WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.279 We'll begin our worship now, and we're singing first today in Psalm 9. Psalm 9a, you'll find that on page 9. 00:00:08.279 --> 00:00:15.500 And we'll sing in verses 7 to 12. 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:46.359 And on to verse 12 in Psalm 9. 00:00:46.359 --> 00:00:48.840 And the Lord forever reigns on high. 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:22.659 He'll judge the world in righteousness, with justice through the light. 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:36.659 The Lord will be a hiding place for those who are poor. 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:53.659 And He will be that strong defense for those who are dispensed. 00:01:53.659 --> 00:02:08.659 All those who know your name, O Lord, in you their trust will place. 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:23.659 For you do not abandon those who seek your gracious face. 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:39.900 Sing praises to the Lord who sits inside on His throne. 00:02:39.900 --> 00:02:54.900 Among the nations of the world proclaim what He has done. 00:02:54.900 --> 00:03:03.900 For Him, the avenger of the man's blood, 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:11.080 Redeemer's evermore. 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:25.220 The king of the afflicted one, He never will ignore. 00:03:25.219 --> 00:03:41.599 Lord, our God, we give thanks once again that we gather together around Your Word in this place of worship. 00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:47.419 And we give thanks that Your Word guides us as we come to worship Your holy name. 00:03:47.419 --> 00:03:54.739 We thank You that You have given us words to sing as well as a record in other ways of Your redemption. 00:03:55.560 --> 00:04:00.779 And we thank You today that we can have so many young folks as part of our congregations. 00:04:01.179 --> 00:04:03.379 And we bless You, O Lord, for them today. 00:04:03.479 --> 00:04:05.699 And pray Your blessing to be with them. 00:04:05.779 --> 00:04:13.299 And bless the efforts that are made to teach them in the ways of God at home or here in church services and Sunday school. 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:17.120 Lord, we thank You for all the activities they are engaged in as well. 00:04:17.819 --> 00:04:21.100 And pray that they may become more and more established in Your ways. 00:04:22.020 --> 00:04:27.699 Established especially in a way that would follow You and love You and serve You even while they are young. 00:04:28.379 --> 00:04:35.639 And grant that, Lord, You would protect and care them as they go about from day to day in their various ways in the world. 00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:38.639 At home or in school or college or university. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:42.360 We ask Your blessing, O Lord, to be with them at all times. 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:44.699 Now bless us as we come together. 00:04:45.379 --> 00:04:49.980 And bless us as we seek our thoughts to be led into the avenues of Your truth. 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:53.720 Hear us, we pray, and cleanse us from sin for Jesus' sake. 00:04:54.259 --> 00:04:54.580 Amen. 00:04:57.020 --> 00:04:59.639 Okay, children, a word to yourselves at this time. 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:04.319 Are there any paramedics in today? 00:05:06.220 --> 00:05:07.740 No paramedics in today? 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:09.000 No? 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:13.160 Okay, well, everybody knows what paramedics do, I'm sure. 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:17.399 Paramedics are usually found in ambulance. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:18.720 It's not always on an ambulance. 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:22.680 But paramedics are trained health workers called, 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:27.019 medics called to minister to those who have special needs, 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:33.620 especially in accidents or in illness or whatever different kinds of ailments people may have. 00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:38.899 Paramedics are those who are trained to actually come alongside and help out. 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:41.399 And they have a lot of things to do. 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:47.160 They have to be well trained and go through a certain course or courses to become paramedics. 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:52.079 They have to assess people if they're injured in an accident or have fallen ill, 00:05:52.840 --> 00:05:55.040 try and establish what's wrong with them, 00:05:55.420 --> 00:05:57.319 and then administer some medication usually, 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:01.100 get them stabilized sometimes in order to go from there to hospital. 00:06:01.100 --> 00:06:09.379 So they have a lot of skills and a lot of things to learn and a lot to contribute to us as a community. 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:15.939 So we give thanks to God for our paramedics and all the other medical staff along with them. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:20.439 But paramedics, the little part of the word para, 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:27.560 comes from a Greek word which means to come alongside or be alongside. 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:30.199 And you'll find it actually used in the Bible. 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:33.839 The New Testament was written in Greek, first of all, 00:06:34.339 --> 00:06:36.959 and then all the translations that we have came from that, 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:39.100 including our English translation. 00:06:39.959 --> 00:06:43.340 And that word para is used in the New Testament Greek, 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:48.060 and it means, as we said, to be alongside or come alongside someone. 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:51.420 And it's used of the likes of the Holy Spirit. 00:06:51.420 --> 00:06:57.360 The word in Greek is parakletos, which means someone called to help. 00:06:57.699 --> 00:07:00.640 Someone called alongside someone else to help. 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:04.660 That's why it's translated in the ESV, it's translated helper. 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:08.300 In the authorized version, it's translated comforter. 00:07:08.780 --> 00:07:12.840 And both things come together because the Holy Spirit comes alongside of us 00:07:12.840 --> 00:07:17.939 in order to help us by his power, in order to comfort us as well. 00:07:17.939 --> 00:07:25.279 But Jesus is also someone who is called our advocate or somebody alongside us 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:27.699 who's come into the world to help us. 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:33.959 Now, just like a paramedic comes alongside somebody who has been in an accident 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:38.000 or fallen ill and is able, hopefully, to treat them properly, 00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:43.879 God remembered us in our sinfulness and in our lostness. 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:49.899 And he sent his son Jesus into the world, not from a distance, 00:07:50.159 --> 00:07:52.800 not to minister to us from a distance. 00:07:53.060 --> 00:07:59.659 Jesus has come right alongside us, so much so that he's become one of us. 00:08:00.459 --> 00:08:03.079 The Son of God took human nature. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:04.819 He became a man. 00:08:04.899 --> 00:08:05.779 He became human. 00:08:06.719 --> 00:08:10.560 And that means that he came alongside of us in our need as sinners 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:12.500 more than anyone else could. 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:20.019 So much so that he now understands us as human beings as well as God. 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:27.000 So Jesus is the greatest paramedic, the greatest healer, 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:30.740 the greatest comforter, the greatest helper. 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:37.320 And for you children, Jesus as a paramedic, as a parahelper, 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:40.879 is someone who is so important to get to know. 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:49.539 I'm going to be thinking today about something to do with growing in grace and in knowledge of Jesus as our Lord. 00:08:50.179 --> 00:08:56.279 There was an intimation there about a defibrillator and asking that people would volunteer, 00:08:56.279 --> 00:09:03.059 if they're not already trained, to work defibrillators to actually come to be able to help in that way. 00:09:03.059 --> 00:09:09.899 Well, anybody using a defibrillator, a machine to restart the heart or help somebody who's had a heart attack, 00:09:10.779 --> 00:09:14.519 that's obviously somebody coming alongside that person, 00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:20.159 usually kneeling down to them if necessary and applying the defibrillator. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:24.199 And Jesus has come alongside us. 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:27.740 There's no more wonderful truth than that today, 00:09:27.920 --> 00:09:32.640 that the Son of God has become our great paramedic 00:09:32.640 --> 00:09:37.420 and has come into the world and has come into our human nature 00:09:37.419 --> 00:09:42.240 and all because he loved human beings like you and I, 00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:50.699 loved them so much as to give his own life to save us from our sins. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:52.899 Well, may God bless these thoughts. 00:09:52.959 --> 00:09:55.519 We're going to say the Lord's Prayer now at this point. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:56.519 Amen. 00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:56.519 00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:56.519 00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:57.519 Amen. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:00.980 Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:02.720 Thy kingdom come. 00:10:03.319 --> 00:10:05.939 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:12.340 Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:16.840 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:10:17.579 --> 00:10:21.100 For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:22.279 Amen. 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:30.480 We'll sing once again to God's praise now in Psalm 43, page 264, Psalm 43. 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:33.339 And we're singing verses 3 to 5. 00:10:39.839 --> 00:10:45.579 This is a song the psalmist has given us, a psalm in which he cries out to God. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:48.959 And he's crying out from some difficulties, 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:53.920 asking God to send out his light and his truth to be his guides. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:58.120 And so that his soul, which is cast down when he wrote these words, 00:10:58.820 --> 00:11:04.280 that will be lifted up and that will come once again to rejoice in his relationship with God. 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:06.700 Oh, send thy light forth and thy truth. 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:10.360 Let them be guides to me and bring me to thine holy hill, 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:12.639 even where thy dwellings be. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:15.379 Psalm 43, verses 3 to 5. 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:16.180 Amen. 00:11:16.180 --> 00:11:16.379 Amen. 00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:23.379 O send thy light forth and thy truth. 00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:27.720 O send thy light forth and thy truth. 00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:42.700 Let them be guides to me and bring me to thine holy hill, 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:49.700 in where thy dwelling see. 00:11:49.700 --> 00:11:58.580 Then will I to all souls are home, 00:11:58.580 --> 00:12:05.560 to all my deepest joy. 00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:10.179 Take all my goals, 00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:14.439 my name to face, 00:12:14.439 --> 00:12:21.839 my heart I will employ. 00:12:21.839 --> 00:12:30.659 Why art thou then cast down my soul? 00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:37.659 What should discourage thee? 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:46.339 And why with vexing thoughts are come, 00:12:46.339 --> 00:12:53.659 disquieted in thee? 00:12:53.659 --> 00:13:02.659 Still trust in God for him to face, 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:09.839 good cause I yet shall have. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:17.720 He of my land and Israel, 00:13:18.580 --> 00:13:24.840 my God that doth be saved. 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:30.960 Now let's turn to read God's word in 2 Peter, 00:13:31.680 --> 00:13:33.160 the second letter of Peter, 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:34.560 and chapter 3. 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:46.180 So that's 2 Peter and chapter 3. 00:13:46.180 --> 00:13:48.680 We'll read from the beginning through to the end. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:56.340 This is now the second letter that I'm writing to you, beloved. 00:13:57.060 --> 00:13:58.060 In both of them, 00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:01.600 I'm stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:05.360 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:09.259 and the commandments of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:11.419 Knowing this, first of all, 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:14.200 that scoffers will come in the last days 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:17.500 with scoffing following their own sinful desires. 00:14:18.180 --> 00:14:19.019 They will say, 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:20.940 where is the promise of his coming? 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:23.700 For ever since the fathers fell asleep, 00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:25.860 all things are continuing as they were 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:27.740 from the beginning of creation. 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:31.120 For they deliberately overlook this fact 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:33.720 that the heavens existed long ago 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:36.399 and the earth was formed out of water 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.800 and through water by the word of God, 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.060 and that by means of these, 00:14:41.540 --> 00:14:42.899 the world that then existed 00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:45.320 was deluged with water and perished. 00:14:46.300 --> 00:14:47.620 But by the same word, 00:14:48.040 --> 00:14:49.980 the heavens and earth that now exist 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:52.120 are stored up for fire, 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:54.620 being kept until the day of judgment 00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:57.019 and destruction of the ungodly. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:00.660 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, 00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:04.159 that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:06.719 and a thousand years as one day. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:10.120 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:12.299 as some count slowness, 00:15:12.459 --> 00:15:14.579 but is patient towards you, 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:17.000 not wishing that any should perish, 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:19.259 but that all should reach repentance. 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:22.659 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:25.539 and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:28.759 and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:31.679 and the earth and the works that are done on it 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:32.639 will be exposed. 00:15:34.059 --> 00:15:36.360 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, 00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:39.100 what sort of people ought you to be 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:41.579 in lives of holiness and godliness, 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:45.699 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:49.600 because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:53.040 and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn. 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:55.680 But according to his promise, 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:57.879 we are waiting for new heavens 00:15:57.879 --> 00:16:01.800 and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:05.139 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.680 be diligent to be found by him 00:16:07.680 --> 00:16:10.460 without spot or blemish and at peace, 00:16:10.920 --> 00:16:13.879 and count the patience of our Lord as salvation, 00:16:14.680 --> 00:16:17.940 just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you, 00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:20.180 according to the wisdom given him, 00:16:20.800 --> 00:16:22.440 as he does in all his letters 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:24.920 when he speaks in them of these matters. 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:28.440 There are some things in them that are hard to understand, 00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:31.400 which the ignorant and unstable twist 00:16:31.400 --> 00:16:32.760 to their own destruction, 00:16:33.520 --> 00:16:35.040 as they do the other scriptures. 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:38.520 You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, 00:16:39.400 --> 00:16:41.420 take care that you are not carried away 00:16:41.420 --> 00:16:43.520 with the error of lawless people, 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.840 and lose your own stability, 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:48.799 but grow in the grace and knowledge 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.399 of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:54.279 To him be the glory both now 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:56.480 and to the day of eternity. 00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:57.939 Amen. 00:16:59.319 --> 00:17:01.139 And may the Lord follow with his blessing 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:03.340 our reading of that portion of his word. 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:05.019 Let's engage again in prayer 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:06.039 and call upon his name. 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:06.639 Amen. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:12.300 Our gracious and eternal God, 00:17:13.020 --> 00:17:16.080 we thank you that your word guides our thoughts 00:17:16.080 --> 00:17:17.440 as we come to worship you. 00:17:18.340 --> 00:17:20.440 It brings us to things that have been, 00:17:21.080 --> 00:17:22.800 things that are, and things that will be. 00:17:23.840 --> 00:17:25.040 You have described for us 00:17:25.040 --> 00:17:26.540 your great works of redemption 00:17:26.540 --> 00:17:28.259 in the ages past. 00:17:29.100 --> 00:17:31.120 And you have especially brought us to know 00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:33.240 that your word has been fulfilled 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:36.460 in the predictions of the prophets of old 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:39.000 in regard to the coming of the Saviour. 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.680 Lord, we thank you that we can look back 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.380 with gratitude 00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:45.259 at that word which is now complete 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.359 in its written form, 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:48.400 and that we can see in it 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:49.859 that which will guide our minds 00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:50.880 for all our lives 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:53.079 and give us a true picture 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:56.099 of the reality of spiritual matters 00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:58.400 and a true picture of ourselves, 00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.880 of the world in which we live, 00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:02.680 of the creation that we are part of, 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:05.819 and of the future destiny of human beings. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:08.000 We thank you today, O Lord, 00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:09.420 that you have reminded us, 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:12.400 even as we hear in Peter's epistle 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.920 that he was reminding us readers 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:15.819 of certain truths. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:17.900 You are reminding us also through them, Lord, 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:19.779 of these great truths 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:22.420 that we need to come and receive 00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:25.019 and appreciate and believe 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.440 and receive into our hearts. 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.440 We bless you, Lord, 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:30.259 for the description you have given us 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:32.000 of the coming days 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.160 in the end of the world 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:35.339 when you will bring about 00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:36.500 that final order 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:38.900 of the new heavens and the new earth 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:41.319 in which righteousness dwells. 00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:43.140 We give thanks, Lord, 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:45.460 that as your people anticipate this, 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.720 so they realize that you 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.839 will bring it about 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:49.799 by your own power 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:50.740 and in your time, 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:52.619 for you are not subject 00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:53.879 to our ways of thinking. 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:55.380 And we thank you 00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.820 that you deliver us, O Lord, 00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:59.640 from falling into the error 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:01.460 of those who would dismiss 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:03.020 those things all too readily 00:19:03.020 --> 00:19:05.080 and even ridicule them 00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:06.340 as being of no substance. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.780 We give thanks, O Lord, 00:19:08.860 --> 00:19:10.780 today that your word guides us 00:19:10.780 --> 00:19:12.220 into holiness of life 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:14.340 and gives us to realize 00:19:14.340 --> 00:19:16.600 that we need to live that life 00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:17.840 that is pleasing to you. 00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.520 You have given us 00:19:19.520 --> 00:19:20.800 such a sure foundation 00:19:20.800 --> 00:19:22.600 on which we can build. 00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:24.419 And we thank you, O Lord, 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.639 that having come to know 00:19:25.639 --> 00:19:27.480 of our acceptance with you 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.899 through the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.679 so you give your people 00:19:30.679 --> 00:19:31.740 your Holy Spirit, 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.279 that they be directed 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.559 and helped and empowered 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:37.019 in the ways of holiness of life 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:39.000 and in the way of dealing 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.959 with the sin 00:19:39.959 --> 00:19:41.659 that they know is part of them still. 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.139 And we thank you 00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:44.000 that you have overcome 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.039 sin and death 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:47.139 through all that you have done already 00:19:47.139 --> 00:19:48.259 through the cross 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.279 and through your resurrection. 00:19:50.179 --> 00:19:50.859 And we give thanks 00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:52.419 that in your ascension 00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:53.060 to glory 00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:55.240 so you established, O Lord, 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:57.100 that certain and sure 00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:58.180 and total victory 00:19:58.180 --> 00:20:00.060 over the powers of darkness. 00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.100 And we give thanks 00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:03.180 that your promise is 00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:04.480 that your people 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.660 will also prevail 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:07.100 and overcome 00:20:07.100 --> 00:20:08.880 and that you will set them 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:09.380 with you 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:10.539 in your presence 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:12.779 on the throne on high, 00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:14.000 that they will be 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.000 before your throne 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.039 and they will forever 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:18.320 magnify your holy name 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:20.039 as they praise you 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:21.319 for all eternity. 00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:22.960 Lord, our God, 00:20:23.139 --> 00:20:25.220 we ask that you would today 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:27.019 make it of great concern 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.439 to be one of those 00:20:28.439 --> 00:20:29.960 and to be assured 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:31.419 that as we belong 00:20:31.419 --> 00:20:32.039 to your people, 00:20:32.159 --> 00:20:32.879 so we are kept 00:20:32.879 --> 00:20:34.819 in the wonderful custody 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.539 and security 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:37.139 of Christ himself 00:20:37.139 --> 00:20:38.740 and the perfection 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.939 of all that he has done 00:20:39.939 --> 00:20:41.480 and all that you continue 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:43.019 to do in and for your people. 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:45.079 We pray your blessing today 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:46.039 upon all the gatherings 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.779 of your church 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.579 throughout the world. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:48.859 We thank you 00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:49.480 for the privilege 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.900 of belonging to your church 00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:51.660 in this world. 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:52.839 And Lord, 00:20:52.900 --> 00:20:53.819 we ask that you would 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:55.940 bless our privileges to us 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:57.500 and make us thankful 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.619 that you have placed us 00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.400 so favorably 00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:00.740 under the gospel 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.460 and surrounded 00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.619 by fellow believers 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:04.279 so that we may come 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.500 to help one another 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:07.099 in the things of God 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.779 and the things 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:09.420 of holiness of life. 00:21:10.139 --> 00:21:10.700 And we pray, 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:11.480 gracious Lord, 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:13.180 as we today gather 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:13.880 in your presence 00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:15.279 and gather to worship you, 00:21:15.860 --> 00:21:16.720 that your Holy Spirit 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.920 will direct our thoughts 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:18.720 and our minds. 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:21.079 Open up our minds again, 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.579 we pray, 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:23.299 and help us to be willing 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:25.240 to receive what you set 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:26.420 before us in your word 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:28.140 and help us to be thankful 00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:29.599 for the proclamation 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:30.360 of your word 00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:30.920 in the preaching 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.660 of the gospel. 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.160 We pray today 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:34.680 that wherever that takes place, 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:36.160 that many will come 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.259 to benefit from it, 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.799 that those who are unsaved 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.360 will come to be born again 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:42.039 and come to know you 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:42.740 as their Savior, 00:21:42.959 --> 00:21:43.519 their Lord, 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.939 their Redeemer. 00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:46.859 We pray your blessing 00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:48.159 to the encouragement 00:21:48.159 --> 00:21:49.659 and the confidence 00:21:49.659 --> 00:21:50.539 of your people. 00:21:51.379 --> 00:21:52.000 Help us, Lord, 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:53.339 to be confident 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:54.219 day by day 00:21:54.219 --> 00:21:55.559 in your own word 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.099 of truth. 00:21:56.959 --> 00:21:57.559 Enable us, 00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:59.399 whatever we face 00:21:59.399 --> 00:22:00.559 in terms of opposition 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:03.979 and in terms of suggestions 00:22:03.979 --> 00:22:04.779 that your word 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.939 is no longer relevant, 00:22:06.959 --> 00:22:07.299 Lord, 00:22:07.399 --> 00:22:08.319 movements that seek 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.000 to undermine 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:10.240 and overthrow your word, 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.379 Lord, 00:22:11.439 --> 00:22:12.799 we pray for that confidence 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:14.679 that we find the likes 00:22:14.679 --> 00:22:16.139 of the apostles themselves 00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:17.960 exclaiming and teaching 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:19.200 those they wrote to. 00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:20.439 And we pray, 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:20.839 O Lord, 00:22:20.899 --> 00:22:21.539 that we too 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:23.579 might have that same confidence 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.359 in the gospel 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:25.980 as the apostle Paul 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.639 when he said 00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:28.439 that he was not ashamed 00:22:28.439 --> 00:22:29.779 of the gospel of Christ, 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.299 knowing that it is 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.240 the power of God 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.179 unto salvation 00:22:33.179 --> 00:22:35.439 to everyone who believes. 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.960 And so we pray 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.860 for that belief, 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.259 for that faith 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.000 to be strengthened 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.759 in us today. 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.779 We pray that it would help us 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.740 to face the world 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:45.340 and all its opposition 00:22:45.340 --> 00:22:48.180 and face the uncertainties 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:48.799 of the future 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.820 as we see forward, 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.360 although we thank you 00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:52.660 that it is all known to you. 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:54.539 And we pray today, Lord, 00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:55.320 for those who have 00:22:55.320 --> 00:22:57.400 various adversities in life. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.039 We think again 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.660 of those who are ill, 00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:02.340 those who have been laid aside 00:23:02.339 --> 00:23:03.539 in hospital, 00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.639 in care homes, 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:06.279 or in hospices. 00:23:06.439 --> 00:23:08.019 We pray for all belonging 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:09.119 to ourselves, Lord, 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.740 that you would bless them 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.919 and bless all others too. 00:23:12.699 --> 00:23:14.099 We pray for your blessing 00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:16.159 upon all those who today mourn 00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:17.179 and miss loved ones. 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.959 We know that every week 00:23:18.959 --> 00:23:19.939 that goes by, Lord, 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.699 we hear in our community 00:23:21.699 --> 00:23:23.359 of those who have lost loved ones. 00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:24.879 And many of us here 00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:26.919 can reflect upon loved ones 00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:28.500 now gone from the scene of time. 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.399 Grant us your comfort, 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:32.340 we pray the consolation 00:23:32.340 --> 00:23:33.180 of your spirit, 00:23:33.800 --> 00:23:35.120 the guidance of your truth 00:23:35.120 --> 00:23:37.019 in these times of adversity. 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.800 Bless the world 00:23:38.800 --> 00:23:39.540 in which we live 00:23:39.540 --> 00:23:41.100 so full of terror 00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:42.100 and war 00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:43.280 and disease 00:23:43.280 --> 00:23:44.420 and poverty. 00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:46.019 Lord, we ask 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.880 that in your mercy 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:48.280 you would send forth 00:23:48.280 --> 00:23:49.420 the power of your truth 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:50.180 in your kingdom 00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:51.600 that it may advance 00:23:51.600 --> 00:23:52.220 in the world, 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:54.060 that your kingdom may come, 00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:55.019 that your will be done 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.480 on earth 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.060 as it is in heaven. 00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:59.180 Lord, where there is war 00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:00.340 today we pray 00:24:00.340 --> 00:24:00.880 that you would 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.860 bring about peace, 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:04.160 a lasting peace, 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:04.580 a peace 00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:05.940 that will indeed 00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:07.840 not be merely man-made 00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:08.860 but a peace made 00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:10.100 through the direction 00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:10.980 of God himself. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.960 We pray your blessing 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.840 upon the nations 00:24:13.840 --> 00:24:14.500 of the earth. 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:15.980 We pray especially 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.660 for those today 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.799 beset with poverty 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:20.279 who cannot look 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:21.740 to the provisions 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:23.460 that other nations have 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:24.920 and to look 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:26.100 from week to week 00:24:26.100 --> 00:24:27.039 and month to month 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:27.880 and year to year 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:29.360 to others 00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:30.020 to help them 00:24:30.020 --> 00:24:31.040 during their distress. 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.680 Bless them, we pray, 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.340 in all who seek 00:24:33.340 --> 00:24:34.040 to help them. 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.760 Bless all those 00:24:35.760 --> 00:24:36.620 in our own nation 00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:38.700 who face poverty 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.560 and deprivation 00:24:39.560 --> 00:24:41.100 for whatever reason, 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.460 O Lord, 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:41.920 we know 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:43.260 that they are always 00:24:43.260 --> 00:24:43.860 with us 00:24:43.860 --> 00:24:45.040 and we ask 00:24:45.040 --> 00:24:45.720 that every effort 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:47.180 made to alleviate 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.940 their distress 00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.680 might be blessed 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.420 by yourself. 00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:51.280 And bless, we pray, 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.780 to our own nation 00:24:52.780 --> 00:24:53.740 and its leadership. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.340 We commend to you, 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:55.660 Lord, 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:56.360 the cabinet 00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:57.200 of prime minister 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.400 and all who are 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.220 with him in cabinet 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.420 and all those 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.320 who rule in Edinburgh 00:25:01.320 --> 00:25:01.880 as well. 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.920 Bless them, we pray. 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.759 Bless them with wisdom. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.560 Hear the prayers 00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:06.200 of your people 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:06.740 for them. 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.259 For you have called us 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:09.100 to pray for those 00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:09.700 in authority. 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.480 We do pray for them 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.160 that they be guided 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:13.040 by your truth, 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.440 that they be delivered 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:15.759 from mere human wisdom 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:17.000 and be turned 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.720 into the wisdom 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.300 of God. 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.920 We ask your blessing 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:21.779 for the United States 00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.900 as they come once again 00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:24.940 to have a president 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:26.420 set over them. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.960 We pray for Donald Trump 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:29.820 as he once again 00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:30.640 takes up the reins 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:31.200 of office. 00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:32.820 And Lord, we ask 00:25:32.820 --> 00:25:33.400 that he may know 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.200 your guidance, 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.400 that you would be 00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:36.480 with that great nation 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.900 in these uncertain times, 00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:40.100 that your Holy Spirit, 00:25:40.280 --> 00:25:41.160 Lord, would direct 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:42.180 the government there 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:43.360 and all those 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:44.259 who seek to do good. 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.720 And we ask that 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.680 that may be of benefit 00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.580 to the whole world. 00:25:48.540 --> 00:25:49.300 We pray again 00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:50.040 for those who are 00:25:50.040 --> 00:25:51.220 caught up in conflict 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.019 in the Middle East 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:53.420 and in Ukraine 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.220 and ask that you 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.880 would bring about 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:56.700 a true and lasting peace 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.220 and that you would 00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.420 come, Lord, 00:25:58.519 --> 00:26:00.500 to deal with the aggressor 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.559 wherever that is 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:03.100 that seeks to destroy 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:03.839 the peace 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:05.720 that others enjoy. 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.440 Receive our thanks, 00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.420 Lord, we pray now. 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.700 Go before us 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.420 and pardon us 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.440 our many sins 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.920 for Jesus' sake. 00:26:13.100 --> 00:26:13.420 Amen. 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.559 We'll sing once again 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.160 before we turn 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:18.000 to the Word of God 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.799 this time, 00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:19.600 Psalm 31. 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.759 Psalm number 31. 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.700 That's in the 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.620 Scottish Psalter, 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:27.940 page 243. 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:33.480 And sing from verse 19 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.680 through to the end 00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:35.140 of the psalm. 00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.200 How great's the goodness 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.319 thou for them 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:37.980 that fear thee 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.980 keepst in store 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:40.500 and wroughtst for them 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.360 that trust in thee 00:26:41.360 --> 00:26:42.779 the sons of men before. 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.880 In secret of thy presence 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.860 thou shalt hide them 00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:47.000 from man's pride, 00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.900 from strife of tongues. 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:50.140 Thou closely shalt, 00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:51.640 as in a tent 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.520 them hide. 00:26:52.520 --> 00:26:53.520 19 to 24. 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.080 To God's praise. 00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:58.079 verse 19. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:03.960 How great's the goodness 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:08.059 that for them 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:15.319 that nearly keeps it store 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:20.200 and brought for them 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:20.200 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:24.399 that trust in thee 00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:30.319 the sons of men before. 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:32.319 in secret of thy presence 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:37.319 shall hide them from man's pride, 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:41.319 from strife of tongues. 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:48.319 shall hide them from man's pride, 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:53.319 from strife of tongues. 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:58.319 How grossly shall 00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:00.319 as in a tent 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:03.319 as in a tent 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:05.319 them hide. 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:11.319 O praise and dance 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:15.319 speak to the Lord, 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:21.319 for he hath magnified 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:24.319 his wondrous love 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:28.319 his wondrous love 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:32.319 to be within 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:38.319 a city fortified. 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:45.319 for from thine eyes 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:49.319 God of all I am 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:53.319 I am my 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:55.319 my name 00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:56.319 my name 00:28:56.319 --> 00:29:00.319 my voice 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:02.319 yet hurts 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:04.319 thou went 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:06.319 to thee 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:09.319 with Christ 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:11.319 my womb 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:14.319 I live. 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:17.319 O love 00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:19.319 the Lord 00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:22.319 all ye 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:24.319 his saints 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:26.319 because 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:29.319 the Lord 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:31.319 doth guard 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:34.319 the faithful 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:36.319 and 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:37.319 he 00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:39.319 quenched us 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:41.319 lead 00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:42.319 thy 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:43.319 doers 00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:48.319 the reward 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:50.319 be 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:51.319 of 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:52.319 good 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:53.319 God 00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:54.319 and 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:55.319 his 00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:58.319 strength 00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:59.319 unto 00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:02.319 your heart 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.319 shall 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:05.319 send 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.319 all 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:07.319 ye 00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:08.319 whose 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.319 hope 00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:10.319 hope 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.319 and 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:13.319 confidence 00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:15.319 that 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:16.319 of 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.319 the 00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:18.319 Lord 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.319 he 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:21.319 ends 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:24.319 well if you would 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:26.319 please turn with me now to 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:29.319 passage read in 2nd Peter chapter 3 00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:34.319 today we're going to look at verses 17 to the end of the chapter especially 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:36.319 you 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:57.319 you therefore beloved knowing this beforehand take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity amen 00:30:57.319 --> 00:31:27.299 while scoffing at or ridiculing the truth as we know of Christ's return Christ coming back to the world Christ coming to sit on the throne of judgment all the various ways in which the Bible describes it scoffing at that ridiculing that passing that off as of no importance is not new it was something the apostles had to face in their day and all the way to the 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:29.299 way through the old testament some of the old testament some of the 00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:57.279 the prophets were met with ridicule and scoffing on the part of those who heard them and essentially that's what Peter is doing in this epistle you can see how he writes these words there at the beginning of this chapter where he's stirring up the mind of those he's writing to by way of a reminder and reminders are always important to ourselves they had no embarrassment of bringing out reminders to the people 00:31:57.279 --> 00:32:27.259 that were reading their letters that were reading their letters or hearing them preaching that things that they had already heard but now come to be reminded of but this is what he's saying talking about how the end of the world will come and the whole epistle indeed you might say is a response to the scoffing and the ridiculing of the idea of Christ's coming and of that day actually coming about you can see in verse 1 and chapter 1 verse 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:57.240 16 he's dealing there we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty in other words he's responding to the idea that this is just of no effect this is really not worth thinking about that the Lord's going to come back that Jesus is going to come back as the judge of the world he's how does he counter that well he counters it for one thing by going 00:32:57.259 --> 00:33:27.259 to the facts the facts the facts the facts that he sets out the facts he sets out facts for them he knew Jesus he met with Jesus he heard Jesus they saw him and they saw him some of his majesty and his glory they saw the miracles that he did they saw him and witnessed his death and his resurrection and his his risen person as he met with him after his resurrection and that's why he's reminding him and reminding him especially as you find in chapter 1 again in verse 20 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:57.259 00:33:57.259 --> 00:34:27.260 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:57.260 and among themselves and among themselves as well and now he's dealing in chapter 3 especially with the second in the second part of the chapter with knowing these things how we ought to behave how we ought to anticipate how we ought to live in anticipating the coming of Jesus how we ought to actually be in the presence of God and the presence of our fellow human beings anticipating that day 00:34:57.260 --> 00:35:27.260 voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy 00:35:27.260 --> 00:35:34.020 saying, you actually guard yourselves against spiritual relapse, against backsliding, against 00:35:34.020 --> 00:35:40.500 going back in your commitment to Jesus. You guard yourself against that by growing in the grace and 00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:45.640 knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, you don't want to go back and relapse here together 00:35:45.640 --> 00:35:50.360 as a congregation. You don't want to lapse as a Christian yourself in your Christian profession, 00:35:50.820 --> 00:35:55.640 in your Christian walk, in your Christian witness. Well, how do you set about ensuring you don't do 00:35:55.639 --> 00:36:00.719 that? Well, Peter is saying, if you actually grow in the grace and the knowledge, and if you keep on 00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:06.279 growing in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, that itself gives you a guard 00:36:06.279 --> 00:36:13.460 against relapsing. That's how he ties those things together, and we'll see that these two things are 00:36:13.460 --> 00:36:19.159 so important to us as we hold them together. And today, look at what he's saying with regard, first 00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:27.759 of all, in guarding against relapse. You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that 00:36:27.759 --> 00:36:34.179 you're not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. Now, he talks, 00:36:34.299 --> 00:36:41.279 first of all, there about them having a significant advantage. And that significant advantage is yours 00:36:41.279 --> 00:36:48.219 also and mine today. What is that advantage? You know these things beforehand. The Bible has taught you. 00:36:48.219 --> 00:36:53.839 The Bible is teaching you about what is going to be at the end of the world. The Bible is teaching you 00:36:53.839 --> 00:36:58.939 that Christ is coming back to this world. The Bible is teaching you that it's a day of judgment. The 00:36:58.939 --> 00:37:04.339 Bible is teaching you that there will be, indeed, that particular crisis moment in the history of 00:37:04.339 --> 00:37:10.339 the creation where God brings about the judgment that he has always purposed, and where Jesus will be 00:37:10.339 --> 00:37:17.079 set on his throne of judgment to bring all who have ever lived before him. You know that beforehand. 00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:23.239 Christ is telling you. The Bible is telling you. The word of truth is telling you. And as Peter said to 00:37:23.239 --> 00:37:30.400 these people, so he's also, this passage is also saying to us, therefore, beloved, seeing you know 00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:37.239 this beforehand. What a great advantage you have today in belonging to the church and belonging to 00:37:37.239 --> 00:37:43.000 our church that values the gospel, that preaches the gospel, that teaches the Bible. What a great 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:50.360 privilege is yours. What an advantage you have in that. Knowing this beforehand, before it happens, 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:55.880 you already know about it. And because you already know about it, you're able to do something about 00:37:55.880 --> 00:38:02.679 preparing for it. That's what Peter is saying. That's what all of us today are involved with, 00:38:02.780 --> 00:38:10.579 preparing for the coming judgment. And of course, the coming judgment is not all about doom and gloom and 00:38:10.579 --> 00:38:17.719 negativity. There is that side to it, judgment of the wicked, judgment of the lost. But there's another 00:38:17.719 --> 00:38:23.539 side to it as well. Indeed, the Bible gives even more emphasis to that, the judgment of God's people 00:38:23.539 --> 00:38:30.079 to declare them righteous, to set them out forevermore in the glory of likeness to Christ. 00:38:30.079 --> 00:38:40.219 That's a reality. That's what you have to set your mind on and prepare in the way the Bible counsels you to do that. 00:38:41.079 --> 00:38:48.079 So, knowing these things, beloved, knowing this beforehand, saying you know all about this already, 00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:55.420 take care, guard yourselves, he's saying, from falling away or from straying. Now, he's saying here, 00:38:55.420 --> 00:39:01.740 be on your guard, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error 00:39:01.740 --> 00:39:07.260 of lawless people and lose your own stability. There are three things there. Three things there in this 00:39:07.260 --> 00:39:15.159 guarding against relapse. First of all, there is what he says here, take care, be on your guard. 00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:22.500 He's serious about this. It's not something you treat casually. It's not something you can give half 00:39:22.500 --> 00:39:27.780 your mind to. It's not something you switch on on Sunday and then off for the rest of the week. 00:39:28.980 --> 00:39:34.199 It's something that's there constantly as a necessity on your part and mine. 00:39:35.219 --> 00:39:41.099 Take care, he's saying, and be serious about this. Be deliberate. Be concentrate. Be concentrate. 00:39:41.460 --> 00:39:46.800 Be actively engaged in thinking about these things, in dealing with these things, 00:39:46.800 --> 00:39:54.820 in applying these things to your own lives, to your own walk in life. Knowing these things beforehand, 00:39:56.039 --> 00:40:02.760 be on your guard. Take care. And then he says, take care in case you be carried away 00:40:02.760 --> 00:40:11.900 with the error of lawless people, heretics, false teachers. That's what chapter two is actually 00:40:11.900 --> 00:40:18.160 dealing with. And you go through that really solemn chapter, and you see how these false teachers were 00:40:18.160 --> 00:40:24.059 not some people who lived at a distance from the church of Peter's day. They had actually infiltrated 00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:31.880 the church. They were amongst those who were professing to be Christians. And yet here is God saying, 00:40:32.340 --> 00:40:41.340 Peter saying, that these people are actually just making others unsteady. You can see how he puts it there. 00:40:41.900 --> 00:40:50.840 that they have eyes, in verse 14, eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice 00:40:50.840 --> 00:40:57.880 unsteady souls. And you see he's calling here in chapter 3 here for steadfastness. Don't lose your 00:40:57.880 --> 00:41:04.280 own stability. Don't give in to false teaching, to heresy, to species of doctrines that aren't true 00:41:04.280 --> 00:41:17.019 in accordance with the will of God. You see, heresy is attractive. It's attractive to the sinful side of us. 00:41:18.940 --> 00:41:26.900 Lawlessness is attractive to sinful hearts. Unrighteousness is attractive if you allow 00:41:26.900 --> 00:41:34.300 yourself to be beguiled by it. There's an attraction in sin. There's an attraction in sinning. 00:41:36.139 --> 00:41:39.320 And all of these things are set out in the Bible very clearly. 00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:45.559 That doesn't mean because you've become a Christian, you're no longer going to be tempted towards 00:41:45.559 --> 00:41:50.800 that side of life, towards those things that God says are unclean, 00:41:50.800 --> 00:41:59.140 towards that side of living that actually is involving yourself and myself in sin of whatever 00:41:59.140 --> 00:42:05.820 kind, even privately or publicly, it doesn't matter. There is an attractiveness in that which 00:42:05.820 --> 00:42:11.560 the devil will use to the advantage, to his advantage, to the advantage of falsehood. 00:42:11.559 --> 00:42:22.400 You remember how Paul wrote to the Galatians? Galatians had given in to the heresy that said, 00:42:22.960 --> 00:42:28.139 you need more than Jesus. You need works. You need some of your own effort to go along with what 00:42:28.139 --> 00:42:37.480 Jesus has done in order to have righteousness, in order to be accepted with God. What did he say? 00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:44.059 How did he put it in Galatians 3? Oh foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? 00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:51.800 You see, Peter was well aware, as Paul was well aware, that there's a bewitching element to falsehood, 00:42:52.119 --> 00:43:00.860 to heresy, to false teaching. It has the ability to bring about such a bewitching of people even who 00:43:00.860 --> 00:43:07.079 have professed Christ, that they fall from their steadfastness or from their own stability, 00:43:07.079 --> 00:43:15.219 as Peter here puts it. You remember Simon Magus in Acts chapter 8, went about doing some wonderful 00:43:15.219 --> 00:43:23.079 magical arts. He was involved in the magical arts when he came into confrontation with the gospel, 00:43:23.360 --> 00:43:29.960 but people were following that and saying, this is indeed, this is one who is from the God who is 00:43:29.960 --> 00:43:43.579 called great. There are people in the world today, friends, who are bewitched and following false doctrine, 00:43:44.539 --> 00:43:51.720 false teaching. And you know, I think we're being very negative when we call that out for what it is. 00:43:51.719 --> 00:44:00.379 People who actually deliberately set about trying to advance themselves and the cause they represent 00:44:00.379 --> 00:44:08.159 at the expense of the gospel and the true gospel of Christ. Well, the Bible calls it out. Peter is 00:44:08.159 --> 00:44:14.399 calling it out here. And he's saying to us today who are under the gospel, you knowing this beforehand, 00:44:14.400 --> 00:44:19.900 take care that you're not carried away, that you're not bewitched, that you're not beguiled, 00:44:20.900 --> 00:44:29.440 that you're not hoodwinked by the ability of the devil to beguile you. Take care that you're not 00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:38.920 carried away and lose your own stability. Stability, steadfastness in the truth of God, 00:44:38.920 --> 00:44:46.420 to a lot of people that sounds very boring. But it's absolutely essential for your life as a human 00:44:46.420 --> 00:44:51.760 being, and especially your life as a Christian. And it's not just important to yourself as an 00:44:51.760 --> 00:44:57.000 individual and to myself as an individual, it's actually important to the church at large, because 00:44:57.000 --> 00:45:02.800 the more people individually lose their spiritual stability, the more the church is going to suffer 00:45:02.800 --> 00:45:11.140 in result. As we said in chapter 2 there, you can see how verse 14, as we've read it already, 00:45:12.080 --> 00:45:19.580 verse 14 is saying, they have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. 00:45:21.340 --> 00:45:27.840 You see, the more your soul becomes unsteady, the more it wobbles in relation to the truth of God 00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:36.120 and what you should and ought to believe, the more liable you and I are then to just falling away 00:45:36.120 --> 00:45:43.620 in the error of the wicked and to becoming unstable and even to reject that truth altogether. 00:45:44.720 --> 00:45:49.920 He's saying, you know this beforehand. Take care. Guard yourself. 00:45:49.920 --> 00:45:58.200 Always remember that there is a dark power going up and down the earth seeking whom he may devour. 00:45:58.320 --> 00:46:06.680 That's what Peter said in his first epistle. The devil is a roaring lion. He's intent today on getting you 00:46:06.680 --> 00:46:15.539 to fail, on getting you to fall, to lapse, to turn away from the truth, to become unsteady, 00:46:15.539 --> 00:46:23.599 to leave the rock on which you're placed as the Word of God. And he says, take care that you don't lose 00:46:23.599 --> 00:46:33.159 your own stability. Remember how Paul, Apostle Paul, wrote to the Ephesians in chapter 4, a great chapter 00:46:33.159 --> 00:46:42.139 to do with the unity of the church and how essential unity is. And for yourselves as well as a congregation, 00:46:42.139 --> 00:46:50.000 unity has been and is essential and precious. It was one of, when I was here for the eight years I was 00:46:50.000 --> 00:46:55.279 here, one of the things I valued as much as anything else was the obvious unity in the congregation. 00:46:56.179 --> 00:47:01.000 And I know that unity is now important during a vacancy as much as any other time. 00:47:01.879 --> 00:47:07.779 Well, here is what Paul said in Ephesians 4, verses 11 to 14. He's talking there about 00:47:07.780 --> 00:47:13.700 growing, of course, until we attain to the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God 00:47:13.700 --> 00:47:20.840 to mature manhood. He's talking here about the whole believing, the whole church, the whole body 00:47:20.840 --> 00:47:28.440 of believers, if you like. So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and 00:47:28.440 --> 00:47:37.040 carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 00:47:37.780 --> 00:47:45.160 Very similar to Peter. He knew about these schemes of the devil. He knew the danger of false teaching. 00:47:45.620 --> 00:47:51.900 He knew that if we lose our own stability, then that's the way we will go. And instead, he says, 00:47:52.019 --> 00:47:59.300 rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, 00:47:59.620 --> 00:48:05.000 into Christ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped. 00:48:05.000 --> 00:48:13.019 When each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 00:48:13.059 --> 00:48:18.059 In other words, you and I have to say to ourselves today, I, as much as anyone else, have to say to 00:48:18.059 --> 00:48:32.599 yourself today, am I in any way contributing to others losing their focus on the things of God? 00:48:34.279 --> 00:48:40.840 Have I lost something of my own stability to the extent that others seeing that will be encouraged to do the same? 00:48:40.840 --> 00:48:51.360 Well, he says, together in love, build one another up in love. A love for God, a love for his truth, a love for one another. 00:48:52.539 --> 00:48:58.320 Well, that's what Peter is actually saying here as well. Guarding against relapse. 00:48:58.320 --> 00:49:04.380 Now, positively, and the other side, growing in grace and knowledge. As we said at the beginning, 00:49:05.059 --> 00:49:11.120 you guard against falling away, you guard against losing your stability, pretty much by growing in the 00:49:11.120 --> 00:49:16.120 grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the alternative. It's not just an 00:49:16.120 --> 00:49:23.280 alternative, it is a counter to the falling away. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and 00:49:23.280 --> 00:49:30.240 Savior Jesus Christ. Now, what does he mean by that? The grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus 00:49:30.240 --> 00:49:37.760 Christ. Well, the grace of Jesus Christ, the grace of God, really sometimes means the whole business of 00:49:37.760 --> 00:49:44.420 the salvation into which you've been brought. For example, in Romans chapter 5, you find him there 00:49:44.420 --> 00:49:51.260 dealing with being justified by faith in Christ. But he goes on to say, since we have been justified by 00:49:51.260 --> 00:49:57.500 faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him, we have also obtained access 00:49:57.500 --> 00:50:05.660 by faith into this grace in which we stand. This grace there meaning our relationship with God and Christ. 00:50:06.100 --> 00:50:13.000 He has brought us and introduced us into this relationship with God as our Savior, as our Redeemer, 00:50:13.000 --> 00:50:23.519 as our Keeper. And now Peter is saying, grow in the grace of Jesus Christ. Grow within that environment 00:50:23.519 --> 00:50:30.119 that he's brought you into, into this new relationship with him through Christ. It's like taking a plant 00:50:30.119 --> 00:50:36.400 out of a certain area where there was not much growth, where it was suffering, and giving it the best 00:50:36.400 --> 00:50:43.539 possible conditions in which to grow. That's what you are and I am as Christians in this world. God has 00:50:43.539 --> 00:50:52.119 taken us out of the coldness of the world. He has taken us out of that negativity and non-productiveness 00:50:52.119 --> 00:50:58.500 spiritually and righteously of the world and of living as part of the world. He's put you into the 00:50:58.500 --> 00:51:05.220 environment of grace. He's put you into this relationship with himself where you have all the advantages. 00:51:05.219 --> 00:51:16.000 You see what Peter is saying as well as we see here in chapter 1, where you find chapter 1 and verse 3, 00:51:16.059 --> 00:51:22.639 his divine power. He's saying, may grace and peace be multiplied to you. Then verse 3, his divine power 00:51:22.639 --> 00:51:30.939 has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called 00:51:30.940 --> 00:51:37.159 us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us precious and very great promises, so that 00:51:37.159 --> 00:51:43.000 through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world 00:51:43.000 --> 00:51:49.039 from sinful desire. For this reason, make every effort to supplement your faith, to build on what you already 00:51:49.039 --> 00:51:55.159 have. See, there's the great advantage that we have under the gospel, that we have especially in a saving 00:51:55.159 --> 00:52:02.079 relationship with Jesus. God has brought us into this environment where we can grow in the grace of 00:52:02.079 --> 00:52:11.079 Christ, where the provision he's given us is a provision that is especially itself marked by 00:52:11.079 --> 00:52:19.779 suitability for us in which to grow. So in other words, he's given his people the Holy Spirit. 00:52:19.780 --> 00:52:27.340 He's given them the grace of prayer. He's given them this written word, this revelation of his will. 00:52:28.360 --> 00:52:37.160 He's given them fellowship with one another. We grow in the grace of Jesus by making use to our 00:52:37.160 --> 00:52:44.220 advantage of all of these things. Don't let any moment pass where you can actually make use of the 00:52:44.219 --> 00:52:51.459 advantages he's given you in order to grow in his grace. Because there's a sense in which others are 00:52:51.459 --> 00:52:58.739 depending on you and I growing in grace, so that will be an encouragement to them as well. 00:52:59.819 --> 00:53:07.439 Grow in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but also in the knowledge. Grow in the grace and 00:53:07.440 --> 00:53:14.519 knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Well, you could say at the end of the day, it's really 00:53:14.519 --> 00:53:22.579 all about communion with Christ. Not just communion with Christ on your own, that's great. Communion with 00:53:22.579 --> 00:53:29.260 him, reading your Bible, learning from works that teach you what the Bible means. Not just communion 00:53:29.260 --> 00:53:37.780 praying on your own to the Lord, essential as that undoubtedly is. I don't do enough of it. I'm sure 00:53:37.780 --> 00:53:46.040 you say the same. But growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ means growing along with other people 00:53:46.040 --> 00:53:54.220 in this knowledge. Here we are today as a congregation of people. Congregation united together under the 00:53:54.219 --> 00:54:01.819 gospel. United together by the truth of God. United together by the teaching of the gospel. 00:54:02.939 --> 00:54:09.219 And by the injunction of the scripture here that says, grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. That's 00:54:09.219 --> 00:54:15.419 what you're here for today. You haven't come here today to listen to a human voice. You've come here 00:54:15.419 --> 00:54:20.480 today through the preaching of the gospel to grow in the knowledge of God. That's why it's absolutely 00:54:20.480 --> 00:54:26.579 essential that the church continues to preach the gospel and to preach a teaching gospel, a teaching 00:54:26.579 --> 00:54:32.119 ministry. We need that. All of us need that. To be taught by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of 00:54:32.119 --> 00:54:42.000 the word of God. To grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every occasion that you meet together, 00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:50.639 every time there's something or other to do with meeting together in the Lord's name, it's so that you will grow 00:54:50.639 --> 00:54:58.539 in the knowledge of Christ. It's so that you will give more attention than ever before to the importance of 00:54:58.539 --> 00:55:07.480 his truth as the foundation of your knowledge. Grow in knowing him personally, not just knowing him off the 00:55:07.480 --> 00:55:17.619 written page. Heretics can do that. But you need to know him personally as your savior, as your friend, 00:55:19.000 --> 00:55:33.219 as your companion, as your redeemer. And that will mean we grow not just outwards to bear certain fruit, 00:55:33.219 --> 00:55:42.819 but also downwards. Downwards for our own stability. Not losing our stability, but instead countering the 00:55:42.819 --> 00:55:48.639 loss of stability by growing downwards, by being more and more rooted in the truth of God. More and more 00:55:48.639 --> 00:55:56.759 rooted in Christ himself. Through fellowship with him privately and together. Our roots go downwards. 00:55:56.760 --> 00:56:04.160 We become more stable in the truth of God. And we need that. We live in a world where we're open to all 00:56:04.160 --> 00:56:10.540 kinds of, as Paul himself put it to the Ephesians, as we read, all kinds of winds of doctrines and heresies. 00:56:11.520 --> 00:56:20.200 We're open to them. We meet them every day we live. We find them even in aspects of the wider church. 00:56:20.199 --> 00:56:31.399 Grow in the knowledge of Jesus. Grow in the knowledge of Jesus. Grow in the knowledge of him as your savior and your Lord. 00:56:32.399 --> 00:56:41.239 In other words, listen to Jesus. Look out for the voice of God. Isn't that why you came to church today? 00:56:41.239 --> 00:56:50.459 Not just to express your thanks to him with your voice, but to listen to his voice, speaking to you through the scriptures, 00:56:51.159 --> 00:56:58.619 through the preaching of the word. You've come here surely because you value the voice of God, the voice of Christ. 00:56:59.059 --> 00:57:04.979 You want to hear that voice again today for your guidance, for your benefit, for your strengthening, for your growth. 00:57:04.980 --> 00:57:14.440 Isn't that why you're here? Isn't that what church means to you? Isn't that really important? 00:57:15.719 --> 00:57:17.800 Important above most other things. 00:57:20.039 --> 00:57:28.619 Well, this is Peter's exhortation. And it's very likely his last exhortation. This is his second letter. 00:57:28.619 --> 00:57:44.779 And he is well aware that his own demise is nearby. He's talking about putting off his present state in this world. 00:57:45.799 --> 00:57:51.420 And he's paying attention to the fact that he himself too will need to leave this world. 00:57:51.420 --> 00:58:14.440 He knew he was near the end of his life. 00:58:14.440 --> 00:58:20.659 So who was better qualified than Peter to give out this exhortation? 00:58:21.720 --> 00:58:26.980 Because after all, he's writing as somebody who had himself failed badly. 00:58:29.039 --> 00:58:30.400 He had gone astray. 00:58:31.519 --> 00:58:40.099 He had denied his Lord three times just prior to the Lord's crucifixion. 00:58:42.400 --> 00:58:43.940 Why was that the case? 00:58:44.440 --> 00:58:48.460 What was it that led to that lapse on Peter's part? 00:58:49.019 --> 00:58:53.200 He had failed to take account of his Lord's teaching. 00:58:54.000 --> 00:58:58.079 He had heard the words of Jesus, but he hadn't reckoned with them. 00:58:58.820 --> 00:59:01.980 He had heard them speaking to him about what would happen, 00:59:03.200 --> 00:59:05.059 about the need to continue to pray, 00:59:05.720 --> 00:59:07.079 and he didn't do it. 00:59:07.079 --> 00:59:14.579 And he lapsed three times into a denial of Christ. 00:59:16.579 --> 00:59:18.940 Yes, he was restored by Jesus. 00:59:19.940 --> 00:59:22.000 That was due to the Lord's kindness, 00:59:22.599 --> 00:59:24.559 not to Peter's deserving. 00:59:24.559 --> 00:59:28.539 And as he did lapse, 00:59:29.139 --> 00:59:33.059 he undoubtedly heard the words of Jesus again, 00:59:34.059 --> 00:59:34.860 who said, 00:59:35.320 --> 00:59:37.199 Satan has desired to have you, Peter, 00:59:37.420 --> 00:59:40.139 that he may sift you all as wheat. 00:59:40.139 --> 00:59:42.719 But I have prayed for you, 00:59:42.719 --> 00:59:45.659 that your faith will not fail, 00:59:46.359 --> 00:59:48.500 that it will not completely fail. 00:59:48.500 --> 00:59:51.300 And when you are recovered, 00:59:52.699 --> 00:59:53.800 strengthen your brothers. 00:59:55.079 --> 00:59:56.719 That's what this epistle is about. 00:59:57.139 --> 00:59:58.860 That's what the previous letter is about. 00:59:59.719 --> 01:00:01.940 Strengthening his fellow Christians 01:00:01.940 --> 01:00:04.880 by learning from his own laps 01:00:04.880 --> 01:00:06.980 and now saying to them, 01:00:07.700 --> 01:00:09.139 be careful, 01:00:09.559 --> 01:00:10.380 be on your guard, 01:00:12.000 --> 01:00:14.700 that you do not get carried away 01:00:14.700 --> 01:00:16.079 with the error of lawless people 01:00:16.079 --> 01:00:17.320 and lose your own stability, 01:00:17.980 --> 01:00:20.079 but grow in grace and knowledge 01:00:20.079 --> 01:00:21.700 of our Lord and Savior, 01:00:22.280 --> 01:00:23.139 Jesus Christ. 01:00:24.559 --> 01:00:27.000 Well, no one else was better qualified 01:00:27.000 --> 01:00:28.860 to write these words 01:00:28.860 --> 01:00:31.420 or the words of 1 Peter 5, 01:00:31.940 --> 01:00:33.579 verses 6 to 11. 01:00:33.700 --> 01:00:34.340 And I'll close 01:00:34.340 --> 01:00:36.920 by just reading these words. 01:00:37.920 --> 01:00:39.099 1 Peter 5, 01:00:39.539 --> 01:00:40.980 verses 6 to 11. 01:00:42.420 --> 01:00:43.880 Humble yourselves, therefore, 01:00:44.440 --> 01:00:46.079 under the mighty hand of God, 01:00:46.800 --> 01:00:48.179 so that at the proper time 01:00:48.179 --> 01:00:49.139 he may exalt you, 01:00:49.900 --> 01:00:51.940 casting all your anxieties on him 01:00:51.940 --> 01:00:54.179 because he cares for you. 01:00:54.980 --> 01:00:55.980 Be sober-minded, 01:00:56.579 --> 01:00:57.400 be watchful. 01:00:58.139 --> 01:01:00.220 Your adversary the devil prowls around 01:01:00.220 --> 01:01:01.760 like a roaring lion, 01:01:02.500 --> 01:01:03.940 seeking someone to devour. 01:01:04.579 --> 01:01:05.280 Resist him, 01:01:05.860 --> 01:01:06.840 firm in your faith, 01:01:07.440 --> 01:01:09.099 knowing that the same kinds of suffering 01:01:09.099 --> 01:01:10.559 are being experienced 01:01:10.559 --> 01:01:11.400 by your brotherhood 01:01:11.400 --> 01:01:12.300 throughout the world. 01:01:13.240 --> 01:01:14.240 And after you have suffered 01:01:14.240 --> 01:01:15.220 for a little while, 01:01:16.119 --> 01:01:17.119 the God of all grace 01:01:17.119 --> 01:01:17.860 who has called you 01:01:17.860 --> 01:01:19.639 to his eternal glory in Christ 01:01:19.639 --> 01:01:21.420 will himself 01:01:21.420 --> 01:01:22.599 restore, 01:01:23.280 --> 01:01:23.760 confirm, 01:01:24.579 --> 01:01:25.039 strengthen, 01:01:25.700 --> 01:01:26.840 and establish you. 01:01:26.840 --> 01:01:28.980 to him be the dominion 01:01:28.980 --> 01:01:30.600 forever and ever. 01:01:31.600 --> 01:01:31.960 Amen. 01:01:32.920 --> 01:01:33.840 Let us pray. 01:01:33.840 --> 01:01:38.260 Lord, our God, 01:01:38.300 --> 01:01:39.539 we pray that you would increase 01:01:39.539 --> 01:01:41.320 our thankfulness for your word, 01:01:41.800 --> 01:01:42.780 for its teaching, 01:01:43.519 --> 01:01:45.600 and our dependence upon its reliability. 01:01:46.880 --> 01:01:48.059 Help us especially, Lord, 01:01:48.120 --> 01:01:50.120 to deepen our relationship with yourself. 01:01:51.519 --> 01:01:52.140 Grant us today, 01:01:52.240 --> 01:01:54.420 whatever that relationship may be, 01:01:55.380 --> 01:01:56.280 that we may be found, 01:01:56.500 --> 01:01:57.280 Lord, in Christ. 01:01:57.280 --> 01:01:59.640 if we have not yet come 01:01:59.640 --> 01:02:00.540 to accept you, 01:02:01.120 --> 01:02:02.580 grant us the grace to do so. 01:02:03.500 --> 01:02:04.460 If we have in any way 01:02:04.460 --> 01:02:05.440 been conscious, Lord, 01:02:05.519 --> 01:02:07.340 of some lapses or failures 01:02:07.340 --> 01:02:08.120 in our lives, 01:02:08.840 --> 01:02:10.220 grant us the grace of recovery. 01:02:11.179 --> 01:02:12.239 And if we go on, 01:02:12.279 --> 01:02:12.659 O Lord, 01:02:12.719 --> 01:02:14.139 as we have begun 01:02:14.139 --> 01:02:16.179 to walk in your ways 01:02:16.179 --> 01:02:17.439 and to seek to make you known 01:02:17.439 --> 01:02:19.099 to the world around us, 01:02:19.799 --> 01:02:20.500 grant us the grace 01:02:20.500 --> 01:02:21.359 of your protection. 01:02:22.319 --> 01:02:23.619 We pray these things, Lord, 01:02:23.839 --> 01:02:24.699 asking that you would 01:02:24.699 --> 01:02:26.139 bless this congregation 01:02:26.139 --> 01:02:27.439 now in the days to come. 01:02:28.299 --> 01:02:29.399 Guide them and steer them 01:02:29.399 --> 01:02:31.099 as they look for a pastor 01:02:31.099 --> 01:02:32.639 to lead them in the things of God. 01:02:33.659 --> 01:02:35.099 And Lord, we pray for Calamuro. 01:02:35.839 --> 01:02:36.639 We ask for him 01:02:36.639 --> 01:02:37.919 as assistant at this time 01:02:37.919 --> 01:02:39.259 and as he has made his mind known 01:02:39.260 --> 01:02:41.880 that this is his preferred choice. 01:02:41.980 --> 01:02:42.740 We pray for him. 01:02:43.480 --> 01:02:45.020 We pray for Johan and their family. 01:02:45.180 --> 01:02:45.920 We pray for him 01:02:45.920 --> 01:02:47.300 in his relationship 01:02:47.300 --> 01:02:48.020 with the congregation. 01:02:48.540 --> 01:02:50.560 We pray for all in the congregation, 01:02:50.740 --> 01:02:51.540 for every family, 01:02:52.500 --> 01:02:53.860 for every office bearer, 01:02:54.460 --> 01:02:55.440 for every home. 01:02:55.540 --> 01:02:56.360 We ask that you would 01:02:56.360 --> 01:02:57.960 provide for them, Lord, 01:02:58.060 --> 01:02:59.420 richly and give them together 01:02:59.420 --> 01:03:00.700 that they may know 01:03:00.700 --> 01:03:02.160 the grace of patience too 01:03:02.160 --> 01:03:04.080 as the weight upon yourself. 01:03:04.900 --> 01:03:06.020 Receive our thanks now, 01:03:06.100 --> 01:03:07.840 we pray in Jesus' name. 01:03:08.280 --> 01:03:08.620 Amen. 01:03:09.260 --> 01:03:12.100 We're going to conclude 01:03:12.100 --> 01:03:13.280 our worship today now, 01:03:13.360 --> 01:03:14.480 Psalm 119. 01:03:15.740 --> 01:03:17.840 Psalm 119 and sing Psalms, 01:03:17.920 --> 01:03:19.240 that's page 167 01:03:19.240 --> 01:03:22.340 and section 21, 01:03:22.460 --> 01:03:26.200 verse 161 of Psalm 119. 01:03:26.980 --> 01:03:28.220 Though rulers hound me 01:03:28.220 --> 01:03:29.080 without cause, 01:03:29.500 --> 01:03:30.680 my heart fears nothing 01:03:30.680 --> 01:03:31.540 but your word, 01:03:32.100 --> 01:03:33.100 for in your promise 01:03:33.100 --> 01:03:33.920 I rejoice, 01:03:34.480 --> 01:03:35.420 like one who finds 01:03:35.420 --> 01:03:36.980 great spoil, O Lord. 01:03:36.980 --> 01:03:39.500 all falsehood I abhor and hate, 01:03:39.500 --> 01:03:41.079 with all my heart 01:03:41.079 --> 01:03:42.159 I love your law, 01:03:42.760 --> 01:03:44.699 I praise you seven times a day, 01:03:45.300 --> 01:03:46.300 for your commands 01:03:46.300 --> 01:03:48.260 I hold in awe. 01:03:48.320 --> 01:03:50.019 Psalm 119, 01:03:50.280 --> 01:03:51.639 verse 161, 01:03:51.820 --> 01:03:52.760 to God's praise. 01:03:52.760 --> 01:04:05.200 O rulers hound me with her claws, 01:04:05.200 --> 01:04:10.480 my heart fears nothing, 01:04:10.480 --> 01:04:13.920 not your word, 01:04:13.920 --> 01:04:22.300 for in your promise I rejoice, 01:04:22.300 --> 01:04:27.019 like one who fights, 01:04:27.019 --> 01:04:27.840 grace, 01:04:27.840 --> 01:04:31.599 father, O Lord. 01:04:31.599 --> 01:04:40.519 all falsehood I am born and hate, 01:04:40.519 --> 01:04:44.880 with all my heart, 01:04:45.119 --> 01:04:49.199 I love your law, 01:04:49.199 --> 01:04:57.839 I praise you seven times a day, 01:04:57.840 --> 01:05:06.760 for your commands I hold in awe. 01:05:06.760 --> 01:05:15.860 Great peace are those who love your law, 01:05:15.860 --> 01:05:22.440 they will not sound the wind, 01:05:22.440 --> 01:05:23.440 the way, 01:05:23.440 --> 01:05:31.360 I wait for your salvation, 01:05:31.360 --> 01:05:32.360 Lord, 01:05:32.360 --> 01:05:41.039 and your commands I will obey. 01:05:41.039 --> 01:05:49.960 I will observe your statutes, 01:05:49.960 --> 01:05:50.960 Lord, 01:05:50.960 --> 01:05:59.639 my love for them is great and true, 01:05:59.639 --> 01:06:06.639 your laws and peace set high, 01:06:06.639 --> 01:06:08.219 O faith, 01:06:08.559 --> 01:06:16.559 for all my ways are known to you. 01:06:18.699 --> 01:06:21.059 Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 01:06:21.159 --> 01:06:22.420 the love of God the Father, 01:06:22.579 --> 01:06:24.059 and the communion of the Holy Spirit 01:06:24.059 --> 01:06:26.579 be with you now and evermore. 01:06:26.980 --> 01:06:27.319 Amen. 01:06:27.559 --> 01:06:28.559 Amen. 01:06:28.559 --> 01:06:29.559 Amen. 01:06:29.559 --> 01:06:29.559 01:06:36.639 --> 01:06:37.639 Amen.