Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / The End of the Year Outlook from the Mission of Jesus
Transcript
- 0:00Well, friends, welcome to our service this evening. A special welcome to those who might be visiting with us.
- 0:05! We look to God to bless His Word to us as we worship Him together.
- 0:09! It's my privilege to be here on this final Sunday service of 2024, and we have accumulated much benefit from the gospel during this past year,
- 0:18and we've also accumulated a lot of responsibility. And we trust as we worship God together this evening that He will remind us of that,
- 0:25and we'll be able to respond to the claims of the gospel upon us.
- 0:28I don't think I mentioned anything about the intimation. You'll remember the New Year's Day service on Wednesday. That will be at 12 noon.
- 0:36So we begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm number 61 in the Scottish Psalter. It's on page 293.
- 0:45I was saying at the beginning of the psalm, Psalm 61, that verse 1, the tune is Salzburg.
- 0:51O God, give ear unto my cry, and to my prayer attend. From the utmost corner of the land, my cry to Thee I'll send.
- 1:01We're singing from verse 1 to the verse Mark 6 to God's praise.
- 1:04O God, give ear unto my prayer, and to my prayer attend.
- 1:26From the utmost corner of the land, my cry to Thee I'll send.
- 1:42What time my heart is overwhelmed, and in perplexity.
- 1:58Do thou be with me, and to the roar, that I am is the night.
- 2:16For thou who hast for my refuge been, a shelter by thy power,
- 2:33And for defense against my foes, thou must be not strong, child.
- 2:50Within thy tower, not will I, forever will abide,
- 3:07And under cover all thy ways, with confidence behind.
- 3:24For thou the man's that I did make, O Lord, my God is near.
- 3:42Thou hast given me, the heritage of those thy name that will.
- 3:59Thou hast given me, the heritage of the land, my heart is near.
- 4:29Thou hast given me, the heritage of the land, my heart is near.
- 4:35Let's join together in prayer. Let's bow our heads to pray.
- 4:41Almighty and most gracious God,
- 4:44who rejoice in you as the only true and living God,
- 4:50who calls us into the worship of your name,
- 4:53who is ready to impart your word and your blessing to us,
- 4:58the God who sits enthroned in heaven,
- 5:02who calls us all to bow down before you,
- 5:06with humble hearts, with sincere hearts,
- 5:10that you may hear what you have to say to us.
- 5:13As we approach you in worship, we recognize the great need that we have for you to draw near to us,
- 5:22so that we can draw near to you,
- 5:26for you to place your hand upon our minds and our hearts,
- 5:30and to give us to be sensitive to your word and to your spirit as we do worship you.
- 5:37And so that we might come to that place,
- 5:40where we do indeed hear the voice of the living God,
- 5:46where we do sense the claims of the gospel upon us,
- 5:50where we do sense our lostness without the salvation you have prepared in Christ Jesus, your Son,
- 5:57and where we come to realize the importance and the urgency of having peace with you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 6:09We give thanks to you that you have sent your Son into the world.
- 6:14We have remembered much of his coming in these past days.
- 6:19Help us, O Lord, that we would not be forgetful.
- 6:22Help us to remember that his birth is but the beginning.
- 6:28Help us to remember his life.
- 6:31Help us to remember his death.
- 6:34Help us to remember his resurrection.
- 6:37Help us to remember that he is in glory at your right hand,
- 6:42that he is seated,
- 6:44and that all power is given to him in heaven and on earth.
- 6:48Help us to know tonight the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
- 6:54Help us to know what it is to bow down at his feet.
- 6:58Help us to know what it is to worship him.
- 7:02And help us to know what it is to love him,
- 7:06to love him with all of our hearts.
- 7:09To know truly the words of your servant Paul,
- 7:13that Jesus Christ loved me and gave himself for me.
- 7:19May you grant to us in our hearts
- 7:20that intimate, personal relationship with your Son
- 7:24that will bring to us the joy of forgiveness of sin,
- 7:29that will give to us the assurance of
- 7:31your ongoing care and shepherding of us,
- 7:35that will give us the certainty of the paradise
- 7:39and the glory you have prepared for your people,
- 7:41and that will give to us the assurance of
- 7:44your strength along life's way.
- 7:48We do give thanks to you this evening as our God
- 7:50who has been with us in the year that is drawing to a close.
- 7:55We bless and praise your name
- 7:57for every way in which you have been your help.
- 8:01You are the God who takes us on paths and on journeys
- 8:04that we do not expect.
- 8:06But we bless and praise your name
- 8:09that your purpose is good
- 8:11and that you work everything for good for your people.
- 8:16And we pray that you will bless
- 8:17all I've gathered before you this evening
- 8:20that they may be able to reflect on life
- 8:23and reflect on your presence with them
- 8:25and be able to give thanks to you
- 8:28for every way in which you have shepherded,
- 8:31for every way in which you have cared,
- 8:33for every way in which you have given strength,
- 8:35and for every way in which your eye has been upon them.
- 8:40And give especially those tonight
- 8:43who know what it is to have pain in their hearts,
- 8:46to have sorrow, to have grief,
- 8:49to reflect upon a year
- 8:50where they have lost much
- 8:52and lost those who are precious to them.
- 8:56We do remember the mourning and the grieving
- 8:59and we ask you to draw near to them.
- 9:03Your comfort is beyond description,
- 9:07but your comfort transforms.
- 9:10It gives peace.
- 9:11It gives consolation.
- 9:14It gives even rest
- 9:15in the midst of the turmoil of grief.
- 9:18And so we pray for your blessing
- 9:19to be upon those
- 9:20who know grief and sorrow tonight.
- 9:23And I do reflect on the pain
- 9:24of losing loved ones
- 9:25in this past year.
- 9:28We pray for your blessing
- 9:29to be upon all of the homes
- 9:31of our congregation,
- 9:32that the blessing of God
- 9:34would filter from the public worship
- 9:36of your name
- 9:37through the witness of your people
- 9:40to touch hearts and lives
- 9:42and homes and families,
- 9:44reaching out to those
- 9:45who are far from you,
- 9:47causing your kingdom to come
- 9:48and praying your blessing
- 9:51upon every effort that is made
- 9:52to make contact with those
- 9:55who live in the town,
- 9:56around it and beyond,
- 9:58and for every effort that is made
- 9:59to raise the awareness
- 10:01of the preciousness of Jesus Christ
- 10:04in the gospel
- 10:04and seeking prayerfully
- 10:07that others would come
- 10:08into your kingdom
- 10:09and that your kingdom would grow
- 10:11and that you would add
- 10:12to the number of your people
- 10:13such as it is your purpose to save.
- 10:17So bless, we ask,
- 10:18and bless us together
- 10:19and bless your word to us
- 10:20this evening
- 10:21and bless all that has been done
- 10:24in your name in this past year.
- 10:26We ask you to bless your word
- 10:28and we are thankful to you
- 10:30that you have promised
- 10:31that your word will not return
- 10:33unto you void or empty,
- 10:36that it will accomplish
- 10:36what pleases you.
- 10:38and we are thankful
- 10:39that you are the God
- 10:41who brings about fruit
- 10:42and blessing
- 10:42in ways that we don't expect
- 10:45and in ways that we never see.
- 10:47And we are thankful to you
- 10:48that you are the God
- 10:49who is working.
- 10:51We pray for your blessing
- 10:52upon our wider community,
- 10:54our island community
- 10:55stream these days.
- 10:57We pray a blessing
- 10:57to be upon the gospel today,
- 11:00a blessing to be upon the gospel
- 11:01across the nation and land
- 11:02to which we belong.
- 11:03and pray, O Lord,
- 11:05that we may know something
- 11:07of what it means
- 11:08to see the old life
- 11:10and the old things
- 11:11of departing from God
- 11:13replaced by a new life
- 11:15and of a people
- 11:16and of a nation
- 11:17turning to seek you
- 11:19as the fountain of living water
- 11:21and as the only true
- 11:22and living God.
- 11:24Bless those who rule over us,
- 11:25bless those in authority,
- 11:27bless all those
- 11:28who have influenced you to pray,
- 11:29and may their hearts
- 11:31be in your hands
- 11:32to bring about good
- 11:33and to bring us back
- 11:34to yourself.
- 11:36Bless the nations of the world,
- 11:37we remember the places
- 11:38where there is grief and sorrow,
- 11:40where there is conflict
- 11:41and strife.
- 11:42Pray that you will bring an end
- 11:43to all of these
- 11:44and pray that peace would reign,
- 11:46O Lord, our God.
- 11:47We pray for the parts
- 11:48of the world
- 11:49where your people
- 11:50are persecuted for their faith,
- 11:52we pray your protection
- 11:52of them.
- 11:54And we pray for the parts
- 11:55of the world
- 11:55that are still in darkness
- 11:57and that do not know
- 11:58the light of the gospel
- 12:00of Jesus Christ.
- 12:02May we know something
- 12:03of your mission in our hearts
- 12:05and a sense of the great need
- 12:07of the world in which we live
- 12:08to hear the good news.
- 12:11And may you lay it
- 12:12upon all of our hearts,
- 12:14not only to pray,
- 12:14but to be actively engaged
- 12:16in the service of your kingdom
- 12:18for the good of those
- 12:20who are outside of it,
- 12:21even to the far corner
- 12:23of the earth.
- 12:24And we acknowledge,
- 12:25O Lord, our God,
- 12:26that at times
- 12:28we will need to be
- 12:29uprooted by you
- 12:31and loosened from
- 12:32our comfort zone
- 12:33and be sent to serve you
- 12:36at home and beyond.
- 12:38And we pray, O Lord,
- 12:39that you will work
- 12:40in people's hearts
- 12:41and lives
- 12:42for their great purpose,
- 12:44for the honour
- 12:45and the privilege
- 12:45of serving you,
- 12:47for going out
- 12:47with the good news
- 12:48of the gospel
- 12:49and for doing so
- 12:51in the fear of your name
- 12:53and regardless of
- 12:55what that may mean
- 12:57as far as their lives
- 12:59and as far as their faith
- 13:00and as far as their
- 13:01suffering is concerned,
- 13:03may you call those
- 13:04who will be strengthened
- 13:05and persuaded
- 13:06and equipped by you
- 13:08to serve you
- 13:09in the gospel.
- 13:10Be merciful,
- 13:11we pray,
- 13:11to the dark corners
- 13:12of this world
- 13:13and cause your light
- 13:14to shine in it.
- 13:16We pray for your blessing
- 13:17to be upon our worship
- 13:19now as we continue
- 13:20before you this evening.
- 13:21as we pray your blessing
- 13:22to be upon the reading
- 13:24of your word
- 13:24and the singing of it.
- 13:26We ask that you will
- 13:27draw close to us
- 13:28and give to us
- 13:29a sense of your word
- 13:31truly being the breath of God
- 13:34and may it breathe upon our hearts
- 13:37and breathe upon our minds
- 13:38and may we know
- 13:40a rich blessing coming from you
- 13:42and a sense of your hand
- 13:44being upon us
- 13:45as your word is read
- 13:47and proclaimed.
- 13:48Draw near to us,
- 13:49we pray and be merciful to us
- 13:51and go before us
- 13:52into this evening
- 13:53and go before us
- 13:53into this week
- 13:55we do pray
- 13:55as we commit ourselves
- 13:57to you.
- 13:57May you be your guide
- 13:59as we draw to the close
- 14:00of this year
- 14:00and may you be merciful
- 14:02to us in our needs
- 14:02and whatever may arise
- 14:04in life
- 14:05in the remaining days
- 14:06of this year.
- 14:07May you continue
- 14:08to be with us
- 14:09and to be gracious to us
- 14:11and to be compassionate
- 14:12and to be merciful
- 14:13and to watch over ourselves,
- 14:15all our friends
- 14:16and all of our families
- 14:17and our wider community.
- 14:19Protect, we do pray
- 14:20and spare life, we do ask
- 14:22as we commit ourselves to you.
- 14:24So hear our prayer
- 14:25and watch over us now
- 14:26and go before us.
- 14:27Have your mercy, we ask.
- 14:29We ask all these things
- 14:30for Jesus' sake.
- 14:31Amen.
- 14:32Amen.
- 14:35Now we're going to turn
- 14:36to praise God
- 14:37from Psalm number 42
- 14:38and sing Psalms.
- 14:40Psalm 42 and verse 1.
- 14:42It's on page 53
- 14:43and the tune is Rockingham.
- 14:48Psalm 42 and verse 1.
- 14:52As pants the deer
- 14:53for flowing streams,
- 14:55so long's my soul,
- 14:56O God, for you.
- 14:58I thirst for God,
- 14:59the living God.
- 15:00When can I meet
- 15:01with God anew?
- 15:04We stand to sing
- 15:04from verse 1
- 15:05to the verse Mark 5
- 15:07to God's praise.
- 15:07Amen.
- 15:07Amen.
- 15:08Amen.
- 15:08Amen.
- 15:09Amen.
- 15:13singing voy voy voy
- 15:43with no other news.
- 15:50My tears have been
- 15:55my constant good
- 15:59both in the night
- 16:04and in the day.
- 16:08While all day long
- 16:14insistent be
- 16:19where is this God
- 16:23of the earth chasing?
- 16:30As I go around
- 16:33my soul in me
- 16:38these things I do
- 16:44remember still.
- 16:48How with the multitude
- 16:54to thy rent
- 16:58up to God's house
- 17:03on Zion Hill
- 17:08in their possession
- 17:14I would lead
- 17:18as we approached
- 17:23with cheerful song
- 17:28and shouts of joy
- 17:34and thankfulness
- 17:38rejoice in the
- 17:43the festive throne
- 17:48Why are you downcast
- 17:54O my soul?
- 17:58Why are you so
- 18:03disturbed in me?
- 18:08Trust God for I
- 18:13will praise him yet
- 18:17My Saviour
- 18:21and my God
- 18:25is he
- 18:27I'll turn to read
- 18:32the word of God together
- 18:33and we do so in the
- 18:34New Testament
- 18:34in the book of Revelation
- 18:36and in chapter 22
- 18:38the book of Revelation
- 18:41chapter 22
- 18:43I'm reading at the
- 18:44beginning of the chapter
- 18:46Let us hear the word
- 18:52of God
- 18:53Then the angel
- 18:57showed me
- 18:57the river of the
- 18:58water of life
- 18:59bright as crystal
- 19:01flowing from the
- 19:02throne of God
- 19:03and of the Lamb
- 19:03through the middle
- 19:04of the street
- 19:05of the city
- 19:06also on either side
- 19:07of the river
- 19:08the tree of life
- 19:09with its twelve
- 19:10kinds of fruit
- 19:11healing its fruit
- 19:12each month
- 19:13the leaves of the
- 19:14tree were for
- 19:15the healing of
- 19:16the nations
- 19:16No longer will
- 19:18there be anything
- 19:18accursed
- 19:19but the throne
- 19:20of God
- 19:20and of the Lamb
- 19:21will be in it
- 19:22and the servants
- 19:23will worship him
- 19:24they will see his
- 19:25face
- 19:25and his name
- 19:27will be on their
- 19:27foreheads
- 19:28and night will be
- 19:29no more
- 19:29they will need
- 19:30no light
- 19:31of lamp
- 19:31or sun
- 19:32for the Lord
- 19:33God will be
- 19:34their light
- 19:34and they will reign
- 19:35forever
- 19:36and ever
- 19:37and he said
- 19:38to me
- 19:39these words
- 19:40are trustworthy
- 19:40and true
- 19:41and the Lord
- 19:42the God
- 19:43of the spirits
- 19:43of the prophets
- 19:44has sent his
- 19:45angel to show
- 19:46servants what
- 19:46must soon
- 19:47take place
- 19:48and behold
- 19:49I am coming
- 19:50soon
- 19:50blessed as the
- 19:52one who keeps
- 19:52the words of
- 19:53the prophecy
- 19:53of this book
- 19:55I John
- 19:57am the one
- 19:57who heard
- 19:57and who saw
- 19:58these things
- 19:59and when I
- 20:00heard and saw
- 20:00them
- 20:01I fell down
- 20:02to worship
- 20:02at the feet
- 20:03of the angel
- 20:04who showed
- 20:04them to me
- 20:05but he said
- 20:06to me
- 20:06you must
- 20:07not do
- 20:08that
- 20:08I am a
- 20:09fellow servant
- 20:09with you
- 20:10and your
- 20:11brothers
- 20:11the prophets
- 20:12and with those
- 20:13who keep
- 20:13the words
- 20:14of this
- 20:14book
- 20:14worship
- 20:15God
- 20:16and he said
- 20:17to me
- 20:17do not
- 20:18seal up
- 20:19the words
- 20:19of the
- 20:19prophecy
- 20:19of this
- 20:20book
- 20:20for the
- 20:21time is
- 20:21near
- 20:22that the
- 20:23evildoers
- 20:23still do
- 20:23evil
- 20:24and the
- 20:25filthy
- 20:25still be
- 20:25filthy
- 20:26and the
- 20:27righteous
- 20:27still be
- 20:27right
- 20:28and the
- 20:29holy
- 20:29still be
- 20:30holy
- 20:30behold I
- 20:32am coming
- 20:32soon
- 20:33bringing
- 20:34my
- 20:34recompense
- 20:34with me
- 20:35to repay
- 20:36everyone
- 20:36for what
- 20:36he has
- 20:37done
- 20:37I am
- 20:38the
- 20:38alpha
- 20:38and the
- 20:39omega
- 20:39the
- 20:40first
- 20:40and the
- 20:40last
- 20:40the
- 20:41beginning
- 20:41and the
- 20:42end
- 20:42blessed
- 20:44are those
- 20:44who wash
- 20:45their robes
- 20:45so that they
- 20:46may have the
- 20:46right to the
- 20:47tree of life
- 20:48that they may
- 20:49enter the city
- 20:49by the gates
- 20:50outside are the
- 20:52dogs and
- 20:52sorcerers
- 20:53and the
- 20:53sexually
- 20:54immoral
- 20:54and murderers
- 20:55and idolaters
- 20:56and everyone
- 20:57who loves
- 20:58and practices
- 20:59falsehood
- 20:59I
- 21:01Jesus
- 21:01I
- 21:01sent
- 21:02my
- 21:02angel
- 21:02to
- 21:03testify
- 21:03to you
- 21:04about
- 21:04these
- 21:04things
- 21:05for the
- 21:05churches
- 21:06I
- 21:06am the
- 21:07root
- 21:07and the
- 21:07descendant
- 21:08of David
- 21:08the bright
- 21:09morning
- 21:10star
- 21:10the spirit
- 21:12and the
- 21:12bride
- 21:12say come
- 21:13and let
- 21:14the one
- 21:14who
- 21:14hears
- 21:16say come
- 21:16and let
- 21:17the one
- 21:18who is
- 21:18thirsty
- 21:18come
- 21:19let the
- 21:19one
- 21:20who
- 21:20desires
- 21:20take
- 21:21of the
- 21:21water
- 21:22of life
- 21:22without
- 21:23price
- 21:23I
- 21:24warn
- 21:24everyone
- 21:25who
- 21:25hears
- 21:25the
- 21:25words
- 21:26of the
- 21:27prophets
- 21:27of this
- 21:27book
- 21:28if anyone
- 21:29adds to
- 21:29them
- 21:29God
- 21:30will add
- 21:30to him
- 21:31the
- 21:31plagues
- 21:31described
- 21:32in this
- 21:32book
- 21:32and if
- 21:33anyone
- 21:33takes
- 21:34away
- 21:34from the
- 21:35words
- 21:35of the
- 21:35book
- 21:35of this
- 21:35prophecy
- 21:36God
- 21:37will
- 21:37take
- 21:37away
- 21:37his
- 21:38share
- 21:38in the
- 21:38tree
- 21:39of life
- 21:39and to
- 21:40the
- 21:40holy
- 21:40city
- 21:40which
- 21:41are
- 21:41described
- 21:42in this
- 21:42book
- 21:42he
- 21:43testifies
- 21:44to
- 21:44these
- 21:44things
- 21:45says
- 21:45surely
- 21:46I'm
- 21:46coming
- 21:46soon
- 21:47I
- 21:48mean
- 21:48come
- 21:48Lord
- 21:49Jesus
- 21:49the
- 21:50grace
- 21:50of the
- 21:51Lord
- 21:51Jesus
- 21:51be
- 21:52with
- 21:52you
- 21:52all
- 21:53Amen
- 21:54this is
- 21:55God's
- 21:56word
- 21:56and we
- 21:56bless
- 21:56to us
- 21:57our
- 21:58reading
- 21:58from
- 21:59it
- 21:59we
- 22:01turn
- 22:01to
- 22:01praise
- 22:01God
- 22:01now
- 22:02in
- 22:02Psalm
- 22:02number
- 22:0284
- 22:03in
- 22:03the
- 22:04Sing
- 22:04Psalms
- 22:04page
- 22:06112
- 22:07Psalm
- 22:07number
- 22:0884
- 22:08page
- 22:09112
- 22:10and
- 22:10we're
- 22:11singing
- 22:11at
- 22:11verse
- 22:11number
- 22:125
- 22:12blessed
- 22:17are
- 22:18those
- 22:18whose
- 22:18strength
- 22:18is
- 22:19in
- 22:19you
- 22:19those
- 22:20who
- 22:20have
- 22:20a
- 22:20pilgrim's
- 22:21mind
- 22:21pools
- 22:22from
- 22:22autumn
- 22:23rains
- 22:24refresh
- 22:24them
- 22:25springs
- 22:26and
- 22:26break
- 22:26as
- 22:26veil
- 22:27they
- 22:27find
- 22:27strength
- 22:28increasing
- 22:29signward
- 22:29they go
- 22:30on
- 22:31their
- 22:31way
- 22:31to
- 22:32God
- 22:32and we
- 22:33sing
- 22:33from
- 22:33verse
- 22:345
- 22:34to
- 22:34the
- 22:34verse
- 22:34Mark
- 22:3510
- 22:35to
- 22:35God's
- 22:35praise
- 22:36!
- 22:38praise
- 22:39God
- 22:39for
- 22:40those
- 22:43who
- 22:44have
- 22:46is
- 22:47in
- 22:48you
- 22:48those
- 22:49who
- 22:50have
- 22:51a
- 22:51!
- 22:52and
- 22:53love
- 22:53shine
- 22:55!
- 22:55For
- 22:56!
- 22:57God
- 22:57has
- 22:58to
- 22:59praise
- 22:59!
- 23:03voy
- 23:29Almighty, and receive the free I may.
- 23:38Listen to me, God of Jacob, hear me for your mercy's sake.
- 23:51Look upon our shield and ring, favor to your chosen King.
- 24:07One day in your courts is better than a thousand days elsewhere.
- 24:18Let me stay in my house temple, let me be a dormant there.
- 24:33Brother, can find happiness in the tents of wickedness.
- 24:48Turn back now to the book of Revelation and chapter number 22, and we can read at verse 12.
- 24:59Revelation 22 and at verse number 12.
- 25:02Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repay everyone for what he has done.
- 25:12I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
- 25:19And so on down to the following verses.
- 25:21Now we know we have thought much of the birth of Jesus Christ as he came into the world, the Son of God, as he was born in Bethlehem.
- 25:33And we have celebrated his birth in various ways.
- 25:38And in many ways, that is the most significant event that has ever taken place in the history of this world.
- 25:45But alongside of that, and on a par with that, as far as importance is concerned, is the second coming of Jesus Christ.
- 25:54We are liable and we do tend to remember and celebrate his birth and then fold up our arms and our lives and forget about his significance,
- 26:07forget about his work, and forget about the fact that he is returning to this world.
- 26:14And bearing that in mind, I want us to look at these verses that we have before us this evening.
- 26:19As we do read this book, obviously it is the last book in the Bible.
- 26:25It's a revelation given to John.
- 26:27It was given to John to encourage those who were being persecuted for their faith,
- 26:33those who were being pressurized into worshipping the Roman Emperor as Lord,
- 26:39and those who were in danger of losing their faith.
- 26:43And so the revelation was given to John to encourage them.
- 26:46And one of the principles of the way in which this revelation is used is that the people are to be encouraged
- 26:54with information about what is going to happen afterwards.
- 27:00And that's an important lesson for ourselves, that we live in this moment.
- 27:05But this moment is not an island, not connected to what comes.
- 27:09Where we are is connected to the future.
- 27:12And to understand what the future holds is the means not only of our encouragement,
- 27:17but the means of helping us to adjust our lives so that we walk along the paths that God has set for us.
- 27:25And when we come to these last words, obviously they are the last words that Jesus spoke in the Bible.
- 27:33And they are the last words which are reminding us that he is indeed coming back to be here.
- 27:41And so for encouragement this evening, and perhaps as a reminder to us,
- 27:46we want to look at these words and to think of an end-of-the-year outlook from the mission of Jesus.
- 27:53I want to see first of all that we have a headline.
- 28:00And for the headline we have a herald.
- 28:04And who is the herald?
- 28:05And the herald we have in verse number 13,
- 28:09I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
- 28:14And as soon as we read in our Bibles,
- 28:18Jesus at any time saying, I am,
- 28:21then we pause and we consider and we think of what he's trying to communicate to us.
- 28:26And he is reminding us that he is the Lord who appeared to Moses in Exodus chapter 3,
- 28:33the I am who appeared to Moses in the burning bush.
- 28:37So he connects himself with that great truth and the revelation of God
- 28:41who came to save Israel and who came to make himself known to Moses and to the people of God.
- 28:50But here he moves on to remind us something else about himself
- 28:54and about his passion and about his being.
- 28:57He is the Alpha and the Omega.
- 29:00The Alpha being the first letter of the Greek alphabet
- 29:03and the Omega being the last letter of the Greek alphabet.
- 29:08And by giving himself that name, he is reminding us of his own supremacy.
- 29:16He is reminding us that he is the first in a series and he's also the last.
- 29:22He is reminding us of his own importance.
- 29:25And because he is the Alpha and the Omega,
- 29:28that he is in control of everything that takes place in this world.
- 29:33And for a people who are suffering because of their faith,
- 29:37that was great news.
- 29:39That no matter what the Roman Emperor did,
- 29:42no matter what happened in their everyday lives,
- 29:46Jesus, the Son of God, he was reigning supremely
- 29:50over the whole of the course of the universe,
- 29:52including the detail of their lives.
- 29:55I am the Alpha and the Omega.
- 29:57I am the first and the last.
- 30:03The one who precedes everyone else
- 30:05and the one who comes after everyone else.
- 30:08He is the eternal Son of God
- 30:10who has no beginning and who has no end.
- 30:14And he wants to communicate that as the one who is supreme
- 30:17over the whole of the earth,
- 30:19that he is also the eternal God.
- 30:22God, that he is the beginning and the end,
- 30:27that he was there in the work of creation
- 30:30and that he is also there at the end or in the terminus,
- 30:34the telos of the whole course of the world,
- 30:37that there he is at the very end of it,
- 30:39waiting to see the conclusion of life in this world
- 30:43and waiting to welcome his people into his own presence.
- 30:48He is the Alpha, the Omega,
- 30:49the first and the last,
- 30:51the beginning and the end.
- 30:54And he is using a title
- 30:56that we see in the beginning of this book,
- 31:00which reflects the way in which this title belongs
- 31:03in verse 8,
- 31:04to Almighty God.
- 31:07So the herald is Jesus,
- 31:10the Son of God,
- 31:12who is the Almighty God,
- 31:14who was the agent of creation
- 31:16and was there before creation,
- 31:17and everything is running through this world
- 31:20in accordance with his purposes
- 31:22to bring them to a conclusion
- 31:24and to bring an end to his plans.
- 31:28Their encouragement that this is the herald.
- 31:32And from time to time in our own lives,
- 31:34we need to hear that encouragement.
- 31:38In so many ways,
- 31:40our faith is threatened,
- 31:42our faith is assaulted by life around us.
- 31:45In so many ways,
- 31:46our faith is perhaps forced to the periphery
- 31:50and forced to be invisible.
- 31:52And we face these challenges day by day.
- 31:56And we are encouraged tonight
- 31:57to remember that whatever challenges we face,
- 32:01as in being the children of God,
- 32:03that the Son of God
- 32:04in his supremacy has control over everything
- 32:07and nothing is done outside of his work,
- 32:11his influence,
- 32:11and the direction of our lives.
- 32:15We have a headline
- 32:17and we have a herald
- 32:18and he is no one and nothing less
- 32:21than the Son of God.
- 32:24So what is the headline then?
- 32:26If this is the herald,
- 32:27what is the headline?
- 32:29Behold,
- 32:30listen to this,
- 32:31he's saying,
- 32:32take note of this,
- 32:34I am coming
- 32:35soon.
- 32:37And when we read the story of Jesus
- 32:40in the Gospel,
- 32:42we recognize that
- 32:43the mission of Jesus
- 32:44and the mission of God
- 32:45is all about the coming of Jesus.
- 32:49He has come to do
- 32:50the Father's will,
- 32:52he says in John 10.
- 32:53He has come in the Father's name
- 32:55in John 5.
- 32:57His coming into the world
- 32:59was through the womb of the Virgin Mary,
- 33:01but that coming was all about
- 33:03the mission of God.
- 33:05And he justifies
- 33:07and testifies
- 33:08to everything that he is doing
- 33:10that he has come
- 33:11in the mission of God
- 33:12to do the will of God
- 33:14and to secure salvation
- 33:16for those who put their trust in him.
- 33:19But now he's adding another element
- 33:21to the whole mission of God
- 33:23to remind us
- 33:24that he is coming.
- 33:27He is returning.
- 33:29His mission is not yet complete.
- 33:32He is going to return
- 33:33to this world.
- 33:35And that's a great truth
- 33:37for those
- 33:38who are the people of God
- 33:40who are struggling
- 33:41in the hearing of this lecture.
- 33:44It's a great encouragement
- 33:45for ourselves
- 33:46that the Son of God,
- 33:48our Savior,
- 33:49as part of the mission of God,
- 33:52that he is coming
- 33:53and that he is coming soon.
- 33:56it is an encouragement
- 34:02and we can also say
- 34:05that it is a threat.
- 34:07It's an encouragement
- 34:09because he is coming
- 34:10and his recompense
- 34:13is with him.
- 34:16He is coming with his reward,
- 34:19rewarding his people
- 34:20for their work.
- 34:23It's paying the laborer
- 34:24for the work that he has done.
- 34:26And every laborer
- 34:27is worthy of his hire.
- 34:30It is the reward of God
- 34:31in recognition of people
- 34:33doing the will of God.
- 34:36It's an encouragement.
- 34:38Don't be discouraged
- 34:39because of the Roman Empire.
- 34:42Be encouraged that
- 34:43as you continue to live
- 34:45in faithfulness to God,
- 34:47doing the will of God,
- 34:48that when I come
- 34:50in the mission of God,
- 34:52I come to give you
- 34:53your reward,
- 34:54that your work
- 34:56is not in vain,
- 34:58and that even through
- 34:59your suffering,
- 35:00that your reward
- 35:01becomes greater and greater.
- 35:04It is a word
- 35:06of encouragement.
- 35:09And for yourself tonight,
- 35:10if your trust is in God,
- 35:13if your delight
- 35:13is in doing the will of God,
- 35:15and if you're struggling
- 35:17through life
- 35:18and in your faith
- 35:19because you don't think
- 35:21that you can cope
- 35:22with the challenges
- 35:23of your faith,
- 35:25with the testings
- 35:26that you face,
- 35:28you're encouraged
- 35:29to continue
- 35:31to persevere
- 35:32in your faith
- 35:32because the Son of God
- 35:34will reward you
- 35:36for your perseverance.
- 35:38He will reward you
- 35:39for remaining loyal
- 35:41to Him.
- 35:42And no matter
- 35:43how great the pressure
- 35:44to be disloyal,
- 35:47that you continue
- 35:49in your devotion
- 35:50to your Master,
- 35:52you will have
- 35:53your reward,
- 35:55the encouragement
- 35:56of the reward.
- 35:59But there is also
- 36:01the threat.
- 36:03He will repay everyone
- 36:04for what He has done.
- 36:08It's the threat
- 36:11of the Bible
- 36:11that brings us back
- 36:13to the heart of God,
- 36:14to the purposes of God,
- 36:16to the claims of God
- 36:17upon our lives,
- 36:18that what you and I do,
- 36:21that God is obligated
- 36:23because of who He is
- 36:25and because of His relationship
- 36:26with us,
- 36:27that He is obligated
- 36:28to give to you
- 36:29according to what you have done.
- 36:33And regularly
- 36:34through the New Testament,
- 36:35that sense of
- 36:36repaying everyone
- 36:39is with regard
- 36:40to judging people
- 36:41for their sin
- 36:42and judging people
- 36:44for the rejection
- 36:45of the Lord Jesus Christ
- 36:46as their Savior.
- 36:49And in these words,
- 36:50the Herald,
- 36:51the Son of God,
- 36:52He is saying
- 36:53to all those tonight
- 36:54who have no faith
- 36:55in the Son of God,
- 36:56I'm going to come
- 36:58and when I do come,
- 37:00I'm going to repay you
- 37:01because you failed
- 37:03to put your trust in me.
- 37:04You failed to believe in me.
- 37:06You loved the darkness
- 37:08rather than the light.
- 37:09You rejected me.
- 37:10No matter how much
- 37:11I claimed your life
- 37:13and claimed your heart
- 37:14and claimed your mind,
- 37:16you rejected me
- 37:17and I'm coming
- 37:18to judge you,
- 37:21to give you in accordance
- 37:22with what you have done.
- 37:24I am coming.
- 37:26I am coming soon.
- 37:29And perhaps the headline
- 37:31is in particular tonight
- 37:33for anyone who is here
- 37:36who continues to reject
- 37:39the claims of the gospel
- 37:42and the outstretched arms
- 37:44of Jesus Christ,
- 37:46the Son of God.
- 37:47hear what is going
- 37:50to happen to you.
- 37:52If you continue
- 37:53to reject,
- 37:55He will reject you
- 37:57at the end.
- 37:59He will welcome
- 37:59those whom He wants
- 38:00to reward
- 38:01because of their
- 38:02perseverance
- 38:03and their loyalty
- 38:04to Him.
- 38:06But He will reject you.
- 38:08Depart from me.
- 38:09How do you get in here,
- 38:11says Jesus in the parable,
- 38:13without a wedding garment?
- 38:15Who is that person here
- 38:16without a wedding garment?
- 38:18Take Him out
- 38:19and cast Him away.
- 38:22The headline,
- 38:23I am coming soon.
- 38:27Let's take that to heart
- 38:28as we close this year,
- 38:31as we think
- 38:32in the providence of God
- 38:34of going into a new year.
- 38:36If God leaves us
- 38:37to see that,
- 38:38let's remember the headline.
- 38:40Let's remember
- 38:40what it means
- 38:41for those who love
- 38:43the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 38:44And let's remember
- 38:45what it means
- 38:46for those who don't
- 38:47love Him at all,
- 38:49for those who
- 38:50know about Him so much
- 38:52and yet don't yet know Him
- 38:55and haven't yet
- 38:56put their trust in Him.
- 38:58The headline.
- 39:01Secondly,
- 39:02we want to think of
- 39:03the heritage.
- 39:05there is a particular
- 39:08heritage
- 39:08for those
- 39:10who are described here
- 39:12by Jesus,
- 39:14the Son of God
- 39:14in verse number 14.
- 39:17Blessed
- 39:17are those.
- 39:20There are those
- 39:21who are special
- 39:22in this world.
- 39:25And we can think
- 39:26of blessed
- 39:26in the sense of
- 39:27the blessing of God
- 39:28descending upon us
- 39:29and God empowering us
- 39:31with His blessing
- 39:32and giving us
- 39:33that sense of newness
- 39:34and of well-being
- 39:35because of His blessing.
- 39:38But the other meaning
- 39:39that we have of blessing
- 39:40in the Old Testament
- 39:41is that we
- 39:42look at a person
- 39:44and we
- 39:45envy that person
- 39:47with desire
- 39:47because they are
- 39:49something that we
- 39:50should have
- 39:52and would have
- 39:52ourselves.
- 39:53and it's not
- 39:54envy in any
- 39:55kind of
- 39:56wrong or
- 39:57evil way.
- 39:58It's that
- 39:59holy envy
- 40:00that the Old Testament
- 40:01speaks of.
- 40:02Here is somebody
- 40:03and I want to be
- 40:05more like them
- 40:05more than anyone else.
- 40:08And we hear
- 40:09David in Psalm
- 40:09number 32
- 40:11saying,
- 40:11Blessed is the one
- 40:12whose sins
- 40:12is forgiven.
- 40:14What does he mean
- 40:14by that?
- 40:16To be envied
- 40:17with desire.
- 40:18That's the person
- 40:19I want to be.
- 40:20The person
- 40:21whose sins
- 40:21are forgiven.
- 40:23And carrying that
- 40:24meaning into these
- 40:25words here,
- 40:26here are our people
- 40:27and we want to be
- 40:28like them
- 40:29more than we
- 40:30want to be like
- 40:31anyone else,
- 40:32even ourselves.
- 40:34These are the people
- 40:35we want to be like.
- 40:38Blessed are those
- 40:39who wash
- 40:41their robes.
- 40:44There's a sense
- 40:45of being unclean
- 40:46and because of
- 40:48the uncleanness
- 40:49there's a need
- 40:49for washing.
- 40:51And there's a sense
- 40:52of the need
- 40:53for washing
- 40:53in order to be
- 40:54acceptable.
- 40:57In the Old Testament
- 40:58the unclean person
- 41:00doesn't have the right
- 41:01to have access
- 41:02into the presence
- 41:03of God.
- 41:05In Exodus chapter 19
- 41:07the children of Israel
- 41:08were asked to
- 41:09wash themselves
- 41:10and to prepare
- 41:11themselves
- 41:11because God
- 41:12was coming down
- 41:14to meet them.
- 41:16And so Moses
- 41:16commanded them
- 41:17to prepare
- 41:18for the entrance
- 41:19of God
- 41:20on Mount Sinai
- 41:21and for him
- 41:22to speak
- 41:22to the people.
- 41:24There is that sense
- 41:25of the need
- 41:26of cleansing
- 41:26in order
- 41:28to be
- 41:29acceptable
- 41:30in the presence
- 41:31of God.
- 41:32And the cleansing
- 41:34here is quite
- 41:34specific.
- 41:36The detergent,
- 41:38the agent
- 41:38that we're going
- 41:39to use
- 41:39for the cleansing
- 41:40is quite specific.
- 41:41Blessed are those
- 41:43who wash their robes
- 41:44so that they may
- 41:45have a right
- 41:46to the tree of life
- 41:47and that they may
- 41:48enter the city
- 41:49by the gates.
- 41:51When we go back
- 41:52to Revelation chapter 7
- 41:54we read of those
- 41:55who wash their robes
- 41:56and have made them
- 41:57white in the blood
- 41:58of the Lamb.
- 42:01It's in their
- 42:01relationship with Jesus
- 42:02that they are cleansed.
- 42:04It's in their
- 42:05relationship with Jesus
- 42:06that their sins
- 42:06are forgiven
- 42:07so that they do
- 42:08have access
- 42:09into the presence
- 42:10of God.
- 42:11But also
- 42:12and especially
- 42:14in Revelation 7
- 42:15and in this passage
- 42:17here
- 42:17there is the sense
- 42:19of which
- 42:20washing their robes
- 42:22reflects
- 42:23their loyalty
- 42:25to Jesus.
- 42:27And we
- 42:27can read
- 42:28in chapter 19
- 42:30at verse number 8
- 42:30that the
- 42:31fine linen
- 42:32and the white robes
- 42:33they are the righteous
- 42:34deeds of the saints.
- 42:37Who are the
- 42:38blessed ones?
- 42:39Who are the ones
- 42:40that we want to be
- 42:40like more than
- 42:41anyone else?
- 42:43It is those
- 42:44who put their
- 42:44trust in the Lord
- 42:45Jesus
- 42:45and to remain
- 42:47loyal to him
- 42:48throughout the
- 42:48whole of their
- 42:49lives.
- 42:50And no matter
- 42:51the difficulty
- 42:52no matter
- 42:52the persecution
- 42:53no matter
- 42:54the challenge
- 42:55no matter
- 42:56the test
- 42:57or the temptation
- 42:57they continue
- 42:58to put their
- 42:59trust
- 43:00in the Lord
- 43:00Jesus.
- 43:02And in that
- 43:03sense
- 43:03kept their
- 43:04garments
- 43:05from being
- 43:06soiled
- 43:06by becoming
- 43:08like the
- 43:08world
- 43:09or taking
- 43:10up the
- 43:11habits
- 43:11and the
- 43:12behaviors
- 43:12of the
- 43:12world
- 43:13they remained
- 43:14loyal
- 43:15to the
- 43:17passion
- 43:17of the
- 43:18Lord Jesus.
- 43:20These are the
- 43:21ones
- 43:22that we
- 43:23need to be
- 43:23like.
- 43:25Those who
- 43:25are holy
- 43:27because God
- 43:28is holy.
- 43:29Those who
- 43:30have a
- 43:31lifestyle
- 43:31conformant
- 43:32to the
- 43:32word of
- 43:33God.
- 43:35Those who
- 43:35have a
- 43:35lifestyle
- 43:36that speaks
- 43:36loudly
- 43:37of their
- 43:38devotion
- 43:38to the
- 43:38Lord
- 43:39Jesus.
- 43:40They are
- 43:40the ones
- 43:41that we
- 43:42want to
- 43:43be like.
- 43:44And we
- 43:45need to
- 43:45ask ourselves
- 43:46this evening
- 43:46are we
- 43:47the kind
- 43:48of people
- 43:48that others
- 43:50would say
- 43:51about us
- 43:52we want
- 43:52to be
- 43:53like that
- 43:53Christian
- 43:53more than
- 43:54any other
- 43:54person in
- 43:55the world
- 43:55because we
- 43:56see there
- 43:57a Christian
- 43:58devoted to
- 43:58the Lord
- 43:59Jesus.
- 44:00That's what
- 44:01God requires
- 44:02of us.
- 44:03That's what
- 44:03Jesus our
- 44:04Savior requires
- 44:05of us.
- 44:06And tonight
- 44:08if we are
- 44:09not the
- 44:10children of
- 44:11God and
- 44:12if we do
- 44:12not have
- 44:12the faith
- 44:13in the
- 44:13Lord Jesus
- 44:14then we
- 44:15need to
- 44:15look around
- 44:16in the
- 44:17light of
- 44:18what the
- 44:18Bible says
- 44:19and to
- 44:20find for
- 44:21ourselves
- 44:21the most
- 44:22Christ-like
- 44:23person in
- 44:24the world
- 44:24and to
- 44:25see what
- 44:26makes them
- 44:26Christ-like
- 44:27and to
- 44:28say to
- 44:29yourself
- 44:30in your
- 44:30heart
- 44:30that's
- 44:31the
- 44:31person
- 44:32that shows
- 44:32me
- 44:32that the
- 44:33Bible is
- 44:34true
- 44:34that the
- 44:35salvation of
- 44:36Jesus is
- 44:36real
- 44:37and that's
- 44:38the person
- 44:38that persuades
- 44:39me that I
- 44:40must know
- 44:41this Jesus
- 44:42for myself.
- 44:44There is
- 44:45that description
- 44:47of a people
- 44:49who are
- 44:50special
- 44:50who are
- 44:51special because
- 44:52God has
- 44:53made them
- 44:54special
- 44:54and to
- 44:55continue to
- 44:56be special
- 44:57because by
- 44:58the grace
- 44:58of God
- 44:59they are
- 44:59kept and
- 45:00remain loyal
- 45:01day by
- 45:02day.
- 45:04But what
- 45:04is the
- 45:05heritage?
- 45:07They are
- 45:07special
- 45:08because of
- 45:09who they
- 45:09are in
- 45:10the first
- 45:10place.
- 45:13But they
- 45:14are special
- 45:14because they
- 45:16have a
- 45:16right to
- 45:17the tree
- 45:17of life
- 45:18that they
- 45:19may enter
- 45:19the city
- 45:20by the
- 45:22gates.
- 45:24They have
- 45:24a right
- 45:25to close
- 45:26fellowship
- 45:27with God.
- 45:28And tonight
- 45:30when we
- 45:31think of
- 45:31the tree
- 45:32of life
- 45:33I simply
- 45:34want us
- 45:34to think
- 45:34of three
- 45:35images.
- 45:36And the
- 45:37first image
- 45:37is in
- 45:38the garden
- 45:39of Eden
- 45:40where we
- 45:41have the
- 45:42flaming sword
- 45:43guarding the
- 45:44way to the
- 45:45tree of
- 45:45life.
- 45:45Image number
- 45:46one.
- 45:48The second
- 45:48image is in
- 45:49Ezekiel
- 45:50chapter 47
- 45:51where all
- 45:52kinds of
- 45:52trees are
- 45:53growing by
- 45:54the riverside
- 45:55and they
- 45:55are for
- 45:55food for
- 45:56the people.
- 45:57Image number
- 45:58two.
- 45:59The way
- 45:59is barred
- 45:59in image
- 46:00number one.
- 46:01That's the
- 46:01promise of
- 46:02the openness
- 46:03to all the
- 46:04nations of
- 46:04the world
- 46:04in image
- 46:05number two.
- 46:08And here
- 46:09in this
- 46:10chapter we
- 46:11have the
- 46:11third image
- 46:12that the
- 46:13promise of
- 46:14this new
- 46:15way being
- 46:16opened
- 46:16that does
- 46:18away with
- 46:19the sword
- 46:20that blocks
- 46:20the way
- 46:21into the
- 46:22fellowship of
- 46:22God in the
- 46:23paradise of
- 46:23the garden
- 46:24of Eden
- 46:24that here
- 46:25now that
- 46:26promise has
- 46:26been fulfilled.
- 46:28And those
- 46:29who remained
- 46:30loyal to
- 46:31the Lord
- 46:31Jesus
- 46:31who put
- 46:32their trust
- 46:32in him
- 46:33who is the
- 46:33way, who
- 46:34is the
- 46:34truth and
- 46:35who is the
- 46:35life, through
- 46:37their faithfulness
- 46:38to him they
- 46:39have their
- 46:39reward and
- 46:41they have
- 46:42access to
- 46:42the tree
- 46:43of life,
- 46:45to the
- 46:46renewed
- 46:46paradise of
- 46:48the garden
- 46:49of Eden
- 46:50that whatever
- 46:52sin brought
- 46:53into life
- 46:54has been
- 46:55removed by
- 46:56the saving
- 46:56work of the
- 46:57son of
- 46:57God and
- 46:58at last
- 46:59there is
- 47:00that
- 47:01inheritance
- 47:01of walking
- 47:03into the
- 47:03bliss of
- 47:06the presence
- 47:07of God
- 47:07without fear
- 47:09but comfortable
- 47:11with our
- 47:13deep sense
- 47:13of new
- 47:14health and
- 47:15well-being
- 47:16that we
- 47:17never experienced
- 47:18before but
- 47:19perhaps in
- 47:19small glimpses
- 47:20but now to
- 47:22be sitting
- 47:23in the
- 47:24kingdom of
- 47:25heaven and
- 47:26satisfied by
- 47:27the fruit of
- 47:28the tree of
- 47:28life that
- 47:29is satisfied
- 47:30with our
- 47:32fellowship
- 47:33with God
- 47:34they have
- 47:36access to
- 47:36the tree of
- 47:37life and
- 47:39they may
- 47:39enter the
- 47:40city by
- 47:40the gates
- 47:41what does
- 47:43the city
- 47:43mean to the
- 47:43readers
- 47:44what does
- 47:45it mean to
- 47:45the people
- 47:46of God
- 47:46that John
- 47:47was writing
- 47:48to
- 47:48what does
- 47:49it mean to
- 47:49John
- 47:49himself
- 47:50again we
- 47:52have the
- 47:52image of
- 47:53the city
- 47:54of Jerusalem
- 47:54where Solomon
- 47:56built his
- 47:56temple
- 47:57we have
- 47:59image number
- 47:59two where
- 48:00the temple
- 48:00was destroyed
- 48:01because God's
- 48:02people were
- 48:03rebellious
- 48:04we have image
- 48:06number three
- 48:06in Ezekiel
- 48:0747 where
- 48:08the temple
- 48:09is restored
- 48:10restored
- 48:11and there
- 48:12is the
- 48:12waiting for
- 48:13the return
- 48:14of the
- 48:15presence of
- 48:15God
- 48:16and here
- 48:17we have
- 48:18all of that
- 48:18now fulfilled
- 48:19there is
- 48:21the
- 48:21entrance
- 48:22to the
- 48:23city by
- 48:24the gates
- 48:24and we'll
- 48:25read down
- 48:26at the
- 48:26beginning of
- 48:27this chapter
- 48:27and at
- 48:28chapter 21
- 48:28the beauty
- 48:29of the
- 48:30city of
- 48:31God
- 48:32and the
- 48:32beauty of
- 48:33the gates
- 48:33of the
- 48:33city of
- 48:34God
- 48:34but it
- 48:36is having
- 48:37that right
- 48:38of access
- 48:39into the
- 48:40new heavens
- 48:41and the
- 48:41new earth
- 48:42and into
- 48:43the renewed
- 48:44Jerusalem
- 48:45it is
- 48:47the right
- 48:50to enter
- 48:50in to
- 48:51the new
- 48:52creation
- 48:53of God
- 48:54it's a
- 48:57place of
- 48:57close fellowship
- 48:58with God
- 48:59and a place
- 49:00of separation
- 49:01from all
- 49:02appearances of
- 49:03evil that
- 49:04we read of
- 49:05in the
- 49:06following
- 49:06verse
- 49:06outside
- 49:07the city
- 49:08on the
- 49:10other
- 49:10side
- 49:10of the
- 49:11gate
- 49:11are
- 49:14dogs
- 49:14and
- 49:15socialers
- 49:15the
- 49:16sexually
- 49:16immoral
- 49:16and
- 49:17murderers
- 49:17and
- 49:18idolaters
- 49:19and
- 49:19everyone
- 49:20who
- 49:20loves
- 49:20and
- 49:20who
- 49:21practices
- 49:21false
- 49:22suit
- 49:22every
- 49:23other
- 49:24person
- 49:24in the
- 49:24world
- 49:25whatever
- 49:26their
- 49:26sins
- 49:27are
- 49:27however
- 49:28they may
- 49:30look like
- 49:30Christians
- 49:31and are
- 49:31not
- 49:31all of
- 49:32them are
- 49:32on the
- 49:33outside
- 49:33and
- 49:34because
- 49:35of that
- 49:35the pain
- 49:36is on
- 49:36the
- 49:37outside
- 49:37the
- 49:37testing
- 49:38is on
- 49:38the
- 49:38outside
- 49:39everything
- 49:40that brings
- 49:40sorrow is
- 49:41on the
- 49:41outside
- 49:42it's
- 49:42entering
- 49:43into
- 49:43the
- 49:44final
- 49:45paradise
- 49:46of God
- 49:48where all
- 49:49that sin
- 49:50has brought
- 49:51into the
- 49:51experience
- 49:52of the
- 49:52world
- 49:53is
- 49:54undone
- 49:54and is
- 49:55reversed
- 49:55by the
- 49:57grace
- 49:57of God
- 49:57so that
- 49:58we
- 49:59the
- 50:00blessed
- 50:00ones
- 50:01who
- 50:03remain
- 50:03loyal to
- 50:04the
- 50:04Lord
- 50:04Jesus
- 50:04so that
- 50:05we may
- 50:06enter
- 50:06in
- 50:07to
- 50:08everlasting
- 50:09bliss
- 50:10that
- 50:11inheritance
- 50:12that Peter
- 50:13describes
- 50:13that is
- 50:15incorruptible
- 50:16and
- 50:17undefiled
- 50:17reserved
- 50:19in heaven
- 50:19for us
- 50:20the
- 50:22herald
- 50:23has
- 50:24great
- 50:25news
- 50:25he is
- 50:25coming
- 50:26the
- 50:28herald
- 50:28has
- 50:28great
- 50:28news
- 50:29because
- 50:29there
- 50:30is
- 50:30a
- 50:30heritage
- 50:31there
- 50:31is
- 50:31an
- 50:31inheritance
- 50:32that
- 50:32we're
- 50:32going
- 50:32to
- 50:33enjoy
- 50:34at
- 50:35the
- 50:35time
- 50:35of
- 50:36his
- 50:36return
- 50:36and
- 50:38tonight
- 50:38again
- 50:39as we
- 50:39come to
- 50:40the
- 50:40close
- 50:40of
- 50:40this
- 50:40year
- 50:41we're
- 50:41asked
- 50:42to
- 50:42reflect
- 50:42upon
- 50:43that
- 50:43who
- 50:44is
- 50:45blessed
- 50:45who
- 50:46must
- 50:46we
- 50:46be
- 50:46like
- 50:47and
- 50:49where
- 50:49do
- 50:49we
- 50:49want
- 50:49to
- 50:49be
- 50:50when
- 50:51the
- 50:51Son
- 50:51of
- 50:51God
- 50:51returns
- 50:53the
- 50:54herald
- 50:55the
- 50:55heritage
- 50:55and
- 50:57thirdly
- 50:58the
- 51:00harmony
- 51:00there
- 51:03is
- 51:03harmony
- 51:04in
- 51:04these
- 51:04verses
- 51:04that
- 51:06speak
- 51:07to us
- 51:07of the
- 51:09mission
- 51:10of
- 51:10God
- 51:10the
- 51:12harmony
- 51:12comes
- 51:13through
- 51:13this
- 51:14word
- 51:14that
- 51:15Jesus
- 51:15himself
- 51:16uses
- 51:16in
- 51:16verse
- 51:1712
- 51:17behold
- 51:17I
- 51:18am
- 51:18coming
- 51:18and
- 51:20we
- 51:20read
- 51:21the
- 51:21harmony
- 51:21of
- 51:22verse
- 51:22number
- 51:2217
- 51:23the
- 51:24spirit
- 51:24and
- 51:25the
- 51:25bride
- 51:25say
- 51:25come
- 51:26come
- 51:26Jesus
- 51:30the
- 51:31Son
- 51:31of
- 51:31God
- 51:31has
- 51:31announced
- 51:32that
- 51:32he
- 51:32is
- 51:32coming
- 51:33and
- 51:34as
- 51:35soon
- 51:35as
- 51:35he
- 51:35says
- 51:35that
- 51:36there's
- 51:37a
- 51:37harmonious
- 51:38tune
- 51:39going
- 51:39across
- 51:40the
- 51:40whole
- 51:41of
- 51:41the
- 51:41existence
- 51:42of
- 51:42the
- 51:42people
- 51:43of
- 51:43God
- 51:43when
- 51:44he
- 51:44says
- 51:45come
- 51:45they
- 51:46are
- 51:46longing
- 51:46for
- 51:46him
- 51:46to
- 51:46come
- 51:47and
- 51:49it
- 51:49reminds
- 51:49us
- 51:49of
- 51:50the
- 51:50way
- 51:51which
- 51:51the
- 51:51mission
- 51:51of
- 51:52God
- 51:52is
- 51:52about
- 51:52coming
- 51:53and
- 51:54the
- 51:55way
- 51:55in
- 51:55which
- 51:55that
- 51:55mission
- 51:55impacts
- 51:56upon
- 51:56the
- 51:57hearts
- 51:57and
- 51:57the
- 51:58minds
- 51:58of
- 51:58the
- 51:58people
- 51:59of
- 51:59God
- 51:59I
- 52:00am
- 52:00coming
- 52:01and
- 52:02as
- 52:02soon
- 52:02as
- 52:02he
- 52:02says
- 52:03that
- 52:03the
- 52:04spirit
- 52:04and
- 52:05the
- 52:05bride
- 52:05say
- 52:05come
- 52:06the
- 52:08Holy
- 52:08Spirit
- 52:09who
- 52:11works
- 52:11through
- 52:12the
- 52:12preaching
- 52:13of
- 52:13the
- 52:13gospel
- 52:13the
- 52:14word
- 52:14of
- 52:14God
- 52:14to
- 52:16bring
- 52:16us
- 52:16alive
- 52:17to
- 52:18keep
- 52:18us
- 52:18alive
- 52:19to
- 52:19unite
- 52:20us
- 52:20to
- 52:20Jesus
- 52:21to
- 52:22bring
- 52:22about
- 52:22the
- 52:22new
- 52:22birth
- 52:23that
- 52:24Holy
- 52:24Spirit
- 52:25sent
- 52:26by
- 52:26Jesus
- 52:26into
- 52:26the
- 52:27world
- 52:27to
- 52:27fulfill
- 52:28the
- 52:28mission
- 52:28of
- 52:29God
- 52:29he
- 52:30is
- 52:31saying
- 52:31Lord
- 52:32Jesus
- 52:33Son
- 52:33of
- 52:33God
- 52:33come
- 52:34the
- 52:35spirit
- 52:36longs
- 52:36for
- 52:36his
- 52:37own
- 52:37work
- 52:38of
- 52:38redemption
- 52:39to
- 52:39be
- 52:40completed
- 52:40for
- 52:41all
- 52:42of
- 52:42the
- 52:42people
- 52:42of
- 52:42God
- 52:42to
- 52:43be
- 52:43gathered
- 52:43together
- 52:44to
- 52:45bring
- 52:45the
- 52:45whole
- 52:45of the
- 52:46experience
- 52:46of the
- 52:47people
- 52:47of God
- 52:47through
- 52:48the
- 52:48power of
- 52:49the
- 52:49Holy
- 52:49Spirit
- 52:50to a
- 52:51new
- 52:51level
- 52:52and to
- 52:52raise it
- 52:53up to
- 52:54the kind
- 52:55of platform
- 52:55never before
- 52:56experienced
- 52:57the Holy
- 52:59Spirit
- 53:00saying
- 53:00come
- 53:01and
- 53:03joining
- 53:04with the
- 53:04Holy
- 53:04Spirit
- 53:04is
- 53:05the
- 53:06bride
- 53:06the
- 53:08Holy
- 53:08Spirit
- 53:08and the
- 53:09bride
- 53:09say
- 53:10come
- 53:10and
- 53:12when
- 53:12we
- 53:12read
- 53:12this
- 53:12book
- 53:13of
- 53:13the
- 53:13Revelation
- 53:14we
- 53:15see
- 53:15that
- 53:16the
- 53:17bride
- 53:17is
- 53:17the
- 53:18bride
- 53:19of
- 53:19the
- 53:19Lamb
- 53:19of
- 53:19the
- 53:20Son
- 53:20of
- 53:20God
- 53:20we
- 53:21read
- 53:21in
- 53:22chapter
- 53:2219
- 53:23of
- 53:23the
- 53:23marriage
- 53:24supper
- 53:24of
- 53:25the
- 53:25Lamb
- 53:25and
- 53:26the
- 53:26bride
- 53:26has
- 53:27made
- 53:27herself
- 53:27ready
- 53:28and
- 53:29when
- 53:29we
- 53:29think
- 53:30of
- 53:30the
- 53:30bride
- 53:30here
- 53:30we
- 53:31are
- 53:31thinking
- 53:31of
- 53:32those
- 53:32believers
- 53:33who
- 53:34went
- 53:34before
- 53:35us
- 53:35down
- 53:36through
- 53:36the
- 53:36generations
- 53:37who
- 53:38have
- 53:38passed
- 53:39on from
- 53:39the
- 53:39scene
- 53:39of
- 53:40time
- 53:40and
- 53:41to
- 53:41have
- 53:41entered
- 53:41into
- 53:41the
- 53:41glory
- 53:42of
- 53:42God
- 53:42the
- 53:44bride
- 53:44of
- 53:45Christ
- 53:45around
- 53:46the
- 53:46throne
- 53:47of
- 53:47God
- 53:47waiting
- 53:49for
- 53:49the
- 53:49end
- 53:49of
- 53:50time
- 53:50waiting
- 53:51for
- 53:51the
- 53:52day
- 53:52when
- 53:52their
- 53:53bodies
- 53:53will
- 53:53be
- 53:53raised
- 53:54and
- 53:55when
- 53:55they
- 53:55will
- 53:56be
- 53:56in
- 53:56glory
- 53:56as
- 53:57body
- 53:58and
- 53:58soul
- 53:58to
- 53:59enjoy
- 53:59the
- 54:00full
- 54:00satisfaction
- 54:02of
- 54:03the
- 54:03salvation
- 54:04and
- 54:04the
- 54:05redemption
- 54:05of
- 54:05Jesus
- 54:05Christ
- 54:06the
- 54:07bride
- 54:07is
- 54:08saying
- 54:08come
- 54:09and
- 54:11in
- 54:11chapter
- 54:126
- 54:12we
- 54:12read
- 54:13that
- 54:14the
- 54:14people
- 54:15of
- 54:15God
- 54:15in
- 54:15heaven
- 54:15are
- 54:16saying
- 54:16how
- 54:17long
- 54:17before
- 54:18you
- 54:18come
- 54:19and
- 54:20judge
- 54:21those
- 54:21who
- 54:22put
- 54:22my
- 54:23people
- 54:23to
- 54:23death
- 54:23there's
- 54:23that
- 54:24sense
- 54:24come
- 54:27son
- 54:29of
- 54:29God
- 54:29and
- 54:32it's
- 54:32it's
- 54:33a
- 54:33wonderful
- 54:34thought
- 54:34that
- 54:35reminds
- 54:36us
- 54:36of
- 54:36the
- 54:36fact
- 54:37that
- 54:37those
- 54:38who
- 54:38have
- 54:38gone
- 54:38before
- 54:39us
- 54:39the
- 54:39believers
- 54:40who
- 54:40remained
- 54:41faithful
- 54:41and
- 54:42who
- 54:42have
- 54:42gone
- 54:42to
- 54:42glory
- 54:43that
- 54:45they
- 54:45are
- 54:45looking
- 54:45for
- 54:45something
- 54:46more
- 54:46that
- 54:48they
- 54:48are
- 54:48looking
- 54:48for
- 54:49perfection
- 54:49and
- 54:50for
- 54:50completion
- 54:51which
- 54:51they
- 54:52haven't
- 54:52had
- 54:53yet
- 54:53and
- 54:54because
- 54:55of
- 54:55that
- 54:55they
- 54:55are
- 54:55saying
- 54:56son
- 54:57of
- 54:57man
- 54:57alpha
- 54:58and
- 54:58omega
- 54:58come
- 55:00the
- 55:00spirit
- 55:01and
- 55:01the
- 55:01bride
- 55:01say
- 55:02come
- 55:03there's
- 55:03a choir
- 55:04building
- 55:04up
- 55:05of
- 55:06those
- 55:06who
- 55:06are
- 55:06saying
- 55:07to
- 55:07the
- 55:07son
- 55:07of
- 55:07God
- 55:08come
- 55:08let
- 55:12the
- 55:12one
- 55:12who
- 55:12hears
- 55:13say
- 55:15come
- 55:15the
- 55:18ones
- 55:18who
- 55:19are
- 55:19hearing
- 55:20this
- 55:21letter
- 55:21in
- 55:21its
- 55:21reading
- 55:22this
- 55:24revelation
- 55:25who
- 55:25are
- 55:25hearing
- 55:26it
- 55:26the
- 55:27hearers
- 55:28of
- 55:28the
- 55:28gospel
- 55:29the
- 55:30hearers
- 55:30of
- 55:30the
- 55:31word
- 55:31of
- 55:31God
- 55:31yourselves
- 55:33this
- 55:34evening
- 55:34we
- 55:34are
- 55:35here
- 55:35to
- 55:35hear
- 55:36the
- 55:36word
- 55:36of
- 55:37God
- 55:37and
- 55:38let
- 55:38the
- 55:39hearers
- 55:39the
- 55:41one
- 55:41who
- 55:41hears
- 55:42let
- 55:42them
- 55:42say
- 55:42come
- 55:43there
- 55:44is
- 55:44an
- 55:45imperative
- 55:45and
- 55:46the
- 55:47imperative
- 55:47is
- 55:48calling
- 55:48on
- 55:49all
- 55:49of
- 55:49you
- 55:49this
- 55:50evening
- 55:50to
- 55:51reach
- 55:51out
- 55:51to
- 55:51the
- 55:51son
- 55:52of
- 55:52God
- 55:52who
- 55:53has
- 55:53said
- 55:53I'm
- 55:53coming
- 55:54soon
- 55:54and
- 55:56out
- 55:56of
- 55:56a
- 55:56sense
- 55:56of
- 55:57longing
- 55:57in
- 55:57your
- 55:57heart
- 55:58to
- 55:59say
- 55:59to
- 55:59him
- 55:59come
- 56:00Lord
- 56:01Jesus
- 56:01come
- 56:03oh
- 56:03son
- 56:04of
- 56:04God
- 56:04and
- 56:05come
- 56:05in
- 56:06the
- 56:06mission
- 56:06of
- 56:06God
- 56:07and
- 56:07do
- 56:08what
- 56:08you
- 56:08have
- 56:08purposed
- 56:09to
- 56:10do
- 56:10and
- 56:12read
- 56:12some
- 56:12of
- 56:12the
- 56:12psalms
- 56:1342
- 56:14and
- 56:14psalm
- 56:1484
- 56:14of
- 56:15the
- 56:15longing
- 56:16of
- 56:17the
- 56:17people
- 56:17of
- 56:17God
- 56:18when
- 56:19shall
- 56:19I
- 56:19appear
- 56:19again
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- 56:25ways
- 56:25of
- 56:25God
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- 56:26hearts
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- 56:28the
- 56:29temple
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- 56:30God
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- 56:36you
- 56:37are
- 56:38the
- 56:38child
- 56:38of
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- 56:45sense
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- 56:50out
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- 56:51the
- 56:52very
- 56:52nature
- 56:52of
- 56:53the
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- 56:54is
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- 56:55that
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- 56:57are
- 56:57not
- 56:57completely
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- 57:00have
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- 57:02more
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- 57:12come
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- 57:14that's
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- 57:14in
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- 57:158
- 57:16and
- 57:162
- 57:16Corinthians
- 57:175
- 57:17speaks
- 57:18of
- 57:18groaning
- 57:19of
- 57:19longing
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- 57:22knows
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- 57:23is
- 57:23something
- 57:23better
- 57:24than
- 57:25what
- 57:25he
- 57:25has
- 57:25in
- 57:26Corinth
- 57:27and
- 57:27in
- 57:27Rome
- 57:28there
- 57:29is
- 57:29the
- 57:30harmony
- 57:31of
- 57:32the
- 57:33coming
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- 57:47Omega
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- 58:42word
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- 58:47same
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- 59:07coming
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- 59:50son
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- 1:04:08give
- 1:04:08them
- 1:04:08to
- 1:04:08drink
- 1:04:08with
- 1:04:09joy
- 1:04:09from
- 1:04:10the
- 1:04:10wells
- 1:04:10of
- 1:04:10salvation
- 1:04:11and
- 1:04:11to
- 1:04:11know
- 1:04:12what
- 1:04:12it
- 1:04:12is
- 1:04:12to
- 1:04:13have
- 1:04:13peace
- 1:04:13with
- 1:04:13God
- 1:04:13through
- 1:04:14our
- 1:04:14Lord
- 1:04:14Jesus
- 1:04:15Christ
- 1:04:15bless
- 1:04:16your
- 1:04:16word
- 1:04:17to us
- 1:04:17who
- 1:04:17pray
- 1:04:17and
- 1:04:17hear
- 1:04:17us
- 1:04:18we
- 1:04:19ask
- 1:04:19for
- 1:04:19Jesus
- 1:04:19sake
- 1:04:20Amen
- 1:04:21glory
- 1:04:25psalm is
- 1:04:25psalm number
- 1:04:2624 in
- 1:04:27the
- 1:04:27Scottish
- 1:04:27Psalter
- 1:04:27it's
- 1:04:28on
- 1:04:29page
- 1:04:29230
- 1:04:30and
- 1:04:33we're
- 1:04:33singing
- 1:04:34at
- 1:04:34verse
- 1:04:34number
- 1:04:347
- 1:04:35to
- 1:04:35the
- 1:04:35end
- 1:04:35of
- 1:04:36the
- 1:04:36psalm
- 1:04:36and
- 1:04:37the
- 1:04:37tune
- 1:04:37is
- 1:04:38St
- 1:04:38George's
- 1:04:39Edinburgh
- 1:04:39psalm
- 1:04:4024
- 1:04:41at
- 1:04:41verse
- 1:04:41number
- 1:04:427
- 1:04:43ye
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- 1:04:45lift up
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- 1:04:47high
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- 1:04:48that
- 1:04:48last
- 1:04:48foray
- 1:04:49be
- 1:04:50lifted
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- 1:04:51the
- 1:04:51king
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- 1:04:52glory
- 1:04:52enter
- 1:04:53me
- 1:04:54now
- 1:04:54to
- 1:04:54the
- 1:04:54benediction
- 1:04:55I'll
- 1:04:55go to
- 1:04:55the
- 1:04:55main
- 1:04:56door
- 1:04:56we'll
- 1:04:58stand
- 1:04:58to sing
- 1:04:59these
- 1:04:59vessels
- 1:04:59to
- 1:04:59God's
- 1:05:00praise
- 1:05:00!
- 1:05:01Amen
- 1:05:02to
- 1:05:03the
- 1:05:05king
- 1:05:06slid up
- 1:05:08your
- 1:05:09heads
- 1:05:10of
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- 1:05:13He
- 1:05:14would
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- 1:05:16for
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- 1:05:20lifted up
- 1:05:22the
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- 1:05:27entering
- 1:05:30the
- 1:05:33doom
- 1:05:34of
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- 1:05:37the
- 1:05:38king
- 1:05:39that
- 1:05:41mighty
- 1:05:42Lord
- 1:05:43resist
- 1:05:44in
- 1:05:47that
- 1:05:47sin
- 1:05:48Lord
- 1:05:49that
- 1:05:50gate
- 1:05:51in
- 1:05:51mine
- 1:05:52and
- 1:05:54strong
- 1:05:55in
- 1:05:56matters
- 1:05:58He
- 1:06:00has
- 1:06:01saved
- 1:06:02Lord
- 1:06:03that
- 1:06:04gate
- 1:06:05in
- 1:06:05mine
- 1:06:07and
- 1:06:08strong
- 1:06:09in
- 1:06:10matters
- 1:06:12He
- 1:06:15lifted
- 1:06:17up
- 1:06:19your
- 1:06:20head
- 1:06:21doors
- 1:06:24have
- 1:06:26to
- 1:06:27last
- 1:06:28for
- 1:06:29aim
- 1:06:30He
- 1:06:31waked
- 1:06:32up
- 1:06:34the
- 1:06:34soul
- 1:06:36and
- 1:06:36King
- 1:06:37of
- 1:06:38glory
- 1:06:39enter
- 1:06:41name
- 1:06:43but
- 1:06:44truth
- 1:06:46is
- 1:06:47he
- 1:06:48that
- 1:06:48is
- 1:06:49the
- 1:06:50King
- 1:06:51of
- 1:06:52glory
- 1:06:54who
- 1:06:55is
- 1:06:56this
- 1:06:57the
- 1:06:59Lord
- 1:07:00of
- 1:07:00hosts
- 1:07:01and
- 1:07:02number
- 1:07:03team
- 1:07:05the
- 1:07:06King
- 1:07:07of
- 1:07:08glory
- 1:07:09is
- 1:07:11the
- 1:07:12Lord
- 1:07:13of
- 1:07:14hosts
- 1:07:15and
- 1:07:16number
- 1:07:17team
- 1:07:18King
- 1:07:19of
- 1:07:20!
- 1:07:21of
- 1:07:22glory
- 1:07:23!
- 1:07:24Jesus
- 1:07:26Alleluia!
- 1:07:30Alleluia!
- 1:07:34Alleluia!
- 1:07:38Alleluia!
- 1:07:43Alleluia!
- 1:07:45Alleluia!
- 1:07:50Alleluia!
- 1:07:51Alleluia!
- 1:07:51Alleluia!
- 1:07:52Alleluia!
- 1:07:52Alleluia!
- 1:07:53Alleluia!
- 1:07:54Amen.
- 1:07:56Amen.
- 1:08:02The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
- 1:08:06the love of God the Father,
- 1:08:07and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
- 1:08:09be with you all now and forevermore.
- 1:08:12Amen.