WEBVTT 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:04.679 So these are all the intimations for the moment. Let's begin our worship. We're going to sing 00:00:04.679 --> 00:00:17.199 firstly from Psalm 147. 147. Visitors, if you're using the blue psalm books, it's in two sections. 00:00:18.039 --> 00:00:25.300 The older traditional psalms are in the second half of the book. The Sing Psalms, more recent 00:00:25.300 --> 00:00:33.579 versions, is in the first half of the book. So this is Psalm 147 on page 192. 00:00:35.620 --> 00:00:38.859 The tune is credited. We're singing verses 1 to 7. 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:47.299 O praise the Lord! How good it is to sing Him songs of praise! How pleasant to give thanks to Him 00:00:47.299 --> 00:00:53.880 for all His gracious ways! The Lord builds up Jerusalem, and He it is alone who reaches out 00:00:53.880 --> 00:01:00.520 to Israel to bring the exiles home. He heals His people's broken hearts, restores the bruised 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:06.780 and lame. He sets the number of the stars and calls them each by name. And so on to the end 00:01:06.780 --> 00:01:11.740 of the verse, Mark 7. These verses, if you're able to stand, please stand to sing, O Praise 00:01:11.739 --> 00:01:12.739 the Lord. 00:01:12.739 --> 00:01:41.719 O Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing Him songs of praise! How pleasant to give thanks to Him for all His 00:01:41.719 --> 00:02:11.699 His gracious ways! The Lord builds up Jerusalem, and He it is alone. Who reaches out to Israel, to bring the exile to the Lord. 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:41.699 the Lord, to bring the exile to the Lord. He heals His people's broken hearts, restores the bruised and lame. He sets the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 00:02:41.699 --> 00:03:11.679 Great is our Lord, and great in power, His wisdom is profound. The Lord sustains the meek, but casts the wicked to the ground. 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:39.680 Sing to the Lord with joy His praise proclaims. And with the music of the heart, give glory to His name. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:40.680 Amen. 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:41.680 Amen. 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:42.680 Amen. 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:43.680 Amen. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:44.680 Amen. 00:03:44.680 --> 00:03:46.680 Let's now call upon the Lord in prayer. Let's join together in prayer. 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:51.680 O Lord, our gracious God, we give thanks for this occasion anew when we can come together to worship You, to sing Your praise, to call upon You in prayer, to read Your Word, to hear Its message, to have fellowship together and to have fellowship with our God. We thank You too, O Lord, for the Lord's Supper that we will partake of today and be observers of today. And we thank You for the Lord's Supper. 00:03:51.680 --> 00:04:21.680 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:26.680 We thank You for the Lord's Supper. 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:28.680 We thank You for the Lord's Supper. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:29.680 We thank You for the Lord's Supper. 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:30.680 We thank You for the Lord's Supper. 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:53.680 We thank You, O Lord, our God, that as we call upon You now in prayer, so You are ready to hear us and ready to answer us. Your Word assures us that You hear the prayers of Your people, that You place in their hearts the very thoughts that they bring to You. And even though You know all things about us already, we give thanks, Lord, that such is Your interest in us, that You would have us speak to You and bring the desires of our heart to You. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:05:04.680 And so we do pray, Lord, today that You would bless us as we meet together, that Your blessing will come through the power and energy of Your Holy Spirit. 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:13.680 And we pray that Your Holy Spirit will take those things that we are partakers of, that we read in Your Word, and bless them to us, we pray. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:20.680 Help us, we pray, to discern in all of these things the glory and the praise and the majesty of Your name. 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:34.680 And enable us, we pray, at this time to be conscious anew of Your greatness and of Your majesty and of the wonder that such a great and glorious God as You are, has made provision for sinners like we are, 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:43.680 not deserving that we are, not deserving that we should ever come into Your presence, not deserving that we should receive any beneficial gift from You. 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:52.680 Yet You have provided us with salvation. You have provided us with a Savior, Your own Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. 00:05:52.680 --> 00:06:02.680 And we thank You especially today, Lord, for the salvation that we have in Him, the salvation that includes our access to You now. 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:06.680 And we come before You, O Lord, as children to a Father. 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:11.680 That we come before You, expressing our concern and our need to be blessed. 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:15.680 We confess, Lord, also our sins to You. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:26.680 And we thank You that in the provision You have made for us, You have opened up a fountain for us, for sin and for uncleanness, in that same person of Your Son. 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:37.680 And we pray today as we come to confess our sin and seek Your pardon and cleansing, that we may know that great privilege also and blessing of our sin be forgiven, 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:43.680 of righteousness imputed to us instead of the sin that we come to confess. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:57.680 And Lord, our God, help us, we pray, as we anticipate coming to partake of the Lord's Supper shortly, that we may do so with a true discernment of what it means to Your people, 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:01.680 of what is represented by the elements of bread and of wine. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:06.680 And we pray that You would bless to our hearts the partaking of the Supper. 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:15.680 We pray that You would bless the meetings of Your people, the gatherings of Your people for worship today throughout our land, throughout the whole world. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:22.680 But we know, Lord, that there are many people who meet together as we do today, some in very different circumstances. 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:32.680 Yet Your people have that same desire, wherever they are found, to exalt Your glorious name, to give You praise and to draw their strength from You. 00:07:32.680 --> 00:07:36.680 And we pray that that will be so for all Your people everywhere today. 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:42.680 Remember especially those who are persecuted, those who suffer for their faith deeply, 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:51.680 and those who have today difficulties even publicly confessing You through fear of being rejected by families. 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:58.680 And yet we thank You, Lord, that there are so many throughout the world who, despite these challenges and difficulties, 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:07.680 still make it their concern to witness to You and to be faithful to You in their own context. 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:15.680 We ask, Lord, Your blessing too for those throughout the world today who face such great difficulties in Providence. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:20.680 Remember those who are suffering from drought and famine. 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:27.680 Remember those who are caught up in places where war and terror is such a daily occurrence for them. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:32.680 We pray, Lord, that through the Gospel, You would create peace in people's lives, 00:08:32.680 --> 00:08:36.680 so that aggressors may be turned into worshippers of God, 00:08:36.680 --> 00:08:44.680 and those who are recipients of terror and of violence will come to know days of peace. 00:08:44.679 --> 00:08:51.679 We pray for those, Lord, who are caught up in this terrible train crash in India. 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:54.679 We pray for all the families who have lost loved ones. 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:56.679 We pray for these communities. 00:08:56.679 --> 00:09:04.679 And we pray, O Lord, that even through such tragedy, You would reveal Yourself as the Savior of sinners to them, 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:10.679 that You would grant, Lord, to them at this time in Your compassion and in Your mercy, 00:09:10.679 --> 00:09:17.679 that You would draw near to them and give them the consolation that You alone are able to give through the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:21.679 And we ask Your blessing today to be with our children. 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:26.679 Bless them, Lord, as they will later on come to join us to observe the Lord's Supper. 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:32.679 We pray for them as they receive the teaching of Your Word weekly here and at home. 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:40.679 We ask that You would continue to bless that to them, and bless their teachers, bless their parents, grandparents. 00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:49.679 Help them, Lord, we pray, to bring into their own practice daily those things which are commended in Your Word 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:55.679 as the lifestyle and behavior and practice of Your own believing people. 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:59.679 And we pray that You would protect them against the evil that is in the world 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:06.679 against the many forces that seek to bring them away from the following of Jesus. 00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:12.679 And we ask that You would give them that they be established firmly in Your ways and in Your service. 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:17.679 And we ask that You would continue to bless those in our community who this time 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:22.679 face difficulties in family life and various other types of adversity, 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.679 including those, Lord, who are seriously ill at this time. 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:29.679 Remember them, we pray. 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:33.679 Remember those who recently have lost loved ones, 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:39.679 and those for whom mourning is an ongoing reality, even if they've lost loved ones in times gone by. 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:42.679 We pray that You'd comfort their hearts, O Lord, 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:47.679 that You would build them up in faith and trust in Yourself, 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.679 and that You would give them to see that You are the God who changes not, 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:56.679 and is therefore able to look after all who need You and all who need Your help. 00:10:56.679 --> 00:10:58.679 Receive us now, we pray. 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:04.679 Continue with us and bless us freely for Jesus' sake. Amen. 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:09.679 We're going to read now from God's Word. It's from the Gospel of John. 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:18.679 The Gospel according to John. We're reading from chapter 19 and at verse 17. 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:25.679 We're going to read from verse 17 on through to the end of the chapter. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:33.679 So that's the Gospel of John, chapter 19, and beginning at verse 17. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:41.679 So they took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:44.679 which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:51.679 There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:55.679 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:59.679 It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:05.679 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:09.679 and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:12.679 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, 00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:18.679 Do not write the King of the Jews, but rather this man said, I am King of the Jews. 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:23.679 Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:29.679 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took His garments and divided them into four parts, 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:33.679 one part for each soldier, also his tunic. 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:37.679 But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:44.679 So they said to one another, Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see whose it shall be. 00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:52.679 This was to fulfill the scripture which says, They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:59.679 So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother's sister, 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:03.679 Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:12.679 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son. 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:15.679 Then He said to the disciple, Behold your mother. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:20.679 And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:27.679 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said, to fulfill the scripture, I thirst. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:36.679 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to His mouth. 00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:41.679 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, It is finished. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:44.679 And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:50.679 Since it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:58.679 for that Sabbath was a high day, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:04.679 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with Him. 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:10.679 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:17.679 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:26.679 He who saw it has borne witness, his witness is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth that you may also believe. 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:30.679 For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled. 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:33.679 Not one of his bones will be broken. 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:38.679 And again another scripture says, They will look on Him whom they have pierced. 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:45.679 After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:51.679 asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:54.679 So he came and took away his body. 00:14:54.679 --> 00:15:03.679 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:12.679 So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in the linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:20.679 Now in the place where He was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid. 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:30.679 So because of the Jewish day of the preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:36.679 And may God bless to us reading that portion of His Word anew. 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:41.679 Our next singing is from Psalm 22, and the singing is in Gaelic. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:48.679 I'll read the verses first of all in English, Psalm 22, verses 15 to 16. 00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:56.679 My strength is like a shattered clay, and as I fight to draw my breath, my tongue is sticking to my jaws. 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:59.679 You lay me in the dust of death. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:03.679 A pack of dogs encloses me, their silk around me is complete. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:10.679 I am beset by evil men, and they have pierced my hands and feet. 00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:16.679 And so we're singing these verses in Gaelic from Psalm 22 at verse 15. 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:37.679 On each discussion eventually essays spread the last day to ourSTN Spring. 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:41.679 Cuando subpo las 10ijones sur anew, once voix cons время ensemble selanct, 00:16:41.679 --> 00:17:11.659 Thank you. 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:41.660 Thank you. 00:17:41.680 --> 00:18:11.660 Thank you. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:41.660 Thank you. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:19:11.660 Thank you. 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:41.660 Thank you. 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.660 Thank you. 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:41.660 00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:43.660 Thank you. 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:13.660 Thank you. 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:43.660 Thank you. 00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:45.660 Thank you. 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:15.660 Thank you. 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:45.660 Thank you. 00:22:45.660 --> 00:23:15.660 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:17.660 Thank you. 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:19.660 Thank you. 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:49.660 00:23:49.660 --> 00:24:19.660 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:21.660 Thank you. 00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:51.660 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:53.660 Thank you. 00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:55.660 So, 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:53.660 00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:55.660 thank you. 00:25:55.660 --> 00:26:25.660 00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:55.660 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:57.660 Thank you. 00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:59.660 Thank you. 00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:01.660 Thank you. 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:03.660 Thank you. 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:05.660 Thank you. 00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:07.660 Thank you. 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:37.660 And, 00:27:37.660 --> 00:28:07.660 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:37.660 00:28:37.660 --> 00:29:07.660 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:37.660 00:29:37.660 --> 00:30:07.660 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:37.660 00:30:37.660 --> 00:31:07.660 00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:09.660 thank you. 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:11.660 Thank you. 00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:13.660 That's what Jesus, 00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:14.660 that's what Jesus experienced. 00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:15.660 And, 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:16.660 that's what Jesus experienced. 00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:20.660 And, ultimately, it's not very popular nowadays to speak of it, but it's true. 00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:23.660 And the Bible is unquestionably clear on it. 00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:26.660 The ultimate death, the ultimate death is the ultimate death, the ultimate death is hell. 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:28.660 The ultimate death is hell. 00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:29.660 The ultimate death is hell. 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:33.660 The ultimate death is hell, separation from God spiritually and forevermore. 00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:35.660 That is what hell is. 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:38.660 That's the wages of sin. 00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:41.660 That's what Jesus experienced. 00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:48.660 That's what Jesus actually came when He came to die. 00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:49.660 That's the death He died. 00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:53.660 He didn't just die this physical death. 00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:59.660 He didn't just die in terms of His body and soul being separated and His body being buried, 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:04.660 as we see in the sepulcher, and His soul going to be with God, the Father. 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:09.660 He died the death of damnation. 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:15.660 I can't explain to you, and I've never come across an explanation, I don't think it can be explained, 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:22.660 how it could be that the death Jesus died, this eternal death, this spiritual death, 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:30.660 how could it be that all of that happened without it continuing forever, as it is in hell? 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:39.660 Theologians used to speak of it as, he died that same death intensively, but not extensively. 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:47.660 It's nothing short of the death that is damnation and hell, but it didn't last forever in his case, 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:52.660 but he still experienced the whole of it in these moments of his death. 00:32:52.660 --> 00:33:00.660 And it took place especially, the very depth of it, if you like, was at that moment when he cried out, 00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:02.660 you remember his words from the cross, 00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:07.660 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:13.660 Think of that word, forsaken, and apply it to the death that Jesus died. 00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:26.660 The forsakenness of the Savior on the cross is him expressing at that moment what he knows in his own soul is taking place. 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:34.660 It's that separation from God. It's the hell that you and I deserved, and you're here at his table today, or witnessing his table, 00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:39.660 and you're taking into your mind and heart once again all that he has done for you, 00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:44.660 and how amazing it is that the Son of God, who didn't deserve to die, 00:33:44.660 --> 00:33:51.660 the Son of God who came into this world to take our human nature to himself and became a real human being, 00:33:51.660 --> 00:34:00.660 that he died not just the death of every other human being, but the death that we deserve for our sin. 00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:05.660 That is the death he died. 00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:10.659 And that's what you remember as you remember him in the Lord's Supper. 00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:14.659 This do in remembrance of me. 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:23.659 But don't ever leave out of your thoughts, of your meditation, of your conclusions, 00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:30.659 the fact that he died the very death that we deserved as the wages of sin. 00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:40.659 If you take that out of the meaning of the cross, you're evacuating it on many ways of its most important element, 00:34:40.659 --> 00:34:45.659 that that's the nature of his death, the death he died. 00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:50.659 Secondly, you find here the reason for Jesus' death. 00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:57.659 We said that the blood and water that's referred to here, John would have seen a significance in them spiritually. 00:34:57.659 --> 00:35:00.659 That takes us back to the Old Testament, doesn't it? 00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:07.659 It takes us back to the rituals of the Old Testament, where these two elements, blood and water, were so frequently used. 00:35:07.659 --> 00:35:15.659 For example, the sprinkling of the blood on the altar on the Day of Atonement in the Holy of Holies. 00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:21.659 The labor that you find in the courtyard of the temple and previously in this tabernacle, 00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:25.659 for the priests to wash themselves is to do with washing. 00:35:25.659 --> 00:35:27.659 The water is to do with washing. 00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:35.659 The blood is to do with making an atonement or giving to God what he requires to pay for our sins. 00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:39.659 Now, of course, these in the Old Testament were representative things. 00:35:39.659 --> 00:35:47.659 They weren't actually themselves capable of removing our guilt or taking away our defilement. 00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:54.659 They were representative themselves of the death of Jesus, who was to come fulfillment of them. 00:35:54.659 --> 00:36:03.659 So, I'm sure that John saw here in the blood and the water the symbols of atonement and of cleansing. 00:36:03.659 --> 00:36:09.659 That the death of Jesus was an atonement for sin to deal with the guilt of our sin. 00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:20.659 That the death of Jesus was a death that was to provide a cleansing from the pollution of our sin, from the defilement of our sin. 00:36:20.659 --> 00:36:26.659 And that is essentially what the cross of Jesus is for you today. 00:36:26.659 --> 00:36:34.659 And when you're coming here to remember him at the Lord's Supper, to remember the death he died, to remember the Savior who died, 00:36:34.659 --> 00:36:39.659 you're remembering him in terms of why he died. 00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:48.659 The reason why he died, the reason why he died, is to provide an atonement for sin that we could not give ourselves. 00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:56.659 And to provide a means of cleansing from a defilement of sin which we could never wash ourselves of. 00:36:56.659 --> 00:37:05.659 In 1 John, I mentioned that John refers to these, uses these terms in his writings and his first epistle. 00:37:05.659 --> 00:37:15.659 Very interestingly, you find him also using these terms blood and water with respect to Jesus and Jesus coming into the world. 00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:25.659 1 John 5, this is he, he's been speaking here about Christ, born of God and so on at the beginning of chapter 5. 00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:33.659 And in verse 6 he says, this is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ. 00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:38.659 He says, this is he who came by water and blood, not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. 00:37:38.659 --> 00:37:43.659 And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 00:37:43.659 --> 00:37:51.659 For there are three that testify, the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. 00:37:51.659 --> 00:37:58.659 It's not easy necessarily to work out just exactly how John is using these terms, but the terms themselves are quite clear. 00:37:58.659 --> 00:38:07.659 The Spirit is the Holy Spirit. The whole context is about testifying to the Jesus who died and to the kind of death that he died. 00:38:07.659 --> 00:38:16.659 Well, the Spirit testifies, and the water and the blood also are associated with that testimony as to Jesus himself. 00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:22.659 He came, he says here, by blood. In other words, he came to die. 00:38:22.659 --> 00:38:28.659 He came to die, this death of the cross that we mentioned, the very death that he died. 00:38:28.659 --> 00:38:41.659 This is why Jesus came into the world. Ultimately, that is the reason for why he became human, that there might be a means by which he would die and lay out his soul in death. 00:38:41.659 --> 00:38:53.659 You see, his life and his example, while powerful, while perfect, would not have been enough for us to save us from our sins. 00:38:53.659 --> 00:39:06.659 Because if he had provided his life as an example, that would still not have rendered to God the payment due for our sins. 00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:13.659 Because what God demanded, what the law demanded, was the death of the transgressor. 00:39:13.659 --> 00:39:19.659 And without a death, there can be no salvation for the sinner who needs to be saved. 00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:25.659 And when Jesus came into the world, yes, he came to give a perfect example of a human life. 00:39:25.659 --> 00:39:31.659 He came to show us what we ought to be like in our standing before God. 00:39:31.659 --> 00:39:34.659 But of course, we're sinners, we're fallen, we're flawed. 00:39:34.659 --> 00:39:39.659 So, Jesus is held before us as an example. 00:39:39.659 --> 00:39:46.659 But you would try, if you would try following the pattern that you see in the life of Jesus, 00:39:46.659 --> 00:39:51.659 and you have the life of Jesus, the kind of life he lived in the Gospels especially, 00:39:51.659 --> 00:39:59.659 and you try and live up to that, and you do your best to live up to that, thinking that if you do that, well, God will accept you. 00:39:59.659 --> 00:40:05.659 Well, you don't have to try it very long before you realize you just can't do it. 00:40:05.659 --> 00:40:19.659 And even if you could do it, that would not be itself sufficient to satisfy God who demands the death of the transgressor. 00:40:19.659 --> 00:40:30.659 To atone for our sins required a perfect human being dying the death we deserve to die. 00:40:30.659 --> 00:40:36.659 And that, friends, is what we remember in the Lord's Supper today. 00:40:36.659 --> 00:40:42.659 He did not need to die in the sense that he himself was sinless. 00:40:42.659 --> 00:40:46.659 Of course, in that respect, he didn't deserve to die. 00:40:46.659 --> 00:40:54.659 But because the Lord laid on him, as Isaiah 53 puts it, the Lord laid upon him the iniquity of us all, 00:40:54.659 --> 00:40:58.659 he became as the greatest sinner who ever lived. 00:40:58.659 --> 00:41:02.659 He became someone because he was bearing our sin. 00:41:02.659 --> 00:41:08.659 He became someone that God the Father regarded in our place as the guilty one, 00:41:08.659 --> 00:41:13.659 in our place as the one who deserved the death that we deserved. 00:41:13.659 --> 00:41:23.659 He made him, as 2 Corinthians 5, 21 puts it, he made sin, he made him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, 00:41:23.659 --> 00:41:30.659 so that we might be made or come the righteousness of God in him. 00:41:30.659 --> 00:41:33.659 It's a perfect substitution. 00:41:33.659 --> 00:41:34.659 He took our sins. 00:41:34.659 --> 00:41:38.659 He paid the price of them. 00:41:38.659 --> 00:41:44.659 He died the death deserved for them, so that we might take his righteousness, 00:41:44.659 --> 00:41:52.659 that we might receive by faith the righteousness he died to procure for us. 00:41:52.659 --> 00:41:54.659 He came by blood. 00:41:54.659 --> 00:41:57.659 But he also came by water. 00:41:57.659 --> 00:42:05.659 As 1 John 5 puts it, he came not by water only, but by water and the blood. 00:42:05.659 --> 00:42:14.659 The purpose of his coming was to cleanse us from our sin, to remove the stain and the defilement of sin from our persons, 00:42:14.659 --> 00:42:17.659 which will be the case at last. 00:42:17.659 --> 00:42:24.659 Of course, even in our justification, God accepts us in him as righteous, 00:42:24.659 --> 00:42:30.659 and the Holy Spirit begins that work in us that will issue, that will finally come to its completion 00:42:30.659 --> 00:42:49.659 when we are completely sinless, washed from a defilement of our sin, to spend eternity sinlessly with God. 00:42:49.659 --> 00:42:58.659 That's why Jesus said to Nicodemus, you remember, he came to Jesus by night in chapter 3 of this Gospel, 00:42:58.659 --> 00:43:01.659 and was perplexed that Jesus said to him, 00:43:01.659 --> 00:43:06.659 "'Except someone, accept a man, be born again,' he cannot see the kingdom of God." 00:43:06.659 --> 00:43:10.659 Nicodemus was convinced, of course, that he was already in the kingdom of God, 00:43:10.659 --> 00:43:17.659 that he was already one of God's accepted people, and he didn't know Christ, he didn't know him as a Savior. 00:43:17.659 --> 00:43:19.659 He was a teacher in Israel. 00:43:19.659 --> 00:43:25.659 He was one of the Sanhedrin, one of those religious authorities. 00:43:25.659 --> 00:43:28.659 "'Truly I say to you,' Jesus said, 00:43:28.659 --> 00:43:32.659 "'Except one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" 00:43:32.659 --> 00:43:36.659 Nicodemus said, "'How can a man be born when he is old? 00:43:36.659 --> 00:43:39.659 Can he enter a second time, and do his mother's womb and be born?' 00:43:39.659 --> 00:43:43.659 Jesus answered, "'Truly, truly I say to you, 00:43:43.659 --> 00:43:51.659 "'Unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'" 00:43:51.659 --> 00:43:55.659 Why did Jesus come into the world? He came to die. 00:43:55.659 --> 00:43:59.659 Why did he come to die the death he died on the cross? 00:43:59.659 --> 00:44:07.659 He came to die that death so that we might be redeemed from the guilt of our sin and washed from its defilement. 00:44:07.659 --> 00:44:10.659 He came by water and by blood. 00:44:10.659 --> 00:44:21.659 And when he died and the spear pierced his side, these symbolic, real physical elements, but symbolic to John, flowed from his side. 00:44:21.659 --> 00:44:26.659 Rock of ages, said the hymn writer, cleft for me. 00:44:26.659 --> 00:44:29.659 Rock of ages, cleft for me. 00:44:29.659 --> 00:44:33.659 Let me hide myself in thee. 00:44:33.659 --> 00:44:42.659 Let the water and the blood from thy ribbon side which flowed be of sin the double cure. 00:44:42.659 --> 00:44:48.659 Cleanse me from its guilt and load." 00:44:48.659 --> 00:44:52.659 There came out blood and water. 00:44:52.659 --> 00:45:00.659 When you come to take the bread and the wine to yourself today, meditate on this point. 00:45:00.659 --> 00:45:03.659 Meditate on what it represents. 00:45:03.659 --> 00:45:10.659 Meditate on the real death of this real human, of the Son of God in our nature. 00:45:10.659 --> 00:45:13.659 Meditate on what took place at Calvary. 00:45:13.659 --> 00:45:17.659 That hell came into time in the soul of Jesus. 00:45:17.659 --> 00:45:22.659 That he died that death. 00:45:22.659 --> 00:45:26.659 That out of his side came blood and water. 00:45:26.659 --> 00:45:31.659 That we might be forgiven and cleansed from our sin. 00:45:31.659 --> 00:45:33.659 And that's what we say. 00:45:33.659 --> 00:45:36.659 Thirdly, the remembrance of Jesus' death in the Lord's Supper. 00:45:36.659 --> 00:45:42.659 There's the reality of his death, the reason for his death, and the remembrance of his death in the supper. 00:45:42.659 --> 00:45:45.659 We'll say more about this at the table itself. 00:45:45.659 --> 00:45:53.659 But again, in 1 John, the passage we read speaks about witnessing to Jesus the Spirit and the blood and the water. 00:45:53.659 --> 00:46:02.659 The Spirit, they all witness to Jesus their testimony to the reality of who he is and why he came and the death that he died. 00:46:02.659 --> 00:46:06.659 The Holy Spirit bears testimony to the death of Jesus. 00:46:06.659 --> 00:46:08.659 Where does the Holy Spirit take you? 00:46:08.659 --> 00:46:13.659 Where did he take you when he came to work in your life, all of you today who know him savingly? 00:46:13.659 --> 00:46:15.659 And where did he take you? 00:46:15.659 --> 00:46:21.659 Where did the work of the Spirit in your heart and your soul actually take you spiritually? 00:46:21.659 --> 00:46:24.659 And in your thoughts and in your concern? 00:46:24.659 --> 00:46:26.659 He took you to Calvary, didn't he? 00:46:26.659 --> 00:46:27.659 He took you to Jesus. 00:46:27.659 --> 00:46:29.659 He took you to the death of Jesus. 00:46:29.659 --> 00:46:38.659 He took you to that death that happened specifically so that your faith might be in him, that your sins might be forgiven. 00:46:38.659 --> 00:46:40.659 That's what the Spirit of God does. 00:46:40.659 --> 00:46:44.659 He draws us to the cross. 00:46:44.659 --> 00:46:48.659 He draws us to the blood and the water of Jesus' side. 00:46:48.659 --> 00:47:02.659 He draws us to contemplate and to understand in a measure at least why this perfect man died the death he died at Calvary. 00:47:02.659 --> 00:47:14.659 And so that means that the Lord's Supper itself is a means, a channel of grace, of God's grace, God's favor, God's blessing to our souls. 00:47:14.659 --> 00:47:23.659 Never forget that the Lord's Supper is not primarily, not in the first place, not first and foremost, a means of witness. 00:47:23.659 --> 00:47:24.659 It is that. 00:47:24.659 --> 00:47:30.659 You are witnessing today that you are believing people of God. 00:47:30.659 --> 00:47:32.659 But that's not its primary purpose. 00:47:32.659 --> 00:47:39.659 Its primary purpose is not as a means of witness to yourself or to others that you are the people of God. 00:47:39.659 --> 00:47:42.659 Its primary purpose is a means of grace. 00:47:42.659 --> 00:47:54.659 God uses it to channel grace, to channel more of his spiritual energy into your life, to actually convey to you something more of the salvation that Jesus died to procure. 00:47:54.659 --> 00:48:09.659 And through both the word preached and the sacrament as it's administered as you partake of it, what you're doing is taking into yourself spiritually and believingly the benefits of Christ's death. 00:48:09.659 --> 00:48:16.659 As the confession of faith puts it, we feed upon Christ crucified and all the benefits of his death. 00:48:16.659 --> 00:48:33.659 The bread and the wine as they represent, as they convey to us, the reality of his death and the reason why he died, they become a means in the hand of God and by the blessing of God. 00:48:33.659 --> 00:48:37.659 They're not changed into anything other than bread and wine. 00:48:37.659 --> 00:48:45.659 But they have that spiritual significance by which we come to see in them the death of our Savior. 00:48:45.659 --> 00:48:47.659 So that is why he says, 00:48:47.659 --> 00:48:49.659 Take, eat. 00:48:49.659 --> 00:48:51.659 Take this cup. 00:48:51.659 --> 00:48:53.659 Take, eat this bread. 00:48:53.659 --> 00:49:14.659 What you're doing in reaching out and taking these elements is really taking again Jesus to yourself in a spiritual way, renewing your own covenant obligations to God and your confidence in him that he is indeed your Savior and worthy. 00:49:14.659 --> 00:49:17.659 That you should remember him. 00:49:17.659 --> 00:49:27.659 It is for me he died, you say, as well as for all others who belong to God's people. 00:49:27.659 --> 00:49:32.659 And as you read that there came out blood and water. 00:49:32.659 --> 00:49:34.659 So you take that with you today. 00:49:34.659 --> 00:49:52.659 And you take it with you so that you stand once again amazed at the love that could provide such wonderful benefits through such an amazing event as happened in the death of your Savior. 00:49:52.659 --> 00:49:54.659 May God bless these thoughts on his word. 00:49:54.659 --> 00:49:58.659 We're going to sing now some words to his praise. 00:49:58.659 --> 00:50:00.659 We're singing from Psalm 61. 00:50:00.659 --> 00:50:05.659 And while we're singing, some of the children will come in from Sunday school. 00:50:05.659 --> 00:50:19.659 Psalm 61, page 78, verses 1 to 5. 00:50:19.659 --> 00:50:24.659 The tune this time is Land of Rest. 00:50:24.659 --> 00:50:28.659 O hear my urge and cry, my God, and listen to my plea. 00:50:28.659 --> 00:50:33.659 From earth's remotest bounds I call when my heart faints in me. 00:50:33.659 --> 00:50:37.659 O God, conduct me to the rock that's higher far than I. 00:50:37.659 --> 00:50:43.659 For you're my refuge from the foe, my tower of strength on high. 00:50:43.659 --> 00:50:47.659 And so on, verses 1 to 5 in Psalm 61. 00:50:47.659 --> 00:50:48.659 And we'll stand to sing. 00:50:48.659 --> 00:51:07.659 O hear my urge and cry, my God, and listen to my plea. 00:51:07.659 --> 00:51:21.659 From earth's remotest bounds I call when my heart faints in me. 00:51:21.659 --> 00:51:35.659 O God, conduct me to the rock that's higher far than I. 00:51:35.659 --> 00:51:50.659 For you're my refuge from the foe, my tower of strength on high. 00:51:50.659 --> 00:52:03.659 O let me dwell within your debt, forever there to live. 00:52:03.659 --> 00:52:17.659 O for the shelter of your wings, the refuge which they give. 00:52:17.659 --> 00:52:31.659 O you have heard my vow so far, and you have given me. 00:52:31.659 --> 00:52:46.659 The heritage of those who fear, your name continually. 00:52:46.659 --> 00:52:49.659 O God, conduct me to the foe, my heart of strength on high. 00:52:49.659 --> 00:52:50.659 O God, conduct me to the foe, my heart of strength on high. 00:52:50.659 --> 00:52:53.659 Now, at this point I'd like to give a few words of direction, 00:52:53.659 --> 00:52:55.659 sometimes known as the fencing of the Lord's table, 00:52:55.659 --> 00:52:59.659 but it's really just giving direction as to who the Lord's table is for, 00:52:59.659 --> 00:53:05.659 and who should be taking their place at the Lord's table to remember Him in His death. 00:53:05.659 --> 00:53:18.659 If we turn back to the passage we read in John chapter 19, we find there that verses 38 to 42 speak to us about the burial of Christ's body. 00:53:18.659 --> 00:53:31.659 The two persons, these two men came, Joseph of Arimathea, who was secretly a disciple of Jesus, and also Nicodemus, who we read through the Gospel of John in various places. 00:53:31.659 --> 00:53:36.659 It's a very interesting pattern that John shows in regard to Nicodemus. 00:53:36.659 --> 00:53:40.659 He first of all came in chapter 3 to Jesus by night. 00:53:40.659 --> 00:53:46.659 In chapter 7 he spoke up somewhat for Jesus, not yet sure as to where he stood there spiritually, 00:53:46.659 --> 00:53:53.659 but now here at the death of Jesus he comes to light as a true disciple of Christ. 00:53:53.659 --> 00:54:00.659 Now, it's interesting, what you find in this passage is how they dealt with the body of Jesus and how they acted. 00:54:00.659 --> 00:54:07.659 And I think there are three things here that will help us as we come to consider who should be at the Lord's table, 00:54:07.659 --> 00:54:10.659 who have that privilege to come to remember Him in His death. 00:54:10.659 --> 00:54:14.659 First of all, you see that they acted believingly. 00:54:14.659 --> 00:54:19.659 There's no doubt that they acted believingly, believing in who this Jesus was, 00:54:19.659 --> 00:54:24.659 and believing to some extent at least why He had died the death He died. 00:54:24.659 --> 00:54:31.659 They went to Pilate, or Joseph went to Pilate to ask Him permission to take away the body of Jesus. 00:54:31.659 --> 00:54:34.659 They gave Him permission, so also Nicodemus came with Him. 00:54:34.659 --> 00:54:41.659 And the way that you find the passage developing, you can see that they truly believed in this person, in this Jesus. 00:54:41.659 --> 00:54:46.659 They came believing. They came to take His body down from the cross, believing in who He was, 00:54:46.659 --> 00:54:57.659 believing that He indeed was the Savior, that He was the Son of God who had come into the world to save sinners like themselves. 00:54:57.659 --> 00:55:03.659 And so, you come to the Lord's Supper today, and you come believingly. 00:55:03.659 --> 00:55:06.659 It's not a mere ritual for you. 00:55:06.659 --> 00:55:09.659 It's not something that you do just out of habit. 00:55:09.659 --> 00:55:13.659 It's not something you've learned to do just because others are doing it. 00:55:13.659 --> 00:55:18.659 It's not something you do just because it's been in the church during your lifetime. 00:55:18.659 --> 00:55:21.659 You come believingly. 00:55:21.659 --> 00:55:35.659 You come as if you were taking the body of Jesus down from the cross, believing in who He is, believing in why He died, believing that He died for you. 00:55:35.659 --> 00:55:43.659 Paul speaks in 1 Corinthians 11, rather, about discerning the Lord's body. 00:55:43.659 --> 00:55:55.659 To discern the Lord's body in the Lord's Supper really means that you see, believingly, in these elements of bread and of wine, the reality of the Lord's death. 00:55:55.659 --> 00:55:59.659 You see Jesus Himself because you believe in Him. 00:55:59.659 --> 00:56:11.659 And as you believe in Him, so these elements come to be for you very meaningfully, a representation and a presentation to you of the Jesus who died. 00:56:11.659 --> 00:56:12.659 They acted believingly. 00:56:12.659 --> 00:56:16.659 They acted, secondly, very thoughtfully. 00:56:16.659 --> 00:56:20.659 They didn't just do this without giving it some thought. 00:56:20.659 --> 00:56:29.659 They didn't do this just because they felt sorry for Jesus and because they thought it was important that His body would not remain on the cross. 00:56:29.659 --> 00:56:31.659 They did this thoughtfully. 00:56:31.659 --> 00:56:32.659 They went to Pilate. 00:56:32.659 --> 00:56:34.659 They prepared spices. 00:56:34.659 --> 00:56:39.659 They went to use Joseph's own new tomb. 00:56:39.659 --> 00:56:42.659 Matthew tells us it was his tomb, a new tomb. 00:56:42.659 --> 00:56:44.659 Nobody had ever been laid in it. 00:56:44.659 --> 00:56:47.659 All of that has thoughtfully gone about. 00:56:47.659 --> 00:56:52.659 They didn't just rush into it, though they were short of time because of when this took place. 00:56:52.659 --> 00:56:54.659 But they acted thoughtfully. 00:56:54.659 --> 00:56:57.659 They gave their mind to what they were doing. 00:56:57.659 --> 00:57:02.659 And these are the people who also come to the Lord's Supper. 00:57:02.659 --> 00:57:05.659 They don't come unthinkingly. 00:57:05.659 --> 00:57:10.659 They don't come just because somebody has recommended it. 00:57:10.659 --> 00:57:14.659 They don't come just because somebody else is doing it. 00:57:14.659 --> 00:57:16.659 They come thoughtfully. 00:57:16.659 --> 00:57:20.659 You come today thinking of what's before you. 00:57:20.659 --> 00:57:26.659 You come giving your mind to the bread and the wine and what's meant by them. 00:57:26.659 --> 00:57:29.659 You come thinking about what you're doing. 00:57:29.659 --> 00:57:32.659 You come thinking about why it's meaningful to you. 00:57:32.659 --> 00:57:36.659 You come thinking as to why it's important you do this. 00:57:36.659 --> 00:57:42.659 You're applying your mind so that in a very real way you're reenacting, if you like, 00:57:42.659 --> 00:57:47.659 what Joseph and Nicodemus did in taking the body of Jesus down from the cross. 00:57:47.659 --> 00:57:55.659 Having acted thoughtfully, having made preparation, so do you when you come to the Lord's Supper. 00:57:55.659 --> 00:58:00.659 The Supper is for people who come believingly to take the bread and the wine, 00:58:00.659 --> 00:58:04.659 who come thoughtfully to take the bread and the wine, 00:58:04.659 --> 00:58:09.659 who give their minds to the meaning and significance of these things. 00:58:09.659 --> 00:58:12.659 And also they acted lovingly. 00:58:12.659 --> 00:58:15.659 They obviously took great care. 00:58:15.659 --> 00:58:21.659 They acted in loving regard for what were really the remains of this person, 00:58:21.659 --> 00:58:24.659 this human body of Jesus. 00:58:24.659 --> 00:58:28.659 They acted lovingly in regard to it. 00:58:28.659 --> 00:58:31.659 They were very short of time. 00:58:31.659 --> 00:58:39.659 And yet they took great care that they did everything possible because of their love for him and what he had done 00:58:39.659 --> 00:58:42.659 to make sure that he had a decent burial. 00:58:42.659 --> 00:58:47.659 But his burial was in a manner the custom of the Jews to bury. 00:58:47.659 --> 00:58:50.659 And so you come. 00:58:50.659 --> 00:58:52.659 And those who come to the Lord's Supper, 00:58:52.659 --> 00:58:57.659 those who are able to partake of the supper meaningfully are those who love the Lord. 00:58:57.659 --> 00:59:02.659 You come when your heart loves him for what he did. 00:59:02.659 --> 00:59:05.659 You come and you love him. 00:59:05.659 --> 00:59:08.659 As you partake, it's an act of love for you. 00:59:08.659 --> 00:59:13.659 It's as if you're taking him down from the cross and just taking him up in your arms and saying, 00:59:13.659 --> 00:59:16.659 Lord, I love you for what you've done. 00:59:16.659 --> 00:59:19.659 I love you for who you are. 00:59:19.659 --> 00:59:22.659 I love you for how you remembered me. 00:59:22.659 --> 00:59:29.659 I love you that you've done such a thing as this for such a person as I. 00:59:29.659 --> 00:59:33.659 Yes, you come believingly. 00:59:33.659 --> 00:59:35.659 And you come thoughtfully. 00:59:35.659 --> 00:59:38.659 And you come lovingly. 00:59:38.659 --> 00:59:44.659 And the Lord's table, the Lord's Supper is for them. 00:59:44.659 --> 00:59:55.659 For those who come with that mindset to take the bread and take the wine in remembrance of him. 00:59:55.659 --> 01:00:00.659 Now, we're going to sing some more verses before we come to the supper itself. 01:00:00.659 --> 01:00:05.659 And this is from Psalm 118. 01:00:05.659 --> 01:00:09.659 And at verse 15, that's page 398. 01:00:09.659 --> 01:00:15.659 Psalm 118 at verse 13. 01:00:15.659 --> 01:00:19.659 We'll sing down as far as verse 23. 01:00:19.659 --> 01:00:25.659 In dwellings of the righteous is heard the melody of joy and health. 01:00:25.659 --> 01:00:29.659 The Lord's right hand doth ever valiantly. 01:00:29.659 --> 01:00:40.659 Now, at this stage, among the visitors present, if there are any who love the Lord, who are in full communion in their own congregation, they're welcome to come and take communion. 01:00:40.659 --> 01:00:41.659 This is not our table. 01:00:41.659 --> 01:00:42.659 This is not our table. 01:00:42.659 --> 01:00:44.659 This is not the free church's table. 01:00:44.659 --> 01:00:46.659 This is the Lord's table. 01:00:46.659 --> 01:00:54.659 And we welcome any who are genuinely living in obedience to Christ and who want to remember him in the supper. 01:00:54.659 --> 01:00:59.659 So, if you are amongst those, please do join us and come forward to the table. 01:00:59.659 --> 01:01:04.659 In dwellings of the righteous is heard the melody of joy and health. 01:01:04.659 --> 01:01:06.659 We'll remain seated for this singing. 01:01:06.659 --> 01:01:28.659 In dwellings of the righteous is heard the melody of joy and health. 01:01:28.659 --> 01:01:40.659 The Lord's right hand doth ever valiantly. 01:01:40.659 --> 01:01:56.659 The right hand of the mighty Lord exalted is on high. 01:01:56.659 --> 01:02:13.659 The right hand of the mighty Lord doth ever valiantly. 01:02:13.659 --> 01:02:23.659 I shall not die but live and shout. 01:02:23.659 --> 01:02:30.659 The works of God is covered. 01:02:30.659 --> 01:02:31.659 The Lord doth ever valiantly. 01:02:31.659 --> 01:02:39.659 The Lord doth me chastise his soul. 01:02:39.659 --> 01:02:47.659 And not to death give no word. 01:02:47.659 --> 01:02:50.659 lanç Would God is covered. 01:02:50.659 --> 01:03:02.659 He was worthy of anger to me the gems of righteousness. 01:03:02.659 --> 01:03:22.359 Then will I enter into them, and I the Lord will bless. 01:03:22.360 --> 01:03:38.760 This is the gift of God, I hear the just shall enter in. 01:03:38.760 --> 01:03:54.760 Be well, I praise, for thy meaner, and thou thy safety be. 01:03:54.760 --> 01:04:12.940 That stone is made, a cornerstone, which builders did despise. 01:04:12.940 --> 01:04:29.860 This is the doing of the Lord, and wondrous in our eyes. 01:04:29.860 --> 01:04:36.640 Let's take a moment for the Lord's name. 01:04:37.900 --> 01:04:41.160 1 Corinthians 11, verse 23. 01:04:42.360 --> 01:04:45.500 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you. 01:04:46.519 --> 01:04:49.300 The Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread. 01:04:50.160 --> 01:04:52.340 When He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 01:04:52.820 --> 01:04:57.300 This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. 01:04:57.300 --> 01:05:02.160 In the same way also He took the cup after supper, saying, 01:05:02.900 --> 01:05:05.019 This cup is the new covenant in my blood. 01:05:05.860 --> 01:05:09.400 Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. 01:05:10.260 --> 01:05:12.940 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, 01:05:13.620 --> 01:05:17.320 you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. 01:05:18.840 --> 01:05:21.760 And the pattern that the Lord set for us is what we follow 01:05:21.760 --> 01:05:24.620 in our observance of the Lord's supper as well. 01:05:24.619 --> 01:05:27.400 We come to give thanks now in His name. 01:05:30.739 --> 01:05:31.380 Let's pray. 01:05:34.059 --> 01:05:36.799 Lord, our gracious God, as we give thanks 01:05:36.799 --> 01:05:39.799 for all that is set before us in the Lord's supper, 01:05:40.920 --> 01:05:42.420 we give thanks for all that it means, 01:05:42.519 --> 01:05:43.519 for all that it represents. 01:05:45.000 --> 01:05:47.179 We give thanks for the reality of your death. 01:05:48.279 --> 01:05:51.359 We give thanks for the way that you graciously provide us 01:05:51.359 --> 01:05:52.539 a means to remember it. 01:05:52.539 --> 01:05:56.400 We confess, Lord, even in the most important things 01:05:56.400 --> 01:05:58.300 that we are apt to forget, 01:05:59.300 --> 01:06:02.519 that we are apt to leave aside a consideration 01:06:02.519 --> 01:06:03.920 to the extent we ought, 01:06:04.759 --> 01:06:08.000 even of such things as your own death on the cross. 01:06:09.380 --> 01:06:13.639 Lord, we thank you today that we gather here in your presence. 01:06:13.639 --> 01:06:18.539 We pray that as we remember the death of the Lord in the supper, 01:06:19.559 --> 01:06:22.739 may we come, O Lord, to meet you in the power of your risen life. 01:06:23.819 --> 01:06:26.659 May we come through your Holy Spirit to benefit from 01:06:26.659 --> 01:06:30.279 all that we now do in our actions at the table. 01:06:31.759 --> 01:06:36.059 We thank you, O Lord, that today we can come to you with assurance 01:06:36.059 --> 01:06:38.639 that all that you have provided for us 01:06:38.639 --> 01:06:42.920 is forever sufficient to make us acceptable to you. 01:06:42.920 --> 01:06:48.619 that it is forever sufficient to be the ground about forgiveness from our sins, 01:06:49.700 --> 01:06:52.099 about presenting us righteous before God. 01:06:53.099 --> 01:06:57.200 We thank you, Lord, today that in this reminder and this remembrance, 01:06:58.200 --> 01:07:03.180 you impress upon us anew that great love that you showed to your people 01:07:03.180 --> 01:07:06.280 when you sent your beloved Son into this world 01:07:06.280 --> 01:07:09.620 to die that cursed death of the cross for them. 01:07:10.620 --> 01:07:13.580 And we thank you today for that ongoing love of God 01:07:13.580 --> 01:07:16.740 which can never be diverted from your people, 01:07:17.660 --> 01:07:22.960 which can never be diverted from your own dear Son as the head of your church. 01:07:24.060 --> 01:07:28.740 Lord, we pray today for grace to discern the Lord's body in these elements. 01:07:28.739 --> 01:07:34.359 We ask that you would sanctify them from their common to this their holy use. 01:07:35.379 --> 01:07:37.319 And enable us as we express our thanks, 01:07:38.339 --> 01:07:42.019 Lord, to be also considerate of how we come together. 01:07:42.879 --> 01:07:46.599 For it is the table that you have set not only for us individually, 01:07:47.379 --> 01:07:48.919 but for your people collectively, 01:07:48.920 --> 01:07:54.740 so that they may come together and share in this communion meeting. 01:07:55.700 --> 01:07:57.240 So blessed to us, we pray, 01:07:58.059 --> 01:07:59.860 in all that we are participants of. 01:08:00.619 --> 01:08:02.300 Blessed today those who are observing, 01:08:03.139 --> 01:08:05.900 not being at the table, but yet observe these things. 01:08:06.840 --> 01:08:08.059 We thank you that they are here. 01:08:09.019 --> 01:08:11.340 We thank you that they have an interest in being here. 01:08:12.200 --> 01:08:15.000 We pray that they themselves, Lord, will be drawn by you 01:08:15.000 --> 01:08:17.960 to come eventually to sit at your table 01:08:17.960 --> 01:08:21.800 and to do so even perhaps the next occasion if it please you. 01:08:22.760 --> 01:08:25.199 We commend them to you and ask that you'd remember them. 01:08:26.199 --> 01:08:28.300 And Lord, help us to encourage one another 01:08:28.300 --> 01:08:31.239 and to fulfill all our privileges 01:08:31.239 --> 01:08:34.000 and our responsibilities in the gospel. 01:08:34.859 --> 01:08:37.000 We ask now that you'd go before us 01:08:37.000 --> 01:08:38.920 throughout the remainder of our service. 01:08:39.079 --> 01:08:40.000 Keep us, we pray, 01:08:40.500 --> 01:08:42.539 our hearts and minds focused upon you. 01:08:42.539 --> 01:08:44.800 And all of these things that we ask, 01:08:44.880 --> 01:08:47.579 we ask with the pardon of our many sins. 01:08:48.300 --> 01:08:49.279 For Jesus' sake. 01:08:49.800 --> 01:08:50.079 Amen. 01:08:53.699 --> 01:08:55.899 When we come to partake of the Lord's Supper, 01:08:56.000 --> 01:08:56.979 how do we partake? 01:08:58.319 --> 01:09:01.000 Well, we partake, first of all, as worshipers. 01:09:01.899 --> 01:09:03.420 This is an act of worship. 01:09:04.380 --> 01:09:06.619 It's not something that's a sideline 01:09:06.619 --> 01:09:08.840 to our worship as we worship 01:09:08.840 --> 01:09:11.300 in having the Word preached to us 01:09:11.300 --> 01:09:13.260 in singing the praises of God 01:09:13.260 --> 01:09:14.100 and praying. 01:09:15.039 --> 01:09:16.699 This is an act of worship. 01:09:16.860 --> 01:09:20.279 It's part of this whole service of worship. 01:09:21.300 --> 01:09:23.640 And as you come today to take the bread 01:09:23.640 --> 01:09:24.720 and take the wine, 01:09:25.340 --> 01:09:27.880 you do so as worshippers of God. 01:09:28.920 --> 01:09:32.199 You do so giving thanks to God for it 01:09:32.199 --> 01:09:34.079 and for what it represents. 01:09:35.079 --> 01:09:37.579 You come in your worshipful spirit 01:09:37.579 --> 01:09:38.519 to partake of it, 01:09:39.039 --> 01:09:40.140 praying to God. 01:09:40.800 --> 01:09:43.140 Part of the worship is that you pray 01:09:43.140 --> 01:09:44.819 God will bless this to you. 01:09:45.720 --> 01:09:47.119 God will make it once again 01:09:47.119 --> 01:09:49.300 precious and meaningful to you 01:09:49.300 --> 01:09:51.800 as you come to partake of it. 01:09:53.140 --> 01:09:54.319 You come praising, 01:09:54.500 --> 01:09:55.380 you come praying. 01:09:56.539 --> 01:09:59.640 You come also with a meditative heart. 01:10:00.640 --> 01:10:02.260 You come to meditate, 01:10:02.460 --> 01:10:03.600 to think through, 01:10:03.600 --> 01:10:04.720 you said earlier, 01:10:04.780 --> 01:10:06.940 the things that are represented here 01:10:06.940 --> 01:10:09.940 as you come as worshippers of God. 01:10:11.260 --> 01:10:12.900 May you and I, 01:10:12.960 --> 01:10:15.240 as we take this communion together, 01:10:15.380 --> 01:10:16.140 may we do so 01:10:16.140 --> 01:10:18.720 in a way in which we are conscious 01:10:18.720 --> 01:10:20.140 that we are actually engaging 01:10:20.140 --> 01:10:21.880 in an act of worship, 01:10:22.400 --> 01:10:24.100 to do it devotedly 01:10:24.100 --> 01:10:26.520 in our love for the Lord. 01:10:27.520 --> 01:10:29.500 We come as worshippers. 01:10:29.500 --> 01:10:33.439 You also come to the table today 01:10:33.439 --> 01:10:35.359 as children of God. 01:10:36.079 --> 01:10:37.720 This is the Father's table. 01:10:38.340 --> 01:10:40.659 It isn't just the table of Jesus the Son. 01:10:41.340 --> 01:10:42.840 Jesus the Son is set out 01:10:42.840 --> 01:10:45.880 in the bread and the wine 01:10:45.880 --> 01:10:47.880 that represent His body and His blood, 01:10:48.239 --> 01:10:49.800 but it's the Father's table. 01:10:50.300 --> 01:10:52.420 You come to a gracious Father today. 01:10:52.779 --> 01:10:54.800 He has spread this table before you 01:10:54.800 --> 01:10:56.640 with what's represented on it 01:10:56.640 --> 01:10:59.619 being the salvation really essentially 01:10:59.619 --> 01:11:02.460 that Christ has died to purchase for you. 01:11:03.400 --> 01:11:06.400 Father has provided this table, 01:11:06.740 --> 01:11:08.180 has prepared this table, 01:11:08.680 --> 01:11:11.579 has given His Son to the death of the cross 01:11:11.579 --> 01:11:14.140 so that we might have the benefit 01:11:14.140 --> 01:11:15.900 of the life that comes 01:11:15.900 --> 01:11:17.660 as a result of that to us. 01:11:18.140 --> 01:11:19.640 That's what's represented here. 01:11:19.980 --> 01:11:21.660 The Father has provided it for us. 01:11:22.160 --> 01:11:24.640 And the Father is saying to you today 01:11:24.640 --> 01:11:25.079 as it were 01:11:25.079 --> 01:11:26.380 and saying to us all together, 01:11:26.640 --> 01:11:27.460 at this table, 01:11:27.860 --> 01:11:30.300 here is what represents my Son. 01:11:30.600 --> 01:11:31.579 Come and eat. 01:11:31.900 --> 01:11:32.740 Come and drink. 01:11:33.100 --> 01:11:34.600 Come and take your fill 01:11:34.600 --> 01:11:36.520 of this wonderful salvation 01:11:36.520 --> 01:11:37.579 represented here. 01:11:37.940 --> 01:11:40.720 Come and draw further strength from me. 01:11:42.820 --> 01:11:46.740 Come and once again experience my love, 01:11:48.100 --> 01:11:49.200 my regard for you, 01:11:50.079 --> 01:11:51.380 my provision for you. 01:11:51.380 --> 01:11:55.340 Come and take it into your soul. 01:11:55.340 --> 01:11:56.239 Come and take it into your souls 01:11:56.239 --> 01:11:58.560 as you take this bread 01:11:58.560 --> 01:11:59.739 and as you take this wine. 01:12:00.300 --> 01:12:01.699 Take my Son. 01:12:01.940 --> 01:12:02.980 Take your Savior. 01:12:04.020 --> 01:12:06.159 Take Him again into your embrace, 01:12:06.819 --> 01:12:07.600 into your hearts, 01:12:07.680 --> 01:12:08.380 into your soul. 01:12:10.060 --> 01:12:11.060 Come and eat. 01:12:11.920 --> 01:12:12.800 Come and dine. 01:12:12.800 --> 01:12:13.800 Come and pray for you. 01:12:13.800 --> 01:12:14.800 Come and pray for you. 01:12:14.800 --> 01:12:15.239 Come and pray for you. 01:12:15.239 --> 01:12:17.260 The Father has spread a banquet for you. 01:12:18.659 --> 01:12:20.279 Last night we spoke of it as 01:12:20.279 --> 01:12:23.840 the starter course of the marriage supper 01:12:23.840 --> 01:12:25.060 of the Lamb that will be 01:12:25.060 --> 01:12:26.619 at the end of the age. 01:12:27.760 --> 01:12:30.360 But when we say it's a starter course 01:12:30.360 --> 01:12:32.360 compared to that marriage supper 01:12:32.360 --> 01:12:33.000 of the Lamb, 01:12:33.480 --> 01:12:34.440 don't think it's just 01:12:34.440 --> 01:12:36.100 a little tiny morsel. 01:12:37.140 --> 01:12:38.619 He's setting before you 01:12:38.619 --> 01:12:41.140 a table with bread and with wine 01:12:41.140 --> 01:12:43.579 that represents the whole salvation 01:12:43.579 --> 01:12:45.460 that Christ has died to procure. 01:12:46.920 --> 01:12:48.000 And He's now saying to you, 01:12:48.099 --> 01:12:48.920 come and take this. 01:12:49.880 --> 01:12:50.500 Once again, 01:12:50.640 --> 01:12:51.840 come and feast yourself 01:12:51.840 --> 01:12:54.260 upon what I died 01:12:54.260 --> 01:12:56.479 to obtain for you. 01:12:57.979 --> 01:12:59.760 You come as worshippers. 01:13:01.159 --> 01:13:03.199 You come as children of God. 01:13:04.539 --> 01:13:05.939 You come as His children 01:13:05.939 --> 01:13:08.239 to the Father's table 01:13:08.239 --> 01:13:10.979 to meet with both 01:13:10.979 --> 01:13:12.639 the Savior Himself 01:13:12.639 --> 01:13:15.420 and the Father who sent Him 01:13:15.420 --> 01:13:17.579 through the Holy Spirit. 01:13:20.739 --> 01:13:21.559 And you, 01:13:22.159 --> 01:13:23.559 take 01:13:23.559 --> 01:13:26.279 this is for you. 01:13:27.619 --> 01:13:29.099 So we read that same night 01:13:29.099 --> 01:13:30.239 in which the Lord was betrayed 01:13:30.239 --> 01:13:31.079 that He took bread. 01:13:31.960 --> 01:13:32.979 When He had given thanks, 01:13:33.079 --> 01:13:34.059 He broke it and said, 01:13:34.779 --> 01:13:36.000 This is My body 01:13:36.000 --> 01:13:37.019 which is for you. 01:13:37.020 --> 01:13:38.280 Do this 01:13:38.280 --> 01:13:40.320 in remembrance of Me. 01:13:43.300 --> 01:13:44.760 After supper also, 01:13:45.600 --> 01:13:46.360 He took the cup, 01:13:47.000 --> 01:13:47.200 saying, 01:13:47.280 --> 01:13:48.560 This cup is the new covenant 01:13:48.560 --> 01:13:49.440 in My blood. 01:13:50.600 --> 01:13:51.600 This do as often 01:13:51.600 --> 01:13:52.420 as you drink it 01:13:52.420 --> 01:13:54.180 in remembrance of Me. 01:13:55.540 --> 01:13:56.840 For as often as you drink, 01:13:57.040 --> 01:13:58.420 as you eat this cup and drink, 01:13:59.220 --> 01:14:00.200 as you eat this bread 01:14:00.200 --> 01:14:01.160 and drink this cup, 01:14:02.580 --> 01:14:03.960 you show the Lord's death 01:14:03.960 --> 01:14:05.899 until He comes. 01:14:05.899 --> 01:14:06.020 Amen. 01:14:10.699 --> 01:14:12.539 Well, we came to the table 01:14:12.539 --> 01:14:13.899 of the Lord as worshippers, 01:14:14.579 --> 01:14:17.020 and we came as children of God. 01:14:17.800 --> 01:14:18.199 And of course, 01:14:18.260 --> 01:14:19.640 that's how we leave the table 01:14:19.640 --> 01:14:20.020 as well. 01:14:20.100 --> 01:14:22.659 That remains to be true of us. 01:14:22.659 --> 01:14:25.960 But we leave the table also 01:14:25.960 --> 01:14:27.800 with a renewed resolve, 01:14:27.960 --> 01:14:28.239 surely, 01:14:28.920 --> 01:14:30.039 a renewed commitment 01:14:30.039 --> 01:14:32.039 to serve the Lord. 01:14:33.019 --> 01:14:33.880 What you have been 01:14:33.880 --> 01:14:35.720 remembering in the Lord's Supper 01:14:35.720 --> 01:14:37.840 is the servant of God, 01:14:38.519 --> 01:14:39.659 the Son of God 01:14:39.659 --> 01:14:40.720 who came into this world, 01:14:40.800 --> 01:14:41.619 as He put it Himself, 01:14:42.399 --> 01:14:43.599 not to be served, 01:14:44.019 --> 01:14:44.880 but to serve, 01:14:45.659 --> 01:14:46.939 and to give His life 01:14:46.939 --> 01:14:48.920 a ransom for many. 01:14:48.920 --> 01:14:52.020 Jesus is the ultimate servant. 01:14:53.220 --> 01:14:54.100 He is the one 01:14:54.100 --> 01:14:55.159 who gave Himself 01:14:55.159 --> 01:14:57.239 to the death of the cross 01:14:57.239 --> 01:14:57.920 in obedience 01:14:57.920 --> 01:14:59.920 to the will of the Father. 01:15:01.199 --> 01:15:02.859 And as He is the ultimate servant, 01:15:03.600 --> 01:15:04.560 and as you've remembered 01:15:04.560 --> 01:15:06.079 the ultimate servant today, 01:15:07.020 --> 01:15:08.440 so He's sending you out now 01:15:08.440 --> 01:15:09.920 to be His servants 01:15:09.920 --> 01:15:10.560 in the world. 01:15:11.619 --> 01:15:12.579 And what does that mean? 01:15:13.380 --> 01:15:14.539 Well, it means essentially, 01:15:15.140 --> 01:15:15.980 as He Himself said 01:15:15.980 --> 01:15:17.279 in the last chapter of Matthew, 01:15:17.279 --> 01:15:19.979 go and make disciples 01:15:19.979 --> 01:15:21.840 of all nations. 01:15:23.099 --> 01:15:24.920 Go and make disciples. 01:15:26.199 --> 01:15:27.500 Don't think that that's just 01:15:27.500 --> 01:15:28.500 the work of the minister 01:15:28.500 --> 01:15:29.819 or assistant minister 01:15:29.819 --> 01:15:30.460 or elder. 01:15:32.199 --> 01:15:33.659 It's a privilege that God 01:15:33.659 --> 01:15:34.819 has given to His children 01:15:34.819 --> 01:15:37.300 to be disciple-makers 01:15:37.300 --> 01:15:39.679 by your testimony, 01:15:40.239 --> 01:15:41.759 by your life in the world, 01:15:42.759 --> 01:15:44.099 by the words you speak. 01:15:45.460 --> 01:15:46.979 You make disciples. 01:15:47.279 --> 01:15:49.880 And as we make disciples 01:15:49.880 --> 01:15:50.579 for the Lord, 01:15:51.539 --> 01:15:52.559 so they're brought in 01:15:52.559 --> 01:15:53.340 under the teaching 01:15:53.340 --> 01:15:54.399 of the Word of God 01:15:54.399 --> 01:15:56.679 and come to develop 01:15:56.679 --> 01:15:58.340 themselves then 01:15:58.340 --> 01:15:59.819 as children of God we trust. 01:16:01.519 --> 01:16:02.579 So you go forth 01:16:02.579 --> 01:16:03.899 with a renewed commitment, 01:16:04.899 --> 01:16:06.579 a renewed commitment 01:16:06.579 --> 01:16:07.679 to serve the Lord. 01:16:08.960 --> 01:16:10.139 You also go out 01:16:10.139 --> 01:16:11.880 with a renewed concern 01:16:11.880 --> 01:16:13.739 to be watchful 01:16:13.739 --> 01:16:14.500 in your life. 01:16:14.500 --> 01:16:16.899 having remembered 01:16:16.899 --> 01:16:17.880 the death of the Lord 01:16:17.880 --> 01:16:18.239 here, 01:16:18.319 --> 01:16:19.279 you go out from here 01:16:19.279 --> 01:16:20.859 and you're concerned 01:16:20.859 --> 01:16:22.239 that you bring nothing 01:16:22.239 --> 01:16:23.920 of disrepute 01:16:23.920 --> 01:16:25.039 to the name of Jesus, 01:16:26.039 --> 01:16:27.039 that you live 01:16:27.039 --> 01:16:27.899 in such a way 01:16:27.899 --> 01:16:29.340 as will actually 01:16:29.340 --> 01:16:30.600 always honor Him 01:16:30.600 --> 01:16:31.479 privately 01:16:31.479 --> 01:16:32.920 and in public. 01:16:33.920 --> 01:16:35.060 You don't want 01:16:35.060 --> 01:16:36.159 from your life 01:16:36.159 --> 01:16:36.899 or my life 01:16:36.899 --> 01:16:38.600 anything that would 01:16:38.600 --> 01:16:39.840 cause the Lord's name 01:16:39.840 --> 01:16:41.900 to be in disrepute. 01:16:43.520 --> 01:16:44.400 And you go with 01:16:44.400 --> 01:16:45.180 that concern 01:16:45.180 --> 01:16:46.760 to be watchful 01:16:46.760 --> 01:16:48.000 against Satan. 01:16:49.360 --> 01:16:50.220 Remember that 01:16:50.220 --> 01:16:52.060 the times 01:16:52.060 --> 01:16:52.520 when you are 01:16:52.520 --> 01:16:53.500 most vulnerable 01:16:53.500 --> 01:16:55.260 is when you have 01:16:55.260 --> 01:16:56.520 enjoyed something 01:16:56.520 --> 01:16:56.900 most. 01:16:58.220 --> 01:16:59.060 When you've really 01:16:59.060 --> 01:17:00.239 enjoyed being here 01:17:00.239 --> 01:17:00.940 today as I know 01:17:00.940 --> 01:17:01.400 you have, 01:17:02.119 --> 01:17:03.220 when you've enjoyed 01:17:03.220 --> 01:17:04.000 again communion 01:17:04.000 --> 01:17:04.720 with God 01:17:04.720 --> 01:17:05.300 and the worship 01:17:05.300 --> 01:17:05.880 of God 01:17:05.880 --> 01:17:07.220 and the remembrance 01:17:07.220 --> 01:17:07.980 of the Lord 01:17:07.980 --> 01:17:08.960 in the Lord's Supper. 01:17:09.980 --> 01:17:10.940 That's when Satan 01:17:10.940 --> 01:17:11.960 knows at the height 01:17:11.960 --> 01:17:12.819 of your enjoyment 01:17:12.819 --> 01:17:14.859 that you're vulnerable 01:17:14.859 --> 01:17:15.640 to attack. 01:17:16.920 --> 01:17:17.680 Don't let him 01:17:17.680 --> 01:17:18.359 get into 01:17:18.359 --> 01:17:20.119 your life 01:17:20.119 --> 01:17:20.880 in such a way 01:17:20.880 --> 01:17:22.000 that would capitulate 01:17:22.000 --> 01:17:23.699 to any of his 01:17:23.699 --> 01:17:24.460 temptations. 01:17:24.460 --> 01:17:26.380 much easier 01:17:26.380 --> 01:17:27.680 to be watchful 01:17:27.680 --> 01:17:28.720 when things are tough 01:17:28.720 --> 01:17:30.340 and the going 01:17:30.340 --> 01:17:31.000 is hard 01:17:31.000 --> 01:17:32.500 and you're conscious 01:17:32.500 --> 01:17:33.380 of real challenges 01:17:33.380 --> 01:17:34.020 in your life. 01:17:34.140 --> 01:17:34.720 Then you come 01:17:34.720 --> 01:17:36.180 to depend 01:17:36.180 --> 01:17:37.000 upon the Lord 01:17:37.000 --> 01:17:38.920 rather than 01:17:38.920 --> 01:17:39.480 on yourself. 01:17:41.119 --> 01:17:41.760 To go out 01:17:41.760 --> 01:17:43.480 with a renewed 01:17:43.480 --> 01:17:44.100 concern 01:17:44.100 --> 01:17:46.119 to serve him 01:17:46.119 --> 01:17:47.399 and to be watchful. 01:17:48.279 --> 01:17:48.880 But not just 01:17:48.880 --> 01:17:49.939 watchful against Satan 01:17:49.939 --> 01:17:50.560 but watchful 01:17:50.560 --> 01:17:52.140 against yourself. 01:17:52.140 --> 01:17:54.900 Because you and I 01:17:54.900 --> 01:17:55.480 have something 01:17:55.480 --> 01:17:57.060 natural to us 01:17:57.060 --> 01:17:58.660 that we always 01:17:58.660 --> 01:17:59.539 need to be watchful 01:17:59.539 --> 01:17:59.940 against. 01:18:01.000 --> 01:18:01.619 And the Bible 01:18:01.619 --> 01:18:02.280 calls it 01:18:02.280 --> 01:18:03.340 pride. 01:18:04.560 --> 01:18:05.520 Pride is the 01:18:05.520 --> 01:18:05.840 opposite 01:18:05.840 --> 01:18:07.680 of being dependent 01:18:07.680 --> 01:18:08.380 on God. 01:18:09.800 --> 01:18:10.780 Pride is that 01:18:10.780 --> 01:18:13.000 thief, 01:18:13.180 --> 01:18:13.920 that burglar 01:18:13.920 --> 01:18:15.619 that sneaks 01:18:15.619 --> 01:18:16.680 into your life, 01:18:17.400 --> 01:18:18.240 into your heart, 01:18:18.340 --> 01:18:19.079 into your mind 01:18:19.079 --> 01:18:20.460 unnoticed. 01:18:22.140 --> 01:18:22.780 And the one thing 01:18:22.780 --> 01:18:23.400 he's after 01:18:23.400 --> 01:18:25.280 to rob you of 01:18:25.280 --> 01:18:26.960 is your dependence 01:18:26.960 --> 01:18:27.660 on Christ. 01:18:29.140 --> 01:18:29.900 Because when you 01:18:29.900 --> 01:18:31.039 come to lose 01:18:31.039 --> 01:18:31.619 your dependence 01:18:31.619 --> 01:18:32.240 on Christ 01:18:32.240 --> 01:18:33.100 or leave it aside, 01:18:33.619 --> 01:18:34.180 you come then 01:18:34.180 --> 01:18:35.140 to think of yourself 01:18:35.140 --> 01:18:35.860 and your own 01:18:35.860 --> 01:18:36.340 sufficiency 01:18:36.340 --> 01:18:37.960 and pride 01:18:37.960 --> 01:18:38.800 will make you feel 01:18:38.800 --> 01:18:40.140 I can do this. 01:18:41.500 --> 01:18:42.360 Don't let that 01:18:42.360 --> 01:18:42.720 happen. 01:18:43.920 --> 01:18:44.500 Because you know 01:18:44.500 --> 01:18:45.340 what the Bible 01:18:45.340 --> 01:18:45.680 says, 01:18:45.800 --> 01:18:46.500 pride comes 01:18:46.500 --> 01:18:49.000 before a fall. 01:18:49.000 --> 01:18:51.420 watch against 01:18:51.420 --> 01:18:51.840 Satan, 01:18:52.840 --> 01:18:53.479 watch against 01:18:53.479 --> 01:18:54.340 your own heart, 01:18:55.760 --> 01:18:56.359 watch against 01:18:56.359 --> 01:18:57.119 everything that 01:18:57.119 --> 01:18:58.020 would bring 01:18:58.020 --> 01:18:58.699 the cause of 01:18:58.699 --> 01:18:59.100 Christ 01:18:59.100 --> 01:19:00.699 into this 01:19:00.699 --> 01:19:01.100 repeat. 01:19:02.300 --> 01:19:03.420 But positively, 01:19:04.500 --> 01:19:04.960 keep on 01:19:04.960 --> 01:19:05.579 serving him, 01:19:06.359 --> 01:19:06.840 keep on 01:19:06.840 --> 01:19:07.420 loving him, 01:19:08.460 --> 01:19:08.939 keep on 01:19:08.939 --> 01:19:09.720 commending him, 01:19:10.899 --> 01:19:11.260 keep up 01:19:11.260 --> 01:19:11.739 your worship, 01:19:12.899 --> 01:19:13.399 keep up 01:19:13.399 --> 01:19:13.859 your love, 01:19:14.359 --> 01:19:14.939 your fellowship 01:19:14.939 --> 01:19:16.260 for the Lord's 01:19:16.260 --> 01:19:16.520 people. 01:19:16.520 --> 01:19:18.360 And as we 01:19:18.360 --> 01:19:18.920 leave the table 01:19:18.920 --> 01:19:19.240 today, 01:19:19.320 --> 01:19:19.880 we do so, 01:19:20.640 --> 01:19:21.260 conscious of 01:19:21.260 --> 01:19:21.740 the privilege 01:19:21.740 --> 01:19:22.480 that's been ours. 01:19:23.480 --> 01:19:24.020 I do want to 01:19:24.020 --> 01:19:24.540 say a word to 01:19:24.540 --> 01:19:24.980 the children 01:19:24.980 --> 01:19:25.800 up in the 01:19:25.800 --> 01:19:26.060 gallery. 01:19:29.060 --> 01:19:29.700 First of all, 01:19:29.740 --> 01:19:30.240 I want to say 01:19:30.240 --> 01:19:30.780 thank you 01:19:30.780 --> 01:19:32.400 for being here 01:19:32.400 --> 01:19:32.740 today. 01:19:33.740 --> 01:19:34.380 Thank you for 01:19:34.380 --> 01:19:34.700 coming. 01:19:36.240 --> 01:19:36.860 Thank you for 01:19:36.860 --> 01:19:37.540 coming to look 01:19:37.540 --> 01:19:38.500 at what is 01:19:38.500 --> 01:19:39.060 in the table 01:19:39.060 --> 01:19:39.640 of the Lord 01:19:39.640 --> 01:19:40.680 as you've seen 01:19:40.680 --> 01:19:41.340 it from up there. 01:19:41.420 --> 01:19:41.700 And you've got 01:19:41.700 --> 01:19:42.320 a good vantage 01:19:42.320 --> 01:19:42.720 point there, 01:19:42.760 --> 01:19:43.140 you can see 01:19:43.140 --> 01:19:44.380 down to the 01:19:44.380 --> 01:19:44.940 table of the 01:19:44.940 --> 01:19:45.200 Lord. 01:19:45.199 --> 01:19:46.720 And I want 01:19:46.720 --> 01:19:47.019 you to go 01:19:47.019 --> 01:19:47.559 home and 01:19:47.559 --> 01:19:48.479 think about 01:19:48.479 --> 01:19:49.019 what you've 01:19:49.019 --> 01:19:49.279 seen, 01:19:49.559 --> 01:19:50.000 what you've 01:19:50.000 --> 01:19:50.300 heard, 01:19:51.159 --> 01:19:51.559 what you've 01:19:51.559 --> 01:19:52.220 seen these 01:19:52.220 --> 01:19:53.079 believers doing, 01:19:53.699 --> 01:19:54.059 what you've 01:19:54.059 --> 01:19:54.619 heard me in 01:19:54.619 --> 01:19:55.039 the preaching 01:19:55.039 --> 01:19:55.380 of the 01:19:55.380 --> 01:19:55.840 word and 01:19:55.840 --> 01:19:56.460 as I've 01:19:56.460 --> 01:19:56.880 been speaking 01:19:56.880 --> 01:19:57.179 at the 01:19:57.179 --> 01:19:57.439 table. 01:19:57.539 --> 01:19:57.819 And I want 01:19:57.819 --> 01:19:58.039 you to 01:19:58.039 --> 01:19:58.420 think of 01:19:58.420 --> 01:19:58.920 yourselves. 01:20:00.099 --> 01:20:00.699 And what 01:20:00.699 --> 01:20:01.039 does that 01:20:01.039 --> 01:20:01.619 mean to 01:20:01.619 --> 01:20:02.079 yourselves? 01:20:03.420 --> 01:20:03.979 Is that 01:20:03.979 --> 01:20:04.340 something 01:20:04.340 --> 01:20:05.199 important to 01:20:05.199 --> 01:20:05.500 you? 01:20:06.380 --> 01:20:06.739 And why 01:20:06.739 --> 01:20:07.059 should it 01:20:07.059 --> 01:20:07.599 be important 01:20:07.599 --> 01:20:08.099 to you? 01:20:09.260 --> 01:20:09.800 And do 01:20:09.800 --> 01:20:10.119 you want 01:20:10.119 --> 01:20:10.579 to serve 01:20:10.579 --> 01:20:10.939 Jesus? 01:20:12.159 --> 01:20:12.679 And do 01:20:12.679 --> 01:20:12.880 you want 01:20:12.880 --> 01:20:13.119 to know 01:20:13.119 --> 01:20:13.639 him better? 01:20:13.640 --> 01:20:15.220 And do 01:20:15.220 --> 01:20:15.500 you want 01:20:15.500 --> 01:20:16.000 one day 01:20:16.000 --> 01:20:16.480 to come 01:20:16.480 --> 01:20:17.460 and be 01:20:17.460 --> 01:20:18.160 here also 01:20:18.160 --> 01:20:18.920 at the 01:20:18.920 --> 01:20:19.220 Lord's 01:20:19.220 --> 01:20:20.440 table with 01:20:20.440 --> 01:20:20.740 those who 01:20:20.740 --> 01:20:21.140 remember 01:20:21.140 --> 01:20:22.260 him in 01:20:22.260 --> 01:20:22.740 his death? 01:20:24.180 --> 01:20:24.780 So it's 01:20:24.780 --> 01:20:25.500 very encouraging 01:20:25.500 --> 01:20:26.119 for us to 01:20:26.119 --> 01:20:26.600 see you. 01:20:27.420 --> 01:20:27.880 We love 01:20:27.880 --> 01:20:28.140 you. 01:20:28.700 --> 01:20:29.200 You're part 01:20:29.200 --> 01:20:29.460 of the 01:20:29.460 --> 01:20:30.060 congregation. 01:20:31.119 --> 01:20:31.560 So we want 01:20:31.560 --> 01:20:31.960 you to go 01:20:31.960 --> 01:20:33.320 on now to 01:20:33.320 --> 01:20:33.740 know the 01:20:33.740 --> 01:20:34.180 Lord for 01:20:34.180 --> 01:20:35.700 yourselves and 01:20:35.700 --> 01:20:36.200 to serve 01:20:36.200 --> 01:20:37.420 him and to 01:20:37.420 --> 01:20:37.720 come to 01:20:37.720 --> 01:20:38.460 remember him 01:20:38.460 --> 01:20:39.860 whenever that 01:20:39.860 --> 01:20:40.500 time comes 01:20:40.500 --> 01:20:41.760 in the 01:20:41.760 --> 01:20:42.100 Lord's 01:20:42.100 --> 01:20:42.300 Supper. 01:20:43.640 --> 01:20:45.660 And I 01:20:45.660 --> 01:20:45.920 say the 01:20:45.920 --> 01:20:46.260 same to 01:20:46.260 --> 01:20:46.660 those who 01:20:46.660 --> 01:20:46.980 are not 01:20:46.980 --> 01:20:47.220 at the 01:20:47.220 --> 01:20:47.539 table. 01:20:48.940 --> 01:20:49.500 You have 01:20:49.500 --> 01:20:49.800 your own 01:20:49.800 --> 01:20:50.400 reasons for 01:20:50.400 --> 01:20:50.820 not being 01:20:50.820 --> 01:20:51.100 at the 01:20:51.100 --> 01:20:51.400 table. 01:20:53.360 --> 01:20:53.960 Your own 01:20:53.960 --> 01:20:54.420 thoughts are 01:20:54.420 --> 01:20:54.900 with you. 01:20:56.619 --> 01:20:57.240 Your own 01:20:57.240 --> 01:20:57.700 thoughts have 01:20:57.700 --> 01:20:58.220 been on what 01:20:58.220 --> 01:20:58.619 you've seen 01:20:58.619 --> 01:20:59.039 happening. 01:21:00.940 --> 01:21:01.320 But I do 01:21:01.320 --> 01:21:02.000 wish that you 01:21:02.000 --> 01:21:02.420 would come 01:21:02.420 --> 01:21:04.480 and that you 01:21:04.480 --> 01:21:04.880 would commit 01:21:04.880 --> 01:21:05.520 yourselves to 01:21:05.520 --> 01:21:06.060 the Lord or 01:21:06.060 --> 01:21:06.820 commit yourselves 01:21:06.820 --> 01:21:07.680 anew to the 01:21:07.680 --> 01:21:09.900 Lord so that 01:21:09.900 --> 01:21:10.500 you would benefit 01:21:10.500 --> 01:21:11.400 also from this 01:21:11.400 --> 01:21:12.160 means of grace. 01:21:12.159 --> 01:21:13.979 that he has 01:21:13.979 --> 01:21:14.779 graciously given 01:21:14.779 --> 01:21:15.479 to his people. 01:21:18.099 --> 01:21:19.300 Please be 01:21:19.300 --> 01:21:20.139 assured that we 01:21:20.139 --> 01:21:20.559 love your 01:21:20.559 --> 01:21:21.319 presence here, 01:21:22.380 --> 01:21:22.800 that we are 01:21:22.800 --> 01:21:23.619 encouraged by the 01:21:23.619 --> 01:21:24.260 fact that you're 01:21:24.260 --> 01:21:26.220 here, and that 01:21:26.220 --> 01:21:26.800 we want to see 01:21:26.800 --> 01:21:27.519 you develop in 01:21:27.519 --> 01:21:28.099 your spiritual 01:21:28.099 --> 01:21:30.399 lives too, so 01:21:30.399 --> 01:21:30.920 that eventually 01:21:30.920 --> 01:21:31.739 too you'll join 01:21:31.739 --> 01:21:33.359 us, hopefully 01:21:33.359 --> 01:21:35.300 soon, at the 01:21:35.300 --> 01:21:37.119 Lord's table for 01:21:37.119 --> 01:21:38.000 you also to come 01:21:38.000 --> 01:21:39.880 to benefit from 01:21:39.880 --> 01:21:40.699 what is set out 01:21:40.699 --> 01:21:41.359 here for your 01:21:41.359 --> 01:21:41.840 benefit. 01:21:44.039 --> 01:21:44.920 So may God 01:21:44.920 --> 01:21:45.739 bless to us, all 01:21:45.739 --> 01:21:46.300 of us today, 01:21:46.880 --> 01:21:47.559 partakers and 01:21:47.559 --> 01:21:48.399 observers alike, 01:21:49.359 --> 01:21:50.059 of what we've 01:21:50.059 --> 01:21:50.699 seen and heard. 01:21:51.639 --> 01:21:52.399 We're going to 01:21:52.399 --> 01:21:53.319 conclude by singing 01:21:53.319 --> 01:21:54.420 in Psalm 72, 01:21:55.420 --> 01:21:56.960 Psalm 72 on 01:21:56.960 --> 01:21:58.199 page 314, 01:21:59.840 --> 01:22:00.679 the three verses 01:22:00.679 --> 01:22:01.679 from verse 17. 01:22:01.680 --> 01:22:13.340 These three verses 01:22:13.340 --> 01:22:14.240 will stand to sing. 01:22:14.239 --> 01:22:15.239 in Psalm 72, 01:22:15.239 --> 01:22:15.899 the three verses 01:22:15.899 --> 01:22:16.239 of the Lord. 01:22:16.239 --> 01:22:17.239 Amen. 01:22:17.239 --> 01:22:18.239 Amen. 01:22:18.239 --> 01:22:19.239 Amen. 01:22:19.239 --> 01:22:20.239 Amen. 01:22:20.239 --> 01:22:21.239 Amen. 01:22:21.239 --> 01:22:23.159 This name forever 01:22:23.159 --> 01:22:27.239 shall endure, 01:22:27.239 --> 01:22:31.159 lost like the 01:22:31.159 --> 01:22:34.239 sun it shall, 01:22:34.239 --> 01:22:38.239 then shall be 01:22:38.239 --> 01:22:41.699 blessed in him, 01:22:41.699 --> 01:22:43.439 War himself 게임er tous 01:22:43.439 --> 01:22:44.300 and bless' 01:22:44.300 --> 01:22:45.939 blessed all nations 01:22:47.300 --> 01:22:50.260 shall explore. 01:22:50.359 --> 01:22:53.179 God bless'd be the Lord 01:22:53.179 --> 01:22:58.359 that good means 01:22:58.359 --> 01:22:59.199 Lord, 01:22:59.439 --> 01:23:03.420 l celebrate him lost 01:23:03.420 --> 01:23:04.859 as the Son of Israel, 01:23:04.859 --> 01:23:25.359 Israel, for thee alone doth wondrous words, and glory art expel. 01:23:25.359 --> 01:23:40.679 And blesseth thee, his glorious name, to all eternity. 01:23:40.680 --> 01:24:00.900 The whole and plent is glorified, and hence the glory of the Lord. 01:24:00.900 --> 01:24:01.280 Amen. 01:24:01.960 --> 01:24:03.480 Go to my wife this morning. 01:24:04.880 --> 01:24:08.659 Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, 01:24:08.659 --> 01:24:12.739 and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore. 01:24:13.300 --> 01:24:13.659 Amen.