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Behold our Shepherd · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
It's my pleasure today to welcome Reverend Colin Dow to preach to us at both this morning and this evening service. Colin is minister at Crow Road Free Church in Glasgow.
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Thank you. Thank you very much, Colin. My legs are kind of sore, has to be said. Wonderful to be here. I always feel like I'm coming home when I'm coming up to Lewis and I never knew why that was until my wife bought me a subscription to an ancestry website for my Christmas present.
0:58
And it turns out that I am a direct descendant of Summer Edma Gilbride, the first Lord of the Isles. So that must be why I feel I'm coming home.
1:13
Behold, the Lord God comes with might and his arm rules for him. Behold, his reward is with him and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd.
1:24
He will gather the lambs in his arms. He will carry them in his bosom and gently lead those with young.
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Let us worship God. Let us sing to his praise in Psalm 93. Psalm 93 on page 123.
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The Lord is King, his throne endures, majestic in its height.
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Let us stand as we sing to God's praise.
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Let us sing to God's praise.
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The Lord is King, his throne endures, majestic in its height.
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The world is found firm and sure,
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Rebooteth cannot be, Rebooteth cannot be.
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Your throne is strong, Now you are God.
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From all eternity, From all eternity,
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But these the Lord have lifted up,
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They lifted up their voice,
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They lifted up their voice,
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But these the Lord have lifted up their weight,
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And made a mighty noise,
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And made a mighty noise,
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And made a mighty noise.
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The Lord have grown on high,
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Is strong,
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For powerful is he,
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For powerful is he,
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And thunder of the ocean's waves,
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Are breakers of the sea,
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Are breakers of the sea,
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Are breakers of the sea,
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Are breakers of the sea,
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Are breakers of the sea.
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Your voice is not a true source and firm,
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Unchanging is your word,
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Unchanging is your word,
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Unchanging is your word,
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And holiness adorns your eyes,
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For endless days,
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For endless days,
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For endless days,
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For endless days,
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For endless days,
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For endless days,
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Let us pray.
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Indeed, O Lord Almighty, had we a thousand tongues,
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they would not be enough to sing your praises,
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for you are King.
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You have always been King, you have always reigned,
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since before the sun was set in the sky,
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and you flung the stars into space.
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You were King, and you are King today.
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You are in sovereign control of all things that come to pass,
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and you will always be King.
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You reign in splendor and glory, and we bow before you,
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our Sovereign God.
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You are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one true and living God.
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God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable,
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in his being wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
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And yet we have seen you in the face of Jesus Christ.
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We thank you for your great love for us.
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You demonstrated your love for us in this.
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While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
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Surely, O Lord, by nature we were conceived in sin.
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We sinned daily in thought, word, and deed,
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both by the wrong things we do,
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and the right things we fail to do.
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How we thank you, O Lord,
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that you have laid all our sins
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on the shoulders of our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
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who bore them on Calvary's tree for us.
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How we thank you that if we confess our sins,
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you are faithful and just to forgive our sins
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and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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How we thank you that the blood of Jesus Christ
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is enough to forgive all our sins.
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But more so,
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the blood of Jesus Christ covers us with his righteousness.
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So that even as you look upon us,
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as we are united in Christ,
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you say of us,
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you are my beloved son,
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you are my beloved daughter,
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in you I am well pleased.
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What a great message the gospel of Jesus Christ is.
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And we pray this morning that you would send your Holy Spirit
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that we may focus our minds
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on Jesus Christ and him crucified,
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the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me,
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the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep.
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We ask all these things
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with the forgiveness of all our sin,
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in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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It is so wonderful to see all you boys and girls here today.
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Did any of you run yesterday?
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We have two down here.
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Anyone else?
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Are your legs as sore as mine today?
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Yeah?
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I want to help you understand
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what ministers do for a living.
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Okay?
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Because lots of people come to me and say,
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what do ministers do?
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And sometimes I find it quite hard
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to explain to someone
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who doesn't go to church
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what a minister does.
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How would you answer that question,
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what does a minister do?
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Well, I want to help
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try and explain to you
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what a minister does.
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So,
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I here
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have a pencil case.
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And I know that there's a young man
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in this connegation
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whose father has bought him
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this pencil case.
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Who's that young man?
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Uh-huh.
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But because
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it couldn't be delivered
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here,
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it had to be delivered
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to my house in Glasgow.
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But it wasn't me
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who bought the pencil case
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for this young man.
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It was
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his father.
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This young man's father
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who loves him very much
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and wants him to have
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the coolest
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pencil case
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in the whole
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of the world.
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It's got
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Mr. Beast
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written in the front.
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And it's got a picture
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of Callum.
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Right in the front of it.
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And I wonder
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whether
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Callum Angi,
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would you mind
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walking up here
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because I certainly
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can't walk down there.
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Would you come
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and get this
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from me?
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Would you mind?
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Tell you what,
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I'll meet you halfway.
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Well,
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there we go.
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It's come all the way
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from China
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without a 254%
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cut.
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Good boy,
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Callum Angi.
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So,
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I came all the way
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up here
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to do three things.
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I came up here
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to run the half marathon.
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I came up here
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to preach today.
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And I came up here
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to give a present
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from a father
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to his son.
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because,
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well,
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Gordon loves
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Callum Angi
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and Gordon loves
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to buy
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Callum Angi
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lovely things.
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So,
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what do you think
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a minister does?
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And what is me
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giving that pencil case
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to you got to do
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with being a minister?
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Huh?
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Ministers
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give
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what our loving
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heavenly father
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has bought
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for his children.
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So,
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our loving
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heavenly father,
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God,
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has bought
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salvation
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through the blood
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of Jesus
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for us
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if we have
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faith in Jesus.
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And what the
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minister does
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is
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to tell
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God's children,
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us,
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that God
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has bought
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a present
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for us.
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And the minister
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stands up
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every single Sunday
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morning and evening.
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this is what
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Callum does
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every Sunday
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morning and evening
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to give that gift
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to God's children.
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To give that gift
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to you
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and to me.
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That's what he does.
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So,
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as he preaches
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from the word,
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he is
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listening
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to God the Father
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saying,
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tell my children
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I have wonderful
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gifts for them.
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I have forgiveness
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for them
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from Jesus.
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I have peace
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for them
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from the Holy Spirit.
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I have comfort
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when they're sad.
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I have joy
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for them.
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I have hope
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for them
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when they can't
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see the way ahead.
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I have all
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these things
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for them.
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And through
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the preaching
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of the word,
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the minister
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gives these gifts
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to God's children.
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So,
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when next time
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someone asks you,
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what does a minister
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do?
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This is a bit
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old for you,
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but I often
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get told that
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a minister's job
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is six days
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to be invisible
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and one day
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to be incomprehensible.
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But don't
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use that.
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Say,
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it's the minister's job
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to give
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the gift
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a father
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has bought
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to his children.
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And then
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when they say,
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what does that mean?
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Explain to them,
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God
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has bought
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salvation
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for his children
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through the blood
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of his son,
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Jesus,
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and it's
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the minister's job
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to offer
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that salvation
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to God's children.
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So,
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next time
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you're playing
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with your pencil case,
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Calabangi,
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and fill it up
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and take it to school
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and show your teacher,
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isn't this cool?
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Or next time
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you're using
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your pencil case
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in school,
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children,
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could you remember
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my story
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about what a minister
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does?
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Giving gifts
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a loving father
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has bought
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for his child
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to them.
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We're now going
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to say the Lord's
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Prayer together.
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Our Father,
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Jordan,
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heaven,
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hallowed be thy name.
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Thy kingdom come,
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thy will be done
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on earth
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as it is in heaven.
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Forgive us
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our debts
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as we forgive
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our debtors.
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And lead us
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not into temptation,
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but deliver us
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from evil.
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For thine
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is the kingdom,
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the power,
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and the glory
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forever and ever.
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Amen.
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We're going to sing
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a song now,
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a psalm now,
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that talks about
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our sin
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and how God
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forgives our sin.
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This is a great gift
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the Father gives us.
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He blocks out our sin
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because of the death
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of Jesus.
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Psalm 51
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from verse 5
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to verse 15
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in St.
13:53
Psalms,
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page 68.
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8.
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Psalm 51,
13:58
page 68.
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From my birth
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I have been sinful.
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Such the nature
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I received,
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sinful from my first
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beginning,
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in my mother's womb
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concede.
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Again,
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let's stand to sing
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as we sing
14:12
Psalm 51
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to God's praise.
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For my heart
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I have been sinful,
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Such the nature
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I receive,
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Sent to God
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from my first
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beginning,
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And my mother's
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womb concede,
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Truth,
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you look
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for in my heart,
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Wisdom to me
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you enviars.
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And with this
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of beautify me,
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I'll be whiter
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than the snow.
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Let the bones
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you must be joyful,
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May I joy
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and gladness know.
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From my failure
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hide your face,
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Lord,
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and all my wickedness.
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Lord,
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create a pure heart
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in me,
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and a steadfast mind
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renew.
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Do not take your spirit
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from me,
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cast me not away
15:58
from you.
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Give me back
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the joy I have,
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Keep my will
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in spirit blood.
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Then I'll teach
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your ways to sinners,
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Rebels will turn
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back to you.
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free me from the guilt,
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my Savior,
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for those merciful
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and true.
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Then I'll praise
16:45
your righteousness,
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teach my lips
16:52
your name to bless.
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Amen.
17:03
We're going to read now
17:04
from Isaiah chapter 40.
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Isaiah chapter 40.
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And we're going to read
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from verse 1
17:18
to verse 17.
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This is on page 724
17:26
of the Bible I have here.
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Isaiah 40.
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This is the word of God.
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Comfort.
17:42
Comfort, my people,
17:44
says your God.
17:46
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem
17:47
and cry to her
17:49
that her warfare has ended.
17:50
That her iniquity is pardoned.
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That she has received
17:55
from the Lord's hand
17:56
double for all her sins.
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A voice cries.
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In the wilderness
18:02
prepare the way of the Lord.
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Make straight in the desert
18:06
a highway for our God.
18:09
Every valley
18:10
shall be lifted up
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and every mountain and hill
18:12
be made low.
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The uneven ground
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shall become level
18:16
and the rough places
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a plain.
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and the glory of the Lord
18:21
shall be revealed.
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And all flesh
18:23
shall see it together
18:24
for the mouth
18:25
of the Lord
18:26
has spoken.
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A voice
18:29
says,
18:31
cry.
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And I said,
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what shall I cry?
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All flesh is grass
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and its beauty
18:40
is like the flower
18:40
of the field.
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The grass withers.
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The flower fades
18:44
when the breath
18:45
of the Lord
18:45
blows on it.
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Surely the people
18:48
are grass.
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The grass withers.
18:51
The flower fades.
18:53
But the word of our God
18:55
will stand forever.
18:58
Get you up
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to a high mountain,
19:00
O Zion,
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herald of good news.
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Lift up your voice
19:03
with strength,
19:04
O Jerusalem,
19:05
herald of good news.
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Lift it up.
19:06
Fear not.
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Say to the cities
19:08
of Judah,
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behold your God.
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Behold the Lord God
19:13
comes with might
19:14
and his arm rules for him.
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Behold his reward
19:17
is with him
19:18
and his recompense
19:19
before him.
19:20
He will tend his flock
19:22
like a shepherd.
19:23
He will gather
19:24
the lambs in his arms.
19:26
He will carry them
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in his bosom
19:28
and gently lead those
19:30
that are with young.
19:30
who has measured
19:34
the water
19:35
in the hollow
19:35
of his hand
19:36
and marked off
19:37
the heavens
19:37
with a span,
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enclosed the dust
19:40
of the earth
19:40
in a measure
19:41
and weighed
19:41
the mountains
19:42
in scales
19:43
and the hills
19:44
in a balance?
19:45
Who has measured
19:46
the spirit of the Lord
19:47
or what man
19:49
shows him his counsel?
19:50
Whom did he consult
19:52
and who made him understand?
19:53
Who taught him
19:54
the path of justice
19:55
and taught him knowledge
19:56
and showed him
19:57
the way of understanding?
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Behold the nations
20:01
are like a drop
20:03
from a bucket
20:03
and are accounted
20:05
as the dust
20:06
on the scales.
20:08
Behold he takes up
20:09
the coastlands
20:10
like fine dust.
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Lebanon would not
20:13
suffice for fuel
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nor are its beasts
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enough for a burnt offering.
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All the nations
20:19
are as nothing
20:20
before him.
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They are accounted
20:22
by him as less
20:23
than nothing
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and emptiness.
20:28
Amen.
20:29
May God bless
20:29
this reading
20:30
of his word.
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Let us pray.
20:37
We thank you Lord
20:38
for your word.
20:40
We thank you
20:41
that it is
20:42
your living breath.
20:45
That just as you
20:46
breathed
20:46
into the nostrils
20:47
of the first man
20:48
Adam
20:49
and he became
20:50
a living being
20:50
so you breathe
20:52
through your word
20:53
into our hearts
20:54
and we
20:55
spiritually
20:56
live.
20:57
we thank you
20:59
that your word
21:00
is living and active
21:01
sharper than any
21:03
two-edged sword.
21:05
We thank you
21:06
that your word
21:06
is like honey
21:09
honey
21:09
from the comb
21:10
and more precious
21:11
than gold.
21:13
We pray for
21:14
every organization
21:15
engaged in
21:17
spreading your word
21:18
in translating
21:20
it into
21:21
the languages
21:22
of the peoples
21:23
of the world.
21:24
world.
21:26
We thank you
21:26
for Wycliffe
21:27
Bible Translators
21:28
for the work
21:30
of the Bible
21:30
Societies
21:31
for the work
21:32
of the Langham
21:33
Partnership.
21:34
We thank you
21:35
for the growing
21:36
church
21:36
all over
21:37
our world.
21:39
We thank you
21:40
especially
21:40
for the growth
21:41
of the church
21:42
in nations
21:42
which previously
21:43
had been closed
21:44
to the gospel.
21:45
We think of
21:46
the nation
21:46
of Mongolia
21:47
a nation
21:49
which up
21:50
until the fall
21:51
of the Iron
21:51
Curtain
21:51
we knew
21:52
little or
21:52
nothing about
21:53
and yet
21:55
now
21:55
there is
21:56
a growing
21:57
church
21:58
with 60,000
21:59
believers
21:59
sending missionaries
22:01
all over
22:02
that part of
22:03
Asia
22:03
even into
22:04
China.
22:06
Lord we thank
22:07
you that your
22:08
spirit is doing
22:08
amazing things
22:09
is raising
22:12
the spiritual
22:13
temperature
22:13
of entire
22:14
nations.
22:14
Lord we pray
22:17
that you
22:18
would send
22:19
revival
22:19
on our own
22:20
beloved Scotland.
22:22
Will you not
22:22
O Lord
22:23
rend the heavens
22:23
in wrath
22:25
remember mercy
22:26
O Lord
22:27
and do the
22:27
things you
22:28
did at first
22:28
here.
22:30
We pray
22:30
that you
22:31
would fill
22:31
our churches
22:32
to overflowing
22:32
with eager
22:34
worshippers
22:35
and lifelong
22:37
disciples.
22:40
We pray
22:40
Lord that you
22:41
would thrust
22:41
men into the
22:42
harvest field
22:43
for the
22:44
harvest
22:44
is white.
22:48
We thank
22:48
you for this
22:49
church
22:49
which has
22:51
for so long
22:53
been a bastion
22:53
of the preaching
22:55
of the word
22:56
and the praising
22:56
of your name.
22:58
And we pray
22:59
Lord that you
23:00
would call
23:02
a man of
23:02
your own
23:03
choosing here.
23:04
We thank you
23:05
for the thoughts
23:06
of Gordon
23:06
on Wednesday
23:07
evening
23:07
and for this
23:08
little note
23:10
in our orders
23:11
of service
23:11
which reminds
23:12
us of the
23:12
things for
23:13
which we are
23:13
to pray
23:14
regarding
23:14
this vacancy.
23:16
We pray
23:17
for unanimity
23:17
of spirit
23:18
among us.
23:20
We pray
23:20
that you
23:21
would help
23:21
us to
23:22
be guided
23:23
and led
23:24
to a man
23:25
who is
23:25
word focused
23:27
in his
23:27
ministry.
23:29
We pray
23:30
that you
23:30
would give
23:30
us insight.
23:32
We thank
23:32
you for the
23:33
promise that
23:33
if any lacks
23:34
wisdom
23:34
we should
23:36
ask it of
23:37
you.
23:38
We pray
23:38
that you
23:39
would help
23:39
us to trust
23:40
in your
23:40
timing.
23:40
and we
23:43
pray
23:43
Lord
23:43
that you
23:43
would help
23:44
us to
23:44
yield
23:44
our
23:45
hearts
23:45
to
23:46
your
23:46
choice.
23:48
Father
23:49
our
23:49
great
23:50
desire
23:50
is
23:50
just as
23:51
it
23:51
is
23:51
for
23:51
Glasgow.
23:53
May
23:53
Glasgow
23:54
flourish
23:54
by the
23:55
preaching
23:55
of the
23:56
word
23:57
and the
23:57
praising
23:57
of your
23:57
name
23:58
may
23:58
Stornoway
23:58
flourish
23:59
in the
23:59
same
23:59
way.
24:00
Lord
24:02
we pray
24:03
for our
24:03
nation
24:04
the
24:05
nation
24:05
once
24:06
known
24:06
as
24:06
the
24:07
land
24:08
of the
24:08
book.
24:09
We
24:10
pray
24:10
for
24:10
the
24:11
great
24:11
unreached
24:11
parts
24:12
of our
24:12
nation
24:13
for
24:13
Argyle
24:14
and for
24:14
Maryshire
24:15
for
24:17
increasingly
24:17
parts of
24:18
the inner
24:19
and outer
24:19
Hebrides.
24:22
Lord
24:22
we ask
24:23
and pray
24:23
that you
24:23
would send
24:24
your spirit
24:24
in new
24:25
power.
24:27
We
24:28
pray
24:28
Lord
24:28
for
24:28
our
24:29
own
24:29
denomination
24:30
the
24:30
free
24:30
church
24:30
of
24:30
Scotland
24:31
we
24:31
recognise
24:31
that
24:32
we
24:32
are
24:32
a
24:33
tiny
24:33
little
24:34
branch
24:34
of
24:35
a
24:35
worldwide
24:36
tree
24:37
which
24:37
keeps
24:37
growing.
24:39
We
24:39
pray
24:39
Lord
24:40
that
24:40
you
24:40
would
24:40
bless
24:40
however
24:41
our
24:41
tiny
24:42
branch.
24:43
I
24:44
selfishly
24:44
pray
24:45
for
24:45
our
24:45
two
24:45
church
24:45
plants
24:46
from
24:46
our
24:47
own
24:47
connegation
24:48
in
24:48
Glasgow
24:48
for
24:49
Hope
24:49
Community
24:50
Church
24:50
in
24:50
Helensburgh
24:51
and
24:52
for
24:52
Crossbridge
24:53
Church
24:53
in
24:53
Merced
24:53
Den
24:54
Will
24:54
Guy.
24:55
We
24:55
give
24:55
you
24:55
thanks
24:56
for
24:56
their
24:56
growth
24:57
over
24:57
these
24:57
last
24:58
months
24:59
when
25:01
they
25:01
have
25:01
first
25:02
begun
25:02
to
25:02
worship
25:02
you
25:03
publicly
25:04
and
25:05
yet
25:05
have
25:06
both
25:06
doubled
25:06
in
25:06
size.
25:08
Lord
25:09
we
25:09
pray
25:09
for
25:09
such
25:09
a
25:10
growth
25:10
and
25:10
movement
25:11
all
25:11
over
25:11
Scotland.
25:13
We
25:13
pray
25:13
for
25:13
any
25:14
who
25:14
are
25:14
sick
25:14
and
25:14
struggling
25:15
in
25:15
our
25:15
connegation
25:16
here.
25:17
We
25:17
pray
25:17
for
25:18
those
25:18
who
25:18
are
25:18
physically
25:19
ill.
25:19
We
25:19
pray
25:20
for
25:20
those
25:20
who
25:20
are
25:20
mentally
25:21
challenged.
25:22
We
25:23
pray
25:23
for
25:23
those
25:23
who
25:23
are
25:23
discouraged.
25:25
We
25:26
also
25:26
pray
25:26
Lord
25:26
for
25:27
who
25:27
were
25:28
born
25:29
baptized
25:30
and
25:30
brought
25:30
up
25:31
in
25:31
our
25:31
connegation
25:32
but
25:32
have
25:32
backslidden
25:33
have
25:34
left
25:34
the
25:34
faith
25:35
behind
25:35
them.
25:36
We
25:36
remember
25:37
the
25:37
promises
25:37
made
25:38
at
25:38
baptism.
25:40
Promises
25:40
not
25:41
so
25:41
much
25:42
made
25:42
by
25:42
parents
25:43
to
25:43
you
25:44
but
25:45
made
25:45
by
25:45
you
25:45
to
25:46
parents.
25:48
Lord
25:48
we
25:49
pray
25:49
that
25:49
you
25:49
would
25:49
remember
25:50
the
25:50
covenant
25:50
promises
25:51
you
25:51
made
25:51
and
25:53
bring
25:53
our
25:53
people
25:53
back.
25:56
Now
25:56
Lord
25:56
we
25:56
commit
25:56
ourselves
25:57
to
25:57
you
25:57
asking
25:59
that
25:59
you
25:59
would
25:59
make
26:00
war
26:00
cease
26:00
to
26:01
the
26:01
ends
26:01
of
26:02
the
26:02
earth
26:02
and
26:03
that
26:03
the
26:03
gospel
26:04
of
26:04
Jesus
26:04
Christ
26:05
would
26:05
reign.
26:06
We
26:07
ask
26:07
these
26:07
things
26:07
in
26:07
his
26:08
name.
26:09
Amen.
26:09
once
26:14
more
26:14
we're
26:14
going
26:14
to
26:15
sing
26:15
in
26:16
Psalm
26:17
number
26:17
119
26:19
and
26:20
we're
26:20
going
26:20
to
26:21
sing
26:21
from
26:21
verse
26:21
9
26:22
to
26:22
verse
26:23
16
26:24
you'll
26:25
find
26:25
this
26:25
on
26:25
page
26:26
number
26:26
400
26:27
I
26:29
should
26:29
say
26:30
thank you
26:30
very
26:30
much
26:31
to
26:31
Elizabeth
26:32
for
26:32
her
26:34
emails
26:34
this
26:34
week
26:34
and
26:36
for
26:36
arranging
26:36
things
26:37
so
26:37
well
26:37
by
26:39
what
26:40
means
26:40
shall
26:40
a
26:40
young
26:40
man
26:41
learn
26:41
his
26:41
way
26:42
to
26:42
purify
26:42
if
26:43
he
26:43
according
26:44
to
26:44
thy
26:44
word
26:45
there
26:46
to
26:46
attentive
26:47
be
26:47
Psalm
26:48
119
26:48
from
26:49
verse
26:49
9
26:49
to
26:49
16
26:50
to
26:51
God's
26:51
praise
27:04
groan
27:05
this
27:07
way
27:08
to
27:08
purify
27:13
if
27:12
he
27:15
according
27:18
to
27:19
thy
27:21
word
27:21
then
27:22
do
27:24
attentive
27:27
me
27:29
groan
27:31
Let me be, he have I sought, with all my soul and heart.
27:47
O let me not from the right path of thy commands depart.
28:04
Thy word I in my heart have lived, but I offend not thee.
28:21
O Lord, the weather blessed are thy status teach the me.
28:39
But judgment so thy mouth each one, my lips decreed how.
28:55
For joy thy testimonies plead, the righteous, O only name.
29:13
Thy will thy holy present make, my meditation.
29:29
And carefully I'll have respect, but to thy ways each one.
29:48
Among thy statutes my delight shall constantly be set.
30:05
And by thy grace I never will, my holy word forget.
30:21
Amen.
30:28
It really is a great privilege to preach to you today and to share this time with you.
30:35
Some of you may remember that I did a placement as a student here 24 years ago.
30:41
Back then I had far more hair, far more energy and far less children.
30:47
So it's lovely to bring with me this weekend my wife, who won first prize in the over 50s female half marathon yesterday.
30:56
I'm very proud of her.
30:58
And then son number two, Aidan.
31:00
Son number three, Jonathan.
31:02
And his girlfriend, Ailey.
31:04
So thank you for your very kind welcome.
31:06
It really is lovely, lovely to be here and to see old friends.
31:10
We're going to turn in our Bibles now to Isaiah chapter 40 and verse 11.
31:19
Isaiah 40 and verse 11.
31:22
Where we read of God, he will tend his flock like a shepherd.
31:27
He will gather the lambs in his arms.
31:30
He will carry them in his bosom.
31:32
And gently lead those that are with young.
31:36
Heavenly Father, we bow in your presence.
31:40
May your word be our rule, your spirit our teacher, and your greater glory our supreme concern.
31:46
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
31:48
Amen.
31:50
There are few more indeeding images that you may have in your minds of God than that of him being our shepherd.
31:56
Perhaps the most famous line of any song in any language is the first line of Psalm 23.
32:03
The Lord's my shepherd.
32:06
One of Jesus' most famous parables is that of the shepherd.
32:12
Who having left the 99 sheep in safety, searches for that one lost sheep.
32:19
And when he finds it, he lays that one lost sheep across his shoulders.
32:23
And joyfully brings it home.
32:25
Our Lord said to himself, I am the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.
32:32
There's something about the image of God as our shepherd which comforts us.
32:38
And whatever our circumstances makes us feel safe.
32:43
This chapter, Isaiah 40, tells the story of how God will rescue his people from their exile in Babylon.
32:52
Having spiraled downwards through their unfaithfulness to him,
32:57
the Israelites were forcibly relocated all across the vast Babylonian empire.
33:02
For 70 years they were exiled from their homeland because of their unfaithfulness to God.
33:09
These were terrifying years of exile and pain.
33:15
But a time will come when God will lead them back from Babylon and bring them back to Israel.
33:23
When their sins shall be forgiven and they shall once again be established in Jerusalem.
33:28
The rescue from Babylon is pictured in verse 11 here as that of the Lord.
33:37
Like a shepherd.
33:39
Tending his flock.
33:42
Gathering the lambs in his arms.
33:44
Carrying them in his bosom.
33:47
And gently leading those who have young.
33:48
After all, these returning people of Israel will have hundreds of miles to travel back to their homeland from Babylon.
34:00
But the Lord shall be their shepherd.
34:03
He shall lead them like a flock of sheep.
34:05
He shall provide for them.
34:07
He shall protect them every step of the way.
34:09
Now, although it may be a bit fanciful,
34:14
the homeward journey of the exiles from Babylon was compared by many of the early church fathers
34:20
to the lifelong journey of the Christian.
34:24
Like Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress,
34:27
we leave behind us the city of destruction when we become Christians
34:30
and we make our way to the celestial city of heaven.
34:34
But we do not travel alone in life.
34:39
Unkept.
34:41
Unloved.
34:42
Unprotected.
34:44
Rather, as we make our way through life,
34:46
the Lord tends to us,
34:48
gathers us,
34:49
carries us,
34:51
and gently leads us to himself.
34:54
We may experience many hardships on the journey.
34:57
We may be attacked by all kinds of enemies.
35:00
But the Lord will be our shepherd
35:01
and he will lead us home.
35:05
Picture this.
35:06
In all of life's ups and downs,
35:09
in all of our pleasures,
35:10
in all of our pains,
35:12
in all of our joys,
35:13
and in all of our sorrows,
35:16
our Lord is tender,
35:18
loving.
35:20
He's our powerful shepherd.
35:22
And he will hold us fast,
35:24
nearer to his heart.
35:25
I want us to explore this image of the Lord as our shepherd
35:31
from this verse in Isaiah 40,
35:33
under three headings,
35:35
our glorious shepherd,
35:37
our gracious shepherd,
35:39
our gentle shepherd.
35:40
For any today who feel as though they're lost and alone,
35:48
take comfort.
35:49
Take comfort.
35:50
The Lord is your shepherd.
35:52
He will never leave you.
35:53
He will never forsake you.
35:55
He will carry you.
35:57
He will be with you always.
35:58
First of all then,
36:01
we have our glorious shepherd.
36:04
Our glorious shepherd.
36:06
When I was a child,
36:08
and I'd get into verbal spat with another boy in my class,
36:10
the argument would always end up with him saying to me,
36:14
my dad's bigger than your dad.
36:16
And then I'd say to him,
36:17
no, no, no, no, no, no.
36:18
My dad's bigger than your dad.
36:21
Truth be told,
36:22
both dads were the same size.
36:24
In Isaiah 40,
36:26
there's no doubt who's the bigger.
36:30
One of the reasons that we love Isaiah 40 is
36:32
because of the picture that it paints
36:34
of the sheer immensity,
36:37
glory,
36:37
and power of the Lord who is our shepherd.
36:41
It all begins in verse 9
36:43
with the announcement,
36:45
Behold your God.
36:49
Behold your God.
36:50
Behold him indeed.
36:52
See him in the limitless sovereignty
36:54
of his kingly reign.
36:56
There follows from verse 12
36:57
a series of rhetorical questions.
37:00
Who has measured the waters
37:01
in the hollow of his hand?
37:03
Who has measured the spirit of the Lord?
37:06
The might and power of Babylon
37:08
can be counted and measured.
37:11
But the immensity of God
37:13
is beyond all calculation.
37:17
Behold,
37:18
Isaiah cries out,
37:19
the nations are like drops from a bucket
37:21
and are accounted as dust on the scales.
37:24
Drops of water.
37:26
Dust indeed.
37:27
The greatest
37:28
of all the human empires
37:31
is but dust
37:32
in the scales
37:33
to God.
37:35
On one side
37:36
is the weight of God.
37:37
On the other
37:38
a fleck of dust.
37:41
All the nations
37:43
there is nothing before him.
37:45
Who does this puny
37:46
king of Babylon
37:47
suppose himself
37:48
to be compared
37:49
to the immensity
37:50
of the glory
37:51
of the God
37:52
of heaven and earth?
37:53
The God
37:54
who cannot be likened
37:55
to any image?
37:57
The limitless
37:58
infinity of his essence
38:00
and character
38:01
going beyond
38:02
the limited
38:03
finite mind
38:05
any of us
38:05
can ever imagine?
38:08
And then come
38:09
the three great questions
38:10
of this chapter.
38:12
Do you not know?
38:14
Have you not heard?
38:17
He sits above
38:18
the circle of the earth
38:19
and its inhabitants
38:21
are like grasshoppers.
38:22
He brings princes
38:24
to nothing
38:25
and makes the rulers
38:27
of the earth
38:28
as emptiness
38:29
or vanity.
38:31
Lift up your eyes
38:32
on high
38:32
and see
38:33
who created
38:34
all these.
38:36
He brings out
38:37
their host
38:38
by number
38:39
and he calls
38:41
them all
38:41
by name.
38:44
Astronomers
38:44
will admit
38:45
they haven't
38:47
even begun
38:47
to scratch
38:48
the surface
38:48
of all
38:49
there is to know
38:50
about
38:50
the stars
38:52
we can see.
38:52
Never mind
38:53
the stars
38:53
only the Hubble
38:54
can see.
38:56
God created
38:57
them all
38:57
and he gave
38:59
each one
38:59
a name.
39:01
It crescendos
39:02
in verse 28
39:03
The Lord
39:04
is the everlasting
39:05
God
39:06
the creator
39:06
of the ends
39:07
of the earth.
39:08
He does not
39:09
faint or grow weary
39:10
his understanding
39:11
is unsearchable.
39:14
The king of Babylon
39:16
he's seated
39:17
on a throne
39:18
of earthly glory.
39:20
He sneers
39:21
at the world
39:22
around him
39:22
but all the
39:23
time
39:23
his beauty
39:24
is like
39:24
the flower
39:25
of the field.
39:26
He is less
39:27
than a grain
39:27
of dust.
39:28
He's a grasshopper.
39:29
He's a great
39:30
nothing.
39:33
My dad's
39:34
bigger than
39:34
your dad
39:35
indeed.
39:37
Our great
39:38
shepherd king
39:38
the Lord
39:39
himself
39:39
he is the
39:40
everlasting
39:40
God
39:41
the created
39:41
of the ends
39:42
of the earth.
39:43
He alone
39:44
stands
39:44
gloriously
39:45
enthroned
39:45
above all
39:46
that he has
39:46
made.
39:48
Our human
39:48
minds
39:49
cannot imagine
39:50
the greatness
39:51
of his being.
39:52
Our human
39:52
calculations
39:53
will always
39:54
fall short
39:54
of measuring
39:55
even the
39:56
smallest movement
39:57
of his power.
39:58
There are no
39:59
words in any
40:00
human language
40:01
sufficient to
40:02
even begin to
40:03
describe his
40:04
immensity.
40:06
To describe
40:07
himself to us
40:08
God must use
40:08
baby talk
40:09
so that we may
40:10
understand.
40:12
All his
40:12
revelations of
40:13
himself are like
40:14
a toddler
40:15
babbling
40:16
but that is
40:18
what our
40:18
God must
40:18
do so that
40:19
we may
40:20
know him.
40:22
Who then
40:22
is your
40:23
shepherd
40:23
who tends
40:25
you?
40:26
Who holds
40:27
you close
40:28
to his
40:28
heart?
40:30
Who is
40:30
this shepherd
40:31
king who
40:32
gathers you
40:33
like a
40:34
lamb in
40:34
his arms
40:35
and gently
40:36
leads you
40:36
through life?
40:38
He is the
40:39
everlasting
40:39
God before
40:40
whom the
40:41
nations are
40:41
as drops
40:42
in a bucket
40:42
and as
40:43
grains of
40:44
dust.
40:47
The God
40:47
who will
40:48
rescue his
40:48
captive people
40:49
from Babylon
40:49
who will
40:51
lead them
40:51
through the
40:52
wilderness
40:52
home to
40:53
Israel.
40:53
This is
40:54
who he
40:54
is in
40:54
the
40:55
immensity
40:55
of his
40:55
power,
40:56
his
40:56
supremacy
40:57
and his
40:57
glory.
41:00
What
41:00
comfort this
41:01
must have
41:01
been to
41:01
the fearful
41:02
people of
41:02
Israel.
41:03
Nothing
41:04
need they
41:04
fear if
41:05
God be
41:05
their
41:06
shepherd.
41:07
No
41:07
hunger,
41:08
no thirst,
41:08
no army,
41:09
no robber,
41:10
no mountain
41:10
or desert.
41:12
As the
41:13
famous St.
41:14
Julian of
41:14
Norwich
41:14
once said,
41:16
all shall
41:16
be well,
41:18
all shall
41:18
be well.
41:20
It shall
41:21
be well
41:21
because of
41:22
the glory
41:22
of the
41:23
God who
41:24
is our
41:24
shepherd.
41:26
Our
41:27
enemies may
41:28
be greater
41:28
than us,
41:29
but there
41:30
is drops
41:30
from a
41:30
bucket to
41:31
God.
41:32
The
41:33
deserts of
41:33
our lives
41:34
may seem
41:35
empty,
41:36
but the
41:37
God who
41:38
created
41:38
water
41:39
shall fill
41:40
them with
41:40
refreshing
41:41
pools.
41:42
He is
41:43
the
41:43
Lord,
41:44
our
41:44
shepherd,
41:45
who will
41:45
lead us
41:46
beside the
41:46
still waters
41:47
and make
41:47
us lie
41:48
down in
41:48
green
41:48
pastures,
41:49
who will
41:50
lead us
41:50
in paths
41:51
of
41:51
righteousness.
41:52
The
41:53
Lord,
41:53
our
41:53
shepherd,
41:54
who will
41:54
be with
41:54
us,
41:55
comforting
41:55
us with
41:56
his rod
41:57
and staff
41:57
as we
41:58
walk through
41:58
the valleys
41:58
of the
41:59
shadow
41:59
of death.
42:01
As the
42:02
Israelites
42:02
make their
42:03
way from
42:03
Babylon
42:04
to
42:04
Canaan,
42:06
God
42:06
will prepare
42:06
them
42:07
banqueting
42:07
tables in
42:08
the
42:08
wilderness,
42:09
and his
42:10
goodness
42:10
and mercy
42:11
shall follow
42:11
them always.
42:12
Behold,
42:15
our
42:16
God,
42:17
Isaiah
42:17
cries.
42:19
He will
42:19
tend his
42:20
flock like
42:20
a shepherd.
42:21
He will
42:22
gather the
42:22
lambs in
42:23
his arms.
42:23
He will
42:24
carry them
42:24
in his
42:25
bosom and
42:26
gently lead
42:26
those who
42:27
have
42:27
young.
42:27
him.
42:30
If the
42:31
church
42:31
fathers
42:31
were
42:32
right,
42:33
and
42:34
the
42:35
return
42:35
from
42:35
exile
42:36
is a
42:36
picture
42:36
of the
42:37
Christian
42:37
life,
42:37
then
42:37
surely
42:38
we
42:38
too
42:38
can
42:38
take
42:39
comfort
42:39
from
42:40
the
42:40
immensity
42:41
and glory
42:41
of the
42:42
Lord
42:42
who is
42:42
our
42:42
shepherd.
42:44
Who are
42:44
these
42:44
enemies
42:45
who stand
42:45
against
42:46
us,
42:47
who seem
42:47
so tall
42:48
and strong
42:48
to us?
42:49
They have
42:51
not seen
42:51
the glory
42:52
of God
42:53
who stands
42:53
tall over
42:54
them.
42:55
What is
42:56
this physical
42:56
or mental
42:57
illness we
42:58
are enduring?
43:00
This grief
43:00
which gnaws
43:01
at our
43:01
very bones.
43:03
Surely
43:03
our God
43:04
who sustains
43:05
the innumerable
43:06
stars in
43:07
their heavenly
43:07
positions.
43:09
Surely
43:09
he can
43:10
sustain us
43:11
and cause
43:12
our cup
43:12
of joy
43:13
yet to
43:13
overflow.
43:16
Are there
43:16
any here
43:17
this morning
43:17
who are
43:17
anxious
43:18
any here
43:20
this morning
43:20
who are
43:20
fearful?
43:22
In my
43:23
Spurgeon's
43:24
morning and
43:25
evening readings
43:25
for the
43:25
27th of
43:26
March,
43:26
I read
43:27
some
43:27
beautiful
43:27
words.
43:29
He wrote,
43:30
this is
43:31
the royal
43:31
road to
43:32
comfort.
43:33
Great
43:34
thoughts
43:34
of your
43:34
sin alone
43:35
will drive
43:36
you to
43:37
despair.
43:37
But listen
43:38
to this.
43:39
Great
43:40
thoughts
43:40
of Christ
43:41
will
43:42
pilot you
43:43
into the
43:43
heaven of
43:44
peace.
43:45
Great
43:45
thoughts
43:46
of Christ
43:46
will
43:47
pilot you
43:48
into the
43:48
heaven of
43:49
peace.
43:50
Look not
43:51
inwards at
43:51
our
43:51
weakness
43:52
and sin
43:52
but upwards
43:54
at the
43:54
glory and
43:55
holiness and
43:55
love of
43:56
our shepherd.
43:57
Then,
43:58
surely then,
44:00
we shall
44:00
be at
44:00
peace and
44:01
all shall
44:01
be well
44:01
with us.
44:03
The
44:03
Lord's
44:04
our
44:04
glorious
44:04
shepherd.
44:07
Well,
44:07
second,
44:08
the Lord is
44:09
our gracious
44:10
shepherd.
44:10
He's our
44:10
gracious
44:11
shepherd.
44:12
You will
44:13
know that
44:13
the people
44:13
of Israel
44:14
were in
44:14
exile in
44:15
Babylon
44:15
because of
44:16
their
44:16
unfaithfulness
44:17
to God.
44:19
For
44:19
hundreds of
44:20
years prior
44:21
to their
44:21
exile,
44:22
ever since
44:22
the days
44:23
of David,
44:23
they had
44:24
been on
44:24
a downward
44:25
spiral.
44:26
They had
44:27
worshipped the
44:28
Lord,
44:28
but they had
44:28
worshipped many
44:29
other gods
44:30
also,
44:31
idols made
44:31
of wood
44:32
and stone,
44:33
and they
44:33
sacrificed
44:34
to these
44:34
idols.
44:36
We even
44:36
read of
44:37
one of the
44:37
kings of
44:38
Israel who
44:39
sacrificed his
44:40
children to
44:42
one of
44:43
these idols.
44:43
prior to
44:45
their
44:46
captivity in
44:46
Babylon,
44:47
Israel had
44:48
become a
44:49
morally
44:49
disgusting,
44:51
socially
44:51
corrupted,
44:52
and
44:52
religiously
44:53
depraved
44:54
nation.
44:56
Well,
44:56
God's
44:57
judgment upon
44:58
them was
44:58
severe.
44:59
He caused
44:59
the Babylonian
45:00
army to
45:00
march in
45:01
and destroy
45:02
Jerusalem,
45:03
to carry
45:03
its best
45:03
people away
45:04
into exile,
45:06
to scatter
45:06
them to the
45:07
four winds of
45:07
the massive
45:08
Babylonian
45:09
empire.
45:10
However,
45:11
his judgment
45:11
upon them,
45:12
to use
45:13
technical
45:13
terms,
45:14
was not
45:14
retributive as
45:16
much as it
45:16
was restorative.
45:18
He punished
45:18
them to bring
45:19
them to their
45:19
senses,
45:20
as we may
45:20
a child.
45:22
Because during
45:23
those 70
45:24
years of
45:24
exile,
45:25
the people
45:25
of Israel
45:26
came to
45:26
their senses
45:27
and realized
45:28
why all this
45:28
had happened
45:29
to them.
45:30
They realized
45:31
that it was
45:31
because of
45:32
their sin
45:33
that God
45:34
had judged
45:35
them.
45:36
They repented
45:37
and once again
45:37
began to
45:39
seek the
45:39
Lord.
45:41
And as at
45:41
this point we
45:42
enter Isaiah
45:43
40,
45:44
where God
45:44
says,
45:45
Comfort,
45:45
comfort my
45:46
people,
45:46
says your
45:47
God.
45:47
Speak tenderly
45:48
to Jerusalem
45:49
and cry to
45:50
her that her
45:51
warfare is
45:51
ended,
45:52
that her
45:52
iniquity is
45:53
pardoned,
45:54
that she
45:54
has received
45:55
from the
45:55
Lord's hand
45:55
double for
45:56
all her
45:56
sins.
45:58
The God
45:59
who had
46:00
judged them
46:00
on account
46:01
of their
46:01
sins,
46:02
now forgives
46:03
and restores
46:04
them to
46:04
himself.
46:06
His
46:06
gracious love
46:07
for them
46:08
means that
46:08
they shall
46:09
never cease
46:10
to be
46:10
his people
46:12
and he
46:13
shall never
46:13
cease to
46:14
be their
46:14
God.
46:15
He announces
46:16
his forgiveness,
46:18
her warfare
46:18
is ended,
46:19
her iniquity
46:20
is pardoned.
46:21
Israel has
46:22
paid for
46:23
its sin
46:23
by being
46:24
judged
46:25
and exiled
46:26
from God,
46:27
by being
46:28
cast away
46:28
from his
46:29
holy presence
46:30
in Jerusalem.
46:31
Now,
46:32
having paid
46:33
the price
46:34
of their
46:34
unfaithfulness,
46:36
God announces
46:37
their forgiveness
46:38
and their
46:39
restoration.
46:40
They have
46:41
paid the
46:41
price of
46:42
their sin,
46:43
they have
46:44
borne their
46:45
punishment,
46:46
they have
46:47
been exiled
46:47
and forsaken
46:48
by God,
46:49
now God
46:50
will bring
46:51
them back
46:51
and restore
46:53
them to
46:53
himself once
46:54
again.
46:55
He shall
46:55
be their
46:56
God and
46:57
they shall
46:57
be his
46:58
people.
47:01
This
47:02
chapter
47:02
paints a
47:03
picture not
47:04
just of the
47:04
Lord of
47:05
glory but
47:05
of the
47:05
Lord of
47:06
grace.
47:06
the grace
47:08
of God
47:09
and the
47:09
forgiveness
47:10
of his
47:10
people and
47:11
their
47:12
reconciliation
47:12
with them
47:13
through the
47:14
payment of
47:15
a debt of
47:16
faithfulness
47:16
they owed
47:17
him.
47:19
And then
47:20
we hear the
47:20
voice of
47:21
the Lord
47:22
Jesus Christ
47:22
crying out,
47:25
I am the
47:25
good shepherd.
47:27
The good
47:27
shepherd lays
47:28
down his
47:28
life for
47:29
the sheep.
47:30
And then
47:31
we hear the
47:31
voice of
47:32
the apostle
47:32
Peter saying,
47:35
he himself,
47:36
Jesus,
47:37
bore our
47:38
sins in
47:38
his body
47:39
upon the
47:39
tree that
47:40
we might
47:40
die to
47:41
sin and
47:41
live to
47:42
righteousness.
47:43
By his
47:44
wounds you
47:44
have been
47:44
healed for
47:46
you were
47:47
straying like
47:47
sheep but
47:48
have now
47:49
returned to
47:49
the shepherd
47:50
and overseer
47:50
of your
47:51
souls.
47:53
On
47:54
account of
47:54
our sin
47:55
and unfaithfulness,
47:57
our straying
47:58
from God,
47:59
the Lord
48:00
Jesus Christ
48:01
was exiled
48:02
and forsaken
48:02
by God on
48:03
the cross.
48:04
He paid
48:06
the price
48:06
of our
48:06
sin.
48:08
He bore
48:09
the punishment
48:09
of our
48:10
unfaithfulness.
48:11
The Lord
48:12
who was our
48:12
shepherd bore
48:13
!
48:13
The Lord
48:13
who was our
48:12
shepherd bore
48:13
The cost of
48:15
our idolatry,
48:16
our greed,
48:18
our selfishness.
48:20
Through faith
48:21
in the good
48:22
shepherd Jesus
48:23
Christ, our
48:25
iniquity is
48:25
pardoned for
48:27
he has
48:28
received from
48:28
the Lord's
48:29
hand double
48:30
for all our
48:30
sins.
48:31
on the
48:32
cross
48:33
he paid
48:34
the price
48:35
and reconciled
48:36
us to
48:36
God.
48:39
This is
48:40
the grace
48:40
of the
48:40
shepherd of
48:41
whom we
48:41
read in
48:42
verse 11.
48:43
The shepherd
48:43
who tends
48:44
his flock
48:45
because he
48:45
gave himself
48:46
for his
48:47
flock.
48:47
The shepherd
48:48
who gathered
48:48
his flock
48:49
in those arms
48:50
he stretched
48:51
out on the
48:52
cross.
48:52
The shepherd
48:53
who carries
48:54
his lambs
48:55
near his
48:56
heart,
48:56
that heart
48:56
which stopped
48:57
beating for
48:58
three days
48:58
because he
49:00
was laid
49:00
in a tomb.
49:01
The shepherd
49:02
who gently
49:03
leads those
49:03
who have
49:04
young because
49:04
he was
49:05
harshly led
49:06
for them
49:06
to Mount
49:07
Calvary
49:07
where he
49:09
was crucified.
49:11
In the
49:11
old covenant
49:12
innocent sheep
49:13
were sacrificed
49:14
on behalf of
49:15
their sinful
49:15
shepherds.
49:16
In the new
49:17
covenant our
49:18
innocent shepherd
49:19
was sacrificed
49:21
on behalf of
49:21
his sinful
49:22
sheep.
49:24
But that
49:25
grace of
49:26
Christ which
49:26
has brought
49:27
us close
49:27
to God
49:28
continues
49:29
throughout
49:29
our lives
49:30
as Christian
49:30
believers
49:31
to bring
49:31
us closer
49:32
to him
49:32
still.
49:33
The story
49:34
of the
49:34
Christian
49:35
life
49:35
is the
49:36
story of
49:37
Christ's
49:38
continued
49:39
grace
49:39
in forgiving
49:40
our sin
49:41
in strengthening
49:42
us with
49:43
new dissolve
49:44
and giving
49:45
us the
49:45
inextinguishable
49:46
hope of
49:47
eternal life.
49:48
It is
49:49
grace
49:49
it is
49:50
whole grace
49:52
and it's
49:52
nothing but
49:53
grace.
49:54
grace.
49:57
Have you
49:58
failed
49:59
your
50:00
shepherd?
50:02
Have you
50:03
strayed from
50:04
your shepherd?
50:06
When you
50:07
return to
50:07
him
50:07
do not
50:09
expect the
50:10
harshness
50:10
of a
50:11
judge
50:11
anticipate
50:15
the grace
50:15
of a
50:15
shepherd.
50:18
Are you
50:19
exhausted in
50:19
his service
50:20
falling over
50:21
under the
50:22
burdens you're
50:22
carrying?
50:24
Go to
50:24
him because
50:25
he is your
50:26
shepherd and
50:27
ask him for
50:28
more grace
50:28
to help you
50:29
carry them.
50:31
Are you
50:32
fearful and
50:33
anxious for
50:34
your future?
50:36
Take your
50:36
anxieties to
50:37
Jesus and
50:38
pray for his
50:39
grace that he
50:39
may replace
50:40
your worry
50:41
with his
50:42
peace.
50:43
We have a
50:44
gracious
50:44
shepherd.
50:46
Therefore all
50:46
shall be well
50:47
with us.
50:48
we have a
50:51
glorious
50:52
shepherd,
50:52
we have a
50:52
gracious
50:53
shepherd,
50:53
then finally
50:54
we have
50:56
a gentle
50:57
shepherd,
50:58
a gentle
50:59
shepherd.
51:02
When I
51:02
was a
51:02
wee boy,
51:03
maybe
51:04
oh three
51:06
or four
51:06
years old
51:07
and I
51:08
wake up
51:09
at night
51:09
with fear
51:10
in my
51:11
heart
51:11
thinking there
51:12
was a
51:12
monster
51:12
under my
51:13
bed,
51:14
I would
51:15
creep into
51:15
my mum
51:16
and dad's
51:16
bed.
51:18
And my
51:18
dad would
51:19
put his
51:19
arm around
51:20
me and
51:22
I'd put
51:22
my head
51:23
on his
51:24
chest and
51:26
I could
51:26
hear the
51:26
beating of
51:27
his heart.
51:29
And as a
51:30
tiny wee
51:30
boy I was
51:30
then able to
51:31
go back to
51:31
sleep because
51:33
no matter if
51:33
the sky was
51:34
falling down,
51:36
no matter if
51:36
really there
51:37
was a monster
51:37
under my
51:38
bed and it
51:39
wasn't just a
51:39
figment of
51:40
my imagination,
51:41
I couldn't
51:42
have been
51:42
safer,
51:44
more at
51:44
peace,
51:45
more contented
51:46
than when
51:47
my wee
51:48
heady was
51:49
on my
51:49
dad's
51:50
chest and
51:51
I was
51:51
listening to
51:52
the beat
51:52
of his
51:52
heart.
51:55
Nearly
51:55
50 years
51:56
later I
51:56
can still
51:57
remember how
51:59
loved and
52:01
safe I
52:02
felt.
52:05
Now we
52:06
could talk
52:06
about the
52:07
gentleness of
52:08
our glorious
52:09
and gracious
52:10
shepherd from
52:10
each of the
52:11
four clauses
52:11
in verse
52:12
11 but it's
52:13
the third
52:13
which appeals
52:14
to me
52:14
most,
52:15
maybe to
52:16
you also.
52:18
He will
52:18
carry them
52:18
in his
52:19
bosom,
52:20
he will
52:20
carry them
52:21
in his
52:21
bosom.
52:22
Our
52:23
shepherd king
52:24
having gathered
52:25
us in his
52:26
arms draws
52:28
us in those
52:29
powerful arms
52:29
into his
52:30
chest so
52:32
that we may
52:32
hear the
52:33
beating of
52:33
his heart.
52:35
He does
52:36
for us what
52:36
my father
52:37
used to do
52:37
for me,
52:38
he puts
52:39
his arm
52:39
around us
52:40
and he
52:41
draws us
52:42
close.
52:43
We were
52:43
very much
52:44
by ourselves
52:45
we were
52:46
alone and
52:47
insecure,
52:48
afraid and
52:49
worried.
52:50
The darkness
52:51
was oppressive
52:51
to us
52:52
and the
52:53
loneliness
52:53
was complete.
52:54
There seemed
52:54
to be no
52:55
light in
52:56
our lives
52:57
and no
52:57
hope.
52:59
But he
53:00
gathered us
53:00
in his
53:00
arms,
53:02
those arms
53:03
of his
53:03
which are
53:04
so strong
53:04
and so
53:05
powerful
53:05
and yet
53:06
so gentle.
53:09
In Sunday
53:09
school we
53:09
learned the
53:10
chorus,
53:11
my God
53:11
is so
53:11
big,
53:12
so strong
53:13
and so
53:14
mighty,
53:14
there's
53:14
nothing
53:15
that he
53:15
cannot
53:16
do.
53:17
As
53:18
children we
53:18
would all
53:19
do the
53:19
actions,
53:19
came to
53:20
the strong,
53:21
mighty,
53:21
strike the
53:22
bodybuilder's
53:23
pose,
53:23
show off
53:24
these
53:25
bicep
53:26
muscles.
53:28
Well it's
53:28
true,
53:29
our God
53:30
is so
53:30
strong and
53:31
so mighty
53:31
but those
53:32
strong and
53:33
mighty arms
53:34
they're so
53:35
tender,
53:37
they gently
53:37
gather us
53:38
to himself,
53:38
such tender
53:39
arms they
53:40
hold us
53:41
close to
53:41
his heart.
53:43
The strong
53:43
arms of
53:44
our king
53:44
are the
53:44
gentle
53:45
arms of
53:45
our shepherd.
53:48
In John
53:48
10,
53:49
27,
53:50
Jesus
53:50
says,
53:52
my sheep
53:52
hear my
53:53
voice,
53:53
I know
53:54
them and
53:55
they follow
53:56
me.
53:57
I give
53:57
them eternal
53:58
life and
53:58
they will
53:58
never perish,
54:00
no one will
54:01
ever snatch
54:01
them from
54:02
my hand.
54:03
Once the
54:04
strong arms
54:04
of our
54:05
shepherd has
54:05
us,
54:07
no one,
54:08
no one,
54:09
not even
54:09
ourselves and
54:10
our doubts
54:10
can snatch
54:12
us from
54:12
his grasp
54:13
and he
54:14
holds us
54:15
so close
54:15
that we
54:16
may hear
54:16
the beat
54:16
of his
54:17
heart
54:17
and every
54:18
beat of
54:18
his heart
54:19
is for
54:20
us.
54:22
Every beat
54:23
of the
54:23
heart of
54:24
God
54:24
echoes
54:25
with his
54:26
love for
54:26
us.
54:28
Once we
54:28
were far
54:29
away from
54:29
him,
54:29
lost and
54:30
fearful,
54:31
rather like
54:31
a child
54:31
waking in
54:32
the dark
54:32
with a
54:33
monster
54:33
under its
54:33
bed.
54:35
But now
54:35
he has
54:35
gathered us
54:36
up in
54:36
his arms,
54:37
he is
54:37
holding us
54:38
close to
54:38
himself and
54:40
he lets us
54:40
hear the
54:41
beating of
54:41
his loving
54:41
heart for
54:42
us.
54:44
When I
54:45
was a
54:45
wee
54:45
balach,
54:46
I couldn't
54:47
have felt
54:47
safer,
54:48
more at
54:49
peace and
54:49
more contented
54:50
than when
54:50
my dad's
54:51
arms were
54:51
around me
54:51
and my
54:52
head was
54:52
on his
54:52
chest.
54:53
The sky
54:53
could be
54:54
falling down
54:55
and I
54:55
wouldn't
54:55
have cared
54:56
he would
54:56
keep me
54:56
safe.
54:57
I knew
54:58
he would.
55:00
When our
55:00
glorious,
55:01
gracious and
55:02
gentle shepherd
55:02
has gathered
55:03
us up in
55:03
his arms and
55:04
is holding
55:04
us close to
55:05
his heart,
55:06
we feel
55:07
so safe,
55:09
so much
55:09
at peace,
55:11
so very
55:12
contented.
55:15
When I
55:15
fear my
55:16
faith may
55:17
fail,
55:18
Christ will
55:19
hold me
55:19
fast.
55:20
When the
55:20
tempter would
55:21
prevail,
55:22
he will
55:22
hold me
55:23
fast.
55:23
I could
55:24
never keep
55:24
my hold
55:25
through life's
55:26
fearful path.
55:28
For my
55:28
love is
55:29
often cold,
55:30
he must
55:31
hold me
55:31
fast.
55:33
Yes,
55:33
he holds
55:34
us fast,
55:35
such beautiful
55:36
words,
55:36
but where
55:37
he holds
55:38
us fast
55:38
is more
55:39
beautiful
55:39
still.
55:40
He holds
55:40
us fast
55:41
close to
55:41
his heart.
55:42
His arms
55:43
are strong,
55:44
his heart
55:44
beats with
55:44
love for
55:45
us so
55:46
powerfully,
55:47
so rhythmically,
55:48
his grip
55:49
upon us is
55:50
so gentle,
55:52
so tender.
55:55
Many of
55:56
Glasgow's
55:56
professional
55:57
rugby team,
55:58
the Glasgow
55:59
Warriors,
56:00
train at my
56:00
local gym.
56:02
Now,
56:02
some of
56:02
these rugby
56:03
players are
56:04
giants.
56:05
in every
56:06
way,
56:07
well over
56:08
six feet
56:08
tall.
56:09
They've
56:09
got muscles
56:10
in places
56:10
I don't
56:11
have
56:11
places.
56:12
But
56:13
sometimes
56:13
you'll
56:13
see one
56:14
of them
56:14
in the
56:14
swimming pool
56:15
with his
56:16
young child.
56:18
Now,
56:18
these guys,
56:19
I mean,
56:19
they might
56:19
be muscly
56:20
giants,
56:21
but they
56:22
hold their
56:23
little children
56:24
in that
56:24
swimming pool
56:25
with such
56:25
strength,
56:27
such
56:27
tenderness.
56:29
Even
56:29
though that
56:29
child can't
56:30
swim,
56:31
that young
56:32
child is
56:32
never as
56:33
safe as
56:34
when it's
56:35
giant of
56:36
a father
56:36
is holding
56:38
it close.
56:41
Neither
56:41
are we
56:41
safer,
56:43
neither are
56:43
you safer,
56:45
than when
56:45
you have
56:46
your glorious
56:47
and gracious
56:47
shepherd holding
56:48
you close to
56:49
his heart.
56:50
We might feel
56:50
as if we're
56:51
drowning in
56:51
life's sorrows,
56:52
but he's
56:53
carrying us.
56:54
We might feel
56:54
confused and
56:55
full of
56:55
questions,
56:56
but he's
56:56
holding us.
56:57
We might be
56:58
tired and
56:58
exhausted,
56:59
but he draws
56:59
us close.
57:00
We might be
57:01
mentally and
57:01
physically dying,
57:02
but he lets
57:03
us hear the
57:03
beat of his
57:04
gentle heart.
57:09
Well, to
57:10
apply this
57:10
great truth
57:11
of our
57:12
Lord being
57:12
our glorious,
57:14
gracious,
57:14
and gentle
57:15
shepherd,
57:16
let me suggest
57:17
that though
57:18
his hold on
57:19
us is
57:19
ultimate,
57:21
we would
57:23
do well
57:24
to do
57:24
everything we
57:25
can to
57:26
hold on
57:27
to him.
57:28
We would
57:29
do well
57:29
to do
57:30
everything we
57:30
can to
57:31
hold on
57:32
to him.
57:33
We need
57:33
to abide
57:34
in him,
57:35
to walk
57:35
closely to
57:36
him,
57:37
to listen
57:38
carefully to
57:38
the voice
57:39
of our
57:39
shepherd through
57:40
the reading
57:40
of his
57:40
word,
57:41
and letting
57:42
him hear
57:43
the bleating
57:43
of our
57:44
voices as
57:45
we pray,
57:47
daily being
57:48
strengthened by
57:49
the grace of
57:49
his spirit as
57:51
we live in
57:52
him.
57:52
God's
57:54
but there
57:55
may be
57:55
some here
57:55
this morning
57:56
for whom
57:57
the Lord
57:58
is not
57:58
your shepherd.
58:00
You're still
58:00
lost,
58:01
well maybe
58:02
you don't
58:02
think you
58:02
are,
58:03
but you
58:03
are,
58:04
and you're
58:05
straying in
58:05
the desert,
58:07
and you're
58:07
dying on
58:08
the inside.
58:10
The good
58:10
shepherd Jesus
58:11
Christ extended
58:12
wide his arms
58:13
on the cross
58:14
to embrace
58:15
a sinful
58:15
world,
58:17
and he
58:18
invites
58:18
every one
58:19
of us
58:20
today to
58:22
enter that
58:22
embrace.
58:25
The shepherd
58:26
who died
58:27
for his
58:28
sheep,
58:30
he invites
58:31
us to
58:31
believe and
58:32
to trust
58:32
in him,
58:33
to let
58:34
him tend
58:34
us,
58:35
and gather
58:36
us up in
58:37
his gentle
58:38
arms,
58:39
to let us
58:40
crawl into
58:41
bed beside
58:41
him,
58:42
as he puts
58:43
his arm
58:43
around us,
58:45
so that we
58:45
may hear
58:45
his heart.
58:47
So my
58:48
last question
58:48
for you
58:49
today is
58:49
this,
58:50
will you,
58:52
will you
58:53
today let
58:54
him draw
58:54
you close,
58:56
so that
58:57
you may
58:58
hear the
58:58
beat of
59:00
the loving
59:00
heart of
59:02
your loving
59:02
shepherd.
59:06
Amen.
59:10
We shall
59:11
close now
59:11
as we sing
59:12
what is
59:13
perhaps our
59:14
favorite
59:14
psalm,
59:16
Psalm 23
59:18
from the
59:19
Scottish
59:19
Psalter,
59:20
page 229,
59:23
the Lord's
59:23
my shepherd,
59:25
I'll not
59:25
want.
59:27
He makes
59:27
me down
59:28
to lie
59:28
in pastures
59:29
green,
59:30
he leadeth me
59:31
the quiet
59:31
waters
59:32
by.
59:33
the Lord's
59:44
my shepherd,
59:45
I'll not
59:50
want,
59:51
he makes
59:54
me down
59:56
to lie,
59:58
the
59:59
and
59:59
the
1:00:00
water
1:00:01
and
1:00:02
he
1:00:04
he
1:00:04
!
1:00:05
he
1:00:05
groan
1:00:06
The quiet waters shine
1:00:15
And so be done, restore again
1:00:25
And be to all the pain
1:00:33
Within the paths of righteousness
1:00:42
In God's own insane
1:00:50
And though I walk in death's dark pale
1:01:00
Yet will I fear the hill
1:01:08
For thou art with me on thy road
1:01:17
And shall be calm for still
1:01:25
My table thou hast furnished
1:01:35
In presence of my foes
1:01:44
My heaven does
1:01:49
With oil and light
1:01:54
And my cup overflow
1:02:00
To death and mercy
1:02:07
Of my life
1:02:11
Shall surely follow me
1:02:17
And in the mountains
1:02:24
Forevermore
1:02:29
My dwelling place shall be
1:02:37
Receive God's blessing
1:02:41
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
1:02:44
The love of God
1:02:46
And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
1:02:48
Be with you all
1:02:50
Amen
1:02:51
Thank you
1:03:21
Thank you.