WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.060 Let's begin our worship now. We're singing firstly in Psalm 98. 00:00:04.139 --> 00:00:09.660 Psalm number 98, that's in the Sing Psalms version on page 129. 00:00:12.740 --> 00:00:14.700 Singing to the tune, Bays of Harris. 00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:20.640 Singing verses 1 to 4 as they're marked there on page 129. 00:00:21.300 --> 00:00:25.120 For those that are visitors, we stand to sing our items of praise. 00:00:25.620 --> 00:00:27.820 Remain seating for the prayers. 00:00:27.820 --> 00:00:31.820 O sing a new song to the Lord for wonders he has done. 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:35.380 His right hand and his holy arm the victory have won. 00:00:36.039 --> 00:00:39.000 The Lord declared his saving work and made it to be known. 00:00:39.620 --> 00:00:43.420 To all the nations of the world his righteousness is shown. 00:00:44.140 --> 00:00:48.179 His steadfast love and faithfulness he has remembered well. 00:00:48.820 --> 00:00:52.539 The covenant he made with them, the house of Israel. 00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:55.900 That's Psalm 98, page 129. 00:00:55.899 --> 00:00:58.439 O sing a new song to the Lord. 00:00:58.519 --> 00:00:59.259 Let's stand to sing. 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:00.159 If you're able to stand. 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:21.539 O sing a new song to the Lord for wonders he has done. 00:01:21.540 --> 00:01:22.540 And if you're bound to wonder he's laughing. 00:01:22.540 --> 00:01:24.920 If you've onlyえ do not miss and a new song, to but be done. 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:26.580 There is triumphantly. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:27.320 O sing and a new song, to be done. 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:38.319 The victory of mine. 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:55.319 The Lord be grateful, Savior, and give it to the Lord. 00:01:55.319 --> 00:02:13.319 To all the nations of the world, His righteousness is shown. 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:35.319 The death of God's love, and faithfulness, He has remembered the blood of the Lord. 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:47.319 He made within the hearts of Israel. 00:02:47.319 --> 00:03:06.319 And all the nations of the earth have seen what God has done. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:24.319 Our Lord be grateful, Savior, and our Lord be grateful. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:34.319 And in the Lord, O holy earth, 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:51.319 Shall now be not rejoice, In music of the new earth. 00:03:51.319 --> 00:04:00.319 To Him let the dear voice. 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:06.319 Now let's call upon the Lord in prayer. Let's pray. 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:10.319 Especially we're praying for the young ones and the children just now. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:20.319 O Lord, our God, we thank you that we can gather together here today, of all ages and all backgrounds, 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:25.319 and that we come together to worship you, our God, whom we confess as our God. 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:32.319 We give thanks, Lord, today that you have promised to be with your people when they gather together and also when they're apart. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:36.319 And we thank you for the many promises that we meet with in your word. 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:41.319 And we thank you, too, for the promises that we have for our children and young people, 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:44.319 as they are brought up in the ways of the Lord. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:47.319 So we pray that you would bless that teaching to them, 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:51.319 and that their own lives will continue to be shaped by your truth. 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:55.319 Bless them, we pray today, and grant to us, as we wait upon you here, 00:04:55.319 --> 00:05:01.319 that we may know the guidance and the teaching of your Holy Spirit upon our hearts. 00:05:01.319 --> 00:05:05.319 Open our minds, we pray, so that we may receive your word, 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:12.319 and that we may find it applied to our own lives, wherever we are and whatever our circumstances may be. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:16.319 So hear us, we pray now, and continue to bless us throughout this day, 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:19.319 and pardon our many sins for Jesus' sake. 00:05:19.319 --> 00:05:20.319 Amen. 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:25.319 Children, we're going to see a baptism today. 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:27.319 And a baptism uses water. 00:05:27.319 --> 00:05:30.319 It doesn't matter whether it's an infant baptism, 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:33.319 a baptism of a child, as we are today, 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:35.319 or a baptism of an adult, 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:40.319 because we practice both in the Free Church from time to time. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:43.319 And any time we use water for baptism, 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:46.319 it always teaches us what baptism means, 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:52.319 or as part of the way by which God teaches us what the meaning of baptism is. 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:57.319 Because we're using water, water usually is used for various purposes, 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:02.319 but one of the main uses for water in our homes is for washing. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:08.319 And when we come to wash with water, whether it's a bath or a shower, or washing your hands, 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:14.319 it actually has to do with taking away defilement or uncleanness or some contamination, 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:18.319 something that you want to be washed away to make you clean. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:20.319 And it's the same spiritually. 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:24.319 Water represents the work of the Holy Spirit, 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:27.319 because the Holy Spirit, as God, 00:06:27.319 --> 00:06:31.319 washes us from our sins when we are forgiven our sins. 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:35.319 And in many ways, the Bible speaks about our forgiveness, 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:39.319 God's forgiveness of our sins as washing us from our sins, 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:42.319 because our sins defile us before God. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:45.319 Our sins make us unclean spiritually, 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:48.319 therefore we need to have them washed away. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:51.319 And in many places, in the Psalms, for example, 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:56.319 you'll find the Psalmist praying that God would wash him and make him clean. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:01.319 That's to do with our soul, with our inside, with our spiritual requirements. 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:06.319 And baptism sets out, in a way that you can see visibly, 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:11.319 something that you can't see invisibly because it's spiritual. 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:15.319 Now, that doesn't mean that whenever we apply water in baptism, 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:21.319 that that itself saves that person, or that itself washes away our sins. 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:27.319 Remember, it's just a symbol or a picture of what happens spiritually. 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:32.319 When we come to Jesus and ask him to forgive our sins, 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:37.319 and we receive forgiveness, what happens is our sins are washed away. 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:43.319 God deals with us so that we are no longer standing before him, 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:46.319 sinful and in the guilt of our sins. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:50.319 So today, as you see a child being baptized, 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:54.319 I want you all, not just the children, but also the adults, to ask, 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.319 what does this mean for me? 00:07:57.319 --> 00:08:01.319 What does it mean that I'm seeing baptism today? 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:05.319 Where is my own life in my relationship with God? 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:08.319 Have my sins been forgiven? 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:12.319 Have I come to God asking that he would forgive my sins 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:16.319 and wash me from the defilement of my sins? 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:19.319 That's one of the things that marks an occasion like this. 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:26.319 We are all participants in this service and in actually in the baptism itself, 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:30.319 not just the child being baptized and the parents. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:34.319 So here is an opportunity for us to examine our own lives today 00:08:34.319 --> 00:08:39.319 and ask ourselves, where am I in relation to God? 00:08:39.319 --> 00:08:41.319 What's happened to my sins? 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:43.320 Are my sins forgiven? 00:08:43.320 --> 00:08:44.320 Have I come to Jesus? 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:50.320 Am I relying on God for the direction that my life requires? 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:53.320 We're going to say the Lord's Prayer then, 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:55.320 and then we'll come to another singing. 00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:58.320 So the Lord's Prayer is on the intimation sheet there, 00:08:58.320 --> 00:08:59.320 if you want to follow it. 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:02.320 We normally follow the Lord's Prayer as it's printed there. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:05.320 Let's all together say the Lord's Prayer. 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:10.320 Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:12.320 Thy kingdom come. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:15.320 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:18.320 Give us this day our daily bread, 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:22.320 and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:26.320 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:31.320 For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. 00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:32.320 Amen. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:35.320 We're going to sing again. 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:37.320 And this time our singing is going to be in Gaelic. 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:40.320 Whenever we're together without a Gaelic service, 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:42.320 as we have most Sunday mornings, 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:46.320 we have one Gaelic singing in the combined service. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:48.320 So we're singing from Psalm 25. 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:50.320 The tune is Moravia. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:54.320 We're singing verses 8 to 9 in Gaelic. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:10:01.320 You'll find the English translation also set out on the intimation sheet. 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:05.320 God good and upright is the way he'll sinners show. 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:09.320 The meek in judgment he will guide and make his path to know. 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:12.320 So in Gaelic, the verses 8 to 9, 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:14.320 Is maith is giroch, giroch, giroch, nannul. 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:17.320 Is there an overroth, danirlish, nepechich rhue, 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:19.320 I huggish gaunson rod. 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:23.320 Trothich i an a dunya cuny, mrechonys gau chast. 00:10:23.320 --> 00:10:27.320 Is na dunya mine, tchagish gina lia, giroch, nannul. 00:10:27.320 --> 00:10:40.320 Is maith is giroch, giroch, giroch, nannul. 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:47.320 Is maith is giroch, giroch, giroch, nannul. 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:54.320 I huggish gaunson rod. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:11:00.320 Is maith is giroch, giroch, giroch, giroch, giroch. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:05.320 I huggish gaunson rod. 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:19.360 white 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.600 in 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:30.440 CHANTING 00:11:56.600 --> 00:12:05.060 We find a star. 00:12:05.060 --> 00:12:20.100 Frisade we have loved us. 00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:50.080 Thank you. 00:12:50.100 --> 00:13:20.080 Thank you. 00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:22.100 Thank you. 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:52.100 Thank you. 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:50.100 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:52.100 Thank you. 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:54.100 Thank you. 00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:56.100 Thank you. 00:14:56.100 --> 00:15:26.100 00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:56.100 00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:58.100 Thank you. 00:15:58.100 --> 00:16:00.100 Thank you. 00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:30.100 00:16:30.100 --> 00:17:00.100 00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:30.099 00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:32.099 Thank you. 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:34.099 Thank you. 00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:35.740 Let's join together once again in prayer. 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:37.740 Amen. 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.740 Amen. 00:17:38.740 --> 00:18:08.740 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:10.740 Thank you. 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:12.740 Thank you. 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:14.740 Thank you. 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:16.740 Thank you. 00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:18.740 Thank you. 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:20.740 Thank you. 00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:22.740 Thank you. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:29.319 We thank you today, O Lord, that you have revealed yourself especially in the Lord Jesus Christ to us. 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:35.460 The way of salvation that you have set in him is open for us today, Lord, through the gospel. 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:42.740 We thank you that your word directs us to consider him who came into this world to give himself, 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:48.099 to be a ransom for his people, to deliver us from the bondage of death, 00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:55.379 so that we too, Lord, might enter into the fullness of life that you promised to all who come to trust in you. 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:59.839 And we thank you today for the perfection of Christ's work, 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:02.959 for the way that it stands before us in your word, 00:19:03.679 --> 00:19:08.379 as a work that does not need to be added to or anything taken from it. 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:14.279 And we give thanks for his perfection in his own person, both as God and man. 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:17.839 We thank you today, Lord, that we come to you in his name, 00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:23.959 and we thank you that we come with the promise that you will receive us in his name and for his sake. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:29.379 We give thanks that that promise has been addressed to your people down through the ages, 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:34.319 and is a promise that will be upheld by you to the end of time. 00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:37.099 Bless us here together, we pray. 00:19:37.959 --> 00:19:40.779 Bless to us your word and bless its teaching to us. 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:47.740 Help us to realize, Lord, that all the things that we require to know for our life in this world 00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:50.980 are revealed to us in some way or other in your word. 00:19:51.799 --> 00:20:00.279 While we acknowledge, O Lord, that your word has many passages that are deep and difficult for us to understand in their entirety. 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:03.819 We thank you that all things to do with our salvation, 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:06.920 all things to do with the way of salvation, 00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:11.240 all things to do with the way in which we come to possess salvation, 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:14.059 are made clear and open in your word. 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:17.399 For you call upon us to set our trust in you. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:20.779 You call us to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:23.379 and your promise is that we will live. 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:27.000 O Lord, that we will be saved, that our sin will be forgiven, 00:20:27.560 --> 00:20:30.240 that we will be accepted and acceptable to you. 00:20:31.060 --> 00:20:32.880 Bless us then, we pray at this time. 00:20:33.600 --> 00:20:37.680 Bless to us all that we endeavor to do in your name as a congregation. 00:20:38.780 --> 00:20:41.100 Help us in all our activities throughout the week, 00:20:41.520 --> 00:20:43.840 and as we anticipate these in this coming week. 00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:45.920 By your will, we ask, O Lord, 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:49.640 that you would bless all that we do in these activities. 00:20:49.840 --> 00:20:53.000 Our gatherings, our work with the children, 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:56.240 and young people, we give thanks for them again today, 00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:59.560 and ask that your blessing will be with them in Sunday school, 00:21:00.020 --> 00:21:02.180 Bible class, in twinnies, in creche. 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:05.360 And all, O Lord, who come to give of themselves 00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:08.840 so devotedly to leadership and to teaching, 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:12.880 we thank you for them and pray that their work might be blessed. 00:21:13.800 --> 00:21:16.420 We pray today for those who cannot be with us. 00:21:16.840 --> 00:21:20.680 We thank Lord of many who are unable to be here through illness, 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:22.700 who belong to us as families, 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:24.759 and belong to us as a congregation. 00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:28.240 Remember too, we pray those who are undergoing treatment, 00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:30.600 those who are recovering from surgery. 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:33.420 Remember those who have mental health issues. 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:38.259 Remember those who have suffered the loss of loved ones in recent days, 00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:40.420 or even in times gone by. 00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:43.420 Lord, in all of these situations, we thank you 00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:46.000 that your grace is sufficient for us, 00:21:46.600 --> 00:21:51.300 that your promise is that as we come to place our trust and confidence in you, 00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:52.660 so you will never leave us, 00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:54.700 so you will provide for us. 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:58.620 And we pray today that we may come to you 00:21:58.620 --> 00:22:01.700 with the promise that is written for us in your word, 00:22:02.360 --> 00:22:04.000 as Paul wrote to the Philippians, 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:07.420 that my God shall supply all your need 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:11.800 according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:15.460 We pray that you'd remember those with us today as visitors. 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.899 We thank you for their presence here. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:21.899 We pray that they may know this as a time of blessing for themselves, 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:24.899 especially those associated with the baptism. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:28.539 We ask, Lord, that you would be to them today 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:33.419 a means of blessing and a way of showing to them again 00:22:33.419 --> 00:22:36.180 the wonder of family life as it's lived 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:39.059 in the ways in which you set out in your word. 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:41.500 And as we find ourselves today, Lord, 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:43.640 as a portion of your church, 00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:46.000 bless your church throughout the world 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:49.000 and bless today your church in places 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:51.200 where it is so difficult for them to meet 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.940 unlike yourselves. 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:55.579 We pray for those who are persecuted 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:59.660 and for those who are in different circumstances, 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.779 two hours especially, 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:03.099 in circumstances of war, 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:05.480 of famine, of deprivation. 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:08.160 Lord, as these things are brought before us 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.559 in news reports, 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.860 various ways, 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.319 we pray for them. 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:14.900 We pray that your blessing, Lord, 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:16.740 would come to bring an end to war 00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:17.860 and strife and terror. 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:20.640 We pray that the gospel will advance 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:23.880 and overtake the thoughts of people's hearts 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:25.640 in enmity to one another. 00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:28.599 Grant to create peace where there is war, 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:31.120 where there is antagonism, 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:32.419 where there is hatred. 00:23:33.139 --> 00:23:34.199 And bring about, we pray, 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:36.399 conditions where your gospel will flourish. 00:23:36.959 --> 00:23:38.500 And we ask that that may be so 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.679 throughout the whole world, 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:42.500 not only among ourselves as a people. 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.679 Bless our leadership in the nation. 00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.799 Be with them, we pray, 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:47.159 at this time. 00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:48.519 Our political leaders, 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.979 the royal household, 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:51.180 O Lord, 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:53.400 all who are held out before us 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:55.180 as having authority 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:57.200 and places of influence in our land. 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:59.460 Graciously protect us, Lord, 00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:02.400 from the evil that is so rampant in the world. 00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:04.640 And enable us in all of these things 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:05.420 to look to you. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:07.059 Help us now, we pray, 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:08.759 to continue to bless you 00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:10.380 and to wait upon you here. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:12.339 And pardon and cleanse us 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:13.440 from all our sins. 00:24:13.860 --> 00:24:15.059 For Jesus' sake. 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:15.700 Amen. 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.940 I'm going to sing one more passage. 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:20.779 From the Psalms. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.960 This is in Psalm 119 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:26.180 and page 157 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:31.160 verses 9 to 16. 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.039 Psalm 119 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.640 at verse 9. 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:41.580 That section to the end of verse 16. 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:43.180 A tune this time is Herongate. 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:46.400 How can the young keep their life pure? 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.420 By do what your word, 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:50.200 by doing what your word demands. 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:53.140 I seek you with my heart and soul. 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.759 Let me not stray from your commands. 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:58.300 Your word I've hidden in my heart 00:24:58.300 --> 00:25:00.360 to keep me from offending you. 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:03.279 Praise be to you, O Lord, my God. 00:25:04.060 --> 00:25:07.300 Teach me your statutes firm and true. 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:10.420 That section to the end of verse 16. 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:12.140 16 to God's praise. 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:28.840 O can the young keep their life pure? 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:29.839 I do what your word is. 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:33.839 I do what your word demands. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:45.839 I seek you with my heart and soul. 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:54.839 Let me not stray from your commands. 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:56.839 You work I've hidden in my heart. 00:25:56.839 --> 00:26:04.839 You work I've hidden in my heart. 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:12.839 To keep me from offending you. 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:15.500 Let me not stray from you. 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:18.179 Let me not stray from you. 00:26:18.179 --> 00:26:20.919 Let me not stray from you. 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:31.920 My God, teach me your status firm and true. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:50.320 In thought proceeding from your mind, I gladly with my lips have told. 00:26:50.319 --> 00:27:08.519 I love to follow your promise, as others love to count their gold. 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:26.519 I meditate upon your grace, and on your peace I repent. 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:35.779 I take delight in your decease. 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:43.819 Your words I never will regret. 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.179 Amen. 00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:52.059 Well, let's turn together for a short time this morning to Deuteronomy chapter 11. 00:27:54.339 --> 00:28:00.679 Deuteronomy chapter 11, and reading again at verse 18, we're going to consider verses 18 to 21. 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:30.660 Verse 18. 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:48.380 There are many types of technology available to us now that help us in daily life. 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:53.460 Technology itself, of course, is morally neutral, you might say. 00:28:54.340 --> 00:28:59.020 There's no sin in owning and using the likes of a smartphone. 00:29:00.120 --> 00:29:08.440 But technology, smartphones included, can have a profound negative moral influence on lives. 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:18.779 They can actually have so much of the world's thinking fed into our souls, sometimes even imperceptibly, 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:22.600 that we don't really notice what's going on. 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:33.980 And in a recent work, an author called Jonathan Haidt, wrote a book called The Anxious Generation, 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:40.399 How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:46.540 Now, I haven't read that whole book, but I've seen this quotation from it, and it's as follows. 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:54.759 He was commenting on the upsurge in the use of smartphones, particularly between 2010 and 2015, 00:29:55.040 --> 00:29:57.320 when they began to be used increasingly. 00:29:57.319 --> 00:30:06.319 And he says this was a move that essentially migrated the social lives of Western youth onto their phones. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:14.220 They became the first generation in history to go through puberty with a portal in their pocket 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:20.079 that called them away from people nearby into an alternative universe 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:27.519 that was exciting, unstable, and unsuitable for children and adolescents. 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:33.819 And what he meant by that was that because of the proliferation of smartphones, 00:30:34.860 --> 00:30:41.440 and sadly the way that many younger children even nowadays have access to the Internet through smartphones, 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:47.640 it's calling us into an alternative universe, an alternative company of people. 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.680 They're not really company. 00:30:48.820 --> 00:30:51.680 They're just digitally available to us online. 00:30:52.160 --> 00:31:00.600 But it's calling us away from the more familiar setting of the community we belong to in family and in the church, 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:07.400 that really are the community or communities that must and ought to shape our lives, 00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:11.960 especially when they are themselves guided by the truth of God. 00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:17.440 So the church and the family, church that's faithful to God, 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:22.580 a family that is established as a Christian family on Christian lines, 00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:28.340 are themselves not just alternatives to that other universe that's out there, 00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:34.200 but also a necessary bulwark against it, a necessary counter to it. 00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:42.779 We have the great privilege, friends, of the strong bonds that exist and are created and continued 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:51.080 in a healthy gospel church that enable us to actually be set against those influences 00:31:51.080 --> 00:31:58.460 that seek to be damaging spiritually and morally to ourselves as adults as well as our children. 00:31:58.460 --> 00:32:03.860 And all of that takes us back really to the Old Testament, of course, as well, 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:09.180 where you find these strong bonds, these covenant bonds, these family bonds, 00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:15.000 these bonds of people spiritually united together in relationship to God. 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:22.579 So often in the Old Testament, that's how the people of Israel and their relation to God are set out for us. 00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:27.579 And you can see it here in this chapter in Deuteronomy, 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:31.960 in these verses that we've read and are looking at briefly today. 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:37.000 Obviously, these verses set out aspects of their relationship to God, 00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:42.819 of their relationship to one another, their relationship to the truth of God, to the words of God. 00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:48.899 And the promise that's given to them is that if they are faithful to these ways of God, 00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:54.639 faithful to his law, faithful to his covenant, faithful to all the way in which he would have them to live, 00:32:55.099 --> 00:33:02.439 then the promise is their days will belong in the land that God has given to them in the land of Canaan. 00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:05.019 We'll come to that point in the course of our study. 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:13.099 It's clear that children belonged meaningfully to the covenant community of Israel in those days, 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:16.359 and indeed on into the days of the New Testament as well, 00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:20.400 so that the church, as it comes to be the church in the New Testament, is no different. 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:27.460 Children are not somehow or other just added on to it, but not really properly belonging to it. 00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:36.100 One of the principles underlining or underlying our baptism of children is that they belong to the covenant community of God, 00:33:36.600 --> 00:33:39.600 and on the basis of their parents' faith, they themselves are given, 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:47.819 just like the Old Testament children, the male children, were circumcised in their infancy, 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:54.019 because they belonged to that covenant community of Israel in their covenant relationship with God. 00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:58.859 And that same principle follows through into the practice of infant baptism, 00:33:58.859 --> 00:34:03.559 and we're not in any way saying that we're special because of that. 00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:07.440 There are many churches, many denominations that don't practice infant baptism, 00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.860 but this is our practice. 00:34:09.259 --> 00:34:10.739 This is what has been our practice. 00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:12.619 This is continuing to be our practice, 00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:19.179 because we believe it's biblical based on the way in which God's covenant runs through Scripture 00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:21.559 in his relationship with his people. 00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:23.860 That's another subject, another big subject. 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:29.079 But that same principle of children belonging to the church, to the visible church, 00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:35.759 the people of God visibly in the world, underlies out a practice of baptism. 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:37.779 So what is this passage telling us today? 00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:42.519 What do we learn from this passage about these people of Israel and about ourselves 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:46.259 as the church of God, the visible church of God in this world? 00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:52.300 Well, first of all, here are a people steeped in God's truth. 00:34:53.100 --> 00:34:56.780 A people steeped or to be steeped in God's truth. 00:34:56.860 --> 00:34:58.500 You notice what he's saying here in verse 18. 00:34:58.660 --> 00:35:04.120 You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:10.100 and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and so on. 00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:13.139 You shall lay up these words of mine. 00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:16.500 And that's emphatic in the text. 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:19.940 These words of mine is how God put it. 00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:24.579 As he was distinguishing his words from the words of anyone else, 00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:27.000 from any other types of words or teaching, 00:35:27.279 --> 00:35:32.440 he is saying these words of mine are what you give your primary attention to. 00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:35.860 You must lay up these words of mine in your heart, 00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:39.160 the words that I'm giving you, these directions that I'm giving you, 00:35:39.160 --> 00:35:40.440 this teaching that I'm giving you, 00:35:40.700 --> 00:35:44.240 this word that's come directly from myself to you, 00:35:44.660 --> 00:35:49.760 whether it's through Moses or through any other leader such as Moses down through the ages, 00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:51.720 even the apostles as well. 00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:56.240 Of course, in the New Testament, God through them was revealing his will to his people, 00:35:56.400 --> 00:36:01.360 and these words are God's authoritative word as he used these people to convey them. 00:36:01.360 --> 00:36:06.380 And so for ourselves today, this is what our Bible consists of, 00:36:06.660 --> 00:36:09.880 these words of mine, these words of God. 00:36:10.599 --> 00:36:14.000 And we are to lay them in our hearts. 00:36:14.120 --> 00:36:21.400 And it's interesting, the words lay up in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, 00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:24.519 you shall lay up these words of mine. 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:31.360 And it's an interesting phrase that because it's actually used in chapter 10 and verse 2, 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:33.300 if you just cast your mind back to that. 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:36.300 He's talking there about the tablets of stone, 00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:40.360 the tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. 00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.559 And he said, 00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:43.179 At that time, the Lord said to me, 00:36:43.239 --> 00:36:46.380 Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, 00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:49.179 and come up to me on the mountain and make an ark of wood. 00:36:49.559 --> 00:36:54.739 And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets that you broke. 00:36:55.400 --> 00:36:58.599 And you shall put them in the ark. 00:36:58.699 --> 00:37:01.139 Now, these words, put them in the ark. 00:37:01.259 --> 00:37:04.759 There's a deliberate placement, a purpose, 00:37:05.019 --> 00:37:08.139 and a placement in the way that they had to put the words 00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:11.320 written on the Ten Commandments in the ark. 00:37:11.320 --> 00:37:13.980 This is going back to the first time God gave them that. 00:37:14.580 --> 00:37:19.280 And this is the same word that's used here for placing the words of God in our hearts. 00:37:19.720 --> 00:37:22.660 You shall put them, you shall lay them up in your hearts. 00:37:22.700 --> 00:37:24.600 In other words, when you read your Bible, 00:37:24.700 --> 00:37:27.720 when you hear the Bible, the word of the gospel preached, 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:31.000 when you're actually dealing with the words of God, 00:37:31.140 --> 00:37:33.140 my words, these words of mine, 00:37:33.880 --> 00:37:35.800 we're not to treat them like any other words. 00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:37.200 We're not to treat them casually. 00:37:37.600 --> 00:37:39.620 We're not to treat them in such a way that says, 00:37:39.619 --> 00:37:43.139 well, that's okay for the moment, but I can actually just leave it there. 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:46.179 We are to lay them up in our heart as deliberately, 00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:48.339 as purposefully, 00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:53.039 as the tablets of stone were placed in the ark. 00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:54.579 We are to place, 00:37:54.779 --> 00:37:58.980 we are to lay up the words of God in our hearts, 00:37:59.139 --> 00:38:02.659 the words that he's given us now in the Bible, 00:38:02.659 --> 00:38:04.819 with care, with purpose, 00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:07.079 with thoughtful placement. 00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:11.920 That means when we come to an occasion such as this, 00:38:11.960 --> 00:38:13.539 when we hear the word of God preached, 00:38:14.359 --> 00:38:16.159 we're to say to ourselves, 00:38:16.339 --> 00:38:17.359 I have to say to myself, 00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:18.139 though I'm the preacher, 00:38:18.359 --> 00:38:21.279 it's still the same words have to go into my heart as well. 00:38:22.059 --> 00:38:22.839 We are to say, 00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:25.460 what is God saying here? 00:38:26.380 --> 00:38:29.179 How is this meaningful to me in my life? 00:38:29.800 --> 00:38:34.539 How must I use what I'm actually seeing or hearing in these words of God? 00:38:34.740 --> 00:38:36.679 What place do they have in my thoughts? 00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:39.480 How do they fit into the way that I see the world, 00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:41.320 the way that I live in the world, 00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:44.699 the way that I go about my family life? 00:38:44.699 --> 00:38:45.159 You see, 00:38:45.359 --> 00:38:46.759 you shall lay them up. 00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:48.659 You shall carefully place them, 00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:50.139 thoughtfully place them, 00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:53.339 purposefully place them in your heart. 00:38:54.359 --> 00:38:54.819 And he says, 00:38:54.899 --> 00:38:55.899 you shall bind them. 00:38:56.319 --> 00:38:56.980 He went on to say, 00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:57.879 you shall bind them. 00:38:58.739 --> 00:39:01.639 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, 00:39:02.019 --> 00:39:05.139 and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:05.599 And of course, 00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:07.199 as well as that, 00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:09.739 putting them on their house as well, 00:39:10.799 --> 00:39:11.699 on the doorposts. 00:39:12.759 --> 00:39:13.659 What he's saying by that, 00:39:13.659 --> 00:39:13.920 of course, 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:15.879 literally that was true of the Jewish people, 00:39:16.319 --> 00:39:17.379 down to the Old Testament, 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:19.039 still true of them to this day, 00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:20.599 that you'll find them, 00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:23.599 many of them who are seriously religious at least, 00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:25.519 they'll find little phylacteries, 00:39:25.619 --> 00:39:27.899 little ways in which boxes or whatever, 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:31.079 in which the extracts from the Ten Commandments or whatever, 00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:33.440 are actually set out before them. 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:35.059 They're on their doorposts, 00:39:35.079 --> 00:39:36.139 in their homes or whatever. 00:39:36.420 --> 00:39:37.139 So literally, 00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:39.619 this was going to be true of those people, 00:39:39.619 --> 00:39:41.039 Moses was speaking to then. 00:39:41.379 --> 00:39:42.879 But what does this mean for ourselves? 00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:45.099 How has that got any meaning for us today? 00:39:45.200 --> 00:39:55.160 Because we don't actually hold a box that we tie then to our persons in such a way that contains extracts from the Word of God. 00:39:55.159 --> 00:39:55.679 Well, 00:39:55.719 --> 00:40:04.359 what it means is that we become so familiar with the Bible that we carry it into all our circumstances. 00:40:04.920 --> 00:40:08.579 You think of a Jew in the days of Moses and Jewish people then, 00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:09.460 even to this day, 00:40:09.859 --> 00:40:10.639 as they go about, 00:40:10.739 --> 00:40:12.960 those of them who are carrying this out literally, 00:40:13.099 --> 00:40:13.219 well, 00:40:13.259 --> 00:40:14.199 they carry out these, 00:40:14.259 --> 00:40:16.859 they carry about these extracts with them. 00:40:16.860 --> 00:40:18.620 And what it's saying to us today is, 00:40:18.880 --> 00:40:19.820 here's your Bible, 00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:22.079 set it up in your heart, 00:40:22.599 --> 00:40:23.860 lay it up in your heart, 00:40:24.099 --> 00:40:27.200 but lay it up in such a way that you continually keep doing this. 00:40:27.559 --> 00:40:30.320 Become so familiar with the words of the Bible, 00:40:30.420 --> 00:40:31.640 with the teaching of the Bible, 00:40:31.800 --> 00:40:35.220 that you carry it with you into all your circumstances. 00:40:35.840 --> 00:40:36.740 As we'll see in a minute, 00:40:37.260 --> 00:40:41.519 the context of teaching their children was that 00:40:41.519 --> 00:40:45.120 they would be taught in the different circumstances of family life. 00:40:45.119 --> 00:40:46.619 And here we are today, 00:40:47.219 --> 00:40:48.039 some of us parents, 00:40:48.219 --> 00:40:48.980 some of us grandparents, 00:40:49.420 --> 00:40:50.319 some of us young people, 00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:51.159 some of us children. 00:40:51.839 --> 00:40:53.279 Here's what God is saying to us. 00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:55.799 This Bible is my words, 00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:57.159 these words of mine. 00:40:58.480 --> 00:41:00.480 Lay them up in your heart. 00:41:01.599 --> 00:41:04.719 Bind them to you in such a way that you're constantly, 00:41:05.420 --> 00:41:08.400 you're constantly learning this word, 00:41:08.579 --> 00:41:09.559 learning what it means, 00:41:09.900 --> 00:41:11.460 becoming familiar with it. 00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:14.639 Because it gives us what's often called, 00:41:14.639 --> 00:41:17.539 a moral compass to our lives. 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:22.199 Just as a compass points all the way to the magnetic north, 00:41:22.319 --> 00:41:23.339 the ordinary compass. 00:41:25.059 --> 00:41:28.659 So the Bible is a spiritual compass for our lives. 00:41:28.739 --> 00:41:32.940 It will always keep us pointing in the right direction if we follow it. 00:41:33.859 --> 00:41:34.679 And for that, 00:41:35.119 --> 00:41:37.139 we need to lay it up in our hearts. 00:41:37.139 --> 00:41:42.139 We need to constantly add to our familiarity and knowledge of it. 00:41:43.239 --> 00:41:44.559 I always admire those people. 00:41:44.659 --> 00:41:45.420 I'm not one of them. 00:41:45.940 --> 00:41:56.279 But I admire those people who constantly are able to bring the word of God up in their conversation in different circumstances in life. 00:41:56.280 --> 00:41:58.620 And it's a wonderful thing when you, 00:41:58.620 --> 00:42:02.540 whether it's in a care home or in somebody's own home or whatever, 00:42:02.680 --> 00:42:08.019 when you actually come to people perhaps who have lost some of their mental faculties. 00:42:09.519 --> 00:42:11.780 And yet when you start quoting the word of God to them, 00:42:12.120 --> 00:42:14.740 they will follow you word for word, 00:42:14.920 --> 00:42:17.040 especially if it's a psalm that you're going to sing. 00:42:17.039 --> 00:42:19.159 Why is that? 00:42:20.759 --> 00:42:22.239 What's brought that about? 00:42:23.119 --> 00:42:25.960 Because they've laid the word of God up in their hearts. 00:42:26.440 --> 00:42:28.779 Because they've lived by it day by day. 00:42:29.099 --> 00:42:33.279 Because they're so familiar with it that even though their circumstances have changed, 00:42:33.559 --> 00:42:37.639 they're still drawing from the word of God words which are meaningful to them. 00:42:38.480 --> 00:42:41.699 And that's how it must be for yourselves and myself as well. 00:42:42.019 --> 00:42:43.219 Not just as individuals. 00:42:43.219 --> 00:42:47.819 We're talking today especially of God's truth at the heart of family life. 00:42:47.919 --> 00:42:51.319 That's what the title we've given to our study today is. 00:42:51.399 --> 00:42:54.159 God's truth at the heart of family life. 00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:57.379 How is God's truth to be placed at the heart of family life? 00:42:57.459 --> 00:43:00.139 Well, you take it and you set it up in your own hearts. 00:43:00.519 --> 00:43:01.480 You lay it up there. 00:43:01.719 --> 00:43:02.839 You carefully place it. 00:43:02.919 --> 00:43:04.019 You thoughtfully place it. 00:43:04.339 --> 00:43:06.719 You purposefully place it in your heart. 00:43:07.879 --> 00:43:09.480 And then you carry it with you. 00:43:09.480 --> 00:43:14.099 As your moral compass into the various circumstances in life. 00:43:14.260 --> 00:43:19.599 Because as you know very well for ourselves as adults and for our children especially, 00:43:20.139 --> 00:43:23.340 there are so, so many other influences. 00:43:23.599 --> 00:43:27.659 Pulling them in different directions from the compass of God's word. 00:43:27.659 --> 00:43:31.839 And the more you have that compass of God's word, 00:43:32.319 --> 00:43:38.539 the more you will be sure that you're facing the right direction and traveling in the right direction, 00:43:38.659 --> 00:43:41.339 morally and spiritually, in your life. 00:43:42.539 --> 00:43:46.699 There are people steeped in God's truth. 00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:50.379 And we are a people who seek to be the same. 00:43:51.279 --> 00:43:52.500 We know God's word. 00:43:52.619 --> 00:43:53.599 We hear God's word. 00:43:53.699 --> 00:43:54.779 We read God's word. 00:43:54.780 --> 00:43:57.200 We lay it up in our hearts. 00:43:57.880 --> 00:43:59.920 We want to be steeped in this word. 00:44:00.640 --> 00:44:07.540 We want to use all our opportunities to actually become more and more familiar with the teaching of the Bible. 00:44:08.120 --> 00:44:10.560 I know people will say nowadays that's just old-fashioned. 00:44:11.460 --> 00:44:12.920 It's completely out of date. 00:44:14.040 --> 00:44:17.000 Not if you believe this to be the word of God as we do. 00:44:17.540 --> 00:44:19.620 Because God's word does not become dated. 00:44:20.620 --> 00:44:21.980 It doesn't need to be renewed. 00:44:21.980 --> 00:44:28.719 It doesn't need to be adjusted to take account of whatever the circumstances in our society are today. 00:44:29.780 --> 00:44:31.800 God's word is God's word. 00:44:32.340 --> 00:44:33.719 God doesn't change his mind. 00:44:34.219 --> 00:44:37.780 And God doesn't need to rub something out and replace it with something else. 00:44:37.780 --> 00:44:43.580 That's why it's so important to us to lay it up in our hearts today. 00:44:44.140 --> 00:44:51.860 But there are people, secondly, not only steeped in God's word, but are people who teach our children God's truth. 00:44:51.980 --> 00:44:52.800 Teaching their children. 00:44:52.960 --> 00:44:55.460 So we teach our children God's truth. 00:44:56.019 --> 00:44:59.420 You see here, you shall teach it to your children. 00:44:59.420 --> 00:45:04.900 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you're sitting in your house and so on. 00:45:05.700 --> 00:45:08.400 Now that doesn't mean that the children don't ask things. 00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:17.980 In chapter 6 of Deuteronomy, you'll find that the children themselves are given the facility of asking about the meaning of the Passover and things like that. 00:45:17.980 --> 00:45:20.460 From chapter 6, verse 20. 00:45:21.039 --> 00:45:29.860 When your son asks you in time to come, what is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you? 00:45:30.260 --> 00:45:37.800 Then you shall say to your son, we were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 00:45:38.079 --> 00:45:40.980 He showed signs and wonders, great and grievous. 00:45:40.980 --> 00:45:46.360 He brought us out from there that he might bring us into the land that he swore to give to our fathers. 00:45:46.440 --> 00:45:50.019 In other words, when our children do ask, what's the meaning of the communion? 00:45:50.139 --> 00:45:51.579 What is the Lord's Supper all about? 00:45:52.199 --> 00:45:53.679 Why do we baptize children? 00:45:53.800 --> 00:45:55.079 Why do we baptize adults? 00:45:55.300 --> 00:45:56.320 What is the meaning of that? 00:45:56.380 --> 00:45:57.500 Why do we go to church? 00:45:58.039 --> 00:45:59.639 Why are there elders in the church? 00:46:00.440 --> 00:46:02.559 What's the meaning of all of those things that we see? 00:46:03.159 --> 00:46:09.019 We explain them, or seek to explain them, in terms of what God has revealed to us. 00:46:09.019 --> 00:46:15.679 And especially when you think of the likes of baptism and the Lord's Supper, just like in the days of Israel with the Passover, 00:46:16.380 --> 00:46:22.539 they are intimately connected, inseparably connected with the things of God's salvation in Christ. 00:46:23.679 --> 00:46:28.759 That's what we need to constantly set before the children when they ask, as they should ask. 00:46:28.820 --> 00:46:30.739 And we have to encourage them to ask. 00:46:31.480 --> 00:46:37.079 But here in chapter 11, it's actually the responsibility is laid upon the parents themselves. 00:46:37.079 --> 00:46:40.340 You shall teach them to your children. 00:46:41.199 --> 00:46:44.579 The initiative and the response there is with parents. 00:46:45.380 --> 00:46:48.579 But of course, the church fits into that context so very well. 00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:53.519 We're privileged ourselves as a congregation, as many other congregations are, 00:46:53.599 --> 00:47:00.559 to have people who are dedicated to the teaching of our children in Sunday school, in Bible class, in tweenies, 00:47:00.559 --> 00:47:04.619 various other activities with the Word of God as some input into it. 00:47:05.159 --> 00:47:11.900 All of these things together form the framework in which we seek to present this teaching of the Bible, 00:47:12.059 --> 00:47:16.539 along with the formal teaching of sermons and of Sunday worship and so on. 00:47:17.619 --> 00:47:21.880 Church context is a community together. 00:47:21.880 --> 00:47:26.880 That's why it's so important to think of the church as God's covenant community. 00:47:27.579 --> 00:47:31.440 They're people bound together by the truth of God. 00:47:32.400 --> 00:47:42.160 Because that's where we need to be so careful with our own relationships and also our own online activities, 00:47:42.420 --> 00:47:44.460 but especially protective of our children. 00:47:44.460 --> 00:47:49.119 There are many online communities, just to use that word, 00:47:49.840 --> 00:47:58.559 but they're very different to the relationships that you have in terms of physical community relationships. 00:47:59.139 --> 00:48:01.500 Online relationships, well, they're flimsy. 00:48:02.159 --> 00:48:03.639 They're sometimes not all that real. 00:48:04.000 --> 00:48:05.440 They can disappear just like that. 00:48:05.800 --> 00:48:08.460 They can be very aggressive. 00:48:08.740 --> 00:48:10.559 They can be very difficult. 00:48:10.820 --> 00:48:12.760 They can become a real burden. 00:48:12.760 --> 00:48:24.840 But the church and Christian families ought to be where bonds of love and care and compassion and help are actually available to us. 00:48:24.940 --> 00:48:31.920 Let's face it, our children today face so much peer pressure, as we refer to it. 00:48:32.280 --> 00:48:34.540 Pressure from their own age group, right? 00:48:34.600 --> 00:48:37.040 Through from primary school up into secondary school age, 00:48:37.680 --> 00:48:41.700 peer pressure is an enormous feature in their lives. 00:48:41.699 --> 00:48:46.559 That's why I mentioned at the beginning of our study today the influence of smartphones. 00:48:47.719 --> 00:48:54.779 Because the smartphone brings that community out there online into your own presence. 00:48:55.439 --> 00:48:56.399 Into your bedroom. 00:48:57.179 --> 00:48:58.159 Into your living room. 00:48:59.119 --> 00:49:00.079 Into your car. 00:49:01.379 --> 00:49:05.919 It's hardly any place that you get rid of it, unless you're very strict about how you use it. 00:49:05.920 --> 00:49:09.180 We have to actually watch how our children use it as well. 00:49:09.180 --> 00:49:16.220 Because peer approval is hugely a feature of young people's lives. 00:49:16.900 --> 00:49:25.059 Especially when they get online and they want the approval of those that they're friends with on Facebook or whatever it is, TikTok, whatever. 00:49:25.059 --> 00:49:35.320 However, the approval of that community, that community, online community, is so important to so many people today. 00:49:35.619 --> 00:49:39.519 You know, one of the great words that we find used is influencers. 00:49:40.579 --> 00:49:44.639 And I just happened to check on the meaning of that word. 00:49:44.639 --> 00:49:47.420 It's used a lot in terms of online communities. 00:49:48.059 --> 00:49:57.739 And people actually live lives and not just live lives, but actually gain income, sometimes massive income, from being an influencer. 00:49:59.659 --> 00:50:09.559 Influencers in terms of what you wear, what you eat, how you live your life, what's important, what isn't. 00:50:09.559 --> 00:50:13.099 You know, some of these influencers, I just checked a couple of them today. 00:50:13.559 --> 00:50:16.599 One of them had 44 million followers. 00:50:17.539 --> 00:50:25.259 44 million followers, especially if they're from a celebrity background or from the pop culture, music culture, whatever. 00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:28.000 Massive, massive influence. 00:50:28.460 --> 00:50:33.400 One person with a smartphone, 44 million followers. 00:50:33.400 --> 00:50:41.500 Just imagine what that's doing to young people's minds if they don't have the benefit of God's truth to keep them, to direct them. 00:50:43.039 --> 00:50:45.539 That's why the author I quoted at the beginning said, 00:50:45.639 --> 00:50:55.019 they're the first generation that carry a portal in their pockets through which they have so much influence coming into their lives. 00:50:55.119 --> 00:50:55.400 From influence. 00:50:56.139 --> 00:50:57.920 I'm not saying there's not good influence. 00:50:58.019 --> 00:50:58.800 Of course there is. 00:50:59.280 --> 00:51:00.460 There's much good influence. 00:51:00.579 --> 00:51:01.639 There's nothing wrong with that. 00:51:01.639 --> 00:51:04.879 But there's a whole lot of bad influence as well. 00:51:05.799 --> 00:51:08.460 Both for adults and for children. 00:51:09.799 --> 00:51:23.639 And that's where influencers in the church setting, influencers in the family setting are so crucial to offset all that influence that you find online and whatever else it is in the world. 00:51:23.639 --> 00:51:29.400 Because the influence in the church bonds of friendship and of family bonds. 00:51:29.799 --> 00:51:33.819 The influencers that come to take their stand in God's truth. 00:51:34.199 --> 00:51:35.719 And that's their point of departure. 00:51:36.159 --> 00:51:42.460 That's the kind of influencer that you want to be and that you want to have influencing your life as well as mine. 00:51:42.460 --> 00:51:53.780 The most important influence in my life and in many other people's lives here were people who loved the Lord. 00:51:55.220 --> 00:51:57.740 People who showed me the ways of God. 00:51:57.739 --> 00:52:03.379 People who told me that the influence of the world, though I didn't want to know it at the time, was harmful. 00:52:03.899 --> 00:52:06.719 Was not the thing that you should follow in life. 00:52:07.679 --> 00:52:09.279 But when I came to know God. 00:52:10.119 --> 00:52:12.599 When I came to know the ways of God's truth. 00:52:13.559 --> 00:52:14.799 Then the influencers. 00:52:16.079 --> 00:52:17.259 These Christian people. 00:52:17.439 --> 00:52:19.939 These mature Christian leaders. 00:52:19.940 --> 00:52:24.059 They're the influencers that really shaped my life. 00:52:25.179 --> 00:52:26.820 That's why I thank God to this day. 00:52:27.860 --> 00:52:29.079 That there are influencers. 00:52:29.960 --> 00:52:30.900 The church of God. 00:52:31.019 --> 00:52:33.159 In God's families in the world. 00:52:33.300 --> 00:52:34.820 Families that are Christian families. 00:52:36.099 --> 00:52:38.159 That's the influence our children need. 00:52:39.139 --> 00:52:42.360 That's why it's important having children belonging to the church. 00:52:43.460 --> 00:52:45.420 Coming to be influenced properly. 00:52:45.539 --> 00:52:46.539 Morally and spiritually. 00:52:46.539 --> 00:52:50.920 By those whose conviction is that this is the word of God. 00:52:51.320 --> 00:52:53.000 I need to lay it up in my heart. 00:52:53.440 --> 00:52:56.340 I need to convey it meaningfully and lovingly to my children. 00:52:56.759 --> 00:52:58.320 To my grandchildren and so on. 00:52:59.739 --> 00:53:00.159 You see. 00:53:00.860 --> 00:53:03.500 The teaching context he gives us here is important. 00:53:03.679 --> 00:53:05.820 Just before we come to wind up. 00:53:06.960 --> 00:53:07.880 He says here. 00:53:08.920 --> 00:53:11.579 There are five elements really that he mentions here. 00:53:11.659 --> 00:53:11.980 Aren't there? 00:53:12.559 --> 00:53:14.440 He says you shall teach them to your children. 00:53:14.800 --> 00:53:15.699 Talking of them. 00:53:15.699 --> 00:53:17.859 When you're sitting in your house. 00:53:17.919 --> 00:53:18.460 That's one. 00:53:18.679 --> 00:53:20.319 When you're walking by the way. 00:53:20.399 --> 00:53:20.939 That's two. 00:53:21.119 --> 00:53:22.199 When you lie down. 00:53:22.279 --> 00:53:22.719 That's three. 00:53:22.799 --> 00:53:23.480 When you rise. 00:53:23.619 --> 00:53:24.159 That's four. 00:53:24.480 --> 00:53:26.779 And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house. 00:53:26.819 --> 00:53:27.759 And on your gates. 00:53:29.159 --> 00:53:29.480 You see. 00:53:29.539 --> 00:53:30.099 He's saying there. 00:53:30.219 --> 00:53:31.480 When you're sitting in your house. 00:53:31.519 --> 00:53:31.960 In other words. 00:53:32.079 --> 00:53:33.399 At mealtimes. 00:53:33.400 --> 00:53:37.820 And I remember when I was involved with church camps. 00:53:37.820 --> 00:53:39.200 A number of years ago now. 00:53:39.360 --> 00:53:41.180 But surprising even then. 00:53:41.280 --> 00:53:42.860 The number of children. 00:53:43.579 --> 00:53:48.599 That were never actually familiar with sitting around a table at a family meal. 00:53:49.599 --> 00:53:51.220 They were given something to eat. 00:53:51.260 --> 00:53:53.920 They went off and they just sat in front of the telly and ate it there. 00:53:54.820 --> 00:53:56.559 Never used to actually sitting together. 00:53:56.940 --> 00:53:58.000 Around a family table. 00:53:58.099 --> 00:53:58.880 Around a family meal. 00:53:59.180 --> 00:54:01.440 Never used to having grace said before meals. 00:54:01.440 --> 00:54:05.280 And so many in the world sadly are like that. 00:54:05.360 --> 00:54:06.500 So many in our own community. 00:54:06.940 --> 00:54:08.300 Around us are like that. 00:54:08.760 --> 00:54:10.579 But here is the alternative to that. 00:54:10.639 --> 00:54:11.720 Here is the counter to that. 00:54:12.059 --> 00:54:12.800 You shall teach. 00:54:12.920 --> 00:54:14.639 You shall speak of these things. 00:54:14.740 --> 00:54:16.119 You shall teach them to your children. 00:54:16.720 --> 00:54:19.420 Talking of them while you are sitting in your house. 00:54:20.619 --> 00:54:21.599 How many of us today. 00:54:22.400 --> 00:54:24.320 Especially if we have children around our table. 00:54:25.059 --> 00:54:25.980 While we're having the meal. 00:54:26.039 --> 00:54:28.880 Are going to talk about spiritual things. 00:54:29.260 --> 00:54:29.980 About Jesus. 00:54:29.980 --> 00:54:31.360 About the love of God. 00:54:32.400 --> 00:54:34.300 About something or other that comes from the Bible. 00:54:34.860 --> 00:54:36.320 This is what he's saying to us here. 00:54:36.980 --> 00:54:39.300 Teaching them when you're sitting down. 00:54:39.840 --> 00:54:42.039 And also when you're walking by the way. 00:54:43.059 --> 00:54:45.000 When you're actually going on holiday. 00:54:45.139 --> 00:54:45.840 When you're traveling. 00:54:46.019 --> 00:54:47.380 When you're going from one place to another. 00:54:47.460 --> 00:54:47.820 He's saying. 00:54:48.220 --> 00:54:51.260 You shall teach your children these things when you're doing that. 00:54:51.500 --> 00:54:52.039 In other words. 00:54:52.179 --> 00:54:52.920 When you go on holiday. 00:54:53.000 --> 00:54:54.400 You don't leave your Bible at home. 00:54:55.000 --> 00:54:56.639 You don't leave the Bible's teaching. 00:54:57.639 --> 00:54:59.300 Behind your closed doors at home. 00:54:59.300 --> 00:55:01.320 You take it with you. 00:55:01.980 --> 00:55:03.280 You teach your children. 00:55:03.680 --> 00:55:06.000 Even when you're walking on the way. 00:55:06.080 --> 00:55:07.820 When you're traveling on the way. 00:55:08.960 --> 00:55:10.000 When you lie down. 00:55:10.120 --> 00:55:11.100 When you rise up. 00:55:11.580 --> 00:55:13.820 The two points of the day. 00:55:13.940 --> 00:55:14.560 When we wake. 00:55:14.680 --> 00:55:15.780 And when we go to sleep. 00:55:16.740 --> 00:55:17.960 Everything in between too. 00:55:18.080 --> 00:55:18.340 Of course. 00:55:18.340 --> 00:55:19.120 But it's important. 00:55:19.600 --> 00:55:20.640 When we wake up. 00:55:20.740 --> 00:55:21.380 That our thoughts. 00:55:21.760 --> 00:55:23.460 Are upon God's word. 00:55:23.900 --> 00:55:25.120 Upon God himself. 00:55:25.320 --> 00:55:26.160 That when we go to. 00:55:26.740 --> 00:55:27.579 End the day. 00:55:27.660 --> 00:55:28.720 That we're thinking of God. 00:55:28.800 --> 00:55:30.440 How good he's been to us that day. 00:55:30.760 --> 00:55:32.539 What we've learned from him that day. 00:55:32.579 --> 00:55:32.860 In other words. 00:55:32.920 --> 00:55:34.320 We're talking about family worship. 00:55:35.920 --> 00:55:36.780 Family worship. 00:55:37.440 --> 00:55:38.519 Is in decline. 00:55:39.120 --> 00:55:40.920 And has been for many years. 00:55:40.920 --> 00:55:43.139 And family worship. 00:55:43.139 --> 00:55:43.920 Where children. 00:55:44.300 --> 00:55:45.680 Especially the younger children. 00:55:46.159 --> 00:55:47.059 Are nurtured. 00:55:47.340 --> 00:55:49.159 In hearing the Bible read. 00:55:49.659 --> 00:55:50.700 And having it explained. 00:55:50.980 --> 00:55:51.460 Briefly. 00:55:51.659 --> 00:55:51.980 Simply. 00:55:52.079 --> 00:55:53.280 It doesn't have to be complicated. 00:55:54.220 --> 00:55:54.960 And hearing. 00:55:55.400 --> 00:55:56.539 A parent or parents. 00:55:56.800 --> 00:55:57.559 Pray to God. 00:55:58.440 --> 00:55:59.280 That's the context. 00:55:59.420 --> 00:55:59.840 The beginning. 00:56:00.240 --> 00:56:01.220 The end of each day. 00:56:01.720 --> 00:56:02.400 He's saying here. 00:56:02.740 --> 00:56:04.059 You shall teach them. 00:56:04.559 --> 00:56:05.780 In that context. 00:56:06.480 --> 00:56:07.480 And you shall mark them. 00:56:07.820 --> 00:56:08.880 On the doorposts. 00:56:08.880 --> 00:56:10.039 On the gates of your house. 00:56:10.039 --> 00:56:10.599 In other words. 00:56:12.579 --> 00:56:13.519 So that your house. 00:56:13.519 --> 00:56:14.320 Will be distinguished. 00:56:14.320 --> 00:56:16.099 As a house that fears God. 00:56:17.279 --> 00:56:17.779 Of course. 00:56:17.860 --> 00:56:18.219 We don't. 00:56:18.860 --> 00:56:19.259 Necessarily. 00:56:19.340 --> 00:56:19.699 As I said. 00:56:19.759 --> 00:56:20.159 At the beginning. 00:56:20.519 --> 00:56:21.179 Have something. 00:56:21.480 --> 00:56:22.699 Attached to our doorposts. 00:56:22.739 --> 00:56:22.980 That say. 00:56:23.059 --> 00:56:24.239 This is a Christian home. 00:56:25.300 --> 00:56:26.519 It's much more. 00:56:26.599 --> 00:56:27.079 By way of. 00:56:27.559 --> 00:56:28.079 What we do. 00:56:28.179 --> 00:56:28.940 And how we're seen. 00:56:29.039 --> 00:56:29.739 And how we live. 00:56:29.820 --> 00:56:30.820 And how we behave. 00:56:31.820 --> 00:56:32.360 But our homes. 00:56:32.519 --> 00:56:32.940 Need to be. 00:56:33.500 --> 00:56:34.519 Marked out. 00:56:34.639 --> 00:56:36.119 As belonging to God. 00:56:36.699 --> 00:56:37.679 As belonging to. 00:56:37.940 --> 00:56:39.559 A people who love the Lord. 00:56:40.039 --> 00:56:41.340 And we can only do that. 00:56:41.420 --> 00:56:42.059 As we follow. 00:56:42.659 --> 00:56:44.320 The teachings of God's word. 00:56:44.639 --> 00:56:45.559 For ourselves. 00:56:46.199 --> 00:56:47.019 So there are people. 00:56:47.259 --> 00:56:48.860 Who are steeped in God's truth. 00:56:48.980 --> 00:56:49.960 There are people who teach. 00:56:50.259 --> 00:56:51.000 Our children. 00:56:51.440 --> 00:56:52.139 God's truth. 00:56:52.880 --> 00:56:54.119 And the context of teaching. 00:56:54.259 --> 00:56:54.559 Is really. 00:56:54.719 --> 00:56:56.119 As wide as to take in. 00:56:56.619 --> 00:56:57.960 All of those circumstances. 00:56:57.960 --> 00:56:58.500 That's meant. 00:56:58.579 --> 00:56:59.400 That are mentioned there. 00:56:59.940 --> 00:57:01.420 In verses 19 to 20. 00:57:01.420 --> 00:57:02.599 But he gives us a promise. 00:57:02.699 --> 00:57:03.679 Let me just finish with this. 00:57:03.679 --> 00:57:06.059 You shall do this. 00:57:06.059 --> 00:57:07.500 So that your days. 00:57:07.599 --> 00:57:08.699 And the days of your children. 00:57:08.899 --> 00:57:09.619 May be multiplied. 00:57:09.940 --> 00:57:10.480 In the land. 00:57:10.899 --> 00:57:11.859 That the Lord swore. 00:57:11.960 --> 00:57:12.539 To your fathers. 00:57:12.539 --> 00:57:13.219 To give them. 00:57:14.399 --> 00:57:15.279 That doesn't mean. 00:57:16.739 --> 00:57:17.219 Necessarily. 00:57:17.339 --> 00:57:17.940 That they would live. 00:57:18.059 --> 00:57:19.480 To a ripe old age. 00:57:19.519 --> 00:57:20.339 Every one of them. 00:57:21.259 --> 00:57:22.279 Many of them died. 00:57:22.279 --> 00:57:23.059 In childhood. 00:57:23.899 --> 00:57:25.000 Especially in those days. 00:57:27.199 --> 00:57:27.960 Means rather. 00:57:28.119 --> 00:57:28.859 That they would not be. 00:57:29.199 --> 00:57:29.699 Displaced. 00:57:29.699 --> 00:57:30.440 From the land. 00:57:30.559 --> 00:57:31.679 That God was giving them. 00:57:31.679 --> 00:57:33.419 Because being displaced. 00:57:33.419 --> 00:57:34.619 From the land of Canaan. 00:57:34.619 --> 00:57:36.500 Was a mark of God's displeasure. 00:57:36.839 --> 00:57:38.239 A mark of God's judgment. 00:57:38.480 --> 00:57:38.639 Indeed. 00:57:38.779 --> 00:57:40.059 And the exile that came. 00:57:40.559 --> 00:57:41.039 Later on. 00:57:41.079 --> 00:57:42.059 That's foretold here. 00:57:42.159 --> 00:57:43.139 And by the prophets. 00:57:43.219 --> 00:57:43.699 Especially. 00:57:44.079 --> 00:57:44.960 When they were taken away. 00:57:44.960 --> 00:57:45.559 To Babylon. 00:57:45.559 --> 00:57:47.119 For their time of captivity. 00:57:47.119 --> 00:57:47.799 In Babylon. 00:57:48.039 --> 00:57:49.119 For these 70 years. 00:57:49.199 --> 00:57:50.779 That was God's judgment. 00:57:51.259 --> 00:57:52.199 Because they had abandoned. 00:57:52.199 --> 00:57:53.099 God's ways. 00:57:53.899 --> 00:57:54.440 They had actually. 00:57:54.599 --> 00:57:55.460 Brought a lot. 00:57:55.799 --> 00:57:56.579 Of pagan. 00:57:57.440 --> 00:57:57.919 Ideology. 00:57:57.919 --> 00:57:58.519 And practice. 00:57:58.779 --> 00:57:59.019 Into their. 00:57:59.139 --> 00:57:59.779 Into their. 00:58:00.359 --> 00:58:01.339 Way of life. 00:58:01.679 --> 00:58:03.299 And so. 00:58:03.419 --> 00:58:04.279 To be displaced. 00:58:04.279 --> 00:58:05.059 From the land. 00:58:05.719 --> 00:58:06.440 Was actually. 00:58:06.539 --> 00:58:07.759 A mark of God's judgment. 00:58:07.859 --> 00:58:08.599 It was itself. 00:58:08.739 --> 00:58:09.460 God's judgment. 00:58:10.799 --> 00:58:11.460 And what he's saying. 00:58:11.539 --> 00:58:12.099 To him here is. 00:58:12.739 --> 00:58:13.859 So that your days. 00:58:13.859 --> 00:58:14.519 Will be long. 00:58:14.519 --> 00:58:15.219 In the land. 00:58:15.359 --> 00:58:16.299 That they'll be multiplied. 00:58:16.539 --> 00:58:17.359 That you will not. 00:58:17.359 --> 00:58:18.099 Be displaced. 00:58:18.259 --> 00:58:18.779 Ubruted. 00:58:18.779 --> 00:58:20.399 From this covenant land. 00:58:21.879 --> 00:58:23.079 Do these things. 00:58:23.819 --> 00:58:25.199 And that will not happen. 00:58:26.179 --> 00:58:26.539 And so. 00:58:26.759 --> 00:58:27.879 Where does that fit into. 00:58:28.279 --> 00:58:29.219 Our experience. 00:58:29.539 --> 00:58:30.379 Our circumstances. 00:58:30.579 --> 00:58:30.739 Today. 00:58:30.739 --> 00:58:31.019 Well. 00:58:32.219 --> 00:58:33.619 How do we come to have. 00:58:34.399 --> 00:58:34.799 Stability. 00:58:35.359 --> 00:58:36.439 In family life. 00:58:37.199 --> 00:58:38.299 How do we come to have. 00:58:38.459 --> 00:58:38.879 Stability. 00:58:39.039 --> 00:58:39.579 In a church. 00:58:40.219 --> 00:58:41.179 Congregational setting. 00:58:41.959 --> 00:58:42.799 How do we have. 00:58:43.039 --> 00:58:43.519 Stability. 00:58:43.879 --> 00:58:45.359 In our individual lives. 00:58:46.219 --> 00:58:47.039 This is all about. 00:58:47.259 --> 00:58:47.699 Stability. 00:58:49.639 --> 00:58:50.639 Remaining in the land. 00:58:50.859 --> 00:58:51.259 Stability. 00:58:52.079 --> 00:58:52.479 Peace. 00:58:53.479 --> 00:58:54.079 Satisfaction. 00:58:54.079 --> 00:58:56.920 Well you come to it. 00:58:57.000 --> 00:58:58.500 By laying up the words of God. 00:58:58.539 --> 00:58:59.139 In your heart. 00:59:01.059 --> 00:59:01.880 That's what he's saying. 00:59:01.920 --> 00:59:02.599 In verse 13. 00:59:02.699 --> 00:59:02.980 Isn't it. 00:59:03.699 --> 00:59:04.940 If you will indeed obey. 00:59:05.039 --> 00:59:05.699 My commandments. 00:59:05.699 --> 00:59:06.819 That I command you today. 00:59:07.480 --> 00:59:08.799 To love the Lord. 00:59:08.860 --> 00:59:09.420 Your God. 00:59:09.759 --> 00:59:11.019 And to serve him. 00:59:11.139 --> 00:59:11.880 With all your heart. 00:59:11.920 --> 00:59:13.019 And with all your soul. 00:59:13.539 --> 00:59:14.679 He will give you. 00:59:15.179 --> 00:59:16.259 The rain for your land. 00:59:16.299 --> 00:59:16.980 In its season. 00:59:17.840 --> 00:59:18.039 You see. 00:59:18.139 --> 00:59:18.900 This was not to be. 00:59:19.280 --> 00:59:20.940 A legalistic observance. 00:59:21.019 --> 00:59:22.360 Of these commandments. 00:59:22.840 --> 00:59:23.440 As if to say. 00:59:23.619 --> 00:59:24.500 Well we've done that. 00:59:24.699 --> 00:59:25.760 And now God is obliged. 00:59:25.760 --> 00:59:26.719 To bless us. 00:59:28.119 --> 00:59:29.079 Now we're going to do them. 00:59:29.639 --> 00:59:31.260 Out of love for God. 00:59:31.639 --> 00:59:32.699 That's where we start. 00:59:33.559 --> 00:59:34.380 That's the beginning. 00:59:35.119 --> 00:59:35.960 That's the root. 00:59:36.780 --> 00:59:37.900 Our love for the Lord. 00:59:37.900 --> 00:59:39.139 When we love him. 00:59:39.280 --> 00:59:40.159 With all our heart. 00:59:40.820 --> 00:59:41.980 Then the promises. 00:59:42.240 --> 00:59:42.460 You see. 00:59:42.579 --> 00:59:43.480 Come into their own. 00:59:44.199 --> 00:59:45.400 The promise of stability. 00:59:45.400 --> 00:59:47.480 The promise of being. 00:59:48.240 --> 00:59:49.039 Kept by him. 00:59:49.619 --> 00:59:50.519 Guided by him. 00:59:51.320 --> 00:59:52.240 Blessed by him. 00:59:53.180 --> 00:59:54.200 We pray that God. 00:59:54.780 --> 00:59:56.119 Will bless to us today. 00:59:56.639 --> 00:59:57.840 These words. 01:00:00.039 --> 01:00:01.260 We're going to sing now. 01:00:01.400 --> 01:00:02.000 Some more verses. 01:00:02.160 --> 01:00:02.840 This time we're singing. 01:00:03.019 --> 01:00:04.639 From Psalm number 90. 01:00:07.539 --> 01:00:08.660 Psalm number 90. 01:00:08.800 --> 01:00:09.240 To the tune. 01:00:09.460 --> 01:00:10.019 Kilmarnock. 01:00:10.960 --> 01:00:11.780 At this point. 01:00:12.220 --> 01:00:13.480 Others will be coming in. 01:00:13.519 --> 01:00:14.400 To join the service. 01:00:15.400 --> 01:00:16.400 Psalm number 90. 01:00:17.740 --> 01:00:19.579 That's on page 350. 01:00:30.680 --> 01:00:33.180 And so we're singing from verse 14. 01:00:34.619 --> 01:00:36.820 Oh with thy tender mercies Lord. 01:00:36.920 --> 01:00:38.019 As they early satisfy. 01:00:38.680 --> 01:00:39.880 So we rejoice. 01:00:40.019 --> 01:00:41.059 Shall all our days. 01:00:41.139 --> 01:00:42.480 And still be glad in thee. 01:00:42.480 --> 01:00:44.659 According as the days have been. 01:00:44.740 --> 01:00:46.019 Wherein we grief have had. 01:00:46.559 --> 01:00:48.340 And years wherein we ill have seen. 01:00:48.800 --> 01:00:50.400 So do thou make us glad. 01:00:51.240 --> 01:00:52.840 Oh let thy work and power. 01:00:52.920 --> 01:00:54.980 Appear thy servants face before. 01:00:55.619 --> 01:00:57.460 And show unto their children dear. 01:00:57.539 --> 01:00:58.940 Thy glory evermore. 01:00:59.619 --> 01:01:01.079 And let the beauty of the Lord. 01:01:01.079 --> 01:01:02.659 Our God be us upon. 01:01:03.440 --> 01:01:05.480 Our handiworks establish thou. 01:01:05.619 --> 01:01:06.460 Establish them. 01:01:07.099 --> 01:01:07.920 Each one. 01:01:07.920 --> 01:01:10.079 These verses to tune Kilmarnock. 01:01:10.079 --> 01:01:13.300 O with thy tender mercies Lord. 01:01:13.300 --> 01:01:13.320 O with thy tender mercies Lord. 01:01:13.320 --> 01:01:18.700 Thus there is satisfied. 01:01:18.700 --> 01:01:26.000 O with thy tender mercies Lord. 01:01:26.000 --> 01:01:31.700 Thus there is satisfied. 01:01:31.699 --> 01:01:36.819 Who will, since we are in the Lord. 01:01:43.819 --> 01:01:45.019 And shall Paris be. 01:01:45.019 --> 01:01:45.899 God be. 01:01:45.899 --> 01:01:46.079 Ever. 01:01:46.079 --> 01:01:47.480 The world we hope and have. 01:01:47.480 --> 01:01:48.139 Close societals. 01:01:48.139 --> 01:01:49.659 Friends have been. 01:01:53.859 --> 01:02:01.319 Xin 01:02:01.320 --> 01:02:31.300 We'll be right back. 01:02:31.320 --> 01:03:01.300 We'll be right back. 01:03:01.320 --> 01:03:31.300 We'll be right back. 01:03:31.300 --> 01:04:01.280 We'll be right back. 01:04:01.300 --> 01:04:31.280 We're right back. 01:04:31.300 --> 01:05:01.280 We're right back. 01:05:01.280 --> 01:05:31.260 We're right back. 01:05:31.260 --> 01:05:37.560 And we give thanks for the reminder in it that we ourselves are liable to the death that our sins deserve. 01:05:38.520 --> 01:05:45.880 And we give thanks today that you deliver us from such when we trust in you, when we come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. 01:05:45.880 --> 01:05:55.099 And we thank you today, O Lord, for the many promises that are attached to the sacrament itself and to the family life that's associated with it. 01:05:55.099 --> 01:06:09.519 We do pray today that you would grant your blessing to us as observers, and to their children as we find ourselves today with them in this happy and joyous occasion. 01:06:09.519 --> 01:06:15.139 Bless them, we pray, and bless this water now as it's used for a sacred use. 01:06:15.820 --> 01:06:22.360 May it please you, O Lord, to follow its administration with the blessing of this child and the blessing of this family. 01:06:22.360 --> 01:06:52.340 Continue to pray, O Lord, to follow us, O Lord, to follow us, O Lord, to follow us today. 01:06:52.340 --> 01:06:53.760 Just turn now and switch it to the camera. 01:06:54.059 --> 01:06:54.500 That's great. 01:06:55.820 --> 01:06:56.800 Yeah, it's brilliant. 01:06:57.059 --> 01:06:57.620 It's fantastic. 01:06:57.619 --> 01:06:59.839 Amen. 01:07:00.159 --> 01:07:07.380 Ellie, Margaret Ann McLeod, I baptize you in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. 01:07:08.199 --> 01:07:09.759 May God bless you and keep you. 01:07:10.319 --> 01:07:13.139 May he make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. 01:07:13.739 --> 01:07:17.239 May he lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 01:07:18.699 --> 01:07:19.759 Let's briefly pray. 01:07:19.760 --> 01:07:23.560 Lord we ask that you would bless 01:07:23.560 --> 01:07:25.640 Ellie now as she has received baptism 01:07:25.640 --> 01:07:28.020 that you would bless her parents 01:07:28.020 --> 01:07:29.460 that you would bless Alexander 01:07:29.460 --> 01:07:31.640 that you would bless them as a family 01:07:31.640 --> 01:07:32.720 bless them in their home 01:07:32.720 --> 01:07:35.200 and in all the things that they do together 01:07:35.200 --> 01:07:38.140 we ask oh Lord that you would continue 01:07:38.140 --> 01:07:40.020 to watch over us as a people 01:07:40.020 --> 01:07:42.220 to continue to provide for us 01:07:42.220 --> 01:07:44.280 and in all of these things we pray 01:07:44.280 --> 01:07:45.740 in your mercy and grace 01:07:45.740 --> 01:07:47.140 that you would receive our thanks 01:07:47.140 --> 01:07:49.220 for we ask it in Jesus name 01:07:49.219 --> 01:07:50.279 Amen 01:07:50.279 --> 01:07:55.939 Please be seated 01:07:55.939 --> 01:07:56.759 you can take your seat 01:07:56.759 --> 01:08:04.039 Now my apologies I left out a psalm 01:08:04.039 --> 01:08:05.579 when I gave it to the 01:08:05.579 --> 01:08:08.259 to Lizzie 01:08:08.259 --> 01:08:10.099 for the intimations and also to the presenter 01:08:10.099 --> 01:08:11.619 so we'll sing 133 01:08:11.619 --> 01:08:14.539 So we're going to sing Psalm 133 01:08:14.539 --> 01:08:15.899 on page 424 01:08:15.900 --> 01:08:23.760 Psalm 133 01:08:23.760 --> 01:08:25.239 that's on page 424 01:08:25.239 --> 01:08:27.680 It's a psalm that talks about the benefits 01:08:27.680 --> 01:08:29.199 of being together 01:08:29.199 --> 01:08:32.100 of being a people who are united together 01:08:32.100 --> 01:08:33.399 by the truth of God 01:08:33.399 --> 01:08:35.619 and as compared to 01:08:35.619 --> 01:08:38.420 the Jew that comes down on Hermon's hills 01:08:38.420 --> 01:08:40.220 on the blessing of God 01:08:40.220 --> 01:08:41.500 that he has commanded 01:08:41.500 --> 01:08:42.119 so we'll sing 01:08:42.119 --> 01:08:44.880 these three verses of the psalm 01:08:44.880 --> 01:08:45.979 we'll stand to sing 01:08:45.979 --> 01:08:46.739 after we've 01:08:46.739 --> 01:08:47.760 sung the psalm 01:08:47.760 --> 01:08:48.600 please remain seated 01:08:48.600 --> 01:08:49.880 seated for the benediction 01:08:49.880 --> 01:08:50.659 standing sorry 01:08:50.659 --> 01:08:51.720 for the benediction 01:08:51.720 --> 01:08:53.659 Behold how good a thing it is 01:08:53.659 --> 01:08:55.180 and how becoming well 01:08:55.180 --> 01:08:56.979 together such as brethren are 01:08:56.979 --> 01:08:58.760 in unity to dwell 01:08:58.760 --> 01:08:59.640 let's praise God 01:08:59.640 --> 01:09:09.320 thank you out to the beneficiary 01:09:09.320 --> 01:09:15.079 the good of the together 01:09:15.079 --> 01:09:15.579 now 01:09:15.579 --> 01:09:21.360 we wheel 01:09:21.360 --> 01:09:21.760 to keep 01:09:21.760 --> 01:09:24.079 out to neg 01:09:24.079 --> 01:09:54.059 Thank you. 01:09:54.079 --> 01:10:24.059 Thank you. 01:10:24.079 --> 01:10:54.059 Thank you. 01:10:54.079 --> 01:10:56.079 Thank you. 01:10:58.559 --> 01:11:00.819 This morning I'll go to the door here to my left. 01:11:02.239 --> 01:11:10.859 Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore. Amen. 01:11:10.859 --> 01:11:11.000 Amen.