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Dangers, Discouragements and Delights · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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2 Corinthians 3, verse 12. You'll find it around page 1162 if you're using the church Bibles.
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!
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2 Corinthians 3, verse 12.
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We are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.
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But their minds were hardened, for to this day when they read the old covenant that that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.
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Yes, to this day when ever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts.
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But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
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Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
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And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image,
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from one degree of glory to another.
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For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
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Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways.
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We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word.
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But by the open statement of the truth, we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
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And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.
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In their case, the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,
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who is the image of God.
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For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
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For God, who said, let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
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And so on.
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May God bless that reading from his word.
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Let's again just engage in a word of prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Our gracious Father in heaven, we do thank you for your word.
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And we thank you for the wonder of it, that you are a God who speaks to us through it,
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and that we see the amazing power of your word in it.
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For it is a word that is able to bring light to us of the knowledge of the wonder of the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
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And we pray today, Lord, that we will have, as it were, that veil lifted from us today,
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so that we might see more of the beauty of Christ,
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and that that might reflect in us,
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that it might build us up in our faith and encourage us and strengthen us,
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and that we might go on from here, Lord, into this new year ahead,
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in whatever it entails that we would go on in that sure knowledge of the hope that there is in Christ.
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For we know that it's a hope that is unchanging.
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And although we so often say it, Lord, we know we do live in a world that is ever-changing,
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a world where we see so much around us that in the beginning of a new year,
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it leaves our hearts with that sense of pain and grief,
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when we hear of tragedies in so many different places around the world,
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and when we hear of grief in the midst of families near and far,
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when we see the anxieties that this world can bring to so many,
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and the troubles that are so many.
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And yet, O Lord, as your word says to us today,
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we thank you for this ministry of hope that we have,
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of the gospel and the riches of it,
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and how Paul, as he wrote to the church in Corinth,
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reminded the people there,
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and even ourselves today,
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that because of this gospel,
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we do not lose heart.
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And help us day by day, Lord,
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that we would not lose heart,
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that we would not lose faith in you.
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For we thank you that you are God of gods and Lord of lords,
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that you are above all,
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the maker and sustainer of all things.
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The universe around us,
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the heavens,
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the skies,
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the world in which we live in,
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they all declare to us the glory of God,
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and the power and majesty that is yours.
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And so we pray, Lord,
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that you will encourage us,
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that you would remind us today
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that we belong to a God who is great and awesome,
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and that as we put our trust in you,
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that we have that great hope,
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and that great assurance,
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that great comfort,
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that you are with us.
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And we thank you today, Lord,
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that your word reminds us
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that you are building your church,
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and that throughout the world,
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you have your people.
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Throughout the world, Lord,
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your kingdom is coming with power.
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And we know that you use so many different means
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to bring people to yourself.
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We know that you use your word above all.
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We know that you use your works of providence.
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We know that you use your spirit.
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We know that you have power in all of these things.
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And we pray, Lord,
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that around the world today,
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that people would hear and see and know of that power.
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Your word being proclaimed
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throughout all corners of the earth.
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We thank you for the promise
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that it will not return empty or void,
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but accomplish all that it is sent forth for.
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We do pray a blessing on your word
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to all ends of the earth,
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in our pulpits,
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around our islands,
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and our communities here,
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that your word will be powerful and effective,
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that throughout our land
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and throughout the world
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as the gospel is proclaimed,
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that people would have ears to hear
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and be stirred up in their hearts
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to receive it and to understand it.
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And we thank you too, Lord,
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that even in your works of providence,
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whether they are things that bring us great delight
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or that leave us with a sense of much sorrow and sadness,
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that still in these things, Lord,
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you are speaking,
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you are ministering to us,
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you are reminding us
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that our greatest need in this world
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is to know the eternal life on offer in Christ Jesus.
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And so we pray, Lord,
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that in all providence
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that you would minister to people near and far.
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And we pray for your spirit.
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We thank you for the Holy Spirit
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that is so able to apply these things to us.
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And we pray to know the power of the spirit in us
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and through us and with us today,
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that your spirit would minister to us all
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in our hearts,
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in our lives,
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in our homes,
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in our families,
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and in our communities at large.
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Oh, Lord,
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that we would know that you are with us.
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And we thank you that today
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we can pray for those in different circumstances,
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those in need,
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those who are mourning and grieving,
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those who are anxious over loved ones,
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those who are unwell,
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even seriously unwell for some.
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We thank you, Lord,
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that you are able to surround them,
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to comfort them,
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to uphold them,
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to strengthen,
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and even to speak to them
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in the midst of all of these things.
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We do pray comfort for them.
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We pray, Lord,
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for those who are going into a new year,
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making plans
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and looking forward to many different things.
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We all may have different plans
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that we are making,
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but, Lord,
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we do commit it all to you
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for ourselves as a people,
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as a congregation,
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as a denomination,
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oh, Lord,
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as we think of our congregations
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throughout our islands,
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and the number of vacancies at this time,
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and the need of ministers
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for the gospel here and far and wide.
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We do commit,
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oh, Lord,
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these needs to you,
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asking that you will provide
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in your way and in your time.
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And we pray, Lord,
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for our denomination,
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for the Free Church of Scotland
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as it ministers throughout this land
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and to other parts of the world as well.
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And members who go near and far,
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oh, Lord,
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spreading the good news of the gospel,
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we pray, Lord,
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blessing on us as a people.
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And upon the Church of Christ,
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we thank you for the foundation of it all,
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the cornerstone,
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who is Christ Jesus.
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And we pray, Lord,
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that all we do would be for his glory
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and for his sake.
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So hear our prayers.
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Continue with us now
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as we look to you
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and ask your blessing on us
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with the forgiveness of all our sin.
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We ask in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Before we come and look at this passage together,
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we'll sing again
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in Psalm 86
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in the Scottish Psalter.
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Psalm 86.
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We're going to sing at the beginning
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of the Psalm,
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verse 1 to verse 8.
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You'll find it on page 340
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of the Psalm books.
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Psalm 86 at verse 1.
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O Lord,
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do thou bow down thine ear
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and hear me graciously
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because I so afflicted am
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and am in poverty.
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Because I'm holy,
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let my soul by thee preserve it be.
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O thou my God,
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thy servant save
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that puts his trust in me.
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We'll sing from verse 1
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down to the verse marked 8
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to God's praise.
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The tune is ears now.
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Amen.
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O Lord,
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do thou
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bow down
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thine ear
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and hear me
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graciously
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singing,
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Let thy soul, thy gift, be severed thee.
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O love, my God, thy self-answer, thou putest trust in me.
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Then unto thee, my daily life, be merciful to me.
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Rejoice, my servant soul, for heart I lift my soul to thee.
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What thou art gracious, O Lord, and may ye true for him.
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And rich in mercy of that hope upon thee to believe.
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Dear Lord, my freedom to the voice of my request attain.
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Then God will spite and hold on thee, for thou wilt answer sin.
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Lord, heaven is done among the gods, and may with thee compare.
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And like the works which thou hast done, not any more is there.
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Amen.
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We can turn back to our reading in 2 Corinthians chapter 4.
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We read again verse 1 and verse 6 here.
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Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
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And then down at verse 6.
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Paul here is writing to the church at Corinth with a sense of longing and belonging to them,
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having visited them in the past.
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Part of his missionary journeys was establishing churches.
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As you see, the letters being written to the church at Philippi, to Corinth, to Ephesus, to Galatia.
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There was churches being established in so many different parts.
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And Paul was reporting this back to Jerusalem, where he had come from,
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and reporting back to others there what was happening, what was taking place,
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how he had seen many coming to saving faith.
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And there was a real sense of encouragement that even in the midst of troubles and trials that they were facing as a people,
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that the gospel was taking root.
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And therefore, he says in verse 1 there of chapter 4,
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we do not lose heart.
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God is working.
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And the knowledge of the glory of Jesus Christ is being made known throughout so many different places.
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And he was writing back to these churches to encourage them to keep on,
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and to encourage them of a sense of a wider belonging, that they are not alone.
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And a new year, as we begin it, is always a time of reflection.
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We look ahead.
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We look ahead, maybe some of us, with a sense of excitement as to what might be in store in this year.
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But we may also look ahead with a sense of uncertainty,
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maybe a sense of anxiety as to what might be ahead of us in this new year.
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But when it comes to going on, to going forward into a new year,
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something that often helps us as a people is a sense of belonging.
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A sense of belonging.
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That we are not alone.
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That whatever we face up to, we are not alone.
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That we have others who encourage us along the way, individually and collectively.
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And so as we think of ourselves as a people, we shouldn't think of ourselves just as individuals,
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but as a collective body of God's people, as a church.
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That is what church is.
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It is about people together.
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The church at Corinth was a people who were gathered together there as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Christ.
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If I was to ask you today, do you have a sense of belonging?
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Do you have a sense of belonging here?
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Or perhaps, if I was to ask you, what church do you belong to?
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Do you feel part of?
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Do you feel a sense of belonging to the congregation here, to Stornoway Free Church?
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I hope we all have that sense of being among people who are friendly, whether we're here every week,
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or whether we're just visiting, or here from time to time,
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that there is a sense of belonging, of being together here.
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But it's bigger than that, isn't it?
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It's not just a sense of belonging here by ourselves,
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but we belong to a wider body of people as well.
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We belong to the Free Church of Scotland.
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Our denomination, which is national and even international in different ways,
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is a sense of belonging there.
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Do we have it?
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Do we know it?
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Do we experience it?
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Well, it should be there for us,
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that we feel part of a wider body of believers,
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even other congregations throughout our islands here,
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throughout our nation here,
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that we have a sense of belonging to one another,
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of praying for one another,
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of remembering one another.
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But above all, we should have a sense of belonging in a much larger sense as well,
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a belonging in the sense of to the Church of Christ,
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that we are not just individuals,
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that we are not just a congregation,
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that we're not just a denomination.
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We are a body of believers that is worldwide,
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a body of believers that goes to all the ends of the earth
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and down through all the generations of time
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and going forward until the Lord's return,
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that the Church of Christ will be built,
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that he is building his church,
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that his kingdom is coming with power.
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So we are part of a bigger church.
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And because we are, we're accountable.
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We're accountable in many different ways as well,
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accountable in the sense of getting encouragement,
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not just accountable in the sense of what are you doing,
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but accountable in the sense of being encouraged.
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So that together we are accountable to one another,
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we encourage one another.
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And we're also accountable in the sense of a congregation
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belonging to a presbytery,
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the Western Isles Presbytery,
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which is the gathering of all the free churches in the Western Isles.
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There's a sense of accountability there
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and encouragement towards one another there.
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And there's accountability in the sense of belonging to the free church,
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where there's encouragements there
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that we can pray for the wider work of the denomination.
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And when we think of the denomination,
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we think of the vision that it has for our country
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and even for the world.
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It has a vision statement of the free church,
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a healthy gospel church for every community of Scotland.
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And as we begin a new year,
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we think of that being a prayer point for us,
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for ourselves to belong to a people far and wide,
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a healthy gospel church for every community in Scotland and beyond,
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as we think of our accountability and encouragement
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in being part of the church of Christ.
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Does it seem a realistic target that for 2025,
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to have a healthy gospel church in every community of Scotland?
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Well, I guess it depends on what we are looking at
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and who our focus is on.
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As Paul was writing to the church at Corinth,
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it was part of a wider body of people,
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a wider vision,
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that the glory of God would cover the world
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as the waters cover it,
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as the glory of God would be known
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as the waters cover the skies,
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that we would see the glory of God in our midst,
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that we would see the glory of God
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being spread far and wide.
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And one of the great ways of doing this
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is that sense of accountability
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and the sense of encouragement.
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Encouragement to one another
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and encouragement to others far and wide.
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And as Paul is writing here,
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it's that sense of encouragement
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in not losing heart.
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Do not lose heart
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because we have this wonderful light
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of the gospel in our midst.
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We've had missionary speakers coming to us
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from different parts of our own nation
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who go to different parts of the world
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and there's always a sense of encouragement
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and hearing from them.
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Not just when we hear
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that many people are being converted,
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many people are being saved,
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but also that when we hear
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when there are times of great challenges
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and great persecutions,
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that people are remaining faithful,
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that they are not shrinking away,
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but that the gospel that they have known
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is not being veiled,
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but that the glory of God
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in the face of Christ Jesus
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is being seen in these lands as well.
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And so there is a wonder in the gospel
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that it reaches out far and wide
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and that together we are part of this great body
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of getting encouragement from others
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and encouraging others as well.
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I know I mentioned before
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about the children going back to school
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and you'll be getting report cards
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at different stages along the way as well
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and it's always exciting,
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always good to get a good report card
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that says you're doing well.
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But it's not always the case.
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It certainly wasn't for me.
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There was always times
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when you could do better, shall we say.
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But sometimes you need that just sense
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of encouragement.
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It's not you're not doing well enough,
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you're getting kicked out of school.
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It's not, no, you work hard.
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You've got to improve in certain areas.
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There's encouragement and help to do better.
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That's the way a good teacher comes alongside
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and that's the way Paul,
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as a preacher of the gospel,
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comes alongside the churches he's writing to,
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a sense of encouragement.
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Imagine if we were to have a report
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from the Presbytery or the Mission Board
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as a congregation here,
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what kind of report would it be?
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They would maybe come and see what we're doing
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and would maybe be praised for many things.
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But I'm sure they would also identify weaknesses,
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areas where we could do better.
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But in it all,
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there would be a sense of encouragement,
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be encouraged in the gospel.
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And so as we go into 2025,
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we want to do so with that sense
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of being encouraged,
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that we belong to the great church of Christ,
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that we belong to each other in that sense
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where there's encouragements
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in the midst of everything that's going on.
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What you find with Paul is
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he's writing with this encouragement
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in the midst of different situations.
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And there's three things here
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that I want us to think of,
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things that we face ourselves
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and things that Paul was facing
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and the church of Corinth was facing too.
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And every church,
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every believer faces these things.
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As we go into a new year,
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we face dangers,
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just like Paul had dangers
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that were going on around him here.
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There's always things
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that are dangerous for us.
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There's also a sense of
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there are always discouragements around us.
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There are always things
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that will leave us a little sense
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of discouragement
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and anxiety and fears.
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They're always going to be there.
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But above all,
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as Paul is writing,
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he has these things in mind,
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but also he has in mind the delights.
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The delights that there are in the gospel.
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The joy that there is.
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The hope that there is.
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You find that as he's writing
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to all the different churches
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and as he's reporting back
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to his own mission board,
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if you like, in Jerusalem,
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where he had left to go on his mission journeys.
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He's reporting back,
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yes, there's dangers.
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Yes, there's discouragements.
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But there's delights.
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There are great things happening.
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And so we can go into 2025
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being aware of these things as well.
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And always just to look at these three things,
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the dangers,
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the discouragements,
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and the delights,
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and to see what we can take
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from each of these.
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Paul,
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as we see first of all,
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the dangers that were around him,
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he was accountable
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for his part of his ministry
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to report back to Jerusalem,
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to the believers there.
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There was a council there,
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a body of people
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who he would report back to.
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He wasn't just going out by himself.
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He wasn't doing things
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just in his own way.
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He was accountable to others
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in the sense of reporting back
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what had happened,
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but also in being encouraged
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by them as well.
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He was sent out
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in his missionary journey,
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so this encouragement behind him
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that there were people
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praying for him.
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And so as he's going about
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and seeing all these different churches,
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he's encouraged
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and he's challenged.
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And he also writes back to them.
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And that's where the letters come from.
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The letter to the Corinthians.
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He's writing back to them
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here in 2 Corinthians
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to encourage them
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and to help them along the way.
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Corinth was a major city
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to which the gospel came.
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It was a large city,
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a busy city
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with all kinds of trade
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passing through it.
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And all kinds of people
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were coming
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from all kinds of places.
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It was a diverse place.
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And therefore,
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it wasn't just a place
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of the Christian church.
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It was a place of
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all kinds of faiths
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and religions
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and even,
26:29
some would say,
26:29
no religion at all.
26:32
So there was a mixture
26:33
of people
26:34
and a mixture
26:35
of messages.
26:37
And therefore,
26:38
people believed
26:39
in different things.
26:41
And so there was dangers
26:42
in that.
26:43
There always is
26:44
when there's a mixture
26:45
in society.
26:47
Because as G.K. Chesterton
26:49
once put it,
26:50
he said,
26:50
when men choose
26:51
not to believe in God,
26:53
it's not that they don't
26:54
therefore believe
26:55
in nothing,
26:56
but they can then
26:57
become capable
26:58
of believing
26:59
in anything.
27:00
and that's the danger
27:03
when God
27:03
is pushed out,
27:05
when God
27:06
is not thought of.
27:08
And that's the danger
27:09
that Paul found himself
27:10
in here
27:11
as he went into Corinth
27:13
and as he was writing
27:14
back to them.
27:15
There was a danger
27:16
that the people
27:17
would be pulled away
27:18
in a different direction.
27:21
And it's a danger
27:22
we face ourselves today.
27:24
We know it only too well.
27:25
Going into a new year,
27:27
there's a danger
27:27
of all kinds of people
27:29
around us.
27:30
All kinds of faiths
27:31
in this world.
27:32
All kinds of access
27:33
to different ways
27:34
of thinking
27:35
and beliefs.
27:37
It's a danger
27:38
but it's also
27:39
an opportunity.
27:42
Because it's a great
27:43
opportunity
27:43
to present
27:45
the gospel.
27:47
John Knox,
27:49
more than 500 years ago now,
27:52
one of his prayers
27:53
was this.
27:53
He said,
27:54
give me Scotland
27:55
or I die.
27:56
And it sounds
27:59
maybe in some ways
28:00
quite an arrogant
28:01
prayer.
28:03
But isn't it
28:03
a brilliant vision
28:05
to have
28:06
Scotland
28:08
as his prayer
28:09
focus
28:09
and the people
28:10
belonging to it.
28:12
That they would come
28:13
to know salvation
28:14
in Jesus Christ.
28:17
It wasn't any
28:17
small vision
28:19
that he had
28:20
but a great vision
28:21
for the glory
28:22
of God.
28:22
He knew
28:23
the dangers
28:24
that there were
28:24
at that time
28:25
of people
28:26
turning away
28:26
from God
28:27
but his passion
28:29
was stirred up
28:29
all the more.
28:30
Give me Scotland
28:31
or I die.
28:33
There was this
28:34
sense of
28:35
we need
28:36
the Lord
28:37
and this urgency
28:38
in it.
28:39
And that's really
28:40
what Paul has here.
28:42
This great passion
28:43
because he knows
28:44
the dangers
28:45
that are around
28:46
and yet he knows
28:47
the glory
28:48
of God.
28:50
The glory
28:50
that is veiled
28:51
to some.
28:52
but the glory
28:54
that is being revealed
28:55
in the person
28:56
of Jesus Christ.
28:58
And he knows
28:59
that this ministry
29:00
is not just his
29:01
but that God
29:03
is behind it.
29:05
In verse 1
29:06
he says,
29:06
therefore,
29:07
having this ministry
29:08
by the mercy
29:08
of God
29:09
we do not lose heart.
29:11
By the mercy
29:11
of God
29:12
God is in it.
29:14
And then in verse 5
29:15
he says,
29:16
for what we proclaim
29:17
is not ourselves
29:18
but Jesus Christ
29:20
as Lord.
29:21
So in the midst
29:23
of all the dangers
29:24
of different faiths
29:25
and different religions
29:26
around him
29:26
what he is saying
29:28
is that we have
29:28
this wonder
29:29
this wonder
29:30
of the gospel
29:31
the gospel
29:33
of Jesus Christ.
29:34
It's not about
29:35
us
29:36
but about him.
29:39
And he also
29:39
makes sure
29:40
here of the danger
29:41
of maybe
29:42
watering down
29:43
the gospel
29:44
in any way.
29:45
In verse 2
29:46
he shows
29:47
there's a danger
29:47
here for us
29:48
as well.
29:49
But we have
29:50
renounced
29:50
disgraceful
29:51
underhand ways.
29:52
We refuse
29:53
to practice
29:54
cunning
29:54
or tamper
29:55
with God's
29:57
word.
29:58
We're not
29:59
going to
29:59
change this
30:00
word to
30:01
suit.
30:02
We're not
30:03
going to
30:03
change this
30:04
word to
30:04
make it
30:04
more palatable
30:05
to anyone.
30:06
We're going
30:06
to present
30:07
the truth
30:08
of God
30:09
because that
30:11
is what
30:11
saves.
30:14
And so
30:14
this temptation
30:15
might be there
30:16
to do things
30:16
differently
30:17
or to
30:18
use
30:18
underhand
30:19
tactics
30:19
as he
30:20
calls it
30:20
here.
30:21
But no
30:22
he says
30:22
we will
30:23
preach
30:23
the gospel.
30:25
We'll
30:26
present the
30:26
gospel in
30:27
its fullness
30:28
in its
30:28
glory and
30:29
its truth
30:30
because it's
30:31
not about
30:31
us
30:32
it's about
30:33
the glory
30:33
of God.
30:36
And so
30:36
he's reminding
30:36
ourselves
30:37
here too
30:38
the word
30:39
of God
30:39
is central.
30:41
The dangers
30:41
of not
30:42
knowing it
30:43
or of
30:43
pushing it
30:44
away
30:44
or of
30:44
tampering
30:45
with it
30:45
it's
30:46
always
30:46
a
30:47
danger
30:47
but we
30:49
don't
30:49
lose
30:49
heart
30:50
because
30:50
we
30:50
have
30:51
this
30:51
ministry
30:52
by the
30:52
mercy
30:53
of
30:53
God
30:53
we
30:53
have
30:54
the
30:54
word
30:55
of
30:55
God.
30:58
And so
30:58
in the
30:58
midst of
30:59
the dangers
30:59
that we
31:00
are surrounded
31:00
in
31:01
one
31:02
takeaway
31:02
from
31:03
this
31:03
would
31:03
be
31:04
learn
31:05
the
31:05
word
31:06
of
31:06
God.
31:08
Know
31:08
the
31:09
word
31:09
of
31:09
God.
31:10
As we
31:10
said
31:11
earlier
31:11
to the
31:11
children
31:12
when
31:13
Peter
31:13
writes
31:14
he says
31:14
always
31:15
be
31:15
prepared
31:16
to
31:16
have
31:16
an
31:16
answer
31:17
for
31:17
the
31:18
reason
31:18
of
31:18
the
31:18
hope
31:19
that
31:19
you
31:19
have
31:19
within.
31:20
So we
31:21
learn
31:21
the
31:22
word
31:22
of
31:23
God.
31:24
That's
31:24
the
31:24
answer
31:24
to the
31:25
dangers
31:25
that we
31:26
see
31:26
around
31:26
us
31:26
of
31:27
tampering
31:27
with
31:27
God's
31:28
word
31:28
of
31:28
watering
31:29
it
31:29
down
31:30
in
31:30
any
31:30
way.
31:31
Learn
31:31
and
31:31
remain
31:31
faithful
31:32
to
31:33
the
31:33
word
31:33
of
31:34
God.
31:35
That
31:35
is
31:36
key.
31:37
The
31:37
second
31:38
thing
31:38
we
31:38
see
31:38
here
31:39
there
31:39
are
31:39
dangers
31:39
!
31:42
discouragements.
31:45
When you
31:45
read the
31:46
early part
31:47
of the
31:47
book of
31:47
Acts
31:48
it's
31:49
always a
31:49
great
31:50
place
31:50
to go
31:50
back
31:50
to.
31:51
It's
31:51
exciting
31:52
there's
31:52
so much
31:53
happening.
31:54
You
31:54
see the
31:54
spirit
31:55
poured
31:55
out.
31:56
You
31:56
see
31:56
sermons
31:57
that
31:57
convert
31:58
thousands.
31:59
You
31:59
see
31:59
the
32:00
glory
32:00
of
32:00
God
32:00
working
32:01
in
32:01
powerful
32:02
ways.
32:03
But
32:04
if you
32:04
continue
32:05
reading
32:05
through
32:06
the
32:06
book
32:06
of
32:06
Acts
32:07
it
32:08
doesn't
32:08
take
32:08
long
32:08
until
32:09
you
32:09
come
32:09
upon
32:10
the
32:10
different
32:10
challenges
32:11
that
32:12
there
32:12
are
32:12
as
32:12
well
32:12
and
32:13
discouragements
32:14
that
32:14
soon
32:14
arise.
32:16
It
32:16
doesn't
32:16
take
32:17
long
32:17
to
32:18
appear.
32:19
And
32:20
that's
32:20
there
32:20
for
32:21
ourselves
32:21
to
32:22
know
32:22
as
32:22
well.
32:22
As
32:22
Paul
32:23
is
32:23
writing
32:23
here
32:24
he's
32:24
showing
32:25
something
32:25
of his
32:25
own
32:25
vulnerability
32:26
in this
32:27
way
32:27
as
32:27
well.
32:27
There
32:28
are
32:28
ups
32:28
and
32:29
downs
32:29
in
32:30
the
32:30
Christian
32:30
faith.
32:31
Even
32:32
in
32:32
his
32:32
own
32:32
ministry
32:33
work
32:33
he
32:34
comes
32:34
across
32:34
times
32:35
of
32:35
discouragement
32:36
Times
32:37
of
32:37
challenges.
32:38
And
32:40
we
32:40
are
32:40
learning
32:40
these
32:41
things
32:41
so we
32:41
know
32:42
ourselves
32:42
this is
32:43
the way
32:44
it's
32:44
going
32:45
to be.
32:46
Ministry
32:47
is
32:47
challenging
32:48
not just
32:49
for a
32:49
minister
32:50
but for
32:51
all of
32:51
us
32:51
together
32:52
when we
32:52
are the
32:52
church
32:52
of
32:53
Christ
32:53
there are
32:54
challenges
32:55
to our
32:55
faith
32:55
all the
32:56
time.
32:58
And
32:58
it's
32:58
good for
32:58
us to
32:59
hear
32:59
that
32:59
that
33:00
there
33:00
are
33:00
challenges
33:01
and
33:02
especially
33:03
when we
33:03
think of
33:03
Paul
33:04
writing to
33:04
the
33:04
church
33:05
at
33:05
Corinth
33:06
there
33:07
were
33:07
those
33:07
who
33:08
would
33:08
not
33:08
believe
33:09
there
33:09
were
33:09
those
33:09
whose
33:10
faith
33:11
was
33:12
veiled
33:12
as it
33:13
were
33:13
they
33:13
were
33:13
kept
33:13
from
33:14
seeing
33:14
the
33:15
glory
33:15
of
33:16
God.
33:17
And
33:17
so
33:18
for
33:18
ourselves
33:18
too
33:19
there
33:20
are
33:20
these
33:20
challenges.
33:22
We
33:22
don't
33:23
tamper
33:24
with
33:24
God's
33:25
word
33:25
but
33:26
just
33:26
because
33:26
there's
33:27
differences
33:27
around
33:28
us
33:28
doesn't
33:28
mean
33:29
that
33:29
we
33:29
back
33:29
off.
33:31
What
33:32
Paul
33:32
is
33:32
saying
33:32
here
33:33
is
33:33
we
33:34
keep
33:34
presenting
33:35
the
33:36
gospel
33:36
even
33:37
in
33:37
the
33:37
midst
33:37
of
33:37
discouragements
33:38
even
33:38
in
33:38
the
33:39
midst
33:39
of
33:39
people
33:39
who
33:40
are
33:40
not
33:40
believing
33:41
in
33:42
a
33:42
society
33:43
where
33:43
so
33:43
diverse
33:44
and
33:44
open
33:44
to
33:45
many
33:45
teachings
33:46
it's
33:47
so
33:48
important
33:48
that
33:48
the
33:49
gospel
33:49
is
33:49
at
33:49
the
33:50
heart
33:50
that
33:51
the
33:51
gospel
33:52
is
33:52
there
33:52
for
33:52
all
33:53
to
33:53
see
33:54
and
33:54
to
33:54
know
33:55
because
33:56
we
33:56
know
33:57
that
33:57
there
33:57
is
33:57
one
33:57
who
33:58
is
33:58
active
33:59
and
34:00
he
34:00
speaks
34:00
of
34:01
this
34:01
here
34:01
in
34:02
verse
34:03
three
34:03
and
34:03
four
34:03
even
34:05
is
34:05
veiled
34:05
it
34:06
is
34:06
veiled
34:06
only
34:06
to
34:07
those
34:07
who
34:07
are
34:08
perishing
34:08
in
34:08
their
34:09
case
34:09
the
34:10
god
34:10
of
34:10
this
34:11
world
34:11
has
34:11
blinded
34:12
the
34:12
minds
34:12
of
34:13
the
34:13
unbelievers
34:14
to
34:14
keep
34:15
them
34:15
from
34:15
seeing
34:16
the
34:16
light
34:17
of
34:17
the
34:17
gospel
34:17
of
34:18
the
34:18
glory
34:18
of
34:18
Christ
34:19
that
34:21
Satan
34:21
is
34:22
active
34:22
therefore
34:24
there is
34:24
all
34:25
the
34:25
greater
34:25
need
34:26
for
34:26
the
34:26
gospel
34:26
to
34:27
be
34:27
presented
34:28
and
34:28
presented
34:29
in
34:29
all
34:30
its
34:30
truth
34:31
even
34:31
in
34:31
the
34:31
midst
34:31
of
34:32
discouragements
34:33
even
34:33
in
34:33
the
34:33
midst
34:33
of
34:34
challenges
34:35
later
34:36
on
34:36
in
34:37
2nd
34:37
Corinthians
34:37
in
34:38
chapter
34:38
11
34:38
Paul
34:39
speaks
34:40
of
34:40
Satan
34:41
disguising
34:42
himself
34:43
as
34:43
an
34:43
angel
34:44
of
34:44
light
34:44
how
34:45
he's
34:46
able
34:46
to
34:46
twist
34:47
the
34:47
truth
34:47
and
34:48
to
34:48
make
34:48
what
34:49
is
34:49
good
34:50
seem
34:50
evil
34:50
and
34:51
what
34:51
is
34:51
evil
34:51
seem
34:52
good
34:52
like
34:53
we
34:53
see
34:53
in
34:53
our
34:54
own
34:54
day
34:54
and
34:54
age
34:55
again
34:55
and
34:55
again
34:56
discouragements
34:58
come
34:59
and there
35:00
are
35:00
discouragements
35:01
all
35:01
around
35:01
us
35:02
but that's
35:03
why we
35:03
need
35:03
the
35:03
gospel
35:04
all
35:04
the
35:04
more
35:05
to be
35:06
together
35:07
for
35:07
the
35:08
gospel
35:08
John
35:10
Knox
35:10
just
35:11
going
35:11
back
35:11
to him
35:12
for a
35:12
moment
35:13
one
35:13
of his
35:13
mottos
35:14
was
35:14
this
35:14
one
35:14
man
35:15
with
35:15
God
35:15
is
35:16
always
35:17
in
35:17
the
35:17
majority
35:18
isn't
35:19
that a
35:20
wonderful
35:20
way of
35:20
thinking
35:21
about it
35:21
one
35:21
man
35:22
with
35:22
God
35:22
is
35:22
always
35:23
in
35:23
the
35:23
majority
35:24
we
35:25
feel
35:25
we're
35:25
in
35:25
the
35:25
minority
35:26
we
35:27
feel
35:27
that
35:27
maybe
35:27
the
35:28
world
35:28
the
35:28
tide
35:28
has
35:29
turned
35:29
against
35:30
the
35:30
Christian
35:31
faith
35:31
but we
35:32
are in
35:32
the
35:32
majority
35:33
because
35:33
the
35:33
Lord
35:34
is
35:34
on
35:34
our
35:34
side
35:35
there
35:36
is
35:36
discouragements
35:37
but having
35:39
this ministry
35:39
by the
35:41
mercy of
35:41
God
35:41
we do
35:42
not
35:43
lose
35:43
heart
35:43
God
35:45
is
35:45
with
35:45
us
35:45
and
35:46
God
35:47
is
35:48
for
35:48
us
35:48
and
35:50
so
35:50
Paul
35:51
here
35:51
is
35:51
always
35:52
challenging
35:53
people
35:53
to be
35:53
a
35:54
people
35:54
who
35:55
know
35:55
the
35:55
word
35:55
of
35:56
God
35:56
and
35:57
who
35:57
are
35:57
thinking
35:57
about
35:58
the
35:58
word
35:59
of
35:59
God
35:59
and
36:00
who
36:00
are
36:01
learning
36:01
together
36:02
around
36:02
the
36:02
word
36:03
of
36:03
God
36:03
I
36:05
read
36:05
this
36:05
quote
36:06
just
36:06
last
36:06
week
36:07
and
36:07
said
36:07
we
36:08
are
36:08
drowning
36:08
in
36:09
information
36:09
but
36:11
we're
36:11
starving
36:12
for
36:12
wisdom
36:12
we
36:14
are
36:14
drowning
36:15
in
36:15
information
36:15
but
36:16
starving
36:17
for
36:17
wisdom
36:18
because
36:19
we
36:19
have
36:19
information
36:20
at
36:20
our
36:20
fingertips
36:21
and
36:21
plenty
36:22
of
36:22
it
36:22
we
36:23
just
36:23
have
36:24
to
36:24
look
36:25
up
36:25
a
36:25
word
36:26
online
36:26
and
36:26
we've
36:26
got
36:26
information
36:27
there
36:28
pouring
36:29
out
36:29
upon
36:30
us
36:30
you ask
36:31
a
36:31
question
36:31
there's
36:32
information
36:32
pouring
36:33
out
36:34
but
36:35
we
36:35
lack
36:35
wisdom
36:36
we
36:38
lack
36:38
wisdom
36:39
we're
36:40
a
36:40
generation
36:40
where
36:41
so
36:41
much
36:41
of
36:41
what
36:42
we
36:42
look
36:42
at
36:42
is
36:42
online
36:43
where
36:44
truth
36:44
is
36:44
seen
36:45
as
36:45
what
36:45
we
36:45
read
36:45
online
36:46
whether
36:46
it's
36:46
Facebook
36:47
or
36:47
Twitter
36:48
or
36:48
Instagram
36:49
or
36:49
the
36:50
news
36:50
that's
36:50
presented
36:51
online
36:51
we
36:51
think
36:51
there
36:52
is
36:52
truth
36:52
it
36:53
must
36:53
be
36:53
true
36:54
if
36:54
it's
36:54
online
36:55
information
36:56
is
36:56
there
36:57
but
36:57
the
36:57
wisdom
36:58
is
36:58
lacking
36:58
to
36:59
discern
37:00
what
37:00
truth
37:01
is
37:01
and
37:04
so
37:04
what
37:04
we
37:05
need
37:05
is
37:06
to
37:06
be
37:06
a
37:06
people
37:07
in
37:08
the
37:08
midst
37:08
of
37:08
discouragements
37:10
in
37:10
the
37:10
midst
37:10
of
37:10
all
37:11
kinds
37:11
of
37:11
challenges
37:12
that
37:12
we
37:12
see
37:13
it's
37:14
not
37:14
to
37:14
believe
37:15
everything
37:15
that
37:15
we
37:15
read
37:15
online
37:16
and
37:16
even
37:17
at
37:17
times
37:17
it's
37:17
to
37:18
back
37:18
off
37:19
from
37:19
engaging
37:20
with
37:20
some
37:21
of
37:21
these
37:21
debates
37:21
as
37:22
well
37:22
the
37:23
best
37:24
way
37:24
to
37:25
engage
37:26
on
37:26
these
37:26
things
37:27
is
37:27
to
37:28
be
37:28
face
37:28
to
37:28
face
37:29
and
37:30
that
37:30
begins
37:31
by
37:31
ourselves
37:32
meeting
37:32
together
37:33
by
37:34
being
37:34
together
37:35
here
37:35
as a
37:36
body
37:36
encouraging
37:37
one
37:37
another
37:38
learning
37:39
from
37:39
one
37:39
another
37:39
meeting
37:40
together
37:41
around
37:41
the
37:41
word
37:42
of
37:42
God
37:42
in
37:42
our
37:43
Bible
37:43
studies
37:43
in
37:44
our
37:44
prayer
37:44
meetings
37:45
individually
37:46
together
37:46
when we
37:47
come
37:47
just
37:47
two
37:47
or
37:48
three
37:48
of
37:48
us
37:48
together
37:49
that
37:49
we
37:49
are
37:49
meeting
37:50
together
37:50
in
37:50
that
37:50
way
37:51
of
37:51
being
37:51
face
37:52
to
37:52
face
37:52
and
37:54
the
37:54
more
37:54
we
37:54
learn
37:54
like
37:55
that
37:55
the
37:55
more
37:55
we
37:55
can
37:55
go
37:56
out
37:56
and
37:56
meet
37:57
others
37:57
face
37:57
to
37:58
face
37:58
as
37:58
well
37:59
and
38:00
to
38:00
talk
38:00
to
38:00
them
38:00
of
38:01
the
38:01
wonder
38:01
of
38:02
the
38:02
gospel
38:02
to
38:03
guard
38:04
the
38:04
gospel
38:04
not
38:05
by
38:05
going
38:06
back
38:06
in
38:06
our
38:06
shells
38:07
not
38:07
by
38:07
just
38:08
engaging
38:09
in
38:09
we
38:10
know
38:10
it
38:10
all
38:10
kind
38:10
of
38:11
attitude
38:11
but
38:12
in
38:12
a
38:12
gracious
38:13
way
38:13
of
38:14
being
38:15
there
38:15
for
38:15
people
38:16
coming
38:20
of
38:20
discouragement
38:21
and
38:21
what
38:21
can
38:22
we
38:22
take
38:22
away
38:22
from
38:23
that
38:23
we
38:24
do
38:24
not
38:24
lose
38:25
heart
38:25
and
38:27
so
38:27
let
38:27
us
38:27
meet
38:27
together
38:28
let
38:29
us
38:29
meet
38:30
together
38:30
as
38:30
a
38:30
people
38:31
together
38:32
around
38:32
the
38:32
word
38:33
of
38:33
God
38:33
but
38:33
then
38:33
as
38:33
we
38:33
go
38:34
from
38:34
here
38:35
we
38:35
go
38:36
to
38:36
meet
38:36
with
38:36
others
38:37
and
38:37
speak
38:38
with
38:38
others
38:38
and
38:39
share
38:39
with
38:40
others
38:40
in
38:40
a
38:40
gracious
38:41
way
38:41
presenting
38:42
the
38:43
gospel
38:44
to
38:44
them
38:44
the
38:46
third
38:47
thing
38:47
that
38:47
we
38:47
see
38:48
here
38:48
!
38:48
in
38:49
all
38:50
of
38:50
these
38:50
things
38:50
the
38:51
dangers
38:51
the
38:52
discouragements
38:53
behind it
38:54
all is
38:55
the
38:55
delights
38:56
the
38:57
delighting
38:58
in
38:58
God
38:58
the
38:59
delighting
39:00
in
39:00
the
39:00
power
39:00
of
39:01
the
39:01
gospel
39:02
in
39:03
verse
39:03
six
39:03
it
39:04
says
39:04
for
39:04
God
39:04
who
39:05
said
39:05
let
39:06
light
39:06
shine
39:06
out
39:07
of
39:07
darkness
39:07
has
39:07
shone
39:08
in
39:08
our
39:08
hearts
39:08
to
39:09
give
39:09
the
39:09
light
39:09
of
39:10
the
39:10
knowledge
39:10
of
39:10
the
39:11
glory
39:11
of
39:11
God
39:12
in
39:12
the
39:12
face
39:12
of
39:13
Jesus
39:13
Christ
39:14
all
39:15
here
39:16
takes
39:16
us
39:16
back
39:16
to
39:17
the
39:17
power
39:18
and
39:18
the
39:18
wonder
39:19
of
39:19
creation
39:20
for
39:20
God
39:21
who
39:21
said
39:21
let
39:21
light
39:22
shine
39:23
out
39:23
of
39:23
darkness
39:24
to
39:24
the
39:24
very
39:25
coming
39:26
into
39:26
being
39:27
of
39:27
the
39:27
world
39:27
and
39:28
the
39:28
universe
39:28
and
39:28
a
39:29
people
39:30
such
39:31
as
39:31
we
39:31
are
39:31
it
39:31
was
39:31
the
39:32
word
39:32
of
39:32
God
39:33
that
39:33
spoke
39:34
it
39:34
into
39:34
existence
39:35
that
39:36
brought
39:37
light
39:37
into
39:38
darkness
39:39
well
39:40
he
39:41
says
39:41
let
39:42
that
39:42
light
39:42
shine
39:43
let
39:44
that
39:44
light
39:44
shine
39:45
that
39:45
has
39:45
shone
39:45
in
39:45
our
39:46
hearts
39:46
to
39:46
give
39:46
the
39:46
light
39:47
of
39:47
the
39:47
knowledge
39:47
of
39:48
the
39:48
glory
39:48
of
39:49
God
39:49
in
39:49
the
39:49
face
39:49
of
39:50
Jesus
39:50
Christ
39:51
we
39:52
have
39:53
this
39:54
gospel
39:55
this
39:56
treasure
39:56
in
39:57
jars
39:57
of
39:57
clay
39:58
as it
39:58
goes on
39:58
to say
39:59
in
39:59
verse
39:59
7
39:59
to show
40:00
the
40:00
surpassing
40:01
power
40:01
belongs
40:02
to
40:02
God
40:03
and not
40:03
to
40:03
us
40:04
and we
40:04
can
40:04
delight
40:04
in
40:05
God
40:06
God
40:08
has
40:08
spoken
40:09
and
40:10
God
40:10
is
40:10
powerful
40:11
glory
40:12
and
40:12
you
40:12
see
40:13
Paul
40:13
himself
40:14
here
40:14
is
40:14
one
40:14
who
40:15
has
40:15
persecuted
40:15
the
40:16
church
40:16
but
40:16
who
40:16
has
40:16
come
40:17
to
40:17
know
40:17
the
40:18
power
40:18
of
40:19
this
40:19
word
40:19
of
40:20
this
40:20
glory
40:20
of
40:21
opening
40:22
his
40:22
eyes
40:22
to
40:23
see
40:23
Christ
40:24
Jesus
40:25
and
40:25
now
40:25
to
40:25
present
40:26
Christ
40:27
Jesus
40:27
in
40:27
all
40:28
his
40:29
glory
40:29
his
40:29
vision
40:30
has
40:30
been
40:30
transformed
40:31
and
40:33
just as
40:33
he
40:33
has
40:33
been
40:33
encouraged
40:34
he's
40:34
now
40:35
encouraging
40:35
others
40:36
to come and know and see this beauty of Christ.
40:42
Do we have this vision as we go on in this year?
40:46
This vision of Jesus and this vision for Jesus
40:49
to present him in all his glory.
40:55
We have a great God.
40:57
We are in the majority because God is with us.
41:02
And Paul himself was encouraged by the Lord
41:05
as he was going on in his missionary journeys.
41:09
In Acts chapter 18, the Lord spoke to Paul one night
41:12
in a vision, it says, and it said,
41:15
Do not be afraid, but go on speaking.
41:18
Do not be silent, for I am with you,
41:20
and no one will attack you to harm you,
41:22
for I have many in this city who are my people.
41:27
The Lord was building his church then,
41:30
and he's still building his church today.
41:32
He has his people.
41:34
Do not be afraid.
41:36
Do not lose heart.
41:39
The Lord is with us.
41:41
And let us delight in the Lord.
41:44
Let us rejoice in the glory of God
41:46
in the face of Jesus Christ,
41:48
who has shone in our hearts.
41:51
And when he has shone in our hearts,
41:54
we cannot but reflect that glory.
41:56
If you look on the back of your bulletin sheet,
42:00
you see the New Year's resolutions
42:02
that Mordor Martin was speaking about.
42:05
Number four, it says,
42:06
That our lamps shine more brightly.
42:10
Isn't that a great way to go into the New Year?
42:12
That our light, our lamps would shine more brightly.
42:16
That the reflection of that would be
42:18
the face of Jesus Christ in us,
42:21
who has shone into our hearts.
42:24
Many years ago,
42:26
there were men panning for gold
42:28
in America and Montana.
42:31
And one of them found an unusual stone.
42:34
And he broke it open.
42:37
And around him,
42:38
there was a sense of joy
42:39
as they saw this gold
42:41
glistening in this stone.
42:43
And they started to work where they were there
42:47
and discovered an abundance of gold
42:50
in the stones there.
42:52
And there was a shout of delight.
42:55
There was a shout of rejoicing.
42:57
We found the treasure we'd been looking for.
43:01
And they decided to keep it to themselves.
43:04
But they had to go back
43:06
into the town for stores
43:08
before they could continue
43:10
just digging the gold out.
43:12
And so they went,
43:13
these men went back to the town
43:15
and they bought their stores.
43:17
And as they were leaving,
43:18
all of a sudden,
43:20
there was hundreds of people
43:21
coming behind them.
43:23
And they realized,
43:24
these people know.
43:27
And they thought someone
43:28
has told them something.
43:30
And so one man turned to the crowd
43:32
and said,
43:32
who said that we'd found gold?
43:35
And they said,
43:36
no one did.
43:36
But your faces shone and showed it.
43:41
The excitement they couldn't contain.
43:43
The joy in what they found,
43:45
they couldn't hide it.
43:46
It was there for all to see
43:48
without a word being said.
43:51
So wouldn't it be wonderful
43:52
ourselves to go
43:53
into this year
43:55
with our lamps
43:56
shining more brightly.
43:58
With the beauty of Christ
44:00
in our hearts
44:01
being seen by others
44:02
without a word being said.
44:04
but just by the way
44:06
that we behave,
44:08
the way that we act,
44:10
the way that we speak,
44:12
that people would know
44:13
that we have been with Jesus.
44:16
The church in Corinth
44:17
grew in the midst
44:19
of all kinds of dangers
44:21
and all kinds of discouragements.
44:23
Why?
44:24
Because the people
44:25
were delighting in the Lord.
44:28
There was a sense of delight
44:29
and rejoicing in the Lord.
44:31
So let us
44:33
know the word of God.
44:36
Let us meet together
44:37
around the word of God.
44:40
And let us,
44:40
let Christ shine
44:42
through us
44:43
the glory that is His.
44:46
The one who has come
44:47
to save us
44:48
from our sins.
44:50
That we would have
44:51
a sense of belonging.
44:52
Not just as a congregation
44:54
and a people here
44:55
where we encourage
44:56
one another.
44:57
But that we're encouraged
44:58
throughout our presbytery,
44:59
throughout our denomination,
45:01
throughout the world
45:02
that the church of Christ
45:03
is being built
45:05
upon the foundation
45:07
of Christ Himself.
45:10
And His glory
45:11
is being seen
45:12
to all ends
45:13
of the earth.
45:15
And may that glory
45:16
be ours
45:17
within us
45:18
and coming through us
45:20
and being shared
45:21
with others.
45:23
The knowledge
45:24
of the glory of God
45:26
in the face
45:27
of Jesus Christ.
45:28
may we be encouraged
45:30
to show it
45:31
and to share it
45:32
with others
45:33
and to live
45:34
in the light of it
45:35
going on
45:36
in this year ahead,
45:38
whatever it entails.
45:40
There's always dangers.
45:42
There's always
45:42
discouragements.
45:45
But don't forget
45:46
that with God
45:47
on our side
45:48
we are in a majority
45:49
and that we can
45:51
delight
45:51
in Him.
45:53
Let us pray.
45:54
Our Father in Heaven
45:58
we do rejoice
45:59
in the Gospel
46:00
and all the hope
46:01
that it gives.
46:02
We thank You
46:02
for the delight
46:03
that there is
46:03
in knowing Christ
46:05
and in making Him known.
46:06
And we do pray,
46:07
Lord,
46:08
that the lamps
46:09
of our hearts
46:10
would shine
46:11
all the more brightly
46:12
that others would see
46:13
and know
46:14
the wonder
46:14
of the Saviour
46:16
we love and serve.
46:17
So hear our prayers
46:18
and continue with us,
46:20
Lord,
46:20
today
46:20
and in all the days ahead
46:22
as we ask all
46:23
in Jesus' name
46:24
and for His sake.
46:26
Amen.
46:32
We're going to conclude
46:33
by singing in Psalm 86 again,
46:35
the Scottish Psalter version.
46:38
The tune is Evan,
46:40
page 341.
46:41
We'll sing the last three stanzas.
46:44
Verse 15,
46:45
But thou art full of pity, Lord,
46:47
a God most gracious,
46:48
longsuffering and in thy truth
46:51
and mercy plenteous.
46:53
We'll sing from verse 15
46:54
down to the end of the psalm
46:56
to God's praise.
46:57
Amen.
46:59
But thou art full of pity, Lord,
47:11
a God most gracious,
47:16
and mercy plentious.
47:18
Longsuffering and in thy truth
47:26
and mercy plentious.
47:31
O come to me, my condemnation,
47:40
and mercy on thee, God.
47:47
I serve the strength,
47:50
The Lord has strengthened and the Son of Thy own hand is saved.
48:04
Go ye aside for good than me, which to thee it may see.
48:19
And ye ashamed because the Lord is held and fought for thee.
48:36
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left. We'll close with the benediction.
48:40
Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore. Amen.
49:10
Amen.