If God Is For Us

[0:00] Good morning everyone and welcome to our service this morning. A special welcome to any visitors who are with us today. And we welcome Suleen McRae to preach to us this morning.

[0:14] Ian teaches in a local school here and we look forward to hearing what he has to share with us. The evening service at 6pm will be conducted by Father McLeod, one of our elders.

[0:25] The Ladies Bible Study meets at 8pm on Tuesday, on Monday sorry. And then Tuesday a very busy night, the Sweet First Week Scholarship meets at 7.30 in the Church of Scotland Hall.

[0:40] The Discipleship Explored Course meets also on Tuesday for this week only, moving from its normal Thursday time. It's at 8 o'clock in the Restaurant Hotel Hebrides.

[0:52] And Road to Recovery meets here on Tuesday 8pm in the Community Centre. And I've had a late notice from Leverborough Women for Mission, saying all ladies invited to Women for Mission meeting on Tuesday at 7.30.

[1:08] And which Nurse Marion will be giving a talk. Wednesday prayer meeting as usual at 7.30pm in Kilda Cruises.

[1:18] Scalpley Free Church communion services run from this coming Thursday the 10th to Monday the 14th of March. And a warm invitation is invited to everyone to attend the services.

[1:29] There's copies of the programme of services available on that table near to the door. And the preachers are Reverend James MacDonald, who is retired.

[1:40] Reverend Hugh Therrier, the new minister at the High Three in Stornoway. And Reverend Ian Thompson of East Hill Bride. The morning service next Sunday at 11am will be taken, God willing, by the minister.

[1:57] And there'll be no evening service here, as we'll be joining with the Free Church in Scalpley. Or their evening service at 6.30pm in the Scalpley Community Centre.

[2:07] And we hope to arrange transport for that. We'll get full details next Sunday morning. Annual subscriptions for the record are now due. So please give £18.

[2:22] Just put it in an envelope marked with your name and record subscription. And drop it into the offering plate. And if you are not receiving the record but would like to do so, then please speak to Callum McKinnon.

[2:36] And he will put you onto the subscription list. I would very much recommend anyone who's not getting the magazine that they do take the subscription. It's an excellent magazine giving good Christian teaching and giving good information about what is going on elsewhere within our denomination.

[2:52] And indeed in other denominations with whom the Free Church is associated. I have a couple of queries came forward from people during the week regarding pledges towards the building fund.

[3:10] And particularly in the question of giving a monthly pledge. I can say quite clearly that if you pledge to give that amount of money and your circumstances change and you're not able to do so, then we're obviously not going to come chasing anybody for that.

[3:27] The pledge is just basically people saying today what they believe they can reasonably give over a period of time towards paying for the purchase and renovation of the building.

[3:39] So use for both as a manse and a place of worship. And I'm pleased to say that we now have our registration with HMRCs. So anyone who wishes to donate money directly into our loanback account can do so by writing a cheque to North Harris Free Church.

[3:58] If you've already written one to the Free Church of Scotland, that's no problem. The funds will be transferred over to us in due course. And finally, I have an edict to read regarding the next congregational meeting we're having to decide on purchasing property.

[4:18] And because we're looking for purchase, I need to read out the edict as a formal notice. So the edict is as follows. At this meeting of 22 February 2016, the Kirk session agreed to call a congregational meeting for Wednesday the 16th of March at 7.30pm in the Community Centre of Tarbert for the Purpose of Tarbert.

[4:40] For the purposes of seeking congregational approval for the purchase of property and applying for a loan from the Board of Trustees of the Free Church of Scotland. All members and adherents of the congregation who are able are asked to attend.

[4:54] And that is signed by me as session clerk. These are all the intimations. Thank you for bearing with me. And I hand over to Ian. Thanks, gentlemen.

[5:07] It's good to be with you here this morning. It's good to be here to worship God together. And we're going to begin doing that by saying to us, please, from Psalm 25. We're seeing Psalm 25.

[5:20] This is from the Sing Psalms version. You may not be quite so familiar with the Sing Psalms version. I've spoken to the Scotty Shorter a bit. Most of the Psalms go to similar and the same tunes.

[5:32] And hopefully we become familiar with them as we go. We're going to sing Psalm 25 from verse 14 to the end of the Psalm. God's friends are those who fear his name.

[5:43] With them his covenant he will share. My eyes are always on the Lord. He'll free my feet from every sinner. Down to verse 21 and 22. Because I hope in you alone that uprightness protect me still from all the troubles.

[5:57] Oh my God, redeeming good people Israel. We're going to sing these verses of Psalm 25. In God's place. And verse 14. God's friends are those who fear his name. God's friends are those who fear his name.

[6:21] With them his covenant he will share. My eyes are always on the Lord.

[6:40] He'll free my feet from every sin. Turn to me, Lord.

[6:55] Show me your grace. I suffer pain and loneliness.

[7:09] The troubles of my heart have grown.

[7:20] Deliver me from my distress. Look on my pain and suffering.

[7:40] Forgive all my iniquity. See how my foes have multiplied.

[7:57] How fierce that hatred is for me. O guard my life.

[8:12] I'm rescuing. And let me not be good to shame.

[8:26] For I take refuge in you, Lord. From those who would destroy my name.

[8:45] Because I hope in you, my Lord. Let the uprightness protect me still.

[9:04] From all their troubles. O my God. Redeem your people, Israel.

[9:23] Let's pray that we are in the name of God. Lord, we are in the name of God. Let the uprightness protect you.

[9:34] God, we give you thanks that on another Sunday morning we can come together as a worshiping congregation. We give thanks that we have the opportunity to come to worship our Holy God and that we have the freedom to come to worship you, that we can do so in safety and in comfort, when so many in different places that are in the world have to worship you in secret and in fear. We pray, O Lord, that you would help us to carry our blessings, that we would acknowledge that every gift, every beautiful and perfect gift comes from you and that each one of them, the smallest and the slightest of them, is a gift that we don't deserve. We ask, O Lord, that while we come apart just now to worship you, to sing your praises and to read your word and to think about what you're saying to us in your word, that you would bless us, that you would be with us. We know that whenever two or three are gathered in your name, you'll be in the midst of them to bless. And our prayer, Lord, this morning is that not only would you be here because we know that you are here, but that you would make yourself known to us and that you would know what it is to meet here in your name and that you would be able to say it was a blessing for us to be here today.

[11:05] We know, O Lord, that so often we look to other things and other people. We look up to our circumstances. We think about how we feel ourselves and what is happening in our own lives and who the speaker is and all of these things. What help us to get all of these things aside and help us to realize that when the words be read and sung, that it is not just any man or woman who is speaking, but that you are speaking to us. Help us to hear what you have to say to us today.

[11:36] Apply it to your hearts and to your lives, we ask. We give thanks, Lord, that you are a God who can deal with any situation and any circumstance. We know that each one of us gathered here, we have different people.

[11:51] We have different needs and different circumstances. We have different situations, different concerns. But we give thanks that no matter what our situation and no matter what our circumstances might be, that we are welcome to come to you. We give thanks that we are not a God who is a specialist in one area, but that you are the God who can deal with anything and everything. You are the God who is everywhere, who sees everything, who knows everything. Help us, O Lord, to come to you, to rely on you, whatever our circumstances might be today. We pray, Lord, for the congregation here in Tarot. We pray that you will be with yourself and the minister, that you will be with the office players as they lead the congregation in spiritual and temporal issues. We pray that you will be with each one who comes here to worship. For those who pray for the work of the gospel in the house. We ask, O Lord, to bless each one. We give thanks for everybody here from the youngest to the oldest. And we ask that it would please you to bless each one regardless of age and stage in life today. We give thanks that you are the God who says, suffer little children to come unto you. The one who invites the children to come and to get to know you and to receive salvation even at our young age. We give thanks that with the God who doesn't write anybody off, that even like the thief on the cross at the very last moments of his life, that he can be saved. But help us, O Lord, whatever our circumstances, whatever their religion, whatever their situation in life, help us to make sure that we do come to you for that right of salvation.

[13:54] We pray for those who are in the community right about who have no word of the gospel, who have no word of their need of a savior and who don't care about the services taking part in the village today.

[14:07] We ask, O Lord, that you would give them an interest, that you would cause them to question what is going on and what it's all about and that they would come to find out for themselves and that they would see in the gospel as it's preached and ask if people live out the gospel in their lives that everybody has a need and that they know the answer is to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ. We ask that you would be with those who need them specifically. Those who are perhaps unwell, those who maybe have significant concerns to do with their health or to do with other issues. We ask for those who would love to be here but can't be, for whatever reason that may be, that you would be with them where they are.

[14:50] We pray for the neighbouring congregations as well. We pray for the communion services taking place today and in the next few days ahead as well. We ask, O Lord, that you would be with your people as they need to remember your death. And we ask that whilst they do that, that it will be a reminder to them and an encouragement for them and a message to all around them that not only did the Lord Jesus die but he rose and lives today as well. Help us in the aspect of our worship, we pray. Keep the devil at your heart and keep our minds constantly to do you and to pardon our sins, we ask for Jesus' sake. Amen.

[15:35] Now then, usually when I say to the children and dad that I want to speak to them, I think, oh no, what have I done? What's going on today? But today is not like that. You'll be glad to hear.

[15:55] I speak to the, for those of you who don't know, I work in the school and I get a chance to speak to the primary children regularly which is a real privilege in many ways. But today is maybe the biggest privilege to be able to talk to you in a slightly different way and to be able to talk to you about God and about Christ, Jesus and what he can do in your life. Now, I could be wrong, but I reckon that there's a word that lots of you boys and girls hear a lot of the time and you may be fed up hearing it, maybe from mums or dads or teachers or grannies or grandpas. Do you ever hear the word remember?

[16:38] Does anyone tell you to remember something? Does anyone tell you to remember to wash your hands before you eat? Or brush your teeth? Or say your prayers? Or do your homework? Has that ever happened to you? I bet it does.

[16:55] And do you ever get fed up being told to remember something? I bet you do. Well, I wonder why people always tell you to remember things. I think there's three reasons.

[17:09] The first reason is because they care for you. And the things they're telling you about, they want you. They think it's important that you remember them. For example, you might be fed up of hearing mum or dad say, remember to brush your teeth before you go to bed. Well, the reason is because they want you to have healthy teeth.

[17:26] And then the second reason is because the things they're telling you to remember are important. It's important to remember to talk to God. It's important to remember to be clean and wash your hands before you eat.

[17:41] And if I can say it, it's important to do your homework as well. But there's another reason, and I think it's maybe the biggest reason, that people tell you to remember.

[17:52] And that's because you quite often forget. Is that right? You sometimes get told to do something and then after a few minutes, something's happened.

[18:03] Maybe you've talked to one of your friends or you've seen something on the telly or you've picked up a video game and you have no word of what your mum or dad or someone said to you. Does that happen? I bet it does.

[18:13] Well, you know, the good news is, or maybe there's bad news, the bad news is you're going to be told to remember things all your life.

[18:24] You could live to be 110 and people will still tell you to remember things. But the good news is that adults forget things as well. And you know, God tells us to remember things in the Bible.

[18:37] He tells us, for example, to remember to keep Sunday as a special day. And he tells us that one verse in the Bible that's especially for boys and girls.

[18:50] I wonder if you ever thought about that. The Bible's quite a difficult book to understand some of this, isn't it? But there's one verse that's especially for boys and girls. And God says in that verse, remember your creator in the days of your youth.

[19:05] Under who your creator is. Well, your creator is the person you made to. And that's God. And he tells everybody, he tells boys and girls especially, to remember him when you're still young.

[19:21] Well, there's three reasons why he tells you to do that. And it's the same reasons we just had why your mums or dads or whoever tell you to remember. The first reason is he cares for you. God cares for you.

[19:33] Which is great. It's great to know that God is not just up there far away in heaven and not even noticing what's happening here in Harris. He cares for every single one of you.

[19:45] And then he tells you to remember him because it's important. And you know that the most important thing you will ever do in your life is to ask Jesus to be your friend.

[19:58] Now I know that in India there's lots of people who do important jobs. And I'm not even thinking about the teachers. But there are doctors. And there are policemen. And there are people who do lots of really important jobs.

[20:12] And they are important. But none of them, none of those jobs is more important than what God is telling you to do to remember him. And those of them who are Christians and are in those jobs, they know that.

[20:25] And they'll tell you that. And the other reason that he tells you is because you can forget about God. I wonder if that surprises you. How can anyone forget about God when he's made everything and we look around us and we're reminded about him and we read about him in the Bible and we sing about him.

[20:44] But you know what? We forget God. And actually, do you know that older people forget God more often than young people do? And that's why God says to remember him when you're young so that you don't forget him when you're old.

[20:59] So maybe the next time your parent maybe nags you and says, remember to do this or remember to go there or remember not to do something.

[21:11] Try to remember that God wants you to remember him as well. Every time you hear that word remember, think about God and think about how you have to remember him.

[21:25] That was also so painful. I can't promise it will be less painless tomorrow. Thank you for listening. We're going to say a short prayer. Lord, we give thanks for the young boys and girls here, whatever their age, whether they're young, whether they're teenagers.

[21:46] We give thanks that they're here, that they're taking part in the worship, that they're learning about you. And we ask that for each and every one of them, that they will remember you.

[21:58] And that they'll remember you when they're young and that they'll remember you all the days of their life. And that they'll serve you and love you and be used by you. We give thanks for them being here.

[22:10] We ask that whether they're in the service or whether they're in Sunday school, that they'll learn about you and that they'll think about you when they go home and long after.

[22:22] We ask that you would help all those who work with the young people here in the congregation, that you would bless them. And that each one of them would see fruit for their labour. And that they would see these young people coming to put their trust in you.

[22:36] For Jesus' sake. Amen. So we're going to sing another psalm. This time we're going to sing Psalm 124.

[22:50] This is from the Scottish Old Version, the second version of the psalm. We're going to sing the whole of that psalm for the verses. Now Israel may say, and that truly, if that the Lord had not a right to see it, when cruel men against us furiously rose up in wrath to make of us their pain.

[23:11] We're going to sing the whole of Psalm 124, the second version to God's praise. Now Israel may say, and that truly. Now Israel may say, and that truly.

[23:34] If that the Lord had not a cause may take.

[23:46] Is that the Lord had not a right to see it, when cruel men against us furiously rose up in wrath to make of us their pain.

[24:16] Then certainly they had devoured us all.

[24:28] And swallowed quick for all that we do deem.

[24:39] Such was their rage as we might well esteem.

[24:49] And as your strut before them all things drown.

[24:59] So had they brought our sword to death quite down.

[25:10] The raging streams with their proud swelling wings.

[25:21] And had they brought our sword to death. And blessed be God to death as safely keep.

[25:42] And hath not given us for our living prey. And to their teeth and bloody cruelty.

[26:01] Even as the burn out of the fowler's men.

[26:13] He escaped away. He escaped away. So is our soul set free. The reward of the fowler's men.

[26:25] The reward of the fowler's men. The reward of the fowler's men. The reward of the fowler's men. The reward of the fowler's men.

[26:39] The reward of the fowler's men. The reward of the fowler's men. The reward of the fowler's men. The reward of the fowler's men. The reward of the fowler's men.

[26:55] And the reward of the fowler's men. We're going to read now the New Testament. In Paul's letter to the Romans. And in chapter 8. Romans chapter 8.

[27:07] We're going to begin reading at verse 18. In verse 18 of last chapter. Amen. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time.

[27:23] Are not worth comparing with the glory. That has to be revealed to us. For the creation wailed to the eager longing. For the reeling of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility.

[27:35] Not willingly. But because of him who subjected it. In hope. The life will be set free from its bondage to corruption. And obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

[27:47] For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together. In the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation. But we ourselves. Who have the first fruits of the spirit.

[27:59] Grow inwardly. As we wait eagerly for adoption as sons. The redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we are saved. And I hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees.

[28:11] But if we hope for what we do not see. We wait for it with patience. Likewise the spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought. But the spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

[28:25] And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the spirit. Because the spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God. All things work together for good.

[28:37] For those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son. In order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

[28:49] And those whom he predestined he also called. And those whom he called he also justified. And those whom he justified he also glorified. For then shall we say to these things.

[29:00] 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 with him graciously give us all things.

[29:11] Who shall bring any charge against God's elect. It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn. Christ Jesus is the one who died. More than that who was raised.

[29:22] Who is at the right hand of God. Who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ. Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine.

[29:33] Or nakedness or danger or sword. As it is written for your sake we are being killed all the day long. We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. Knowing all these things we are more than conquerors.

[29:45] Through whom we loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life. Nor angels nor rulers. Nor things present nor things to come. Nor powers. Nor height nor depth.

[29:56] Nor anything else in all creation. Will be able to save what he does. From the love of God. In Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. May God bless you as we read. That part of his own holy and inspired word.

[30:11] We will pray in Galilee. As an angel of God. There are in the entire locations of idolatry. Minneth work. In her heart is children falling down. In thehost's It means it isARYAND 3 if only the king of children twenty-centry dead.

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[31:47] And that the池 was prepared for their speech is worthless But not there are people from Angu eyes You can't do anything You've helped Keyes You've made anyBlue These people that you wanted to know When you came back now amen now we're going to sing in gaelic in psalm 34. we're going to sing verses 17 phrasuit

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[52:29] We're going to say, God is for the Christian.

[53:29] Thank you.

[53:59] for comfort.

[54:29] You need to, ask you, but you're the key to, and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key, that you're the key,

[58:59] and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key, why does it,

[60:59] So, it's not that big, and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key, and you're the key,

[65:28] Paul goes on to say, Who shall save us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written for your sake, we have been killed all the day long.

[65:41] We have regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things, in all these difficulties, he's just listed. We are more than conquerors. How? Through him who loved us.

[65:54] If God is for us, who can be against us? Well, plenty in this life. But ultimately, if God is for us, it will be as if nobody has ever opposed us.

[66:08] Christian trained, what an encouragement and what a comfort that should be to each one of us, if only we could lay hold of it by faith. And finally, how does this affect us in the context of God as judge?

[66:23] Well, this brings us into God's courtroom. And who will bring any charge against God's elect is Paul's question. Well, the devil brings charges against God's people all the time.

[66:36] He's constantly pointing you out. You individually. You as families. You as a congregation. And he's saying, he's unfaithful to you. She doubts your promises.

[66:46] They're not acting the way they should as Christians. And the prosecutor, he's the accuser of the brethren. He's the prosecutor bringing charges against God's people. Trying to prove to God that they're not worthy of his blessing.

[67:01] But, says Paul, don't worry about these accusations. Because God is the judge. He's the charge of those courtroom. And it's God that justifies.

[67:12] And as Henry said, when God justifies a person, all accusations at once lose their validity. You know, it's up to God to decide on the fate of every pure sinner saved by grace.

[67:26] Not up to the devil. Not up to us. Not even up to the sinner himself or herself. And the verdict is already him. Not guilty. Friend in Christ, you are not guilty in God's sight.

[67:41] He's justified you once and for all. In the face of your difficulties and questions and doubts and trials and turmoil. Rejoice in that.

[67:51] Rejoice in the truth that our God is for us. Who can be against us? You know, I don't know. Maybe this is something that you need.

[68:03] Maybe it's something I need. To know today. Maybe like these believers in the first century in Rome. It's something that you or I will need in days or weeks or years to come.

[68:18] Some of these Roman Christians who would have read the original letter and Paul's whole handwriting. They would go on to suffer great persecution. But they would have placed God.

[68:33] That they had received and that they had believed this great encouragement from Paul before the trials began. Well friend, whether you have trials in your life today or whether you have peace.

[68:49] Grab on to this verse by faith. Hold on to it by faith. And you'll see in your own experience as well as having the guarantee of God's word.

[69:01] That if God is for you, nothing and nobody can really be against you. But if God is against you today, please friend.

[69:17] Do everything you can. As quickly as possible to ensure that that relationship has changed and that he's for you. That he's on your side.

[69:29] And that he's your friend. And do not your hand. Let's pray. We ask for Lord that you would help us to use your word in our eye.

[69:45] The encouragements we have would be used to encourage us. That the words of strengthening would strengthen us. Strengthen us, faith. That the words of warning would be heard loud and clear.

[70:00] And that we would realise the great danger that there is of making an enemy of God. We know that by nature each of us are your enemies because of sin. We give thanks that there's a solution to that.

[70:13] We give thanks that you're willing to be on our side rather than against us. We pray oh Lord that each one of us in here today would know that for ourselves. That we would be able to say that we have a friend in Jesus.

[70:27] That we have a brother. That we have a brother who has died for us. A father who loves us. And that we would know you as the friend who sticks closer than any brother.

[70:38] The one who can help us no matter our circumstances. The one who can help no matter how desperate things seem to be. Help us to remember that a God is for us.

[70:49] Nobody can be against us. To rely on you day by day for help throughout our lives. Be with us now as we sing a parting psalm.

[71:00] For Jesus' name. Amen. We're going to say in Psalm 18.

[71:15] And again this is the same psalms version. Psalm 18 from verse 23 to 29. Before the Lord I have kept myself from blame and all for his precious fruit.

[71:26] Since in his sight my hands have cleaned the Lord my God and he ordered me. Verse 29. With help from God I can advance against a fruit and rout them all. And with the aid my God will give.

[71:37] I can leap over any law. These four verses to God's praise. Before the Lord I have kept myself. Before the Lord I have kept myself.

[71:53] From blame and all transgressions free. Since in his sight my hands were clean.

[72:07] The Lord my God rewarded me. With faithful people you keep faith.

[72:22] And to the blameless you are good. With pure men you yourself are pure.

[72:35] But with the crooked you are shrewd. You save the humble and the meek.

[72:49] But bring the proud down from the height. You Lord will keep my love afraid.

[73:02] God turns my darkness into light. With help from God I can advance against a troop and rout them all.

[73:22] And with the aid my God will give. I can't leap over any law.

[73:35] Lord we ask that you will place a meeting together. That you will place your own word to us as we've read it.

[73:46] And sung it and so to meditate on it. We ask that anything that's been said or done. Or thought that is unmissably forgiven. That you will place the rest of your own holy day to us. Keep us looking to yourself at all times and in all circumstances.

[74:02] And pardon our sins for Jesus' sake. Amen.