WEBVTT

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 Our opening psalm tonight, psalm of praise, is psalm 30.

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 Psalm number 30, that's in the Scottish Psalter.

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 You'll find that on page 239.

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 Lord, I will thee extol, for thou hast lifted me on high,

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 and over me thou to rejoice made'st not mine enemy.

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 For thou who art the Lord my God, I in distress to thee,

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 with loud cries lifted up my voice, and thou hast healed me.

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 Down to verse 5, for but a moment lasts his wrath, life in his favor lies.

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 Weeping may for a night endure, at morn doth joy arise.

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 Words that are so full, vibrantly full of life,

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 and full of thanksgiving to God for his salvation,

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 and call upon us as God's people to sing praise to him in accordance with that.

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 Psalm 30 then, verses 1 to 5.

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 Lord, I will thee extol.

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 Lord, I will thee extol, for thou hast lifted me on high,

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 and over me thou to rejoice, may it's not mine enemy.

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 O thou who art the Lord my God, I in distress to thee,

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 with thou hast lifted me, with thou Christ, may it's not mine.

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 I will thee extol, for thou hast lifted me, with thou Christ, may it's not mine.

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 O Lord, I will thee extol, for thou hast lifted me, with thou Christ, may it's not mine.

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 And love, and still let me be.

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 O Lord, I will thee extol, for thou hast lifted me, with thou hast lifted me, with thou hast lifted me, with thou hast lifted me.

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 O Lord, I will thee extol, for thou hast lifted me, with thou hast lifted me, with thou hast lifted me, with thou hast lifted me, with thou hast lifted me.

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 O Lord, I will thee extol, for thou hast ing it, with thou hast magnetic收 syste.

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 O Lord, I will thee extol, ye socher!

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 O O Lord, ye that high this holy one, sing praise unto the Lord.

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 Son to the Lord, and give unto him thanks when ye his holiness reward.

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 For God's hope and last is right, like in his favor lies.

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 We've been before a night endured, a thorn of joy arise.

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 Now we're going to engage in prayer, let's call upon the Lord in prayer.

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 Amen.

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 We pray that that may be the experience of each one of us here in this building tonight.

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 That we can meaningfully and joyfully sing praises to you, knowing you as the rescuer who has brought us from death.

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 Who has brought us life in its abundance, in the Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.

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 Lord, we give thanks that we are here once again, gathered in this building to worship you.

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 We are conscious of drawing near to you, even though we cannot see you.

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 And we nevertheless know that you are here.

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 And we know that we consciously come into your presence as we come to worship you, whether collectively, with others or privately for ourselves.

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 And we give thanks for the privilege we have of being able to draw near to God.

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 And help us, we pray, to do so with faith and with longing.

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 Enable us to draw near to you, believing that you are indeed a rewarder of those who seek you diligently.

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 And we ask tonight, Lord, that as we gather together, so your word once again will be impressed upon our minds and hearts.

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 Feed our minds, we pray, so that we will grow in our understanding of your truth.

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 And of the great things that are revealed in your truth.

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 When you reveal to us yourself, your ways and ourselves and the world in which we live.

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 When you bring before us things of eternity and of time.

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 We give thanks that you set out for us, especially the way of life against the way of death.

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 Help us, we pray, as we become familiar with these things week by week.

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 That our concern will be, Lord, to grow in our understanding and our appreciation of them.

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 We come before you, Lord, as those who also need to come with our confession of our sin.

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 We pray, Lord, that you would enable us to do so meaningfully.

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 To come before you, even though we have maybe expressed our sin to you penitently before many times.

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 Yet, O Lord, it is appropriate for us, indeed, as you taught your disciples,

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 to forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

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 To forgive our sins, to cleanse us from our iniquity.

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 We come with that confession, O Lord.

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 We have sinned against you even since we met here this morning.

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 And our sins, we know, are sins of our mind as well as of our outward actions.

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 And we ask your forgiveness.

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 We ask your restoration whenever we have gone aside from your ways.

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 We ask that you would give us tonight that sense of assurance

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 that our sins are truly forgiven in Christ when we come to place our trust in him.

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 And we pray, gracious one, that our thankfulness may truly extend to include the fact that our sins,

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 when forgiven, will never return to us again accusingly.

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 We pray that you would grant to us, each of us here, O Lord,

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 that such may be our relationship with you.

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 And that our concern will be not only to know that for ourselves,

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 but to commend it as an experience we have come to know to those around us, too.

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 Bless us, Lord, we pray tonight in our homes and our families,

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 in the circumstances of life we find ourselves in.

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 We pray that your blessing will be with us in all that we do and wherever we appear.

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 And we ask as we were dwelling our minds this morning, O Lord,

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 upon the importance of revealing by our way of life

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 that you are our covenant God, that we are your people.

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 And we pray that that will be a burden on our hearts,

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 that we will be concerned, O Lord, to show that

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 wherever we have the opportunity to do so in the world and conditions of our day.

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 Remember us, Lord.

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 Lord, we pray in all our activities as well as once again we bring before you

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 all that we seek to partake of in this coming week.

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 Lord, we are conscious every time we come each Lord's Day to open our bulletin sheet

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 how much, O Lord, you enable us to engage in

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 how many different types of activities we find ourselves involved with.

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 And we pray that these will again be blessed,

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 that we will be thankful that we are able to carry out these activities in your name

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 and seeking the advance of your kingdom in them.

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 And we pray, Lord, that you would grant always your blessing to accompany

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 all that we seek to do in your name.

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 For without you, where can we be?

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 Without you, we cannot know that effective blessing of the gospel

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 that our hearts desire.

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 We pray again for your Holy Spirit

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 to continue to guide us and to bless us as a people.

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 Remember those of our number again tonight who are ill.

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 We think tonight, Lord, of those in hospital,

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 those who are recovering from illness,

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 those recovering from surgery, from treatment,

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 those who are still engaged in such treatment,

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 we ask that you would bless them,

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 bless those who watch over them and care for them

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 in their own homes and families and may be anxious over them.

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 Lord, we pray that you would still all our anxieties,

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 whatever they may be and whatever they may be related to.

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 We pray that you would help us to follow the direction of your word,

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 to be not over-anxious about anything,

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 but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,

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 to make our requests known to God,

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 that we may know the peace of God

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 that passes all understanding,

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 that is able to garrison our hearts and minds

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 through Christ Jesus.

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 We ask, O Lord, too, that you would bless our young folks.

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 We bring our young people before you.

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 Bless them, Lord, in their youngest days

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 through to their adolescence and up into adulthood.

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 We pray that your blessing will follow all that's done

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 in your name toward them,

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 to teach them the things of God,

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 to hold out for them the word of life.

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 We pray your blessing, too, tonight

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 for those who continue to mourn over the passing of loved ones,

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 either recently or in times gone by.

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 We know, Lord, how fresh these things can be in our memory,

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 even though the event may be long in the past.

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 We seek your peace.

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 We seek your stilling of our hearts, O Lord.

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 We ask that your comfort will be extended

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 to those who know the pain of bereavement

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 and of the sorrow of part and from loved ones.

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 Grant your blessing to them all, we pray.

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 Throughout the world, Lord, tonight,

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 we pray that your kingdom will extend

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 and that your people will be blessed.

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 We bring before you the conditions we know

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 of the world's activities.

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 As we find them, Lord, brought before us in news reports,

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 we pray especially for those places

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 where tonight there is war, terror, strife,

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 anger and conflict and hatred.

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 And we ask, gracious one,

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 that through the gospel you would bring about

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 a lasting peace in all of these situations.

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 We remember, particularly at this time,

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 the situation, Lord, affecting Israel and the Middle East.

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 We pray that in those situations, Lord,

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 peace may prevail.

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 And we ask that you would help people

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 to lay down their arms in the aggression

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 that we know of, Lord,

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 as that has taken place now over many months.

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 We pray that you bless the situation too in Ukraine.

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 Oh, help them, Lord, we pray,

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 as they seek to advance

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 and come to gain victory over an aggressor

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 that has sought to displace them

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 and sought and brought much devastation

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 into their nation.

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 Oh, Lord, our God, bring peace about, we pray,

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 and grant, we pray,

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 wherever such aggression happens

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 from time to time in the world,

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 Lord, we pray that you would grant

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 by your own blessing that it may be stilled

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 and that you would bring about conditions of peace

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 throughout the world.

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 We pray that your blessing now will be with us here.

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 Bless us in this, our own community as well.

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 Bless, Lord, all that is available to us

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 to our advantage

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 in the way that we find so much to help us,

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 whether it be through ill health,

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 through mental health provisions,

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 physical ill health,

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 all, Lord, else who help us from time to time

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 with counseling,

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 with various ways in which we find our lives benefited.

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 Bless them.

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 We pray who have the skills to impart to us

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 such treatment and such help at these times.

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 We pray your blessing to be with Muriel tonight

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 as she speaks about her work.

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 Lord, we ask that as she spends time with us

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 during these days,

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 that you will bless her,

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 that you continue to bless the loved ones

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 she's left behind for a time in Cambodia.

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 We ask that they too will be kept

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 during the time that she's absent.

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 And we pray that you would continue

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 to bless her work there

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 and enable us to continue prayerfully

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 and practically to support her

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 through her time of service there.

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 Continue to bless all efforts throughout the world,

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 whether it be through charitable agencies

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 or through the work of missionary activity.

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 Oh, Lord, extend your kingdom, we pray,

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 through all of these means.

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 Hear us now, we pray.

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 Accept us freely and all for Jesus' sake.

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 Amen.

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 We're going to again sing to God's praise.

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 This time we're singing in Psalm 34.

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 Psalm 34, and it's in the St. Sam's version.

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 And the verses we find from verse 15.

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 From verse 15 to the end of the Psalm,

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 verse 22, that's page 41.

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 The Lord's eyes are upon the just.

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 He listens to their plea.

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 The wicked he rejects

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 and blots from earth their memory.

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 The righteous cry.

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 The Lord responds and frees them when distressed.

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 The Lord draws near the broken heart

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 and rescues the depressed.

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 These verses 15 to 22.

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 The Lord's eyes are upon the just.

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 The Lord's eyes are upon the just.

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 He listens to their plea.

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 The wicked he rejects and blots from earth their memory.

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 The righteous cry.

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 The righteous cry.

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 The Lord responds and frees them when distressed.

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 The Lord draws near the broken heart.

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 The broken heart and rescues the depressed.

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 From all the troubles of the just.

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 The Lord will set him free.

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 The Lord protects his death.

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 The broken heart and broken heart will be.

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 The wicked are condemned to death.

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 All those who hate the just.

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 God saves his death.

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 The broken heart and broken heart will be.

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 The broken heart and broken heart will be.

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 For in the Lord they trust.

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 Amen.

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 Let's turn now to read and to hear God's word.

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 We're reading tonight from the epistle to the Hebrews.

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 The letter to the Hebrews.

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 Chapter 11.

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 And we're reading from the beginning down as far as verse 16.

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 As you know this is a great chapter dealing with faith.

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 But faith as it becomes visible in the life of God's people.

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 So that each of those instances and examples of faith.

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 Faith involves something that they did or achieved through faith.

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 And we'll take your reading down to verse 16.

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 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for.

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 The conviction of things not seen.

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 For by it the people of old received their commendation.

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 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God.

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 So that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

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 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.

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 Through which he was commended as righteous.

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 God commending him by accepting his gifts.

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 And through his faith although he died he still speaks.

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 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death.

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 And he was not found because God had taken him.

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 Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

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 For without faith it is impossible to please him.

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 For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists.

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 And that he rewards those who seek him.

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 By faith Noah being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen.

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 In reverent faith constructed an ark for the saving of his household.

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 By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

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 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance.

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 And he went out not knowing where he was going.

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 By faith he went to live in the land of promise as in a foreign land.

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 Living in tents with Isaac and Jacob.

00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:50.240
 Heirs with him of the same promise.

00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:53.940
 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations.

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:57.079
 Whose designer and builder is God.

00:19:58.019 --> 00:20:01.420
 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive.

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:03.880
 Even when she was past the age.

00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:06.960
 Since she considered him faithful who had promised.

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:11.079
 Therefore from one man and him as good as dead.

00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.680
 Were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven.

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:19.700
 And as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:22.700
 These all died in faith.

00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:25.320
 Not having received the things promised.

00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:28.480
 But having seen them and greeted them from afar.

00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:32.759
 And having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:37.720
 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:41.839
 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out.

00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:44.500
 They would have had opportunity to return.

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.400
 But as it is.

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.660
 They desire a better country.

00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.720
 That is a heavenly one.

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:55.140
 Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God.

00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:59.019
 For he has prepared for them a city.

00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:03.440
 And may God again follow with this blessing.

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:06.299
 A reading of that portion of his own word.

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:10.720
 Now before we turn to a couple of verses in this chapter.

00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:11.859
 We'll sing again.

00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:14.059
 This time we're singing Psalm 73.

00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:17.599
 And that's on page 316.

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:23.759
 Psalm 73 and verses 23 to 28.

00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:33.519
 And these verses comprise one of the most wonderful testimonies and convictions.

00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:35.819
 Anywhere we find in the Bible.

00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:39.940
 The psalmist here having begun to.

00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:44.680
 At the beginning to confess how very near he was to slipping away.

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.879
 How he had become envious.

00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:51.539
 At what he thought was the life of the wicked.

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:53.240
 That didn't as far as he was concerned.

00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:55.879
 Then have much by way of difficulty.

00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:58.359
 In contrast to himself as a believer.

00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:02.639
 But then when he went into the temple of God.

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.759
 To the house of God.

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:07.960
 He actually then he says understood their end.

00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:10.279
 And surely he said in verse 18.

00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:12.859
 They are actually in very slippery places.

00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:15.379
 And suddenly brought to ruin.

00:22:16.379 --> 00:22:18.619
 And so he continues now in verse 23.

00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:20.059
 Nevertheless continually.

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:22.500
 O Lord I am with thee.

00:22:23.179 --> 00:22:25.319
 Thou dost me hold by my right hand.

00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.179
 And still upholdest me.

00:22:27.919 --> 00:22:30.039
 Thou with thy counsel while I live.

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:32.279
 Wilt me conduct and guide.

00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:34.679
 And to thy glory afterwards.

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:37.759
 Receive me to abide.

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:41.019
 So from verse 23 to the end of the psalm.

00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:43.139
 Nevertheless continually.

00:22:43.140 --> 00:23:04.140
 O Lord I am with thee.

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:04.780
 that thou dost iç for me.

00:23:04.780 --> 00:23:06.400
 And what I love is to be.

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:06.660
 Thank you.

00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:12.060
 That thou dost be whole.

00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:21.839
 I am still a bolder's feet.

00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:39.159
 With my power, still while I live, will be called that and guide.

00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:55.400
 Until thy glory afterward receive me to abide.

00:23:55.400 --> 00:24:12.400
 In heaven, I am the heaven's high, but thee, O Lord, alone.

00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:30.160
 And in the air whom I desire, besides thee there is none.

00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:47.160
 My flesh and heart, the pit and fail, but God, the fail me never.

00:24:47.160 --> 00:25:04.160
 For all my heart, God is the strength and ocean forever.

00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:22.160
 For all my heart, I fall from thee forever perish shall.

00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:38.160
 Then that powering from me go, thou hast destroyed all.

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:55.160
 But surely it is good for me that I draw near to God.

00:25:55.160 --> 00:26:11.400
 In God I trust that all thy works I may declare abroad.

00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:22.720
 Well, for our time this evening, we're going to look at a couple of verses in Hebrews chapter 11, especially verses 5 and 6.

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:30.279
 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death.

00:26:31.060 --> 00:26:34.120
 And he was not found because God had taken him.

00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:38.860
 Now before he was taken, he was commended as having pleased God.

00:26:39.560 --> 00:26:42.259
 And without faith it is impossible to please him.

00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:49.680
 For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:58.420
 And the corresponding words we find in the Old Testament in Genesis chapter 5 are as follows in verse 21.

00:26:58.580 --> 00:27:02.580
 When Enoch had lived for 65 years, he fathered Methuselah.

00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:09.860
 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah for 300 years and had other sons and daughters.

00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:14.779
 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years.

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:21.220
 Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him.

00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:30.180
 So the words of Hebrews are based very much on that reference in Genesis chapter 5.

00:27:31.379 --> 00:27:38.819
 Now we know that there can be many differences, indeed contrasts, between one believing life and another.

00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:47.159
 And within the experiences of the people of God, there are some very contrasting experiences and situations.

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:55.519
 So that, in matter of fact, there are times when we may be not able to follow to any great extent that which others are going through.

00:27:55.740 --> 00:28:00.759
 Or the experience they've had as people who have followed the Lord and believe in him.

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:09.460
 And when you look at these two people here, Abel in verse 4, followed by Enoch, they're obviously held in contrast.

00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:11.779
 They both lived by faith.

00:28:12.379 --> 00:28:18.359
 But in the one case, Abel, through faith, offered this more acceptable sacrifice.

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:23.019
 But he ended his life in this world by being put to death.

00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.940
 He became a martyr.

00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:32.820
 And yet, in contrast, you find, and I think it's for that reason that these verses are held one after another,

00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:42.440
 Enoch, who lived by faith just as Abel did, but his days ended in this world by being taken away without seeing death.

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:49.340
 There's the one person living by faith and he's put to death for his faith, if you like.

00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:59.039
 And there's the other one living by faith and he doesn't see death because God takes him away without ever having to pass through death.

00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:02.199
 And so it is in our lives as believers.

00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:08.500
 There are so many contrasts that we may not be able to follow as we think of the experiences of other people.

00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:15.099
 And that should not disturb us because when we come to know of the ways of God,

00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:22.759
 he deals differently with every individual as he sees fit and he knows exactly what we need at any given time,

00:29:23.219 --> 00:29:26.980
 even if that may be very different to the way that he deals with others.

00:29:27.179 --> 00:29:31.699
 So the fact that we differ, sometimes maybe markedly in our experience,

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:34.000
 from what other believers experience,

00:29:34.439 --> 00:29:37.759
 we should never conclude from that, that we therefore must not have faith

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:40.159
 or that our faith cannot be genuine.

00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:44.640
 When you go through this chapter, there's such a great variety of experiences,

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:48.080
 but all the way through there is one common feature,

00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:52.980
 one thing that they all have in common, and that's faith in God.

00:29:53.560 --> 00:29:56.120
 And in the case of Abel and of Enoch,

00:29:56.380 --> 00:30:01.480
 they both had the same testimony that they pleased God,

00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:04.160
 that they lived by faith in God through living,

00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:06.320
 living through faith in God,

00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:10.799
 they actually had this testimony that they pleased God.

00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:18.599
 So we're looking first of all tonight at the facts concerning Enoch that are actually revealed here,

00:30:18.659 --> 00:30:22.720
 the facts about Enoch that we find in verse 5.

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:27.399
 And then secondly, we look at the faith that Enoch lived by,

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:33.439
 because there are a number of aspects of his faith actually revealed to us in these verses.

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:40.980
 So the facts that are given, there are two facts especially in regard to Enoch as a person,

00:30:41.580 --> 00:30:46.220
 and the first fact is that he was taken up so that he would not see death,

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:50.460
 and the second fact is that he pleased God.

00:30:50.600 --> 00:30:54.980
 Before he was taken, he was commended as having pleased God.

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:56.320
 These two great facts,

00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:59.820
 the fact that he was taken up by God without seeing death,

00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:03.519
 and the fact that he pleased God prior to that,

00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:06.359
 living through faith or by faith.

00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:11.079
 And when you see here that he was taken up so that he should not see death,

00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:12.980
 that's literally what we understand.

00:31:13.679 --> 00:31:20.179
 This is not something that's given us by way of just an imaginary type of person or situation.

00:31:20.439 --> 00:31:22.839
 From the Old Testament passage, Genesis 5,

00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:26.519
 and from this he was taken away by God.

00:31:26.639 --> 00:31:28.059
 He was not found.

00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:31.539
 He was taken up, and he was not found,

00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:33.399
 because God had taken him.

00:31:33.459 --> 00:31:35.240
 Now when it says he was not found,

00:31:35.659 --> 00:31:38.619
 that I think implies that there was a search made for him.

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:41.740
 There was a day when his relatives,

00:31:42.419 --> 00:31:44.480
 people who knew him, his friends,

00:31:45.199 --> 00:31:46.459
 expected to see him,

00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:48.259
 and there was no sign of him.

00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:50.500
 And there was no sign of him,

00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:53.460
 because God had chosen to take him away.

00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:56.420
 And just as the language is very abrupt,

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.440
 so that whole incident,

00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:00.359
 in the case of Enoch,

00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:02.640
 would have been a very abrupt taking.

00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:04.539
 God took him,

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:06.279
 and he was not found.

00:32:06.579 --> 00:32:08.299
 It's not that he died overnight,

00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:11.059
 and was found by his relatives to have died,

00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:12.599
 and passed away quickly,

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.879
 as happens to some.

00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:16.640
 Here is somebody who wasn't found.

00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:19.000
 Somebody who could not be located.

00:32:19.600 --> 00:32:20.900
 Somebody who was well known,

00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:23.040
 but he was not found,

00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:25.680
 because God took him.

00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:28.240
 And we believe these words literally,

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:29.800
 for what they say.

00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:33.080
 This is God telling us through his word,

00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:35.420
 this is exactly how it was.

00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:36.420
 This is what happened.

00:32:37.280 --> 00:32:38.300
 He did not die.

00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:39.580
 He was taken away bodily.

00:32:40.840 --> 00:32:44.400
 And that's not just a matter of fact sort of thing

00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:45.220
 that's mentioned.

00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:48.519
 It really indicates that there's such a thing

00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:51.100
 as victory over death.

00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:54.259
 Death did not claim Enoch.

00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:56.500
 Death did not take him away.

00:32:57.079 --> 00:33:00.640
 He was taken away so that he was above death.

00:33:00.860 --> 00:33:02.000
 He was taken away,

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:04.059
 but he didn't see death.

00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:04.860
 Not by death,

00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:07.180
 but without seeing death,

00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:08.360
 victory over it.

00:33:08.360 --> 00:33:09.180
 A sudden change.

00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:09.640
 And you notice,

00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:15.400
 if you go through this passage in Genesis chapter 5,

00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:18.600
 this great list that you find there

00:33:18.600 --> 00:33:20.340
 of the generations of Adam,

00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:23.759
 a series recording the people who came from Adam

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.480
 all the way down

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:26.019
 until you reach the end of the chapter,

00:33:26.560 --> 00:33:28.299
 which speaks about Noah.

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.860
 And then you're into chapter 6,

00:33:30.380 --> 00:33:31.860
 giving more details about Noah.

00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:33.039
 But all the way through,

00:33:33.439 --> 00:33:36.659
 you find all of these people marked by these words,

00:33:37.099 --> 00:33:38.759
 and he died,

00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:40.639
 and he died,

00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:42.279
 and he died.

00:33:42.459 --> 00:33:43.559
 You follow it right through,

00:33:43.659 --> 00:33:44.839
 and he died,

00:33:44.979 --> 00:33:46.019
 all the way through

00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:48.119
 until you come to verse 21.

00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.939
 And then you come to verse 24.

00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:53.119
 Enoch walked with God,

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:55.279
 and he died.

00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:56.819
 No, he was taken.

00:33:57.319 --> 00:33:58.259
 He was not found,

00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:59.559
 for he was taken.

00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:02.079
 And there you see a wonderful demonstration,

00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:02.440
 really,

00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:03.819
 in words,

00:34:04.179 --> 00:34:06.099
 of how different it was

00:34:06.099 --> 00:34:07.480
 in the case of Enoch,

00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:09.259
 that he walked with God

00:34:09.259 --> 00:34:10.920
 all the days of his life,

00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:12.320
 and then he was not,

00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:13.820
 for God took him.

00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:16.199
 He demonstrated,

00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:18.000
 God demonstrated through him,

00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:21.360
 that death did not have the last word

00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:22.779
 in human experience.

00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:25.000
 That there was such a thing

00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:26.500
 in the hand of God

00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:28.539
 as victory over death.

00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.759
 And in fact,

00:34:30.840 --> 00:34:31.699
 you could say that that,

00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:33.259
 for the Old Testament church,

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:34.820
 for the people of faith

00:34:34.820 --> 00:34:35.699
 in the Old Testament,

00:34:36.279 --> 00:34:38.059
 the likes of what happened to Enoch,

00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:39.599
 and their knowledge as that

00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:40.659
 was passed on to them,

00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:42.139
 and came eventually to be written

00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:43.739
 in the book of Genesis,

00:34:44.279 --> 00:34:45.759
 that held out for him

00:34:45.759 --> 00:34:48.599
 the prospect of victory over death.

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.539
 The assurance that death

00:34:50.539 --> 00:34:53.219
 was not the great victor after all,

00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:54.539
 but that God was.

00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:56.119
 That God had something

00:34:56.119 --> 00:34:58.320
 by which death would be overcome,

00:34:58.320 --> 00:34:59.519
 and was overcome.

00:35:00.120 --> 00:35:00.600
 Interesting,

00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:01.180
 in the psalm,

00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:02.960
 we sang Psalm 73,

00:35:04.140 --> 00:35:05.480
 where the psalmist,

00:35:06.100 --> 00:35:07.840
 in such a wonderful way

00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:08.940
 of expressing it,

00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:09.160
 said,

00:35:09.740 --> 00:35:10.840
 You shall guide me

00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:12.019
 with your counsel.

00:35:13.220 --> 00:35:14.680
 I am continually with you.

00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.980
 You will guide me

00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.960
 with your counsel,

00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:18.400
 and afterwards,

00:35:18.740 --> 00:35:20.360
 you will receive me

00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:21.320
 into glory.

00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:22.260
 Now, literally,

00:35:22.700 --> 00:35:23.460
 the word receive

00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:25.800
 is actually the word take.

00:35:26.680 --> 00:35:27.120
 Afterwards,

00:35:27.640 --> 00:35:28.820
 you will take me

00:35:28.820 --> 00:35:29.880
 into glory.

00:35:30.160 --> 00:35:31.700
 That's exactly the same word

00:35:31.700 --> 00:35:33.680
 that's used in Genesis 5

00:35:33.680 --> 00:35:35.120
 to do with Enoch.

00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:36.760
 Enoch was taken.

00:35:37.180 --> 00:35:38.460
 The psalmist in Psalm 73

00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:38.900
 is saying,

00:35:39.220 --> 00:35:39.640
 Afterwards,

00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:41.220
 you will take me

00:35:41.220 --> 00:35:42.160
 into glory.

00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:43.200
 You will take me

00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:44.200
 above death.

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.140
 You will take me

00:35:45.140 --> 00:35:45.920
 so that death

00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:47.180
 will not actually

00:35:47.180 --> 00:35:48.880
 have victory over me.

00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.720
 What a wonderful testimony,

00:35:51.260 --> 00:35:52.119
 all the way through

00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:53.559
 the Old Testament days,

00:35:53.680 --> 00:35:54.579
 that he could go

00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:56.180
 to such words as these,

00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:57.559
 and such events as,

00:35:57.760 --> 00:35:58.800
 in the case of Enoch,

00:35:59.019 --> 00:35:59.880
 and to the testimony

00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:00.660
 of the psalmist,

00:36:00.660 --> 00:36:01.780
 and be able to say,

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:03.160
 by faith in God,

00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:04.960
 Lord, thank you

00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:07.099
 that death is not final,

00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:08.539
 that death is not

00:36:08.539 --> 00:36:10.059
 the final victor,

00:36:10.360 --> 00:36:11.700
 but that life is,

00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:13.700
 the life that you give.

00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.700
 You will receive me

00:36:15.700 --> 00:36:16.980
 into glory.

00:36:17.059 --> 00:36:17.500
 And in fact,

00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.220
 you could say,

00:36:18.219 --> 00:36:20.679
 that it's an indicator

00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:21.539
 of resurrection

00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:22.739
 from the dead.

00:36:23.459 --> 00:36:24.419
 In the case of Enoch,

00:36:24.859 --> 00:36:25.480
 and in the words

00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:26.219
 of the psalmist,

00:36:26.299 --> 00:36:26.879
 now I'm not saying

00:36:26.879 --> 00:36:27.359
 by that,

00:36:27.419 --> 00:36:28.799
 that they understood

00:36:28.799 --> 00:36:29.819
 resurrection the way

00:36:29.819 --> 00:36:30.980
 in the New Testament

00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:32.059
 it came to be revealed,

00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:33.559
 and especially following

00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:34.980
 the resurrection of Christ.

00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:36.679
 It was really

00:36:36.679 --> 00:36:39.119
 a dim reflection

00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:39.980
 of life

00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:41.159
 by resurrection

00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:42.159
 compared to

00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:43.439
 what came to be revealed

00:36:43.439 --> 00:36:44.259
 in the New Testament.

00:36:44.419 --> 00:36:45.199
 But essentially,

00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:47.000
 it is exactly the same.

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:48.019
 essentially,

00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:49.579
 it is holding out

00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:50.440
 before us

00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:52.699
 victory over death.

00:36:52.760 --> 00:36:53.579
 And where is victory

00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.219
 over death

00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:54.940
 rooted?

00:36:55.800 --> 00:36:56.599
 Where is your own

00:36:56.599 --> 00:36:57.639
 victory over death?

00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:59.079
 Why is it that you

00:36:59.079 --> 00:37:00.239
 as a believer

00:37:00.239 --> 00:37:00.739
 tonight

00:37:00.739 --> 00:37:02.239
 are conscious of

00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:02.960
 and confident

00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:03.860
 that death

00:37:03.860 --> 00:37:04.460
 will not be

00:37:04.460 --> 00:37:05.539
 the final victor

00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:06.199
 in your life?

00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:07.539
 Because you're united

00:37:07.539 --> 00:37:08.840
 to the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:09.760
 And who is he?

00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:10.880
 He's the one who died

00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:12.039
 and rose again

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.840
 from the dead.

00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:14.460
 And united to him

00:37:14.460 --> 00:37:15.679
 and united to him

00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:16.440
 in his resurrection.

00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:17.780
 You can say

00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:18.699
 like the psalmist,

00:37:18.980 --> 00:37:19.480
 you can say

00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.940
 as was true of Enoch,

00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:21.599
 nevertheless,

00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:22.599
 I am continually

00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.440
 with you.

00:37:24.199 --> 00:37:24.900
 You hold me

00:37:24.900 --> 00:37:25.960
 by the right hand.

00:37:26.380 --> 00:37:27.619
 You guide me

00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:28.400
 with your counsel

00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:29.460
 and afterwards

00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:30.619
 you will take me.

00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:31.639
 You will take me

00:37:31.639 --> 00:37:32.679
 up from the grave.

00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:33.599
 You will take me

00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:34.639
 to be with yourself.

00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:38.119
 He was taken,

00:37:38.699 --> 00:37:39.699
 Hebrews 11 says,

00:37:40.539 --> 00:37:41.480
 taken up

00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:42.260
 that should not

00:37:42.260 --> 00:37:43.840
 see death.

00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:45.000
 In other words,

00:37:45.220 --> 00:37:46.220
 the word taken up

00:37:46.220 --> 00:37:46.420
 there,

00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:47.460
 the words taken up

00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:48.480
 you could say

00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.820
 are maybe better

00:37:49.820 --> 00:37:50.460
 translated,

00:37:51.700 --> 00:37:51.860
 well,

00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:52.640
 maybe better,

00:37:53.080 --> 00:37:53.620
 the rendering

00:37:53.620 --> 00:37:54.380
 might be better

00:37:54.380 --> 00:37:55.140
 using the word

00:37:55.140 --> 00:37:56.020
 translated.

00:37:56.800 --> 00:37:57.660
 When you translate

00:37:57.660 --> 00:37:58.660
 someone from

00:37:58.660 --> 00:37:59.480
 one situation

00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:00.200
 to another,

00:38:00.580 --> 00:38:01.400
 you're moving them

00:38:01.400 --> 00:38:02.780
 on from one state

00:38:02.780 --> 00:38:03.280
 to another,

00:38:03.600 --> 00:38:05.060
 from one situation

00:38:05.060 --> 00:38:05.800
 to another.

00:38:06.120 --> 00:38:06.700
 And what's really

00:38:06.700 --> 00:38:07.540
 said here about

00:38:07.540 --> 00:38:08.100
 Enoch is

00:38:08.100 --> 00:38:10.180
 God translated him.

00:38:10.520 --> 00:38:10.940
 He took him

00:38:10.940 --> 00:38:11.880
 out of one

00:38:11.880 --> 00:38:13.320
 set of circumstances.

00:38:13.320 --> 00:38:14.079
 He took him

00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:15.000
 out of one

00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:16.360
 situation

00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:17.619
 to a better one.

00:38:18.599 --> 00:38:19.240
 He took him

00:38:19.240 --> 00:38:20.800
 out from a situation

00:38:20.800 --> 00:38:21.519
 where normally

00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:22.539
 you would see death

00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:23.960
 and he took him

00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.740
 above death

00:38:24.740 --> 00:38:25.760
 and he took him

00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:26.599
 beyond death

00:38:26.599 --> 00:38:27.840
 and he took him

00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:28.579
 in a way that

00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:30.519
 could reflect on

00:38:30.519 --> 00:38:31.460
 how God

00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:32.159
 had overcome

00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:33.460
 death in his

00:38:33.460 --> 00:38:34.059
 experience.

00:38:34.940 --> 00:38:35.480
 Now tonight

00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:36.139
 that's important

00:38:36.139 --> 00:38:36.900
 to yourself

00:38:36.900 --> 00:38:38.639
 because the

00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:39.800
 same faith

00:38:39.800 --> 00:38:40.480
 that Enoch

00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:41.019
 had

00:38:41.019 --> 00:38:42.119
 is the faith

00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:42.780
 that every

00:38:42.780 --> 00:38:43.660
 true believer

00:38:43.660 --> 00:38:44.200
 has had

00:38:44.200 --> 00:38:44.920
 all the way

00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:45.400
 down through

00:38:45.400 --> 00:38:45.900
 history.

00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:47.579
 And you

00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:48.280
 tonight as a

00:38:48.280 --> 00:38:48.920
 believer in

00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:49.220
 Christ,

00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:49.980
 even if your

00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:50.599
 faith you might

00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.099
 complain,

00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:51.539
 well,

00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:52.340
 it's very weak,

00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:53.420
 it's a faith

00:38:53.420 --> 00:38:53.920
 that you don't

00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:54.880
 see in any

00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:55.900
 way as robust

00:38:55.900 --> 00:38:56.519
 compared to

00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:56.920
 others.

00:38:57.539 --> 00:38:58.019
 It's something

00:38:58.019 --> 00:38:58.420
 that you're

00:38:58.420 --> 00:38:59.019
 conscious of,

00:38:59.059 --> 00:38:59.900
 maybe fluctuates

00:38:59.900 --> 00:39:00.539
 from one day

00:39:00.539 --> 00:39:01.119
 to the next

00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:02.200
 in a way that

00:39:02.200 --> 00:39:03.380
 you maybe don't

00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:04.099
 have such great

00:39:04.099 --> 00:39:04.920
 assurance and

00:39:04.920 --> 00:39:05.360
 yet you would

00:39:05.360 --> 00:39:06.220
 never say you're

00:39:06.219 --> 00:39:06.899
 not actually a

00:39:06.899 --> 00:39:07.599
 believer in

00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:07.939
 Christ.

00:39:08.179 --> 00:39:08.399
 Well,

00:39:08.419 --> 00:39:08.759
 it doesn't

00:39:08.759 --> 00:39:09.319
 matter whether

00:39:09.319 --> 00:39:09.899
 it's small

00:39:09.899 --> 00:39:10.719
 faith or

00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.579
 large faith or

00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.519
 strong faith or

00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:13.399
 robust faith.

00:39:13.839 --> 00:39:14.379
 Here is what

00:39:14.379 --> 00:39:15.000
 it's attached

00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:15.339
 to.

00:39:16.379 --> 00:39:17.399
 It's connected

00:39:17.399 --> 00:39:18.379
 to this person

00:39:18.379 --> 00:39:19.000
 of Jesus.

00:39:20.079 --> 00:39:20.719
 And because

00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:21.899
 it is connected

00:39:21.899 --> 00:39:22.539
 to him,

00:39:23.579 --> 00:39:24.459
 you're assured

00:39:24.459 --> 00:39:26.219
 that death

00:39:26.219 --> 00:39:26.980
 will not claim

00:39:26.980 --> 00:39:27.599
 you, even if

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.559
 your body and

00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.119
 soul are

00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:29.839
 separated in

00:39:29.839 --> 00:39:30.739
 physical death.

00:39:31.679 --> 00:39:32.259
 That's not

00:39:32.259 --> 00:39:33.199
 death's victory

00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:34.219
 when you're

00:39:34.219 --> 00:39:34.899
 united to

00:39:34.899 --> 00:39:35.339
 Christ.

00:39:36.219 --> 00:39:37.699
 Because in

00:39:37.699 --> 00:39:38.199
 Christ you

00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:38.699
 have victory

00:39:38.699 --> 00:39:40.079
 over death.

00:39:41.139 --> 00:39:41.599
 And the day

00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:43.019
 will come when

00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:43.619
 your body will

00:39:43.619 --> 00:39:45.059
 be raised from

00:39:45.059 --> 00:39:46.839
 the grave and

00:39:46.839 --> 00:39:47.759
 reunited with

00:39:47.759 --> 00:39:48.379
 your soul.

00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:51.159
 And bodily

00:39:51.159 --> 00:39:52.500
 and spiritually

00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.859
 as a complete

00:39:53.859 --> 00:39:55.459
 person, you

00:39:55.459 --> 00:39:56.299
 will share in

00:39:56.299 --> 00:39:57.139
 the victory of

00:39:57.139 --> 00:39:58.859
 God's people as

00:39:58.859 --> 00:39:59.719
 they're united to

00:39:59.719 --> 00:40:01.159
 the victory of

00:40:01.159 --> 00:40:01.699
 Christ.

00:40:02.059 --> 00:40:02.599
 What a wonderful

00:40:02.599 --> 00:40:03.299
 concept.

00:40:03.300 --> 00:40:04.700
 God's people as

00:40:04.700 --> 00:40:05.300
 a great

00:40:05.300 --> 00:40:06.180
 man.

00:40:06.180 --> 00:40:07.120
 And how

00:40:07.120 --> 00:40:07.960
 marvelous that even

00:40:07.960 --> 00:40:09.780
 in the Old Testament

00:40:09.780 --> 00:40:10.560
 days, even though not as fully revealed by any means, and it couldn't be really in a sense,

00:40:10.640 --> 00:40:12.480
 till Jesus himself rose from the dead.

00:40:13.220 --> 00:40:14.060
 But it's there.

00:40:14.800 --> 00:40:22.660
 It's there so that you can see it in root form or embryonic form, if you like, in the revelation of God then.

00:40:22.659 --> 00:40:27.659
 And then comes to a more full light in the New Testament age.

00:40:27.659 --> 00:40:35.279
 So that's first of all, he was taken up by God. He was translated from one state to a better state.

00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:45.440
 The second fact is that he pleased God. Before he was taken, he was commended as having pleased God.

00:40:45.440 --> 00:40:54.519
 Again, it's maybe better to just have a different form of words there.

00:40:55.320 --> 00:41:06.260
 He was commended as having pleased God, is what we read here. But you could translate it, he had it testified of him that he pleased God.

00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:13.099
 And why does that make a little difference? Just a nuance, really, of meaning? Well, it makes a difference when you think of it this way.

00:41:13.099 --> 00:41:19.299
 He had it testified of him that he pleased God. It wasn't something just private to himself.

00:41:20.339 --> 00:41:27.940
 It wasn't something that was true of him as an individual that nobody actually saw but himself, that nobody was aware of but himself.

00:41:28.799 --> 00:41:34.739
 When you say he had it testified of him, it means this was how he was known publicly.

00:41:35.900 --> 00:41:37.679
 This was how people knew him.

00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:43.839
 This was the kind of lifestyle that he showed as he went about his business in the world.

00:41:44.759 --> 00:41:47.339
 He was known as a God pleaser.

00:41:47.899 --> 00:41:52.179
 He was known as somebody who lived specifically to please God.

00:41:52.519 --> 00:41:54.179
 He gave off this testimony.

00:41:54.579 --> 00:42:01.039
 He had it testified about him by others that he was a pleaser of God.

00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:08.400
 In other words, that his life was one that sought to gain the approval of God.

00:42:09.559 --> 00:42:12.779
 And that's how it is with faith, isn't it?

00:42:13.659 --> 00:42:19.900
 Your concern as a believer tonight is that you will have God's approval.

00:42:20.059 --> 00:42:23.179
 Because unless we have God's approval, what does it matter?

00:42:24.119 --> 00:42:30.239
 It doesn't matter what that world out there thinks about you if you don't have the approval of God.

00:42:30.239 --> 00:42:35.079
 It doesn't really matter what approval the world might give you or anybody might give you.

00:42:35.619 --> 00:42:43.339
 It all comes to nothing at the end of the day unless our life is right with God and God approves of us through faith in Christ.

00:42:43.479 --> 00:42:44.379
 What does it matter?

00:42:45.019 --> 00:42:46.559
 And the opposite is also true.

00:42:48.059 --> 00:42:55.659
 If our faith is in Christ, if we have our trust in God, if our trust is located there,

00:42:55.659 --> 00:43:02.639
 if our life is handed over to him and we live by faith in him, what does it matter what the world thinks of that?

00:43:03.639 --> 00:43:09.639
 What does it matter if our testimony to the world is that we live to please God?

00:43:10.019 --> 00:43:11.379
 The world may not accept that.

00:43:11.599 --> 00:43:12.879
 The world may laugh at that.

00:43:13.139 --> 00:43:14.899
 The world may find that just ridiculous.

00:43:14.900 --> 00:43:22.280
 The world may think, well, surely you're not living by such outmoded ideas of what a life and a lifestyle should be.

00:43:22.820 --> 00:43:26.960
 But you know, faith does not change down through the generations.

00:43:27.240 --> 00:43:31.260
 Faith is essentially trusting in God.

00:43:32.180 --> 00:43:38.200
 And trusting in God carries with it God's approval of that life.

00:43:38.199 --> 00:43:42.980
 Not for anything we've done, but by virtue of what Jesus has done.

00:43:44.319 --> 00:43:50.480
 And our union with him brings us into the approval of God.

00:43:51.839 --> 00:43:53.839
 He had this testimony.

00:43:54.079 --> 00:44:01.059
 He had this said of him, testified of him, that he approved, that he pleased God.

00:44:01.899 --> 00:44:03.939
 And there's something else about it as well.

00:44:03.940 --> 00:44:08.340
 When you go to the Genesis passage, as we read it there,

00:44:09.220 --> 00:44:17.099
 Enoch walked with God, and he was not or was not found because God took him.

00:44:18.480 --> 00:44:20.700
 He walked with God.

00:44:21.300 --> 00:44:24.099
 It was an aspect of his life of faith.

00:44:24.900 --> 00:44:28.159
 He lived a life of communion with God.

00:44:28.159 --> 00:44:33.219
 Every day for Enoch was a life where he walked with God,

00:44:33.299 --> 00:44:38.539
 where his path through life had God with him, and he was with God.

00:44:39.139 --> 00:44:40.179
 He was his companion.

00:44:40.579 --> 00:44:41.420
 He was his friend.

00:44:42.179 --> 00:44:43.799
 He was the one he shared things with.

00:44:44.059 --> 00:44:46.079
 He was the one he trusted in.

00:44:47.139 --> 00:44:49.239
 You know, in the court of session in Edinburgh,

00:44:50.279 --> 00:44:52.599
 there's a large hallway there.

00:44:52.599 --> 00:44:57.619
 And in that hallway, QCs or KCs, as they are now,

00:44:58.099 --> 00:45:00.199
 actually sometimes meet with their clients,

00:45:00.579 --> 00:45:06.299
 maybe in between sessions of a case being heard in the court of session.

00:45:06.839 --> 00:45:09.000
 And that large hall, it's a large hall,

00:45:09.360 --> 00:45:14.500
 and what happens is when a KC wants to have some words with the client,

00:45:15.159 --> 00:45:16.259
 he takes them into the hall,

00:45:16.639 --> 00:45:18.579
 he stands at one end of it, and off he goes.

00:45:19.420 --> 00:45:20.099
 Or she goes.

00:45:20.099 --> 00:45:22.920
 And they walk together from one end of the hall,

00:45:23.579 --> 00:45:27.099
 discussing things, or maybe the KC asking for certain things,

00:45:27.259 --> 00:45:28.839
 certain details.

00:45:29.699 --> 00:45:31.420
 And back they come again,

00:45:31.480 --> 00:45:34.799
 and they do that until the KC has more information,

00:45:34.900 --> 00:45:36.039
 or whatever it is he's seeking.

00:45:36.239 --> 00:45:37.219
 The point is this.

00:45:37.619 --> 00:45:40.940
 They're walking together in conversation.

00:45:41.519 --> 00:45:44.900
 They're walking together in the business that they have together.

00:45:45.860 --> 00:45:47.839
 And not until that business is finished

00:45:47.840 --> 00:45:49.280
 Do they then depart?

00:45:49.519 --> 00:45:51.559
 The KC, the court case resumes.

00:45:52.360 --> 00:45:54.760
 The KC goes back to his place,

00:45:54.920 --> 00:45:55.860
 and so does the client.

00:45:56.960 --> 00:46:00.960
 That's really what happens ordinarily,

00:46:01.180 --> 00:46:03.660
 but in terms of a spiritual situation,

00:46:04.220 --> 00:46:06.740
 that is what a Christian life is about.

00:46:07.380 --> 00:46:09.980
 Enoch walked with God.

00:46:09.980 --> 00:46:14.840
 God was his chief advisor.

00:46:15.639 --> 00:46:18.139
 God was the one who looked after his life.

00:46:18.800 --> 00:46:20.800
 God was the one he conversed with.

00:46:21.260 --> 00:46:23.840
 God was the one he gave his life over to.

00:46:24.440 --> 00:46:27.059
 He walked with God.

00:46:27.820 --> 00:46:31.199
 And he was not found because God took him.

00:46:31.199 --> 00:46:36.099
 And in that very close friendship,

00:46:36.819 --> 00:46:39.319
 so many things were shared together.

00:46:40.119 --> 00:46:41.559
 Now, we don't have any record of,

00:46:42.099 --> 00:46:43.980
 but inevitably that would be the case.

00:46:44.719 --> 00:46:47.299
 When you go, for example, to Psalm 25,

00:46:47.980 --> 00:46:52.139
 I like the way it's translated here in the ESV,

00:46:52.279 --> 00:46:53.099
 Psalm 25,

00:46:53.099 --> 00:46:56.579
 where you find at verse 14,

00:46:57.559 --> 00:46:58.179
 these words,

00:46:58.279 --> 00:46:59.799
 The friendship of the Lord

00:46:59.799 --> 00:47:02.880
 is with those who fear him,

00:47:03.400 --> 00:47:06.599
 and he makes known to them his covenant.

00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:08.940
 The friendship of the Lord

00:47:08.940 --> 00:47:10.360
 is with those who fear him.

00:47:10.380 --> 00:47:11.420
 Those who fear the Lord,

00:47:11.519 --> 00:47:12.739
 those who trust in the Lord,

00:47:13.239 --> 00:47:15.219
 those whose lives are in the hands of the Lord,

00:47:15.360 --> 00:47:17.279
 those who have given over their life to him,

00:47:17.619 --> 00:47:19.880
 however you think about it as faith,

00:47:20.659 --> 00:47:22.319
 those who live by faith,

00:47:23.099 --> 00:47:25.679
 the Lord reveals to them his covenant.

00:47:26.719 --> 00:47:28.420
 They converse with each other.

00:47:29.839 --> 00:47:31.380
 God reveals things to them

00:47:31.380 --> 00:47:32.739
 from his word,

00:47:33.099 --> 00:47:34.059
 through his spirit,

00:47:35.019 --> 00:47:37.599
 things that belong to them as his people,

00:47:38.579 --> 00:47:40.839
 things that are true of their relationship with him.

00:47:41.500 --> 00:47:44.900
 He reveals to them his covenant.

00:47:47.539 --> 00:47:49.900
 Is that so of your own life tonight?

00:47:49.900 --> 00:47:54.139
 Is it as true of you

00:47:54.139 --> 00:47:55.840
 that you're walking with God?

00:47:56.360 --> 00:47:57.300
 I'm not asking you

00:47:57.300 --> 00:47:59.820
 to what extent you're assured of this,

00:47:59.920 --> 00:48:03.360
 not asking how much can you explain of this.

00:48:04.400 --> 00:48:06.900
 Is it true that you're walking with God?

00:48:07.780 --> 00:48:10.019
 That your life in this world

00:48:10.019 --> 00:48:11.780
 as a life of faith

00:48:11.780 --> 00:48:13.840
 is as it was for Enoch,

00:48:13.840 --> 00:48:16.860
 a life in which you walk with God?

00:48:17.579 --> 00:48:20.260
 Is that what characterizes your life?

00:48:20.360 --> 00:48:21.579
 Is that your testimony?

00:48:22.700 --> 00:48:24.680
 Is that how it is with yourselves,

00:48:25.160 --> 00:48:26.980
 with us as individuals?

00:48:28.260 --> 00:48:29.579
 Am I tonight

00:48:29.579 --> 00:48:31.600
 walking with God?

00:48:32.740 --> 00:48:35.480
 Am I in conversation with God regularly?

00:48:35.480 --> 00:48:38.760
 Am I praying to him as I should?

00:48:39.599 --> 00:48:41.139
 Am I worshipping him?

00:48:42.300 --> 00:48:45.639
 Am I putting him out foremost in my life

00:48:45.639 --> 00:48:48.280
 as my great advisor,

00:48:49.539 --> 00:48:50.960
 my KC, if you like,

00:48:51.920 --> 00:48:53.099
 in representing me

00:48:53.099 --> 00:48:54.659
 in his own presence?

00:48:56.740 --> 00:48:59.000
 Enoch walked with God.

00:48:59.480 --> 00:49:00.500
 He had this testimony

00:49:00.500 --> 00:49:01.920
 before he was taken

00:49:01.920 --> 00:49:05.360
 as having pleased God.

00:49:06.059 --> 00:49:07.619
 The facts about Enoch then,

00:49:07.800 --> 00:49:08.360
 very briefly,

00:49:09.079 --> 00:49:10.639
 the faith that Enoch lived by.

00:49:11.059 --> 00:49:11.760
 He was taken,

00:49:12.500 --> 00:49:13.539
 in verse 6 here,

00:49:13.840 --> 00:49:15.200
 without faith it is impossible

00:49:15.200 --> 00:49:16.740
 to please God,

00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:17.559
 and so on.

00:49:18.220 --> 00:49:20.139
 It wasn't because of his faith

00:49:20.139 --> 00:49:22.480
 that Enoch was taken by God

00:49:22.480 --> 00:49:23.940
 so as not to see death.

00:49:24.000 --> 00:49:26.019
 It was by faith that he lived.

00:49:26.300 --> 00:49:28.300
 It wasn't his faith itself

00:49:28.300 --> 00:49:29.900
 that provided the grounds

00:49:29.900 --> 00:49:31.500
 of his acceptance with God.

00:49:31.500 --> 00:49:33.219
 But it was through faith

00:49:33.219 --> 00:49:35.260
 that he came to be accepted

00:49:35.260 --> 00:49:36.260
 by God

00:49:36.260 --> 00:49:37.860
 and into friendship with God.

00:49:38.559 --> 00:49:40.400
 And what a marvelous thought

00:49:40.400 --> 00:49:41.699
 and concept that is,

00:49:41.760 --> 00:49:42.099
 isn't it?

00:49:42.119 --> 00:49:44.480
 That through faith in God,

00:49:45.159 --> 00:49:46.820
 through the exercise of faith,

00:49:46.940 --> 00:49:48.059
 through trusting in God,

00:49:48.320 --> 00:49:50.119
 we actually come into

00:49:50.119 --> 00:49:51.860
 real, spiritual,

00:49:52.239 --> 00:49:54.519
 lasting friendship with God.

00:49:55.340 --> 00:49:56.579
 The Bible tells us that

00:49:56.579 --> 00:49:58.320
 as sinners we are enemies,

00:49:58.579 --> 00:50:00.280
 that we are at enmity with God.

00:50:00.280 --> 00:50:02.840
 But through Christ,

00:50:03.140 --> 00:50:04.180
 through what God has done

00:50:04.180 --> 00:50:04.740
 in Christ,

00:50:04.940 --> 00:50:06.680
 when we come to trust in him,

00:50:07.220 --> 00:50:09.019
 then we come into the possession

00:50:09.019 --> 00:50:10.980
 of something quite remarkable,

00:50:11.120 --> 00:50:11.900
 something amazing,

00:50:12.300 --> 00:50:14.200
 the friendship of God.

00:50:15.240 --> 00:50:17.300
 We come to actually walk with him.

00:50:18.160 --> 00:50:19.180
 We come to know him

00:50:19.180 --> 00:50:20.760
 as our great friend.

00:50:21.400 --> 00:50:22.380
 And that's why he says here

00:50:22.380 --> 00:50:23.720
 that without faith,

00:50:23.800 --> 00:50:26.720
 it is impossible to please God.

00:50:26.719 --> 00:50:29.659
 It's not possible to please God

00:50:29.659 --> 00:50:31.000
 without this faith.

00:50:31.799 --> 00:50:32.639
 We can try it,

00:50:32.679 --> 00:50:33.939
 but it just will not work.

00:50:33.980 --> 00:50:36.039
 And I think in the passage itself here,

00:50:36.099 --> 00:50:38.739
 we find some evidence of that.

00:50:39.859 --> 00:50:40.839
 Cain, for example,

00:50:41.399 --> 00:50:42.019
 tried,

00:50:42.119 --> 00:50:43.259
 it's not mentioned in the passage,

00:50:43.419 --> 00:50:44.339
 but Abel's brother,

00:50:44.759 --> 00:50:45.839
 you remember Cain,

00:50:45.939 --> 00:50:47.159
 who murdered him,

00:50:47.679 --> 00:50:50.699
 and he brought an offering to God.

00:50:51.439 --> 00:50:53.939
 Cain brought of the flock,

00:50:53.940 --> 00:50:55.519
 the animals of the flock,

00:50:55.599 --> 00:50:56.220
 a sacrifice.

00:50:57.159 --> 00:50:58.720
 Cain brought the fruit of the ground.

00:50:59.480 --> 00:51:00.300
 And some people think

00:51:00.300 --> 00:51:02.340
 that he was refused acceptance

00:51:02.340 --> 00:51:04.300
 because he didn't bring an animal.

00:51:04.380 --> 00:51:05.220
 But I don't think that's

00:51:05.220 --> 00:51:07.420
 what the passage actually is meaning at all.

00:51:08.059 --> 00:51:10.440
 Cain took off something

00:51:10.440 --> 00:51:14.079
 that belonged to his own way of life

00:51:14.079 --> 00:51:14.619
 in the world.

00:51:14.780 --> 00:51:17.639
 His employment was in tilling the ground

00:51:17.639 --> 00:51:19.360
 and looking after the crops and so on.

00:51:19.360 --> 00:51:21.420
 And he brought something of that

00:51:21.420 --> 00:51:22.559
 to offer it to God.

00:51:23.260 --> 00:51:25.840
 Whereas Abel brought of the flocks

00:51:25.840 --> 00:51:26.760
 that he looked after.

00:51:27.620 --> 00:51:30.140
 The problem's not what they gave,

00:51:30.559 --> 00:51:33.059
 but the spirit in which it was offered.

00:51:34.740 --> 00:51:36.039
 Cain couldn't care less

00:51:36.039 --> 00:51:39.079
 what God thought of him.

00:51:40.039 --> 00:51:41.500
 He just went through the motions,

00:51:42.280 --> 00:51:43.019
 almost as it were,

00:51:43.079 --> 00:51:45.400
 just throwing a few vegetables together

00:51:45.400 --> 00:51:46.480
 to bring to God.

00:51:46.480 --> 00:51:49.579
 Whereas Abel, by faith,

00:51:50.440 --> 00:51:51.980
 came to offer to God

00:51:51.980 --> 00:51:54.900
 a more acceptable sacrifice

00:51:54.900 --> 00:51:56.519
 than Cain, it says in verse 4.

00:51:57.360 --> 00:51:58.719
 It wasn't what he brought

00:51:58.719 --> 00:52:01.099
 as a sacrifice that condemned Cain,

00:52:01.440 --> 00:52:04.079
 but the manner in which he brought it.

00:52:04.860 --> 00:52:05.980
 It wasn't by faith.

00:52:06.059 --> 00:52:08.079
 It wasn't in a love for God

00:52:08.079 --> 00:52:10.039
 as his life afterwards showed.

00:52:10.699 --> 00:52:12.340
 Whereas Abel did.

00:52:13.139 --> 00:52:15.320
 And so you find as well

00:52:15.320 --> 00:52:16.539
 with the Egyptians.

00:52:16.900 --> 00:52:17.900
 If you go through the chapter,

00:52:19.039 --> 00:52:20.100
 you'll find that eventually

00:52:20.100 --> 00:52:22.080
 you come to the people of Israel,

00:52:22.200 --> 00:52:22.980
 verse 29.

00:52:23.580 --> 00:52:25.120
 The people crossed the Red Sea

00:52:25.120 --> 00:52:26.340
 as if on dry land,

00:52:26.880 --> 00:52:27.840
 but the Egyptians,

00:52:28.380 --> 00:52:30.860
 when they attempted to do the same,

00:52:30.960 --> 00:52:31.539
 were drowned.

00:52:32.480 --> 00:52:34.019
 That, I think, is telling us

00:52:34.019 --> 00:52:35.480
 that there's something

00:52:35.480 --> 00:52:36.480
 in the Egyptians

00:52:36.480 --> 00:52:38.800
 that sought to follow the ways

00:52:38.800 --> 00:52:40.059
 of the people of Israel

00:52:40.059 --> 00:52:40.500
 who lived,

00:52:40.940 --> 00:52:42.320
 who by faith,

00:52:42.420 --> 00:52:43.600
 entered into the Red Sea

00:52:43.599 --> 00:52:45.319
 and went through to the other side,

00:52:45.719 --> 00:52:46.559
 whereas the Egyptians,

00:52:46.980 --> 00:52:48.779
 attempting to do the same,

00:52:49.980 --> 00:52:50.960
 came to disaster.

00:52:52.239 --> 00:52:53.139
 You know, we can try

00:52:53.139 --> 00:52:54.940
 and copy faith.

00:52:55.799 --> 00:52:57.960
 We can try and imitate faith.

00:52:58.819 --> 00:53:01.079
 We can try and pass ourselves off

00:53:01.079 --> 00:53:02.079
 as believers,

00:53:02.539 --> 00:53:04.219
 but it's not really from the heart.

00:53:05.179 --> 00:53:06.619
 We can try outwardly

00:53:06.619 --> 00:53:08.299
 to live a life of faith

00:53:08.299 --> 00:53:10.500
 that tries to copy the lifestyle

00:53:10.500 --> 00:53:11.460
 of somebody we know

00:53:11.460 --> 00:53:12.719
 as a genuine believer.

00:53:13.500 --> 00:53:14.300
 Friends, tonight,

00:53:15.019 --> 00:53:16.760
 trying to imitate faith,

00:53:17.099 --> 00:53:18.539
 trying to copy faith,

00:53:18.880 --> 00:53:20.440
 without genuine faith,

00:53:20.980 --> 00:53:21.860
 is a disaster.

00:53:22.739 --> 00:53:23.900
 It will not work.

00:53:24.679 --> 00:53:25.840
 It leads to death.

00:53:26.739 --> 00:53:28.480
 It's not approved of by God.

00:53:29.280 --> 00:53:30.699
 But by faith,

00:53:31.739 --> 00:53:32.659
 we are guaranteed

00:53:32.659 --> 00:53:35.519
 God's acceptance of us in Christ.

00:53:35.519 --> 00:53:37.019
 By faith,

00:53:37.480 --> 00:53:39.039
 this was how Enoch lived.

00:53:39.940 --> 00:53:40.259
 And so,

00:53:40.579 --> 00:53:41.659
 whoever comes to God,

00:53:41.719 --> 00:53:42.139
 it's saying,

00:53:42.519 --> 00:53:43.940
 whoever would draw near to God,

00:53:44.280 --> 00:53:46.440
 must believe that he exists,

00:53:46.619 --> 00:53:47.519
 or that he is,

00:53:48.059 --> 00:53:49.719
 as the old AV has it.

00:53:49.820 --> 00:53:51.559
 By whoever draws near to God,

00:53:51.639 --> 00:53:53.900
 must believe that he is.

00:53:54.480 --> 00:53:55.780
 And that means more than just

00:53:55.780 --> 00:53:59.119
 believing in a bare existence of God.

00:53:59.739 --> 00:54:01.360
 You come to draw near to God,

00:54:01.360 --> 00:54:02.780
 and that's really the language

00:54:02.780 --> 00:54:03.660
 of worship,

00:54:04.140 --> 00:54:04.660
 primarily.

00:54:05.440 --> 00:54:06.760
 You draw near to God.

00:54:06.820 --> 00:54:07.820
 That's what we're doing tonight

00:54:07.820 --> 00:54:08.740
 in worship together.

00:54:09.019 --> 00:54:10.660
 We're drawing near to God.

00:54:10.720 --> 00:54:11.620
 When you go on your knees,

00:54:12.019 --> 00:54:13.160
 or however you pray to God,

00:54:13.220 --> 00:54:14.660
 you're drawing near to God.

00:54:15.780 --> 00:54:18.340
 And what it's telling us here

00:54:18.340 --> 00:54:19.360
 is that drawing near

00:54:19.360 --> 00:54:21.200
 has that purpose of

00:54:21.200 --> 00:54:23.480
 worshiping and pleasing God.

00:54:24.200 --> 00:54:25.320
 And it's believing

00:54:25.320 --> 00:54:26.960
 that God is

00:54:26.960 --> 00:54:29.220
 as he has revealed himself to be.

00:54:30.059 --> 00:54:31.059
 It's all too easy.

00:54:31.500 --> 00:54:32.559
 Nowadays, I'm afraid,

00:54:33.039 --> 00:54:34.599
 to find people just taking,

00:54:35.099 --> 00:54:35.400
 saying,

00:54:35.539 --> 00:54:36.980
 well, I'm actually an evangelical.

00:54:37.719 --> 00:54:39.380
 I believe in the Bible.

00:54:39.519 --> 00:54:40.639
 I believe that I'm a Christian.

00:54:41.079 --> 00:54:42.059
 But I don't believe

00:54:42.059 --> 00:54:43.559
 such things as

00:54:43.559 --> 00:54:45.340
 that the death of Christ

00:54:45.340 --> 00:54:45.940
 on the cross

00:54:45.940 --> 00:54:48.039
 was a propitiation for sin.

00:54:48.320 --> 00:54:49.219
 That there was anything there

00:54:49.219 --> 00:54:50.019
 to do with seeking

00:54:50.019 --> 00:54:51.940
 to pacify the anger of God.

00:54:52.380 --> 00:54:52.860
 I don't believe

00:54:52.860 --> 00:54:54.219
 any of these things at all.

00:54:54.639 --> 00:54:55.940
 I'm not saying you can't be a Christian

00:54:55.940 --> 00:54:56.940
 without believing that.

00:54:56.940 --> 00:54:58.940
 But what I'm saying is

00:54:58.940 --> 00:55:00.500
 that if we cut out

00:55:00.500 --> 00:55:02.679
 and excise or delete things

00:55:02.679 --> 00:55:04.559
 in the Bible that we've got

00:55:04.559 --> 00:55:04.900
 and say,

00:55:05.059 --> 00:55:05.760
 that's not appropriate

00:55:05.760 --> 00:55:07.079
 for today's generation.

00:55:07.480 --> 00:55:08.199
 That's kind of

00:55:08.199 --> 00:55:09.820
 really Old Testament stuff

00:55:09.820 --> 00:55:10.519
 we've long since

00:55:10.519 --> 00:55:11.699
 moved away from that.

00:55:12.840 --> 00:55:13.920
 Well, that's not a sign

00:55:13.920 --> 00:55:14.559
 of a believer.

00:55:16.400 --> 00:55:17.579
 And if we believe things

00:55:17.579 --> 00:55:18.579
 about God

00:55:18.579 --> 00:55:19.659
 different to what's revealed

00:55:19.659 --> 00:55:20.460
 in his word,

00:55:20.699 --> 00:55:21.800
 that's not a sign

00:55:21.800 --> 00:55:22.920
 of a believer either.

00:55:22.920 --> 00:55:24.820
 we believe

00:55:24.820 --> 00:55:26.659
 that he is.

00:55:27.519 --> 00:55:28.599
 And that he is

00:55:28.599 --> 00:55:30.519
 as he has revealed himself

00:55:30.519 --> 00:55:31.200
 to be

00:55:31.200 --> 00:55:32.940
 as recorded

00:55:32.940 --> 00:55:33.960
 in his word.

00:55:34.800 --> 00:55:35.099
 You know,

00:55:35.159 --> 00:55:36.460
 this is so important

00:55:36.460 --> 00:55:37.119
 for us, friends,

00:55:37.220 --> 00:55:38.800
 to have confidence

00:55:38.800 --> 00:55:40.119
 in this Bible

00:55:40.119 --> 00:55:41.840
 as the word of God.

00:55:42.579 --> 00:55:43.760
 If we don't have confidence

00:55:43.760 --> 00:55:44.780
 that it is

00:55:44.780 --> 00:55:45.800
 the word of God,

00:55:46.320 --> 00:55:47.000
 that it has

00:55:47.000 --> 00:55:48.220
 God's own authority

00:55:48.220 --> 00:55:49.180
 and imprint

00:55:49.180 --> 00:55:49.920
 on it,

00:55:49.920 --> 00:55:51.440
 then everything else

00:55:51.440 --> 00:55:52.139
 we believe

00:55:52.139 --> 00:55:53.260
 is liable

00:55:53.260 --> 00:55:54.920
 or can at some time

00:55:54.920 --> 00:55:55.840
 just be dismissed

00:55:55.840 --> 00:55:56.599
 by us.

00:55:58.059 --> 00:55:59.159
 It's on the basis

00:55:59.159 --> 00:55:59.720
 of this

00:55:59.720 --> 00:56:00.940
 being the word

00:56:00.940 --> 00:56:01.599
 of God

00:56:01.599 --> 00:56:04.039
 that we actually

00:56:04.039 --> 00:56:04.720
 believe

00:56:04.720 --> 00:56:06.059
 things about Jesus,

00:56:06.720 --> 00:56:07.500
 about his death,

00:56:07.619 --> 00:56:08.400
 about his resurrection.

00:56:10.539 --> 00:56:10.980
 And that's why

00:56:10.980 --> 00:56:11.659
 we believe too

00:56:11.659 --> 00:56:13.139
 that God is

00:56:13.139 --> 00:56:14.920
 as he has revealed

00:56:14.920 --> 00:56:16.099
 himself to be.

00:56:16.659 --> 00:56:17.480
 Those who draw near

00:56:17.480 --> 00:56:18.039
 to God

00:56:18.039 --> 00:56:19.280
 must believe

00:56:19.280 --> 00:56:19.820
 that he is

00:56:19.820 --> 00:56:20.240
 in other words,

00:56:20.300 --> 00:56:20.940
 we come to him

00:56:20.940 --> 00:56:21.320
 tonight,

00:56:21.660 --> 00:56:22.160
 for example,

00:56:22.240 --> 00:56:23.260
 as we've gathered here,

00:56:23.620 --> 00:56:24.559
 we've drawn near

00:56:24.559 --> 00:56:25.140
 to God

00:56:25.140 --> 00:56:26.880
 believing that he is,

00:56:28.019 --> 00:56:29.000
 believing that he

00:56:29.000 --> 00:56:29.920
 receives us

00:56:29.920 --> 00:56:31.160
 in the name of Christ,

00:56:32.180 --> 00:56:32.960
 believing that he's

00:56:32.960 --> 00:56:33.940
 pleased with us

00:56:33.940 --> 00:56:34.680
 when our faith

00:56:34.680 --> 00:56:35.340
 and confidence

00:56:35.340 --> 00:56:36.580
 is placed in Christ,

00:56:37.180 --> 00:56:37.800
 believing that he

00:56:37.800 --> 00:56:38.740
 will never leave us

00:56:38.740 --> 00:56:39.620
 or forsake us

00:56:39.620 --> 00:56:40.440
 as we place

00:56:40.440 --> 00:56:41.460
 our trust in him.

00:56:42.039 --> 00:56:43.000
 All of these things

00:56:43.000 --> 00:56:43.920
 and many, many more

00:56:43.920 --> 00:56:45.420
 are revealed by God

00:56:45.420 --> 00:56:46.400
 to be true of himself.

00:56:46.720 --> 00:56:47.940
 That's who he is.

00:56:48.200 --> 00:56:49.480
 That's how he is.

00:56:49.820 --> 00:56:51.460
 And we draw near

00:56:51.460 --> 00:56:52.320
 to him believing

00:56:52.320 --> 00:56:54.460
 that he is that.

00:56:56.059 --> 00:56:57.180
 And that he is too

00:56:57.180 --> 00:56:58.100
 a rewarder

00:56:58.100 --> 00:56:59.559
 of those

00:56:59.559 --> 00:57:00.620
 who seek him.

00:57:01.559 --> 00:57:03.000
 That he rewards

00:57:03.000 --> 00:57:04.660
 those who seek him.

00:57:04.980 --> 00:57:05.620
 Really literally,

00:57:05.780 --> 00:57:05.980
 again,

00:57:06.039 --> 00:57:06.460
 that he is

00:57:06.460 --> 00:57:07.720
 a rewarder.

00:57:07.800 --> 00:57:08.680
 Even more literally,

00:57:09.019 --> 00:57:09.680
 what it says

00:57:09.680 --> 00:57:10.260
 is that

00:57:10.260 --> 00:57:12.320
 he becomes

00:57:12.320 --> 00:57:13.360
 a rewarder.

00:57:13.820 --> 00:57:14.600
 And what difference

00:57:14.600 --> 00:57:15.360
 does that make?

00:57:16.240 --> 00:57:17.080
 It makes a difference

00:57:17.079 --> 00:57:18.440
 from the perspective

00:57:18.440 --> 00:57:19.579
 of the believer

00:57:19.579 --> 00:57:20.699
 or the person

00:57:20.699 --> 00:57:21.860
 that's drawing near

00:57:21.860 --> 00:57:22.400
 to God.

00:57:22.759 --> 00:57:23.340
 When it's saying

00:57:23.340 --> 00:57:24.880
 God becomes

00:57:24.880 --> 00:57:26.219
 a rewarder

00:57:26.219 --> 00:57:26.860
 of those

00:57:26.860 --> 00:57:27.500
 who seek him,

00:57:27.679 --> 00:57:28.519
 what it's really saying

00:57:28.519 --> 00:57:29.440
 is this is what

00:57:29.440 --> 00:57:30.139
 we find out

00:57:30.139 --> 00:57:30.960
 when we draw near

00:57:30.960 --> 00:57:31.840
 to him in faith.

00:57:32.519 --> 00:57:33.579
 He becomes then,

00:57:33.719 --> 00:57:34.860
 as far as our experience

00:57:34.860 --> 00:57:35.500
 is concerned,

00:57:36.000 --> 00:57:36.679
 he becomes

00:57:36.679 --> 00:57:37.679
 a rewarder.

00:57:38.420 --> 00:57:39.440
 He becomes one

00:57:39.440 --> 00:57:40.619
 who dispenses

00:57:40.619 --> 00:57:41.980
 blessings to us.

00:57:42.940 --> 00:57:44.139
 You don't find that out

00:57:44.139 --> 00:57:45.839
 unless you've come

00:57:45.839 --> 00:57:46.579
 to believe.

00:57:47.699 --> 00:57:48.519
 Unless you've placed

00:57:48.519 --> 00:57:49.579
 your trust in him.

00:57:50.079 --> 00:57:51.239
 Then he becomes

00:57:51.239 --> 00:57:52.679
 a rewarder

00:57:52.679 --> 00:57:53.379
 in your case,

00:57:53.440 --> 00:57:54.119
 in my case,

00:57:55.019 --> 00:57:55.920
 and of all those

00:57:55.920 --> 00:57:56.960
 who actually

00:57:56.960 --> 00:57:57.920
 seek him

00:57:57.920 --> 00:57:58.599
 or seek him

00:57:58.599 --> 00:57:59.359
 diligently.

00:58:02.759 --> 00:58:03.779
 So the seeking,

00:58:04.519 --> 00:58:05.279
 what does it mean?

00:58:05.980 --> 00:58:06.879
 Well, we use the word

00:58:06.879 --> 00:58:07.279
 seeking

00:58:07.279 --> 00:58:08.599
 sometimes

00:58:08.599 --> 00:58:09.319
 for those

00:58:09.319 --> 00:58:10.179
 who have not yet come

00:58:10.179 --> 00:58:11.319
 perhaps to assurance

00:58:11.319 --> 00:58:12.319
 that they're saved.

00:58:13.000 --> 00:58:13.659
 You have not come

00:58:13.659 --> 00:58:14.719
 to make a confession

00:58:14.719 --> 00:58:15.559
 of their faith

00:58:15.559 --> 00:58:16.940
 in a public way.

00:58:17.799 --> 00:58:18.319
 And we might say,

00:58:18.399 --> 00:58:19.119
 well, they're seeking.

00:58:19.920 --> 00:58:20.879
 They're seeking the Lord.

00:58:20.940 --> 00:58:21.639
 Or people who maybe

00:58:21.639 --> 00:58:24.559
 have some thoughts

00:58:24.559 --> 00:58:25.879
 that they didn't have before

00:58:25.879 --> 00:58:27.399
 and begin to attend church

00:58:27.399 --> 00:58:27.839
 or whatever.

00:58:28.339 --> 00:58:29.019
 And we say about

00:58:29.019 --> 00:58:29.679
 these people,

00:58:30.079 --> 00:58:30.819
 sometimes we say,

00:58:30.899 --> 00:58:31.960
 well, they're seeking God.

00:58:32.039 --> 00:58:32.519
 They're seekers.

00:58:32.759 --> 00:58:33.719
 They're seeking after him.

00:58:33.960 --> 00:58:34.960
 And it's not wrong

00:58:34.960 --> 00:58:36.859
 at all to say that.

00:58:37.420 --> 00:58:38.039
 But if you look

00:58:38.039 --> 00:58:38.599
 at the Bible,

00:58:39.279 --> 00:58:40.579
 most of the cases

00:58:40.579 --> 00:58:41.460
 that you find

00:58:41.460 --> 00:58:42.780
 of people

00:58:42.780 --> 00:58:43.579
 who are seeking

00:58:43.579 --> 00:58:44.119
 the Lord

00:58:44.119 --> 00:58:46.300
 are already believers.

00:58:47.659 --> 00:58:48.539
 Because seeking

00:58:48.539 --> 00:58:49.079
 means

00:58:49.079 --> 00:58:50.900
 drawing near to him

00:58:50.900 --> 00:58:51.639
 and seeking

00:58:51.639 --> 00:58:52.460
 are very closely

00:58:52.460 --> 00:58:53.699
 connected together,

00:58:53.980 --> 00:58:55.119
 virtually the same thing.

00:58:55.920 --> 00:58:56.440
 And tonight,

00:58:56.519 --> 00:58:57.039
 as a believer,

00:58:57.440 --> 00:58:58.720
 you're seeking God.

00:58:59.139 --> 00:58:59.940
 You want to meet

00:58:59.940 --> 00:59:00.460
 with God.

00:59:00.679 --> 00:59:01.220
 You want God

00:59:01.220 --> 00:59:01.940
 to speak to you

00:59:01.940 --> 00:59:02.679
 through his word.

00:59:03.400 --> 00:59:04.240
 In so many ways,

00:59:04.300 --> 00:59:05.220
 you're seeking

00:59:05.220 --> 00:59:06.059
 the Lord.

00:59:06.059 --> 00:59:06.219
 Lord.

00:59:07.119 --> 00:59:07.980
 And that's why

00:59:07.980 --> 00:59:09.000
 he rewards

00:59:09.000 --> 00:59:10.219
 those who seek him.

00:59:11.279 --> 00:59:11.759
 Seeking,

00:59:12.139 --> 00:59:14.519
 not trying somehow

00:59:14.519 --> 00:59:14.840
 or other

00:59:14.840 --> 00:59:16.279
 to find God,

00:59:17.279 --> 00:59:18.199
 but also,

00:59:18.340 --> 00:59:18.779
 but rather,

00:59:19.340 --> 00:59:20.960
 having found God

00:59:20.960 --> 00:59:22.900
 or being found

00:59:22.900 --> 00:59:23.719
 by God

00:59:23.719 --> 00:59:24.519
 more accurately.

00:59:25.239 --> 00:59:26.779
 We seek after him.

00:59:27.500 --> 00:59:28.719
 We seek to follow him.

00:59:29.239 --> 00:59:30.000
 We seek him

00:59:30.000 --> 00:59:30.579
 in the Bible.

00:59:31.139 --> 00:59:31.719
 We seek him

00:59:31.719 --> 00:59:32.799
 in these means

00:59:32.799 --> 00:59:33.380
 of grace

00:59:33.380 --> 00:59:35.099
 and church services

00:59:35.099 --> 00:59:35.819
 and so on.

00:59:36.259 --> 00:59:36.739
 We seek him

00:59:36.739 --> 00:59:37.299
 as we come

00:59:37.299 --> 00:59:37.940
 ourselves

00:59:37.940 --> 00:59:38.920
 privately

00:59:38.920 --> 00:59:39.739
 and individually

00:59:39.739 --> 00:59:41.480
 to worship him.

00:59:42.860 --> 00:59:43.839
 So Enoch's life

00:59:43.839 --> 00:59:45.779
 was all about

00:59:45.779 --> 00:59:47.079
 seeking God,

00:59:47.159 --> 00:59:47.380
 really.

00:59:47.500 --> 00:59:48.159
 It was all about

00:59:48.159 --> 00:59:49.559
 a life that

00:59:49.559 --> 00:59:51.420
 was devoted to God

00:59:51.420 --> 00:59:52.139
 in such a way

00:59:52.139 --> 00:59:53.759
 that he received

00:59:53.759 --> 00:59:54.679
 testimony that

00:59:54.679 --> 00:59:57.139
 he was,

00:59:57.299 --> 00:59:57.579
 in fact,

00:59:57.980 --> 00:59:59.159
 a God-pleaser.

01:00:00.159 --> 01:00:01.119
 He was taken up

01:00:01.119 --> 01:00:01.719
 by God

01:00:01.719 --> 01:00:03.139
 not because of

01:00:03.139 --> 01:00:03.659
 his faith,

01:00:03.739 --> 01:00:04.699
 but through his faith

01:00:04.699 --> 01:00:06.739
 he had this testimony,

01:00:06.899 --> 01:00:07.619
 he had it said of him

01:00:07.619 --> 01:00:09.099
 that he pleased God

01:00:09.099 --> 01:00:11.379
 and he drew near

01:00:11.379 --> 01:00:11.879
 to God

01:00:11.879 --> 01:00:12.339
 believing

01:00:12.339 --> 01:00:14.799
 that God is.

01:00:16.460 --> 01:00:17.199
 And so again,

01:00:17.539 --> 01:00:19.619
 I have to ask myself,

01:00:20.419 --> 01:00:21.319
 where am I

01:00:21.319 --> 01:00:22.079
 in all of this?

01:00:23.919 --> 01:00:24.939
 Is it enough for me

01:00:24.939 --> 01:00:26.000
 that I attend church?

01:00:27.339 --> 01:00:28.359
 Is it enough for me

01:00:28.359 --> 01:00:29.079
 that I preach

01:00:29.079 --> 01:00:29.739
 from a pulpit

01:00:29.739 --> 01:00:30.839
 or try to preach?

01:00:30.840 --> 01:00:32.880
 Is it enough

01:00:32.880 --> 01:00:33.539
 that I've spent

01:00:33.539 --> 01:00:35.360
 these 37 years

01:00:35.360 --> 01:00:36.860
 creating sermons,

01:00:37.019 --> 01:00:37.940
 delivering sermons,

01:00:38.480 --> 01:00:39.780
 having a place

01:00:39.780 --> 01:00:40.500
 in the church

01:00:40.500 --> 01:00:41.600
 as a minister?

01:00:41.720 --> 01:00:42.600
 Is that enough for me?

01:00:43.640 --> 01:00:44.340
 Will that give me

01:00:44.340 --> 01:00:45.800
 a place of God's approval?

01:00:46.800 --> 01:00:47.539
 Will that provide

01:00:47.539 --> 01:00:48.559
 a ground of acceptance?

01:00:48.840 --> 01:00:49.079
 No.

01:00:50.579 --> 01:00:51.700
 I need Christ.

01:00:52.700 --> 01:00:53.820
 I need the Jesus

01:00:53.820 --> 01:00:54.460
 I preach.

01:00:55.600 --> 01:00:56.579
 I need to live

01:00:56.579 --> 01:00:57.579
 by faith in him.

01:00:57.579 --> 01:01:00.539
 I need to accept

01:01:00.539 --> 01:01:01.480
 that God is

01:01:01.480 --> 01:01:03.699
 and deliver my life

01:01:03.699 --> 01:01:04.420
 over to him.

01:01:05.659 --> 01:01:06.619
 So I just looked

01:01:06.619 --> 01:01:07.619
 after by him

01:01:07.619 --> 01:01:09.559
 that I become

01:01:09.559 --> 01:01:10.400
 a pleasing

01:01:10.400 --> 01:01:12.639
 individual to God

01:01:12.639 --> 01:01:14.960
 and that I come

01:01:14.960 --> 01:01:16.539
 at last

01:01:16.539 --> 01:01:18.380
 when this life

01:01:18.380 --> 01:01:18.880
 is over

01:01:18.880 --> 01:01:20.920
 to be taken

01:01:20.920 --> 01:01:21.559
 by him

01:01:21.559 --> 01:01:23.539
 and to be taken

01:01:23.539 --> 01:01:25.940
 into his glory.

01:01:25.940 --> 01:01:27.340
 May God bless

01:01:27.340 --> 01:01:27.940
 these words

01:01:27.940 --> 01:01:29.220
 to us this evening.

01:01:29.380 --> 01:01:30.119
 Let's conclude

01:01:30.119 --> 01:01:30.940
 our service now

01:01:30.940 --> 01:01:33.900
 singing in Psalm 119.

01:01:35.460 --> 01:01:36.860
 Psalm 119,

01:01:36.960 --> 01:01:38.519
 that's on page 157,

01:01:39.659 --> 01:01:41.960
 verses 1 to 8,

01:01:42.320 --> 01:01:43.980
 the first section

01:01:43.980 --> 01:01:44.639
 of the psalm.

01:01:45.480 --> 01:01:46.460
 Blessed are those

01:01:46.460 --> 01:01:47.400
 of blameless ways

01:01:47.400 --> 01:01:48.200
 who live according

01:01:48.200 --> 01:01:49.139
 to God's word.

01:01:50.019 --> 01:01:50.820
 Blessed are those

01:01:50.820 --> 01:01:52.019
 who keep his laws,

01:01:52.579 --> 01:01:53.740
 who with their whole heart

01:01:53.740 --> 01:01:54.579
 seek the Lord.

01:01:54.579 --> 01:01:56.099
 They keep themselves

01:01:56.099 --> 01:01:56.940
 from doing wrong

01:01:56.940 --> 01:01:57.619
 by walking

01:01:57.619 --> 01:01:59.460
 in his perfect ways.

01:02:00.139 --> 01:02:01.059
 You have established

01:02:01.059 --> 01:02:02.179
 laws for us

01:02:02.179 --> 01:02:03.480
 that are to be

01:02:03.480 --> 01:02:04.099
 obeyed

01:02:04.099 --> 01:02:04.980
 always.

01:02:05.199 --> 01:02:05.699
 These verses

01:02:05.699 --> 01:02:06.940
 at the beginning

01:02:06.940 --> 01:02:07.519
 of the psalm

01:02:07.519 --> 01:02:08.340
 to God's praise.

01:02:08.340 --> 01:02:15.740
 blessed are those

01:02:15.740 --> 01:02:19.760
 of blameless ways

01:02:19.760 --> 01:02:23.820
 who live according

01:02:23.820 --> 01:02:28.240
 to God's word.

01:02:28.240 --> 01:02:32.620
 Blessed are those

01:02:32.619 --> 01:02:36.099
 who keep his laws,

01:02:36.099 --> 01:02:42.000
 who with their whole hearts

01:02:42.000 --> 01:02:45.779
 seek the Lord.

01:02:45.779 --> 01:02:48.980
 They keep themselves

01:02:48.980 --> 01:02:53.779
 from doing wrong

01:02:53.780 --> 01:03:02.300
 by walking in his perfect ways.

01:03:02.300 --> 01:03:06.300
 You have established

01:03:06.300 --> 01:03:10.400
 laws for us

01:03:10.400 --> 01:03:14.560
 that are to be

01:03:14.560 --> 01:03:19.480
 obey your ways.

01:03:19.480 --> 01:03:23.760
 O that my ways

01:03:23.760 --> 01:03:27.659
 were steadfast, Lord,

01:03:28.159 --> 01:03:32.000
 and making you

01:03:32.000 --> 01:03:36.260
 decrees my name.

01:03:36.260 --> 01:03:40.139
 So when I think

01:03:40.139 --> 01:03:44.219
 of your commands,

01:03:44.579 --> 01:03:48.480
 I would not feel

01:03:48.480 --> 01:03:53.159
 this place for shame.

01:03:53.159 --> 01:03:56.159
 I'll preach you

01:03:56.159 --> 01:04:01.319
 with an upright heart

01:04:01.320 --> 01:04:06.019
 as your just laws

01:04:06.019 --> 01:04:09.840
 are learned by me.

01:04:10.300 --> 01:04:13.840
 All your decrees

01:04:13.840 --> 01:04:17.300
 I will obey.

01:04:18.300 --> 01:04:23.039
 Do not forsake me

01:04:23.039 --> 01:04:25.840
 after thee.

01:04:27.340 --> 01:04:28.760
 I'll go to the main door

01:04:28.760 --> 01:04:29.539
 after the benediction

01:04:29.539 --> 01:04:30.059
 this evening.

01:04:31.320 --> 01:04:32.420
 Lord our God,

01:04:32.480 --> 01:04:33.380
 we ask that you would

01:04:33.380 --> 01:04:34.720
 receive all that we

01:04:34.720 --> 01:04:35.519
 had offered to you

01:04:35.519 --> 01:04:35.980
 in worship.

01:04:36.760 --> 01:04:37.539
 We pray that you would

01:04:37.539 --> 01:04:38.660
 bless what is prepared

01:04:38.660 --> 01:04:39.700
 for us for our bodily

01:04:39.700 --> 01:04:40.660
 needs in the hall.

01:04:41.300 --> 01:04:42.300
 We ask again that you

01:04:42.300 --> 01:04:43.019
 would bless Muriel

01:04:43.019 --> 01:04:44.460
 as she comes to speak to us.

01:04:45.280 --> 01:04:45.860
 And now we pray

01:04:45.860 --> 01:04:46.740
 that the grace of the

01:04:46.740 --> 01:04:47.780
 Lord Jesus Christ,

01:04:48.260 --> 01:04:49.559
 the love of God the Father,

01:04:49.660 --> 01:04:50.220
 and the communion

01:04:50.220 --> 01:04:51.240
 of the Holy Spirit

01:04:51.240 --> 01:04:52.900
 will be with us now

01:04:52.900 --> 01:04:53.880
 and evermore.

01:04:54.380 --> 01:04:54.840
 Amen.

01:05:01.320 --> 01:05:07.000
 The Lord Jesus Christ,

01:05:07.100 --> 01:05:07.300
 the Lord Jesus Christ,

01:05:07.300 --> 01:05:07.700
 the Lord Jesus Christ,

01:05:07.700 --> 01:05:09.300
 always beCould have a

01:05:09.300 --> 01:05:09.559
 народ and forever

01:05:09.559 --> 01:05:10.740
 as I worship what is

01:05:10.740 --> 01:05:14.280
 you know,

01:05:14.460 --> 01:05:15.240
 make sure you

01:05:15.240 --> 01:05:16.019
 go to war.

01:05:16.140 --> 01:05:24.700
 But that's what

01:05:24.700 --> 01:05:26.380
 His record is