[0:00] face that we see and God's blessing that we know. Now there's an information before we start. The vacancy committee will meet in the church hall tomorrow night, Monday 12th September at seven o'clock and this will be followed by a meeting of both the deacons court and the Kirk session. So that's tomorrow night, Monday the 12th at seven o'clock, a vacancy committee and a deacons court and a Kirk session. So let's begin our service of worship by singing from Psalm 145.
[0:44] Psalm 145. There's two versions of that Psalm. We take the first version all evening, the first version, which is the common meter version and we sing verses marked one to six. I'll thee extol my God, O King. I'll bless thy name always. Thee will I bless each day and will thy name forever praise.
[1:12] And we'll go down to verse six. Men of thine acts the might shall show, thine acts that dreadful are, and I thy glory to advance, thy greatness will declare. Psalm 145 verses 1 to 6.
[1:32] Amen. Beautiful lip, my glory to me. Our lift, O Lord be'er, I will apologize to us.
[1:44] Let's dBiis. Thee feel, I have some hope for His, Thee will my bless the sea, Leanne withWhat's chief shedding joy, Each day I will find him forever praised.
[2:12] It is the Lord that should be praised. His greatness has exeased.
[2:31] His unto rich shall praise thy works as thy mighty deeds.
[2:49] I know thy glory and majesty they all will record.
[3:07] I'll speak of thy mighty one heart which one drasal, O Lord.
[3:25] May not thy night the night shall show. Thy night the night shall show.
[3:39] Lord, ready for our heart. I'll die, thy glory to our hearts.
[3:54] Thy greatness will declare. Let us bow our heads.
[4:09] Our gracious Father in heaven, we have just been singing out of your word that we will extol thee, the great God of all the earth, that we would extol thee as our God, as our God and our King.
[4:37] We pray that we be enabled as we sang to bless you each day. Whatever happens, enable us, worship you, praise you, bless you each day.
[4:54] Because, as we sang, how great thou art. Great is the Lord, much to be praised. Your greatness search exceeds.
[5:07] May we live by worshipping you the very purpose why we were created. You created.
[5:18] You created human beings in your image that we may spend our time on earth, exalting you, reflecting your image on earth.
[5:36] You know, heavenly Father, how we have failed to fulfil the very purpose of our existence. We thank you, heavenly Father, that you did not abandon the human race when we failed, when we turned against you, when we said we'll do our own thing, when we said we'll go it alone.
[6:04] Lord, we thank you, Lord, that what we find written in your word is that you so loved the world, you gave your only begotten Son as a scapegoat for our sins.
[6:19] Heavenly Father, we bow before you and worship you, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.
[6:32] We worship you, gracious God, on a day, on a week, when we are solemnised as a nation, when it please you to take our Queen from earth to heaven.
[6:47] We trust, we believe. Our gracious God, the kings of this earth, come and go. Our leaders, our prime ministers, come and go.
[7:03] You alone endure from generation to generation. We thank you, heavenly Father, that you are not only high, not only holy, not only everlasting, not only full of majesty, but we thank you.
[7:26] You are good. You are merciful. We thank you, you are full of love. Therefore, we remain on earth with the blessings which we enjoy.
[7:41] You have commanded us to come into your house to worship you. Oh, our heavenly Father, we thank you for this unspeakable privilege which we too easily take for granted and too easily omit in our lives.
[8:03] Our Father, bless every one of us gathered here tonight. There's the two or three. There's far more than that.
[8:16] Oh, Lord, look down from heaven. Shine forth, oh mighty one, we pray thee. Amen. We bring our nation before you at this time.
[8:29] Our new king. Our new prime minister. And we ask, heavenly Father, that you would graciously be with them, each one.
[8:44] And not only them, but their counsellors, their advisors, their policy makers, their judges. All around them. Heavenly Father, may it be a turning point.
[8:59] We have to confess national sins. We have to confess that we have removed from our statute book every remembrance of your name.
[9:11] O Lord, forgive us for this national sin. And restore us and return us and raise up in both church and state those who would lead us back to your word and your ways.
[9:30] We do know, Lord, that though our royal family are so highly privileged, so many blessings, yet at this time they mourn and they sorrow.
[9:41] Be pleased to bless death to them. And not just to the royal family, but to our nation, to our politicians, to our rulers, to our county counsellors, to everyone in authority and indeed to everyone in the land, from the king down to the pauper.
[10:06] O Lord, may it be blessed. Your salutators, your providences. You only do good. You alone can take good out of evil.
[10:20] We pray that it might please you to do so on this occasion. To take life out of death. Spiritual life out of spiritual darkness.
[10:35] O gracious God, may it please you to do so. We thank you. We thank you. You have your word to guide us and to lead us.
[10:48] Graciously bless us, Heavenly Father. We pray thee. We pray that you remember the other nations of the world, not least those at war.
[11:01] O Lord, we pray again that you would hasten the day when wars will cease. O gracious God, hasten it in your time.
[11:14] That nation will not bring up sword against another nation. Heavenly Father, we do pray for the situation in Ukraine and Russia.
[11:25] We pray for the situation in Afghanistan. We pray for the poor, especially the suffering, hungry children in Yemen.
[11:36] We pray for the situation in Iran. Your persecuted church, especially. We pray for the situation in Syria.
[11:47] We pray for the oppression in North Korea. Lord, we know there's parts of China, parts of Africa, where there is fearful opposition.
[11:58] And a persecution and evil. We ask, O Lord, that you would look down upon this generation globally.
[12:10] And that it would please you to take down and remove not only every evil leader and power.
[12:21] But be pleased to take down every evil system designed against Christ and against his church and against others.
[12:33] O Lord, be pleased to put in positions those with at least the milk of human kindness as we say.
[12:44] Have mercy on this generation. O Lord, be pleased to take down and give us a chance. O Lord, we pray for the floods in Pakistan. O Lord, remember that situation. Remember all that are the victims of floods, tsunamis, earthquake, volcano, climate change indeed.
[13:05] O Lord, we commend ourselves to us as a race globally. Globally, we commend ourselves to us. And we ask, do not leave us in the hands of the unregenerate.
[13:21] We pray that you would graciously show mercy and show kindness to us. We acknowledge, we put our hands on our breasts and confess.
[13:33] We deserve nothing but your wrath and your curse. But gracious God, be pleased to come and have mercy upon us.
[13:44] Otherwise we perish. Bless your church. Bless the gospel. Bless every form of outreach. Whether it be the traditional, old-fashioned ways of open-air preaching.
[13:58] Gospel tracts being given out door to door. Or whether it be these new creative ways through the internet and through the radio waves.
[14:09] Presenting the gospel. Lord, bless it. Bless the work of the Christian Institute of Bible Societies. The Gideons, Bible distributors, missions, etc.
[14:23] Lord, we pray that you have mercy. We ask now that you'd bless us as we seek your face together. Speak from heaven.
[14:36] Convict on earth. Reveal to us your Son. Reveal to us the gospel.
[14:49] Work and transform our natures. Open our eyes. Open our hearts. Renew our minds. Transform our whole natures.
[15:02] We pray thee. Now, Lord, remember what we've forgotten to pray for. Keep us in your love. Keep us in your fear. Wash all our sins away.
[15:15] For we pray only in Christ's name. And for Christ's sake. Amen. We'll continue to praise God by singing from the first version once more of Psalm 145.
[15:34] Psalm 145. This time we sing verses marked 7 to 11. The memory of thy goodness great they largely shall express with songs of praise.
[15:49] They shall extol thy perfect righteousness. Down to verse 10. Thee all thy works shall praise, O Lord. And thee thy saints shall bless.
[16:02] They shall thy kingdom's glory show. Thy power by speech express. Which shall express. Psalm 145. Verses 7 to 11. Pericle 6 The very old life, the best way, in arms, the child has held.
[16:34] The sons of Christ in child's tomb, life hath their righteousness.
[16:50] The Lord is very gracious in Him compassion, Lord.
[17:09] In this goodness, Mary, good, I wish to thank the soul.
[17:27] The Lord gave all my life unto all, this goodness can be made.
[17:45] And all, yes, other words, this pen and mercy starved.
[18:03] The Lord, my words, shall praise the Lord, and be thy saved, shall bless.
[18:21] They shall, I think, God's glory show, life hath I see, shes bless.
[18:39] Amen. Now we'll turn in our Bibles to the Gospel of John, chapter 14.
[18:52] And we'll read the whole chapter. The Gospel of John, chapter 14. Let not your heart be troubled.
[19:07] You believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions.
[19:18] If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself.
[19:33] That where I am, there you may be also. And whether I go, you know. And the way, you know.
[19:47] Thomas said unto him, Lord, we know not whether thou goest. How can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.
[20:04] No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, you should have known my Father also.
[20:15] And from henceforth, you know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffiseth us.
[20:28] Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me has seen the Father.
[20:43] And how saith thou then, show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
[20:56] The works that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwelleth in me. He doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me.
[21:13] Or else, believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, He that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do also.
[21:31] And greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
[21:51] If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, keep my commandments, and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever.
[22:11] Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
[22:27] I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more, but ye see me.
[22:41] Because I live, you shall live also. At that day, you shall know, that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
[22:56] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father.
[23:07] And I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
[23:26] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
[23:42] He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings, and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
[23:56] These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
[24:20] Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
[24:31] Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you.
[24:43] If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said I go unto the Father. For my Father is greater than I. And now, I have told you, before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass, you might believe.
[25:02] Hereafter, I will not talk much with you, for the Prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But, that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave the commandment, even so I do, arise, let us go hence.
[25:28] And may God bless to us, the very reading, of his own word. We'll sing once more, from the first version, of Psalm 145.
[25:42] This time, we'll sing verses 12 to 16. Psalm 145, at verse 12. To make the sons of men, to know his acts done mightily, and of his kingdom, the excellent and glorious majesty.
[26:02] Thy kingdom, shall forever stand. Thy reign through ages all. God raiseth all that are bowed down, upholdeth all that fall.
[26:15] Verses 12 to 16. Psalm 145. To make the sons of men, to know his acts done mightily, and of his kingdom, the excellent and glorious majesty.
[26:53] Thy kingdom shall forever stand.
[27:04] Thy reign through ages all. God raiseth all, who have ever known, have hoped, and have won, and have won.
[27:29] The eyes of a lost Israel, be in train of thee, thy Church where the Lord is willing, the other and the Lord is strong, and an antara saving, the masonry you have done, have been brought things to me.
[27:47] Oh oh Oh To stand in my inner need of everything that lives.
[28:30] Let's turn in our Bibles then to the chapter of God's Word which we read.
[28:50] The Gospel of John, chapter 14. And what I'll want to refer to much in the whole chapter if we just read again verse 12.
[29:02] John, chapter 14, verse 12. Verily, verily, I say unto you.
[29:14] He that believeth on me the works that I do. Shall he do also.
[29:25] And greater works than these shall he do. Because I go to my Father.
[29:40] He that believeth in me the works that I do. Shall he do also. And greater works than these shall he do. Because I go to my Father.
[29:54] When Jesus said these words to the disciples. They were a very discouraged lot.
[30:06] There were several reasons why they were discouraged. And you can see how he begins the chapter. Let not your heart be troubled.
[30:17] First of all, they were thoroughly ashamed of themselves. As we noted this morning. That they should have washed Christ's feet when he came to their house.
[30:31] But instead of that, Christ washed their feet. They were thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed.
[30:42] Thoroughly ashamed of themselves. There are also, of course, as we noted in passing this morning. That Christ had said, predicted.
[30:53] Peter is going to deny me. Peter. Peter. If he had said, Thomas will deny me.
[31:04] Well, he is called doubting Thomas, isn't he? But when he said, Peter. Your spokesman. The strongest of you. He will deny me.
[31:17] And as we noted. Because it is written. A third reason why they were so down in their spirits was. He said, one of you will betray me.
[31:33] One of you. They were having a meal together. And he said, one of you around this table will betray me. That demoralized them.
[31:46] That made them scary. Scary. But the thing that upset them most of all.
[31:57] I think we probably mentioned this this morning. Is Christ said to them, I am going to leave you. I go away to prepare a place for you.
[32:13] It to them was like a bereavement. They became insecure. Sure. It absolutely unnerved them.
[32:25] Now tell me. Are these valid reasons for being discouraged? Who would you say? Well, no wonder.
[32:36] Well, if it was any other person. You could say, yeah. Well. But this is Christ. Why?
[32:48] How? Would Christ discourage anyone? He does, I suppose, gently rebuke them.
[33:02] Gently. But his whole. How does Christ respond? He. Does he say? Now just snap out of it.
[33:14] You have no real ground for discouragement. Does he give them a row? No. No, no. That's not the saviour. Having loved them, as we noted this morning.
[33:25] Having begun to love them. He loved them to the very end. Even when they were so discouraged. Without real reason.
[33:38] You see. Discouragement. When you think about it. Discouragement is something quite natural. But it is not spiritual.
[33:52] And Christ is their spiritual guru. Their spiritual teacher. It's said of Christ.
[34:02] You remember what was predicted of him. He will not fail you. Nor will he be discouraged.
[34:15] And as we noted this morning. If anyone ever had any reason. To be traumatized. Or discouraged. Surely it was Christ.
[34:25] But Christ. Through all that discouragement. Loved them to the end. Discouragement you see.
[34:35] Is simply. It's a perception. It's a perspective. Discouragement when you think in it. Is really. It's just a way.
[34:46] Of looking at things. A certain way of looking at things. But you see. Christ is teaching them here. A God's eye perspective.
[34:57] Of things. How to see. Events that appear. To be discouraging. How to see them as. Encouraging.
[35:07] We have to remember. We poor human beings. Dupes of the devil. That Satan and his emissaries. Are involved.
[35:19] Full time. In presenting. Truth. In a false light. That's their work. Demons.
[35:30] 24-7. The way. The way. The deal. With Christians. Is to present. Truth. In a false light. To put a wrong.
[35:42] Construction. On what God is doing. To make something good. That's God. Is doing. Make it look bad. To make something.
[35:54] That is bad. That's happening to you. To make it look good. It all began. In the garden of Eden. Didn't it? Look at that fruit Eve. Look at it.
[36:06] You can see it's good. You want to taste it. Just taste it. Look how good it is. That's the way he works. All through life.
[36:16] And never more. When we try to. Interpret. Providence. We must always remember. God. Is the good.
[36:28] God. Of providence. Christ. Why. Did Christ. See. Peter. Will deny me. Was it.
[36:38] To discourage them. Was it. To answer. Was it. To disturb them. No. No. No. It was to teach them not to trust in human beings, even professing Christians.
[36:52] Even those who seem strong in the faith. You don't trust them. You rejoice with them. But they can't be trusted in the last analysis. He was preparing them for that and building them up for that massive disappointment.
[37:08] Why did Christ say to them, one of you will betray me? Was it to unsettle them? Was it to unnerve them? Never in a million years would he do that.
[37:21] It was so that the blow, it was to lessen the blow when it would happen. When it would come. He's trying to build them up.
[37:32] He's trying to prepare them for the horrendous week that's happened. As we indicated this morning. What a week it has been nationally.
[37:44] A new prime minister. Death of a queen. A new king. It doesn't compare to this week. When the son of God was to be betrayed.
[37:55] Denied. And put on a cross. Why did Jesus tell them he was leaving them? To discourage them?
[38:06] Never. Never. Of course not. It was to encourage them. It was to build them up. It was when he says, look I go to prepare a place for you. That when I come again and receive it to myself.
[38:19] You'll be with me always. I suppose the equivalent. Contemporary equivalent would be. A young man saying to his fiancée.
[38:32] I'm going off to the mainland. You know what I'm going to do? You know why I'm going? I'm going to secure the keys of that house you always set your heart on.
[38:45] And when I come back, we'll all be together forever. It's a perspective. We need a God's eye view of things.
[39:00] Now you'll see how he begins to encourage them in verse 1. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God.
[39:13] Believe also in God. And me. I always found that quite difficult. What is he saying there? Well.
[39:25] He's saying. Well. If anyone. Believes in God. There's no need to be discouraged. God's in charge.
[39:38] God's governing everything. God's in total control. If you. Believe in God. If you. Believe. God. Is controlling everything.
[39:50] Nothing. Should worry you. As I. As I said. It's natural. Of course. But we're not talking about being natural. We're talking about being spiritual.
[40:02] God has his purpose. God has his design. God knows what he's doing. God is good. And God is good. God is good. And God can only do what's good.
[40:17] God. God is good. God shows. Of course. Those who know. They're Greek. Tell us. Very clearly. That when it's here. Says you. Believe in God.
[40:28] Believe also in me. The original. Might actually. Better translated. Continue. Believing. in me. Of course they believed in Jesus.
[40:42] Why would they be upset if he was leaving if they didn't believe in him? So what the original is really saying is continue trusting in me. Continue trusting my love even when I am not physically with you.
[41:02] My physical body will no longer be with you. But I will be with you. Not physically but I'll be with you spiritually.
[41:18] There is also this that's been said in these words you believe in God, believe also in me. Is he not really saying look, believe in me. You believe in God, believe also in me.
[41:32] The same way you believe in God the Father. Believe in me, God the Son, the same way you believe in God the Father. You see they were disappointed that Christ's body would not be with them.
[41:49] But he says you're still believing in God, no problem. God doesn't have a body. God the Father never visited earth. God the Father never came down and sat beside you and done a meal with you.
[42:05] And you're still believing in him. But you're disappointed in me and I'm God. But you're disappointed in me because I'm not with you physically.
[42:17] But God the Father was never with you physically. And you're still believing in him as you did before. Continue believing in me.
[42:29] Although my physical presence is not with you. The way you still believe in God the Father who never visited you on earth and does not have a body.
[42:41] Now to concentrate more on verse 12. He that believeth in me the works that I do shall he do also.
[43:00] And greater works than these shall he do because I go to my Father. it's maybe turn over the page chapter 6 verse 7 he says nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I go away.
[43:28] Now that word expedient is translated elsewhere profit or profitable. He's saying it will be profitable for you. that I go away.
[43:39] It will be to your benefit that I go away. Some translations say it is to your advantage that I go away.
[43:49] That's why I'm going away. You're going to benefit greatly for me going away. So you ask how come?
[44:02] Come on how come? Well let's look at three or four ways. Number one it will be to your advantage as we read in verse 12 greater works than these shall you do.
[44:21] You and you Christians the works that I do if I go away you'll be able to do them and you'll be able to do greater works than I did on earth.
[44:38] And you'll say come on what's greater than raising people from the dead? Christ could still the storms. Christ could heal the sick.
[44:50] Christ rose from the dead. And you're saying you'll do greater works than these. What do you mean? well what is greater than raising people from the dead?
[45:04] Well here's something. The true conversion of pagan Gentiles that's greater.
[45:17] You see we are in the last analysis speaking about spiritual things greater. Do you remember in John chapter 10 when Jesus sent out the disciples?
[45:31] He said unto them in chapter 10 sending them out on a mission he said these twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them saying go not into the way of the Gentiles and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.
[45:54] He sent them out and he said but don't go to the Gentiles you say wait a minute this is outreach this is evangelism and you're telling us you can't go to this lot and you can't go to that lot what's on why did Jesus tell them not to go there in Matthew chapter 10 answer because the Holy Spirit was not yet given to the Gentiles and there would be no mass conversion of the Gentiles because the Holy Spirit could not be given until Christ went back to his father after rising from the dead after dying on the cross paying for his people's sins rising from the dead proving he was God and the Messiah and going back to the father and saying I finished the work you've given me to do and then when he went back there he could send the
[46:58] Holy Spirit down which he did at Pentecost greater works than these shall you do there was more people converted in one hour on the day of Pentecost than in the three years of Christ's ministry the pagan Gentiles that were there you can read it in Acts 1 and 2 they came from this country and that country 3,000 converted in one day Gentiles the Holy Spirit had been given Gentiles can now be converted in mass numbers which they couldn't have been when Matthew 10 they went out in Matthew 10 the spirit was confined his great work was confined in masses to Jews not to Gentiles so he says to your advantage if I go away the gospel will be best blessed to Gentiles and in one hour there was more converts than there were in the few years of
[48:04] Jesus ministry greater works than these are now possible and you'll do them advantage number two verses 13 and 14 and whatever you shall ask in my name that will I do that the father may be glorified in the son if he shall ask anything in my name I will do it you see again just over the page chapter 16 Jesus said to them in verse 24 hitherto John 16 24 hitherto have you asked nothing in my name you couldn't pray in Christ's name before Christ went back to the father there was no such thing let's understand what is meant by praying in
[49:05] Christ's name it does not mean what we might all think it means you just stick on at the end of your prayer for Jesus sake amen that's not what's meant by praying in Christ's name and neither does it mean if you mention Jesus name anything at all that comes into your head can be prayed for I'm sorry that's not what it means either but you see that's isn't that what verse 13 says whatever you shall ask in my name that will I do that the father may be glorified in the son you see whatever you ask at the beginning of the verse is qualified by what glorifies the father at the end of the verse it is whatever you ask that glorifies the father he will grant in his name it's not anything at all that comes into your head let's pray there'll be 7000 people converted and storn away from nine o'clock to ten o'clock we can't make up the rules
[50:27] Christ makes up the rules it has to be something that glorifies the father and again he mentions in chapter 7 verse 5 no chapter 5 chapter 15 verse 7 if you abide in me and my words abide in you you shall ask what you will and it shall be done to you now asking what you will is qualified restricted to those who abide in me if you abide in me you ask what you will you see if we abide in Christ we won't ask for anything that comes into our head if we abide in Christ we'll have his mind we'll have his will and we will desire and we will want what
[51:28] Christ wants if we abide closely in him asking in Jesus name means asking for something Christ approves of is asking for something Christ agrees with is asking for something that glorifies the father it is helpful we know Christ died for our sins and our Bible tells us that he procured gifts for sinners even as such as did rebel and Christ taught us when you make your requests made known to him make mention of his name Christ purchased gifts for sinners and put in your application for these gifts mentioning Christ's name and that will have power abiding in him asking if you know what this is something you would love and you would approve mention his name
[52:37] I remember before I became a minister I was in the printing trade and I had to order I don't know one two tons of paper at one time and it was very expensive and I didn't know what we should do and I remember a commercial traveller come in I said oh can I sell you some paper oh I said yes this is what I'm looking for but I said I've got your price list here and I said it just doesn't fit the quotation it's too expensive so we had a long long talk and at the end of the day I said well if you buy one tonne this month and another tonne next month I'll give it to you at this price I'll give it to you at this price oh I said that's just great and what about delivery oh delivery was fine British Rail would deliver it I'm talking about 40 years ago and that was great but then
[53:42] I said hey wait a minute wait a minute you're giving it me at this price there's the price list for that same paper including delivery that's the price there I said they won't give it to me they won't get so he went to his wallet took out a card and he gave me his card and he says now look when you phone up with that order just mention my name I'm the boss I own the company just mention my name and they'll give it to you there's my card asking in his name ask the father in Christ's name for the gifts he purchased for sinners and he will hear he will hear because he went to the father he finished the work the father gave him to do on earth and he went back home and sent down the holy spirit which leads us to the third advantage of
[54:54] Christ leaving them in verse 16 I will pray the father and he will give you another comforter that he may abide with you forever you see their complaint was oh you're leaving us you came for three years it was terrific or 30 years but three years teaching but you've gone ah but he says I'll send you another comforter the holy spirit and he will abide with you forever you see the loved Christ's body presence with them but if they wanted to ask him a question they'd have to find out where he was and they'd have to go to where he was and there are no cars in these days no telephones not even long lines but this is the holy spirit when he the holy spirit comes he says he indwells you he will reside in you wherever you travel wherever you go the holy spirit is there within you you don't have to leave your home you don't have to make a journey the holy spirit is indwelling you my spirit my holy spirit i always found it when i went to i went to new zealand many years ago as a minister actually and oh i found it amazing here i am preaching here i am praying at the other end of the world the other end of the world same god same promises same petitions the same god at the other end of the world it doesn't matter where you travel it doesn't matter where you go the christian is the holy spirit comforter indwelling him that did not happen before christ went back to the father at the ascension and he will bring all things to your remembrance that's not referring to their bad memories it is of course included it's not excluded but what's in mind there is he'll bring to your remembrance all things that i have taught you he's reminding them of what they already knew you see it's not so much that they had a bad memory it's that they didn't understand what he was saying as we pointed out this morning in Luke 24 they didn't understand christ had to die and be crucified to pay for our sins but they had love in their hearts to christ and that's what's important love in our hearts but you see these disciples these 12 11 really i suppose that he was speaking to they were to write the scriptures and and isn't it amazing the gospel of john and it was about the third hour and it was about the 12th hour you see hey wait a minute what a memory that man's got the time the spirit will bring all things to your remembrance they had to write the scriptures they had to compose them they didn't understand at the time but the holy spirit when i give you the holy spirit you'll be able to compose the scriptures the word of god things which they already knew and finally
[58:54] the fourth blessing that will be theirs because i leave you and go to the father verse 27 peace i leave with you my peace i give to you not as the world giveth give iron to you let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid you cannot get a legacy without losing someone as the bible says in hebrews i think it's chapter seven what does it say there has to be the death of the testator before inheritance is a force i've forgotten the text but unless someone dies there's no there's no will it doesn't it's not effective it doesn't work it has to be the death of the testator before the gift is given you can't have a legacy unless someone you lose someone but what i want to look at is he says i'm leaving you peace i am leaving you my peace my peace i give to you not the world's peace my peace what's the difference what's the difference between christ's peace and the world's peace the world's peace is no problems everything smooth sailing no difficulties no pain no suffering just absence of problems my peace my peace is through is through problems my peace is having my peace when you're full of problems when you're full of troubles when there's tribulation everywhere it's my peace you can enjoy the peace of christ during turmoil when the world is flopping down everywhere my peace peace i know my god reigns i know my god only does what's good i know that this eventually will turn out for good i know this is not against me god bought me and he loves me and he'll continue to be with me my peace peace in the midst of trouble peace during trouble and you know nothing should really disturb us if we really trust christ and if we really trust christ he'll give you his peace now that's not saying there'll be no sorrow no grief but any sorrow any grief will be temporary sorrowful yet always rejoicing that's the bible sorrowful yet always rejoicing a paradox not a contradiction a paradox an apparent contradiction that's not a contradiction well oh sorry finally just two words in conclusion what lessons what what can we learn from that if you are a christian you never have a
[62:54] valid reason to be discouraged any sadness any grief is temporary there's no valid reason for being discouraged christ god only does what benefits his his church everything is to be interpreted that way if you're a christian but lastly if you're not a christian christian if you're not a christian if you're listening to me online or here tonight if you're not a christian have you not got reason to be really discouraged hey you have if you refuse to trust them if you refuse to accept his work at the place called calvary there's nothing else there's nothing else but christ's death and resurrection and listen my last word listen every blessing we spoke of in fact every blessing we didn't speak of as well every blessing which the christian has if you don't have it it's offered to you in the gospel every blessing the christian enjoys is offered to you in the gospel believe on the lord jesus christ and you will be saved truth may god the holy spirit make his word effectual and saving to every one of us let's bow our heads our father in heaven be pleased to take the things of christ and make them ours here tonight in this building show us your son in all his love and all his beauty break through our facade break through our hearts into our hearts with the love of christ unite us to him in a saving faith we ask this for your glory in christ's name according to your word amen let's conclude our service of worship by singing the last four verses of psalm 145 the first version common meter version psalm 145 at verse 17 the lord is just in all his ways holy in his works all god's near to all that call on him in truth that on him call down to the last verse my mouth the praises of the lord to publish cease shall never let all flesh bless his holy name forever and forever psalm 145 verse 17 to the end the lord is just and honestly holy in his works
[66:55] all god's near to all that all of him in truth that all been called he will not come with steady side of those that do him fear he also will deliver them on he that cry will hear ore Into my cry o'er
[67:57] My mouth the praises of the Lord with power to see shall never.
[68:09] Let all flesh bless His holy name forever and forever.
[68:22] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forevermore.
[68:39] Amen.