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[0:00] Good morning. A warm welcome to the service today. Good to see everybody here and good to know also there are those online as well. So a warm welcome in the name of Jesus. After the service as usual tea and coffee at the end if you're able to stay behind please do so. And there's a load of notices here as usual. I'll just draw attention to a few of them but not too many. You can read them in your own time.

[0:28] The prayer meeting this evening at half past five in the room to my left if you're able to before the evening service is the opportunity to have a time of open prayer. Service tonight will be taken by myself God willing. Scott's in Gairlock today and be remembering Scott and Fiona as they go to Gairlock and various other places seeking the Lord's will over the next few months.

[0:53] YF is on tonight 7.30 to 8.30 here so all are welcome all of secondary school age are welcome to go to that. A couple of changes this week. This isn't a change but it's a monthly thing. The elders will meet tomorrow night for a time of prayer from 6 until 7.

[1:14] And Road to recovery which is normally on Tuesday will be on Monday this week at 7. Just immediately after the prayer meeting. The elders prayer meeting.

[1:27] So any struggling with any issues of addiction are welcome to come along to that time. Prayer meeting which is usually on Wednesday. This week is on Tuesday. And the reason for that is there's fireworks on Wednesday.

[1:42] So as not to compete with the fireworks as an event and also the noise levels during the prayer meeting time. We've decided to change it to Tuesday this week. So prayer meeting on Tuesday at half past seven.

[1:54] Men's Bible study on Thursday for those who attend that please note that. And then for next Sunday. The service next Sunday the morning service is Remembrance Sunday. So the service will be at 10.50 a.m.

[2:10] So just make a note of that please. 10.50 a.m. next Sunday. And that's to allow us to observe the two minute silence at 11 o'clock. And I think these are all the notices I need to draw attention to just now.

[2:28] There is an edict to read. Do you have a copy of it, Duncan? Can I have that please? So we met on Wednesday evening for a prayer time.

[2:40] And also thank you, Duncan, to seek the support of the congregation for ordaining Scott as an elder. And that support was enthusiastically given.

[2:51] So what I have to do is read out this edict that's called just an intimation for the next two Sundays. And then we will go forward to ordaining Scott on the date that's set.

[3:04] So let me just read out this edict that Duncan's given me. Notice is hereby given that following a resolution by the Kirk Session of North Harris Free Church on 15th September 2025 to add one new elder to the Kirk Session by way of a congregational meeting held on 29th October 2025, Scott McLeod, Dalnamara Scalpie, was duly elected and approved by the Kirk Session.

[3:30] Notice is further given that if there is any person having any objection to the life or doctrine of Scott McLeod, they should present these objections along with substantiation of them to the Kirk Session, which will meet at 10.30am on the Lord's Day, 16th November 2025 in the church building.

[3:48] If no objection is then and there submitted, the ordination admission of Scott will take place at the close of the morning service on the same day. So that's the edict read for the first time, one more time next week, and then there's a date in your diary for the ordination.

[4:06] That's the 16th of November 2025. And these, I think, are all the notices. So let's worship God and let us sing to his praise. And we will sing Mission Praise 708, the words on the screen.

[4:22] To God be the glory, great things he hath done. And it's good to have Adam back with us today, leading in music. So in a moment we'll stand to sing to God's praise. To God be the glory, great things he hath done.

[4:50] So loved he the work that he gave us his Son, To yield in his life, and atornment for sin, And open the light, keep that all name go in.

[5:10] Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice.

[5:24] O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, And give him the glory, great things he hath done.

[5:39] O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, To every believer, the promise of God.

[5:52] The highest offender, who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

[6:05] Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice.

[6:19] O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, And give him the glory, great things he hath done.

[6:33] Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done, And great our rejoicing, through Jesus the Son.

[6:47] And through the higher and greater will be, Our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see.

[6:59] Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice.

[7:12] O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, And give him the glory, great things he hath done.

[7:33] Well, let's unite our hearts in a few moments of prayer. Let's pray together. Our heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, your day.

[7:47] And we thank you for the gospel message that we have sung in that hymn. The good news about Jesus. We thank you, Father, that you so loved the world, That you gave us your Son.

[8:01] And we thank you that he did lay down his life, He yielded his life as an atonement for our sin. And we thank you that he opened heaven's gates, So that all who believe in him may have that promise, That when we come to the end of our time in this world, There is a place secured for us in the Father's house in heaven.

[8:28] And we thank you for the blessing, For the wonder of your grace. We acknowledge, Lord, that we are not worthy Of all that you have shown to us in love.

[8:43] We acknowledge that we are sinners In our thoughts, what no one else sees. But you see, Lord, we confess that we sin.

[8:55] In our words, And the things that we sometimes say that we wish we hadn't said, We confess, Lord, that we sin.

[9:06] And even in our silences, We can think of times that we should have spoken And pointed people to Jesus. But we have lacked the courage.

[9:16] And we have been frightened of rejection. We've remained silent. And we know that that too is sinful. And Lord, we pray that you would forgive us.

[9:29] The things that we do and don't do. The things that we say and don't say. The things that we think. We sin. But we thank you that Jesus is the Saviour.

[9:39] And even now, we would confess our sin once more. And ask for that cleansing in the blood of Christ.

[9:51] That we would know and feel once more That we are clean in our hearts. Because of all that Jesus has done for us. We thank you that he died for our sin.

[10:03] And he rose from the dead. Promising everlasting life. An abundant life for all who believe. And we know, Lord, that abundant life. The best life we can live.

[10:14] Is a life where we live out what we've sung. And we seek not to glorify ourselves. But we seek to point people to Jesus.

[10:24] And glorify God. And we ask that you would help us to do that. When we're in school. When we're at work. When we're at home. We pray that we would live in a way that's pleasing to you.

[10:38] And that people would see something of Jesus. In the way that we act and react and speak and listen. So help us, we pray. To trust you, Lord Jesus.

[10:49] Help us to know the love of the Father. Help us to know the power of the Holy Spirit. In our lives. Helping us to live in the way that you want us to live.

[11:01] And we pray that you would help us to be bright lights in a world that is dark. And even as we think about the news that we've watched over the last couple of days.

[11:12] We see so much darkness. We think of stabbings and trains in England. When we see conflict and bloodshed in Ukraine and Russia.

[11:23] We feel ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Lord, there is so much that we need to pray for in this world. As we see people suffer in Jamaica.

[11:37] Under the hurricane that hit. We pray for situations where there is suffering. And there is pain. And we ask, Lord, that you would intervene.

[11:49] And we pray for your people. That you would bless them. And that you would make them a blessing. As they would seek in these places to reach out. And to show people the love of Jesus.

[12:01] We ask, Lord, that you would be at work. Not only across the world, but in this country. We acknowledge that we've drifted far from you. But we pray that you would draw us back.

[12:14] That once more, we would open your word. And look to the Lord Jesus. We pray, as you've called us to. For those in authority over us. We pray for a government.

[12:26] That doesn't appear to look to God for wisdom. But is in much need of that wisdom. And we ask, Lord, that you would give that to them.

[12:36] As we pray for them. Pray for a royal family as well. That is troubled in so many ways. And as we see services.

[12:46] And as occasions are marked over these next few days. We pray for them as well. You are the God who has allowed those in authority to be in authority. And although we cannot always understand why.

[12:59] We pray for them as you've called us to. And ask that you would draw them to yourself. We pray for our nation. We pray for our community as well. We pray on for those who are grieving.

[13:11] We think especially of those in Kylos. Whose hearts will be sore today. We pray for those who are sick. We pray on for Lydia. In hospital in Glasgow.

[13:23] And ask that she would know your hand upon her. Your healing hand. And your presence with her. And we pray for Peggy. And for Andrew. And for Rory. And Elaine.

[13:34] And all of the family. And ask that you would uphold them. At this time. We pray for others who are in hospital. We think of Kenny Kuna. In hospital today in Stornoway.

[13:46] And we ask that you would be near to him. We pray for Nurse Marian. As she receives treatment at this time. And we ask that it would be effective. And that she would know your hand upon her.

[13:57] And for those. And we don't name. But we see in our mind's eye. Those who are at home. Who are ill. Who are struggling with infirmity. We ask Lord.

[14:08] That they would know your touch. And that they would know that you are with them. And that they are remembered. That they are part of the gathering of your people. Even if it's not physical at this time.

[14:20] So be at work Lord we pray. And we pray also for those who are healthy. For those who are not in want. Those who are not in pain.

[14:31] But who are still far away from Jesus. And for those who are lost. And who may not even know it. And we ask that you would awaken hearts. That you would enable them and us to see.

[14:43] That we are sinners. You are in need of Jesus. Who is the Savior. So draw them to yourself Lord we pray. And we pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Boys and girls.

[14:55] Would you like to come forward please? Amen. Amen. I think I'll come down a little bit.

[15:19] I know you can't see me at home. But I'm not that pretty anyway. How are you all today? Good, good, good. Good to see you all. Good to see new faces today as well.

[15:30] So I wonder if you could tell me. Is there anything special happening this week?

[15:44] Olivia. The fireworks are happening at your school. But not inside. Not inside.

[15:56] I bet there probably is. Some fireworks inside the school. In a way. In the car park. In the pickup car park. In the pickup car park.

[16:06] There's going to be fireworks. At night time. Not during school time. Probably not school time. But yes. You're exactly right.

[16:17] And that's what I was thinking about. On. What day is that again? What day is it going to be for the fireworks? Johnny? 5th of November. So that's Wednesday, Fraser.

[16:28] Isn't it? So on Wednesday night. There's going to be fireworks. And the. Well, hopefully. If the weather's okay. And we look up in the sky. And the sky's all dark.

[16:41] And then. When the fireworks start. What do we see? What do we hear? We hear boom. Big bangs.

[16:51] And explosions. And what do we see in the sky? Yeah. Fireworks. But what do fireworks look like? Imagine you'd never heard. Of what a firework is. What do you see in the sky? Colours.

[17:03] Beautiful blasts of colours. Beautiful blasts of colours. It's very poetic, Olivia. My friend Ella said to her once went to my house. Pardon? My friend Ella said to her once went to my house.

[17:16] And he saw a rainbow firework. A rainbow firework. Above your house. That's good. Yeah. My mum. But I don't really remember that.

[17:28] Don't remember that one. Okay. Well. Wednesday night. Are you looking forward to seeing the fireworks? Yeah. We like to see the fireworks.

[17:39] All these bright lights. And amazing colours. In the sky. And all these powerful banks and explosions. As the fireworks go off.

[17:51] Now. Boys and girls. If you are Christians. If you are trusting in Jesus. And I hope. That you're trusting in Jesus.

[18:02] If you're trusting in Jesus. Do you know that. You and I. We're actually supposed to be. A bit like fireworks. Because.

[18:15] If we're Christians. We're to be bright. Jesus said. Jesus said. I am the light of the world. And then he said to. His disciples.

[18:25] Those who are trusting. He said. You're the light of the world. And so. In a dark world. We're. Supposed to be. Filled with light.

[18:37] And people should see. Something of the light. Of Jesus in us. And. Here's a thing. You won't know this. I don't think. Well. We'll test.

[18:49] Who helps us to become bright. Like Jesus. God. And. When we think about God. Who is God?

[19:01] Jesus. Is God the Son. And then there's God. The Father. Because Jesus said. When you pray. Say. Our Father. And.

[19:13] Who. Lives. Inside of us. When we believe. In Jesus. God. The. The Holy Spirit.

[19:25] And. I'm going to tell you. One thing. The word. See if you go back. To the very first. Time the Bible was written.

[19:37] It was written in a language. Not in English. And not even in Gaelic. Which might surprise some. But it was written in a language. Called Greek. And the word.

[19:48] That's used for the Holy Spirit. The one who comes to live inside of us. When we believe in Jesus. The word. Is a word called. Dunamis. And do you know the word. That we get.

[19:59] From that. That we use in the English. Dynamite. Do you know what dynamite is? Fraser? It's an explosive.

[20:12] And so. It's a very powerful thing. And when we believe in Jesus. God the Holy Spirit. Comes to live in us. And he is so powerful.

[20:24] He makes us. Bright. And he gives us. All that we need. To be. Like Jesus. So. Boys and girls. When you see.

[20:35] On Wednesday night. All these bright lights. And hear these. Big bangs. And you see the fireworks. Think about. What Jesus wants you and I to be. He wants us to be bright.

[20:46] And he wants us to know. The power of the Holy Spirit. In us. To make us more. Like him. So will we pray. And ask God to be working.

[20:58] Heavenly Father. We thank you. That you. Sent your son Jesus. Into this world. To be our savior. And we thank you. That when we trust in him. We have our sins taken away.

[21:11] And we have life. That is. Never ending. And we thank you. That when we believe in Jesus. God the Holy Spirit. You come to live. In our hearts. And you.

[21:23] Are powerful. And you give us. Everything that we need. To be bright. And to be like Jesus. So work. In our hearts. We pray. So that we will be bright.

[21:33] In our world. That's dark. And that we might be able. To show. Our friends. That don't yet know you. Who Jesus is. And how amazing he is. Even. Through the way.

[21:43] That we live. So help us Lord. We pray. And thank you. For the boys and girls. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you boys and girls. For listening. So well.

[21:55] We're going to sing now. And we're going to sing. A hymn. That is on the screen. What gift of grace. Is Jesus. My redeemer. So we'll stand to sing.

[22:05] In a moment. To God's praise. What gift of grace.

[22:21] Is Jesus. My redeemer. There is no more. For heaven. Now to give.

[22:32] He is my joy. My righteousness. And freedom. My steadfast love.

[22:42] My deep and boundless peace. To this I hold. My hope is only Jesus. For my life is holy bound to live.

[22:59] O how strange and divine. I can sing. All is mine. Yet not I. But who's rise in me.

[23:13] The night is dark. But I am not forsaken. For by my side. A stinger.

[23:24] He will stay. I live my heart. In weakness. In weakness. In weakness. In weakness. In rejoicing. For in my need.

[23:36] His power is to spring. To this I hold. My shepherd will defend me.

[23:48] Through the deepest valley. He will be. For the night has been warm. And I shall.

[23:59] Oh my God. Yet not I. But who dies in me. Faith I tread.

[24:11] I know I am forgiven. The future's sure. The price to cause me pain. For Jesus bread.

[24:24] And I suffered for my pardon. And he was raised to overthrow the pain.

[24:35] To this I hold. My sin has been defeated. Jesus come.

[24:46] But never is my need. Oh the chains are released. I can sing. I am free.

[24:57] I am free. I am free. But who dies in me. With every breath. I am free.

[25:07] I am free. I am free. I am free. For he has said. He will bring me home. And day by day.

[25:20] I know he will renew me. Until I stand. With joy. Before the throne. To this I hold.

[25:34] My hope is only Jesus. All the glory evermore to him. When the grace is complete.

[25:47] Still my lips shall repeat. Yet not I but do Christ in me. When the grace is complete.

[26:00] Still my lips shall repeat. Yet not I but do Christ in me.

[26:10] In him with no distinction. Matthew chapter 16, and we are reading from verse 13 to verse 27.

[27:07] This is God's Word. Now, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, who do people say that the Son of Man is?

[27:19] And they said, some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, others are Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, but who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

[27:33] And Jesus answered him, blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

[27:49] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

[28:05] From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go on to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

[28:18] And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, Far be it from you, Lord, this shall never happen to you. But he turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan. You are a hindrance to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.

[28:36] Then Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

[28:50] For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and he will repay each person according to what he has done.

[29:10] Amen. And may God bless that reading of his word to us. We'll sing again now to God's praise, and we will sing from Psalm 115.

[29:22] Psalm 115. And we'll sing the first two verses, the first two stanzas of the psalm. Not unto us, Lord, not to us, but do thou glory take.

[29:34] And to thy name, even for thy truth and for thy mercy's sake. O wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? They now gone. But our God in the heavens is.

[29:46] What pleased them he hath done. These two verses we sing in Gaelic, and we'll remain seated to sing in Gaelic. Thank you.

[30:24] Thank you.

[30:54] Thank you.

[31:24] Thank you.

[31:54] Thank you.

[32:24] Thank you.

[32:54] Thank you.

[33:24] Thank you. Thank you.

[34:24] Thank you. Thank you.

[35:24] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[36:26] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[37:00] Thank you.

[37:58] Thank you.

[38:30] Thank you.

[39:02] So, So, So, So, So,!

[40:10] So, So, And, So,

[41:16] So,!!! So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So, So,

[42:17] So, So, So, So, So, Now, Now, Now, If you compare that to, Matthew, chapter 16 and verse 19, which we're in, the words are almost identical.

[43:01] So, what is Jesus talking about? In these two sets of verses? Well, he's talking about prayer.

[43:13] Very clearly, he's talking about prayer. We ask God to do things on earth as we pray. We see people in need around us.

[43:26] We know our own need. We know that we are weak and we need God's help. So, we ask God the Father to do things. How? Well, through prayer.

[43:38] That's how. And the Father in heaven hears and does things for us on earth as he answers our prayers. And then we thank him for all that we see him doing.

[43:53] And as we gather together, sometimes only two or three of us, we often, almost always, will gather in the name of Jesus to pray.

[44:11] And we have the promise that as we do so, he is among us. So, the key that Jesus is highlighting and handing to the disciples is prayer.

[44:31] The activity that the church of Jesus Christ must prioritize is prayer. prayer. And yes, there might be many things on our notice sheet.

[44:49] I think, if I remember rightly, there are 21 items on our notice sheet this morning. And already, I'm conscious of a couple of things that are missed off it.

[45:03] You know, we can have a very busy notice sheet. We can have clubs and meetings and meals and outreach events. And all these things are good and right.

[45:16] But for these things to be effective, they need to be saturated in prayer. We need to be asking the Father in heaven to use these things to bring people to faith in Jesus.

[45:37] So what is the church to be doing using the keys that Jesus gives us? What is the key? The first key is prayer. The second key is preaching the gospel.

[45:53] One of the commentators, Derek Thomas, says this as he's highlighting the verses in front of us. He says, what opens the door to the kingdom of God and what closes the door to the kingdom of God?

[46:11] Then he answers, the gospel. If you don't believe the gospel, he says, there is no entry into the kingdom of God.

[46:22] If you don't believe in Jesus Christ, the door into heaven is closed. And that's the truth. And so the keys of the kingdom of heaven are the gospel.

[46:40] What's the gospel? It's the good news about Jesus. What will bind Satan? And what will bind the works of Satan and immobilize him?

[46:53] Well, Jesus will. The preaching of his gospel will. What will loosen the chains of sin that we feel gripping us and holding us back and give us freedom?

[47:11] Well, Jesus will. The preaching of his gospel will. What will open the door of the kingdom of heaven to the sinner?

[47:27] Only Jesus will. The preaching of his gospel will. We so often quote the verses from the hymn, there was no other good enough to pay the price for sin.

[47:39] He only, Jesus only, could unlock the gate of heaven and let us in. So the keys are prayer and the preaching of the gospel.

[47:53] And so Peter and the apostles used the key that Jesus gave them. And as we see the disciples in action in the gospels and then further on in Acts, what are they doing? They're simply preaching the gospel.

[48:06] They're telling people about Jesus. And as they preach the gospel, we see many repenting, many coming to Jesus and the doors of heaven, the doors of the kingdom of heaven are open to these people who come in repentance and faith.

[48:21] And then as the disciples preach, there are others, some of the most religious people, who refuse to repent and they reject the Jesus and they are locked out of heaven.

[48:38] Hendrickson, the commentator, says, the influence of Peter was outstanding. By the means of preaching the gospel, he was opening the doors to some and closing them to others.

[48:56] So what is the church to be doing? The church of Jesus Christ, what are we to be doing? We are to be preaching the gospel. And what is the gospel? Just in case we're not sure what it actually means, well, Jesus gives us a very short, concise summary in verse 21.

[49:13] It says in verse 21, from that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised.

[49:33] And that's the gospel. The gospel is the good news, it's the truth that Jesus suffered for my sin and yours so that we won't have to suffer.

[49:53] The gospel is that Jesus died to take our punishment, to pay the wages of sin so that we don't have to die eternally. the gospel is that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day showing that the work of salvation, it was finished, it was complete, and the doors of heaven were wide open to those who will believe in him.

[50:30] So just to summarize as we come to an end of this point, what is the church of Jesus Christ to be doing? We're to be using the keys that Jesus has given us, we're to be preaching the gospel and praying.

[50:46] Fast forward a little into the book of Acts after Jesus had died and risen from the grave, what were the apostles doing? It's very simple.

[50:58] they were preaching the gospel and they were praying. You know, a church without the preaching of the gospel, a church where Christ crucified is not preached, a church where prayer is not a priority, no matter how grand or powerful or busy or healthy, it might look.

[51:30] It's like a car without keys. It might look shiny, it might be very attractive on the driveway, but it's not going anywhere.

[51:45] Jesus has given us the keys and we're not to keep them in our pockets and not to lose them, we're to use them.

[51:59] We are to be people who pray alone in our closets and together at prayer meetings and we are called to be people who preach and preaching isn't just this.

[52:22] Preaching is some of the children are the best preachers in our community because they simply go out and they tell their friends and they tell their family about Jesus.

[52:37] And that's our calling. What is the church to be doing? Using the keys that Jesus has given us. What are the keys? Prayer, preaching the gospel. Very simple.

[52:50] Question five, who is the head of the church? And the answer to this question again is very simple. Jesus is.

[53:01] verse 18 in particular has caused a lot of controversy over the years in church history.

[53:15] Jesus says, I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church. And so it goes on. And some over the course of the years have focused in Peter in that verse and elevated Peter to a point that he was never designed to have, to a place that he was never designed to have.

[53:41] One commentator, Green, says, Catholics see Peter as the first bishop of Rome and his authority transferred to succeeding pope. so Peter has elevated to a level of high authority.

[53:56] But even in this short section we can see that the focus is not on Peter. The one who holds power and authority is not Peter.

[54:09] It's Jesus. And Peter is actually first to learn that hard lesson. Just glance down through the verses again. Peter in verse 16, he makes this huge confession of faith.

[54:23] He says to Jesus, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus says to Peter, it's my father that's shown you that, Peter. He commends him in verse 17.

[54:34] And we can just imagine in our mind's eye Peter beaming with pride. Because Peter's a guy who wears his emotions and his feelings on his sleeve. We can just imagine the sparkle in Peter's eyes he's told by Jesus, you've got the right answer.

[54:50] Well done, Peter. You're top of the class. But Peter has only topped the class for about three seconds. Because then Jesus goes on to say that he must go to Jerusalem and he must suffer and he must die and he must rise.

[55:07] That's verse 21. And Peter, who's just confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God, says to him, no Lord, you've got that all wrong.

[55:20] No suffering for you. No cross for you. Far be it from you, Lord, to do these things that you're talking about. And Jesus in verse 23 says, you don't get to say no, Lord.

[55:33] Peter. Peter, it's Satan who is causing you to say no, Lord. Peter, says Jesus, you submit to my way, to my will, and to my word.

[55:57] Because Jesus is the head of his church. That was the case and that still is the case.

[56:11] And still today, in a culture that looks very different to that culture, still today, we must submit to the word of Jesus.

[56:23] How do we know the word of Jesus? How do we know the way that God wants us to live? Well, through the Bible. Again, it's not rocket science.

[56:36] It's very simple. This is where we hear what Jesus wants us to do. I'll never forget being in a meeting, an assembly meeting, probably 15, 16 years ago.

[56:54] And during one particular debate, I can still see this man, an elder with white hair, from some part of Glasgow.

[57:07] And in the middle of the debate, he was getting more and more agitated. And eventually, he got the chance to stand up and speak. And he rushed over to the microphone in this assembly hall and he said, we know what the Bible says in relation to this issue, but let's have the courage to say, as an assembly, we know better.

[57:34] We've said it before. On other issues, let's have the courage to say it again today. we know better. And I remember being shocked.

[57:45] I was just a very young minister at that point in time. I remember being shocked when he said it, and then even more shocked when the round of applause followed, and even more shocked when they went to a vote, and the word of God was dismissed.

[58:11] And the gathering said, brazenly, we know better. And when that happens, and it can happen in any place, any denomination, no one can look and think that could never happen here.

[58:25] When that happens, the church stops being the church. Jesus is head of his church, and our calling, whether we are at a general assembly, or a presbytery, or a Kirk session, or in the privacy of our own personal lives, on all the particular issues that we wrestle with, our calling is to submit to the word of God and bow to King Jesus.

[58:59] the head of his church, the head, the Lord of our lives. And that's the calling of every Christian.

[59:13] Remember, we're talking about the church, but the church is the people. And this is the wrestle that all of us face. There are things that we are tempted to do, there are courses that we are tempted to take, and our feelings would say go this way, and the world would say, come with us this way.

[59:36] And it might be costly, and it might sometimes make us unpopular, and we might be fearful when it comes to these individual decisions in our own lives.

[59:48] But my calling and yours is to say to Jesus, yes, Lord, even though I'm scared, even though I don't know how I'm going to get through this, yes, Lord, I will go your way.

[60:09] I will submit to your will. Who is the head of the church? Who is the head of our lives if we are Christians? Jesus is. What is the church to be doing?

[60:23] Using the keys that Jesus has given us, praying, preaching the gospel. And the final point is what is the desire of the church? And the desire of the church, or to use the language of the catechism, the desire of the church is the chief end of every man and woman and boy and girl, and that is to glorify Jesus.

[60:52] It's to glorify God the Son. in a world where Jesus is often cursed and sometimes dismissed and ridiculed, if we are Christians, that stings and it grieves us.

[61:12] So what do we desire as part of the church of Jesus above all else in this world that we live in? What do we want to see? we want to see the glory of Jesus.

[61:28] And we're told in verse 27 that there is coming a day where every eye will see the glory of Jesus.

[61:40] the Son of Man verse 27 is going to come with his angels in the glory of his father and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

[61:59] that that day is coming. There's no question about it. We don't have it in our calendar because we don't know the date.

[62:13] But that day is coming. That it's coming a day where every eye will see the glory of Jesus. Now today on this day, in this place, in this world, at this time, the glory of Jesus is only seen by Son.

[62:33] But on that great day, when Jesus comes back to this world with his angels, his glory will be seen.

[62:46] Think about this. His glory will be seen by every person who has ever lived in the history of time.

[62:57] and every knee, every knee will bow to him and every tongue will confess that he is Lord.

[63:17] Think about that. Think about the people in your life. Think about some of the people that we know who are most antagonistic to Jesus, who are the readiest to trash his name.

[63:36] their knee will bow and their tongue will confess not that he is a curse, but that he is Lord and King.

[63:51] will be a day will be a day, the day that Jesus comes back, that day will be a day of great rejoicing for some and it will be a day of indescribable terror for others because on that day Jesus says he will repay each person according to what he has done.

[64:25] So, as we finish, what are we to do so that we will be ready for that day when Jesus comes with his angels in the glory of his father?

[64:43] what are we to do so that we will be repaid on that day, that great day, with salvation and not condemnation?

[64:59] What are we to do to ensure that that great day will be a day of joy and not a great day of terror? we're to do what Peter did.

[65:17] We're to believe in Jesus. We're to believe and make the same confession of faith that Peter made. We're to believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ, that he is the Savior, the only Savior, my Savior.

[65:49] We're to believe and confess that he is the son of the living God, not just a good teacher, not a philosopher, not a person of mild religious interest, but he is the son, the exalted son, of the living God and then we are to live as part of the church that he is building for the glory of his name.

[66:21] So may God enable us to be the people, to be the church that Jesus calls us to be.

[66:34] Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you once more for your word and for the church of Jesus Christ, your son.

[66:52] We thank you that we have the promise that if we believe in him, we are part of the church that he is building.

[67:04] We are part of the gathering, the grouping of people who are bound together eternally, washed in his blood, safe and secure in his grace.

[67:21] And we pray that we would be able to say with Peter that Jesus is the Christ, that he is my savior, that he is the son of the living God, the Lord of all.

[67:35] Sometimes, like Peter, we know that we get it wrong. Oftentimes, we say with Peter, no, Lord, we'd rather go our own way, we'd rather do things differently, and we fall and we fail and we sin.

[67:48] But we thank you that just as Peter was forgiven over and over, there is grace for us. to be saved and to be sustained.

[68:01] So grant to us, we pray, that grace day by day, hour by hour even. We thank you, Lord Jesus, that you're building your church, that the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

[68:14] We pray that we may see more and more people here, across these communities and across this nation, being gathered into the one church of Jesus.

[68:26] we thank you that the future of the church of Christ is bright, it is secure, that those who are in him are safe for time and for eternity.

[68:42] And we pray that if we are part of that church, if we are Christians, that you would help us to do what you call us to do, Lord Jesus, that we would be found much in prayer, that we would take the opportunities that you give us to speak about the truth of the gospel and help us to seek to live lives which are holy, where you are head, Lord, King, over every decision that we make.

[69:16] Help us, we pray, to live for the glory of your name, to make it our chief end, to glorify God so that we may know joy for time and for eternity.

[69:27] Help us, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. We'll sing to conclude at 6.40 in Mission Praise. The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, our Lord.

[69:49] Christ, our Lord.

[70:03] She is his new creation by water and the word.

[70:15] from heavenly give and sort to thee is holy bride with his old bloody water and water life he died.

[70:38] He led from every nation and on on the air church our turn of salvation one Lord one faith one birth one holy name she blest our days one glory blue unto one hope she presses when every grace can do though when a spark for wonder and see our store of rest thy scars of strength and sunday thy heirs is dispel yet saints their wars shall be in their rivals of the

[71:55] Lord and soon the night of we in shall be the moral song in joy and tribulation and true of her war she waster constipation of peace forever Lord filled with the rich and glorious and longing eyes are best and the great church victorious shall be the church that rest yet she is the

[73:00]  God and three in one and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is one oh happy wants and glory Lord give us grace not we like and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of the love of God the Father and the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forever more Amen Amen