We'll begin our worship this evening. We're going to sing to God's praise in Psalm 103.
Psalm 103, the Scottish Psalter version, page 369.
We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 5. The tune is Kilmarnock.
O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is,
be stood up his holy name to magnify and bless.
Bless, O my soul, the Lord thy God, and not forgetful be of all his gracious benefits he hath bestowed on thee.
We'll sing from verse 1 to 5 to God's praise.
He's steadfast.
Of all his gracious benefits, he hath bestowed on thee.
All thy inequity to the most gracious be forgiven.
Through thy diseases, all that things, thou heal and be re-eating.
Could thou redeem thy life after, to death which sought for done?
Through thee with loving kindness of and tenderest he's come.
Through thy abundance of good things, thou satisfy thy love.
So that he must be evil, saint, trade you with his thy youth.
Let's come to God in prayer. Let us pray.
Amen.
Our gracious Father in heaven, as we come once more to worship, to sing praise together as your people,
to come and hear your words speak to us, to come and offer up our prayers to you.
We thank you that you alone are God, you are the one who is able to hear all that comes from our hearts and our lips this night.
Even the very groanings that we utter in our hearts, Lord, they are known to you.
For you know us in that great way.
You know us as our Father in heaven.
You know us as our Lord and our God.
And we pray that you will stir us up in our time of worship.
That you will help us, Lord, to worship you in that right spirit.
Even with the words that we have just sung.
That from our very souls we would bless the Lord with all that is within us.
That you would stir us up by your holy name to magnify and bless you.
That you would become more and more of our focus in this time of worship.
That you would take away the distractions that so often fill our minds.
Even the thoughts of what may lie ahead for us in this coming week.
The things that may be cluttering up our inboxes.
The things that can be important in their own self.
But as we come just now, Lord, we just ask that in looking ahead to the week and the days that lie ahead.
That you will help us in this time to be refreshed through your word.
To be strengthened by it.
To be encouraged through it.
To be built up in our faith.
So that whatever the challenges that come in this week.
Whatever the joys we have.
Whatever the lows we may experience.
That you would be with us, Lord.
And that we would know you as our God.
As the one who never leaves or forsakes.
The one who is a refuge and a strength for all our different needs.
And so, Lord, we ask that you will, as you so often do, remind us of your great promises to us.
As you so often do, remind us through your word who you are and all that you have done for us.
Even as we have sung from this psalm, we are reminded of the great forgiveness that there is with you.
That even in the midst of our forgetfulness, when we forget so much that you have done for us.
When we forget that we depend on you for all things.
That, Lord, you are gracious towards us.
And that all your gracious benefits are there for us day after day.
And so, may you give us that sense of thankfulness.
That sense of rejoicing in you.
That sense of coming anew each day.
And receiving, Lord, your great mercies anew each day.
And may you help us to fill our hearts with thankfulness even anew this night.
That as we come to the close of a day.
As we come to the close of your day.
And as your word reminds us that the time moves on.
The sun rises.
The sun sets.
The days move on.
That we are reminded of your constant faithfulness.
Your steadfast love that is unchanging.
And we pray, Lord, that to be known as your word is proclaimed.
Not just here, but through all the pulpits of our island here.
And throughout your church, Lord, near and far.
We thank you for your word that is proclaimed in so many different languages.
To so many different people.
All worshipping the one God.
And we thank you that we join in with that worship this evening.
That we are reminded, Lord, of what a taste of heaven would be.
To know that we enter into praise with one another here.
We enter into praise with your people near and far.
We enter into praise with saints past and present.
And we thank you, Lord, that that praise is at the very throne of heaven.
That our praise is offered through that name above every name.
In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
And we thank you that in him we have reason to rejoice and to hope.
That in him we have so much to give thanks for.
And again, this evening as we open up your word, we pray that as we read and as we hear from it,
that you will remind us of that wonder of just who you are.
Even in these few words as we read of I am.
That you are God.
And that in Jesus we have God incarnate.
We are the one who has come to draw near to us in all our needs.
And Lord, we may we know your peace and your presence in that way.
We do pray, Lord, for your people who journey in life and find themselves in so many different places and situations
unexpectedly or through no choice of their own.
We think of your persecuted people far and wide.
Those who suffer for their faith.
Those who are believers in Christ.
Those who love the Lord with all their hearts.
And yet for that, for that very simple faith that they might have.
That they are persecuted and experience so much harshness in so many different ways.
We do pray, Lord, that you will surround them.
We thank you for your word that reminds us of how in wonderful ways you were with your people
as they proclaimed you as their Lord.
As we think of Daniel in the Old Testament or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they were cast into the fiery furnace.
We think of all these experiences that your people have suffered down through so many generations.
And yet the one God, the same God, who was near to them is there for all your people even this night
to help in every experience and every challenge.
And we know, Lord, that we need you in all of these different ways.
There are many trials that will come our way.
There is grief that comes into our life and sorrow.
There are hardships in so many different ways.
There is illness.
As we hear so many around us, Lord, who are going through times of illness, both old and young.
We think of those who may be on the very verge of eternity.
Those who are laid aside in different ways at this time, Lord.
Who are thankful for those who know you and have that great assurance that you are with them.
That you will see them home.
We pray for those who maybe have no thought of you.
Those who are strangers to you.
That your spirit will work.
That your spirit will lead and draw people to know the comfort and the comforter.
We ask these things, Lord, recognizing that you alone can do it.
And so we plead with you, Lord, that you will remember us in mercy.
We do pray, Lord, for our governments at this time.
We think of situations near and far.
We think of our own MP and MSP for our islands here.
We pray for you to guide them and to uphold them.
To give them your strength and above all, to give them a faith in you.
To give them to know that you are their God.
That any authority and perceived power that might be had in the hands of man in this world,
it is all from above.
We pray that for all our MPs and MSPs in Westminster and Holyrood,
in our council buildings,
and all who deal with us in so many different ways, making decisions for us.
We pray for your blessing to be upon them.
For you to minister in these places of power,
to know your power, to know your greatness in their midst.
We again think of situations throughout the world,
situations that shock us and leave us just seeing the wickedness in this world.
As we again remember America, a powerful nation in so many ways.
But yet we see the fear and worries that are so often there.
We think of the events of last evening.
We just pray, Lord, for your peace, for your calm, for your spirit to work.
We think of that for nations in turmoil,
where there is war and terror, famine, natural disasters,
where we see so much grief all around us.
We pray, Lord, to have mercy,
to heal, to heal the broken hearts,
to heal the suffering,
to heal the wickedness of man,
to bring us to see ways of peace instead of war.
We pray, Lord, that you will remember us then and do us good.
Continue with us as a people here, Lord.
Guide us by your mercy.
Help us in all that we seek to do for you as a congregation.
Help us as we open our doors to visitors into our town.
We commit the breakfast next Sunday morning
that will be open here for many who will be visiting our town.
We pray to see people coming in through our doors,
not just to receive physical food,
but that there will be a word in season for them,
that they would come and hear the gospel,
that they would come and hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
We pray your peace over our town in these coming days,
in a busy week.
As we see so many visitors coming, Lord,
we ask your protection, your safety
upon all who will be coming and going.
We pray, Lord, all these things,
acknowledging our need of you,
acknowledging our weakness and frailties,
but acknowledging the strength that you give
and the grace that is always sufficient.
May we know it more and more.
So hear our prayers and continue with us now.
Bless us and go before us as we ask all things
through the forgiveness of our sins.
In Jesus' name, amen.
We're going to sing again to God's praise,
this time in Psalm 34.
The Sing Psalms version, page 40 of the psalm books.
The tune is St. Stephen.
Psalm 34.
At the beginning of the psalm,
we sing from verse 1 to verse 9.
At all times I will bless the Lord.
I'll praise him with my voice.
Because I glory in the Lord,
let troubled souls rejoice.
Together let us praise the Lord,
exalt his name with me.
I sought the Lord.
His answer came.
From fear he set me free.
We'll sing from verse 1 to 9 to God's praise.
That's all.
At all times I will bless the Lord.
I'll praise him with my voice.
Because I glory in the Lord,
let troubled souls rejoice.
Together let us praise the Lord,
and exalt his name with me.
I sought the Lord.
His answer came.
From fears he set me free.
He'll lift the heavens and shine with joy.
They are not good to shame.
Lest suffering man cry to the Lord,
from him deliverance came.
The angel of the Lord,
and guides continually.
He sets his people free.
In the midst of the Lord,
O hear the Lord,
who stays with me.
You will not be oppressed.
We're going to read God's word together now.
Our first reading is in Exodus,
and then we'll read in the Gospel of John.
So we're first reading in Exodus chapter 3,
and we read from verse 1 to verse 15.
Exodus chapter 3, I'm reading from verse 1.
Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro,
the priest of Midian.
And he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness
and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire
out of the midst of a bush.
He looked, and behold, the bush was burning,
yet it was not consumed.
And Moses said, I will turn aside to see this great sight,
why the bush is not burned.
When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see,
God called to him out of the bush,
Moses, Moses.
And he said, Here I am.
Then he said, Do not come near,
or take off your sandals of your feet,
for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.
And he said, I am the God of your father,
the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob.
And Moses hid his face,
for he was afraid to look at God.
Then the Lord said,
I have surely seen the affliction of my people
who are in Egypt,
and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters.
I know their sufferings,
and I have come down to deliver them
out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and to bring them up out of that land
to a good and broad land,
a land flowing with milk and honey
to the place of the Canaanites,
the Hittites,
the Amorites,
the Perisites,
the Hivites,
and the Jebusites.
And now, behold,
the cry of the people of Israel has come to me,
and I have also seen the oppression
with which the Egyptians oppress them.
Come, I will send you to Pharaoh,
that you may bring my people,
the children of Israel,
out of Egypt.
But Moses said to God,
Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh
and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?
He said,
But I will be with you,
and this shall be the sign for you
that I have sent you.
When you have brought the people out of Egypt,
you shall serve God on this mountain.
Then Moses said to God,
If I come to the people of Israel
and say to them,
The God of your fathers has sent me to you,
and they ask me,
What is his name?
What shall I say to them?
God said to Moses,
I am who I am.
And he said,
Say this to the people of Israel,
I am has sent me to you.
God also said to Moses,
Say to the people of Israel,
The Lord,
the God of your fathers,
the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob
has sent me to you.
This is my name forever,
and thus I am to be remembered
throughout all generations.
And we'll turn to the Gospel of John,
chapter 6.
We're going to read a few verses there.
John 6 from verse 16
down to verse 21.
This is just after the events
of the feeding of the 5,000.
As we take up our reading in verse 16,
John 6 verse 16.
When evening came,
his disciples went down to the sea,
got into a boat,
and started to cross the sea
to Capernaum.
It was now dark,
and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea became rough
because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed
about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea
and coming near the boat.
And they were frightened.
But he said to them,
It is I.
Do not be afraid.
Then they were glad
to take him into the boat.
And immediately the boat
was at the land
to which they were going.
And so on.
Well, let's again sing
to God's praise
before we come back
to the passage in John.
We're going to sing
in Psalm 99,
in the Sing Psalms version,
99a.
The tune is Peter's Ham,
99a,
page 130 of the psalm books.
We'll sing from verse 1
to verse 7.
The Lord reigns from his throne on high.
Let all the nations quake.
He sits between the cherubim,
so let the whole earth shake.
Great is the Lord on Zion Hill,
exalted over all.
Upon his great and holy name,
let all the nations call.
We'll sing from verse 1 to 7
to God's praise.
The Lord reigns from his throne
on high.
Let all the nations quake.
He sits between the cherubim,
so let the whole earth shake.
Great is the Lord on Zion Hill,
exalted over all.
Upon his great and holy name,
let all the nations call.
The King of truth and equity,
established by his might.
In Jacob you have done for us
all that is just and right.
Exalt the Lord our God with us.
Let all the world of God
before his boots to worship him,
for holy is the Lord.
Moses and David and where his priests
Samuel called on his name.
They called upon the Lord their God,
and he replied to them.
He spoke to them and gave his law
out of the cloud from heaven.
They kept the stout to some degrees,
where she to them had given.
Let's turn back together to a reading
in the Gospel of John,
chapter 6,
and reading at verse 20.
John, chapter 6,
and reading at verse 20.
But he said to them,
It is I, do not be afraid.
There have been many landmark moments
in our history,
in the history of this world.
Big events that have a massive,
a huge and lasting effect in our world.
And we can think of them in different ways.
We can think of, perhaps,
things that have changed
the way in which we live.
Think of inventions, for example.
Things that have come into being,
that have been made life so much easier,
that have transformed lives.
The invention of the wheel.
A wheel seems such a simple thing now,
but how much we rely on it.
The industrial revolution,
how it changed the landscape of our land,
and indeed the world.
Telecommunication,
how that came in,
and how it opened up new avenues
of communication all over the world.
We think of transport,
how aeroplanes just changed
the way we live.
The space race,
how people ventured outside
our own sphere of life
here in this world,
and travelled to different parts of space,
to the moon,
to different places.
Things that would have seemed
unimaginable at one point,
but that have come into being.
You think of the internet,
and how that's transformed our lives,
how we rely on it for so many things now,
for good and for bad, unfortunately.
We think even of how we're able
to broadcast worship services
to all ends of the earth.
Things that 20 years ago
would have seemed impossible.
There are so many things
that have happened,
landmark moments in our history,
and that they still impact
the way we live
in our day,
and in our age.
They are major events.
They don't happen every day,
but are they the main impacts
that we should see in our lives?
Are they the greatest landmark moments
that our world has known?
We are thinking of one of the greatest,
if not the greatest,
this morning,
as we looked in Philippians,
as we were thinking of Jesus,
who did not consider equality with God
a thing to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
of how he came into this world,
how he gave his life and obedience
to death,
even death on the cross.
What a landmark moment
in our history
that Jesus came to die for sinners.
We look at it this evening,
we come to see a little more
of what Jesus,
of who he is.
The greatest landmark moment
in your experience,
in my experience,
should be to see
and understand
who Jesus is.
Who is Jesus?
How would you answer that question?
Who is Jesus?
You might think that as you read
in the Bible,
in the Gospels in particular,
that everyone who met Jesus
knew exactly who he was
and knew immediately,
but far from it.
In the Gospel of John earlier,
it says that he came to his own
and his own received him not.
They didn't want anything to do with him.
They didn't know who he was.
They didn't believe
who he said he was.
There were so many
who saw him.
They saw him doing miraculous things,
and yet still,
they didn't understand
who he was.
Do you know
who Jesus is today?
Do you know what he can do
in your life
and in your experience?
There are many here
who can say,
yes,
I've known Jesus.
I've known his help.
I've known his blessing.
I've known his transforming power
in my life,
and yet still,
we only know him in part.
We only understand
in part.
You think even of
those who were closest to Jesus
as you read in the Gospels.
The disciples,
even they,
didn't understand
fully who Jesus was.
Early on in the Gospel of Mark
in chapter 4,
there's another occasion
where they're in a storm
in a boat with Jesus,
and they're fearful
for their very lives,
and they ask Jesus,
do you not care
that we are perishing?
And Jesus gets up.
He rebukes the wind
and the waves,
and they are still.
And what do they say?
Well, they say,
who then is this
that even the wind
and the waves
obey him?
They just couldn't.
understand who he was.
We see so many things,
and do we really
understand who Jesus is?
Later on in the Gospel of Mark
in chapter 8,
Jesus was having
a conversation
about who people
were saying he was.
Some were saying,
Elijah or one of the prophets,
but he turned to them
and he said to them,
but what about you?
Who do you say that I am?
And Peter answered,
you are the Christ.
Did he understand?
Did he fully understand
what he was saying?
Probably not at that point.
He didn't fully understand.
And even we can use Jesus
on our lips
and our prayers
and our worship,
and do we fully understand
who he is
and what he can do for us?
In both our readings
this evening in Exodus
and here in John chapter 6,
we see landmark moments.
Landmark moment,
a moment for Moses,
hearing God speaking to him,
reminding that he has not
forgotten his people,
that he is about to do
a great work of salvation
for them.
And what does he say
to him
when he asks that question,
who will I say
has sent me?
I am.
Two words.
It seems to make no sense.
I am.
And yet what power
there is in these words.
And we're reading here
in Gospel of John chapter 6.
Again, it's a landmark moment
for the disciples.
There is this realization
almost of who he is.
He declares in verse 20
as they are so afraid.
It says there in English,
it is I.
Do not be afraid.
But it is I
is actually I am.
These two words,
I am.
Do not be afraid.
The same words
that Moses heard
in the book of Exodus.
These two words
are powerful.
We are hearing of
the great Redeemer.
We are hearing of
the great God
who is able to save.
He is with us.
The people were looking
for a Savior then,
just as so many
are looking for a Savior,
for someone to help today.
You think of earlier
in John's Gospel
in chapter 4.
When Jesus met
with the woman
at the well,
the woman said to him,
I know that Messiah
is coming
who is called Christ.
When he comes,
he will tell us
all things.
And what did Jesus
say to her
to comfort her,
to assure her?
He said,
I who speak to you
am here.
He was there.
He was there
with the disciples
as he came to them
walking on the water.
I am was with them.
And that is a great assurance
that we have this evening.
That as we look
to and trust in him,
he says,
don't be afraid.
I am.
And do we need
to hear these words
ourselves?
when we think
of the lives
in which we live,
when we think
of all that goes on
in our hearts,
when we think
of all that concerns
us and troubles us,
things that make us
afraid,
do we not need
to hear these words?
I am.
Do not be
afraid.
He is here.
And when we know
Jesus,
maybe not in
his fullness,
but when we know
him more and more,
we understand
more about him,
we see just what
he is able to do
for us,
who he is
and what he is
able to do
for us.
And in these
two passages
so closely connected
in Exodus and John,
I just want to think
of three things
this evening
that these words
give to us.
I am.
Do not be
afraid.
It gives us
first hope.
Then it eases
our fears.
And then thirdly,
it answers
our doubts.
So the first
thing we want to
see is it gives
us hope.
He is
here.
In both
our readings,
we see something
miraculous happen.
With Moses,
there was
the burning bush
that was not
consumed.
This bush,
it caught his
attention,
it made him
turn towards it
because there was
something unique
about it.
A burning bush
would have not
been unique
in and of
itself in a
hot desert
and a hot
climate.
But the bush
that went on
fire would be
consumed.
But not this
one.
It was not
consumed.
There was
something about
it.
There was
something miraculous
about it.
And here in
the Gospel of
John,
what we see
is Jesus
coming to
the disciples
walking on
the sea.
in verse
19,
Jesus walking
on the sea
and coming
near the
boat.
It's not
normal.
It shouldn't
happen.
There's something
miraculous here.
But is our
focus on the
miracle or
the one
behind it?
You see,
the purpose
in both
was not to
show something
miraculous
in the sense
of the bush
not burning
or Jesus
just walking
on water.
The greatest
emphasis behind
it was
making himself
known.
Showing
himself.
His identity
to Moses
and to the
disciples.
That they
would see
more of
who he
was.
And what
it means
to have
this God
with us.
It gives
us hope.
it reminds
us that
he is
here.
As Jesus
says there
in verse
20,
he sees
that they
were frightened
in verse
19,
at the end
of verse
19,
but he
says,
I am,
it is I,
do not
be afraid.
It's about
the one
who was
there.
Not the
miracle itself,
but the one
who was there
because who
is it that
has come
to them?
Yes,
we say
Jesus came
walking on
water,
but in
what he
says to
them,
in these
two words,
I am,
do not
be afraid.
He is
saying more,
he is
saying God
is here
with you.
God of
heaven,
God of
earth,
our maker,
and the
maker of
the whole
universe,
he is
here,
do not
be afraid.
For only
God can
go beyond
the realm
of what
is possible
to the
impossible.
I am
is here.
The same
as what
Moses
experienced
in that
burning
bush as
he turned
towards the
burning
bush,
and he
asked that
question,
if I come
to the
people of
Israel and
say to
them,
the God
of our
fathers
has sent
me to
you,
and they
ask me,
what is
his name,
what shall
I say
to them?
God said
to Moses,
I am
who I
am,
and he
said,
say to
this
people of
Israel,
I am
sent me
to you.
What
assurance
there is
given in
these words.
He is
here,
he is
with us,
and the
children of
Israel would
have been
thinking as
they were,
God has
forgotten
us,
he has
left us
in this
land,
in Egypt,
to suffer,
to die,
but I
am has
not
forgotten.
And as
the disciples
are in
this boat
once again,
as they
see Jesus
walking,
their fear
is helped
by the
words,
I am.
It is
God.
And do
you have
that assurance
today?
Do you
have that
comfort
today?
That in
everything that
you face,
that I
am is
here.
That that
is the
one that
you are
looking to.
That that
is the
one who is
saying,
do not
be afraid,
it is
I.
One of the
most common
crimes
today is
identity
theft.
Maybe you've
been a part
of it.
Maybe someone
has stolen
your identity.
In some
ways it
can be
quite
just an
inconvenience.
Someone
clones you
on Facebook.
Someone's
copied your
profile.
It's more
of an
inconvenience.
But in
other ways
it can be
more serious.
Your identity
is taken
and used
and it
makes you
lose money.
It means
that you
maybe have
credit cards
in your name
that you
don't even
know about
and people
steal from
you in
that way.
It's a
serious thing
and we're
always encouraged
to guard
our passwords,
to guard
everything
about us.
There is
that side
of identity
theft.
But what
about a
greater crime
committed in
terms of
identity theft
where we
have tried
to take
the identity
of God
for ourselves.
To steal
away from
God who
he is
and make
a God
that suits
ourselves.
Taking
his authority,
taking his
power,
taking his
ability
and just
putting it
into ourselves
and what
we can do.
We're making
God
something
small,
something
he's not
because we
don't see
who he
is.
We don't
see him
as the
I am.
the God
of the
whole
universe.
We don't
see him
in what
he can
do.
And so
we're
stealing
his
identity.
We're
stealing
his
identity
when we
think of
what we
do with
Jesus
if we're
not
trusting
in him
and his
finished
work.
That he
has
taken
our
sins,
that he
has humbled
himself,
that he
has taken
death on
the cross
for us.
And we
say,
but there
must be
something I
can do
to save
myself.
Jesus
can't be
the only
answer.
We're
taking that
identity to
ourselves,
an identity
that's not
ours.
We need
to see
who he
is,
that he
is here.
And who
he is,
he is the
I am.
we
won't
know
his
hope,
we won't
know his
power,
we won't
know his
reality while
we are
making him
into something
that he's
not.
We're
taking away
from the
fact that
it is
him,
I am,
and not
giving him
the glory
that he
is due.
It is
I,
do not
be afraid.
Not it
is me,
not someone
else,
it is
I.
He gives
us hope.
That's the
first thing
we see
because he
is here.
The second
thing he
does here
is he
eases
our fears.
And what
we see
here is
that he
speaks.
In both
our readings
what we
see is
the great
I am,
he eases
the fears
of Moses
and his
disciples.
The disciples
in John 6.
And how
does he do
it?
How does
he ease
their fears?
Well,
the great
assurance
is not
what they
see,
but what
they hear.
He speaks.
He speaks
to them.
And it
is these
words that
are just
so powerful.
It is
I do
not be
afraid.
Just a
few words.
I am
do not
be
afraid.
but what's
behind that
is
recognizing.
Recognizing
who it
is.
Because you
see in
verse 21
it says
then they
were glad
to take
him into
the boat.
They knew
who it
was at
these words.
Moses
was glad
when he
heard who
it was.
I am
and the
assurance
that he
was giving
to him.
Do you
ever get
a phone
call?
And you
lift up
the phone
or you
listen to
an answer
a message
left on
the phone
and the
person who
is at
the other
end just
says
it is
me.
How do
you know
who it
is?
There are
some times
when I
just I
don't know.
I don't
know.
I don't
recognize the
voice so
it is not
enough to
say it is
me.
I need
more.
But if
you
recognize
the
voice,
if you
know the
voice and
the person
who says
it is
me,
you know
exactly
who it
is.
And that
leads us
here to
think about
do we
know this
God who
is speaking?
Moses
did.
The
disciples
here did.
But do
we know
this voice?
Do we
understand
who it
is saying
who is
speaking to
us here
when he
says it
is I
do not
be afraid.
I am
do not
be afraid.
Do we
understand
who it
is?
In both
these
situations
for Moses
and for
the disciples
here in
John,
they were
afraid.
But what
gave them
comfort and
assurance was
the one who
was speaking.
And is
that the
case for
you and
I
tonight?
As we
hear the
word of
God, do
we know
who is
speaking?
Do we
understand who
it is that
is speaking
to us
here?
It is not
me.
It is not
me who is
speaking to
you through
this.
It is the
Lord.
It is I.
Do not
be afraid.
Is there
any greater
comfort that
we can
have than
these
words?
To know
that God
himself is
speaking.
That God
himself is
giving comfort.
That God
himself is
giving assurance.
Don't be
afraid.
I am.
The
presence
of God.
Do we
know it?
Have you
ever experienced
that sense?
God is
here.
And God
is speaking.
There are
moments in
our experience,
I'm sure,
every Christian
will have had
it at some
point.
Not all
the time.
But in
certain
moments,
you're just
aware,
God is
here.
It's a
power.
There's
something about
it that you
just cannot
put into
words.
That
experience
that he
is here.
That
experience
that no
doubt
Moses
and the
disciples
here in
John were
experiencing
for
themselves
as they
heard
these
words,
I am.
The
very
voice
of God
speaking
to
them.
You
see it
through
scripture.
You
see it
in
moments.
In
the
Old
Testament
you
have
Joshua
who
was
taking
over
from
Moses
later
on.
And
he
was
afraid.
And
what
gave
him
peace
was
the
presence
of
God.
God
said to
Joshua,
have I
not
commanded
you be
strong
and
courageous?
Do
not be
frightened,
do not
be
dismayed,
for the
Lord your
God is
with you
wherever
you go.
Isn't
there a
power in
that
presence?
When
you're
afraid of
what lies
ahead,
when you're
not sure,
when you're
anxious,
when you're
worried,
but you
know God
is with
you.
You
know God
is there.
And
there is
a
power.
But do
we see
the value
in the
one who
is speaking
to us?
Do we
see his
worth?
Do we
understand
who it
is that
was with
us?
There's a
story of
an American
man who
was clearing
out his
loft.
And he
came across
a gold
coin.
He
couldn't
remember
where it
had come
from,
but he
found it
and he
was quite
impressed.
It was
a
beautiful,
well-conditioned
coin.
Not
knowing much
more about
it,
he decided
what he
would do
was just
put it
in a
frame and
hang it
on his
wall.
A few
months later,
a friend
came to
visit him.
And as
he was
walking into
the house,
he noticed
this coin
on the
wall and
went to
have a
closer look
and he
gasped.
He was
stunned to
see this
coin because
he knew a
little bit
about coins.
And he
said,
where did
you find
this?
Where did
you get
this?
And he
said,
I just
found it
in my
loft.
And then
the man
asked him,
do you
know what
this is
worth?
I'm not
sure.
Maybe a
few hundred
dollars,
maybe a
thousand
dollars.
He says,
oh no,
this is
worth much
more.
This is
worth around
two hundred,
two hundred
and fifty
thousand
dollars.
And the
man was
gobsmacked
that he had
this thing
of value
in his
house that
he didn't
realize.
we have
something
much more
worth,
of much
more worth
for
ourselves.
And you
think of
God
speaking to
us.
how many
of you
have a
verse of
scripture
hanging on
the wall
at home?
Perhaps you
walk past
it every
day.
Perhaps you
know it
off by
heart.
But do
you realize
its value?
Or are you
like that
man walking
past the
coin every
day until
he understood
its worth,
not realizing
the value
that was
there?
Are we
like that
with the
word of
God?
We have
it maybe
hanging on
a version
of the
house or
we have
our
Bibles
in our
homes and
yet we
don't see
the value.
We don't
understand the
worth of
what it's
saying to
us, of
the promises,
the assurances,
the comforts
that there are
there for us.
When we look
everywhere else
apart from
the word,
our greatest
comfort, our
greatest assurance
is here
before us.
As he said
to the
disciples,
I am,
do not
be afraid.
They had
to hear
the voice,
they had
to recognize
the voice
and who
it was
that was
speaking.
May we
hear and
recognize the
voice of
I am,
the I
am who
says,
do not
be afraid,
put your
trust in
me.
The third
thing and
the final
thing we
see here
is how
he answers
our doubts,
how he
gives
reassurance
to both
Moses and
the disciples.
All their
fears,
all their
doubts
are answered.
And that's
what God
does for
us.
When you
think of the
experience of
both Moses
in the
Old
Testament
and the
disciples
in the
New,
not in
these exact
moments but
as they
went forward
from here,
do you not
think they
would have
come back
to these
moments and
reminded
themselves of
who spoke?
Moses was
afraid to
take the
children of
Israel out
of Egypt.
But God
had said,
I am.
I am has
sent you.
I am is
with you.
And so he
would go
on in the
journey of
taking the
children of
Israel out
of Egypt
and to
the edge
of the
promised
land,
always knowing
that experience
of I am
with them.
Making the
way plain,
taking all
the challenges,
feeding them,
opening up the
Red Sea,
protecting them,
guiding them
all the way.
He was there
for them.
There are
many other
moments in
the Old
Testament that
you can look
at and see
fearful
situations that
were landmark
moments for
God's people.
Think of
Noah.
How would
he have
felt building
an ark when
there was no
sign of
water?
How inadequate,
how stupid
in many ways.
Yet I am
was with him.
David must
have felt
pretty small
looking up to
Goliath,
the giant.
man,
yet I am
was with
him.
The three
Hebrews,
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego,
as they were
about to be
put into the
fiery furnace,
there would
have been no
hope for
them.
How inadequate
they would have
seen against
the fiery
furnace.
But I am
was with
them.
Daniel
must look
pretty pathetic
beside the
lion's den
as he was
about to be
thrown in.
But who
was with
him?
I am.
And so
it goes
on.
There are
always doubts
and fears
and worries
and anxieties
and yet I
am
Yeshua.
He gives
us so many
promises
in his
word.
And as we
think ourselves
of going
forward,
as we think
ourselves of
a service
to God,
we think
of the
disciples
here.
I am.
Do not
be afraid.
And they
would go
on to
serve the
Lord in
so many
ways.
Many of
them gave
their lives
in serving
the Lord.
But they
were still
assured of
I am
with them.
And we
are never
without that
God as
we look
to him.
In these
two words,
we are
reminded of
his power.
We are
reminded of
his presence.
We are
reminded of
all that
he can
do for
us.
We need
him.
We need
him every
moment of
our lives.
But these
words assure
us there's
not a
situation.
you will
ever find
yourself
where God
doesn't
keep you.
Where God
is always
there.
I am.
Do not
be afraid.
He is the
one who
is able
and he is
the one
who enables
in all
that we
do.
But the
question so
often is,
do we
know who
it is?
Do we
see I
am?
Do we
hear I
am?
Does he
help you?
Does he
comfort you?
Does he
assure you?
Praise
God he
does.
There are
times when
we can
have our
doubts.
There are
times when
we have
our fears.
But that's
nothing new
for the
Christian.
There was
a man
called
George
Campbell
Morgan,
a famous
preacher.
He preached
his first
sermon when
he was
aged 13.
And by
the age
of 19
he had
preached
many times.
He was
becoming
well-known
as a
preacher,
an evangelistic
preacher.
But then
for a
number of
months,
he had
his doubts.
He had
his fears.
He started
hearing various
scientists and
atheists and
agnostics
debating and
discussing the
things of
God and
putting doubts
into people's
minds.
things.
And he
decided this
day, in
his fears
and his
worries, that
he had to
come near
to God.
So what
did he do?
He bought
himself a
new Bible.
Not that he
didn't have a
Bible, he
did, but he
wanted a new
Bible.
And so that he
could start
looking at the
Word of God
almost anew,
almost afresh,
with no notes
or marks on
the pages,
but just to
go through
the Scriptures.
And what he
said afterwards
was this.
He said the
result was
this.
The Bible
found me.
He turned
to the
Word of
God in
all his
doubts, in
all that he
was hearing
at a young
age and
then he
went on to
serve God
with all
his heart.
The Bible
found him.
I am
was there.
And you
know we
have the
Bible before
us.
We have the
Word of
God before
us.
Do we
understand the
power that
there is?
Do we
understand God?
I am.
Do we
understand Jesus?
Do we
understand what
he has done?
Do we
understand the
Holy Spirit?
And how the
Spirit leads us
closer to this
great I am.
May we be
helped by God
to seek his
Word, to
know his
presence, to
find the hope
that there is
here, that
eases our
fears, to
see the way
that he
speaks, that
he speaks to
us in power.
It is I.
Do not be
afraid, and
that he
answers our
doubts, and
gives us that
reassurance that
he is with
us.
We all have
fears and
worries, but
we have the
Word of
God.
We have
God himself,
and we
have I am
saying, do
not be
afraid.
Let us
pray.
Our
Father in
heaven, may
we know the
wonder of
the power of
your Word.
May we know
it finding us
even in our
hearts this
night.
May we
understand the
one who is
speaking to
us.
May we hear
that voice
that calls.
It is I,
I am.
Do not be
afraid.
May you
help us to
find our
comfort and
our reassurance
in you at
all times and
in all ways,
as we ask it
all in Jesus'
name.
Amen.
We are
going to
conclude by
singing to
God's
praise in
Psalm 36.
The
Sing
Psalms
version,
Psalm 36,
in page
44,
we will
sing from
verse 5
to verse
7.
These
wonderful
words remind
us of the
great steadfast
love that is
so great from
the Lord.
Your steadfast
love is
great, O
Lord, it
reaches heaven
high.
Your
faithfulness is
wonderful,
extending to
the sky.
Your
righteousness is
very great,
like mountains
high and
steep.
Your
justice is
like ocean
depths, both
man and
beast.
You keep.
We'll sing
from verse
5 to 7
and the
tune of
Strapiting.
Thank you.
Amen.
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my right. We'll close with a 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.