WEBVTT

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 Murdo Campbell, delighted to welcome Murdo to the pulpit for this weekend.

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 He is a Stornoway boy. He became a member here in the congregation in 2006, he was just telling me.

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 And he's now been a minister in Barres Free Church for 10 years, and it was 10 years ago yesterday

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 was the date of his induction there. So we're very thankful to have Murdo with us, leading the

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 services over this weekend, and we do pray God's blessing on him and on us all together as we come

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 under the sound of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And I'll invite Murdo now

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 to lead us in our worship. Well, good evening. It's lovely to be with you this evening, and God willing,

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 over this weekend. We do pray that we know the Lord's blessing as we meet around God's Word and

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 also around the Lord's table. You know, I was thinking as I was coming over the moor from Bonnie

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 Barvis, in our pulpit, or my pulpit, I have this sign that reminds me every time I stand in the pulpit.

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 It says on it, Sir, we would see Jesus. And I was thinking that's what we should be longing for

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 this coming weekend, that we would see Jesus, that we would see none other save Jesus only,

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 that he would be lifted up before us, and that in lifting him up, we would all be drawn to him,

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 to know him, to love him, and to follow him, and even to walk with him more closely.

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 So let us worship God this evening. We're going to sing to God's praise in Psalm 32.

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 Psalm 32, it's in the Sing Psalms version, on page 38, if you have the blue psalm book.

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 Psalm 32.

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 The tune is Arlington. We're singing from the beginning down to the verse mark 7.

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 Psalm 32, page 38. All of our psalms this evening, they focus upon the theme of blessing or blessedness.

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 And Psalm 32 is, it's a psalm that was written after Psalm 51. Psalm 51, it's my favorite psalm.

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 It's the psalm where David confesses his sin. And then he wrote, after he wrote Psalm 51,

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 he wrote Psalm 32, because he knew the forgiveness of his sin. He knew how blessed he was to receive

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 forgiveness for his sin. That's what David writes here. He says, how blessed the one who has received

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 forgiveness for his sin, whose sins are covered from God's face, whose debt is cancelled in God's grace.

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 There's no deceit in him. So we'll sing Psalm 32 from the beginning down to the verse mark 7.

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 Do you stand to sing? And we'll stand to sing, if you're able, to God's praise.

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 Amen.

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 When I kept silent, all my bones were thrown in heaven.

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 I felt entrapped. Both day and night, my strength was up, as in a summer drought.

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 Then I laid bare my sin to you, the guilt that lay within. I said, O Lord, I have transgressed,

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 and you forgive when I confess. You pardoned all my sin.

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 So let the Godly pray to you, while you are to be found.

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 Surely, when waves are sweeping past, and mighty waters rising fast, you keep them safe and sound.

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 You are my hiding place, O Lord, my true security.

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 You keep me safe and troubled days. You circle me with joyful praise, when you have set me free.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, let us come before the Lord in prayer. Let's pray together.

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 Gracious God and loving Heavenly Father, enable us this evening, as we meet together in worship,

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 to first of all be still, to be still and to know that thou art God.

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 Help us, Lord, we pray, to come aside from all the business of the day, and even the busyness of our week,

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 and to just stop, and to be still in the Lord's presence,

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 and to know that the promise remains true for thy people,

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 that where two or three gather in thy name, thou art there in the midst of them.

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 And that our prayer, Lord, as we meet together, is that thou wouldst be pleased to bless us.

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 And as the psalm has said, Lord, bless and pity us.

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 Shine on us with thy face, that the earth, thy way, and nations all would know thy saving grace.

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 And tonight we bless and praise thee for knowing the saving grace of God in our life,

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 to know that we have been brought from darkness, and to thine own marvelous light,

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 that we can say that we were once not a people, but we are now the people of God.

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 We are those who had once not obtained mercy, but now we have obtained mercy.

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 And what a mercy it is to know that God has been gracious and merciful towards us.

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 He has been long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth.

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 And it is no wonder that David praised the Lord in that psalm that we were singing.

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 And he said, how blessed is the one who has received forgiveness for his sin.

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 And tonight, Lord, help us to see that we are a people who are blessed.

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 We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.

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 We have received what we do not deserve.

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 And the Lord has kept from us what we do deserve.

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 That he has been so good to us.

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 That he has drawn us to himself.

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 That he has called us with that holy calling.

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 That he has made known to us the wonder and beauty of thy Son, the Lord Jesus.

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 And we thank thee tonight for him.

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 We thank thee, O Lord, that he is a faithful friend.

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 He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

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 He is our shepherd who leads us in every step of the way of life.

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 He is there for us even when we have to be confronted with the valley of the shadow of death.

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 That he is the one who is by our side.

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 He is the one who assures us that his goodness and his mercy, they still follow us all the days of our life.

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 And that in God's house forevermore our dwelling place shall be.

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 And so, Lord, whatever or however we felt coming in here this evening.

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 However we felt in and of ourselves.

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 That how often, Lord, we look at ourselves and we see how sinful we are.

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 And that we are not becoming more holy.

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 But we feel that we are becoming more and more sinful.

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 And yet, Lord, we find ourselves confessing more and more with the Apostle.

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 That the good that I would, I do not.

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 But the evil that I would not, that is what I keep on doing.

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 But, Lord, help us, we pray, to see tonight that there is and there remains,

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 therefore now no condemnation, to those who are in Christ Jesus.

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 That we are those who have been given that spirit of adoption.

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 Whereby we are able to cry and call upon our Father which art in heaven.

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 And to know that he hears us and he answers us in accordance with his will.

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 Help us, Lord, we pray, to be persuaded.

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 As Paul was persuaded.

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 That neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers.

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 Nor things present, nor even things to come.

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 Neither height, nor depth, nor any other creature.

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 Is able to separate us from the love of God.

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 That is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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 And so, Lord, our prayer is, as we meet together as weak.

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 Saints traveling through this world.

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 Help us, Lord, to be encouraged by thy word.

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 Help us, Lord, to be lifted up to see Jesus.

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 That while we are looking at him, that, oh, as one of old said, that for every look at self,

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 to take ten looks at Jesus.

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 And that we might keep looking at him.

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 That we might keep focusing upon him.

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 Knowing that he is the lover of our soul.

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 He is the fairest among ten thousand.

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 He is the one who was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.

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 And help us then, we pray, to see more and more of him.

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 That he would increase.

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 That we would decrease.

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 That he would ultimately have all the preeminence.

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 That thou, our heavenly Father, would have all the glory.

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 And that we, tonight, as we gather around thy word.

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 And as we seek thy face.

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 That, Lord, that we would know blessing.

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 That we would experience thy presence.

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 That we would know the power of thy spirit.

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 As thy word is opened.

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 And as thy word is read.

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 And as it is proclaimed.

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 Lord, that thou wouldest open our ears to hear.

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 Open our hearts to receive thy truth.

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 Open our minds to engage with it.

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 But, Lord, enable us, we pray, as thy people.

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 Not only to be hearers of thy word.

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 To be doers also.

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 To be living it out.

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 And to be living epistles.

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 Seen and read of those around us.

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 That we, O Lord, would do it ultimately for thy glory.

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 And the furtherance of thy kingdom.

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 Bless us, Lord, we pray, then, as thy children.

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 Remember this congregation.

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 That we thank thee for them.

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 That thou wouldest strengthen them and sustain them.

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 Uphold them and support them.

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 Remember the minister, Lord.

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 We thank thee for him.

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 We pray for our brother, Calamurdo.

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 Grant him, Lord, to know thy presence.

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 To know thy nearness.

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 And that even as he would enjoy a communion season.

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 With his own people here.

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 Bless him, Lord, we pray.

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 Remember his wife, Joanne, and their family.

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 And we pray, Lord, even for the vacancy in the congregation.

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 That thou wouldest provide for them.

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 Not only an under-shepherd.

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 But also a brother to work alongside Calamurdo.

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 One who will serve alongside him.

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 One who will seek to lift up the name of Jesus.

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 Encourage them, Lord, we pray, in the work of the gospel.

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 That as they plough their furrow.

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 And as they seek to break up the fallow ground.

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 And as they seek to invite people to come and hear this glorious gospel message.

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 Our longing is that more would be won to Christ.

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 That more and more would taste and see that thou art good.

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 And trust in thee and be blessed.

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 And Lord, remember us then, we pray this evening.

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 Remember those who are not with us.

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 Those who are confined to homes or to beds of sickness.

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 Those, Lord, who are laid aside.

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 Those whose longing and heart's desire is to be here.

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 And yet, Lord, they are confined to their homes.

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 Or wherever they may be.

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 But, Lord, we ask that thou wouldest meet with them.

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 At their point of need.

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 And, Lord, we pray also for homes and families that are separated by the gospel.

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 We pray for husbands that are out of Christ.

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 Or wives that are still strangers to grace and to God.

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 Or children that are on the broad road.

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 That leads to destruction.

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 Lord, our longing is that the prodigals would come home.

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 That they too would be found here on a Friday evening.

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 Seeking to worship the Lord.

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 Seeking to lift up his name.

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 Seeking to glorify and enjoy him forever.

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 For that is our chief end.

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 O Lord, bless us then, we pray.

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 Lead us and guide us by thy spirit.

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 And go before us in all things.

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 Taking away our iniquity.

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 And receiving us graciously.

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 For Jesus' sake.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 But we're going to sing again.

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 This time in Psalm 119.

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 Psalm 119.

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 It's in the Scottish Psalter, page 399.

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 Psalm 119.

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 We're singing from the beginning down to the verse marked 6.

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 As you know, Psalm 119.

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 It's the longest psalm in the Psalter.

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 And for good reason.

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 It's a psalm that reminds us about the importance of God's word in our life.

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 That God's word is to be central to our life.

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 And when God's word is central to our life.

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 As the psalmist reminds us there.

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 We are blessed.

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 He says there in verse 1.

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 Blessed are they that undefiled and straight are in the way.

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 Who in the Lord's most holy law do walk and do not stray.

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 Blessed are they who to observe his statutes are inclined.

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 And who do seek the living God with their whole heart and mind.

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 So we're singing Psalm 119 from the beginning down to the verse marked 6.

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 It's on page 399.

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 We're singing to the tune Jackson.

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 And we'll stand to sing if you're able.

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 To God's praise.

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 Blessed are they that undefiled and straight are in the way.

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 Who in the Lord's most holy law do walk and do not stray.

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 Blessed are they who to observe his statutes are inclined.

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 And who do seek the living God with their whole heart and mind.

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 Such endless ways to walk and lay.

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 To know any clergy.

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 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy footsteps carefully.

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 O that thy statutes to observe.

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 Thou wouldst my ways silent.

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 Then shall I not be shamed when I by three steps always pray.

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 Amen.

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 We're now going to read the word of God.

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 As we find it in Paul's letter to the Ephesians and chapter 1.

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 Paul's letter to the Ephesians.

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 And chapter 1.

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 Ephesians chapter 1, we're going to read the whole chapter together.

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 So let us hear the word of God.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 in the heavenly places,

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 far above all rule and authority

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 and power and dominion

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 and above every name that is named,

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 not only in this age,

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 but also in the one to come.

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 And he put all things under his feet

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 and gave him as head over all things

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 to the church, which is his body,

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 the fullness of him who fills all in all.

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 And so on, may the Lord bless

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 that reading of his own holy word.

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 We're now going to sing again

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 before we consider that passage

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 in Ephesians chapter one.

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 We're going to sing again.

00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:24.299
 And I want to apologize to Ali

00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.480
 before I open my mouth.

00:21:26.060 --> 00:21:28.360
 It's Psalm 89, I should have said to Ali.

00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:29.680
 I don't know why I wrote 78.

00:21:30.580 --> 00:21:31.820
 I hope that's okay, Ali.

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.400
 That's good.

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:37.440
 Psalm 89, it's at verse 15.

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:42.259
 When I had turned to Psalm 78,

00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:43.380
 I was looking at it thinking,

00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:45.480
 why on earth did I choose that Psalm?

00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:49.559
 It's not what I was wanting us to sing.

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:52.299
 So Psalm 89, it's on page 345.

00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.740
 It's in the Scottish Psalter.

00:21:55.820 --> 00:21:56.840
 Psalm 89.

00:21:56.839 --> 00:22:00.379
 And we're singing from verse 15

00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:02.559
 down to the verse marked 18.

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:09.379
 And the reason we're going to sing Psalm 89

00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:12.059
 is because it reminds us that as a people,

00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.759
 we are a blessed people.

00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:16.599
 Not only blessed, we are greatly blessed.

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:19.980
 That's what the psalmist reminds us in verse 15.

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:22.459
 O greatly blessed the people are,

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:24.099
 the joyful sound that know.

00:22:24.679 --> 00:22:26.519
 In brightness of thy face, O Lord,

00:22:26.959 --> 00:22:28.079
 they ever on shall go.

00:22:28.639 --> 00:22:31.299
 They in thy name shall all the day rejoice exceedingly.

00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:33.659
 And in thy righteousness shall they,

00:22:34.179 --> 00:22:35.980
 exalted, be on high.

00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:38.959
 So we'll sing Psalm 89 from verse 15

00:22:38.959 --> 00:22:40.579
 down to the verse marked 18.

00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:42.339
 And we'll stand to sing, if you're able,

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.639
 to God's praise.

00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:43.740
 Amen.

00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:55.539
 O greatly blessed the people are,

00:22:55.539 --> 00:23:03.379
 the joyful sound that know,

00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:12.259
 and brightness of thy face, O Lord,

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:19.079
 they ever on shall go.

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:35.200
 They in thy name shall all the day rejoice exceedingly.

00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:45.200
 And in thy righteousness shall they,

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:45.799
 and in thy righteousness shall they,

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:53.200
 exalted be on high.

00:23:53.200 --> 00:24:03.019
 because the glory of their strength,

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:10.200
 doth only stand in thee.

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:19.140
 and in thy faith shall our horn,

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:26.140
 and power exalted be.

00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:28.140
 for God is our own.

00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:32.020
 For God is our own.

00:24:32.020 --> 00:24:36.120
 He begs and thee,

00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:42.960
 to us doth safety bring.

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:49.960
 The holy one of Israel,

00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:58.960
 is our almighty King.

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.960
 Amen.

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.960
 Amen.

00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:01.960
 Amen.

00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.960
 Amen.

00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.960
 Amen.

00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.960
 Amen.

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.960
 Amen.

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:07.259
 Well, if we could, this evening,

00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:10.259
 with the Lord's help and the Lord's enabling,

00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:13.279
 if we could turn back to that portion of scripture that we read,

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.799
 Paul's letter to the Ephesians,

00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:17.660
 and chapter 1.

00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:22.200
 Ephesians chapter 1.

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:25.440
 And if we read again in verse 3.

00:25:28.540 --> 00:25:29.900
 Actually, we'll just read from the beginning.

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:32.060
 Where Paul writes,

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:34.820
 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

00:25:35.300 --> 00:25:36.920
 to the saints who are in Ephesus

00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:39.279
 and are faithful in Christ Jesus,

00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:42.440
 grace to you and peace from God our Father

00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:44.560
 and the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.980
 Blessed be the God and Father,

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:49.160
 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:51.579
 who has blessed us in Christ

00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:54.059
 with every spiritual blessing

00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:57.299
 in the heavenly places.

00:25:58.120 --> 00:25:59.220
 And so on.

00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:05.819
 If I were to ask you this evening,

00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:07.779
 how are you?

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:10.259
 How would you answer?

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:13.559
 Would you slap on a smile

00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:16.400
 and give the generic answer

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:20.440
 that we almost always give to almost everyone?

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.940
 Would you just say,

00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:23.040
 I'm fine, Murdo?

00:26:24.040 --> 00:26:25.560
 Not bad, Murdo?

00:26:26.840 --> 00:26:28.300
 But you know, more often than not,

00:26:28.340 --> 00:26:30.140
 the truth is we're not fine

00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:34.019
 because we're all struggling in some way.

00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:36.800
 We're all struggling with sin

00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:38.579
 or with sickness

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:40.539
 or with stress

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:40.559
 or with stress

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:42.299
 or sorrow

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:44.039
 or separation.

00:26:44.639 --> 00:26:45.619
 We're not fine

00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:47.039
 because we're all broken people

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.119
 living broken lives

00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:49.259
 in this broken world.

00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:51.619
 But even though we're broken people,

00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:53.419
 Paul reminds us that,

00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:54.079
 as believers,

00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:55.519
 we are blessed people.

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.460
 We're blessed people.

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:58.639
 You know,

00:26:58.659 --> 00:27:00.220
 when I was studying in the Free Church College,

00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:02.059
 which wasn't yesterday,

00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:04.299
 I was there with a private student

00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:07.720
 and every time I saw this private student

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.779
 and I asked him the question

00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.779
 I've just asked all of you,

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:10.980
 I would ask him,

00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.819
 how are you?

00:27:12.399 --> 00:27:13.599
 And he would say it to me

00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:15.220
 in his strong Glaswegian accent,

00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:17.299
 and I'm not going to try his Glaswegian accent,

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:18.379
 he would say,

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.119
 Murdo, my friend,

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.659
 I'm blessed.

00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.579
 Murdo, my friend,

00:27:22.639 --> 00:27:23.220
 I'm blessed.

00:27:24.179 --> 00:27:24.740
 Because you know,

00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:25.659
 despite his struggles,

00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.619
 and he had many of them,

00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:28.879
 he was sure of who he was

00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:30.180
 in Christ.

00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:32.000
 And that as a child of God,

00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:32.960
 he had received,

00:27:33.040 --> 00:27:33.760
 as Paul writes,

00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:34.940
 he had received

00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:36.280
 every spiritual blessing

00:27:36.280 --> 00:27:37.960
 in heavenly places

00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:39.220
 in Christ.

00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:40.960
 And that's where Paul begins

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.040
 his letter to the Ephesians,

00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:44.320
 because Paul wants to remind us

00:27:44.320 --> 00:27:45.520
 and reassure us this evening

00:27:45.520 --> 00:27:47.960
 of how we are tonight

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:49.320
 as believers.

00:27:50.080 --> 00:27:51.940
 So that when someone asks you,

00:27:52.780 --> 00:27:53.480
 how are you?

00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:56.120
 You're not to give the generic answer

00:27:56.120 --> 00:27:57.100
 that you always give.

00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:58.939
 Paul tells us that we are

00:27:58.939 --> 00:28:00.179
 to respond and say,

00:28:00.699 --> 00:28:01.859
 I'm blessed.

00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.259
 I'm blessed with every

00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:05.500
 spiritual blessing

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:07.519
 in heavenly places

00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.819
 in Christ.

00:28:09.719 --> 00:28:10.480
 And that's what I want us

00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.099
 to see this evening

00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:11.859
 from this passage

00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:13.219
 as we consider three things.

00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:14.419
 We consider, first of all,

00:28:14.699 --> 00:28:15.439
 all the believers,

00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:17.219
 then all the blessings,

00:28:17.959 --> 00:28:18.879
 and then all the benefits.

00:28:19.719 --> 00:28:20.839
 So there are three headings,

00:28:20.939 --> 00:28:21.500
 all the believers,

00:28:21.659 --> 00:28:22.319
 all the blessings,

00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:23.939
 and all the benefits.

00:28:24.379 --> 00:28:25.179
 So first of all,

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.899
 all the believers,

00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:27.519
 we see that in verses 1 and 2.

00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.560
 Paul writes there, he says,

00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:31.080
 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus

00:28:31.080 --> 00:28:32.140
 by the will of God,

00:28:32.540 --> 00:28:33.820
 to the saints who are in Ephesus

00:28:33.820 --> 00:28:35.680
 and are faithful in Christ Jesus,

00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:37.440
 grace to you and peace

00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:38.540
 from God our Father

00:28:38.540 --> 00:28:41.120
 and the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:43.259
 You know, the word Ephesus

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.759
 means desirable,

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:47.280
 because the ancient city of Ephesus

00:28:47.280 --> 00:28:49.340
 was a desirable place to live.

00:28:50.120 --> 00:28:52.240
 Ephesus was this wealthy seaport city

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:54.779
 situated along the southwest coast

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:57.519
 of what is now modern-day Turkey.

00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.240
 And as a seaport city,

00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:00.279
 the city of Ephesus

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:01.680
 that had built up its reputation

00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:03.839
 as this key trade route

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:05.740
 along the Aegean Sea,

00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:07.339
 so much so that Ephesus

00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:09.140
 became this important

00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:11.160
 and influential city

00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.440
 within the Roman Empire.

00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:15.200
 Sadly, Ephesus was also known

00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:16.740
 for its idolatry.

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:19.339
 They had built a temple

00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:22.160
 double the size of any other temple

00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:22.980
 around them

00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:25.539
 to this Greek goddess Diana,

00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:27.539
 making it what's been known

00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.880
 as one of the seven wonders

00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:30.539
 of the ancient world.

00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:33.259
 It was also known for its immorality

00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:35.960
 because as an idolatrous city,

00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:38.039
 that often meant two things.

00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:39.319
 It meant temple priests

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:41.460
 and also temple prostitutes,

00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:43.500
 making Ephesus nothing more

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:46.019
 than what it was, sin city.

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:49.240
 And yet around 54 AD,

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:50.980
 it was into that dark context

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:53.139
 and culture of idolatry

00:29:53.139 --> 00:29:54.039
 and immorality

00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:56.359
 that the Lord directed Paul

00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:57.799
 to plant a church

00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:59.839
 and to place a lampstand

00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:02.400
 in this what was a cosmopolitan

00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:04.920
 and even a commercial seaport city

00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:06.000
 of Ephesus.

00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:07.420
 And Paul remained there.

00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.240
 He stayed there for about

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.180
 two to three years

00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:10.200
 where he challenged

00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:11.819
 and confronted their idolatry

00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:13.700
 and all their immorality.

00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.299
 And by God's grace,

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.639
 many of the Ephesians,

00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:17.480
 they turned away

00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.779
 from their idolatry,

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:20.419
 they left their immorality,

00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:22.300
 and they began worshipping

00:30:22.300 --> 00:30:24.080
 the living and through God.

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.900
 In fact, the gospel

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:27.039
 had such an impact

00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:28.340
 and such an influence

00:30:28.340 --> 00:30:29.960
 upon the church in Ephesus

00:30:29.960 --> 00:30:30.820
 that they became

00:30:30.820 --> 00:30:32.980
 this church that was a light.

00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:34.580
 They were a church

00:30:34.580 --> 00:30:36.220
 that was a light in darkness.

00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:38.180
 And for that reason,

00:30:38.320 --> 00:30:39.820
 Paul's letter to the Ephesians,

00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:41.039
 in many ways,

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.880
 it's a unique letter

00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:44.380
 because it's a letter

00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:47.140
 unlike many of his other letters.

00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:48.320
 As you know,

00:30:48.360 --> 00:30:49.700
 in all of his other letters,

00:30:49.860 --> 00:30:51.280
 Paul is addressing

00:30:51.280 --> 00:30:52.820
 and dealing with division

00:30:52.820 --> 00:30:53.560
 or heresy

00:30:53.560 --> 00:30:54.880
 or false teaching

00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:56.820
 or counterfeit Christianity.

00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:59.020
 But in the letters

00:30:59.020 --> 00:30:59.600
 of the Ephesians,

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.340
 Paul doesn't deal

00:31:00.340 --> 00:31:01.640
 with any of those problems

00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:03.820
 because as a church,

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.220
 this church,

00:31:05.360 --> 00:31:05.820
 as we said,

00:31:05.860 --> 00:31:06.420
 was a light.

00:31:07.080 --> 00:31:07.960
 But the Ephesians,

00:31:08.080 --> 00:31:09.220
 they just seemed to be

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:10.840
 faithfully plowing away

00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:12.280
 in their furrow.

00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:14.899
 The Ephesians were faithfully

00:31:14.899 --> 00:31:15.839
 plowing away

00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:17.440
 in their furrow.

00:31:18.619 --> 00:31:19.819
 And yet Paul writes to them

00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:22.259
 because as a seasoned pastor

00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.500
 and preacher of the gospel,

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.500
 Paul always knew

00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:27.119
 that when things are going well,

00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:29.319
 there's always this temptation

00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:31.200
 to lose focus

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:33.279
 and to forget the Lord.

00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:35.920
 That's why he encourages

00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:37.799
 and even exhorts the Ephesians

00:31:37.799 --> 00:31:39.980
 throughout this entire letter.

00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:40.980
 And you know,

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.579
 it's actually a beautiful letter.

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.700
 It's a letter that's split

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.220
 and you could see

00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:47.180
 it's separated into two halves.

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.220
 It's a game of two halves,

00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:49.319
 the letter to the Ephesians.

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.440
 Because chapters 1 to 3,

00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:52.519
 Paul is teaching.

00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:54.059
 Chapters 4 to 6,

00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:54.900
 Paul is telling.

00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:56.319
 Chapters 1 to 3

00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:57.460
 are full of information.

00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:59.019
 Chapters 4 to 6,

00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:00.319
 full of application.

00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:01.720
 Chapters 1 to 3

00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.779
 are full of indicatives.

00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:05.519
 4 to 6 are full of imperatives.

00:32:06.120 --> 00:32:06.900
 Chapters 1 to 3

00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:08.220
 are full of encouragements.

00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:10.160
 And chapters 4 to 6

00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:11.940
 are full of exhortations.

00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:13.079
 Because Paul,

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.480
 he encourages here

00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:16.339
 all the believers at Ephesus

00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:18.200
 and us here this evening.

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:19.940
 And he does so by reminding us

00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:21.400
 about all the blessings

00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:22.220
 and all the benefits

00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:24.360
 of salvation in chapter 1.

00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:26.480
 He tells us that we're saved

00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:27.279
 by grace alone,

00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:28.160
 through faith alone,

00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.460
 in Christ alone,

00:32:29.620 --> 00:32:30.360
 in chapter 2.

00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:32.100
 He tells us all about

00:32:32.100 --> 00:32:33.019
 the length and the breadth

00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:33.539
 and the depth

00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:34.960
 and the height of God's love

00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:36.220
 that has been displayed

00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:38.079
 and demonstrated towards us

00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:39.360
 in Jesus Christ.

00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:41.220
 He does that in chapter 3.

00:32:41.860 --> 00:32:42.819
 So chapters 1 to 3,

00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:44.960
 they're full of encouragements

00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.799
 for the Christian.

00:32:46.600 --> 00:32:48.019
 And then chapters 4 to 6,

00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:49.860
 they're full of exhortations

00:32:49.860 --> 00:32:51.200
 to the Christian.

00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:53.200
 Because as Christians,

00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:55.380
 Paul tells us in chapter 4,

00:32:56.140 --> 00:32:57.360
 that we are to walk worthy

00:32:57.360 --> 00:32:58.579
 of the calling

00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.880
 to which we have been called.

00:33:00.600 --> 00:33:01.480
 In chapter 5,

00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.160
 he tells us

00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.400
 that we are to live our lives

00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:05.160
 as children of God,

00:33:06.040 --> 00:33:07.860
 imitating our Heavenly Father.

00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:09.500
 And in chapter 6,

00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.320
 he tells us

00:33:10.320 --> 00:33:11.460
 that we're to stand firm

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:12.920
 against the wiles of the devil

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:16.380
 by wearing the whole armor of God.

00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:17.420
 You know,

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:18.580
 Paul's letter to the Ephesians,

00:33:18.800 --> 00:33:20.220
 it's a beautiful letter

00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:21.480
 full of encouragement,

00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:23.000
 full of exhortation.

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.780
 But as you know tonight,

00:33:26.780 --> 00:33:29.720
 as Christians who are struggling,

00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:31.640
 we need encouragement.

00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:34.640
 We seek encouragement this evening,

00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:36.320
 even as we prepare

00:33:36.320 --> 00:33:37.840
 to come to the Lord's table.

00:33:39.020 --> 00:33:39.560
 Because, you know,

00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:40.820
 regardless of who we are,

00:33:41.600 --> 00:33:42.860
 we all need encouragement.

00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:45.280
 We all need to be reminded

00:33:45.280 --> 00:33:47.020
 of the great and precious promises

00:33:47.020 --> 00:33:48.580
 of God's Word.

00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:50.700
 We all need to be reassured

00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:52.600
 of the glorious gospel

00:33:52.600 --> 00:33:54.200
 of Jesus Christ.

00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:56.020
 And that's what Paul does here.

00:33:56.100 --> 00:33:57.700
 Right from the outset of his letter,

00:33:58.180 --> 00:33:59.380
 he seeks to encourage

00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:00.400
 all the believers

00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:02.180
 in the city of Ephesus.

00:34:03.020 --> 00:34:04.280
 And he seeks to encourage

00:34:04.280 --> 00:34:05.880
 all the believers tonight

00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:07.540
 in the town of Stornoway.

00:34:08.140 --> 00:34:09.559
 And he does so by reminding us

00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.559
 and reassuring us

00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:12.280
 of all the blessings

00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:15.340
 that we have in Christ.

00:34:16.200 --> 00:34:17.400
 And that's what we see secondly.

00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:19.300
 We see all the blessings.

00:34:19.700 --> 00:34:20.420
 So he talks about,

00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:20.960
 first of all,

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.700
 all the believers

00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:23.759
 and then all the blessings.

00:34:24.819 --> 00:34:26.339
 All the blessings, secondly.

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:28.139
 He says there in verse 3,

00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:29.799
 Blessed be the God and Father

00:34:29.799 --> 00:34:31.919
 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:34.199
 who has blessed us in Christ

00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:36.439
 with every spiritual blessing

00:34:36.439 --> 00:34:38.819
 in heavenly places.

00:34:38.820 --> 00:34:42.800
 You know, when I was in school,

00:34:43.600 --> 00:34:44.600
 there was one subject

00:34:44.600 --> 00:34:45.380
 that I hated

00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:47.340
 and that was English.

00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.760
 I loved maths,

00:34:48.860 --> 00:34:49.460
 I loved physics,

00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:50.260
 I loved chemistry,

00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:51.700
 but I hated English.

00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:52.900
 And I'm sorry if you're

00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:54.180
 an English teacher

00:34:54.180 --> 00:34:55.120
 here tonight.

00:34:55.180 --> 00:34:55.720
 But the thing is,

00:34:55.720 --> 00:34:57.300
 I could never get my head around

00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:59.400
 writing proper paragraphs.

00:35:00.180 --> 00:35:01.460
 And I could never get my head around

00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:03.059
 using punctuation.

00:35:03.620 --> 00:35:04.480
 Because I would write

00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.500
 all these long sentences

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.480
 with no paragraphs

00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:09.179
 and little punctuation.

00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:10.780
 It would just be,

00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:11.679
 this happened

00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:12.739
 and then that happened

00:35:12.739 --> 00:35:13.480
 and then and then

00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:14.380
 and then and then and then.

00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:16.659
 And I always got into trouble for it.

00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:18.719
 Never got good marks

00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:20.139
 when it came to English.

00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:21.880
 But you know,

00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:23.380
 when I come to Ephesians chapter 1,

00:35:24.099 --> 00:35:24.980
 I take comfort.

00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:26.800
 And I take comfort

00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:28.039
 because verses 3

00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:29.679
 down to the verse 14,

00:35:30.760 --> 00:35:31.780
 they have no paragraphs

00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:33.840
 and they have no punctuation.

00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:36.000
 Verses 3 to 14,

00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:39.079
 it's one long sentence.

00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:41.340
 In the original language,

00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.700
 it's one long sentence.

00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:43.340
 Now as you know,

00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:44.640
 the average length of a sentence

00:35:44.640 --> 00:35:47.059
 is about 15 to 20 words.

00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:48.440
 But this sentence,

00:35:48.780 --> 00:35:50.300
 it's 10 times that.

00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:52.400
 Because I've counted,

00:35:52.700 --> 00:35:54.480
 it's 203 words in Greek

00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:58.000
 and it's 244 words in English.

00:35:58.360 --> 00:36:00.059
 It's one long sentence.

00:36:00.700 --> 00:36:01.039
 And of course,

00:36:01.100 --> 00:36:01.660
 all our Bible,

00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:02.940
 our modern Bible versions,

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:05.340
 they seek to try and tidy up

00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:06.420
 Paul's sentence

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:08.260
 by adding in all the paragraphs

00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:10.260
 and adding in all the punctuation.

00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:12.179
 But when Paul penned this,

00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:14.099
 or these verses originally,

00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:15.980
 when he penned this sentence

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:17.679
 to the Ephesians,

00:36:18.200 --> 00:36:19.179
 there were no paragraphs.

00:36:19.860 --> 00:36:21.840
 There was no punctuation.

00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:24.300
 It was just one long sentence.

00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:24.860
 In fact,

00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:26.059
 it's the longest sentence

00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:27.500
 in the Bible.

00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:30.619
 But Paul wrote this one long sentence,

00:36:30.619 --> 00:36:32.980
 not because of his lack of education like me,

00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:35.039
 but because he was full of excitement.

00:36:35.940 --> 00:36:37.819
 Paul was full of excitement

00:36:37.819 --> 00:36:39.099
 about what he's writing.

00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:40.859
 Because in this long sentence,

00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:42.000
 Paul is describing

00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:43.279
 all the blessings

00:36:43.279 --> 00:36:45.019
 that all believers receive

00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:47.019
 in and through Jesus Christ.

00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:50.099
 And that's how he begins this long sentence.

00:36:50.300 --> 00:36:51.440
 He says there in verse 3,

00:36:52.179 --> 00:36:53.639
 blessed be the God and Father

00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:55.579
 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:57.840
 who has blessed us in Christ

00:36:57.840 --> 00:37:00.759
 with every spiritual blessing

00:37:00.759 --> 00:37:03.219
 in the heavenly places.

00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:05.320
 And you see the emphasis

00:37:05.320 --> 00:37:07.300
 on the word blessed.

00:37:08.300 --> 00:37:09.820
 Now this word blessed,

00:37:10.340 --> 00:37:11.960
 it's a beautiful word.

00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.480
 It's a beautiful word.

00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:14.940
 And you know,

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:15.860
 I often feel that we,

00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:17.400
 it's a word that we misunderstand

00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:19.179
 and it's often a word

00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:21.019
 that is misused by people.

00:37:21.800 --> 00:37:23.039
 Because the word bless

00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:24.539
 or blessed

00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:26.440
 literally means

00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:27.800
 to kneel.

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:30.179
 It literally means to kneel.

00:37:30.900 --> 00:37:31.599
 And you know,

00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:32.699
 it's a word that gives to us

00:37:32.699 --> 00:37:33.500
 this picture,

00:37:33.699 --> 00:37:33.780
 this,

00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:36.360
 it portrays to us

00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:37.159
 this image,

00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:38.240
 this illustration

00:37:38.240 --> 00:37:39.740
 of a king.

00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:41.800
 A king standing up

00:37:41.800 --> 00:37:43.120
 from his throne.

00:37:44.140 --> 00:37:45.260
 And before the king

00:37:45.260 --> 00:37:46.300
 is his subject

00:37:46.300 --> 00:37:47.580
 or his servant.

00:37:48.220 --> 00:37:49.500
 And this servant has,

00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:50.660
 he's adopted

00:37:50.660 --> 00:37:51.700
 this position

00:37:51.700 --> 00:37:52.440
 and posture

00:37:52.440 --> 00:37:53.560
 of kneeling

00:37:53.560 --> 00:37:54.580
 in submission

00:37:54.580 --> 00:37:55.780
 and surrender

00:37:55.780 --> 00:37:57.180
 before his king.

00:37:57.980 --> 00:37:58.480
 And of course,

00:37:58.760 --> 00:37:59.340
 for Paul,

00:37:59.519 --> 00:38:00.580
 the king is obviously

00:38:00.580 --> 00:38:01.280
 King Jesus.

00:38:02.080 --> 00:38:02.519
 Because,

00:38:03.100 --> 00:38:04.000
 as Paul tells us,

00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:04.920
 he's the king of kings.

00:38:05.019 --> 00:38:06.060
 He's the Lord of lords.

00:38:06.640 --> 00:38:07.860
 And when King Jesus,

00:38:08.140 --> 00:38:08.820
 he describes,

00:38:08.900 --> 00:38:09.800
 when he stands up

00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:10.539
 from his throne

00:38:10.539 --> 00:38:12.039
 and sinners

00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:13.160
 are in his presence.

00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:14.320
 He says,

00:38:14.380 --> 00:38:15.640
 sinners are to assume

00:38:15.640 --> 00:38:16.220
 and adopt

00:38:16.220 --> 00:38:16.840
 the position

00:38:16.840 --> 00:38:17.519
 and posture

00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:18.940
 of kneeling.

00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:20.740
 Kneeling in submission

00:38:20.740 --> 00:38:21.960
 and surrender.

00:38:22.380 --> 00:38:23.460
 And we are to kneel.

00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:25.160
 And this is the description

00:38:25.160 --> 00:38:25.480
 he's given.

00:38:25.600 --> 00:38:26.400
 We are to kneel

00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:27.740
 with our head bowed

00:38:27.740 --> 00:38:29.580
 and our hand outstretched.

00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:31.519
 And our hand

00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:32.560
 is to be outstretched

00:38:32.560 --> 00:38:34.260
 in order to receive

00:38:34.260 --> 00:38:35.500
 from the hand

00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:36.380
 of King Jesus

00:38:36.380 --> 00:38:37.480
 something

00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:39.500
 that we don't deserve.

00:38:40.659 --> 00:38:41.880
 That's how we're to come.

00:38:42.059 --> 00:38:43.400
 That's what blessing is.

00:38:44.179 --> 00:38:45.460
 Because when our head

00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:45.900
 is bowed

00:38:45.900 --> 00:38:46.460
 and our hand

00:38:46.460 --> 00:38:47.119
 is outstretched

00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:47.940
 and we're receiving

00:38:47.940 --> 00:38:48.780
 something

00:38:48.780 --> 00:38:49.480
 from the gracious

00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:50.740
 hand of King Jesus,

00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:51.900
 what we don't deserve,

00:38:52.019 --> 00:38:53.519
 Jesus graciously,

00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:54.519
 lovingly,

00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:55.519
 and mercifully

00:38:55.519 --> 00:38:56.860
 gives it to us.

00:38:57.599 --> 00:38:58.659
 He blesses us.

00:38:59.400 --> 00:39:00.059
 That's what the word

00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:00.679
 blessing means.

00:39:00.840 --> 00:39:01.719
 He blesses us.

00:39:01.780 --> 00:39:02.880
 When we are on our knee

00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:04.280
 before King Jesus,

00:39:05.019 --> 00:39:06.559
 blessing comes to us

00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:08.119
 from his hand.

00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:10.779
 Blessing only comes,

00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:11.299
 my friend,

00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:12.320
 from the hand

00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:13.139
 of King Jesus.

00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:14.579
 And this is why

00:39:14.579 --> 00:39:15.159
 Paul writes

00:39:15.159 --> 00:39:16.539
 this one long sentence.

00:39:17.259 --> 00:39:18.219
 Because he's full

00:39:18.219 --> 00:39:18.960
 of excitement.

00:39:19.779 --> 00:39:20.980
 He's full of excitement

00:39:20.980 --> 00:39:21.940
 and he wants

00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:22.699
 to encourage

00:39:22.699 --> 00:39:24.239
 all these believers

00:39:24.239 --> 00:39:25.199
 in Ephesus

00:39:25.199 --> 00:39:26.639
 and in Stornoway tonight.

00:39:26.739 --> 00:39:27.739
 He wants to remind them

00:39:27.739 --> 00:39:28.579
 and reassure them

00:39:28.579 --> 00:39:29.759
 of all the blessings

00:39:29.759 --> 00:39:30.980
 that we have graciously

00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:32.119
 and lovingly

00:39:32.119 --> 00:39:33.559
 and mercifully received

00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:34.619
 from the hand

00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.440
 of King Jesus.

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:36.840
 He says,

00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:37.980
 Blessed be the God

00:39:37.980 --> 00:39:38.619
 and Father

00:39:38.619 --> 00:39:40.619
 of our Lord Jesus Christ

00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:41.900
 who has blessed us

00:39:41.900 --> 00:39:42.880
 in Christ

00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:44.700
 with every spiritual blessing

00:39:44.700 --> 00:39:46.360
 in the heavenly places.

00:39:47.820 --> 00:39:48.119
 And you know,

00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:48.800
 I think it's important

00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:49.639
 that we also stress

00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.679
 the word every.

00:39:51.220 --> 00:39:52.360
 Not only the word blessed

00:39:52.360 --> 00:39:53.460
 but the word every.

00:39:54.179 --> 00:39:55.840
 Because in Paul's words

00:39:55.840 --> 00:39:56.519
 of excitement

00:39:56.519 --> 00:39:57.440
 and encouragement

00:39:57.440 --> 00:39:59.099
 to us as believers,

00:39:59.260 --> 00:40:00.460
 he says that we've been blessed

00:40:00.460 --> 00:40:03.500
 with every spiritual blessing

00:40:03.500 --> 00:40:05.059
 in heavenly places

00:40:05.059 --> 00:40:06.380
 in Christ.

00:40:07.179 --> 00:40:08.519
 There is nothing lacking.

00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:11.380
 It's every spiritual blessing

00:40:11.380 --> 00:40:12.920
 in heavenly places

00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:13.860
 in Christ.

00:40:13.960 --> 00:40:14.880
 And I stress the every

00:40:14.880 --> 00:40:16.960
 and I think it's important

00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:19.820
 because you know,

00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:21.139
 there are many Christians,

00:40:21.840 --> 00:40:23.800
 not reformed Christians,

00:40:24.039 --> 00:40:24.539
 I hope,

00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:26.320
 but there are many Christians

00:40:26.320 --> 00:40:26.980
 that will tell you

00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:27.440
 that you're not

00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:28.579
 a proper Christian

00:40:28.579 --> 00:40:30.179
 until you have received

00:40:30.179 --> 00:40:31.319
 the second blessing

00:40:31.319 --> 00:40:32.860
 and you can speak

00:40:32.860 --> 00:40:34.039
 in tongues.

00:40:35.219 --> 00:40:35.460
 And you know,

00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:36.179
 I'll never forget

00:40:36.179 --> 00:40:38.000
 Dr. Steve Lawson's answer

00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:38.860
 when he was asked

00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:40.360
 by a Pentecostal pastor,

00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:41.880
 have you received

00:40:41.880 --> 00:40:42.900
 the second blessing?

00:40:44.059 --> 00:40:45.039
 Have you received

00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:46.099
 the second blessing?

00:40:46.960 --> 00:40:48.079
 And Steve Lawson said,

00:40:48.179 --> 00:40:48.480
 yes,

00:40:49.599 --> 00:40:50.880
 and the third blessing,

00:40:51.840 --> 00:40:53.059
 and the fourth blessing,

00:40:53.860 --> 00:40:55.360
 and the fifth blessing.

00:40:55.539 --> 00:40:56.259
 In fact, he said,

00:40:56.579 --> 00:40:57.400
 I have received,

00:40:57.480 --> 00:40:58.380
 as Paul tells us,

00:40:58.380 --> 00:41:00.420
 every spiritual blessing

00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:02.280
 in heavenly places

00:41:02.280 --> 00:41:03.579
 in Christ.

00:41:04.240 --> 00:41:04.500
 My friend,

00:41:04.579 --> 00:41:04.740
 you know,

00:41:04.860 --> 00:41:05.640
 all believers,

00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:08.059
 they receive all the blessings

00:41:08.059 --> 00:41:09.880
 in and through

00:41:09.880 --> 00:41:11.119
 Jesus Christ.

00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:12.880
 And what Paul is encouraging us here,

00:41:13.059 --> 00:41:14.099
 what Paul is excited

00:41:14.099 --> 00:41:16.039
 to tell us about tonight

00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:17.400
 is that there is nothing

00:41:17.400 --> 00:41:19.519
 lacking in your salvation.

00:41:20.420 --> 00:41:22.059
 You have received all of it

00:41:22.059 --> 00:41:23.340
 graciously,

00:41:23.740 --> 00:41:24.240
 mercifully,

00:41:24.640 --> 00:41:25.619
 and lovingly

00:41:25.619 --> 00:41:27.500
 from the hand of King Jesus.

00:41:28.380 --> 00:41:29.019
 And you know,

00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:29.760
 in order to emphasize

00:41:29.760 --> 00:41:30.740
 and even explain

00:41:30.740 --> 00:41:32.519
 the beauty of this blessing,

00:41:33.180 --> 00:41:34.700
 Paul repeatedly uses

00:41:34.700 --> 00:41:36.860
 one of the shortest words

00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:39.200
 in this long sentence.

00:41:39.880 --> 00:41:41.180
 It's one of the shortest words

00:41:41.180 --> 00:41:42.640
 in the longest sentence.

00:41:43.420 --> 00:41:45.320
 He focuses upon the word blessed,

00:41:45.860 --> 00:41:46.420
 the word every,

00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:48.619
 but also the short word

00:41:48.619 --> 00:41:49.780
 in.

00:41:51.059 --> 00:41:51.440
 In.

00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:53.599
 In fact,

00:41:53.639 --> 00:41:54.220
 he uses the word

00:41:54.220 --> 00:41:55.380
 in 13 times

00:41:55.380 --> 00:41:56.559
 in this one long sentence.

00:41:57.099 --> 00:41:57.639
 And when you read

00:41:57.639 --> 00:41:58.579
 through the sentence,

00:41:59.179 --> 00:42:00.019
 and I want you to read

00:42:00.019 --> 00:42:00.480
 through it,

00:42:01.099 --> 00:42:01.900
 because this is all

00:42:01.900 --> 00:42:02.480
 that you have.

00:42:02.559 --> 00:42:04.019
 This is all that you've received.

00:42:04.260 --> 00:42:04.900
 When you read

00:42:04.900 --> 00:42:05.720
 through this sentence,

00:42:05.840 --> 00:42:06.700
 you see that Paul

00:42:06.700 --> 00:42:07.980
 repeatedly says

00:42:07.980 --> 00:42:08.980
 that all believers,

00:42:09.340 --> 00:42:10.360
 they have graciously,

00:42:10.860 --> 00:42:11.340
 mercifully,

00:42:11.340 --> 00:42:12.740
 and lovingly received

00:42:12.740 --> 00:42:13.639
 all the blessings

00:42:13.639 --> 00:42:15.440
 from the hand of King Jesus

00:42:15.440 --> 00:42:17.500
 because they're in Christ.

00:42:18.099 --> 00:42:19.220
 They're in him.

00:42:19.779 --> 00:42:21.119
 And they're in the beloved.

00:42:22.239 --> 00:42:24.039
 We are in Christ.

00:42:24.359 --> 00:42:25.599
 We're in him.

00:42:26.039 --> 00:42:27.379
 And we're in the beloved.

00:42:28.500 --> 00:42:28.779
 And you know,

00:42:28.799 --> 00:42:29.459
 it's often said

00:42:29.459 --> 00:42:30.259
 that large doors

00:42:30.259 --> 00:42:31.579
 swing on small hinges.

00:42:32.319 --> 00:42:33.419
 And in the Bible,

00:42:33.619 --> 00:42:34.879
 large theological truths

00:42:34.879 --> 00:42:36.599
 swing on small words.

00:42:37.199 --> 00:42:38.000
 And you can't get

00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:38.500
 much smaller

00:42:38.500 --> 00:42:39.559
 than the word in.

00:42:39.939 --> 00:42:41.639
 In Christ.

00:42:42.579 --> 00:42:43.639
 And with this small word,

00:42:43.759 --> 00:42:44.099
 Paul is,

00:42:44.239 --> 00:42:45.199
 he's reminding us,

00:42:45.259 --> 00:42:46.179
 he's reassuring us

00:42:46.179 --> 00:42:47.259
 that as a Christian,

00:42:47.439 --> 00:42:48.799
 as a Christian tonight,

00:42:48.800 --> 00:42:49.840
 you are blessed.

00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:52.039
 You're not fine.

00:42:53.100 --> 00:42:53.920
 You're not okay.

00:42:54.220 --> 00:42:55.120
 You are blessed,

00:42:55.220 --> 00:42:55.620
 my friend.

00:42:56.260 --> 00:42:56.920
 And you're blessed

00:42:56.920 --> 00:42:58.080
 not because of who you are

00:42:58.080 --> 00:42:58.840
 or what you've done

00:42:58.840 --> 00:43:00.340
 or what you've achieved in life.

00:43:00.519 --> 00:43:01.100
 You are blessed

00:43:01.100 --> 00:43:02.120
 because you've graciously

00:43:02.120 --> 00:43:02.740
 and lovingly

00:43:02.740 --> 00:43:03.320
 and mercifully

00:43:03.320 --> 00:43:05.140
 received all the blessings

00:43:05.140 --> 00:43:06.860
 from the hand of King Jesus.

00:43:07.940 --> 00:43:08.440
 And as we said,

00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:09.700
 Paul repeatedly uses

00:43:09.700 --> 00:43:12.060
 this one small word

00:43:12.060 --> 00:43:13.720
 in the longest sentence

00:43:13.720 --> 00:43:15.500
 in order to emphasize

00:43:15.500 --> 00:43:16.260
 the beauty

00:43:16.260 --> 00:43:17.420
 of our blessing.

00:43:17.420 --> 00:43:20.440
 And he does this,

00:43:20.519 --> 00:43:20.680
 you know,

00:43:20.840 --> 00:43:21.980
 the reason he does that

00:43:21.980 --> 00:43:23.320
 is because,

00:43:23.400 --> 00:43:23.539
 you know,

00:43:23.680 --> 00:43:24.980
 what we often forget

00:43:24.980 --> 00:43:26.059
 or even fail to remember

00:43:26.059 --> 00:43:26.420
 is that

00:43:26.420 --> 00:43:28.320
 when this letter

00:43:28.320 --> 00:43:29.380
 was written,

00:43:29.860 --> 00:43:31.119
 it was written

00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:31.920
 to be read

00:43:31.920 --> 00:43:32.880
 audibly.

00:43:34.380 --> 00:43:35.539
 They didn't have Bibles.

00:43:36.539 --> 00:43:37.440
 They couldn't read.

00:43:38.460 --> 00:43:39.480
 So when this letter

00:43:39.480 --> 00:43:39.880
 was written,

00:43:39.980 --> 00:43:40.440
 it was written

00:43:40.440 --> 00:43:41.420
 to be read audibly.

00:43:41.500 --> 00:43:41.880
 It was written

00:43:41.880 --> 00:43:43.400
 to be read out loud.

00:43:43.400 --> 00:43:44.380
 And as you know,

00:43:44.440 --> 00:43:46.260
 when someone is speaking audibly,

00:43:47.119 --> 00:43:48.340
 repetition is important

00:43:48.340 --> 00:43:49.680
 in order to make an emphasis.

00:43:51.039 --> 00:43:52.280
 Repetition is important

00:43:52.280 --> 00:43:54.280
 in order to make an emphasis.

00:43:54.660 --> 00:43:55.579
 That's what a preacher does.

00:43:55.660 --> 00:43:57.200
 That's what Paul does here.

00:43:57.420 --> 00:43:58.500
 He repeatedly uses

00:43:58.500 --> 00:43:59.400
 the word in.

00:44:00.059 --> 00:44:00.740
 And he does so

00:44:00.740 --> 00:44:01.579
 in order to emphasize

00:44:01.579 --> 00:44:02.720
 that all the believers

00:44:02.720 --> 00:44:04.059
 receive all the blessings

00:44:04.059 --> 00:44:06.099
 because we're in Christ.

00:44:07.340 --> 00:44:08.579
 We receive all the,

00:44:08.639 --> 00:44:09.360
 all the believers

00:44:09.360 --> 00:44:10.639
 receive all the blessings

00:44:10.639 --> 00:44:12.760
 because we're in Christ.

00:44:12.760 --> 00:44:14.120
 and that our salvation

00:44:14.120 --> 00:44:14.840
 is precious

00:44:14.840 --> 00:44:16.200
 and our salvation

00:44:16.200 --> 00:44:17.080
 is personal

00:44:17.080 --> 00:44:19.180
 because we are in Christ.

00:44:19.320 --> 00:44:20.600
 We have this union

00:44:20.600 --> 00:44:21.940
 with Christ.

00:44:22.580 --> 00:44:23.340
 And for Paul,

00:44:23.620 --> 00:44:25.060
 he stresses the in

00:44:25.060 --> 00:44:26.040
 because he loves

00:44:26.040 --> 00:44:26.800
 the doctrine

00:44:26.800 --> 00:44:28.660
 of union with Christ.

00:44:28.920 --> 00:44:30.200
 And he writes about it

00:44:30.200 --> 00:44:30.680
 in almost

00:44:30.680 --> 00:44:31.920
 all of his letters

00:44:31.920 --> 00:44:33.900
 because Paul knows

00:44:33.900 --> 00:44:34.760
 that our union

00:44:34.760 --> 00:44:35.380
 with Christ,

00:44:35.580 --> 00:44:37.080
 our being united

00:44:37.080 --> 00:44:38.540
 to Jesus Christ

00:44:38.540 --> 00:44:39.960
 is what underlies

00:44:39.960 --> 00:44:41.380
 every aspect

00:44:41.380 --> 00:44:42.900
 of our salvation.

00:44:43.539 --> 00:44:44.579
 And that every

00:44:44.579 --> 00:44:45.820
 spiritual blessing,

00:44:46.099 --> 00:44:47.880
 it flows to us

00:44:47.880 --> 00:44:50.320
 and it follows behind us

00:44:50.320 --> 00:44:52.119
 because we're in Christ.

00:44:53.340 --> 00:44:54.480
 We're in Christ.

00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:56.460
 You know,

00:44:56.500 --> 00:44:57.260
 one theologian

00:44:57.260 --> 00:44:58.039
 put it this way

00:44:58.039 --> 00:44:58.840
 and you know,

00:44:58.860 --> 00:44:59.579
 I read this quote

00:44:59.579 --> 00:45:00.599
 a number of years ago.

00:45:00.660 --> 00:45:01.579
 I don't know who wrote it

00:45:01.579 --> 00:45:03.360
 but I've never forgotten it

00:45:03.360 --> 00:45:05.300
 because he said

00:45:05.300 --> 00:45:06.280
 that union with Christ

00:45:06.280 --> 00:45:07.360
 is the fountainhead

00:45:07.360 --> 00:45:09.660
 from which every

00:45:09.660 --> 00:45:11.180
 spiritual blessing

00:45:11.180 --> 00:45:12.019
 flows

00:45:12.019 --> 00:45:14.200
 down to the Christian.

00:45:15.880 --> 00:45:17.099
 Repentance and faith,

00:45:17.960 --> 00:45:18.340
 pardon,

00:45:19.120 --> 00:45:19.680
 justification,

00:45:20.340 --> 00:45:20.800
 adoption,

00:45:21.180 --> 00:45:21.980
 sanctification,

00:45:22.700 --> 00:45:23.260
 perseverance,

00:45:24.160 --> 00:45:25.059
 and glorification.

00:45:25.220 --> 00:45:25.840
 It's all ours

00:45:25.840 --> 00:45:26.460
 because we're

00:45:26.460 --> 00:45:28.160
 in Christ.

00:45:29.300 --> 00:45:29.480
 You know,

00:45:29.519 --> 00:45:30.240
 Paul here,

00:45:30.880 --> 00:45:31.660
 he's excited.

00:45:31.800 --> 00:45:33.180
 He wants to encourage us

00:45:33.180 --> 00:45:33.880
 this evening

00:45:33.880 --> 00:45:34.900
 because when you're

00:45:34.900 --> 00:45:35.420
 a Christian,

00:45:36.980 --> 00:45:38.099
 when you're a Christian,

00:45:38.260 --> 00:45:39.039
 everything you have

00:45:39.039 --> 00:45:39.619
 as a Christian

00:45:39.619 --> 00:45:40.960
 and everything you are

00:45:40.960 --> 00:45:41.860
 as a Christian

00:45:41.860 --> 00:45:43.240
 is because you're in Christ.

00:45:43.340 --> 00:45:43.900
 You're in union

00:45:43.900 --> 00:45:44.900
 with Christ.

00:45:45.000 --> 00:45:45.599
 You're united

00:45:45.599 --> 00:45:46.880
 to Jesus Christ

00:45:46.880 --> 00:45:47.980
 and you can say tonight

00:45:47.980 --> 00:45:48.920
 with Solomon,

00:45:49.140 --> 00:45:50.280
 my beloved is mine

00:45:50.280 --> 00:45:52.960
 and I am his.

00:45:53.840 --> 00:45:55.400
 My beloved is mine

00:45:55.400 --> 00:45:57.599
 and I am his

00:45:57.599 --> 00:45:59.660
 because I am in Christ.

00:46:00.240 --> 00:46:00.880
 And here Paul,

00:46:00.920 --> 00:46:01.599
 he reminds us

00:46:01.599 --> 00:46:02.619
 and reassures us

00:46:02.619 --> 00:46:03.960
 that all the believers,

00:46:04.380 --> 00:46:05.639
 they experience

00:46:05.639 --> 00:46:06.380
 all the blessings

00:46:06.380 --> 00:46:07.759
 and they enjoy

00:46:07.759 --> 00:46:08.900
 all the benefits

00:46:08.900 --> 00:46:10.639
 because we're

00:46:10.639 --> 00:46:11.199
 in Christ.

00:46:12.619 --> 00:46:13.500
 All the believers

00:46:13.500 --> 00:46:14.000
 experience

00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:14.739
 all the blessings

00:46:14.739 --> 00:46:15.259
 and enjoy

00:46:15.259 --> 00:46:15.960
 all the benefits

00:46:15.960 --> 00:46:16.539
 because we're

00:46:16.539 --> 00:46:17.079
 in Christ.

00:46:17.339 --> 00:46:17.759
 And that's what

00:46:17.759 --> 00:46:18.319
 I want us to think

00:46:18.319 --> 00:46:18.880
 about lastly.

00:46:19.299 --> 00:46:20.079
 All the benefits.

00:46:21.380 --> 00:46:22.319
 All the benefits.

00:46:22.500 --> 00:46:23.119
 All the believers,

00:46:23.119 --> 00:46:23.900
 all the blessings

00:46:23.900 --> 00:46:25.799
 and all the benefits.

00:46:26.819 --> 00:46:27.559
 All the benefits.

00:46:27.659 --> 00:46:28.539
 Look at verse 3 again.

00:46:28.539 --> 00:46:34.840
 blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every

00:46:34.840 --> 00:46:41.380
 spiritual blessing in the heavenly places even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the

00:46:41.380 --> 00:46:48.179
 world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love he predestined us for adoption through

00:46:48.179 --> 00:46:54.639
 Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will to the praise of his glorious grace with which he

00:46:54.639 --> 00:47:04.119
 has blessed us in the beloved you know in this one long sentence with over 200 words Paul is excited

00:47:04.119 --> 00:47:12.000
 he wants to encourage by speaking seeking to show us that God the Father has blessed us he has

00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:19.460
 graciously given us all these gifts through our union with his beloved and his only begotten son

00:47:19.460 --> 00:47:25.139
 Jesus Christ and when Paul lists all these gracious and glorious gifts that have come from God the

00:47:25.139 --> 00:47:32.460
 Father he begins where God began because God began with our election

00:47:32.460 --> 00:47:41.659
 because our election as you know it's all of grace where as Paul writes we were and Peter writes we

00:47:41.659 --> 00:47:49.099
 were elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father but the truth is God didn't have to choose

00:47:49.099 --> 00:47:58.299
 any of us in fact there was no reason why he chose any of us there was nothing good in us nothing

00:47:58.299 --> 00:48:06.779
 gracious about us nothing great that we had done that God would ever choose us and yet he chose us

00:48:06.779 --> 00:48:14.839
 even as he chose us Paul writes in him he chose us in him before the foundation of the world

00:48:14.840 --> 00:48:23.180
 that we should be holy and blameless before him and in love he writes he predestined us because our

00:48:23.180 --> 00:48:30.320
 predestination as well as our election it's all of grace in love he writes verse 5 he predestined us

00:48:30.320 --> 00:48:36.160
 for adoption through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will to the praise of his glorious

00:48:36.160 --> 00:48:44.140
 grace with which he has blessed us in the beloved in other words the gracious benefits of our election

00:48:44.139 --> 00:48:51.339
 our predestination our predestination and our effectual calling they are our adoption into the family of God

00:48:51.339 --> 00:48:59.960
 our justification before a holy God and our sanctification to be conformed to the image of God

00:48:59.960 --> 00:49:06.819
 and it's all according to the purpose of his will it's all according to the praise of his glorious grace

00:49:06.820 --> 00:49:13.900
 because he has blessed us he has blessed us in the beloved but there's more because all the blessings

00:49:13.900 --> 00:49:20.160
 and all the benefits for all believers Paul says they just keep on flowing towards us he says verse 7

00:49:20.160 --> 00:49:28.320
 in him we have redemption in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to

00:49:28.320 --> 00:49:36.620
 the riches of his grace it's all of grace he says from beginning to end it's all as I was taught in

00:49:36.620 --> 00:49:46.280
 Sunday school in Melbost a long time ago it's all g-r-a-c-e God's riches at Christ's expense it's all of grace

00:49:46.280 --> 00:49:54.260
 we've been redeemed not with corruptible things such as silver and gold but by the precious blood of Christ

00:49:54.260 --> 00:50:02.140
 which verse 8 which he has lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will

00:50:02.140 --> 00:50:08.400
 according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ do you know my friend our perseverance

00:50:08.400 --> 00:50:17.160
 and our preservation as saints in other words the fact that we are kept it's not our own doing

00:50:17.159 --> 00:50:26.679
 Paul tells us it's all his doing and it's all according to his purpose which he has set forth in Christ

00:50:26.679 --> 00:50:38.299
 it's all of grace the fact that we are kept tonight is all of grace you know we have an elder in Barvis and he always says

00:50:38.300 --> 00:50:50.240
 that the first step after being saved is being kept the first step after being saved is being kept

00:50:50.240 --> 00:50:59.180
 and that's because we are kept as Peter tells us we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation

00:50:59.180 --> 00:51:07.220
 but you know for Paul in verse 10 there's an end product there's an end purpose because there's a plan

00:51:07.219 --> 00:51:15.199
 and this plan that God has put in place for the fullness of time he says in which our glorification in Christ

00:51:15.199 --> 00:51:23.059
 will see the unification of all things through a new heaven and a new earth he says that in the

00:51:23.059 --> 00:51:31.379
 father's house are many mansions and in him in him we will obtain our inheritance an inheritance

00:51:31.380 --> 00:51:39.380
 that is incorruptible undefiled that fadeth not away but is reserved in heaven for us and you're in these

00:51:39.380 --> 00:51:47.559
 verses from verse 3 just down to verse 11 Paul is reminding us Paul is reassuring us tonight as

00:51:47.559 --> 00:51:56.180
 Christians that our election our predestination our adoption our justification our sanctification our

00:51:56.179 --> 00:52:01.059
 redemption our redemption our forgiveness our perseverance as saints our glorification and our

00:52:01.059 --> 00:52:05.940
 eternal inheritance in glory it's all of grace

00:52:05.940 --> 00:52:16.299
 and we should never forget it it's all of grace because all the blessings and all the benefits

00:52:16.299 --> 00:52:23.679
 for all believers when we submit and surrender our lives to King Jesus when we come kneeling before him

00:52:23.679 --> 00:52:31.339
 we are given and gifted every spiritual blessing from the gracious merciful and loving hand of this

00:52:31.339 --> 00:52:39.639
 wonderful king and you know you'd think that Paul would stop there and put a full stop in you'd think

00:52:39.639 --> 00:52:47.359
 that he'd draw a breath or put in a semicolon especially once he'd reached out heavenly inheritance

00:52:47.360 --> 00:52:57.019
 but Paul is excited Paul wants to encourage Paul wants to remind us he wants to reassure us of all these

00:52:57.019 --> 00:53:02.340
 glorious and and great gifts and he wants to tell us that they all come to us with a guarantee

00:53:02.340 --> 00:53:08.840
 not a one-year guarantee not a three-year or even a 10-year guarantee but this eternal guarantee

00:53:08.840 --> 00:53:19.160
 because verse 13 in him in union with him when we are united to him he says in him you also when you

00:53:19.160 --> 00:53:25.300
 heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation and believed in him you were sealed with the promised

00:53:25.300 --> 00:53:33.180
 holy spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory

00:53:33.179 --> 00:53:42.940
 my friend the holy spirit is your guarantee a guarantee of all these glorious gifts and graces which you have

00:53:42.940 --> 00:53:49.619
 graciously mercifully and lovingly received from the hand of King Jesus they're all yours

00:53:49.619 --> 00:53:59.940
 they're all yours tonight and they're all yours for the whole of time until you draw your last breath

00:53:59.940 --> 00:54:09.700
 and they're all yours for all eternity because you have been blessed in every with every spiritual blessing

00:54:09.700 --> 00:54:20.920
 in heavenly places in Christ it's all yours what an encouragement you know when we consider Paul's

00:54:20.920 --> 00:54:26.300
 encouragement that all the believers experience all the blessings and enjoy all these benefits because

00:54:26.300 --> 00:54:34.400
 we're in Christ we're in union with Christ you know it's no one no wonder Paul concluded his words of

00:54:34.400 --> 00:54:42.580
 encouragement at the end of chapter 3 with that beautiful benediction there even at verse 20

00:54:42.580 --> 00:54:50.160
 he's encouraged the believers he's reminded them of every spiritual blessing that's theirs he's reminded

00:54:50.160 --> 00:54:55.800
 them that they're saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone he's reminded them that they are

00:54:55.800 --> 00:55:03.080
 loved absolutely loved the length and breadth and depth and height of God's love has been revealed and

00:55:03.080 --> 00:55:10.820
 demonstrated to them in Christ and what does he say he gives this beautiful benediction now unto him

00:55:10.820 --> 00:55:20.500
 who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all more than we could ask or even think according to the

00:55:20.500 --> 00:55:29.980
 power there is at work in us unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end

00:55:29.980 --> 00:55:32.239
 amen

00:55:32.239 --> 00:55:44.760
 what blessings we have received my friend what benefits we enjoy all because we are believers

00:55:44.760 --> 00:55:54.240
 we are believers in the church by God's grace and God's goodness and so if on the way out of church tonight

00:55:54.240 --> 00:55:57.140
 someone asks you

00:55:57.140 --> 00:55:59.700
 how are you

00:55:59.700 --> 00:56:02.740
 what are you going to tell them

00:56:02.740 --> 00:56:06.420
 are you going to say I'm fine

00:56:06.420 --> 00:56:08.840
 I'm not bad

00:56:08.840 --> 00:56:11.700
 no no my friend

00:56:11.700 --> 00:56:15.059
 you're going to tell them the truth

00:56:15.059 --> 00:56:18.039
 of who you are in Christ

00:56:18.039 --> 00:56:21.120
 you're going to say I'm blessed

00:56:21.120 --> 00:56:26.140
 my life not me might not be the way I wanted it to turn out

00:56:26.140 --> 00:56:30.079
 I've gone through providences that I never expected

00:56:30.079 --> 00:56:32.660
 but still I'm blessed

00:56:32.659 --> 00:56:36.579
 I'm blessed with every spiritual blessing

00:56:36.579 --> 00:56:38.739
 in heavenly places

00:56:38.739 --> 00:56:40.139
 in Christ

00:56:40.139 --> 00:56:43.299
 I'm blessed

00:56:43.299 --> 00:56:46.099
 and if that's your testimony my friend

00:56:46.099 --> 00:56:50.099
 and you've never sat at the Lord's table

00:56:50.099 --> 00:56:54.119
 then that's where you should be sitting

00:56:54.119 --> 00:56:56.739
 this coming Lord's day

00:56:56.739 --> 00:57:00.199
 may the Lord bless these thoughts to us

00:57:00.199 --> 00:57:01.359
 let us pray

00:57:01.360 --> 00:57:06.019
 our Father in heaven

00:57:06.019 --> 00:57:08.579
 we bow in thy presence

00:57:08.579 --> 00:57:12.220
 realizing that everything we have

00:57:12.220 --> 00:57:14.440
 and everything we are

00:57:14.440 --> 00:57:16.599
 is in and through thy Son

00:57:16.599 --> 00:57:17.420
 the Lord Jesus

00:57:17.420 --> 00:57:20.200
 and help us we pray

00:57:20.200 --> 00:57:21.740
 not only to see the blessings

00:57:21.740 --> 00:57:24.180
 but to see the benefactor

00:57:24.180 --> 00:57:28.059
 to see the one who bestows every blessing upon us

00:57:28.059 --> 00:57:30.460
 that we might keep looking to him

00:57:30.460 --> 00:57:33.240
 and keep lifting our eyes towards him

00:57:33.240 --> 00:57:35.740
 that as we kneel before him in worship

00:57:35.740 --> 00:57:38.400
 as we adore him day by day

00:57:38.400 --> 00:57:41.820
 and as we walk with him through every providence in life

00:57:41.820 --> 00:57:44.820
 help us Lord to know that we still have

00:57:44.820 --> 00:57:46.280
 every blessing

00:57:46.280 --> 00:57:49.059
 they are ours for time and for eternity

00:57:49.059 --> 00:57:51.300
 encourage us we pray

00:57:51.679 --> 00:57:53.139
 lift us up we ask

00:57:53.139 --> 00:57:56.320
 lift us up Lord to see more and more of Jesus

00:57:56.320 --> 00:57:58.920
 and to see less and less of self

00:57:58.920 --> 00:58:01.200
 help us Lord to see his glory

00:58:01.200 --> 00:58:05.200
 that we might see the glory as of the only begotten of the Father

00:58:05.200 --> 00:58:07.420
 full of grace and truth

00:58:07.420 --> 00:58:09.480
 hear us then we pray

00:58:09.480 --> 00:58:11.519
 part us with thy blessing we ask

00:58:11.519 --> 00:58:12.980
 for we ask it in Jesus name

00:58:12.980 --> 00:58:14.539
 and for his sake

00:58:14.539 --> 00:58:15.599
 Amen

00:58:15.599 --> 00:58:24.400
 we're going to bring our service to a conclusion this evening

00:58:24.400 --> 00:58:27.820
 we're going to sing the words of Psalm 133

00:58:27.820 --> 00:58:30.259
 Psalm 133

00:58:30.259 --> 00:58:33.119
 it's in the Sing Psalms version on page 175

00:58:33.119 --> 00:58:43.719
 Psalm 133

00:58:43.719 --> 00:58:45.799
 Psalm 133 page 175

00:58:45.799 --> 00:58:48.719
 we're singing the whole psalm

00:58:48.719 --> 00:58:51.659
 Psalm 133

00:58:51.659 --> 00:58:53.639
 it's a psalm that I'm sure we're familiar with

00:58:53.639 --> 00:58:56.980
 but it's a psalm that asks the question

00:58:56.980 --> 00:58:58.699
 how does the blessing come?

00:58:59.779 --> 00:59:01.420
 how does blessing come?

00:59:01.420 --> 00:59:04.380
 and it comes when God's people

00:59:04.380 --> 00:59:06.980
 come together in unity

00:59:06.980 --> 00:59:08.980
 and seek to live

00:59:08.980 --> 00:59:11.000
 for God's glory

00:59:11.000 --> 00:59:11.900
 they live

00:59:11.900 --> 00:59:13.260
 as they should

00:59:13.260 --> 00:59:15.400
 that's how the blessing comes

00:59:15.400 --> 00:59:16.940
 that's what the psalmist tells us

00:59:16.940 --> 00:59:18.900
 how excellent a thing it is

00:59:18.900 --> 00:59:19.539
 how pleasant

00:59:19.539 --> 00:59:20.840
 and how good

00:59:20.840 --> 00:59:22.619
 when brothers dwell in unity

00:59:22.619 --> 00:59:23.940
 and live as brothers should

00:59:23.940 --> 00:59:26.079
 for it is like the precious oil

00:59:26.079 --> 00:59:27.500
 poured out on Aaron's head

00:59:27.500 --> 00:59:29.700
 that running over down his beard

00:59:29.700 --> 00:59:31.280
 upon his collar spread

00:59:31.280 --> 00:59:33.019
 like Herman's dew

00:59:33.019 --> 00:59:35.360
 and Herman's dew was like rain

00:59:35.360 --> 00:59:37.700
 wasn't dew that we get

00:59:37.700 --> 00:59:39.540
 it poured like rain

00:59:39.540 --> 00:59:40.620
 that's what he wants

00:59:40.620 --> 00:59:41.760
 he wants God's blessing

00:59:41.760 --> 00:59:42.960
 God's outpouring

00:59:42.960 --> 00:59:45.080
 like Herman's dew upon the hill

00:59:45.080 --> 00:59:46.700
 of Zion it descends

00:59:46.700 --> 00:59:49.420
 the Lord bestows his blessing there

00:59:49.420 --> 00:59:50.620
 the life

00:59:50.620 --> 00:59:52.100
 that never ends

00:59:52.100 --> 00:59:53.420
 we'll sing the whole psalm

00:59:53.420 --> 00:59:54.680
 and we'll stand to sing if you're able

00:59:54.679 --> 00:59:56.019
 to God's praise

00:59:56.019 --> 01:00:05.359
 how excellent a thing it is

01:00:05.359 --> 01:00:09.039
 how pleasant and how good

01:00:09.039 --> 01:00:14.419
 how pleasant and how good

01:00:14.420 --> 01:00:16.960
 when brothers dwell

01:00:16.960 --> 01:00:17.460
 when brothers dwell

01:00:17.460 --> 01:00:19.960
 in unity

01:00:19.960 --> 01:00:23.900
 and live as brothers should

01:00:23.900 --> 01:00:27.840
 and live as brothers should

01:00:27.840 --> 01:00:31.120
 and live as brothers should

01:00:31.120 --> 01:00:34.840
 and live as brothers should

01:00:34.840 --> 01:00:42.660
 for it is like the precious oil

01:00:42.660 --> 01:00:46.280
 poured out on Aaron's head

01:00:46.280 --> 01:00:51.880
 poured out on Aaron's head

01:00:51.880 --> 01:00:58.760
 that running over down his beard

01:00:58.760 --> 01:01:01.619
 upon his collar spread

01:01:01.619 --> 01:01:05.340
 upon his collar spread

01:01:05.340 --> 01:01:09.019
 upon his collar spread

01:01:09.019 --> 01:01:12.700
 upon his collar spread

01:01:12.699 --> 01:01:20.519
 like Herman's dew upon the hill

01:01:20.519 --> 01:01:24.159
 of Zion it descends

01:01:24.159 --> 01:01:29.719
 of Zion it descends

01:01:29.719 --> 01:01:36.579
 the Lord bestows his blessing there

01:01:36.579 --> 01:01:39.939
 the life that never ends

01:01:39.940 --> 01:01:43.659
 the life that never ends

01:01:43.659 --> 01:01:47.200
 the life that never ends

01:01:47.200 --> 01:01:51.940
 the life that never ends

01:01:51.940 --> 01:01:55.720
 the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

01:01:55.720 --> 01:01:57.119
 the love of God the Father

01:01:57.119 --> 01:01:59.280
 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

01:01:59.280 --> 01:02:00.260
 be with you all

01:02:00.260 --> 01:02:01.760
 now and forevermore

01:02:01.760 --> 01:02:02.820
 Amen

01:02:09.940 --> 01:02:12.940
 Amen

01:02:39.940 --> 01:02:41.940
 Amen