WEBVTT

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 We're going to worship God and prepare our hearts by singing to God's praise in Psalm 27.

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 We're in the Scottish Psalter, Psalm 27 on page 236. We'll sing from verse 1 down to verse 5,

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 the tune is Lingam. Verse 1, the Lord's my light and saving health, who shall make me dismayed,

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 my life's strength is the Lord of whom, then shall I be afraid.

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 We'll sing from verse 1 to 5 to God's praise. We stand to sing.

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 The Lord's my light and saving health, who shall make me dismayed, who shall make me dismayed.

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 My life's strength is the Lord of whom, then shall I be afraid.

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 When I be afraid, then shall I be afraid.

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 When I be afraid, then shall I be afraid.

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 When I be afraid, then shall I be afraid.

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 When I be afraid, then shall I be afraid.

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 Most wicked persons all, most wicked persons all,

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 To eat my flesh against me rose.

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 They stumbled and did fall.

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 They stumbled and did fall.

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 They stumbled and did fall.

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 They stumbled and did fall.

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 They stumbled and did fall.

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 They came to know and lost and come.

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 My heart yet fearlessness, my heart yet fearlessness.

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 Though war against me lies I will be confident in this.

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 Be confident in this.

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 One thing I hope the Lord desire, and will seek to obtain, and will seek to obtain.

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 That thought is of my life, my day, within God's eyes remain.

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 That I, the beauty of the Lord, behold me and admire, behold me and admire.

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 I am glad I am in this holy place.

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 In reverently and one, in reverently and one.

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 What he in this pavilion shall, me hide in evil days, me hide in evil days.

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 And seepelt of this centry night.

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 And all our rocky days.

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 And all our rocky days.

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 And all our rocky days.

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 Let's bow our heads together in a word of prayer.

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 Let us pray.

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 Lord our gracious God, our Father in heaven,

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 we rejoice to be able to gather together,

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 to come and worship you, to sing our praise to you.

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 Thankful for even these words that we've sung,

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 and how the many of us here can echo them,

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 and have experienced them, perhaps in many different ways,

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 but yet experiencing the same God.

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 The one who has been with his people down through all the generations.

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 The one, as we read in your word, that you have led your people,

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 that you have been with your people,

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 and that you have been a light of saving health to your people.

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 So that in the midst of days when we may feel dismayed,

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 Lord, we can sing with the psalmist,

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 Who shall make me dismayed?

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 For my life strength is the Lord, of whom then shall I be afraid?

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 For you are the Lord who gives life and gives it abundantly.

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 You are the one who brings from death to life.

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 And we thank you, Lord, for your grace that so works in our hearts.

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 The grace that leads us from darkness to light.

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 The grace that we come to receive anew this evening and each day.

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 And we thank you, Lord, that it is by grace that we are saved.

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 Not anything of ourselves or else we would boast.

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 But by faith we come through your grace.

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 And so may you bless us as we gather this evening,

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 as we come preparing our hearts and our minds to receive your word

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 and to prepare our hearts for receiving the Lord's supper tomorrow, God willing.

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 We thank you that we come in the name of your Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

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 The name above every name.

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 The name to whom every knee will bow and tongue confess that he is Lord one day.

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 But we thank you, Lord, that your call to all of us here this evening

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 and all who tune in online as well,

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 is that we would come even this evening, bowing the knee before you

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 and acknowledging you as our Lord and as our God.

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 As we think of your word and how it speaks to us and reminds us of ourselves so often.

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 We think of the Gospels and how Jesus met with his people then.

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 And how he met with Thomas, one who had been absent when the Lord appeared in the room

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 with many of his disciples and followers.

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 And yet he was not there.

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 But when he met with the risen Lord, when he saw the hands and his side that was pierced,

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 he came and saw a risen Saviour.

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 And he bowed before his Lord and said,

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 My Lord and my God.

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 And as we prepare our hearts this evening, help us to fix our eyes on Jesus,

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 the one who was pierced for our transgressions,

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 the one who bore our sin on the cross.

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 For when we look at ourselves, Lord, we see how unworthy we are.

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 But we thank you that you do not tell us to come feeling our own worthiness,

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 feeling ready, feeling that we can receive it because of anything we've done ourselves,

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 but that we come because of what has been done for us.

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 When Jesus said, even on the cross, it is finished.

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 We thank you that it is all done for us and that we can come and receive and be blessed.

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 And so we ask that you will bless your word to us this evening as we read together, as we share from it.

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 Bless our hearts, O Lord, as we offer our praise and prayer to you.

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 May you encourage us and strengthen us, each one.

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 May you, O Lord, help us, whatever else is going on in our lives,

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 whatever else has been going on even in this past week,

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 when we come with so many different emotions and experience even in these last days,

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 that we would come recognizing the one who is the author of life,

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 the one who is able to give life unto the full and life eternal.

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 And we pray, Lord, that you will lead us in all our ways and guide our paths.

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 And we do pray, Lord, for our congregation and for our community.

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 We pray, Lord, that as we gather this evening and God willing tomorrow,

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 that you will surround us with your presence,

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 that you will bless us, Lord, together around your word and sacrament,

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 that you will help us all, Lord, to come,

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 rejoicing in you and strengthened through you.

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 We pray, Lord, for any here this evening,

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 whether they're present or whether they're tuning in online,

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 whose hearts desire is to be at the Lord's table.

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 Perhaps there are some who want to come for the first time,

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 and we pray for them, Lord, that you will encourage them and strengthen them.

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 We know, Lord, that fear of so many things keeps us away,

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 fear of ourselves, fear of man, fear of what people will say.

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 But we pray, Lord, that at the forefront of our minds will be the fear of the Lord,

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 and that in the right sense, not of feeling we cannot come because of who we are,

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 but coming because we know who you are.

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 We know that there is no one else who is able to help,

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 no one else who is able to give life.

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 And we pray, Lord, that you will take all our fears away

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 and help us to lean upon our beloved, upon our Saviour.

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 We pray for those who perhaps are unable to come for different reasons,

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 those who have maybe come over the many years gone past and unable to come now.

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 We pray, Lord, that you will strengthen their faith and encourage them in their hearts too.

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 And may you do that for us all, Lord, whether we are coming for the first time

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 or after being at for many times, Lord, we still need your grace and your strength.

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 Humble us, we pray, Lord, and keep us leaning upon you.

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 And we pray too, Lord, that as we receive, we will also go from this place to give,

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 to give help, to give guidance, to give encouragement to those around us,

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 to pray for those in need in different ways,

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 to remember those who are mourning and grieving at this time, Lord.

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 It's been a week of sorrow in our midst,

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 and we continue to pray for families who are mourning the loss of loved ones.

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 We pray for the family of Paul Smith as they continue to mourn his passing

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 and prepare for the funeral service on Monday.

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 Oh, Lord, we just pray that you will surround and uphold as only you can

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 and that you will bless them, Lord, and be near to them.

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 And so many friends and families who knew him and loved him, Lord.

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 We pray for your grace to touch lives, for your word to be blessed,

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 for prayers to be heard for them.

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 We pray for those who are unwell at this time as well.

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 We remember them in homes, in hospital, and in their own homes as well, Lord.

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 Surround and be with all who need you in different ways.

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 And we do pray, Lord, that you will look down upon us in mercy.

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 Remember our land, oh Lord, and those who rule over us.

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 We pray for our leaders in every aspect of life, be it local, national, or international.

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 In these days, oh Lord, how we long to see your blessing poured out.

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 We long to see people turning to you and seeing their need of you, Lord,

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 seeing the choices that you put before us in this life.

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 And so often we take the wrong paths, we choose the wrong things.

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 And yet, Lord, your word is so precious in that it offers us the way to life.

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 And may your word become precious to our land and to the nations of the world.

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 May you become precious to people far and wide, that you would bring peace where there are troubles, where there are conflicts, where there are persecutions, where there are famines, where there are all of the things that your word speaks of.

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 May you come, oh Lord, in a day of your power and revive us as your people.

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 So, Lord, we thank you that we can come looking to you, offering up our prayers to you and through the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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 We can come confessing our sins.

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 There are many, Lord, and none hidden from you.

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 But we thank you that there is great forgiveness with you as we come, repenting and turning to you.

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 So, Lord, hear our prayers and continue with us in this time.

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 And go before us, we pray, as we ask all things.

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 In the name of Jesus, our Lord, for his sake and glory.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Let's again sing to God's praise, this time in Psalm 1, in the Scottish Psalter version, page 200 of the psalm book, Psalm 1.

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 You can sing the whole of this psalm to the tune, the bass of Harris.

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 Psalm 1 at verse 1.

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 We'll sing from this psalm, the whole of this psalm, to God's praise.

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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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 Blessedness, who all have taught us free,

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 In counsel of the Godly reign,

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 Lord, shall sit in our shame,

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 Lord, sit a faithless, cornish cheer,

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 A place of faith's delight,

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 Upon the slow and rigid days

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 Vor mere slow day and night.

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 Isshaniiai catastrophic és quo,

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 Mir pat Sea pale guard,

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 Which in his season yields his fruit, and his defateth never.

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 And all he does shall prosper well, the wicked are not so, but like the ark unto the child.

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 In his season he Espero, havewydd his great

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 Shabelase.

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 Such as the God we are

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 God in his heavenly altar just

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 Shall with his name appear

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 For by the way of God he led

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 Up to the Lord his soul

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 Where else the way of wicked men

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 Shall wide be on our throne

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 Well we turn together to read God's word in Deuteronomy

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 In the Old Testament, the book of Deuteronomy

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 Taking up our reading at the very end of chapter 29

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 And reading into chapter 30 down to the end of that chapter

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 So Deuteronomy chapter 29

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 Reading at verse 29

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 Reading into chapter 30

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 Deuteronomy 29 at verse 29

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 The secret things belong to the Lord our God

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 But the things that are revealed belong to us

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 And to our children forever

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 That we may do all the words of this law

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 When all these things come upon you

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 The blessing and the curse

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 Which I have set before you

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 And you call them to mind among all the nations

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 Where the Lord your God has driven you

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 And return to the Lord your God

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 You and your children

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 And obey his voice

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 And all that I command you today

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 With all your heart

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 And with all your soul

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 Then the Lord your God

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 Will restore your fortunes

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 And have compassion on you

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 And he will gather you again

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 From all the peoples

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 Where the Lord your God

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 Has scattered you

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 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts

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 Of heaven

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 From there the Lord your God

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 Will gather you

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 And from there he will take you

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 And the Lord your God

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 Will bring you

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 Into the land that your fathers possessed

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 That you may possess it

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 And he will make you more prosperous

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 And numerous than your fathers

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 And the Lord your God

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 Will circumcise your heart

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 And the heart of your offspring

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 So that you will love the Lord your God

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 With all your heart

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 And with all your soul

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 That you may live

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 And the Lord your God

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 Will put all these curses

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 On your foes

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 And enemies who persecuted you

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 And you shall again obey

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 The voice of the Lord

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 And keep all his commandments

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 That I command you today

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 The Lord your God

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 Will make you abundantly prosperous

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 In all the work of your hand

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 In the fruit of your womb

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 And in the fruit of your cattle

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 And in the fruit of your ground

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 For the Lord will again

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 Take delight

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 In prospering you

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 As he took delight

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 In your fathers

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 When you obey the voice

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 Of your Lord

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 Of the Lord your God

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 To keep his commandments

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 And his statutes

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 That are written

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 In the book of the law

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 When you turn

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 To the Lord your God

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 With all your heart

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 And with all your soul

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 For this commandment

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 That I command you today

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 Is not too hard for you

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 Neither is it far off

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 It is not in heaven

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 That you should say

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 Who will ascend to heaven for us

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.899
 And bring it to us

00:20:50.899 --> 00:20:53.139
 That we may hear it and do it

00:20:53.139 --> 00:20:55.539
 Neither is it beyond the sea

00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.960
 That you should say

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:59.359
 Who will go over the sea for us

00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:00.460
 And bring it to us

00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:02.480
 That we may hear it and do it

00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:05.179
 But the word is very near you

00:21:05.179 --> 00:21:06.740
 It is in your mouth

00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:08.299
 And in your heart

00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:10.139
 So that you can do it

00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:13.700
 See I have set before you today

00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:15.000
 Life and good

00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.600
 Death and evil

00:21:16.600 --> 00:21:18.700
 If you obey the commandments

00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:20.280
 Of the Lord your God

00:21:20.280 --> 00:21:22.000
 That I command you today

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.140
 By loving the Lord your God

00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:25.980
 By walking in his ways

00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:27.560
 And by keeping his commandments

00:21:27.560 --> 00:21:28.920
 And his statutes

00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:30.440
 And his rules

00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:32.080
 Then you shall live

00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:33.400
 And multiply

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.980
 And the Lord your God

00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:35.740
 Will bless you

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:37.120
 In the land that you are entering

00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:39.160
 To take possession of it

00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:41.920
 But if your heart turns away

00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.740
 And you will not hear

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:45.420
 But are drawn away

00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.880
 To worship other gods

00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:47.840
 And serve them

00:21:47.840 --> 00:21:49.840
 I declare to you today

00:21:49.840 --> 00:21:51.940
 That you shall surely perish

00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:53.800
 You shall not live long

00:21:53.800 --> 00:21:55.140
 In the land that you are going

00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:56.779
 Over the Jordan

00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:58.200
 To enter and possess

00:21:58.200 --> 00:22:01.040
 I call heaven and earth

00:22:01.040 --> 00:22:03.160
 To witness against you today

00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:05.320
 That I have set before you

00:22:05.320 --> 00:22:06.700
 Life and death

00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:08.740
 Blessing and curse

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.960
 Therefore

00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:11.759
 Choose life

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.580
 That you and your offspring

00:22:13.580 --> 00:22:14.340
 May live

00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:16.539
 Loving the Lord your God

00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:18.220
 Obeying his voice

00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:20.440
 And holding fast to him

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:22.840
 For he is your life

00:22:22.840 --> 00:22:24.640
 And length of days

00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:26.840
 That you may dwell in the land

00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:29.000
 That the Lord swore to your fathers

00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.240
 To Abraham

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.299
 To Isaac

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.180
 And to Jacob

00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.500
 To give them

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.880
 Amen

00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:35.759
 And may God bless

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:37.259
 That reading

00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:38.640
 From his word

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:40.819
 Before we come

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:42.019
 To look at this passage

00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:42.420
 Together

00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:43.359
 We'll sing again

00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:44.160
 To his praise

00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:45.440
 In Psalm 86

00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.839
 In the Scottish Psalter

00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:49.539
 Page 341

00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:51.500
 Psalm 86

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:53.539
 And at verse 11

00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:55.720
 We're singing down

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:57.220
 To verse 15

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:58.099
 And the tune is

00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:59.039
 Bethesda

00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.779
 Psalm 86

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:02.220
 At verse 11

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:04.059
 Teach me thy way

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.160
 And in thy truth

00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:05.680
 O Lord

00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.839
 Then walk will I

00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:08.359
 Unite my heart

00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:08.839
 That I

00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:09.440
 Thy name

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.899
 May fear continually

00:23:10.899 --> 00:23:12.480
 O Lord my God

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.519
 With all my heart

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.000
 To thee

00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.200
 I will give praise

00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.680
 And I the glory

00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.539
 Will ascribe

00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.480
 And to thy name

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.519
 Always

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.220
 We'll sing from

00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:20.899
 Verse 11

00:23:20.899 --> 00:23:21.839
 To 15

00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:23.480
 To God's praise

00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:30.759
 Teach me

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:32.460
 If I

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:32.759
 Will

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.759
 Teach me

00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.460
 If I

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:34.960
 Will

00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.460
 And in

00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:38.700
 Thy truth

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:40.319
 O Lord

00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:42.319
 Then walk

00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:46.319
 Will I

00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:48.319
 Unite

00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:50.319
 My heart

00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:52.279
 That I

00:23:53.919 --> 00:23:56.259
 Thy name

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.059
 I

00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:58.240
 May fear

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.179
 For

00:23:59.179 --> 00:24:03.359
 II

00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:07.759
 O Lord

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:09.920
 my God

00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:11.759
 with all

00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:13.759
 my heart

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.759
 to

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:17.759
 thee I

00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.680
 will

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:21.759
 give praise

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:23.759
 and

00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:25.759
 I

00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:27.759
 the glory

00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:29.759
 will

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.799
 us

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:33.099
 cry

00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:34.640
 unto

00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:37.740
 thy name

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.759
 always

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:41.759
 because

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:45.759
 thy mercy

00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:49.759
 toward

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:51.759
 me

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:53.759
 in

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.759
 witness

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:57.759
 doth

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:59.759
 excel

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:01.759
 and

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:03.759
 deliver

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:05.759
 past

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:07.759
 my

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:09.759
 soul

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.759
 out from

00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:13.759
 the

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:15.759
 lowest

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:17.759
 hell

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:19.759
 and

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:21.759
 the

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.759
 end

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:25.759
 of

00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:27.759
 the

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:29.759
 end

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:31.759
 of

00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:33.759
 the

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:35.759
 end

00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:37.759
 that

00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.759
 that

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.759
 for

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.759
 my

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:45.759
 soul

00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:47.759
 have

00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:49.759
 sought

00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:51.759
 and

00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:53.759
 not

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:55.759
 said

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:57.759
 but

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:59.759
 the

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:01.759
 Lord

00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:03.759
 to

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:05.759
 the

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.759
 Lord

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:09.759
 are

00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:11.759
 gracious

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:13.759
 long

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:15.759
 suffering

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:17.759
 and

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.759
 in

00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:21.759
 thy

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:23.759
 truth

00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:25.759
 and

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:27.759
 mercy

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:29.759
 the

00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.759
 and

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:33.759
 the

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.759
 and

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:37.759
 the

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:39.759
 and

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:41.759
 the

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:43.759
 and

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:45.759
 the

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:47.759
 and

00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:49.759
 reading

00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:51.759
 and

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:53.759
 chapter 30

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:55.759
 and

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.759
 reading

00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:59.759
 through

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:01.759
 chapter 30

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:03.759
 life

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:05.759
 and death

00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:07.759
 and death

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:09.759
 and death

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:11.759
 and death

00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:13.759
 blessing and

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:15.759
 curse

00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:17.759
 therefore choose

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:23.759
 life that you and your offspring may live loving the Lord your God obeying his voice and holding holding fast to him for he is your life and length of days and so on.

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:39.759
 As we prepare our hearts together this evening as we look to ourselves but above all as we look to the Lord and we come this weekend to remember his death all that he has done for us as a people.

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:53.740
 And we recognize in these words that we read in verse 19 a choice that is a choice for every one of us and all people in this world because the Lord puts this choice before each and every individual.

00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:59.740
 He gives the choice between life and death.

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:01.740
 Why did Jesus come into the world?

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:07.740
 And what is it that we come and remember together this weekend?

00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:17.740
 When we read in the Gospel of John in chapter 10 verse 10 where Jesus is describing himself as the good shepherd.

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:25.740
 He says in verse 10 the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:29.740
 The thief comes to take life away.

00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:37.740
 But Jesus says I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:39.740
 That is why Jesus came into this world.

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:49.740
 Because there is one who seeks to kill and to destroy but he has come that we might have life and have it abundantly.

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:55.740
 And that's the theme we're going to be looking at over the course of this evening and tomorrow as well, God willing.

00:28:55.740 --> 00:29:04.740
 This theme of life and the life that we have through Christ and the choice that is put before us.

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:11.740
 So the first thing we're going to look at together this evening is this choice that we have and the choice for life.

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:17.740
 God willing tomorrow morning we'll then look at the source of life.

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:22.740
 The source of life that we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:26.740
 And then tomorrow evening we'll look at the way of life.

00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:31.740
 How we are to live in light of what the Lord has done for us.

00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:36.740
 But we begin this evening by looking at this choice that is put before us each and every one of us.

00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:40.740
 The choice between life and death.

00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:49.740
 Now when you turn to the book of Deuteronomy, you turn to a book that has so much to teach us to this very day.

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:53.740
 There's so much to say to us about so many things in our own lives.

00:29:53.740 --> 00:30:02.740
 Not just the lives of the days of Moses as he was leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and to the border of the promised land.

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:04.740
 It's such an important book.

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:09.740
 Significant not just for the Old Testament but for the New Testament as well.

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:17.740
 One theologian, Gordon Wenham, he describes the book of Deuteronomy as the linchpin of the Old Testament.

00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:22.740
 How it seems to hold everything secure.

00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:25.740
 Everything that came before it and comes after it.

00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:31.740
 We almost find just this linchpin in Deuteronomy that speaks about God's people.

00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:35.740
 How they've been brought out of slavery.

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:38.740
 How they've been brought to the border of the promised land.

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:42.740
 How we see here the Lord knows the choices that they are going to make in the future.

00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:45.740
 And yet God is faithful to his people.

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:52.740
 That there's this linchpin that is all about faith and obedience to the Lord.

00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:55.740
 And this choice that we have before us.

00:30:55.740 --> 00:31:00.740
 The choice of life and death that the Lord puts before his people.

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:07.740
 And people often think about Deuteronomy and Exodus as all about the law.

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:09.740
 When God gave the Ten Commandments.

00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:16.740
 And here in Deuteronomy, Moses is reiterating again the place of the law.

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:20.740
 But all through this book as well you see grace.

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:27.740
 And one book written about Deuteronomy actually has the title, The Triumph of Grace.

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:31.740
 Because we see that life is not all about law.

00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:35.740
 Do this, don't do that.

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:38.740
 Yes, there is that part of our life.

00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:41.740
 But too, there is all of the grace of God.

00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:44.740
 Which we see running through the book of Deuteronomy.

00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:48.740
 And especially maybe in the passage that we're looking at together this evening.

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:51.740
 We see the triumph of grace.

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:54.740
 Because God is able to give life.

00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:57.740
 And as we see this coming into the New Testament.

00:31:57.740 --> 00:32:01.740
 What we see is all of these things fulfilled.

00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:04.740
 Through the person of Jesus Christ.

00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:07.740
 Deuteronomy is one of these books.

00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:11.740
 We've been looking at Psalm 69 in the prayer meeting recently.

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:14.740
 It's one of the most quoted Psalms in the New Testament.

00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:18.740
 Well, along with the book of Psalms, Genesis and Isaiah.

00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:23.740
 Deuteronomy too is one of the most quoted books in the New Testament.

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.740
 It's important.

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:27.740
 It's seen it's not just for the days of Moses.

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:29.740
 It's for the days of Christ.

00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:32.740
 And it's for our day today as well.

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:39.740
 And yet so many people will look at this book and say it's just confined to the past.

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:41.740
 Its significance has waned.

00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:43.740
 But not so.

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:46.740
 Because the truths that we find here.

00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:50.740
 They were relevant and important in the there and then of Moses' day.

00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:53.740
 But also it's for the here and now.

00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:57.740
 The same choices that were put before them.

00:32:57.740 --> 00:33:01.740
 Here are the choices put before all of us as well in our day.

00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:03.740
 This very day.

00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:10.740
 And here Moses had led the children of Israel to the border of the promised land.

00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:16.740
 And chapter 29, it speaks of the covenant being renewed in Moab.

00:33:16.740 --> 00:33:24.740
 The promises of God being reiterated once again to the people of the children of Israel.

00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:26.740
 They had come so far.

00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:27.740
 They were on the border.

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:32.740
 But now their promises are being reiterated once again.

00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:35.740
 That God is a God of covenant.

00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:39.740
 That he is a God of relationship with his people.

00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:43.740
 In Deuteronomy, the very beginning, chapter 1, verse 1, it says,

00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:49.740
 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness.

00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:57.740
 And he goes on again to remind them of all that they've come through and all that lies ahead of them.

00:33:57.740 --> 00:34:06.740
 And what Moses is asking of the people is to renew their allegiance to the Lord.

00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:11.739
 To remind themselves of what the Lord has done for them.

00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:15.739
 And how they are to look to and trust in the Lord.

00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:16.739
 In the Lord's.

00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:17.739
 It says there in verse 19,

00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:22.739
 Choose life that you and your offspring may live.

00:34:22.739 --> 00:34:25.739
 Loving the Lord your God.

00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:27.739
 Obeying his voice.

00:34:27.739 --> 00:34:29.739
 Holding fast to him.

00:34:29.739 --> 00:34:34.739
 For he is your life and length of days.

00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:39.739
 And as we prepare ourselves to come to the Lord's table tomorrow.

00:34:39.739 --> 00:34:41.739
 As we hear these words.

00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:47.739
 Is that our, what we are thinking ourselves this evening?

00:34:47.739 --> 00:34:50.739
 Have we made this choice?

00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:54.739
 Have we committed ourselves into the Lord?

00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:58.739
 Are we loving the Lord our God with all our heart?

00:34:58.739 --> 00:35:00.739
 Are we obeying his voice?

00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:02.739
 Are we holding fast to him?

00:35:02.739 --> 00:35:08.739
 Is he your life and length of days?

00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:14.739
 Well, Moses is putting this choice before them.

00:35:14.739 --> 00:35:16.739
 Because as they go into the promised land.

00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:20.739
 They are going to be surrounded by many temptations.

00:35:20.739 --> 00:35:22.739
 To worship false gods.

00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:25.739
 To turn away from God.

00:35:25.739 --> 00:35:30.739
 And again, it's a challenge that we face on a daily basis ourselves.

00:35:30.739 --> 00:35:34.739
 If you were sitting at the Lord's table when we gathered back in August.

00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:38.739
 How many challenges have you faced since then?

00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:42.739
 How many temptations have you come up to worship other gods?

00:35:42.739 --> 00:35:44.739
 To worship idols?

00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:46.739
 To turn away from God?

00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:49.739
 It's the ongoing battle.

00:35:49.739 --> 00:35:54.739
 Because there is that thief who comes to seek.

00:35:54.739 --> 00:35:55.739
 To destroy.

00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:56.739
 To kill and destroy.

00:35:56.739 --> 00:36:00.739
 But we have to come looking to Jesus.

00:36:00.739 --> 00:36:02.739
 Who is the one who has come.

00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:04.739
 That we might have life.

00:36:04.739 --> 00:36:06.739
 And have it in abundance.

00:36:06.739 --> 00:36:10.739
 We make choices every day.

00:36:10.739 --> 00:36:13.739
 Some are easier and we do them without thinking.

00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:17.739
 Other choices, they take more time and we pray over them.

00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:24.739
 But when we are presented with a choice in this verse before us this evening.

00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:27.739
 The choice between life and death.

00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:30.739
 You think to yourself, it's simple.

00:36:30.739 --> 00:36:32.739
 We want to live.

00:36:32.739 --> 00:36:35.739
 Who would want to die?

00:36:35.739 --> 00:36:39.739
 And yet from the days of Moses to this very day.

00:36:39.739 --> 00:36:42.739
 People still choose wrongly.

00:36:42.739 --> 00:36:46.739
 People still turn away from God.

00:36:46.739 --> 00:36:52.739
 And so God is putting the choice before us this evening.

00:36:52.739 --> 00:36:54.739
 Whatever situation we are in in life.

00:36:54.739 --> 00:36:55.739
 Whatever we are at.

00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:58.739
 He is reminding us that as we prepare our hearts.

00:36:58.739 --> 00:37:00.739
 As we examine ourselves.

00:37:00.739 --> 00:37:05.739
 That we can only come to the Lord's table relying on Him.

00:37:05.739 --> 00:37:08.739
 And trusting in Him.

00:37:08.739 --> 00:37:11.739
 Loving the Lord our God.

00:37:11.739 --> 00:37:12.739
 Obeying His voice.

00:37:12.739 --> 00:37:14.739
 Holding fast to Him.

00:37:14.739 --> 00:37:19.739
 Recognizing Him as our life and length of days.

00:37:19.739 --> 00:37:22.739
 That that is how we are to come.

00:37:22.739 --> 00:37:27.739
 Looking to God and trusting in Him.

00:37:27.739 --> 00:37:30.739
 And so there's three things in this passage.

00:37:30.739 --> 00:37:35.739
 Three reminders to us of how great our God is.

00:37:35.739 --> 00:37:37.739
 That we might choose Him.

00:37:37.739 --> 00:37:39.739
 And the three things are this.

00:37:39.739 --> 00:37:41.739
 That He knows.

00:37:41.739 --> 00:37:42.739
 That He knows.

00:37:42.739 --> 00:37:43.739
 He's near.

00:37:43.739 --> 00:37:46.739
 And He cares.

00:37:46.739 --> 00:37:47.739
 He knows.

00:37:47.739 --> 00:37:48.739
 He's near.

00:37:48.739 --> 00:37:50.739
 And He cares.

00:37:50.739 --> 00:37:56.739
 And so the first thing we see here is that He is the God that knows.

00:37:56.739 --> 00:38:02.739
 And He has a knowledge that is beyond anything that we have.

00:38:02.739 --> 00:38:07.739
 When God is renewing His covenant here with His people.

00:38:07.739 --> 00:38:10.739
 It's because He knows them so well.

00:38:10.739 --> 00:38:12.739
 He knows everything about them.

00:38:12.739 --> 00:38:14.739
 He knows their needs.

00:38:14.739 --> 00:38:15.739
 He knows their hearts.

00:38:15.739 --> 00:38:16.739
 He knows their minds.

00:38:16.739 --> 00:38:19.739
 He knows all the choices that they will make.

00:38:19.739 --> 00:38:23.739
 And when we began our reading in verse 29.

00:38:23.739 --> 00:38:26.739
 It tells us of the knowledge that God has.

00:38:26.739 --> 00:38:28.739
 And how much more it is than ours.

00:38:28.739 --> 00:38:32.739
 The secret things belong to the Lord our God.

00:38:32.739 --> 00:38:38.739
 But the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever.

00:38:38.739 --> 00:38:42.739
 That we may do all the words of His law.

00:38:42.739 --> 00:38:43.739
 His law.

00:38:43.739 --> 00:38:46.739
 He knows everything.

00:38:46.739 --> 00:38:53.739
 And there are things that secret things, hidden things that only He knows.

00:38:53.739 --> 00:38:58.739
 And yet it's our natural inclination to want to know everything.

00:38:58.739 --> 00:39:01.739
 Everything in the mind of God.

00:39:01.739 --> 00:39:03.739
 But we can't.

00:39:03.739 --> 00:39:09.739
 But what He says here is, there is enough revealed to you already.

00:39:09.739 --> 00:39:12.739
 You don't need to know all the answers.

00:39:12.739 --> 00:39:15.739
 You don't need to know everything.

00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:18.739
 But I have given you enough.

00:39:18.739 --> 00:39:24.739
 I have shown you, as we see here, the choice that you have in front of you.

00:39:24.739 --> 00:39:28.739
 The choice to live or the choice to die.

00:39:28.739 --> 00:39:33.739
 God knows everything.

00:39:33.739 --> 00:39:37.739
 And for the people of Israel, the children of Israel here.

00:39:37.739 --> 00:39:41.739
 As it goes on into chapter 13, verse 1 to verse 10.

00:39:41.739 --> 00:39:45.739
 The Lord is showing there just the knowledge that He has of them.

00:39:45.739 --> 00:39:47.739
 Because He knows the choices that they will make.

00:39:47.739 --> 00:39:50.739
 He knows even the wrong choices that they will make.

00:39:50.739 --> 00:39:56.739
 Because He speaks here about the children being scattered among all the nations.

00:39:56.739 --> 00:39:59.739
 When your God has driven you.

00:39:59.739 --> 00:40:02.739
 When your God has driven you, it says at the end of verse 1.

00:40:02.739 --> 00:40:05.739
 So He knows that they are going to make the wrong choice.

00:40:05.739 --> 00:40:11.739
 He knows that through their sin, they are going to be scattered to all ends of the earth.

00:40:11.739 --> 00:40:15.739
 But it also speaks there in verse 3.

00:40:15.739 --> 00:40:21.739
 Then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you.

00:40:21.739 --> 00:40:25.739
 He knows that He is a God of grace.

00:40:25.739 --> 00:40:28.739
 And that He is able to restore.

00:40:28.739 --> 00:40:33.739
 And a day will come when He will restore His people.

00:40:33.739 --> 00:40:39.739
 And He reminds them that He is the one who is able to bless them and to prosper them.

00:40:39.739 --> 00:40:42.739
 And to prosper them abundantly.

00:40:42.739 --> 00:40:46.739
 He knows everything about them.

00:40:46.739 --> 00:40:49.739
 And the same is true today.

00:40:49.739 --> 00:40:54.739
 You don't hide anything from God.

00:40:54.739 --> 00:40:58.739
 There is nothing that God doesn't already know.

00:40:58.739 --> 00:41:03.739
 Whatever has gone on in the past, He knows.

00:41:03.739 --> 00:41:07.739
 Whatever is going on in your heart tonight, He knows.

00:41:07.739 --> 00:41:12.739
 And whatever is in the future for you, God knows.

00:41:12.739 --> 00:41:19.739
 And yet we want to be the ones in control, in charge of all these things.

00:41:19.739 --> 00:41:23.739
 But what He is saying is to love Him.

00:41:23.739 --> 00:41:25.739
 To trust Him.

00:41:25.739 --> 00:41:27.739
 To hold fast to Him.

00:41:27.739 --> 00:41:32.739
 To recognize that He is our life and length of days.

00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:37.739
 The hidden things, the secret things belong to Him.

00:41:37.739 --> 00:41:41.739
 But that we are to make use of what He has revealed to us.

00:41:41.739 --> 00:41:43.739
 Through His word.

00:41:43.739 --> 00:41:44.739
 Through His providence.

00:41:44.739 --> 00:41:47.739
 Through everything that He does in our life.

00:41:47.739 --> 00:41:50.739
 That we are to lean on Him.

00:41:50.739 --> 00:41:53.739
 He knows everything.

00:41:53.739 --> 00:42:00.739
 And it is amazing as you look at the experience of God's people throughout the scriptures.

00:42:00.739 --> 00:42:03.739
 How God knew everything about them.

00:42:03.739 --> 00:42:07.739
 And yet God was so gracious, compassionate towards them.

00:42:07.739 --> 00:42:09.739
 Moses himself.

00:42:09.739 --> 00:42:12.739
 David, whose psalms we so often sing.

00:42:12.739 --> 00:42:18.739
 When you look throughout the scriptures, you find men and women through all the generations.

00:42:18.739 --> 00:42:20.739
 Peter in the New Testament.

00:42:20.739 --> 00:42:23.739
 You find with Esther and Ruth in the Old Testament.

00:42:23.739 --> 00:42:25.739
 You find it all through there.

00:42:25.739 --> 00:42:29.739
 People whose lives were touched by God.

00:42:29.739 --> 00:42:31.739
 Who felt in their own hearts.

00:42:31.739 --> 00:42:34.739
 Just read Hebrews 11, that chapter of faith.

00:42:34.739 --> 00:42:36.739
 Who was perfect on that list?

00:42:36.739 --> 00:42:37.739
 Nobody.

00:42:37.739 --> 00:42:40.739
 But God knew their hearts.

00:42:40.739 --> 00:42:43.739
 And God had compassion on them.

00:42:43.739 --> 00:42:50.739
 And so it is to this day that God speaks into our lives in these ways as well.

00:42:50.739 --> 00:42:55.739
 Charles Spurgeon, a famous preacher of the past.

00:42:55.739 --> 00:43:00.739
 He was used powerfully by God in so many different ways.

00:43:00.739 --> 00:43:07.739
 But it was amazing how often he had a word in his sermons that spoke to a particular person.

00:43:07.739 --> 00:43:10.739
 At that very moment in their life.

00:43:10.739 --> 00:43:22.739
 And there are so many accounts told of people giving their testimony and sharing their experience of having come into church with no interest in the gospel.

00:43:22.739 --> 00:43:25.739
 They were only choosing death in their life.

00:43:25.739 --> 00:43:32.739
 But through the word that came through from God through Charles Spurgeon, they left that place alive.

00:43:32.739 --> 00:43:38.739
 It is a story of one man who, he was on his way out this night.

00:43:38.739 --> 00:43:40.739
 He was going out for a drink.

00:43:40.739 --> 00:43:44.739
 He was desperate just for a bottle of gin.

00:43:44.739 --> 00:43:46.739
 That was his life.

00:43:46.739 --> 00:43:49.739
 But he saw this crowd in the church this night.

00:43:49.739 --> 00:43:50.739
 Spurgeon's church.

00:43:50.739 --> 00:43:52.739
 And he was wondering what was happening.

00:43:52.739 --> 00:43:53.739
 Why there was such a crowd.

00:43:53.739 --> 00:43:56.739
 So he pushed his way through.

00:43:56.739 --> 00:44:07.739
 And just at that moment when he appeared up on the balcony, Charles Spurgeon was saying that there was someone there with a bottle of gin in their pocket.

00:44:07.739 --> 00:44:10.739
 Who had come just to cause trouble.

00:44:10.739 --> 00:44:13.739
 And the man was stunned.

00:44:13.739 --> 00:44:16.739
 He was stopped in his tracks.

00:44:16.739 --> 00:44:21.739
 And he began to listen to the rest of what Spurgeon was saying in his sermon.

00:44:21.739 --> 00:44:25.739
 And he was transformed by the gospel.

00:44:25.739 --> 00:44:28.739
 God knew that man's heart.

00:44:28.739 --> 00:44:30.739
 And he changed that man's heart.

00:44:30.739 --> 00:44:33.739
 Another evening it happened with a woman who was a prostitute.

00:44:33.739 --> 00:44:36.739
 She was at her wits end.

00:44:36.739 --> 00:44:39.739
 She was walking along the street.

00:44:39.739 --> 00:44:42.739
 She was preparing to take her own life.

00:44:42.739 --> 00:44:46.739
 And she saw the church open.

00:44:46.739 --> 00:44:53.739
 And she stopped to go in hoping to hear something that would prepare her to meet her maker.

00:44:53.739 --> 00:44:56.739
 That was her intention going in.

00:44:56.739 --> 00:44:59.739
 What was Spurgeon preaching on that night?

00:44:59.739 --> 00:45:02.739
 Luke chapter 7 verse 36.

00:45:02.739 --> 00:45:08.739
 The story of the prostitute who wiped Jesus' feet with her tears.

00:45:08.739 --> 00:45:11.739
 And his text was verse 44.

00:45:11.739 --> 00:45:14.739
 Do you see this woman?

00:45:14.739 --> 00:45:17.739
 And that woman started to come into the church.

00:45:17.739 --> 00:45:19.739
 Started hearing this.

00:45:19.739 --> 00:45:24.739
 And she saw herself in what Spurgeon was preaching.

00:45:24.739 --> 00:45:27.739
 She saw her own life.

00:45:27.739 --> 00:45:30.739
 But she saw the grace of God.

00:45:30.739 --> 00:45:35.739
 And she trusted in Christ as her Savior.

00:45:35.739 --> 00:45:40.739
 Now if anyone had looked at that man or that woman coming into church that night.

00:45:40.739 --> 00:45:46.739
 They would have just been like the ones who you see the Pharisees looking down on in the New Testament.

00:45:46.739 --> 00:45:49.739
 Just like the woman in Luke 7.

00:45:49.739 --> 00:45:53.739
 Why do you bother yourself with her?

00:45:53.739 --> 00:45:55.739
 But God knows.

00:45:55.739 --> 00:45:58.739
 God searches hearts.

00:45:58.739 --> 00:46:03.739
 There are some things best left in the hands of God.

00:46:03.739 --> 00:46:05.739
 Because he knows.

00:46:05.739 --> 00:46:08.739
 But there are things revealed to us.

00:46:08.739 --> 00:46:09.739
 That make us ask.

00:46:09.739 --> 00:46:12.739
 Well what choices are we making in life?

00:46:12.739 --> 00:46:15.739
 What are we listening to in life?

00:46:15.739 --> 00:46:19.739
 What impact our choices have in our life?

00:46:19.739 --> 00:46:23.739
 We have to look at the uncovered things in Scripture.

00:46:23.739 --> 00:46:25.739
 The things that are laid before us.

00:46:25.739 --> 00:46:28.739
 The choices that are put before us.

00:46:28.739 --> 00:46:34.739
 Because here Moses is giving the people enough to live.

00:46:34.739 --> 00:46:36.739
 Not all the answers.

00:46:36.739 --> 00:46:38.739
 But enough to live.

00:46:38.739 --> 00:46:42.739
 And that is what we have before us as well.

00:46:42.739 --> 00:46:45.739
 The revealed things that belong to us.

00:46:45.739 --> 00:46:47.739
 And to our children.

00:46:47.739 --> 00:46:48.739
 Forever.

00:46:48.739 --> 00:46:51.739
 That we may do all the words of this law.

00:46:51.739 --> 00:46:55.739
 He gives us enough to live.

00:46:55.739 --> 00:46:58.739
 Because he knows what we need.

00:46:58.739 --> 00:47:02.739
 The second thing we see here is the God who is near.

00:47:02.739 --> 00:47:06.739
 The God who is near to his people.

00:47:06.739 --> 00:47:08.739
 He knows all things.

00:47:08.739 --> 00:47:10.739
 And that there are things hidden from us.

00:47:10.739 --> 00:47:11.739
 And things revealed.

00:47:11.739 --> 00:47:14.739
 And the question that naturally comes to our mind is.

00:47:14.739 --> 00:47:16.739
 Well how can we find him?

00:47:16.739 --> 00:47:19.739
 How can we come to know him?

00:47:19.739 --> 00:47:21.739
 Well if you look at verse 11.

00:47:21.739 --> 00:47:22.739
 The Lord is near.

00:47:22.739 --> 00:47:24.739
 For this commandment that I give.

00:47:24.739 --> 00:47:25.739
 That I command you today.

00:47:25.739 --> 00:47:27.739
 Is not too hard for you.

00:47:27.739 --> 00:47:29.739
 Neither is it far off.

00:47:29.739 --> 00:47:31.739
 So it's near.

00:47:31.739 --> 00:47:34.739
 Because the Lord is near.

00:47:34.739 --> 00:47:38.739
 It's not too far away from us.

00:47:38.739 --> 00:47:43.739
 And the Lord is near to his people to this day.

00:47:43.739 --> 00:47:48.739
 We are challenged in Scripture to trust God.

00:47:48.739 --> 00:47:50.739
 When we are challenged to do that.

00:47:50.739 --> 00:47:55.739
 We are not asked to do something that is beyond any of us.

00:47:55.739 --> 00:47:58.739
 Because the Lord is near.

00:47:58.739 --> 00:48:05.739
 He has given every one of us the means to believe and to trust in him.

00:48:05.739 --> 00:48:09.739
 And that's the wonder of his word.

00:48:09.739 --> 00:48:12.739
 When you read in Psalm 145 verse 18.

00:48:12.739 --> 00:48:13.739
 It says there.

00:48:13.739 --> 00:48:17.739
 The Lord is near to all who call upon him.

00:48:17.739 --> 00:48:19.739
 To all who call upon him in truth.

00:48:20.739 --> 00:48:21.739
 He is near.

00:48:21.739 --> 00:48:23.739
 He is there for us.

00:48:23.739 --> 00:48:25.739
 And when you look at Moses' day.

00:48:25.739 --> 00:48:28.739
 How near he was to his people then.

00:48:28.739 --> 00:48:30.739
 He was with them in the pillar of cloud.

00:48:30.739 --> 00:48:31.739
 And the pillar of fire.

00:48:31.739 --> 00:48:33.739
 Leading them day and night.

00:48:33.739 --> 00:48:35.739
 Providing for them day after day.

00:48:35.739 --> 00:48:37.739
 Just in the previous chapter.

00:48:37.739 --> 00:48:38.739
 Verse 5.

00:48:38.739 --> 00:48:39.739
 Chapter 29.

00:48:39.739 --> 00:48:40.739
 It says.

00:48:40.739 --> 00:48:42.739
 And I have led you 40 years in the wilderness.

00:48:42.739 --> 00:48:45.739
 Your clothes have not worn out on you.

00:48:45.739 --> 00:48:48.739
 And your sandals have not worn out on your feet.

00:48:50.739 --> 00:48:51.739
 God knows.

00:48:51.739 --> 00:48:55.739
 And God sees everything.

00:48:55.739 --> 00:48:58.739
 And God cares for his people.

00:48:58.739 --> 00:49:02.739
 And that is still true to this day.

00:49:02.739 --> 00:49:06.739
 We can all I'm sure testify.

00:49:06.739 --> 00:49:08.739
 To the care of God.

00:49:08.739 --> 00:49:09.739
 To the compassion of God.

00:49:09.739 --> 00:49:11.739
 Because how else would we go on?

00:49:13.739 --> 00:49:18.739
 How else could we do as is being asked of us here.

00:49:18.739 --> 00:49:19.739
 To choose life.

00:49:19.739 --> 00:49:21.739
 Loving the Lord your God.

00:49:21.739 --> 00:49:22.739
 Obeying his voice.

00:49:22.739 --> 00:49:24.739
 Holding fast to him.

00:49:25.739 --> 00:49:28.739
 Because he cares for us.

00:49:29.739 --> 00:49:30.739
 We've known it.

00:49:30.739 --> 00:49:31.739
 We've experienced it.

00:49:31.739 --> 00:49:35.739
 And the worries and the anxieties of this world.

00:49:35.739 --> 00:49:36.739
 That come our way.

00:49:36.739 --> 00:49:37.739
 On a regular basis.

00:49:37.739 --> 00:49:39.739
 Yet God is near.

00:49:40.739 --> 00:49:42.739
 God is near to all.

00:49:42.739 --> 00:49:43.739
 Who call upon him.

00:49:43.739 --> 00:49:44.739
 Who call upon him.

00:49:44.739 --> 00:49:45.739
 In truth.

00:49:46.739 --> 00:49:49.739
 And this is one of these verses that we see.

00:49:49.739 --> 00:49:51.739
 It's quoted again in the New Testament.

00:49:51.739 --> 00:49:52.739
 In the book of Romans.

00:49:52.739 --> 00:49:53.739
 Chapter 10.

00:49:53.739 --> 00:49:54.739
 In verse 8 it says.

00:49:54.739 --> 00:49:55.739
 But what does it say?

00:49:55.739 --> 00:49:57.739
 The word is near you.

00:49:57.739 --> 00:49:59.739
 In your mouth and in your heart.

00:49:59.739 --> 00:50:00.739
 That is.

00:50:00.739 --> 00:50:02.739
 The word of faith that we proclaim.

00:50:02.739 --> 00:50:05.739
 Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

00:50:05.739 --> 00:50:09.739
 And believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.

00:50:09.739 --> 00:50:10.739
 You will be saved.

00:50:11.739 --> 00:50:14.739
 For with the heart one believes and is justified.

00:50:14.739 --> 00:50:18.739
 And with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

00:50:18.739 --> 00:50:22.739
 It's a truth for Moses' day.

00:50:22.739 --> 00:50:24.739
 It's a truth for the New Testament days.

00:50:24.739 --> 00:50:27.739
 It's a truth for our day as well.

00:50:27.739 --> 00:50:30.739
 It is not too hard.

00:50:30.739 --> 00:50:32.739
 The word is near.

00:50:32.739 --> 00:50:37.739
 That we may hear and live.

00:50:37.739 --> 00:50:41.739
 The matters put before us here.

00:50:41.739 --> 00:50:44.739
 The choice of life and death.

00:50:44.739 --> 00:50:47.739
 They are serious choices.

00:50:47.739 --> 00:50:51.739
 In our eyes they seem such a simple choice.

00:50:51.739 --> 00:50:55.739
 And yet we find it so hard to make that choice.

00:50:55.739 --> 00:50:59.739
 Death through sin.

00:50:59.739 --> 00:51:02.739
 Life through Christ Jesus.

00:51:02.739 --> 00:51:07.739
 And this is what is near to us.

00:51:07.739 --> 00:51:12.739
 This is what the Lord's care for us looks like.

00:51:12.739 --> 00:51:17.739
 Because he knew the sin of this world.

00:51:17.739 --> 00:51:22.739
 That's why he sent his son into this world.

00:51:22.739 --> 00:51:24.739
 As we look at God willing tomorrow morning.

00:51:24.739 --> 00:51:26.739
 The source of life.

00:51:27.739 --> 00:51:31.739
 That is the Lamb of God as John the Baptist describes him.

00:51:31.739 --> 00:51:34.739
 Who takes away the sin of the world.

00:51:35.739 --> 00:51:38.739
 He is the source of life.

00:51:39.739 --> 00:51:43.739
 The word of God is for us all.

00:51:44.739 --> 00:51:46.739
 For every one of us.

00:51:46.739 --> 00:51:48.739
 It's not hidden.

00:51:48.739 --> 00:51:49.739
 It's not too far away.

00:51:49.739 --> 00:51:51.739
 It's not too high in the sky.

00:51:51.739 --> 00:51:53.739
 It's not over the sea.

00:51:53.739 --> 00:51:54.739
 It's here.

00:51:54.739 --> 00:51:57.739
 It's here before us this evening.

00:51:57.739 --> 00:51:59.739
 The very choice that he gives us.

00:51:59.739 --> 00:52:01.739
 Is here for us all to hear.

00:52:01.739 --> 00:52:03.739
 And to respond to.

00:52:03.739 --> 00:52:06.739
 To choose life.

00:52:06.739 --> 00:52:09.739
 That we might live.

00:52:09.739 --> 00:52:11.739
 God cares.

00:52:11.739 --> 00:52:15.739
 God cares so much.

00:52:15.739 --> 00:52:18.739
 That he gave his own son.

00:52:18.739 --> 00:52:19.739
 That we might live.

00:52:19.739 --> 00:52:22.739
 You have those beautiful words.

00:52:22.739 --> 00:52:25.739
 In Psalm 116 verse 7.

00:52:25.739 --> 00:52:28.739
 I'm quoting from the Singed Psalms version.

00:52:28.739 --> 00:52:29.739
 Rest.

00:52:29.739 --> 00:52:30.739
 Rest.

00:52:30.739 --> 00:52:31.739
 Oh my soul.

00:52:31.739 --> 00:52:34.739
 God has been good to you.

00:52:34.739 --> 00:52:38.739
 For you, oh Lord, have saved my soul from death.

00:52:38.739 --> 00:52:40.739
 My feet from stumbling.

00:52:40.739 --> 00:52:42.739
 And my eyes from tears.

00:52:42.739 --> 00:52:45.739
 That I may live for you.

00:52:45.739 --> 00:52:47.739
 While I have breath.

00:52:47.739 --> 00:52:50.739
 Rest.

00:52:50.739 --> 00:52:51.739
 Rest.

00:52:51.739 --> 00:52:54.739
 Because God has been good to you.

00:52:54.739 --> 00:52:57.739
 You have saved my soul from death.

00:52:57.739 --> 00:52:59.739
 My feet from stumbling.

00:52:59.739 --> 00:53:01.739
 My eyes from tears.

00:53:01.739 --> 00:53:05.739
 That I may live for you.

00:53:05.739 --> 00:53:07.739
 While I have breath.

00:53:07.739 --> 00:53:12.739
 The Lord cares for his people.

00:53:12.739 --> 00:53:16.739
 The Lord knows his people.

00:53:16.739 --> 00:53:21.739
 And the Lord is near to his people.

00:53:21.739 --> 00:53:28.739
 And the last part of this chapter just shows you almost all of these things together.

00:53:28.739 --> 00:53:30.739
 His knowledge.

00:53:30.739 --> 00:53:32.739
 His concern.

00:53:32.739 --> 00:53:34.739
 His compassion.

00:53:34.739 --> 00:53:36.739
 For all of his people.

00:53:36.739 --> 00:53:38.739
 How near he is.

00:53:38.739 --> 00:53:42.739
 God is with us people.

00:53:42.739 --> 00:53:44.739
 He does not leave them.

00:53:44.739 --> 00:53:47.739
 Even when they sin against him.

00:53:47.739 --> 00:53:51.739
 And when we receive the word of God in our heart.

00:53:51.739 --> 00:53:56.739
 The love of God is what commands our life as well.

00:53:56.739 --> 00:53:58.739
 As well.

00:53:58.739 --> 00:53:59.739
 It says.

00:53:59.739 --> 00:54:00.739
 At the end of verse 29.

00:54:00.739 --> 00:54:01.739
 In chapter 29.

00:54:01.739 --> 00:54:05.739
 That you may do all the words of this law.

00:54:05.739 --> 00:54:07.739
 What he has revealed to us.

00:54:07.739 --> 00:54:09.739
 And then as we conclude in this chapter.

00:54:09.739 --> 00:54:11.739
 In verse 19 onwards.

00:54:11.739 --> 00:54:14.739
 As he calls heaven and earth to witness.

00:54:14.739 --> 00:54:16.739
 Setting before us life and death.

00:54:16.739 --> 00:54:17.739
 Blessing and curse.

00:54:17.739 --> 00:54:19.739
 Therefore choose life.

00:54:19.739 --> 00:54:22.739
 That you and your offspring may live.

00:54:22.739 --> 00:54:25.739
 Loving the Lord your God.

00:54:25.739 --> 00:54:26.739
 Obeying his voice.

00:54:26.739 --> 00:54:28.739
 Holding fast to him.

00:54:28.739 --> 00:54:30.739
 That you may dwell in the land.

00:54:30.739 --> 00:54:33.739
 That the Lord your God swore to your fathers.

00:54:33.739 --> 00:54:35.739
 We have this wonderful promise.

00:54:35.739 --> 00:54:40.739
 This is not a description.

00:54:40.739 --> 00:54:43.739
 Of a God who is distant.

00:54:43.739 --> 00:54:46.739
 Of a God who doesn't care for his people.

00:54:46.739 --> 00:54:48.739
 Who doesn't know his people.

00:54:48.739 --> 00:54:52.739
 A God who is angry against his people.

00:54:52.739 --> 00:54:53.739
 When we see this.

00:54:53.739 --> 00:54:55.739
 When some people read through this.

00:54:55.739 --> 00:54:59.739
 And it talks about blessings and curses.

00:54:59.739 --> 00:55:01.739
 Life and destruction.

00:55:02.739 --> 00:55:06.739
 God is sometimes seen from people as a cruel tyrant.

00:55:06.739 --> 00:55:08.739
 Who has no time for his people.

00:55:08.739 --> 00:55:10.739
 No mercy towards his people.

00:55:11.739 --> 00:55:14.739
 But God is a God of great mercy.

00:55:14.739 --> 00:55:18.739
 A God of great patience towards his people.

00:55:18.739 --> 00:55:20.739
 And you see it here again.

00:55:20.739 --> 00:55:22.739
 When he puts the choice before us.

00:55:22.739 --> 00:55:25.739
 What do our sins deserve?

00:55:25.739 --> 00:55:28.739
 They deserve death.

00:55:28.739 --> 00:55:30.739
 That's what the scripture tells us.

00:55:30.739 --> 00:55:32.739
 The wages of sin is death.

00:55:32.739 --> 00:55:35.739
 But what has he done.

00:55:35.739 --> 00:55:37.739
 To make a difference for us.

00:55:37.739 --> 00:55:40.739
 He gave his son.

00:55:40.739 --> 00:55:44.739
 The gift of God is life.

00:55:44.739 --> 00:55:46.739
 Through him.

00:55:46.739 --> 00:55:49.739
 And so that is what we are to look to.

00:55:49.739 --> 00:55:53.739
 The blessing that God has poured out upon us.

00:55:53.739 --> 00:55:56.739
 Does God delight in the death of the wicked?

00:55:56.739 --> 00:55:57.739
 No.

00:55:57.739 --> 00:56:01.739
 Ezekiel tells us that in chapter 18 verse 23.

00:56:01.739 --> 00:56:04.739
 Do I have pleasure at all that the wicked should die?

00:56:04.739 --> 00:56:06.739
 Says the Lord God.

00:56:06.739 --> 00:56:10.739
 And not that they should turn from his ways.

00:56:10.739 --> 00:56:11.739
 And live.

00:56:11.739 --> 00:56:16.739
 God longs for his people to come to him and live.

00:56:16.739 --> 00:56:20.739
 That is why he puts the choice before us.

00:56:20.739 --> 00:56:22.739
 That is a God who cares.

00:56:22.739 --> 00:56:24.739
 He calls his people here.

00:56:24.739 --> 00:56:26.739
 Choose life.

00:56:26.739 --> 00:56:31.739
 Because he loves his people.

00:56:31.739 --> 00:56:34.739
 C.S. Lewis.

00:56:34.739 --> 00:56:39.739
 He speaks about the return of the Lord in this way.

00:56:39.739 --> 00:56:41.739
 He says.

00:56:41.739 --> 00:56:43.739
 When the author walks onto the stage.

00:56:43.739 --> 00:56:45.739
 The play is over.

00:56:45.739 --> 00:56:49.739
 And God is going to invade all right.

00:56:49.739 --> 00:56:52.739
 But what is the good of saying.

00:56:52.739 --> 00:56:54.739
 You are on his side then.

00:56:54.739 --> 00:56:58.739
 When you see the whole natural universe melting away.

00:56:58.739 --> 00:57:01.739
 Like a dream and something else comes crashing in.

00:57:01.739 --> 00:57:03.739
 This time.

00:57:03.739 --> 00:57:06.739
 It will be God without disguise.

00:57:06.739 --> 00:57:10.739
 Something so overwhelming.

00:57:10.739 --> 00:57:13.739
 That it will strike either irresistible love.

00:57:13.739 --> 00:57:15.739
 Or irresistible horror.

00:57:15.739 --> 00:57:17.739
 Into every creature.

00:57:17.739 --> 00:57:21.739
 It will be too late then to choose your side.

00:57:21.739 --> 00:57:25.739
 That will not be the time for choosing.

00:57:25.739 --> 00:57:27.739
 It will be the time when you discover.

00:57:27.739 --> 00:57:30.739
 Which side we really have chosen.

00:57:30.739 --> 00:57:33.739
 Whether we realized it before or not.

00:57:33.739 --> 00:57:34.739
 Now.

00:57:34.739 --> 00:57:35.739
 Today.

00:57:35.739 --> 00:57:37.739
 This moment.

00:57:37.739 --> 00:57:41.739
 Is our chance to choose the right side.

00:57:41.739 --> 00:57:43.739
 It's not to leave it.

00:57:43.739 --> 00:57:45.739
 Till it's too late.

00:57:45.739 --> 00:57:48.739
 And to realize the consequences.

00:57:48.739 --> 00:57:50.739
 Of the choice that you have made.

00:57:50.739 --> 00:57:53.739
 To choose this day.

00:57:53.739 --> 00:57:55.739
 And to choose life.

00:57:55.739 --> 00:57:59.739
 There are many who will say.

00:57:59.739 --> 00:58:00.739
 I have no choice.

00:58:00.739 --> 00:58:02.739
 In my salvation.

00:58:02.739 --> 00:58:04.739
 It's not about me.

00:58:04.739 --> 00:58:07.739
 Only God can do it.

00:58:07.739 --> 00:58:08.739
 And that is true.

00:58:08.739 --> 00:58:12.739
 But you go back to verse 29.

00:58:12.739 --> 00:58:15.739
 The secret things belong to God.

00:58:15.739 --> 00:58:16.739
 Yes.

00:58:16.739 --> 00:58:18.739
 There are things that only God knows.

00:58:18.739 --> 00:58:22.739
 There is an elect that only God knows.

00:58:22.739 --> 00:58:25.739
 But it's not an excuse.

00:58:25.739 --> 00:58:26.739
 To do nothing.

00:58:26.739 --> 00:58:30.739
 Because there are revealed things.

00:58:30.739 --> 00:58:32.739
 That belong to us.

00:58:32.739 --> 00:58:37.739
 There are revealed things that God has given to us.

00:58:37.739 --> 00:58:38.739
 To make the choice.

00:58:38.739 --> 00:58:42.739
 And much of what the Bible says to us.

00:58:42.739 --> 00:58:44.739
 Is about choice.

00:58:44.739 --> 00:58:48.739
 How many scriptures speak of choosing?

00:58:48.739 --> 00:58:51.739
 How many scriptures speak to us.

00:58:51.739 --> 00:58:53.739
 About our responsibilities.

00:58:53.739 --> 00:58:56.739
 As well as God's sovereignty.

00:58:56.739 --> 00:58:59.739
 Just later on in the book of Joshua.

00:58:59.739 --> 00:59:00.739
 Chapter 24.

00:59:00.739 --> 00:59:01.739
 You have Joshua.

00:59:01.739 --> 00:59:03.739
 Challenging the people there.

00:59:03.739 --> 00:59:06.739
 In verse 15 of chapter 24.

00:59:06.739 --> 00:59:07.739
 Where he says to him.

00:59:07.739 --> 00:59:09.739
 If it is evil in your eyes.

00:59:09.739 --> 00:59:10.739
 To serve the Lord.

00:59:10.739 --> 00:59:13.739
 Choose this day whom you will serve.

00:59:13.739 --> 00:59:15.739
 Whether the gods your father served.

00:59:15.739 --> 00:59:16.739
 In the region beyond the river.

00:59:16.739 --> 00:59:18.739
 Or the gods of the Amorites.

00:59:18.739 --> 00:59:20.739
 In whose land you dwell.

00:59:20.739 --> 00:59:22.739
 But as for me and my house.

00:59:22.739 --> 00:59:24.739
 We will serve the Lord.

00:59:24.739 --> 00:59:26.739
 You see there.

00:59:26.739 --> 00:59:28.739
 Choose this day.

00:59:28.739 --> 00:59:30.739
 Whom you will serve.

00:59:30.739 --> 00:59:32.739
 The Philippian jailer.

00:59:32.739 --> 00:59:34.739
 In Acts chapter 16.

00:59:34.739 --> 00:59:35.739
 Verse 30.

00:59:35.739 --> 00:59:37.739
 He's brought.

00:59:37.739 --> 00:59:39.739
 He brought them out.

00:59:39.739 --> 00:59:40.739
 And said.

00:59:40.739 --> 00:59:41.739
 Sir.

00:59:41.739 --> 00:59:43.739
 What must I do to be saved?

00:59:43.739 --> 00:59:44.739
 Believe.

00:59:44.739 --> 00:59:45.739
 Believe.

00:59:45.739 --> 00:59:46.739
 In the Lord Jesus.

00:59:46.739 --> 00:59:47.739
 And you will be saved.

00:59:47.739 --> 00:59:48.739
 You and your household.

00:59:48.739 --> 00:59:49.739
 There is a choice.

00:59:49.739 --> 00:59:50.739
 What must I do to be saved?

00:59:50.739 --> 00:59:51.739
 Believe.

00:59:51.739 --> 00:59:53.739
 In the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:59:53.739 --> 00:59:54.739
 Final one.

00:59:54.739 --> 00:59:56.739
 Just to show.

00:59:56.739 --> 00:59:57.739
 That there is a choice.

00:59:57.739 --> 00:59:58.739
 Put before us.

00:59:58.739 --> 00:59:59.739
 Revelation chapter 3.

00:59:59.739 --> 01:00:00.739
 Verse 19.

01:00:00.739 --> 01:00:01.739
 When Jesus is writing to the churches.

01:00:01.739 --> 01:00:02.739
 And he's telling them.

01:00:02.739 --> 01:00:03.739
 About all the things that are right.

01:00:03.739 --> 01:00:04.739
 And wrong about them.

01:00:04.739 --> 01:00:05.739
 He says.

01:00:05.739 --> 01:00:06.739
 To the church.

01:00:06.739 --> 01:00:07.739
 At Laodicea.

01:00:07.739 --> 01:00:08.739
 Those whom I love.

01:00:08.739 --> 01:00:09.739
 I love.

01:00:09.739 --> 01:00:10.739
 You and your household.

01:00:10.739 --> 01:00:11.739
 You and your household.

01:00:11.739 --> 01:00:12.739
 There is a choice.

01:00:12.739 --> 01:00:13.739
 There is a choice.

01:00:13.739 --> 01:00:14.739
 What must I do to be saved?

01:00:14.739 --> 01:00:15.739
 Believe.

01:00:15.739 --> 01:00:16.739
 In the Lord Jesus Christ.

01:00:16.739 --> 01:00:17.739
 The final one.

01:00:17.739 --> 01:00:18.739
 Just to show.

01:00:18.739 --> 01:00:19.739
 That there is a choice.

01:00:19.739 --> 01:00:21.739
 And he's telling them.

01:00:21.739 --> 01:00:22.739
 About all the things.

01:00:22.739 --> 01:00:23.739
 That are right.

01:00:23.739 --> 01:00:24.739
 And wrong about them.

01:00:24.739 --> 01:00:25.739
 He says.

01:00:25.739 --> 01:00:26.739
 To the church.

01:00:26.739 --> 01:00:27.739
 At Laodicea.

01:00:27.739 --> 01:00:28.739
 Those whom I love.

01:00:28.739 --> 01:00:29.739
 I reprove.

01:00:29.739 --> 01:00:30.739
 And discipline.

01:00:30.739 --> 01:00:31.739
 So be zealous.

01:00:31.739 --> 01:00:32.739
 And repent.

01:00:32.739 --> 01:00:34.739
 And then he says.

01:00:34.739 --> 01:00:35.739
 Behold.

01:00:35.739 --> 01:00:36.739
 I stand at the door.

01:00:36.739 --> 01:00:37.739
 And knock.

01:00:37.739 --> 01:00:39.739
 If anyone hears my voice.

01:00:39.739 --> 01:00:41.739
 And opens the door.

01:00:41.739 --> 01:00:43.739
 I will come in to him.

01:00:43.739 --> 01:00:44.739
 And eat with him.

01:00:44.739 --> 01:00:45.739
 And he with me.

01:00:47.739 --> 01:00:48.739
 That is a choice.

01:00:48.739 --> 01:00:49.739
 That is a choice.

01:00:49.739 --> 01:00:50.739
 Put before us.

01:00:50.739 --> 01:00:51.739
 As well.

01:00:51.739 --> 01:00:52.739
 Tonight.

01:00:52.739 --> 01:00:53.739
 He knocks.

01:00:53.739 --> 01:00:54.739
 At the door.

01:00:54.739 --> 01:00:57.739
 If anyone hears my voice.

01:00:57.739 --> 01:00:59.739
 And opens the door.

01:00:59.739 --> 01:01:01.739
 I will come in to him.

01:01:01.739 --> 01:01:03.739
 And eat with him.

01:01:03.739 --> 01:01:05.739
 And he with me.

01:01:05.739 --> 01:01:08.739
 Is there any greater.

01:01:08.739 --> 01:01:10.739
 Encouragement to us.

01:01:10.739 --> 01:01:11.739
 In terms of the choice.

01:01:11.739 --> 01:01:12.739
 That we make.

01:01:12.739 --> 01:01:14.739
 Ahead of the Lord's Supper.

01:01:14.739 --> 01:01:16.739
 And to open the door.

01:01:16.739 --> 01:01:19.739
 That he would eat with us.

01:01:19.739 --> 01:01:21.739
 And we with him.

01:01:21.739 --> 01:01:22.739
 Behold.

01:01:22.739 --> 01:01:25.739
 I stand at the door.

01:01:25.739 --> 01:01:26.739
 And knock.

01:01:27.739 --> 01:01:28.739
 There are choices.

01:01:28.739 --> 01:01:30.739
 Put before us.

01:01:30.739 --> 01:01:31.739
 All the time.

01:01:31.739 --> 01:01:33.739
 And they tie back.

01:01:33.739 --> 01:01:34.739
 Into the choice.

01:01:34.739 --> 01:01:35.739
 That we are given.

01:01:35.739 --> 01:01:36.739
 In verse 19.

01:01:36.739 --> 01:01:37.739
 Here.

01:01:37.739 --> 01:01:39.739
 I call heaven and earth.

01:01:39.739 --> 01:01:40.739
 To witness against you today.

01:01:40.739 --> 01:01:42.739
 That I have set before you.

01:01:42.739 --> 01:01:43.739
 Life and death.

01:01:43.739 --> 01:01:45.739
 Blessing and curse.

01:01:46.739 --> 01:01:48.739
 All before us.

01:01:49.739 --> 01:01:50.739
 And we all have a choice.

01:01:50.739 --> 01:01:51.739
 To make.

01:01:52.739 --> 01:01:54.739
 And the Lord says.

01:01:54.739 --> 01:01:55.739
 Therefore.

01:01:55.739 --> 01:01:56.739
 Choose life.

01:01:57.739 --> 01:01:58.739
 That you and your offspring.

01:01:58.739 --> 01:01:59.739
 May live.

01:01:59.739 --> 01:02:01.739
 Loving the Lord your God.

01:02:01.739 --> 01:02:02.739
 Obeying his voice.

01:02:02.739 --> 01:02:04.739
 And holding fast.

01:02:04.739 --> 01:02:05.739
 To him.

01:02:05.739 --> 01:02:08.739
 When you have a choice.

01:02:08.739 --> 01:02:10.739
 To make.

01:02:10.739 --> 01:02:13.739
 And you don't make it.

01:02:13.739 --> 01:02:15.739
 That in itself.

01:02:15.739 --> 01:02:17.739
 Is a choice.

01:02:17.739 --> 01:02:20.739
 The Lord puts it before us.

01:02:20.739 --> 01:02:21.739
 Tonight.

01:02:21.739 --> 01:02:23.739
 We can see.

01:02:23.739 --> 01:02:24.739
 He is.

01:02:24.739 --> 01:02:25.739
 Our life.

01:02:25.739 --> 01:02:26.739
 And length.

01:02:26.739 --> 01:02:27.739
 Of days.

01:02:27.739 --> 01:02:29.739
 What a blessing.

01:02:29.739 --> 01:02:31.739
 And a privilege.

01:02:31.739 --> 01:02:32.739
 It is for us.

01:02:32.739 --> 01:02:33.739
 To come.

01:02:33.739 --> 01:02:35.739
 And do this.

01:02:35.739 --> 01:02:36.739
 In remembrance.

01:02:36.739 --> 01:02:37.739
 Of him.

01:02:37.739 --> 01:02:39.739
 The choice.

01:02:39.739 --> 01:02:41.739
 Is before us.

01:02:41.739 --> 01:02:43.739
 He says.

01:02:43.739 --> 01:02:45.739
 Choose life.

01:02:46.739 --> 01:02:47.739
 That you may live.

01:02:48.739 --> 01:02:49.739
 Let us pray.

01:02:51.739 --> 01:02:53.739
 Lord our gracious God.

01:02:53.739 --> 01:02:54.739
 We thank you.

01:02:54.739 --> 01:02:55.739
 For your word.

01:02:55.739 --> 01:02:56.739
 For all the instruction.

01:02:56.739 --> 01:02:57.739
 It gives to us.

01:02:57.739 --> 01:02:58.739
 Reminding us.

01:02:58.739 --> 01:02:59.739
 That you are sovereign.

01:02:59.739 --> 01:03:00.739
 But reminding us.

01:03:00.739 --> 01:03:02.739
 Of our responsibilities.

01:03:02.739 --> 01:03:03.739
 To.

01:03:03.739 --> 01:03:04.739
 That we as a people.

01:03:04.739 --> 01:03:05.739
 Have things revealed.

01:03:05.739 --> 01:03:06.739
 To us.

01:03:06.739 --> 01:03:07.739
 That show us.

01:03:07.739 --> 01:03:08.739
 The paths.

01:03:08.739 --> 01:03:09.739
 Of life.

01:03:09.739 --> 01:03:10.739
 That show us.

01:03:10.739 --> 01:03:11.739
 The way of salvation.

01:03:11.739 --> 01:03:12.739
 So teach us.

01:03:12.739 --> 01:03:13.739
 Lord.

01:03:13.739 --> 01:03:14.739
 That we may walk.

01:03:14.739 --> 01:03:15.739
 In them.

01:03:15.739 --> 01:03:16.739
 That we may choose life.

01:03:16.739 --> 01:03:17.739
 That we may know.

01:03:17.739 --> 01:03:18.739
 And love the Lord.

01:03:18.739 --> 01:03:20.739
 With all our heart.

01:03:20.739 --> 01:03:21.739
 And we ask it all.

01:03:21.739 --> 01:03:22.739
 In Jesus name.

01:03:22.739 --> 01:03:23.739
 Amen.

01:03:23.739 --> 01:03:24.739
 Amen.

01:03:24.739 --> 01:03:25.739
 Amen.

01:03:25.739 --> 01:03:26.739
 Amen.

01:03:26.739 --> 01:03:27.739
 Amen.

01:03:27.739 --> 01:03:28.739
 Amen.

01:03:28.739 --> 01:03:29.739
 We're going to conclude.

01:03:29.739 --> 01:03:30.739
 By singing.

01:03:30.739 --> 01:03:31.739
 To God's praise.

01:03:31.739 --> 01:03:32.739
 In Psalm 66.

01:03:32.739 --> 01:03:33.739
 In the sing.

01:03:33.739 --> 01:03:34.739
 Psalms version.

01:03:34.739 --> 01:03:35.739
 Psalm 66.

01:03:35.739 --> 01:03:36.739
 Page 84.

01:03:36.739 --> 01:03:38.739
 Of the psalm books.

01:03:38.739 --> 01:03:39.739
 Psalm 66.

01:03:39.739 --> 01:03:40.739
 At verse 16.

01:03:40.739 --> 01:03:44.739
 Come all who.

01:03:44.739 --> 01:03:45.739
 Sorry.

01:03:45.739 --> 01:03:46.739
 Come all who.

01:03:46.739 --> 01:03:47.739
 Come all who.

01:03:47.739 --> 01:03:48.739
 Sorry.

01:03:48.739 --> 01:03:51.739
 Come all who fear our God.

01:03:51.739 --> 01:03:52.739
 I'll tell what he has done.

01:03:52.739 --> 01:03:53.739
 I cried to him.

01:03:53.739 --> 01:03:55.739
 With my mouth.

01:03:55.739 --> 01:03:56.739
 His praise.

01:03:56.739 --> 01:03:57.739
 Was on.

01:03:57.739 --> 01:03:58.739
 My tongue.

01:03:58.739 --> 01:03:59.739
 If I had cherished sin.

01:03:59.739 --> 01:04:01.739
 The Lord would not have heard.

01:04:01.739 --> 01:04:02.739
 But surely.

01:04:02.739 --> 01:04:03.739
 When I prayed to him.

01:04:03.739 --> 01:04:04.739
 God listened.

01:04:04.739 --> 01:04:06.739
 To my word.

01:04:06.739 --> 01:04:07.739
 We'll sing from verse 16.

01:04:08.739 --> 01:04:10.739
 Down to the end of the psalm.

01:04:10.739 --> 01:04:11.739
 To God's praise.

01:04:11.739 --> 01:04:12.739
 Please.

01:04:12.739 --> 01:04:17.739
 From all who.

01:04:17.739 --> 01:04:20.739
 Hear our God.

01:04:20.739 --> 01:04:25.739
 I'll tell what he has done.

01:04:25.739 --> 01:04:28.739
 I cried unto him.

01:04:28.739 --> 01:04:30.739
 With my mouth.

01:04:30.739 --> 01:04:32.739
 His praise.

01:04:32.739 --> 01:04:35.739
 I cried unto him.

01:04:35.739 --> 01:04:38.739
 With my mouth.

01:04:38.739 --> 01:04:46.819
 His grace was on my tongue.

01:04:46.819 --> 01:04:54.179
 If I had cherished sin,

01:04:54.579 --> 01:05:01.159
 the Lord would not have heard.

01:05:01.159 --> 01:05:10.119
 But surely when I pray to Him,

01:05:10.399 --> 01:05:17.179
 God listen to my word.

01:05:18.299 --> 01:05:25.059
 Whatever God be praised,

01:05:25.059 --> 01:05:31.059
 who hears me from above,

01:05:32.139 --> 01:05:40.059
 He has not turned away my prayer,

01:05:41.079 --> 01:05:47.940
 or kept from me His love.

01:05:48.940 --> 01:05:51.699
 After the benediction, I'll go to the main door.

01:05:51.799 --> 01:05:53.000
 We'll close with the benediction.

01:05:53.000 --> 01:05:56.539
 Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God,

01:05:56.940 --> 01:05:59.860
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon

01:05:59.860 --> 01:06:02.739
 and abide with you all now and forevermore.

01:06:03.139 --> 01:06:03.519
 Amen.