WEBVTT

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 I'm going to begin our worship and singing, first of all, this evening from Psalm 96a.

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 Psalm 96a, that's on page 126.

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 The tune is Glasgow.

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 We're singing verses 1 to 10.

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 O sing a new song to the Lord, sing praises to his name, and his salvation day by day

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 let all the earth proclaim, his glory and his mighty deeds to every land declare, how

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 great and awesome is the Lord, with him no gods compare.

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 Psalm 96a, we're singing verses 1 to 10.

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 If you're able to stand, please stand to sing.

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 O sing a new song to the Lord, sing praises to his name, and his salvation day by day.

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 Let all the earth proclaim, his glory and his mighty deeds to every land declare, how great,

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 and awesome is the Lord, with him no gods compare.

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 For other gods are wood and stone, the Lord made heavens high.

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 all power and majesty and his, he dwell in glorious light.

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 All nations to the Lord has cry, the glory that is due.

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 Glory and strength as cry to God, and praise his name, my youth.

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 Enter his court with joy and grace, and offer thee with you.

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 Worship the Lord in holy fear, all earth behold him above.

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 Tell every land the Lord is king, he establishes the earth.

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 And can all prove, the Lord will judge the peoples in his truth.

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 Now we're going to pray, let's join together as we call upon the Lord.

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 Gracious and eternal God, what wonderful truths you have given us in these words that we have sung,

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 exclaiming and setting out for us the glory and the majesty and the greatness of our God,

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 the uniqueness of our God, the fact that there is none like you in the whole creation,

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 for you are the creator, you are the one who is above all things that exist.

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 We thank you, Lord, tonight that this is our portion in life,

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 that we are privileged to come and call upon your name and join together in worship.

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 And we give thanks, Lord, for the way in which your word has guided us already

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 to such high thoughts about you, and to such thoughts about ourselves

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 as we would humble ourselves in your presence and would come and bring an offering,

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 an offering of praise and of thanksgiving to you.

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 And we pray, Lord, that you would draw near to us.

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 We seek to draw near to you, and we know from your word that

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 if we draw near to God, that he will draw near to us.

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 That is your promise.

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 And we ask that you would help us, Lord,

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 tonight to experience the reality of that promise for ourselves.

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 For it would be but an empty gathering for us, O Lord,

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 if we only met with one another, precious though that is in itself.

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 Yet, Lord, we ask that we will know of a meeting with you,

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 of a fellowship with you, of a communion deep in our souls

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 with our creator and our saviour.

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 And, Lord, we ask tonight that your Holy Spirit will draw us,

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 that you would work in our hearts, work in our minds,

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 enlightening our minds further in the knowledge of your truth.

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 We pray that we may once again see the great privilege we have

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 of knowing and confessing you as our God,

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 above all other false gods in the world,

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 as we have been reading and singing in this psalm.

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 O Lord, our God, we thank you that you have delivered us

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 from any thoughts that there may be rivals to you.

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 And yet we confess that so often, Lord,

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 we find ourselves giving our devotion all too much

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 to those things of this present age,

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 and that we find ourselves so easily distracted, O Lord,

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 from focusing our minds upon you

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 and from placing you foremost in our thoughts and actions day by day.

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 We come before you again tonight, Lord,

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 confessing our need of your forgiveness and cleansing,

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 confessing, Lord, that we appear before you defiled in our sins,

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 that we sin against you every day we live.

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 Indeed, from hour to hour we are conscious, Lord,

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 that we sin against you,

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 that sin is very much a part of our fallenness

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 and comes to the fore in our thoughts and actions.

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 And we pray tonight, Lord, for that cleansing of our lives.

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 We ask that you would draw us to yourself,

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 that we may in our confession

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 come to realize the truth of your word once again,

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 even though we may have known your forgiveness

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 in times gone by.

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 Yet we thank you that every confession of our sin,

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 Lord, as we engage in that in your presence,

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 is met with the promise that if we confess our sins,

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 the Lord is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

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 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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 So we pray that your holy word will be beneficial to us tonight.

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 We thank you for it.

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 We thank you that it is so central to our worship, O Lord,

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 that you have taught us the importance

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 of having your word central in our worship.

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 For it is by your word indeed that we are guided

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 faithfully and infallibly

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 to those things that have to do with your glory

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 and your praise and your worship.

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 And we do pray, O Lord,

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 that you would open up our minds

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 to receive your word once again.

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 Help us in our understanding of it.

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 Help us in our conveyance of it

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 to the world around us,

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 as we've been singing,

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 to tell every land that the Lord is king.

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 Lord, help us, we pray,

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 to do this in our own locality and beyond,

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 wherever we have opportunity to make you known.

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 Give us grace, Lord,

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 to take advantage of that opportunity

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 and to seek to fulfill

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 the remit you have given your people in the world,

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 to go forth to make disciples of all nations,

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 baptizing them in the name of the Father

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 and of the Lord Jesus

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 and of the Holy Spirit

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 and teaching them all things

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 that you have commanded us.

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 We thank you for every evidence of your blessing

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 that we have from day to day,

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 from week to week.

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 We give thanks for that in our own lives personally.

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 We give thanks, Lord,

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 in the life of the congregation

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 for continued evidence of your blessing.

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 And we seek further that you would bless us

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 and bless the gospel to us.

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 We pray that we may be more and more

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 a light in the world in which you have placed us,

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 that we, as we seek to live for you,

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 would form, Lord,

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 that light that reaches out

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 into the darkest recesses of society.

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 And to that end,

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 we pray that you would use us

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 and enable us in all our activities,

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 O Lord,

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 to know that you are guiding us,

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 that you are blessing

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 all that we seek to do in your name.

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 We pray for your guidance

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 in all of these things.

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 We ask that you would help us

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 as we seek, Lord,

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 to know how to reach out with the gospel,

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 how to confront the thinking of our age,

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 how to go forth and engage with people

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 who themselves may not at all care for the gospel,

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 may be hostile to it,

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 and all kinds of ideologies

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 that we meet with in our society.

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 Lord, we pray that you would grant us help,

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 that you would grant us,

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 that your Spirit may guide us

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 and may further teach us in these ways.

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 We pray that you would bless all those

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 who are preparing themselves,

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 O Lord,

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 for the ministry of the gospel.

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 We pray for Scott with ourselves.

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 We pray for all his fellow trainee ministers.

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 We ask that you would bless them

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 as they receive their training and teaching.

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 We pray, Lord,

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 that they will indeed form a great force

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 in the world for good

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 and that you would use them, Lord,

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 as even now they are preparing

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 for permanent ministry.

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 We pray that you would continue

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 to use them and encourage them.

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 And we ask, O God,

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 that you would give to them

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 the weight with all

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 and the resources of your Holy Spirit

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 to preach the word of Christ

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 and to do so in a way

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 that unashamedly holds forth

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 the gospel of truth.

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 We pray that you'd bless our seminary.

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 We ask, Lord,

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 for the regular teaching

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 that takes place there

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 from week to week.

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 And as they anticipate

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 a new session,

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 we pray for all those

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 who prepare themselves

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 to teach,

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 those who come

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 to be educated there.

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 We ask for all the lecturers.

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 We pray that they will know

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 of your own blessing

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 accompanying their efforts.

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 We pray for the principal,

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 Principal Martin,

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 and all who serve with him

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 in that capacity.

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 And we pray, gracious one,

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 that they may know

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 of your constant provision

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 for them

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 and of your encouragement

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 of them in such

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 an important work.

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 And we pray for

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 all the church plants

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 that we know of

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 throughout our denomination.

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 And we ask, O God,

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 that you would encourage them also.

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 We pray that they may be

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 further established

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 in the truth,

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 in your ways,

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 that they will be encouraged

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 as they seek to reach out

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 with the gospel,

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 that you would help them,

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 Lord, to know of your blessing,

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 building them up,

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 not only in terms of numbers,

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 but spiritually as well.

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 And we pray that we may see days,

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 Lord, of much rejoicing yet

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 and seeing many coming

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 to the Lord

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 through the efforts

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 of those who are engaged

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 both in church plants

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 and in long-established

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 congregations like our own.

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 Lord, our longing is

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 that we will know

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 that sound of heaven,

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 that wonderful sound

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 of your Spirit at work,

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 the great sound

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 of people coming

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 to attend to your truth

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 and coming to be changed

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 in their lives under it.

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 We ask that you would

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 bless tonight those two

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 who have particular problems

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 in life.

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 And we pray for those

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 who face addiction

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 and seek from day to day

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 to live with such difficulties

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 and challenges in life

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 as this provides for them.

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 We pray for those, Lord,

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 who seek to help them.

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 We pray for David Chisholm,

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 and all others like him, Lord,

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 or in our own local road

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 to recovery.

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 We ask that you would bless him

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 and bless all who assist him

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 in the work

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 and bless all who come together

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 from time to time

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 to seek to discuss

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 and to help each other

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 through these difficult times.

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 And we pray that especially

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 your Word might truly

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 be blessed to them.

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 We pray that you would bless

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 the work of safe families.

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 Again, we commend them to you

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 and ask, Lord,

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 that you would continue

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 to provide for them

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 and encourage them.

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 We pray for all the families

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 already being helped,

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 and we ask, O God,

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 that that would multiply

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 and that there may be

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 many more who will come

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 to offer themselves

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 as volunteers

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 to help Catherine

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 and all others

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 and the staff

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 of safe families.

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 We ask, Lord,

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 that your blessing

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 will continue to be with them

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 and encourage them

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 and strengthen them, Lord,

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 to carry through

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 with the important work

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 that they're involved with.

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 Remember those also

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 in our community

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 who help us

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 in various ways.

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 We ask for all

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 in the hospital,

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 in the hospice,

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 in our care homes.

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 We pray for them

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 and ask that they may

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 know your blessing too

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 as they minister

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 to the needs of others

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 so faithfully

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 each and every day.

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 We do commit to you, Lord,

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 those who teach

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 in our schools,

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 both in the state schools

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 and in the Christian school.

00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.179
 Remember them all,

00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:47.699
 we pray.

00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:47.740
 We pray,

00:14:48.300 --> 00:14:49.759
 give to those, Lord,

00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:51.480
 who teach our young people

00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:53.320
 that they may be able

00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:54.200
 to do so,

00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:57.320
 seeking that wholesome teaching

00:14:57.320 --> 00:14:58.840
 that comes through your word

00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:01.160
 may itself be conveyed

00:15:01.160 --> 00:15:02.759
 to the children.

00:15:02.920 --> 00:15:04.580
 We pray that you bless

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:05.440
 headteachers

00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:07.620
 throughout our own islands

00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:09.980
 and that they may,

00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.020
 in facing the challenges

00:15:11.020 --> 00:15:11.960
 of our age,

00:15:12.520 --> 00:15:13.080
 that they may know

00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:13.720
 that wisdom

00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:15.320
 from the Lord himself.

00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:17.100
 And we commit them to you

00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:17.879
 and ask that you would

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.620
 strengthen them

00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:19.639
 in mind

00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:20.639
 and in their thoughts

00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:21.920
 and in their actions

00:15:21.920 --> 00:15:23.860
 to face the difficulties

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.620
 and challenges

00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:26.540
 that they face particularly.

00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:27.980
 Remember now,

00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:28.399
 we pray,

00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.940
 those who are in hospital,

00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:30.840
 those who are ill,

00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:32.540
 those who are being cared for

00:15:32.540 --> 00:15:33.600
 by others at home,

00:15:34.180 --> 00:15:35.240
 remember the carers

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.100
 in our community.

00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:37.620
 We thank you for them

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.080
 and pray

00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:39.480
 that you would continue

00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:40.360
 to bless them

00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:41.759
 and bless also

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.500
 the social work department.

00:15:43.680 --> 00:15:44.980
 We pray for them

00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:46.039
 and for all who help

00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:47.139
 in these ways

00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:47.919
 in our community.

00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:49.120
 We ask,

00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:49.820
 O Lord,

00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:50.139
 too,

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:52.180
 for those who are

00:15:52.180 --> 00:15:53.919
 tonight bereaved,

00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:55.600
 those who mourn

00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.279
 over the passing

00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:57.120
 of loved ones.

00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.180
 We pray,

00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:58.419
 too,

00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:59.360
 for the undertaker

00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:00.600
 and for all his staff.

00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:02.220
 We commit them to you

00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:02.879
 and give thanks

00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:04.379
 for their dedication

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.360
 to their work.

00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:06.279
 And Lord,

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:07.600
 in all of these areas

00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.779
 of our land

00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.080
 locally and nationally,

00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:11.860
 we pray that you would

00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:13.480
 continue to provide for us.

00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:14.940
 We pray that we may

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:16.560
 continue to depend upon you,

00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:18.240
 realizing that it is

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:18.899
 in your goodness

00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:20.460
 that all of these things

00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.659
 are extended to us

00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:23.340
 and provided for us.

00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:24.659
 Bless us now,

00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:24.860
 then,

00:16:24.920 --> 00:16:25.240
 we pray,

00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:26.279
 as we continue here

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:27.500
 in your presence.

00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:29.120
 Bless all the gatherings

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.980
 of your people

00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:32.720
 throughout our local districts,

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.860
 throughout our nation,

00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:35.500
 throughout the whole world.

00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:36.480
 Bless your people.

00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.820
 Bless those of them

00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:38.860
 especially facing

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:40.200
 persecution,

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.039
 poverty,

00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.039
 deprivation,

00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:44.379
 attacks of various kinds.

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.200
 Lord,

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:45.700
 our God,

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.860
 we pray that your kingdom

00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:48.720
 will nevertheless advance,

00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.740
 that your will be done

00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:50.180
 on earth

00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:51.779
 as it is in heaven.

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.159
 And we ask that

00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:54.019
 all of these things,

00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:54.300
 Lord,

00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.800
 as we present them

00:16:55.800 --> 00:16:56.460
 before you,

00:16:56.800 --> 00:16:58.080
 may be pleasing to you

00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:59.200
 to answer our prayer.

00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:00.600
 We ask it all

00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:01.940
 with the pardon of our sin.

00:17:02.300 --> 00:17:03.519
 For Jesus' sake.

00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:04.180
 Amen.

00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:04.319
 Amen.

00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:07.720
 Now we're going to sing further

00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:09.319
 to God's praise

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:11.799
 from the Scottish Psalter

00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.259
 this time,

00:17:12.659 --> 00:17:13.339
 Psalm 90,

00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:16.159
 and verses 13 to 17.

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:18.740
 That's on page 350.

00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:23.539
 The tune this time is Kilmarnock.

00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.519
 Turn yet again to us,

00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:26.039
 O Lord,

00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:27.920
 how long thus shall it be?

00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:29.160
 Let it repent thee now

00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:29.799
 for those

00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:31.980
 that servants are to thee.

00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:34.120
 With thy tender mercies,

00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:34.519
 Lord,

00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:36.299
 us early satisfy.

00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:38.000
 So we rejoice,

00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:39.180
 shall all our days,

00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:42.000
 and still be glad in thee.

00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:42.620
 The psalmist,

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:43.299
 in his prayer,

00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:45.019
 appealing to the Lord

00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:46.420
 to come and reveal

00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:47.740
 his power once again

00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:49.660
 as he seeks to

00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:51.779
 appeal to God here

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:53.380
 to let the beauty

00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:54.060
 of the Lord,

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:54.640
 our God,

00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.539
 be us upon

00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:57.279
 and for him to

00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:59.019
 establish the handiworks,

00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.800
 the works that

00:17:59.800 --> 00:18:01.440
 they do in the Lord's name

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:03.039
 in the psalmist's own time.

00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:03.740
 And this, of course,

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.779
 is our prayer as well

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.519
 in our day,

00:18:07.100 --> 00:18:07.640
 that the work

00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:08.740
 and the power of God

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:10.300
 may appear to

00:18:10.300 --> 00:18:11.800
 us as his servants

00:18:11.800 --> 00:18:13.420
 and show unto

00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:14.680
 our children, dear,

00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:17.860
 his glory evermore.

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.620
 So to the tune

00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:19.259
 Kilmarnock,

00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:21.259
 verses 13 to 17,

00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:22.200
 to God's praise.

00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:23.200
 Amen.

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:30.720
 Turn yet again

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:35.700
 to us, O Lord,

00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:38.259
 how long

00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:41.840
 thou shall live

00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:42.839
 be.

00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:49.000
 Let it repent

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.839
 thee now

00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:53.299
 for those

00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:57.000
 that surrounds

00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:01.000
 are to thee.

00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:06.720
 O with thy tender

00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:10.920
 mercies, O Lord,

00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:13.900
 God certainly

00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:17.259
 satisfied,

00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:24.400
 so we rejoice

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:27.079
 shall o'er

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.980
 our days

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:34.240
 and still be glad

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:34.559
 in thee.

00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.559
или

00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:39.740
 according

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.599
 us

00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:43.259
 the

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.940
 days

00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:46.240
 of thee

00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:48.500
 CBD

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.240
 whey

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.700
 whey

00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:51.420
 reap

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.240
 the

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:52.599
 ground

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:54.140
 large

00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:55.319
 on

00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:57.519
 years

00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.759
 when

00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:12.759
 When we ill have seen, so do thou make us now.

00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:30.759
 O let thy work and power appear, thy servant's face befall,

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:48.759
 and show fun to their children dear, thy glory evermore.

00:20:48.759 --> 00:21:06.759
 And let the beauty of the Lord our Lord be as the whole.

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:23.839
 Our heavenly words each love, each love, each love, each love, each love, each love, each love, each love.

00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:34.480
 Let's turn now to read God's word in the first book of Samuel, chapter 5.

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:46.120
 1 Samuel, chapter 5, that should be around page 275 in your pew Bibles if you're using the church pew Bibles.

00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:52.900
 So it's 1 Samuel, chapter 5, and we're going to read from the beginning through to the end of the chapter.

00:21:58.740 --> 00:22:04.019
 When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,

00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:11.360
 then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon.

00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:14.960
 And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day,

00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:20.420
 behold, Dagon had fallen face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord.

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:23.700
 So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:26.579
 But when they rose early on the next morning,

00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:30.920
 behold, Dagon had fallen face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord,

00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:36.460
 and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold.

00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:39.600
 Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:44.660
 This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon

00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:49.200
 do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:53.539
 The hand of the Lord was heavy against the people of Ashdod,

00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:59.779
 and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both in Ashdod and in its territory.

00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:03.840
 And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said,

00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:07.440
 The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us,

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:11.960
 for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our God.

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:17.180
 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said,

00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:20.000
 What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?

00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:25.100
 They answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought round to Gath.

00:23:25.840 --> 00:23:28.579
 So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there.

00:23:29.340 --> 00:23:33.039
 But after they had brought it round, the hand of the Lord was against the city,

00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:35.180
 causing a very great panic.

00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:38.860
 And he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old,

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:41.160
 so that tumors broke out on them.

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:44.759
 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.

00:23:45.600 --> 00:23:47.860
 But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron,

00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:50.100
 the people of Ekron cried out,

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:55.259
 They have brought round to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people.

00:23:56.519 --> 00:24:00.480
 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said,

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:05.640
 Send away the ark of the God of Israel and let it return to its own place,

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:08.259
 that it may not kill us and our people.

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:12.420
 For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city.

00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:15.720
 The hand of God was very heavy there.

00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:19.460
 The men who did not die were struck with tumors,

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:23.819
 and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:30.139
 And may God bless to us reading this part of his word.

00:24:30.899 --> 00:24:33.619
 Before we turn to this passage, let's sing again.

00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:35.460
 We're singing from Psalm 115.

00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:40.139
 Psalm 115 and sing Psalms, page 152.

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:43.939
 Singing verses 1 to 9 to the tune Tiverton.

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:57.019
 A psalm which compares and contrasts the idols of pagan nations with the Lord, the God of Israel.

00:24:57.900 --> 00:25:00.900
 And so that, of course, fits in with the passage we've just read,

00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:04.059
 and we're going to look at it later just in a few moments.

00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:09.360
 Lord, not to us, O not to us, but to your name be the praise,

00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:13.779
 because your love and faithfulness endure, O Lord, always.

00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:16.079
 Why do the nations question us?

00:25:16.419 --> 00:25:18.099
 Where is their God, they say?

00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:22.719
 Our God inhabits heaven high and over all holds sway.

00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:27.000
 Their gold and silver images are crafted carefully,

00:25:27.679 --> 00:25:31.659
 but they have mouths which cannot speak and eyes which cannot see.

00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:34.279
 Their noses have no sense of smell.

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:36.319
 Their ears can hear no sound.

00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:39.960
 They have no feeling in their hands, nor can they walk around.

00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:44.919
 Although these idols do have throats, no word can they proclaim.

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:50.460
 Their makers and their worshippers will all become like them.

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:53.599
 And so on down as far as verse 9.

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:57.220
 Lord, not to us, O not to us.

00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:57.700
 Amen.

00:25:57.700 --> 00:26:08.799
 Lord, not to us, O not to us.

00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:15.160
 To your name be the praise.

00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:28.620
 Because you love unfaithfulness, and you rule our whole way.

00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:37.759
 Why do the nations question us?

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:43.620
 Where is their God, they say?

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:59.079
 Our God inhabits heaven high and over all holds sway.

00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:14.079
 Their gold and silver images are crafted carefully.

00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:16.079
 But they have mouths which cannot speak.

00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:30.079
 But they have mouths which cannot speak, and eyes which cannot see.

00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:35.079
 Their nooses have no sense of smell.

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:39.460
 Their nooses have no sense of smell.

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:46.079
 Their ears can hear no sound.

00:27:46.079 --> 00:28:01.079
 They have no feeling in their hands, nor can they walk around.

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:16.079
 Although these idols do have throats, no word can they proclaim.

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:32.079
 Their makers and their worshippers will all become like them.

00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:48.079
 O in service will bless your trust upon the Lord alone.

00:28:48.079 --> 00:29:03.079
 He is almighty help and shield of all who are his own.

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.079
 O in service will be the Lord alone.

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:06.079
 O in service will be the Lord.

00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:07.079
 O in service will be the Lord.

00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:10.919
 Well, please turn with me now to 1 Samuel chapter 5.

00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:15.720
 We're going to look at the main points in this chapter that we've read through.

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:27.539
 1 Samuel chapter 5, which tells us about the incident where the Philistines, having captured the ark of Israel,

00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:33.779
 the ark of the Lord, experienced the consequences of that as described in the chapter.

00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:44.579
 1 Samuel chapter 5, which tells us about the fact that the human heart is a factory of idols.

00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:48.700
 The human heart is a factory of idols.

00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:53.379
 That is where the production of idolatry always takes place.

00:29:53.380 --> 00:29:55.380
 But what is an idol?

00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:59.540
 And what defines idolatry?

00:29:59.540 --> 00:30:06.540
 As we'll see, it's a lot more than just carving a little figure or a large figure,

00:30:06.540 --> 00:30:12.940
 such as these Philistines had in their god Ekron, in their god Dagon,

00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:19.540
 and setting him in a particular place that they regarded as sacred.

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:27.299
 An idol is whatever is given the devotion that's due to God alone.

00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:34.139
 An idol is anything that is given the devotion that is due to God alone.

00:30:34.899 --> 00:30:41.139
 It can be an object such as it was here for the Philistines or other objects like that.

00:30:41.140 --> 00:30:42.980
 It can be people.

00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.020
 It can be people.

00:30:43.020 --> 00:30:44.980
 It can be wealth.

00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:47.020
 It can be work.

00:30:47.020 --> 00:30:49.540
 It can be ideologies.

00:30:49.540 --> 00:31:00.340
 A whole host of idols can be fashioned in the human heart and given the devotion that is due to God alone.

00:31:00.340 --> 00:31:08.160
 And that is why all the way through Scripture you find severe denunciation by God of idolatry.

00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:17.880
 One of the things that he constantly set before the people of Israel was the need to avoid idolatry,

00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:20.759
 the need to have no other gods but him,

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:26.840
 and to avoid being sucked into the idolatry of the nations around them.

00:31:26.840 --> 00:31:30.720
 As they moved through the desert and as they settled in Canaan,

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:35.980
 again and again the Lord emphasized that they needed to beware of idolatry,

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:41.920
 because idolatry was a direct challenge to God, a direct replacement for God.

00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:46.420
 And even though at times later on, as you find in the times of the prophets,

00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:50.980
 the Isaiah, Jeremiah, smaller prophets,

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:55.860
 many of these refer to the idolatrous ways of Israel.

00:31:55.859 --> 00:32:04.759
 And it was the idolatry of Israel that actually led ultimately to their exile in Babylon for those 70 years.

00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:11.319
 They had repeatedly refused to receive the message that God sent through the prophets,

00:32:11.919 --> 00:32:13.279
 the warnings that he had sent.

00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:18.279
 They didn't actually think that that was worthy of being followed up by themselves.

00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:22.259
 So what happened was, just as God himself had specified,

00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:29.420
 they were taken under the yoke, the power of the Babylonians,

00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:34.740
 who ravaged their temple, took many of the objects there captive to Babylon,

00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:44.039
 and actually had to live there for the 70 years until they began then to come back to Jerusalem.

00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:52.599
 So the production of idolatry is in our own human hearts.

00:32:53.659 --> 00:32:58.619
 And whatever it is we place instead of God or alongside of God

00:32:58.619 --> 00:33:01.359
 and give the devotion that's due to God,

00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:05.099
 then we're engaging in idolatry in doing that.

00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:10.500
 And it all comes, therefore, from our own fallen self.

00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:14.099
 Remember that Jesus more than once said,

00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:17.359
 if we were to follow him, if anyone was to follow him,

00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:21.660
 one of the central features of that, one of the necessities of that,

00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:24.839
 one of the indispensable aspects of following Jesus,

00:33:25.339 --> 00:33:27.599
 let him deny himself.

00:33:28.599 --> 00:33:34.119
 Because denying yourself means turning against the inclination of your own sinful heart

00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:37.660
 and giving your devotion to God instead.

00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:42.480
 If you were to ask tonight, what is the oldest religion in the world?

00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:45.779
 If I was to ask, what is the oldest religion in the world?

00:33:46.100 --> 00:33:48.440
 Many people would answer different ways.

00:33:48.660 --> 00:33:51.460
 Some people might say, well, surely it's something like Buddhism,

00:33:52.100 --> 00:33:56.300
 or perhaps even Hinduism, which goes back many, many generations,

00:33:56.580 --> 00:33:58.040
 thousands, in fact, of years.

00:33:59.120 --> 00:34:03.040
 And would say, well, surely that's the oldest religion in the world.

00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:03.839
 But it's not.

00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:07.980
 The oldest religion in the world is the worship of self.

00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:12.840
 Ever since man fell, he's been worshiping himself.

00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:16.380
 Setting himself out instead of God.

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:19.619
 Setting himself out in a way that's above God.

00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:22.880
 Refusing the direction of God to turn to himself,

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:25.960
 to come back to him, and instead following his own way.

00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:32.880
 And we can see in this chapter tonight just how blind devotion to idols is.

00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:36.760
 Whether it's a figure like this, or any of the other things I've mentioned,

00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:38.599
 or adding to that list.

00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:43.820
 Whatever we give our devotion to blinds us to the reality of God,

00:34:44.240 --> 00:34:48.420
 and if not completely, then certainly to the extent that we do not give God

00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:50.240
 the place that is due to him.

00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:56.259
 So all of this is contained, really, in this passage,

00:34:56.439 --> 00:34:59.119
 especially verses 1 to 4.

00:34:59.979 --> 00:35:03.859
 Let's look first of all at Israel's loss of the ark,

00:35:04.399 --> 00:35:06.399
 which takes us back into the previous chapter.

00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:09.719
 And then we'll look at the ark among the Philistines.

00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:15.359
 Some of the things chapter 5 describes happened when the ark was taken by the Philistines

00:35:15.359 --> 00:35:19.219
 to the house of Dagon, their idol, their god.

00:35:19.219 --> 00:35:25.059
 Well, Israel's loss of the ark, you know, call yourselves that the ark was this box

00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:28.699
 that was made of a special wood and then overlaid with gold.

00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:34.059
 It was around a meter long, by half that again in width and in height.

00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:38.079
 And the Lord had specified in Exodus chapter 25

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:43.459
 that this was to be a very important object in the ritual of Israel

00:35:43.459 --> 00:35:47.199
 in terms of their worship of God.

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:52.799
 The ark was placed in the Holy of Holies, in the tabernacle, in the temple afterwards.

00:35:53.259 --> 00:35:57.719
 And it was associated especially with the presence of God.

00:35:58.279 --> 00:36:03.039
 They were required to make a lid for the ark, which became known as the mercy seat,

00:36:03.799 --> 00:36:09.179
 with the two cherubim carved of gold on the mercy seat facing each other.

00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:11.980
 And it was there that God met with his people.

00:36:12.099 --> 00:36:17.239
 It was there that the presence of God was made known to the people.

00:36:17.559 --> 00:36:23.339
 The cloud that dwelt between the cherubim on the top of the ark

00:36:23.339 --> 00:36:27.279
 was itself an indication of the presence of God.

00:36:27.859 --> 00:36:31.859
 So from that you can see that as the ark represented the presence of God,

00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:36.819
 it was absolutely central to the ritual that God himself had specified

00:36:36.820 --> 00:36:39.820
 that represented that cleansing from sin.

00:36:40.280 --> 00:36:46.000
 Chapter 16 of Leviticus talks about the day of atonement that took place once a year,

00:36:46.580 --> 00:36:50.600
 where the high priest who alone was allowed to go into the Holy of Holies,

00:36:51.160 --> 00:36:54.180
 took the blood of the goat that was killed for a sacrifice,

00:36:54.860 --> 00:37:00.840
 and sprinkled that over the mercy seat and in the presence or in the front of the mercy seat.

00:37:00.840 --> 00:37:06.320
 It was very central to the whole ritual of atonement in Israel,

00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:12.500
 to teach them that God's presence, in the way that it was represented there,

00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:17.800
 that they could only live with God's presence by following the directions of God himself,

00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:25.420
 by providing propitiatory blood, which of course itself is symbolic of the death of Jesus.

00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:29.559
 But they went out in chapter 4 here.

00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:34.940
 You can see what had happened, chapter 4 and verse 2, if you just cast your mind back,

00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:36.680
 and we'll read a few verses there.

00:37:36.760 --> 00:37:40.800
 The Philistines, here they were coming to battle against the people of Israel.

00:37:41.260 --> 00:37:43.920
 The Philistines threw up in line against Israel,

00:37:44.659 --> 00:37:48.559
 and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines,

00:37:48.619 --> 00:37:51.840
 who killed about 4,000 men on the field of battle.

00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:55.840
 And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said,

00:37:56.500 --> 00:37:59.660
 Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines?

00:37:59.720 --> 00:38:02.059
 That's an interesting way of putting it, wasn't it?

00:38:02.240 --> 00:38:06.059
 They were seeking to cast the blame upon God and not upon themselves.

00:38:06.460 --> 00:38:09.539
 Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines?

00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:13.860
 Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh,

00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:18.680
 that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.

00:38:18.679 --> 00:38:24.059
 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts,

00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:26.639
 who is enthroned on the cherubim.

00:38:27.659 --> 00:38:28.919
 What are they doing?

00:38:29.759 --> 00:38:31.940
 What kind of thinking is this?

00:38:32.699 --> 00:38:34.339
 What has become of these people?

00:38:35.319 --> 00:38:39.699
 Well, what they're doing is treating this ark in a sense as if it were God.

00:38:39.919 --> 00:38:41.899
 They know that it represents God.

00:38:42.219 --> 00:38:45.159
 They know that, strictly speaking, it is not, of course, God.

00:38:45.159 --> 00:38:48.199
 It's not like the idol of the Philistines.

00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:50.039
 But they're treating it as such.

00:38:50.159 --> 00:38:55.500
 They're looking on it superstitiously or looking at it as some kind of miraculous operation,

00:38:55.739 --> 00:38:57.960
 that if they carry this ark into battle,

00:38:58.119 --> 00:39:02.019
 then they're bound to be successful against the people that are fighting against them.

00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:05.159
 They've become superstitious.

00:39:05.279 --> 00:39:10.879
 They've become a people who have just lost sight for a moment of what the ark represented.

00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:14.579
 And they regarded it as if it were God himself,

00:39:14.840 --> 00:39:17.940
 as if the ark, just carrying the ark in itself,

00:39:18.260 --> 00:39:21.400
 was going to guarantee them victory against the Philistines.

00:39:22.680 --> 00:39:28.340
 Israel lost the ark because they lost what it represented.

00:39:29.200 --> 00:39:30.980
 They lost sight of what it represented.

00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:36.619
 And therefore, it was taken captive by the Lord just to, as it were,

00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:40.159
 remind them that their trust must not be in the ark

00:39:40.159 --> 00:39:43.480
 because the ark was a representation of God.

00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:47.940
 It wasn't to be treated like the idols of the Philistines.

00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:54.159
 Now, we can do the same with some of the privileges that we have.

00:39:54.159 --> 00:40:01.000
 And it's altogether too easy to fall into the same mindset as Israel here,

00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:04.159
 who said, let's bring the ark, take the ark of the covenant of the Lord,

00:40:04.239 --> 00:40:05.420
 that it may come amongst us.

00:40:05.799 --> 00:40:08.420
 It'll save us from the power of our enemies.

00:40:09.139 --> 00:40:13.359
 You can become that way minded even about the likes of your baptism

00:40:13.359 --> 00:40:15.940
 or taking communion in the Lord's Supper,

00:40:16.359 --> 00:40:21.359
 where the things themselves become, although the representations of God,

00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:25.420
 they become, as it were, looked at magically or superstitiously

00:40:25.420 --> 00:40:28.280
 or looked at in such a way that would say, for example,

00:40:28.620 --> 00:40:30.460
 well, I was baptized as a child,

00:40:30.960 --> 00:40:35.160
 so if you ask me, well, what's my relationship with God?

00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:37.579
 I'm bound to be saved because I was baptized.

00:40:37.700 --> 00:40:39.220
 There were promises taken about me.

00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:42.360
 There are prayers about my future.

00:40:44.019 --> 00:40:46.200
 Same thing with taking communion.

00:40:47.400 --> 00:40:50.340
 People can actually come and say about taking communion,

00:40:50.340 --> 00:40:51.680
 that makes me a Christian.

00:40:52.360 --> 00:40:54.100
 That guarantees my salvation.

00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:57.660
 None of that, of course, is true.

00:40:58.960 --> 00:41:01.860
 It can be just like the ark was for Israel,

00:41:03.100 --> 00:41:06.180
 that we just trust in the possession of them,

00:41:06.740 --> 00:41:09.900
 trust in the history that's brought them to us,

00:41:10.920 --> 00:41:15.039
 trust in perhaps the ritual that's involved in baptism

00:41:15.039 --> 00:41:16.779
 or in taking communion

00:41:16.779 --> 00:41:20.460
 and thinking that just from the mere possession of it,

00:41:20.460 --> 00:41:21.559
 from the mere act of it,

00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:24.559
 that that guarantees our acceptance with God.

00:41:25.320 --> 00:41:26.279
 And it doesn't.

00:41:26.940 --> 00:41:29.279
 Unless we have what's represented there,

00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:30.800
 then we cannot be saved.

00:41:31.300 --> 00:41:33.000
 We cannot be in a right relation with God

00:41:33.000 --> 00:41:34.599
 just by taking communion.

00:41:35.159 --> 00:41:37.460
 Communion itself is an indication

00:41:37.460 --> 00:41:40.340
 that you have that relationship with God already.

00:41:40.340 --> 00:41:45.940
 And the same is true when you come to think of baptism too,

00:41:46.620 --> 00:41:48.920
 that that is something that represents

00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:51.079
 being connected to Christ,

00:41:51.180 --> 00:41:52.640
 being united to Christ.

00:41:53.420 --> 00:41:56.700
 So here is something that's important for us to remember

00:41:56.700 --> 00:41:58.760
 from this Old Testament passage.

00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:00.539
 If you go back to Romans,

00:42:00.620 --> 00:42:04.519
 or forward to Romans chapter 2 and verses 28 and 29,

00:42:04.680 --> 00:42:06.340
 this is how Paul put it.

00:42:06.340 --> 00:42:07.920
 Because he was dealing, of course,

00:42:08.340 --> 00:42:11.100
 with people like himself who were Jews by birth

00:42:11.100 --> 00:42:13.380
 and who, just like the Pharisees,

00:42:13.420 --> 00:42:14.380
 as we saw this morning,

00:42:14.800 --> 00:42:16.539
 were placing great emphasis on the fact

00:42:16.539 --> 00:42:19.539
 that this is how they were brought up.

00:42:19.620 --> 00:42:20.559
 This was their privilege.

00:42:20.860 --> 00:42:22.420
 This is what God gave them to be.

00:42:22.519 --> 00:42:23.760
 They gave them to be Jews

00:42:23.760 --> 00:42:26.140
 in contrast to the Gentiles

00:42:26.140 --> 00:42:27.180
 and the rest of the world.

00:42:28.160 --> 00:42:30.740
 And here were the people

00:42:30.740 --> 00:42:32.480
 that Paul was writing to

00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:33.600
 in the letter to the Romans

00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:35.980
 actually thinking that

00:42:35.980 --> 00:42:37.960
 because this was the case with them,

00:42:38.380 --> 00:42:39.519
 in terms of their ancestry

00:42:39.519 --> 00:42:41.380
 and their privileges over the years,

00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:43.960
 that they themselves were already right with God,

00:42:44.039 --> 00:42:45.400
 automatically, as it were.

00:42:46.599 --> 00:42:47.880
 Well, here is what Paul said.

00:42:48.599 --> 00:42:49.900
 No one is a Jew

00:42:49.900 --> 00:42:52.519
 who is merely one outwardly,

00:42:53.159 --> 00:42:56.500
 nor is circumcision outward and physical.

00:42:57.559 --> 00:42:59.099
 I didn't mean, of course, by that,

00:42:59.099 --> 00:43:00.940
 that circumcision had stopped

00:43:00.940 --> 00:43:02.199
 to be something physical

00:43:02.199 --> 00:43:06.980
 that was applied to Jewish young boys

00:43:06.980 --> 00:43:08.719
 when they were actually circumcised.

00:43:09.599 --> 00:43:11.000
 That still was the case

00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:12.299
 at eight days of age.

00:43:13.519 --> 00:43:14.639
 But now he's saying,

00:43:15.900 --> 00:43:17.940
 a Jew is one inwardly,

00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:21.159
 and circumcision is a matter of the heart

00:43:21.159 --> 00:43:23.779
 by the Spirit and not by the letter.

00:43:24.519 --> 00:43:26.179
 His praise is not from man,

00:43:26.339 --> 00:43:27.319
 but of God.

00:43:27.320 --> 00:43:28.760
 In other words, he was saying to those,

00:43:29.080 --> 00:43:30.380
 he was writing to them in Romans,

00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:31.539
 reminding them that

00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:34.960
 being circumcised did not of itself,

00:43:35.160 --> 00:43:36.720
 though it was an advantage,

00:43:36.840 --> 00:43:39.120
 it didn't of itself convey any grace.

00:43:39.360 --> 00:43:41.160
 It didn't convey any salvation.

00:43:42.700 --> 00:43:44.380
 It was an outward symbol

00:43:44.380 --> 00:43:46.039
 of something that needed to be inward.

00:43:46.840 --> 00:43:48.000
 Circumcision of the heart.

00:43:48.720 --> 00:43:50.280
 And it's really the same with ourselves.

00:43:50.960 --> 00:43:53.500
 That's why the Lord said to Nicodemus,

00:43:53.539 --> 00:43:54.880
 who had come to him by night,

00:43:54.880 --> 00:43:56.640
 and he was quite sure

00:43:56.640 --> 00:43:57.599
 that he himself being

00:43:57.599 --> 00:43:59.400
 one of the doctors of the law

00:43:59.400 --> 00:44:00.500
 in those days,

00:44:00.579 --> 00:44:01.880
 one member of a Sanhedrin,

00:44:02.200 --> 00:44:03.300
 he would never have questioned

00:44:03.300 --> 00:44:04.140
 whether or not he was

00:44:04.140 --> 00:44:05.360
 within the kingdom of God.

00:44:07.360 --> 00:44:08.539
 And Jesus, of course,

00:44:09.260 --> 00:44:10.220
 brought him up short

00:44:10.220 --> 00:44:10.780
 and said,

00:44:10.940 --> 00:44:12.500
 except a man be born again,

00:44:12.940 --> 00:44:14.559
 born of water and of the Spirit,

00:44:14.640 --> 00:44:15.780
 he cannot enter

00:44:15.780 --> 00:44:17.760
 the kingdom of God.

00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:20.100
 So here is something

00:44:20.100 --> 00:44:21.180
 that comes across

00:44:21.180 --> 00:44:22.900
 all of these generations tonight

00:44:22.900 --> 00:44:25.800
 to actually teach us

00:44:25.800 --> 00:44:26.580
 about the need

00:44:26.580 --> 00:44:29.140
 for a proper spiritual

00:44:29.140 --> 00:44:31.540
 heart relationship with Christ,

00:44:31.640 --> 00:44:33.200
 with God in Christ,

00:44:33.840 --> 00:44:35.880
 and not to rely on anything

00:44:35.880 --> 00:44:38.440
 which may be in itself

00:44:38.440 --> 00:44:39.740
 a great advantage to us,

00:44:39.940 --> 00:44:42.020
 but not to rely upon it in itself.

00:44:42.800 --> 00:44:44.240
 We need to come to the Lord.

00:44:44.640 --> 00:44:46.080
 We need to receive the Lord.

00:44:46.140 --> 00:44:47.320
 We need to accept the Lord.

00:44:47.320 --> 00:44:49.100
 We need to depend on the Lord.

00:44:49.559 --> 00:44:50.580
 We need to have our trust

00:44:50.580 --> 00:44:51.140
 in the Lord.

00:44:51.580 --> 00:44:52.340
 We need to make sure

00:44:52.340 --> 00:44:53.640
 that He is the foundation,

00:44:53.820 --> 00:44:54.680
 not any ritual

00:44:54.680 --> 00:44:56.320
 that's associated with Him.

00:44:58.220 --> 00:44:59.340
 This is why Israel

00:44:59.340 --> 00:45:00.660
 lost the ark,

00:45:01.380 --> 00:45:02.400
 because they lost

00:45:02.400 --> 00:45:04.140
 what it represented.

00:45:05.260 --> 00:45:05.780
 But secondly,

00:45:05.880 --> 00:45:06.440
 look at the ark

00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:08.019
 among the Philistines.

00:45:08.120 --> 00:45:09.220
 What did the Philistines

00:45:09.220 --> 00:45:10.080
 do with the ark?

00:45:10.180 --> 00:45:11.240
 Well, chapter 5 now,

00:45:11.740 --> 00:45:12.880
 when they captured the ark,

00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:14.220
 they brought it from Ebenezer

00:45:14.220 --> 00:45:15.400
 to Ashdod,

00:45:15.860 --> 00:45:16.559
 and the Philistines

00:45:16.559 --> 00:45:17.180
 took the ark

00:45:17.179 --> 00:45:17.559
 of God,

00:45:17.619 --> 00:45:18.179
 and brought it

00:45:18.179 --> 00:45:18.779
 into the house

00:45:18.779 --> 00:45:19.339
 of Dagon,

00:45:20.119 --> 00:45:20.919
 and set it up

00:45:20.919 --> 00:45:22.480
 beside Dagon.

00:45:23.259 --> 00:45:24.059
 See, they saw

00:45:24.059 --> 00:45:25.179
 this ark

00:45:25.179 --> 00:45:26.440
 as being a god

00:45:26.440 --> 00:45:28.559
 to Israel,

00:45:28.639 --> 00:45:29.359
 just like Dagon

00:45:29.359 --> 00:45:30.599
 was to them.

00:45:30.699 --> 00:45:31.779
 So, it was a trophy

00:45:31.779 --> 00:45:32.359
 of war

00:45:32.359 --> 00:45:33.159
 in many respects,

00:45:33.279 --> 00:45:34.480
 but to the people

00:45:34.480 --> 00:45:36.279
 of the Philistines,

00:45:36.599 --> 00:45:37.579
 they were actually saying,

00:45:37.839 --> 00:45:38.659
 we've actually managed

00:45:38.659 --> 00:45:39.159
 to capture

00:45:39.159 --> 00:45:40.039
 one of the gods

00:45:40.039 --> 00:45:40.679
 of Israel.

00:45:41.179 --> 00:45:41.819
 Because when you go back

00:45:41.820 --> 00:45:43.900
 again to chapter 4

00:45:43.900 --> 00:45:44.720
 and verse 6,

00:45:45.240 --> 00:45:46.340
 notice what it's saying there.

00:45:46.920 --> 00:45:47.820
 When the Philistines

00:45:47.820 --> 00:45:49.240
 heard the noise,

00:45:49.300 --> 00:45:49.780
 when the ark

00:45:49.780 --> 00:45:50.640
 actually did come

00:45:50.640 --> 00:45:51.460
 into the camp,

00:45:51.960 --> 00:45:53.400
 Israel gave a mighty shout

00:45:53.400 --> 00:45:54.780
 so that the earth resounded.

00:45:55.440 --> 00:45:56.360
 And when the Philistines

00:45:56.360 --> 00:45:57.160
 heard the noise

00:45:57.160 --> 00:45:57.740
 of the shouting,

00:45:57.860 --> 00:45:58.140
 they said,

00:45:58.480 --> 00:45:59.800
 what does this great shouting

00:45:59.800 --> 00:46:00.320
 in the camp

00:46:00.320 --> 00:46:01.260
 of the Hebrews mean?

00:46:01.920 --> 00:46:02.700
 And when they learned

00:46:02.700 --> 00:46:03.600
 that the ark of the Lord

00:46:03.600 --> 00:46:04.700
 had come to the camp,

00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:05.680
 the Philistines

00:46:05.680 --> 00:46:06.280
 were afraid,

00:46:06.360 --> 00:46:06.880
 for they said,

00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:08.200
 a God

00:46:08.200 --> 00:46:09.780
 has come into the camp.

00:46:10.280 --> 00:46:10.720
 And they said,

00:46:10.840 --> 00:46:11.440
 woe to us,

00:46:11.640 --> 00:46:12.500
 for nothing like this

00:46:12.500 --> 00:46:13.320
 has happened before.

00:46:13.480 --> 00:46:14.060
 Woe to us.

00:46:14.420 --> 00:46:15.400
 Who can deliver us

00:46:15.400 --> 00:46:16.019
 from the power

00:46:16.019 --> 00:46:17.160
 of these mighty gods?

00:46:17.860 --> 00:46:18.640
 These are the gods

00:46:18.640 --> 00:46:19.980
 who struck the Egyptians

00:46:19.980 --> 00:46:21.940
 with every sort of plague

00:46:21.940 --> 00:46:23.060
 in the wilderness.

00:46:23.260 --> 00:46:23.780
 Take courage

00:46:23.780 --> 00:46:24.500
 and be men,

00:46:25.180 --> 00:46:25.880
 O Philistines,

00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:27.720
 lest you become slaves.

00:46:28.400 --> 00:46:29.360
 To the Hebrews,

00:46:29.500 --> 00:46:30.780
 as they have been to you,

00:46:31.580 --> 00:46:32.220
 be men

00:46:32.220 --> 00:46:33.420
 and fight.

00:46:34.720 --> 00:46:36.019
 They regarded the ark

00:46:36.019 --> 00:46:38.219
 as a god of Israel.

00:46:39.019 --> 00:46:40.179
 That's why they brought it

00:46:40.179 --> 00:46:41.400
 into the house

00:46:41.400 --> 00:46:42.519
 of their god,

00:46:42.980 --> 00:46:43.280
 Dagon.

00:46:45.039 --> 00:46:46.159
 And what happened?

00:46:47.340 --> 00:46:48.159
 Well, you read down

00:46:48.159 --> 00:46:48.659
 through there,

00:46:49.179 --> 00:46:49.980
 when they rose early

00:46:49.980 --> 00:46:50.840
 the next day,

00:46:52.179 --> 00:46:53.239
 Dagon had fallen

00:46:53.239 --> 00:46:54.820
 face down on the ground

00:46:54.820 --> 00:46:56.679
 before the ark

00:46:56.679 --> 00:46:57.860
 of the Lord.

00:46:59.099 --> 00:46:59.739
 And the passage

00:46:59.739 --> 00:47:00.759
 is really telling us

00:47:00.759 --> 00:47:01.300
 by that,

00:47:01.599 --> 00:47:02.159
 and the passage

00:47:02.159 --> 00:47:02.960
 telling the people

00:47:02.960 --> 00:47:04.019
 of Israel by that,

00:47:04.059 --> 00:47:04.739
 as they would read

00:47:04.739 --> 00:47:05.440
 that later,

00:47:06.019 --> 00:47:06.840
 telling them,

00:47:07.079 --> 00:47:08.119
 or even from that moment

00:47:08.119 --> 00:47:09.000
 that they realized

00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:09.840
 this had happened,

00:47:11.440 --> 00:47:12.380
 telling them that

00:47:12.380 --> 00:47:13.519
 God,

00:47:13.739 --> 00:47:14.739
 their God,

00:47:15.039 --> 00:47:16.139
 was the true God,

00:47:16.179 --> 00:47:16.980
 was the only God.

00:47:17.019 --> 00:47:17.920
 Because here is Dagon.

00:47:18.019 --> 00:47:18.360
 And you notice

00:47:18.360 --> 00:47:19.759
 it's interesting here,

00:47:20.259 --> 00:47:21.639
 this fall of Dagon

00:47:21.639 --> 00:47:22.900
 was not done

00:47:22.900 --> 00:47:23.739
 by human hands,

00:47:23.800 --> 00:47:24.800
 this happened overnight.

00:47:25.920 --> 00:47:26.400
 Nobody went

00:47:26.400 --> 00:47:27.179
 into the place,

00:47:27.599 --> 00:47:28.440
 took Dagon down

00:47:28.440 --> 00:47:29.000
 and put him

00:47:29.000 --> 00:47:30.159
 on the ground

00:47:30.159 --> 00:47:30.699
 beside

00:47:30.699 --> 00:47:32.119
 or in front

00:47:32.119 --> 00:47:32.719
 of the ark

00:47:32.719 --> 00:47:33.299
 of God.

00:47:33.799 --> 00:47:34.559
 This was something

00:47:34.559 --> 00:47:35.179
 that happened

00:47:35.179 --> 00:47:36.039
 miraculously.

00:47:36.219 --> 00:47:36.839
 God himself

00:47:36.839 --> 00:47:38.000
 had brought it about.

00:47:39.459 --> 00:47:40.059
 But you notice

00:47:40.059 --> 00:47:40.539
 the difference

00:47:40.539 --> 00:47:41.179
 in the language.

00:47:42.159 --> 00:47:43.099
 Just look carefully

00:47:43.099 --> 00:47:44.159
 how the language

00:47:44.159 --> 00:47:44.599
 says,

00:47:44.819 --> 00:47:45.599
 when they brought

00:47:45.599 --> 00:47:46.199
 the ark

00:47:46.199 --> 00:47:47.419
 into the house

00:47:47.419 --> 00:47:47.839
 of God,

00:47:47.899 --> 00:47:48.719
 they set it up

00:47:48.719 --> 00:47:51.299
 beside Dagon.

00:47:52.299 --> 00:47:52.839
 And then when

00:47:52.839 --> 00:47:53.759
 Dagon fell,

00:47:54.699 --> 00:47:55.899
 he fell to the ground

00:47:55.899 --> 00:47:57.799
 before the ark

00:47:57.799 --> 00:47:58.459
 of the Lord.

00:47:58.460 --> 00:47:59.059
 You see,

00:47:59.119 --> 00:48:00.360
 they had put Dagon,

00:48:01.000 --> 00:48:01.820
 this statue,

00:48:02.000 --> 00:48:02.579
 this idol,

00:48:02.940 --> 00:48:03.400
 they had put it

00:48:03.400 --> 00:48:04.539
 beside the ark

00:48:04.539 --> 00:48:05.179
 of the Lord.

00:48:06.099 --> 00:48:07.099
 And when he fell,

00:48:07.800 --> 00:48:08.480
 it's no longer

00:48:08.480 --> 00:48:09.500
 beside the ark

00:48:09.500 --> 00:48:10.019
 of the Lord,

00:48:10.280 --> 00:48:11.320
 he's in the presence

00:48:11.320 --> 00:48:11.900
 of the ark

00:48:11.900 --> 00:48:12.380
 of the Lord.

00:48:12.579 --> 00:48:13.720
 He's bowing down

00:48:13.720 --> 00:48:14.340
 to the ark

00:48:14.340 --> 00:48:14.820
 of the Lord,

00:48:14.900 --> 00:48:15.360
 as it were,

00:48:15.639 --> 00:48:16.639
 showing the supremacy

00:48:16.639 --> 00:48:17.539
 of the God

00:48:17.539 --> 00:48:18.539
 that the Israelites

00:48:18.539 --> 00:48:19.340
 worshipped.

00:48:20.440 --> 00:48:20.940
 And so,

00:48:21.240 --> 00:48:21.860
 the sovereignty

00:48:21.860 --> 00:48:22.579
 of God.

00:48:23.300 --> 00:48:23.980
 Here is Dagon

00:48:23.980 --> 00:48:24.760
 in a position

00:48:24.760 --> 00:48:26.579
 of homage

00:48:26.579 --> 00:48:27.980
 and subservience

00:48:27.980 --> 00:48:28.800
 and obedience

00:48:28.800 --> 00:48:30.659
 and acknowledgement

00:48:30.659 --> 00:48:31.659
 of the superiority

00:48:31.659 --> 00:48:32.619
 of God

00:48:32.619 --> 00:48:34.119
 because Dagon

00:48:34.119 --> 00:48:34.639
 is here

00:48:34.639 --> 00:48:36.019
 before the ark

00:48:36.019 --> 00:48:36.519
 of God

00:48:36.519 --> 00:48:37.519
 as if he were

00:48:37.519 --> 00:48:38.119
 bowed down

00:48:38.119 --> 00:48:38.679
 and worshipped

00:48:38.679 --> 00:48:39.159
 to him.

00:48:40.179 --> 00:48:40.380
 See,

00:48:40.460 --> 00:48:41.440
 language makes

00:48:41.440 --> 00:48:42.240
 a difference.

00:48:43.019 --> 00:48:43.619
 And you can see

00:48:43.619 --> 00:48:44.599
 that this is the message

00:48:44.599 --> 00:48:45.119
 conveyed

00:48:45.119 --> 00:48:46.740
 by that change.

00:48:46.860 --> 00:48:47.360
 It's no longer

00:48:47.360 --> 00:48:48.400
 beside Dagon,

00:48:48.800 --> 00:48:49.760
 no longer beside

00:48:49.760 --> 00:48:50.360
 the ark,

00:48:50.860 --> 00:48:51.800
 he is before

00:48:51.800 --> 00:48:52.280
 the ark.

00:48:52.280 --> 00:48:53.219
 He's fallen down

00:48:53.219 --> 00:48:54.420
 in the presence

00:48:54.420 --> 00:48:56.159
 of what represents

00:48:56.159 --> 00:48:56.780
 the God

00:48:56.780 --> 00:48:57.900
 of Israel.

00:48:57.980 --> 00:49:00.000
 And that,

00:49:00.139 --> 00:49:00.360
 of course,

00:49:01.019 --> 00:49:01.960
 is true of all

00:49:01.960 --> 00:49:02.719
 idolatry

00:49:02.719 --> 00:49:03.920
 and all idols.

00:49:04.900 --> 00:49:05.800
 Even if they're

00:49:05.800 --> 00:49:07.340
 placed on the same

00:49:07.340 --> 00:49:08.920
 level as God.

00:49:09.579 --> 00:49:10.079
 Even if they're

00:49:10.079 --> 00:49:10.900
 just taken in,

00:49:10.960 --> 00:49:11.320
 as it were,

00:49:11.360 --> 00:49:12.559
 into a pantheon

00:49:12.559 --> 00:49:13.380
 of gods.

00:49:15.139 --> 00:49:15.699
 Nevertheless,

00:49:16.559 --> 00:49:17.559
 the Bible assures

00:49:17.559 --> 00:49:18.420
 us and tells us

00:49:18.420 --> 00:49:19.360
 again and again

00:49:19.360 --> 00:49:20.639
 that there is

00:49:20.639 --> 00:49:21.400
 no equality

00:49:21.400 --> 00:49:22.159
 with God.

00:49:23.119 --> 00:49:23.960
 That none

00:49:23.960 --> 00:49:24.480
 can actually

00:49:24.480 --> 00:49:25.860
 come to the level

00:49:25.860 --> 00:49:26.740
 at which our

00:49:26.740 --> 00:49:27.480
 God is placed

00:49:27.480 --> 00:49:28.320
 as our creator

00:49:28.320 --> 00:49:29.260
 and as the

00:49:29.260 --> 00:49:29.980
 saviour of his

00:49:29.980 --> 00:49:30.280
 people.

00:49:30.380 --> 00:49:30.760
 That's why

00:49:30.760 --> 00:49:31.960
 Psalm 115,

00:49:32.360 --> 00:49:33.599
 as we sang,

00:49:33.740 --> 00:49:35.180
 is so graphic

00:49:35.180 --> 00:49:36.260
 and so powerful

00:49:36.260 --> 00:49:37.200
 in the description

00:49:37.200 --> 00:49:38.079
 of the contrast

00:49:38.079 --> 00:49:39.039
 between God

00:49:39.039 --> 00:49:40.360
 and all idols.

00:49:41.099 --> 00:49:41.840
 He is God.

00:49:42.120 --> 00:49:42.940
 He is a lone

00:49:42.940 --> 00:49:43.440
 God.

00:49:45.019 --> 00:49:45.559
 And it doesn't

00:49:45.559 --> 00:49:46.140
 matter tonight

00:49:46.140 --> 00:49:46.980
 what people worship.

00:49:48.500 --> 00:49:49.200
 I don't say

00:49:49.200 --> 00:49:50.620
 it doesn't matter

00:49:50.620 --> 00:49:51.079
 in the sense

00:49:51.079 --> 00:49:51.500
 of it's not

00:49:51.500 --> 00:49:51.920
 important.

00:49:52.019 --> 00:49:52.280
 Of course,

00:49:52.280 --> 00:49:52.920
 it's important,

00:49:53.360 --> 00:49:54.480
 but it doesn't

00:49:54.480 --> 00:49:55.460
 change this,

00:49:56.580 --> 00:49:57.280
 that God

00:49:57.280 --> 00:49:59.200
 remains God

00:49:59.200 --> 00:50:00.800
 and God

00:50:00.800 --> 00:50:01.660
 remains

00:50:01.660 --> 00:50:03.019
 alone God.

00:50:04.300 --> 00:50:05.240
 He remains

00:50:05.240 --> 00:50:05.940
 the unique

00:50:05.940 --> 00:50:06.560
 creator

00:50:06.560 --> 00:50:08.180
 and saviour

00:50:08.180 --> 00:50:09.360
 of his people.

00:50:11.120 --> 00:50:11.600
 So,

00:50:11.720 --> 00:50:11.960
 what do the

00:50:11.960 --> 00:50:12.700
 Philistines do?

00:50:15.800 --> 00:50:16.280
 Well,

00:50:16.300 --> 00:50:16.860
 you might think

00:50:16.860 --> 00:50:17.540
 that they would say

00:50:17.540 --> 00:50:18.700
 now that our idol

00:50:18.700 --> 00:50:20.080
 is prostrate

00:50:20.080 --> 00:50:20.680
 in the presence

00:50:20.680 --> 00:50:21.300
 of the ark,

00:50:21.380 --> 00:50:21.880
 you might think,

00:50:21.880 --> 00:50:22.099
 well,

00:50:22.500 --> 00:50:23.140
 surely any

00:50:23.140 --> 00:50:23.960
 right thinking

00:50:23.960 --> 00:50:24.400
 would say,

00:50:24.519 --> 00:50:24.619
 well,

00:50:24.840 --> 00:50:25.480
 this ark

00:50:25.480 --> 00:50:26.340
 must be superior

00:50:26.340 --> 00:50:27.420
 to our God.

00:50:27.900 --> 00:50:28.599
 Let's actually

00:50:28.599 --> 00:50:30.300
 now give

00:50:30.300 --> 00:50:31.119
 ourselves to

00:50:31.119 --> 00:50:32.119
 the ark of God

00:50:32.119 --> 00:50:32.840
 or to the God

00:50:32.840 --> 00:50:33.340
 of Israel

00:50:33.340 --> 00:50:34.200
 instead of

00:50:34.200 --> 00:50:34.960
 to our Dagon

00:50:34.960 --> 00:50:35.820
 because our Dagon

00:50:35.820 --> 00:50:36.660
 has fallen

00:50:36.660 --> 00:50:37.340
 in his presence.

00:50:37.440 --> 00:50:37.780
 That's not

00:50:37.780 --> 00:50:38.360
 what they do.

00:50:39.840 --> 00:50:40.400
 What do they do?

00:50:40.480 --> 00:50:41.320
 They pick him up.

00:50:42.220 --> 00:50:42.900
 They set him

00:50:42.900 --> 00:50:43.720
 back on his feet

00:50:43.720 --> 00:50:44.140
 again.

00:50:48.000 --> 00:50:48.840
 They came

00:50:48.840 --> 00:50:49.820
 and put Dagon

00:50:49.820 --> 00:50:52.180
 back in his place.

00:50:53.840 --> 00:50:54.160
 You know,

00:50:54.380 --> 00:50:55.140
 the Lord

00:50:55.140 --> 00:50:56.539
 doesn't mind

00:50:56.539 --> 00:50:57.539
 a touch of humour

00:50:57.539 --> 00:50:59.140
 in his word.

00:50:59.920 --> 00:51:01.059
 It's not comedy.

00:51:01.260 --> 00:51:01.740
 It's not that

00:51:01.740 --> 00:51:02.440
 sort of thing.

00:51:02.820 --> 00:51:03.840
 But there is a touch

00:51:03.840 --> 00:51:04.660
 of humour there,

00:51:04.660 --> 00:51:05.140
 isn't there?

00:51:05.400 --> 00:51:06.460
 Because how

00:51:06.460 --> 00:51:07.660
 can a God

00:51:07.660 --> 00:51:09.019
 help anybody

00:51:09.019 --> 00:51:09.820
 if he needs

00:51:09.820 --> 00:51:10.340
 to be helped

00:51:10.340 --> 00:51:11.019
 to his feet?

00:51:11.019 --> 00:51:13.280
 How can any

00:51:13.280 --> 00:51:14.380
 object that's

00:51:14.380 --> 00:51:15.199
 given devotion

00:51:15.199 --> 00:51:16.059
 that rightly

00:51:16.059 --> 00:51:17.119
 belongs to God

00:51:17.119 --> 00:51:18.139
 be of any use

00:51:18.139 --> 00:51:19.320
 to any human being

00:51:19.320 --> 00:51:20.340
 if these humans

00:51:20.340 --> 00:51:21.259
 themselves have

00:51:21.259 --> 00:51:21.820
 to help him

00:51:21.820 --> 00:51:22.699
 back on his feet,

00:51:23.019 --> 00:51:23.759
 have to help

00:51:23.759 --> 00:51:24.519
 put him back

00:51:24.519 --> 00:51:25.579
 in his place?

00:51:25.920 --> 00:51:26.139
 You see,

00:51:26.199 --> 00:51:26.840
 the foolishness

00:51:26.840 --> 00:51:27.679
 and the blindness

00:51:27.679 --> 00:51:28.960
 of the idolatry

00:51:28.960 --> 00:51:29.880
 of the Philistines

00:51:29.880 --> 00:51:31.280
 as they're doing this,

00:51:31.440 --> 00:51:32.420
 whether they realise it

00:51:32.420 --> 00:51:32.639
 or not,

00:51:32.679 --> 00:51:33.420
 what they're saying is

00:51:33.420 --> 00:51:35.079
 this is a useless God.

00:51:35.259 --> 00:51:36.179
 We can't possibly

00:51:36.179 --> 00:51:36.960
 go on worshipping

00:51:36.960 --> 00:51:37.480
 this God.

00:51:37.739 --> 00:51:38.380
 He needs to be

00:51:38.380 --> 00:51:39.320
 helped to his feet.

00:51:39.320 --> 00:51:41.340
 And we humans

00:51:41.340 --> 00:51:42.480
 who have created

00:51:42.480 --> 00:51:43.800
 him as our God,

00:51:44.000 --> 00:51:44.500
 we should look

00:51:44.500 --> 00:51:45.080
 at ourselves

00:51:45.080 --> 00:51:45.700
 and think,

00:51:46.000 --> 00:51:47.220
 how can this be

00:51:47.220 --> 00:51:48.640
 any help to us

00:51:48.640 --> 00:51:49.160
 at all

00:51:49.160 --> 00:51:49.940
 to trust

00:51:49.940 --> 00:51:50.600
 and to worship

00:51:50.600 --> 00:51:51.460
 to be devoted

00:51:51.460 --> 00:51:52.460
 to this Dagon?

00:51:54.100 --> 00:51:54.640
 Of course,

00:51:55.539 --> 00:51:56.300
 they're blinded

00:51:56.300 --> 00:51:59.039
 by their paganism,

00:51:59.180 --> 00:51:59.920
 blinded by

00:51:59.920 --> 00:52:02.300
 their idolatry.

00:52:03.640 --> 00:52:04.680
 Yet that's

00:52:04.680 --> 00:52:06.420
 our instinct

00:52:06.420 --> 00:52:07.039
 as well.

00:52:07.039 --> 00:52:09.400
 is this not

00:52:09.400 --> 00:52:09.960
 something that

00:52:09.960 --> 00:52:10.960
 just you leave

00:52:10.960 --> 00:52:12.699
 in history

00:52:12.699 --> 00:52:13.980
 back in the days

00:52:13.980 --> 00:52:14.800
 of the Philistines?

00:52:16.059 --> 00:52:16.860
 What do we do

00:52:16.860 --> 00:52:17.779
 when our gods

00:52:17.779 --> 00:52:18.360
 fail?

00:52:19.400 --> 00:52:20.739
 Whatever God it is

00:52:20.739 --> 00:52:21.440
 other than

00:52:21.440 --> 00:52:22.699
 our God himself.

00:52:23.539 --> 00:52:24.139
 What do we do

00:52:24.139 --> 00:52:24.840
 when we find

00:52:24.840 --> 00:52:26.019
 our gods

00:52:26.019 --> 00:52:27.059
 not actually

00:52:27.059 --> 00:52:27.719
 helping us

00:52:27.719 --> 00:52:28.920
 but being a hindrance

00:52:28.920 --> 00:52:29.639
 at times to us?

00:52:29.880 --> 00:52:30.279
 Do we just

00:52:30.279 --> 00:52:31.219
 instantly leave them?

00:52:31.279 --> 00:52:31.900
 Of course we don't.

00:52:31.960 --> 00:52:32.320
 We sometimes

00:52:32.320 --> 00:52:32.840
 just put them

00:52:32.840 --> 00:52:33.519
 back in place.

00:52:33.519 --> 00:52:35.500
 And in our own

00:52:35.500 --> 00:52:37.940
 generation

00:52:37.940 --> 00:52:38.420
 and our own

00:52:38.420 --> 00:52:39.380
 day especially

00:52:39.380 --> 00:52:41.300
 this is exactly

00:52:41.300 --> 00:52:42.460
 what you're seeing.

00:52:43.440 --> 00:52:44.699
 Because the powers

00:52:44.699 --> 00:52:45.719
 of the world

00:52:45.719 --> 00:52:46.599
 and of worldliness

00:52:46.599 --> 00:52:47.239
 and the powers

00:52:47.239 --> 00:52:47.880
 that are against

00:52:47.880 --> 00:52:48.480
 the gospel

00:52:48.480 --> 00:52:50.420
 the ungodly powers

00:52:50.420 --> 00:52:51.599
 of the present day

00:52:51.599 --> 00:52:52.739
 are in a sense

00:52:52.739 --> 00:52:53.380
 the equivalent

00:52:53.380 --> 00:52:54.440
 of the Philistines.

00:52:54.759 --> 00:52:55.119
 What are they

00:52:55.119 --> 00:52:55.920
 trying to do?

00:52:56.139 --> 00:52:56.559
 They're trying

00:52:56.559 --> 00:52:57.500
 to actually take

00:52:57.500 --> 00:52:58.579
 what is essential

00:52:58.579 --> 00:52:59.880
 to our Christian faith

00:52:59.880 --> 00:53:01.119
 and to take it captive

00:53:01.119 --> 00:53:01.839
 and to put it

00:53:01.839 --> 00:53:02.400
 in the house

00:53:02.400 --> 00:53:03.319
 of Dagon

00:53:03.319 --> 00:53:04.000
 as it were.

00:53:05.679 --> 00:53:06.179
 Their aim

00:53:06.179 --> 00:53:07.119
 is to nullify

00:53:07.119 --> 00:53:08.420
 the Christian faith

00:53:08.420 --> 00:53:09.239
 if it were possible

00:53:09.239 --> 00:53:10.639
 to deprive us

00:53:10.639 --> 00:53:11.799
 of its arc

00:53:11.799 --> 00:53:12.839
 of its most central

00:53:12.839 --> 00:53:14.900
 basic foundational features.

00:53:15.519 --> 00:53:16.480
 That's why you find

00:53:16.480 --> 00:53:17.739
 that the Christian faith

00:53:17.739 --> 00:53:18.839
 so often nowadays

00:53:18.839 --> 00:53:19.219
 sadly

00:53:19.219 --> 00:53:20.519
 is placed alongside

00:53:20.519 --> 00:53:22.799
 other so-called faiths

00:53:22.799 --> 00:53:23.880
 as if they're really

00:53:23.880 --> 00:53:24.859
 on the same level

00:53:24.859 --> 00:53:26.039
 as if the combination

00:53:26.039 --> 00:53:26.980
 of them really

00:53:26.980 --> 00:53:28.359
 is a much better way

00:53:28.359 --> 00:53:29.519
 towards ensuring

00:53:29.519 --> 00:53:30.279
 your eternity

00:53:30.280 --> 00:53:31.600
 than just worshipping

00:53:31.600 --> 00:53:33.100
 the one true God.

00:53:37.040 --> 00:53:38.240
 And what happens

00:53:38.240 --> 00:53:39.720
 when the gods

00:53:39.720 --> 00:53:40.800
 of secularism

00:53:40.800 --> 00:53:42.220
 the gods

00:53:42.220 --> 00:53:44.220
 of worldliness

00:53:44.220 --> 00:53:46.220
 the thinking

00:53:46.220 --> 00:53:47.620
 of these gods

00:53:47.620 --> 00:53:48.260
 what happens

00:53:48.260 --> 00:53:49.500
 when they are

00:53:49.500 --> 00:53:50.640
 demonstrably

00:53:50.640 --> 00:53:51.740
 failed?

00:53:53.920 --> 00:53:55.100
 They're picked up.

00:53:55.980 --> 00:53:56.900
 They're put

00:53:56.900 --> 00:53:58.260
 in another form

00:53:58.260 --> 00:53:58.660
 perhaps

00:53:58.660 --> 00:53:59.160
 but they're not

00:53:59.160 --> 00:53:59.740
 abandoned.

00:54:00.280 --> 00:54:02.180
 I know

00:54:02.180 --> 00:54:04.740
 the approach

00:54:04.740 --> 00:54:07.660
 of governments

00:54:07.660 --> 00:54:08.000
 today

00:54:08.000 --> 00:54:08.860
 and our own government

00:54:08.860 --> 00:54:09.900
 is certainly

00:54:09.900 --> 00:54:10.840
 one of the governments

00:54:10.840 --> 00:54:12.220
 in this category

00:54:12.220 --> 00:54:13.640
 that approaches

00:54:13.640 --> 00:54:14.960
 human problems

00:54:14.960 --> 00:54:15.720
 of behavior

00:54:15.720 --> 00:54:17.100
 social problems

00:54:17.100 --> 00:54:18.760
 not from a

00:54:18.760 --> 00:54:19.800
 biblical perspective

00:54:19.800 --> 00:54:20.640
 not from a

00:54:20.640 --> 00:54:21.700
 spiritual perspective

00:54:21.700 --> 00:54:22.660
 but from the

00:54:22.660 --> 00:54:23.340
 perspective of

00:54:23.340 --> 00:54:24.120
 human wisdom.

00:54:25.340 --> 00:54:26.540
 The human wisdom

00:54:26.539 --> 00:54:27.340
 that largely

00:54:27.340 --> 00:54:27.360
 that largely

00:54:27.360 --> 00:54:28.059
 comprises

00:54:28.059 --> 00:54:29.119
 a liberty

00:54:29.119 --> 00:54:30.279
 of behavior

00:54:30.279 --> 00:54:32.139
 that lumps

00:54:32.139 --> 00:54:32.940
 all of that

00:54:32.940 --> 00:54:33.800
 behavior together

00:54:33.800 --> 00:54:34.199
 and says

00:54:34.199 --> 00:54:34.800
 you know

00:54:34.800 --> 00:54:35.779
 the more liberty

00:54:35.779 --> 00:54:36.119
 you have

00:54:36.119 --> 00:54:36.759
 the more people

00:54:36.759 --> 00:54:37.739
 will be educated.

00:54:38.539 --> 00:54:39.380
 The more people

00:54:39.380 --> 00:54:40.500
 will come to realize

00:54:40.500 --> 00:54:41.239
 what's necessary

00:54:41.239 --> 00:54:41.920
 and what isn't

00:54:41.920 --> 00:54:42.880
 in human life

00:54:42.880 --> 00:54:43.960
 and in human progress

00:54:43.960 --> 00:54:45.500
 that is nonsense.

00:54:45.500 --> 00:54:47.099
 if you look

00:54:47.099 --> 00:54:47.820
 at the statistics

00:54:47.820 --> 00:54:49.179
 take for example

00:54:49.179 --> 00:54:50.119
 even sexually

00:54:50.119 --> 00:54:51.280
 transmitted diseases

00:54:51.280 --> 00:54:52.139
 in Scotland

00:54:52.139 --> 00:54:54.199
 just last month

00:54:54.199 --> 00:54:55.780
 the last statistics

00:54:55.780 --> 00:54:56.300
 showed

00:54:56.300 --> 00:54:57.739
 that there's been

00:54:57.739 --> 00:54:58.820
 an increase

00:54:58.820 --> 00:54:59.880
 not a decrease.

00:55:00.579 --> 00:55:01.179
 Why is that?

00:55:01.400 --> 00:55:02.320
 Because the wisdom

00:55:02.320 --> 00:55:02.920
 of the world

00:55:02.920 --> 00:55:03.920
 cannot actually

00:55:03.920 --> 00:55:05.079
 deal with the problem.

00:55:06.380 --> 00:55:06.920
 Permissiveness

00:55:06.920 --> 00:55:07.820
 does not deal

00:55:07.820 --> 00:55:08.579
 with the problem.

00:55:09.460 --> 00:55:10.380
 Opening things out

00:55:10.380 --> 00:55:11.119
 so that everybody

00:55:11.119 --> 00:55:11.960
 does what's right

00:55:11.960 --> 00:55:12.679
 in their own eyes

00:55:12.679 --> 00:55:13.780
 does not solve

00:55:13.780 --> 00:55:14.219
 the problem

00:55:14.219 --> 00:55:15.219
 it makes it worse.

00:55:16.039 --> 00:55:16.899
 And it doesn't matter

00:55:16.899 --> 00:55:17.839
 how you tinker

00:55:17.839 --> 00:55:18.459
 with that

00:55:18.459 --> 00:55:19.719
 how you adjust that

00:55:19.719 --> 00:55:20.699
 how much you put

00:55:20.699 --> 00:55:21.539
 Dagon back

00:55:21.539 --> 00:55:22.359
 on his shelf

00:55:22.359 --> 00:55:23.819
 maybe in a different form

00:55:23.819 --> 00:55:25.059
 you're still ending up

00:55:25.059 --> 00:55:26.139
 with the same problem.

00:55:26.480 --> 00:55:27.099
 There's nothing

00:55:27.099 --> 00:55:28.879
 there that can supply

00:55:28.879 --> 00:55:29.799
 what meets

00:55:29.799 --> 00:55:31.179
 our human need.

00:55:33.699 --> 00:55:34.659
 And it's

00:55:34.659 --> 00:55:35.799
 at the moment

00:55:35.799 --> 00:55:36.759
 such a sad

00:55:36.759 --> 00:55:37.519
 sad thing

00:55:37.519 --> 00:55:39.799
 that our governments

00:55:39.799 --> 00:55:41.500
 throughout the western world

00:55:41.500 --> 00:55:43.059
 are capitulating

00:55:43.059 --> 00:55:44.199
 to the ideology

00:55:44.199 --> 00:55:45.019
 of Dagon

00:55:45.019 --> 00:55:45.839
 you might say

00:55:45.839 --> 00:55:47.699
 capitulating

00:55:47.699 --> 00:55:48.579
 to the idea

00:55:48.579 --> 00:55:50.119
 that really

00:55:50.119 --> 00:55:50.779
 if we just

00:55:50.779 --> 00:55:51.859
 all get together

00:55:51.859 --> 00:55:52.659
 and use

00:55:52.659 --> 00:55:53.879
 our human wisdom

00:55:53.879 --> 00:55:57.319
 then we'll solve

00:55:57.319 --> 00:55:58.179
 the problems.

00:55:58.799 --> 00:55:59.859
 Throw some more money

00:55:59.859 --> 00:56:00.359
 at it.

00:56:01.379 --> 00:56:02.659
 Do it in a different way.

00:56:06.079 --> 00:56:07.539
 There is only one

00:56:07.539 --> 00:56:10.799
 power that can solve

00:56:10.799 --> 00:56:11.899
 and deal with

00:56:11.899 --> 00:56:12.879
 our human problems

00:56:12.880 --> 00:56:13.780
 and that's the power

00:56:13.780 --> 00:56:14.320
 of Christ

00:56:14.320 --> 00:56:15.740
 the power of God

00:56:15.740 --> 00:56:17.000
 the power that

00:56:17.000 --> 00:56:19.099
 has already dealt

00:56:19.099 --> 00:56:19.960
 with sin

00:56:19.960 --> 00:56:20.720
 and with evil

00:56:20.720 --> 00:56:21.900
 in the person

00:56:21.900 --> 00:56:23.460
 of Jesus Christ.

00:56:24.800 --> 00:56:25.820
 And I have to say

00:56:25.820 --> 00:56:26.840
 also that sadly

00:56:26.840 --> 00:56:28.619
 one of the powers

00:56:28.619 --> 00:56:28.880
 that

00:56:28.880 --> 00:56:30.119
 or the influences

00:56:30.119 --> 00:56:31.300
 assisting

00:56:31.300 --> 00:56:33.220
 the increase

00:56:33.220 --> 00:56:34.460
 in this

00:56:34.460 --> 00:56:35.579
 dreadful

00:56:35.579 --> 00:56:36.800
 human wisdom

00:56:36.800 --> 00:56:37.320
 approach

00:56:37.320 --> 00:56:38.460
 to the problems

00:56:38.460 --> 00:56:39.380
 of human beings

00:56:39.380 --> 00:56:41.019
 one of the

00:56:41.019 --> 00:56:41.680
 main

00:56:41.680 --> 00:56:42.280
 assistances

00:56:42.280 --> 00:56:42.760
 comes from

00:56:42.760 --> 00:56:43.200
 the church

00:56:43.200 --> 00:56:43.800
 itself

00:56:43.800 --> 00:56:47.500
 from the church

00:56:47.500 --> 00:56:47.920
 itself

00:56:47.920 --> 00:56:48.400
 as you look

00:56:48.400 --> 00:56:49.200
 at it in our day

00:56:49.200 --> 00:56:50.880
 Christianizing

00:56:50.880 --> 00:56:52.079
 ungodliness

00:56:52.079 --> 00:56:54.480
 you can call it

00:56:54.480 --> 00:56:55.380
 Christian this

00:56:55.380 --> 00:56:56.360
 and Christian that

00:56:56.360 --> 00:56:57.940
 but if it's ungodly

00:56:57.940 --> 00:56:58.980
 then it's ungodly

00:56:58.980 --> 00:57:00.159
 and if it's ungodly

00:57:00.159 --> 00:57:01.179
 it's of no use

00:57:01.179 --> 00:57:02.279
 to actually solve

00:57:02.279 --> 00:57:03.539
 our human problems.

00:57:05.119 --> 00:57:06.019
 Indeed what you find

00:57:06.019 --> 00:57:07.639
 sadly all too often

00:57:07.639 --> 00:57:08.460
 is the reverse

00:57:08.460 --> 00:57:10.219
 of what you see there

00:57:10.219 --> 00:57:11.500
 in verse 2b

00:57:11.500 --> 00:57:13.259
 they took

00:57:13.259 --> 00:57:14.360
 the ark

00:57:14.360 --> 00:57:15.659
 of God

00:57:15.659 --> 00:57:17.360
 and they took it

00:57:17.360 --> 00:57:18.079
 into the house

00:57:18.079 --> 00:57:18.659
 of Dagon

00:57:18.659 --> 00:57:20.199
 and they set it

00:57:20.199 --> 00:57:20.859
 up beside

00:57:20.859 --> 00:57:21.440
 Dagon

00:57:21.440 --> 00:57:23.359
 let's just

00:57:23.359 --> 00:57:23.960
 reverse that

00:57:23.960 --> 00:57:24.559
 in your thinking

00:57:24.559 --> 00:57:26.559
 that's bad enough

00:57:26.559 --> 00:57:28.779
 because of what

00:57:28.779 --> 00:57:29.659
 it represents

00:57:29.659 --> 00:57:31.019
 but when you're

00:57:31.019 --> 00:57:31.259
 seeing

00:57:31.259 --> 00:57:31.960
 what you're seeing

00:57:31.960 --> 00:57:32.899
 in our day

00:57:32.899 --> 00:57:33.799
 sadly is

00:57:33.799 --> 00:57:34.679
 nothing less than

00:57:34.679 --> 00:57:35.099
 Dagon

00:57:35.099 --> 00:57:35.759
 being taken

00:57:35.759 --> 00:57:36.379
 into the house

00:57:36.379 --> 00:57:37.079
 of God

00:57:37.079 --> 00:57:40.279
 and that is

00:57:40.279 --> 00:57:41.739
 such a serious

00:57:41.739 --> 00:57:42.519
 matter that

00:57:42.519 --> 00:57:44.319
 it has to be

00:57:44.319 --> 00:57:45.599
 spoken about

00:57:45.599 --> 00:57:46.619
 for what it is

00:57:46.619 --> 00:57:48.940
 because when

00:57:48.940 --> 00:57:49.239
 Dagon

00:57:49.239 --> 00:57:50.239
 comes into

00:57:50.239 --> 00:57:50.679
 the house

00:57:50.679 --> 00:57:51.259
 of God

00:57:51.259 --> 00:57:52.799
 when human

00:57:52.799 --> 00:57:53.159
 wisdom

00:57:53.159 --> 00:57:53.960
 replaces the

00:57:53.960 --> 00:57:54.339
 gospel

00:57:54.339 --> 00:57:55.900
 in its essence

00:57:55.900 --> 00:57:56.839
 in its power

00:57:56.839 --> 00:57:59.059
 what you're left

00:57:59.059 --> 00:57:59.639
 with is just

00:57:59.639 --> 00:58:00.199
 a mess

00:58:00.199 --> 00:58:02.019
 what you're left

00:58:02.019 --> 00:58:02.779
 with is just

00:58:02.779 --> 00:58:04.480
 despondency

00:58:04.480 --> 00:58:06.480
 what you're left

00:58:06.480 --> 00:58:06.920
 with is

00:58:06.920 --> 00:58:08.000
 something that

00:58:08.000 --> 00:58:08.679
 has no power

00:58:08.679 --> 00:58:09.199
 whatsoever

00:58:09.199 --> 00:58:11.039
 to fix

00:58:11.039 --> 00:58:11.539
 our human

00:58:11.539 --> 00:58:12.099
 hearts

00:58:12.099 --> 00:58:15.500
 so here is

00:58:15.500 --> 00:58:15.920
 the fall

00:58:15.920 --> 00:58:16.400
 of Dagon

00:58:16.400 --> 00:58:18.900
 but here is

00:58:18.900 --> 00:58:19.340
 something that

00:58:19.340 --> 00:58:19.960
 we can learn

00:58:19.960 --> 00:58:20.320
 from

00:58:20.320 --> 00:58:21.860
 because you

00:58:21.860 --> 00:58:22.240
 and I

00:58:22.240 --> 00:58:22.720
 who believe

00:58:22.720 --> 00:58:23.340
 in the gospel

00:58:23.340 --> 00:58:24.500
 who believe

00:58:24.500 --> 00:58:25.000
 the gospel

00:58:25.000 --> 00:58:25.700
 is the power

00:58:25.700 --> 00:58:26.240
 of God

00:58:26.240 --> 00:58:27.119
 and to salvation

00:58:27.119 --> 00:58:28.400
 as Paul wrote

00:58:28.400 --> 00:58:29.059
 to the Romans

00:58:29.059 --> 00:58:29.619
 to everyone

00:58:29.619 --> 00:58:30.260
 who believes

00:58:30.260 --> 00:58:30.660
 whether it's

00:58:30.660 --> 00:58:31.579
 Jew or Gentile

00:58:31.579 --> 00:58:32.320
 whatever the

00:58:32.320 --> 00:58:32.940
 problems human

00:58:32.940 --> 00:58:33.539
 beings have

00:58:33.539 --> 00:58:34.840
 that's why

00:58:34.840 --> 00:58:35.360
 our concern

00:58:35.360 --> 00:58:36.519
 is to bring

00:58:36.519 --> 00:58:37.340
 the power

00:58:37.340 --> 00:58:37.920
 of the gospel

00:58:37.920 --> 00:58:38.500
 to bear

00:58:38.500 --> 00:58:39.160
 upon human

00:58:39.160 --> 00:58:39.519
 lives

00:58:39.519 --> 00:58:40.360
 young and

00:58:40.360 --> 00:58:40.619
 old

00:58:40.619 --> 00:58:40.920
 whatever

00:58:40.920 --> 00:58:41.500
 backgrounds

00:58:41.500 --> 00:58:42.420
 whatever way

00:58:42.420 --> 00:58:42.940
 they're wasting

00:58:42.940 --> 00:58:43.780
 their lives

00:58:43.780 --> 00:58:44.519
 presently

00:58:44.519 --> 00:58:45.780
 whatever addictions

00:58:45.780 --> 00:58:46.320
 they may have

00:58:46.320 --> 00:58:47.000
 whatever things

00:58:47.000 --> 00:58:48.380
 may characterize

00:58:48.380 --> 00:58:49.019
 their life

00:58:49.019 --> 00:58:49.340
 at the moment

00:58:49.340 --> 00:58:50.140
 this is what

00:58:50.140 --> 00:58:50.780
 God has given

00:58:50.780 --> 00:58:51.260
 us

00:58:51.260 --> 00:58:52.820
 and it is your

00:58:52.820 --> 00:58:53.500
 duty and my

00:58:53.500 --> 00:58:54.580
 duty together

00:58:54.580 --> 00:58:55.400
 and individually

00:58:55.400 --> 00:58:56.800
 to seek to

00:58:56.800 --> 00:58:57.840
 convey this

00:58:57.840 --> 00:58:58.300
 to the world

00:58:58.300 --> 00:58:58.860
 as we sang

00:58:58.860 --> 00:58:59.400
 in the psalm

00:58:59.400 --> 00:59:00.960
 tell every land

00:59:00.960 --> 00:59:01.880
 that the Lord

00:59:01.880 --> 00:59:02.600
 is king

00:59:02.600 --> 00:59:04.140
 tell them about

00:59:04.140 --> 00:59:04.480
 Jesus

00:59:04.480 --> 00:59:05.220
 why did Jesus

00:59:05.220 --> 00:59:05.620
 come

00:59:05.620 --> 00:59:06.780
 who was he

00:59:06.780 --> 00:59:07.800
 what did he do

00:59:07.800 --> 00:59:09.100
 where is he now

00:59:09.100 --> 00:59:10.460
 why do you love him

00:59:10.460 --> 00:59:11.940
 why do you serve him

00:59:11.940 --> 00:59:13.340
 what is he to you

00:59:13.340 --> 00:59:13.360
 what is he to you

00:59:13.360 --> 00:59:16.280
 what is he to you

00:59:16.280 --> 00:59:16.340
 what is he to you

00:59:16.340 --> 00:59:16.380
 what is he to you

00:59:16.380 --> 00:59:17.019
 it's all part of

00:59:17.019 --> 00:59:19.240
 our witness to Christ

00:59:19.240 --> 00:59:20.360
 in the world

00:59:20.360 --> 00:59:22.099
 a world in which

00:59:22.099 --> 00:59:24.800
 the daggone of the day

00:59:24.800 --> 00:59:25.700
 is so powerful

00:59:25.700 --> 00:59:27.480
 thankfully

00:59:27.480 --> 00:59:30.179
 God is above all that

00:59:30.179 --> 00:59:32.079
 and this is the God

00:59:32.079 --> 00:59:32.780
 we pray to

00:59:32.780 --> 00:59:34.300
 the God we worship

00:59:34.300 --> 00:59:35.840
 the God we love

00:59:35.840 --> 00:59:38.159
 and of course

00:59:38.159 --> 00:59:38.840
 what happened then

00:59:38.840 --> 00:59:39.460
 was that

00:59:39.460 --> 00:59:41.000
 the daggone again

00:59:41.000 --> 00:59:42.320
 fell down the next morning

00:59:42.320 --> 00:59:44.120
 the head of daggone

00:59:44.120 --> 00:59:45.360
 and both his hands

00:59:45.360 --> 00:59:45.960
 were lying

00:59:45.960 --> 00:59:46.800
 cut off

00:59:46.800 --> 00:59:48.079
 on the threshold

00:59:48.079 --> 00:59:50.340
 significant details

00:59:50.340 --> 00:59:50.620
 you see

00:59:50.620 --> 00:59:51.600
 because what that is

00:59:51.600 --> 00:59:52.320
 really saying to us

00:59:52.320 --> 00:59:53.039
 is the head

00:59:53.039 --> 00:59:53.700
 does it represent

00:59:53.700 --> 00:59:54.800
 the intellect

00:59:54.800 --> 00:59:56.160
 or the ideology

00:59:56.160 --> 00:59:57.559
 of Philistinism

00:59:57.559 --> 00:59:58.920
 and the hands

00:59:58.920 --> 00:59:59.860
 which represent

00:59:59.860 --> 01:00:00.980
 the practicality

01:00:00.980 --> 01:00:02.079
 the activity

01:00:02.079 --> 01:00:03.660
 of that idolatry

01:00:03.660 --> 01:00:04.780
 what happens

01:00:04.780 --> 01:00:05.720
 they've been severed

01:00:05.720 --> 01:00:06.440
 from the trunk

01:00:06.440 --> 01:00:07.660
 of this idol

01:00:07.660 --> 01:00:08.420
 he's lying there

01:00:08.420 --> 01:00:08.840
 useless

01:00:08.840 --> 01:00:10.340
 and it's being

01:00:10.340 --> 01:00:11.240
 demonstrated there

01:00:11.240 --> 01:00:12.579
 quite categorically

01:00:12.579 --> 01:00:14.460
 that neither in terms

01:00:14.460 --> 01:00:15.099
 of intellect

01:00:15.099 --> 01:00:15.900
 or ideology

01:00:15.900 --> 01:00:17.300
 or practicality

01:00:17.300 --> 01:00:18.579
 is there any use

01:00:18.579 --> 01:00:19.720
 in idolatry

01:00:19.720 --> 01:00:23.039
 and so you're back

01:00:23.039 --> 01:00:24.180
 to Jesus

01:00:24.180 --> 01:00:25.619
 and the gospel

01:00:25.619 --> 01:00:28.240
 the power for our mind

01:00:28.240 --> 01:00:29.700
 and for our action

01:00:29.700 --> 01:00:31.680
 well you know sadly

01:00:31.680 --> 01:00:33.039
 as you very well know

01:00:33.039 --> 01:00:33.860
 in our own day

01:00:33.860 --> 01:00:35.760
 despite the efforts

01:00:35.760 --> 01:00:36.480
 of the church

01:00:36.480 --> 01:00:37.719
 those in the church

01:00:37.719 --> 01:00:38.800
 faithful to God

01:00:38.800 --> 01:00:40.539
 or those denominations

01:00:40.539 --> 01:00:42.280
 people in all denominations

01:00:42.280 --> 01:00:43.280
 faithful to God

01:00:43.280 --> 01:00:44.519
 despite their

01:00:44.519 --> 01:00:45.980
 attempts and appeals

01:00:45.980 --> 01:00:46.920
 to those in government

01:00:46.920 --> 01:00:47.800
 to those in authority

01:00:47.800 --> 01:00:49.079
 to those with influence

01:00:49.079 --> 01:00:50.659
 it's really a bit like

01:00:50.659 --> 01:00:51.679
 what you find here

01:00:51.679 --> 01:00:52.240
 with the ark

01:00:52.240 --> 01:00:53.360
 in the Philistines

01:00:53.360 --> 01:00:54.440
 and they realize

01:00:54.440 --> 01:00:55.760
 that they can't hold on

01:00:55.760 --> 01:00:56.260
 to this ark

01:00:56.260 --> 01:00:56.980
 without it being

01:00:56.980 --> 01:00:58.420
 a means of further

01:00:58.420 --> 01:00:59.579
 destruction amongst them

01:00:59.579 --> 01:01:00.259
 what do they do

01:01:00.259 --> 01:01:01.299
 they send it on

01:01:01.299 --> 01:01:02.199
 to another place

01:01:02.199 --> 01:01:03.259
 and that place says

01:01:03.259 --> 01:01:04.259
 no we're not having it

01:01:04.259 --> 01:01:05.880
 let's move it on

01:01:05.880 --> 01:01:06.400
 to Gath

01:01:06.400 --> 01:01:08.159
 and to Ashdod

01:01:08.159 --> 01:01:11.799
 to all of these other

01:01:11.799 --> 01:01:14.259
 places in the region

01:01:14.259 --> 01:01:15.279
 of the Philistines

01:01:15.279 --> 01:01:20.199
 and that's what people do

01:01:20.199 --> 01:01:20.940
 with the gospel

01:01:20.940 --> 01:01:23.319
 they don't want it

01:01:23.319 --> 01:01:25.699
 they move it on

01:01:25.699 --> 01:01:28.519
 let it go somewhere else

01:01:28.519 --> 01:01:29.579
 but don't leave it here

01:01:29.579 --> 01:01:32.280
 it's dangerous

01:01:32.280 --> 01:01:35.219
 it doesn't fit with our

01:01:35.219 --> 01:01:36.940
 modern secular thinking

01:01:36.940 --> 01:01:39.019
 so we can't have it

01:01:39.019 --> 01:01:41.300
 it's not for us

01:01:41.300 --> 01:01:44.900
 instead of

01:01:44.900 --> 01:01:46.420
 turning to God

01:01:46.420 --> 01:01:48.699
 instead of saying

01:01:48.699 --> 01:01:50.820
 our secular unbelieving

01:01:50.820 --> 01:01:51.880
 ungodly philosophy

01:01:51.880 --> 01:01:52.940
 has failed us

01:01:52.940 --> 01:01:54.900
 and saying

01:01:54.900 --> 01:01:55.900
 let's turn to God

01:01:55.900 --> 01:01:56.659
 let's turn to what

01:01:56.659 --> 01:01:57.900
 these Christians are saying

01:01:57.900 --> 01:02:00.260
 let's get back to

01:02:00.260 --> 01:02:01.940
 what was the case

01:02:01.940 --> 01:02:02.639
 in our land

01:02:02.639 --> 01:02:04.000
 so long ago

01:02:04.000 --> 01:02:04.960
 when the power

01:02:04.960 --> 01:02:05.680
 of the gospel

01:02:05.680 --> 01:02:07.740
 made such great inroads

01:02:07.740 --> 01:02:09.019
 into people's lives

01:02:09.019 --> 01:02:13.180
 when you go back

01:02:13.180 --> 01:02:13.519
 into

01:02:13.519 --> 01:02:15.039
 not only the reformers

01:02:15.039 --> 01:02:15.579
 but some

01:02:15.579 --> 01:02:17.519
 of the great philanthropists

01:02:17.519 --> 01:02:18.000
 that were

01:02:18.000 --> 01:02:19.579
 in the free church itself

01:02:19.579 --> 01:02:21.079
 back in the 1800s

01:02:21.079 --> 01:02:23.200
 why was Thomas Guthrie

01:02:23.200 --> 01:02:24.340
 so successful

01:02:24.340 --> 01:02:25.200
 as he headed up

01:02:25.200 --> 01:02:26.800
 the ragged school movement

01:02:26.800 --> 01:02:28.780
 why was the church

01:02:28.780 --> 01:02:29.320
 of the time

01:02:29.320 --> 01:02:30.200
 so successful

01:02:30.200 --> 01:02:31.780
 in actually locating

01:02:31.780 --> 01:02:32.860
 and dealing with people

01:02:32.860 --> 01:02:34.380
 in the terrible conditions

01:02:34.380 --> 01:02:35.640
 in which they lived

01:02:35.640 --> 01:02:36.360
 in these closest

01:02:36.360 --> 01:02:36.900
 in Edinburgh

01:02:36.900 --> 01:02:37.539
 or Glasgow

01:02:37.539 --> 01:02:38.000
 wherever

01:02:38.000 --> 01:02:40.840
 because

01:02:40.840 --> 01:02:42.560
 the power

01:02:42.560 --> 01:02:43.600
 of the gospel

01:02:43.600 --> 01:02:45.360
 was let loose

01:02:45.360 --> 01:02:46.000
 amongst them

01:02:46.000 --> 01:02:47.440
 because people

01:02:47.440 --> 01:02:48.440
 like Guthrie

01:02:48.440 --> 01:02:49.140
 and Chalmers

01:02:49.140 --> 01:02:49.480
 and others

01:02:49.480 --> 01:02:50.440
 believed

01:02:50.440 --> 01:02:51.960
 the word of God

01:02:51.960 --> 01:02:53.480
 and didn't adjust

01:02:53.480 --> 01:02:54.480
 the word of God

01:02:54.480 --> 01:02:55.619
 to suit the thinking

01:02:55.619 --> 01:02:56.539
 of the age

01:02:56.539 --> 01:03:00.599
 but we're convinced

01:03:00.599 --> 01:03:01.679
 that this is the power

01:03:01.679 --> 01:03:02.219
 of God

01:03:02.219 --> 01:03:03.980
 unto salvation

01:03:03.980 --> 01:03:04.780
 to everyone

01:03:04.780 --> 01:03:06.420
 who believes

01:03:06.420 --> 01:03:10.719
 but let me ask

01:03:10.719 --> 01:03:11.500
 a final question

01:03:11.500 --> 01:03:12.579
 what about yourself

01:03:12.579 --> 01:03:15.440
 what about yourself

01:03:15.440 --> 01:03:16.159
 and myself

01:03:16.159 --> 01:03:20.819
 on what are we

01:03:20.819 --> 01:03:21.339
 basing

01:03:21.339 --> 01:03:22.739
 our hopes

01:03:22.739 --> 01:03:24.819
 is it just

01:03:24.819 --> 01:03:26.199
 belonging to the church

01:03:26.199 --> 01:03:28.059
 is it having

01:03:28.059 --> 01:03:28.859
 been brought up

01:03:28.859 --> 01:03:30.019
 in Stornoway Free Church

01:03:30.019 --> 01:03:30.579
 or wherever

01:03:30.579 --> 01:03:32.920
 hopefully not

01:03:32.920 --> 01:03:35.019
 surely it is

01:03:35.019 --> 01:03:35.639
 in Christ

01:03:35.639 --> 01:03:37.379
 and having

01:03:37.379 --> 01:03:38.000
 your trust

01:03:38.000 --> 01:03:38.559
 in him

01:03:38.559 --> 01:03:40.119
 and having

01:03:40.119 --> 01:03:41.279
 received him

01:03:41.279 --> 01:03:42.879
 as your own

01:03:42.879 --> 01:03:44.019
 personal saviour

01:03:44.019 --> 01:03:45.940
 as you look

01:03:45.940 --> 01:03:46.420
 around you

01:03:46.420 --> 01:03:46.900
 at all

01:03:46.900 --> 01:03:48.239
 the philosophies

01:03:48.239 --> 01:03:49.059
 and ideologies

01:03:49.059 --> 01:03:49.780
 of the age

01:03:49.780 --> 01:03:50.420
 and all the

01:03:50.420 --> 01:03:51.699
 horrible things

01:03:51.699 --> 01:03:52.239
 that you see

01:03:52.239 --> 01:03:53.880
 and the debauched

01:03:53.880 --> 01:03:54.340
 behaviour

01:03:54.340 --> 01:03:54.860
 that you see

01:03:54.860 --> 01:03:55.599
 all around you

01:03:55.599 --> 01:03:56.340
 what do you say

01:03:56.340 --> 01:03:56.860
 Lord

01:03:56.860 --> 01:03:58.320
 as the Lord

01:03:58.320 --> 01:03:58.559
 says

01:03:58.559 --> 01:03:59.139
 well will you

01:03:59.139 --> 01:03:59.759
 go with them

01:03:59.759 --> 01:04:01.239
 are you going

01:04:01.239 --> 01:04:02.019
 to join them

01:04:02.019 --> 01:04:02.420
 as well

01:04:02.420 --> 01:04:02.860
 are you going

01:04:02.860 --> 01:04:03.340
 to approve

01:04:03.340 --> 01:04:03.940
 of that

01:04:03.940 --> 01:04:05.739
 aren't you

01:04:05.739 --> 01:04:06.280
 like Peter

01:04:06.280 --> 01:04:08.480
 John 6

01:04:08.480 --> 01:04:09.000
 where he says

01:04:09.000 --> 01:04:09.340
 Lord

01:04:09.340 --> 01:04:10.960
 to whom

01:04:10.960 --> 01:04:12.300
 shall we go

01:04:12.300 --> 01:04:14.560
 you alone

01:04:14.560 --> 01:04:16.460
 have the words

01:04:16.460 --> 01:04:18.780
 of eternal life

01:04:18.780 --> 01:04:20.060
 may God bless

01:04:20.060 --> 01:04:21.080
 these thoughts

01:04:21.080 --> 01:04:21.460
 to us

01:04:21.460 --> 01:04:21.980
 we're going to

01:04:21.980 --> 01:04:23.140
 conclude now

01:04:23.140 --> 01:04:23.660
 by singing

01:04:23.660 --> 01:04:25.100
 to God's praise

01:04:25.100 --> 01:04:25.620
 in Psalm

01:04:25.620 --> 01:04:27.700
 Psalm number

01:04:27.700 --> 01:04:28.700
 97

01:04:28.700 --> 01:04:31.420
 that's on page

01:04:31.420 --> 01:04:32.180
 128

01:04:32.180 --> 01:04:33.400
 Psalm 97

01:04:33.400 --> 01:04:35.340
 verses 7

01:04:35.340 --> 01:04:36.000
 to 12

01:04:36.000 --> 01:04:36.580
 the tune is

01:04:36.580 --> 01:04:37.100
 Warrington

01:04:37.100 --> 01:04:38.980
 all those

01:04:38.980 --> 01:04:39.440
 who worship

01:04:39.440 --> 01:04:39.980
 images

01:04:39.980 --> 01:04:40.560
 are put to

01:04:40.560 --> 01:04:41.680
 everlasting shame

01:04:41.679 --> 01:04:43.159
 their worthless

01:04:43.159 --> 01:04:43.639
 idols

01:04:43.639 --> 01:04:44.399
 are their boast

01:04:44.399 --> 01:04:45.000
 you gods

01:04:45.000 --> 01:04:45.559
 bow down

01:04:45.559 --> 01:04:46.480
 before his name

01:04:46.480 --> 01:04:48.119
 to Zion hill

01:04:48.119 --> 01:04:49.139
 and Judah's towns

01:04:49.139 --> 01:04:49.899
 your judgments

01:04:49.899 --> 01:04:50.339
 Lord

01:04:50.339 --> 01:04:51.519
 great joy

01:04:51.519 --> 01:04:52.099
 supply

01:04:52.099 --> 01:04:53.799
 above the earth

01:04:53.799 --> 01:04:54.759
 and all the gods

01:04:54.759 --> 01:04:55.279
 exalted

01:04:55.279 --> 01:04:56.879
 is the Lord

01:04:56.879 --> 01:04:58.399
 most high

01:04:58.399 --> 01:05:00.119
 and of course

01:05:00.119 --> 01:05:00.539
 we too

01:05:00.539 --> 01:05:01.879
 remember those

01:05:01.879 --> 01:05:03.419
 who are evangelizing

01:05:03.419 --> 01:05:04.679
 amongst the

01:05:04.679 --> 01:05:06.239
 religions of the world

01:05:06.239 --> 01:05:07.659
 the great world religions

01:05:07.659 --> 01:05:09.199
 that are themselves

01:05:09.199 --> 01:05:11.159
 given to such measures

01:05:11.159 --> 01:05:12.019
 of idolatry

01:05:12.019 --> 01:05:14.599
 and to remember

01:05:14.599 --> 01:05:15.859
 them as they carry

01:05:15.859 --> 01:05:16.419
 the gospel

01:05:16.419 --> 01:05:17.739
 to them

01:05:17.739 --> 01:05:18.599
 so these words

01:05:18.599 --> 01:05:19.919
 verses 7

01:05:19.919 --> 01:05:20.500
 to 12

01:05:20.500 --> 01:05:21.419
 Psalm 97

01:05:21.419 --> 01:05:22.739
 all those

01:05:22.739 --> 01:05:23.319
 who worship

01:05:23.319 --> 01:05:24.159
 images

01:05:24.159 --> 01:05:40.639
 are put to

01:05:40.639 --> 01:05:42.119
 ever

01:05:42.119 --> 01:05:45.980
 in shame

01:05:45.980 --> 01:05:48.299
 their worthless

01:05:48.299 --> 01:05:50.739
 idols

01:05:50.739 --> 01:05:54.559
 are their foes

01:05:54.559 --> 01:05:56.779
 new God

01:05:56.779 --> 01:05:59.019
 how dumb

01:05:59.019 --> 01:06:00.219
 he put

01:06:00.219 --> 01:06:04.059
 his name

01:06:04.059 --> 01:06:06.699
 to Zion

01:06:06.699 --> 01:06:08.439
 hill

01:06:08.439 --> 01:06:09.759
 and

01:06:09.759 --> 01:06:11.959
 Judah's

01:06:11.959 --> 01:06:13.059
 hands

01:06:13.059 --> 01:06:14.299
 your

01:06:14.299 --> 01:06:16.219
 judgments

01:06:16.219 --> 01:06:18.039
 heart

01:06:18.039 --> 01:06:19.559
 rejoice

01:06:19.559 --> 01:06:22.659
 the fire

01:06:22.659 --> 01:06:24.299
 above

01:06:24.299 --> 01:06:26.819
 the earth

01:06:26.819 --> 01:06:29.259
 and all

01:06:29.259 --> 01:06:31.559
 the gods

01:06:31.559 --> 01:06:34.299
 exalted

01:06:34.299 --> 01:06:36.099
 is

01:06:36.099 --> 01:06:37.879
 the Lord

01:06:37.879 --> 01:06:41.879
 most high

01:06:41.880 --> 01:06:43.260
 he

01:06:43.260 --> 01:06:43.579
 his

01:06:43.579 --> 01:06:44.420
 evil

01:06:44.420 --> 01:06:46.300
 youth

01:06:46.300 --> 01:06:47.420
 who

01:06:47.420 --> 01:06:48.780
 love

01:06:48.780 --> 01:06:49.700
 the

01:06:49.700 --> 01:06:50.860
 Lord

01:06:50.860 --> 01:06:52.220
 his

01:06:52.220 --> 01:06:53.840
 faithful

01:06:53.840 --> 01:06:55.700
 ones

01:06:55.700 --> 01:06:56.480
 he

01:06:56.480 --> 01:06:58.000
 will

01:06:58.000 --> 01:07:00.119
 defend

01:07:00.119 --> 01:07:01.539
 and

01:07:01.539 --> 01:07:02.380
 from

01:07:02.380 --> 01:07:03.200
 the

01:07:03.200 --> 01:07:04.420
 hands

01:07:04.420 --> 01:07:05.500
 of

01:07:05.500 --> 01:07:07.200
 wicked

01:07:07.200 --> 01:07:09.079
 men

01:07:09.079 --> 01:07:09.960
 to

01:07:09.960 --> 01:07:11.279
 them

01:07:11.279 --> 01:07:14.659
 deliverance

01:07:14.659 --> 01:07:15.460
 he

01:07:15.460 --> 01:07:16.960
 will

01:07:16.960 --> 01:07:18.559
 save

01:07:18.559 --> 01:07:20.460
 upon

01:07:20.460 --> 01:07:21.559
 the

01:07:21.559 --> 01:07:23.460
 righteous

01:07:23.460 --> 01:07:25.779
 light

01:07:25.779 --> 01:07:26.460
 will

01:07:26.460 --> 01:07:27.880
 shine

01:07:27.880 --> 01:07:29.199
 and

01:07:29.199 --> 01:07:30.460
 joy

01:07:30.460 --> 01:07:31.559
 all

01:07:31.559 --> 01:07:33.059
 those

01:07:33.059 --> 01:07:33.920
 of

01:07:33.920 --> 01:07:34.819
 our

01:07:34.819 --> 01:07:36.099
 right

01:07:36.099 --> 01:07:37.340
 wings

01:07:37.340 --> 01:07:38.480
 your

01:07:38.480 --> 01:07:40.280
 righteousness

01:07:40.280 --> 01:07:42.559
 will

01:07:42.559 --> 01:07:42.760
 the

01:07:42.760 --> 01:07:44.100
 Lord

01:07:44.100 --> 01:07:46.200
 rejoice

01:07:46.200 --> 01:07:47.300
 and

01:07:47.300 --> 01:07:48.100
 to

01:07:48.100 --> 01:07:49.480
 his

01:07:49.480 --> 01:07:51.160
 holy

01:07:51.160 --> 01:07:53.160
 name

01:07:53.160 --> 01:07:54.280
 give

01:07:54.280 --> 01:07:55.019
 praise

01:07:55.019 --> 01:07:59.900
 I'll go to the side door to my right here after the benediction

01:07:59.900 --> 01:08:04.980
 now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ the love of God the Father

01:08:04.980 --> 01:08:09.139
 and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore

01:08:09.139 --> 01:08:10.039
 Amen