[0:00] Abed Israel's praise, our fathers hoped in thee, they hoped, and thou didst them release. To the verse 8, this man did trust in God, that he would free him by his might.
[0:14] Let him deliver him, saith he had in him such delight. The verses 1 to the verse marked 8 in Psalm 22. My God, my God, why hast thou me forsaken? Why so far?
[0:27] My God, my God, why hast thou me forsaken?
[0:41] Why so far? For love from death, may be and from my words are growing young.
[1:04] O day, my God, to thee I cry, yet I'm not heard by thee.
[1:22] But in the season of the night, I cannot say and fear.
[1:41] But now, our holy love that does, in love and just rest, rest, rest, and father's hope, When unto thee they hold, from mountains and breeze.
[2:21] When unto thee they send, they cry, to their deliverance give.
[2:41] Because they cry, to their deliverance give. Because they cry, to their deliverance give. And they cry, to their deliverance give. But the Lord, for me, I am.
[2:52] And the Lord, for me, I am. And the Lord, for me, I am. And the Lord, for me, I am. And the Lord, for me, I am.
[3:07] And the Lord, for me, I am. And the Lord, for me, I am.
[3:23] I am a blind, the people of this fight.
[3:40] I am a blind, the people of this fight.
[4:10] I am a blind, the people of this fight.
[4:40] I am a blind, the people of this fight. I am a blind, the people of this fight.
[4:54] I am a blind, the people of this fight. Let us come before the Lord in prayer. Let us all pray.
[5:05] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[5:42] Amen. Amen. As we come into thy presence, that we may approach thee with reverence, with the reverence that is due unto thee.
[5:55] That we might, O Lord, approach thee in a manner that is acceptable unto thee. For we understand and we know, O Lord, that we come before one who is holy.
[6:09] We come before one who is sovereign. We come before the one who has created all things by the word of his power. And the one who sustains all.
[6:21] The one who sustains all that he has created. And, O Lord, our God, we come before thee and we acknowledge thy greatness. And when we come to acknowledge thy greatness, we come also at the same time to acknowledge our own smallness.
[6:39] And our own insignificance. When we consider all that thou art in thyself. When we consider the vastness of all that thou hast created.
[6:50] The vastness of the universe in which we find ourselves. We concede what is man that thou shouldest have been mindful of him.
[7:01] But yet we understand that we are the crown of thy creation. We understand that the man was created in thine own image.
[7:12] And we bless thee and we praise thee, O Lord. That we are indeed those on whom thine eye is continually set. We praise and we thank thee today that thou art not far away from thy people.
[7:27] But indeed that we might cry, Abba, Father. That in and through Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Saviour. The fellowship and the communion that was lost so long ago has been restored.
[7:41] And so we thank thee and we praise thee on this day that we can come to thee. Grant that our worship would be in spirit and in truth. We pray that thy name would be honoured.
[7:54] That it would be lifted up in our midst. Grant, Lord, that we would decrease. That Christ might increase before us. And so then, O Lord, we pray that thou wilt be with each and every one of us.
[8:07] As we seek today to worship thy name. We pray that thou would be pleased with the sacrifice. The only sacrifice that we can bring. The sacrifice of our worship.
[8:20] That it would be pleasing in thy sight. Something with which thou art well pleased. That thou might then confer upon us the blessing. O, we crave that blessing.
[8:32] We crave the blessing and the power and the peace and the presence. Of the Holy Spirit. Even in our midst here today. Thou hast promised that, Lord.
[8:44] Thou hast promised where the twos and the threes are gathered. That thou wilt be there in the midst and there to bless. And we know that if thy spirit is present amongst us. That the word will be taken by the spirit.
[8:56] And applied to our hearts and to our lives. And so we pray, O Lord, that thou wilt be with us. For without thee we can do nothing. And without thee and the power and presence of thy spirit.
[9:10] All that we seek to do is empty and it is in vain. And so we are in complete and absolute and total dependence upon thee. And so then, O Lord, we pray that thou would grant us in these moments that we would be thankful that we are here.
[9:26] It is a marvel to us even to consider that we are gathered here today in the house of God. And that the desire of our heart is to be in the Lord's house amongst the Lord's people.
[9:39] Around the Lord's word and singing the praises of the Lord. Lord, for we know and we understand, many of us, that there was another day in our lives. A day when these things were so far away from our thoughts and from our minds.
[9:55] Where our Lord's day for us was a day that we spent maybe pursuing the things of the world. But, O, we praise thee and we thank thee that we were not left like that.
[10:05] And we acknowledge today that we could not have changed that aspect of our lives ourselves. It was beyond our control, O Lord. Our carnal minds were at enmity and in opposition to thee.
[10:20] And we could do nothing about it, O Lord. Until that great work of grace began in our hearts and in our lives. That great intervention, O Lord.
[10:30] We praise thee and we thank thee for the gift of thy salvation given out unto us. To each and to every one of us here today who are in the Lord.
[10:41] For without that we would still be in the world. We would be lost and on the mountains and the hills of desolation without any hope. But we praise and thank thee for thy grace that has saved us.
[10:54] That brought us, O Lord, to see our great need. To see our sin and the depravity that was there in our hearts. But at the same time that was revealed to us.
[11:07] There was a way and a remedy revealed to us too. And we were steered and we were brought to that remedy. We were brought to the place where our Saviour died.
[11:19] And there at that place we found life and that in all of its fullness. And our lives changed, O Lord. And they will never be the same again. And so we praise thee and we thank thee for that work of grace that has taken place in our hearts and in our lives.
[11:39] For without that, O Lord, we would have been lost eternally. And so we praise thee and we thank thee that salvation belongs unto thee. That we thank and praise thee that thou dost have a people and thou hast laid thine hand upon them.
[11:57] Even from before the foundation of the world, O Lord. Even there they were set apart. Even there they were set aside. Even there they were loved before the world was ever created.
[12:10] Before there was anything. The Lord had his people and the Lord loved his people. And the Lord had given these people to his Son. That in the fullness of time his Son would come into the world to die for them on the cross.
[12:25] And O we praise thee and we thank thee when we consider that. And when we may be aware today of our own smallness and our own insignificance. To come to understand that we were in the mind and in the heart of God.
[12:40] When we were nothing more than an idea. Before anything was ever created that he loved. Before anything was ever created that he knew us and that he loved us.
[12:51] And that he had given us unto him who would love us and who would give himself for us. And that is why we are here today. We are here Lord to remember his death until he comes.
[13:06] We are here to remember thy giving of him and his giving of himself. In order that we might be saved. And the great cost that was involved in all of that.
[13:18] A cost that we can never fathom. That we can never reach the depths of. No matter how hard we try. We haven't got the vocabulary or the minds or the understanding to even.
[13:30] Delve into the most shallow portions that pertain to that transaction that took place on our behalf. We might not understand it but oh.
[13:45] We thank thee that today we feel its effects. That we feel it in our souls. That we feel it in our hearts. That we know it to have had an effect on us.
[13:56] We thank thee for our saviour. Whose death we will remember here today. And for every aspect oh Lord that pertained to that suffering saviour.
[14:08] And all that he endured on the cross for sinners such as we are. Oh Lord our God we praise and we thank thee. For everything that he has done.
[14:19] And for everything that he continues to do for his own people. We praise thee that he is alive. What a glorious day that must have been.
[14:29] When that stone was rolled away. And the declaration came. He is not here. He is risen. Risen in the power of an endless life.
[14:43] Risen for our justification. Risen and then ascended to the right hand of God. Where there he would make intercession continually.
[14:55] On behalf of his people. And so we praise thee and we thank thee today for him. For him who watches over us. For him who has promised to be with us.
[15:06] Never to leave us and never to forsake us. For him whose grace is sufficient for us. Lord we praise thee and thank thee.
[15:18] For all that he has done. And for all that he continues to do. I am with you always he could say. Even unto the end of the age.
[15:31] And surely that is the testimony today of all God's people here. Even those who have trodden this wilderness journey. Over many years and over many decades.
[15:44] They will confess with all their hearts. Hitherto hath the Lord helped me. Hitherto hath the Lord been with me. Through all the blessings and through all the valleys.
[15:57] Through all the trials and through all the testings. Through all the furnaces of affliction. I found him there with me. And he never ever let me go.
[16:09] And that is the great promise that we lay hold of today. As God's people. In the midst of a world Lord. Where we will eventually have to give everything away.
[16:23] And where we may lose everything that we hold on to. And everything that we have. Even to the ties that bind us in this world. But we bless thee for that which will never let us go.
[16:37] For that which we will never lose. For we can never be separated from the love of God. Which we have in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[16:48] And so we praise thee for the security. That we know us thy people. For the promises of thy word. But concerning thy people help us we pray to lay hold upon them.
[17:01] To believe them Lord by faith. That they may be our encouragement for the journey. That they may be the very things that uphold us. When there is nothing else and nowhere else for us to put our feet.
[17:16] That indeed he becomes our refuge and our strength. And our strength. Our present aid. And even when our world is shaken. And maybe our lives are shaken.
[17:29] Oh we need never be afraid. And so we praise thee and we thank thee. For all that thou art to thy beloved people. Thy people who are the apple of thine eye.
[17:42] The most precious thing in this world today. In thy sight is thy people. And what a glorious sight they are before thee. In all of their beauty clothed.
[17:54] In the righteousness of his garments. The righteousness of Christ. They radiate the beauty of Christ. In the eyes of the Lord himself.
[18:05] And so we praise and thank thee then. For all that thou hast done for us. And for all that we are. And we praise thee for all that will yet be. In the experience of thy people.
[18:18] When the wilderness is over. And everything is behind us. And we are where he is. And we awaken his likeness.
[18:29] And we praise his name. Time without end. Help us we pray to lift up our eyes from the world. And the horizons of the world.
[18:42] By faith to lift up our eyes to a land. That has been promised to the people of God. And that the Lord himself is engaged in preparing for them.
[18:54] And when that is done. He will come again and bring them home. To be with himself. So that where he is. All they may be also.
[19:06] And so then oh Lord we pray. That in all things today we would give thanks. And that as we partake of the elements. That symbolise the broken body and the shed blood of the Lord.
[19:18] That these would bring to our mind and into our focus. All that he has done for us. But not only all that he has done for us. But all that he will yet do for us too.
[19:31] We pray that we might find encouragement in all of these things. Oh Lord and we pray that even in these moments itself. We would be brought into closer fellowship and communion with the Lord.
[19:46] That in these moments we would come with repentance. And with confession of our sins before him. For he alone and with him alone is mercy to be found.
[19:59] And so bless us we pray today. Bless all that will be done here. We trust and pray that we will do all things decently. That we will do it in a manner that is acceptable before thee.
[20:12] That we might do all things with the reverence that these things are due. Bless the congregation here. Oh we thank thee for them. And we thank thee for each and every one who is here today.
[20:25] And we pray that they might continue to know thy blessing. Not only in this day but in the days to come. And thy servant over them for his faithfulness to thy word.
[20:36] And his faithfulness to the people of God. His faithfulness in the ministry. And his fellowship in the gospel. We pray that thou would bless him richly in his own soul.
[20:47] And in his own heart. That he too in the days to come. Might see further flutes following his labors here in the Lord. And so be with us we pray.
[20:59] Lead us and guide us in all things. Presence thyself with us we pray. That we might know that we are in the presence here of the King of Kings. And the Lord of Lords.
[21:11] That we might behold the glory. As of the only begotten of the Father. Who is full of grace and truth. Lead us now we pray. As we ask for the forgiveness of our sins.
[21:24] In Jesus name. And for his sake. Amen. Now we can read God's word together.
[21:35] In the scriptures of the New Testament. And in the gospel according to Saint John. Chapter 19. The gospel of John. Chapter 19. And we can read. From the verse 13.
[21:49] Reading down to. The verse 30. John chapter 19. And at the verse 13.
[22:01] When Pilate. Therefore heard that say. He brought Jesus forth. And sat down in the judgment seat. In a place that is called. The pavement. But in the Hebrew.
[22:13] The Bible. The Bible. The Bible. The Bible. The Bible. The Bible. The Bible. The Bible. And it was the preparation of the Passover. And about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews. Behold your king.
[22:25] But they cried out. Away with him. Away with him. Crucify him. Pilate saith unto them. Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered.
[22:37] We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him. Therefore unto them. To be crucified. And they took Jesus. And led him away.
[22:49] And he bearing his cross. Went forth into a place. Called the place of a skull. Which is called in the Hebrew. Golgotha. Where they crucified him.
[23:00] And two others with him. On either side. One and Jesus. In the midst. And Pilate wrote a title. And put it on the cross. And the writing was.
[23:11] Jesus of Nazareth. The king of the Jews. This title then read many of the Jews. For the place where Jesus was crucified. Was nigh to the city.
[23:22] And it was written in Hebrew. And Greek. And Latin. Then said the chief priests. Of the Jews. To Pilate. Write not the king of the Jews.
[23:32] But that he said. I am the king. Of the Jews. Pilate answered. What I have written. I have written. And the soldiers. When they had crucified Jesus.
[23:43] Took his garments. And made four parts. To every soldier a part. And also his coat. Now the coat was without seam. Woven from the top throughout.
[23:55] They said therefore. Among themselves. Let us not rend it. But cast lots for it. Whose it shall be. That the scripture might be fulfilled. Which saith.
[24:06] They parted my raiment among them. And for my vesture. They did cast lots. These things therefore. The soldiers did.
[24:17] Now there stood by the cross. Of Jesus his mother. And his mother's sister. Mary the wife of Cleophas. And Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore.
[24:27] Saw his mother. And the disciples standing by. Whom he loved. He said unto his mother. Woman behold thy son. Then saith he to the disciple.
[24:38] Behold thy mother. And from that hour. That disciple took her unto his own home. After this. Jesus knowing that all things.
[24:48] Were now accomplished. And that the scripture might be fulfilled. He says. I thirst. Now there was set. A vessel full of vinegar. And they filled a sponge.
[24:59] And they filled a sponge with vinegar. And put it upon his up. And put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore. Had received the vinegar. He said.
[25:11] It is finished. And he bowed his head. And he gave up. The ghost. And so on. Amen.
[25:21] We trust that the Lord. Will bless to us. The reading of his own holy. Inspired. And inerrant word. And to his name. Be the praise. And the glory.
[25:33] We can sing again now. In the Psalm 22. This time from the verse 13. Singing down to the end of the verse 20. The Psalm 22.
[25:45] And at the verse 13. Their mouths. They opened wide on me. Upon me gaped. They. Like to a lion ravening. And roaring for his prey. Like water.
[25:56] I'm poured out. My bones. All out of joint. Do part. Amidst my bowels. As the wax. So melted is my heart. My strength. Is like a pot.
[26:06] Shared. Thried. My tongue. It cleaveth fast. Unto my jaws. And to the dust of death. Thou brought me hast. And so on. Singing down to the verse 20.
[26:18] But. But be not far. O Lord. My strength. Haste to give help to me. From sword. My soul. From power of dogs. My darling. Set thou free.
[26:30] The Psalm 22. We sing from the verse 13. To the verse 20. Their mouths. They opened wide on me. Upon me gaped. Did they. They opened wide on me.
[26:51] The upon me gaped. It is. It was.
[27:26] ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK
[28:36] ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK
[29:46] ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK
[30:56] And maybe just read again the verse 17. John 19 and at the verse 17. And bearing his cross.
[31:08] And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull. Which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.
[31:19] Where they crucified him. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull.
[31:31] Called in the Hebrew Golgotha. And there at that place they crucified him. Now today in a few moments.
[31:46] Here we will remember once again in our experience the Lord's death. And all that that death means to us.
[31:57] And all that that death has done for us. And we will remember that by partaking of the elements of the bread and of the wine.
[32:11] The elements that symbolize before us his broken body. And his shed blood. And when we partake of these elements.
[32:23] So often they bring us. Maybe more and more face to face. With what the Lord endured. In his physical suffering.
[32:33] In the fact that he his body was broken. And his blood was shed. The elements themselves. They speak of that. And they are before us.
[32:44] And I suppose primarily first and foremost. That is instinctively where our minds are going to go. They are going to go to the brokenness. And to the cruelty.
[32:56] And to everything. The mockery. And everything else. That Jesus endured for us. On the cross. But there was more to his suffering.
[33:07] Than just that physical aspect of his suffering. I remember many years ago at a communion season. A young man asking me after hearing a sermon.
[33:21] On the sufferings of Christ. And on the sufferings of the soul of Christ. In that great transaction. That took place on the cross. And that young man asked.
[33:31] Is there a symbol. That can symbolize that suffering. Is there something you can put on the table. An element you can put on the table. To symbolize that suffering of Jesus.
[33:44] When he suffered in his soul. And I really didn't know how to respond. To that question. And we have the symbols of the broken body.
[33:55] We have the symbol of the shed blood. But I believe that the symbol. That symbolizes that aspect. Of his suffering. Is a symbol that God himself.
[34:06] Brought to the earth. When darkness came. Over Calvary. As Jesus endured. The pain. And the suffering.
[34:17] In his soul. That was due unto us. When he endured that. Himself in his soul. When that darkness came. Upon Calvary.
[34:28] That secret transaction took place. That secret transaction took place. Between the soul of Jesus. And the father. And there. In a sense. Hell itself.
[34:40] Descended. Into. His very soul. Who can ever understand that. How easy it is. To sit here today. But. How.
[34:50] How. How. How do we. Ever. Comprehend. That the sinfulness. Of our sin. When we look at it there. And we look at. Hell.
[35:00] Descending. Into. A beautiful. And a perfect soul. A soul. That knew no sin. And he descends. Into this darkness.
[35:12] And all of the comforts. Of God. Are removed. From that soul. My God. He says. My God. Why. Have you. Forsaken me.
[35:24] We wonder. What happened. In these moments. Itself. In that. Very darkness. What exactly. Is going on. When Jesus cries. My God. My God.
[35:35] Why. Has thou. Forsaken me. Is it that God. Has gone. Well. I would suggest. That what has happened. There is. That the comforts. Of his soul.
[35:46] Have been taken away. Any comfort. That he knew. Has been taken away. Remember. What you have there. You have this. Beautiful soul. A soul.
[35:56] That is now. Bearing the punishment. Of our sin. And where is that soul. It is standing. Before an angry God. And there is no mediator.
[36:08] Between that soul. And that God. And so the comforts. Have gone. My God. My God. Why. Has thou forsaken me. Why have thy comforts.
[36:20] Forsaken me. And you know. Even in that darkness itself. That was endured there. Any other comfort.
[36:31] That he might have had. Even the comfort. That he knew there. As he was crucified. As he looked down. And there was John there. And Mary his mother. And the comforts.
[36:42] That he knew. As he looked down. From the cross. And then that darkness. Comes on. Even that comfort itself. Is removed. And he is abandoned.
[36:54] And he is in the darkness. And he is alone. In the darkness. That God has brought. Upon the earth. That is a symbol.
[37:05] That is a symbol. Of his own justice. Against sin. And the abandonment. And everything else. That the soul. Of his son. Bearing the punishment. Of our sin.
[37:16] Is enduring. In these moments. My God. My God. Why? Hast thou forsaken me? We will never really.
[37:28] Fully know. Or understand. What depths of trouble. Came into the experience. Of our Lord. When he. Went into that trouble.
[37:40] When he went into this. Experience. To secure our redemption. It goes all the way. Back to him. Taking upon himself. Our nature. And living in this wilderness.
[37:52] It was always a wilderness. For him. From the moment. He came into the world. A sinless human being. With that beautiful soul. Everything about him.
[38:03] Was beautiful. And sinless. Can you imagine. What it was like. For him. A sinless human. Living in a world. That was full of opposition. Coming unto his own.
[38:15] And his own. Rejecting him. And pushing him away. Can you imagine. What that life. Must have been like. The opposition. That was there. In his experience.
[38:27] But from the moment. My friends. That he crossed. The Kedron. On his way.
[38:37] To Gethsemane. Until he expired. On the cross. The wilderness. For him. Took another turn. The wilderness. For him.
[38:48] Took another turn. In that. Then. From then on. He was. Subjected. To all kinds. Of suffering. Physical suffering. And suffering.
[38:58] Of the soul. From the moment. He crossed. That Kedron. He was going in. Doing deeper.
[39:09] Into the wilderness. To die. There are many people. That believe. Maybe rightfully so. That the route. That Jesus took.
[39:20] Over the Kedron. Was exactly. The same route. That was taken. By the scapegoat. Remember. When they would lay. The sins. Of the people.
[39:31] When the sins. Of the people. Were laid. Upon. The head. Of the scapegoat. And it was led. Into the wilderness. To die. There are many people. That believe. That this route.
[39:42] That Jesus took. Into this. Deeper wilderness. That he was going into. Was exactly. The same route. As that scapegoat. Took. When it was led. Out. To die.
[39:52] Can you imagine. If it was. In any way. Possible. At all. For that goat. That scapegoat. Out there. In the wilderness. If that goat.
[40:04] If it was possible. For that goat. To have spoken. To have said anything. In the wilderness. What do you think. That goat. Might have said. That scapegoat. Do you not think.
[40:14] In the midst. Of the barrenness. Of the wilderness. That that scapegoat. Might have cried. Why. On earth. Have you abandoned. Me here. Could the scapegoat.
[40:25] Not have cried. In the midst. Of that. Barren land. And that. Place. Where he was abandoned. Could he not have cried. I thirst. Was there a moment.
[40:37] As it was all coming. To its close. And he was about. To expire. When that scapegoat. Might even have cried. Oh no. It is finished. But there was one big difference.
[40:51] Between that scapegoat. And this one. As they crossed. The Kedron. Because when the scapegoat. Was being led out. Into the wilderness.
[41:02] He didn't know. Where he was going. He had no idea. He was going. Into a wilderness. But our Lord. And saviour. When he crossed. The Kedron. On his way.
[41:14] Into this. Deeper wilderness. This one knew. Where he was going. And he knew. What this wilderness. Held for him. Didn't he not cry.
[41:24] Moments later. After crossing the Kedron. Oh Lord. If it is possible. Let this cup. Pass by me. But not that. My will.
[41:34] But thy will. Be done. And I'm moving away. From where I want to be. And you know. Reading here today. Gethsemane is over.
[41:46] And the trials. Before Herod and Pilate. These trials are over. And finally. We are told here. That the Lord is crucified. And as we read this.
[41:59] We cannot help. But understand. And embrace. When we read it carefully. And when we read it properly. We cannot help.
[42:09] But embrace. And determine. How much. Love there must have been. In the heart of the Lord. For sinners. When the same Lord.
[42:21] Could voluntarily. Endure. Endure. Such suffering. And endure. Such affliction. And endure. Such torment. And such brokenness.
[42:32] And such agony. For their salvation. But yet. My friends. As we read it too. We must come to understand.
[42:45] As we read it. We must be able to say. Great. Must be the sinfulness. Of sin. When such. A degree.
[42:55] And amount. Of. Thy vicarious. Suffering. Was needed. In order to provide. Our redemption. To provide. The remedy.
[43:07] We cannot read this. Surely. We cannot read it. Without. Our very hearts. Being moved. At the very thought.
[43:20] Of the agonies. And the sufferings. That he endured. I think. The first thing.
[43:30] That we see here. In verse 17. Is really just to say. And to see Jesus. The cross bearer. Going forth. Jesus going.
[43:44] Forth. And bearing his cross. He bearing his cross. He went. Forth. Forth. Now. The fact that Jesus. Bearing the cross.
[43:55] Went forth. Is something. Very significant. And. There are many. Deep things. Concerning that. The fact. That he went forth.
[44:07] Because. For one thing. Surely. It was part. Of that. Depth of. Humiliation. To which. Our Lord. Submitted. To himself. As our substitute.
[44:19] One part. Of the punishment. That was imposed. On the vilest. Of criminals. On the lowest. Of society.
[44:30] Those who would be deemed. To go no lower. And who in the eyes. Of society. Could be no lower. Was that they should. Carry their own cross.
[44:41] When they went forward. To their execution. And that was what happened. In the Lord's case. It wasn't always the case.
[44:51] But it was the case. For the vilest of all. They had to carry. Their own cross. Can you not see there. How he is perceived. How they look at him.
[45:02] How they treat him. He is treated. Not only as a criminal. But he is treated. As the vilest. And as the lowest. That society could have.
[45:13] And because of that. He must go forth. Bearing his own cross. But yet. I would suggest. There is something else. In this as well. Because the fact.
[45:25] That he went forth. Clearly shows. That our Lord. Went outside. Of the city. To be crucified. He went out. To be crucified.
[45:36] He went outside. Of Jerusalem. Outside. Of the gates. Of the city. And all of that. Was a fulfillment.
[45:46] Of one of the great. Types. Of the old covenant. You remember there. The sin offering. On the great. Day of atonement. Was as.
[45:58] Leviticus tells us. Quite plainly. It was to be carried forth. Without. The camp. The bullock. For the sin offering. And the goat.
[46:08] For the sin offering. Whose blood. Was brought in. To make. Atonement. In the holy place. Shall one. Carry forth. Without. The camp.
[46:21] And here. Our Lord. And our saviour. Came to be the true. Sin offering. To give. His soul. To give a soul.
[46:32] As an offering. For our sins. And so. Therefore. It was divinely. Be appointed. By God. That in order.
[46:43] To fulfill. This type. Perfectly. That he should. Suffer outside. The city. Remember.
[46:54] What Paul. Himself. Once. Once told. The Hebrews. He said. Jesus. That he might. Sanctify the people. With his own blood. What does he say? He suffered. Without. The gate.
[47:06] Or outside. The gate. And you know. What is amazing. In all of this. When you think of it. How little. The blind.
[47:17] How little. Did the blinded. Jews. Imagine. Or think. When they hounded. The Roman authorities. To crucify. Jesus.
[47:27] Outside. The gates. Of the city. That they were. Actually. Working towards. And unconsciously. Perfecting. The mightiest.
[47:37] Sin. Offering. That was ever seen. And you know. For us.
[47:47] My friends. Today. Like our. Like our. Master. And like our. Lord. We too. Must be content. Surely. To go forth.
[47:58] Without the camp. Bearing. His. His. Reproach. Surely. We must. Come out. From the world. And surely.
[48:09] We must. Be separate. From the world. And surely. We must be. If need be. Willing. To stand. Alone. And like our.
[48:21] Lord. And like our. Master. We must. Be willing. To take up. Our cross. Daily. And to. Follow him. You know.
[48:32] My friends. To wear a cross. Around your neck. Or whatever. Or to put a cross. In the church. Or. Or whatever. Whatever is easy. All these things.
[48:43] That entails. Absolutely. No trouble. At all. But I suggest. Today. That. To have. Christ's cross. In our hearts. And to carry.
[48:55] Christ's cross. In our. Daily. And everyday. Walk. And to know. The very. Fellowship. Of his. Sufferings. And to have.
[49:05] Crucified. Affections. And to live. Crucified. Lives. All of that. Needs. Self-denial. When you look at.
[49:18] The Lord here. And you just look at him. In your mind's eye. And you consider. The situation. That he is in. And you look at the Lord. Carrying his cross.
[49:29] And you look at the Lord. Going forth. And you will never see. Self-denial. Like that again. Jesus.
[49:41] The cross bearer. He went forth. But secondly. Where did he go forth to? Where did he go forth to?
[49:55] He went forth. Into a place. Called the place of a skull. Which is called. In the Hebrew. Golgotha.
[50:08] This is where he went to. Where he went forth to. To the place of a skull. To a place. Called Golgotha. And we might ask.
[50:21] What and where. Was this place. Well. We can only speculate. I suppose. On the. Precise position. Or location.
[50:32] Of the place. All that we know. For certain. Is that it was near. To the city. And we know. For certain. I think. That it was outside. Of the walls.
[50:42] Of Jerusalem. I think. We also understand. From Matthew's gospel. That it must have been near. A public road. Road. And the reason. I say that.
[50:52] Is because Matthew. Mentions them. That passed by. So there must have been. A public road there. But it would seem to me. That the very best.
[51:03] Explanation. Was that the place. Was between. The wall of the city. And the descent. Into. The valley. Of Kidron. And this was on the east side.
[51:16] Of the city. And it was near. To the road. That was leading. To Bethany. And this all. I think. Takes us back. Somewhere else. We have to go back.
[51:28] To the tabernacle. In the wilderness. And remember. That tabernacle. In the wilderness. And the gate. Of that tabernacle. The way. That it faced. The gate.
[51:39] Of the tabernacle. Always faced. Into the east. And all. The sacrifices. That were to be made. On the behalf. Of the people. Right through.
[51:50] The days. Of that tabernacle. Had to come. Through the gate. That was facing east. And if that is all right.
[52:02] That he was crucified. In the east. And if I am right. In saying that. Then that has implications. For the cross itself. Because the cross.
[52:14] If he was crucified. In the east. Would have been in full view. Of anyone. Who was standing. In the temple courts. Anyone in the temple courts.
[52:25] Would have seen. The cross. Anyone in the temple courts. Would have seen. The sacrifice. It would have been. Before their eyes. Anyone standing.
[52:36] On the mount. Of olives. Or anyone near. The eastern wall. Of the city. All would have seen. The cross. All would have seen. The crucified Christ. And if these things.
[52:49] Are right. Thousands of people. Would have beheld. That spectacle. That day. And as your Lord.
[53:01] And my Lord. As he is lifted up. In the air. This event. Was an event. Of extraordinary. Publicity. And if it was right.
[53:16] That it was on the east side. We can be sure. We can believe. And we can be sure. That the Pharisees. Chose this. To torment.
[53:27] The Lord. Even more. By making him. Die. And by bringing him. To a place. Where he would die. With. With the temple.
[53:38] And the mount. Of olives. And even his. Favorite. Garden. Of Gethsemane. That these. Would all be. Before his eyes. It was all.
[53:51] That just. To add. To his suffering. To add. To the torment. But yet. There was great. Significance. In all. That they.
[54:02] Engineered. To add. To his suffering. To add. To his agony. To add. To his shame. There was. Significance. In it. And I would suggest.
[54:16] Myself. That he died. On the east side. Just outside. The city wall. And all. Of that. Took place. Just to make.
[54:27] The spectacle. Itself. More public. And to increase. Its own. Sense of. Torment. As if. There wasn't. Enough. Torment. And enough.
[54:38] Agony. And enough. Pain. And enough. Shame. They would add. Even more. To him. By crucifying. Him. On the east side.
[54:49] Outside. The city wall. Where he could. Even be seen. From the temple courts. But whatever side.
[54:59] He was on. That is not going to. Take away. From the fact. That it was. The place. Of a skull. And that is likely.
[55:10] To come more. From the shape. Of shape. Of the landscape. I suppose. Where the cross. Was erected. There is not. Anywhere. The slightest.
[55:21] Authority. Anywhere. For these. Common ideas. That the place. Where the Lord. Was crucified. Was a hill. Or that it was. A mountain. That it was.
[55:33] A green hill. Far away. Out with. A city wall. There is absolutely. No scriptural. Warrant. For that. It was not. A green hill.
[55:43] It was not. A mountain. Or anything. Like that. It was nothing. More. Than a small. Rock. That resembled. A skull.
[55:54] Outside. The city wall. But whatever. It was. It was there. That they crucified him. It was there.
[56:08] That he died. It was there. That he paid. The price. The price. For our sin. It was there. In the place.
[56:18] Of a skull. Outside. The city wall. That he endured. And felt. The justice. Of God. Against sin. It was there.
[56:31] And it was there. That he reached. The pinnacle. Of suffering. In his soul. As the pains. Of hell. Got hold. Of him. And he.
[56:43] Grief. And he. Trouble. Found. It was there. That he came. To know. What it is like. To suffer.
[56:55] The pains. Of hell. And it was there. That he became. The sacrifice. That God. Would accept.
[57:05] And that would set. His people free. And you know. I cannot help. When I consider. This myself. And I look.
[57:16] At the events. Surrounding. The cross. And then. I come. Maybe. To the saints. And to what he said. While he was. On the cross.
[57:27] And I. I believe. That one of. One of the greatest. Things of all. Is. When you are aware. Of the. Great high priest. There. When you are aware.
[57:38] Of the sacrifice. And you are. They are driving. The nails. Through his hands. On his feet. And as the blood. Begins to flow. The great high priest.
[57:50] Begins to intercede. Father. Forgive them. For they know. Not what they do. And there are. So many people.
[58:01] Who try. To tell you. That that. Intercession. That prayer. That it was prayed. In relation. To those. Who were crucifying him. Oh my friend.
[58:13] My friend. My friend. That prayer. May have been. For some of those. Who were there. That day. I'm sure. It covered.
[58:23] The Roman centurion. Who declared. That this was truly. The son of God. I'm sure. That intercession. It covered. Mary. And John. And Nicodemus.
[58:35] And Joseph. Of Arimathea. And others. Of God's people. Who were there. But that. Intercession. As the blood. Flowed. Oh. It spanned.
[58:47] Back. To the very. Garden of Eden. And it went. Forward. Until the last. Of the elect. Are brought in. It was a prayer. For his own people.
[58:58] It went. Right back. To Adam. And Eve. It. It covered. Adam. And Eve. And Abel. And Abraham. And Isaac. And Jacob. And throughout. All the.
[59:09] Days of the old covenant. All of his own. Believing people. For whom. This ultimate. Sacrifice. Was made. For whom. This blood. Was shed.
[59:20] As the sacrifice. And then. As their sacrifice. And as their great. High priest. He begins. To intercede. Father. Forgive them.
[59:32] For they know not. What they do. There were many people. There that day. Many thousands. As we said. Passing by. But I don't believe.
[59:43] There was anything. Before the eyes. Of Christ. But that number. That our. Who's redeemed. They were before him. There. They were the ones.
[59:53] For whom. He prayed. They were the ones. For whom. He was doing this. That is why. He was there. Father. Forgive them.
[60:04] For they know not. What they do. The very first. Thing. That he could say. The very first. Thing in his heart.
[60:15] And in his mind. As he is crucified. Is not himself. But his people. And the reason. Why he is there. And so the blood.
[60:27] Flows. And the intercession. Is made. And you were in that intercession. Of the Lord's people here. I was in that intercession. When Christ.
[60:38] Was on the cross. I was in his mind. You were on his mind. And there is a sense too. In which that is the joy. That was set before him.
[60:50] When he endured the cross. The wonder of that. Great. Intercession of Christ. And all of these saints.
[61:02] That lead on. As John records here. Until. The fine. The second. Or the penultimate saying. Which. I see as almost like. In the days of creation.
[61:14] It is like the evening. Of the sixth day. And Christ. Cries. It is finished. Everything that you gave me. To do. It is all done.
[61:25] My suffering. Is ended. That is finished. Every single aspect. Of. Everything that you have. Willed for me. And planned. From eternity.
[61:36] It is done. It is perfect. The sacrifice. I have made. For my people. It is finished. It is finished. And it is good.
[61:48] It is all good. And then comes. The rest of Christ. Like the seventh day. When God rested. And he says.
[61:58] Into your hands. I commit. My spirit. It is finished. And it was all.
[62:10] For us. It was all. For you. And it was all. For me. It was. For his own people. This. That had been.
[62:21] Planned. From eternity. Past. And whatever. We think. Of all of this. And however. We view. All that is going on.
[62:31] Here. We must always. Remember. That in all. Of this. These events. Every single. Thing. To do. With them. That he.
[62:42] Remained. Sovereign. Over these things. He had. Control. Over these events. The father. Was in control. Of these events. Look at what he said.
[62:53] In his great. Intercessory prayer. These words. Spoke Jesus. And lifted up. His eyes. To heaven. And said. Father. The hour is come. Glorify. Thy son.
[63:03] That thy son. May also. Glorify thee. As thou hast given him. Power over all flesh. That he should give eternal life. To as many. As thou hast given him.
[63:16] Thou hast given him. Power over all flesh. Pilate's very breath. To say. Crucify him. Was given to him. By Jesus himself.
[63:27] The very. Strength. That these soldiers. Had. To carry him. The strength. They had to nail him. To the cross. Could only have been given to them. By God himself.
[63:41] He remained sovereign. And was sovereign. In it all. It was not accidental. It didn't come on him. By chance. It was. They were not events. That he had no control over.
[63:53] These events. Had been planned. A long time before. And all of it. Was for you. And for me. And what are we to do.
[64:07] We are to take the cup of salvation. And we are to remember his death. Until he comes. And as we partake of these things. And take these things. We are to sit here.
[64:18] And we are to count our blessings. To count our blessings. As we partake of these elements. That he was so willing to endure. What he did.
[64:28] So that we could be here today. So that we might be saved. So that we might be safe. In Christ. Safe in time. Safe for eternity. We are safe.
[64:40] We are redeemed. We are Christ's. Didn't he not cry. Forgive them. For they know not what they do.
[64:50] And we sit here today. We partake of these things. And we say with one of old. Surely. He died for me.
[65:03] I know no other argument. I know no other plea. But it is enough that he died. And that he died for me.
[65:15] Isn't that the testimony. Of all of God's people. And Jesus. Went forth.
[65:26] He went forth. Bearing his cross. He went forth. To a place of a skull. Which is in the Hebrew Golgotha.
[65:40] And there. They crucified. Him. For you. For me. He did it all.
[65:50] For us. Who are his own. Beloved people. And so let us come. And remember his death. Until he comes.
[66:01] Again. Amen. We'll leave it there. For the moment. We are going to sing now. To God's praise. In the Psalm 116. The Psalm 116.
[66:15] From the beginning of the Psalm. From the verse 1. We sing down to. The verse marked 8. Psalm 116. I love the Lord.
[66:26] Because my voice. And prayer. He did hear. I while I live. Will call on him. Who bowed. To me. His ear. Of death. The cords. And sorrow stood. About me. Compass round.
[66:37] The pains of hell. Took hold on me. I grief. And trouble found. Upon the name of God. The Lord. Then did I call and say. Deliver thou my soul. O Lord. I do. The humbly pray.
[66:48] To the verse 8. For my distressed soul. From death. Delivered was by thee. Thou didst. My mourning eyes. From tears. On my feet. From falling free. These verses. The verses 1 to 8.
[66:59] In Psalm 116. I love the Lord. Because my voice. And prayer. She did hear. Amen. I love the Lord.
[67:10] Because my voice. And prayer. She did hear. I while I live.
[67:24] I will call on him. I will bow. To me. It's the end.
[67:35] All death can't ë²… and sorrow still. Boy, I will become.
[67:47] Paus round. The pins of hell. Thank you.
[68:24] Thank you.
[68:54] Thank you. Thank you.
[69:54] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[70:06] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[70:40] Thank you.
[71:12] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[71:24] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[72:04] Amen.
[72:36] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[72:52] Thank you. the earth and so on. I mention quite often today when we come or I come to have this responsibility of coming to fence the Lord's table that this is a portion of our communion services today that are under threat in many places and you get asked the question so often what is your authority what biblical warrant do you have to fence the Lord's table well the biblical warrant to fence the Lord's table is really in the words of Paul to the Corinthians where Paul makes it clear there that a man is to examine himself or herself and then to take of that bread and of that cup and that is our warrant and the fencing of the Lord's table should or is there for one or two different and particular reasons. It is a challenge to us as the Lord's people to look and to examine and to see if indeed there are fruits in our lives and if there have been experiences in our lives that would separate us from the world these things that come into our experience that make the difference and then we bear forth fruit for the glory of God and when we are able to discern these things in our own experience then we are assured and we have assurance that we are indeed the people of God and that it is right for us to partake of these things and to do so in a worthy manner.
[74:46] But it is also I believe the fencing can be there as a protection it causes us maybe to understand and to see that as we look at these things that maybe maybe we are not in a position where we should actually be partaking of these things and so there are many different aspects that pertain to this but I would trust and hope that as we go through this for five minutes that it would bring us to a sense of assurance in relation to what has happened to ourselves and to how God has dealt with us which is the reason why we are sitting here today at the Lord's table and why we are separate indeed from the world out of which the Lord has taken us.
[75:38] There are a few things that we need to remember about these beatitudes as they were delivered by the Lord we need to remember some things about them as a whole because we have to accept that they are first of all they are a description of every Christian.
[75:55] No Christian is excluded from these beatitudes not one. The Lord is not referring here to some elite portion of the body of Christ or to some notable saints or whatever he is talking here and referring to every child of God and more than that he is referring to the work that he himself will perform in the hearts and in the lives of every single one of his own people.
[76:27] Every child of God you and I here are to show forth these characteristics and we are able to we should be able to put out amen to these characteristics having had these taken place in our own lives.
[76:44] It's not that there are some Christians that possess these things or these characteristics and other Christians do not. But every single Christian, every single one in his kingdom possesses these things.
[77:00] Every single person here today who is truly born again of the Lord has been made poor in spirit. Every single child of God who is sitting here today who has been truly born again has mourned over their sins.
[77:17] They should have an element of meekness. They are hungry and thirsty after righteousness. They are merciful. They are pure in heart.
[77:29] It's not that there's one Christian there that's poor in spirit and another one there that is meek. That's not the way it is. All of these things when you put them together they constitute the one Christian.
[77:44] They constitute every single child of God. But there is something else that we need to remember about these things too. And we need to remember concerning the Beatitudes that they are all gifts of God's grace.
[78:00] They are gifts of grace. Imagine sitting here today and having to accept that a sense of the poverty of your spirit is a gift from God.
[78:16] If you are sitting and you are mourning desperately over your sins it is a gift of God. God has bestowed that gift upon you by his grace.
[78:29] They are not natural tendencies or personalities or qualities. What he is speaking about here in the body of the Beatitudes he is speaking of a spiritual blessing.
[78:42] Speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit. Of dethroning sin. And making us after his own image. That is what he is speaking about. What is it to be poor in spirit?
[78:56] Which has been in the experience I believe of every true child of God. Everyone sitting here today who professes that they are in the Lord. Being poor of spirit has been brought into the very dust before God.
[79:13] It is to come to understand and to come to know our own weakness and our own utter helplessness before God.
[79:24] And the reason it is the first beatitude is because I believe it is the first work of grace in our souls.
[79:35] It is the first work of God's grace. But I would suggest to you that it is a continual work. It goes on and it goes on.
[79:47] If it did not go on. If it did not go on. And if I did not have portions in my life and you did not have portions in your life. Where you understood the poverty of your spirit.
[79:58] It would never bring you on your knees in repentance and confession. And to mourn over your sins. Until one is made to know that he is nothing.
[80:13] God will make nothing out of him. We are poor and we are bankrupt. We have nothing to give.
[80:23] We have no resources. We are poor before the living God. And we deserve nothing and we have nothing. That is the sense that comes in the very poverty of our spirit.
[80:39] And being poor in spirit is something God makes you to be. It is not something that you can manufacture and make yourself to be. It is therefore a gift of God's grace.
[80:55] What is it? Is it not God's grace introducing us to what we are ourselves? It is giving us to see that we are vile and full of sin.
[81:11] It is more than that too. I would suggest it is the very grace of humility. It is a right understanding of myself before the living God.
[81:22] God is that and has that been in your experience? Do you know that utter helplessness? And being poor in spirit is what brings me to mourn over my sins.
[81:42] I will never mourn over these sins, my friends. And neither will you. Unless I am made aware of the poverty that they have brought into my life.
[81:57] You know we hear that verse today being used so often in the context of when somebody passes away. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.
[82:09] I am not saying that God cannot comfort and that God does not comfort those who mourn. But if we are going to take it out of its very context into that context.
[82:21] That would imply that God comforts everyone who mourns. God only comforts everyone who mourns in this way. Who mourns over their sins.
[82:32] And through this we are made aware of the deep sorrow that we have over our sin.
[82:47] Let us remember at this point as when the Lord gives these beatitudes. He is not just throwing them on a heap on top of each other just as he thinks of them. There is an order to them.
[82:58] He doesn't just heap them together on a pile. He has arranged them in such a manner that each one implies the other. Until you reach the whole Christian.
[83:11] Or the whole person. We mourn over our sins. We have come to understand poverty of spirit. We have been there.
[83:21] We have mourned over our sins. These things are gifts of God's grace. They separate us today from the world. They separate us from the unbeliever behind the table here today.
[83:32] It is what makes us different. It is the work of God's grace. Meekness. Meekness. Meekness. Meekness. Meekness. Meekness. Meekness. Meekness. Meekness is the result.
[83:45] Meekness is the fruit of being poor in spirit. And of knowing what it is to mourn before God. In one word meekness is the very absence of pride.
[84:00] And it makes us more than one another. And it makes one receptive in his or her heart before God. It makes us teachable before God.
[84:15] And so meekness is the dethroning of sinful pride, isn't it? And making us now teachable of God. And more than that, it makes us gentle towards one another.
[84:29] For meekness brings with it a submissiveness to God and before God. But yet it also brings with it that we become confident and strong in the Lord.
[84:44] And in his faithful love and mercies towards us. But the fruit of meekness, my friends, is for always first of all seen in our attitude towards the Lord himself.
[85:00] And then we will hunger and thirst after righteousness. And so it goes on. And it goes on.
[85:10] Until he reaches the complete Christian. And there are many elements here that we could go into. But we haven't got the time. But I'm sure you get the picture.
[85:21] This is what separates us from the world. This is what makes us different. That God by his grace has brought these things into our inner experience.
[85:32] And eventually that shows itself outwardly. In our submissiveness to the Lord. And our gentleness towards one another.
[85:45] And in the fruits that we bear as the Lord's people. Out in the world. Out in the world. I don't suppose there is any rags to riches story.
[85:59] That is as powerful as that one. From poverty of spirit. To theirs being the kingdom of heaven. And that is what is true of all of you here today who are the Lord's.
[86:14] And that is what makes us different. And that is what separates us. From the world that is around us. And from those who have had not this yet taken place.
[86:26] In their own hearts and lives. And we are to be the salt of the earth. And we are to be the light of the world. When all of these other things and these beatitudes.
[86:39] Have become part of our experience. We'll leave it there. We are going to sing now in the Psalm 118. As we come to the Lord's table.
[86:52] We sing in the Psalm 118. And we sing from the verse 15. In dwellings of the righteous is heard the melody. Of joy and health the Lord's right hand doth ever valiantly.
[87:04] The right hand of the mighty Lord exalted is on high. The right hand of the mighty Lord doth ever valiantly. We'll sing verses in Psalm 118 from verse 15.
[87:16] And we'll sing until the elders have placed the elements on the table. Psalm 118 verse 15. In dwellings of the righteous is heard the melody.
[87:27] In dwelling of the righteous is heard the melody.
[87:43] Of joy and health the mighty Lord. Of joy and health the mighty Lord. The right hand of the fantastic is outside thehirn.
[87:55] The right hand of the mighty Lord. I can't, O bless mighty Lord, Thanks for bless all night.
[88:21] The kingdom of the mighty Lord, The better I am, I shall not die, but live, and shout, The words of God is given, The long and deep θα Schulze, So'd come doth and repetirme, O Lamb, O set ye open unto me the gates of righteousness, then will I extend unto them, and I shall all our will rest.
[89:56] Well, as we come to the Lord's table, we will now read our authority and our warrant for the sacrament of the Lord's Supper in the words that were delivered to the Church of Corinth by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians, and in chapter 11, reading at the verse 23.
[90:20] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread.
[90:33] And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of me.
[90:45] After the same manner also he took the cup when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood. This do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me.
[90:58] For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death until he come. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
[91:15] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
[91:34] And so on. Amen. We trust that the Lord will bless to us that further reading again from his own holy and inspired word.
[91:45] The Lord set an example here for us, in that before he broke the bread, he bowed and he gave thanks. And let us also, to follow his blessed example, let us do the same.
[91:57] Let us bow our heads in prayer. Let us pray. Our gracious God and our loving Heavenly Father, we are thankful, Lord, today for this privilege that is bestowed upon us.
[92:12] And we trust that as we partake of all these good things that we see now before us, that our sense of thankfulness would rise even more, and that it would rise to new heights.
[92:25] There are times when we feel, O Lord, as if maybe we take everything that we have for granted. And maybe we have sat at many communion tables, and at many communion seasons.
[92:38] And maybe even these things for us are losing their savour, and are losing their flavour. But grant us in these moments that we would stop for a moment and consider what has been done for us.
[92:52] And all that is symbolised in these elements that are here, of bread and of wine, in all of their simplicity, O Lord, yet speaking of such a great truth, and of a great love, and of a great wonder.
[93:08] And help us, Lord, to contemplate and to think for a moment of how we stand in relation to this, and all that he has done, and all that we can do when we do, is thank the Lord for his goodness to us.
[93:23] Thank the Lord that we are a part today of his people. Thank the Lord that our desire is to be at the Lord's table, to remember his death until he comes again.
[93:36] Thankful to the Lord that we are here. Thankful that we are amongst his people. Thank you, Lord.
[94:10] Thankful for all that was done for us there. We will spend eternity, we believe, in praise and in thankfulness for all that he has done for us.
[94:22] But grant, O Lord, that here while we are on the earth, that we would express that thankfulness as well, for his many blessings towards us. We thank thee then for the grace that has saved us, and for the grace that sustains us, the grace that keeps us every day, and the grace promised to us sufficient to meet our every need, the strength that is perfected in our every weakness.
[94:49] We give thanks, Lord, for all of these things. And so bless us now, as we come together, O Lord, as a body, to remember our King, to remember our Saviour, to remember our Lord, to remember the one who is and was the darling of heaven itself, that we might remember his death now, until he comes again, as we have been commanded to do.
[95:16] And so pour upon us, Lord, with thy blessing. Grant us a stillness within our hearts. Help us and grant us the spiritual discernment to know that the Lord is here, and that he is amongst his people.
[95:34] Forgive us, Lord, for our sins. Have mercy upon us for everything in our lives that is not right, and that is contrary to thy word, and to thy will for us. But yet with thee forgiveness is, and alone with thee there is forgiveness and mercy.
[95:50] And we come before thee, and we plead before thee, we confess before thee, and we repent before thee, trusting that we also have a desire to forsake our sins, and leave them behind.
[96:06] Forgive us for our sins, and be new to us as we pray all things, in and through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. And for his sake. Amen.
[96:21] At the end of the sermon today, we sung words that are beautiful words. Words of the psalmist when he declared verbally, and he said, I love the Lord.
[96:40] I love the Lord because my voice and my prayers heeded here. And while I live, I will call on him who bowed to me his ear.
[96:51] And the way that the psalmist declares his love there at the beginning of that psalm, you could say in many ways, it is unique. It's a unique way in which he has done it.
[97:05] Because it is much more common, I think, if you go through the book of the psalms, for the psalmist to speak of trusting God, or to speak of seeking refuge in the Lord, or to speak of waiting on God, or whatever it might be.
[97:21] But here he declares, I love the Lord. I love the Lord. That is the great declaration that he has made.
[97:31] And we have to ask, as we read these words, we have to ask, well, what is it exactly that he means? What does he mean? Well, the original word that is used for love here does have woven into it without a doubt the emotion of love.
[97:48] We cannot separate that emotion. It is part of us. It was part of the psalmist's experience. It is part of us all. We were created in that way.
[97:59] The emotion of love is there. Maybe even as we look on these things today, maybe even that emotion of love is stirred within us for the Lord ourselves.
[98:11] But it speaks of more than that, this love. Because within the parameters of this love, there are another two things as well. There is the love of commitment expressed.
[98:23] And there is the love of loyalty expressed here as well. And so when he says, I love the Lord, yes, there may be an element of emotional love in it, but it is saying more than that.
[98:36] He is renewing his commitment to the Lord. And he is renewing his loyalty, as it were, to the Lord as well. And maybe as we partake today of these elements, maybe in our actions today that sometimes speak louder than words, maybe in that action too, are we not saying, when we partake of these things, are we not saying, I love the Lord?
[99:04] Isn't that not what we are saying? And doesn't that love when we express it? Is it not in the same manner as the psalmist? Does it not express as well our renewed commitment to the Lord and our renewed loyalty to the Lord?
[99:21] Isn't that not what we are saying? I love you, yes. And I might have a sense of emotion as I love you. But surely in what I am doing here, I am renewing my vows.
[99:33] And I am saying that I am committed to the Lord and that I am loyal to the Lord. And all of these things are found within this great declaration that I make, that I love the Lord.
[99:50] Why? Why am I going to say that today? Why am I going to declare that great thing today? Why am I going to declare that great thing?
[100:29] I cried out to him, Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. And he heard my cry amongst all the cries and all the prayers and everything that rises up before the throne.
[100:45] He discerned my voice and he discerned my prayer amongst that cacophony of noise. And he heard me and he restored me and he came and he comforted my mourning heart.
[101:01] He comforted it with his own presence and with his own salvation and with his own grace. And now I stand here as one who will inherit the kingdom of God.
[101:14] Lord, I love the Lord. And all because of that and because of these things I will declare today before his people all and when I lift the cup of salvation I will declare that I love the Lord, that I am committed to the Lord, and that I will do everything in my strength to remain loyal to the Lord.
[101:46] This is my body broken for you. This is my blood that was shed for you. And surely in so partaking of we say today I love the Lord because my voice and my prayers he did hear and hears the commitment I, while I live will call on him who bowed to me his ear.
[102:20] May God bless each and every one of his people today. The Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and he said take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me.
[102:54] And after the same manner he took the cup when he had supped saying this cup is the New Testament in my blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me for as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do show the Lord's death until the Lord comes again.
[103:23] These are the things of God and they are indeed for the people of God for the beloved of God for the elect of God for those who have been loved from before the foundation of the world for those who have been loved with a love that will not let them go.
[103:49] I have to just turn into the 1 and via them for those who have been with the opportunity where they are as soon as bright as he had been and greatest to work Thank you.
[104:40] Thank you.
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[111:40] Thank you. Thank you.
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[125:10] Amen.
[125:40] Thank you.
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[128:10] Thank you.