[0:00] I'm seeking the Lord's blessing. Let us turn back to the Old Testament reading that we took from the book of Genesis and chapter 12 and we'll read from the beginning of the chapter.
[0:14] Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out from thy country and from thy kindred and from thy father's house into a land that I will show thee.
[0:29] And I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curse thee and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
[0:50] This morning we will focus for a short time upon the call that was given to Abraham in Ur of the Chaldees which is in modern day Iraq.
[1:11] And how he obeyed that call. How he was obedient to the call that he received.
[1:24] Genesis of course is a book of beginnings and there is no doubt that here there is a new beginning in the call of Abraham.
[1:37] Now as we look at chapter 11 of Genesis which is the context in which the call of Abraham is brought before us.
[1:53] We note one or two things that will probably be hopefully an encouragement to us today.
[2:04] As we see the declension that there is among us and how these things may be worrying us as we enter a new year.
[2:17] In chapter 11 of Genesis of course the beginning of the chapter brings before us the building of the tower.
[2:28] There was a very advanced generation at that time. In verse 3 we read that they said one to another go to let us make brick and burn them thoroughly.
[2:43] And they had brick for stone and slime had they for mortar. They had advanced quite a lot just like technology has advanced in our own days.
[2:56] And there was nothing wrong with that advancement. And they said and they said go and let us build us a city and a tower.
[3:09] Whose top may reach into heaven. That is they were going to build a high tower. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with them building a city or building a high tower.
[3:21] Absolutely nothing at all wrong with that. They were using their technology if we may call it to the best for themselves. But the fault and the sin was in their motive.
[3:36] Because they said then let us make us a name. And that was the sin in their motive. It wasn't the fact of their advancement.
[3:49] It wasn't the fact that they wanted to build a city. It wasn't the fact that they wanted to build a tower. But the fact that they wanted to make a name for themselves.
[4:01] Pride. And which one of us haven't got that scourge in our hearts to be proud people. And that was their sin.
[4:12] And you know what happened. That God scattered them and confused their languages. And then in chapter 11 we come to the generations of Shem.
[4:23] This is something that we find in the book of Genesis. But why I want to draw your attention to this one in particular is. You know that after the flood.
[4:35] The three sons of Noah. There was Shem, Ham and Japheth. And you know that the promised seed was to come through Shem.
[4:50] That is that Christ was going to come through the line of Shem. Now if you go down to the generations and you come to Tehra.
[5:03] And you know things are really very dark. Very, very dark. The line of Shem have embraced idolatry.
[5:15] They have moved far away from God. And from the human perspective you would say. When will the promised seed ever come?
[5:28] Surely these people have now moved so far away from God. Where is the promise of the seed of the woman? And looking from it from human perspective.
[5:42] It looked so impossible. It was so dark. They were so steeped in idolatry and darkness.
[5:54] And yet here is where the grace of God shines so brightly. He called a man. Abraham was his name.
[6:05] He was later to be called Abraham. The grace of God called a man. From the line of Shem.
[6:18] So that in the midst of these dark times. Although from human perspective things looked so impossible. But from God's perspective it didn't look impossible.
[6:31] Because from God's perspective. He was working out his redemptive purpose. And his redemptive plan. And so it is in our own day.
[6:44] When things may look so dark. And so dismal. When we may be so discouraged. Despondent. Perhaps even on the brink of despair.
[6:56] And saying well where is all this leading to? Yet we know that God's purpose will be fulfilled.
[7:08] None of those who were given to Christ. In the covenant of redemption. Will be lost. They will all be his.
[7:20] And while we still have hope. That there is still among us. As in that community. Those who are within that covenant.
[7:30] Who were given to Christ. In the covenant of redemption. As long as the gospel is still being proclaimed. As long as the word of God is still being preached.
[7:42] And going out among people. And the invitation and command of the gospel is heard in our community. Then we will have hope. However dark things may seem.
[7:57] However little blessing we may from a human perspective see among us. Yet we must have hope. And we must go into a new year with that hope.
[8:09] With that hope. Because the grace of God is not going to be frustrated. The grace of God is working. And will be working. Just as it was in the days of Abraham.
[8:24] One man called out from among the heathen. God's grace called a man Abraham. That is the marvel of grace is it not?
[8:40] The marvel of grace that he calls a man from the most unlikely place. And he calls a man from the most unlikely people.
[8:52] We must never say about any person that they have gone too far. We mustn't lose hope regarding anyone. Because the grace of God works in the most unlikely place.
[9:07] And in among the most unlikely people. Perhaps homes. Perhaps families. That we would claim to be more heathen and atheistic.
[9:18] Than that they're embracing the gospel. And yet it may be from that very home. That God will be pleased to call a person. A person.
[9:29] The marvel of grace. And as long as we have the grace of God working among us. His constant love. And giving us his word.
[9:40] His gospel. The witness of his people. Among us. In our community. Then we will also embrace the marvel of grace.
[9:50] That calls from the most unlikely place. And among the most unlikely people. And as long as we have that marvel of grace.
[10:01] Then we have hope. So let us go forth in the new year. Resting upon God's grace. And going out with hope.
[10:12] Because of the marvel of his grace. Now the call of grace for Abraham. Was a new beginning.
[10:24] It was a new beginning. As it is for everyone who is effectually called by God's grace. It is a new beginning.
[10:35] It is a new beginning for us all today. As we venture on the threshold of a new year. Not knowing what the year will have for us.
[10:47] Yet we go forth. Resting on God's grace. Hoping in the marvel of his grace. We go forth in a new beginning. But may I be more personal perhaps this morning.
[11:01] And may I hope that for those who have continued in the ways of the world. In the ways of the flesh. May I hope and pray that this year will be a new beginning for you in grace.
[11:17] A new beginning for you in grace. That we would see the year of God's right hand among us. That we would repent and see the blessing of God prospering and flourishing among us.
[11:33] A people coming in repentance and seeking the mercy of God. For Abraham the call of grace was a new beginning.
[11:45] Now the Lord had said unto Abraham. Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from thy father's house.
[11:57] Into a land that I will show thee. And very simple today. I just wish to draw your attention to what that call meant for Abraham.
[12:09] This new beginning was a separation. He had to separate himself from all that he knew. He had to separate himself from those around him.
[12:23] He had to separate himself from all those things that were familiar to him. All his idols. He was an idolater. Abraham was an idolater.
[12:36] But he had to separate himself from his idolatry. Now we spoke briefly on the Lord's day evening about idols. And I'm not going to say any more about it this morning.
[12:51] But it is a separation from our idolatry. And his calling was based upon the word of God.
[13:02] The word of God. Now the Lord had said unto Abraham. Get thee out of thy country. We must never sever the calling of God from the word of God.
[13:19] They are united. They are together. And that's why I'm saying as we venture out in a new year we have hope. Get within our community. Because the word of God is here.
[13:31] And where the word of God is there is the calling of God. The two cannot be separate. So we have hope. And the calling and the word is so evident in the life of this idolater.
[13:44] This man called by grace. This man named Abraham. Abraham. Or Abraham. And it was a call to sever his allegiance to his idols.
[13:58] To all these things that he was familiar with and accustomed to. That was not to the praise or the glory of God.
[14:08] He had to separate himself. Now that was not easy. And it's never easy. It's always a struggle. The life of the Christian is always going to be a struggle.
[14:20] And to the very end. And we see that in a moment. Now the Lord had said unto Abraham. Get thee out of thy country. And from thy kindred.
[14:31] And from thy father's house. Into a land that I will show thee. That didn't mean that he was going to immediately neglect his family. The Lord doesn't call us to do that.
[14:45] But when he says get out from thy father's house. He was saying get out from those things that are not pleasing to God. The idolatry of thy father's house.
[14:56] Thou must put them away. Thou must put them away. And separate yourself from them. But with the calling and the word comes the promises.
[15:13] Comes the promises. Genesis 12 verse 2. And I will make of thee a great nation. And I will bless thee.
[15:25] And make thy name great. And thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee. And curse them that curse thee. And in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
[15:40] Well very simply two things or three perhaps. I would like to bring before you these promises. And that is. You notice the word I. I will make of thee a great nation.
[15:53] I will bless thee. I will bless them that bless thee. And curse him that curse thee. The I. The I of God.
[16:05] It is God that's going to bless. It is God that is going to fulfil the promises in Abraham's experience. And in Abraham's life.
[16:16] It is all of God. It is all of God. And that is something that we have to remember. And keep ourselves mindful of as we venture into a new year.
[16:30] That it is all of God. If we in the congregation here. And our community. And our homes. And our young people. And our families are going to be blessed. It is going to be of God.
[16:42] Yes he uses means. And we've got to use means. And we've got to use every endeavour. That was within our grasp. To bring the gospel.
[16:53] To our people. And to bring people to the word of God. But ultimately. It is not those things that is going to be blessed. But God. God is the one who is going to bless.
[17:07] And as we venture out into a new year. And as we hope God willing to perhaps do things. Perhaps a way differently. Without compromising the truth of God's word.
[17:18] But trying to bring people together. To hear God's word. And understand God's word. It is not these things of themselves. That is going to bring blessing. But God.
[17:30] But God is the one. Who is going to bring blessing. And as we join in congregational fellowship. As we join together. And learning more.
[17:41] By setting up courses. To learn more about God. And it is not these things of themselves. That is going to be. That is going to be. The author of blessing.
[17:53] But God. God using those things. In order. To bring. Blessing. So as we venture out on those things. If it is in accordance with the will of God.
[18:04] During this year. I want us to be. Pleading with God. That he will bless. Those. Endeavors. And that he will bless.
[18:16] Those. Means. That we will not glory in the means. But glory in the God. Who can bless those means. To us. As his promises here.
[18:28] To Abraham. Is I. I am the one. Who will bless. The other thing I want to. Bring to your attention.
[18:39] Is in verse 3 of chapter 12. And in thee. Shall all families. Of the earth be blessed. That is a messianic promise. That is a promise.
[18:49] Of the seed of the woman. That is the promise. Of Jesus Christ. I am of the opinion. That it was there.
[19:00] That Abraham saw Christ. And rejoiced. Others are of different opinions. It may. That it was later on. In his trials. And that. And it may have been. But I am still of the opinion.
[19:13] It was here. That Abraham saw Christ. And in thee. Shall all the families. Not just. The nation. That's going to. Arise.
[19:23] Out of your loins. But all the families. The whole world. Is going to be blessed. Through you. Abraham. The promise. Of Jesus.
[19:35] Christ. Now. Think of what we've said. At the beginning. Things look dark. Where is the promised line. Where is the promised seed.
[19:46] Going to come from. People steeped. In idolatry. People. Moving. Away. From. The Lord.
[19:57] Going far. Away. From. God. Where. Is all. The earth. Is going to be.
[20:09] Blessed. Through. Abraham. You know. How dark. These things were. And yet here. Is God. And he's calling a man. One man.
[20:20] By his grace. From the most unlikely place. From the most unlikely. People. And he's giving him. The promise. The promise.
[20:31] Of. The seed. Of. The woman. The seed. Of the woman. Out of that darkness. Came this wonderful light. The promise.
[20:43] Of God. And the Lord. Has promised us. Many promises. In his word. He has promised. That he will bless. His word.
[20:54] And that is a promise. That he will. Fulfill. So we have. The calling. With the word. We have. These. Promises. Now I want to.
[21:08] Take your attention. To what we read. In chapter. 11. Of Hebrews. About Abraham. How. Did Abraham. Manage. To do all this.
[21:18] Well. Simply by. Faith. By faith. By faith. Abraham. When he was. Called. To go out. Into a place. Which he should.
[21:29] After. Receive. For an inheritance. Obeyed. And he went out. Not knowing. Whether. He went. It was.
[21:40] By. Faith. Or I may say. From. From. Another perspective. He obeyed. The obedience.
[21:52] Of. Faith. The obedience. Of faith. Now. I'm not going to give. A definition. Of faith. Here. At all.
[22:02] Today. I'm not going to make. A theological discourse. Of our gathering. Today. I'm not going to give. A definition. Of faith. Maybe some other time. We'll do that. But I am going to.
[22:13] Take this up. About faith. That within faith. There is this element. Of. Trust. It is really. Trust. Is it not. Believing.
[22:24] The word. And trusting. The word. And we see that. In Abraham. Now. Think of it. Here is a man. Steeped in idolatry.
[22:36] Here is a man. And by some way. I don't know how. But God. By his word. Intervened into the life. Of this man. And called him.
[22:49] And Abraham. Abraham. Obeyed. Abraham. Obeyed. And he obeyed. By faith. Because he obeyed. By trusting. God.
[23:02] Trusting God. He became. Dependable. Upon. God. Now just. Before I leave it. I've just. Just come across.
[23:13] My mind. Just now. I'm going to say it. When we look at. Chapter 12. Verse 1. Gives us. The. The. The word.
[23:24] Of God. And chapter 2. And 3. Gives us. The. Blessing. Or the promises. That God. Has given.
[23:35] Now. We're told here. That by faith. Abraham. When he was called. To go out into place. Which he shattered. Or the leaver in hell. Obeyed. And he. Went. Out.
[23:48] He went out. You see. Obedience. Always. Carries. Blessing. We must never think. We're going to be blessed. And then we'll obey. No. No. That's not the order of scripture.
[23:59] At all. The order of scripture. You obey. And you receive. The blessing. And that's how it was for Abraham. And that's how it is. Down till today. For God's people.
[24:10] You obey. And you receive. The blessing. The blessing. And it was so. For Abraham. So this is a man.
[24:22] And he. Goes out. By faith. He is. He's obedient. And to the word of God. And he goes out.
[24:33] Not knowing. Whether. He went. And you know. People would say. What a foolish man. People would say.
[24:45] He's lost. His senses. He's mad. And you know. That's what they still say. Is it not. To those who are exercising faith. Is that not still the world's.
[24:56] Perspective. The non-Christian perspective. Upon the faith of the believer. Who are going out. Who are going out. Simply trusting. And dependent.
[25:07] Upon God. The world still looks at that. As being foolishness. Just as they would. In Abraham's day.
[25:19] But Abraham brings before us. What a life of faith. Really is. Very simply. Very simply. A life of faith. Rests.
[25:31] Upon the word. Of God. It rests. Upon the word. Of God. And you know. The wonder of Abraham's faith.
[25:41] Is this. It wasn't just simply. Canaan. That he looked for. Verse 10 tells us. For he looked for a city. Which hath foundations.
[25:53] Whose builder. And maker. Is God. He looked for a heavenly country. His. His. His. His faith.
[26:04] Didn't just rest upon. Canaan. And possessing the land of Canaan. Or that is. And this was. And we'll come to that in a moment. To see the marvel of his faith.
[26:15] In another point. In that moment. But. His faith didn't rest just on. Canaan. But it. It went beyond Canaan. It went beyond time.
[26:26] It went beyond this world. It rested on a heavenly. Country. A city. Which hath foundations. Whose builder. And maker. Is God. And I.
[26:37] May I ask you. Today. And ask myself. Today. Does my faith. Bring me. Beyond time. Beyond this world. As I.
[26:48] Venture out. And as you venture out. Into a new year. Where does your faith. Take you. Does it take you. Beyond time. And beyond the world. Does it take you.
[26:59] To a city. Which hath foundations. Whose builder. And maker. Is God. Does it take you. To a heavenly. Country. Well that's where it took Abraham. To a heavenly.
[27:11] Country. A life of faith. Rests. Upon the word. And the promises. Of God. And may such a life.
[27:21] Be truly mine. And yours today. A life of faith. As we venture out. And a new year. A life of faith. That rests. Upon the word.
[27:33] And the promises. Of God. A life of faith. Rests upon the word. And promises of God. A life of faith. Requires though. Obedience.
[27:45] Trust. Dependency. Upon. God. God. And you know. The marvel. Of all this. Is this. That we have.
[27:57] Today. An intercessor. Intercessor. If you are trusting. In Christ. Today. You have an intercessor. On the right hand.
[28:08] Of God. Who knows. What it is. To live. A life. Of faith. Because Jesus. In his.
[28:18] Accumiliation. He rested. Upon the word. And the promises. Of God. He rested. Upon. The word. And promises.
[28:29] Of God. As God's. Servant. Behold. My servant. Read it in. The prophecy. Of Isaiah. See the promises. That the father. Is saying.
[28:40] To the servant. And Jesus. When he lived here. On earth. In his humiliation. He rested. Upon. The word. And promises. Of God. But he also.
[28:51] Lived a life. Of faith. Requiring. Obedience. Trust. And dependency. Upon God. That's the kind of life. Jesus led. A life.
[29:02] That rested. Upon the word. And promises. Of God. And a life. That required. From him. Obedience. Trust. And dependency. Upon God. He knows.
[29:14] The life. Of faith. And he knows. How difficult. It is. To live. A life. Of faith. In a hostile. World. He knows it. And you can.
[29:25] Tell Jesus. The difficulties. The hardships. The hardships. That you have. The trials. That confronts you. In living a life.
[29:37] Of faith. In this world. Because he knows. What it is. And he can sympathize. With you today. In a way that. No one in this world.
[29:47] Can sympathize. With you. So bring it to him. For you have problems. For you find it hard. For you feel that.
[29:58] I can't go on. This is. Almost unbearable. For grace itself. To keep going. Then take it to Jesus. Because he knows.
[30:10] A life of faith. And he knows. How difficult it is. To live that life. In a hostile. World. Well this is how Abraham began.
[30:24] But what. About you. But I want to bring something else. To your attention. In. In chapter 11.
[30:34] Of Genesis. There is something brought to our attention. You wonder why. Why is it brought to our attention. What. What has it got to do. With the story. But it has a lot to do with the story.
[30:46] You see. Not only was Abraham. An idolater. Not only was he. In the darkness. Of. Of the Ur. Of the Chaldees.
[30:57] And called out from there. But you see. In verse 30. Of chapter 11. But Sarai was barren. She had.
[31:08] No child. And do you think that. Abraham. Had a trial. Do you think that. Abraham. Was tested. Of course he was. This is God.
[31:18] Having called him. By. His grace. This is God. Having called this man. Out from. Idolaties. This is God. Who has given him. Great promises. Of thee a great nation.
[31:30] I will make of thee a great nation. I will bless thee. And. In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. How. My wife is barren. I have no child.
[31:42] How are these promises. Going to be fulfilled. He had faith. She had faith as well. But I'm talking about Abraham today.
[31:54] He had faith. In God. He trusted in God. What seemed so. Impossible. What seemed to be contradicting.
[32:06] The promises seemed to be contradicting. What was on the ground. I am old. My wife is barren. My wife has no child. And you are promising all these things for me.
[32:18] How can that be? But what is impossible for man. Is possible with God. Now we know the story. We know what happened.
[32:29] But think of Abraham standing there. And he didn't know the end. He didn't know the story as we know it. And he was given these promises. How are they going to be fulfilled.
[32:39] How are they going to be fulfilled. But you see. He had faith. He had trust. And he depended. Upon God. And you know that's the way.
[32:50] I and you have to go out this year. Trusting. And depending upon God. Being obedient. Being obedient. To his word.
[33:01] Being obedient. Let us rest upon the word. And the promises of God. Let us be obedient. Trusting. And depending.
[33:11] Upon God. As we go out. And although things may seem dark. Remember the marvel of God's grace. And although the promises.
[33:22] Seem to be so impossible. To be fulfilled. Let us remember. That what is impossible for us. Is possible. With God.
[33:33] And you know. The Lord allows these things. To show us. His sovereignty. His sovereignty. And you know. That's something that we must take with us.
[33:45] As well. God's sovereignty. God is showing. He's in control. He's in control. And his redemptive purpose.
[33:55] Is going to be fulfilled. And Abraham. You are going to have a son. And through that son. There is going to be a nation. And through that nation.
[34:05] There is going to be a saviour. My beloved son. Is going to come through your line. Into this world. To redeem. The people that I have given.
[34:17] To him. In the covenant of redemption. He's going to redeem. Sinners. He's going to redeem sinners. Now. Time has gone. But there's one or two little points.
[34:28] I just want to say. What did this mean? This life of faith. What did it mean? Well. It says here. He sojourned.
[34:41] In the land of promise. As in a strange country. Dwelling in tabernacles. With Isaac and Jacob. The heirs with him. Of the same promise.
[34:53] Why was he satisfied. With that kind of life? Well. I think verse 10 tells us. Does it not? For he looked for a city. Which had foundations. Whose builder.
[35:04] And maker. Is God. From. As we can see. The life of Abraham. In an eternal. Internal principle. Of it was. Was a life of faith.
[35:15] But the external principle. Or. The external manner of it. Was. A life of pilgrimage. A life of sojourning. You see.
[35:27] As we go out. Into the world. As we go out. In a new year. If you are trusting in Christ. You know that. It's just part of your pilgrimage. Part of.
[35:39] Your journey. You don't make it. As you're fixed aboard. You know. It's interesting here. What it says. By faith. You sojourned. In the land of promise. As in a strange country.
[35:49] Dwelling in tabernacles. So. You could say. Tents. With Isaac and Jacob. Of course. He was alive. When Jacob. And Esau was born.
[36:01] They spent a number of years. With their. A great grandfather. With their grandfather. With Isaac and Jacob. The heirs with him. Of the same promise.
[36:12] For he looked for a city. Which hath foundations. You know. There he is. Dwelling in tents. And by faith. He's saying. There's better waiting for me. Than tents.
[36:23] There's a city waiting for me. There's a country waiting. There's a fixed. A fixed. A board. Waiting. For me. So that the life of faith.
[36:34] So that the life of faith. Was a life of expectation. Was it not? A life of expectation. An expectation. And looking for something more.
[36:45] Than he presently enjoyed. He enjoyed. There's no doubt. The tabernacle. With Isaac and Jacob. It was. It was. Enjoyment. They had fellowship. One with another.
[36:56] And this world. Is enjoyable. We have fellowship. One with another. Christian fellowship. Alas. It's. It's dwindling away. But. There needs to be a revival in it.
[37:07] There needs to be a stirring up of it. Because Christian fellowship is so important. And that's one of the good things we have. In this world. Christian fellowship. But. My dear friend.
[37:19] Good as it is. There is that expectation. That anticipation. Because we know it's only fleeting. We know that. There's going to be breaches.
[37:29] In our fellowship. The Lord Jesus is going to be receiving. His soul one by one. And there's going to be breaches. But there is a place. And we've got that expectation.
[37:41] And that anticipation. Of a place. That is fixed. Where there will be no breach. Where there will be no breach. And that's Abraham.
[37:52] And of all this good. Being in tabernacles. With Isaac and Jacob. Having that Christian fellowship. He looked for a city. His expectation. And anticipation. Was towards.
[38:04] A city. Looked for a city. In opposition. To the tents. In which. He now. Lived. Now before we leave Abraham.
[38:17] He wasn't perfect. No. By no means. He lived a life of faith. He looked for a city. Which had foundations. But we don't go long.
[38:28] Into his life. Until we find failures. He goes down to Egypt. You know what he did. You know what he did. To try and. Bring God's promise to fruition.
[38:40] You know what he did. He put his own hand. Into things. When. He should not have done. You see. There were failures. In his. Experience.
[38:51] In his life. And there will be failures. In mine. And yours. As well. But in the midst. Of failures. Our life. Does not depend.
[39:01] Upon ourselves. But upon the grace. And the faithfulness. Of God. And at the end. Of Abraham's life. Amidst.
[39:12] All the. The wonderful things. That we see. In his life. And against the failures. We have seen in his life. What could we put on his tombstone.
[39:25] God's grace. And faithfulness. That's what brought him to heaven. Not himself. Not anything he did. But God's grace.
[39:36] And God's faithfulness. God's faithfulness. To his. Covenant. Promise. He was one who. Through faith.
[39:47] Rejoiced. To see the day. Of Christ. And I believe. It's not only his first coming. But his second coming. As well.
[39:58] His second coming. As well. Job. Job was alive. Round. The. The. These days of Genesis. And he rejoiced.
[40:09] Not only to see the first coming. But the second coming. Of Jesus Christ. So. Let us go forth then. Let us not be. Despondent. Let us not.
[40:20] Look dull. And on the dark side of things. However discouraging it may be. And it is. However. Whatever declension we may see. And we are seeing it.
[40:31] But let us go forth. In faith. On God's word. Trusting. And depending. Upon him. And looking.
[40:43] For a city. Which hath foundation. Be filled with that expectation. And anticipation. Resting alone. On God's grace.
[40:55] And his faithfulness. To the promises. Of. The covenant. And let us rejoice. In that living hope.
[41:06] That we have. Through Jesus Christ. And dear my friend. If you're here today. And that is not. Your experience.
[41:17] If you're here today. And you're saying. Well. That's good for those. Who have that. Experience. Those. Who. Have. Have embraced Christ.
[41:28] Well my friend. You can embrace him. Today. And you can make this year. To be the year. Of a new beginning. In your life. And.
[41:39] In your experience. And how am I going to do that? By doing what Abraham did. By being obedient. To the word of God.
[41:50] Who says. Believe. On the Lord Jesus Christ. And thou shalt. Be saved. By trusting. And depending. Upon God.
[42:01] Putting yourself. Into his hand. And he. Will see. You. Through. May the Lord bless us. Lord. The despair.
[42:14] Eternal. And. Ever blessed Lord. We. Give thanks to thee. That thou hast given us. Thy word. And in thy word.
[42:24] That thou hast given us. Examples. Of how. To live. A life of faith. A life. In trusting. And depending.
[42:34] Upon. Thyself. And. We. Give thanks. That. There is one. At thy right hand. Today. Jesus Christ. To whom.
[42:45] We can come. And. And pour out our hearts. When we find things. So difficult. And so hard. In a hostile world. To live that life.
[42:56] Of faith. That he can sympathise. With us. And that he himself. Lived. That life of faith. In a hostile world.
[43:07] We pray. O Lord. That thy calling. Indeed. Through thy word. May be made effectual. To many. This year. That it would see. An outpouring. Of thy spirit. Upon. Our people.
[43:18] And the words. Who are far off. That they may be brought nigh. That they may rest. On the promises. That they may be obedient. To thy word. That they may come. To trust. And depend.
[43:29] Upon God. We give thanks. Unto thee. O Lord. That thou hast long. Suffering towards us. We give thanks. To thee. O Lord. For thy faithfulness. To us. When we are. In ourselves.
[43:40] So unfaithful. Yet thou. Remainest faithful. To thy covenant promise. And we give thanks. To thee. O Lord. For all these tokens.
[43:51] Of thy goodness. And kindness to us. Go before us. We pray thee. Today. Tomorrow. And the days. And the months. And the years. That you will leave us. In this world.
[44:01] O let us make use. Of the opportunities. That thou art given to us. Because we know. That as the years. That have gone by. That the years. This year. And the years.
[44:12] Before us. Will take. Those that we knew. From among us. But we give thanks. That we. Also see others coming. That we see children. Being born.
[44:23] That we see. A new generation. Arising. And our prayer is. That thy blessing. Will be upon. The generation. That is coming. Behind us. And the generations.
[44:34] Yet. And born. That in this place. Thy word. Will be faithfully. Proclaimed. And will be faithfully. Proclaimed. To sinners. And it will please thee.
[44:44] To bless it. In generations. Yet. To come. We ask all these things. With the forgiveness. Of our sin. In Jesus name. And for his sake. Amen. Amen.