Let's begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise.
We're going to sing in Psalm 84 in the Scottish Psalter at verse 6.
Psalm 84 at verse 6, page 338 of the psalm book.
The tomb is Tramps and Hawkers.
Who passing Thurabaker's vale, therein do dig up wells.
Also the rain that falleth down, the pools with water fills.
Though they from strength and weary go still forward unto strength.
Until in Zion they appear before the Lord at length.
We'll sing from verse 6a down to the end of the psalm to God's praise.
Who passing through Bacchus' vale, therein do dig up wells.
Also the rain that falleth down, the pools with water fills.
So they from strength and weary go still forward unto strength.
Until in Zion they appear before the Lord at length.
Lord, what a force my way are here, O Jacob's God give ear.
See God our shield look on the face of thy anointed ear.
All in thy course on the excess a thousand rather in.
My God's house will I keep adored and dwell in tents of sin.
What want the Lord's a sun and shield, ill grace and glory give.
And dwell with hope no good from them, that of our heed to live.
O Lord, that of our heed to the Lord of hosts, that man is truly blessed.
Through my assured confidence, on thee alone the rest.
Let's come to God in prayer.
Let us pray.
Lord God of hosts, as the psalmist says, we thank you to be able to come and worship you this evening together.
We thank you to be able to come into your place and with your people.
To be gathered around your word that speaks to us so powerfully.
And to sing your praises from these words that remind us of who you are and the wonder of your grace.
That you are the one who the psalmist says, he'll grace and glory give.
And will withhold no good from them that uprightly do live.
And we thank you that we can enter into the experience of these words.
Recognizing, Lord, that you have not withheld anything from us.
We so often ask for things that maybe we think we don't get.
But Lord, you and your wisdom may keep things from us that we do not require.
But we thank you that all that we need to live, move and have our being is supplied by you.
And supplied so abundantly.
We thank you, Lord, for every provision you make for us.
That you are a God of grace and glory.
That you are a God who has revealed your grace and glory to us through your Son, Jesus Christ.
We thank you that your glory is seen around us.
And your grace is experienced even within us.
We thank you, Lord, for so much that we have that we take for granted.
But help us, Lord, that day by day we will appreciate more.
Your wondrous works towards us and towards your kingdom.
For we belong to your people.
A people who belong to all nations and tribes of this world.
We may belong to a place and a town and a family.
We may belong to a nation and a country here.
But we thank you, Lord, that above all, our citizenship is in heaven.
That we are a people, Lord, who as we put our trust in you,
would find there that we belong to you as our Father in heaven.
That we belong to your people scattered far and wide.
And help us, Lord, to find our identity in you.
To seek you with all our heart.
And to look to you and to trust in you as the maker of heaven and earth.
And we do thank you, Lord, for your grace.
Your grace so abundant towards your people.
Your grace shown in how you gave your own Son.
How he came to redeem his people.
How he came to save his people from their sins.
And we thank you, Lord, that in all that we could not do for ourselves,
that you have accomplished it for us.
And help us to cry to you.
Help us to call upon your name.
Help us to know that you are with us.
Help us to know your presence day by day.
Help us to experience it, Lord, and to share it with others.
Help us to rejoice in it.
And to be glad for everything that you do for us.
So that even as we worship this evening, as we sing your praise,
we will do so with joy and delight in our hearts and on our lips.
And as we hear and receive your word,
that it will fill us up for the week that lies ahead.
As we begin this week on a day that reminds us that our Lord and Savior is risen.
And a reminder to us that we rest in him.
May he equip us and set us up, Lord, for going back into our workspaces and into our homes
and into our communities in the week ahead.
That we will be salt and light in all that we do.
We do pray for your ongoing work here in our midst and throughout your kingdom, Lord.
We thank you that you are building your church and that you are calling your people to yourself.
That there is that irresistible grace that you show towards your people.
We thank you for evidence of how you are working, how you are speaking, how you are ministering.
How we see a people coming from darkness to light.
How we see desires being changed from longing for the things of this world
to instead be longing for you and for your kingdom.
And so we pray that by your spirit you will work among us.
Among young and old alike.
That we will experience your precious grace and your steadfast love.
May you bless the youth fellowship as they meet this evening.
We thank you that as they resume after the holiday period that you will be with them in it.
Remember our young people just now as they sit exams.
As prelims go on, have gone on this past week and go on in the week ahead.
May you encourage and strengthen all our young people as they prepare for exams and as they sit them.
Be with them in it, Lord, and help them to be able to call upon you for help.
To be able to pray over these things, recognizing the help that you are able to give.
So help them to lean upon you and look to you.
Help us as a people, Lord, in all that we do to encourage and remember one another.
We thank you, Lord, that your grace is sufficient in all experience in life.
And we do pray your grace towards those who need it in special ways.
Those who grieve over the loss of loved ones as we continue to remember that in recent days and in days gone past, Lord.
That you will comfort, that you will uphold, that you will be a shield and a strength to those who need you in that particular way.
Remember those who are unwell, those who are in hospital, those who are confined to their homes.
We pray, Lord, that you will draw near to them where they are, that you will encourage and strengthen your people as they have need of you.
We know, Lord, that there are times when what is important is your will.
And we pray, Lord, that you must be heard in the morning service, that your will be what we pray for.
No matter what goes on in our experience, Lord, help us to be settled with it.
And to be settled, Lord, to say your will be done in all things.
We remember, Lord, our wider communities at this time as well.
And as we see an appeal for help to support Muriel Gillis in Lox at this time, we pray for that situation.
We thank you, Lord, for her safety above all that she was able to get out of her home before the fire took hold.
But when we see the devastation and the loss it has brought, Lord, we pray for her, for her family as well, and for the community there too.
We thank you, Lord, for those who have surrounded her with love and care and compassion.
And we pray, Lord, to remember her in every way we can, prayerfully and practically.
And we know others in need too as well, Lord.
And we pray for every ongoing effort of your gospel work in our midst to reach out to people in need, those who are lonely, those who are isolated in different ways, those who are struggling with many different issues.
We pray, Lord, that you will help us to be good neighbors to those around us, loving them, caring for them, having compassion upon them.
That as we love you with all our heart, we'll be enabled more and more to love our neighbor as ourselves.
We pray for your kingdom to come in power throughout our land, throughout all authorities over us, Lord.
We pray that you will minister to the rulers from on high, on kings and prime ministers and first ministers, presidents throughout our world,
and those in positions of authority and power.
Lord, give wisdom, Lord, give due diligence to them that they would seek you with all their heart, that they would rule us according to your truth.
Lord, we ask it, looking to you to intervene in these days, to come and guide our nations, to guide us to yourself,
to restore the lands of this world, to be a people who would honor you with praise on their lips.
Remember, you're persecuted people throughout the world.
We know there are many and in many places throughout the world.
And even in these last few weeks, the watch list has been produced by Open Doors, reminding us, Lord, of the persecution that goes on in so many dark places in the world.
But yet we thank you that you have your people there.
We thank you that there are those who are persecuted.
For it reminds us, Lord, that there are people who will stand up for you, who will honor your name, who will not be turned away.
And so we pray for them, Lord.
Stand with them.
Be near to them.
Build your church in these places that through their suffering, glory may come.
And that people would turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.
So continue with us.
We pray, hear us, and go before us in all that we do and all that we say.
As we ask all things for the forgiveness of our sins.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Let us again sing to God's praise this time in Psalm 36 in the Scottish Psalter, page 251.
Psalm 36 on page 251.
We're going to sing from verse 5 to verse 10.
The tune is London New.
Thy mercy, Lord, is in the heavens.
Thy truth does reach the clouds.
Thy justice is like mountains great.
Thy judgments deep as floods.
We'll sing from verse 5 down to verse 10 to God's praise.
Thy mercy, Lord, is in the heavens.
Thy truth does reach the clouds.
Thy justice is like mountains great.
Thy judgments deep as floods.
Lord, the peace, heaven, and peace.
How precious is thy grace.
Therefore, in shadow of thy ways,
Your lips, my customers suffer from his heart.
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And in the purest light of thine
We weary life shall see
Thy loving kindness up to them
Continue that we know
And still on earth now bright in light
Thy righteousness be so
We're going to read together in the letter of Paul to Titus.
Titus chapter 2.
We can read the whole of this chapter together.
Titus chapter 2.
Reading the whole of this chapter.
Titus chapter 2.
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled,
sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior,
not slanderers or slaves to much wine.
They are to teach what is good and so train the young women
to love their husbands and children,
to be self-controlled, pure, working at home,
kind and submissive to their own husbands,
that the word of God may not be reviled.
Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works
and in your teachings show integrity, dignity,
and sound speech that cannot be condemned,
so that an opponent may be put to shame,
having nothing evil to say about us.
Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything.
They are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
not pilfering, but showing all good faith,
so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God,
our Saviour.
For the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation for all people,
training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives
in the present age,
waiting for our blessed hope,
the appearing of the glory of our great God
and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us
to redeem us from all lawlessness
and to purify for himself
a people for his own possession
who are zealous for good works.
Declare these things,
exhort and rebuke with all authority.
Let no one disregard you.
Amen.
And may God bless that reading from his word.
We're going to sing again to God's praise,
this time in Psalm 145,
the first version of the Psalm in the Scottish Psalter,
singing at verse 15,
and the tune is Effingham,
verse 15 down to the end of the Psalm,
verse 21.
The eyes of all things wait on thee,
the giver of all good,
and thou in time convenient,
bestowst on them their food.
We'll sing from verse 15 to 21,
to God's praise.
The eyes of all things wait on thee,
the giver of all good,
and thou in time convenient,
his souls not end their food.
Than thou in timeuds on thee,
thy hand
And of thy body is
Enough to satisfy the need
Of everything that is
The Lord is just in all his ways
Only in his works all
Of spirit to all that call him
In truth that all him call
He will accomplish the design
Of those that do him fear
He also will deliver them
And he their pride will hear
The Lord presents all good in love
That not can them annoy
But he of those that may be there
Will after me destroy
By might the graces of the Lord
To publish sins shall never
Let all flesh bless his holy pain
Forever and forever
Now if we can turn back to our reading
In the letter of Paul to Titus chapter 2
And we're going to look this evening
At the end of the chapter
Verse 11 to verse 15
Verse 11 says
For the grace of God has appeared
Bringing salvation for all people
And so it goes on
The grace of God has appeared
There are many big words
When we come to study the Bible
Or when we come to study theology
Theology is the study of God
And as you study
You find that people use
When you look at books of theology
They use quite big words
And sometimes it's hard
To get your tongue around them
Never mind get your mind
Around what some of these words
Actually mean
But it's important for us
To delve into these important words
But sometimes it's the little words
That are just as important
And sometimes it's the little words
That can have a very powerful impact on us
So as we hear the word of God being read
Or as we study God's word
There's little words that sometimes appear
And they appear very powerfully
Little words often speak to us
About a battle that is always ongoing
So when you look at the Bible
And you go maybe to the very beginning of the Bible
The opening words of the Bible say
In the beginning God
Now God isn't a big word in and of itself
But it's a huge word
In terms of our thinking
Of everything that we see around us
And as we look at ourselves
And as we look at theology as a whole
It is the study of God
Who he is
And what he's done
And when you read through the beginning of the Bible
And you see in the beginning God
You see that he made all things
But then it comes to the point where he says
And he created man
Male and female
He created them
So you go from one small word God
That has such a big emphasis
To then focus on the next thing
Which we could think of is me
Me
Where do I fit into all of this
Again it's just a small word me
Two letters
But again it's so important
Where do I fit into the scheme of things
With God
And as you go on in Genesis
You find something else happened
And another word comes in
Sin
Again
It's a very small word
But such an important word
To realize that sin
Came into the world
That this brought enmity
Between us and God
That there's this battle
Going on
So all of these small words
Remind us of
Our beginning
Who we are
And the problem
That exists in this world
Between us
And knowing God
As we should
But then God shows us
Another couple of words
That help us to understand
How we can come back to him
Two small words
We're going to focus on
One of them this evening
The first one
Is faith
God speaks of faith
It's not a big word again
But such an important word
To have faith
In God
But where does faith
Come from
Well it comes from the word
That we're going to study
This evening
Grace
The grace of God
That ministers to us
And the grace of God
Grace is again
It's a small word
But it's so important
And it's packed with so much
Grace of God
Is a subject
We could spend
Our whole lives
Studying
And still never get past
The wonder of this
That God showed grace
At all
We don't deserve it
But that is what grace is
It's a gift
A gift
Of God
We can never
Tire of hearing of it
That despite our sinful hearts
Despite what sin has done
To me
That God has shown grace
He's shown mercy
Towards us
So that God by his grace
Does not desire that
Any be lost
But instead that
All would come
And find salvation
All would know his grace
And come to faith
In the Lord Jesus Christ
Every sermon preached
From the gospel
Has the grace of God in it
Because that is what the gospel is
It is the good news
Of a gracious God
And so this grace
Is vital for us
God's grace is seen
Throughout the scriptures
And it's seen
In different ways
It's shown
In different ways
Example
In Exodus
When Moses
Is shown
The grace of God
In Exodus 34
Verse 6
It says
The Lord passed
Before him
And proclaimed
The Lord
A God
Merciful
And gracious
Slow to anger
And abounding
In steadfast love
And faithfulness
A description
Of who God is
This wonder of God
The Lord
A God
Merciful
And gracious
Slow to anger
Moses was reminded of it
And reminds us of it
You see there
God's grace and favor
You see his grace
In more general ways
As well
Where he leaves
No one
Without
He leaves everyone
Without excuse
A grace called
Common grace
Grace shown
To everyone
For example
In Acts 14
Verse 17
It says
Yet he has not
Left himself
Without testimony
He has shown
Kindness
Or grace
By giving you
Rain from heaven
And crops
In their seasons
He provides you
With plenty of food
And fills your hearts
With joy
He shows this
Common grace
To all
But yet people
Don't see it
But I want us
This evening
To think of
The grace of God
That leads to
Salvation
His special
Grace
His grace
That he shows
Through giving
His son
The Lord
Jesus Christ
It's a grace
Not merited
By us
But a grace
That gives us
Salvation
Through faith
In the Lord
Jesus Christ
How would you
Describe
This grace
Have you
Experienced
This grace
Yourself
How would you
Explain
This grace
To others
So often
It's hard
For us
To put in words
But we can often
Come back
To the fact
That grace
Is something
We don't
Deserve
But it is
A gift
From God
And so I want us
To think of
This grace
As we see it
In these verses
Before us
This evening
Verse 11
Through to
Verse 15
And three things
That we see
Of this grace
Here
It's a grace
First of all
That has appeared
To all
It sees
It's a grace
That trains us
Or teaches us
And it's a grace
That gives us
Patience
To wait
Upon the Lord
So these three
Things we're going
To look at
This evening
First of all
The grace
It says
In verse 11
For the grace
Of God
Has appeared
Bringing salvation
For all people
God's grace
Fills so much
Of Paul's
Teaching
Through his letters
So as you read
Through the New Testament
You find again
And again
Paul speaking
Of the wonder
Of this grace
How special
This grace is
How we all need
To know
And experience
This grace
For ourselves
To know
This great gift
Of eternal life
Through God
Here in the letter
To Titus
As he's writing
To encourage Titus
In the midst
Of different trials
And tribulations
That he's facing
Up to himself
He gives this
Reminder to him
And to all
Who are with him
The grace
Of God
Has appeared
Bringing salvation
And the way
You find Paul
Dealing with grace
So often
In his letters
Is he teaches us
About it
What it means
The teaching
Behind it
The theology
If you like
Behind it
But he doesn't
Just leave it at that
He also
Often he puts it
Then
Into how we put it
Into practice
How we live it
Out in our lives
How we experience it
How we grow in it
How we go on
In it
He teaches the foundations
Of what's behind it
But then he says
You're to live
Through it
How to live
And how to know it
And so
The same is
Is true
For ourselves
Today as well
To know this
Grace of God
To delve into
God's word
And to seek
To understand
More of the
Wonder of this
Grace
And the more
We know it
The more we
Should seek
To live
It out
You see it
Even in these
Verses
Verse 11
Through to
Verse 14
He tells us
This grace of God
Has appeared
Bringing salvation
Well what does
That mean
Well as you go on
He shows us
That this grace
Trains us
To turn away
From ungodliness
And worldly passions
To live
Self-controlled
Waiting
For the blessed hope
The appearing
Of and glory
Of our great God
And Saviour
Jesus Christ
There's so much
Already in this
That the Lord
Has come as
A saving work
To be done
For us
That he is
One who takes
Control of our lives
That we await
His appearing
His return
The day of the
Resurrection
He gave himself
To redeem us
So there's so much
Here already
So there's
Teaching behind it all
But then he says
At the end
Of verse 14
He gave himself
To redeem us
From all unlawless
To purify himself
A people
For his own possession
Who are
Sealous
For good works
So these are
Going to be
A people
Who know
And understand
All that the
Lord has done
In salvation
And redemption
In purchasing them
That they would be
Sealous
For good works
That they would
Serve the Lord
With all their heart
So God
Has appeared
To remind us
Of the salvation
For all people
Through Jesus Christ
Just like Paul
Teaches us
In Ephesians 2
That we were
Dead in our
Trespasses and sins
But by his grace
And mercy
Made alive
In Christ
And this is
By grace
Through faith
Not of works
Lest we boast
So again
We come back
It says here
Sell us for good works
Not to boast
In them
But to do them
Because of what
He has done
For us
Romans 5
Again
Such a wonderful book
So much teaching
There to us
Of who God is
And the riches
Of his grace
But turns again
To often
Practical things
As well
In chapter 5
Though it says
In verse 10
For if
When we were
God's enemies
We were reconciled
To him
Through the death
Of his son
How much more
Having been reconciled
Shall we be saved
Through his life
So we were enemies
But by his grace
We are saved
And so how much more
Shall we be saved
Through his life
So Paul is here
Writing to Titus
And to his people
There
To say
The grace of God
Has appeared
Bringing salvation
For all
The wonder
Of this grace
And what did it mean
For them
Well the people
He was writing to
They would have
Recognized the word
Grace
They would have
Been familiar
With it
Charis
In the Greek
They would have
Been hearing this word
And they would have
Recognized what it means
It means
Doing a favor
Doing good
For another person
But the crux of it was
You do good
For another person
Not expecting
Something in return
But for them
It was always done
To friends
To people
Who they didn't mind
Doing good for
They wouldn't expect
Anything back
They weren't looking
For anything back
They were doing
Them a good turn
Not expecting
Anything back
But they were people
They loved
And they cared for
Well Christ brings
A richer depth
To this grace
To this charis
He gives it a far
Richer meaning
Because what he did
At Calvary
As we were reminded
There in that reading
In Romans
Was for those
Who were enemies
Those who despised
Those who rejected
Him
He showed favor
He showed grace
Towards them
And this grace
That has been revealed
Is extraordinary
It goes beyond
Anything else
Anyone has seen
To this point
There's a fullness
There's a richness
To them
And they're thinking
To themselves
But how can this be
Well it's the wonder
Of the grace of God
Bringing salvation
For all people
For anyone
Who will come to him
Anyone who will bow
The knee
To the Lord
This grace is there
For them
And you noticed
In our reading
Of this chapter
Verse 1
Through to verse 10
It's speaking
To all the different
Kinds of people
In that day
To men
Young and old
To women
Young and old
To slaves
To everyone
This is speaking
To all groups
Of society
To all who will
Receive it
To all who will
Listen
This grace
Has been revealed
It's appeared
Bringing salvation
To all people
So this grace
Is for all
Who will listen
Grace does not
Class people
As worthy
And unworthy
Because of status
Or anything else
Grace has appeared
To all
And it is
A saving grace
There's nothing
We can add
To this grace
There's nothing
We can do
To earn this grace
We are to receive it
By faith
It is what has been
Done for us
At the cross
Bringing salvation
For all people
Because of the one
As it says
In verse 14
Who gave himself
For us
To redeem us
From all unlawlessness
It is grace
Through Christ's works
So how thankful
Are we
For this grace
Do you know
This grace
For yourself
Do you long
For this grace
Yourself
Well it's not
To earn it
Not to work
For it
But to come
And see it
In the person
Of Jesus Christ
And to put your
Trust
In him
And then as
We think of
Putting our
Trust in him
As we're called
To put our
Trust in the
Grace of God
This grace
Then teaches us
This grace
Teaches us
And keeps us
Going
And you see that
In verse 12
Training us
Teaching us
To renounce
Ungodliness
And worldly passions
And live
Self-controlled
Upright
And godly lives
In the present age
And again you link
That into the end
Of verse 14
A people
For his own
Possession
Sell us
For good works
So you turn
Away by grace
From ungodliness
Worldly passions
All of these things
And instead now
Sell us
For good works
Sell us to do
The things
Of God
Jesus saved us
Not only
That we would
Belong to him
But that we would
Live
Like we belong
To him
That's how
Somebody once
Put it
That we'd
Belonged
Not only
Just belong
To him
But also
We would
Live
Like we
Belong to him
And that
Convicts us
Every one of us
I'm sure
Who believe
In the Lord
Jesus Christ
Who belong
To him
Do we live
Like we belong
To him
Do we show
That in our lives
In how we speak
In how we conduct
Ourselves
In everything
That we do
Are we showing
Us
Not just
That we belong
To him
But that we
Live
Like we belong
To him
Are we growing
In grace
Is what is
Behind this
Because grace
Isn't just
Coming to that
Conversion point
Grace is going
On
In his strength
Grace is going
Forward
In his strength
Learning
Being trained
Being taught
To renounce
Ungodliness
To turn away
From it
And worldly
Passions
And to live
Self-controlled
Upright
And godly
Lives
For us to say
Hands up
Who lives
Like that
I doubt
If any
Hand
Would go
Up
Because we
Don't
By nature
We don't
We still
Feel
Like we're
Ungodly
And caught up
In worldly
Passions
So often
And this
Is the key
Where grace
Comes in
Because grace
Is what
Teaches us
And trains
Us
To renounce
These things
And to live
In that
Right way
And so
We should
Long
For this
To learn
To plead
With god
And to go
On in his
Strength
And perhaps
We remember
Just what it
Was like
To live
In sin
Maybe we're
Experiencing
These days
Just now
When we're
Struggling
In so many
Ways
The days
Like what
Paul speaks
To the
Ephesians
Of when you
Were dead
In your
Trespasses
And sins
And these
Things can
So easily
Seek to
Cling on
To us
Still
Days when
Sin
Was winning
The battle
Days when
God seemed
Just so
Far away
Sin had
No meaning
Because sin
Was normal
Sin was
Just the
Way we
Lived
But what
Changes
Grace
It is grace
That changes
Our attitudes
Grace that
Changes our
Sinful desires
So that no
Longer
Do we see
These things
As normal
And just what
We do by
Nature
But we
Recognize
This is not
Right
This is not
How I want
To live
My life
This is not
The way
I want
To be
It is grace
That opens
Our eyes
This irresistible
Grace
That we
Hear of
This grace
That comes
From God
That begins
To open
Our hearts
To his word
This grace
That opens
Our eyes
To see
All that is
Wrong
In our way
Of life
And begins
To show
Us
Our need
Of Christ
And begins
To open
Our hearts
To receive
By faith
His grace
It is grace
That teaches
Grace
That trains
But to have
That we have
To allow
This grace
Into our lives
To long
For it
To ask
The Lord
For it
There is a
Story told
Of a young
Girl who
Had come
To faith
She believed
With all her
Heart in the
Lord Jesus
Christ
And just like
We do
Ourselves
The time
Came when
She was
Going to
Come
For membership
In our church
And to do
So she was
Going to
Appear
Before the
Kirk session
And she
Came
To the
Kirk session
And as
Is her
Way as
Well some
Questions were
Asked of
Her
One of the
Questions
She was
Asked was
This
Were you
A sinner
Before you
Came to
Faith in
The Lord
Jesus
Christ
Yes sir
She replied
And then
The elder
Went on to
Ask her
Well are
You still
A sinner
To tell you
The truth
She said
I feel
I'm a
Greater
Sinner
Than ever
So the elder
Then asked
Another question
Then what
Real change
Have you
Experienced
And this
Is the way
She put it
I don't
Quite know
How to
Explain it
She said
Except
I used
To be
A sinner
Running
After sin
But now
That I'm
Saved
I'm a
Sinner
Running
Away
From sin
The change
Is there
Before us
She used
To be a
Sinner
Running
After sin
And how
Many of
Us
Were
Or even
Maybe are
In that
Situation
Sinner
Just living
For sin
But now
When we
Come by
Grace to
Know salvation
In Christ
Jesus
We're a
Sinner
Running
From sin
Sin
Still
Cling
Sin
Stills
Battles
For us
But we
As it
Says here
Seek to
Renounce
Godliness
And worldly
Passions
Through this
Grace
Teaches
Us
That we
Should be
Eager
To do
Good
Eager
To live
For Christ
So this is
Grace
That we
Need
This grace
To teach
Us
In all
Of these
Things
The final
Thing that
We see
Here is
This grace
Gives us
Patience
To live
And to
Wait
For the
Lord
And you
See that
In verse
13
Waiting
For our
Blessed
Hope
The appearing
Of the
Glory
Of our
Great God
And Savior
Jesus
Christ
So
Verse 13
Reminds us
That in our
Grace as we
Live in this
World
Grace
Has so much
More to
Give us
Yet
That we
Await
The return
The appearing
Of the glory
Of our
Great God
And Savior
Jesus Christ
As James
Is studying
In the Sunday
Evenings
The resurrection
This ties
Into what
We've been
Hearing from
That study
How he
Is going
To come
How he
Is going
To reveal
Himself
To us
How we
Are going
To see
Grace
Fulfilled
And grace
Fulfilled
For ourselves
So
His
Glorious
Appearing
Has this
Sense
It could
Be
At
Any
Time
He could
Come
At
Any
Time
And again
That challenges
Us
Are we
Ready
Are we
Ready
For the
Glorious
Appearing
Of our
Lord and
Savior
Jesus
Christ
Are we
Living
Like we
Belong
To him
Are we
Living
For him
There was
Once a
Tourist
Who was
In Italy
And they
Went to
Visit
This
Large
Estate
That had
Beautiful
Gardens
And these
Gardens
Were well
Kept
By a
Gardener
One
Gardener
Looking after
It all
A
Caretaker
And the
Tourist
Came to
The
Caretaker
And asked
How long
Have you
Been working
Here
25 years
Said the
Caretaker
And they
Asked how
Often has
The owner
Been to the
Estate
And all
Your
Time
Here
Four
Times
The
Caretaker
Said
And when
Was the
Last time
That the
Owner
Came to
See his
Estate
Twelve
Years
Ago
The
Gardener
Replied
Who
Comes
Then
To
Look
After
These
Things
When
The
Owner
Is
Not
Here
He
Said
Well
I'm
Pretty
Left
Much
Left
To
Get
On
With
By
Myself
I
Said
Well
Yet
You
Keep
This
Garden
So
Spick
And
Span
That
You
May
Think
You're
Expecting
The
Owner
To
Come
Tomorrow
Today
Replied
The
Gardener
Today
Didn't
Matter
That the
Owner
Hadn't
Been
For
Twelve
Years
He
Knew
He
Could
Come
Anytime
And
So
He
Kept
The
Place
As
If
He
Would
Come
Today
Is
That
The
Way
We
Live
A
Life
Of
Grace
Are
We
Expecting
Anticipating
The
Lord's
Return
Anytime
Even
Today
Even
This
Evening
If
He
Were
To
Come
Today
If
This
Was
The
Great
And
Final
Day
Of
The
Resurrection
Where
Is
Your
Hope
Where
Is
Your
Confidence
Is
It
In
The
One
Who
Paul
Says
Here
In
Verse
Thirteen
The
One
Who
Gave
Himself
Our
Great
God
And
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
Who
Gave
Himself
For
Us
He
Showed
Us
This
Wonderful
Grace
Do
You
Know
This
Grace
Yourself
When we
Think
Back
To
What
We
Started
With
The
Small
Words
And
The
Battles
That
Go
On
How
God
Made
Us
How
We
See
Ourselves
In
This
World
And
How
Sin
Has
Come
In
And
Seeks
To
Devour
Us
On
A
Daily
Basis
But
In
The
Midst
Of
This
Battle
Is
Grace
It
Is
Grace
That
We
Need
It
Is
Grace
That
Gives
Us
Victory
Going
Back
To
Romans
5
Verse
20
It
Is
It
Says
But
Where
Sin
Abounded
Grace
Did
Much
More
Abound
In
The
Midst
Of
The
Battle
When
Sin
Is
Abounding
Grace
Did
Much
More
Abound
Do
You
Remember
Every
Time
God
Has
Given
You
His
Grace
You
May
Remember
Certain
Experiences
Of
His
Grace
Certain
Times
Where
You
Say
But
By
His
Grace
I
Wouldn't
Have
Gone
Through
That
But
Do
You
Remember
Every
Time
His
Grace
Has
Helped
You
It's
Probably
Impossible
Because
There's
Probably
Even
Times
We
Didn't
Realize
It
Was
The
Grace
Of
God
The
Things
That
Were
Hidden
From
Us
The
Things
That
Were
Kept
From
Us
Apart
From
God's
Grace
Where
Would
We
Be
There
Is
A
Story
Told
Of
A
Minister
Many
Years
Ago
He
Was
Out
Walking
By
A
Stream
And
As
He
Was
Walking
Along
The
Stream
He
Came
Across
A
Woman
Who
Was
Washing
Wool
And
She
Was
Washing
The
Wool
By
Putting
It
Into
A
Large
Sieve
And
Dipping
The
Wool
In
And
Out
Of
The
Stream
Until
The
Wool
Was
Cleaned
And
He
Stopped
For
A
While
To
Watch
The
Woman
Doing
This
And
Then
He
Spoke
With
Her
For
A
Time
Seeing
What
She
Was
Doing
As
He
Spoke
With
Her
He
Asked
If
She
Knew
Who
He
Was
And
She
Said
To
Him
Oh
Yes
I
Know
Who
You
Are
And
I
Am
So
Eternally
Thankful
To
God
For
A
Sermon
That
You
Once
Preached
That
Helped
Me
So
Much
The
Minister
Was
So
Pleased
To
Hear
That
A
Service
He
Preached
That
Had
Such
An
Effect
And
He
Asked
Do
You
Remember
The
Subject
That
I
Preached
Oh
Well
Sir
No
I
Don't
Actually
Remember
What
You
Preached
And
Of
Course
Like
Most
Ministers
Would
Be
He
Was
A
Little
Deflated
By
This
That
She
Didn't
Remember
What
The
Service
Was
About
And
He
Said
To
How
Then
Can
You
Remember
That
It
Did
You
Good
If
You
Don't
Remember
What
The
Subject
Was
Well
Sir
She
Said
My
Mind
Is
Like
This
Civ
It
Does
Not
Hold
The
Water
Back
But
As
The
Water
Goes
Through
It
Cleans
The
Wool
So
Is
So
Is
My
Memory
Like
This
It
Doesn't
Retain
All
The
Words
I
Hear
But
As
They
Pass
Through
My
Heart
By
God's
Grace
It
Cleanses
It
And
That's
The
Grace
Of
God's
Word
We
Don't
Always
Remember
Every
Moment
Of
God's
Grace
And
Every
Experience
Of
God's
Grace
But
It's
God's
Grace
Again
And
Again
And
Again
That
Keeps
Us
That
Sustains
Us
That
Keeps
Us
Going
This
Grace
Is
A
Wonderful
Thing
It
Is
A
Grace
That
Has
Appeared
Bringing
Salvation
For
All
So
Do
You
Know
The
Salvation
Of
This
Grace
If
You
Don't
Come
And
Seek
The
Lord's
Grace
Plead
With
Him
With
All
Your
Heart
To
Know
This
Grace
And
If
You
Know
And
As
You
Know
This
Grace
Seek
To
Grow
By
This
Grace
Renouncing
Ungodliness
And
Worldly
Passions
And
Then
As
You
Do
So
Remember
We
Wait
By
Grace
The
Return
Of
The
Lord
Jesus
But
As
We
Wait
He
Gives
His
Word
By
His
Grace
That
Cleanses
Our
Hearts
Again
And
Again
And
Again
It
Is
This
Grace
That
Keeps
And
His
Grace
That
Sustains
And
May
We
Know
The
Blessing
Of
This
Grace
Day
Let
Us
Pray
Our
Father
In
Heaven
We
Thank
You
That
You
Are
A
God
Who
Remembers
Us
In
All
Our
Needs
And
Provides
A
Grace
All
Sufficient
For
All
Our
Needs
And
We
Pray
Lord
To
Know
This
Grace
More
And
More
Abundantly
In
Our
Hearts
In
Our
Souls
And
In
Our
Lives
And
In
Our
Communities
As
We
Ask
It
All
Looking
To
Our
Lord
For
Our
Sins
In
Jesus
Name
Amen
We're
Going
To
Conclude
By
Singing
To
God's
Praise
In
Psalm
8
Psalm
8
And
The
Sing
Psalms
On
Page
8
Of
The
Psalm
Books
We'll
Sing
From
Verse
3
When
I
Regard
The
Heavens
You
Made
Your
Fingers
Work
I
Trace
I
See
The
Moon
And
Shining
Stars
Which
You
Have
Set
In
Place
I
Ask
Myself
What
Then
Is
Man
That
Thou
That
You
Should
Give
Him
Thought
The
Son
Of
Man
That
You
To
Him
Such
Gracious
Care
Have
Brought
We'll
Sing
From
Verse
3
To
The
End
Of
The
Psalm
To
God's
Praise
Amen
l South
S bay
And
State
I
See
The
Moon
and shining stars
which you have set in place.
I ask myself,
what endless man
that you should give him thought
the sorrow of man
that you should give
such gracious gift of God?
You made him little less than those
who dwell in heaven above,
and you have crowned and honoured him
with glory and with love.
You gave him charge upon the Lord,
created by your hand,
and everything that you had given,
you gave him to command.
All flocks and gerts and birds and fish
of each of the world and day
in all the air,
O Lord our Lord,
our glorious is your name.
I'll go to the door to my right this evening.
Let's close with the benediction.
Now may grace, mercy, and peace
from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
rest upon and abide with you all
now and forevermore.
Amen.