WEBVTT

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 So we're going to begin our worship now. We're going to sing, first of all, tonight from Psalm 96a.

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 Psalm 96a on page 126. The tune is Strakathro, verses 1 to 10.

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 O sing a new song to the Lord, sing praises to His name, and His salvation day by day let all the earth proclaim.

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 His glory and His mighty deeds to every land declare, How great and awesome is the Lord, with Him no gods compare.

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 And that's Psalm 96a, verses 1 to 10. If we stand to sing, if you're able, please.

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 O sing a new song to the Lord, sing praises to His name.

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 And that's Psalm 96a, verses 1 to 10.

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 And that's Psalm 96a, verses 1 to 10.

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 The Lord, in heaven's high.

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 Of our grand majesty, He has it.

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 He dwells in glorious light.

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 All nations to the Lord, ascribe the glory that is due.

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 And He Him, we go and share, How pure and saith to God, How pure and thee É

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 His choice with joy and faith, and offering with you.

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 Worship the Lord, and holy fear, all the land before Him bow.

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 Tell them, we land, the Lord is King, established is the earth, and cannot do.

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 The Lord will judge, that we need the sin is true.

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 Let's now engage in prayer. Let's all call upon the name of the Lord.

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 Our gracious and almighty God, as we gather once again here in your presence this evening,

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 we thank you for the many promises that meet us as we come around your word.

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 We thank you especially for the promise of your presence,

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 for you are pleased, Lord, to present yourself among your people,

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 to reveal yourself to them through your word, through the operation of your Holy Spirit.

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 We thank you, Lord, as we anticipate such a blessing once again this evening,

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 for we need to take your word at face value,

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 and believe your promises as they're set out for us.

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 We thank you, Lord, for that prospect.

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 We thank you for the way in which that presence of God

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 truly sanctifies our hearts,

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 and sanctifies even our place of worship.

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 We bless you tonight, Lord, that you are worthy of our worship.

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 You have revealed this to us in your word,

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 all the reasons why we come to worship you,

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 and ascribe praise and glory and thanksgiving to you.

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 We acknowledge you, Lord, as our creator,

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 the one who has brought us into being,

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 the one who formed us in our mother's womb,

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 the one who took charge of our destiny from our conception

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 and right through to our end in death.

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 Lord, we give thanks that we can come and place ourselves anew in your hands this evening.

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 And we know that to do so places ourselves in the custody

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 and the security that you provide for your people.

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 Lord, we thank you that you have remembered us,

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 poor sinners who are lost without you,

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 that you have not cast us away from you,

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 even though this is what we would deserve.

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 And you have remembered us in your pity,

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 look down upon us in your compassion,

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 and especially that you have provided for us

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 a deliverance, a salvation from our sins

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 to bring us into that wonderful state of redemption.

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 We thank you tonight, Lord, for your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And we bless you, Lord, as our Father in heaven,

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 that you sent your Son into this world,

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 that you sent him in such a way as took our nature to himself,

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 forevermore binding together the deity that he had from all eternity

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 and the humanity that he took to himself

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 to be formed and fashioned as a man.

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 Lord, we give thanks for the wonder of his person,

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 the glory of his person,

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 the beauty of his person,

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 the sinlessness of his person.

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 And we thank you especially for all that has been achieved

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 through his work here in this world,

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 for all that he continues to do in this intercession from heaven

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 as he remembers his people.

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 Lord, we pray tonight that we may know you

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 as that Lord and Savior of your church,

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 that we may know you for ourselves in such a way

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 as would fall before you in adoration and in awe and praise,

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 and truly be persuaded that you are the only God

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 and that you are the only God we need.

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 We thank you tonight, Lord,

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 for every way in which your blessing reaches us from day to day,

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 from week to week in the course of life.

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 When we reflect, Lord,

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 on each Lord's Day at the beginning of each new week,

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 we can cast our minds back to many ways

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 in which we have come to experience your blessing.

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 Lord, we acknowledge with shame

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 that so often we receive gifts and blessings from you

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 that we are sometimes all too unaware of,

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 and that our lives are so filled with things

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 that we do from day to day

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 that we take so little time to pause

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 and to reflect upon the goodness of God.

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 Lord, forgive us, we pray,

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 for when our lives fail to give you the thanks,

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 fail to give you the trust

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 that you are worthy of.

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 And remember us then, Lord,

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 we pray this evening

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 so that we will dwell in your presence for a time

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 and that we will know that having dwelt in your presence,

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 we leave this place, Lord, today

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 better than when we came,

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 improved in our relation with you

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 and with each other,

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 and grown in our knowledge of you,

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 in our appreciation and love for you,

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 and in our determination to serve you.

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 Bless us, Lord, we pray,

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 as a congregation during this coming week.

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 Lord, we give thanks for all the activities

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 that we anticipate during this week to come

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 as we do week by week.

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 And we thank you for all that this entails,

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 for the many encouragements it brings us

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 to see so many people actively engaged

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 in your service in the congregation.

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 And we do pray for all of these activities,

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 O Lord,

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 as they go on from week to week.

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 And we pray especially again

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 for the work going on amongst our children

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 and young people

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 and young adults.

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 We commend that to you

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 once again

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 and give thanks

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 for all the parents

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 and all the teachers

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 and all the leaders

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 who provide, Lord,

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 such encouragement for us.

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 And we're so concerned

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 to bring their young people

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 and children to church

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 and to experience for themselves

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 what it is to belong

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 to a believing

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 and worshiping congregation.

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 We remember, too,

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 O Lord,

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 tonight those who have

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 particular difficulties

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 and challenges in life.

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 Remember those

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 who are ill at this time.

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 Remember those

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 who are seriously ill.

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 Remember those

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 who may be terminally ill.

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 We commend them to you, O Lord,

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 and ask that you'd graciously

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 bless them all.

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 We pray that you'd bless

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 those who mourn

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 the passing of loved ones.

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 We think of these families,

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 Lord, tonight

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 who are preparing

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 for funerals

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 in these days to come.

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 Remember each

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 and all of these families,

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 Lord, we pray.

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 Grant them your blessing

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 and your comfort.

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 Grant to them

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 that you would draw near to them

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 and as they know

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 in their hurting hearts,

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 O Lord,

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 the reality of death

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 coming into their family circle.

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 May they know, too,

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 the reality

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 of your Holy Spirit,

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 blessing your word to them

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 and giving them

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 the comfort

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 and the upholding

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 and the strengthening

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 that you alone

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 are able to bring.

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 And we ask, too,

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 that you'd bless Shawnee,

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 who owns the county hotel.

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 And, Lord,

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 we know what took place

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 in the fire there last week.

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 And we, Lord,

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 pray for him

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 and pray for his staff

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 at this time

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 as they seek to adjust

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 and to move on

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 from that event.

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 We thank you

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 for the way that,

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 while the damage

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 was not insignificant,

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 yet we give thanks

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 that it was not worse

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 and was not what

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 it could have been.

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 We pray, Lord,

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 for all the emergency services,

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 especially the fire service

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 who took place,

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 who gave in a place

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 in their own place,

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 Lord,

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 who gave such valuable

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 assistance at that time.

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 And we commend to you

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 all our emergency services

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 as they serve us

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 in our community

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 from week to week.

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 We ask that you'll bless them.

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 We ask that you'll keep them safe,

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 especially at such times

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 as these,

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 oh, Lord,

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 when the potential for injury

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 is so much heightened.

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 And we thank you

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 for your protective care of them.

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 And we pray that you'll give

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 Shawnee and the staff

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 the means by which

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 they will move on

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 as the hotel,

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 whenever it reopens,

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 that they will know

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 your blessing

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 and know your provision

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 for them,

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 Lord,

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 in these days to come.

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 And we ask that you

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 would bless us now

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 as we continue

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 in your presence.

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 We think of other items,

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 Lord,

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 that were mentioned

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 in our bulletin sheet today.

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 We remember especially

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 Kenny John in Uganda.

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 And we pray for him

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 and we pray for the work

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 that he's involved with

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 and the different aspects

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 of that work.

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 And God is good Africa.

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 Remember him

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 and remember all

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 who work with him,

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 Lord,

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 and come alongside him

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 and remember all

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 who are helped

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 by that mission.

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 We pray too

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 for those families

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 in Uganda

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 who lost

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 their young ones,

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 oh, Lord,

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 so recently

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 in that terrible act

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 of violence.

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 Oh, Lord,

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 we pray that

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 you would draw near

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 to them

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 and that whatever

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 they may be in life,

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 we pray that they

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 will turn to you

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 and that they will know

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 your blessing

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 at this time

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 coming to speak

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 into their hurting souls.

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 And we ask

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 that you would,

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 as we are thankful,

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 Lord,

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 for a relative peace

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 that we experience,

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 remember all other places

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 like this

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 throughout the world

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 who today

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 cannot be peacefully

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 at rest

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 and who have violence

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 and terror

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 to contend with

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 each and every day

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 of their lives.

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 Gracious one,

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 bless our world,

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 bless our world

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 with the gospel,

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 bless our world

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 with the spreading

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 of that good news

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 of Jesus Christ,

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 bless our world

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 with peace,

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 the peace that comes

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 from above.

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 Grant these mercies

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 to us, we pray,

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 as we lay them all

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 before you

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 in our prayers,

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 seeking pardon

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 from all our sin,

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 for Jesus' sake.

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 Amen.

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 Let's continue

00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:28.659
 to praise God.

00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.519
 We're singing this time

00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:32.120
 from Psalm 138.

00:13:33.079 --> 00:13:33.939
 Our singing again

00:13:33.939 --> 00:13:35.339
 is from the Sing Psalms version.

00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:36.699
 Psalm 138

00:13:36.699 --> 00:13:38.179
 on page 179,

00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:40.879
 verses 1 to 6,

00:13:40.959 --> 00:13:42.100
 the tune is rocking him.

00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:44.399
 I'll praise you, Lord,

00:13:44.459 --> 00:13:45.360
 with all my heart.

00:13:45.959 --> 00:13:46.779
 Before the gods

00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:48.079
 I'll sing your praise.

00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:49.579
 I'll bow towards

00:13:49.579 --> 00:13:50.539
 your holy place

00:13:50.539 --> 00:13:52.740
 and bless your holy name

00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:53.759
 always.

00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:54.959
 Psalm 138

00:13:54.959 --> 00:13:56.879
 on page 179,

00:13:56.980 --> 00:13:58.059
 singing the verses

00:13:58.059 --> 00:13:59.439
 marked 1 to 6

00:13:59.439 --> 00:14:00.279
 to God's praise.

00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:10.279
 I'll praise you, Lord,

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:13.839
 with all my heart.

00:14:13.839 --> 00:14:18.079
 Before the gods

00:14:18.079 --> 00:14:23.179
 I'll sing your praise.

00:14:23.179 --> 00:14:32.219
 I'll bow to your holy place

00:14:32.219 --> 00:14:39.279
 unless your holy name

00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:40.179
 always.

00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:51.179
 I'll praise you for your faithfulness

00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:56.179
 and for your God.

00:14:56.179 --> 00:14:56.719
 And for your God,

00:14:56.719 --> 00:14:57.879
 and for your love,

00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:01.500
 O Lord,

00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:07.659
 for over all things

00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:11.099
 you have praised

00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:14.100
 your holy name.

00:15:14.100 --> 00:15:15.100
 Your holy name,

00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:15.779
 your holy name,

00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:20.100
 unfaithful word.

00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:30.500
 The very day I call to you,

00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:35.500
 You gave an answer

00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:39.500
 to my plea.

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:44.500
 You made me bold

00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:49.500
 within myself

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:53.500
 with beauty song

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:58.500
 You strengthened me.

00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:01.500
 O Lord,

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:03.500
 let all

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:06.500
 have kings

00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:08.500
 give praise

00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:13.500
 when from your mouth

00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:18.500
 they hear your word.

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:21.500
 let them extol

00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:25.500
 the ways of God

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:33.500
 for it's the glory

00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:37.500
 of the Lord.

00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.500
 Lord,

00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:42.500
 although the Lord

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:47.500
 God dwells on high,

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:52.500
 the lowly person

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:56.500
 He protects,

00:16:56.500 --> 00:17:01.500
 whereas the proud

00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:06.500
 and for dim one

00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:11.500
 He knows how far

00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:15.500
 the heart we share.

00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.500
 Amen.

00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:20.500
 Our reading tonight

00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:21.200
 from God's Word

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.500
 is from the book of Exodus.

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.500
 Exodus chapter 2.

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:29.500
 Just the last few verses

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.500
 of Exodus chapter 2

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.500
 from verse 23

00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:35.500
 and reading on into chapter 3

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.500
 as far as verse 12.

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.500
 Exodus chapter 2

00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:43.500
 So Exodus 2

00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.500
 at verse 23

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.500
 During those many days

00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:48.500
 the king of Egypt died

00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:50.500
 and the people of Israel

00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:52.500
 groaned because of their slavery

00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:53.500
 and cried out for help.

00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:55.500
 Their cry for rescue

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:57.500
 from slavery came up to God.

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.500
 And God heard their groaning

00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:01.500
 and God remembered His covenant

00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:02.500
 with Abraham,

00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:04.500
 with Isaac and with Jacob.

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:07.500
 God saw the people of Israel

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.500
 and God knew.

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:11.500
 Now Moses was keeping the flock

00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:12.500
 of his father-in-law Jethro,

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.500
 the priest of Midian,

00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.500
 and he led his flock

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.500
 to the west side

00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.500
 of the wilderness

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:19.500
 and came to Horeb,

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.500
 the mountain of God.

00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.500
 And the angel of the Lord

00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.500
 appeared to him

00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.500
 in a flame of fire

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:26.500
 out of the midst of a bush.

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.500
 He looked and behold

00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.500
 the bush was burning,

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:31.500
 yet it was not consumed.

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.500
 And Moses said,

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:34.500
 I will turn aside

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:36.500
 to see this great sight,

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:38.500
 why the bush is not burned.

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.500
 When the Lord saw

00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:41.500
 that he turned aside

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.500
 to see,

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.500
 God called to him

00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.500
 out of the bush,

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:45.500
 Moses, Moses.

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.500
 And he said,

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.500
 Here I am.

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.500
 Then he said,

00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.500
 Do not come near.

00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.500
 Take your sandals

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.500
 off your feet,

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.500
 for the place

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:55.500
 on which you are standing

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.500
 is holy ground.

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.500
 And he said,

00:18:58.500 --> 00:18:59.500
 I am the God of your father,

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:01.500
 the God of Abraham,

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.500
 the God of Isaac,

00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.500
 and the God of Jacob.

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:06.500
 And Moses hid his face,

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.500
 for he was afraid

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.500
 to look at God.

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.500
 Then the Lord said,

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.500
 I have surely seen

00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.500
 the affliction

00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.500
 of my people

00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.500
 who are in Egypt,

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.500
 and I have heard their cry

00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:17.500
 because of their taskmasters.

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.500
 I know their sufferings,

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.500
 and I have come down

00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.500
 to deliver them

00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:23.500
 out of the hand

00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.500
 of the Egyptians,

00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.500
 and to bring them up

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.500
 out of that land

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:28.500
 to a good and broad land,

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.500
 a land flowing

00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.500
 with milk and honey,

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.500
 to the place

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:32.500
 of the Canaanites,

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.500
 the Hittites,

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.500
 the Amorites,

00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.500
 the Perizzites,

00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.500
 the Hivites,

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.500
 and the Jebusites.

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:39.500
 And now behold,

00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.500
 the cry of the people

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.500
 of Israel has come

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.500
 to me,

00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.500
 and I have also seen

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.500
 the oppression

00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:46.500
 with which the Egyptians

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.500
 oppress them.

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.500
 Come,

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.500
 I will send you

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.500
 to Pharaoh,

00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:51.500
 that you may bring

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.500
 my people,

00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.500
 the children of Israel,

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:54.500
 out of Egypt.

00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:56.500
 But Moses said to God,

00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:58.500
 Who am I that I should go

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.500
 to Pharaoh,

00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.500
 and bring the children

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:02.500
 of Israel out of Egypt?

00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.500
 He said,

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.500
 But I will be with you,

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:06.500
 and this shall be the sign

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:08.500
 for you that I have sent you.

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.500
 When you have brought

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.500
 the people out of Egypt,

00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:12.500
 you shall serve God

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:14.500
 on this mountain."

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.500
 And so on.

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:18.500
 Again, we pray for God's blessing

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.500
 to follow our reading

00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:20.500
 of His Word,

00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.500
 and as we come to look

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:22.500
 at this passage

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.500
 in a short time.

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:25.500
 We'll sing again

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.500
 before then,

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.500
 in Psalm 99,

00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.500
 in the Scottish Psalter,

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:30.500
 Psalm 99,

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:33.500
 that's on page 361.

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:38.500
 We're singing verses 1 to 5,

00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:40.500
 the tune of Covenanters.

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:42.500
 The eternal Lord

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:44.500
 doth reign as King,

00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:46.500
 let all the people quake.

00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:48.500
 He sits between the cherubims,

00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.500
 let the earth be moved

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.500
 and shake.

00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.500
 The Lord in Zion,

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:54.500
 great and high above all people is.

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:56.500
 Thy great and dreadful name,

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.500
 for it is holy,

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:59.500
 let them bless.

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.500
 Psalm 99,

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:03.500
 these verses 1 to 5.

00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:16.500
 May 10 enter as Emily

00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:27.500
asto's a god maisnets,...

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.500
 they are the great and part is

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:32.500
 not in water in the 12th list.

00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:40.940
 Let the earth be moved and shake.

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:47.059
 It sits between the cherubims.

00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:52.160
 Let the earth be moved and shake.

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:59.980
 The Lord in Zion, great and high above,

00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:03.720
 All people is.

00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:11.819
 Thy great undreadful name for it is holy.

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:15.200
 Let them bless.

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:20.920
 His holy, let them bless.

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:26.200
 His holy, let them bless.

00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:34.799
 Thy great undreadful name for it is holy.

00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:38.140
 Let them bless.

00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:43.660
 The King's strength also judgment,

00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:48.820
 And love's so setless equity.

00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:56.640
 Just judgment thou dost execute,

00:22:57.000 --> 00:23:01.400
 And Jacob righteous thee.

00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:07.400
 And Jacob righteous thee.

00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:13.000
 And Jacob righteous thee.

00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:19.900
 Just judgment thou dost execute,

00:23:20.280 --> 00:23:24.540
 And Jacob righteous thee.

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:31.839
 The Lord has got exalted upon high,

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:36.839
 And reverently to ye.

00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:43.619
 Before his boots to worship him,

00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:48.180
 The holy one is he.

00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:54.180
 The holy one is he.

00:23:54.180 --> 00:24:00.080
 The holy one is he.

00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:06.180
 Faith on his boots to worship him,

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:11.480
 The holy one is he.

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:18.360
 If you turn with me please now to Exodus chapter 3,

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:22.140
 And this evening I'm going to look at verses 1 to 10.

00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:27.279
 Exodus chapter 3, verses 1 to 10.

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:35.700
 When you come to read verse 4 here of this chapter,

00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:42.779
 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see God call to him out of the bush,

00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:44.380
 Moses, Moses.

00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:52.259
 That is the first time God had spoken for 400 years to the people of Israel.

00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:57.019
 The last time God spoke to the people of Israel before that

00:24:57.019 --> 00:25:01.299
 was back in Genesis 46, verses 1 to 4,

00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:03.799
 where you find God addressing Jacob

00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:08.160
 as he prepared to go down to Egypt with his family.

00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:11.119
 And during those 400 years,

00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:15.460
 not a word had been heard of a revelation from God

00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:18.680
 to add to what he had said up to that point.

00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:21.960
 And now we're coming in Exodus 3

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:26.259
 to the next stage of God's plan for his people.

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.059
 It's not a new plan.

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:30.440
 Nothing's changed in that respect.

00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:34.299
 But after all that time without hearing the voice of God,

00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:36.920
 God again comes to speak to them,

00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.819
 to reveal himself to them,

00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:40.599
 to give them instructions,

00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:43.779
 and to provide especially for them the leadership

00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:46.240
 that Moses is going to bring to them

00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:48.839
 to deliver them from Egypt

00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:51.559
 and from their bondage and slavery there.

00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:56.339
 In chapter 2, verses 24 to 25,

00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:57.399
 which we also read,

00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:59.720
 we see that God heard that groaning

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:01.279
 and God remembered his covenant

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:05.339
 with Abraham and Isaac and with Jacob.

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:09.799
 And that takes you back to chapter 15 of Genesis.

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:13.179
 Just flick through to there.

00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:14.500
 I'll just read the verses for you.

00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:18.639
 Chapter 15 of Genesis, verses 13 to 16,

00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:20.740
 where God there speaks to Abraham

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:22.520
 and the promise that he gave to Abraham,

00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.420
 which is now being picked up again

00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:27.060
 as you come to Exodus chapter 3.

00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:30.560
 There in Genesis 15, at verse 13,

00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:32.360
 God spoke as following.

00:26:32.780 --> 00:26:34.280
 And following, he said to Abraham,

00:26:34.780 --> 00:26:37.020
 know for certain that your offspring

00:26:37.020 --> 00:26:40.080
 will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs,

00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:41.000
 that meant Egypt,

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:43.020
 and will be servants there.

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:45.980
 And they will be afflicted for 400 years.

00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:48.579
 But I will bring judgment on the nation

00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:49.420
 that they serve,

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:51.619
 and afterwards they shall come out

00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:53.379
 with great possessions.

00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:55.559
 So it goes back to there,

00:26:55.639 --> 00:26:57.660
 to the promise given to Abraham.

00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.660
 And then all of this time,

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:04.180
 since he spoke to Jacob shortly after that,

00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:06.139
 God had been silent.

00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:09.819
 And you can see that in chapter 3 here,

00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:13.139
 this is not a new plan that God is formulating.

00:27:13.939 --> 00:27:15.099
 It's not as if he's saying,

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:17.139
 well, all these years have come to pass.

00:27:17.419 --> 00:27:19.200
 They're now past these 400 years,

00:27:19.399 --> 00:27:20.919
 and I haven't spoken a word

00:27:20.919 --> 00:27:22.259
 to reveal myself further.

00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:24.779
 So here is my new plan.

00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:27.099
 This has always been God's plan.

00:27:27.419 --> 00:27:29.559
 The 400 years of silence

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:32.039
 were as much a part of God's plan

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.099
 as anything else.

00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:35.639
 They fitted into that program

00:27:35.639 --> 00:27:37.319
 that God had for his people.

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:41.919
 And so the whole thing is just one long chain

00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:43.939
 of events or non-events,

00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:46.159
 but everything is within the plan

00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:47.480
 that God had for them.

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:50.659
 And for the past 80 years,

00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:53.819
 at this moment in this chapter 3 of Exodus,

00:27:54.139 --> 00:27:56.759
 for the previous 80 years before then,

00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:59.179
 God had been preparing one man,

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.980
 this man Moses,

00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:04.200
 for the task of leading the people of Israel

00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:06.900
 out of their slavery in Egypt.

00:28:07.580 --> 00:28:09.180
 The remarkable career of Moses.

00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:12.960
 He was 40 when he had to flee from Egypt,

00:28:13.340 --> 00:28:14.340
 having killed an Egyptian,

00:28:14.600 --> 00:28:17.539
 and ended up in the land of area of Midian,

00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:21.420
 where he took a wife and had a son.

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:24.100
 And now after that time,

00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:25.460
 40 years has elapsed,

00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:28.039
 and he's been in Midian for 40 years,

00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:30.779
 and God is sending him back to Egypt

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:32.059
 to lead the people out.

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:34.379
 And then the next 40 years of his life,

00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:36.799
 he'd be leading them through the desert

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:39.859
 until they're in sight of the promised land.

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:43.079
 Three periods of 40 years

00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.480
 in the life of this one man.

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.259
 And all of that,

00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:48.659
 or the first two of these periods,

00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.720
 the 80 years,

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:52.279
 are all to do with God preparing him

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:54.759
 for this mammoth task

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:56.399
 of taking the people,

00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:59.220
 leading the people out of Egypt.

00:28:59.899 --> 00:29:00.940
 And you notice in verse 1

00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:02.240
 what it says about him,

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.119
 he was keeping,

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.839
 shepherding the flock

00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:06.420
 of his father-in-law Jethro,

00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.899
 the priest of Midian,

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:10.279
 and led his flock

00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:12.259
 to the west side of the wilderness,

00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.599
 and he came to Horeb,

00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:15.279
 the mountain of God.

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:17.259
 Why does that strike you

00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:20.319
 as somewhat remarkable?

00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:22.700
 Well, if you go back to chapter 46,

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:25.939
 it tells us what the people of Egypt

00:29:25.939 --> 00:29:27.899
 thought of shepherds.

00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:30.079
 When Joseph and his family

00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:31.399
 came down to Egypt,

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:33.839
 chapter 46 and verse 34,

00:29:34.439 --> 00:29:37.839
 this is what Joseph instructed Jacob to say,

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.240
 you shall say,

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.980
 your servants have been keepers of livestock

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:42.539
 from our youth even until now,

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:44.139
 both we and our fathers,

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:45.460
 in order that you may dwell

00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:46.700
 in the land of Goshen,

00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:48.620
 for every shepherd

00:29:48.620 --> 00:29:51.460
 is an abomination to the Egyptians.

00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:53.480
 Now, why is that important?

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.799
 It's important because

00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:57.100
 when it came to Moses being here,

00:29:57.559 --> 00:29:59.680
 being sent back to Egypt,

00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:01.200
 having spent these years,

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.200
 God preparing him

00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:03.299
 for this great task,

00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:04.640
 you can see from that

00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:06.539
 that God does not act

00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:08.259
 according to human wisdom.

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.920
 If the question were asked,

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.279
 what sort of person

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.460
 would I prepare

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:14.000
 if God were to ask us

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:15.079
 to go back to Egypt

00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:16.559
 to lead my people out of Egypt,

00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.759
 you wouldn't actually think

00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.500
 of a shepherd.

00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.740
 You wouldn't think

00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:20.340
 that a shepherd

00:30:20.340 --> 00:30:21.640
 would have any place in Egypt

00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:22.660
 where shepherding

00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:24.319
 was an abomination to the people.

00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:26.360
 If you're going to ask the question

00:30:26.360 --> 00:30:27.880
 as you come into the New Testament,

00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:29.500
 what kind of woman

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.960
 would actually bear

00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:33.019
 the humanity of our Lord,

00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:34.799
 the Son of God incarnate

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.759
 as He came into this world,

00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.640
 what kind of woman

00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:37.759
 would give birth

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:39.259
 to the Lord Jesus Christ?

00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.680
 You might say,

00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:42.700
 well, surely if He's the Son of God

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:43.340
 as He is,

00:30:43.560 --> 00:30:44.440
 and He's coming to take

00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:45.759
 human nature to Himself,

00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:47.340
 surely it would be somebody

00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:48.759
 of a high status,

00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.480
 somebody like a princess.

00:30:52.120 --> 00:30:55.620
 No, He chose a poor woman

00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:57.360
 betrothed or engaged

00:30:57.360 --> 00:30:59.100
 to a man who was certainly

00:30:59.100 --> 00:31:00.380
 not worthy to Joseph.

00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:04.080
 And all of that reminds us tonight

00:31:04.080 --> 00:31:06.600
 of how God operates.

00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:10.080
 God does not actually pay attention

00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.319
 in that way,

00:31:11.379 --> 00:31:11.960
 in that sense,

00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:13.519
 to people who might think

00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.720
 of themselves as fit

00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:17.119
 and worthy to be used by God

00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:18.659
 in the advance of His kingdom.

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.539
 Very often,

00:31:19.679 --> 00:31:20.960
 as Paul says to the Corinthians,

00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:22.000
 it's those things

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.159
 that the world sees

00:31:23.159 --> 00:31:24.139
 as ignoble,

00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:25.240
 as too simple,

00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:26.480
 as just not worthy

00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.619
 to be considered at all.

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.599
 The kind of people

00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:29.599
 that you would never place

00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:31.539
 in the world's standards

00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.480
 in a position

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:34.460
 of meaningful importance.

00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:37.519
 No, God does that.

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:40.460
 God takes people like you and I.

00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:42.920
 God takes people

00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:45.759
 who are just ourselves,

00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:47.759
 really nothing whatsoever

00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.579
 in His presence

00:31:48.579 --> 00:31:50.240
 in terms of ability,

00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.740
 but He takes us

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.579
 and He puts us

00:31:52.579 --> 00:31:53.579
 and says,

00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:54.379
 right,

00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.200
 I'm choosing you

00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:57.139
 to be a servant,

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.579
 to lead my people.

00:31:59.099 --> 00:32:00.180
 That's what He's saying here

00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:01.539
 about Moses.

00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:03.819
 God's choices

00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:05.619
 and God's methods,

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:07.119
 they don't fit in

00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:08.700
 with worldly standards,

00:32:08.859 --> 00:32:09.839
 with worldly ideas,

00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:11.420
 with human wisdom

00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:12.339
 and human thinking.

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.859
 He has His own mind

00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:14.819
 and His own mind

00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:15.720
 is always superior.

00:32:15.899 --> 00:32:17.480
 As He said to Isaiah,

00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:19.899
 my thoughts are not your thoughts,

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:21.279
 neither are my ways

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.500
 your ways.

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:24.599
 So let's just be

00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:26.359
 in awe of God

00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:28.759
 and reflect tonight

00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:31.460
 upon how He operates

00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:33.619
 according to His standard,

00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:35.079
 to His knowledge,

00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:36.400
 to His wisdom

00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:38.380
 and carries through

00:32:38.380 --> 00:32:39.359
 His great plan

00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:40.420
 of redemption,

00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:42.819
 sometimes through people

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.980
 that you wouldn't have thought

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:45.640
 at all would be suitable

00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:48.160
 for fitting into that plan.

00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:50.160
 Well, two things

00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:51.519
 we want to look at here.

00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.099
 First of all,

00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:54.359
 how Moses meets with God

00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:56.279
 and some of what took place there

00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:58.079
 as he came to stand

00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.700
 in the vicinity

00:32:58.700 --> 00:33:00.019
 of this burning bush.

00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:02.139
 Moses meeting with God,

00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:04.779
 verses 2 to 5 of the chapter,

00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:06.960
 and then from verse 6 onwards,

00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:08.440
 we'll say something about

00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:10.279
 how God revealed Himself

00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.079
 to Moses.

00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:13.220
 So Moses meets with God

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:14.859
 and God reveals Himself

00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:15.740
 to Moses.

00:33:16.639 --> 00:33:18.299
 Here you find in verse 2,

00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:19.160
 the angel of the Lord

00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:19.799
 appeared to him

00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:21.160
 in a flame of fire

00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:22.460
 out of the midst

00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:23.240
 of a bush.

00:33:23.340 --> 00:33:23.779
 And he looked,

00:33:23.860 --> 00:33:24.300
 and behold,

00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:25.640
 the bush was burning,

00:33:26.040 --> 00:33:27.920
 yet it was not consumed.

00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:28.700
 Here was this

00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:30.279
 remarkable phenomenon.

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.100
 It wasn't a dream

00:33:31.100 --> 00:33:31.620
 that he had.

00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:32.440
 It wasn't something

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:33.220
 that was unreal.

00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:33.980
 It wasn't something

00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:34.740
 that was other than

00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:35.580
 just literal,

00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.420
 actual,

00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:38.000
 a bush burning

00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:39.560
 there in the wilderness.

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:42.180
 And it was on fire,

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.940
 very much on fire,

00:33:44.060 --> 00:33:44.920
 and yet the wood,

00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:47.500
 the substance of that bush,

00:33:47.580 --> 00:33:48.640
 was not burnt up,

00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:49.520
 totally against

00:33:49.520 --> 00:33:50.660
 what normally happens.

00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:52.060
 When you light a fire,

00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:52.720
 whether it's wood

00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.180
 or whatever,

00:33:53.780 --> 00:33:55.520
 the fire devours

00:33:55.520 --> 00:33:56.480
 the material

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:59.320
 that it burns upon

00:33:59.320 --> 00:34:01.780
 until it goes into ashes.

00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.700
 Well, here is a bush.

00:34:04.560 --> 00:34:05.600
 It was on fire.

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:07.160
 Flames were appearing

00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:07.759
 out of it,

00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:09.800
 but it was not being burnt up.

00:34:10.200 --> 00:34:12.059
 It remained in its substance

00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:14.140
 the bush it had always been.

00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:16.119
 What did that indicate?

00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:17.400
 What is that about?

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.659
 What does that teach us?

00:34:18.759 --> 00:34:20.839
 It's a famous symbol

00:34:20.839 --> 00:34:21.599
 as it was used

00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.259
 by the church

00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.219
 down through the ages.

00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:25.059
 Well, it indicated,

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:26.219
 as we'll see,

00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:28.099
 that God's presence was there.

00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:29.460
 Look at what you read there.

00:34:29.819 --> 00:34:30.940
 The angel of the Lord

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:31.980
 appeared to him

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:34.219
 in the midst of a bush.

00:34:35.839 --> 00:34:37.199
 Now, the angel of the Lord,

00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:38.279
 as you know,

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:40.819
 is a figure that appears

00:34:40.819 --> 00:34:41.739
 at different stages

00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:42.759
 in the Old Testament.

00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:45.120
 And sometimes he appears

00:34:45.120 --> 00:34:46.940
 and speaks for God,

00:34:47.520 --> 00:34:48.420
 but actually sometimes

00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:50.860
 he appears and speaks as God.

00:34:51.660 --> 00:34:52.460
 So, it's actually

00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:54.740
 a manifestation of God

00:34:54.740 --> 00:34:56.540
 in a certain appearance

00:34:56.540 --> 00:34:58.220
 in such a way

00:34:58.220 --> 00:34:59.380
 that takes the appearance

00:34:59.380 --> 00:35:01.740
 of the angel here,

00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:02.740
 or sometimes it could be

00:35:02.740 --> 00:35:03.720
 in the form of a human,

00:35:04.520 --> 00:35:05.980
 but the angel of the Lord

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:07.520
 is a manifestation

00:35:07.520 --> 00:35:09.120
 by God of himself.

00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:11.440
 And it's not improper

00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:13.179
 to actually see it

00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:14.960
 as we treat it carefully.

00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:16.559
 It's a manifestation

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:19.199
 of the second person

00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:19.900
 of the Trinity

00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:22.019
 who came to be incarnate,

00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:23.199
 to take out human nature

00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:24.619
 in Jesus Christ.

00:35:25.319 --> 00:35:26.400
 And if you carefully

00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:27.359
 protect the fact

00:35:27.359 --> 00:35:29.400
 that he only became incarnate

00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:30.579
 at that stage

00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:31.239
 we read of

00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:32.259
 in the New Testament,

00:35:32.779 --> 00:35:34.719
 it's still not illegitimate

00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:36.039
 to say that this was

00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:37.460
 a manifestation of God.

00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:39.460
 What came to be more clearly

00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:40.679
 the second person

00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:41.360
 of the Trinity

00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:42.639
 in the New Testament

00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:44.119
 taking out human nature

00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:44.679
 to himself.

00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:45.800
 That's a whole area

00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:46.440
 of theology.

00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.220
 It's something that has

00:35:47.220 --> 00:35:48.380
 been studied down

00:35:48.380 --> 00:35:49.000
 through the years

00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:49.980
 very profitably

00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:50.760
 and still has a lot

00:35:50.760 --> 00:35:51.440
 of mystery to it.

00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:52.740
 But here is the angel

00:35:52.740 --> 00:35:53.440
 of the Lord,

00:35:53.780 --> 00:35:54.679
 this figure,

00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:56.000
 appearing to him

00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:57.699
 in a flame of fire

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.940
 out of the midst

00:35:58.940 --> 00:35:59.780
 of the bush.

00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:00.480
 Now, I think it's probably

00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:02.260
 better translating that

00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:03.780
 that the angel of the Lord

00:36:03.780 --> 00:36:04.579
 appeared to him

00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:06.940
 as a flame of fire.

00:36:07.779 --> 00:36:09.000
 As a flame of fire.

00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:10.819
 Not just in a flame of fire.

00:36:11.119 --> 00:36:11.920
 The angel of the Lord

00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:13.360
 appeared as a flame.

00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:14.259
 He took the form

00:36:14.259 --> 00:36:15.599
 of this flame

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:16.759
 in the midst of this bush

00:36:16.759 --> 00:36:17.400
 that was burning

00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:18.819
 and was not consumed.

00:36:21.319 --> 00:36:22.000
 Now, as you know,

00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:22.960
 the Scottish church

00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:25.079
 took the burning bush

00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:26.159
 as its emblem

00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:27.840
 way back in history

00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:30.380
 and that still remains

00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:31.280
 with us.

00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:32.559
 And very often

00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:34.820
 it had the Latin inscription

00:36:34.820 --> 00:36:35.800
 underneath from

00:36:35.800 --> 00:36:37.180
 the Hebrew text here,

00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:39.240
 nektamin consumabater,

00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:40.579
 which means

00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:42.300
 yet it was not consumed

00:36:42.300 --> 00:36:43.260
 from the words

00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:44.059
 that you find there

00:36:44.059 --> 00:36:45.240
 in verse 2.

00:36:45.620 --> 00:36:46.059
 He looked,

00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:47.600
 the bush was burning,

00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:49.280
 yet it was not consumed.

00:36:50.160 --> 00:36:50.700
 And sadly,

00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:51.400
 I think when

00:36:51.400 --> 00:36:52.700
 our own church

00:36:52.700 --> 00:36:54.360
 reconfigured

00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:55.059
 the emblem

00:36:55.059 --> 00:36:56.079
 of the burning bush

00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:57.279
 that you find now,

00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:58.239
 it's just like

00:36:58.239 --> 00:37:00.019
 three flames

00:37:00.019 --> 00:37:00.860
 appearing,

00:37:01.079 --> 00:37:01.799
 but there's nothing there.

00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:03.199
 There are no words there.

00:37:03.279 --> 00:37:04.840
 The Latin phraseology

00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:05.380
 has been

00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:06.759
 just rubbed away.

00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.599
 There's nothing there,

00:37:07.659 --> 00:37:08.039
 which I think

00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:08.659
 is a great pity

00:37:08.659 --> 00:37:09.719
 because you cannot

00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:10.779
 really understand

00:37:10.779 --> 00:37:11.199
 the symbol

00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:12.279
 without the words.

00:37:13.420 --> 00:37:14.059
 And the words

00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:14.699
 actually mean

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:16.179
 nektamin consumabater

00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:16.699
 means

00:37:16.699 --> 00:37:18.559
 yet it was not consumed.

00:37:18.659 --> 00:37:19.000
 It takes you

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:20.000
 to the whole essence

00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:21.139
 of what happened here

00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:22.400
 in the days of Moses.

00:37:23.179 --> 00:37:23.980
 That's a bit of a moan,

00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:24.519
 but never mind.

00:37:24.759 --> 00:37:25.199
 It's something

00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:26.199
 that I think is important

00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:27.139
 in its own right.

00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:28.480
 Anyway,

00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:30.299
 what it represented

00:37:30.299 --> 00:37:30.960
 was that

00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:32.639
 not so much

00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.779
 the bush

00:37:33.779 --> 00:37:34.439
 representing

00:37:34.439 --> 00:37:35.319
 the church

00:37:35.319 --> 00:37:38.199
 and persecution

00:37:38.199 --> 00:37:39.719
 represented

00:37:39.719 --> 00:37:40.679
 by the flames,

00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:41.939
 and yet the church

00:37:41.939 --> 00:37:44.059
 was not destroyed.

00:37:44.339 --> 00:37:45.079
 That's how it was

00:37:45.079 --> 00:37:46.259
 traditionally looked at,

00:37:46.799 --> 00:37:47.859
 but I think it's better

00:37:47.859 --> 00:37:48.919
 really to,

00:37:49.399 --> 00:37:50.579
 if we can be so bold

00:37:50.579 --> 00:37:51.159
 as to say,

00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:52.239
 that it's better

00:37:52.239 --> 00:37:52.980
 to regard

00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:54.260
 the flames

00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:54.860
 in the bush

00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:55.820
 as indicative

00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:57.179
 of the presence

00:37:57.179 --> 00:37:58.240
 of God.

00:37:58.500 --> 00:37:59.260
 The presence

00:37:59.260 --> 00:38:00.240
 of God

00:38:00.240 --> 00:38:01.380
 in His people

00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:02.000
 or in the midst

00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:02.619
 of His people,

00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:03.880
 and yet they are not

00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:04.360
 consumed,

00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:05.500
 which itself

00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:06.760
 is a remarkable thing,

00:38:06.940 --> 00:38:08.019
 that God should actually

00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:09.440
 dwell in the midst

00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:10.679
 of a sinful people

00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:11.960
 that He makes holy,

00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:13.019
 and yet they are not

00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:13.539
 consumed.

00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:14.699
 They are not brought

00:38:14.699 --> 00:38:16.059
 under His wrath

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:16.800
 in such a way

00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:18.960
 as just lays upon them

00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:20.019
 what they deserve

00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:21.059
 for their sins.

00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:23.519
 So you see here,

00:38:24.199 --> 00:38:25.460
 God called them,

00:38:26.380 --> 00:38:27.099
 in verse 4,

00:38:27.679 --> 00:38:28.699
 out of the bush.

00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:30.119
 In other words,

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.480
 the bush there

00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.380
 and the flames

00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:33.159
 in the bush

00:38:33.159 --> 00:38:33.980
 were to do

00:38:33.980 --> 00:38:34.800
 with the presence

00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:35.500
 of God,

00:38:35.639 --> 00:38:37.280
 the holy burning

00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:38.619
 presence of God.

00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:40.099
 And while the bush

00:38:40.099 --> 00:38:41.139
 was not consumed,

00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:42.659
 there is a representation

00:38:42.659 --> 00:38:43.380
 for you

00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:44.259
 of the miracle

00:38:44.259 --> 00:38:44.940
 of the wonder

00:38:44.940 --> 00:38:45.500
 of grace

00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:46.440
 that God comes

00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:47.219
 to live

00:38:47.219 --> 00:38:47.699
 in the midst

00:38:47.699 --> 00:38:48.400
 of His people

00:38:48.400 --> 00:38:49.840
 as the holy God

00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:50.500
 because He doesn't

00:38:50.500 --> 00:38:51.340
 change His holiness.

00:38:51.800 --> 00:38:52.579
 He doesn't actually

00:38:52.579 --> 00:38:53.800
 leave His holiness

00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:54.740
 as it were aside

00:38:54.740 --> 00:38:56.119
 or limit that holiness

00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:57.000
 in any sense

00:38:57.000 --> 00:38:58.220
 in order to dwell

00:38:58.220 --> 00:38:58.980
 amongst us

00:38:58.980 --> 00:38:59.599
 as a people.

00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:02.019
 It is the holy God,

00:39:02.860 --> 00:39:03.720
 the God who is

00:39:03.720 --> 00:39:04.780
 as holy today

00:39:04.780 --> 00:39:05.780
 as He was

00:39:05.780 --> 00:39:06.820
 in the days of Moses,

00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:07.559
 as He was

00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:08.460
 from all eternity.

00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:09.740
 He was perfectly holy,

00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:10.639
 righteous,

00:39:10.940 --> 00:39:11.440
 pure.

00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:13.900
 And this is the God

00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:15.200
 who dwells today

00:39:15.200 --> 00:39:15.940
 with His people

00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:16.559
 and in the midst

00:39:16.559 --> 00:39:17.240
 of His people.

00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:20.460
 And God called Him

00:39:20.460 --> 00:39:22.119
 out of the midst

00:39:22.119 --> 00:39:22.780
 of the bush.

00:39:23.539 --> 00:39:24.579
 So there you find

00:39:24.579 --> 00:39:26.480
 this remarkable phenomenon.

00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:28.240
 So remarkable

00:39:28.240 --> 00:39:29.619
 that Moses

00:39:29.619 --> 00:39:31.160
 went to draw near

00:39:31.160 --> 00:39:31.900
 to the bush.

00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:33.559
 It drew his attention.

00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:34.900
 It stimulated

00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.800
 his curiosity.

00:39:36.019 --> 00:39:37.039
 How could this be?

00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:38.139
 How could there be

00:39:38.139 --> 00:39:38.760
 such a thing

00:39:38.760 --> 00:39:39.420
 as a bush

00:39:39.420 --> 00:39:40.079
 in the desert

00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:41.519
 burning really

00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:42.119
 with fire,

00:39:42.200 --> 00:39:43.160
 with real fire,

00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:44.400
 and yet that bush

00:39:44.400 --> 00:39:45.400
 is not consumed?

00:39:45.680 --> 00:39:46.320
 The wood

00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:47.340
 is not being burnt up.

00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:48.240
 What is this?

00:39:48.239 --> 00:39:49.399
 Moses turned aside

00:39:49.399 --> 00:39:50.339
 to see.

00:39:50.419 --> 00:39:50.819
 He said,

00:39:51.359 --> 00:39:52.519
 I will turn aside

00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:53.079
 to see

00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:54.519
 this great sight

00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:55.079
 why the bush

00:39:55.079 --> 00:39:55.859
 is not burned.

00:39:56.739 --> 00:39:57.479
 When the Lord

00:39:57.479 --> 00:39:58.619
 saw that he turned aside

00:39:58.619 --> 00:39:59.000
 to see,

00:39:59.099 --> 00:39:59.939
 God called to him

00:39:59.939 --> 00:40:00.500
 out of the bush

00:40:00.500 --> 00:40:02.039
 and said,

00:40:02.099 --> 00:40:02.859
 Moses, Moses,

00:40:02.939 --> 00:40:03.259
 and he said,

00:40:03.299 --> 00:40:03.839
 here am I.

00:40:04.679 --> 00:40:04.979
 He said,

00:40:05.019 --> 00:40:05.799
 don't come near.

00:40:06.379 --> 00:40:07.199
 Take your sandals

00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:07.979
 off your feet

00:40:07.979 --> 00:40:09.279
 for the place

00:40:09.279 --> 00:40:10.379
 on which you are standing

00:40:10.379 --> 00:40:13.019
 is holy ground.

00:40:13.019 --> 00:40:17.599
 Moses is stopped

00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:19.639
 as he seeks

00:40:19.639 --> 00:40:20.400
 to draw near

00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:21.480
 to get a closer

00:40:21.480 --> 00:40:22.119
 look at this

00:40:22.119 --> 00:40:23.139
 remarkable bush.

00:40:24.280 --> 00:40:25.579
 And God stops him.

00:40:26.079 --> 00:40:26.880
 God stops him

00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:27.679
 by calling out

00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:28.079
 his name,

00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:28.639
 Moses.

00:40:29.179 --> 00:40:29.659
 Moses.

00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:30.679
 And it's actually

00:40:30.679 --> 00:40:32.300
 a personal summons

00:40:32.300 --> 00:40:33.940
 where God is speaking

00:40:33.940 --> 00:40:34.440
 to Moses

00:40:34.440 --> 00:40:35.800
 and actually stopping

00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:36.699
 him at that moment

00:40:36.699 --> 00:40:38.119
 by repeating his name

00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:38.559
 which really

00:40:38.559 --> 00:40:39.619
 is a summons

00:40:39.619 --> 00:40:40.259
 to him to come

00:40:40.259 --> 00:40:41.000
 and pay attention

00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:41.780
 to what God

00:40:41.780 --> 00:40:42.840
 is now going to say.

00:40:45.619 --> 00:40:46.519
 And that's really

00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:48.420
 where our service

00:40:48.420 --> 00:40:49.320
 of God begins,

00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:49.900
 isn't it,

00:40:49.920 --> 00:40:50.619
 for ourselves.

00:40:52.179 --> 00:40:53.559
 We come to serve God

00:40:53.559 --> 00:40:54.519
 not because we wake up

00:40:54.519 --> 00:40:55.159
 one day and say,

00:40:55.440 --> 00:40:55.960
 I think it would be

00:40:55.960 --> 00:40:56.480
 a good idea

00:40:56.480 --> 00:40:57.179
 to be a Christian

00:40:57.179 --> 00:40:58.519
 or I think it would be

00:40:58.519 --> 00:40:59.059
 a good idea

00:40:59.059 --> 00:40:59.860
 to be a minister

00:40:59.860 --> 00:41:00.579
 in the church.

00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:02.880
 That's not where

00:41:02.880 --> 00:41:03.800
 our service begins.

00:41:03.900 --> 00:41:04.860
 It begins in our

00:41:04.860 --> 00:41:06.199
 meeting with God.

00:41:06.519 --> 00:41:08.059
 It begins with God

00:41:08.059 --> 00:41:08.900
 bringing us

00:41:08.900 --> 00:41:09.900
 to know himself,

00:41:10.059 --> 00:41:10.780
 to be interviewed

00:41:10.780 --> 00:41:11.540
 by himself,

00:41:11.720 --> 00:41:12.820
 to speak to him

00:41:12.820 --> 00:41:13.840
 and for him to speak

00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:14.980
 to us through his word.

00:41:15.600 --> 00:41:16.380
 And it doesn't matter

00:41:16.380 --> 00:41:17.380
 whether we're in pulpits

00:41:17.380 --> 00:41:18.760
 or whether like yourselves

00:41:18.760 --> 00:41:19.760
 you serve God

00:41:19.760 --> 00:41:20.820
 in different ways.

00:41:20.940 --> 00:41:21.980
 That's where our service

00:41:21.980 --> 00:41:22.420
 begins.

00:41:22.700 --> 00:41:23.600
 It begins with our

00:41:23.600 --> 00:41:24.860
 personal meeting

00:41:24.860 --> 00:41:25.340
 with God,

00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:26.860
 our personal relationship

00:41:26.860 --> 00:41:27.500
 with God,

00:41:27.740 --> 00:41:28.720
 our personal meeting

00:41:28.720 --> 00:41:29.320
 with God

00:41:29.320 --> 00:41:30.300
 in such a way

00:41:30.300 --> 00:41:31.100
 as reveals himself

00:41:31.100 --> 00:41:32.600
 to us savingly.

00:41:33.280 --> 00:41:33.940
 And as we come

00:41:33.940 --> 00:41:34.940
 to be saved

00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:35.980
 and brought to know him

00:41:35.980 --> 00:41:37.220
 through Jesus Christ,

00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:38.780
 he sets us on our way

00:41:38.780 --> 00:41:39.620
 to serve him.

00:41:39.619 --> 00:41:41.259
 And that's where

00:41:41.259 --> 00:41:43.619
 our service begins.

00:41:44.440 --> 00:41:45.319
 And that is

00:41:45.319 --> 00:41:46.420
 very important.

00:41:47.719 --> 00:41:49.239
 And Moses responds,

00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:51.259
 Here I am.

00:41:52.539 --> 00:41:53.739
 You often find that

00:41:53.739 --> 00:41:55.159
 in different parts

00:41:55.159 --> 00:41:55.980
 of the Old Testament

00:41:55.980 --> 00:41:56.519
 especially

00:41:56.519 --> 00:41:58.159
 where God is addressing

00:41:58.159 --> 00:41:59.159
 someone like Moses

00:41:59.159 --> 00:42:00.859
 or maybe it's Isaiah

00:42:00.859 --> 00:42:01.519
 or others

00:42:01.519 --> 00:42:02.739
 where he calls to them

00:42:02.739 --> 00:42:03.719
 and repeats their name

00:42:03.719 --> 00:42:04.839
 as summoning him

00:42:04.839 --> 00:42:05.659
 into his presence

00:42:05.659 --> 00:42:06.480
 and where their

00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:07.500
 immediate response is,

00:42:07.839 --> 00:42:08.659
 Here I am.

00:42:09.259 --> 00:42:10.099
 Here am I.

00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:12.359
 In other words,

00:42:12.460 --> 00:42:13.859
 Moses is standing there

00:42:13.859 --> 00:42:15.139
 ready to serve,

00:42:15.739 --> 00:42:16.940
 responding to the call

00:42:16.940 --> 00:42:17.399
 of God,

00:42:17.799 --> 00:42:18.739
 responding to the voice

00:42:18.739 --> 00:42:19.500
 that speaks to him

00:42:19.500 --> 00:42:20.199
 out of the bush,

00:42:20.399 --> 00:42:21.199
 the voice he knows

00:42:21.199 --> 00:42:22.460
 is the voice of God.

00:42:24.359 --> 00:42:25.279
 Here I am.

00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:31.820
 And God says to him,

00:42:32.820 --> 00:42:34.360
 Do not come near.

00:42:35.360 --> 00:42:36.260
 Take your sandals

00:42:36.260 --> 00:42:37.060
 off your feet

00:42:37.060 --> 00:42:38.800
 for the place

00:42:38.800 --> 00:42:39.880
 on which you are standing

00:42:39.880 --> 00:42:42.040
 is holy ground.

00:42:44.040 --> 00:42:46.019
 It wasn't holy ground before.

00:42:47.300 --> 00:42:48.540
 It wouldn't necessarily

00:42:48.540 --> 00:42:49.940
 be holy ground afterwards.

00:42:50.860 --> 00:42:51.980
 Why is it holy ground

00:42:51.980 --> 00:42:52.820
 there and then?

00:42:53.300 --> 00:42:54.539
 It is holy ground

00:42:54.539 --> 00:42:55.980
 because God is there.

00:42:56.300 --> 00:42:57.059
 It's holy ground

00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:58.360
 because the holy God

00:42:58.360 --> 00:42:58.880
 is there.

00:42:59.200 --> 00:43:00.000
 It's holy ground

00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:01.099
 because God has chosen

00:43:01.099 --> 00:43:02.179
 to make his presence

00:43:02.179 --> 00:43:03.300
 live there

00:43:03.300 --> 00:43:04.579
 for that moment at least.

00:43:05.039 --> 00:43:05.780
 That's what makes

00:43:05.780 --> 00:43:07.059
 a person holy

00:43:07.059 --> 00:43:08.400
 when God comes

00:43:08.400 --> 00:43:09.320
 to bring them

00:43:09.320 --> 00:43:10.260
 to himself,

00:43:10.380 --> 00:43:11.099
 to reveal himself

00:43:11.099 --> 00:43:11.720
 to them,

00:43:12.179 --> 00:43:13.000
 sanctifies them,

00:43:13.220 --> 00:43:14.220
 sets them apart,

00:43:14.619 --> 00:43:15.760
 lives in their lives.

00:43:15.920 --> 00:43:16.659
 That's what makes

00:43:16.659 --> 00:43:18.320
 a place a holy place.

00:43:18.599 --> 00:43:19.240
 A holy place

00:43:19.239 --> 00:43:20.019
 is not a place

00:43:20.019 --> 00:43:21.099
 because it's associated

00:43:21.099 --> 00:43:22.399
 with something in the past,

00:43:23.139 --> 00:43:23.819
 something to do

00:43:23.819 --> 00:43:24.559
 with religion.

00:43:24.979 --> 00:43:26.039
 It's not a holy place

00:43:26.039 --> 00:43:27.239
 because people have chosen

00:43:27.239 --> 00:43:28.699
 to regard it

00:43:28.699 --> 00:43:32.259
 and label it as holy.

00:43:33.439 --> 00:43:34.179
 There are many places

00:43:34.179 --> 00:43:35.179
 in the world today

00:43:35.179 --> 00:43:36.919
 where there are no longer

00:43:36.919 --> 00:43:37.779
 church services

00:43:37.779 --> 00:43:39.519
 or any services held at all

00:43:39.519 --> 00:43:40.399
 where there are just

00:43:40.399 --> 00:43:41.259
 empty buildings

00:43:41.259 --> 00:43:42.279
 and people will tell you,

00:43:42.339 --> 00:43:43.279
 no, you go into that place

00:43:43.279 --> 00:43:45.000
 and it just feels so different.

00:43:45.139 --> 00:43:45.899
 It feels so holy.

00:43:46.159 --> 00:43:47.099
 Well, maybe that's the case.

00:43:47.319 --> 00:43:48.699
 But what makes a place holy

00:43:48.699 --> 00:43:50.599
 it's the presence of God.

00:43:52.779 --> 00:43:54.519
 And when God is in a place,

00:43:54.719 --> 00:43:55.939
 that place is holy

00:43:55.939 --> 00:43:58.119
 while God makes His presence

00:43:58.119 --> 00:43:58.659
 known there,

00:43:58.719 --> 00:44:00.000
 while God is present there

00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:01.279
 here tonight.

00:44:04.159 --> 00:44:05.460
 God's presence.

00:44:07.219 --> 00:44:08.819
 God being in a place

00:44:08.819 --> 00:44:09.559
 through His people

00:44:09.559 --> 00:44:10.439
 or in His people,

00:44:10.980 --> 00:44:12.960
 it renders this place sacred.

00:44:12.960 --> 00:44:15.019
 It's not sacred

00:44:15.019 --> 00:44:16.500
 because of its history.

00:44:17.240 --> 00:44:18.000
 It's not sacred

00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:19.960
 because of whose congregation

00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:21.699
 actually uses it.

00:44:22.980 --> 00:44:24.079
 It is sacred

00:44:24.079 --> 00:44:25.500
 because it's associated

00:44:25.500 --> 00:44:28.380
 with the divine presence of God.

00:44:29.659 --> 00:44:31.440
 And when God is present,

00:44:33.039 --> 00:44:34.699
 as Moses has instructed,

00:44:35.699 --> 00:44:37.539
 you approach very carefully.

00:44:37.539 --> 00:44:40.239
 you pay regard

00:44:40.239 --> 00:44:41.300
 to what God's presence

00:44:41.300 --> 00:44:42.079
 is about

00:44:42.079 --> 00:44:44.699
 and whose presence it is.

00:44:45.440 --> 00:44:46.920
 This holy God,

00:44:47.420 --> 00:44:48.639
 this pure God.

00:44:49.199 --> 00:44:50.199
 He had to take off

00:44:50.199 --> 00:44:51.460
 His sandals of His feet

00:44:51.460 --> 00:44:52.920
 because I think His sandals

00:44:52.920 --> 00:44:53.860
 would have had

00:44:53.860 --> 00:44:55.059
 some dirt on them,

00:44:55.119 --> 00:44:56.039
 some dust on them.

00:44:56.619 --> 00:44:57.639
 That would have been itself

00:44:57.639 --> 00:44:58.659
 a representation,

00:44:59.059 --> 00:44:59.400
 if you like,

00:44:59.420 --> 00:45:00.320
 of defilement.

00:45:00.579 --> 00:45:01.759
 And He wasn't to carry that

00:45:01.759 --> 00:45:02.880
 into the presence of God.

00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:03.920
 Take off your sandals

00:45:03.920 --> 00:45:05.119
 for the place on which

00:45:05.119 --> 00:45:05.699
 you're standing

00:45:05.699 --> 00:45:06.719
 is holy ground.

00:45:07.359 --> 00:45:08.259
 And whenever we come

00:45:08.259 --> 00:45:10.219
 into the presence of God,

00:45:10.839 --> 00:45:11.779
 we should be conscious

00:45:11.779 --> 00:45:12.819
 that we're always coming

00:45:12.819 --> 00:45:13.739
 into holy ground,

00:45:14.059 --> 00:45:15.239
 onto holy ground.

00:45:16.439 --> 00:45:17.559
 We're coming to deal

00:45:17.559 --> 00:45:18.559
 with God ourselves

00:45:18.559 --> 00:45:20.159
 in our personal,

00:45:20.339 --> 00:45:21.439
 individual sense.

00:45:23.119 --> 00:45:25.599
 We don't draw near to God

00:45:25.599 --> 00:45:27.359
 and stand as if we had

00:45:27.359 --> 00:45:28.619
 a right to His audience.

00:45:30.279 --> 00:45:31.859
 We don't come into His presence

00:45:31.859 --> 00:45:32.939
 without being conscious

00:45:32.939 --> 00:45:35.359
 of the defilement of our sin,

00:45:35.360 --> 00:45:36.220
 even when we know

00:45:36.220 --> 00:45:38.059
 that our sin has been forgiven,

00:45:38.220 --> 00:45:39.099
 that we are cleansed

00:45:39.099 --> 00:45:40.320
 by the blood of Christ,

00:45:40.460 --> 00:45:41.820
 that we are His people.

00:45:41.960 --> 00:45:43.420
 We still come into His presence

00:45:43.420 --> 00:45:45.820
 and we acknowledge His holiness.

00:45:46.039 --> 00:45:47.599
 We acknowledge His perfect holiness

00:45:47.599 --> 00:45:48.740
 because His holiness

00:45:48.740 --> 00:45:49.940
 has not changed.

00:45:50.180 --> 00:45:51.120
 Even if He's changed

00:45:51.120 --> 00:45:52.380
 our lives for the good,

00:45:53.079 --> 00:45:53.940
 you still come into

00:45:53.940 --> 00:45:55.059
 the presence of God

00:45:55.059 --> 00:45:57.220
 and you do what Moses did.

00:45:57.260 --> 00:45:58.039
 He hid His face.

00:45:59.460 --> 00:46:02.620
 You come with humility

00:46:02.619 --> 00:46:06.239
 and you come with confession

00:46:06.239 --> 00:46:08.599
 of your uncleanness.

00:46:09.639 --> 00:46:10.639
 Why do we still,

00:46:11.779 --> 00:46:12.259
 in prayer,

00:46:12.440 --> 00:46:13.799
 ask God to cleanse us,

00:46:13.859 --> 00:46:15.119
 to forgive us our sins,

00:46:15.480 --> 00:46:16.819
 to make us holy

00:46:16.819 --> 00:46:18.259
 because we're coming

00:46:18.259 --> 00:46:19.400
 into the presence of God

00:46:19.400 --> 00:46:20.079
 and we're conscious

00:46:20.079 --> 00:46:21.199
 of our defilement,

00:46:21.500 --> 00:46:22.619
 of our sinfulness,

00:46:23.460 --> 00:46:24.759
 of the dirt of our sin.

00:46:24.760 --> 00:46:27.280
 And we appear before God

00:46:27.280 --> 00:46:27.600
 and say,

00:46:27.700 --> 00:46:27.860
 Lord,

00:46:28.240 --> 00:46:29.980
 as such a person as I am,

00:46:30.020 --> 00:46:31.120
 as a sinner in myself,

00:46:31.460 --> 00:46:32.680
 I am not worthy

00:46:32.680 --> 00:46:33.500
 that I should come

00:46:33.500 --> 00:46:34.360
 into Your presence.

00:46:35.820 --> 00:46:36.500
 I need to,

00:46:37.140 --> 00:46:37.380
 Lord,

00:46:37.460 --> 00:46:38.280
 ask You to

00:46:38.280 --> 00:46:39.740
 cleanse me,

00:46:40.340 --> 00:46:41.140
 to prepare me

00:46:41.140 --> 00:46:42.040
 to meet with You,

00:46:42.760 --> 00:46:43.840
 to prepare my heart

00:46:43.840 --> 00:46:44.460
 that I'm coming

00:46:44.460 --> 00:46:46.240
 to meet with this holy God.

00:46:46.360 --> 00:46:47.480
 And if there's one thing

00:46:47.480 --> 00:46:48.500
 that's wrong with the world,

00:46:48.840 --> 00:46:49.540
 and if I may say

00:46:49.540 --> 00:46:50.420
 if there's one thing

00:46:50.420 --> 00:46:50.980
 that's wrong with

00:46:50.980 --> 00:46:52.220
 the wider church

00:46:52.220 --> 00:46:53.020
 throughout the world,

00:46:53.019 --> 00:46:54.360
 it's that we've lost sight

00:46:54.360 --> 00:46:55.900
 of the holiness of God

00:46:55.900 --> 00:46:57.360
 and lost sight

00:46:57.360 --> 00:46:57.920
 of what the holiness

00:46:57.920 --> 00:46:59.039
 of God means

00:46:59.039 --> 00:47:00.300
 and what the holiness

00:47:00.300 --> 00:47:03.380
 of God imposes upon us

00:47:03.380 --> 00:47:04.480
 in terms of our approach

00:47:04.480 --> 00:47:04.960
 to Him.

00:47:06.239 --> 00:47:06.960
 I don't mean that

00:47:06.960 --> 00:47:07.980
 we should be legalist

00:47:07.980 --> 00:47:09.699
 or legalistic,

00:47:10.300 --> 00:47:11.800
 that we should actually

00:47:11.800 --> 00:47:13.360
 be just formally

00:47:13.360 --> 00:47:15.559
 coming before God

00:47:15.559 --> 00:47:16.099
 in a fashion

00:47:16.099 --> 00:47:17.179
 that would formally

00:47:17.179 --> 00:47:17.980
 acknowledge that

00:47:17.980 --> 00:47:18.980
 this is the holy God.

00:47:19.300 --> 00:47:19.980
 What I mean is

00:47:19.980 --> 00:47:20.579
 when we come to

00:47:20.579 --> 00:47:21.780
 the presence of God

00:47:21.780 --> 00:47:22.519
 consciously,

00:47:23.019 --> 00:47:23.840
 and really dealing

00:47:23.840 --> 00:47:24.960
 seriously and earnestly

00:47:24.960 --> 00:47:25.639
 in our hearts

00:47:25.639 --> 00:47:26.820
 with who God is

00:47:26.820 --> 00:47:28.199
 and what God is like.

00:47:29.739 --> 00:47:30.780
 How dare we come

00:47:30.780 --> 00:47:31.559
 into His presence

00:47:31.559 --> 00:47:33.019
 if we were to do so

00:47:33.019 --> 00:47:33.659
 at any time

00:47:33.659 --> 00:47:35.440
 without due preparation

00:47:35.440 --> 00:47:36.340
 and due thought

00:47:36.340 --> 00:47:37.139
 and due prayer.

00:47:38.500 --> 00:47:40.000
 Because our God is holy.

00:47:41.579 --> 00:47:43.119
 And as our God is holy,

00:47:43.900 --> 00:47:45.139
 we have to treat Him

00:47:45.139 --> 00:47:46.820
 with that respect

00:47:46.820 --> 00:47:47.719
 and awe

00:47:47.719 --> 00:47:49.599
 and worship

00:47:49.599 --> 00:47:52.219
 that He is worthy of.

00:47:54.099 --> 00:47:55.379
 And so here is Moses

00:47:55.379 --> 00:47:57.239
 meeting with God.

00:47:58.279 --> 00:47:59.199
 The burning bush

00:47:59.199 --> 00:48:00.159
 draws his attention.

00:48:01.299 --> 00:48:02.179
 God speaks to him

00:48:02.179 --> 00:48:03.539
 and the angel of the Lord

00:48:03.539 --> 00:48:05.000
 out of the midst

00:48:05.000 --> 00:48:05.859
 of that bush.

00:48:06.919 --> 00:48:08.379
 He hears the words of God.

00:48:09.319 --> 00:48:10.179
 And what we'll see now

00:48:10.179 --> 00:48:11.099
 from verse 6

00:48:11.099 --> 00:48:14.959
 is what God added

00:48:14.959 --> 00:48:15.659
 to what He said.

00:48:15.659 --> 00:48:16.480
 He instructed him

00:48:16.480 --> 00:48:17.500
 regarding taking off

00:48:17.500 --> 00:48:19.179
 the sandals of His feet

00:48:19.179 --> 00:48:19.859
 and that the place

00:48:19.859 --> 00:48:20.699
 He was standing in

00:48:20.699 --> 00:48:21.899
 was holy ground.

00:48:21.980 --> 00:48:22.539
 But that was just

00:48:22.539 --> 00:48:23.259
 the introduction.

00:48:24.899 --> 00:48:25.559
 And then he went on

00:48:25.559 --> 00:48:26.420
 to add to that

00:48:26.420 --> 00:48:27.299
 the substance

00:48:27.299 --> 00:48:28.019
 of the message

00:48:28.019 --> 00:48:28.739
 or the revelation

00:48:28.739 --> 00:48:30.019
 God had for him

00:48:30.019 --> 00:48:30.599
 and it was this.

00:48:30.639 --> 00:48:31.019
 He said,

00:48:31.579 --> 00:48:32.460
 I am the God

00:48:32.460 --> 00:48:33.159
 of your father,

00:48:33.259 --> 00:48:34.199
 the God of Abraham,

00:48:34.659 --> 00:48:35.519
 the God of Isaac,

00:48:35.679 --> 00:48:36.619
 and the God of Jacob.

00:48:37.940 --> 00:48:38.679
 And the Lord said,

00:48:38.739 --> 00:48:39.619
 I have surely seen

00:48:39.619 --> 00:48:40.579
 the affliction

00:48:40.579 --> 00:48:41.399
 of my people

00:48:41.399 --> 00:48:42.279
 who are in Egypt

00:48:42.279 --> 00:48:42.920
 and so on.

00:48:42.920 --> 00:48:43.440
 So you see,

00:48:43.780 --> 00:48:45.000
 God is revealing Himself

00:48:45.000 --> 00:48:45.800
 here to Moses

00:48:45.800 --> 00:48:47.780
 as the covenant God

00:48:47.780 --> 00:48:48.599
 of His people.

00:48:49.440 --> 00:48:50.019
 That's why I said

00:48:50.019 --> 00:48:51.599
 early on in our study

00:48:51.599 --> 00:48:52.139
 tonight that

00:48:52.139 --> 00:48:53.579
 this is not a new plan.

00:48:54.159 --> 00:48:55.820
 This is not a different God

00:48:55.820 --> 00:48:56.740
 to the God

00:48:56.740 --> 00:48:57.300
 that Abraham,

00:48:57.500 --> 00:48:57.720
 Isaac,

00:48:57.820 --> 00:48:58.880
 and Jacob worshipped.

00:48:59.280 --> 00:49:00.480
 He is actually emphasizing

00:49:00.480 --> 00:49:01.019
 to Moses,

00:49:01.300 --> 00:49:02.720
 I am that God.

00:49:03.039 --> 00:49:03.960
 And despite the fact

00:49:03.960 --> 00:49:05.200
 that 400 years

00:49:05.200 --> 00:49:05.880
 have gone by

00:49:05.880 --> 00:49:07.039
 when I haven't said

00:49:07.039 --> 00:49:07.579
 a word

00:49:07.579 --> 00:49:08.720
 to the people

00:49:08.720 --> 00:49:09.619
 you belong to,

00:49:09.880 --> 00:49:10.519
 I am still

00:49:10.519 --> 00:49:11.440
 the same God,

00:49:11.579 --> 00:49:12.039
 I am still

00:49:12.039 --> 00:49:13.400
 the same covenant God,

00:49:13.559 --> 00:49:14.480
 I am still committed

00:49:14.480 --> 00:49:15.219
 to these people

00:49:15.219 --> 00:49:15.820
 in the covenant,

00:49:16.199 --> 00:49:17.280
 promises that I made

00:49:17.280 --> 00:49:17.840
 to Abraham,

00:49:18.019 --> 00:49:18.199
 Isaac,

00:49:18.280 --> 00:49:18.739
 and Jacob.

00:49:22.019 --> 00:49:23.059
 That's why He calls them

00:49:23.059 --> 00:49:23.659
 in verse 7,

00:49:23.739 --> 00:49:24.280
 my people.

00:49:25.280 --> 00:49:26.300
 I have surely seen

00:49:26.300 --> 00:49:26.860
 the affliction

00:49:26.860 --> 00:49:28.820
 of my people

00:49:28.820 --> 00:49:30.559
 who are in Egypt.

00:49:31.420 --> 00:49:32.259
 Now one of the things

00:49:32.259 --> 00:49:33.519
 that you and I

00:49:33.519 --> 00:49:34.119
 should be deeply

00:49:34.119 --> 00:49:35.259
 thankful for tonight

00:49:35.259 --> 00:49:37.280
 is that we are not

00:49:37.280 --> 00:49:37.679
 dealing with

00:49:37.679 --> 00:49:38.559
 a different God

00:49:38.559 --> 00:49:39.139
 to the God

00:49:39.139 --> 00:49:40.480
 that Moses came to know

00:49:40.480 --> 00:49:41.340
 and Abraham,

00:49:41.500 --> 00:49:41.719
 Isaac,

00:49:41.820 --> 00:49:42.659
 and Jacob knew.

00:49:43.480 --> 00:49:45.039
 He's the same covenant God.

00:49:45.360 --> 00:49:46.559
 He's the God

00:49:46.559 --> 00:49:47.840
 who has not changed

00:49:47.840 --> 00:49:49.780
 in terms of His covenant promises

00:49:49.780 --> 00:49:51.240
 and His covenant dealings

00:49:51.240 --> 00:49:51.940
 with His people

00:49:51.940 --> 00:49:53.579
 down through all of these

00:49:53.579 --> 00:49:54.539
 thousands of years.

00:49:54.800 --> 00:49:55.659
 He's the same God

00:49:55.659 --> 00:49:56.480
 to you tonight

00:49:56.480 --> 00:49:57.619
 as He was to Moses.

00:49:57.940 --> 00:49:58.980
 He hasn't changed.

00:49:59.679 --> 00:50:01.159
 His promises haven't changed.

00:50:02.460 --> 00:50:03.380
 His objectives

00:50:03.380 --> 00:50:04.440
 have not changed.

00:50:04.679 --> 00:50:05.280
 His purpose

00:50:05.280 --> 00:50:06.440
 has not changed.

00:50:07.280 --> 00:50:07.760
 And tonight

00:50:07.760 --> 00:50:08.300
 you're thankful

00:50:08.300 --> 00:50:09.480
 that you don't deal

00:50:09.480 --> 00:50:10.199
 with a God

00:50:10.199 --> 00:50:11.739
 who is fluctuating

00:50:11.739 --> 00:50:12.559
 from one moment

00:50:12.559 --> 00:50:13.019
 to the next,

00:50:13.079 --> 00:50:13.579
 from one year

00:50:13.579 --> 00:50:14.099
 to the next,

00:50:14.219 --> 00:50:15.039
 who actually says,

00:50:15.119 --> 00:50:15.819
 well, I'm not going to be

00:50:15.819 --> 00:50:16.359
 to you today

00:50:16.359 --> 00:50:17.759
 what I was yesterday

00:50:17.759 --> 00:50:18.659
 or last year.

00:50:21.059 --> 00:50:22.279
 I am the God

00:50:22.279 --> 00:50:24.039
 of your Father,

00:50:24.919 --> 00:50:25.919
 the God of Abraham,

00:50:26.339 --> 00:50:27.259
 the God of Isaac,

00:50:27.419 --> 00:50:28.599
 and the God of Jacob.

00:50:29.539 --> 00:50:30.339
 If there's one thing

00:50:30.339 --> 00:50:31.659
 that characterizes

00:50:31.659 --> 00:50:32.500
 this God

00:50:32.500 --> 00:50:33.460
 we worship tonight,

00:50:33.839 --> 00:50:35.619
 it's His consistency.

00:50:35.619 --> 00:50:37.679
 His consistency

00:50:37.679 --> 00:50:39.199
 as the Holy God

00:50:39.199 --> 00:50:40.619
 committed to His covenant,

00:50:41.079 --> 00:50:42.079
 committed to His promises,

00:50:42.539 --> 00:50:43.380
 committed to bringing

00:50:43.380 --> 00:50:44.599
 His people out of slavery,

00:50:45.079 --> 00:50:45.839
 committed to bringing

00:50:45.839 --> 00:50:46.460
 them home

00:50:46.460 --> 00:50:47.400
 to be with Himself.

00:50:50.719 --> 00:50:51.500
 Now you see,

00:50:51.559 --> 00:50:53.099
 Moses has gone

00:50:53.099 --> 00:50:54.039
 from curious

00:50:54.039 --> 00:50:56.699
 to being in awe.

00:50:57.819 --> 00:50:59.159
 He hid his face

00:50:59.159 --> 00:51:01.139
 for he was afraid

00:51:01.139 --> 00:51:03.319
 to look upon God.

00:51:04.239 --> 00:51:04.779
 And as we said

00:51:04.779 --> 00:51:05.239
 a minute ago,

00:51:05.299 --> 00:51:05.759
 that's really

00:51:05.759 --> 00:51:06.960
 taking us

00:51:06.960 --> 00:51:07.579
 to the heart

00:51:07.579 --> 00:51:08.099
 of worship,

00:51:08.239 --> 00:51:08.739
 isn't it?

00:51:10.159 --> 00:51:10.980
 Worship is not

00:51:10.980 --> 00:51:11.659
 something you just

00:51:11.659 --> 00:51:12.839
 follow through

00:51:12.839 --> 00:51:13.659
 mechanically.

00:51:14.519 --> 00:51:15.139
 We don't sing

00:51:15.139 --> 00:51:15.879
 the Psalms

00:51:15.879 --> 00:51:17.000
 just in a formal

00:51:17.000 --> 00:51:18.199
 fashion mechanically

00:51:18.199 --> 00:51:19.639
 without really thinking

00:51:19.639 --> 00:51:20.599
 of what we're saying.

00:51:20.859 --> 00:51:21.779
 And even if we're thinking

00:51:21.779 --> 00:51:22.779
 of what we're saying,

00:51:22.980 --> 00:51:24.119
 we don't just sing them

00:51:24.119 --> 00:51:25.139
 as if it was just

00:51:25.139 --> 00:51:26.319
 a matter of routine.

00:51:27.320 --> 00:51:28.000
 We sing them

00:51:28.000 --> 00:51:28.660
 as part of our

00:51:28.660 --> 00:51:30.100
 relationship with God.

00:51:31.100 --> 00:51:31.920
 We sing them

00:51:31.920 --> 00:51:33.019
 and we read His Word

00:51:33.019 --> 00:51:34.380
 and we proclaim His Word

00:51:34.380 --> 00:51:35.820
 and we listen to His Word

00:51:35.820 --> 00:51:38.080
 because we live

00:51:38.080 --> 00:51:39.480
 in awe and obedience

00:51:39.480 --> 00:51:40.680
 and humility

00:51:40.680 --> 00:51:42.080
 in the presence of God.

00:51:42.460 --> 00:51:43.300
 We hide our face,

00:51:43.360 --> 00:51:43.820
 as it were.

00:51:44.100 --> 00:51:44.600
 We're afraid

00:51:44.600 --> 00:51:45.680
 to look upon God.

00:51:45.760 --> 00:51:46.260
 And yet God

00:51:46.260 --> 00:51:47.360
 has revealed Himself

00:51:47.360 --> 00:51:48.180
 so wonderfully

00:51:48.180 --> 00:51:49.080
 in the person

00:51:49.080 --> 00:51:50.000
 of Jesus Christ

00:51:50.000 --> 00:51:50.940
 which is saying

00:51:50.940 --> 00:51:51.580
 to you tonight,

00:51:51.720 --> 00:51:52.720
 you can approach Me.

00:51:52.960 --> 00:51:53.940
 You can come to Me.

00:51:54.120 --> 00:51:54.940
 You can come to Me

00:51:54.940 --> 00:51:55.480
 through Him.

00:51:55.480 --> 00:51:57.000
 You can come into My presence.

00:51:57.260 --> 00:51:58.740
 I've made provision for you.

00:51:59.380 --> 00:52:00.240
 You are safe

00:52:00.240 --> 00:52:01.820
 in the grace

00:52:01.820 --> 00:52:02.920
 that is in My Son.

00:52:05.360 --> 00:52:06.860
 Is there any greater privilege

00:52:06.860 --> 00:52:07.460
 than that?

00:52:08.579 --> 00:52:08.880
 You know,

00:52:08.900 --> 00:52:09.659
 if you know your heart

00:52:09.659 --> 00:52:10.619
 and I know my heart

00:52:10.619 --> 00:52:12.619
 as surely we do tonight

00:52:12.619 --> 00:52:15.260
 as sinful human beings,

00:52:16.539 --> 00:52:17.260
 one of the things

00:52:17.260 --> 00:52:18.920
 that should impose

00:52:18.920 --> 00:52:20.559
 the greatest wonder on us

00:52:20.559 --> 00:52:21.360
 is that we can come

00:52:21.360 --> 00:52:22.679
 into the presence of God.

00:52:25.480 --> 00:52:26.599
 That we can live

00:52:26.599 --> 00:52:27.940
 in fellowship with God.

00:52:29.360 --> 00:52:31.099
 That we can be represented

00:52:31.099 --> 00:52:32.539
 by this burning bush

00:52:32.539 --> 00:52:34.780
 in which God dwells,

00:52:35.059 --> 00:52:36.019
 in which the flame

00:52:36.019 --> 00:52:36.940
 of God's presence,

00:52:37.099 --> 00:52:38.119
 God's living presence

00:52:38.119 --> 00:52:39.139
 is there

00:52:39.139 --> 00:52:40.900
 and yet we are not consumed.

00:52:41.659 --> 00:52:43.000
 We are not swallowed up

00:52:43.000 --> 00:52:43.699
 and devoured

00:52:43.699 --> 00:52:45.820
 in God's wrath

00:52:45.820 --> 00:52:46.679
 against sin.

00:52:47.380 --> 00:52:47.679
 Why?

00:52:47.800 --> 00:52:49.539
 Because of Jesus Christ.

00:52:50.039 --> 00:52:51.460
 Because He is our shield.

00:52:52.059 --> 00:52:52.940
 He is our exceeding

00:52:52.940 --> 00:52:53.800
 great reward.

00:52:55.519 --> 00:52:56.139
 In Him,

00:52:56.800 --> 00:52:57.980
 we come into the presence

00:52:57.980 --> 00:52:58.539
 of God

00:52:58.539 --> 00:52:59.679
 and through Him,

00:53:00.400 --> 00:53:01.619
 we hold that relationship

00:53:01.619 --> 00:53:02.039
 with Him

00:53:02.039 --> 00:53:02.699
 that His grace

00:53:02.699 --> 00:53:04.099
 has opened for us.

00:53:04.119 --> 00:53:05.119
 So there's your covenant,

00:53:05.400 --> 00:53:05.699
 God.

00:53:07.920 --> 00:53:09.780
 And God will not change.

00:53:10.900 --> 00:53:11.740
 Whatever happens

00:53:11.740 --> 00:53:12.519
 in your life,

00:53:13.039 --> 00:53:13.880
 however different

00:53:13.880 --> 00:53:15.220
 your life may be tomorrow

00:53:15.220 --> 00:53:16.320
 from what it is today,

00:53:16.960 --> 00:53:18.139
 whatever events

00:53:18.139 --> 00:53:18.880
 in your life

00:53:18.880 --> 00:53:20.099
 may yet lie in wait

00:53:20.099 --> 00:53:21.460
 for you in God's providence

00:53:21.460 --> 00:53:22.460
 that you have never

00:53:22.460 --> 00:53:23.599
 experienced before,

00:53:24.400 --> 00:53:25.940
 whatever depths of pain

00:53:25.940 --> 00:53:26.799
 or challenge

00:53:26.799 --> 00:53:28.099
 or difficulty

00:53:28.099 --> 00:53:29.679
 await you on life's journey,

00:53:29.860 --> 00:53:31.559
 and we cannot predict these.

00:53:32.639 --> 00:53:34.139
 But I guarantee you,

00:53:34.599 --> 00:53:35.360
 and you can guarantee

00:53:35.360 --> 00:53:36.119
 for yourself

00:53:36.119 --> 00:53:36.960
 on the basis

00:53:36.960 --> 00:53:38.000
 of God's Word

00:53:38.000 --> 00:53:39.199
 and what God's Word

00:53:39.199 --> 00:53:40.199
 says about Himself,

00:53:40.759 --> 00:53:41.900
 that this is what is true

00:53:41.900 --> 00:53:42.819
 always of you

00:53:42.819 --> 00:53:44.039
 when you are in Christ,

00:53:44.159 --> 00:53:44.799
 when you know Him

00:53:44.799 --> 00:53:45.659
 as your Savior.

00:53:46.139 --> 00:53:47.239
 I am the God

00:53:47.239 --> 00:53:47.799
 of Abraham,

00:53:48.019 --> 00:53:48.339
 Isaac,

00:53:48.460 --> 00:53:48.980
 and Jacob.

00:53:48.980 --> 00:53:50.219
 I will remain

00:53:50.219 --> 00:53:50.960
 the same to you.

00:53:51.099 --> 00:53:52.519
 I will be faithful to you.

00:53:52.719 --> 00:53:53.900
 I will never change

00:53:53.900 --> 00:53:55.280
 my relationship with you.

00:53:57.139 --> 00:53:58.579
 You are my people.

00:54:00.619 --> 00:54:02.059
 Here's the wonder of grace,

00:54:03.199 --> 00:54:04.300
 this covenant God.

00:54:05.360 --> 00:54:05.960
 He's not just

00:54:05.960 --> 00:54:06.699
 the covenant God,

00:54:06.760 --> 00:54:06.920
 though.

00:54:07.519 --> 00:54:09.300
 He is the concerned God.

00:54:09.480 --> 00:54:09.880
 Concerned,

00:54:10.079 --> 00:54:10.960
 I mean in the sense

00:54:10.960 --> 00:54:11.800
 of being involved

00:54:11.800 --> 00:54:12.559
 with His people.

00:54:13.300 --> 00:54:14.320
 Because look what He goes on

00:54:14.320 --> 00:54:15.420
 to speak of here

00:54:15.420 --> 00:54:16.920
 from verses 7

00:54:16.920 --> 00:54:17.980
 through to verse 10.

00:54:17.980 --> 00:54:19.659
 I have surely seen

00:54:19.659 --> 00:54:21.460
 the affliction of my people

00:54:21.460 --> 00:54:22.300
 who are in Egypt,

00:54:22.820 --> 00:54:24.159
 and I've heard their cry

00:54:24.159 --> 00:54:26.079
 because of their taskmasters.

00:54:26.420 --> 00:54:27.880
 I know their sufferings.

00:54:28.219 --> 00:54:29.320
 I have come down

00:54:29.320 --> 00:54:30.420
 to deliver them

00:54:30.420 --> 00:54:31.440
 out of the hand

00:54:31.440 --> 00:54:32.139
 of the Egyptians

00:54:32.139 --> 00:54:33.800
 and to bring them up

00:54:33.800 --> 00:54:34.960
 out of that land

00:54:34.960 --> 00:54:37.260
 to a good and broad land,

00:54:37.719 --> 00:54:38.599
 a land flowing

00:54:38.599 --> 00:54:40.440
 with milk and honey.

00:54:41.539 --> 00:54:42.920
 There are four elements there

00:54:42.920 --> 00:54:44.220
 that are themselves

00:54:44.220 --> 00:54:45.380
 wonderful

00:54:45.380 --> 00:54:48.480
 in the truth of them.

00:54:48.539 --> 00:54:48.820
 He says,

00:54:49.240 --> 00:54:51.039
 I have surely seen

00:54:51.039 --> 00:54:52.300
 the affliction

00:54:52.300 --> 00:54:53.320
 of my people.

00:54:54.360 --> 00:54:55.519
 Where has God been

00:54:55.519 --> 00:54:56.760
 for 400 years?

00:54:56.820 --> 00:54:57.460
 He hasn't spoken

00:54:57.460 --> 00:54:58.639
 for 400 years.

00:54:58.720 --> 00:54:59.220
 Where has He been?

00:54:59.300 --> 00:55:00.019
 What's He been doing?

00:55:00.240 --> 00:55:00.940
 He's been looking

00:55:00.940 --> 00:55:01.639
 at His people.

00:55:02.180 --> 00:55:02.980
 He's been intensely

00:55:02.980 --> 00:55:04.180
 interested in His people.

00:55:04.619 --> 00:55:05.860
 The 400 years gap

00:55:05.860 --> 00:55:06.460
 of speaking

00:55:06.460 --> 00:55:07.639
 is no indication

00:55:07.639 --> 00:55:08.960
 that God has forgotten them,

00:55:09.159 --> 00:55:09.980
 that somehow or other

00:55:09.980 --> 00:55:10.659
 they have fallen out

00:55:10.659 --> 00:55:11.319
 of God's favor

00:55:11.319 --> 00:55:12.179
 or God's view.

00:55:13.159 --> 00:55:14.019
 I have seen,

00:55:14.460 --> 00:55:15.859
 surely seen the affliction.

00:55:16.000 --> 00:55:17.039
 I have certainly seen

00:55:17.039 --> 00:55:17.799
 the affliction

00:55:17.799 --> 00:55:18.699
 of my people.

00:55:19.339 --> 00:55:19.799
 God's eye

00:55:19.799 --> 00:55:21.179
 is never off His people.

00:55:21.980 --> 00:55:22.940
 Whatever His providence

00:55:22.940 --> 00:55:25.059
 has ordered for them.

00:55:25.920 --> 00:55:26.559
 There's another

00:55:26.559 --> 00:55:27.639
 wonderful jewel

00:55:27.639 --> 00:55:29.619
 that you can put up

00:55:29.619 --> 00:55:30.579
 and hold

00:55:30.579 --> 00:55:31.279
 in the casket

00:55:31.279 --> 00:55:32.000
 of your heart.

00:55:33.139 --> 00:55:34.679
 I have surely seen

00:55:34.679 --> 00:55:36.179
 your affliction.

00:55:37.319 --> 00:55:38.559
 There isn't a drop

00:55:38.559 --> 00:55:39.900
 of suffering

00:55:39.900 --> 00:55:40.659
 in your life

00:55:40.659 --> 00:55:41.420
 as a Christian

00:55:41.420 --> 00:55:43.820
 that has not already

00:55:43.820 --> 00:55:44.679
 been entered

00:55:44.679 --> 00:55:46.179
 into God's record book,

00:55:46.840 --> 00:55:47.779
 that God has not

00:55:47.779 --> 00:55:49.219
 taken careful note of,

00:55:49.539 --> 00:55:51.460
 that God is unaware of.

00:55:52.179 --> 00:55:53.239
 I have surely seen

00:55:53.239 --> 00:55:54.840
 the affliction

00:55:54.840 --> 00:55:55.599
 of my people.

00:55:55.659 --> 00:55:56.079
 And then He says,

00:55:56.360 --> 00:55:57.360
 and I have heard

00:55:57.360 --> 00:55:58.799
 their cry.

00:55:59.679 --> 00:56:00.579
 I have heard their cry

00:56:00.579 --> 00:56:02.799
 because of their taskmasters.

00:56:03.539 --> 00:56:03.940
 In other words,

00:56:04.019 --> 00:56:05.320
 not only has God

00:56:05.320 --> 00:56:06.400
 been taking note

00:56:06.400 --> 00:56:07.760
 of where they are

00:56:07.760 --> 00:56:08.680
 and what's being done

00:56:08.680 --> 00:56:09.139
 to them

00:56:09.139 --> 00:56:09.960
 and the suffering

00:56:09.960 --> 00:56:10.740
 they're going through,

00:56:11.420 --> 00:56:12.960
 He has heard their cry.

00:56:14.280 --> 00:56:16.139
 He has actually been moved

00:56:16.139 --> 00:56:18.200
 by their pained cries.

00:56:19.019 --> 00:56:20.200
 I don't let anybody think

00:56:20.200 --> 00:56:21.579
 or tell you

00:56:21.579 --> 00:56:22.240
 that God

00:56:22.240 --> 00:56:23.039
 is a God

00:56:23.039 --> 00:56:24.360
 who is so stiffly

00:56:24.360 --> 00:56:25.420
 in regard of His people

00:56:25.420 --> 00:56:26.460
 that He's on the borders

00:56:26.460 --> 00:56:27.099
 of their lives,

00:56:27.320 --> 00:56:28.280
 looking from a distance

00:56:28.280 --> 00:56:28.980
 into their lives,

00:56:29.119 --> 00:56:30.400
 but really totally unmoved

00:56:30.400 --> 00:56:30.880
 by anything

00:56:30.880 --> 00:56:31.519
 they're going through.

00:56:31.519 --> 00:56:37.480
 I have heard

00:56:37.480 --> 00:56:39.239
 their cry

00:56:39.239 --> 00:56:40.440
 and I know

00:56:40.440 --> 00:56:42.539
 their sufferings.

00:56:43.739 --> 00:56:45.280
 He's been moved

00:56:45.280 --> 00:56:47.719
 by their predicament,

00:56:48.139 --> 00:56:49.539
 by their conditions.

00:56:53.480 --> 00:56:54.719
 And I know

00:56:54.719 --> 00:56:57.099
 their sufferings.

00:56:57.099 --> 00:57:00.400
 What a God!

00:57:02.579 --> 00:57:03.480
 What a privilege

00:57:03.480 --> 00:57:03.960
 they have

00:57:03.960 --> 00:57:05.599
 that despite all the fact

00:57:05.599 --> 00:57:07.219
 that they haven't heard

00:57:07.219 --> 00:57:07.579
 from Him

00:57:07.579 --> 00:57:08.759
 for 400 years,

00:57:09.559 --> 00:57:10.839
 He has all the time

00:57:10.839 --> 00:57:11.920
 had His eye upon them.

00:57:12.679 --> 00:57:13.639
 And He's now saying to them,

00:57:13.960 --> 00:57:15.259
 I know what you're going through.

00:57:16.139 --> 00:57:17.339
 I've heard your cry.

00:57:18.279 --> 00:57:19.480
 I haven't just listened to it,

00:57:19.799 --> 00:57:20.500
 but I've heard it

00:57:20.500 --> 00:57:21.559
 in a way that's moved me

00:57:21.559 --> 00:57:22.299
 to pity you.

00:57:23.219 --> 00:57:23.920
 And here I am.

00:57:24.000 --> 00:57:24.579
 I'm ready to come

00:57:24.579 --> 00:57:25.219
 to your rescue.

00:57:27.960 --> 00:57:28.960
 Well, there is God

00:57:28.960 --> 00:57:30.019
 for us tonight, friends.

00:57:33.799 --> 00:57:35.299
 And when you look at Jesus

00:57:35.299 --> 00:57:37.519
 and the fact that

00:57:37.519 --> 00:57:38.539
 that is God

00:57:38.539 --> 00:57:40.400
 having taken our nature

00:57:40.400 --> 00:57:41.259
 to Himself,

00:57:41.980 --> 00:57:43.599
 the person of the Son of God

00:57:43.599 --> 00:57:44.739
 who has come

00:57:44.739 --> 00:57:45.519
 to take our nature.

00:57:45.639 --> 00:57:47.000
 Why did He take our nature?

00:57:47.480 --> 00:57:48.900
 So that He would take our sins

00:57:48.900 --> 00:57:50.559
 and die for our sins.

00:57:51.420 --> 00:57:54.279
 But one of the other aspects

00:57:54.279 --> 00:57:56.119
 of that is that He would be

00:57:56.119 --> 00:57:57.460
 a faithful and merciful

00:57:57.460 --> 00:57:58.299
 High Priest.

00:57:59.079 --> 00:58:00.099
 That He would be able

00:58:00.099 --> 00:58:01.339
 to support us

00:58:01.339 --> 00:58:02.400
 in all our sufferings,

00:58:02.719 --> 00:58:03.679
 having been tempted

00:58:03.679 --> 00:58:04.539
 in all points

00:58:04.539 --> 00:58:05.480
 like as we are

00:58:05.480 --> 00:58:07.039
 and yet without sin.

00:58:08.179 --> 00:58:08.940
 That is the God

00:58:08.940 --> 00:58:10.339
 who is moved.

00:58:11.019 --> 00:58:12.219
 The God who takes note

00:58:12.219 --> 00:58:14.000
 carefully of our predicament

00:58:14.000 --> 00:58:15.139
 and our sufferings.

00:58:16.819 --> 00:58:17.759
 And who tonight

00:58:17.759 --> 00:58:18.599
 is assuring you

00:58:18.599 --> 00:58:20.579
 if you're experiencing suffering

00:58:20.579 --> 00:58:21.639
 on His behalf

00:58:21.639 --> 00:58:23.360
 for His sake.

00:58:24.619 --> 00:58:25.699
 God's not just

00:58:25.699 --> 00:58:27.480
 got a casual acquaintance

00:58:27.480 --> 00:58:27.860
 with you

00:58:27.860 --> 00:58:28.500
 or acquaintance

00:58:28.500 --> 00:58:29.559
 with your predicament.

00:58:30.860 --> 00:58:32.099
 He's taking stock

00:58:32.099 --> 00:58:32.840
 very carefully,

00:58:33.619 --> 00:58:34.579
 very lovingly,

00:58:35.119 --> 00:58:37.179
 in a very covenantal way

00:58:37.179 --> 00:58:39.179
 that this

00:58:39.179 --> 00:58:41.440
 is what His child

00:58:41.440 --> 00:58:42.219
 is going through.

00:58:42.219 --> 00:58:45.239
 And He's saying to you,

00:58:45.379 --> 00:58:46.419
 I'm here for you.

00:58:47.459 --> 00:58:48.799
 I know your suffering.

00:58:50.019 --> 00:58:51.559
 I know what you're going through.

00:58:52.959 --> 00:58:53.819
 And then He says,

00:58:54.000 --> 00:58:54.980
 I have come down

00:58:54.980 --> 00:58:56.599
 to deliver them

00:58:56.599 --> 00:58:57.219
 out of the hand

00:58:57.219 --> 00:58:57.859
 of the Egyptians,

00:58:58.219 --> 00:58:59.319
 to bring them out

00:58:59.319 --> 00:58:59.980
 of that land

00:58:59.980 --> 00:59:00.579
 to a good

00:59:00.579 --> 00:59:02.279
 and broad land.

00:59:02.939 --> 00:59:03.899
 I have surely seen

00:59:03.899 --> 00:59:04.480
 their affliction.

00:59:04.980 --> 00:59:06.199
 I have heard their cry.

00:59:06.500 --> 00:59:07.599
 I know their suffering.

00:59:07.679 --> 00:59:07.919
 And now,

00:59:07.980 --> 00:59:08.279
 fourthly,

00:59:08.279 --> 00:59:08.559
 He's saying,

00:59:09.099 --> 00:59:10.159
 I have come down.

00:59:11.159 --> 00:59:11.759
 There is God,

00:59:11.820 --> 00:59:11.980
 you see,

00:59:12.039 --> 00:59:13.279
 reminding Moses

00:59:13.279 --> 00:59:14.659
 that He's actually on high.

00:59:14.880 --> 00:59:15.320
 Here He is,

00:59:15.420 --> 00:59:16.500
 represented in the bush,

00:59:16.719 --> 00:59:17.759
 in the flame of the bush.

00:59:18.019 --> 00:59:18.820
 The voice is coming

00:59:18.820 --> 00:59:19.840
 from the midst of the bush.

00:59:20.119 --> 00:59:21.860
 But Moses is under no illusion,

00:59:22.019 --> 00:59:23.000
 left under no illusion

00:59:23.000 --> 00:59:24.239
 as to who God is

00:59:24.239 --> 00:59:25.340
 and where His position is.

00:59:25.639 --> 00:59:27.340
 I have come down

00:59:27.340 --> 00:59:29.799
 because I am up there.

00:59:30.980 --> 00:59:31.960
 I am the King.

00:59:32.059 --> 00:59:32.820
 I am the Creator.

00:59:34.420 --> 00:59:35.099
 I am the One

00:59:35.099 --> 00:59:36.539
 who controls all things.

00:59:36.860 --> 00:59:38.159
 I am the Sovereign God.

00:59:39.279 --> 00:59:40.340
 But I have come down.

00:59:40.739 --> 00:59:41.019
 You see,

00:59:41.480 --> 00:59:42.880
 His view of the people,

00:59:43.340 --> 00:59:44.579
 His hearing their cry,

00:59:45.199 --> 00:59:46.599
 His seeing of their sufferings,

00:59:46.779 --> 00:59:48.219
 His knowledge of their sufferings,

00:59:48.679 --> 00:59:49.639
 is now something

00:59:49.639 --> 00:59:52.000
 that lies behind His action.

00:59:52.099 --> 00:59:53.500
 His concern for them

00:59:53.500 --> 00:59:55.480
 has led to this great action.

00:59:55.579 --> 00:59:56.699
 I have come down.

00:59:58.539 --> 00:59:59.860
 And where do you better see that

00:59:59.860 --> 01:00:02.139
 than in the person

01:00:02.139 --> 01:00:03.599
 of Jesus Christ, His Son?

01:00:05.659 --> 01:00:06.659
 Because when you look

01:00:06.659 --> 01:00:07.659
 at the life of Jesus

01:00:07.659 --> 01:00:08.519
 in the Gospels

01:00:08.519 --> 01:00:09.739
 and in the Epistles,

01:00:10.739 --> 01:00:12.059
 when you look at the record

01:00:12.059 --> 01:00:13.759
 of His life in the Gospels,

01:00:14.579 --> 01:00:16.079
 and when you look at the amount

01:00:16.079 --> 01:00:17.179
 of time that's given

01:00:17.179 --> 01:00:18.219
 or space that's given

01:00:18.219 --> 01:00:19.559
 to His trial

01:00:19.559 --> 01:00:20.379
 and then His death

01:00:20.379 --> 01:00:20.980
 on the cross,

01:00:21.039 --> 01:00:22.399
 which is the greater part

01:00:22.399 --> 01:00:23.759
 of all the four Gospels,

01:00:23.760 --> 01:00:27.180
 you can really say

01:00:27.180 --> 01:00:29.100
 as Jesus is crucified

01:00:29.100 --> 01:00:32.180
 and as He expires

01:00:32.180 --> 01:00:32.940
 on the cross,

01:00:33.480 --> 01:00:35.740
 you can take these words

01:00:35.740 --> 01:00:36.540
 of Exodus 3

01:00:36.540 --> 01:00:37.540
 and very meaningfully

01:00:37.540 --> 01:00:38.760
 apply them

01:00:38.760 --> 01:00:39.640
 to what you're seeing.

01:00:39.639 --> 01:00:42.019
 I have come down.

01:00:43.599 --> 01:00:44.940
 I have come down

01:00:44.940 --> 01:00:46.400
 to deliver them.

01:00:47.179 --> 01:00:48.239
 And I have come down

01:00:48.239 --> 01:00:49.039
 to deliver them

01:00:49.039 --> 01:00:50.719
 and to take them up

01:00:50.719 --> 01:00:51.900
 into this great land,

01:00:52.440 --> 01:00:53.259
 a land flowing

01:00:53.259 --> 01:00:54.460
 with milk and honey.

01:00:54.619 --> 01:00:55.400
 In other words,

01:00:55.599 --> 01:00:56.480
 what God is saying

01:00:56.480 --> 01:00:57.000
 to us there

01:00:57.000 --> 01:00:57.480
 is really

01:00:57.480 --> 01:00:58.859
 in the two sides of it

01:00:58.859 --> 01:00:59.500
 to deliver them

01:00:59.500 --> 01:01:00.279
 on the one hand

01:01:00.279 --> 01:01:02.139
 out of the suffering

01:01:02.139 --> 01:01:02.739
 of Egypt,

01:01:02.920 --> 01:01:04.239
 out of the bondage,

01:01:04.319 --> 01:01:05.519
 the slavery of Egypt,

01:01:05.639 --> 01:01:06.519
 and bringing them

01:01:06.519 --> 01:01:08.199
 into the wonderful liberty

01:01:08.199 --> 01:01:08.960
 of Canaan

01:01:08.960 --> 01:01:10.579
 and the bounty

01:01:10.579 --> 01:01:11.320
 of that land.

01:01:11.500 --> 01:01:12.599
 That's in essence

01:01:12.599 --> 01:01:14.460
 an image of salvation

01:01:14.460 --> 01:01:14.940
 for you.

01:01:14.980 --> 01:01:15.739
 What is salvation?

01:01:16.119 --> 01:01:17.139
 Salvation is God

01:01:17.139 --> 01:01:18.179
 taking us out

01:01:18.179 --> 01:01:19.519
 of our sin and misery,

01:01:19.820 --> 01:01:20.780
 that state into which

01:01:20.780 --> 01:01:22.099
 we fell and brought ourselves,

01:01:22.460 --> 01:01:23.099
 and He's taking us

01:01:23.099 --> 01:01:23.800
 out of that

01:01:23.800 --> 01:01:25.480
 and into that great land,

01:01:25.739 --> 01:01:26.300
 the inheritance

01:01:26.300 --> 01:01:27.259
 that awaits in heaven

01:01:27.259 --> 01:01:27.800
 for His people.

01:01:27.940 --> 01:01:28.800
 That's salvation.

01:01:30.019 --> 01:01:30.860
 That's redemption.

01:01:31.920 --> 01:01:32.960
 That's this God

01:01:32.960 --> 01:01:33.840
 acting

01:01:33.840 --> 01:01:36.199
 on behalf of His people

01:01:36.199 --> 01:01:37.159
 and for His people

01:01:37.159 --> 01:01:39.799
 to deliver them,

01:01:40.500 --> 01:01:42.079
 but also to bring them in too.

01:01:43.279 --> 01:01:43.739
 And you notice

01:01:43.739 --> 01:01:44.500
 how He describes

01:01:44.500 --> 01:01:45.399
 the land of Canaan,

01:01:46.279 --> 01:01:47.199
 not just a land

01:01:47.199 --> 01:01:48.699
 flowing with milk

01:01:48.699 --> 01:01:49.219
 and honey,

01:01:50.259 --> 01:01:51.379
 and then the place

01:01:51.379 --> 01:01:52.199
 of the Canaanites,

01:01:52.279 --> 01:01:52.659
 the Hittites.

01:01:52.739 --> 01:01:53.399
 Why does He mention

01:01:53.399 --> 01:01:54.619
 all of these here

01:01:54.619 --> 01:01:55.219
 at this point?

01:01:55.279 --> 01:01:55.859
 I think it's more

01:01:55.859 --> 01:01:57.839
 than just to actually

01:01:57.839 --> 01:01:58.559
 remind Moses

01:01:58.559 --> 01:01:59.199
 of what He's going

01:01:59.199 --> 01:02:00.079
 to be confronting

01:02:00.079 --> 01:02:01.279
 when they reach

01:02:01.279 --> 01:02:02.679
 the land of Canaan.

01:02:03.419 --> 01:02:04.139
 He's more or less

01:02:04.139 --> 01:02:04.919
 saying to Moses,

01:02:05.039 --> 01:02:05.279
 I think,

01:02:05.319 --> 01:02:05.859
 at this point,

01:02:06.199 --> 01:02:07.960
 this land is so good

01:02:07.960 --> 01:02:08.679
 that He's able

01:02:08.679 --> 01:02:09.339
 to sustain

01:02:09.339 --> 01:02:10.259
 all of these people

01:02:10.259 --> 01:02:11.000
 here and now.

01:02:11.279 --> 01:02:11.899
 That's the land

01:02:11.899 --> 01:02:12.899
 I'm taking you into.

01:02:13.659 --> 01:02:14.559
 And who is He saying

01:02:14.559 --> 01:02:15.139
 this about?

01:02:15.939 --> 01:02:16.399
 That He's going

01:02:16.399 --> 01:02:17.279
 to deliver them

01:02:17.279 --> 01:02:18.279
 out of the hand

01:02:18.279 --> 01:02:18.939
 of the Egyptians

01:02:18.939 --> 01:02:19.960
 and bring them

01:02:19.960 --> 01:02:21.039
 out of that land

01:02:21.039 --> 01:02:22.500
 to a good and broad land.

01:02:22.659 --> 01:02:23.679
 Who's He talking about?

01:02:23.859 --> 01:02:25.379
 He's talking about slaves

01:02:25.379 --> 01:02:28.559
 who don't have a land,

01:02:28.939 --> 01:02:29.480
 who don't have

01:02:29.480 --> 01:02:30.019
 an inheritance,

01:02:30.779 --> 01:02:31.419
 who don't have

01:02:31.419 --> 01:02:32.739
 a place to call their own.

01:02:33.539 --> 01:02:34.379
 And here is God

01:02:34.380 --> 01:02:35.780
 because this is redemption,

01:02:36.380 --> 01:02:37.760
 taking us as slaves

01:02:37.760 --> 01:02:38.380
 of sin,

01:02:38.820 --> 01:02:39.539
 taking us out

01:02:39.539 --> 01:02:40.740
 of the slavery of sin,

01:02:40.940 --> 01:02:41.980
 and giving us,

01:02:42.079 --> 01:02:43.599
 instead of that bondage,

01:02:44.079 --> 01:02:45.320
 giving us the broad

01:02:45.320 --> 01:02:46.599
 land of heaven,

01:02:46.740 --> 01:02:47.340
 the inheritance

01:02:47.340 --> 01:02:49.039
 that is undefiled,

01:02:49.500 --> 01:02:50.240
 incorruptible,

01:02:50.240 --> 01:02:51.519
 and awaits in heaven

01:02:51.519 --> 01:02:52.320
 for His people.

01:02:53.880 --> 01:02:54.160
 You see,

01:02:54.200 --> 01:02:54.760
 He's calling it

01:02:54.760 --> 01:02:56.460
 not just a good land,

01:02:57.260 --> 01:02:58.740
 but a broad land.

01:02:59.800 --> 01:03:00.780
 Here are these people

01:03:00.780 --> 01:03:02.380
 as slaves in Egypt,

01:03:02.380 --> 01:03:03.640
 and where are they?

01:03:03.700 --> 01:03:04.460
 What's their condition?

01:03:04.740 --> 01:03:05.780
 They're being squeezed.

01:03:05.900 --> 01:03:07.160
 The life is being squeezed

01:03:07.160 --> 01:03:07.820
 out of them.

01:03:08.119 --> 01:03:09.360
 They're in the land of Goshen,

01:03:09.539 --> 01:03:10.820
 a very good part of Egypt,

01:03:11.039 --> 01:03:13.160
 but they've multiplied hugely.

01:03:13.599 --> 01:03:14.619
 They're now being squeezed

01:03:14.619 --> 01:03:15.740
 into this small area

01:03:15.740 --> 01:03:17.019
 compared to the whole of Egypt.

01:03:18.460 --> 01:03:19.420
 And God is saying,

01:03:19.500 --> 01:03:20.340
 that's not your home.

01:03:22.180 --> 01:03:23.820
 The land I have for you

01:03:23.820 --> 01:03:26.840
 is a good and a broad land.

01:03:27.740 --> 01:03:29.059
 There's plenty of space

01:03:29.059 --> 01:03:29.700
 for you there.

01:03:29.699 --> 01:03:31.480
 You're going to thrive there.

01:03:32.139 --> 01:03:33.879
 It's the best I could give you,

01:03:34.419 --> 01:03:35.239
 a land flowing

01:03:35.239 --> 01:03:37.119
 with milk and honey.

01:03:38.719 --> 01:03:40.259
 From owning no land,

01:03:41.319 --> 01:03:42.359
 they come to an inheritance

01:03:42.359 --> 01:03:43.119
 in Canaan,

01:03:44.159 --> 01:03:45.779
 the best plot on earth.

01:03:47.539 --> 01:03:48.439
 This is salvation.

01:03:49.399 --> 01:03:50.980
 This is salvation portrayed

01:03:50.980 --> 01:03:52.159
 in the history

01:03:52.159 --> 01:03:53.399
 of these people of Israel.

01:03:55.239 --> 01:03:56.339
 This is salvation

01:03:56.339 --> 01:03:58.539
 as it's represented there,

01:03:58.539 --> 01:03:59.840
 God delivering us

01:03:59.840 --> 01:04:00.500
 from sin,

01:04:01.099 --> 01:04:01.960
 from the confinement,

01:04:02.139 --> 01:04:03.460
 from the bondage of sin,

01:04:03.599 --> 01:04:04.679
 from the restrictions

01:04:04.679 --> 01:04:05.980
 of a sinful life.

01:04:06.219 --> 01:04:07.000
 What is He doing?

01:04:07.079 --> 01:04:08.079
 He's taking us out of that.

01:04:08.139 --> 01:04:08.920
 He's delivering us.

01:04:09.659 --> 01:04:10.300
 He's taking us

01:04:10.300 --> 01:04:11.400
 into a broad

01:04:11.400 --> 01:04:13.039
 and good land.

01:04:14.360 --> 01:04:14.880
 Redemption,

01:04:16.039 --> 01:04:16.559
 salvation,

01:04:18.420 --> 01:04:18.759
 heaven,

01:04:19.980 --> 01:04:20.579
 and inheritance

01:04:20.579 --> 01:04:22.039
 in glory.

01:04:22.039 --> 01:04:24.559
 That's why the New Testament

01:04:24.559 --> 01:04:27.259
 so often speaks about this.

01:04:27.340 --> 01:04:27.719
 I can just,

01:04:28.179 --> 01:04:28.599
 in finishing,

01:04:29.099 --> 01:04:30.099
 remind you of one version,

01:04:30.099 --> 01:04:31.779
 the letter to the Colossians,

01:04:31.900 --> 01:04:32.519
 chapter 1,

01:04:33.059 --> 01:04:34.360
 verses 12 to 14.

01:04:35.579 --> 01:04:37.599
 This is the prayer of Paul

01:04:37.599 --> 01:04:39.420
 for the Colossian Christians.

01:04:40.679 --> 01:04:41.679
 May you be strengthened

01:04:41.679 --> 01:04:42.480
 with all power,

01:04:43.119 --> 01:04:44.460
 giving thanks to the Father

01:04:44.460 --> 01:04:45.619
 who has qualified you

01:04:45.619 --> 01:04:47.360
 to share in the inheritance

01:04:47.360 --> 01:04:48.759
 of the saints in light.

01:04:48.760 --> 01:04:50.640
 He has delivered us

01:04:50.640 --> 01:04:51.820
 from the domain

01:04:51.820 --> 01:04:52.600
 of darkness

01:04:52.600 --> 01:04:54.660
 and transferred us

01:04:54.660 --> 01:04:55.600
 into the kingdom

01:04:55.600 --> 01:04:57.000
 of His beloved Son

01:04:57.000 --> 01:04:59.040
 in whom we have redemption,

01:05:00.040 --> 01:05:01.480
 the forgiveness of sins,

01:05:02.440 --> 01:05:03.000
 a good

01:05:03.000 --> 01:05:05.020
 and a broad land,

01:05:05.920 --> 01:05:06.920
 a land flowing

01:05:06.920 --> 01:05:08.720
 with milk and honey.

01:05:10.080 --> 01:05:11.000
 But you notice finally

01:05:11.000 --> 01:05:12.860
 verse 12

01:05:12.860 --> 01:05:14.260
 of Exodus 3.

01:05:14.260 --> 01:05:16.220
 This will be

01:05:16.220 --> 01:05:17.580
 the sign for you

01:05:17.580 --> 01:05:18.560
 that I have sent you

01:05:18.560 --> 01:05:19.800
 when you have brought

01:05:19.800 --> 01:05:20.900
 the people out of Egypt.

01:05:21.380 --> 01:05:23.020
 You shall serve God

01:05:23.020 --> 01:05:24.660
 on this mountain.

01:05:24.740 --> 01:05:25.540
 The word serve there

01:05:25.540 --> 01:05:26.420
 really means worship.

01:05:27.180 --> 01:05:28.480
 You shall worship God

01:05:28.480 --> 01:05:29.580
 on this mountain.

01:05:29.740 --> 01:05:30.280
 There you have it.

01:05:30.360 --> 01:05:31.200
 There's the climax.

01:05:34.020 --> 01:05:35.900
 The whole point

01:05:35.900 --> 01:05:36.980
 of salvation

01:05:36.980 --> 01:05:39.920
 is that we will come

01:05:39.920 --> 01:05:41.420
 to be worshippers of God.

01:05:41.420 --> 01:05:45.180
 Why has He saved you?

01:05:46.519 --> 01:05:47.780
 What is His purpose

01:05:47.780 --> 01:05:48.800
 in saving you?

01:05:51.200 --> 01:05:52.519
 To place you along

01:05:52.519 --> 01:05:53.099
 with others

01:05:53.099 --> 01:05:55.019
 who will forever

01:05:55.019 --> 01:05:56.119
 worship God,

01:05:57.099 --> 01:05:57.900
 giving praise

01:05:57.900 --> 01:05:58.940
 and honor

01:05:58.940 --> 01:06:00.039
 and glory to Him.

01:06:00.099 --> 01:06:01.940
 You look at the passages

01:06:01.940 --> 01:06:03.180
 in the book of Revelation

01:06:03.180 --> 01:06:05.000
 that give you

01:06:05.000 --> 01:06:05.780
 some indication

01:06:05.780 --> 01:06:07.079
 as far as we can

01:06:07.079 --> 01:06:08.159
 of what heaven is like.

01:06:09.400 --> 01:06:10.519
 And how is it described?

01:06:10.519 --> 01:06:11.940
 Well, it's very often

01:06:11.940 --> 01:06:13.099
 described as that place

01:06:13.099 --> 01:06:14.980
 where there is praise

01:06:14.980 --> 01:06:15.860
 and honor

01:06:15.860 --> 01:06:16.800
 and glory

01:06:16.800 --> 01:06:17.699
 given to God

01:06:17.699 --> 01:06:18.579
 and His majesty.

01:06:19.679 --> 01:06:20.239
 Where our people

01:06:20.239 --> 01:06:21.119
 are gathered together

01:06:21.119 --> 01:06:22.380
 as a saved people

01:06:22.380 --> 01:06:23.000
 of God

01:06:23.000 --> 01:06:24.940
 worshipping Him

01:06:24.940 --> 01:06:26.259
 forevermore

01:06:26.259 --> 01:06:27.940
 without interruption.

01:06:30.440 --> 01:06:31.099
 There is, friends,

01:06:31.159 --> 01:06:31.759
 our privilege

01:06:31.759 --> 01:06:33.739
 to know God

01:06:33.739 --> 01:06:34.800
 as our deliverer,

01:06:35.820 --> 01:06:36.480
 our Savior,

01:06:37.639 --> 01:06:38.739
 the one who is promising

01:06:38.739 --> 01:06:40.239
 tonight to bring us

01:06:40.239 --> 01:06:41.059
 into this broad

01:06:41.059 --> 01:06:41.879
 and good land,

01:06:42.659 --> 01:06:43.539
 the land of heaven.

01:06:45.639 --> 01:06:46.799
 Isn't that your hope?

01:06:48.559 --> 01:06:49.959
 Isn't that your prospect?

01:06:51.959 --> 01:06:53.419
 Isn't that your experience

01:06:53.419 --> 01:06:53.939
 already

01:06:53.939 --> 01:06:55.659
 of this God?

01:06:57.159 --> 01:06:57.979
 Aren't you here

01:06:57.979 --> 01:06:58.859
 as a worshipper

01:06:58.859 --> 01:06:59.779
 of God tonight

01:06:59.779 --> 01:07:00.699
 because

01:07:00.699 --> 01:07:02.939
 He has saved you?

01:07:02.940 --> 01:07:05.619
 because He has delivered you,

01:07:06.260 --> 01:07:07.559
 because His promise

01:07:07.559 --> 01:07:08.300
 is to you,

01:07:08.900 --> 01:07:10.039
 I will bring you

01:07:10.039 --> 01:07:11.139
 into that inheritance

01:07:11.139 --> 01:07:12.260
 as surely

01:07:12.260 --> 01:07:13.400
 as I have delivered you

01:07:13.400 --> 01:07:14.860
 out of the bondage

01:07:14.860 --> 01:07:15.400
 of sin.

01:07:16.400 --> 01:07:17.240
 To God

01:07:17.240 --> 01:07:18.059
 be the praise,

01:07:18.579 --> 01:07:19.099
 to God

01:07:19.099 --> 01:07:19.800
 be the glory,

01:07:20.599 --> 01:07:21.619
 to Jesus Christ

01:07:21.619 --> 01:07:23.119
 be all majesty

01:07:23.119 --> 01:07:23.880
 and dominion

01:07:23.880 --> 01:07:24.400
 and power

01:07:24.400 --> 01:07:25.760
 now and forevermore.

01:07:25.760 --> 01:07:29.080
 because only He deserves.

01:07:29.900 --> 01:07:31.460
 This great covenant God

01:07:31.460 --> 01:07:33.700
 deserves our worship

01:07:33.700 --> 01:07:35.820
 and our allegiance.

01:07:36.620 --> 01:07:37.300
 Let's pray.

01:07:40.120 --> 01:07:41.620
 Our gracious God,

01:07:42.760 --> 01:07:44.180
 we find it so difficult

01:07:44.180 --> 01:07:46.480
 to find words adequate

01:07:46.480 --> 01:07:48.760
 to describe the thoughts

01:07:48.760 --> 01:07:49.500
 of our hearts

01:07:49.500 --> 01:07:51.280
 even as we come

01:07:51.280 --> 01:07:52.200
 to realize

01:07:52.200 --> 01:07:53.480
 the enormity

01:07:53.480 --> 01:07:54.300
 of your redemption.

01:07:55.639 --> 01:07:56.039
 And Lord,

01:07:56.099 --> 01:07:56.740
 we pray that

01:07:56.740 --> 01:07:57.559
 as we consider

01:07:57.559 --> 01:07:58.639
 this evening

01:07:58.639 --> 01:07:59.179
 the wonder

01:07:59.179 --> 01:08:00.280
 of your deliverance

01:08:00.280 --> 01:08:01.579
 of your people

01:08:01.579 --> 01:08:02.199
 from sin

01:08:02.199 --> 01:08:04.260
 and the wonderful prospect

01:08:04.260 --> 01:08:05.659
 of being brought

01:08:05.659 --> 01:08:07.320
 to be finally with you

01:08:07.320 --> 01:08:07.980
 in that heaven

01:08:07.980 --> 01:08:08.579
 that flows

01:08:08.579 --> 01:08:09.480
 with milk and honey

01:08:09.480 --> 01:08:10.039
 spiritually,

01:08:10.599 --> 01:08:11.980
 we thank you tonight

01:08:11.980 --> 01:08:12.840
 for that redemption.

01:08:13.920 --> 01:08:14.559
 We thank you

01:08:14.559 --> 01:08:15.500
 for the one

01:08:15.500 --> 01:08:16.800
 who has brought it to us,

01:08:17.600 --> 01:08:18.760
 who has come into this world

01:08:18.760 --> 01:08:19.619
 and given himself

01:08:19.619 --> 01:08:20.840
 to the death of the cross,

01:08:21.899 --> 01:08:22.760
 who has given himself

01:08:22.760 --> 01:08:24.340
 to be made a curse for us,

01:08:25.039 --> 01:08:26.159
 the one who knew no sin,

01:08:26.260 --> 01:08:26.980
 to be made sin

01:08:26.980 --> 01:08:27.720
 for his people,

01:08:28.520 --> 01:08:29.560
 that we might be made

01:08:29.560 --> 01:08:30.199
 the righteousness

01:08:30.199 --> 01:08:32.000
 of God in him.

01:08:32.980 --> 01:08:33.680
 Sanctify us,

01:08:33.760 --> 01:08:34.140
 we pray.

01:08:34.820 --> 01:08:35.739
 Give us day by day

01:08:35.739 --> 01:08:36.600
 to be concerned,

01:08:37.280 --> 01:08:38.480
 to draw near to you,

01:08:38.560 --> 01:08:39.360
 the holy God,

01:08:40.239 --> 01:08:41.880
 living by faith in Christ

01:08:41.880 --> 01:08:43.659
 and being persuaded

01:08:43.659 --> 01:08:44.420
 that not only

01:08:44.420 --> 01:08:45.760
 is it our privilege

01:08:45.760 --> 01:08:46.520
 to do so,

01:08:47.300 --> 01:08:48.460
 but as we exercise

01:08:48.460 --> 01:08:49.280
 our privilege,

01:08:49.460 --> 01:08:49.659
 Lord,

01:08:49.659 --> 01:08:51.099
 help us,

01:08:51.199 --> 01:08:51.519
 we pray,

01:08:51.639 --> 01:08:52.380
 to be convinced

01:08:52.380 --> 01:08:54.079
 and to have assurance

01:08:54.079 --> 01:08:55.920
 that you will not

01:08:55.920 --> 01:08:56.920
 lay your hand upon us

01:08:56.920 --> 01:08:57.880
 to destroy us,

01:08:58.399 --> 01:08:59.739
 but that you will ask us

01:08:59.739 --> 01:09:00.800
 again into your presence

01:09:00.800 --> 01:09:02.800
 to experience more

01:09:02.800 --> 01:09:03.439
 of your blessing.

01:09:04.319 --> 01:09:04.800
 Hear us now,

01:09:04.859 --> 01:09:05.199
 we pray,

01:09:05.319 --> 01:09:06.239
 for Jesus' sake.

01:09:06.619 --> 01:09:06.960
 Amen.

01:09:10.420 --> 01:09:11.639
 Let's sing in conclusion

01:09:11.639 --> 01:09:12.279
 now from,

01:09:12.939 --> 01:09:14.779
 in the Scottish Psalter,

01:09:14.859 --> 01:09:16.180
 from Psalm 99 again.

01:09:16.180 --> 01:09:18.560
 Psalm 99,

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 page 361,

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 verses 6 to 9.

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 To the tune Bethesda,

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 Moses and Aaron

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 among his priests,

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 Samuel with them

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 that call upon his name,

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 these called on God,

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 and he them answered all.

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 Within the pillar of the cloud

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 he unto them did speak,

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 the testimonies he them taught

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 and laws they did not break.

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 And so the psalm concludes,

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 do ye exalt the Lord our God,

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 and at his holy hill

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 do ye him worship,

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 for the Lord our God

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 is holy still.

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 Verses 6 to 9 of Psalm 99.

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 Moses and Aaron

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 among his priests,

01:10:11.000 --> 01:10:15.579
 Samuel with them

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 that call upon his name,

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 these calls on God,

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 I need them answered all.

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 Within the pillar of the cloud,

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 he unto them did speak,

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 the testimonies he them taught,

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 and laws they did not break.

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 Thou answeredst them,

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 O Lord our God,

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 Thou wast a God that came,

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 are done to them,

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 O Lord their deeds,

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 Thou rooted,

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 fengenest have.

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 Do ye exalt the Lord our God,

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 and at his holy hill,

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 do ye him worship,

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 for the Lord our God,

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 our God is holy still.

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 I'll go to the door here,

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 to my right this evening.

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 Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 the love of God the Father,

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 and the communion of the Holy Spirit

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 be with you now and evermore.

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 Amen.

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 Die of whom he is holy by the Lord is holy with you,

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 O Lord your glory

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 and themision to God.

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