Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Four Cups - One Christ

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Four Cups - One Christ · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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I'm going to give you all a very warm welcome again as we gather to worship God and come under
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his word this evening as we prepare our hearts for the Lord's table tomorrow. We especially
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welcome visitors into our midst this evening and also those who are tuning in online. We do ask
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that the Lord would bless us all together. We're thankful as we were hearing last evening for all
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the heavenly blessings that we have in Christ Jesus. And we come in his name this evening,
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thankful for all that he has done for us. And the psalmist asks a question in Psalm 116,
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how shall I thank the Lord? And he says, I'll offer salvation, take the cup, on God's name will I call.
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And that's what we prepare ourselves for this evening. As believers in Christ, we want to
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remember what he has done for us and to take off that cup of salvation. And we pray that God's spirit
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will help us and stir us up in that. The Kirk Session meets immediately after the service
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in the session room here next door. I'd be delighted to meet with anyone who wishes to join the congregation,
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who wishes to profess their faith for the first time, or either moving into the congregation as well,
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maybe by certificate too. You'd be very welcome to come and meet with us this evening.
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The services tomorrow will be English here in the church at 11 a.m. That'll be led by Reverend
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Murdoch Campbell. And the Gaelic service at 11 a.m. in the seminary, that'll be led by the Reverend
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Murdoch Campbell as well. And after the evening service tomorrow, there'll be a time of fellowship
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in the hall next door where everybody's very welcome to come through for that. And we'll hear
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a little more of both Murdoch and Callum's Christian experience. Again, I'll just give a very warm welcome
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to Murdoch to the pulpit this evening to lead us in our worship. We do look forward to his ministry
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this evening and tomorrow as well, and do pray for him and Callum as they lead us in our worship
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over this weekend, that we would know God's blessing as a people together.
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Well, good evening. It's lovely to be with you again this evening as we gather together for worship.
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I was just thinking as Callum was speaking, it's like the man has just stolen my sermon
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before I've started. So that's our text tonight. Before we even get there, Psalm 116 at verse 13.
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So Callum gave it all away before we reached there. But it's good to be together and it's good to worship
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the Lord together. So let us worship God this evening. We're going to sing to God's praise in Psalm 122.
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I don't think he knew that that's what I was preaching on, but it's always amazing when you're
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sitting behind someone and they just give it all away. It's so encouraging.
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Psalm 122 is in the Scottish Psalter, page 416. We're going to sing the whole psalm.
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As you know, Psalm 122, it's one of the songs of ascent. It's one of the 15 songs or it's a Spurgeon
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called it a psalter within the psalter. Those songs that were sung by the pilgrims as they went towards
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Jerusalem for the feast. And how did they go? They went with joy. How should we come to the Lord's
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feast? We should come with joy. And some of us come with sorrow in our heart. It's not joy instead of
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sorrow. It's joy in the midst of sorrow. It's joy in the midst of hard providence. It's joy in the
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midst of all that we're going through in life. Because as the Bible reminds us, it is only the
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joy of the Lord that is our strength. And that's why the psalmist could say,
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I joyed when to the house of God go up, they said to me, Jerusalem within thy gates,
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our feet shall standing be. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together.
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And to that place, the tribes go up, the tribes of God go thither. So we'll sing the whole psalm of
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Psalm 122. And we'll stand to sing, if you're able, to God's praise.
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I joyed when to the house of God, O what they said to me, Jerusalem within thy gates,
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our feet shall stand in thee. Jerusalem as a city is, come and lead them together. Come to the place that I saw,
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the tribes of God
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Well, let us come before the Lord in prayer.
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Let's pray together.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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We give thanks this evening for those wonderful words we have just been singing.
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Remind us of how we are to come to church.
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And how often, Lord, we come rushing in.
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And our mind is racing and thinking about other things.
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But Lord, enable us, we pray this evening, to stop and to come aside.
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And to rest a while.
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To rest a while at the feet of Jesus.
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And to hear his voice speaking to us.
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Reminding us and reassuring us.
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That he is our saviour.
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And that we are his flock.
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And Lord, we give thanks for what we have been singing there.
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That I joyed when to the house of God.
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Go up, they said to me.
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And we give thanks, Lord, that there is joy in our heart this evening.
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In gathering together in worship.
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In singing praise to our great God.
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And our great King.
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To seek to worship him in spirit and in truth.
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To lift up his name.
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The name that is above every other name.
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Knowing that it will be at the name of Jesus.
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That every knee will bow.
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And every tongue will confess that he is Lord.
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To the glory of God the Father.
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And Lord, whatever providence we are going through at present.
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Whatever trial or tribulation we are facing.
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Whatever struggle or sorrow that is in our heart.
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Help us to know that the joy of the Lord.
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Remains our strength.
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That whatever weakness we may feel in and of ourselves.
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Even weakness and vulnerability.
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And even professing our faith.
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But Lord, help us to know that we find strength in thee.
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And in thee alone.
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The God who gives us strength.
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The God who promises never to leave us.
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And never to forsake us.
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And help us to see this evening that.
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Even as thy word teaches us.
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That therefore with joy.
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Shall you draw water.
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Out of the wells of salvation.
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And help us then this evening.
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To drink and to taste and to see.
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That thou art good.
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And to trust in thee and be blessed.
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To come to this living water.
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And to be refreshed.
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To be renewed.
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To be restored.
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To be reminded once again.
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Of this wonderful saviour.
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Who loved us and gave himself for us.
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And Lord, we pray that even if we have grown cold.
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In our Christian faith.
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Even if we feel distant from the Lord.
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Even if we feel we are not fit enough.
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Or good enough.
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Or worthy enough to come to the Lord's table.
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Remind us Lord, as one of old said.
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That feelings come and feelings go.
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Feelings are deceiving.
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That my warrant is the word of God.
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Not else is worth believing.
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And help us then we pray to trust afresh.
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In the word that remains true.
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The word that remains steadfast.
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The word of the Lord that remains as it teaches us.
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It remains forever.
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Help us to come back to it this evening.
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And to be reminded and reassured.
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That we do love the Lord.
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And that we are to do as thy word teaches us.
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To take the cup.
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That we are to acknowledge that the Lord is ours.
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That we are his.
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That we are to profess our faith.
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And to confess that I love him.
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Because he first loved me.
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Lord, we give thanks to thee for the wonder of salvation.
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Even the fact that we are here tonight.
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That we are trophies of grace.
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And that we are here on a Saturday evening.
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Desiring to be in church.
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Wanting to worship with the Lord's people.
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Because when we look back over our lives.
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When we look back to our past.
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Of what we once were when we were strangers to grace and to God.
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We had no desire to be here.
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We had no interest in the gospel.
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We had no thought of eternity.
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We had no care for our soul.
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We had no love towards Jesus.
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And yet we give thanks this evening.
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That thou art the God who has so worked in our hearts and in our lives.
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By his spirit.
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That as we are taught in thy word.
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That we were convinced of our sin and misery.
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That thy spirit enlightened our minds in the knowledge of Christ.
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He renewed our will.
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And he enabled us and even persuaded us.
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To embrace Jesus Christ.
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As he was freely offered to us in the gospel.
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Oh Lord help us to see what the Lord has done.
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And what the Lord is still doing.
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That he has begun that good work in us.
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And he promises to bring it all to completion.
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At the day of Jesus Christ.
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Help us then to trust him.
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To trust him even in the darkness.
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Knowing that the darkness.
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Is still as light unto our God.
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For thou art a God who is light.
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And in whom there is no darkness at all.
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Help us then we pray this evening.
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To walk even in the light.
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As thou art in the light.
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That we would have fellowship with thy son.
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That we would learn to love him more deeply.
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To walk with him more closely.
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To serve him more faithfully.
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And ultimately to see him.
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In all his beauty.
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Lord bless us we pray we ask.
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Remember those who are unable to be with us this evening.
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Those Lord who are confined to their homes.
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Those who are maybe watching online.
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Whose heart's desire is to be here.
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Whose longing and love is the Lord's house.
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That how often they sang those words.
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That they joyed going to God's house.
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And yet for them providence has it.
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That they are at home tonight.
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Be gracious to them who they are.
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That they would know the peace of God.
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That passes all understanding.
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That they would know grace to be sufficient.
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And strength made perfect.
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Even in their weakness.
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And so Lord we ask that thou wouldst bless us here this evening.
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Bless thy servant over this congregation.
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We thank thee for him.
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Uphold him and support him.
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Strengthen him in the work of the Lord.
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That he would know that his labour is not in vain in the Lord.
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And we pray for the congregation here.
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Even as we see them going about.
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And reaching out to their community.
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Even the Back to Church Sunday Lord.
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We pray for it.
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We pray that thou wouldst give to us as thy people.
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A boldness to invite.
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To call and to entreat.
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People to come.
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And to hear.
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And that their soul might live.
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But Lord we pray also for the youth fellowship that we met this afternoon.
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And we pray for them.
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For these young lives.
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And we ask Lord that even in their youth.
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That they would come and see Jesus.
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That they would come and follow him.
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That they would give the best years of their life.
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To following this wonderful saviour.
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And Lord we pray for our covenant children.
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Because we know that these promises.
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These promises that are in thy word.
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That they are to us and to our children.
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And so Lord our prayer is for them.
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As it has been from the moment they were born.
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Lord our longing is that they too.
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Would come to know this wonderful saviour.
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That they would follow him.
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That they would confess him.
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That they would live their lives for him.
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And Lord protect them we pray.
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Because we know that there are many voices and many vices.
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That call out for their soul.
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But our longing is Lord.
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That they would hear the voice of the good shepherd.
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As we heard him.
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That they would hear what Jesus has to say.
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Because to his folk he speaks peace.
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And Lord we give thanks that the shepherd speaks to us.
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And that he says to us that my sheep hear my voice.
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And I know them and they follow me.
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And I give to them eternal life.
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And they will never perish.
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Neither shall they be plucked out of my hand.
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Help us Lord we pray.
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To keep praying for one another.
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But ultimately to be assured.
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That our salvation is secure.
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In the hands of this good shepherd.
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The good shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep.
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The good shepherd who loved his sheep.
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And who protects his sheep.
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And who walks with his sheep.
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And who watches over his sheep day by day.
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Help us to see that we are the flock of God.
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That we are his flock.
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And the sheep of his pasture.
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Lord keep us then we pray.
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Watch over us we ask.
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Bless thy truth to us this evening as we open it.
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As we study it together.
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And Lord our prayer is that in it we would see more of Jesus.
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That he would increase.
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That we would decrease.
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That we might behold his glory.
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The glory is of the only begotten of the Father.
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Full of grace and truth.
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Oh Lord we give thanks.
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That thou hast opened our eyes.
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But Lord we pray that as we come to thy truth.
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We might have the prayer of the psalmist.
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Where he said open thou mine eyes.
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That I might behold wondrous things.
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Out of thy law.
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So Lord teach us then we pray.
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Bless us we ask.
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And prepare us for thy day tomorrow.
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If we are spared to see it.
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The great privilege it is for us as thy people.
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To sit at the Lord's table.
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And we know we are not worthy.
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We know we have done nothing to earn it.
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We know Lord that.
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Oh there is nothing good in us.
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For as thy word teaches us.
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That from the sole of our foot.
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To the crown of our head.
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There is no soundness in us.
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But Lord we look not to ourselves.
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But to Christ Jesus as our Lord.
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We look to the one who has prepared the table for us.
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We look to the one who is the head of the table.
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And we pray that in preparing ourselves to come to this table.
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We would see him more and more.
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We would see him and love him.
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And want to follow him more.
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We confess oh Lord how much time we waste.
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How often we procrastinate.
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Doing the things we shouldn't do.
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And not doing the things we should.
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But Lord we pray that even this communion season.
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Would be a means of renewing us.
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Would be a means of reminding us of what is important.
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That we are to seek first the kingdom of God.
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And his righteousness.
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Knowing then that all other things.
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Will be added unto us.
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So Lord remember us then we pray.
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Bless those who lead us in the singing.
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We thank thee oh Lord that thou hast given us.
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Even voices to sing.
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That we might show our worth.
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How worthy the Lord is of our praise.
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That we might lift our voices in praise and adoration.
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And sing that worthy is the lamb.
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Who was slain.
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Cleanse us then we pray.
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Take away our iniquities.
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Receive us graciously for Jesus sake.
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Amen.
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We're going to sing again.
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This time in Psalm 116.
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The psalm we're looking at this evening.
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Psalm 116.
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We're singing from the beginning.
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It's on the Scottish Psalter.
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Page 395.
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We're singing from the beginning down to the verse marked 6.
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Psalm 116.
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Psalm 116.
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And as you know it is the confession of the Christian.
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Where the Christian says.
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I love the Lord because my voice and prayers he did hear.
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I while I live will call on him.
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Who bowed to me his ear.
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Of death the cords and sorrows did.
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About me compass round.
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The pains of hell took hold on me.
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I grief and trouble found.
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Upon the name of God the Lord.
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Then did I call and say.
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Deliver thou my soul O Lord.
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I do thee humbly pray.
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I'm going to sing on down to the verse marked 6.
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Of Psalm 116.
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And we'll stand to sing if you're able.
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To God's praise.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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I love the Lord.
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May cross my voice.
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And may urge me dear.
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I while I live will call on him.
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Look unto thee.
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Look unto thee this year.
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O death the cords and sorrows did.
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Have I take help as round.
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The pins of hell took hold on me.
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I leave that trouble found.
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oses empez, glorinated try Levine,
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Especially with other questions of such else on earth.
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O Lord, I do Thee humbly pay.
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O mercy, full and righteousness,
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In which justice is our Lord,
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O Lord, since the King I was brought to you,
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He did me help before.
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I'm now going to read the Word of God,
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as we find it first of all in the book of Exodus.
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The book of Exodus and chapter 6.
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Exodus chapter 6,
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and then we're going to read Psalm 116.
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Exodus chapter 6, we're reading from the beginning,
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and we're reading down to verse 8.
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Let us hear the Word of God.
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But the Lord said to Moses,
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Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh.
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For with a strong hand he will send them out,
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and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.
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God spoke to Moses and said to him,
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I am the Lord.
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I appeared to Abraham,
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I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty,
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but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them.
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I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan,
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the land in which they live as sojourners.
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Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel,
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whom the Egyptians hold as slaves,
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and I have remembered my covenant.
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So therefore,
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to the people of Israel,
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I am the Lord.
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Say therefore to the people of Israel,
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I am the Lord,
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and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians,
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and I will deliver you from slavery to them,
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and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm,
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and with great acts of judgment.
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I will take you to be my people,
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and I will be your God,
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and you shall know that I am the Lord your God,
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who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
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I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham,
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to Isaac, and to Jacob.
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I will give it to you for a possession.
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I am the Lord.
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And then we're going to read also in the book of Psalms,
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Psalm 116.
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The book of Psalms, Psalm 116,
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we're going to read the whole psalm.
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I love the Lord because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy,
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because he inclined his ear to me.
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Therefore, I will call on him as long as I live.
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The snares of death encompassed me.
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The pangs of Sheol, or the grave, laid hold on me.
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I suffer distress and anguish.
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Then I called on the name of the Lord.
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O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul.
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Gracious is the Lord and righteous.
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Our God is merciful.
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The Lord preserves the simple.
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When I was brought low, he saved me.
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Return, O my soul, to your rest.
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For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
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For you have delivered my soul from death,
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my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
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I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
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I believed, even when I spoke.
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I am greatly afflicted.
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I said in my alarm, all mankind are liars.
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What shall I render to the Lord?
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For all his benefits to me.
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I will lift up the cup of salvation
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and call on the name of the Lord.
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I will pay my vows to the Lord
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in the presence of all his people.
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Precious in the sight of the Lord
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is the death of his saints.
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O Lord, I am your servant.
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I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
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You have loosed my bonds.
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I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
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and call on the name of the Lord.
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I will pay my vows to the Lord
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in the presence of all his people,
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in the courts of the house of the Lord,
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in your midst, O Jerusalem.
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Praise the Lord.
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And so on, may the Lord bless those readings
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of his own holy word.
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But before we come back to Psalm 116,
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we're going to sing again in Psalm 116.
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I'm just going to pick up where we left off
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in the Scottish Psalter, page 396.
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Psalm 116, page 396.
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We're picking up at verse 7
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down to the verse marked 12.
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O thou, my soul, do thou return
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unto thy quiet rest.
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For largely, lo, the Lord to thee
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his bounty hath expressed.
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For my distressed soul from death
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delivered was by thee.
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Thou didst my mourning eyes from tears,
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my feet from falling free.
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We'll sing on down to the verse marked 12
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of Psalm 116.
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And we'll stand to sing, if you're able,
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to God's praise.
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O thou, my soul, do thou return
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unto thy quiet rest.
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For our dear, O the Lord, to thee,
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his bounty hath expressed.
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For my distressed soul from death
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delivered was by thee.
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Thou didst my mourning eyes from tears,
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my feet from falling free.
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I am the land of those that will,
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will walk the Lord before.
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I did believe, therefore I say,
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I was a fainted soul.
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I said when I was in my haste,
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that all may my haste be.
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What shall I render to the Lord
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for all this gift to thee?
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Well, if we could, this evening,
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with the Lord's help and the Lord's enabling,
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if we could turn back to that second portion
29:20
of Scripture that we read,
29:22
the book of Psalms and Psalm 116.
29:27
Psalm 116.
29:32
As you know already,
29:33
we're looking at verses 12 to 14.
29:35
So we'll read there.
29:38
Psalm 116 at verse 12.
29:41
Where the psalmist writes,
29:42
What shall I render to the Lord
29:44
for all his benefits to me?
29:47
I will lift up the cup of salvation
29:49
and call on the name of the Lord.
29:52
I will pay my vows to the Lord
29:54
in the presence of all his people.
29:59
As you know, for many Christians,
30:07
Psalm 116 is their favorite psalm.
30:11
It might be your favorite psalm.
30:14
And when you read through this psalm,
30:15
as we did earlier,
30:17
and as we've just sung through most of it,
30:19
it's easy to understand why it would be
30:22
your favorite psalm.
30:23
Because Psalm 116,
30:25
it opens with that powerful
30:27
and even personal confession of faith
30:30
that I love the Lord because my voice
30:33
and prayers heeded here,
30:36
I, while I live,
30:38
will call on him
30:39
who bowed to me his ear.
30:42
And as you know,
30:42
that's the confession of faith
30:44
of every Christian.
30:47
Everyone who loves the Lord
30:48
is someone who follows the Lord.
30:52
And you know,
30:53
I want to say from the outset this evening
30:54
that that's the qualification
30:56
for coming to the Lord's table.
31:00
Because the qualification
31:01
to come to the Lord's table
31:03
is not,
31:05
are you good enough?
31:06
Or,
31:07
do you know enough?
31:09
Or,
31:11
have you followed the Lord
31:12
long enough?
31:14
No, the qualification
31:15
to come to the Lord's table,
31:17
as our Bible teaches us,
31:19
it is simply to believe in your heart
31:20
that Jesus Christ
31:22
is your Lord.
31:24
And you are willing
31:26
and wanting
31:27
to confess with your mouth
31:29
the opening words of this psalm,
31:31
I love the Lord.
31:33
That's your qualification.
31:35
That's your qualification
31:36
for coming to the Lord's table
31:38
tomorrow.
31:41
And you know, my friend,
31:42
if that describes you,
31:45
then you come.
31:47
You come.
31:49
Because even though Psalm 116
31:51
is the personal testimony
31:52
of every Christian,
31:54
it's the personal testimony
31:55
that must also be made public.
31:58
Which is why the psalmist
31:59
says here in verse 12,
32:00
he says there,
32:01
what shall I render to the Lord
32:03
for all his benefits to me?
32:05
I will lift up the cup of salvation
32:07
and call on the name of the Lord.
32:09
I will pay my vows to the Lord
32:11
in the presence of all his people.
32:14
So Psalm 116,
32:16
it calls us right here
32:18
to profess our personal love
32:20
for the Lord
32:21
by publicly sitting at his table
32:24
and partaking
32:26
of the Lord's Supper.
32:29
But this evening,
32:30
I'd like us to think about this cup,
32:33
the cup of salvation
32:35
mentioned there in verse 13.
32:37
Because prior to Jesus
32:38
instituting the Lord's Supper
32:40
for the first time,
32:42
the cup of salvation,
32:43
it was actually one of four cups
32:46
that were used during the Passover.
32:49
Passover.
32:50
And that's what I want you
32:51
to imagine this evening.
32:53
I want you to imagine
32:54
in front of you
32:55
that there's a table.
32:56
I wish I could actually do this.
32:58
There's a table here
32:59
and there are four cups.
33:02
There are four cups
33:03
on this table.
33:05
And each cup
33:06
had a name.
33:08
And each cup
33:09
represents
33:11
God's work of salvation
33:13
in the life
33:14
of the believer.
33:16
And what I want us to see
33:17
this evening
33:17
is that all these four cups
33:20
at the Passover,
33:21
these four cups
33:22
that were used
33:22
at the Passover,
33:24
they all point us
33:25
to the one Christ.
33:28
So I want us to think
33:29
about this evening
33:30
four cups,
33:32
one Christ.
33:34
Four cups,
33:35
one Christ.
33:37
And so when
33:37
the Passover meal
33:38
would take place,
33:40
the first cup
33:41
that was used
33:42
during the Passover
33:43
was this cup,
33:44
the cup of sanctification.
33:46
the cup
33:47
of sanctification.
33:49
That's the first cup
33:49
we're going to look at
33:50
this evening,
33:51
the cup of sanctification.
33:53
Now,
33:54
as a psalm,
33:55
Psalm 116,
33:56
it's actually a hymn.
33:59
Because as you know,
34:00
the book of Psalms,
34:00
it's a book of Psalms,
34:01
hymns,
34:01
and spiritual songs.
34:03
The only reason
34:04
it's called
34:04
the book of Psalms
34:05
is simply because
34:06
there are more psalms in it
34:07
than hymns
34:08
or spiritual songs.
34:10
And so Psalm 116,
34:12
it's a hymn.
34:13
And it's part of a group
34:14
of six hymns.
34:16
They're called
34:17
the Egyptian Hallel hymns.
34:20
The Egyptian Hallel hymns.
34:22
And they are the items
34:22
of praise
34:23
that are numbered here
34:24
in the book of Psalms
34:25
from Psalm 113,
34:27
so 113,
34:28
114,
34:29
15,
34:29
16,
34:30
17,
34:31
and 18.
34:32
So Psalms numbered
34:33
113 to 118,
34:36
they're part of this group
34:37
called the Egyptian
34:38
Hallel hymns.
34:40
And we know that
34:40
these particular items
34:42
of praise are hymns
34:43
because both Mark
34:45
and Matthew,
34:46
they both tell us
34:47
in their gospel
34:48
that after Jesus
34:49
had instituted
34:51
the Lord's Supper
34:52
for the first time,
34:53
we're told there
34:54
that Jesus
34:54
and his disciples,
34:56
they sang a hymn
34:57
and then they went out
34:58
to the Mount of Olives.
35:00
And the hymn
35:01
that they sang
35:01
was the last hymn
35:03
of these Egyptian
35:04
Hallel hymns,
35:05
Psalm 118.
35:07
It was always
35:08
the last hymn
35:09
that was sung
35:09
at the end
35:10
of the Passover meal.
35:11
And it's a hymn
35:12
of thanksgiving.
35:14
That's why we
35:15
traditionally sing
35:16
Psalm 118
35:17
as we come
35:19
to the Lord's table
35:20
because it's a hymn
35:22
of thanksgiving.
35:23
And the Lord's table,
35:24
as you know,
35:25
is a table
35:26
of thanksgiving.
35:27
And the Lord's supper
35:28
is a Eucharist.
35:30
It's a meal
35:31
of thanksgiving.
35:33
And so these
35:34
six Egyptian
35:35
Hallel hymns
35:37
numbered
35:37
113 to 118
35:39
in the Psalter,
35:40
they were originally
35:41
sung during
35:41
the Passover meal.
35:44
And of course
35:44
they're called
35:45
Hallel hymns
35:46
from the word
35:47
Hallelujah.
35:49
Praise the Lord.
35:51
They're Psalms
35:53
that praise the Lord
35:54
for the Exodus
35:54
at Egypt.
35:57
They praise the Lord
35:58
for rescuing
35:58
and redeeming
36:00
the Israelites
36:00
from slavery
36:01
and bondage
36:02
in Egypt.
36:03
That's why
36:04
they are the
36:05
Egyptian Hallel hymns.
36:07
They point us back
36:08
to the Exodus
36:09
at Egypt.
36:11
And you know,
36:11
every Christian,
36:12
we tonight,
36:13
we are to sing
36:14
these hymns
36:15
because we're to
36:16
give our
36:17
Hallelujah
36:17
to the Lord.
36:19
We are to give
36:20
our Hallelujah
36:21
to the Lord.
36:22
Let no one tell you
36:23
that we never sing
36:24
Hallelujah
36:25
in church.
36:27
We give our
36:28
Hallelujah to the Lord.
36:29
We praise the Lord
36:30
because we have been
36:32
rescued
36:32
and redeemed
36:33
from the burden
36:35
and bondage
36:35
of slavery
36:36
to sin.
36:38
Now, as we said,
36:39
on this table,
36:39
there are four cups.
36:41
Four cups
36:42
that were used
36:43
during the Passover meal.
36:45
And these four cups,
36:46
they were all filled
36:48
with wine.
36:49
And these four cups,
36:51
as we said,
36:51
they all point us
36:52
to the one Christ.
36:53
Four cups,
36:54
one Christ.
36:55
And each cup
36:55
is associated
36:56
with the blessings
36:58
and benefits
36:58
that the Israelites
36:59
received
37:00
at the Exodus
37:01
from Egypt.
37:02
In fact,
37:04
these four cups,
37:05
they were all given
37:05
their name
37:06
because of four promises
37:08
that the Lord made
37:10
to his people.
37:12
There are four promises
37:13
that we read there
37:14
in Exodus chapter 6.
37:16
Four I will promises.
37:19
Because the Lord said
37:20
to Moses there
37:21
in Exodus chapter 6,
37:23
he said,
37:24
Say to the people
37:25
of Israel,
37:25
I am the Lord.
37:28
I will bring you out
37:29
from under the burdens
37:30
of the Egyptians.
37:31
I will deliver you
37:33
from slavery to them
37:34
and I will redeem you
37:36
with an outstretched arm
37:38
and great acts
37:39
of judgment.
37:40
I will take you
37:41
to be my people
37:42
and I will be your God
37:44
and you shall know
37:46
that I am the Lord.
37:49
Again and again,
37:50
the Lord says
37:51
to his people,
37:52
I will do it.
37:53
I will save you.
37:55
I will redeem you.
37:56
I will bring you out.
37:57
Not Moses.
37:58
He's my servant.
37:59
I'm going to do it.
38:02
And based upon that
38:03
I will passage,
38:05
there were four promises
38:06
from the Lord.
38:07
Four I will promises.
38:10
I will bring you out.
38:11
I will deliver you.
38:12
I will redeem you.
38:13
I will be your God.
38:15
And those four promises,
38:17
they were the basis
38:17
for these four,
38:19
the names of these four cups
38:20
that were used
38:21
during the Passover meal.
38:24
So the first cup
38:25
is the cup of sanctification.
38:27
Then there's the cup
38:28
of deliverance.
38:29
Then there's the cup
38:30
of salvation.
38:32
And lastly,
38:32
there's the cup of praise.
38:34
And these four cups,
38:36
as we said,
38:36
they were filled with wine
38:37
and they were drunk
38:38
during the Passover meal.
38:41
These four cups,
38:42
they point us ultimately
38:43
to Christ.
38:44
Four cups,
38:46
one Christ.
38:47
And so when the Passover meal
38:48
was prepared,
38:49
there were many elements
38:50
that would have been
38:51
on the table
38:52
among these cups.
38:53
There would have been
38:54
the four cups,
38:54
but there would also have been,
38:56
as you know,
38:56
there would have been
38:57
the Passover lamb.
38:59
Which at the Exodus,
39:01
you know the story
39:02
of the Exodus,
39:03
the Passover lamb
39:04
was prepared
39:05
by shedding
39:06
and smearing
39:07
the blood
39:08
of the Passover lamb
39:09
on the lintel
39:10
and the doorposts
39:11
of their home
39:12
so that everyone
39:13
in Israel
39:14
was sheltering
39:14
under the blood
39:16
of the Passover lamb.
39:18
And then the Passover lamb
39:19
was roasted in fire
39:21
to give this vivid
39:22
and visual pointer
39:24
towards the Passover lamb.
39:26
Our Passover lamb.
39:28
Our Jesus.
39:29
Who would take away
39:30
the sin of the world.
39:32
Another element
39:33
that would be on the table
39:34
would be the bitter herbs
39:36
or the maror.
39:37
That's what it was called.
39:39
And the bitter herbs,
39:40
they were this symbolic reminder
39:42
of the bitter slavery.
39:44
This burdensome labor
39:46
that the Israelites
39:47
experienced
39:48
and endured
39:49
while they were in Egypt
39:50
under Pharaoh.
39:51
And then there's this other element
39:54
that was on the table.
39:54
The unleavened bread
39:55
or the matzah.
39:57
It would have looked like
39:59
flatbread.
40:00
It was made from flour
40:02
and water
40:02
without any yeast.
40:05
And the separation
40:06
of the yeast
40:07
from the dough
40:07
was a symbol
40:08
of separation.
40:10
A symbol of separation
40:11
from slavery
40:13
and sin.
40:15
It was a symbol
40:16
of the Lord's people
40:17
being set apart,
40:19
being separated
40:20
and sanctified
40:21
to the Lord.
40:23
And that's the idea.
40:24
The idea of being
40:25
separated and set apart
40:27
and sanctified
40:27
to the Lord,
40:28
that's what connects us
40:30
to the first cup.
40:31
The cup of sanctification.
40:35
Because as you would have been
40:37
sitting around
40:38
the Passover table,
40:40
it would begin
40:41
by first of all singing.
40:42
You would sing
40:43
the first Egyptian
40:44
Hallel hymn,
40:46
Psalm 113.
40:47
A hymn that begins
40:49
and ends with the word
40:50
Hallelujah.
40:52
Praise the Lord.
40:53
The hymn writer says
40:54
there in verse 1,
40:55
Praise the Lord.
40:56
Praise, O servants
40:57
of the Lord.
40:58
Praise the name
40:59
of the Lord.
40:59
Blessed be the name
41:00
of the Lord
41:01
from this time forth
41:02
and forevermore.
41:03
From the rising of the sun
41:05
to its setting,
41:06
the name of the Lord
41:07
is to be praised.
41:09
Praise the Lord.
41:12
And then after singing
41:12
the first Egyptian
41:13
Hallel hymn,
41:14
the cup of sanctification
41:16
would be taken
41:17
and it would be shared
41:18
among all those
41:20
who were participating
41:21
in the meal.
41:23
And as we said,
41:24
the cup of sanctification
41:24
was based upon
41:25
the Lord's promise,
41:27
I will bring you out.
41:28
I will call you out.
41:31
Because the Lord
41:32
promised his people,
41:33
he promised his people
41:34
is that what he said
41:35
was that he will bring them
41:36
out of the empire
41:38
of slavery in Egypt
41:39
and he will bring them
41:41
into the promised land
41:42
of freedom.
41:43
I will bring you out.
41:46
I will call you out.
41:47
I will separate you.
41:49
I will set you apart.
41:50
I will sanctify you.
41:54
And you know,
41:54
although we can't take
41:55
the cup of sanctification
41:57
at communion,
41:59
is that not what the Lord
42:01
has done for us
42:02
in salvation?
42:04
He has brought us out.
42:07
He has called us out.
42:09
He has separated us
42:11
from the world.
42:13
He has sanctified us
42:14
to himself.
42:16
He has set us apart
42:17
as his saints.
42:20
We don't feel like saints,
42:21
but that's what the Bible
42:22
describes us as.
42:24
We are his saints.
42:25
Paul reminds us
42:26
that we have been brought
42:27
out of the kingdom
42:29
of darkness
42:30
into the kingdom
42:31
of his dear son.
42:33
And Peter tells us
42:34
in his letter,
42:35
he says that we were once
42:36
not a people,
42:39
but we are now
42:39
the people of God.
42:41
We are those who had
42:42
once not obtained mercy,
42:44
but now we have
42:45
obtained mercy
42:46
because we have been
42:48
called out of darkness
42:49
and we've been brought
42:51
into his marvelous light.
42:53
We've been separated
42:54
from the world.
42:55
We've been set apart
42:56
by the Spirit
42:57
and we have been
42:58
sanctified to the Lord.
43:01
You know,
43:02
it's a wonderful cup
43:02
to remind us
43:03
of what we are in Christ.
43:07
It's the cup
43:08
of sanctification.
43:10
The cup of sanctification.
43:12
But then as we move
43:13
along the table,
43:14
we see the second cup,
43:16
the cup of deliverance.
43:18
So that's the second cup,
43:19
the cup of deliverance.
43:20
So after sharing
43:21
the first cup,
43:22
the cup of sanctification,
43:24
after passing it
43:25
around the table,
43:26
they would then sing
43:27
another Hallel hymn.
43:29
And the Hallel hymn
43:30
that they would sing
43:31
is, of course,
43:33
the next one,
43:34
Psalm 114,
43:36
which is a hymn
43:37
that begins with the words
43:38
when you see there
43:38
in verse 1,
43:39
it says,
43:40
when Israel went out
43:41
from Egypt.
43:43
When Israel went out
43:45
from Egypt.
43:46
So it's a hymn
43:47
all about God's wonders
43:48
and God's works
43:50
at the Exodus.
43:52
And then having sung
43:53
Psalm 114,
43:55
the second cup,
43:55
the cup of deliverance,
43:57
that would be shared
43:58
among those
43:59
who were sitting
44:00
and participating
44:01
in the meal.
44:02
And again,
44:04
it was given the name
44:04
because of the Lord's promises.
44:06
The Lord's promises there
44:07
in Exodus 6
44:08
where the Lord said,
44:09
I will deliver you.
44:11
I will deliver you.
44:13
But what's interesting
44:14
about this cup,
44:16
the second cup,
44:17
is that as this cup
44:18
was passed around
44:19
the table,
44:20
the Passover table,
44:22
as it was being shared
44:23
at the Passover,
44:25
the story of the Passover
44:26
would be told.
44:28
The story of the Exodus
44:29
would be explained.
44:31
They would be reminded
44:32
of how the Israelites
44:34
were in slavery in Egypt
44:35
and how they were there
44:37
under the ferocious
44:38
and formidable Pharaoh
44:39
and how the Lord
44:41
sent plagues,
44:42
those ten plagues
44:43
to display
44:44
and demonstrate
44:45
his great power
44:47
and how the Lord
44:48
kept proclaiming
44:49
to Pharaoh,
44:50
saying,
44:51
thus saith the Lord,
44:52
the God of Israel,
44:53
let my people go.
44:56
Let my people go.
44:58
But as you know,
44:59
Pharaoh,
45:00
he hardened his heart.
45:01
He stubbornly refused
45:03
and rejected
45:03
the Lord's command.
45:05
But that was until
45:06
the final plague
45:08
of Passover
45:09
when the angel
45:10
of the Lord
45:11
passed over Egypt
45:12
and every firstborn son
45:14
from the playground
45:15
all the way
45:16
to the palace,
45:17
they all died
45:18
in Egypt.
45:20
The only reason
45:21
the Israelites' sons
45:22
didn't die
45:23
was because of the sign
45:25
of the Passover.
45:26
The Israelites,
45:28
as you know,
45:28
they were sheltering
45:29
under the smeared blood
45:31
of the Passover lamb.
45:33
And the Lord
45:33
had said to them,
45:34
the Lord had promised
45:35
to them,
45:36
when I see the blood,
45:38
I will pass over.
45:40
When I see the blood,
45:43
I will pass over.
45:47
Beautiful reminder
45:48
to us,
45:49
to us,
45:49
is it not,
45:50
of what the Lord
45:52
sees when he looks
45:53
at us.
45:53
not our sin,
45:56
but the blood,
45:58
washed and cleansed
46:00
in the blood.
46:02
You know,
46:02
the sign of the Passover,
46:03
though,
46:04
even for the Israelites,
46:06
it was a public
46:07
proclamation.
46:09
Putting that blood
46:10
on their lintel
46:11
and their doorposts
46:12
was a public
46:13
proclamation.
46:15
Having that blood
46:16
covering them
46:18
was a public
46:20
proclamation,
46:21
which is what we're doing
46:22
this communion season.
46:23
We are making
46:24
a public
46:25
proclamation
46:25
that we too
46:26
are sheltering
46:28
under the shed
46:29
and smeared blood
46:31
of Jesus Christ.
46:32
We too
46:33
are proclaiming
46:34
publicly
46:35
that there is
46:36
a fountain
46:37
filled with blood
46:38
drawn from
46:40
Emmanuel's veins
46:41
and sinners
46:42
plunged beneath
46:43
our flood
46:43
lose all
46:44
their guilty
46:45
stains.
46:46
We are proclaiming
46:48
this Lord's day
46:49
that we have been
46:50
delivered,
46:50
my friend,
46:51
not with the
46:52
corruptible things
46:53
of silver and gold,
46:54
but by the precious
46:56
blood of Christ
46:57
as of a lamb
46:58
without blemish
46:59
and without spot.
47:02
And so after
47:03
sharing the cup
47:03
of deliverance
47:04
and after hearing
47:06
the story of the
47:06
Exodus,
47:07
the Passover meal
47:08
would then be eaten.
47:09
They would then
47:10
enjoy the Passover meal
47:11
with the Passover lamb
47:13
and the bitter herbs
47:14
and the unleavened bread,
47:16
which brings us
47:18
to consider
47:18
the third cup,
47:20
this cup,
47:22
the cup of salvation.
47:24
The cup of salvation.
47:26
So there's,
47:27
on this table,
47:28
our imaginary table,
47:30
there is
47:30
the cup of
47:31
sanctification,
47:33
the cup of
47:33
deliverance,
47:35
and then the cup
47:36
of salvation.
47:37
The cup of salvation.
47:39
That's what he talks
47:40
about in verse 13.
47:41
I will lift up
47:43
the cup of salvation
47:44
and call on the name
47:46
of the Lord.
47:49
The cup of salvation
47:50
was given its name
47:51
again because of
47:52
the Lord's promise.
47:54
The Lord's promise there
47:55
back in Exodus chapter 6,
47:57
the Lord said,
47:58
I will redeem you.
48:00
I will save you.
48:01
I will give you salvation.
48:04
I will bring salvation.
48:06
The cup of salvation
48:07
was given its name
48:09
because of the Lord's promise
48:11
of salvation.
48:13
And the cup of salvation,
48:14
it's mentioned here
48:14
at the close of Psalm 116
48:16
because after eating
48:18
and enjoying
48:19
the Passover meal,
48:20
after sharing
48:21
in this Passover meal,
48:23
they would then sing
48:24
some more.
48:26
They would sing
48:26
the next two
48:27
Egyptian Hallel hymns.
48:29
They would sing
48:30
Psalm 115
48:31
and Psalm 116,
48:33
which as you know,
48:34
and I'm sure you've read
48:35
them before,
48:36
they're hymns
48:36
which confess
48:38
our faith
48:38
and our commitment
48:40
to the Lord.
48:41
They're hymns
48:42
which confess
48:42
our faith
48:43
and our commitment
48:44
to the Lord.
48:45
Psalm 115,
48:47
it begins with
48:48
this confession
48:49
of faith
48:50
and commitment
48:51
to the Lord.
48:53
That our life song
48:54
in this world,
48:56
it's not unto us,
48:57
Lord,
48:58
not to us,
48:59
but do thou glory take
49:01
unto thy naming
49:02
for thy truth
49:03
and for thy mercy's sake.
49:05
And Psalm 116,
49:06
it also begins
49:07
with this confession
49:08
of faith
49:09
and commitment
49:10
to the Lord
49:10
with those wonderful words,
49:12
I love the Lord
49:13
because my voice
49:15
and prayers
49:15
he did hear.
49:17
I, while I live,
49:18
will call on him
49:18
who bowed to me
49:20
his ear.
49:22
But you know,
49:23
Psalm 116,
49:24
it has this confession
49:25
of faith
49:25
and this commitment
49:26
to the Lord.
49:28
And he confesses
49:29
his faith
49:29
and his commitment
49:30
to the Lord
49:31
because as he says
49:31
throughout the Psalm,
49:32
the Lord has listened
49:34
to his longings.
49:35
The Lord has delivered
49:36
him from death.
49:38
The Lord has saved
49:39
his soul.
49:41
Therefore,
49:42
in response
49:42
to the Lord's redemption,
49:44
in response
49:45
to the Lord's salvation,
49:47
he asks the question
49:48
there in verse 12,
49:49
what shall I render
49:50
to the Lord
49:51
for all his benefits
49:52
to me?
49:53
What shall I render
49:54
to the Lord
49:55
for all his blessings
49:56
towards me?
49:58
What shall I render
49:59
to the Lord
49:59
for receiving
50:00
every spiritual blessing
50:03
in heavenly places
50:04
in Christ?
50:05
What shall I render
50:06
to the Lord
50:07
for receiving
50:08
from the hand
50:09
of King Jesus
50:10
what I do not deserve?
50:13
And we are to respond,
50:15
verse 13,
50:16
we are to respond
50:17
by obediently
50:18
and publicly
50:19
making this confession
50:21
and commitment
50:22
to the Lord.
50:24
I will lift up
50:25
the cup of salvation
50:26
and call on the name
50:28
of the Lord.
50:29
I will pay my vows
50:31
to the Lord
50:31
in the presence
50:33
of all his people.
50:36
We are to respond
50:38
by obediently
50:39
and publicly
50:41
making a confession
50:44
and commitment
50:45
to the Lord.
50:49
Now when it comes
50:50
to Jesus instituting
50:51
the Lord's Supper
50:52
for the first time,
50:54
some suggest
50:55
that it was this cup,
50:57
the cup of salvation
50:58
that Jesus took.
51:00
But there are many,
51:01
I've read many,
51:03
differing and diverging
51:04
views on this.
51:05
And what often adds
51:06
to the confusion
51:07
when you read up on this
51:08
is that they all use
51:09
different names
51:10
for these different cups.
51:12
And it takes a while
51:13
to decipher
51:14
which cup
51:15
they're actually
51:15
talking about.
51:17
There was one professor
51:18
in the Free Church College
51:20
a long time ago,
51:21
R.A. Finlayson.
51:22
He was a professor
51:23
of systematic theology
51:25
from the 1940s
51:27
to the 1960s.
51:28
And he wrote
51:29
a brilliant book.
51:30
Maybe you've read it.
51:31
If you don't have it,
51:32
I suggest you go
51:33
to the religious bookshop
51:34
and get it.
51:35
It's called
51:36
The Cross
51:36
in the Experience
51:37
of Our Lord.
51:39
The Cross
51:40
in the Experience
51:40
of Our Lord.
51:42
And R.A. Finlayson,
51:43
he says that Jesus
51:43
used the fourth cup
51:45
to institute
51:46
the Lord's Supper,
51:48
which was the cup
51:49
of praise.
51:50
He didn't use,
51:51
as he suggests,
51:52
the cup of salvation.
51:54
But the fourth cup,
51:56
the cup of praise.
51:57
That's the cup
51:57
I want us to consider
51:58
next then.
51:59
So there's four cups,
52:01
the cup of sanctification,
52:03
the cup of deliverance,
52:04
the cup of salvation,
52:06
and the cup of praise.
52:08
Four cups
52:08
pointing us
52:09
to one Christ.
52:11
One Christ.
52:13
So the last cup
52:13
is the cup of praise.
52:15
And like the other three,
52:16
the fourth cup,
52:17
it's given its name
52:18
because of the Lord's promise.
52:20
The Lord has promised
52:20
His people.
52:21
He's a covenant-making God
52:24
and a covenant-keeping God.
52:25
He makes promises
52:26
and He keeps His promise.
52:28
And He says to His people
52:29
about this cup,
52:31
I will be your God
52:33
and you shall be
52:34
my people.
52:36
I will be your God
52:37
and you shall be
52:39
my people.
52:41
But the cup of praise,
52:42
it wasn't shared
52:43
among the Passover meal
52:46
until another Egyptian
52:48
Hallel hymn was sung.
52:50
This time it was
52:51
the shortest one.
52:51
As you see there
52:52
in Psalm 117.
52:54
It's the Hallel hymn
52:56
that exhorts us
52:57
and encourages
52:58
the nations of the world
52:59
to also give
53:00
their hallelujah
53:01
to the Lord.
53:02
We're all to praise
53:03
the Lord,
53:04
he says.
53:04
We're all to praise
53:05
the Lord for His
53:06
steadfast love
53:07
and faithfulness
53:07
because His love
53:09
endures forever.
53:10
But what's remarkable
53:12
is that this short
53:13
Hallel hymn
53:14
praises the Lord
53:16
and proclaims His promise.
53:19
The promise that was given
53:20
way back in Genesis 12
53:23
to Abraham.
53:25
The promise that
53:26
through the seed of Abraham
53:27
all the nations,
53:30
all the families
53:31
of the earth
53:32
would be blessed.
53:34
All the nations
53:35
and all the families
53:36
would come to know
53:38
this great and precious promise.
53:40
And they're blessed
53:41
says the psalmist
53:42
he reminds us
53:43
because the Lord
53:44
promised His people
53:45
I will be your God
53:46
and you will be my people.
53:50
There's ownership.
53:52
We belong to Him.
53:54
We've been redeemed by Him.
53:57
I will be your God
53:59
you will be my people.
54:01
And so after singing
54:02
Psalm 117
54:03
the cup of praise
54:04
was then shared
54:05
among those sitting.
54:08
at the Passover meal.
54:10
And it was shared
54:11
before they would come
54:11
to sing the final
54:12
hymn of thanksgiving.
54:15
Psalm 118.
54:17
However,
54:18
Ari Finlayson
54:19
the professor
54:19
in the Free Church College
54:20
in the 1940s
54:22
he named the fourth cup
54:23
not the cup of praise
54:24
but the cup
54:25
of the Messiah.
54:27
Because Ari Finlayson
54:28
he claimed that
54:29
when this cup
54:30
was shared
54:30
no one was to drink it
54:32
until the Messiah
54:34
would appear
54:35
and drink it himself.
54:39
And Ari Finlayson said
54:40
it was at this point
54:41
during the Passover meal
54:43
with the fourth cup
54:45
the cup of praise
54:46
or the cup of Messiah
54:47
whatever name you want
54:48
to give it
54:49
it's here that Jesus
54:50
the Passover lamb
54:51
put the Passover meal
54:53
to one side
54:55
as it were
54:55
indicating the end
54:57
of the Passover
54:57
the end of the period
54:59
of the Passover
55:00
and then institutes
55:01
the Lord's Supper
55:03
for the first time.
55:04
Now as I said
55:07
there's many different
55:08
and many diverging
55:09
views on this
55:10
and I think
55:11
it's fascinating
55:12
and that's why
55:13
I want to
55:14
share it with you
55:15
this evening
55:15
because even rabbis
55:16
they disagree
55:17
they debate
55:18
about all of this
55:20
this table
55:21
and these four cups
55:22
and the question
55:24
that they all debate on
55:25
is should there be
55:28
four cups
55:29
or five
55:31
should there be
55:33
four cups
55:34
or five
55:35
and you're thinking
55:36
Myrtle surely
55:36
not another cup
55:37
but you know
55:39
the reason they debate
55:40
and they disagree
55:40
about the answer
55:41
to this question
55:42
is because to this day
55:44
Jews
55:44
when they sit
55:45
and partake
55:46
of the Passover meal
55:47
the Jews
55:48
they drink
55:49
from all four cups
55:51
they drink from
55:52
the cup of sanctification
55:53
and the cup of deliverance
55:55
and the cup of salvation
55:56
and the cup of praise
55:59
and because the Jews
56:00
drink from all four cups
56:02
some suggest
56:04
that there was
56:05
a fifth cup
56:06
a fifth cup
56:08
that like
56:08
Ari Finlayson said
56:10
it remained untouched
56:11
and this fifth cup
56:14
was called
56:14
and still is called
56:15
the cup
56:16
of Elijah
56:18
the cup of Elijah
56:19
now it seems
56:20
that the cup of Elijah
56:21
was actually added
56:22
later on
56:23
at a later period
56:25
and it was added
56:26
later on
56:27
towards the end
56:28
of the period
56:29
of the Old Testament
56:30
and it was added on
56:32
primarily because
56:34
of a promise
56:35
another promise
56:37
in the closing words
56:39
of the book of Malachi
56:39
the last book
56:40
in the Old Testament
56:43
the Lord says
56:44
behold I will send you
56:45
Elijah the prophet
56:47
before the great
56:48
and awesome day
56:49
of the Lord comes
56:50
and so it seems
56:51
that after Malachi's prophecy
56:53
which was about 400 BC
56:54
that whenever the Passover
56:56
was celebrated
56:57
after that point
56:58
the Jews would fill
56:59
a fifth cup
57:01
the cup of Elijah
57:03
and before concluding
57:05
the Passover meal
57:06
the Jews
57:08
they would
57:08
before they would sing
57:10
the hymn of Thanksgiving
57:11
the hymn
57:11
the Psalm 118
57:12
they would go to the door
57:15
the door of their home
57:17
wherever they were
57:18
celebrating the Passover
57:19
and they would open
57:21
the door
57:21
of their home
57:23
and they would open
57:24
the door
57:25
in anticipation
57:25
for Elijah's arrival
57:29
because they were waiting
57:31
for Elijah
57:32
to herald the arrival
57:34
of the Messiah
57:35
and of course the Jews
57:38
they're still waiting
57:39
for Elijah
57:39
to appear
57:41
but this
57:44
also means
57:45
that there were
57:46
five cups
57:46
at the Passover
57:48
when Jesus
57:49
instituted
57:50
the Lord's Supper
57:51
and for this reason
57:53
I believe
57:54
that I was using
57:55
the fifth cup
57:55
the cup of Elijah
57:57
that as Paul tells us
58:00
on the night
58:02
when Jesus
58:03
was betrayed
58:04
he took some
58:05
of the leftover bread
58:07
on the table
58:08
the unleavened bread
58:09
and when he had
58:11
given thanks
58:11
he broke it
58:13
and he said
58:14
this is my body
58:16
which is broken
58:17
for you
58:19
do this
58:20
in remembrance
58:21
of me
58:22
and then in the same way
58:24
also
58:25
he took the cup
58:27
the cup
58:28
of Elijah
58:29
the cup
58:31
of Elijah
58:32
because Elijah
58:32
had come
58:33
we're told
58:35
that when John the Baptist
58:36
appeared
58:36
he preached
58:38
a baptism
58:38
of repentance
58:39
in the spirit
58:40
and power
58:40
of Elijah
58:42
Elijah had come
58:43
the promise
58:44
had been fulfilled
58:45
and John the Baptist
58:47
had claimed
58:47
and pointed
58:48
to Jesus
58:49
saying he must
58:50
increase
58:50
I must decrease
58:51
John the Baptist
58:52
confessed that
58:53
he is the Lamb of God
58:55
who has come
58:55
to take away
58:56
the sin of the world
58:57
everyone knew
58:59
Elijah had come
59:00
and so when Jesus
59:02
instituted the Lord's Supper
59:03
he took
59:04
the cup of Elijah
59:05
and he said
59:07
this cup
59:08
this cup
59:09
is the new covenant
59:10
in my blood
59:12
do this
59:14
as often
59:14
as you drink it
59:15
in remembrance
59:17
of me
59:18
and why are we
59:22
to do it
59:22
my friend
59:23
why on
59:25
this communion season
59:26
are we to do it
59:27
Paul tells us
59:30
for as often
59:32
as you eat the bread
59:33
and you drink
59:35
the cup
59:35
you make a
59:37
proclamation
59:38
and what are you
59:40
proclaiming
59:41
you are proclaiming
59:43
the Lord's
59:43
death
59:44
until he comes
59:46
you are proclaiming
59:48
that you
59:48
worship
59:49
and serve
59:50
a saviour
59:51
who died
59:51
in your place
59:53
and rose
59:54
triumphant
59:55
over the grave
59:57
and God willing
59:59
that's what we'll be doing
1:00:01
tomorrow morning
1:00:02
we will eat the bread
1:00:04
we will drink the cup
1:00:06
we will proclaim
1:00:08
the promise
1:00:08
the promise
1:00:10
that we have
1:00:11
eternal life
1:00:12
and we have
1:00:13
eternal life
1:00:14
through nothing
1:00:15
we have achieved
1:00:16
in and of ourselves
1:00:17
we have eternal life
1:00:19
through the death
1:00:20
and resurrection
1:00:21
of our Passover
1:00:23
Lamb
1:00:23
the Lord Jesus
1:00:25
Christ
1:00:25
and my friend
1:00:27
if you've never
1:00:29
come to this table
1:00:30
if you've never
1:00:32
been at the
1:00:33
Lord's table
1:00:34
you're invited
1:00:36
to come
1:00:36
you're invited
1:00:38
to confess
1:00:39
that you love
1:00:41
the Lord
1:00:41
you're invited
1:00:43
to commit
1:00:43
to him
1:00:44
by partaking
1:00:46
of his supper
1:00:47
because he bids
1:00:49
us to come
1:00:50
to come
1:00:52
and sup
1:00:53
with him
1:00:53
so four cups
1:00:57
or five cups
1:01:00
however many cups
1:01:03
there remains
1:01:06
only one Christ
1:01:07
and that's who
1:01:09
we look to
1:01:09
the one Christ
1:01:11
may the Lord
1:01:13
bless these thoughts
1:01:14
to us
1:01:14
let us pray
1:01:15
oh Lord
1:01:19
our gracious
1:01:20
God
1:01:20
we give thanks
1:01:22
that
1:01:23
wherever we
1:01:25
open the Bible
1:01:26
we find Jesus
1:01:28
on every page
1:01:29
and that he
1:01:30
is there
1:01:31
to be found
1:01:31
all his promises
1:01:33
are there for us
1:01:34
to be claimed
1:01:36
and confessed
1:01:36
his word
1:01:38
is there
1:01:38
to be
1:01:39
lived
1:01:39
and loved
1:01:40
and Lord
1:01:41
help us
1:01:42
we pray
1:01:42
to do so
1:01:43
to do so
1:01:44
as thy people
1:01:45
to be obedient
1:01:47
to the call
1:01:48
of thy word
1:01:48
to come
1:01:50
and take
1:01:50
the cup
1:01:51
and confess
1:01:52
that the Lord
1:01:53
is one who
1:01:54
loved me
1:01:55
and gave himself
1:01:56
for me
1:01:57
that we would
1:01:58
all be able
1:01:59
to say
1:01:59
with the apostle
1:02:00
that I am
1:02:01
crucified
1:02:01
with Christ
1:02:02
nevertheless
1:02:03
I live
1:02:04
yet not I
1:02:05
but Christ
1:02:06
lives in me
1:02:07
and the life
1:02:08
that I now
1:02:09
live in the flesh
1:02:10
I live by faith
1:02:11
in the son of God
1:02:12
who loved me
1:02:14
and gave himself
1:02:15
for me
1:02:16
so Lord bless us
1:02:17
we pray
1:02:18
we ask
1:02:19
and oh Lord
1:02:20
we pray
1:02:21
that thou wouldst
1:02:21
prepare us
1:02:22
for thy day
1:02:23
if we are spared
1:02:24
to see it
1:02:25
that we would
1:02:26
truly come
1:02:27
with joy
1:02:27
into the Lord's
1:02:29
house
1:02:29
knowing that we
1:02:30
do not worship
1:02:31
a saviour
1:02:32
who is dead
1:02:32
but one who
1:02:34
has risen
1:02:34
one who has
1:02:35
defeated death
1:02:36
who has conquered
1:02:38
the grave
1:02:39
and brought life
1:02:40
and immortality
1:02:41
to light
1:02:41
through the gospel
1:02:43
hear us then
1:02:44
we pray
1:02:44
go before us
1:02:45
we ask
1:02:46
for we ask it
1:02:47
in Jesus name
1:02:48
and for his sake
1:02:49
Amen
1:02:50
we're going
1:02:57
to bring our
1:02:57
service to a
1:02:58
conclusion
1:02:58
this evening
1:02:59
we're going
1:03:00
to sing
1:03:01
the words
1:03:01
of Psalm 116
1:03:03
the closing
1:03:03
words there
1:03:04
in the Scottish
1:03:06
Psalter version
1:03:06
Psalm 116
1:03:09
page 396
1:03:19
in the blue
1:03:20
Psalm book
1:03:20
from verse 13
1:03:26
down to the end
1:03:26
of the Psalm
1:03:27
I love salvation
1:03:29
take the cup
1:03:30
on God's name
1:03:31
will I call
1:03:32
I'll pay my
1:03:33
vows now to the
1:03:34
Lord
1:03:34
before his people
1:03:36
all
1:03:36
and then down
1:03:37
to the end
1:03:38
of the Psalm
1:03:38
within the courts
1:03:39
of God's own
1:03:40
house
1:03:40
within the midst
1:03:41
of thee
1:03:42
O city of Jerusalem
1:03:44
praise to the
1:03:45
Lord
1:03:46
give ye
1:03:47
so we'll sing
1:03:47
these verses
1:03:48
of Psalm 116
1:03:49
and we'll stand
1:03:50
to sing if you're
1:03:50
able
1:03:50
to God's praise
1:03:52
my vows at the!
1:03:56
pero praise for it
1:03:59
não Victor
1:04:05
so he'll die
1:04:05
attle
1:04:06
in order
1:04:06
to the George
1:04:11
I give thy answer to the Lord before his people all.
1:04:26
Here in those sight is this instead, thy servant Lord am I.
1:04:42
Thy servant's true, thy learned, it's not, my balance thou didst untie.
1:04:59
The thought of things I to thee will give, and all God's name will call.
1:05:15
I give thy vows back to the Lord before his people all.
1:05:32
When the ender meds of thee, O Saintia, Jerusalem,
1:05:57
praise to the Lord, dear thee.
1:06:07
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father,
1:06:11
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forevermore. Amen.