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The Gathered Church (1) · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Begin our worship now. We're going to sing firstly today from Psalm 122, and that's on page 416,
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singing the whole psalm to the Tune Free Church.
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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. Back to the days of Israel
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in the Old Testament, when they used to go up to the temple to meet together there, various festivals
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and times of worship. And the emphasis in the psalm is one of great joy, which should characterize us
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as we come before God, to be joyous in His presence, to rejoice in His salvation, to actually have our
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hearts stirred as we come to realize the privilege that is ours every time we come together as
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worshipers together. So, Psalm 122, we stand for the singings. If you're able to stand,
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I joyed when to the house of God.
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I joyed when to the house of God.
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Go up, they said to me, Jerusalem within thy gates, our feet shall standing be.
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Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together, and to that place the tribes go up, the tribes
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of God.
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Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together, and to that place the tribes of God.
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To Israel's testimony, where to God's name come to pray, for thrones of judgment came the thrones of the
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of David's house first day.
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Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together, and to that place the earth has been
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filled with us and filled with us. And the land of Jerusalem has been filled with us, and
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the land of Jerusalem may have peace and felicity. Let them that love thee and thy
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And thy peace have still prosperity.
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Therefore I wish that peace may still
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within thy walls remain.
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And ever may thy power see, prosperity retain.
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Now for my friends and brethren's sakes,
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peace be in thee I'll say.
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And for the house of God our Lord,
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I'll seek thy good always.
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Now we're going to join together briefly in prayer.
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And prayer at this point is particularly for the young folks
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and for the Sunday school.
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So let's bow our heads to pray.
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Our gracious and eternal God,
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we give thanks today that we're able to meet in this way here,
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in this place of worship.
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And we give thanks that as we do so,
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we have our young people with us.
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We thank you, Lord, for the valuable place they have in the congregation.
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And we pray for them today as they meet together in Sunday school
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and other activities.
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And we thank you for all who come
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and for all parents who bring children and grandparents
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to be joined together with us in worship
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and to meet together in the Sunday school.
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Bless, we pray, each and every one of these young lives.
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And we pray as they begin a new session
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that you would help those who teach them and lead them
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as we give thanks for them too.
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We ask, O Lord, that your blessing will follow them,
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that they may come to be more and more rooted in your truth,
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that their lives may be developed and be shaped by your word,
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that they may be able to resist the many different ways
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in which the world around us
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seeks to pull us away from those things that are important,
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those things that are conducive to our growth
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in righteousness and holiness and the biblical morality.
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And, Lord, we ask for your Holy Spirit
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to bless all of these young lives today.
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Be pleased now, we pray, to go before us
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in the remainder of the service, hear this, our prayer,
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and pardon our sin for Jesus' sake.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Right, before you go through,
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I'm just going to say a few words to you,
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for the young folks especially.
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It's for the older ones too, I'm sure,
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but it's for the young folks especially.
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Right, hands up, children,
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all of those of you who like spiders.
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Whoops.
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Nobody likes spiders.
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Oh, there's some of the backs, eh?
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Yes, they like spiders.
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Well, we should like spiders.
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You know why?
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Because spiders are really good to remove things like flies
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and other beasties that come into our houses
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and actually might be carrying some disease or other.
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You never know where flies have been
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before they land on your bread or on your food or whatever.
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So spiders actually kill flies.
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They actually, as you know, they weave webs.
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The flies get stuck in the web.
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The spider then eats them.
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Not very pleasant, but it's good to know
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that spiders actually help us in that way.
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Well, there's a story about a spider
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or a man who really was protected by a spider's web.
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Long ago in Scotland, this happened,
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a man was being chased by his enemies.
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The enemies were soldiers.
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And they were chasing this man
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and he was running away from them.
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They weren't really in a great hurry.
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They knew they probably,
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they realized they probably would catch him eventually.
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But he went off at great speed.
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And when he was out of sight,
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where the soldiers couldn't see him,
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he came across a very small cave,
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a very low entrance cave
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that you needed to crawl into
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in order to get inside.
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So he crawled into the cave
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and laid down there as far in as he could
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and just waited to see what would happen.
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And he was pretty sure
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that the soldiers, as they chased him,
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would actually find him eventually.
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So he began thinking about
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what he was going to do
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when the soldiers actually discovered the cave
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and saw that he was inside.
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But as he was waiting for quite a long time,
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a spider began to weave a web
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across the mouth of the cave.
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And pretty soon,
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most of that entrance
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was covered by the spider's web.
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And a while after that,
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he heard voices.
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And these were the soldiers looking for him.
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And they came to this cave
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and he heard one of them
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shouting to another soldier nearby.
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He said,
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there's nobody here.
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Nobody,
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there can't be anybody in here.
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But if anybody had gone into that cave,
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he was thinking,
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it would have broken the spider's web
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and given the clue that he was inside.
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So that spider's web
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protected that soldier,
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protected that man from the soldiers.
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And off they went to look for him somewhere else.
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And somebody wrote,
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when they heard about that incident,
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somebody wrote this.
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If God is on your side,
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a spider's web
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is as good as a stone wall.
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If God is not on your side,
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a stone wall
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is no better than a spider's web.
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We're talking about protection.
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How God looks after his people
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and how believing in Jesus
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brings us into the protection of God.
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It doesn't mean protecting from everything
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that's going to happen to us in life,
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but protection especially
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from the result of our sin,
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where God's own anger,
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where God's own displeasure
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is directed against us
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till we come to believe in Jesus.
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And when we come to believe in Jesus,
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then we're protected from that
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by being safe in Jesus.
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Paul,
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when he wrote to the Romans,
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said,
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there is now therefore no condemnation.
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Teachers can explain that
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to the young ones
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in the Sunday school.
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What's condemnation?
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There is therefore now
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no condemnation
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to those who are in Christ Jesus.
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When we come to believe in Jesus,
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we come to be taken
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into the protective care of Jesus.
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And therefore we are safe.
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We are saved.
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We come to belong to God's people.
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And whatever happens to us in the world,
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we're safe
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because we're then on the way
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to heaven
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where we're safe forevermore.
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So next time you see a spider
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or next time you see a spider's web,
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remember that story.
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Remember to ask yourself,
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am I living a safe life?
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Do I believe in Jesus
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for my protection forevermore?
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Or am I still not one of those
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who are in Christ Jesus?
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Now we're going to say
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the Lord's Prayer again together.
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So let's just say the Lord's Prayer
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before you go through to your rooms.
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Our Father,
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which art in heaven,
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hallowed be thy name.
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Thy kingdom come.
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Thy will be done on earth
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as it is in heaven.
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Give us this day our daily bread.
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And forgive us our debts
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as we forgive our debtors.
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And lead us not into temptation,
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but deliver us from evil.
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For thine is the kingdom,
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the power and the glory forever.
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Amen.
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Let's sing once more now.
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We're singing this time from Psalm 42.
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Psalm 42.
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Again, it's in the Scottish Psalter,
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page 262.
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And singing to the tune,
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Glencairn.
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And in this psalm,
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we find the psalmist who wrote the psalm.
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We find him longing for God.
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He is actually away from the people of God
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at that time.
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In verse 4,
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you can see when he's thinking about
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what happened in the past,
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for whatever reason,
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he's not able to join with God's people,
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the multitude,
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when he went with them to God's house.
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That would be to the temple
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with voice of joy and praise.
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So he's thinking back to that
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and he's longing to be back again
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with those people of God
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as they come together to worship him.
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So it's like us,
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the heart for water brooks
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and thirst at pant and bray.
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So pants my longing soul,
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O God,
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that come to thee I may.
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The heart for the young folks,
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the heart was a kind of deer.
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And the deer,
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when it's out in a desert area,
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especially at times,
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longs to get water if it's thirsty.
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And so the psalmist is comparing himself
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to these deer
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and he himself is longing
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to take a drink of God's word
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in worship with his people.
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Let's sing verses 1 to 5
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to the tune Glencairn
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to God's praise.
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Like as the heart for water brooks,
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in thirst doth pant and bray,
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so pants my longing soul,
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O God,
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that come to thee I may.
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My soul for God,
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the living God,
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that first when shall I near,
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and to thy countenance approach,
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and in God's sight appear.
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My tears have unto me been meed,
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both in the night and day.
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While unto me continually,
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where is thy God they say?
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My soul is poured out to me,
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when this I think upon,
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because that with the multitude
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I here tofore had gone.
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With them into God's house I went,
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with voice of joy and praise,
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yea, with the multitude that kept
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the solemn holy days.
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O why art thou cast out my soul,
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why in this soul is laid?
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Thus God,
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for I shall praise him yet,
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his countenance is mine.
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Now if you turn with me please
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to Matthew chapter 18.
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I'm going to read God's word there
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at Matthew chapter 18,
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the Gospel of Matthew.
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And we're going to read
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the first 20 verses of this chapter.
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Matthew 18, verses 1 to 20.
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At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying,
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Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
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And calling to him a child,
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he put him in the midst of them
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and said,
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Truly I say to you,
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unless you turn and become like children,
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you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
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Whoever humbles himself like this child
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is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
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Whoever receives one such child
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in my name receives me.
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But whoever causes one of these little ones
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who believe in me to sin,
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it would be better for him
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to have a millstone
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fastened round his neck
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and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
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Woe to the world for temptations to sin.
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For it is necessary that temptations come.
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But woe to the one by whom
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the temptation comes.
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And if your hand or your foot
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causes you to sin,
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cut it off and throw it away.
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It is better for you
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to enter life crippled or lame
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than with two hands or two feet
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to be thrown into the eternal fire.
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And if your eye causes you to sin,
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tear it out and throw it away.
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It is better for you
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to enter life with one eye
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than with two eyes to be thrown
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into the hell of fire.
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See that you do not despise
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one of these little ones.
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For I tell you that in heaven
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their angels always see
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the face of my Father
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who is in heaven.
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What do you think?
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If a man has a hundred sheep
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and one of them has gone astray,
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does he not leave the ninety-nine
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on the mountain
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and go in search of the one
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that went astray?
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And if he finds it,
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truly I say to you,
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he rejoices over it
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more than over the ninety-nine
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that never went astray.
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So it is not the will of my Father
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who is in heaven
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that one of these little ones
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should perish.
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If your brother sins against you,
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go and tell him his fault
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between you and him alone.
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If he listens to you,
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you have gained your brother.
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But if he does not listen,
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take one or two others along with you
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that every charge may be established
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by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
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If he refuses to listen to them,
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tell it to the church.
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And if he refuses to listen
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even to the church,
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let him be to you as a Gentile
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and a tax collector.
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Truly I say to you,
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whatever you bind on earth
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shall be bound in heaven,
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and whatever you loose on earth
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shall be loosed in heaven.
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Again I say to you,
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if two of you agree on earth
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about anything they ask,
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it will be done for them
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by my Father in heaven.
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For where two or three
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are gathered in my name,
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there am I among them.
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May God bless to us
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by reading anew of his word
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to his own praise.
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Before we come back
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to look at the final verse
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that we read there,
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verse 20,
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we're going to sing again
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this time in Psalm 87.
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Psalm 87 from the Sing Psalms version
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this time on page 115.
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We're singing to the tune,
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in Sussex.
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On Jerusalem's holy mountain
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he has founded his abode.
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More than all of Jacob's dwellings,
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Zion's gates are near,
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are dear to God.
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Glorious things of you are spoken,
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Zion, city of the Lord.
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Many drawn from all the nations,
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as your people I record.
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When you find Zion in the Old Testament
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referred to in this way,
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it refers to Zion as the church of God
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gathered in different places,
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especially here.
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He's talking here about
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Zion gathered together,
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and how the blessing of God
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accompanies the gatherings of his people,
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and how God delights
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in Zion's gates,
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it says there in verse 2,
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more than all of Jacob's dwellings.
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That's generally been interpreted as
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how the Lord delights
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in the gatherings of his people,
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even more than to meet with them individually.
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So we'll sing these verses,
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Psalm 87,
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to Tune Sussex,
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on Jerusalem,
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Jerusalem's holy mountain.
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Amen.
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Glorious things of you are spoken,
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Zion, city of the Lord.
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Many drawn from all the nations,
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as your people I record.
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I will name as those who know me,
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Egypt, Tyre, and Babylon.
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Eilestine, along with whose sight,
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I will count as Zion born.
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Yes, it will be said of time,
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this and that on here belong,
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and on earth the highest blessing
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will descend and make her strong.
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Born in Zion,
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what will enter?
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Then the peoples register,
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they will sing our family music,
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all my pountains are in love.
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Amen.
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Well, let's turn now for a short time
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to Matthew 18.
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Matthew chapter 18.
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I'd like us to consider verse 20
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of this chapter.
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For where two or three
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are gathered in my name,
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there am I among them.
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This is, of course,
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Jesus speaking to his disciples.
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Where two or three are gathered in my name,
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there am I among them.
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Now, as mentioned in the intimations,
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I want to begin a short series of studies today,
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maybe some 10, 11, 12 studies the most,
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and it's going to be on the theme
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of the gathered church.
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By the gathered church,
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we're going to be looking specifically
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at the church gathered as we are today
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in a congregational setting,
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and some of the important aspects
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of how we gather together
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and why we gather together,
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particularly in worship,
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though there are other activities
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for which we gather together as well.
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And, of course,
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God is gathering his church
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from all over the world.
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According to the promise of the Bible,
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God is busy all the time
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gathering his church together,
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different denominations,
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different countries,
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different backgrounds,
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all of that,
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and building them into the one church of God,
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the one people of God,
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wherever we're based,
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and however much we may differ
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from other different parts of the world.
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So that's one aspect of gathering,
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but here it's specifically referring
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to the gathered church
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in a congregational sense,
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which two or three,
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where they are gathered in my name,
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there I am among them.
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And so we're looking at the gathering
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of the church.
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We're actually very conscious
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of the benefits we've received
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ever since the pandemic
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of having online services
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and having live stream services.
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I don't want to minimize that.
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That's a real blessing from God.
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But it can actually be something
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of a drawback as well,
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because we can come to rely on the fact
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that we don't need to actually
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physically attend
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in order to join with a service
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that's live or that's taking place.
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And what we want to see
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through these studies
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is the importance
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of actually gathering
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physically together
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and the benefits that accrue
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to us from doing that
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compared with actually
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watching a service
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or taking part in a service
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virtually without actually
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gathering with the Lord's people.
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A pastor in Atlanta
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called John Onwuchekwa,
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I think that's how you pronounce it,
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but this is what he said
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at one time of his own experience
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as a youngster.
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He said,
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I thought I hated baseball.
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I watched it to cure insomnia.
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Then one day in elementary school,
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my friends came to the door
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with aluminum baseball bats
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and tennis balls.
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We used cars and landposts
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in our cul-de-sac as bases,
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and we started playing baseball.
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And you know what?
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Baseball wasn't all that bad.
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In fact, baseball was great.
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It was suddenly engaging
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and enjoyable.
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We played for hours,
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and the time just flew by.
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It wasn't baseball I hated.
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It was just watching it.
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What made the difference?
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Participation, he says.
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The worth of the sport
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shouldn't be judged
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by spectating,
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but by participating.
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And I want to change
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that last sentence a bit
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just to swap the word sport
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for the word church.
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The worth of the church
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shouldn't be judged
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by spectating,
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but by participating.
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And that's what we're really about
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in thinking of the church
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as gathered
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or the gathered church
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in the different ways
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in which we can see
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the importance of that.
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Because the Bible tells us
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that it's as gathered together,
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especially as gathered together,
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that we grow
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in our understanding
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of the Bible,
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that we grow
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in our appreciation
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of each other.
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It's as we gather together
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that we actually come
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to grow spiritually
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in our development
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in a spiritual
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and moral development.
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It's as we come together
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and grow together
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and be together
27:02
and meet together
27:03
and discuss together
27:04
and worship together
27:05
that we find ourselves
27:07
using the gifts
27:08
that God has given us
27:10
for the growth
27:11
of his kingdom.
27:13
All of that is packed
27:14
into the important matter
27:16
of being gathered together.
27:19
And you'll notice
27:19
all the way through the Bible
27:20
that you have many times
27:23
plurals used
27:25
to describe
27:26
what God's people do.
27:28
If you go through
27:28
the letters of the Apostle Paul,
27:31
even when he's thinking
27:32
of such things
27:32
as being sanctified,
27:34
being made holy,
27:35
which we tend
27:36
to individualize
27:38
perhaps too much.
27:39
Of course,
27:39
we all need to develop
27:41
individually.
27:42
We all need to grow
27:43
spiritually
27:44
as individual Christians.
27:46
We all need to
27:47
be sanctified individually.
27:49
All of these things
27:50
are important
27:50
in an individual basis.
27:53
But if you go through
27:54
the letters of the Apostle Paul,
27:55
more often than not,
27:57
you'll find him saying,
27:58
these things are done together.
28:02
You are sanctified
28:03
as you meet together,
28:05
as you actually gather together,
28:07
as you are seen together
28:09
and appreciate being together.
28:12
All of that,
28:13
that's why he uses
28:13
the pronouns they
28:14
and we
28:16
and you
28:16
in the plural.
28:19
Pronouns.
28:19
Well,
28:21
they're important
28:21
in today's society
28:23
and for all the wrong reasons.
28:25
But the Bible's use
28:26
of plurals
28:27
is itself
28:28
significant for us
28:30
because it's one way
28:31
in which it reminds us
28:32
that we are a plurality,
28:35
that we meet together
28:36
not as disjointed individuals,
28:38
but as a spiritual body
28:40
of people,
28:42
as the gathered church
28:43
of God.
28:44
And in a world
28:47
where individualism
28:49
has for so long
28:51
been a feature
28:51
of people's thinking
28:53
and people's behavior,
28:55
the church
28:57
in this world,
28:59
the church on earth,
29:00
the gathered church,
29:02
should be
29:02
the least
29:03
individualistic
29:05
body
29:05
on earth.
29:06
There should be
29:09
no room
29:09
for individualism
29:10
here in this congregation,
29:12
any other congregation
29:13
of God's people,
29:15
because individualism,
29:16
as you find it all
29:17
too often
29:17
in the world
29:18
out there,
29:19
really says,
29:20
I'm in charge
29:20
of my own life.
29:22
Nobody needs to tell me
29:23
how to run my life.
29:24
I'll do this
29:25
because it feels right
29:26
for me to do it.
29:28
I'll think of my identity
29:29
the way I want to feel
29:31
about my identity.
29:33
I'll see
29:34
to my genders,
29:35
I'll see to all the things
29:36
that affect me
29:37
as an individual.
29:38
It doesn't matter
29:38
what anybody else says,
29:40
and especially
29:40
it doesn't matter
29:41
what the likes
29:41
of the Bible says
29:42
or the church says,
29:44
I am the boss
29:45
of my own life.
29:48
And as you meet
29:49
together as a church,
29:50
and as we seem
29:51
to meet together
29:51
as a church,
29:52
the gathered church
29:54
is one of the main ways
29:56
in which we counter
29:57
the worldly culture
29:59
of the world.
30:02
That's so important
30:03
to us
30:03
as individuals
30:05
but also collectively.
30:07
So that's where
30:08
we're coming to
30:09
this theme
30:10
from the gathered church.
30:12
And if you come now
30:13
to this verse
30:14
in verse 20,
30:16
Jesus saying,
30:16
for where two or three
30:17
are gathered in my name,
30:19
there am I among them.
30:22
And two things
30:22
really strike you.
30:24
We'll use these
30:24
just as our headings
30:25
briefly from that verse.
30:27
First of all,
30:27
he talks here about
30:28
being gathered
30:29
in his name.
30:32
As many as
30:33
two or three
30:34
are gathered
30:35
in my name.
30:36
So they're gathered
30:37
in Christ's name.
30:38
And the second thing
30:39
that comes across strongly
30:40
is the fact that
30:41
he in these gatherings
30:43
is there among them.
30:46
Christ's presence
30:47
in his church,
30:49
in the gatherings
30:50
of his church.
30:52
And the two things
30:53
are very closely connected.
30:56
Look at the context here.
30:57
It's to do with the church.
30:59
We're not going to go through
31:00
the various parts
31:01
of the passage,
31:02
but you can see
31:03
how it goes
31:04
step by step
31:06
from what he looks at
31:07
as a matter of
31:08
pastoral importance
31:10
or even discipline.
31:11
A brother sins
31:12
against another.
31:13
How you go and try
31:14
and gain that brother,
31:15
reconcile to your brother
31:17
or sister.
31:18
And if he refuses
31:19
to listen,
31:20
then you take with you
31:21
some witnesses.
31:22
You try and do it
31:23
in that way,
31:24
first of all.
31:25
And if that fails,
31:26
then you tell it
31:27
to the church.
31:28
You get the church
31:29
to come in.
31:29
In other words,
31:30
this is a passage
31:31
that's always been regarded
31:32
as a passage important
31:35
regarding the discipline
31:36
that ought to be
31:37
taking place
31:38
in the church.
31:39
Now, don't think
31:39
of the word discipline
31:40
as just punishment.
31:43
Discipline is a matter
31:44
of order,
31:45
keeping order,
31:46
keeping good order
31:47
in the church.
31:49
And it's an important feature
31:50
of the church
31:51
described in the Bible.
31:52
I'm not going to go into that,
31:53
but it's the context.
31:54
That's the context
31:55
in which Jesus
31:56
is speaking these words.
31:57
And then he widens it out
31:59
by talking about
32:01
those who ask God,
32:03
the Father in heaven.
32:05
And verse 19,
32:06
if two of you agree
32:06
on earth about anything
32:08
they ask,
32:09
it will be done for them
32:10
by my Father in heaven.
32:11
And that takes you
32:12
into the area
32:12
of prayer
32:14
and of being together
32:15
in prayer
32:16
and of having
32:17
God's people
32:19
sharing in prayer
32:20
to God the Father
32:21
and seeking His blessing.
32:23
And then it widens out
32:24
even further,
32:25
I think,
32:25
in verse 20,
32:26
where two or three
32:27
are gathered in my name.
32:29
In other words,
32:30
it's moving out
32:31
of the area
32:31
of just looking
32:32
at the discipline
32:33
of the church
32:34
into all kinds
32:35
of gatherings,
32:36
especially worship
32:37
gatherings of the church,
32:38
where two or three people
32:40
are gathered together
32:41
in my name.
32:44
I am there
32:45
in the midst.
32:48
And that word gathered
32:49
is very close,
32:50
actually,
32:51
to another passage
32:52
we'll look at,
32:52
God willing,
32:53
in the course
32:53
of these studies,
32:54
in Hebrews chapter 10,
32:56
where the writer
32:57
to the Hebrews
32:58
was aware
32:59
that some people
33:00
were just drifting away
33:01
and falling away
33:02
from being gathered together
33:04
or didn't want to gather
33:05
anymore with God's people.
33:06
And he says to them
33:07
in terms of their hope
33:10
and their faith
33:10
and all the rest of it,
33:12
don't, he said,
33:13
neglect the assembling
33:15
of yourselves together
33:16
as is the habit of some.
33:20
But all the more
33:21
as you see
33:21
the day approaching,
33:22
he means by that
33:23
the last day,
33:24
the day of Christ's return,
33:25
all the more
33:26
as you see
33:26
that day approaching,
33:28
meet together,
33:29
gather together,
33:30
be together,
33:31
share together.
33:34
And it's very close,
33:35
that word in Hebrews,
33:37
to this word gathered here.
33:39
It really means gathered
33:40
in a sense of worship.
33:42
And one thing
33:42
we need to remember
33:43
is this.
33:44
When we gather together
33:45
in worship,
33:47
we're not just following
33:48
a decision
33:48
on our own part,
33:50
although that's involved in it.
33:52
We meet together today
33:54
by Christ's appointment.
33:57
And that's important.
33:58
We meet together
33:59
by Christ's own appointment.
34:02
Not just that he's foreseen it
34:04
or appointment in that sense,
34:06
but appointment in the sense
34:07
that he wills it.
34:09
In fact,
34:09
he orders it.
34:11
It's a command on his part
34:14
to meet together.
34:17
And so by Christ's appointment,
34:19
that's why he says here,
34:20
meet together in my name.
34:24
In other words,
34:25
we're meeting together
34:26
under his authority,
34:28
by his leave
34:29
and by his express command,
34:31
by his appointment,
34:32
under his authority
34:33
as the Son of God,
34:36
the Savior of his church.
34:37
And in relation to that,
34:43
there's something
34:43
very important.
34:45
And that's the visibility
34:47
of God's church
34:49
in this world.
34:51
The visibility
34:52
of the church
34:54
in this world.
34:55
We are a visible body
34:57
of people,
34:58
but we're not visible
34:58
if we individualize everything.
35:01
Yes,
35:01
our individual lives
35:02
should show
35:03
that we're committed
35:04
to God,
35:05
that we're committed
35:06
to Jesus,
35:06
but it's as people
35:08
come to see us
35:09
gathering together
35:10
and as we do so regularly,
35:13
as they see us
35:14
gathering together,
35:15
then that makes
35:16
an impression
35:17
upon their minds,
35:18
doesn't it,
35:19
that why are these people
35:20
meeting together?
35:21
What is it that draws
35:21
these people
35:22
to be together?
35:23
What is it that they
35:24
actually have
35:26
as they come together
35:27
to worship this God
35:28
that they claim
35:29
is their God?
35:30
That's the way
35:31
of the world,
35:31
but they're seeing,
35:32
they're noticing it.
35:33
Jesus,
35:34
remember in John chapter 13
35:35
in verse 35,
35:37
he says,
35:38
by this shall all
35:39
people know
35:41
that you are
35:42
my disciples
35:43
if you have love
35:45
one for another.
35:48
Now,
35:49
you can't love
35:49
on your own
35:51
unless it's love
35:51
for yourself.
35:54
When he says,
35:55
by this shall all men
35:56
know that you're
35:57
my disciples
35:57
if you have love
35:58
one for another,
35:59
that's love
36:00
made visible.
36:01
And how is love
36:03
made visible?
36:04
Well,
36:04
especially in God's
36:06
people actually
36:06
coming to gather
36:07
together from time
36:09
to time
36:09
to share together
36:10
in the worship
36:11
of God,
36:12
in the exploration
36:13
of God's word,
36:14
in listening to his voice,
36:16
speaking to us
36:16
from the scriptures.
36:18
Yes,
36:18
you can do that
36:19
individually.
36:20
Yes,
36:20
you can do that
36:21
online.
36:22
And I'm not taking
36:22
issue with those
36:23
who simply cannot
36:24
for various reasons
36:25
meet together
36:26
with others.
36:27
That's where
36:27
online services
36:28
are truly appreciated
36:30
and beneficial
36:31
and good.
36:33
But when we can,
36:35
when we don't have
36:35
reasons like that
36:36
not to gather together,
36:39
then the blessings
36:40
of gatherings
36:41
are blessings
36:42
that are noticed
36:43
and make their mark
36:45
to others around us.
36:46
By this shall all men
36:47
know that you're
36:48
my disciples
36:49
if you love
36:50
one another.
36:51
And if you love
36:51
one another,
36:52
then you'll love
36:53
to be together
36:54
is really pretty much
36:55
what Jesus is saying.
36:57
And there's a question
36:58
for us today,
36:59
there's a challenge
36:59
for us today,
37:00
here.
37:02
Do we love
37:03
to be here
37:04
on an individual
37:06
basis?
37:08
Is our presence
37:09
here today
37:10
with others
37:10
just on a personal
37:12
sense,
37:13
just for what I might
37:14
get out of it
37:15
or what I might
37:15
contribute to it?
37:17
Or do we just
37:17
simply love to be
37:19
with God's
37:19
worshiping people?
37:21
That's how it should
37:21
be, isn't it?
37:22
And I'm sure
37:22
that's the case,
37:23
I'm sure,
37:24
I hope,
37:24
for all of us
37:24
here today.
37:25
We love to be here
37:27
because we love
37:28
to be with other
37:28
people who worship
37:29
God.
37:30
We love to be
37:31
with like-minded
37:32
people for whom
37:33
it is so important
37:34
that we gather
37:35
together to worship
37:37
God together.
37:38
For whom it's
37:39
important that the
37:39
world out there
37:40
sees that we do
37:41
love God and that
37:43
we love Him to the
37:43
extent that we love
37:44
to worship Him
37:45
together.
37:47
You see,
37:47
all of that's
37:47
behind this emphasis
37:49
on gathering
37:50
together.
37:51
We're gathered
37:52
together today
37:53
by Christ's
37:54
appointment.
37:55
we're gathered
37:56
together in
37:57
His name.
37:58
He's laid the
37:59
responsibility of
38:01
gathering together
38:01
on us.
38:04
And it's not just
38:04
a responsibility.
38:07
I want us really
38:07
to think, as we go
38:09
through all of these
38:09
studies, indeed all
38:10
the time, to think
38:12
that yes, it's our
38:13
responsibility by
38:14
Christ's appointment
38:15
to come together, to
38:17
share together in the
38:18
things of worship, but
38:20
it's also our
38:21
privilege.
38:21
privilege.
38:23
It's our privilege.
38:26
Because the nearest
38:27
thing you get to
38:28
heaven is not when
38:30
you're worshiping God
38:31
on your own, great
38:33
though that is, and
38:35
you might have very
38:36
heavenly thoughts and
38:38
heavenly experiences
38:39
from the blessing of
38:40
God while you're on
38:41
your knees, when you're
38:42
reading your Bible, just
38:43
yourself and God.
38:45
But the nearest thing
38:47
to heaven is when
38:48
God's people are
38:49
gathered together to
38:50
worship Him, to
38:51
sing His praises, to
38:53
listen to His voice, to
38:54
admire His beauty.
38:56
That's the nearest
38:57
thing to heaven you
38:58
can get in this
38:59
world.
39:00
As we sang in the
39:01
psalm, the Lord
39:02
delights in Zion's
39:04
gates and the
39:04
gatherings of His
39:05
people more than
39:06
all the dwellings of
39:07
the individual Jacob.
39:09
And that's why
39:10
today as we come
39:11
together, here is
39:13
one of the great
39:13
privileges we have
39:15
in life, to be
39:16
able to gather
39:18
together willingly and
39:19
under Christ's
39:20
disappointment and by
39:21
Christ's authority to
39:24
come to be here
39:25
together as the
39:27
gathered church in
39:28
worship.
39:31
Secondly, we have the
39:32
reference there to
39:33
Jesus being in the
39:34
midst.
39:35
Where two or three are
39:36
gathered in my name,
39:38
there am I among
39:40
them.
39:41
Of course, you know
39:42
that Jesus is God.
39:44
He's the second person
39:45
of the Trinity that
39:47
God is.
39:49
And in that sense,
39:50
Jesus is everywhere,
39:51
just like the
39:52
Father and the
39:53
Holy Spirit.
39:54
The one God is
39:55
everywhere in the
39:57
creation.
39:59
And as they are
39:59
everywhere in the
40:00
creation, so it's
40:01
true of Jesus that
40:03
He is as the Son of
40:04
God, as the divine
40:06
person He is, and in
40:08
that sense He is
40:09
present more than
40:10
just in one
40:11
locality.
40:12
But this is a
40:14
specific presence
40:15
that's keyed into
40:18
the gatherings of
40:19
God's people, where
40:20
two or three are
40:22
gathered in my name
40:23
there.
40:24
There.
40:26
Wherever that is,
40:27
there am I in the
40:29
midst of them.
40:30
I am actually there
40:31
present with them.
40:35
The church on earth
40:37
is God's dwelling
40:39
place.
40:40
The church on earth
40:42
is God's people.
40:44
We sometimes refer to
40:46
this building as the
40:47
church on Kenneth
40:48
Street, the free
40:49
church, and it is
40:50
that.
40:51
But that's not what
40:52
the Bible means in the
40:53
highest sense by the
40:54
church.
40:55
The church is not a
40:56
building.
40:57
The church in the
40:57
highest sense is the
40:58
people of God, the
41:00
worshiping people of
41:01
God, the people who
41:02
gather together and are
41:04
gathered as the people
41:05
of God from time to
41:06
time to worship Him.
41:08
That's the church.
41:09
That's where Jesus
41:10
dwells.
41:11
That's where His
41:12
presence is made
41:13
known.
41:15
There am I in the
41:17
midst of them.
41:20
There's a sense in
41:21
which all who are
41:26
God's people, all who
41:27
are saved people of
41:28
God, come to gather
41:30
together with others
41:31
and take Jesus with
41:34
them.
41:34
Why do I say that?
41:35
Because the Bible
41:36
tells us that when we
41:38
come to trust our
41:39
lives to Christ and
41:40
trust in Christ and
41:41
believe in Him and
41:43
look to Him for our
41:44
salvation, we're told
41:45
that the Holy Spirit
41:46
comes to live in our
41:48
hearts and our souls.
41:50
Now, we can't see that
41:51
physically, but the
41:52
Bible tells us it's a
41:53
truth, it's a fact.
41:55
And therefore, every one
41:56
of you today who is in
41:58
Christ, every one of you
41:59
who lives by faith in
42:01
Christ, everyone here
42:02
saved has come to this
42:04
building carrying Jesus
42:06
with you.
42:06
Jesus lives in you.
42:08
And when you come
42:08
together with other
42:09
like-minded people, you
42:11
bring Christ with you as
42:12
you come together.
42:14
I'm not saying that that
42:15
is a complete definition
42:17
of how Christ is present
42:18
in the gatherings of His
42:19
people.
42:20
What's really important is
42:22
not to be able to
42:23
necessarily understand
42:25
all the various aspects
42:27
of that or be able to
42:28
explain all the various
42:30
aspects of how can God be
42:32
with His people, how does
42:34
God live in the hearts
42:35
of His people?
42:36
The important thing that
42:37
Jesus is saying is, I am
42:40
there.
42:42
I am there.
42:45
It's not to be questioned.
42:48
It's not something that's
42:49
spoken of as something in
42:51
the future.
42:52
He's not saying where two
42:53
or three are gathered in
42:54
my name, I will be among
42:57
them.
42:58
Or I will come and go from
43:00
amongst them.
43:00
I am there.
43:05
It's a statement of fact.
43:09
The Lord's also, in a sense,
43:10
a promise as well, of
43:12
course.
43:12
He promises that that's
43:14
what is true when we
43:15
gather together.
43:16
He is there.
43:18
But it's a statement of
43:19
fact that that is where
43:21
He is.
43:22
And it's actually true here
43:24
and now.
43:26
Just pause for a moment.
43:28
Think how amazing that is
43:31
that God, that Jesus, is in
43:38
this building, in this
43:40
gathering, in these hearts,
43:46
that where we are gathered
43:48
together today as we are,
43:50
this is a fact.
43:52
I am there, He says, in the
43:56
midst.
43:56
And you know, that's
43:57
something that should give
43:58
us pause for thought, for
44:00
reflection, for appreciation,
44:03
for thanksgiving.
44:04
As we come through these
44:05
doors and take our place in
44:06
the pew or in this pulpit, it
44:08
affects all of us, whether
44:10
we're preaching or listening
44:11
to the gospel.
44:12
It should be something that
44:13
gives us pause, cause for
44:15
thought, and just to pause
44:17
for a moment, reflect upon how
44:19
this is true always when we
44:21
come together.
44:21
How this amazing fact is
44:24
actually true as God Himself,
44:25
as Jesus Himself says it
44:27
truthfully to us, there I am in
44:30
the midst.
44:33
There I am in the midst.
44:37
And if we haven't thought too
44:39
much of that in coming to
44:40
church today, think about it
44:42
now.
44:44
Think about it as you leave and
44:46
as you go back home or
44:47
wherever you're going to go.
44:49
Think of where you've been and
44:52
that you've been part of a
44:53
gathering in Christ's name and
44:55
by Christ's authority where He
44:57
was present.
45:00
Where He, according to His
45:01
promise and His fact, is there.
45:06
And you can say to people quite
45:07
honestly, quite sincerely, I was
45:11
in a gathering today and God was
45:14
there with me.
45:15
Jesus was in our midst.
45:18
Because that's His own word of
45:21
assurance to us.
45:23
Is there anything better than
45:24
that?
45:26
Is there anything more privileged
45:28
than that?
45:29
Is there anything that you would
45:31
put above that?
45:33
Well, John Calvin, that great
45:37
reformer whose teachings based on
45:40
the Bible, of course.
45:41
The Bible was so important to
45:43
John Calvin.
45:45
And in his writings you find his
45:47
emphasis constantly, his
45:50
emphasis is, is that what the
45:51
Scripture says?
45:52
Is that what the Bible says?
45:54
This is what he wrote.
45:55
He's talking here about this
45:57
promise, where two or three
45:59
calls it a promise, there am I
46:01
among them.
46:02
He says, therefore, this promise
46:05
should stir us up not a little
46:08
to grow into a godly and holy
46:11
unity.
46:12
For whoever either neglects the
46:14
sacred assemblies or separates
46:17
himself from his brethren
46:18
demonstrates by this fact that he
46:23
cares nothing for Christ's
46:24
presence.
46:26
Those who desire Christ's presence
46:29
will meet together in His name.
46:32
Those who desire Christ's presence
46:36
will meet together in His name.
46:38
In other words, if we today are
46:40
thinking, or if people are
46:42
thinking, I really want to have
46:44
Christ's presence, but I don't
46:46
want to go to church, you see,
46:47
that's an inconsistency.
46:50
Calvin is saying, if we really value
46:51
God's presence and Christ's
46:53
presence, if we want to have
46:54
Christ's presence, if we want to
46:56
experience what it's like to be
46:57
aware of Christ's presence, then we
47:00
we must be, he says, regularly
47:03
with the gatherings of God's
47:05
people.
47:07
We cannot separate, you see,
47:10
things which God has tied together.
47:12
And where God has tied together,
47:14
meeting in the name of Christ,
47:17
with Christ being there, we can't
47:21
separate the one from the other.
47:22
We can't say, well, I can have
47:24
Christ, but I don't need to be in
47:25
church.
47:26
I don't need to belong to the
47:27
church.
47:28
church.
47:28
That's taking apart what Jesus
47:30
has joined together.
47:32
And it's so important for you and
47:33
for me always to remember that.
47:37
There am I in the midst.
47:40
I am there with them.
47:41
I am there in their midst when two
47:43
or three have gathered in my name.
47:47
And you notice the emphasis there on
47:48
two or three.
47:50
Where two or three are gathered in
47:52
my name.
47:53
He doesn't say two or three dozen.
47:55
He doesn't say two or three hundred.
47:58
He doesn't say two or three thousand.
48:02
He just says two or three.
48:05
Supposing there was just myself
48:07
preaching the gospel and two others
48:10
here in this church today.
48:13
This promise, this statement of fact
48:15
would still be true.
48:16
That where they meet in his name,
48:20
he is there.
48:21
What an encouragement that is to us.
48:25
Not only an encouragement,
48:27
but a stimulus.
48:28
Because all of these empty pews that
48:30
are still empty,
48:31
we want to see them filled.
48:33
Why do we want to see them filled?
48:34
Because we want to see people
48:36
experience what it is to share
48:38
together in the kind of gathering
48:41
for worship where Christ guarantees
48:43
his presence.
48:44
We want them to come to know Christ.
48:48
We want ourselves to experience more
48:51
of what it is to grow in the knowledge
48:52
of Jesus.
48:54
In our commitment to Jesus.
48:56
In experiencing the love of Jesus.
49:00
All the things the Bible tells us
49:01
are the privileges of God's people.
49:04
We come to experience them,
49:06
to sharing them together.
49:09
And as the gathered church,
49:11
that too is our privilege today.
49:12
That even if it's just two or three,
49:15
we actually can use that
49:18
as a matter before God
49:21
that we seek his presence
49:22
even as two or three.
49:24
Now, please don't misunderstand me.
49:26
I think this has been misused
49:28
over the years as well.
49:31
This emphasis on the twos and the threes.
49:34
Because there are places, of course,
49:37
where there are very, very small
49:39
gatherings of God's people
49:41
faithfully meeting together today.
49:45
And we pray for them
49:46
and we remember them.
49:48
Not just in our own country,
49:50
in our islands,
49:50
but throughout the world.
49:53
But we mustn't take this verse
49:55
and say,
49:55
well, there's just the two or three of us
49:57
and that really, that'll do.
50:00
I'm satisfied with that.
50:02
Because the promise of God
50:03
is it's not about numbers.
50:04
It's not about hundreds
50:05
or thousands
50:06
or dozens
50:07
or whatever.
50:07
It's just about the twos and the threes.
50:09
As long as two and three
50:11
are faithfully meeting together,
50:13
that's really it.
50:14
That's pretty much all we need.
50:15
Is it?
50:18
Well, why do we evangelize?
50:21
Why has Jesus said
50:23
that he requires
50:24
that he requires
50:25
his worshiping people,
50:27
his gathered church,
50:28
to be gathered
50:29
in a sense as well
50:31
to think about evangelizing,
50:33
thinking about
50:34
how do we actually
50:35
transmit the gospel
50:36
and the privileges
50:38
that we have
50:39
as a gathered church?
50:40
How do we actually
50:41
communicate that
50:42
to the world
50:42
in which we live?
50:43
We go forth
50:44
and we evangelize.
50:45
Luke chapter 14,
50:50
verse 23,
50:52
part of that great passage
50:53
that deals with
50:54
the great banquet
50:56
as Jesus described it.
50:58
Invitations given out
50:59
to come to the banquet
51:00
were refused.
51:01
So then others were invited.
51:03
Some of them refused.
51:04
And then Jesus said,
51:06
well,
51:06
go out into the highways
51:08
and hedges
51:09
and compel them
51:11
to come in
51:11
that my house
51:13
may be filled.
51:14
Now, don't
51:14
misunderstand that.
51:16
We don't compel people
51:18
by forcing people.
51:20
We're not in the business
51:21
of trying to actually
51:23
force our views
51:24
upon others.
51:25
We're not here
51:25
because we're forced
51:27
to come to church,
51:28
but we're here
51:28
because we're willing
51:29
and because we want to come.
51:31
And when God
51:32
makes us willing,
51:33
he gives us the mind.
51:34
He gives us the mind
51:35
that's made willing
51:36
to come.
51:39
And so when Jesus said,
51:41
compel them to come in,
51:42
what he meant was
51:43
use every reasonable
51:45
argument you can
51:47
to try and persuade people
51:49
to come into
51:51
the gatherings
51:52
of God's people
51:53
so that my house
51:54
may be filled,
51:55
so that my kingdom
51:56
may be filled up.
52:00
And today,
52:00
as we pray
52:00
for that world out there,
52:03
for those who don't
52:04
come near a church,
52:05
for those who would,
52:07
if God
52:08
wills it,
52:09
fill these empty pews
52:12
that we'd long
52:13
to see filled,
52:15
well,
52:15
he is saying to us
52:16
today,
52:17
well,
52:17
it's your business
52:18
as well as the church
52:19
of God.
52:20
As you gather
52:20
from time to time,
52:22
what you share together
52:23
is not just matters
52:24
of worship,
52:25
but how we're going
52:26
to actually get out there
52:27
and bring the gospel
52:28
to the world around us.
52:31
You share together
52:32
in discussing that
52:33
and thinking about
52:35
how we increasingly
52:37
would want to do that.
52:38
And, of course,
52:41
Matthew's gospel
52:42
ends like that,
52:42
doesn't it?
52:44
He talks,
52:45
Jesus says,
52:46
all authority in heaven
52:47
and on earth
52:48
has been given to me.
52:50
Therefore,
52:51
go and make disciples
52:54
of all nations.
52:56
You see,
52:56
he didn't say
52:57
go and make
52:58
saved Christians.
53:01
He didn't say
53:01
go and make converts.
53:04
That's God's business.
53:06
What he said was
53:07
go and make disciples.
53:10
Gather people
53:10
under the teaching
53:11
of the Bible,
53:12
under the teaching
53:13
of the Word,
53:13
into the worship of God,
53:15
into the gathered church.
53:17
Go and make disciples
53:18
of all nations.
53:19
And how did he finish it?
53:21
And I am with you
53:24
to the end of the age.
53:27
I am with you.
53:29
I will be in your midst.
53:30
I will be with you.
53:31
I will not leave you
53:32
as you go about the business.
53:36
of evangelizing
53:37
in his name.
53:39
I was reading a book
53:40
just now by
53:41
another pastor
53:42
from America
53:42
called Tony Marida.
53:46
It's a book
53:46
that I'm going to be using
53:47
in some ways
53:49
regarding these studies
53:50
as well.
53:51
But he talks about
53:53
how as a congregation
53:54
or as a church
53:55
in America,
53:56
they were supporting
53:57
a church plant,
53:59
new church,
54:00
in Frankfurt,
54:02
in Germany.
54:02
and the pastor
54:04
of that church
54:05
was a man,
54:06
Stefan Poues.
54:08
And he says that Stefan
54:09
one time came over
54:11
to America
54:11
to spend time
54:12
with him,
54:13
with Tony
54:14
and his people
54:15
there in America.
54:17
And on a particular
54:18
Lord's Day,
54:19
he joined
54:19
that congregation
54:21
in worship.
54:23
But then he was due
54:23
to leave
54:24
early next morning
54:25
to go back
54:26
to Frankfurt
54:27
in Germany.
54:29
And Tony said,
54:30
I had to apologize
54:31
to him
54:32
because there was
54:33
no time for me.
54:35
I really wanted
54:35
to show him
54:36
something of the city.
54:37
I wanted to show him
54:38
some of my favorite
54:39
restaurants
54:40
and eating places
54:41
and other aspects
54:43
of the city
54:43
that were worth
54:44
looking at,
54:45
that people always
54:46
went to see.
54:48
So he apologized
54:49
to Stefan.
54:50
Really sorry
54:51
that it wasn't time
54:52
to do that.
54:53
He would have loved
54:53
to have done that.
54:55
You know what
54:55
Stefan's reply was?
54:56
He said this,
54:58
There's nothing
54:59
greater we could
55:00
have done together
55:01
than we've done.
55:03
There's nothing
55:04
greater that you
55:05
could have shown me.
55:07
I just got to
55:08
worship with the
55:10
saints at your
55:11
church.
55:12
We got to enjoy
55:14
the end for which
55:16
we are created
55:16
together.
55:20
There's nothing
55:21
greater that you
55:23
could do today
55:24
than to be here
55:26
as a worshipping
55:28
gathered people
55:29
of God.
55:31
There's nothing
55:31
greater that I
55:32
could show you.
55:34
Supposing if you
55:35
are a visitor
55:36
today I would
55:36
take you around
55:37
all the sites
55:38
of the island,
55:39
show you all
55:39
these wonderful
55:40
beaches,
55:41
show you all
55:41
these great
55:42
sites of long
55:44
ago,
55:45
all these remnants
55:47
of temples or
55:49
brochs or
55:50
whatever.
55:52
Remember what he
55:52
said,
55:53
There's nothing
55:54
greater that you
55:55
could have done
55:56
for me and to
55:58
have me join you
55:59
in the worship
56:01
of God.
56:03
For where two
56:04
or three are
56:06
gathered in my
56:07
name, there I
56:10
am in the
56:11
midst.
56:13
Let's pray.
56:13
Amen.
56:13
Lord, our
56:19
gracious God,
56:20
we have so
56:22
many privileges
56:23
in gathering
56:24
together as your
56:25
word tells us.
56:27
Forgive us, we
56:28
pray, for the
56:28
times when we
56:29
fail to appreciate
56:30
as we should
56:31
to the extent
56:32
we should, O
56:33
Lord,
56:34
how great our
56:35
privilege is.
56:37
And we pray
56:37
that you would
56:38
help us as we
56:39
value these
56:39
privileges,
56:41
to be all the
56:42
more concerned
56:42
and determined
56:43
to be together
56:45
with your
56:45
people as
56:46
often as we
56:46
can.
56:48
We thank you
56:49
for worship.
56:50
We thank you
56:50
for congregational
56:51
worship.
56:53
We thank you
56:53
for the benefits
56:54
of fellowship
56:55
together,
56:56
for the ways
56:57
in which you
56:57
enable us to
56:58
interact with
56:59
each other,
57:00
so as to
57:00
share the
57:01
experiences of
57:02
life and to
57:03
bring these
57:04
also under
57:04
the teaching
57:05
of your
57:06
word and
57:06
spirit.
57:07
We pray,
57:08
Lord, today
57:09
as we begin
57:10
what we
57:11
anticipate to
57:11
be,
57:12
a series
57:12
of studies
57:13
and your
57:14
word's
57:15
teaching of
57:15
the gathered
57:16
church of
57:16
God.
57:18
O Lord,
57:18
of God,
57:19
help us,
57:19
we pray,
57:20
all the more
57:21
to be visible
57:22
in the world
57:22
and to be
57:23
seen as
57:24
your people
57:24
and to be
57:26
concerned to
57:26
transmit the
57:28
gospel and
57:29
its values and
57:29
its teaching and
57:30
its principles
57:31
to this needy
57:32
world around
57:33
us.
57:34
We pray for
57:35
any today
57:36
who heard
57:37
your word
57:37
and have not
57:38
yet come to
57:39
give their
57:39
life to you,
57:40
to come to
57:40
trust in you,
57:41
come to
57:42
receive you
57:43
as you are
57:43
offered in
57:44
the gospel.
57:45
We ask,
57:46
O Lord,
57:46
that your
57:47
Holy Spirit
57:48
will be active
57:48
amongst us,
57:50
teaching us,
57:51
drawing us,
57:52
bringing us
57:53
more and more
57:53
into that
57:55
living fellowship
57:55
with yourself
57:56
through which
57:58
we know
57:58
we come to
57:59
be saved.
58:01
And so
58:01
continue to
58:02
bless us in
58:02
all our
58:02
activities as
58:04
a congregation.
58:05
We acknowledge,
58:06
Lord,
58:06
we come
58:07
together in
58:08
so many ways,
58:09
not only
58:10
for worship
58:10
but in
58:11
other aspects
58:12
of the
58:12
congregation's
58:13
life.
58:13
And we
58:13
pray your
58:15
blessing today
58:15
to follow all
58:17
that we
58:17
endeavor to
58:18
do in
58:19
your name.
58:20
Be with us
58:20
now as we
58:21
spend time
58:22
in fellowship.
58:23
Blessed to
58:23
us,
58:24
we pray,
58:25
refreshments
58:25
provided for
58:26
us.
58:27
Make us
58:27
thankful also
58:28
that you
58:29
look after
58:29
our bodily
58:30
needs so
58:30
well.
58:32
Hear us,
58:32
we pray,
58:32
and pardon
58:33
our sin
58:33
for Christ's
58:35
sake.
58:35
Amen.
58:35
Well,
58:39
let's
58:39
conclude our
58:40
service this
58:40
morning by
58:41
singing to
58:42
God's praise
58:43
from Psalm
58:43
27.
58:48
That's on
58:49
page 32.
58:53
Psalm 27,
58:54
verses 4 to
58:55
6.
58:57
Here is the
58:58
psalmist again
58:59
talking about
59:00
being in
59:01
God's house
59:02
in those
59:02
days in the
59:03
Old Testament
59:03
so that he
59:05
would gaze
59:07
upon the
59:07
beauty of
59:08
the Lord
59:08
as God
59:09
made himself
59:10
known to
59:11
them in
59:12
those times.
59:14
So one
59:14
thing I'll
59:15
plead before
59:15
the Lord,
59:17
and this I'll
59:17
seek always,
59:18
that I may
59:19
come within
59:19
God's house
59:20
and dwell
59:21
there all
59:22
my days,
59:22
that on the
59:23
beauty of
59:23
the Lord
59:24
I constantly
59:25
may gaze
59:26
and in
59:27
his house
59:28
may seek
59:28
to know
59:29
direction
59:30
in his
59:31
ways.
59:32
For in
59:32
his dwelling
59:32
he will
59:33
keep me
59:33
safe in
59:34
troubled
59:34
days.
59:35
Within
59:35
his tent
59:36
he'll
59:36
shelter
59:37
me
59:37
and
59:37
on a
59:37
rock
59:37
me
59:38
raise.
59:39
My head
59:39
will then
59:40
be lifted
59:40
high above
59:41
my enemies
59:42
and in
59:43
his tent
59:43
I'll
59:44
sacrifice
59:44
with
59:45
shouts
59:45
of joy
59:46
and praise.
59:48
And we're
59:49
singing to
59:49
a tune
59:49
Grafenberg
59:50
these
59:51
verses 4 to
59:51
6.
59:52
one thing
59:58
I'll plead
1:00:00
before the
1:00:02
Lord
1:00:03
and this
1:00:05
I'll seek
1:00:06
always
1:00:08
that I
1:00:11
may come
1:00:13
within
1:00:14
God's
1:00:15
eyes
1:00:16
and dwell
1:00:18
there all
1:00:20
my days
1:00:23
that on
1:00:25
the
1:00:26
beauty
1:00:27
of the
1:00:30
Lord
1:00:31
I
1:00:32
constantly
1:00:34
may gaze
1:00:37
and in
1:00:39
his eyes
1:00:41
may seek
1:00:43
direction
1:00:47
in
1:00:49
his
1:00:50
ways
1:00:52
for
1:00:53
in
1:00:54
his
1:00:55
dwelling
1:00:56
he
1:00:57
will
1:00:59
keep
1:01:00
me
1:01:01
safe
1:01:02
and
1:01:02
troubled
1:01:04
way
1:01:06
where
1:01:08
than
1:01:08
his
1:01:09
tent
1:01:10
he'll
1:01:11
shelter
1:01:12
me
1:01:14
and
1:01:15
on
1:01:16
a
1:01:17
rock
1:01:18
me
1:01:18
raise
1:01:21
my
1:01:22
head
1:01:24
will
1:01:24
then
1:01:25
be
1:01:26
lifted
1:01:27
high
1:01:29
above
1:01:30
my
1:01:32
enemies
1:01:34
and
1:01:37
in
1:01:38
his
1:01:39
tent
1:01:40
I'll
1:01:40
sacrifice
1:01:42
with
1:01:44
hearts
1:01:45
of
1:01:46
joy
1:01:47
and
1:01:48
praise
1:01:50
if you
1:01:52
allow me to get to the main door please I'll greet you on the way out
1:01:54
now may grace and mercy and peace from God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit
1:02:01
be your portion now and evermore
1:02:04
Amen
1:02:05
thank you
1:02:27
thank you
1:02:28
Thank you.