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Final Destination · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise in Psalm 84, in the Scottish
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Psalter version, Psalm 84, the tunes Tramps and Hawkers.
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We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 6.
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How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts, to me the tabernacles of thy grace,
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how pleasant, Lord, they be.
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My thirsty soul longs vehemently, yea, faints thy courts to see.
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My very heart and flesh cry out, O living God, for thee.
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We sing verse 1 to 6 to God's praise.
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How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts, to me.
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The tabernacles of thy grace, thy blessed Lord, they be.
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My thirsty soul longs vehemently, yea, faints thy courts to see.
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My very heart and flesh cry out, O living God, for thee.
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To behold the smile, O thy devout, and her tender rest.
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The swallow also for herself, and purchase it amidst.
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In thy long waters, where she say, her young ones forth may bring.
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O our almighty Lord of hosts, who art my God and King.
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Blessed are they in thy house, and dwell, may ever give thee praise.
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Blessed is the man who strength thou art, in whose heart are thy ways.
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What Makes thy much peopleop In the Franks public.
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Nor be a heavenly book of Message in Caesar, be where she tells me.
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By thy poem's hearing.
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Nor will thyUNT you falleth, that...
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Nor shall be Cummings.
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...
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What Pharise driest, that...
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...
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Or shall be conclusions, the Word of thee.
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Let's bow our heads together and come to God in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Lord our God, our Father in heaven,
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as we come in worship of you, in adoration of you,
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we thank you that we come,
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lifting up our voices in praise to you
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and seeking that you will meet with us in our time of worship,
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that we will come and behold your beauty,
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your glory in our midst,
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that through your word and through your spirit,
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you will minister to us in all our needs,
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that you will come and remind us, Lord,
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that we are so dependent upon you,
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but that you are a God who is able to lavish upon us,
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grace upon grace.
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And we thank you for the way that you remind us of that so often,
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of your great faithfulness towards us,
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and that we pray, Lord, that we may come
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and meet with you anew this evening
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and come with thirsty souls,
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longing to meet with you
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and to know that we have been with God,
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that we have been in your presence.
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And we pray, Lord,
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that you will satisfy us through your word,
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that you will give us the rest
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and the peace that even the psalmist speaks of
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in the psalm that we've sung together.
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And blessed are they in my house that dwell,
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they ever give thee praise.
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May that be our song and our portion
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this evening anew,
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that we will come to praise your great and glorious name.
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So we thank you that you are a God who is living,
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a God who is worthy of all our worship,
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a God who is real,
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a God who no matter what the world might say about you,
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who will so easily dismiss you or cast you away
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or speak a word against you.
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We thank you, Lord,
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that we come to the one who is our hope,
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our salvation,
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and our security.
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We thank you for your word
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and how it constantly builds us up,
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that whenever we feel discouraged or afraid
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or whether we are full of thanksgiving and praise,
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we can come to your word
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and there find a word that speaks and ministers to us.
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It reminds us of the hope that we have
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in our Lord Jesus Christ,
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a hope that we can never be taken away from us,
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a hope that is our true security.
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You're the one who is our refuge and our strength,
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an ever-present aid.
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We thank you for that constant nature,
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that you are unchanging and unchangeable,
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and that though we change in this world,
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that we ever move on in this world
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and that time never stands still for us,
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even as we come and approach the end of another year.
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We reflect on it, Lord,
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and just see how quickly our days and our years will go by.
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But we pray, Lord,
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that we will not just look back,
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but that you will enable us and help us
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to look forward to
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and to consider the days that lie ahead of us,
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even in the uncertainty and unknown nature of them.
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We pray then,
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thank you that you have numbered each of them,
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that they are known unto you.
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And we pray, Lord,
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that you will help us to number our days
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and to look to you as the one who holds our eternal destiny,
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that you are the one, Lord,
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who we can look to,
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who will guide us in the paths of life divine.
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And we pray, Lord,
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that you will indeed lead each of us on the right path.
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For we know,
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as your word says,
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that there is a broad road that many are on,
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but that road,
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as we are told,
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it leads to destruction.
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But we thank you for the narrow way,
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the way,
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although there may be few on it,
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the way that leads to life everlasting.
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And we pray that your word
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will minister to our hearts
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anew this evening,
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that you will speak to us
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through your word
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and help us to put our confidence
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and our trust
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in the Lord Jesus Christ,
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as we heard already today,
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the one who is the light of this world,
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who is able to dispel the darkness of it
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and who is able to guide us in these paths.
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We pray, O Lord,
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that we will indeed again see Jesus
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and know him as our Lord
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and as our Savior.
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May he become ever more precious to us
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as we look around us
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in the chaos of this world.
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May we be able to fix our eyes on Jesus continually
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and remind ourselves day by day
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and even hour by hour
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that in Christ
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we have all that we need for life
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and for eternity.
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So we ask your blessing on us
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as a people,
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as a congregation here
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and those tuning in online as well.
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We thank you for one another.
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We thank you, Lord,
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that we are able to encourage
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and to help one another
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and especially in times of need.
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We are so aware just now, Lord,
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of the many who are grieving
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over the loss of loved ones
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or who are anxious over loved ones
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and we commit them, Lord,
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into your care
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and into your keeping.
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We thank you, Lord,
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for the one another's
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we read of in Scripture.
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So many passages and texts
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that remind us to pray for one another,
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to encourage one another,
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to build up one another.
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And we pray that we will seek
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to do all these things for each other.
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in praying for one another, Lord,
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we thank you for the strength
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and blessing that there is in that,
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that there is unity in the body of Christ
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so that when one feels the pain,
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the whole body suffers.
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And yet, O Lord,
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we have the strength in the body too
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that will give healing and help
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to those who are feeling a weakness.
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So, Lord,
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may you draw near to all in need,
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whether it is in grief,
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whether it's in ill health,
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whether it's in anxiety and worries
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that so many people maybe cannot see
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are hidden from the eyes of many,
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but, Lord, you know,
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and you know every need that we have.
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And so we pray, Lord,
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that you surround us and help us
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in all our times of need.
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We thank you that your word reminds us
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that you are the God of all comfort
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and that for every circumstance,
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every situation,
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that you have an answer for us,
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that you have a way to help,
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a way to uphold,
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a way to lift us up.
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And so we commit each other
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into your care at this time.
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We pray for our mission as a church too.
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We thank you, Lord,
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for not just instruction,
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but indeed the command
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that you give us in your word,
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that as a people,
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we are to be the light,
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salt and light of this world,
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that we are indeed to be sent out
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with your truth.
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And we pray, Lord,
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that you will help us,
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help us in all that we seek to do,
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whether it's with young or old or middle-aged,
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whatever we seek to do,
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whether it's in large groups
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or one-to-one.
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We pray, Lord,
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for words of wisdom.
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We pray, Lord,
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for encouragement and strength.
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We pray, Lord,
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when we face persecution
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or answers maybe
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from people that we don't expect
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or that even hurt us
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when we hear the gospel slandered,
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we pray that you will give us
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a boldness and a courage
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to continue to pray
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and to love those
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who even maybe despise us
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as your people
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or despise you as God
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and have no time for you,
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that you would give us
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love for those people,
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a love to seek the good for them
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that only you can give,
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to change their hearts,
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to change their ways.
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We ask, O Lord,
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for your goodness
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to be poured out upon us
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and upon all your church this day,
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far and wide,
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that the riches of your gospel
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will bear much fruit,
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that where your gospel is proclaimed,
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that there will be a call
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to your people
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that will build them up,
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that will encourage them,
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that will strengthen them,
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and no matter where they are,
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how many or how few
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they may be gathered,
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Lord,
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that you will surround your people
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and encourage them
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and strengthen them.
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We remember especially
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those who are persecuted,
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those who suffer for their faith,
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those who are maybe even living
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in fear throughout the world
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of what may come upon them
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for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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We pray, Lord,
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that they will know
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you ministering to them
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and strengthen them
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in a very special way.
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And we pray, Lord,
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for your gospel to go out
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and convict those souls
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that lie in sin,
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those who are so bound
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in this world
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and so caught up
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in the ways of this world,
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some of it so evil
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as we see it around us
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in war and terror
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and so many acts
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of violence in our world,
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but others just blinded
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by the God of this world
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and aware of their sins
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or unaware of the consequences
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of them.
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We pray for you
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to send your light forth
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and your truth
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with great power
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and with great conviction.
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We thank you
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that your word
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is ever powerful
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and ever able to save.
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And so we pray, Lord,
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for the power of your spirit
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to go forth even this day.
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Remember our nation
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at this time
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and indeed remember us
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as a people in the week ahead
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as we see the Christmas season
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and the holiday season
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coming upon us.
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We pray for schools
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and workplaces
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and all who will be taking holidays
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over this time
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in the midst of travel chaos
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and weather
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so inclement at times.
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We pray, Lord,
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for your safety
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and protection
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over all
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who will be traveling
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to and fro,
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whether it's coming home
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for Christmas
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or going away
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and visiting family
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and friends.
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We pray that you will protect us
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and keep us all
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and above all, Lord,
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that you will help us
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to remember
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the Lord Jesus
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in the midst of
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all that we see around us,
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the one who in the midst
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of all the lights
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that flash around us
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is the light
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greater than any,
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the one who is the light
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of the world.
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We pray, Lord,
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for that light
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to shine brightly
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in our midst.
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Remember our young people,
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we pray for the fellowship
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this evening
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and may your blessing
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be with us in that
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and for the schools
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as they close
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and the teachers
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and the students alike,
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Lord,
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we pray your blessing
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on each one
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and ask that you will
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go before them
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in all of their days
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as well.
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May you remember us
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then, Lord,
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and all who rule over us
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as a people
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as we continue
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to pray for our governments
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and our royal family.
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Again, we pray, Lord,
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that they will bow
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the knee to you,
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that they will come
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and honor you
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and worship you,
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something that seems
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maybe so far removed
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in our society today,
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but we know that
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in the blink of an eye
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that you can change hearts
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and we know
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even in our own hearts
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how you are able to change
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and so may you come
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into their hearts,
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into their lives
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and into the lives
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of our nation
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and indeed the world
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to know your power
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and to know your glory
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in the midst of us.
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We thank you
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that you have not left us,
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that you have not given us
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over to our own ways
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completely, Lord,
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but that you are there
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to be called upon
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so help us
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to call on your name
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and to come in faith,
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rejoicing that you hear
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and are able
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to answer our prayers.
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So, Lord,
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give us that faith
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to keep believing
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and keep praying
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and to go on
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in your strength
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as we ask it all
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with the forgiveness
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of our sins
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for remembering, Lord,
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how far short we fall
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so often
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that you will restore us
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and pardon us
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and build us up.
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We ask all this
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in the name of our Lord
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and Savior,
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Jesus Christ,
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for his glory now
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and always.
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Amen.
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We continue to worship God
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as we sing to his praise,
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this time in Psalm 63.
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In the Sing Psalms version,
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Psalm 63,
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the tune is Old 100.
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We're going to sing
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from verse 1 to verse 8.
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O God,
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you are my God alone.
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I seek your face
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with eagerness.
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My soul and body
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thirst for you
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in this dry weary wilderness.
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I've seen you
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in your holy place.
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Your power and glory
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held my gaze.
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Far better is your love
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than life
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and so my lips
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will sing your praise.
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We'll sing from verse 1 to 8
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to God's praise.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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O God,
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you are my God alone.
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I seek your face
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with neither hands.
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My soul and body
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thirst for you.
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In this dry weary wilderness.
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I've seen you
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in your holy place.
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Your power and glory
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held my gaze.
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Far better is your love
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and life.
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And so my lips
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will sing your praise.
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I'll bless you, Lord,
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throughout my life.
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and raise my heart
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to you in prayer.
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My joyfulness will sing your praise.
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My soul is filled with riches
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upon my bed.
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I'll bless you, Lord,
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upon my bed.
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I lie now,
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I lie now,
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and in my thoughts remember you.
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And in my thoughts remember you.
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I meditated throughout the night.
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I'm in your love,
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and in your love.
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I am in your love.
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I am in your love.
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I am in your love.
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I am in your love.
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I am in your love.
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because you are my help alone.
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I am in your love.
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I am in your love.
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I am in your love.
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And in your love.
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I am in your love.
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I am in your love.
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You hold me up with your right hand.
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To you, O God, my soul will cling.
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Well, we'll turn to read God's word.
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Two passages this evening.
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First of all, in the Gospel of Matthew.
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Matthew's Gospel, reading in chapter 25.
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We'll take up our reading at verse 31.
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Reading down to the end of the chapter,
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and then we turn to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1.
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Our first reading is in Matthew 25 and at verse 31.
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When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him,
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then he will sit on his glorious throne.
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Before him will be gathered all the nations,
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and he will separate people one from another,
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as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
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And he will place the sheep on his right,
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but the goats on the left.
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Then the king will say to those on his right,
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Come, you who are blessed by my Father,
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inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
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For I was hungry, and you gave me food.
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I was thirsty, and you gave me drink.
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I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.
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I was naked, and you clothed me.
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I was sick, and you visited me.
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I was in prison, and you came to me.
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Then the righteous will answer him, saying,
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Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
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or thirsty and give you drink?
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And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
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or naked and clothe you?
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And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?
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And the king will answer them,
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Truly I say to you,
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as you did to one of the least of these, my brothers,
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you did it to me.
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Then he will say to those on his left,
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Depart from me, you cursed,
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into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
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For I was hungry, and you gave me no food.
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I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink.
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I was a stranger, and you did not welcome.
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Welcome me and naked, and you did not clothe me.
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Sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.
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Then they also will answer, saying,
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Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty,
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or a stranger, or naked or sick or in prison,
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and did not minister to you?
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Then he will answer them, saying,
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Truly I say to you,
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as you did not do it to one of these,
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the least of these you did not do it to me.
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And these will go away into eternal punishment,
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but the righteous into eternal life.
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Our second reading is in 2 Thessalonians,
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reading in chapter 1.
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We'll take up our reading at verse 5.
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2 Thessalonians, chapter 1 at verse 5.
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Again, it's linked to the reading we had in Matthew,
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the day of the judgment of Christ.
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This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God,
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that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God,
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for which you are also suffering.
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Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction
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those who afflict you,
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and to grant relief to you who are afflicted,
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as well as to us,
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when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven
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with his mighty angels,
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and flaming fire,
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inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God,
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and on those who do not obey
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the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
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They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction,
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away from the presence of the Lord,
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and from the glory of his might,
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when he comes on that day,
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to be glorified in his saints,
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and to be marveled at among all who have believed,
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because our testimony to you was believed.
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To this end,
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we always pray for you,
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that our God may make you worthy of his calling,
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and may fulfill every resolve for good,
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and every work of faith by his power,
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so the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
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and you in him,
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according to the grace of our God,
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and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Amen,
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and may God bless these readings from his word.
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We're going to sing again to God's praise.
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It's a change to the psalm on the notice sheet,
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which we already had this morning,
24:04
but we're going to sing from Psalm 27,
24:06
in the Sing Psalms version,
24:09
and it's verse 9 to verse 14,
24:11
page 32 of the psalm book,
24:15
Psalm 27,
24:17
at verse 9,
24:18
in the Sing Psalms version,
24:20
on the tune of Spore.
24:22
O do not hide your face from me,
24:24
and do not turn aside,
24:26
your servant in your righteous wrath,
24:29
for you have been my guide.
24:31
O God,
24:31
my saviour,
24:32
leave me not,
24:33
do not reject my plea,
24:35
my parents may forsake me,
24:37
Lord,
24:38
but you will welcome me.
24:40
Psalm 27,
24:41
verse 9,
24:42
down to the end of the psalm,
24:43
and the Sing Psalms version.
24:49
O do not hide your face from me,
24:58
and do not turn aside,
25:05
your servant in your righteous wrath,
25:15
for you have been my guide.
25:22
O God,
25:24
O God,
25:25
my saviour,
25:29
leave me not,
25:32
do not reject my plea,
25:39
my feelings may forsake me,
25:44
forsake me, Lord,
25:49
but you will welcome me.
25:56
Teach me, O Lord,
26:02
how I should live,
26:07
and lead me in your way,
26:14
make strength my path,
26:20
because my foes oppress me every day.
26:32
Give me not over to the will of the evil and enemies,
26:49
for my earth's right,
26:55
to stunder me,
26:59
and we have cruelty.
27:06
Yet I am sure,
27:13
that in this eye,
27:18
God's goodness I will see.
27:25
We call the Lord,
27:32
be strong,
27:35
take heart,
27:37
for him we patiently.
27:48
Well, we can turn back to our second reading in 2 Thessalonians.
27:55
Chapter 1.
28:01
We're going to look at this section that we read,
28:04
verse 5 to verse 12,
28:06
but in particular from the middle of verse 7 down to the end,
28:09
where it speaks about the coming of the Lord Jesus,
28:13
where Jesus is revealed from heaven,
28:15
with his mighty angels and flaming fire,
28:19
inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God,
28:21
and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
28:26
And so it goes on.
28:29
It's a time of year when many people find themselves maybe counting down,
28:34
counting down the days,
28:36
whether it's counting down the days to the holiday coming,
28:40
holiday starting.
28:41
Many people are counting down the days till Christmas Day.
28:44
And then we fast approach the end of this year.
28:49
And people count down then towards the end of the year.
28:52
And eventually you come to those last few seconds of the year,
28:56
where you count down 10,
28:58
9,
28:58
8,
28:59
and the bell rings,
29:00
and you're into a new year.
29:02
But as a reminder to us,
29:05
just as time is constantly going on,
29:07
how easy it is almost just to wish our days away.
29:12
Counting down the days,
29:14
but to what end?
29:16
Where are we going?
29:17
What's the destination we have in mind as all our days go past?
29:23
In Psalm 90 verse 12,
29:25
the psalmist says to us,
29:27
teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
29:34
So instead of just counting down our days,
29:37
wishing them away in some ways,
29:38
instead we are to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
29:44
What does he mean by that?
29:46
Well,
29:46
he means that our days pass so quickly.
29:50
The days,
29:51
the months,
29:51
the years,
29:52
they pass so quickly.
29:53
And as we approach the end of another year,
29:56
we approach it in a way where we're on this journey,
29:59
as we often say,
30:00
through life.
30:02
But what is the aim of our journey?
30:06
If you go on a journey,
30:08
so often you have a destination in mind,
30:11
and you wait for the words to come,
30:14
perhaps if you're sitting on a train,
30:15
or if you're listening to your sat-nav guiding you along the way,
30:19
to say you've reached your destination,
30:23
or this is the final stop.
30:25
And you know then maybe you've reached the place that you were hoping to arrive in.
30:33
But as we look forward this time of year,
30:37
what do we look forward to?
30:39
And what is the destination that we are aiming for?
30:44
That Jesus himself spoke of it in Matthew's gospel.
30:50
There we read in Matthew 25.
30:52
Those words that you hear of the final destination,
30:56
it's either,
30:56
come,
30:57
you who are blessed by the Father,
30:59
or depart from me,
31:02
you who are cursed.
31:04
He is speaking about two different destinations.
31:07
The same as what Paul is speaking of here.
31:10
As he writes to the Thessalonians,
31:12
he is speaking about the two different destinations
31:15
that we're going to think about this evening.
31:19
Some years ago when we were in Dumfries,
31:22
this time of year is Christmas time of year,
31:24
when we had family coming to visit.
31:27
One day they decided that they were going to go to Gretna,
31:30
not too far away from Dumfries.
31:33
And they were happy to go by themselves,
31:35
that they knew roughly where they were going,
31:37
but they had the sat-nav with them
31:39
just to help them along the way.
31:41
So they were going to the retail park out there.
31:44
They put in the postcode for it,
31:46
and off they went.
31:48
They drove for some time,
31:50
and then they were told
31:52
that you have reached your destination.
31:55
And they were on a road in the middle of nowhere
31:58
under a bridge.
32:00
They had arrived at their destination,
32:02
but it wasn't the destination that they expected.
32:06
Luckily for them,
32:07
they weren't too far away
32:08
from where they were aiming for.
32:11
But it's a reminder to us
32:13
that if we're listening to the wrong instructions,
32:16
yes, we're being brought on a journey,
32:19
and our destination may not be far off
32:21
where we want to get,
32:23
but it doesn't matter if it's just a mile,
32:26
10 miles, 100 miles,
32:28
we're still not in the destination
32:30
that we're looking for.
32:33
And the Scripture reminds us
32:34
that our destination,
32:36
our desire should be
32:37
to be with the Lord
32:39
and not to get led down
32:41
the wrong path.
32:43
And so here,
32:44
as Paul writes to the Thessalonians,
32:47
he's writing to these Thessalonians
32:49
who have much to be thankful for in God,
32:52
but who are also enduring persecutions
32:54
and afflictions,
32:55
as it says in verse 4.
32:58
They're suffering much difficulties
33:01
on this journey through life.
33:04
And on the other hand,
33:05
the life and journey
33:06
of the persecutors and the wicked,
33:08
it seems in many ways easier
33:10
and more pleasant.
33:13
And the question can often arise,
33:14
why is this so?
33:18
But Paul is reminding them
33:19
to keep in focus the Lord
33:22
and the destination
33:23
that he ultimately has in mind
33:25
for his people,
33:27
that with God,
33:28
his plans will work out for good
33:30
in the end
33:31
because God is sovereign.
33:34
And in the verses before us tonight,
33:36
we're going to be shown
33:37
the end outcome
33:38
for both believers
33:39
and unbelievers,
33:41
where our journey destination ends.
33:44
And the end,
33:46
the ends couldn't be more different.
33:50
We have before us
33:51
the reality of heaven
33:53
and the reality of hell.
33:57
And it's heaven and hell
33:58
as the Bible,
34:00
the truth of God's word defines it.
34:04
Not a heaven and hell
34:06
of our own making
34:07
or our own imagination.
34:10
It is heaven and hell
34:11
as the Lord presents before us.
34:14
With a great challenge
34:16
and the real seriousness
34:18
of this matter.
34:20
What is your final destination?
34:24
As we journey,
34:25
what is our direction?
34:26
And where is our destination set for?
34:30
That's what Paul wants us to consider.
34:33
What is our final destination?
34:36
Paul challenges us here
34:40
in verse 8 to verse 12
34:41
in particular.
34:43
And we're going to look at these
34:44
two destinations before us.
34:46
First of all,
34:47
we look at hell
34:48
and the darkness of it.
34:50
As we heard this morning,
34:52
the difference between light
34:53
and darkness
34:55
is really what we see again
34:56
before us here.
34:58
The darkness
35:00
and the torment of hell.
35:02
And yet the light
35:04
and the beauty of Christ
35:06
and the hope
35:07
of heaven.
35:09
So first of all,
35:10
we see hell
35:10
and the darkness
35:12
of it.
35:15
And as we
35:16
go into this,
35:17
it's so important
35:18
to see that
35:19
as we speak
35:20
of these places,
35:22
it is not just
35:23
a made-up place.
35:25
It's not just something
35:26
of the imagination
35:28
of man.
35:30
It's so important
35:31
for us to realize that
35:33
because the basis
35:34
of both these destinations
35:36
is what the Word of God
35:38
teaches us.
35:40
And the basis of them
35:41
is,
35:42
as we saw in Matthew
35:43
and here
35:44
in verse 7
35:46
of 2 Thessalonians 1,
35:48
it is the coming
35:49
of the Lord Jesus.
35:52
We're living in this world
35:53
as if it's a permanent
35:55
place of residence.
35:56
But we're just
35:58
passing through.
35:59
This is just
35:59
temporary.
36:01
And so it's so important,
36:02
it's vital
36:03
what we do
36:04
with our days
36:05
in this world.
36:07
And as the psalmist said,
36:08
teach us
36:09
to number our days
36:10
that we may apply
36:11
our hearts
36:12
to wisdom.
36:14
That we may seek
36:15
and be challenged
36:15
as to what is
36:16
our ultimate
36:17
destination.
36:19
The Lord
36:20
is coming.
36:22
And very similar
36:23
words were used
36:24
by Jesus and Matthew
36:25
and here by Paul
36:27
when Jesus is revealed
36:28
from heaven
36:29
with his mighty angels.
36:31
That day
36:32
is coming.
36:34
That moment
36:35
is coming.
36:36
And even though
36:36
we count down
36:37
the days
36:37
and even the minutes
36:39
and the seconds
36:40
of this year,
36:41
there's no guarantee
36:42
for us
36:43
that the Lord
36:44
will not come
36:44
even before then.
36:47
So it again
36:48
just reminds us
36:49
of the importance
36:50
of the now.
36:52
The today
36:52
as the scripture
36:54
speaks of.
36:55
The urgency
36:56
of the gospel
36:57
in light
36:58
of heaven
36:59
and hell.
37:01
And we remember
37:02
that no one
37:02
taught on hell
37:04
more than the Lord
37:05
Jesus himself
37:06
just as we read
37:07
in Matthew.
37:09
Some people
37:10
have said that
37:11
you know
37:11
it's more important
37:12
in this day and age
37:13
that we
37:14
just maybe forget
37:15
about hell
37:16
and don't speak
37:17
about it.
37:18
Show them the love
37:19
of Christ.
37:20
Don't try and
37:21
scare them
37:22
into heaven
37:22
by teaching on hell.
37:24
Just show the love
37:25
of Christ.
37:27
But it's important
37:28
to have both.
37:29
And as we think
37:30
of the doctrine
37:31
of hell
37:31
and the reality
37:32
of hell
37:32
and we put that
37:34
before ourselves,
37:36
that is reminding us
37:37
even maybe more
37:38
greatly
37:39
and truly
37:40
the love
37:40
of Christ.
37:42
Of what he came
37:43
to save us
37:44
from.
37:46
Of the love
37:47
of God
37:47
that gave us
37:48
son,
37:49
the love
37:49
of Christ
37:50
that gave
37:51
his life
37:51
to spare us
37:52
the reality
37:54
of hell
37:54
for ourselves.
37:57
And what it
37:58
cost him
37:59
was the giving
38:00
of his very life.
38:02
So it's so
38:03
important
38:03
that we hear
38:05
the reality
38:05
not just of heaven
38:07
and the beauty
38:08
of that
38:09
but the reality
38:09
of hell
38:10
and the cursing,
38:12
the darkness,
38:13
the bitterness
38:13
of that.
38:16
Reverend
38:16
Sinclair Ferguson
38:17
once told a story
38:19
from a number
38:20
of years ago
38:21
and he's told it
38:23
of one royal princess
38:25
who was coming
38:26
out of a cathedral
38:27
service in England
38:29
and she spoke
38:31
to the dean
38:31
of the cathedral
38:32
on the way out
38:33
and she asked
38:36
the dean
38:36
a question.
38:39
Is it true,
38:40
dean,
38:41
that there is
38:41
a place
38:42
called hell?
38:44
to which
38:45
apparently
38:46
the dean
38:46
replied,
38:47
madam,
38:48
the scriptures
38:48
say so.
38:50
Christian people
38:52
have always
38:53
believed so
38:54
and the church
38:55
of England
38:56
confesses so.
38:59
To which
38:59
the princess
39:00
is supposed to
39:01
have replied
39:01
saying,
39:03
and then
39:04
in God's name
39:05
why don't
39:07
you tell us?
39:08
why don't
39:11
you tell us
39:12
so?
39:14
The reality
39:15
of hell.
39:16
Hell is
39:16
an uncomfortable
39:18
subject
39:19
and for some
39:20
Christians it can
39:21
be an awkward
39:22
subject,
39:23
sometimes an
39:24
embarrassing
39:25
subject to talk
39:26
about.
39:26
We find it
39:27
difficult.
39:28
How can a
39:28
loving God
39:29
condemn anyone
39:30
in this way?
39:33
But it's about
39:34
seeing the
39:34
balance,
39:35
seeing both
39:36
that God,
39:38
yes there is
39:38
a place
39:39
for sinners
39:39
who do not
39:40
repent,
39:42
but the
39:42
reality too
39:43
is that
39:44
faith in
39:45
the Lord
39:45
Jesus Christ
39:46
is the only
39:47
thing that
39:48
can spare
39:48
us from
39:49
that darkness.
39:51
Avoiding
39:52
the subject,
39:54
it doesn't
39:55
make it
39:55
go away.
39:57
The reality
39:57
is always
39:58
there before
39:59
us.
40:00
So why
40:00
did Jesus
40:01
talk about
40:02
it so much?
40:03
Why did
40:05
Jesus often
40:05
speak about
40:07
this place
40:08
hell?
40:08
Because his
40:09
longing for
40:10
people was
40:11
to know
40:12
the truth,
40:13
the reality
40:14
of not
40:16
believing,
40:17
of rejecting
40:17
the gospel,
40:19
that without
40:20
him,
40:21
the saviour
40:22
of the world,
40:23
the reality
40:24
is eternal
40:25
destruction.
40:27
Why does
40:28
Paul address
40:29
it here to
40:30
the Thessalonians?
40:31
Again,
40:32
it's out of
40:33
his pastoral
40:34
love of
40:35
the people,
40:36
his great
40:36
concern for
40:38
them that
40:38
they would
40:38
realise what
40:39
a rejection
40:41
of Christ
40:42
means.
40:44
And why
40:45
do we
40:45
preach it?
40:46
Because we
40:47
all need to
40:48
know the
40:49
reality of
40:49
it, but
40:50
also the
40:51
way away
40:52
from it.
40:54
So as we
40:55
think of
40:55
hell as we
40:56
have it here
40:56
in verse
40:57
7 to
40:58
verse 9,
40:59
there's three
41:00
things about
41:01
it that
41:02
we're
41:02
reminded of
41:02
here.
41:03
First of
41:03
all,
41:04
it's a
41:05
real place.
41:07
It's a
41:08
real place.
41:10
Don't just
41:11
take my
41:12
word for
41:13
it,
41:14
take Jesus'
41:15
word for
41:16
it.
41:16
Because
41:17
Jesus
41:18
presents it
41:19
so,
41:20
as a
41:21
real place.
41:23
Here in
41:24
verse 7
41:24
and 8,
41:25
we are told
41:25
that Jesus
41:26
will be
41:27
revealed to
41:27
bring vengeance
41:28
on those
41:28
who do
41:29
not know
41:29
God or
41:30
obey his
41:31
word.
41:33
He will
41:33
come to
41:34
judge.
41:36
And he's
41:36
fulfilling the
41:37
words of
41:38
warning that
41:38
he has
41:39
already given.
41:41
In
41:41
Matthew 7
41:42
verse 13,
41:43
it says,
41:44
they enter by
41:44
the narrow
41:45
gate, for
41:46
the gate is
41:46
wide and the
41:47
way is easy
41:48
that leads
41:48
to destruction.
41:50
And those
41:51
who enter
41:51
by it
41:52
are many.
41:54
Enter by
41:55
the narrow
41:56
gate.
41:57
Find your
41:58
way to
41:58
salvation,
41:59
not by
42:01
continuing on
42:01
the broad
42:02
way or
42:03
the wide
42:03
gate, as
42:04
he describes
42:04
it, that
42:05
leads to
42:06
destruction.
42:08
The two
42:08
destinations
42:10
presented by
42:11
Jesus, it's
42:12
a real
42:13
place.
42:14
And it begs
42:15
the question
42:16
of us,
42:17
what road
42:18
are you on?
42:18
What path
42:19
are you on?
42:20
What gate
42:21
are you going
42:22
through?
42:23
What is
42:24
the destination
42:25
that you
42:26
are on?
42:27
Jesus again
42:28
says in
42:29
Matthew 10
42:30
verse 28,
42:31
he says,
42:32
do not fear
42:32
those who
42:33
kill the
42:33
body, but
42:34
cannot kill
42:35
the soul.
42:36
Rather,
42:37
fear him
42:38
who can
42:39
destroy both
42:40
soul and
42:41
body in
42:42
hell.
42:44
He just
42:44
reminds us
42:45
so often,
42:47
it is a
42:48
real place.
42:51
As one
42:52
commentator
42:52
says,
42:53
this is
42:54
not the
42:55
imagination
42:55
of man.
42:57
These are
42:57
not the
42:58
words of
42:58
great
42:59
theologians
43:00
like
43:00
Jonathan
43:00
Edwards
43:01
or John
43:02
Calvin
43:02
or Augustine
43:03
or Paul
43:04
himself.
43:06
These are
43:06
the words
43:07
of Jesus
43:08
reminding us
43:11
of the
43:12
reality
43:12
of this
43:14
place,
43:14
that hell
43:16
is a
43:17
real
43:18
place.
43:19
there is
43:20
so many
43:21
people
43:21
afraid
43:22
of so
43:23
many
43:23
things
43:23
today.
43:25
We are
43:26
afraid
43:26
in the
43:27
world in
43:27
which we
43:27
live of
43:28
so much
43:28
that may
43:29
lie before
43:30
us,
43:32
but how
43:32
afraid are
43:33
we of
43:34
our eternal
43:34
destination
43:36
and the
43:36
reality
43:36
of this
43:38
place,
43:38
hell.
43:41
The second
43:42
thing we see
43:42
of this
43:43
place,
43:44
it's not
43:45
a place
43:45
to joke
43:47
about.
43:49
It's not
43:49
a place
43:50
to make
43:50
a joke
43:51
of.
43:51
When you
43:51
read these
43:52
words,
43:53
when Jesus
43:54
is revealed
43:55
from heaven
43:55
with his
43:55
mighty angels
43:56
in flaming
43:57
fire,
43:59
inflicting
43:59
vengeance on
44:00
those who
44:00
do not
44:01
know God
44:01
and on
44:01
those who
44:02
do not
44:02
obey the
44:03
gospel of
44:04
our Lord
44:04
Jesus,
44:05
they will
44:05
suffer the
44:07
punishment
44:07
of eternal
44:09
destruction.
44:11
It's not
44:11
a place
44:12
to joke
44:13
about.
44:14
You see
44:15
it so
44:16
often,
44:17
and it
44:18
becomes
44:18
more so
44:19
as the
44:20
days and
44:20
the years
44:21
go on,
44:22
that hell,
44:23
the devil,
44:25
the gospel,
44:26
it just
44:26
becomes the
44:27
butt of
44:28
all jokes.
44:30
The mocking
44:31
of the
44:32
Christian faith
44:33
and Christians
44:34
becomes more
44:35
and more.
44:38
It's amazing
44:38
how online,
44:40
you know,
44:40
for all it's
44:41
good,
44:42
now you see
44:43
so many people
44:44
just spouting
44:45
forth all
44:46
sorts,
44:48
and especially
44:48
when it
44:49
comes to
44:49
faith.
44:51
Faith,
44:52
the Christian
44:52
faith,
44:53
the butt
44:54
of all
44:54
jokes.
44:55
Jokes
44:56
have become
44:56
more and
44:57
more harsh
44:57
as the
44:58
days and
44:59
the years
44:59
go on.
45:01
It's almost
45:01
like there's
45:01
no filter
45:02
on people
45:02
now,
45:03
they'll just
45:03
say anything
45:04
when they
45:06
make mockery
45:06
of the
45:07
faith,
45:08
but you
45:08
just shudder
45:09
at what
45:10
you hear.
45:10
somebody was
45:13
just saying
45:13
recently that
45:14
they're part
45:15
of an
45:15
atheist group
45:16
in order
45:17
to save
45:18
Christians
45:19
from their
45:20
way of
45:21
thinking.
45:22
It's as if
45:23
this is their
45:24
mission,
45:24
to take
45:25
Christians
45:25
back from
45:26
all these
45:26
fairy tales
45:27
as they
45:28
will describe
45:28
them,
45:29
and to
45:29
bring them
45:30
back into
45:30
the real
45:31
world.
45:33
And you
45:34
just shudder
45:34
at that way
45:35
of thinking
45:36
when you
45:37
see the
45:37
reality of
45:38
what the
45:38
gospel teaches,
45:39
and what
45:40
the mocking
45:41
of God
45:42
will bring,
45:44
the punishment
45:44
that they
45:45
will suffer,
45:46
this eternal
45:47
destruction.
45:49
They don't
45:50
want to hear
45:51
it, but
45:52
that's the
45:53
reality of
45:54
what we
45:54
have before
45:55
us.
45:56
And there
45:57
is this
45:57
joking about
45:58
even hell
45:59
being a
45:59
place,
46:00
even if it
46:00
is real,
46:01
well at
46:01
least I'll
46:02
be with
46:02
my friends.
46:05
But what
46:06
kind of
46:06
place is
46:07
it?
46:07
It's a
46:08
place of
46:08
darkness,
46:09
torment,
46:10
and gnashing
46:11
of teeth.
46:13
It's not
46:13
going to be
46:13
a place
46:14
that's a
46:15
party and
46:15
a family
46:16
reunion.
46:17
What so
46:18
many people
46:18
look forward
46:19
to at this
46:20
time of
46:20
year is
46:20
being together
46:21
with friends
46:22
and families.
46:24
This is
46:24
not hell
46:25
though.
46:26
It's not
46:26
some kind
46:27
of party
46:28
for us
46:28
all to
46:29
enjoy
46:30
for all
46:30
eternity.
46:31
It's a
46:31
place of
46:33
torment.
46:34
It's no
46:35
joke.
46:35
because it's
46:39
not a
46:40
joke,
46:40
it's a
46:41
place that
46:42
we have
46:42
to take
46:42
seriously.
46:44
It's a
46:44
third as
46:45
we see a
46:45
place to
46:46
be avoided.
46:49
Some
46:49
people will
46:50
say,
46:51
well at
46:51
least I'll
46:52
finally be
46:53
away from
46:54
God and
46:55
Christians.
46:56
As if this
46:57
is something
46:58
to look
46:59
forward to.
47:00
you.
47:01
And it
47:01
says here
47:02
in verse
47:03
9,
47:03
they will
47:03
suffer the
47:04
punishment of
47:05
eternal
47:05
destruction
47:06
away from
47:07
the presence
47:08
of the
47:08
Lord and
47:09
from the
47:09
glory of
47:10
his might.
47:12
And if
47:12
anyone thinks
47:13
that this
47:14
is a good
47:14
thing,
47:15
it is not.
47:17
It is the
47:18
last thing
47:19
you want
47:20
to be cast
47:21
away from
47:22
the presence
47:23
of the
47:23
Lord and
47:24
from the
47:24
glory of
47:25
his might.
47:27
It is the
47:28
absence of
47:29
all light,
47:30
utter darkness.
47:33
And if the
47:34
greatest blessing
47:34
we can have
47:35
is to know
47:36
the Lord and
47:37
his face,
47:38
his light
47:39
shining upon
47:40
us, the
47:42
reverse is
47:43
through our
47:43
greatest
47:44
curse is to
47:45
be cast
47:46
away.
47:48
It's a
47:49
place to
47:50
be avoided.
47:52
And the
47:53
only way to
47:53
avoid it is
47:55
to come to
47:55
the light,
47:57
to come and
47:57
put your
47:58
trust,
47:59
in the
47:59
Lord Jesus
48:00
so that
48:00
you will
48:00
not hear
48:01
these words
48:02
that Jesus
48:03
said,
48:04
depart from
48:05
me, you
48:05
cursed,
48:06
into eternal
48:08
fire.
48:12
We have
48:13
these great
48:14
truths before
48:16
us.
48:18
Henry
48:18
Alford once
48:19
said,
48:21
the most
48:21
dreadful
48:22
torment of
48:23
the lost,
48:24
in fact,
48:25
that which
48:26
constitutes their
48:27
state of
48:27
torment will
48:29
be this
48:29
coming to
48:30
themselves
48:30
when it
48:32
is too
48:33
late for
48:34
repentance.
48:36
It's like
48:36
the story
48:37
of the rich
48:38
man and
48:39
Lazarus.
48:41
It'll be
48:42
too late.
48:45
Knowing the
48:45
reality of
48:46
hell, then,
48:47
what does
48:47
that mean for
48:48
your journey
48:49
and your
48:50
final destination?
48:52
salvation?
48:53
Are you
48:53
safe on the
48:55
narrow way
48:55
or are you
48:57
in the
48:57
broad way
48:58
that leads
48:59
to destruction?
49:00
Is it time
49:01
to turn?
49:04
Hell is
49:04
real.
49:06
Hell is
49:07
not a
49:07
joke.
49:08
Hell is
49:09
to be
49:10
avoided
49:10
at all
49:11
costs.
49:12
And that's
49:14
why we
49:15
give thanks
49:16
to God
49:16
for his
49:17
gospel,
49:19
for the
49:19
good news
49:20
that shows
49:22
us another
49:23
destination,
49:24
another place
49:25
that we
49:26
should all
49:27
long for.
49:29
As we are
49:29
told of the
49:30
reality of
49:31
hell, we
49:32
give thanks
49:32
to God
49:33
for the
49:34
reality for
49:35
all who
49:35
believe that
49:37
at the
49:37
coming of
49:37
the Lord,
49:38
the Lord
49:39
will say,
49:40
come,
49:40
come,
49:41
you who
49:42
are blessed
49:43
by the
49:43
Father,
49:44
inherit the
49:45
kingdom
49:46
prepared for
49:47
you, the
49:48
place we
49:49
know as
49:50
heaven.
49:51
And the
49:51
way to
49:52
that is
49:52
through
49:53
Christ,
49:54
through the
49:54
light of
49:55
the world,
49:57
the Lord
49:57
Jesus
49:58
Christ.
49:59
We long
50:00
for peace
50:01
in our
50:02
world today.
50:03
We pray
50:03
for it.
50:05
And even
50:06
if it
50:06
comes,
50:07
though,
50:07
it will
50:08
not compare
50:08
to the
50:09
peace and
50:09
blessings
50:10
of for
50:11
God's
50:11
people in
50:12
this eternal
50:13
destination
50:14
of being
50:15
with him.
50:16
Even the
50:17
way Paul
50:18
describes it
50:19
in another
50:19
place, he
50:21
calls it
50:21
being home
50:22
with the
50:23
Lord.
50:24
The
50:24
destination
50:25
for all
50:26
who believe
50:27
to be
50:28
home with
50:29
the Lord,
50:30
to be
50:31
in his
50:32
presence
50:33
forevermore.
50:35
And when
50:36
we think
50:36
of the
50:37
difference
50:37
here between
50:39
the darkness
50:39
of hell
50:40
and the
50:41
light of
50:42
God's
50:42
kingdom,
50:43
what should
50:44
that do
50:45
for us?
50:47
As we are
50:47
reminded here
50:48
of why
50:49
Jesus came
50:50
to spare
50:51
us from
50:52
that darkness
50:53
and to
50:53
lead us
50:54
into his
50:55
wonderful
50:55
light,
50:56
what should
50:57
it do
50:58
for us?
50:59
Well,
50:59
when you look
51:00
at verse
51:00
10 and
51:01
11,
51:02
the contrast
51:02
is so
51:03
stark.
51:04
when he
51:05
comes on
51:05
that day
51:06
to be
51:06
glorified
51:07
in his
51:08
saints
51:09
and to
51:09
be marveled
51:10
at among
51:11
all who
51:12
have believed,
51:13
the difference
51:14
is there for
51:15
us to see.
51:17
Night
51:18
and day,
51:20
darkness
51:21
and light,
51:22
those who
51:23
believe will
51:24
glory in
51:26
their Lord.
51:27
He will be
51:28
marveled at
51:29
among those
51:30
who have
51:31
believed.
51:31
we will
51:32
praise his
51:33
name
51:34
forever.
51:36
And so
51:36
what should
51:36
that do
51:37
for us?
51:38
Well,
51:39
it should
51:39
drive us
51:40
to our
51:41
Saviour.
51:42
It should
51:42
drive us
51:43
to the
51:44
Lord Jesus.
51:45
As Paul
51:46
warns here
51:46
of the
51:47
punishment
51:47
of eternal
51:48
destruction,
51:50
those who
51:51
believe
51:51
the reverse
51:53
is true,
51:54
eternal
51:55
blessing.
51:56
The great
51:57
gospel
51:57
invitation
51:58
is to
51:59
come,
52:00
but to
52:01
come
52:01
for what?
52:04
Well,
52:04
that gospel
52:05
invitation
52:06
that we
52:06
have so
52:07
often,
52:07
as we
52:08
see in
52:08
John 3,
52:09
16,
52:10
for God
52:11
so loved
52:12
the world
52:13
that he
52:13
gave his
52:14
only son
52:15
that whoever
52:16
believes in
52:17
him should
52:18
not perish,
52:19
this eternal
52:20
destruction he's
52:21
speaking of,
52:22
but have
52:23
eternal
52:24
life.
52:27
Again,
52:27
as we were
52:27
hearing this
52:28
morning,
52:29
that light
52:30
of the
52:30
Lord Jesus
52:31
is the
52:32
light of
52:33
life,
52:35
and life
52:35
eternal,
52:38
which should
52:38
drive us
52:39
to our
52:40
Savior.
52:41
Life,
52:42
it isn't
52:43
like a
52:43
computer game.
52:46
If you
52:46
enjoy playing
52:47
computer games,
52:48
you often
52:49
find that
52:50
you've got a
52:50
number of
52:51
lives.
52:52
You can
52:53
gain extra
52:54
lives,
52:54
you can claim
52:55
them.
52:56
This is not
52:57
real life,
52:58
though.
52:59
We only
53:00
have one
53:01
life to
53:02
live,
53:03
one
53:03
opportunity,
53:05
and today
53:06
is that
53:07
opportunity.
53:09
Today is
53:09
that time
53:10
to come.
53:12
As Charles
53:13
Studd once
53:14
said,
53:15
two little
53:15
lines I
53:16
heard one
53:17
day,
53:18
traveling along
53:19
life's busy
53:20
way,
53:21
bringing
53:21
conviction to
53:22
my heart,
53:23
and from my
53:24
mind would
53:25
not depart.
53:26
only one
53:28
life will
53:29
soon be
53:30
passed.
53:31
Only
53:32
what's done
53:32
for Christ
53:34
will last.
53:36
This
53:37
reality of
53:38
these
53:38
destinations
53:39
should drive
53:40
us to
53:41
our Lord
53:41
Jesus Christ.
53:43
It should
53:43
bring us
53:44
to our
53:45
knees,
53:46
begging with
53:47
him,
53:48
what must
53:49
I do
53:49
to be
53:50
saved?
53:51
and it
53:53
should
53:53
drive us
53:54
secondly
53:54
to prayer.
53:57
That's
53:58
what we
53:58
see here
53:59
in verse
54:00
11,
54:00
to this
54:00
end,
54:01
we always
54:02
pray for
54:03
you that
54:04
our God
54:04
may make
54:05
you worthy
54:06
of his
54:06
calling,
54:07
and may
54:08
fulfill
54:08
every resolve
54:09
for good,
54:10
and every
54:11
work of
54:12
faith by
54:13
his power.
54:14
It should
54:15
drive us
54:15
on in
54:16
prayer.
54:17
salvation
54:20
belongs
54:21
to God,
54:23
but he
54:24
is a
54:24
God that
54:25
longs to
54:26
save.
54:27
He is a
54:27
God that
54:28
longs for
54:28
our people
54:29
to turn
54:30
in repentance,
54:31
to turn to
54:32
him and to
54:33
call out
54:34
on his
54:35
name.
54:36
Like so
54:37
many of the
54:37
Psalms that
54:38
we sing,
54:39
they speak
54:40
about looking
54:41
for this
54:41
path of
54:42
life,
54:43
this path
54:44
divine,
54:45
and as
54:46
Psalm 25
54:46
says,
54:47
show me
54:48
thy ways,
54:49
O Lord,
54:50
thy paths,
54:51
O teach
54:52
thou me.
54:53
It's this
54:53
crying out
54:54
to God
54:55
to show
54:56
us the
54:56
way,
54:57
the way
54:58
that is
54:58
life and
54:59
light through
55:00
Christ,
55:01
so it
55:01
should drive
55:02
us to
55:03
prayer.
55:05
The third
55:06
thing and
55:06
final thing
55:07
we see of
55:07
the reality
55:08
of heaven
55:09
and hell
55:10
as well
55:10
as it
55:11
should drive
55:12
us in
55:13
our mission.
55:15
In our
55:15
mission as
55:16
a people
55:16
of God,
55:17
in our
55:17
mission as
55:18
a church,
55:18
as a
55:19
denomination,
55:20
it should
55:20
drive us
55:21
in this
55:22
mission.
55:23
If we
55:24
know the
55:24
reality of
55:25
hell and
55:26
the reality
55:26
of heaven
55:27
and that
55:28
being in
55:29
one final
55:30
destination is
55:31
to be lost
55:32
eternally,
55:33
or to be in
55:34
the other is
55:34
to be saved
55:35
eternally,
55:36
that shouldn't
55:37
just wash
55:38
over us.
55:40
It shouldn't
55:40
just go past
55:41
us and not
55:42
make us think,
55:42
what are we
55:44
doing for
55:45
those who
55:45
are lost?
55:48
It should
55:48
drive us
55:49
in our
55:50
mission.
55:52
Why did
55:52
Jesus teach
55:53
so much
55:54
on hell?
55:55
Was it to
55:56
scare people?
55:58
No.
55:59
It was that
55:59
they might hear
56:00
the good news
56:02
of the gospel
56:02
beside that
56:03
and turn
56:05
in repentance
56:06
to him.
56:07
And so it
56:07
should drive
56:08
us in our
56:09
mission to
56:10
reach out
56:10
with the gospel
56:11
today in
56:11
the same
56:12
way that
56:13
Paul was
56:13
encouraging
56:14
the Thessalonians
56:15
to go on
56:16
in the faith,
56:17
to stand
56:18
up to those
56:19
who would
56:19
mock and
56:20
persecute the
56:21
Christian faith
56:22
and continue
56:24
to be salt
56:25
and light
56:25
in the midst
56:26
of this world.
56:27
It should
56:28
drive us
56:29
on.
56:30
They knew
56:31
they had
56:32
light.
56:33
They knew
56:34
they had the
56:35
light of
56:36
Jesus Christ
56:37
that made
56:38
so much of
56:39
a difference
56:39
in the
56:39
darkness
56:40
of this
56:41
world.
56:41
And so
56:42
should we
56:43
to know
56:44
that we
56:44
have the
56:45
light of
56:46
Christ
56:46
and to
56:47
shine it
56:48
forth
56:48
before all
56:49
others.
56:51
Charles
56:52
Spurgeon
56:52
once said
56:53
this.
56:54
It's such
56:55
a powerful
56:56
way of
56:57
looking at
56:58
it.
56:58
He said,
56:59
if sinners
57:00
be damned,
57:01
at least
57:02
let them
57:03
leap to
57:03
hell over
57:05
our dead
57:05
bodies.
57:06
And if
57:07
they perish,
57:08
perish,
57:10
let them
57:11
perish with
57:11
our arms
57:12
wrapped about
57:12
their knees,
57:14
imploring them
57:15
to stay.
57:17
If hell
57:18
must be
57:18
filled,
57:19
let it be
57:20
filled in
57:20
the teeth
57:21
of our
57:21
exertions,
57:23
and let
57:23
no one
57:24
go unwarned
57:26
or unprayed
57:27
for.
57:29
What a
57:29
challenge
57:30
to our
57:31
mission.
57:32
As a
57:33
church,
57:33
is that
57:34
the way
57:34
we live?
57:37
Putting
57:37
forth the
57:38
gospel of
57:39
Jesus Christ
57:40
in this
57:41
way with
57:41
passion,
57:42
conviction,
57:43
and power
57:43
of Christ,
57:46
with our
57:46
arms wrapped
57:48
about their
57:48
knees,
57:50
pleading for
57:51
people to be
57:52
saved,
57:53
to repent,
57:55
and to
57:55
turn.
57:57
Should that
57:58
not drive
57:58
us on,
58:00
the reality
58:01
of hell
58:02
and the
58:04
reality of
58:05
the other
58:05
destination,
58:06
and the
58:07
beauty of
58:08
heaven,
58:09
to put
58:10
that before
58:11
people too,
58:13
to see the
58:13
blessings that
58:15
are ours in
58:16
Christ.
58:18
J.C.
58:19
Ryle, he
58:20
once said
58:20
this, and
58:22
if you're a
58:22
Christian, be
58:24
encouraged in
58:25
this.
58:25
He said,
58:26
Christian,
58:27
look up and
58:29
take comfort.
58:30
Jesus has
58:31
prepared,
58:32
a place
58:33
for you,
58:34
and those
58:35
who follow
58:36
him shall
58:37
never perish,
58:38
neither shall
58:39
any man pluck
58:40
them out of
58:41
his hands.
58:42
Look forward
58:43
to that
58:44
glorious dwelling
58:45
he has
58:46
provided.
58:47
Look forward
58:48
in faith,
58:50
for it is
58:51
yours.
58:53
What a
58:54
contrast.
58:56
The beauty
58:56
of heaven,
58:58
a place
58:58
prepared by
59:00
the Lord
59:00
Jesus,
59:01
a place
59:02
that we
59:02
should long
59:03
for all
59:03
to come
59:04
and be
59:05
in,
59:06
and the
59:06
way is
59:07
through
59:07
Christ,
59:08
the light
59:08
of the
59:09
world.
59:10
So we
59:10
have the
59:11
reality of
59:12
hell,
59:13
the place
59:13
of darkness.
59:15
It's not a
59:16
place to be
59:18
joked about
59:19
because it's a
59:19
real place.
59:21
It's a place
59:22
to be avoided.
59:24
It's a place
59:24
that Jesus
59:25
presents to
59:26
us again
59:26
and again.
59:29
But thanks
59:29
be to God,
59:30
he shows us
59:31
the gospel,
59:32
the good
59:32
news,
59:33
and another
59:34
destination,
59:36
a place
59:36
prepared.
59:39
And so
59:40
tonight,
59:41
as we come
59:42
and maybe
59:42
count down
59:43
the days
59:44
to the end
59:45
of the year,
59:47
ask ourselves,
59:48
what is
59:50
our destination?
59:51
and pray
59:53
to God
59:53
to teach
59:54
us to
59:55
number our
59:56
days,
59:57
that we may
59:57
apply our
59:58
hearts to
59:59
wisdom,
1:00:00
and the
1:00:00
wisdom that
1:00:01
is before
1:00:02
us in the
1:00:02
word of
1:00:03
God.
1:00:04
The reality
1:00:05
is there
1:00:06
is a
1:00:07
hell,
1:00:08
a place
1:00:08
of punishment
1:00:09
and eternal
1:00:11
destruction,
1:00:12
away from
1:00:13
the presence
1:00:13
of the Lord
1:00:14
and from
1:00:14
the glory
1:00:15
of his
1:00:15
might,
1:00:16
the last
1:00:17
thing we
1:00:18
should want.
1:00:20
But praise
1:00:20
God,
1:00:21
that when
1:00:22
he comes,
1:00:23
he may
1:00:23
find us,
1:00:24
as Christians,
1:00:25
as those
1:00:26
of faith,
1:00:27
taking comfort
1:00:28
and consolation
1:00:30
in him,
1:00:31
that when he
1:00:31
comes on
1:00:32
that day,
1:00:33
to be glorified
1:00:34
in his
1:00:36
saints,
1:00:37
and to be
1:00:37
marveled at
1:00:38
among all
1:00:39
who have
1:00:40
believed.
1:00:42
Where
1:00:42
and in what
1:00:43
number
1:00:44
will you
1:00:45
be numbered?
1:00:47
The broad
1:00:48
way
1:00:48
or the
1:00:50
narrow path?
1:00:51
The destination
1:00:52
is before
1:00:53
us.
1:00:54
But thanks
1:00:54
be that
1:00:55
Christ
1:00:56
is before
1:00:57
us too.
1:00:58
So may
1:00:58
we look
1:00:59
to him
1:00:59
who has
1:01:00
gone before
1:01:01
and to
1:01:02
prepare
1:01:03
a place
1:01:04
for us.
1:01:04
May God
1:01:05
bless
1:01:05
his word
1:01:07
to us.
1:01:07
we're going
1:01:11
to conclude
1:01:12
by singing
1:01:12
the well-known
1:01:14
psalm that
1:01:15
we sing
1:01:15
so often,
1:01:17
Psalm 23,
1:01:19
but our
1:01:20
psalm that
1:01:20
again just
1:01:21
reminds us
1:01:22
of the
1:01:23
way to
1:01:25
that glorious
1:01:25
place.
1:01:26
the Lord
1:01:27
who is
1:01:28
our
1:01:28
shepherd.
1:01:29
The Lord's
1:01:30
my shepherd,
1:01:31
I'll not
1:01:32
want.
1:01:32
He makes
1:01:32
me down
1:01:33
to lie
1:01:34
in pastures
1:01:35
green.
1:01:36
He leadeth
1:01:36
me the
1:01:36
quiet
1:01:37
waters
1:01:38
by.
1:01:39
And
1:01:39
verse 4,
1:01:40
yet though
1:01:40
I walk
1:01:40
in death
1:01:41
stark
1:01:41
veil,
1:01:42
yet will
1:01:42
I fear
1:01:43
none ill,
1:01:44
for thou
1:01:44
art with
1:01:45
me,
1:01:46
and I
1:01:46
rod and
1:01:46
staff
1:01:47
me
1:01:48
comfort
1:01:48
still.
1:01:49
And then
1:01:49
the last
1:01:49
verse,
1:01:50
goodness
1:01:50
and mercy
1:01:51
all my
1:01:52
life shall
1:01:52
surely
1:01:53
follow me,
1:01:54
and in
1:01:54
God's
1:01:55
house
1:01:55
forevermore
1:01:56
my dwelling
1:01:57
place
1:01:58
shall be.
1:01:59
We'll sing
1:01:59
the whole
1:02:00
of this
1:02:00
psalm
1:02:00
to God's
1:02:01
place.
1:02:02
The
1:02:08
Lord's
1:02:10
my
1:02:11
shepherd,
1:02:13
I'm
1:02:15
the
1:02:16
one.
1:02:17
He
1:02:18
raised
1:02:20
me
1:02:21
down
1:02:22
to
1:02:23
lie
1:02:25
in
1:02:26
pastures
1:02:29
green
1:02:30
me
1:02:31
leadeth
1:02:33
me
1:02:35
the
1:02:36
quiet
1:02:38
waters
1:02:40
high.
1:02:43
My
1:02:44
soul
1:02:46
me
1:02:47
doth
1:02:49
restore
1:02:50
again
1:02:54
and
1:02:55
need
1:02:56
to
1:02:57
walk
1:02:58
the
1:02:59
pain
1:03:01
within
1:03:03
the
1:03:06
realms
1:03:07
of
1:03:08
righteousness
1:03:10
in
1:03:13
what
1:03:14
his
1:03:16
own
1:03:17
may
1:03:18
stay.
1:03:19
Need
1:03:21
though
1:03:23
I
1:03:24
walk
1:03:25
in
1:03:27
death's
1:03:29
dark
1:03:30
fail,
1:03:31
yet
1:03:32
dwell
1:03:33
like
1:03:35
here
1:03:36
the
1:03:37
ill.
1:03:38
For
1:03:40
thou
1:03:41
art
1:03:42
with
1:03:44
me
1:03:45
and
1:03:46
thy
1:03:47
walk
1:03:48
and
1:03:49
shall
1:03:50
be
1:03:52
come
1:03:53
for
1:03:54
still.
1:03:55
My
1:03:56
deep
1:03:57
love
1:03:58
has
1:04:00
furnished
1:04:02
love
1:04:03
hath
1:04:04
furnished
1:04:08
in
1:04:10
presence
1:04:12
of
1:04:13
my
1:04:14
foes
1:04:15
my
1:04:16
head
1:04:17
the
1:04:19
dust
1:04:20
with
1:04:21
oil
1:04:22
anoint
1:04:23
with
1:04:24
oil
1:04:25
anoint
1:04:26
and
1:04:28
like
1:04:30
a
1:04:31
over
1:04:32
close
1:04:33
to
1:04:34
this
1:04:35
and
1:04:36
mercy
1:04:37
all
1:04:38
my life
1:04:40
shall
1:04:41
surely
1:04:42
follow me
1:04:43
follow me
1:04:53
and
1:04:54
in
1:04:55
God's
1:04:56
hands
1:04:57
forever
1:04:58
more
1:04:59
my
1:05:00
dwelling
1:05:01
place
1:05:02
shall
1:05:03
be
1:05:04
after the
1:05:15
benediction i'll go to the main door we'll close the benediction now may grace mercy and peace from God father son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with us all now and forevermore amen
1:05:34
to