WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.800 We're going to begin our worship this morning by singing to God's praise. 00:00:03.800 --> 00:00:05.259 We're singing in Psalm 85. 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:05.040 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.939 And for men to be called into the ministry. 00:00:34.140 --> 00:00:36.659 And in that we seek the Lord's reviving power. 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:40.200 And this is a psalm that speaks of God's reviving power. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:41.320 The favor of the Lord. 00:00:41.980 --> 00:00:45.579 In times past, Lord, you showed favor to your own beloved land. 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:49.579 The prosperity of Jacob you restored by your strong hand. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:51.859 You forgave your people's trespass. 00:00:51.939 --> 00:00:53.760 You were pleased their sins to hide. 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:56.820 You withdrew all your displeasure from your wrath. 00:00:57.359 --> 00:00:58.900 You turned aside. 00:00:58.899 --> 00:01:00.659 Then verse 6, the middle there you see. 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:04.879 Will you not again revive us that we may rejoice in you? 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:06.700 We'll sing from verse 1 to 9. 00:01:06.780 --> 00:01:08.840 We stand to sing to God's praise. 00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:09.840 Amen. 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:39.840 singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:48.140 You restored by your strong hand. 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:57.480 You forgave your people's trespass. 00:01:57.480 --> 00:02:06.300 You have reached their sins to hide. 00:02:06.299 --> 00:02:15.319 You withdrew all your dispassion. 00:02:15.819 --> 00:02:24.099 From your wrath you turned aside. 00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:35.060 But our Savior, memory's sure us 00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:44.020 from the stern of the greater age. 00:02:44.020 --> 00:02:53.280 Will your anger burn against us? 00:02:53.659 --> 00:03:02.080 Will it last from age to age? 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:11.080 Will you God again revive us? 00:03:12.040 --> 00:03:20.080 That we may rejoice in you. 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:29.080 Show us, Lord, good love and mercy. 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:38.080 Your salvation grant anew. 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:49.439 I will hear what God the Lord says. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:58.439 To his saints he offers peace. 00:03:58.439 --> 00:04:07.439 That his people must not wonder 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:16.439 And return to foolishness. 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:17.439 He will not know. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:17.439 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:18.439 He will not know. 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:48.439 That his people voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn voyagn 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:53.819 within our arms. 00:04:58.579 --> 00:05:00.819 We'll bow our heads together in a word of prayer. 00:05:00.939 --> 00:05:01.720 Let us pray. 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:06.480 Our gracious Father in heaven, 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:09.420 we do thank you that you are one who is with us, 00:05:09.420 --> 00:05:11.959 that you watch over us at all times, 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:15.019 and that as we gather together anew here this morning, 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:17.199 you have promised to be with us, 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:20.339 you have promised that you will speak to us through your word, 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:23.139 and that you would bless us with your peace, 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:25.199 and we ask that we would know that today. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:28.879 We pray, Lord, that you will guide us in all that we do 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:30.620 in the reading of your word, 00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:33.459 and in considering it together, 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:36.560 both here in the church and also as the young ones go through 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:40.980 to the Sunday school and the tweenies and the Bible class, Lord, 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:43.519 and we pray that you will be with us all, 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:46.079 that you will open up your word to us 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:48.180 and open up our hearts to receive it. 00:05:48.799 --> 00:05:49.779 Help us to hear it. 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:52.079 Help us to recognize who you are, 00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:55.240 that you are one who is God, 00:05:55.299 --> 00:05:56.719 who is working in our midst, 00:05:57.379 --> 00:06:01.079 and we pray that as we have seen and heard of your work in the past, 00:06:01.159 --> 00:06:02.879 even as this psalm speaks of, 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.719 as we think of our own island and communities around us here, 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:12.000 in the many ways that you blessed our communities and our people in the past, 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:15.540 we pray today to know your best blessing on us, Lord, 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:18.480 in a day when so much change comes into our midst, 00:06:18.640 --> 00:06:21.640 Lord, we pray that we would look to the one who does not change, 00:06:21.760 --> 00:06:24.060 that we would look to you as God and Lord of all, 00:06:24.540 --> 00:06:27.080 and that we would know the blessing of Jesus with us. 00:06:27.720 --> 00:06:29.060 Hear our prayers, Lord, 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:32.040 and continue with us throughout this day in all that we do. 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:34.800 We ask all the forgiveness of our sins. 00:06:34.980 --> 00:06:35.879 In Jesus' name. 00:06:36.400 --> 00:06:36.819 Amen. 00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:41.640 Before the young ones go out to the Sunday school, 00:06:41.700 --> 00:06:43.400 I just want to share something with you. 00:06:44.860 --> 00:06:48.560 I'm sure you all had something to eat this morning, 00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:52.320 and perhaps you're already starting to look forward to your dinner. 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:54.800 And you maybe have special dinners. 00:06:54.900 --> 00:06:57.439 You maybe watch people preparing dinner 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:59.660 or even making your breakfast for you. 00:06:59.660 --> 00:07:02.400 Hands up if you made your own breakfast. 00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:04.840 Anybody make their own breakfast? 00:07:05.900 --> 00:07:07.220 Not many hands going up. 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:07.780 What about dinner? 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:09.300 Will you make your own dinner when you go home? 00:07:09.380 --> 00:07:10.900 Hands up if you're making dinner today. 00:07:12.220 --> 00:07:14.100 Not many hands going up. 00:07:14.700 --> 00:07:14.900 Yeah? 00:07:15.700 --> 00:07:16.580 Not many at all. 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:18.640 My goodness, everybody's just waiting for somebody else. 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:19.800 Oh, there's one hand going up. 00:07:20.340 --> 00:07:20.820 That's good. 00:07:20.860 --> 00:07:23.520 At least there's one person who's helping in the house making dinner. 00:07:24.200 --> 00:07:28.240 We get so used to people making things for us, don't we? 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:32.199 And you expect maybe that you're always going to have somebody there to help you 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:35.480 by making breakfast for you or making your dinner for you. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.360 And it's just going to be there on a plate before you. 00:07:37.720 --> 00:07:40.439 And all you have to do is come and sit down and eat. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:44.960 But what about when the day comes and you maybe go away to college or university 00:07:44.960 --> 00:07:48.879 or you go away to work or you have to get a place you live in by yourself? 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:50.740 What's going to happen then? 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:55.519 Are you just going to sit down in the morning and expect breakfast to appear from nowhere? 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:59.939 Or come home and expect the dinner to be ready and no one's made it for you? 00:08:00.459 --> 00:08:03.839 You have to learn how to make it yourself, don't you? 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:07.819 And so there's times maybe when you have to start asking for help. 00:08:08.620 --> 00:08:12.060 Can you help me and show me how to make breakfast? 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:16.439 Can you help me and show me how to make dinner? 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:20.959 So maybe when you go home today and you're with your parents or your grandparents, 00:08:21.139 --> 00:08:24.300 you can ask them, show me how you're making that sauce. 00:08:24.660 --> 00:08:27.000 Or show me how you're making those potatoes. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:28.920 Show me how to cook. 00:08:29.300 --> 00:08:32.200 And we learn then how we can do it for ourselves. 00:08:32.200 --> 00:08:36.039 Because we often expect things just to be done for us. 00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:41.940 Well, every Sunday here in church, we do something together. 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:46.300 And that is we say the Lord's Prayer together. 00:08:47.300 --> 00:08:49.840 Now, when we're saying the Lord's Prayer, 00:08:50.380 --> 00:08:53.180 are we just saying it because everybody else is saying it? 00:08:53.220 --> 00:08:58.080 Are we saying a prayer because, well, somebody else is going to pray for me? 00:08:58.980 --> 00:09:02.480 Well, it's good to know where the Lord's Prayer comes from. 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:04.540 It comes from the Bible. 00:09:05.520 --> 00:09:09.820 And the Lord's Prayer comes from a time when Jesus' disciples, 00:09:09.820 --> 00:09:13.540 that's those who are with him and listening to him and seeing what he was doing. 00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:14.920 They were hearing him praying. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:17.260 And they were amazed at his praying. 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:20.360 And so one day, one of the disciples said to him, 00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:23.400 Lord, teach us to pray. 00:09:24.520 --> 00:09:27.900 So just like we see food coming on our plate and we think, 00:09:28.020 --> 00:09:29.040 oh, that looks amazing. 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:33.140 Maybe one day you'll say, will you teach me how to make that meal? 00:09:33.940 --> 00:09:36.860 Well, as we come to God in prayer, we're really saying to God, 00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:39.800 Lord, sometimes we feel like we can't pray. 00:09:40.340 --> 00:09:43.820 Sometimes we feel like it's only other people who are maybe praying for us. 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:45.759 And the disciples were thinking that. 00:09:45.820 --> 00:09:49.360 And they said to Jesus, Lord, teach us to pray. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:53.759 And the way he teached them to pray was the Lord's Prayer. 00:09:54.680 --> 00:09:57.279 And we really have three things in the Lord's Prayer. 00:09:57.379 --> 00:10:01.159 So that every time we're saying it together, think of these three things. 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:04.740 The first thing is we have praise to God. 00:10:05.319 --> 00:10:07.019 That's the first thing we have in this prayer. 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:10.860 And when we pray whatever way it is, we praise God. 00:10:11.419 --> 00:10:12.899 We thank him for who he is. 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:16.419 The second thing we see in this prayer is the provision. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:20.779 How does God who provides for us on a daily basis. 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:23.620 So we see the Lord providing for us. 00:10:24.319 --> 00:10:27.860 And then the third thing we see is the Lord's protection. 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:34.000 We ask the Lord to protect us in everything that we do and everywhere that we go. 00:10:34.419 --> 00:10:35.840 So we have these three things. 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:39.320 Praise, provision, and protection. 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:43.080 Ingredients that we find in the Lord's Prayer. 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:48.180 So when you're thinking of getting food made for you and asking, 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:51.580 teach me to make that food because it looks so good. 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:55.680 Well, we think of prayer too and we say, Lord, teach us to pray. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:58.979 So it's not just somebody else doing it for us, 00:10:59.219 --> 00:11:03.179 but that all of us together would have a prayer to say to God. 00:11:03.239 --> 00:11:04.359 A prayer of praise. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:06.439 A prayer asking for provision. 00:11:07.099 --> 00:11:10.059 And a prayer asking for his protection. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:14.139 But we're going to say the Lord's Prayer together now. 00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:18.740 Our Father, which art in heaven, 00:11:19.199 --> 00:11:20.740 hallowed be thy name. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:22.500 Thy kingdom come. 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:26.559 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:29.600 Give us this day our daily bread. 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:34.120 And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:36.519 And lead us not into temptation, 00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:38.799 but deliver us from evil. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:43.319 For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:44.399 Amen. 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:47.939 Well, we'll sing again together now. 00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:50.659 We're going to sing in Psalm 86. 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:53.120 This is in the Scottish Psalter version. 00:11:53.939 --> 00:11:56.679 Psalm 86, page 341. 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:02.399 We're going to sing from verse 6 to verse 12. 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:03.399 The tune is Evan. 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:08.600 And here we ask the Lord to hear us as we pray. 00:12:09.299 --> 00:12:12.559 Hear, Lord, my prayer unto the voice of my request. 00:12:12.819 --> 00:12:13.199 Attend. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:15.939 In troublous times I'll call on thee, 00:12:16.340 --> 00:12:18.019 for thou wilt answer send. 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:20.439 Lord, there is none among the gods 00:12:20.439 --> 00:12:21.939 that may with thee compare. 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:24.399 Like the works which thou hast done, 00:12:24.439 --> 00:12:26.139 not any work is there. 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.519 We'll sing from verse 6 to 12. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:30.960 We stand to sing to God's praise. 00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:49.899 Dear Lord, my prayer unto the voice of my request. 00:12:49.899 --> 00:13:19.879 The Lord to hear us as we pray. 00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:21.899 With thee, please share us as we pray. 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:21.899 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:21.899 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:23.899 With thee, please share us as we pray. 00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:33.899 And like the works which thou hast done, 00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:40.799 not any work is there. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:57.799 All nations soon thou shalt come and worship ever thee. 00:13:57.799 --> 00:14:14.120 Before thy grace stand, O Lord, thy name shall glorify. 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:32.519 Because thou art exceeding great, and earth's high thee are done. 00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:48.519 Which thou art to thee, God, my God, art of thy self alone. 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:58.519 Teach me thy way and give thy truth. 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:05.519 O Lord, and all will I. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:14.519 Here I try, heart that I light in. 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:22.519 May fear of shame I be. 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:32.519 O Lord, my God, with all thy heart. 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:39.519 To thee I will give praise. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:49.519 And thy thy glory will us cry. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:55.519 And thy name always. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.519 Amen. 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:56.519 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.519 Amen. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:59.519 Amen. 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:15:59.519 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:16.559 Amen. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.559 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:55.500 Matthew 9 at verse 14. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:17:00.139 For the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:03.699 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:09.019 If it is, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed. 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:14.059 But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:20.359 While he was saying these things, to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:26.159 My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live. 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:30.479 And Jesus rose and followed him with his disciples. 00:17:31.379 --> 00:17:35.379 Behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:38.680 came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:45.300 For she said to herself, If I only touch his garment, I will be made well. 00:17:46.320 --> 00:17:48.680 Jesus turned, and seeing her, he said, 00:17:49.340 --> 00:17:50.700 Take heart, daughter. 00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:52.580 Your faith has made you well. 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:55.339 And instantly the woman was made well. 00:17:56.259 --> 00:18:02.000 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players in the crowd making a commotion, 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:07.220 he said, Go away, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping. 00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:09.240 And they laughed at him. 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:17.019 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:21.240 And the report of this went through all that district. 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:27.279 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:29.480 Have mercy on us, son of David. 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:32.920 When he entered the house of the blind men, 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:35.519 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him. 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.279 And Jesus said to them, 00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:39.940 Do you believe that I am able to do this? 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:42.339 They said to him, Yes, Lord. 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:44.940 Then he touched their eyes, saying, 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:48.059 According to your faith be it done to you. 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:50.019 And their eyes were opened. 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:52.559 And Jesus sternly warned them, 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:55.120 See that no one knows about it. 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:59.400 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:02.640 And as they were going away, 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:06.559 Behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:10.500 When the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. 00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:12.759 And the crowds marveled, saying, 00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:15.640 Never was anything like this seen in Israel. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.799 But the Pharisees said, 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:21.259 He casts out demons by the prince of demons. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:25.200 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:29.420 teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:32.339 And healing every disease and every affliction. 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:37.360 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, 00:19:37.860 --> 00:19:39.660 because they were harassed and helpless, 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:42.099 like sheep without a shepherd. 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:44.559 Then he said to his disciples, 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:58.299 And so on. 00:19:58.299 --> 00:20:00.940 And may God bless that reading from his word. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.899 We'll again bow our heads in a word of prayer. 00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:03.759 Let us pray. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:09.660 Our gracious Lord, as we hear your word, 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:11.019 we thank you for it, 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:16.700 for how it reminds us of the way that you have that great compassion for people 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.940 all around. 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:24.580 That in the days of Jesus, as we see and have read in this passage, 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:26.319 we saw so much going on. 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:31.319 So many people whose lives were full of hurt and pain and grief, 00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:34.640 full of illness, full of sorrow, full of sadness, 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:36.160 in so many different ways. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:38.860 Lives that were so touched by sin. 00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:42.859 And yet we thank you for those great words of compassion. 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:46.079 That when Jesus saw the crowd, 00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:47.379 he had compassion on them, 00:20:47.479 --> 00:20:50.299 for they were like sheep without a shepherd. 00:20:51.179 --> 00:20:52.919 And we thank you that today, 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:55.699 you still look down upon us in such a way. 00:20:56.219 --> 00:20:58.459 For all of these needs are still around us. 00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:00.740 But we thank that you are God, 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:02.500 and that you are the one who we look to. 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:08.740 Even as Jesus spoke and said to them to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest, 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:12.019 we can come today with that earnest prayer. 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:14.720 That prayer that as we look around us, 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:17.740 and as we see the needs throughout our communities, 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:19.299 and our land, and this world, 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:23.619 and especially the needs of the gospel to go out in the midst of it, 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.819 and that the laborers are few. 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.480 We thank you, Lord, 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:31.960 that we can come to you as the Lord who is still Lord of the harvest, 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:34.319 and plead with you earnestly, Lord, 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:37.019 for laborers to go out into the fields. 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:42.680 And we do thank you that today is a day appointed for that purpose of prayer, 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:44.660 and that it wouldn't just be for today, 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:48.299 but that we would pray these prayers going forward as well. 00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:51.259 That we would keep it in our minds, O Lord, 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:53.980 that there is a need for gospel workers, 00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:56.359 and especially as we think of our own denomination, 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:59.880 for men to be called into the ministry. 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:01.780 And so we pray, Lord, 00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:03.520 your hand upon us for that, 00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:05.620 that we would see you working, 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:09.120 that we would see you working in drawing people to salvation, 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:12.260 that you would see you working in putting that burden 00:22:12.260 --> 00:22:17.020 for ministry upon men who would serve you in that way. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:19.120 And all of that too, Lord, 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:20.880 we pray that you would burden us all 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:23.040 with that sense of compassion, 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:25.440 that sense of looking around us, 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:28.380 and seeing the needs and asking how we can help 00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:30.120 and how we can serve you together. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.779 For we thank you, Lord, 00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:34.700 that it is not just a ministry of one man, 00:22:35.320 --> 00:22:39.080 that Jesus himself had his disciples around him who helped. 00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:40.799 Even though he didn't need them, 00:22:40.840 --> 00:22:41.620 he used them. 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:45.140 And though he had great crowds who gathered around him, 00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:48.059 he sent out 72 at one time. 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.839 And we thank you that today, 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.139 Lord, 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:52.279 we are part of his church, 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:55.119 that we are together in the work of the gospel, 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:56.159 that we share in it, 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:57.779 in the burden of prayer, 00:22:58.359 --> 00:22:59.639 in the burden of worship, 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.159 in the burden of witnessing, 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:04.579 in the burden of serving you in so many different ways. 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:07.859 And we thank you for that great privilege of prayer. 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.659 And we thank you that today, 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:11.599 as we offer up our prayers to you, 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:14.799 you are one who is able to hear and answer 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:16.440 according to your will. 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:19.620 And so we commit these things to you in prayer. 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:22.860 And we ask for all that's going on around us at this time, 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.100 Lord, 00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:24.980 that you will hear us in our prayers. 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:29.259 As we think of what's happening in our town today 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.720 with the opening of Tesco, 00:23:30.860 --> 00:23:34.820 and people would say that prayers have not been answered or heard 00:23:34.820 --> 00:23:38.900 because we have prayed to you for this not to go ahead in many ways. 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:41.360 And yet we see it still going on. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:41.759 But Lord, 00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:44.000 we know that your will is done. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:47.319 And we know that you are able to teach us through all things. 00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:51.359 We know that you are able to remind us through it all 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:52.920 that you are God and Lord. 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:55.099 And that in the weeks ahead, 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:55.400 O Lord, 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:58.920 that we would see your hand upon us in that way. 00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:03.859 That we would see you changing the minds of people, 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:06.039 changing the hearts of people, 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:08.700 turning them away from their own desires, 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:10.840 and going against your word, 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:13.440 to longing to honour your word, 00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:16.640 and to longing to honour all that you are, 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.259 and your day, 00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:18.380 and your people, 00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:19.880 and your church. 00:24:20.580 --> 00:24:21.019 And so, 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:21.340 Lord, 00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:24.039 we commit all of these things to you as well. 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:26.880 Thankful that we join in with our praying people, 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:29.799 not just for things going on around us here, 00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:31.080 but throughout the world. 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:34.599 when we think of situations in our own land, 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:38.379 and the great needs and times of illness, 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:40.699 and the times of grief and sorrow, 00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:44.980 and the times when your cause seems to be so low in many ways, 00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:47.759 in a world that is full of conflict, 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:52.119 when we think of the ongoing conflict with Russia and the Ukraine, 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:55.279 and even large attacks, 00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:56.500 even during the night. 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:58.500 And when we think of the Middle East, 00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:58.980 O Lord, 00:24:59.059 --> 00:25:02.700 and the grief and sorrow that there is there in the midst of war, 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:06.460 and so many other parts of the world where your people are persecuted, 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:08.599 where people are put down, 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:10.740 and looked down upon, 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:16.779 and people have no avenue open to them to gather as we do here, 00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:19.440 and yet they still worship you in their hearts, 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.359 and in their homes, 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.940 and in so many different ways. 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:25.359 We thank you that you are God to your people, 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:27.099 that you never leave us, 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:28.479 you never forsake us, 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:30.059 you never turn away from us. 00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:33.539 And we thank you that as we commit all these things to you, 00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:35.599 we know that you hear us, 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:37.079 and that you know our every need. 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:39.219 Hear our prayers for our people, 00:25:39.399 --> 00:25:39.799 hear us, 00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:41.579 we pray for our congregation, 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.919 for those who are unwell, 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.259 O Lord, 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:44.459 we commit them to you. 00:25:44.979 --> 00:25:47.319 For those who are going through times of treatment, 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.519 we ask, 00:25:48.699 --> 00:25:48.879 O Lord, 00:25:48.959 --> 00:25:50.579 your hand upon them for good. 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:53.459 For those who are mourning the loss of loved ones, 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:53.700 Lord, 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:55.819 we thank you that you are a God of comfort, 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:59.319 and we pray for your great comfort towards them. 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:02.279 For those who are struggling in different ways, 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.180 be it physically, 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:04.980 mentally, 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.200 financially, 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:09.900 there are so many burdens upon our people at this time, 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.180 Lord, 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:14.039 and we just pray for your goodness and mercy to be upon us. 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:17.400 We pray to see your hand upon us for good, 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:20.279 as we pray for many to come to salvation, 00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.720 many young, 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.259 old, 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.019 boys, 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.559 girls, 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:24.940 men, 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.299 women, 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:28.099 we pray for your spirit to work in our midst, 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:30.420 drawing us to low and love Jesus. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:35.859 We pray for the holiday club and Christmas club that will be taking place soon, 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:38.119 and thankful for all the work gone into it, 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:39.500 and the invitations that go out, 00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:42.000 and we pray your blessing upon that. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:45.119 We ask that you'll continue with us now in our worship, 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:46.899 and as we turn to your word, 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.219 Lord, 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.359 open it to us, 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.759 speak to us through it, 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:52.219 give us the burden that it speaks of, 00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:55.139 and give us the boldness and prayer to approach you, 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:57.419 that we would know your blessing upon us. 00:26:57.859 --> 00:27:00.019 We ask it all with the forgiveness of our sins, 00:27:00.159 --> 00:27:01.079 in Jesus' name. 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:01.879 Amen. 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:08.739 We're going to sing again to God's praise before we turn back to that reading in Matthew. 00:27:08.739 --> 00:27:10.879 We're going to sing in Psalm 67. 00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:13.519 Let's sing Psalm's version. 00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:17.899 Psalm 67 on page 84. 00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:20.439 We'll sing the whole of this psalm, 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:22.659 a psalm that is a prayer in itself, 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:27.619 asking for the Lord's blessing and the harvest to bear much fruit. 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:29.500 God, be merciful and bless us. 00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:32.519 Shine upon us with your face at the earth. 00:27:32.979 --> 00:27:36.639 May know your actions and all lands your saving grace. 00:27:36.639 --> 00:27:39.519 We'll sing the whole of this psalm to God's praise, 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.839 and we stand to sing. 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:54.619 Lord, be merciful and bless us. 00:27:54.739 --> 00:28:01.159 Shine upon us with your face, 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:15.440 that the earth may know your actions and all lands your saving grace. 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:23.340 O God, may the people praise you. 00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:30.259 May our people sing your grace. 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:37.519 For you judge the nations justly, 00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:44.360 hurting over every race. 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:52.740 May they sing with joy and gladness. 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:59.539 May they all rejoice as one. 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:06.839 O God, may the people praise you. 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:27.879 Please, if you pray, 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:36.360 God our God will surely bless us. 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:42.880 All the earth will give our God. 00:29:50.360 --> 00:29:53.620 We can turn back to a reading in Matthew chapter 9. 00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:58.299 And at the end of this chapter, at verse 36, we read these words. 00:29:59.119 --> 00:30:04.279 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, 00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:06.419 like sheep without a shepherd. 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:12.779 And then he said to his disciples, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 00:30:13.459 --> 00:30:20.919 Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:30.279 Well, as we open up this passage here, it reminds us of a great need that there is in every generation. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:38.500 But also it reminds us of the great God who is able to provide in the midst of that need. 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:47.019 So when you look at these verses as Jesus speaks to his disciples, what is the great need that you see here? 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:55.779 When Jesus says the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, what is the great need? 00:30:56.759 --> 00:31:01.799 Well, Jesus is seeing large crowds of people all around him. 00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:09.359 And what he's seeing in the midst of it is that there are so few people who are able to minister into these needs. 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:12.659 And he is saying, pray for laborers. 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:17.079 There's a lack of laborers for the work of God's kingdom. 00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:24.279 And the presbytery to which our congregation belongs, the presbytery of the Western Isles, 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:30.019 has appointed today as a day of specific prayer for this matter, 00:31:30.159 --> 00:31:37.299 especially as we think of our own denomination and the needs that we have for men in ministry. 00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:43.639 And it's been a pointless idea of praying for men to be called into ministry. 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:48.139 And it's alongside that a day of prayer when we would see the Lord working in our midst, 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:54.200 bringing people to salvation, that we would see conversions in our midst. 00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:59.519 Now, some of you will maybe know what the presbytery is, 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:02.240 but maybe some of you don't know what presbytery is 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:05.139 and who is presbytery that's asking for us to do this. 00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:11.360 Well, presbytery is every minister within the Western Isles, it's the Western Isles presbytery, 00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:17.320 every minister in congregations of the free church in the Western Isles is a member of presbytery. 00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:19.560 It's a group that meets. 00:32:20.660 --> 00:32:24.300 And alongside every minister is an elder from each congregation. 00:32:25.040 --> 00:32:28.300 So every minister and an elder from each congregation. 00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:34.859 And once a month, the presbytery, that's the group, meets to discuss various matters to do with our own churches 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:39.220 within our islands here, but also why there are issues going on within the denomination. 00:32:40.299 --> 00:32:44.700 And it was at a recent presbytery meeting that we were hearing a presentation about 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:49.599 the great need that there is for men to be called into ministry. 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:55.139 And the great need that we see around us in the Lord's need to work in our midst, 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:59.159 that we would see in many ways a day of revival. 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:08.199 And so from that came this burden, this burden that we would set aside a day for prayer on these matters. 00:33:09.139 --> 00:33:12.659 Because as you look around Scotland today, what do you see? 00:33:12.660 --> 00:33:19.220 You see a nation that is very different to what it was 20, 30, 40 years ago. 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:21.800 We're living in very different days. 00:33:21.900 --> 00:33:27.680 You look around our own communities, it has changed dramatically over the last few years. 00:33:27.800 --> 00:33:32.540 You look back 10 years, 20 years, it's very different to what it was then. 00:33:33.360 --> 00:33:35.920 Churches are very different as well. 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:41.519 We see less and less people as we're coming out to church. 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:44.539 Less and less people interested in church. 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:48.200 And yet as we look around, we see a field. 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:53.480 We see a field where the harvest is plentiful. 00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:55.059 Just like Jesus' day. 00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:59.139 Jesus was seeing people that he describes as this harvest field. 00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:04.220 And so as we look around ourselves today, we see that same setting. 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:08.780 Just like in Jesus' day, we have a harvest all around us. 00:34:08.780 --> 00:34:13.960 But just like Jesus' day, the laborers are few. 00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:18.920 Those who are called into ministry, it seems to be fewer and fewer. 00:34:19.060 --> 00:34:24.900 And there's a great need within our own denomination to see more men being called into ministry. 00:34:25.740 --> 00:34:30.220 It's estimated that with ministers retiring and new churches being planted, 00:34:30.580 --> 00:34:36.140 over the next 10 years, we're going to need 70 new ministers for our own denomination. 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:40.679 And so we know that there is a great need. 00:34:40.779 --> 00:34:44.339 We know in our own midst what that need is like because we have a vacancy. 00:34:44.799 --> 00:34:48.839 We are looking for another man to come in and minister to us in this place. 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:53.639 And there are congregations within our own presbytery in that same situation. 00:34:53.799 --> 00:34:58.099 There's congregations around Scotland in that very same situation 00:34:58.099 --> 00:35:02.679 where there's no minister and they're looking for someone to call as a minister, 00:35:02.799 --> 00:35:03.940 but they're not there. 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:10.199 And so we are being asked to come to God in prayer. 00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:13.960 And that's what Jesus shows us in this passage. 00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:16.759 The harvest is plentiful, the laborers are few. 00:35:17.299 --> 00:35:21.219 Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest. 00:35:21.299 --> 00:35:24.460 That's what we're being called upon today. 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:29.920 The concern to pray to the Lord that he might provide. 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:34.579 And I want us to consider three things from this passage that show us 00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:37.960 we all have a part to play in this need. 00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:41.400 Prayer is a privilege for us all. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:44.659 That we would pray for conversions. 00:35:45.240 --> 00:35:48.699 That we would see the Lord's hand working in salvation in our midst. 00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:55.699 And that we would pray for laborers, for ministers to be called into the work of the harvest field. 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:58.579 And three thoughts to guide us in this. 00:35:59.279 --> 00:36:00.960 The burden that we see in it all. 00:36:01.879 --> 00:36:03.939 The boldness to approach. 00:36:04.759 --> 00:36:07.159 And the blessing that we seek. 00:36:07.939 --> 00:36:10.059 So we're going to begin by looking at the burden. 00:36:10.739 --> 00:36:13.019 The burden in all of this. 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:17.360 And we first want to see the context of these verses. 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:21.900 Where Jesus is speaking to the disciples here. 00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:25.519 Out of what context is he speaking to them? 00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:29.940 Well if you look in the preceding chapters in this gospel. 00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:34.619 We see the burden of God first of all towards his people. 00:36:35.380 --> 00:36:38.900 When you go right back to chapter 1 of Matthew. 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:40.199 You see the beginning. 00:36:40.199 --> 00:36:41.519 The genealogy. 00:36:41.699 --> 00:36:46.480 The way God was already working long before Jesus was born into this world. 00:36:46.759 --> 00:36:49.500 The way God had a burden for his people. 00:36:49.919 --> 00:36:53.579 That the Lord would send a savior into this world. 00:36:54.359 --> 00:36:55.480 And his burden was there. 00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:57.179 That the birth of Jesus. 00:36:57.359 --> 00:36:59.960 We see Jesus coming into the world. 00:37:00.259 --> 00:37:01.460 Given the name Jesus. 00:37:02.179 --> 00:37:04.219 Because the name of Jesus it says. 00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:08.199 He will save his people from their sins. 00:37:08.199 --> 00:37:08.799 His sins. 00:37:09.739 --> 00:37:13.519 So we see the great burden of God towards his people. 00:37:13.619 --> 00:37:14.639 That he would provide. 00:37:15.299 --> 00:37:17.759 And then as you go through the following chapters. 00:37:17.759 --> 00:37:19.259 After the birth of Jesus. 00:37:19.259 --> 00:37:20.339 Up to this point. 00:37:20.439 --> 00:37:22.519 You see the great burden that Jesus had. 00:37:22.739 --> 00:37:24.199 As he was in this world. 00:37:24.819 --> 00:37:26.379 You see the many different ways. 00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:28.480 He is ministering in their midst. 00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:31.500 The great miracles that he performed. 00:37:31.899 --> 00:37:34.279 The great preaching that he gave to them. 00:37:34.339 --> 00:37:36.460 The great teaching that he gave to them. 00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:37.619 It was like nothing else. 00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:39.460 The people had heard or seen. 00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:42.800 There was something remarkable about Jesus. 00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:46.679 And Jesus had this burden for his people. 00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:51.960 The burden that he ultimately gave his life for. 00:37:52.460 --> 00:37:55.880 That he would give his life as a ransom for many. 00:37:55.940 --> 00:37:59.840 That Jesus would die for the sins of his people. 00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:04.600 And so we see the great burden that there is. 00:38:05.140 --> 00:38:05.660 And you see it. 00:38:05.720 --> 00:38:08.160 You know just look at chapter 8 and 9 here. 00:38:08.360 --> 00:38:10.500 It jumps from one thing to another. 00:38:10.620 --> 00:38:12.539 Where Jesus heals a leper. 00:38:13.079 --> 00:38:15.519 Where Jesus sees the faith of a centurion. 00:38:15.700 --> 00:38:17.460 Jesus heals many. 00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:19.880 Jesus heals two men. 00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:20.920 Demon possessed. 00:38:21.140 --> 00:38:22.480 He heals a paralytic. 00:38:22.840 --> 00:38:23.840 He calls Matthew. 00:38:23.840 --> 00:38:24.360 Matthew. 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:26.940 And then you see the girl restored. 00:38:27.120 --> 00:38:28.440 And the woman who was healed. 00:38:29.100 --> 00:38:30.539 The healing of the two blind men. 00:38:30.740 --> 00:38:31.740 It goes on and on. 00:38:31.860 --> 00:38:34.940 Jesus' burden towards all the people. 00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:37.880 And it gets to the point at the end of chapter 9. 00:38:38.059 --> 00:38:40.880 Where it's not that he couldn't help everybody. 00:38:41.340 --> 00:38:43.480 But he's just seeing this crowd. 00:38:44.380 --> 00:38:45.760 And he sees the crowd. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:49.740 And he has this great compassion upon them. 00:38:50.620 --> 00:38:52.800 In verse 36 that's what you see. 00:38:53.200 --> 00:38:56.000 It's like a culmination of everything that he's seeing around him. 00:38:56.360 --> 00:38:58.460 And he comes to this point in verse 36. 00:38:58.580 --> 00:38:59.860 When he saw the crowds. 00:39:00.460 --> 00:39:02.560 He had compassion for them. 00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:05.260 Because they were harassed and helpless. 00:39:06.100 --> 00:39:08.260 Like sheep without a shepherd. 00:39:10.240 --> 00:39:14.500 If there's one verse I would keep going back to. 00:39:14.500 --> 00:39:18.900 And thinking well what is important in ministry. 00:39:19.559 --> 00:39:23.179 This is definitely one of the verses that would stand out for me. 00:39:24.079 --> 00:39:26.920 Because it's about people. 00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:30.440 And that is what ministry is about. 00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:31.699 It's about people. 00:39:31.860 --> 00:39:33.460 The harvest is there. 00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:35.320 The people are there before Jesus. 00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:37.719 He sees this great crowd. 00:39:38.260 --> 00:39:39.539 And he had compassion. 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:42.139 He wanted to help them all. 00:39:42.139 --> 00:39:45.159 He wanted them all to have a shepherd. 00:39:45.379 --> 00:39:46.579 That would look after them. 00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.379 That would guide them. 00:39:47.460 --> 00:39:49.279 That would help them along the way. 00:39:49.339 --> 00:39:52.099 But they were like sheep without a shepherd. 00:39:53.420 --> 00:39:55.599 And so the prayer then comes. 00:39:55.699 --> 00:39:57.259 This burden then comes. 00:39:57.679 --> 00:39:58.960 And he says to the disciples. 00:39:59.159 --> 00:40:00.779 Look the harvest is plentiful. 00:40:01.279 --> 00:40:03.500 But the laborers are few. 00:40:04.819 --> 00:40:06.819 There are these people all around us. 00:40:06.820 --> 00:40:09.940 And there's no one to help them. 00:40:10.059 --> 00:40:15.340 They're like sheep without a shepherd. 00:40:16.200 --> 00:40:19.039 And so there is this great burden here. 00:40:19.640 --> 00:40:20.640 Jesus saw. 00:40:21.180 --> 00:40:22.480 And he had a burden. 00:40:23.420 --> 00:40:27.880 And that is where this call for a day of prayer has come from as well. 00:40:27.880 --> 00:40:33.360 It's come from looking around and seeing the great needs that are around us. 00:40:34.180 --> 00:40:37.280 The great needs of the harvest are all around us. 00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:39.980 There are people all around us. 00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:43.079 And they are just like the people that Jesus saw. 00:40:44.160 --> 00:40:44.640 Harassed. 00:40:45.320 --> 00:40:46.099 And helpless. 00:40:47.640 --> 00:40:50.000 And like sheep without a shepherd. 00:40:50.220 --> 00:40:52.660 They are just wandering around lost. 00:40:52.659 --> 00:40:59.119 And so there is a great burden in the midst of that. 00:41:00.259 --> 00:41:04.739 That our presbytery, our denomination is speaking about these things. 00:41:04.739 --> 00:41:12.379 Because we see a nation around us of people who are burdened in these ways of being harassed and helpless. 00:41:13.679 --> 00:41:16.839 And that we would have a burden for them. 00:41:17.839 --> 00:41:21.059 That the gospel would be in the midst of these people. 00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:26.259 Going out to these people in the cities, in the towns, in the villages, all across our land. 00:41:26.519 --> 00:41:29.039 That we would see the gospel be going out. 00:41:29.299 --> 00:41:31.420 Because it is the gospel that can help. 00:41:32.659 --> 00:41:34.539 It is the gospel that they need. 00:41:35.420 --> 00:41:37.199 To hear about this saviour. 00:41:37.820 --> 00:41:39.840 The one who can save them from their sins. 00:41:39.980 --> 00:41:41.039 The one who is Jesus. 00:41:44.880 --> 00:41:47.059 Jesus had compassion. 00:41:47.059 --> 00:41:49.340 And if Jesus had compassion. 00:41:49.460 --> 00:41:51.259 If Jesus had this burden. 00:41:51.380 --> 00:41:55.380 Then it falls on us to ask, do we have that same burden? 00:41:56.739 --> 00:42:00.119 And is that what will burden our prayers? 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:02.840 J.C. Ryle. 00:42:03.619 --> 00:42:08.820 The Bishop J.C. Ryle, as he is often known, who wrote books and was a great preacher himself. 00:42:08.820 --> 00:42:14.780 He once said, a person who does not feel for souls of all unconverted people. 00:42:15.500 --> 00:42:19.059 Surely does not have the mind of Christ. 00:42:20.840 --> 00:42:26.700 Who does not feel for the souls of all unconverted people. 00:42:27.720 --> 00:42:28.940 That is a burden. 00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:30.900 And that's what he's saying. 00:42:30.980 --> 00:42:36.480 He's saying that those who belong to Christ are to have the same reaction as Christ here. 00:42:36.480 --> 00:42:41.460 To look and to see and have that great burden. 00:42:42.679 --> 00:42:51.340 That burden for compassion and concern for those who are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. 00:42:53.199 --> 00:42:59.360 And you see at the end of this chapter into chapter 10, it's like a transition here. 00:42:59.360 --> 00:43:08.620 From where we're seeing Jesus doing it all, as it were, to Jesus using his disciples in the work as well. 00:43:08.680 --> 00:43:16.539 He called to him, it says in chapter 10, his 12 disciples and gave them authority and cast them out. 00:43:17.360 --> 00:43:18.360 He sent them out. 00:43:19.059 --> 00:43:22.000 To cast out and to heal every disease and every affliction. 00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:28.840 So he sent them out with that great commission, as it were, to go out into the midst of all of these people. 00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:31.800 And that is our prayer today. 00:43:31.900 --> 00:43:33.880 That's the heart of our prayer today. 00:43:33.980 --> 00:43:37.000 A prayer for a burden for those around us. 00:43:37.639 --> 00:43:40.840 And that we would pray for others to come into the ministry. 00:43:41.780 --> 00:43:44.360 And to serve the Lord in this way. 00:43:44.760 --> 00:43:48.219 So the people around us would have a shepherd over them. 00:43:48.219 --> 00:43:52.039 One to lead them and show them the way of Christ. 00:43:52.399 --> 00:43:57.079 One to reach out to the lost and to help bring them to Christ. 00:43:57.179 --> 00:44:01.859 We know the Lord does it, but he uses his people in it. 00:44:02.500 --> 00:44:04.259 So that's the first thing we see here. 00:44:04.699 --> 00:44:06.059 This great burden. 00:44:06.179 --> 00:44:07.399 He sees the crowd. 00:44:07.859 --> 00:44:09.699 He sees them in all their different needs. 00:44:09.819 --> 00:44:12.579 He has compassion and he's burdened. 00:44:12.579 --> 00:44:17.359 And what he does then is show them, this is why we need to pray. 00:44:18.219 --> 00:44:21.980 He said to his disciples, look, the harvest is plentiful. 00:44:22.459 --> 00:44:23.399 The laborers are few. 00:44:23.599 --> 00:44:28.579 Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest. 00:44:29.079 --> 00:44:33.399 A burden leads to this boldness in prayer. 00:44:34.619 --> 00:44:41.319 If you have your car and you're driving along and the engine management light comes on, 00:44:42.339 --> 00:44:44.319 do you just ignore it? 00:44:44.320 --> 00:44:54.620 Or if you're sitting at home and you're sitting by an ice open fire and you hear this roaring sound in the chimney and you realize, 00:44:54.760 --> 00:44:56.800 hold on, the chimney's on fire. 00:44:56.920 --> 00:45:00.480 Do you just sit there and think, well, hopefully it'll go out? 00:45:02.240 --> 00:45:07.800 Or if you suddenly develop serious chest pains, what do you do? 00:45:07.800 --> 00:45:13.080 Do you just think, oh, well, I'll go and lie down and hopefully it'll be better in the morning? 00:45:14.840 --> 00:45:23.140 You may expect the answer to all these kinds of situations to be that action will be taken straight away. 00:45:24.160 --> 00:45:26.500 A warning light in the car isn't to be ignored. 00:45:26.640 --> 00:45:28.740 You need to do something about it straight away. 00:45:29.640 --> 00:45:31.440 And yet how many of us will just drive on? 00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:33.099 It'll be fine. 00:45:33.179 --> 00:45:36.380 The car seems to be working okay, but it's there for a reason. 00:45:37.599 --> 00:45:42.720 If the chimney's on fire, you may sit there and just say, oh, well, hopefully it'll settle down. 00:45:43.599 --> 00:45:44.659 Many people do. 00:45:44.800 --> 00:45:46.980 Instead of calling the fire brigade straight away. 00:45:47.840 --> 00:45:52.240 Or chest pains or any pains in our body, we're afraid to go to the doctor. 00:45:52.340 --> 00:45:53.460 And we say, oh, well, it'll get better. 00:45:53.519 --> 00:45:54.519 It'll settle down. 00:45:55.260 --> 00:45:56.920 That's almost our immediate reaction. 00:45:56.920 --> 00:46:00.300 Instead of doing something about it straight away. 00:46:03.119 --> 00:46:06.220 And you say to yourself, well, what about when it comes to prayer? 00:46:06.320 --> 00:46:11.019 Why appoint a day of prayer for conversions and calling into ministry? 00:46:11.500 --> 00:46:13.320 Are we not praying for that anyway? 00:46:14.099 --> 00:46:16.900 Is that not part of our ongoing prayer? 00:46:17.960 --> 00:46:18.820 It is. 00:46:18.900 --> 00:46:19.880 Of course it is. 00:46:19.880 --> 00:46:24.760 But there are times when we see a specific need. 00:46:26.059 --> 00:46:28.340 At times when we feel a specific burden. 00:46:28.940 --> 00:46:32.260 There is a serious issue before us. 00:46:33.320 --> 00:46:37.960 And it reminds us here, as we think of boldness in prayer, 00:46:38.599 --> 00:46:41.460 that it's a prayer that we are all to share in. 00:46:41.460 --> 00:46:50.599 And Jesus here says, don't just pray, but pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest. 00:46:51.619 --> 00:46:52.940 There is this great burden. 00:46:53.059 --> 00:46:54.139 There is this great need. 00:46:54.480 --> 00:46:57.179 So it's time to pray earnestly. 00:46:58.260 --> 00:46:59.500 We do something. 00:46:59.659 --> 00:47:02.480 We see a need and we do something. 00:47:03.679 --> 00:47:04.900 We don't just sit back. 00:47:05.000 --> 00:47:08.260 Well, hopefully the Lord will call people. 00:47:08.960 --> 00:47:10.460 Hopefully something will change. 00:47:10.460 --> 00:47:15.119 We think to ourselves, no, let's come and plead with the Lord. 00:47:15.740 --> 00:47:19.920 Let's come and see this great need and come to him today 00:47:19.920 --> 00:47:22.780 and continue to pray for this great need 00:47:22.780 --> 00:47:26.099 and to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest 00:47:26.099 --> 00:47:29.900 to send out laborers into his harvest. 00:47:31.039 --> 00:47:35.420 Because there's times maybe when we think we've lost sight of this. 00:47:36.099 --> 00:47:38.780 We've lost sight of the urgency of this need. 00:47:38.780 --> 00:47:42.480 Maybe it's a burden that we're just ignoring. 00:47:44.040 --> 00:47:47.900 And maybe our compassion has waned for people around us. 00:47:47.960 --> 00:47:50.920 We're caught up in our own lives or in other things. 00:47:51.060 --> 00:47:54.019 And our vision of the people around us is lost. 00:47:54.019 --> 00:47:58.099 Maybe we think, what's the point? 00:47:58.800 --> 00:48:02.900 I've been praying for years for this and nothing's happening. 00:48:02.900 --> 00:48:13.820 But it's good to think, well, we're all coming together to think of and pray for this particular need on this particular day together. 00:48:13.820 --> 00:48:20.900 If you're someone who's a regular who goes home and maybe goes to tune in to other congregations and listen, 00:48:21.100 --> 00:48:22.580 well, what were they preaching on today? 00:48:22.640 --> 00:48:27.920 I'm sure you'll find that in different places today, this very same text will be preached on. 00:48:27.920 --> 00:48:33.400 Because it was this text that was brought to our forefront of our minds as we spoke to it. 00:48:33.460 --> 00:48:37.400 So I know for a fact that there's others preaching on this text today. 00:48:37.400 --> 00:48:44.700 But it's just something to bring our focus, our minds focused on this. 00:48:45.960 --> 00:48:51.900 And maybe there's even some here or tuning in online who don't want to hear this text preached. 00:48:52.559 --> 00:48:55.400 Because it's a burden on their hearts. 00:48:55.519 --> 00:49:01.539 Maybe it is a burden on your heart that you're being called into ministry and you just want to push it away. 00:49:01.539 --> 00:49:09.139 Well, the prayer today is that earnest prayer that the Lord will burden you further. 00:49:10.460 --> 00:49:16.380 And that you would pray yourself, Lord, if this is your will for me, make it clear. 00:49:17.360 --> 00:49:21.659 People ask, why aren't we seeing men coming into the ministry? 00:49:23.099 --> 00:49:28.420 Maybe part of the reason is that men are pushing away that call. 00:49:28.420 --> 00:49:32.099 And saying, it's for somebody else. 00:49:33.539 --> 00:49:36.300 But you can't push it away. 00:49:36.940 --> 00:49:40.340 This is something that cannot be ignored. 00:49:41.139 --> 00:49:44.480 It's something that we cannot leave to one side. 00:49:45.440 --> 00:49:49.079 In prayer we're showing and seeing our dependence on God. 00:49:50.280 --> 00:49:55.019 And we're praying today earnestly that people would be burdened in this. 00:49:55.880 --> 00:49:57.019 Burdened to prayer. 00:49:57.019 --> 00:50:02.480 Burdened to come to the Lord and see and know their need of salvation. 00:50:03.219 --> 00:50:08.559 Burdened to come to the Lord and say, Lord, can you use me in the ministry? 00:50:11.159 --> 00:50:14.300 There's no hiding place from God. 00:50:15.920 --> 00:50:22.900 Looking back over a week of remembrance, it often reminds me of a poster I first saw when I was in primary school. 00:50:22.900 --> 00:50:26.200 And there was a poster that went out in the First World War. 00:50:26.260 --> 00:50:29.680 I'm sure many of you are familiar with it, of that man. 00:50:29.980 --> 00:50:35.280 And the poster pointing the finger and saying, your country needs you. 00:50:36.240 --> 00:50:42.920 It was a poster there to encourage and promote people to be enlisted to fight in the army. 00:50:42.920 --> 00:50:48.940 I was standing here today and implying the saying, God needs you. 00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:52.000 God doesn't need you. 00:50:52.780 --> 00:50:55.019 But I can say God wants you. 00:50:55.960 --> 00:50:58.220 Because that's what the scriptures say. 00:50:59.059 --> 00:51:00.380 God wants you. 00:51:00.659 --> 00:51:05.400 Because God wants his people to repent and to believe the gospel. 00:51:05.400 --> 00:51:10.539 God wants you because he wants sinners to be saved. 00:51:11.860 --> 00:51:18.300 God wants you because God wants his people to serve him in many different ways. 00:51:18.660 --> 00:51:25.860 Not just ministers of the gospel, but God wants us all to serve him in different ways. 00:51:25.860 --> 00:51:33.300 And God wants some to be ministers of the gospel. 00:51:36.820 --> 00:51:43.120 Jesus here shows us that he uses people as he sends the twelve out. 00:51:44.380 --> 00:51:48.599 Are we being obedient to him in these things? 00:51:49.320 --> 00:51:52.539 Do we have the obedience of Isaiah of old? 00:51:52.539 --> 00:51:58.599 In Isaiah chapter 6 verse 8, Isaiah says, I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 00:51:58.800 --> 00:52:01.820 Whom shall I send and who will go for us? 00:52:02.639 --> 00:52:04.960 And then I said, Here am I. 00:52:05.840 --> 00:52:06.679 Send me. 00:52:09.980 --> 00:52:16.759 If you're burdened in this way, the response should be, Lord, here I am. 00:52:17.759 --> 00:52:19.099 Send me. 00:52:19.099 --> 00:52:23.659 We are to be obedient. 00:52:24.980 --> 00:52:27.159 And that is our prayer today. 00:52:28.239 --> 00:52:33.460 Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. 00:52:34.539 --> 00:52:36.319 Because the Lord can do it. 00:52:37.119 --> 00:52:39.920 We are praying to the Lord to send out. 00:52:40.199 --> 00:52:45.119 The word there for send out has behind it this thrusting out. 00:52:45.119 --> 00:52:50.059 It's like an explosion that comes and just pushes everything away. 00:52:51.299 --> 00:52:52.719 And that is our prayer today. 00:52:53.179 --> 00:52:55.380 That the Lord would work in this way. 00:52:56.739 --> 00:53:01.480 Where he thrusts out laborers into the field. 00:53:03.099 --> 00:53:07.859 Wouldn't it be wonderful that as we pray today together as a congregation, 00:53:07.860 --> 00:53:14.140 as a presbytery, that we would see an explosion in our midst. 00:53:15.220 --> 00:53:17.039 An explosion of conversions. 00:53:17.860 --> 00:53:20.820 An explosion of people serving God in every way. 00:53:21.200 --> 00:53:28.000 An explosion of men coming to answer the call to the ministry of God's word. 00:53:28.000 --> 00:53:32.380 The harvest is plentiful. 00:53:32.380 --> 00:53:33.539 The laborers are few. 00:53:34.019 --> 00:53:38.940 Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out. 00:53:39.820 --> 00:53:43.480 May we come boldly to God in that way. 00:53:43.820 --> 00:53:47.860 With that earnest prayer for laborers. 00:53:47.860 --> 00:53:56.059 The third and final thing we see here is the blessing that we seek in it all. 00:53:57.039 --> 00:54:00.260 Even when you think of Jesus saying to the disciples here, 00:54:00.420 --> 00:54:05.260 Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 00:54:05.680 --> 00:54:07.680 Do you think you see this prayer answered? 00:54:08.960 --> 00:54:12.240 Well as you look at the list there of the disciples, 00:54:12.720 --> 00:54:14.960 you see all the names before you there. 00:54:14.960 --> 00:54:19.380 And one is Simon who is called Peter. 00:54:20.720 --> 00:54:22.240 Now we know of Peter. 00:54:23.199 --> 00:54:26.579 How the Lord called him from his own background. 00:54:26.780 --> 00:54:29.159 In fishing he called him to serve the Lord. 00:54:29.260 --> 00:54:33.000 We know Peter who was so often impulsive in many ways. 00:54:33.400 --> 00:54:35.559 Feisty temperament at times. 00:54:36.099 --> 00:54:41.780 We know Peter and the bitter disappointment that he had as he turned his back on Jesus. 00:54:41.780 --> 00:54:44.360 As he denied him three times. 00:54:44.960 --> 00:54:47.320 And the pain that that caused him. 00:54:48.079 --> 00:54:51.740 But we know Peter who was restored by Jesus. 00:54:52.679 --> 00:54:54.920 And we were looking recently at the baptism service. 00:54:55.740 --> 00:54:57.000 Acts chapter 2. 00:54:57.980 --> 00:55:00.159 And who was preaching there in that sermon? 00:55:00.920 --> 00:55:01.780 But Peter. 00:55:02.960 --> 00:55:04.360 Peter at the day of Pentecost. 00:55:04.460 --> 00:55:06.099 He stood in their midst and preached. 00:55:06.099 --> 00:55:10.219 A large crowd. 00:55:11.219 --> 00:55:15.420 And it says 3,000 were added to the church in that day. 00:55:17.599 --> 00:55:20.659 It's amazing the power of the Lord. 00:55:21.380 --> 00:55:25.400 That he can do great things through ordinary men and women. 00:55:25.400 --> 00:55:31.980 We see the Lord blessing those who are obedient. 00:55:34.780 --> 00:55:38.460 Jesus looked and saw the harvest as plentiful. 00:55:39.840 --> 00:55:44.599 He didn't see a field that was full of stones and weeds. 00:55:44.599 --> 00:55:49.799 He didn't look and see even just a field that was waiting to be plowed. 00:55:50.659 --> 00:55:53.659 He looked and he saw potential everywhere. 00:55:53.779 --> 00:55:55.659 The harvest was ready. 00:55:56.639 --> 00:55:59.179 The harvest was ready for picking. 00:55:59.179 --> 00:56:03.219 And today as we look around us. 00:56:03.779 --> 00:56:06.599 We see there is a harvest there. 00:56:08.139 --> 00:56:09.960 There's no need to wait. 00:56:10.839 --> 00:56:11.960 The harvest is there. 00:56:12.099 --> 00:56:13.599 It's ready for picking. 00:56:15.239 --> 00:56:18.259 And so we are to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest. 00:56:18.399 --> 00:56:21.539 To send out laborers into this harvest. 00:56:22.940 --> 00:56:24.099 Because it's there. 00:56:25.019 --> 00:56:28.359 And what we want to see is the Lord's blessing. 00:56:28.360 --> 00:56:33.000 Jesus had compassion for the lost. 00:56:33.380 --> 00:56:34.579 That they might be saved. 00:56:36.180 --> 00:56:38.300 And if we have that burden ourselves. 00:56:38.720 --> 00:56:42.260 We should pray more boldly and more earnestly. 00:56:42.760 --> 00:56:45.280 To see the harvest brought in. 00:56:46.539 --> 00:56:48.740 Psalm 67 is a prayer. 00:56:48.840 --> 00:56:49.740 We've sung it already. 00:56:51.120 --> 00:56:53.780 And it's a prayer that begins with that cry. 00:56:53.920 --> 00:56:56.140 Lord bless and pity us. 00:56:56.139 --> 00:56:57.940 Shine on us with thy face. 00:56:58.000 --> 00:56:59.059 That the earth thy way. 00:56:59.579 --> 00:57:01.199 And nations all may know. 00:57:01.199 --> 00:57:03.519 Thy saving grace. 00:57:04.980 --> 00:57:05.920 That is a prayer. 00:57:06.940 --> 00:57:08.739 But it ends with blessing. 00:57:09.779 --> 00:57:11.579 The earth's fruit shall yield. 00:57:11.719 --> 00:57:14.119 Our God shall blessing send. 00:57:14.599 --> 00:57:16.119 God shall us bless. 00:57:16.299 --> 00:57:17.480 Men shall in fear. 00:57:17.619 --> 00:57:20.019 And to earth's utmost end. 00:57:20.839 --> 00:57:22.319 There is confidence. 00:57:22.320 --> 00:57:22.600 Confidence. 00:57:23.800 --> 00:57:27.300 Confidence that God is able to bless. 00:57:27.900 --> 00:57:31.180 That he is able to yield that harvest. 00:57:31.660 --> 00:57:32.960 The harvest is there. 00:57:33.720 --> 00:57:35.000 The laborers are few. 00:57:35.700 --> 00:57:38.220 We pray earnestly for those to come in. 00:57:38.780 --> 00:57:43.100 Who will serve and shepherd the people around us. 00:57:44.660 --> 00:57:47.340 Prayer is a wonderful privilege. 00:57:47.340 --> 00:57:51.100 And God can do great things through prayer. 00:57:51.760 --> 00:57:54.480 I'll leave you with a little story from New York. 00:57:54.840 --> 00:57:56.720 Back in the 1850s. 00:57:57.380 --> 00:58:01.280 It was a time of a recession and depression in the city. 00:58:01.620 --> 00:58:04.579 Many businesses were hard up against it. 00:58:04.680 --> 00:58:06.440 Suffering in so many different ways. 00:58:07.600 --> 00:58:08.579 And there was one man. 00:58:08.980 --> 00:58:11.400 He was called Jeremiah Lanfire. 00:58:11.400 --> 00:58:17.200 And he had this great burden for prayer in the midst of it. 00:58:17.780 --> 00:58:21.639 And he decided that he would start a prayer meeting at lunchtime. 00:58:22.139 --> 00:58:25.340 In the middle of New York where businesses were all around. 00:58:25.480 --> 00:58:32.400 He was sending out an invitation to businessmen to come and join at this time of prayer. 00:58:33.300 --> 00:58:38.619 And the first prayer meeting took place on the 23rd September 1857. 00:58:38.619 --> 00:58:41.000 The invitations had gone out. 00:58:41.539 --> 00:58:43.980 And he came to the place where they were to come and pray. 00:58:44.099 --> 00:58:45.299 And he sat in himself. 00:58:45.900 --> 00:58:47.500 And there was nobody else. 00:58:48.739 --> 00:58:50.019 Five minutes went by. 00:58:50.739 --> 00:58:51.799 Ten minutes went by. 00:58:51.960 --> 00:58:53.199 Fifteen minutes went by. 00:58:53.299 --> 00:58:54.299 No one was coming. 00:58:54.799 --> 00:58:56.199 And yet he was still praying. 00:58:57.099 --> 00:59:00.319 After half an hour, he heard footsteps. 00:59:00.639 --> 00:59:04.799 And someone came in and joined him in this time of prayer. 00:59:04.800 --> 00:59:09.940 Before the hour was up, another four or five had joined him. 00:59:10.620 --> 00:59:13.480 And the first prayer meeting they had was few. 00:59:14.220 --> 00:59:15.840 And yet they prayed together. 00:59:17.039 --> 00:59:20.380 But from there, it began to grow. 00:59:21.380 --> 00:59:23.920 The following Wednesday, there was 40. 00:59:24.720 --> 00:59:27.320 And from there, it grew and grew. 00:59:27.320 --> 00:59:33.880 In the first week of October, it was decided to hold a daily meeting instead of a weekly meeting. 00:59:34.420 --> 00:59:38.080 So that every day, they would come and join in prayer. 00:59:39.400 --> 00:59:43.700 And within six months, there was thousands joining in for prayer. 00:59:43.760 --> 00:59:47.140 Not just in this one place, but in other places as well. 00:59:47.519 --> 00:59:51.180 And a great revival had begun in the city of New York. 00:59:51.179 --> 00:59:55.679 Because one man was burdened to call for prayer. 00:59:57.500 --> 01:00:00.199 We are being called to pray. 01:00:01.099 --> 01:00:03.399 We are to have that burden to pray. 01:00:03.639 --> 01:00:07.879 And we remind ourselves that in prayer, the Lord is able to bless. 01:00:09.039 --> 01:00:12.079 The Lord hears his praying people. 01:00:12.619 --> 01:00:15.500 We don't always see answered prayer straight away. 01:00:15.579 --> 01:00:19.159 We don't always see prayer answered the way that we would want it. 01:00:19.159 --> 01:00:23.339 But we trust that God knows best. 01:00:24.079 --> 01:00:27.659 That God is working in strange ways. 01:00:27.759 --> 01:00:29.519 In amazing ways. 01:00:29.659 --> 01:00:31.239 We looked at Habakkuk recently. 01:00:31.379 --> 01:00:35.819 We were thinking of how God was doing in a work in their midst that they wouldn't believe. 01:00:36.440 --> 01:00:38.980 Because it seemed so absurd in their midst. 01:00:39.179 --> 01:00:42.039 Because a nation was going to come and invade them. 01:00:42.319 --> 01:00:43.339 And take them over. 01:00:43.679 --> 01:00:45.519 And they seemed to make no sense. 01:00:45.519 --> 01:00:50.340 And yet through that, God brought great blessing. 01:00:51.000 --> 01:00:54.019 He brought people back to himself. 01:00:55.079 --> 01:00:57.960 And so when there are things going on that we don't understand. 01:00:58.219 --> 01:01:01.460 When there are things that we are praying about that we don't seem to be answered. 01:01:02.000 --> 01:01:03.500 We never lose heart. 01:01:03.500 --> 01:01:08.820 But we ask the Lord for his blessing in it all. 01:01:09.780 --> 01:01:11.420 That the Lord would bless us. 01:01:11.699 --> 01:01:13.519 That the Lord would revive us. 01:01:13.880 --> 01:01:15.840 That the Lord would show us his favor. 01:01:15.960 --> 01:01:19.599 And bring a great harvest into our midst once again. 01:01:20.440 --> 01:01:22.960 May he burden us in this way. 01:01:23.420 --> 01:01:25.920 And may he give us boldness to come. 01:01:26.000 --> 01:01:30.840 And praying especially earnestly for laborers into the harvest. 01:01:30.840 --> 01:01:36.320 And may he show us his blessing in amazing ways. 01:01:37.280 --> 01:01:38.820 Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer. 01:01:41.660 --> 01:01:46.220 Our Father in heaven, we thank you that you are one who hears and answers prayer. 01:01:47.000 --> 01:01:50.360 And we thank you, Lord, for the burden that you give to your people. 01:01:50.760 --> 01:01:53.100 To always pray and never give up. 01:01:53.620 --> 01:01:58.740 And we pray that you will help us to be not just prayerful, but earnestly prayerful. 01:01:58.739 --> 01:02:01.979 Prayerful for all the needs that we see around us. 01:02:02.619 --> 01:02:08.500 And above all, as we've been thinking today, to pray for the salvation of your people around us. 01:02:08.559 --> 01:02:11.139 To see the harvest fields all around us. 01:02:11.199 --> 01:02:13.719 And to pray to the Lord of the harvest. 01:02:14.359 --> 01:02:15.939 To bring that harvest in. 01:02:16.459 --> 01:02:18.579 And to send out laborers into it. 01:02:18.619 --> 01:02:23.019 We pray, Lord, that we would see those who would answer the call into ministry. 01:02:23.339 --> 01:02:26.000 And serve you with all their hearts. 01:02:26.000 --> 01:02:27.679 May we all do so. 01:02:28.059 --> 01:02:31.739 In whatever aspect of calling that you have in our lives. 01:02:31.860 --> 01:02:35.119 May we all be earnest and bold in prayer to you. 01:02:35.480 --> 01:02:37.159 To know your blessing upon us. 01:02:37.440 --> 01:02:39.079 As we ask it in Jesus' name. 01:02:39.500 --> 01:02:39.840 Amen. 01:02:42.920 --> 01:02:47.900 We're going to conclude by singing to God's praise in Psalm 126. 01:02:48.039 --> 01:02:49.920 It's in the Scottish Psalter version. 01:02:49.920 --> 01:02:54.280 The tune is Denfield, Psalm 126. 01:02:55.280 --> 01:03:04.940 Psalm that reminds us of the burden of seeing the Lord working in our midst. 01:03:04.980 --> 01:03:07.720 When Sion's bondage, God turned back. 01:03:07.820 --> 01:03:09.220 As men that dreamed were we. 01:03:09.760 --> 01:03:13.519 And filled with laughter was our mouth, our tongue with melody. 01:03:13.519 --> 01:03:16.739 That man is, in verse 6, it says, 01:03:16.800 --> 01:03:20.539 A man who bearing precious seed and going forth doth mourn. 01:03:20.559 --> 01:03:25.539 He doubtless bringing back his sheaves rejoicing shall return. 01:03:25.659 --> 01:03:28.119 The picture there of the harvest coming in. 01:03:28.219 --> 01:03:31.219 We'll sing the whole of this psalm to God's praise. 01:03:31.219 --> 01:03:44.579 When Sion's bondage, God turned back. 01:03:44.579 --> 01:03:51.259 As may the dreams were we. 01:03:51.259 --> 01:03:58.739 Then filled with laughter was our mind. 01:03:58.739 --> 01:04:04.299 Our tongue with melody. 01:04:04.299 --> 01:04:14.219 They mocked the heathens, said the Lord. 01:04:14.219 --> 01:04:21.259 Great things for them hath brought. 01:04:21.260 --> 01:04:29.140 The Lord hath done great things for us. 01:04:29.140 --> 01:04:36.620 Whence joy to us is brought. 01:04:36.620 --> 01:04:44.840 As streams of water in the sun, 01:04:44.840 --> 01:04:52.720 The Lord hath done great things for us. 01:04:52.720 --> 01:04:59.680 Whose soul and tears are reaped in time. 01:04:59.680 --> 01:05:07.160 Of joy and joy they shall. 01:05:07.159 --> 01:05:15.039 That man who bearing precious seed, 01:05:15.039 --> 01:05:22.639 In going forth doth mourn. 01:05:22.639 --> 01:05:30.440 The darkness bringing back his sheaves, 01:05:30.440 --> 01:05:36.320 Rejoicing shall return. 01:05:39.179 --> 01:05:41.539 After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left. 01:05:41.639 --> 01:05:42.800 We'll close with the benediction. 01:05:43.579 --> 01:05:46.500 Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, 01:05:46.679 --> 01:05:48.619 Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 01:05:49.179 --> 01:05:52.460 Rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore. 01:05:52.880 --> 01:05:53.260 Amen. 01:05:53.260 --> 01:05:53.360 Amen. 01:05:53.360 --> 01:05:53.420 Amen. 01:06:00.440 --> 01:06:21.480 Amen. 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.480 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:51.460 Thank you.