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The Gathered Church (8) - Gathered in Glory · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We're going to begin our worship now singing in Psalm number 30.
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Psalm number 30, that's in the Scottish Psalter, the tune of St. Minver,
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and verses 1 to 5.
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Lord, I will thee extol, for thou hast lifted me on high,
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and over me thou to rejoice, made'st not mine enemy.
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O thou who art the Lord my God, I in distress to thee with loud cries,
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lifted up my voice, and thou hast healed me.
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So on to the end of verse 5, Lord, I will thee extol.
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If you're able to stand, please stand for the singing.
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Over me thou to rejoice, made'st not mine enemy.
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O thou who art the Lord my God, I am in distress to thee.
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With light I've lifted up my voice, and thou hast healed me.
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O Lord, my soul, thou hast brought down, and rescued from the grave,
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that I to pray, should not go down, how life thou didst be saved.
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For ye that have his holy wants, sing grace unto the Lord,
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and give unto him thanks, where ye his holiness reward.
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Are but a woman, that is strong, like in his labor light.
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We think before a night in dew, but more of joy arise.
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Let's call upon the Lord now in prayer.
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Let's join together in prayer.
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We give thanks to thee, O Lord, our God,
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as we come to sing these words we have sung in your praise,
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that you are the God who rescues sinners from their plight,
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the God who lifts us out of the pit of our own making,
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and sets us upon the rock that is Jesus Christ.
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We give thanks, O Lord, tonight,
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that we face once again the wonderful teaching of your word,
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that reminds us of all that it took and cost to provide us with such a rescue and redemption.
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We pray, Lord, tonight that we may come before you,
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celebrating the fact that you are this God who saves,
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who comes to be with your people,
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and who will bring them at last to dwell with you forever.
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O Lord, our God, we give thanks.
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You are the God also of comfort and compassion,
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one who makes himself known to us,
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having come to know you as our God.
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Lord, we give thanks that you remain to be the comforter and companion and friend of your people.
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Lord, how much we need to know and to be assured of that comfort
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and that friendship throughout the course of life.
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For we know from our experience,
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as well as the teaching of your word,
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that we meet with many tribulations,
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many things that cause us distress and pain,
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many things that sometimes,
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Lord, bring us to question our very relationship with you
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and your view of us.
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But we give thanks for the way in which your word redirects us.
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We give thanks for the ministry of your Holy Spirit.
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Lord, not only do you bring us to know you through the work of that Spirit,
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but your Spirit dwells within your people,
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and your Spirit will ever be in your people's souls,
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all the way through time and into eternity.
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And we give thanks tonight for that ministry of your Spirit,
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a Spirit that keeps himself so much in the background
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in order to elevate and bring Christ out for us.
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And Lord, we pray tonight that your Holy Spirit will apply your word to us,
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that your Holy Spirit will open our minds
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and grant to us once again to triumph in the Lord Jesus Christ through faith.
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And we pray, Lord, that you would grant to us,
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even this night, anew,
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the sense of your presence here with us,
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the knowledge that you are here,
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and that you are here as you have stated in your word,
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that where your people are gathered together in your name,
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so you are there in the midst.
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And we give thanks for the many ways in which,
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as we have seen, O Lord,
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your word teaches us of the importance of gathering your people together
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and of them seeing themselves as the gathered people of God.
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We give thanks that all the way down through the Old Testament years,
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your people knew themselves as the assembly of God's people,
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an assembly of people with whom you had entered into covenant,
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an assembly that gathered regularly to worship you,
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to give to you the praise, the sacrifices,
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all that you had required of them.
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And we give thanks, O Lord,
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that we have entered into the way in which we relate to you,
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entered into that same experience,
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but even in a higher way.
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For you have come to reveal yourself to us, Lord,
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not merely through symbols and signs and sacrifices,
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but through the person of your Son.
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For in times past you spoke to the prophets and the fathers
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through various visions,
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and revelations of yourself.
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But in these latter times,
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you have spoken to us and continue to speak through your Son,
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one who has been made heir over all things.
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Bless, we pray, your word to us then, Lord, tonight.
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We represent a great variety of needs
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and of experience in your presence.
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And even tonight, Lord,
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we know that we vary so much,
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one from each other,
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in the things that we are going through in life.
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But we give thanks that all our needs are met in the Lord Jesus Christ,
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and we'll be so abundantly and triumphantly throughout eternity.
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When you're gathered,
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when you're gathered, people will forever be in your presence.
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And when nothing will intervene with their perfect knowledge of you
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and their celebration of your salvation
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and also of the rejoicing in the salvation
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that you have procured for them.
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And bless us each one, we pray,
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and bless us together this evening.
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Bless us in all that we seek to do
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in your name from day to day and week to week.
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Lord, we give thanks for all the activities of the congregation.
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We know that being busy and having all these activities
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are not in themselves a sign of life,
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but yet, Lord, we are encouraged that there is surely life
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when we have a relish for these things
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and when we seek to pray over them
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and find that they are of benefit to us as a people.
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And, Lord, we pray that all of these activities,
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along with our services of worship,
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will continue to be blessed and owned by you.
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And so, encourage, we pray,
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those who lead up all of these activities and meetings.
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We pray that you bless them
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from the meetings of the youngest right through to the over 55s.
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We encourage, Lord, as we seek your encouragement
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to continue to look to you
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for your blessing through these things and upon these things.
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We ask especially, again, that you'd bless our children,
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our young people.
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And we ask that you would further establish them
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in the knowledge of your name and in your salvation.
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Lord, we pray this for them.
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We know that it is above everything else that we could ask for them
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and anything else that they could value and know,
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that they would know the Lord Jesus for themselves,
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that they would know the treasure of his salvation,
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that they would come, Lord, to rejoice in him
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as their Redeemer and as their Lord.
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And we pray, Lord, for all the work that goes on
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to bring that great message of the gospel to them.
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And we ask that you would continue to bless them.
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Bless the world in which we live,
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our own nation and all the other nations of the earth.
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Lord, it is so evident to us
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that it is a world in turmoil,
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a world that shows all the evidence of its fallenness
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and sinfulness and a typathy to God,
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a world that departs so much from your ways,
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not only into other religions
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and other ways of life that cannot ever bring us
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salvation and satisfaction,
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but a world that is so largely and sadly
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set on violence and war,
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and a world that is, Lord, so much given
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to uphold the things that we should despise
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and despise the things that we should uphold.
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Forgive us, we pray,
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for the way in which we are continually
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in a departure from you
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as a nation, as a people.
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But, Lord, we ask that you would bless your church,
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that you would bless all who witness to you
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through this generation.
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We pray that you would encourage them,
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for they meet with much, Lord, of opposition
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and discouragement,
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and we do pray that you would continue
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to own and acknowledge
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the testimony of your people.
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We pray that wherever that is set forth,
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whether it be in church meetings
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or places of work or other gatherings,
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Lord, we pray even in terms of private conversation,
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we pray that your blessing
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will always accompany what we seek to do
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in expressing our faith in Christ
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and our hope and confidence in him.
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Bless tonight those who mourn the passing of loved ones.
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We pray for them again
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and continue to bear them in your presence,
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O Lord.
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Bless to those who are ill,
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those who are seriously ill,
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those laid aside in hospital,
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in the hospice, in care homes or at home.
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O Lord, bless, we pray,
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each and all of these circumstances
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to those involved and to their families.
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And continue to guide us, Lord,
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in that way of your truth.
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And in all of this,
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we do confess our sins,
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seeking your cleansing and acceptance of us.
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For Jesus' sake.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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We're going to sing again to God's praise.
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We're singing this time from Psalm 36.
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This time in Sing Psalm,
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Psalm 36, verses 5 to 10.
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The tune is Torwood.
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Your steadfast love is great, O Lord.
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It reaches heaven high.
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Your faithfulness is wonderful,
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extending to the sky.
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Your righteousness is very great,
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like mountains high and steep.
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Your justice is like ocean depths,
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both man and beast.
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You keep, Dunesvah, verse 10,
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to those who know you as their God,
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your steadfast love impart.
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Maintain your righteousness
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to those of pure and upright heart.
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So these verses,
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your steadfast love is great, O Lord.
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Amen.
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Your faithfulness is wonderful,
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extending to the sky.
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You righteousness is very great,
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by mountains high and steep.
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Your justice is like ocean depths,
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O plan and beast you be.
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How precious is your steadfast love,
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What of it, dense it brings,
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O higher love,
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more on yourqueous kinda suprest,
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of pure imagines.
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O fashion nights
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In your house and drink
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From streams of pure delight
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For with you is the source of life
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In your light we see light
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To those who know you are, dear God
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Your steadfast love impart
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Maintain your righteousness
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To those of pure and upright
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Let's turn now to read God's Word.
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Our reading this evening is from the book of the Revelation of John,
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the last book of the Bible, and chapter 7.
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And we're going to read from the beginning through to the end of the chapter.
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So Revelation chapter 7 from the beginning.
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After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth,
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holding back the four winds of the earth,
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that no wind might blow on the earth or sea or against any tree.
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Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun
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with the seal of the living God.
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And he called with a loud voice to the four angels
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who had been given power to harm earth and sea,
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saying, Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees
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until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
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And I heard the number of the sealed,
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one hundred and forty-four thousand,
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sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.
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Twelve thousand from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
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twelve thousand from the tribe of Reuben,
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twelve thousand from the tribe of Gad,
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twelve thousand from the tribe of Asher,
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twelve thousand from the tribe of Naphtali,
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twelve thousand from the tribe of Manasseh,
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twelve thousand from the tribe of Simeon,
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twelve thousand from the tribe of Levi,
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twelve thousand from the tribe of Issachar,
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twelve thousand from the tribe of Zebulun,
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twelve thousand from the tribe of Joseph,
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and twelve thousand from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.
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After this I looked, and behold,
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a great multitude that no one could number,
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from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,
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standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands,
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and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.
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And all the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures,
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and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying, Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom,
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and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.
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Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?
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I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.
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They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
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Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple,
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and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
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They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more.
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The sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat,
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for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
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and he will guide them to springs of living water,
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and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
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Amen. And again, may God follow with his blessing our reading of his own precious word.
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Let's sing once again this time in Psalm 107.
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Psalm 107 in the Scottish Psalter,
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Verse 1-9
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And the tune this time is Newington
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Praise God, for he is good,
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for still his mercies lasting be.
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Let God's redeemed say so,
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whom he from the enemies handed free,
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and gathered them out of the lands from north, south, east, and west.
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They strayed in deserts pathless way,
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no city found to rest.
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For thirst and hunger in them faints their soul,
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when straight them pressed they cry unto the Lord,
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and he them frees from their distress.
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Them also in a way to walk,
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that right is he did guide,
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that they might to a city go,
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wherein they might abide.
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And so on down as far as verse 9,
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Praise God, for he is good.
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Praise God, for he is good,
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for still his mercies lasting be.
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Let God's redeemed say so,
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whom he from the enemies handed free,
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and gather them out of the lands,
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from north, south, east, and west.
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They strayed in deserts pathless way,
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no city found to rest.
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For thirst and hunger in them faints,
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their soul rents,
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their soul rents,
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their soul rents,
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their soul rents,
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they cry unto the Lord,
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and he,
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and peace of their distress.
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them also in a way to walk,
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that right is he did guide,
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that they might to a city go,
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wherein they might abide.
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O that men to the Lord would give,
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praise for his goodness then,
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and for his works of wonder done,
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and to the sons of men.
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For he the soul and longing is,
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that fully satisfy,
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with goodness in a hungry soul,
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that filled abundantly.
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Let's turn together now to Revelation chapter 7,
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and especially the second half of that chapter,
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from verse 9,
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particularly verses 13,
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through to the end of the chapter.
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This is really the apex,
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or the terminus,
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of the gathered church.
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We've been looking at some aspects of the gathered church,
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and some of the features the Bible tells us
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are important in terms of our thinking of the church
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as the gathered people of God,
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not just gathered in terms of gathered for worship,
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as we are tonight,
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but other aspects of the way in which God's people are gathered
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or united together,
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as he himself gathers them together
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into the body of being his people.
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But this is really the church gathered in glory.
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This will be our final study,
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this time on this short series of the gathered church.
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The church gathered in glory.
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On earth,
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we have the church in an admixed form.
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The church gathered on earth
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is always comprised of people who are saved
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and people who are not saved.
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And the church in the widest sense of it,
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and that has been the case all the way through,
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from the Old Testament days
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right through to our own age as well.
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But in this gathered church in glory,
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there are no one saved.
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They are all redeemed people of God,
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enjoying the salvation that God has procured for them
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through the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And you'll notice it says that
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when the elder actually addressed,
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one of the elders addressed him who they were,
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and I said to him,
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Sir, you know,
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in other words,
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John himself at this position
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was unwilling or unable to say
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who exactly they were,
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but he knew that this elder who spoke with him
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from heaven,
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this one in this wonderful scene
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that he sees here before him,
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he said,
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these are the ones
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coming out of the great tribulation,
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and they have washed their robes
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and made them white
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in the blood of the Lamb.
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Now, there's a lot of speculation
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over the great tribulation
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down through the years.
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Some people have said
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and continue to say
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that that is a specific time
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in the history of the world
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or in the history of the church,
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that it refers to
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a specific time of tribulation
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as part of the end times.
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But it's better, I think,
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to take this reference,
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the great tribulation,
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to be a reference
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to the sum total
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of the tribulations
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of God's people
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down through the ages
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of the church.
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And that as this is bringing us
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to the final state of the church
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and the final state
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which here in chapter 7
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anticipates what you later have
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in the final two chapters
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of Revelation.
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Revelation is difficult
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in some ways
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to work out
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just where the pauses are,
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and it seems that we can take it
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as we are tonight,
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taking it that it reaches
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this point,
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and then it resumes
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some of the teaching
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before reaching again
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on account of the final state
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of things in chapters 21 and 22.
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Well, be that as it may,
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we're taking that this
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as a description
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of the church in glory,
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and that John is given
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to see some wonderful aspects
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of God's people together
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in glory.
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These are they
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who have come
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out of the great tribulation.
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Down through the whole
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of history,
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the tribulation
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that has affected the church
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in different degrees
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and different ways
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from year to year,
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from century to century,
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as far as this scene
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is concerned,
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that's in the past.
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And they are coming out
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of that great tribulation
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as they enter
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into the final state
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of heaven.
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We could take it that
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this, in fact,
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is a pre-resurrection state
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as well,
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but whatever we take it,
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whether it's pre-resurrection
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or following the resurrection
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and the final glory,
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the principles of it
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really, in a sense,
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are the same
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because he's describing
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the conditions,
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describing the state
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in which they're found,
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and describing some
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of the features
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of that gathered church
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here in glory,
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as we're calling it.
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Well, there are two things
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that arise from
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this part of the chapter.
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First of all,
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we can look from verses 14,
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from verse 13, really,
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but 14 especially,
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to the end of the chapter,
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verses 14 to 15 especially,
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at the qualification
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for life in heaven.
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The qualification
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for life in heaven.
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And then from verse 16 to 17,
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to the end of the chapter,
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the quality of life in heaven.
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Because you'll see that
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the word therefore
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connects very closely
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to what's in the previous verse
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regarding the washing
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of their robes
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and making them white
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in the blood of the Lamb.
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That's an aspect of
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the way that God brings them
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to be qualified
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to be in heaven,
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to enter into the state
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of glory,
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of salvation in heaven.
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And then the word for
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in verse 17
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is itself intimately connected
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with what he calls,
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what he says there
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in verse 16,
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which talks about their peace
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and talks about the way
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in which none of the things
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of this tribulation,
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of this life,
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that the experience
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will evermore enter
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into their experience.
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Why?
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For the Lamb
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who is in the midst
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of the throne
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will be their shepherd
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and so on.
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So the qualification then
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for life in heaven.
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What are the qualifications?
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What is this qualification
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made up of?
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What is it comprised of?
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Well, two things.
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There is on the one hand
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purity
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and on the other hand
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there is victory.
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You can see here
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that they are
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people who have
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washed their robes
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and made them white
29:28
in the blood of the Lamb.
29:31
Now, of course,
29:31
that presupposes
29:32
their need of cleansing
29:34
or their need
29:34
of being cleansed.
29:35
It presupposes
29:37
that they were
29:37
in need of washing.
29:38
It presupposes
29:39
that they had
29:40
something about them
29:41
that did not fit them
29:43
for life in heaven,
29:44
that did not fit them
29:45
for being in the presence
29:46
of God as they are here.
29:48
And that, of course,
29:49
is our sinfulness
29:50
and the defilement
29:51
of our sinfulness.
29:53
One of the features
29:53
of our sinfulness,
29:55
as the Bible often describes,
29:56
it is that we are polluted
29:58
as sinners
29:59
in the presence of God.
30:01
Sin has left us defiled
30:02
and the defilement of sin
30:03
needs to be washed away
30:05
and that's why Jesus died.
30:08
So that, among other things,
30:10
we would be washed
30:11
from our sins.
30:14
By the death he died
30:15
or through the death he died.
30:17
And that's the picture
30:18
that you have,
30:18
that's the point
30:19
that you have here
30:20
with regard to purity.
30:22
It presupposes
30:23
that they themselves
30:24
are polluted,
30:25
defiled,
30:26
guilty,
30:26
and so on.
30:27
And it reminds us
30:28
that we are actually
30:29
saved from all of that.
30:32
We are saved
30:33
from what we are
30:34
in our natural state,
30:36
in our sinful state.
30:37
Salvation is salvation
30:39
from before.
30:40
It's salvation to.
30:42
It's salvation
30:42
from our lostness,
30:44
from our sinfulness,
30:45
from our defilement,
30:47
from our guilt,
30:49
as well as being salvation
30:50
into the opposite
30:52
of all of these.
30:53
Salvation into justification
30:56
and forgiveness
30:57
and peace with God
30:58
and everything else
30:59
the Bible mentions.
31:00
And these two sides of it
31:02
are always important
31:03
to hold together.
31:05
You can only appreciate,
31:06
or begin to appreciate,
31:08
the wonder of this salvation
31:10
and the wonder of this peace,
31:11
the wonder of this cleansing,
31:13
the wonder of this washing
31:14
from our sins
31:15
when we really come to grips
31:17
with what sin is.
31:20
And when we accept
31:21
the Bible's definition of sin
31:23
and descriptions of sin,
31:25
and when we take on board
31:27
and take to heart
31:28
that we are in need
31:30
of being washed.
31:33
It's not talking about
31:34
people who have actually
31:35
made some great achievement.
31:38
It's not talking about
31:39
people of great natural ability.
31:42
It's not talking about
31:43
people who had made
31:44
great progress morally
31:46
in their lives
31:47
and were able to keep things
31:49
pretty secure
31:51
and pretty wholesome
31:53
in their lives.
31:54
Decent people.
31:55
It's not talking about
31:58
everyone who is a sinner
32:00
and needs to be washed,
32:01
and that's you and I.
32:04
These are the ones
32:05
coming out of the
32:05
great tribulation.
32:06
They have washed
32:07
their robes
32:08
and made them white
32:10
in the blood of the Lamb.
32:12
You remember how Paul,
32:13
in writing to the Corinthians,
32:14
described things
32:15
for the Corinthians.
32:16
And of course,
32:17
the Corinthian church
32:18
was a church
32:20
that had so much
32:21
going on there
32:22
that really
32:23
was offensive to God.
32:25
and that was a departure
32:26
from all the things
32:28
that God himself
32:29
had set out
32:30
by way of purity of life
32:32
and holiness of life.
32:35
Well, in chapter 6,
32:37
and this is what Paul said,
32:38
in chapter 6 of 1 Corinthians,
32:41
this is,
32:42
and from verse 9,
32:43
Do you not know
32:45
that the unrighteous
32:47
will not inherit
32:48
the kingdom of God?
32:50
Do not be deceived,
32:52
neither the sexually immoral,
32:53
nor idolaters,
32:54
nor adulterers,
32:55
nor men who practice
32:56
homosexuality,
32:58
nor thieves,
32:59
nor greedy,
33:00
nor drunkards,
33:01
nor revilers,
33:02
nor swindlers,
33:03
will inherit
33:04
the kingdom of God.
33:06
Not very popular
33:07
when you try and fit
33:09
that into the world
33:10
in which we're living
33:11
as a description of the world
33:13
as it undoubtedly is.
33:15
But you see what he's saying?
33:16
And such were some of you.
33:20
Not some of you
33:21
are still like that,
33:22
but he's saying
33:22
such were some of you,
33:24
but you were washed,
33:25
you were sanctified,
33:27
you were justified
33:28
in the name
33:28
of the Lord Jesus Christ
33:30
and by the Spirit
33:31
of our God.
33:32
You see,
33:32
Paul is not sparing them
33:34
the description
33:35
of what they were.
33:36
He describes
33:37
the kind of lifestyles
33:38
that they once lived in
33:40
and set about
33:41
in their lives.
33:42
You were that,
33:43
he says,
33:43
but you're not that anymore.
33:44
In other words,
33:46
here is the gospel
33:46
giving hope
33:48
to people who still have
33:50
these kinds of lifestyles.
33:52
And the only hope for us,
33:54
whatever our lifestyle may be,
33:56
and however decent
33:57
and upright we may be
33:58
in the world,
33:59
we're still fallen,
34:00
sinful,
34:01
defiled sinners.
34:02
This is our hope,
34:03
that there is
34:04
washing for us,
34:06
that there is
34:06
in Jesus Christ for us,
34:08
salvation from our sins.
34:13
And that's why you find here
34:15
the description in Revelation,
34:19
they have washed their robes
34:21
and made them white
34:23
in the blood of the Lamb.
34:28
Sounds strange, doesn't it?
34:30
Blood is usually something
34:31
you regard as
34:32
causing defilement
34:35
or besmirching of clothes.
34:38
But of course by
34:39
in the blood of the Lamb,
34:41
what he means here is
34:42
of course the death of Jesus.
34:45
And it's through the death of Jesus
34:46
that they have come to wash their robes
34:49
and made them white
34:50
in the provision
34:51
that's in the death of Jesus.
34:54
That's how their clothes
34:55
were made white.
34:56
And you do notice
34:57
it's they have washed their robes.
35:00
And that doesn't mean that
35:02
we have the capacity
35:03
to save ourselves,
35:05
that we have the capacity
35:06
to wash ourselves
35:07
from our sins.
35:09
It is God
35:10
who gives us
35:11
the wherewithal,
35:12
the ability
35:12
to do that.
35:14
We are washed
35:15
because he
35:15
brings us this salvation,
35:17
because his Holy Spirit
35:19
effects that salvation
35:20
in us personally,
35:22
in our experience.
35:22
But the Bible always
35:26
addresses
35:28
not only our need
35:30
but our responsibility.
35:33
And we cannot just say,
35:34
well,
35:34
it's up to God
35:35
really to wash us
35:36
and if he doesn't wash us
35:38
then we're going to remain
35:39
unwashed forever.
35:41
Some people take
35:42
that legalistic view
35:43
that if we're going to be saved,
35:45
we're going to be saved anyway,
35:46
so what can I do about it?
35:47
Well,
35:49
you can come to God
35:52
seeking his forgiveness,
35:54
expressing and
35:55
confessing your sins,
35:58
your defilement,
36:00
and seeking that he would wash you
36:02
and that therefore
36:03
you would be washed
36:04
and wash your robes,
36:06
wash your persons
36:07
in the blood of the Lamb
36:09
in the death of Jesus.
36:12
They are God's imperatives.
36:15
They don't address
36:16
our ability
36:17
when it talks
36:19
of our salvation.
36:20
These imperatives
36:21
that you have in the Bible,
36:22
what are they?
36:23
Well, there's these
36:24
repent,
36:26
believe,
36:28
be washed.
36:30
All of these imperatives
36:32
address our responsibility
36:33
to look to God
36:36
to do what our power
36:38
itself cannot achieve.
36:41
But you see,
36:42
here's the wonderful thing.
36:44
The provision
36:45
is already made.
36:46
In the Lord Jesus Christ,
36:49
death for us.
36:50
We don't have to set about
36:52
washing ourselves
36:53
by our own ability.
36:56
The means is already there.
36:58
The fountain is there.
36:59
The blood of Christ
37:01
is available to us.
37:04
And through faith,
37:05
we come,
37:06
in that sense,
37:07
to wash ourselves
37:08
in the death of Christ.
37:11
Christ.
37:12
But you see,
37:13
also,
37:13
it's not just washed
37:14
and made them white
37:15
in the blood of the Lamb.
37:17
They have palm branches
37:19
in their hands.
37:21
You read of that
37:22
earlier in the chapter.
37:26
They were there
37:27
and from every nation,
37:29
people,
37:29
and languages,
37:31
clothed in white robes
37:32
with palm branches
37:33
in their hands.
37:35
And when you read that,
37:37
you are reminded
37:38
of a very important
37:40
feast or festival
37:41
in the Old Testament.
37:43
You'll find it described
37:44
the likes of Leviticus chapter 3
37:46
from verse 39 onwards.
37:49
A series there
37:49
in that chapter
37:50
of the feasts
37:51
or the festivals
37:51
of Israel.
37:52
And this was
37:54
the Feast of Booths,
37:55
Feast of Tabernacles,
37:57
if you use the old translation.
37:59
The people were celebrating
38:00
for all of these days.
38:02
They built booths
38:03
out of palm branches
38:04
for themselves
38:05
as God had ordered them
38:07
and instructed them
38:08
and they celebrated.
38:10
It was a time of great joy,
38:12
that week of joy.
38:14
It's so interesting
38:15
that that feast
38:17
follows immediately
38:19
from the previous one,
38:20
the Feast of Atonement.
38:22
Where you find
38:24
that atonement
38:25
that God himself
38:27
had required
38:28
of the people
38:29
and specified
38:30
for the people.
38:31
And in chapter 23
38:32
of Leviticus
38:33
you find
38:34
that Feast of Atonement
38:35
mentioned,
38:36
the shedding of blood,
38:38
the sacrifice
38:38
to deal with sin.
38:41
And then it's
38:42
immediately followed
38:43
by the festival
38:44
or the Feast of Booths.
38:46
The feast that celebrates
38:47
not just the
38:48
taking in of the harvest
38:50
at that time of year,
38:51
the harvest
38:51
safely gathered in,
38:54
but especially
38:55
looking forward
38:56
to the harvest
38:56
of righteousness,
38:58
the harvest that comes
38:59
to the shedding
38:59
of the blood of sacrifice,
39:01
pointing forward
39:02
to the death of Christ.
39:04
And here you find
39:05
this wonderful description
39:07
of the church
39:08
and glory,
39:08
the church
39:09
enjoying that
39:10
state of glory.
39:12
Here you find
39:13
they are before God
39:14
and serve him
39:16
day and night
39:17
in his temple.
39:19
temple.
39:20
And the word temple
39:21
there really means
39:22
more specifically
39:24
the holy of holies.
39:27
And you know
39:28
from the Old Testament
39:29
onwards
39:29
that the holy of holies
39:31
was not accessible
39:32
to the people
39:33
themselves.
39:34
And in fact
39:35
the only person
39:36
that could go into
39:37
the holy of holies
39:38
once a year
39:39
on the day of atonement
39:40
was the high priest
39:41
to make an atonement
39:43
for the people
39:44
as God had instructed him.
39:45
But now you see
39:48
the holy of holies
39:50
is open.
39:51
They are in the presence
39:53
of God.
39:54
They have access
39:56
in Christ
39:57
to God's
39:58
immediate presence.
40:00
And they stand
40:01
in his presence
40:02
and they serve him
40:03
day and night
40:04
in his temple.
40:06
They are before
40:07
the throne
40:08
in God's presence.
40:10
And the wonderful thing
40:10
is that
40:11
had the high priest
40:13
himself gone into
40:14
the holy of holies
40:15
other than
40:16
as God instructed
40:16
he would have died.
40:18
Had anybody else
40:19
gone into the holy of holies
40:20
but the high priest
40:21
with the blood
40:22
of atonement
40:23
they would have died
40:24
instantly.
40:26
But here
40:27
they are sheltered
40:29
with his presence.
40:31
He who sits
40:32
on the throne
40:33
because the atonement
40:34
that is in Christ's blood
40:36
is their refuge.
40:37
And that refuge
40:39
is actually
40:40
being exercised
40:42
if you like
40:43
in heaven
40:43
because that's
40:45
what God
40:46
has created
40:46
for them.
40:48
They are before
40:48
the throne.
40:49
They are in the presence
40:50
of God.
40:51
They have this
40:52
as their refuge.
40:53
They have their
40:53
ultimate security.
40:55
And their palm branches
40:56
the scene with
40:57
palm branches
40:58
in their hands
40:59
is not just a sign
41:00
of celebration
41:02
going back
41:02
to the feast
41:03
of booths.
41:04
It's also
41:05
a sign
41:06
of victory.
41:08
Palm branches
41:09
in their hands
41:10
were a sign
41:10
of being victorious.
41:14
Of having
41:15
this wonderful
41:16
wonderful victory
41:18
through what God
41:19
had provided
41:20
for them
41:20
in sacrifice.
41:23
And there is the church
41:24
gathered together.
41:28
Palm branches
41:28
in their hands
41:29
as the vision goes.
41:31
The church
41:32
victorious.
41:34
The church
41:34
triumphing
41:35
over death.
41:36
The church
41:37
gathered together.
41:39
Remember it's
41:40
gathered together.
41:41
This is not just
41:42
a host of individuals
41:43
who have very little
41:44
to do with each other.
41:45
This is all
41:46
of God's people
41:47
individually
41:47
yes but collectively
41:49
and united
41:50
together in Christ
41:51
rejoicing
41:52
in the salvation
41:53
that he has
41:54
procured for them.
41:55
Celebrating the fact
41:56
that they are
41:57
victorious
41:57
in him.
41:59
That's their
42:00
qualification.
42:02
They have washed
42:03
their robes
42:03
and made them white.
42:05
They have been
42:05
cleansed
42:06
from their sin.
42:07
And they are
42:09
victorious
42:10
in Christ.
42:11
They have overcome
42:12
death in him.
42:14
He has done it
42:14
for them.
42:16
And when they
42:16
have embraced him
42:17
by faith
42:19
they share
42:19
in that great
42:20
victory
42:20
that he has
42:22
achieved.
42:24
Friends
42:24
this is not
42:25
wishful thinking.
42:28
This is not
42:29
something
42:29
that's just
42:29
drawn for us
42:30
as if it was
42:32
just a cartoon
42:33
type of scene.
42:34
this is not
42:36
something that
42:37
you need to
42:38
question whether
42:38
or not it's
42:39
really a scene
42:41
of something
42:42
that is true
42:43
and lasting.
42:44
It is.
42:45
It is fact.
42:46
It is reality.
42:47
It's not wishful
42:48
thinking.
42:51
Whatever the world
42:52
might say about it.
42:54
Whatever unbelievers
42:55
might say about it.
42:58
However much
42:59
they might refuse
43:00
to accept it
43:01
altogether
43:01
as reality.
43:02
however much
43:04
they might insist
43:04
that when you
43:05
die you die
43:06
and there's
43:06
nothing beyond
43:07
it.
43:08
You know from
43:09
the Bible
43:09
that that's
43:10
not the case.
43:11
And you know
43:11
from the Bible
43:12
that it's the
43:13
case that there
43:13
is a hell
43:14
as well as
43:15
a heaven
43:15
but here
43:16
as in keeping
43:17
with the whole
43:17
run of salvation
43:19
the overwhelming
43:20
emphasis
43:20
while by no
43:22
means neglecting
43:23
to emphasize
43:24
the reality
43:25
and the awfulness
43:26
of hell
43:26
it is
43:27
especially
43:28
concerned
43:29
God
43:30
and his truth
43:31
to emphasize
43:32
the wonder
43:33
of heaven
43:34
the wonder
43:34
of salvation
43:35
the triumph
43:36
of redemption
43:37
over sin
43:38
and over death
43:39
and over Satan
43:40
and that's
43:42
for the gathered
43:43
church in heaven
43:44
to enjoy
43:45
forevermore
43:47
and remember
43:49
this as well
43:50
this book
43:52
was written
43:54
mystique
43:55
as though much
43:56
of it is
43:56
it was written
43:58
to comfort
43:59
to guide
44:01
to console
44:02
those who
44:03
were facing
44:04
severe adversities
44:05
in this life
44:06
for living
44:07
as people
44:07
of God
44:08
living as
44:09
Christians
44:09
living as
44:10
people who
44:11
worshipped
44:11
Christ
44:12
that's why
44:13
you find
44:14
in it
44:14
references
44:15
to the
44:16
beast
44:17
the dragon
44:18
all of these
44:19
representations
44:20
of evil
44:21
and of huge
44:23
evil
44:23
and of powerful
44:24
evil
44:25
but they
44:26
don't have
44:27
the last
44:27
word
44:28
the last
44:29
word is
44:30
with the
44:30
lamb
44:30
and with
44:31
his followers
44:32
and they
44:33
overcame
44:33
the beast
44:34
and they
44:34
overcame
44:35
these powers
44:35
by the
44:36
blood of
44:36
the lamb
44:37
are you
44:38
despondent
44:38
tonight
44:39
over the
44:39
condition
44:40
of the
44:40
world
44:41
to a
44:41
degree
44:41
I'm
44:42
sure
44:42
I am
44:44
when you
44:44
look out
44:45
over the
44:45
world
44:45
and see
44:46
its turmoil
44:46
when you
44:47
see its
44:47
pains
44:48
when you
44:49
see the
44:49
awfulness
44:50
of war
44:50
when you
44:51
see the
44:51
devastation
44:52
of lives
44:53
lost
44:54
and children
44:54
and young
44:55
people
44:55
and adults
44:56
actually taken
44:57
away so
44:58
soon out
44:58
of life
44:59
through the
44:59
ravages of
45:00
war
45:01
are you
45:02
despondent
45:03
yes you're
45:04
sad
45:04
of course
45:05
you're sad
45:05
we're all
45:05
sad
45:06
war is a
45:07
terrible
45:07
thing
45:08
war itself
45:09
is an
45:09
awful
45:10
thing
45:11
oh that
45:13
there were
45:14
a world
45:14
without
45:15
wars
45:15
the bible
45:17
tells us
45:18
there never
45:18
will be
45:19
till the
45:20
end of
45:20
time
45:20
don't
45:24
be
45:24
despondent
45:25
as if
45:26
it's a
45:27
world
45:27
totally
45:27
out of
45:28
control
45:28
maybe out
45:30
of control
45:31
as far as
45:31
human beings
45:32
are concerned
45:33
but there
45:34
is one
45:34
that's
45:34
holding
45:35
the reins
45:35
of the
45:36
world
45:36
and the
45:37
book of
45:37
history
45:37
is in
45:38
his hand
45:38
as you
45:38
see from
45:39
chapter 5
45:40
the scroll
45:42
was placed
45:42
in the
45:43
hand of
45:43
the lamb
45:44
who sits
45:44
on the
45:45
throne
45:45
and he
45:45
began to
45:46
open
45:46
the scroll
45:47
what does
45:47
that mean
45:48
it means
45:48
the unfolding
45:49
of history
45:50
it means
45:51
that he's
45:51
in charge
45:52
of everything
45:52
that happens
45:53
it means
45:55
that in
45:55
his plan
45:56
our present
45:58
tiny slice
45:59
of history
45:59
with all
46:00
its awful
46:01
things
46:01
is not
46:03
outwith
46:03
his purpose
46:05
his plan
46:06
his great
46:08
control
46:09
and so
46:12
this book
46:12
is for
46:12
our comfort
46:13
it's a
46:15
book to
46:15
assure us
46:16
that Jesus
46:18
is the
46:18
king
46:18
and as
46:20
the king
46:21
he holds
46:22
the whole
46:22
world
46:23
in his
46:24
hand
46:25
the
46:26
qualification
46:26
for life
46:28
in heaven
46:28
purity
46:29
and victory
46:31
in Christ
46:31
secondly
46:32
and briefly
46:33
the quality
46:34
of life
46:34
in heaven
46:35
well when you
46:36
go forward
46:36
and see
46:37
how this
46:38
passage is
46:38
very like
46:39
the final
46:40
chapters
46:40
of the
46:40
bible
46:41
verses
46:41
chapter 21
46:43
verse 4
46:44
where he
46:45
says
46:45
he will
46:46
wipe away
46:46
every tear
46:47
from their
46:47
eyes
46:47
death
46:48
shall be
46:49
no more
46:49
neither
46:49
shall there
46:50
be mourning
46:50
nor crying
46:51
nor pain
46:52
anymore
46:52
for the
46:53
former
46:53
things
46:53
have
46:54
passed
46:54
away
46:54
chapter 22
46:56
verse 3
46:57
same idea
46:58
no longer
46:58
will it be
46:59
anything
46:59
accursed
47:00
but the
47:00
throne
47:01
of God
47:01
and of
47:02
the
47:02
lamb
47:02
will be
47:02
in it
47:03
and his
47:03
servants
47:04
will serve
47:04
him
47:05
they will
47:05
see his
47:06
face
47:06
his name
47:06
will be
47:07
in their
47:07
foreheads
47:07
and night
47:09
will be
47:09
no more
47:09
they need
47:10
no light
47:10
of lamp
47:11
or sun
47:12
for the
47:12
Lord God
47:12
will be
47:13
their light
47:13
and they
47:14
will reign
47:15
forever
47:16
and ever
47:17
isn't it
47:18
wonderful how
47:18
often the
47:19
bible describes
47:20
heaven by
47:21
telling us
47:21
things that
47:22
are not
47:22
there
47:23
because we
47:25
cannot take
47:25
in in this
47:26
life
47:27
if God
47:28
was to try
47:28
and describe
47:29
for us
47:29
what is
47:30
there more
47:31
than he
47:31
describes it
47:32
in the bible
47:32
because we're
47:33
on this
47:33
side of
47:34
death
47:34
this side
47:35
of time
47:35
this side
47:36
of perfection
47:37
how could we
47:37
possibly take
47:38
all that
47:38
in even
47:39
though we
47:39
know it's
47:39
real
47:40
no God
47:41
tells us
47:41
very often
47:42
this is what
47:43
heaven is like
47:43
there is no
47:44
pain
47:44
there is no
47:45
death
47:46
there is no
47:47
suffering
47:47
there is no
47:48
sorrow
47:48
there's none of
47:49
those things
47:50
that mark
47:50
tribulation
47:51
these are all
47:52
gone
47:52
they're all
47:53
behind
47:53
heaven is the
47:54
absence of
47:55
these
47:55
heaven is the
47:56
opposite of
47:56
these
47:57
heaven is the
47:58
fullness of
47:58
everything that's
47:59
different to
47:59
these
48:00
it's beyond
48:04
sufferings
48:06
beyond
48:08
pains
48:09
beyond
48:09
sorrows
48:10
beyond
48:11
partings
48:12
beyond
48:14
bereavements
48:15
all of
48:17
these things
48:18
are no
48:19
more
48:19
they shall
48:21
hunger no
48:22
more
48:22
neither thirst
48:24
any more
48:24
the sun
48:25
shall not
48:26
strike them
48:26
nor any
48:27
scorching
48:28
heat
48:28
you see he's
48:30
saying here
48:30
there's also
48:30
an abundance
48:32
of life
48:33
they serve
48:34
God day
48:34
and night
48:35
in his
48:35
temple
48:35
we could
48:36
go into
48:36
that a bit
48:37
more but
48:37
just look at
48:38
it in
48:38
passing
48:38
there's work
48:39
and there's
48:40
worship
48:40
together
48:41
what does
48:42
that remind
48:42
you of
48:42
it reminds
48:43
you of
48:43
God in
48:44
the beginning
48:45
creating
48:45
mankind
48:46
and giving
48:47
Adam to
48:48
till the
48:49
garden to
48:49
work the
48:50
garden of
48:50
Eden
48:51
until he
48:51
fell and
48:52
was driven
48:52
out of
48:53
it
48:53
it was
48:55
always God's
48:55
intention
48:56
that man
48:56
should work
48:58
and that he
49:00
should worship
49:01
at the same
49:01
time
49:02
and of
49:03
course all
49:04
of that
49:04
has been
49:04
marred by
49:05
sin
49:06
spoiled by
49:07
sin
49:08
the relationship
49:09
between work
49:09
and worship
49:10
is so defiled
49:12
and so
49:12
defective
49:13
but not in
49:14
heaven
49:15
you see it's
49:16
come back to
49:16
what it should
49:17
be
49:17
what it was
49:18
always meant
49:18
to be
49:19
that his
49:20
servants
49:20
shall serve
49:22
him
49:22
they serve
49:23
him day
49:24
and night
49:24
in his
49:25
temple
49:25
there is
49:26
an activity
49:27
for them
49:28
to engage
49:28
in
49:29
and along
49:30
with the
49:30
activity
49:31
there is
49:31
worship
49:32
the activity
49:33
of worship
49:33
itself
49:34
and they
49:37
never tire
49:38
and there is
49:40
never an
49:40
interruption
49:41
nothing breaks
49:43
in to spoil
49:44
the sequence
49:45
of their
49:47
activity in
49:48
heaven and
49:48
their worship
49:48
of God
49:49
and they are
49:51
lovingly
49:52
shepherded
49:53
that's one of
49:54
the features
49:55
of the quality
49:56
of heaven
49:56
as well
49:57
you can see
49:57
what it says
49:58
here
49:58
the lamb
49:59
who is in
49:59
the midst
50:00
of the
50:00
throne
50:01
will be
50:02
their shepherd
50:02
and he will
50:03
guide them
50:03
to springs
50:04
of living
50:05
water
50:06
isn't that a
50:07
wonderful thing
50:08
that the
50:09
lamb who died
50:10
on the cross
50:10
is the same
50:12
lamb
50:12
the same
50:13
person
50:13
who is now
50:15
pastoring
50:16
his people
50:16
in heaven
50:17
it's a picture
50:19
here of that
50:20
wonderful
50:21
combination
50:22
of the
50:22
king of
50:23
heaven
50:23
also being
50:24
a pastor
50:25
and a
50:27
pastor in a
50:27
way that
50:27
none of us
50:28
can possibly
50:29
match
50:29
he is the
50:31
pastor
50:32
par excellence
50:33
you know
50:34
that pastoring
50:35
all of you
50:36
who know
50:36
him as
50:37
your savior
50:37
know
50:38
of his
50:39
hand
50:39
pastoring
50:40
your life
50:40
in this
50:41
world
50:41
through his
50:42
word
50:42
through his
50:43
spirit
50:43
bringing you
50:44
comfort
50:44
leading you
50:45
on
50:45
giving you
50:46
guidance
50:46
strengthening
50:47
you
50:47
confirming
50:48
you
50:48
but in
50:50
heaven
50:51
it's
50:51
constant
50:52
perfect
50:53
pastoring
50:53
in a
50:55
way that
50:55
we don't
50:56
know of
50:57
in this
50:57
life
50:58
and of
51:00
course
51:01
there is
51:01
as we
51:01
saw
51:01
the
51:02
lamb
51:03
in the
51:03
midst
51:03
of the
51:04
throne
51:04
significant
51:05
that it's
51:06
a lamb
51:06
that's
51:07
mentioned
51:07
there is
51:09
atonement
51:12
in the
51:13
sense of
51:13
its
51:14
ongoing
51:15
power
51:16
and
51:17
protective
51:17
care
51:18
of
51:18
God's
51:18
people
51:19
the
51:20
atonement
51:20
that is
51:20
now
51:20
finished
51:21
that Christ
51:22
has rendered
51:23
by his
51:23
death
51:23
on the
51:24
cross
51:24
but it's
51:27
still there
51:28
a feature
51:29
in himself
51:29
because he's
51:30
there
51:31
that atonement
51:33
that he
51:33
completed
51:34
that sacrifice
51:36
of himself
51:36
is a
51:38
feature in
51:38
heaven
51:38
because there's
51:40
a perfect
51:41
understanding
51:42
on the part
51:42
of the
51:43
gathered
51:43
church
51:44
that this
51:45
is the
51:45
basis
51:45
of their
51:46
salvation
51:46
and they
51:47
sing the
51:48
praises
51:48
of the
51:49
lamb
51:50
and the
51:51
redemption
51:51
they have
51:52
by his
51:53
blood
51:53
and he
51:55
leads them
51:56
to springs
51:57
of living
51:58
water
51:58
see what you
52:00
have here
52:00
in chapter
52:01
21 as we
52:02
mentioned
52:02
in verse
52:03
6
52:03
especially
52:04
where you
52:05
find
52:05
I am
52:07
the
52:07
alpha
52:08
and the
52:08
omega
52:09
the
52:10
beginning
52:10
and the
52:10
end
52:10
to the
52:11
thirsty
52:11
I will
52:11
give
52:12
from the
52:12
spring
52:13
of the
52:13
water
52:13
of life
52:14
without
52:15
payment
52:16
or freely
52:16
one of
52:21
the
52:21
great features
52:22
mentioned
52:22
about
52:22
heaven
52:23
is that
52:24
all
52:25
our
52:25
needs
52:26
are
52:26
met
52:27
perfectly
52:29
and
52:29
constantly
52:30
without
52:31
fail
52:32
of course
52:34
God meets
52:35
all our
52:35
needs
52:35
anyway
52:35
in this
52:36
life
52:36
but we
52:38
haven't
52:38
got that
52:38
perfect
52:39
state
52:39
of mind
52:40
or of
52:40
body
52:41
and soul
52:42
where we
52:43
are able
52:43
to enjoy
52:45
and exercise
52:46
the capacity
52:47
God has
52:47
given us
52:48
so as to
52:49
enjoy that
52:50
salvation
52:51
to the
52:51
full
52:51
but we
52:52
will in
52:52
heaven
52:53
in the
52:56
pastoring
52:56
guidance
52:57
and leading
52:58
of the
52:58
shepherd
52:58
he will
53:00
lead them
53:00
and guide
53:02
them to
53:02
springs
53:02
of living
53:04
water
53:04
ever
53:06
fresh
53:07
never
53:08
old
53:09
never
53:09
ceasing
53:10
never
53:11
needing
53:12
replaced
53:12
never
53:13
needing
53:13
replenished
53:14
never
53:15
needing
53:15
additives
53:16
constant
53:18
flowing
53:19
freshment
53:20
refreshment
53:22
from the
53:23
streams of
53:23
life that
53:24
are in
53:24
Jesus
53:25
that are
53:26
flowing
53:26
constantly
53:27
to God's
53:28
people in
53:29
heaven
53:29
the gathered
53:29
church
53:30
is constantly
53:31
being refreshed
53:32
and will
53:33
forevermore
53:33
be refreshed
53:34
from the
53:35
water of
53:35
life that's
53:36
in Christ
53:36
himself and
53:37
flows from
53:38
the throne
53:38
of God
53:39
total
53:40
satisfaction
53:41
all our
53:43
needs met
53:43
what does
53:45
the catechism
53:45
tell us
53:46
in the first
53:47
catechism
53:47
that we
53:48
learned most
53:48
of us as
53:49
children
53:49
what is the
53:50
chief end
53:51
of man
53:52
man's
53:53
chief end
53:54
is to
53:54
glorify
53:56
God
53:56
and to
53:58
enjoy him
53:59
forever
54:00
not just
54:01
to glorify
54:02
him but
54:03
to enjoy
54:03
him forever
54:04
how are we
54:05
going to
54:05
enjoy him
54:06
only by
54:07
being freed
54:08
from our
54:09
sins
54:09
washed from
54:10
our sins
54:11
brought to
54:12
know him
54:12
in Christ
54:13
brought into
54:14
heaven in
54:14
Christ
54:15
enjoying him
54:16
there without
54:17
interruption
54:17
in these
54:18
wonderful springs
54:20
of living
54:20
water
54:21
this life
54:21
that Christ
54:22
gives
54:22
that go on
54:25
forevermore
54:25
and comfort
54:28
us
54:28
as it says
54:29
in the
54:29
final
54:30
verses
54:30
God will
54:31
wipe away
54:32
every tear
54:33
from their
54:34
eyes
54:35
that's in
54:37
many ways
54:37
a picture
54:38
more of a
54:40
mother than a
54:40
father
54:41
because
54:43
you know
54:44
what it's
54:44
like
54:45
I'm sure
54:45
we've been
54:46
there or
54:46
seen our
54:47
children or
54:47
grandchildren
54:48
in a position
54:49
where they've
54:50
just woken up
54:50
from a
54:51
nightmare
54:51
something
54:53
that's
54:53
whatever
54:53
has caused
54:54
the nightmare
54:54
but they
54:55
wake up
54:55
and they're
54:56
upset
54:56
and they're
54:57
crying
54:57
and they're
54:58
startled
54:58
and they
55:00
come and
55:00
mother usually
55:02
comes and
55:03
reassures her
55:04
and says
55:04
no it's
55:05
alright I'm
55:05
here
55:06
there's nothing
55:08
wrong it's
55:09
fine
55:09
and God
55:12
shall wipe
55:14
away every
55:14
tear from
55:15
their eyes
55:15
like the
55:18
mother that
55:18
wipes away
55:19
the tears
55:19
of the
55:20
nightmare
55:20
the child
55:21
has just
55:22
been through
55:22
that great
55:25
tribulation
55:26
is over
55:26
the tears
55:29
are done
55:29
God
55:32
himself
55:32
is the
55:33
great
55:33
comforter
55:34
and these
55:36
streams of
55:38
living water
55:38
these springs
55:39
of living
55:39
water
55:40
they contain
55:41
that element
55:42
of comfort
55:43
for all
55:45
eternity
55:45
not just
55:48
to offset
55:49
the discomfort
55:50
the tragedies
55:52
the bereavements
55:52
the sorrows
55:53
you've had
55:53
in this
55:54
life
55:54
but to
55:55
actually rise
55:56
above them
55:57
to outdo
55:59
them if you
55:59
like
55:59
God will
56:01
wipe away
56:02
every tear
56:03
from their
56:04
eyes
56:05
heaven
56:07
is rest
56:09
comfort
56:11
comfort
56:11
it's all
56:13
that this
56:13
world
56:14
cannot be
56:15
it's
56:17
Jesus
56:17
Christ
56:18
and all
56:19
that he
56:19
is to
56:20
his people
56:20
pastoring
56:22
them
56:23
with comfort
56:24
with
56:25
reassurance
56:26
with
56:27
ongoing
56:28
flow
56:29
of life
56:29
which will
56:31
never end
56:32
and that's
56:34
the church
56:35
together
56:36
the Lord
56:37
says in
56:38
chapter 14
56:38
it's true
56:40
of us all
56:40
individually
56:41
as well
56:41
isn't it
56:42
we find
56:43
these words
56:44
to be very
56:44
precious
56:45
for us
56:45
chapter 14
56:47
verse 13
56:48
I heard a
56:49
voice from
56:51
heaven saying
56:51
write this
56:52
blessed are
56:54
the dead
56:54
who die
56:55
in the
56:55
Lord
56:56
from now
56:57
on
56:57
blessed
56:58
indeed
56:59
says the
56:59
spirit
57:00
that they
57:01
may rest
57:01
from their
57:02
labors
57:02
for their
57:04
deeds
57:04
follow
57:05
them
57:06
blessed
57:07
indeed
57:09
the
57:10
gathered
57:10
church
57:11
in heaven
57:12
the
57:13
gathered
57:13
church
57:13
in glory
57:15
as John
57:17
Logan
57:17
the hymn writer
57:19
from the
57:19
1700s put it
57:21
a man who
57:21
was a minister
57:22
in the
57:23
church of
57:23
Scotland
57:24
South
57:24
Leith
57:24
Leith in
57:25
Scotland
57:26
a hymn
57:29
that's usually
57:30
referred to
57:31
as
57:31
the comfort
57:33
take comfort
57:34
Christians
57:35
but it
57:35
ends like
57:36
this
57:36
they're
57:36
well known
57:36
words
57:37
I'm sure
57:37
together
57:39
to their
57:39
father's
57:40
house
57:40
together
57:40
to their
57:42
father's
57:42
house
57:43
with joyful
57:44
hearts
57:45
they go
57:45
and dwell
57:47
forever
57:47
with the
57:48
Lord
57:48
beyond
57:49
the reach
57:50
of woe
57:51
a few
57:52
short
57:52
years
57:53
of evil
57:53
past
57:54
we reach
57:55
the happy
57:56
shore
57:56
where
57:57
death
57:58
divided
57:58
friends
57:59
at last
58:00
shall meet
58:01
to part
58:02
no more
58:04
the gathered
58:06
church
58:08
gathered
58:09
by God
58:10
glorified
58:11
by God
58:12
enjoying
58:13
God
58:14
in fellowship
58:15
with God
58:16
where are
58:18
your hopes
58:18
tonight
58:19
will you be
58:22
part of that
58:23
gathering
58:23
and if you're
58:26
saying yes
58:26
on what
58:27
basis
58:27
are you
58:28
saying yes
58:29
I hope
58:30
you're not
58:30
saying no
58:31
nobody in
58:32
here wants
58:33
to miss
58:33
out on
58:33
heaven
58:34
nobody
58:35
wants you
58:36
to be
58:36
short
58:36
of it
58:37
but here
58:39
is the
58:39
qualification
58:40
that you
58:41
wash your
58:42
life in
58:43
the death
58:44
of Christ
58:45
that's your
58:47
qualification
58:48
and that you
58:50
come at
58:50
last with
58:51
God's people
58:51
to be
58:51
gathered
58:52
beyond
58:53
suffering
58:54
and in
58:55
an abundance
58:55
of life
58:56
gathered
58:58
together
58:58
in glory
59:00
forever
59:01
may God
59:03
bless
59:03
these thoughts
59:04
let's pray
59:05
Lord our
59:10
gracious God
59:11
we give
59:12
thanks
59:12
that in
59:13
your truth
59:14
you bring
59:14
to us
59:15
these great
59:15
realities
59:16
that lie
59:17
beyond
59:18
this present
59:18
world
59:19
this present
59:19
life
59:20
but we
59:21
give thanks
59:22
that they
59:23
are true
59:23
for you
59:23
have said
59:24
so
59:24
they are
59:25
true
59:26
because the
59:26
Lord Jesus
59:27
Christ died
59:28
and rose
59:29
again to
59:29
bring them
59:30
to us
59:31
freely in
59:31
the gospel
59:32
Lord we
59:34
thank you
59:34
tonight for
59:35
heaven
59:35
we thank you
59:36
for all that
59:37
it is beyond
59:38
our very
59:38
reckoning
59:39
we thank you
59:40
for all that
59:41
has gone
59:41
towards
59:42
creating it
59:43
for your
59:43
people
59:44
oh bless us
59:46
we pray
59:46
as we hear
59:47
the gospel
59:47
as we know
59:48
the gospel
59:49
as we treasure
59:50
the gospel
59:51
make us more
59:52
than gospel
59:53
hearers
59:54
Lord make us
59:56
to be
59:56
a gospel
59:57
receivers
59:58
to
59:58
in such
1:00:00
a way
1:00:00
that would
1:00:00
ourselves
1:00:01
come
1:00:01
to place
1:00:03
our trust
1:00:03
and confidence
1:00:04
in you
1:00:04
daily
1:00:05
and so
1:00:06
be able
1:00:06
to say
1:00:07
I know
1:00:08
whom I
1:00:08
have believed
1:00:09
and I am
1:00:10
persuaded
1:00:11
that he is
1:00:11
able to
1:00:12
keep that
1:00:12
which I
1:00:13
have deposited
1:00:14
with him
1:00:14
against that
1:00:16
day
1:00:16
hear us
1:00:18
now we pray
1:00:18
for Jesus
1:00:19
sake
1:00:19
Amen
1:00:20
our final
1:00:24
psalm
1:00:24
this evening
1:00:25
is
1:00:25
psalm 23
1:00:26
these well
1:00:27
known words
1:00:28
of psalm 23
1:00:29
we're singing
1:00:29
the whole
1:00:30
of the psalm
1:00:31
in the
1:00:31
Scottish
1:00:32
Psalter
1:00:32
I'm singing
1:00:34
to the tune
1:00:34
St.
1:00:35
Columba
1:00:35
the Lord's
1:00:39
my shepherd
1:00:39
I'll not
1:00:40
want
1:00:40
he makes
1:00:41
me down
1:00:42
to lie
1:00:42
in pastures
1:00:43
green
1:00:43
he leadeth
1:00:44
me the
1:00:45
quiet
1:00:45
waters
1:00:46
by
1:00:47
well I
1:00:48
need
1:00:48
hardly
1:00:48
remind you
1:00:49
of
1:00:49
the nature
1:00:50
of this
1:00:51
psalm
1:00:51
speaking about
1:00:52
God the
1:00:53
pastor of
1:00:54
his people
1:00:54
and finishing
1:00:56
by that
1:00:56
reference
1:00:57
to God's
1:00:59
house
1:00:59
as a dwelling
1:01:00
place
1:01:00
forevermore
1:01:02
we'll sing
1:01:03
to these
1:01:03
verses
1:01:04
to the tune
1:01:05
St.
1:01:05
Columba
1:01:06
the Lord's
1:01:14
my shepherd
1:01:16
I'll
1:01:19
not
1:01:20
want
1:01:21
he
1:01:22
makes
1:01:24
me
1:01:24
down
1:01:26
to lie
1:01:28
and
1:01:30
clouds
1:01:31
to
1:01:32
screen
1:01:34
he
1:01:35
leadeth
1:01:37
me
1:01:38
that
1:01:39
quiet
1:01:41
waters
1:01:44
by
1:01:46
my
1:01:48
soul
1:01:49
he
1:01:50
doth
1:01:52
restore
1:01:53
again
1:01:55
and
1:01:58
need
1:01:59
to
1:02:00
walk
1:02:01
that
1:02:02
way
1:02:04
within
1:02:06
the
1:02:08
paths
1:02:09
of
1:02:10
righteousness
1:02:13
in
1:02:15
for
1:02:15
his
1:02:17
own
1:02:19
his
1:02:20
name
1:02:21
has
1:02:36
said
1:02:37
O'er the work with thee and Thyromf
1:02:49
Rieseth with thee to trust?
1:02:59
In the love of us furnish it, in presence of my foes,
1:03:15
My head thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overdoeth.
1:03:32
Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me,
1:03:50
And in God's hands forevermore.
1:03:59
My dwelling place shall be.
1:04:08
After the benediction I'll go to the main door.
1:04:11
Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father,
1:04:17
And the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and forevermore. Amen.
1:04:29
Amen.
1:04:38
Amen.
1:04:47
Amen.
1:04:57
Amen.
1:04:59
Amen.
1:05:00
Thank you.