We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise from Psalm 69 in the Scottish Psalter and at verse 30.
! It's on page 308 of the Psalm book. Psalm 69 at verse 30.
The name of God I with a song most cheerfully will praise and I in giving thanks to him his name shall highly raise.
We sing from verse 32 the end of the Psalm to God's praise.
The name of God I with a song most cheerfully will praise and I in giving thanks to him his name shall highly raise.
This to the Lord a sacrifice more gracious shall prove than bullock, ox, or any beast that hath both horn and hoof.
When this the humble man shall see, it joy to them shall give.
O all ye that do seek the Lord, your hearts shall ever live.
For God the poor hears and will not his praise.
Let him and earth and seas embrace and all that move in them.
For God will Judah cities build and he will Zion save.
That they may dwell therein and it in sure possession have.
And they that are his servant's seed inherit shall the same.
So shall they have their dwelling there that love his blessed name.
Let's bow our heads and pray.
Let us pray.
Almighty and most gracious God, rejoice in the worship of your name.
Lord, we are thankful to you for your word.
It reminds us of the kind of God that you are.
It reminds us of your people's response to all that you have made yourself known to them.
And we give thanks to you for your word.
And we worship you for your word.
And we worship you and we give thanks to you for every way in which you have made yourself known.
As the Father who sent your Son into this world to be our Savior.
As the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us.
And as the Spirit of God brings new life into our hearts.
That gives us to see the beauty of your Son as our Savior.
And that gives to us that hope of everlasting life.
And as we worship you together today.
May we sense something in our hearts of your presence with us.
Seeing something of the glory that belongs to you as our Father in Heaven.
Seeing something of the beauty that belongs to your Son as our Savior.
And sensing in a deep and felt way.
The ministry of your Holy Spirit.
Shining a light upon the passion of your Son.
Giving us to see his beauty and the purpose of his coming.
And giving us to understand what that means for ourselves personally.
And bringing us together to that place where by faith in his name.
We may know what it is to receive the gift of everlasting life.
And journey on through life as those who have that hope and that confidence in you.
That sure and certain hope of the resurrection.
Living in this world in the midst of all of its pains and sorrows.
Experiencing the grace of God in every step of life's way.
And looking forward to a day when by grace we will enter into your glory.
And we shall find our rest in you.
So bless us in our time of worship we do pray.
Bless every heart and life before you.
We are all known to you and we are thankful to you for the intimate knowledge you have of us.
And we pray that you will give to us each individually in our hearts.
A sense of close knowledge of you.
As our God and as our Lord and as our Saviour.
Pray for your blessing to be upon every home.
Your blessing to be upon our families.
Your blessing to be upon parents and children.
We do give thanks to you for the children of our congregation.
And your word reminds us that children are the heritage of the Lord.
And we pray for your blessing to be upon our children.
In the days in which they live.
Growing up with so many challenges.
We pray that your word would be truly imprinted on their minds and in their hearts.
And praying that they will come to know you as the light of the world.
Bringing their trust in you.
And able to face the challenges of growing up in such a world.
With a sure knowledge that you are their God.
That you are their guide.
That you are their shepherd.
That you are their teacher.
And that keeper.
We pray for your blessing to be upon the Christian.
Upon tweezers.
As I meet today.
May you bless leaders.
And bless our young people.
Our children.
We commit them all to your care.
And we pray for your blessing to be upon those.
That are away from us and hold you at this time.
That you will keep them safe.
That you will bless them.
Wherever they are before you on this day.
That you will be merciful to them.
We pray that you will bless us.
As we continue before you now.
Blessing your word to us.
And our singing of it.
And our reading of it.
And our study of it together.
Bless our hearts.
Would you ask.
And hear our prayer.
For we pray these things for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
Well boys and girls.
It's good to see some of you here today.
And you've been very brave.
Coming out of this kind of weather.
And I hope you're enjoying your school holidays.
Our Bible message today comes from the Gospel of John.
Which is the fourth book in the New Testament.
And it's about Jesus being the bread of life.
And giving his life so that we might have eternal life.
And we know of course that food is really important.
We can't survive without food.
And when Jesus says he is the bread of life.
He is saying something very important to us.
And I want us to think of three particular things today.
I want to think first of all.
Of the word exchange.
It's not a difficult word.
What do we mean by exchange?
What do you think exchange means?
If we go to a shop.
We pay money.
And we exchange money for goods.
So we exchange things.
And when we come to read the Bible.
God is somebody who shows us that he has put in place a really special exchange.
Because when Jesus tells us he is the bread of life.
He tells us that he is giving his life for the world.
In other words he is taking out place.
And when we read the story of the Bible.
God tells us that he gave our sins to Jesus.
So that Jesus would die for our sins.
And so that we would have everlasting life.
That's an exchange.
And it comes of course at great cost to the Lord Jesus.
And if we think today of a gift voucher.
Somebody can give us a gift voucher.
And we can go and exchange for clothes.
If that's what it's for.
Somebody can give us a gift voucher for a nice restaurant.
Somewhere nice to go and eat some nice food.
It costs them a lot of money.
And they give it to us.
And we are to go.
And use that voucher.
And get ourselves a special meal.
And in the Bible story.
And the story of Jesus.
God has given to us.
The opportunity to have salvation.
Through believing in Jesus.
That Jesus died for us at great cost.
So let's remember the exchange.
Jesus died for our sins.
So that we might have life.
And let's remember that he offers that life to us.
As we listen to him from his word.
The second thing I want to think about is.
Enjoyment.
If there's a great meal on the table.
And we're not going to eat it.
Then we're not going to enjoy it.
If I have my gift voucher.
And I keep it in my drawer.
Or on my desk.
Or somewhere I told him I don't use it.
I'm not going to get any enjoyment out of it.
I have to take that gift voucher.
I have to go to the restaurant.
And exchange it for really nice food.
That's what it's meant for.
And today we want to remember that.
Because Jesus wants us to enjoy everlasting life.
He loves us to come to church.
He loves us to hear about God's word.
But especially he wants us.
When we come to church.
To believe in Jesus.
That's the gift that he promises to us.
That exchange.
If we believe in Jesus.
We will have that gift of everlasting life.
When I go to my special restaurant.
And hand over my voucher.
I enjoy the best meal.
And somebody else has paid for it.
And when we come to believe in Jesus.
We realize how precious Jesus is.
Because he paid the cost of my eternal life.
And the gift that God has given to me.
And the third thing.
I want to remember about the gift of virtue.
Is that there is usually an expiry date.
What does that mean?
That means I have to use it by a certain time.
And the Bible tells us that.
When we're young.
That it's the best time.
To hear and to believe in Jesus.
Our minds are filled with the Bible.
And the words of the Bible.
And God wants you today.
To believe in Jesus.
Remembering that a day might come.
When you might not want.
To come to church.
When you might not want to think about Jesus.
God is speaking to you today.
And he does so.
In Cresce and Twinnies and Sundays.
Going to Bible class.
And listening to the word of God being preached.
God is speaking to you.
And you have an opportunity.
And in the Bible we see that.
God gives people a long time.
And God gives people sometimes not a long time.
But we want you to remember today.
That today is the day that God has given to you.
To believe in Jesus.
So remember the exchange.
Remember the cause to Jesus.
So that we could have life.
And believe the promise of God.
That if we believe in Jesus.
We will have that gift of everlasting life.
And don't put it off till tomorrow.
Because today is God's special time.
For us to believe in Jesus.
And have that hope in our own hearts.
So thank you for listening.
And we'll now say the Lord's prayer together.
Our Father.
Which art in heaven.
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth.
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts.
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation.
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom.
The power and the glory.
Forever.
Amen.
Let's turn out to praise God once more.
This is from Psalm number 65.
And in St. Psalms.
It's on page 82 of the Psalm book.
Psalm number 65.
At the beginning of the Psalm.
And we're seeing from verse 1.
To the verse marked 5.
In Zion praise awaits you Lord.
To you our vows will pay.
To you all people will come near.
You hear us when we pray.
We stand to sing from verse 1 to verse 5.
To God's praise.
In Zion praise awaits you Lord.
To you our vows will pay.
To you all people will come near.
You hear us when we pray.
When we were overwhelmed by sins.
And guilt upon us lay.
You pardoned all our trespasses.
And washed our guilt away.
How blessed are those you choose and bring.
Within your courts of grace.
We're filled with blessings.
In your house.
In your most holy place.
With awesome deeds of righteousness.
You answer us.
O God.
Our Saviour.
Hope above.
Far the seas.
And all the earth.
A broad.
Let's turn together now.
Let us hear the word of God.
And this is the will of whom he sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
So the Jews grumbled about him because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven.
They said, it's not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know.
How does he now say, I have come down from heaven?
Jesus answered them, do not grumble among yourselves.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
It is written in the prophets, and they will all be taught by God.
Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God, he has seen the Father.
Father, truly I say to you, who believes as eternal life, I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
There is a bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven.
If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.
And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.
Amen.
This is God's word.
We trust that you are blessed to us, that reading from it.
Once more, we bow our heads in prayer.
Most gracious and merciful God, we continue in the worship of your name.
We are thankful to you for the words that we have read.
We are thankful to you for the life of your Son here in this world.
We are thankful to you for the way in which he engaged with those who were around him.
We are thankful to you for the way in which he spoke your truth to the world in which he lived.
We are thankful to you for the way in which so many lives were transformed through his life and through his ministry.
We are thankful to you for all the promises that he gave and left with us in your word.
And we are thankful today that we can come to these words and do so looking back upon the death of your Son, the bread of life, who gave himself for us.
We seek to humble ourselves and to marvel at the greatness of your love for us,
that the darkness of Calvary's cross was the portion of your Son as the bread of life,
and that his body was broken for us so that we might live and live forever.
We seek to humble ourselves with thankfulness before you today because of that great provision,
because of that great hope in his resurrection,
and because today you are making new people,
changing lives, building your church,
and drawing people to yourself.
And we pray as we do worship you together this morning that we may sense your work,
your activity,
your hand upon our lives,
drawing us to you,
showing us your glory in the passion of your Son,
and giving to us to believe that we might be saved
and enter into the full enjoyment of what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ,
to find our satisfaction in life in him,
and to know what it means to discover the emptiness of everything else without him.
Lord, bless our hearts and your word.
And as we come to you out of this world in which we live,
we pray that every way in which our minds and our lives have been influenced in this past week,
that all of these things we may be able to pour them out before you,
and that we may be able to separate ourselves from them,
in such a way as to allow your truth to penetrate our minds,
and to dislodge the things that can become embedded in our thinking,
and to work in our minds in such a way as to help us to understand that same world
through the lens of your word,
and giving us to so live life by faith,
trusting in you and learning day by day what it means
to walk in your paths,
to serve and to honour you,
to be light and to be salt in the world in which we live.
We pray for your blessing to be upon us as a congregation of your people.
We are thankful to you for every evidence of your goodness and of your blessing.
We are thankful to you for every way in which you continue to work.
We pray that you will bless your word proclaimed on Lord's Day
and the activities and the meetings during the week as well.
We pray for your blessing to be upon us at this time of vacancy,
that you will give wisdom and guidance and direction to us.
We are thankful to you that in the life and in the experience of your church,
that you place the right of choosing a pastor
in the hearts and lives of those who are your people.
And we pray today that we would be reminded by you in a powerful way
that the choosing is first of all yours,
and give to us to prayerfully choose the man of your choosing.
So that in days to come,
we know blessing from you
and your power present through the ministry of the gospel.
In days to come, as it has been in the past,
we do commit ourselves to you
and pray for your guiding hand to be upon us.
Bless all of our congregations,
bless our island communities today.
We pray for your blessing to be upon your word
as it is proclaimed throughout all of our communities.
May you bless hearts and lives,
and may you bless those whom you have called to serve you
and to go out with the gospel today,
and to go out with a sense of perhaps their own inadequacy and inability,
and trusting in you that you will supply their needs.
And we pray that you will make yourself powerfully known in them
and through them in the ministry of the gospel today.
Bless the nation to which we belong.
We commit ourselves to you.
We pray a blessing to be upon our leadership,
our MPs, our MSPs,
our Prime Minister, our First Minister,
all who are in authority.
May you give wisdom and direction to them.
May you remind them of their calling by you
to serve in such lofty positions,
and may they be reminded by you
of their responsibility to serve and to honour you,
and to may you turn the hearts of the people of our nation
by turning their hearts to you as the only true and living God.
So bless us, and bless every corner and area of life and of society
with all the multitude of needs that are around us.
We pray that you'll come to us, O Lord,
and to make yourself known in your power and in your mercy
and in your grace and in your compassion.
Bless the wider world,
which we'll have also praying that you'll bring an end to conflict and strife,
that you will bring an end to oppression and to persecution,
and that you will give it to us as the peoples of this world
to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts
and to love our neighbour as ourselves.
So bless our world,
bless your world as it goes forth
to every corner of this world today,
and bless the hearts and lives of your people,
and to may we be blessed and equipped by you
to continue to love for you in this world day by day
with that great expectation
that this world is not our home,
but that you are the God who is making a new heavens
and a new earth
where your people will be gathered
in everlasting glory to be forevermore
with their Saviour.
So hear our prayer, continue to watch your orders,
and bless your world as we ask.
We ask these things for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
So our next item of praise is Psalm number 45.
It's 45a and sing Psalms on page 56.
It's a psalm where the psalmist is speaking of
the beauty of the King
and the beauty of Jesus as our Saviour,
as our great King.
Psalm 45 at the beginning of the psalm.
A noble theme inspires my heart
with verses for the King.
My tongues are skilled for writers' pain,
composing lines to sing.
We stand to sing from verse 1 to the verse 5
to God's praise.
Amen.
A noble theme inspires my heart
with verses for the King.
My tongues are skilled for writers' pen,
composing lines to sing.
You far excel the best of men.
Your lips are full of grace.
For God has blessed you evermore.
His light shines on your face.
O mighty one, take up your sword
and bind it on your thigh.
With glorious splendor,
clothe yourself
and with your majesty.
Ride forth in state victoriously
for meekness, truth and right.
Let your right hand display your deeds
of awesome power and might.
Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts
of those who hate the King.
And all the nations of the earth
into subjection bring.
Let's turn together to the Gospel of John
and chapter number 6.
And we can read at verse 35.
John 6 at verse 35.
Jesus said to them,
I am the bread of life.
The who comes to me shall not hunger
and who believes in me
shall never thirst.
But I said to you
that you have seen me
and you do not believe.
And down through the rest of the verses
that we have down to verse number 51.
When we come into the Gospel of John,
it's always good to remind ourselves
of John's purpose in writing the Gospel.
And he gives that purpose to us
in chapter number 20
and at verse number 30.
Jesus did many other signs
in the presence of the disciples
which are not written in this book.
But these are written
so that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God,
and that by believing,
you may have life in his name.
And as we come to consider
the verses before us today,
we do understand
that life is full of big questions.
And I think it's fair to say
that when we read the Bible,
the Bible gives us a hierarchy
of big questions.
In other words,
there are big questions
which are bigger
and of greater importance
than others.
And for all of us together today,
we do have our own big questions.
We have life's challenges
challenges,
and we all have our own
individual challenges
with big questions
that come into our minds
and our lives day by day.
We have our personal challenges
that are private to ourselves
that perhaps we don't share with anyone.
There is big questions.
They are important things
in our everyday lives.
There are big questions
when you look at our communities
and look at our nation
and we look at the nations
of the world.
There are big questions
that come and that arise
because of what's happening
in our world.
And then, of course,
when you go beyond that,
there are the big questions
that come because
there are wars
and there are persecutions
and there is oppression
in the world.
Big questions
that come into our lives
because of what's happening
around us.
But the priority,
big question is,
how can we be saved?
How can we be right with God?
How can we become Christians?
That is the most important question.
When we read this gospel
and when we follow
the life of Jesus
and John himself
in writing this gospel,
we see that he understands
that very thing.
And the pattern
that he gives to us
is that he addresses
that biggest question of all
by overlapping two things.
First of all,
he brings to their attention
their great personal need.
And we all need that
in order to be saved.
The second thing he does,
he brings before them
what he is doing
and what he is going to do
that God so loved the world
that he gave his son.
And so with these overlapping things
through this gospel,
he is answering that big question
of how can we be Christians?
How can we be right with God?
And in this chapter,
he is doing that
by interacting with the people
who historically,
once more,
are preparing themselves
for the Passover.
so he is speaking to people
who have a story.
It is a story about faith.
It is a story about
the believing community.
He is interacting with them
where they are
on their journey.
But people who have
fathers and grandfathers
and people have gone before them
who were believers.
And so it is for ourselves today.
We want to look at this passage
bearing that in mind,
the big question,
how can we be right with God?
How can we become a Christian?
And bearing in mind
that God is speaking to us
as those who belong to
the church of God
that has come down to us
from those who went before us.
And I want to consider
these words
under the title of
unbelief
and the transforming
grace of God.
I want to see,
first of all,
that there is a declaration.
And the declaration
that Jesus is making
is about himself,
first of all.
He wants them to know
who he is.
Vitally important.
He is not just
anybody who was born in Nazareth.
He is not just
the son of Joseph and Mary.
He wants them to know
who he is.
And in order for them
to understand that,
he makes this great statement
in verse 35,
I am the bread of life.
And when he's doing that,
he's doing two things.
He's giving them
his identity,
first of all.
I am the bread of life.
And he's speaking to a people
whose history,
whose origins
go back to that very time
in the Old Testament
when God said to Moses
in Exodus 3
at the burning bush,
when Moses asked,
whom shall I say sent me?
I am sent you.
Tell them I am did it.
So what's Jesus doing?
He's not only connecting himself
with the person
who spoke to Moses.
He is telling him
that he is that very person.
In other words,
he is the son of God,
as John makes clear
at the beginning
of this gospel.
He wants them to know
that he is the son of God
and that he is here
as someone sent by God.
And for you and I
on our journey
to becoming the people of God,
we have to believe firmly
and understand clearly
that Jesus is no ordinary human being.
In fact,
he is the second person
of the God
that he is the son of God.
And until we appreciate that,
we're not going to appreciate
what he says
and we're not going to
truly appreciate
what he does.
Who is Jesus?
He is I am.
He is the eternal God,
the eternal son of God.
And he's also telling him
something about
what he is going to do for them.
I am, he says,
the bread of life.
In other words,
if there is life,
it's to be found in him.
It's the bread that gives life
from which,
from which life flows.
It's the bread that is
the source of all life.
And he goes on in verse 51
to remind them that
the bread that he will give
for the life of the world
is his flesh.
I am the bread of life.
I am the son of God
who is going to give myself
on Calvary's cross
for the life of the world.
That's the cost.
That's what he's going to pay
in order to be the bread of life
so that you and I
can have the gift
of everlasting life.
The declaration
about himself.
To draw their attention
to a key thing
in their experience
that as surely as they are here
to remember
that God saved his people
from the land of Egypt
across the Red Sea
because of the blood
of the Passover.
No, he wants them
to understand
that God is moving on
and that he's replacing
all of that
with the work
of his son,
the Lord Jesus,
who is the Passover lamb,
the person concerning whom
John said when he saw him,
Behold the lamb of God
who takes away
the sin of the world.
And he wants them
to think along the lines
of the fact
that Jesus is here
not to repeat the exodus
in the Old Testament
but to bring about
a new exodus,
a new coming out
of where they are
into the experience
of the life
of the children
of God.
And it's
the truth
that should bring joy
to our hearts today
that this is what
Jesus is saying,
that where you are
is the place
from which God
is working
to create an exodus
to take you
from where you are
to bring you
into his eternal kingdom.
And he will do that
in a variety of ways
but at this stage
he's declaring
to you
through his word today
that that's the kind
of God
that he is
who is working
through the passion
of his son
to open a door
for you
to come out
of your lostness
into the very
family
of God.
The declaration
about himself
but he also
wants to make
a declaration
about them
and this is
the key thing
as far as
their journey
here is concerned
and he goes on
to speak about
the way in which
in verse 35
whoever comes
to me
shall not hunger
whoever believes
to me
shall never thirst
but I said
to you
that you have
seen me
and do not
believe.
It's a
staggering truth
to a people
who are
flocking
around him
who were
so interested
in what he was
doing
they're saying
earlier on
in the chapter
this is that
prophet
that God
promised
let's go
and take him
and let's
make him
our king
what they
were doing
looked so
promising
they went
across the
sea to
Capernaum
where Jesus
was because
they must
be with
Jesus
they wanted
to hear
more of
what he
said
they wanted
to learn
about him
and here
they are
gathering
around him
and he's
telling them
who he is
and he wants
them
to know
also
who they
are
and they
are identified
with those
who belong
to the
history of
the people
of God
in the Old
Testament
but identified
with a
particular
group
within that
body of
people
and it's
the group
that simply
did not
believe in
God in the
Old Testament
and here
they are
now
following
the line
of the
history
of the
people
of God
and within
the gathering
around Jesus
there are
those
and Jesus
because of
his all
seeing eye
he's coming
with a
sense of
inquisition
to see
where they
are
and he's
telling them
you do
not
believe
the
declaration
perhaps
today
what you
need to
hear
most
is the
insight
that Jesus
can give
to you
of what
goes on
in your
heart
and the
insight
that no
matter what
you think
you are
doing
and no
matter what
you think
you're
believing
the insight
of Jesus
that perhaps
in your
heart of
hearts
you don't
believe
Jesus
at all
you don't
put your
trust in
his name
and
despite all
of the
activity
in your
life
around the
kingdom of
God
and around
the word
of God
when the
Lord Jesus
takes his eye
and looks
into your
heart
this is
what he
declares
is that
the case
today
do you
believe
in the
name
of the
son of
God
you believe
in the
name of
the Lord
Jesus
he is
the son
of God
who is
giving his
life for
you
do you
believe
in his
name
a
declaration
and when
Jesus makes
the declaration
there are no
arguments
we have no
words
we fall
silent
before him
and we
take heed
to what
he is
saying
because
when he
speaks
about
salvation
it is
important
when he
speaks
about
the kind
of
people
we
are
it is
equally
important
the
declaration
let's
find
ourselves
somewhere
under
the
declaration
that
Jesus
makes
of himself
and of
us
in
these
words
today
so there
is a
declaration
secondly
we want
to see
that
there is
a decree
that makes
a difference
what is it
that makes
a difference
to you
and to me
when this
declaration
by Jesus
tells us
that we
do not
believe
how is
that going
to change
it's going
to change
because
of God's
decree
and God's
decree is
the purpose
of God
that he
had in his
heart
before
the world
ever
was
it's
what he
chose
to do
before
he ever
created
the world
it's
his free
choice
that we
cannot
understand
but the
Bible leads
us to
believe
that that's
exactly
what he
did
and that's
what makes
the difference
and we
don't need
today to
scramble
and try
and do
things that
only God
can do
because God
wants us
to take
to our
hearts
today
in our
unbelief
that only
those
whom he
has decreed
in his
heart
will be
saved
will come
to Jesus
and that's
what he
says in
verse number
37
all
that the
father gives
me
will come
to me
there's a
gift
there's a
donation
there's a
giving of
certain people
by the
father
to the
son
and Jesus
and through
the gospel
himself he
speaks of
the way in
which
John 17
for example
they were
you and
you gave
them to
me
there is
an eternal
transaction
that's
invisible
and that
is known
only to
God
in his
mind
and in
his
heart
with
the
son
and
the
spirit
of
God
there is
that
choice
that works
itself out
in the
experience
of people
in this
world
and that
bears the
fruit
that God
alone
is
looking
for
it's
God's
choice
it's
what the
Bible
calls
and
Ephesians
chapter
one
it's
what the
Bible
calls
election
selecting
people
from the
masses
God
choosing
not the
way you
and I
will
choose
because
we love
the
lovable
because
we're
attracted
to those
whom
we
choose
God
is very
different
to that
he
loves
the
unlovable
he
chooses
the
unchoosable
there
is
nothing
attractive
in you
and in
me
that
would
draw
God
toward
us
but
despite
all
of
that
God
makes
the
choice
and
he
makes
a
choice
before
you
and I
ever
did
anything
right
or
wrong
he
chose
us
in
Jesus
Christ
before
ever
the
world
was
and
we
cannot
begin
to
understand
the
mystery
of
God's
choice
but
we
know
that
God's
choice
bears
fruit
and
what
is
the
fruit
all
that
the
father
gives
me
will
come
to
me
there
are
people
who
are
coming
to
Jesus
to
hear
more
of
what
he
is
saying
but
their
hearts
are
filled
with
unbelief
there
are
disciples
who
are
closely
walking
with
them
and
they
are
doing
so
because
they
are
chosen
by
God
they
have
been
given
to
the
son
the
son
who
says
in
John
17
for
their
sakes
I
sanctify
myself
in
other
words
for
their
sakes
I
die
on
Calvary's
cross
for
those
the
father
has
given
to
me
and
if
your
life
and
my
life
changes
and
we
see
an
about
turn
in
your
life
and
we
see
a
heart
that
comes
to
believe
in
the
Lord
Jesus
there
is
only
one
explanation
and
the
explanation
is
powerful
because
this
is
not
based
on
what
you
do
but
on
what
God
does
you
and
I
know
well
that
we
may
choose
one
thing
today
and
we're
so
fickle
we'll
go off
and
choose
something
very
different
the
following
day
we are
motivated
and moved
so much
by what
happens
around
us
we change
our
choices
and things
that weren't
attractive
before
suddenly become
attractive
and we
go and
embrace
them
and we
choose
them
and
our
salvation
would
be
equally
fickle
if it
was based
on our
own
choice
alone
but
God
wants us
to know
today
that
salvation
is because
of his
choice
of us
and that
his choice
of us
becomes
visible
in our
coming
to put
our
faith
in
the
Lord
Jesus
and
God
doesn't
want us
today
to
lose
ourselves
in
trying
to
work
out
the
mystery
of
his
eternal
election
and
if
we're
concerned
about
God's
election
God
wants
us
to
know
that
the
proof
of
our
election
is
in
our
submission
and
our
obedience
and
our
faith
in
the
Lord
Jesus
it's
that
exodus
that I
referred
to
earlier
where
the
door
is
opened
and
Jesus
is
in
the
gospel
sending
his
word
out
his
appeal
out
and
we
come
from
there
we
are
choosing
Jesus
because
God
chose
us
and
because
Jesus
died
for
us
in
accordance
with
God's
gift
the
decree
is the
decree
not
the
basis
of
our
rejoicing
today
and as
we see
here
it is
also
the
basis
of
our
security
and is
that not
what we
are looking
for
in this
world
the
security
of
knowing
that we
are the
children
of God
in the
midst of
life's
big
questions
and big
challenges
that we
are secure
in what
God has
done
for us
in
Jesus
and
Jesus
confirms
that to
them
all that
the
father
gives me
will
come
to me
and
whoever
comes
to me
I
will
never
cast
out
the
promise
is to
everyone
whoever
comes
to me
all
those
who are
carrying
out
or walking
into their
own
exodus
from
their
life
without
God
and
without
Jesus
Christ
our
savior
who are
coming
into
the
kingdom
of
God
Jesus
promises
you
and I
as we
come
into
his
kingdom
that
he
will
never
be
cast
out
he
will
lose
nothing
of what
the
father
has
given
to
him
in
verse
number
38
he
will
never
evict
us
and
sometimes
we
because
of
our
sin
we
sense
that
God
would
be
just
and
putting
us
out
of
his
kingdom
and
evicting
us
from
his
family
home
because
of
our
rebellion
against
him
but
Jesus
wants
us
to
know
today
that
we
are
secure
because
of
God's
choice
and
that
he
will
never
cast
out
we
will
never
be
cast
out
of
God's
kingdom
of
God's
house
as
those
who
are
unwelcome
guests
we
are
all
the
children
of
our
heavenly
father
and
we
shall
never
be
separated
from
him
and
that
promise
and
that
security
is
a
promise
that
has
that
covers
the
whole
of
our
lives
and
that
brings
us
into
the
everlasting
kingdom
that
Jesus
speaks
of
here
and
that
his
father
has
promised
and
that's
what
he's
saying
in
verse
number
38
for
I
come
down
from
heaven
not
to
do
my
own
will
but
the
will
of
him
who
sent
me
and
this
is
the
will
of
him
who
sent
me
that
I
should
lose
nothing
of
all
that
he
has
given
me
but
raise
it
up
on
the
last
day
it's
eternal
life
that we
receive
in this
moment
of
coming
to
Jesus
of
receiving
him
as
our
savior
!
of
accepting
him
life
where
we
have
satisfaction
today
where
we
exchange
the
voucher
and
where
we
take
the
gift
of
God
recognizing
that
Jesus
paid
the
price
we
take
the
promise
and
we
have
the
gift
of
everlasting
life
a
life
beyond
what
we
see
in
this
world
in
a
new
heavens
in
a
new
earth
in
the
kingdom
of
God
the
kingdom
of
heaven
that
is
still
to
come
there
is
the
decree
the
choice
of
God
that
gives
us
security
today
and
that
gives
us
the
sure
knowledge
that
nothing
can
separate
us
from
God's
love
in
Christ
and
that
gives
us
the
sure
knowledge
that
the
day
will
come
when
it
will
be
welcomed
into
the
eternal
glory
of
God
and
when
Jesus
will
stand
before
God's
throne
and
will
speak
to
God
the
father
behold
me
and
the
children
God
has
given
to
me
that's
the
scope
of
the
security
and
the
safety
that
is
ours
because
of
God's
decree
that
makes
a
difference
and
we
wrestle
on
with
coming
to
hear
the
word
of
God
we
read
the
Bible
we
hear
the
word
of
God
preached
we
pray
over
what
God
says
in
his
word
we
pray
over
the
difficult
things
that
we
find
and
we
pray
that
God
will
help
us
to
understand
in
the
first
place
that
he
does
the
work
of
salvation
and
that
he
alone
does
the
work
of
salvation
it
is
ours
to
trust
it
is
him
to
work
to
choose
and
to
bring
us
to
believe
in
the
Lord
Jesus
so
there
is
a
declaration
there
is
the
decree
and
thirdly
there
is
the
desire
I
think
it's
absolutely
true
that
nobody
ever
came
to
believe
in
the
Lord
Jesus
and
did
not
feel
that
that's
what
they
long
to
do
more
than
anything
coming
to
know
the
Lord
Jesus
is
not
without
feeling
it
is
with
feeling
it
is
with
experience
God
works
in
us
personally
and
individually
in
order
to
transform
us
from
within
and
Jesus
draws
attention
to
that
in
verse
number
44
no
one
can
come
to
me
unless
the
father
who
sent
me
draws
him
he
reemphasizes
the
impossibility
and
human
impossibility
is
something
is
something
that
we
perhaps
find
hard
to
accept
and
more
so
perhaps
in
the
world
and
the
society
in
which
we
live
there
is
so
much
of
self
importance
and
self
realization
and
self
expression
and
self
sufficiency
see
the
gospel
cuts
right
across
that
and
tells
us
we
cannot
come
it's
impossible
for us
to do
it
we are
disabled
by sin
and we
can do
nothing
ourselves
and
against
that
he's
saying
unless
the
father
who
sent
me
draws
him
no
drawing
or
attracting
when
God
does
it
it's
powerful
it's
beautiful
it's
full
of
love
it's
full
of
mercy
it's
full
of
compassion
God
draws
the
image
behind
the
verb
that
John
uses
here
is
tying
something
to a
piece
of
string
and
pulling
that
thing
along
to
remove
from
where
it
is
to
place
it
somewhere
else
we see
it at
different
levels
and
in the
days of
agriculture
that
John
was
writing
it was
something
it was a
picture
that was
before the
rise
every day
we pull
an animal
we pull
agriculture
machinery
we tie
something to
it
and we
take it
somewhere
else
we're
using
force
to move
that
object
and to
place
it
somewhere
else
but in
this
case
the
same
thing
is
happening
but there
is no
sense
of
force
the
same
thing
is
happening
but there
is nothing
but the
sense
of
love
there's
a sense
of
drawing
and in
that
moment
that
the
hook
of the
gospel
in that
moment
that
connection
is
made
there is
the
attraction
of
Jesus
in our
hearts
there is
a sense
of his
beauty
there is
a sense
of seeing
for the
first time
all that
he is
in the
gospel
and all
now that
he is
to me
the
father
who sent
me
draws
him
it's
the
irresistible
grace of
God
irresistible
because
there is
so much
that we
see
so much
that we
discover
and that
we come
willingly
and lovingly
to accept
the Lord
Jesus
as
our
saviour
the
drawing
in the
old
testament
God
through
the
prophecy
of
Hosea
speaks
of
the
way
in
which
he
leads
his
people
with
cords
of
kindness
and
bands
of love
that's
the
image
what
is
the
connection
there
are
these
cords
of
the
eternal
love
of
God
of
the
compassion
of
God
that
he
ties
around
our
hearts
and
that
he
uses
to
draw
us
closer
and
closer
to
himself
into
the
full
enjoyment
of
the
blessing
of
the
gospel
as
we
have
it
in
the
person
of
Jesus
the
drawing
of
God
and
that
attraction
comes
in a
very
simple
way
it
comes
through
what's
happening
at this
moment
as the
gospel
is
preached
it
happens
through
hearing
the
word
of
God
in
verse
number
45
it is
written
in the
prophets
and
they
will
all
be
taught
by
God
everyone
who
has
heard
and
learned
from
the
father
comes
to
me
it
comes
through
hearing
the
word
of
God
and
they
are
the
ones
who
come
to
believe
in
the
son
of
God
and
Jesus
makes
it
clear
in
these
verses
that
all
of
this
is
through
him
nobody
has
seen
God
but
Jesus
himself
and
he
makes
him
known
to
those
who
are
his
people
so
that
there
is
that
sense
of
faith
coming
by
hearing
and
learning
about
Jesus
about
God
through
Jesus
and
Jesus
himself
in
chapter
5
speaks
about
his
relationship
with
God
and
how
God
makes
himself
known
to
him
and
through
that
he
lives
out
to
the
life
that
God
has
set
out
for
him
it's
that
personal
relationship
and
that's
what
happens
with
you
and
with
me
in
that
moment
suddenly
Jesus
Christ
is
meaningful
suddenly
he's
attractive
it's
not
because
your
emotions
and your
affections
are moved
in the
first
place
it's
because
your
mind
has
been
enlightened
it's
been
opened
by
the
spirit
of
God
the
lights
have
gone
on
and
you
then
see
Jesus
for
who
he
is
you
have
learnt
from
the
word
of
God
and
the
very
agency
that
teaches
!
that
is
the
teacher
in
that
process
of
education
Jesus
tells
him
later
on
it's
the
Holy
Spirit
of
God
the
helper
the
teacher
he
will
lead
you
into
all
truth
he
will
help
you
to
remember
the
things
I
said
he
will
show
the
things
that
belong
to
me
and
make
them
known
to
you
it's
a
moment
of
our
minds
being
enlightened
and
suddenly
we
come
from
darkness
to
light
and
the
word
of
God
is
full
of
meaning
the
person
of
the
Lord
Jesus
is
absolutely
precious
and
special
and
believing
him
and
loving
him
is
the
most
obvious
and
natural
and
loving
thing
I
want
to
do
more
than
anything
else
I
have
done
in
life
and
God
wants
us
to
know
today
that
underlying
our
choice
of
the
Lord
Jesus
as
our
saviour
it's
the
choice
that
he
made
of
us
and
when
we
bring
all of
these
things
together
in
our
faith
in
the
Lord
Jesus
how
awesome
is
that
how
worthy
is
God
of
our
praise
and
how
thankful
we
are
that
what
we
could
never
do
God
has
done
it
first
of
all
in
the
person
of
his
son
the
Lord
Jesus
and
now
in
your
heart
and
in
mine
and
perhaps
the
greatest
reminder
you need
to hear
today
is
that
you
should
not
wait
for
an
experience
that
you
expect
must
take
place
before
you
become
a
Christian
understand
that
God
works
through
his
word
making
himself
known
to
you
and
gradually
opening
your
mind
on
the
understanding
of
what
Jesus
has
done
that's
how
he
works
it's
not
an
explosion
it's
coming
to
the
spirit
of
God
as
our
teacher
and
learning
from
him
and
so
today
let's
reflect
on
the
biggest
question
of
all
let's
understand
our
unbelief
without
God's
help
let's
be
thankful
of
God's
decree
of
God's
choice
of
us
and
let's
be
thankful
for
the
way
in
which
he
makes
that
choice
of
us
clear
in
drawing
us
to
the
Lord
Jesus
and
let's
go on
our way
rejoicing
that
we're
safe
and
secure
from
the
moment
we
believe
in
Jesus
until
we
arrive
at
the
eternal
glory
into
which
Jesus
himself
has
entered
may
God
bless
!
Christ
in
you
as
a
God
who
is
our
Savior
who
is
our
Father
in
heaven
who
has
worked
so
wonderfully
in the
presence of
your
Son
to
secure
our
salvation
and
his
resurrection
and
his
glory
to
bring
us
alive
to
you
and
pray
that
you
will
bless
your
word
to
us
today
that
you
will
give
to
us
that
saving
knowledge
of
Jesus
Christ
as
our
personal
Savior
and
that
you
will
help
us
to
grow
day
by
day
and
our
knowledge
of
him
and a
deeper
appreciation
of
all
that
he
has
done
and
a
growing
desire
to
do
the
things
that
are
pleasing
to
you
as
we
journey
on
through
life
together
so
hear
our
prayer
and
accept
our
thanks
for
Jesus
sake
Amen
Psalm
number
22
in the
Scottish
Psalter
Psalm 22
at
verse
28
it's on
page
229
Psalm
22
in the
Scottish
Psalter
at
verse
28
because
the
kingdom
to
the
Lord
doth
appertain
as
his
likewise
among
the
nations
the
governor
he
is
and
after
the
band
dictionary
I'll
go to
the
main
door
we
stand
to sing
from
verse
28
to
verse
31
to
God's
praise
because
the
kingdom
to
the
Lord
!
doth
appertain
!
doth
appertain
as
his
!
likewise
among
the
nations
the
governor
he is
earth's
fat
ones
eat
and
worship
shall
all
who
to
dust
descend
shall
bow
to
him
none
of
them
can
his
soul
from
death
defend
a
seed
shall
service
due
to
him
and
to
the
Lord
it
shall
be
for
a
generation
!
they
shall
declare
his
truth
and
righteousness
they
shall
command
they
shall
declare
his
truth
and
righteousness
and
to
a
people
yet
unborn
and
that
he
hath
done
this
the
grace
of the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
love
of God
the
Father
and the
fellowship
of the
Holy
Spirit
be with
you
all
now
and
forever
more
Amen
now
voy
Thank you.