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The Ascended Lord · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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  Well, we're going to begin our worship now, and our first psalm of praise is Psalm 68.
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  Psalm 68, that's in the Scottish Psalter, page 301.
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  Tune is St Andrew.
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  We're singing verses 1 to 5.
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  Let God arise, and scattered let all his enemies be,
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  and let all those that do him hate before his presence flee.
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  As smoke is driven, so drive thou them, as fire melts, walks away.
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  Before God's face, let wicked men so perish and decay, but let the righteous be glad.
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  Let them before God's sight be very joyful.
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  Yea, let them rejoice with all their might.
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  Verses 1 to 5 in Psalm 68.
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  Let God arise.
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  For Christ unscathed him, let all his enemies be,
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  and let all those that do him hate before his presence flee.
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  Let them rejoice with all their might.
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  Now아�rin Dr. John ahoneties, even though his ihmics be,
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  and let all those to Oliver Walsh are given from their lives from their estaba biomarked.
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  Should every time be king, let them grow with all our might.
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  God's side, in many joy, who yield and can rejoice with all their minds.
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  We all sing to His names in praise, extraordinary when your voice
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  and lies on Him by His name John, before His face rejoice.
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  Because the Lord the Father is, until the Father rests.
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  For this the way, O stars within, is grace of holiness.
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  Let's unite now our hearts in prayer. We're going to call upon the Lord in prayer.
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  Amen. Gracious and Almighty God, we give thanks that we tonight are appearing
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  before this God of whom we have been singing.
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  God who is so immense in His might and power, in His authority, in all aspects of His being.
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  We thank you, Lord, for the privilege of being able to draw near to you
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  and to do so in a way that is not intimidated by your greatness.
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  And for we have come, O Lord, before you tonight to use that new and living way that you have opened up for us,
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  that we may have access into your presence, that we may come even with boldness to the throne of grace,
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  so that we may receive grace and mercy in our time of need.
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  Lord, bless us, we pray, as we come together in this way and as we together call upon your name
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  and sing your praises and dwell our mind upon your word.
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  We ask again that you would draw near to us and by your Holy Spirit bless us
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  so that your word may find lodgment in our hearts.
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  Give us, Lord, we pray, to increase in our knowledge of you and our commitment to you
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  in all aspects of what we ought to be in love and in belief, in faith, in hope.
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  We ask that all of these and all our other graces that come from your Spirit might be multiplied in our hearts.
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  We thank you, Lord, for the life we enjoy as a congregation of your people,
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  for the way that we are enabled together to progress those matters that are on our weekly bulletin sheet,
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  not only in the worship services of the congregation,
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  but also, Lord, in the many other activities that we engage in
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  and that we seek from you, your blessing, that they may be blessed to us.
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  We ask again, O Lord, for this coming week
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  that you would be with us in all that we anticipate taking part in.
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  We thank you for the facility of being able to draw near to you
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  and draw together from those privileges that we have.
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  We pray that you would bless us, Lord, as we set out these gatherings and groups of various kinds.
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  We ask your blessing for our children, for our young people.
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  We pray that you would continue, Lord, to bless them in Sunday School and Bible class
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  and also in Twinnies and in Cresce,
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  in all the activities that take place relating to them from week to week.
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  Bless them, Lord, we pray, and bless their homes and families.
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  Be pleased, we pray, to strengthen them in these difficult days
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  against all the attempts that are made to take our mind away from the principles of the Gospel
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  and from those ways of life that are pleasing to you.
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  And we ask, Lord, that you would provide us with further help in teaching our young people in Sunday School.
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  We pray that you would move some in the congregation to offer themselves for that work
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  and give them, Lord, we pray, a burden for these young souls.
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  We pray that you would grant us that provision, O Lord, at this time,
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  for we would want to see your own cause advance amongst our young people and children.
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  And we pray, to that end, that you would provide us, Lord, with that help.
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  We pray, too, for all other meetings anticipated this week,
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  for the prayer meetings, for the annual meeting, for the 55-plus fellowship.
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  Lord, we ask that all of these might be blessed by you
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  and may be of benefit to all who attend.
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  We thank you again for your upholding of us through this year
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  as we reflect upon another year and find another report
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  of the year's life in the congregation.
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  We ask, O Lord, that we may continue to depend upon you.
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  And as we face various restrictions and challenges,
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  both financially and in other ways,
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  in such times as we live in, Lord, we give thanks
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  for those who uphold your cause financially,
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  for those who pray for the ministry of the gospel,
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  for those, O Lord, who themselves would want to see your cause flourish.
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  We pray that you would continue to provide for us with these resources,
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  and that you would help us in all the activities of the congregation
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  to see that growth that we pray for and yearn for.
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  Remember those of particular responsibilities in the congregation.
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  Help those who are in office, both as elders and deacons.
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  We commit the life of the session and the deacon's court to you.
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  We ask, O Lord, as we set about our tasks from month to month,
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  that you'd be pleased to bless us.
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  Give to us the guidance of your Holy Spirit.
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  Bless those who are involved, Lord, in leading the congregation in praise.
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  We thank you for all of them, both in English and Gaelic.
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  We pray that you would provide us with further resources in that regard as well.
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  Maintain us, Lord, we pray, in a way that would, in a healthy fashion,
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  reach forward in witnessing and testifying to you
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  in the community we belong to.
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  We remember, Lord, also all others who help in the congregation.
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  Remember the various groups that meet from time to time,
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  and we ask that you would continue to bless them too.
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  And be with Marianne and with Roddy and with Lizzie as well in their tasks,
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  and with all who help with the live stream and with the IT system that we have.
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  We thank you for them, and we pray that you would grant us, Lord,
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  that we may continue to have these resources provided for us
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  and people who are sufficiently active and interested in them.
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  Bless, we pray, all the congregations of the town.
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  We thank you for the ongoing witness of your people in different denominations,
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  and we pray that you would continue to bless us, Lord, in our generation
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  with people who will take up the burden and the responsibility
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  and the privilege of serving you openly and testifying to your grace.
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  And we ask, O God, that you would continue to hear our prayers
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  for your cause in our midst, in our locality.
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  Bless those who are involved in various activities in our community as well.
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  We thank you, Lord, of those who provide us with nursing care and expertise
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  in our hospital and hospice, in our care homes, in our surgeries and in our clinics.
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  We ask, O Lord, that all of these will continue to be blessed to us
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  and that you'd bless those who are actively involved in them.
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  We pray that you would grant blessing to those who help us
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  in our times of bereavement and sorrow.
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  Bless the undertakers who so willingly give of their time and of their gifts.
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  And we thank you for their demeanor and the way in which they so willingly help
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  bereaved families virtually every week of life.
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  Bless those, Lord, in the congregation who are bereaved in these days.
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  And we ask that you bless them as they experience the pain of loss.
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  Grant to comfort them, we pray, and guide them in your way
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  and draw them to yourself and speak to them, we pray, and to their pain
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  so that by your own comfort they may advance from day to day.
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  And so be pleased to bless us now as we further wait upon you here.
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  And in all of these things, we ask, O Lord, that you would forgive our sins
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  that we now confess before you.
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  And we pray that you would cleanse us from our iniquity.
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  Wash us freely, we pray, and present us before you
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  as clean in your sight.
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  Grant all these mercies to us, we pray.
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  In Jesus' name and for his sake.
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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 our psalm is Psalm 130.
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  130.
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  That's on page 421.
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  The tune is Martyrdom.
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  Lord, from the depths to thee I cried.
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  My voice, Lord, do thou hear, and to my supplications voice
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  give an attentive ear.
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  Lord, who shall stand, if thou, O Lord, shouldst mark iniquity?
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  But yet with thee forgiveness is, that feared thou mayest be.
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  We're thankful to God for all these great contrasts that he brings us in his word.
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  The contrast here in Psalm 130 between what would be the case
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  if God were to hold our iniquity against us
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  and mark them against us forever on our account.
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  The contrast between that and the wonder of his forgiveness
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  that he so freely bestows.
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  So Psalm 130, the whole psalm.
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  Lord, from the depths to thee I cried.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  To thee I cried.
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  My voice, Lord, do thou hear.
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  Unto my soul, the gracious voice
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  And the gospel voice
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  And the glory of God, O Lord, shouldst mark iniquity?
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  Lord, who shall stand, if thou, O Lord, shouldst mark iniquity?
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  I can't with thee forgiveness is that near the mercy.
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  I wait for God, my soul not wait, my hope is in His word.
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  For that may die, for glory watch, my soul rich for the Lord.
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  I say, Lord, I may come to watch the morning light to see.
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  Let Israel hold with the Lord, for with Him ever cease to be.
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  Thank Jesus' redemption, it's ever come with Him.
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  And from all His daily riches, He is the child redeemed.
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  Now let's turn to read God's word now.
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  Our reading this evening is from Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4.
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  And we'll read from the beginning of chapter 4, down as far as verse 16.
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  Ephesians chapter 4, from the beginning.
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  I, therefore a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
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  with all humility and gentleness and patience, bading with one another in love,
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  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
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  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.
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  One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,
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  who is over all and through all and in all.
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  But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
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  Therefore it says, when He ascended on high, He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.
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  In saying He ascended, what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
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  He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.
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  And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
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  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
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  Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
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  to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
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  So that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves
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  and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness and deceitful schemes.
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  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head into Christ,
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  from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped,
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  when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
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  Amen. And may God again bless to us, reading that portion of His Word.
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  We'll sing again in Psalm 76 this time.
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  Psalm 76, that's on page 99 to a tune martyrs.
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  And we're singing verses 1 to 7.
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  In Judah's land, God's name is known.
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  In Israel, He is great.
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  In Salem, He has pitched His tent.
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  His home in Zion set.
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  He broke the fiery arrows there, the military might of those who with their swords and shields against us came to fight.
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  Your splendor is more glorious than hillsides rich with prey.
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  Brave men were stripped of all their spoil.
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  Asleep in death they lay.
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  Not one of those great warriors could lift his hands to kill.
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  At your rebuke, O Jacob's God, rider and horse lay still.
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  For you alone are to be feared.
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  Before you, who can stand?
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  Who can endure your anger, Lord?
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  The judgments you command.
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  These verses then to the tune martyrs in Judah's land.
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  God's name is known.
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  God's name is known.
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  He is great.
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  In satisfaction from the Great Lakes
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  Is the Son of God
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  The Holy Child
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  The will and dirty might of those who with their swords and shields
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  And his love came to light Your splendor is more glorious
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  On hillsides rich with rain They've been western of all their spoils
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  Our sweet red dead they live
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  No one of those great warriors To lift his hands to kill
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  And you renew, O Jacob's God
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  My God and heart stay still
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  For you alone are to be feared Before you who can stand
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  Who can endure you and the Lord The judgment you've all done
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  If you turn with me please now to the book of Psalms and Psalm 68
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  Tonight we're going to look mainly at verse 18
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  You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train
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  And receiving gifts among men
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  Even among the rebellious that the Lord may dwell there
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  Blessed be the Lord who daily bears us up
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  God is our salvation
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  Our God is a God of salvation
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  And to God the Lord belong deliverances from death
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  Well it's no accident that you find the words of verse 18
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  Coupled with verses 19 and 20
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  Verses 19 and 20 that speak of the Lord
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  Who upholds his people
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  Who is a God of salvation
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  And to him belong deliverances from death
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  It's no accident that that is closely related to
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  What you find in verse 18
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  The Lord ascending on high
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  Leading a host of captives in his train
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  And as we read in Ephesians chapter 4
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  As you well know these words are taken by the Apostle Paul
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  And quoted in Ephesians chapter 4
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  To fit in with the emphasis that he's giving there
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  Of the Lord and his church
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  And the provision he has made for his church
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  He's especially concerned to emphasize there in Ephesians 4
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  The various gifts that Christ has bestowed upon his church
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  To endow his church for the work that he has given his church in this world
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  And on into the next
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  And in this psalm we find a wonderful emphasis all the way through
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  It's really in a sense a military psalm
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  A military type psalm
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  Which speaks of the exploits of God
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  As he goes before his people
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  And as he gives them the capacity and the power to overcome their enemies
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  We need the Old Testament here and the New Testament
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  To fully explore the contents of this psalm
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  But especially where we come to Jesus
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  Where we come to his death and resurrection
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  And as we're looking at tonight
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  His ascension to the throne of God on high
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  To the Father's right hand
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  And so the psalm really begins with that great cry
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  God shall arise or let God arise
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  Let his enemies be scattered
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  And these words were in Numbers chapter 10
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  They were associated with the carrying of the ark forward
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  Chapter 10 verse 35 I think it is
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  They were carrying the ark forward
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  And whenever the ark was to move forward
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  The people were to cry
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  Let God arise
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  And let his enemies be scattered
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  Because the ark of caution in itself represented
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  The dwelling of God amongst his people
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  So that as the ark moved
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  It was symbolical of the Lord being with his people
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  Moving with his people
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  And setting out as it were ahead of his people
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  To lead them against whatever difficulties and enmity
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  They met with on the way
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  But then the psalm moves on
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  To speak about a battle scene
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  And a victory scene
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  And a procession of victory
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  As you find here in verse 18 especially
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  And ending with the Lord on his hill
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  Near the end of the psalm
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  But also an emphasis on dispensing the spoils
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  As we'll see the spoils of victory
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  As these are dispensed to his people
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  Fitting in with what you find in Ephesians Chapter 4
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  The Lord dispensing the various gifts
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  That he has actually obtained for his church
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  As a consequence of his own great work of redemption in Christ
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  And so as we look at these
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  We can see tonight that these are emphasizing
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  The privilege that God's people have
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  Of having this God not only in their midst
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  But going before them
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  Because the same principle follows through
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  From what you find in the psalm
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  And in the Old Testament
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  And Ephesians Chapter 4
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  That same principle remains for us today
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  That God goes before us
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  That God is with us
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  That God in our midst is mighty
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  That none of his enemies will overcome him
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  And therefore none of the enemies of his church
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  Will overcome them either
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  Because they are led by him
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  And they are safe in him
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  You know that in some church calendars
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  Some denominations
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  Anglicans for example
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  And others
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  They have what's known as
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  An ecclesiastical calendar
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  There are certain days appointed through the year
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  That they in a rota year by year
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  Actually associate with certain aspects of biblical truth
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  And apparently we don't follow that
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  Not that I'm saying there's anything wrong with it
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  But last Thursday was what's known as Ascension Day
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  A day that's focused on the ascension of Jesus
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  To the right hand of the throne of God on high
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  And although we don't mark that as a day
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  The ascension of the Lord is really hugely important for us
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  It's something perhaps we don't give as much attention to as we should
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  We do give attention more to the resurrection of Christ
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  The death of Christ
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  The resurrection of Christ
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  Perhaps even the intercession of Jesus at the right hand of God
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  But the ascension in itself is also critically important
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  To our understanding of what really forms the basis of our redemption in Christ
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  Because the ascension of Jesus is something that sets out the Father's acceptance of him
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  And of his work beginning with his resurrection from the dead
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  And then that moving into his ascension
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  Where he is taken from earth to heaven
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  And now sits at the right hand of the throne of God
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  And so thinking of the ascension
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  Tonight we're looking at that in the light of these words in verse 18
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  But also of course as we said taking account of the fact that
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  That is all fitting into the New Testament emphasis too
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  So we're looking firstly at the Lord's ascension in victory
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  And then secondly at the Lord's distribution of gifts to his church
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  In consequence of what he has done and of the ascension itself
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  And of course Ephesians 4 reminded us that you cannot think of the ascension
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  Without thinking first of the incarnation of the descent of the Lord of Jesus
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  Of Christ the second person of the Trinity
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  You cannot think of his ascension without as Paul saying
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  First of all thinking of his descending
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  He descended into the lower depths of the earth
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  By which he meant his death
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  He came into the world specifically to give himself as a ransom in his death for his people
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  And that precedes logically
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  It precedes not just logical but theologically
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  It precedes his ascension
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  It's only as he has died and then risen from the dead
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  Or been raised from the dead
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  It's only then that you can think of his ascension
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  But his ascension to the throne of God on high
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  As it logically follows his death and resurrection
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  So it also theologically follows
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  Because the Lord's approval, the Father's approval of him
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  Is set out and approval of his death
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  As fully sufficient for the salvation of his people
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  Is set out and everything that follows on
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  And then they come to the gifts that he bestows upon his church as well
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  So the incarnation is an important fact that precedes the ascension of the Lord
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  But as you look at the ascension
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  You ascended on high
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  Leading a host of captives in your train
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  The first step towards the ascension
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  As we said is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead
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  We have to take these things as factually and literally correct
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  These are not the Bible setting out things symbolically
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  As if there was no actual physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead
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  That's a popular opinion
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  That's something that we find difficult to accept
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  Until the Lord lays it upon our hearts
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  And opens our minds
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  And opens our heart to the fact of that
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  That if there's no actual resurrection
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  It's not all that long ago
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  We took some time to go through 1 Corinthians 15
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  Where Paul very emphatically says
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  If there has been no resurrection from the dead
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  On the part of Jesus
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  Then there is no point to the gospel
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  There's no salvation for us
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  There's nothing of the kind of life
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  That Jesus in the Bible has said to bring to us
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  The eternal life
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  Everything stops
• 32:25
  If Jesus has not been raised from the dead
• 32:29
  It ends with his death
• 32:30
  That's it
• 32:31
  Finished
• 32:32
  So there's no resurrection for us afterwards either
• 32:35
  Life is done
• 32:37
  When you die
• 32:39
  When your body is laid into the grave
• 32:42
  That's it
• 32:43
  Paul is saying
• 32:45
  If that's our opinion
• 32:47
  If that's what we think
• 32:48
  We are of all people most to be pitied
• 32:51
  Our faith is in vain
• 32:52
  Our preaching is in vain
• 32:54
  There is no point to anything of what we're doing tonight
• 32:57
  If Jesus isn't at the right hand of God tonight
• 33:00
  If Jesus hasn't in fact literally
• 33:02
  Risen from the dead
• 33:04
  And been raised from the dead by the Father
• 33:06
  You know that yourselves
• 33:08
  But Paul saw fit to emphasize it
• 33:11
  For the church at Corinth
• 33:12
  And we need to re-emphasize it for ourselves
• 33:15
  That our salvation deals with facts
• 33:18
  The fact of the incarnation
• 33:20
  The fact of the death of the cross
• 33:23
  The fact of Christ's burial
• 33:24
  The fact of his resurrection
• 33:26
  And now the fact of his ascension
• 33:29
  To the right hand of God
• 33:30
  And it's important that
• 33:33
  What's important certainly
• 33:34
  In the theology that we follow
• 33:36
  As Reformed theology
• 33:38
  It's important that we
• 33:40
  Think particularly of the continuity
• 33:43
  Of the person of Christ
• 33:45
  All the way through
• 33:46
  That this is not a different person
• 33:48
  Who ascended on high
• 33:50
  After he died on the cross
• 33:53
  It's the same Jesus
• 33:55
  The same person
• 33:56
  And the same person of the Godhead
• 33:59
  As well
• 33:59
  Second person of the Trinity
• 34:02
  The Westminster Confession of Faith
• 34:04
  Which we use in our church
• 34:07
  And have been using
• 34:09
  Ever since we were established
• 34:12
  As a church
• 34:13
  It says in chapter 8 verse 4
• 34:15
  On the third day
• 34:17
  He rose from the dead
• 34:19
  With the same body
• 34:21
  In which he suffered
• 34:23
  And that's an important emphasis
• 34:25
  He rose from the dead
• 34:27
  With the same body
• 34:28
  In which he suffered
• 34:29
  With which also
• 34:31
  He ascended into heaven
• 34:32
  And there sitteth
• 34:34
  At the right hand
• 34:35
  Of his Father
• 34:36
  Why is that important?
• 34:37
  Because the continuity
• 34:39
  Of his person
• 34:40
  Is important for yourself
• 34:41
  And myself
• 34:42
  That we can see
• 34:43
  That in this one person
• 34:45
  Of Jesus Christ
• 34:46
  All the way through
• 34:47
  From the incarnation
• 34:48
  To the death of the cross
• 34:49
  The resurrection
• 34:50
  On to ascension
• 34:51
  It's the same person
• 34:53
  Death has not interfered
• 34:56
  With his person
• 34:57
  Death hasn't done anything
• 35:00
  To stop that whole process
• 35:03
  Of incarnation
• 35:05
  Death
• 35:06
  Resurrection
• 35:06
  Ascension to glory
• 35:08
  And that's part of
• 35:10
  What lies for us tonight
• 35:12
  As the basis of our hope
• 35:13
  Our hope
• 35:15
  For eternal life
• 35:17
  And remember
• 35:19
  Philippians 2
• 35:20
  Verses 11 to 9
• 35:22
  Tells us
• 35:23
  How high Jesus
• 35:24
  Has been set
• 35:26
  In his exaltation
• 35:27
  His ascension to heaven
• 35:28
  And his exaltation
• 35:29
  And session
• 35:30
  At the right hand of God
• 35:31
  God has highly
• 35:34
  Exalted him
• 35:36
  How highly
• 35:37
  Is Jesus exalted
• 35:38
  How highly
• 35:39
  Is the saviour
• 35:40
  Tonight
• 35:40
  Whom we worship
• 35:41
  In our worship service
• 35:42
  How high is he
• 35:44
  He's at the right hand
• 35:45
  Of God
• 35:46
  What does that mean
• 35:47
  It means he's as high
• 35:49
  As you can possibly
• 35:50
  Conceive of
• 35:51
  And indeed
• 35:54
  If you followed
• 35:55
  Professor John Murray
• 35:57
  In one of his comments
• 35:58
  In his volume
• 35:58
  One of his volumes
• 35:59
  Not even God
• 36:02
  He says
• 36:03
  Could conceive
• 36:03
  Of a higher
• 36:04
  Than the position
• 36:06
  That Jesus occupies
• 36:08
  Because it's
• 36:10
  Deserving of
• 36:11
  The highest
• 36:12
  Possible place
• 36:13
  That God
• 36:14
  Could give him
• 36:14
  In consequence
• 36:16
  Of all that he has done
• 36:17
  And that's where he is
• 36:19
  And that's where he is
• 36:21
  Until he returns
• 36:23
  To earth
• 36:23
  But that is his position
• 36:25
  That's his status
• 36:27
  That is the saviour
• 36:29
  You believe in
• 36:30
  That's the saviour
• 36:31
  We worship
• 36:32
  That's the saviour
• 36:34
  We expect to come back
• 36:35
  To this world
• 36:36
  Not some puny figure
• 36:39
  And not even
• 36:40
  The son of God
• 36:41
  In the incarnation
• 36:43
  As he came
• 36:44
  In the form
• 36:46
  Of humanity
• 36:48
  Bearing the sin
• 36:49
  Of his people
• 36:50
  He will come
• 36:52
  As he now is
• 36:54
  The glorious
• 36:55
  Exalted
• 36:56
  Ascended
• 36:57
  Son of God
• 36:58
  And that's what we
• 37:00
  Hold out
• 37:02
  As part of
• 37:04
  What we hope
• 37:05
  Towards
• 37:05
  On the day
• 37:07
  That Jesus returns
• 37:08
  But there's a procession
• 37:11
  Here is the Lord's
• 37:13
  Ascension and victory
• 37:14
  Incarnation
• 37:16
  Followed by ascension
• 37:17
  But there's a procession
• 37:19
  Mentioned here
• 37:20
  And it's picked up again
• 37:21
  In Ephesians
• 37:22
  Quoting this verse
• 37:23
  You ascended on high
• 37:24
  Leading a host
• 37:26
  Of captives
• 37:27
  In your train
• 37:28
  When you go to the older
• 37:30
  Authorized version
• 37:32
  The way that's
• 37:33
  Translated there
• 37:34
  He
• 37:35
  Leading captivity
• 37:36
  Captive
• 37:37
  And possibly
• 37:39
  That's a better way
• 37:40
  Of translating
• 37:41
  What you have
• 37:41
  In the text
• 37:42
  Of the psalm
• 37:44
  You ascended up on high
• 37:46
  Leading captivity
• 37:48
  Captive
• 37:49
  Or you led
• 37:49
  Captivity
• 37:50
  Captive
• 37:51
  What does that
• 37:51
  Actually mean?
• 37:52
  Well it means
• 37:53
  Essentially
• 37:53
  That
• 37:55
  Those who held
• 37:57
  Us the powers
• 37:58
  That held
• 37:58
  Us captive
• 37:59
  The powers
• 38:00
  Of sin
• 38:01
  The power
• 38:01
  Of satan
• 38:02
  By the death
• 38:04
  Of jesus
• 38:05
  By his resurrection
• 38:06
  By his ascension
• 38:07
  The picture you have
• 38:08
  Here is of these
• 38:09
  Great powers
• 38:10
  Greater than
• 38:11
  Ourselves
• 38:12
  These powers
• 38:13
  Being vanquished
• 38:14
  These powers
• 38:15
  Now being overcome
• 38:16
  By the lord
• 38:17
  He has as it were
• 38:18
  Led them away
• 38:19
  In triumphant
• 38:20
  Procession
• 38:21
  Displaying them
• 38:22
  As defeated enemies
• 38:24
  In ancient times
• 38:26
  That would have
• 38:26
  Been the practice
• 38:27
  If a general
• 38:28
  Went out
• 38:29
  With his army
• 38:30
  Against enemies
• 38:31
  And overcame
• 38:33
  The enemies
• 38:33
  The Romans
• 38:34
  Especially
• 38:34
  Were very much
• 38:36
  This was very much
• 38:38
  Their practice
• 38:38
  Though it wasn't
• 38:39
  Confined to them
• 38:40
  If the general
• 38:41
  Came back
• 38:41
  If he had been
• 38:42
  Victorious in battle
• 38:43
  And he made his way
• 38:44
  Back to his homeland
• 38:45
  It was often
• 38:47
  The practice
• 38:47
  That those
• 38:49
  That he had defeated
• 38:50
  Or a great selection
• 38:51
  Of them anyway
• 38:52
  Would actually be dragged
• 38:54
  Usually behind his chariot
• 38:55
  Brought back
• 38:57
  To be put on display
• 38:59
  As defeated enemies
• 39:01
  So that everyone
• 39:03
  Could see
• 39:04
  That this general
• 39:05
  Had been successful
• 39:07
  And victorious
• 39:07
  In battle
• 39:08
  And these
• 39:09
  His enemies
• 39:09
  That had
• 39:10
  Fought against him
• 39:11
  Were now completely
• 39:13
  And utterly overcome
• 39:14
  They were chained
• 39:16
  They were made
• 39:17
  Slaves behind him
• 39:18
  That's
• 39:21
  Our Jesus
• 39:22
  That's the Lord
• 39:26
  In his ascension
• 39:27
  To glory
• 39:27
  That's the position
• 39:29
  He occupied
• 39:29
  That's what was put
• 39:31
  On display
• 39:32
  The principalities
• 39:33
  And powers
• 39:34
  As Paul calls them
• 39:35
  These great
• 39:36
  Spiritual forces
• 39:37
  Of darkness
• 39:38
  That held us
• 39:40
  Captive
• 39:41
  They were put
• 39:42
  To flight
• 39:43
  They were overcome
• 39:45
  By the Lord
• 39:46
  When you think
• 39:46
  Of Jesus
• 39:47
  Ascending up
• 39:48
  On high
• 39:49
  Here is what you find
• 39:51
  Spiritually
• 39:52
  And theologically
• 39:53
  True
• 39:54
  About that
• 39:55
  Great procession
• 39:56
  You think of Jesus
• 39:57
  Just imagine him
• 39:58
  Ascending up
• 39:58
  On high
• 39:59
  You couldn't see
• 40:00
  This necessarily
• 40:01
  For yourself
• 40:01
  Of course
• 40:02
  But spiritually
• 40:03
  And in the unseen world
• 40:05
  This is what was
• 40:06
  Taking place
• 40:07
  His enemies
• 40:08
  Were being dragged
• 40:09
  Behind his chariot
• 40:11
  Of triumph
• 40:11
  As he went
• 40:12
  To take his place
• 40:13
  At the right hand
• 40:14
  Of God
• 40:14
  And isn't that
• 40:17
  Why so often
• 40:18
  The psalmist
• 40:20
  Himself says
• 40:21
  In regard to
• 40:23
  God being
• 40:23
  His salvation
• 40:24
  And his salvation
• 40:25
  Being in God
• 40:26
  Whom shall I fear
• 40:28
  And that's why
• 40:31
  Paul in Romans 8
• 40:32
  Echoes that same
• 40:34
  Emphasis
• 40:35
  That same
• 40:35
  Sentiment as well
• 40:37
  Who shall separate us
• 40:40
  From the love of God
• 40:42
  In Christ Jesus
• 40:44
  Not even death
• 40:47
  He says
• 40:47
  Nor principalities
• 40:49
  Nor powers
• 40:50
  Things present
• 40:51
  Things to come
• 40:52
  Not even death
• 40:54
  Because death
• 40:56
  Has been overcome
• 40:57
  Death is dragged
• 40:59
  By Jesus
• 41:00
  As he rose
• 41:01
  From the grave
• 41:02
  As he ascended
• 41:03
  To glory
• 41:04
  There you see
• 41:05
  Death as the wages
• 41:07
  Of sin overcome
• 41:08
  And there is death
• 41:10
  Defeated
• 41:10
  For us
• 41:11
  Tonight
• 41:13
  Are you still
• 41:15
  Detached
• 41:18
  As it were
• 41:19
  From Jesus
• 41:19
  Is your life
• 41:22
  Tonight
• 41:22
  Lived by faith
• 41:23
  In him
• 41:24
  Through trusting
• 41:26
  In him
• 41:27
  Is your life
• 41:28
  Joined to his
• 41:29
  And is your life
• 41:31
  Joined to him
• 41:32
  In victory
• 41:33
  Over death
• 41:34
  And over all his
• 41:35
  And your enemies
• 41:36
  Is the triumph
• 41:38
  Of Jesus
• 41:38
  Your triumph
• 41:40
  Tonight
• 41:40
  Not unless
• 41:41
  Your trust
• 41:42
  Is in him
• 41:43
  Not unless
• 41:43
  You've put
• 41:44
  Your life
• 41:44
  In his hands
• 41:45
  Not unless
• 41:46
  You're joined
• 41:47
  To him
• 41:47
  In such a way
• 41:48
  That his victory
• 41:49
  Becomes your victory
• 41:50
  And his ascension
• 41:51
  Becomes your ascension
• 41:53
  When it comes
• 41:54
  That's the great privilege
• 41:56
  Friends we have
• 41:57
  This is what the gospel
• 41:59
  Sets out for us
• 42:00
  This is what we seek
• 42:02
  To emphasize
• 42:03
  In the preaching
• 42:05
  Of the gospel
• 42:05
  That we worship
• 42:07
  A victorious
• 42:08
  Savior
• 42:09
  An ascended
• 42:11
  Savior
• 42:11
  A savior
• 42:12
  Who has dragged
• 42:13
  Behind him
• 42:14
  Victoriously
• 42:15
  All that stood
• 42:17
  In enmity
• 42:17
  Against him
• 42:18
  And against his people
• 42:19
  You ascended
• 42:20
  On high
• 42:21
  Leading captivity
• 42:24
  Captive
• 42:25
  Remember how Paul
• 42:27
  Again put this
• 42:29
  Very similarly
• 42:30
  At least in
• 42:31
  His letter
• 42:33
  To the Colossian church
• 42:34
  The Colossians
• 42:35
  Were facing
• 42:36
  All kinds of
• 42:37
  False teaching
• 42:38
  That sought
• 42:39
  To draw them
• 42:41
  Away from
• 42:41
  Jesus being
• 42:42
  Fully complete
• 42:43
  And sufficient
• 42:44
  As their savior
• 42:45
  That they had
• 42:46
  Many things
• 42:47
  To do themselves
• 42:48
  By which they reached
• 42:49
  Step by step
• 42:50
  By their own efforts
• 42:51
  Towards final victory
• 42:53
  Well
• 42:54
  In the Colossians
• 42:56
  Paul in chapter 2
• 42:58
  Of Colossians
• 42:59
  In verses 13 to 15
• 43:01
  Was teaching them
• 43:02
  And is teaching us here
• 43:03
  As we read it
• 43:04
  Where he speaks of
• 43:06
  Being buried with him
• 43:07
  In baptism
• 43:08
  Raised with him
• 43:09
  Through faith
• 43:10
  In the powerful
• 43:11
  Working of God
• 43:12
  Who raised him
• 43:13
  From the dead
• 43:14
  And you
• 43:14
  Who were dead
• 43:16
  In your trespasses
• 43:17
  And in the uncircumcision
• 43:19
  Of your flesh
• 43:19
  God made alive
• 43:21
  Together
• 43:22
  Or in union
• 43:23
  With him
• 43:23
  Having forgiven us
• 43:25
  All trespasses
• 43:26
  By cancelling
• 43:28
  The record of debt
• 43:29
  That stood against us
• 43:31
  With its legal demands
• 43:32
  This he set aside
• 43:34
  Nailing it to his cross
• 43:36
  And then listen
• 43:37
  To what's next
• 43:38
  He disarmed
• 43:39
  The rulers
• 43:40
  And authorities
• 43:41
  And put them
• 43:43
  To unopened shame
• 43:44
  By triumphing
• 43:46
  Over them
• 43:47
  In him
• 43:48
  You see
• 43:51
  That's Psalm 68
• 43:52
  He put them
• 43:54
  To unopened shame
• 43:55
  These powers
• 43:56
  These spiritual forces
• 43:58
  Of darkness
• 43:59
  He put them
• 44:00
  To unopened shame
• 44:01
  Triumphing over them
• 44:03
  In the Lord
• 44:04
  And in the cross
• 44:04
  And his resurrection
• 44:06
  And all that followed
• 44:07
  Putting them on display
• 44:09
  And really that's part
• 44:11
  Of the gospel call
• 44:12
  As well isn't it
• 44:13
  That we emphasize
• 44:15
  Your need
• 44:16
  And my need
• 44:17
  To come to Jesus
• 44:18
  Because the Bible
• 44:19
  Presents us
• 44:21
  As in enmity
• 44:22
  Against God
• 44:23
  That's our natural
• 44:25
  State
• 44:26
  Our natural state
• 44:27
  Of mind
• 44:28
  Our natural bias
• 44:29
  Of soul
• 44:30
  That we are in enmity
• 44:32
  Against God
• 44:33
  But God has come
• 44:36
  To provide
• 44:37
  Reconciliation
• 44:37
  For us in Christ
• 44:39
  In other words
• 44:40
  When the Bible
• 44:41
  Calls us to come
• 44:42
  To Jesus
• 44:43
  When he gives us
• 44:44
  That invitation
• 44:45
  And call
• 44:45
  Come to me
• 44:47
  And I will give you rest
• 44:48
  What he's really saying
• 44:51
  Following the military language
• 44:53
  If you like
• 44:53
  Of this Psalm
• 44:54
  Is lay down
• 44:55
  Your arms
• 44:56
  Of rebellion
• 44:57
  Don't keep them up
• 45:00
  Against the Lord
• 45:01
  Lay down
• 45:02
  These arms
• 45:03
  Lay them at his feet
• 45:05
  And say
• 45:06
  Lord you
• 45:07
  Who defeated sin
• 45:08
  Who defeated the devil
• 45:10
  Who defeated
• 45:11
  These forces of darkness
• 45:13
  I give myself
• 45:15
  To you
• 45:15
  I lay down
• 45:16
  My rebellion
• 45:17
  I lay down
• 45:19
  My arms
• 45:20
  Of rebellion
• 45:21
  Against you
• 45:22
  Against you
• 45:23
  And I place them
• 45:25
  Here before you
• 45:26
  And I want you
• 45:27
  To rule over me
• 45:28
  And not them
• 45:30
  You led captivity captive
• 45:34
  He ascended on high
• 45:37
  Leading a host
• 45:38
  Of captives
• 45:40
  In your train
• 45:41
  The Lord's ascension
• 45:43
  In victory
• 45:45
  And how it's
• 45:46
  Very much related
• 45:47
  Practically
• 45:47
  To our salvation
• 45:49
  And our experience
• 45:50
  Of salvation
• 45:51
  And our comfort
• 45:52
  Indeed
• 45:53
  In salvation
• 45:54
  That this is
• 45:55
  Our God
• 45:55
  Our Saviour
• 45:56
  The Lord Jesus Christ
• 45:58
  And then the Lord's
• 45:59
  Distribution of gifts
• 46:01
  To his church
• 46:01
  You notice what it then says
• 46:03
  Receiving gifts
• 46:04
  Among men
• 46:05
  Even among the rebellious
• 46:07
  That the Lord
• 46:08
  May dwell there
• 46:10
  There's a difference
• 46:14
  Really
• 46:15
  In
• 46:15
  A difference of emphasis
• 46:17
  In the Ephesian text
• 46:19
  To what you find here
• 46:20
  In the psalm
• 46:20
  The psalm says
• 46:21
  You received gifts
• 46:23
  Among men
• 46:24
  Or for men
• 46:25
  Whereas Ephesians
• 46:26
  Speaks about
• 46:27
  He gave gifts
• 46:29
  To men
• 46:30
  But there's
• 46:30
  There's no
• 46:30
  Contradiction there
• 46:31
  What it's really saying
• 46:33
  Is when you take
• 46:33
  Both together
• 46:34
  The Lord received
• 46:36
  By virtue of
• 46:37
  His resurrection
• 46:38
  And ascension
• 46:39
  He received gifts
• 46:41
  In order to
• 46:42
  Dispense them
• 46:43
  To his church
• 46:44
  So he's giving them out
• 46:45
  After receiving them
• 46:46
  By way of
• 46:48
  A reward
• 46:49
  If you like
• 46:50
  For
• 46:50
  What he has done
• 46:52
  And it's distribution
• 46:55
  Dividing the spoil
• 46:58
  Was a practice
• 46:59
  When armies
• 47:01
  Came back
• 47:02
  Victorious
• 47:03
  Very often
• 47:04
  They brought back
• 47:05
  The spoils
• 47:05
  Of war
• 47:06
  These would be
• 47:08
  Distributed
• 47:09
  Amongst the people
• 47:10
  That they themselves
• 47:11
  Belonged to
• 47:12
  And different kinds
• 47:14
  Of spoils
• 47:15
  If you like
• 47:15
  And in verses
• 47:16
  11 and 12
• 47:17
  In the psalm
• 47:18
  You find
• 47:18
  The same thing
• 47:19
  Emphasized there
• 47:20
  Or similarly
• 47:21
  There's the picture there
• 47:22
  The Lord gives
• 47:23
  The word
• 47:23
  The women
• 47:24
  Who announce
• 47:25
  The news
• 47:26
  Are a great host
• 47:27
  The kings
• 47:27
  Of the armies
• 47:28
  They flee
• 47:29
  They flee
• 47:30
  The women
• 47:31
  At home
• 47:31
  Divide the spoil
• 47:33
  And so on
• 47:34
  You find the emphasis
• 47:35
  There
• 47:36
  What happened
• 47:36
  Literally
• 47:37
  As you think
• 47:38
  About it
• 47:39
  Spiritually
• 47:39
  God
• 47:41
  Jesus
• 47:42
  Dispenses
• 47:42
  The gifts
• 47:44
  That
• 47:44
  Ephesians 4
• 47:46
  And let me just
• 47:47
  Remind you
• 47:47
  Around ourselves
• 47:49
  Of what it says
• 47:50
  Where Ephesians
• 47:52
  There
• 47:52
  Speaks about
• 47:53
  The dispensing
• 47:54
  Of the gifts
• 47:55
  That Jesus
• 47:56
  Has obtained
• 47:57
  For his church
• 47:58
  In saying
• 47:59
  He ascended
• 48:00
  He descended
• 48:01
  First of all
• 48:02
  Far above now
• 48:03
  All heavens
• 48:04
  He's ascended
• 48:05
  And he gave
• 48:06
  The apostles
• 48:07
  The prophets
• 48:08
  The evangelists
• 48:09
  The pastors
• 48:10
  And teachers
• 48:11
  There are his gifts
• 48:12
  That's what he bestows
• 48:14
  In consequence
• 48:15
  Of obtaining them
• 48:17
  For him
• 48:17
  By his death
• 48:18
  And resurrection
• 48:19
  And ascension
• 48:19
  And
• 48:21
  To equip
• 48:22
  The saints
• 48:23
  For the work
• 48:24
  Of ministry
• 48:25
  That work
• 48:26
  Of ministry
• 48:26
  Is not just
• 48:27
  The ministry
• 48:28
  Of the gospel
• 48:28
  And preaching
• 48:29
  The gospel
• 48:30
  It's ministry
• 48:31
  That's carried out
• 48:32
  In a wider sense
• 48:33
  By the Lord's people
• 48:34
  And the Lord
• 48:35
  Has gifted
• 48:36
  His people
• 48:37
  He's gifted
• 48:37
  Especially as we'll see
• 48:38
  The Holy Spirit
• 48:40
  To his church
• 48:41
  But all of this
• 48:42
  Is so that
• 48:42
  His church
• 48:44
  Will grow
• 48:44
  That we may
• 48:45
  No longer be
• 48:46
  Tossed to and fro
• 48:47
  Carried about
• 48:48
  By every wind
• 48:49
  Of doctrine
• 48:50
  And so on
• 48:50
  Speaking the truth
• 48:52
  In love
• 48:52
  All of that passage
• 48:53
  Really speaks
• 48:54
  About God
• 48:55
  Jesus dispensing
• 48:57
  The gifts
• 48:57
  To his church
• 48:59
  To enable them
• 49:00
  To grow
• 49:01
  Towards
• 49:01
  Final maturity
• 49:03
  That's a great
• 49:04
  Privilege
• 49:04
  Tonight
• 49:05
  You know
• 49:08
  There are many
• 49:08
  People throughout
• 49:09
  The world
• 49:09
  Tonight
• 49:09
  Who would
• 49:10
  Dearly love
• 49:11
  To have a
• 49:11
  Regular ministry
• 49:12
  Of the gospel
• 49:13
  Who would
• 49:15
  Dearly love
• 49:16
  To have
• 49:16
  The bible
• 49:18
  Explained
• 49:19
  To them
• 49:19
  Preached
• 49:20
  But they don't
• 49:21
  Have that
• 49:22
  They don't have
• 49:23
  Access to that
• 49:24
  They're dependent
• 49:25
  On books
• 49:26
  Good books
• 49:27
  And so on
• 49:27
  They're dependent
• 49:28
  On hearing
• 49:29
  From time to time
• 49:30
  Somebody coming
• 49:31
  To explain
• 49:31
  The bible
• 49:32
  To them
• 49:33
  And here we are
• 49:34
  In this community
• 49:35
  What a great
• 49:37
  Privilege
• 49:37
  There is
• 49:38
  That there's
• 49:38
  A free access
• 49:39
  To the gospel
• 49:40
  And to the preaching
• 49:41
  Of the gospel
• 49:42
  And to the worship
• 49:43
  Of God
• 49:44
  And yet all these
• 49:45
  Pews are empty
• 49:45
  Last week we heard
• 49:51
  Derek Maxwell
• 49:54
  Reverend Derek Maxwell
• 49:55
  Speak about
• 49:56
  Work of SGA
• 49:57
  In Ukraine
• 49:59
  And other places
• 50:00
  In Central Europe
• 50:01
  He spoke especially
• 50:03
  About Ukraine
• 50:04
  And the effects
• 50:05
  Of the terrible war
• 50:07
  That still rages
• 50:09
  In Ukraine
• 50:10
  But one of the things
• 50:13
  He did say
• 50:13
  And make clear
• 50:14
  And he was very
• 50:17
  Moving in saying
• 50:17
  So
• 50:18
  How the church
• 50:20
  Has grown
• 50:20
  How people
• 50:22
  Are pressing
• 50:23
  Into places
• 50:24
  Of worship
• 50:24
  Because they see
• 50:26
  That the devastation
• 50:28
  Of this war
• 50:29
  Has really taught
• 50:30
  Them and shown
• 50:30
  Them the things
• 50:31
  Of this world
• 50:32
  Are essentially
• 50:33
  Valueless
• 50:34
  Compared to
• 50:35
  The salvation
• 50:36
  And compared
• 50:37
  To eternity
• 50:37
  And these people
• 50:39
  Are coming
• 50:39
  And saying
• 50:40
  Well
• 50:41
  These things
• 50:42
  That we've lost
• 50:43
  They're earthly
• 50:44
  Things
• 50:44
  They're precious
• 50:45
  Things
• 50:46
  But they're gone
• 50:46
  But we want
• 50:48
  Something that
• 50:48
  Cannot be taken
• 50:49
  From us
• 50:50
  We want the life
• 50:52
  That God promises
• 50:53
  In Jesus Christ
• 50:55
  And there was a
• 50:58
  Wonderful story
• 50:59
  He told about
• 51:00
  A count of
• 51:01
  A seminary
• 51:02
  Or college
• 51:03
  There
• 51:03
  Which had been
• 51:05
  Hit by a Russian
• 51:06
  Missile
• 51:06
  And virtually
• 51:09
  All destroyed
• 51:10
  And gone up
• 51:10
  In flames
• 51:11
  Apart from
• 51:13
  The library
• 51:13
  Which held
• 51:15
  Many irreplaceable
• 51:17
  Books
• 51:18
  That library
• 51:21
  Was untouched
• 51:22
  While the rest
• 51:22
  Of the building
• 51:23
  Went up in flames
• 51:24
  Not only untouched
• 51:26
  But he said
• 51:27
  There wasn't even
• 51:28
  The smell of smoke
• 51:29
  From any of the books
• 51:31
  Contained in that library
• 51:32
  Why was that?
• 51:36
  Why would the Lord
• 51:37
  Protect these books?
• 51:40
  Well because
• 51:40
  As he showed
• 51:41
  In his next slide
• 51:42
  That place
• 51:44
  Has 880 students
• 51:47
  Studying
• 51:48
  The word
• 51:48
  Of God
• 51:49
  You see
• 51:51
  When war comes
• 51:52
  Terrible as it is
• 51:54
  Devastating as it is
• 51:55
  We'd never want
• 51:57
  To see it
• 51:57
  But one thing
• 51:59
  The Lord
• 52:00
  Teaches his people
• 52:01
  Is
• 52:01
  The value
• 52:03
  Of what's precious
• 52:04
  And what is not precious
• 52:06
  And the importance
• 52:08
  Of things
• 52:09
  That are his gift
• 52:11
  To the church
• 52:12
  Rather than
• 52:13
  What we might say
• 52:14
  Are our contribution
• 52:16
  And these material
• 52:20
  Things especially
• 52:20
  You received
• 52:22
  Gifts
• 52:23
  For men
• 52:24
  Or amongst men
• 52:25
  Gifts purchased
• 52:27
  Procured
• 52:28
  Given out
• 52:29
  By Jesus
• 52:29
  And the one
• 52:31
  Grand objective
• 52:32
  You see
• 52:32
  That's mentioned here
• 52:33
  Above the rest
• 52:35
  You see
• 52:36
  He's mentioning
• 52:37
  It's for the rebellious
• 52:38
  Even for the rebellious
• 52:40
  That's you and I
• 52:40
  But even for the likes
• 52:42
  Of us
• 52:42
  God has done this
• 52:44
  Jesus has ascended
• 52:45
  Up on high
• 52:46
  For the benefit
• 52:47
  Of rebellious
• 52:48
  Sinners
• 52:49
  Who come through
• 52:50
  Salvation
• 52:51
  To enjoy
• 52:52
  The gifts
• 52:53
  That God
• 52:54
  Dispenses to his church
• 52:55
  Does that not amaze
• 52:57
  You tonight
• 52:58
  Does it not amaze
• 53:00
  You that
• 53:01
  You and I
• 53:02
  Who are naturally
• 53:03
  At enmity with God
• 53:04
  Are the very people
• 53:06
  The very kind of people
• 53:07
  That he died for
• 53:09
  And rose from the dead for
• 53:10
  And ascended up to glory
• 53:12
  For
• 53:12
  To dispense gifts to us
• 53:14
  That we would enjoy
• 53:15
  In this life
• 53:16
  And enjoy throughout eternity
• 53:17
  What a great God
• 53:19
  How different
• 53:21
  In his mercy
• 53:23
  In his grace
• 53:23
  In his forbearance
• 53:25
  In his love
• 53:26
  To what you and I are
• 53:29
  By nature ourselves
• 53:30
  This is the grand objective
• 53:35
  That God has
• 53:36
  That the Lord God
• 53:38
  May dwell there
• 53:40
  Or dwell amongst them
• 53:41
  The presence of God
• 53:44
  The gift of the Holy Spirit
• 53:46
  Through which God comes
• 53:48
  To inhabit his church
• 53:50
  That's the great objective
• 53:52
  In the exaltation
• 53:54
  And ascension
• 53:55
  And ascension
• 53:55
  Of Jesus
• 53:55
  Because after he had sat
• 53:57
  At the right hand
• 53:58
  Of God on high
• 53:59
  As Acts chapter 2
• 54:02
  Demonstrates for us
• 54:03
  Verses 32 to 33
• 54:06
  As Peter spoke
• 54:07
  And preached
• 54:08
  As to what had happened
• 54:09
  In the coming of the Spirit
• 54:10
  This Jesus
• 54:12
  He says
• 54:13
  Who was crucified
• 54:14
  He has poured this out
• 54:18
  Which you now see
• 54:21
  And hear
• 54:21
  You see it's Jesus
• 54:24
  Dispensing the gift
• 54:26
  Of the Holy Spirit
• 54:27
  Upon his church
• 54:29
  In Eden
• 54:31
  We were driven out
• 54:35
  Of the garden
• 54:35
  Where God dwelt
• 54:37
  With us
• 54:38
  Mankind
• 54:39
  Rebelled against God
• 54:42
  And rightly
• 54:44
  And justly
• 54:45
  God closed the gates
• 54:47
  Of Eden
• 54:47
  And said
• 54:48
  No you can't
• 54:48
  Go back there
• 54:49
  And he placed
• 54:52
  A flaming sword
• 54:53
  And cherubim
• 54:54
  To keep
• 54:55
  The way it says
• 54:56
  Of the tree of life
• 54:57
  There was no going back
• 54:59
  That way
• 55:00
  And it's even more amazing
• 55:02
  That God provided
• 55:03
  Another way
• 55:04
  That he opened up
• 55:05
  A new and living way
• 55:06
  As Hebrews 10 puts it
• 55:09
  That is through the flesh
• 55:11
  Through the person
• 55:12
  Through the incarnation
• 55:14
  The death
• 55:15
  The resurrection
• 55:16
  The ascension
• 55:16
  Of Jesus
• 55:17
  And where
• 55:20
  You might say
• 55:21
  That
• 55:22
  On the gates
• 55:24
  Of
• 55:24
  Just imagine
• 55:25
  On the gates
• 55:25
  Of Eden
• 55:27
  It's as if God
• 55:28
  Had placed a sign
• 55:29
  Saying
• 55:30
  Here God
• 55:31
  Once lived
• 55:32
  But he's no longer
• 55:35
  Here
• 55:35
  He's gone
• 55:36
  He's deserted
• 55:39
  The place
• 55:39
  And the man
• 55:42
  The mankind
• 55:43
  That lived here
• 55:44
  With him
• 55:45
  There now
• 55:45
  Outside
• 55:46
  But then
• 55:48
  When you take that
• 55:49
  Forward into the
• 55:50
  New Testament
• 55:51
  You find something
• 55:52
  Amazing taking place
• 55:53
  The crisis
• 55:55
  Of Eden
• 55:56
  Is answered
• 55:58
  In the crisis
• 56:00
  Of the cross
• 56:01
  And the resurrection
• 56:02
  And the ascension
• 56:03
  Of the Lord
• 56:04
  Because when you
• 56:06
  Come to Calvary
• 56:07
  It's Jesus
• 56:09
  That's outside
• 56:10
  It's Jesus
• 56:12
  That's taking
• 56:12
  The curse
• 56:13
  It's Jesus
• 56:15
  That's going to die
• 56:17
  In the place
• 56:18
  Of his people
• 56:19
  And having risen
• 56:22
  From the dead
• 56:22
  And overcome
• 56:24
  Death
• 56:24
  And ascended
• 56:27
  To glory
• 56:27
  He dispenses
• 56:29
  The gifts
• 56:29
  That he purchased
• 56:30
  To his people
• 56:32
  And they are
• 56:34
  Still being
• 56:34
  Distributed
• 56:35
  The gifts
• 56:37
  That God
• 56:38
  Gives
• 56:38
  To his people
• 56:39
  Not just
• 56:40
  Endowments
• 56:42
  The spirit
• 56:43
  Of God
• 56:43
  And so on
• 56:44
  Of course
• 56:44
  Central to it
• 56:45
  But there are
• 56:46
  Various gifts
• 56:47
  That he gives
• 56:47
  To his people
• 56:48
  In the work
• 56:49
  Of the gospel
• 56:50
  In the work
• 56:50
  Of the church
• 56:51
  There are
• 56:53
  Some that are
• 56:54
  Given
• 56:54
  Gifts
• 56:55
  In order
• 56:56
  To be
• 56:56
  Elders
• 56:57
  In the church
• 56:57
  Gifts
• 56:58
  To be
• 56:58
  Deacons
• 56:58
  In the church
• 56:59
  Gifts
• 57:00
  To work
• 57:00
  Amongst
• 57:01
  Young people
• 57:01
  Gifts
• 57:02
  To work
• 57:02
  With older
• 57:03
  People
• 57:03
  All kinds
• 57:05
  Of gifts
• 57:05
  They all
• 57:06
  Flow
• 57:06
  From the
• 57:07
  Ascended
• 57:08
  Lord
• 57:08
  They all
• 57:10
  Come from
• 57:10
  His
• 57:11
  Wonderful
• 57:12
  Position
• 57:13
  At the
• 57:14
  Right hand
• 57:14
  Of the throne
• 57:15
  On high
• 57:16
  And they're
• 57:18
  All preparing
• 57:18
  Us
• 57:19
  Those of us
• 57:20
  Who trust
• 57:21
  In the Lord
• 57:21
  Tonight
• 57:22
  They're preparing
• 57:22
  Us
• 57:22
  These gifts
• 57:24
  Are part of
• 57:25
  The way
• 57:25
  God's
• 57:25
  Preparing
• 57:26
  Us
• 57:26
  For our
• 57:27
  Final state
• 57:28
  In glory
• 57:29
  With him
• 57:29
  Remember how
• 57:31
  It is with
• 57:32
  Revelation
• 57:33
  At the end
• 57:33
  Of the Bible
• 57:34
  The Revelation
• 57:36
  Chapter 21
• 57:37
  Verses 1
• 57:39
  To 4
• 57:40
  And I saw
• 57:41
  A new heaven
• 57:42
  And a new earth
• 57:42
  For the first
• 57:44
  Heaven and the
• 57:44
  First earth
• 57:45
  Had passed away
• 57:46
  And the sea
• 57:48
  Was no more
• 57:48
  And I saw
• 57:50
  The holy city
• 57:51
  New Jerusalem
• 57:51
  Coming down
• 57:53
  Out of heaven
• 57:53
  From God
• 57:54
  Prepared as a bride
• 57:55
  Adorned for her
• 57:56
  Husband
• 57:57
  And I heard
• 57:58
  A loud voice
• 57:59
  From the throne
• 58:00
  Saying
• 58:00
  Behold
• 58:01
  A dwelling
• 58:02
  Place of God
• 58:03
  Is with man
• 58:04
  He will dwell
• 58:06
  With them
• 58:07
  And they will
• 58:08
  Be his people
• 58:09
  And God
• 58:10
  Himself
• 58:10
  Will be with them
• 58:11
  As their God
• 58:12
  He will wipe
• 58:13
  Away every tear
• 58:14
  From their eyes
• 58:15
  And death
• 58:16
  Shall be no more
• 58:17
  Neither shall
• 58:19
  There be mourning
• 58:19
  Nor crying
• 58:20
  Nor pain
• 58:20
  Anymore
• 58:21
  For the former
• 58:23
  Things
• 58:23
  Have passed away
• 58:25
  It's as if
• 58:27
  Jesus is saying
• 58:28
  To us tonight
• 58:29
  Don't cry
• 58:30
  Not that there's
• 58:32
  Anything wrong
• 58:32
  With weeping
• 58:33
  And there are times
• 58:35
  When we need
• 58:37
  To weep
• 58:38
  Weep
• 58:39
  But we don't
• 58:40
  Weep
• 58:40
  In despair
• 58:41
  When our trust
• 58:42
  Is in him
• 58:42
  Instead we say
• 58:45
  And we hear him
• 58:46
  Saying
• 58:46
  Weep no more
• 58:48
  For he has
• 58:48
  Prevailed
• 58:49
  He has ascended
• 58:50
  On high
• 58:51
  Everything we need
• 58:53
  Is already in himself
• 58:55
  As the psalmist
• 58:59
  Said in psalm 23
• 59:00
  Surely goodness
• 59:02
  And mercy
• 59:02
  Will follow me
• 59:03
  All the days
• 59:05
  Of my life
• 59:05
  And I will dwell
• 59:07
  In the house
• 59:08
  Of the Lord
• 59:09
  Forever
• 59:10
  And as Jesus
• 59:12
  Said in John 14
• 59:13
  Where he spoke
• 59:15
  About going to
• 59:15
  Prepare a place
• 59:16
  For them
• 59:16
  Where he actually
• 59:19
  Drew the mind
• 59:21
  Of the disciples
• 59:21
  As to where
• 59:22
  He was heading
• 59:23
  What would happen
• 59:24
  After the cross
• 59:25
  If I go
• 59:28
  To prepare
• 59:28
  A place for you
• 59:29
  I will come again
• 59:32
  And receive you
• 59:34
  Unto myself
• 59:34
  That where I am
• 59:37
  There you
• 59:39
  May also be
• 59:41
  And the Lord
• 59:43
  In his ascended
• 59:44
  Glory tonight
• 59:45
  Through the gospel
• 59:47
  Is assuring you
• 59:49
  And assuring me
• 59:49
  Assuring us together
• 59:50
  That when our trust
• 59:52
  Is in him
• 59:53
  When we live
• 59:55
  Through faith in him
• 59:56
  When we accept him
• 59:58
  As he is
• 59:59
  In all his fullness
• 1:00:00
  For us as saviour
• 1:00:02
  This is our future
• 1:00:04
  What a glorious future
• 1:00:06
  It is
• 1:00:07
  Is it your future?
• 1:00:10
  Is it my future?
• 1:00:12
  Well your relationship
• 1:00:14
  To Jesus
• 1:00:14
  Is what establishes
• 1:00:17
  That for you
• 1:00:18
  Let's pray
• 1:00:19
  We thank you
• 1:00:21
  Lord tonight
• 1:00:22
  That we
• 1:00:23
  Know that you are
• 1:00:24
  Set at the right hand
• 1:00:25
  Of the Father
• 1:00:26
  On high
• 1:00:27
  We thank you
• 1:00:29
  Father
• 1:00:29
  That you sent
• 1:00:30
  The Son
• 1:00:31
  Into the world
• 1:00:32
  That he came
• 1:00:34
  To give his life
• 1:00:35
  A ransom
• 1:00:35
  For his people
• 1:00:36
  We thank you
• 1:00:38
  That all he did
• 1:00:39
  Was acceptable
• 1:00:39
  In your holy sight
• 1:00:41
  And that you come
• 1:00:42
  To give to us
• 1:00:44
  In your word
• 1:00:44
  That record
• 1:00:45
  Of his death
• 1:00:46
  And resurrection
• 1:00:47
  And ascension
• 1:00:49
  To glory
• 1:00:49
  And Lord we pray
• 1:00:51
  That you would
• 1:00:52
  Grant us faith
• 1:00:53
  To anticipate
• 1:00:53
  His return
• 1:00:54
  So that we may be
• 1:00:56
  Ready to receive him
• 1:00:57
  In his glory
• 1:00:59
  When he comes
• 1:01:00
  Make us ready
• 1:01:01
  Lord we pray
• 1:01:02
  For that great day
• 1:01:03
  For your word
• 1:01:04
  Encourages us
• 1:01:05
  To prepare
• 1:01:06
  By using the means
• 1:01:08
  That you have given us
• 1:01:09
  Help us to be thankful
• 1:01:10
  As we look out
• 1:01:11
  Over this fallen world
• 1:01:12
  As we see the devastation
• 1:01:15
  Of this world
• 1:01:16
  As we see the enmity
• 1:01:18
  In men's hearts
• 1:01:18
  Being carried out
• 1:01:20
  In atrocities
• 1:01:21
  And terrible situations
• 1:01:23
  Against each other
• 1:01:25
  O Lord
• 1:01:27
  Point us
• 1:01:27
  We pray
• 1:01:28
  To that great fact
• 1:01:30
  That remains
• 1:01:30
  That you are set
• 1:01:32
  Above all these things
• 1:01:34
  That you preside over them
• 1:01:36
  In your sovereign power
• 1:01:37
  And that you have ascended
• 1:01:39
  To the throne on high
• 1:01:40
  To assure your people
• 1:01:42
  That you continue to reign
• 1:01:44
  And that your will is best
• 1:01:46
  Hear us we pray now
• 1:01:48
  For Jesus' sake
• 1:01:49
  Amen
• 1:01:50
  Well let's conclude tonight
• 1:01:54
  By singing in Psalm 110
• 1:01:55
  It's one of the great
• 1:01:57
  Messianic Psalms
• 1:01:59
  As they're called
• 1:01:59
  Psalm 110
• 1:02:01
  On page 149
• 1:02:03
  We're singing to the tune
• 1:02:05
  Dennis
• 1:02:06
  Verses 1 to 4
• 1:02:10
  And of course
• 1:02:13
  Jesus himself
• 1:02:14
  In the Gospels
• 1:02:14
  Quoted from this psalm
• 1:02:17
  To set forth
• 1:02:18
  His own
• 1:02:19
  Authority and status
• 1:02:21
  As he spoke
• 1:02:23
  To the people
• 1:02:23
  The Lord said
• 1:02:24
  To my Lord
• 1:02:24
  Sit here
• 1:02:26
  At my right hand
• 1:02:27
  Until I make
• 1:02:27
  Your foes a stool
• 1:02:28
  On which your feet
• 1:02:30
  May stand
• 1:02:30
  The Lord
• 1:02:31
  Will make your reign
• 1:02:33
  Extend from
• 1:02:34
  Sion's hill
• 1:02:35
  With royal power
• 1:02:36
  Your rule among
• 1:02:37
  Those who oppose
• 1:02:38
  Your will
• 1:02:39
  When you display
• 1:02:40
  Your power
• 1:02:41
  Your people
• 1:02:41
  Flock to you
• 1:02:42
  At dawn
• 1:02:43
  Arrayed in holiness
• 1:02:44
  Your youth
• 1:02:45
  Will come like dew
• 1:02:46
  Unchangeably
• 1:02:48
  The Lord
• 1:02:49
  With solemn purpose
• 1:02:50
  Swore
• 1:02:51
  Just like Melchizedek
• 1:02:52
  You are a priest
• 1:02:53
  Forevermore
• 1:02:55
  These verses
• 1:02:56
  The Lord said
• 1:02:57
  To my Lord
• 1:02:58
  To my Lord
• 1:03:12
  Sit here
• 1:03:15
  At my right hand
• 1:03:19
  Until I make
• 1:03:25
  Your foes a stool
• 1:03:29
  On which your feet
• 1:03:34
  May stand
• 1:03:37
  The Lord
• 1:03:41
  Will make your reign
• 1:03:44
  Exceed from
• 1:03:49
  Sion's hill
• 1:03:53
  With royal power
• 1:03:58
  Beautiful and high
• 1:04:03
  Those who oppose
• 1:04:06
  Your will
• 1:04:10
  When you display
• 1:04:16
  Your power
• 1:04:20
  Your people
• 1:04:23
  Fall to you
• 1:04:27
  At dawn
• 1:04:30
  The great
• 1:04:32
  In holiness
• 1:04:36
  Your youth
• 1:04:38
  Your youth
• 1:04:40
  Will come
• 1:04:41
  Like dew
• 1:04:43
  And change
• 1:04:49
  And change
• 1:04:49
  And lead
• 1:04:50
  The Lord
• 1:04:54
  With solemn
• 1:04:56
  Power
• 1:04:58
  The storm
• 1:05:00
  Just like Melchizedek
• 1:05:04
  In holiness
• 1:05:05
  That make
• 1:05:09
  You are
• 1:05:12
  A priest
• 1:05:14
  Forevermore
• 1:05:19
  I'll go to the main door
• 1:05:22
  After the benediction
• 1:05:22
  Now may the grace
• 1:05:25
  Of the Lord Jesus Christ
• 1:05:26
  The love of God the Father
• 1:05:28
  And the communion
• 1:05:29
  Of the Holy Spirit
• 1:05:30
  Be with you now
• 1:05:31
  And evermore
• 1:05:32
  Amen
• 1:05:33
  Amen
• 1:06:03
  Amen
• 1:06:05
  Amen
• 1:06:06
  Amen
• 1:06:06
  Ihnen
• 1:06:07
  Well
• 1:06:08
  Amen
• 1:06:09
  Amen
• 1:06:09
  Amen
• 1:06:09
  Amen
• 1:06:10
  Amen
• 1:06:11
  Amen
• 1:06:11
  Amen
• 1:06:12
  Amen
• 1:06:13
  Amen
• 1:06:13
  Amen
• 1:06:14
  Amen
• 1:06:16
  Amen
• 1:06:16
  Amen
• 1:06:17
  Amen
• 1:06:17
  Amen
• 1:06:17
  Amen
• 1:06:18
  Amen
• 1:06:21
  Amen
• 1:06:24
  Now
• 1:06:27
  Amen
• 1:06:28
  Amen
• 1:06:29
  Amen
• 1:06:32
  Amen
• 1:06:32
  Amen