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[0:00] I would like to welcome you to our services today and we pray that the Lord would bless each one of us as we come together around his word.

[0:25] Let us join together in prayer. Amen. Eternal and ever-blessed Lord, our Heavenly Father, we come together at this hour of worship and we come, O Lord, aware of who thou art, that thou art the high and lofty one, that thou art the one that inhabiteth eternity, that thou art the one who sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

[1:04] Who can help us in our time of need.

[1:39] We acknowledge thee, O Lord, as the true and living God. We acknowledge thee, O Lord, as the one who is sovereign, in whose hands are our times.

[1:53] We acknowledge thee, O Lord, as the one who ruleth in heaven and in earth. We acknowledge thee as our Creator, Redeemer, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

[2:07] We give thee thanks, O Lord, for that work which thou dost in the hearts of sinners through thy Holy Spirit.

[2:19] That regenerating work. That work that turns our heart of unbelief into a heart of faith. We give thee thanks, O Lord, for that work of grace.

[2:35] And we pray, O Lord, that as thy word is going forth in our communities, throughout our island and throughout our nation, and even to the ends of the earth, that it may go forth in the power and demonstration of thy Spirit, in convicting and in converting, and the building of thine own church here on earth.

[3:02] O Lord, we pray that there would be many who would become persuaded of the truth, that there is salvation in no other, but in Jesus Christ.

[3:17] That they would turn away from their many gods, and that they would come to bow down the knee in repentance, to acknowledge thee as the living and true God.

[3:33] O we pray, O Lord, that thou would remember us as a nation, and the nations of the earth, at this time as thou hast spoken to us, and the plague that has come upon us.

[3:48] We pray, O Lord, that we may recognise thine hand, thine hand in grace, calling us back to thyself. For we acknowledge, O Lord, that when we went far away from thee, that we turned our backs upon thee, that we had come, O Lord, to rest in our comforts.

[4:12] But, O Lord, thou doth teach us, that thou art the one who is worthy of all worship. And so we pray that we would turn away from our gods, that we would turn away from our idols, that we would acknowledge that thou art the one to whom we owe all our praise, and all our worship.

[4:40] We give thee thanks, O Lord, that in wrath thou doth remember mercy. And so we plead, O Lord, that at this time, that thou would be pleased to show us thy mercy, to show us thy grace, to make it so known that thou art the one who delighteth in mercy.

[5:06] And so we pray, O Lord, that even in this time of affliction, that there would be many, he would come to thee, he would bow down the knee and to acknowledge thee as their God and as their Lord.

[5:25] O Lord, we pray that thou would bless our community here, that thou would be with us, we pray thee, that thou would protect us from that plague, that thou would protect our people, our homes, our families, our loved ones, our friends.

[5:42] O Lord, we pray that thou would be indeed as a wall of fire around us, and that thy glory would be in our midst, and that we would, O Lord, see the glory of Jesus Christ through the lattice of thy word today, and that we would see that he is the one to whom else shall we go, for he alone has the words of eternal life.

[6:13] O bless us, we pray thee, in this time of restrictions. We give thanks that there is no restriction in coming to our God, in coming to thy throne of grace, to seek thy mercy and to seek thy grace, to help us in our time of need.

[6:35] O may it be a time of blessing upon our poor nation, a nation that has turned their back upon thee, upon thy word and upon thy day, a nation that has gone on in their own strength, and yet thou hast brought us to weakness, thou hast brought us to our knees.

[6:58] O Lord, we pray that it would bring us to our knees in a spiritual way, in a way where we would come in repentance, where we would call upon the God of all mercy.

[7:13] O visit us, we pray thee, in mercy and grace, in thy goodness, in thy loving kindness. We pray, O Lord, that thou would bless our leaders, bless our prime minister, restore them back to health and strength, and we pray, O Lord, above all, that the bed of affliction would have made him to realise his own weakness, and all his sayings that we will overcome this virus, and yet, O Lord, thou hast shown how weak man is, how weak we all are in thy presence.

[7:53] We are like the grass in the field that grows in the morning and in the evening is cut down, and it would us away. O Lord, we pray that thou would bless him and bless all his counsellors, bless all the others who are leaders in our nation, both nationally and locally.

[8:16] we pray above all, O Lord, that thou would bless each one of us individually, for we need thy blessing, for without thee we can do nothing.

[8:29] We are dependent upon thee. So bless our homes, we pray thee, in thy mercy and thy grace. Remember those who are ill, those who are affected by this plague.

[8:41] O Lord, bring healing, if that is in accordance with thy sovereign will. Bless those who grieve and to mourn. We pray, O Lord, that thy comfort would be their part today.

[8:55] And we pray, O Lord, for thy people, that they would be witnesses for thee. Grant to us, O Lord, that attitude of faith in the midst of the turmoil of our day that would bring peace into our souls.

[9:12] And we pray for our young people and our children. O Lord, we pray that this plague that has come upon our nation may teach them that their times are also in the hands of the Lord.

[9:29] That they may grow up in the fear of the Lord their God. That they may be, O Lord, thine own witnesses in the generations to come, if so be thine own sovereign will.

[9:43] We pray, O Lord, that thou would unite us as a people. That thou would bring unity among thy people, among the nations, that we would all come together to bow the knee in repentance and sorrowing over our sin and our waywardness and our coldness and lukewarmness towards thee.

[10:04] And we seek, O Lord, that thou would have mercy upon us. Bless, we pray, the doctors and nurses and all key workers that are putting their own lives at risk at this time.

[10:18] We ask, O Lord, thy protection to be upon them. We give thee thanks for community spirit as we come to help one another. And we pray, O Lord, that the hardness of our heart would be broken by thy spirit, that it would not be true of us as it was true of others when the plagues came upon the nation, that they hardened their hearts against God.

[10:44] Pharaoh crying out, Who is the Lord that I should obey him? O Lord, we pray that it would not be a hardness of heart that would result from our present turmoil, the present plague that is upon us, but that it would be a softening of the heart, a heart that flesh, a heart that would turn back to God.

[11:09] O Lord, we put ourselves into thine own tender and living care. Bless thy word to us in our meditation upon it. And all that we ask with the forgiveness of our sins, is in Jesus' name and for his sake.

[11:25] Amen. Let us now read the word of God as we find it in the Old Testament in the book of Psalms and Psalm 61.

[11:40] Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

[11:53] For thou hast been a shelter for me and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever. I will trust in the courage of thy wings, Selah.

[12:05] For thou, O God, hast heard my vows. Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's life and his years as many generations.

[12:17] He shall abide before God forever. All prepare mercy and truth which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name forever that I may daily perform my vows.

[12:31] May the Lord bless unto us the reading of that portion of his word. and as we seek his blessing as we look upon words found in Psalm 61.

[12:43] And we can read from verse 3. For thou hast been a shelter for me and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever.

[12:53] I will trust in the covert of thy wings, Selah. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows. Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou hast prolonged the king's life and his years as many generations.

[13:08] He shall abide before God forever. O prepare mercy and truth which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name forever that I may daily perform my vows.

[13:19] As we continue from our earlier study this morning on Psalm 61 wherein we noted David's petition hear my cry, O God attendant to my prayer from the end of the earth will I cry unto thee and when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

[13:42] And we looked especially at these words this morning lead me to the rock that is higher than I. After noting the many references that are made in the Bible where God is brought before us under the imagery of a rock and indeed all these references are all worthy of study but we concentrated on the rock from which God provided water to Israel in the wilderness.

[14:08] We read about that event in Exodus chapter 17. And we made the following observations that the rock foreshadowed Christ that it was a symbol of God and his salvation.

[14:23] The rock was Christ because like the rock Christ was struck with divine judgment. This is what happened to Jesus on the cross. He was sparing our sins so God struck him with the rot of his justice.

[14:37] And we noted how Paul looked back on the rock from which God provided water to Israel in the wilderness in 1 Corinthians 10 and said and it all drank the same spiritual drink for they all drank of that spiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Christ.

[14:55] We noted how water is used in scripture as a symbol of the Holy Spirit both which are needed and is part of our salvation and they all come from the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ and him crucified.

[15:09] We need his blood. We need Jesus to be crucified. We need the shedding of blood and we need the Holy Spirit.

[15:22] Both are needed and both are part of our salvation and they all come from the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ and him crucified.

[15:36] But before we leave the imagery of God as the rock there is one more event that I wish briefly to say a few words and this event is found in Exodus chapter 33 when Moses made a very unique request to the Lord when he said I beseech thee show me thy glory.

[15:57] Moses sought a glimpse of God's glory. The Lord made clear to him that he could not have a sight of God as he is. Thou canst not see my face for there shall no man see me and live.

[16:14] It was impossible for Moses to see God face to face and live. Other passages in scripture makes this quite clear to us. In John 1 verse 18 we read no man hath seen God at any time.

[16:30] John 6 46 not any man hath seen the Father save he which is of God he hath seen the Father that is of course Jesus Christ. In 1 Timothy 1 verse 17 we have a description of God.

[16:44] Now unto the King eternal immortal invisible the only wise God be honour and glory for ever and ever. You see God is a spirit he is invisible no man hath seen God.

[16:59] but what is God's response to Moses when Moses requests I beseech thee show me thy glory.

[17:11] Well God said to him I will make all my goodness pass before thee and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee. God is going to reveal himself to Moses only to the extent that he chooses himself to make known.

[17:27] we are dependent on how much God is pleased to make known of himself of his nature and character. This revelation by which he is going to make himself known to Moses is a revelation of sovereign grace.

[17:44] I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. any revelation that we have of God is of course of sovereign grace and mercy.

[18:01] Well how is this revelation going to be given to Moses? The Lord said Behold there is a place by me and I shall stand upon a rock and it shall come to pass while my glory passeth by that I will put thee in a cliff of the rock and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by and I will take away mine hand and thou shalt see my back parts but my face shall not be seen.

[18:32] The Lord placed him safely in the cleft of a rock and he covered him with his hand while he revealed to him his glory.

[18:45] He took his hand away. Moses remained in the cleft of the rock while God revealed to him his glory his nature and his character.

[19:00] Well this experience too pointed to Christ for it is in Christ that believers receive the spiritual sight to behold God's glory.

[19:13] No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him. Paul writing to the church at Corinth says for God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

[19:39] In John's gospel the first chapter and verse 14 we read and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us that speaks of Jesus and we beheld his glory the glorious of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.

[19:56] That fullness of grace and truth is revealed now to us in the incarnate God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[20:08] Oh lead me to the rock that is higher than I that smitten rock Jesus Christ through whom we receive life through the Holy Spirit and in whom we see the glory of God.

[20:29] There is a place beside me he says there is a place beside me and thou shall stand upon a rock and shall come to pass while my glory passeth by that I will put thee in the cliff of the rock and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by and I will take away mine hand and thou shall see my back parts but my face shall not be seen or we shall see the glory of God in Jesus Christ the rock of our salvation salvation but now in the psalm David begins to reflect on the ways that God had helped him before for thou has been a shelter for me and a strong tower from the enemy I will abide in thy tabernacle forever I will trust in the current of thy wings

[21:32] Selah here David is exercising himself in a very important biblical principle of reflection of remembering and in verse 3 and 4 David signs a series of four images by which he rejoiced in God's gracious safekeeping the first is the general statement for thou hast been a shelter for me what David is doing here after his petition to the Lord that he would be led to the rock that is higher than himself now he is looking back and reflecting and remembering how good God had been to him in the past David knew what it was like to be on the brink of capture and death and to cry out to God for help and he discovered that God always provided a place of safety for him to to to to to know to to see the children of

[22:34] Israel and to look back and remember the goodness of God towards us among the many exhortations that Moses gave the children of Israel there was this one and thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness to humble thee and to prove thee to know what was in thine heart whether thou would escape his commandments or no and he humbled thee and suffered thee to hunger and fed thee with manna which thou knewest not neither did thy fathers know that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live they were to remember God's provision for them and very often it is when we neglect to remember

[23:35] God's provision for us that we tend to go astray from God that was true of Israel and is true down to this very present day what is important for us to notice here is that David's rejoicing in God's provision for him in the past and his confidence in the present and the future was an answer to his prayer to the Lord to be led to the rock that was higher than himself but you know as we look over the life of David this was not always the case with David and that serves as a warning to us there was an occasion in his run from Saul when David said in his heart I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul I shall now perish one day by the hand of

[24:37] Saul there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines and Saul shall despair of me to seek me any more in any coast of Israel so shall I escape out of his hand now there is much there to study but how remarkable or is it remarkable when we think of ourselves that David runs away from Israel because he has persuaded himself that I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul what I want to draw to your attention tonight is David's failure to believe the promises of God and how often that is our own situation when we persuade ourselves that one day we may fall at the hand of the enemy when we fail to believe the promises of

[25:39] God no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand David's failure to believe the promises of God that has brought to our attention not only the fact that he ran away from Israel but think of the location to which he fled the land of the Philistines he fled into enemy's territory well you may ask how could this happen to a man like David maybe it would be proper for us to ask how can that happen to me and you how could David conclude I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul well this chapter in his life begins by saying and David said in his heart you see he counseled his heart and his heart responded not in faith but in unbelief when unbelief dominates when unbelief gets dominion

[26:50] God is forgotten in this episode of David's life we read of no prayers to God no consultation of God's word instead he communed with his own heart and when we commune with our heart without prayer or bringing God's word to our heart then we can only find unbelief when we neglect these means of grace then our faith wanes and our tendency to sin grows but here in this instance of Psalm 61 David has brought this matter to the Lord in worship and prayer lead me to the rock that is higher than I and God answers his prayer and David responds in faith for thou has been a shelter for me he knew that the rebellion of Absalom would be like the hunting of

[27:52] Saul which proved powerless against God's protective care for him on one occasion we read of in 1st Samuel 24 that Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take him but there came a messenger unto Saul saying haste and come for the Philistines have invaded the land where Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines in chapter 26 we read of a more recent occasion when God had placed a deep sleep upon Saul and a psalm so that David could enter the camp but remove Saul's spear or maybe David is remembering the words of Apical found in chapter 25 and as the ESV translates it if men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life the life of my Lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the

[28:55] Lord your God remembering all these things and much more David can now in faith say for thou hast been a shelter for me and as I and you look back and remember God's dealings with us and as we reflect upon God's promise to us we can also say for thou hast been a shelter for me in the midst of our present situation and fears God's faithfulness to his promises never fails and to all those who put their trust in him he is a strong place of shelter whatever life may bring upon us he is the sure rock strong and changing and this rock Jesus Christ is a sure foundation David knew of God's protective care for him in life but he also knew of a far greater shelter which concerned not only his life but also his death he is the one who wrote these words that has brought comfort to so many penalty penalty in his death for the sins of all those who will put their trust in him

[30:42] I ask you tonight are you among them can you truly say for thou has been a shelter for me. David then refers to the Lord as a strong tower from the enemy. Now a tower is part of a city's fortifications, protecting not only the king but also his treasured possessions. Also a strong tower provides a vantage point from which to fight effectively and to defy the enemy.

[31:18] In Psalm 48 we read, walk about Zion and go round about it till the towers they're off. In the book of Proverbs chapter 18 verse 10 we read, the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is safe. This strong tower known by the name of the Lord, that means his character, his nature, his character as he saw earlier with Moses and his request to the Lord and the Lord's response. I will make all my goodness pass before thee and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. This was a strong tower for David and it is a strong tower for me and for you tonight. The nature and character of God is a strong tower. He is sovereign. He is compassionate. He is merciful. He delighteth in mercy. The prophet Micah proclaimed, who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage. He retaineth not his anger forever because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again. He will have compassion upon us. He will subdue our iniquities and I will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Oh, when the enemy assaults us, where do we go? When he comes with his fiery darts, where do we find protection? This midden rock has become a strong tower for us from the enemy.

[33:17] John Owen writes that there are five strong towers of our faith that gives us assurance of salvation. He says the first tower is the kingship of Jesus Christ. The second tower is the promises of God, which are without number. God will be faithful to fulfil all that he has promised. The third tower is the watchful providence of God over his people. The fourth tower is God's special presence within his people, within his church. But Owen sums up all these towers with his great strength and assurance that God finds in the fifth tower in the covenant of God. All our hope and security are bound up in God's covenant promise for our salvation. Since God has bound himself by an oath. Since the covenant is sealed in the blood of Jesus Christ, to save all who come to him in faith for salvation. The kingship of Jesus Christ, the promises of God, God's special presence, the watchful providence of God over his people, and the covenant of God in grace.

[34:46] Is the Lord your own strong tower tonight from the enemy? You are not going to be immune from the assaults of the enemy. He will come against you. He is the accuser of the brethren.

[35:05] But where is your defence? Is it not in the strong towers that we have just mentioned? Then David explains, I will abide in thy tabernacle forever.

[35:25] He now speaks of more than safety in a secure place. He is now speaking of enjoying close communion and fellowship with God in that tower.

[35:37] The tabernacle was the centre of Israel's worship. It was where the ark of the covenant was housed, upon which God made his presence with his covenant people.

[35:48] The Lord said to Moses, And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. David here, despite his situation, is confident that he will abide in the tabernacle forever.

[36:04] It may be that David was thinking here that the Lord would bring him again to Jerusalem and to the centre of worship. Or maybe he was thinking that whatever the outcome of his present situation may be, whether life or death, that he was assured of having a place in close communion with the Lord forever.

[36:26] Well, is such an assurance your own experience tonight? That whatever the outcome of this present situation in which we find ourselves will mean for us, if we come through it, that our place will be in close communion with God in his earthly tabernacle, David was assured, I will abide in thy tabernacle forever.

[37:04] Now, David's fourth image for God's safekeeping, I will trust in the cover of thy wings, Selah. Well, this image is of a mother bird covering her vulnerable cheeks under her.

[37:18] It speaks of not only of protection, but it also speaks of comfort. Jesus one day lamented over Jerusalem, who was soon to reject him, as they did all those who came before him.

[37:32] And he uses this image. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, he says, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathered her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.

[37:49] Like a mother hen gathering her little cheeks, Jesus wanted to bring Jerusalem under the wings of his protection and comfort. J.C. Ryle says, He knew well the wickedness of that city.

[38:04] He knew what crimes they had committed there in times past. He knew what was coming on himself at the time of his crucifixion. Yet even to Jerusalem, he says, How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.

[38:22] You see, this invitation to come under the sheltering of his wings is offered to everyone without exception. Whatever your past, whatever your present, this offer is to everyone.

[38:36] This offer is to sinners. It is to everyone in all of life's troubles. But sadly, the Lord says of Jerusalem, And ye would not.

[38:49] Is that what the Lord is saying about yourself tonight? But ye would not. Well, David in his own particular situation has the confidence by faith to say, For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

[39:11] I will abide in thy tapenacle forever. I will trust in the cover of thy wings. Selah. David believed he shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust.

[39:24] O, to claim this promise. O, to claim this promise. O, to claim this promise. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God. Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

[39:35] O, to be able to say, Because thou hast been my help, Therefore in the shadow of thy wings I will rejoice. David remembers who God is for him for though has been a shelter for me there was been a strong tower from the enemy I will abide in a tabernacle forever I will trust in the covert of thy wings David saw these solid places of refuge as symbolic of God's sovereign protection but now David turns and he recalls what God has done for him for thou O God has heard my vows thou has given me the heritage of those that fear thy name thou will prolong the king's life and his years as many generations David remembers who God is for him and now recalls what God has done for him David is now confident that the Lord has accepted him that he has heard his vows and that he has been given the heritage of the Lord's people that he has been given the blessing that belongs to the covenant people that would prolong the king's life and his years as many generations whether David was thinking of himself and his own situation and looking for a day when he would sit on the throne or thinking of those of his family that would succeed him we know that his prayer requests can be fulfilled only in the divine kingship of his descendant

[41:22] Jesus Christ David prays he shall abide before God forever David was asking only for what God had promised to do in the great covenant promise recorded for us in 2nd Samuel chapter 7 we read there and when the days be fulfilled and thou shall sleep with thy father I will set up thy seat after thee which shall proceed out of thy bowels and I will establish his kingdom he shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever words of course in reference to Jesus Christ the kingdom of Israel was to divide and in many ways it was to fail but the kingdom of Christ will never fail Jesus is a true king and he is to be enthroned forever in Jesus we have a king who has passed through death and the grave to be enthroned forever at the right hand of the father never to falter never to fail

[42:32] David speaks of Jesus eternal reign on which our salvation is based on which his salvation is based and he prays for Christ to be enthroned forever remember at the birth of Jesus Christ how the angels sang and behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus he shall be great and shall be called the son of the highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there shall be no end you see because God has provided our ever reigning king in the person of his son Jesus Christ that saviour who loves us enough to pay the penalty of sin in our place to become our substitute he is now the Lord who reigns enthroned as king forever he who hung upon the cross whose visage was so marred that he was almost unrecognisable as a human he now reigns as Lord and king forever he who died at Golgotha he who was buried rose again and ascended and now he reigns and throned as king forever thou wilt prolong the king's life and his years as many generations he shall abide before God forever and David prays for God to all prepare mercy and truth which may preserve him well Jesus himself may look to the love and faithfulness of God the father to uphold his kingdom he is the servant whom the father appalls and with these exalted thoughts of Christ's eternal throne in mind

[44:39] David concludes the psalm by resolving to worship the Lord in reverent obedience so will I sing praise unto thy name forever that I may daily perform my vows oh David pledges to live always to God's praise and to obey God's word carefully in his daily life well what about yourself tonight can you follow the experience of David who prayed to be led to the rock that was higher than himself and receiving the confidence and the assurance that the Lord was a shelter a strong tower and that he would abide in close communion with God sheltered under his wings that the Lord had accepted him and given him the blessing of a heritage which is God himself and all through Jesus Christ who is the eternal King entroned at God's right hand leading David to continually praise the Lord well here is David and in all his difficulties and problems and situations and circumstances in which he finds himself in prayer and in worship in his assurance of what God is to him and for him he comes now and he says so will I sing praise unto thy name forever that I may daily perform my vows and may we and you may we be led to that place where indeed we will look to the one who is enthroned at God's right hand and give praises unto him may the Lord bless these thoughts to us let us pray eternal and ever blessed God we give thanks that through faith that we can enter into the very throne room of God and that we can look upon the one who is enthroned who is king forever and we give thee thanks oh Lord for those towers that we have that gives us strength and and comfort and that helps us as we reflect upon the kingship of Jesus Christ upon the promises that thou has given to us upon thine own watchful providence over us and thine own special presence within us through thy spirit but above all that we can come to the tower of thy covenant thy covenant of grace that thou art bound thyself by an oath that thou hast sealed everything for us in the blood of Jesus Christ oh Lord we pray that indeed we would come to praise thee for thou art worthy of all praise and all honour that those who are before thy throne tonight are praising thee giving thee glory and honour to thy name to the one who washed them from their sin the one who made them pure who gave them a standing before a holy God and we know that that praise begins here in the earthly tabernacle oh may we not be strangers to that praise that will continue from the earthly tabernacle to the heavenly tabernacle but that we would know oh Lord what it is to praise the Lord our God through Jesus Christ we ask oh Lord that the grace of the Lord

[48:32]  Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit would be with you all now and forever Amen Amen Amen