Communion Service Sunday 8th May 2016 am
[0:00] Thank you, David, for welcoming me again to your court bed and to share with you here. He has a habit of springing extra things on me.
[0:13] He told me about five minutes ago I also had to speak to the children, which I'm glad to do, but my brain is racing around. So we'll begin today.
[0:24] I hadn't accommodated that in the order of service, so we'll begin with a word of prayer. First of all, to read from the Bible, true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipper the Father seeks.
[0:44] God is spirit, and his worshipper must worship in spirit and in truth. Let us unite our hearts before him.
[0:57] Lord, our God, the demand that your word sets before us through your Son is something of which we are by nature incapable of fulfilling.
[1:12] But we bless you, Lord, our God, that you have made provision for our inability.
[1:24] That you, O Lord God, have come by your Son to stimulate within our souls that desire to know you and knowing you to worship you.
[1:43] Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire. Let us your influence prove. For you are the source, the source of all being.
[1:57] You are the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, and in Jesus you have revealed yourself to us. Be in our midst this day.
[2:11] Speak to us through your word made flesh, and speak to us through all that he has left with us that we might ever draw near to you and find the fulfillment of our very purpose of being in glorifying your name and enjoying you forever.
[2:40] Draw close to each one of us gathered here, for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. We begin our worship by singing from Psalm 34.
[2:56] Psalm 34, and we shall sing verses 1 to 10 of this psalm. God will I bless all times. His praise my mouth shall still express.
[3:08] My soul shall boast in God. The meek shall hear. With joyfulness. Down to the back. Verse 10. The lion's young may hungry be, and they may lack their food, but they that truly seek the Lord shall not lack any good.
[3:27] Verses 1 to 10 of Psalm 34. God will I bless all times. His praise my mouth shall still express. Let us praise God.
[3:39] Amen. Amen. God will I bless all times.
[3:56] His praise my mouth shall still express. My soul shall voice in God.
[4:11] God will I bless you. My soul shall hear with joyfulness. Exalt the Lord with me.
[4:25] He bid you and suffer. Exalt the Lord with me. Let us exhort his name together.
[4:39] I sought the Lord, he heard, and did me from all fears deliver.
[4:55] They looked to him and lightened were, not shamed were their faces.
[5:12] This poor man cried, God heard and saved him from all his distresses.
[5:29] The angel of the Lord encamps, and routed the compasses.
[5:46] All those above that do him fear, and then delivereth.
[6:02] O'er they stand, see that God is good, who trusts in him is blessed.
[6:18] Fear God his saints, and that him fear, shall be with want oppressed.
[6:33] The lions young may harm me thee, and they may laugh their food.
[6:50] But they not truly seek the Lord, shall not laugh any good.
[7:20] I live in Havis.
[7:31] Do you know that I was living in Havis? I lived in an island, there was no bridge to it, and it was called, no let me think, but it was called.
[7:45] It was called scat, but I think it began with something like, scat. Do you think you know? Scat.
[7:56] That was it. And it was before I went to school, I was four years old. And I had a big brother, and I had a wee sister.
[8:07] This is what I had done, nobody's sister. And I remember when my dad was putting us to bed, one night he was telling us a story.
[8:19] And he was telling us that we were going far, far away on holiday. And that we were going in the summer, all the way from scatting to a place called Ud.
[8:32] No, no, no way, but I had that. And he used to tell us that when we go to Ud on our holiday, that we will see the harsh that we used to.
[8:47] And he would blow the lamp out because there was no electricity then.
[9:02] And we'd come to see when we wouldn't go to school. And my big brother was, there's no such hot as snow.
[9:22] He's just telling us a story, a story like a little red riding hood of goldilocks of that kind of snow. I didn't know who to be. But anyway, the time came for us to go on holiday.
[9:41] And we left Scatting and we went on a boat, chow, chow, chow, all the way up to Tarverd in the boat. The boat was called the Marilla and it belonged to a McLeod-Handry from Scatting.
[9:55] And we got off in Tarverd and then we left us from Tarverd to a place called, it begins with an S, no crazy. It's in a foreign company of the boat.
[10:06] What's the name of it? Starwood. And we got to Starwood and we had to wait all afternoon in Starwood until the boat would come in.
[10:21] And about 9 o'clock that night we were on the bus all the way up to Tarverd. And I went there about past 11 at night. And we went to bed, got up the next day and I said to my dad, can we go to see Star?
[10:38] And he said, yes, you can go to see Star, leave the earth in the park, up there behind the fence. But you must bring us something, you know, we didn't have biscuits even in those days.
[10:50] But we had something else. Something called Aram Kaur. What's that? Old case. So we had some old case and we met with the old case.
[11:02] And surely none. There was a blown wash. And I said to my brother, that's a fresh star. You said that was no such or something.
[11:14] Oh, that's not Star. So we shuffled up there. Star, Star. He just kept watching the dance. And he looked down. And I said, look, it's from a white spot in the forest.
[11:27] It must be Star. Och, my brother, lots of options have a white spot in the forest. And so I was still a person. And Star wasn't coming to us.
[11:40] I said, is either Death or else he doesn't know his name. And I asked him that shouting and even showing him the old case. He just could not come near us.
[11:53] And then my dad came up behind us. And my dad stood by the fence and he shouted, Star, dear boy, started to descend.
[12:07] And he shouted again, Star, dear boy. And all that came started, he didn't even wait to walk away. He dropped it over. And he stood there and he put his head on my dad's shoulder.
[12:20] It was Star. And Star knew the voice of his master. And do you know when I've been thinking of that story, I think of something Jesus said.
[12:36] It wasn't about Hoshes. That it was about other animals and how we liked them. And he said, My sheep know my voice.
[12:48] And they follow me. That's what Jesus said. And we are also to know the voice of Jesus. Now we hear the voice of Jesus when we are reading the Bible and when we are thinking about Jesus and what he tells us in the Bible.
[13:09] And do you know what Jesus wants us to do? He wants us to follow him. Now that's part of what we are doing today in this special service.
[13:22] Because Jesus says something special to all those who are following him. Do you know what he says? He says, do this in remembrance of God.
[13:34] And that's why these cups are there on the table and the bread is on the table. For all those who really, really follow Jesus.
[13:49] So will you remember how I didn't know who to be. My big brother is alright now. He says, I wish to be.
[14:01] He just told that when he's still close to my next step, I know when he's getting. So will you remember how the Kota teaches to listen to what Jesus says to us.
[14:14] And to follow him. Now I think we are going to read from God's word. And to hear what he says about what Jesus did that is very special.
[14:29] And this was written really a long, long time before Jesus came to the world. We are going to read from Isaiah chapter 53. Isaiah chapter 53.
[14:43] From verse 1. Just as I had difficulty who to believe.
[14:58] This passage starts with these words. At verse 1 of Isaiah 53. Who has believed our message?
[15:09] And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot. And like a root out of dry ground.
[15:21] He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him. Nothing in his appearance that we should decide.
[15:36] He was despised and rejected by men. A man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces.
[15:49] He was despised. And we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.
[16:00] Yet we considered him stricken by God. Smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pushed for our transgressions.
[16:13] He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him. And by his wounds we are healed.
[16:26] We all like sheep have gone astray. Each one of us, each of us has turned to his own way. And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
[16:40] He was oppressed and afflicted. Yet he did not open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
[16:51] And as a sheep before her shearer she is silent. So he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
[17:02] And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living. For the transgression of my people he was stricken.
[17:16] He was assigned a grave with the wicked. And with the rich in his death though he had done no violence. Nor was any deceit in his mouth.
[17:27] Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer. And though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering. He will see his offspring and prolong his days.
[17:42] And the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul. He will see the light of life and be satisfied.
[17:54] By his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many. And he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a potion among the great.
[18:08] And he will divide the spoils with the strong. Because he poured out his life unto death. And was numbered with the transgressors.
[18:20] For he bore the sin of many. And made intercession for the transgressors. May God bless to us this reading from his holy word.
[18:32] And to his name be praise and glory. Now we're going to sing from mission praise number 988. And I believe the children are leaving us at this stage.
[18:45] As we sing together. How deep the Father's love for us. How vast beyond all measure. That he should give his only son. To make a wretch his treasure.
[18:58] Number 988 in mission praise. How deep the Father's love for us. Now we're going to turn together. To 1 Peter chapter 2.
[19:10] 1 Peter chapter 2. And we're going to read from chapter 2 at verse 18.
[19:24] Through to the end of the chapter. Slaves submit yourselves. To your masters. With all respect. Not only.
[19:35] To those who are good and considerate. But also. To those who are harsh. For it is commendable. If a man bears up under the pain.
[19:48] Of unjust suffering. Because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit. If you receive a beating.
[19:59] For doing wrong and endure it. But if you suffer for doing good. And you endure it. This is commendable before God. To this you were called.
[20:11] Because Christ suffered. For you leaving you an example. That you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin. And no deceit was found in his mouth.
[20:24] When they heard their insults at him. He did not retaliate when he suffered. He made no threats. Instead. He entrusted himself.
[20:37] To him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins. In his body on the tree. So that we might die to sins.
[20:48] And live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray.
[20:59] But now you have returned to the shepherd. The shepherd. And overseer of your souls. Let us unite our hearts in prayer.
[21:10] Now together. Amen. Gracious and ever blessed God. Whose excelling glory among the sons of men.
[21:24] Is that you are mindful of the lowly. The downtrodden. And the undeserving. You have opened a door into your family.
[21:36] And into your friendship through Christ. So that we may bring the needs of this broken. And tormented world into your presence.
[21:48] That we also as broken beggars before you. Might find in him. Who is the bread of life.
[22:00] The true fulfillment. And the satisfaction. Of our destiny. Help us Lord our God.
[22:11] As we worship you today. And as we seek to follow. In this special signal. That you have sent. Set in the midst.
[22:23] Of your testimony. That we might ever survey. The wondrous cross. On which the Prince of Glory died. For there more than anywhere else.
[22:37] That great love. Is commended to us. And demonstrated. For our sin sick souls.
[22:49] To look. At him who was lifted. Even as the brazen snake. Was lifted in the wilderness. For the deceased Israel.
[23:01] That there would have been life. For a look. For a look. At the crucified one. And enable us. Therefore. To fulfill.
[23:12] That testimony. Of others. Who pleaded before you. Be thou. My vision. O Lord. Of my heart. Continue with us. This day Lord. As we walk. Through your word.
[23:23] Together. Speak to us. As the shepherd. Of our souls. And set about our life. The assurance. That we belong. To that flock. That is yours forever. For ever.
[23:34] Lord speak with us afresh. In the cleansing power. Of the fountain. That you opened. for sin. And for it. All hope. сыre or'm dreamy. To do all.
[23:45] The glory. That88 cited. For we walk through. Our word together. Speak to us. As the shepherd of our souls. of souls. And set about. Our life. The assurance. That we belong.
[23:57] To that flock. That is yours forever. Lord speak with us afresh. Of the cleansing power. Of the fountain. Open for sin and for uncleanness. And grant, O Lord, that the filthy rags.
[24:11] That we so often mistaken. For mistake for wedding garments. Might be revealed to us truly. And discarded by us fully.
[24:25] For we ask it all in Jesus name. Amen. Now let's turn together. Seeking God's blessing upon his word to us.
[24:38] To the words we find in 1 Peter chapter 2. And we shall read from verse 24. He himself bore our sins.
[24:51] In his body on the tree. So that we might die to sins. And live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
[25:03] For you were like sheep going astray. But now you have returned to the shepherd. And overseer of your souls.
[25:15] He himself bore our sins. And the person who bore our sins.
[25:25] That sentence goes back. To verse 21. Where we read the passion. Is none other than Christ. To this you were called.
[25:36] Because Christ suffered. For you. Leaving you an example. That you should follow in his steps. Peter. Was writing to Christians.
[25:49] In an age. When many people were under pressure. They were going through trials. Masters. Were unfair.
[26:00] And slaves. Were having a terrible time. And the mass. Of those who had turned to Christ. Were in that strata. Of society.
[26:11] They were enslaved. And that was. Really the way society. Worked. In that time. And Peter.
[26:22] Is drawing them. To follow the example. Of Christ. To this you were called. He says. Because Christ suffered.
[26:33] Leaving you. An example. Now when we read. Of an example here. We know. That we can see an example.
[26:44] And yet. An example. Doesn't sometimes help us. An example. Can depress us. I can hear. A skilled. Pianist.
[26:56] Or organist. Playing tunes. I can go to that. Instrument. I can sit there. And as one comedian.
[27:06] And as one comedian. Once said. I may play the right notes. But in the wrong order. The skill. I do not have.
[27:18] There may be. Other times. I might watch. Lionel Messi. Weaving his magic. On the football pitch. And even if I was much younger.
[27:31] Than I am. I could never replicate. What Lionel Messi. Presents. As an example. Of how football.
[27:41] Should be played. So really. We need more. Than an example. There is something. Additional. That is. Not.
[27:52] In our very nature. That is. Essential. For us. And that. Which is. Essential. Essential. For us. Is really. In the cross.
[28:03] Of Calvary. The cross. Of Calvary. Some. Portray. As. Really. The prime. Example. Of sacrificial.
[28:14] Service. Others. May. Speak. Of the. Extence. To which. Love. Goes. And these. Elements. Are true. Within the cross.
[28:25] But what. Gives. Real. Meaning. To the cross. Of Calvary. As we. Survey. The wondrous. Cross. Is. That. That. Is.
[28:36] The place. Where. Sin. Is. Deft. With. That. Is. The place. Where. Sin. Is. Deft. With. There.
[28:47] Is. A story. About. Rabbi. Duncan. As he was. Called. A professor. In the old days. In the divinity. College. And as he was. Ministering. Communion. There was.
[28:57] One lady. A. Noted. Christian. Who was. Really. Refusing. To take. The elements. She passed. Them. Back. And he went. And he. Took.
[29:07] Called. Of the elements. And brought. Them. Back. To her. And said. Pack it. Glass. It's for sinners. And that is really.
[29:18] What we are about. Here today. We are really about. Understanding. And seeing. Where the real. Motivation.
[29:28] To start. To start. Following. Until that day. When you are alive. Might be the. Leonal message. Of the.
[29:40] Spiritual world. Now. We will never be. The perfect. Player. On God's pitch. Until we are. Complete. In hell.
[29:52] But you know. The change. The transformation. Must begin here. And the transformation. Can begin. Nowhere. Except.
[30:03] At the foot. Of the cross. Of Calvary. That is where. It must all begin. And today. We are going to. Look at this. Passage.
[30:13] Under three headings. I told you. We would try. And improve. We started. With five points. And. The last one. I think. It was in Gaelic. We did four. Well. We are back.
[30:23] To three. At last. And you know. That that's where. A sermon. Should be. Anyway. That's the good news. The bad news. Is I've got a lot of.
[30:33] Self-headings. But we'll go with it. Anyway. Let's really. Hear. First of all. Of the passion. Who is featured. On the cross. And then.
[30:44] We'll look at. The program. That is fulfilled. On the cross. And then. The power. That flows. From the cross. So let's.
[30:55] Begin with it. With a passion. That is featured. Here. Upon the cross. Because we read. That Christ. Suffered for you. It's in. Verse. Verse.
[31:06] 21. Christ. Suffered. For. You. And that is. Expanded. Into. 24. He himself. Bore. Our sins.
[31:17] In his body. On the tree. So really. It is the passion. Who is on the cross. That makes. All the difference. There were.
[31:27] Three people. Crucified. That day. On Calvary. There were. Hundreds. If not. Thousands. Crucified. By Roman.
[31:38] Soldiers. Throughout. The breadth. And the length. Of the Roman Empire. Of the day. But here. Is someone. Who is there.
[31:50] Upon the cross. Who is different. And the first thing. That we will see. About this passion. That there is. This intimation. Of his passion. What is this passion.
[32:02] Like. Well. His passion. His character. Commended him. His own character. Pilate. Could find. No fault. In him.
[32:13] All that. Herod. Could do. Was to. Mock him. He could not. Bring out. His judgment. End. And it was.
[32:23] The religious. People. Of Jerusalem. Represented. By the high priest. Who believed. That he had. Found. A fault.
[32:33] In Jesus. And the fault. That he. Found. In him. Was that he. Claimed. To be. The son. Of God. He claimed. To be.
[32:44] The son. Of God. Listen. To Matthew. Chapter. 26. From verse. 63. The high priest. Said to him. I charge. You under oath. By the living God. Remember.
[32:55] Jesus. Was fulfilling. The law. Fully. I charge. You under oath. By the living God. Tell us. If you are the Christ. The son of God. And Jesus.
[33:06] Replied. Yes. It is. As you say. But I say. To you all. In the future. You will see. The son of man. Sitting on the right hand.
[33:17] Of the mighty one. And coming in the clothes. Of heaven. Then the high priest. Tore his clothes. And said. He has spoken. Blasphemy. Why do we need.
[33:29] Any more witnesses. Had he spoken the truth. Or was he blaspheming. Well his character.
[33:40] Indicates. That really. That his confession. Could not be contradicted. He was.
[33:52] Who he said he was. His actions. Spoke. Of what. He actually said. And what he declared. And the thief on the cross.
[34:04] Understood that. One of them. He came to understand it. We read that. The two of them. In Mark's gospel. We read that. The two thieves. Were cursing him. To begin with. And then.
[34:16] That change. Took place. In one of these thieves. And he began. To see. That that. Writing. About Jesus. King of the Jews. Was after all.
[34:29] That he was a king. And that he was. A greater king. Than the king. Of the Jews. And that he had. An eternal kingdom. And the thief said.
[34:41] You're going to your kingdom. Remember me. And Jesus said to him. Today you will be with me. In paradise.
[34:53] And there was a centurion. At the foot of the cross. And as he died. He said. Truly. He said. Truly. This. This. Was the son of God.
[35:05] You know. His character. Was commending him. Because he was fulfilling. The prophecy here. That is quoted. From Isaiah.
[35:16] Where we read. He committed. No sin. No deceit. Was found. In his mouth. He lived. He lived.
[35:26] He lived. He lived. What he said. He practiced. What he preached. The character. Of Jesus. Commencing.
[35:37] Even. The temple guards. Who went. To arrest him. Returned. And said. To their masters. We couldn't do it.
[35:49] No man. Never spoke. In the way. That this man. Speaks. There is. An authority. About him. That is. Different. From all others.
[35:59] His character. Was commending him. And also. His commitment. Vindicated him. We read here. In verse 23.
[36:11] He entrusted himself. To him. Who just. Judges. Justly. Jesus. Looked. To the heavenly father. Even. When he could.
[36:22] No longer. Call him father. And when he could. Only say. My God. My God. In the spiritual. Separation. And in the darkness. And the forsakenness.
[36:33] He held firm. And his commitment. Was to. God the father.
[36:43] In such a way. That his dying words. It is finished. Tetelestai. One word. In the Greek language. There he had. It's not a word.
[36:54] Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. A dying failure. It's spoken. As. Someone. Who has. Completed. And who has. Triumphed.
[37:04] In what he is doing. The word. Tetelestai. Is used. Sometimes. In the classical. Greek. Of someone. Who has been. Say. A painter. And he is. Painting a masterpiece.
[37:16] And he is. Back and forth. To the canvas. And when the. Whole. Picture. Is complete. The painter. Stands back. And says.
[37:26] It is finished. The work. Is complete. In all. The masterpiece. That is produced. And here.
[37:37] Is God. Himself. In the passion. Of his son. And what has he. Been doing. He has been. Completing. All that. God.
[37:47] Required. Of him. And all. That he came. To fulfill. But is that. Just his own. Opinion. Well.
[37:58] The resurrection. Is the vindication. Of it all. He rose. On the third day. Why? Because.
[38:09] God. The father. Was satisfied. And had his. Pleasure. Fulfilled. And Jesus. Pleasure.
[38:20] His own pleasure. Fulfilled. In all. That he had done. Hebrews. Hebrews. Tells us. That he. Bore the shame. Why? For the joy.
[38:31] That was set. Before him. The joy. Of the sheer. Satisfaction. His commitment. Was vindicated. And also.
[38:43] His creation. Responded. Because. When he was. Crucified. At Calvary. The earth. Was shaking. The darkness. Was descending.
[38:54] And everything. The temple. With all its structure. Was shivering. In such a way. That the inch thick. And more than that. Curtain. That divided.
[39:05] The holy of holies. From the sanctuary. Was ripped. From the top. Down. The holy of holies. The holy of holies. Why was that happening? Well.
[39:15] John tells us. That the one. Who was bearing. The shame. And bearing. The suffering. On the tree. Was the one. The word.
[39:26] Through whom. Creation. Came into being. In the beginning. Was the word. And the word. Was with God. And without him.
[39:37] Everything that was made. It could not. Have been made. It was from the. Triune God. In the word. That became flesh. In the passion. Of Jesus.
[39:47] That's why. He could say. To a man. With a withered hand. Stretch out your hand. That's why.
[39:58] He could take the water. And turn it into wine. That's why. At the grave. In Bethany. He said. Lazarus. Come out. And do you know.
[40:08] Why he said. Lazarus. Because he had just said. Come out. They don't have come out. So he had to be specific. Because he.
[40:21] Was the omnipotent one. He was the king. Of creation. And that's the one. That we are seeing here. On the cross of Calvary.
[40:33] The intimation. Of his passion. Of his passion. Now. Let's think of the implication. Of his presence there. Why is he there?
[40:44] Well. He's there. First of all. Because sin. Is tremendously important. In God's eyes. That's why he's there.
[40:56] Is there. Is there. Because sin matters. To such an extent. That God himself. In the passion of his son.
[41:08] Has come to deal with it. Now. This is very important. In our day. And generation. When people. Want us. Not to talk about sin.
[41:22] The Reverend John Murdo. Was telling me. In his early ministry. In Cuyah. How a lady. Of some status. In the congregation.
[41:32] Took issue with him. And said to him. You know. You should not be talking. So much about sin. Because if you're going to be talking. About sin.
[41:43] And dealing with things. To do with sin. You're going to empty the church. That's a strange carry on. Isn't it? Just imagine.
[41:54] If one of your doctors. Said. No. We're not going to talk. About sickness. Anymore. And we're not really. Going to be concerned. With things.
[42:04] Like rheumatics. And the other things. That bug an old person. Like me. In my day. And generation. We're not going to talk. About these things. We're going to become. Christian scientists.
[42:15] And we're going to believe. That it's all just. In the mind. You know. It's amazing. It's amazing. That we talk. About the big C.
[42:26] And about cancer. And we take it seriously. And we talk. Some of us. Even dreading. Things like dementia. So we think. About minds.
[42:36] And we think. About bodies. And we say. To ourselves. But our spiritual lives. We can do anything. Without. Because there's no. Such thing.
[42:47] As sin. We are really. A kind of. Equivalent. Of people. Who might say. You know. There's no real. Sickness. It's only a fantasy.
[42:57] Of the imagination. That's what. Mary Baker. A long time ago. And it didn't work. Very well.
[43:08] And it doesn't. To this very day. But this is the issue. Sin. Matters. To God. And the evidence.
[43:19] That it matters. To God. Is not. What society. Says. But what God. Did about it. In coming. In the passion. Of his son. To deal.
[43:31] With the issue. Of our sin. So the implications. Of his presence. On the cross. Of Calvary. Is something.
[43:41] That you and I. Have to write. For me. Because. Whatever. Interpretation. You and I. Place upon our force. And our detachment.
[43:51] From God. And in all that. Flows. From that detachment. We know. That God. Calls it. Sin. And that he. Came to the. Corus. Of Calvary.
[44:02] Because God. Was saying. This is. Serious. Business. This. Really. Matters. But also.
[44:15] We see. That it. Implies. That God. Only. Can deal. With it. Only. God. Can deal. With it. And.
[44:30] God. Came. To deal. With it. That's. What we see. In the character. Of Jesus. That's. What. The. Penitent. Thief. Is. Seeing. That's. What. The.
[44:40] Centurion. Is. Seeing. That. God. Was. In Christ. Effecting. Reconciliation. Because. It's. An. Important.
[44:50] Issue. He. Cannot. Delegate. It. To. Anyone. But. To. Himself. He's. The. One. Who. Is. Going. To. Deal. With. It. When.
[45:04] We. Are. Dealing. Say. With. Are. Of. The. World. That. Is. Target. We. Send. Medicines. There. We. Send. Medical. Equipment.
[45:14] There. But. What's. The. Use. Of. The. Medicines. And. The. Equipment. If. We. Don't. Say. Send. People. Who. Are. Skilled. To.
[45:25] Use. The. Equipment. And. To. Prescribe. The. Letters. I've. Got. To. Watch. Myself. I've. Been. Told. There. Are. Some. Doctors. In. The. House. So. I've. Got.
[45:35] To. Be. Very. Faced. But. Never. Mind. I. Hope. The. Administration. Stance. All. I. Say. That. We. Have. To. Go. You. Have. To. Send. The. Doctors. Because.
[45:46] They. Are. The. Ones. Who. Have. The. Knowledge. And. The. Skill. To. Know. How. To. Give. The. Medicine. And. To. Know. How. To. Use. The. Medical. Equipment.
[45:58] And. God. Really. In. Coming. In. Indicating. To. Us. The. Importance. Of. Sin. That. It. Is. Of. Such. Import. That. He. Needs.
[46:08] To. Come. To. Deal. With. It. Himself. No. One. Else. Could. Do. It. We. Sing. About. It. There. Is. A. Green. Hill. Far. Away. What. Do. We. Say. There. Was.
[46:18] No. Other. Good. Enough. To. Pay. The. Price. Of. Sin. He. Only. Could. Unlock. The. Gate. Of. Heaven. And. God.
[46:35] Has. Come. To. Deal. With. But. Here. Is. Something. Also. That. Brings. Hope. To. You. And. To. Me. Because.
[46:46] When. God. Does. Something. It. Because. God. Can. Remedies. Something. A. Surgeon. Does. Not. Operate.
[46:58] Unless. He. Believes. That. He. Is. Going. To. Bring. Relief. And. Betterment. Or. Else. Healing. To. The. Passion. Is. Still. And.
[47:10] When. God. Has. Come. That. Is. The. Basis. Of. Hope. It's. The. Basis. Of. Hope. For. Us. Where. He. Is. About. To.
[47:20] Operate. For. Us. The. Passion. Who. Is. Featured. On. The. Cross. And. That's. Why. The. Hymn.
[47:31] Says. Not. Just. When. I. Survey. The. The. Wanderous. Cross. It. Tells. Us. Who. Is. On. The. Cross. On. Which. The. Prince. Of. Glory. Died.
[47:44] And. So. The. Next. Thing. That. We. Will. Look. At. Here. Is. Not. Only. The. Passion. Who. Is. Featuring. On. The. Cross. But. The. Program. That. Is. Being. Fulfilled. On. The.
[47:54] Cross. And. Here. We. Read. Of. It. He. Himself. Bore. Our. Sins. In. His. Body. On. The. Tree. And.
[48:04] There. You. Have. The. Program. He. His. Own. Self. Bore. Our. Sins. In. His. Body. On. The. Tree. And. There. Are. Two. Elements.
[48:14] There. There. Is. First. Of. All. This. Element. Of. Bearing. Our. Sins. And. Then. In. His. Body. On. The.
[48:25] Tree. So. We. Will. Take. The. Second. One. First. And. Think. In. Terms. Of. He. Bore. Our. Sins. The. Activity. This.
[48:35] Program. Involved. And. The. Words. Bore. Our. Sins. He. Himself. Bore. Our. Sins.
[48:46] That. Word. Bearing. Is. A. Word. That. Is. Associated. With. Yom. Kippur. The. Day. Of. Atonement. In. Israel. Because.
[48:57] On. The. Day. Of. Atonement. There. Was. A. Goat. Taken. And. He. Was. Regarded. As. The. Scapegoat. A. Word. We. Have. Adopted.
[49:07] Into. Our. Language. For. Someone. We. Give. To. Take. The. Blade. And. The. High. Priest. Would. Put. His. Hands. On. The. Head. Of. The. Gold. And. Confessed. The. Sins.
[49:17] Of. Israel. And. That. Gold. Was. Ushered. Away. Into. The. Wilderness. Never. To. Be. Seen. Again. And. It. Was. A. Visual. A. To.
[49:28] Speak. To. The. People. About. How. God. Was. Really. Dealing. With. Their. Sins. Taking. It. Away. On. The. Scapegoat. And. This.
[49:38] Passage. Is. Telling. Is. That. Symbolism. Is. The. Reality. Of. What. Jesus. Is. Fulfilled. I. Even. I. Am. He. We.
[49:49] Read. In. Isaiah. I. Think. Chapter. 43. Maybe. Verse. 25. We. Read. There. About. I. Am. He. Who. Blotted. Out. Your. Iniquity.
[49:59] And. Will. Not. Remember. It. Any. More. And. That's. God. God's. Miracle. That. Is. My.
[50:11] Situation. Is. I. Forget. Why. Because. I'm. Getting. Old. And. Sometimes. I. Struggle. With. Names. And. I. Struggle. With. Versus. No. And. Things. Like. That.
[50:21] And. My. Memory. Is. Failing. Because. Of. My. Weakness. And. My. Objection. But. God. Forgets. In. His. Strength.
[50:33] On. Vipoters. Able. To. Blot. Out. As. If. It. Never. Existed. And. We. Can't. Do. That. Not.
[50:44] Even. Atom. Bombs. And. Things. Like. That. Can. Destroy. Matter. It. Exists. In. Some. Form. But. God. Has. The. Ability. And.
[50:54] He. Has. The. Omnipotence. To. Blot. It. Out. Totally. Sometimes. We. Become. Obsessed. With.
[51:06] A. Kind. Of. Penetence. That. Is. Wrong. We. Are. So. Busy. Remembering. The. Wrong. Things. We. Did. In. The. Past. And. God.
[51:17] Is. Saying. To. You. Where. Are. They. I. Can't. Remember. And. You. Think. That. It. It. Your. View. That.
[51:27] Holds. Against. God's. View. It. It. Isn't. It. It's. God's. View. God. Blots. Them. Out. They're. Not. There. So. Here.
[51:38] In. That. Word. Bore. Away. The. Sins. We. Have. That. Now. The. Other. Factor. In. This. Activity. Is. That. This. Bearing.
[51:48] Away. In. The. New. Testament. This. Word. Is. Used. By. John. The. Baptist. But. He. The.
[51:59] Lamb. And. He. Preaches. There's. The. Lamb. Of. God. And. The. Lamb. Of. God. Is. Fulfilling. The. Role. Of. The. Scapegoat.
[52:09] He. Is. Carrying. Away. Why. Did. He. Pick. Of. The. Lamb. Of. God. Why. Did. He. Say. Behold. The. Scapegoat. Because. He. Wanted. To. Remind. Us. Of. The. Exodus.
[52:19] Because. He. Wanted. To. Remind. Us. How. The. Bondage. Of. Sin. Was. Dealt. With. In. The. Passion. Of. The. Lamb. And. By. The. Shed.
[52:30] Blood. Of. The. Lamb. Representing. The. Blood. The. Atoning. Blood. Of. The. Lamb. Of. God. The. Passion. Of. Christ. The. Death. Of.
[52:40] Christ. Was. Accomplishing. Something. For. Us. That. Was. Very. Special. That's. The. Activity. And.
[52:50] Where. Is. The. Location. Of. This. Activity. Well. We. Read. Here. That. It. Is. In. His. Body. On. The. Tree. It. Is. In. His.
[53:00] Body. On. The. Tree. God. In. Christ. Came. In. The. Incarnation. That's. The. Word. We. Sometimes. Use. Incarnation.
[53:11] It's. The. Word. Made. We. Are. He. Took. Upon. Himself. Old. Situation. But.
[53:23] He. Did. It. Without. Without. Sin. No. He. Touched. Us. In. Sin. Some. People. Then. Think. That. Jesus. Really. Was. Totally. Sinless. And. So. He.
[53:33] Was. But. How. Did. That. Sinless. Became. If. He. Became. Flesh. Of. Old. Flesh. He. Became. Flesh. Of. Flesh. The.
[53:44] Flesh. If. You. Lack. Of. Me. He. Sacrified. He. He. Cancelled. Sinless. In. The. In. The. State. Of. What. He. Was. Going. To. Do. At. Calvary.
[53:55] He. He. Cancelled. Sinless. That. Why. If. You. Want. An. Example. Of. It. When. Jesus. Touched. A. Leopard. Anyone. Else. Touching. A. Leopard. Will. The. Come. All. Jesus.
[54:06] Touched. It. But. He. Said. He. Poured. Reversed. The. Leprosy. And. When. Jesus. Touched. The. Old. Flesh.
[54:18] Because. Some. Of. The. Old. Theologians. Used. To. Put. It. The. Unassumed. Is. The. Unredeemed. So. He. Had. To. Come. And. He. Touched.
[54:29] And. In. The. Touch. It. Flesh. Because. Very. Holy. Purity. And. Power. That. Was. In. That. Purity. To.
[54:40] Deal. With. This. In. A. Special. Way. So. Here. Is. The. Last. Adam. As. We. Were. Hearing. From. John. Burdo. Yesterday. Here. Is. The. Last. Adam.
[54:50] And. Here. Is. The. One. Who. Has. Come. Into. The. Body. And. In. Coming. Into. The. Body. He. Is. There. In. Body. In. Mind. And. In.
[55:00] Spirit. He. Has. Taken. The. Identity. The. Full. Identity. In. Mind. Body. And. Spirit. Now. Very. Often. We. Limit.
[55:11] The. Sufferings. Of. Jesus. To. His. Physical. Sufferings. And. Some. People. Would. Say. Yes. Well. He. Suffered. On. The. Cross. So. Did. The. Two. Criminals. So. Did.
[55:21] Any. Other. Sufferings. In. Their. Bodies. But. Jesus. Body. Was. Even. More. Sensitive. To. Pain. And. Other. Things. Than. Old. Bodies. Are. Because. He.
[55:31] Was. Sinless. That's. Why. When. A woman. With. The. Issue. Of. Blood. Touched. Him. He. Fett. The. Rift. You. Going. Out. Of. Him. He. Was.
[55:42] Physically. More. Aware. And. More. More. Aware. Of. Everything. That. Was. Going. On.
[55:53] Physically. But. He. Also. Suffered. Mental. Now. I. Remember. I. Think. I. Spoke. Of. This. To. Some. Of. You. Here. Some.
[56:03] Of. You. Here. Maybe. In. The. Past. When. I. Was. A. Minister. Many. Many. Years. A. Go. In. A. A. Is. Called. Bar. As. You. Would. Know. Who. That. Is. Is. A. Weep. It. Up. The. Home. Toast.
[56:13] The. North. Hole. But. Anyway. When. I. Was. There. As. A. Minister. I. Remember. An. Old. Lady. Who. Spent. A. Lot. Of. Time.
[56:24] With. Depression. And. When. She. Died. I. Was. Walking. Up. To. The. Cemetery. With. A. Son. Who. Was. A. Professor. Of. Psychiatry. In. Toronto.
[56:34] University. And. He. Had. Come. Home. For. The. Funeral. And. He. Was. Weeping. And. He. Said. To. Me. As. We. Walk. Together. Nobody. Here. Knows. The. Pain. That. My. Mother.
[56:44] Suffered. There. Are. Some. People. And. We. Know. Of. Them. Who. Sort. Of. Darkness.
[57:01] Separated. From. His. Father. Suffering. In. His. Mind. And. Bearing. The. Shame. Of. It. All. In. His. Own. Being. And.
[57:12] Add. To. That. The. Spiritual. Suffering. You. And. I. May. Have. Done. Times. When. We. Have. Been. Convicted. Of. Sin.
[57:24] Well. You. Must. Apply. That. Conviction. That. Was. Like. A. Lump. In. Your. Throat. Or. That. Was. Like. A. Hole. Boulder. Over. Your. Whole. Life. Crushing.
[57:35] The. Very. Spirit. Out. Of. You. And. Multiply. It. By. The. Hole. Of. All. Those. Who. Will. Ever. Be. Saved. And.
[57:46] That's. What. He. Was. Bearing. In. His. Spirit. On. The. Cross. Of. Calvary. Will. Anyone. Ever. Know.
[57:56] The. The. Darkness. That. Our. Lord. Went. Through. To. Save. Or. To. Find. The. Sheep. That. Was.
[58:06] Lost. Let. Us. Never. Lose. Sight. Of. What. It. Cost. The. Lord. Of. Glory. To.
[58:17] Come. To. Redeem. Us. In. His. Body. But. Also. We. Read. Here. On. The. Tree. Why.
[58:29] Did. He. Use. Tree. Why. Didn't. He. Say. On. The. Cross. Because. Tree. Is. A. Word. That. Comes. To. Us. From. Deuteronomy. And.
[58:40] In. That. Passage. In. Deuteronomy. 21. At. Verse. 23. It. Says. Anyone. Who. Is. Hung. Upon. A. Three. Is. Under. God's. Curse.
[58:51] We sing. Bearing shame. And scoffing. Root. You know. And we.
[59:01] Trip through. These words. And we. So. Little. Take. In. I. Don't. Anyway. Of. What. Cost.
[59:13] What. The. Curse. Of. Sin. Cost. The. Lord. Of. Glory. Because. That's. What. He. Is. Speaking. Of. Here. And.
[59:23] Here. In. This. Location. There. Is. This. Burden. All. The. Intensity. Of. It. Physically. All. The. Intensity. Of.
[59:33] Intensity. Of. It. Mentally. And. All. That. It. Was. In. Condemnation. It. Was.
[59:43] Hell. That's. What. It. Was. Because. That. Is. Fair. In. The. Darkness. And. The. Dereliction. Of.
[59:55] That. Situation. Before. He. Emerged. From. It. He. Was. Emerging. From. Hell. And. Said. To. The. Father. Because. He.
[60:05] Had. Glimpsed. The. Father. Again. Into. Your. Hands. I. Commit. My. Spirit. And. When. He. Cried. Tehle.
[60:16] Espan. You know. It. Was. Behind. Him. And. All. That. Ugliness. And. All. That. Suffering. All.
[60:26] All. All. All. That. Intensity. Was. Really. Recycled. Into. The. Glory. And. Joy. Eterna. Because. That.
[60:36] Is. Why. He. Went. Through. It. He. Saw. And. He. Knew. As. The. Hebrews. Puts. It. Chapter. Twelve. I. Think. About. Verse. Two.
[60:47] For. The. Joy. That. Was. Set. Before. And. That. That. That. We. Have. Set. Before. Us. Here. Christ.
[60:58] Redeemed. Us. From. The. Curse. Of. The. Law. How. Did. He. Do. It. By. Becoming. A. Curse. For. Us. So.
[61:10] We. Have. The. Passion. Not. Stay. Jude. We. Have. The. Program. That. Is. Fulfilled. And. We.
[61:20] Also. Have. Here. The. Power. That. Flows. From. The. Cross. Thomas. Kelly. Wrote. A hymn. I'm. Sure. We've. Sung. It. The. Cross. It. Takes.
[61:31] Our. Guilt. Away. It. Holds. The. Fainting. Spirit. Up. It. Cheers. With. Hope. The. Gloomy. Day. And. Sweetens. Every. Bitter.
[61:42] Cup. The. Power. Of. The. Cross. The. Life. Of. True. Faith. Flows. From. The. Cross. Of. Calvary. That's.
[61:53] Where. It. Flows. From. And. Peter. Here. Brings. Two. Elements. Of. It. Before. Us. The. First. Thing. That. He. Speaks. Of. A. Termination.
[62:04] There. Is. A. Negative. Element. There. Is. A. Termination. What. Is. It. We. Die. To. Sins. That's. What. It. Saying. Here. So. That. We. Might. Die. To. Sins.
[62:15] Now. What. Does. That. Dying. To. Sin. Really. Means. Well. It. Means. Returning. To. The. Shepherd. In. Verse. Twenty. Five. We. Say.
[62:25] Oh. It's. The. World. Behind. Us. The. Cross. Before. Us. No. Turning. Back. We. Used. To. Sing. No. Turning. Back. Why. Because. It's.
[62:36] All. Gone. And. It. Has. Rolled. Like. Pilgrim's. Bird. Rolling. Down. The. Hill. So. It. Is. Gone.
[62:46] It. Is. Behind. Us. And. So. There. Is. A. Death. We. Are. Called. To. Die. And. The. Word. That. Is. Used. Here. The. Greek. Word. I.
[62:57] Can't. Get. My. Maybe. I'll. Have. A. Go. At. It. Is. A. Can. Can. Can. Can. Don't. Try. To. Say. It. It. Turns. Into. Garlic. In. The. Middle. So. Watch. So. Here.
[63:07] We. Have. A. Word. That. Means. The. Departed. The. Departed. That's. What. It. Means. It's. As. If. You. Know. The. Burial.
[63:18] Of. That. Is. Over. It's. All. Gone. There. A. New. Mess. Of. Life. The. Spectre. Of. It. May. Follow. Because. You. Still. Maybe. Living.
[63:28] Out. In. It's. Like. Someone. Bying. A. House. And. You. Going. To. The. Old. House. And. You. Only. There. For. A. We. While. Because. You. You. Expecting. The. New. House. And.
[63:38] You. Forever. Finding. Things. That. Don't. Work. In. The. Old. And. It. Gets. Frustrated. Well. That's. The. Way. It's. Like. The. Spirit. Has. Been. Renewed. Within. Us. And.
[63:48] There. Is. The. New. Creation. But. The. New. Creation. Is. Struggling. With. This. Body. Again. And. Again. And. That's. What. Is. Here. For. Us. There.
[63:59] Is. A. Termination. And. We. Have. To. Remind. Ourselves. Again. And. Again. Of. This. Termination. Within. Our. Lives. The.
[64:09] Old. Is. Gone. The. New. Has. Come. But. Also. There. Is. A. Transformation. And. What. Is. The. Transformation. Well.
[64:20] What. Does. It. Mean. To. Live. For. Righteousness. Well. To. Live. For. Righteousness. Really. Is. To. Follow. The.
[64:30] Shepherd. Because. That's. What. The. Next. Verse. It's. A. A. A. Bit. Like. What. We're. Saying. To. The. Children. Maybe. It. Was. Providential. That. Your. Minister. Sort. Of. Made. Me. Talk. To. The. Kids. At.
[64:40] The. Beginning. But. We. Leave. That. With. The. Lord. But. Anyway. I'll. Take it. Up. With. Them. Later. By. The. I'll. Get. My. Own. Back. But. Here. We. Are. And. What. Is. It.
[64:50] That. We. See. Here. In. This. Transformation. Well. We. See. A. Shepherd. And. We. See. A. Shepherd. Who. Is. Also. Old. Bishop. He's.
[65:01] Called. The. Overseer. Here. He's. The. Shepherd. Who. Is. The. Overseer. Now. What. Is. He. Doing. He. Is. Guiding. Us. We're.
[65:13] Listening. To. What. He's. Saying. And. We. Are. Following. Him. That. Is. What. It. Means. To. Live. For. Righteousness. It. Means. That. We. Are.
[65:23] Listening. To. Jesus. We. Are. Hearers. And. Doers. Of. His. Word. Faith. In. Christ. Implies. Obedience. To. Christ.
[65:33] This. Is. The. Way. Walk. In. It. Through. His. Word. That's. Why. We. Can't. Leave. The. Word. Of. God. Behind. That's. Why. We're. Here. Today.
[65:44] And. Not. In. Any. Other. Building. In. This. vicinity. We. Are. Here. Because. We. Want. To. Listen. To. His. Voice. Because.
[65:55] That. Is. What. Righteousness. Demands. There. Is. A. Guide. We. Are. To. He. There. Is. Also. A. Guardian. Who. Care. Whose.
[66:06] Care. We. Can. Trust. Because. This. Is. The. Shepherd. And. What. Kind. Of. Shepherd. He. Is. Well. He. Tells. Them. Them.
[66:16] Them. The. Qualification. For. A. Good. Shepherd. A. Good. Shepherd. Will. Lay. His. Life. Down. For. The. Sheep. That.
[66:27] Is. The. Commitment. That. Christ. Has. Made. For. Our. Souls. Know. If. He. Has. Done. That. To. Protect. Us.
[66:38] From. The. Judgment. Of. God. And. The. Wrath. Of. God. And. From. Hell. Itself. If. He. Has. Done. That. For. Us. Do. You. Think. He. Is. Gonna. Feel. In.
[66:48] The. Teeny. Weenie. Bits. That. Are. Niggling. At. Us. Forever. Shall. He. Not. Even. Work. Through. These. Things. For. Good. He.
[67:02] Doesn't. Say. To. Us. You. Know. You. Are. Going. To. Have. An. Easy. Time. From. Now. On. No. What. He. Said. Was. The. World. Hated. Me. And. Because. It. Does. It. Does. It. It. Is. Going. To. Hate.
[67:12] You. Too. So. Expect. It. Expect. The. World. When.
[67:25] It. Might. Come. Over. To. You. But. There. It. Is. We. Have. A. Guardian. We. Have. Someone. Who. Will. Look. After. Us. And. He. Will. Guard.
[67:35] Us. And. Keep. Us. Within. His. Word. Continuing. My. Word. He. Said. And. You. Will. Be. My. Disciples. Indeed. So. There. Is. First.
[67:46] Of. All. The. Guide. There. We.
[67:56] Are. On. The. Way. To. Heaven. We. Are. On. The. Way. To. Emmanuel. That's. Where. We. Head. And. Often. Jesus. Has. To. Remind.
[68:06] Us. Of. This. Because. We. Get. So. Comfortable. Here. Don't. We. In. Actually. Our. Own. Prosperity. Gospel. When. We. Shifting. A. Sh effet. Prosperity.
[68:17] Gospel. And. How. Wrong. We. Are. I was telling someone about D.D. Mackay, who was an evangelist.
[68:30] He was Mackay from Tyree. He was known throughout the islands. In fact, my mother was converted through him. And he was, in his old age, near in 90, on Kyle Pier, in the rain, giving out tracts as people were going on.
[68:48] Probably the Loch Ness was the old boat that sailed from Kyle to Storway at that time. And as he was giving out, my father was going home to Rue again. As he was giving, he noticed that Mackay's fingers were bleeding.
[69:04] And my father said, oh, Mr. Mackay, what happened to your fingers? Hach, he said, old stuff, I'll get new ones. I'll get new ones. And he just kept giving out tracts. That is the element of the goal that we should have in mind.
[69:21] Because that's where Jesus has pointed us. And that's where Jesus has gone. And where Jesus said and prayed, Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am.
[69:35] To see my glory. The glory that you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. He loved him.
[69:48] Why? Because before the foundation of the world, we read that the Lamb was in the midst of the throne. The Lamb was there even before the foundation of the world.
[70:03] That God had us in you. Now, why can we say today that God had us in you, even in eternity in the past? About 30 years from now.
[70:16] I shouldn't be talking about this, but I'm very old. I went to Jerusalem. And we arrived in Jerusalem at about half past midnight, off the plane at Tel Aviv.
[70:29] And we were going towards Jerusalem. And you could see Jerusalem on the hill. And it was lit up. And most of the folk who were there were going, you and I and whatever.
[70:42] And the thought that struck me was this. I've been here before. I was here two thousand years ago. And the old hymn put it, were you there when they crucified, my Lord?
[71:03] And that's a miracle. The miracle that breaks through the realms of time into the eternal focus that God sets before us.
[71:18] So let's never make little of the one who gave us this to remind us again and again.
[71:31] Not of bits of bread and of wine and a cup. But that we should take these things and survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died.
[71:48] and recognize it was for me. And even before I was ever designed or brought to be, God's care, God's love, God's eternity was there for me.
[72:08] Let us pray. Lord, O Heavenly Father, as we give thanks today for all that you are to us in Christ, move among us by your Holy Spirit, speaking to us wherever we are sitting and whatever we are thinking and draw us, Lord, to yourself in such a way that we may come to see that love is really and all loves excelling, your love, and coming to see that that love seeks us afresh through the ordinance that you set among us.
[73:06] For Jesus' sake. Amen. We are going to sing from Mission Praise, I think, yes.
[73:20] Mission Praise 1072. In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song.
[73:33] This cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fuchsia's throat, and storm. We'll sing this whole hymn to God's praise. In Christ alone my hope is found.
[73:48] Now as we go forward to the Lord's table, we read a passage of Scripture that indicates to us the distinctive transformation, the termination of what I was speaking about, and the transformation that takes place.
[74:11] We find it, our next version of it, in Galatians chapter 5. And we shall read from verse 16 to the end of the chapter.
[74:26] Galatians chapter 5 from verse 16. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
[74:43] For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
[74:53] They are in conflict with each other so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
[75:08] The acts of the sinful nature are obvious. Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like.
[75:36] I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
[76:01] Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
[76:16] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
[76:31] May God bless to us this reading from His Holy Word. And let us note that this speaks to us of the fruit of the Spirit, not fruits, not plural.
[76:44] It's the same fruit and these various segments within the fruit, I have sometimes compared it with an orange that you can peel and break into segments.
[76:56] The one fruit, the different aspects of that fruit. The other thing that we should remember is that fruit takes time to ripen.
[77:09] Fruit takes time to ripen. And there are some of us who sometimes feel it will never ripen. But the one thing that can prohibit the fruit ripening, there are two things.
[77:26] The first is if you pluck it off the tree. So you leave it on the tree. There's no other place to go as Simon Peter said, except to him who has eternal life.
[77:40] And the other thing it usually needs is the sunshine. And the sun of righteousness to be shining upon us as we abide in him.
[77:51] It's a kind of little summary of what he is saying to us here. Now before we sing to go forward to the table, we're going to pray, we're going to sing in Gaelic.
[78:04] And it's been suggested that I pray in Gaelic. So let's just bow our heads and pray. we'll see.
[78:14] ILMENT RECESSIONF JadeF E multiplicandoF WaitF실F Psalms mudar and opinion with continual, when theGalithians sounds ...
[78:50] The physical Gospel is put Bye, then it'scoms, and the original Gospel voice forward.
[79:03] What do you need?!�도g saying to me following angels.
[79:26] his full Smiths, he was like long even a week, but to get to this day, nothing more like the faintest copperوفter, but also not a girl.
[79:51] Let them stay here. Amen. Now we're going to sing from Psalm 116, again in Gaelic.
[80:13] And we can follow it in English, those who do not have Gaelic. You might even sing it in English. As we go along, there are no such restrictions placed at all.
[80:25] We are not discriminating in that way. We're seeking to express an element of our culture where some of us may be more comfortable. So we're going to sing the last verses from verse 13 to the end of Psalm 116.
[80:43] As we go forward to the table. And as we do so, if you are a member of the Church of Christ and truly love the Lord, and you have not taken your place at the table, which I think is perhaps defined in a certain kind of way, in the central area of our body here.
[81:01] We invite you, and we invite you humbly, to join with us in the privilege that we are afforded today. So we're going to sing from verse 13 to the end of Psalm.
[81:15] Down to verse 19.
[81:26] From verse 13.
[81:38] And we're going to sing from verse 13. And then I'm here. God, I'm here. God, I'm here.
[82:15] God, I'm here.
[82:45] God, I'm here.
[83:15] God, I'm here. God, I'm here.
[83:45] God, I'm here. God, I'm here.
[84:15] God, I'm here. God, I'm here. God, I'm here.
[84:31] God, I'm here. Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden.
[84:45] Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden.
[85:03] Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden.
[85:33] Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden.
[86:03] Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden. Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden. Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden.
[86:18] Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden. Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden. Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden.
[86:32] Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden. Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden.
[86:43] Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden. Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden. Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden.
[86:55] Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden. Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden. Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden.
[87:09] Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden. Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden.
[87:23] Oh, hey, you're a sky and gladden. Thank you.
[87:59] Thank you.
[88:29] Thank you.
[88:59] Thank you. Thank you.
[89:31] Thank you. Thank you.
[90:01] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. in a congregation or in a denomination.
[90:15] We are not putting our trust in a sacrament. We are putting our trust in him who loved us and gave himself for us.
[90:27] And the third thing that we have here is we are identified together as a permanent family. Here am I and the children God has given.
[90:38] I have a niece who adopted two children and I asked her in the early days, I said, what do you want to tell the children?
[90:49] She said, the boys have been from one foster parents to another for a long time. She said, I will tell them of all their natural parents and all that happened.
[91:03] And I will say to them, but we know are your forever family. And you know, that gives children stability.
[91:15] And what stability God has given us. You know, we're in his forever family. And no wonder that we would long to have all our families in God's forever family.
[91:35] And that's what he says before us here in the covenant he has given us. And the amazing thing is this, that Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and his sisters.
[91:49] Do you remember at one time they went looking for him and they said, your brothers and your family are looking for him. He said, who is my mother and my brother?
[92:03] And he says, those who are hearing by word and who are following and obeying. That's where it is. And so we are here as his forever family.
[92:16] And we are here also because we have a warrant for being and doing what we're doing. And we find it in 1 Corinthians. And I shall read you from that passage.
[92:29] For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you. The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took bread. And when he had given thanks he broke it and said, this is my body which is for you.
[92:43] Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way he took the cup saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.
[92:59] For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Therefore whoever eats and drinks and drink this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord.
[93:19] a man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and brings judgment on himself.
[93:33] So as we come before the Lord as the Apostle Paul indicates that this was granted him received from the Lord he is passing it on to the church.
[93:48] And so as the Lord Jesus instructed we take these elements of bread and wine to be set aside from all common use to this holy and special use.
[94:05] And as we read that as he took bread and as he broke it that he gave thanks so we also follow in the example of what our Lord has done.
[94:20] Let us unite our hearts in thanksgiving to God. We praise you O Lord God King of Kings and Lord of Lords We bless you Lord of God the author of our salvation the finisher of our salvation the God who calls us this day to appreciate and acknowledge all that he is through the broken body and through the shed blood of the one who bore away the curse that belonged to his people.
[95:08] Stand among us in your risen power relieve yourself to us in the light that shines from your ascended glory unto all by the Holy Spirit that you call this day to know you and to love you.
[95:31] We bless you Lord for all that you are to us and as we come to give thanks we give thanks Lord for all who have shared in this sacrament of our kith and kinsfolk who have now gone from this world those who prayed for us when we have no time or inclination to pray for ourselves.
[95:56] We bless you Lord for the people who have touched us along life's way and cared for us when we were careless and never gave up on us and that because of the one who never gives up on anyone.
[96:15] We bless you Lord for all that you are to us in your love and love. Bless to us therefore all that we share together here and enable us to do so as a family together and to know that we belong.
[96:34] We pray especially with thrilling hearts for the three who join us together here for the first time. Lord we know that we our joy and our exhortation is only a pale shadow of the exhortation that's among the angels.
[96:59] Lord we cannot even begin to understand the wonder of the glory for which you are calling us and the intensity of the intimacy with which you care even for those who come to be with us for the first time.
[97:19] Lord if you met the prodigal with such exhortation you still meet the prodigals and you still go up to look for those who are surging in the corner.
[97:37] Lord be near everyone who is in here and speak to us all and be especially to us in what love given us to set our focus of Calvary.
[97:51] In Jesus' name Amen. And in the night that we have been blessed it he said this is my body that is broken for you this do in remembrance of me and in like manner also he took the cup after he had said this cup is the new testament in my blood drink you all for you for this bread and this cup to show forth the Lord's death until he comes peace of the
[98:54] Lord Jesus Christ be with us all as we rise from the table I just leave with you a verse from Colossians chapter 2 verse 6 so then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord continue to live in him rooted and built up in him strengthened in the faith as you were taught and so we have to be rooted in him we have built up through him he is the strength of our faith not ourselves and that is why weakness is real strength because our weakness clings to him and depends on him and we have to overflow with thanksgiving may God bless to us for time together here let us again light our heart
[100:03] God our heavenly father we sing amazing grace that we are seldom amazed and we ask oh Lord that we kindle within our hearts more of the Lord Jesus and more of his love that we might reflect it in all that we do and say and think and that we might know the riches that are abounding in him and that no matter how much we plunge into them that they grow even as we do so and we bless you Lord that your kingdom is extended in other areas of the world we pray today Lord for this whole community and for all who are worshipping you and others who are not and we pray
[101:06] Lord your blessing upon all that is done to us here some who are away at college some who are away at work some who are host and some who are meeting challenges in their lives that have diminished them through addictions and other problems that are assailing their humanity Lord we pray that you would make us a challenge of your measure and that you would continue with us even as we rise in the table here today asking that you will continue with us through the rest of the day and the duties that we are to fulfill not only in the home where there is residential care but also as we gather in the evening and as your servant leaves us may your blessing be on portion in Jesus name
[102:08] Amen Psalm 110 103 O thou my soul bless God the Lord and all that is in me is he stirred out his holy name to magnify him bless God to find who with abundance of good things does satisfy thy love so that even as an eagle sage renewed is thy dream from 1 to 5 103 O thou my soul bless God the Lord Lord thou my soul bless God the Lord and Lord that in me is be still that God is holy day to magnify and bless bless bless bless my soul the
[103:26] Lord thy God Tracy has hold me fabric BÜNDNIS asta All thine iniquities who thou most graciously forgive, Who thy diseases all and pains doth be done be relieved,
[104:28] Who could redeem thy life that thou to death is not golden, Who thee with loving kindness doth a tender mercy's crown, Who with abundance of good things doth satisfy thy birth, So that if not the eacons it, bring you where it is thy youth.
[105:34] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and evermore.
[105:47] Amen.