[0:00] Let's sing now in Psalm number 20. It's from the Scottish Psalter, Psalm number 20, and we sing verses 1 to 6, and we're going to stand to sing for this singing, Psalm number 20 from the Scottish Psalter.
[0:22] We'll sing verses 1 to 6. It's Jehovah, hear thee in the day when trouble he doth send, and let the name of Jacob's God thee from all ill defend.
[0:35] O let him help send from above out of his sanctuary, from Zion his own holy hill, let him give strength to thee. Down to verse 6. Now know I, God, his king doth save. He from his holy heaven will hear him with his saving strength by his own right hand given.
[0:52] It's on page 224 of the Blue Psalm book, Psalm 20, Jehovah, hear thee in the day when trouble he doth send. ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH
[2:00] Let him help him with his holy hill, let him give strength to thee.
[2:30] ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH
[3:32] ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH ZANG EN MUCH I'm just going to mention three things, and in a sense, things that were highlighted last night.
[4:34] But we find, first of all, at verse 21, about these Greeks, Sir, we wish to see Jesus. Those who come to the Lord's table are those who desire to see Jesus.
[4:48] When you think of the communion, always there is straightaway this desire in your heart, and saying, well, I'm looking forward to this communion.
[5:00] And you think about the communion specifically to being at the table, and to taking the bread and taking the wine, and rightly so. Because it's a very special time, it's a unique time in many ways, because it's one of these times where we're entering into a historical event that has been passed down to us right to this very day, and where we engage in a very wonderful way with Jesus.
[5:31] There is this great link, and we think of all the people down throughout the centuries who have done exactly the same thing, and their faith has been strengthened. And so there is this desire in your heart, and you say, you know, I'm really looking forward to the communion.
[5:46] I'm looking forward to the table. Really looking forward to seeing Jesus. That's what I want. Now, maybe at the table you won't, but you know, I think we said that last night, you can never come to the table without being blessed, without receiving blessing in that.
[6:03] And so there's this desire within your heart to see Jesus. Because Jesus is more precious to you than anybody else.
[6:13] And there are times you will come to discover where that will be tested. The Lord will test you to see just how much you do love him. And the second thing is that not only do we desire to see Jesus, that brings us to the second thing.
[6:31] Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it. In other words, we must be prepared to lose our life for Jesus.
[6:43] The psalm last night that we sang, Psalm 63, says, Since better is thy love than life. I would rather, Lord, have your love and lose my own life, than have my life and not have your love.
[7:01] That's the bottom line. And those at the table, that's what they're saying today, that's what you're saying. That Jesus, to have Jesus is more precious than your own life.
[7:14] You cannot imagine life without him. And you believe if push came to shove, that you would lay down your life for him. There was a day Peter trembled, and he ran away.
[7:28] But there was a day when Peter didn't run away. The Lord taught Peter. And the Lord questioned Peter. And we will be brought to places where we will be pushed to see just what our allegiance to Jesus is really like.
[7:43] Well, today, you're making that testimony that Jesus is precious. You're deciding him. You're ready to lay down your life for him. And you will follow him.
[7:54] That's the third thing that we see. If anyone serves me, he must follow me. We talked about that last night. Not go over it. Beautiful expression we use. He or she has become a follower.
[8:08] And that's what you're doing today. You're following Jesus. You followed him in obedience to the table. A follower is obedient to Jesus. And so, this is why you are here today at the table.
[8:23] Because you have a heart of love for him. And you want to confess him. And you will do so when you take the cup. And you'll take the bread. Because there is this outward display of your confession of Jesus in it.
[8:39] So, you're here today because you desire to see Jesus. You're here today because you love Jesus. And you're here today because you're following Jesus. We're going to sing in Psalm 118.
[8:52] And as we sing, the elders will place the elements of bread and the wine on the table. And again, if there is anybody who has maybe come in later, who is a member of good standing in any other congregation, you're very welcome to come, make yourself known, and come and take your seat at the table of the Lord.
[9:13] Psalm 118. And it's from the Scottish Psalter. Psalm 118. And at verse 15. And we'll continue singing until everything is in place.
[9:29] In dwellings of the righteous is heard the melody. Of joy and health the Lord's right hand doth ever valiantly. The right hand of the mighty Lord exalted is in high. The right hand of the mighty Lord doth ever valiantly.
[9:42] And so on. In dwellings of the righteous is heard the melody. In dwellings of the righteous is heard the melody.
[10:04] All joy and health the Lord's right hand doth ever valiantly.
[10:21] The right hand of the mighty Lord exalted is on high.
[10:40] The right hand of the mighty Lord doth ever valiantly.
[10:57] I shall not die but live and shall. The words of God is covered.
[11:16] The Lord of the mighty just like set soar. But not to death in no one.
[11:35] nature of the mighty Lord has made the glory.
[11:46] And he ear to thy kind of hall to water.
[11:58] enter into them, and I the Lord will bless.
[12:28] Thank you.
[12:58] Thank you.
[13:28] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[13:40] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[13:52] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[14:04] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[14:16] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[14:28] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[14:40] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[14:52] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[15:04] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[15:22] Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. We are familiar, many of us, with what we are doing. Yet we never lose the sense of awe and the sense of wonder and the sense of privilege that has been given.
[15:39] In a sharing experience where we are able to share with one another in the love of the Father and Son and Spirit to us.
[15:50] We give thanks, O Lord, for the gracious, loving, tender way that God shepherds His sheep. We today are here as sheep and lambs.
[16:01] We are vulnerable because wolves roam around. Storms are on the outside. And yet we are thankful that the captain of our salvation is Jesus.
[16:13] And we are so thankful that the good shepherd is the shepherd of the sheep. And that he will lose none. Even although some might be weak and some might be ill and some might be strained.
[16:28] Yet the shepherd has his eye upon them all. And he will take them all into the fold, keeping them safe and take them all open. And so today as we journey on, we give thanks for our place of rest, a place of refreshing.
[16:43] Where we are being reminded again of God's great love to us in Christ. And we pray that as we are now going to take of normal, everyday things of bread and wine.
[16:57] We pray as they are put aside into holy use. That we may by faith look to Jesus. And that we may feed upon him who is truly the bread of life.
[17:10] Bless us then we pray, taking away our sin in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Just before we come to take of the bread and wine, we find an incident in John's Gospel at the very beginning in the first chapter.
[17:29] When two disciples had heard John the Baptist say, Behold the man of God who takes away the sin of the world. And these two disciples go and begin to follow Jesus.
[17:44] And Jesus turns round. The two disciples heard him say, Behold the man of God. Jesus turned and saw them following. And said to them, What are you seeking?
[17:57] Jesus asks that question. And he's asking that question of you and me today. What are you seeking? And as you said, At this particular point, Where is your mind right now?
[18:12] Are you thinking about life? Are you thinking about other things? Or can you honestly say with all your heart, What I am really seeking, Jesus, Is I am seeking you.
[18:26] And remember our person who comes to faith in Jesus Christ Never stops being a seeker. We often talk about seekers. Somebody who is seeking the Lord. As somebody who hasn't yet come to find Jesus.
[18:38] The person who comes to find Jesus, Never ever stops seeking. Always seeking Jesus. More and more and more of Jesus. So Jesus said, What are you seeking?
[18:51] They said to him, Rabbi, Where are you staying? It's very obvious from that, That they wanted to go with you.
[19:02] Where are you going, Lord? We want to go there. Where do you stay? We want to come with you. That's a heart of love. It's a heart that is discovered.
[19:14] And that's what you're about to do. That's why you're here. And then Jesus said to them, Come and you will see. So they came and saw where you were staying.
[19:28] And they stayed with him that day. Jesus said, Come and see. However much today you want to fellowship with Jesus.
[19:41] And see Jesus, let me assure you. He wants more than you were fellowship with him. Absolutely. The desire in his heart for you is far greater than the desire in your heart for him.
[19:59] And the desire that is within your heart has come from him. Because he loves you. And so these disciples, they wanted to go with him.
[20:12] They wanted to be where he was. And they stayed with him. That's where the heart of love comes to you. You want to stay with those that you love. When Legion was saved.
[20:23] When Jesus saved Legion. Legion said, I want to go with you. Wherever you're going, I want to go. But Jesus had a work for Legion to do.
[20:34] But you see, this is a heart of love. That's why we're here today. Because Jesus is here. It's his table. He has given us this.
[20:45] And he's saying, Eat and drink. And as we do so, may we do so by faith. And see him in it. And so we read that Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, that he took the bread.
[21:03] And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way also he took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is a new covenant in my blood.
[21:28] Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, You do show forth the Lord's death until he comes.