Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Standing or Falling

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Standing or Falling · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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When we begin our worship, we're going to sing.
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We're going to sing to God's praise in Psalm 61.
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This is in the Scottish Psalter, page 293.
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Psalm 61, page 293.
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We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 5.
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The tune is Belmont.
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O God, give ear unto my cry, and to my prayer attend.
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From the utmost corner of the land, my cry to thee I'll send.
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We'll sing from verse 1 to 5 to God's praise.
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We stand to sing.
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O God, give ear unto my cry,
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Unto my prayer attend.
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From the utmost corner of the land, my cry to thee I'll send.
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What time my heart is overwhelmed,
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And in perplexity, to thou me lead unto the rock,
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That higher is than I,
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For thou hast for my refuge been,
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A shelter by thy power,
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And war depends against my foes,
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Thou hast been a strong tower,
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Within thy tabernacle I
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Forever will abide,
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Forever will abide,
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And undercovers all thy wings,
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With confidence he hide,
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For thou hast for my body to the rest that I did make.
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For thou hast given me the Aaron's name,
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For thou hast given me the Aaron's name,
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For thou hast given me the Aaron's name,
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Thou hast given me the heritage of those thy name that fear.
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Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer. Let us pray.
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Our Father in heaven, as we come together to worship you this day,
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we do thank you for these words that we've sung.
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They remind us from the outset of our worship that as we come to offer praise and worship to you,
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that you have given ear unto our cry, that you will attend to our prayer.
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And we thank you that as we come today to pray for so much that goes on around us,
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that we know that you are God and that you are the one who is able to help.
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And that from the youngest to the oldest here, no matter what experiences we may have just now,
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you encourage us to come to you in prayer.
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There is nothing insignificant to you.
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There's nothing that's not important to you.
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For we as your people are precious to you and important to you.
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So you love to hear us as we come.
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You love to hear our very prayers, not with any fancy words or anything like that,
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but just to come offering the words that come to our lips.
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And so we thank you, Lord, that you are with us,
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that you are able to help,
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that you are a God who is good to us in so many ways.
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You give us food and warmth on a daily basis.
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You give us the friendships and families that we enjoy.
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You give us this time to come to worship you
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and a time to be with your people
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and to join in with your people in worship.
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And we ask that in all that we do today,
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in the church and also in the creche and the tweenies,
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that you will be with us, Lord,
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that we will hear what you have to say to us,
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that we will rejoice in your goodness, Lord,
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that we will be thankful for all that you are
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and all that you have done.
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We know it's a holiday weekend,
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and we do pray for any who are away.
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Remember them, Lord, and watch over them.
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Remember the schools, Lord, at this time too of holiday,
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and especially those who are with exams at this time.
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Lord, we pray that you will bless them
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and help them throughout these days
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to know that you are with them,
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that they can commit their exams to you in prayer as well.
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So we ask, Lord, that you will bless all our young people
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and all our families and friends together.
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Be with us throughout this day,
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and as we go on in this week ahead, Lord,
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may you watch over us and protect us.
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Pardon us for all our sin,
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as we ask it all in Jesus' name and for his sake.
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Amen.
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It's good to see young folks out today.
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A wee minute ago, I was asking everyone to stand to sing.
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And did anybody think, oh, it's too dangerous to stand up?
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Did anybody feel unsafe standing up?
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I hope not, because we're able to stand here on the floor
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that's firm, that's secure.
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But there's other places we might think,
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oh, it might be quite dangerous to stand up.
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It might be quite hard to stand up there.
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I'm sure in the schools in the coming weeks ahead,
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as you come up to the summer holidays,
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there'll be sports day.
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You'll have sports day usually at some point,
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and you'll run races.
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And you run races, you're on a field or a track,
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and you feel safe enough to run that race.
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Well, this morning in our service,
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we're looking at one of Paul's letters in the New Testament.
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He wrote to a church in Galatia.
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And he wrote to the people there,
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telling them about where it was safe and secure to stand.
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But also he wrote to them about the dangers that there were,
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and maybe standing in places where they're liable to fall.
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And what he was meaning there was,
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we're secure in one place,
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and somewhere else is dangerous for us.
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So can anybody think of anywhere that might be dangerous or difficult to stand?
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Say you were to run a race.
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Could you run it on a bouncy castle?
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Would that be safe?
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Would you feel it's secure,
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especially if there's a few of you trying to run?
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You start trying to run on a bouncy castle,
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and what happens?
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You fall over.
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Everybody just crashes into each other.
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What about if you are on the ferry,
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and it's a very rough day,
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and the ferry's going from side to side,
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and you think it'd be safe to run there?
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Oh, because you start getting thrown around as well.
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You're liable to fall over.
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There's other places, too, that it'll be difficult to run.
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Imagine if your races at the sports day were over the Barber's Moor,
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across the bogs there.
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Would it be easy to run there?
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No.
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You're liable to fall over.
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Or if the ground's very icy or something like that,
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or slippy with seaweed,
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you're going to fall over.
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So there's a number of places that we can think are dangerous for us,
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that we can't run, we can't even stand,
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because it's so wobbly or boggy or bouncy.
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All of these kinds of things.
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And that's what Paul is saying to the Galatians.
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He's describing our lives as either trying to run away from God,
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away from Jesus, apart from Him,
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or to run with Him.
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And one is being secure, being able to stand,
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and one is just finding it so difficult to stand,
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we keep falling over and crashing all the time.
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So which is which?
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Well, Paul says,
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the only way to stand firm,
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to stand secure,
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is to trust in Jesus.
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That's the only way to be secure,
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and not to fall over.
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Because when we try and do things by ourselves,
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when we try and go our own way,
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when we run away from God,
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all we're doing is either running into a bog,
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or somewhere that's slippery,
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or somewhere we're just going to fall over,
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it's not going to end well.
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So we want to be able to stand somewhere secure.
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And the only place we can do that is with Jesus,
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by putting our trust in Him.
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Then we are secure.
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And that's what we're going to be looking at
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as we go through our service today.
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We're going to be thinking about how we stand secure,
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or if we're falling over.
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So may God bless His Word to us throughout this day.
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We're going to say the Lord's Prayer together now.
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So we'll say the Lord's Prayer.
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Amen.
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But we sing again to God's praise,
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this time in Psalm 92a.
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It's in the Sing Psalms version, page 122.
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Psalm 92a.
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We're going to sing from verse 7
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all the way down to the end of the psalm,
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verse 15, not verse 11,
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as it is on the notice sheet.
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Psalm 92a, verse 7 to 15,
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the tune is Tracathro.
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Although the wicked spring like grass,
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the foolish do not see.
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That all who flourish in their sin
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will die eternally.
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But Lord, you are forevermore exalted very high.
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All evildoers will be crushed.
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Your foes will surely die.
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We'll sing from verse 7 to verse 15
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to God's praise.
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Amen.
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Christ, if you will army from there,
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In their sin will die eternally.
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But, Lord, you are forevermore exalted, very high.
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All evildoers will be crushed, your foes will surely die.
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You made me strong as any ox, with all anointed me.
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I've seen my enemies' defeat, and I have heard them flee.
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Like palms and cedars flourishing, the righteous all will be.
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And planted in the eyes of God will grow upon me.
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So in old age they still bear fruit.
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They will stay fresh and strong.
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They will proclaim the Lord is just.
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Thy rock who does no wrong.
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Amen.
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Well, we turn together now.
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We're going to read in Paul's letter to the Galatians.
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We take up our reading in chapter 4 at verse 28.
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And then we read on into chapter 5.
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Down to verse 15.
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So we're taking up our reading in chapter 4.
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Paul here is using an example from the Old Testament as he's explaining to the church at Galatia.
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The difference there is through the grace that they have through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And those who are trying to lead these people astray and to live a life that's all about the law.
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And having to keep the law in all its entirety.
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And he's explaining the difference in this way of Abraham having two sons.
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One through Sarah, who was his wife.
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And one through Hagar, who was a slave for him.
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And the difference was that God had promised him a son through Sarah.
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But Abraham took things into his own hands.
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He felt God couldn't do it.
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So he was going to do it himself.
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And he had a son with Hagar.
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But God showed that he was faithful and gave him a son with Sarah as well.
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So there's this difference of being free and being slaves.
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This is the way Paul is describing it to the church at Galatia.
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And he's saying,
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One way, by trusting in God, you are free.
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But by trying to do things yourself, you are slaves.
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And so as we take up our reading at verse 28, that's the theme of which Paul is speaking of here.
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Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
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But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit,
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so also it is now.
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But what does the Scripture say?
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Cast out the slave woman and her son.
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For the son of the slain woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.
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So, brothers, we are not children of the slave, but of the free woman.
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For freedom Christ has set us free.
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Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
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Look, I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.
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I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is bound to keep the whole law.
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You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law.
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You have fallen away from grace.
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For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
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For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
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You are running well.
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Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
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This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
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A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
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I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine,
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and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.
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But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?
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In that case, the offense of the cross has been removed.
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I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves.
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For you were called to freedom, brothers.
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Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh,
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but through love serve one another.
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For the whole law is fulfilled in one word.
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You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
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But if you bite and devour one another,
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watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
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And so on.
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And may God bless that reading from his word.
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We'll again join our hearts together in prayer.
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Our Father, in heaven, as we continue to praise your name,
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we thank you for your word.
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We thank you for the truth that it is.
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And in a world that is so often being led astray,
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down different paths, away from the solid ground of your truth,
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we thank you that you call us,
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you call your people to return to you,
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to return to your word,
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to return to the freedom that it offers through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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For we see the world in which we live,
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a people running free, as it were, in their own eyes,
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and yet still in the bondage and slavery of sin.
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And perhaps many of us even here know that bondage even today,
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where we are trying to appease you and to please you
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through our own works and through our own ways.
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But your word reminds us that there is nothing that we can do
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that will bring us to know that freedom in and of ourselves.
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But we thank you that all the provision that we need
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has been made for us by your giving of your Son,
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the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And we thank you that for freedom Christ has set us free,
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and that this is where we are to stand firm.
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We thank you that we have that rock that is secure,
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that rock that is our refuge, that is our strength,
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and for every circumstances and for every need of this world,
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that he is there for us.
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He is there for us as we delight in different things.
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He is there for us through all the difficulties of our life.
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But we thank you that through faith in him,
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we know one who stays closer than any brother,
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as your word says.
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We thank you that he is always with us and always for us.
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And so help us today and day after day
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not to get swept away by the things of this world,
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not to get led astray and to feel that there are things
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that we need to do to add to our salvation,
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but that we would always have our eyes firmly fixed
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on the one who has fulfilled all the law
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and all the promises of your word,
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the one who is your Son, Jesus Christ.
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Help us to look to him,
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and in him to know the joy of salvation,
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in him to know the freedom that he gives,
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the forgiveness of our sins,
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and the grace and the strength to go on.
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So may you bless your word to us
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and remember us as a people.
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Remember us, Lord, as a congregation,
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as a community here.
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We give you thanks, O Lord,
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for all the good things that you give us.
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We give you thanks for our fellowship in Christ.
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We give you thanks for your word
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and the freedom that we have to gather together.
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We thank you for every opportunity that is set before us
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to be around your word.
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And even as we think of this coming week,
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in many ways it can seem a full and a busy week to us,
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but help us to delight and rejoice
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in being your servants,
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in being your people,
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in offering up our service and our praise to you,
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not just today,
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but throughout all the days of the week.
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So that whatever we are doing,
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be it in church or at home,
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in the workplace, in school or college,
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wherever we are,
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that we would do all as to the Lord
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and that we will delight in doing your will.
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So bless all that is ahead of us in this week.
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We think of the Zoom prayer meeting
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on Tuesday morning with Muriel.
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We thank you for her,
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for her time at home
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over these last number of months
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and for her going away again to serve you there.
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We pray your protection and your blessing on her
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and all who are with her
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and all the work that she does
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for your glory in that place.
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We ask, O Lord,
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that you will bless and be with her
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and that our prayers for her
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will be heard day by day
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and week by week.
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We thank you too
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for the work of the Slavic Gospel Association,
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again, an organization who does so much
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in very difficult and different circumstances
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to what we have here.
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but we thank you for their faithful ministry
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over many years
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and for all who serve them as an organization,
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for all who will be speaking
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throughout our communities in these coming days.
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In our own meeting on Wednesday evening,
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may we be encouraged in it
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and may we be blessed by it.
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We thank you too, Lord,
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for opportunities to learn more
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about your truth and about your gospel.
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And we pray for the Prodigal Son course
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starting on Tuesday evening.
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We thank you for Roddy and Calla
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and for all the work that they have done
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over many years of leading these courses.
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And pray your hand to be upon them
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and upon all who meet on these evenings together
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that will be enriched by you
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and blessed by you.
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Encourage us, if we have a desire, Lord,
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to go along.
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Encourage us to pray for those
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who we may ask to come along as well.
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Maybe neighbors or friends or work colleagues.
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People who we feel a great burden for, Lord.
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So often we can be afraid to ask.
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But give us, Lord, courage.
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Give us a heart for them
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just to invite them along
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and to see your goodness
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in all that is done for you in these things.
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Remember our land as well at this time, Lord.
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We do pray for your blessing on us.
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We think of the coronation
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to take place this week
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and we pray for our king.
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We pray, Lord, that you will bless him
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and be with him and his family too.
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Lord, we ask that they would be given your grace,
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that they would be given your love
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over them as a people,
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that they would know it,
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that you would melt their hearts to it,
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that they would see the history of our land,
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a nation that's been blessed by you,
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and that they would go forward, Lord,
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seeking your goodness over us as a people,
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that they would seek to rule according to your truth
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and to your ways.
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We pray that for our governments too.
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when we have experienced so much
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over these last number of years
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and so much disarray in our land,
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so much confusion,
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so much hurt,
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so much pain and grief
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in so many different ways.
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We do pray, Lord,
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that we will look to you,
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that you will help us to turn once again towards you,
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that we will call upon your name,
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that we would seek your goodness over us
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as a people.
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We pray for our world as well, Lord,
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and the many troubles around us.
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We pray, Lord,
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that you will bless
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the word that goes out today
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to all ends of the earth
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in the prayers of your people.
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We again thank you
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that you are the one
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who is able to hear
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and to answer all of our prayers.
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Continue to remember us then
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and all our families and our loved ones.
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Again, we commit students to you at this time
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who are sitting exams in school,
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in college, in university,
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our own young people here in our congregation.
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Lord, we pray for them
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that you will encourage them
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and strengthen them,
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thankful for all that is done for them,
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all the guidance that is given to them
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and help towards them.
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We pray, Lord,
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that you will bless them and teachers
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and all our schools around us.
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Remember Scott
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as he is sitting exams just now as well
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and all the other students
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in the seminary in Edinburgh.
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Lord, we ask your strength towards them,
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your blessing with them
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and your peace over them.
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So Lord, continue with us now.
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Bless us, we pray,
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and pardon all our sin
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as we ask it all in Jesus' precious name.
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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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This time Psalm 123
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in the Scottish Psalter.
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Psalm 123, page 417 of the psalm books.
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We can sing the whole of this psalm,
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the tune as martyrs.
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O thou that dwellest in the heavens,
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I lift mine eyes to thee.
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Behold, a servant's eyes do look,
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their master's hand to see.
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We'll sing the whole of this psalm
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to God's praise.
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O thou that dwellest in the heavens,
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I lift mine eyes to thee.
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Behold, a servant's eyes do look,
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their master's hand to see.
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As handmaid's eyes,
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her mistress's hand,
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so do our eyes attend
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upon the Lord our God until
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to us he mercy send.
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O Lord, be gracious to us,
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and to us gracious be,
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because replenished with contempt,
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exceedingly are we.
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Our soul is filled with scorn of those
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that are there is a bite,
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and with the insolent contempt
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of those that dwell in pride.
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We can turn back together
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to our reading in Galatians chapter 5.
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We're going to look at verse 1
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to verse 6 in particular together.
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As we were thinking about earlier,
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the theme this morning is
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standing and falling,
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and we see that in these verses.
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In verse 1, it says,
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Stand firm, therefore,
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and do not submit again
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to the yoke of slavery.
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Stand firm, Paul says there.
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But then it says in verse 4,
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You are severed from Christ,
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you who would be justified by the law.
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You have fallen away from grace.
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So you have standing firm,
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therefore, in faith,
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or being severed from Christ,
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seeking to be justified by the law,
31:33
falling from grace.
31:35
That's what we mentioned
31:36
to the children earlier on,
31:37
how there's places
31:38
where we are safe and firm
31:40
and secure to stand,
31:42
and other places
31:43
where we will find it difficult to stand.
31:45
It's very hard to stand.
31:48
And eventually,
31:49
we are going to be in danger
31:50
of falling over in these places.
31:53
And that's what Paul
31:54
is making clear to us here.
31:57
There is a place of security
31:58
and a place of falling away.
32:03
So where are you today?
32:06
Where are you when it comes
32:07
to your security?
32:09
Are you standing in a place
32:10
that's firm,
32:12
a place that's secure,
32:15
or in a place where you're liable
32:16
to fall away?
32:18
And especially, as it says here,
32:20
to fall away from grace.
32:22
When you look at Paul's letter
32:25
to the Galatians,
32:27
it's like many of his letters,
32:29
it's divided up
32:29
into different sections.
32:32
And the first two chapters,
32:35
Paul is writing about
32:36
his own authority
32:38
and being able to proclaim
32:39
the gospel.
32:41
He has been to Galatia,
32:43
which we know as Turkey today,
32:45
and established many churches
32:47
there before.
32:49
And they have come to faith
32:51
in the Lord Jesus.
32:52
They've come to believe
32:53
and find security
32:54
in the Lord Jesus,
32:55
but now they are being led astray.
32:59
You just have to turn back
33:00
to chapter 3,
33:01
the very opening words
33:03
of chapter 3.
33:04
It says,
33:04
O foolish Galatians,
33:06
who has bewitched you?
33:08
Who has led you away
33:10
from the truth?
33:12
Who has added to this burden
33:14
that you are feeling already
33:15
and leading you away
33:17
from the grace that there is
33:18
in the Lord Jesus Christ?
33:20
So he's writing to them
33:22
in chapters 1 and 2,
33:25
outlining the authority
33:26
that he has as a servant
33:28
of the Lord Jesus,
33:30
and especially that he is there
33:31
to proclaim salvation in Christ.
33:35
Then in chapter 3 and 4,
33:37
he kind of outlines the problem,
33:40
but in a way giving them
33:41
a lesson,
33:42
teaching much of it
33:45
from the Old Testament
33:46
to see how they have been
33:48
led astray,
33:48
how they have begun
33:50
to fall away
33:51
by looking to a teaching
33:53
that is not about faith in Christ,
33:55
but that is more about
33:56
a false gospel of salvation
33:58
by works.
34:01
So that's what he has then
34:03
in chapter 3 and chapter 4.
34:06
Then in chapter 5 and 6,
34:08
as he often does,
34:09
he applies it to their lives.
34:11
He teaches them now
34:13
how this is going to affect
34:16
their day-to-day lives
34:17
and their future,
34:20
and maybe more importantly,
34:21
their eternity,
34:22
their eternal salvation.
34:25
So he's preaching
34:26
with authority,
34:27
he's preaching truth,
34:29
and he's applying it
34:30
to their lives.
34:31
And he begins
34:32
with this wonderful statement
34:33
as it comes
34:34
to applying it to their lives
34:36
as to what they have
34:37
in Christ in verse 1.
34:39
For freedom, Christ has set us free.
34:43
For freedom, Christ has set us free.
34:47
But what does this mean?
34:49
God wants us to be free,
34:51
and in Christ we can be free,
34:54
but what is this freedom?
34:57
What does freedom mean to you today?
35:01
To many people,
35:02
freedom can mean
35:03
a number of different things.
35:05
It can be to be free from debt.
35:07
It can be to be free from illness.
35:12
Freedom has come into our day-to-day lives,
35:15
and we talk so often
35:16
about freedom of speech,
35:19
or freedom from what society
35:22
throws our way.
35:25
People want to be free
35:26
from all kinds of authority.
35:29
You see people displaying signs
35:31
in America saying,
35:33
not my president.
35:35
You see, in their own nation already,
35:36
even before the coronation,
35:38
people are putting up signs,
35:39
not my king.
35:42
But what we are seeing
35:43
when it comes to truth
35:45
and the word of God
35:47
is another sign that says,
35:48
not my king,
35:50
but it's a very different king.
35:51
We're not going to have Jesus
35:52
as king over me.
35:55
So they're looking,
35:56
many people,
35:57
for freedom
35:58
in all kinds of ways.
36:00
But at the heart of freedom,
36:02
as we so often think about it,
36:04
there's a desire
36:06
just to do our own thing,
36:09
to do whatever we want,
36:12
whatever we feel is right.
36:14
We want to be free
36:15
to do whatever we want.
36:18
But is that through freedom?
36:22
We don't want any man
36:26
or any religion
36:26
to tell us what we should
36:28
or shouldn't do.
36:31
Well, often in the Bible,
36:33
you see it saying,
36:34
there's nothing new
36:35
in the world.
36:37
And in the Bible,
36:39
we see again and again
36:40
people wanting
36:41
this kind of freedom.
36:43
Freedom
36:43
just to do
36:44
as they please.
36:46
And from time to time,
36:48
you see the Lord
36:49
leaving the people
36:50
to do what was right
36:52
in their own eyes,
36:54
to give them
36:54
this freedom
36:56
that they are asking for.
36:59
But what does it lead to?
37:01
It leads to disaster.
37:04
They want to be free,
37:06
but in this freedom
37:07
that they desire,
37:08
there is no freedom
37:09
at all.
37:12
Instead,
37:12
we are bound
37:13
and in bondage
37:14
and slavery
37:15
in so many different ways.
37:18
And ultimately,
37:19
as we see here
37:20
when it speaks of
37:21
falling away from grace,
37:23
it's about falling away
37:24
from the freedom
37:25
and the salvation
37:26
that is on offer
37:28
in Christ.
37:30
And so the question
37:31
for ourselves is,
37:33
are we free
37:35
in Christ?
37:37
Are you free
37:38
in this sense
37:39
not just to do
37:40
your own thing,
37:42
but to be free
37:43
in Christ,
37:44
which is to live
37:45
for Him?
37:47
And there's three ways
37:49
I want to look at this
37:50
together today.
37:51
I want to see,
37:51
first of all,
37:53
what it is
37:53
standing in Christ.
37:56
Then we see
37:57
falling from Christ
37:58
and then looking
38:00
to Christ.
38:01
So there's
38:02
standing in Christ,
38:03
falling from Christ,
38:05
and looking
38:06
to Christ.
38:08
The first thing
38:09
we see here
38:10
is standing
38:11
in Christ.
38:13
when Paul says
38:14
that it's for freedom
38:15
that Christ
38:16
has set us free,
38:17
we immediately
38:18
begin to think,
38:19
well,
38:20
if He is setting
38:21
us free,
38:22
what is it from?
38:24
Or where is it from?
38:25
Where are we being
38:26
set free?
38:27
Or what are we being
38:28
set free from?
38:31
And you realize
38:31
it's not a freedom
38:33
of our own choosing.
38:36
It is for freedom
38:37
Christ
38:39
has set us free.
38:40
It was something
38:42
we couldn't do
38:44
ourselves.
38:46
It was something
38:46
we couldn't change
38:48
ourselves.
38:49
But what was it?
38:51
For freedom
38:52
Christ
38:53
has set us free.
38:56
What it's saying
38:57
here is
38:57
that we were slaves.
39:00
We were the ones
39:01
who were slaves.
39:04
But Jesus
39:05
came
39:05
to set us free.
39:08
What do you think
39:08
to yourself,
39:09
but how
39:10
am I a slave?
39:12
I don't feel
39:13
like I'm a slave.
39:14
I don't feel
39:15
I'm imprisoned.
39:16
I feel
39:17
I am free
39:18
to do
39:19
what I want.
39:21
But if you read
39:22
through
39:23
the Gospels,
39:24
if you read
39:24
through the Word
39:25
of God,
39:26
we realize
39:27
that we are blind
39:28
to what we are
39:29
slaves to
39:30
until
39:30
we know
39:31
the grace
39:32
and the love
39:33
of Christ.
39:35
And there are
39:36
many ways
39:36
we can look
39:37
to see
39:38
that we are
39:38
actually slaves.
39:40
we are
39:40
bound,
39:41
as it were,
39:42
we are in chains
39:43
to many things
39:44
in this world
39:44
without even
39:45
realizing it.
39:48
There are three
39:48
things I could say
39:49
that we are slaves
39:50
to.
39:52
We are slaves
39:53
to sin.
39:55
We are all
39:56
born in sin
39:58
and we suffer
39:59
the consequence
40:00
of sin
40:01
in this world.
40:02
We are under
40:03
the condemnation
40:05
of sin
40:06
in this world.
40:07
but we don't
40:08
realize it
40:09
so often.
40:10
We don't
40:11
see ourselves
40:12
in a bad
40:13
sense
40:14
as bad
40:14
people.
40:16
We feel
40:16
that we are
40:17
maybe good
40:18
people
40:18
and we are
40:18
trying to
40:19
do the
40:20
right thing
40:20
but we are
40:21
actually
40:21
slaves
40:22
to sin.
40:25
And so
40:25
Jesus had
40:26
to come
40:26
to set us
40:27
free
40:28
in that
40:28
sense.
40:30
But you see,
40:31
I don't feel
40:31
a sinner
40:32
maybe.
40:33
I don't
40:34
feel a
40:34
great weight
40:35
of sin
40:36
in my life.
40:38
Well,
40:38
there was a
40:38
young man,
40:40
a young
40:40
teenage man
40:41
who had
40:42
been listening
40:42
to a preacher
40:43
preach about
40:44
sin and the
40:45
great burden
40:46
that sin
40:47
is.
40:49
But the
40:50
youth,
40:50
the teenage
40:51
boy,
40:51
was very
40:52
dismissive
40:53
about it
40:53
all.
40:55
And after
40:55
the ceremony,
40:56
he went to
40:57
the preacher
40:57
and said,
40:58
you speak
40:59
about unsaved
41:00
people carrying
41:02
about a
41:03
weight of
41:03
sin.
41:03
But he
41:03
said,
41:04
I feel
41:04
nothing.
41:06
So how
41:06
heavy is
41:08
sin?
41:09
Is it
41:10
10 kilos?
41:11
Is it
41:11
80 kilos?
41:13
How heavy
41:14
is sin?
41:14
Because I
41:15
don't feel
41:15
this burden.
41:17
Well,
41:18
the preacher
41:18
replied to
41:20
this teenage
41:20
boy and he
41:21
said,
41:21
well,
41:21
look at it
41:22
this way.
41:24
If I was
41:25
to say to
41:25
you that I
41:26
was going
41:26
to lay a
41:27
weight of
41:27
400 kilos
41:29
on top of
41:30
a corpse,
41:31
someone who's
41:31
dead,
41:33
would they
41:34
feel that
41:35
weight on
41:36
them?
41:37
The teenager
41:38
replied,
41:38
of course
41:39
not.
41:40
That person's
41:41
dead.
41:41
They're not
41:41
going to
41:42
feel that
41:43
weight.
41:44
And the
41:45
preacher said,
41:45
exactly.
41:47
And that's
41:47
how you are
41:48
and everyone
41:48
else who
41:49
feels that
41:50
there's no
41:50
weight of
41:51
sin on
41:51
them.
41:52
You are
41:52
dead in
41:53
the sense
41:53
that you
41:54
cannot feel
41:55
that weight.
41:56
You think
41:57
there's no
41:57
weight of
41:58
sin on you
41:58
when there
41:59
actually is.
42:02
But you
42:02
need to
42:03
realize that
42:04
this is a
42:05
dangerous place
42:06
to be.
42:07
If you
42:07
feel no
42:09
load of
42:09
sin,
42:10
if you
42:11
feel indifferent
42:12
to the
42:13
whole idea
42:14
of sin or
42:15
to the
42:15
burden that
42:15
it is,
42:17
then you
42:18
too are
42:19
dead.
42:21
And that's
42:21
the danger
42:22
that we are
42:23
all into.
42:23
We feel
42:24
maybe we're
42:25
not slaves,
42:26
we're not
42:26
bound in
42:27
this way,
42:27
but we
42:27
are all
42:28
slaves to
42:29
sin.
42:31
And so
42:31
Jesus had
42:32
to come
42:32
to set
42:33
us free
42:34
from that.
42:36
We could
42:36
say of the
42:37
cross as
42:38
Jesus died
42:39
that in
42:40
my place
42:40
condemned
42:41
he stood.
42:43
He bore
42:44
the burden
42:45
of our
42:45
sin there.
42:48
We are
42:48
also slaves
42:50
to death
42:50
because the
42:51
wages of
42:52
sin is
42:53
death.
42:54
We all
42:54
know the
42:55
reality of
42:56
that in
42:56
our lives,
42:57
but we
42:57
can maybe
42:57
push it
42:58
away.
42:59
We can
42:59
dismiss it
43:00
for a
43:00
time.
43:01
We can
43:02
try and
43:02
find freedom
43:03
in life,
43:04
but we
43:05
can never
43:05
find a
43:06
freedom
43:06
from death.
43:08
It is
43:09
with us
43:09
all the
43:10
time.
43:12
And so
43:12
the only
43:12
way to
43:13
be free
43:13
from the
43:14
burden
43:14
of death
43:15
is to
43:16
be firm
43:16
in Christ.
43:18
For
43:18
freedom,
43:19
Christ has
43:19
set us
43:20
free.
43:20
Stand
43:21
firm
43:21
therefore.
43:23
Stand
43:24
firm
43:24
in
43:25
him.
43:28
We are
43:29
also
43:29
slaves
43:30
to the
43:31
devil.
43:32
We are
43:33
slaves
43:33
to
43:34
Satan.
43:34
He has
43:34
a hold
43:35
on us
43:35
through
43:36
sin
43:36
and doubt
43:37
and
43:38
temptation.
43:39
All of
43:40
these things
43:40
that so
43:41
often he
43:42
pulls us
43:42
back with,
43:44
that he's
43:44
trying to
43:44
take us
43:45
away from
43:45
standing
43:46
firm in
43:47
Christ.
43:48
And he's
43:48
shaking
43:48
our faith.
43:50
He's shaking
43:50
the foundation
43:51
of our faith
43:52
and making
43:52
us doubt
43:53
and fear
43:54
and be
43:54
anxious.
43:56
But Paul
43:57
is saying,
43:58
no,
43:58
stand
43:58
firm
43:59
in your
44:00
faith.
44:00
And the
44:01
devil will
44:02
be there
44:02
to say,
44:03
just like
44:03
he's saying
44:04
here to
44:04
the people,
44:05
what have
44:06
you done
44:06
for your
44:07
salvation?
44:08
You're
44:08
not good
44:09
enough.
44:10
Look at
44:10
the things
44:11
that you
44:11
have done
44:12
that are
44:12
wrong or
44:12
the things
44:13
that you
44:13
should have
44:14
done that
44:14
you didn't.
44:15
And he
44:15
shakes us.
44:18
But Paul
44:19
is saying,
44:20
no,
44:20
stand firm
44:21
in Christ.
44:23
Jesus came
44:25
with a
44:26
purpose.
44:26
It says in
44:27
Hebrews 2,
44:29
verse 14
44:29
of Jesus,
44:30
so that by
44:31
his death
44:31
he might
44:32
destroy him
44:33
who holds
44:34
the power
44:34
of death,
44:35
that is,
44:36
the devil,
44:37
and free
44:37
those who
44:38
all their
44:38
lives were
44:39
held in
44:40
slavery by
44:41
their fear
44:41
of death.
44:44
He came
44:45
to set us
44:46
free.
44:46
So he
44:47
says,
44:47
stand firm
44:48
in Christ
44:49
so that
44:50
what he
44:51
has done
44:51
for us
44:53
and through
44:54
faith in
44:55
him and
44:55
the grace
44:56
that he
44:56
has shown
44:57
us,
44:57
we can
44:58
stand firm
44:59
in him.
45:01
We must not
45:01
slip into
45:02
thinking that
45:03
it's about
45:03
what we
45:04
do and
45:05
our obedience
45:06
that wins
45:07
the day or
45:07
by keeping
45:08
the law
45:08
that we
45:09
can be
45:10
saved.
45:10
That's not
45:11
what it
45:11
is at
45:12
all.
45:14
We are
45:14
to rejoice
45:15
that Christ
45:16
has come
45:16
to set
45:18
us free.
45:19
But then
45:20
he gives
45:20
secondly a
45:21
warning here.
45:22
And that's
45:23
the warning
45:23
that when
45:25
we try
45:25
to do
45:26
things
45:26
by ourselves
45:28
that ultimately
45:29
we'll fall
45:30
away from
45:31
grace.
45:32
We fall
45:33
away from
45:34
grace.
45:35
If we
45:36
continue
45:36
under this
45:37
being slaves
45:38
to the law,
45:39
he says
45:40
in verse
45:40
4,
45:41
you are
45:42
severed,
45:43
separated
45:44
from Christ.
45:45
You would
45:45
be justified
45:46
by the
45:47
law.
45:48
You have
45:49
fallen
45:49
away
45:50
from
45:51
grace.
45:53
So again
45:54
Paul here
45:55
is reflecting
45:56
on the
45:56
teaching that
45:57
they have
45:57
received from
45:58
the false
45:58
teachers,
46:00
preaching that
46:00
unless you're
46:01
circumcised
46:02
and unless
46:03
you keep
46:04
the law,
46:05
and in
46:05
this he's
46:06
saying all
46:07
the law,
46:08
you have
46:08
to keep
46:09
every part
46:10
of it,
46:12
then you
46:12
are not
46:13
going to be
46:13
able to
46:13
stand.
46:14
But
46:16
Paul is
46:17
saying,
46:17
no,
46:18
this is
46:18
not
46:18
right.
46:19
This is
46:20
foolishness.
46:22
This is
46:23
foolishness,
46:24
and he
46:24
shows it
46:25
in three
46:26
ways.
46:27
Look at
46:28
what he
46:28
says about
46:29
trusting in
46:29
anything other
46:30
than the
46:31
finished work
46:32
of Christ.
46:33
In verse
46:33
2 he
46:34
says,
46:35
look,
46:35
I say
46:35
to you,
46:36
if you
46:37
accept
46:37
circumcision,
46:39
Christ
46:40
will be
46:40
of no
46:41
advantage
46:42
to you.
46:45
If you
46:45
go down
46:46
this route
46:46
of saying,
46:48
well,
46:48
we need
46:48
circumcision,
46:49
or we
46:49
need every
46:50
aspect of
46:51
the law
46:52
before we
46:52
can be
46:53
saved,
46:54
well,
46:55
then Christ
46:56
is nothing
46:57
for you.
46:57
He's of
46:58
no
46:58
advantage.
47:00
And this
47:01
is foolishness.
47:04
This is
47:04
like coming
47:05
to Christ
47:05
and saying,
47:06
look at
47:06
what I've
47:07
done,
47:07
it's
47:08
meaningless.
47:08
if you
47:11
go or
47:11
try to
47:12
go to
47:13
a football
47:14
match or
47:14
to a
47:14
concert
47:15
that's
47:16
sold out,
47:17
there's
47:17
no tickets
47:18
available,
47:19
they've
47:19
all gone,
47:20
but you
47:21
go there
47:21
and you've
47:22
got all
47:22
the money
47:23
in the
47:23
world,
47:24
but you
47:24
don't have
47:25
a ticket,
47:26
you're still
47:27
not going
47:27
to get
47:27
in.
47:28
It's
47:29
only those
47:29
who have
47:29
a ticket
47:30
who will
47:31
get in.
47:32
And those
47:33
who have
47:33
got a
47:33
ticket may
47:34
have got
47:34
it,
47:35
maybe by
47:35
buying it,
47:36
maybe by
47:37
a gift,
47:37
but they
47:37
have the
47:38
ticket.
47:39
But the
47:40
one with
47:41
all the
47:41
money but
47:42
no ticket
47:42
doesn't
47:43
get in.
47:45
And that's
47:46
what Paul
47:46
is trying to
47:47
illustrate here.
47:48
You can
47:48
have everything
47:50
in the world,
47:50
you can
47:50
try to do
47:51
it all
47:51
by yourself,
47:52
but without
47:53
faith you're
47:55
not going
47:55
to get in.
47:57
And even
47:58
with the
47:58
ticket you
47:59
maybe have
48:00
done so
48:00
much that's
48:01
wrong in
48:01
your life,
48:02
you may
48:03
have come
48:03
through so
48:04
many experiences
48:05
in your
48:05
life,
48:06
but through
48:07
the grace
48:08
of the
48:08
Lord Jesus
48:08
Christ,
48:09
he's given
48:09
you this
48:10
ticket,
48:11
you come
48:12
in,
48:13
you get
48:14
in.
48:15
So anything
48:15
that we do
48:16
apart from
48:16
Christ is
48:18
of no
48:18
advantage to
48:19
you.
48:20
It's not
48:20
going to
48:21
get you
48:21
in.
48:22
It is
48:23
only faith.
48:25
Then in
48:25
verse 4,
48:26
he expands
48:27
on this,
48:28
he says
48:29
at the start
48:30
of verse 4,
48:31
you are
48:31
severed from
48:33
Christ,
48:34
you who
48:34
would be
48:34
justified by
48:35
the law,
48:36
separated from
48:37
him.
48:39
If you're
48:40
not trusting
48:41
in him
48:41
alone,
48:42
he's saying
48:42
severed,
48:43
I knew
48:44
you not,
48:45
is what
48:46
Jesus
48:46
says.
48:48
We're
48:48
apart from
48:49
him,
48:51
and therefore
48:52
we're
48:52
falling.
48:53
We're
48:53
falling away
48:54
from our
48:55
salvation.
48:57
And that's
48:57
what he
48:57
further
48:58
says in
48:59
verse 4,
48:59
you have
49:00
fallen away
49:02
from grace.
49:05
The very
49:05
thing that
49:06
you need
49:07
for your
49:07
salvation,
49:08
you have
49:09
fallen away
49:10
from.
49:11
This is a
49:11
phrase that
49:12
we often
49:13
hear maybe
49:14
in society.
49:14
We hear
49:15
people talking
49:16
about a
49:17
fall from
49:18
grace.
49:18
It's
49:18
interesting how
49:19
many phrases
49:20
in the
49:20
Bible we
49:21
see used
49:22
commonly in
49:23
everyday life.
49:25
This is
49:25
one of them,
49:25
a fall
49:26
from grace.
49:27
We hear it
49:28
about people
49:29
who maybe
49:29
a scandal
49:30
has come
49:31
into their
49:31
lives.
49:33
They've
49:33
maybe been
49:33
in positions
49:34
of power
49:35
or authority
49:35
or wealth,
49:37
but they
49:37
have this
49:38
fall from
49:39
grace as
49:39
it's called,
49:40
and they
49:41
end up in
49:41
disgrace.
49:42
They end
49:42
up losing
49:43
that position
49:44
of authority
49:45
or sometimes
49:46
they even
49:46
lose their
49:47
freedom.
49:48
They end
49:49
up in
49:49
prison.
49:50
It's seen
49:51
as a fall
49:51
from grace.
49:56
And we
49:56
see these
49:57
things and
49:58
we think,
49:58
you know,
49:58
how serious
49:59
these are.
50:01
But what
50:02
about ourselves?
50:04
What about
50:05
our fall
50:06
from grace?
50:07
It's not
50:08
maybe a
50:08
scandal that
50:09
makes the
50:10
front page
50:10
headlines,
50:12
but it's
50:12
even more
50:13
serious
50:14
because it's
50:16
with Christ.
50:17
And a fall
50:18
from grace
50:18
with Christ
50:19
is the most
50:20
serious thing
50:21
of all.
50:22
We lose
50:23
all the
50:24
benefits
50:24
that are
50:25
ours
50:26
in Christ.
50:27
we lose
50:29
our
50:30
freedom.
50:32
We lose
50:33
our
50:33
salvation.
50:35
And so
50:36
it's
50:36
foolish.
50:38
It is
50:38
foolish to
50:39
think that
50:40
we can
50:40
live this
50:41
life by
50:41
ourselves
50:42
and do
50:42
it all
50:43
ourselves
50:44
because it
50:46
is only
50:46
through Christ
50:47
that we
50:48
are free.
50:49
Otherwise,
50:49
we are
50:50
falling
50:51
away.
50:52
now,
50:53
what was
50:53
at the
50:54
heart
50:54
of their
50:55
falling
50:55
away?
50:57
It's
50:57
what's so
50:57
often at
50:58
the heart
50:58
of our
50:58
own
50:59
falling
51:00
away as
51:00
well.
51:01
It's a
51:02
fear of
51:03
man and
51:05
the expectations
51:06
that are put
51:07
on us
51:08
from man
51:09
and trying
51:10
to please
51:11
man
51:12
instead of
51:14
trying to
51:15
please
51:15
God.
51:16
You can
51:18
see here
51:18
their fear
51:20
was what
51:21
others
51:21
thought.
51:22
If they
51:23
were being
51:23
told you
51:24
need
51:24
circumcision,
51:25
you need
51:26
all the
51:26
law,
51:27
they were
51:27
afraid of
51:28
what man
51:28
was saying
51:29
to them.
51:30
And so
51:30
they sought
51:30
to please
51:31
them instead
51:33
of pleasing
51:34
God.
51:35
And so
51:36
often that's
51:36
the case
51:37
for ourselves.
51:39
We're doing
51:39
things to
51:40
please others
51:41
and not
51:43
to please
51:43
God.
51:45
A man
51:45
called
51:46
William
51:46
Garnall.
51:47
He once
51:48
said,
51:48
we fear
51:49
men so
51:50
much because
51:51
we fear
51:52
God so
51:53
little.
51:55
We need
51:55
to refocus.
51:58
We need
51:58
to look at
51:58
these things
51:59
again and
52:00
see who
52:00
am I
52:01
trying to
52:01
please?
52:02
And what
52:03
am I
52:03
trying to
52:04
do?
52:05
That's what
52:05
Paul is
52:06
saying to
52:06
the Galatians.
52:07
You're trying
52:08
to please
52:08
those around
52:09
you by doing
52:10
everything that
52:11
they're asking
52:11
of you.
52:12
You're trying
52:13
to do
52:13
everything that
52:13
they ask
52:14
of you.
52:15
But it's
52:15
impossible.
52:17
As he
52:17
says at
52:17
the end
52:18
of verse
52:18
3,
52:19
you are
52:19
bound to
52:20
keep the
52:20
whole law,
52:22
everything,
52:23
and you
52:23
just cannot
52:24
do it.
52:25
And in
52:26
this,
52:27
you are
52:27
severed from
52:28
Christ.
52:28
You will
52:29
be justified
52:29
by the law.
52:30
You have
52:31
fallen from
52:32
grace.
52:34
And it
52:34
is grace
52:35
we need.
52:37
So,
52:38
our focus
52:39
is in the
52:39
wrong place.
52:40
grace.
52:41
So,
52:41
finally,
52:42
we see
52:42
Paul is
52:44
saying,
52:44
look to
52:45
the right
52:45
place.
52:47
Look to
52:48
Christ.
52:50
What do
52:51
we do
52:51
when we
52:52
know we
52:53
are wrong?
52:54
What do
52:55
we do
52:55
when we
52:55
are heading
52:56
the wrong
52:57
way?
52:57
We need
52:58
to turn
52:58
and look
53:00
to Christ.
53:02
To look
53:02
to him
53:03
by faith
53:04
to know
53:05
this grace.
53:07
for through
53:09
the Spirit
53:09
by faith
53:10
we
53:11
ourselves
53:11
eagerly
53:12
wait for
53:13
the hope
53:13
of righteousness.
53:14
For in
53:15
Christ Jesus
53:16
neither
53:16
circumcision
53:17
nor
53:18
uncircumcision
53:19
counts for
53:20
anything,
53:21
but only
53:22
faith
53:23
working
53:24
through
53:25
love.
53:27
It is
53:27
looking
53:28
to Christ
53:30
and following
53:32
him.
53:33
Our works
53:34
are nothing
53:35
without faith.
53:38
We are not
53:38
saved by
53:39
our works
53:41
but we are
53:41
saved to
53:42
works.
53:45
And so
53:45
all the
53:45
time we
53:46
are trusting
53:47
in ourselves
53:47
and our
53:49
own works
53:49
of salvation
53:50
we are
53:51
slaves.
53:52
There is
53:52
no joy
53:53
in it
53:53
because it's
53:55
impossible.
53:56
But when
53:57
we look
53:58
to Christ
53:58
and when
54:00
we follow
54:01
him
54:01
there we
54:03
find the
54:04
way prepared.
54:05
and the
54:06
way that
54:06
is free.
54:08
The way
54:08
we are
54:08
free to
54:10
enjoy
54:10
him.
54:12
Look at
54:13
it this
54:13
way.
54:14
I was
54:14
watching a
54:15
program
54:15
this week
54:16
about
54:17
people who
54:18
go to
54:19
clear
54:19
minefields.
54:21
Anyway
54:22
there's been a
54:23
conflict in
54:23
the past.
54:24
So often
54:24
there's mines
54:26
left behind
54:26
and they're
54:27
so dangerous.
54:28
People who
54:29
don't know
54:30
that they're
54:30
adults or
54:32
children
54:32
they find
54:33
themselves in
54:33
a place
54:34
that's so
54:34
dangerous
54:35
and they
54:36
don't even
54:36
realize it.
54:38
And so
54:38
they send
54:39
people in
54:40
to clear
54:41
these places.
54:43
Now they
54:44
don't send
54:44
people in
54:45
there by
54:46
themselves to
54:46
go in with
54:47
their own
54:47
hands trying
54:49
to find
54:49
their way
54:50
around.
54:51
It's far
54:51
too dangerous.
54:54
And yet
54:54
as Paul is
54:56
saying here
54:56
that's almost
54:57
the way
54:57
we try and
54:58
find our
54:59
way through
54:59
life.
55:00
Trying to
55:00
do it all
55:01
ourselves.
55:03
We're
55:03
going to
55:04
end up
55:04
falling
55:04
away.
55:06
So what
55:07
they do
55:07
in the
55:07
minefields
55:08
is they
55:08
have this
55:09
machine.
55:10
It's like
55:11
a tank
55:11
with a
55:12
bulldozer
55:12
blade on
55:13
the front.
55:14
And it
55:15
goes through
55:16
these fields
55:16
and the
55:17
blade on
55:18
the front
55:18
you can
55:19
see it
55:19
going
55:19
through
55:20
just very
55:20
slowly.
55:22
Almost
55:22
every few
55:23
seconds you
55:24
see an
55:24
explosion
55:25
under
55:26
this shield
55:27
at the
55:27
front.
55:28
It's
55:28
detonating
55:29
all the
55:30
mines.
55:30
It's
55:31
clearing
55:31
the way
55:32
for them.
55:33
Everyone
55:34
is safe
55:35
behind it
55:35
and the
55:36
way
55:36
is
55:37
cleared.
55:39
And that's
55:40
what we
55:40
have
55:41
in Christ.
55:43
That's
55:44
what we
55:44
have
55:44
in him.
55:46
The one
55:47
who has
55:48
gone ahead
55:49
of us.
55:50
The one
55:51
who has
55:51
prepared
55:52
the way
55:53
for us.
55:54
The one
55:55
who has
55:55
set us
55:56
free.
55:58
So we
55:58
know when
55:59
we are
55:59
following
55:59
Christ
56:00
we are
56:01
on the
56:02
right way
56:02
and we
56:03
can stand
56:04
firm.
56:06
Imagine
56:06
yourself
56:07
walking
56:07
through
56:08
a
56:08
minefield.
56:10
Where
56:11
would you
56:11
want to
56:12
be?
56:13
Going
56:13
it alone?
56:15
Going
56:15
your own
56:15
way?
56:16
Finding
56:17
your own
56:17
way?
56:17
Feeling
56:18
I'm
56:18
safe
56:18
enough
56:19
doing
56:19
this
56:20
only to
56:21
fall
56:21
away
56:22
when you
56:23
least
56:23
expect it.
56:25
Or
56:25
to be
56:27
following
56:27
Christ.
56:29
The one
56:29
who has
56:30
prepared
56:30
the way.
56:32
Knowing
56:32
you are
56:33
secure
56:34
in him.
56:38
It
56:39
makes no
56:39
sense,
56:40
does it,
56:41
to walk
56:41
through the
56:42
minefield
56:42
yourself.
56:44
So why
56:45
then in
56:46
life
56:46
would you
56:48
seek to
56:48
please God
56:49
on your
56:50
own terms,
56:51
with your
56:52
own
56:52
freedom,
56:54
with your
56:54
own works
56:55
of salvation
56:56
trying to
56:57
please him
56:57
when it's
56:58
impossible.
57:00
What Paul
57:01
is saying
57:02
is forget
57:03
about that.
57:05
You will
57:05
fall.
57:06
You will
57:07
fall from
57:07
grace.
57:09
But he's
57:09
saying the
57:10
way is
57:11
there for
57:12
you.
57:13
Follow
57:13
Christ.
57:15
Trust
57:15
him.
57:16
Stand
57:17
firm
57:18
therefore.
57:20
And do
57:20
not again
57:21
go back
57:21
to the
57:22
yoke of
57:23
slavery.
57:24
There
57:25
you are
57:25
slaves
57:26
and there's
57:27
no joy.
57:29
But in
57:29
Christ
57:30
you are
57:31
free.
57:32
Stand
57:33
firm
57:33
in him
57:34
and rejoice.
57:37
Let us
57:38
pray.
57:40
Our
57:40
Father in
57:41
heaven,
57:41
we thank
57:42
you for
57:42
the one
57:43
who has
57:43
prepared
57:44
the way
57:44
for us,
57:45
the one
57:45
who has
57:46
conquered
57:47
sin and
57:48
death and
57:49
the devil,
57:50
and the
57:50
one who
57:51
is able
57:51
to set
57:52
us free
57:53
from the
57:54
yoke of
57:54
slavery as
57:55
your word
57:55
says.
57:56
Help us,
57:57
Lord,
57:57
to look
57:58
to him,
57:59
to find
58:00
our freedom,
58:01
our salvation
58:02
through his
58:03
grace towards
58:04
us,
58:04
that we
58:05
might be
58:05
enabled to
58:06
stand firm
58:07
in him.
58:08
We ask
58:09
it in his
58:09
precious name.
58:11
Amen.
58:11
Amen.
58:11
We're
58:18
going to
58:18
conclude by
58:19
singing to
58:20
God's
58:20
praise in
58:21
Psalm 33.
58:23
This is the
58:24
Scottish
58:25
Psalter
58:25
version.
58:27
Psalm 33,
58:28
page 246,
58:31
and the
58:31
last three
58:32
stanzas,
58:33
verse 18
58:34
to the end.
58:34
Behold,
58:35
on those
58:36
that do
58:36
in fear,
58:37
the Lord
58:37
doth set
58:39
his eye,
58:39
even those
58:40
who on
58:40
his mercy
58:41
do with
58:42
confidence
58:42
rely.
58:44
The tune
58:44
is Kilmarnock
58:45
and we'll
58:45
stand to
58:46
sing these
58:47
verses to
58:47
God's
58:48
praise.
58:48
Amen.
58:51
Behold,
58:53
on those
58:54
that do
58:56
him
58:57
fear,
58:58
the Lord
59:00
doth
59:01
set
59:02
his
59:03
eye,
59:06
in
59:07
those
59:08
who on
59:10
his mercy
59:12
do with
59:15
confidence
59:17
rely.
59:22
From
59:23
death to
59:25
flee their
59:27
soul in
59:29
death,
59:30
I've
59:31
gone to
59:33
them
59:34
to
59:35
yield,
59:37
our
59:39
soul doth
59:41
wait
59:42
upon
59:44
the
59:45
Lord,
59:47
he is
59:49
our
59:50
help
59:51
and
59:52
shield.
59:55
Sif
59:56
in
59:56
his
59:58
holy
59:59
name
1:00:00
we
1:00:01
trust,
1:00:02
our
1:00:04
heart
1:00:05
shall
1:00:06
joy
1:00:07
shall
1:00:08
be.
1:00:09
Lord,
1:00:12
let
1:00:14
thy
1:00:15
mercy
1:00:16
be
1:00:18
on
1:00:19
us,
1:00:20
as
1:00:21
we
1:00:22
do
1:00:23
hope
1:00:24
in
1:00:25
thee.
1:00:26
after
1:00:29
the
1:00:29
benediction,
1:00:29
I'll go
1:00:30
to the
1:00:30
door to
1:00:30
my left.
1:00:31
We'll
1:00:31
close the
1:00:32
benediction.
1:00:34
Now may
1:00:34
grace,
1:00:35
mercy,
1:00:35
and peace
1:00:36
from God,
1:00:37
Father,
1:00:37
Son,
1:00:38
and Holy
1:00:38
Spirit,
1:00:39
rest upon
1:00:40
and abide
1:00:40
with us
1:00:41
all,
1:00:42
now and
1:00:42
forevermore.
1:00:43
Amen.
1:00:44
Amen.
1:00:44
Amen.
1:00:44
Amen.
1:00:46
Amen.
1:00:48
Amen.
1:00:50
Amen.
1:00:52
Amen.
1:00:54
Amen.
1:00:55
Amen.
1:00:55
Amen.
1:00:55
Amen.
1:00:55
Amen.
1:00:55
Amen.
1:00:55
Amen.
1:00:55
Amen.
1:00:55
Amen.
1:00:55
Amen.
1:00:56
Amen.
1:00:57
Amen.
1:00:57
Amen.
1:00:58
Amen.
1:00:58
Amen.
1:00:59
Amen.
1:01:03
Amen.
1:01:03
Amen.
1:01:04
Amen.
1:01:06
Amen.
1:01:08
Amen.
1:01:09
Amen.
1:01:09
Amen.
1:01:09
Amen.
1:01:10
Amen.
1:01:10
Amen.
1:01:11
Amen.
1:01:11
Amen.
1:01:12
Amen.
1:01:13
Amen.
1:01:13
Amen.
1:01:13
Amen.
1:01:13
Amen.
1:01:13
Amen.
1:01:14
Amen.
1:01:14
Amen.
1:01:15
Amen.
1:01:16
Amen.
1:01:17
Amen.
1:01:17
Amen.
1:01:18
Amen.
1:01:18
Amen.
1:01:19
Amen.
1:01:19
Amen.
1:01:24
Amen.
1:01:25
Amen.
1:01:25
Happen.