
44:05
Christians
44:06
the purpose
44:07
in the
44:09
upper room
44:09
discourse
44:10
in John
44:11
between
44:11
John 14
44:12
17
44:13
Jesus
44:14
tells his
44:14
disciples
44:15
what will
44:15
happen to
44:16
them
44:16
after his
44:17
death and
44:18
resurrection
44:18
and he
44:19
says
44:19
I will
44:22
ask the
44:22
father
44:23
and he
44:24
will give
44:24
you another
44:24
helper
44:25
to be
44:25
with you
44:26
forever
44:26
even the
44:27
spirit of
44:28
truth
44:28
whom the
44:29
world cannot
44:30
receive
44:30
because it
44:31
neither sees
44:32
him nor
44:32
knows him
44:32
you know
44:34
him
44:34
for he
44:35
dwells
44:36
within you
44:37
and will
44:38
be in
44:39
you
44:39
later
44:41
Jesus
44:42
says
44:42
if anyone
44:44
loves me
44:44
he will
44:45
keep my
44:45
word
44:46
and my
44:47
father will
44:47
love him
44:48
and we
44:49
will come
44:50
to him
44:50
and make
44:51
our home
44:52
with him
44:54
in other
44:56
words
44:57
the Holy
44:58
Spirit
44:58
whom
44:59
when we
44:59
believe
45:00
the
45:01
father
45:01
sends
45:02
to live
45:02
within
45:02
us
45:03
is the
45:04
presence
45:05
of the
45:06
fullness
45:06
of the
45:06
triune
45:07
God
45:08
with us
45:09
in and
45:11
through the
45:12
Holy Spirit
45:12
we have
45:14
fellowship
45:14
with God
45:16
the father
45:17
God the
45:18
son
45:19
here then
45:21
is the
45:21
purpose of
45:21
our salvation
45:22
that we
45:24
may know
45:24
God
45:25
and have
45:27
fellowship
45:27
and communion
45:28
with him
45:29
in his
45:31
high priestly
45:31
prayer in
45:32
John 17
45:33
verse 3
45:33
Jesus
45:34
describes
45:34
what eternal
45:36
life is
45:37
this is
45:39
eternal life
45:40
he says
45:40
that they
45:42
know you
45:43
the only
45:44
true God
45:45
and Jesus
45:46
Christ
45:46
whom you
45:47
have sent
45:47
God
45:48
when we
45:49
read these
45:50
words
45:50
the
45:50
fellowship
45:51
of the
45:51
Holy
45:51
Spirit
45:52
we are
45:52
to think
45:53
of how
45:53
the
45:53
Holy
45:53
Spirit
45:54
brings
45:54
to our
45:55
hearts
45:56
the glorious
45:56
knowledge
45:57
of the
45:57
fullness
45:58
of God
45:58
Father
45:59
Son
45:59
and Holy
46:00
Spirit
46:00
that is
46:04
why
46:04
this is
46:05
a
46:05
benediction
46:06
offering
46:07
us
46:07
Son
46:08
Father
46:09
and Spirit
46:10
one
46:10
God
46:11
oh yes
46:12
in this
46:13
blessing
46:13
God is
46:14
offering
46:14
us
46:15
grace
46:17
love
46:18
and
46:19
fellowship
46:19
but more
46:20
importantly
46:21
he is
46:21
offering us
46:22
himself
46:23
he is
46:24
saying to
46:25
us
46:25
I will
46:26
know you
46:27
and you
46:27
will know
46:28
me this
46:28
week
46:29
I'll be
46:30
with you
46:30
through all
46:31
the trials
46:32
of this
46:32
week
46:32
know this
46:33
my beloved
46:34
child
46:34
I take
46:35
great
46:35
pleasure
46:35
in you
46:36
and I
46:37
will be
46:37
with you
46:37
always
46:38
in the
46:41
raising of
46:41
hands
46:42
at the
46:42
end of
46:42
the
46:42
service
46:43
God
46:44
is
46:44
reminding
46:44
us
46:45
of the
46:46
purpose
46:46
of our
46:47
salvation
46:47
that
46:48
he
46:49
himself
46:49
shall
46:51
be our
46:51
inheritance
46:52
our
46:53
portion
46:53
and our
46:54
reward
46:55
not what
46:56
he gives
46:57
us
46:57
but
46:59
he
46:59
himself
47:00
what
47:02
does
47:02
any
47:03
lover
47:03
want
47:03
but
47:05
the
47:05
one
47:05
he
47:05
loves
47:06
he
47:07
doesn't
47:07
want
47:08
her
47:08
money
47:08
he
47:10
doesn't
47:10
want
47:10
her
47:10
gold
47:11
he
47:12
wants
47:12
her
47:13
the
47:14
triune
47:15
God
47:15
and the
47:15
mysterious
47:16
glory
47:16
of his
47:17
trinity
47:17
says to
47:18
us
47:18
you can
47:18
have
47:19
my
47:19
grace
47:20
and you
47:20
can
47:20
have
47:20
my
47:21
mercy
47:21
and you
47:22
can
47:22
have
47:22
my
47:23
fellowship
47:23
but more
47:24
than
47:24
anything
47:24
else
47:25
I
47:26
want
47:26
to
47:26
give
47:27
you
47:27
myself
47:28
God
47:31
goes
47:31
with us
47:32
into the
47:33
week that
47:33
lies ahead
47:34
God
47:36
in the
47:36
fullness
47:36
of all
47:37
he is
47:37
he goes
47:38
with us
47:39
and he
47:41
says I'll
47:41
never leave
47:41
you
47:42
no I'll
47:43
never forsake
47:44
you
47:44
tells us
47:47
about
47:47
salvation
47:49
well
47:51
finally
47:51
this
47:51
benediction
47:53
tells us
47:53
about
47:54
prayer
47:54
prayer
47:55
one of
47:59
my
47:59
senior
47:59
Christian
48:00
mentors
48:00
recently
48:01
gave me
48:01
a book
48:02
to read
48:02
it's
48:03
entitled
48:04
distinct
48:05
communion
48:06
and written
48:07
by
48:08
Dan
48:09
Peters
48:09
who some
48:10
of you
48:10
may
48:11
know
48:11
building
48:13
upon
48:14
the
48:14
work
48:15
of the
48:16
English
48:16
Puritan
48:17
John
48:17
Owen
48:17
in his
48:18
book
48:18
communion
48:19
with
48:19
God
48:19
which
48:20
some
48:20
of you
48:20
may
48:20
have
48:20
read
48:21
Dan
48:22
suggests
48:23
and
48:23
proves
48:24
from
48:24
scripture
48:25
and
48:25
historic
48:26
theology
48:26
that
48:27
we
48:28
as
48:28
Christians
48:28
can
48:29
enjoy
48:29
distinct
48:30
communion
48:30
with
48:32
each
48:32
person
48:33
of the
48:33
Holy
48:33
Trinity
48:33
that
48:35
depending
48:35
upon
48:36
our
48:36
situations
48:37
and
48:37
circumstances
48:38
we
48:38
may
48:38
pray
48:38
either
48:38
to
48:39
Father
48:39
to
48:40
Son
48:41
or
48:42
to
48:42
Holy
48:42
Spirit
48:42
Dan
48:44
seeing
48:45
something
48:45
very
48:45
important
48:46
in this
48:46
book
48:47
which
48:47
is
48:47
something
48:48
I
48:48
want
48:48
to
48:48
work
48:48
on
48:49
in
48:49
my
48:50
private
48:50
and
48:50
public
48:51
prayers
48:51
in
48:53
this
48:53
book
48:53
in
48:54
this
48:54
verse
48:54
we
48:54
read
48:55
the
48:55
grace
48:56
of
48:56
the
48:56
Lord
48:56
Jesus
48:57
Christ
48:57
and
48:57
the
48:57
love
48:57
of
48:58
God
48:58
and
48:59
the
48:59
fellowship
48:59
of
48:59
the
48:59
Holy
49:00
Spirit
49:00
be
49:00
with
49:00
you
49:00
all
49:01
the
49:01
triune
49:02
God
49:02
is
49:02
inviting
49:02
us
49:03
to
49:04
enjoy
49:04
his
49:04
grace
49:05
and
49:05
his
49:05
love
49:05
and
49:05
his
49:05
fellowship
49:06
but
49:07
under
49:07
the
49:07
inspiration
49:08
of
49:08
the
49:08
Holy
49:08
Spirit
49:09
Paul
49:09
is
49:10
choosing
49:10
his
49:10
words
49:11
very
49:12
carefully
49:12
he's
49:14
attributing
49:15
grace
49:15
to
49:16
the
49:16
Lord
49:16
Jesus
49:16
Christ
49:17
he's
49:17
attributing
49:17
love
49:18
to
49:18
God
49:18
the
49:18
Father
49:19
he's
49:19
attributing
49:19
fellowship
49:20
to
49:20
the
49:20
Holy
49:20
Spirit
49:21
it's
49:22
not
49:23
as if
49:23
we
49:23
can't
49:24
attribute
49:24
love
49:25
and
49:25
fellowship
49:26
to
49:26
the
49:26
Lord
49:26
Jesus
49:26
Christ
49:27
it's
49:27
not
49:27
as if
49:28
we
49:28
can't
49:28
attribute
49:29
grace
49:29
and
49:30
fellowship
49:30
to
49:30
God
49:30
the
49:31
Father
49:31
and
49:31
it's
49:31
not
49:32
as if
49:32
we
49:32
can't
49:32
attribute
49:33
grace
49:33
and
49:33
love
49:34
to
49:34
the
49:34
Holy
49:34
Spirit
49:34
but
49:35
under
49:35
the
49:35
inspiration
49:36
of
49:36
the
49:36
Holy
49:36
Spirit
49:37
in
49:37
this
49:38
verse
49:38
Paul
49:39
attributes
49:39
grace
49:40
to
49:40
the
49:40
Lord
49:41
Jesus
49:41
Christ
49:41
love
49:42
to
49:43
God
49:43
the
49:43
Father
49:43
and
49:44
fellowship
49:44
to
49:45
the
49:45
Holy
49:45
Spirit
49:46
remember
49:48
the
49:49
love
49:49
of
49:49
God
49:49
the
49:49
Father
49:50
is
49:50
the
49:50
source
49:51
of
49:51
our
49:51
salvation
49:51
the
49:52
grace
49:53
of
49:53
the
49:53
Lord
49:53
Jesus
49:53
Christ
49:54
is
49:54
the
49:54
means
49:54
of
49:54
our
49:55
salvation
49:55
and
49:56
the
49:56
fellowship
49:57
of
49:57
the
49:57
Holy
49:57
Spirit
49:57
is
49:58
the
49:58
purpose
49:58
of
49:59
our
49:59
salvation
49:59
surely
50:01
the
50:01
exactness
50:02
of
50:02
Paul's
50:03
words
50:03
together
50:04
with
50:04
the
50:04
meaning
50:05
for
50:05
our
50:05
salvation
50:06
opens
50:06
up
50:07
a
50:07
new
50:07
horizon
50:08
for
50:08
how
50:09
we
50:09
can
50:09
enjoy
50:10
distinct
50:10
communion
50:11
with
50:12
each
50:12
person
50:12
of
50:12
the
50:13
Trinity
50:13
if
50:16
I
50:16
feel
50:16
rejected
50:17
and
50:19
unloved
50:19
if
50:21
I'm
50:21
not
50:22
sure
50:22
whether
50:22
God
50:23
loves
50:23
me
50:23
or
50:23
not
50:24
I
50:26
can
50:26
address
50:26
my
50:26
prayers
50:27
to
50:27
God
50:27
the
50:27
Father
50:28
because
50:30
love
50:30
comes
50:30
from
50:31
him
50:31
if
50:33
I
50:33
feel
50:34
guilty
50:34
and
50:34
ashamed
50:35
not
50:36
at
50:37
all
50:37
convinced
50:37
of
50:38
my
50:38
right
50:38
to
50:38
eternal
50:39
life
50:39
I
50:41
can
50:41
address
50:42
my
50:42
prayers
50:42
to
50:43
God
50:43
the
50:43
Son
50:43
because
50:44
grace
50:45
comes
50:46
from
50:46
him
50:46
and
50:49
if
50:49
I
50:49
feel
50:49
distant
50:50
from
50:50
God
50:51
and
50:52
very
50:52
much
50:52
alone
50:53
not
50:54
at
50:54
all
50:54
sure
50:54
of
50:55
whether
50:55
I'll
50:55
ever
50:55
feel
50:56
close
50:56
to
50:56
him
50:56
ever
50:57
again
50:57
I
50:58
can
50:58
address
50:59
my
50:59
prayers
51:00
to
51:00
God
51:00
the
51:00
Holy
51:00
Spirit
51:01
because
51:02
fellowship
51:03
comes
51:04
from
51:04
him
51:04
if
51:07
my
51:07
problem
51:07
concerns
51:08
the
51:08
source
51:09
of
51:09
salvation
51:09
I
51:10
can
51:10
take
51:10
it
51:11
to
51:11
God
51:11
the
51:11
Father
51:11
in
51:11
prayer
51:12
if
51:13
it
51:13
concerns
51:13
the
51:14
means
51:14
of
51:14
salvation
51:14
I
51:15
can
51:15
take
51:15
it
51:15
to
51:16
the
51:16
Lord
51:16
Jesus
51:16
Christ
51:17
in
51:17
prayer
51:17
if
51:18
it
51:18
concerns
51:19
the
51:19
purpose
51:19
of
51:20
the
51:20
salvation
51:20
I
51:20
can
51:21
take
51:21
it
51:21
to
51:21
the
51:21
Holy
51:21
Spirit
51:22
in
51:22
prayer
51:22
it's
51:24
not
51:24
wrong
51:24
to
51:26
pray
51:26
just
51:27
to
51:27
God
51:27
for
51:27
he
51:28
is
51:29
triune
51:30
and
51:31
he
51:31
is
51:32
one
51:32
but
51:33
for
51:34
our
51:34
benefit
51:34
Paul
51:35
allows
51:36
us
51:36
access
51:37
into the
51:38
contributions
51:39
of each
51:40
person of the
51:40
Trinity
51:41
to our
51:42
salvation
51:42
on a
51:45
daily
51:45
level
51:45
why don't
51:46
you give
51:46
this a
51:47
goal
51:47
in your
51:48
prayers
51:49
I
51:52
am not
51:52
a
51:52
fan
51:53
of
51:53
sci-fi
51:53
but
51:55
I
51:56
know
51:56
enough
51:56
about
51:56
it
51:57
to
51:57
have
51:57
learned
51:57
that
51:58
in
51:58
the
51:58
future
51:58
spacecraft
52:00
!
52:00
will
52:01
all
52:01
have
52:01
shields
52:02
to
52:02
defend
52:02
themselves
52:03
against
52:03
the
52:04
laser
52:04
beams
52:04
of
52:05
enemy
52:05
spacecraft!
52:08
Now
52:08
there's a
52:09
sense in
52:09
which
52:10
when a
52:11
minister
52:11
raises
52:12
his
52:12
hands
52:13
at the
52:13
end
52:13
of a
52:13
service
52:14
of
52:14
worship
52:15
and on
52:15
God's
52:15
behalf
52:16
proclaims
52:18
the
52:18
benediction
52:18
God is
52:21
placing a
52:22
shield of
52:22
protection
52:23
around us
52:24
so that
52:26
whatever may
52:27
happen in
52:27
the week
52:28
ahead
52:28
we shall
52:29
not merely
52:30
cope
52:30
but we
52:32
shall
52:32
overcome
52:33
the
52:35
blessing
52:35
is
52:36
placing
52:37
a
52:37
shield
52:38
of
52:39
God's
52:39
protection
52:40
around
52:40
us
52:40
but
52:42
ultimately
52:43
as I
52:43
said
52:43
earlier
52:44
the
52:45
benediction
52:45
is our
52:47
glorious
52:48
triune
52:48
God's
52:49
gracious
52:50
offer
52:50
to us
52:51
not just
52:51
of the
52:52
virtues
52:52
of his
52:53
love
52:53
and of
52:54
his grace
52:55
and of
52:56
his
52:56
fellowship
52:56
but his
52:58
offer
52:58
of himself
53:00
to us
53:02
the
53:04
Lord
53:04
the
53:04
Lord of
53:04
heaven
53:05
and earth
53:06
the
53:07
sovereign
53:08
God
53:08
on the
53:09
throne
53:09
he
53:11
offers
53:11
himself
53:12
to us
53:13
and he
53:15
pours
53:16
himself
53:16
out
53:17
upon us
53:17
like a
53:17
mighty
53:18
waterfall
53:19
baptizing
53:21
us with
53:21
his
53:22
glorious
53:22
and his
53:23
gracious
53:24
presence
53:24
the
53:27
only
53:27
remaining
53:27
question
53:28
for us
53:28
is this
53:29
is this
53:31
benediction
53:32
for you
53:34
is God's
53:37
gracious
53:37
offer of
53:38
himself
53:39
in the
53:40
blessing
53:40
enough
53:41
for you
53:42
to respond
53:43
to him
53:44
now in
53:44
faith and
53:45
trust
53:45
praying
53:48
Lord
53:49
I can't
53:51
do life
53:51
by myself
53:52
I need
53:54
you
53:54
will you
53:56
forgive my
53:56
sins even
53:57
as I turn
53:58
away from
53:58
them
53:58
will you
54:00
grant me
54:01
eternal life
54:02
even as I
54:02
commit myself
54:03
to following
54:05
you always
54:06
will you
54:08
do this
54:08
now
54:09
as even
54:13
in a
54:13
moment
54:13
this
54:15
minister
54:16
raises
54:17
his hands
54:18
to offer
54:19
you
54:19
God
54:20
we're
54:25
going to
54:25
close
54:25
as we
54:26
sing
54:26
together
54:27
now
54:27
in
54:29
Psalm
54:29
130
54:30
from
54:33
the
54:33
Scottish
54:33
Psalter
54:34
page
54:34
421
54:35
Psalm
54:43
130
54:44
from
54:45
page
54:45
421
54:46
the
54:47
Scottish
54:47
Psalter
54:47
words
54:48
we
54:48
all
54:48
know
54:48
so
54:48
well
54:49
Lord
54:50
from
54:50
the
54:50
depths
54:51
to
54:51
thee
54:51
I
54:51
cried
54:52
my
54:53
voice
54:53
Lord
54:53
do
54:54
thou
54:54
hear
54:54
and
54:55
to
54:55
my
54:55
supplications
54:56
voice
54:57
give
54:57
an
54:57
attentive
54:58
ear
54:58
Lord
54:59
who
55:00
shall
55:00
stand
55:00
if
55:00
thou
55:01
O
55:01
Lord
55:01
should
55:01
mark
55:02
iniquity
55:02
but
55:03
yet
55:03
with
55:04
thee
55:04
forgivenesses
55:05
that
55:06
fear
55:06
thou
55:06
mayest
55:07
be
55:07
Psalm
55:08
130
55:09
the
55:10
whole
55:10
Psalm
55:10
to
55:11
God's
55:11
praise
55:12
verse
55:13
!
55:19
verse
55:20
!
55:21
verse
55:22
to
55:23
thee
55:24
I
55:25
cried
55:27
!
55:27
My
55:28
voice
55:30
for
55:31
to
55:32
are
55:33
here
55:35
unto
55:37
my
55:39
supplications
55:43
voice
55:45
give
55:47
love
55:48
a
55:49
tent
55:50
in
55:52
ear
55:53
Lord
55:55
who
55:56
shall
55:57
stand
55:59
if
56:00
thou
56:02
O
56:02
Lord
56:04
to
56:05
strive
56:06
in
56:08
equity
56:10
!
56:13
But
56:14
yet
56:14
with
56:16
thee
56:17
forgivenesses
56:22
that
56:24
fear
56:25
thou
56:26
mayest
56:28
be
56:30
I
56:32
wait
56:34
for
56:36
God
56:37
my
56:38
soul
56:39
doth
56:41
wait
56:42
my
56:43
hope
56:45
is
56:46
in
56:47
his
56:48
word
56:50
more
56:52
than
56:53
may
56:54
us
56:55
are
56:57
!
56:59
my
57:00
soul
57:02
wait
57:04
the
57:05
Lord
57:06
!
57:07
say
57:08
for
57:10
how
57:11
they
57:12
to
57:13
watch
57:14
night
57:15
to
57:16
take
57:17
!
57:18
to
57:19
watch
57:20
the
57:21
morning
57:23
night
57:24
to
57:26
see
57:27
!
57:28
Let
57:29
Israel
57:31
open
57:33
the
57:35
Lord
57:37
Lord
57:39
for
57:40
with
57:41
mercy
57:42
be!
57:44
God
57:46
see
57:47
God
57:48
to
57:49
!
57:50
will
57:51
see
57:52
and
57:53
!
57:54
see
57:55
see
57:56
us
57:57
see
57:58
us
57:59
in
58:00
our
58:01
the
58:02
earth
58:03
completed
58:05
and
58:07
from
58:08
all
58:09
his
58:11
in
58:12
the
58:13
in
58:14
the
58:15
days
58:16
he
58:17
is
58:19
that
58:20
shall
58:21
be
58:22
he
58:24
may
58:26
the
58:28
of the
58:29
Christ
58:30
the
58:31
God
58:32
the
58:33
of the
58:33
Holy Spirit
58:34
be with you
58:35
all
58:36
Amen
58:54
who
58:56
who
58:57
who
58:59
who
59:00
who
59:02
who
59:04
who
59:05
who
59:06
who
59:07
who
59:08
who