Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / The Challenge to Obedience

Transcript

The Challenge to Obedience · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We're going to begin by singing to God's praise in Psalm 33. It's not from verse 18,
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as marked on the bulletin sheets, from verse 15. And we'll sing from verse 15
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down to the end of the psalm. Page 246 of the psalm books, Psalm 33 at verse 15.
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He forms their hearts alike and all their doings he observes.
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Great host saves not a king much strength, no mighty man preserves.
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Then from verse 19 there, from death to free their soul and dearth,
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life unto them to yield. Our soul doth wait upon the Lord. He is our help and shield.
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We'll sing from verse 15 down to the end of the psalm and the tune is Irish.
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He forms their hearts alike and all their doings he observes.
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Great host save not a king, but strength no mighty man preserves.
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And hordes for preservation is a deceitful thing.
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And by the greatness of his strength can no deliverance bring.
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Behold on those that do him fear, the Lord doth set his eye.
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Heave those who on his mercy do, with confidence rely.
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Heave those who on his mercy do, with confidence rely.
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From death to free their soul and dearth, life unto them to yield.
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Our soul doth wait upon the Lord. He is our help and shield.
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His heart is a god's sin.
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If there is a burden being soMan çaigneur near me.
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As we do hope in thee.
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Let's join our hearts together in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Our Father in heaven, we come before you this night
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thankful for every opportunity we have to call upon your name,
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to praise your name and to give thanks to you
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as our Lord and as our God.
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And to come even as the psalmist from the psalm we've sung,
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waiting upon you.
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As he said, our soul doth wait upon the Lord.
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He is our help and shield.
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Help us to come with these words in mind,
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recognizing who you are,
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that you are indeed our help and our shield,
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the one who preserves us, the one who keeps us.
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For the psalm warns us too
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that there is no preservation in a horse, as it is put.
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For there the psalmist is thinking of putting their trust in the armies
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and the strength of armies,
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that they might find protection in that way.
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But ultimately, they knew and we know
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that our only protection, our only salvation,
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is through the Lord as our God.
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And so we pray, Lord, this evening that as we come,
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we will come acknowledging you as that Lord,
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the Lord of our lives,
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the Lord of our hearts,
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the Lord of all that we seek to do.
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For apart from you, Lord, we can do nothing.
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And so help us to come
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and worship you in that way,
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to put our trust in you,
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that our hearts may be joyful,
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that we might know your mercy upon us
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as we put our hope in you.
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And Lord, we pray for your word to be blessed to us,
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that all that we hear would speak to us
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of the wonder of your salvation
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and your love and your grace towards us,
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of the challenge to obedience to you,
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and that your spirit would work in all our hearts
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to build us up in our faith,
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to help us to trust you more,
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even to come and know you for the first time,
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to know that joy of salvation,
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to know what it is to have our hearts opened
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and to receive you in that way,
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to understand you,
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to understand your word,
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to understand your grace and your love,
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to understand all that it means for our lives just now
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and all that it means for eternity
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that's before us all as well.
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So help us, Lord,
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that your spirit would be with us
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to prompt us in that way,
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to know you and to understand you as you are.
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And we thank you, Lord,
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that your word is powerful to that end,
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that your word is the word of truth
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and the word of life,
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the word that sets us free.
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And we pray, Lord,
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that as your word is proclaimed here
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and around us in so many different places
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in our communities,
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in our island,
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our nation and the world,
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in the many different languages
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it's proclaimed in.
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We thank you, Lord,
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that it goes out with your power
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and your spirit
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and that that is a word
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that is able to convince people
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of who you are,
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to convict in their hearts
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and to convert them to you.
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And so we pray, Lord,
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for your spirit to move around us
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and among us
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and bring life to those who are dead,
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bring life to those who are lost in this world,
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not realizing the eternity before them.
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But, Lord,
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we pray for your salvation,
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your saving power,
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the light of your salvation,
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to go out
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and bring that light of hope.
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And so we pray, Lord,
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that today and each day
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that you allow your word
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to be among us, Lord,
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for we do not know
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the number of our days,
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we do not know
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when the Lord will return.
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But we pray that until he does,
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your voice will be heard
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and that you will save many people.
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And we know, Lord,
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that we live in a world
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that is full of so many challenges,
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so many difficulties,
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so many trials.
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We know around us, Lord,
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so many who are going through them
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in different ways.
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Even ourselves, Lord,
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although on the outside
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things may seem calm and right,
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we know that within, Lord,
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and even in our own hearts
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there can be troubles
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that are maybe only known unto you.
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And we thank you that that is so,
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that you are the one
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who is able to calm our souls
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and to calm our hearts.
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You are the one who is able to,
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as we heard this morning,
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to call us to come
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and put our trust in you,
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that you are the one
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who reaches down your hand to us
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when we feel that we are
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sinking under the waves
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and that you are able
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to lift us up
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and to give us that security
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to take us into
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that secure place with you.
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And so, Lord,
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we pray that you will help
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each of us
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to know that security
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and to know that hope
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and that that hope
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would be known
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among many around us.
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We pray for those
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in particular needs
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just now, Lord,
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thankful for the power
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of prayer,
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thankful for the way
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that you hear our prayers
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and that you are able
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to answer
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and so often in ways
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that go beyond
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our understanding
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and beyond
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what we ask
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or imagine,
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as Paul says
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in Ephesians.
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We thank you
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that you help us
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to marvel at the way
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that you remind us
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of the power
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that you have,
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that you remind us,
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Lord,
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that you are able
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to do abundantly
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more than we ask
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or imagine.
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And so,
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we thank you,
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Lord,
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for prayers heard
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and answered
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and we pray,
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Lord,
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that whatever your answer
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is,
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whatever your will
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is for us,
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that we will always
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be content with that
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and that that would
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be our prayer.
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And so,
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hear our prayers,
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Lord,
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for those around us,
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for those who are
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unwell at this time,
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for those who are
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mourning at this time,
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for those who
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go through so many
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different challenges,
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Lord,
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we pray for you
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to surround them,
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to uphold them,
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to strengthen them.
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Remember those who
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struggle with addictions
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at this time as well,
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Lord,
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we know so much
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of our community
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is bound up
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in that way,
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so much of it
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is perhaps hidden
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from us at times
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and yet it's around us
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in so many different ways.
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And we pray,
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Lord,
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that in the silence
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and the hiddenness
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of it,
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that in your knowledge
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Lord,
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that you will
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draw near to
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all who need you
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in these ways
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and help them,
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Lord,
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give them hope,
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give them security,
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give them the knowledge
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of your grace
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and your love,
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give them to know,
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Lord,
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of the joy
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that is found in you
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and not in anything else
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that this world offers.
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And so we pray,
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Lord,
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for your help
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to break these bonds.
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We pray for your church,
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we thank you
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for a week
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of General Assembly
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in Edinburgh
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for our denomination
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and we pray
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that your blessing
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will follow it
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upon all that was done
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and upon all that
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goes on going forward
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from here as well,
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that your hand
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will be upon us
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for good,
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to lead us,
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to guide us,
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to help us
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in all our different needs,
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that ministries
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will go on,
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Lord,
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throughout our nation
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and throughout the world,
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that there will be
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a sense of your blessing
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and your building
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your church
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in these days.
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And we thank you,
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Lord,
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that there are
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so many encouragements
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from different places
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around the world
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as well as our own nation.
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We are reminded
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that you are the one
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who builds this church
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and that there is nothing
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that will overwhelm it
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or overcome it.
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And we pray,
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Lord,
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for a day of your power,
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a day of your salvation
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in our midst.
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We pray too,
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Lord,
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for our communities
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at this time,
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Lord,
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we think of
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the needs that we have,
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Lord,
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we think of
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our homes
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and our families
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and our ignorance
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of you
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in so many ways.
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Lord,
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even as your people,
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even as your church,
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we can be blind
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to what you call us to,
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what you call us to be,
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what you ask of us,
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Lord,
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and all of these things
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we can go on
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in our own wisdom.
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But help us,
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Lord,
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to look not to
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our own wisdom
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but to yours.
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To recognize,
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Lord,
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that as a people
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that we are here
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but for a time.
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And we pray,
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Lord,
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that to have that spirit
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of Esther
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when we hear these words
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for such a time as this.
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And we pray,
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Lord,
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that you would remind us
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that that is our providence
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just now.
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For such a time as this,
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Lord,
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you have placed us here.
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You have given us opportunities.
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You have given us moments.
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You have given us
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so many different blessings
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and kindnesses.
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And help us,
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Lord,
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not to take them for granted
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but to use every good
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and perfect gift
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that you have given to us.
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Whether they be
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as a collective people
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or individually,
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help us,
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Lord,
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not to bury our talents
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but to use them wisely
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and to use them richly
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for your glory.
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That your blessing
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may be upon us.
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That we might know
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your favour upon us
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as a people.
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So, Lord,
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hear our prayers,
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we ask,
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and remember us
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in all of these things
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and help us
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even this evening
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as we prepare ourselves
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and look ahead
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to the week before us
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and especially
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to a communion weekend
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to seek your blessing upon us,
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to seek your good
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in our midst,
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to seek encouragement,
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Lord,
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to seek
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that our hearts
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will be built up
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and strengthened
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in our faith
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for those
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who have professed Christ
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that they will know
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once more
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that overwhelming power
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of what Jesus
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has done for us.
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That we will not
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grow weary of it,
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that we will not
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lose our sense
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of awe
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and amazement
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and wonder
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of the one
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who gave us life
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for us,
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that we might know
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life through him.
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Lord,
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for some we might cry,
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restore to us
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salvation's joy.
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And we pray,
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Lord,
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for others to come,
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to come and put
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their trust in you,
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to come and know you
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in that way,
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to come and know,
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Lord,
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your saving power
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and to know the blessing
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that there is
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in obedience
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to your command.
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And so we ask,
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oh Lord,
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that you will go before us,
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that you will bless us
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by your word
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and by your spirit
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in all that we do
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and all that we see.
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As we come,
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we come confessing
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our sins before you,
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knowing,
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Lord,
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that you alone
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are able to forgive,
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but you,
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Lord,
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are able to do
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so much
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that we
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so often forget,
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that you have
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paid the ultimate price,
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that our sins
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are forgiven
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through the blood
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of Jesus
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who gave his life
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for us.
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So hear our prayers,
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Lord,
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and continue with us
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as we ask it all
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in his precious name
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and for his glory.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Let's praise God again
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by singing
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in Psalm 25,
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the first version
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of the Psalm
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in page 231,
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the Scottish Psalter version.
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Psalm 25,
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we'll sing from verse 1
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to verse 6
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in Tunes Surich.
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To thee I lift my soul,
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O Lord,
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I trust in thee.
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My God,
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let me not be ashamed,
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nor foes triumph
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over me.
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We'll sing from verse 1
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to verse 6
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to God's praise.
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to thee I lift my soul,
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O Lord,
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I trust in thee.
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My God,
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let me not be ashamed,
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nor foes triumph
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for me.
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Let none that wait
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on thee
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be put to shame
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at all,
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but those that without
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cause transgress,
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let shame upon them fall.
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Show me thy ways,
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O Lord,
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thy paths,
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O teach thy me,
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and do thy lead me
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in thy truth,
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therein my teacher be.
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For thou art God
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that does,
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to me salvation send,
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and lie upon thee
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all the day,
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expecting to attend.
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thy death,
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thy death,
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thy mercy,
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Lord,
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I pray thee to remember,
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and loving kindnesses
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for thee have been
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all for forever.
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God.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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We're going to read together
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God's word
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in the book of Acts,
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in Acts chapter 5.
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We're going to take up
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our reading at verse 12.
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Acts chapter 5,
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reading from verse 12,
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and we read down
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to verse 32.
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Now many signs
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and wonders
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were regularly done
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among the people
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by the hands
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of the apostles,
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and they were all together
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in Solomon's portico.
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None of the rest
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dared join them,
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but the people
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held them in high esteem.
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And more than ever,
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believers were added
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to the Lord,
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multitudes of both men
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and women,
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so that they even
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carried out their sick
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into the streets
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and laid them
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on cots and mats.
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And as Peter came by,
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at least his shadow
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might fall on some of them.
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The people also gathered
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from the towns
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round Jerusalem,
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bringing the sick
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and those afflicted
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with unclean spirits,
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and they were all healed.
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But the high priest
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rose up,
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and all who were with him,
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that is,
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the party of the Sadducees,
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and filled with jealousy,
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they arrested the apostles
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and put them
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in the public prison.
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But during the night,
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an angel of the Lord
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opened the prison
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and doors
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and brought them out
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and said,
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Go and stand
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in the temple
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and speak to the people
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all the words
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of this life.
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And when they heard this,
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they entered the temple
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at daybreak
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and began to teach.
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Now when the high priest
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came and those
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who were with them,
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they called together
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the council
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and all the senate
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of Israel
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and sent to the prison
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to have them brought.
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But when the officers
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came,
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they did not find them
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in the prison,
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so they returned
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and reported.
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We found the prison
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securely locked
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and the guards
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standing at the doors,
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but when we opened them,
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we found no one inside.
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Now when the captain
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of the temple
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and the chief priests
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heard these words,
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they were greatly
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perplexed about them,
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wondering what this
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would come to.
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And someone came
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and told them,
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Look, the men
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whom you put in prison
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are standing in the temple
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and teaching the people.
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And then the captain
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with the officers
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went and brought them,
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but not by force,
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for they were afraid
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of being stoned
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by the people.
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And when they had brought them,
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they set them
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before the council.
20:07
The high priest
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questioned them,
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saying,
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We strictly charged you
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not to teach
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in this name,
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yet here you have
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filled Jerusalem
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with your teaching
20:17
and you intend
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to bring this man's
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blood upon us.
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But Peter and the apostles
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answered,
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We must obey God
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rather than men.
20:28
The God of our fathers
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raised Jesus,
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whom you killed
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by hanging him
20:33
on a tree.
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God exalted him
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at his right hand
20:37
as leader and saviour
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to give repentance
20:41
to Israel
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and forgiveness
20:43
of sins.
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And we are witnesses
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to these things.
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And so is the Holy Spirit
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whom God has given
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to those
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who obey him.
20:53
And so on.
20:54
And may God bless
20:55
that reading
20:56
from his word.
20:58
Before we turn back
20:59
to look at this passage,
21:00
we'll sing from
21:01
Psalm 48a
21:02
in the Sing Psalms version.
21:06
Psalm 48a
21:07
on page 63
21:08
of the psalm books.
21:10
We'll sing from
21:10
verse 4 down to
21:12
verse 11.
21:14
When kings joined
21:15
forces to attack
21:16
as one,
21:17
they marched ahead.
21:18
They saw her
21:19
and they were amazed.
21:21
They all in terror
21:22
fled.
21:23
Like women giving birth
21:24
in pain,
21:25
they trembled in dismay.
21:26
You wrecked them
21:27
like a merchant fleet
21:28
by tempest
21:29
blown away.
21:31
As we have heard,
21:32
so we have seen.
21:33
God's city
21:34
will endure.
21:36
The Lord Almighty
21:37
evermore
21:38
his city
21:39
keeps secure.
21:40
We'll sing from
21:41
verse 4 down
21:42
to verse 11.
21:44
And the tune is
21:45
Paisley.
21:45
Paisley.
21:52
When kings joined
21:54
forces to attack,
21:58
as long they marched
22:01
ahead.
22:02
They saw her and they were amazed.
22:10
They all in terror
22:14
fled.
22:16
Like women giving birth
22:22
in pain,
22:24
they trembled in dismay.
22:29
You wrecked them
22:33
like a merchant fleet
22:37
by tempest
22:39
blown away.
22:42
As we have fled,
22:47
so have we seen.
22:51
God's city
22:52
will endure.
22:57
The Lord Almighty
23:01
evermore
23:04
has set
23:06
deep
23:07
keeps
23:07
secure.
23:09
we
23:11
contemplate
23:14
your steadfast
23:17
love
23:18
within
23:19
your
23:20
hearts,
23:22
O God.
23:25
For
23:25
like
23:26
your name
23:28
your grace
23:30
extends
23:31
through
23:32
all
23:33
the
23:34
air
23:35
abroad.
23:36
Lord.
23:38
All that
23:40
you do
23:42
is righteous,
23:44
Lord,
23:45
Mount Zion's
23:48
joyous
23:50
great.
23:52
And
23:53
Judah's
23:55
towns
23:55
rejoice
23:57
as they
23:59
your
24:00
judgments
24:01
celebrate.
24:03
we can
24:11
turn back
24:11
to our
24:11
reading in
24:12
the book
24:12
of Acts
24:13
chapter 5.
24:15
We're looking
24:16
at this section
24:17
that we read.
24:18
We'll just
24:18
read again
24:19
at verse
24:19
29.
24:23
But Peter
24:24
and the
24:24
apostles
24:25
answered,
24:26
we must
24:27
obey
24:27
God
24:28
rather than
24:29
men.
24:30
The God
24:31
of our
24:31
fathers
24:31
raised
24:32
Jesus,
24:33
whom you
24:33
killed
24:34
by hanging
24:34
him on
24:34
a tree.
24:36
God
24:36
exalted
24:37
him at
24:37
his right
24:37
hand
24:38
as leader
24:39
and saviour
24:40
to give
24:41
repentance
24:42
to Israel
24:42
and forgiveness
24:43
of sins.
24:44
And we are
24:45
witnesses to
24:45
these things.
24:47
And so is
24:47
the Holy
24:48
Spirit whom
24:49
God has
24:49
given to
24:50
those who
24:51
obey
24:52
him.
24:54
We must
24:55
obey
24:56
God
24:57
rather
24:58
than
24:58
men.
24:59
men.
25:00
When you
25:01
think back
25:02
in your
25:03
life,
25:03
what's
25:03
your
25:04
earliest
25:04
memory?
25:06
What's
25:06
the first
25:06
thing that
25:07
you can
25:08
remember as
25:08
you think
25:09
back?
25:10
I'm sure
25:11
the more
25:11
you think
25:12
about it,
25:12
the more
25:12
different
25:13
things might
25:13
come back
25:14
to you.
25:14
And sometimes
25:15
it's hard
25:15
to distinguish
25:16
just what
25:17
was the
25:18
earliest
25:18
memory,
25:18
because there
25:19
would be a
25:19
number of
25:19
different
25:20
memories that
25:20
kind of
25:20
merge
25:21
together.
25:22
But how
25:23
many of
25:23
these memories
25:24
involve
25:25
people,
25:27
and especially
25:27
how many
25:28
of these
25:28
involve
25:29
people
25:30
telling you
25:30
what you
25:31
should or
25:32
what you
25:33
shouldn't
25:33
do.
25:35
It might
25:35
be the
25:37
memories of
25:37
your parents,
25:39
it might
25:39
be the
25:40
memories of
25:41
a school
25:41
teacher,
25:43
it might
25:43
be the
25:43
memories of
25:44
a minister
25:45
or a
25:45
Sunday
25:45
school
25:46
teacher,
25:46
but the
25:47
message
25:47
that they've
25:47
been giving
25:48
you is to
25:49
do something
25:50
or not
25:51
to do
25:51
something.
25:53
And very
25:53
often it's
25:54
in light of
25:54
you having
25:55
done
25:55
the opposite
25:56
of what
25:56
was being
25:57
asked of
25:58
you.
25:59
And these
25:59
memories
26:00
stand out
26:01
because very
26:02
often they
26:02
instill in
26:03
you maybe
26:03
a sense
26:04
of fear.
26:06
There can
26:06
be a sense
26:07
of fear
26:07
that you've
26:08
let somebody
26:09
down or
26:09
that you've
26:10
done
26:10
something
26:11
wrong.
26:13
And letting
26:14
someone down
26:15
is often
26:15
something that
26:16
just stays
26:17
with us.
26:19
But when we
26:20
think about
26:20
God and
26:21
what he
26:22
wants of
26:23
us,
26:24
you think
26:24
of maybe a
26:25
minister or
26:25
a sermon
26:26
you've
26:26
heard and
26:27
it's stuck
26:28
with you
26:29
for a
26:29
reason.
26:31
Because the
26:31
minister was
26:32
saying something
26:32
that just
26:33
really resonated
26:33
with you.
26:35
And it's
26:36
still maybe
26:36
lingering there
26:37
in your
26:37
mind just
26:38
now.
26:38
It still
26:39
comes back
26:39
to you
26:40
often and
26:40
you're
26:40
thinking what
26:42
that minister
26:42
said, what
26:43
that message
26:43
was saying,
26:44
what the
26:44
Lord was
26:45
saying was
26:46
powerful.
26:48
And God
26:48
speaks to
26:49
us in
26:50
different ways
26:51
like that,
26:51
in ways that
26:52
can often
26:53
remain with
26:54
us all
26:54
our days.
26:56
A word
26:57
from the
26:58
Lord that
26:58
sticks with
26:59
us.
26:59
And it's a
27:00
word from
27:00
the Lord
27:01
that so
27:01
often is
27:01
calling us
27:02
to obedience
27:03
to him,
27:05
to listen
27:06
to him.
27:07
When we
27:07
think of
27:07
parents or
27:08
teachers or
27:09
Sunday school
27:10
teachers, they
27:11
wanted what
27:12
was best for
27:13
us.
27:14
They wanted
27:15
us to be
27:16
obedient to
27:17
what they were
27:18
saying because
27:18
they knew it
27:19
was for our
27:20
good.
27:21
And God
27:22
ultimately is
27:23
the one who
27:23
knows what
27:23
is best for
27:25
us.
27:26
And that's
27:26
why his
27:27
word calls
27:28
us to
27:29
obedience.
27:31
And as you
27:32
look through
27:32
the book of
27:33
Acts, you
27:35
find it's
27:35
full of so
27:37
many ups and
27:38
downs, the
27:39
acts of the
27:40
apostles, the
27:41
things that
27:41
they were doing
27:42
as the Lord
27:44
had gone to
27:45
be with the
27:45
Father, and
27:46
as the church
27:46
was in its
27:47
infancy, as
27:48
its church
27:49
was just
27:49
small in
27:50
number as
27:51
you see at
27:51
the beginning
27:52
of Acts, and
27:52
then expanding
27:53
and growing as
27:55
it went out
27:55
from Jerusalem
27:56
and to all
27:56
the ends of
27:58
the earth.
27:58
You see the
27:58
amazing ways
28:00
that the
28:01
Lord was
28:01
working, and
28:03
all the time
28:03
God calling
28:04
his people
28:05
and a
28:06
people to
28:07
obedience.
28:08
And what
28:09
you find as
28:09
you go through
28:10
the book of
28:10
Acts is that
28:11
obedience to
28:12
God, yes,
28:13
it can lead
28:14
you to a
28:14
place of
28:15
quiet and
28:16
calm and
28:17
joy, but
28:19
there's also
28:20
so many
28:20
times when
28:21
obedience to
28:22
God takes
28:23
you into a
28:23
place that's
28:24
uncomfortable, a
28:26
place that you
28:27
maybe didn't
28:28
expect to find
28:29
yourself, but a
28:30
place where the
28:31
Lord reminds you
28:32
that he wants
28:33
what is good
28:35
for you.
28:36
We don't
28:37
always understand
28:38
maybe parents
28:39
who are telling
28:40
us what they
28:40
know is good
28:41
for us.
28:42
We don't
28:42
understand or
28:43
see it at the
28:43
time, and it's
28:45
only when we
28:45
look back.
28:47
Well, in the
28:47
same way, we
28:48
think of what
28:49
God says to
28:50
us.
28:50
We don't
28:50
understand at
28:51
times, we
28:52
don't see it
28:52
for ourselves
28:53
until ultimately
28:54
we look back
28:55
or see God
28:56
does know
28:58
best.
28:59
And so he
29:00
is calling
29:01
us to
29:02
obedience,
29:03
because obedience
29:04
is the way
29:06
to God's
29:07
peace.
29:09
And that's
29:09
what we see
29:09
with Peter and
29:10
the apostles as
29:11
they answered
29:11
there in
29:12
verse 29.
29:14
in all the
29:15
troubles and
29:16
trials of
29:16
prison and
29:17
persecution that
29:18
they were facing
29:19
up to here,
29:20
what was their
29:21
response?
29:21
We must obey
29:23
God rather
29:25
than men.
29:27
Those who
29:27
are telling
29:28
them to be
29:29
quiet, not
29:30
to proclaim
29:31
the Lord
29:31
Jesus, not
29:32
to show him
29:33
publicly, they
29:35
must obey
29:36
God rather
29:38
than men.
29:40
So obedience
29:41
as you go
29:42
through the
29:42
book of Acts,
29:44
is challenged.
29:46
And it's
29:46
challenged in
29:47
two different
29:47
ways.
29:48
It's challenged
29:48
in are we
29:50
being obedient
29:51
to God
29:52
ourselves?
29:53
And it's
29:54
also challenged
29:55
when you see
29:55
the persecution
29:56
that arises.
29:58
Will you go
29:58
on in
29:59
obedience even
30:01
when the way
30:01
is difficult?
30:04
John Calvin
30:05
once said,
30:07
we must
30:07
realize that
30:08
God is
30:10
longing to
30:10
shower blessings
30:11
on his
30:12
church.
30:14
but he
30:14
still allows
30:16
it to be
30:16
harassed by
30:17
the ungodly.
30:19
So we must
30:20
be ready
30:20
to battle.
30:23
Do you
30:23
feel harassed
30:25
today?
30:28
Remember,
30:29
that's how
30:29
Jesus often
30:30
saw the
30:31
people around
30:32
them.
30:33
In the
30:33
Gospel of
30:33
Matthew, he
30:34
speaks of the
30:35
crowds that he
30:36
saw around
30:37
them as
30:37
harassed and
30:38
helpless, like
30:39
sheep without
30:40
a shepherd.
30:41
are you
30:42
feeling
30:43
harassed
30:44
today?
30:45
Are you
30:46
feeling that
30:46
your obedience
30:47
is being
30:48
pulled one
30:48
minute towards
30:49
God but
30:50
then tasted
30:51
in a way
30:51
you think,
30:52
well, I
30:52
can't go on
30:53
like that,
30:53
and then
30:54
you're being
30:54
pulled in a
30:55
different
30:56
direction.
30:58
And especially
30:59
as we think
31:00
of this week
31:01
ahead of us
31:02
and as we
31:02
approach another
31:03
time of
31:04
communion in
31:05
our midst,
31:06
it's often a
31:07
time when that
31:08
harassed feeling
31:09
can fall upon
31:10
us.
31:12
We haven't
31:12
been obedient
31:13
as we should
31:14
have been.
31:14
We haven't
31:15
done as we
31:16
should have
31:17
done, and we
31:17
can feel harassed,
31:18
we can feel
31:18
in the midst
31:19
of a battle,
31:21
but we are
31:23
coming to
31:24
remember the
31:25
Lord's death.
31:27
We are
31:27
coming to
31:29
remember, as
31:29
we read here
31:30
in the book
31:31
of Acts,
31:32
the one who
31:33
the God of
31:34
our fathers
31:34
raised Jesus
31:36
whom you
31:36
killed by
31:37
hanging on a
31:37
tree.
31:38
God
31:38
exalted
31:39
him at
31:40
his right
31:40
hand as
31:41
leader and
31:42
saviour to
31:43
give repentance
31:44
to Israel
31:45
and forgiveness
31:46
of sins.
31:47
So as we
31:47
feel harassed
31:48
and helpless,
31:49
we have a
31:49
place to
31:50
look, and
31:51
one to
31:52
look to,
31:52
our leader
31:53
and our
31:54
saviour,
31:55
the Lord
31:56
Jesus
31:56
Christ.
31:59
In his
31:59
obedience,
32:01
in going
32:02
to the
32:02
cross,
32:03
we see the
32:03
ultimate
32:04
obedience,
32:07
and we
32:07
ask ourselves,
32:08
are we
32:09
obedient to
32:11
him?
32:12
Are we
32:13
being obedient
32:13
even in the
32:14
midst of all
32:15
that harassment
32:16
that comes
32:17
our way?
32:19
Obedience that
32:20
will ultimately
32:20
lead to peace
32:22
with him.
32:24
And so we
32:25
want to just
32:25
think about this
32:26
obedience as we
32:27
see it before us
32:29
this evening in
32:30
this section.
32:32
And the first
32:32
thing we're going
32:33
to think of is
32:33
there is blessing
32:35
that follows
32:36
obedience.
32:37
obedience.
32:37
It's maybe a
32:38
phrase you've
32:39
heard,
32:40
blessing follows
32:42
obedience.
32:44
But what is
32:45
blessing?
32:47
The blessing
32:48
that follows
32:48
obedience isn't
32:49
always everything
32:50
going swimmingly
32:51
and everything
32:51
going straight
32:52
forward,
32:53
but it's a
32:54
blessing and the
32:54
comfort and the
32:55
assurance that
32:57
you're right
32:57
with God,
33:00
that you are
33:00
doing as
33:01
Peter says
33:02
here,
33:03
we must obey
33:04
God rather
33:06
than men.
33:07
Whatever the
33:08
consequences are,
33:09
we must obey
33:10
God rather
33:12
than men.
33:15
And when we
33:16
look at this
33:17
section, we
33:17
didn't read at
33:18
the beginning
33:18
of chapter 5,
33:20
but what we're
33:20
reading of is
33:21
in light of
33:21
what comes at
33:23
the beginning
33:23
of chapter 5,
33:24
which is
33:25
Ananias and
33:26
Sapphira and
33:27
their disobedience
33:29
to God.
33:30
And if you read
33:30
through it when
33:31
you go home,
33:32
you'll see that
33:32
for yourselves,
33:33
but Ananias and
33:34
Sapphira,
33:35
they were
33:36
disobedient to
33:37
God.
33:38
They kept
33:39
back for
33:39
themselves,
33:40
it says in
33:41
verse 2,
33:41
some of the
33:42
proceeds and
33:43
brought only
33:44
part of it and
33:45
laid it at the
33:46
apostles' feet.
33:46
They had sold
33:47
a piece of
33:48
land and what
33:50
they were going
33:50
to give to
33:51
the Lord's
33:51
cause, they
33:52
held back for
33:53
themselves.
33:56
And look at
33:57
what happens as
33:58
you read through
33:58
it, both of
33:59
them died
34:00
almost instantly.
34:02
within moments
34:05
of having been
34:06
called out,
34:07
they both died
34:08
instantly, the
34:09
two of them,
34:10
this husband and
34:11
wife, and they
34:12
were buried that
34:14
day.
34:14
They were
34:14
disobedient to
34:15
God.
34:16
And you say
34:17
to yourself,
34:18
how harsh is
34:20
that?
34:22
But it stood
34:23
as a warning,
34:24
it stood as a
34:25
warning then and
34:26
stands as a
34:26
warning to us
34:28
that ultimately
34:29
disobedience to
34:31
God, the
34:32
consequences are
34:33
serious and the
34:35
consequences are
34:37
deadly.
34:38
An eternal
34:39
death is the
34:41
ultimate consequence
34:42
of disobedience
34:44
to God.
34:46
So it's in light
34:46
of that
34:47
disobedience that
34:48
we're reading on
34:49
when they're
34:50
calling them to
34:51
obedience to
34:52
God rather than
34:54
men.
34:55
But what kind of
34:56
outcome would you
34:57
have expected
34:58
after this has
34:58
happened to
34:59
Ananias and
35:00
Sapphira?
35:02
Do people just
35:03
turn away?
35:05
Do you think
35:05
what kind of
35:06
cruel God is
35:08
this or would
35:08
allow this to
35:09
happen to them?
35:10
What kind of
35:10
God are we
35:11
coming to if
35:12
the slightest
35:13
mistake is going
35:14
to strike us
35:15
down in this
35:16
way?
35:17
Is that the
35:18
kind of God
35:19
that they're
35:19
coming to?
35:20
Did it make
35:21
them re-evaluate
35:22
how they would
35:23
go about
35:24
preaching the
35:25
word of God?
35:26
What they might
35:27
say?
35:29
Do they start
35:29
thinking,
35:30
well this is
35:31
too cruel a
35:32
God to
35:32
follow and
35:33
how are
35:33
going to
35:34
people come
35:34
and follow
35:35
and we'll
35:35
have to
35:35
change this.
35:36
We'll have
35:37
to maybe
35:37
just mark
35:38
this incident
35:39
out,
35:40
leave it
35:40
out.
35:42
And yet here
35:42
we are reading
35:43
of it today
35:43
as well.
35:44
It's there
35:45
to stand
35:46
as a warning
35:47
to us.
35:49
We don't
35:50
change the
35:52
message of
35:52
the gospel.
35:54
We don't
35:54
change anything
35:55
that it
35:56
says to
35:57
make it
35:57
more appealing
35:58
by dropping
35:58
some bits
35:59
out as
36:00
many are
36:01
tempted to
36:01
do this
36:02
day.
36:03
We are to
36:04
preach the
36:04
whole counsel
36:06
of God
36:07
as it
36:07
says.
36:10
And we
36:11
find even
36:11
in the midst
36:12
of this
36:12
challenge
36:13
that the
36:14
wonder of
36:15
it all was
36:16
that they
36:16
continued to
36:17
come and
36:18
to hear the
36:19
message and
36:20
see the
36:21
wonders and
36:22
signs that
36:23
were being
36:23
done.
36:24
the awesome
36:25
power of
36:26
God was
36:27
there in
36:28
their midst
36:28
and they
36:28
didn't turn
36:29
away from
36:29
it in
36:30
fear but
36:31
instead they
36:32
feared the
36:33
Lord.
36:36
In
36:37
verse 13
36:38
it says
36:40
none of
36:41
the rest
36:42
dared join
36:43
them and
36:43
it seems
36:44
like there
36:45
was this
36:45
fear over
36:46
the people.
36:47
What will
36:48
God do
36:48
with me?
36:50
They feared
36:51
to join
36:52
them and
36:53
yet in
36:54
verse 14
36:54
more than
36:55
ever
36:56
believers
36:56
were added
36:57
to the
36:58
Lord.
36:59
So there
37:00
was a
37:00
fear of
37:00
joining
37:01
yet there
37:02
was a
37:02
realization
37:03
that where
37:04
else can
37:04
we go?
37:07
Disobedience
37:08
to God
37:09
has serious
37:09
consequences
37:10
therefore we
37:11
must come
37:12
to him.
37:15
And so
37:15
we too
37:16
are not to
37:17
be afraid
37:18
or ashamed
37:19
of the
37:20
gospel.
37:20
we are
37:21
not to
37:21
be afraid
37:22
of what
37:23
it says.
37:25
Don't be
37:25
afraid of
37:25
the fact
37:26
that the
37:26
Bible talks
37:27
about hell
37:28
and sin
37:29
and the
37:30
consequences
37:30
that lie
37:31
behind all
37:32
of these
37:32
things because
37:33
you need
37:34
to see
37:34
that and
37:35
see the
37:35
balance that
37:36
there is of
37:36
grace and
37:37
salvation.
37:40
When
37:40
Peter says
37:41
we must
37:41
obey God
37:42
rather than
37:43
men it's in
37:44
light of the
37:44
God of our
37:45
fathers raised
37:46
Jesus whom
37:47
you killed
37:47
and God
37:48
has exalted
37:49
him as
37:50
leader and
37:50
savior to
37:51
give repentance
37:52
to Israel
37:52
and forgiveness
37:53
of sins.
37:56
So the
37:56
disobedience
37:57
of sin
37:58
there is a
37:58
way out of
37:59
it by
37:59
repentance
38:00
and to
38:01
forgiveness
38:01
of sins.
38:05
And it
38:06
is only
38:07
in obedience
38:08
that blessing
38:09
will come
38:10
in being
38:12
obedient to
38:13
him.
38:14
And we
38:15
live in a
38:15
world where
38:16
everyone is
38:17
so easily
38:18
offended.
38:20
It's
38:21
something we
38:21
hear so
38:22
often now.
38:24
That people
38:25
are afraid
38:26
what you
38:26
say in
38:26
case it
38:27
causes
38:27
offense.
38:30
And yet
38:31
before us
38:32
we have
38:32
something that
38:33
will cause
38:34
people to
38:35
be offended.
38:36
Maybe it
38:36
even causes
38:37
you to be
38:38
offended
38:38
tonight when
38:40
you hear
38:40
the word
38:41
of God.
38:42
When you
38:42
hear things
38:44
being said
38:44
like you
38:45
are a
38:46
sinner.
38:46
sinner.
38:47
People are
38:48
offended by
38:49
that.
38:50
How can
38:51
you call
38:51
me a
38:51
sinner?
38:52
I'm a
38:52
good person.
38:54
But that's
38:55
what the
38:55
truth says.
38:58
That we
38:58
are sinners.
39:00
That we
39:00
fall short
39:01
of the
39:01
glory of
39:02
God.
39:03
And we
39:03
shouldn't
39:04
be ashamed.
39:05
We shouldn't
39:05
be afraid
39:06
of that.
39:07
Because if
39:08
we see
39:09
that in
39:09
light of
39:10
what the
39:10
gospel is
39:11
teaching as
39:11
a whole,
39:12
it brings
39:13
us to the
39:13
point where
39:14
the
39:15
offense that
39:16
we see
39:16
is against
39:17
God and
39:18
against
39:18
Christ.
39:21
The fact
39:22
that our
39:23
sins killed,
39:25
put to
39:25
death the
39:26
Lord Jesus,
39:26
it is what
39:28
brought him
39:28
to the
39:29
cross.
39:31
And we're
39:32
afraid sometimes
39:33
of the
39:33
truth.
39:36
But behind
39:37
what causes
39:38
offense is
39:40
the beauty
39:41
of the
39:41
gospel.
39:43
The blessing
39:44
of seeing
39:45
that in
39:45
obedience to
39:46
God,
39:48
though we
39:48
are sinners,
39:49
there is
39:50
hope of
39:51
the forgiveness
39:52
of sin.
39:54
Because it
39:55
is the truth
39:56
that sets
39:57
us free.
40:01
Blessing
40:02
follows
40:03
obedience.
40:07
As somebody
40:07
once said,
40:08
it's a
40:09
great deal
40:10
easier to
40:11
do that
40:12
which God
40:13
gives us
40:13
to do,
40:14
no matter
40:15
how hard
40:16
it is,
40:17
than to
40:17
face the
40:18
responsibilities
40:19
of not
40:20
doing it.
40:22
It's a
40:23
great deal
40:23
easier to
40:25
do that
40:25
which God
40:26
gives us
40:27
to do,
40:27
no matter
40:27
how hard
40:28
it is,
40:29
than to
40:30
face the
40:30
responsibilities
40:31
of not
40:33
doing it.
40:34
He is
40:35
calling us
40:36
to obedience.
40:38
There are
40:40
consequences
40:41
to not
40:42
doing that.
40:43
Obedience
40:44
will be
40:44
hard at
40:45
times,
40:46
as we'll
40:47
see in a
40:47
moment,
40:48
but ultimately
40:49
the blessings
40:50
will follow
40:51
obedience.
40:55
So,
40:56
secondly,
40:56
we see
40:56
obedience
40:57
leads to
40:59
trials.
41:01
God
41:01
blessing his
41:02
people is
41:02
not without
41:03
its own
41:04
consequences.
41:05
consequences.
41:06
And as
41:06
you continue
41:07
to read
41:08
through these
41:08
verses,
41:09
and as you
41:09
see the
41:10
apostles
41:10
arrested and
41:12
put into
41:12
prison,
41:14
you see the
41:14
challenge that
41:15
comes to
41:16
their obedience.
41:17
They are
41:17
saying in
41:18
verse 29,
41:19
we must
41:19
obey God
41:20
rather than
41:21
men.
41:22
And where
41:22
has this
41:23
led them?
41:24
Well,
41:24
it's led
41:24
them to
41:25
this trial.
41:26
They were
41:26
arrested,
41:27
and they
41:27
were put
41:28
into public
41:29
prison in
41:29
verse 18.
41:30
So,
41:32
you get
41:33
thrown into
41:33
prison.
41:34
There's fear,
41:35
there's questions
41:36
being asked
41:37
there.
41:38
Why are we
41:39
here?
41:40
We're doing
41:40
as God
41:40
has commanded
41:41
us, and
41:42
yet here we
41:42
are in
41:43
prison.
41:44
And yet we
41:45
see that
41:46
although there
41:46
is blessing
41:47
following
41:48
obedience,
41:49
obedience can
41:49
lead us into
41:50
different trials
41:51
and different
41:51
places.
41:52
But in
41:53
that, God
41:53
has a
41:53
purpose as
41:54
well.
41:56
God is
41:57
strengthening
41:57
his apostles
41:59
and his
42:00
people through
42:01
this.
42:02
He's making
42:02
them realize
42:03
where their
42:04
devotion lies,
42:05
where their
42:06
devotion rests,
42:07
who it is
42:08
that they are
42:08
going to be
42:08
obedient to.
42:10
The easy
42:11
answer would
42:11
be to turn
42:12
away from
42:12
God, stop
42:13
preaching the
42:14
gospel, deny
42:15
the Lord.
42:17
Peter has
42:17
already done
42:18
this in his
42:18
own life, and
42:19
he's seen the
42:20
consequences of
42:21
it, the pain
42:23
and the anguish
42:24
that brings as
42:25
he denied his
42:25
Lord at the
42:26
time of his
42:27
crucifixion.
42:29
But here is
42:29
Peter restored
42:31
again, as we
42:31
read in
42:31
verse 29, but
42:32
Peter and
42:33
the apostles
42:34
answered, we
42:35
must obey
42:36
God rather
42:37
than men.
42:38
And he's
42:38
speaking through
42:39
experience.
42:40
He's denied
42:40
his Lord in
42:41
the past.
42:42
He's been
42:42
disobedient to
42:44
the Lord in
42:44
the past, but
42:45
he's learning,
42:46
and he's
42:47
learned now
42:47
obedience is
42:49
the answer.
42:50
Even when it
42:51
leads us to
42:52
prison and
42:53
to suffering and
42:54
to all of
42:54
these things,
42:55
we must obey
42:56
God rather
42:58
than men.
43:01
And what's
43:02
causing their
43:03
trials here?
43:06
Well, we see
43:06
it's the
43:07
jealousy of
43:08
those around
43:09
them.
43:10
The high
43:11
priest and
43:12
the Sadducees
43:13
filled with
43:15
jealousy, it
43:15
says in
43:16
verse 17.
43:18
This is the
43:20
attack that
43:21
came upon
43:22
them.
43:23
They were
43:23
standing up
43:24
for the Lord,
43:25
they were
43:25
seeing wondrous
43:26
things happen,
43:27
and they
43:27
were seeing
43:27
many being
43:28
added to
43:29
their number,
43:30
and now the
43:31
high priest and
43:32
the Sadducees,
43:33
they're jealous.
43:36
But how do
43:37
they respond?
43:39
In the midst
43:40
of their
43:41
trials, how
43:42
do they
43:43
respond?
43:45
Well, we go
43:45
back to
43:46
verse 12.
43:49
In the
43:50
middle of
43:50
verse 12,
43:51
it says,
43:52
they were
43:52
all together
43:53
in Solomon's
43:55
portico.
43:56
people.
43:56
And this
43:57
is the
43:57
way that
43:58
they went
43:58
on.
43:59
And this
43:59
is a word
43:59
that we
44:00
often find
44:00
throughout the
44:01
book of
44:02
Acts.
44:03
Together,
44:04
one accord.
44:06
It's a
44:06
Greek word
44:07
that's difficult
44:08
to translate,
44:10
and translators
44:11
have tried to
44:12
put it across
44:12
in different
44:13
ways.
44:14
But it's a
44:15
sense of
44:16
unity.
44:18
And it's a
44:19
sense of
44:19
unity no
44:21
matter what.
44:22
You see
44:23
it in
44:24
Acts 1,
44:25
verse 14.
44:27
There, that
44:28
very same
44:29
word is
44:30
used.
44:32
All these
44:33
were with
44:34
one accord.
44:35
Were devoting
44:36
themselves to
44:36
prayer.
44:38
One accord
44:39
is the word
44:40
that's used
44:40
there.
44:41
Together is
44:42
the word
44:42
used in
44:43
verse 12
44:44
here.
44:44
But behind
44:45
it is the
44:46
same thing.
44:48
They are
44:48
together in
44:49
unity for
44:50
the Lord
44:51
here.
44:51
And somebody
44:53
has described
44:53
it in
44:54
terms of
44:54
a musical
44:55
term.
44:56
It's like
44:57
everyone with
44:58
a different
44:58
note, but
44:59
together making
45:00
beautiful music,
45:03
making a
45:03
beautiful song.
45:06
It's like what
45:06
we heard in
45:07
the children's
45:08
address this
45:09
morning.
45:10
The party
45:10
rings.
45:12
They can
45:13
look different
45:14
in some
45:14
ways, but
45:15
yet they're
45:15
all the same
45:16
ingredients, and
45:17
they've all
45:17
got the same
45:18
thing behind
45:19
them.
45:20
And as
45:20
Christians,
45:21
we can
45:22
all look
45:22
different.
45:23
We can
45:24
all behave
45:24
differently.
45:25
We can
45:25
all have
45:26
different
45:26
things about
45:27
us, but
45:28
we're
45:29
together in
45:30
this sense
45:30
of united
45:31
and making
45:32
a beautiful
45:33
song for
45:34
the Lord.
45:36
In the
45:36
midst of
45:37
obedience, it
45:39
leads to
45:40
trials, but
45:42
we have this
45:42
wonderful
45:43
togetherness,
45:45
together for
45:47
the gospel.
45:48
people.
45:50
And this
45:50
is what
45:51
provokes the
45:53
Sadducees and
45:53
the high
45:54
priests.
45:55
This unity
45:56
provokes them
45:57
to jealousy
45:58
and to ask
45:58
what is going
45:59
on among
46:00
these people.
46:02
And it
46:02
causes a
46:04
provocation
46:04
against different
46:05
people in
46:06
different ways.
46:09
And it
46:10
makes us
46:10
ask what
46:11
kind of
46:11
reaction does
46:12
our life
46:13
provoke of
46:14
others around
46:15
us.
46:17
Do others
46:17
look on us
46:18
and see this
46:19
unity of
46:20
body, this
46:20
oneness in
46:21
Christ, this
46:22
wonder at
46:23
what we
46:23
have?
46:25
As people
46:26
looked on
46:27
here, we
46:28
see three
46:28
different reactions
46:29
that people
46:30
had.
46:31
The response
46:32
of some of
46:32
the onlookers
46:33
was wonder
46:34
and awe.
46:36
And they
46:36
came into
46:37
the fellowship.
46:39
They were
46:39
brought in
46:40
more than
46:41
ever.
46:41
Believers
46:42
were added
46:42
to the
46:43
Lord.
46:43
Multitudes
46:44
of both
46:44
men and
46:45
women, it
46:45
says in
46:46
verse 14.
46:48
They were
46:49
provoked to
46:50
obedience, to
46:51
love the
46:52
Lord.
46:54
But there
46:55
were others
46:56
who were
46:56
provoked to
46:57
jealousy, the
46:59
high priest
47:00
and the
47:00
Sadducees
47:01
among them.
47:03
And that
47:03
was what
47:04
our unity,
47:07
our love
47:07
for Christ
47:08
will do us
47:09
while it
47:09
will provoke
47:10
others to
47:11
jealousy, to
47:12
anger.
47:13
And we
47:13
shouldn't be
47:14
surprised at
47:15
when this
47:16
comes.
47:18
If you
47:18
are obedient
47:18
to God, it
47:19
will lead to
47:20
challenges from
47:21
even family and
47:22
friends around
47:23
you.
47:24
But you
47:24
always remember
47:25
what Peter
47:26
says, we
47:27
must obey
47:28
God rather
47:29
than men.
47:32
So there's
47:33
these responses.
47:34
It provokes
47:35
some to
47:36
come to the
47:37
Lord.
47:37
It provokes
47:37
others to be
47:38
jealous and
47:38
angry towards
47:40
those of
47:40
the Lord's,
47:42
but it
47:42
also provokes
47:43
a response
47:44
from God.
47:47
More than
47:48
ever, believers
47:49
were added
47:50
to the
47:51
Lord,
47:52
multitudes
47:53
of both
47:54
men and
47:55
women.
47:56
As they
47:57
were together,
47:58
as they were
47:58
obedient, the
48:00
Lord was
48:01
working in
48:02
their midst.
48:03
And so
48:06
that is how
48:07
we are to
48:07
go on
48:08
ourselves as
48:09
well.
48:10
To be
48:10
obedient to
48:12
God.
48:13
To obey
48:14
God rather
48:15
than men and
48:16
to know that
48:16
yes, it will
48:17
provoke.
48:18
It will
48:19
provoke jealousy
48:20
and anger,
48:21
but it will
48:22
also provoke
48:23
others to
48:23
questions,
48:24
ask, can I
48:26
have that
48:26
Lord?
48:28
Does he
48:29
love me?
48:30
And to move
48:31
others and to
48:32
provoke God
48:33
by seeing
48:34
that unity
48:35
that we
48:35
enjoy in
48:37
adding to
48:37
our number
48:38
those who
48:40
are being
48:40
saved.
48:43
And God
48:44
had a
48:45
purpose for
48:46
them here.
48:47
Where there
48:48
is unity,
48:49
trials come,
48:51
but blessings
48:52
follow as
48:53
well.
48:54
And God
48:55
is able to
48:56
give us
48:56
blessing upon
48:57
blessing.
48:59
There was a
48:59
wonderful story
49:00
told of a
49:01
man, a
49:01
Christian man,
49:02
and he
49:03
met with a
49:04
friend in
49:04
the morning
49:05
as he was
49:05
out for a
49:06
walk.
49:07
And a
49:07
friend asked
49:08
him, how
49:08
are you
49:09
today?
49:10
And he
49:11
said, I'm
49:11
burdened this
49:13
morning.
49:15
And the
49:16
man looked
49:16
so happy.
49:18
And his
49:19
friend was
49:20
thinking, I
49:20
wouldn't expect
49:21
you to look
49:22
so happy if
49:22
you're burdened.
49:24
And he
49:24
said, are you
49:24
really burdened?
49:26
You don't
49:27
look it.
49:28
And he
49:28
said, yes,
49:28
I'm
49:29
wonderfully
49:29
burdened.
49:31
And it's
49:31
an over
49:32
abundance of
49:33
blessing, he
49:33
said.
49:34
I can't
49:35
find time
49:36
or words
49:36
to express
49:38
it.
49:39
And his
49:39
friend was
49:40
just looking
49:40
confused.
49:41
He was
49:42
wondering, what
49:42
is this man
49:43
talking about?
49:45
Burdened and
49:45
yet full of
49:46
joy?
49:48
And he
49:48
said, I'm
49:48
referring to
49:49
Psalm 68
49:50
verse 19.
49:52
And that, he
49:53
says, describes
49:54
my condition
49:54
today.
49:55
Because in
49:56
that verse,
49:57
the Father
49:57
in heaven
49:58
reminds us,
49:59
he daily
50:00
loads us
50:00
with benefits.
50:02
That is a
50:03
burden that
50:04
he was
50:04
feeling.
50:04
That was
50:05
the blessing
50:05
that he
50:06
knew in
50:07
obedience to
50:08
God.
50:08
If we
50:09
have these
50:10
words in
50:10
the Psalter
50:11
version, he
50:12
daily with
50:12
his benefits
50:13
as plenteously
50:15
doth load.
50:16
He burdens
50:17
us with
50:18
blessings.
50:22
Obedience
50:23
leads to
50:24
trials, but
50:25
it never
50:26
leads to
50:27
the absence
50:27
of God
50:28
with us.
50:31
And the
50:31
last thing we
50:31
just want to
50:32
take from
50:32
this is that
50:33
trials, they
50:34
lead to
50:35
opportunities.
50:38
And when we
50:38
look at the
50:39
believers here
50:40
as they were
50:40
together in
50:41
this way, as
50:42
they had this
50:42
unity, as
50:43
they were
50:43
seeing God's
50:44
hand upon
50:45
them, even
50:46
in the midst
50:46
of challenges,
50:47
what did it
50:48
do for
50:49
them?
50:50
Well, it
50:50
gave them
50:51
great opportunities
50:52
to speak
50:53
among these
50:54
high
50:54
priests and
50:55
Sadducees and
50:56
all the
50:56
people around
50:58
them.
50:58
They were
50:58
called into
50:59
their midst.
51:01
Even though
51:01
they'd been
51:01
put into
51:02
prison, they
51:03
still had an
51:04
opportunity to
51:05
witness to
51:06
those around
51:07
them.
51:08
And today we
51:09
live in a
51:09
world that
51:10
more and
51:10
more we
51:11
need to
51:11
take these
51:12
opportunities to
51:13
witness to
51:14
those around
51:15
us, to
51:15
provoke them
51:16
to response.
51:17
Even if that
51:18
response is
51:19
anger initially,
51:21
we still need
51:21
to stand up
51:22
for the
51:23
Lord, to
51:24
show our
51:25
unity, to
51:26
show that
51:27
we enjoy the
51:28
blessing of
51:29
God no
51:29
matter what,
51:30
that he is
51:31
with us.
51:34
They had
51:34
been thrown
51:35
into prison
51:35
and then
51:37
remarkably this
51:38
angel came to
51:39
them and they
51:41
were released
51:41
from prison in
51:42
an amazing
51:43
way.
51:44
But what did
51:45
they do when
51:46
they were
51:46
released?
51:47
It says in
51:49
verse 21,
51:52
they entered
51:53
the temple at
51:54
daybreak and
51:55
began to
51:56
teach.
51:58
They were
51:59
not ashamed
52:00
of the
52:01
gospel.
52:02
They were
52:02
not ashamed
52:03
of what it
52:04
stood for.
52:05
They were
52:05
not afraid of
52:06
the consequences
52:07
that might
52:07
come their
52:08
way.
52:08
We must
52:09
obey God
52:10
rather than
52:12
men.
52:13
The opportunity
52:14
was there for
52:16
them to
52:16
proclaim the
52:18
gospel of
52:18
Jesus, the
52:19
forgiveness of
52:20
sin that
52:21
comes through
52:22
him.
52:23
You might
52:24
expect after
52:24
being released
52:25
from prison,
52:26
they would run
52:26
away from the
52:27
situation they
52:28
were in.
52:29
They would
52:29
see it as a
52:29
close shave,
52:31
a close escape,
52:32
but no.
52:33
They go right
52:34
back into the
52:35
heart of where
52:36
the trouble was
52:37
and they
52:39
proclaim the
52:41
Lord Jesus
52:42
as the way
52:43
to salvation.
52:44
salvation.
52:45
If we were
52:46
told today as
52:48
they were not
52:49
to teach the
52:51
Bible, not to
52:52
stand up for
52:53
the truth, not
52:54
to proclaim the
52:55
Lord as
52:56
Savior, what
52:57
would you do?
53:00
Who would you
53:01
be obedient to?
53:04
Would you have
53:05
the response of
53:06
Peter and the
53:07
apostles, we
53:08
must obey
53:09
God rather
53:11
than men?
53:12
If you say
53:14
yes to that,
53:16
what do you
53:17
say to every
53:17
command that
53:19
the Lord gives
53:20
to you?
53:22
Will you
53:23
stand up on
53:24
the side of
53:25
your Lord?
53:28
You say to
53:28
yourself, but
53:29
I'm not
53:29
qualified, I'm
53:31
not gifted.
53:32
And we look
53:32
around us and
53:33
we see some
53:34
great apologists,
53:35
defenders of
53:36
the faith,
53:37
gifted men and
53:38
women who are
53:39
able to express
53:40
themselves and
53:41
stand up for
53:42
the faith in
53:43
amazing ways.
53:44
Men like
53:45
John Lennox,
53:46
professor of
53:47
mathematics at
53:49
Oxford University,
53:50
he's able to
53:50
stand and
53:51
speak on the
53:52
side of Christ
53:53
in powerful
53:54
ways.
53:55
It doesn't
53:56
seem to matter
53:56
what question
53:57
comes at him,
53:58
he's got an
53:58
answer immediately
53:59
and you're
54:00
thinking to
54:00
yourself, if
54:00
only I could
54:01
do that.
54:03
Or Rosaria
54:04
Butterfield, an
54:06
American professor,
54:07
was an atheist
54:08
for so long and
54:09
amazingly saved by
54:11
the grace of
54:11
God and
54:12
now speaking
54:13
out on the
54:14
side of
54:14
Christ.
54:16
Powerful
54:16
speaker.
54:19
They come
54:20
under attack for
54:21
their faith, but
54:22
they will always
54:23
stand up for
54:24
their saviour
54:25
because they
54:25
have that
54:26
heart.
54:27
We must
54:27
obey God
54:28
rather than
54:30
men.
54:31
But just
54:32
because we're
54:32
not all gifted
54:33
or prominent
54:34
like these
54:35
people, just
54:36
because we
54:36
don't always
54:37
have all the
54:37
answers or
54:38
maybe we
54:38
don't even
54:39
know what
54:40
to say
54:41
at times,
54:43
God still
54:44
asks for
54:45
obedience
54:46
from us.
54:50
When the
54:50
angel came
54:51
to the
54:52
apostles here
54:53
in verse
54:55
20, the
54:56
angel said,
54:57
go and
54:57
stand in
54:58
the temple
54:59
and speak.
55:01
The angel
55:02
wasn't going
55:02
to speak the
55:03
message.
55:04
They were
55:05
to go.
55:06
They were
55:07
to speak.
55:09
And you
55:09
ask yourself,
55:10
how can I
55:11
witness for
55:13
the Lord?
55:13
If only I
55:15
could witness
55:16
for the
55:16
Lord in
55:17
this way.
55:19
Well, the
55:20
Lord calls
55:21
us to
55:22
obedience.
55:24
And we
55:24
can all
55:25
proclaim
55:26
the Lord.
55:29
In 1
55:29
Corinthians
55:30
11,
55:32
verse 24,
55:34
words no
55:35
doubt we'll
55:35
hear,
55:35
next Lord's
55:36
day God
55:37
willing.
55:38
It says
55:38
there,
55:39
this is my
55:39
body,
55:40
which is
55:41
for you.
55:42
Do this
55:42
in remembrance
55:44
of me.
55:45
In the
55:46
same way
55:46
also he
55:47
took the
55:47
cup after
55:48
supper,
55:48
saying,
55:49
this cup
55:49
is a
55:49
new covenant
55:50
in my
55:50
blood.
55:51
Do this
55:52
as often
55:52
as you
55:53
drink it
55:53
in remembrance
55:55
of me.
55:57
For as
55:57
often as
55:58
you eat
55:59
this bread
56:00
and drink
56:01
the cup,
56:02
you
56:03
proclaim
56:04
the Lord's
56:05
death
56:06
until he
56:07
comes.
56:10
You can
56:11
proclaim
56:13
God.
56:14
You don't
56:15
have to
56:16
be gifted
56:16
like John
56:17
Lennox or
56:18
Rosaria
56:18
Butterfield.
56:19
You don't
56:20
have to
56:20
have all
56:21
the answers,
56:23
yet you
56:23
can still
56:24
proclaim God
56:25
in a
56:26
powerful way.
56:27
How?
56:27
By eating
56:29
the bread
56:30
and drinking
56:31
the cup,
56:32
you proclaim
56:33
the Lord's
56:34
death
56:35
until he
56:35
comes.
56:36
You are
56:36
showing
56:37
your
56:38
obedience
56:38
to God
56:39
and not
56:40
men.
56:42
And in
56:42
so doing,
56:43
you will
56:44
provoke a
56:45
response.
56:47
A
56:47
response of
56:48
those around
56:49
you of
56:49
more
56:49
thankfulness.
56:51
A
56:51
response of
56:52
those around
56:52
you to
56:53
think maybe
56:53
of their
56:54
own salvation.
56:55
A
56:56
response to
56:56
others who
56:57
will maybe
56:57
rebuke you
56:59
and challenge
56:59
you.
57:01
But you
57:02
must obey
57:03
God and
57:04
not men.
57:05
Because it
57:06
will provoke
57:06
a response
57:07
from God.
57:09
A blessing
57:10
that follows
57:11
obedience.
57:13
An assurance.
57:14
A joy.
57:15
A comfort.
57:17
It will
57:17
stir up an
57:18
attack of
57:19
Satan, no
57:19
doubt as
57:20
well.
57:21
But God
57:22
will be with
57:22
you.
57:23
We were
57:24
reminded of
57:24
that this
57:25
morning.
57:26
proclaim
57:29
the Lord's
57:30
death
57:30
till he
57:31
comes.
57:32
Is there
57:33
any more
57:33
powerful
57:34
thing that
57:34
you can
57:35
do than
57:36
to show
57:36
you love
57:37
the Lord
57:37
with all
57:38
your heart
57:39
by being
57:39
obedient
57:40
in that?
57:43
Richard
57:44
Baxter
57:44
wrote a
57:45
hymn,
57:45
Lord,
57:46
it belongs
57:47
not to
57:47
my care.
57:49
I'm sure
57:49
many of
57:50
you have
57:50
heard the
57:51
last verse
57:51
quoted.
57:53
It's a
57:53
beautiful
57:53
verse,
57:54
reminds us
57:54
of what's
57:55
to come.
57:57
The last
57:57
verse says,
57:58
my knowledge
57:59
of that
57:59
life is
58:00
small,
58:00
the eye
58:01
of faith
58:01
is dim,
58:02
but tis
58:03
enough that
58:04
Christ knows
58:04
all,
58:05
and I
58:06
shall be
58:07
with him.
58:08
Beautiful
58:09
words of
58:10
what is
58:11
to come.
58:12
But how
58:12
does it
58:13
start?
58:14
The first
58:15
few verses
58:16
go like
58:16
this,
58:17
Lord,
58:17
it belongs
58:18
not to
58:19
my care,
58:20
whether
58:20
I die
58:21
or live.
58:21
To love
58:22
and serve
58:23
thee is
58:23
my share,
58:24
and this
58:25
thy grace
58:25
must give.
58:27
If life
58:27
be long,
58:28
I will
58:28
be glad
58:29
that I
58:30
may long
58:30
obey.
58:32
If short,
58:32
yet why
58:33
should I
58:33
be sad
58:34
to soar
58:34
to endless
58:35
day?
58:36
Christ
58:37
leads me
58:37
through no
58:38
darker rooms
58:39
than he
58:40
went through
58:40
before.
58:42
He that
58:42
to God's
58:43
kingdom
58:43
comes
58:44
must enter
58:45
by this
58:47
door.
58:49
The
58:50
blessing
58:50
that is
58:51
to be
58:52
with
58:52
him.
58:54
It
58:54
starts
58:55
by
58:55
obedience
58:56
to
58:56
him
58:56
now.
58:59
He
58:59
has
59:02
his
59:02
kingdom.
59:04
And
59:04
he that
59:04
to God's
59:05
kingdom
59:05
comes
59:06
must
59:07
enter
59:08
by this
59:09
door.
59:10
The
59:10
door
59:11
of
59:11
faith.
59:13
The
59:13
door
59:14
of
59:14
obedience.
59:15
The
59:15
door
59:15
of
59:16
trust.
59:18
As
59:18
we go
59:19
into
59:19
the
59:20
week
59:20
ahead
59:20
as we
59:21
go on
59:22
with all
59:23
that we've
59:23
heard today
59:24
this morning
59:25
and this
59:26
evening.
59:27
This
59:27
morning
59:28
there was
59:29
the invitation
59:30
come.
59:32
Come.
59:35
And this
59:35
evening
59:36
it's about
59:37
obey.
59:39
Be
59:39
obedient.
59:42
Trust
59:42
and obey.
59:44
For
59:44
there's no
59:45
other way
59:46
to be
59:47
happy in
59:48
Jesus
59:48
than to
59:49
trust
59:50
and
59:51
obey.
59:52
May he
59:52
help us
59:53
to come
59:54
and trust
59:55
and be
59:56
obedient
59:56
to him
59:57
that we
59:58
might know
59:59
his
1:00:00
wonderful
1:00:00
blessing.
1:00:01
Let us
1:00:02
pray.
1:00:04
Our
1:00:04
Father in
1:00:05
heaven,
1:00:06
we rejoice
1:00:06
in your
1:00:07
gospel that
1:00:08
it is a
1:00:08
word to
1:00:09
all,
1:00:10
that there
1:00:10
is no
1:00:11
one who
1:00:11
is left
1:00:12
out of it,
1:00:12
young and
1:00:13
old,
1:00:14
men and
1:00:14
women,
1:00:14
boys and
1:00:15
girls.
1:00:16
It speaks
1:00:17
to each
1:00:17
one of
1:00:17
us and
1:00:18
it challenges
1:00:19
us to
1:00:19
come and
1:00:20
put our
1:00:21
trust in
1:00:22
you.
1:00:23
It
1:00:23
challenges
1:00:23
us to
1:00:24
obedience
1:00:24
to you,
1:00:26
to come
1:00:26
and do
1:00:27
this in
1:00:27
remembrance
1:00:28
of you.
1:00:29
And so
1:00:30
we thank
1:00:30
you,
1:00:30
Lord,
1:00:31
that it
1:00:31
is a
1:00:31
powerful
1:00:32
invitation
1:00:33
and
1:00:34
something
1:00:34
that
1:00:34
demands
1:00:35
our
1:00:35
obedience.
1:00:37
For
1:00:37
to say
1:00:37
no
1:00:38
or in
1:00:39
another
1:00:39
time is
1:00:40
to be
1:00:40
disobedient.
1:00:41
But
1:00:42
Lord,
1:00:42
we pray
1:00:42
that you
1:00:43
will help
1:00:43
us in
1:00:43
our
1:00:44
hearts
1:00:44
to hear
1:00:45
your
1:00:46
word
1:00:46
and to
1:00:47
know
1:00:47
your
1:00:47
spirit,
1:00:48
the one
1:00:49
that says
1:00:49
to come
1:00:50
to me.
1:00:51
Lord,
1:00:52
hear us
1:00:52
we pray
1:00:53
and forgive
1:00:54
us our
1:00:54
sins as
1:00:55
we ask
1:00:55
it all
1:00:55
in Jesus'
1:00:56
name.
1:00:57
Amen.
1:01:00
We'll
1:01:01
conclude by
1:01:02
singing to
1:01:03
God's praise
1:01:03
in Psalm
1:01:04
24 in
1:01:05
the Sing
1:01:05
Psalms.
1:01:10
Page 28
1:01:11
of the
1:01:11
Psalm
1:01:12
books.
1:01:12
Psalm 24
1:01:13
we'll
1:01:14
sing
1:01:14
from
1:01:15
verse 1
1:01:16
to
1:01:16
verse 6.
1:01:17
The
1:01:17
world
1:01:18
and all
1:01:18
in it
1:01:19
are
1:01:19
gods,
1:01:20
all
1:01:20
peoples
1:01:21
of the
1:01:21
earth,
1:01:22
for it
1:01:22
was
1:01:22
founded
1:01:22
by the
1:01:23
Lord
1:01:23
upon
1:01:24
the
1:01:25
seas
1:01:25
beneath.
1:01:26
And
1:01:26
verse 5,
1:01:27
he will
1:01:27
find
1:01:28
favour
1:01:28
from
1:01:28
the
1:01:29
Lord
1:01:29
and
1:01:29
from
1:01:30
his
1:01:30
saviour
1:01:31
grace.
1:01:32
Thus
1:01:32
are they
1:01:32
blessed,
1:01:33
O
1:01:33
Jacob's
1:01:34
God,
1:01:34
who
1:01:34
truly
1:01:35
seek
1:01:36
your
1:01:36
face.
1:01:36
We'll
1:01:36
sing
1:01:37
from
1:01:37
verse 1
1:01:37
to 6
1:01:38
to God's
1:01:38
praise,
1:01:39
and the
1:01:39
tune is
1:01:40
Jackson.
1:01:41
The
1:01:42
world
1:01:47
and all
1:01:48
in it
1:01:50
are
1:01:51
gods,
1:01:52
all
1:01:53
peoples
1:01:54
of
1:01:55
the
1:01:56
earth,
1:01:58
for
1:01:59
it
1:02:00
was
1:02:00
founded
1:02:01
by
1:02:03
the
1:02:04
Lord
1:02:05
upon
1:02:06
the
1:02:08
seas
1:02:08
beneath.
1:02:12
Who
1:02:12
may
1:02:13
ascend
1:02:15
the
1:02:16
hill
1:02:17
of
1:02:18
God
1:02:19
or
1:02:20
in
1:02:21
his
1:02:21
temple
1:02:22
stand,
1:02:25
the
1:02:26
one
1:02:27
who
1:02:28
shuns
1:02:29
false
1:02:29
gods
1:02:30
and
1:02:31
lies,
1:02:32
whose
1:02:33
pure
1:02:34
in
1:02:35
heart
1:02:36
and
1:02:37
land.
1:02:40
He
1:02:40
will
1:02:41
find
1:02:42
favour
1:02:44
from
1:02:45
the
1:02:46
Lord
1:02:47
and
1:02:48
from
1:02:49
the
1:02:50
Saviour
1:02:51
grace.
1:02:54
Thus
1:02:55
are
1:02:55
they
1:02:56
blessed,
1:02:57
O
1:02:58
Jacob's
1:02:59
God,
1:03:01
who
1:03:02
truly
1:03:03
seek
1:03:05
your
1:03:06
grace.
1:03:09
I should
1:03:09
have
1:03:09
intimated
1:03:10
earlier
1:03:10
the
1:03:10
YF
1:03:11
meets
1:03:11
tonight
1:03:11
as well.
1:03:12
That's
1:03:12
immediately
1:03:13
after the
1:03:13
service and
1:03:14
that's
1:03:14
going to
1:03:14
be up at
1:03:15
the
1:03:15
Francis
1:03:15
Street
1:03:16
Mance.
1:03:17
You'll
1:03:17
hear from
1:03:18
James and
1:03:18
Donna about
1:03:19
their life
1:03:19
in
1:03:20
ministry,
1:03:20
so young
1:03:21
folks are
1:03:21
invited up
1:03:22
there
1:03:22
just now.
1:03:25
After the
1:03:25
benediction,
1:03:26
I'll go to
1:03:26
the door to
1:03:27
my right
1:03:27
here.
1:03:28
We'll
1:03:28
close with
1:03:29
the
1:03:29
benediction.
1:03:30
Now may
1:03:31
grace,
1:03:32
mercy,
1:03:32
and peace
1:03:33
from God,
1:03:34
Father,
1:03:34
Son,
1:03:35
and Holy
1:03:35
Spirit rest
1:03:36
upon and
1:03:37
abide with
1:03:38
you all
1:03:38
now and
1:03:39
forevermore.
1:03:40
Amen.
1:03:40
Amen.
1:03:40
Thank you.
1:04:10
Thank you.
1:04:40
Thank you.