Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / The Lord Will Never Leave Us

Transcript

The Lord Will Never Leave Us · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, let's begin our worship this evening. We're going to sing to God's praise. We're
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singing in Psalm 46. As I said this morning, we were looking at the theme of coming to
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seek the Lord, the invitation the Lord gives us to seek the Lord while he may be found,
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to call upon him while he is near. And this evening, we're looking at the book of Hebrews
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chapter 13. And when we think of seeking God and coming to God, we then ask ourselves, well,
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what does God give to us? How do we go on with God? And we're going to look at one of the great
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promises that God gives to us, that never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.
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And this Psalm, Psalm 46, reminds us of that. God is our refuge and our strength and strength,
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a present day. Therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid. We've got the
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promise there of God with us. So we'll sing from verse 1 to verse 7, and the tune is Bethesda.
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Amen.
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God is our refuge and our strength, which leads our present day. Therefore, although the earth
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we will not be afraid. Though hills have met, the seas be afraid. Though hills have met, the seas be
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be cast, the waters rolling may, and trouble be, yet o'er the hills, by swelling seas do shape.
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God is our way in the mountains into the sea. That debt's the day. Glory be with us
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God is yourน play optimization. Your ministry of our church. This night has met, you know,
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Lord have met. And bless our heart who will ever be with us. Because our heart is a
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place
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where
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in the
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Lord
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most high
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at least
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of
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God
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in
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the midst
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of
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one does
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dwell
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nothing
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shall
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us
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remove
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the
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Lord
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to
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us
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and
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help
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our
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will
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and
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that
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right
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early
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through
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the
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even
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rain
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to
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much
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us
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see
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the
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kingdom
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smooth
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and
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where
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the
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Lord
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God
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up
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to
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read
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his
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voice
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the
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earth
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earth
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is
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man
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for
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fear
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the
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Lord
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of
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hosts
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upon
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our
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side
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the
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Lord
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constantly
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remain
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the
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Lord
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of
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God
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of
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Jacob
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of
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the
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refuge
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are
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simply
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to
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maintain
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the
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earth
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God
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let's
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come to
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God
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in
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prayer
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let us
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pray
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Lord
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our
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gracious
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God
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as we
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once
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knew
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unite
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our
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hearts
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in
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prayer
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and
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praise
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to
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you
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we
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thank
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you
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for
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these
5:07
wonderful
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promises
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that
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you
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give
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to
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us
5:09
through
5:09
your
5:10
word
5:10
the
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promises
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that
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are
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so
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many
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they
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are
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almost
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beyond
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our
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number
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beyond
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our
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recognizing
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just
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how
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amazing
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how
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beautiful
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the
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promises
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are
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that
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you
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give
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to
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us
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and
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deserving
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as
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we
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are
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we
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thank
5:26
you
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Lord
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that
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your
5:27
word
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reminds
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us
5:29
again
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and
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again
5:30
that
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although
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we
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as
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a
5:32
people
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have
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have
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wandered
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and
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gone
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astray
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that
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you
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are
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a
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God
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who
5:37
is
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calling
5:37
back
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that
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you
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are
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a
5:39
God
5:39
who
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is
5:40
telling
5:40
us
5:40
commanding
5:41
us
5:41
even
5:41
to
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seek
5:42
the
5:43
Lord
5:43
while
5:43
he
5:43
may
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as
5:46
we
5:46
have
5:47
these
5:48
challenges
5:48
to
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us
5:49
as
5:49
we
5:49
have
5:50
the
5:50
invitation
5:51
of
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the
5:51
gospel
5:52
put
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before
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us
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so
5:53
often
5:54
we
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thank
5:55
you
5:55
too
5:55
that
5:55
you
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remind
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us
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of
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what
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it
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entails
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what
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coming
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to
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you
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means
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that
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we
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come
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to
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you
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as
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a
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God
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who
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is
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not
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just
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holy
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and
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mighty
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and
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awesome
6:06
in
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so
6:07
many
6:07
ways
6:07
that
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we
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could
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see
6:08
you
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as
6:08
beyond
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our
6:09
understanding
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but
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that
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you
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are
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a
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God
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who
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desires
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that
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relationship
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with
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his
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people
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that
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we
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as
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your
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children
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could
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come
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and
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lay
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before
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you
6:25
all
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our
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burdens
6:26
calling
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you
6:27
as
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our
6:28
father
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one
6:30
who
6:30
is
6:30
over
6:30
us
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in
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all
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things
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the
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one
6:33
who
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looks
6:34
after
6:34
us
6:34
the
6:34
one
6:34
who
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loves
6:35
us
6:35
the
6:36
one
6:36
who
6:36
has
6:37
done
6:37
so
6:37
much
6:38
for
6:38
us
6:38
we
6:40
thank
6:40
you
6:40
that
6:40
in
6:41
the
6:41
psalm
6:42
that
6:42
we
6:42
have
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sung
6:42
we
6:43
are
6:43
reminded
6:43
of
6:43
the
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wonderful
6:45
presence
6:45
that
6:46
you
6:46
give
6:46
to
6:46
your
6:46
people
6:47
a
6:48
presence
6:48
that
6:48
comes
6:49
in
6:49
the
6:49
midst
6:49
of
6:49
all
6:50
our
6:50
circumstances
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and
6:51
situations
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in
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life
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a
6:53
promise
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that
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is
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so
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precious
6:55
to
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your
6:56
people
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day
6:57
after
6:57
day
6:58
that
6:58
we
6:59
could
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sing
6:59
these
6:59
words
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on you
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every
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day
7:01
and
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just
7:02
wonder
7:02
and
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marvel
7:03
at
7:03
the
7:03
meaning
7:03
of
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them
7:04
that
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God
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is
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our
7:05
refuge
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and
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our
7:07
strength
7:07
our
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ever
7:08
present
7:09
aid
7:09
and
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no matter
7:10
what
7:11
this
7:11
world
7:11
brings
7:12
our
7:12
way
7:12
that
7:13
you
7:13
are
7:13
the
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we
7:45
go
7:45
from
7:46
here
7:46
this
7:46
night
7:47
and
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into
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the
7:47
week
7:48
before
7:48
us
7:49
and
7:49
whatever
7:49
we
7:49
are
7:50
doing
7:50
be it
7:51
in
7:51
our
7:52
quietness
7:53
of
7:53
our
7:53
own
7:54
private
7:54
devotions
7:55
be it
7:56
in
7:56
our
7:57
workplaces
7:57
in
7:58
our
7:58
homes
7:58
whatever
7:59
we
8:00
may
8:00
do
8:00
Lord
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may
8:00
your
8:00
words
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stay
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with
8:01
us
8:02
in
8:02
our
8:02
minds
8:02
that
8:03
we
8:03
will
8:03
be
8:03
able
8:03
to
8:03
take
8:03
even
8:04
a
8:04
few
8:05
words
8:05
of
8:05
it
8:05
with
8:06
us
8:06
this
8:06
evening
8:07
and
8:07
meditate
8:07
upon
8:08
them
8:08
and
8:09
even
8:09
to
8:09
think
8:10
of
8:10
the
8:10
promise
8:11
which
8:11
we
8:11
will
8:11
be
8:11
studying
8:12
I
8:13
will
8:13
never
8:13
leave
8:14
you
8:14
or
8:15
forsake
8:15
you
8:16
may
8:16
we
8:16
know
8:17
the
8:17
wonder
8:17
of
8:17
that
8:18
promise
8:18
in
8:19
the
8:19
week
8:19
ahead
8:19
and
8:20
in
8:20
all
8:20
the
8:20
days
8:20
ahead
8:21
for
8:22
we
8:22
thank
8:22
you
8:22
that
8:22
that
8:22
is
8:23
a
8:23
promise
8:23
that
8:24
is
8:24
often
8:25
repeated
8:25
in
8:26
your
8:26
word
8:26
throughout
8:27
the
8:27
Old
8:28
Testament
8:28
and
8:28
the
8:28
New
8:29
Testament
8:29
we
8:29
find
8:30
that
8:30
it
8:30
is
8:30
a
8:30
promise
8:31
given
8:32
to
8:32
many
8:32
people
8:32
in
8:32
many
8:33
circumstances
8:33
and
8:35
that
8:35
it
8:35
is
8:35
indeed
8:35
for
8:35
all
8:36
your
8:36
people
8:36
as
8:37
we
8:37
go
8:37
on
8:38
in
8:38
life's
8:38
journey
8:39
that
8:39
as
8:39
we
8:40
put
8:40
our
8:40
trust
8:40
in
8:41
the
8:41
Lord
8:41
Jesus
8:41
Christ
8:42
that
8:42
we
8:42
have
8:43
that
8:44
confidence
8:44
assurance
8:45
that
8:46
you
8:46
are
8:46
with
8:46
us
8:46
and
8:47
may
8:47
your
8:48
people
8:48
not
8:48
just
8:49
as
8:50
we
8:50
gather
8:50
here
8:51
in
8:51
your
8:51
name
8:51
but
8:51
as
8:52
we
8:52
tune
8:53
in
8:53
online
8:53
but
8:53
your
8:54
people
8:54
far
8:54
and
8:54
wide
8:55
throughout
8:55
the
8:56
world
8:56
may
8:57
they
8:57
know
8:57
the
8:57
wonder
8:58
of
8:58
this
8:58
promise
8:59
may
8:59
they
8:59
know
8:59
your
9:00
presence
9:00
with
9:01
them
9:01
for
9:01
we
9:02
thank
9:02
you
9:02
that
9:02
you
9:03
are
9:03
not
9:03
a
9:03
God
9:03
who
9:04
is
9:04
confined
9:05
that
9:05
you
9:06
are
9:06
not
9:06
a
9:06
God
9:07
who
9:07
as
9:07
we
9:07
were
9:07
thinking
9:08
of
9:08
this
9:08
morning
9:08
is
9:09
in
9:09
the
9:09
heavens
9:10
high
9:10
and
9:10
cannot
9:11
be
9:11
reached
9:11
that
9:12
you
9:12
have
9:13
come
9:13
to
9:13
us
9:14
that
9:14
you
9:14
have
9:14
come
9:14
down
9:14
from
9:15
heaven
9:15
that
9:16
the
9:16
word
9:16
has
9:16
become
9:17
flesh
9:17
and
9:17
dwelt
9:18
among
9:18
us
9:18
that
9:18
we
9:19
know
9:19
that
9:19
in
9:20
the
9:20
person
9:20
of
9:20
Jesus
9:21
Christ
9:21
and
9:22
that
9:22
we
9:22
know
9:23
the
9:23
words
9:23
of
9:23
Jesus
9:24
even
9:24
as
9:24
he
9:24
said
9:25
as
9:25
he
9:26
would
9:26
go
9:26
from
9:26
us
9:26
that
9:27
he
9:27
would
9:27
leave
9:27
the
9:28
comfort
9:28
or
9:28
the
9:28
Holy
9:29
Spirit
9:29
to be
9:30
with
9:30
us
9:30
and
9:31
that
9:31
we
9:31
have
9:31
the
9:31
promise
9:32
for
9:32
always
9:33
even
9:33
to
9:33
the
9:33
end
9:34
of
9:34
the
9:35
age
9:35
and
9:36
so
9:36
surround
9:37
your
9:37
people
9:37
anew
9:38
this
9:38
night
9:39
Lord
9:39
may
9:39
you
9:39
hear
9:40
the
9:40
worship
9:41
of
9:41
your
9:41
name
9:41
and
9:42
the
9:42
praising
9:42
of
9:42
your
9:43
name
9:43
from
9:44
far
9:44
and
9:44
wide
9:45
tonight
9:45
as
9:46
we
9:46
thank
9:46
you
9:47
for
9:47
the
9:47
fact
9:47
that
9:47
you
9:47
have
9:48
your
9:48
people
9:49
near
9:50
and
9:50
far
9:50
that
9:50
you
9:50
are
9:50
building
9:51
your
9:51
church
9:52
and
9:52
so
9:53
bless
9:53
us
9:53
here
9:54
together
9:54
Lord
9:54
we
9:55
thank
9:55
you
9:55
that
9:56
as
9:57
we
9:57
can
9:57
come
9:57
to
9:58
know
9:58
you
9:59
through
9:59
your
9:59
word
10:00
that
10:00
you
10:00
already
10:00
know
10:01
us
10:01
that
10:02
you
10:02
know
10:02
our
10:02
every
10:02
thought
10:03
and
10:03
desire
10:04
and
10:04
motive
10:04
that
10:05
you
10:05
know
10:06
exactly
10:06
where
10:07
we
10:07
are
10:07
and
10:08
what
10:08
we
10:08
need
10:08
that
10:09
you
10:14
know
10:44
nations
10:44
and
10:45
all
10:45
that's
10:46
going
10:46
on
10:46
in
10:46
our
10:46
world
10:47
with
10:47
the
10:47
conflicts
10:48
that
10:48
surround
10:49
us
10:49
and
10:50
we
10:50
see
10:50
it
10:50
each
10:51
day
10:51
of
10:51
our
10:51
lives
10:52
just
10:52
now
10:52
we
10:52
see
10:53
tensions
10:53
rising
10:54
we
10:54
see
10:55
something
10:56
that
10:56
we
10:57
cannot
10:57
see
10:57
an
10:58
end
10:58
to
10:58
but
10:59
yet
10:59
Lord
11:00
we
11:00
thank
11:00
you
11:00
that
11:01
it
11:01
is
11:01
not
11:02
in
11:02
the
11:02
hands
11:02
of
11:02
man
11:03
but
11:03
in
11:04
your
11:04
hands
11:05
oh
11:05
Lord
11:05
and
11:05
that
11:05
there
11:06
is
11:06
a
11:06
reason
11:06
and
11:06
a
11:07
purpose
11:07
for
11:07
everything
11:08
even
11:08
the
11:08
things
11:08
that
11:09
we
11:09
cannot
11:10
understand
11:11
the
11:11
things
11:12
that
11:12
we
11:12
see
11:13
and
11:13
cause
11:13
so
11:14
much
11:14
pain
11:14
and
11:15
worry
11:16
and
11:16
fear
11:16
the
11:18
things
11:18
in
11:18
this
11:19
life
11:19
on
11:19
a
11:19
large
11:20
scale
11:20
that
11:21
concern
11:22
us
11:22
as
11:22
a
11:22
world
11:23
and
11:23
even
11:23
the
11:23
things
11:23
of
11:24
this
11:24
life
11:24
that
11:25
maybe
11:25
only
11:25
affect
11:26
ourselves
11:27
and
11:27
our
11:27
own
11:27
hearts
11:28
and
11:28
yet
11:28
cause
11:29
us
11:29
grief
11:29
and
11:29
pain
11:30
they
11:31
are
11:31
known
11:31
to
11:31
you
11:32
and
11:33
Lord
11:33
we
11:33
thank
11:33
you
11:33
that
11:34
you
11:34
are
11:35
the
11:35
one
11:35
who
11:38
is
11:42
able
11:42
to
11:42
bring
11:43
peace
11:43
that
11:44
you
11:44
are
11:44
the
11:44
one
11:44
who
11:45
is
11:45
able
11:45
to
11:45
bring
11:45
a
11:45
calmness
11:46
over
11:46
us
11:47
Lord
11:47
in
11:47
the
11:47
midst
11:47
of
11:48
it
11:48
all
11:48
and
11:49
we
11:49
just
11:49
pray
11:50
Lord
11:50
for
11:50
you
11:51
in
11:52
your
11:52
power
11:52
and
11:52
by
11:53
your
11:53
will
11:53
to
11:54
come
11:54
to
11:55
come
11:56
oh
11:56
Lord
11:56
and
11:56
show
11:57
yourself
11:58
in
11:58
a
11:58
mighty
11:58
way
11:59
to
11:59
this
11:59
world
12:00
that
12:01
we
12:01
would
12:01
bow
12:01
before
12:02
you
12:02
Lord
12:02
that
12:02
we
12:02
would
12:03
acknowledge
12:03
you
12:03
for
12:04
you
12:04
reminding
12:05
us
12:05
again
12:06
and
12:06
again
12:06
through
12:07
all
12:08
of
12:08
these
12:08
years
12:09
that
12:09
have
12:09
just
12:09
gone
12:10
past
12:10
in
12:10
the
12:10
midst
12:11
of
12:11
a
12:12
time
12:12
of
12:13
war
12:13
a
12:15
time
12:15
of
12:15
disease
12:16
a
12:16
time
12:17
of
12:17
the
12:19
virus
12:19
that
12:20
took
12:20
over
12:20
our
12:20
lives
12:21
for
12:21
so
12:21
long
12:22
in
12:22
this
12:22
world
12:22
and
12:23
brought
12:23
so
12:23
many
12:24
things
12:24
to
12:24
a
12:24
stand
12:25
still
12:25
Lord
12:26
you
12:26
have
12:26
spoken
12:27
and
12:27
yet
12:27
seemingly
12:28
we
12:28
haven't
12:29
listened
12:29
and so
12:30
Lord
12:31
we
12:31
pray
12:32
have
12:32
mercy
12:32
upon
12:33
us
12:33
that
12:34
you
12:34
would
12:34
do
12:35
us
12:35
good
12:35
Lord
12:36
and
12:36
not
12:36
bring
12:37
even
12:37
more
12:37
that
12:37
we
12:38
cannot
12:38
comprehend
12:39
but
12:40
bring
12:40
days
12:41
of
12:41
your
12:41
power
12:41
bring
12:42
days
12:43
of
12:43
salvation
12:43
brings
12:44
days
12:44
of
12:44
your
12:45
reviving
12:46
power
12:46
into
12:47
our
12:47
midst
12:48
we
12:49
pray
12:49
that
12:49
for
12:49
ourselves
12:50
and
12:50
for
12:50
the
12:51
generations
12:51
coming
12:52
after
12:52
us
12:52
Lord
12:53
that
12:53
we
12:53
would
12:53
see
12:54
a
12:54
world
12:54
where
12:55
your
12:55
glory
12:55
is
12:55
known
12:56
and
12:56
where
12:57
your
12:57
name
12:57
is
12:57
praised
12:58
Lord
12:59
we
12:59
commit
13:00
ourselves
13:00
now
13:01
into
13:01
your
13:01
hands
13:02
we
13:02
ask
13:02
that
13:02
you
13:02
will
13:02
be
13:02
with
13:03
us
13:03
Lord
13:03
and
13:04
bless
13:04
your
13:04
word
13:05
and
13:05
the
13:05
praising
13:05
of
13:06
your
13:06
name
13:06
may
13:07
we
13:07
lift
13:07
our
13:08
voices
13:08
to
13:08
you
13:08
and
13:09
praise
13:10
anew
13:10
this
13:10
night
13:11
that
13:11
you
13:11
are
13:11
God
13:12
and
13:12
there
13:12
is
13:12
no
13:13
other
13:13
help
13:14
us
13:14
to
13:14
look
13:14
to
13:14
you
13:14
help
13:15
us
13:15
to
13:15
rest
13:15
in
13:16
you
13:16
help
13:17
us
13:17
to
13:17
know
13:17
your
13:17
presence
13:18
continually
13:18
with
13:19
us
13:19
as
13:19
we
13:19
seek
13:20
your
13:20
face
13:20
at
13:20
this
13:21
time
13:21
and
13:22
we
13:22
come
13:22
anew
13:22
confessing
13:23
our
13:23
sins
13:24
oh
13:24
Lord
13:24
we
13:24
know
13:25
that
13:25
there
13:25
is
13:26
much
13:26
in
13:26
our
13:26
heart
13:27
that
13:27
we
13:27
would
13:27
long
13:27
to
13:27
change
13:28
and
13:29
we
13:29
thank
13:29
you
13:29
that
13:29
you
13:29
are
13:30
a
13:30
God
13:30
of
13:30
change
13:31
you're
13:32
the
13:32
one
13:32
who
13:32
is
13:32
able
13:32
to
13:33
shape
13:33
us
13:33
to
13:33
mold
13:34
us
13:34
to
13:35
right
13:35
the
13:36
wrongs
13:36
in
13:36
our
13:36
heart
13:37
to
13:37
rid
13:38
the
13:38
blemishes
13:39
to
13:39
bring
13:40
us
13:40
through
13:40
oh
13:40
Lord
13:40
even
13:41
the
13:41
purifier's
13:42
fire
13:43
to
13:43
know
13:43
that
13:43
cleansing
13:44
to
13:45
know
13:45
that
13:45
renewing
13:46
and
13:46
to
13:46
know
13:47
Lord
13:47
that
13:47
you
13:48
would
13:48
make
13:48
us
13:48
more
13:49
and
13:49
more
13:49
like
13:50
you
13:50
so
13:51
Lord
13:51
help
13:51
us
13:52
to
13:52
reflect
13:52
you
13:53
and
13:53
to
13:53
give
13:53
glory
13:54
to
13:54
your
13:54
name
13:54
and
13:55
surround
13:56
us
13:56
Lord
13:56
even
13:56
now
13:57
with
13:57
your
13:57
presence
13:57
as
13:58
we
13:58
ask
13:58
all
13:59
these
13:59
things
13:59
in
14:00
the
14:00
name
14:00
of
14:00
our
14:00
precious
14:01
saviour
14:02
Jesus
14:02
Christ
14:03
and
14:03
for
14:03
his
14:03
glory
14:04
Amen
14:05
we'll
14:08
again sing
14:08
to
14:09
God's
14:10
praise
14:10
we're
14:10
going to
14:10
sing in
14:11
Psalm 118
14:12
and sing
14:12
Psalms
14:13
version
14:13
page
14:14
155
14:15
we'll
14:19
sing from
14:19
verse 1
14:20
down to
14:21
verse 9
14:22
Psalm 118
14:29
page
14:30
155
14:31
at
14:31
verse 1
14:31
thank
14:32
the
14:32
Lord
14:32
for
14:33
he
14:33
is
14:33
good
14:33
his
14:34
steadfast
14:35
love
14:35
endures
14:36
always
14:36
now let
14:37
the house
14:37
of Israel
14:38
say his
14:39
love will
14:39
last
14:40
through
14:40
endless
14:41
days
14:41
verse 7
14:42
it says
14:43
the Lord
14:43
is with
14:44
me
14:44
constantly
14:45
he is
14:46
the one
14:46
who gives
14:46
me
14:47
aid
14:47
I
14:48
look
14:48
in
14:48
triumph
14:48
on
14:49
my
14:49
foes
14:49
I
14:50
will
14:50
not
14:50
need
14:50
to
14:51
be
14:51
afraid
14:52
we'll
14:53
sing
14:53
from
14:53
verse 1
14:54
to
14:54
9
14:55
to
14:55
God's
14:56
praise
14:56
and the
14:56
tune
14:57
is
14:57
Rockingham
14:58
oh
15:04
oh
15:04
thank
15:04
the
15:06
Lord
15:07
for
15:08
he
15:08
is
15:10
good
15:11
his
15:12
steadfast
15:14
love
15:16
endures
15:18
always
15:19
now let
15:23
the house
15:25
of Israel
15:28
say
15:29
his love
15:32
will last
15:34
through
15:35
endless
15:36
days
15:39
and let
15:41
the house
15:43
of Aaron
15:46
say
15:48
his love
15:50
forever
15:52
will
15:55
endure
15:56
let
15:59
those
16:00
who
16:01
fear
16:02
the
16:03
Lord
16:05
declare
16:06
his
16:08
love
16:09
will
16:10
stand
16:11
forever
16:13
sure
16:15
I
16:17
I
16:18
cried
16:19
in
16:20
anguish
16:22
to
16:23
the
16:24
Lord
16:25
he
16:27
answered
16:28
me
16:30
and
16:31
set
16:32
me
16:33
free
16:34
the
16:36
Lord
16:37
is
16:39
with
16:40
me
16:41
I
16:42
will
16:43
not
16:44
fear
16:45
what
16:46
harm
16:47
can
16:48
people
16:49
do
16:50
to
16:52
me
16:53
the
16:55
Lord
16:56
is
16:58
with
16:59
me
17:00
constantly
17:01
he
17:02
is
17:05
the
17:06
one
17:07
who
17:08
gives
17:09
me
17:10
aid
17:11
I
17:13
look
17:14
in
17:15
triumph
17:16
on
17:19
my
17:20
foes
17:21
I
17:22
will
17:23
not
17:24
need
17:25
to
17:26
be
17:28
afraid
17:29
be
17:30
free
17:31
it's
17:32
better
17:33
far
17:34
to
17:35
trust
17:36
the
17:37
Lord
17:38
than
17:39
look
17:40
for
17:41
help
17:42
to
17:43
man's
17:44
defense
17:45
it's
17:47
better
17:48
to
17:49
man's
17:50
defense
17:51
it's
17:52
better
17:53
far
17:54
to
17:55
trust
17:56
the
17:57
Lord
17:58
than
17:59
in
18:00
a
18:01
prince
18:02
of
18:03
confidence
18:04
of
18:05
confidence
18:06
of
18:07
confidence
18:08
we'll
18:14
turn to
18:15
read
18:16
god's word
18:17
now in the book of
18:18
hebrews chapter 13
18:20
hebrews chapter 13
18:22
you find this around page 1 2 1 3 of the bibles
18:28
hebrews chapter 13 we're going to read from verse 1 down to verse 19
18:33
let's hear the word of god
18:38
let brotherly love continue do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares
18:49
remember those who are in prison as though in prison with them and those who are mistreated since you are you also are in the body let marriage be held in honor among all and let the marriage bed be undefiled for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have for he has said i will never leave you nor forsake you so we can
19:18
confidently say the lord is my helper i will not fear what man can do to me remember your leaders those who spoke to you the word of god consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith jesus christ is the same yesterday and today and forever do not be led away by diversion strange teachings for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace not by foods which have not benefited
19:48
benefited benefited benefited those devoted to them we have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat for the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp so jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood
20:18
outside the camp and bear the camp and bear the reproach he endured for here we have no lasting city but we seek the city that is to come through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to god that is the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name
20:37
do not neglect to do good do not neglect to do good to do good and to share what you have for such sacrifices are pleasing to god obey your leaders and submit to them for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an account let them do this with joy and not with groaning for that would be of no advantage to you pray for us for we are sure that we have a clear conscience
21:07
things I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you
21:15
the sooner and so on. May God bless that reading from his word.
21:22
Before we turn back to this passage we're going to sing once again to his praise in Psalm 61,
21:28
the Sing Psalms version, page 78 of the psalm books. We'll sing from verse 1 down to verse 6.
21:37
Psalm 61 on page 78, the tune is Belmont. Oh hear my urgent cry, my God, and listen to my plea.
21:48
From earth's remotest bounds I call when my heart faints in me. We'll sing from verse 1 to 6 to God's praise.
21:57
Oh hear my urgent cry, my God, and listen to my plea.
22:08
From earth's remotest bounds I call when my heart faints in me.
22:09
Oh hear my urgent cry, my God, and listen to my plea.
22:18
Oh hear my urgent cry, my God, and listen to my plea.
22:31
From earth's remotest bounds I call when my heart faints in me. Oh God, conduct me to the rock that's high,
22:48
far than I. For you my refuge from the foe.
23:16
My power of strength on high. Oh let me dwell within your tent, forever there to live.
23:41
O Lord, the shelter of your wings. Oh Lord, the shelter of your wings. Oh Lord, the refuge which they give.
23:58
For you have held my foe. Oh God, and you have given me the heritage of those who fear.
24:24
Your name God, here may. Come to earth, my God.
24:27
On earth's берenten Rich anew. Oh my God, the refuge of the harbor.
24:28
Thank you.
24:58
We can turn back to our reading in Hebrews chapter 13.
25:14
We're going to look at verse 5 and 6, particularly together this evening.
25:18
Hebrews chapter 13, verse 5.
25:23
Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have.
25:29
For he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
25:34
So we can confidently say, the Lord is my helper.
25:39
I will not fear.
25:41
What can man do to me?
25:44
When we think of God's promises, there are so many of them it's hard for us sometimes just to take them in
25:56
and just to think, well, what's my favorite promise that God gives to me?
26:02
When you think of them, you start numbering them.
26:06
You start going through them.
26:07
You just realize just how many there are and you're almost just scraping the surface the more that you go on.
26:13
But we are told that we are to hold on to these promises.
26:18
These promises should be precious more and more to us and hold them firmly and closely to us
26:25
because they are the promises that so often keep us going day by day
26:29
and keep us going through highs and lows in this life.
26:35
Now, some people have tried to study, go right through the scriptures
26:39
and just work out just how many promises of God there are.
26:44
Efforts have been made by reading right through and thinking,
26:47
well, there's a promise of God to his people.
26:50
There are various estimates as to how many promises there are.
26:56
Most would sort of narrow it down to around 8,000 promises that God gives to his people.
27:04
Now, some of them can sound very similar.
27:06
Some of them can be repeated again.
27:09
But nonetheless, they are still a promise that God gives in a time and in an experience for his people.
27:15
You think of that, 8,000 promises that God gives.
27:21
How many promises have you broken in your own life?
27:25
How many promises have you made to people and you've let them down?
27:30
And yet every promise that God gives to his people, they're secure and they've come to pass.
27:37
They are fulfilled in Christ.
27:40
The amazement of God's promises to us.
27:44
And when we think of songs and psalms that we sing, how many of them contain,
27:49
so many of the promises that God gives to us, which we sing through.
27:54
Many of the psalms, we sing promises that God has given us.
27:57
We think of many of the hymns that have been written.
28:00
We think of the promises that God has given.
28:04
There was one hymn written, standing on the promises of Christ, my King.
28:09
It's just a psalm that was written by someone who was in the midst of a period of ill health, grave ill health,
28:18
at the point where this person thought that they were going to die at around the age of 30.
28:24
And yet they survived and lived more than 40 years after that.
28:29
And yet this person wrote this hymn.
28:31
In the midst of that, given confidence, given assurance of God's help through his promises.
28:38
And just to quote some of the words from it, it says,
28:41
Is that how we live our own lives?
29:10
Do we live it in that way of standing on the promises of God, on the word of God,
29:16
and the confidence that that gives to us?
29:20
As you go through the scriptures, you find that the promises of God are so many and so varied.
29:28
From the beginning, when we see God's promise to Noah,
29:33
where he said,
29:34
Never again will I flood this world.
29:37
And you go through to the promise that Christ himself gives in John 14,
29:44
when he speaks of the fact that he is going to prepare a place for his people.
29:50
And when he says that, he says,
29:52
If I go to prepare a place, I will come again,
29:55
and I will take you to be with me where I am.
29:58
So you have almost the promises from the beginning right to the end,
30:03
and the promise that Christ gives to his people of a place,
30:07
and a time when he will return to take his people to him.
30:14
But think of that promise that Jesus gives,
30:18
that he goes to prepare a place,
30:21
and that he will come again.
30:23
When we think of what we were looking at this morning in Isaiah 55,
30:29
that wonderful, almost gospel passage in Isaiah 55,
30:33
where it's a great invitation,
30:36
Come to the waters, come all who are thirsty.
30:39
And then the verse we were looking at,
30:42
Seek the Lord while he may be found,
30:44
call upon him while he is near,
30:46
that there's this urgency to come to the Lord while we have opportunity.
30:51
As I said this morning, we're going to think,
30:54
Well, what does it mean for us now?
30:57
What does that mean for us on a day-to-day basis?
31:00
We seek the Lord, we find the Lord, we love the Lord,
31:05
but what does he give us now?
31:07
And especially when you think of that text in John 14,
31:10
when he says,
31:11
I am going to prepare a place for you.
31:13
I am going away.
31:15
He says that to his disciples.
31:17
Now, another place, I am going away,
31:19
but I will leave my comforter, the Holy Spirit.
31:23
We often maybe start to think,
31:24
Well, where is he now?
31:27
Has he left us in the meantime?
31:29
Has he left us in the midst of all the dangers
31:32
and the turmoil that surrounds us,
31:34
all the anxieties and fears that come our way?
31:37
Has he just left us to go on blindly by ourselves?
31:40
And no doubt there are times when we maybe feel
31:44
that sense of isolation,
31:47
when we maybe feel that we're alone,
31:50
that we're struggling.
31:52
But has he left us?
31:56
Well, it comes back again to standing
31:58
on the promises of Christ our King.
32:03
And what is the promises that he has given to us,
32:07
repeated again and again and again through Scripture?
32:12
Well, one of the most wonderful promises
32:14
he gives to us as we look through Scripture
32:16
is that he has not left us
32:19
and that he will not leave us.
32:23
When you look at Scripture,
32:24
you find that it's constantly with us,
32:27
always there for us
32:29
when we put our trust in him.
32:32
And that this is true until he comes again.
32:38
Hebrews 13, verse 5,
32:41
is this promise that we're looking at together this evening.
32:44
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
32:48
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
32:53
And it's a promise, as we often see in Hebrews,
32:56
is quotes from the Old Testament.
32:57
And you go back to the Old Testament
32:59
and you find this promise given.
33:02
In particular, it was given to Joshua
33:05
at a time when he was taking over from Moses
33:09
as the leader of God's people,
33:12
as he was taking them on into the promised land.
33:15
Joshua was anxious.
33:17
He was fearful what this meant.
33:19
How could he do it?
33:21
Well, God gave him this promise
33:23
and he repeated this promise to him.
33:26
You read it in Deuteronomy 31, verse 8.
33:29
Moses assuring him,
33:31
the Lord goes before you and will be with you.
33:34
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
33:37
Do not be afraid.
33:38
Do not be discouraged.
33:42
And then God himself gives him,
33:44
Joshua, that promise in Joshua 1, verse 5.
33:47
No one will be able to stand up against you
33:50
all the days of your life.
33:51
As I was with Moses,
33:53
so I will be with you.
33:55
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
34:00
You have that promise repeated.
34:02
And it's an often repeated promise to God's people.
34:06
When he calls his people back to himself,
34:09
he says, return to me and I will return to you.
34:12
I will be with you.
34:13
That sense of relationship that God has with his people.
34:18
You look at it in the New Testament context.
34:20
And Jesus, before he left this world,
34:24
before he ascended to God,
34:26
what did he say to his people as he left them?
34:30
He gave them a command.
34:31
He gave them a commission.
34:33
In Matthew 28, verse 19,
34:35
he said,
34:36
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
34:39
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
34:41
and of the Holy Spirit
34:43
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
34:47
And he gave them this promise, this assurance.
34:50
And surely I am with you always
34:53
to the very end of the age.
34:57
He gave them this promise.
35:00
And this is a promise that we have today ourselves.
35:04
That as we put our trust in the Lord,
35:07
we have this promise,
35:10
I will never leave you or forsake you.
35:14
And as in verse 6 it says in Hebrews 13,
35:18
it goes on to say,
35:19
So we can confidently say,
35:21
The Lord is my helper.
35:24
I will not fear.
35:26
What can man do to me?
35:29
There is confidence that this promise brings.
35:32
The Lord is my helper.
35:35
The Lord has promised.
35:37
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
35:41
And the Lord often gives this promise
35:43
in the midst of challenging times.
35:47
And it's no different for ourselves today.
35:50
When we think of the world in which we live
35:52
and all the worries and concerns
35:54
that we see around us on a daily basis,
35:57
does not the word of God give us confidence?
36:01
Does not God's promise give us confidence?
36:05
Never will I leave you.
36:07
Never will I forsake you.
36:10
Not until the Lord returns.
36:14
But we want to just look at this promise
36:16
for a few moments together.
36:19
First of all, we're going to think
36:21
of the background to it.
36:25
And then we'll think of the promise itself.
36:28
And then we'll think of,
36:29
well, what kind of response does it call for?
36:34
So first we want to just see a little of
36:36
the background to this promise.
36:41
As you read through the book of Hebrews,
36:45
it's a book that's full of so much teaching
36:48
from the Old Testament.
36:50
The Old Testament is often quoted in it.
36:55
And it's a book that was written to the people
36:57
in the midst of various trials and tribulations
37:01
that they were experiencing in their lives.
37:04
And the writer to the Hebrews is urging the people
37:06
to maintain both their confession,
37:10
their confession that God is their Lord,
37:12
that they have this relationship with them,
37:15
but also that their confidence.
37:18
Confidence is a word that we will see
37:20
come up again and again throughout the book of Hebrews.
37:23
We'll look a little bit about that at the end
37:25
as we think of the response this calls for.
37:30
But it's about having a confidence in God.
37:34
And this confidence, as you see as you read through it,
37:37
is so often in light of their suffering.
37:39
For example, in Hebrews 10, verse 34,
37:45
it says,
37:45
You sympathized with those in prison
37:47
and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property
37:51
because you knew that you yourselves
37:54
had better and lasting possessions.
37:56
There was this confidence in God.
38:00
Even though many of their people were in prison,
38:02
probably unjustly,
38:04
their property was being taken from them,
38:06
confiscated,
38:07
but they knew what they had.
38:11
They knew they had a kingdom belonging to God,
38:14
a kingdom that could not be shaken.
38:17
As again, you read as you go through the book of Hebrews.
38:20
And that's what the writer was doing.
38:23
He was bringing them to this point
38:25
where they would have this confidence
38:27
and this assurance,
38:28
based on this promise,
38:30
I will never leave you
38:31
and never forsake you.
38:33
And you find that as you come towards the end of Hebrews,
38:39
chapter 10 onwards,
38:40
there's a lot of kind of practical teaching for us.
38:44
In chapter 10,
38:46
you have a number of texts there
38:49
that we can be quite familiar with.
38:51
We've quoted one there in verse 34.
38:54
There's kind of, there's suffering,
38:56
but there's other verses too
38:57
that you think of,
38:58
the not neglecting to meet together.
39:00
In verse 25,
39:02
as is the habit of some,
39:04
but encouraging one another
39:05
and all the more as you see
39:06
the day drawing near.
39:09
There is this call to worship
39:11
and this assurance,
39:13
this confidence that faith gives.
39:16
So you have that full assurance of faith
39:18
in chapter 10,
39:20
which then goes into chapter 11,
39:22
that wonderful passage
39:23
of the faith of God's people,
39:26
so many from the Old Testament.
39:28
the faith that they had
39:31
in the midst of so many different challenges.
39:35
Then you have chapter 12,
39:37
where we're encouraged to not grow weary,
39:40
but to run the race,
39:42
to run the race with patience,
39:45
looking to Jesus,
39:47
the founder and perfecter of our faith,
39:51
that we have one who we can look to,
39:53
one who is with us.
39:55
Then later on in Hebrews 12,
39:59
it says in verse 28,
40:01
therefore,
40:01
since we are receiving a kingdom
40:03
that cannot be shaken,
40:04
let us be thankful
40:05
and so worship God acceptably
40:08
with reverence and awe,
40:10
for our God is a consuming fire.
40:14
We have this worship of God
40:17
and God seen as a consuming fire.
40:20
And this call to worship
40:22
is what follows on into chapter 13,
40:26
where we see it in practical ways
40:29
and practical experiences,
40:31
how our focus is still to be on God,
40:34
who is with us.
40:36
And verse 5 and 6,
40:38
as you're reading through chapter 13,
40:42
it may almost seem like an odd verse.
40:45
When you think of what it's talking about,
40:49
you see so many things
40:50
that the challenges of the people faced
40:53
in chapter 13,
40:55
so many of the challenges
40:56
that we face ourselves today,
40:59
challenges to love one another,
41:02
to have brotherly love,
41:03
to not neglect hospitality to strangers,
41:06
the fact that there is persecution,
41:09
the fact that there is lust
41:11
that can often so much rule our hearts,
41:13
the fact that there is a love of money
41:15
that takes people away from God.
41:19
And then as you go on past verse 6,
41:21
you've got the place of faith
41:24
and the word of God,
41:26
but also in the midst of false teaching.
41:29
And then it goes on to speak almost of
41:31
the leaders, the politicians of the day.
41:35
There's a whole host
41:37
and a variety of things
41:38
being spoken about there,
41:40
but they're not separate from our faith.
41:44
They're so often the challenges
41:46
to our faith
41:47
and the places where we think,
41:49
well, has God left us
41:50
in the midst of all of these challenges?
41:53
And so verse 5 and 6
41:55
are almost like a central point of
41:58
let's keep our focus on the Lord.
42:01
Remember, in the midst of all of these challenges,
42:04
of all these temptations that come our way,
42:07
the Lord, he will never leave us.
42:11
And so anything else that may seem that
42:13
this is what we need,
42:15
this is what will help,
42:16
no.
42:17
What we need is the one who has said,
42:20
I will never leave you or forsake you.
42:23
And when we have that,
42:24
we can confidently then say,
42:27
the Lord is my help.
42:31
There is a bit of the background
42:32
to this text.
42:35
Challenging days,
42:36
days when there's so many different things going on,
42:39
days just like our own,
42:42
but with this wonderful promise
42:43
in the midst of it.
42:45
Never will I leave you.
42:48
Never will I forsake you.
42:51
And many a Christian
42:53
has testified to this.
42:55
I'm sure many a Christian here
42:57
can testify to these words.
43:00
The Lord is my helper.
43:03
The fact that he will never leave us
43:05
or forsake us.
43:07
Some have testified to this
43:10
in spectacular ways.
43:13
I'll give you one example.
43:14
A missionary, John Payton.
43:17
He went to the New Hebrides
43:19
in the Pacific Islands.
43:22
Small cluster of islands together there.
43:25
And he went to one of these islands
43:26
to minister among the tribes there.
43:28
And they were fearful
43:30
of these people coming
43:31
and especially coming
43:33
with the word of God.
43:34
There were people who went,
43:36
the missionaries who went,
43:36
were often attacked.
43:38
Some were many were killed
43:39
for coming with their faith.
43:42
John Payton,
43:43
he went and was faithful to God,
43:46
but he had his own challenges.
43:48
And there was this one night
43:50
when he with his wife
43:52
were staying
43:53
in the mission headquarters.
43:56
They were staying there,
43:57
just the two of them there this night.
43:59
But outside,
44:01
they saw that the local tribes
44:03
had surrounded the place
44:05
that they were staying.
44:07
And they were just waiting
44:08
for them to attack.
44:10
And they were fearful.
44:12
John Payton and his wife
44:13
were terrified.
44:14
And for that night,
44:15
they were praying during the night
44:17
for the Lord to protect them
44:19
and the Lord to keep them.
44:22
When daylight came,
44:23
they were astonished
44:24
to see the tribe leave
44:26
without attacking them.
44:28
And they were just amazed.
44:30
They thanked God
44:31
for his protection
44:32
during that night.
44:34
And they carried on their ministry.
44:36
And little by little,
44:37
the Spirit of God
44:39
worked in that place.
44:40
And people started
44:42
to come to faith.
44:44
And a year later,
44:45
the chief of the tribe
44:46
was converted.
44:47
He became a Christian.
44:49
And John Payton
44:49
spoke to him
44:50
about his faith.
44:52
And then he asked him
44:53
about this night
44:54
when they had surrounded
44:55
his home,
44:57
when himself
44:58
and his wife were there.
45:00
And he asked,
45:01
how come you didn't attack?
45:05
Well, the chief
45:06
seemed astonished.
45:07
And he said,
45:08
well, who were all those men
45:10
who were there with you?
45:12
And John Payton said,
45:13
what?
45:14
Men?
45:14
There was nobody there
45:15
that night
45:15
but myself and my wife.
45:18
And the chief said,
45:19
well, there were hundreds of men
45:21
standing round your home
45:22
protecting you
45:24
with swords
45:25
and bright shining clothes.
45:28
And then John Payton
45:29
well knew
45:30
that is how the Lord
45:31
had answered his prayer
45:33
for protection
45:34
in a spectacular
45:35
and amazing way.
45:38
And we say to ourselves,
45:40
well, that's well
45:41
and good for him
45:42
but that's not the kind
45:43
of things that I see
45:44
in my life.
45:46
But that's not the norm.
45:47
But it doesn't mean
45:49
that God is not with us.
45:51
It doesn't mean
45:52
that God has left us.
45:55
He is with us.
45:58
And there are many
45:59
ordinary ways
46:00
in which God reminds us
46:02
too that he is with us.
46:05
A word and season
46:06
from his Bible,
46:08
from his word himself.
46:11
A friend who gives us comfort.
46:13
An unexpected provision.
46:15
There are so many ways
46:17
that he reminds us
46:18
that he is near.
46:20
And why is that?
46:22
Because he has promised,
46:24
never will I leave you,
46:27
never will I forsake you.
46:30
Whether it's the ordinary
46:31
or the spectacular,
46:33
it doesn't matter.
46:34
It is God's promise
46:36
to his people.
46:38
And we see a little
46:40
of this promise
46:41
as we look at verse 5 here.
46:43
what it does
46:45
for the people then
46:46
and what it does
46:48
for ourselves today.
46:50
It gives them
46:51
a renewed focus.
46:54
It gives them
46:55
a renewed confidence
46:56
and encouragement
46:58
in their experience.
47:00
So that in the midst
47:01
of their people
47:02
being put into prison,
47:04
persecution,
47:05
their property
47:05
being taken from them,
47:07
all of these things,
47:09
they still have
47:10
this confidence.
47:11
the Lord is my helper.
47:14
The Lord is my helper
47:15
because that is
47:17
what he has promised.
47:19
And when you look
47:20
at this promise
47:21
and how it comes up
47:22
in the Old Testament
47:23
and right through
47:25
into the New Testament,
47:26
into our own present day,
47:28
it continually reminds us
47:29
that God has made
47:31
this promise
47:32
and has kept
47:33
this promise
47:34
through time.
47:36
It is God himself
47:39
who has given it.
47:40
It is not just
47:41
a promise
47:42
from man,
47:44
but for he
47:46
has said,
47:47
the Lord has said,
47:49
I will never leave you
47:51
nor forsake you.
47:54
God doesn't
47:55
break his promises.
47:57
He keeps
47:58
every one of them.
48:01
And behind this
48:02
is his covenant promise.
48:04
That is what is
48:05
behind these words,
48:07
I will never leave you
48:08
nor forsake you.
48:10
It's equivalent
48:11
to the promise
48:11
God made
48:12
in his covenant
48:13
in the Old Testament.
48:14
I will be your God
48:15
and you will be
48:17
my people.
48:19
Where he will
48:20
keep us secure.
48:23
But it means
48:24
trusting in him.
48:27
It means going on
48:28
with him.
48:30
Because the Bible
48:31
also reminds us
48:32
of the opposite
48:33
of this.
48:34
And that is
48:35
almost the abandonment
48:36
of God.
48:38
When God,
48:39
we turn our back
48:41
on God
48:41
and God
48:42
leaves us
48:43
to our own
48:44
devices.
48:45
You see it again
48:46
throughout Scripture.
48:47
You see it
48:48
in the Old Testament
48:49
in Deuteronomy.
48:50
Again,
48:50
there's a warning
48:51
in chapter 31
48:53
verse 16.
48:55
God says,
48:55
they will forsake me
48:57
and break the covenant
48:57
I made with them.
48:59
On that day
49:00
I will become angry
49:01
with them
49:01
and forsake them.
49:02
I will hide my face
49:04
from them
49:04
and they will be destroyed.
49:06
Many disasters
49:07
and difficulties
49:08
will come upon them.
49:10
And on that day
49:11
they will ask,
49:12
have not these disasters
49:13
come upon us
49:15
because our God
49:16
is not with us?
49:20
They recognize
49:21
in the midst
49:22
of disobedience
49:23
our God
49:24
is not
49:25
with us.
49:27
And the same
49:28
would be true
49:28
in Isaiah's day
49:29
as the people
49:30
turned their back
49:31
on God.
49:32
But God
49:33
is calling them
49:34
to seek him,
49:35
to come back
49:36
to him.
49:36
The same is true
49:37
here in the days
49:38
of the Hebrews
49:39
as they may be tempted
49:40
to turn their back
49:42
on God
49:42
that they would
49:43
fail to see God
49:44
with them.
49:46
The same is true
49:47
in the book of Romans
49:48
as God says,
49:49
well,
49:50
if that's what you want
49:51
I'll leave you
49:52
to your own devices.
49:54
It brings disaster
49:55
upon us.
49:56
But the greatest
49:58
disaster of all
50:00
is that we would be
50:01
consumed
50:02
by this God
50:03
for turning
50:04
our back
50:05
on him.
50:08
And that is a warning
50:09
that the book
50:10
of Hebrews
50:11
gives again
50:12
and again
50:12
as well.
50:14
But the writer
50:16
to the Hebrews
50:17
keeps saying,
50:18
but you have
50:18
a kingdom.
50:20
But you have
50:20
a God.
50:21
You have one
50:22
whose kingdom
50:23
cannot be shaken.
50:25
You have one
50:25
whose kingdom
50:26
is secure.
50:27
You have one
50:28
who has
50:28
made this promise
50:30
to you.
50:31
I will never leave you
50:32
nor forsake you.
50:35
And this means
50:36
that we can have
50:37
confidence
50:38
to say
50:39
the Lord
50:39
is my helper.
50:42
We can be abandoned
50:44
by others
50:45
around us.
50:47
We can be left
50:48
helpless
50:49
in so many ways.
50:51
But God
50:52
will not leave us.
50:53
there was a
50:55
story from the
50:57
Second World War
50:58
of six pilots
51:00
who had left
51:01
an aircraft carrier
51:02
in an afternoon
51:04
to go on a mission.
51:05
They were in
51:05
the waters
51:06
where there were
51:07
many submarines
51:08
and they had been
51:09
tasked to go
51:10
and fly around
51:11
and see if they
51:12
could spot
51:12
submarines.
51:14
And they had.
51:15
They had spotted
51:16
a number
51:16
of submarines.
51:17
And as they were
51:18
returning to come
51:19
back to the aircraft
51:20
carrier,
51:21
it was getting
51:22
dark.
51:23
And as they were
51:24
trying to find
51:25
the aircraft carrier
51:26
where they thought
51:27
it must be,
51:28
they started
51:28
radioing and
51:29
asking for a light
51:31
so they could land.
51:33
But they were
51:34
told that the
51:34
captain had
51:35
said that the
51:37
ship was to be
51:38
in blackout.
51:39
Because of the
51:40
number of
51:40
submarines in the
51:41
area,
51:42
they were afraid
51:43
to put on any
51:43
light because
51:44
the submarine
51:45
would spot them.
51:47
And again and
51:48
again they kept
51:49
radioing and saying
51:49
just give us a
51:50
light to land,
51:51
give us something
51:52
that we might
51:52
see where to
51:53
land.
51:54
And they had to
51:54
keep saying we
51:55
can't.
51:57
And eventually the
51:58
radio operator was
51:59
so broken hearted
52:00
by what he was
52:01
saying that he
52:01
switched off the
52:02
radio so that he
52:03
wouldn't hear the
52:04
pleading for a
52:05
light anymore.
52:07
And they all had
52:08
to ditch their
52:09
planes in the
52:10
ocean.
52:11
A sense of
52:12
abandonment from
52:14
their own people
52:15
that they couldn't
52:17
help in the midst
52:17
of the fear of
52:19
enemy submarines
52:20
around them.
52:21
They were
52:22
abandoned,
52:22
they were
52:23
helpless.
52:25
Well there was a
52:26
greater abandonment
52:27
than that.
52:28
And that's when we
52:29
look to the
52:30
cross.
52:31
When we think of
52:32
what Christ has
52:34
done for us,
52:34
the one who
52:35
later on in this
52:36
chapter has
52:37
described as
52:38
going outside
52:39
the camp
52:40
of giving
52:42
his blood.
52:44
That as we
52:44
look to the
52:45
cross we see
52:46
the greatest
52:47
sacrifice of
52:49
all.
52:50
The place
52:51
where there was
52:51
darkness,
52:53
where there was
52:54
abandonment,
52:55
where Jesus
52:55
cried those
52:56
awful words,
52:58
my God,
52:58
my God,
52:59
why have you
53:00
forsaken me?
53:03
Why have you
53:04
left me?
53:07
Well why?
53:09
Well the cross
53:10
was the place
53:11
of God's
53:11
fulfilling every
53:12
promise in
53:14
Christ.
53:15
That he had
53:16
to suffer.
53:17
That he had
53:18
to suffer as it
53:19
says outside
53:20
the camp.
53:21
That he had
53:22
to give that
53:23
sacrifice
53:24
that we
53:25
might live.
53:27
That we
53:28
might have
53:29
light.
53:30
That we
53:31
might have
53:31
hope to
53:32
walk in
53:34
his ways.
53:35
If you
53:36
feel
53:36
abandoned,
53:38
if you feel
53:38
at times you're
53:40
just groping in
53:40
the darkness,
53:41
think of
53:43
the cross
53:44
where Christ
53:46
died for
53:47
our sins.
53:48
Where darkness
53:48
overcame for
53:50
a time
53:51
that remember
53:52
the resurrection.
53:55
That glorious
53:55
day that he
53:57
has risen.
53:58
That he is
53:59
with us.
54:00
Never will
54:01
I leave you.
54:03
Never will
54:03
I forsake
54:04
you.
54:05
And that's
54:05
what we see
54:06
being hammered
54:07
home for us
54:08
here.
54:09
He has
54:09
suffered for
54:10
us outside
54:11
the camp
54:12
so we
54:13
might have
54:14
life through
54:15
him.
54:16
The Lord
54:16
is my
54:18
helper.
54:19
Can we
54:20
say that
54:21
tonight?
54:23
Well this
54:24
does call
54:25
for a
54:26
response.
54:28
The promise
54:28
is there
54:29
for us.
54:30
I will
54:30
never leave
54:31
you.
54:32
I will
54:32
never forsake
54:34
you.
54:35
But as
54:36
with all
54:36
of God's
54:37
promises,
54:38
it calls
54:39
for us
54:39
to respond.
54:41
And what
54:42
was the
54:42
response
54:42
that the
54:43
writer to
54:44
the Hebrews
54:44
was looking
54:45
for here?
54:47
Well if you
54:47
look at
54:48
verse 6
54:49
it says,
54:50
so we
54:50
can
54:51
confidently
54:52
say,
54:53
we can
54:54
say with
54:54
confidence,
54:56
the Lord
54:56
is my
54:58
helper.
54:58
I will
54:59
not fear
55:00
what can
55:01
man do
55:02
for me.
55:04
The call
55:04
of this
55:05
promise
55:05
is for us
55:06
as a
55:06
people
55:07
to have
55:08
confidence.
55:11
And as
55:12
you go
55:12
through
55:12
the book
55:13
of Hebrews
55:14
you see
55:14
it calls
55:15
people to
55:16
have
55:16
this
55:17
confidence.
55:18
This
55:18
confidence
55:19
to persevere,
55:20
this confidence
55:21
to worship,
55:22
to trust
55:23
God
55:23
no matter
55:24
what.
55:26
And just
55:26
when you
55:27
see the
55:28
word
55:28
confidence
55:29
in Hebrews
55:29
it gives
55:31
us confidence
55:32
in many
55:32
different ways.
55:33
Hebrews 3
55:34
verse 6
55:35
gives us
55:36
confidence
55:36
in his
55:37
hope.
55:39
It says,
55:39
we are
55:40
his house,
55:41
his people,
55:42
if indeed
55:43
we hold
55:43
fast our
55:44
confidence
55:45
and our
55:46
boasting
55:46
and our
55:47
hope.
55:48
The hope
55:49
that there
55:50
is in
55:50
Christ,
55:51
the confidence
55:51
that brings.
55:55
There is
55:55
confidence
55:56
to persevere.
55:59
Again in
55:59
Hebrews
56:00
chapter 3
56:01
verse 14,
56:02
for we have
56:03
come to
56:03
share in
56:04
Christ,
56:04
if indeed
56:05
we hold
56:06
our
56:06
original
56:07
confidence
56:08
firm
56:08
to the
56:09
end.
56:11
The
56:11
confidence
56:11
to persevere.
56:14
In
56:14
chapter 4
56:15
verse 16
56:16
it gives
56:16
us confidence
56:17
despite
56:18
our sin
56:19
where it
56:20
says,
56:20
let us
56:21
then with
56:21
confidence
56:22
draw near
56:23
to the
56:24
throne of
56:24
grace
56:24
that we
56:25
may receive
56:25
mercy
56:26
and find
56:27
grace to
56:27
help in
56:28
time of
56:29
need.
56:31
The
56:31
Lord
56:32
is with
56:33
us.
56:34
In
56:35
chapter 10
56:36
verse 19
56:36
we have
56:36
confidence
56:37
in his
56:38
finished
56:38
work.
56:40
Therefore
56:40
brothers,
56:41
since we
56:41
have
56:41
confidence
56:42
to enter
56:43
the holy
56:43
places
56:44
by the
56:44
blood
56:45
of
56:45
Jesus.
56:47
Again
56:47
it's
56:48
this
56:48
confidence.
56:49
It's
56:49
not in
56:49
ourselves.
56:51
It's
56:52
in the
56:52
blood
56:53
of
56:54
Christ.
56:56
And
56:56
this
56:56
confidence
56:56
is
56:57
despite
56:58
opposition.
56:59
in
57:00
Hebrews
57:00
10
57:00
verse
57:01
35
57:01
we've
57:02
seen
57:03
the
57:03
kind
57:03
of
57:03
opposition
57:03
that
57:04
they
57:04
face.
57:04
But
57:04
it
57:05
says
57:05
therefore
57:05
do
57:06
not
57:06
throw
57:07
away
57:07
your
57:07
confidence
57:08
which
57:09
has
57:09
a
57:10
great
57:11
reward.
57:13
So
57:13
the
57:13
word
57:13
confidence
57:14
keeps
57:15
coming up
57:15
as you're
57:16
going
57:16
through
57:17
Hebrews.
57:18
But
57:19
the
57:19
foundation
57:20
of it
57:20
is
57:20
all
57:21
at
57:21
this
57:22
last
57:22
point
57:23
in
57:23
chapter
57:23
13.
57:25
It's
57:25
the
57:25
last
57:26
quotation
57:27
from
57:28
the
57:28
Old
57:28
Testament.
57:30
I
57:30
will
57:30
never
57:31
leave
57:31
you
57:31
nor
57:32
forsake
57:33
you.
57:34
So
57:35
we
57:35
can
57:35
confidently
57:36
say
57:37
the
57:38
Lord
57:38
is
57:38
my
57:39
helper.
57:40
I
57:40
will
57:40
not
57:41
fear.
57:42
What
57:42
can
57:42
man
57:43
do
57:44
to
57:44
me?
57:46
Do
57:47
you
57:48
have
57:48
that
57:49
confidence
57:49
tonight?
57:51
To
57:52
confidently
57:52
say
57:53
the
57:54
Lord
57:54
is
57:55
my
57:55
helper.
57:57
It's
57:57
the
57:57
confidence
57:58
that
57:58
comes
57:58
from
58:00
seeking
58:00
the
58:00
Lord
58:01
while
58:02
he
58:02
may
58:02
be
58:02
found
58:02
and
58:03
calling
58:04
upon
58:04
him
58:04
while
58:05
he
58:05
is
58:05
near.
58:06
In
58:07
knowing
58:07
the
58:07
pardon,
58:08
in
58:08
knowing
58:08
the
58:09
forgiveness
58:09
of
58:09
sin,
58:10
in
58:10
knowing
58:10
the
58:10
faith
58:11
that
58:11
that
58:11
gives
58:12
to
58:12
us,
58:13
that
58:13
is
58:13
where
58:13
that
58:13
confidence
58:14
comes.
58:15
And
58:16
it's
58:16
a
58:16
confidence
58:17
in
58:17
which
58:18
we
58:18
go
58:18
on.
58:19
The
58:20
Lord
58:20
doesn't
58:20
leave
58:21
us.
58:22
He
58:22
gives
58:22
us
58:22
the
58:23
promise
58:23
that
58:23
he
58:23
is
58:23
with
58:24
us
58:24
constantly.
58:26
Never
58:26
will
58:27
I
58:27
leave
58:27
you.
58:28
Never
58:28
will
58:29
I
58:30
forsake
58:31
you.
58:33
There
58:33
is
58:33
no
58:34
time
58:35
and
58:36
no
58:36
place
58:36
where
58:37
God
58:38
abandons
58:39
his
58:40
people.
58:41
Through
58:41
life,
58:43
through
58:43
death,
58:44
to
58:45
eternity,
58:46
he
58:46
is
58:46
with
58:47
us.
58:48
We
58:49
can
58:49
have
58:49
confidence
58:50
in
58:51
that
58:51
because
58:51
it's
58:51
not
58:52
of
58:52
ourselves.
58:52
it's
58:54
of
58:54
him.
58:56
It's
58:56
faith
58:56
in
58:57
Christ
58:58
as
58:58
our
58:58
Lord,
58:59
as
58:59
our
59:00
King,
59:01
that
59:01
we
59:01
can
59:01
stand
59:02
on
59:03
his
59:03
promises
59:04
and
59:05
know
59:05
his
59:05
presence
59:06
always
59:07
with
59:07
us
59:08
because
59:09
he
59:09
will
59:09
never
59:10
leave
59:10
us
59:10
or
59:11
forsake
59:12
us.
59:12
So
59:12
let
59:12
us
59:13
confidently
59:14
say
59:15
the
59:16
Lord
59:17
is
59:17
my
59:18
helper.
59:19
Let
59:19
us
59:19
pray.
59:19
Our
59:22
Father
59:23
in
59:23
heaven,
59:24
may
59:24
we
59:24
know
59:24
the
59:25
blessing
59:26
of
59:26
your
59:26
word
59:26
to
59:27
us
59:27
this
59:27
night.
59:28
May
59:28
we
59:28
know
59:28
the
59:29
confidence
59:30
it
59:30
brings
59:30
to
59:31
us
59:31
that
59:31
we
59:31
are
59:32
not
59:32
abandoned,
59:33
that
59:33
we
59:33
are
59:33
not
59:34
alone,
59:35
that
59:35
you
59:35
have
59:35
said
59:36
that
59:36
you
59:36
will
59:36
never
59:36
leave
59:37
us
59:37
or
59:37
forsake
59:38
us
59:38
and
59:39
help
59:39
us
59:39
to
59:39
have
59:39
the
59:39
confidence
59:40
to
59:40
say
59:41
the
59:41
Lord
59:42
is
59:42
my
59:43
helper,
59:43
that
59:43
we
59:43
would
59:43
know
59:44
that
59:45
on a
59:45
daily
59:45
basis,
59:46
that
59:46
we
59:46
would
59:46
know
59:47
the
59:47
assurance
59:47
and
59:48
the
59:48
comfort
59:48
and
59:49
the
59:49
grace
59:50
that
59:50
that
59:50
gives
59:50
to
59:51
us,
59:51
a
59:51
grace
59:51
that
59:52
is
59:52
always
59:52
sufficient
59:53
for
59:54
our
59:54
every
59:54
need.
59:55
So
59:55
hear
59:55
our
59:56
prayers
59:56
Lord
59:56
and
59:56
continue
59:57
with
59:57
us.
59:58
That's
59:58
all we
59:58
ask.
59:59
We
59:59
ask
59:59
in
59:59
Jesus'
1:00:00
name.
1:00:01
Amen.
1:00:05
We're
1:00:05
going to
1:00:06
conclude
1:00:06
by singing
1:00:07
in Psalm
1:00:07
71
1:00:08
in the
1:00:09
Scottish
1:00:10
Psalter
1:00:11
verse
1:00:11
16
1:00:12
to
1:00:13
verse
1:00:14
18.
1:00:16
The
1:00:17
tune is
1:00:17
Weatherby,
1:00:18
Psalm 71,
1:00:20
page 311
1:00:21
of the
1:00:21
psalm
1:00:22
books.
1:00:22
And again,
1:00:23
these verses
1:00:24
remind us
1:00:25
of God's
1:00:26
wonderful
1:00:26
presence
1:00:27
with us
1:00:28
and the
1:00:28
confidence
1:00:29
that that
1:00:30
gives.
1:00:31
I will
1:00:31
constantly
1:00:31
go on
1:00:32
in strength
1:00:33
of God
1:00:34
the Lord
1:00:34
and thine
1:00:35
own righteousness
1:00:36
even thine
1:00:36
alone I
1:00:37
will record.
1:00:39
Verse
1:00:39
18.
1:00:39
And now
1:00:40
Lord
1:00:40
leave me
1:00:40
not when
1:00:41
I,
1:00:41
old
1:00:42
and
1:00:42
gray
1:00:42
headed
1:00:42
grow
1:00:43
till
1:00:44
to this
1:00:44
age
1:00:44
thy
1:00:45
strength
1:00:45
and
1:00:45
power
1:00:46
to all
1:00:46
to come
1:00:47
I
1:00:47
show.
1:00:48
We'll
1:00:48
sing these
1:00:49
three stanzas
1:00:50
to God's
1:00:50
praise.
1:00:51
Amen.
1:00:55
And I
1:00:57
will
1:00:57
constantly
1:01:00
go on
1:01:03
in strength
1:01:05
of God
1:01:08
the Lord
1:01:10
and thine
1:01:13
own righteousness
1:01:15
even thine
1:01:19
how old
1:01:22
I will
1:01:24
record.
1:01:26
What if
1:01:30
love
1:01:32
teaching
1:01:43
me?
1:01:43
Have
1:01:46
a
1:01:47
love
1:01:48
to
1:01:48
who
1:01:49
asked
1:01:50
me
1:01:55
what
1:01:55
a
1:01:56
love
1:01:56
The Lord has gone, and I'll mourn thee, may not when I hold and grant it through,
1:02:17
till to this age thy strength and power do all to come my show.
1:02:37
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left. We'll just close with a benediction.
1:02:41
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore. Amen.
1:03:11
Amen.