Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Following Christ's Lead Into 2024

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Following Christ's Lead Into 2024 · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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So, Psalm 98 is our first psalm of praise this morning, Psalm 98, and it's on page 129.
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We're singing verses 1 to 6. The tune is Peter's psalm.
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O sing a new song to the Lord, for wonders he has done. His right hand and his holy arm the victory have won.
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The Lord declared his saving work and made it to be known to all the nations of the world.
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His righteousness is shown. Psalm 98, verses 1 to 6. And we'll stand to sing. If you're able to stand, please stand.
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His right hand and his holy arm the victory have won.
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The Lord declared his saving work and made it to be known.
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To all the nations of the world, his righteousness is shown.
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His death, but love and faithfulness, he has remembered them.
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The covenant, he made with him the house of Israel.
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And all the nations of the earth have seen what God has done.
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His right hand and his holy arm the victory have won.
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His right hand and his holy arm the victory have won.
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His right hand and his holy arm the victory have won.
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The Lord, O all we are, shall love be and rejoice.
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Make music and be children, to them lift up your voice.
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With heart, his music to the Lord.
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With heart, his graces sing.
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With trumpet and with glory rejoice.
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Before the Lord the King.
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Let's join together now in prayer.
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We're praying specifically for the children and for the Sunday school.
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Lord our God, help us, we pray, to rejoice today in your presence here as we gather to worship you.
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And we thank you for the children who are with us.
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We thank you for all the young folk and children who belong to the congregation and their homes and families.
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We pray for them today.
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And we ask, O Lord, that they may progress in the knowledge of the Lord as their Savior.
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And we pray that you'll bless the teaching they receive from week to week in their own homes, in the Sunday school here and elsewhere.
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We thank you for the way that they form such an important part of the congregation's life.
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And we pray that we may continually bear them before you in your presence in prayer.
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And so we ask now as we seek to wait upon you here that you'll bless them.
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And as they continue, O Lord, to attend upon Sunday school and creche and tweenies,
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we ask that your own blessing will continue to be with us.
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Hear us, we pray now, and pardon our sin for Jesus' sake. Amen.
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My children, the Sunday school is looking today at the story of Simeon and Anna.
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You'll find an account of that in Luke chapter 2 and from verse 27 or so.
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And at verse 27, we read about Simeon.
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He was a holy man, a man who was waiting for something that God had promised in the Old Testament,
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and that was the coming of the Savior.
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And he was actually told, he had been told by God that he would not die until he had actually seen for himself the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And when the Savior was born, some time after that, Simeon came to the temple,
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and the parents of Jesus brought the child, the infant Jesus, just to follow out what was required in the law of God.
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And at verse 28, we read,
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And also we find Anna, also mentioned in the next part of the chapter.
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So, Simeon and Anna were both waiting for this one important event of the birth of the Savior, the coming of the Savior.
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And this is what Simeon did after seeing Jesus, the infant Jesus.
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He took him up in his arms, and he blessed God.
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Now, this is one of my favorite passages in the whole Bible.
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It's such a wonderful passage.
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The infant Jesus, and there's the old man, Simeon, waiting for the coming of Jesus.
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And there he is, and as he's looking at Jesus, as he takes him up in his arms and embraces him in his arms,
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he looks down at him and says,
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Now, Lord, I can go in peace, because my eyes have seen your salvation.
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Isn't that an amazing thing?
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That he could say of this infant child, there is God's salvation in my arms.
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And now I can go from this world, he said, in peace.
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He was full of thanks, full of gratitude to God, that God had fulfilled his promise, not just for him, but indeed for all who would come to be saved through Jesus.
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And he put it there even, for all people, this is a revelation.
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This is your revelation for them.
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Now, from that, there are two or three things that we can say about ourselves or apply to ourselves.
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First of all, you need to take Jesus up.
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I'm speaking especially to the young ones, but it's true for us all.
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You need to take Jesus up in your heart the same way as Simeon took him up in his arms.
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Just picture Simeon reaching out and taking the infant Jesus like that into his arms.
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Well, this is what we have the opportunity to do ourselves, that we can reach out and by faith and by trust, we can bring Jesus into our hearts.
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We can have Jesus coming to live in our hearts as we embrace him, as we receive him, as he offers himself to us in the Bible, in the Gospel.
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And then we can be full of joy as well.
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We can be full of joy because we then have salvation in our lives, in our hearts, God's salvation.
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Just as Simeon could say, now my eyes have seen your salvation, so we can say, having Jesus in your life, you have God's salvation in him.
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So today, young ones and old ones, we can embrace Jesus, welcome him into our lives, and so rejoice and be glad and be happy that we have God's salvation in him.
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Now, Simeon did this in public.
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Now, that's important as well.
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He wasn't embarrassed that people were seeing this, that people were hearing him saying this.
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And when you have taken up Jesus into your heart, and when you hold Jesus in your heart, and when he becomes precious to you, then you want to tell the whole world about him.
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Because what makes him precious to you as a savior is what you want others to have as well.
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And it's wonderful to hear of you young folks yourselves, children, telling others about the Sunday school, about how good it is to learn about Jesus.
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That's you just like Simeon telling the world how precious Jesus is.
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So today, Simeon and Anna tell us the importance of taking Jesus to ourselves, the importance of rejoicing in Jesus, being glad that we have him, and the importance of telling the world that this is the savior who is for them as well, Jesus Christ, the Lord.
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So may God bless these words.
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Let's say the Lord's prayer now together.
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Amen.
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Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
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Thy kingdom come.
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Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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Give us this day our daily bread.
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And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
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And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.
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Amen.
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We're going to sing again now.
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We're singing this time in Psalm 25.
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Psalm 25 in the Sing Psalms version, page 29.
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Another tune is Finart, and we're singing verses 1 to 7.
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To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
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I trust in you continually.
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Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my foes gloat over me.
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No one who sets his hope in you will ever suffer such disgrace.
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But those who act with treachery, humiliating shame, will face.
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So to the tune Finart, verses 1 to 7, to God's praise.
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Let us sing.
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Let us sing.
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Let us sing.
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Let us sing.
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Let us sing.
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To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
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I trust in you continually.
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Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my foes go over me.
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No one who sets his hope in you will ever suffer such disgrace,
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but those who act with treachery, humiliating shame will face.
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O Lord, reveal to me your ways, and all your paths help me to know.
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Direct and guide me in your turn, instruct me in the way to go.
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You are my Saviour and my God, all day I hope in you alone.
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Remember, Lord, your love and grace, which from past ages you have shown.
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Do not recall my sins of youth, or my rebellious evil ways.
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Remember me in your great love, for you, O Lord, are good always.
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Okay.
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We're going to read from God's Word in the Gospel of Luke.
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And it's chapter 24.
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We're reading verses 36 through to the end of the chapter.
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This is Luke's account of those who met with Jesus after his resurrection,
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as they were traveling on the road to a village called Emmaus.
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You'll find that from verse 13, and the incident as it's described there.
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And then from verse 36, Jesus having spoken to them and taught them as to who he was,
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and the scriptures being fulfilled.
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He said then in verse 36,
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And when he said to them,
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And when he said to them,
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He showed them his hands and his feet.
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And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them,
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Have you anything here to eat?
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And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.
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Then he said to them,
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These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,
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That everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.
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Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
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and said to them,
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Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer,
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and on the third day rise from the dead,
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and that repentance and forgiveness of sins
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should be proclaimed in his name to all nations,
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beginning from Jerusalem.
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You are witnesses of these things.
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And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you,
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but stay in the city till you are clothed with power from on high.
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Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
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and lifting up his hands he blessed them.
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While he blessed them, he parted from them,
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and was carried up into heaven.
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And they worshipped him,
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and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
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and were continually in the temple,
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blessing God.
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Amen. May God bless to us again this reading of his word.
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Let's now call upon him again in prayer.
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Our gracious God,
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we thank you for the testimony of your word,
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that the fulfillment of your promises,
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given so long ago,
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came to be fully realized
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in the person of our Savior,
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the Lord Jesus Christ.
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We thank you today, Lord,
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for what we have read,
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even in this short passage,
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and the words that we have been singing
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as they describe your salvation.
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And we thank you for all that has come to us in him,
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and for everything, Lord,
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that you have brought to us
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by way of your redemption,
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your salvation,
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the forgiveness of our sins.
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Lord, help us, we pray today,
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to not only embrace these great truths for ourselves,
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but to embrace you as that person
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in whom we have salvation.
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for we know that there is no other name
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given under heaven amongst men
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whereby we must be saved.
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And so help us, Lord,
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we pray today,
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to have our trust deposited in you,
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to have our lives given over to you,
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to be ruled by you,
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and to give ourselves to you,
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to your service,
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while we have the opportunity
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of doing so in this life.
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We thank you today, Lord,
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that we gather as worshippers
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of your great name,
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that you have been exalted to heaven
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to sit at the right hand
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of the Father on high,
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and that you receive the worship
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of your people
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as we worship you today
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as God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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We give thanks, O Lord,
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for the revelation you have given
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of yourself
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and of the way in which we find
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in the very mystery,
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but beauty of the Godhead,
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our redemption to be placed.
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We give thanks, O Lord,
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to you as our Father,
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who sent the Son into the world,
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as to give him to the death
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of the cross.
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And we give thanks, O Lord,
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to you for coming into the world
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and for giving of yourself
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obediently and fully
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to the death which we deserve,
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but could never fulfill ourselves.
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And we give thanks for all
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that that death accomplished,
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for the way in which
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the will of God
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not only expressed in him,
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but also the wrath of God
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coming to rest upon him
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instead of his people,
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and the justice of God
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satisfied fully.
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We bless you, Lord,
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today for the work
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of your Holy Spirit,
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and we thank you
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that the Holy Spirit
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takes the things of Christ
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and shows them to us.
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And we pray today
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that that may be
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our experience here,
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that however we appear
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before you,
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whatever our circumstances
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in life may be,
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and whatever our relationship
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with you presently is,
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Lord, we pray that today
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all of us will leave
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this gathering
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as people who know
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the Lord for ourselves,
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and to come to be
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as we saw with Simeon,
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embrace the Lord Jesus Christ,
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and to take you up
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into our hearts,
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and to dwell believingly
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upon you
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for every day
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that goes by.
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So bless us,
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we pray,
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once again
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as a congregation
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of your people.
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Lord, we thank you
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for every encouragement
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that you give us,
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for every way
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in which your blessing
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is revealed to us,
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and for every way
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that we can still
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wait upon you
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for all our worship services
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and all our related activities
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throughout each week.
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We thank you
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for all that you enable us
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to do,
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for all that you enable us
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to carry out.
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Lord, we pray again
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that you would bless
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all of these activities
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and enterprises
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that we are privileged
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to be part of
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and to join in with.
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Lord, we pray
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that you would especially
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bless the gospel,
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for we know
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that whatever activities
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we engage in
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or organize
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or set up,
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that they are to be
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subsumed under our concern
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for the glory of your name,
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through the blessing
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of your word,
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through your salvation
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coming to be known
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by those who come
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under the teaching
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of your word.
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We ask today
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that you'd bless us
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in all the various ways
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in which we need
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your blessing,
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O Lord.
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Bless us in our families
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and homes.
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Bless us in our relationships,
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one with another,
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in marriages,
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in being parents
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and grandparents,
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and bless again
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our children
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and our grandchildren.
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We ask, Lord,
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today that you would
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be pleased
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to receive them
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to yourself
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in blessing
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and to carry out
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further
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their standing
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in the gospel
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so that they may come,
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Lord,
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to be truly rooted
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and grounded
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in the Lord himself.
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We ask your blessing
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for every activity
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that we engage in
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from day to day
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and pray that you would
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continue, Lord,
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to encourage us
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by the work of your Spirit
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being made known
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amongst us.
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We ask your blessing
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today to be
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with all of our number
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who have difficulties
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and trials
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to contend with
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in the course
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of their lives.
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We ask, O Lord,
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that any of ourselves
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here present
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or watching online
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who have trials
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today to contend with
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will know
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of your upholding
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and supporting of them
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and of your encouragement.
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Draw us,
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we pray,
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to yourself
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amongst all
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the changes
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and the turns
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of life
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in your providence.
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Help us,
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we pray,
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to constantly
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reflect upon
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your wisdom
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and your right
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to rule our lives.
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And we pray
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that you would give us
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a willing heart,
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O Lord,
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day by day
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to place our trust
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in you.
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We remember, too,
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Lord,
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all today
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in our community
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who have suffered
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loss in these days
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or recent times.
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We pray that you
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bless those
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who have lost loved ones
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and who mourn over them
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and continue to miss them
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from their lives.
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We pray for them
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and we pray
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for their comfort.
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You alone
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are the great
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comforter
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who can comfort
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in a way
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that none other can.
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And we pray
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that you would grant
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that comfort
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to them today
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and to all of us,
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Lord,
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in our circumstances.
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Whenever we have
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circumstances
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of trial
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and pain,
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of disappointment,
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of unexpected events,
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we pray,
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Lord,
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that you would
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grant
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that we may be
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drawn to yourself.
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and remember,
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we pray all
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who help others
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in their time of need.
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We thank you
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for all in our community
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who attend to us
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by way of nursing care
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and medical practices,
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both in hospital
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and also in the hospice
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in Bethesda,
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in our care homes.
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We thank you again
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for the provision
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that is made for us there.
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We pray that you
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would bless those
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who attend to us
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in our times
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of bereavement
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and sorrow.
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Remember,
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the undertaker,
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his staff,
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we thank you for them
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and for the way
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that they are so helpful
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to us
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in these times of need.
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We pray that you
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will continue
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to provide for them
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as each day goes by.
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And we ask you
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a blessing
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for all others
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in our community
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who carry out
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such valuable service
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for all the emergency services.
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We pray for the street pastors
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who go out
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in the late evenings
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and early mornings.
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And Lord,
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we ask that you
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would keep them safe.
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We pray that you
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would bless their ministry
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in their community.
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We pray that they
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may be of much benefit
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to those that they meet with.
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And we ask that you
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would help them
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as they seek
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to encourage others,
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that you would grant
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encouragement
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to themselves.
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ourselves.
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We pray too
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that you'd bless us
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in our further
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waiting upon you here.
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And we ask that
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your blessing
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will be with us
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throughout our nation
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at this time
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and these difficult times.
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We ask that you'd bless
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those who are
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suffering different ways
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from lack of work
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or lack of income.
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And we pray that you would,
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Lord,
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help them
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and help them
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to come
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to trust in you,
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to know
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the riches
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of eternal life.
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Even though we know
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that our financial
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and economic situation
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is in itself important.
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Grant to us,
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Lord,
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that we have
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our affection
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on those things
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which are above,
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those things
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which are unseen,
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these riches
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that are within
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your salvation
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and provision
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for us
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in Christ Jesus.
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Remember our rulers.
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Lord,
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be with them,
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we pray,
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in different governments
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and administrations.
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We pray for wisdom
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for them.
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We pray especially
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for the light
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of your gospel truth
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to come
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to dwell in their hearts
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and to come
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to guide their minds
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and their thoughts.
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We pray throughout
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the world,
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Lord,
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today,
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that where there is
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conflict,
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war,
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strife,
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terrorism,
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lack of resources,
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devastation,
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earthquake,
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and floods,
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O Lord,
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we pray that
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throughout the world
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your own kingdom
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may advance,
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that we may,
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as we have been thinking
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and reading through
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and saying the Lord's Prayer,
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help us truly
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to know, Lord,
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and to come
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to experience
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your will being done
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on earth
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as it is in heaven.
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And we pray
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that your kingdom
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will advance.
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Remember the places
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in the world
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where there is
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such devastation
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of war.
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We think of
25:49
the Middle East
25:50
at this time
25:51
and ask that
25:51
you would bless
25:52
those who are
25:53
seeking to bring
25:54
peace of a proper
25:56
kind to these places,
25:58
Gaza and Israel.
26:00
We pray for Ukraine
26:01
and their situation,
26:03
asking, Lord,
26:04
that you'd continue
26:05
to bless them
26:05
and to bless
26:06
your people there.
26:08
And we ask
26:08
that you'd continue
26:09
to bless those
26:11
of them who are
26:11
with us here
26:12
in this congregation
26:12
as a family.
26:14
Lord, continue.
26:15
We pray to provide
26:16
for them.
26:17
Help us to continue
26:18
to pray for them
26:19
and for all
26:21
who belong
26:21
to that nation
26:22
at this time.
26:24
We ask that you
26:24
would continue
26:25
to bless them
26:27
with that
26:28
persevering spirit
26:29
that would seek
26:30
to resist aggression
26:32
and to seek
26:33
to live their lives
26:34
again in freedom.
26:36
And so bless us now,
26:37
we pray,
26:37
and hear our prayer.
26:38
Pardon our many sins,
26:40
we pray in Jesus' name.
26:42
Amen.
26:42
Amen.
26:42
We're going to sing again
26:46
to God's praise
26:46
this time in Psalm 21.
26:49
Psalm 21,
26:51
and that's in the
26:51
Scottish Psalter this time,
26:53
verses 1 to 6.
26:58
The King,
26:59
in Thy great strength,
27:00
O Lord,
27:01
shall very joyful be.
27:03
In Thy salvation,
27:04
rejoice,
27:05
how vehemently
27:06
shall he.
27:07
And as we read
27:08
through the words
27:09
of this psalm,
27:10
we think of the Lord
27:11
Jesus Christ himself
27:12
in whom they are
27:13
so wonderfully fulfilled
27:15
and how he himself
27:17
has come to rejoice
27:19
in the salvation
27:20
that he has provided himself
27:23
and come with blessings
27:25
to occupy the crown
27:28
that's now upon his head
27:29
at God's right hand.
27:31
So Psalm 21,
27:32
we're singing
27:33
verses 1 to 6,
27:35
and the tune this time
27:35
is Paisley,
27:37
the King,
27:37
in Thy great strength,
27:39
O Lord.
27:41
The King,
27:47
in Thy great strength,
27:50
O Lord,
27:51
shall very joyful be.
27:56
And Thy salvation,
28:01
rejoice,
28:04
how vehemently
28:07
shall he.
28:09
Thou hast bestowed upon him
28:17
all that his heart would have,
28:24
and Thou from him
28:27
didst not withhold
28:30
what e'er his lips
28:34
to crave.
28:36
For Thou with blessings
28:42
him previst
28:44
of goodness manifold,
28:49
and Thou hast set upon his head
28:58
a crown of purest gold.
29:02
When he decided life of thee,
29:12
Thou life to him didst give,
29:18
in such a land of peace
29:24
that he forevermore should live.
29:32
in that salvation
29:34
in that salvation
29:36
wrought by thee,
29:39
his glory is made great.
29:46
Honor and comely majesty
29:53
thou hast upon him said,
30:00
because that Thou
30:04
forevermore
30:08
most blessed
30:10
hast him made,
30:14
and Thou hast with Thy
30:19
countenance
30:22
made him exceeding
30:27
glad.
30:30
Well, for a short time,
30:31
let's turn again to the passage
30:33
we read in Luke 24,
30:35
and looking this morning
30:36
at the final few verses
30:38
from verse 50.
30:41
Then he, Jesus,
30:43
led them out as far as Bethany,
30:44
and lifting up his hands,
30:46
he blessed them.
30:47
While he blessed them,
30:48
he parted from them
30:49
and was carried up into heaven.
30:52
And they worshipped him
30:53
and returned to Jerusalem
30:55
with great joy
30:56
and were continually
30:58
in the temple
30:59
blessing God.
31:05
We want to look at this passage
31:06
under the general title
31:08
of Following Christ's Lead
31:11
into 2024.
31:14
In other words,
31:15
that as the passage
31:16
deals with Jesus
31:17
leading these disciples,
31:19
we learn much
31:20
that will benefit us,
31:21
we hope,
31:22
as we seek to follow
31:24
his leading
31:24
and guidance of us
31:26
through the year
31:27
that has just
31:27
very recently begun.
31:30
Luke ends
31:32
his gospel,
31:33
his book,
31:34
the gospel of Luke,
31:35
as he began.
31:36
He ends it
31:37
with worship,
31:38
the worship of God,
31:39
as he began,
31:40
with a reference
31:41
in different ways
31:42
to the worship of God.
31:43
And of course,
31:44
in between,
31:45
Luke fills
31:47
the gospel
31:48
with an account
31:49
of Christ's ministry
31:51
from his birth
31:52
through to his death
31:53
and here
31:53
his resurrection
31:54
and ascension
31:55
to glory.
31:57
And the focus
31:57
really in these verses
31:59
from the beginning
32:00
of this chapter
32:01
is on the fact
32:03
that this in fact
32:03
is the same person
32:05
who died
32:06
who is now
32:07
meeting with
32:08
these disciples
32:09
and showing himself
32:10
to them
32:11
and then taken up
32:12
from them
32:13
into heaven.
32:14
And that's an important point.
32:16
It's not a different Jesus
32:17
who appeared
32:19
after his resurrection
32:20
and in these passages here
32:22
to the Jesus
32:23
they knew
32:23
before he died.
32:25
It's the same person,
32:26
the same Jesus
32:27
who died
32:29
and rose again
32:30
and now comes
32:31
to be taken
32:33
to heaven.
32:34
And in verse 42
32:37
you can see
32:38
a reference there
32:40
to the fact
32:41
that it's still
32:41
very much
32:42
the human Jesus.
32:44
He took this piece
32:45
of broiled fish
32:46
and he took it
32:47
and ate before them.
32:49
In other words,
32:49
he demonstrates
32:50
this is not really
32:52
a spirit
32:53
that is not
32:54
some ghost-like
32:55
phantom-like figure.
32:56
It is in fact
32:57
Jesus himself.
32:58
His humanity
32:59
is still true humanity.
33:02
Whatever we say
33:02
of the meaning
33:04
of that verse
33:05
this is obviously
33:06
a demonstration
33:06
that he isn't
33:08
still the same Jesus.
33:09
He's still the same person.
33:11
He is still fully human
33:12
just as he is God.
33:15
And verses 50 to 53
33:17
then take us
33:19
to see how
33:19
the emphasis
33:20
on the resurrection
33:21
of Jesus,
33:22
the appearance
33:23
of Jesus
33:23
after the resurrection
33:24
and how that
33:26
in a way
33:27
logically
33:27
in terms of
33:28
God's provision
33:29
of salvation
33:30
and provision
33:31
of all that's in Jesus
33:32
as it logically
33:33
in that sense
33:34
flows into
33:35
his ascension.
33:37
One thing just
33:38
carries on into
33:39
the other,
33:39
the resurrection
33:40
and the appearances
33:41
carry on into
33:42
his being taken
33:43
from this world
33:44
up into glory.
33:48
And there are
33:48
three things
33:49
that we can look at
33:51
from these final
33:52
verses of Luke.
33:54
Three things
33:55
that apply
33:55
to our own
33:56
Christian experience
33:58
that we can look at
33:59
as significant features
34:00
of a Christian experience
34:02
that I hope
34:03
we all can follow
34:04
today
34:05
and if not
34:06
then you have to
34:07
ask yourself
34:08
the question
34:08
why can't I
34:10
I'm not yet
34:11
in that position
34:12
to experience
34:13
and enjoy
34:14
these experiences.
34:17
What are they?
34:18
Well here we find
34:19
first of all
34:20
this Christian life
34:21
the life
34:22
of following Jesus
34:23
it's a life
34:24
willing to be
34:25
led by Christ.
34:27
A life willing
34:28
to be led by Christ.
34:30
It's secondly
34:31
a life secure
34:33
within Christ's
34:34
intercession.
34:36
Within Christ's
34:37
blessing
34:38
we'll see that
34:39
that takes us
34:40
to think about
34:40
his intercession.
34:42
And thirdly
34:43
it's a life
34:43
rejoicing
34:45
in worshipping
34:46
Christ.
34:47
A life
34:48
willing to be
34:49
led by him
34:50
a life secure
34:51
within his
34:51
intercession
34:52
and a life
34:53
that rejoices
34:55
in worshipping
34:56
him.
34:56
then he led
34:58
them out
34:59
as far as
35:00
to Bethany.
35:01
Now that's a
35:02
deliberate reference
35:03
it seems by Luke.
35:04
It doesn't say
35:05
that he walked
35:06
with them
35:07
as far as
35:07
Bethany.
35:09
He actually
35:09
says specifically
35:10
and deliberately
35:11
he led them
35:13
out.
35:14
He actually
35:14
led them
35:15
and he went
35:16
before them.
35:17
In other words
35:18
they were
35:18
following him.
35:19
He deliberately
35:20
chose
35:21
this way
35:23
of
35:23
progressing
35:25
towards
35:26
his ascension.
35:27
It is
35:28
Jesus
35:28
who chose
35:29
the route.
35:30
It is
35:30
Jesus
35:30
who went
35:31
before them.
35:32
It is
35:32
Jesus
35:32
who led
35:33
them.
35:34
He was
35:35
the leader
35:35
until he
35:36
was taken
35:37
up from
35:37
them.
35:38
They were
35:39
under
35:39
his
35:40
direction.
35:41
And that
35:42
itself
35:42
seems a
35:43
simple point
35:44
is a very
35:45
important
35:45
factor
35:46
in our
35:46
discipleship.
35:48
In our
35:48
living life
35:50
under the
35:50
direction
35:51
and control
35:52
and government
35:53
of Jesus.
35:55
It is
35:55
life
35:56
willing to
35:57
be led
35:58
by Christ.
35:59
A life
36:00
that wants
36:00
indeed to
36:01
know more
36:01
and more
36:02
of his
36:02
leading and
36:03
of his
36:03
guidance,
36:04
of his
36:04
going before
36:05
us and
36:06
of his
36:06
being with
36:07
us.
36:09
In other
36:09
words,
36:10
the turns
36:10
and the
36:12
climbs
36:13
and the
36:14
descents,
36:16
the experiences
36:17
of providence
36:18
which is
36:19
God's
36:19
providence,
36:20
Christ's
36:21
providence,
36:21
all that
36:22
we find
36:22
in the
36:23
turnings
36:23
of our
36:24
experiences
36:24
from day
36:25
to day,
36:26
the gains
36:27
and the
36:27
losses,
36:28
the highs
36:29
and the
36:29
lows,
36:29
the pains
36:30
and the
36:30
joys,
36:31
the unexpected
36:32
things and
36:33
the expected
36:33
things,
36:34
whatever they
36:34
are as
36:35
they combine
36:36
together in
36:37
the providence,
36:38
in the lot
36:38
that we
36:39
have,
36:40
that is
36:41
by Christ's
36:42
choosing.
36:44
That is
36:45
by Christ's
36:45
choosing.
36:46
And our
36:48
peace of
36:48
heart
36:48
comes
36:51
from
36:53
acceptance
36:54
of that
36:55
great
36:55
fact.
36:57
Because we
36:57
will never
36:58
have that
36:59
peace of
36:59
heart if
37:00
we keep
37:00
rebelling
37:01
against the
37:01
Lord and
37:02
against His
37:03
wisdom.
37:04
Everything in
37:05
your life
37:05
today has
37:07
been appointed
37:07
by Jesus.
37:08
Not just
37:09
appointed in
37:09
any old
37:10
way, in a
37:11
loose kind
37:12
of a way,
37:12
but appointed
37:14
deliberately and
37:16
appointed wisely.
37:18
I think one
37:19
of the things
37:19
that we
37:20
always need
37:21
to come
37:21
back,
37:21
myself
37:22
especially,
37:23
again and
37:24
again to,
37:25
is the fact
37:25
that it is
37:26
the wise
37:27
Savior,
37:28
the wise
37:28
God,
37:29
who chooses
37:30
the route
37:30
for us.
37:32
It's not
37:32
the one we
37:32
would have
37:33
chosen
37:33
ourselves.
37:35
If Jesus
37:35
had left
37:36
the route
37:36
to these
37:37
disciples and
37:38
said to
37:38
them,
37:39
well on
37:39
you go
37:39
and I'll
37:40
just follow
37:40
you and
37:41
just wherever
37:42
you want
37:42
to meet,
37:43
wherever you
37:43
want to
37:43
stop,
37:44
I'll meet
37:44
with you
37:45
there.
37:46
He led
37:48
them out
37:49
as far
37:50
as Bethany.
37:54
Is that
37:55
how it is
37:55
with your
37:56
own life
37:56
today?
37:58
Is he
37:59
leading your
38:00
life onwards
38:01
day by day?
38:02
Are you
38:02
today willing
38:03
to be led
38:06
by this
38:06
Jesus?
38:08
Are you
38:08
willing that
38:09
your life
38:09
will be
38:10
patterned
38:11
by his
38:12
wisdom
38:12
and his
38:13
choice
38:13
of the
38:14
route
38:14
for you?
38:16
That's all
38:16
built into
38:17
this very
38:17
brief reference.
38:18
He led
38:19
them out
38:19
as far
38:20
as to
38:21
Bethany.
38:22
And not
38:22
only that,
38:23
but remember
38:23
who this
38:24
is and
38:25
what his
38:25
position is
38:26
here.
38:27
It's the
38:27
risen Jesus
38:28
who's leading
38:29
them out.
38:30
The Jesus
38:30
who's conquered
38:31
death.
38:32
The Jesus
38:32
for whom
38:33
death is
38:33
now behind
38:34
him and
38:35
having gained
38:36
that victory
38:37
over death
38:37
and over the
38:38
grave and
38:38
over sin
38:39
and over
38:39
Satan and
38:40
over the
38:40
world,
38:41
here he is
38:42
leading his
38:43
disciples on
38:44
into further
38:45
blessing.
38:46
It's the
38:46
risen Jesus
38:47
that's doing
38:48
this.
38:49
It's the
38:49
risen Jesus,
38:50
the one
38:50
triumphant
38:51
over death
38:52
that actually
38:53
leads his
38:53
people onwards
38:54
through life.
38:56
And how
38:57
important is
38:58
that?
38:58
Because it
38:59
means that
38:59
in him and
39:01
having him as
39:02
your savior,
39:03
as your leader,
39:04
having your
39:04
life willingly
39:05
under his
39:06
direction,
39:06
it means that
39:07
all the things
39:08
that happen to
39:09
you in your
39:09
life, he
39:10
and in him
39:12
you are able
39:13
to actually
39:13
prevail over
39:14
them and
39:15
benefit from
39:16
them and
39:17
gain from
39:17
them, however
39:18
difficult they
39:19
might be.
39:20
Because he's
39:21
in charge of
39:21
them and he's
39:22
in charge of
39:23
your life and
39:24
in charge of
39:24
the turns of
39:26
your circumstances.
39:29
Let me just
39:29
take you to
39:30
Psalm 68.
39:31
You turn
39:31
briefly with me
39:32
to Psalm 68
39:33
in the book
39:34
of Psalms.
39:34
I want to
39:35
pick a few
39:35
verses there
39:36
because this
39:36
is a psalm
39:37
really about
39:38
what we can
39:39
call the
39:39
divine conqueror.
39:42
Words that
39:42
apply very
39:43
much to
39:44
Jesus himself
39:44
as they were
39:45
fulfilled in
39:46
him.
39:47
And it's a
39:47
psalm of
39:48
praise by
39:50
David to
39:50
God.
39:51
But notice
39:52
how it
39:52
begins.
39:53
God shall
39:55
arise, his
39:55
enemies shall
39:56
be scattered,
39:57
and those who
39:58
hate him shall
39:59
flee before
40:00
him.
40:01
As smoke is
40:02
driven, so you
40:02
shall drive
40:03
them away.
40:03
But then if
40:04
you turn to
40:05
verse 7,
40:07
O God,
40:08
when you
40:09
went out
40:09
before your
40:10
people, when
40:12
you marched
40:12
through the
40:13
wilderness, the
40:14
earth quaked, the
40:15
heavens poured
40:16
down rain, before
40:17
God, the one of
40:18
Sinai, before God,
40:20
the God of
40:20
Israel.
40:21
You see, there
40:21
is God going
40:22
out.
40:23
Yes, it's a
40:23
reference especially
40:24
to Sinai, to
40:25
the wilderness, to
40:27
the journey that
40:27
they have, which
40:28
itself is symbolic
40:29
in a sense to a
40:30
measure of the
40:31
journey that we
40:32
have through this
40:33
life.
40:34
And here is
40:34
God going before
40:35
his people.
40:36
What happens when
40:37
God goes before
40:38
his people?
40:39
Well, they are
40:39
victorious in
40:40
him.
40:41
They march after
40:43
him as he
40:44
marches ahead
40:45
of them.
40:46
Go to verse
40:47
12.
40:49
The kings of
40:49
the armies, they
40:50
flee, they flee.
40:52
The women at
40:52
home divide the
40:54
spoil.
40:55
The conqueror has
40:56
come back from
40:57
his victory, and
40:58
the spoils of
40:59
victory are
41:00
shared out.
41:01
That is Jesus
41:01
having conquered
41:02
the grave.
41:04
The spoils of
41:04
his victory
41:05
shared out to
41:06
his people.
41:08
Verses 18 to
41:09
19.
41:11
You ascended on
41:12
high, leaving a
41:13
host of captives
41:14
in your train, and
41:15
receiving gifts
41:16
among men, even
41:17
among the
41:18
rebellious, that
41:19
the Lord God
41:20
may dwell there.
41:23
These verses are
41:24
quoted in the New
41:24
Testament in
41:26
regard to Christ's
41:27
resurrection and
41:28
then ascension.
41:29
You ascended on
41:30
high.
41:30
Why did he
41:31
ascend on
41:32
high?
41:33
To receive
41:34
gifts for
41:35
men, the
41:35
gifts especially
41:36
of the Holy
41:37
Spirit and the
41:38
gifts that come
41:39
in God's
41:40
salvation.
41:42
And then
41:42
verse 28, a
41:43
couple more
41:43
verses.
41:45
Summon your
41:46
power, O God,
41:47
the power, O
41:48
God, by which
41:49
you have worked
41:50
for us.
41:51
You see, there's
41:52
David's prayer as
41:54
he comes to
41:54
seek that power
41:56
that God has
41:56
displayed as he
41:58
marched ahead of
41:58
his people and
41:59
gave them
42:00
victory.
42:00
He wants that
42:01
power to be
42:02
displayed, to be
42:03
summoned again for
42:04
his benefit and for
42:05
his people's benefit.
42:07
That's your prayer
42:07
today, surely, as a
42:08
Christian, that
42:09
Christ would summon
42:10
the power by which
42:12
he rose from the
42:13
dead, by which he
42:13
ascended to glory,
42:15
and that that power
42:16
would come into
42:17
your life increasingly
42:18
day by day for
42:19
your benefit.
42:22
And then at the
42:22
end of the psalm,
42:24
in verse 35,
42:24
awesome is God
42:27
from his sanctuary,
42:29
the God of Israel.
42:30
He is the one who
42:32
gives power and
42:33
strength to his
42:34
people.
42:35
Blessed be God.
42:39
And where better
42:40
do you see that than
42:41
the likes of this
42:42
passage in Luke where
42:43
Jesus leads his
42:44
people out, these
42:45
disciples out to
42:47
Bethany, where under
42:48
his direction he
42:49
comes to lead them
42:50
into blessing, where
42:53
his power is operating
42:54
on their behalf and
42:55
for them and in
42:56
them and through
42:57
them.
43:00
As we begin this
43:02
new year, or as
43:03
it's just newly
43:04
recently begun, is
43:06
this not our
43:07
concern?
43:08
Is this not our
43:09
burden?
43:10
Is this not how you
43:11
would like your life
43:12
to be lived?
43:13
To be lived
43:14
willingly led by
43:16
Christ.
43:18
Willingly led so
43:19
that the power of
43:20
Christ comes day by
43:21
day into your life,
43:23
into your experience,
43:23
into your circumstances
43:25
so that through him
43:27
you are able to
43:29
proceed, you are able
43:29
to prevail, you are
43:31
able to go on, you
43:32
are able to conquer
43:33
the sin in your own
43:34
life, you are able to
43:35
conquer temptation,
43:37
you are able to
43:38
glorify him in the
43:40
life you live, you are
43:41
able to accept the
43:43
difficulties that are
43:45
as possible in your
43:46
life, the unexpected
43:47
events, the
43:48
illnesses, the
43:52
bereavements, the
43:54
losses, the
43:55
sorrows.
43:57
He led them as
43:59
far as Bethany.
44:01
And secondly, you
44:03
find a life secure
44:05
within Christ's
44:07
intercession.
44:08
Now how do we
44:08
come under his
44:10
direction?
44:11
How do we come to
44:12
benefit from his
44:14
leading of his
44:15
people?
44:15
How do we come to
44:16
have ourselves
44:17
actually in that
44:18
situation?
44:19
Well, of course, it
44:20
is through trusting
44:21
in him.
44:22
And trusting in him
44:23
means entrusting your
44:25
whole life to him,
44:27
giving your whole life
44:28
over to him to be
44:29
ruled by him, to be
44:31
directed by him, as we
44:32
saw in the first point,
44:33
willingly.
44:36
There's such a thing
44:37
nowadays as adaptive
44:39
cruise control in some
44:40
cars.
44:42
And adaptive cruise
44:44
control means that the
44:45
car, when you set, it
44:46
automatically keeps the
44:47
right distance between
44:49
you and the car in
44:50
front.
44:51
So if that one slows
44:52
down, it automatically
44:53
slows your car down as
44:54
well.
44:55
And if that car in front
44:56
of you stops, then the
44:58
system applies the
44:59
brakes in your car as
45:01
well, and your car
45:02
comes to a stop.
45:03
And it is so, so
45:04
difficult, until you
45:06
get used to the system,
45:08
to keep your foot off
45:09
the brake and just let
45:10
the adaptive cruise
45:12
control take control.
45:14
Because your tendency
45:14
is, when you see the
45:16
car in front slowing
45:17
down, your tendency
45:18
is, push the brake just
45:19
to make sure that your
45:20
car is going to stop.
45:21
And that cuts out the
45:22
adaptive cruise control.
45:25
And that's, I think, a
45:26
really useful illustration,
45:28
I hope, of the
45:30
challenge and the
45:31
difficulties of handing
45:32
your life over to
45:34
Jesus.
45:34
Because our tendency is
45:36
to want to keep
45:37
control, and at least
45:38
keep a measure of
45:39
control, over our own
45:40
lives.
45:41
We just don't have the
45:42
willingness of ourselves
45:44
to give our whole
45:45
life over to Him.
45:47
But that's really what
45:47
it has to come to.
45:50
He doesn't want your,
45:52
this little bit or that
45:53
little bit of your
45:54
life.
45:55
He doesn't want you to
45:56
hand over certain
45:58
aspects of your life,
45:59
and then keep control of
46:01
the rest yourself.
46:02
That's not going to be of
46:02
any use to us.
46:06
You have to hand your
46:07
life over to Him.
46:10
For Him to willingly
46:11
come to lead you
46:12
through the issues of
46:13
life, through death
46:14
itself, and on into
46:16
eternity.
46:18
And as He led them as
46:20
far as Bethany, then
46:21
lifting up His hands,
46:22
He blessed them.
46:23
It's a life secure
46:25
within Christ's
46:26
intercession.
46:26
Now, why do I say
46:27
intercession?
46:28
Because there's nothing
46:29
specifically mentioned
46:30
there about intercession.
46:32
And yet I think that
46:33
the language there,
46:34
lifting up His hands,
46:35
He blessed them,
46:36
that language is
46:37
indicative of the
46:40
language of the Old
46:42
Testament with regard
46:43
to the priestly
46:44
blessing or the high
46:45
priest blessing of His
46:46
people.
46:47
Think of Numbers and
46:48
the words in Numbers
46:50
chapter 6 from verse
46:51
22.
46:51
We often sometimes use
46:53
them at baptism.
46:54
The Lord bless you
46:55
and keep you.
46:57
The Lord make His face
46:59
to shine upon you and
47:00
be gracious to you.
47:01
The Lord lift up His
47:03
countenance upon you and
47:04
give you peace, His
47:06
peace.
47:06
They're words of blessing
47:08
in a priestly setting.
47:10
They're words by which
47:11
God has said the priest
47:13
would put Aaron and his
47:14
sons, would put His name
47:16
upon the people of
47:17
Israel, God's name.
47:18
In other words, they
47:19
come under the security
47:21
and the safety of God's
47:22
name.
47:23
And where is that
47:24
fulfilled?
47:24
It's fulfilled in Jesus
47:26
and in His intercession.
47:28
Because Jesus is still
47:30
active on behalf of His
47:31
people in heaven and He's
47:33
active especially in making
47:35
intercession for them and
47:37
bestowing His blessing
47:38
upon them.
47:39
You see here, lifting up
47:41
His hands, He blessed
47:42
them.
47:42
They come under the
47:43
blessing under the
47:45
uplifted hands of Jesus.
47:47
The blessing of His people
47:49
takes place and continues
47:50
to take place.
47:52
And the blessing of Jesus
47:53
flows into your life and
47:56
my life as a Christian from
47:58
Jesus in heaven.
47:59
Now His hands are still
48:00
lifted up, as we'll see in a
48:01
minute, in that sense of
48:03
still blessing His people
48:04
actively as their high
48:05
priest.
48:09
Everything you find in
48:10
number six and from verse
48:11
twenty-two is fulfilled.
48:13
All of these elements that
48:15
were mentioned in these
48:15
verses are actually
48:17
fulfilled in the blessing
48:19
of Christ as the high
48:20
priest of His people.
48:22
And what is the
48:23
intercession of Christ
48:24
really?
48:24
It's a big subject
48:26
worthy of much more
48:28
study than I can give it
48:28
in a couple of minutes.
48:30
What is the intercession of
48:32
Jesus?
48:32
What does intercession
48:33
mean?
48:34
What does intercession mean?
48:37
Is it just that Jesus is
48:39
praying for His people,
48:41
just as you would imagine
48:42
Him praying for His people
48:44
here while He was on earth
48:45
or ourselves praying for
48:47
God's blessing?
48:48
Well, I'm not saying there's
48:49
not that element in it,
48:51
but the intercession of Jesus
48:53
is basically the presenting
48:55
of Himself and His finished
48:58
work of atonement, His death
48:59
that fulfilled all that
49:01
was necessary for His people,
49:03
for their sins to be forgiven,
49:05
the presenting of that
49:07
to God the Father.
49:09
I remember when people came
49:14
to arrest Jesus in the garden,
49:17
that Jesus said something
49:18
specific at that point.
49:20
If it is I you are seeking,
49:23
if it's me you are seeking,
49:25
let these,
49:26
He mentioned the disciples,
49:27
let these go their way.
49:29
And you know,
49:29
you can take that text really
49:31
and say that's applicable
49:33
to the intercession of Jesus
49:34
because He took what we deserved
49:39
in the death that He died,
49:41
in enduring the wrath of God
49:43
which we were liable to
49:46
for our sins.
49:49
And Jesus is really the one
49:51
who in Himself, as it were,
49:54
fulfills that great statement
49:55
that He spoke.
49:56
If it is me that you're seeking,
49:58
since I'm the one you're seeking,
50:01
let these go their way.
50:02
I'll take their place.
50:03
I'll take the penalty.
50:05
I'll take what's due to them
50:06
and they can go free.
50:09
Now you see,
50:10
that's within Christ's intercession.
50:12
That's what's happening.
50:14
Because God the Father,
50:16
as God the Father looks upon God,
50:18
the Son beside Him,
50:20
the One who entered this world
50:21
and died and rose from the dead
50:23
and was exalted to glory,
50:25
as God the Father looks upon Him
50:27
and sees His people in Him,
50:30
He regards them as fully acceptable
50:32
to Him in Jesus.
50:35
And Christ's presenting of the case
50:39
for their security,
50:41
for their everlasting security,
50:43
for their forgiveness of sins to be,
50:46
His forgiveness of their sins to continue.
50:48
It's all in Jesus.
50:51
And His intercession for them
50:52
is an intercession
50:54
that keeps presenting
50:56
the worth of His own death,
50:59
the merit of His own death,
51:01
the power of His own death,
51:04
the achievement of His own death.
51:06
And that goes on constantly
51:09
in heaven
51:11
for His people.
51:15
And
51:15
you notice this,
51:17
while He blessed them,
51:19
He was parted from them
51:21
and was carried up into heaven.
51:23
You see there,
51:25
Luke is really recording
51:26
the thing exactly as it happened.
51:30
While
51:30
He was blessing them,
51:33
He was parted from them.
51:34
In other words,
51:34
the last thing they saw of Jesus
51:36
physically in this world
51:38
was Him with His hands uplifted
51:41
being carried up into heaven.
51:43
It wasn't that they saw Him
51:44
lifting His hands
51:45
and blessing them
51:46
and pronouncing a blessing
51:47
and then His hands went down
51:49
and then He was lifted up.
51:50
He was still in the act
51:51
of blessing them
51:52
as He left them.
51:53
He was still in the act
51:54
of pronouncing
51:55
that priestly blessing
51:56
from Himself
51:57
that He was actually
51:58
involved in at the time.
52:00
and it was like that
52:02
that He was taken into heaven.
52:04
He was actually still
52:04
in the act of blessing.
52:06
In other words,
52:07
their conclusion from that
52:08
and our conclusion
52:09
as we read that
52:10
is that the blessing
52:11
was going to continue.
52:13
As He went into heaven,
52:15
He continued to bless them.
52:16
As He entered heaven,
52:17
He continued to bless them.
52:19
As He sat at the right hand of God,
52:21
He continued to bless them.
52:23
And we still have
52:24
Christ's priestly blessing
52:26
as our privilege
52:28
as Christians today.
52:31
And if you are in Him today
52:32
and if you've embraced Him
52:34
and if your life
52:35
is willingly led by Him,
52:37
this is actually
52:38
what's happening
52:39
on your behalf.
52:40
This is what's happening
52:41
in heaven
52:42
through the intercession
52:43
of Jesus Himself.
52:45
His hands, as it were,
52:46
are still raised over you,
52:49
pronouncing you blessed,
52:51
pronouncing you
52:52
in favor with God.
52:54
That's where our security lies.
53:00
You remember how Hebrews,
53:01
that book in the New Testament
53:04
that speaks so much
53:05
about Christ's high priesthood,
53:07
how in chapter 7,
53:09
among many other things,
53:10
it says this,
53:11
from verse 23,
53:13
contrasting Jesus
53:14
with the former priests
53:16
of the Old Testament,
53:18
the former priests
53:19
were many in number
53:20
because they were prevented
53:22
by death
53:23
from continuing
53:24
in office,
53:25
but He holds
53:26
His priesthood
53:27
permanently
53:28
because He
53:30
continues
53:31
forever.
53:32
Consequently,
53:33
He is able to save
53:35
to the uttermost
53:36
those who draw near
53:37
to God
53:38
through Him
53:38
since He always lives
53:41
to make
53:42
intercession
53:43
for them.
53:46
It is the Hebrews version,
53:47
if you like,
53:48
of what we're saying here
53:49
from Luke's Gospel.
53:51
The continuing life
53:53
of Jesus
53:54
for His people
53:55
is a life
53:56
of continuing
53:57
blessing for them
53:58
under His priesthood,
54:01
under His direction,
54:03
under His own intercession.
54:07
A life willing
54:07
to be led by Christ,
54:09
a life secure
54:11
within Christ's intercession,
54:13
a life rejoicing
54:14
in worshiping Christ.
54:16
You notice how
54:16
the passage ends.
54:18
They worshipped Him
54:19
and returned
54:20
to Jerusalem
54:21
with great joy
54:22
and were continually
54:23
in the temple
54:24
blessing God.
54:26
They were not downcast
54:28
that He had left,
54:29
that He had disappeared
54:30
from sight.
54:31
They were not afraid
54:32
that there were just
54:33
such a few people
54:34
surrounded by
54:35
so many opponents.
54:37
They returned
54:38
with great joy.
54:40
Here's the question
54:41
for you
54:42
and for me today.
54:43
Am I joyful
54:45
in the worship
54:46
of God?
54:47
Am I joyful
54:49
in my faith
54:50
in my following
54:51
of Christ?
54:51
Am I joyful
54:53
in my being led
54:54
by Him?
54:56
Do I know
54:56
this joy
54:57
as something
54:57
not only that I want
54:59
to find in my life
55:01
but I want to see
55:02
increased in my life?
55:03
They returned
55:04
with great joy,
55:06
not just joy
55:07
but great joy.
55:08
They were rejoicing
55:09
in worshiping Christ.
55:11
Is our worship
55:11
a joyful worship?
55:13
If it is,
55:14
do we want
55:15
that joyful worship
55:16
to spill over
55:17
that others
55:18
will experience it as well?
55:19
Surely we do.
55:20
And let's pray
55:23
that as we go
55:25
through this year
55:26
and seek to follow
55:28
the leadership
55:28
of Christ Himself
55:29
that more and more
55:31
we will actually
55:32
enjoy worshiping Him.
55:34
That we will rejoice
55:36
in worshiping Him.
55:37
That we'll have
55:37
this great joy
55:38
that these disciples
55:39
had as they
55:40
worshiped Him
55:41
and as they
55:42
returned to Jerusalem
55:43
with great joy.
55:44
I mean being led
55:47
by the risen Jesus
55:49
and being safe
55:52
and secure
55:52
under the intercession
55:54
of the risen
55:55
exalted Jesus.
55:58
Surely that should be
56:00
the source of our joy
56:01
that our life is lived
56:04
under His direction
56:06
and safely and securely
56:08
under His intercession.
56:10
What is there to fear?
56:12
Why should we be afraid
56:13
of the world?
56:14
Why should we be afraid
56:16
of the world seeing us
56:17
rejoicing in Christ?
56:20
Of course we shouldn't.
56:22
And isn't it today
56:23
our privilege
56:24
not only to worship Jesus
56:26
but to worship Him joyfully.
56:28
To express our joy
56:30
through reading
56:31
the Word of God.
56:32
Through hearing the Word
56:33
preached
56:34
and through preaching it.
56:35
And to especially express
56:37
that in prayer
56:37
and in the singing
56:38
of His praises
56:39
that we will do it
56:41
in a way that shows
56:42
that we are joyful
56:44
in worshiping God
56:47
in worshiping the Savior.
56:51
And you see
56:51
continually
56:52
they were in the temple
56:54
blessing God.
56:56
And what's that saying to us?
56:58
It's saying to us
56:58
that there they were
56:59
having seen Jesus
57:00
having been spoken to
57:02
by Jesus
57:03
having been blessed
57:04
by Jesus
57:04
having seen Him
57:05
departing with His hands
57:07
and blessings
57:07
still lifted over them.
57:09
they returned
57:10
with great joy
57:11
and in that rejoicing
57:13
they were continually
57:14
in the temple.
57:15
In other words
57:15
they were committed
57:17
they were committed
57:18
to His service
57:19
committed to His worship
57:20
to continue
57:21
with His worship.
57:24
Luke
57:24
has a volume 2
57:26
of the account
57:28
of Jesus' life.
57:31
And volume 2
57:31
of Luke's account
57:33
is in the book of Acts.
57:35
The book of Acts
57:35
is a continuation
57:37
really of the story
57:38
of Jesus
57:39
as told by Luke.
57:41
And it's still
57:41
the story of Jesus
57:43
even though you might
57:44
think of the book of Acts
57:45
as to do primarily
57:47
as it is with
57:48
the church
57:48
and the increase
57:49
of the church
57:50
and the way the gospel
57:51
through the church
57:53
of the time
57:54
then spread out
57:54
into the Gentile world.
57:56
Yes, but it's still
57:56
the story of Jesus.
57:58
He is the one
57:59
who through His blessing
58:00
and His blessing
58:01
of the gospel
58:02
is actually behind
58:04
that great increase
58:06
in the number
58:06
of believers
58:07
and in the effectiveness
58:08
of the gospel
58:09
through them.
58:12
And so volume 2
58:13
of Luke's account
58:15
continues
58:15
the story of Jesus.
58:18
The story of the risen Christ.
58:21
The Christ who died
58:22
and rose again
58:22
and was taken up
58:25
to glory.
58:27
And in that gospel
58:28
in the Acts
58:30
rather
58:30
chapter 1
58:32
and verse 8
58:32
He said to them
58:34
just before He left them
58:35
and again
58:36
He's saying to them
58:37
that they were going
58:38
to be His witnesses
58:39
in that local area
58:42
Samaria, Jerusalem
58:43
and to the ends
58:46
of the earth.
58:47
That means you and I
58:49
that we are to be
58:50
the witnesses
58:51
for Jesus
58:53
who are led by Him
58:55
in our lives
58:55
who are secure
58:57
within His intercession
58:58
who rejoice
58:59
in worshiping Him
59:01
and that we communicate
59:03
that to the world
59:04
in which we live.
59:05
That's why we exist
59:06
in this world
59:07
as Christians
59:08
as believers
59:09
in Christ
59:10
not only to rejoice
59:12
in Him
59:12
and to enjoy Him
59:13
for ourselves
59:14
but to commend Him
59:15
and to speak of Him
59:17
and to present Him
59:18
to the world
59:20
around us
59:21
to the ends
59:23
of the earth.
59:24
That is now
59:25
our task.
59:26
So as this year
59:29
goes by
59:30
may we be
59:32
more and more
59:33
willing to be led
59:34
by Jesus.
59:37
May we have
59:38
more and more
59:38
comfort from knowing
59:39
of a life secure
59:41
under the intercession
59:42
of Jesus.
59:44
And may we be
59:45
more and more
59:45
a people
59:47
rejoicing
59:48
and worshipping
59:49
Jesus
59:49
and seeking
59:51
to make Him known
59:52
even to the ends
59:54
of the earth.
59:55
after all
59:56
we have
59:57
His own
59:58
other
59:59
other words
1:00:00
in the other
1:00:01
Gospel of Matthew
1:00:02
we have His
1:00:04
words
1:00:04
with which
1:00:06
the Gospel of Matthew
1:00:07
closes
1:00:07
having given
1:00:09
direction
1:00:09
and command
1:00:11
to make disciples
1:00:12
of all nations
1:00:13
given that He
1:00:15
has been given
1:00:16
all authority
1:00:17
in heaven and earth
1:00:18
go and make
1:00:19
disciples
1:00:20
of all nations.
1:00:22
He makes
1:00:22
the converts
1:00:23
we make
1:00:24
the disciples.
1:00:26
Discipleship
1:00:27
is part of
1:00:28
the way in which
1:00:30
the church's
1:00:31
evangelism
1:00:32
is carried out
1:00:32
making of
1:00:33
disciples.
1:00:35
It's not our
1:00:36
business
1:00:36
or our ability
1:00:37
to convert
1:00:38
people
1:00:39
but it is our
1:00:40
privilege and our
1:00:41
business to make
1:00:42
disciples
1:00:43
to gather
1:00:45
people
1:00:46
under the
1:00:48
headship of
1:00:48
Christ.
1:00:50
And what did He
1:00:51
say?
1:00:51
How did He finish?
1:00:52
what is it
1:00:53
especially that
1:00:54
encourages us
1:00:55
more than anything
1:00:55
else?
1:00:57
Lo,
1:00:58
behold,
1:00:59
I am with
1:01:00
you
1:01:00
to the end
1:01:02
of the age.
1:01:05
The Jesus
1:01:06
who leads
1:01:08
His people,
1:01:10
the Jesus
1:01:10
whose intercession
1:01:11
brings security
1:01:13
to His people,
1:01:15
the Jesus
1:01:16
who is worshipped
1:01:17
joyfully by His
1:01:18
people,
1:01:18
is the Jesus
1:01:20
who assures
1:01:21
them,
1:01:22
I am with
1:01:23
you.
1:01:24
And when He
1:01:25
is with you,
1:01:26
it doesn't
1:01:27
matter who's
1:01:27
against you,
1:01:28
who's seeing
1:01:29
you,
1:01:30
who's disagreeing
1:01:31
with you,
1:01:32
if He is
1:01:33
with you,
1:01:34
it is well
1:01:36
with your
1:01:38
soul.
1:01:39
Let's pray.
1:01:40
eternal God,
1:01:44
we give
1:01:46
thanks today
1:01:46
for the
1:01:47
gospel.
1:01:48
We give
1:01:49
thanks for
1:01:49
that gospel
1:01:50
that brings
1:01:50
to us
1:01:51
such a
1:01:51
message of
1:01:52
hope.
1:01:53
We bless
1:01:53
you that at
1:01:54
the beginning
1:01:54
of this
1:01:55
new year,
1:01:55
we are
1:01:56
able,
1:01:57
through your
1:01:57
own word,
1:01:59
to realize
1:01:59
the importance
1:02:00
of being led
1:02:01
by you.
1:02:02
Lord,
1:02:03
we pray
1:02:03
for willing
1:02:04
hearts.
1:02:05
We pray
1:02:06
for hearts
1:02:06
that will be
1:02:07
willing to
1:02:08
serve you,
1:02:08
to worship
1:02:09
you,
1:02:10
to be
1:02:10
witnesses
1:02:11
to you,
1:02:12
to be led
1:02:13
by you,
1:02:14
to be safe
1:02:15
under your
1:02:15
own intercession.
1:02:17
Help us,
1:02:18
Lord,
1:02:18
to be glad
1:02:19
in you,
1:02:20
and help us
1:02:20
to commend
1:02:21
you to the
1:02:21
world around
1:02:22
us as the
1:02:23
only one in
1:02:24
whom we can
1:02:25
find the
1:02:26
satisfaction for
1:02:27
which you
1:02:27
created us.
1:02:29
So hear us,
1:02:30
we pray now,
1:02:30
and continue
1:02:31
with us
1:02:31
throughout this
1:02:32
day,
1:02:33
pardoning our
1:02:33
sin and
1:02:34
accepting us
1:02:34
for Jesus'
1:02:35
sake.
1:02:36
Amen.
1:02:39
Well,
1:02:41
our final
1:02:41
psalm is
1:02:41
Psalm 68,
1:02:42
psalm we
1:02:43
quoted from,
1:02:44
read part of
1:02:45
earlier.
1:02:46
Psalm 68,
1:02:47
verses 18 to
1:02:48
20,
1:02:49
on page 303,
1:02:51
so it's in the
1:02:51
Scottish Psalter,
1:02:53
singing to
1:02:54
Tune Sheffield,
1:02:55
Thou hast,
1:02:56
O Lord,
1:02:56
most glorious,
1:02:58
ascended up on
1:02:59
high,
1:03:00
and in triumph
1:03:00
victorious led
1:03:02
captive
1:03:02
captivity.
1:03:03
Thou hast
1:03:04
received gifts
1:03:05
for men,
1:03:06
for such as
1:03:06
did rebel,
1:03:07
yea,
1:03:07
even for
1:03:08
them,
1:03:09
that God
1:03:10
the Lord
1:03:10
in midst
1:03:11
of them
1:03:11
might dwell.
1:03:13
Psalm 68,
1:03:14
verses 18 to
1:03:15
20.
1:03:16
Amen.
1:03:21
Thou hast,
1:03:23
O Lord,
1:03:24
most glorious,
1:03:28
ascended upon
1:03:31
high,
1:03:33
and in triumph
1:03:37
victorious led,
1:03:41
captive,
1:03:42
captivity.
1:03:45
Thou hast
1:03:49
received gifts
1:03:53
for men,
1:03:55
for such as
1:03:57
did rebel,
1:03:59
yea,
1:04:01
yea,
1:04:01
in for them
1:04:04
that God
1:04:06
the Lord
1:04:08
in midst
1:04:10
of them
1:04:11
might dwell.
1:04:15
Blessed
1:04:16
be the
1:04:17
Lord
1:04:19
who is
1:04:20
to us
1:04:22
of our
1:04:24
salvation
1:04:26
God,
1:04:28
who
1:04:29
daily
1:04:30
with
1:04:32
its
1:04:33
benefits
1:04:35
as
1:04:37
plenteously
1:04:39
doth
1:04:40
Lord.
1:04:43
He
1:04:44
of
1:04:44
salvation
1:04:47
is
1:04:48
our God
1:04:50
who is
1:04:52
our God
1:04:54
most
1:04:55
strong,
1:04:56
and
1:04:57
unto
1:04:59
God
1:05:00
the
1:05:01
Lord
1:05:02
from
1:05:03
death
1:05:04
he
1:05:05
is
1:05:06
used
1:05:06
to
1:05:07
belong.
1:05:11
After the
1:05:12
benediction,
1:05:12
I'll go to
1:05:13
the main
1:05:13
door.
1:05:15
Now may
1:05:16
the grace
1:05:16
of the
1:05:17
Lord
1:05:17
Jesus
1:05:17
Christ,
1:05:18
the love
1:05:18
of God
1:05:19
the Father,
1:05:20
and the
1:05:20
communion
1:05:20
of the
1:05:21
Holy Spirit
1:05:21
be with
1:05:22
you now
1:05:22
and ever
1:05:23
more.
1:05:24
Amen.
1:05:53
of
1:05:55
the
1:05:56
el
1:06:04
Lord
1:06:04
the
1:06:05
loving
1:06:06
of
1:06:07
the
1:06:11
son
1:06:11
of
1:06:12
the
1:06:12
more.
1:06:15
Thank you.