Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/ntolstafreechurch/sermons/69959/communion-thursday-rev-donald-m-macleod/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] Good evening, brothers, sisters and friends, a joy to worship the Lord as we begin our communion weekend. Three intimations, first of all, of course, concerning the funeral tomorrow morning, God willing, 10.30 here. [0:17] So 10.30 the funeral tomorrow. Please do pass that information along to anyone who you think may be wishing to attend. It's quite an early one, I know, compared to our usual, but 10.30 tomorrow morning, all being well. [0:32] I've also heard in passing there's some fellowships being planned. Now, just because I announce them doesn't mean I'm promoting them or not promoting them, but it's good to know who has what. [0:46] I know that tonight for definite. Margaret is having a fellowship in her house tonight. And then, God willing, tomorrow night, we'll be one in the manse. [0:56] So Margaret's having one tonight, and in the manse tomorrow night. And you know yourselves, please do attend these fellowships if you can. It's good to spend time together as brothers and sisters informally. [1:09] And, of course, I have a conclusion. The session will meet and will be opened. And that's as open then for the weekend. And, please do, dear brother or dear sister, if you are intending on coming forward and proclaiming Christ publicly as your saviour and friend and king, please don't waste too much time. [1:33] We're open tonight. We'll be here tonight. Here tomorrow night. Saturday night. And apart from that, again, I know we say it often, but we mean it. [1:44] And our houses, the elders, are open. The manse is certainly open. Our phones are on. Whether it's 10 o'clock at night or 10 in the morning, 1 in the morning, come, knock our doors and say, I want to go forward. [1:59] And we will make that correct session happen immediately. Please don't miss another communion season. We'll be singing this evening to God's praise. [2:10] Let's worship the Lord. We can sing through a section of Psalm 45, the second version of the Psalm, Scottish Psalter. Psalm 45, the second version. [2:23] That's on page 269. Psalm 45, page 269. We can sing, first of all, then, verses 1 down to verse 3. [2:39] Psalm 45, verses 1 down to verse 3. My heart, indicting is, good Martha, in a song. I speak the things that I have made which to the king belong. [2:50] My tongue shall be as quick his honour to indict, as is the pen of any scribe that use it fast to write. Psalm 45, verses 1 down to verse 3. [3:02] To God's praise. I speak the things about I have made which to the king I speak the things about I have made Which to the King here are Tarn shall be as great As on our terpendite As is the path of every sky [4:02] That is the path of every sky The greatest of all men Can send thy lips of hope And will forget things evermore So long ye have caught this toll I sang sang [5:07] I'll give them back for my mercy I am thy holy bride Let's join together in a word of prayer, let's pray. [5:33] Amen. [6:03] As a gathered church and days of singing your praise together as brothers and sisters. Give us, we ask, a weekend set apart from the rest of the weekends perhaps we may be facing and going through this year. [6:18] We ask that you would help us not to set aside these days as holy days but to set them aside as a privilege and as a chance from you to spend time giving you the glory and the praise. [6:33] We do thank you for this chance together even this evening. We thank you for the chance as brothers and sisters, as sons and daughters to come around your word. [6:43] We ask that your word would speak to us this evening. It would encourage us. It would challenge us. We often admit that we are confronted by your word. [6:55] As your word tells us one way of being or thinking or living. And we find that measuring up to ourselves. And we find ourselves measuring so poorly. [7:06] Help us then to be willing to listen to your word. Help us to be willing to place your word over our lives. And to measure our lives. [7:17] And to guide our lives by the living word. Thank you Lord for everyone here this evening. We thank you for those here just now who are yours. Who know you and who love you. [7:28] We ask as we spend time together as a church. As brothers and sisters. As a family here. As a gathering of your people. We would leave this place tonight. Not just having grown in some facts. [7:41] Or having grown in pure knowledge. But we would leave this place tonight. Having grown in our knowledge yes. But then therefore having grown in our love and worship. [7:51] And therefore having grown in our service towards you. We would leave this place tonight filled with awe and wonder. And thankfulness at who you are. And what you have done. [8:03] The provision you have made through the only glorious. Eternal Son. The Lord Jesus Christ. Help us this weekend. [8:15] Pray just now for any who will join us this weekend. Friends and brothers and sisters from other congregations. That they would feel welcome in our midst. That they also would enjoy times of fellowship. [8:28] And times of togetherness. Both in our services. But also behind the scenes and private in our homes. For this weekend we will be known for being a weekend where your name was praised. [8:40] Your name was honoured. Where Christ was remembered. In his person. In his work. But also we remember the fact we worship a living saviour. [8:51] Although we will soon join together in a few days to think back to what he has done for us. To think back to that dark night of horror. [9:03] To think back to the destruction of the body. The becoming of full sin. Of the one who was sinless. The pain and agony and anxiety and misery. [9:20] And sorrow. Of the spotless lamb of God. We also think this weekend forward. That he did not remain in the tomb. [9:32] We worship a saviour who is not dead. But one who died and who rose again. Who ascended to your right hand. Who is there just now in a place of victory. [9:42] Reigning and ruling over all. The nations. The peoples. Have been given. And are being put under his feet. His enemies are being made subject to him. [9:54] Day by day. Hour by hour. Second by second. Help us then to have that high and lifted up understanding. [10:04] Of the glorious saviour. The servant king. Yes. Who walks alongside his people. Who guides his people. Who cares for his people. Who picks his people up. [10:16] Who carries us along. But yet. Servant he may be. But king he is also still. Sovereign ruler. From before all time. [10:27] And for all time. The whole universe. The whole created order. Both spiritual. And physical. Made through him. Made for him. [10:40] Help us to have a view of our saviour. That is both high. As our king. But also one that sees him. And knows him. As a friend. [10:51] As an elder brother. As a one who has cared. For us. In a way that no one else. Ever can. Or ever will. We come this evening. With so many reasons. [11:02] Perhaps in our minds. Of. Why we should not be at the table. For some here. Those of us who. Know you. Who love you. But. Who perhaps see. [11:13] In ourselves. So little growth. This past year. Who see in ourselves. So little care. So little warmth. In our hearts. This past year. [11:24] We would be honest with you. This evening. And bring these concerns to you. And say that we. Are not perfect. But our efforts. Our strivings. [11:34] Are not perfect. Our walk. Has not been perfect. But we come. Trusting. And relying. And fully holding on. To a saviour. Who is perfect. [11:45] In all his ways. In all that he has done. Who bids us to come. And to dine with him. To sit alongside him. Not because of who we are. [11:55] But because of who he is. We pray that would be known. Especially this evening. To any brothers or sisters. Who as of yet. Haven't made that public step. [12:06] Brothers and sisters. Who we know. And who we know. That you know. We do ask. That they would. See their place at the table. [12:18] Not as a measure. Of their godliness. Or their holiness. Not as a measure. Of their goodness. Not as a measure. Of their perfection. But as a measure. [12:29] Of both them and us. That we are. Poor in spirit. That we come. Open handed. And empty handed. That we come. [12:39] Naked. That we come. Many of us. Battered and bruised. We come. Not dressed in robes. To feast at a banquet. But we come. At fields at times. Tattered. [12:51] Dragging ourselves. To an oasis. In the desert. We ask. That it would be. Very expedient. This weekend. We pray just now. For those. Who would join us. Both this evening. [13:01] But also the rest of this weekend. Who as of yet. Do not know you. As they. See again. The reality. Of the separation. Of the table. The reality. [13:12] That. Mirrors. A future. Much more harrowing. Reality. A separation. Of those. Who know you. And who love you. And those who do not. [13:22] We know that in time. And space. Just now. In the here and now. That. That separation. Is often muddled. That. That are. Indeed. Across our churches. Perhaps many. Who are. [13:33] As it were. Behind the table. Who should be at the table. And we know. And we know. Because we live. In a fallen world. That across our churches. Across your church. [13:44] Across the world. There are those. Who are at the table. Who have no care. No love. For a saviour. Who have no understanding. Truly. Of who he is. Who have not tasted yet. [13:54] Of the forgiveness. Of the love. That he offers. We know. That in the final day. That won't be through. None of your people. Will be lost. Every one of yours. [14:05] Will be gathered in. To that final banquet. At the same time. None. Who are there. Will be there. Because they've sneaked in. None. Who are there. Will be there. Because they're unworthy. [14:16] But all who are there. Are those. Who have trusted in a saviour. With small faith. With faltering faith. With childlike faith. Do know. That he is there. [14:27] And that they are his. Help us this evening. Thank you again. This weekend. For those. Who will lead the. Singing of your word. Those who will lead. The public praise. We ask you Lord. [14:38] For strength. For them. And we thank you for them. Pray just now. For those. Who will. Work. As we're behind the scenes. Those. Hosting fellowships. And those working. [14:49] To look after our visitors. We're also mindful. This evening. Especially. Of what must take place. Tomorrow morning. If it's your will. And plan. We do pray just now. For a morning family. [15:01] A morning community. Pray just now. For all who will. And all who have. Travelled. Here. And all who will. Be with us tomorrow. As we conduct. [15:12] The funeral service. We ask that you be glorified. Even in the middle of grief. And sadness. That your name would be known. That your name would be praised. That a time of. [15:24] Sadness. A time of. Darkness. For a family. And for those in the community. Who knew. We do ask that you would. Use this chance. [15:36] To bring about. A work of salvation. A gospel work. We leave that Lord. With you. As we do. The comfort. Of the morning family. Help us this evening. [15:47] To have our minds. And our hearts. Focused on you. Look after us. We ask. And keep us. We do pray just now. Also for the. Brothers and sisters. Who also this weekend. Partake. Of the supper. [15:58] Those in Carleway. We ask. They would have a. Blessed weekend. We pray for. Their ministers. We're visiting ministers. Pray for them. As a congregation. That both they and us. Would. Enjoy time together. [16:11] And time. With you. Look after us. And keep us. Forgive us. For our sins. Both spoken and unspoken. Sins. Both public and private. And we ask. [16:22] These things. Clinging on to our. Saviour. Who holds. Eternally. On to us. In his name. And for his sake. Amen. Let's read. [16:33] Together. In God's word. Matthew. Matthew. Chapter 5. The gospel of Matthew. And chapter 5. It's on page. [16:43] Seven hundred. And fifty. Matthew. Chapter 5. Page. Seven hundred. And fifty. Nine. Matthew 5. [16:56] We can read verses 1. Down to verse 20. Let's hear together. God's word. Seeing the crowds. He went up. On the mountain. When he had sat down. [17:07] His disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth. And taught them. Saying. Blessed are the poor in spirit. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn. [17:19] ! For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek. For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst. For righteousness. For they shall be satisfied. [17:31] Blessed are the merciful. For they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart. For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers. For they shall be called sons of God. [17:45] Blessed are those who are persecuted. For righteousness sake. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you. When others revile you. And persecute you. [17:56] And utter all kinds of evil against you. Falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad. For your reward is great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets. [18:08] Who were before you. You are the salt of the earth. But if salt has lost its taste. How shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything. [18:19] Except to be thrown out. And trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp. [18:31] And put it under a basket. But on a stand. And it gives light to all in the house. In the same way. Let your light shine before others. So that they may see your good works. [18:43] And give glory to your father who is in heaven. Do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them. But to fulfill them. [18:54] For truly I say to you. Until heaven and earth pass away. Not an iota. Not a dot. Will pass from the law. Until all is accomplished. Therefore. [19:06] Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments. And teaches others to do the same. Will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does them and teaches them. Will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [19:18] For I tell you. Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. You will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Amen. And give praise to God for his holy. [19:30] And his perfect word. We can carry on singing from the verses we had there. In Psalm 45. Psalm 45. Psalm 45. [19:40] This time verses 4. Down to verse 7. Psalm 45. Verses 4. Down to verse 7. For meekness, truth and right. [19:51] Ride prosperously in state. And thy right hand shall teach to thee things terrible and great. Thy shaft shall pierce their hearts. That foes are to the king. [20:02] Whereby into subjection. The people. Thou shalt bring. Psalm 45. Verses 4 to 7. To God's praise. For meekness, truth and right. [20:20] Thy cross cross will stay. And thy right hand shall be. And thy right hand shall teach to thee. [20:36] And thy right hand shall be. And thy right hand shall be. I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I think I Shabbat Shalom [21:41] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [23:11] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [24:41] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [27:11] Shabbat Shalom [28:41] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [30:11] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [31:40] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [33:10] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [34:40] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [36:10] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [38:40] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [40:40] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [42:10] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [43:40] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [45:10] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [46:40] Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom [48:10] Shalom Shabbat Shalom Shalom [49:40] Shalom Shalom