The Lord who forgives

[0:00] Thank you so much Heather. Good evening everyone and welcome. I see we have a new chap here this evening. Welcome Matt McNulty, flown in from Perth this morning. No, not quite. Great that you could be with us this evening. Welcome. Lovely to see you. It's lovely to see everybody else.

[0:25] And it's a bit better up here than standing over there. The sun is just too bright. We can't look at the sun, can we? But we can experience the sun this evening as we worship him. Let's start with a call to worship. A call to worship. We'll have it on. So would you like to stand and we'll say this together? Psalm 50 verses 1 to 6, acknowledging who God is who we're coming before this evening. Let's say together. The mighty one, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and will not be silent. A fire devours before him and around him a tempest rages. He summons the heavens above and the earth that he may judge his people. Gather to me this consecrated people who made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice. Father God, we come to you as our God of justice. And your justice is more than fair. You've laid on your son what you should have laid on us and released us with the righteousness that you gave to Jesus. Thank you so much. So tonight we come here to worship you and acknowledge you reign over us. As we sing these songs, Lord, would you take it as our prayers to you that we want to worship you. We acknowledge who you are. King of kings deserve the highest praise. Jesus shall reign wherever the sun does its successive journeys run. Let's sing.

[2:50] Jesus shall reign wherever the sun does its successive journeys run. His kingdoms stretch from shore to shore till sun shall rise and set no more.

[3:13] Jesus shall reign. Jesus shall reign. Jesus shall reign. Blessings abound where'er he reigns. The prisoner leaps to loose his chains. The weary find eternal rest. And all the sons of want are blessed. To our God be high.

[3:43] its highest praise. His opener. Yeah. Get the niest ch anticipates the highest praise. Since the Bürger now and havel to perfect his ensignional loving life. Full committee... Jesus shall reign. Jesus shall reign. Jesus shall reign. Jesus shall reign.

[3:54] Jesus shall reign. Jesus shall reign. Jesus shall reign.

[4:07] Jesus shall reign. People and realms of every tongue dwell on His love with sweetest song, and infant voices shall proclaim merrily blessings on His name.

[4:31] To our God the highest praise, rising through eternal days, just and faithful He shall reign, Jesus shall reign.

[4:51] Let every creature rose and bring blessing and honor to our King.

[5:11] Angels descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud Amen. To our King the highest praise, rising through eternal days, just and faithful He shall reign, Jesus shall reign.

[5:41] To our King the highest praise, rising through eternal days, just and faithful He shall reign, Jesus shall reign.

[6:01] And because you reign, Lord Jesus, we want to thank you that you give us more than hope. You give us full assurance, joy that more than satisfies, comfort, strength, power and healing, and it's all found in you.

[6:20] It's all found in you, Jesus. All I desire and all I require, it's all found in you. So we want to acknowledge that this evening as we sing this together.

[6:33] Greater grace, deeper mercy. Greater grace, deeper mercy.

[7:01] Greater grace, deeper grace, deeper, lensenarle. Wider love, higher ways, perfect peace, complete forgiveness.

[7:14] It's all found in you, it's all found in you. It's all found in you.

[7:24] More than hope, full assurance Joy that's more than satisfies Comfort, strength, heart and healing It's all found in you It's all found in you It's all found in you, Jesus It's all found in you All I desire and all I require It's all found in you Mercy triumphs over justice

[8:26] Judgment is good, mercy is best Where sin abounds, graces for nothing It's all found in you It's all found in you, it's all found in you It's all found in you It's all found in you More than hope, full assurance Joy that's more than satisfies Comfort, strength, power and healing

[9:29] And healing It's all found in you It's all found in you It's all found in you, Jesus It's all found in you, Jesus All I desire and all I require It's all found in you, Jesus It's all found in you, Jesus It's all found in you, Jesus Amen Please be seated We're going to have a time of prayer now And at the end, just a time of open prayer Any of these words that may have encouraged you On who God is, Almighty Father Father, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit

[10:29] We'll worship him this evening So bring your prayers out loud at the end as well, please If you can Let us pray Glory to you, Almighty God You spoke and light came out of darkness Order rose from confusion You breathed into the dust of the earth And we were formed in your image You looked on the work of your hands And declared that it was all good And still you speak Breathe life And look for us We praise you Glory to you, Jesus Christ You met us as a refugee A threatened child The word made flesh Born in a forgotten place You called us by name To leave what was comfortable To be your disciples Companions and friends

[11:31] You saved us by kneeling at our feet Stretching out your arms wide To take away our sins Walking through death To life again And still you meet Call and save us We praise you Glory to you, Holy Spirit You brooded over chaos You brooded over chaos Mothering and shaping God's new creation You inspired prophets and evangelists To discover the right word For the right season You liberated the early church For mission Claiming all of life For the Lord of all And still you brood over Inspire and liberate us We praise you Great God beyond all words Help us to shape our words To do you justice In you there is no conflict

[12:33] Between power and tenderness The birth pangs of creation Are the way of your wisdom Your love suffers crucifixion And is not defeated Restoring the world Restoring the world To life and hope We do not deserve that hope Which you have prepared for us Measured by your ways We get lost in the paths we choose But you're ready to guide us And lead us onwards Overawed by the vastness of the universe Perplexed and battered By the events of our lives We turn to you And find you waiting to meet us In the smallness of each day Eternity in each present moment Great God We worship you Through Jesus Christ And your spirit's gift

[13:34] Amen Let's bring our worship to him As you feel able or led Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen

[14:48] Thank you we thank you for what we have found in you.

[15:19] We thank you for that there's so much more to find. We look forward to what has come. Jesus, thank you. God, thank you that the very central push of heaven is the land of the soul.

[15:34] Amen. And we come again to the land of the soul. Yes, Lord. Amen. Father, we bring out your love and we're in need for you this evening and we pray that our result will be met because you will be God who's been with us and believed with us.

[15:56] Yes. May you recognize, Father, that you speak to us. May you recognize your voice and that you hear the truth. Amen.

[16:06] Father, we declare to Israel, I have loved you and the people who apply with audacity how I do love us.

[16:22] Father, sometimes tonight we forget that. We live into selfish things as if we're not getting enough of you, as if you're not guiding us in life. Father, we're just so.

[16:34] All I desire is done to you. Help us, Father, to see through the mist and through the darkness and look at your creation. Look at the joy around us. Look at how you've worked in our lives and give you the praise and glory through Jesus Christ.

[16:49] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. What a privilege it is to be able to boldly approach God's throne.

[17:02] By grace alone, somehow, I stand, where even angels fear to tread. Invited by redeeming love, before the throne of God above, he pulls me close with nail-scarred hands into his everlasting arms.

[17:19] We'll stand and sing this together, shall we? Amen. joy Where's the long, how I stand, where even angels fear to tread?

[17:58] Invited by redeeming love, before the throne of God above. He pulls me close with nails, gold marks, into his everlasting arms.

[18:24] When condemnation grips my heart, and Satan tempts me to despair, I hear the voice that's not a spear, the great I am, the Lord is here.

[18:44] Oh, praise the one who fights for me, and shields my soul eternally. Oh, praise the one who fights for me, and I am the Lord.

[19:24] I am the Lord, the bright and risen sun, all beauty than this world has known. I am face to face with love himself, this perfect spotless righteousness.

[19:42] A thousand years, a thousand times, for Lord, I am to sing his praise.

[19:54] Boldly I approach your throne, blameless love, running home.

[20:08] By your blood I come, welcome, not your home, into the arms of majesty. Boldly I approach your throne, blameless love, running home.

[20:29] I am the blood I go, into the arms of majesty. Boldly I approach your throne, blameless love, running home.

[20:42] Boldly I approach your throne, blameless love, running home. This is the heart of celebration, knowing we're free from condemnation.

[20:56] Oh, praise the one who made an end to all my sin. Oh, praise the one who made an end to all my sin.

[21:13] Oh, praise the one who made an end to all my sin.

[21:28] Thank you, Father God, that those loving arms are for each other. Thank you, Father God, that those loving arms are for each other.

[21:58] For each one of us, we praise you and bless you and thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. Please be seated as Sheena brings our word this evening, Psalm 51.

[22:12] Thank you, Sheena. Psalm 51 can be found on page 573.

[22:28] Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love. According to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

[22:40] Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

[22:52] Against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. So you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

[23:04] Surely I was sinful at birth. Sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb. You taught me wisdom in that secret place.

[23:17] Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness.

[23:29] Let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

[23:46] Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

[23:59] Then I will teach transgressors your ways so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God.

[24:10] You who are God my Saviour, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

[24:22] You do not delight in sacrifice or I would bring it. You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit.

[24:35] A broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole.

[24:52] Then bulls will be offered on your altar. Thanks be to God. Thank you, Sheena. Ask Malcolm to come up and pray for him as he opens up that word to us.

[25:10] That passage to us. Thank you, Malcolm. Father God, we thank you so much for the work of your Holy Spirit in the life of Malcolm and the preparation for this evening.

[25:23] Thank you for the words you've given him. And we pray that you'll use them, Lord, to bring us closer to you. We'll bring glory and honour to your name. We ask you for your glory. Amen.

[25:34] Amen. Thank you. Great to see you all this evening. Well done for coming out. I think we had the best bit of the day when we were praying upstairs. We had lots of rain as well.

[25:46] I hear that Anthony and Chris are just drying out after walking back after this morning's service. Psalm 51. You know we're having a summer of psalms. And Psalm 51 is one of my favourite psalms.

[25:59] I don't know. Is it anybody's favourite here? One or two. It's close to it. It's got 150 to choose for. So to have it as your favourite is pretty up there, isn't it?

[26:10] I want to just remind you of the circumstances that resulted in David writing this psalm. I don't think you'll need too much prompting. But you remember the armies of Israel were out doing battle in the spring.

[26:26] It's quite interesting with the Ukraine-Russia war when the spring is often a time, isn't it, when they seem to... the frozen wastes, that's sad. But it seems like it's an ongoing thing.

[26:37] And so it's springtime and you've got Joab out there fighting away for the people of Israel. They'll have a proper land that they can be safe in. And David is at home and he's just chilling.

[26:50] And one night he's having a little look around in the middle of the night and he sees Bathsheba and thinks, I want that. And so he asks her, well, asks her, tells one of his servants to bring her up, has his way with her and she falls pregnant.

[27:06] And he thinks, oh golly, how do I cover this up? And so he calls Uriah back from the front line where he's fighting for his king. Oh, let's just remember that.

[27:17] And he comes back and he sees the king, gives a report of all that's happened. And then he hopes, the king hopes, David hopes he's going to go back and sleep with his wife and he doesn't cover up the fact that she's pregnant.

[27:32] And he doesn't. He's too honourable. He sits and sleeps uncomfortably in the gates with the other servants of God.

[27:43] Because how could he go home when the people, the king, the servants of Israel are fighting in a foreign land? It gets worse. He tries to then the next night to get him drunk, hoping that he'll stumble back and won't know what happened during the night.

[27:58] But he doesn't go back to his home. He does the same again. He just waits and waits to go back to the front line for his king and the nation of Israel and his God.

[28:09] What an amazing guy Uriah is. And so David thinks, right, I've got to carry on the cover up. I'm going to send Uriah back with a note for Joab, the commander of the army.

[28:25] And the note basically says, put this man in the middle of the battle, make sure he dies. In fact, pull back the troops and leave him on his own. And strangely enough, Uriah dies.

[28:39] The cover up's complete. After the time of mourning, Bathsheba comes back to the palace, becomes one of King David's wives.

[28:50] It's a horrible, horrible story. And the Bible says that King David was a man after the Lord's own heart.

[29:02] Do you know that? Does it ever shock you? Well, King David found forgiveness. And we can see that in this psalm.

[29:15] So if he can find forgiveness, whatever we've done, wherever we've been, whatever situation in the world, whatever person we're looking at in the world that we think has done an unthinkable thing, there is forgiveness in Christ, in God, in the heart of God.

[29:33] And so with that in mind, we come to Psalm 51 with that context. And the question I suppose I have as I come to a psalm like this is, how on earth do you say sorry for what he did?

[29:51] And Psalm 51 shows us how. How do you say sorry when you've been so greedy and then you've committed adultery and then you've committed murder?

[30:04] How do you say sorry for that? Well, David discovered forgiveness. So if he can find it, so can we.

[30:15] And this message can be passed on to others, too. We're going to look at this in three sections. The first verse is the big one, I think, which is a key to the whole psalm in my view.

[30:29] And then we're going to look at verses 2 to 12, which looks at godly sorrow, focusing on the depth of our sin. And then finally, in verses 13 to the end, we'll see that godly sorrow builds up the church.

[30:45] So they're the three movements that we're going to be looking at. So starting with verse 1, just a beautiful verse. Let's just dwell on it and do have it out in front of you.

[30:56] Have mercy on me, O God. According to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

[31:10] I want you to notice that David focuses upon the love and the compassion of God. And very often when we have sinned, what do we focus on?

[31:22] Just a little help here. David's focus on our sin or the consequences of our sin. You know, we kind of go, I did this and then this awful thing happened, then this other thing happened. And we get caught up in that.

[31:34] And David quite clearly is caught up in God. In God's loving mercy. He talks about the unfailing love.

[31:47] This is the steadfast love, the chesed love of God. A loyal love, a committed love, a pledged and promised love to all who are his children.

[32:01] Are you his children? Then this is the love he has for each of you and all who will open their hearts to him. That's where he starts. And then the abundant mercy and compassion.

[32:15] Now, this is a phrase used, remember the story of Joseph, where his brothers come to him after they've sold him into slavery and now they want some food.

[32:26] And he tries, doesn't he, tries to sort of not want to either throttle them or cry or whatever. And he keeps, I don't know, I suppose he's got special clothes and all sort of the look of a great leader of Egypt.

[32:40] And eventually he just is broken. And he's broken in compassion for his brothers. Despite all that they have done, he is broken by the compassion for his brothers.

[32:57] And so, this is the kind of compassion and mercy that David calls to mind. The affectionate love, despite all that has been done.

[33:10] Now, I don't know about you, but if you spend time with a really devoted, loving friend, do you find you're able to share a little bit more vulnerably with them?

[33:22] Rather than somebody who's just got it all together, all sort of tucked in. It's very hard to be honest, isn't it, in those circumstances.

[33:33] And what David has discovered is that he can come to God because he knows the deep affections and the unfailing love, despite all that he has done.

[33:49] And this strangely, rather than making him want to, I don't know, make it look better, put his best foot forward, it enables him to be honest.

[34:01] It enables him to be true before his God. And so, he honestly repents.

[34:11] He honestly says sorry, deeply sorry to his God. He knows God. I wonder, when we do wrong, do we look to get a catalogue of things that can justify us?

[34:29] Or do we just immerse ourselves in the love and the compassion of God? And he knows everything. So, what are we trying to do to think that we are perfect?

[34:44] How wrong that would be. So, that's the first thing. And I think it's absolutely crucial. David calls to mind the compassion and mercy and deep love of God.

[34:58] So, for us, in our repentance before God. Perhaps, go for that first. Remind yourself of that first before we catalogue our failings, our most recent failings at least.

[35:12] The second section, from verse 2 to 12, is really digging into what one might describe as honest, godly sorrow and true repentance by facing up to our sin.

[35:29] You'll notice that the terms like blot out or wash away or cleanse come into this section. And David, if you like, realises he needs a deep clean.

[35:43] I don't know whether he'd have used that term. He's kind of like, you know, I remember when I was having my heart operation. And you have a lot of time as you lie on a bed just watching when you're in hospital.

[35:56] And the person who I think I was most impressed by was the cleaner. You know, they did an amazing job. I mean, they had to go under the bed, over the bed, all up the walls.

[36:10] And I think they were really going for the MRSA. They were going to get that MRSA one way or another. And it's like David realises that he needs a complete deep clean at a deepest, deepest level, not superficial.

[36:26] And his conscience is awakened. And it's as if, I don't know, in verse 3, I don't know whether you read that part or noticed that part where it says, And my sin is always before me.

[36:41] It did strike me as he looked at Bathsheba. Bathsheba, she grew with a pregnancy. I mean, there was quite a literal sense to his sin being before him.

[36:54] But I don't think he was quite meaning that. I think he was just realising, you know, he loved God and yet, look what he's done. He's killed someone. He's made this woman pregnant. And he's supposed to be the king, a man over to God's own heart.

[37:08] Really? What is going on here? Perhaps a bit like, I mean, I'm not a great English literature person, but a bit like Lady Macbeth.

[37:19] Did anybody study that at school or whatever? And she says, Here is the smell of blood. Not all the perfumes of in Arabia can wash these hands and cleanse them.

[37:30] It's got that sense of an indelible sense of corruption, of sin that is pervading David. And his sin is quite literally before him.

[37:41] And verse four, his sin is deep in direction. Fascinating, this verse. It says, Against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.

[37:56] Are there any thoughts in the room at this point? No, no, no. I mean, really.

[38:07] I mean, we tend to look at all the consequences and all the human casualties, don't we? And yet, David is really clear that it's the primary one to be concerned about in terms of sin is not all the other people.

[38:22] It's God. God is the primary one. All the others impacted, if you like, are secondary. Not secondary because they're not important, but secondary in the sense that this is the primary issue.

[38:34] It's sin against the Holy One, the perfect One. So fascinating that. So the sin is Godward.

[38:45] David's discovered the sin is Godward, in a Godward direction. Not only a deep sin, not only a sin that is in a Godward direction, but a sin that has a very deep origin.

[39:01] Going way, way back. Verse five. Have a look at this. Surely I was sinful at birth. Sinful from the time my mother conceived me before birth.

[39:14] Now, Matt's got a little boy now. He probably understands this in a whole new way. Yeah. Sinful at birth. Sinful even in the womb.

[39:26] Wow. I mean, Dawn had a pretty awful four pregnancies, didn't you? With terrible sickness. I think those babies were very naughty, causing much havoc. I'm not sure that's quite what it's going on about.

[39:39] It's just very, very clear that David has worked out that there's something going on in him that is deep. And it's been there from birth.

[39:51] And he's not trying to hide it. This is inherited for every human being. If ever you meet someone and you say, I can't believe they did that. Believe it.

[40:02] They are a son of Adam. They are sinful from birth, as all of us are. So, I guess we could go into a big discussion about original sin there, but we'll avoid that.

[40:17] Talk to Guy afterwards over coffee. So, our sin is deep. It's directed towards God. And it's a problem from birth. So, this is kind of like the sad and bad news of the text here.

[40:32] Verses 6 to 12 then try to sort of navigate this sin problem to work out exactly what's going on. Now, very often we look at the external circumstances.

[40:45] But David recognizes that those external circumstances of the adultery, of the murder, come from something deep within himself. And if you look at verse 6, he says, Surely, you desire truth in the inmost parts.

[41:04] I don't know which parts he's thinking about here. Sinful, sorry. You teach me wisdom in my inmost place. And then, going on to verse 8.

[41:18] The bones you have crushed. There's something that affects his bones. Something inward. Something deep. And then, verse 10. He says, Ultimately, the whole thing is a problem of the heart.

[41:32] Create in me a pure heart. Renew a steadfast spirit within me. Take away the heart of stone. Give me a heart of flesh.

[41:43] I think David is discovering. So, the whole of this awful situation that David is confessing before God is something that affects, that he's recognized comes from deep within him.

[41:59] That inward, heart-based, even the bones of his body are part of all that is going wrong and has resulted in this sin against the Lord.

[42:10] Now, I want you to notice in verse 10 that he doesn't simply ask for mercy and forgiveness. That's a good thing to do, isn't it? But do you notice he goes further?

[42:22] Have a look at verse 10. He says, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. So, he's saying, I not only want you to blot out all that is past, but I want you to do a transformative work in my inmost being so that my nature no longer is naturally sinning, but my nature is naturally loving and good and kind and true, bearing all the fruits of the Spirit.

[42:57] So that when we do sin, we say, Oh, how unnatural for me as a new creation in Christ. Do you follow me? Yes, we know it comes from that sinful nature, but as new creations, it's unnatural for us to sin, because he's given us a new and pure heart.

[43:17] Now, you'll notice, of course, for David, that adultery came out because adultery was in his heart. Cover up came out because deceit was in his heart.

[43:29] Murder came out because murder was in his heart. So what he wants to do, he's asking God to give him a new heart that change on the inside that impacts the outside.

[43:41] David doesn't do a cover-up job. He addresses God in the psalm, and he offers deep, godly sorrow that's drawn out by the love and compassion of God.

[43:55] So, last part, verses 13 to 19, Honest godly sorrow builds up the church. So if you can just turn to that section.

[44:07] It's a bit of a surprise in some ways. Now, I don't know what you think. If in the church press, this information about King David was thrown across all social media platforms, what do you think we ought to do with this awful leader?

[44:27] What do you think? Never again should they ever serve anywhere, wouldn't you say? Well, surprisingly, he says, verse 13, if God does all this transformative work in my heart, then I will teach transgressors your ways.

[44:48] Well, what do you think about that? Do you think it's on for King David to teach people about forgiveness, about a changed heart when he's done these terrible deeds? Or not if that's where he remains, but if he's discovered that God can change him on the inside, can transform him, can cleanse him, then he's in a good position.

[45:13] He's in fact, he's in the perfect position. It's like, I don't know, somebody who's, I don't know, those kind of conversion stories, you know, before I met Jesus, I used to do all these terrible things and then he changed my life.

[45:24] That's the kind of, that's the kind of witness that he can offer. You know, I don't deserve anything. I deserve God's judgment. But, wow, he's compassionate and merciful.

[45:35] What a God. What mercy. So David positions himself now as someone who can teach transgressors your ways.

[45:46] So next time you mess up or you feel that you've done something absolutely appalling, go to Psalm 51. Allow the Holy Spirit to enable you to speak out these words in truth and discover that rather than that sin tripping you up and causing you and invalidating you, it can be the very thing under the mercy of God and the transformative hand of God that can enable you to share from your weakness his strength and his mercy and his power.

[46:25] And then just, yeah, the thing which struck me about this in terms of reading Psalms is, you remember we said, as you read a Psalm, you need to understand the there and then.

[46:40] I think we've kind of done that with David, haven't we? We've understood the there and then as to what this means. And then we generally need to understand that Jesus would have been reading and praying these Psalms and then we can pray the Psalms, yeah?

[46:55] So I wanted us just to think for a moment how Jesus would have prayed this Psalm. Is that okay? Just to ponder on that. And I don't know how it must have been for him as the realisation of what he would have to do would have come through, particularly as we come to communion in a moment.

[47:17] You see, as New Testament believers, we read the Psalm in Christ. We read this Psalm knowing that Jesus has paid the price for all of our sins.

[47:30] And we not only see Jesus identifying with sinners, saying, you know, I know and I empathise with what you're going through. You're going through, I've experienced every temptation known to man.

[47:42] But Jesus becomes sin for us, says 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21. We see Jesus bearing the burden of sin.

[47:57] So we don't just see that mercy has been given to David. Compassion has been given. But we see God in Christ becoming sin.

[48:10] Being the one who is killed like Uriah was. You see, he felt the depravity and the cries and the desperate urgency.

[48:25] And he cries out for Uriah and for Bathsheba because he becomes sin. He knows the full depths of all the depravity of man, of every war, of every untruth, of every deceit.

[48:44] And this prayer is answered in Christ. This Psalm is answered in Christ. As we see the resurrection, Jesus shows us that there is a new beginning.

[48:58] There is a new creation. And we see that as he rises from the grave. Death has not won. Sin has not overcome the Lord of glory.

[49:09] And that he gives us a new heart. He is the first renewed heart of all. Perfected and eternal in glory.

[49:21] And in this way, as we pray this Psalm, with a heart, we cry. The cry of our hearts comes out by the Spirit in Christ.

[49:33] So, as New Testament believers, we know that our life is hidden in Christ in God. And the Holy Spirit reveals to us all the depths of what that means as Christ has prayed and lived out this prayer.

[49:48] So, I guess the question for each of us as we come to Psalm 51 is, will you and I, like David, come to God for the first time, the hundredth time, with a humble and a contrite heart?

[50:03] And ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us just how much we needed a Savior, how deep as sin was. It was a sin against God, primarily.

[50:16] And then to turn to Him and to remember His compassionate love, supremely revealed in Jesus. Now, we're going to be taking communion in just a moment.

[50:29] And I hope that this sermon will help us to enter in to this meal, this love feast, this compassionate offering of Christ to each one of us.

[50:44] So, let's just take a moment in prayer and meditate on this beautiful Psalm. We confess to you, loving Heavenly Father, that we, along with everyone here, have sinned and fallen short of your glory.

[51:13] Our sin is against you, supremely. We're sorry, Lord, that it's not a superficial thing, it's a very deep thing. It's something that goes back to our birth.

[51:29] We don't want to pretend that we're perfect or cover up things that we've done wrong. We want to be honest with you, our loving Heavenly Father.

[51:45] And we don't want to just confess these things. We would ask you to blot out, to wash away, and to do that work of transformation and renewal of our hearts.

[52:06] And Father, we thank you that where sin abounds, grace abounds more. So, in our broken places, we pray, Lord, that we will have a testimony.

[52:19] That you are gracious and merciful and powerful to save and to change. Call to mind, we ask you.

[52:31] Help us to call to mind those things where we know that you have come and done that work in our lives. And we pray that those bones that were aching and hurting will rejoice.

[52:54] Thank you, Father. Amen. Thank you. Thank you.

[53:17] Do you remember the first time you came to the cross when the Holy Spirit convicted you of sin? We're all in the same boat. We're all lost before Christ took hold of us.

[53:32] This song is a good reminder. A precious sight my Saviour stands, dying for me with outstretched hands. A precious sight I love to gaze, remembering salvation's day.

[53:46] May I never lose the wonder, the wonder of the cross. May I see it, like the first time, standing as a sinner lost. So easily forget, don't we?

[53:57] Let's stand and sing this one together. Have we got the right one? You're doing that one, aren't you? Oh, I think I made a mistake, didn't I? I didn't do. Either that or we're going to sing I Stand Amazed.

[54:11] I've got them both down there, so I just thought I'd give you a choice. I think we probably haven't got time, have we? Well, do the one you practiced.

[54:23] Which one? Oh, precious sight my Saviour stands.

[54:34] Yeah, thank you. O precious sight our Saviour stands, dying for me, with outstretched hands. O precious sight my Saviour stands, dying for me, with outstretched hands.

[54:55] O precious sight my Saviour stands, dying for me, with outstretched hands.

[55:08] O precious sight my love to gaze, remembering salvation's day, remembering salvation's day.

[55:23] Though my eyes linger on this sea, may passing time and years not steal, the power with which it impaints me, the freshness of its mystery.

[55:40] The freshness of its mystery. May I never lose the wonder, the wonder of the cross.

[55:57] May I see it like the first time, standing as a sinner lost, undone by mercy, and left speechless, watching wide-eyed at the cross.

[56:14] May I never lose the wonder, the wonder of the cross.

[56:25] Behold the God-man crucified, the perfect sinless sacrifice, as blood ran down those nails and wood, history was split in two, history was split in two.

[56:48] May I never lose the wonder, the wonder of the cross. Behold the empty wooden tree, his body gone, alive and free. I sing with everlasting joy, for sin and death have been destroyed.

[57:07] May I never lose the wonder, the wonder of the cross.

[57:18] May I never lose the wonder, the wonder of the cross. May I see it like the first time, standing as a sinner lost, undone by mercy, and left speechless, watching wide-eyed at the cross.

[57:38] May I never lose the wonder, the wonder of the cross.

[57:51] Thank you, Father God, for this lovely picture that Jesus was able to leave with us, a practical way of remembering. Thank you, in Jesus' name. Amen.

[58:02] Please be seated. Perhaps those who are able to come and serve, deacons, join with me. That's fine, you can go a little bit.

[58:31] This table is an invitation to all who love our Lord, and who are walking with him, who have committed their lives to him, and acknowledge that this cross is their salvation.

[58:45] And we remember the death and his resurrection at this time. Jesus said, Jesus was lifted up from the earth in three ways.

[59:04] Lifted up on the cross. Lifted up from the dead. And lifted up in his ascension to glory. Now is the time of judgment.

[59:17] The world is judged. You and I are judged. Now is the time for the prince of this world to be driven out. Satan has no place in God's kingdom.

[59:30] Sin and Satan have been defeated. Now is the time for the father and the son to be glorified. Father is glorified.

[59:41] The son is glorified. The immortal dies. This is the crunch. God became a man and died. Jesus, who never sinned, paid the penalty for us sinners.

[59:57] The price is paid. Think of the cost. How can we show gratitude? He took all my guilt and shame. So I do not have to hang on to it any longer.

[60:12] So the invitation here is the table of the Lord. We're gathered to his supper. A foretaste of things eternal. It's an invitation to all who are followers of Jesus.

[60:28] And who recognize that salvation comes through him. Come when you're fearful to be made new in love. Come when you're doubtful to be made strong in faith.

[60:43] Come when you're regretful and be made whole. Come old and young, there is room for all. We set aside our wisdom, our will, our words.

[60:57] We empty our hearts and bring nothing in our hands. We yearn for the healing, the holding and the accepting. The forgiving which Christ alone can offer.

[61:11] And so we come to this table and we're reminded that Jesus, on the night that he was betrayed, he took bread and he took it, gave thanks for it, broke it and said, this is my body which is given for you.

[61:30] Do this as often as you eat it in remembrance of me. So as we break the bread, we realize that Christ on the cross died for each one of us.

[61:44] And we give thanks. And he also lifted up the cup of the supper there. With him at the table were those he loved and one of which was going to betray him.

[61:56] And he took the cup and he said, this cup is the new agreement, the new covenant in my blood. And it's sealed with the blood of Jesus.

[62:07] No, as far as he's concerned, unbreakable. And he's given it to us. And he's just said, receive. And we receive forgiveness and salvation by faith, not by works.

[62:24] So we'll take the bread as we're served. We will eat it and we'll be reminded that Christ died for me. Well, you'll remember that he died for you. I remember that he died for me.

[62:36] And we'll give thanks. And as you pass it down the road, you might say, the body of Christ given for you.

[62:47] Thank you. I remember that he died for you.

[63:22] Tell us more to pass. Take a seriously, he creates the joy of God.

[63:34] etsversiftecle.com PO datumon...undaspie vot Hyundai circle Amen.

[64:15] Amen. Amen.

[65:09] So we give thanks for the cup as well. So it's interesting, isn't it, that Jesus, when he was on the cross, they handed him some vinegar wine on the hyssop stick, the cleansing.

[65:29] And as his blood was shed, our sins were washed away. We've been made clean. So as we receive the cup this time, we will hold it and then we'll drink together, remembering that Christ died for his church.

[65:46] He's building a church and we're part of it. What a privilege. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Him.

[65:57] Thank you. Amen. Amen.

[67:01] Amen. Amen.

[68:01] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Loving God, we thank you that you've nourished us at this table and through your word.

[68:34] And we pray for those who hunger and thirst for you, that they may be filled. And may we with them feast at the table of your eternal kingdom.

[68:49] This we ask through Jesus Christ, who was and is and is to come, and who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.

[69:01] Amen. Amen. Jesus said, as the Father has sent me, so I send you. Come, Holy Spirit, empower us with your love.

[69:13] Inspire us with your life. We're going to sing another song and then Chris Croft will bring our prayers of intercession.

[69:24] The next song is, here is love, vast as the ocean, loving kindness as the flood. When the Prince of life, our ransom, shed for us his precious blood.

[69:38] Who his love will not remember. Who can cease to sing his praise. He will never be forgotten throughout heaven's eternal days.

[69:49] Let's sing. Let's sing. Let's sing. Let's sing.

[70:13] Here is love, fast as the ocean, loving kindness as the flood.

[70:25] When the Prince of Life, our ransom, set for us his precious blood, who is not, will not remember, who can cease to sing his praise.

[70:47] He will never be forgotten throughout heaven's eternal days.

[70:58] Grace takes my sin, calls me friend, pays my debt completely.

[71:09] Love rescued me, seated me with my King forevermore.

[71:28] On the Mount of Crucifixion, fountains opened deep and wide.

[71:40] Through the floodgates of God's mercy flowed a vast and gracious tide.

[71:50] Grace and love like mighty rivers poured incessant from above.

[72:01] Heaven's peace and perfect justice kissed a guilty world in love. Grace takes my sin, calls me friend, pays my debt completely.

[72:22] Love rescued me, seated me with my King forevermore.

[72:34] Let me all your love accepting, love you ever all my days.

[72:52] Let me seek your kingdom only, and my life be to your praise.

[73:03] Your Lord shall be my glory, nothing in the world I see.

[73:13] You have cleansed and sanctified me. God himself has set me free.

[73:25] Grace takes my sin, calls me friend, pays my debt. God completely, love rescued me, completely. Love rescued me, seated me with my King forever.

[73:44] Grace takes my sin, calls me friend, pays my debt completely. Grace takes my sin, calls me friend, pays my debt completely.

[73:54] Love rescued me, seated me with my King forevermore.

[74:06] Love rescued me, seated me with my King forever.

[74:23] So just a couple of verses from Psalm 46. Be still and know that I am God.

[74:37] I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us.

[74:48] The God of Jacob is our fortress. And so in the stillness of this moment, may we each know in the different seasons of our lives that the Lord Almighty is our fortress.

[75:04] So let's pray.

[75:34] Lord, Lord, Lord, we pray for those who don't know you. And Lord, we pray for those who don't know you, that through these services they would come to hear your word and know you.

[75:49] And Lord, we pray for them. And Lord, we just pray for Malcolm as he leads these services and shares your word. Father, give him the wisdom, the compassion, and the strength that he might need in that.

[76:07] And as we remember those, we lift to you, those in our congregation, Lord, who are mourning the loss of recent loved ones.

[76:19] May they too know that you are their fortress in this season. And Father, we pray for our wider church family, for those who live alone, for those in family groups.

[76:33] You call us, Lord, to be your community together in this place. And we pray that you would help each one of us to love, to encourage, to pray for, and to serve one another.

[76:48] Father, we particularly lift our children and young people to you at this time and over the coming weeks, as some will be preparing to start school or move schools.

[77:02] Father, we pray that each one would know you as their friend and saviour, who has a plan for their lives.

[77:16] And we would give thanks too for all those who work and support schools. May this summer be a period of refreshment and renewal, despite work that might need to be done.

[77:32] Father, we thank you for Matt being with us this evening. And we just pray for Matt and Rachel and Jack, as they are in the UK at this time.

[77:45] Father, too, as they're serving you here, that they would have a real sense of renewal and refreshment, Lord. We continue to pray for Chris Magdalow in Tanzania.

[77:58] And Father, we thank you for the news, even this afternoon, that the preaching this morning went well. And we just ask that as he moves on to a new project later this week, that you would keep him safe whilst he is travelling.

[78:15] And you'd be preparing new opportunities for Chris to share the good news of Jesus through word and deed. And finally, Lord, we want to continue to pray for the Living Stones project as we move closer to the work starting in September.

[78:35] Lord, for the preparation needed and the upheaval that this will cause. We particularly pray for the Living Stones project as we move closer to the work starting in September. We pray for the Living Stones project team, especially Colin.

[78:46] And for our hub team, too, Lord. For their interactions with Beaks and the builders that will come on site. Lord Jesus, may your fragrance flood this place despite the upheaval.

[78:59] And that those who come into this place would just sense that and just taste and see that you are good.

[79:12] So, Father, we lift these prayers to you this evening in your name. May your name be glorified, Lord. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Chris.

[79:25] When Jesus saves us, he saves us for a purpose, and it's to send us out. And I don't know whether you worry about it when Jesus might send you.

[79:36] He might send you to Perth. He might send you to Africa. I'm hoping Hawaii might be mine. But I came across this song while I was preparing for tonight.

[79:51] And I wonder if it might say anything to you. So, perhaps we could just ponder on it as a close in what our response might be to what we've heard tonight.

[80:01] If it's bandaging the broken, washing filthy feet.

[80:18] If it's bandaging the broken, washing filthy feet. Here I am, Lord. Send me. If it's loving one another.

[80:29] Even when we don't agree. Here I am, Lord. Send me.

[80:39] If I'm poor. If I'm wealthy. I serve you just the same.

[80:52] Here I am, Lord. Send me. Send me. On the mountain, on the valley.

[81:03] I will choose to praise. Here I am, Lord. Send me. If I know my how I love.

[81:17] Let my life reflect how much I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

[81:28] And before you even ask. Oh, my answer will be yes. Cause I love you. I love you.

[81:43] I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. And if the truth cuts like an arrow. I will say it anyway.

[81:56] Cause here I am, Lord. Send me. And if it means that they'll reject me.

[82:07] Lord, I will still obey. Cause here I am, Lord. Send me. And if I'm known by how I love.

[82:21] Let my life reflect how much I love you. I love you.

[82:32] And before you even ask. Oh, my answer will be yes. Cause I love you.

[82:43] Oh, I love, love you. Amen, I love, love you. I love you. With my Éline and the Lord. Verse 2, Jeovia.

[82:54] Yes. Oh, my но dis peligrosя Moi That in feeling's faith I love you. I can up�� save you. But I'll get one more acres naive. You're the light now. No, take the time when they do.

[83:06] And to pray I may not lightsify 01. Oh, my dayулярine and burning. I feel like they're ill-z caracter. Can feel good on energy. Turn down early. And hunting, I will, To Al Goren straight in my heart.

[83:17] Here I am Lord, send me. Here I am Lord, send me. Here I am Lord, send me.

[83:37] Oh if I know how I love, let my life reflect how much I love you. I love you.

[83:52] And before you begin, I'll hold my hands so well be yes. Cause I love you. I love you. Oh if I know how I love, let my life reflect how much I love you.

[84:17] Oh I love you. And before you begin, I'll ask my answer well be yes.

[84:28] Cause I love, oh how I love you. Oh how I love you.

[84:41] With everything, with all my dreams, with all my hopes, how I love you. You can have it all. You can have it all.

[85:03] You can have it all. I don't know if your hearing is better than mine. I couldn't hear a lot of those words. If you want to hear it when you're at home, I can give you the link for it or look it up, send me.

[85:18] I think the response of any time we read God's Word or come to this table, it's our response is, send me.

[85:30] Send me. And it's not necessarily overseas. It might be in your home. It might be in your school. It might be in your work. It might be at the door at the school.

[85:43] I don't know where it might be, but there's somebody that God is sending us to every day. And this week, I think there are six days in this week before next Sunday.

[85:54] So that's at least six times we can say, I'm sure, to somebody that Jesus loves them. Let's close by a blessing. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace and be thankful.

[86:15] Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

[86:33] And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen.

[86:46] I'm not sure if we've got tea or coffee afterwards, have we? We have. Do stay and join us for tea and coffee if you can. Thank you very much. Bless you.

[87:03] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.