12.11.23 am

[0:00] Good morning, a warm welcome to the service this morning and a few visiting faces I see around as well and you're especially welcome if you're able to stay behind at the end of the service please do so it would be good to get the chance to enjoy fellowship together.

[0:17] We're going to begin this time of worship, we're starting slightly earlier this morning so we can observe the two minute silence at 11 o'clock and we're going to begin this time of worship by singing to God's praise we sing from Psalm 46 verses 1 to verse 7 the words are on the screen God is our refuge and our strength and strength is our present aid therefore although the earth remove we will not be afraid we'll stand to sing to God's praise.

[0:43] God is our refuge and our strength in states of the present aid therefore although the earth remove we will not be afraid.

[1:16] Though hills are mist, the seas be cast, though waters roar in vain, and trouble be ye, though the hills I swear in Jesus' name A river is to streams to glad The city of our God The holy place where in the Lord Most high hath his ahog God in the midst of her doth dwell

[2:22] Nothing shall her renew The Lord to her and help her will And that right early prove The heathen race tumultuously The kingdoms move and wear The Lord God uttered His voice the earth did melt For fear The Lord of hosts upon our side Doth constantly rename

[3:25] The God of Jacob's thy refuge A refuge A safe lead to maintain Let's pray for just a moment And then we'll read some scriptures to take us up to 11 o'clock Lord our God We thank you for who you are We thank you that you are The Lord of hosts We thank you that you are our refuge That you are our strength That you are the one Who is on our side And who constantly remains On our side And we pray now That as we read your word That you would speak to our hearts And help us to know That you are God And that you are with us We pray this in Jesus name Amen John 14

[4:26] Jesus said Peace I leave with you My peace I give you I do not give to you As the world gives Do not let your hearts be troubled And do not be afraid Isaiah 14 Do you not know Have you not heard The Lord is the everlasting God The creator of the ends of the earth He will not grow tired or weary And his understanding no one can fathom He gives strength to the weary And increases the power of the weak Even youths grow tired and weary And young men stumble and fall But those who hope in the Lord Will renew their strength They will soar On wings like eagles They will run And not grow weary They will walk And not be faint Isaiah 43

[5:27] But now this is what the Lord says He who created you O Jacob He who formed you O Israel Fear not For I have redeemed you I have summoned you By name you are mine When you pass through the waters I will be with you When you pass through the rivers They will not sweep over you When you walk through the fire You will not be burned The flames will not set you ablaze For I am the Lord Your God The Holy One of Israel Your Saviour Romans 8 If God is for us Who can be against us He who did not spare his own son But gave him up for us all How will he not also along with him Graciously give us all things Who will bring any charge Against those whom God has chosen It is God who justifies Who is he that condemns Christ Jesus Who died more than that Who is raised to life And is at the right hand of God And is also interceding for us Who shall separate us From the love of Christ Shall trouble

[6:27] Or hardship Or persecution Or famine Or nakedness Or danger Or sword As it is written For your sake we face death All day long We are considered a sheep To be slaughtered Knowing all these things We are more than conquerors Through him who loved us For I am convinced That neither death nor life Neither angels nor demons Neither the present Nor the future Nor any powers Neither height Nor depth Nor anything else In all creation Will be able to separate us From the love of God That is in Christ Jesus Our Lord Those who are able Please will you stand As we observe Two minutes of silence Thank you Thank you

[8:04] Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old.

[9:08] Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. We will remember them.

[9:21] Please be seated. And let's again draw near to God in prayer.

[9:32] Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the promise and for the assurance for the experience that we receive as we come together.

[9:49] In the name of Jesus, we thank you that you have promised that you will be with us, and we thank you that we know that you are with us. We thank you that the Holy Spirit lives in all who believe.

[10:03] And we thank you that the Holy Spirit himself is active, even in this room and in this place, as we open your word and as we meditate upon all that we have read and as we seek your comfort and as we seek your strength.

[10:17] We thank you that as we draw near in prayer, you hear us and you receive us. And we thank you, Lord, for all that we have done over these few minutes.

[10:30] We thank you, Lord, for the lives of those that we have remembered. We thank you for the memories that we have of lives that were laid down so that we can have peace, so that we can enjoy the liberty that we have today and we confess that we often take for granted.

[10:55] We thank you for all those who lived these sacrificial lives, who went out into the place of danger, so that we can know safety.

[11:07] For those who died, so that those whom they loved in their homeland would be able to live.

[11:20] When we pass the War Memorial day by day, we see names, many of these names we didn't know personally. Many of these names are names that go back many decades into history.

[11:37] But we thank you for each person, for each life, for all that they did for us. And Lord, we pray for those who grieve.

[11:51] We think especially of Mary in Harris House today and for the family. We are conscious that this is the first year that we have met in this way without Donald being in our community.

[12:08] We thank you, Lord, for his life as the last veteran in Harris, the last connection that we had with that war that we remember today.

[12:20] We ask, Lord, that you would be very near to his family today, that you would bless them and that you would be very close to them and comfort them.

[12:31] And we pray for Harris House and we ask, Lord, that you would be near to each resident in that place. And we pray for all who grieve. We pray also for those who are anxious.

[12:44] We think of families who have loved ones serving in different places at present. We think of the anxiety that they must deal with day to day that we cannot fully enter into and we pray for them.

[12:58] We pray, Lord, for those also who have returned from tours of service in different parts of the world. We pray, especially for those who have returned from service with physical and mental scars that they struggle on with.

[13:16] And we ask, Lord, that you would bless them, that you would meet them at the point of their need. And for all who are in distress of whatever kind on this day, we commit them to you in prayer.

[13:29] And we ask, Lord, that you would meet them, that you would meet each one of us at the point of our need. And we pray, Lord, as you have instructed us for those that you have allowed to be in authority over us.

[13:42] We pray for the king. We pray for the prime minister. We pray for all those in government and different levels of government within the nation. We ask, Lord, that you would grant to them wisdom and we pray that you would grant to them an increasing awareness of the fact that they need wisdom.

[14:02] We pray, Lord, that your word would be opened once more in this nation, that you would draw us back. We confess that we have wandered. We pray that you would have mercy upon us.

[14:15] And, Lord, that we would know once more times of refreshing. And, Lord, we pray for peace. We are conscious that still in the world there is much conflict.

[14:28] We see much suffering. Some on our TV screens that are reported readily. We're conscious also that there are many places in the world where there is ongoing conflict and turmoil and suffering.

[14:41] And very few people see. But you see. And where there is war, we pray that you would bring peace. Where there is suffering, we pray that you would bring comfort.

[14:53] And we thank you, Lord, above all, for the peace that we can know in our souls, a peace which is not of this world, a peace that is not limited to time, a peace that is eternal, and a peace that we receive as we believe in Jesus, the one who laid down his life, who went to the cross to die in our place so that we can be saved.

[15:21] Help us to look to that greater love that we see in Christ Jesus and enable us to know that love in our lives as we pray that you would give us faith to trust him.

[15:34] hear our prayers, take away our sin, lead us and guide us in worship, and we pray all this in Jesus' name and for his sake. Amen. Boys and girls, would you like to come down just for a minute or two today?

[15:50] Amen. It's good to see you all this morning.

[16:13] You come and take a seat over here. So, Shawnee, you feeling brave this morning?

[16:24] Do you want to stand up? And just turn around and face the face the children and the congregation. Is this okay, parents? Yes.

[16:35] They're looking going, I don't know what you're going to do yet. Shawnee, what's different about Shawnee today? And it's not just Shawnee, but it's quite a lot of things. Well, he's got a suit on, so he's looking very smart.

[16:48] He's got a trainer drawn with a suit. I'm not sure that we're that. He's got a pocket. Yeah, is that what you were going to say? He's got a pocket. Thanks, Shawnee. You were an excellent model. So, we look around the church and we see lots of poppies and we've just, the service started differently today, didn't it?

[17:08] What did we do that was different? Shawnee, yeah? One minute silence. Well, we had two minutes of silence. And why were we doing that? Why have we got the poppies on and why did we have the two minutes silence at the service when we don't usually have that?

[17:27] Shawnee, yeah? So, what are we trying to, what are we trying to do? Lydia? We're remembering, aren't we? We're remembering the war, yes, and we're remembering all these people, many of whom who died, some who went away and they came back, but they came back with a whole lot of things that they didn't ever want to talk about that were really hard.

[17:54] And so, we remember people, often we're remembering people that, that we didn't know. We mentioned Donald and we remember Donald in our memories because we, we knew Donald.

[18:08] We, we saw him week by week in the church here for, for years. But there's lots of names in their war memorial and we didn't ever meet them, did we? But they, they laid down their lives to protect us and to allow us to enjoy peace and freedom.

[18:27] And here's a question. Why did they do that? Why did they go to a place that they knew was going to be so dangerous and they knew that they might not come back from?

[18:38] Why did they do that? Well, I think you had your hand up first. To keep us safe. And, and why, why do you think they, they were willing to do that to keep us safe?

[18:49] What, what was, what was behind all that? Fraser, what were you going to say? Pardon? I'm going to say that, that they were fighting to protect the country.

[19:02] They were fighting to protect us. And, what does that say to us about how, what they thought of us at home? Do you think they liked us? Do you think they loved the people that they left at home?

[19:16] Yeah. That's where they went, isn't it? They went to a place of danger. They went to a place where they knew they might not even come back and they did it because, because they loved.

[19:27] They loved us. They loved the people that they knew and they could think of back home and they, they loved the people that would follow on. Sons, daughters, granddaughters that they might not ever meet and they loved us.

[19:40] And listen to what Jesus said in John 15. Are you listening? Jesus said in John 15, greater love has no one than this that he laid down his life for his friends.

[19:56] And that's what we're remembering, people who laid down their life as Lydia was saying. But who else laid down his life so that we could become friends of God?

[20:08] Michael? Jesus. And where did he lay down his life? On a cross. And why did he do it? Because he loves us.

[20:22] And he wanted to take our sin away so that we could be friends of God and we could have life that's everlasting and peace that never ends if we believe in him.

[20:36] So, what do you think we can do in response? If Jesus has done all that for us, what should we do? Well, we remember him and we do that when we have communion, yeah?

[20:50] We pray to him. We want to speak to him. We want to know him. What else can we do? We can read the Bible to listen to what he has to say to us. Surely?

[21:01] We can pray. We can trust him. Can't we? We can believe in him. And we can love him with our lives.

[21:12] So, will we pray again? A short prayer and thank God for all that he's done for us. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all that you did for us. We thank you that you laid down your life because you loved us.

[21:25] And we thank you that when we trust you, we become friends of God and we have the promise that we have life that never ends. Even when we die, we go on to a place where there's never-ending life.

[21:38] We thank you that when we have Jesus, we have peace. Peace in our hearts when we're close to him and peace that never ends. Even when we come to the end of life, we thank you that we go to a place that Jesus promised that's full of rest and peace.

[21:53] So help us, we pray, whether we're young or we're older, to believe in Jesus and to love you, Lord Jesus, with our lives. And we ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen.

[22:04] We're going to sing now and we're going to sing about the love that the Father, God the Father, has for us. Mission Praise 980. The words are on the screen. How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure.

[22:27] How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure.

[22:45] Life keeps you in his only Son to make our wretched treasure.

[22:55] How great the pain of searing loss. The Father turns his face away.

[23:07] As words which are the chosen one, bring many sons to glory. Behold the man upon our cross, my sin upon his shoulders.

[23:38] Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, fall out among the scoffers.

[23:49] It was my sin that held him there Until it was accomplished. His dying breath has brought me life.

[24:06] I know that it is grace. I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no glory, no wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ.

[24:35] His death and resurrection. Why should I gain from his reward?

[24:47] I cannot give an answer. But this I know that though my heart His wounds have made my ransom.

[25:02] Okay boys and girls, you can head through to Sunday school now please. I'll be praying for them as they go.

[25:14] Let's go.

[25:44] 1 John, sorry, chapter 2, the end of chapter 2. Just before we read, I'm just going to highlight four notices.

[26:08] The notices were on the screen before the service began. I'm not going to go through all 27 of them, but if I could just highlight four and I'll leave you to assume you've read the rest.

[26:20] The first is to the elders, just to note that there's a Kirk Session meeting tomorrow night at half past six. Kirk Session meeting tomorrow night at half past six, so please note that.

[26:32] The second is that on Tuesday night there will be the prayer meeting. So that's a radical change, but it's just for one week only. Don't panic.

[26:44] We've got Operation Mobilisation representative from OM coming to speak with us and they're only able to speak on the Tuesday.

[26:54] So we're changing the prayer meeting from the Wednesday to the Tuesday for this week only. So that will be half past seven here in the church and the Scalpy congregation will join with us for Tuesday night also.

[27:08] So half past seven, the prayer meeting will be here on Tuesday. Road to Recovery will be rescheduled. We'll change the time slightly so those who attend that will hear of that in due course.

[27:23] Next Sunday, another change. The morning service will be as usual and I'll take that service, God willing. The evening service will be Gaelic, the monthly Gaelic service.

[27:34] Now, that's a week earlier than we would usually have. The reason for that is that there's a youth camp in Scaladale on the last Sunday of the month and they've asked to come and have the evening service with us.

[27:47] So we're switching the Gaelic from the fourth to the third and we'll have the English service as the last Sunday of the month this month and we'll have the young folks joining us for that Sunday evening.

[28:01] And the last thing to note is that the Congregational Thanksgiving meal which is scheduled for the 23rd of November, just put that in your diary, that's a week on Thursday, I think.

[28:11] And it's team two that are on duty. So those who are in team two can note that and we will look forward to all that is brought on that evening.

[28:24] So these are the four notices. The rest you can just, I assume you've read through at your own convenience. We'll read now from God's word and we'll read 1 John chapter 2 and from verse 28 through to the end of chapter 3.

[28:42] In the NIV it's entitled Children of God. And now dear children, continue in him so that when he appears, him, that's Jesus, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at this coming.

[29:00] If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God and that is what we are.

[29:13] The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him.

[29:26] For we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law. In fact, sin is lawlessness but you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins and in him is no sin.

[29:44] The one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous just as he is righteous.

[29:58] He who does what is sinful is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

[30:09] No one who is born of God will continue to sin because God's seed remains in him. He cannot go on sinning because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are.

[30:23] Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God nor is anyone who does not love his brother. This is the message you heard from the beginning. We should love one another.

[30:35] Do not be like Cain who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brothers were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

[30:48] We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer.

[30:58] And you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. This is how we know what love is. Jesus Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

[31:13] If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

[31:26] this then is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything.

[31:39] Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

[31:50] and this is his command to believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him and he in them and this is how we know that he lives in us.

[32:07] We know it by the spirit he gave us. Amen. And may God bless that reading of his word to us. We're going to sing again now to God's praise and we'll sing again from Psalm 46.

[32:22] We'll sing verses 10 and 11, the last two stanzas in Gaelic. Be still and know that I am God among the heathen eye will be exalted. I on earth will be exalted high.

[32:33] Our God who is the Lord of hosts is still upon our side. The God of Jacob our refuge forever will abide. These two verses of Psalm 46 will remain seated to sing in Gaelic.

[32:47] Z Ofㅠㅠ I shall suffer and my duty is still upon us in to the end CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS

[34:11] CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS

[35:29] If you could turn back with me please now to the chapter that we read.

[35:46] And let's pray again as we turn back to God's Word. Heavenly Father we thank you for your Word and we thank you for the Spirit that you have given to us.

[36:00] We thank you that the same Holy Spirit who inspired the mind of John and who moved the hand of the pen as he wrote. It's the same Spirit who lives within us and who has promised to be our teacher as we study your Word.

[36:15] And we ask Holy Spirit that you would enlighten our minds, that you would touch our hearts, that you would speak with the voice that wakes the dead and make the people hear.

[36:27] We acknowledge Lord that we are dead in sin until you do a work in our lives to awaken us and to show us our sin. And to show us Jesus and the beauty of Christ and the work of Christ.

[36:43] All that was done to save us. So speak to us Lord we pray. Help us. We pray for the young ones in Sunday school and in creche. We ask Lord that you would draw near to them.

[36:55] That those who are being taught would understand and they would believe in the early years. And for the wee ones in creche even as they grow up and as they begin to have an awareness of their surroundings.

[37:06] We ask Lord that they would grow up knowing and singing that Jesus loves them, this they know. For the Bible tells them so. So we pray for these young lives.

[37:16] We pray for the congregations around us as well. Different denominations and whatever the gospel is preached. And we thank you Lord that it's preached in this community. In all the different places.

[37:28] We ask that you would be adding your blessing Lord. That you would be speaking. That you would be building your church. And for every place across the nation and in all nations.

[37:40] Especially where there's persecution. We ask Lord that you would be working. That you would be blessing your people. We pray for those in need today. We are mindful of those who are grieving.

[37:51] Those whose minds go way back through the years. To difficult times. And we pray for your comfort for them. As we pray for your comfort for those who are grieving.

[38:02] For loved ones lost in past days. And past months. Comfort them we pray. We pray on for those in hospital. For those who are in care homes.

[38:12] For those who may be heading towards care homes. You know each family and each situation Lord. We ask that where it is your will to heal Lord. That your hand of healing would be upon those who are struggling.

[38:25] And where perhaps the years in this world are coming towards an end. We pray that all those that we think of and pray for.

[38:35] Would know your peace and your grace. That grace that is sufficient. To take us through time. And into eternity. Pray for those who are anxious Lord.

[38:45] You know our anxieties. You know our struggles. We thank you that we so often sing. What a friend. In Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything.

[38:57] To God in prayer. Oh what peace we often forfeit. Oh what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything. To God in prayer. So we take the everythings this morning.

[39:09] The things perhaps that we don't speak to others about. The things that weigh heavy upon us. We know Lord that you have not built us to carry these burdens. And so we cast all our cares upon you.

[39:23] Thankful for the fact that you care for us. And we thank you for the cross. Where we see the extent of your love and your care for us. So take us Lord.

[39:34] There we pray. That those who are still out of Christ. May be brought into Christ. Through the work that is completed. And that those who are in Christ Lord.

[39:46] That we would have a fresh vision. Of your love for us. That would drive us to worship you. With everything that we have. Hear our prayers. Help us we ask. In Jesus name. Amen.

[39:56] Amen. I think it was a week last Sunday. In the evening. And the Reverend Dolan.

[40:09] Was preaching here. At a Gaelic service. And he spotted a few Philistines. In the congregation. Those who couldn't speak Gaelic. Me being one of them. And it essentially became a bilingual service.

[40:21] Where he was preaching Gaelic. But he was putting in more than a small smattering. Of English. And in that sermon. He made reference to a book that he was given by a friend.

[40:33] By someone called Brownlow North. And Brownlow North was a minister. He was a preacher. And he was known for various things. And one of the things he was known for.

[40:44] Was he invariably preached from the same text. He preached from the same text. Over and over and over again. And the text was John 3.16.

[40:57] Jesus speaking to Nicodemus says. You must be born again. And people would ask him. From time to time. Somewhat perplexed.

[41:07] Somewhat irritated. Why do you keep on preaching. From the same text. You must be born again. And he would always reply. By locking his eyes on them.

[41:18] And saying. Because you must. Be born again. Now we're coming back to John's letter. This morning. And he's writing to people far away.

[41:30] In AD 85 to 95. Somewhere around about there. But he's also writing to us. In AD 2023. And why is he writing this letter.

[41:41] Well he's told us. Very clearly why he's writing this letter. The purpose of the letter. Is in chapter 5. In verse 13. He wants us to know. Beyond any doubt.

[41:53] He wants us to know. That we have eternal life. And God uses John. To search our hearts. And to pose questions. That help us diagnose.

[42:04] Whether or not we are saved. So as we read this letter. That was inspired by the Holy Spirit. That was intended for people.

[42:15] All through the generations. That's landed in our laps this morning. God the Holy Spirit. Uses John. To help us to know.

[42:28] Whether or not we're saved. And John in this letter. He poses various questions. That we've considered over the last.

[42:38] Couple of weeks. And the question that John. Begins this next section with. Is the question that Jesus put to Nicodemus. In John chapter 3. It's the question that Brownlow North.

[42:50] Preached on over and over again. And it's the question. Are you born again? To question number one this morning. Point number one. Are you.

[43:02] Are we. Born again? And that's the message that comes through. As we allow our eyes to scan. From chapter 2 verse 28.

[43:13] Down to chapter 3 verse 10. So just read with me again. The text. And now dear children. Note that. Think about born again.

[43:25] This is the theme. Think about how John. Addresses. Us. Those who are in Christ. And now. Dear children. Continue in him. So that when he appears.

[43:35] You may be confident. And unashamed before him. At his coming. If you know that he is righteous. You know that everyone. Who does what is right. Has been born. Of him.

[43:46] How great is the love. The father. Has lavished on us. That we should be called. Children. Of God.

[43:58] And that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us. Is that it did not know him. Dear friends. Now we are children. Of God. And what we will be.

[44:09] Has not yet been made known. But we know. That when he appears. We shall be like him. For we shall see him. As he is. Everyone who has this hope. In him.

[44:20] Purifies himself. Just as he is pure. Everyone who sins. Breaks the law. In fact. Sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appears. That he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who keeps on.

[44:32] No one who lives in him. Keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin. Has either seen him. Or known him. Again verse 7. Dear children. Do not let anyone lead you astray.

[44:44] He who does what is right. Is righteous. Just as he is righteous. And then if you scan down further. Again in verse 9. We see that phrase. Born of God. Twice. Verse 10.

[44:57] This is how we know. Who the children of God are. So you might be scanning through. These verses. And saying. I don't hear John.

[45:09] I'm asking this exact question. Are you born again? But that's what he's getting at. Repeatedly. The term that John uses.

[45:22] To address those who are in Christ. Is children. Verse 28. Children. Verse 1. Children of God. Verse 2. Children of God. Verse 7.

[45:33] Dear children. Verse 10. Children of God. And John speaks repeatedly. About being born of him. Verse 29. Verse 9. John speaks twice in the one verse.

[45:43] About being born of God. So through these references. John is asking me. And he is asking you. Are you born again?

[45:58] Are you a child of God? And that's the most important question. You can ever be asked. It's the most important question.

[46:11] That you'll ever answer. Because eternal life. Is the gift. That is given.

[46:22] To children. Of God. We see sometimes. In families. That gifts are passed down. From generation. To generation.

[46:34] When I was heading back. From. From Oban. I called the Inverness. And I was picking up. One or two things. And just as I was going out the drive. Mary's dad arrived.

[46:45] With a beautiful ottoman. It's about this size. It's various shades of beige. And sort of. Off pink and cream. And he says.

[46:56] This has got to go in the boot of the car. It's a gift from. It was Mary's granny's. And then it was her mum's. And Mary wants it now. I said. Did Mary say that? Oh yes.

[47:06] She said it. Yes. Get it in the car. I had my doubts. And anyway. The thing. Travelled with me. From Inverness. Back to Harris. And it's a. It's a precious gift.

[47:19] That has been passed down. From generation to generation. How precious it is. Is arguable. But you know what I'm getting at. There are precious gifts. Whether. There are family homes.

[47:30] Whether there are. Pieces of jewellery. Or watches. Or paintings. And they're passed on. Within a family line. They go through the generations.

[47:40] And children. In the family. Receive them. They don't earn them. They don't pay for them. They. They're given them. And the eternal life.

[47:54] That God wants us to know. That we have. The eternal life. That John has written this letter. To. To address. To give us the assurance.

[48:04] That we have it. It's not earned. No one who has a place in heaven. Has ever earned that place. No one who's in heaven today.

[48:17] Or no one who's going to get to heaven. Eventually. Is going to get there. Because of hard graft. No one who gets to heaven. Is going to get there. Because. They've paid.

[48:27] A certain fee. Those who are in heaven. Those who. Have eternal life. Have it because. It's a gift that they have received.

[48:38] It's a precious gift. It's a gift with a price tag. That is. Is more than we can comprehend.

[48:51] It was paid for. By the precious blood. Of Christ. He laid down his life. So that we could have. Eternal life. And that eternal life.

[49:02] Is graciously given. To children of God. To those who have been born again. So are you born again?

[49:18] Will you be born again? How do we know? John's writing to give us. Markers. That we can.

[49:30] Examine ourselves with. To see. That we are born again. And I'm going to give you six. In the next. Few minutes. Six markers.

[49:42] Six things. That we can look for. In ourselves. That indicate. That we are born again. Marker one. It's in verse 28. Those who are born again.

[49:55] They continue in him. It's the language that John uses. They continue in him. They continue in Christ. There's perseverance. They keep on keeping on. In their walk.

[50:05] With Jesus. Now there are many people. Who have an experience. With Jesus. And it may. Be an experience. That was profound. And it affected them.

[50:17] For a period. But it didn't change them. Think about the crowds. That we see in the gospels. These crowds. They saw amazing things.

[50:27] They heard the sermons. That Jesus preached. They received healing. From the touch of Jesus. They even ate the bread. That Jesus. Miraculously created.

[50:38] In the feeding. Of the five thousand. But most of these crowds. Were never born again. Because in John 6. 66.

[50:48] We learn that. That the vast majority. Of these huge crowds. They turned away. And Jesus. Remember. Turns to his disciples. And he says. Are you going to go away too? But they don't go.

[51:00] Because they are born again. And only those who believe. And keep believing. Only those who continue. In him. Only those who walk.

[51:10] With Jesus. Day by day. Who are in the word. Who are in prayer. Only those who look forward. To his coming. Are born again. So that's mark one.

[51:23] Those who are born again. Continue in him. Are you continuing. With Jesus. Don't harp back to. A tent. Or a stadium.

[51:34] Or a prayer. That you prayed. 15, 20, 25 years ago. That may have been the beginning. But assurance. Is found. In the day by day.

[51:45] Fresh walk. With God. Someone who's born again. Is continuing. In him. The second mark. Is those who are born again.

[51:57] Know. Verse 29. That he. Jesus. Is righteous. And when we think about. Jesus. If we were to go out and ask. Even the people in Tarbert.

[52:07] About Jesus. There would be many people. Who would say. Jesus is a good teacher. He's an interesting philosopher. He's a. A very influential. Religious leader. But only those.

[52:17] Who have had their eyes. Opened. By the Holy Spirit. Only those. Who are born again. See.

[52:28] And profess. That Jesus. Is righteous. He is supremely. Righteous. He is the sinless. Son of God.

[52:39] And there is no other name. That comes near to him. That's not the common view. In our land today.

[52:50] That's not the common view. On the streets of Tarbert. But that is the view. That is held. Firmly. By those. Who are born again. They see that Jesus is high.

[53:00] And he is lifted up. And he is righteous. And he is the spotless. Sinless. Son of God. And if you see that.

[53:13] It's another marker. That you are born again. Marker three. Those who are born again.

[53:24] Call God. Our father. When we are born. Again. When we become. Children of God. God. It's the most natural.

[53:35] Precious thing in the world. For us to come. In prayer. To our father. Those who are born again. Know. How great.

[53:46] And how deep. And how lavish. The love. The father. Has. For us. And that. Fuels. Our worship. Of God. God. And that stirs us.

[53:59] To come. In prayer. To our father. Especially. When we are struggling. When we feel the weight. Of burdens. We run.

[54:09] To the father. Because we are children. Of God. We are born again. Marker.

[54:22] Marker four. Those who are born again. Are becoming more. And more. Like him. Like Jesus. That's verses two to four.

[54:36] Those who are born again. Call God our father. That's verse one. If you've taken notes. Those who are born again. Are becoming more. And more like him. Like Jesus. That's verses two to four. And.

[54:47] Those who are children. Of God. We hate sin. We still sin. We have this struggle. John is writing about this.

[54:59] With such. Passion. And such. Relevance. We can enter into this. Because we. We know the struggle. But those who are born again. We hate the sin.

[55:10] That made thee mourn. And drove thee from our breath. Rest. And we sing with the hymn writer. Oh for a closer walk with God. We have that desire.

[55:22] Day by day. To repent. We have that resolve. To live lives. That are holy. We want to be like Jesus.

[55:34] We don't want to keep on sinning. We want to be like Jesus. That's. An evidence. That we are born again. Marker five.

[55:46] Those who are born again. Know why Jesus came into the world. And the reason. He came into the world. Verse five. Is he came to take away our sins. And that's a truth.

[55:58] That's. That's revealed. To those who are born again. There's lots of people out there. They have no idea. Where Jesus came into this world. To be a good example. They say. And there's part truth in that.

[56:09] But that's not the main reason. The reason. That Jesus came into the world. Is to take away our sins. And when we are born again. We see that. And it's the most precious thing.

[56:22] In the world to us. We survey the cross. We can't drift from the cross. We have to keep on going there. We have to. To keep on looking at that cross. We see the necessity of the cross.

[56:33] We can sing in the hymn that we just sang. It was my sin that held him there. Until it was accomplished. And his dying breath. Brought me life.

[56:46] I know that's finished. Those who are born again. Know why Jesus came into the world. They know it's because of our sin.

[57:00] They know that he was crucified for us. And because. We see the cost of our sin. And the lengths.

[57:12] That Jesus went to save us. We don't want to keep on sinning. That's the sixth mark. It's. That's the repeated really. You can see it. In verses. Six to ten.

[57:24] I'm not going to go through it. Time is. It's disappearing. Those who are born again. Don't want to keep on sinning. And being led astray. There are so many influences.

[57:36] In this world. That will lead us astray. There are so many. Influencers even. Who will. Self-identify as that. Today. And they will lead us astray. From Jesus.

[57:48] The world. The flesh. The devil. Will lead us. Astray from Jesus. But if we are born again. We don't want to be led astray. We want to remain in him.

[58:03] We want to abide in Christ. So these are just a few signs. You can work out the details yourself. I'm just skimming through.

[58:15] These are a few signs. A few markers. That we are born again. And if we are to have eternal life. We need to be born again.

[58:27] Doesn't matter how many times you sit in these chairs. Doesn't matter how many times I stand on this platform. If you and I are not born again. We have no eternal life.

[58:38] And so we need. To be born again. And maybe.

[58:49] You're here this morning. And you're not born again. God the Holy Spirit is showing you that. You've come to that point.

[59:02] And you're thinking. I'm lost. Or maybe. You're sitting here this morning. And you're not sure where you are.

[59:15] You don't know. Whether you're born again. Or whether you're not. And you're in turmoil. If you're there. What do you do? Well you do what Nicodemus did in John 3.

[59:32] Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus. If you're lost. Come to Jesus. If you doubt where you are.

[59:45] And you're not sure. Come to Jesus. And believe in Jesus. It's as simple as that. You might wonder.

[60:00] Well can. Will he deceive me? Can I be born again? Am I in this. Number of the elect. For those who.

[60:11] Who wrap themselves up. In all the. The mystery of that. And use it. As an excuse. Not to move an inch. Can I be born again?

[60:23] Well. You're here this morning. Most people in the world aren't. God. It's the spirit. Who draws us. It's the spirit.

[60:33] Who causes us. To ask these questions. In our hearts. Where am I? It's God. The Holy Spirit. Who. Who wakes us up. In our souls.

[60:44] And sometimes. In our seats too. It's God. The Holy Spirit. Who shows us. That we are sinners. It's God. The Holy Spirit. Who shows us.

[60:55] That Jesus. Is the Savior. And when we're taken. To that point. Then we have a decision. Of the will to make. We cannot do the work.

[61:09] Of the Holy Spirit. We cannot. Persuade. Anybody. That they're sinners. And that Christ. Is the Savior. And that they can be saved.

[61:21] That's the Spirit's work. He is the one who draws. And he takes us. To a point. Where he shows us. Our sin. He shows us Christ. And then we have a decision.

[61:33] To make. And the decision is. Will I believe. Or will I not believe. And the moment.

[61:47] We believe. We are born again. We are born again. The moment. We come to Jesus. And say.

[61:57] I see my sin. And I see that you are the Savior. And I want you to forgive me. And I want you to receive me.

[62:14] I want you to wash my heart clean. I want you to come into my life. The moment. We pray that prayer. In sincerity.

[62:24] In our hearts. We are born again. And we become. Children of God. And we are given the gift.

[62:35] Of eternal life. So are you born again? Asks John.

[62:47] You must be born again. You must be born again. Says Jesus. Two more points.

[63:01] But I'm going to stop there this morning. Let's pray. Our heavenly Father.

[63:14] We thank you for. Your word. We thank you for the. The depth. The vastness. The. The width of the love.

[63:25] That you have for us. We thank you. We thank you. Father. That you were willing to send. Your son Jesus. Into this world. So that.

[63:35] Our sin. Could be paid for. We thank you. That he came. On that mission. To take. Away our sin. And we ask Lord.

[63:47] That you would be. Working. In the hearts. Of each person here. To show them that. Holy Spirit. We pray. That you would strive. With each person. In this place.

[63:57] This morning. And those who watch. At a. A safe distance. Not wanting. Anyone else to see. Perhaps the Nicodemuses. Who. He wanted the cover.

[64:08] Of darkness. Perhaps there are some. Who want the cover. Of a. Of a computer screen. And yet Lord. We pray. That you would be. Striving with them. As you.

[64:19] Strive with each one of us. Holy Spirit. We pray. That you would. Show us. Our sin. That you would. Show us. Jesus. And that cross.

[64:31] And all. That he did. To take our sin. Away. And help. Each one of us. To see. That if. We have been shown.

[64:42] That truth. In these moments. That we have the opportunity. To be born again. We don't have to wonder. Whether or not. We are in. Some.

[64:53] Number. That cannot be known. If we have been shown this. We have the opportunity. We are told that everyone. Who calls upon the name of the Lord.

[65:04] Will be saved. We are told that no one. Who comes to Jesus. Will be cast out. God. And so we ask that. There may be those.

[65:14] This morning. Even who would determine. In their own wills. To believe. And not to harden their hearts. We pray that there may be.

[65:25] Some even this morning. Who would say. With the father. In Mark 9. Is that Lord I believe. Help me overcome.

[65:36] My unbelief. Even that prayer. Was enough. To bring faith. Into that life. And salvation. Into our home. To be at work.

[65:48] Lord we pray. Amongst us. And for any. Who wrestle with doubts. For any. Who go to bed at night. Wondering where they are. Whether they have eternal life.

[65:58] Or whether they don't. Enable each one of us. To see the simplicity of this. That we are simply. To trust. Jesus. Today. And then tomorrow.

[66:10] And then the day after. To trust. Jesus. To continue. In him. And we thank you. That as we do so. We have no. Cause to doubt.

[66:21] But every. Assurance. That we are saved. Because of Christ. And all that he has done. So give us. That. Vision. That assurance.

[66:31] That joy. That peace. We pray. In Jesus name. Amen. We'll sing to conclude now. From. Mission praise. 975. Before.

[66:42] The throne. Of God above. I have a strong.

[67:09] Now. Perfectly. A great. I place. Whose name is. Love. Whoever lives. And pleads. For me.

[67:19] My name is. Written. On his hands. My name is. Written. On his heart. I know. That while.

[67:30] In heaven. He's done. No tongue. No tongue. No tongue. Can bid. Me. Makes. Deep. Part. No tongue. Can bid. Me. Makes. Deep. Part.

[67:42] When Satan. Tempts me. To despair. And tells me. Of the guilt. Within. Upward. I look.

[67:52] I see. And bear. Who made. An end. To all. My sin. Because the sinless. Saviour died. My sinful soul.

[68:04] Is counted free. For God. The justice. Satisfied. To look on him. And pardon me. To look on him.

[68:16] And pardon me. Behold him there. The risen man. My perfect spotless. Righteous. Righteousness.

[68:27] The great unchangeable. I am. The king of glory. And of grace. One with himself. I cannot die.

[68:40] My soul is purchased. With his blood. My life is filled. With Christ. No lie. With Christ. My saviour. And my God.

[68:52] With Christ. My saviour. And my God. My God. And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The love of God the Father.

[69:03] And the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit. Be with us all. Now and forevermore. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[69:15] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.