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Preparation, Progress and Prayer · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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To be with you this evening for a time of worship as you prepare for your communion season.
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And we'll begin our worship this evening beginning of singing from Psalm 33 in the Psalter.
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! Psalm 33, we're going to sing from the beginning to verse 6 to the tune Irish.
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Ye righteous in the Lord rejoice.
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It comely is unright that upright men with thankful voice should praise the Lord of might.
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Praise God with harp and unto him sing with the psaltery.
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Upon a ten-stringed instrument make ye sweet melody.
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We'll sing to the end of verse 6 to the praise of God together.
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Ye righteous in the Lord rejoice.
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It comely is unright that upright.
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And half a bright men with thankful voice should praise the Lord of might.
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Praise God with harp and unto him sing with the psaltery.
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A song of the psaltery.
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Upon a ten-stringed instrument make ye sweet melody.
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A new song to him sing with the psaltery.
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A new song to him sing and play with loud noise skillfully.
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For righteous God's word.
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All his words are done in mercy.
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To judgment unto righteousness.
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To judgment unto righteousness.
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How love he may rest still.
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The loving kindness of the Lord.
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The air throughout the field.
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The heavens by the word of God.
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The heavens by the word of God.
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In their beginning day.
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The heavens by the word of God.
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The heavens by the word of God.
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The heavens by the word of God.
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Their frame did take.
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Lord these words remind us this evening.
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That we are coming before you.
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Creator and sustainer.
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Sovereign ruler.
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Almighty God.
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And so we bow Lord this evening.
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We acknowledge you.
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We ask that as we join together for this hour of worship.
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As we open your word.
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And as Lord we spend this time in worship.
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We pray that you would draw near to us, Lord, and do us good.
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That we pray, that you pray, that you pray,
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That you pray, that you pray,
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That you pray, that you pray,
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That you pray, that you pray,
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That you pray,
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Lord we spend this time in worship we pray that you would draw near to us Lord and do us good
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that we might know the presence of the Holy Spirit here this evening and that he would in our hearts
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testify to the wonder and beauty and splendor and depth and richness of your provision toward us in
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Christ who has said he will testify of me and so Lord we ask tonight at the outset of this communion
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weekend for your blessing upon word and sacrament upon fellowship and singing that you would hear
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the prayers of your people and as they offer Lord to you their petitions as they bring to you the
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concerns of their heart as they seek the blessing of the Lord upon the cause of Christ here in Stornoway
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and across our island Lord be near them bless them keep them we pray and as they spend this time around
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your word together tomorrow with Callum and over the weekend with David we pray Lord God that you
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would draw near and bless we pray that there would be a real encouragement and a an enriching of spiritual
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vitality a depth and a deepening of grace and faith by both word and sacrament being received in faith
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Lord we thank you that you deal with us in such a way that we have here in our midst the very word of
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life and we bless you that you speak to us and that the word of God continues to do the work of God in
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hearts around our island and in their nation across the world this very evening we pray tonight for all
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the prayer meetings being held across our island we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who will
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be meeting just as we are with their Bibles open singing praise to the living God seeking your blessing
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the word as it is explained and broken down and Lord we pray that here and all these meetings across
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the land it would be to the benefit and blessing of your people that there would be real encouragement
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tonight through fellowship and preaching and prayer and praise that as your people worship they would
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be prepared Lord to meet you in that place of stillness and then ready to meet the world and tomorrow
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and in the next day at times we are so grateful for these Wednesday nights to come together to gather
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around the word brothers and sisters in Christ to remind ourselves whose we are and who we are children
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of the living God and so Lord as we reflect on these wonderful truths and the vitality of the gospel we
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pray for your blessing on your cause in Stornoway be with Calamurdo the elders and deacons the Sunday
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school teachers all the activities and groups and plans that go toward making this place a place that is
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dedicated to your glory and your praise and honour and Lord may that work reap a great harvest may your
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people be enriched and encouraged and built up in the faith and may those who as yet are unconvinced and
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unconverted Lord draw them we pray by your grace and in your power may there be conviction of sin in hearts
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may eyes be opened to the awfulness of our situation out with Jesus where we would remain under the wrath and
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judgment of God and so Lord we pray for the reality of our precariousness to be blessed to many and that
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Lord as that work begins may your people come alongside to share a word in season a word of hope a word of grace
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and remind those who may seek you of the invitation and summons of Jesus come to me
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we are reminded of Philip's example when he spoke to that Ethiopian official he told him the good news
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about Jesus and what news it is the son of God who came into this world to seek and to save the lost
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he paid a price that we could not pay he stood in a place so that we would not have to experience
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separation and darkness and the awfulness of that forsakenness that he felt on that cross
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for he tasted that death which was due to fallen sinners and so we pray Lord that that
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atoning sacrifice would be ever more precious to us in the days ahead and that we would in our own way
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in time figure out ways to share and explain and describe the finished work of Christ in truthfulness
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in love with a sense of awe and wonder and that we Lord as people who have come to know the Lord as our
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saviour may our commitment to him in your grace and mercy become convincing to those around us for we know
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Lord they watch our lives they they read our decisions they watch our conduct may our conduct be
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as we as we are called to be holy may our conduct be one a pattern of reverence and awe that we might
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have within us and out with us and about us a fear of the Lord that would speak to those around we pray
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Lord then your blessing on your word tonight on the upcoming communion services across our island
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and those as they preach Lord may they be endowed with the spirit from on high to show forth the praises
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of Christ to declare a risen saviour who was dead and now is alive Lord we commit to you the cares and
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concerns of our hearts tonight we pray for the congregation at this time of vacancy may they Lord be blessed to
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engage with the work may they be encouraged to engage with the work and may you bless Lord their endeavours
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in the cause of Christ at this time we seek your leading in these things as in all things and we pray
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Lord that you would make your way known to the congregation here and to each one who has such a
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concern for the cause that this congregation has stood for all these years and generations Lord we
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require and need and plead for your blessing for without the Lord the labour is in vain and so we
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we express Lord and acknowledge our dependence and we seek your blessing and we ask the forgiveness of
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our sin and everything we do we ask in Jesus name amen
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we'll return to sing psalms this evening we'll sing from psalm 34 and the beginning of the psalm psalm 34 and
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sing psalms we're going to sing to verse 9 to the tune Jackson at all times I will bless the Lord
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I'll praise him with my voice because I glory in the Lord let troubled souls rejoice together let us
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praise the Lord exalt his name with me I sought the Lord his answer came from fears he set me free
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psalm 34 we'll sing to verse 9 to God's praise
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praise the Lord
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at all times I will bless the Lord I'll praise him with my voice because I glory in the Lord let troubled souls rejoice
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praise the Lord let them rejoice
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praise the Lord exalt his name with me I sought the Lord his answer came from fears he set me free
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I sought the Lord his answer came from fears he set me free
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voyance voyance voyance
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voyance
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voyance
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From him deliver and save.
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The angel of the Lord surrounds and guards continually.
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All those who fear and honor him, he sets his feet.
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The angel of the Lord is good, who just in him is blessed.
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O fear the Lord, you saints with me, you will not be oppressed.
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I will turn this evening together in our Bibles to the first letter of Peter.
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1 Peter, reading in chapter 1.
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1 Peter, chapter 1, where we find the apostle fulfilling the commission given by the Lord
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to feed the Lord's people, to teach the Lord's people and encourage the Lord's people.
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And he writes to the elect exiles of the dispersion scattered across the Roman Empire
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according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.
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And he writes and wishes grace and peace being multiplied to them.
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He speaks then about our being born again to a living hope.
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And having said something about that, we'll read from verse 13,
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where he links into what he's just said about the living hope that belongs to every Christian.
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Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded,
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set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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1 Peter, chapter 1, verse 13.
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1 Peter, chapter 1, verse 13.
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Sincere, brotherly love.
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Love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again,
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not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.
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For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.
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The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.
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And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
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May the Lord bless his word to our hearts this evening.
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We'll think about that passage in a few moments together.
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First of all, we'll sing again from Sing Psalm, Psalm 25.
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Psalm 25, singing from verse 8.
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And we'll sing to verse 15, to the tune Rockingham.
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Because the Lord is just and good, he shows his paths to all who stray.
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He guides the meek in what is right and teaches them his holy way.
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We'll sing to verse 15 together to God's praise.
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Because the Lord is just and good, he shows his paths to all who stray.
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He guides the meek in what is right and teaches them his holy way.
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He guides the meek in what is right and teaches them his holy way.
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My great iniquity.
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But then I'm going to clear the Lord.
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He'll teach to them the chosen way.
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That thing, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you
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and deep will share.
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My eyes are always on the Lord.
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He'll be my feet from every stair.
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Well, as we turn to 1 Peter again in chapter 1,
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to think about something we've just sung about there
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that speaks of there in verse 15,
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my eyes are always on the Lord.
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What a great description and definition that is of the Christian life.
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My eyes are always on the Lord.
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We'll bow in prayer for a few moments together.
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Lord, that our eyes would always be fixed on you,
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that we would heed the apostle's teaching
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as he feeds the church through his apostolic writings
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that have been blessed to our hearts down through the years.
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We thank you, Lord, that the scriptures principally teach
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what we are to believe concerning God
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and the duty you require of us.
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And so, Lord, as we take to heart your word,
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we pray that your word would do its work in our hearts.
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We ask, Lord, for understanding,
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for insight, wisdom, patience, grace,
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that we might apply to ourselves
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what it is you would have us learn day by day
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as we open our Bibles,
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be it in public as it is this evening
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or in private, Lord, we pray
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that we might know your closeness
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and have an eye to your glory
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and have a desire,
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a burning desire,
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to serve and honour you.
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Lord, take the glory to your name here this evening,
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we pray in Jesus' precious name.
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Amen.
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Well, in 1 Peter in chapter 1,
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precious words written with a very pastoral heart.
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Peter fulfills the commission given by Jesus
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that day on the beach when he said,
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feed my lambs.
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And here we find him doing just that,
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wishing grace and peace
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to be multiplied to his readers.
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And as he goes on,
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we'll find in the passage we read,
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hopefully this evening,
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that at the heart of what the New Testament
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reveals to us all
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is that when we come to Jesus
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in repentance and faith,
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when we respond as the Bible urges us to,
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when we respond as the Spirit summons us to
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and come to God's appointed means of salvation,
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his Son, the Lord Jesus,
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a change of heart is effected.
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And that's where Peter is in verse 3.
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According to his great mercy,
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he has caused us to be born again
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to a living hope.
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He's immediately reminding these Christians,
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many of whom were under the cosh,
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struggling,
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finding things hard,
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that they needed to remember
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or be reminded
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who they were and whose they were.
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And having mentioned that
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at the beginning of the chapter,
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we find him doing it again in verse 23.
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Since you have been born again,
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not of perishable seed,
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but of imperishable
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through the living word of God,
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he's reminding us tonight
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who we are and whose we are,
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that there's been a change of heart.
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This new birth has been effected
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through the grace of God
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and by the application of the Holy Spirit.
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And now there's been a change of status.
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Verse 4,
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you have now been born again
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to a living hope,
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an inheritance
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that is imperishable,
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undefiled,
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unfading,
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being kept in heaven for you.
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This is wonderful stuff
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as Peter begins to draw out
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the change of heart
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and its implications.
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It's not just a change of heart
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because of the change of heart,
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there's a change of status.
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This inheritance is kept for you.
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So brothers and sisters in Christ,
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tonight we are being reminded
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by the word
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that our standing before God changes,
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our focus on life changes,
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our eternal destination changes
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because of what the Lord has done
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for us and in us
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and through his son,
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the Lord Jesus Christ.
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It's a wonderful flow of language
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that sets before us tonight,
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this change of heart,
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this eternal destination,
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the standing.
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It's ours
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because of Christ Jesus,
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our Lord and Saviour.
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And that is made very clear
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in verse 19
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because all of this hinges on what?
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the precious blood of Christ.
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The precious blood of Christ.
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As with Peter,
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so Paul,
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the two great teaching apostles
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in their writing ministry
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make the same emphasis.
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You know well the words of Ephesians 2,
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so famous and precious to Christians
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down through the generations.
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Once you were separated from Christ,
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alienated,
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strangers to the covenants of promise,
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having no hope
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and without God.
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But now,
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in Christ Jesus,
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you who once were far off
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have been brought near
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by the blood of Christ.
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And in his letter to the Colossians,
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the same emphasis,
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he has delivered us
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from the domain of darkness
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and transferred us
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to the kingdom of his beloved son
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in whom we have redemption,
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the forgiveness of sins.
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It's all about who Christ is
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and what Christ has done.
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And so Peter writes
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to remind and encourage Christians
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of this great reality
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using the same powerful imagery
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and language as Paul
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and in so doing,
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he places at the centre of it all
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as Paul does
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the precious blood of Christ.
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Our change of heart
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and the resultant fellowship
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and status
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and the eternal destination,
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all these changes
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that we can think through
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and reflect on,
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it all flows from
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and are guaranteed by
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the precious blood of Christ.
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That is what we have been ransomed with.
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Knowing that you were ransomed
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from the futile ways
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in verse 18,
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inherited from your forefathers,
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not with perishable things
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such as silver and gold.
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The world didn't do this.
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Religion didn't do this.
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The apostles didn't do this.
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The temple didn't do this.
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The sacrificial system,
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the Aaronic priesthood,
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none of these things
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have done this for you,
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Christian friend.
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But nothing other
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than the precious blood of Christ,
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like that of a lamb
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without blemish or spot.
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And so tonight,
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as we think about these things,
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I want to reflect on you
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with the centrality
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of the blood of Christ
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and the resultant
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Christian way of life
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that flows from this.
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Our fellowship,
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our worship,
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the very character
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that defines us,
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our conduct,
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which is mentioned here
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twice in this passage,
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all flows from
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an acknowledgement
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and a deep,
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growing personal awareness
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of our ransom price
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being the blood of Jesus.
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Many hymns have been written
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to try and capture this.
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One of the more famous ones.
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What can wash away my sin?
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Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
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What can make me whole again?
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Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
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Oh, precious is the flow
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that makes me white as snow.
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No other fount I know.
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Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
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And this is the heartbeat
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of the New Testament.
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The very pulse of every congregation
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that names the name of Jesus,
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that holds forth his praises.
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It's all about the blood of Jesus,
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which cleanses us
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from all unrighteousness.
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We profess our faith
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and hope to be in him
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and in him alone.
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And so we have this
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born again to a living hope
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flowing straight into a passage
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that says called to be holy.
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So here's the implications
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of this wonderful reality.
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The precious blood of Jesus Christ
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that makes us,
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washes away our sin
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and makes us whole again.
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There's consequences.
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There's an impact.
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There's a result.
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The Christian way of life.
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There's a few things
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to say about it this evening
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as we spend a little bit
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of time together.
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Verse 13 says,
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Therefore,
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preparing your minds for action
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and being sober-minded,
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set your hope fully
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on the grace
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that will be brought to you
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at the revelation
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of Jesus Christ.
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This Christian way of life
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has the characteristic
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of preparation.
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Preparing your minds
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for action.
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Now this is not a
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dodgy, weak link
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to try and force in the word
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preparatory.
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It's at the heart
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of the characteristics
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that are listed
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in the Christian way of life.
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Preparation.
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Preparing your minds
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for action.
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Being ready.
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This is a call
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to be prepared
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and set your minds
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to exert yourself.
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It's almost as if
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the picture is
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of the athlete
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in the blocks
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waiting for the starter's gun.
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Or you're fixing
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your seatbelt.
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You're ready to
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rev the engine
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and go,
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let the handbrake off.
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It's about this being ready
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to go.
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But to go where?
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To do what?
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Preparing your minds
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for action
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and being sober minded.
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Clear the decks.
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Clear the thoughts.
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Clear the attention.
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Clear the focus.
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And set your hope fully
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on the grace
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that will be brought to you
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at the revelation
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of Jesus Christ.
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And so we reflect
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on who Jesus is
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and what he's done
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for us.
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And the precious blood
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of Jesus
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that washes our sins away
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and makes us
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right and whole
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again.
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And as we commit ourselves
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to the serious
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sustained thinking,
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this is how we begin
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to achieve
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a clearly committed
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Christ-like
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manner
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or Christ-like
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living.
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So as we apply it,
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the more we know him,
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the more we study,
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the more we rely on him,
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the more we learn about him,
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the more we love him,
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the more we trust him,
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the more evident
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it will become
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that we belong to him.
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That we are his
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and he is ours.
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And that will be made
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very evident
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this Sunday morning
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as you take your place
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at his table.
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You go there
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on his summons.
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You go there
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called.
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You go there
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because in his love
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he has prepared
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a feast for you there.
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And he sees
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by his word
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in his spirit
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through grace
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come
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for all things
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are now ready.
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We've probably all
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been in a position
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where we've heard
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that summons
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and our hearts
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have almost burst
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with anticipation,
28:51
our love overflowing
28:53
and then suddenly
28:53
the focus shifts
28:55
and we come away
28:56
from our Lord's
28:57
finished work
28:57
and remember
28:58
our sin
28:59
and our weakness
29:01
and our failings
29:02
and our foibles
29:03
and our faults.
29:06
And we say
29:06
I can't go there.
29:08
That's for holy people.
29:10
Good people.
29:11
People better than me.
29:13
If they knew my heart,
29:14
if they knew my mind,
29:15
if they knew
29:16
the way my imagination works,
29:18
they would never be,
29:19
they would never allow me
29:20
near that table.
29:23
But friend,
29:24
it's not your sense
29:26
of righteousness
29:27
that brings you
29:29
to the table.
29:30
It is,
29:31
the words of verse 19,
29:33
your ransom price
29:34
is the precious blood
29:36
of Christ
29:38
shed
29:39
for you,
29:42
shed for me.
29:43
Because in and of ourselves,
29:45
lost,
29:47
destitute,
29:48
hopeless,
29:50
helpless,
29:51
strangers
29:51
to the commonwealth
29:52
of Israel,
29:53
go back to the language
29:53
of Ephesians 2,
29:54
once you were separated
29:56
from Christ,
29:57
alienated,
29:58
strangers to the covenants
29:59
of promise,
30:00
having no hope
30:00
and without God.
30:02
But,
30:03
now,
30:04
in Christ Jesus,
30:07
you who once
30:08
were far off
30:08
have been brought near
30:10
by the blood of Christ.
30:12
And it's having been
30:13
brought near,
30:15
we hear him say,
30:16
having come to me
30:17
in faith,
30:19
sit at my table.
30:21
I have a feast
30:22
for you.
30:24
And so,
30:24
the Christian way of life
30:25
has about it
30:27
a sense of preparation.
30:29
And as we prepare
30:30
and as we set our minds
30:31
on these things,
30:32
as we focus
30:33
and study
30:34
and reflect
30:34
and spend time
30:35
in fellowship
30:36
and listen to the word
30:37
and allow the word
30:38
to impact us
30:40
and change us
30:40
from the inside out,
30:42
and as we set our minds
30:43
on things that are above
30:44
and realise
30:45
and understand,
30:45
we are hidden in Christ.
30:47
The language
30:48
of the New Testament
30:49
is wonderful.
30:50
Set your hope
30:50
fully on the grace
30:51
that will be brought to you.
30:53
We are his.
30:54
And look what he says
30:54
as you think this through.
30:56
As obedient children,
30:58
do not be conformed
30:59
to the passions
31:00
of your former ignorance
31:01
where the devil
31:03
wants us looking,
31:05
especially at communion weekend.
31:07
He doesn't want us
31:07
focusing on the table
31:08
and the feast
31:09
and the preparation
31:10
and the lavishness
31:11
of the grace of our Lord.
31:13
He doesn't want us
31:13
thinking of his forsakenness
31:15
for us,
31:17
paying our price
31:17
that we could not pay,
31:19
going to that cross,
31:20
that darkness,
31:21
that awful judgment
31:23
that he experienced
31:23
so that we might have life
31:25
and forgiveness.
31:26
He wants us thinking
31:27
about our weakness,
31:28
our sin.
31:28
He wants us on the edge
31:29
of things.
31:30
He wants us fragile.
31:32
He wants us brittle.
31:34
He doesn't want us
31:35
at the table
31:35
because there's a feast there.
31:38
There's grace there.
31:40
There's strength there.
31:42
And we go there
31:43
as obedient children.
31:46
Do not be conformed
31:47
to the passions
31:48
of your former ignorance.
31:50
But as he who called you
31:51
is holy,
31:51
you will also be holy
31:52
in all your conduct.
31:55
And so we are to be obedient
31:57
and we are to be clear-minded.
32:00
We are to fix our attention
32:02
on our Lord and Saviour.
32:03
I want to share with you
32:04
a wonderful saying,
32:06
part of the writings
32:07
of the famous Oswald Chambers.
32:10
It's a saying I come back
32:11
to a number of occasions,
32:12
especially recently,
32:13
because it does a lot
32:15
in terms of clearing
32:16
the ground here,
32:17
making us just reflect
32:18
on what Peter is saying here
32:20
as in many other passages.
32:21
Oswald Chambers,
32:22
who had such a remarkable life
32:24
and achieved so much
32:25
in a relatively short time,
32:27
he wrote this,
32:28
shut out every other consideration
32:31
and keep yourself before God
32:33
for this one thing only,
32:36
my utmost for his highest.
32:38
I am determined
32:40
to be absolutely
32:41
and entirely for him
32:44
and for him alone.
32:47
That, friends,
32:48
is a wonderful summary
32:50
of the Christian way of life.
32:53
We've sung there
32:53
in Psalm 25,
32:57
For your name's sake,
32:58
O Lord my God,
32:59
forgive my great iniquity,
33:01
my eyes are always on the Lord.
33:04
He'll free my feet
33:05
from every snare.
33:07
As we keep our eyes
33:09
fixed on the Lord.
33:10
So we take Chambers'
33:12
resolution to heart
33:13
and say,
33:13
well,
33:14
if Oswald Chambers,
33:16
in 1919 or so,
33:19
or 1915 perhaps,
33:20
when he wrote these words,
33:22
I am determined
33:23
to be absolutely
33:24
and entirely for him
33:25
and for him alone.
33:27
Go ye and do likewise.
33:30
Could very much apply there.
33:31
As we look at
33:32
the Christian way of life
33:33
and the preparation
33:34
that we're called
33:36
to engage in,
33:37
how do we apply it
33:38
ourselves?
33:39
The diligent use
33:40
of the outward means
33:41
of grace.
33:42
Famous phrase used
33:43
in the Shorter Catechism.
33:45
The word,
33:46
sacraments and prayer.
33:48
Being in fellowship,
33:49
being in worship,
33:50
being in the word,
33:51
being in prayer,
33:53
communicating at the table
33:54
with our Lord and Saviour,
33:56
receiving the grace
33:57
and nourishment
33:58
and blessing
33:58
from that feast.
34:00
Obediently,
34:01
in humility
34:02
and dependence upon him,
34:04
we make diligent use
34:05
of the outward means
34:07
of grace,
34:08
so foundational
34:09
to our Christian way
34:11
of life.
34:11
So there's preparation here.
34:13
Secondly,
34:14
we'll go through the passage
34:15
in verse 15
34:16
and again in verse 17,
34:18
we'll see
34:19
there's progress here.
34:21
As ye who called you
34:24
as holy,
34:25
you also be holy
34:26
in all your conduct.
34:28
And then we go down
34:28
into verse 17 again
34:30
and we see the same emphasis.
34:32
If you call on him
34:32
as father,
34:33
who judges impartially
34:34
according to each one's deeds,
34:36
conduct yourselves
34:38
with fear
34:39
throughout
34:39
the time of your exile.
34:42
You see,
34:42
with Peter,
34:43
it's not all deep theology.
34:45
Same with Paul.
34:46
They don't just cram
34:47
theological realities
34:48
into a letter
34:49
and hope for the best.
34:50
They say there's an outlet
34:51
and there's a consequence
34:53
and a result
34:54
for all this theology.
34:55
It changes us
34:57
and it is seen
34:58
in our progress.
35:00
The word we have here
35:01
twice used is
35:02
conduct.
35:03
You also be holy
35:04
in all your conduct
35:06
and conduct yourselves
35:08
with fear
35:09
throughout the time
35:11
of your exile.
35:13
And so that there's
35:14
progress here.
35:15
We're to be holy.
35:17
There's to be something
35:18
about the separateness
35:19
of God himself
35:21
and his being holy,
35:23
his setting us apart.
35:24
We've been set apart
35:25
by God
35:26
and for God.
35:27
But also,
35:28
this separateness
35:29
has to have
35:30
as its nature
35:31
or characteristic
35:32
a fearfulness.
35:34
You see,
35:35
conduct yourself
35:36
with fear
35:37
throughout the time
35:38
of your exile.
35:39
That's a word
35:39
that speaks of
35:40
a sense of awe,
35:42
a sense of wonder,
35:44
a sense of adoration.
35:46
not timidity
35:48
and not being afraid
35:51
but a sense of joy
35:54
is here
35:54
that we would know
35:57
our God
35:57
and what he's done
35:59
for us
35:59
that would impact us
36:01
so powerfully
36:02
that our conduct
36:03
would reflect
36:04
our understanding.
36:06
Now we're okay
36:06
in the minds
36:07
because we've followed
36:08
the first example,
36:09
we've prepared
36:09
our minds for action,
36:10
we're sober-minded,
36:12
we're setting our hope
36:13
fully in the grace
36:13
that will be revealed
36:14
to us when Christ says
36:15
come,
36:16
come to me.
36:18
Well done,
36:19
good and faithful servant.
36:20
That is to come.
36:22
But God willing
36:23
and unless he comes back
36:24
before Sunday,
36:26
the next summons
36:26
you're going to have
36:27
from him
36:27
is to come to his table
36:28
and where we go
36:30
as obedient children.
36:33
And so we're making progress.
36:35
It's all about
36:35
their conduct
36:36
becoming more and more
36:37
Christ-like
36:38
and less and less
36:39
worldly.
36:41
and the more
36:42
we die to self
36:43
and die to sin
36:44
and die to the world,
36:45
the more our conduct
36:46
will reflect
36:47
the light of the gospel
36:48
and the nature
36:50
and character
36:51
of our loving
36:52
Heavenly Father
36:52
and the impact
36:54
of faith
36:55
in his Son.
36:56
That's what people
36:57
see in us.
36:58
That's what they hear.
37:00
That's what the world
37:01
is watching for
37:01
and you know
37:02
they're watching.
37:03
Go to the workplace,
37:04
you know they're watching.
37:05
You know they're listening.
37:06
They want to see you
37:07
trip and fall
37:08
and make mistakes
37:08
and they'll be on you
37:09
like a rash.
37:10
Lots of them are like that
37:11
wanting to see
37:12
how serious you are
37:14
about your commitment,
37:15
your conviction,
37:16
your confession.
37:19
Well let them see.
37:21
Let them hear.
37:22
Let them understand
37:23
through your being prepared,
37:26
through your mind
37:27
being ready
37:28
and set
37:29
for action,
37:31
being prepared
37:32
to always give a reason
37:33
for the hope
37:34
you have within you
37:35
and then
37:36
let your hope
37:38
be seen
37:39
in how you conduct
37:40
yourself.
37:41
So this passage,
37:43
this section,
37:44
this language,
37:45
it's about growth
37:46
in the Lord,
37:47
growth in the Gospel,
37:48
how we nurture
37:49
and develop.
37:50
It's a dominant theme,
37:52
developing
37:52
or growing up
37:53
with the nurture
37:54
and admonition
37:55
of the Lord.
37:56
We've all at one point
37:57
in our lives
37:57
been babes in Christ.
37:59
Maybe we still are
38:00
babes in Christ.
38:02
Maybe the progress
38:03
isn't what it could be.
38:04
Maybe it isn't
38:04
what it should be.
38:05
All the more reason
38:07
to be at that table
38:09
on the Lord's day
38:10
where the nourishment
38:11
and provision
38:13
and blessing
38:14
and grace
38:15
and strength
38:16
is there provided
38:17
by Jesus,
38:19
our Saviour.
38:20
So this dominant theme
38:22
of progressing
38:22
is a thing
38:24
that helps us
38:26
to get things right.
38:27
Verse 14 again,
38:28
do not be conformed.
38:31
That's where you used to be.
38:33
That's the darkness.
38:35
That's the world.
38:37
That's worldliness.
38:39
Worldly wise,
38:40
if you like,
38:40
to use Bunyan's
38:41
famous character.
38:44
Worldly wise
38:44
will tell us
38:45
all day and all night,
38:46
well, you know,
38:47
that's nice
38:47
that you're in the seminary.
38:48
Nice to have the Bible.
38:49
Nice to have Psalms.
38:50
But you know what?
38:51
Really?
38:53
Commitment?
38:54
Really?
38:54
Do you have to go that far?
38:56
Do you need to?
38:57
You know,
38:57
there's other ways
38:58
and means.
38:59
And listen,
38:59
he'll talk to us all night
39:01
about the other ways
39:02
and means.
39:02
Anything.
39:03
But Christ.
39:05
And the finished work
39:06
of Christ upon the cross.
39:08
Which is what
39:09
the table speaks of
39:10
and reminds us of
39:12
so powerfully.
39:13
Do not be conformed.
39:16
And you'll be aware
39:18
of the ministry,
39:19
the writings of
39:19
Dale Ralph Davis,
39:21
a tremendous American
39:22
commentator,
39:23
very much focuses
39:24
on Old Testament scriptures.
39:26
But he said this,
39:27
he was looking at
39:27
a particular time
39:29
in Israel's history
39:30
and he was applying it
39:31
to our day and age
39:33
and this is what he said
39:33
and it's something
39:34
for us to take on board
39:36
and apply
39:36
if it applies.
39:38
The church in the West
39:40
needs to recover
39:41
doctrinal purity,
39:44
vital worship,
39:45
a bold witness
39:46
holiness.
39:47
And personal holiness.
39:49
holiness.
39:50
That one right at the end there.
39:52
There's the key.
39:54
Personal holiness.
39:56
And so that keeps us
39:57
from burrowing away
39:58
into books
39:59
and becoming
40:00
if you like
40:01
professional theologians.
40:03
That doesn't cut it
40:04
with the Lord.
40:05
That's not what we're about.
40:05
This vital worship
40:08
and bold witness
40:09
will be fed
40:10
by a personal holiness
40:12
and that's where
40:13
we're going here
40:13
in this progression
40:15
we're called to make.
40:16
Guided by our conscience
40:17
that is tender
40:19
toward Christ,
40:19
we press on
40:20
toward the goal.
40:21
Here we are called
40:22
twice to consider
40:23
and reflect upon
40:24
that we're not
40:25
conforming to the passions
40:27
of our former ignorance
40:28
but in our conduct
40:29
we are being holy
40:30
and in our conduct
40:32
we are being fearful.
40:34
We have a sense
40:34
of awe and wonder
40:35
living to the glory
40:36
and honour
40:37
of our Lord and Saviour
40:39
Jesus Christ.
40:41
I mentioned
40:42
Pilgrim's Progress.
40:43
I wonder tonight
40:44
if when we begin
40:45
to think of progress
40:46
we can think
40:47
we're not
40:48
we're not where we want to be.
40:50
I'm not
40:51
where I thought I would be.
40:53
I haven't made the progress
40:54
that I really should have.
40:56
We could probably all
40:57
think about that
40:58
and take that on board
40:59
but let me remind you
41:01
and I hope to encourage you
41:02
by doing so
41:03
of the first chapter
41:05
and Pilgrim's Progress
41:06
as Pilgrim leaves
41:09
the city of destruction
41:12
under the guidance
41:13
of the evangelist.
41:15
What happens next?
41:17
Pliable.
41:17
An obstinate
41:18
get a hold of him
41:19
slow him down
41:20
distract him
41:21
trip him up
41:21
next thing
41:22
he's in the swamp
41:23
of despond
41:23
he manages to get out
41:25
of that in a right mess
41:26
and worldly wise
41:27
comes along
41:27
gets a hold of him
41:28
points him to the village
41:29
of morality
41:30
in the house
41:30
of Mr. Legality
41:31
he's in all sorts
41:33
of bother and trouble
41:34
and then the evangelist
41:36
comes along
41:36
and says
41:37
in a repeated conversation
41:38
what are you doing here?
41:42
What are you doing here?
41:44
There's the path
41:45
I told you
41:47
look for the light
41:48
walk toward the light
41:50
and you'll find
41:50
the narrow gate
41:51
and that's just
41:52
the first chapter
41:53
so maybe we could
41:55
having read that chapter
41:56
we could look at
41:56
the front cover
41:57
and think
41:57
pilgrim's progress
41:58
it's more like
41:59
pilgrim's lack
42:00
of progress
42:00
and that's what
42:02
makes the book
42:03
so timeless
42:04
so appealing
42:06
so real
42:06
because we're all
42:08
that pilgrim
42:08
the slough of despond
42:11
being distracted
42:12
by obstinate
42:13
and pliable
42:14
ending up
42:16
in the village
42:16
of morality
42:17
knocking on the door
42:18
of the house
42:18
of Mr. Legality
42:20
instead of sticking
42:21
to the king's highway
42:23
and pressing on
42:24
and that's what
42:26
Peter is calling us
42:28
here to do
42:28
in this passage
42:29
that we are to seek
42:30
a personal holiness
42:31
and a conduct
42:34
that reflects
42:36
progression
42:37
growth
42:38
on a personal basis
42:40
and so we look in
42:41
here
42:42
to get this right
42:44
and we say
42:45
Lord show me
42:46
your ways
42:47
that's where 25
42:48
the Psalm 25
42:49
starts
42:49
to you
42:50
oh Lord
42:51
I lift my soul
42:52
I trust in you
42:53
continually
42:54
do not let me
42:56
be put to shame
42:57
nor let my foes
42:58
gloat over me
42:59
Lord
42:59
reveal to me
43:01
your ways
43:01
and all your paths
43:03
help me to know
43:04
direct and guide me
43:06
in your truth
43:07
instruct me
43:08
in the way to go
43:10
with our Bibles
43:12
open
43:12
with our hearts
43:13
humble
43:14
the Lord
43:16
instructs us
43:17
on the way to go
43:19
and here tonight
43:20
that instruction
43:20
comes through Peter
43:21
saying
43:22
set your mind
43:23
on things that are above
43:25
look at this
43:26
work of preparation
43:27
be prepared
43:28
to exert yourself
43:29
to learn
43:30
and study
43:31
and get in about
43:32
the word
43:33
to feed your soul
43:34
your heart
43:35
and arm your mind
43:37
by being rooted
43:38
in the word
43:39
and then
43:40
with that preparation
43:41
there's progress
43:42
and that progress
43:43
is to be
43:44
you are holy
43:46
and you are to be
43:46
fearful
43:47
and we're to
43:48
press on
43:49
with our conscience
43:50
tendered toward Christ
43:51
last thing
43:52
in verse 17
43:54
if you call on him
43:56
as father
43:58
there's preparation
44:00
there's progress
44:02
there's prayer
44:03
perhaps there's nothing
44:06
that marks the Christian life
44:08
or the Christian way of life
44:11
quite as much
44:12
as prayer
44:14
I love the Lord
44:15
because my voice
44:16
and prayers
44:17
heeded here
44:18
I while I live
44:19
will call on him
44:19
who bowed to me
44:21
his ear
44:21
what a great
44:24
and glorious thing
44:25
it is
44:26
to be in prayer
44:27
to converse
44:28
with the living God
44:30
and right in here
44:31
in the midst
44:31
of this section
44:32
about
44:33
the Christian way
44:34
of life
44:35
here it is
44:36
if you call
44:38
on him
44:38
as father
44:39
who judges
44:41
impartially
44:42
according to
44:42
each one's deeds
44:43
Peter wants him
44:46
to be
44:46
a praying people
44:48
praying congregations
44:50
praying individuals
44:51
praying families
44:52
praying
44:53
calling on
44:54
the name
44:55
of the Lord
44:56
calling
44:56
it's a rich word
44:57
it's used here
44:58
it has a sense
44:59
to rely
45:00
on the one
45:01
that is named
45:02
and who is named
45:02
our loving
45:04
heavenly father
45:05
and we call
45:07
on him
45:07
we rely on him
45:08
we pray on him
45:09
we pray to him
45:10
we call out
45:11
to him
45:12
in Genesis 12
45:14
we have a very
45:15
similar phrase
45:16
used of
45:16
Abraham
45:17
and in fact
45:18
I think it might be
45:19
Genesis 4 or 5
45:21
the first description
45:22
of human beings
45:25
praying
45:26
uses this phrase
45:27
men called upon
45:29
the name of the Lord
45:30
and here it is
45:31
in 1 Peter
45:32
it's been well said
45:33
that if you pull a thread
45:34
in Genesis
45:35
the Bible
45:36
wrinkles in Revelation
45:37
calling upon
45:39
the name of the Lord
45:40
is a fundamental
45:41
of the Christian
45:42
way of life
45:43
we must rely
45:45
upon the one
45:46
that is named
45:47
here
45:48
as Abraham did
45:50
as he built
45:51
his third altar
45:52
at Bethel
45:53
he called upon
45:55
the name
45:56
of the Lord
45:57
it also
45:59
in that sense
45:59
it's interesting
46:00
in Abraham's
46:02
sense
46:02
it has the impact
46:03
of a word
46:04
that has a sense
46:05
of proclamation
46:06
and there's a bit
46:07
of thinking
46:07
that maybe
46:08
he wasn't just
46:09
praying
46:09
he was preaching
46:10
well maybe
46:11
we can't be
46:12
entirely sure
46:12
let's keep the focus
46:14
on prayer
46:15
call on him
46:17
as father
46:18
what's our father
46:20
done for us
46:21
tonight
46:21
for God
46:23
so loved the world
46:24
that he gave
46:25
it's not precious
46:26
to us this evening
46:27
do you know
46:28
what tomorrow
46:29
will bring
46:29
the weekend
46:30
will bring
46:30
there's challenges
46:32
difficulties
46:33
there's darkness
46:34
there's heartache
46:35
there's sadness
46:36
around us
46:37
quite often
46:38
isn't there
46:38
how do we deal
46:40
with it
46:40
how do we focus
46:41
we clear the mind
46:43
we make preparation
46:44
we make progress
46:46
but above all
46:48
we pray
46:48
we pray for wisdom
46:50
tact
46:51
patience
46:52
insight
46:53
understanding
46:54
we call upon
46:55
our father
46:56
in faith
46:57
and humility
46:58
and we do so
46:59
conscious of his
47:00
lavish provision
47:00
toward us
47:01
let me just read
47:02
to you these
47:02
wonderful words
47:03
in philippians
47:04
in chapter 4
47:05
do not be anxious
47:07
about anything
47:07
isn't that often
47:09
our undoing
47:10
we get so anxious
47:12
we forget to pray
47:13
or we pray
47:15
but our prayers
47:16
are skin deep
47:18
they don't go
47:19
through the ceiling
47:20
we don't lift up
47:21
holy hands
47:22
to our father
47:22
we hold on
47:24
to our worries
47:24
because we get
47:25
so anxious
47:25
don't we
47:26
do not be anxious
47:27
about anything
47:28
but in everything
47:29
by prayer
47:29
and supplication
47:30
with thanksgiving
47:31
let your requests
47:32
be made known
47:33
to God
47:34
and what happens
47:35
the peace of God
47:37
which surpasses
47:39
all understanding
47:40
will guard
47:41
your hearts
47:42
and your minds
47:43
in Christ Jesus
47:44
the promise of God
47:46
as we call on
47:47
our father
47:47
he pours out
47:49
to us
47:50
this peace
47:52
the peace of God
47:54
that passes
47:55
all understanding
47:56
Paul was so
47:58
determined
47:59
in that letter
47:59
the Philippians
48:00
that these ancient
48:01
Christians
48:01
and us tonight
48:02
would be reminded
48:03
of what God
48:04
longs to do
48:05
in our hearts
48:06
to pour out
48:07
his peace
48:07
his blessing
48:08
his joy
48:09
and communion
48:10
with the living God
48:11
and prayer
48:13
is right at the
48:14
centre of it all
48:15
you know well
48:17
the name of John Calvin
48:18
he was a great hero
48:19
of the Reformation
48:20
experienced
48:21
a vastly experienced
48:23
and capable
48:24
able church leader
48:26
and theologian
48:26
my goodness
48:27
wasn't he just
48:28
that man though
48:29
went through many trials
48:30
great heartache
48:32
in his life
48:33
he did not operate
48:34
in a vacuum
48:35
he didn't live
48:36
in an ivory tower
48:37
he knew
48:38
life often
48:39
inflicted
48:40
what he called
48:41
the ravages
48:43
of anxiety
48:43
and he said
48:45
it is by such
48:46
anxiety
48:47
that the
48:48
fervour
48:49
of prayer
48:50
is inflamed
48:52
you see
48:54
what the world
48:54
thinks we should do
48:55
and what anxious
48:55
is go to the world
48:56
for solutions
48:57
go to counsellors
48:59
for solutions
48:59
run a programme
49:01
don't go to the
49:03
throne of grace
49:03
why would you do that
49:05
and the Christian
49:06
says
49:07
but that's where
49:08
I'm going
49:08
I'm going to call
49:10
upon my loving
49:11
heavenly father
49:12
for he sent
49:14
his only begotten
49:15
son into this world
49:16
so that through him
49:17
we might be
49:17
born again
49:19
and given
49:19
a living hope
49:20
cleansed
49:22
and made right
49:22
by being
49:23
made new
49:25
and our understanding
49:27
our prayer life
49:28
our Christian conduct
49:29
what's the motivation
49:31
our ransom price
49:33
the precious
49:35
blood
49:36
of Christ
49:38
that's what the world
49:40
doesn't understand
49:41
that's what the world
49:42
doesn't get
49:43
out there
49:44
the world out there
49:46
thinks
49:46
we're engaged
49:48
in something religious
49:49
and we're engaged
49:50
in something
49:50
Presbyterian
49:51
we're engaged
49:52
in something
49:53
free church
49:54
but what we're doing
49:55
is we're engaged
49:55
in worship
49:57
gratitude
49:58
thanksgiving
49:59
for the ransom
50:01
price that's been
50:02
paid for our sins
50:04
a price we could
50:06
not pay
50:06
the things of this
50:08
world are
50:09
perishable
50:10
silver and gold
50:11
but the precious
50:13
blood of Christ
50:14
stands above
50:15
and beyond
50:16
all of it
50:16
and that is
50:17
a ransom
50:18
price
50:18
that was
50:20
paid
50:20
by our
50:21
saviour
50:21
for us
50:23
and so we
50:24
can
50:25
confess and
50:26
acknowledge our
50:26
lack of progress
50:27
our stumbles
50:29
and our falling
50:29
but we do so
50:32
in prayer
50:32
calling out to
50:33
our loving
50:34
heavenly father
50:35
we give thanks
50:36
to him for
50:37
the goodness
50:37
of his provision
50:38
toward us
50:39
and these
50:41
characteristics
50:41
flow
50:42
from our
50:43
deeper
50:44
the deeper
50:45
and more
50:45
clearer
50:46
our understanding
50:47
of the ransom
50:48
price
50:49
the more
50:49
preparation
50:50
will be seen
50:51
the more
50:51
progress
50:51
will occur
50:52
the more
50:53
prayer will
50:54
take place
50:54
what a thing
50:56
to be a
50:56
praying people
50:57
we have been
51:00
ransomed
51:01
friends from
51:02
the futile
51:03
ways
51:03
to the ways
51:05
of faith
51:05
and hope
51:07
our way
51:09
of life
51:09
is one
51:10
that is
51:11
infused
51:12
with our
51:12
saviour
51:13
Jesus
51:13
and it's
51:14
worth noting
51:15
just as we
51:16
close
51:16
that in this
51:17
passage alone
51:18
in 1st
51:19
Peter chapter
51:19
1 verses
51:20
1 to 20
51:21
8 times
51:23
the apostle
51:24
names
51:25
Jesus Christ
51:27
another 8
51:29
times
51:29
he refers
51:30
to him
51:31
as him
51:31
he refers
51:32
to him
51:32
directly
51:33
for instance
51:33
there in
51:34
verse 20
51:34
he was
51:35
foreknown
51:36
before the
51:36
foundation of
51:37
the world
51:37
but was
51:38
manifest in
51:38
the last
51:39
times for
51:39
your sake
51:40
who through
51:40
him are
51:41
believers in
51:42
God who
51:42
raised him
51:43
from the
51:44
dead and
51:44
gave him
51:45
glory so
51:46
that your
51:46
faith and
51:47
hope are
51:47
in God
51:47
by the time
51:48
we come
51:48
to verse
51:48
21
51:49
Jesus Christ
51:50
has been
51:50
named and
51:51
referred to
51:52
16 times
51:54
the church
51:55
of Christ
51:56
on earth
51:56
infused with
51:58
the name of
51:58
our saviour
51:59
and it's to
52:00
his glory
52:01
and his
52:02
honour and
52:02
his praise
52:03
that we
52:03
live out
52:04
our
52:05
Christian
52:05
lives
52:06
and may
52:07
the Lord
52:07
bless you
52:08
as you
52:09
do that
52:09
in these
52:10
days to
52:10
come
52:10
as you
52:11
gather
52:11
tomorrow
52:12
with
52:13
Callum
52:13
here in
52:13
the seminary
52:14
and David
52:14
at the
52:15
church services
52:16
over the
52:17
weekend
52:17
may the
52:18
Lord bless
52:19
you and
52:19
keep you
52:20
and feed
52:20
you and
52:20
encourage you
52:21
at this
52:22
time of
52:22
communion
52:23
through word
52:24
and sacrament
52:24
that God
52:25
would be
52:26
to you
52:26
your loving
52:27
heavenly
52:28
father
52:28
that you
52:29
would be
52:30
to him
52:30
an obedient
52:31
loving
52:31
child of
52:32
God
52:33
professing
52:33
your
52:34
faith
52:34
acknowledging
52:35
you need
52:36
to prepare
52:37
and make
52:37
progress
52:38
and pray
52:38
all the
52:39
time
52:39
we have
52:40
to increase
52:41
and improve
52:41
in these
52:42
characteristics
52:43
all of us
52:44
of course
52:44
we do
52:45
we're a
52:46
work in
52:46
progress
52:47
and may
52:48
God
52:48
bless
52:49
the progress
52:50
we make
52:51
tonight
52:51
to his
52:52
glory
52:53
to his
52:53
name
52:53
be
52:54
all the
52:54
praise
52:55
we'll bow
52:55
in prayer
52:56
for a moment
52:56
together
52:57
Lord our
52:59
God we
52:59
thank you
53:00
for your
53:00
goodness
53:01
toward us
53:02
we thank
53:04
you for
53:04
this
53:05
opportunity
53:05
the privilege
53:06
of
53:06
worshipping
53:08
together
53:08
Lord we
53:10
commit
53:11
to you
53:12
these days
53:13
to come
53:14
in this
53:14
communion
53:15
weekend
53:15
all the
53:16
services
53:16
all the
53:18
preaching
53:18
the serving
53:19
of the
53:20
sacrament
53:21
the
53:22
offer
53:23
the
53:23
remembering
53:24
of Jesus
53:25
offering
53:26
himself
53:27
which
53:28
the table
53:29
speaks to
53:29
us of
53:30
so clearly
53:31
so powerfully
53:32
hear us
53:33
Lord in
53:33
these things
53:34
grant us
53:34
grace to
53:35
prepare our
53:37
hearts and
53:37
minds for
53:38
action
53:39
grant us
53:40
Lord grace
53:41
and strength
53:41
to make the
53:42
progress we
53:42
need to run
53:43
the race
53:44
to set
53:45
before us
53:45
to fight
53:47
the good
53:47
fight
53:48
to look
53:49
unto Jesus
53:50
and that we
53:52
would at all
53:53
times be
53:53
people of
53:54
prayer
53:54
calling out
53:56
to our
53:56
Father
53:56
we thank
53:58
you that
53:58
you hear us
53:59
in Jesus
53:59
and we
54:00
pray for
54:01
your blessing
54:01
now this
54:02
evening upon
54:02
us
54:03
forgive our
54:03
sins Lord
54:04
and go
54:04
before us
54:05
in his
54:06
precious name
54:06
we ask
54:07
it
54:07
Amen
54:08
so we'll
54:12
turn to the
54:13
psalter this
54:14
evening to
54:14
close our
54:15
service
54:15
we'll sing
54:16
from Psalm
54:17
27
54:18
in the
54:19
psalter
54:19
Psalm
54:20
27
54:21
I don't
54:23
think we're
54:24
doing all
54:24
these verses
54:25
we're doing
54:26
verses 11
54:28
to 14
54:29
says here
54:29
1 to 14
54:30
that's the
54:30
whole psalm
54:31
that might be
54:32
a bit much
54:32
we'll go from
54:33
verse 11
54:34
O Lord
54:35
instruct me
54:36
in thy
54:36
way
54:36
to me
54:37
a leader
54:37
be
54:37
in a
54:38
plain
54:38
path
54:39
because
54:39
of
54:40
those
54:40
that
54:40
hatred
54:40
bear to
54:41
me
54:41
give me
54:42
not to
54:42
an enemy's
54:43
will
54:43
for witnesses
54:44
that lie
54:44
against me
54:45
risen are
54:45
and such
54:46
as breathe
54:47
out
54:47
cruelty
54:48
I fainted
54:49
had unless
54:50
it I
54:50
believed
54:51
had to
54:51
see
54:51
the
54:52
Lord's
54:52
own
54:53
goodness
54:53
in the
54:53
land
54:54
of them
54:54
that
54:54
living
54:55
being
54:55
in that
54:55
wonderful
54:56
phrase
54:56
wait
54:57
on the
54:57
Lord
54:58
and be
54:58
thou
54:59
strong
54:59
we'll
54:59
sing to
55:00
the end
55:00
to the tune
55:01
Calmarnock
55:01
we'll stand
55:02
together
55:02
O Lord
55:09
instruct me
55:11
in thy
55:13
way
55:14
to
55:15
me
55:16
the
55:17
leader
55:18
be
55:20
in a
55:23
plain
55:24
path
55:25
because
55:27
of
55:28
those
55:29
that
55:30
hatred
55:31
send
55:32
them
55:33
to
55:34
me
55:35
give
55:37
me
55:38
not
55:39
to
55:40
mine
55:41
and
55:42
his
55:43
will
55:44
for
55:45
witnesses
55:48
that
55:49
lie
55:52
against
55:53
me
55:55
risen
55:56
and
55:57
sons
55:59
!
56:00
I
56:00
will
56:01
be
56:01
to
56:02
see
56:06
!
56:08
fainted
56:10
!
56:10
I
56:11
fainted
56:11
had
56:12
unless
56:12
that
56:13
I
56:14
will
56:16
him
56:17
have
56:18
to
56:20
Lord's
56:24
own
56:26
goodness
56:27
!
56:28
have
56:29
to
56:30
in
56:31
of
56:32
their
56:33
blood
56:34
living
56:35
being
56:36
Wait
56:38
on
56:39
the
56:40
Lord
56:41
and
56:42
be
56:43
the
56:44
strong
56:45
that
56:46
he
56:47
shall
56:48
spread
56:49
spread
56:50
afford
56:52
and
56:54
to
56:55
thine
56:56
heart
56:57
give
56:58
to
56:59
the
57:00
which
57:01
I
57:02
say
57:03
upon
57:04
the
57:06
Lord
57:08
may
57:09
the
57:10
of the
57:11
Christ
57:12
love of
57:13
fellowship
57:14
Holy Spirit
57:15
you all
57:16
amen